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Gary Jones’ radio-control planes zoom in Pocatello skies By Dianna Troyer When Gary Jones first piloted his model Stinson Reliant SR-9, with its 100inch wingspan, the takeoff didn’t make him nervous. But the eventual and unavoidable landing of the 29-pound plane made his stomach flip-flop and his knees knock, because he was afraid it might crash. “I had about 1,000 hours into building that plane,” he says of the model he bought from a fellow pilot who never had time to complete it. “It was a winter project. After it was built, I didn’t fly it for two years. Finally, I worked up my courage and decided it was either going to fly or not, so I took it out. After I fly it, I wait about a week or so until my knees recover from knocking.” Gary, president of the Eastern Idaho Aeromodelers, flies a couple of hours each morning at the club’s runway near the Pocatello Regional Airport. He even flies in winter, if it’s not too stormy, using his seaplane that has landing gear enabling the plane to take off and land on snow. “I retired in 1999 after 38 years with Union Pacific Railroad, so now I have plenty of time to do this,” says Gary, who was a manager in the maintenance and ways shop. Gary is often joined by other club members, who call each other “Orville” or “Wilbur” or “Crash,” depending on their flying skills. “It’s a friendly club, and someone is always willing to help novice pilots,” Gary says. “It’s been around for 30 years, and we have about 40 members.” He invites people who are thinking about flying radio-controlled planes to come to the club’s monthly meetings the last Thursday of each month at the field at 7:30 p.m. during spring, summer, and fall or at the Marshall Public Library at that time during winter when it’s too cold to meet outside. Gary is also an instructor and is glad to show people how to fly before they invest in a plane. “We have a trainer plane for those who want to try and see if they like it. There are two radio controls, so if the flyer gets into trouble the more experienced pilot can take over. Taking off is easy. The hard part is learning to land gracefully. And if you’re going to fly in Idaho, you’ll learn to fly in windy conditions.” Learning to fly can be tense, but with experience and confidence, Gary says flying is actually relaxing. He tells beginning pilots to plan to spend about $400 for a ready-to-fly plane, a radio, and accessories. Pocatello pilots will share their model aeronautical enthusiasm with each other and the public during a fun fly June 26-28 (Continued on page 42)
PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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Idaho Senior Independent A Barrett-Whitman Publication P.O. Box 3341 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3341 208-318-0310 • Toll Free: 1-866-360-5683 Fax: 406-761-8358 www.idahoseniorindependent.com email: idahoseniorind@bresnan.net The Idaho Senior Independent is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October, and December by Barrett-Whitman Co., 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Idaho. The mail subscription rate is $10.00 per year (6 issues). The Idaho Senior Independent is written to serve Idaho’s mature population of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles, and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. All copy appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.
Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano Julie Crittendon Angie Erskine Becky Hart Sherrie Smith
Office Manager Production Supervisor Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Graphic Artist Admin/Production Assistant
Contributing Writers Natalie Bartley Connie Daugherty Holly Endersby Clare Hafferman Cate Huisman Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig Larcom Liz Larcom Jack McNeel Michael McGough Dianna Troyer © 2009
Restaurant Opportunity I am looking for 7-10 people (retired or semiretired) that are bored and have dreamed of being involved in a restaurant with a good potential return that requires hands-on work. I am 71 and have refused to retire or be considered retired. For many years, my dream has been to open an all-you-can-eat Prime Rib Restaurant. I am looking at opening up a restaurant at the Eagle/Ustick Meridian intersection seating up to 300 people at one time. I have the finances to open up the business by myself but prefer to share with those that are looking for an exiting adventure and who are not
afraid of getting involved in the restaurant business - those that maybe never had the financing nor the knowledge to do so. The people that I am looking for must be willing to make a small investment. Their return would depend on their own performance and the performance of the team we put together. I am currently planning the construction of this business and am looking at potential buildings in the Meridian area. I welcome all inquiries. Bill vanHeukelom 3335 North Pankratz Way Meridian, ID 83646 208-890-4000 ISI
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When you were young, did you ever think about changing your name? Here is a list of famous people who did just that. Our winning contest is from Sylva Mularchyk of Santa Maria, California whose Can You Match These Names? quiz makes us wonder why people change their names. Thank you, Sylva. There were no winning answers submitted to the Income Tax Facts And Figures quiz that appeared in our April/May 2009 edition. Therefore, the $25 prize will be carried forward, which means a $50 prize for the person who submits the winning answers to the Can You Match
These Names? quiz in this issue. Announced here is the winner of the $20 prize for the Easter Egg hunt that ran in our April/May 2009 issue – Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Rupe of Kooskia. Congratulations to the Rupes and thanks to all who tried their luck. Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. One prize goes to the person who submits the entry selected by our staff as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for that issue. Turn your creativity loose and send us some good, interesting
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3
puzzles! The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the most correct answers to the featured quiz or puzzle from the previous issue. When there is a tie, the winner is determined by a drawing. Please mail your entries to the Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403 by July 10, 2009 for our August/September 2009 edition. Remember to work the crossword puzzle in this issue and on our website www.idahoseniorindependent.com.
Can You Match These Names? Submitted by Sylva Mularchyk, Santa Maria, California Ever wonder what these famous actors and actresses had for names in their younger days? Do a little research and see if you can come up with their given names. In the first group (by number) are their new names. In the second group (by letter) are their given names. Match the correct letter for the given name with the correct number for the stage name. Jot them down and mail or email them to us. You may win the $50 prize! 1. Irving Berlin 2. Ginger Rogers 3. Gene Wilder 4. Vivien Leigh 5. Frankie Laine 6. Hedda Hopper 7. Ben Kingsley
8. Joan Rivers 9. Harry Morgan 10. Audrey Hepburn 11. Kitty Carlisle 12. Tonto 13. Vic Damone 14. Tony Bennett 15. George Burns 16. Harry Houdini 17. Mamie Van Doren 18. Tony Randall 19. Martha Raye 20. Nicolas Cage 21. Mitzi Gaynor 22. George Montgomery 23. Ray Milland A. Jerry Silverman B. Edda Fury C. Frank Lo Vecchio
D. Israel Baline E. Vivien Mary Hartley F. Virginia Katherine McMath G. Krishna Benji H. Joan Molinsky I. Henry Brataburg J. Edda von Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston K. Catherine Conn L. Anthony Benedetto M. Jay Silverheels N. Nathan Bierbaum O. Vito Farinola P. Francesca von Gerber Q. Erich Weiss R. Margaret O’Reed S. Joan Olander T. Leonard Rosenberg U. George Letz V. Reginald Truscott-Jones W. Nicolas Coppola ISI
Answers to “Income Tax Facts And Figures” 1. The 16th amendment 2. 1913 3. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming 4. Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin 5. Single, married, married filing separately, head of household, and widow(er) with dependent child
Children’s Thoughts On Grandparents And Other Things Submitted by Julie Hollar 1. She was in the bathroom putting on her makeup under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter as she had done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, “But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!” I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye. 2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was and I told him I was 62. He was quiet for a moment and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?” 3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?” (Continued on page 4)
6. Internal Revenue Service Adjusted Gross Income Alternative Minimum Tax Individual Retirement Account Earned Income Credit 7. Medical, taxes, interest, charitable, and misc. 8. Four 9. Self-employed business 10. Farm income
11. 65 12. True 13. True 14. Social Security number 15. April 15th 16. True 17. Resident, part-year resident, non-resident 18. Credit 19. True 20. Electronic filing AKA “E Filing” ISI
JUNE/JULY 2009
What Do You Know About Cars?
Answers To “Test Your Sports Knowledge” April/May 2009 - Page 6
By Miles Mellor
Across 1. Properly inspected 6. A Mazda 10. VW convertible 11. Luxury classy car 12. Supercharged auto 14. Decay 15. Weight measurement 16. “Back to Black” singer, Winehouse 17. Sun ___ 18. Chrysler ____ 21. Cut staff 23. Student score (abbr.) 25. How horrible! 26. On show, but not in mass production
27. Piece of advice 29. Egyptian King, for short 31. Mimicked 33. Yes in Mexico 34. Torrent 37. M100, for one 39. “Fearless” star 41. Film distributor and record company 42. Beetle promoter 46. Spectra is one of their models 49. ____ Dhabi 50. Speed measurement, abbr. 51. Get now, pay later (3 words)
Down 1. Vehicle history reporter 2. Race 3. Mandatory coverage 4. 4 door, 5 passenger Lexus (3 words) 5. 70’s Dodge 6. Early 20th century auto maker, Joseph 7. Morgan car (2 words) 8. Futhermore 9. A Bond car (2 words) 13. Kid 19. VW sedan 20. Honda Civic, for example 22. Pink slip holder 24. Toyota marque 28. Company going public has it 30. “Born in the ___” Springsteen song 32. Rep’s opposite 35. Mercedes class letters 36. Goes with hers 38. Admired 40. Mexican resort 41. Engineer, abbr. 43. Expression of surprise! 44. Means 45. Accelerate, ___ the engine 47. Quality of communication 48. US car maker
Children’s Thoughts - continued from page 3 4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. “We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire that hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods. The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last, she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!” 5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?” I mentally polished my halo and then said, “No, how are we alike?” “You’re both old,” he replied. 6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story. “What’s it about?” he asked. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.” ISI
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JUNE/JULY 2009
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5
Spiders and Sports: How Golf Has Kept Us Together So, maybe, a how-to-stay-married piece could be about the sport of golf. It has added another positive aspect to our already good marriage. graceful until the pro tried to fit me for a glove has a question, I am not disturbed by interrupBy Lois Greene Stone Sure, sure, we’ve all heard of “golf widows,” and saw my fingers were too short for women’s tions. We spend our wedding anniversaries at and even some hotels offer packages that allow small. My starter set was a driver, 3½ wood, four a nearby golf course so we feel like we are “out those women to have spa or other special ses- irons, and a putter. I learned to grip a five iron, of town,” we have lunch, play, have supper, and drive home! sions while men golf. Well, that is better than swing properly, and five lessons were up. Summers, I make no plans for weekend “Go practice,” my mate muttered. Suddenly being a candidate for Can-This-Marriage-BeSaved section of a leading women’s magazine, the song “Home on the Range” lost its cowboy evenings so we can get whatever starting time flavor. “I’ll teach you the rest,” he promised. He is available without pressure to get off the course is it not? Yuk! When I was a kid, the word widow con- gently instructed me on the short game, side because we have a date with someone or somenoted a creepy black spider that I was warned hill lies, sand traps; he was adamant about eti- thing. Summer weekdays, sometimes, after dinner, dishes are left on the table until dark so we about before I trekked up places like Mt. Grey- quette, however, and honesty. I found a school program for seven-year - can run out and get in a few holes. lock in Massachusetts or other camping sites. I am still slender as the day I got married. And Then, it was a harsh word as my mother became olds that required my dropping him off at 9 a.m. one when my father died at age 45; relatives she and picking him up at 11 a.m. In between, I drove I have strange genes that have kept my blonde had entertained treated a single woman as if she to the club and attempted to play as many holes hair blonde. While that certainly would make for an attentive marriage, our golfing together has were a spider, as we live in a couple’s society. as time and endurance permitted. When the squiggly child of seven was a certainly made it a more content one. ISI No euphemism could make widow palatable. My Brooklyn-born spouse loved golf enough summer-camp pre-teen of 12, I golfed with my to set an alarm and hang out pre-dawn at Long mate. I had continued to swing correctly, score Island’s Beth Page State Park during high exactly, be courteous, follow rules, and heard school, just to get a tee time. During medical resi- others praise my aggressive form. Encouragedency, when our child #1 was born in Flushing, ment to compete as a couple allowed a different he would abandon the household confusion and dimension for social contacts. So, maybe, a how-to-stay-married piece head for a course. By child #3, he was in practice in Rochester and spending time either in the of- could be about the sport of golf. It has added another positive aspect to our already good fice or on the tee - either way, I was alone. Finally, my youngest was seven; the other marriage as it enables us to take mutually two were ten and twelve and off to summer camp enjoyable vacations since we’ve plotted the to learn about spiders and their ilk. I had once country’s courses we hope to play, checking off been a fine athlete and had actually instructed those we actually get to, and that’s all we do softball, volleyball, was captain of a college on holidays. We spend long periods together basketball team, and ran track. Still skinny and in solitude and isolation on a course, which is a limber from lifting children/groceries/laundry plus for a relationship. We play with one another piles/toys, my spouse suggested I learn to every Thursday afternoon (doctor’s afternoon play golf. Was he kidding? We live in snow belt off), every Saturday, and Sunday when he is country. It would take forever to learn what he not on call. When he gets a call during a round because has been doing since childhood. He went from suggesting, to requesting, to pleading. Okay. But the physician covering his practice for that day why? Once again, I heard the Tarzan phrase, “Do it for me, please, honey.” I signed up for five half-hour lessons. My seven-year-old colored under a tree while I was given instruction. Sometimes I left the range and chased the boy back under the tree. How annoying it was to keep one eye on the ball and another on a squirmy kid! My only words to the pro were to teach me the correct way to swing, as I was not going to play-at-golf, and I would wait for the game to happen. (Once I learned the right way to toss a ball down a bowling alley, I had a 200 game, although I did not want that score for golf.) I’d always thought my digits were long and
PAGE 6 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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Ph
Up, Up
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And Away!
Airborne Magic Never Wanes For Balloonmeister By Dianna Troyer Like an eager, impatient child wanting to leave, Tom Gough’s inflated hot air balloon tugs gently and persistently at the wires that tether its basket to the earth. It seems to have a mind of its own and yearns to defy gravity and drift upward and away in whatever direction the wind will take it. “There is nothing that brings more joy to people than flying in a balloon,” says Tom, 67, a retired Union Pacific Railroad engineer, who has been piloting hot air balloons since 1972. He has flown at festivals throughout Europe and the United States, given celebrities rides, and piloted shaped balloons for corporate sponsors. “I’ve done a lot of sports: hydroplanes, skiing, rafting down the Middle Fork. When you’re flying in a balloon, it’s just magic up there.” Before lifting off near his home in Bliss, Tom runs down a checklist to ensure his 70-foot-tall, orange, yellow, red, and black balloon is safe for yet another flight and that it will ultimately be ready to give rides at the 28th annual Teton Valley Balloon Festival in Driggs July 3-5, part of the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Festival July 2-5. Tom will serve as the festival balloonmeister this year. “Basically, the meister is the liaison between the organizers and the balloon pilots who assesses the weather to decide when to fly. I’ve done it on and off for about 15 years and have flown in the festival about 20 years. The Teton Valley is such a beautiful place to fly, and the people are friendly and accommodating. There is plenty of open space, so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to land.” The festival attracts a crowd to the Teton Valley Fairgrounds on the edge of town, where balloon liftoff is tentatively scheduled for 7 a.m., dependOriginal aircraft from World War II. ing on the weather. If it’s too windy, pilots wait until A wedding dress made from turbulence subsides.
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“At the festival’s 20th anniversary, we had about An average medium-sized used balloon costs $830,000 people there and about 30 balloons.” Tom 15,000, while the price of a new one ranges from $35-45,000. says. “It’s such a joy to fly there.” Tom’s wife, Crystal, is his crew and picks him This year, at least 15 balloons are expected with pilots coming from New Mexico, Arizona, up at his landing site. It takes about 20 minutes Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. The festival to disassemble the balloon and put it away, if he highlight is the simultaneous launching of the lands near a road. “Piloting a balloon can be very dangerous, just balloons. Chamber office manager Jeanne Rogers de- like driving a car can be dangerous,” he says. “Balloon pilots say, ‘Takeoff is scribes one of her balloon optional, but the landing flights as “magical.” is mandatory.’ You al“You watch the sky ways have to find a safe become pink and golden, landing place and watch then shades of blue,” out for power lines. Very Jeanne says. “Riding in few people walk away a balloon is like standfrom an encounter with ing in a mountain range, a power line. Everyone because it’s so quiet up in the basket is responthere. We could look sible for watching for down and see wildlife lines. You can’t really running,” she recalls desee them, so you look for scribing watching coyutility poles and fly above otes and deer that were them.” unaware of their aerial Because of his repuobservers. tation for being a meticuFor many particilous pilot, Tom has been pants, the hot air balloon hired to fly balloons for rides are memorable. corporations. “We have some “I flew the 140-foot couples who have gone tall Tyrannosaurus Rex up, and the young man at the Albuquerque Interproposes to his fiancé,” [Photo by Crystal Cough] national Balloon Fiesta,” Jeanne says. “Or some people have brought their grandmothers for a ride he says. “The company that owns it also has balloons shaped like a pink elephant, a Holstein cow, to celebrate their 80th birthdays.” The rides last 30 to 90 minutes, depending on and a flying saucer.” Tom also has flown at festivals in Europe. “I weather conditions. Reservations for rides may be made by calling the chamber at 208-354-2500 and flew in Belgium and have given rides to seven cost $200 per person. Tom became hooked on flying hot air balloons cosmonauts, and here when he lived in Nebraska. “At that time, I was a in the states to three fixed wing pilot and flew single engine planes. I astronauts including Neil didn’t know anything about balloons. One day, Armstrong.” Before moving to I was driving from North Platte to Omaha, when I saw this balloon coming down. I got off the in- Bliss, Tom lived in Eagle terstate and drove down a dirt road to where it outside Boise where he had landed. The pilot told me his crew was on its gave balloon rides as a way. I asked if I could help him out, and he told business. “We called it me what to do. When he was ready to leave, he Someday Balloon, beshook my hand, thanked me, and said his name cause people always say, ‘Someday I’ll do was Malcolm Forbes.” Tom told his work friends he had met Forbes, this or that, like climb a the late publisher of Forbes Magazine flying a mountain, or get married, balloon over Nebraska. A colleague told him her or go back to school.’” These days he flies son had just bought a balloon and needed a crew. Tom called her son and worked on his crew for two the Aire Marc, a balloon named after a late friend years, resisting the temptation to take a ride. “I knew the first ride would be cheap,” Tom who had arranged for says, “but the second ride would cost a lot because Tom to partner with two Belgians to buy and pilot I’d have to buy my own balloon.” Eventually, he gave in to his temptation, bought the balloon. “I have it throughout a balloon, and has never regretted the expense.
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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7
the year; then they come over for the Albuquerque balloon festival and fly it for two weeks.” It is considered a medium-sized balloon able to accommodate a pilot and two passengers. Its ripstop nylon canopy has a capacity to hold 105,000 cubic feet of air and can be filled in about 30 minutes. The burners can produce 15 million BTUs of heat, and Tom uses about 20 to 30 gallons of propane on a typical 90-minute flight, depending on weather conditions. Before lifting off in the Aire Marc on his recent run, he remembers the familiar saying about mandatory landings, then drifts upward on a journey the wind will select. His ‘someday’ is today. ISI
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Immerse yourself in Boise’s Basque culture By Cate Huisman Next time you are visiting Boise for work or play, set aside some time to learn about another entire culture right in the center of town. Along Grove Street between 6th Avenue and Capitol Boulevard, just a stone’s throw from the capitol dome, is the Basque Block, where attractions draw visitors into the way of life of the Basque people who came to the United States a century ago from their European homeland in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. These early immigrants found a niche as shepherds for the vast flocks of sheep in the Great Basin, and when they sent home for reinforcements, America’s Basque community was born, spreading from its origins in California to Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada. The 2000 U.S. census reveals that California remains the state that the greatest numbers of Basques call home. The tight-knit Basque community in Boise is said to be the densest population of Basques outside Europe. Boise’s Basque Block comprises several buildings, the anchor being the Basque Center at 601 Grove Street. It is also called Euzkaldunak, which is the name of the Basque people in their own language, Euskara. Community members gather here to socialize, play a card game called Mus, learn and teach their traditional songs and dances, and speak Euskara. “The challenge is keeping the language alive here, because we have very few immigrants coming [now],” says center director Patty Miller. “Since the late 1940s and 1950s, there has been an effort to teach children Basque dance, music, and language.” The center offers language classes for adults and houses the only Euskara immersion preschool in the U.S. For those visiting from outside the Basque community, the Basque Museum and Cultural Center at 611 Grove Street has a mission of education and outreach. An exhibit called “Journey Through Time” introduces the origins and history of the Basque
people, and a second current exhibit tells the story of Basque whaling. Although American Basques are associated with the landbound sheepherding culture of the Great Basin, Basques in the old country were fishermen and whalers on the Bay of Biscay. A museum store offers Basque items to take home, including jewelry featuring the unique lauburu or Basque cross (like four commas joined at their narrow ends), and turron, a nut and nougat sweet. There is also a full size sheepwagon. These distinctive round-topped wagons, which look like something between a European gypsy wagon and the Conestoga wagon in which pioneers conquered the American prairies, were homes for lone Basque sheepherders in spring and fall. “You would see them in spring in the lower areas; then herders switched to pack trains to take sheep to higher pastures during the summer; then you would see them again in October,” relates Miller. Precursors to modern RVs, a sheep wagon has all the comforts of a minimalist home, including a woodstove, a bunk, a table, and seating. The Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga house at 607 Grove Street, provides a window into Basque city life in the U.S. during the last century. Although shepherds spent much of the year living in their fields and tending flocks, boardinghouses sprang up in cities to house other Basques and shepherds between stints in the field. “Probably the continuity of the boardinghouse system helped to perpetuate Basque culture by keeping music, dance, food, and the language going,” says Miller. Today two rooms are preserved to look as they would have when the house was first occupied by the family of its builder, Cyrus Jacobs, who was mayor of Boise in 1879. The rest is restored to give visitors a feel for the life and culture of the Basque immigrants who occupied it during much of the 20th century. The house is one of few remaining such boardinghouses in the country and is the only one to have been converted into a museum. The block also includes Bar Gernica at 202 South Capitol Boulevard and Leku Ona Restaurant and Hotel around the corner at 117 South 6th Street, both offering tastes of Basque food. This includes pintxos (pronounced “pinchos”), the Basque version of Spanish tapas, where a tasty tidbit of a topping is attached to a slice of bread with a toothpick (hence the name, which means “spike”). Given the Basque tradition of fishing, many toppings are seafood. If you want to take some Basque food home, try the Basque Market, at 608 West Grove Street, where you can get Basque wines (also hard apple ciders), Idiazabal cheese, and other delicacies imported from European Basque country. The market also runs cooking classes and wine tastings twice a month, which might include a pintxo-making class and a class in making paella, a saffron-spiced dish that combines seafood and sausage with peppers and rice. For the best Basque experience, try to plan your trip when one of Boise’s Basque music or
JUNE/JULY 2009
dance groups will be performing. Summer visitors can get a great introduction to Basque culture July 31 - August 2 at the annual San Inazio festival (Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the patron saint of Basques), where Basque dancing, music, and food fill the block through the weekend. On August 14, the Basque Museum’s Winefest
fundraiser will give visitors a chance to sample over 100 different wines along with pintxos from the Basque restaurants on the block. The Boise Basque Museum, 208-343-2671, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed Sun-
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day, Monday, and holidays. Tours of the Cyrus Jacobs–Uberuaga House are offered twice daily in summer and twice each Saturday the rest of the year. The museum is also open for Boise’s First Thursdays (first Thursday of every month), with free admission, 5:30-8:30 p.m. year-round. ISI
Titanic - The Artifact Exhibition By Helen McMullin In 1912, a first class ticket on the ill-fated Titanic cost $4,500 or about $80,000 in today’s currency. Today, for $40,000, you can dive to the Titanic wreck site in a Russian submersible. At the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls, you can visit the Titanic for $7 or less. And we promise our iceberg will not sink your ship this time. Come aboard through Sept. 7, 2009 for Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, sponsored by the Museum of Idaho and RMS Titanic, Inc. Your voyage takes you through recreations of first and third class cabins, other parts of the ship, and onto the Promenade deck, where North Atlantic Ocean temperatures are maintained to let you experience the freezing conditions that awaited passengers that fateful night. Here too you can see and touch a real life iceberg. Your boarding pass is printed with the name and personal information of one of the 2,228 passengers who sailed on the “unsinkable” ship’s maiden voyage. At the end of your journey, you will have an opportunity to check the memorial wall to see if your passenger was among the 1,523 who lost their lives on April 15, 1912 or was one of the fortunate 705 who survived. As you view the 125 displayed artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck, check the name on your ticket and wonder. Did your passenger fasten those cuff links into the sleeves of his shirt and tuck the handkerchief in a pocket before going to dinner, daub that perfume behind her ears, or slip on those socks or gloves before going on deck for the last time? Were they served their dinner from one of the china dishes, or their wine from the cut
crystal carafe? Did they place a cigar or cigarette in their favorite holder as they enjoyed an afterdinner tea, coffee, or perhaps crème de menthe served from a special bottle? Did they clutch the blanket around their shoulders as they waited for a lifeboat or the rescue that never came? While the sinking of the Titanic is not the worst peacetime maritime disaster in history, it has captured the hearts and minds of successive generations unlike any other, and continues to be immortalized in stories, books, and movies. In 1976, Clive Cussler’s novel “Raise the Titanic” and the 1980 movie of the same name brought the great liner up from the bottom of the North Atlantic to finally finish its cruise and dock triumphantly in New York City 68 years after leaving England. Both created serious discussions about whether or not such a feat was possible, even though the condition and exact location of the wreckage were not known. That all changed on September 1, 1985 when Dr. Robert Ballard announced to the world that he and his crew had discovered the wreckage after weeks of searching the ocean floor with an unmanned deep diving sled. They first located one of the boilers, which had broken loose during the sinking, and then the bow and stern portions, which lie about 2,000 feet apart, at a depth of almost 13,000 feet and about 13 miles from the Titanic’s final reported position on the night of the sinking. Dr. Ballard and his crew returned in 1986 for 11 dives on the wreckage, using a manned submersible craft to explore the outside of the wreckage and a remote camera vehicle that allowed limited
exploration of the interiors. A large debris field lies between the two, littered with boilers and ship parts, dishes, wine bottles, luggage, and personal items that spilled out as the ship broke apart and sank. One of the most poignant pictures is of a dainty unbroken teacup sitting on top of one of the massive boilers. Dr. Ballard hoped the wreckage site would be treated as a gravesite and left undisturbed, but this was not to be. In the years after the discovery, the ship and wreck site have been the objects of a number of court cases concerning ownership of the artifacts and the wreck site itself. In 1994, RMS Titanic, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, was awarded ownership and salvage rights to the wreckage. From 1987 through 2004, the company conducted seven research and recovery expeditions to the wreck site, bringing back over 5,500 artifacts, ranging from a section of the hull and various parts of the ship to dishes, wine bottles, personal items, and even coal from the ship’s bunkers. The journey for these recovered artifacts is not a simple one. Each trip to the wreckage at the bottom of the North Atlantic in a three-person submersible lasts about 12-15 hours, but it takes about two and one half hours to reach the wreck site, another two to return to the surface. Each submersible can deploy a remote controlled vehicle on a tether for exploration inside the wreckage and is equipped with mechanical arms to recover artifacts. For more information on the exhibit, Museum of Idaho hours, and other information, visit the Museum website at www.museumofidaho.org or call 208-522-1400. ISI
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition takes you on a journey back in time to experience the legend of Titanic like never before. See over 125 authentic artifacts rescued from Titanic’s final resting place, re-creations of her famous rooms, and share in the dramatic stories of her passengers and crew.
208-522-1400, ext 3001 t www.museumofidaho.org t 200 North Eastern Ave t Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
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[Photo provided by Utah Opera] It’s summertime in Logan, Utah, and with it comes the tradition of the Utah Festival Opera. Each season people travel from all over the world (literally) to indulge in the grandeur and charm of the Festival where they can enjoy world-class productions. But wait! That is not all. For the 2009 summer festival, July 8 thru August 8, Utah Festival Opera (UFO) is offering over 100 events in a five-week period. New this year is the International Operatic Competition where the audience will vote to determine which contestant wins a trip to Europe. There will also be a Fine Arts Exhibition and Benefit featuring world-renowned artist Kent Wallis. There are many FREE events offered including (but not limited to) a noon concert series each Monday afternoon and Production Seminars where you can learn from technical staff backstage insights on costumes, wigs, make-up, set design, lighting, sound, etc. UFO also offers FREE Literary Seminars highlighting the season’s repertory productions. Each seminar will enhance your opera and musical theatre experience and understanding by exploring each main stage production. This is just the tip of the iceberg of all the activities offered during the summer festival! UFO is a wonderful place to meet new and interesting people! In 2008, we had visitors from 41 different states and 8 different countries. And do not forget our artists. Our professional singers, orchestra, and technical staff have performed in some of the greatest opera houses in the world. Each summer UFO gathers over 250 company members from all over the world and you have a
Sing! Sing! Sing! Dance! Dance! Dance! Stab! Stab! Stab! Clap! Clap! Clap!
chance to meet them after each performance at the Café des Artistes, our delightful refreshment tent outside the theatre. Or maybe, you would like to mingle with them at Breakfast with the Stars, offered Saturday mornings. There truly is never a dull moment at Utah Festival Opera! The five-week festival includes four productions of grand opera, operetta, light opera, and/or seldom-seen Broadway-style musical theater. Productions are performed in revolving repertory so visitors can enjoy all four shows during a two- or three-day stay. The festival takes place in Logan’s Ellen Eccles Theatre, an 1100-seat European-style theater featuring neo-classical design. Built in 1923, it has been exquisitely restored to state-ofthe-art theatrical capability. The Mikado - starring international operatic performer, founder, and General Director of Utah Festival Opera, Michael Ballam - will run from July 8 – Aug 8. We will also be producing Carmen, Camelot, Cavalleria Rusticana, and I Pagliacci. There will also be single performances of Musica Magnifica, An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Carnevale Operafesta. What a spectacular season! This fun adventure is only a hop and a skip away. Try something new. You deserve it! Tickets to Utah Festival Opera are as low as $10! Groups of 15 or more receive special perks and discounts. Call the box office today at 800-262-0074 or visit www.ufoc.org to request a brochure or for more details. To learn more about beautiful Logan, Utah visit tourcachevalley.com. See you this summer at the opera - it’s opera time baby! ISI
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Don’t Miss the National Folk Festival in Butte By Connie Daugherty It is summer fun at its best. Three days of nonstop music, arts and crafts, and food galore. And admission to all events is free! The 71st National Folk Festival returns to Butte, July 10–12, 2009. This traveling festival got its start in 1934 during the great depression. It was a way to come together and celebrate the music that is uniquely American - folk music that immigrants brought with them and adapted to their new home. The festival moves to a different place every three years and this three-year run in Butte is only the second time the festival has been west of the Mississippi. Each year is different featuring different musicians and a unique theme. I went last year - all three days and nights - and loved every minute of it. It is exciting, invigorating, and just plain old-fashioned family fun. The only disappointing part was that I did not get to see everything. What I did see was an acre of lawn covered with chairs and blankets. Babies in strollers, teenagers with cell phones, and grandparents with canes all laughing, singing, and dancing together. Friends and strangers greeting each other. The smell of barbeque and hot dogs and stir-fry was everywhere. And completing it all was the music - music, music, and more music!
With seven stages situated throughout historic uptown Butte hosting up to 250 performers, there is definitely something for everyone. The main stage is set up under the head frame of the Original Mine and must be experienced to be appreciated. The Park Street stage includes a plank dance floor. A shuttle runs from downtown parking locations and hotels as well as between stages for those who would rather ride than walk. Music traditions include Celtic, Cajun, country, Acadian, rockabilly, bluegrass, blues, mariachi, polka, western, and African American gospel. There is a family activity area where the children can play instruments and learn arts and crafts. There is also a market place for traditional arts and crafts and a separate First People’s Marketplace that features Native American crafts. This year’s theme is the Culture of the Horse in Montana and the American West. There will be a horse parade and a rodeo in addition to all the other activities. While there are several corporate sponsors and individual donors, the work of organizing and putting on the festival is done mostly by volunteers. Admission to all events is free, but that does not mean there are no costs involved. The main expense is the cost of bringing musicians to Montana from all over the country. Last year approximately 75,000 people at-
Visit Revelstoke British Columbia By Bernice Karnop If you think you have seen Western Canada’s Parks because you have been to Banff and Jasper, it is time to think again. You will be surprised at what you find further west at Glacier National Park and Mount Revelstoke National Park in British Columbia. These are in the Selkirk Mountains that form the Columbia Mountain system and are calculated to be twice as old as the Rockies. This 80-mile-wide wedge of rugged peaks stretches north from the U.S. border for about 200 miles. The Selkirk Mountains may get 59 feet of snow in the winter and are extremely popular with expert skiers. The area is well known for heli skiing where, rather than riding a lift, helicopters drop skiers off on high mountain ridges so they can ski the silent wilderness back to a determined pick-up spot. But you do not have to be an expert skier to enjoy this special pocket of British Columbia in the summer. Mount Revelstoke National Park - Mount Revelstoke National Park was established in 1914 largely because of the meadows filled with a startling array of wildflowers. Other fascinating flora includes the world’s only temperate inland rain forest. You can take the Giant Cedars Boardwalk and walk past old-growth western red cedar and western hemlock that have grown here for 1,000 years. Mount Revelstoke National Park is home to a small herd of threatened mountain caribou, as well as, grizzly and brown bear, mountain goats, cougars, and scores of smaller animals and fas-
cinating birds. Did I mention banana slugs? This is the eastern boundary of their distribution as well. The Meadows to the Sky parkway offers the best access to the high country in the area. This narrow mountain road, which boasts more than a dozen steep switchbacks, opens in stages as the snow disappears. It ends with the Meadows to Sky Trail. Here you will notice hosts of gnarled trees that illustrate how difficult it is to survive in this climate. Throughout the Park, short trails, day hikes, and backpacking trails lead to lakes, summits, and spectacular vistas. The Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk offers an interpretive stroll through swampland rich with animal and plant life. At the right time of year, you will experience the bright yellow skunk cabbage flowers and understand how they got their name. There are no services or campgrounds in Mount Revelstoke National Park, but the Park entrance is barely outside of the town of Revelstoke, where you can find whatever you
tended the three-day event and organizers expect even more this year. Hotels in Butte and as far away as Dillon were full for all three days. Several people who attended last year made reservations and plans to come back before they even left town. This year promises to be even bigger and better so come early; stay late; enjoy! For additional information visit http://www. nationalfolkfestival.com. ISI
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need after a day in the mountains. Glacier National Park - Glacier National Park, 45 miles east of Revelstoke, contains the highest peaks in the Selkirks and glaciers, of course. The Rogers pass section of the Trans Canada highway passes through the northwest corner of Glacier National Park. This spectacular mountain drive rivals any other on the planet. There’s a nice visitor center on Roger’s Pass with videos and displays explaining the natural and human history of this place. To get to know the area, get out on the trails and enjoy the scenery. Revelstoke - Tucked into a valley between the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains, this town blossomed in the wilderness when the Canadian Pacific Railway established itself here in the 1880s. You can see the Victorian homes and businesses on a self-guided tour. Brochures are available at the visitor center. During July and August you’ll find free live entertainment in the heart of the historic downtown at the Grizzly Center. Also downtown you’ll find all manner of locally owned shops to delight the hearts of the shoppers in your party. You will be tempted by clothing, wool, sporting goods, art, and more. Restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs for every taste and budget are easy to find when you’re ready to sit down. Other interesting attractions that you should visit include: • The Railway Museum - It is easy to get on
track with this collection of antique rolling stock housed in a museum built to resemble a Canadian Pacific railway shop. You will learn how they built the railroad through this rugged country and see a beautifully restored CPR steam engine from the 1940s. • The Fire Hall Museum - A restored 1923 Bickle fire engine is one of many fascinating artifacts here. • The Revelstoke Museum - Historical items will pique grandchildren’s curiosity and your memory! • Forestry Museum - This award-winning museum tells the history of forestry near Revelstoke and in British Columbia. • The Revelstoke Hydro Dam - A self-guided tour and the lookout at the top of the dam make this a worthwhile stop. Day trips from Revelstoke include: • The Enchanted Forest, between Revelstoke and Sicamous, turns a fascinating old-growth forest into a fairyland of delightful wee houses and people that will delight you as well as the grandchildren. • Enjoy a therapeutic soak at Canyon Hot Springs resort in Albert Canyon east of Revelstoke, and Halcyon Hot Springs resort south of Revelstoke at Nakusp. One last bit of trivia. Did you know that the Canadian province of British Columbia borders four U.S. states? - Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska. ISI
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; 2007 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty A small circus came to our town recently with the usual fanfare. The day before it was scheduled to open I read an editorial in our newspaper discouraging people from attending and making all sorts of rambling accusations against the owners. I had just finished reading Water for Elephants and it changed my perspective of both the editorial and the circus. Sara Gruen’s book is not so much about life in the circus as it is about life with the circus as a backdrop. It is skillfully crafted, well researched, and poignantly delivered with an unexpected ending. The symbolism is subtle and cleverly developed - a circus and a nursing home, the helpless elderly residents and the helpless circus animals. Told in first person by an elderly nursing home resident, examining his memories, Water for Elephants gently deals with “the elephant in the room” of how we deal with our aging family and ourselves. Gruen takes the reader back and forth between the present (old man) and the past (young man). “I’m ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other…. Actually, it’s not so much that I’ve forgotten. It’s more like I’ve stopped keeping track… what’s the difference between three weeks, or three years, or even three decades of mushy peas….” But life hasn’t always been all mushy peas for Jacob Jankowski. He remembers when his life adventure was just beginning. Life was good for Jacob Jankowski. He was about to graduate from Cornell with his veterinarian degree. In only a few short months, he would
move back to his hometown where he would join his father’s practice. He was twenty-three and his life was ahead of him. Then everything changed. “The door squeaks…. Dean Wilkins walks briskly into the room… I follow him into the hallway… My mind races, dissecting every recent move.” The news is not about what Jacob has done, or not done; it is what has been done to him. His parents - his only family - have been killed in an accident. In the next week, he discovers that not only is his family gone, but also his home and his purpose in life. He is grieving, lost, and confused. He just wants to run away from it all then he sees the train. “I start running, moving the same direction as the train… I’m running beside a moving train in the middle of nowhere…. I reach for the iron grab bar and fling myself upward…. Using foot, knee, chin, elbow, and fingernails; I scrape my way inside and collapse on the floor.” As he catches his breath and looks around, Jacob discovers he is not alone. “Four men are sitting on rough burlap feed sacks.” They are as surprised to see him, as he is to see them. They are obviously not ordinary random hobos thrown together - these men know each other. Jacob is an outsider – a not particularly welcome outsider. He has no idea where he is or where he is going. That is until Camel explains, “You done landed yer ass on a circus, boy.” The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular show on Earth to be exact. Just weeks short of becoming a veterinarian, Jacob has run away with the circus. Although he is a typical rube and would never have intentionally considered joining up with a circus, his life has changed. He needs a job and a place to live and the circus provides both - not the caliber that he is accustomed to, but
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better than nothing. He knows animals and the circus has animals, so Jacob quickly establishes a place for himself at least until he can get things figured out and gets back to the real world. “The whole thing’s illusion… and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s what people want from us. It’s what they expect.” Meanwhile the circus is his life, his family. He meets Marlena and Rosie. And Camel needs him - and because he owes Camel for that first night when he kept Blackie from throwing him off the train, he cannot leave. “In Pittsburgh, I finally go to confession. I break down… sob like a baby, telling the priest about my parents, my night of debauchery, and my adulterous thoughts. The somewhat startled priest mutters… and tells me to pray the rosary.” Jacob left home that night so many months before with only the shirt on his back and no rosary. “When I return to the stock car I ask Walter and Camel if either of them has one…. Camel offers me a green elktooth necklace. I’m well aware of Walter’s opinion. [T]he three of us no longer exchange stories during the long nights spent on the rails.” Days become weeks and weeks become months as the circus season goes on and the train moves from one stop to another. Now a lifetime later, years after his wife has
died, years after his family decided it was “for his own good” that he move out of his home and into the nursing home with the mushy peas every day, the circus has come to town. “In the park at the end of the block is an enormous canvas tent, thickly striped in white and magenta with an unmistakable peaked top. My ticker lurches so hard I clutch a fist to my chest.” That familiar site triggers memories of a life left behind long ago. Reminds him of what he used to be, and of the secret that he has carried all these years. “In seventy years, I’ve never told a blessed soul.” His memories also force Jacob to look at where he is and how he fits into the changing world. “So what if I can speak firsthand about the Spanish flu, the advent of the automobile, world wars, cold wars, guerrilla wars and Sputnik - that’s all ancient history now. But what else do I have to offer…. I’m not ready to be old yet.” But society and his family see him as old and treat him as if he is old - old and worn out. Worn out, but not completely forgotten. Someone - children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren - comes to visit him every week. They take turns. “Last week, when my people came, I didn’t know them. I faked it, though…. I smiled and made
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all the usual placating noises… that make up my end of most conversations these days…. But then Isabelle turned and laughed and in that instant I saw my wife. This made me weepy and these people whom I didn’t recognize… announced that it was time to leave.” Yes, someone in the family is good to visit every Sunday, but the circus is on Saturday. Earlier in the week, Jacob had talked to his son, Simon, about going to the circus. Jacob is ready early ready and eager for an outing, eager to step back inside a circus tent and smell the familiar smells, hear the familiar sounds. Jacob waits and waits by the door watching one resident after another leave with their people, but Simon doesn’t come. He forgot, apologizes, and promises to visit tomorrow. Tomorrow will be too late - too late for the circus and too late for Jacob. Water for Elephants is a must-read for anyone who has ever longed for adventure - or who clings to the memory of adventure. It is for anyone who is over the age of 60 and feeling the signs of aging, or for anyone who is caring for an aging family member or friend. Sara Gruen is the author of the bestseller, Riding Lessons and Flying Changes. She lives north of Chicago. ISI
Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die? Black Dog & Leventhal, New York City, 2003 Most are aware of people they admire, dislike, take it. Reviewed by Clare Hafferman Of those who could not, quite a few entertainor would like to imitate – historical figures, comeSometimes you can find a real gem at a book dians, authors, musicians, movie stars, or just an ment personalities exited assisted by drugs and sale. It might be a favorite from your childhood ordinary Joe or Jill who captured their attention. alcohol - Janis Joplin, John Belushi, Chris Farley, you thought you would never see again, an ediBenoit has described eleven categories be- and Billie Holiday, for example. Belushi was buried tion you wanted for your reference shelf, or an ginning with Gen-X Standouts and ending with under a large boulder marked “Belushi” in Abel old-fashioned Mother Goose you could use for a Notable Figures from History. In between are the Hill Cemetery in Chilmark, Massachusetts, but baby gift. Sports Heroes, Television & Film Personalities, his family supposedly had his remains moved to So if you take note of the title of this book the Greats in Literature, Philosophy & the Arts, prevent gawkers from disturbing the site, but nothreview, Where Are They Buried? How Did They among others. ing has been proven. Die? - Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of One example of stability and longevity was With each name is a biography, some shorter, the Famous, Infamous and Noteworthy, you will some longer. Elvis Presley, the Tupelo, Mississippi George Burns. Devastated by his wife Gracie’s wonder why I did not put it back in the pile. This is native, rated two and a half pages, as his family, death when she was 62, he disappeared from the a huge trade-size paperback of 560 pages by an friends, and publicists continue to keep his name TV screen until he replaced the ailing Jack Benny unknown writer (at least to me), but I used up half afloat for the money it generates. in The Sunshine Boys and won an Academy of one night reading it. Marilyn Monroe, with her death never fully re- Award in 1975. From then until he died at the age To give the author credit, Tod Benoit is an ex- solved, was buried in Westwood Memorial Park in of 100, George punctuated his soliloquies with cellent descriptive writer with attention to detail. Santa Monica, California. Her one-time husband, cigar smoke and closed each performance with, From digging for the facts of these burials and Joe DiMaggio, had flowers delivered to her crypt “Goodnight Gracie.” cremations, he is able to reveal to us many things every week. we might not have known. Marilyn’s photos are still included in pictures With a friend, Benoit began this adventure by of the most beautiful women in film and her face trying to locate Jack Kerouac’s grave in Lowell, is featured on a U.S. Stamp (as is Elvis’s). A dress Massachusetts, after they had visited some of the she wore in Some Like It Hot was featured in an bars Kerouac had frequented as he drank himself Antiques Roadshow segment and is estimated to death. For Benoit and his friend this turned into to be worth many thousands of dollars - if it ever a long complicated search with a lot of detours, but makes it to an auction house. eventually they located Kerouac’s grave. Benoit One wonders if so much attention is paid to decided there had to be an easier way. these long-dead personalities, how great was He began in 1992 to keep a list of famous the pressure when they were alive? Some could people who mattered in one way or another to him, or who might have been a mote in the public’s eye at one time. He compiled an extensive record of several hundred well-known deceased folks - 700 in all with 450 included in this book. Benoit says all of us are unique in the realization that though we are mortal, we hope to achieve something for which we can be remembered. That desire is reflected in our cemeteries and the attention given to visiting and decorating gravesites - every tombstone a reminder to someone. Best known for commemorating the dead were (208) 322-0311 the Egyptians with their elaborate coffins and secret burial tombs. Simpler were the Plains Indians who elevated the body up into a tree to dry out in the wind and A SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY avoid predators. The Chinese buried soldiers of the Emperor in mass graves and American pioneers found a spot along the trail to leave an unmarked site. INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | SKILLED NURSING | REHABILITATION
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Asked for his advice on life in general, Burns told the interviewer, while he puffed his cigar and sipped a Martini, “Fall in love with what you do for a living. I don’t care what it is. It works.” In a note of quixotic humor, George’s butler and friends sent him into eternity wearing a dark blue suit, a light blue shirt, and a red tie, with his toupee in place. They put cigars in his pocket, included a watch Gracie had given him, his ring, and money in his wallet so that wherever he ended
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up, he could play bridge. Among other odd bits of information, some of the famous are buried or their ashes interred in cemeteries where those who visit must have a key - a gated community of sorts. Humphrey Bogart’s ashes remain at Forest Lawn Memorial where a Golden Key of Memory gains entry. In the fraternity of the departed who wanted no recognition are Cary Grant and Fred Gwynne (best known as Herman Munster and as the opinionated southern judge in My Cousin Vinnie). Cary Grant died of a stroke at 82, asked for no services of any kind, was cremated, and his
ashes were given to his fifth wife, Barbara. Fred Gwynne wanted no plaque or gravestone at the Sandymount United Methodist Church in Sandville, Maryland. In the cemetery behind the church and near the back is a distinctive brown Shannon stone. About twenty feet in front and to the left of the stone, Gwynne is buried with only grass above him and no marking at all. Despite the inherent sadness of the subject, Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die? is an interesting read. You will learn about the lives and idiosyncrasies of the famous, infamous, and noteworthy – how they began, what they accomplished, and how their lives ended. A revised copy will be out this fall. ISI
Grand Vacations for Grandparents and Grandchildren By Jim Miller Taking the grandkids on vacation is what the travel industry calls intergenerational travel, and it’s become increasingly popular in recent years. Here’s what you should know. Growing Trend - According to the Yankelovich Partners National Leisure Travel Monitor, nearly 30 percent of traveling grandparents have taken at least one trip with a grandchild over the past year. Vacationing with your grandkids is a great way to have fun and strengthen your relationships, especially if you live far away and don’t get a chance to see them that often. Travel Companies - Today there are a number of travel organizations and companies that offer specialized vacation packages for grandparents and grandchildren. This is a nice way to go because they plan everything for you, with most activities for the two generations together, but some just for adults so you can get an occasional breather. Available in all price ranges, these tours are typically designed for children between seven and eighteen and are usually scheduled in the summer, or during winter breaks, when the kids are out of school. Here are some top tour companies that will take you and your grandkids on a fun, well-planned vacation. Elderhostel - For an educational and relatively low-cost vacation, Elderhostel, the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults 55 and over, offers a wide variety of trips for grandparents and grandchildren too. Visit www.elderhostel.org (or call 800-454-5768) and click on “Grandparent Travel” for a list of more than 300 vacation plans throughout the U.S. and abroad. Most of the U.S. trips are around five days and cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per person, while the international trips typically last one to two weeks and cost between $150 and $350 per person per day. These prices do not include transportation to the destination. Sierra Club - For outdoor recreation, the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org/outings; 415-977-5522) offers a variety of affordable family outings and local outings near you. They also offer an annual weeklong “Just for Grandparents and Grandkids” outing in July in Tahoe National Forest, California. The cost is $545 per adult and $445 per child. Grandtravel - This is the first company to send grandparents and grandchildren (ages 7 to 17) off on vacation together. Grandtravel (www.grandtrvl. com; 800-247-7651) offers 7- to 13-day luxury tours scheduled in July and August with destinations to Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg, Alaska, Italy, London, Paris, and New Zealand. These trips are educational (led by teacher-escorts), limited to 30 or fewer participants, and expensive - ranging between $3,000 and $7,200 per person. Generations Touring Company - This is another deluxe tour operator that specializes in intergeneration travel. They offer a variety of weeklong tours to destinations like the Grand Canyon, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. And for sports fans,
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they have a “Baseball’s Sacred Grounds” summer tour that includes visits to Boston’s historic Fenway Park, New York’s new Yankee Stadium, and a trip to Cooperstown to tour the Baseball Hall of Fame. Costs for all tours range between $2,100 and $4,000 per person. www.generationstouringcompany.com, 888-415-9100. Consider Cruising - Another popular option
to consider is to take your grandkids on a cruise. This offers a safe and secure environment that’s affordable with plenty of facilities, activities, and dining options to keep everyone happy. Disney, Carnival, Holland, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Norwegian cruise lines all offer appealing options for intergenerational travelers. To find out what’s available, contact a travel agent (see www.cruis-
Call your Travel Agent Today to Play a Vacation to Remember! KARST STAGE 511 N Wallace Bozeman, MT 59715 www.karststage.com nfr@karststage.com 800-845-2778
JUNE 2009 12 California Coast & Yosemite Travel By Susan JULY 2009 12 The Black Hills Travel By Susan AUGUST 2009 9 Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Travel By Susan
TRAVEL BY SUSAN 2777 Cherry Lane Emmett, ID 83617 208-365-5956
SEPTEMBER 2009 15 Napa Valley & The Redwoods Travel By Susan OCTOBER 2009 6 New England Fall Foliage Travel By Susan 21 BSU vs. Hawaii in Honolulu Travel By Susan
Children’s Thoughts On Grandparents And Other Things Submitted by Julie Hollar “I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.” 1. I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask her what color it was, and she would always give me the correct color. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, seeming bored she headed for the door, saying, “Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!” 2. When my grandson, Billy, and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use, Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.” 3. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure.” “Look in your underwear, Grandpa,” he advised. “Mine says I’m four to six.” 4. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, “Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.” The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. “That’s interesting,” she said. “How do you make babies?” “It’s simple,” replied the girl. “You just change ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’.” 5. “Give me a sentence about a public servant,”
NOVEMBER 2009 23 Panama Canal 13 day Cruise Travel By Susan DECEMBER 2009 2-14 National Finals Rodeo Karst Stages 21 Christmas Eastern Caribbean cruise Travel By Susan
the teacher asked her class. One small boy wrote, “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.” The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Do you know what pregnant means?” she asked. “Sure,” said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child.” 6. One day when a nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home, a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties. “They use him to keep crowds back,” said one child. “No,” said another, “He’s just for good luck.” A third child ended the argument. “They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrants.” ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15
ing.org to find an agent who specializes in cruises), or visit Cruises For Families (www.cruisesforfamilies.com; 877-386-9243). Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ISI
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Summer has finally arrived and it’s time to find someone special to share summer activities. Those weekend picnics, rodeos, and county fairs might be even more fun with a companion. To those who wish to respond to any of these personal ads, simply mail your message, address, phone number, and/or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address will be forwarded to the person placing the ad. If you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please make sure you submit your correct address plainly printed so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue and also sit down now and prepare your ad for our August/ September 2009 issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may bring a breath of fresh air to your heart as well. Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad, the deadline for the August/September 2009 issue is July 10, 2009. Man in 70s wishes to meet healthy, active, lady with a kind heart. I love the outdoors, and have a great sense of humor. Let’s get together. Also would like a man friend. I enjoy letters. Please write. I will answer all. Reply ISI, Dept. 5201, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Looking for a best friend & lover? Attractive semi-retired gal wants friendly loving man to travel, laugh, fish, and enjoy life with. I’m 58, non-smoker, blonde, blue eyes, 5’6”, moderately built, and all woman. I live in the Coeur d’Alene/ Spokane area. Honest and financially secure; you be too. Your looks aren’t as important as who you are. Please be between 55 and 67. Life’s short – take a chance. Send photo and information about yourself. Reply ISI, Dept. 5202, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.
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Slightly homely, but nice. 64 WM looking for a soul mate. Must love outdoors and active lifestyle. I enjoy RVing, fishing, hunting, travel, etc. Have a good sense of humor and positive attitude towards life. Financially secure, not tied down by job or responsibilities. I’m NS, 6’, and 200 lbs. If you own TV, boat, or horse please send picture! Ha, ha, what are you waiting for??? Reply ISI, Dept. 5203, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. I am a widowed, white female, 76 years young, and fairly new to Sandpoint area. I don’t know anyone and I’m tired of being alone. Would like to meet a considerate gentleman around my age in the area, for companionship. Someone who enjoys the simple things in life such as movies, books, sightseeing, and just good conversation. Will answer all letters. Please send a picture if possible, but not necessary. Reply ISI, Dept. 5204, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Looking for best friend in my area – Post Falls/Liberty Lake in Idaho Panhandle. I am not looking to relocate, so hopefully you are in my neighborhood or willing to travel. I am 68, but most think I am 5-10 years younger - by looks and actions. Age is not that important to me – younger or older – just have a zest for life. I am chubby – not obese, so you should like full-figured ladies. You must be a non-smoker, have a sense of humor, be somewhat intelligent and like to go and do, as well as enjoying quiet times at home. I have a variety of interests and am willing to share in yours. Walking, fishing, gardening, and flea markets are just a few of my interests. Your picture gets mine. Reply ISI, Dept. 5205, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Where is my companion? There should be someone out there who is interested in this blueeyed, blond haired, active lady who has many qualities to share. I like to cook, dance, visit with your friend and companion. Quiet times at home are great, but
you will have to write me and send your phone number so we can compare your qualities with mine. I am considered a middle-aged senior. With lots of pep that is going to waste. Will you be my friend? Hope to hear from you soon. Have a wonderful day and God bless. Reply ISI, Dept. 5206, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Skip this one, if you are seeking Mr. Right. I have my flaws and scars as well. Rare, limited edition, I’m 84 inches tall, yep 7’, 62 years old, white, divorced, and widowed. I drink and smoke, and have done a lot. A has been; has been this and that, even been thrown away. As for health, still have some. Honest, loyal, open minded, from the Ozarks of Missouri, and raised with a Sicilian influence. Other than chess or the lottery, I don’t play games or need any players. Have 3 cats or should I say they have me. Buying a box on some dirt around Lewiston. Don’t have any STDS or need any, am HIV negative. Now as to endeavors, listening to the sun and moon rise and set, watching where frost grows, photography, most music except bleeding heart cowboy stuff, rap and some types of jazz. I have a selection of everything that is left. You might consider me a bit eccentric since I was 5’9” at 9 years old. Never been like others. Waiting for someone that is somewhat compatible, hopefully 6 foot or more, into green peace, and green acres. Should you respond to this please print, it’s just easier to see from up here. Be well to yourself and others! Reply ISI, Dept. 5207, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI
I was just thinkin’… Submitted by Julie Hollar Can you cry under water? How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered? Why do you have to “put your two cents in” but it is only a “penny for your thoughts?” Where is that extra penny? Once you are in heaven, are you stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity? Why does a round pizza come in a square box? What disease did cured ham actually have? How is it that we put a person on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage? Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up every two hours? If a deaf person goes to court, is it still called a hearing? Why are you in a movie, but you are on TV? Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground? Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They are going to see you naked anyway. Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat? If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him? If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME stuff, why didn’t he just buy dinner? If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons? Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? Why did you just try singing these two songs? Why do they call it an asteroid when it is outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it is in your behind? ISI
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Passage of Time as Well as Tough Economic Times Point to Estate Planning Update Even though no one has a crystal ball, the current thinking is that the federal estate tax will not be repealed altogether, but will stay in place in some form and that the exemption from estate taxes will be set in an amount similar to what it is going to be in 2009, i.e., $3.5 million dollars.
ing your separate tax planning trusts with a joint By Jonathan J. David, Senior Wire Dear Jonathan: My wife and I prepared our trust for simplicity. Even if the economy rebounds estate plan seven years ago. At that time, we had and your net worth increases again, it is still quite a taxable estate due to the combination of our net a bit under the exclusion amount so I would not worth and the amount of the exclusion from taxes. hesitate to change a two-trust plan to a one-trust As a result, we prepared separate trusts on the plan now. Regardless of whether you choose to change advice of our attorney to minimize our exposure to federal estate taxes. However, given the recent from a two-trust plan to a one-trust plan, it would downturn in the economy, our net worth, like every- be a good idea to review the other aspects of your one else’s, has taken a significant hit. In fact, our estate plan to see if any changes might make net worth is now below $2 million dollars and it is sense. For instance, have there been any births my understanding that the exemption from taxes or deaths that would affect who you have named beginning in 2009 will be $3.5 million dollars a as beneficiaries or fiduciaries in your plan? Also, even if you do not update any other person. Would it make sense to revisit our estate plan and have it amended to reflect today’s reality, of your estate planning documents, it is always or should we sit tight and see what happens with a good idea to have current financial durable power of attorneys and healthcare power of atthe economy? Jonathan Says: That is a great and very timely torneys available for use. Even though the ones question. First, you are correct that beginning in you prepared seven years ago should technically 2009, the amount of a person’s exemption from still be valid, many institutions find these types of estate taxes is $3.5 million dollars. In other words, powers of attorney stale if they are more than a if a person’s estate is valued at $3.5 million dollars year or two old. In fact, you might find an institution unwilling or below, then no federal estate taxes will be due and owing at that person’s death. In 2010, under to acknowledge the validity of a financial durable the current tax law, the federal estate tax will be power of attorney, or question its viability and repealed altogether, but that is only for one year, ask whether it has been revoked or amended and then in 2011 the exemption from federal estate since you drafted it. In this event, many times they will ask your attorney to provide them with a tax liability falls back to $1 million dollars. Having said that, it is very likely that this law written letter indicating will be changed sometime in the next year or two. that the document that Even though no one has a crystal ball, the current they have in their hands thinking is that the federal estate tax will not be has not been revoked repealed altogether, but will stay in place in some or amended since the form and that the exemption from estate taxes will date it was signed. To be set in an amount similar to what it is going to short-circuit these types of issues, sometimes it be in 2009, i.e., $3.5 million dollars. Even given the uncertainty regarding what makes more sense to types of changes will be made to the federal estate have your documents tax, I recommend that you at least meet with an updated. In addition, estate planning attorney to review your plans and you would get the bensee if he or she recomPanhandle State Bank… mends any changes at Helping you enjoy the simpler things in life. this time. Given the fact Come in today and ask about our FREE that your net worth is Senior Checking: below $2 million dollars ~No monthly service fee now and since it is likely ~Free online banking and bill pay ~Free logo checks that the exemption from ~Plus much more! federal estate tax will 3235 Mullan Rd. be at least that amount Post Falls 773-9993 going forward, you might www.panhandlebank.com want to consider replac-
efit of having documents prepared that incorporate all law changes that have taken place in the last seven years. In any event, this is something you should discuss with your estate-planning attorney. Good luck. ISI
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Understanding the Complications of Retirement Math And Other Money Matters By Gerald Townsend, Senior Wire Q. I read recently that if I don’t withdraw more than 4% or 5% from my investments when I retire, they should last me 30 years or longer. However, if I am only taking out a certain percentage of the balance each year, it seems to me that my investments would last much longer than that. In fact, if you only take out a percentage of the balance, why would the balance ever reach zero? A. When you read about a retirement withdrawal rate of 4% or 5%, they are not talking about taking out that percentage each year. If they were, your observation would be accurate. Instead, they are only referring to the initial withdrawal rate, which is the rate in your first year of retirement. For example, assume you are retiring this year and have $1,000,000 in investments, not including your home. After considering Social Security, pensions, or other income, you believe you will still need to withdraw $45,000 from your investment accounts to cover all your expenses. Therefore, your initial retirement withdrawal rate is 4.5% ($45,000 / $1,000,000). After the initial year, the assumption is that you will increase the dollar amount of your withdrawal each year by an inflation factor. You are increasing the amount withdrawn each year and your annual in-
vestment return is uncertain, but with an initial withdrawal rate in the 4% to 5% range, and assuming a reasonably balanced portfolio allocation, there is a good probability that your investments will last for a normal retirement timeframe of 30+ years. Q. When my sister travels and rents a car, she buys the insurance the rental agency offers. My brother says it is a waste of money and never buys. Which one is right? A. They both may be right. The separate insurance offered by the rental agency may not be necessary if you have a personal auto policy that provides comprehensive and collision coverage, liability, medical expense protection, and personal effects coverage. Keep in mind that if you have dropped your comprehensive and collision coverage as a way to save money, you will not have this coverage on your rental car. In addition, your deductible on your auto policy will most likely apply to your rental car. Although your homeowner’s policy generally covers theft of personal items from a rental car, if you travel with expensive items such as jewelry or musical equipment, you may need to purchase a rider on your homeowner’s policy to fully cover these items when you travel. Also, do not forget that many credit cards include some level of collision and theft protection, but this varies by the issuer. Make sure you check with your insurance agent and credit card issuer in advance and know what you need to do before you arrive at the car rental counter. Q. My mother is a widow in her 80s and lives in another state. She needs help with tasks such as bill paying, bank deposits, and financial organization. How do I find someone trustworthy to help her? A. This is a common concern and you definitely want to ensure that the person or firm you select has financial controls and insurance in place to provide both you and your mother with peace of mind. Start by speaking with accountants, attorneys, or other professionals in the area your mother lives and ask for referrals. You might also check with the American Association of Daily Money Managers (www.aadmm.com) which is an organization for people providing these types of services. Gerald A. Townsend, CPA/PFS, CFP®, CFA® is president of Townsend Asset Management Corp (www.assetmgr.com), a registered investment advisory firm. Submit your question to 5120 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612 or email townsendcorp@gmail.com. ISI
JUNE/JULY 2009
Honey Bees as a Hobby
By Jack McNeel “I’m a bee hobbyist. I try never to exceed four or five boxes during the summer months. After that, they take a lot more time and it begins to look more like a job. I don’t really want that,” Jack Kane of Post Falls says with a laugh. Jack came by his interest in honeybees at an early age on his family’s wheat, barley, and cattle ranch in central Montana. “My dad got involved with honey bee keeping when I was six or seven years old. I noticed he would work with them in his shirtsleeves with no mask or anything and they did not seem to bother him. They’d come and sting me when I was watching from 15 feet away. I think it was because of my reaction to them. He had no fear of them and I did.” “I became very interested in bees from what I saw dad doing and always had that in the back of my mind.” Many years were to pass between that childhood interest and Jack’s first acquiring his own hives. First, there was marriage to a Montana girl raised on a wheat ranch a few miles from his parents’ property. That marriage is now approaching 50 years. They both attended Montana State University, she as a nurse and he as an educator. He taught and was a high school principal in Montana for a short while but decided that was not going to pay for college educations for their three daughters. Jack then spent 35 years working for the USDA from the Spokane office. He moved to the Post Falls area in 1986 and retired from the USDA as the regional director in 1995. That coincided with his beekeeping hobby although it really was not planned. “About 12 years ago one of my neighbors came down the road and said, ‘Jack, there’s a swarm of bees in my
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19
tree. What do I do?’” “I have no idea why he chose me because I wasn’t doing bees at all then. I had an original hive box in my shop that my dad had made during the 1940s. I pieced that together, went down the street, and put those bees in a hive box.” That is when his hobby began, the continuation of a fascination that had begun at his father’s knee.
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J a c k has not kept bees through the winters the past several years, preferring instead to start new each spring. “I will obtain one or two starter hives in late April, we call them nucs. A full-fledged hive will be 50,000 bees by early June but a nuc is much smaller, perhaps five or six thousand bees. The queen in each nuc will lay up to 2,000 eggs per day, enough eggs to develop a full-fledged hive very shortly. That’s if everything goes right and a lot of things can occur so that plan doesn’t always work.” Jack adds two or three more hives during the summer, usually when someone calls to report a swarm of bees on their property, or when an exterminator calls who has been asked to rid a residence of bees. “Most are aware of their value,” Jack comments, “and call to see if I can [Ph
collect the hive rather than destroying them.” He says he has received as many as nine calls in a single day. Most people immediately think ‘honey’ when they think of honeybees but as Jack Kane points out, “The value of honey bees is the crops they pollinate. The honey is simply a by-product.” Jack keeps one hive near his home along the Spokane River in Post Falls. He places other hives “in the best pasturage I can find in and around the prairie north of town and other places I see where there’s quite a bit of food for the bees.” He points out there are no bees around his home until he puts his hive there in the spring. “When I get my hive here, everybody that has a garden, flowers or whatever, will come by and thank me for having bees because it changes their entire garden.” When fall arrives, enough honey will have been produced for him to take some. That is the extra honey the bees will not need to survive the winter. He then (Continued on page 21)
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Honey Bees As A Hobby - continued from page 19 gives the bees to someone he knows produced honey. It’s a whole different experifrom the local beekeepers association, ence than store sold honey. I use it often “to someone who’s fallen on hard as Christmas presents to times and needs a few more hives to family members build in the spring.” That person then and give it to peoprovides him with a nuc the followple through the ing spring. Cavalry Lutheran So how much honey can he Church I belong to take from each hive? “In a very in Post Falls – or good year you would be able to other associations. take off 75 or 80 pounds and I try to give to people still leave them the 75 pounds I see doing things they need to winter over. The in the community. I first year I did bees, I had one make sure they get a hive that produced about 120 pound of honey. They pounds. I thought eureka! I don’t know it’s coming. have found something that They don’t know I’ve is very easy. But I’ve never observed them doing visited that number since,” something special for the he laughs. community.” Jack gives the honey Every year, Jack re[Phot away. “I’ve never sold a o by J ceives invitations to speak ack M pound of honey in the cNeel at schools, telling the stu] 12 years I’ve been doing this. I get dents about honeybees and more enjoyment out of giving it to neighbors. I what they do, their place get inspiration from watching people and seeing in our society, and how they help humankind. how they respond to their first meal with home He usually visits six to eight schools each spring.
Anne Halverson Is Fit for Life
[Photo by Jackie McNeel]
By Jack McNeel Anne Halverson does not fit the stereotype of a physical education graduate or a fitness trainer. She is petite, possibly five feet tall, and she graduated from the University of Arizona with degrees in physical education and elementary education. For many years, Anne has been a personal trainer and has taught water aerobics and many other types of exercise to people of all ages. Anne met her husband, a pilot in the Air Force, when she was in college. Married to someone in the service took her to various bases around the country including time in Washington, D.C. The wife of a commander required certain functions that prevented her working; however, she did do a substantial amount of substitute teaching.
It was while they were stationed in Washington, D.C. that Anne witnessed the beginning of the aerobic dance craze. She learned aerobics from Jacki Sorenson, who is credited with starting aerobic dance, which Anne was able to incorporate into classes in the schools. Sorenson learned aerobics from Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the father of aerobics, who was largely responsible for the running craze. Dr. Cooper is the author of many books and well-known to those who teach aerobics, which became such a craze in the 1970s and ’80s. Through her association with Sorenson, Anne became part of the President’s Council for Physical Fitness. “We didn’t do much,” Anne says with a laugh, “but we were on the Council because he (Cooper) started the aerobics craze. It was interesting to be there in the beginning of everything.” Anne and her husband moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1976 when he retired from the Air Force. Even with her background, she found it difficult to find work. “No one really understood what it was all about. They thought it was like aerobatics. People really didn’t understand how important it was
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He shows only dead honeybees, yellow jackets, wasps, or bald-faced hornets for comparison. “They really enjoy looking at the various parts and especially if a bee has an extruded stinger. That’s fascinating to them,” he laughs. His community involvement runs much deeper. Jack is a Kootenai County Fire commissioner and works on the boards of a condominium association and the local water district. It keeps him busy but he is having fun. “I find it enjoyable in volunteer work to meet new people and have new experiences. There’s a different occurrence nearly every week that I get to deal with.” “I enjoy working with people making something positive happen inside the community where you can see the result of a joint effort with other people. I have four jobs and as near as I can tell none of them pay anything,” Jack says laughing. Honeybees and volunteering keep him very active and very happy. ISI
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to exercise,” Anne says. But she managed to get a job at the YWCA in Spokane and then taught for the Cancer League in Coeur d’Alene. In 1978, she finally landed a job at North Idaho College as a physical education instructor where she was for the next 25 years. The job was good, but conditions were not ideal. Cement floors, physical exercise, and knees just were not designed for each other, and Anne ended
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up having both knees replaced. This did not cause Anne to lose her interest in training people in aerobics. It only caused a slight adjustment in the type of training. More of her work since that time has been in water aerobics, something much easier on the knees and an option many older adults select. Her background not only includes training at the Cooper Aerobic Center in Texas, but she is also Gold Certified by the American Council on Exercise, Aquatic Exercise Association, and The Arthritis Foundation. She has received additional training in geriatric chair exercises through Sit and Be Fit, Inc., which can be applied to special conditions that include arthritis, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis. It is obvious she is very skilled. Anne has worked at Ironwood Athletic Club since it opened in 1985. In 1998, she helped conduct national fitness tests for people over 60 called Lifespan Assessment. The results
indicated that performance levels for physically active people were 18 percent higher than those of less active folks. This suggests that the 50 percent performance decline attributed to aging could be eased with regular exercise. Another comparison is that physically fit people over 60 are comparable in strength, balance, and agility to inactive people 15 years younger. Anne now works mostly with seniors doing both water aerobics and some personal training. “I don’t do as much personal training as I did. I did a lot for ten years but I have cut back. I am not part of the club’s training regime but some people ask for me, especially seniors. I put people on weight programs and teach them the proper way to use the equipment. I work with some clients individually on stomach exercises and weight equipment but I don’t do weight loss training.” Anne regularly teaches three water aerobics classes of 15-20 men and women. “I do some substitute teaching in other classes as well. It keeps me busy and keeps me going,” she says. Anne Halverson has been described as, “A tiny package filled with energy,” and she freely admits to being nearly 75. Anne says, “I have a happy married life with three children and six grandchildren that I love to be with.” That is a nice situation for this diminutive aerobics instructor, wife, and grandmother. ISI
Dick Wandrocke, Community Activist ... Photo and Article by Jack McNeel In order to stay involved and give back to their communities when they reach retirement age, some people focus on a community activity or put in time on a couple of volunteer committees. Others, like Dick Wandrocke have such a passion for community involvement that they maintain a full calendar of daily volunteer activities. “Every day I write down the things I plan to do. I get up by 5 am and review the day’s schedule,” Dick says. His full days may begin with a breakfast meeting, followed by activities throughout the day, and end with an evening function. Such is a day in the life of this community activist. “One of the things I find in my senior years is you should stay physically and mentally active,” says the 76-year-old Wandrocke. The physically active part is met most days with an early morning workout at Ironwood Athletic Club in Coeur d’Alene. Dick also bicycles as a way of staying in shape and says, “The Centennial Trail is a great place to ride.” He still owns a motorcycle and recently took a 150-mile ride. That is a holdover from Dick’s younger years in California. “I had motorcycles and would go down Baja and do the Baja 1000 and the Baja 500. Riding was great!” he adds. Dick and Shirley, his wife of 52 years, moved to northern Idaho 25 years ago and he has been essentially retired since 1990. He still has many irons in the fire with land and property investments made when the mining and forest products industries were down and prices were reasonable 15 or 20 years ago, but he has turned management over to others. This leaves him
N.S. Burbank, M.D. • C.J. Fatz, M.D. • K.C. Hewel, M.D. C.E. Ley, M.D. • A.J. Martinez, M.D. • K.P. McKlendin, M.D. B.J. McNamee, M.D. • A.E. Michalson, M.D. L.S. Michalson, M.D. • D.E. Moody, M.D. R.L. Opp, M.D. • T.F. Reichel, M.D. • R.S. Thornton, M.D. Diplomats of the American Board of Radiology 700 Ironwood Drive, Suite 110 Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 208.666.3200 • Fax 208.666.3217
1300 E. Mullan Post Falls, ID 83854 208.777.1305 • Fax 208.777.1313
kootenaihealth.org/imaging
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and Rome. “I was very fortunate in the two years spent there.” Laughing, he recalls his travel expenses. “I could buy a carton of cigarettes at the PX, which I think cost about $1.50 in those days. You couldn’t buy cigarettes in Europe at that time so I could trade that carton for the use of a VW Beetle for a weekend.” Returning to California, Dick became a surfer and admits to being a beach bum. After dating Shirley for a year, her parents suggested that marrying a beach bum was not what they had in mind for their daughter. That inspired Dick to get into the grocery business, something he had had experience with prior to military service. Before long he was assistant manager of “one of the classiest supermarkets in the country,” he says. That experience led to Dick’s joining forces with the former owner of Chart
time for his community activities. Dick is active in three different Chambers of Commerce - Post Falls, Hayden, and Coeur d’Alene. He has been a member of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber for upwards of 20 years where he serves as a Commodore. “It’s a special group within the Chamber - people with some particular interest. Whenever a new company comes to town, the Commodores schedule a grand opening and do a ribbon cutting ceremony. We welcome the people to the area and help with any fliers and promotion.” The Commodores also take part in 10 or 12 parades annually. Dressed in matching blue jackets they represent Coeur d’Alene locally as well as out of state and occasionally at parades in Canada. Dick and Shirley were on the founding board and actively support the Children’s Village for abused children. “It’s unfortunate that we need to have such an organization,” he says. “But the problem of abused children persists.” Dick is involved in Red Cross, United Way, and Jobs Plus, an organization to attract new businesses to the Coeur d’Alene area. Even though he has reduced his participation on various boards, he still maintains many active memberships. “I attend functions for the charities that are trying to raise funds whether it’s a luncheon or a dinner,” he adds. Dick is an active member of the North Idaho College Booster Club and attends their twicemonthly meetings. He is also a life member of American Legion Post 14 and a life member of VFW Post 889, both in Coeur d’Alene. Dick says that when he and Shirley travel around the country they frequently visit Legion and VFW Halls for dinner and a beverage. Shirley shares many of Dick’s community interests and adds a major one of her own. She has long been active with Kootenai County Republican Women and served as treasurer for several years. She also was treasurer for the statewide organization until earlier this spring. Dick and Shirley met in Newport Beach, California in 1956 when he returned from army service overseas. Dick had been drafted in 1954 and spent the final year of the German occupation patrolling the Russian/German border. It also gave him the opportunity on free weekends to see much of Europe including Paris, London,
House, a national restaurant chain. Eventually he owned a dozen restaurants along the California coast including a number of Rusty Pelicans, one called the Rusty Duck, and another called The Ancient Mariner. Selling those properties led the way to moving to Coeur d’Alene, retirement, and a full active life as a passionate community supporter and active volunteer throughout Kootenai County. Dick attributes much of his success in business and life in general to attitude. He believes that attitude is more important that one’s past, education, money, circumstances, or failures and successes. Dick says, “A person chooses what attitude they will embrace each day. You cannot change the past or the inevitable, but you can control one thing, and that’s your attitude.” This philosophy has been good for Dick Wandrocke and it has been good for his community! ISI
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PAGE 24 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
It does not matter where we live, what our profession, or our age, change does not wait for anyone. Our winning Remember When submission reminds us of the day when things were calmer and everything moved at a slower pace. Thanks go to Dee Klenck of Payette for her contribution, The Bus Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore. Thank you, Dee for showing us that progress happens everywhere. Dee wins this month’s $25 prize. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections or contributions describing fictional or non-fictional events from some time in the past. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poems, essays, etc. Photos may be included. Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent
523-2704 Idaho Falls area
232-0767 Pocatello area
JUNE/JULY 2009
features the contribution(s) deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our August/September 2009 issue. Mail your correspondence to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net, or call 1-866-3605683 or 208-318-0310.
The Bus Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore By Dee Klenck, Payette Once in the long ago, horses stomped and whisked away flies with anxious tails as they waited for masters to complete their shopping or satisfy their drinking habits. Tied to smooth wooden hitching posts or black metal jockeys, time passed. Conversation centered on spring crops or harvest gains, as chewing tobacco got juicer and ran down the deep crevices on suntanned chins. Lies were exchanged or truths stretched to make the stories more appealing to the men around the checkerboard or the pot-bellied stove. Who cared what the world was doing beyond ten miles - news traveled slower than a miner’s burro. The activity of the cities didn’t interest men folk - only their women daydreamed about frocks, hairdos, new shoes, or bonnets. The men liked war stories, violence, and force as the ladies’ thoughts dwelled on the softer aspects of life – babies, quilting to protect their little brood from the coming winter winds, or how many jars of food to put up. Slowly, ever so slowly, a new house was built, one here and one there, shade trees were planted and streets surveyed. The drummers came more frequently selling their wares and tonics. A circus with a lion or two and occasionally an elephant and clowns became an event. And sometimes a traveling troupe put on a show in the old wooden building that sported a raised platform for a stage. People for miles around came to town regularly and finally no weeds would grow in the hard packed ruts that served as the only roads. The time arrived to elect a mayor to run things and a select group formed a council to put laws on the books. One day a lawyer arrived on the stage and put out
his shingle although he had no schooling to brag about. Soon, a doctor and a preacher set up residence and began caring for bodies and souls. A pretty young thing, with no desire to wed, dedicated her existence to teaching the children to read, write, and count on their fingers, wherever a room could be provided. Men, who seldom got a haircut or even shaved, began to imitate the city slickers, took baths more often in the water troughs, and changed clothes to come to town on Saturdays. The mercantile store received patterned fabric for dresses to replace the austere black, brown, or other dull colors that didn’t show the dirt so easily. Even the feed sacks could be utilized if the lady knew how to sew - and most of them did. Lights and sidewalks were installed downtown. Telephones and radios could be seen in many homes and autos tooted through the streets frightening horses, and causing dogs to bark and children to laugh. Chinese immigrants hired by the railroad labored over rails as inch-by-inch the prairies and valleys were bound together by the ribbons of steel. Commerce flourished; fruit from orchards and row crops found their way to market and feedlots fattened cattle for butchering. One day the newspaper had great news, “A bus line is coming to town.” Hurrah! Hurrah! No longer would folks have to ride dirty trains, hard buckboard seats, or horseback for miles. The bus was coming to town! The fruits of progress had finally arrived. Outof-town picnics were planned as were visits to distant relatives and shopping in the city. People could get advice from doctors in white coats. A hospital was now available. Lawyers in fancy offices offered their services. A cannery came to the small community and people worked for more money in one week than some of them had made all year as wages were set by the unions and credit became available. Furniture and clothes were store bought and television could be viewed in every living room. Wars came and went as everyone in town became aware of the outside world. Its troubles and opportunities seeped in like a cancer. The youngsters became restless to get away from their roots. Adventure, love, good times, better wages and working conditions, and fun appeared on the horizon. Little by little, the younger generation left home and didn’t return. The unknown beckoned and there was no resistance. Eventually the cannery closed because the crops became cheaper grown in foreign lands and cattle got too expensive to raise. Additional laws and restrictions entered the scene. Real estate values fell and families moved away to overcrowded cities with foul air, chemically treated water, and food that wasn’t ripened naturally. And of course - the bus doesn’t stop here any more! ISI
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By Trina White You thought making a decision to downsize to a smaller home or apartment was the tough part. But smaller means less of things and what do you do with it all? After a lifetime of accumulating and collecting, it is time to downsize. Here are a few hints to get the job done as painlessly as possible. First, try not to become overwhelmed and simply give up. Begin with one closet. From there you can move to another and then another. Soon you will be sorting through the old guest room with ease. Designate one room or closet as items to donate, another as items to be given to family members, all the time throwing out items as necessary. When placing an item in the family room, be sure to mark it. Some people use colors to designate which items go to which family members. For instance, all items with a green sticky note go to Joe, while all items with a bright pink one go to Susie or Susie’s family. When moving to a smaller home or apart-
So You Want To Buy A New Home? ment, it is a good idea to mark items you intend to take with you. Using 2-inch colored sticky notes on each item helps the movers estimate moving costs. This is also helpful when hiring someone to prepare a sale of items you will not be moving with. There are many businesses statewide that you can hire to plan and carry out a garage or estate sale. Some of these businesses charge a flat rate while others charge a percentage of sale proceeds. These firms usually have a good idea of what sells, what does not, and how much to ask. They will sort, mark, run the sale, then clean up, gather the
remaining items, and get them donated to your favorite charity. Some of the supplies you will need on hand are various sized colored sticky notes, permanent markers, sturdy boxes, heavy duty trash bags, dust masks, masking tape, and a shredder for your old documents. A good rule of thumb when sorting – if you have not used the item in a year, ditch it, donate it, or gift it. Giving away family heirlooms now allows you to enjoy your loved ones’ reactions. On a recent move of my own, I discovered that I had saved four flower vases of exactly the same shape and size. If all of this seems overwhelming, remember to hire the experts. They know what is worth saving, and they can save you a lot of time and energy as well as emotional turmoil. Trina White is a Realtor with Real Estate by Hamwey, and is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. ISI
Staging Your Home In A Down Economy (NAPSI) - It is a tough time to try to sell a house, but Realtors say there are inexpensive ways to stage your home that might make for a faster sale. In fact, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that a staged home will sell at a higher price than an unstaged home. And a recent survey by the Real Estate Staging Association reports that staged homes sell much faster than unstaged homes. Home staging is the act of preparing your home and its contents for sale, with a special emphasis on presentation and appearance.
According to Realtor.com, the first thing you want to do is clear out the clutter. If your house holds too much furniture, your closets are overflowing, your kitchen and bathrooms are crowded, or you have family photos and knickknacks collecting dust, it is time to pack them up. You also might consider donating unused items to charity or even selling them at a tag sale or on eBay for some fast cash. “This is also a good time to take a close look at your closets,” says HGTV and CedarSafe home improvement expert Pat Simpson. “A cedar-lined closet in the foyer, master bedroom or secondary closet will create a great look and provide a relaxing, cedar scent that will make a positive first impression.” Cedar planks or panels will also protect the
items you store away. They will prevent silverfish and moths from damaging your expensive wardrobe or even from eating books or important papers. They work with any closet organization system, or even metal or cedar shelving. It will cost a few hundred dollars to line a closet during a weekend project. Learn more at cedarsafeclosets.com. While the cedar will provide a fresh scent, Realtors say be sure to bathe your pets and deodorize their living areas, shampoo your carpets, clean your drapes, and always empty trashcans and recycling bins. Another suggestion: “Curb appeal is critical,” says Simpson. “A fresh coat of paint using neutral colors, plus neat landscaping, will go a long way.” ISI
I was just thinkin’… Submitted by Julie Hollar Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window? Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead? Why do banks charge a fee for “insufficient funds” when they know there is not enough money? Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet? Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection? Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard? Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him? Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets? Whose idea was it to put an “s” in the word
lisp? If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes? Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white? Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale? Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized? Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance? Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try? How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures? When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, “It’s all right?” Well, it is not all right, so why don’t we say, “That really hurt. Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” ISI
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Down Memory Lane - The Road To Brain Health By Dr. Betty Kuffel With seventy-eight million baby boomers reaching retirement age and living longer, it is imperative to improve public awareness of the risks associated with brain health and actions each person can take to promote brain function. Advancing age does not have to be paired with severe memory problems. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Alzheimer’s Association have jointly released a guide for action, a roadmap. Not all the answers are in, but following this preliminary guide may decrease the cognitive impairment associated with aging. Cognitive skills are those that involve speech, memory, learning new things, complex thought, and the ability to live independently. Many families have personal experience caring for a loved one who is physically strong, but because of advancing memory problems requires extensive assistance. If some of this mental disability could be halted or prevented it would relieve a tremendous burden on families and society. Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Dementia - Dementia is the generic term for memory impairment. Memory loss can result from multiple small strokes, excessive alcohol, isolation, marked depression, vitamin deficiency, and even hearing impairment. Alzheimer’s dementia exists when no cause can be identified; it is a diagnosis of exclusion and used only when no other cause is found. There are no specific blood tests or scans that point directly to Alzheimer’s although some blood tests in development are promising. At this time, Alzheimer’s Dementia can only be positively diagnosed after death. On autopsy, Alzheimer brains show accumulation of an unusual protein present in tangles and plaques that block neural function. If the unusual protein can be measured in the blood and spinal fluid early in the disease, it may be possible to treat the disease earlier. The National Public Health Road Map - The CDC and the Alzheimer’s Association have implemented the “Road Map” to help people understand risks and to educate the public to take actions to maintain brain health. Recommendations include strategies to improve public education, design interventions to improve brain health, and encourage more research to develop interventions to prevent
memory loss. There is no specific action identified that can stop Alzheimer’s. Medications help to slow its progression, but the disease worsens even with treatment. The best we can do is to take action to maintain memory. In longevity studies, the strongest ties to living longer and maintaining mental function relate to heritage and lifestyle. Those whose siblings, parents, and grandparents live into their nineties are more apt to live to their nineties too. People of the Pacific island of Okinawa live the longest. They remain thin, physically active, socially involved, work longer using their mental skills, reduce stress - often by practicing tai-chi, and eating a diet consisting primarily of fish, fresh vegetables, and fruit. For Better Mileage and Brain Health - Do you know the answers to the following questions? If not, take the list below to your next doctor visit. 1. What is your blood pressure? 2. What is your blood sugar? 3. What is your weight? 4. What is your cholesterol? 5. Are you depressed? 6. Do you exercise daily? 7. Do you eat a healthful diet? 8. Are you socially active? 9. Do you learn something new every day? 10. Do you have hearing problems? 11. Do you use tobacco? 12. Do you drink more than one alcohol drink per day? Once you know your numbers, you can adjust your lifestyle to achieve healthy goals. • Uncontrolled high blood pressure contributes to memory loss. It must be treated ag-
gressively. The goal is to attain a normal blood pressure of 120/70. • Elevated blood sugar damages vessels everywhere; a normal blood sugar of 100 or less is your goal. • Ideal weight based on height and a normal cholesterol/lipid panel is essential. Borderline improvements are not good enough. • Avoid tobacco entirely. • Exercise regularly. • Use your brain - read, do puzzles, play cards. Use your checklist as a guide. Get out and have fun staying fit mentally and physically. ISI
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Free Assessment Tool Helps Families Determine When It’s Time to Consider Hands-on Support for an Aging Loved One Millions of people each year find themselves wondering how best to care for an aging parent, spouse, or friend. Interim HealthCare offers a free, online independent living assessment quiz to help caregivers determine when it might be time to consider a change in living arrangements. “The sooner you open dialogue with your loved one, the easier the transition will be for them and for you,” says Kathleen Gilmartin, RN, President and CEO of Interim HealthCare (www.interimhealthcare.com). The company’s interactive quiz guides participants through a variety of topics, from evaluating how easily an aging loved one can complete many routine tasks of everyday independent living to the seriousness of his or her health issues. Based on each participant’s responses, a personalized report is issued with all recommendations clearly labeled based on four categories: • Helpful information • Seeing a doctor • Home assessments • Safety risk, a category indicating that your loved one could fall, injure him or herself, be unable to summon emergency response teams, or otherwise be in immediate danger. Interim HealthCare’s independent living assessment quiz can be accessed at https://www.interimhealthcare.com/homestyle/assessment/. Gilmartin has personal experience providing care for seniors: she cared for her grandmother in her home, and used home health services to help provide long-distance care for her father and mother. She offers some additional advice for families considering in-home or inpatient support to help determine what type of provider is the right fit based on their situation: • If your loved one only requires assistance with light tasks like grocery shopping, transportation, or housekeeping, tap informal networks, like family, faith community, and neighbors, first. However, it is important to recognize
Helping A Loved One Battling Cancer By Lisa M. Petsche When someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer, you may want to reach out to him or her (for simplicity, the latter will be used from here on), but feel unsure of what to say or do. Here is some advice. Emotional support - Keep your initial reaction simple and heartfelt - for example, “I’m sorry to hear about your illness,” “I’m here for you,” or perhaps even “I’m at a loss for words.” Do not be afraid to share your emotions. Remember, too, that body language - a touch of your hand, pat on the shoulder or hug - can often convey support and caring better than words. Educate yourself about your friend or relative’s disease to help you understand the kinds of challenges she faces. Bear in mind that cancer affects people physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, however, although there may be similarities, no two people will experience it the same way. Allow your friend to express all emotions; do not try to talk her out of them or change the subject because of your discomfort. Also, do not take bad moods or uncharacteristic behavior, such as withdrawal, personally. Recognize and accept that people cope with a serious illness in different ways. Some may alter their priorities and lifestyle, while others may choose to carry on as usual. Some may use humor as a coping mechanism, while others may become more introspective or spiritual. Keeping in contact - Recognize that you may have to make most of the effort in the relationship. Visit, call, and send cards or notes. Treat the person the same way you always have. Do not hesitate to smile, laugh, or tell a joke. Listen non-judgmentally, demonstrate compassion, and do not give unsolicited advice. Provide words of support and encouragement.
when their needs outpace the resources. If the individual in need of care has ongoing health problems, cannot cope with daily tasks such as meal preparation, bathing, dressing, or has difficulty with taking medication, professional home care should be considered. • Ask for recommendations from people you know and trust who have used home care providers. Consult your family doctor, hospital discharge department, local Council on Aging, or the National Association of Home Care & Hospice (www.nahc.org). • If you decide to pursue in-home or inpatient care, interview several reputable, credentialed providers. “Home care is not a one-size-fits-all-solution – it’s an ongoing relationship that needs to respond to your loved one’s changing needs over time,” Gilmartin said. “Staying involved helps ensure the right care from the right person with the right skills and personality.” ISI
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Encourage your friend to take one day at a time and to trust that she will be able to cope with whatever lies ahead. However, do not give false reassurances, such as, “Everything’s going to be fine.” Do not underestimate the distress your friend is experiencing, do not discourage tears, or urge her to be strong. Do not try to withhold your own tears, either. They are merely a sign that you care. Take your cues from her as to how she wishes to deal with her illness; do not make assumptions. If you are unsure, ask whether she would like to talk about her situation, and honor her wishes either way. Encourage your friend to practice self-care, get adequate nutrition, exercise (if appropriate) and sleep, and keep medical appointments, as well as avoid unnecessary stress. Help your friend feel good about her appearance. Offer to set her hair, do her nails, or bring her a new accessory, such as a scarf or a piece of costume jewelry. Surprise your friend with a gift, such as flowers or a favorite movie, magazine, or food treat. Focus on the present and how you can make your time together enjoyable. Do not be reluctant to make plans, though; it is good for her to have things to look forward to. Invite your friend on an outing, keeping in mind her energy limitations. Ideas include a trip to a coffee shop, favorite store or park, eating out
at a favorite restaurant, or taking a drive in the country or the old neighborhood. If she accepts an invitation, agree upon the condition that she may cancel at the last minute if she does not feel well enough. Practical help - Assist your friend in practical ways, to allow her to concentrate on her treatment – which may have significant side effects - and ensure needed rest. Walk her dog, run errands, perform household chores such as vacuuming and laundering, or drive her to and from appointments. Do not merely let your friend know you are available if she needs help; make concrete offers - for example, “I’m going to the grocery store. What can I get you?” Or simply go ahead and do things like deliver a casserole or mow her lawn. Offer to get information about community resources that may be of assistance. Keep in mind that emotional support and your time are the two most valuable gifts you can give someone who is grappling with a life-threatening illness. One final tip: find an outlet for your own emotions, whether it is talking to someone who is a good listener, writing in a journal, or attending a support group. You need to take care of yourself, too. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. ISI
Retirement vs. Secondment Baby Boomers Start a Second Life As more than 76 million baby boomers, more than one-quarter of the US population, enter their 50s and 60s they are confronting the “r” word - retirement. But theirs is a generation of overachievers; a generation that will not stop working altogether in the traditional sense - nor will they necessarily want to keep working full-time, according to Joan Strewler-Carter and Stephen Carter, co-founders of the Life Options Institute, an organization dedicated to helping people plan for life after age 50. “Determined not to accept the traditional limiting definition that the word retirement brings, boomers are instead looking to the “s” word… secondment: A detachment from their full-time position into a fluid, flexible, and non-traditional working arrangement,” notes Strewler-Carter. According to the Merrill Lynch New Retirement Study published in 2006, 71 percent of boomers say they will work after retirement. “They are exploring new alternatives such as starting a new career, business, or securing short-term secondment in the field in which they were trained,” adds Carter. “The idea of offering their services on a contract basis gives them a great deal of flexibility regarding the type of work undertaken and also assists in their transition
to retirement,” explains Carter. Russ Creason started his career at General Motors and climbed the ladder to become a highly respected human resources executive for the company. In 1981, he retired. Creason was not ready to stop working so he chose to use the skills he acquired to work as a consultant at Right Management in Kansas City, Kansas. “I’d spent a lifetime building knowledge and expertise,” Creason says. “If you have your health and brain, why stop using your skills?” When Cherokee, Oklahoma - resident Marian Goodwin’s husband Bill died in 2003, her children urged her to sell the funeral home the couple had owned since 1965. But, even though she did not have a mortuary science degree and had only handled some administrative duties for the home, she was determined to keep the doors open. She figured out how to reorganize the business, hired a licensed mortician, and went back to work. “I work 50 or more hours a week now, “ Goodwin says, “and I’ve put my own stamp on the way things are done.” Goodwin has personalized her business by putting her love for western art to work on personalizing the funerals of Cherokee citizens who live in her area. “In one instance I arranged to include the deceased’s boots in the casket flower spray,” she explains. “Men on horseback escorted the casket, which was loaded in the back of the deceased’s pickup along with his dog, to the gravesite.” Job websites for the Over 50 Worker - As large corporations are starting to feel the pinch of millions of boomers leaving the workforce, and taking their valuable expertise with them, a growing number of job sites and resources targeting the over-50 worker are starting to appear including www.YourEncore.com, started by Eli Lilly and Proctor & Gamble as a way to attract their retired employees. Other sites include www.Seniors4Hire. org, www.SeniorJobBank.com, www.SeniorJobs. org, www.SnagAJob.com, and www.DinosaurExchange.com . If you need some assistance in preparing for the second half of your life, then go to www. WhatsNextInYourLife.com, a website that helps people plan for life after 50 and includes helpful tips on how to re-enter the workforce. ISI
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A Healthy Smile May Promote a Healthy Heart
“Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way.”
Each year, cardiovascular disease kills lar disease. The team then analyzed the particimore Americans than cancer. And while most pants’ level of systemic bacterial exposure, spepeople are aware that lifestyle choices such as cifically looking for the presence of the bacteria eating right, getting enough exercise, and quit- associated with periodontal disease, as well as ting smoking can help prevent cardiovascular measuring various biological indicators of bactedisease, they may not know that by just brushing rial exposure. They found that individuals with and flossing their teeth each day, they might also periodontal disease whose biomarkers showed increased bacterial exposure were more likely to be avoiding this potentially lethal condition. develop coronary heart disease An article published in the Research continues to or atherogenesis (plaque formaDecember issue of the Journal suggest the relationship tion in the arteries). of Periodontology (JOP), the “While more research is official publication of the Ameri- between periodontal health and cardiovascular health needed to better understand the can Academy of Periodontology connection between periodontal (AAP), suggests that periodontal patients whose bodies show evidence of a disease and cardiovascular disease, this study reaction to the bacteria associated with periodon- suggests the importance of taking care of your titis may have an increased risk of developing teeth and gums and how that can help you take care of your heart,” said Susan Karabin, DDS, cardiovascular disease. “Although there have been many studies as- President of the AAP. “With the increasing numsociating gum disease with heart disease, what ber of people with heart disease continuing to we have not known is exactly why this happens increase, it is important to understand that simple and under what circumstances,” said JOP editor activities like brushing and flossing twice a day, Kenneth Kornman, DDS, PhD. “The findings of and regular visits to your dental professional can this new analysis of previously published studies help lower your risk of other health conditions.” To find a periodontist or to find out if you suggest that the long-term effect of chronic periodontitis, such as extended bacterial exposure, are at risk for periodontal diseases, take the may be what ultimately leads to cardiovascular Academy’s risk assessment test. A referral to a periodontist, additional information, and brodisease.” Researchers at Howard University identified chure samples are available online at www.perio. 11 studies that had previously examined clinically org, or by calling toll-free 800-356-7736. ISI diagnosed periodontal disease and cardiovascu-
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Make Your Pharmacist Part Of Your Health Care Team By Jim Miller The challenges of managing medications can be difficult for many – especially those who take multiple drugs for various health problems. Here are some tips that can help. Drug Review - Nearly half of Americans, age 65 and older take five or more prescription drugs, and 12 percent take 10 or more. Unfortunately, the more drugs a person takes, the higher their risk for potential medication problems, and the more likely they are to take something they don’t need. To protect yourself from problems with the medications you are taking, gather up all your bottles (include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter, vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements) and take them to your primary physician for a drug review. Go through each one together. Once you’ve agreed on which ones, if any, to change or drop, make a master list of the remaining ones as a reference, and with every change, update it. Then take the final list and ask your pharmacist to review it for possible drug interactions or conflicts. Be sure to discuss interactions with foods, over-the-counter remedies and supplements. If any are discovered, ask your pharmacist to communicate with your physician to resolve the conflict. Get Informed - Most medicine problems can be avoided or solved by communicating with your doctor and pharmacist. Also, it’s not a bad idea to do some research online at sites like www.drugdigest.org or www.medlineplus.gov, so that you can ask better questions. Here are some key points to cover when a new drug is prescribed: • Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking (take your list), whether you are being treated by another doctor for something else, and whether you have any allergies or side effects from any particular medicines. • Likewise tell your pharmacist about all the medications you are taking and whether you are having any prescriptions filled at a different pharmacy. It is a good idea to have all of your medications dispensed at one pharmacy so the pharmacist has complete knowledge of your situation. Typically, pharmacy computer systems automatically flag potential drug interactions. Be sure you know the names of any newly prescribed medicines and can read the handwriting on the prescription. If you can’t read it, your pharmacist may not be able to read it either. Also, ask if there’s a lower-cost generic version available. • Ask about the possible side effects the new medicine can cause, and what should be done if they occur. • Find out how and when the medicine should be taken, how much to take, and for how long. (Note: not taking medication as directed can cause serious health problems.) • What foods, drinks, other medicines, herbal remedies, dietary supplements, or activities should be avoided while taking the medicine? • Can a new medicine have an adverse effect
on medical conditions other than the one for which the drug is prescribed. • What should be done if a dose is missed, or an extra one was inadvertently taken? • When should the medicine begin working, and what, if any, tests are required to monitor your reaction to the treatment? Medication Reminders - Studies estimate that two-thirds of Americans fail to take their drugs as prescribed, either they don’t remember, can’t afford them, or experience side effects. If forgetfulness is the problem, here are some tips: • Keep your medicines in a place you’ll notice them like your bedside stand, kitchen counter, etc. Don’t keep them in the bathroom medicine cabinet where they’re exposed to damaging humidity and heat. • If you can, take medicines at the same time each day. To help remember, try linking your medicine to something you do regularly like brushing your teeth or eating lunch. • Most pharmacies stock a selection of calendars, pill boxes, or medication timers (see www. epill.com) as reminders, and to keep your medications organized. • Keep a written schedule or checklist of the pills you take and how often to take them. • Put reminder notes around the house. • Ask a friend or relative to call and remind you. • Monitor your disease. Home blood-pressure or blood-sugar testing, for example, can help motivate you to take your medication. • Remember to order refills in time. Savvy Resource: The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists offers a free packet of information on medication problems, including a list of dangerous drug interactions. Visit www. seniorcarepharmacist. com or call 800-3552727. Send your questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior books. ISI
“Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.”
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Do YOU Have Diabetes? By Gwen Hoffman, RN, Diabetes Nurse Educator Do you have diabetes? • As the weather begins to cool, have you found that you still feel terribly thirsty and dehydrated even though the temperature has gone down? • Are you tired all the time, because you find that you need to arise frequently during the night to go to the bathroom? • Have you found that you are having difficulty seeing - not all the time, but sometimes when you watch TV or try to read street signs at a distance, your vision is blurry and out of focus? • Are you more irritable and have family or coworkers complaining that you are difficult to work with? • Have you lost a large amount of weight without changing your diet or exercise routine? • Are you constantly having yeast infections for no apparent reason? If you answer “Yes” to two or more of these questions, you may have diabetes, and it would be wise to see your medical provider for a blood test to verify your condition. What if you have diabetes? You can do many things to manage your diabetes, and reduce or prevent the risk of having long-term complications. • Reducing the amount of carbohydrates eaten, to match the amount of insulin released by the pancreas, is important. • Increasing your activity, so that your body cells can burn the glucose sugar out of your blood, will give you more energy. • Consulting your medical provider regarding the right type and amount of diabetes medicine is necessary. • Then, see a Diabetes Educator who can help you put all these things together, so that you can learn to manage your diabetes. How can you prevent diabetes? Preventing diabetes may be easier than you think. Get 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise five days a week. Try these tips: • Park a block or two away from your work place each day. • Park at the end of the lot when you go shopping. • Go biking with the grandkids, or take the dog for a walk before breakfast. • Play softball, kickball, soccer as a family activity, or have a hula-hoop or jump rope contest. • Wash the car or mow the lawn. Eating a well balanced diet is a good way to prevent diabetes, too. • Drink less sugary drinks and more water. • Eat more whole grain, high fiber foods, like fruit rather than juice, and bread or cereal that lists some fiber on the nutrition label. • Eat 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 3 servings of fruit daily. • Include 2 or 3 servings of dairy products daily. Remember, you cannot change genetics, but choosing a healthy lifestyle will improve your chances of preventing diabetes. To find out more about diabetes and diabetes prevention from Gwen, call 208-356-3691, extension 5703. ISI
Nampa, we have an office just for you! Living with diabetes can be challenging. So is driving the Connector into Boise. We understand. To meet the needs of individuals living with diabetes in the Treasure Valley, Humphreys Diabetes Center now has an office in Nampa.
4400 E. Flamingo (2nd floor Mercy Medical North) Phone: 208-884-4220 www.hdiabetescenter.org Classes and individual consultations available. Education & Research for Long, Healthy Lives HDC is a community program affiliated with Saint Alphonsus & St. Luke’s Regional Medical Centers.
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Dermatologists Encourage People To Screen The One You Love For Skin Cancer Treating moms and dads to brunch or backyard barbeques is a great way to honor them on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) hopes more families will start another annual tradition – screening their loved ones for skin cancer. Based on current estimates, more than 1 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2009. When detected early, most skin cancers can be successfully treated. Performing regular skin self-examinations is an easy way to detect suspicious moles that could be cancerous, and research shows that involving a partner in the self-examination process can improve the early detection of skin cancer. “People who check their skin regularly for any changes in existing moles or new moles are taking an important first step in detecting the early warning signs of skin cancer,” said dermatologist David M. Pariser, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy. “Asking a partner to help monitor your skin for any changes or to assist in examining hardto-reach areas can be very beneficial in spotting skin cancer.” To enhance a patient’s ability to detect skin cancer, the Academy has adopted the revised ABCDs of Melanoma Detection, which include an “E” for Evolving. A mole or skin lesion that is “Evolving” or changing in size, shape, or color should be brought to the attention of a dermatologist. This is in addition to other characteristics of moles for which individuals should check their skin: • Asymmetry (one half unlike the other half) • Border (irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined) • Color (varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue) • Diameter (the size of a pencil eraser or larger) A mole with any of these characteristics, or one that is an “ugly duckling,” meaning it looks different from the rest, should be brought to a dermatologist’s attention. A new study published in Cancer (December 15, 2008) examining changes in melanomas diagnosed over 35 years found that melanomas were frequently described by patients as evolving lesions. This study observed important differences in the clinical behavior of nodular melanomas (very rapidly growing melanomas) compared to superficial spreading melanomas (the most common type of melanoma). Among the key findings, Dr. Polsky reported that more than 90 percent of patients with nodular melanoma reported a history of change in the lesion and these patients were more likely to be diagnosed with thicker, more dangerous tumors. By comparison, 80 percent of patients with superficial spreading melanoma indicated a slower pace of change in the lesion, and over time, these lesions were diagnosed earlier in their evolution, as thinner, less problematic, tumors. “Nodular melanomas typically do not have the
classic ABCD features that one might expect to find when doing a skin self-exam, as they can be one color and have smooth borders,” said Dr. Polsky. “But what’s important to note is that nodular melanomas do change over a few months time, especially in color or height, such as a bump on the skin. So, I think by modifying our detection criteria to include ‘evolving,’ the ABCDEs of Melanoma Detection will better encompass the characteristics of aggressive nodular melanomas and help patients better assess a dangerous mole.” In addition, the Academy offers a Body Mole Map, a tool individuals can use to track their moles. The map provides information on how to perform a skin exam, images of the ABCDEs of melanoma and space for people to track their moles to determine any changes over time. Popular holidays, such as Mother’s Day (May 10), Father’s Day (June 21) and Grandparents Day (September 13) are reminders for people to check their loved ones’ skin for suspicious moles using the Academy’s Body Mole Map. The mole map is available at www.melanomamonday.org. To minimize your risk of skin cancer, the Academy recommends that everyone be aware of sun exposure: • Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 to all exposed skin. Broad-spectrum provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. • Wear protective clothing, such as a longsleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, where possible. • Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. • Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing, and applying sunscreen. • Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn. • Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. • Avoid tanning
beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you have been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it. • Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. For more information about skin cancer, please visit the SkinCancerNet section of www.SkinCarePhysicians.com, a website developed by dermatologists that provides patients with up-to-date information on the treatment and management of disorders of the skin, hair, and nails. For more information, contact the American Academy of Dermatology at 1-888-462-3376 or www.aad.org. ISI
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Gearing Up for Kokanee Fishing By Martin Koenig, Research Fisheries Biologist Idaho Department of Fish and Game – Southwest Region Warmer weather is here to stay, and to many anglers across the state, warm weather means kokanee fishing. With so many kokanee fisheries scattered across the state, opportunities abound for everyone to experience these exciting game fish. Before talking about catching kokanee, let us review the basics regarding kokanee biology. Kokanee are land-locked sockeye salmon that are found in many lakes and reservoirs across Idaho. Their native range is from the Columbia River basin to Alaska, and includes Idaho. They are also one of Idaho’s most colorful game fish. During spring and summer, kokanee have bright silvery sides, blue-green shiny backs, and lack spots entirely. In the fall, as mature kokanee prepare to spawn, they become bright red with green heads. Males develop a humped back and a long snout with prominent teeth. Kokanee often migrate into rivers and streams to spawn, but some populations build their nests on gravelly lake shorelines. Kokanee prefer cold, clear lakes with water temperatures from 50 to 600 Fahrenheit. They can be found near the surface early in the summer, but tend to move into deeper waters as temperatures warm. In mid- to late-summer, kokanee are often found at 30 to 60 feet or more, in their search for cold water and the best supply of zooplankton. Kokanee feed mainly on zooplankton, which are microscopic invertebrates that drift in the water column. Fish and Game stocks kokanee annually in lakes and reservoirs that do not produce kokanee naturally, or in places where natural spawning may not produce enough fish to sustain sport fishing demands. Yet managing kokanee fisheries is tricky business. Kokanee size and catch rates in each lake must be carefully monitored. If numbers are too low, kokanee size may be great, but catch rates will be correspondingly low. High kokanee numbers can re-
Kokanee can be distinguished from trout and other salmon by their lack of spots and blue-green backs. When spawning in the fall, watch for them to turn bright red with green heads. [Photo by Martin Koenig, IDFG] sult in short food supplies, meaning kokanee do not grow well; average size declines, although catch rates can be very high. A delicate balance between too few and too many kokanee is needed to maintain a quality fishery. Kokanee are typically stocked as four-inch fingerlings and often grow rapidly. For example, in Lucky Peak Reservoir near Boise, kokanee reach 10 to 13 inches after just one year and 14 to 17 inches after two years, at which point they typically spawn. Some fish will live a third year, and can reach 18 to 20 inches, but these fish are rare. Near Idaho Falls, Ririe Reservoir kokanee grow more slowly, typically reach 12 to 14 inches after two years, and often live to three years before spawning. Kokanee fishing starts to turn on in the weeks approaching spring and continues to be good through early summer. Kokanee are mainly caught from boats while trolling. Finding the fish often requires a depth finder to locate schooling kokanee. Look for kokanee around large points, across the face of dams, and off the mouth of any major spawning tributary. Typical kokanee lures include a variety of spinners and spoons, in colors like reds, pinks, fluorescent orange, and others. Visit your local tackle shop for recommendations on the best lures for the water you plan to visit. Two of the most important aspects of trolling for kokanee are depth and speed. Getting your lure to the depth of the fish is best done with the aid of a downrigger. This can also be accomplished using colored lead-core trolling lines, or varying amounts of rubber-core sinkers in front of your terminal tackle. Adjust the weights for the given trolling speed until you get the right depth. Experiment to get the right speed depending on your lure and line setup; 1 to 1.2 mph is a good place to start. Most folks like to troll their lure with some flashy pop gear or a dodger to attract fish and increase strike potential. Adding some scent or bait to your lure (white shoepeg corn is a favorite) may also increase your odds of hooking up. Later in the summer, kokanee form tight schools in preparation for their spawning run, and vertically jigging spoons can be productive. Kokanee are prized for their hard fight and because they make excellent table fare! Once you have caught your first kokanee, you will know why they are so popular with anglers. Enjoy the spring weather and take that grandchild fishing! ISI
I was just thinkin’… Submitted by Julie Hollar Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that is falling off the table, you always manage to knock something else over? In winter, why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat? Why do you never hear father-in-law jokes? The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends - if they are okay, then it is you! ISI
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Cell Phone Savings By Jim Miller For people who do not use their cell phone very often, but still want one for emergencies or occasional calls, your cheapest option is probably a prepaid plan. Here is what you should know. Pre-Pay - Prepaid cell phones, also known as pay-as-you-go phones, are a smart, cost-cutting option for infrequent cell phone users – those who talk 200 minutes or less a month. With a prepaid phone, there is no contract, no fixed monthly bills, no credit checks, and no hidden costs that come with traditional cell phone plans. And the savings can be significant. Many prepaid plans average less than $10 a month. How They Work - To get started, you have to buy a special prepaid phone (they cost anywhere from $10 to $200), and then pre-purchase a certain amount of minutes (for talk or text) that must be used within a specified period. (Note: If you already have a phone with one of the major wireless companies, you may be able to have it converted to a prepaid phone.) The number of minutes you purchase ranges from 30 up to a 1,000 and typically must be used within 30 to 90 days or up to a year depending on the carrier you choose and the amount of minutes you buy. (Most plans allow minutes to be rolled over if you add time before they expire.) The prices, too, will vary ranging between 5 and 35 cents per minute – the more you buy the cheaper they are. Your phone will keep you updated on how many minutes you have left, and to add minutes, you can buy them on your prepaid phone, through your carrier’s website or store, or your local retailer. In addition to the pre-purchased minute’s option, some carriers offer prepaid plans that charge a small daily access fee (usually $1 to $2) on days you use the phone, plus a per-minute fee. These plans usually offer lower per-minute rates. And some companies even offer flat-rate monthly plans that resemble traditional contract plans, except that customers pay upfront and have no commitment. Where to Shop - All the major wireless carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T) offer prepaid plans today including a host of other companies like TracFone, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, Cricket, and many others. To find and compare plans visit PrepaidReviews.com, an independent site that rates and compares all prepaid providers and provides links to their websites. You can also find prepaid phones at retail stores like Wal-Mart and Target, or at wireless walk-in stores. And to help you choose a plan, visit BillShrink.com (for free) or FixMyCellBill.com (for $5). Both sites will give you tailored recommendations after you enter in your estimated cell phone use, but they do not compare all prepaid carriers. Senior Discount Plans - If you are currently using Verizon or AT&T and decide to stay with your contract plan, you can cut your monthly costs by switching to their special senior service plans. These plans are available to customers age 65+ providing 200 anytime minutes, 500 night and weekend minutes, and unlimited in-network calling for $30 a month. Sprint offers a similar plan that is available to everybody. Emergency Only - Another option you should know about is 911 cell phones. These are free, emergency-only cell phones for seniors and victims of abuse. Contact your local law enforcement agency to see if there is an emergency cell phone program near you, or see www.911cellphonebank.org/agencies.asp. Savvy Tip: If you are in a long-term cellular contract and want to escape without paying the hefty early termination penalty, see CellSwapper.com and CellTradeUSA.com. These companies match cellular customers who want out of their contracts with people who are willing to take them over. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ISI
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All Boxed In By Clare Hafferman During WWII a massive effort swept across America urging us to grow “Victory Gardens” to forestall the importation of food on ships needed in the war effort and to educate people about how to produce their own edibles. Patches of grass were dug up, tilled, and soon replaced with rows of carrots, onions, and tomato plants. V (for victory) signs decorated posters, windows, and buildings as the country embraced the program. When the war was over the grass gradually came back, the hoes and shovels went into the garage, more women went to work, and large corporations began to manage farming. The small farmer and dairyman could feel the squeeze although there were still areas where the Amish and Hutterite colonies produced using old-fashioned methods, and gardening and landscaping remained popular. However, the idea of people nationwide growing a lot of their own food in their backyard fell dormant. In the 60s and 70s, as the pendulum swung and the hippie culture flourished, the shovel and hoe reappeared, and more and more farmer’s markets and roadside stands sprang up offering fresh fruit and vegetables. Today, both are gaining popularity with the idea of eating locally and concern about where our food is coming from. More Americans have asked for a label of origin after NAFTA and GAT brought produce to markets, and out-of-the-country fruits and vegetables resulted in E-coli outbreaks. Shoppers began to wonder what kind of water irrigated the lettuce they saw in their local grocery store and what kinds of sprays had been used on the apples and strawberries into which they bit. The thought of a new type of Victory garden gained ground when an author named Mel Bartholomew wrote a book titled “Square Foot Gardening.” Precisely outlined with simple instructions, Bartholomew demonstrated that anyone could garden and raise something good to eat even if they had rocky or poor quality soil, were renters, couldn’t dig up ground, or were just beginners in the art of gardening. At an Agency on Aging meeting, six women decided to promote Square Foot gardening by having some boxes built, filled, and delivered to
senior centers and senior apartments in order to encourage an activity with a double value - something new for the residents to achieve outside while creating tasty things to eat. The Square Foot premise involves a 4’x 4’ wooden box set on layered cardboard. You fill the box in layers with aged manure, compost, leaf mulch, straw, and soil. The ingredients should be good for two years if you add additional compost during the second year. You can mark out each square foot with lathe or just eyeball the distance. The author suggests how and when to plant different seeds and plants, and when these are harvested, what to plant next. Bartholomew’s original book and a recent edition are both available in libraries and bookstores. Each of the women involved knew someone else who could help them and eventually it was like a ripple in a pond - their activities spread outward. The local Parks & Recreation department donated two-year-old leaf mulch and some elm tree logs. Someone in the group found an individual who would cut the trees into useable lengths. A high school shop teacher had the boxes built as a project for his students. A chicken farmer donated aged fertilizer, and someone else donated straw. Clifford Kipp volunteered the labor of the Conservation Corps, and he lined up youngsters who were doing community service. Brochures were printed and distributed, and an article appeared in the senior section of the local newspaper. Then calls went out to Senior centers and apartments, and a list was compiled of willing applicants. Other would-be gardeners asked the Agency on Aging to put them on a waiting list. All the donations and sweat equity made it possible to have a public demonstration at the Community Garden in late April. A young woman in the group who had put in boxes that grew vegetables for six people, took her shovel and showed the crowd how to put things in layers in a box. Clifford’s helpers handled the delivery of the boxes and their ingredients, and all the recipients seemed happy to get them. The lateness of the planting season with snow and rain did not seem to discourage the diggers because there was still time to get something going. There is also a plan in the works to have an ex-logger who was looking for a job and can do carpentry build three different kinds of these boxes - the original box placed on cardboard on the ground, a box slightly elevated on legs so a gardener can stand up, and a third model with even longer legs that would work for a wheelchair gardener. The logger carpenter is working on a business plan to make this project come true. So if you have wanted to grow your own garden, but have been stymied because of poor dirt, not enough space, or lack of ability to dig and shovel and no idea on how to correct all that, Mr. Bartholomew might have been thinking of you. The new V for Victory might be translated into your new garden, and it will be all boxed in! ISI
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Friendly Computers By Jim Miller There are actually several friendly computer options on the market that can help you join the computer age. Here is what you should know. Senior Computers For you and seniors like you who would like to get a home computer, but have little or no computer experience, a SeniorPC is the best way to go. These are Hewlett-Packard (HP) computers offered through Microsoft that come equipped with simplified software that makes browsing the Web, sending emails, and creating letters and files about as easy as it gets. These computers also come with a variety of memory games for keeping the brain sharp, medication-management software that provides reminders of when and what medication to take, and a wide range of accessibility features that make them easier to see, hear, and operate. Priced at under $1,300, SeniorPCs are available as desktops or laptops, and each comes with an HP color printer. And for an additional cost, you can get an oversized keyboard or trackball mouse that makes typing and mouse pointing easier. For more information, see www. microsoft.com/enable/aging/seniorpc.aspx or call 888-640-1999. MSN TV - Another option to consider that will let you access the Web and send and receive emails is the MSN TV 2 (www.msntv.com; 866-466-7688). This small box (with a wireless keyboard and remote control) hooks up to the TV and into an existing phone line. While this system is limited to Internet and email use, it is very user-friendly and costs only $200 (or you can get a refurbished unit for $150) plus a monthly service fee of $10-22.
EMail Only - If you do not feel comfortable old-fashioned way – by telephone. Presto works with the SeniorPC or MSN TV options, you can using a special HP printer called the Printing still join the email world with a Celery (www. Mailbox that costs $150, plus a service fee that mycelery.com; 866-692-3537), which lets you starts at $12.50 per month. Savvy Tips: If you get a computer and are receive emails, pictures, and documents, as well as send handwritten letters as emails, all interested in taking a beginner’s class, your without a computer. It uses a color fax/printer local public library, nearby college, or area agconnected to a standard phone line instead of ing agency (call 800-677-1116 to get the local number) are good resources to find out what is a computer. How does it work? Sending an email to available in your area. Also check at SeniorNet. a Celery is just like sending one to any other org, a national organization for people, age 50 email address (you choose a Celery email when and older, that offers a variety of basic online you signup – for example cindy@mycelery. computer courses as well as instructor-led com). After you receive an email, Celery calls workshops at 130 learning centers throughout announcing a message being sent that is au- the U.S. A first year membership fee of $40 is tomatically printed out on paper. To reply, you required. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, simply handwrite a letter putting the recipient’s name in block print at the top. You then place P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. the letter into your Celery, push two buttons, savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to and the letter is sent to the recipient’s email the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy address as an image document. The system Senior” book. ISI uses handwriting-recognition software to match the recipient’s name to an email OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY address stored in your Celery address book. To eliminate spam, Celery only OF LEWISTON-CLARKSTON delivers messages from people you al“Sales • Installation • Service” low. The cost is $119 for the fax/printer If you’re one of those people who have put off doing business machine and a monthly service fee of at OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF LEWISTONCLARKSTON, then you’re missing out on a comfortable $14 or $140 per year. Another neat device to check out experience. OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF LEWISTONis the Presto (www.presto.com; 866- CLARKSTON is located at 422 20th Street North in Lewiston, 428-0970). This is similar to the Celery phone 743-8485 or 1-800-950-8485. We understand how very, where you can receive printed emails, very important repeat customers are. That’s why you will notice photos, and even newsletters without a the extra personal attention that’s given such a high priority here to every person who comes to us. We specialize in offering Overhead computer, but this device does not offer door sales, installations and service. We offer manual, electrically a way to respond, unless you do it the operated and remote control systems with a model for every
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Dean Turnblom’s spirits soar with kite flying hobby, festival By Dianna Troyer from all walks of life, who like him, feel their spirits With the first warm breeze of spring 10 years soar as a kite lifts off. ago, Dean Turnblom remembers he had such a Dean not only sells kites but nine years ago simple yet unfulfilled wish – to fly a good kite. But organized a popular annual three-day most stores in Idaho Falls where he lived sold kite festival, Kiting Just for inexpensive, poor quality kites that lasted a Fun, scheduled in April in short time. Idaho Falls. Dean, 57, wanted a “Our festival is listed sturdy kite that would on the American Kiteflilast and remind him ers Association website, of his childhood when and we have about he flew kites and even 1,200 people who designed and built them come from everywith his dad. His wife where.” Vickie suggested a soluBesides Idaho tion to his frustration. participants, kite “I was complaining about enthusiasts come it, so she told me to quit comfrom Seattle, plaining and encouraged me North Dakota, to find some suppliers and sell South Dakota, them,” recalls Dean. “So I did. southern CaliI bought $500 worth of quality fornia, Kansas, kites and sold all those, then Colorado, and bought $700 worth of kites and Florida. At sold this year’s those, festival, t h e n a nation$800, al kite and now fighting we have champia b o u t on came. om] $5,000 in “In the kite fightrnbl u T n a inventory.” ing, no one is out to wipe out De to by His store, o someone else’s kite,” Dean explains. h [P Sunrise Kites, “It’s a touch battle, where you touch, and dodge is adjacent to his and back off and get points for each touch.” Another highlight of this year’s festival was a office where he sells clown fish kite that looks like the Disney movie Farmers Insurance. “It’s a big office, so character Nemo. “It’s three-dimensional and is the kites are displayed about 30 feet long, 12 feet tall, and 10 feet wide. He in one part,” he says. “It does not fly on his own, so he has to be attached to and held up by another kite. He’s awesome and works out fine.” Through his store, looks really cool.” Another popular kiting event in southeastDean shares his passion for kites with en- ern Idaho is the Idaho Kite Festival scheduled thusiasts of all ages October 1-3 in Pocatello. Like Dean, organizer Micki Kawakami says flying a kite “is exhilarating because when you’re flying a kite, you’re in tune with nature and allow the wind to lift your kite and your spirits. We welcome folks of all ages. It’s a multigenerational event.” Dean says his Dad was an avid kiter and kindled his interest in the pastime. “I started flying kites with my Dad when I was a kid,” he says. “Dad was a mechanical engineer, so he made many of our kites. When I was 10, he told me it was time I made a 10-foot kite. He liked to make us do things big. It was a Delta Kite.”
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Delta kites are triangular shaped and designed to fly in low to medium wind. The kite flew fine but landing was another story. Like Humpty Dumpty, it crashed and couldn’t be put together again. In Utah, where Dean grew up, his attempts to fly kites were often frustrated by lack of wind. That is not a problem in Idaho Falls. “We usually have a steady breeze here,” says Dean, who moved to Idaho after he and Vickie were married. “After high school, we met at Jackson Lake Lodge where we worked for several years. Then we got married and decided to live here.” Vickie’s family is from Swan Valley, about 50 miles east of Idaho Falls. Vickie enjoys kite flying as much as Dean does. Their six-acre backyard accommodates most of their 30 to 40 kites, but the really big ones require them to go to a park
to fly. “We have some that are 100 square feet with a 100-foot long tail,” Dean says. Depending on the type of kite, flying can be either relaxing or intense, but no matter what type, kite flying is always entertaining, he says. When Dean wants to feel relaxed, he and Vickie fly a 16-foot Delta kite. “You can sit in a lawn chair and sip a Pepsi and watch it up there,” Dean says. “The birds fly by the kite and look like they wonder, ‘What in the world is this?’” When he wants an adrenalin rush, he picks a bigger kite that might have four lines to manage. “You have to concentrate and fly it as if it was a plane that you don’t want to crash. It’s not really relaxing, but it gets you excited and hyped up.” Some people fly kites built “to drag you
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around,” Dean says. Some kiters skateboard or even ski while a kite pulls them along, although Dean says he would rather watch that type of kite flying than do it himself. To learn more about kite flying, Dean invites people to his store at 460 Cleveland in Idaho Falls, or suggests the American Kitefliers Association website at www.aka.kite.org. The non-profit organization was founded in 1964 and has 4,000 members in 35 countries. It is dedicated to educating the public in the art, history, technology, and practice of building and flying kites. Information about the upcoming Idaho Kite Festival in Pocatello may be found at its website, www.idahokitefestival.com. Flying events, depending on weather, are scheduled near the Portneuf Library at the corner of James Street and Hawthorne Road. ISI
Steve Grumbein still has a blast shooting fireworks
By Dianna Troyer Even after 33 years of shooting fireworks shows, pyrotechnician Steve Grumbein, of Chubbuck says he knows he will always feel a surge of excitement at his next show. “It’s such a rush, and it’s extremely dangerous, too. Technically, we’re called display operators, but informally people call us pyros,” says Steve, grinning. “During the 1990s, I shot shows and supervised crews for Lantis Fireworks. I’m slowing down because of my back, and now I’m only shooting small shows.” Steve learned how to shoot a show more than three decades ago when he was a member of the Pocatello Jaycees, and the organization shot the annual Fourth of July fireworks show off Red Hill on Idaho State University’s campus. “A great guy named Lloyd Stubbs taught me everything I know,” says Steve, who has shot firework shows in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Montana. “He showed me how to bury the tubes in a row based on their size, load them, and light them. States have different regulations about display operators. In Utah, for example, the state fire marshal issues permits and licenses, and you have to take a test every five years and show proof of doing a show every year to maintain a display operator’s license.” Steve has shot fireworks for shows from a dam in Spring Creek, Nevada, at country clubs, and ISU football games. He even helped shoot a show from the roof of a casino, the Silver Legacy in Reno, Nevada.
“Last summer, I did a show at Farr West, Utah, at a country club for the Fourth of July,” Steve says. “I’ve done three to four shows a year for the last several years.” A typical show using $10,000 to $15,000 worth of fireworks that will last 18-22 minutes takes six to 10 hours to set up, he says. Most shows last about 20 minutes, because that is about how long people can have their necks craned up looking at the sky. While he loves shooting a show, Steve never forgets the danger involved
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and is cautious. “You can lose a hand, if you don’t his briefcase where he keeps his well-worn safety know what you’re doing,” he says. manual and bright orange diamond-shaped cardSteve has never lost a hand, but he did frost- board signs with the letters “EXPLOSIVES 1.3G.” bite eight fingertips a couple of years ago, when When he picks up fireworks from a company, usuhe did the Christmas in the Nighttime Sky show at ally in a rental truck, he must display the signs on the Bannock County Fairgrounds during a snow- all four sides of the vehicle. storm. Local businesses sponsor and organize the Steve’s wife, Kathy, a sixth-grade teacher at annual event to gather toy donations for children Tyhee Elementary School, helps him. “She could during the holidays. supervise a crew because she’s worked with me “I’ve never had anyone on my crew hurt seri- so long, although she doesn’t have a license.” ously at a show,” Steve says, “and we always have Does he have a favorite firework? fire extinguishers and water in case something “I love them all,” he says. “There are so many goes wrong.” different effects you can O c c a s i o n a l l y, create these days. It’s mindthings do go wrong. blowing. Some of the more A lift charge might traditional favorites are chrymalfunction, caussanthemums, comets, or ing the firework to single-shot candles. When explode about 20 the 12-inchers go off, you feet overhead inswear it fills the entire sky. stead of 200 feet Usually, there’s only one of overhead. “Sparks those in a show.” shower down over When Steve started, everything and the fireworks were buried everyone.” Other in steel tubes in the ground times, a defective and set off by hand. Now firework will “flower for safety reasons, they pot” and go off in the are put in PVC tubes and tube in the ground, set off electronically from a so the sparks shoot distance. straight up from the Setting off fireworks is ground. no more dangerous a hobby To protect his for Steve than his other head and his hearpastime, racing stock cars. ing, Steve has ocHe has been around cars casionally worn a all his life and was in busimotorcycle helmet ness with his dad, Frank, [Photo by Dianna Troyer] during a show. at Frank’s Repair Service, At ground level an auto repair business that when the firework is ignited, all you hear is a big specialized in VWs. “whoosh” as it comes out of the tube and soars After they sold the business, Steve was hired at upward, Steve says, then you hear the explosion the Pocatello School District to drive school bus. like everyone else does. “It’s been a lot of fun,” Steve says of his display When he goes to a show, he always takes operator work. “I still get fired up about it.” ISI
Radio-control planes zoom in Pocatello skies - continued from cover 26-28 at their field, which is at exit 56 along Interstate 86. Signs after the exit lead the way to the aeromodelers’ field along Boeing Avenue. “We start flying shortly after the sun comes up,” Gary says.
The club leases eight acres from the City of Pocatello and laid a 45-foot wide, 450-foot long asphalt runway with grass on both sides. “We’ve been out here for 18 years,” he says, “and we maintain the field with $50 annual dues.” The pilots are their own air traffic controllers. “We usually limit it to about four planes in the air at the same time.” The average plane can stay airborne about 12 to 15 minutes and can reach speeds of 80 mph before the fuel, a mixture of nitroglycerine, oil, and alcohol, is burned up in the four-ounce gas tanks. The model jets
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can zoom along at 200 mph and have larger gas tanks. The pilots can make their planes loop, spin, dive, roll, or stall. “We can do most things a pilot in an aerobatic plane can do and in some cases a little more,” he says. Gary was introduced to the hobby about 16 years before he retired from Union Pacific Railroad. “One of the field supervisors was in town and on the way to lunch. We stopped at a hobby shop to pick up some aeromodel parts. I had always liked planes and had worked as a jet mechanic when I was in the Air Force. After my first crash, I found the club in town, and members taught me to fly.” Gary can choose to fly from among his twenty or so planes, some in his garage, some in his basement workshop, and some in a trailer he built for hauling his planes. He bought some planes at hobby shops, traded some, received some as gifts, and found some at swap meets.
Each plane has a story in aviation history. The Sopwith Pup was a British single-seater fighter biplane used in World War I. Gary built his Sopwith model from a kit. It has a 77-inch wingspan and weighs about 23 pounds. He shows his model Newport, a WWI biplane manufactured in France. “I just put supports on it to brace and stabilize its wings.” Gary no longer has the planes he first flew a decade ago. Like Humpty Dumpty, they fell too many times and couldn’t be put back together again. “You can only fix them so often, before the glue gets too heavy and prevents them from flying correctly.” Battery operated radio-controlled planes are becoming popular, too, because they don’t require fuel or starters, he says. To find an aeromodelers club nearby, Gary suggests visiting the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ website at www.modelaircraft.org. Idaho has more than a dozen clubs listed on the website. For more information, call Gary at 208-637-1018. ISI
Sagebrush Stampede Aug 22 – Hailey, Idaho By Holly Endersby Nothing beats the beaming smile of a person who has succeeded at something they’ve worked at long and hard. If that person has added physical, mental, or emotional challenges, that winning smile speaks volumes. And smiles abound at Sagebrush Equine Training Center (SETC) in Hailey, where special needs children and adults achieve success through their therapeutic equine assisted riding program. In addition, the center offers a school program that serves over one hundred special needs children, a cancer program conducted in cooperation with the Mountain States Tumor Institute, a youth at-risk program, and a teenage work/study program. Now SETC has added a summer rodeo, the Sagebrush Stampede, to its list of activities for handicapped Idahoans. Last year’s inaugural event was a smash hit so this year the crew is anticipating an even bigger crowd of participants. “The rodeo is open to any physically, cognitively, or emotionally impaired person,” explains Director Kristy Pigeon. “And like all our programs, the rodeo is free to anyone wanting to participate.” Last year a sixty-something woman with multiple sclerosis competed and, according to Pigeon, the rodeo was very emotionally uplifting for her. “She did the working cow event without side walkers to help her and she said it was the most fun she’d had in her life,” the director says. “The fact that she could ride independently was a big achievement.” Like most rodeos, the Sagebrush Stampede offers different events including pole bending, cow sorting, and western equitation. “We’d also offer English equitation if we had entrants,” Pigeon adds. Although the rodeo is a one-day event, Pigeon says they can arrange stabling accommodations for folks who need to stay overnight. The facility at Sagebrush is expansive with an indoor arena, three outdoor arenas, barn, offices, and a horse library. Pigeon says that about ten adults age 55+ participate regularly in their adaptive riding program. “We’ve had adults with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig disease, and cerebral vascular disease participate in our program,” Pigeon adds. “For adults who are living with a progressively degenerative disease, the ability to do therapeutic riding, which helps them maintain body control and balance as long as they can, is incredibly important.” Those interested in attending the rodeo should also plan to stay for the dinner and dance that evening. More information can be obtained by emailing sagebrusharena@yahoo.com or by calling 208-578-9111. ISI
Southeast Idaho Senior Games seeks Games Coordinator By Linda Crockford Photos by Bob Crockford The Southeast Idaho Senior Games Board of Directors is looking for a sports-minded, energetic, detail-oriented individual to fill the position of Games Coordinator. Among other tasks, the duties include working with individual sport coordinators to ensure that each event has everything needed to make the Senior Games a fun, rewarding experience for everyone. In addition, the Games Coordinator attends monthly Board meetings, and assists with fundraising and promotion of the Senior Games. Anyone interested in applying for this volunteer position should contact the Senior Games office at 208-233-2034 or contact Jerry Sepich, Director of Park & Recreation at 208-234-6236. The 2009 Southeast Idaho Senior Games will be held August 1-8. Registration deadline is July 27. The Senior Games offers 115 events at 27 separate venues. There are events for every level of activity, from triathlon to cards. New this year will be
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chess, the 800 free style swim, and mountain biking. Everyone 50 years old or better is eligible to compete. The role that physical activity plays in maintaining mental and physical health is undeniable. The Senior Games promotes social interaction along with sports competition. For more information on the Senior Games, visit www.seidahoseniorgames.org, www.active.com, or call 208-233-2034. ISI
A Gift for Leather: the Life of Saddlemaker Dale Harwood
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calls, “and like most families back then, we raised cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and chickens; basically anything you could to feed a family.” It was his life on the ranch and two bouts with rheumatic fever that destined Dale for a life with leather. “In the sixth grade I had rheumatic fever and in those days that meant six months of bed rest,” he relates. “My parents got me some leather stamping tools and kept me in leather so I could stay busy making small projects. I always gave those projects away so I could go on to the next one. That was really the start of my career in leather working.” Dale’s father raised draft horses for use on the ranch and the boy was always attracted to a good horse. His interest drew him to work the summer before high school at Jack Montgomery’s harness shop in nearby Soda Springs. ”Jack took a real interest in me and taught me a lot about repairing old saddles as well as other kinds of leather gear. He was a big influence on me. Jack had a lot of patience and thought I had some ability. And I really respected him.” [Pho In fact, Dale made to by h i s first saddle in Mich ael G Montgomery’s harness young. Ste wart shop the second year he ] sters of rural worked there. ranching background, “I used the money I made reDale grew up taking care pairing gear in the summer to buy leather for of livestock. “I was the youngest saddlemaking in the winter,” Dale explains. “I made of eight children,” he re- a saddle for Dad and then some for friends and
By Holly Endersby Born seventy-three years ago on a ranch outside the tiny southeastern Idaho town of Grace, Dale Harwood has spent a lifetime creating works of art out of the everyday gear that real buckaroos use. And in 2008, that artistry was recognized with a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. The road to this award spanned fiftyeight years of leather working and a lifetime commitment to achieve Dale’s goal of “being the best I could be.” The Early Years - Like most
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just continued from there.” But fate intervened again when the teenager once again contracted rheumatic fever at the start of his sophomore year in high school. “By the time I was well again, I felt I was too far behind the other kids to continue, so I quit school,” the artist says. “If I was going to stay on the ranch, I was going to have to do all the never-ending chores like milking cows, so I decided to leave home at the same time.” He was hired on full-time at Montgomery’s harness shop but like most young men soon wanted to see more of the world. His next stop was a Tucson, Arizona dude ranch owned by Jim Converse. “Jim was very good to me,” Dale says. “But I wanted to make my fortune rodeoing, so I left to compete on the circuit.” A rodeo in Enterprise, Oregon the following summer lead to another job at a dude ranch as well as a fall and winter position as a packer on Idaho’s Lochsa River. At other times, Dale was an itinerant cowboy. “Sometimes in winter cow camp, it would just be me or at most one other guy all winter long, so I did a lot of braiding then and made a stitching horse and a saddle buck that I still use today. In those days all my saddle work was done by hand since I didn’t have a machine stitcher.” But when he met his future wife, Karron, and they started talking about getting married and raising a family, Dale knew it was time to settle down. “I didn’t want to raise a family bouncing from ranch to ranch as a cowboy,” he states. “So Karron and I decided I would give leatherworking a try.” The Marriage of Beauty and Function - In 1961 a friend told the newlyweds that another friend had just started a western wear shop in Idaho Falls and was looking for someone to do leatherwork and saddle making. After a visit, the young couple thought it would be a good place to start. “Originally we thought to start in Twin Falls which is a lot closer to the buckaroo culture,” Dale recalls. “But it turned out I was fortunate to have enough friends to make a go of the business in Idaho Falls. And I have been lucky to have never run out of friends, so I still have plenty of work to do.” In fact, Dale still has over a hundred saddles on order and quit taking additional orders back in 1994! “I say I’ve been ‘retired’ my whole working life,” he states. “Despite continuing to work fifty to sixty hours a week, I get up when I want, quit when I want and take time off whenever I want. I have always loved my work and still do.” In 1982, Dale moved his saddle shop to his home in Shelley, Idaho and it remains there today. Dale still does every aspect of saddle making - processing his own leather, making saddletrees, cutting, stamping, and applying leather to the tree, and designing and engraving his own silverwork. The only thing he doesn’t do is stirrups. “Keith Wilson, a Canadian, does my stirrups because he is so particular and works in stainless steel, not nickel, like most folks do. Keith is the best he can be and can do anything special I want,” Dale says. To ensure that these traditional arts continue, Dale was a founding member of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. These master artists display their works each year at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In addition, Dale says their mentoring program is the most important aspect of the group. “Each of us is committed to taking two to three students each year to help them progress in their area,” he explains. “We also sponsor two seminars each year at the museum and offer scholarships in each of the four traditional cowboy arts; rawhide braiding, silver smithing, bit and spur making, and saddle making.” National Endowment for the Arts Recognition - Dale says the National Heritage Fellowship award was a real surprise. Typically, many of the awards go to dancers or musicians, so he was only vaguely aware of the program. “In fact, when the NEA called to let me know I had won one of the
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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 45
awards, I was sure it was a scam,” he says with a laugh. “It took quite a lot of convincing to get me to believe it was real.” Dale says the awards event in Washington, DC was truly special and he says he wishes all his fellow artisans could experience it. “The dancers and musicians really put on a fantastic show,” he explains, “and everyone said the 2008 ceremony was really special.” For non-performance artists, samples of their work are on display. “I didn’t have a saddle to use at the time so the Folk Life Center in Elko, Nevada, which had bought a saddle from me several years ago, sent theirs along with photos as well. They really did a nice job for me.” While some artists would see the NEA award as a culmination of their life’s work, Dale says passing on his knowledge is what really counts. “When I work with young artists today I encourage them to be the best they can be at something they really love and to accomplish something truly unique. Most people with talent settle for security and work their whole life at something they don’t really love. I’ve been fortunate and have worked at what I love.” ISI
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Summer Serenades At Grand Targhee By Dianna Troyer / Photo courtesy of Grand Targhee Music Festival At the music festivals at Grand Targhee Resort on the western side of the Teton Mountains in Idaho, you often are serenaded by more than musicians. The breezes rustling through the aspen leaves sound like soothing ocean surf, chickadees sing, and the more demanding Clark’s nutcrackers squawk as they swoop in close for a few picnic morsels. This summer, the 5th Annual Grand Targhee Music Festival is scheduled from July 17-19, and the 22nd Annual Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival will be August 21-23 at the ski resort 87 miles northeast of Idaho Falls. The 4th Annual Bluegrass Camp will be August 18-21. “Our bluegrass festival is such a long-running, high-quality event that we get a lot of repeat performers and fans,” says Mandy Hood, resort marketing department administrative assistant. “We have about 2,500 fans each day. The seclusion and closeness to the Tetons makes it a unique and memorable venue. You can camp here in the national forest.” Fans of all ages not only occasionally sing along with performers, they also dance along with the songs among the aspens. You can hear the music from many places besides near the stage. You can hear it while on
the ski chairlifts, which operate to provide scenic rides. Horseback riders and even hang gliders can hear the bands, too. Mountain bike riders cruise down cat tracks lined with wildflowers while music plays below. Children can do crafts or watch puppet shows at the Kids Zone. This year, bands coming for the music festival are Gov’t Mule, Jackie Greene, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, James McMurtry, Jonny Lang, The Wallflowers, Betty Lavette, Keb’ Mo’ and Carrie Rodriguez. Performers at the blue grass festival will be the David Grisman Quintet, The Wilders, Darrell Scott Band, John Cowan Band, Railroad Earth, Danny Barnes Trio with Mike Bubb, Casey Driessen and the Color Fools, Steep Canyon Rangers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Danny Barnes/ Tony Trishka, Fishing Music, and Bearfoot Band. Gates open at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $55 for Friday and Sunday performances, $65 for the Saturday show, or $130 for the entire weekend. The last bands begin playing at 9 p.m. For more information visit www.grandtarghee.com/summer/musicfestivals/. ISI
JUNE/JULY 2009
Dance and Romance: A Woman’s Tale By Sally Ann Connolly, Senior Wire
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance, How can we know the dancer from the dance? - William Butler Yeats June may be the traditional month for weddings, but in my family, June is the month for dance recitals. When I was a youngster, I spent gorgeous Saturdays and Sundays in June, year after year, in a darkened theater, donning greasepaint along with tons of sequins and taffeta. My daughters followed my lead. Or, I should say, they were directed along the same path. No family weddings during that glorious month, but plenty of recitals. Now their own daughters are tying up their dancing shoes and booking their June weekends. But, I ask, “Where are the boys?” In dancing schools around the country, males are few and far between. Little girls in tutus overflow the practice halls and the aisles at recital time, but the Patrick showed us what George Bernard only males in attenShaw had in mind when he said that dance seem to be dancing is “the vertical expression of a horizontal desire.” To this day, the music of brothers who have been dragged along “Dirty Dancing” sets my hips swaying. reluctantly, or faMerely a few bars of the music, and, thers who grumble once again, I have the time of my life. about having to give up a day of sports. Even my own daughters show no inclination to include their sons in this family tradition. My experience, however, has shown that mothers could do their sons a great service by ensuring that rhythm flows through their veins. Although the way to a man’s heart may be through his stomach, the way to a woman’s heart is through her feet. We like to move it. A male with the right moves on the dance floor has a leg up on his rivals when it comes to catching the attention of the distaff side. Women love a dancin’ man! Even a big man with “flat feet” hath charm if he can scoot around the dance floor. Warren Sapp, the 300-pound football great, who almost captured last year’s “Dancing with the Stars” championship, won over many hearts. Week after week, he applied himself with an athlete’s grit and determination. What he lacked in technical expertise, he made up for in showmanship and light-footedness. Now, along with his many gridiron accomplishments, this macho man will be remembered as the cuddly teddy bear with twinkle toes who almost took home a dancing title. Warren is only the latest in a long string of men who have tugged at our heartstrings by swaying to the music. For decades, Fred Astaire wooed and won many a maiden, both onscreen and off, with his sophisticated charm, perfect footwork, and elegant grace. In the 40s and 50s, Gene Kelly showed us that real men can dance. With joyous athleticism, he splashed across the sound stage, the embodiment of both dance floor prowess and virility. Then came John Travolta. His feverish disco dance showed another generation how to liven up a Saturday night. Even today, his sensuous moves can be found on almost any dance floor. But when we talk about hot, hot, hot, the man who set us afire was Patrick Swayze. He seduced not only Jennifer Grey but also millions of other females with his sinuous steps. Patrick showed us what George Bernard Shaw had in mind when he said that dancing is “the vertical expression of a horizontal desire.” To this day, the music of Dirty Dancing sets my hips swaying. Merely a few bars of the music, and, once again, I have the time of my life. Since my heyday, generations of liberated women have found and embraced their own dancing men. For many, Michael Jackson set the standard. Today, as the spotlight moves to performers such as Chris Brown and Usher, juices flow to a different beat - the rhythm of the street and hip-hop. However, although the beat may have changed, the Japanese proverb still rings true, “All dancing girls are 19 years old.” So, mothers, I offer a piece of advice. Be good to your sons as well as your daughters. Teach them to dance. ISI
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JUNE/JULY 2009
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