LIFESTYLES of the 50+
A special section of The Issaquah Press, Sammamish Review and SnoValley Star
lifestyles of the 50+
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Bringing You Making the most of retirement Generations Three couples changes of Smiles share to their lifestyles after leaving the workforce By Erin Hoffman news@isspress.com Retirement from the workforce does not have to mean retirement from excitement. In Sammamish, CJ and Mary Jo Kahler, both 70, are living by the motto, “Service above self.” In May 2005, CJ joined the Rotary Club of Sammamish and has been an active member since. In 2009, he travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the club to dispense polio vaccinations. The club has
Contributed
CJ Kahler delivers a polio immunization to a mother’s baby in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on a service trip with the Sammamish Rotary in 2009. also adopted a village in Nicaragua, where it is helping families become independent, by teaching them to build houses and plant crops. CJ visited there
in 2012 and again this year. “Both of those projects are very rewarding, but so are the projects we do in our community,” he said.
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Community, service He has been instrumental in helping with local food banks and the creation of a new homeless shelter in North Bend. He stepped down from his trustee position with the Rotary Club on June 30, but still works as a grant coordinator. Mary Jo, who grew up in Sammamish, is a member of the Soup Ladies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing meals to first responders who have to stay on-scene at emergency and disaster sites. The group primarily serves Western Washington, although a few volunteers travelled to New Jersey to help after Hurricane Sandy, and to Oklahoma to help after the recent
lifestyles of the 50+
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Contributed
CJ Kahler is swarmed by the children of a rural village in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while on a trip to immunize the population in polio eradication efforts.
tornado. “Community, to me, is a big circle, and it extends beyond the geographic area I live in,” Mary Jo said. This dedication to service is not new. According to Mary Jo, “It’s a lifelong affliction.” Mary Jo and CJ met when they were both involved in student government at Seattle University, and they have been working to better their communities all their lives. The “affliction” has trickled down to their children, who have won awards for their volunteerism. “Volunteering benefits the community at the time, but it also
pays forward to make a better community for the future,” Mary Jo said. CJ added, “We’ve been given talents by God, and we believe we can’t sit still and just play golf or read a book all day.” Sports, God and family For Bob and Linda Jeans, Snoqualmie residents since 2001, sports have always been an important part of their lives. Bob, 70, introduced sports to Linda, also 70, after they married 45 years ago, and the two have spent most of their married life playing golf or tennis. After
retiring from working in human resources in the newspaper and technology industries, Linda said she wasted no time in getting involved in local sports clubs. She plays with the Mount Si Women’s Golf Association, and plays couples golf with her husband and neighbors. “I love sports. I just love competitiveness,” she said. Bob and Linda passed their active lifestyle down to their children. After their grandson Tanner died in a bicycle accident in 2004, the Jeans family founded a charity to help kids in See RETIREMENT, Page 4
lifestyles of the 50+
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Retirement From Page 3
Contributed
Bob and Linda Jeans gather with their family at the Snoqualmie Community Park tennis courts during the 2013 Tanner Jeans Bicycle Safety Rodeo, an annual event to raise money to buy helmets for kids who can’t afford them.
the Snoqualmie Valley area get involved in sports. The Tanner Jeans Foundation honors Tanner’s memory by giving scholarships for kids to attend sports camps and donating sports equipment to kids in need. Aside from their charity work, both Bob and Linda serve the city of Snoqualmie, Bob on the City Council and Linda on the Arts Commission. “The city staff is a wonderful bunch of
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people,” Bob said. “It’s been an upbeat experience.” Bob, who is not yet retired from his career as a structured settlement broker, still finds time to work with not only the City Council, where he focuses on the Economic Development Commission, but also with the Northwest Railway Museum and Meadowbrook Farm. “If I leave the council, I’d still stay active with the Railway Museum and with Meadowbrook Farm,” he said. Both Bob and Linda also are involved with
the Church on the Ridge, where they attend weekly bible study. “Faith is very important to us,” Linda said. “The main focus of our life is God and family.” Environment and art For LeRoy and Marilyn LaCelle, of Issaquah, retirement meant expanding their interests. When Marilyn, 69, retired from her career in behavioral health care, she decided to expand on her love of gardening. She became a master gardener and joined the Issaquah Parks Board so she could focus
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lifestyles of the 50+ on conserving the environment. “I loved health services, but I didn’t want it to be all I did,” she said. In order to become a master gardener, Marilyn had to do a lot of study and reading about native plants and horticulture, but she said that she does not mind the work. “I don’t feel any less busy, but I love everything I do,” she said. After retiring as the CEO of an industrial design company, LeRoy, 71, began to pursue photography. He graduated from college with a degree in fine art, and
after his retirement, decided to return to his first love. LeRoy is on the board of directors at artEAST and serves on the Issaquah Arts Commission. Twelve of his photographs hang in Swedish/Issaquah hospital. His photographs are also on display at Flat Iron Grill in Issaquah, Cooley Smiles dental suites in Bellevue and in the Washington State Legislative Building. The LaCelles have lived in Issaquah since 2003, and they have loved their home for the past decade. “It feels like a small
PAGE 5 town, but it’s actually very cosmopolitan,” LeRoy said. “It’s such an awesome place to live,” Marilyn added. “There’s so much you can do here.” When they are not working, the LaCelles love camping. They have visited 18 national parks, where LeRoy often finds inspiration for his photography. They are also both frequent attendees at the Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Symphony. “It’s important to keep doing things and not regard your age as a barrier,” Marilyn said.
Contributed
LeRoy and Marilyn LaCelle take in a scenic mountain lake view at Montana’s Glacier National Park in 2010.
lifestyles of the 50+
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By Greg Farrar
Students (seated, from left) Bob Wilburn, of Issaquah, and Catherine and Pat Heffron, of Kirkland, have specific questions answered by instructor Linda Roddis during the TELOS ‘iPad, Tablet and MS Surface’ class July 11 at Bellevue College.
TELOS program brings retirees back to school By Erin Hoffman The TELOS program at Bellevue College has been offering classes and programs specifically designed for retirees looking for a relaxed learning experience since 1979. Held at the Bellevue College North Campus, the TELOS (which means fulfillment in Greek) program does not have tests, quizzes, textbooks or grades. Its focus is on providing an environment that promotes learning rather than memorization. William Stephens, TELOS director, said he wants the program to be an inclusive and positive experience for its participants. “One of our goals is to create
an atmosphere to converse and get together over a cup of coffee,” he said. Stephens joined the program in 1992 as an instructor. In 2001, he became the program’s director. Since his involvement with TELOS began, the program has seen incredible growth. “It’s almost doubled in size and more than doubled in classes we offer,” he said. The TELOS program was previously located off campus at the Northwest Arts Center in Bellevue, but after the city increased prices on the space the college was using in 2010, TELOS was moved to Bellevue College’s North Campus. TELOS provides college and postgraduate level courses in the
interest of personal investment for retirees. The classes offered through the program are quite diverse in their subject matter. “We’ll be offering about 50 classes on a wide variety of subjects,” Stephens said. They range from classes like “Comparative Religion” and “History of American Foreign Policy” to “Views of the News” and various Tai Chi courses. While TELOS covers many classes retirees are looking for, there are still a few subjects like language and music that are taken care of by the Continuing Education branch of Bellevue College. TELOS does have an Intermediate French Conversation class, but does not
have any introductory courses. The World Language Institute at Bellevue College offers courses for people looking to learn another language. With both daytime and evening classes, The World Language Institute will host about 100 classes this fall. Courses for all skill levels are available for 14 different languages, including French, Italian, Japanese, Hawaiian, Spanish and German. Rene Siegenthaler, associate director of the World Language Institute, said the large amount of languages offered by Bellevue College is a great opportunity for those looking to learn a new language and might not want to learn the common languages like French and Spanish.
lifestyles of the 50+ “It would be pretty hard to find some of these languages elsewhere,” Siegenthaler said. Along with standard language classes, specialized classes intended to teach the basics of a language in order to prepare people for travel abroad are available as well. Travel-based classes are five weeks long and meet once a week for two hours. The standard language classes are $165 to register and the travel-based classes are $99. TELOS classes meet once a week for one and a half hours. Registering for a class will cost $70 for an eight-week
What to know Learn more about the TELOS program at http://continuingeducation.bellevuecollege.edu/ telos.
course. Additionally, low-income students can arrange to get partial fee waivers to help offset the cost of signing up. Classes are held in the fall, winter and spring quarters. Summer quarter programming is limited. Fall quarter classes will start Sept. 30 and go until Nov. 22. Winter quarter will start shortly
PAGE 7 after, on Jan. 6, and end Feb. 28. All students and faculty are welcome to join the TELOS Advisory Guild, a group of students and faculty whose purpose is to guide the program so it stays relevant to the needs of its students. Volunteers and donations to the program are accepted to help reduce the costs of classes and provide extra help. The TELOS program is also accepting applications for teachers. If you meet the criteria to teach or volunteer, email your application to Stephens at wstephen@bellevuecollege.edu.
By Greg Farrar
Subha Devi Srinivasan (left) receives thanks from TELOS creative writing instructor Doris Toppen for the contribution she shared with fellow students during a July 11 class at Bellevue College.
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Friends come together through the ages By Kristine Kim It was obvious something was up when one of the fully-grown men started giggling. “I’m Danny Greenwood,” insisted Patrick “Paddy” Murdoch, smiling at his chortling friend. Pointing across the table at Tim Reid, he said, “That’s Chris Carey.” The men have been friends since their school days, back when Gilman Boulevard was Highway 10 and the Issaquah Eagles were the Indians. So, when they get together for “Martini Tuesdays,” it is no wonder that they are the only group allowed reservations for Lombardi’s bar. When more friends come into town, the group can number as many as 25 people. “They’re a very friendly, gregarious group of guys who are interested in the community and living life,” said Diane Symms, owner of Lombardi’s. In the 22 years since they have been coming to her establishment, she has gotten to see a lot of their interaction in person. “They have often invited me to sit down and talk for a few minutes,” she said. Though the men joked that martinis were the best part of their meeting, Tim Reid, 58, mentioned that there
ated substantive conversations.”
By Kristine Kim
Michael McDevitt (left) lines up a pool shot July 1 at the Mount Si Senior Center while Phil Griffin scowls. are not many members of the original Issaquah group left. “We’re from the old Issaquah,” said Scott Ondras, 56, who comes to Issaquah from Snohomish every week. Because of their history, Danny Greenwood — the real one that co-founded the group decades ago — said they have “fantastic camaraderie.” When asked her opinion of such a long-lasting friendship, Symms was quick to reply. “I’m very envious,” she said. Since she grew up in a military fam-
ily, most of her school days were spent traveling the world with her parents — conditions that are not exactly conducive to making lifelong friends. “I’ve had some good friends that I’ve made in the last 20 years, but I don’t have those longtime friends from the high school and college days.” Shorter, but just as rewarding Not all friendships need the longevity of that of the Martini Tuesday group to be rewarding. Take, for example, Phil Griffin, 74, and Michael
McDevitt, 61, two regulars of the Mount Si Senior Center in North Bend. They met five years ago when Griffin noticed McDevitt’s affinity for pool. This man, he thought, could actually pose a challenge to him. Since then, the two have become closer with frequent meetings. “It has evolved from being pool buddies to helping each other out in different ways,” Griffin said. They give each other rides if there is car trouble. McDevitt, a former Microsoft employee and fine art-
ist, helped his friend put together a presentation for Griffin’s job as a counselor. Griffin, being PowerPoint illiterate, was grateful for the help, saying that his friend “can make anything happen on a computer.” Though the two are from different walks of life, McDevitt said it makes for a more meaningful relationship. “My associations — the ones that have any depth — are rarely with people who agree with everything I say,” he said. “Not only has it not put a strain on our friendship, it has cre-
Preventing isolation As a counselor, Griffin deals with the question of relationships often. “Friendship keeps someone from being isolated,” he said. “People tend to lose a sense of normalcy in life.” With friends around, a person can bounce off of them and maintain their everyday attitudes. The friendliness between the men is apparent; the two engage in wordplay, with McDevitt doling out a pun, only to say, “I’m just sayin’.” They are engaging and sociable. During games of pool Griffin gave McDevitt tips on tricky shots in the early days of their friendship. When asked for pictures, McDevitt turned his back, asking if you would like a more “posterior” shot. It was easy to hear chuckles around the pool table. Feels like family In other areas of the senior center, friendships abound. Groups gather at circular tables in the cafeteria, conversing over their meals. Juanita Erwin, 79, and Cleo Krenzler, 84, say the place feels like a family. For Erwin especially, coming to the senior
lifestyles of the 50+ center and meeting her friends was to cure her loneliness after her husband’s passing in 2003. On top of the exercise groups in which both women participate, they think it is healthy to have relationships like theirs. Ed Morrison, of Morrison Counseling & Educational Services in North Bend, agrees with them. “People in partnerships have fewer health problems generally than people who are alone,” he said. “A lot of things we believe turn out to be true scientifically.” Since scientists can measure physical reactions like blood pressure and the strength of a
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By Kristine Kim
Juanita Erwin (left) and Cleo Krenzler enjoy each other’s company by sharing lunch at the Mount Si Senior Center. person’s immune system, the mental comfort people feel from having friends is something we see coming across in our bodies. “We start our lives
attaching to someone,” said Carol Morrison, who shares a practice with her husband. Our early relationship with our parents, she said, becomes a corner-
By Kristine Kim
Scott Ondras, Tim Reid, an unidentified acquaintance of the group, Jim Murdoch and Patrick Murdoch (from left), share jokes at Lombardi’s restaurant bar during their July 2 Martini Tuesday gathering. stone to how we relate to people. “We’re not meant to be alone,” she said. The Martini Tuesday
group agrees. Though the lone first arrival is the one who picks up the tab for the night, as the table fills with
laughter and exuberant hugs, Jim Murdoch, 65, said it best: “It is an honor to buy drinks for my buddies.”
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Baby boomers enjoy perks of achieving ‘senior’ status By Kristine Kim Being “over the hill” has its high points. There are discounted prices, and exclusive programs and opportunities all around. At 50, you’re invited to join the AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that — in addition to opening doors to discounts — advocates for health care, employment security and retirement planning. Institutions like libraries and hospitals are onto you as you get older and wiser; they often provide opportunities exclusively for those over 50. The King County Library System has events and programs in a section called “More to Explore 50+” on its website. There is also a traveling library that goes around delivering books to locations like the Mount Si Senior Center, Rose Crest at Talus, the YWCA Family Village and YWCA Passage Point. To find out if the van is stopping by a location near you, contact your local library. And there aren’t just perks when it comes to educating yourself and becoming better informed. Many entertainment venues cater to the senior population with reduced ticket prices and discounted
File photos
Passing age 50 opens up many discounts, from golfing (above) to shopping (right). accommodations. For example, Village Theatre provides senior discounts if you want to attend a show in a group that includes at least 10 people. Seniors older than 60 can also get up to 30 percent off many movie theater ticket regular prices. The North Bend Theatre gives seniors older than 60 discounted admission with $6 tickets, as compared to the regular price of $8 to $8.50 for adults. The new Issaquah Highlands Stadium 12 charges seniors older than 60 $8.50 for all showtimes, while adult tickets can range from $9 to $11 for a matinee and evening ticket, respectively. A number of golf courses also cater to the older set. The Cascade, Mt. Si and Snoqualmie Falls golf courses all provide discounts to those older than 60 or 62 for services ranging from
green fees to a 10-round pass. Different courses provide different perks, so ask what is available. To add onto the list of local destinations, check out the Issaquah Community Center for even more to do. Gold pass holders — for those older than 62 who live in the Issaquah School District — have a membership fee for just $25 a year. Seniors outside the school district will have to pay $175 annually, but that is still a bargain compared to the $300 fee for other adults. Shopping centers often have discounts for seniors as well, and for many of them, Tuesday is the golden day. Michael’s provides 10 percent discounts every Tuesday with an AARP card. On the first Tuesday of every month, you can save an extra 10 percent at Fred Meyer if you ask. Those older than 50
can get 5 percent off at Front Street Market in Issaquah. North Bend Premium Outlets even have a 50-plus program where shoppers older than 50 can receive 10 percent off their entire purchase at 20 participating stores on — you guessed it — Tuesday. To switch it up, Kohl’s merchandise is 15 percent off every Wednesday for those older than 62. (There’s a store in nearby Covington.) All of that activity means that you’ll want
plenty of food and rest. You’re in luck. Many restaurants and hotels offer senior discounts, so make sure to ask about them before you take your order or book a room. According to a compiled list of discount restaurants on About. com, many servers don’t want to misstep with their customers when it comes to gauging age, so if you want a discount, make sure to let them know your age yourself. However, note that in a restaurant,
senior items are often for a smaller palate; if you’ve worked up an appetite, you might do better to go for a regular meal instead. Eateries like IHOP and Denny’s, in Issaquah, and North Bend’s Twede’s Café have senior menus. At Bayan Mongolian BBQ in Snoqualmie, the entrées for those older than 65 are $5.95, a $2 discount from the regular small entrée, while Sammamish Café has a See PERKS, Page 11
lifestyles of the 50+
Perks From Page 10 10 percent discount on entrées for those older than 60. As for getting to those places? Well, your age gives you some great options there, too. DMV.org, a nongovernment-affiliated site that pulls information from various official DMV websites to have it all in one place, recommends looking for a car insurance company that offers senior discounts — and according to them, those discounts are not hard to find.
For anything from a mature driver discount to an AARP member discount, make sure to ask your insurance provider if there are any deals for you. At the AARPauthorized Carriage Insurance in North Bend, for example, you can get services like lifetime renewability, conditional new car replacement and a program called Recover Care. “Lifetime renewability is important, because when you get to be in your 80s and 90s, a lot of insurance companies pull the plug on you,” said Doug Carr, of Carriage Insurance. Programs like Recover
PAGE 11 Care provide drivers with $2,500 for necessities in the event their car is disabled. Connecting with a local agency is important. “I think it’s important to know local agency commitment,” Carr said. “It’s a pretty good deal for the community.” Greyhound buses also provide a 5 percent discount for those older than 62, and those older than 65 can ride at a reduced fare in the Metro King County bus system with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit. Have fun and save when you’re out and about.
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AARP offers driving safety class The great taste of Louisiana By Evan Pappas
Updated knowledge of traffic laws and driving fundamentals are not the only thing the AARP driving safety class offers its participants. The class could also get you discounts on car insurance and roadside assistance. Most drivers over age 50 have not kept up to date on traffic rules and regulations that have been introduced and changed since they got their licenses. The AARP driving safety class offers an opportunity to get a refresher on those details while also learning new skills. The class, which can be taken in person and online, will teach
Start driving safer Course times, dates and locations can all be found at aarp.org/findacourse. The next class at Swedish/Issaquah is Sept. 28. Call 206-3862502 to register. Reach AARP at 888-227-7669 toll free or at www.aarpdriversafety.org.
defensive driving, current road rules, proper use of safety belts, how to reduce the effects of blind spots, how to avoid potential collisions and more. The effects of aging on driving are also explored in the class. Managing factors like
reduced vision, hearing and reaction speed is crucial to succeeding on the road. The effects of medications while driving and eliminating distractions, such as eating, drinking or talking on the phone, are also topics covered in the class. Finish the class and your certificate of completion may help you receive insurance discounts. Consult with your agent. The class is intended for those who are 50 or older, but it is open to people of all ages. The class costs $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. Online classes cost $15.95 for members and $19.95 for nonmembers.
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Senior centers offer activities Issaquah Valley Senior Center q 75 N.E. Creek Way, Issaquah q 392-2381 q www.issaquahseniorcenter.org q 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday q Closed weekends and holidays q Membership: Annual dues are $15 per person. Older adults (ages 55 and up) do not have to be members to participate in center activities and programs Services include: q health insurance counseling q legal assistance q health clinics
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Make a splash with arthritis swim classes Loosen your limbs in the water at a number of local locations that offer swim classes for those with arthritis. Both the Julius Boehm Pool and Si View Metro Parks offer Arthritis Foundation exercise classes designed to manage and relieve pain and stiffness of arthritis. Participants do not need swimming skills to participate. Arthritis Foundation classes at the Issaquah pool are at 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A four-week session (12 classes total) is $54. Call the pool at 837-3350 to register. Classes at Si View Metro Parks are $4 each for seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each session lasts one hour and start at 2:45 p.m. Register at Si View Metro Parks by calling 831-1900. The Coal Creek Family YMCA also offers swim classes for seniors. The “Arthritis and Injury Aqua” class at 1:15 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. In order to participate in classes at the Y, you must have a YMCA membership, though potential customers are welcome to check out the classes before making a decision. Call 282-1500 for more information.
In times of grief, you are not alone Like all things, life eventually ends. Those who are still going do not have to endure grief alone. Health facilities and spiritual groups in the Issaquah, Sammamish and Snoqualmie Valley areas have places where people can congregate and grieve together. All Swedish hospital locations offer bereavement support through their spiritual care departments, and bereavement groups meet as often as two times a month at the Swedish/Edmonds branch. Contact your local Swedish facility for more information about bereavement programs. Churches like Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church and Issaquah Christian Church also hold meetings for those who are grieving throughout the year. At the Alliance church, many grief seminars take place around the holidays, when depression can prevail over holiday joy. Many local churches also take part in GriefShare, a grief recovery program that spans the United States, Canada and at least 10 other countries. A group meets at Sammamish Presbyterian Church from 7-8:30 p.m., and they continue meetings until Aug. 29. Learn more about groups meeting in your area in the future at www.griefshare.org.