Senior Spectrum Newspaper February 2013

Budget Recommends Consolidation for Aging and Disability Services

Changes include Children with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs

The Department of Health and Human Services presented its 2014 – 2015 budget for the next biennium during a Legislative Commission’s Budget Subcommittee hearing on January 24th, in Carson City.

In a major departure of how services will be provided for disadvantaged elders, people with disabilities and children, the Governor’s Recommended Budget includes a consolidation of several programs that will expand the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD). Services reach across the lifespan to include children with disabilities or special health care needs.

The budget recommends transferring Developmental Services and Early Intervention Services to ADSD, to provide a continuum of services in one agency. The division will grow from approximately 230 employees to over 850 during the biennium. The Governor’s Recommended Budget totals nearly $240 million for fiscal year for 2014, and $256 million for FY 2015. Program’s provided in ADSD include Independent Living Grants, Senior Rx and Disability Rx, the Family Preservation Program, Early Intervention Services, Home and

Community Based Services, Idea Part C, the Rural Regional Center, Desert Regional Center, and Sierra Regional Center.

The consolidation will also include the Autism Treatment Assistance Program, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Inpatient Services, Psychological Services and Social Services. Autism assistance will double the number of children served increasing from 137 in fiscal year 2013 to 236 in FY 2014, and 341 in FY 2015. Two million dollars will be added to the program from the general fund. Early Intervention Services will also be expanded. The program serves approximately 2800 children as of June 2012, and will cover over 3600 by the end of the biennium.

There will be increases in Developmental Services to fund Supported Living Arrangements, and Jobs and Day Training.

Additionally, waiver programs that serve frail elders, residential group care, assisted living, and in home services will be expanded to reduce growing waitlists.

The Home and Community Based Waiver for the Frail Elderly will increase by 117 slots (people) over the biennium.

Already heard by the Interim Finance Committee, the budget includes funding of a Dental Service Program, covering 845 people over the biennium.

Dental services include a one-thousand dollar benefit to those eligible.

Jerry Cruitt, Mod Squad, with Diane Ross, The Continuum, at HSN Awards.

February 2013 This Issue

page 3 - Governor’s Budget page 4 - Opinion: Tax Relief page 5 - Opinion: Inauguration Speech Affirms Promise to Seniors page 6 - State Health Insurance Exchange Receives Approval page 10 - Human Service Awards

page 17 - Importance of Movement page 20 - Your Health: Transradial Catheterization, a Faster Recovery page 21 - Stop Arthritis Pain page 23 - Grandparents Pass Wisdom & Experience

page 33 - Seniors 4 Travel

Health

page 8 - Dr. Marion: Caregiving page 12 - Current Health Status of Adults and the Impact on the Future

Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. Center for Healthy Aging page 14 - CMS: How Medicare Works with Other Insurance page 17 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D. page 18 - Get Up & Go! Yoga 101

Every Issue

page 24 - Eclectic Observer page 26 - Biggest Little City

page 27 - Crossword page 28 - Eydie Scher - Excerpts page 29 - Calendar

page 30 - this ‘n that

Financial

page 7 - This New Year, Resolve to Review Your Estate Planning Options - Bradley B. Anderson

Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510 (775) 348-0717 e-mai l : S eni orspectrumnv@aol . com S eni orspectrumnewspaper. com Publishers: Chris & Connie McMullen

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Publication of advertising contained does not constitute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers.

Copyrighted publication. All rights reserved.

February • 2013 • 3

Opinion

U.S. Senator Dean Heller

Providing Tax Relief for Nevadans As I travel all over Nevada, I hear from Sen. Dean Heller families who are struggling and desperate for answers. Nevada continues to suffer from the highest unemployment in the nation, which is why I am committed to turning our economy around and getting Nevadans back to work. The American people are desperate for jobs, and the last thing middle-class families need is higher taxes.

I recently introduced a bill aimed at providing tax

4 • 2013 • February

relief for the Silver State.

Nevada is one of several states that have elected to use sales taxes rather than income taxes to finance government services. My legislation would permanently extend the state and local sales tax deduction and help level an uneven playing field by ensuring that Nevada is afforded the same treatment in the federal tax code as states with an income tax.

I am confident that taxpayers in Nevada will benefit greatly from this common sense tax relief and that it will help ease some of the

stress many middle-class families in the Silver State are feeling every day. This bill would also help encourage economic growth by attracting new business, generating jobs, and promoting investment in local economies.

While it’s true that Nevada seniors are facing a great deal of uncertainty during these tough economic times, Congress can help turn things around by focusing on long-term economic policies that bolster recovery and provide families the certainty they need to thrive.

Times are tough, and in order to move Nevada and the entire nation forward, Congress must commit to prioritizing policy over politics. Encouraging economic growth continues to be my number one priority, and I hope the Senate moves swiftly to pass this legislation so Nevadans can permanently benefit from this much-needed tax relief.

Contact Sen. Heller by writing to: Bruce Thompson Federal Building, 400 S. Virginia Street, Suite 738 Reno, NV 89501 Phone: 775-686-5770

Opinion

U.S. Senator Harry Reid

I remember when Martin Luther King led the march on Sen. Harry Reid our nation’s capital. I was working as a Capitol police officer to pay for law school at G.W. University. Along with hundreds of thousands of others, I went to listen to Dr. King speak about his dream for a fair and equal nation. During President Obama’s second Inauguration- on the national holiday marking Dr. Kings legacy- the President affirmed a similar promise of fairness, and in particular he spoke of supporting our nation’s seniors.

Inauguration Speech Affirms Promise to Seniors “We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit,” the President said in his Inauguration speech. “But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.” I stand with President Obama. We must never relent in our support for seniors- the builders and leaders of our nation’s communities.

In the last four years, I worked with the President to make sure Nevada’s seniors, and seniors across the coun-

try, are given the best opportunity to provide for their families and appreciate the highest quality of life. Before the Inauguration, the Senate and House of Representatives worked to pass a comprehensive set of tax measures that will give Nevadans financial certainly heading into 2013. The bipartisan plan protects Nevada’s and America’s middle class by extending tax cuts for 1 million Nevadans and unemployment insurance for tens of thousands of Nevadans. The Nevada state sales tax deduction was also reinstated and we passed mortgage debt relief assistance to help struggling

Nevada homeowners.

The recent Inauguration reminds us that compromise will help forge a path toward long-term economic success and fairness for all Nevadans.

I will continue to stand strong for our state to make sure everyone has a chance to succeed in the years ahead.

Write Sen. Reid at: Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building, 400 S. Virginia Street Suite. 902, Reno, NV 89501 Phone: 775-686-5750 Fax: 775-686-5757

February • 2013 • 5

Nevada’s Silver State Health Insurance Exchange Receives Federal Approval Nevada is closer to implementing its health insurance exchange outlined in the Affordable Care Act. The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange received conditional approval from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS ), and the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) for the operation of a State Based Exchange in Nevada.

“Nevada's Exchange will provide residents of our state with a marketplace to shop for, compare and purchase Qualified Health Insurance Plans in accordance with the

6 • 2013 • February

Affordable Care Act,” Governor Brian Sandoval said. “I commend the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange for their hard work in receiving this approval.”

Nevada is working with Xerox State Healthcare LLC. to develop and implement the two main consumer entry points; the Internet enrollment website and the customer call center. The website will equip consumers with the tools, cost calculators and support information they require to select the health insurance plan or plans that best fit each member of their household. The

customer call center is available to consumers that desire live telephone enrollment assistance.

The call center will employ approximately 50 people and be located in Las Vegas. When asked about the short implementation timeframe, Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, Executive Director Jon Hager said, "I am pleased with the progress we have made to make the Exchange appropriate for Nevada. We could not have come this far in so short a time without the hard work of a dedicated board and staff, and the

excellent input and support from stakeholder groups throughout Nevada To date, 17 States and the District of Columbia have received conditional approval to operate State Based Exchanges and 2 states have been approved to operate Partnership Exchanges.

Nevada's Exchange will be open for business in October of this year, health insurance policies purchased before December 15th will start coverage on January 1, 2014.

The insurance exchange can be reached at (775) 6879939, or you can learn more online at exchange.nv.gov/

This New Year, Resolve to Review Your Estate Planning Options Brought to you by Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.

The holiday whirlwind is over, you’ve packed up the decorations, and life is settling into its familiar routine.

Your thoughts are likely turning to the coming year, and the things you’d like to accomplish over the next twelve months.

Maybe you have ten pounds to lose. Perhaps you want to learn a new language, or set aside more time for family and friends. No matter what your resolutions are this New Year, there’s one item that you should add to your list: take a fresh look at your

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys www.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com

estate plan.

If you’re one of the 55 percent of Americans who do not have an estate plan, creating one might be the easiest of your resolutions. The first step is to meet with an experienced estate planning attorney.

The consultation is easy.

You’ll sit down and chat with your attorney so that he or she can get a clear picture of your family and your goals.

Then, your attorney will recommend a course of action and prepare an estate plan that meets your needs. The

plan will likely include these basic documents: • Living Trust. This will be the core of your estate plan.

Transferring the appropriate assets into your living trust allows you to accomplish a number of goals. You’ll remain in control of your assets during your lifetime, and your trust will contain a plan for the management of your assets in case you become incapacitated. At your death, the assets in your trust will be transferred to your chosen beneficiaries – without the need for probate.

• Last Will and Testament.

Your Will ensures that any assets accidentally left out of your trust will be transferred to your trust and distributed according to your wishes. If you have young children, your Will also allows you to designate a guardian for them in case you pass away before they become adults.

• Financial Power of Attorney. This tool allows you to appoint an agent – usually your spouse, one of your children, or a trusted friend – to manage your (Estate Plan page 22)

February • 2013 • 7

Ask Dr. Marion

Dr. Marion Somers. Ph.D.

Grandparents Becoming “Parents” Again

I’m taking custody of my daughter’s six year­old daughter because my daughter is starting a prison term. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by this new role, but I’m still looking forward to it. Do you have any advice for me and others like me, Doctor Marion? Judy, 47, Indiana Thanks for your e-mail, Judy. You are not alone. With the complexity of our modern lifestyles, many grandparents and great-grandparents are finding themselves taking care of a grandchild or great-grandchild. This usually happens when there is drug or alcohol abuse, jail time, or the death of an adult child in the family.

This “parenting” role is a familiar one for the grandDr. Marion Somers

8 • 2013 • February

parent or great-grandparent, but it’s still a difficult new challenge. Your parenting skills can be reused, but you may need to take a crash course to get up to speed on the culture and lifestyles of the younger generation. This includes learning about the music, television, movies, books, and fashion.

Vocabulary is also vital since some familiar words might now have an entirely new meaning.

This is such a common

situation that there are now support groups in some communities. Tap into them if you feel overwhelmed.

Another important consideration is that some arrangements require legal clarification so that the interests of the youngster and the grandparent or great-grandparent are both protected. The ultimate goal is for the grandparent to provide as normal and stable a life as possible for the child, and that may require legal action to pro-

tect the rights of everyone involved. So be sure you also have your bases covered there.

Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D.) is the author of "Elder Care Made Easier" and has over 40-years of experience as a geriatric care manager, caregiver, speaker, and expert in all things elder care. She offers practical tools, solutions through her book, and website. Visit www.DrMarion.com for more information.

February • 2013 • 9

Annual Human Service Awards Honors Those Who Make a Difference

by Connie McMullen

Supervisor Karen Abowd for leadership.

Human Service Network (HSN) Executive Director Erik Schoen said this years award recipients were recognized “for work well done, pulling for people who can’t work for themselves.”

Health and Human Services Department Director Mike Willden receives the Special Recognition award at the HSN Awards Breakfast.

Photo - Connie McMullen

T

he 24th Annual Human Service Awards held January 17th in Reno, honored six people and an agency for work in helping make Nevada a better place to live. Those recognized were nominated by their peers for efforts to help those in need.

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Mike Willden was given Special Recognition for his leadership and commitment in meeting the needs of Nevada’s disadvantaged. The Continuum Executive Director Diane Ross was bestowed the Mike O’Callaghan Humanitarian award for her ongoing service to caregivers and people with disabilities, and the Lyon County School District received the Agency of the Year award for its work to help meet the needs of children and families. Central Lyon Youth 10 • 2013 • February

Connections Administrator Michele Watkins was named Administrator of the Year for her contributions in providing substance abuse counseling and prevention in Dayton and Silver Springs. Reno businessman Michael Connolly earned Board Member of the Year for his support of Care Chest of Northern Nevada, a non-profit that provides medical support to lowincome families. Janett Massolo received Staff Member of the Year for her work at the Office of Suicide Prevention, and volunteerism to prevent suicides at the Crisis Call Center.

Politician of the Year was bestowed to Carson City

Retiring Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) Administrator Mary Liveratti nominated Willden, who is the longest serving HHS director in the history of the state. Willden, who has worked 38-years for the state of Nevada, was first hired to cut grass at the Caliente Youth Center. He has served as HHS director 12-years overseeing a department of more than 5,000 state workers. The HHS budget is one-third of the state’s budget, consisting of the state Medicaid division, Welfare and Supportive Services,

Diane Ross, Executive Director, The Continuum, is given the Mike O’Callaghan Humanitarian award

by HSN Executive Director Erik Schoen. Photo-Connie McMullen

ments of RTC paratransit riders. Ross has been an advocate for improved access to health care in the state, and serves on a subcommittee of the

Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. She is an AARP Nevada board member, and an organizer of the Caregivers Coalition.

SAINT MARY’S MARY’S CARDIOLOGY

caring for the

Lyon County School District Supertendent Keith Savage; Michael Connolly, Care Chest; Janett Massolo, Office of Suicide Prevention; Michele Watkins, Central Lyon Youth Connections; Mike Willden, Health and Human Services; and Diane Ross, The Continuum.

Awards / page 10

Children and Family Services, the Nevada State Health Division, Public Defender and ADSD. Liveratti said Willden is well-known for his commitment to the rural area’s, generosity of spirit, and knowledge. In accepting the award, Willden said he came from humble beginnings and was raised to work hard. “It has been a great ride,” he said.

Diane Ross, who received the Mike O’Callaghan Humanitarian award, said as a young mother she had

a medical issue in her family. Someone suggested that she call the state for assistance. Ross said she followed through and got help from a man who later sent her a letter expressing empathy as he too had an illness in his family. “That man was Governor Mike O’Callaghan.”

Ross owns and operates The Continuum, an intergenerational rehabilitation and adult daycare center in Reno. In addition to rehabilitation services, The Continuum is contracted to conduct functional assess-

of the community Simple Solutions Lifesaving Innovations Expert Cardiologists

Saint Mary’ Mary’ss Ce Center nter ffor or Health Arlington, Suite Suite 460 645 N. Arlington, saintmarysreno.com 775-770-7622 • saintmarysreno.com February • 2013 • 11

Adding Life to Years

”

Current Health Status of Adults and the Impact on the Future

Larry Weiss

The current health status of the adult 40+ population and the associated healthcare costs are on a rocky road. We have embraced diseases as a part of ‘getting older’ and have focused on disease management and acute care versus taking steps as we age to prevent us from acquiring disease in the first place.

Today I am focusing on current health status of adults and the major health issues that are significantly affecting our health and healthcare costs now, and

12 • 2013 • February

Dr. Larry Weiss Center for Healthy Aging projected into the future.

Health promotion and wellness trends are currently having a positive impact on individual health and healthcare cost reduction, especially as it relates to employers and the workplace. This article is a summary of a paper that I wrote and was published by MetLife Mature Market Institute, 2013.

It is a good thought that if people can be encouraged to be healthy and productive in their earlier adult years, they will be healthier

and more productive throughout their working life and into old age.

Health promotion and disease prevention can lead to a better quality of life, more productive employees, and lower health and disability costs. Health consciousness can enable individuals to avoid or delay lifestyle related illnesses and premature institutionalization.

Prevention is key to a healthier society both physically and financially!

Factors that affect current health status and sig-

nificantly impact the future of Medicare are obesity, health-related behaviors, and the incidence of chronic diseases and disability.

As I have discussed in many of my articles, obesity is associated with increased risk for many chronic conditions, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even loss of sight, among others. Obesity impacts nearly every major system in the body, especially chronic disease.

Improved treatment for

Years to Life / page 12

many of the conditions associated with obesity means that obese people today are healthier than the obese person in 1980. This may be good for morbidity and even health status, but such improvements have come with increased costs.

The therapies are expensive, for example; Statins that reduce cholesterol or other drugs that lower blood pressure, come with high prices and may not improve health outcomes.

Unhealthy behaviors and lifestyles that impact our health such as poor eating habits, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, excess alcohol, and stress affect our quality of life and longevity. More than a quarter of all Americans are sedentary; defined as not doing any physical activity outside of work for 30 days. Twentyseven-point-eight percent of U.S. adults (66 million people) are obese; defined as being roughly 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight. The percentage of adults with diabetes is 9.5 percent nationally. Thirtypoint-eight percent of U.S. adults have high blood pressure or hypertension which is a primary risk for cardiovascular disease. By changing behaviors and lifestyles these statistics can be significantly reduced.

Over the recent past, several attempts have been made to project obesity prevalence. For example, nationally the prediction of the prevalence of obesity in 2020 is estimated at around 45 percent (Wang et al., 2008). That amounts to about a 10 to 15 percentage point increase in obesity

prevalence, which is an additional 50 percent increase over the current level. Healthcare spending for obesity in the U.S. is projected to increase in 2018 to $344 billion (Thorpe, 2009).

Growth in chronic conditions during the past 10 years is due to the prevalence of hypertension which increased from 35 to 41 percent, diabetes from 10 to 15 percent, and cancer from 9 to 11 percent, among those aged 45 and over. This rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions has implications for the financing and delivery of healthcare in the future.

People are more likely to be hospitalized, fill more prescriptions, have higher annual prescription drug costs, and have more physician visits (Anderson, 2010). Out-of-pocket spending is higher for people with multiple chronic conditions, and has increased in recent years.

Chronic disease and combinations of chronic diseases affect individuals to varying degrees, and may impact an individual's life in different ways. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases presents a complex challenge to the U.S. healthcare system, both in terms of quality of life and expenditures for an aging population. Rising education has been a significant force for improvement in disability, but will it continue?

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services healthcare expenditures in the U.S. exceed $2 trillion a year. Employers are feeling

the burden of healthcare costs through higher insurance premiums for their employees. Employee health benefits are one of the single largest line items on profit and loss statements, and that line item is growing. Employers are seeking approaches to realize cost savings.

Workplace-based wellness programs which could affect prevention and have an impact on achieving better health outcomes at lower cost are showcased as part of Affordable Care Act (New York Times, 2009).

One positive indicator for the future is that increases in education and health literacy have been a major force for improvement in health over time, primarily in the area of disability. If we can continue

to educate, we can have an impact on changing the trajectory of disability, diminishing quality of life.

It is in our power to change our health status, to improve our quality of life as we age, and to reduce the out-of-control costs of healthcare. Changing unhealthy behaviors and lifestyles, and embracing efforts in prevention, health promotion, and wellness education will curb the increasing costs and ultimately, ‘Add Life To Years.’

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. is CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weiss welcomes your comments on this column. Write to him at larry@addinglifetoyears.com or c/o Center for Healthy Aging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV 89519.

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How Medicare works with other insurance David Sayen, Regional Administrator Medicare Region 9

David Sayen

You may have wondered how Medicare

14 • 2013 • February

works with other insurance coverage, such as a group health plan from a former employer or union.

It’s an important issue because it determines whether your medical bills are paid correctly and on

time.

If you have Medicare and other insurance, always be sure to tell your doctor, hospital, and pharmacy.

When there's more than one insurance payer, certain rules determine which one pays first. This is what’s called "Coordination of benefits," a way to figure out who pays first when 2 or more health insurance plans are responsible for paying a medical claim.

The "primary payer" pays what it owes on your bills first -- and then sends the balance to the "secondary payer" to pay. In some cases, there may also be a third payer.

The primary payer pays up to the limits of its coverage. The secondary payer only pays if there are costs the primary insurer didn’t cover.

But keep in mind that the secondary payer (which may be Medicare) may not pay all of the uncovered costs.

If your employer’s insurance is the secondary payer, you may need to enroll in Medicare Part B before that insurance will pay. (The Part B premium for most Americans in 2013 is $104.90 per month.)

Here’s who pays first in various situations: If you have retiree insurance (coverage from a former job), Medicare pays first.

If you’re 65 or older, have group coverage based

Medicare / page 14

on your or your spouse’s current employment, and the employer has 20 or more workers, your group plan pays first. (If the company has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare pays first.)

Your group plan also pays first when you’re under 65 and disabled, have group coverage based on your or a family member’s current employment, and the employer has 100 or more employees. (Medicare pays first if the company has fewer than 100 employees.)

If you have Medicare because of end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure), your group plan pays first for the first 30 months after you become eligible for Medicare.

Medicare pays first after this 30-month period.

Medicare may pay second if you’re in an accident or have a workers’ compensation case in which other insurance covers your injury or you’re suing another entity for medical expenses.

In these situations you or your lawyer should tell Medicare as soon as possible. These types of insurance usually pay first for services related to each type: • No-fault insurance (including automobile insurance); • Liability (including automobile and self-insurance); • Black lung benefits; • Workers’ compensation.

Medicaid and TRICARE (the healthcare program for U.S. armed service members, retirees, and their families) never pays first for services that are covered by Medicare.

They only pay after Medicare, employer plans, and/or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) have paid.

For more information, visit www.medicare.gov/publications and read the booklet “Medicare and Other Health Benefits: Your Guide to Who Pays First.”

You can also call 1800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227) and ask for a copy to be mailed to you.

TTY users should call 1877-486-2048.

If you have questions about who pays first, or you need to update your other insurance information, call Medicare’s Coordination of Benefits Contractor at 1-800-9991118. TTY users should call 1-800-318-8782.

You can also contact your employer or union benefits administrator.

You may need to give your Medicare number to your other insurers so your bills are paid correctly and on time.

David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Trust Territories.

You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227).

WHAT IS YOUR HEART TELLING YOU?

Get the answer with a baseline EKG Northern Nevada Medical Center recommends getting a baseline EKG so you can document your normal heart function.

We are offering a baseline EKG for $35. When you get your first EKG to establish your baseline, you will receive a wallet-size card with your test results. In the event of an emergency, your EKG card will give first responders information they need to take care of you.

Knowing your heart and early detection of heart disease saves lives.

To schedule your baseline EKG for just $35, call 356-4056

2375 E. Prater Way | Sparks, NV 89434 775-331-7000 | www.NNMC.com

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northern Nevada Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

February • 2013 • 15

Anderson Elementary School Children Share A Magical Intergenerational Event 90 school children from Anderson Elementary School.

Chef Michael Johnston from Five Star Premier Residences of Reno has been putting on the Teddy Bear Christmas over 10 years, and is never surprised by the growing numbers of neighborhood children living near the residential community expecting Santa to make his annual visit. Five Star senior residents help by raising funds to buy teddy bears and toys to be handed out the day of Dione Prior hugs a teddy bear she will give to a child. the event, creating a magical intergenerational experience for all.

The Chef of a retirement community The undertaking begins when chilin Reno is having fun playing Santa for

16 • 2013 • February

dren are given a chore to write a letter to Santa asking for a gift they really want for Christmas. Anderson school teachers send the requests to Five Star. Senior residents and staff then work to raise several thousand dollars for presents.

The children’s Christmas wishes are purchased by Chef Michael who goes on a tireless hunt to make sure every child is not forgotten.

The presents are wrapped and ready for Santa to hand out. Children are then paired with Five Star seniors who help them open Santa’s gift. Each child is also given a teddy bear and book to take home.

The whole day is quite an undertaking but one that never exhausts Chef Michael, who is a child for the day happy just to make the children and seniors smile.

Ophthalmology

Nutrients That Lower AMD Risk Michael J. Fischer, M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon

Agerelated macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness among older adults in the United States, occurs when an area near the center of the retina (called the macula) deteriorates over time.

As it progresses, those with AMD are likely to experience loss of central vision as well as the ability to discern fine detail. Because this eye disease is so prevalent and potentially debilitating, nearly everyone should be interested in taking steps to prevent it from occurring. One significant step in this direction, according to recent research, involves consuming plenty of

fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (such as tuna and salmon). Omega-3 fatty acids may help ensure proper blood vessel function in the retina and reduce inflammation.

Note - recent research also suggests that vitamin D lowers AMD risk by reducing inflammation and/or preventing the growth of new blood cells in the retina.

If you would like further information on this topic or an appointment, please call my office at 775-882-2988.

We are conveniently located at 3839 N. Carson Street.

Hours are 8-5 p.m., Monday through Friday by appointment. M/C, Visa, Medicare Assignment accepted.

Importance of Movement

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, the number of Americans who walk at least 10 minutes at a time one or more days a week increased from 55.7 percent in 2005 to 62 percent in 2010 – a jump of about 6 percent.

Among people with arthritis, the increase was about 4 percent.

"Being physically active is a giant step toward improving Americans' health by lowering risk for arthritis, as well as other diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and depression," says Arthritis Foundation Vice

President of Public Health Dr. Patience White. "We know that even small amounts of physical activity benefit people with arthritis by improving their mobility, reducing pain, increasing balance and strength, and improving their overall health."

While Americans are moving more than in years past, the CDC report also revealed fewer than half of all Americans are getting the government-recommended 2.5 hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity like brisk walking to improve their health.

February • 2013 • 17

Get Up & Go!

Yoga Therapy 101

Karen Hairfield

W

hat is Yoga Therapy?

It is a yoga-based wellness program where you will

learn a variety of ways in which yoga can improve your physical health, calm the mind and emotions, reduce stress, and open you

to new possibilities for optimal health. You’ll learn a series of simple, safe, and highly effective skills based in yoga for reducing stress and improving your overall wellbeing. These skills include body awareness, breathing, stretching, movement, and deep relaxation.

Are you aware that the work of the Yoga Institute in Bombay for over 70 years has successfully used the principles and techniques of Yoga to treat hypertension, heart disease, respiratory conditions, arthritis and other conditions? Doctors have referred patients who have asthma, emphysema, stiff backs and those with stress filled lives to Yoga Therapy classes.

Dr. Herbert Benson, a Harvard Cardiologist and early pioneer in the mind body health field, shows how mediation was an early catalyst for mind-body medical research. Jon Kabat-Zinn, and his stress management program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, uses mindfulness meditation, Hatha yoga, and breathing exercises to work successfully with a wide variety of conditions including

18 • 2013 • February

chronic pain.

Another organization, Commonweal, in Bolinas, California, has been very successful in providing cancer patients with education on alternative treatments.

One aspect of their program is the use of yoga postures and mediation.

Some insurance policies will reimburse anywhere between $50 up to $200 dollars each year to those who complete a yoga course.

Check out your own insurance; you may have a similar benefit. Watch for more articles on Yoga & Yoga Therapy. For more information about Yoga Therapy contact Karen Hairfield at 775-857-7715 or karen_hairfield@sbcglobal.net.

Specializing in Yoga Therapy, Yogasage.

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The health plan that offers more value than just Medicare.

• Low premium plans • Low prescription copays • Largest provider network in northern Nevada** • Multiple plan options • Access to Renown hospitals • No referrals to see specialists • Only not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plan in Nevada*** • Rx “gap” coverage

• Worldwide emergency care • Only locally owned and operated Mediare Advantage plan in Nevada*** • Local personalized customer service • Fitness club memberships • Hearing aid coverage • Supplemental dental and vision benefits • Largest Medicare Advantage plan enrollment in northern Nevada****

*Based on 2011/2012 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Plan ratings and Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study - Medicare & You Handbook. **Based on comparison of plans provider networks offered in northern Nevada counties. ***Based on comparison of Medicare Advantage plans offered in northern Nevada counties. ****Based on CMS Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment Data for October 2011.Senior Care Plus is a 4-Star Rated Plan. Plan performance summary star ratings are assessed each year and may change from one year to the next. Senior Care Plus is a health plan with a Medicare contract, available to anyone with both Medicare Parts A and B. A member must be a resident of Carson City County, Churchill County, Douglas County, Lyon County, Storey County or Washoe County and continue to pay his or her Medicare Part B premium. John Tyson is a paid spokesperson for Senior Care Plus. Material ID: Y0039_2012_SeniorSpectrumJan File & Use: 01032012

HEALTH CARE PLAN IN NEVADA* Call Center Hours Monday-Friday 8am-8pm (Now-October) www.SeniorCarePlus.com (775) 982-3158 or (888) 775-7003 TTY Relay Service 711 830 Harvard Way Reno, NV 89502 Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 5 pm

A Medicare Advantage Plan from Hometown Health.

February • 2013 • 19

Transradial Catheterization Results in Fewer Complications and Faster Recovery Devang M. Desai, MD, FACC, FSCAI Chief of Interventional Cardiology Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center Each year, more than Devang M. Desai one million cardiac catheterizations are performed in the United States and most gain access to the arteries that lead to the heart by way of a procedure called transfemoral access.

During this approach, a catheter is inserted into the groin Today, some interventional cardiologists are performing heart catheterizations utilizing the transradial access approach which is performed by going

20 • 2013 • February

through the wrist rather than the groin. This approach is making a real difference in patient outcomes, recovery and overall satisfaction.

With only about ten percent of heart catheterizations nationally performed with the radial approach, hospitals and physicians are trying to expand the utilization of this new method and have begun training with skilled cardiologists certified in radial catheterization. Saint Mary’s and Dr. Desai are the first in Nevada to host radial heart catheterization training and the only

provider on the West Coast to offer hands on training.

The hospital joins the ranks of UCLA Medical Center and Stanford University Medical Center as one of only three providers on the West Coast offering radial training programs.

“It is important to remain at the cutting edge of medicine and provide patients with safer and lower-risk alternatives,” said Dr. Desai. “The safety and comfort of our patients is our top priority and offering this procedure limits a patient’s risk of complications and offers quicker recovery times with less

discomfort.”

The diagnostic and interventional procedures with a transfemoral and transradial approach are virtually the same, once the artery is engaged. However, the major difference is what occurs at the end of each procedure. With the traditional method, patients lie flat for 4-6 hours post procedure after an attending nurse or technician have applied pressure to the groin. This is necessary to ensure the puncture site reaches hemostasis, no further bleeding.

With transradial access, the patient is able to get up almost immediately after the procedure, allowing the patient to sit up and walk with full range of motion.

For certain types of patients, including obese patients, women and the elderly, and patients with peripheral vascular disease, transradial access reduces the risk of bleeding complications by 58 percent.

Expanding use of transradial access for both diagnostic and interventional procedures ensures better patients outcomes and comfort. To learn more about transradial catheterization, call Saint Mary’s Cardiology at 775-7707622.

Tips to Stop Arthritis Pain National Council on Aging

I

f you suffer with arthritis, here are some ways you can learn to manage the pain. We

developed these tips with the help of the Arthritis Foundation.

Osteoarthritis hurts

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that is not a normal part of aging.

Inflammation in the joint tissues causes pain when you bend or move.

Arthritis pain can rob people of their quality of life—causing them to lose muscle strength, sleep poorly, and even sink into depression.

Managing the pain is possible

The best way to beat pain is to stop it before it starts. Here are several ways to get started: • Pace yourself - Switch between heavier and lighter tasks. Balance activity with planned rest breaks, and don’t overdo it.

• Protect your joints Avoid activities that stress your joints. Use splints, braces, and assistive devices if needed, and practice good posture.

• Control your weight Losing just one pound of body weight will take four pounds of pressure off

your knees. Shedding extra weight reduces pain and improves function.

The best way to lose weight is physical activity combined with a healthy diet.

• Increase physical activity - Being physically active is the best thing you can do for pain. But it’s important to move safely and wisely. Talk to your doctor about types and amounts of activity that can help you build strength, increase endurance, and maintain flexibility.

• Get a good night’s sleep - Better sleep equals less pain. To improve your sleep, get regular physical activity, avoid alcohol and caffeine in the evening, go to bed and get up at the same time every day, and avoid stress before bedtime.

When you need relief now

A combination of prevention and pain relief strategies works best for most people. When you need relief right away, try heat and cold treatments, relaxation techniques, and massage. Pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and topical treatments also can help. Remember to tell your doctor how much pain you have and share your goals for pain control.

You have the power to influence.

Immunize Nevada wants to remind you the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu is to get vaccinated.

This season, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine.

To learn more, visit InfluenceNevada.org

SNIHC

Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition

Funding provided by the Nevada State Health Division by Grant Number 5H23IP922549-10 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

February • 2013 • 21

Estate Plan / page 7 finances in case you are incapacitated.

• Health Care Power of Attorney. This tool allows you to appoint an agent to make medical decisions, including end of life decisions, if you are unable to

22 • 2013 • February

make them yourself.

Depending on your circumstances, your estate planning attorney may recommend additional strategies to ensure that your planning goals are fulfilled and your family is protected in the event of your death or disability. What if you already have an estate plan? The New Year is a great time to take a fresh look at your plan. You may find that it needs to be fine-tuned to keep up with changes in your family’s circumstances or changes in the law. While we recommend that everyone periodically meet with their estate planning attorney to

review their estate plan, several situations strongly indicate that a review is in order.

Family Changes If you have recently gotten married or divorced, you will want to ensure your assets go to the intended recipients and that the appropriate people are in charge of making decisions on your behalf.

Your estate planning attorney can help you review your family’s changed circumstances and understand how these circumstances affect your estate plan.

Financial Changes You might not realize it, but changes in your financial status can have a significant impact on your estate plan, as can changes in your children’s finances.

For example, if your overall net worth has increased – or if you have increased your life insurance coverage – you may need to think about

estate tax planning. Your estate planning attorney can show you strategies for reducing your potential tax liability.

If one of your children has experienced a rise or fall in net worth, you may want to take a second look at the proportion of your estate each of your children will inherit. For example, if your son is single and has a secure job with a high salary, he may need less from you than his sister who has three children and a modest income.

New Planning Options The law is always changing, and these changes can have an impact on your estate plan. If your plan is more than a few years old, it is likely that new planning options are available to better protect your assets, reduce your tax bill, and ensure the security of your family after you are gone. The best way to find out about new strategies is to sit down with your estate planning attorney and review your existing plan.

An up-to-date estate plan ensures that you have the best source of protection during your lifetime, and that your loved ones will be protected and provided for after you’re gone. Whether you are exploring the idea of estate planning for the first time or you’ve had a plan in place for years, now is the time to meet with a qualified estate planning attorney.

The Law Firm of Anderson, Dorn & Rader, Ltd. is devoted exclusively to estate planning, and are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. For more information or attend an upcoming seminar, contact us at (775) 823-9455 or visit us online at www.probatebusters.com.

Grandparents Pass Wisdom and Experience to Grandchildren

T

here are 70 million grandparents in the U.S., more than ever before. According to the recent study Grandparents Investing in Grandchildren: The MetLife Study on How Grandparents Share Their Time, Values, and Money, increasingly grandparents are a vital source of financial support for American families. They're also in the enviable position of being sought after for wisdom and advice, even from teenagers.

How can grandparents make the best of their relationships with their grandchildren and have the most impact possible? Based on its study, an accompanying guide provides grandparents with advice on how they can be influential in a positive way on topics including values, beliefs, civic engagement, heritage and even cooking.

"Grandparents continue to be a positive influence on their grandchildren.

Even though some are long distance and families seem to have less leisure time than in the past, it's more critical than ever for grandparents to pass on life lessons, family history and positive values, through strong relationships with their grandchildren," said Sandra Timmermann, MetLife, Ed.D., director.

Grandparents should consider the following: • Share values and beliefs.

Areas that resonate the

Key Findings • Two in 10 grandpar­ ents say they are living in a multi­generational household; 30 percent of those households include grandchildren.

• Just over one in 10 grandparents (13%) pro­ vides care on a regular basis for at least one grandchild. Of those, 32 percent are providing care five or more days per week.

most with grandchildren are honesty and good behavior, education, family history, self-sufficiency and good health habits.

Grandparents are also successful at teaching their grandchildren the importance of community involvement through philanthropy, volunteerism and voting.

• Celebrate family. The guide suggests taking the time to create family history through an audio-visual message, a family tree, photos, and/or by preparing meals together, which creates the perfect setting for conversations.

• Invest in your grand-

children's financial security. Increasingly, grandparents are helping to support their grandchildren, especially through assistance with tuition. Grandparents can be particularly helpful by also helping grandchildren to acquire financial literacy skills. They help foster early saving habits, encourage smart spending and making investments.

The tip sheet also contains a list of resources for grandparents. Among them are Family Volunteering (www.thevolunteerfamily. org), Intergenerational Learning Activities (www.gu.org/RESOURCES/ LearningActivities.aspx) and Legacy Project (www.legacyproject.org).

• Topping the list of very important values grand­ parents wish to pass down are honesty (88%), good behavior (82%), self­sufficiency (70%), higher education (69%), and good health habits (68%).

• The majority (62%) of grandparents have pro­ vided financial support or monetary gifts for grandchildren within the past five years. The total average amount provid­ ed over the past five years among this group for all grandchildren was $8,289 total, with more than half having given up to $5,000.

February • 2013 • 23

ECLECTIC OBSERVER

by Janet Ross

L

24 • 2013 • February

ast fall British author Rachel Joyce was interviewed on National Public Radio about her new novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. The book’s subject sounded so interesting I immediately checked with Washoe County Library and happily discovered they had a copy available.

Joyce’s story about Harold Fry’s unusual journey is now one of my all-time favorite reads.

Harold Fry is 65, retired, tethered to a bitter spouse, and living in the southern-most part of England. He receives a brief note from a former coworker who announces she’s dying of cancer in a hospice at the northern end of Scotland.

Harold’s reaction to the note is totally unexpected and out of character. I’ll leave you there to discover for yourself what transpires in this heart-warming exploration of an “unlikely pilgrimage.”

Harold’s story brought to mind another book about a pilgrimage I’d enjoyed earlier in the year. Jane Christmas is a Canadian writer and journalist who chronicled her own pilgrimage in a funny, sad, but inspiring tale, What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim - a Midlife Misadventure on

Spain’s Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Jane traveled one of the most popular pilgrimage routes in Europe, the 800 kilometer walk from France through Northern Spain.

A brief dictionary definition of a pilgrimage is “a journey to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion ...” a pilgrim may also be a “traveler, wanderer, wayfarer or crusader.” While there are many accounts of early Christian crusaders, one of the most recognized published works about early pilgrims is Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with stories about individuals on their way to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral in Great Britain.

Sites of pilgrimage familiar to Christians include Santiago de Compostela in Spain, Lourdes in France, Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the Holy Land. Islam draws its devotees to Mecca (the Hajj) and Medina, while Hindus make the journey to a Kumbh Mela, which incorporates a rotation of four separate locations. For most, a pilgrimage means a journey taken, for a large part, on foot. In some instances, a pilgrim may travel on knees or crawling to demonstrate exceptional devotion.

There’s a great deal of literature about pilgrimages; it’s almost as if a pilgrim feels the need to share a highly individual experience with a wider audience.

Eclectic / page 24

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela is a frequent subject and many books about it are worth reading.

In addition of Jane Christmas’ irreverent journey, I can recommend Tim Moore’s Travels with My Donkey: One Man and His Ass on a Pilgrimage to Santiago and Conrad Rudolph’s Pilgrimage to the end of the World: the Road to Santiago de Compostela. The “Camino” as it’s also known, has also spawned a celebrity book by Shirley McLaine (not recommended unless you’re truly a fan) and a movie written and directed by Emilio Estevez

starring his father, Martin Sheen, The Way. (The film was made entirely along the Camino in France and Spain, enhancing landscapes one may only have read about.)

A new book that covers three pilgrimages has received good reviews and takes the reader from The Camino to temples in Japan and the tomb of a Hasidic mystic in Ukraine.

The author is Gideon LewisKraus.

Whether you’re inclined to make a pilgrimage of your own, even a vicarious journey has its benefits to open vistas and insights.

February • 2013 • 25

BIGGESTlittle City Harry Spencer

REQUIRED READING: A recent book by veteran newspaperman Guy Clifton entitled “Images of America RENO” is an important read for local history buffs. In essence what the book does is show important pictures with comprehensive captions. The photos themselves are categorized in nine classifications. They are: Favorite Sons and Daughters; Business and Business people; Under the Arch; Welcome, Mr. President; Famous Faces; Silver Spurs; Reno Rodeo; The Champs; Disasters and Oddities.

Especially interesting to

26 • 2013 • February

this writer were the chapters on “Silver Spurs” and the “Reno Rodeo”. Since I had a long relationship with these two events, I enjoyed seeing pictures of celebrities from both the celluloid cowboy world and persons of the domain of actual cowboys.

Among the Silver Spurs honorees I had the good fortune to personally interact with were John Wayne, Jim Arness, Richard Boone, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon, and Lorne Greene. Of them all I most frequently saw Greene because he and I lived at Incline Village during the late ‘70s. Since Greene

Guy Clifton Presents Old-Time Reno

was an avid tennis player, those occasions mostly occurred on the Tahoe Racquet Club courts and at the Clint Eastwood Celebrity Tennis Tournaments. On one occasion between matches Greene and I discussed the possibility of staging a Western Film Festival somewhere in Northern Nevada. As the figurehead of the fictional Cartwright family of “Bonanza” he was well qualified to act as the chairman of such a promotion. Due to the longevity of the TV program his producers had occasion to hire many well-known Western figures for their broadcast.

Unfortunately Greene passed away before we could see the project to fruition.

Additionally, both Blocker and Landon were frequent visitors to the few night spots in Incline when they were on location shooting at the lake. They were able to hold their own with the veteran villagers during their time at the bar. It is probably a little known fact that at one point in time the principals in the TV show were in negotiations to purchase both the King’s Castle and the Ponderosa Ranch and connect them via a sky tram.

The driving force oddly in this project was none other than Dan Blocker, whose offish appearance in the show was belied by the fact that he was the chief negotiator. Just before the final papers were to be signed he (Blocker) had to undergo what was considered a minor surgical opera-

tion. The operation proved unsuccessful and Blocker passed away much too young and the massive project never came to be.

Arness was the first TV cowboy to receive the Silver Spurs, all the previous winners had been motion picture stars such as John Wayne, Gregory Peck, James Stewart, Gary Cooper, Alan Ladd, Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart again, Glenn Ford the following two years, and Fred MacMurray. Arness’ award was presented to him by another famous film actor, Rex Bell, who at that time was the Lt. Governor of the state.

In the “Reno Rodeo” chapter full-page pictures are devoted to two of the most prominent figures in the event and they would be Harry Frost who ran Reno Printing Company and Cotton Rosser, who started as a competitor in the rodeo and eventually became the stock provider for future rodeos. During its heyday the Reno Rodeo attracted such premiere names as Casey Tibbs, Larry Mahan and Ty Murray. Of all the individuals that served as President of the Reno Rodeo Charles Mapes was probably the most innovative. When he grabbed the reins of the event in 1966 the rodeo was in dire straits for funding.

He devised a plan whereby local merchants and professional people could contribute to an Underwriting Program that was designed (Biggest Little page 34)

Answers page 31

February • 2013 • 27

Eydie Excepts

50th Anniversary Cruise

I

t has Staterooms are scattered been in far and wide on different the floors. Many of you have works for 6 been on cruises so you know Eydie Scher months. how small they are, and how Our 50th isn’t until March claustrophobic the bathroom 16th but the only time all of is. It’s funny how fast you get us are off is Christmas week. used to it. Bon Voyage!

It’s a go. Twentyeight-hundred other friends are joining us, as is a crew of 1,000 or so. I say friends because that’s what it seems like. Everyone on board smiles holds doors and revels in the fact Icebreaking t-shirt, “Production began in 1963.” that we are sharing this wonderful Princess cruise together for My daughter and I have the holidays. Our family of massages and facials. So do 14 is especially excited. my daughter-in-laws.

Probably like yours, our The Giants football team family hasn’t always been a is flashing across the huge cohesive mix of warm fuzzy screen above one of the feelings. But I am proud to pools. It’s not a good time to state that it is now and will lose, but lose they do even hopefully remain so. This though I am wearing my vacation exceeded any expec- giant t-shirt. Relaxing in a tations or preconceived chaise lounge, soaking up the notions we had. It turned sun and partaking of food into a family love-fest right and drink is certainly not a off the bat. bad way to accept the loss. A The 14 of us met onboard staff member is always the Sapphire Princess. The handy to procure any amenikids pass out t-shirts with a ty if you simply glance in picture from our wedding on their direction. the back and the words First dress-up night! The “Production began in 1963.” family looks amazing. A All of us wear them and get million photos are snapped lots of stares and questions. by us, plus one by the proIt is quite the icebreaker! I fessional. am chosen to videotape the The cells don’t work on cruise for Princess. They give board so we actually have to me a hand-held video camera physically look for one to use. It is supposed to be another or make calls to easy. The grand kids help me.

(Excerpts page 32) 28 • 2013 • February

Calendar

Feb. 1 - May 26 - A Celebration of Native American Culture, Sparks Museum & Cultural Center, www.SparksMuseum.org, (775) 355-1144.

Feb. 1 - April 14 - Magique, Eldorado Showroom, (800) 648-5966, www.eldoradoreno.com.

Feb. 1 - 22 - Buying and Selling on the Web, 12-2 p.m., TMCC Meadowood Center, Rm. 115, (775) 829-9010.

Feb. 4 - April 15 - Creative Writing, 10-12 p.m., TMCC Meadowood Center, Rm. 324, (775) 829-9010.

Feb. 4 - 14, City of Reno 2013 Senior Winter Games, (775)657-4652, www.reno.gov/seniorgames.

Feb. 5 - 28 - Microsoft Word 2010, 9-11 a.m., TMCC Meadowood Center, Rm. 115, (775) 829-9010.

Feb. 9 - E-Book Cafe, 11-12 p.m., Sierra View Library, (775)827-3232.

Feb.16 - Homemade Jam, Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 7 p.m., Saturday, (775) 8286612, or www.washoecountyparks.com.

Feb. 16 - Knitting Club, 1-3 p.m., Northwest Reno Library, (775)787-4100.

Feb. 23 - AARP Driver Safety, 10-2:30 p.m., Neil Rd. Recreation Center. Pre-registration, (775)786-3509, $14 general, $12 AARP. Feb. 23 - Richard Elloyan, Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 7 p.m., Saturday, (775) 8286612, or www.washoecountyparks.com.

Feb. 26 & March 1, Twentieth Century by McArthur & Hecht, Ageless Repertory Theatre, Circleʼs Edge, 1117 California Ave., charter.net/agelessrep.

March 2 - Blamey Band Mar, Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 7 p.m., Saturday, (775) 8286612, or www.washoecountyparks.com.

March 4 - AARP Driver Safety, 9-2 p.m., Reno Senior Center. Pre-registration, (775)786-3509.

Cost: $14 general, $12 AARP members.

March 9 - Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra, Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 7 p.m., every Saturday, (775) 828-6612, www.washoecountyparks.com.

March 19 & 22 - Rumors by Neil Simon, Ageless Repertory Theatre, Circleʼs Edge, 1117 California Ave., charter.net/agelessrep.

February • 2013 • 29

this ‘n that

by Anne Vargas

annevargas3@gmail.com

Doing What We Do—Again Part one

For readers who are not familiar with what I have previously shared in this column, I live on a ship. Sort of.

My husband has had toomany-to-count opportunities to be a guest lecturer on cruise ships during the past 17-years and insists I accompany him. Since I get seasick in the shower I initially went along with great reluctance but am now somewhat “seasoned” and admit that a chocolate on the pillow every night is really rather nice.

As I write this we are getting ready to fly off into

30 • 2013 • February

another sunrise in order to sail off into another sunset.

Again. People frequently ask for details of our kind of travel so I decided to write a twopart narrative of this one, from preparation to return.

It is eleven degrees outside.

I am wearing wool on top of fleece on top of Cuddle Duds (great stuff, by the way) as I forage through packed-away, alien summer clothes. Three days from now I will be in Singapore where both the temperatures and the humidity are in the 90s. The high 90s. I don’t “do” that kind of heat so my spouse is resigned to what he knows lies ahead; a cross & cranky woman who whines a lot.

I am often asked for advice on how to pack for a cruise, the supposition being that I must know how since I do it so often. A fair assumption, but not true. I have friends, one in particular, who travels the world, from mountains to deserts to exotic elegance elsewhere, all with one suitcase, Alas, not so with me. I do have a blueprint I seem to faithfully follow every time we get ready to go: (1) Announce to spouse that I am taking very few clothes because I really don’t need that much.

(2) Start hanging those few things on a rack in the bedroom. (3) Put one pair of comfortable walking shoes and

one pair of dressy shoes beneath rack. (4) Congratulate myself on being a savvy traveler. (5) Trot out the “what-ifs”: what if it is unexpectedly cold (or hot/wet/dry, as the case may be). What if my evening attire is too dressy. Or too casual. What if one pair of basic black pants won’t be enough? What if my white pants get stained? What if I get a blister; won’t I need another pair of shoes? What if I need a sweater, or a windbreaker or umbrella? What if I want to exercise and get in shape (doubtful, but possible), shouldn’t I take gym attire?

(6) Look in closet and see a lot of other options; start adding more things to the

this ‘n that / page 30 rack. (7) Look at the rack, realize I can’t possibly take all of that but I’m getting confused. Take a nap. (8) Start worrying about the possibility of getting sick & pack every precautionary medication we have on hand and then buy more. (9) Wake up in the middle of the night to worry about everything having to do with the trip and everything having to do with everything else.

It’s amazing what I can find to worry about at 2 a.m.: What if we are in a Monsoon?

If the plane crashes, will our geographically scattered children know how to get into the house? Or how to dispose of its contents? Should I get up and straighten the closets?

Do I have time to clean the garage? Should I type out detailed lists explaining which set of china came from my grandmother and which came

from my mother, where the Christmas decorations are kept, who to notify of our demise?

And so it goes, I have been doing this for three days; I always do. I know those lists will not get typed and that I will vow to do it when we return; I always do. I know the suitcases will get packed; they always do, I know that there will be too many things in them that I don’t need and there will be things I do need that I left at home, which I will discover only after we reach the ship. I always do.

Our pending multi-leg trip from Reno to Singapore is about 197 hours (it seems) but we will get there eventually and sail away to Hong Kong via Viet Nam and Thailand.

It’s hot there, too. My husband is anxious to see how

Viet Nam has changed since the war and I am anxious to see the place where he spent a year.

So as I wander and whine I will take notes…and probably have some tales to tell. More next month.

Crossword p.27

February • 2013 • 31

Excerpts / page 28

rooms. Getting all 14 of us together in one spot is not

32 • 2013 • February

easy. Often we go our separate ways and simply meet for dinner.

Fantastic restaurants whet our palates. The gkids, and I use the word loosely since the oldest is 19, the next up is 17, the 15year-old, the 14year-old, the only boy, and the 3 elevenyear-olds, usually sit at one table, and the adults at another. They order from the menus and the waiters are at their beck and call. Sure,

have the steak! Everything is included. Don’t get too used to it!

Kayla, the 17year-old, writes me a poem that has me crying.

Kaylin, the 15year-old, gives me a painting she did of our puppy, Bella.

That cinches the tears. Our son Greg relates how different things were in 1963.

They all give us a trip to Banff, Canada.

On Christmas Eve day, the kids collaborate on a gingerbread house for a contest. Of course, it should have won.

The houses are on display around the ship.

Christmas Day is spent on the beach in Puerto Vallarta.

This beats a cold white Christmas any time. It’s our first foray in a port. Most of us, including me, go para sailing. I inhale the breathtaking view. Now I won’t have to go skydiving for my big upcoming birthday.

On another trip to port, a tender whisks us into Cabo.

The water is rough but we see fish when snorkeling. I get knocked over by the waves.

My two sons dash to help me up. David arrives back from the beach minus his shoes that are stolen. Promptly, he buys a pair of flip-flops.

Fortunately, there is a mall in Cabo and we trek there under a hot sun. Yeah, I’m complaining about the heat! A sporting good store sells the same brands we do.

Back on the ship, we attend a couples married 50-years or

more dance and champagne toast. Gosh, they look old.

All 14 of us!

Quickly we leave.

Whales, dolphins and sea lions pass in the water alongside the ship. Party night is by one of the pools.

Seven pools seem like an appropriate number with at least that many hot tubs or more. The best dancing night is a 70s party where we do YMCA and the hustle. Do you remember those?

Our last meal on board is breakfast. Disembarking is easy and we get to the car by 8 a.m. Something is amiss.

The engine doesn’t cooperate and a jump-start is required.

Finally we are on our way.

The trip home takes 10-hours although David disagrees.

Hold on Dazzy and Bella. We are coming home.

Photos tell the story. A family fell in love all over again. I hope you can relate.

Wow, it was the dream of a lifetime. We have a wonderful family and of course friends like you.

Comments always appreciated: eydies@aol.com.

Seniors4Travel Delta, Utah

B

lue Highways author William Least HeatMoon writes about US50, “for the unhurried, this little-known highway is the best national road across the middle of the United States.”

Dubbed “The Loneliest Road in America,” US-50 has become one of our favorite routes for a road trip. Each time we drive through Nevada, Utah and Colorado on the Loneliest Road, we spend time exploring towns and sites that were overlooked on previous trips.

It’s been said about Delta, Utah, that your stay probably won’t be very exciting and that it may last only as long as it takes to fill the gas tank and buy a soda. And, if your only knowledge of the town is its wide Main Street (Highway 6 and 50), sidelined by a few old buildings and a couple of gas stations, that may be true – as it was for us until last summer.

Then, on our most recent trip through Utah, we designated Delta as our overnight stop, and spent the better part of two days exploring the area.

We discovered there’s more to the community than meets the eye.

With approximately 3,500 residents, Delta is the largest incorporated city in Millard County. We found businesses to meet nearly every need, including a hospital, an18-hole golf course and RV park. At nearby Gunnison Bend Reservoir there are opportunities for fishing, swimming, and boating. South of Delta, off Highway 257, is the Clear Lake Waterfowl Refuge, home to

numerous types of birds. Fort Deseret, 10 miles southwest, was erected in 1865 by Mormon pioneers, and is the only remaining adobe fort in Utah. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Just beyond Fort Deseret is the turn-off to the Great Stone Face, a rock formation said to look like the LDS prophet Joseph Smith. Delta is also

Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa considered the eastern gateway to the Great Basin National Park.

museum that we learned about the World War II Topaz Relocation Center.

The Great Basin Museum, Delta The Great Basin Museum, on Delta’s Main Street, houses excellent rock and fossil displays and articles from the community’s early history. It was from an exhibit at the

Topaz Japanese-American Relocation Center Near Delta is Topaz Mountain which derives its name from the topaz abundant in the area. The mountain also lends its name to the World (4Travel page 34)

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4Travel / page 33

War II Topaz JapaneseAmerican Internment Camp (also referred to as Topaz Relocation Center). Located sixteen miles from Delta, from 1942-46, the camp held 8500 Japanese-American internees, mostly from the San Francisco Bay area.

Citing "military necessity," the government and the U.S. Army confined over 110,000 men, women, and children in 10 remote camps. Although the Japanese-Americans were never charged with any crime, they were forced to abandon their homes, taking only possessions they could carry, and incarcerated for up to four years in camps with very primitive conditions, surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Topaz was one of those camps.

The internment of Americans of Japanese ances-

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try during WW II is considered one of the worst violations of civil rights in the history of the U. S. On March 29, 2007, Topaz Relocation Site was designated a National Historic Landmark. To get there, take the Sutherland road from Delta and follow signs to the Topaz Relocation Camp Site.

Topaz Museum, Delta In 2012 the Topaz Museum Board received a National Park Service Japanese American Confinement Sites grant for $714,000. That grant and additional funds raised are designated for construction of a new Topaz Museum and exhibits. On Aug. 4, 2012, a ground breaking ceremony on Delta’s Main Street kicked off the construction.

For more information on Delta, Utah and Millard

County tourism: www.millardcounty.com, or contact Delta Area Chamber of

Biggest Little/ page 26

to raise enough money to cover the expenses of the event. The underwriters would be repaid on a percentage basis based on the income that the rodeo generated. The first year they received something like 60 percent return on their money. The amount they received in subsequent years finally reached 100 percent and the rodeo was on solid footing.

In “The Champs” section of the book Clifton found archival pictures of the Jack Johnson-Jim Jeffries Heavyweight Championship fight that was the first event

Commerce, 80 N 200 W, Delta, UT 84624.

Tel. (435) 864-4316

that gave Reno international stature. Other Heavyweight Champions that visited Reno in subsequent years included Jack Dempsey, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Joe Luis, George Foreman, Rocky Marciano and Sonny Liston.

Of the aforementioned I knew Liston the best since he had established his training camp in the Skyroom of the Mapes Hotel when he fought here.

Anyone who has ever wanted to know what Reno was like during its “Golden Era” has but to turn the pages of Clifton’s latest work.

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