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Great Falls’ Bob and Donna Sims Run with Purpose

By Bernice Karnop Donna Sims started running competitively when she was 48 years old. She would run to lose weight before that, and to encourage her children to be active. But she credits her husband Bob for getting her into the races.

Bob credits Time Magazine for getting him onto the track.

The since-retired meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Great Falls was catching up on the news when he came across this quote, “Every hour spent exercising you gain back in quality of life.”

Bob, at 47, didn’t think he was competitive. He hadn’t excelled in high school sports. But the quality of life part caught his attention. He entered his first fun run and found out that, well, it was fun! He met fellow runners and the friendly competition and camaraderie pushed him to work harder and run faster.

He was having so much fun that Donna wanted to go along.

Of course she could, he agreed, but on one condition. She had to participate in the races herself.

That was more than 20 years ago. The couple has no idea how many miles they’ve put on their running shoes since then but for a while they raced every weekend of the season, about 30 races a year. Some weekends they ran two races, and once they did three.

Since becoming septuagenarians they’ve scaled back to about 15 per year.

Although by now the Sim’s have collected seven plastic boxes full of medals, Donna didn’t win her first race. She took on this 10k run at Malmstrom Air Force Base without ever having run six miles before. She stumbled over the finish line dead last. She hadn’t expected to win, but she knew she could do better. She went home and practiced until she could run six miles.

“I didn’t realize I’d win until I started winning,” she says with a laugh. “I’m always surprised. I always think someone can pass me.”

(Continued on page 69) Bob and Donna Sims, Great Falls, show the medals they won at the March 9, 2013 Moonlight Run in Lethbridge, Alberta.

This night run is one of their favorites. Look for the Sims at the Montana Senior Olympics in Great Falls in June. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

PAGE 2 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 3

E n d t h e c o n f u s i o n ove r t h e l e g a l i t y

of assisted suicide in Montana “If my doctor had believed in assisted suicide, I would be dead.”

In 1997, I voted for the initiative that legalized assisted suicide in Oregon.

In 2000, I was diagnosed with cancer and told that I had six months to a year to live. I knew that our law had passed, but I didn’t know exactly how to go about doing it. I did not want to suffer, and I did not want to do radiation. I wanted Dr. Stevens to help me, but he didn’t really answer me.

Instead, he encouraged me to not give up and ultimately I decided to fight the cancer. I had both chemotherapy and radiation. I am so happy to be alive!

We Physicians Support HB 505 - this will end the confusion over

It is now 12 years later. If Dr. Stevens had believed in assisted suicide, I would be dead. I thank him and all my doctors for helping me choose “life with dignity.” Assisted suicide should not be legal.

whether physician assisted suicide is legal by clearly providing that physician-assisted suicide is not legal.

Physician assisted suicide means a physician prescribes a lethal medication to another person to commit suicide. This practice is open to abuse and error.

Thank you so much.

Jeanette Hall

"Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physicians’ role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks."

King City, Oregon

AMA ethics opinion 2.211

SCAN TO LEAR N MOR E

T E L L O U R L E G I S L ATO R S A N D G OV E R N O R

Vote

yes on HB 505

W E M O N TA NA P H Y S I C I A N S S U P P O R T A Y E S VOT E O N H B 5 0 5 Tim Adams MD Internal Medicine Bozeman

Annie Bukacek MD Internal Medicine Kalispell

Rob Grasseschi MD Pulmonary & Critical Care Great Falls

Libby Lake MD Family Practice Great Falls

George Mulcair-Jones MD Family Practice Butte

Perrin Roten MD General Surgery Great Falls

Marybeth Adams FNP Family Practice Belgrade

Todd Cameron MD Orthopaedic Surgery Great Falls

Walter Graves MD Cardiovascular Surgery Billings

James Legan MD Internal Medicine Great Falls

Jeannette Noble FNP Family Practice Hamilton

William Rowe MD Cardiology Great Falls Clinic Great Falls

Brice Addison MD Internal Medicine Great Falls

Ralph Campbell MD Pediatrics Kalispell

John L Greene MD Neurological Surgery Kalispell

John Madany MD Family Practice Dillon

Daniel O'Neill DDS Dentistry Butte

Antonio Santin MD Plastic Surgery Great Falls

Dave Anderson MD Pulmonary & Critical Care Great Falls

Mark A Channer MD Orthopaedic Surgery Missoula

Karl Guter MD Medical Oncology Great Falls

John Mahan MD Internal Medicine Great Falls

Peter O'Reilly MD Anesthesiology Bozeman

Dale Schaefer MD Neurological Surgery Great Falls

Jim Asthalter DO Family Practice Great Falls

Allie Davis Medical Student Kalispell

Aimee Hachigian-Gould MD Orthopaedic Surgery Great Falls

James Mailander MD Radiology Great Falls

Albert Olszewski MD Orthopaedic Surgery Kalispell

John Schvaneveldt MD Ear/Nose & Throat Kalispell

Andrew Barber MD Emergency Medicine Great Falls

Dennis Dietrich MD Neurology Great Falls

John Hackethorn MD Radiology Polson

Mel Margaris MD Family Practice Great Falls

Lyle Onstad MD Family Practice Great Falls

Mark Seal MD Urology Great Falls

Gabor Benda MD Family Practice Bozeman

William Doyle MD Emergency Medicine Hamilton

David W Hafer DDS MS Maxillofacial Surgery Kalispell

Thomas Matsko MD Ophthamology Great Falls

Michael Orcutt MD Vascular Surgery Great Falls

Dane Sobek MD Cardiology Bozeman

Don Berdeaux MD Oncology Great Falls

Dave Enbrecht MD Family Practice Great Falls

Jim Harkness DO Family Practice Great Falls

Bob Maynard MD Internal Medicine Great Falls

Varghese Parambi MD Nephrology Great Falls

Larry Sonnenberg MD Family Practice Bozeman

Brad Bergman MD Internal Medicine Great Falls

Andy Engdahl MD Radiology Kalispell

Todd Harper MD Emergency Great Falls

Nancy Maynard MD Pediatrics Great Falls

John Patterson MD Family Practice Bozeman

Doug Swift MD Internal Medicine Billings

Richard Best MD General/Thoracic Surgery Butte

Mary Ann Evans MD Psychiatry Great Falls

John Heine MD OB/GYN Kalispell

Kevin McCafferty MD Emergency Medicine Kalispell

Mark Peterson MD Anesthesiology Great Falls

Geoffrey Taylor DO Anesthesiology Kalispell

Kathleen Blair DO Internal Medicine Great Falls

Danniel Gannon MD Orthopaedic Surgery Bozeman

William E Henning DO Neurology Great Falls

David McLaughlin MD Family Practice Bozeman

Gordon Phillips MD OB/GYN Great Falls

James Threatt MD Ophthamology Billings

Richard Blevins MD Pulmonary & Critical Care Great Falls

Michael Garver MD Pediatrics Great Falls

William Highfill MD Cardiology Kalispell

Wayne A Miller MD Ear/Nose & Throat Kalispell

Leonard Ramsey MD Family Practice Bozeman

Jason Tingey MD Anesthesiology Great Falls

David Boes MD Ophthamology Great Falls

Shaun J Gillis MD OB/GYN Bozeman

Larry Iwersen MD Orthopaedic Surgery Kalispell

Fred Miller MD Internal Medicine Great Falls

Dan Rausch MD Family Practice Kalispell

Craig Treptow MD Family Practice Great Falls

Michael Boharski MD Gastroenterology Kalispell

Dan Gordon MD Family Practice Great Falls

Paul Johnson MD Sports Medicine Great Falls

Christine L Mitchell MD Family Practice Bozeman

David B Roberts MD OB/GYN Red Lodge

Robin Lynn Treptow PhD Psychology Great Falls

Don Bossard MD Family Practice Whitefish

Paul Gorsuch MD Neurological Surgery Great Falls

John Kalbfleisch MD Family Practice Whitefish

Kirsten Morissette MD Family Practice Kalispell

Pamela Roberts MD Family Practice Kalispell

Thomas Triehy DO Family Practice Great Falls

Keener Boyce MD Anesthesiology Great Falls

Lea Gorsuch MD Orthopaedic Surgery Great Falls

Jeff Kessler MD Radiology Great Falls

Mark Mozer MD Psychiatry Great Falls

Carley Robertson MD Emergency Havre

John VanArendonk MD Emergency Medicine Kalispell

Find out more at EndTheConfusion.org

Philip Vercio MD Anesthesiology Great Falls Dan Walker MD Cardiology Great Falls Mike Walters MD Radiology Great Falls K Allan Ward MD Physical Medicine Great Falls Tom Weiner MD Oncology Helena Carey Welsh MD Family Practice Great Falls Heather J Wheeler MD Family Practice Bozeman Kenneth Whipple DO Anesthesiology Great Falls Glenn Winslow MD General Surgery Great Falls Richard Wise MD Addiction Medicine Kalispell Robert Wynia MD Internal Medicine Helena Jim Yturri MD Internal Medicine Great Falls

PAGE 4 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

Montana Senior News A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3363 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3363 406-761-0305 or 800-672-8477 FAX 406-761-8358 montanaseniornews.com email: montsrnews@bresnan.net The Montana Senior News is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October and December at 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Montana.

The mail subscription rate is $8.00 per year (6 issues). The Montana Senior News is written to serve the reading interests of mature Montanans 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 Montana Senior News 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 Kathleen McGregor Lisa Gebo Jonathan Rimmel Peter Thornburg Sherrie Smith Nann Parrett

Production Supervisor Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Production Assistant Graphic Designer Distribution Admin/Production Assistant Editorial Assistant

Contributing Writers Bob Campbell Connie Daugherty Clare Hafferman Sue Hart Kim Thielman-Ibes Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig Larcom Liz Larcom Michael McGough Jack McNeel Dianna Troyer © 2013

If Necessary I Want To Choose How I Die Thank you, Roberta King for your story about Bob Baxter, your father, on the right to die with dignity. My experience is very similar.

Without the choice in dying, many family members are traumatized by watching their loved ones die a horrible, drawn out, painful, and undignified death.

“No aid in dying” is the reason so many people would prefer to take their own lives when the time is right. They have the choice.

Elder abuse falls into a whole different topic and I say let it be. Elder abuse occurs mostly long before there is even an issue of the end of life.

Suicide is a subject all its own.

As Montanans we must stand up and fight for our right to choose!

B. Millar Malta

Reader Submits Article Hello, friends at Montana Senior News. You may remember me as the fellow now living in New York City who spent his childhood in Helena (1946 to mid-1955).

While reading the February/March issue of MSN, which I greatly enjoyed as usual, I came across the Beyond Montana section on page 29 and thought of something.

An article of mine, A Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, which recounts my experience in northern Spain last October, is being published locally. If you would like to reprint the article after reading it, I would be glad to provide it for you. It includes a photo or two, and is scheduled to come out today.

If you have any interest, please let me know, and I will send you the article either in online form or in a hard copy.

With best wishes, John F. Early New York City ED: We have posted Mr. Early’s article to our web site montanaseniornews.com.

Enjoys Montana Senior News I want to thank you for your Montana Senior News. Your cute short stories I look for first. They are always morally clean so you can share them with friends with a clean conscience. The medical advice and health suggestions are helpful too.

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Online Make a payment directly from your checking, savings or money market account – or if you prefer – pay using your credit/debit/ATM card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover Card), through our association with SpeedPay Inc.® Phone Call (800) 218-4959 to pay with your checking, savings or money market account. Call (877) 361-4927 to pay with your credit/debit or ATM card.

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APRIL/MAY 2013

And I really do enjoy the Contest Corner with the puzzles and games. It is so important for us to stay fit mentally also.

Thank you and keep up the good work!

JoAnn Kohler Kalispell

Underage Vets Respond I don’t know quite how to express fully my appreciation and gratitude to your publication for printing my letter on Underage Veterans (VUMS), in your February/March issue. It was only a few days after this issue was on the stands of local stores, that I received calls from Underage Vets wanting to join our unique unit.

I and other Underage Vets will be forever in your debt for this kindness on your part.

I would appreciate it if you would print my letter in your Idaho Senior Independent, too. Hopefully this would be helpful to us in reaching underage vets there as well.

Thank you ever so much.

Duane Enger Kalispell

Very Professional Writers Throughout our professional lives, we have experienced much written interview material. In my opinion, the Larcom couple from the Montana Senior News is in the top echelon of reporters able to relate a factual story.

Craig may be busy listening, but Liz was busy applying her shorthand skills during our conversations and her questions of clarification.

So she has no tendency to modify one’s expressions, relating only what she and Craig had heard. It was a happy and most pleasing experience and very professionally done.

Although they have certainly not suggested such, perhaps you might have them interview the Governor on his first 100 days in the office. He would not be disappointed.

Thank you.

Vincent and June Werner Missoula MSN

Oranges and Lemons: Rhymes from Past Times

by Karen Dolby; Michael O’Mara Books Limited, London; 2012 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty Oranges and Lemons, by Karen Dolby will immediately transfer you back to your childhood with rhymes that are “interwoven with earliest memories� – memories of innocent playtime as well as quiet reading with a parent or grandparent.

Dolby remarks how surprising it was to find that those verses, mostly ignored for years, have been “effortlessly fixed in‌ memory when it seems so easy to forget much‌ [she] tried to learn since.â€?

In her anthology of classic favorites, recently released and distributed by Trafalgar Square Publishing in Chicago, Dolby recalls her own childhood. “I can still remember the book of rhymes I looked at with my mother when I was very small,� she writes. But she takes those memories and delves further, exploring the origin of some of her favorite rhymes. Well researched and presented, with an index and bibliography, Oranges and Lemons is an enjoyable, light read for the memories it evokes and well as for the information the author provides.

In her research, Dolby discovered that, “some of the oldest rhymes have the best-documented histories.� With others, she says the origins can be hidden and therefore impossible to find out what is true. Her thorough research dispels some familiar myths about some of the most well known rhymes like Ring-A-Ring O’ Roses, and confirms the origin stories of others.

The book is divided into eleven sections, organized by selected themes. The first section is about alphabet and counting rhymes – methods that are still familiar around the world for teaching children to read and to count. Most of the rhymes in this section are still familiar today, and it is interesting to know that some of the origins probably had nothing to do with children or teaching, but just with

accounting – for the sheep in a pen for example.

In the next section, Dolby discusses nursery rhymes derived from longer ballads, “originally cheaply printed‌ widely circulated and often displayed on tavern walls.â€? She also notes that these “innocent stories‌ often had morality talks or underlying political messages.â€? For instance, check out There was a Crooked Man. What are called, “fortune rhymesâ€? are the focus of the next section; rhymes that celebrate festivals and reflect, “many ancient superstitions connected to the days of the week and seasons.â€? Included here are the familiar, Monday’s Child is Fair of Face, Sneeze on Monday, and Solomon Grundy.

Long before the Inquirer and People Magazine, inquiring minds wanted to know and loved to gossip, but they had to be a little more cautious about what they said about whom, especially the royalty. “As a result,�

Dolby explains, “true identities were often hidden behind apparently innocent verses.� In this section, she explores the history of France and England and touches on other European countries from as far back as the 16th century through popular children’s rhymes. Ever wonder about Old King Cole, The Queen of Continued on page 9

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PAGE 6 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Missouri River Country: Plenty of Room, Plenty to Do Article & Photo By Bernice Karnop Montana’s travel industry calls the area from Fort Belknap Reservation to the North Dakota line, Missouri River Country, and for good reason. On Montana maps, the wide blue line of the Missouri River dominates the area. For most of the 19th century, this waterway was the main artery to the heart of Montana.

Outdoor enthusiasts love the vast areas that remain beyond the impact of civilization. A stunning amount of large and small wildlife, birds, and prairie plants and flowers thrive out here. Public lands provide access to such places, including the C.M. Russell Wildlife Refuge, the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and Brush Lake State Park.

It would be a dream come true to spend a month or two like those early settlers floating the river this summer or hiking across the unbroken prairie. However, you’ll find plenty to lure you to Missouri River Country even if you never leave the pavement. Here are some spots to add to your Northeast Montana bucket list.

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Little Rockies were named by Lewis and Clark, Be sure to ask about the South Valley Wildlife who added the “little” when they realized there viewing Area, a 65-mile-long opportunity to view were bigger ones to come. They are a lovely wildlife. Check with the BLM office for maps, road oasis on the prairie, with populations of bighorn conditions and other information. sheep, deer, beaver, and porcupine as well as Fort Peck – Fort Peck Dam is the reason dozens of beautiMontana maps ful songbirds and look like a blotter wildflowers. smudged by an From here it’s old-fashioned ink not far to James pen. This earthKipp Park, just off filled structure the Fred Robinson that was started Bridge on Monin 1933 during the tana 191. Here Great Depression near the western backs up the largextremity of the est body of water 1.1 million acre in the state. The Charles M. Rusnew Fort Peck sell National WildInterpretive Cenlife Refuge. Folks ter and Museum at the Slippery Fort Peck Lake is the biggest recreational draw in Missouri is a showcase of Ann Wildlife Sta- River country. It boasts as many miles of shoreline as California! wildlife and paletion can answer People enjoy the boating, camping, hunting, sightseeing, and wildlife ontology as well arguably, the biggest draw is fishing. your questions watching,It’sbut as the riveting nationally recognized for its walleye fishing, with catches and get you start- of two- to four-pound fish common, and ten-pounders possible. Fort story of the dam’s ed on the 20-mile Peck also offers exciting fishing for sauger, smallmouth bass, lake c o n s t r u c t i o n . self-guided auto trout, Chinook salmon, and northern pike.

You’ll be met by The Fort Peck Multi Species Fish Hatchery, built in 2006, is tour that takes “Peck’s Rex” the a state of the art “aqua-culture factory” owned by the Army Corps you out to where of Engineers but staffed and operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife and fill-sized, fleshed Lewis and Clark Parks. It has 64 rearing tanks and incubation capacity for up to 125 out replica of the camped May 22, million walleye eggs, 500,000 Chinook salmon eggs, and 350,000 Tyrannosaurus rainbow trout eggs, according to their web site. It boasts 40 outdoor R e x f o u n d 2 0 1805. ponds and 8 concrete raceways. A computer regulates water flow and Malta – The temperature enabling this hatchery to produce millions of fish for the miles southeast Phillips County state of Montana of town. It is one Museum in Malta of the most comprovides a round up of the area’s human history. plete Tyrannosaurs Rex skeletons ever found.

The Judith Dinosaur Field Station fills in the preNearby is the Powerhouse Museum, which history. “Leonardo,” a 77- million-year-old mum- includes a collection of Indian artifacts and fosmified Brachylophosaurus, was declared the sils uncovered during the construction of the world’s best-preserved dinosaur in the Guinness dam. You may also visit the Fort Peck PaleontolBook of World Records. He was found north of ogy Field Station.

Malta but you can meet him at the field station Six recreation areas nearby provide access and get a look at their fossil laboratory. to the water for fishing and boating. You can If you want to see birds, stop at Bowdoin enjoy the three-mile-long Beaver Creek Nature National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Malta. Trail along the Missouri River with the grandIt’s known for the many pelicans that nest here children, which starts at the campground in the but spring migration brings thousands of other townsite. feathered travelers to the area. Bring your fishing Wolf Point – Lewis and Clark also camped gear and go on to Nelson Reservoir, well known near Wolf Point where Clark reported that he to anglers and water recreationists. killed a grizzly bear. If you’re in Wolf Point the Glasgow – Glasgow is the biggest town in second week of July you can take in the oldest Missouri River Country so you can restock your pro-rodeo in Montana, the Wolf Point Wild Horse larder and fill your gas tank here. The folks would Stampede. Wolf Point is on the Fort Peck Indian be proud to have you stop at their Valley County Reservation, home to the Sioux and Assiniboine

APRIL/MAY 2013

nations.

Fort Union – The eastern most attraction in Missouri River Country is Fort Union National Historic Site, at the confluence of the Missouri and the Yellowstone Rivers. It’s so far east, in fact, that it is in North Dakota. The parking lot, however is in Montana. The first time I stopped here, you could see the outlines of the buildings and walls but it left much to the imagination. Since then the National Park Service has excavated it uncovering interesting artifacts, and has rebuilt the walls and the elegant white and green trimmed house. This fur trading post was the principal depot in the Upper Missouri River Country from 1828 until 1867. For 40 years, it was an outpost of civilization in the middle of the wilderness, appreciated by notable guests such as artist George Catlin, naturalist John James Audubon, artist Carl Bodmer, and Prince Maximillian. MSN

From the time Lewis and Clark passed in 1804 until the railroads replaced the river as the main thoroughfare into Montana, the grassy plain near the confluence of the Missouri and the Yellowstone Rivers was one of the most significant spots in Montana. It was the launching pad to our state from “the states.” The American Fur Company built Fort Union here in 1828, just over two decades from the corps of Discovery’s trip. Scottishborn Kenneth McKenzie oversaw the construction and became the first bourgeois, or superintendent.

This fur trading post was the principal depot on the Upper Missouri River Country, including the Dakotas, Montana, and the Canadian Prairie Provinces, from 1828 to 1867. The main gate faced the river and a second gate on the north side of the fort looked out to a flat area where tribes set up their teepees.

Bourgeois Alexander Culbertson’s white linens and fine china were a stark contrast to the rough way of life outside the palisade walls.

Colorful Expressions Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Well, if you hold your horses, I reckon I’ll get this whole kit and caboodle done and sent off to you. Please don’t be too persnickety and get a bee in your bonnet because I’ve been pretty tuckered out. I haven’t been just stringin’ around and I know I’m not the only duck in the pond, but I do have too many irons in the fire. I might just be barking at a knot, but I have tried to give this article more than just... a lick and a promise.

“I’ll just give this a lick and a promise,” my mother used to say as she quickly mopped up a spill on the floor without moving any of the furniture.

“What is that supposed to mean,” I asked as in my young mind I envisioned someone licking the floor with his or her tongue.

“It means that I’m in a hurry and I’m busy canning tomatoes so I am going to just give it a quick swipe with the mop and promise to come back and do the job right later.”

A lick and a promise was just one of the many old phrases that our mothers, grandmothers, and others used that they probably heard from the generations before them. With the passing of time, many old phrases become obsolete or even disappear. This is unfortunate because some of them are very appropriate and humorous. Below are a few of these expressions that have added color to the English language over the years.

A Bone to Pick - wanting to discuss a disagreement.

An Axe to Grind - someone who has a hidden motive. This phrase is said to have originated from Benjamin Franklin who told a story about a devious man who asked how a grinding wheel worked. He ended up walking away with his axe sharpened free of charge.

One bad apple spoils the whole barrel - one corrupt person can cause others to go bad if you don’t remove the bad one.

At sea - lost or not understanding something.

Bad egg - someone who was not a good person. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 7

PAGE 8 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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By Connie Daugherty Trapped by April Christofferson; TOR Books.; New York, 2012 Trapped, the most recent novel by April Christofferson, is a love story – love of all that is important to the characters. It is a purpose-driven story about victims, both two-legged and fourlegged, and those who champion them. The title, Trapped, hints at events in the story – trapping of wild animals – but is also symbolic – people trapped by circumstances and events.

Whisper Little Wolf, a young Blackfeet woman is a victim due to her race – victimized by “typical Flathead-area white� [residents] who don’t much like having anything to do with their Native American neighbors. An unknown young man and a Good Samaritan are gunshot victims because guns are allowed in National Park campgrounds.

A young woman is victimized when she finds her beloved dog caught in a leghold trap set by a careless hunter. Wolves in Yellowstone Park, wolverines in Glacier and even a beloved pet dog are victims of illegal trapping operations. Even the heroes of the story are victims, albeit victims with the determination, strength, and power to fight back.

In her introduction, Christofferson makes it clear that Trapped is a book with purpose far beyond entertainment. It is a book with a message – a tribute to the victims of Montana’s modern society as well as to their heroes. While the message is sincere and laudable, the generalized characterization of hunters, white people who live near Indian Reservations, and even ordinary visitors to Yellowstone and Glacier Parks sometimes gets in the way of a well-written, passion-packed story peopled with fantastic characters. The plot is a clever combination of expected and totally surprising twists and turns.

Will McCarroll, Yellowstone Park backcountry ranger, is exasperated with what is happening to the land that he loves. The world of the national parks is changing and not necessarily for the

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better. When Will defuses a potentially explosive situation by doing what is right, if not totally legal.

He is seriously reprimanded, but not fired. Instead, he is transferred from his beloved Lamar valley and Yellowstone Park to Glacier.

Not only does he have to leave the land and the animals he loves under someone else’s care, he is also leaving Annie. And just when something good and long lasting was developing between them. “Will had not only lived for almost thirty years with wild animals who survived based on instinct, in many ways, he’d become just like them, operating on instinct, the foremost which was the survival instinct. And Will’s survival‌had depended on the wall he’d built around himself.â€? That is until Judge Annie Peacock had come into his life.

Now they are being torn apart and there is no guarantee that what they were so carefully, gently building would survive. Reluctantly Will drives across the state of Montana. Meanwhile trouble is brewing in the Yellowstone backcountry that is connected to animal research in Glacier.

Johnny Yellow Kidney, a wildlife biologist and researcher, who lives and works out of East Glacier is livid. He has just been told that his uniquely developed wolverine scent lure has been used in an illegal leghold trap in Yellowstone’s back country. The wolverine, a research study animal, died trying to get free. But Johnny doesn’t share his specific scent lures with anyone. How could his lure be used in Yellowstone by anyone but another researcher?

The possibility that someone might deliberately set out, scent lure in hand, to trap the rare and elusive wolverines‌ had planted a seed of anxiety in his gut.â€? That the lure might be one of his was unthinkable. “Throwing open the freezer, Johnny slid the bottom tray out, then slammed his fist into the refrigerator’s door.â€? It’s true some of his scent lures are missing.

Back in Gardner, Montana, a suspect in the illegal trapping of the wolverine in Yellowstone’s backcountry is brought before Judge Annie Peacock. All the evidence points toward the arrogant, egotistical suspect being the culprit in the trapping incident. However, strong as the evidence seems to be it only provides probability, not proof positive.

Reluctantly, knowing in her heart that the man is guilty, Annie has to allow him to go free.

What can the trapper in Yellowstone, a missing hiker in Glacier, upcoming senate hearings in Washington DC, a predator derby sponsored by a local radio station, an unscrupulous dentist, and a radical offshoot of the American Rifle Foundation have in common? Seemingly nothing at all but, Will McCarrroll seems to be at the center of much of what is going on and he is alone and out of touch in Glacier’s backcounty. As Annie begins to see the possible relationships in these events, she is certain that Will’s life is in danger, but without absolute proof, she has a difficult time convincing the over-extended Fish Wildlife & Parks administration. So she turns to her old college friend, Johnny Yellow Kidney. Johnny never could say no to Annie.

Trapped is one of those books that should be on your definitely-read list no matter where you stand politically on the issues discussed in its pages. This small paperback is perfect for taking in the car or camper when you visit Montana’s parks and forests. It is also available in Kindle format.

April Christofferson is a highly acclaimed author of numerous novels including Alpha Female (Will McCarroll & Annie Peacock introduced here) and Buffalo Medicine, which are also set in Montana. She is a former attorney in the biotech industry and a passionate wildlife activist with a background in biology and veterinary medicine.

She divides her time between Lolo, Montana, Glacier Park, and Yellowstone. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 9

Oranges and Lemons - continued from page 5 Hearts, or good old, Humpty Dumpty?

“Even today, nursery rhymes are appropriated and adapted… the same verse could apply to several different people or events. The mystery surrounding them seems to add to their charm,” Dolby writes in the introduction to the next section.

So who are Georgie Porgie, Jack Sprat, Little Bo Peep, or Little Boy Blue really?

The next section focuses on animal rhymes.

Some of the rhymes in this section “hark back to ancient legends” and “a rich strand of folklore and superstition,” Dolby writes. While others are more contemporary, inspired by people, politics, and events. Did you know for instance that Baa, Baa Black Sheep was about a 13th century wool tax and that Mary had a Little Lamb was inspired by a true story or that it was considered bad luck to kill a ladybug?

In the section that features the book’s title, Dolby explores rhymes with catchy or repetitive lyrics taken from longer folk songs that “made them popular for children’s games.” Some of these familiar songs date from the 1600s others are as recent as the 19th century; most have been added to or changed over the years. Check how Lavender’s Blue has changed over time. What about Oh Where, Oh Where has My Little Dog Gone, and the featured rhyme, Oranges and Lemons. How many verses of Yankee Doodle do you know?

How often have you heard children reciting a TV commercial? It seems that this has a long history. In the next section, Dolby touches on rhymes going back as far as Roman times used as advertisements. “Travelling pedlars… craftsmen” and vendors at fairs or the open market places would shout out sing-song rhymes to advertise their goods She reminds us that “children have kept these rhymes alive, setting clapping and other

games and actions to them.” Think about Do You Know the Muffin Man, Peas Pudding Hot, and even Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake Baker’s Man. In one of her final sections, Dolby discusses the weather. “A wealth of weather lore developed alongside proverb-type rhymes about weather and moral warning,” she writes. “These were passed on through an oral folk tradition for centuries until they were finally written down.” Most in this section are still familiar today, for example, Rain, Rain Go Away.

Lullabies have probably always been a part of a mother’s repertoire, no matter how good or bad the singing voice. However, Dolby suggests that, “gentle rhythms and soothing sounds sometimes disguise… references to pagan beliefs in nature magic, good spells, and the occasional royal reference.” Think about Rock-a-Bye, Baby, and I See the Moon.

In the last section, Dolby has fun with tongue twisters and rhyming riddles. Most of which are still familiar. How fast can you recite Peter Piper Picked a Peck? How about As I was Going to St. Ives – do you remember if it was an early math story problem or something more?

Oranges and Lemons: Rhymes from Past Times is just plain fun with a plenty of interesting facts thrown in for good measure, sort of like the last chapter of the book. It is definitely worth reading.

Karen Dolby has written a wide range of books for both children and adults including Chocolate Island, Dragon in the Cupboard, and House of Shadows as well as Homework Help for Moms and Dads. A collector of stories and strange facts, she inherited her love of nursery rhymes from her mother. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2013

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Turning A $450 Million Surplus Into Cash For The Rich And Benefit Cuts For The Rest

By Bob Campbell The first indication of how extreme the Republican leadership would be this session was the disclosure of the pre-session e-mails of the ultra conservatives agreeing to replace last session’s moderate Republican leadership. The moderates had committed the sin of compromising with the Democrats and ending up with a state surplus of $450 million dollars.

The general election increased the Republican majorities in both the house and senate. The new true believers wasted no time in appointing their own to chair committees and they selected all committee members with a 2 to 1 Republican majority.

The first half of the session went as planned and they walked softly while keeping Democrats and the public from realizing how they can use their super majorities to achieve their goals.

When the second half of the session started, the important appropriation bills were presented and this time the gloves were off as the House Appropriations committee began to methodically reject 11% of the proposed governor’s budget.

For every dollar we pay in federal taxes,

the state receives about $1.50 in return, which amounts to 40% of our entire state budget.

The most destructive threat this session is the proposed rejection of the federal funding for accepting the increased Medicaid benefits in the Affordable Care Act. This would finally provide much needed medical care for 60,000 Montanans while creating 12,700 new jobs and adding four billion dollars to our state economy.

We need the new Medicaid benefits finally to provide care for families who have no medical coverage and must wait until they receive emergency medical care. This costs our health system $350 million a year. The startup costs of the added Medicaid program are all paid in full and if the legislature rejects it the money will go to other states that recognize its value.

The tax cuts for the wealthy are being used as an excuse to reduce the budget surplus and while reducing the necessities needed to improve the quality of our lives.

If this matters to you, call and leave a message with your senate and house representative at 406444-4800 or www.leg.mt.gov. MSN

Aaniiih Nakoda College Empowering Identity September 22, 2012 was a historic day for Fort Belknap Indian Reservation residents; the Tribal Council signed a resolution to change the name of Fort Belknap College to Aaniiih Nakoda College. The new college name proclaims the names of the two Indian Nations that inhabit this Indian reservation. Aaniiih Nakoda College is currently in its 29th year offering academic and vocational programs for the Reservation and surrounding area residents. The campus has grown from a few trailer house classrooms to a centralized campus. ANC is accredited through NWCCU and offers courses from American Indian Studies to carpentry, human services, professional development, and traditional plants. The open door policy encourages everyone and anyone to visit and register for courses.

The Ekib Tsah ah Tsik Cultural Center houses

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the Tribal historical archives and the White Clay Language Immersion School grades 1-3. The KGVA 88.1 FM public radio station is an integral part of the College. Empowering identity gives ownership to the each student who attends “their” college. The self-esteem and pride that grows from each student is testimony of self-determination that is echoed in the College Mission Statement. For more information visit www.ancollege.edu. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2013

Habitat For Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley Celebrates 20th Anniversary Habitat for Humanity Mid-Yellowstone Valley has been partnering with low-income households, generous donors, and community volunteers to build homes in Yellowstone County since 1992.

Habitat’s mission is to raise people out of poverty housing. Program participants must complete sweat equity labor as part of their eligibility for purchasing a Habitat house with a 0% interest loan.

The homebuyers learn construction skills and complete education classes on financial responsibility, home ownership, and basic home maintenance.

Typically, the sweat equity and other program requirements can be completed in 18 months.

Habitat for Humanity MYV builds four homes per year and has now raised 62 families out of substandard housing in Yellowstone County. Children who live in decent and safe homes do better in their school years and later in life. Habitat for Humanity has been able to provide those things to nearly 200 children in our community to date and plans to continue growing and assisting those in need for decades to come.

Please see Habitat for Humanity’s advertisement on page 71 for more information, and call 406-652-0960 to learn about qualifying for home ownership. MSN

April Is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

By Lydia Skoog, APDA Parkinson’s Coordinator Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system affecting more than 1.5 million people in the United States. Clinically, the disease is characterized by a decrease in spontaneous movement, gait difficulty, postural instability, rigidity, and tremor. Parkinson’s disease generally affects those over 60 years old, but is increasingly affecting people who are 20 through 50 years of age.

It does not discriminate. There is treatment to ease the symptoms, but there is not yet a cure.

In Great Falls at Benefis Health System, the American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc. (APDA) is hard at work helping to “Ease the Burden and Find the Cure” across the state. Through the efforts of the APDA, we are able to provide information, referrals, patient and family support, education, and fund ongoing research. Founded more that 52 years ago, the APDA continues to help those affected by this disease.

April 11 marks the birthday of Dr. James Parkinson, who first recognized the disease now named for him. We can help to promote awareness about this disease by taking time to support and encourage those living with Parkinson’s and their care-partners. For more information, call Lydia at 406-455-2964 or 1-800-233-9040. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 11

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Valued. Essential Each of us wants to know that our lives have made a difference. Through our actions and deeds, we seek to leave our mark on our community and demonstrate to friends and family what we stand for.

A very significant way to do that is to include MontanaPBS in your estate plans. Your planned gift donation will help to assure that the kinds of programs that have meaning to you today will be available to others long into the future.

For this reason, your planned gift represents a remarkable legacy that you leave to your children, grandchildren, friends, and community. Your gift can help to ensure that, no matter what happens to other media, a beacon of quality will continue to shine over the state of Montana, encouraging lifelong learning and fostering the vitality and spirit of our region.

Your planned gift donation enables us to fulfill our mission: sharing diverse stories; connecting our citizens; discovering common ground; and celebrating the independent spirit and beauty of Montana.

Share your values with future generations through a planned gift to MontanaPBS. Please contact us for further information at 406-9943437. MSN

First It Was Polio, Now It Is Birth Defects – The March Of Dimes Is There When Needed “Mom, there is something wrong with the baby and he is in the NICU.” I have received this phone call three times. A rollercoaster of emotions and questions followed. I am not only the grandmother in this scenario but I am a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse and I knew the only organization that could help my daughter was the March of Dimes. It was the most difficult time of my life as I watched my grandbabies fight for their lives because they were born too early. I am happy to say that all three babies are now healthy and happy.

This is why I participate every year in the March for Babies campaign conducted by the March of Dimes. This year there will be eight walks

across Montana. This year is special because they are celebrating not only all of the babies and families, but also 75 years of research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Seventy-five years ago, March of Dimes started with the mission to knock out polio – and they accomplished this! Now they have a new mission of preventing premature births, birth defects, and infant mortality.

They need our help. I am proudly pushing a stroller with my healthy grandbaby tucked in, for the March for Babies event in Great Falls. Won’t you join me? For more information on a March for Babies event near you, call 406-206-1684! MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2013

As society becomes more completely integrated with the technological advancements that now seem a natural part of our world, it is hard to imagine life without them. This month’s Remember When selection takes us back to Thomas Edison, the father of modern industrial research, his relentless focus on making things work better and easier, and his immeasurable contributions to our technological advancement.

Thank you to Mike McGough for sharing Thomas Edison – A Master Of The Genius Of Work with our readers. Mike is the winner of our $25 Remember When prize for this issue.

Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections, contributions describing fictional

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Thomas Edison â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Master Of The Genius Of Work

By Mike McGough The Wizard of Menlo Park may well be the person most responsible for launching an early twentieth century age of technological and scientific development the likes of which the world had never seen before, and the legacy of which continues today. In fact, the name Thomas Edison is synonymous with inventive genius.

Coming along as the last of seven children in a working-class family, he began life without a hint of pretension, fortune, or fame. From a young age, he learned the virtue of work, he understood the power of practicality, and he saw fallacy in pretentiousness. By the time he died, his fortune was considerable, his practical improvements to life were numerous, and he was arguably one of the most famous men in the

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or non-fictional accounts from the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Days,â&#x20AC;? or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included.

Each issue of the Montana Senior News features the contributions 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 June/July 2013 issue. Mail your correspondence to Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to montsrnews@bresnan.net; or call 1-800-6728477 or 406-761-0305. Visit us online at www. montanaseniornews.com.

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His goal in life was simple; he wanted to make peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives better! Toward that end, he seems to have missed no opportunity to do just that. His 1,093 inventions are a monument to creativity, development, and just plain genius. Unlike other inventors, he was seldom satisfied even with his own progress. Instead, he continually worked to improve, expand, and support his discoveries.

His first invention, a vote counter, was a financial failure. He resolved that his future efforts would be driven by realistic need and the potential for practical application. His favorite invention was the phonograph. This was the invention that he called his baby. Improving it numerous times over more than fifty years, he is credited with giving birth to the modern recording industry. Interestingly, the invention for which he is best known, the light bulb, is actually not something that he invented. Many inventors had been working with electric lighting for years before Thomas Edisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breakthrough in 1879. What Edison created was the first practical electric light bulb and the electrical system needed to light the world.

In 1928, the United States Congress awarded Mr. Edison a Medal of Honor for his lifetime achievements. Although the achievements and contributions of Thomas Alva Edison in the fields of science, and engineering are clearly notable, his observations and reflections on life are often overlooked. He possessed an extraordinary gift for observation and reflection combined with a Ben Franklin-style of wit and wisdom.

Among his most noteworthy reflections is the observation that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Opportunity is missed by most people because it is often dressed in overalls and looks like work.â&#x20AC;? Regardless of what it is that you are trying to accomplish, there are few substitutes for hard work and stick-to-itiveness. Realizing early on in life that work is the fuel that powers discovery and invention, Edison embraced it. He learned that work by itself is often not glamorous

APRIL/MAY 2013

or sensational. Throughout his life, he admired a positive work ethic in others. Another reflection on this topic illustrates his admiration for those who appreciate the value of work. “I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.”

The research and development laboratories established by Edison in Newark, Menlo Park, and West Orange, New Jersey were the first of their kind, and they are the models on which modern research laboratories and think tanks are based.

Once asked what rules he enforced around his facilities that made them so successful, he responded with, “Hell, there are no rules here - we’re trying to accomplish something.”

As disciplined a worker as Edison was, he was

Cousin Sheila:

equally committed to freethinking and the endless power of human imagination. Thinking outside of the box and breaking old paradigms were commonplace around his labs. Free thinkers were not only tolerated, they were welcomed with open arms!

Edison’s extraordinary accomplishments led many to believe that he was blessed with equally extraordinary talents and abilities. He always believed otherwise. He believed that, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

He contended that human potential is vast; that our creativity is limited largely by our lack of imagination, and that man’s potential for innovation and invention is huge. He once said, “If we did

She’s Like Everyone Else,

Submitted by Pearl Hoffman, Los Angeles, CA She thinks of herself as the ultimate pace-setter.

Whatever we’ve done, we should have done better.

The tears that we’ve shed, she could’ve shed wetter.

I bet if we bled, she would have bled redder!

She boasts that her husband and children revere her; Her family and friends, they laud and they cheer her.

Strangers have told her they’re thrilled to be near her.

Her perfection must cause the devil to fear her!

Keeping A Positive Attitude In Trying Situations Submitted by Julie Fink-Hollar-Brantley One day I hopped in a taxi for a ride to the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and just missed the other car by inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And, I mean he was friendly.

So, I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!”

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage frustration, anger, and disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes the dump it on you.

But the taxi driver said not to take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

Do not take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones who don’t.

Because life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! Have a blessed, garbage-free day! MSN

An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have.

The older she gets the more interested he is in her.

- Agatha Christie

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 13

all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

The legacy of Edison’s inventiveness is with us yet today. We are reminded of it every time we flip on a light switch. The power and influence of his words, even though not so widely known or appreciated, should also be a part of his enduring legacy. His inventions have made life simpler, fuller, and more enjoyable. If heeded, his illuminating words of advice can have a similar impact! MSN

Only More So

She knows all the answers, the wherefore, the therefore, and offers advice, whether asked, called or cared for.

We love cousin Sheila, but we’d love her much more If only she wasn’t such a consummate bore! MSN

PAGE 14 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

It’s hard to believe that spring is upon us, as we watch the late snow falling and clinging beautifully to the trees and ground. Warm weather will be here soon and new life will burst forth everywhere. What better time than spring to find that new and special someone to bring into your life. Take time today to write a personal ad or reply to one of the personal ads on these pages.

To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message, address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. When 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 be 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 next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of true love!

Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the June/July 2013 issue, the deadline is May 10, 2013.

Southwest Montana lady gardener seeking gardening friends – boys or girls. And maybe, somewhere along the way, a Prince charming to help me watch the pumpkins grow! You don’t have to be perfect, who is after all? But a non-smoker, non-drinker, active, gardener, happy, healthy man

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in your sixties or very early seventies would be just right. Someone who loves nature, lives in a simple and natural way, and is spiritual, not fanatically “religious.” When I lived in the Bitterroot Valley I could grow pumpkins, but I cannot grow them where I presently live. Looking now to live in a rural area where it is peaceful, quiet, beautiful, clean, and where one can grow pumpkins! I’m healthy in mind, body, and spirit, very active, do not look, or act my age. In my younger years, I was a beauty queen, and now I’m humble and down to earth and live a simple, healthy lifestyle. A writer, artist, good cook, etc. How about you? Please send me your information and let us see what happens. Good luck my friend. Reply MSN, Dept. 29401, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN Attractive, blonde, WF, fluffy, early 60s, N/D, N/S. Own my home in Hamilton and looking for a man who could relocate, who loves Jesus, and is possibly working a 12 Step Recovery Program.

I’m honest and opinionated, but also warm, tenderhearted, affectionate, funny, with high morals, and trustworthy.

You must be honest, romantic, dependable, and compassionate enough to accept my limitations. I enjoy chivalry and traditional values, but I’m young at heart. Interests include singing, dancing, classic rock, church, movies, plays, art, camping, recovery meetings, cards, TV, eating healthy, working out, board games, shooting pool, bowling, family, friends, and dining out.

Prefer slim to medium build, but height, race, age, and size of your income aren’t nearly as important as a kind heart. The desire of my heart is to have a lifelong, loving, Christ-centered relationship with a stable man who doesn’t drink, smoke, gamble, or do drugs. If you’re ready for that and would like to begin as friends the best part of life may be yet to come! Please send address and photo with letter. Reply MSN, Dept. 29402, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Male, early 60s, retired. Nice looking. Nice build, 6’4”. Owns own home. Would like to correspond with female of like age who likes cats, walking, and gardening. Reply MSN, Dept. 29403, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN SWM, 62, seeks companionship with single lady 62-80. Looks and handicap unimportant in a long-term relationship. I am non-smoker and nondrinker. I live in Great Falls. I own my home and it is all paid for. Please send picture and phone number. I will answer all replies. Reply MSN, Dept.

29404, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN SWF, early 60s, and 5’6” living north of Whitefish. Drawn to this part of the world by the beautiful land and weather (yes, I like winter and gray skies) although I often do more indoor activities. I enjoy going to concerts, traveling, trying new foods, and meeting new people. I am still working but have some flexibility in my schedule to squeeze in trips.

In my free time, I go out with friends or if at home dabble in art, play music, or read. I suspect there is a mature man out there who likes to explore

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new places and talk ideas. I look forward to meeting you. Reply MSN, Dept. 29405, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF, seeking a man in his late 70s or early 80s. Companion/dance partner. Must be kind, considerate, and compassionate, have a sense of humor, and love to dance. I’m N/S, N/D, 113 lbs.

5’2”, kind, considerate and a romantic. Billings area please. Send phone number and a recent photo if possible. Reply MSN, Dept. 29406, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF. I am looking for a nice gentleman to meet.

I am 52 years old. I have brown hair 5’6” tall, weight is 160 lbs. I don’t do drugs or smoke. I like fishing, hiking, love to go on picnics, and to go on car trips.

I like music. I have a good sense of humor and love to laugh. I have a newer car and have a full time job but would relocate if necessary. If I sound interesting drop me a line and a picture, and I will write back. Reply MSN, Dept. 29407, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF. Late 60s. All the words about you and me mean nothing. You have to look at our ages

to see if this time around you are the one again.

Actions speak louder than words. Reply MSN, Dept. 29408, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

DWF interested in male 70-75 from Central Montana area who is handicapped in some way.

Looks are not important, its what’s inside that counts (your heart hopefully).

Who doesn’t smoke; do drugs, and one who would like to enjoy your golden years with me.

Go out for dinner, travels, garage sales, and loves animals. Enjoys the outdoors, mountains, etc.

I love to cook, bake, and take care of my man, to cuddle, hold hands, watch TV, go out to movies, and go to church.

One who would love to do all these things plus more. Has a sense of humor and likes to communicate well, with plenty of laughing.

If this sounds interesting to you please write me. I will answer all replies. Maybe more if we can do all things together for life. Reply MSN, Dept.

29409, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN

Colorful Expressions Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Barking at a knot - meaning that your efforts were as useless as a dog barking at a knot.

Barking up the wrong tree - talking about something that was completely the wrong issue with the wrong person.

Bee in your bonnet - to have an idea that you won’t let loose of.

Been through the mill - had a rough time of it.

Between hay and grass - not a child or an adult.

Blinky - between sweet and sour as in milk.

Calaboose - a jail.

Catawampus - something that sits crooked

such as a piece of furniture sitting at an odd angle.

Dicker - to barter or trade.

Feather in your cap - to accomplish a goal. This came from years ago in wartime when warriors might receive a feather they would put in their cap for defeating an enemy Hold your horses - be patient!

Hoosegow - a jail.

I reckon - I suppose.

Jawing/jawboning - talking or arguing.

Kit and caboodle - the whole thing.

Madder than an old wet hen - very angry Needs taken down a notch or two - like notches in a belt usually a young person who thinks too highly of himself and needs a lesson. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 15

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APRIL/MAY 2013

Montana Komen Race for the Cure ® Three thousand men and women gathered last year on the State Capitol grounds to celebrate survivors and lost loved ones and to support one another at the annual Race for the Cure, the largest fundraising event that advances the Komen Promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

The Montana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen proudly announces that the 2013 19th Annual Montana Komen Race for the Cure® will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2013, on the State Capitol grounds in Helena starting at 10 a.m. Online race registration is available at www.komenmontana. org. Paper registrations are available at Race Headquarters – Capital City Health Club.

A long-running Race tradition has been a quilt raffle. Two breast cancer survivors, Sandy Sedey, Montana City and former Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Cheryl Leidle, who donated the 2010 Race quilt, donated the 2013 quilt. Sandy pieced and layered the king-size, Northern Star quilt and Cheryl donated her time to machine quilt the finished piece.

“It was an honor to be asked to make the quilt,” said Sandy. “I am a 12-year breast Cancer survivor.

My work on the quilt was done with great love and appreciation with thoughts of the many survivors, those going through cancer treatment and people no longer with us.”

She shared that the many colors throughout the quilt represent the various forms of cancer. “I believe that donating this quilt to raise funds for breast cancer will help people who need help with their treatment. I hope folks who see quilt will see love that went into making this quilt.”

Sandy’s work took five days to cutout and two months to piece together. The quilt has been on display at Capital City Health Club, State Capitol, Sewing Palace, and other quilt shops across the state. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10 and available at Capital City Health Club, from Race committee members, and by calling 406-495-9337.

In the past 18 years, Komen Montana has distributed grants totaling $1,366,981, across Montana. One of the biggest barriers for people living in Montana can be the access to mammograms; therefore, grants have focused on providing free mammograms or clinical breast exams to women in impoverished, rural areas.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series, the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.

The Komen Montana Race for the Cure is a unique event, designed and implemented to promote positive awareness, education, and early detection of breast cancer. It has proved to be an

APRIL/MAY 2013

enormously effective way to reach many women and men with the message that breast cancer is not necessarily fatal if mammography and breast self-exam become routine. As well as being a road race for runners, the Komen Race for the Cure is an emotionally charged event that attracts many first timers and recreational runners. The Komen Race for the Cure is an opportunity for thousands of women, men, and their families, running or walking, to spread the breast cancer message within their communities. It is a day that will stay with you for a long, long time.

Up to 75 percent of funds raised at the Race remain here in Montana to provide diagnostics, screening, treatment, services, and education for uninsured or underinsured women. The remaining 25 percent goes to fund national research to discover the causes of breast cancer and, ultimately, its cures.

Why we need your support: Every step

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 17

counts! Your donation provides women and men in Montana with services that have literally saved lives. You help make the following programs possible: â&#x20AC;˘ Free mammograms and diagnostics to uninsured and underinsured women â&#x20AC;˘ Outreach to the most vulnerable populations in Montana â&#x20AC;&#x201C; women who live in very rural areas with no health insurance and hundreds of miles between them and the services they need. â&#x20AC;˘ Support services including retreats for survivors, programs that provide assistance with finding financial resources, prescription refills, and transportation to medical appointments â&#x20AC;˘ Education about the warning signs of breast cancer, methods of early detection, and the latest treatment options â&#x20AC;˘ Cutting edge research to find a cure for breast cancer MSN

Virginia City, Montana Celebrates 150th Anniversary of Alder Gulch Gold Strike The six men had been traveling on foot cabins echo the boomtown sizzle of Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for weeks, escaping encounters with hostile first major settlement. Thanks to the dedicaIndians and ultimately just trying to get back to tion of preservationists as well as year-round where they started. But when they set up camp residents who embrace the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and beside a small stream in the high mountains of mystique, Virginia City buzzes with activities that present-day Southwest Montana, the wayward reflect its deep, colorful heritage. Every summer, prospectors made a discovery that would trans- visitors flock to the town to experience reenactform the fortunes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and even the map â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of an ments, demonstrations of pioneer skills, nightly entire region. cabaret at the Gilbert The flecks of gold they found in the bottoms Brewery, and authentic Do it for you. Do it for those who love you. of their pans on that warm May afternoon 150 19th century melodrama years ago hinted at vast underground riches â&#x20AC;&#x201C; performances by the Make a commitment to your breast health and quickly drew a crowd. The town of Virginia Virginia City Players at City sprang up virtually overnight: Within three the old Opera House.

Your breast health is our top priority. And, as a part of our This spring and summonths, its population swelled to more than ongoing commitment to you, we are proud to offer the 10,000. The town on the banks of Alder Creek mer, to celebrate the latest in breast cancer screening, 3D mammography â&#x20AC;&#x201C;the most exciting advancement in breast cancer detection in soon was named the capital of the new Montana gold strikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sesquicenmore than 30 years. A 3D mammogram consists of multiple breast Territory. Over the next quarter-century, at least tennial, Virginia City and images taken in just seconds to produce a 3D image. The doctor $90 million in gold was looks through the tissue one millimeter at a time seeing detail inside extracted there, making the breast in a way never before possible. it the richest placer gold strike in history.

Call us today to learn more and to schedule your annual mammogram at Today, Virginia City 406-228-3630 or 1-800-322-3634 stands as one of the All new, 2-story motel with a best-preserved ghost beautiful view of the Rocky towns in the Northern Mountains in the heart of East Glacier.

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Montana Trivia Questions So you think you know a lot about Montana geography and history. Here are a few questions to see if you know as much as you think you do. Answers appear on page 31.

1. Where does Montana rank in size among the 50 states?

2. What is Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest point?

3. In the United States west of the Great Lakes, Montana has the largest natural freshwater lake. What is its name?

4. Which city is considered to be the Cowboy Capital of the world?

5. What is Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state soil?

6. What three rivers come together near Bozeman at Three Forks?

7. Montana has two national parks. Yellowstone was the very first national.

What is the other one?

8. Henry Plummer was the â&#x20AC;&#x153;outlawâ&#x20AC;? sheriff of which Montana town?

9. The death of Nicholas Tbalt was the catalyst that started the Vigilante killing spree.

Who is said to have killed him?

10. Who found the first gold at Last Chance Gulch?

11. When did Montana become a state?

12. At the end of the 19th century, which city was the home to more millionaires than any other city in America?

13. What town is the closest to Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geographic center?

14. Who was the original owner of the Anaconda Mining Co? 15. In what year, how many men were killed in a Butte mine fire?

Roadside History of Montana by Don Spritzer goes well beyond cowboy stories to tell about some of Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most fascinating people, from the copper kings of Butte to the Freemen of Garfield County. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The narrative is so warm and friendly that the reader forgets it is a printed volume and believes that Spritzer is sitting in the front seat with him, pointing out interesting sites along the road and telling stories.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Dave Walter, Montana Historical Society

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nearby Nevada City will host an even richer schedule of events, including a weekend-long festival May 24-26. Visit www.VirginiaCity.com for details.

Virginia City is just one of many cultural treasures to be found in Southwest Montana, a large swath of mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes and hearty communities smack dab in between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. South-

west Montana offers a sampling of all of Montana’s lightly-tread amenities, including megamountains, lunker trout, budding melting pots for art and culture in Butte and Helena, remote yet luxurious escapes, and a slice of the Wild West through the numerous and well-preserved ghost towns in its mineral-rich hills. For more information, please visit http://southwestmt.com. MSN

Finally Putting Away the Golf Clubs, But Not the Jokes

By Tait Trussell Thousands of jokes and one-liners have been told about the great game of golf. Innumerable hours of joy and frustration have been spent on courses across the globe by millions of people.

What’s not funny at all, however, is when the time finally comes when your age tells you that you can’t play anymore. An old buddy, also ripe in years, was a competitor for many summers. We knew he was on his last legs when I was consistently beating him. That was his last year. Now, it’s my turn to put away my clubs. I can still chip and putt on the practice green. But not for more than about 20 minutes. I do hope many readers will have many years more of the inevitable ups and down of the great game.

Here are a few golf chuckles some of which you may not have heard: “Golf is played by 20 million mature American men whose wives think they are having fun,” asserted the wisecracking late New York journalist Jim Bishop.

A lonely wife purportedly said, “When I die, bury me on the golf course so my husband will come visit.”

The game is the target of brutal and sometimes amusing comments from a range of celebrities as well as some of the most famed players of the sport. Lee Trevino once complained about problems he was having with his game by stating, “I’m not saying my golf game went bad, but if I grew tomatoes they would have come up sliced.” Trevino also was quoted as griping, “I’m in the woods so much I can tell you which plants are edible.” Another Trevino crack, “You don’t know what pressure is until you’ve played for five dollars a hole with only two dollars in your pocket.”

“The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course,” said Billy Graham.

“May the ball lie in green pastures... and not in still waters,” said an unknown author.

Another said, “A golfer has an advantage over a fisherman. He doesn’t have to produce anything to prove his story.”

Anyone who plays the great game expects when they are about to start a game that they are bound to play better than the last time they were on the course. With a game that is rife with

uncertainties you have to have hope. “The harder you work at it, the luckier you get,” advised the winner of many major tournaments, Gary Player.

“Competitive golf is played mainly on a fiveand-a-half inch course – the space between your ears,” explained the immortal golfer Bobby Jones.

Someone commented, “I’ve spent most of my life playing golf; the rest I’ve just wasted.”

Mark Twain recommended, “It’s good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.”

Bob Hope had a bagful of jokes about golf.

“I like to play in the low ‘70s. If it gets any hotter than that I’ll stay in the clubhouse.” Hope actually did shoot in the 70s. I remember the fun of following him around when he played in a tournament at the Army-Navy Golf Course near Washington, D.C., many years ago. He kept the crowds laughing at every hole.

Actor (and continually frustrated golfer) Jack Lemmon once warned, “If you think it’s hard to pick up new friends, try picking up the wrong golf ball.”

“The difference between golf and government is that in golf you can’t improve your lie,” someone wisely said.

Golfer Jimmy deMaret stated, “Golf and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.”

One frustrated golfer declared, “My body is here, but my mind has already teed off.

Another described his day, “Gone golfing... be back around dark-thirty.” Still another said, “I’ve had a fantastic round of golf; I’ve even got one ball left over.”

Even Winston Churchill defined golf as “A game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose.”

Another critic charged, “Golf is a game invented by the same people who think music comes out of bagpipes.”

Finally, from Dean Martin, “If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt.”

As golfing great Ben Hogan more broadly noted, “As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses... for you only get to play one round.” MSN

Work is the great thing in the world, so we should always save some of it for tomorrow.

- Don Herold

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 21

PAGE 22 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Doing It Cheaper

By Clare Hafferman If you were raised during the Depression as I was, you probably have achieved what you have and what you give to others – by doing things cheaper. Using that idea in the world of gardening, I have thought of several things either you don’t need or for which you can substitute.

Don’t hit me with your elbow and say, “Oh yeah?” because I do admit to saving for strictly non-utilitarian items, but that’s the point. If you make do with homemade, then there are bucks you can spend for extras.

What brought this to mind were different ads for compost containers, those receptacles for coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, vegetable and fruit peelings, citrus remains, and unwanted cooked vegetables.

If you want to be on top of it all and buy the latest container and all the equipment necessary to monitor the pile, you will buy a number of items, beginning with one metal bucket, 11” high and 7” wide, priced at $55.95.

Once you accumulate enough kitchen scraps to aim for the bin or pile, count on buying some Vermi-pods. These should contain at least one earthworm case, which when hatched will start chewing away. Vermipods cost $16.95 each.

If you get tired of scrubbing out the container, you can pur-

chase biodegradable bags. One bag handles 3 gallons of food for the worms and then can be tossed into the pile; where, you’re right, it will decompose.

Twenty-five bags sell for $10.95.

Less expensive is something labeled as QR starter for $5.95. The QR stands for Quick Return and is advertised as being a powder made and used in Great Britain for the past 40 years, where we know each citizen has or longs for their own little plot. You mix this powder with water and it immediately starts decomposition in your compost pile.

Then to be sure things are heating up as they should, purchase a compost thermometer, which sells for $33.50. The information that comes with it should tell you what degree of warmth is necessary to assure that decay is taking place.

To keep things stirred up to achieve that, look for a compost aerator, a long 32” tool worth $29.95, that has a wooden handle at the top and hinged blades at the bottom. When you turn the handle, the blades open to pull material out and create a new passage of air in the pile.

Then the last item to make you the best compost maker on your block would be a soil sieve, which will sift soil or compost into a fluffy medium.

The sieve is made of stainless steel and has three screens with different size holes. You sieve over a bucket and throw any big chunks back in the pile.

Sieves sell for $25.50, guaranteed to last for years.

All the items I have mentioned total $156.40, plus shipping. But let’s imagine you are only beginning a compost operation to create that “Black

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Gold” to spread on your plot. There is no gardener who has successfully created compost, who hasn’t said to himself, like the old gold miners in the past, “Dear God, I wish I had more!”

Having described the more expensive solutions, let me list some more expedient ideas. In 1989, my husband and I moved into the house he had built with some help from one of our sons, and which I mostly painted. We hired a friend to do the taping and texturing of the drywall. He left me one of the small mud buckets and for 22 years, it has lived under my sink as the compost container. I empty it every two days and wash it out.

My husband built me a compost bin out of old lumber and put it against the west wall of our old garage. It’s about 8 ft. long and 4 ft. wide. I stir up the compost with a pitchfork or a shovel and when I dig down in the pile, I fork up the black stuff and sift it over a wooden frame that has chicken wire tacked under it. I put this frame over the wheelbarrow, use my gloved hand to push compost through, and throw the big chunks back. The compost is alive with the worms doing their job, and I didn’t buy even one of them. If I want to see if things are heating up, I take off a glove and feel down to the bottom. If it’s warm or getting hotter, I’m happy.

If you’ve started production and can dig under

Real Estate Investing – How to get started

By Andy Ballentine You’ve heard the stories about people making millions in real estate, so is it really any surprise why so many people view real estate as a serious investment vehicle? Real Estate investing offers more security than the stock market and provides returns of at least equal magnitude, coupled with attractive tax benefits. Let’s face it; anybody can trade stocks from their phone or home computer.

Real estate investment, however, is a real head turner whenever it comes to tangible assets.

One of the greatest challenges in real estate investment is finding the money up front to acquire your first real estate investment property. Surprisingly, though, this is not your biggest obstacle.

That’s right! Finding the cash upfront is not the greatest obstacle to real estate investment. Facts are, hardly anyone who buys real estate has the

a couple of layers, you can make “compost tea,” which just spreads the benefits via added water.

Take a pair of nylon knee high stockings, tie a knot in the foot, open up the top, and fill the sock with compost. Tie another knot in the top and drop the sock in a bucket of water. When this has soaked a couple of days, use this “joy juice,” to water your garden.

To make more compost than what your bucket or your yard can provide in the way of grass clippings, cut off stems and flowers, apples that fall and discarded plants, you might check with any neighbors who don=t maintain “golf course lawns,” or with your local Park & Recreation Department.

Some cities collect leaves, maintain a dump for these, and give them away to citizens who will sack and haul them away.

One word of caution if you are new to the world of compost buckets, don=t add any meat scraps or grease to your container. This just attracts wandering animals. Avoid grass that=s been treated with an herbicide, and if the weather turns hot, give the pile a drink of water.

There is always a cheaper way to do things. It only requires a thinner wallet and some imagination. Think about it! MSN

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PAGE 24 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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money in their personal account to pay for it. And that’s where your banker comes in. Let’s face it; do you know anyone who owns their own home?

I mean really owns it? Of course you’ll know many people who have a property in their name they call their own. Take a look, however, into their personal finances and soon you’ll discover who really owns their property. It’s the bank, of course. Remember, your liability is your bank manager’s asset. So if these people can use the bank’s money to buy a property, then why can’t you?

I know ‘owning’ your own home may sound like the obvious way to go, but if you really want to get on the first rung of the real estate investment ladder, then this is the best way to get started in real estate investment. Why then is this first step completely overlooked by many people? Just take a look at how many are still renting instead of buying property. Now of course the relationship between rented and private housing prices varies from area to area. But wherever you go, you will still find many people renting, simply because in their minds “they don’t have enough money to buy a house.” In reality, though, it may be much cheaper for them to buy!

When you rent, you are more or less throwing good money down the drain. Of course, you have the pleasure of a home, but from the point of view of real estate investing, you are not actually building for the long term. Remember, every dollar you spend on rent is a dollar you will never see again.

Whereas if you own your own home, instead of paying rent you are paying your mortgage. And even though there’s a variance in terms of what mortgage deals are offered across the market, the basics of mortgages are more or less the same.

Every month you make a payment that consists of two parts: interest and principle. You might compare the interest part to rent. These dollars are gone once they’re paid; however, the part of the payment that goes to the principle is money you keep. Every dollar that is used to pay off the principal is a dollar in YOUR own pocket.

So if you’re thinking about getting started in real estate and you don’t yet ‘own’ your own home,

now’s the time to take your first step towards building capital with your own real estate investment.

Financially, it makes sense because the real estate investment vehicle also supplies greater opportunity for building your net worth. Simply put, when real estate prices go up, so does the value of property.

Conversely, the money you owe at the bank – your mortgage – remains the same. Compare this to the financial reality of those people who continue paying rent. Their net worth remains the same.

However, their landlord’s net worth is doing very nicely, thank you, and their landlord is happy for the status quo to continue. So if you would rather build your own capital, then consider buying your own home!

Many homeowners accumulate more money through appreciation of their property assets than they do working a full time job. Be warned, though, this is not always the case. As we have all learned recently, the price of real estate can go down as well as up. If for some reason you have to sell your home in a down market, it can be a costly venture.

In fact, you wouldn’t be the first to end up with a house worth considerably less than the mortgage resting on it. So make sure you don’t overstretch yourself financially by taking on too much. In the long run, real estate prices have risen, but in any cycle, there are down periods. By staying within your limits and being patient, you’ll be able to sit tight through the hard times yet profit from the long term upwards trend in real estate investing.

Copyright © Andy Ballentine & Loanstarmtg.com. All Rights reserved. http://EzineArticles. com/?expert=Andy_Ballentine. MSN

Here comes the son or daughter

By Bill Hall We are deep into a new era of social acceptance in which some of life’s clouds have parted and the son has come out.

So has the daughter.

We are among the families who have received a new kind of telephone call that is a variation on the traditional family phone call. “It’s a boy!” Or, “It’s a girl!”

Today we live in a groundbreaking time in which the call comes from the child himself, announcing, “It’s a gay boy!” And he is that boy.

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Our family was surprised but not astonished.

Such things happen. The call came during the opening years of the great coming out party of the nation’s gay community. While I had doubted that any of our six children was anything but straight, I did kind of look around our nuclear and our extended family, realizing that it was theoretically possible we might have a gay relative.

That made me wonder what I would say if a kid called informing us that he was a slightly different kind of kid than we had thought.

I had a little conversation with myself one day

APRIL/MAY 2013

(which is always a pleasure). I decided if that ever happened in our family, I would be a little sad on two counts: It might put a crimp in getting our full ration of grandchildren. And there is still a dwindling share of ill-informed straight people out there who could be abusive to a gay kid.

We had gay friends who were pretty obviously born that way. And we had come to realize that most of those people who still think gayness is a changeable choice are unwittingly revealing that they don’t actually know any gay people very well.

In our experience, the notion of “curing” gayness is about the same as telling me that I am being bald just for the fun of being difficult. If I really wanted to stop trying to shock people with my naked noggin, I would have the decency to grow hair.

When discussing the matter with my bald self and with my imaginary hairy self, I recognized that, if one of our kids ever did come out to us, his gayness would be an accomplished fact. They really are born that way. And once parents face that reality, they almost all make one of two choices: In an angry and useless fit of denial, they

disown the kid and swear they will never talk to him again.

Or they recognize reality, accept one of Nature’s accomplished facts and tell the kid they love him anyway and will stand by him in his surprising way of life. That’s what the members of our family did – all the brothers, all the sisters, all the aunts and uncles, and almost all of the cousins rallied around. That’s a more normal pattern for families in that situation today than some of you might expect.

This business of whether to accept gay kids is a bit like the common practice a few decades ago in which families frequently disowned their children for marrying into a different religion, race, or even political party.

“Good Lord, Elsie, you’ve married a Democrat.

Have you no shame?”

The tension in some families with gay kids is a little fresher in today’s lives than the old hissy fits thrown in families over race and religion (not to mention baldness). However, I am told that far fewer parents today are rejecting their own children for practicing romance inside their own gender.

Accommodating The Crafting Craze (NAPSI) Difficult times can call for crafty measures. Providing an affordable escape, crafting has evolved into a fashion-forward pastime for all ages. In fact, a recent survey by the Craft & Hobby Association revealed that 56 percent of U.S. households have worked on at least one craft project during the past year; a rate that’s remained consistent for the past three years.

What kinds of craft projects have captured the hands and hearts of Americans? The same survey reveals that scrapbooking, home decor projects, and woodworking top the list. Other popular hobbies include quilting, jewelry making, knitting, art, and drawing. As more and more Americans discover the art of the handmade and the satisfaction it can bring, some are even turning their artisanal passions into profitable side businesses.

Creating Space - You can set up “shop” in your own home by designating a separate space to handle all your crafting needs. Serious enthusiasts can consider dedicating an entire room - attic, garage, or an extra bedroom - to their passion. If you do not have the space, you may choose to convert an extra closet into your own “craftastic” workstation to get the creative juices flowing.

Getting Organized - Once you have selected the space, make sure it is properly equipped.

Include a workstation or desk large enough to handle your craft projects and hang up a corkboard to pin design ideas and inspirations for quick comparisons. Keep yourself organized by adding shelving and adequate storage space for tools, paintbrushes, or other accessories.

For example, adjustable and ventilated shelving such as ClosetMaid® ShelfTrack™ can easily be installed on the wall or in a closet to keep supplies like fabrics, paper, canvases, paint, or varnishes within arm’s reach. Colorful ribbons and tape can slide onto closet rods for easy access, while buttons, clasps, and other small objects can be kept in clear jars of varying sizes. Display your how-to books on the shelves and place yarn in baskets or pullout wire or fabric drawers. Finally, a pegboard can be fashioned for color-coordinated thread or small-tool storage.

Learn More - To find out how you can create your own unique storage solutions, visit www.closetmaid.com or call (800) 874-0008.

MSN

For Many, The Right Time For Real Estate Is Now (NAPSI) - If you’ve been thinking – or even just dreaming – about getting another house – whether a vacation home, downsized primary residence, or investment property for rental income, recent research in the real estate market may have some intriguing results for you.

First, Fannie Mae found that two-thirds of Americans (65 percent) are still bullish on home ownership, preferring to own a home despite the challenging environment and the downturn.

Next, there’s the research conducted by MarketTools, Inc. for CENTURY

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 25

That may be partly because so many people’s gay kids have come out in recent years. That takes the pressure off twitchy parents who worry too much about what the world will think of them for producing a kid like that.

Today, know it or not, almost everybody’s got at least one gay relative somewhere in the extended family. That development is what now pushes gay marriage approval well past the majority mark in national polls and what brought legal questions about gay marriage before the U.S. Supreme Court last month.

So don’t worry so much about the possibility that your kid might not want a girl just like the girl who married dear old Dad. In fact, he doesn’t want a girl at all.

Ignore the dark clouds of your attitude. And brace your feet. It’s possible that the son will come out tomorrow. And maybe the daughter as well.

Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone.net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. MSN

PAGE 26 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

21ÂŽ First-Time Home Buyer and Seller Survey. It captured and compared the opinions of prospective homebuyers and sellers who either purchased or sold their first home within the past year or are planning to buy or sell their first home within the next year. The majority of survey respondents had moved or intended to move more than 10 miles but less than 50 miles from their previous location, indicating current market conditions may be a catalyst for buying or selling homes, as opposed to a desire to dramatically change geographic location or relocate for a job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buying a home, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your first of subsequent purchase, is a significant financial decision in most peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives,â&#x20AC;? said Rick Davidson, president and chief executive officer, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Current Market Conditions - More than 80 percent of homebuyers and sellers feel the current housing market is more affordable today than at this time last year. This is despite the fact that 40 percent of all respondents are more worried about the economy now compared to this time last year.

Federal tax credits and solid mortgage rates had a positive impact on driving people to take action.

Re-establishing Balance - A full market recovery takes time and current conditions continue to favor buyers. While buyers are excited about the

opportunities in the current market, sellers note their concern is losing money on the sale of their home and receiving offers near their asking price.

When will the balance between housing need and inventory return? The real estate industry considers six months of inventory to represent a balanced market. According to the National Association of Realtors, the number of homes for sale represents about eight months of inventory and remains 11.6 percent below the record of 4.58 million homes for sale. Homebuyers anticipate home prices will soon begin to rise and, in fact, about half of first-time buyers expect an increase by this time next year, thereby re-establishing better market equilibrium.

Let an Expert Help Guide You - Whether you are considering buying or selling a home, and whether you have bought or sold before, you may be interested to learn that 60 percent of first-time homebuyers do not feel they have a good handle on the real estate process. Given the complexity and the opportunity of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real estate market, 85 percent of both first-time buyers and sellers feel that using a real estate professional is important.

Allowing an experienced professional to help guide you can lead you to the home that is right for you, at a price you can afford. MSN

Dear Milkman... A collection of notes It is probably a rarity when anyone in the United States today gets their milk home delivered â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a regular event in the 1950s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but the notes below are good for a laugh, remembering the good â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ol days of home milk delivery.

Dear Milkman: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just had a baby, please leave another one.

Dear Milkman: Please leave an extra pint of paralysed milk.

Dear Milkman: Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave any more milk. All they do is drink it.

Dear Milkman: Please close the gate behind you because the birds keep pecking the tops off the milk.

Dear Milkman: Please cancel milk. I 3&4*%&/5*"- t '03&$-0463&4 t 4&/*03 3& 41&$*"-*45 t 4)035 4"-&4 have nothing coming â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better choice than Joyceâ&#x20AC;? into the house but two sons on the dole.

Call me TODAY! The YesHaus, Healthy Living & Dear Milkman: SorCost Competitive Energy Efficiency is Here! ry not to have paid your bill before, but my wife had a baby and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve

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been carrying it around in my pocket for weeks.

Dear Milkman: Sorry about yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean one egg and a dozen pints, but the other way round.

Dear Milkman: When you leave my milk please knock on my bedroom window and wake me because I want you to give me a hand to turn the mattress.

Dear Milkman: Please knock. My TV is broken and I missed last nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coronation Street. If you saw it, will you tell me what happened over a cup of tea?

Dear Milkman: My daughter says she wants a milkshake. Do you do it before you deliver or do I have to shake the bottle?

Dear Milkman: Please send me a form for cheap milk, for I have a baby two months old and did not know about it until a neighbor told me.

Please send me details about cheap milk, as I am stagnant.

Dear Milkman: Milk is needed for the baby.

Father is unable to supply it. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 27

Understand These Tax Changes For 2013

By Tylene Vitt, CPA Rudd & Company It is always a sure bet that there will be changes to the current tax law and 2013 is no different. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 provided many changes for both individuals and businesses Here’s a checklist of tax changes to help you plan the year ahead.

Tax rates. The income tax rates for individuals will stay at 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35%, but with a 39.6% rate applying for income above $400,000 for single filers and $450,000 for joint filers.

Medicare Taxes. Starting in 2013, there will be an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 for individuals ($250,000 married filing jointly). Also, there is a new Medicare tax of 3.8 percent on investment income (such as dividends, interest, rents, royalties, gains from the disposition of property, and certain passive activity income) for single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $200,000 ($250,000 joint filers).

Capital gain and dividend rates rise for higher-income taxpayers. In 2013, tax rates on capital gains remain at 0% for taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets and 10% for taxpayers in the 15% tax bracket. An individual taxpayer whose income is at or above $400,000 ($450,000 married filing jointly), the rate for both capital gains and dividends is capped at 20%.

Permanent AMT relief. For tax years beginning after 2011, the Act permanently allows an individual to offset his entire regular tax liability and AMT liability by the nonrefundable personal credits.

Historical individual extenders. The Act extends the following items for 2012 and 2013:

• The deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers.

• The exclusion for discharge of qualified principal residence indebtedness.

• The treatment of mortgage insurance premiums as qualified residence interest.

• The special rule for contributions of capital gain real property made for conservation.

• Tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans for charitable purposes. A special rule permits distributions taken in 2012 to be transferred to charities for a limited period in 2013 and certain distributions made in 2013 being deemed made on Dec. 31, 2012.

Business tax breaks extended: • The research credit is modified and extended through 2013.

• The temporary minimum low-income tax credit rate for non-federally subsidized new buildings is extended to apply to housing credit dollar amount allocations made before Jan. 1, 2014.

• The Indian employment and work opportunity tax credits, including the enhanced credit for hiring certain veterans are extended through 2013.

• Exclusion of 100% of gain on certain small business stock acquired before Jan. 1, 2014.

• Basis adjustment to stock of S corporations making charitable contributions of property in tax years beginning before Dec. 31, 2013.

• The reduction in S corporation recognition period for built-in gains tax is extended through 2013, with a 10-year period instead of a 5-year period.

Energy-related tax breaks extended. The non-business energy property credit for energyefficient existing homes is retroactively extended through 2013. The credit for energy-efficient ap-

Legacy Montana Works To Keep Montana A Special Place We all need to face the inevitable fact that one day we won’t be here. However, planning for that inevitability ensures that your loved ones, and those non-profits you love, will be provided for.

Everyone needs to have a will, whether you are wealthy or not. Please don’t assume that if you aren’t wealthy, you can’t leave something in that will to a non-profit organization. Be assured that if you don’t have a will, the state will not distribute any of your assets to a non-profit.

For 12 years, Legacy Montana, a group of non-profit organizations, has worked together to inspire and encourage you to remember your

favorite non-profits in your will. Doing so does not mean your children will be left out. This simple act helps keep Montana the special place it is. Consider what has been left for us – collections of art, medical care for the disadvantaged, recreational opportunities for children, food and shelter for the indigent, protection of open spaces, and so much more.

If you think your small gift doesn’t matter, please reconsider. Your gift, whatever its size, is your promise to fund the future. Learn more at www.LegacyMontana.org. MSN

Leave your legacy... because large or small, all gifts matter.

You can help build the future and strengthen our Montana communities when you leave a legacy gift to the organizations you believe in. It’s easy to do through a will or trust.

Learn how you can make a difference!

Visit our website at:

www.LegacyMontana.org

pliances and energy-efficient new homes is retroactively extended through 2013.

Pension provision. Starting in 2013, plan provisions in an applicable retirement plan (which includes a qualified Roth contribution program) can allow participants to elect to transfer amounts to designated Roth accounts with the transfer being treated as a taxable qualified rollover contribution.

While this checklist outlines some of the important tax changes for 2013, additional changes in tax law are more than likely to arise during the year ahead.

If you have questions about these or other tax changes, please contact your tax advisor. MSN

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PAGE 28 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

How to Choose a Medigap Supplemental Policy

By Jim Miller If you’re planning to choose original Medicare for your health coverage, getting a supplemental policy too (also known as Medigap insurance) is a good idea if you can afford it, because it will help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Here are some tips and tools to help you choose an appropriate plan for you.

Medigap Plans – Medigap policies, which are sold by private health insurers, come in 10 standardized benefit packages labeled as the letters A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. Plan F is the most popular, followed by plan C because they provide the most comprehensive coverage. Plans M and N, the two newest options, are cost sharing plans that have cheaper premiums, which make them appealing to healthier retirees who don’t use as much health care.

If, however, you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin you have different standardized Medigap plans that you can buy. For more information

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on the different types of plans, call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the Choosing a Medigap Policy guide (publication 02110), or see medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/02110.pdf.

How to Choose – To choose a policy, consider your health status and family medical history. The differences among plans can be small and rather confusing so you’ll need to do some homework to pick a plan that works best for you.

To help you choose, use the Medigap online search tool at medicare. gov, and click on “Supplements & Other Insurance” at the top of the page, then on “How to Compare Medigap Policies.” This tool will breakdown what each plan covers along with premium cost ranges, and lists the companies that offer them in your area.

Since all Medigap policies with the same letter must cover the exact same benefits, you should shop for the cheapest policy.

You’ll get the best price if you sign up within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B. During this open-enrollment period, an insurer cannot refuse to sell you a policy or charge you more because of your health.

You also need to be aware of the three pricing methods that will affect your costs. Medigap policies are usually sold as either “attained-age” policies which are premiums that start low but increase as you get older. “Issue-age” policies that increase prices due to inflation, not age. These policies may start out a little more expensive than attained-age policies but generally have few rate increases over time. And “community-rate” policies, where everyone in an area is charged the same premium regardless of age. Issue-age and community-rated policies will usually save you money in the long run.

No Drug Coverage – You also need to know that Medigap policies do not cover prescription drugs, so if you don’t have drug coverage, you need to consider buying a separate Medicare Part D drug plan too. You can compare plans and cost at medicare.gov/find-a-plan. Also note that Medigap plans do not cover vision or dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care, either.

Alternative Option – Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a Medigap policy and a separate Part D drug plan, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan that provides all-in-one coverage. These plans, which are sold by insurance companies, are generally available through HMOs and PPOs. To find and compare Advantage plans visit medicare.gov/find-a-plan.

If you need help, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free Medicare counseling. See shiptalk.org, or call 800-677-1116 to locate a counselor in your area.

Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. MSN



By Max Richtman - President/CEO

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare

Since last year and continuing well into 2013, Congress has or will face default, sequestration, and a possible government shutdown. Each of these self-inflicted crises provides the perfect backdrop for Washington’s wellfinanced anti-entitlement lobby’s long running campaign to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits to pay down the federal deficit.

Even if Congress is allowed to cut Medicare and Medicaid to the bone, the real challenge to our economy – skyrocketing health care costs – remains untouched. For too long, conservatives in Congress have ignored the fact that if the U.S. paid the same costs per person for health care as other wealthy countries we would be looking at long-term surpluses, not deficits.

There are also ways to make Medicare and Medicaid more efficient and save money without cutting benefits to vulnerable Americans. In fact, many of these reforms have been implemented in the Affordable Care Act, the same legislation that many in Congress who claim to want to “save” Medicare have worked tirelessly to destroy. Congress should also consider allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug makers for lower prescription drug costs in Part D and allowing drug re-importation, which would save billions in the Medicare program.

Claims that the only way to “save” Social Security is to cut benefits ignore the fiscal facts. Social Security has not contributed to the deficit and doesn’t even belong in a deficit debate. If solvency is truly the goal, then Congress needs to follow the advice of the vast majority of the American people who support lifting the payroll tax cap.

For too long, many in Washington have claimed that “shared sacrifice” means that if a millionaire loses a tax break then the middle-class and poor must lose their modest benefits in Medicare or Social Security. This false equivalency pretends that a tax dollar lost to a millionaire or huge corporation is the same as a benefit dollar lost to a retiree living on $14,000 a year from Social Security. America’s seniors know that’s not a fair and balanced approach, it’s not sensible reform, and it’s not the path to economic recovery. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 29

Great Falls Hosts Montana Senior Olympics Summer Games

MCF Is An Opportunity To Give Back To Your Community

The 28th annual Montana Senior Olympics (MSO) Summer Games will be held June 20-22 in Great Falls, with competition in 13 sports including bowling, swimming, golf, cycling, and track and field. Competition is open to men and women aged 50 and over and there are medals to the top three finishers in each five-year age group.

Because of support from generous corporate sponsors, the cost of competition is extremely affordable - only $10 to register plus $4 per event.

Great Falls has excellent sports facilities and there are two social events that should appeal to all athletes, an Alive At Five concert on Thursday night and a banquet on Friday night at the Holiday Inn. Athletes who have competed in past MSO events should receive registration packets in the mail by early April. Others wishing to compete can get information at Montana Senior Olympics website (montanaseniorolympics. org) or they can email state director George Geise at ggeise14@gmail. com.

Registration packets also will be available at recreation centers and senior centers in most major cities.

MSO is sponsoring a senior softball tournament in Great Falls August 17-18. Registration information for that event also will be on the MSO website.

For more information and a complete list of sports, visit montanaseniorolympics.org. MSN

Eric Pierce, founder of Big Sky Carvers, wanted to give back to his community in a lasting way. So he turned to the Montana Community Foundation. For 25 years, MCF has helped Montanans become philanthropists by creating endowment funds that grow over time and give back year after year.

In 1997, Eric used some of the profits from his thriving business to create the Big Sky Carvers Endowment Fund at the Montana Community Foundation. The fund supports the vocational education program at Manhattan High School, providing funding to purchase new equipment and expand the program.

The Big Sky Carvers Legacy: • Established 1997 • Awards $10,000 in grants each year • Supports the vocational education program at Manhattan High School, providing funding to purchase new equipment and expand the program Donors can use the Montana Community Foundation to create their own permanent philanthropic legacies, which will make charitable gifts in your name, forever, to help the community you love and the causes you care about. Learn more about the Foundation, our donors, and how our partnership makes a difference for Montana. Visit www.mtcf.org or call (406) 443-8313 today. MSN

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PAGE 30 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 31

Montana Trivia Questions Answers Here are the answers to the trivia questions that appear on page19. How did you do?

1. It is 147,046 square miles. Ahead are Alaska, Texas, and California.

2. Granite Peak is 12,799 feet.

3. Flathead Lake, which is named after the Flathead Indians.

4. Miles City, home to the annual Bucking Horse Sale.

5. The Scobey series soil, which is named for the town of Scobey. It is found in glacial till and under prairie vegetation.

Blackdog is the unofficial state soil.

6. They are the Gallatin, the Madison, and the Jefferson Rivers.

7. Glacier Park, which is considered to be the Crown Jewel of North America. It is joined with Canada’s Waterton National Park and together they make up the first International Peace Park.

8. Bannack. Recent research suggests that Henry Plummer (originally spelled Plumer) was not an outlaw at all, but an unfortunate victim of over zealous Vigilantes. It is speculated that one reason for fingering Plummer as the ringleader of a now questionable gang of outlaws is that Plummer spoke out against the Vigilantes and in favor of trials and due process.

9. George Ives. Joe Pizanthea was the only Mexican in the town and was probably singled out simply for that reason. He was lynched by the Vigilantes.

10. The Four Georgians.

11. 1889. Helena was in a race with Anaconda to become the state capital.

12. Helena, where mining riches in Montana created about 50 millionaires. The population at the time was approximately 10,000 people.

13. Lewistown, which is 8 miles east of the geographic center of Montana.

14. Marcus Daly.

15. In 1917, 168 men died in what is still considered the worst mining accident in American history.

PAGE 32 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

Aging in the Last Best Place: Learn How at the 2013 Governor’s Conference on Aging in Glasgow and Great Falls

By Bernice Karnop It is time to shuck off the winter activities and think about spring. One way to get a jump on spring thinking is by taking your pick of Governor’s Conferences on Aging, one May 7-8 at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow, and the other May 9-10 at the Holiday Inn in Great Falls. The Conferences are organized by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging and they want you to be there.

Why? Because it’s a great place to get accurate information. It is a chance to see things from different perspectives and to hear what people are doing in other parts of the state and nation. You will learn that you are not alone and you will see how others are coping with challenges similar to yours. It’s your chance to share the aging issues close to your heart with people who care.

But it’s more than just that. You’ll have a chance to laugh, a chance to have some fun, and chance to socialize with a grand set of people.

As conference organizer Charlie Rehbein says, “We can improve our lives.”

The conference is also for those who work in the field of aging and for elected officials who can learn about how the growing senior population affects government, education, and jobs.

Day one of both conferences is planned by the Governor’s Advisory Council. Attendees will be brought up to date on state and national issues.

This day will also focus on such topics as financial planning and mental health.

Mini-grants will be awarded and remember, it is not too late for Senior Centers to apply. Go to

www.dphhs.mt.gov/sltc for more information and registration.

Lunch on the first day provides the delightful opportunity to meet Montana Centenarians. If you know someone who is at least 100 years old or who will be 100 this year, register them by April 1 so arrangements can be made. You can send your information to: Governor’s Conference on Aging – Centenarian, DPHHS – SLTC, P.O. Box 4210, Helena MT 59604-4210.

You can also email it to crehbein@mt.gov, or call toll-free 1-800-332-2272.

The second day of the conference is planned by the local Area Agencies on Aging and will be different in each city.

According to Lori Brengle, director of the Area Agency on Aging in Glendive, Glasgow sessions include Family History by Sylvia Murray; Depression, Multi-drug Use, and Side Effects by Dr. Zilkowski; Identity Theft and Senior Scams by the Glasgow Police Department; Home Safety and Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy

by Jed Myers; and Slide Show and Story Telling

by Jerry Jacobson.

Unconfirmed plans include a wine and cheese party at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center.

In Great Falls, Cascade County Aging Services/Area Agency on Aging director, Rob Rung, says the focus is on helping people live independently. Topics include a Community Care Transition led program on reducing hospital readmission for people with kidney and diabetes issues

APRIL/MAY 2013

through improved habits; Neighbor Works’ Don Sterhan and Andrea Davis on how to get better, safer, and more affordable housing for Seniors; ARRP and Montana 55-Alive on driving issues; and Don Fish on Native Culture and Seniors.

Unconfirmed plans include a lighthearted speaker at the Friday luncheon and a Thursday night event with music and singing.

Registration fees are $25 per day, or both days for $50, which includes lunch and two coffee breaks in addition to the workshops. State rates are available at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow and at the Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn, Super 8 Motel, and O’Hare Motor Inn in Great Falls. Rooms at the Holiday Inn are scarce because of another event in town at the same time.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 33

You can use the registration form included in the Montana Senior News on page 40 and mail it to the address specified. Call conference director Charlie Rehbein at 1-800-332-2272 if you have any questions.

The state of Montana brings you good, solid, reliable, and truthful information, but the best information in the world won’t do you any good unless you come out and listen to it.

And do not forget to pick up a free copy of the Montana Senior News at the Governor’s Conference on Aging. We always aim to keep you informed!

See you at the Governor’s Conference on Aging! MSN

Great Falls Agenda Governor’s Conference on Aging (For agenda information on the Governor’s Conference in Glasgow on May 7-8, please call 1-800-332-2272)

Thursday, May 9th

12:00 Noon – Centenarian Luncheon

7:00 Am

Registration

1:30 PM Workshop Sessions Healthy Aging – Jane Baker

7:50 AM

Opening Remarks Joe Briggs, Chair of the Cascade County Commission

Alzheimer’s – National Association presentation

8:00 AM

Opening General Session Aging – a state and national prospective

Fraud and Abuse – AARP 3:00 PM

Community Achievement awards 10:00 AM

BREAK

3:30 PM Workshops Financial Planning Marsha Goetting, MSU

BREAK

10:30 AM

Mental Health and Aging Deb Matteucci Project 2030 - George Haynes, Professor, MSU

Circle of Life – Don Fish, Great Falls College

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It pays to question your statements!

Questioning a $9 charge on a Medicare statement resulted in the return of $1.37 million to Medicare!

You can help stop Medicare waste, fraud and abuse by reading your statements. For assistance, call the Montana SMP nearest you.

1-800-551-3191 Montana SMP is a statewide program administered by Missoula Aging Services. This ad was supported, in part, by a grant from the Administration for Community Living, AoA, DHHS. Points of view or opinions do not necessarily represent official AoA policy.

PAGE 34 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

5:00 PM

Adjourn for the day.

5:30 PM Hors d’oeuvre’s, beverages and entertainment at the Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute in the Guy Tabacco Room located at 1117 29th Street South.

Friday, May 10th 7:00 AM

Breakfast Bar

8:00 AM

General Session – Laura Goldhahn, Benefis Health CFO

9:00 AM

Break

9:15 AM

Workshop/Sessions Community Care Transitions – Mountain Pacific Quality Health Care Foundation Tax Help – John Gazzerro- The Tax Man Affordable & Safe Senior Living – Panel Discussion with Don Sterhan, Andrea Davis & Mary Blair (sponsored by NeighborWorks Great Falls)

10:15 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Workshop/Sessions Grandparents Raising Grand Kids – Sandra Bailey Senior Health Care Issues presented by the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI).

Older Driver – AAA Montana and Montana Dept of Transportation

12:00 Noon Luncheon & Keynote Speaker – George Horse Capture (introduction by Jessie J-H) 1:30 PM

General Session – Volunteers Keep us Moving – Dave Snuggs, My Neighbor in Need, Tina Lopez, Senior Volunteer Program Manager for Area VIII Agency on Aging and Gary Owen of United Way Cascade County.

2:30 PM

Closing Ceremony & Announcements MSN

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Your Future Comfort Could Depend on Long-Term Care Insurance

By Teresa Ambord As the new year rolls out, it=s time to think about the future and make sure your ducks are in a row. Whether or not you are rapidly approaching the day when you may need some kind of nursing home, it pays to consider insurance that can help when the time comes. True, we=re living longer. But as life expectancy rises, so do costs.

And more than four out of ten people, age 65 and older, do enter some sort of nursing facility.

A 2011 Genworth Financial study shows that the average cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home is about $70,445 for one year.

In some states, the cost is far more. And the average stay for those entering long-term care is 2 2 years. Unless you can easily cover that cost, you might want to give serious thought to purchasing long-term care insurance. The later you wait to initiate a long-term care policy, the more expensive the premiums will be. And, if you should develop serious health issues in the meantime, you may be unable to purchase this insurance at all.

Do Not Forget the Tax Benefits. If your long-term care policy is Aqualified,@ the premiums you pay may be deductible for federal tax purposes, subject to limits.

The maximum amount you can deduct for 2012 is: • $350 if you are age 40 or under • $660 if you are age 41 to 50.

• $1,310 if you are age 51 to 60.

• $3,500 if you are age 61 to 70.

• $4,370 if you are over age 70.

Be sure to include these amounts in your total medical expenses when you talk to your tax advisor. Once you determine the deductible amount based on your age, you must combine that with other medical expenses (such as health and dental premiums, insurance co-pays, out-of-pocket prescription costs, etc.). If the total exceeds 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you can write off the excess as an itemized medical expense on your Schedule A. Otherwise, there is no tax savings for your long-term care insurance costs.

What Is a Qualified Policy? A qualified plan vs. nonqualified is mostly determined by what conditions trigger benefits. For example, a plan must cover assistance for the activities of daily living (ADL). ADLs are eating, toileting, transferring, bathing, dressing, and continence. If your policy includes an ADL trigger, you have met the

trigger if you require help with at least two ADLs. Another trigger is cognitive impairment. If you are judged to be cognitively impaired, that means you need substantial supervision to protect yourself from health and safety threats brought on by that impairment. In addition, there must be a medical certification indicating that assistance will likely be required for at least 90 days.

What else should you consider when purchasing long-term care insurance?

• If tax benefits are important to you, be sure your agent knows you need a qualified policy.

• Also ask the agent what the effect of inflation on your policy will be. There could be a long gap of time between purchasing the policy and using it. Obviously benefits that are eaten up by inflation will be of little use.

• Be clear on what the waiting period is between initiating the policy and being able to get

benefits. Even if you are relatively young now, an accident could render you in need of long-term care at any age, so the waiting period should be reasonable.

• Don=t buy a policy without checking the reputation and stability of the insurer. After all, there could be decades between buying a policy and using it so you need insurance from a company that will be around for the long haul.

• Ask for details about how benefits will be paid. Will your insurer pay actual costs or only what is customary and reasonable? What must you do to prove your need for benefits?

Finally, if you are married and wish to insure your spouse as well, ask your agent about the possibilities. Some companies offer policies that allow you to take advantage of the unused benefits of your spouse, and other interesting alternatives. MSN

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never too old to play Friday, May 3 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Star Lanes Mile High Event Center 4601 Harrison, Butte This fun, FREE event is for anyone who is interested in laughing, learning, celebrating, and having a good time!

Interactive activities with games, puzzles, exercises.

Informative handouts.

Free bowling for adults.

Spots limited!!—CALL Kay, 406-494-3898 to register* Live entertainment & dancing.

Complimentary lunch, snacks, drinks, giveaways!

Your RSVP is kindly requested by April 26 to plan for food & materials CALL AARP Montana 1-877-926-8300 For more information visit www.aarp.org/states/mt - Events

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PAGE 36 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

Postponing Retirement? How to Apply for Medicare While Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Still Working

By Ross Blair As more people work past age 65, the eligibility age for Medicare, more people will need to navigate an increasingly complex web of employer and Medicare coverage. The decisions they make today could have costly, long-term implications.

A recent survey of caregivers conducted by eHealth, the parent company of PlanPrescriber. com, found that 80 percent of baby boomers expect to be working after their 65th birthday.

Many will have health insurance through their employer. But this group must also consider how Medicare affects their coverage and their choices. The same survey found that many baby boomers do not understand basic parts of how the Medicare program actually works. Certain parts of Medicare coverage are only guaranteed when you first become eligible for the program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even if you are working.

Applying for Medicare While Working â&#x20AC;&#x201C; When you turn 65 and continue to work, you have some decisions to make about employer coverage versus Medicare. To help you avoid costly mistakes, we have compiled a list of five things to keep in mind: 1. Understand the basics of how Original Medicare (Parts A and B) works and be aware of some cost-sharing gaps.

Original Medicare is a great benefit that covers core services. For example, when you are admitted into a medical facility, like a hospital or skilled nursing facility, Medicare Part A typically pays for your care. If you see a doctor or specialist in an outpatient setting, like a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office or rehab center, Part B typically pays for your care.

But, original Medicare benefits have some gaps.

Neither Part A nor Part B will pay 100 percent of your costs, and neither Part A nor Part B covers prescription drugs.

Parts A and B have their own separate de-

ductibles, and Part Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deductible typically resets 60 days after you are discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility. After you reach your Part B deductible, there is cost-sharing â&#x20AC;&#x153;coinsuranceâ&#x20AC;? wherein Medicare pays a percentage of every bill (typically 20 percent to 45 percent). And Parts A and B may have additional cost sharing for other services or for care that extends past a set number of days. These gaps are typically what prompt a person to stay with their employer-based coverage as long as possible, or to buy Medicare supplemental insurance http://www.agingcare. com/Articles/Take-out-Confusion-from-BuyingMedicare-Supplemental-Insurance-133610.htm.

2. Understand how your employer-based insurance works with Part A Most of us are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when we turn 65, even if we have employer-based insurance. The way Part A works with your employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan will depend on the size of the company where you work.

In most cases, if you work for a company with fewer than 20 employees, Medicare will become the primary payer of your hospitalization costs.

Your employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insurer becomes the secondary payer and covers gaps in coverage. If you work for a larger company, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insurer typically remains as the primary payer.

Most people become eligible for Part A (hospital insurance) at age 65, and most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A. Even with employer-based coverage, Part A can help pay for costs not covered by your employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan.

3. Understand how your employer-based insurance works with Part B. Those with employer-based insurance can wait until they lose that insurance to enroll in Part B. Part B has a premium â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most people pay a standard premium amount, which is $104.90 a month in 2013. If you have private insurance through another source, like an employer or

union, there is no reason to pay that $104.90 until you have to.

But there are some caveats. You typically must enroll in Part B within eight months of losing the job that gave you health insurance or within eight months of losing the health insurance from that job, whichever comes first. Waiting longer than eight months creates a gap in your coverage, and any gap in Part B coverage benefits can be penalized, permanently. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to talk to your employer health benefits administrator or a licensed agent who can clearly explain your options to you.

4. Know how COBRA works with Part A and Part B. COBRA provides certain former employees and spouses the right to temporarily continue health coverage at group rates. However, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expensive, so people who qualify for Medicare often decline costly COBRA and switch to Medicare. But if your spouse is not 65 and therefore not eligible for Medicare, COBRA may be their best option.

Here is where it gets tricky. By law, a person can stay on COBRA for 18 months. But if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re eligible for Medicare, you only have eight months to sign up for Part B after your employment, or employer-based health insurance, ends. Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on COBRA. If you are on COBRA, do not wait until your COBRA ends to enroll in Part B. If you do not enroll in Part B during that eight-month period, you will incur a 10 percent Part B premium penalty for every 12-month period that you were not enrolled. If you miss the first enrollment window, you will need to wait until Medicareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 through Dec. 7) to sign up for Part B. And your coverage will not begin until Jan. 1 of the following year.

5. If you want to supplement your Medicare coverage, know the deadlines.

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PAGE 38 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

There are a couple of ways to help fill the “cost-sharing” gaps in original Medicare, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.

People can enroll in Medicare Advantage (also called Medicare Part C plans) as an alternative to original Medicare. These plans allow a person to receive their Part A and Part B benefits, as well as Part D in most cases, from a private insurance company through a single consolidated plan. While Medicare Advantage plans can and often do have some of the same cost-sharing (deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) associated with Original Medicare, they cap your out-of-pocket expenses at $6,700 or less, depending on the plan.

According to eHealth’s 2013 Medicare Advantage Plan Landscape Data Summary, the average Medicare Advantage plan costs $60 a month on top of what one pays for original Medicare; and the average cap on out-of-pocket costs for 2013 is about $4,500. By comparison, original Medicare has no such cap on out-of-pocket expenses.

Remember, you’ll typically be signed up for Part A automatically when you turn 65. When you stop working and lose your employer-based plan, you have eight months to enroll in Part B. And you have three months to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) after you’ve signed up for Medicare Part B. Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/ choosing-a-Medicare-advantage-plan-148111. htm can be tricky.

Medicare Supplement plans (also called

Medigap plans) are offered as a supplement to original Medicare, not as an alternative like the Medicare Advantage plans. In most states, a person can enroll in one of 10 standardized Medicare Supplements plans, which must all provide the same core benefits, regardless of which insurer offers them. Plans typically do not include a prescription drug benefit, but the most comprehensive supplement plans often cover virtually all of a person’s Part A and Part B out-of-pocket costs.

The Open Enrollment Period for Medigap policies (supplement insurance) starts the first month a beneficiary is both 65 and enrolled in Part B, and it lasts for six months. As long as you have coverage through your employer, you typically won’t need Part B or a Medicare Supplement plan. Once you sign up for Part B, you don’t want to miss the Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

Outside of your initial Medigap Open Enrollment Period, your application for a Medigap plan could be declined if you have a pre-existing condition. Or if your health condition is covered, your premium may be higher. Some Medigap plans may require you to pay premiums but wait a few months before they’ll cover any expenses.

For many baby boomers, becoming eligible for Medicare means access to more affordable health care. When you are working after age 65, you have more options. Taking the time to understand all your options will help you select the coverage that is best for you.

Ross Blair is the President and CEO of PlanPrescriber.com, a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicarerelated insurance products. MSN

As A Community We Can Improve Healthcare We often hear about the high cost of healthcare and our being victims of this broken national system. Despite the fact is that the healthcare system is extremely complex, that does not mean it cannot be improved.

For example, one in five older patients who leaves the hospital will return within 30 days, which is costly on a number of levels, but is often avoidable.

Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, the quality improvement organization appointed by CMS to serve Montana, has worked to convene community coalitions to reduce the Your health – our commitment to you, from day one.

occurrence of these readmissions – and these coalitions are making considerable progress.

A recent study in JAMA (Jan. 23, 2013 edition) finds that a coordinated, community-wide approach is a successful strategy for keeping patients healthy and out of the hospital. By bringing a diverse group of healthcare stakeholders to the table, standardizing the process when a patient transitions from the hospital to post-hospital care, and engaging patients in assuming an active role in their own healthcare, we can reduce the number of patients who are rehospitalized. The JAMA article validates the success of this collaborative approach that Mountain-Pacific has been promoting. These sorts of community-based efforts to improve care transition practices ultimately benefit all Montana patients.

While Mountain-Pacific has served as a catalyst for these efforts, really the coalitions are doing the great work. By developing a spirit of commitment and collaboration, they will surely find success and help fix a national issue, by beginning right here in Montana. MSN

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Homecoming at the C.M. Russell Museum: Your Chance to See the Best of the Mint Collection

By Bernice Karnop Summer is the season for coming home and reconnecting with old friends. This summer marks a special homecoming for the C.M. Russell Museum with its 60th anniversary celebration and exhibition I Beat You to It: Charles Russell at the Mint that brings back to Montana a selection of the finest Russell artwork from the Mint Collection.

The exhibition runs through September 14. 2013.

According to the museum, highlights of the exhibition are the oil paintings, The Hold Up (1899) and Buffalo Hunt No. 26 (1899).

From the late 1890s to the 1940s, Sid Willis, the owner of the Mint saloon and a close friend of Russell, amassed a remarkable group of oil paintings, watercolors, illustrated letters, and a rare set of the artist’s wax models, which he proudly displayed in his downtown Great Falls eating and drinking establishment. Remarkably, for nearly half a century the Mint held the most famous collection of Russell art ever assembled in Montana.

Visitors came from all over the country to see it.

In 1945, when Willis sold the Mint saloon and its prized collection, he stipulated that the Russell artworks and memorabilia were to remain in

Montana. A fundraising campaign was organized to buy it, but six years later, they gave it up. The Mint collection was purchased by Amon G. Carter of Fort Worth, who displayed in the art museum founded in his name in Texas.

Today, through the generosity of private collectors Thomas Petrie and Trevor Rees-Jones, Montanans who still grieve that loss can, for the first time in decades, see artwork from the Mint Collection at the Russell Museum.

The name of the show comes from Russell’s quirky advertising slogan for the Mint saloon, “Don’t let anyone beat you to it.”

The C.M. Russell Museum is located at 400 13th Street North in Great Falls and focuses on the culture, life, and country of Russell’s West. It contains not only his art but also that of his contemporaries and the art of preceding and ensuing generations.

Plan enough time to see Russell’s log cabin studio and the Russell home for a more complete understanding of the man and his times.

For more information visit www.cmrussell.org or call the museum at 406-727-8787. MSN

Tips for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Visits

By Catherine Heppner When a grandparent or other relative gets custody of their grandchild, most of the time, the child and their biological parents have a relationship that continues. All too often custody or guardianship papers do not give enough guidance on how visits should be conducted. The following is not a substitute for written visitation orders, but these tips can make visits better.

• Visits with the biological parents are for the benefit of the children.

• Acting out is NOT a sign that the child had a bad experience.

• A visit just prior to a holiday or birthday can relieve the child’s stress of wondering if they will see the biological parent.

• Take pictures of the child and the parent together. Give the children the gift of good memories.

• If the biological parent does not show up or is late, you and the child can still have fun.

• A visit in a public, neutral location makes it easier for you and the child to leave if the biologi-

cal parent acts inappropriately or other problems arise.

• Consider ending the visit early and scheduling for another day, if the biological parent: is drunk or high; becomes violent or abusive; makes inappropriate promises to the child; or brings friends or is otherwise not paying attention to the child.

• Don’t make promises over which you have no control. If the child asks if they will see the biological parent, give non-committal answers like, “I

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 39

PAGE 40 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

hope we’ll see them.”

• Your relationship with the biological parents and the extended family is separate from the relationship the child will have with them. Even if the other grandparents or other family members have gone all year without contact, try to be flexible.

• Deal with inappropriate gifts on another day.

The biological parent may give a gift that is not age-appropriate – either too young or too old for the

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child. Be a role model in saying “thank you” politely.

As with all advice, do what works for your family. More ideas can be discussed at your local support group meeting. For further information and a support group in your area, contact 2-1-1 Careline.

Catherine Hepner is a grandmother who has been raising her granddaughter for the last six years. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 41

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only Pennies A Dayâ&#x20AC;? Letters

By Clare Hafferman For any of us who have ever sent a check to a charity, subscribed to a magazine, written a letter to a political party, sent for a catalogue or a book, or asked for information, we should realize that all of these entities could and would sell our names and personal information.

Since I only deal with the U. S. Post Office and the mailbox across the street, you can label me truly â&#x20AC;&#x153;retroâ&#x20AC;? in this world of computerized information. But I am sure the truth of my first paragraph above relates to the Internet.

I dislike shopping in the manual labor way, pounding concrete floors in a mall, where what I have seen is usually overpriced or created in Taiwan. I get my everyday gardening clothes at the Salvation Army store or other thrift shops and if I want a better piece of clothing, it comes from a catalogue.

I also like to read so I subscribe to two gardening magazines and a friend gave us a subscription to The Week. My name is out there enough to guarantee I receive catalogues I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t order and letters from charities who would love to have my signature on a check.

As an indication of the times, I know things are getting tighter because the letters have increased.

I have heard from The March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, St. Judeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, political parties, and the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race. And before you think I am entirely without a heart, we have given to some of these. My point being the solicitations are more frequent due.

Then I got two unusual requests. The first came from the Navajo Relief Fund asking for a donation to help buy turkey dinners this Thanksgiving. In one way, the request surprised me because as a fan of Tony Hillermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mysteries, I remember his detective Jimmy Chee said he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grow up eating Cheerios like the rest of us. In one story, he

warmed up mutton stew for breakfast.

Since I grew up with an Irish mother who served us both lamb chops and mutton stew, I ate both. Now if I had to compare mutton stew to a bowl of Bran Flakes, half-and-half, and a banana, I might have to think about it. But I would guess the Navajos have adopted traditional Thanksgiving menus and no doubt they like turkey and dressing.

But, I said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No.â&#x20AC;?

The second came from George McGovern and he asked that I send $25 to his friend, Morris Dees. Morris helped Mr. McGovern when George ran for President and before and after that, was the head of the Southern Poverty Law Center. For the money, Mr. Dees would send me his book, A Lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey, it contains the story of this cotton-picking kid who grew up to be the lawyer responsible for suing the Klu Klux Klan and putting the Imperial Klanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader, in jail to stay.

I approve of Morrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts and wish him good luck, but if I made a list of the ways I earn extra money to support my gardening habit, pay the tab for sending cookies and birthday presents to Grandkids, and buy little extras along the way, he would realize that it would be a long shot to get $25 out of me. I am turning him and Mr. McGovern down, although I will use the address labels they sent me which said SLC on each one and wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean a thing to anybody seeing it.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t anticipate getting a second letter from either organization, although I would be curious to know if the advice I sent to the Navajos regarding a garden box in the desert was ever considered.

If you have time to be descriptive about why you are not contributing to unsolicited requested donations, get creative. Save paper and envelopes, and decide where your charity dollars go, not necessarily to someone who just bought your name. MSN

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Free File Alliance Partners with IRS to Kickoff 11th Year of Free Online Tax Services WASHINGTON, D.C. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Free File Alliance, a nonprofit coalition of industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the Internal Revenue Service, today announced the launch of the 2013 Free File program. Since its inception in 2003, Free File has offered free online commercial tax preparation software for 70 percent of taxpayers. This year, taxpayers with a 2012 Adjusted Gross Income of $57,000 or less â&#x20AC;&#x201C; about 100 million Americans â&#x20AC;&#x201C; may visit www.IRS.gov/ freefile to prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns at no cost.

In addition to offering comprehensive tax services for 70 percent of taxpayers, Free File also offers basic federal e-filing services with no income limitations. This basic e-filing service, called Free File Fillable Forms, allows taxpayers who are familiar with tax law and need no preparation assistance to complete and file their federal income tax returns electronically. There are no income limitations to use Free File Fillable Forms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Free File is the one-stop shop for 70 percent of taxpayers to prepare and e-file their federal tax returns,â&#x20AC;? said Tim Hugo, executive director of the Free File Alliance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The service is unique because it gives taxpayers access to 15 different tax software offerings so they can choose the one that works best for their tax situation. With Free File, the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top software is all in one place, and it is all free. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Free File Alliance is committed to making e-filing fast, safe, and free for 100 million taxpayers. Free File provides step-by-step assistance to take the guesswork out of doing your taxes. We invite eligible taxpayers to visit IRS.gov/freefile and

join the 36 million Americans who have already used this program during the last 10 years,â&#x20AC;? said Hugo.

To begin, taxpayers should visit the IRS website www.IRS.gov/freefile. Users will find a list of Free File Alliance member companies and may either choose one that fits their needs or utilize the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help Me Find a Companyâ&#x20AC;? tool. After selecting a tax software company, users will be transferred to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website to prepare, complete, and electronically file their federal income tax returns. The service is also available in Spanish.

The Free File Alliance is also partnered with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a walk-in service for low-to-moderate income taxpayers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that offers Free File software on self-assist kiosks at VITA sites in 29 states.

Through its partnership with VITA, the Free File Alliance will be able to provide e-filing services for taxpayers who do not have Internet access at home, as well as those who want to e-file, but need additional help.

Free File Alliance member companies have worked closely with the IRS to strengthen the Free File program, and taxpayers have consistently reported the program as being user-friendly and efficient. Responding to a 2009 IRS survey, 96 percent of users said they found Free File easy to use, while 98 percent said they would recommend the program to others.

About the Free File Alliance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Free File Alliance is committed to giving 70 percent of Americans free access to the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top online tax preparation software. For more information, visit www.freefilealliance.org. MSN

Well-informed healthcare decisions can lead to a better life

By Nicole Duritz Nancy from Missoula stopped by our booth at the Missoula Chamber Health Fair this month and asked this question: Q: My New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resolution this year is to try to live a healthier lifestyle. Aside from the obvious things like getting more exercise and eating better, what other steps should I be taking?

A: Good for you, Nancy, to resolve to become healthier in 2013! You already have the big items covered by committing to a nutritious, well-balanced diet and staying physically active. But one more item that is relatively easy to incorporate is to make sure you are getting the most out of your health coverage. Doing so can help you stay healthy and perhaps save money too! These tips from Nicole Duritz, AARP Vice President of Education and Outreach, will help you make wise healthcare decisions: 1. Know how your health plan works. Find out what is and what is not covered in your plan.

Learn about your deductibles, copayments, and

other out-of-pocket costs before beginning medical services or filling a prescription.

2. Select doctors carefully. If your plan has a network, you should choose doctors that are participating providers, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;in-network.â&#x20AC;? When you go out of network, you may have to pay higher copays, plus any difference in your medical serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s price. If your plan doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a network of providers, ask your doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s receptionist if your health coverage is accepted before you schedule your appointment.

3. Put prevention first. Health screenings and vaccinations can help you prevent illness. Most health insurance plans must now cover preventive and wellness benefits, such as screenings for certain cancers or diabetes, with no deductibles or copayments. You should also schedule some time with your doctor to talk about how you can work together to maintain good health throughout the year. Discuss your health goals and plans to reach them with your doctor.

If you have Medicare, you are eligible for a one-time, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Welcome to (Continued on pg 60)

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 43

PAGE 44 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

Elder Abuse Can Be Reduced

by Teaching Caregivers about Dementia

By Jacqueline Marcell Elder abuse is an expanding, serious problem affecting hundreds of thousands of elderly people in the United States. And since the abuse is often at the hand of a family member or friend, the issue remains largely hidden by the families, causing gross under-reporting of the crisis. It is estimated that only 1 out of 14 incidents comes to the attention of authorities. And criminal prosecution rarely occurs, because by the time law enforcement gets involved the incident has long passed and the family does not want to bring attention to their disgraceful family secret.

Dementia Compounds Problem â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Statistically families (and many doctors who are not dementia specialists) ignore the early warning signs of dementia because they incorrectly believe that the intermittently odd behaviors are just a normal

part of aging and untreatable senility. Most say that the behaviors just â&#x20AC;&#x153;arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that bad yetâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is a costly mistake in every regard. Since one out of every eight persons by the age of 65 gets some form of dementia and nearly one out of every two by the age of 85 is afflicted, dementia adds an enormous burden on families who are already ill prepared for the strain of caring for an aging loved one.

Caregiver Stress and Depression â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Overburdened caregivers ride a roller coaster of emotions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; feeling overwhelmed, out of control, sad, angry, guilty, and obligated to be in constant demand.

They lose touch with friends who do not understand, their careers suffer when they must take time off or quit work, they suffer sleep deprivation, and they rarely get adequate nutrition or exercise.

They feel overwhelming frustration and grief that

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they are not able to make their loved one better â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and experience ominous thoughts of impending death.

The National Center for Elder Abuse (NCEA) reports that the rate of depression for caregivers of non-demented patients is 35.2%, which is twice the public average. Among dementia caregivers, the rate is a whopping 43-46%. And caregivers who experience the greatest levels of ongoing stress were 63% more likely to die within the next four years than their non-caregiving peers were.

Challenging Elders Increase Chance for Abuse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; When a patient becomes very difficult to manage, the caregiver experiences yet another level of frustration. Since there are 5 million people with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the U.S., and agitation occurs in 40-60% with 7 out of 10 being cared for at home, is there any surprise that elder abuse can occur when overstressed caregivers reach their limit with a challenging elder? People who would have never dreamed of crossing the line are finding themselves lashing out in a moment of utter frustration. Of course, overwhelming guilt and hopelessness is the outcome.

NCEA reports that 20% of caregivers live in fear they will become violent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and this rate increases to 57% among caregivers who have previously experienced violence from those they now care for. Researchers conclude that previous violence by the care receiver appears to move persons who are fearful of becoming violent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; actually to commit violent acts.

Denial of Early Stage Dementia Costly Misunderstood is the fact that Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) precedes Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and can last five to ten years. Not all of those people, but a large percentage, will progress to Stage 1 Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, which typically lasts 2-4 years â&#x20AC;&#x201D; yet is still mild. Then there is often some type of crisis when the family realizes that full-time care is now essential. This usually signals the beginning of Stage 2, which can last 2-10 years as the family tries to care for their loved one at home. Then the illness gets worse, which is Stage 3, which lasts

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 45

1-3 years and is when many people are placed in a nursing home.

Seeking help early from the right doctor, a neurologist specialized in dementia, can save families so much heartache and money â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and save our society the burden of caring for so many elders who decline sooner than need be. What everyone needs to know is that with proper care and medication (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne or Namenda), in most people dementia symptoms can be masked/ slowed down â&#x20AC;&#x201C; keeping the patient independent and in milder MCI and Stage One longer. Instead, healthcare professionals do not get the call until the patient has progressed to Stage 2, but there is no going back â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even with medication.

National Attention Needed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Elder abuse is an issue that needs to be examined as closely as domestic violence, which has fortunately been deterred by abundant public service announcements and radio and television discussions. Also, the availability of battered womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shelters and counseling has made a huge difference in the awareness of the issue. The same is needed for elder abuse. Through public awareness and education, another taboo can be brought out in the open so offenders will think twice before they lash out.

Ideally, they will know to seek the help of a mental health professional before they cross the line.

The bottom line is that when families have fewer frustrations and difficult behaviors to cope with (because their loved oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dementia was diagnosed and treated early); and caregivers know how to obtain coping resources sooner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; elder abuse can be drastically reduced.

Solutions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Doctors and healthcare professionals (who are not dementia specialists) need to understand the early warning signs of dementia and be open to referring their patients to specialists for an early and accurate diagnosis and treatment.

With national education and extensive media awareness and community support, the over 50 million American caregivers can learn how to bet-

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PAGE 46 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

APRIL/MAY 2013

ter cope with the challenges of caregiving.

Family doctors and therapists should routinely screen their patients for caregiver burnout – so stress, frustration, and depression can be addressed immediately.

Eldercare workers in the home or in professional settings should be required to undergo extensive criminal background checks.

Anyone who suspects any type of elder abuse must report it immediately. Support groups can

help caregivers cope and feel less alone.

Stressed caregivers should be encouraged to seek alternate care for their patient, so they get a break (respite) and recharge before caregiver stress erupts into any level of abuse.

Caregivers and healthcare professionals need to know about The National Center for Elder Abuse (http://www.ncea.aoa.gov), which provides resources to find assistance, publications, data, and answers to elder abuse questions. MSN

What to do when a relative resists help

By Lisa M. Petsche If you have an aging parent or other close relative who lives alone, at some point you may become worried that he or she is not managing well.

Typically, family members’ concerns center around one or more of the following: mobility, nutrition, housekeeping, grooming, financial management, medication use, safety, energy level, mood, and mental status of their senior relative.

No matter how difficult it may be to look after their day-to-day needs, some older adults are reluctant to ask for help or accept it when offered.

The most common reasons are included below.

Denial. They have difficulty accepting the reality of aging and the prospect of increased dependence on others.

Pride. They do not want to appear weak or incompetent.

Discomfort. They do not like the idea of strangers coming into their home, or the role reversal involved in accepting help from younger generations, particularly their children.

Guilt. They do not want to worry or inconvenience their family.

Anxiety. They fear they will be pressured into leaving the comfort of their home, end up in a care facility, and generally lose control over their life Resentment. They perceive concerned family members as critical or intrusive.

Personality. They have always found change

difficult or been fiercely independent, stubborn, or private.

Finances. They are concerned about the cost of recommended equipment and services, due to limited means or frugality.

Cognition. They are in the early stages of dementia and lack insight into their needs and capabilities.

While a certain degree of reluctance is to be expected, if your relative continues to resist needed help, they may experience a crisis that lands them in the hospital.

How to prevent this from happening? The approach with your relative depends to some extent on their personality and the nature of your relationship, but here are some general guidelines.

Before talking with your relative, research resources in their community that may be of help.

This way you will be prepared with solutions.

Information can be obtained from the local office on aging.

Raise concerns gently and gradually. Use “I” statements – for example, “I notice that…” or “I’m worried that….” Provide concrete examples.

Emphasize your relative’s abilities and how these can be supported. A strengths perspective helps preserve their self-esteem. Stress that your aim is to help them remain at home and maximize their independence.

Organize a family meeting if your relative denies problems or resists suggestions. Consider

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APRIL/MAY 2013

including someone from outside the family, such as a trusted physician or a good friend of theirs who shares your concerns. Your relative may perceive them as more objective and consequently take their concerns to heart.

If your relative objects to help, gently probe to learn their reasoning. Listen

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and respect their point of view. Be attuned to underlying feelings (such as sadness or fear), acknowledge them, and demonstrate empathy.

Share brochures or information from the Internet about medical equipment or community services that may be of help. Highlight any that are free or subsidized.

Focus initially on the least intrusive options, such as setting up an emergency response system or obtaining medical equipment.

Acknowledge how uncomfortable it may initially be to change their habits, alter their environment, or allow strangers into their home.

Offer to pay or contribute to the cost of medical equipment, day programs, or home services if your relative has limited income.

If your relative appears physically unwell or cognitively impaired, arrange a check-up with their primary physician. Call ahead to alert him or her to specific concerns. If your relative refuses to go or accessibility is an issue, find out if there is a geriatric outreach program that performs in-home assessments.

Bear in mind that choosing not to follow the recommendations of healthcare professionals or family does not mean a senior is mentally incompetent.

Recognize, too, that opinions about what constitutes an acceptable standard of living and quality of life can vary considerably, and that frail seniors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; struggling to maintain control in the face of declining health, relationship losses, or other difficulties â&#x20AC;&#x201C; often have a different perspective from family.

Since mentally capable people have the right to put themselves at risk, at some point you may need to agree to disagree with your relative about what is best for them in order to preserve the relationship. But even if your relative continually refuses help, there are some things you can do.

Stay in close contact and make regular visits to monitor their safety and well-being. And keep collecting information about community resources so you are ready to jump in and assist your relative in making informed decisions and necessary arrangements should they have a change of mind or a crisis occurs.

Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. MSN

Celebrate Older Americans Month

By Bernice Karnop When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs. In April of that year, President John F. Kennedy, with the advice of the National Council of Senior Citizens, designated May as Senior Citizenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Month. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter revised the name to Older Americans Month.

The Montana Senior News joins in celebrating Older Americans Month this May. The theme of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebration is Unleash the Power of Age. We have a front row seat to appreciate the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of Montana communi-

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ties. Their shared histories, diverse experiences, and wealth of knowledge make our state what it is today.

We also celebrate all the advances that help older Americans live longer, healthier, and more engaged lives. Older Montanans are out and about, giving back and making a difference in their communities across the state. They mentor leaders of tomorrow and take time to volunteer in schools.

They connect with others by delivering meals,

helping with home repair, assisting with shopping, and offering companionship and care.

Join us in celebrating Older Americans Month by not only recognizing those who have gone beyond the call of duty, but also by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging to find out how you can be part of this amazing volunteer force. Opportunities are so diverse, we are sure there is a perfect place for you! MSN

Regaining Strength - Recovering From A Health Crisis Takes A Team

By Lisa M. Petsche If you or a person you are caring for becomes hospitalized due to a health crisis – such as stroke, a hip fracture, or prolonged acute illness – an inpatient rehabilitation program may be recommended.

Rehab may occur onsite or at an acute rehabilitation facility or skilled nursing home.

The goal of rehab is to help people who have experienced health setbacks regain their strength and endurance. The focus is on reducing disability, and where permanent disability remains, managing it in the best possible way.

Rehab programs may be general or specific to a certain type of injury or diagnosis, such as stroke. They vary in intensity and duration, some being time-limited while others allow the patient to continue as long as progress is being made.

Typical criteria for acceptance into a program include medical stability; physical potential for improvement; mental ability (including sufficient attention span and memory) to participate in therapy; and willingness to participate in the program and try new ways of doing things, including using adaptive aids (such as walkers or wheelchairs) if necessary.

Upon admission, staff assess a patient’s abilities and limitations in order to develop an individualized care plan involving measurable goals and mileposts. Treatment usually includes individual and group therapies.

Challenges patients may face during rehab

include having to conform to a tight schedule; fatigue, especially if they are unaccustomed to physical activity; embarrassment at having to relearn basic activities such as washing and dressing; and frustration from unrealistic expectations.

Moreover, progress may be impeded by medical conditions such as clinical depression, impaired cognitive function, pain, medication side effects (drowsiness, for instance), or concomitant illnesses or chronic conditions.

Patient progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. Evaluation also occurs formally through frequent team meetings and periodic review conferences that include the patient and family. Staff adjust goals and plans as needed and monitor patient readiness for discharge.

Service is delivered by a team of health care professionals who consult and collaborate on a continual basis, ensuring a coordinated, holistic approach to assessment and treatment. Following is an overview of each member’s role.

The Case Manager is the team leader responsible for overall planning, coordinating care, and evaluating outcomes.

The physician diagnoses and treats medical problems, orders investigations and treatments, and consults with specialists as needed.

The nursing staff assess health status, administer medication and other physician-ordered treatments, and assist with (Cont’d on page 53)

Aging has enough difficulties.

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 49

PAGE 50 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Counting Sheep? Insomnia, Exercise & Longevity

By Carolyn Nutovik It does not take a scientist or medical professional to identify the importance of sleep for overall health, as poet William Wordsworth describes in “To Sleep”: ...Without Thee what is all the morning’s wealth?

Come, blesséd barrier between day and day, Dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health!

Insomnia is the third most frequent health complaint in the United States, and adults age 60 and over suffer from insomnia more than any other age group. Researchers suspect that age-related changes in sleep phases and patterns, as well as various medical conditions play a role, especially those related to pain. In fact, about one-third of individuals older than 65 have chronic insomnia, according to sleep expert Carlos Schenck, MD. So do you have to simply accept the fact that because you are getting older you will have trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep? In 2003, the National Sleep Foundation conducted a large-scale poll of Americans between the ages of 55 and 84 to learn more about their sleep behaviors in relation to their overall health, activities, moods, and outlooks on life. They surveyed 1,506 people and discovered that the better the person’s overall health, the better his or her sleep, and vice versa. On the other hand, the greater the number of medical conditions, the more likely it was for the person to report sleep problems. The survey also found that those with more active lifestyles and a more positive outlook on life tended to have fewer sleep complaints.

What is the connection between exercise and sleep? James Fries, M.D., author of Living Well: Taking Care of Yourself in the Middle and Later Years, writes, “Physical exercise is the most important promoter of good deep sleep. Our bodies are designed to be used, then rested, then used again. You need to be physically tired at the end of the day to sleep well.”

The positive impact of exercise on sleep is echoed by all the experts. Michael Krugman, MA, founder of the Sounder Sleep System and an expert on sleep advises, “…please do exercise wherever, whenever you can… exercise lifts your

spirits, puts a spring in your step, and makes your eyes sparkle in a way that makes you look younger than your years. Numerous studies show that vigorous exercise at any time of day – except in the evening, when exercise-induced stress hormone production can delay the onset of sleep – is one of the most effective lifestyle modifications you can make to promote natural restful sleep.”

Is it safe to raise your heart rate to the level of the vigorous exercise? If you are currently sedentary, have limiting medical conditions, or are returning from an exercise hiatus, you should always consult your physician before starting an exercise regimen. Once you are cleared to begin, Dr. Fries recommends stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercise.

“Assess your present level of activity, and set goals for the next level of fitness you want to achieve. Your final goal should be one year away.”

Start slowly and gradually work up to longer workouts. For example, set a heart rate target goal of 60% of your maximum for 15-30 minutes twice a week. The way to determine this is 220 minus your age, times 60%. If you are 70-years-old, for instance, that figure would be 90 beats per minute.

You can measure this in 30-second increments then multiply by 2, or purchase a heart rate monitor. Also, many larger pieces of gym equipment have built-in heart rate monitors. Dr. Fries believes mature adults need aerobic exercise more than ever, and offers this calming advice, “Some people worry that they have only so many heartbeats in a lifetime and that exercise will increase their heart rates and use them up. In fact, because of the decrease in resting heart rate, the fit individual uses 10% to 25% fewer heartbeats in of a day.”

There are many ways to get the combination of stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercise Dr. Fries advocates. Samples of stretching exercises are shown in the National Institute on Aging’s guide to exercise and physical activity. These are crucial at the beginning and end of every workout because they help loosen up joints and muscles beforehand, and prevent stiffness afterward.

Strengthening exercises can be performed with handheld weights, resistance bands, or objects you have at home such as cans of soup or bottles of water. With regard to aerobic exercise, if you

APRIL/MAY 2013

have not been exercising at all, start by walking 2-3 times a week for 15-20 minutes and increase the number of times a week and duration of each session over a four-week period.

If you start out winded in the first week, but are bored by week four, you can jog slowly or vary your route. Fitness classes in the swimming pool are also a good workout and are easy on your joints. Some people enjoy riding a stationary bike. Chair-based exercise is another great alternative. The PBS program “Sit and Be Fit” offers instruction on chair-based exercise at home.

You can also use the Resistance Chair® to provide a total body, low-impact workout, done mostly from a seated position. There is stretching, strengthening using the resistance cables that come already attached to the Chair, and light cardio that includes marching in place, sitting jacks, modified squats, and stepping while holding on to the back of the Chair. If you need to improve your balance and aerobic capacity, chair-based exercise is the safest way to begin, even before walking.

Remember, start gently, and go slowly. If you are sore, substitute one activity for another. Do not give up! “Many who have achieved record levels of fitness, as exemplified by world class marathon times, have started exercising only in their sixties, seventies, or even eighties. Mt Fuji has been climbed by a man over 100 years of age who began to exercise at age 90.”

From sedentary to climbing a mountain? It is hard to imagine, but you have lived long enough to appreciate that change takes time. Change is best achieved in increments, and it starts with an “I can” attitude. You can begin to exercise, or improve the regimen you already have. All the experts agree that exercise during the day can improve the quality of shuteye you get.

If you are having trouble going to sleep, or if you are waking in the middle of the night unable to fall back asleep, consider your diet and the amount of

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 51

exercise you currently get. Try to make some simple adjustments like exercising twice a week and cutting back on caffeinated beverages. Keep notes on your average daily routine and be honest with yourself about what you eat and drink, the medications you take, and the amount of physical activity you engage in. Take questions to your next doctor’s visit. Be proactive – it is your health and longevity!

“The triumvirate of health is the ultimate lifetime philosophy of well-being.

Individuals who behave according to its three principles – good nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy sleep – are well on their way to optimized health, energy, and longevity.” (end-your-sleep-deprivation.com) Carolyn Nutovic is a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a customer service representative at VQ ActionCare, developers of the complete at-home Resistance Chair® exercise system for mature adults. For more information, please visit, www.vqactioncare.com.

Carolyn may be contacted at (877) 368-6800 or via email at cnutovic@ vqactioncare.com. MSN

Is Falling A Fact Of Life For The Elderly?

By Amy Downing / Element Physical Therapy, Missoula Have you or someone you know ever experienced a fall or sudden loss of balance, or been dizzy with no apparent cause? If you have, you are not alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 33-50% of people over age 65 fall each year – many repeatedly. Dizziness is also one of the leading complaints heard by physicians from their elderly patients and it is reported that 35% of adults over the age of 40 have experienced some form of dizziness. Does that mean falling and dizziness are a normal part of the aging process? No! In fact, medical research has shown that falls are not a normal part of aging and can be prevented and treated to a significant degree.

The key to fall prevention is for you and your physician to understand how the body controls balance and to know when and where to seek assistance for fall prevention and care. Balance involves a complex interaction between the brain and sensory information from the eyes, ears, ankles, feet

Mayo Clinic expertise right here at home.

Working together with Mayo clinic expands our resources to solve tough patient problems. We strive to deliver the best possible care for our patients, and with electronic access to eConsults and AskMayoExpert through the Mayo Clinic Care Network, we have world-class expertise at our fingertips.

Humpty Dumpty Never Had A Balance Test.

Doctors at Billings Clinic can access treatment plans and other medical resources online 24 hours a day. In addition, our physicians can work together with Mayo Clinic specialists on hard to solve diagnoses and treatment recommendations. The best part is our patients don’t need to travel, and can receive care right here at home.

To schedule an appointment at Billings Clinic, call (406) 238-2501 or 1-800-332-7156.

Now there is help for balance and dizziness problems Dr. Randall Gibb, gynecologic oncologist, reassures a patient in the Billings Clinic infusion center.

We are the ONLY clinic in Western Montana that offers the SMART EQUI-TEST system by NeuroCom® to identify the source of your imbalance. We also use state of the art VNG goggles to evaluate and treat your dizziness. Using this equipment, we will evaluate your entire balance system or dizziness problems and tailor a treatment to meet your needs.

Call for an appointment today!

406-543-7860 2455 Dixon Ave Ste A Missoula ElementPT.com

To find out more, visit www.billingsclinic.com/mayo

PAGE 52 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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and muscle systems of the body. When these systems work together effectively, the brain can easily maintain the body’s balance. However, as we age, changes occur, such as loss of hearing and/or vision, less sensation in our feet and joints,

and muscle weakness. In short, we experience an overall weakening of our senses. Individually, none of these factors may put a person at risk for falling, but in combination, they can. For example, someone with poor night vision may be able to

walk through his or her home in the dark without difficulty. But if that same person develops an ear or sinus infection, which can cause dizziness, they are at risk for falling.

Because balance problems limit safe mobility, they can severely limit independence and daily life function as well as leisure pursuits. Difficulties with walking on uneven surfaces (stairs, carpeting, lawns, etc.), in busy visual environments (at a shopping mall), or at night can cause a person to limit their participation in activities to avoid embarrassment or a fall. Whether the imbalance is mild or severe, there are now solutions to the problem.

Element Physical Therapy can provide specialized care for balance and dizziness using the latest technology and equipment. The NeuroCom SMART EquiTest® is used to localize the source of your balance problem. VNG (video nystagmography) goggles are used to help identify the source of dizziness.

There are other resources available to help you understand your balance or dizziness problems, including the Vestibular Disorder Association (VEDA) www.vestibular.org, a national support group for people suffering from dizziness and imbalance.

There is also valuable information available at www.balanceandmobility.com on balance and factors that may lead to a higher risk for falls.

Although balance and dizziness problems can be a factor of aging, they do not have to be a “fact” of senior life. Ask your physician for information and seek out the solutions available to you. You can contact Element Physical Therapy for more information at 406-543-7860 or by visiting www. elementpt.com. MSN

Ten Natural Allergy Relief Tips For millions who suffer from allergies, spring means sneezing, coughing, itchy and watery eyes, and upper respiratory congestion. Dr. Holly Lucille shares her solutions to breathe easier this spring.

Spring showers may bring May flowers, but for many, springtime brings the misery of allergies.

“People with seasonal allergies are especially sensitive to pollen and mold spores,” noted Dr. Holly Lucille, a naturopathic physician specializing in family medicine at Healing Within Healthcare in Los Angeles. “There are natural solutions to deal with the sneezing, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and all the other symptoms that can come with the spring.”

Having practiced in the natural health field for over 16 years, Dr. Lucille has found that reducing exposure to allergens and using proven herbal formulas go hand in hand. “Dealing with seasonal allergies requires a comprehensive approach,” she said. “I advise patients to take an herbal formula that’s been clinically shown to soothe symptoms and provide safe and effective seasonal allergy relief.” She added, “Herbal formulas work with the body and help patients avoid the side effects of prescription or over-the counter medications.”

Dr. Lucille’s top 10 tips for allergy relief are: 1. Go herbal. Look for a formula with caper, olive leaf, black currant, and Panax ginseng, like Seasonal FreedomTM from Enzymatic Therapy. It has been clinically shown to decrease the body’s response to allergen triggers by up to 70 percent.

This dietary supplement contains a 4-SeasonsTM herbal blend that is fast acting and delivers relief without making you sleepy or jittery. For more details on Seasonal Freedom natural allergy relief go to www.enzymatictherapy.com.

2. Get your probiotics. Because imbalances of intestinal flora are common for people who have allergies, probiotics may be a good choice. Probiotics are the good bacteria, such as Lactobaccillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum that live in our intestines and are essential for the maintenance of strong immune systems.

Getting your probiotics, whether in yogurt or in a supplement such as Acidophilus PearlsTM, is a great way to boost total body immunity.

3. Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of liquids helps to flush out mucus.

However, when you hydrate, you also need minerals to hold onto the water.

APRIL/MAY 2013

Sodium maintains water balance outside the cells, while potassium, magnesium, and calcium - all available in a good multivitamin with minerals - help to maintain water balance inside the cells.

4. Nasal flushing: Flushing with saline (salt) water can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms. It works by flushing out pollen and thinning out the mucus to help clear nasal passages.

5. Save exercise or yard work for the afternoon, since pollen counts are highest from 5-10 am. If possible, delegate the yard work. If you must do yard work, use a pollen-filtering mask.

6. Monitor air quality and check pollen count reports. Rainy, cloudy, and windless days usually have lower pollen counts. The best time to go outside is after a good rainfall, which helps to clear pollen from the air.

7. Keep your windows closed at home or in the car during high pollen days and take off your shoes when you come in the house. Much of the household dirt, dust, and allergens come from the

bottom of shoes. Dust regularly.

8. Wash bedding in hot water (130oF) on a weekly basis. You will also want to wash any stuffed animals. If the stuffed animal is too delicate or too large for the washer, you will want to put it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for 24-48 hours. This will help to kill dust mites.

9. Cover mattresses and pillows in zippered dust-proof covers. These allergen-impermeable covers help minimize the penetration of allergens.

10. Keep humidity levels low. Keep the air conditioning set at a lower temperature and reduce moisture around the home. Dehumidifiers will help reduce both mold and dust mites.

“By taking care to avoid pollen and using a natural sinus relief formula, a person with allergies can reduce their symptoms and the number of days they’re out of commission,” added Dr. Lucille., For more information on Dr. Lucille’s practice, Healing from Within Healthcare, go to http://www. allheallucille.com. MSN

Regaining Strength - continued from page 49 personal care as needed.

The physical therapist (PT) evaluates patients’ functional ability and works with them to improve or maintain walking, balance, endurance, strength, and flexibility.

The occupational therapist (OT) teaches ways of carrying out daily activities, including self-care skills and homemaking tasks. The OT performs home evaluations, recommends adaptations, and special equipment to maximize safety.

The dietitian evaluates nutritional status and recommends necessary dietary changes to help treat diet-related problems, such as constipation.

The speech-language pathologist (SLP) assesses and treats difficulties related to hearing, speech, language, and swallowing.

The social worker helps patients and their families learn how to cope effectively with losses, emotional issues, family problems and financial concerns, and links them with resources.

The recreation therapist fosters quality of life by providing opportunities for fun, creativity, socialization, and learning.

Together these various disciplines work with each patient to help him or her achieve the highest possible level of health, independence, and quality of life.

Caregivers play an important role, including: • Supporting and motivating their loved one through empathy and encouragement.

• Ensuring staff know his needs, habits, and interests, to help them customize the plan of care.

• Becoming familiar with his medical condition and treatment plan.

• Learning what he is and isn’t capable of, so they can help with things he’s unable to do and avoid helping with things he can do himself.

• Attending therapy and learning exercises to perform between sessions or following discharge.

• Ensuring delivery of equipment and completion of home adaptations prior to discharge.

Once a patient reaches his highest potential, the focus shifts to discharge planning. The team assesses patient and family needs and community resources available to meet those needs, and makes referrals as appropriate.

For those returning home, a graduated discharge is encouraged, beginning with daytime visits and progressing to overnight stays of increasing length. These temporary leaves of absence help the patient, family, and team to determine if special services or further home alterations are required, or if returning home to live is even feasible.

Referral may be made to an outpatient rehab program as a transitional measure or to home care, or physical or occupational therapy if some therapeutic goals remain.

If discharge to home is not possible, the patient and family are provided with information on appropriate residential care facilities and given an opportunity to tour them. One or more selections are then made, depending on whether or not there is a waiting list.

Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 53

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Hearing Aids are “Wicked” Awesome

By Jay Richwine, Hearing Connection Last summer I took my family to Lagoon Amusement Park near Salt Lake City where my eight-yearold daughter, Kaylee, experienced her first roller coaster ride. Excited for the trip, Kaylee planned the whole day by studying Lagoon’s brochures.

Her first stop? Wicked – hands down, Lagoon’s biggest, fastest, and meanest thrill ride. My wife, Jaime, eyeballed me nervously as Kaylee raced us toward the entrance to Wicked. I assured Jaime that Kaylee would get cold feet once she saw the ride up-close-and-personal… and she very well would have if we hadn’t been fast-tracked to the front of the line because Kaylee required a special booster seat. Before we could fully comprehend what was happening, we found ourselves three abreast on the front row of the most terrifying experience of my life.

Wicked is not your typical rollercoaster. Rather than a train of cars whizzing over the track, there is only one. And you can forget about enjoying the scenery as you slowly ascend the first big hill, because there isn’t one. Instead, Wicked blasts you from zero to 55 mph in less than three seconds.

Before your internal organs have the chance to decide whether to come along for the ride, the track becomes a wall that the car climbs vertically 110 feet. There is a brief moment at the top of the tower for your bladder and stomach to share their last will and testament before you bid them farewell and plummet straight down the other side.

The details are a little fuzzy, but I remember encountering one doo-wop, two whoop-de-dos, and several humdingers.

The ride ended as it began – in stunned silence.

We pried ourselves from our seats and dizzily groped along the railing to the exit. Before we left we were congratulated for safely arriving on the moon, given little American flags, and joined hands with Neil Armstrong for a few somber rounds of “Kumbaya.”

Kaylee was NOT impressed. Her unexpected coming-to-terms with mortality, roller coasters, and her free continental breakfast at the hotel were written all over her face. In fact, she seemed to be trying to read what was written on the tip of her nose, considering the awkward position of her eyes.

Jaime’s and my fear was that Kaylee would

forever dread roller coasters and, possibly more disturbing to me, want to leave Lagoon and our year’s worth of savings behind with it.

So what did we do? Like the good parents we are, we dragged her back onto Wicked! Then we did it again, and again, and again. Soon we learned where the twists and turns were, and we were able to anticipate and prepare ourselves for them. By the time we journeyed into the rest of the park, Kaylee was chomping at the bit for the next big stomach-turner. What a trooper!

This same scenario plays out day after day in my hearing clinic. One of the biggest challenges clients have is getting use to their new hearing aids. The struggle to adapt can be much like a roller coaster ride with many hills and valleys and, heck, even a loopty-loop or two.

There are several approaches hearing clinicians can take to help you overcome the adaptation hump. One strategy is to restrict your use of the hearing aids in the beginning and slowly increase your use over time. Another is to program the hearing aids below your ideal prescription and gradually increase the volume until your target is reached. A third option (my personal favorite) is to send you out the door with your hearing aids set up just the way you need them and a pep talk that boils down to, “Tough it out; it’ll get better soon, and you will love your improved hearing.”

Whichever technique is used to help you overcome the typical adaptation hurdles, success hinges around your commitment to the process.

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tence, and practice. As it was for Kaylee on Wicked, your hearing aid experience might be a bit overwhelming at first, which leads to frustration and remorse. But if you stick with it, you’ll learn to anticipate and overcome the twists, turns, and loopty-loops. Soon your confidence will grow and, like Kaylee on Wicked, your experience will become rewarding, even exciting, despite the initial challenges.

For more information about overcoming hearing aid hurdles, please call 406-233-4327 to request your free special report, The Fitting Triangle. MSN

THERAPY CENTER at WESTVIEW HEALTH CARE

Latest in Breast Cancer Screening Women who undergo routine mammograms at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital (FMDH), Glasgow, now have the latest diagnostic technology available to them. In Montana only FMDH and the Bozeman Hospital offer breast cancer screening with a Selenia® Dimensions® 3D full field digital mammography system. Selenia Dimensions 3D is the latest generation of mammography equipment from Hologic.

The 3D system offers sharp breast images in three dimensions and provides more patient comfort. Digital mammography is different in the way the image of the breast is acquired and viewed. The radiologist can magnify the images, change the contrast, and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features make it easier for the radiologist to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern.

FMDH is committed to the fight against breast cancer. In offering digital mammography, FMDH provides the latest in imaging quality. If you would like to schedule a mammogram or have questions about this important breast health procedure, please call FMDH Radiology Department at 406-228-3630.

FMDH purchased the Selenia® Dimensions® 3D full field digital mammography system from Hologic with assistance from the FMDH Foundation and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. MSN

Dahl Memorial Nursing Home Honored Again The last time Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association, Inc. shared information about its nursing home, they had been named one of the top nursing homes in the country according to U.S. World & News Report. Once again, Dahl Memorial’s nursing home made the list as one of the country’s top nursing homes, achieving 15 out of 15 stars according to the Centers for Medicare and

APRIL/MAY 2013

Medicaid Services rating system. Dahl Memorial was one of only two nursing homes in Montana to achieve all 15 stars possible.

One of the reasons for Dahl Memorial’s continued success and continued display of high quality care is the commitment constantly to seek improvement and not rest on their laurels. One recent project led to the successful implementation of electronic health records. Nurses at Dahl Memo-

rial are now conducting medication administration and charting with their robot-like computers on wheels. One of the most exciting aspects of the new system is the ability to share instantaneously health information with medical providers and specialists no matter where those physicians are located. Technology often has a lot to offer patients in remote facilities like Dahl Memorial in Ekalaka, Montana. MSN

Helpful Tips for Managing Painful Arthritis

By Gerry Restrivera Early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis can help sufferers improve their mobility and delay or get rid of the negative effects of arthritis. If diagnosed early, arthritis is a manageable condition. Do not let this joint disease restrict your enjoyment of life. You have the power to control your health and live a normal life despite having arthritis if you know the best ways of managing painful arthritis.

Arthritis is the inflammation of joints and their surrounding tissues and it is the most common cause of disability of millions of people suffering from this chronic disease. More than a hundred types of arthritis cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is also known as wear and tear arthritis. Arthritis is commonly associated with older people but the majority of people suffering from arthritis are between the ages of 18-64 years old.

This means that most people suffering from arthritis are still in the workforce. The impact of this disease to sufferers and their families is too significant to be ignored. It affects one’s quality of life including performance at work and mobility in everyday life. Learning the best ways of managing painful arthritis as early as possible is important because unmanageable arthritis can increase your risk of losing mobility and developing other health issues. People suffering from joint pain tend to become physically inactive and inactivity can lead to obesity and other health issues like heart disease.

Lack of joint movement can also worsen arthritis. Managing painful arthritis is important to slow the progression of arthritis and to prevent other health issues. There are things that you can do to reduce the pain and avoid loss of mobility. The following tips can be very helpful in managing painful arthritis.

Maintain an appropriate weight. In managing painful arthritis, you need to maintain an ideal weight. If you are on the heavy side and are suffering from arthritis, you have to lose weight. Reducing weight prevents the progression of arthritis and lowers your risk of developing other forms of arthritis. Obesity is a major risk factor in developing knee and hip osteoarthritis. Being overweight puts more stress on weight-bearing joints resulting to increased pain. There are various ways to lose weight. Do not hesitate to seek professional help if you find it hard to lose weight on your own.

Choose a weight loss program that will work for you and stick to it. Losing weight is not something that you can accomplish overnight. It takes a lot of patience and dedication to achieve your ideal weight. But, if you really want to improve your condition, stick to your weight loss program until you reached your ideal weight.

Live a physically active life. People with arthritis tend to be less physically active because the painful joints prevent them from keeping an active life. But research shows Ronald McDonald House that a physically active life can enhance one’s mobility, reduce the pain of arthritis, and lower the Charities of Montana risk of developing other diseases or health issues like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, RMH Houses and anxiety. Keeping an active life will also prevent you from developing other forms of arthritis. EnRMH Family Rooms gage in moderate physical activities that you find enjoyable like walking and swimming to avoid lack RMH Caremobile of joint movement. In managing painful arthritis, you have to stop living a sedentary lifestyle and Healing Happens Together start living a more physically active life. Regular BILLINGS - MISSOULA - KALISPELL physical activities or exercises are not only good for your arthritis but also for your overall health. www.rmhcmontana.org Seek professional help. People with arthritis are often hesitant to seek medical attention because of the belief that arthritis is an inevitable condition brought by aging and they believe that nothing can be done to better their condition. This is a wrong notion because there are many strategies in managing painful arthritis and easing its debilitating effects. The progression of arthritis can be prevented and people diagnosed with arthritis can still enjoy their lives if their condition is treated and managed as early as possible. Proper diagnosis and early intervention are essential to manage arthritis effectively.

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including Helpful Tips for Managing Painful Arthritis. Article Source: http:// EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Restrivera. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 57

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I am not a new hip.

I am my wife’s new favorite dance partner.

A lingering injury can affect more than your joints. That’s why, at the St. Vincent Joint Replacement Center, we evaluate the entire person in order to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. From diagnosis to surgery to aftercare and rehabilitation, we make sure our patients are informed, comfortable and ready to enjoy a higher quality of life. If you’ve been considering joint replacement, call (406) 237-7005 to set up an appointment or learn more at svh-mt.org.

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 59

Overcoming Dependency from Low Vision or Blindness

Fighting Senior Hunger with Peer Mentors in the Gallatin Valley

By Ken McCulloch Over fifteen years ago, my wife began to lose her vision from diabetic retinopathy. As her vision gradually decreased, she began to get more and more dependent on me for simple everyday things such as phone book numbers, setting the microwave, doing laundry, cooking, and even walking to the mailbox. Although I had heard of the Summer Orientation Program sponsored by the Montana Association for the Blind, little did I think my wife would go there as a student. It was eight years ago that I talked her into it.

“Honey, you need to learn some blind skills and make yourself more independent,” I said. “Would you consider going to the MAB blind orientation program?” I asked.

I heard every excuse in the world. “I can’t leave the dog. I really don’t need that much help. Who will water the plants?” Anyway, she ended up bravely filling out the application and attending.

I can tell you that after just two days there, she was so eager to attend classes I could hardly get her to the school fast enough. Her confidence built rapidly and she began to give me lessons on how to mark and run the microwave and washer. She was using her cane with greater confidence.

After the program was over, she seemed like a new woman. She became more confident and community oriented. She was even asked to come back the next year as a teacher. She joined the Montana Association for the Blind and became the Bozeman Chapter president. She volunteered with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, is now a contributor to the telecare program, and hosts weekly Bible Studies with dinner.

The Summer Orientation Program for the Blind is not new. It was started in 1946 by a joint venture with the Lions and an emerging organization called the Montana Association for the Blind. Many of the first students were veterans returning from World War II. After one year in Helena, it moved to the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman and was there until 2007. It then moved to Carroll College in Helena.

The program now runs for four weeks (June 8 – July 6), is free, and offers classes such as Braille, mobility, low vision, computer, woodworking, cooking, sewing, crafts, daily living, and keyboarding.

Applicants should be in reasonable health and able to walk about three city blocks. For information phone 406 442-9411, e-mail lglueckert@milp.us, or write MAB, PO Box 465, Helena, MT 59624. MSN

Help ensure that older adults in the community get the nutrition they need.

Become a peer mentor to an older adult who has asked for help planning and preparing, nutritious well-balanced meals in the comfort of their own homes.

Volunteers will be paired with an older adult and will work closely with the HRDC’s Homemaker Program. Volunteers will then be asked to help their senior client in any of the following ways: • Grocery shopping • Meal and menu planning • Meal preparation (bulk food preparation for freezing) The Human Resource Development Council IX Homemaker Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and Gallatin Valley Food Bank have teamed up to provide this service in order to improve the nutrition of older adults who have requested or been referred to our nutrition service. The goal is to provide community-based services to older adults who may be at risk of losing their independence and who are facing food insecurity and hunger.

To volunteer contact Margaret Mason at 406-587-5444.

Need Help? – If you or someone you know would benefit from this opportunity please refer them Margaret Mason at 406-587-5444 or email mmason@rsvpmt.org. MSN

When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.

- Henry J Kaiser

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Well-in formed healthcare decisions -

continued from page 42

Medicare” visit during the first twelve months that you’re enrolled in Part B. At this visit, your doctor will: • review your health history; • check your height, weight, and blood pressure; • calculate your body mass index; • do a simple vision test; • give you advice to help you prevent disease, improve your health; and • make appropriate referrals when necessary.

If you have had Medicare for more than twelve months and your doctor accepts Medicare, you are eligible for a free wellness visit where your doctor will: • review of your medical and family health history; • check your height, weight, and blood pressure; • review your current medicines; and • schedule recommended shots and screenings.

Call your doctor’s office and be sure to clearly state that you are scheduling your “Welcome to Medicare” visit or your yearly wellness visit. In

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.

- Oscar Wilde

order to avoid any surprises, ask in advance if the doctor will do any additional procedures that may result in a co-payment.

4. Learn about the health law. In addition to getting the most out of your coverage, there may be additional benefits and protections that you can get through the Affordable Care Act. You can use AARP’s online Health Law Guide at www. aarp.org/healthlawguide to learn more about how the law works for you and your family. Bookmark this website and return for updates as the law is implemented.

Nicole Duritz leads the Association’s member and consumer health education and outreach program, which includes work on issues such as Medicare, new health care law, prescription drug affordability, long term care, prevention and wellness, and wise use of medications.

Do you have a question for AARP Montana?

Send your question to “Ask AARP Montana” at MTAARP@aarp.org or 30 W 14th St., Helena, MT 59601 or call our toll-free hotline at 866-2957278. As we receive questions, we will consult with both internal and external experts to provide timely and valuable advice. MSN

High Cholesterol Factor In Heart Attack And Stroke

By Mark J. Alberts, MD Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with over 600,000 coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths occurring annually.

Stroke, another form of cardiovascular disease, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. The risk of stroke is of particular interest to seniors: the National Institute on Aging reports that nearly 75% of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65 and the risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade after the age of 55.

Patients lucky enough to survive a heart attack or stroke are then at increased risk for another cardiac event and a subsequent stroke. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, of the estimated 770,000 coronary events forecast this year, nearly 60% of these patients will suffer a recurrent event. With obesity at an all-time high in the United States, it is imperative that people educate themselves on their risks for life threatening incidents.

Knowing Your Risk - Often the first sign of cardiac event or a stroke is the event itself.

Several factors raise a person’s risk of a heart attack and stroke, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and physical inactivity. The more risk factors a patient has, the greater the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Some risk factors are inherent and cannot be changed, such as increasing age, family history, and gender. Several, however, can be addressed with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet, as well as medications.

Many mistakenly believe that heart attacks occur because of clogged arteries or plaque build-up (stenosis). In fact, approximately 68 percent of coronary events are caused by plaque

APRIL/MAY 2013

rupture and thrombosis. Thrombosis occurs when unstable plaque enters the blood stream and causes blood clots that block the coronary or carotid arteries resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Fortunately, a simple new blood test goes beyond traditional risk factors to help identify patients at increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The PLAC® Test is the only FDA-approved blood test that aids in assessing risk for both CHD and ischemic stroke associated with atherosclerosis. The PLAC® Test measures levels of the risk marker lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), a cardiovascularspecific inflammatory enzyme implicated in the formation of vulnerable, rupture-prone plaque. Used in conjunction with the clinical evaluation of traditional risk factors, the PLAC® Test helps identify people who may not be identified by traditional risk factors but who may benefit from more aggressive treatment programs.

While risk factor identification remains one of the most important ap-

Depression – Is it all in your mind or...? Here’s the R.E.S.T. of the story….

The symptoms of depression can be severe and completely debilitating. Medication can make you emotionally numb and the side effects can be as severe as the depression. While there are times when medication is beneficial, there are more factors to consider. You should look into the R.E.S.T. R: Relaxation is becoming a lost art in our fastpaced culture and many people have “Vacation Deficit Disorder.” We can and need to work hard.

Some even play hard, but few take the time to recharge their batteries (adrenal glands) regularly.

Adrenal fatigue is rampant and so is depression – maybe it is not a coincidence.

E. Environmental factors, such as toxicities and low sunlight exposure, can cause depression.

Radiation from cell phones, chargers, tools, x-rays, or gamma rays from nuclear accidents all cause irritation to the brain and nerves leading to fatigue.

The thyroid is especially susceptible to radiation.

Food additives like MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) and NutraSweet (Aspartame) are both known nerve toxins. Some people are more sensitive than others are and experience headaches and irritability, but all are affected eventually. We are blessed in Montana to have relatively clean air and water, but we lack consistent exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D and many other healing properties are a gift from the sun. Daily exposure (not damaging burns) is one key to feeling well.

S. Stress is both good and bad. The trick is to manage the stressors in your life. Confronting challenges and reframing your perspective on your problems are life skills that go a long way to managing stress so you do not get overwhelmed. Some things we cannot control and we do not have the ability to make decisions for others, but we CAN control how we react and to what extent we allow stress to turn our body/mind into a battleground.

T: Testing. Many organs of the body affect mood and energy levels. Thyroid, pituitary, hypothalamus, pineal, adrenals, and gonads all are part of the endocrine system that can have a dramatic effect on how we feel. More commonly, however, is imbalance in neurotransmitters like Serotonin, which is reabsorbed into the bloodstream in the colon. Many parasites like pinworms or hookworms attach to the colon wall and feast on serotonin leaving little or none for its host. This can lead to happy parasites and depressed people (Bottom line – healthy colon = healthy mind). There are many medications and natural supplements to rid you of these vermin. A stool sample taken to a lab can confirm ova and parasites, but it is completely dependent on the skill of the technician to identify them. Many natural practitioners suggest a colon cleanse every fall after we have been outside barefoot and playing in lakes. Deficiencies in iron, B and D vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, co-enzymes, and certain minerals can all cause decreases in energy and eventually depression.

You can gradually balance your diet so you are bringing in all your vital nutrients. Testing is critical to long-term success as depression can be somapsychic where the body is the cause of changes in the mind. You can find holistic (body, mind, spirit) practitioners to help you navigate your way to a happy, healthy, and balanced life, so take time to R.E.S.T. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 61

proaches to preventing cardiovascular disease, traditional risk factors fail to identify many people at risk. In fact, approximately 50 percent of all coronary events strike people with low-to-moderate cholesterol levels, and about 20 percent occur in individuals with none of the four major risk factors (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, or diabetes).

Therefore, hidden or additional cardiovascular risk factors are likely to be common and there is a critical need to identify all patients at risk.

The PLAC® Test appears to be sensitive and specific for identifying patients with vascular disease who are at increased risk for having a heart attack or ischemic stroke. It can be done using a simple blood test.

It is important to talk to your physician to determine your risks. Patients interested in more information about the PLAC® Test can visit www. plactest.com.

Mark J. Alberts, MD, is a professor of neurology at Northwestern University Medical School. MSN

PAGE 62 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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“Go Where Nature is in Charge,” says Retired Forester, Wayne Phillips

By Bernice Karnop Wayne Phillip’s dad was a hunter. Every year at Thanksgiving, they drove from their home in Lubbock to the hill country of Texas to a relative’s ranch to hunt. It was a rare treat since they owned a family restaurant that was open from six in the morning until midnight, seven days a week.

Wayne, who was born in 1941, was 12 years old the first time he went hunting. It was still dark when his dad stationed him at a particular spot and told him to wait for a buck. Dad would return in the late afternoon.

As he sat there alone, he watched the dawn silently steal over the darkness. He examined the hills, the drainage patterns, and the live oak trees, all so different from the flat plains where they lived.

A mocking bird sang and a skunk waddled out and started digging. Some does appeared, caught his scent, and stamped their feet.

“I’m 12 years old and I am out there in a nature study all by myself,” he marvels.

When he was 14 years old his Boy Scout troop went into New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains and did a 30 mile trek thorough the Pecos Wilderness Area. On that trip, he determined he’d work in the mountains and he set his sights on being a forester.

Today when this retired Great Falls man hears people at his Yellowstone Institute wildflower classes worry that everyone else knows more than they do, he tells them that’s not the point.

He spent a 33 years in the mountains working for the National Forest Service as a forest ranger, a range manager, and as an ecologist. He can rattle off scientific names as if they were his first

language. He’s written field guides and scores of articles about native plants. His knowledge truly does dwarf that of most people.

He insists that the point not whether you can name what you see, but that you take time to observe and appreciate the diversity in the natural world.

With a wide grin, he admits that he, too, is just a student of nature, learning new things and finding new plant species every year. “We’re all in the same boat. We can never master it all,” he adds.

A quote from the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle emblazoned on the wall of the Natural History Museum in Boston expresses his thoughts perfectly: “The search for truth is in one way hard and in another way easy, for it is evident that no one can master it fully or miss it wholly.

But each adds a little to our knowledge of nature, and from all the facts assembled, there arises a certain grandeur.”

Wayne went to Texas A&M on a track scholarship. One of his first year classes was called Taxonomy of Flowering Plants. This class gave him his first peek at the beauty and complexity of a flower blossom under a microscope.

“The magnification of flower parts is so beautiful. It is still one of my favorite activities,” he says.

Botany, he decided, would be his specialty.

Wayne transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula, where he graduated from the School of Forestry. While a student at the University of Montana, he trained to be a smoke jumper. This gave him the chance to travel through the west and observe more of the different landscapes and plant communities. Some encounters were closer than he would have chosen.

One time his parachute landed him like an eagle in the top of a tall spruce tree. Fortunately, he was able to rappel down the tree rather than tumble 130 feet to the earth. Many jumpers break the top out of the tree in such a landing and crash to the ground. His chute was still tangled in the branches, though, so he climbed back up to retrieve it. He was sawing the top out of the tree when the rotten wood unexpectedly snapped off.

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 63

The tree switched violently back and forth with Wayne hanging on for the peak in all the mountain ride of his life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was probably the scariest thing that ever happened to states west of the Mississippi River except me as a smoke jumper,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Working for the Forest Service was very satisfying and it fulfilled an Wyoming. In Wyoming, interest I developed as a young boy,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was very happy with that.â&#x20AC;? heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been to the top of the Grand Teton, but As for bad experiences, he just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of any. Danger? Maybe. he has yet to reach the During the dry, dry summit of Wyomingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer of 1988, he was highest, Gannet Peak. incident commander for Reaching goals, a fire below Our Lake like reaching the top on the Rocky Mountain of a mountain, only Front. Every little spark expands his vision. He that got over the fire sees more things to line started a new blaze capture his unbounded and by the end of the enthusiasm. day, the crew was dead He met Marilyn, tired. They were one his wife of 20 years, at sleeping bag short so an old time dance in Wayne crawled into an rural Cascade County. open cardboard box.

Marilyn is a Great Falls Unlike the other exmassage therapist. hausted men, he was Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in Arkansas awake in the middle of this spring researchthe night when the fire ing genealogy so he blew across the line. He can finish a project to jumped up and ran down preserve family stories, the fire line to rescue the photos, and history. fire hose.

Predictably, he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Fire burned on both wait to climb the highsides of him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t est peak in Arkansas. very smart. If someAt his 50 th class thing happens, you are reunion, he challenged cooked,â&#x20AC;? he thought. his former classmates Good idea or not, he Wayne Phillips reads the landscape as he to scale the highest saved the hose that they travels down the highways of America. As a needed the next day. botanist and retired Forest Service employee, The following night itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural for him to evaluate the vegetation the fire blew up on the thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing, the plant communities as they other side of the ridge change, and to enjoy the amazing diversity of and burned the entire nature. [Photo by Bernice Karnop] drainage. The roar, a result of the trees flaming out, lasted for more than an hour, and sounded like hundreds of train engines. Wayne calls the ear-splitting roar and the orange smoke erupting in the night sky amazing and awe-inspiring.

He says they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really threaten, but adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I did tell them where the escape route was.â&#x20AC;?

He retired from the Forest Service in 1997 but one canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t distinguish where Wayneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career ends and his hobbies, passions, and retirement start. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll teach his 33rd Yellowstone Institute wildflower classes this summer and he leads wildflower walks in Glacier National Park. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a charter member of the Montana Native Plant Society and continues to be part of other groups that support the land.

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s climbed the highest peak in 51 of the 61 T R I E D , T R U S T E D , P R OV E N major mountain ranges in Montana, including Mon Â&#x2021; WK 6W 6 *UHDW )DOOV tanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest point, Granite Peak in the Beartooth 3D\RII ([LVWLQJ 0RUWJDJH Â&#x2021; &RQVROLGDWH &UHGLW &DUG 'HEW Mountains. He plans to conquer the final 10 this &RYHU +HDOWK &DUH &RVWV Â&#x2021; 0HHW 'DLO\ 0RQWKO\ ([SHQVHV Â&#x2021; 5HPRGHO RU 5HSDLU <RXU +RPH summer.

Each mountain range in Montana, he says, is unique in its geology, its plant communities, its animals, and even its climate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All this diversity is what I love about this state,â&#x20AC;? he says.

Hiking buddies include his two sons, their wives, and his five grandchildren, who live in Washington. He and his sons have climbed Mount Terry Graham Kari Thurston Mike Elliott Rainer, the highest peak in Washington, several License #258004 License #306599 License #377171 times. In fact, Wayne has climbed to the highest terry.graham@mannmortgage.com kari.thurston@mannmortgage.com mike.elliott@mannmortgage.com

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peak in Texas with him. A dozen of them did.

Readers capture his enthusiasm and learn those elusive plant names through Wayne’s two Falcon field guides, Central Rocky Mountain Wildflowers and Northern Rocky Mountain Wildflowers, both of which were updated and revised last year. Lewis and Clark followers enjoy a fresh look at the expedition in Plants of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It’s organized by ecosystem so enthusiasts can enjoy the “scenery” as you travel with the Corps through the eastern deciduous forest, the tall-grass prairie, the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Plains, and the Pacific Forest. Using a delightful mix of photography, botany, and history, this book covers all the plant species Lewis and Clark were know to have found for their scientific collections in 1804-1806.

Wayne’s other books include a truly lovely postcard book called Plants of the Rocky Mountains, and the Falcon Guide, Exploring Mount Helena for which he wrote the chapter on plant communities.

He’s fond of this work, published in 1997, because while living in Helena in the 1970s he was part of the group that encouraged the city to value this huge but at that time, forgotten, city park. These kinds of involvements are intensely satisfying.

“To go where nature is in charge and to see how things were before we impacted it is important to mental health,” he states. “To just spend time in meditation and paying attention to the things created by our Creator, like I did when I was 12 years old, is very therapeutic for people. I know it is for me.” MSN

Great Attractions, Great Stories, Great Falls

By Bernice Karnop Consider extending those hotel reservations after the Great Falls Governor’s Conference on Aging to take in some one-of-a-kind opportunities in the Electric City. Better yet, come back this summer and bring the grandchildren. You will enjoy great shopping, fun restaurants, and no end to outdoor recreation. And do not pass up a chance to see these special places.

• The Mint Collection at the C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13th Street North. Yep, this is the one that got away from us when Montanans failed to raise enough money to buy Sid Willis’ collection.

The art which this good friend of Russell amassed and displayed in his downtown eating and drinking establishment is legendary for Montanans. To honor their 60th Anniversary the Museum offers a rare chance to examine the Mint collection right here in Charlie’s hometown for the first time in decades.

• The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, 4201 Giant Springs Road. This summer also marks the 15th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. They are celebrating on May

5, with cake and refreshments. In addition to all the marvelous displays and videos telling the story of the expedition, you can watch living history events put on by the Lewis and Clark Honor Guard, participate in atl-atl contests, and try out traditional games. There might be Spanish Barbs from Browning there, too, the kind of horses that the tribes likely had at the time Lewis and Clark came through Montana.

• Giant Springs State Park. Take a short walk on the River’s Edge Trail down the Missouri River from the Interpretive Center to Giant Springs State Park. It is a beautiful and historic spot.

• The River’s Edge Trail. You can access this recreational treasure from a number of different places on both sides of the river. It is an escape into nature without the long drive out of town. Bring your bicycle and you have worry free riding for miles. In springtime, observe the migrating waterfowl, fluffy goslings, songbirds, raptors, a plethora of flowering plants, and much more.

• The History Museum, 422 2nd Street South.

“History with Personality” is the motto of this repository of Cascade County and North Central Montana

APRIL/MAY 2013

history. Permanent displays include models of the Opera House and the old Park Hotel, the story of the Ozark Club, Native Americans, and military history. The museum regularly features temporary exhibitions and is active in creating documentaries like the Great Falls Story and one on Glacier National Park. Currently they are working on the story of the Smelter. Director, Jim Meinert would be glad to hear from anyone who has old movies or other material on the Smelter that they could use.

• Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, 1400 First Avenue North. Remember when a collection of strange looking stick people stopped traffic along the road near Roundup? Today Lee Steen’s primitive branch characters in all their whimsical glory hang out at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of

Art, thankfully safe from wind and weather. Be sure to visit this unique Montana primitive art and the other collections of modern and contemporary pieces at The Square. If you live in the area, check the web site for on-going classes and other opportunities.

• The First People’s Buffalo Jump State Park. Just a short drive south of town takes you to the deep history of this area, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park. This bison kill site is thought to have been used for at least two thousand years before Lewis and Clark came through here. It also may be the largest bison kill site in North America.

The jump consists of a mile long sandstone cliff with remnants of drive lines still visible. Beneath the cliff are up to 18 ft. of compacted buffalo remains.

Great Falls Centenarian Andre R. Kukay Article & Photo By Bernice Karnop Andy Kukay was born in Stockett November 25, 1912 and has enjoyed more than a century of life.

One of his earliest memories was of sitting on his front porch in this hilly coal mining community a few miles south of Great Falls and watching a parade of uniformed men march by below. He was only 6 years old, but he felt the regard that these World War I veterans, freshly home from the Front, deserved.

“I realized what a valuable thing it was,” he says, even if he only dimly understood their sacrifice.

One day Andy heard the thrilling sound of an airplane flying low overhead. The engine didn’t sound right and when it disappeared over one of the hills, the noise stopped. He and his buddies high-tailed it up the steep hill. They saw that the bi-plane had landed and that the pilot was stretched out on his belly, tinkering with the engine.

“Oh, that was quite a sight for us,” Andy remembers. After some time, the pilot grabbed the propeller with his hands and gave it a whirl. Then he clambered into the cockpit, and took off.

Andy’s interest in planes never dimmed. He listened to Charles Lindbergh’s remarkable transatlantic flight and, later, become a pilot himself.

With all the exciting things to learn outdoors, school held little appeal for Andy. By the time he reached eighth grade, his final year of formal education, he was already in business for himself. He trapped skunks and sold the hides.

Andy’s parents were Czechoslovakian immigrants who came to Stockett where his dad worked in the mines. One of six children, Andy’s jobs included milking the cow every day and helping his dad clean up when he got home from the mine. They

would clear the kitchen and while his dad stood in a galvanized tub, wash the coal dust from his back.

Andy’s uncle Steve also worked in a mine. This beloved uncle, with two children of his own, took Andy to baseball games in Great Falls. Sadly, he was electrocuted in a mining accident and Andy watched his body arrive draped over an ore car.

“The miners had a rough time of it,” he says.

“That’s one thing I was against, working in a mine.”

The train tracks in Stockett were always rumbling with coal cars being pushed around. A little girl was crushed when she crawled under the wheels to cross the tracks. Andy served as a pallbearer at the tender age of nine.

Andy loved all things mechanical. He bought a 1933 Harley Davidson with disk wheels and a sheepskin seat. He roared out on the dirt road that is now Great Falls main drag, 10th Ave S. Andy also loved cars. He drove his favorite, a Baby Austin, for many years.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 65

The park has a fascinating interpretive center with a hide teepee, stuffed buffalo, and a talking diorama. You can drive to the top of the cliff or walk up on the trail. On top, you’ll see a black tailed prairie dog town and, well, it’s not uncommon to get a close look at a resident rattlesnake. MSN

PAGE 66 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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The love of Andy’s life, however, was Alta, a girl with captivating blue eyes who sold tickets at the Alcazar Theater. They danced at the Green Mill, the Eden dance hall, and the Ozark Club.

They went hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.

She loved to do what he loved to do with only one exception. She refused to fly with him.

And who would blame her? He flew over the Anaconda company smokestack and tipped the wings so his passenger could look inside. He dive-bombed the 10th St. Bridge, pulling up at the last minute. When someone informed him that that was dangerous, Andy replied, “Now you tell me!”

At Alta’s request, Andy built a log home on the west side of Great Falls. The logs came from Lincoln so he calls it their Lincoln Log cabin. He finished it in 1940 and he lived in it 70 years, until he moved to Cambridge Place. The current residents say it’s in perfect shape. They’ve kept it as he made it, other than a new roof and repairs.

Andy enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served his time as an aircraft instrument mechanic and a C1 autopilot instructor at Las Vegas Army Airfield. After his discharge, he worked for Civil Service for 17 years as an aircraft instrument technician at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Andy kept things ticking with a clock and watch repair shop out of his home. He repaired typewriters and projectors for Northern School Supply. For fun, he disassembled an old family player piano, laying the pieces out on the living room counter.

When he got it reassembled it worked beautifully.

Andy and Alta drove their motor home all over the U.S., to Alaska and to Mexico. Alta refused to drive once they reached the southern border so Andy made a deal with her. He’d drive if she would help him memorize a favorite poem, The Cremation of Sam McGee. Two years ago he could still recite the entire poem and today he needs only a few prompts from his soft leather bound 1911 copy of Robert W. Service’s Spell of the Yukon, Alta and Andy were married for 67 years. She spent the last eight years of her life at the Missouri River Manor nursing home. Andy arrived there every day at sunrise and left at sunset. Her face beamed when he came around the corner to read

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 67

her the newspaper and wheel her around to the activities.

Today, at 100, Andy gets up each morning, dresses, and makes his bed, military style. The bed is covered with a quilt given to him by a close friend. She sewed all his best memories into it, military airplanes, motorcycles, old cars, cows, horses, tools, fish, and hiking boots.

His secret to longevity, he claims, is eating chicken soup at Perkins. He started going there when the restaurant opened and he still goes two or three times a week when the weather is nice.

His lifelong philosophy still holds, “Just go with the flow.”

Nieces, nephews, friends, and fellow Masons – he’s been a member 67 years – celebrated his 100th birthday party. He no longer drives, but as long as there are wheels, he’s willing to travel.

A recent trip recalls that first parade of veterans Andy saw as a kid. In September 2012, Andy joined other World War II veterans for the Big Sky Honor Flight, a trip from Montana to Washington D.C. They toured all the war memorials and various monuments around the nation’s capitol.

The young pilot brought Andy into the cockpit so he could check out the instrument panel of the huge plane, generations from the kind Andy flew.

Andy brought out his old black pilot’s logbook.

The young man, generations from Andy, shook his hand and wrote, “It’s the greatest honor of my life to sign your log book. From one pilot to another.”

MSN

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Great Falls Hosts Montana Senior Olympics

By Bernice Karnop The Montana Senior Olympic Summer Games return to Great Falls June 20-22, 2013. A great local committee plans to make these the best games ever, at both the athletic competitions and the social events.

Individuals 50 years and older from all over Montana and anywhere else, are invited to participate. Games include archery, basketball, bowling, cycling, track and field, golf, horseshoes, racewalk, racquetball, road race, swimming, table tennis, and tennis.

Athletes compete with their peers in five-year age brackets, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, etc.

The Montana Senior Olympics kicks off with

the Alive@Five event on Thursday evening from 5-9 p.m. at Whittier Park near the Civic Center.

This community-wide event includes live music, food, and drink. A large area is set up for Senior Olympic athletes and their guests so they can meet and socialize with fellow participants. The Great Falls Montana Senior Olympics Committee and Benefis Health System provide each athlete with $10 in tokens and drink.

A banquet on Friday June 21 at the Holiday Inn will include entertainment and the presentation of the Montana Senor Athlete of the Year award.

This annual award goes to a person who has overcome physical challenges and continues to train and compete.

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The Great Falls committee, headed by Patty Reardon, Jennifer Fritz, Lacey Gallagher, and Rebecca Richards, reports that 261 athletes entered 66 different events in 13 sports last year. That’s almost 25 percent more than participated the year before. They expect to have even larger numbers this summer.

George Geise, retired Great Falls Tribune Sports Editor, is the new Executive Director for the non-profit Montana Senor Olympics organization.

Board members consist of people from all over the state.

Registration deadline for the Montana Senior Olympic Games is June 7. The registration fee is

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 69

$10 plus any applicable event and facility fees.

Questions can be directed to the Great Falls Park and Recreation Office, 406-771-1265, or to George Geise at 406-868-0449 or ggeise14@gmail.com.

MSO Softball Tournament – The Montana Senior Olympics Softball Tournament will be held August 17-18 at the multi-sports complex in Great Falls. The softball tournament has been held in Kalispell for the past three years.

George Geise and Terry Graham will be the Tournament Directors. Teams may sign up to participate by contacting George Geise at 406-8680449. MSN

Bob & Donna Sims (Continued from cover) There are races all year ‘round and they all have a personality of their own. Donna and Bob’s favorites include the Bloomsday run in Spokane, the Governor’s Cup, and the Montana Senior Olympics. They both medaled in the National Senior Games in Tucson. They were in Lethbridge, Alberta, March 9, 2013, for the Moonlight Run. When they started running marathons Donna figured out she needed to run a nine-minute mile and designed her own training schedule. She took first in her division in her first eight of 16 marathons.

The others she came in second. Bob has run 19 marathons. They both qualified and ran the legendary Boston Marathon.

Not all races are for individuals. The Sims love the 28-mile Wolf Creek Canyon Relay between Helena and Great Falls. They also ran in the 196mile Hood to Oregon Coast relay.

They have verified that Time Magazine quote again and again. They’re seldom sick, although ten years ago Donna went into atrial fibulation during a marathon. People may have this condition for years without knowing it because they don’t exercise. Because Donna is a runner, she survived the event which her doctor said likely have killed her otherwise.

“My heart is really strong,” she affirms. In addition to running, she dances her heart into a good workout with Zumba at Gold’s Gym. Donna is excited by the challenge of the race, but she is not running to beat anyone. “It’s always myself I try to beat, nobody else,” she says.

Last year at the Montana Senior Olympics in Great Falls, she set a record in the 1500 meter race. The record she beat was the one she set the year before.

Donna grew up on the Oregon Coast, com-

Great Falls & Surrounding Areas

ing to Montana when Bob was transferred to Great Falls for his work. She stayed home with her children and when they got older, she worked part-time at the school so she could be home when they were. “I figured they were more important than working,” she says. Her grown daughter thanked her for that.

Bob retired in 1995 and since then the Sims cram their days with volunteer work. They both prepare taxes with Tax Help Montana five to seven days a week during tax season. Donna says it’s fun because she gets to meet many wonderful people.

Bob says it keeps him busy until the weather warms up and he can be outdoors. Bob builds trails with a Bob Marshall Wilderness group, Donna helps with the Salvation Army Vintage Sale, and they volunteer together for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. All this volunteer work tends to keep them home – except for the races.

What changes have they seen after more than two decades of running? “It used to be mostly men and now more than half the runners are women.”

Bob says.

What hasn’t changed? The quality of life promised by Time Magazine. MSN

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PAGE 70 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Here Are Some Interesting Fact About Springtime 1. What color roses do Women prefer? Men? A. Studies show women prefer pastel colored roses, while men prefer red.

2. What type of bulb can substitute for an onion?

A. Tulip bulbs can be used in place of onions for cooking.

3. In 2013, when was the Vernal Equinox?

A. On March 20 at 6:02 MDT, the Vernal Equinox occurred, and Spring began. On the equinox, the sun rises exactly in the East, travels through the sky for 12 hours, and sets exactly in the West; every place on earth experiences a 12-hour day.

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 71

4. What two flower colors do honeybees prefer?

A. Of the approximately 270,000 species of flowers, honeybees prefer yellow and blue ones.

5. From how many flowers must bees collect pollen to make a one-pound comb of honey?

A. Bees collect nectar from 2 million flowers to make a 1-pound comb of honey.

6. Do children grow twice as fast, or gain more weight in the spring?

A. Children grow twice as fast in the spring, but gain more weight in the fall.

7. How many worms does a young robin eat daily?

A. A young robin will eat as much as 14 feet of earthworms a day.

1 2 3 4

HOUSING NEED:

If your present home is unsafe or unsuitable because of problems with: overcrowding, poor heating, plumbing, electricity, structure, handicap accessibility, or your monthly housing cost is more than 50% of your monthly income, you may qualify to apply.

LOW-INCOME LEVELS:

We serve homebuyers whose income is in the low range of local incomes, who are able to clear the bulk of their unpaid debts, and who are willing to complete a savings program to achieve home-ownership.

HELP BUILD YOUR OWN HOME: Program participants must complete sweat equity labor to qualify for purchasing a Habitat home with a 0% interest loan.

RESIDENCY:

You must live in Yellowstone County for 1 year or longer to apply.

For more information, please call

406-652-0960

1617 1st Avenue North, Billings | www.billingshabitat.org

PAGE 72 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Classic DVDs: Disabilities

By Mark Fee Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1989, disability awareness has increased significantly and Hollywood has produced even more films about disabilities. Forrest Gump (1994) won many Academy Awards and was an unprecedented success at the box office.

Geoffrey Rush won an Academy Award playing a schizophrenic artist in Shine (1996).

Sling Blade (1997) was a shattering film about a disabled man and won Best Screenplay.

Hollywood has also produced unthinkably mediocre and worthless films about disabilities. I was flabbergasted at Mike Nichol’s banal Regarding Henry (1990) about a lawyer, who recovers from a traumatic brain injury. Nichols, who began directing films with the razor edged, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), treats brain injury recovery like a Hallmark greeting card. Harrison Ford gives a wooden performance.

Arthur Hiller’s sophomoric comedy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1988) is a mess. The film about a deaf man and blind man’s misadventures in New York is sloppy and foul-mouthed. The comic skills of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor are wasted.

However, there are many classic DVDs related to disabilities that are worth watching. Many films like Children of a Lesser God with Marlee Matlin (1986) are deeply affecting. Matlin, who is deaf, won an Academy Award for her performance as a deaf woman. Rain Man (1988) still resonates years after Dustin Hoffman won an Academy Award for Best Actor, as an autistic savant. Listed below are some of my favorite classic disability DVDs, a few sleepers, and a comedy.

In John Sturges’s Bad Day at Black Rock (1954), Spencer Tracy plays a WWII veteran, who lost an arm during the war. He visits Black Rock to find a Japanese farmer and deliver a medal to him. The farmer’s son saved Tracy’s life during the war. As soon as Tracy arrives in Black Rock, he faces increasing hostility. His life is in danger.

He has to find out what happened to the farmer and his family. The film is a relentless masterpiece of chilling terror. Robert Ryan is ruthlessly effective, as the town boss. Tracy has never been better. Not rated; four stars.

Anthony Perkins plays a tormented baseball player in Robert Mulligan’s Feat Strikes Out (1957). The film is based on the life of baseball star, Jimmy Piersall. Piersall’s father applies remorseless pressure to his son, to be the star, he never was. His Dad didn’t even make it to the majors. Piersall cracks under the pressure and is sent to a mental hospital. Perkins gives an exceptional performance. Malden is excellent as the father, whose ambition overwhelms his son.

Not rated; 3½ stars.

In The Gambler (1974), James Caan plays a literature professor, who is crippled by his addiction to gambling. He is a high roller and bets on basketball teams. He has to borrow from his Grandfather, an eminent businessman, to subsidize his addiction. He borrows money from a loan shark, who is as kind, as he is brutal. Caan gives one of his best performances. Rated R; three stars.

Jenny Agutter plays a young woman, who runs away from a terrible marriage in Walt Disney’s rarely seen, Amy (1980). The film takes place in the early 20th century. Amy leaves her

husband, (Chris Robinson), who is abusive and finds employment working with deaf and developmentally disabled. Amy is poignant film; endearing with a happy ending. Rated G; three stars.

Anthony Hopkins plays a compassionate doctor, who rescues a grotesquely disfigured man in The Elephant Man (1980). Based on a true story, Hopkins plays Victorian doctor, Sir Frederick Treves. John Hurt plays the Elephant Man, John Merrick. Treves notices Merrick at a carnival show and is horrified by Merrick’s treatment. He has Merrick hospitalized and cared for. Treves is fascinated and appalled by Merrick’s condition.

Merrick becomes something of a national phenomenon. Hopkins’ performance is phenomenal.

Hurt’s performance is a tour de force. Rated PG; 3½ stars.

In Crazy People (1989), Dudley Moore plays an advertising executive, who is burned out with the industry. His boss notices his production has deteriorated. Dudley’s ads are completely off-thewall. He sends Dudley to a psychiatric hospital to recuperate. Dudley becomes friends with some of the residents, and they develop ads, which Dudley thinks will sell. The ads are childlike and truthful. Japanese car executives are impressed.

Moore’s boss is stunned. He does not believe what is happening. The film is relentlessly funny.

Some scenes are unbelievably hilarious. Rated R; three stars.

Living with a disability or disabilities can be humorless and exhausting. Classic DVDs can help provide a context and understanding of the challenges faced by disabled people. Until the next time, enjoy these great films. MSN

Relive Montana’s History In Lewistown Come and explore the past at the Central Montana Museum! The area’s history is chronologically portrayed beginning in the 1870s when the area was largely unsettled and buffalo roamed the open prairies. We feature many photos and displays portraying the changes that resulted as settlers from all walks of life came to this area and filed on homesteads. You will also see a variety of collections (dolls, hats, wedding dresses, firearms, forts, fossils, historic replicas and dioramas, Indian artifacts, medical equipment and photos from St. Joseph’s Hospital, military, photos, musical instruments, and many others); and displays with interpretation featuring some of the area’s most notorious and colorful characters: • Rattlesnake Jake Owens (outlaw) • Charles M. Russell (cowboy/famous artist) • Granville Stuart (cattleman/Vigilante leader) • Ed McGivern (fastest gun in the world)

• Charlie Cooley (businessman/civic leader) • Jimmy Kaaro (circus performer/trick roper/ animal trainer/lawman) • Jane Burnett Smith (bronc rider/stunt rider/ author) You are welcome to sit a spell and thumb through our collections of photographs and local history books or view educational media in electronic format. A variety of books, memorabilia, music CDs, videos, and locally made products are for sale in our store located near the front door.

Our displays are constantly changing as we strive to make each visit unique and memorable.

The museum is open every day from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Special tours can also be arranged during the off-season by contacting Shirley Barrick at 406-535-9289. MSN

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Great Falls is off to the Races this Summer Horseracing Returns July, 2013

By Bernice Karnop You ought to see live horse racing at least once in your lifetime, according to Sparky Kottke, treasurer of the Great Falls Turf Club. There’s nothing quite like the sight of eight horses and their jockeys pounding down the track, going hell bent for leather.

“If you enjoy a little wager, it’s exciting to see if you picked the right horse,” says Kottke. It’s always exciting to go home with a little extra padding in your wallet or purse.

This ancient sport came to Montana with the advent of horses, but the number of places you can watch it live has dwindled in the past decades.

The Great Falls Turf Club is readying the track at Montana Expo Park Fairgrounds for races scheduled for July 20-21 and July 27-28, which is the first weekend of the Montana State Fair. The only other horse races in Montana this summer are in Miles City during the Miles City Wild Horse Stampede in mid-May. Enthusiasts around the state hope the Great Falls races succeed so they can revive it in their towns. Central Montana has a great history of horseracing, and Sparky would like Montana to get the circuit back to where it was in the 1960s and 70s when horses competed in Kalispell, Missoula, Billings, Great Falls, and Miles City.

Sparky’s initial experience with the sport came during those glory days. He’d just been married and his wife grew up on a place with horses out of Fort Benton. Her dad was on the Montana Board of Horse Racing.

Now it’s his turn. This spring he’s been knee deep in preparing the race track with the Turf Club. They set the rail around the track, bladed it so the angle and slope are perfect, and took 30 soils samples to the county soil service to make sure the race turf has the right combination of dirt and sand.

Sparky finds lots of local people who are excited about horseracing. They like having extra events using the fairgrounds and they like having additional entertainment in Great Falls.

The Turf Club anticipates that they’ll have horses from Montana, Idaho, and Washington.

Jockeys and trainers in Canada finish racing in Lethbridge at the end of June, and then are expected to head on down to Great Falls. Canada didn’t lose their racing as Montana did so support remains strong up there.

The Montana group is doing all they can to encourage participation. “We’re trying to make the purses ideal so they will want to come here,” Sparky says.

As treasurer of the Great Falls Turf Club, Sparky is in charge of fundraising. Money comes from such places as Montana Board of Horseracing, sponsorships, advertising, and by donations from friends of horseracing.

If you have questions or are interested in supporting Montana horseracing with a donation, contact the Great Falls Turf Club at P.O. Box 82, Great Falls, MT 59403. Send emails to gfturfclub@ yahoo.com. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 73

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Crazy Horse – an inspiration for 65 years In 1948, the average U.S. worker earned $2,950 a year. A new house cost around $7,700, while a new car ran about $1,250. Gasoline was 16 cents a gallon. You paid 14 cents for a loaf of bread, 45 cents for a pound of hamburger and 60 cents for a movie ticket.

Families were finding that they could eat popcorn at home and play such new games as Scrabble. Their old reliable tube radio had competition from something called a transistor. Although radios were getting smaller, music records were growing to add songs on plate-size disks called “LPs.” Television was the rage, with at least one set in 1 million homes. TV viewers spent a lot of time watching wrestling and boxing, but they also tuned in to new shows like Howdy Doody, Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town, and Meet the Press.

The day’s news reported that federal taxes were going up to provide billions of dollars to help Europe rebuild after World War II. Those troubles were not over. The U.S. sent airplane loads of aid to help Berlin after the Soviet Union sealed off the German city.

Suspected communists in Washington, D.C., and Hollywood were being jailed. President Truman won re-election. Israel became a country, although its biblical fights with others continued. The space race saw the first monkey (Albert) launched into orbit. Scientists pondered the heavens as they peered through the new giant Palomar Observatory telescope and considered the newly published “big bang” life creation theory.

It was not a big bang, but a 10-ton dynamite blast on June 3, 1948 that also earned a footnote in history. Under an invitation from Lakota (Sioux) elders, sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began carving a figure of Crazy Horse into rock in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Ziolkowski had worked under Gutzon Borglum at nearby Mount Rushmore.

Although much in life has changed over 65 years, the Black Hills and their mountain sculptures still inspire. And the family of Korczak still leads the development of Crazy Horse Memorial.

Korczak married Ruth Ross, who had joined friends and followed him from West Hartford, Connecticut. The Ziolkowskis raised 10 children while starting the world’s largest artistic undertaking.

The Crazy Horse Memorial mountain carving, 641 feet long and 563 feet tall when completed, began as the dream of Chief Henry Standing Bear.

He and other Lakota elders saw Mount Rushmore develop and asked Korczak to carve a mountain to show that “the red man has great heroes also.”

The elders wanted it named for Crazy Horse, who famously helped defeat cavalry troops at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.

Since Korczak’s death in 1982, “Mrs. Z” has led the Crazy Horse Memorial operations from her dining room office in the log home that she helped Korczak build.

Located on U.S. 16/385, just 17 miles from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial draws more than 1 million visitors a year. Open every day, Crazy Horse features: • The Welcome Center, where the “Dynamite & Dreams” program explains the Memorial’s history and purpose to honor the heritage and living cultures of North America’s Indian people.

• The Indian Museum of North America, an expanding showcase of tribal artifacts and contemporary art.

• Korczak’s family

TRIP DATES April 19, 2013...........April 21, 2013 June 5, 2013.............June 7, 2013

WATCH

For Our New Dates Early Fall

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 75

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home, filled with antiques, fine art and his earlier sculptures.

• The new Mountain Museum, which focuses on the carving’s history and current efforts to create the giant granite sculpture.

• Hands-on activities, historic Edward Curtis photographs, and American Indian artisans working in the Native American Cultural Education Center.

• Indian University of North America for American Indian and other students preparing for college. The students help guide summer tours

of the visitor complex.

• Legends in Light, the laser-light program shown nightly at dusk from Memorial Day weekend through Native Americans’ Day in mid-October.

• An optional bus ride to the foot of the mountain to see the carving up close.

• Laughing Water Restaurant, which has a fullservice menu, evening buffet, snack shop, and free coffee every day.

• Museum gift shops offering American Indianmade items and exclusive Crazy Horse souvenirs.

So, put us in your travel plans! To learn more, visit www.crazyhorsememorial.org, call 605-6734681 or e-mail memorial@crazyhorse.org. MSN

You Can’t Beat The Castle For An Enchanted Stay What will you find at the end of the Enchanted Highway leading from Interstate 94 to Regent, North Dakota? How about a first class hotel? Yes, that is right; The Enchanted Castle hotel awaits your arrival. We take pride in saying that you will be treated like royalty when you visit us. We have two magnificent suites and 17 regular rooms along with a gymnasium, hot tub room, and fitness center where you can unwind and just relax.

You remember the word “relax”? If you don’t, then let us show you what relaxation is all about. A family-friendly hotel where the kids can get lost in their fun, and tired in our gymnasium. They might even go to sleep when you return to your room. We also serve your conference needs, wedding and party gatherings, and family reunions. We serve a nice continental breakfast in the morning. The rooms are spacious, we have a tavern on-site, and the staff is very accommodating. So, the next time you find yourself travelling the highways and byways of southwestern North Dakota, give us a call at 701-563-4858 and return to the days of relaxation. MSN

I paint for myself. I don’t know how to do anything, anyway.

Also I have to earn my living, occupy myself.

- Francis Bacon

APRIL/MAY 2013

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 77

Museum of Idaho Presents Carousels: Art and History in Motion

Welcome to Get In On The Fun Country.

By Laura Simpson and Jordan Hinckley In today’s fast-paced world, not a day goes by that most of us aren’t Stay close to the action. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast, a dip in besieged by a variety of demands, leaving us completely frazzled. While the pool and a short drive to area our daily lives might be swinging toward two-second Facebook status upattractions. Visit countryinns.com for dates and brutally succinct tweets, there’s still one place where time almost a stay that will have you saying, “I stands still – the carousel. Filled with charm and nostalgic beauty, carousels love this country.” instantly transport us to the leisurely, carefree days of our youth. Children experience the magic as their little hands grip the ornately decorated animals, parents and grandparents see life through younger eyes filled with wonder and amazement, teens momentarily forget their challenges as they dissolve into laughter, and even romance can spark beneath the ambient array of lights and music.

Considering the dedication, precision, and talent carousel carvers took in creating the artistry and the detail found in the wooden carousels of yesCountry Inn & Suites By Carlson, Bismarck, ND teryear, carousels have become a beloved icon that has stood the test of 3205 North 14th Str /ɄƌɄ ismarck, ND 58503 time, and thru May 27, you can experience the magic of carousels all over +1 (701) 2ŷźƝŶŴŲŲɄƌɄcountryinns.com/bismarcknd again at the Museum of Idaho.

Filled with whimsical animals and memories around every corner, the Museum of Idaho presents Carousels: Art and History in Motion. Complete with 100 authentic, hand-carved figures, this working carousel that young visitors ages 2-10 can ride will delight the young and old. Visitors will learn the rich history surrounding the carousel, gain insight at the science behind the engines, gears, and motion, understand the importance of restoration and preservation of these masterpieces, and marvel at the rich display of artistic ability reflected in the armored horses and menagerie animals.

The Carousel’s Beginning – The history of carousels dates to the 1100s when Arabian and Turkish horsemen played a game on horseback that tested the riders’ skills. Italian and Spanish crusaders described it as a “little war” or garosello and carosella. The crusaders returned to Europe, bringing the game back with them where it became an extravagant display of horsemanship and status that the French referred to as carrousel.

By the mid 1800s, the carousel made its way to America where modifications and upgrades were made. American artisans, such as Dentzel, Loof, and Stein and Goldstein, created elaborate figures and bases. Since everything was carved from © Cr Craz azyy Ho Horss e Me M mo moririr al al wood, the detail of the American carousel was magKoo rcc za zak, k S c. k, nificent. War, patriotic, and armored horses, unique 1/34 1/ 34th th S ca cale le M odd el e animals such as zebras, lions, tigers, ostriches, bears, and mythical creatures were included.

The Carousel’s End – The American carousel’s golden age lasted until the Great Depression in the 1930s. With the decline in the economy, the few remaining companies either closed or moved Crew Working on the Mountain p Twin Theaters on to work on other products, resulting in many Welcome Center p Indian Museum of North America carousels being abandoned or destroyed. During the golden age of the American carousel, over Native American Educational and Cultural Center 4,000 carousels were built. Sadly, approximately American Indian Artists and Performers 125 of them are working today.

Sculptor’s Studio-Home and Workshop p Antiques In the 1970s, interest in carousel animals was renewed but this time as collector pieces, which Museum Gift Shop p Exclusive Crazy Horse Gifts increased the value of the surviving wood animals.

Restaurant p Snack Shop How the Collection Originated – In the 1970s, PEN Nightly Laser Light Show in Season Duane Perron bought his wife, Carol, a wooden YEAR R OUND carousel horse. That gift started the Perrons on a journey that spanned decades. Currently, their collection consists of 750 artifacts, making them the proud owners of the largest collection of carousel CES animals.

HAN !

C 2 013 May 3: Korczak Day Their love of carousels doesn’t stop at colIN 2 May 6: Anne’s Day lecting. They also enjoy the lost art of restoring May 24 thru May 27: Open House carousel pieces. Duane specializes in the actual June 3: Dedication Anniversaries restoration and carving, while Carol adds the artisJune 1-2: 28th Annual Volksmarch tic touch. To date, they have restored seven fully June 14-16: Stampede Rodeo and Gift operational carousels. from Mother Earth Celebration Exhibit Information – Carousels: Art and HisJune 26: Night Blast tory in Motion is open through May 27, 2013 at the Aug. 30 thru Sept.

2: Open House Museum of Idaho.

September 6: Night Blast Admission prices are $8/adult, $7/senior, $6/ NEW EVENT Sunday, September 29 and youth (ages 4-17), $25/family, and $20/family on Monday, September 30: Volksmarch Family Night (Mondays from 5 – 8 p.m.).

October 14: Native Americans’ Day Hours are Monday – Tuesday from 9 a.m. – 8 October 20: Korczak Remembrance Day p.m., Wednesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and We would be happy to send a more detailed events closed on Sunday. calendar if you give us a call or email memorial@crazyhorse.org For more information, please contact us at 208-522-1400 or visit our website at www.museumofidaho.org. MSN

O

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Close Encounters of the Scenic Kind – Devils Tower in Wyoming

By Craig & Liz Larcom Devils Tower National Monument is the kind of place that just seems to beg, “Shoot me.” And so people whip out their cameras and do. Tall, dark, and mysterious, there is nothing else quite like the tower in the far northeastern corner of Wyoming, where the Black Hills spill over from South Dakota.

Little did Theodore Roosevelt know how many Americans this landmark would appeal to when he signed the country’s first national monument into existence in 1906. Geology buffs are only the beginning of the list.

Rock climbers love the tower’s challenge, though seeing chipmunks race past can be humbling. Climbing the landmark is a historic tradition, begun in 1873, when William “Bill” Rogers and W.A. Ripley pounded a 350-foot ladder along a crack. Rogers, wearing

a red, white, and blue suit, clambered to the summit on the Fourth of July as 2,000 people cheered below. Techniques and equipment have changed over the years, but the remnants of a wood ladder still cling high up on the landmark. Interpretive guides point it out to the visitors they lead on the mile-long trail around the tower’s base.

Plenty of climbing records have been set at the monument. Most climbers take four to six hours to get to the top, but in the 1980s climber Todd Skinner summitted in only 18 minutes. Just last year 56-year-old Frank Sanders, a climbing guide, established another kind of record, climbing the tower 365 times in 365 days.

Then there are the movie buffs, who visit the monument to see the setting for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Steven Spielberg’s 1977 blockbuster film. The movie put Devils Tower on the map for the American public and boosted attendance at the monument dramatically. Even today, a common question for park interpreters is “Where did the UFOs land?” (The movie was vague on this point. Although the crew shot much of the movie on site, they filmed the alien spaceship in Mobile, Alabama, on a movie set.) Just don’t plug the coordinates from the movie into your GPS. You’ll arrive somewhere near Greeley, Colorado instead of at the monument.

Another segment of visitors comes for the special energy they say they feel.

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For many visitors, the unusual feel of the place is the absence of sound. For most Americans these days, the chance to experience true silence is a novelty. Plans are afoot to move the parking lot a little farther from the tower to quiet the place even beyond what a remote location and a surrounding forest have accomplished.

Many Native Americans make it a point to visit here, too. For a number of them, the landmark is sacred, and some come to perform ceremo-

nies. Though a Colonel Dodge called it the Bad God’s Tower in 1876, claiming that this was the translation of a Native American name for it, most Native American titles for the landmark translate to something like “Bear’s Lodge.” Later the name was changed from Bad God’s Tower to Devils Tower. Allowing climbers on the tower is controversial for Native Americans. To compromise, the monument sets a voluntary climbing closure each year for the month of June, which

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 79

is observed by many climbers.

Nature enthusiasts are yet another group of people drawn to the monument. Prairie falcons nest on the tower each year, and tame prairie dogs amuse many visitors. With a meeting of mountain and prairie, birders like to visit the place, too. In particular, the oaks appeal to wild turkeys and other birds.

Visitors of any stripe enjoy gawking at the 867-foot tower that (Continued on page 82)

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It seems that birds come and go depending on the season. After a long cold winter, it is nice to see them returning with their gleeful songs and colorful feathers ready to build nests and get about the business of raising new families. Our staff has created a puzzle that should stimulate our birdloving readers by challenging you to share your knowledge of state birds.

It rained hundreds of answers to the Cats and Dogs quiz that appeared in our February/March 2013. Thank you to all of you who participated and the winner selected from the correct answers submitted is Judy Moehle of St. Ignatius. Congratulations to Judy, winner of our $50 cash prize!

Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Montana

Senior News. One prize goes to the person who submits the entry that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for that issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and 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 Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to montsrnews@bresnan.net by May 10, 2013 for our June/July 2013 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website www. montanaseniornews.com.

Official State Birds Montana Senior News Staff It’s springtime and the birds are already returning to our northern climes to greet us with their cheerful songs and colorful plumage. Since bird watching is one of our readers’ favorite activities, we thought you would enjoy this quiz related to official state birds. Each multiple-choice question presents a state and a choice of birds. Jot down the official state bird for each state and drop your answers in the mail (or email) to us. You could win the $25 prize!

1. What is the state bird of Alabama? a. Cactus Wren b. Willow Ptarmigan c. Northern Flicker d. Western Meadowlark 2. What is the state bird of Alaska? a. Willow Ptarmigan b. Northern Flicker c. Black Capped Chickadee d. American Robin 3. What is the state bird of Arizona? a. Cactus Wren

b. Northern Flicker c. Willow Ptarmigan d. Western Meadowlark 4. What is the state bird of California? a. Lark Bunting b. California Quail c. Mockingbird d. American Robin 5. What is the state bird of Arkansas? a. Lark Bunting b. California Quail c. Mockingbird d. Western Meadowlark 6. What is the state bird of Colorado? a. Lark Bunting b. California Quail c. Killdeer d. American Robin 7. What is the state bird of Delaware? a. Blue Hen Chicken b. Florida Wren c. Brown Thrasher d. Northern Cardinal 8. What is the state bird of Florida? a. Brown Pelican b. Northern Mockingbird c. Blue Hen Chicken d. Willow Goldfinch 9. What is the state bird of Georgia? a. Blue Hen Chicken b. Brown Thrasher c. Northern Mockingbird d. Northern Cardinal 10. What is the state bird of Hawaii? a. Hawaiian Goose

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b. Brown Thrasher c. Mockingbird d. Blackbird 11. What is the state bird of Wyoming? a. Lark Bunting b. Western Meadowlark c. Mockingbird d. American Robin 12. What is the state bird of Wisconsin? a. Brown Thrasher

ACROSS 1. Like winters in the North, e.g.

6. Western omelet ingredient 9. One of the Three Bears 13. Japanese port 14. International Labor Organization 15. Peeled or trimmed 16. Drawing support 17. A nervous ___ 18. Plural of #10 Down 19. *Most decorated Olympian

21. Unwelcome to a comedian 23. High rocky hill 24. Ditto 25. Wear and tear 28. Opposite of warp in weaving 30. Exhort 35. South of Market Area in San Francisco 37. Like Oscar in “The Odd Couple” 39. Composer of American

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 81

a. Mockingbird b. Willow Goldfinch c. Lark Bunting d. American Robin 15. What is the state bird of Virginia? a. Northern Cardinal b. Brown Thrasher c. Mockingbird d. Blackbird MSN

b. American Robin c. Mockingbird d. Blackbird 13. What is the state bird of West Virginia? a. Cactus Wren b. Willow Ptarmigan c. Northern Cardinal d. Western Meadowlark 14. What is the state bird of Washington? military marches 40. Wing-shaped 41. *2002 gold medal skater, Hughes 43. Angelina’s husband 44. Like a wall covered with certain evergreen 46. Hurtful remark 47. *Quipping Hall-ofFamer 48. *PGA great, Byron 50. Snakelike sushi staple 52. Last word of “America, the Beautiful” 53. Wasn’t straight 55. Romanian money 57. *He led an army?

60. *”His Airness” 63. Rub hard 64. Boiling blood 66. Farewell, to ami 68. African tea or chew 69. Rank above maj.

70. Prison-related 71. Strong desires 72. ___ Aviv 73. Go the way of Vesuvius DOWN 1. Tiller’s tool 2. Hurry!

3. Poison ivy woe 4. Clay pigeon shooting 5. Render something holy 6. Not misses 7. *Rhyming fighter 8. Cafe order 9. Central to NYC 10. Seed cover

11. *Soccer great known by single name 12. Online pop-ups 15. *Reggie Miller’s team 20. *Ali seem to relish it 22. Down Under bird 24. With an illustrious past?

25. *Fastest man on Earth 26. To crack, as in case 27. Inbox letter 29. We pledge allegiance to it 31. Pass 32. Continental money 33. Missouri River tributary 34. *Bela Karolyi prodigy 36. Mars, to the Greeks 38. *He was passed by Hammerin’ Hank 42. Conversation starter 45. Sorrows 49. Not a thing 51. Colorful Mexican wrap 54. Order 56. Milk dispenser 57. Dull pain 58. Multicolored horse 59. Brazils or filberts, e.g.

60. Become gelatinous 61. Hokkaido language 62. Less than average tide 63. Blue hue 65. Future fish 67. Last, abbr. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2013

Devils Tower In Wyoming - continued from page 79 looks something like a giant tree stump with long vertical scratches.

A closer look shows that the tower is made of columns that are 4-, 5- or 6-sided, and which run 8 to 15 feet across. Inside, the tower is solid. “Slice it off and what you see would be just like you sliced a bundle of pencils across the middle, “an interpretive guide says.

Though a substantial pile of rubble rests around the bottom of the landmark, erosion is apparently slow. Guides say no columns have tumbled during historic times.

And what’s on top? Climbers say it is slightly domed and about the size of a football field.

The monument includes a visitor center, campground, and a network of trails.

Devils Tower National Monument is open daily year round, though the visitor center and campground are seasonal. Phone 307-467-5283 to learn more, or visit www.nps.gov/deto. MSN

Do Not Despair

By Kathleen McGregor At the end of your rope?

And you think there’s no hope Do not despair When your heart’s full of stress And your life a real mess Do not despair At the moment of truth And you see your faults clearly Do not despair

When you look deep inside And you find only pride Do not despair God’s grace is there, too Just waiting for you Do not despair For Judas despaired but Peter’s heart was repaired…

Remember!

Our Lord’s Mercy is Endless He came to redeem and befriend us Call to Him in your weakness His Heart and Arms are open for YOU!

APRIL/MAY 2013

The Wrong Funeral Author Unknown, Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley Consumed by my loss, I didn’t notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend – my mother. She finally had lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense; I found it hard to breathe at times. Always supportive, Mother clapped loudest at my school plays, held a box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me at my father’s death, encouraged me in college, and prayed for me my entire life. When mother’s illness was diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently married his childhood sweetheart, so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle female child without entanglements, to take care of her. I counted it an honor.

“What now, Lord?” I asked sitting in church.

My life stretched out before me as an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face toward the cross while clutching his wife’s hand.

My sister sat slumped against her husband’s shoulder, his arms around her as she cradled their child. All so deeply grieving, no one noticed I sat alone. My place had been with our mother – preparing her meals, helping her walk, taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication, reading the Bible together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished, and I was alone. I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. Quick footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor.

An exasperated young man looked around briefly and then sat next to me. He folded his hands and placed them on his lap. His eyes were brimming with tears. He began to sniffle.

“I’m late,” he explained, though no explanation was necessary. After several eulogies, he leaned over and commented, “Why do they keep calling Mary by the name of Margaret?”

“Because, that was her name... Margaret.

Never Mary, no one called her Mary,” I whispered. I wondered why this person could not have sat on the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving with his tears and fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway?

“No, that isn’t correct,” he insisted, as several people glanced over at us whispering. “Her name is Mary, Mary Peters.”

“That isn’t who this is.”

“Isn’t this the Lutheran church?”

“No, the Lutheran church is across the street.”

“Oh.” “I believe you’re at the wrong funeral, Sir.” The solemn nature of the occasion mixed with the realization of the man’s mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter. I cupped my hands over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs. The creaking pew gave me away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made the situation seem more hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, misguided man seated beside me. He was laughing too, as he glanced around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful exit.

I imagined Mother laughing. At the final amen, we darted out a door and into the parking lot.

“I do believe we’ll be the talk of the town,” he said smiling. He said his name was Rick and since he had missed his aunt’s funeral, he asked me out for a cup of coffee.

That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me with this man who attended the wrong funeral, but was in the right place. A year after our

meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right on time.

In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter.

In place of loneliness, God gave me love. This past June, we celebrated our twenty-second wedding anniversary. Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells them, “Her mother and my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it’s truly a match made in heaven.” MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 83

PAGE 84 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 85

When A Tattoo Is Not A Tattoo

By Dean & Nancy Hoch In an age when body tattoos are all the rage, there is an entirely different kind of tattoo that begs far greater attention and appreciation.

The tattoo of which we speak is an event that happens yearly in August when world-class entertainment fills the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, the most imposing structure in Scotland’s capital city. This classic performance comes in the form of what is called the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (pronounced the-TOO by the Scots).

Similar to taps, Tattoo, in this sense, refers to the military drum signal of the evening hours that summons military personnel to their quarters. Poet, Theodore O’Hara, captured a feeling for the tattoo, in his poem, Bivouac of the Dead, with the lines: “The muffled drums’ sad roll has beat the soldier’s last tattoo.

No more on life’s parade shall meet that brave and fallen few.”

Far from being a sad or somber event, Edinburgh’s Military Tattoo features the fever-pitched excitement of the massed pipes and drums, typically the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. The regimented bands march forth from the castle walls, across the huge drawbridge, amidst a cloud of cannon smoke. The wail of the bagpipes fills the air, and anyone with – or even without – a drop of Scottish blood would have a hard time not experiencing goose bumps at the stirring occasion.

Each year, different select groups from around the world are invited to participate in the

extravaganza. These include crack marching outfits, such as the Bavaria’s German Mountain Army Band, the unique Dutch Bicycle Band, and the Royal Irish Regiment, as well as other types of performers, such as the Emerald Isle Irish Dance Team, the Russian Cossack State Song & Dance Ensemble, Nepal’s Royal Gurkha Rifles, brilliantly costumed dancers from the islands of the South Pacific, and more.

The entire event is one of those things that should be on everyone’s bucket list. For us, the sights and sounds, especially of the incredible massed pipes and drums, will linger in memory forever.

Meanwhile, it was our pleasure to take our granddaughter, Jennifer, to Scotland and England with us.

While in England, we toured London, visited Cambridge University, and Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest (where we met up with Little John), as well as the seeing Hadrian’s Wall and the city of York. We then crossed the border into the ancestral homeland of Jennifer’s grandmother in Scotland.

Early in the morning, ours was the only car on the narrow road as we drove up the hillside into Scotland. Crossing the border, we were greeted by a lone bagpiper dressed in a plaid kilt and piping his message of welcome. What a thrill for all of us.

On our return trip to England, after a week in Scotland, we drove through the beautiful Lake Country and toured the village of Haworth (home of the Bronte sisters – Charlotte, of Jane Eyre fame, and Emily who wrote Wuthering Heights). We also stopped in the bustling, little city of Banbury that inspired the Banbury-Cross

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nursery rhyme – also famous for its delicious Banbury-Cross buns. Yum! Throughout England, we enjoyed the country’s delicious fish ‘n chips, traditionally wrapped in newspaper. Jennifer especially loved the tasty side dish of mushy peas.

While in Scotland, we stayed in the northern community of Aviemore, traveled through the craggy Highlands and drove around mythical Loch Ness – (no, we didn’t see Nessie, the monster). We visited several impressive castles and toured the most famous one in Stirling, the city made famous by Scotland’s hero, William Wallace.

When we asked Jenny her favorite part of the entire trip, she unhesitatingly replied, “The Military Tattoo!”

We agreed.

Should you wish to attend this world-famous event, you will need to get tickets many months in advance.

If you go: Website is www.edinburgh-tattoo. co.uk/; Website for Scotland is www.visitscotland.com; and Website for the British Travel Authority is www.visitbritain.com. MSN

PAGE 86 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2013

Cruising through Five Countries and Ten Centuries Story by Andrea Gross; Because rivers were once the main means of transportation, towns and citPhotos by Irv Green ies were built on their shores, and we’re never very far from land. I step out The scenes drift by — castles perched on hills, towns with multi-colored on the veranda of my stateroom, and as we sail eastward along the Rhine, I buildings, fields with checkerboard patterns. Then, as if a shade has been see one castle after another. Each is special in its own way — a tower here, drawn, all I see is dark, gray stone. The Viking Njord, a new vessel that’s a drawbridge there, ivy-covered walls everywhere — but they are all also larger and more environmenstartlingly similar. They were tally friendly than most riverhomes for feudal lords as well boats, has entered a lock. A as fortresses that defended few minutes later, it exits, havtheir fiefdoms, which, I figure, ing been gently raised more makes them a medieval verthan 20 feet. Thus, we cruise sion of a governor’s mansion from Amsterdam to Budapest, surrounded by armed guards. stair-stepping up and down Many days we wander along three rivers (the Rhine, through small villages filled Main, and Danube), two cawith cobblestoned streets, nals (the Amsterdam and the half-timbered houses, and Main-Danube Canal), and 69 narrow buildings in rainbow locks. It takes us 13 leisurely colors. Other times we explore days to traverse 1,200 miles, big cities where the buildings visit five countries, and timeare statelier and the ambitravel through ten centuries of ence more harried. But wherEuropean history. ever we are, we overdose on Our first stop is Kinderdijk, chocolate, pretzels, and beer The Danube divides Budapest into two distinctive neighborhoods: the old where we’re greeted by 19 before returning to the ship for town of Buda and the more modern area of Pest. windmills, all starkly outlined a white-tablecloth dinner. The against a somber sky. The scene is so perfect in its simplicity, so stereotypi- days, as well as our stomachs, are full. cally Dutch that it could be the cover of a tourist brochure for the Netherlands.

It’s in Nuremberg that we bridge the centuries, moving from the Middle The mills, which were built in the mid-1700s and are still in working condition, Ages, when the city was the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire, to are reminiscent of ones used in the Middle Ages, when the Dutch realized the 1930s and ‘40s, when it was the unofficial capital of the Nazis’ Third Reich. that in addition to grinding corn, wind-powered mills also could help drain “Hitler dreamed of an empire that would be as large as the ancient Roman wetlands and reclaim land from the sea. one,” says our guide, as we pass the parade grounds where Hitler staged party Feudal reality again melds with fairytale fantasy as we enter Germany. rallies. I notice that the nearby building, the massive Kongresshalle, bears a

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still munching on Lebkuchen, the traditional gingerbread cookies that we bought in Nuremberg, when the ship enters the lock that takes us to a watershed 1,332 feet above sea level, the highest point on any European waterway.

From here, our trip is literally downhill but each stop gives us another high.

We sail through Austriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wine country before spending a day in Vienna, where we attend a classical concert featuring the music of Mozart and Strauss. Aboard the ship, we learn how to make strudel and listen to rollicking music as Budapestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s haunting â&#x20AC;&#x153;Promenade on the Danubeâ&#x20AC;? memorializes weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re served a buffet of Austrian Jews who were tied together, weighted down, and forced into the specialties. freezing waters of the Danube during the waning days of World Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fitting that the river cruise War II. ends in Budapest, a city that is divided physically as well as metaphorically by a river. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buda,â&#x20AC;? on the west side of the Danube, is the old part of the city, replete with a castle, fortress, and several museums. Eight bridges join it to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pest,â&#x20AC;? the more modern area that, although it is still home to sites of historic and cultural significance, is characterized by expansive boulevards, fine restaurants, and good shopping.

That night during our last dinner aboard the ship, we sit with friends and reflect on our trip. In less than two weeks, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve traveled from the hip atmosphere of Amsterdam to the more restrained elegance of Budapest, walked through the winding alleys of ancient towns as well as the wide aisles of upscale department stores, and learned about historic events both tragic and heroic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a crash course in European culture and history as well as a relaxing vacation,â&#x20AC;? says one fellow. Just then the pianist begins playing the familiar Gershwin tune, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who could ask for anything more?â&#x20AC;? and we all start laughing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as if the pianist has read our thoughts.

For more information visit www. vikingrivercruises.com. MSN

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 87

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