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INDEX Money matters for traveling abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Coffee, connections and congeniality . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Money matters for traveling abroad
Oregon’s Open Call, Things to do and see . . . . . . . . . .4
BY MIKE CORWIN
Tips for safe and healthy travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
The world of travel abroad may have changed since you ventured out last. Most financial institutions have security measures now that protect you on an international vacation or business trip. These tips can help you create a financial checklist before you embark.
Book Review: “The Creaky Knees Guide” . . . . . . . . . .5 Schnorr Family Reunion: 78 years and going strong! . .6 Are you considering doing your genealogy? . . . . . . . . 7 Respite care: For the caregiver who needs to travel . . 7 Vietnam: Land of surprising beauty and fascination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9 Dining Deals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 John Locker enjoys helping at Corvallis Senior Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Pitch right in: Volunteer opportunities in Linn, Benton and Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 COG seeks volunteers for senior, disability advisory panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Fit at any age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Stay current with the Academy for Lifelong Learning .15 Puzzle solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Volunteers bring research to LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
GENERATIONS A quarterly publication of Cascades West Senior and Disabilty Services, local Senior Centers, and Retired & Senior Volunteer Programs
The Editorial Board Marilyn Smith . . . . . . . . . . .Albany City Hall 541-917-7507 Beth Fox . . . . . . .Linn-Benton County RSVP 541-812-0849 Kathleen NickersonLinn-Benton County RSVP 541-812-0849 Scott Bond . . .Senior and Disability Services 541-812-6008 Sharon Bogdanovic . .Corvallis Senior Center 541-754-1709 Evonne Walls . . . .Samaritan Health Services 541-768-4241
For more information Cyndi Sprinkel-Hart 541-812-6073 or email cyndi.sprinkel-hart@lee.net
1400 Queen Ave. SE, Suite 206 Albany, OR 97322
A good source for international currency is your financial institution. Give them sufficient notice to set up the exchange to meet your needs well before the trip. You may be unable to use bank cards in some countries where fraud has been prevalent. Inform your credit union or bank in advance where you will be travelling. Methods to keep your money safe but easily accessible while traveling are constantly improving. Most financial institutions still make traveler’s checks available, but few merchants still accept them. Plastic prepaid travel cards are much more widely accepted. The Visa TravelMoney® card provides the security of traveler’s checks and the convenience of a Visa card. It’s a prepaid card, allowing you to spend up to its value anywhere. It is PIN and signature protected and can be reloaded remotely. Visa debit cards are also accepted. Get cash at any Visa/Plus ATM worldwide. Many U.S. Visa cards won’t work in some parts of Europe because the chip technology isn’t yet commonplace. This usually happens at unmanned kiosks or terminals. It is important to always carry some local currency for such situations. Having multiple sources for funds is essential. Carrying small amounts of local currency is good and take more than one debit or credit card with you. Multiple cards kept separately are important to avoid potential fraud. Travel notification is important,
Before you go Call your financial institution ✔ Notify them of your travel plans so they can monitor your account for suspicious or unusual activity. ✔ Due to significant fraud activity in some areas of the world, transactions may be blocked on debit and credit cards. ■ Check your card to make sure it won’t expire while you’re away. ■ Confirm the credit limit and balance if you plan to use debit or credit cards during your trip. ■ Purchase tickets using your Visa card. You’ll have proof of purchase if your tickets are lost or stolen or your trip is canceled. ■ Make a note of credit and debit card numbers, as well as your financial institution’s toll-free number. Keep them in a safe place in the unlikely event your card is lost or stolen. Never write down your PIN. ■ Photocopy the front and back of everything in your wallet as well as your passport and keep them handy, if you should need a copy. ■
While traveling Avoid leaving cards unattended in a hotel room, recreation areas, or in locked or unlocked vehicles. Take advantage of the hotel’s safe or security box to secure valuables ■ Save all receipts for proof of purchase. When you get home, carefully check them against your monthly statements. ■ Keep track of bank cards and keep them in a secure location at all times to avoid possible theft and misuse. ■ Carry alternative funds — an additional debit or credit card or a Visa prepaid TravelMoney® card. ■ Contact your financial institution immediately if your card is lost, stolen, or compromised while traveling. ■
but even that can’t protect you from a lost or stolen card. When used as a checklist, these steps can get you that much closer to totally enjoying your international trip. Bon voyage! Mike Corwin is assistant vice president for public relations and business development at OSU Federal Credit Union.
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Coffee, connections and congeniality BY CATHY BRADFORD AND BETH FOX Six miles north of Albany on the west side of Interstate 5 is the Santiam Rest Area. When visitors drive in, they are greeted by a beautiful spot with trees, flowers and clean restrooms. One of the rest area’s attractions is a reproduction Victorian home symbolic of many in Albany and the surrounding area. The Santiam Rest Area Kiosk is staffed by friendly volunteers who help visitors find their way, give them a hot cup of Allann Bros coffee or other refreshments and brighten the day with their smiles. RSVP volunteers Betty and Dale Anderson are two of many dedicated people who greet visitors at the rest area kiosk. Their eight years of kiosk volunteer experience provides material for amusing stories and interesting insights. One of their favorite stories is about a woman around 80 years of age who was driving to her 98year-old mother’s wedding in Corvallis. The Andersons enjoyed the time when a busload of Japanese teenage girls stopped by. One of them had heard about mocha coffee, asked for it, and soon each of the 35 girls had to have one – all for free. The Santiam Rest Area Kiosk is operated by the Albany Visitors Association and served over 8,500 visitors in 2011. There is no charge for coffee or maps, but donations are accepted. The donations received pay for supplies, repairs to the little house, a thank-you celebration for volunteers once a year, and small
Betty and Dale Anderson at the Santiam Rest Area visitor information kiosk. grants to local museums. The little blue house serves several purposes for visitors. The most important is to get people from the freeway to stop, walk around, and have some coffee to help keep them alert on the road. The volunteers have heard this many times: “I am so glad that you are here. I was getting so tired.” The kiosk also provides help for people who are lost, which happens quite frequently. Dale Anderson recounted a story from another volunteer: a cou-
ple stopped by after missing the Salem exit. When asked “What are you doing in Salem?” the visitors said, “We wanted to see where they held those witch trials.” The kiosk is stocked with current Oregon highway maps, as well as maps of the local area. Dale Anderson said the most common requests are generally about sights south, like Crater Lake, Seven Feathers and Wildlife Safari. “We do get many requests for pamphlets with discounts for accommodations,” he added.
Traffic on the freeway may even reflect the state of the economy. “Two to three years ago, 50 semis passed every five minutes; now it’s closer to eight in the same period of time,” he said. The Andersons made a point to say thank you to the great staff from the Visitors Association for significant upgrades to the kiosk. If you are interested in joining the family of volunteers, contact Cathy Bradford at 541-928-0911 or email cbradford@albanyvisitors.com.
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Oregon’s open call Things to do and see in beautiful Oregon BY SHIRLEY AUSTIN If you grew up in Oregon like I did, you have no doubt seen a lot of its beauty. But, like me, you have probably missed more than a few of the wondrous things this state has to offer. With the cost of gasoline at new heights, more of us are choosing vacations closer to home. You can’t go wrong here; there are simply too many things to see and do in Oregon that I can’t even begin to get them all in one article. Here are a few to ponder this summer. I recently visited the Lan-Su Chinese Gardens in Portland. What a pretty and serene environment in the middle of the busy city! This inspiring place “takes you through time, offering a window into Chinese culture, history and way of thinking.” A well-versed docent will take you on a tour and explain the many symbols of yin and yang, garden styles, and the five elements. Throughout 2012, Lan Su Chinese Garden features Chinese art and artists with a series of exhibitions. Admission is $8.50 for seniors, $7 if you are in a large group, and the Gardens are within easy walking distance to several restaurants, at least three that are Chinese. Two freeway rest stops break up your driving time, and the Gardens are easy to find at 239 NW Everett Street. Butterfly Adventures has joined Mariner Square’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not, The Wax Works, and Undersea Gardens on Newport’s historic Bay Front. Eco-friendly, entertaining and educational for adults and children, Butterfly Adventures is the only butterfly exhibit on the Oregon Coast showcasing free flying regional butterflies. The 2,000-square-foot walkthrough butterfly house is filled with colorful regional plants and flowers, which give visitors live examples of the change
Historic Brownsville has lots for visitors to see and do. from egg to caterpillar to pupae to butterfly. Butterfly Adventures, 250 SW Bay Boulevard, is open daily 9 a.m.-8 p.m. until late September. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children 3 to 11, and under 3 are free. Crater Lake is one of the wonders of Oregon. It’s well worth the five-hour drive to see this beauty that is almost 2,000 feet deep, surrounded by cliffs 2,000 feet tall. Check the National Parks Service website, www.nps.gov/crla/index for updates on road conditions. Heavy winter snowfall can keep Rim Drive around the lake closed well into summer. For a brief time each year, Crater Lake National Park emerges from winter hibernation to bask in summertime glory. This is the best opportunity for a comfortable visit. Hiking and camping are popular activities, as are fishing for trout and salmon. Visitor centers have educational and historic information and restaurants and stores offer dining and picnic or camping supplies. The Steel Visitor Center
is open daily year-round, except Christmas Day, with a U.S. Postal Service office inside. The Rim Visitor Center is open late May to early September. Crater Lake Lodge, Mazama Cabins, and two campgrounds provide overnight accommodations. If you’re planning a camping trip or just want to find scenic places to picnic, check with the Oregon State Parks www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/ or the National Park Service www.nps.gov/. With Oregon’s diverse environment, you will find a place to fall in love with nature, whether it’s the forest, the beach, or the desert. Almost every Oregon town has a museum. Some not to miss are The High Desert Museum, Bend; Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville; and in Brownsville, the East Linn Museum and the Moyer House. So many museums are worth mentioning but these are some I have visited and can attest to their uniqueness and interest value. Brownsville is a quaint town in
the southern Willamette Valley, founded in the 1840s. Downtown Brownsville is a wonderful collection of 1880s to 1920s buildings with houses dating from the 1850s. The museum, 101 Park St. is open daily and group tours are available by appointment. Call 541-466-3390 for a tour of the Moyer House, too. For country-music lovers, the Oregon Jamboree, August 3-5, in Sweet Home, is the place to be. Sweet Home is a lovely small town with a big heart, and the Jamboree brings the brightest talent to town. With two stages and 22 shows, this year marks the Jamboree’s 20th anniversary. For relaxing away from the music, visit Foster and Green Peter reservoirs just east of Sweet Home for boating, water skiing, camping, picnicking or fishing. Take the time to see your Oregon: enjoy nature, learn some history, or spend the night in a world apart from your everyday life but not so far away that you’ll spend your life savings on gas to get there!
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Tips for safe and healthy travels BY EVONNE WALLS Whether you are traveling to visit family, get some rest and relaxation, or escape your least favorite season, preparation is the key to smooth travels. If you take regular medications, it’s a good idea to see your physician several weeks before you are scheduled to leave so you can address any immediate concerns, determine your medication schedule if they are impacted by traveling to a different time zone, and refill necessary prescriptions. If you are traveling overseas, you may need to see your doctor up to six weeks in advance so you can get the necessary vaccinations. Be sure to keep a record of all of the medications you are on, the doses and how you take the medications (orally, etc.) on you at all times. If you have a medical emergency, this information will be very important to provide when seeking care. You should also consult with your health insurance provider to see what your coverage and co-pays are for out-of-network care. Other helpful tips: Stay hydrated: Drink a lot of water and avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol when flying. Move around: Get up and walk around or wear compression stockings to prevent blood clots, and guard against infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer. Buy travel insurance: Travel insurance is typically very inexpensive, less than an airline change fee, so protect yourself from losing money if you become sick or have an emergency that prevents you from traveling. Pack snacks: Meals are no longer complementary on flights and if you have diet restrictions or allergies, it’s best that you pack your own as the food available for purchase on a plane is very limited. Evaluate your baggage: Before you go on your trip, check with the airline to see if carry-on luggage is free and how much it costs to check luggage as well as the weight limits. The weight limits and fees are no longer standard across all airlines. Lock down the home front: Stop your mail and newspaper and ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house. Make copies: If you are traveling abroad, make two copies of your passport. Leave one at home and one with a trusted friend or family member. If you lose your passport, you can have your friend fax a copy to the U.S. Embassy. Last, but not least, pack a good attitude and your adventurous spirit. There will be bumps in the road, but remember it’s often those moments that make for great memories and stories to share with friends.
What would you like to see in Generations? 541-924-8421 or email AJOHNSON@ocwcog.org
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Book Review BY MARILYN SMITH “The Creaky Knees Guide: The 80 Best Easy Hikes” (Oregon) by Seabury Blair, Jr. (Sasquatch Books) We rediscovered Oregon’s backroads last summer when we bought a small travel trailer and began to vacation away from home again. We combined lazy hours of reading with ongoing weight control and fitness efforts by taking long walks and hikes with our dog on trails both old and new – Fort Stevens State Park near Warrenton, Wallowa Lake, Seal Rock, Beaver Creek, Fort Rock. On a shopping day this spring, waiting for the rain to stop, I spotted this book and decided it would be a good addition to the trailer’s library. It’s informative, well-organized, has excellent directions, and is well-written. Blair is the former outdoor editor of the Bremerton Sun, has been hiking for more than 60 years, and has written other books about hiking in both Oregon and Washington. He lives near Spokane. The book sorts the trails by region – Oregon Coast, Columbia Gorge, Mount Hood, Central Oregon, distant trails and urban trails. It further sorts them into categories: stroll in the park, easy walk, moderate workout, prepare to perspire, and knee-punishing. Each trail is numbered, has a name, is rated on a 1 to 5 scale for the overall experience of being there and walking it, the best season to go, and whether the
trail is suitable for kids, wheelchairs, and/or dogs, bikes and horses. Each trail is detailed in its own chapter with photos, driving directions, estimated hiking time, a topographic map, and a little history. Blair knows how to tell a story and reading this book is inspiring and just plain fun. My favorite pieces are the last section of every trail’s chapter, called “Going Farther,” about how you can add onto each hike for extra miles, different vistas, or a greater challenge. Example: the 4-mile Black Butte hike gets a 5, is supposed to take about three and a half hours, and is rated in the kneepunishing category. Under “Going Farther,” Blair writes: “If you’re ready to go farther after returning to the parking area, you’re ready to trot up and down the Grand Canyon.” And, of extending the 5-mile, knee-punishing, high-altitude scamper up Mount Scott in Crater Lake National Park, he writes: “Are you out of your freakin’ mind? If you want more exercise, join the Marines!” We’ve got a lot of travel planned for this summer. This book is likely to become as valuable as putting Happy Camper in the black tank and making sure the lug nuts are tight. We got our copy at Costco. You’ll want one, too.
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Schnorr Family Reunion:
78 years and going strong! BY LAURIE RUSSELL I don’t remember a time without Schnorr family reunions and neither does my mother. My family has had one each year since 1934! The reunion is held in northern Illinois and is for all descendents of Wilhelm Schnorr and Pauline (Jakob) Schnorr, my great-grandparents, who were born in Germany and immigrated to the United States before their five boys were born. My grandfather Joseph was one of the boys. He and my grandmother, Katherine, had 12 children, my mother being the youngest. I cannot begin to tell you how many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and other relatives that I have. That the reunion has gone on this long with so many new family branches is nothing short of amazing. When I was a child, we each brought a cheap grab bag gift (balloons, jacks & ball sets, paper airplanes, paddle balls), probably an effort by the adults to get us reacquainted. I remember the children’s games: egg tosses, three-legged bag races, baseball and impromptu games of all sorts, like the year that a few of us girls sat in Dad’s convertible and pretended to be driving on vacation. The reunions were tons of fun and we met so many cousins: first, second, third and probably fourth cousins.
The Joseph and Katherine Schnorr family at the time of the first Schnorr Family Reunion Then there were the horse watering troughs full of ice and bottles of pop. Our first round of feeding was around noon after which we got little cups of ice cream; sometimes, it was even homemade! I remember it was no big deal to let the food sit out all day and at 4:30 or 5 p.m., we would all eat again, even the potato salad! It took us kids almost all day
to warm up to each other and then, when it was time to go, we all fussed because we had become friends and were having too much fun to leave! And then we wouldn’t see those cousins again until the next year and the reacquainting had to start all over again. This year, like all past years, a cousin will take a turn hosting, which consists of securing a location, sending out invitations and providing iced tea and lemonade. People will come from all over the country. My
cousin Larry will bring the family tree which now takes up three end-to-end picnic tables (we will refer to it often to figure out how we are related). Each family will bring two dishes to pass, lawn chairs and their own tableware. There will be an abundance of pies and cakes. Someone will, no doubt, bring a Jell-O salad, someone else fried chicken, and Aunt Ginny will bring her cheese salad…and we will keep the hot dishes hot and the cold ones cold. Some things do change!
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Are you considering doing your genealogy? data about which you are unsure. It may help you find proof later. Give kin the appropriate forms, self-addressed, stamped envelopes, a phone number or email address to encourage further communication as they recall more. It is likely that this person will send you on to someone else. The more cousins working on a particular genealogy, the easier it is to get more exact data.
BY EVEDENE BENNETT Genealogy is a dangerous hobby. Solving mystery after mystery can become addictive. If you are determined nevertheless, here are some tips from some survivors. Make use of what you already know. Write down your own name, date of birth and where you were born. ■ Then write down what you know of your parents’ names, dates of birth, and where they were born. ■ If you know your grandparents’ names, add them and their birthplace data to the proper parent. ■ Record all the brothers and sisters; they or their descendants may have some of the missing data. ■
Forms are available at the Linn Genealogy Society library, upstairs in the Albany Public Library, that can help keep the data organized. LGS also has a free booklet on starting genealogy. Make use of it. When you reach the end of the known data, find the oldest members of that family line and interview them. This may be done by letter, phone, or email; if possible, a personal interview is the best. Videorecording the in-
Evedene Bennett and David Devin. terview can be helpful if the person is comfortable with it. The main point is always to collect names, dates (birth, death, marriage) and where each happened, including where individuals are buried. Ask if you may copy records that they have: pages of the family Bible, family record pages or booklets, diaries, old letters or other documents. Whether recorded or a personal chat, in their trying to remember, the stories usually come. It adds a lot of interest to have these stories, so it’s handy to have an audio recorder for these if it’s not recorded as video. If you are uncertain about places or dates, you must note “about” or “probably” by the
As these contacts continue, the internet can supply a lot of information. Genealogies can be done without it, but the Web makes the task a lot easier and faster. The internet has some primary source data such as some birth, death and cemetery records; immigration, service and land records. Most genealogy websites that contain a lot of photographed primary documents require membership. LGS and Albany Public Library cooperatively subscribe to Ancestry & Heritage Quest, which has all the U.S. censuses from 1790-1940, some census data from other countries and much other primary source material. The internet at LGS and both Library branches can be used for this. Some data can be found at free sites such as Gen-
Forum, usgenweb.org, Rootsweb.com, Find A Grave, Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, and with county genealogy societies. And, cousins can be found online and can help each other. Stop in at Albany Genealogy Library. Members are there every day but Thursday to help. Hours vary but can be accessed through the Albany Public Library by phone at 541-791-1618 or at www.lgsoregon.org. The library has thousands of genealogy books, family files, and published genealogies. Informative public meetings are held at the library at 1:00 p.m. the first Saturday of the month, August through June, and classes about specific aspects of genealogy are offered occasionally. See you there (if you’re brave enough.) Evedene Bennett is a member of the Linn Genealogical Society. Her parents’ lists of their grandparents’ families got her started asking older family members for more detail when she was in high school. She’s published genealogy books on her father’s Bennetts and mother’s Ehrharts. She reports that her greatest excitement was getting to go to the place from which the Ehrharts emigrated in 1741. Today, she focuses on research.
Respite care: For the caregiver who needs to travel BY AUDREY DEKAM Providing care to a loved one near end-of-life can be a physically, emotionally, and financially demanding 24-hour-a-day job. It can become even more complicated by the need to tend to one's own life. Barb Hansen, manager of Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, sees this on a daily basis. "I've seen caregivers torn when it comes to situations such as wanting to visit their grandchildren back east, but needing to stay home because their own mother needs round-the-clock assistance. Or wanting to go to a niece's
wedding, but feeling like they shouldn't because they are the full-time caregiver of a spouse near end-of-life." Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, a non-profit hospice serving the mid-valley, recently opened its new hospice house in Albany. The house features round-theclock skilled hospice care, and it offers respite care in addition to being open to hospice patients in need of pain relief and symptom management beyond what can be provided in a private residence. Respite care provides a shortterm relief for caregivers to decompress, travel or attend to
other needs. "Finding balance in your life as a caregiver is significant to the care you provide," said Hansen. As part of Samaritan Health Services, Evergreen Hospice provides coordinated care with physicians, as well as support for families. In 2011, they served more than 700 families. With the opening of their new house, they are able to expand their services. "We still actively support patients who want to die in their own homes," said Hansen, who has worked for Evergreen for over two decades. "Now we're
What would you like to see in Generations? 541-924-8421
able to provide service in patients' homes, or in ours." She notes that the new house creates an alternative for patients and families not wanting to die in a hospital setting. The new Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House is one of only six facilities of its kind allowed in Oregon. It is located at the corner of Waverly and Del Rio Avenue SE, at 4600 Evergreen Place SE in Albany. For more information about respite care or any other hospice services, call 541-812-4662 or visit samhealth.org/hospice.
or email AJOHNSON@ocwcog.org
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Makara (sea monster) in Da Nang
Vietnam: Land of surprising beauty and fascination BY LEE WHEELING So many beautiful and alluring places to see exist out there in this wide world that deciding on a particular travel destination can be difficult at times. However, if you are interested in seeing a country that has become a strong attraction for world travelers, I highly recommend you consider Vietnam. I hope this brief article gives you some useful insights; it is based on a recent 30-day backpacking vacation that my wife Ulrike and I took there. From north to south, Vietnam’s landscape and geologic features range from a long, spectacular coastline to lush green and cool highlands. All that coupled with its rich cultural heritage make a decision to visit Vietnam a world-view expanding and culturally-enriching experience.
We visited several cities in Vietnam and in retrospect, Hoi An stands out vividly as one of the most interesting. This UNESCO World Heritage Site lies about one hour’s bus ride south of Da Nang in the central coast region. Visitors from all over the world go there for a variety of cultural interests. They can even take courses in learning how to cook traditional Vietnamese food and get to eat what they cooked. Today, Hoi An is enjoying a revival as a thriving trade center. Upon arriving near the center of town on foot from the bus stop, we met a woman coming out of her apartment building and preparing to get onto her motorcycle. She asked if we were looking for a place to stay. She owned a hotel closer to the center of town and said she would be happy to show it to us. However, only one of us at a
time could go with her on her cycle. Ulrike went first, while I waited anxiously. But soon, the woman returned alone, and told me that Ulrike liked the hotel and that she could now take me there. When the woman learned where we came from, she told us excitedly that her daughter was studying English in Oregon. Come nightfall, Hoi An lights up in full festivity mode with colorful lanterns hanging in many businesses and along pedestrian walkways. It’s a pleasant time to find a good eatery near the river to appreciate the colored lights and enjoy a tasty Vietnamese meal. On our last day in Hoi An, we rented bicycles and pedaled out to the seaside. Our bicycle ride through rice paddies was picturesque and truly enjoyable.
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Hoi An’s geographic location makes it easy for taking day trips to several other places in the area, including north to Da Nang, where we saw many well-preserved relics from the ancient Cham civilization in the Museum of Cham Sculpture. Also from Hoi An, we took a guided trip to My Son (‘me sun’), the intellectual and holy center of the past kingdom of Champa. We visited ancient temple ruins there, severely damaged during the Vietnam War.
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Dining Deals BY SHARON BOGDANOVIC The Downward Dog Restaurant, 130 SW First St., in downtown Corvallis, has happy hour 4 to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday, featuring drink specials and a pretty good list of food specials. On a warm summer evening, it is also a good place to find an outdoor table, but you will need to go to the bar to order. Choose a $4 ahi tostada, $2 chicken taco, $3 Caesar salad, $5 soup of the day and bread, $5 mac-ncheese of the day, or another special.
Our Vietnam trip Shop houses in Hoi An was always very inbargain hard for a fair market value. My teresting. Each place we visited had its unique appeal and character. The food was wife and I feel that our time in Vietnam was great. Local people were extremely friendly well spent. If you decide to go there, I hope and helpful. Finding hotel accommodations you have a great trip, too. within our economy-class budget was alLee Wheeling has lived, traveled and worked ways possible. I can wholeheartedly supin various places including Brazil, Germany, port Vietnam’s reputation for being relatively safe and enjoyable for travelers. One Korea, Singapore and Thailand. He teaches should be prepared however for factors that Brazilian, Portuguese and German at Linnmay negatively impact the experience, such Benton Community College Benton Center in as long train and bus rides, and the need to Corvallis.
Chef and proprietor Kimber Hoang creates dishes that are influenced by the many different foods of Southeast Asia at Magenta Restaurant, 137 SW Second St., Corvallis. Her extensive travel to other parts of the world also impart wild and bold flavors to her cooking—all while using simple, tasteful ingredients. She focuses on incorporating organic local produce and meats into her seasonal menus. Magenta offers a dim sum menu in addiVegetarian crepe tion to the full from Magenta’s menu all hours dim sum menu that they are open. They offer an extensive dim sum menu with over 40 items to choose from for only $4 each. All are served on small plates, so get a couple for yourself or several to share. A small sample of the dim sum menu includes coconut curry vegetables, made-to-order pad Thai, grilled spicy tuna over rice, coconut prawn skewers with mango, and a goat cheese and bay shrimp baguette. If you find yourself looking for a late night dining deal, Applebee’s Restaurant, 1915 NE Four Acre Place, next to Carmike Theater, Corvallis, offers all appetizers at half price after 9 p.m. Daytime specials include the “pick-a-pair” lunch starting at $6.95 and full dinners at two for $20 including an appetizer and two entrees. Try the appetizer Boneless Wings, and entrees like the seven-ounce House Sirloin and Fiesta Lime Chicken. Please share your ideas for dining-out deals or let me know if you try one of these suggestions: sharon.bogdanovic@corvallisoregon.gov, or at the Corvallis Chintimini Senior Center, attention Sharon.
Rice paddies near Hoi An
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Senior & Disability Services A program of Cascades West Council of Governments
QUOTE CRYPTOGRAM W S P P B W W S W S IVV M P J C B W Z J Z R JW B A R J I X B Z J J O SW M Z J OB VJJLNDK UJX NZ - HIFNH RBDXM ZRJXBIS For more information on: • Adult Foster Care • Outreach Services • Meals on Wheels • Information and Referral • Medicaid Longterm Care
• In-Home Care • OPI • Adult Protective Services • Community Resources
541-967-8630 or 1-800-638-0510 TDD/VOICE in Benton and Linn counties
541-336-2289 or 1-800-282-6194 TDD/VOICE in Lincoln County
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John Locker enjoys helping at Corvallis Senior Center the center switched to a computerized reservation system for trips, events and meetings. Several other volunteers were unfamiliar with computers and could not continue at the front desk. The center has not been able to replace them all, so Locker now fills in for 60 to 80 hours each month. He’s also the cashier for Meals on Wheels on Fridays.
BY BETH FOX Take a well-educated person who loves to stay busy working and contributing to society, plant him in a new state, and watch him thrive. John Locker’s contributions to his community are truly significant. He has been volunteering at the Corvallis Senior Center and Meals on Wheels since January 2004 as desk host, hike and trip leader, and cashier. He volunteered earlier for several nonprofits in Sweet Home and joined Linn-Benton RSVP in 1996 before moving to Corvallis in 2003. He used the LBvision Volunteer Center website (now HandsOn Linn-Benton) to find opportunities that appealed to him. Born in Lima, Ohio (pronounced LIME-uh) and raised in Cairo, Ohio, (pronounced KAYrow), Locker had an All-American upbringing. Sharing his home with two sisters and one brother, he worked summers in a baseball league concession stand and mowing lawns.
Volunteer John Locker. After high school, Locker attended Bluffton College, graduating with a degree in history and government. He recently returned for his 50-year reunion where he enjoyed renewing friendships. Joining the Air Force after graduation, John served his country for over five years, stationed in Thailand, Okinawa and the southern
United States. After leaving the service at the rank of Captain, Locker went back to school, receiving a master’s degree in secondary guidance and counseling from Ohio University in Athens. After working at Athens High School, he took a position with Hocking College, counseling in student services and academic advising until retiring in December 1992. He moved to Oregon to be near his sister and family in the summer of 1993, settling in Sweet Home. It didn’t take him long to find volunteer work as he engaged with the high school, the Chamber of Commerce and Lebanon Community Hospital during 10 years in east Linn County. He also spent six years volunteering for his church, creating bulletins and filling in as lay pastor. He moved to Corvallis in 2003, noting “I really missed the college environment after so many years of living in Athens.” Locker’s volunteer work at the Senior Center homed in on the front desk position when
“I’m still in the working frame of mind,” notes Locker. “Since I’m not into cruises and like to stay busy, I guess I’m kind of a workaholic type of person. I enjoy the front desk system – the interaction with people, greeting and visiting with everyone.” Though Locker no longer leads trips or hikes for the Senior Center, he has fond memories of several, particularly a Mount St. Helens venture. A knowledgeable guide joined the tour group and shared information, pictures and graphics about the volcanic site. Locker said one of his favorite hikes was a Columbia Gorge lake hike near Hood River that included amazing vistas of the Columbia River Gorge and local wildflowers. To look at John Locker, you would guess him to be 10 years younger than his true age. He stated, “I love to stay active and enjoy walking to and from home and the Senior Center, about a six-mile walk.” When asked his opinion about volunteering, Locker said, “Corvallis is a great place to volunteer. Find your own thing that you enjoy doing. Check out Hands On Linn-Benton or call RSVP if you’re looking for ideas. Whatever you do, stay active in mind and body as long as possible.” Great advice from one who lives his truth.
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Pitch right in: Volunteer opportunities in Linn, Benton, Lincoln Linn and Benton counties Albany Parks & Recreation Department has received a grant to provide Foster Grandparents to be mentors and tutors to special-needs children in Linn and Benton counties. Foster Grandparents work one-on-one, 15 to 40 hours a week, in schools, community organizations, treatment programs, correctional facilities and childcare centers. They review school work, reinforce values, teach social skills and provide friend, mentor and role models. Volunteers must be age 55 or older and can receive a small tax-free stipend if they meet low-income eligibility guidelines. Training, orientation, transportation reimbursement, supplemental insurance and meals are provided while on duty. Call Joy Gilliland, 541-917-7772. Benton Hospice Service: Work directly or indirectly with patients and families for respite care, social visits, companionship, phone calls, playing music, reading aloud or running errands. Two full days of training provided prior to working with patients. Call Jamey at 541-757-9616. SCORE, small business advisors “for the life of a business,” seeks volunteers interested in helping start-up businesses and businesses that are struggling. SCORE is a national non-profit with local responsibilities in Linn, Benton, Lincoln, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. Call Bob Bernhard, Chair of SCORE Chapter 460, at 541-745-5816. American Red Cross is looking for volunteers for greeting, educating, escorting, and serving light refreshments to blood donors at local blood drives. Contact Marisa Wyckoff, Volunteer Coordinator, at 541-990-0083 or email Marisa.Wyckoff@redcross.org.
RSVP Advisory Council members sought to help with fundraising, advising and providing counsel to the Linn-Benton RSVP program. The council meets monthly at 10 a.m. in Albany. Please contact RSVP for further information at 541-8120849 or email bfox@communityservices.us
Benton County Benton Habitat for Humanity ReStore is looking for additional afternoon cashiers for shifts from noon to 1 p.m. or 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Call Theresa Kalell at 541-7526637 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. TuesdaySaturday. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program needs volunteers in July and August for nearly 20 different programs for children and teens. Call Cathi Roberts, Volunteer Coordinator, at 541-766-6444 or visit thebestlibrary.net.
Linn County ChristWalk Supportive Transitional Housing provides longterm housing and assistance to men, women and families experiencing homelessness. It seeks volunteers for its thrift shop, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday
to Saturday, in Lebanon. The shop also needs donations of clean, usable furniture, appliances, household goods, clothing, electronics, linens, tools, toys, books and DVDs. Leftovers from garage or estate sales can be picked up. To arrange a pick-up or to volunteer, call 541258-5426. ChristWalk also seeks mentors for guests at the men’s and women’s houses and a case manager for the womans house. For information, visit www.lebemsh.org The Albany Visitors Association is looking for volunteers to give out coffee and travel information at the “Little Blue House” at the southbound Santiam Rest Area on Interstate 5 north of Albany. Call Cathy at 541-928-0911 or email cbradford@albanyvisitors.com. CASA of Linn County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is looking for everyday citizens who are interested in making a difference in the life of a child ages newborn to age 18. Volunteers advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children who are in foster care. For orientation and to learn more, visit www.linncasa.org or call 541-926-2651. Albany Call-A-Ride needs
volunteer dispatchers and drivers. Dispatchers must be detailoriented, able to multi-task, have some knowledge of computers and telephone skills. Drivers must have a valid Oregon driver’s license and a clean driving record. Drivers use city cars and insurance. For information, call Ted at 541-917-7638. The East Linn Museum is looking for volunteer help hosting, cataloging, and handyman chores as little as one day a month. The Museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call Gail Gregory or Glenda Hopkins at 541-367-4580. Volunteer Caregivers needs people willing to drive their own vehicles or one of ours to transport seniors to medical appointments, shopping and picking up their medicines in Albany and Lebanon. For more information, call 541-928-2173 or email Volcaregivers@aol.com. If you knit, sew or crochet, Healthy Start of Linn County is seeking volunteers to make items for infants and toddlers: hats, burp cloths, flannel receiving blankets, bibs and quilts. Call Lorraine Johnson at 541-924-6910 for patterns.
COG seeks volunteers for senior, disability advisory panels Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments is looking for volunteers to serve on two advisory panels relating to developing and operating comprehensive service delivery for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. The Senior Services Advisory Committee is for individuals age 60 and older. The committee’s purpose is to advise the COG staff and board on a comprehensive service delivery system and to assist in monitoring and implementing of an area plan as defined in the Older Americans Act and Oregon law (ORS 410.010-410.990). The Disability Services Advisory Council serves
a similar role in advocating for comprehensive services for the disabled, including qualifying for benefits and ideas for changes that result in better, more efficient services. Volunteers do not need to be disabled to serve. Volunteer terms for each panel are two years. The Senior Committee meets on the First Tuesday of the month, the Disability Council on the third Tuesday. Both meetings are at the COG office, 1400 Queen Avenue SE, Albany, and by teleconference at COG’s Toledo office, 203 N. Main Street. For more information, call Ann Johnson, 541-924-8421 or visit www.ocwcog.org.
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Fit at any age BY IAN ROLLINS Steve Babjar has never been one to sit around. That mentality has served him well: today, at age 90, Babjar is as fit as someone at least 10 years his junior. Babjar, of Lebanon, has been working out at fitness centers for most of his retired life. “That’s a major factor in why I feel as well as I do,” he said. “I also attribute my physical condition – my bones, muscles, joints – to my mental attitude.” He’s a regular at the new SamFit gym, operated by Samaritan Health Services, near his home in north Lebanon. “I don’t try to bulk up. I just do enough to keep going; I drop in to do a few routines.” His story is a classic example of the benefits of exercise and fitness, said Rachel Lasselle, lead case manager and exercise specialist with the cardiac rehabilitation department at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. “There’s a lot of research
Steve Babjar works out at SamFit in Lebanon demonstrating the benefit of exercise for people of all ages, however, exercise may be especially beneficial for older populations,” Lasselle said. “A wellrounded exercise program increases cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and balance, all of which help improve quality of life and make it easier to perform everyday activities. Eighteen
years old to 90 years old, it’s never too late to have an exercise program!” A native of upstate New York, Babjar joined the U.S. Navy in 1942. He spent 20 years in the Navy, rising to the level of Master Chief, and working on boats large and small. “I worked in everything from an engine room on a PT boat to a computer room on a guided missile ship,” he said. “It was a good background in electronics and computers.” Upon leaving the Navy in 1962, he put that background to use in a 16-year career with Sperry Univac (now Unisys Corporation). Babjar met Virginia “Ginny” Fry, of Lebanon, while he was stationed in Seattle in 1948. They married in 1950. After he retired from Sperry Univac, the couple toured the western U.S. in their motor home – and Bab-
jar kept fit at every stop. “Ginny was a great golfer,” he said. “We’d stay on military bases wherever we went. I would take her to the first tee time of the morning, I’d drop her off and then I’d go to the gym. I’ve worked out at a lot of exotic gyms, and the equipment is all mainly the same.” The Babjars enjoyed 60 years of marriage, raising one daughter along the way. Steve also beat cancer twice – melanoma and prostate. Ginny passed away last year from leukemia. When Babjar is not working around his house or visiting with friends, he enjoys fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities. Ian Rollins is marketing/public relations coordinator for Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.
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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
Social studies teacher Dan Kemper, right, discusses world trade with Charles Vars, former Corvallis Mayor and OSU Professor Emeritus, Economics
Stay Current with the Academy for Lifelong Learning BY JIM GAU Remember what you liked about going to school: seeing your friends, excursions to fascinating places, interesting classes? And, what you didn’t like: dull classes, being in class, writing papers, reading textbooks, and ending up with a big debt at graduation? The Academy for Lifelong Learning will maximize good memories and minimize bad ones. ALL is a lively group of intellectually curious seniors. As an affiliate of Oregon State University’s Alumni Association, the Academy follows OSU’s calendar and offers classes for three quarters a year with a few summer sessions. Cost is $100 a year; summer classes are free except for excursion costs.
CRYPTOGRAM: Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it - David Henry Thoreau
Classes offered during the academic year fall into five strands: Humanities, Science, Issues and Ideas, Arts and World Cultures (each quarter focuses on a different country). Five two-hour classes are presented each week, one for each strand, Tuesday through Thursday. Members attend as many or as few classes as they wish. No papers or exams
are required, and any reading is a personal choice. Many presenters come from the OSU faculty, but the curriculum committee also draws speakers from Portland State University, Willamette University, and the University of Oregon as well as field professionals and subject-matter experts. Recent topics include “The Rise of China and the Future of the United States;” “Renewable Energy: A Domestic and Global Overview;” “Changing Landscape of Intercollegiate Athletics: OSU and the PAC 12;” “Anticipating Ashland 2012: A Season of Change;” and “Indian Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.” Classes are held at the First Congregational/United Church of Christ building, 4515 SW West Hills Road, Corvallis. Ample parking is available. If you are interested, call 541737-9405 or email admin@allosuaa.org for a schedule of classes, or visit www.ALL-osuaa.org. Jim Gau is a member of the Council of The Academy for Lifelong Learning.
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Volunteers bring research to LIFE BY ANNE HATLEY Since 2005, over 40 of Oregon State University’s most innovative scientists have worked with the Center for Healthy Aging Research to examine pathways to optimal aging. Under the direction of Dr. Karen Hooker, Center faculty members investigate every aspect of aging from differing perspectives and disciplines. These researchers are committed to enhancing the health and well-being of aging adults and their families. This research community includes over 500 volunteers statewide who have joined the LIFE (Linking Families Individuals and Environments) Registry and are available to assist in bringing research from the lab to life. The LIFE Registry is a list of volunteers who are in-
terested in participating in approved research studies conducted by Center for Healthy Aging Research faculty. Volunteers have participated in studies that address issues including technology, exercise, stress, nutrients and even personal goals. The most recent study focused on grab bars and involved 165 volunteers throughout Oregon. Studies are conducted in many ways. Volunteers simply fill out a questionnaire, or participation may involve measurement of a behavior, such as attention or gait, usually at one of OSU’s research labs. Participation might take an hour or last for several months. In one study, more than 100 volunteers used home computers to record information on factors such as goals, social
relationships, affect, health and sleep for 100 days. Research is often the best hope for finding solutions to the challenging issues of aging. To join the LIFE registry - volunteers must reside in Oregon and be at least 50 years old. All collected information is highly confidential. If you are interested in
joining, call Anne Hatley at 541-737-4993 or visit http://health.oregonstate.edu/health y-aging/life-registry. This is a LIFE opportunity! Anne Hatley is assistant to the Director of the Center for Healthy Aging Research at Oregon State University.