MDN - Senior Scope - March/April 2022

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March is National Nutrition Month Weeks-Rosten’s gardening passion has bloomed after retirement ‘J.P.’ knows the score MARCH / APRIL 2022

Table of Contents 3

March is National Nutrition Month; Crypto Fun

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Midland police officer educates seniors about scams

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Dish up a classic comfort food this St. Patrick’s Day

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Ann Jarvis has wealth of knowledge at Grace A. Dow Library

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Word Scramble

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Weeks-Rosten’s gardening passion has bloomed after retirement

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Retired Midland couple stays active, fit through extensive traveling

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Crypto Fun; Guess Who

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Mind Matters: Being proactive about memory changes; Guess Who

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Word Search

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‘J.P.’ knows the score

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Blueberry pie wins raves every time

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Care Coordination Corner: Health outcomes start in your mind

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Word Search; Word Scramble; Guess Who

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Sat, March 19 10 am-4 pm FREE ers mb for me ildren! h & all c r pe Just $5ember non-mdult a

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Why it pays for seniors to maintain good credit

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Answer Key

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Shake up Lenten dinners with variety

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Senior Scope | March 2022

March is National Nutrition Month KYLIE COFFEY Senior Services Dietetic Intern National Nutrition Month, organized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is celebrated each March.

This year, the theme is “Celebrate a World of Flavors,” which encourages people to recognize a variety of flavors and cuisines from around the world. Throughout March, the academy has provided a variety of weekly nutrition challenges that aim to appreciate our individual goals, cultures and food preferences. Celebrate your favorite traditions and experience new ones during National Nutrition Month this year.

that influence the type of foods and dishes that we eat. We can still enjoy our favorite dishes and make them more nutritious by including foods from all food groups and incorporating them with each meal.

Week One: Eat a Variety of Nutritious Foods Each person has a unique family history and traditions

Kylie Coffey

Week Two: See a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) In addition to celebrating National Nutrition Month, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates Registered Dietitian

Nutritionist Day on March 9. The role of an RDN is to provide people with personalized nutrition information that celebrates their unique heritage. Ask your doctor for a referral to a specialized RDN to help you achieve your specific nutrition goals.

Week Three: Plan your meals and snacks Figuring out what to eat every day can be challenging.

Planning meals ahead of time can take the stress out of not knowing what to make for meals and snacks.

Plans can allow you to choose healthier meal options and simplify grocery shopping by preparing a list of the ingredients you need for that week. Additionally, it can increase

meal variety and reduce the number of meals or snacks consumed away from home.

Week Four: Create tasty foods at homeCreating meals at home can be an opportunity to experiment with different foods and cooking techniques. It’s never too late to learn new cooking and meal preparation skills. Cooking can even improve the skills you already have. Once you have discovered foods and flavors you enjoy, you can create a culinary masterpiece. Incorporating new flavors and foods adds variety to your diet while you experience cultures from around the world.

Embrace Your Age!

Answers on page 19.

March 2022 | Senior Scope

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Handyman Services Health & Fitness Health Benefit Assistance 4700 Dublin Ave. Help for Caregivers Midland, MI 48642 Home Care Services Visit us online: Meals on Wheels www.SeniorServicesMidland.org www.SeniorServicesMidland .org Memory Support Senior Newspaper Transportation Volunteer Opportunities

989-633-3700

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Midland police officer educates seniors about scams DAVE SHANE for the Daily News Police officer Brennon Warren spent about seven years on road patrol before becoming a community relations officer for the City of Midland.

And while he told the Midland Daily News he enjoyed road patrol duties, he said he really likes doing what he did in late February during a Lunchtime Learners meeting with seniors at the Trailside Senior Center.

Warren spent more than an hour talking and explaining to local residents how to protect themselves from scams.

“I love it. It’s a wonderful job,” Warren said before his presentation. “It really gives me an opportunity to expand the relationship between our department and the community.

“I think it’s really important. … And being the face for the department is very important to me.”

Warren, 32, has had his new position for almost a year now. He said he is busier than ever.

While at the senior center, he presented an outline and explained what seniors need to watch out for.

Why are seniors the targets of scammers?

“Because you’re trusting and polite,” he told the audience of about 50 seniors. “They know that, so they’re going to prey on you.”

Not only are seniors more likely to listen to a phone caller, they also tend to have access to at least some retirement savings, they may 4

Midland Police Department Officer Brennon Warren talks to seniors recently at Trailside Senior Center about how to avoid scams. not be alert because of medications they are taking, and some are more likely to be sad or depressed, Warren said. “(Callers) can become that friend to you, to give them what they want,” he said.

Warren talked about the many ways that callers obtain information from potential customers – or victims.

People openly give out information

through warranty cards, online contests, online surveys, social media (like Facebook) and general public records. He said many companies will tell you in their fine print that they may be sharing the information you give them.

“We can’t control this, so we have to be mindful it’s going to be here for a very long time,” Warren said.

He then proceeded to outline some of the most common scams and

how they work to rob seniors, as well as others: • Tech support scams – "You have a virus in your computer, but we can fix that for you."

• Grandchild scam – your grandchild is in trouble (an accident, injury or arrest) and needs money right now, but doesn’t want mom and dad to find out, that is why he is calling you.

Senior Scope | March 2022

• You’ve just won a sweepstakes or major gift, but for some reason you need to pay to have the gift delivered to you.

Shepherd’s Pie

• Phone calls that say the IRS or a law enforcement agency requires you to send them money immediately or face the consequences.

Don’t do it. It’s not real.

Yield: 8 servings 11⁄2 2 1 2 2 11⁄2 13⁄4 3⁄4 2 2 1 1 1⁄4 4 1 1⁄2 1⁄2

• Romance websites – you’ve met a great person online, but suddenly they are in trouble and need your cash. But, of course, they say they will pay you back.

• Text messages and emails that want you to provide personal information so a package can be shipped to you.

• Receiving a check or gift card in the mail, but you need to pay them something first. Later, the check will bounce or there will be no gift.

• Health insurance card – yours has expired, so you need to give them your Medicare or Social Security number. Don’t do it.

• You have just won a lottery. Just send a small fee to collect big money.

Warren said that many of the scams are initiating from out-ofstate locations, and are difficult for local authorities to track down and prosecute. The best way to beat the scams is to avoid them by making smart decisions. That means hanging up the phone or deleting the questionable email or message.

Many people in attendance for Warren's session mentioned incidents of suspected fraud that they had already experienced.

Warren said that if a Midlander suspects a fraud attempt, they should cut it short and can call 1-989-8396466, a non-emergency police number, to pass the potential scam information on to local authorities.

The tip will help officials gather data on common local scam attempts.

March 2022 | Senior Scope

Dish up a classic comfort food this St. Patrick’s Day Everyone has “corned beef and cabbage” on the brain come St. Patrick’s Day. But another flavorful dish might appeal to a greater number of people with Irish roots.

Shepherd’s Pie is a savory dish made of minced lamb that originated in England but also made the jump to Ireland, where it became a popular comfort food. While Shepherd’s Pie can be made with freshly cooked ground meat, it also is a fine way to use leftovers from a previous meal. Shepherd’s Pie is commonly mistaken for Cottage Pie, which is very similar, yet tends to use beef as the meat of choice.

Many families have their own ancestral recipes for Shepherd’s Pie, but for those looking to cook the dish for the first time, try “Shepherd’s Pie,” courtesy of Alton Brown, which appeared in Season 12 of his hit show “Good Eats.”

pounds russet potatoes tablespoons canola oil cup chopped onion carrots, peeled and finely diced cloves garlic, minced pounds ground lamb teaspoons kosher salt teaspoon freshly ground black pepper teaspoons tomato paste teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary teaspoon chopped fresh thyme teaspoon Worcestershire sauce cup half-and-half tablespoons unsalted butter large egg yolk cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen cup English peas, fresh or frozen

1. Heat oven to 400 F. 2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1⁄2-inch dice.

Put them in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set said pan over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, drop the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Heat the oil in an 11-inch saute pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the meat, salt and pepper, and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes.

4. Sprinkle the meat with the flour, toss to coat, and continue to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, and thyme and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to low, cover, and simmer slowly until the sauce is thickened slightly, 10 to 12 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, combine the half-and-half and butter in a microwave-safe container and nuke until warmed through, about 35 seconds.

6. Drain the potatoes and return them to the saucepan.

Mash the potatoes (a masher is an excellent tool for this, though a hand mixer will do), then add the hot half-and-half mixture, as well as the salt and pepper.

Mash to smoothness, then stir in the egg yolk.

7. Add the corn and peas to the meat mixture and spread evenly in a 7-by-11-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling over, and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Place on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooking rack and let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

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Ann Jarvis has been helping people at the reference desk at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library for more than 23 years.

Ann Jarvis has wealth of knowledge at Grace A. Dow Library DAVE SHANE for the Daily News The staff at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland has endured two damaging floods and a pandemic in the last five years.

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But the facility is making progress – and has some services targeted especially for seniors, according to reference librarian Ann Jarvis. With more than 23 years of experience,

Jarvis, 51, is the longest continuously serving librarian in Midland.

“I’ve spent pretty much my entire career here,” Jarvis said. “It’s a great

career for people who like to learn.”

She said seniors tend to be the main daytime clientele at the library, which is on the city’s west side, Senior Scope | March 2022

Grace A. Dow Memorial Library reference librarian Ann Jarvis said the Many seniors prefer browsing through the collection of large print books at library’s audio book collection is great for seniors; or anyone else who wants Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. to listen to a book while doing something else at the same time. especially while local schools are in session.

Books in large print, audio books, access to genealogical records, local history, and instructional aides – including one-on-one help for modern electronic devices – are among the resources available that attract seniors.

Jarvis said the library’s local history room also will be reopening soon.

“It is great for local history research,” she said.

The public can track down the history of every residence and business at every address in past editions of the Midland city directory, or do research through an online “ancestry library” that has billions of historical documents and photographs from around the world.

“For more involved help, you can sign up for time to meet with me March 2022 | Senior Scope

Jarvis said more people nowadays are enjoying audio books because they allow someone to do two things at once – like woodworking or knitting while listening to a book. She said she is among the readers who prefer to go paperless.

“I have to admit I am an e-book reader. I’m used to and I enjoy an e-book,” she said, noting they can be read in the dark because the only light that is needed is from the screen itself.

A recent local library addition for seniors is called “Spark a Memory,” a kit that contains themed, multi-sensory items to help initiate memories.

Items in the kits include DVDs of music, images, photographs and conversation-starting cards.

The kits can be placed on hold by searching “Spark a Memory” in the library’s online catalog at www. gracedowlibrary.biblionix.com or can be found on display near the reference desk.

Seniors also enjoy the library because they can pick up loads of reading material, jigsaw puzzles, crafts, and board games to work on with their grandchildren.

Jarvis grew up in an Ann Arbor home where both her parents were teachers. She said she wasn’t sure what kind of career she wanted to pursue.

Her undergraduate degree at Calvin College (now Calvin University) was

in Renaissance and Reformation history. Then she attended Wayne State University for a master’s degree in library science.

She says now with confidence that she made the right choice.

“An advisor steered me into library science … and I’m thankful for that.”

Jarvis lives on the east side of Midland, where she enjoys her cat and pony.

Answers on page 19.

Jarvis said one of the best things about her job is helping people – and not just seniors – learn to master new electronic devices, like a Kindle or tablet.

individually. I do really enjoy that – getting people more comfortable with the devices, to teach them a new skill," she said.

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Cheryl WeeksRosten (second from right) joins a few of the other 27 members of the Evergreen Garden Club as they pause for a photograph during a day of work.

Weeks-Rosten’s gardening passion has bloomed after retirement DAVE SHANE for the Daily News Cheryl Weeks-Rosten of Midland is proof that an interest in gardening can bloom after retirement.

The 78-year-old retiree is an active gardener and a member of several local gardening clubs. While she did some gardening as an adult, it was not nearly as much as she has done after completing her career as a high school English teacher.

“I never really started gardening until I was in my 40s and the kids had left home,” she said. “And then I really got into it after retirement.”

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While Weeks-Rosten may spend her winters thinking about gardening, she spends most of the rest of the year doing work in one of several gardens. Besides tending to a garden at her home that she and her husband, John Rosten, a Dow Corning Corp. retiree, share on the city’s north side, she also helps beautify the community through the Evergreen Garden Club, the gardens at Midland Reformed Church on North Saginaw Road, and as a member of Midland’s Dahlia Hill Society.

“I’m somewhere every day during the summer,” she said.

Weeks-Rosten recommends gardening to seniors, who “can give as much or as little time to it as you have."

“I would definitely recommend it.

There’s a feeling of satisfaction when you are creating something useful out of nothing,” she said.

While Weeks-Rosten grows tomatoes at her home garden, her main joy comes from planting and caring for flowers. Besides dahlias, her flowering favorites are hydrangea, hibiscus, hellebores, iris and day lillies.

“I have a favorite flower for every part of the summer.”

She said she thinks growing flowers tends to be more common in more urban areas, while vegetables probably are favored in country gardens. She said she has friends who concentrate almost exclusively on the latter.

During the winter, she gardens at a club that she visits in Bradenton, Florida, and she enjoys reading about gardening, classics and mysteries.

Senior Scope | March 2022

Weeks-Rosten still puts her education background to work as well.

She volunteers with other American teachers who visit and instruct elementary teachers at a school in Guatemala.

But if that is not their choice, they can start small – even with just a few potted plants.

“It’s a very rewarding piece of my retirement as well,” she said.

If you don’t have a lot of room to garden, you can try cultivating the land at Phoenix Community Garden, which is not far from the city limits.

Weeks-Rosten said the community garden, which is a charitable endeavor, is always looking for volunteers.

Retirees should not be shy about trying gardening, Weeks-Rosten says.

“I got into it late in the game,” she said. “I was interested in plants, even though I’m not really a science person. But I am interested in the beauty of gardening.”

Weeks-Rosten said she would recommend one of the many Midland gardening clubs for seniors who want to meet other like-minded seniors.

“I’d recommend gardening. … Whatever scale they can take on, I think they’d enjoy gardening.”

“We’re a lucky community,” she said of the public gardening opportunities in the Midland area.

Weeks-Rosten is the president of the Midland Garden Council. If you would like her help to get involved in a local community garden club, contact her at cwrosten@gmail.com

Cheryl Weeks-Rosten shows some tubers she removed at the end of the season from Dahlia Hill in Midland.

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March 2022 | Senior Scope

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Retired Midland couple stays active, fit through extensive traveling DAVE SHANE for the Daily News

Their trips also involve exercise – like biking through Europe, hiking through the mountains of Utah, or kayaking through the Florida Everglades.

Art and Crystal Prunier of Midland planned carefully for their retirement years.

Rick Steves, who hosts a travel show on public television and radio, offers European trips that strive to take tourists to local places that are less traveled and less commercial, so Americans can experience a place’s true culture.

They learned the best way to invest their savings, so now that they have retired, they can enjoy traveling and staying active.

You might think they have some closely guarded retirement secrets.

But actually, the Pruniers are anxious to share their knowledge with other seniors.

The Pruniers have traveled around both the United States and Europe and now look forward to a two- to three-week adventure every summer.

The Pruniers volunteer to teach a six-session retirement class from a Christian perspective through New Life Vineyard Church in Midland. In the last couple years, the class has taken place online, where people from 14 states have participated.

“In terms of trips with Road Scholar, we started our first one in September 2016,” Art said. “We went biking through Germany and the Czech Republic.

They are hoping to help seniors get through their later years no matter what their income level was when they were working.

“We also took a biking trip through Austria and Slovenia, and in Utah we took a hiking trip.”

“On their active trips, you are either biking or hiking or kayaking or whatever,” Crystal said. “We like them because we find them affordable, and we meet interesting, active people.”

“We do it as volunteers. It’s a meaningful activity,” Art Prunier told the Daily News in a recent interview.

“It’s important.”

Art is 68 years old and a former researcher at The Dow Chemical Co. He has a master’s degree in financial education from the American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Crystal is 65 and a retired occupational therapist with Midland Public Schools.

No matter how much money people have saved for retirement, the Pruniers are convinced that traveling the country – and world – are great 10

Art and Crystal Prunier pause for a picture at Arches National Park in Utah in 2018. ways to stay active and fit.

If you want to go it alone, that’s great. But they also recommend organized travel through a pair of nationally known services that can be found online – Road Scholar and Rick Steves.

Road Scholar is a non-profit travel service designed to help travelers age 50 and over explore the world and learn about other places and cultures – from the mountains of Nepal to ancient Mayan culture to naval voyages aboard the Queen Mary 2.

Art says his favorite trip was the one through Austria and Slovenia, where they biked between 25 and 40 miles per day along the Mur River.

“That was definitely my favorite. I would do it again,” he said.

The bike rides aren’t too strenuous, but they do require a bit of training, the couple said. It’s not like you can hop on a bike and ride for the first time that year. But the trips are Senior Scope | March 2022

suitable for seniors.

“The first year we went, I was 60 years old and there were people with us that were in their 80s,” Crystal said.

Art said the more a couple stays physically active, the more they can travel late in life, and vice versa.

“It shows that you can stay active, and it extends the time you can do active things,” he said.

“We view it as a way to maintain physical and brain health,” Crystal said.

The couple has taken two trips through Rick Steves – one to Italy and one to Greece.

Art said these tours are about history, culture, art and architecture.

“It’s very much an educational experience. (Steves) really wants people to understand what it’s like to live there and grow up there.”

The big advantage is both agencies provide top-notch trips, where

guides help you learn about the region you are visiting and the accommodations tend to be locally owned hotels, not luxury chains in big cities.

“It’s less stressful than when you do it on your own,” Crystal said. “Someone else has done all the arrangements.”

When the Pruniers are not traveling overseas, they are going to places like Florida or Arizona where, again, they try to stay active. They usually rent vacation homes through Vrbo and seek out nearby national parks.

No matter what type of trip the Pruniers take, they said they will spend hours reading about the areas before they visit them. They said Rick Steves tour books are available at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.

Art and Crystal Prunier stop for a picture on the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2016.

The couple plans to travel together for many more years.

“We love the museums and historical places in Europe,” Crystal said.

“I love the adventure.”

Midland Travelers Art and Crystal Prunier pose for a photo in the harbor on the Greed Island of Hydra in 2019.

Answers on page 19.

March 2022 | Senior Scope

Answers on page 19.

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Mind Matters: Being proactive about memory changes SENIOR SERVICES OF MIDLAND COUNTY Some degree of memory problems, as well as a modest decline in other thinking skills, is a common part of aging. There is a difference, however, between normal changes in memory and the type of memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Normal age-related memory loss does not prevent you from living a full and productive life. For example, you may forget a person’s name, but recall it later in the day, or you might misplace your glasses occasionally. These changes in memory are generally manageable and do not disrupt your ability to work, live independently or maintain a social life.

of a series of questions and tasks designed to test memory, language skills, attention, concentration and processing. The person who gives you the screening will review the results with you and will suggest whether you should follow up with a qualified healthcare professional for more testing. Results of the memory screenings are confidential and can be passed on to your physician at your request.

A number of factors can affect memory, and getting screened can help determine possible problems. If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you might benefit from a memory screening:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life, however, is not a typical part of aging; it may be a symptom of dementia. Dementia is a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Often, memory loss is one of the first or more recognizable signs of dementia. Early detection is key, and a good place to start is to schedule a memory screening at Senior Services. The screening results are not a diagnosis, but are often an important first step toward proper detection and treatment.

· Am I becoming more forgetful?

A memory screening is a simple and safe evaluation tool and consists

· Have family or friends told me that I am repeating questions or telling

· Do I have trouble concentrating? · Do I have problems performing familiar tasks? · Do I have trouble recalling words or names in conversation? · Do I sometimes forget where I am? · Am I misplacing things more often?

· Have I become lost when walking or driving in a familiar neighborhood?

Senior Services offers an array of memory support programs, including free and confidential memory screenings to obtain a cognitive

baseline, an early memory loss program, and educational classes, along with support from Seasons Adult Day Health Services. If you or someone you know is experiencing increasing changes with their memory and could benefit from additional services, contact Amy Sheridan, Family Support and Activity Manager, at 989-633-3764.

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‘J.P.’ knows the score Jim Perry has been Meridian scoreboard operator for 18 years DAVE SHANE for the Daily News Fans who have not attended a Meridian Early College High School boys' basketball game in a long time might still recognize some familiar faces at the Sanford gymnasium.

First of all, longtime coach Mitch Bohn is still the varsity head coach.

And who is that running the scoreboard? Yes, that’s still longtime volunteer Jim Perry.

You know you are in the right place when Perry, 73, a semi-retired local contractor, is at the scorer’s table.

He’s been there for the past 18 years.

Perry volunteers for the Meridian basketball programs by running the clock and scoreboard for home boys’ and girls’ games. He also follows the team on road trips to tally the scorebook for freshman, junior varsity and varsity boys’ games.

“I got involved in the school sports when my son, Ryan, was playing basketball,” he explained. “They could never find anybody to do the book.

Longtime volunteer Jim Perry, right, watches the action as he operates the scoreboard during a ninth-grade basketball game this season at Meridian Early College High School. It was one of three local games he worked that evening. Matt Olmsted (left) keeps the scorebook. (Dave Shane/for the Daily News)

“Then they found I could run the clock, so I started running the clock.”

Perry, who is locally known as “J.P.,” is proud of his work.

He also follows the Detroit Pistons, Lions and Red Wings.

“He knows it’s going to be done right,” Perry said.

Perry said he enjoys attending all the games and being a part of the action, although it takes concentration to do either job.

“I usually keep things right on the money.”

He said he enjoys basketball the most.

Being at the scorer’s table, Perry has heard it all over the years.

Perry never had a chance to play school sports when he was a youth.

He was too busy helping out on the family farm. But sports are now a part of his life.

“It’s an inside sport. You can sit down, stay warm and get a kick out of watching the kids,” Perry said.

“It’s entertainment.”

“When you’re doing the book or the clock, you hear a lot of things. …

Fans know more than the refs do, they always do," he added jokingly.

He coached his son’s recreational team at the Midland Soccer Club.

Plus, he can help Coach Bohn and the local program.

He prefers a more gentlemanly approach.

“I enjoy it and I have the best seat in the house,” he said. “You’ve just got to pay attention to the game. … It’s a lot faster when you’re working the varsity boys, and you’ve got to pay attention.”

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Senior Scope | March 2022

Blueberry pie wins raves every time Everyone amateur baker needs a go-to pie recipe in his or her repertoire. While apple may get much of the fanfare, blueberries pack that perfect punch of sweet but tart flavor that just bursts in the mouth with every bite.

“You’re out there to enjoy the game. … Nobody’s making a million dollars on it.”

Perry doesn’t make money as a volunteer. But he does collect plenty of great memories. He was the clock operator in 2016 when Meridian defeated Unionville-Sebewaing Area, 76-74, in six overtimes.

That home game also was memorable because Mitch Bohn was coaching against his brother, Steve, who was an assistant with the visitors from USA. And their sons, who are cousins, were playing against each other.

“I remember it was almost midnight when I got out of the gym,” Perry said.

When Perry isn’t helping the local teams, he is still working as a contractor. He also is working on rebuilding a home for himself and his wife, Patricia, that was destroyed by the 2020 flood.

“Forty-three years went up the river,” he said in a quieter tone.

Perry also enjoys playing cards and doing woodworking.

As for the man at the scorer’s table, he said you can expect to see him there for quite a while.

“They ask me how long am I going to do it,” he said. “When I drop over, I will quit. … It’s a lot of fun.”

March 2022 | Senior Scope

“Ginger n’ Spice Bubbling Blueberry Pie” is not only the official pie of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, but also a winner of America’s Best Blueberry Pie Contest. This recipe, courtesy of Barbara Estabrook and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, is a sweet way to celebrate National Blueberry Pie Day or enjoy dessert any time of the year.

Ginger n’ Spice Bubbling Blueberry Pie Serves 8 Crust 21⁄2 1⁄2 10 1⁄2 31⁄2 1⁄2 1

cups all-purpose flour teaspoon salt tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed (1⁄4-inch-thick cubes) cup chilled all-vegetable shortening tablespoons ice water tablespoon fresh lemon juice egg white, whisked to foamy (divided use)

Filling 41⁄2 1 3⁄4 1⁄4 2 3⁄4 1⁄8 2 3 1⁄2

cups fresh blueberries (room temperature) tablespoon fresh lemon juice cup granulated sugar cup instant or quick-cooking tapioca, ground tablespoons finely minced crystallized ginger teaspoon ground cinnamon scant teaspoon ground allspice tablespoons melted butter tablespoons orange marmalade tablespoon raw turbinado cane sugar

Crust 1. Combine lemon juice and ice water and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour and salt. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender until coarse meal forms. Sprinkle half the water/lemon mix over flour mixture; toss with a fork. Add remaining half, tossing until dough begins to form a ball.

3. Divide dough in half, flatten it into 1⁄2-inch-thick

discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap. Chill 30 minutes.

Filling 1. In a large bowl, toss blueberries with lemon juice.

2. In a separate medium-sized bowl, stir sugar, tapioca, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice together until combined. Gently fold into blueberries until well coated.

3. Melt butter, stir in marmalade, then fold into blueberry mixture. Let set.

Pie Assembly 1. Heat oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll one chilled dough disc into a 13-inch circle. Fit dough in a 9-inch pie plate. Trim overhang to 3⁄4-inch of edge. Brush egg white over bottom and sides of dough. Reserve remaining egg white. Set the lined plate in the freezer.

3. Roll second chilled disc on a lightly floured surface into a 13-inch circle, then cut into 1-inch-wide strips with a pastry wheel.

4. Retrieve pie plate and pour in filling, mounding slightly toward center. Weave strips of dough over filling to form a lattice top. Seal, trim and crimp edge.

Brush reserved egg white over dough. Sprinkle evenly with sugar.

5. Set pie on lined sheet. Bake 18 minutes at 425 F. Reduce heat to 375 F. Bake 50 minutes or until pie is bubbling. Cool on a wire rack. Top with vanilla ice cream.

15

Care Coordination Corner: Health outcomes start in your mind JULIE RANDOLPH Care Coordinator, Senior Services of Midland County While participating in a course called, “Flourishing in the Third Third of Life,” I learned of the book entitled "Counter Clockwise" by Ellen J. Langer. The foundation is a 1979 Harvard psychological study in which a group of men ages 70 to 80 attended a week-long retreat.

The psychologists recreated an environment in which everything the attendees saw, touched, smelled, and experienced was as it was in 1959.

The “counterclockwise study” looked at the effects of turning the clock back 20 years psychologically on the participants' physiological state. The results were measurable improvements in their physical strength, manual dexterity, gait, pos16

ture, perception, memory, cognition, taste sensitivity, hearing and vision.

The author focuses on mindful health and urges the reader to examine tendencies to accept information without question. Langer describes modern medicine’s practice of fitting patients into established medical formulas and provides an alternative finding that suggests patients experience better outcomes when introduced to an individualized medical approach that fits their unique medical needs.

Langer challenges the belief that our bodies are separate from our minds by providing evidence that our beliefs are crucial to our well-being. The research indicates that the greatest factor in determining quality

of life is how people think about the relationship between their identity and their illness. Words used, uniforms worn, roles played, stereotyping, labeling, blind trust in medical technology, and absolute medical provider accuracy support a passive acceptance. Active mindfulness and critical thinking are a patient’s greatest allies for positive health outcomes.

As we age and face health changes, we can become health learners, critical thinkers and advocates for our individual medical or non-medical options. Langer states that “while the medical professionals are the best experts on the general course an illness may take, we are the best experts on our particular journey.”

Lastly, studies show “that ‘over helping’ can lead individuals to infer their own helplessness and incompetence, causing them to do poorly at a task that they had previously been able to accomplish.” The findings reinforce the reasoning behind offering active learning opportunities and robust fitness choices. Providing assistance only when it is truly needed supports the dignity and continued accomplishments of each person.

It is the hope and goal of the Care Coordinators to promote continuous growth, to support the most independent living possible, and to do our part to celebrate the positivity of growing through our ages.

Senior Scope | March 2022

Answers on page 19.

March 2022 | Senior Scope

17

Why it pays for seniors to maintain good credit The benefits of maintaining good credit include looking more reliable in the eyes of prospective employers and securing lower mortgage interest rates when buying a home. Those rewards can benefit anyone, but they’re especially enticing to young people.

But what about seniors? Do individuals stand to benefit significantly from maintaining good credit into their golden years?

According to the credit reporting agency Experian, senior citizens tend to have the best credit scores of any consumer demographic. That could be a byproduct of years of financial discipline, and there are many benefits to maintaining that discipline into retirement.

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• Home buying and borrowing: Buying a home is often considered a big financial step forward for young people, but that doesn’t mean aging men and women are completely out of the real estate market. In its 2020 “State of the Nation’s Housing” report, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University reported that the share of homeowners age 65 and over with housing debt doubled to 42 percent between 1989 and 2019. In addition, 27 percent of homeowners age 80 and over were carrying mortgage debt in 2019. Maintaining strong credit after retirement can help homeowners who still have mortgage debt get better terms if they choose to refinance their mortgages. Even seniors who have paid off their mortgages can benefit from maintaining good credit if they decide to downsize to a smaller home but cannot

afford to simply buy the new home outright.

• Rewards: Retirement is often associated with travel, recreation and leisure. Such pursuits can be more affordable when seniors utilize rewards-based credit cards that help them finance vacations, weekend getaways and other expenses associated with traveling. Seniors who maintain strong credit ratings into their golden years may have more access to the best travel-based rewards cards than those whose credit scores dip in retirement.

• Unforeseen expenses: No one knows what’s around the corner, but savvy seniors recognize the importance of planning for the unknown.

The COVID-19 pandemic seemingly came out of nowhere, and among its many ripple effects was the sudden job loss experienced by seniors. The JCHS report found that 21 percent of homeowners age 65 and over had reported loss of employment income related to the pandemic.

Unforeseen medical expenses also can compromise seniors’ financial freedom. Maintaining a strong credit rating into older adulthood can help seniors navigate such financial uncertainty more smoothly. Such a strategy can help seniors secure low-interest loans or credit cards that can help them pay down sudden, unforeseen expenses without getting into significant debt.

The importance of a strong credit rating is often emphasized to young people. However, a strong credit rating can be equally beneficial for seniors.

Senior Scope | March 2022

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Page 17 Word Scramble - Farmers Guess Who - Angus Young Word Search -

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Seafood Pancakes Makes 4-5 pancakes

Shake up Lenten dinners with variety It’s customary for people participating in Lenten fasting to skip meat and poultry dinners on Fridays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. It is a sacrifice symbolic of the sacrifices of Jesus Christ.

However, opting for vegetables and fish in lieu of meats doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor.

“Seafood Pancakes” from “Judy Joo’s Korean Soul Food” (White Lion Publishing) are a popular Korean appetizer. Any shellfish can be substituted, but the ingredients listed help keep the pancakes crispy.

Heroes Ad landscape.pdf Enjoy thisai164557533848_Hometown dish as a light lunch or- in addition2 2/22/2022 to other7:16:06 PM offerings for a tasty dinner.

2 2 31⁄4 2 21⁄2 2 1⁄4 3 31⁄2 5 1 2

ounces mussels, cleaned and debearded ounces clams, cleaned ounces rice flour tablespoons cornflour ounces self-rising flour tablespoons dwengjang (Korean soy bean paste) teaspoon ground black pepper large pinches of sea salt ounces brown shrimp spring onions, julienned teaspoon garlic, grated or finely chopped red chillies, thinly sliced at an angle Vegetable oil for frying

1. In a large saucepan, add enough water so that it’s three-quarters full and bring to a boil. Add the mussels and clams and cook until the shells open.

Remove the shellfish and set aside to cool. Retain 3⁄4 ounces of the cooking liquor then strain it to remove the meat from the shells of the mussels

and clams and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, gently whisk together the rice flour, cornflour, self-rising flour, dwengjang, pepper, salt and 8 ounces of cold water and liquor from the cooked shellfish until smooth. Add the brown shrimp, mussels, clams, spring onions, garlic and red chillies (keeping the seeds, if you like more heat) and stir batter until thoroughly combined.

3. In a large nonstick frying pan, heat a generous drizzle of oil over a medium-high heat. Spoon in the batter and spread it evenly to form a pancake about 5 inches wide. Fry until golden brown and crispy on the base, about 3 to 4 minutes.

4. Carefully flip and cook for a further 3 to 4 minutes until the other side is golden. Transfer to a kitchen paper-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil to the frying pan as needed.

5. Serve immediately with a favorite dipping sauce.

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Senior Scope | March 2022