Living Well - Aug-Oct 2018

ADDING LIFE TO YOUR YEARS

Aug–Oct 2018

HOW BLUE ZONES PROJECT™ IS INSPIRING BETTER HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN OUR COMMUNITY BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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541-885-5578

1797169

2650 Washburn Way, Unit 240 Klamath Falls, OR 97601

IN T ROD U C TION

BY Gerry O’Brien Editor for the Herald and News

The office space is roomy, well-lit and comfortable.

The site is inviting and easily accessible with lots of parking, especially for handicapped folks. Staffers plan to have a variety of classes and workshops open to the public at the site. Also, the Klamath Farmers Online Marketplace, KFOM, is now here, after moving from downtown. Every Thursday evening, people who have ordered fresh produce online can stop by and pick up their groceries here. It’s also a sort of social gathering, where people can mingle and trade thoughts on healthy eating.

Straighten up But first, let’s get organized. The 6 S’s of organizing are here: Sort, Set in order, Sweep and shine, Standardize, Sustain and Safety. Workplace efficiency is key to ensure workers are spending most of their time producing a product or a service, rather than traveling or transporting. Who hasn’t wanted to take advantage of today’s technology that will build efficiency in their lives? But where to get started as there are so many options. This article will help.

Ride a bike The city of Chiloquin is jumping into getting kids healthy by starting a free biking program. Chiloquin Mayor Mark Cobb is spearheading an effort to distribute free bikes, bike locks and helmets to all school children in the town.

Grab a tool Gardening is also a popular activity in the Basin.

And, it’s hard work that can get one’s heart rate up.

Here we have tips for gardening and advice on how hobbies such as this one can help keep you healthy.

Pick up a paddle If you like tennis, but hate chasing the ball; or if you like ping pong, but hate the small table; pickleball is the sport for you. The Klamath Basin Pickleball Association is growing by leaps and bounds and it’s a perfect time to get on board. Pickleball uses a paddle and whiffle ball on a quart, half the size of a tennis court and a lower net. It’s played by foursomes and has an easy learning curve. Plus, its very social, something that Blue Zones encourages. So join up, make new friends and break a sweat or two playing some fast-paced, yet not-too-challenging games.

Clean up And we’ve including some recycling tips in this edition to help spruce up the town, while ensuring what can be recycled, gets recycled. With the closing of recycling markets internationally, the Solid Waste Action Committee decided to take action and implore residents to recycle only what will be recycled. A monthly column in the Herald and News about recycling is also ongoing.

So enjoy this edition and get moving.

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The big news in our partnership with the Blue Zones Project is that the offices are now housed in the Herald and News building at 2701 Foothills Blvd.

It’s centrally located at the north end of Washburn Way, making it easy to visit from anywhere in the city.

Hit the river Perhaps a flow down a lazy, scenic river is more your mood. Kayaking is immensely popular in these parts and we have a guide here on where to go and what you’ll need. The river waters are cool and calm, and crystal clear. They are ideal for floats new and experienced.

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GERRY O’BRIEN

Welcome to our latest edition of Living Well; a quarterly publication of the Klamath Falls Blue Zones Project in collaboration with the Herald and News.

T A BL E O F C ON TEN TS INTRODUCTION with Gerry O’Brien, Editor for the Herald and News BLUE ZONES PERSONAL PLEDGE INTRODUCING THE BLUE ZONES PROJECT® What are the Blue Zones?

What is the Blue Zones Project® What are the Power 9 Principles Blue zones moves in GROWING AND GROWING:

Blue Zones Project sets sights for halfway point in Klamath Falls

CHILOQUIN BIKE PROJECT KAYAK TRIPS ORGANIZING FOR EFFICIENCY TOOLS TO INSPIRE AN ORGANIZED LIFE Reorganize your wardrobe STRESS RELIEF The Solid Waste Action Committee: Taking Action on Recycling Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, (re-home) Where Does All the Trash Go? Pickleball fever takes root in the Basin A multi-purpose place for rural communities: Lost River Community Center to aid school, community opportunities

WORKPLACE WELLBEING RECIPES CONTENT FOR LIVING WELL MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTED BY: the Herald and News, Blue Zones Project® and Sky Lakes Medical Center DESIGN: Saffron Owen, Herald and News | ADVERTISING: Herald and News

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6 6 7 8 11 12 14 16 18 20 22

10 Learn all about the Klamath Farmers Onlline Marketplace openhouse on page 10

14 Find the best local kayaking spots on page 14

24 27 28 30

32 35 36

28 What happens to our trash? FInd out on page 28

SURVEY CARD

WAYS TO Learn more:

What do you enjoy most about the Living Well magazine?

A) Stories about local people and businesses B) Health tips and tricks C) Recipes

BLUE ZONES PROJECT®

Let us know what you enjoy, and what you would like to see in future editions, by posting on our Facebook: Blue Zones Project – Klamath Falls or send us an email at: BlueZonesProjectKlamathFalls@Sharecare.com.

Twitter BZPKFalls Instagram BZP_KFalls Facebook www.facebook.com/ bluezonesprojectklamathfalls

oregon.bluezonesproject.com bluezonesprojectklamathfalls@healthways.com

SKY LAKES MEDICAL CENTER

BLUE ZONES PERSONAL PLEDGE Our community has a great opportunity to become healthier.

The Blue Zones Project strives to increase the well-being of our community; the personal pledge is a great step in that direction.

Unhealthy messaging regularly influences us through our smartphones, TVs, and even while we are driving. However, we can be more thoughtful about making choices that lead to better well-being.

Facebook www.facebook.com/ skylakesmedicalcenter

www.skylakes.org

CONNECT WITH THE HERALD AND NEWS

The Blue Zones Personal Pledge includes tips from the original Blue Zones areas and evidence-based best practices people can take to improve how we take care of our minds and bodies. These changes can help individuals become healthier, make lasting friendships and find meaning and purpose in life.

www.facebook.com/HandN

At the end of the day, the responsibility falls on each of us to take ownership of our own lives. By completing the personal pledge, each individual takes steps toward a better self and strengthening Klamath Falls.

Instagram heraldandnews

Make the pledge today by sending in the form below.

Facebook

Questions? Visit bluezonesproject.com to learn more

www.heraldandnews.com

Your Pledge

Taking the personal pledge means committing to learn, measure, participate, and complete five or more actions from the personal checklist in the next six months. Tell us how you want to participate by checking the boxes below. Then sign the pledge! We will be in touch to let you know how you can get involved.

 Join a Blue Zones Project® Walking or Potluck Moai.  Attend a Purpose Workshop.

 Volunteer with Blue Zones Project or another organization in your community.  Join the Blue Zones Project Action Force.

By providing my contact information below, I acknowledge that I am at least 15. I accept that I am responsible for deciding, in consultation with my physician, how much I can safely do and how far I can go.

First Name: Last Name: Date: Email Address: Zip Code: If Applicable: Employer:

Faith-Based Organization:

School:

Cut out and mail to: Blue Zones Project – Klamath Falls, 130 S 5th Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601

What are the Blue Zones?

In 2004 National Geographic and Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner teamed up with longevity experts to study the geographic areas where people live the longest, and tried to establish common patterns of behavior among those cultures.

These hotspots of longevity were the Italian island of Sardinia, the Japanese island of Okinawa, the Californian town of Loma Linda, Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, and the Greek island of Ikaria.

THE BLUE ZONES Sardinia, Italy Okinawa, Japan Loma Linda, California Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica Ikaria, Greece

What is THE Blue Zones Project®?

The Blue Zones Project will add life to your years, and, coincidently, it may also add years to your life.

LIVING WELL

- Cort Cox, Former Klamath Falls Blue Zones Project® engagement lead

What began as a New York Times bestseller by National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner, has evolved into a global movement that’s inspiring people to live longer, more active lives.

Blue Zones Project® offers a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and communities to make permanent changes to the environments where they live, work and play, to make healthy choices easier.

The Blue Zones Project® encourages communities to make environmental, mental and social changes to improve well-being, health and longevity.

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The Power 9 Principles focus on improving the wellbeing of communities around the nation through changing their environments rather than lifestyles.

MOVE NATURALLY Find ways to move more!

You’ll burn calories without thinking about it.

PURPOSE Wake up with purpose each day and add up to seven years to your life.

DOWN SHIFT Reverse disease by finding a stress-relieving strategy that works for you.

80% RULE Eat mindfully and stop when 80% full.

PLANT SLANT Put more fruits and vegetables on your plate.

WINE @ 5 If you have a healthy relationship with alcohol, enjoy a glass of wine with good friends each day.

BELONG Belong to a faith-based community and attend services regularly to add up to 14 years to your life.

LOVED ONES FIRST Invest time with family – and add up to six years to your life.

RIGHT TRIBE Surround yourself with people who support positive behaviors – and who support you.

- Tom Hottman, Sky Lakes Medical Center

A Community-Wide Approach When communities participate in the Blue Zones Project®, everyone benefits.

Worksites: Workers feel better and more connected to their colleagues, so they’re more productive, miss less work, and have lower healthcare costs.

Schools: Encouraging better eating habits, implementing tobacco-free policies, and increasing physical activity from a young age creates life-long healthy habits.

Restaurants: Healthier local food options make healthy choices a breeze when eating out.

Grocery Stores: Easier access to healthful and tasty foods allows families to improve their nutrition choices.

Community Policy: Sidewalks, community gardens, farmers’ markets, and other community infrastructures affect a communities ability to move naturally, connect socially, and access healthy food.

Individuals: From moving naturally more often to finding individual purpose in our lives, making small changes in daily routines can lead to living happier and healthier lives.

LIVING WELL

After Dan Buettner and National Geographic teams studied the Blue Zones community’s lifestyles, they found nine common characteristics that lead to a healthier and longer life, called the Power 9 Principles.

“It’s more a philosophy to change your lifestyle; To eat better, stress less, move more and to do it with love,”

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What are the Power 9 Principles?

Blue zones moves in

By Caroline Cabral, H&N Staff Reporter

“W

e

packed

up

everything

downtown and landed here August first, and we’re getting

settled into our new digs,” said Rhiannon Kerr, Klamath Falls Blue Zones Project engagement lead. She is talking, of course, about the Blue Zones Project’s move to the Herald and News building at 2701 Foothills Blvd.

“It’s nice and open and we’ve got standing desks so we can stand and lower them pretty regularly,” she described. “It’s got access to the walking trails as well, so on our breaks if we want go on a walk then we can go and do that.”

The main criteria when finding a space for a local Blue Zones Project headquarters was space and accessibility. Located near the mid-point of Crater Lake Parkway,

Sitting on an exercise ball, Jessie Hecocta explained Blue Zones’s plan for the space. The team each have standing deks and exercise balls which fit with their mission of movement.

the building is accessible for people living within the county as well as the city, and provides a space for the Klamath Farmers Online Marketplace (KFOM).

The small staff of five will be downsizing to three as the project moves into what Kerr calls stage 2. “The goal,” she said, “is to become part of a culture within the community and to create sustainability. The only way that we can have sustainability is by being involved with other organizations

LIVING WELL

within the community ... really embedding ourselves into the culture of Klamath Falls.”

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Keep moving

Ways to create an environment that promotes movement throughout the day She was clear though that the staff size was not representative of the success of the Blue Zones mission. “This is truly a community initiative,” she said. The team is “... always looking for more people to join our movement and more people to give back to the community.”

Kerr explained that the primary difference between this and the project’s former downtown location is they have fewer dropins. “Ideally what Blue Zones project would love to see is people coming in and out of our office whether they are showing up just out of curiosity or they’re looking for some

Change your home environment: Keep a pair of shoes or a bike in plain sight Grow a garden or adopt a community plot Schedule a weekly “happy hour” with friends Change your work environment: Incorporate furniture which provides the flexibility to stand while working, or walking/biking stations Implement micro-breaks to encourage a break from repetitive actions and get up and move

support and some resources as they try to improve their overall health and wellbeing.”

In the building, Kerr explained that social connection is a big part of what their goal is, so they ultimately want the location to be a “ ... hub of social connection and inspiration for people’s health and wellness

Provide secure bicycle storage Provide showers and/or changing facilities with lockers Create an employee garden

and just connecting with other people and

a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Rather than set up an appointment, Kerr said, “Oh just show up! That’s kind of the best thing to do.”

Encourage flexible office attire to include casual or workout wear Offer walking routes of safe places to walk around the worksite campus; include miles, minutes, or steps

For more information call 541-359-2802 or visit healthyklamath.org/bluezones.

Create an incentive program to encourage commuting beyond carpooling or public transit to include walking and/or biking

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The Blue Zones staff are available from 9

Create a Blue Zones Project parking space farthest away from the workplace entrance

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getting out of the house.”

Blue Zones Project Organization Lead Katie Swanson, right, holds up a raffle box and shares a laugh with open house patrons as the KFOM relaunch party continues at 2701 Foothills Blvd.

Growing & growing

KFOM keeps steady momentum following open house

New pickup location, new website, same locally grown farm goods.

By Sean Bassinger, H&N Staff Reporter H&N Photos by Sean Bassinger

T

he Klamath Falls Online Marketplace, or KFOM, has taken off with several new upgrades since its initial launch in the winter, which also follows the Blue Zone's Project's arrival into a new location.

Katie Swanson, organization lead at the Klamath Falls Blue Zones Project, said in June that KFOM was taking in about $215 a week. Swanson has worked closely with producers and Klamath Falls Farmers Market organizers to strengthen KFOM's prescence.

"I was actually pretty impressed with the consistency of products we had over the winter," Swanson said in June. "There was always meat, always eggs, honey, garlic, micro greens ... that's pretty good for the middle of winter in the high desert."

Some background KFOM first started in November 2017 as a means for residents to find local farmer connections during the winter months, according to reports from the Herald & News. At the time of its launch, Swanson described it as a "Craigslist for food."

LIVING WELL

The first KFOM pickup had more than $600 in sales from four farms, and had reached nearly $2,000 in sales by January. Three farms had 15 products listed as of Friday.

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Though different in their own way, Swanson said she and others have studied other community food

incentives across the country, which are sometimes referred to as larger "food hubs." The overall goal of food hubs is to increase market access for local farmers and ranchers in an effort to combat distribution challenges, according to a regional food hub resource guide from the USDA. More than a dozen people took the chance to unwind during KFOM's open house along Foothills Boulevard Thursday, July 26. Many others poured in through the evening to enjoy raffles, music and tacos from Los 2 Koras.

Interest grows Since the open house, Swanson said that they have had 205 people register on the new site. She also said that they had at least 50 new registrants since the launch party.

At least a dozen people stuck around as others came and went during the Klamath Farmers Online Marketplace relaunch party

"We had about 300 on the old one, so that's not bad carry over," Swanson said.

Browsers will immediately notice differences in the website, with the newer page having a more defined interface and fairly quick registration process.

Current customers have had nothing but good to say about the new website so far, according to Blue Zones Project Engagement Lead Rhiannon Kerr. She also said that the new location above Crater Lake Parkway makes for an easy stop after work.

"We are also seeing a community that is being built from the gathering space and friendly faces," Kerr said.

People stopped by Los 2 Koras for tacos while the food truck set up shop

MORE INFORMATION: KFOM now has pickup at the Herald & News building, 2701 Foothills Blvd.

Pickups are from 5 to 7 p.m. Each Thursday. Current product listings can be found online at KFOM.org For more information, call Katie Swanson at 541-827-9442 or email info@kfom.org.

A close-up of two tacos from Los 2 Koras, which also uses locally grown greens and veggies.

BASIC BIKE SAFETY

Chiloquin Bike Program

By Tess Novotny, H&N Staff Reporter

Keep your tires pumped up and check them regularly

Make sure your saddle is the right height

Use your bell to warn people when you’re passing by

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Always use you lights after dark, and have reflectors on the front and back of your bike

C

hiloquin mayor Mark Cobb is spearheading an effort to distribute free bikes, bike locks and helmets to all school children in the town.

The free bike program will be run through Cobb’s nonprofit Give For Kids Alliance, though Cobb is still waiting for its official 501 (c)3 nonprofit status to be confirmed. In the meantime, the project is fiscally sponsored by the state of Oregon and Chiloquin Visions in Progress, a local community nonprofit which supports community health and well-being in the Chiloquin area.

Cobb said he wanted to do something for the community that would help the mental and physical health of Chiloquin children.

Free bikes, he thought, could do exactly this. There are about 345 students throughout Chiloquin’s three schools, and to Cobb’s knowledge, only one Chiloquin High School student reported using a bike in 2017.

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“I have a pretty good finger on the pulse of what this community needs,” Cobb said. “Bikes are one of the things — there’s a lack of activity up here.”

A new grant-funded pedestrian and bike pathway will also be finished in Chiloquin within two years, and Cobb thought the free bike program would coincide well with that project.

Cobb’s next step is to visit Chiloquin schools to gauge what types of bikes children are interested in — from cruisers, to mountain bikes, to sizes. It’s important, he said, to know the variety of bikes they’ll need to provide.

Young elementary school children will have entirely different needs than older high school students.

Cobb hopes the free bikes will give children greater freedom and mobility around the community. Chiloquin has a poverty rating of 41.7 percent according to the March 2016 U.S. Census report — that is triple the state of Oregon’s rate, and more than double Klamath County’s rate.

Chiloquin schools also face hardship. In its annual academic achievement score report, the Oregon Department of Education gave Chiloquin High School and Sage Community School each a three out of 10 rating, and Chiloquin Elementary a six out of 10. Eighty percent of Chiloquin High School students are economically disadvantaged.

Cobb thinks children in the town may skip school, become involved with drugs or violence, fall behind in class work, etc., because they have little opportunity for positive, physically engaging activities.

“The problems that they get into because of the lack of activities up here,” Cobb said. “So that’s kind of where we stared at. Bikes give them something to do — they’re very healthy to get involved in, and they give kids the ability to get to school if they can’t otherwise.”

For more information: The Give For Kids Alliance is a nonprofit public charity. It was founded to improve the well-being of youth in rural, poverty stricken communities by focusing on providing activities that improve mental and physical health. The goal is to aid educational achievement and other social areas, which in turn gives youth a better chance to be successful all through life which leads to decreased poverty.

Give For Kids Alliance an organization that that works in high poverty communities. The charity works with local nonprofits to create an alliance to help kids become more active through projects such as Chiloquin’s “Bicycling for Youth Education Project.”

Learn more about the Give For Kids Alliance, and how to volunteer, at www.giveforkidsalliance.org, or call 541-591-0949.

Both the Klamath County School District and the Chiloquin City Council have given letters of approval for the bike project.

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Cobb anticipates each bike alone costing about $150. He estimates the project will cost around $82,000 total, but anticipates it lowering as more community organizations and residents get involved. He is working with bicycle wholesalers to get the price down, and plans to source the bikes from within the county.

LIVING WELL

The free bike program will also pay for about 15 safe lockup sites throughout the community, and distribute bike safety education materials to Chiloquin schools.

Klamath Lake at Hagelstein Park: Put in: Hagelstein Park is 10 miles north of Klamath Falls on Highway 97. From the boat ramp, paddle under the Highway 97 bridge and through the railroad tunnel.

Features: Paddle north along the east shore of the lake to springs coming into the lake.

Watch for sucker fish resting in the rocky holes at the springs.

McCloud River from Fowlers Campground to McCloud Reservoir: Put in: Fowlers campground off Highway 89 in Northern California Take out: McCloud Reservoir Note: A more challenging kayaking experience but worth the work.

Odessa Creek: Put in and take out: At Odessa Campground, which is located off Highway 140 West, about 22 miles from Klamath Falls. Turn right onto Forest Service Road 3639. The campground is at the end of the road.

Kayak Trips

By Kurt Liedtke, H&N Staff Reporter Pick up your kayak and paddle and get ready to relax on the abundant Klamath Basin waterways.

LIVING WELL

Need some advice in planning your watery journey? Jennie Lewis, who was born and raised in the Klamath Basin enjoys plying local waters with her family.

She offers the following advice from her family’s favorite local paddle trips.

Features: Views of abundant water and shore birds along the creek which exits into Upper Klamath Lake.

Rocky Point/ Harriman Springs/ Recreation Creek Put in and take out: Multiple locations in this area. Visit Harriman Springs for specific options.

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Features: Miles and miles of kayak and canoe trails through the tules and wocus.

You will see all kinds of water lily buds and in the clearer water near Harriman you are likely to see large fish pass under your boat.

BASIC KAYAK STROKES New to kayaking? Here are three basic stokes to help you on your journey.

FORWARD STROKE Propell boat forward

Wind torso and immerse blade near feet Rotate torso as you blade goes behind you Push against shaft with your upper hand Slice blade out of water when lower hand reaches your hip

Spring Creek: Put in and take out: Collier Memorial State Park on Highway 97 North

REVERSE STROKE Stop or go backwards

Features: Kayak up the slow-moving creek to the headwaters where you can watch the ice-cold crystal-clear water bubble out of the ground. You will also be able to spy “mares eggs” which are fresh water, potato-sized algae only found in a few places in the world.

Upper Wood River: Put in: Jackson F. Kimball State Park

Wind torso and immerse blade next to hips Rotate torso as you blade moves in front of you Slice blade out of water when blade is even with feet

Take out: Wood River Day use off of Sun Mountain rd.

DRAW STROKE

With blade horizontal, reach tip out to the side Pull blade toward you using lower hand Stop before blade hits boat Turn blade 90 degrees and slice out of water.

LIVING WELL

BE AWARE: The Wood River has strong, sometimes unpredictable currents. The Wood River should not be floated by an inexperienced kayaker. Both sections of the Wood River offer incredible views of the peaks around Crater Lake National Park, Pelican Butte and an occasional glimpse of Mount Shasta.

Move sideways

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Float time: 3 ½ to 4 hours but there are plenty of beautiful spots to pull over for photos and snacks

THe 6S system: better organize your workspace and home

S1

Organizing for efficiency

By Jonathan Flanders, MHSA, LSS BB, CPHQ, CPPS Director, Performance Excellence Sky Lakes Medical Center

Sort

Decide what you need, and get rid of what you don’t.

S2

A

Designate specific places for your remaining things, with ease of use and return in mind.

s part of an organization’s quality improvement initiatives, it is important for the workplace to be organized in a way that optimizes productivity. In today’s culture, people take pride in the number of steps they can register on their electronic devices. However, in most jobs, being at work and counting steps should not be an exercise program. Workplace efficiency is key to ensure workers are spending most of their time producing a product or a service, rather than traveling or transporting.

A common industry tool utilized by project teams to improve workplace efficiency is called 6S.

S3

To explain how the 6S process works, let’s use the analogy of organizing a garage.

Set in order

LIVING WELL

Sweep & Shine

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Clean and, if needed, paint the newly organized area. Consider ways to keep it clean.

The first “s” begins with removing all of the items stored in the garage out and sorting them into logical categories.

The most important category is the waste basket, as over time people tend to hang on to things they don’t need that takes up space unnecessarily. Other categories for a garage may include holiday decorations, camping equipment and supplies, power tools, gardening supplies, sports equipment, and the like. The important thing is to group like items logically based on your family’s use.

Although “sweep and shine” is the third “s,” it is probably a good time with everything out of the garage to go ahead and deep clean the garage. It is also a good time to paint the walls or floor if time permits.

Now that the garage is clean and you have sorted items into logical categories, it is time to put the items back in the garage. The mantra for the second “s” is “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Key concepts to “set in order” include: •• Place items in the closest proximity and accessible to the most frequent entrance to the garage; •• Use visual management to distinguish different categories from each other; and •• Use inventory management strategies to ensure items to do not go bad or run out when you need them.

The purpose of the fourth “s” is to provide a standard way to manage the new garage visually. Standardization also allows you to successfully implement the work accomplished in “s1 – s3.” Standardization in the workplace ensures worker repeatability in process, which in turn reduces the amount of variation in the product or service. A practical example in a hospital would be to organize all of the exam rooms in the Emergency Department the same, so that when caregivers go room to room they can easily find the same supplies because they are always in the same place.

The fifth “s” is important to sustain an efficient workspace through visual management, task assignments, auditing, quality control, and returning to status quo. Visual management tools related to sustainment include a 6S standard audit sheet, checklists, pictures, action items and quality-control issues. For a garage it is simply convincing your family to put things back where they found them. To increase the probability of successful sustainment it is critical to involve everyone who will be using the workspace in the 6S process. Involvement by all stakeholders increases buy-in and ownership, thereby creating a stronger motivation to hold the gains.

S4 L ABEL

STANDARDIZE Use uniform visuals to reinforce the new system of organization, such as color coordinated stickers and labels.

S5

SELF-DISCIPLINE Maintain the new standard so that it remains effective and efficient.

S6

SAFETY Review the new organizational system to ensure there are no unforeseen hazards.

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Organization in the home or workplace reduces stress, increases productivity, improves teamwork and relationships, reduces wasted time and money, and provides an overall atmosphere for a better quality of life.

Following the 6S methodology provides a structure to achieve these benefits and more, so start today.

LIVING WELL

The sixth and final “s” ensures that any current and/or newly created safety issues are identified and resolved.

It also includes instilling certain behaviors that help stakeholders make fewer errors, therefore reduces the probability of an accident.

Tools to inspire an organized life

A virtual bookshelf:

BlogS:

Learn how to reduce clutter, while reducing (bookshelf) clutter at the same time. The Klamath County Library offers a handful of free e-book, e-magazine and video apps for smartphones and tablets. Learn more about these apps, available in the iTunes store and Google Play Store, through the Klamath County Library’s website at klamathlibrary.org/e-media, or by visiting the library’s information and reference desk.

Get advice from the pros in the organizational trenches. Here’s a sampling of blogs to inspire you on your organizational and habit-building journeys:

• Library 2go’s “OverDrive,” and “Libby” apps: These apps offer free e-books, Kindle books and audiobooks • One click Digital’s “RBdigital” app: Offers Free audiobooks.

• “Flipster”: This app offers free digital magazines via your Klamath County Library card. A short sampling of titles includes: Real Simple, Men’s Health, The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Prevention, National Geographic and Outdoor Life.

• “Kanopy” and “Kanopy Kids”: These free streaming apps provide videos covering independent cinema, education, documentaries, global and language studies, the arts, business, health, media and communications, sciences, social sciences and instructional films and lessons.

Unclutterer: This blog is described as the website for home and office organization. It’s not just for the helplessly disorganized who would lose their heads if they weren’t attached, and pack rats looking to put their stashes on a diet, but also for obsessive compulsive neat freaks looking to squeeze even more order into their lives. unclutterer.com.

I’m an Organizing Junkie!: This Canadian blogger shares her love of all things to do with organizing, sharing her experiences in the hope to get others “hooked” on organizational strategy. orgjunkie.com.

Lifehacker: Tips, shortcuts and downloads to help you work smarter and more efficiently. lifehacker.com/tag/decluttering.

AppS: LIVING WELL

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Inspiration, instruction and know-how are as close as your fingertips with these smartphone apps. House Beautiful magazine offers up these app picks to utilize the “smart” in your smartphone:

Sortly: Keep an inventory of your stash, whatever it may be. iOS/Android

Centriq: Where did you put that user’s manual? On your smartphone Centriq app. iOS/Android

Wunderlist: Share tasks, set reminders and plan projects with others. iOS/Android

Books: Everyone needs inspiration, and sometimes a road map for success. Here’s a recommended reading list to help you organize your thoughts and actions on the road to less clutter — both mentally and environmentally: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

by Marie Kondo “Imagine what it would be like to have a bookshelf filled only with books that you really love. Isn’t that image spellbinding? For someone who loves books, what greater happiness could there be?”

FOLD THE KONMARI WAY

Lay t-shirt flat

Fold one side in

One Year to an Organized Life

by Regina Leeds “Try and start with a project whose completion will reap obvious rewards. Wouldn’t it be cool to have your neighbors envious that you can actually park two cars in your garage?”

18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done

by Peter Bregman “To get the right things done, choosing what to ignore is as important as choosing where to focus.”

The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play

by Neil Fiore “Replace 'I have to' with 'I choose to'.”

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

by Brian Tracy “The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Once you actually begin work on a valuable task, you seem to be naturally motivated to continue.”

But wait, there’s more! This list is a sampling of titles from a list of 35 recommended books from lifehack.org at https://bit.ly/2OC8ATh

1" gap

Fold the sleeve back halfway

Fold down half way, and then fold in half

Fold the neckline to about an inch from the hem

Finished fold should stand upright for easy storage in a drawer

Cleanliness is next to godliness

Sunday Morning Adult Ministries 8:45 a.m.

Sunday, Morning Worship 10:00 a.m.

Evernote: Write notes, save pictures, audio, PDFs and organize it all in your “second brain.” iOS/Android

4549 Homedale Road

(Between Country Villa Market and Brixner Jr. High)

541-884-4720

1749787

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Shoeboxed: Keep your receipts categorized and ready for your budget and taxes. iOS/Android

LIVING WELL

Wednesday Kids Club 5:30 PM, Youth Group 7:00 PM

CLOSET

Reorganizing your closet could save you time getting ready in the morning, make it easier putting away your laundry, and help you make full use of the clothes you own.

Cleanout KEEP

THRIFT

TRASH

2. CHOOSE WHAT TO STORE 1. EDIT

LIVING WELL

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• Take all the clothes, shoes and bags out of your closet.

• Separate any items that need mending or repairing, no longer fit, or you just don’t like anymore.

• Be real with yourself. Are you really ever going to get around to sewing that button, or hemming those pants? Are your really going to lose the 15 pounds needed to fit into those jeans?

• If you have items you haven’t worn in a long time that you still love, give yourself a time frame by which you need to wear it, or you get rid of it. If you haven’t warn it within the time frame alloted, let it go.

• We all have those items that we don’t really enjoy wearing. Why keep items that make you miserable? The only caveat to this is if it’s your only one. If you only have one jacket, but you don’t like it, keep it until you can afford to replace it with something more to your liking.

• Go through your remaining ‘keep’ pile again.

Sometimes, with a second sort, you realize there are still items you are willing to part with.

Ask yourself, would you buy the item today?

Do you see yourself wearing it in the next 6 months, or ever?

• See page 27 for suggestions on where to take the things you no longer want.

• You don’t need winter coats at your fingertips in the middle of summer. Store seasonal items, and swap them out when needed.

• Item that you use infrequently can also be stowed away until needed.

3. Categorize & ORGANIZE • You can sort clothes by type (blouses, pants, skirts), by length, by color, by material, by function, by frequency of use. Whichever method speaks to you and helps you stay organized.

4. ZONE OUT • However you’ve decided to organize your clothes, set up areas for your categories, so you know exactly where to return something at a glance.

• The more clearly you can see an item, the more likely you are to wear it, so keep that in mind as you determine what goes where.

• Seasonal items can usually be stored high up in boxes. Keep frequently used items within easy reach.

The Capsule Wardrobe

5. TO HANG OR NOT TO HANG • Clothing items that stretch out of shape can be folded over hangers or stored on shelves.

• Place heavier items at the bottom, lighter items at the top.

• You can also store folded items vertically in clear plastic boxes.

• Socks and undergarments can also be placed in baskets or boxes.

• If you don’t have shelves in your closet, consider getting a few hanging canvas ones.

Tons of clothes but nothing to wear?

It might be time to consider a capsule wardrobe.

You don’t need a ton of clothes to create plenty of outfits. The key is to choose pieces that coordinate well, and that you love to wear.

Choose a Color palette You can start with neutrals such as white, khaki, black, gray and olive green, and then add pops of a brighter color, or choose a striking group of complimentary and contrasting colors.

Begin with the basics

6. THERE’S THE DOOR • Closet doors can be a great additional place to store things. There are many over-the-door storage solutions available to help you store belts, scarves and ties, or hang bags.

7. SHOES • Shoes can be stored in a hanging shoe organizer, on a shoe rack on the floor or on shelves.

• If you have shoes you wear infrequently, store them up high in a box with a photo of the shoes on the front.

8. HOOKS and Hangers • Simple plastic shower rings on a hanger can be used to hang ties, scarves or handbags.

• Wall hooks are useful for hanging frequently-used jewelry

Your basic pieces are things like a plain tee, a camisole, a long sleeved tee, jeans, khakis, a button-down shirt and a sweater or cardigan.

Personalize it With the basics in place you can add items according to your lifestyle. If you dress up for work, add a blazer and pair of work pants. If you have a more casual style, add a hoodie and shorts, or a skirt.

Accessorize The greatest way to add interest and pops of color is to accessorize. Belts, jewelry, watches, scarves, bags and shoes will all do the trick.

7 basic pieces: cami, long sleeve tee, short sleeve tee, sweater, skirt, capri pants, jeans.

12 main outfits

Each outfit can be warn with these accessories to change them up, creating even more outfit options.

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• Keep a bag in your closet for clothes you may want to donate. When it’s full, make a quick run to a thrift store.

• Hang all your clothes backwards. As you wear each item, turn the hanger around. You’ll soon see which items you are really utilizing and which you can let go of, or replace with something you will wear.

• As you buy new items, try to eliminate older ones.

LIVING WELL

9. HOW TO MAINTAIN

Kids at Basin Gaming playing Sentinels of the Multiverse— a cooperative card game that lets players control a team of heroes battling a villain.

Stress Relief

By Caroline Cabral, H&N Staff Reporter H&N photo by Caroline Cabral

G

ardening and gaming — at first glance one might think the only thing these two activities share is the hard consonant sound at the start of the word. Upon closer inspection, we can see how the people of Klamath Falls are using these different activities to de-stress and accomplish overall health.

A study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health suggest that having hobbies “... may extend not only longevity, but also healthy life expectancy among community-dwelling older adults.”

Board games or card games, Robert Kayton of Basin Gaming said, “For most people, it is a stress reliever ... it’s absolutely their escape.” A great way to blow off steam or unwind, gaming also unlocks a community of people that might otherwise go unknown.

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Kayton was introduced to the game Magic the Gathering in elementary school, but he got more involved during his college years. He found that having that and other games in common made it easier to make friends and connect with people that he might not otherwise interact with.

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This sense of community has led him to an increased interest in board games, such as Settlers of Catan, because “... they take less time and more people can

play.” The reason he started this is to help bring people together. “Losing a card store in a community makes it impossible for people to connect outside the home,” he said.

Games also provide a sort of mental stimulation that can allow players to flex their muscles in a way they might not be able to otherwise. “All these games have skill building aspects that are hard to practice in any fun ways,” he said.

Just as Kayton was introduced to games as a child, Jennifer Scanlan found gardening during her childhood, growing produce with her family.

Scanlan is the coordinator of the Klamath Community Garden Project at the corner of Sixth and Oak streets in downtown Klamath Falls. She believes in gardening as a means to reduce stress but also as a way to promote overall health because it provides the community access to inexpensive and fresh produce.

“Gardening is hard work,” she said. Exercise, meeting the community, and a sense of purpose can all be found at the community garden. She explained that when they got survey feedback from garden members, it was not access to vegetables that ranked highest on the long list of benefits to the garden. Rather, it was the connections made and the excuse to get outside.

For more information: • The National Institutes of Health study “Relationship of Having Hobbies and a Purpose in Life With Mortality, Activities of Daily Living, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Among Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults” is available at https://bit.ly/2nmzinv • To take part in a community garden, or for more information about the Klamath Community Garden, visit https://bit.ly/2vtCkun • Read about the Blue Zones health initiative “Power 9 Principles” at https://bit.ly/2p89Sez

“Something is relying on them,” she said.

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One of the Blue Zones health initiatives “Power 9 Principles” is “Down Shift 2 Uplift.” It advocates participating in things like laughter, sleep, and doing something you love. Hobbies are great ways to promote mental and physical stimulation in an enjoyable way.

Both gardening and gaming offer a sense of community, escape, and success that is proven to benefit a healthy, successful lifestyle.

LIVING WELL

For Scanlan, gardening is a way that she relieves stress. The feeling of working with her hands to create something allows her to unwind and achieve a sense of accomplishment from knowing where her food is coming from.

Members of the Klamath Falls Solid Waste Action Committee

The Solid Waste Action Committee: Taking Action on Recycling

By Julia Jackman

LIVING WELL

Get involved:

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If you are interested in becoming involved with SWAC, please send an email to: solidwasteactioncommittee@gmail.com

E

very community in our country has something in common: trash. Everyone generates it, and everyone has to get rid of it, somehow. Thankfully, we have come a long way from the days of tossing all our unwanted waste out the window into the street!

However, humans are really good at creating new forms of trash, and our modern civilization now has more unwanted stuff to get rid of than ever! And it is piling up everywhere, including the ocean, which in many areas is choking on huge drifting islands of plastic trash. While people have come up with many ways to recycle some trash, it is not a perfect system.

And now Klamath Falls and many other communities are facing a difficult situation right now in which the market for recyclables is drying up.

In early 2018, Waste Management, the company that collects garbage and recycling in Klamath Falls and Klamath County, announced it would need to raise the price of monthly collection fees in order to continue recycling services. This was due to the rising cost of bringing the recyclables to an increasingly selective market. China, our largest purchaser, is >

DEPOT RECYCLING

THE ITEMS BELOW ARE ACCEPTED FOR RECYCLING AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATION: Waste Management, 1812 Greensprings Drive

Accepted Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs

Keep Out No Rubber bans or plastic bags

Junk mail, envelopes, office paper, greeting cards, paper egg cartons, paper tubes, wrapping paper and cereal boxes. Put shredded paper in paper bags.

No bath tissue, paper towels, freezer boxes, coffee cups or paper coated with food, wax, foil or plastic.

Cardboard

Flatten cardboard boxes

No wax-coated cardboard or food residue

Milk Cartons, Drink Boxes

Rinse clean.

No Plastic Straws.

Plastic Bottles

All plastic bottles.

No plastic lids, trays, bags, takeout boxes or motor oil, pesticide or herbicide containers.

Yogurt-type containers (6 oz or larger), rigid plant pots (4 in. or larger), and buckets (5 gal. or smaller).

No plastic lids, trays, bags, takeout boxes or motor oil, pesticide or herbicide containers.

Crumple into loosely packed balls.

No food residue.

Aluminum, tin, empty and nontoxic aerosol cans and steel food and beverage cans. Rinse food cans, Put metal lids inside cans and crimp closed.

No plastic caps. Do not flatten or puncture cans or remove nozzles

Scrap Metal

All scrap metal

No plastic, wood or other nonmetal attachments. Automobiles are not accepted.

Glass Bottles and Jars

Mix all colors. Labels OK.

No light bulbs, ceramics, broken glass, glassware, window panes or lids.

Plastic Tubs

Aluminum Foil Metal Cans, Aerosol Cans

All recyclable items must be clean and dry.

All paper, cardboard, metal, plastic bottles and tubs can be mixed together.

Only glass needs to be recycled separately For a complete list of depot recycling options, visit wmnorthwest.com/klamathcounty

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Scrap & Shredded Paper

LIVING WELL

Includes ads, inserts, phone books and paperbacks

imposing stricter standards on what it will accept, and has been frustrated by a high level of contamination of materials it receives. Contamination includes food residues, caps left on bottles, or materials placed into recycling bins that are not actually recyclable. The proposed price increase was presented to the city and county, and in a town hall meeting in February, the public overwhelmingly supported the proposed $1.22 increase to monthly fees as a small price to pay to keep recyclables out of landfills.

This is where the Solid Waste Action Committee (SWAC) comes into the story for Klamath Falls. SWAC was born of the crisis we are facing locally with the question of what to do with all our waste, and how to better manage our recyclables. SWAC emerged as a committee of the local organization, Klamath

Sustainable

Communities

(KSC). KSC was formed in 1995 and has been active in promoting projects such as the Mills Community Garden, the Klamath Tool Library, and supporting the Blue Zones project. KSC seeks to help create a healthy economy that grows without damaging the environment. And while KSC has been involved in many solid waste and recycling issues over the years, there was a need for special committee that could focus its energy on LIVING WELL

improving recycling in Klamath County, partner with community leaders to guide more informed decisions about how to manage all of our solid waste,

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and help residents become more active participants in these decisions.

With local resident Brittney Johansen at the helm, SWAC emerged on the scene in April, and was instrumental in organizing the Sustainapalooza event at Sugarman’s Corner on Earth Day. At Sustainapalooza, residents got to participate in activities such as a Trash Scavenger Hunt, create a community art piece made of trash, and learn about more sustainable home products. The group wants to help people better understand what and how to recycle so they don’t inadvertently place things into their bins that are considered contaminants; what other items are recyclable besides the usual paper, plastic, and cans, and where to take them (such as mattresses, scrap metal, e-waste, batteries, old paint, etc.); as well as offer ideas on how to reduce and reuse. The overarching goal of SWAC is to help residents and businesses throughout Klamath County reduce the amount of stuff filling their garbage bins!

To date, SWAC has been involved in the above mentioned Earth Day Sustainapalooza event, is beginning to form outreach and education activities in schools and businesses, and has also launched a monthly newspaper article in the Herald and News called “Trash Talk.” Trash Talk is intended to give people quick and easy information about how our solid waste system works, how recycling works, fun and easy ways to reduce the amount of trash we create, and updates on innovations in the world of trash and recycling. Keep your eyes open for more from SWAC, and don’t forget to look for your monthly installments of Trash Talk in the Herald and News.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, (re-home) If you could add another chorus to the environmental theme song, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” while you’re clearing out your closets, junk drawers and garages, it would be “Re-home.” Here are some local solutions for re-homing your stash.

FOR SALE

Appliances, metal: Klamath Metals: 2825 Broadmore For more information, call 541-883-3583 or visit klamathmetals.com.

Buys scrap metal and appliances, including copper, brass, steel and iron.

LIVING WELL

Get some dough: Don’t forget the potentially profitable options you can pursue to re-home items from your stash. Host a yard sale, or sell your items online through websites and apps such as Herald and News classifieds, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, VarageSale, etc.

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Donate: Help others with all of that household bounty, donate your gently used items to a local thrift store.

Here are a few to consider: Findables: 1330 E. Main St. Open: Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, call 541-883-1721, or visit klamathbasinassistanceleague.org Assistance League of Klamath Basin operates Findables, a high-quality, second-hand furniture and home décor store. Donations help support Operation School Bell, a clothing program for children, and Families in Crisis, a program in partnership with the Klamath Crisis Center.

Goodwill: 3401 Washburn Way Open: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

For more information, call 541-883-3546 or visit sogoodwill.org/tag/Klamath-falls Donations help support employment, education, veteran and family programs.

Klamath Falls Gospel Mission Recovery Center Thrift Store: 840 Klamath Ave. Open: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 541-850-5217, or visit kfallsmission.org/thirft-store.php.

The furniture donation pick-up line is 541-887-2111.

Donation drop-off is in the alley at the back of the store. Thrift store proceeds benefit Gospel Mission programs and provide job training for mission guests.

Treasures Thrift store: 3226 S. Sixth St. Open: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 541-880-0596, or visit klamathhospice.org/treasures.

Donations accepted: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Operated by Klamath Hospice, donations help support services for patients and their families.

E-cycle: Southern Oregon Goodwill of Klamath Falls: 3401 Washburn Way A green partner with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s e-cycle program to keep e-waste out of local landfills. Goodwill takes all electronics, working or not, at its donation dropoff center. This includes such items as computers, monitors, computer peripherals, printers and TVs. For more information, call 541-826-2773.

Klamath County Solid Waste landfill: 801 Old Fort Road Also a DEQ partner. The landfill e-cycles computers, monitors, computer peripherals, printers and TVs. For more information, call 541-883-3546.

Where Does All the Trash Go?

By The Solid Waste Advisory Committee

M

ost of us probably don’t really think about what happens to the stuff after we toss it into that Waste Managementissued roller bin. Out of sight, out of mind, right? The Solid Waste Action Committee (SWAC) has taken on the challenge to explain the whole process to you!

LIVING WELL

Until 2004, Waste Management collected trash and then took it to the local landfill. But landfills don’t last forever, and Klamath Falls’ landfill was no exception: the landfill got filled up! According to Tom Crist, the Klamath Landfill Director of Solid Waste, the DEQ closed the permit that year for the landfill to accept municipal solid waste. A regional transfer station was built at 4005 Tingley Lane, a location ideally situated to use train transport of solid waste. Under a 10-year contract with the company Republic, trash was collected as usual by Waste Management, brought to the regional transfer station, and then re-loaded onto train cars that took it all the way to the Roosevelt landfill in Roosevelt, Washington.

At the end of the contract with Republic, the service was bid out again and a new contract was formed, this time with Rogue Disposal, to take our trash to the Dry Creek Landfill in White City.

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For those living in the farther reaches of the county, such as Bly, Beatty, Chiloquin or Chemult, there are smaller transfer stations where garbage is deposited.

Waste Management serves most of these areas, too. Again, the trash is collected from these stations, and brought to the Tingley Lane station. Under the current contract with Rogue Disposal, all the collected trash is piled into trucks, and compressed until each truck holds about 30 tons, and heads over the hill to White City. Special equipment called “tippers” unload the garbage into the landfill. Then the trash is handled in the same way as at other landfills, and is ultimately covered up. Every day, an average of 90 tons of trash from Klamath County is taken to the White City landfill. That is a lot of garbage!

At this point in time, Klamath County has a fairly effective way of handling its trash, and the lifespan of the White City landfill is currently projected to be about 100 years. That seems like a long time, but eventually that landfill will be closed down, too. What then? With this in mind, it becomes even more important to figure out ways to recycle more, and throw away less. Keep your eyes open for more information from the Solid Waste Action Committee as it continues to learn about news and innovations in the world of trash and recycling. If you are interested in becoming involved with SWAC, please send an email to: solidwasteactioncommittee@gmail.com.

You can recycle your old and damaged CDs and DVDs. Find your closest CD recycling center at www.cdrecyclingcenter.org

Glass can be recycled over and over.

A glass container can be recycled and back on the shelf in as few as 30 days

Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.

LIVING WELL

Yard waste, appliances, mattresses and other bulky items can still be taken to the landfill. Many items are diverted to collection areas and are handled in a special way. For example, mattresses, a difficult item to landfill, are set aside for a recycling process developed in conjunction with Klamath Works and REACH. Due to the ongoing recycling challenges, there are no longer recycling bins for comingled recyclables.

However, you can still drop off corrugated cardboard and glass. Collected cardboard is delivered to REACH where it is processed. The glass is crushed on site at the landfill, and used “internally” as road base throughout the landfill area as well as on roads and surfaces at the other outlying transfer stations. Tom Crist explained that the crushed glass creates a more durable base for roads and service areas, with much better drainage.

Did you know?

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Recylables collected by Waste Management are also diverted to the regional transfer station. They are collected in a separate area, and then trucked to Medford to a facility that compresses it into bundles, and then sends it up to Pioneer Recycling in Clackamas, Oregon. There it is unbundled and sorted by hand, separating out material that can be sold and recycled. Those items that are unable to be recycled are landfilled. Trash Talk will get into this topic another time.

Patricia Curtis makes contact during women’s double play in the Y Senior Pickleball Tournament at Harbor Isles Fitness and Tennis Club

Pickleball fever takes root in the Basin

By Gerry O’brien, H&N Editor H&N file photo by Joaquin Aguilar

T

he sport of pickleball is coming of age in the valley, with 150 registered members in the Klamath Basin Pickleball Association so far.

And, if the fundraising effort proves fruitful, there will be six new, professional courts in Steen Sports Park this time next year.

As one of the fastest-growing recreational sports in North America, the game of pickleball is catching on faster than a California wildfire. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2017 Pickleball Participant Report, Pickleball has 2.8 million players in the U.S. alone.

LIVING WELL

30

Among the sport’s leading catalysts is the surging professional game, according to Selkirk Sports’ website, which is now backed by TV contracts, professional endorsements and players competing in national tournaments for prize purses. In 2018, more than 2,100 athletes competed in the annual U.S. Open Championships, a seven-day national tournament at East Naples Community Park in Naples, Fla., an event that is growing by an estimated 40-percent participation rate each year.

Average age for a Basin player is 55 and up. However, younger people are always encouraged to join.

What is pickleball? Think of it as paddle tennis, with a whiffle ball, played on half of a tennis court with a lower net. Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and pingpong. It's played indoors or outdoors. The reason it’s popular is that it is less strenuous than tennis, is usually played in pairs, and is part social; part workout for the players. The learning curve for the rules is short, so players are pretty much ready to go after just a few games. However, there’s lots of strategy that one can learn along the way, which makes each game a challenge.

Pickleball is endorsed by the Blue Zones Project because it is a low-impact, yet effective, healthy workout. Usually, team members get together for pickup games and play from one to three hours. Teammates rotate among the group so everyone gets to play and people get a chance to rest and visit. One can play as hard or as easy as they like, which makes it great for all abilities.

Here are the locations where pickleball is played. If you a newbie, ask one of the members to show you the ropes. The club has extra paddles to lend out for games.

For more information, see the club’s website: www.kbpickleball.com for contact information and fees. Membership is $20 annually.

Stukel Park: Mills Addition • 4 outdoor courts M-W-F • open play starts at 8 a.m.

Tue-Thu • Challenge play 8 a.m. and open 5:30 p.m.

Open to public-bring your own net and balls Contact club to borrow nets Crest Park • 2 outdoor courts Open to the public Bring your own net & balls Contact club to borrow nets Running Y Ranch Resort • 4 outdoor courts Courts reserved for home owners and in-resident guests Harbor Isles Tennis & Fitness Center • 4 indoor courts M-F 9:45-11:45 a.m. • Open play Other drop in times available, Call to reserve.

Several types of membership available: annual, monthly, or per session.

Contact front desk for details.

Mention KBPA membership 541-884-3300.

Sacred Heart Gym • 3 indoor courts Enter fenced parking lot behind church Open November-April M-W-F 9 a.m.-noon • Recreational play Tue-Thu 9 a.m.-noon • Challenge play: Donation recommended: 1st time attendee, beginner classes or travelers dropping in play free.

Bonanza Big Springs Park • 2 outdoor courts Tue-Thu-Sat-Sun Call Jocelyn to confirm times: 541-810-8700 Bonanza School Little Gym Tuesday 6-8 p.m.

Saturday 9:30 a.m.-noon Sunday 2-4:30 p.m.

No play if inclement weather Call Joycelyn for current info: 541-810-8700 Klamath Basin Senior Center • 1 indoor court Tues 2-5 p.m., Fri 1-5 p.m. • Open play Donation recommended

LIVING WELL

The Running Y Ranch and Resort recently sponsored a public tournament that drew 75 players to the Basin. The hope is to grow more competitive tournaments and be on a circuit of players that travel up and down the West Coast attending the events.

Where to play Pickleball in the Basin:

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Here in the Klamath Basin, organized pickleball officially took root on May 1, 2017.

Since then, there are seven designated sites where locals gather to play the game.

An open lot, formerly the site of tennis courts at Lost River, is being prepped for construction of a new community center if fundraising goals can be met.

A multi-purpose place for rural communities: Lost River Community Center to aid school, community opportunities

By Kurt Liedtke, H&N Staff Reporter

W

hile there is a desire for healthy activities for students and residents in the combined communities of Merrill and Malin, first a space is needed to allow it. With that in mind, the Lost River Booster Club is hard at work developing a multi-purpose community center on the Lost River High School campus.

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A collaborative effort several years in the making with the Klamath County School District and many supportive community members and businesses, fundraising goals have reached one-third of the $1.25 million projected target to build the Lost River Community Center. The former site of tennis courts at the high school, long past serviceable use and recently demolished into a gravel parking lot adjacent to the Lost River greenhouse; the vacant space will soon be the locale for a place to expand school programs for students, increase athletics, and support community efforts.

“The tennis courts were dedicated in memory of my grandparents, who died in a plane crash shortly before I was born, so it was personal to me that the space get used and be enjoyed by people,” said Amie McAulife, Lost River Booster Club member and director of the community center effort.

With approximately $225,000 in the coffers to date, the goal is to start construction by next spring, aided by donated labor from the school district’s certified staff to have the facility completed by winter of 2019.

The labor donation alone for maintenance crews to erect walls and install plumbing and electricity is the equivalent of an in-kind donation of $125,000 towards the cause.

The community center’s origins began in the early ’90s, thanks to the sale of a building, the proceeds of which were donated to the booster club. Those funds got rolled into a certificate of deposit, which is slated to mature by October to the tune of $25,000. With the knowledge of those pending funds, discussions began several years ago about what to do with it.

Conversations with the school principal and thenSuperintendent Greg Thede resulted in the concept of developing an additional sports court, due to the high-demand for the Lost River gym with both middle school and high school students using the current facility. Finances for construction were way higher than expected, however, and the idea was placed on hold.

Re-addressed last year, plans were renewed and modified to expand the concept beyond just an athletic site but as a multi-purpose venue for classrooms, events, athletics, special get-togethers, a fitness center and community meetings. Committees were formed and fundraising began as the concept took shape, now nearing closer to reality.

Once completed the building will comprise a 105foot by 140-foot two-story structure complete with classrooms, kitchen, meeting rooms, a full-sized basketball court and volleyball courts, indoor batting cage and fitness center. It will be a space where fledgling programs like Lost River’s robotics team can expand, where art, music and drama students will finally have a place to develop their creativity, a site for Lost River teams to practice during inclement weather, for community groups to enjoy yoga or

Lakeview Gardens

Assisted Living Facility

NOW OPEN Currently Accepting New Residents

Contact Larry Coulter at 541-947-2114 ext. 187 This institution is an equal opportunity employer and provider

An artist rendering of the two-story multi-purpose community center planned to be built at Lost River High School if fundraising goals are met.

work out, for college distance courses to be offered, or English Language Learner and General Education Diploma classes offered as well as migrant family outreach. It will, essentially, fill the many voids desired in the rural communities that currently are either unavailable or necessitate travel to Klamath Falls to fulfill.

“Our school is maxed out for space, there is no extra room for some programs, and we want to provide more for our kids,” explained McAulife. “We want a meeting place, space to cook a meal, have events, and more. Right now there’s a group of women that have yoga classes in the elementary school library where they have to move tables out of the way — they need a space designed for fitness.”

Community support has been mostly positive in the venture, aided by a large community fundraiser dinner held in June at the Merrill Civic Center. That event raised $14,000 for the community center, but just as importantly provided a venue for McAulife and others involved to educate the public about their grandiose plans.

LIVING WELL

Fundraising efforts will ramp up further during the school year, including a decadeby-decade alumni challenge where the highest fundraising group by decade will be appropriately honored in the structure. Talk of possibly selling individualized bricks has been tossed around, and various foundational grants will be pursued to help round out the estimated total cost.

“Some people have said it’s too big and expensive, and I understand their point of view, but those involved feel like if we’re going to do something we want it to be worthwhile,” added McAulife. “We could have something great. We have a lot of people that are very committed. Even though we’re small that doesn’t mean that we can’t have nice things – we deserve a place to expand our wellness and education for kids and the community.”

More fundraising efforts are expected to be unveiled at the annual Klamath Basin Potato Festival in October. For now, there’s plenty of work still to be done, but McAulife and the others involved are determined to make it happen. A 501(c)3 nonprofit was even formed for the sole purpose of building the community center, with all donations toward the cause being tax-deductible.

“Between now and spring I would like to have $500,000 in cash for the project, then we could easily purchase the steel building and get it up,” said McAulife. “We won’t wait until we have the full $1.25 million, I think it’s important for the community to see that this is going to happen. So many people have already donated their time and money, this is moving forward.”

For more information about the Lost River Community Center or to donate, contact LRCC Director Amie McAulife at 541-891-4503 or via email at lostrivercommunitycenter@gmail.com.

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Stay Hydrated

Rest your WEARY eyes It’s very easy to work in a trance-like state, staring for hours at your monitor.

This can cause eye strain and eye dryness.

Every 20 minutes close your eyes and rest them for a few seconds. Blink several times to aid eye moisture.

Look off into the distance to rest the muscle inside your eye use for focusing up close.

Drinking plenty of water not only hydrates us, it cuts down on snacking, Helps us stay more alert, wards off the 3 ‘clock slump, and those frequent trips to the bathroom allow you to get in some exercise!

Bring a 16 oz bottle to work. Make it a goal to drink it by lunch time, then the second bottle by 3pm and the third by 5pm.

be a team player Office sports teams are a great way to stay active and get to know your coworkers in a more relaxed environment.

PACK SNACKS With office treats and vending machines easily available, it’s easy to snack without thinking, adding a surprising number of calories over the course of a week.

Pack some healthy snacks to curb your temptation, like baby carrots, nuts, string cheese, celery sticks, trail mix, snap peas or Cheerios.

BUST A MOVE Get up and walk around every hour or so.

If you can’t leave your desk, at least stand up and have a quick stretch.

Take a walk around the block (or desks) on your breaks.

If you’re tempted to pick up the phone to talk to someone 20 feet away, hang up and walk over.

Book YOUR breaks Each morning, plan your day, including your breaks, so you don’t find yourself at the end of the day in the same exact position as you started.

Writing out a task list can also keep you on-track and more time-efficient.

LIVING WELL

Ways to watch your weight and wellbeing at work.

35

WORKPLACE WELLBEING

RECIPES

Start making healthier food choices by trying these nutritious recipes

African Peanut Stew Submitted by Linda Tesman

Ingredients • • • • • •

This is a savory, slightly sweet and colorful meal that is surprisingly filling.

You can add any greens that you may have in your fridge like kale or collard greens. I like to serve it over a bed of brown rice.

You can make it more spicy if you like by adding cayenne pepper.

• • • • • • • • • • •

1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 medium red onion chopped 1.5 cups 1 medium red pepper chopped ½ cup carrots chopped ½ cup edamame (frozen soy beans in freezer section of natural foods section) 1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped in ½ inch chunks 2 tomatoes chopped 3 garlic cloves minced 2 Tablespoons fresh ginger root minced 1 Tablespoon curry ¼ cups creamy or crunchy peanut butter or almond butter ½ tsp salt Pepper 1 bay leaf optional 1 can light coconut milk 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth ¼ cups fresh cilantro chopped (optional to sprinkle on top)

Directions 1. Saute onion, pepper and carrots for 5 minutes over medium heat.

2. Add minced garlic and ginger for a minute and don’t let burn.

3. Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, curry, broth, salt, pepper and bayleaf.

4. Simmer until the potatoes are slightly firm.

LIVING WELL

5. Add coconut milk, peanut butter, edamame and stir well until slightly thickened.

This can be eaten alone or consider spooning it over a bed of brown rice.

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Mediterranean Couscous Salad Submitted by Liz Arraj

Ingredients

Klamath Cowboy C aviar

Submitted by Linda Tesman

Directions 1. Combine all ingredients and blend well.

Ingredients • 1 can corn • 1 can black eyed peas or black beans

drained and rinsed 2-3 avocados 2 diced roma tomatoes 1 bunch green onions sliced thin 1 cup cilantro chopped Dressing

• • • •

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar • ¼ cup olive oil • 2 cloves minced garlic

Directions 1. In a large bowl add the first 6 ingredients then add the dressing.

LIVING WELL

• • • • • • • • •

1 cup of uncooked golden couscous 2 cups of water 1 cup red cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 1/2 of red onion, sliced into half moons 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, sliced 1/2 cup flat-leaf Parsley, chopped 1. Boil 2 cups of water. Add couscous and cover, turning off the heat. Fluff with fork. Let sit until cooled.

2. Combine all ingredients in large bowl.

3. Add Lemon-Basil Dressing. Mix well.

Lemon Basil Dressing 1/4 cup olive oil Zest of 2 lemons/1/4 cup freshly juiced lemon 1/4 cup fresh basil 1 clove of garlic 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes Salt to taste

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• • • • • • •

Italian caramelized onion and mushroom farinata Submitted by Chef Liz Arra

Serves: 4

Ingredients

Directions

• 3 TBSP. olive oil to sauté the vegetables • 2 yellow onions, peeled, cut in half, sliced

1. Sauté the onions slowly in olive oil and salt until translucent and soft.

2. Add mushrooms and cook for another 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine all the ingredients for the garbanzo bean flour batter and whisk well. Let sit in bowl until veggies are done cooking.

4. In 9-inch pie tin, oil lightly. Put sautéed onions and mushrooms on the bottom. Pour the garbanzo bean flour batter over the veggies.

5. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 or until firm to the touch.

6. Serve hot with arugula or spinach greens, sliced cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of Balsamic vinegar or whatever sauce you wish.

• • • • • • • • •

thinly into half moons 2 cups of cremini mushrooms, de-stemmed, cut in half, thinly sliced 1 tsp. salt to taste Garbanzo Bean Flour Batter 2 1/2 cups of garbanzo bean flour 2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. Italian herb blend 1 tsp. pepper 3 TBSP. olive oil 3 cups of hot water

BLUE ZONES Spice up your life! Blue Zones offers a wide variety of nutritious recipes online for appetizers, main dishes, snacks, desserts and more at bluezones.com/recipes.

LIVING WELL

38

FIND MORE RECIPES

FOODHERO Foodhero.org, through the Oregon State University Extension, is a go-to site for quick, tasty, healthy recipes and helpful tips for families. Try out recipes for Pumpkin Fruit Dip, Tomato Pasta Salad and Overnight Oatmeal recipes. Foodhero offers tips on shopping, food storage for waste reduction and how to get kids involved in preparing healthy meals.

EXPERIENCE

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START CREATING A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER LIFE, TODAY.

Be a part of transforming well-being so the healthy choices become easy choices for you and your community.

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good friends each day.

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Klamath Farmer’s

Online Marketplace Thursday Pick-up at:

2701 Foothills Blvd

Do you want year-round access to local produce, meat & eggs?

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Go to www.KFOM.org

For more information contact: info@kfom.org

• Orders Due: Every Tuesday by 10pm • Pickup: Every Thursday from 5 - 7pm

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to order fresh food direct from local farmers

KEEP MOVING KLAMATH FALLS

WE’RE INVESTING IN COMMUNITY WELLNESS PROJECTS ALL AROUND THE KLAMATH BASIN.

LIVING WELL

KIT CARSON PARK

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