Idaho Senior Independent

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Jerry Luther’s Drone Photos: Unique Aerial Shots From A Unique Individual By Cate Huisman If you asked residents of Sandpoint what they know about Jerry Luther, the first thing they’re likely to think of is his aerial photographs. His views of their town turn up on the front page of the local paper regularly. But there’s a lot more to Luther, who has shifted gears through four decades to work, among other things, as a salesman, woodworker, operations manager, street performer, property manager, and aerial photogra-

pher as the times have required. Luther grew up in Hollywood, California, and discovered in one of his early jobs selling vacuum cleaners that he had “incredible powers of persuasion.” A subsequent stint in the army helped him hone those powers with training in communications skills, and after he got out, he put them to work selling closed circuit TV and PA systems back to his former military employer. Meanwhile, he attended community college to study electronics. But as the social upheavals of the late sixties and early seventies hit, “I decided that everything I was good at was part of the problem,” he says. “The back to the land movement seemed like the perfect solution.” The land he chose to go back to was in north Idaho, with a stint first in the nearby city of Spokane. “The idea was that you must spend some years in service city to exchange city skills and learn some rural craft,” he explains. Luther learned woodworking and started making toys and household items, and he turned his communications skills to marketing his new products. He became the “Hooeyman,” peddling a “hooey stick” - a kind of stick-and-propeller contraption that sold well when propelled by those incredible powers of persuasion. He and his wife, Becky, and son Travis traveled the Northwest to sell hooey sticks and other toys, performing at dozens of craft shows and barter fairs yearly. Later he invented Duckman, a mime who performed with marionette ducks and promoted his line of duck toys. But Duckman couldn’t get a loan when (Continued on page 30)

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As the year winds down, it’s time to toss out the old and reign in the new – for example, taking down the previous year’s calendar and replacing it with a new one. But sometimes, letting go of the past can be quite a challenge, especially for one who finds even the task of tossing out old calendar photos to be nearly impossible. This issue, our winning Remember When contributor, Bill Witthuhns of Coeur d’Alene, reflects on bits of visual history he’s had hanging on his walls

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

throughout the years. Thank you and congratulations to Mr. Witthuhns, the winner of our $25 Remember When prize. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections or contributions describing fictional or non-fictional events from some time in the past. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poems, essays, etc. Photos may be included. Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent

features the contribution(s) deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our February/March 2012 issue. Mail your correspondence to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net, or call 1-866-360-5683 or 208-318-0310.

End of the Year By Bill Witthuhn, Coeur d’Alene As we approach the end of each year, I grow uneasy. This is not due to a fear of the upcoming income tax due date. That I can handle. Nor is it the guessing game that I must play regarding the removal of my snow tires. I can deal with that. What gives me cause for concern is the replacement of our calendars. That may not sound like much to you, but I seek out very special calendars, ones that have appealing, eye-catching scenes. This makes it a real challenge to drop last year’s in the trash with the soiled tinfoil from recent TV dinners. In fact, I’ll be honest with you, I can’t do it! I don’t think that I have ever thrown away the pictures from a previous year’s calendar, unless you count pictures of flowers in vases. These I discard much the same as if they were a bouquet of wilted, slimy flowers. All other pictures I find I cannot doom to their destruction. Why do I have this problem? Since I have sought out calendars with exceptional pictures to begin with, I now have to face up to the responsibility of their ultimate destination. For example, I have a calendar with beautiful drawings of wild animals, lions and tigers and bears, plus rabbits, raccoons, and robins. I simply cannot destroy these. They are beautiful, and I will save them. I add them to my gigantic file of pictures, 90 percent of which arrived via the same route.

My next decision is really no decision at all. It concerns my vintage car calendar. Here we have a visual link to the past, part of our heritage as an industrial nation. One month has a picture of the White Steamer that ran along silently with no gears to shift. If one were to run low on fuel, he would stop, build up a fire in the boiler, and be off, going up to 60 mph. Can this visual bit of history be thrown out with yesterday’s coffee grounds? No way! And that is just one of the old cars. I always look for pictures of the Cord automobile and hope that someday I can buy a replica of one. Anyway, the pictures must be saved. Now, if I have been very, very lucky, I’ll have had a calendar that has real class. This would include, but not be limited to, Charlie Russell, Currier and Ives, and/or Norman Rockwell. Pictures of this caliber simply must be saved, and they will be at my house. I will very carefully trim them up and add them to the big file. While I add them, I have the opportunity to renew my acquaintance with additions from former years, and I do this with sincere joy. I have never thrown out a picture once it has obtained official status as a bonafide resident in my picture file. There are a few I wonder about, and as the file begins to bulge, I may have to make some executive decisions regarding their long-term tenancy. Now your rating system may be different from mine. Perhaps you related to pictures of flowers. Fine. Save them, and I’ll give you mine, also. At any rate, treat these pictures with the love and respect that they deserve, lest we, too, are someday thrown on the trash heap. And on some rainy day, stop by and help me organize this doggone file, will you? ISI

The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions. -- Ellen Glasgow

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Wanted: A Few Kind-Hearted Volunteers. Legacy Hospice has been serving patients in the Treasure Valley area since 2005 and is seeking volunteers in the Homedale, Caldwell, Nampa, Payette, and Weiser areas. We are seeking various volunteers, including vet-to-vet volunteers, who visit patients with their certified animal, and 11th-hour volunteers, who sit with patients, so no one dies alone. There is a six-hour orientation for all new volunteers. Volunteer time may count towards service hours requirements for some high school service

clubs, graduation, and senior projects, as well as requirements for some college courses. Volunteers must be over 16 years of age, must be able to pass a background check, and must have a negative TB test. Every patient and family has different needs, and every volunteer has something different to offer. Our goal is to make it beneficial for both. Visits are very flexible, to include weekdays, weekends, and even evenings. There is no personal care involved - just friendly visits for companionship. Sit with a patient while the caregiver takes a short break, or maybe lend a helping hand with light housework or yard work.

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Someone who is musically inclined is particularly needed in your area. If you have a couple of hours a week to devote to making a difference one person at a time, one day at a time, contact Legacy Hospice at 208-895-8686 or email lcrawford@legacyhomecare.com. As one volunteer stated, “I only hope the patient gets as much out of the visits as I do. It is the best two hours of my week.” Linda Crawford Volunteer Coordinator Legacy Hospice ISI

Christmas Books Reviewed by Connie Daugherty I’m a book junkie, I admit it and I stockpile books the way the squirrels around our cabin stockpile pinecones. Bookcases are crammed and there is a stack on the floor of the office, a half-finished book by the bed, another on the Kindle, and a new audio title on my MP3 player. The wonderful thing about writing this column is that I get an opportunity to experience so many books by Idaho authors. There are also some fantastic photographers in Idaho. For this month’s column I’ll touch on a few of my recent discoveries for anyone’s Christmas gift list. “Idaho is an intransigent verb,” writes Charles Potts in his latest collection of poems about Idaho. There is something about the beauty and the history of Idaho that lends itself to poetry Idaho has some wonderfully talented poets and Charles Potts is one of the best. In his book, Inside Idaho: Poems, 1996-2007, he touches the heart and the mind. Like all good poetry, his

poems are personal and universal, specific and general all at the same time. One of my favorite poems in this collection is Sunburnt Romantic. His words evoke basic emotions and beautiful scenes as he writes: “Once I was a sunburnt romantic, With a flat stomach and a bleeding heart… Circling the redundant unplowed field, On a tractor to nowhere, Surrounded by mountains, animals and trees, never for a moment distrusting my destiny…” I have always thought that poets and photographers have something in common - they say so much so simply and cleanly. In Northern Idaho Impressions, Tim Cady’s amazing photos tell a story, convey a message, and touch the heart. His color composition enhances the beauty of each season and the scenes of specific places invite visitation. For an armchair tour of Northern Idaho you can’t do any better than

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Idaho Senior Independent A Barrett-Whitman Publication P.O. Box 3341 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3341 208-318-0310 • Toll Free: 1-866-360-5683 Fax: 406-761-8358 www.idahoseniorindependent.com E-mail: idahoseniorind@bresnan.net The Idaho Senior Independent is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October, and December by Barrett-Whitman, 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Idaho. The mail subscription rate is $10.00 per year (6 issues). The Idaho Senior Independent is written to serve Idaho’s mature population of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles, and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. All copy appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano Dan Hubbard Lynn Hencley Rhonda Lee Sherrie Smith Nann Parrett

Office Manager Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Graphic Artist Admin/Production Assistant Editing Assistant

Contributing Writers Natalie Bartley Connie Daugherty Holly Endersby Clare Hafferman Cate Huisman Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig Larcom Liz Larcom Jack McNeel Michael McGough Dianna Troyer © 2011

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Cady’s Northern Idaho Impressions. In 1979, Clint Eastwood came to southern Idaho to make the classic Bronco Billy, one of the first movies that Eastwood starred in and directed. In her book, On the Trail of Bronco Billy, Sandy Kershner follows the process of making the movie through interviews with people who were on the set, through newspaper clippings, photos, and some clips from the movie. What began as a chapter in a regional history book grew into its own Idaho history tale. Kershner literally follows the trail of the filming from one location to the next, explaining where it fits in the movie and telling a bit of the local history as well. In On the Trail of Bronco Billy, Kershner not only provides a detailed account of the process of making a western movie on location, she also provides an insight into the personalities and how the celebrities and the locals interacted. This is definitely an extensively researched, well-written, and interesting look at a piece of Idaho’s history. Two more fun and interesting perspectives, though not recent publications, on Idaho’s history are Outlaw Tales of Idaho: True Stories of the Gem State’s Most Infamous Crooks, Culprits, and Cutthroats by Randy Stapilus and Ghost Towns of Idaho: the Search for El Dorado by Bruce A. Raisch. In Outlaw Tales, Stapilus presents brief biographies of twelve of Idaho’s famous and not-so-famous criminals. He notes in the introduction that, “More often than being a staging ground for crime sprees, Idaho has been a place of refuge,” and continues as such today attracting “people who like to remove themselves from everyday society.”

Most of the contemporary folks taking refuge in modern Idaho manage to get along okay. Most of the outlaws and their exploits recorded in Outlaw Tales of Idaho “were homegrown and famous only regionally… some were true desperadoes… some of them truly as idiosyncratic as Idaho.” Dangerous or cleverly deceptive, their stories are all intriguing and all a part of Idaho’s history. In Ghost Towns of Idaho, author Bruce Raisch travels the state searching for the remains of towns that sprang up during Idaho’s gold rush. In the forward, Raisch explains that El Dorado is Spanish for “The Gilded One” or “a place of fabulous wealth, abundance, or opportunity.” In exploring this aspect of Idaho’s history, it is easy to see why the state nickname is Gem State. Ghost Towns of Idaho is an up-close and personal study of some of the towns that sprang up during the early gold rush era. Some are just memories, some are few crumbling remains of buildings, while others still boast a small, and content population. All have a story to tell. The book is divided into areas that have their own stories and Raisch camped on the sites where the stories began. Ghost Towns of Idaho is about not only what was, but about what is in Idaho. Pictures and poetry, fact and fiction, books for adults and children, Idaho authors create it all. The books suggested here, and in the book review column throughout the year, are just a few of the wonderful works by talented Idaho folks. To find an Idaho book that is right for you or for giving, visit your local bookstore and check out the Idaho or regional section. As for me, I have to go now - my shopping list is complete and our local bookstore is having a pre-holiday sale and a book signing (look for the review sometime in 2012). Happy Holidays—happy reading! ISI

Nursery or Cursory… Do Rhymes Change With Time? By Pearl Hoffman Los Angeles Nursery Rhyme Hey, diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such sport, and the dish ran away with the spoon. Old nursery rhymes were mostly magic and dreams. We soon learned, however, that all is not diddle-diddle, the cat has no fiddle, and cows can’t jump over the moon. Having reached the age of limited returns, I have written a little ditty (or is it diddy) that tells how it really is far from the nursery door. Cursory Rhyme Hey, doodle-doodle, the memory’s a wet noodle, it can’t hold a thought like it ought. Words spoken, it appears, just fall on deaf ears, and our eyes cannot find what they sought. There are books that we’ve read and things we’ve heard said, about senior days glory and glee. But we weren’t tipped off that we’d be ripped off and lose part of the us that is we. I don’t feel beholden for the years they call “golden,” and I discount the ideas they preach. I have found old age cloying, And as downright annoying As an itch in a place I can’t reach. ISI

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

The Manis Help Plan A Basketball Tournament that Touches Lives Worldwide weekend of March and hosted by St. Nicholas, and get along here, so we decided it was time By Dianna Troyer A teenager’s request more than two decades attracts 500 to 600 Idaho and Oregon high school to open it up,” Steve says. “He would have ago compelled Steve Mani and others to start athletes annually. For the first time this year, liked that.” To organize the event, the Manis, along with a teen basketball tournament that has touched the tournament will be open to youths from any Orville and Janet Rathe and about 20 other people’s lives worldwide and honors solparishioners, begin planning in October. diers. “Every year, the tournament seems to “Our youths came home from a churchtake on a life of its own, like it was meant sponsored basketball tournament in Boise to be,” Steve says. “When we start planand asked me, ‘When’s the next tournaning it, all the complicated logistics seem ment?’” recalls Steve, a parishioner at St. to fall into place. It’s amazing how this Nicholas Catholic Church in Rupert. tournament has touched people’s lives in To answer their question, Steve and his many ways.” late wife, Doris, along with Mike and Laura For example, one year, the extra Twiss, started the Andrew Moller Invitational T-shirts and sweatshirts that had been Basketball Tournament in 1992. printed up to sell during the tournament “Andrew was a member of our church were donated to residents of a rural Uganand had died a year earlier in Operation dan village during a missionary trip. Some Desert Storm, so we started the tournament players are so touched by the tournament to honor him.” that they come back every year to compete Steve, a Minidoka County animal conin alumni games. trol officer, and his wife, Mary, say they are “One year, a guy flew back to Idaho blessed to help organize the event in their Steve Mani sorts through dozens of thank-you notes written by stuspare time, even though their children do dents who received scholarships from the Andrew Moller Invitational from Okinawa, Japan, just to play,” Steve Basketball Tournament. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] says. not compete. Since the tournament started, more “We don’t want to forget a fallen soldier, than 100 scholarships, ranging from $250 to and we also like to see kids play a sport, have fel- church in Idaho, not just Catholic teens. “Andrew got along with everyone, and kids $1,000, have been awarded to high school lowship, and receive scholarships,” Steve says. The tournament, scheduled the second from so many different denominations mingle seniors who were accepted to colleges, trade

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schools, or ministerial programs nationwide. Every year, five to 10 scholarships are given, depending on the amount of money raised from Tshirt and sweatshirt sales, a hoop shoot contest, team entry fees, a silent auction, and breakfast. Steve sorts through a box filled with planning materials and letters of gratitude from scholarship recipients. “Look at all these letters. It’s unbelievable,” he says, as he and Mary sit at their kitchen table to start planning the 2012 tournament. “We have letters here from people who received tournament scholarships and have gone to Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Stanford, BSU, CSI …. That’s what it’s all about, too.” Steve and Mary say they are not only touched by the gratitude of scholarship recipients but by the generosity of local residents and business owners and those on the organizing committee. “It takes a lot of dedicated people to donate items and to plan this,” Mary says. Because so many kids come, “we have to schedule the games at gyms inside schools and churches throughout the area. It’s wonderful because we aren’t charged rent,” Steve says. “Some refs, who are all certified, donate their time. Businesses donate food for the Sunday breakfast. The community has been really good to us.” The Manis are grateful, too, that military and government officials support the tournament.

“We’ve had three proclamations from the governor’s office and letters from the staff of Colin Powell and George Bush.” If Sgt. Andrew Moller were still alive, the tournament would make him feel delighted and discomforted, says his stepmother, Pat. “He would be embarrassed by all the attention being focused on him, yet he would love the camaraderie among players, coaches, and organizers during the tournament. He was easygoing and always cared so much about his friends and fellow soldiers. He also would love that the tournament reminds people to remember soldiers and their sacrifices and that scholarships are given in his memory.” Several years ago, Andrew’s parents, Nels and Pat, moved from Paul, Idaho, to Spokane, Wash., yet they still return for the tournament, when their schedule permits, to present gold, silver, and bronze trophies and a sportsmanship award. “It’s comforting when we talk to many young people who have played in the tournament, and they tell us they know what it’s all about: Andrew’s life and the sacrifice he made,” Nels says. Andrew died on Feb. 26, 1991, 13 days after celebrating his 23rd birthday. He was killed instantly when a round from an Iraqi tank struck the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in which he was riding. His other crewmembers were able to escape. He was one of three Idaho casualties

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7

during Operation Desert Storm. A 1986 graduate of Minico High School, Andrew joined the National Guard in high school, and then switched to active Army service after graduation. He planned eventually to work as an Idaho State Police officer. Andrew, like many people, lived his life contentedly outside the spotlight. He competed in sports but was never a star. He was outgoing and had many friends but was never a leader in student government. He was happiest when he was bird hunting with friends on farms adjacent to the high school, his dad recalls. Andrew was never one to seek glory, his dad says, yet he was honored posthumously with a Bronze Star Citation with a “V” for valor for his actions in battle. People who want to volunteer or contribute to the tournament may reach organizers at www. amt@safelink.net. ISI

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Hit the Road and Discover the Heart of Phoenix By Kim Thielman-Ibes During a short winter getaway to Phoenix my husband and I decided we would spend more time enjoying the desert’s natural, historic, and cultural diversions than golfing, poolside napping, or visiting Phoenix’s many shopping destinations. Taliesin West, the Desert Botanical Garden, a scenic hike up Pinnacle Peak followed by an evening listening to the Scottish Pipes at the Westin Kierland Hotel were on our list of to-do’s and I hope that after reading this they might be on yours too. Standing on the front court of Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s summer home and main campus for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Scottsdale, Arizona, I found a distinct affinity for the man who became so distraught over the installation of monstrous utility lines obstructing his uninhabited desert landscape that he reengineered and reoriented his home to make them disappear from his sight. I have always loved Wright’s architectural premise of using local materials and integrating his structures with its natural surroundings so I was delighted to discover that Taliesin West was open for tours. Nestled on a hill overlooking the Sonoran desert, Taliesin West, with its native red, yellow, and gray boulders inlaid into the low structured and gently tapered cement walls, seems to have risen from the ground beneath. The home seamlessly blends indoor spaces with outdoor gardens and its many secret nooks. Sprinkled throughout, private patios are adorned with a variety of metal sculptures, water fountains, ceramic arts, and desert views. The fountains were erected with a purpose. Wright had a few of his homes burn to the ground in the early 1900s, he was determined that should this structure, built in 1937, find itself in similar peril he would be prepared. Tours for Taliesin West are regularly scheduled from September 1 through May 31, including tours of the home itself, tours of the desert shelters Wright’s architectural students erect, and night tours of the home and gardens. Two years after Wright built Taliesin West; the Desert Botanical Garden opened its facilities in Phoenix to protect the desert landscape that Wright found so inspiring. The garden’s collection of rare, threatened, and endangered species from around the southwest intertwined with its attention to detail in presenting more than 50,000 plants on its 145 acres though five distinct thematic trails gave me a new appreciation for the desert’s prodigious variety of plants. Though the garden’s wildflower trail lies in dormancy during the short winter months, the cactus and succulent galleries along the desert discovery trail are amazing. The garden has skillfully placed patio cafés, restrooms, and shaded benches along its looped trails making this an all-day destination. The garden presents special concerts and events throughout the year including a Jazz in the Garden spring concert series and a Chiles and Chocolate Festival later in the year. With my walking shoes firmly tied, the next day we set out for an afternoon hike on Pinnacle Peak, known for providing one of the most spectacular views of the valley. This popular, three and half mile, short though vigorous hike followed geography akin to the two humps of a camel’s back. Its well-trodden trails are dotted with interpretive signs describing the plants, animals, geology, and cultural history of the area, which makes it a perfect follow-up excursion to the Desert Botanical Garden. And what better follow-up to a couple of days out trekking the Arizona countryside than an evening soaking up the sounds of bagpiper Michael McClanathan at the Westin Kierland Hotel. As McClanathan walked the greens beyond the courtyard, we sat at the fire pit enjoying the views of the golf course and soaking up the hauntingly beautiful melodies of his Highland bagpipe - part of the Scottish Pipes at Sunset series - a fitting end to an incredible week in Arizona. For more information, visit Taliesin West at www.franklloydwright.org; Desert Botanical Garden at www.dbg.org; Pinnacle Peak Hike at hƩp:// www.scoƩsdaleaz.gov/parks/pinnacle/; and Scottish Pipes at Sunset, Westin Kierland at hƩp://www.kierlandresort.com/#/resort/about-us/scoƫshexperience/. ISI

For more information, call 509.327.5857 or visit www.gentiva.com Gentiva accepts patients for care regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, being a qualified disabled veteran, being a qualified disabled veteran of the Vietnam era, or any other category protected by law, or decisions regarding advanced directives. ©2009 Gentiva Health Services, Inc.

Life is its own journey, pre-supposes its own change and movement, and one tries to arrest them at one’s eternal peril. -- Laurence van der Post

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9

You Can Dig Their Dinosaurs By Sue Hansen Eastern Montana is cattle country - wide-open spaces bordered by treeless buttes and dotted with sagebrush. But where cows now roam the range, dinosaurs once dominated a vastly different landscape, a watery world lush with flora. Though these remarkable reptiles died millions of years ago, their fossilized remains are scattered across miles of ranch land. Unlike state and federal lands that have regulations forbidding removal of fossils without a permit, private landowners in Montana own any prehistoric specimens found on their property. They can keep them, donate them to museums, or sell them to the public. However, two ranching families near Glendive have uncovered a new bone business, guiding paying guests to secluded sites to dig their dinosaurs. On the 12,000 acre Baisch Ranch, owners Marge, son Justin, and daughter-in-law Shana offer day trips to hunt Cretaceous creatures, plant fossils, and petrified wood. Except for bones of scientific significance, like those of T-rex, guests can keep what they find. “We want to give people the opportunity to go out on a dig and find something prehistoric to take home,” says Marge. “Most specimens found here are already stockpiled in museums, so why not sell them to people who want them. If they’re left exposed, they’ll deteriorate into sand.” If anyone can “stick your nose right on a bone,” Marge can. Living most of her life on the ranch her father bought in 1956, she knows the land like the back of her hand. Her first find as a child was on an old horse trail. Spotting a funnylooking ‘rock’, it turned out to be a large knuckle joint of an Edmontosaurus, with bite marks. Over the years, Marge’s dinosaur collection has grown extensively and includes a humerus bone and nose horn of a Triceratops, toe and leg bones of a T-rex and a shiny domed skull of a Pachy-

cephalosaur. In the early 1980s, as word spread about the many dinosaur discoveries in eastern Montana (even Steven Spielberg did his homework here for Jurassic Park), paleontological experts descended to set up digs. At first, Marge allowed paleontologists onto her property because preparation work in the field can be expensive. Then she told them to leave. “They treated me like an idiot because I didn’t have a university degree. But I’m a stockwoman and I know bones when I see bones. And, I’m smart enough to know something is unusual. So I ran them off my land, though one sneaked back and stole several specimens.” It was not until noted paleontologist Jack Horner, from the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, wrote a scientific paper on Marge’s Edmontosaurus knuckle joint that she let experts back onto her land. One, Alan Olson, from Minnesota, leases the Baisch land for digs. “It’s a hotbed for dinosaurs here,” Olson says. “The layers of sandstone are peeled back like an onion to reveal reptiles as small as turtles up to the gigantic T-rex.” For the Baisch family, every specimen found is another piece to the dinosaur puzzle. A puzzle they want to share with others interested in dinosaurs. “It’s like searching for buried treasures, with the treasure being fossils,” says Shana. “And everyone leaves here with some token of their trip back in time.” Going back in time has a different twist at the Makoshika Breaks Guest Ranch, a 32,000-acre spread located on the north side of Makoshika State Park in Glendive. Here, owners Charles and Lois Ferguson have combined the Old West cowboy lifestyle with the ancient reptilian world. “There’s no other place like ours,” says Lois. “The dinosaurs fit right in with our ranch operations.”

Not a resort, the guest ranch is a working cattle ranch complete with branding calves, roping and sorting livestock, and a cattle drive. With 100 horses and almost 600 head of cattle, guests can experience the task of trailing cows on horseback, with the added bonus of digging for dinosaur bones - a so-called dino-dude adventure. After buying their cattle ranch 13 years ago, the Fergusons decided to develop it into a guest ranch to share the scenic prairie and tranquility their family has always enjoyed. With two bunkhouses, two tipis, and a cabin, plus home-cooked meals prepared by Lois, guests can work alongside wranglers and ride all day without crossing any roads. And, when they dismount, fossils are underfoot. “Dinosaurs have been here forever and we’ve always had expert dinosaur diggers on our property,” says Charles. “Any major bones found used to be sold, but now we donate them to Steve and

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Christie Bury who own the Makoshika Dinosaur Museum in Glendive. They stay in our community for public viewing.” And in 2005, the Fergusons decided to let guests go on digs with a paleontologist, like renowned Nate Murphy who discovered the mummified Brachylophosaurus called “Leonardo,” the world’s best-preserved dinosaur. “Eastern Montana is ground zero for dinosaurs,” says Murphy. “The land is like a multilayered cake and if you drag a hand through the cake’s middle it creates canyons and gullies that

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expose bones.” Which makes it exciting for guests who get to keep any bone fragments they find. At Makoshika Breaks, guests get to ride herd and find fossils during the day, then sit around a campfire singing cowboy songs accompanied by a chorus of howling coyotes. Only here, on eastern Montana ranch land, can tales be told of the Wild West and dinosaur digs. Baisch Dinosaur Digs are half day ($75) or full day ($100) excursions. Children 6-12 years of age are free with paying adult. Not recommended for those under age six. Groups of 10 or more

receive a 25 percent discount. For reservations, call 406-365-4133 or e-mail jsbaisch@mcn.net. Website: www.lifestonefossilco.com. Contact information and reservations for Makoshika Breaks Guest Ranch are R.R. 1, Box 2109, Wibaux, MT 59353; 406-687-3445; e-mail: fergs@midrivers.com; website: www.makoshikabreaks.com. Anyone going on a dinosaur dig must wear sturdy shoes, carry at least a gallon of water, and take a hat and sunscreen, plus a daypack for fossils. ISI

Preserving the Human Spirit: The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve in Grand Teton National Park By Bernice Karnop They were probably the richest family in the United States and they loved their private summer retreat on a turquoise lake at the foot of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Several generations hunted, fished, and even honeymooned in the picturesque cabins at their private haven. So why did they give it away? The family’s interest in the area started with John D. Rockefeller, Jr. He and his sons visited the area in the 1920s and, in spite of how the local ranchers felt, believed deeply that the beautiful valley should be preserved. Yellowstone Superintendent Horace Albright affirmed this conviction, and Rockefeller began buying ranches in the valley. In 1949, he donated 33,000 acres to the Park. He kept the JY Ranch, 3,100 acres around Phelps Lake at the foot of Albright Peak, for the family to enjoy. Laurance, grandson of John D. Rockefeller, and the middle brother of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s five prominent sons, inherited the ranch. Laurance, who died in 2004 at age 94, wanted to use the money he was born into for worthwhile projects. Among other things, he became an outspoken conservationist and committed himself to promoting a conservation ethic in America - long before it was popular.

In 1955, he said, “The trees, the animals, the streams, the flowers, preserved as much as possible in their natural state of beauty, will in turn help preserve our most precious resource - the human spirit.” When Laurance inherited the JY ranch, he transferred 2,000 acres to the Park. Then in 2001, he donated the remaining 1,106 acres to “the American people to become part of Grand Teton National Park.” The donation came with very specific guidelines, corresponding to his vision of creating a place where visitors could connect with the extraordinary beauty and be inspired to be better stewards of the land. Before they opened the preserve, the Rockefeller family demolished or removed 30 structures associated with the JY ranch. They removed the roads and utilities and restored native vegetation. The structures they built - composting toilets and the Visitor Center - are the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified property in Wyoming, the first LEED certified buildings in the National Park System, and only the 52nd platinum-rated buildings in the LEED program. The Laurance Rockefeller Preserve is located at the southwest end of the Park. From Moose, we took the Moose-Wilson road down the west side of the Snake River. Compared to the other side of the river, served by Highway 89, the narrow, paved road was deserted. We got a good look at a black bear stocking up for its winter sleep and a moose pair enjoying a wade in the shallow, braided river. The turn off is about four miles from Moose. It surprised us to see a small parking lot with no overflow possibilities. Signs along the entrance road forbid parking there. It was not a problem because there were only a few cars in the lot, even though the big lot at the Craig Thomas Visitor Center only

about five miles away in Moose was crowded. We were there on an exceptionally warm day in late September - the day after the Visitor Center closed for the season, we learned. The trails are open year round, however, and the trails are the main experience at the Preserve. We crossed a bridge over a small stream bordered with blue daisies and bright red rosehips dipping down to the water. A short distance through the sagebrush we came to the deserted Visitors Center. A summer volunteer boarding up the windows explained Rockefeller’s vision of allowing public access while preventing overcrowding and overuse. That is why they deliberately made the parking small. When it is full, the preserve has the biggest number of people that can enjoy it as it was meant to be enjoyed. For folks with limited mobility, there is an accessible trial to the lovely Lake Creek riparian area, where there are benches and multiple opportunities to pleasantly spend a few hours. We walked the Lake Creek trail to Phelps Lake and looped back on the Woodland Trail - about 2.5 miles. A total of eight miles of trails wander through the 1,106-acre preserve, following the creeks, lake, and ridges behind which soar the towering Tetons. Boulder-laden Lake Creek creates background music for visitors. Benches encourage hikers to sit and listen to the breezes rustle the gold and red aspen leaves. We surprised a ruffed grouse in the middle of the trail and watched a deer saunter off after refreshing herself at the creek. A row of mergansers perched on a log at the lake. Others who joined us at the lake that day were local people who said they come here several times each year. The Visitor Center, dedicated June 21, 2008, orients visitors to the preserve through sensory exhibits and allows you to hear Rockefeller speaking about conservation. I would like to go back when it is open, but really, on this perfect day it would have been a waste to spend any time indoors. I think Laurance Rockefeller would approve. Thanks to him, we returned from our hike in Grand Teton National Park’s Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, “preserved in spirit” as he meant for us to do. For more information search online or call 307739-3654. The Visitor Center is open from late May to late September, but the trails are accessible year round. ISI

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Broadway is coming to Idaho Falls all the way from New York! 101 Years of Broadway recreates the biggest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring actual stars of shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Evita, CATS, and Fiddler on the Roof. Neil Berg has assembled a leading cast of Tony Award-winning performers for his spectacular production that cannot be missed. With favorite songs by top playwrights such as Rodgers & Hammerstein and George Gershwin,

101 Years of Broadway is a much-anticipated follow-up to the hit 100 Years of Broadway. Broadway has become an essential aspect of American culture, and acclaimed composer and lyricist Neil Berg strives to honor its history with his 101 Years of Broadway. The best and most memorable Broadway moments will be brought back to life thanks to a backdrop of beautiful scenery and a complete all-star New York band. A talented cast

of performers and musicians is ready to sweep you away for a night under Broadway’s lights and magic. 101 Years of Broadway plays for one night only in the Colonial Theater, on Wednesday, January 18, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $34 and available by calling 208-522-0471 or at www.idahofallsarts.org. ISI

Classic Christmas and Holiday DVDs By Mark Fee The Christmas and holiday season were once filled with magic and bustling with entertainment for the whole family. But the film industry has devolved. The season of good cheer has become an endurance run of mediocrity and bad taste. Four Christmases (2008) and Christmas with the Kronks (2004) pale in comparison with films like It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and A Christmas Story (1983). These classics never seem to age and are still your best bet for Christmas and holiday viewing. I still laugh and cry, whenever I see It’s a Wonderful Life. My wife Nicolette watches White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, every Christmas. In Frank Capra’s classic It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Jimmy Stewart plays a small town businessman during the Great Depression whose world collapses, but who gets a second chance at life. Clarence, an angel sent from heaven shows Stewart in flashback what may have happened, if he had not married Donna Reed and made other decisions. Stewart decides to face his wife and make the best of difficult circumstances. He and his wife are in for an incredible surprise. Not rated, 4 stars. Edmund Gwenn is brilliant, as a mischievous, endearing Santa Claus in Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Natalie Wood plays a youngster who doesn’t believe in Santa. Her parents are played by Maureen O’Hara and John Payne. Gwenn’s performance as Santa is a tour de force. Not rated, 3.5 stars. In White Christmas (1954), Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye play two WWII buddies, who reteam after the war and become musical partners. Kaye and Crosby meet Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen and then travel to Vermont and an inn for Christmas. The inn is owned by their former commander (Dean Jagger). Jagger is depressed. The boys stage a winter extravaganza to cheer him up. The film has a few hysterically funny scenes. Not rated, 3 stars. In Leo McCarey’s, An Affair to Remember (1957), Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star as two people who fall in love and decide to meet again, at the Empire State Building. But Kerr is hit by an

automobile; Grant is a committed bachelor. McCarey, Grant, and Kerr pull out all emotional stops in this tender, endearing film. Not rated, 3 stars. In A Charlie Brown Christmas (MTV, 1965), Charlie Brown is disgusted at how cynical Christmas has become. Lucy wants him to be the director of the Christmas pageant. Charlie agrees but is not prepared for what lies ahead. Snoopy arrives in the nick of time and helps. The film is hilarious and filled with wisdom and good cheer! Rated G, 3.5 stars. In the vastly underrated musical, Scrooge (1970), Albert Finney plays embittered banker, Ebenezer Scrooge. The film is based on Charles Dickens’s classic short story, A Christmas Carol. Scrooge hates everyone, including his nephew and his family. He is visited by the ghost of his former partner and other ghosts on Christmas Eve and is terrified. He becomes a changed man and makes amends to everyone, he has harmed. The film was directed by Ronald Neame (Continued on pg 26)

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. -- Oscar Wilde

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Prospecting for Gold with Bob Lowe more than 120 people two months later. It became at about 360. By Jack McNeel In addition to those claims, Bob Lowe, his wife, As a youngster, Bob Lowe called Barkerville apparent we needed some claims.” Bob’s group home. The little community was up the West Fork is called NorthWest Gold Prospectors Association and his family bought 42 acres along Eagle Creek, midway between Murray and Prichard, Idaho, of Pine Creek. (NWGPA). which became their RV park. “It’s between North Bank and Ross This is gold country. The discovery of Gulch,” Bob says. Even Google has a hard gold in the Eagle City/Murray area octime helping locate these places today. curred in the early 1880s. Like many gold Nevertheless, Barkerville and Kingston rush towns, Eagle City attracted some inwere home to Bob during his early years. teresting and renowned individuals. Wyatt It’s hard to grow up anywhere in this Earp and his brother James actually ran a part of Shoshone County without having bar at Eagle one winter, shortly after the an interest in gold and silver. Perhaps that episode at the OK Corral in Tombstone. is part of what brought him to owning and Wyatt Earp also owned 10 acres of placer running a private RV park for people intermining ground. Courtney Meek, son of ested in prospecting for gold. It’s named the famous guide and trapper Joe Meek, the Eagle City Park, owned and operated was also here. Murray soon took over by Eagle City Mining Ltd., a family operafrom Eagle City and became the county tion with Bob as President. seat, then silver was discovered over the Bob spent most of his working years as hill in the vicinity of Kellogg and Wallace, a land surveyor, but had all kinds of other and those towns boomed while the gold work as well. country faded. But there’s still gold here, “I worked for the title industry for 20 and it still attracts people hoping to find a years, but in the background,” he says. nugget or two, or those who simply want “I’ve always done land surveying, all of it to experience some of that early western in Idaho.” history. His wife Mary is operations coordinator “Eagle Creek RV Park is open from for Kootenai Electric. They were married about May through October. People come in 1979 and have two boys. in and pay a daily fee, and they can pan About 15 years ago, Bob got the gold for gold, and they can spend the night prospecting bug. here in the park,” Bob explains. “We also “I was down south in Arizona during an set up 104 RV sites that were sold as outing of the Gold Prospectors Association lifetime leases or memberships, and most of America (GPAA). Talking to the people, who bought were members of the club. it sounded like a lot of fun, and I knew a couple of prospectors, so when I got home, Bob in front of his little store where some basic mining supplies can be pur- They can go up and pan all they want in the park.” I thought we’d see about putting a club chased. [Photo by Jack McNeel] Members have come from all over, intogether. It kind of went from 25 people to It was interesting that the larger GPAA was cluding Shoshone County, but also elsewhere in started by George Massey, also from the Silver Idaho, Montana, Washington, etc. Others just pay Valley. “When he passed away, his sons took over,” the daily fee. Bob explains. “We had a guy from Kalispell who stayed with The local association now has 12 claims. Bob us basically all summer. He paid a daily fee all owns most of these, but the fees are split with the summer long,” Bob says. club on an annual basis, and there is actually a Bob takes me down along Eagle Creek, stopmixed ownership. Eleven are located in the general ping to visit with people searching for gold. He vicinity; six of those are off of Eagle Creek, while points out an area of the stream bank that had the twelfth is southeast of St. Maries in Benewah produced some of the better nuggets this summer County. Membership in the NWGPA now stands and explained how the high spring runoff causes a change in the creek channel each spring, thus annually opening up new areas to pan. Asked if these prospectors, sometimes newcomers to prospecting, are successful in finding gold, Bob responds, “Yeah, a lot of them are. Like I tell everybody, it’s just proportional to how much work you put into it.” Robin Bird has been a member for the past five or six years and had never prospected before that time. (Continued on page 27)

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A Little Holiday Planning Goes A Long Way By Lisa M. Petsche The holiday season is a hectic time for many of us due to the preparations and festivities that typically take place. It is even more challenging, though, when you are caring for a relative with chronic health problems. To keep stress manageable and make your holidays more meaningful, follow these suggestions. Set realistic expectations, and be prepared to alter traditions. Keep it simple, and let relatives and friends know your needs and limitations. Decide what is important to you, and forget the rest. Set a budget for holiday-related expenses and stick to it. If finances allow, consider arranging for a housecleaning or a catered meal (or both) to save precious time and energy. Whatever tasks you decide to take on, ask for help and delegate responsibilities. Make plans and start necessary preparations well in advance. Make lists to stay organized, and keep them handy. Include your relative in preparations to the best of his or her ability. Contributing in even small ways - such as deciding what decorations to put where, or helping to select gifts from a catalog will make your relative feel valued and create a feeling of partnership. Reminisce to help you both get into the spirit of the season. Share special memories, bring out photo albums, and listen to favorite carols. If you accept an invitation, do so on the condition that you may back out at the last minute if you or your relative doesn’t feel up to the occasion. Take things one day - and one event - at a time. Give yourself permission to attend an event without your relative. If it is not feasible to take your relative with you but you would really like to go and can arrange respite care, go. Space out activities as much as possible by scheduling quiet days between busy ones. Look after your health: get adequate rest, eat nutritious foods, and try to fit in some exercise. A stationary bike or a treadmill is a good choice year-round, since it may be hard to get out for a walk, let alone to a fitness center. Find something relaxing you can do to give yourself a break, whether it is quietly enjoying a cup of tea, reading something uplifting, writing in a journal, calling a friend, or listening to some favorite music. Make it a priority to continue this daily time for you in the New Year. Take responsibility for your well-being by doing something nice for yourself. Some caregivers treat themselves to a special gift at this time of the year. Look for moments of joy in which to delight. If you slow your pace and keep your priorities in check, you will be sure to find them. Special tips for Alzheimer’s caregivers: Keep decorations minimal and out of reach as

much as possible if your relative is prone to rummaging or hiding things. Do not put out anything that is valuable or breakable, or that could be dangerous if ingested. Avoid lights that flash or play music, as well as sound- or motion-activated items that can startle. Schedule activities during your relative’s calmest time of day. Generally, the earlier in the day the better, since behavior tends to worsen as fatigue sets in. Entertain at home rather than taking your relative out to an unfamiliar place. Keep gatherings small to minimize noise and confusion for your relative. Otherwise, situate him or her in another room, and have guests visit one or two at a time. If you are planning to go out visiting, ensure there is a quiet spot your relative can retreat to if he or she cannot handle the stimulation. Whether you are /RFDO 1XUVHV $YDLODEOH ‡ 3K\VLFDO 7KHUDS\ 2FFXSDWLRQDO 7KHUDS\ at home or out somewhere, be prepared +HDOWK $LGH 6SHHFK 7KHUDS\ ‡ 3DLQ 0DQDJHPHQW &RPIRUW &DUH for escalation of chal5DSLG 5HVSRQVH (DV\ $GPLVVLRQV 3URFHVV lenging behaviors and have a plan in place. If your relative is at 1$03$ 208.461.1600 risk for wandering or 7:,1 )$//6 208.733.8600 likes to rummage, en)58,7/$1' 208.452.4972 list the help of a family 32&$7(//2 208.237.0610 member or friend to %$.(5 &,7< 25 541.523.3335 ensure he or she is occupied while you are mingling or engaged in hosting duties. Do not pressure your relative to participate in festivities. Previously enjoyed events may now cause distress if he or she does not understand what is going on. With a little planning, you can look forward to a pleasant holiday season for your loved one and yourself. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. ISI

Keeping Your In Independence

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Healthy Living Tips: Make Your Life The Best It Can Be By Lisa M. Petsche It is natural to be concerned about health issues cropping up as we age. However, with a little forethought, we should be able to live active and fulfilling lives into our mature years. This is because numerous risk factors are within our control and can significantly influence our quality of life. Here are some lifestyle tips that can help preserve your vitality. Physical care • Follow a well-balanced diet that meets your body’s nutrition and energy needs. If you are overweight or have a health condition that necessitates a special diet, consult a dietician for guidance about meal planning. • Get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Practice good sleep habits, including refraining from eating and drinking close to bedtime, staying away from caffeinated products after noon, avoiding strenuous activity late in the day, and keeping to a regular schedule of going to bed and waking. • Get regular medical checkups. Follow doctor’s orders (for example, monitoring your blood pressure) and take medications as prescribed. • Avoid or quit smoking (ask your doctor about the best way to go about the latter), and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. • Avoid alcohol; consume no more than one

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drink per day. • Limit your sun exposure and always use sunscreen when outdoors. A wide-brimmed hat is also a must, as are sunglasses that block out 100% of ultraviolet rays. • Increase your level of physical activity. Aim for 30-60 minutes of moderate activity most, if not all, days of the week. Popular exercise options include walking, bicycling, swimming, and low-impact aerobics. Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Choose an activity that appeals to you and incorporate it into your daily routine; start slowly and gradually increase the duration and intensity. Find an exercise partner to help keep you motivated. • Make your home as safe as possible to reduce the risk of falls. For example, clear clutter, improve lighting, remove or secure scatter mats, and install handrails along stairs. Mental self-care • Keep a positive attitude about life and aging, and associate with people who have a similar outlook. • Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. • Do as much for yourself as possible, to maintain your independence and self-esteem. • Cultivate a healthy sense of humor. • Do something you enjoy every day. • Exercise your mind: Do word puzzles, play card or board games, read, research subjects of interest, travel, learn a new skill, take up a new hobby, or sign up for an adult education course. • Set aside daily time for relaxation. • Do not keep problems to yourself - seek support from family members, friends, or a counselor.

Social well-being • Stay connected to those who care through regular visits, phone calls, Internet chats, or correspondence. • If you find your social network shrinking (due to relocation or retirement, for example), make new connections. Take a class, volunteer, or join a club. • If you live alone and do not like it, consider taking in a boarder, sharing accommodations with a relative or friend, or moving to a more vibrant community. Spiritual well-being • If applicable, nurture your faith by attending religious services, praying, engaging in spiritual reading, or attending a spiritual retreat. • Do things that provide you with meaning and purpose, such as writing a family history, getting a pet, or helping someone you know. Get involved in your community by volunteering your time and talent. • Do things that center you and bring inner peace, such as meditating, writing in a journal, or spending time in nature. Financial welfare • Minimize financial stress by setting longterm financial goals, developing and sticking to a budget that will help you achieve them, setting aside money for unexpected expenses, and investing wisely. • Seek advice from a certified financial planner. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. ISI

Holiday Safety Tips: Preventing Fire and Electrical Hazards from Lights, Electric Decorations and Christmas Trees By Christina Hansen, CableOrganizer.com While holiday decorating is all about adding fun, sparkle, and warmth to a very special season, it’s important to remember that many of our favorite decorations carry the risk of fire

or electrical injury if not used carefully. Don’t let a preventable accident take the enjoyment out of your holidays – whether you’re excitedly preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, take a few minutes to consider these decorating safety tips. Lights and Decorations: • When shopping for lights, electric decorations, and extension cords, purchase only the ones that are UL-listed. • If you’re planning to decorate outdoors, make sure that you use lights and decorations that are rated for outdoor use. Putting indooronly products outside in the weather can result in electric shock and fire hazards. A green holographic UL mark says, “Indoors only, please,â€? while a red one indicates that the product is safe for both indoor and outdoor use. • Whether they’re brand-new out of the box or seasoned veterans from holidays past, be-

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

fore you put them up, inspect all lights, electric decorations, and extension cords for signs of damage to wire insulation, plugs, and bulbs. If the damage can be repaired (i.e. broken bulbs replaced), do not use the item until the repair has been made. If cords and plugs are damaged, discard and replace the decoration. • Always unplug lights before changing bulbs, replacing fuses, or making any other repairs. • If you need to replace a bulb in a string of Christmas lights, make sure that the wattage rating of the replacement bulb you’re using matches that of the light strand. Using a bulb with too high a wattage can cause the light string to overheat, creating a fire risk. • When hanging Christmas lights outdoors, reduce your risk of electric shock by passing up metal ladders in favor of ladders made of nonconductive materials like wood or fiberglassreinforced plastic. • Only use lights and decorations in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions. • Before you begin decorating, verify how many strands of lights it is safe to connect endto-end (as a general rule, it’s 3). • Be careful not to overload extension cords. Before you start plugging in, find out the wattage rating of your extension cord, as well as the power requirements of any lights or decorations

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15

you’re planning to plug into it. A wattage rating is the amount of electricity that an extension cord is built to carry, and if the combined power requirements of your lights and decorations exceed that rating, overheating and fire can occur. • Every so often, check Christmas light wires to make sure that they’re not warm to the touch. • Do not leave lights unattended. Always turn off all Christmas lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving the house. Buying a Christmas Tree: Did you know that your choice of Christmas tree could affect its flammability factor? Older, dried-out trees ignite and burn much faster than those that are freshly cut and well hydrated, so when you’re shopping for a natural (live) holiday tree, keep the following things in mind: • Before taking a Christmas tree home, make sure that its needles are fresh, green, and firmly attached to the branches. Bend the needles between your fingers – if they break, the tree is too dry. Also check that the tree trunk’s cut surface is sticky to the touch. As a final precaution, pick the tree up vertically and tap the trunk against the ground; if needles fall off, move on to another tree. • As a general rule, Christmas trees with thicker needles take longer to dry out, so a robust variety like the Noble Fir is a good choice. • If you opt for an artificial tree instead, be

sure that it’s flame retardant. Setting Up Your Christmas Tree: The way you set up and care for your tree has a big effect on how long it will last, how beautiful it will stay, and, ultimately, how safe it will be to have in your home. • Before putting your new Christmas tree into its stand, cut a couple of inches off the bottom of the trunk to expose fresher (and far more absorbent) wood. Taking a few minutes to do this will improve your tree’s water intake, and make it harder for your tree to catch fire. • Your tree stand should have a capacity of at least one gallon, which is the amount of water that the average 6-foot Christmas tree can consume in a day’s time. As a general rule of thumb, live Christmas trees require one quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter. • Water live Christmas trees daily. • Position your tree a minimum of three feet away from candles, fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, heat vents, and other heat sources. • Because nearly half of all Christmas tree fires involve electrical malfunctions, it’s extremely important to check that light strands and other electrical decorations are in good condition (free from insulation cracks, fraying wires, or damaged bulbs and plugs) before decorating your tree with them. ISI

Make Your Home “Bone Healthy:â€? Simple Tips To Help Avoid Falls At Home (NAPSI) Did you know that one in three adults age 65 and older falls each year, becoming at-risk for injury and broken bones? Rates of fall-related fractures among older women are more than twice those among men. Avoiding falls is important for people of all ages, but it is especially important for the nearly eight million women who experience postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease where bones become brittle and are more likely to break. For women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, a fall may mean fractured or broken bones. That is why taking precautions to avoid falls is key to staying healthy. With a few simple steps, you can help make sure your house is safer for bone-healthy living. Making changes in your bathroom, living room, and kitchen - such as removing throw rugs - can make a big difference. Also, staying alert and focused, remembering to wear well-fitting shoes with good treads, and using night-lights are all easy ways to lower your chances of falling. “Every year, more than 80,000 people fall in their homes and end up in the emergency room,â€? said Barbara Dehn, nurse practitioner at the Women Physicians Ob/Gyn Medical Group, Mountain View, California. “Doing things like cleaning up spills right away or removing cords from open spaces can help avoid the accidents that cause fractured bones.â€? Here are some simple tips to avoid falls around the house. Bathroom • Install grab bars. • Use nonskid bath mats and remove throw rugs (in the bathroom and anywhere in the home). • Use night-lights. Living Room • Keep floors free of clutter (in the living room

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and anywhere in the home). • Avoid cords (especially ones that have frayed). • Be sure all carpets and area rugs have skidproof backing or are tacked to the floor. Kitchen/Laundry Room • Clean up spills immediately. • Put away dryer sheets. • Avoid climbing on counters to reach items at the back of a cabinet.

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Along with helping to make your home safer, there are other key components to good bone health. Exercising and eating a balanced diet with the recommended amount of calcium and vitamin D are part of a well-rounded bone health routine. There are also medicines you can take to improve bone health, so it is important to talk to your doctor

about a treatment that may be right for you. “As we get older, we need to do everything we can to keep our bones strong,” said Dehn. “If you’ve been diagnosed with postmenopausal osteoporosis, then ask your healthcare provider about a medicine that may increase bone mass.” ISI

Toys for Tots and Tips for Grandparents By Jim Miller With more than 300,000 toys and children’s products on the market, the process of finding the right toys or games for your grandkids can be challenging. Here are some tips that can help. Toy Selecting - To help narrow your search and ensure you buy the right toys there are three basic things you need to keep in mind: Your grandchild’s age, interests, and skill level. While this may seem like a no-brainer, many toy-buying grandparents, especially those who are not around their grandkids on a regular basis, tend to forget. Looking for toy/gift ideas? The best place to browse is online at toy stores sites like Etoys. com, Toysrus.com, and Kbtoys.com. These sites are organized so you can search by age, gender, toy category, price range, new items, and even best sellers – much easier than walking into a toy store and sorting through their massive display of inventory. Another great resource is The Toy Insider (www.thetoyinsider.com) which is a panel of toy experts that offers their list of top 20 age-appropriate toys and gifts for the holidays. After you find a few toys you like, you can check their safety at Toyinfo.org, where you can see the list of toys that have been recalled. Some other good resources you need to visit are Toyportfolio. com, Toytips.com, and Drtoy.com. These are sites that actually test and evaluate new toys and games, check their durability, ease of use, safety, sensibility, and value. Fun for All - If you are in the market for toys that you and your grandkids can play with together, the Toy Industry Association has a resource you need to check out. At www.playisforever.com (click on Intergenerational Play) you can find dozens of suggested toys and games that promote intergenerational play.

In the meantime, some good categories to focus on are arts and crafts, learning and building, and puzzles and games. Toys that facilitate these types of activities are not only fun to do together, but can benefit your grandchild both mentally and socially. Here are some examples to get you started: • Arts and crafts: There are literally hundreds of products and kits that offer painting, drawing, coloring, jewelry making, and clay molding that can promote your grandchild’s creativity not to mention they are fun, simple, and affordable. • Puzzles and games: Putting a puzzle together or playing a game (board games, card games, educational games, and even backyard games) is a fun way to get your grandkids thinking and problem solving – which is good for you too. • Learning and building: There are books you can read together; Lego’s, blocks, and model cars you can build together; science, magic, and invention kits you can work on together; and easy-bake snacks you can bake together. All great ways to spend fun and productive time together. • Electronics: For school-age kids and beyond, the Nintendo Wii (wii.com) gets top marks for intergenerational play – especially the Wii Sports and Wii Music games. These are fun games that will get you both up and moving. For younger kids, a karaoke system can be fun for the whole family. Savvy Tip: For grandparents that do not live near their grandchildren, a great way to connect during the holidays and beyond is through a Web service called MyGrandchild.com. A savvy new site that for $5 (or $95 per year) allows you to read interactive books, play games, and do activities with your grandchild in real time from anywhere in the world. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ISI

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

With the cold season upon us, and people thinking about indoor activities – think books – our staff thought that a quiz to match authors and their works would be a good challenge for these winter days. And so we present Shoot for the Literary “Canon,” which will give you a suitable challenge of your book knowledge. Congratulations to Esther Richter of Murphy, who submitted the winning answers to Faces In Famous Flicks that appeared in our October/No-

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17

vember 2011 issue. Thank you, Esther. Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. One prize goes to the person who submits the entry selected by our staff as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for that issue. Turn your creativity loose and send us some good, interesting puzzles! The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the correct answers to the featured quiz

or puzzle from the previous issue. When there is a tie, the winner is determined by a drawing. Please mail your entries to the Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403 or email them to idahoseniorind@bresnan. net by January 10, 2012 for our February/March 2012 edition. Remember to work the crossword puzzle in this issue and on our website www.idahoseniorindependent.com.

Shoot for the Literary “Canon” Created by ISI Staff Below are 25 famous book titles along with 25 authors. On a numbered sheet of paper, match each title with its author, and send it to us. The winner will receive a $25 cash prize. Good luck! 1. Clockwork Orange 2. The Bell Jar 3. Romeo & Juliet 4. A Tale of Two Cities 5. Leaves of Grass 6. Picture of Dorian Gray 7. Silent Spring 8. The Plague 9. The Odyssey 10. The Three Musketeers 11. The Crucible 12. Sense and Sensibility 13. The Woman in White 14. The House on Mango Street 15. Eight Cousins

16. Fahrenheit 451 17. Lord of the Flies 18. The Hunchback of Notre Dame 19. Frankenstein 20. Catch-22 21. Moby Dick 22. Jane Eyre 23. To Kill a Mockingbird 24. Brave New World 25. 1984

J - Joseph Heller K - Aldous Huxley L - Arthur Miller M - William Shakespeare N - Mary Shelley O - Herman Melville P - Harper Lee Q - Homer R - Charles Dickens S - Sylvia Plath T - Albert Camus U - William Golding V - Sandra Cisneros W - Oscar Wilde X - Alexandre Dumas Y - Wilkie Collins

A - Victor Hugo B - Jane Austen C - Walt Whitman D - Charlotte Bronte E - George Orwell F - Louisa May Alcott G - Rachel Carson H - Anthony Burgess I - Ray Bradbury

ISI

Answers to Faces in Famous Flicks By ISI Staff 1. F - Gregory Peck 2. N - Boris Karloff 3. T - Henry Fonda 4. H - Rosemary Clooney 5. W - Gene Kelly 6. C - Fay Wray 7. D - Kirk Douglas 8. S - Ray Walston 9. O - Alec Guinness 10. I - Vivian Leigh 11. X - Bela Lugosi 12. L - Ingrid Bergman 13. A - Paul Newman 14. V - Buster Keaton 15. Q - Judy Garland 16. G - Sidney Poitier 17. Y - Humphrey Bogart 18. K - Robert Duvall 19. U - Audrey Hepburn 20. B - Frank Sinatra 21. M - Grace Kelly 22. R - James Dean 23. J - Elvis Presley 24. P - Clint Eastwood 25. E - Katharine Hepburn

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19

Owen Crockett Gets More Than He Gives When He Becomes Santa Claus By Dianna Troyer Owen Crockett’s annual Christmas ritual starts at about Thanksgiving when he begins bleaching his beard snowy white, so he is prepared for the inevitable question he knows he will hear again and again in December. “Are you the real Santa?” children ask him when he appears at more than 30 events during the holidays throughout the Mini-Cassia area. With a smile, he never tires of repeating the same answer. “Go ahead, pull on it,” he says of the beard he starts growing in July. “Is it real?” With a gentle tug, they have their answer. To fulfill his holiday schedule of Santa appearances, Owen, 60, who lives in Declo, takes a few days off work with the Burley Irrigation District, where he services pumps and performs other tasks. “I certainly don’t do this for a living,” he says. “One year, someone asked me how to get a Santa job, and I told him it’s not something to do just to earn extra spending money. I’m not a store or mall Santa. My wife, Loretta, dresses as Mrs. Claus, and we go to schools, church events, family parties, or we just drop in on people who need a visit from Santa and some gifts. Any donations we receive from doing this, we give to people who need some cash or gifts.” They get referrals from several sources. “Loretta is director of English as a Second Language at White Pine Elementary School in Burley, so she’s in touch with kids and knows families who need a little help during the holidays, or we get referrals through the church,” he says of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Owen says a statue he has at home sums up his sentiments of the season. “Santa is humbly kneeling at the manger with Jesus inside. To me, the most wonderful story of all is celebrating the birth of Jesus.” Serving as a Santa also fulfills a favorite motto: “A living is what you get; a life is what you give.” One December morning, he arrives at Declo Elementary School, all dressed up in a red velvet suit sewn by Loretta. Giggling students point at him and hop up and down, hoping he will come to their classroom. Pausing beside a Christmas tree near the school’s front door, he admits he cannot remember the first time he answered the Santa Claus calling. “I’ve been doing this more than 20 years, so long I can’t even remember the first time I did it. It’s such a delight to be Santa.”

be good. In the hallway, he admits he has considered hanging up his red suit. “One winter, we were trying to find a house north of Rupert in a remote area, and our car got stuck in the snow. We had forgotten our cell phone at home, so we could not call anyone. We started walking, trying to find help, and after about 45 minutes, someone finally picked us up. We went back to our car, and he towed us out, so we could make our delivery.” But the thought of giving up his alter ego did not last longer than it takes to blow out a Christmas candle. Besides, he says he would miss getting and giving all those hugs. School librarian Monet Thomander calls him over to give him a hug. After chatting, he is pulled into another employee’s embrace. “He’s sincere and a completely charitable person,” Monet says. “He certainly has found the right calling.” Owen says he is wearing a new suit this year, replacing an older one that he is glad became too baggy. “I lost 90 pounds this past year, just eating better and exercising. I want to stay healthy, so I can keep on being Santa for a long time.” ISI

Owen Crockett of Declo becomes Santa every year to brighten the days of local residents who need a little help or cheering up. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

A teacher leads him to a classroom, where he walks in with a booming ho-ho-ho, and kindergarteners wrap their arms around his thick waist. They sit on his lap, yank shyly on his beard to satisfy their curiosity and confide their Christmas wishes to him, some whispering in his ear, others giggling and talking loudly. Their wishes are as varied as they are - electronic games, Polly Pockets, monster trucks, iPods, remote controlled cars, a Wii, guitars, and a Barbie house. “We’ll see what we can do,” he patiently tells each child. When they ask for furry and four-legged gifts, he says, “You better ask your parents about that one.” After visiting with the children and handing out books and candy canes, he waves goodbye, tells them Merry Christmas, and reminds them to

The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept. --George Carlin

PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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Classics - Guided Fitness Beyond 50 By Bernice Karnop Have you had an unpleasant encounter with Father Time? Has an illness, a chronic condition, or a recent physical setback caused you to obsess about your age clock and wonder if you will ever regain that bounce in your step? Bryan Wright, at Wright Physical Therapy in Twin Falls, believes he can put you back on the track to physical fitness. He plans to open Classics - Guided Fitness Beyond 50 in February 2012. His vision is to take people who may have medical conditions such as joint replacements, heart attacks, strokes, or other issues and in coordination with their medical professional, give them a fitness program based on their specific needs. It does not replace rehabilitation or physical therapy but takes them beyond therapy to a regular regimen that will address their specific health problems. “Almost every disease out there can be modified and improved by exercise of the right kind,� he says. In addition to helping with orthopedic issues, stroke, and heart attack, he lists such things as diabetes, obesity, and depression. He also wants people over 50 to address their health before they have any issues. “Instead of trying to fix problems, we need to

deal with the root of the problem: our underlying health,� he says. His new fitness center will remove any intimidation people might feel at a regular gym or health club. Many people fail to get into an exercise program after rehab because they do not know what exercises are beneficial and which might be harmful. At Classics - Guided Fitness Beyond 50, you start with an interview and an assessment of your health. Classics will set up an exercise program that provides optimum gains and removes any activities that might aggravate your condition. For example, Wright’s father has had a total hip replacement and went through rehab. He also has type 2 diabetes. Classics will set him up to do the most beneficial exercises for diabetes, but it will remove any of those exercises that might damage the hip. The exercise program will help keep the diabetes at bay and will prevent the hip from getting weaker from lack of exercise. The fitness center creates an exercise program using the appropriate equipment for any level of fitness from those who can barely exercise at all to those who have been active all their lives. Membership cost is expected to be around $49 a month. There will be no add-on costs for classes like yoga

and Pilates, or for lectures by health professionals and other services. Classics will be working with insurance carriers to support this program. Wright Physical Therapy clinics will remain in place in both Twin Falls and Kimberly after Classics - Guided Fitness Beyond 50 opens. It complements what they do but is a separate business, according to Bryan. They will begin selling memberships in December and plan to have multiple locations throughout Idaho by 2013. After that, they will expand nationwide. They plan to expand quickly because of the need for overall health and cost effectiveness of this health benefit. “We don’t have time to wait,� Bryan says. “We need to help people improve their underlying health instead of fixing problems,� Bryan Wright, 34, is an Idaho native and earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Idaho State University. His partner, Tyler Billings received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Southwestern. You may contact Bryan Wright for more information about Classics - Guided Fitness Beyond 50 at 208-736-2574 or visit www.classicsfitness. com. ISI

Rosa Fennell Shares Old World Insights With American Friends By Dianna Troyer As Rosa Stoll served food in a cafeteria on a military base in Germany after World War II, a young American soldier, Lester “James� Fennell, was captivated with her kindness and striking brunette hair. “He introduced himself one day, and he noticed I had hurt my hand and showed he was concerned,� recalls 90-year-old Rosa, a Rupert resident, who at the time spoke little English other than greetings. “That was in 1946, and we were married on July 27, 1948, in Munich. On October 26, I got on a boat to come to America. My mother was crying the day I left. She asked me when I would come back and if I knew what I was getting myself into.� Rosa says no matter what she gets herself into, her spiritual faith guides her. “Every morning, I wake up and thank God I am here. Every day, you must have faith, hope, and willpower. I’ve always tried to work hard and live simply. When I go to bed at night, I pray to have another day. Sometimes, I have a hard time falling asleep because I’m thinking of all the things I want to do the next day.� More than 100 people whose lives Rosa

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touched during the past six decades, along with her children, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, celebrated her 90th birthday with her at the Rupert Elks Lodge in May. “I was so happy to see everyone,� says Rosa, who was born on May 20, 1921, in Manching, Germany, the second oldest of 11 children. “Three relatives flew in from Germany to surprise me. It’s a good thing I have a strong heart because I was so astonished to see them at my door.� After moving to America, Rosa and Jim, who passed away on May 26, 2005, settled in Rupert because he had been referred as a former soldier to a public works job. “He helped build the Rupert swimming pool, and we lived in town in a house on Fourth Street.� In the coming years, Jim worked at a hay mill, a cheese plant, and on farms. He retired from Amalgamated Sugar Company, where he had worked 28 years as a foreman. He and Rosa raised four children: Rosalie, Rita, Jim, and Marlene, who passed away in January 2009. In her new country, Rosa shared her Old World expertise in sewing, crocheting, knitting, and caring for children. “When a neighbor or friend needed something sewn, they called me, and I made them clothes or curtains or altered clothes,� Rosa recalls. “Or the ladies, when they went golfing or had appointments, they asked me if I could care for their children for a few hours. Money was tight back then, so I was glad to earn some with the sewing and babysitting. I never had any problem with a child, and some became as close as my own.� She says she shared “my old German brew,� a cure for colic to soothe crying ba-

Rosa Fennell, 90, of Rupert knits, crochets and makes doilies for her relatives and friends. She shares the homemaking skills she learned in her homeland of Germany. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

bies’ aching digestive tracts. “I used it on my great grandson Logan, who is 7 now. I sterilized a one-pint jar and boiled two cups of water and added one tablespoon of caraway seeds and one tablespoon of brown sugar. Then I let it cool, strained it, and served a small amount, about one-fourth cup to one-half cup, in a baby bottle before bedtime or when necessary, letting

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the baby drink how much he wanted. My granddaughter Kristina told her doctor that it worked for Logan, and he could sleep through the night. The doctor said home remedies like that one do work.” Rosa’s daughter, Rita Svoboda, who lives in Paul, says her mom not only taught her and her siblings that home remedy, but also taught them to improve themselves, work hard, and save money. “Mom was amazing in so many ways,” says Rita. “When she first came here, she did not speak English and taught herself the language by listening to Dad, reading the newspaper, and talking to neighbors. She could look at a dress in a store, figure out how to make it, come home, and cut out a pattern from newspaper, and sew it for us. At Christmas, she made the best German cakes and cookies. And let me tell you, she could save money.” Rosa wanted to save money for a home in the country, which she and Jim eventually built

between Rupert and Paul. “We were surrounded by fields, now it’s houses everywhere,” Rosa says. These days, Rosa tends to her flowerbeds and vegetable garden and keeps her house immaculate. She took care of Logan until he started school. She goes on family vacations, fishing and snowmobiling, and crochets and knits for her grandchildren. “For Christmas, we still go together to the mountains to cut a live Christmas tree,” Rita says. “Logan always drags a tree down to her and tells her, ‘This is yours.’ ” Rosa still keeps in touch with her family in Germany. “I have two brothers alive, Joe, 87, and Hans, 85,” she says, “and I have two sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.” She kept her promise to her mother to return to Germany to visit.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 21

“In 1960, my mother was ill and wanted to see me, so we went in July, and my mother-in-law took care of the children for me. I’m glad I went because she had a stroke and died in June 1961.” Since then, Rosa has returned to her homeland several more times, taking Rita with her in 1975 to meet her German relatives. “It was a wonderful five-week trip I will always treasure,” Rita says. “I met my grandfather and visited Mom’s hometown. Everyone was so hospitable, treated us like queens, and gave us gifts. We went on a boat ride down the Danube River, and visited Czechoslovakia and Austria. It was out of this world. Mom and I want to go again, maybe within the next year or two.” Rosa is optimistic about traveling back to Germany. “I want to live to be 100, if God wants that, too.” ISI

Secret Santas Cheer Up Veterans With Holiday Apples, Candy By Dianna Troyer Charlie and Ellen Pherigo prefer being the anonymous benefactors of veterans during the holidays, rather than being in the spotlight. The Rupert residents don’t even care that no one thanks them for the apples and candy they have been giving to patients at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Pocatello since 2006. “It’s better to give than to receive,” says Charlie, 81, an Air Force veteran. The gifts of jumbo Red Delicious apples they give in the fall and again in December, along with packets of Christmas candy, are an expression of their Christian faith. “He does this hoping it will get the ball rolling, and others will think about what little things they can do to help others,” says Ellen, 76. Several years ago, when Charlie came to the clinic for his annual checkup and to get his prescriptions for diabetes and COPD, he noticed that some patients looked lonely. “I wanted to cheer them up. I’ve had heart surgery, and last year had knee and hip surgery, too. Even though I’m on oxygen, I still get around and like to help people.” In the fall, he and Ellen order jumbo Red Delicious apples through their local Ridley’s grocery store to thank the clinic staff and to give to veterans. At Christmas, they put apples and packets of candy in several large baskets on the counter in the lobby with Ellen’s handmade cards, thanking veterans for their service and inviting them to enjoy an apple. “The apples are gone in a couple of hours, and patients appreciate them,” says receptionist Vicki Walton, adding the clinic serves more than 50 patients a day and 5,000 patients annually. “Sometimes Charlie and Ellen bring us apple cookies, too. They’ve treated us nicely and are very special people. Most people here just know Charlie as ‘The Apple Man.’ ” At Christmas, Charlie and Ellen fill 100 small cellophane bags with candy, a task that takes several days. “Our living room coffee table is covered

“A registered nurse was following us and with candy for about four days,” Ellen says. On a card, attached to each bag with green and red stopped and said a prayer because she was sure yarn, Ellen writes in red and green marker, “Merry no one could have survived such a horrific acciChristmas, Thanks for serving America, from an dent,” Charlie recalls. Air Force veteran of the Korean War.” When they get tired from stuffing all W E A R E C O M F O R T K E E P E R S® those packets, Ellen and Charlie take a break, relaxing at home, where they are certain God has led them. “We’re here in Rupert because of a terrible accident we For over a decade, Comfort Keepers® S E R V I C E S had on May 31, 2001, and miraculously has been helping seniors maintain independent lives by providing in-home survived without injuries,” Ellen says. care and safety. Like cooking, light The couple had been traveling in their housekeeping, bathing or grooming. RV for a decade, spending summers in And our SafetyChoice ™ PERS and Transportation Yellowstone and Grand Teton national Medication Management Systems means parks and winters in Arizona. They were help is always available. driving on a clear, windless day on Interstate 86, coming down a hill in the Raft – River area, when their 39-foot-long fifthwheel trailer began to fishtail. “I got it under control three times, then lost it,” recalls Charlie, who suspects a change in the pavement, asphalt in some places and cement in others, caused it. Entire Before that, we had never had an acciEntire Treasure Valley: 895-8822 dent in 10 years.” Pocatello Area: 234-9825 Pocatello Area: 234-9825 The RV landed on the side with the Burley/Rupert: 434-8888 propane tanks, but there was no fire or Burley/Rupert: Twin Falls Area: 434-8888 733-8988 explosion; the truck was thrown backTwin Falls Area:208-895-8822 733-8988 Treasure Valley: wards; the fifth wheel slid toward the Each office independently owned and operated. © 2009 CK Franchising, Inc. truck, coming to rest against the upright W W W. C O M F O R T K E E P E R S . C O M on the driver’s side. ®

PAGE 22 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

During the holidays, Charlie and Ellen Pherigo of Rupert donate jumbo red delicious apples to veterans checking into the Vterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Pocatello. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Ellen adds they both felt that the accident was God’s way of guiding them to settle in Idaho. “We had thought of living permanently in Idaho but didn’t know where. The tow truck driver, Jack, and his wife, Ethel, were so hospitable and took us to their farmhouse. We decided to stay in the area and bought a mobile home in Rupert.� The accident wasn’t the first time Charlie nearly died. During the Korean War, he was awarded a Silver Star after being shot in both legs while helping to evacuate women and children from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul when the war started. “One bullet skimmed my left leg, and the other bullet went in my upper right leg and out my knee,� says Charlie, a staff sergeant in the 5th Air Force, 52nd Group, 15th Troop Carrier Squadron. A talented welder, he was stationed in Japan, where he worked as a metallurgist. He set up and was in charge of the metal plating shop that serviced equipment and planes in the Far East. Charlie served in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 to 1969. After retiring from the Air Force, he found a job in

Ventura, Calif., working for a home healthcare company, caring for patients. There he met Ellen, who worked in the personnel department. “We met in 1985 and were married in 1986,� Ellen says. “He keeps me laughing.� Charlie says, “She’s my angel and my walking Bible.� After marrying, they each found jobs at Thacher Preparatory School in Ojai, Calif. Ellen taught and later did public relations, while Charlie was the grounds supervisor. After retiring, they hit the road, allowing their faith in God to lead them in their RV. Last year, they relied on their faith when Charlie’s hip and knee surgery depleted their discretionary spending, and they thought they couldn’t afford their holiday deliveries. After praying, they asked for help from local businesses. Zion’s Bank donated money to buy the candy, and a local market provided the apples. For the Pherigos, Christmas lasts 365 days. “There’s a children’s song about that and how the spirit of giving should last all year long,� Ellen says. “God gave us His only Son, and He wants us to replicate that love by giving to others.� ISI

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Taking Care Of Man’s Best Friend Submitted by Jim Meade A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white, stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like motherof-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, “Excuse me, where are we?” “This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered. “Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the man asked. “Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.” The man gestured, and the gate began to open. “Can my friend come in, too?” the traveler asked, gesturing toward his dog. “I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.” The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After a long walk and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. “Excuse me!” he called to the man. “Do you have any water?” “Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.” “How about my friend here?” the traveler gestured to the dog. “There should be a bowl by the pump,” said the man. They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, and then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by

the tree. “What do you call this place?” the traveler asked. “This is Heaven,” he answered. “Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.” “Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That’s Hell.” “Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?” “No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.” ISI

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

have been lent or donated by the community resulting in an eclectic array of seasonal items. While the exhibit is becoming a popular tradition among the locals, Olde Fashioned… offers a blend of the old and the new of Christmas celebrations. New for 2011, the exhibition will premier a collection of vintage Christmas toys while also bringing back treasured Santa Claus figurines, homemade Gingerbread Houses, Nativity Scenes (over 150 displayed), and a collection of other winter festivals. Included in the Winter Festivals display will be a focus on Sweden’s holiday for St. Lucia. During the exhibit, which runs through January 4, 2012, many activities will take place that include a chance to Santa Visit on Saturday, December 10 and 17 from 3-5 pm, a mailbox for children to mail their letters to Santa, live Christmas music nightly, a free gift wrapping center, and a canned food drive. To kick off the opening of the exhibit, a Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on December 8 from 6-8 pm. Open for all to attend; the event will feature live Christmas music, face painting, and an appearance from Santa Claus himself. Museum hours will remain the same from 9 am – 8 pm Mon and Tuesday and from 9 am – 5 pm Wed – Sat. The museum will be open on Dec. 24 and resume regular hours starting Dec. 27. It will also be open on New Year’s Eve until 5 pm. For more information, please contact Britni Storer, Director of Marketing at 2028-522-1400 ext. 3004 or at britnistorer@museumofidaho.org. ISI

Your Home, Your Choice? By Karen Telleen-Lawton In the olden days, elders moved in with the kids and that was that. Later, transient lifestyles and work-styles heralded the era of the “old folks’ home.” Group-living complexes may have been a necessary phase to the choices facing baby boomers in the next few decades. What do boomers want in senior housing, and will we get it? Many boomers will spend decades in retirement, but what is retirement for us? We perceive this stage differently than did the previous generation. An Associated Press analysis (before the recession) found that most boomers plan to retire around age 63, but two-thirds expect to keep working at least part-time. Some will work to make ends meet, while others will work “to stay busy.” Even if they do not “need” the money, some of them will work to supplement their income to pay for luxuries. In an AARP member poll, over one-third of respondents were curious about what are now dubbed CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities). But what they want is different from what their parents wanted. A SAVE OUR PLANET Concierge Care Advisors survey in 2010 found that important factors were AND YOUR WALLET. proximity to current residence, meal choices, and available transportation. Most express interest in some type of wellness or exercise program. We want continuing access to the larger community. We want to remain socially REDUCE YOUR +($7,1* &22/,1* and physically active, but our interests extend beyond “typical” offerings like ENERGY CONSUMPTION. themed events and arts and crafts. Fortunately, the marketplace seems to be listening. Many CCRCs today Regular maintenance 70% of the World’s operate similarly to college campuses. Moreover, alternatives to senior comof your system increases energy is used by indoor munities – hybrids between senior communities and living with the kids – are efficiency by up to 50%. comfort systems. expanding. According to AARP, the appeal of a CCRC is that entering one is an once-in-a-lifetime choice. The same campus features independent housing as well as assisted living and nursing care, so we can “age in place” without continuing to move to a different facility. Some feature a rich diversity of Take Advantage ntage of $ Furnace M Maintenance. classes, activities, meals, and health care options. CCRCs’ appeal is the carefree lifestyle and freedom from responsibility. Another up-and-coming option is a “back to the future” idea called ECHO: elder cottage housing opportunity. ECHOs are small, temporary houses inLimited Time Offer. Offer stalled in a backyard. They are self-contained prefab units of typically 400 to 800 square feet that allow a senior to remain largely independent while still living within earshot of their

Ì 9 ÕÀÃi viÀÃÊ ÀÊ ÌÀ>VÌ Àà family. Amazing for their size, ECHO housing usu iÌÊ ÛiÀÞÌ }Ê9 ÕÊ ii`Êv ÀÊ9 ÕÀÊ iVÌÀ VÊ ÀÊ* Õ L }Ê*À iVÌ ally includes slimmed-down but complete versions of all the home amenities -- a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room. Another concept is the community village being developed in progressive cities around the country. These are not homes at all but community-based membership organizations focused on empowering older adults to live happily, healthfully, and successfully in their own homes as they age. One such experiment is Santa Barbara Village, which they dub a “virtual senior living community.” Area residents become a community by joining the village for shared access to resources, while volunteering for one another. The bottom line is that, just as in the rest of our adult lives, different housing alternatives will appeal to different people. The idea of staying put has a strong appeal; the village concept helps make that *À Õ` ÞÊÃiÀÛ }ÊÌ iÊ >} VÊ> `Ê/Ài>ÃÕÀiÊ6> iÞÃÊv ÀÊ ÛiÀÊxäÊÞi>Àà a viable alternative. It is also bound to be the least expensive option. ECHOs benefit greatly from the allure of being close to loved ones without being “in their faces.” PAY & PACK CCRCs have a wide price spectrum depending on the area of the country and how close it comes ELECTRIC AND PLUMBING SUPPLY to achieving the college campus ideal. -iiÊÜ >ÌÊ > iÃÊ À ÛiÀ½ÃÊÌ iÊ« >ViÊÌ Ê} Ê>ÌÊÜÜÜ°}À ÛiÀi iVÌÀ V°V Ê> `Êv>ViL Other alternatives are being developed daily. 6 à ÌÊ> ÞÊ vÊ ÕÀÊÌ ÀiiÊ V>Ì ÃÊ Ê `> As Concierge Care Advisors discovered in their * \ 824 Caldwell Boulevard, ­Óän®Ê{ÈÈ ÇnäÇÊÊUÊÊ " - \ 5730 W Franklin Road, ­Óän®ÊÎ{Ó ÈxÇÈ survey, “today’s consumers are most interested in /7 Ê -\Ê£ÎäÊ >ÃÌ > `Ê À ÛiÊ- ÕÌ ÊUÊ­Óän®ÊÇÎÎ ÇÎä{ choices,” and that is what we are getting. ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25

Sherry Krulitz – Active with community seniors Article & Photo by Jack McNeel Sherry Krulitz is Silver Valley through and through, but her activities extend far beyond the valley. Her work has touched every corner of the state yet her heart and soul remain in the Silver Valley. Her love for this area and the people of the area seep through in her conversation. Sherry was born in Wallace, raised in Osburn, and graduated from Wallace High School. She married Art who was a Mullan High School graduate and they have lived in Pinehurst for 39 years. Their two daughters both graduated from Kellogg High School. “We cover all of the valley,” she says with a laugh. This has always been home although they spent four years in Texas and Michigan while Art served in the Air Force. Sherry began her public service in the early 1970s as Pinehurst City Clerk, “the youngest city clerk,” she adds. She moved from there to County Treasurer, again the youngest to hold that position. Her next move was to county commissioner, where she served for twenty years. “I’m still the only female that’s ever been a county commissioner here and while I was a commissioner I was president of the Idaho Association of Counties.” Sherry also served on the National Association of Counties (NACO) Board of Directors and received two presidential appointments from NACO. “Two of their presidents appointed me to chair the NACO Public Lands Steering Committee. That was a big committee,” she notes. Her involvement with people goes way beyond the elective positions. She has been manager of Whispering Pines for nearly 28 years and for Echo Pines since it was built. “They’re both HUD Section 8 senior housing facilities but with different funding,” she explains. “The older project was an old Farmers Home Administration loan and Echo Pines was a $565,000 grant that I and others wrote. As a total grant, there’s no payback so long as we continue to use it for senior housing.” Whispering Pines has 20 units and Echo Pines has 10 units. It’s in her connection with the residents of these two housing facilities that her love and consideration for others really comes through. “You get to love them like family,” Sherry explains. “Many of our tenants have been there for years and there are times when there are hardships. They don’t know whom to call and they call me. You care for them. They aren’t just your tenants, they become your family. The only difficult part of working with the elderly I think is when they go to a nursing home. It’s the most difficult decision a family has to make.” Jo Ann Groves is a friend and she explains that caring and connection even further. “The things she (Sherry) does to make life happier for them are things like Christmas parties and pot lucks.” Art assists with events like picnics and barbeques. Sherry also gives a lot of credit to her maintenance man, Charles McClelland. “He’s been there for 23 or 24 years and is a real caring per-

son.” Charles has also made it possible for Sherry to do the travelling necessary in her other jobs over the years. Her work with senior housing has not gone unnoticed. In 2005 she received the award as Idaho Site Manager of the Year for Elderly Housing. That same year she also received the H. Sidney Duncomb Award that is given to someone for “excellence in county government.” “To get one in both areas of my work, one for county government and one for housing …!” Sherry did not complete the sentence but it was clear she was proud and a little amazed to have received both awards. “I was afraid I’d neglect the duties of one and devote too much attention to the other. I strived to do both and do them well. The awards kind of validated me a little bit.” Sherry is also serving her second six-year term on the Idaho Judi-

cial Council as its vice-chair. She plans to retire when her term expires in June. “I think twelve years is plenty,” she says. “When you look at different courts throughout Idaho, you see how many you’ve interviewed who are now either district judges, Court of Appeals Justices, or Supreme Court Justices, you realize it’s time to let someone else do the interviews. Sherry explains that any complaint against any judge in Idaho right up to the Supreme Court will go through this council. Anytime there is a vacancy, other than for magistrates who have their own commission, it’s the council that interviews the attorneys or judges and then provides the governor with two to four names from which to make appointments. Sherry remains active in community groups. She is financial secretary of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pinehurst and past-president of her P.E.O. group. Last year she was asked to serve on the Inland Northwest Foundation’s Board of Directors for northern Idaho. “We review all the grant requests for north Idaho. I stay busy,” she says. Her husband, Art, resigned as basketball coach last summer after coaching for many years and they recently built a new house. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for this active and extremely knowledgeable woman. She was asked to run for Lieutenant Governor. She was also asked to run for State Controller. “It was an honor to be asked,” she says. She turned down those invitations – but do not be surprised if her name comes up for a major position sometime in the future. She has that kind of background and expertise. ISI

PAGE 26 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Peggy White – The Sunshine mine disaster 39 years later but they do their job. It is extraordinary what they do,” Peggy exclaims. By Jack McNeel She used a recent death as an example of changes that have occurred. May 2, 1978 started out like any other early spring day in Idaho’s Silver Valley. Before the day was over Idaho would experience the worst disaster “I can’t say enough about how Hecla Mining handled it. They kept reporters in the state’s history and families throughout this mining district would be away from the families and were able to dissect what each family member torn apart as 91 miners in the Sunshine mine would die. Few families would was going through. It was handled with compassion.” Two years after the Sunshine fire disaster a statue was erected in not be directly affected by the loss of a brother, son, father, uncle or cousin. memory of the 91 who died and was placed Some 217 kids were left without fathers who at a pullout along I-90 near Big Creek. Ken died in the fire. Lonn, a local man who worked for Bunker Hill, Peggy White was one of those. Her father, designed the statue. “He did a wonderful job,” who was a foreman at the Sunshine mine, Peggy says. Mr. Lonn now lives in Portland. her uncle, and a brother-in-law all perished in Each year at 11 a.m. on May 2, the time and the fire that began deep in the mine, robbing date the fire started, a memorial service is held the men of oxygen and overcoming them with at the memorial statue. Last year, between carbon monoxide and smoke. 100 and 150 people showed up for the memoPeggy is now the Shoshone County Clerk rial. Many families have remained in the area. and remains deeply involved with dependents Peggy does not have a count but says, “There of those who lost their lives on that horrible are a lot of dependents still here. My guess is day and in honoring the names and memories at least a hundred of the kids. The wives are of those miners and all others who have died getting a lot older; that generation. My mom in mining accidents over the years. Through is 84. A lot of the older miners that worked at her office, she oversees social services and is Sunshine are having a harder time getting treasurer for Christian aid. She knows many of around and are not able to make it now.” the families and helped put them together with The memorial statue needs some Gregg Olsen when he wrote The Deep Dark renovation work, and Peggy is involved with documenting the human side of the Sunshine those plans - concrete around the statue mine disaster. has buckled, pressure from deep snows has The South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River moved the base of the drill in the statue, and drainage with the towns alongside has long contaminated black sand needs to be rebeen referred to as the Silver Valley. In 1885, placed with gravel. She explained the site may legend has it that prospector Noah Kellogg’s be expanded to make it a miners’ memorial donkey wandered off and was found near an rather than just a memorial to those who died outcropping of galena ore, which became the in the Sunshine mine fire. “That is our goal,” site of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines. To she says. date roughly one and a quarter billion troy One plan would be to move all the ounces of silver have been produced here. head stones over to the east side of the statue Jokingly, the town of Kellogg still claims to have and replace the ones that have been broken been “founded by a jackass and inhabited by and then separate them into the mine levels his descendents.” Mining has always been the mainstay of DeAnn Hei and Peggy White, cousins, each lost their fathers during where the men were found. The west side Silver Valley but no one thought a hard rock the Sunshine mine fire. Here seen standing before the memorial would be a tribute to all miners who have lost statue to the 91 men who died. [Photo by Jack McNeel] their lives in other mines in the area. A large mine could have a fire – until May 2, 1978. replica of a miner’s hat is planned to draw Peggy was raised at Big Creek where the Sunshine mine is located and went through high school in Kellogg. She was attention to this side of the memorial. Nearly a thousand men have died in a teenager when the Sunshine caught on fire and remembers it vividly. “Liv- mining accidents here since the 1880s. Peggy will be applying for a grant from the Historical Society to renovate ing through it was very difficult,” she says. “At that time mine management the statue and site, along with asking for donations to assist with other aswas not good. It was pretty much for profit. At the time of the fire we did not pects of the project. She is also hoping the many dependents from the fire know how important mine rescue was.” Compassion seemed to be lacking as well. “They (mine management) will get in touch with her to express their views about the miners memorial. called mom on the phone and said, ‘Hey, Gene’s dead.’ Well naturally, she “We definitely want their opinions and their help in getting it restored,” she adds. went into shock. They called five women (in the same way).” Peggy is an advocate of mining and its contributions to nearly every When it was discovered how these women were being notified people “came a little unglued,” Peggy says, and then pastors and other mine people aspect of our daily lives. “There are minerals in everything we use, but many people do not recognize that,” Peggy says. “That amazes me. It’s a way of were sent out to notify the survivors. “They were so unorganized.” Bad as some of these things were at the time, they have led to dramatic life in the U.S. “I’m proud to be my dad’s daughter and I’m proud of what he did. He improvements. “It’s astronomical what Mine Rescue does in terms of trainloved it. You can’t take away what they love. Mining is important to everyone. ing. Mines didn’t have their own rescue teams then. These men need to be glorified. Like police officers and firefighters, they’re not always talked about That says it all to me,” she declares. ISI

In old age we are like a batch of letters that someone has sent. We are no longer in the past, we have arrived. -- Knut Hamsun

Classic Christmas and Holiday DVDs - continued from page 11 (The Poseidon Adventure, 1972) with Albert Finney (Tom Jones, 1963), as Scrooge and songs by Leslie Bricusse. Not rated, 3 stars. In the hilarious, A Christmas Story (1983), Peter Billingsley plays a young boy, who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB rifle for Christmas. Directed by Bob Clark with a droll, nostalgic eye, the film is priceless. The story takes place in the 1940s. Rated PG, 3 stars. In Christmas Vacation (1989), Chevy Chase hauls a humongous tree home for a “Griswold family Christmas.” The tree is only the beginning of his problems. An outrageously funny, off-the-wall film and must see. Rated PG-13, 3 stars.

John Denver’s Montana Christmas Skies (MTV, 1991) is a treasure and was filmed at Ft. Belknap. The film includes members of the Assiniboine Sioux and Gros Ventre and their families. Some of the film was shot in a barn and includes concert footage. Indian children have a blast on a sleigh ride. It’s a delightful film and one of Denver’s best concerts. The film also features George Burns and Clint Black. Not rated, 3.5 stars. In Miracle in the Wilderness (MTV, 1992), Kris Kristofferson plays a retired Army scout, whose wife (Kim Cattrall) and son are kidnapped by a Blackfeet chief. Kristofferson killed the chief’s son. To save her child and husband and bring peace to an explosive situation, Cattrall tells the chief about the birth of Jesus. Some members of the Blackfeet tribe are included in the film. It is an outstanding Western and beautiful Christmas story. Rated PG, 3 stars. There are other Christmas and holiday films worth watching like Home Alone (1990), Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and Elf (2003). But until the next time, have a joyous Christmas and Happy New Year! ISI

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 27

Prospecting for Gold with Bob Lowe -continued from page 12 “I wish I’d learned about this sooner,” he says. “I’d have been doing this a Bob and Mary Lowe spend every weekend at the site and several more lot longer if I had. If I didn’t have to work for a living I’d stay here full-time.” days during some weeks. Asked if it has been financially rewarding, he laughs and says, “Nope. I “We have everything from an old guy who wants to come in and prosfound enough to keep me compect, to families passing through ing back. At this point, it’s more on vacation, or tours about old of an expensive hobby. Gold is mining towns where they bring where you find it, and I didn’t do things with them for metal detecttoo badly this year.” ing and prospecting,” says Bob. According to Robin, another “We do both Boy and Girl Scout positive aspect is that everyone groups that come, and the Idaho there is like a big family. Teachers Association sends a “If you don’t see somebody bunch of teachers up. They do you start asking about them,” geology continuing education he says. “We all get together. units, prospecting and water We enjoy going out and prosquality studies, and things like pecting.” that.” Part of that togetherness inThe lure of gold brought the cludes a monthly meeting and likes of Wyatt and James Earp a monthly potluck. and was initially responsible for Dave and Terri McIntyre bringing the folks who eventually from Gig Harbor are doing settled throughout this mineral some prospecting on this day. rich region. Bob Lowe and the They had been vacationing in NWGPA help the present generCoeur d’Alene, saw a notice ation relive some of that history. about prospecting for gold, and And who knows, with the price decided to give it a try. Their of gold what it is today, that next Robin Bird says he would be here full time if he didn’t have to work for a living. [Photo by Jack McNeel] success isn’t anything to brag shovelful might turn up a nugget about, but they are having a great time regardless. Part of that is the lure of or two that will change your life around. But if not, it will still be a great day! ISI what might be in the next shovelful of sand and gravel.

Actual call center conversations... Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. Operator: Ridge Hall, computer assistance - may I help you? Caller: Yes, well, I’m having trouble with WordPerfect. Operator: What sort of trouble? Caller: Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden, the words went away. Operator: Went away? Caller: They disappeared. Operator: Hmm. So what does your screen look like now? Caller: It’s blank; it won’t accept anything when I type. Operator: Are you still in Microsoft Word, or did you get out? Caller: How do I tell? Operator: Can you see the C: prompt on the screen? Caller: What’s a sea-prompt? Operator: Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen? Caller: There isn’t any cursor; I told you, it won’t accept anything I type. Operator: Does your monitor have a power indicator? Caller: What’s a monitor? Operator: It’s the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it’s on? Caller: I don’t know. Operator: Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that? Caller: Yes, I think so. Operator: Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it’s plugged into the wall. Caller: Yes. Operator: Now I need you to look back there again and find the other cable. Caller: Okay, here it is. Operator: Follow it for me, and tell me if it’s plugged securely into the back of your computer. Caller: I can’t reach. Operator: OK. Well, can you see if it is? Caller: No. Operator: Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over? Caller: Well, it’s not because I don’t have the right angle - it’s because it’s dark. Operator: Dark? Caller: Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window. Operator: Well, turn on the office light then. Caller: I can’t. Operator: No? Why not? Caller: Because there’s a power failure. Operator: A power... a power failure? Aha. Okay, we’ve got it licked now... wait until the power comes back on and you can start over. ISI

To all our readers, advertisers, and contributors, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a joyous 2012

Season’s Greeting from the staff of The Idaho Senior Independent! Jack, Colleen, Kathleen, Sherrie, Rhonda, Dan, Lynn & Nann

PAGE 28 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Ranotta McNair - A Lifelong Dedication To The Outdoors By Cate Huisman ing at whether I could do the job and whether we As a self-described tenacious tomboy brought could get along together.” up to value hard work, Ranotta McNair was the Although her early work was focused primarright person at the right time in the U.S. Forest ily on the forest products industry, a stint on the Service. From the 1970s until her retirement this Willamette National Forest led McNair to meet past year as supervisor of the Idaho Panhandle several people who had started to think about National Forest, she was part of a wave of change forests differently. She developed a passion for in the agency - both in how it managed timberlands reforestation and decided it was time to consider and in how it employed women. Growing up, McNair loved being outdoors. One of her earliest memories is of walking in German forests with her father, a service member stationed overseas. When the family moved home to Oregon, they camped on the Metolius River; she went fishing with her uncles, and climbed the Three Sisters in the Oregon Cascades. “Our favorite place to play was in the woods,” says McNair, but “I didn’t realize there was a career in being outdoors.” There was, but at the time, it was only for the most resolute and adventurous of women. Having first heard about the Forest Service from one of her teachers at Rogue Community College, McNair started out as a volun- [Photo courtesy of Idaho Forest Products Commission] teer, then became an intern, and eventually got a seasonal job as an engineering whole ecosystems - including humans and their technician on the Siskiyou National Forest. She impacts - in thinking about how forests were manwas the first woman in a technical position in the aged. This meant moving from being a forest Grants Pass office, and the first who worked in the technician to becoming a ranger, but it required a field. She followed that up with a post as the first college degree. This took her to the forestry school woman on a forest survey crew. at Oregon State University. After she got her BS in “I think there was pressure from the upper outdoor recreation with a minor in forestry, Wendy parts of the Forest Service to start integrating” Herrett, the Forest Service’s first female district more women into various jobs that had traditionally ranger, hired McNair for her first ranger position. been held by men, says McNair. “The initial years Meanwhile, McNair had married fellow Forest were hard for women because people thought you Service professional Bob Walker (they’d met while were showing up to produce a number.” they were both fighting a forest fire) and given birth But at the same time, she adds, “I encountered to a daughter, Courtney. She was expecting their folks who were very supportive of me; they weren’t second child when Walker’s job evaporated in an looking at me as if I was female. They were look- agency budget crunch. McNair took a detour from rangering to become a forest service nursery manager in Bend, Oregon. “It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life,” she says. It gave her a chance to consider the social implications of forest management from a different perspective, and it ended up putting her at the epicenter of national forest issues at a time when they were undergoing unprecedented upheaval. Back then, timber harvesting in the northwest was in what McNair calls “true gridlock” as a result of lawsuits from environmental groups, who claimed that management practices were not adhering to environmental laws that had been passed MEMORY CARE in the 1970s. Loggers Our all-inclusive programs offer an individualized and millworkers began approach to care providing the right balance to resent the continual of independence and health-care services for assaults on their lifeindividuals facing different phases of memory loss. style and livelihood from environmentalists, and the discourse became -Specialized trained staff -Safety and comfort checks -Secure outdoor courtyard -Emergency Response System downright dangerous -Spacious 1 bedroom & studio apartments -3 meals per day -Spa room -Around-the-clock continuous personal care assistance -Escorts and transfer assistance to meals and activities -Medication management/administration -Laundry service and housekeeping -Individualized care plan by licensed nurse

STUDIO & 1 BDRM ARE NOW CURRENTLY AVAILABLE! Tour Our Community, Meet Our Staff & See For Yourself Why Luther Park at Sandpoint was Voted Best of Bonner County 2009, 2010 & 2011

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when radical environmentalists drove spikes into trees that were scheduled for harvest. In 1993, President Clinton stepped in and said, as McNair puts it, “The wars are going to stop.” He convened a forest management conference in Portland, and pursuant to the conference, the Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT) was formed. McNair was lent to FEMAT from the nursery and eventually became the Forest Service liaison to the office responsible for implementing the resulting Northwest Forest Plan. While McNair enjoyed working on the plan, she left when she had an opportunity to be a ranger again, this time in the hardwood forests of North Carolina. After a few years she was able to return west to take the helm of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and to appreciate the fruits of her labor on the Northwest Forest Plan. “People who were gridlocked into position began to look at each other’s positions and try to find some common elements,” she recalls. “We’re interacting with a lot more constituencies now. There’s much more recognition of common interest.” That common interest spans a wide range of issues, and it’s been part of the appeal for McNair. “I think the reason I stayed with the agency so long is it’s so diverse,” she says, noting that it involves balancing forest health and fire management with recreational use and timber harvest, as well as considerations about water quality, historical and cultural sites, fisheries, and wildlife. Few people in the west are unaffected by forest management: “People turning tap water on don’t know it, but their water is coming off the headwaters in the forest.” Roles for women have changed too. By now, most forest work crews have a few women. “People quit counting numbers,” says McNair. “When you walk in the room you’re not the oddity any more; you’re just part of the team.” McNair still walks in the woods often; she seems too energetic to be retired, and the trails of Canfield Mountain are close by the hilltop home she shares with Walker on the outskirts of Coeur d’Alene. “I’ll never give up my love for the outdoors” she says, but a broader theme is leading her in another direction. “When you’re striving to do something different, there are a lot of impediments. There are a lot of biases out there, people not trusting that you can do it,” she says, recalling the early days of her career. But “I’ve been graced with a lot of people who have supported me.” Now she wants to become one of them. After spending last summer considering what to do next, McNair’s focusing now on working in women’s services - with teenage mothers, or perhaps in a new shelter being built in Coeur d’Alene. She’s done something different, moving past the impediments and biases. Now it’s time to take other women with her. ISI

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 29

Bush Pilot Stephen Russ Flies Seaplane On Lake Pend Orielle By Cate Huisman Stephen Ruff is the right guy to run a seaplane service on Lake Pend Oreille. He loves flying. He loves seaplanes. And he’s enormously enthusiastic about the remote areas he flies people into. Ruff’s Sandpoint Seaplane Service takes up to five passengers in his specially adapted Cessna 206 on flights over Lake Pend Oreille and into the neighboring Cabinet Mountains of

[Photo by Marissa Mavity]

Montana. On his shortest standard tour - a mere 20 minutes, he gives passengers a quick tour of the highlights of the north end of the lake. Longer tours may go along the Selkirk Crest, northwest to Priest Lake, or east to the Bull River drainage. As a youngster growing up in California, Ruff dreamed of being a missionary bush pilot. “I wanted to fly in Africa, take missionaries and people in for humanitarian work,” he says. But the years of training required for such work were

onerous. Instead, he became a contractor and cement finisher in his native Sacramento, but he didn’t give up the flying dream completely. Over several years, he studied to become certified as an airplane mechanic, and eventually he got his pilot’s license and was certified to fly seaplanes. His transformation into a bush pilot occurred when he was vacationing in Alaska one summer. He’d flown his DeHavilland Beaver from Sacramento north for a vacation, and he met a wilderness outfitter who needed a pilot. Ruff ended up flying for him that summer, and then started his own business as a flying taxi driver into the roadless areas of the Brooks Range and the North Slope. For the next 12 years, he alternated between winters in Sacramento and summers flying hunters and anglers into remote Alaskan lodges, racking up over 7,000 hours flying in mountainous country. Meanwhile, Ruff and his wife Darene grew a family that came to include five sons. While he liked the flying, he wasn’t sure the isolation, which Ruff describes as “180 miles from a gallon of milk,” was so good for his family. “We’re raising these boys, and I’m tootling around in the Arctic of Alaska, and I started thinking you know, we probably ought to be raising these boys on a farm.” “So I just decided to take a little break from the flying,” Ruff goes on. He moved the family to a Kansas farm, and grew wheat and soybeans for seven years. He liked that life too, but there weren’t many opportunities to fly a floatplane in Kansas. Once, on a trip between Sacramento and Alaska, he flew over the northern Idaho panhandle, fell in love with the area - even from the air, and never forgot it. When his Kansas dreaming got him to thinking about flying a floatplane again, “I still remembered the Kootenai River Valley and Lake Pend Oreille.” Many bodies of water in the lower 48 are closed to floatplanes, but Lake Pend Oreille and Priest Lake are not. He could be a pilot again and still be able to drive to a grocery store. So the family moved again, this time to north Idaho. Ruff bought the Cessna 206; he extended the wingspan, beefed up the motor, and added a special propeller that helps keep landings quiet. And of course, he took off the wheels and added

Just Droppin’ In Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley A drunken cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo Theater. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the cowboy, “Sorry, sir, but you’re only allowed one seat.” The cowboy groaned but did not budge. The usher became more impatient, “Sir, if you don’t get up from there I’m going to have to call the manager.” Once again, the cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle, and in a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police. The Texas Ranger surveyed the situation briefly then asked, “All right buddy what’s your name?” “Fred,” the cowboy moaned. “Where ya from, Fred?” asked the Ranger. With terrible pain in his voice, and without moving a muscle, Fred replied, “The balcony.” ISI

[Photo by Julie Kirby]

floats. Sandpoint Seaplane Service was airborne! Ruff can’t stop talking about his favorite flights. “The benefit of a seaplane is freedom to go places that you just can’t get to any other way,” he says. “You go up and land on some lake where there are no roads.… It’s peaceful and quiet.” He likes to fly into the north end of Priest Lake and taxi up to the beach, maybe take a picnic. From where he lands, it’s about a half mile hike into the Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars, and “there’s evidence of early prospecting - a couple of shafts and an old cabin that’s all caved in.” He flies in low so clients can get a look at the lake; often they’ll view a moose below as they approach. On the return, he climbs above 7,000 feet “and we sew our way through the peaks there in the Selkirks.” “You might see Chimney Rock or Lionhead from the lake,” Ruff continues, but his clients get a wholly different view of the massive faces and bowls. He takes a similar approach to his other favorite flight, flying low at 500-700 feet up the Clark Fork and into the Bull River Valley. “The color of the water is just amazing - it’s super, super clear,” says Ruff. Then he turns to fly over Spar Lake and Little Spar Lake, and up into the Scotchman Peaks, where the resident mountain goats frequently are in view. “We throttle the plane back so it’s really quiet; quite often we’ll see a backpacker up on one of those peaks waving at us as we go by.” Then he soars high, giving passengers a view of a good chunk of Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirks on the way home. Ruff’s business is mostly flightseers, although he can handle cargo and has done some charter flights. The occasional photographer appreciates the clean windows - the work of his “awesome ground crew,” Darene. Each November, Ruff takes the plane out of the water, removes the floats, and puts the wheels back on for winter trips out of Sandpoint airport. But it’s a slow season, and the plane isn’t quite enough to keep the family afloat, so, like many in north Idaho, Ruff continues with his other jobs - contracting and concrete finishing - to put food on the table through the leaner winter months. But he can’t wait to get back on the water - and in the air - in the spring. ISI

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Jerry Luther - continued from page 1 Luther wanted to build a home on his property above Garfield Bay - as a craftsman and street performer, he didn’t qualify. So it was time to shift gears again, and Luther was ready. As his “rural craft” had evolved into a business with capital investments and numerous products, he’d taken courses in business operations and computer technology to manage production. So his next incarnation, as an operations manager for Leadlok, a biomedical products company in Sandpoint, was a logical next step. Still, it was a different approach to making a living. “One weekend I wore tie dye and I was doing dancing ducks to rock and roll music, and on Monday I put on a tie and went to work,” says Luther of this transition. “My wife had never seen me in a tie.” Cancer interrupted his career in his early sixties, and the planes flew into his life when he was recovering and considering what to do next. He had wanted a radio-controlled plane since he was a kid, and Becky left him one under the tree at Christmas. “I spent the next two months in way too tall of trees for a man my age,” Luther recalls. That first plane was followed by more, but they were an expensive hobby, and the photography started as a way to support it. Originally he traded aerial photos to the Bonner County Daily Bee for advertising for Property Watch, a maintenance and monitoring service he’d started for absentee landowners. Bee readers see his photos frequently now that Luther has a contract to photodocument construction of the Sand Creek Byway. He takes flight monthly to document the progress of this years-long project, and shots are shown frequently on the front page. Unlike photos taken from a satellite, like the views on Google Earth, Luther’s photos are not shot through a lens pointing straight down. His cameras are mounted on his planes to shoot at a 15% angle; they look forward and slightly down. He can open

and close the shutter from the ground, but he can’t control the exposure, and he can’t see what the camera lens is seeing. So how does he get such great shots? “I can visualize in my head what the plane will ‘see,’” says Luther. “I pretty well know when I have my target pegged.” He makes several passes over a target from different altitudes and different directions, turning the camera on and off repeatedly to get dozens to hundreds of shots with varying exposures. Once the camera is back on the ground, he usually finds that about 10 to 15% of the digital shots he’s taken are usable. The photos are taken by a small digital camera mounted to the front of the lightweight cellular foam plane, above and behind the nose. Luther has put some effort into developing this mount. In his early models, the momentum of landing would continue to carry the camera forward after the plane had stopped, often ripping the camera off its mount and taking some pieces of the plane with it. So now he uses sturdy rubber bands for the attachment; when the plane lands, the forward momentum of the camera is absorbed by the rubber bands, and the plane is not damaged.

At least not by the camera. Landing the plane is a challenge, and because controlling it and simultaneously shooting pictures requires exhausting concentration, Luther has to bring it down every five to seven minutes. A monthly byway series requires seven to ten landings, and the construction project offers few appealing spots for this purpose. To avoid worse hazards, he has sometimes had to land it in bushes, and he once put it into a pallet. His planes’ noses, decorated with gaffer’s tape, bear witness to this challenge. So it’s no surprise that Luther’s latest project is a seaplane. It has a broad smooth base instead of wheels, and floats at the end of each wing to keep it stable in water. The byway is next to Lake Pend Oreille, and many of his other photographic venues are near water as well. The seaplane will give him far more options for landing. “It’s already starting to earn money,” Luther says. The seaplane seems to fit the pattern: Luther has developed such “options for landing” repeatedly throughout his career. It’s an admirable model and has made for an intriguing life. So far. It’s even more intriguing to consider where Luther will land next. ISI

Southern Hospitality in the Heart of Sandpoint By Bernice Karnop Calvin and Jill Ogle did not plan this career, but since they opened the Sweet Magnolia Bed and Inn in Sandpoint last summer, they have been amazed at what has blossomed for them. For example, in one week they hosted couples celebrating third, sixth, tenth, twentieth, thirtieth, and fiftieth wedding anniversaries. To top it off, on the weekend a honeymooning couple came in. Each couple was welcomed with a dozen roses and everyone, including the hosts, had an incredibly fun week. “How can you not be in a good mood after that?” Calvin asks. Originally from Atlanta, the Ogles were drawn to Sandpoint as a better place to raise their three children. The oldest was 11 when they moved there nearly nine years ago. Calvin continued his job as an engineer but had to travel twice as much as he did when they lived in the metropolitan area. Jill got a job as a medical technician at the hospital in Sandpoint. When he was ready to hit the wall from being on the road so much, they noticed that the price of a 100-year-old house near the hospital had been reduced again. It had been remodeled and updated in 1994, and had housed a series of Bed and Breakfasts since then but had been in foreclosure for two and a half years. Calvin’s parents had owned an Inn near Great Smokey National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Calvin had enjoyed working in it. In spite of having little experience, the time seemed right. Calvin says, “We just made the move.” Because of their Southern Roots, they called it The Sweet Magnolia Bed and Breakfast and

named the rooms after different varieties of the lovely pink, purple, or white flowers. The Ogles, who enjoy hosting people, see the bed and breakfast as an extension of what they have always done. The vision is to invite people into their home and treat them like family. After only a few months into their venture, they hosted a family who came because their son was in the hospital in Sandpoint. Unfortunately, he passed away before they arrived. “We made their experience a little better than if they were staying in an impersonal hotel,” says Calvin. The family agreed. In a letter to the editor of the Sandpoint newspaper, they thanked the Ogles, calling them a “warm, congenial, compassionate couple” for whom they were grateful during this difficult time. “In every other career job I’ve had it takes years to see some success, but this bed and breakfast quickly became a great opportunity and a great experience,” Calvin says. “It’s not like we get rich off that, but it sure feels like it.” In addition to being more comfortable and personal, a B&B gives guests a local person’s view of the area. In Sandpoint, there is plenty to share, no matter what the season. In the winter, people ask about Schwietzer Mountain, the huge ski area just outside of town. In the summer, they are interested in hiking trails and water sports on Lake Pend Oreille. From the house you can walk to restaurants and shops, including Coldwater Creek, which got its start right here in Sandpoint. You can walk to City Beach from the Sweet Magnolia and enjoy a look at the Lake. The century old house is a story in itself. No, it does not have ghosts, but they would be lively ones if it did. They found a framed picture of the builder, a Swede named Charlie MapQuest, from the 1940s. He is in his later years but with two young attractive women. With the help of the local Historical Society the Ogle’s found Charlie’s obituary. It said that he came to Sandpoint to introduce North Idaho to the advantages of Swedish massage. He built the sprawling two-story house in 1907 and set himself up as a type of physical therapist before the industry was regulated. The controversy surrounding MapQuest was

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

significant enough to make its way into his obituary. It seems that before the massage, he asked his female clients to wrap themselves nude in warm woolen blankets. In addition to that scandalous request, Mr. Melquist performed his massage wearing only his underwear. The Sweet Magnolia is truly Jill and Calvin’s baby. They do all the work from cleaning to cooking. Before opening, they removed the phones and television sets from each room and set up a TV

lounge for those who want to watch TV. Guests have as much privacy as they want, but also have many opportunities to interact with one another. Individuals who have nothing in common except the bed and breakfast often end up sharing their stories and swapping information about places to visit, to eat, or to shop. In fact, people who stay at bed and breakfast inns generally are open, interested, and interesting people, according to the Ogles. Half of their visitors

A Taste from the Sweet Magnolia By Bernice Karnop Calvin Ogle, co-owner and chief cook at the Sweet Magnolia Bed and Breakfast in Sandpoint knows the second B is critical to his business. “The way I look at is that you’ve got to knock the ball out of the park every morning on breakfast,” he says. Most of the breakfast menu items come from family recipes with a Southern twist. A hearty Southern Breakfast Pie features ham, Swiss cheese, sautéed onions, and egg mixture in a crust. The crust has a secret ingredient not many in the Northwest can guess: grits. In the

fall they stew apples picked from the trees in the backyard that morning. Jill’s homemade granola with yogurt is out every day and the granola is something their kids beg to have included in every college care package. Each day of your stay features different breakfast fare, but there’s never a bad morning in the sunny breakfast room. As an example we’ll include this recipe for a yummy coffee cake that will have you hopping out from under the feather quilts, even on the coldest morning.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 31

have been Canadian, and many are from Europe. On Halloween, a German couple sat with them as they passed out candy. “The guests got a special taste of what Sandpoint is like as opposed to sitting in a motel room watching CNN,” says Calvin, While they honor their southern roots, the Ogles are glad they left the city where they had to fight the traffic, the crowds, and the crime. Every month or so one of the kids thanks them for getting out of Atlanta and moving to a place where they can walk downtown by themselves, take the bus to the ski area, and attend the town’s only high school. Calvin and Jill do not miss the rat race, the competition, and the pace of the city either. Even in the dark days of winter when the sun is shining in Atlanta, their idea of a perfect day is being up on the ski hill in beautiful powder snow. To contact the Sweet Magnolia Bed and Breakfast call 208-263-2425 or email cal@sweetmagnoliabandb.com. You may also check their web site at www.sweetmagnoliabandb.com. ISI

Sweet Magnolia Orange Coffee Cake ¾ cup sugar ½ cup chopped pecans 2 teaspoons orange zest 1-12 ounce can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits 1–8 ounce package of cream cheese 1 stick melted butter 1 cup confectioner’s sugar 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

They are a long way from the Deep South, but Jill and Calvin Ogle manage to bring the fragrance of Sweet Magnolias to their Bed and Breakfast in Sandpoint. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

1. Preheat oven to 350. 2. In small bowl, combine sugar, pecans and zest. Set aside. 3. Separate biscuits. Place ¾ teaspoon cream cheese in the center of each biscuit, folding in half and sealing the edges. 4. Dip biscuits in butter and then dredge in the sugar mixture. Place curved side down in the hollows of a greased Bundt pan and stack off center. 5. Pour remaining butter and sugar mixture over the biscuits. 6. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown. Immediately invert the cake onto serving platter. 7. Combine confectioners’ sugar and orange juice and drizzle over the warm cake. Mmmmm. ISI

“Our mother needed hospice care. The nurses at BGH were incredible. Their gentle care was comforting to all of us. Mom’s well-being was obviously foremost in their roles; however, we also felt taken care of. Our thanks to all those folks” - Mary P.

Winter Load Submitted by Julie Hollar All out of breath, the lady got out of her car, ran As a trucker stopped for a red up, knocked on the truck door. The trucker rolled down light, a lady caught up with him. the window. She jumped out of her car, ran up Again she said, “Hi, my name is Heather, and you to his truck, and knocked on the door. are losing some of your load!” The trucker lowered the window, and she said, When the light turned green, the trucker revved up “Hi, my name is Heather, and you are losing some of and raced to the next light. your load.” When he stopped this time, he hurriedly got out of The trucker ignored her and proceeded down the the truck, and ran back to the lady. street. He knocked on her window, and after she lowered When the truck stopped for another red light, the it, he said, “Hi, my name is Kevin, it’s winter in Idaho girl caught up again. She jumped out of her car, ran and I’m driving the sand truck! ISI up, and knocked again. Again, the trucker lowered the window. As if they had never spoken, the lady said BUYING and SELLING brightly, “Hi, my name is Heather, and you t Coins & Paper Money - US & Worldwide are losing some of your t Gold t Silver t Bullion load!” t Coin Collecting Books & Supplies Shaking his head, t Metal Detectors t Prospecting Supplies the trucker ignored her again and continued We now carry food storage supplies down the street. 10-5 Mon - Fri or Call for an Appointment At the third red 210-C Triangle Dr. Ponderay light, the same thing 263-7871 (Behind Pampurrred Pet Store) 609426S-0815 happened again.

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Fighting Gum Disease: How to Keep Your Teeth By Carol Lewis More than 75 percent of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. The bottom line? If you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums. The mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, others can attack the teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria are contained in a colorless sticky film called plaque, the cause of gum disease. If not removed, plaque builds up on the teeth and ultimately irritates the gums and causes bleeding. Left unchecked, bone and connective tissue are destroyed, and teeth often become loose and may have to be removed. A recent poll of 1,000 people over 35 done by Harris Interactive Inc. found that 60 percent of adults surveyed knew little, if anything, about gum disease, the symptoms, available treatments, and — most importantly — the consequences. And 39 percent do not visit a dentist regularly. Yet, gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Moreover, a Surgeon General’s report has labeled Americans’ bad oral health a “silent epidemic” and called for a national effort to improve oral health among all Americans. The good news is that in most people gum disease is preventable. Attention to everyday oral hygiene (brushing and flossing), coupled with professional cleanings twice a year, could be all that’s needed to prevent gum disease — and actually reverse the early stage — and help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. In addition, several products have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically to diagnose and treat gum disease, and even regenerate lost bone. These products may help improve the effectiveness of the professional care you receive. (See “FDA-Approved Products for Gum Disease”) What is Gum Disease? In the broadest sense, the term gum disease — or periodontal disease — describes bacterial growth and production of factors that gradually destroy the tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth. “Periodontal” means “around the tooth.” Gum disease begins with plaque, which is always forming on your teeth, without your even knowing it. When it accumulates to excessive levels, it can harden into a substance called tartar (calculus) in as little as 24 hours. Tartar is so tightly bound to teeth that it can be removed only during a professional cleaning. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main stages of gum disease. Each stage is character-

ized by what a dentist sees and feels in your mouth, and by what’s happening under your gumline. Although gingivitis usually precedes periodontitis, it’s important to know that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis. In the early stage of gingivitis, the gums can become red and swollen and bleed easily, often during toothbrushing. Bleeding, although not always a symptom of gingivitis, is a signal that your mouth is unhealthy and needs attention. The gums may be irritated, but the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. No bone or other tissue damage Doesn’t your smile has occurred at this stage. Although dental deserve a specialist’s care? disease in America reA prosthodontist is a dentist recognized by the mains a serious public American Dental Association (ADA) as a specialist health concern, recent in restoring and replacing teeth. With additional developments indicate education and training, prosthodontists have the that the situation is far capability to provide excellent results on crowns, from hopeless. bridges, dentures, dental implants and other Frederick N. Hycosmetic and restorative procedures. man, D.D.S., a dental officer in the FDA’s dermatologic and dental drug products division, says that because people seem to be paying more attention to oral hygiene as part of personal grooming, the payoff is “a decline in gingivitis over recent Fairview Dental years.” Hyman adds, 1639 23rd Avenue “Gingivitis can be reLewiston, ID 83501 versed in nearly all cas(208) 746-0431 es when proper plaque

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control is practiced,” consisting, in part, of daily brushing and flossing. When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. At this point, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth (recede) and form pockets. These small spaces between teeth and gums may collect debris and can become infected. The body’s immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gumline. Bacterial toxins and the body’s enzymes fighting the infection actually start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. At this point, because there is no longer an anchor for the teeth, they become progressively looser, and the ultimate outcome is tooth loss. Signs and Symptoms - Periodontal disease may progress painlessly, producing few obvious signs, even in the late stages of the disease. Then one day, on a visit to your dentist, you might be told that you have chronic gum disease and that you may be at increased risk of losing your teeth. Although the symptoms of periodontal disease often are subtle, the condition is not entirely without warning signs. Certain symptoms may point to some form of the disease. They include: • Gums that bleed during and after toothbrushing • Red, swollen or tender gums • Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth • Receding gums • Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums • Loose or shifting teeth • Changes in the way teeth fit together on biting, or in the fit of partial dentures Even if you don’t notice any symptoms, you may still have some degree of gum disease. Some people have gum disease only around certain teeth, such as those in the back of the mouth, which they cannot see. Only a dentist or a periodontist — a dentist who specializes in gum disease — can recognize and determine the progression of gum disease. The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) says that up to 30 percent of the U.S. population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. And, despite aggressive oral care habits, people who are genetically predisposed may be up to six times more likely to develop some form of gum disease. Genetic testing to identify these people can help by encouraging early treatment that may help them keep their teeth for a lifetime. The bottom line? Visit your dentist regularly and practice good oral hygiene to insure that your teeth stay firmly in your mouth where they belong. ISI

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 35

Free Health Screenings By Jim Miller Depending on where you live, there may be a wide range of free or low-cost health screenings available to you. Here is what you should know. Screening Search - Countless organizations, government agencies, and even businesses across the country today provide free or low-cost health screenings. While there’s no one single resource for locating them, your first step should be to call your city, county, or state health department and ask if they are planning or know of any upcoming health fairs or free screening programs. You should also check with your local hospitals, pharmacies, and senior centers as these are where most free screenings are held. National and local health associations may also help you identify disease specific screenings. For example, to search for free/low-cost cancer screenings contact the American Cancer Society (800-227-2345). Or to look for diabetes screenings call your local American Diabetes Association office (call 800-342-2383 to get a local number). In the meantime, here are some national screening programs and services you should know about. Vascular disease: Each September, a program called Legs for Life offers free screenings for peripheral arterial disease, a “hardening of the arteries” condition that indicates an increased risk for heart attack or stroke. Some sites can also test for related diseases like abdominal aortic aneurysm and carotid artery disease. To find a screening site, visit www.legsforlife.org or call 800-488-7284. Another resource that maintains a directory of healthcare facilities offering free/ low-cost vascular screenings is www.vascularweb.org. Also see www.cdc.gov/wisewoman, and www.sistertosister.org to find women-specific cardiovascular screenings in multiple cities. Skin cancer: The American Academy of Der-

matology (888-462-3376; www.aad.org/public/ exams/screenings) offers free screenings done by hundreds of volunteer dermatologists across the U.S.. Free screenings are also offered by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (www.skincancertakesfriends.org; 847-9560900), and the Skin Cancer Foundation (www. skincancer.org; 800-754-6490). Breast and cervical cancer: The CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp; 800-232-4636) provides low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women access to free or lowcost mammograms and Pap tests. Free/low-cost breast cancer screenings are also available at hundreds of hospitals and clinics on National Mammography Day in October. To locate a screening site, visit the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website at www.nbcam.org and click on “Find a Mammography Center Near You.” Once you locate one, you will need to call to find out if they are offering free screenings, and if so, schedule an appointment. Prostate cancer: During national Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, the third week of September, (www.pcaw.com; 866-477-6788) the Prostate Cancer Educational Council coordinates with hundreds of local sites across the U.S. offering free or low-cost screenings to all men over age 45, or to high risk men (African Americans or those with a family history of the disease) over 40. The National Prostate Cancer Coalition and the Drive Against Prostate Cancer (www.fightprostatecancer.org; 888-245-9455) also offers free screenings on mobile screening units that tour around the country. Kidney disease: The National Kidney Foundation (www.keeponline.org; 800-622-9010) offers free screenings in 48 communities across the country for those at elevated risk – adults with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history

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of kidney disease. They also offer free screenings in at least 20 additional cities on World Kidney Day in March. Memory: If you have concerns about memory loss or have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (866-232-8484; www.nationalmemoryscreening.org) offers free memory screenings across the U.S. on National Memory Screening Day in November. Asthma: In May, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (www.acaai.org) sponsors free asthma screenings in more than 250 locations nationwide. Depression: National Depression Screening Day (www.mentalhealthscreening.org) in October offers hundreds of free screenings nationwide for depression, anxiety, and other stress disorders. Savvy Tip: For a more in-depth list of free/ low-cost screening programs, including a breakdown of Medicare’s screening services go to www.FreeHealthScreenings.org. Send your questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ISI

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Idaho eye doctors help legally blind to see Local low vision doctor helps those with vision impairment to keep reading and driving. By Elena Lomabardi retired rancher from Utah, approached the Low Just because you have macular degeneration Vision Clinic last February. (or other vision-limiting conditions) doesn’t always “I could not read the street signs soon enough mean you must give up driving or reading. when driving, and I couldn’t read my morning Ever look through a pair of field glasses or paper.” binoculars? Things look bigger He was fit with bioptic teleand closer, and much easier scope glasses. “Amazing,” says to see. Dr. Jared L. Cooper Ross, “to be able to see things of Southern Idaho/Utah and far away again. Even the televiDr. Cheryl Dumont of Coeur sion is so much better now.” He d’Alene are using miniaturized was also provided with a Clear binoculars or telescopes to help Image Microscope glasses for people who have lost vision from reading the newspaper. macular degeneration or other “Telescopic glasses usually eye conditions. cost over $2000,” says Dr. Coo“Some of my patients conper, “especially if we fabricate sider me the last stop for people who have vision them with an automatic sunglass.” loss”, says Dr. Cooper, a low vision optometrist who Not all low vision devices are that expensive limits his practice to visually impaired patients in - reading glasses start at $500 and hand magnihis offices throughout Southern Idaho. fiers under $100. Every case is different because “People don’t know that there are doctors who people have different levels of vision and different are very experienced in low vision care, many of desires. my patients have been told that there was nothCall Dr. Cooper or Dr. Dumont for a free ing left that they could do to improve their vision, telephone interview at 800-451-2015 or visit Dr. fortunately this is usually not the case.” Cooper on the Internet at www.coopereyecare“My job is to figure out everything and anything utah.com. possible to keep a person functioning.” said Dr. Dr. Jared L. Cooper Idaho License #ODPCooper. “Even if it’s driving”. 100238. A patient of Dr. Cooper, Ross Johnson, 73 a

The Fitness Police By Suzanne Handler It is January, my least favorite month of the year. Time for those ridiculous resolutions most of us make and rarely keep. If one of your soonto-be broken promises falls under the heading “get fit now,” it’s no wonder. Every American, from sea to shining sea, knows by now that fitness is important to our physical health, not to mention our self-esteem. The truth is, at least in my small world, if you don’t walk, run, bike, ski, hike, swim, rock climb, play tennis, lift weights, practice yoga, or participate in any number of age-appropriate group activities, then you best beware: the Fitness Police have you in their sights. Should you also have the bad luck to be more than five pounds overweight, your troubles are compounded. Those of us who don’t own a valid gym membership, or a pair of tennis shoes that have

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pounded the pavement on a city street or at a recreation center, are often made to feel we are somehow less than stellar citizens. Yes, the dreaded Fitness Police are alive and thriving especially so in January. The Fitness Police understand the herd mentality that rises to the fore every January 1. Bloated from an excess of holiday cheer, we are easy prey for the onslaught of advertisements, commercials, and yes, even well-meaning words from those we love who promise a “new you in the New Year.” Feeling overweight and sluggish, it is difficult to ignore the barrage of enticements that urge us to sign on the dotted line for a 12-month gym club membership or enroll in a diet program that guarantees to vanquish those newly acquired pounds in a few scant weeks. When January rolls around, and I mean that both literally and figuratively, many of us are more than eager to hand over our hard-earned dollars for the opportunity to beat our bodies to a pulp or starve ourselves senseless in a valiant effort to get in shape. Unfortunately, by February most of those same gym cards will be languishing in a junk drawer along with used rubber bands, paper clips, and an assortment of other odds and ends. As for the diet, well, suffice it to say that hunger trumps good intentions every time. But by then it is too late: your money and your will power are gone - only the excess pounds remain.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health (2010), 38 of our 50 United States have obesity rates over 25 percent. There is no denying that we are a grossly overweight nation whose inhabitants worship at the shrine of fast and packaged foods. My gripe is that we are hounded from Halloween through News Year’s Eve to buy, prepare, and consume every form of indulgence with reckless abandon. Then, on January 1, those very same magazines, newspaper ads, TV commercials, family, and friends who tempted us with every form of decadence, now expect an abrupt reversal in our behavior. I don’t think so. My advice: If you intend to make a commitment to health and fitness, then

do it in slow, thoughtful way. Do not be bullied by the Fitness Police! On a more personal note, it’s not that I don’t exercise. I do. And it’s not that I don’t watch my calories. Again, I do (about 75.5% of the time). But, if a truth squad were to hold my feet to the flame, I would have to admit that to impress my friends and family, I sometimes embellish the facts regarding the actual amount of time spent at the gym or on my at-home exercise equipment. Also, that the picture of me grunting and gasping after a mere 30 minutes of semi-strenuous activity is not a very attractive one (hence the real reason my workouts are generally in the privacy of my own house). And finally, that I traded in my teeny weenie tennis togs and dance leotards years ago

Assistive Listening Devices Can Help People Hear Better By Jim Miller Assistive listening devices (or ALDs) are very useful products that can help hearing-impaired people – with and without hearing aids – hear better! Here is what you should know. Listening Helpers - ALDs are electronic amplifying devices that will let your husband adjust the volume and tone so that he can hear and understand the television, telephone, or other people speaking. It’s also important to know that these devices work best for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, you don’t need a prescription to buy them, and they usually aren’t covered by insurance or Medicare. Here is a breakdown of the different types of ALDs that can help. Telephone Amplifiers - To improve hearing over the telephone there are a number of handset and in-line amplifiers you can add to your regular phone, or you can purchase an amplified telephone. Most amplified phones allow you to adjust the volume and tone for better clarity and they usually come with extra loud ringers and flashing ring indicators to alert you when a call is coming in. Clarity (clarityproducts.com, 800-426-3738) and ClearSounds (clearsounds.com, 888-9659043) make a nice variety of these products in the $30-$300 range. Harriscomm.com, teltex.com and soundbytes.com are also good sites to shop. Or, see if your state has a specialized telecommunications equipment program (see tedpa.org) that provides free amplified phones. If the amplified products do not do the trick, another8, (OSPICE )$3R)ND PDF !option is caption phones. These are

telephones that have a built-in screen that will let your husband listen to the caller, as well as read written, word-for-word captions of everything the caller is saying. Go to captel.com (or 800-2339130), and click on your state to learn more. TV Listening Systems - If hearing the television is a problem, a TV listening device will let your husband increase the volume and adjust the tone to meet his needs, without blasting out you or the rest of the family. The best devices available today are wireless infrared systems that come with a headset. Many of these devices work with radios and stereos too. Or, if your husband would rather not wear a headset, some systems offer a small speaker that can be placed by his chair, and many work with T-coil enabled hearing aids. TV Ears (tvears.com, 888-883-3277) is one of the best products sold today with prices starting at $100. Personal Listening Devices - Depending on your husband’s needs, there are many different types of listening devices on the market, in all price ranges, that can help. For one-on-one and small group conversations, a pocket-sized amplifier that comes with a small microphone and ear buds may do. Or, for a wider range of hearing capabilities consider FM listening devices. These are wireless products that can boost hearing in many difficult listening situations including auditoriums and lecture halls. FM devices come with a small microphone and transmitter placed on or by the person speaking, and the listener wears a receiver that may be used with ear buds,

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37

and now work out in comfy sweat clothes from the clearance rack at a local discount store. Age and attitude do have their advantages, as some of you may know. For a change of pace, I have decided that this year my resolution is not to make any diet or exercise resolutions at all – to ignore the January hype put forth by the Fitness Police. After decades of failed attempts to honor said promises, I have decided instead to turn my attention to a more realistic endeavor such as cleaning out the ubiquitous cabinet drawer of long-expired gym membership cards and copies of diet program registrations. Doing so will clearly be a much more productive use of my time. ISI

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earphones, or with T-coil enabled hearing aids when worn with a neck loop. Harriscomm.com and independentliving.com are two good sites for locating these types of products. Alerting Devices - There is also a variety of alerting devices that can help people who have trouble hearing the doorbell, alarm clock, telephone, or smoke detector. These products use flashing lights, special multi-tone ringers, or vibrating devices as a means to alert you. You can find these items at many of the websites previously listed, along with sonicalert.com and silentcall.com for around $50 to $150.

Savvy Tip: For more information and assistance with ALDs, contact an audiologist or hearing instrument specialists (see howsyourhearing. org or ihsinfo.org to find one near you). They are familiar with all these technologies and can help your husband choose the best products to meet his needs. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ISI

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Winterproof Your Vehicle With Household Items By Clare Hafferman Headlights - Just wipe ordinary car wax on your headlights to keep them clear. It contains special water repellents that will prevent that icy slush from accumulating and should last for about six weeks. Windshield Wipers - Take the squeak out of your wipers by wiping them with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol or ammonia. This one trick can make badly streaking or squeaking wipers change to near silence and clarity, which is a safety factor for drivers. Icy Windows - To ice-proof your windows, fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water and spritz it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they will be clear of any ice that you would normally scrape. The acetic acid of the vinegar lowers the melting point of water and prevents it from freezing. Car Doors - To prevent car doors from freezing shut, spritz cooking spray on the rubber seals around the car doors and rub it in with a paper towel. The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber. Foggy Windows - Spray some ordinary shaving cream on the inside of your windshield and wipe it off with paper towels to fog-proof your windshield. The cream has many of the same ingredients found in commercial defoggers. Car Lock - You can de-ice your lock by putting some hand sanitizer gel on your key and inserting the key in the lock. Voila, the problem is solved! ISI

The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind. -- William Blake

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

If You Have Debt Problems, Get the Help You Need From Jerome S. Lamet, Founder and Supervising Attorney Debt Counsel for Seniors and the Disabled (DCSD) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the federal income maintenance program that provides a monthly income to meet the basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter for people with significant and long-term disabilities who have virtually no assets. Approximately 4.4 million people with disabilities between the ages of 18-64 rely on SSI payments to pay for these necessities, including housing. In 2010, the federal SSI program provided a single disabled adult with a monthly income of $674. In addition to the federal payment, 21 states provided an additional state SSI supplement to individuals with disabilities living independently in the community, raising the national average SSI monthly payment to $703, or $8,436 per year.

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In this tough economy, millions of seniors and disabled individuals are drowning in credit card and other debts they cannot pay. Many years ago, these people would struggle to pay these debts because their state usury statute regulated the interest rates on the credit cards, which averaged 6 percent. In 1970, the credit card industry was able to convince every state to repeal the usury statute for credit cards, which now allows these companies to charge 29 percent interest on their cards. This is loan shark interest! It is worth noting that careless spending does not always cause credit card debt for these individuals. Many seniors and disabled people rely on credit cards to pay for the astronomical cost of prescription medication and health care in general. Others use credit cards to pay for car and home repairs and other major expenses for which they just do not have the cash. They must rely on credit cards for their basic living expenses. There has been no government bailout for the seniors or disabled who cannot pay their credit card and other unsecured debts, but the government bailout for banks allows them to charge 29 percent interest and extra fees to these individuals. Many of these people receive social security benefits, SSI, and other fixed government allowances as their only source of income. Some may own a home, but it does not generate income to help pay for food or medicine. They fear if they stop paying, a creditor will put them in jail and take their income. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a statute written to protect consumers from

abusive collection tactics. There are many ways that the FDCPA can be violated. For example, when creditors call after being told not to, or if a collector makes threats during the phone call, this is harassment and, hence, a violation of the FDCPA. The time of day that a creditor can call or whether or not they can contact relatives regarding a debt all factor in to possible violations. Many creditors will try to collect their money by any means necessary; unfortunately for them, they could be breaking the law. Further, these debtors are being harassed not only by their original creditors, but by third-party debt buyers, as well. Debt collection is not an industry of original creditors collecting debts, but debt buyers who have paid $.03 to $.05 on the dollar for the original debt. Debt buying is a $215 billion industry, and some of the companies buying these debts have been known to harass and abuse the debtors in order to collect, even though the debtor is collection-proof (meaning the only source of income is government-protected and therefore untouchable by creditors). Often, these collectors try to intimidate widows and widowers into paying the debts of their deceased spouses. In this new era of collections, it is imperative that people know their rights. Our clients’ protected income is exempt from garnishment under federal and state laws. Please call 800-992-3275 ext. 1304 for a free consultation with a DCSD representative. Feel free to send e-mail to info@lawyers-united. com and visit our web site at www.debtcounsel. net. ISI

Your Annual Financial To-Do List: 12 Things You Can Do Before and For 2012 By Bill Losey The end of the year is a good time to review your personal finances. What are your financial, business, or life priorities for 2012? Try to specify the goals you want to accomplish. Think about the consistent investing, saving, or budgeting methods you could use to realize them. Also, consider these year-end moves. 1. Think about adjusting or timing your income and tax deductions. If you earn a lot of money and have the option of postponing a portion of the taxable income you will make in 2011 until 2012, this decision can bring you some tax savings. You might also consider accelerating payment of deductible expenses if you are close to the line on itemized deductions - another way to potentially save some bucks. 2. Think about putting more in your 401(k) or

403(b). In 2011, you can contribute up to $16,500 per year to these accounts with a $5,500 catchup contribution also allowed if you are age 50 or older. Has your 2011 contribution reached the annual limit? There is still time to put more into your employer-sponsored retirement plan. The IRS has announced 2012 contribution limits for 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The annual contribution limit for each of these retirement plans will be $17,000 next year; the catch-up contribution again maxes out at $5,500. On a related note, SIMPLE IRA contribution limits will not change next year. Up to $11,500 can be contributed to a SIMPLE IRA in 2012, $14,000 if you are 50 or older. 3. Can you max out your IRA contribution at

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

the start of 2012? If you can do it, do it early - the sooner you make your contribution, the more interest those assets will earn. (If you have not yet made your 2011 IRA contribution, you can still do so through April 17, 2012.) The IRS has decided that IRA contribution limits will not increase next year. In 2012 you will be able to contribute up to $5,000 to a Roth or traditional IRA if you are age 49 or younger, and up to $6,000 if you are age 50 and older (though your MAGI may affect how much you can put into a Roth IRA). The IRS has also boosted the income limits for a tax deduction for traditional IRA contributions. If you participate in a workplace retirement plan in 2012, the MAGI phase-out ranges will be $58,000-68,000 for singles and heads of households and $92,000-112,000 for couples. (In 2011, those phase-out ranges are set $2,000 lower.) If you own an IRA, you aren’t covered by a workplace retirement plan, and you are married and filing jointly, the 2012 phase-out range is $173,000-183,000 based on a couple’s combined MAGI, hiked by $4,000 from 2011. 4. Should you go Roth between now and the end of 2012? While you can no longer divide the income from a Roth IRA conversion across two years of federal tax returns, converting a traditional IRA into a Roth before 2013 may make sense for another reason: federal taxes might be higher in 2013. Congress extended the Bush-era tax cuts through the end of 2012; that sunset may not be delayed any further. Some MAGI phase-out limits affect Roth IRA contributions. These phase-out limits have been adjusted north for 2012. Next year, phaseouts will kick in at $173,000 for joint filers and $110,000 for single filers. (The 2011 phase-outs respectively kick in at $169,000 and $107,000.) Should your MAGI prevent you from contributing to a Roth IRA at all, you still have a chance to contribute to a traditional IRA in 2012 and then roll those IRA assets over into a Roth. Consult a tax or financial professional before you make any IRA moves. You will want see how it may affect your overall financial picture. The tax consequences of a Roth conversion can get sticky if you own multiple traditional IRAs. 5. If you are retired and older than 70½, do not forget an RMD. Retirees over age 70½ must take Required Minimum Distributions from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s by December 31, 2012. Remember that the IRS penalty for failing to take an RMD equals 50% of the RMD amount. If you have turned or will turn 70½ in 2011,

you can postpone your first IRA RMD until April 1, 2012. The downside of that is that you will have to take two IRA RMDs next year, both taxable events – you will have to make your 2011 tax year withdrawal by April 1, 2012 and your 2012 tax year withdrawal by December 31, 2012. Plan your RMDs wisely. If you do so, you may end up limiting or avoiding possible taxes on your Social Security income. Some Social Security recipients do not know about the “provisional income” rule – if your modified AGI plus 50% of your Social Security benefits surpasses a certain level, then a portion of your Social Security benefits become taxable. For tax year 2011, Social Security benefits start to be taxed at provisional income levels of $32,000 for joint filers and $25,000 for single filers. 6. Consider the tax impact of any 2011 transactions. Did you sell any real property this year – or do you plan to before the year ends? Did you start a business? Are you thinking about exercising a stock option? Could any large commissions or bonuses come your way before the end of the year? Did you sell an investment that was held outside of a tax-deferred account? Any of these moves might have a big impact on your taxes. 7. You may wish to make a charitable gift before New Year’s Day. Make a charitable contribution this year and you can claim the deduction on your 2011 return. 8. You could make December the “13th month.” Can you make a January mortgage payment in December, or make a lump sum payment on your mortgage balance? If you have a fixedrate mortgage, a lump sum payment can reduce the home loan amount and the total interest paid on the loan by that much more. In a sense, paying down a debt is almost like getting a risk-free return. 9. Are you marrying next year, or do you know someone who is? The top of 2012 is a good time to review (and possibly change) beneficiaries to your 401(k) or 403(b) account, your IRA, your insurance policy, and other assets. You may want to change beneficiaries in your will. It is also wise to look at your insurance coverage. If your last name is changing, you will need a new Social Security card. Finally, assess your debts and the merits of your existing financial plans. 10. Have you reviewed your withholding status? It may be time for a withholding adjustment if... • You tend to pay a great deal of income tax annually. • You tend to get a big refund each year from the IRS.

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 41

• You recently married or divorced. • A family member recently passed away. • You have a new job that pays you much more than your old one. • You opened up your own business or started freelancing. 11. Don’t delay – get it done. Talk with a qualified financial or tax professional today, so you can focus on being healthy and wealthy in the New Year. Bill Losey, CFP®, CSA, America’s Retirement Strategist®, is a highly sought-after advisor, retirement authority, thought-leader, author, and national TV personality. The former resident retirement expert on CNBC’s “On the Money,” Bill has over 20 years experience in the financial services industry and is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, a Certified Senior Advisor and Certified Retirement Coach. For more information, please visit, www.BillLosey.com. ISI

PAGE 42 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Tired of being stuck in that old rut? Make a New Year’s resolution to stoke new fires for the long, cold winter months! Take a chance, and cozy up to someone who can share the warmth of this holiday season. By responding to one of these ads, you may find the perfect match: someone to hold your hand on winter strolls, to snuggle up with and watch your favorite movies, or to share that first kiss of the New Year. Now is the time to get fresh with a new flame! To those who wish to respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message and address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. If you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please make sure you submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

next issue. There is no charge for this service and your ad may bring warmth to your heart as well. Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the February/March 2012 issue, the deadline is January 10, 2012. SWM who owns own country home. Would like to meet a woman who likes country living. I am a retired contractor and don’t smoke or drink beer. Please write and give your phone number. I will call. Reply ISI, Dept. 7501, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. I am an active, 60-year-old gal who wants to find the right man to enjoy life with. Looking for a companion who is HONEST, no more than a social drinker, and easy going (no hotheads); between 58-67. I like to travel by motor home, car, airplane, or horse! Having time on one’s hands invites spending time enjoying life and having fun. I also enjoy everything from campfires to reading, to being part of the Shriner’s organization. I live and love the Coeur d’Alene/Spokane Inland Northwest. I am 5’4”, blonde, blue eyes, and average weight. I am able to take care of

myself financially, and you be too, please. Reply ISI, Dept. 7502, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Attractive, semi-retired gal wants to have fun with a man who is friendly, likes to laugh, and enjoys life. 59, non-smoker, light drinker; blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’5”, moderately built. I live in the Spokane-Inland Northwest area. I enjoy camping/traveling, gardening, and photography. I enjoy most music way more than TV. Honest and financially secure; you should be, too. Your looks aren’t as important as who you are. Please be between 58-67. Send photo and information about yourself, and I will do the same. Reply ISI, Dept. 7503, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, tall, 5’6”, slim, attractive, upbeat, fun loving. Spiritual. Enjoy cooking, camping, walking together, RVing, traveling, and exploring new places. I like art, movies, and reading. I can be flexible and supportive in my mate’s needs. Want to meet someone to care for, respect, love, and laugh with for the rest of our lives. ISO a gentleman, 60-70, who is warm, caring, romantic, ac-

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 43

tive, honest, secure, and intelligent. We share the same values, sense of humor, and understanding of differences. I would like to meet my loyal soul mate. Send photo and phone number. Time’s awasting! Let’s make life exciting. Reply ISI, Dept. 7504, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI

The Meanest Mom In The World Submitted by Minnie Aken, Yuma, Arizona Do you remember when kids said they had the meanest mom in the world? “My Mom lets me do this, why doesn’t your Mom let you?� Paul Harvey read a letter some time ago on one of his broadcasts about the meanest mother in the world. The woman he was quoting wrote: Surely mine was the meanest mother in the world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal and toast. When others were enjoying pop and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich and fruit. I was not alone in my suffering; my sister and two brothers had the same cruel mother I had. She insisted on knowing where we were ALL the time. She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing, and if we said we would be home in an hour, that meant an hour. When we were young and disobeyed, our tyrannical mother would strike us with a switch! And now you begin to see how really mean she was. But even this physical brutality was not the worst. We had to be in bed early, get up early. We never got to sleep until noon like our friends. While they slept, we worked. I mean my mother broke every child labor law there is; we were not yet sixteen when we had to wash dishes, make beds, help cook, all sorts of cruel things. Surely that meanest mother must have lain awake nights thinking up mean things for us to have to do. She demanded that we tell the truth even if it hurt, and sometimes it hurt like everything. By the time we were teenagers, life became increasingly unbearable. Our dates were not allowed to toot the horn to bring us running as other girls’ dates did. My cruel mother embarrassed us by insisting that our dates come to the door and get us. And where some of our friends got to date when they were twelve, my cruel mother refused to let us date until we were fifteen and then only for school functions. My sister, brothers, and I finally got away from my cruel mother and could do as we pleased, but by then we were helplessly warped and twisted in our behavior. We grew up taking baths and tithing to the church and we never learned not to. None of us ever had the opportunities other young people have – to wreck schoolhouses, drop out of school, or do drugs. Each of us went to school – and learned; went to work – and earned. Each of us got married once. It is a rut. We keep going in the direction in which we have been pushed. And my meanest mother in the world pushed us into this bathing, learning, earning, giving, living, and loving. ISI

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PAGE 44 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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