Having the time of your life in the Inland Northwest
October - November 2014 #50
For the Love of
Old
Cars
primeSPOKANE.com
contents 6 8
#50
October - November 2014
features
Editor’s Letter Masthead
16
9
The Front Porch
14
Your Third Life: 12 Year Old in Your Pocket While Cheryl-Anne Millsap takes in the scent of a handful of lavender from her backyard, her thoughts wander off for a moment. Soon afterward, she realizes she is standing as though she were 12-years old again. “Standing in my backyard at the end of a late summer day my body remembered, even if I hadn’t, that it was once a child’s body, limber, comfortable, relaxed,” she says.
20 26
26 38
32
Projects Abroad | AARP Fraud Watch | Medicaid Open Enrollment| Six Ways to Choose a Charity | Nostalgia Radio Hour
Travel: Suncadia Harvest Festival
So what if the RV is back in storage, the lake house has been buttoned up for winter and the skis are still put away waiting for the first snowfall? October weekends are too lovely to resist one more getaway, to the Suncadia Harvest Festival in Cle Elum, Washington, just a three-hour drive from Spokane.
For the Love of Old Cars: Golden Oldies
Collecting classic cars is the ultimate hobby. Let’s be honest—there are definitely some bragging rights if you have a beautiful classic car parked in the garage. But those who truly appreciate vintage automobiles do so because climbing behind the wheel and cruising down the road brings back warm memories and restores a treasured connection with their past.
Writing as Healing
Can an emotional trauma flip a switch in the creative brain? Does profound loss offer a new perspective from which to peer into one’s soul? For LeRoy Flemming, author of the “Timelightenment” series and volume one of “Soulsplitting,” the answer is a resounding yes. And, there’s psychological research supporting this idea.
32
Foodies: Game Day Recipes
42
Health: New Dementia Therapy
46
It just isn’t game day without great food to help fill your belly and raise your spirits as you cheer your favorite team to victory. While traditional tailgate fare has a rightful place in any pre-game celebration, adding interesting new tastes and textures to your typical spread only enhances the excitement. AlzBetter is a comprehensive and individualized program that uses breakthrough technology to address one of the most challenging problems seniors face today. A series of books is presented with subject matter that is meaningful to them but presented in a way that matches their current ability to read. The custom reading activity adjusts with them as their cognitive levels decline, enabling them to continue their love of reading.
Flash Back: Vintage postcard of a 1905 harvest scene.
contents 4
| www.primespokane.com
About the cover Carolyn and Don Fries taking a Sunday drive in their 1935 Auburn Speedster replica. Photo by: Darin Burt
October - November 2014
5
editor’s letter
Giving Pause
S
everal years ago, my parents gave my son, Christopher, a gift certificate to the pet store so he could choose a hamster for Christmas. He was disappointed; his list had included a deliberately written string of letters that spelled out: King Cobra. So, as he peered into the pet store’s hamster aquarium, and spied the speediest, meanest fuzzy beast, he knew “Hammy” was going to be the perfect pet. I tried to talk him out of it after Hammy attacked the clerk’s leather glove with a fury to make the largest of beasts proud. “But it’s my present,” he said. “Why can’t I choose it?” I figured the meanest of hamsters was probably a better pet option than the nicest of king cobras, and winced all the way home as Hammy scratched and screeched and nearly chewed his way out of the little pet transport box. For ten days we tried to bond with Hammy. Our loving coos were met with bucked rodent teeth ramming onto the bars. I called the pet store to discuss my concerns, and to inquire about returning the rodent beast. Yes, we could take him back to the store. They would most likely donate him to a classroom, they said. I pictured angry parents lining up in a Hammy the Hamster protest line as small children exited the school, digits wrapped in Dora the Explorer and Scooby Doo bandages. I hung up the phone, and began sharing the options with Christopher and his sisters. We agreed to wait another day, to take pause on the decision. As we stood near Hammy’s cage the next day, an odd squirming commotion, from inside the hamster cage wheel, caught my attention. Hammy had made a nest inside the wheel. Inside the nest were seven wriggling, furless newborn hamsters. Hammy and her seven babies turned out to be gentle, sweet creatures (apparently, pregnant hamsters are quite protective during their nesting phase). Over time, we found loving homes for Hammy’s offspring and Hammy became tame, swapping out the vicious bucked teeth approach for twitching whiskers and neck nuzzling. She seemed eager to go for rides in the kiddo’s arms or in the Barbie beach Jeep, or to make her way up, over, and through a Lincoln log obstacle. We fell in love with that hamster. One morning, after a couple of years of hamster loving bliss, I found her plump little body lying quiet and still on its side, in the upstairs hallway outside Christopher’s room. “Oh, no,” I said through my tears as I kneeled down to pick her up. “Oh, Hammy.” The kids gathered around, breaking into tears, bombarding me with “whats, whys and hows.” After sitting with her for a while and taking turns holding her, we chose one of my silk scarves; I closed her little eyes and tenderly wrapped the scarf around her fluffy body. Outside, the kids chose the shadiest, prettiest spot in the garden to create her grave. Flowers bloomed all around; we picked our favorites, and shared sentimental memories as
6
| www.primespokane.com
we placed them in her grave. “Thank you for being the best hamster ever,” Christopher sobbed. “I hope you have a fun life in hamster heaven.” I glanced back toward Hammy’s grave as I walked away, her life flashing before my teary eyes. I realized we would have missed out on two years of loving her had we sent her back to the pet store that day, without pause. We remember Hammy fondly as we try to practice pause now, when faced with difficulty. As we struggle to see our way through a challenge, it can be tempting to rid ourselves of it as swiftly as possible and move on. Sometimes, all it takes is a pause and reflection to work our way through it. Granted, not all rabid hamsters turn out to be beloved pets. But the reward was certainly worth the pause, the reflection, the thinking it through. What is the prime of your life? The prime of your life is the “someday” you’ve always referred to, maybe even dreamed of. It’s today. I am grateful to be here with you now, as your editor, and I look forward to the journey with you, through your prime. I would love to hear stories of times you paused and were rewarded unexpectedly. Find me on Facebook to stay connected in between issues, or send me a message to the email below. My Best,
Stephanie Regalado Stephanie@spokanecda.com
Orchard Crest Retirement Community & Assisted Living
Having the time of your life in the Inland Northwest
Vol. 8 Issue 5 October / November 2014
Editor
STEPHANIE REGALADO stephanie@spokanecda.com
Creative Director/Lead Graphics Kristi Somday kristi@spokanecda.com
Graphic Designer/Traffic Manager camille martin camille@spokanecda.com
Contributors
Darin Burt Kathy Dugan Dennis Held Amy Levner Cheryl-Anne Millsap Gary Skole
It’s warm inside and the heat is free! We make it easy with move in specials.
Senior Living at its Best! Assisted Living Independent Living Light Assist Triplex Cottages Onsite House Calls Primary Care Your monthly rent includes: Utilities | Housekeeping | Indoor Pool & Spa | Yoga | Fitness Center | Scheduled Transportation | Theater | Library | Craft Room | Community Garden | Game Room and so much more!
~Pet Friendly~ 222 S. Evergreen Road, Spokane Valley
(509) 928-2222 • www.orchardcrestretirement.com
Business Development
Emily guevarra bozzi emily@spokanecda.com
Vice President of Sales Cindy Guthrie cindy@spokanecda.com
Senior Account Manager Jeff Richardson jrichardson@spokanecda.com
Account Managers Monte Tareski monte@bozzimedia.com erin meenach erin@bozzimedia.com
Director of Events and Promotions
Susanna Baylon events@bozzimedia.com
Operations and Finance Manager Kim Morin kim@spokanecda.com
Publisher
Vincent bozzi vince@spokanecda.com
Co-Publisher
add a little rustic to your r e t i r e m e n t pa r t y. 6 2 1 w e s t m a l l o n av e n u e , S p o k a n e , WA 9 9 2 0 1 w w w. c h at e a u r i v e . c o m 5 0 9 . 7 9 5 . 2 0 3 0
8
| | www.primespokane.com
emily guevarra bozzi emily@spokanecda.com
Prime magazine is published by Bozzi Media Tapio Yellow Flg Bldg, Suite 209 • 104 S. Freya, Spokane, WA 99202-4866 • Phone: 509.533.5350 Prime magazine (ISSN 1938-5714) is distributed freely in the Inland Northwest. For distribution locations, subscription rates, or to read this month’s or previous months’ issues, visit us at www.primespokane.com. All contents © 2014. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Neither Bozzi Media nor Prime™ magazine assume responsibility for errors in content, photos or advertisements.
New Trips Help Volunteers Make Winter More Worthwhile
F
all is here and that means winter is drawing ever closer. For those who want to escape the snow and freezing temperatures and pursue a worthwhile experience over the holiday season, international volunteer organization Projects Abroad offers a new range of projects taking place during the winter break period. Winter Break Trips are short-term placements suitable for volunteers of all ages and skill levels, which makes them perfect for families and as multigenerational adventures.
frontPorch October - November 2014
9
front porch the afternoons, volunteers participate in renovation and decorating work— by putting in a new floor or painting a mural on a neglected wall, you will be making an invaluable and lasting contribution to the placement. All you need to get involved is a willingness to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged kids.
Medicine in India
This winter, Projects Abroad is offering Winter Break Trips in Ghana and India for two weeks: December 21 to Januray 3, 2015. Volunteers can choose from two different types of programs: Care and Community, and Medicine. Care and Community programs focus on childcare and renovation work in disadvantaged communities, and Medicine programs involve shadowing medical professionals and participating in community outreaches. You don’t need previous experience to get involved, making these projects perfect for anyone with an interest in volunteering. The Winter Break Trips aren’t just an opportunity to give back. After a day of fulfilling work, volunteers can look forward to the cultural or leisure activities organized by local Projects Abroad staff and spending time with other volunteers. On the weekend, staff will organize a trip that will allow volunteers to experience the beauty of their surroundings and enjoy breathtaking views. Volunteers will also be able to celebrate the holidays and the New Year with fellow volunteers. “Volunteering abroad is a growing trend among many people looking to give back and do something different. Unfortunately, finding the time to volunteer can be difficult, especially for working professionals,” says Terri Ball, a Program Advisor for Projects Abroad USA. “We are very excited to offer short-term projects during the winter holiday season, so everyone motivated to volunteer has the chance to travel abroad
10
and contribute.” Here are the Winter Break Trips that Projects Abroad is offering:
Medicine in Ghana
Based in Cape Coast, the Medicine in Ghana project exposes volunteers to medical practices and treatments that are different from what they would see in North America. In a developing country, medical professionals are accustomed to working with very few resources and basic facilities, and volunteers can learn a great deal from them. In Ghana, volunteers will get involved with outreach work and observation at a local clinic. Outreach work takes place in impoverished communities, leprosy camps, and orphanages, where volunteers find themselves doing more hands-on work like dressing wounds, carrying out health checks, giving malaria tests, and giving presentations on common health issues. This project is ideal for pre-med students building a resume for medical school or those studying healthcare fields such as nursing and community health who want to volunteer in Africa.
Care and Community in Ghana
This project focuses on helping Ghanaian children in daycare centers and orphanages. Every day, volunteers will spend their morning caring for and playing with the kids, giving them much-needed individual attention. In
| | www.primespokane.com
Volunteers with an interest in medicine can travel to the city of Jaipur to devote their time to observing doctors and nurses in a variety of medical institutions. Volunteers gain a unique insight into medical practices in the developing world and the doctors they shadow will be eager to share their knowledge. Projects Abroad encourages volunteers to make the most of their time and to be proactive, ask questions, and take notes. During the two-week trip, volunteers also have the chance to visit a placement that carries out 5,000-year-old traditional Ayurvedic medical treatments. This is a great placement for pre-med students putting together a resume for medical school, and is suitable for volunteers with no medical experience who have a strong interest in the field.
Care and Community in India
This project is designed for volunteers to have a significant impact on the lives of disadvantaged children in Jaipur, India. Volunteers are based in a local care center or orphanage and they take on an important role in these placements by getting the children involved in educational activities, creative activities, and outdoor games, as well as helping the kids with their English. They also get involved in some practical work at the placement, like refurbishing a play area or painting a mural. You don’t need any experience to participate, as long as you have a passion for helping others. For details on volunteering abroad, visit Projects Abroad’s website at www.projectsabroad.org.
Medicare Open Enrollment
By Kathy Dugan
I
t’s that time again. Medicare Open Enrollment is upon us. October 15 though December 7 may be the one chance you have each year to change your plans. Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Medicare Health Plans, and Prescription Drug Plans can, and often do, change each year. They change their premiums, their co-pays and co-insurance and, most importantly, they change the list of medications they will cover. It is very important to review your plan to make sure you are receiving the best coverage possible and for the best value. To see if you are still on the best plan, you can visit www.Medicare. gov. Simply select “Find Health and Drug Plans,” answer the questions about your situation, enter the medications you take, and define what you are looking for. The website will show you every Medicare plan available to you in your zip code. The plan that costs the least and covers your prescription costs the best will be displayed first. With a little
searching on this website, you can find information about premiums, deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance. If you are reluctant to use the website, or you completed the review and you are not sure you are interpreting the results correctly, there is help available. Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) is a public service funded by the Office of the Washington State Insurance Commissioner and sponsored locally by Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington. Volunteers, trained by the Insurance Commissioner’s office, are available to help you through the Medicare maze. These wonderful volunteers are available to sit down with you to help you understand the plans that are available and which ones provide the best coverage for you. This is a free and non-biased service with a goal to educate you so you can make a good decision about your coverage. For more information please call (800) 562-6900, or locally call (509) 458-2509.
October - November 2014
11
Online fraud—are you next? Nearly one-million Washington web surfers may be at high risk of victimization
T
he trouble for Jim and Nancy Smith (the couple has asked that their real names not be used) started after Nancy’s mother passed away. The Spokane couple couldn’t afford the funeral expenses, so turned to the internet to search for some loan options. Jim had also recently lost his job, so they needed some extra money to help cover the costs while they got back on their feet. There appeared to be plenty of options and the Smiths submitted a few online applications. Almost immediately, they were contacted by a company offering a loan of $9,000 at a reasonable rate with a promise they’d have the money in two days. “It seemed like such a relief to have this sorted out so quickly during such a difficult time,” says Jim. However, after sending in all the proper documents the money never arrived.
12
| | www.primespokane.com
The company pointed to the Smiths’ low credit rating as the reason for the delay and asked that they make a few payments on the loan up front to prove they were good for it, after which the money would be released. The Smiths paid the initial $900 and still the money didn’t come. The company explained that a new lender had entered the picture and would need an additional set of payments after which they would be credited back their initial investment. Without more money in hand, the Smiths turned to a pay-day lender to borrow and send an additional $900. After the money still didn’t arrive, the company quit taking their calls. “Once they suck you in just a little bit, they keep up the pressure until they get everything out of you that they can,” says Jim. Realizing then they had been taken by a scam, the Smiths reported the incident but unfortunately their money appears to be gone for good. The Smiths’ information appears to have landed on a scam “mooch list.” The phone has been ringing off the hook ever since with a bevy of scam pitches. Such “mooch” or “sucker” lists are typically sold and resold between con artists. “These guys have no conscience and are willing to say anything to get a buck,” says Jim. “We learned our lesson, but the calls keep coming.” Unfortunately, the Smiths aren’t alone. According to a new survey from AARP, they fit a unique new profile of the most likely victims of online fraud. The report, Caught in the Scammer’s Net revealed that online fraud victimization isn’t determined by keystrokes and clicks of the mouse alone. While certain online behaviors were shown to contribute to victimization, it’s when they are combined with some common life stressors or events that the real trouble starts.
Based on the national sample, the survey identified 15 key risk behaviors and life experiences that increase vulnerability to online fraud. Victims were more likely to engage in online behaviors such as: · Opening email from unknown sources—27 percent of victims and 17 percent of non-victims said they had done so in the previous seven days. · Clicking on pop-up ads—26 percent of victims and 10 percent of non-victims said they had done so in the previous seven days. · Signing up for free trial offers—18 percent of victims and 8 percent of non-victims had done so in the previous week. But victims were also found to have experienced 53 percent more negative life events or stressors such as: · Loss of a job (23% of victims, 10% of non-victims). · Reports of often or sometimes feeling isolated (66% of victims, 42% of non-victims). · Being concerned about debt (69% of victims, 57% of nonvictims). · Experienced a negative change in financial status (44% of victims and 23% of non-victims report experience in the past two years). “Clicking on a pop-up or signing up for a free trial offer, by itself, does not guarantee one will be scammed,” says AARP State Director and survey author Doug Shadel. “But if such online engagement occurs during a vulnerable moment when you’re feeling lonely or have just lost your job, it can add up to the perfect opportunity for a scammer.” When comparing the differences between victims of online fraud with non-victims, victims were found to be involved with an average of seven of the key risk factors. According to the survey nearly one-million Washington web surfers (942,681) have demonstrated at least seven key risk factors and therefore may be at high risk of victimization. “If you think of scams in terms of a disease we’d like to prevent, then our survey shows that the simple list of online do’s-and-don’ts that most of us are familiar with isn’t enough to inoculate internet users from victimization,” says Doug. “It’s
just as important to consider the negative life events or stressors that can lower your immune system and your ability to fend off a scammer’s attack.” The survey also showed that while the vast majority of Washington state online users (77 percent) say they are concerned about being scammed over the internet, they were only able to correctly answer roughly half (5.5 out of 10) of the questions in a simple online literacy test designed to test their knowledge about how to be safe online. For instance, 45 percent of Washington respondents are unaware that a privacy policy does not always mean the website will not share information with other companies. Twenty-nine percent of Washington respondents are unaware that banks do not send email to their customers asking them to click on links to verify personal information. Other survey results included: · Nearly three quarters of all Washington adults that access the Internet—or as many as 3.1 million people—received at least one online fraud offer in 2013. · Ninety-percent of Washington state online users say they are concerned about providing personal information over the Internet. However, nearly a third of these respondents with personal email accounts say they have never changed their password for that/those accounts. Likewise, more than a quarter of these respondents say they never change their password for accounts that include sensitive information like online banking or bill payments. Doug also notes that according to the Federal Trade Commission, reports of consumer fraud have increased by over 60 percent since 2008 and online scams doubled from just over 20 percent of all fraud in 2007 to nearly 40 percent of all fraud in 2011. AARP issued the findings as part of their statewide “Fraud Watch Network” consumer protection effort with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. The network is designed to provide the eyes and ears against fraud across the state. “Consumers must vigilantly protect their information online,” says Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “By joining the ‘Fraud Watch Network,’ consumers will receive alerts and notifications about new scams as they emerge and can join the effort to report suspicious activity to the Attorney General’s Office and the AARP Foundation Fraud Fighter Call Center.” The public can sign up for the “Fraud Watch Network” at www.aarp.org. fraudwatchnetwork or by calling (800) 646-2283.
October - November 2014
13
third life
12-Year Old
in My Pocket Column and Image By Cheryl-Anne Millsap
I
had finally finished watering all the plants in my small backyard. After dragging the hose from one pot to another, giving everything a long soak before I left for a few days of travel, I turned for one more look at the garden before I went inside. The day had slipped out of my hands as I worked and the sun was already hovering on the edge of the horizon, the twilight sky painted with bands of lavender and rose. But it was that splendid moment between night and day, when the past and the present merge and anything seems possible, and I was in no hurry to let it go.
14
| | www.primespokane.com
I reached down to the lavender plant beside me— the bees had done their work for the day and were gone—and stripped a few blooms off the stalk, crushing the buds in my hand and breathing in the fragrance. Something, some random thought, snagged my attention and I chased it, forgetting completely where I was and what I was doing. After a few moments I realized I was still in the same spot and it occurred to me my posture was that of a 12-year-old. My head was tilted to one side, the toe of one sneaker covered the other, my fists were shoved deep in the pockets of my jeans and my lower lip
was caught between my teeth. Age is a funny thing. It settles in our knees, in our backs and our hips. It fades our hair and lines our faces. It softens our focus until we surrender and wear glasses that are a layer cake of lenses: bi-focal, tri-focal. Age reminds us every day, in small but constant ways, that there is no going back. But, every now and then, there is a moment when who we were breaks through. Standing in my backyard at the end of a late summer day, my body remembered, even if I hadn’t, that it was once a child’s body, limber, comfortable, relaxed. Of course, the first thing I did as I came out of my daydream was to look around to see if anyone else had noticed. I stopped slouching and sucked in my stomach. I put a hand up to my hair to smooth it back into the band at the nape of my neck. I put away the hose and my garden tools and flexed my fingers so they wouldn’t be stiff the next day. As I walked into the house I realized the lavender was still in my pocket where I’d put it. I like to think the daydreamy 12-year-old was in there, too.
Cheryl-Anne Millsap is the author of Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons and can be reached at catmillsap@gmail. com.
Where building relationships is just as important as the projects we build
We’re listening to YOU!
Photography by Sam McGhee
Remodel • New Construction • Design & Build
Kitchens • Bathrooms • Basements • Decks • Additions • New Homes
Contact Dave Covillo for your FREE In-Home Consultation (509) 869-7409 www.RenovationsByDave.com
/Renovationsbydavecovillo WA License # RENOVDC9600B • ID License # RCE-14413 • Licensed • Bonded • Insured
Bozzi Media is throwing another Release Party at:
save the date!
11 06 14 5:00PM - 8:00PM
Nov 2014 issue of Spokane CDA Living!
Spokane Main Financial Center
717 West Sprague Ave Spokane, WA 99201 Questions? 509-533-5350
RSVP at BozziEvents.eventbrite.com October - November 2014
15
prime passions
photo by Darin Burt
16
| | www.primespokane.com
Your #1 Choice for family care
Juggler Extraordinaire: Patty Sparks, 54
P
rofessional Background: Retired Teacher (second through sixth grades, highschool math, science, and Spanish, Spanish and International Business at Whitworth College, and ESL in Valladolid, Spain). Travel Experience: Europe, U.S., and Canada; Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Fiji Hobbies: Avid gardener (organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers), cooking and baking bread, needlework (knitting and crocheting), bird watching, a voracious reader. Passion: J U G G L I N G. When most people think of juggling, they may imagine clowns or children’s birthday parties. In 2005, at the age of 45, Patty Sparks attended a juggling festival in Coeur D’Alene. More than 100 jugglers gathered in the city park along the lakefront, as well as international professional jugglers, performed in the band shell. People of all ages, shapes and sizes, were juggling and enjoying a great time, the performers demonstrating unbelievable skills. It changed Patty’s impression of juggling, and ignited a new passion in her life. Patty discovered that juggling is a great form of low-impact exercise, both mental and physical. A 2004 CNN.com story points to a German study that compared brain imaging of people before and after learning to juggle. Scientists said the comparison
“revealed an increase in grey matter in certain areas of the newly trained jugglers’ brains.” In other words, people who learned to juggle actually grew new brain tissue. It is believed juggling might be a preventative for Alzheimer’s, as well, because both the right and the left brain must work together. Patty’s research revealed that juggling is an ancient art form practiced worldwide. Her experience has revealed juggling is a great way to meet and interact with new people. Juggling made it possible for Patty to exercise daily. As a former runner who trained for road races, she had been searching for a way to exercise with nagging arthritis in her hips and lower back. Juggling was fun, and she could share it with her husband, Daniel. There are always new tricks to learn, new props to juggle, and professional jugglers to watch for inspiration on the Internet (www. juggle.wikia.com). Patty and Daniel enjoyed teaching juggling in after-school programs to kids of all ages. Now they juggle every weekend at the YMCA to stay fit, develop new skills, share quality time together (they’ve been married 30 years), and teach anyone who wants to learn. “Once you learn to juggle, it’s like an addiction; you just crave learning more,” she says. Her best advice is: “Don’t give in to gravity! Challenge yourself to try new things. You never know what you may be able to do.”
24 Hour Immediate Response Free In-Home Consultation • Companions • Assistants (CNA, CHHA) • Live-in or Live-out • Temporary or Permanent • Qualified & Screened • Licensed & Insured • Most Insurances Accepted • Workman's Comp & Long Term Care
Now Serving...
• Spokane • Lincoln • Grant • Stevens • Whitman Franchising Opportunities Available! Contact Sherrie Turner at 509-714-1794for more information
104 S Freya
Red Flag Bldg | Suite 201 Spokane WA, 99202
O: 800-972-4106
AdvantagePlusCaregivers.com October - November 2014
17
homefront
SIX
Creative Housing Options
By Amy Levner
T
he choices for how and where to live as an older adult are growing. In her book With a Little Help From Our Friends: Creating Community As We Grow Older, author and journalist Beth Baker observes that, as roughly ten thousand baby boomers a day are turning 65, “a significant cultural shift is underway.” The current and coming generation of older adults is realizing, says Baker, “that they can make other choices about where and how to live. With intention and planning, people around the nation are creating ways to live in community, alternatives that give them more control, more companionship, more dignity and choice than generations past.” Here, adapted from Baker’s book, is a brief guide to what some of these creative options are called and how they work. 1. Cohousing In a cohousing situation, each person or family purchases a residence—be it an apartment, townhouse or even a single-family house—which contains everything a typical home would have (a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room). However, the residences are linked to a shared space, such as a yard and gardens, and a large common room, dining area and kitchen that can accommodate group meals or gatherings. The point of cohousing is community and being able 18
| | www.primespokane.com
to live independently without living entirely alone. Cohousing setups are typically intergenerational and don’t involve staff-provided services, but they can be age-specific. A few “senior cohousing communities” have been built, and some allow residents to hire household and care services as needed.
2. House Sharing In these arrangements a person who has a home may invite a friend or family member, or even a tenant, to move in and help with expenses and chores. The setup might involve people of the same age or generation and the arrangement is one of peers residing together for companionship and cost efficiency. Sometimes two or more friends actually purchase or rent a residence together and become housemates. Another house sharing scenario can revolve around the needs of an elderly property owner who doesn’t want to relocate but can no longer care for herself or a large home entirely on her own. A younger person (and younger can even mean someone who’s 60 or older) may be willing to provide some caregiving and transportation assistance in exchange for affordable or flexible housing. If so, the two can make for wellmatched housemates. 3. Housing Cooperatives These types of member-owned, resident-governed nonprofit communities are common in certain cities (New York for one) and are generally not age-specific. A co-op can be made up of housing that ranges from apartments to single-family houses to mobile
homes. The co-op board, typically consisting of elected residents, decides what shared services the co-op will provide (such as social activities and maintaining the grounds) and often has approval rights over potential homebuyers. Mobile home cooperatives are spreading in rural areas, and senior housing cooperatives have taken root, particularly in the Midwest. 4. Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) Neighborhoods or locations that just happen to have a significant number of older people (hence, the community’s commonality is naturally occurring or organic) create a network of shared support services, such as helping one another—or sharing hired help— for grocery store runs, transportation to medical appointments, or lawn-mowing. By working together, each person is enabled to safely and comfortably “age in place.” 5. Niche Retirement Communities (also called Affinity Retirement Communities) A traditional retirement community is an agerestricted, usually 55-plus community that enables older adults to live independently but with access to social activities and community amenities, such as yard maintenance services or fitness and recreation facilities. (Retirement destinations such as Florida and Arizona have many such places.) A “niche” or “affinity”
retirement community is one where residents share a common interest, religion or identity. The link may revolve around, for example, shared ethnicity, sexual orientation, occupation or hobby. 6. Villages Founded in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston in 2002, the Village model of “neighbors-helpingneighbors” provides a way for older adults to stay in their homes and community. There are upwards of 125 Village communities throughout the nation today, with 100 more getting started, most operating via a mix of paid staff and volunteers who assist older residents with everything from transportation and technology training to home repairs and grocery shopping. Villages frequently provide social activities and classes as well. Members pay annual dues and are encouraged to volunteer themselves. For more about Beth Baker’s book, visit www. bethbaker.net. To learn more about livable communities, visit aarp.org/livable or email AARP at livable@aarp. org. Amy Levner is the manager of the Livable Communities team at AARP, where she leads educational and outreach efforts to create age-friendly communities for people of all ages. She can be reached at alevner@aarp.org. October - November 2014
19
travel
By Cheryl-Anne Millsap
T
he signs of the season are all around us: The sun rises later and sets a bit earlier each day. Leaves are beginning to show their true colors, the larch trees flame against the evergreen forests in the mountains, and the nights are deliciously cool. Fall, the most beautiful season of the year, is officially here. So what if the RV is back in storage, the lake house has been buttoned up for winter and the skis are still put away waiting for the first snowfall? October weekends are too lovely to resist one more getaway.
20
| | www.primespokane.com
Destination Travel: Suncadia
Harvest Festival
Northwest Luxury My first visit to Suncadia Resort was in October and it was the perfect introduction to the resort. Located in Cle Elum, Washington, just a three-hour drive from Spokane, Suncadia is a Four-Diamond resort surrounded by dense forest and spectacular views. Accommodations run the gamut from the spacious Northweststyle lodge modeled after historic lodges at iconic National Parks to luxurious suites at the Inn at Suncadia near the golf course, to informally elegant vacation homes. After we checked into our room in the Lodge, we watched the sun set from the balcony before heading down to Portals Restaurant for dinner. Later, after a stroll around the grounds we stopped by the hillside fire pit for s’mores. Celebrating the Harvest Season The resort’s annual Harvest Festival runs each weekend in October. At the adjacent historic Nelson Dairy Farm, families can enjoy festivities that include a straw-bale maze, a pumpkin patch, pony rides and a market featuring the work of local artisans. There’s even a beer garden for the adults and the annual Big Dirty Run on October 12 this year. Romantic Retreat For couples looking for a kid-free autumnal retreat, there are special Harvest Dinners. For golfers there are three awardwinning mountain courses. Glade Springs Spa offers a full-service menu including outdoor mineral baths, couples’ massage, holistic body and skin care and salon services. Something for Everyone On our visit to Suncadia Resort, the first thing we noticed was the number of families at the resort and the way everyone had their own comfortable space. Kids decorated caramel apples at a table on one side of the lobby while parents and grandparents sipped wine by the fireplace. Newlyweds cuddled in a corner. Entertainment options included live music, family movies, arts and crafts and puppet shows. Cheryl-Anne Millsap’s Spokesman-Review travel blog can be found at www.spokesman. com/blogs/homeplanet.
October - November 2014
21
Don Fries stands in his shop full of vintage cars, each with its own story.
Golden
Oldies S Photos and Story By Darin Burt
ome people collect stamps, while others treasure baseball cards, old fishing lures or antique furniture. For those with bigger aspirations, collecting classic cars is the ultimate hobby. Let’s be honest—there are definitely some bragging rights if you have a beautiful classic car parked in the garage. But those who truly appreciate vintage automobiles do so because climbing behind the wheel and cruising down the road brings back warm memories and restores a treasured connection with their past.
22
| | www.primespokane.com
October - November 2014
23
Living a Collector’s
Dream Don Fries is a bit of a collector. Ask his wife Carolyn, and she’s likely to tell you that is a bit of an understatement. Visit the Fries’s home in Mead and you’ll find yourself surrounded by Mickey Mouse statues, antique lamps, vintage telephones and a few old cars. Well, maybe more than a few, and you wouldn’t really call them old, because Don has meticulously restored them to look like new. Among his collection of vintage automobiles is a 1931 Pierce Arrow convertible, 1935 Auburn Speedster replica, 1965 Thunderbird convertible, 1947 Oldsmobile convertible, 1957 Chevy Nomad station wagon, 1955 and 1957 Chevrolet Cameo pick-up trucks, a 1961 International Harvester Scout 4X4, and even a 1937 Pierce Arrow Travelodge camp trailer— one of only four in the world. There’s no rhyme or reason to what make or model of car might catch Don’s eye. Many of those in his collection have previously belonged to family or friends. “We just wheel and deal, and I get them,” he says. There’s a story behind most of the cars. Like the Pierce Arrow sedan that he remembered coming to his grade school in Olalla, Washington, as part of a traveling dog show. The car and trailer were full of yapping dogs, and for a nickel the kids could watch them do all kinds of tricks. Many years later, Don discovered the car badly out to pasture on a farm near Colville. “I was shocked. The old guy had the same beard that I remembered, too,” Don says. “I asked him if he had been the one with the dog show, and he said, yes . . . and then he jacked the price up fifty dollars from the asking price of $200.” 24
| | www.primespokane.com
Don is hard-pressed to pick a favorite, but the 1956 Ford is special because he bought it brand new with pay from serving in the Army Reserves, and it was also the “courting car” when he first met his wife Carolyn, 55 years ago. Most of the cars are stored in a giant shop that Don built just off of his driveway, but his two Pierce Arrows are a little closer to home—actually they’re in the house—one on display in a converted patio sunroom and the other in their attached garage/showroom along with all kinds of other memorabilia, from vintage boat motors to a life-size statue of Abraham Lincoln. “Oh, I’ve been around cars . . . we’ve had car parts on the kitchen counter,” Carolyn says, “and the truck from one of the cars sat in the living room as our end table for years.” “What other woman can look out her kitchen window and see a Pierce Arrow every day,” Don asks, doing his best to win the friendly argument. “Part of the enjoyment comes from the appreciation that other people have for the cars,” Carolyn says. “We have strangers stop by our house all the time and want to look at the cars. A girl from Mt. Spokane High School (just down the road) even had her senior pictures taken with one of the cars out in our field.” Don enjoys, most, the challenge of painstakingly returning “old stuff ” to its former glory. It’s hard to say whether it’s a hobby, a lifestyle or an obsession. But Carolyn knows best. “It’s all of the above,” she says.
Eddie the
Edsel Eric Etzel was destined to own a Ford Edsel. After all, his last name sounds so much like the name of the car that people have been calling him Eric Edsel his entire life. “At first, it was because of my name, but as I got used to it, I realized that it’s a pretty classic car,” says Eric, 54, a longtime local real estate agent. “There’s no other car I’ve seen that looks quite like it. I met the guy that designed the Edsel, and while they were intrigued with my last name, I was intrigued with why they designed the car the way they did—they wanted it to have a unique look coming and going.” Whether a station wagon or sedan, like Eric’s 1958 Edsel Ranger, the car is distinguished by its unique horse-collar shaped front grill. During the three years that GM produced the Edsel, they made about 100,000 of them; Eric’s is one of about 8,000 still alive. When Eric decided to search for an Edsel, the obvious place to start the hunt was with a call to Silver Auto Auctions. They knew of a 1958 Edsel Ranger four-door hardtop that had come from Lewiston and was headed for the auction block in Portland. Eric struck a deal beforehand with the owner and was able buy the car for $2,500—not a bad price when you consider that some vintage cars are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. “I’m just glad my last name isn’t Corvette or Thunderbird,” Eric says with a laugh. “The car was a lot of fun when I first got it to Spokane. But then the transmission went out on my other car,” Eric says. “It
was January, and I decided my best option was to drive the Edsel. It was a pain because one of the quirks with the car is that it sometimes is slow going into reverse.” After getting the transmission repaired, the Edsel sat in the garage for a while, until Eric came up with the idea to put it to work helping in his real estate business. The slogan became “Eric Etzel . . . in the driver’s seat for all your real estate needs.” Eddie the Edsel became the spokescar and even landed his own Facebook page and coloring sheets for the kids. The plan was to take Eddie to car shows, and while car collectors were showing off their vehicles, Eric and Eddie would be promoting his real estate business. After 24 years as a Realtor, Eric has learned the value of giving back to the community, and now he and Eddie help support local charities, such as Meals on Wheels (for which they formed a brand called Wheels of Meals), and have put on car shows as fundraisers. “As soon as I got the car to Spokane, people would give a thumbs up and wave whenever I drove down the road,” Eric says. “People are always coming up to me and telling their story about their experience with the Edsel—that has really been fun. “I admire a lot of other classic cars. But I don’t ever see myself owning anything but an Edsel. They’re unique, there aren’t too many like them, and there’s a connection to my name.”
October - November 2014
25
Mustang Dreams Come True
Sue Ragon, 66, grew up in the Palouse country around
Steptoe, and that’s where she first saw a Ford Mustang. It was a white coupe cruising through Colfax. “It was sporty and cute,” she recalls. Sue was 19 years old at the time and living and working in the big city of Spokane after attending Kenman Business University. She’d been getting around town without a car, and decided to ask her dad for a loan so she could get a used one. She’d already found a couple of Mustangs she liked, but her dad, the practical farmer, thought it best that she have a new car rather than inheriting somebody else’s troubles. “I went out to McCollum Ford Ranch, and decided on a yellow 1967 Mustang coupe,” Sue says. “Bud Wold, the salesman, picked me up in the car, and we drove down through Oakesdale where my dad was farming off the Hume Road. We pulled into the field, and dad came over in the combine, talked to Bud for a few minutes, and then took out his checkbook and wrote a check right on the hood of the car. He paid $2,833— and that was with $250 off for paying cash.” Sue drove the Mustang every day until the fall of 1989 when she bought a Chevy Blazer that had more room and was a little safer traveling the Palouse Highway in the snow to visit her
26
| | www.primespokane.com
parents. The Mustang sat in the garage for a few years, coming out for nice days, and in 2002, Sue joined the Inland Empire Mustang Club and started taking the car to shows and on cruises with her fellow Mustang enthusiasts. The 1967 Mustang Sports Sprint was a sport options package which included hood vents, recessed turn signals, whitewall tires, full wheel covers, bright metal rocker panel moldings, chrome air cleaner, and automatic transmission. The Mustang, especially one like Sue’s with a healthy 289ci two-barrel motor, was a fast car for its day, something Sue didn’t let go untested. “Back in the day, I kind of did my thing,” she says with a sly grin. “I don’t really want to admit it, but I’ve had it up to over 100 miles per hour once or twice. It was kind of stupid . . . but fun!” Sue can tell you anything that you want to know about her car. She has the original hubcaps (three of them, anyway: one flew off in a snowstorm) and even the bill of sale, license plate and registration. “I was very proud to get a brand new car, and I never wanted to ever get rid of it,” Sue says. “I like driving it; I like looking at it; I like the color—it’s just part of me.”
The Lure of
Little Boy Blue If there’s an underdog among classic cars, the AMC Pacer
would certainly fit the bill. Billed as “the first wide small car,” the Pacer isn’t sleek; it doesn’t have chrome that sparkles in the sun; and its interior is plastic rather than tuck and roll. Its weird bubble shape has earned it a few schoolyard nicknames like Hamster-Mobile, Moonbuggy, and Egg on Wheels. “It’s one of those cars that’s so ugly, it’s cute,” says Dick Dodd, for whom it was love at first sight—well, maybe second sight. Dick worked as a salesman for a roofing company, and during the winter when business was slow, he’d go to area car lots and test drive the latest models for fun. One day, he happened to get behind the wheel of this weird little car. “It was so quick and agile, that it was like driving an overgrown skateboard,” Dick says. “You could bend it around corners like you couldn’t believe.” The 1976 Pacer certainly isn’t your typical classic car. And that’s one reason Dick is such a fan. “They didn’t make many of them to begin with, and it was the first American-made car with rack and pinion steering. When the cars started getting a little worn out, hot rodders discovered that they could pull the entire front end out from
under, put it on a frame and make a street rod,” he says. “They’re very collectable but there aren’t many around.” Another reason for the Pacer’s popularity is that it costarred in the movie Wayne’s World. Like the Batmobile, it was the faithful ride of Wayne and Garth, the comedy’s main characters. “We put the Pacer in a lot of parades because it’s so unique and somebody will always holler, Wayne’s World! We didn’t know what that meant, but after we heard that about a hundred times, we finally had to rent the movie,” Dick says. Dick, 74, and his wife Dody, 72, who are members of Spokane’s Misfires Auto Group, drive “Little Boy Blue” every chance they get. “We always pick a street like Division that has a lot of traffic because we’ll get lots of thumbs up,” Dick says. “If we put the Pacer in a show where there’s 400 other cars, people will walk right by the good stuff and stop right in front of our car and want to take pictures,” Dick says. “We have friends with a Mustang Cobra, and every time we go to a show together, he parks right next to our Pacer because he knows it’s a magnet. If people stop by to see our car, maybe they’ll take a look at his, too.”
October - November 2014
27
Staying Young in an Old Car
Larry and Marlene Roullier recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They raised two lovely daughters, and now have a new baby—a red and white 1955 Chevy Bel Air. Larry, 74, chuckles when asked if the car has anything to do with the couple being together for so long. “We just like doing the same things,” says Marlene, 78. “We love riding around in the car, and I like convertibles—wow, do I like convertibles! We always are sure that we have at least one convertible in the family.” Larry was bitten by the car bug at an early age. His first car was a 1940 Ford that he bought for $20 when he was fifteen, before he even had a driver’s license. The ‘55 Chevy is a bit of a step above that old clunker. The award-winning classic is a two-door hardtop with a 350 horsepower engine, automatic transmission, rear end out of a 1967 Chevy Nova, and custom white and red upholstery. “It isn’t stock (meaning completely original) . . . not by a long shot,” Larry says. “To me, it’s better than driving a new car. It doesn’t handle as a good as a new car, but I like cruising down the road.” As a teenager, cruising Riverside Avenue in downtown Spokane looking for girls was one of Larry’s favorite pastimes. “Back in those days, we also had drive-ins like the Top Hat and XXX where you could park and get a burger and a Coke and watch the girls. It was a different time,” he says. “We also used to have fun at drive-in movies; even after we got married, 28
| | www.primespokane.com
Marlene and I would go to drive-in movies with the kids—it was entertainment to us.” Larry and Marlene now spend much of their free time during the summer traveling to car shows. While some car enthusiasts haul their beloved classic on a trailer, the Roulliers are happier behind the wheel—they’d rather have fun and worry about cleaning off the bugs when they arrive at their destination. They’re especially happy to attend events where the proceeds go to a worthy charity. They also enjoy mingling with other car enthusiasts, especially the “young people” in the their twenties and thirties. “The other day, I asked Larry if he wanted to join a senior citizens club,” Marlene jokes. “I said I don’t want to be around those old people,” Larry says. The younger generations tend to be into the souped up Toyota and Honda performance cars that go fast and are big on flash—but they all have one thing in common. “It’s fun to get to know them because they like talking and learning about cars,” Larry says. “After we aren’t here any more, enthusiasm for the cars will be carried on—it might not be the same kind of cars, but at least it will be somebody going out and enjoying it. “If somebody gets into this, and they really go out and do something with the car other than just look at it,” he adds, “they’re going to have a lot of fun.”
509.624.7263
October - November 2014
29
The Amiable Curmedgeon Startling New Study Confirms: Old Age Ain’t for Sissies! By Dennis Held
L
ast year, I turned 55 years old, or at least I thought I had: instead, I received a letter on my birthday from AARP assuring me that no, actually I was now 55 years young. There was something ominous in that seemingly innocent declaration, and I’ve since learned that in fact, there is a whole industry out there dedicated to convincing people that old-age—excuse me, the Golden Years, the Sunset Years, the Age of Wisdom—that being old is the best thing you can be. (And those AARP folks must have had someone assigned just to send me letters, very PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL LETTERS, twice every day for the next year urging me to sign up. I think AARP stands for the American Association of the Really Persistent.) Well, I’m here to tell you—there’s a reason all these 55-and-up types—these Boomer Boosters—have to try so hard to sell the idea of the Senior Life as a picturesque period of fun and freedom. We all know better, those of us already on the other side of the double-nickles. And we’re old enough to know when we’re being sold a bill of goods. Let’s face it: old age is really more about loneliness and decrepitude and loss, and the impending arrival of Death, not to put too fine a point on it. Friends fall away as the decades roll by, and the easier technology makes it for us all to stay “connected,” the harder it is to really stay in touch—especially actual, physical touch. No doubt I’m nostalgic: I long for the old days, the old ways. Remember back when kids actually listened to their parents, were quiet and polite in public, and were generally well-behaved? Well actually—me neither. 30
| | www.primespokane.com
I mostly remember what a pain I was to my elders, especially my parents. But still, kids today—running around in the grocery store, telling their parents to “be quiet,” to “buy me that!”? I want to pull these kids aside and say, “When I was your age, we ate thistles and tree bark and were darned glad to get them, and our shoes were made out of broken glass and we walked uphill to school and back and it was always winter and everything was still in black and white like old movies. This was before TV and computers. No, seriously—before TV!” But no—I keep my distance, and I keep my bitterness to myself. Mostly. Although, if you watch certain TV shows—Jeopardy! and the local news, say—the advertisements might convince you that life after 55 is all about four-hour erections. The beautiful women in these commercials are always smiling as they head with their dorky-looking husbands for the bathtub out in the field, but sometimes I wonder how they really feel about those blue-pill encounters. What, I’m not good enough for you anymore, those smiles seem to ask, and this pill makes up for it? Go soak in that tub by yourself! Or maybe that’s just me. As I say, it’s best to leave the bitterness behind. You don’t want to take growing old too personally. Everybody loses things. But when you get old, you lose a lot of things: your hair, your eyesight, your memory, your whatchacallit, your ability to bend, your teeth, your memory, all kinds of things. The only thing that doesn’t get diminished is your waist. Why didn’t anybody warn me about the Pants Shrinker? He’s kind of like the Tooth Fairy, only he’s mean. He sneaks into your closet at night and shrinks all of your pants, a little at a time, until finally, none of
your pants fit! It’s tragic. And the worst thing is, it turns out that the pants manufacturers are in cahoots, and when you go to buy a new pair of pants, you have to get pants that are two inches “bigger” in the waist, just to get the same fit! Of course, the worst thing about aging is that you’re supposed to do so “gracefully.” Believe me—and as this article proves—grace is the first thing to go. It’s hard to look graceful when you’re bumping into walls and slipping on the ice and need help finding the eyeglass department, when you can’t carry your own groceries anymore much less the weight of the world. And you’re expected to have acquired some “wisdom,” whatever that is, just because you’ve managed to hang around a little too long. Well, here it is, folks, from a newly minted “Senior”: life is a struggle. My 89-year-old friend Joe says, even when you’re happy, life is not easy. You live your life in hope, and you die in despair. But you know what? For every hardship, there is a corresponding moment of joy. For every heartache, a measure of love. And in every living moment—even the most difficult—there lies the soul-felt recognition of just how lucky we all are to be alive. It is for this recognition, and for every one of our too-many years, we give thanks—in our songs, in our poems, in our prayers, and here, in Prime. October - November 2014
31
food
GAME DAY
I 32
Eats
t just isn’t game day without great food to help fill your belly and raise your spirits as you cheer your favorite team to victory. While traditional tailgate fare has a rightful place in any pre-game celebration, adding interesting new tastes and textures to your typical spread only enhances the excitement. Quick, flavor-rich appetizers are an easy way to amp up your tailgate experience. Add diversity to your menu with snacks that are as easy to prepare as they are likely to become new fan favorites. You can save time while creating these delicious new dishes by relying on high-quality storebought ingredients such as Sabra hummus and salsa. Flavorful hummus combines fresh chickpeas with the perfect blend of seasonings and ingredients to create a smooth and creamy spread every | | www.primespokane.com
time, while each flavor in the Sabra salsa line features a unique blend of fresh veggies for a distinctive taste that is delicious on your favorite chips or in your favorite recipe. Turn up the heat this tailgating season with this spicy Mexican-style hummus dip that layers fresh cilantro and avocados with sour cream, cheese, hummus and salsa, or go Mediterranean with a toasty crostini covered in feta cheese, hummus and olives. Hummus Crostini Appetizer Recipe provided by www. supergluemom.com Servings: 6-8 1 French baguette Extra virgin olive oil Sea salt and black pepper 1-2 (7-ounce) tubs Sabra Classic Hummus 3/4 cup feta cheese 1 cup chopped or sliced olives (Kalamata and/or green olives) Preheat your oven to 350°F. Slice baguette on slight diagonal angle. Brush tops with olive oil and place on large cookie sheet. Sprinkle each slice with a little coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Bake for 12-15 minutes, carefully watching crostinis around 12 minutes, as oven temperatures vary. Remove from oven when golden brown and let cool. Spread hummus on each crostini, garnish with feta and olives, and drizzle with olive oil.
r fo e n a k o p S g in v r e S over 30 years Always welcoming new patients! • Comprehensive eye care for the entire family • Diabetic eye health care
• Medical evaluation for eye disease • Free Lasik procedure consultation
• Complete line of frames & contacts
Dr. Rick Kellogg
Downtown • 509.747.6581 Exam Appointments available at TheEyeCareTeam.com
S t a f f fa m i l y o w n e d a n d m a n a g e d
"Our Family Cares for Your Family."
• Worry Free Alzheimer’s/ • Therapeutic Living Environment Dementia Care with Wander • Spacious Studios with a Full Guard Technology Private Bathroom • Fun Social/Activities Program • 24 Hour Professional Medication • 3 Savory Meals Daily Management and Personal Care • Competitive All-Inclusive Pricing
New Alzheimer’s Memory Care Center We provide the highest standard of personal care in a home environment, with loving and patient nursing and care staff.
12016 E Cataldo, Spokane Valley www.colonialcourtassistedliving.com
(509) 921-5473
October - November 2014
33
beer-infused chili, which is sure to please all your family, friends and football fans. Super Good Chili Servings: 6
5-Layer Hummus Dip Servings: 12 1 cup reduced-fat sour cream 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro 2 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled 10 ounce container Sabra Supremely Spicy Hummus 1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese 1 (14-ounce) container Sabra Roasted Garlic Salsa In small bowl, whisk together sour cream, lime juice and cilantro. Set aside. Mash avocados in medium bowl, then whisk until smooth. Spread hummus in even layer on bottom of small baking dish. Sprinkle cheese evenly over hummus. Dollop avocado, sour cream mixture and salsa over cheese in layers, spreading each layer with spatula before adding next ingredient. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes. Serve with crispy tortilla or pita chips.
34
Homegating with Chili Seventy-seven percent of Americans think the best seat in the house is at home in front of an HDTV, according to a recent survey by McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand products. Instead of heading to the stadium, keep the tailgate at home and throw a “homegating” party. The ultimate homegate is not only about the football game, it’s about the food. No matter what’s happening on the field, the spread can be the real game-changer. In fact, the survey found the following: • 78 percent of American adults think good food can make up for a bad game. • Americans spend, on average, 42 percent of the game eating or drinking. • Over half of Americans (57 percent) voted the grill as the most important appliance when hosting a homegate. For a homegate touchdown, banish the boring and serve
| | www.primespokane.com
1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck 1 large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 (12 ounce) can diced tomatoes 2 (16 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 (16 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 (12 ounce) can or bottle beer 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies 1 tablespoon Tabasco brand Original Red Sauce 1 1/2 teaspoons salt Shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, optional Heat oil in 5-quart saucepot over medium heat. Add beef and cook until well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove to bowl. Add onion and garlic to drippings remaining in skillet; cook over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Return meat to saucepot; stir in cumin. Cook 1 minute. Stir in diced tomatoes with liquid, pinto
beans, red kidney beans, beer, green chilies, Tabasco Sauce and salt. Heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally. Serve with cheese, if desired. Grill Your Way Into Fall According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, 60 percent of grillers are now cooking outdoors year-round, so fall grilling season is heating up alongside your favorite team’s competition. Burgers remain one of the most popular foods to grill, so there’s no better time to perfect your burger grilling skills with these tips from Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet grill master Russ Faulk: The beef • The first step to the perfect burger is selecting the right beef. To get the right balance of texture, flavor and juiciness, go with an 85 percent lean mixture. Ground beef from the butcher’s case is recommended over pre-packaged options. • For the freshest flavor, avoid ground beef with any signs of gray or brown color. Always check the underside of the meat before purchasing. The patties • Form 1/3-pound to 1/2-pound patties, making them about three-fourths of an inch thick and roughly three-fourths of an inch larger in diameter than the buns. • Dimple the middle of each patty so it’s thinner in the center than at the edges. The indent will rise up and flatten out when grilled.
Melissa S. Williams LUTCF, CLTC, President
509-789-1818
Melissa@starfinc.com
Welcome to Your Happily Ever After
O
nce upon a time, when you retired from the company you dedicated your career to, your employer held a going away party, presented you with a gold watch and gave you a guaranteed paycheck for life in the way of a pension. Unfortunately, these plans have become few and far between, but there is still hope for a Happily Ever After in retirement. Many of my clients are concerned that their Happily Ever After will be cut short and that their money may not last as long as their lives. They are rightly concerned by factors such as high interest rates, inflation, income taxes, life expectancy, and medical or long-term care costs. Uncertainty with Medicare and social security isn’t boosting confidence levels in their financial future either. I am happy to tell many of my clients that we can still works towards achieving a rich and rewarding retirement. We just need to use an income plan that is flexible and can adjust as the financial climate does. It is equally important to have a plan that will maximize income sources, such as social security and /or pension plans that will remain in place for the rest of your life. This will offer security for both you and your spouse regardless of how long you or your spouse may live. Making use of certain planning strategies, we can potentially get you closer to your own Happily Ever After, and I’m happy to help you work towards yours, too!
Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through ING Financial Partners, member SIPC. Star Financial and Insurance Services, Inc. is not a subsidiary of nor controlled by ING Financial Partners. 19753501_0515
You had me
at
chocolate Flour Mill
621 W Mallon
October - November 2014
35
Spokane’s only true one stop grow shop
• Greenhouse equipment & supplies • Indoor gardening equipment & supplies • Nutrients/fertilizers • Soils and organic amendments • Organic seeds • Hydroponic Systems spokaneorganicandhydroponicsupply.com
North:
8710 N Division St 509-468-4800
Valley:
4823 E Sprague Ave, 509-534-4055
Greenacres:
15916 E Sprague 509-290-5313
Get Involved… Active Senior Living
Fitness Classes, Group Travel, Indoor Heated Pool with Water Aerobics & Jacuzzi, Convenient Indoor Walking Path, Indoor Garden Nurseries, Supper Club, Book Club, Theme Parties, Outdoor Putting Green, & Fabulous Activities!!!
312 W. Hastings Road
Spokane, WA (west off Hwy 395)
Independent Living (509) 467-2365
Assisted Living & Secured Memory Care (509) 468-0457
www.fairwoodretirement.com 36
| | www.primespokane.com
• Finally, brush the patties with olive oil and season with salt— both will help create a browned exterior crust. Prepping the grill • Heat up two temperature zones: one hot fire at 600 degrees for the burgers and another 400-degree area for toasting the buns. • The dry heat of a charcoal fire delivers the best crust on the outside of the burger. Gas fire also works, if it’s hot enough. Certain grills allow for cooking with any combination of gas, charcoal or wood. The grilling • Place the burgers over the hottest part of the grill for about four minutes. Add slices of red onions to the grill to caramelize them at this time. • Flip the burgers and cook for another four minutes. Add cheese to the top of the patties and place the onions on top of the burger. • When the burgers are almost done, lightly toast the buns directly on the cooler zone of the grill grate or on the warming rack for about 20-30 seconds. • Remove everything from the grill, and assemble your burgers. Whether tailgating or homegating, gather your friends and family, create an array of delicious foods, and cheer your favorite team to victory … for the ultimate in Fall football fun. For more game day recipes similar to those listed here, visit www.sabra. com, www.tabasco.com, and www. kalamazoogourmet.com.
Re-Elect Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich Sheriff Ozzie’s leadership has: Increased Staffing In The Sexual Assault Unit To Better Track Sex Offenders Restored Crime Check Implemented An Intelligence Led Policing (Ilp) Strategy Adopted The Domestic Violence Lethality Assessment Program Expanded Community Based Policing Formed A Regional Violent Crimes And Gang Taskforce Formed A Regional Property Crimes Taskforce Developed A Budget Office Within The Sheriff’s Office Rebuilt Spokane County’s Emergency Communication System Developed An Internationally Recognized Training Unit
CRIME IS DOWN!
*Leadership*
Violent Crime 2007-2013:
SPOKANE COUNTY SHERIFF President WA Assoc. of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs
Unicorporated Spokane County - 56% decrease
Sergeant UNITED STATES ARMY
City of Spokane Valley - 24% decrease
Patrol Field Training Officer Patrol Sargent
Property Crimes 2004-2013:
S.W.A.T. Team Supervisor
Unicorporated Spokane County - 8% decrease
Training Sergeant
City of Spokane Valley - 4% decrease
Police Chief
“As a result of my stance on HIGH STANDARDS, we have the lowest violent crime rate in two decades. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has become known as one of the best law enforcement agencies in the State of Washington when it comes to training, and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has the public’s trust. It has been an honor to serve you for the past eight years. Thank you for your support!”
www.OzzieforSheriff.com
Agent for Allied Van Lines Spokane's oldest family owned and operated full-service moving company
Three Generations of our family
moving yours
509-747-1111
www.americanvanservice.com
October - November 2014
37
Can Trauma Spur Creativity? After His Devastating Loss, a Man F inds Healing Through Writing
C
an an emotional trauma flip a switch in the creative brain? Does profound loss offer a new perspective from which to peer into one’s soul? For LeRoy Flemming, author of the “Timelightenment” series and volume one of “Soulsplitting,” the answer is a resounding yes. And, there’s psychological research supporting this idea. In role-playing, veterans who’ve endured trauma resulting in PTSD “were better able to represent the boundary between reality and the role-playing, to immerse themselves in the scene, to enact identifiable characters consistent with their setting, and produce complex and interactive scenes that told a coherent story,” compared to non-PTSD vets, according to researchers Robert Miller and David Johnson.
38
| | www.primespokane.com
The non-PTSD group created more stereotyped, and unimaginative scenes, despite a higher education level and greater role-playing experience, the two wrote. “I was never diagnosed with PTSD, but I know profound emotional trauma can trip all kinds of coping mechanisms in the brain and soul, including creativity,” Flemming says. “When I suddenly lost my mother, it was a profound, life-altering shock. She was fine when I saw her last – Dec. 25, 1999, and she died on Jan. 1. That’s what started me writing.” His mother was, by far, the most stabilizing and inspiring person in his life, he says, and losing her rocked him to his core. Rather than seeming abstract, the larger questions in life became the most important, and that’s when he knew he had to write. “I didn’t have much of a background in writing,” he says. “But since her passing, I’ve been in close contact with a part of my soul that has spawned several books, all of which have helped me heal.” The creativity caused by pain is a cycle, “because the creative process has significantly healed me,” he says. “I’m not surprised that creativity increases within those who’ve suffered; it makes sense.” How does a grieving individual make something good out of a heart-wrenching loss? Flemming offers perspective. • Don’t force it. One of the last things a grieving person needs is an assignment they don’t want.
Quality care for your loved one. Peace of mind for you.
S
enior Helpers stands ready to serve your family’s needs with personalized, in-home care and expertly trained, professional caregivers. Let us ease your mind with a complimentary in-home care initial appointment. Call today to learn more. 509-922-4333 or 208-664-2500
www.seniorhelpers.com/spokane New Owners: Mark & Tiffany Murphy, RN
Serving Spokane since 2006
October - November 2014
39
Grief is a process that entails a host of negative emotions: denial, confusion, anger and more. Prescribing creative therapy to oneself or another before one is ready for it can backfire. • Let it flow naturally. We are all unique individuals and, though we know in the backs of our minds that we’ll someday face the loss of a loved one, we can’t predict how we’ll handle it. “Grieving and creativity actually share some traits,” Flemming says. “Both are processes, and both prompt individuals to express feelings in their own terms. When creativity can be used in conjunction with the grieving process, the catharsis can be profound.” • You have many options. When a person is desperate for an outlet, he or she will often gravitate toward what he knows. A onetime aspiring painter, for instance, may return to that familiar and comforting form of self-expression.
find it all at 40
who doesn't love a good deal?
| | www.primespokane.com
“But the mind can be unpredictable; it may be that gardening is the process that is most therapeutic for a grieving person, even though she never pulled a weed or planted a seed in her life,” Flemming says. “In other words, be open to where your intuition guides you. As most grieving people understand, life doesn’t always work out as planned. Be open to helpful new possibilities.”
October - November 2014
41
health New Methods to Care for Those with Dementia
42
| | www.primespokane.com
By Gary Skole
C
aring for a person with Alzheimer’s is challenging, and performing that care in the home has its own challenges. According to a recent AARP survey, most people would prefer to remain in their home for as long as possible as opposed to going into a care facility. One of the main reasons families place their loved ones into a care facility is because they cannot manage the complex behaviors that are common in Alzheimer’s. Managing a patient’s complex behavior requires structure and special programming. Often, there is a lack of structure and programming in the home care environment. Facilities do a better job of providing structure and routine for dementia patients, but it is not the same as being at home and rarely is it modified to fit the specific needs of the patient. Dementia is an individualized disease and a one-size fits all approach does not work. To attain the required structure, you must first determine the person’s current level of dementia, and then based on that finding, create a balanced day filled with activities that are important to the patient and appropriate to their current level. With the AlzBetter program, the key is a daily schedule. As the patient progresses through
Have you considered a
Reverse mortgage as
part of your financial strategy?
Do you want to pay off your current mortgage? Do you need additional retirement income? Do you have a financial advisor? (Have him or her call me about the 6% rule)
Financial planning should include knowledge and consideration of a reverse mortgage. They are not just for desperate people. Call NOW to arrange an appointment to discuss a no cost/no obligation loan comparison and amortization schedule. You may be surprised how it could benefit you!
Jack Tenold NMLS #10261
1500 W Fourth Avenue | Suite 410 Spokane WA 99201 First Priority Financial, Inc. NMLS #3257.
WA | OR | CA
jack.tenold@fpfmail.com
www.firstprioritysolutions.com
(509) 623-1623
October - November 2014
43
the disease process and important activities become harder to accomplish, AlzBetter dynamically adapts and modifies the activities to match their current level of dementia. To illustrate, many seniors grew up in a time when there were few electronics and they have always done a lot of reading. With dementia, reading becomes very difficult. Traditionally, books are taken away and the patient is placed in front of the TV or given children’s books, which can be degrading and often causes frustration. The AlzBetter way is to create books with adult subject matter that is meaningful to them (i.e. WWII, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra) but presented in a way that matches their current ability to read. AlzBetter’s custom reading activity will adjust with them as their cognitive levels decline, enabling them to continue their love of reading. Additionally, the AlzBetter software contains a quality of life tool to help determine if the patient’s schedule is working or which changes need to be made. Since dementia patients have a difficult time with expression, this type of monitoring is very important to a successful program. AlzBetter is a comprehensive and individualized program that uses breakthrough technology to address one of the most challenging problems seniors face today. Gary Skole has been in the home health care industry for more than 25 years and currently helps home care agencies learn how to better care for people with dementia through his company AlzBetter LLC. To learn more about AlzBetter programs, please visit www. alzbetter.com. 44
| | www.primespokane.com
Technology got you confused & frustrated?
We can help!
Acme can help you with ALL your technical needs: ✓ Easy Remote Control Solutions ✓ Home Office Setup (Network, Phone, & WiFi) ✓ Monitored Home Security ✓ Monitored Personal Emergency Systems
✓ Mobile/Smart Phone/App Managment ✓ In-Home Systems Tutorials (No matter where you bought it).
Complimentary Consultations!
509-893-9500
acmeintegration.com October - November 2014
45
flash back
Vintage Postcard
Harvest scene, showing combined header and thresher, near Spokane, circa 1905. In 1909, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce cited the following production statistics: Wheat, $53,000,000; Minerals, $43,000,000; Lumber, $19,250,000; Live Stock and Poultry, $16,500,00; Farm and Garden products, $15,500,000; Apples and other fruits, $15,000,000; and Dairy products, $8,000,000. They went on to say, “Farmers and orchardists practice irrigation and dry farming, both of which methods are highly successful. No irrigation is necessary in wheat and grain belts.”
This image was excerpted from Vintage Postcards From Old Spokane, by Tornado Creek Publications. For more images and stories from our region’s past, visit www.tornadocreekpublications.com or call (509) 838-7114.
46
| | www.primespokane.com
Q ua l i t y
n e w f u r n i t u r e at a f f o r da b l e p r i c e s .
15%
Senio r C i Disco tizen unt Every Day!
6607 N. Maple
Donations Are Welcome Mon-Fri 10:30-4:30 Sat 10-4 Sun 12-4
October 25% OFF
Valid 10/1/2014 - 10/31/2014 Excludes Well Rounded Corner and Consignment Items
MUST PRESENT COUPON
2 Blocks North of Francis on Maple
Monday - Saturday 9-6 Sunday Hours 12-5
326-1522
November 25% OFF
Valid 11/1/2014 - 11/30/2014 Excludes Well Rounded Corner and Consignment Items
MUST PRESENT COUPON
October - November 2014
47