June July 2014 by Montana Senior News

Monarch butterfly photo by Dianna Troyer

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The Ferbraches turn their affectionate alpacas’ wool into clothing By Dianna Troyer As Tussy Ferbrache calls to her dozen alpacas, they hurry toward her, jostling each other for attention and a treat of grain pellets. They coo and hum softly as they chew. “Aren’t they adorable?” she says, introducing Cassidy, Sampson, Infinity, and St. Francis. Their dark, kind eyes seem to welcome visitors. “They’re so affectionate and low maintenance. I feel honored to care for them and fortunate to see them every day.” In the spring, she and her husband, Andy, who live near Paul, Idaho, hire professional shearers to harvest the wool, which they send off for processing. “Their wool comes in 22 basic colors,” says Tussy, 62, as she finishes feeding her flock and heads inside to show a few garments she has made. She has a spinning wheel in her living room and knits the yarn into scarves, hats, and mittens and makes durable rugs on a loom. “This is from St. Francis,” she says of a soft, lightweight cream-colored scarf she knitted. The wool feels as soft as cashmere. “And these mittens are from Buster Brown.” The wool on alpacas’ backs is called blanket hair and is made into scarves. The fiber along their legs and necks is sturdy and ideal for socks and carpets. The Ferbraches sell alpaca garments and rugs at their shop, Frontier Enterprises and Upholstery in Paul. Alpaca wool is ideal to wear for them and repeat customers. “Alpaca wool isn’t scratchy,” says Tussy, “so it won’t make you itch. People who are allergic to sheep wool often find they can wear clothing made from alpacas.” Andy and Tussy wear alpaca wool socks yearround because the wool does not make their feet sweat and is lightweight. “The socks are comfortable in any season,” says Andy. “When you wear them, it feels like you’re walking on a cloud because they’re so light and soft. A BLM firefighter buys only alpaca wool socks because they wear so well when he’s out on a fire.” The Ferbraches attribute their affection for alpacas to their three-acre lawn near Paul. “It’s so large and was taking a lot of time for us to maintain,” says Tussy. “We wondered what to do with all those grass clippings. Someone suggested alpacas. Plus, I wanted to find some nice yarn for knitting. Alpaca yarn is considered the Rolls Royce of fiber among spinners and weavers.” In 2009, they found an alpaca breeder in Emmett, who advised them about fencing and how to care for the fluffy creatures. (Continued on page 20)

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Test Detects Hemochromotosis

Honor Flight Honors Vets

I was very interested in the article about hemochromatosis in your February/March edition as I was diagnosed with this disease several years ago. However, the writer omitted one important point that a simple blood test for ferritin (iron) can determine if one has the disease. While there is no cure, a regular phlebotomy will keep it under control, thus avoiding serious consequences down the road. Ann J. Schafer Mountain Home

A recent PBS special addressed the shift in how our society deals with misbehavior, particularly among young, school-age folks with the trend being to rely on the criminal justice system to address infractions and instances of poor judgment rather than allowing families and schools to address these problems. This issue’s Remember When selection is by Milt Turley of Kellogg who shares a story from his high school days when his actions created a situation that had it occurred today would have been treated far differently and with unnecessary and probably serious consequences. Thank you, Milt for sharing this memory with our readers. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections, contributions describing fictional

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3

I was visiting in Hayden, Idaho to spend some time with my daughter, when I picked up one of your publications. Hey, this is good stuff! Someone told me of a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials. An outfit, Honor Flight, takes WWII vets there, all expenses paid – financed from the public. My trip last October was “out of this world” fantastic. There were 81 vets, and 41 guardians. God bless you all. I love my country. I love the Lord. By the way, did you know one could put French toast into a waffle iron instead of a frying pan? Harold Bartel Habra, California

or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included. Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent features the contribution deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry will receive a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our August/September 2014 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. Visit us online at idahoseniorindependent.com.

Punishment That Fits The Crime By Milt Turley, Kellogg In the fall of 1961, I was a senior at Kellogg High School. As a hunter I would often take my hunting rifle to school and leave it in my pickup so that after school on my way home I could hunt deer until about dark. In those days many students did the same thing. Of course today, anyone doing that would be arrested and jailed as federal law prohibits weapons on campus, even if they are for hunting. How times have changed! One fall day, I was sitting in English class toward the end of the period when I spotted a buck

deer coming down off the hill behind the school. I hadn’t filled my deer tag yet, so I decided to leave class a little early and go after that deer before it got away. Kellogg High School is built over the top of Jackass Creek and in the back of the school was a triangular shaped lawn with the creek on one side and the building on the other. I retrieved my rifle from my pickup and walked around to where I could shoot safely without putting anyone in danger. When I got up to the breezeway under the school, the deer had walked up on that back lawn from the creek bottom. Checking to

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

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see that no one was around, I leaned up against one of the breezeway pillars, took careful aim, and fired. My shot was true and the deer died instantly on the back lawn of the high school. I hadn’t shot toward the school and no one was put at risk. Classes were about to be dismissed, when the principal ran out the back door in a panic and yelled at me. I didn’t think I had done anything wrong so I just grabbed the deer by the horns and started to drag him to the pickup at the front of the school. The principal continued to rant that I had put everyone at risk and that I was suspended from school for three days. He was also going to call my parents and let them know what had happened. When I got home, Mom told me the principal had called, and indeed I was suspended until the following Monday. Further, Dad was to accompany me back to school on Monday, which meant that he would have to miss a day of work, so the principal could talk to him about my behavior. I need not describe what my father said when he got home – other than his usual dry humor was not intact. He immediately decided my punishment was to split a cord of firewood each of the three days of suspension. “Did you get the deer?” he then asked. I told him I had, and he just smiled. Dad already

knew that I hadn’t put anyone at risk because he and my grandmother had taught me hunter safety at a very young age and he had never seen me violate those principles. He trusted me. The following Monday morning at 8 a.m. we entered the principal’s office. Dad and I were lectured about my dangerous shooting on school grounds. The principal asked Dad if he had punished me for that incident. Dad assured him that he had provided me with some guidance on the matter. “Well, thank you, Mr. Turley. I am sure that your son has learned his lesson! Have you any questions about the suspension and punishment?” Dad just smiled and then said, “No I don’t have any questions, but I do have an observation.” “What is that, Mr. Turley?” the principal asked. Dad replied, “I don’t know a lot about education, but I do know a little bit about punishment. Turning an avid deer hunter loose for three days during hunting season is not what I would call punishment. You should have put him in the library for three days. That would have been real punishment.” The principal just shook his head and after thinking about what my father had said, he began to laugh and said, “Mr. Turley, I think you’re right. I never looked at it that way.” ISI

Helen Brazil Square Dances For Fun And Health Article & Photo By Jack McNeel There probably are not too many people that could name Idaho’s State Dance. On the other hand, plenty of folks would not be surprised to hear that square dancing fills that title. Eighteen other states have also designated square dancing as their state dance. Square dance clubs can be found throughout Idaho and dancers range in age from youngsters to some of our most senior seniors. Helen Brazil belongs to Coeur d’Alene’s Coeurly Q Club and has been a member since 1980, five years after she arrived in Coeur d’Alene from Whitefish, Montana. The hall was filled with foot stomping music, dosey-does and Highest Over 35 Prices Turn Your Y alamand lefts with the e a rs Serv Paid In Old Forgotten the Trea ing Decades Treasures old left hand as we met sure Into Cash!!! Valley Helen and took some photos. Beginning Estate Jewelry We Pay Top Prices For Gold, Silver & dancers were learning Platinum Items. 9k, 10k, 14k, Dental 18k, 22k, 24k All Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry Any Condition New, Used, Or Damaged the moves and everyWe Buy From All Time Periods. Diamonds 1/2 Carat & Larger Loose Or Mounted one seemed to be havAll Shapes & Quality ing a good time. Helen, now 81, Sterling speaks enthusiastically Silver of square dancing, not only because of the U.S. Silver Coins social aspects but also Buying 1964 because of the physical Coin Collections & Older exercise it provides. It’s an event she seldom misses. The Coeurly Q Club attracts more Premium Paid For Uncirculated Rolls. seniors than younger We Pay More For Rare age groups. Helen esDates And Collections. timates that roughly GOLD & SILVER BULLION, BUYING GOLD 60% of the members EAGLES, MAPLE LEAFS, KRUGGERRANDS, are over 50. But age SILVER BARS & ROUNDS, TOP BUY SELL SPREAD is no requirement and everyone is welcome Paper Money U.S. Gold Coins to come, learn how to square dance, and eventually join if they care to. You can come with a partner or you can come alone. It does Prices Subject to Market Changes. P take a commitment, and that is one reason ROSEHILL COINS & JEWELRY, INC Helen believes that with 3506 Rosehill St., 1oise !0' 3#3 3!!0 all the things available Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 9:30-5:00pm; Sat 10:00-4:00pm, Closed Wed & Sun. to younger people, the commitment just is not

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as deep as it is with seniors. Helen explains that the Coeurly Q Club offers lessons starting every fall and graduates a class the following spring during the first week in May. “We start classes with the very basics and you learn by repetition,” she says. There are approximately fifty members, down somewhat from earlier years when the membership was nearly double that. “Like a lot of activities it kind of takes its ups and downs,” Helen commented. There are nearby square dance clubs in Post Falls, others north in the Hoodoo Valley and Bonners Ferry, plus several in Spokane. “It’s a good way to meet people,” Helen observes. Some come as couples and others as singles. “Not all join but the majority do,” Helen added. Square dancing attracts a cross section of society. It’s certainly not just for farmers and cowboys. Helen says they have had judges, doctors, nurses, accountants, and lawyers all show up for lessons and to join. “A lot of times we don’t really know what these people do for a living unless they want to share it with us. We get together, enjoy our dancing, and may form good friendships. Sometimes people will go to a restaurant and have coffee and pie or cake after a dance in a group. It’s very loose.” One reason some join is for exercise. Helen is also a walker and member of a local Strider’s club. This works well with square dancing. She occasionally wears a pedometer while dancing to quantify just how much exercise is involved. “It’s surprising how quick you can log two to three miles,” she says with a laugh. The Striders walking group she belongs to is for health and fitness. During the cold months, they meet twice a week for instructed classes, and then in the spring they begin meeting in the city park and keep track of the miles they walk over the next three months. “I walk six days a week and average 2.5-3 miles a day.” She walks at the mall, has another loop near her home, and then other miles are added while shopping. And don’t forget the dancing! “I do it because I enjoy it and want to stay healthy,” she adds. The dancers gather every Monday night at the Harding Community Center, with beginners starting at 6:30. After that, it’s lessons for round dancing, another dance form which offers a change of pace from square dancing. “Monday is lesson night,” Helen explains.

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5

she explains with a laugh. Beyond that, the basic idea is to wear whatever is comfortable. At one time street clothes weren’t really acceptable but now it’s become more acceptable and the idea is to wear clothes that allow the dancer to move freely. They no longer have competitions. “That put a lot of pressure on people and it kind of went by the wayside,” Helen explained. The Coeurly Q Club does give demonstrations and provides entertainment for various groups. They also go to elementary schools and help teach 4th graders some of the basic steps as part of their P.E. class while they’re studying Idaho history. There is a saying that square dancers quote that explains the feel of square dancing. “Square dancing is friendship set to music.” And Helen agrees. ISI

The club sponsors a dance the first Saturday of each month, with different guest callers scheduled each month a year in advance because, “Callers are very popular,” Helen explains. I asked Helen about what to wear to a square dance. “We don’t always wear the fluffy petticoats,” she says. “The trend in the last few years has been for women to wear longer skirts, what they call ‘prairie skirts.’ They are generally calf length or longer, but it’s optional for women to wear shorter, really full skirts with fluffy petticoats. We usually wear comfortable shoes with leather soles that will slide nicely on the floor.” “Men wear slacks or jeans. Western style shirts are usually worn and long sleeves are preferred. As we are dancing, a woman has the opportunity to touch a man’s upper arm. A man’s sweaty arm is not much fun to touch,”

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Idaho State Parks Trivia By Bernice Karnop Summer in Idaho invites everyone to don their hiking boots, grab a picnic, and head for the great outdoors. While many have favorite spots, it’s a good time to remember that special places in the state have been set aside for public use. Thirty different pristine areas in Idaho are open and accessible to all of us. What a concept! That means that there are some close to where you live, and that there are some that you probably have not visited. They were set aside for various reasons, historical, geological, and recreational. Wild-

life, scenery, and fresh air are some of the blessings few states enjoy to the degree Idahoans can. The history here is amazing. The Oregon Trail stories, the mining tales, the history of the fur trade, to name a few, and State Parks give you access to the stories. Check out this Idaho State Park Trivia and build a bucket list for this summer. 1. Beautiful Farragut State Park on Idaho’s largest lake – Pend Oreille – provides outdoor recreation all over its 4,000 acres, but did you know that it once held the world’s second largest naval training station? The Museum at the

Brig tells about it. 2. Also in North Idaho, pristine Priest Lake State Park, nestled in the Selkirk Mountains, is surrounded by forests of cedar, fir, and tamarack. A two-mile trail takes hikers or bikers to Upper Priest Lake. 3. Heyburn State Park is the oldest State Park in the Pacific Northwest. It was 100 years old in 2008. 4. Dworshak State Park on the western shore of Dworshak Reservoir attracts water sports enthusiasts. The dam is the highest straight-axis concrete (Cont’d on page 26)

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Big Sights To See In The Big State Article & Photos By Victor Block When many people think of taking a trip to Alaska, the word “big” comes to mind. When they arrive there, that becomes “BIG.” The size of the “Great Land,” as the Aleutian native people named the region, makes the most immediate and dramatic impression. Alaska is twice as large as Texas and if cut in half, would be the first and second biggest states. Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America at over 20,000 feet, looms over Denali National Park, which itself is larger than Massachusetts. The magnificent scenery immediately catches the eye. Row after row of glaciergarbed mountains stretch to the horizon. Many lakes and rivers are dyed a bluish hue by the silt of melting ice and snow. Streams meander through U-shaped valleys that were gouged eons ago by advancing glaciers. Opportunities to observe wildlife in its natural setting are virtually everywhere. In Denali National Park, sightings of the “Big Five” – grizzly bear, caribou, moose, wolves and Dall sheep – are most prized. A menagerie of other creatures also makes the area their home. Those who don’t make it to Denali need not despair. Towns in Alaska are never far from the wilderness. Parks often begin within city limits and extend to backcountry landscapes. For example, the Far North Bicentennial Park at the edge of Anchorage provides inviting habitat for bears and moose. People gather along riverbanks there and elsewhere during spring and summer to observe the spawning run of salmon. As they return to their birthplace after several years at sea, the fish battle their way up rushing I worked my way up from water, leaping to surmount low nothing to a state of extreme poverty. falls along the way. Another obstacle is the phalanx of hungry bears that congregates to gorge on their - Groucho Marx favorite food. Along with their close relationship to nature, cities and towns share a rough and rugged history. With a population near 300,000, Anchorage has an urban setting that resembles other U.S. cities of comparable size. But there also are differences. There, as everywhere in Alaska, untamed nature is not far away. Chugach State Park just outside the city has stretches of alpine terrain that are visited by more animals than humans. The Far North Bicentennial Park/Campbell Tract provides habitat for bears, moose, and spawning salmon. The Alaska Native Heritage Center delves into indigenous cultures. The customs and traditions of the 11 major cultural groups are presented through dance, music, and storytelling. Gold was responsible for the location of Juneau, the state capital, when it was discovered there in 1880, about 15 years before the Klondike Gold Rush began. Visitors today may relive those heady days during visits to several mining sites, or by trying their hand at panning. The terminus of the most readily accessible of the 10,000 or so glaciers in Alaska, the Mendenhall, is not far outside town. Looming above the suburbs of Juneau, bearing the typical bluishwhite glacial hue, it flows 12 miles from the ice field where it originates. At the lake where the ([SORUH +LVWRULF *ROI *UDQLWH 3RLQWH 9LVLW 7RXFKVWRQHV glacier ends, large chunks dramatically break off %DNHU 6WUHHW $ WUXH RQO\ PLQXWHV 0XVHXP RI $UW to become icebergs, a process called “calving.” DGYHQWXUH LQ LWVHOI IURP GRZQWRZQ DQG +LVWRU\ Ketchikan occupies the site where Tlingit natives set up fishing camps near salmon-rich waters, and it lays claim to the title “Salmon Capital of the World.” It also boasts the largest displays anywhere of standing totem poles, in 9LVLWRU &HQWUH three collections as well as in front of private +DOO 6WUHHW 1HOVRQ %& homes. Another popular attraction is Creek Street, LQIR#GLVFRYHUQHOVRQ FRP ZZZ GLVFRYHUQHOVRQ FRP a wooden boardwalk over a stream that runs

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through the heart of town. For three decades beginning in the Prohibition era, some buildings perched above the water served as brothels. That time is recalled by a sign welcoming visitors to Creek Street, “Where fish and fishermen go up the creek to spawn.” Those structures now house restaurants and gift shops. The setting is very different in Sitka, where evidence remains of Russia’s incursion, which ended in 1867 with the sale of the territory to the United States. The Russian Bishop’s House (built 1842-43) and onion-shaped domes of St. Michael’s Cathedral are among reminders of that

chapter of history. Remnants of Russia’s brief influence merge with constant reminders that native peoples have lived in what now is Alaska for thousands of years. Everywhere, their rich cultures are nearby. For example, many Alaskans continue to call Mount McKinley “Denali,” Athabascan Indian for “The Great One.” I spotted representations of totem poles and traditional images adorning many T-shirts worn by locals. And I was moved by the pride with which an Aleut guide at the Alaska Native Heritage Center described how men from his village still hunt for whales from kayaks us-

Lethbridge’s High Level Bridge Is Spectacular By Bernice Karnop People really have made a lot of progress in the past 100 years. Certainly life has changed. But just when one starts to think that today’s citizens have something over those of the past, a marvel like Lethbridge’s century-old High Level Bridge comes to mind. Most people can’t imagine the confidence, commitment, and perseverance it would take to tackle such a project. The Canadian Pacific Railway built the bridge in response to a need to access to the coal mines. They had tracks, but they went down the steep sides of the Oldman River Valley and then climbed back up the other side. In that short span of distance, trains crossed 22 wooden trestles, crawled around 37 curves, and struggled up steep grades. The Canadian Pacific Railway spent $1.3 million dollars building the bridge. A custom-built steel railroad crane with a 116-foot boom made the construction possible. With it, 33 rigid steel towers were erected, strong enough to support the trains and resist the wind. When they were finished, they had cut five miles from the route between Lethbridge and Fort MacLeod, and cut out all those wooden trestles and turns. The grade was reduced by half. It’s still the longest and highest railroad bridge of its type in the world. It is 5,328 feet long – a

little more than a mile – and it is 314’ high. And it is strong! To this day, there are no restrictions on the weight or length of trains passing over it. The bridge is also a thing of beauty and one of Lethbridge’s most prominent landmarks. Visitors stopping at the Brewery Hill Rest Area west of the city can’t resist getting a camera for a photo of it. In celebration of the bridge’s 100th birthday, Lethbridge businessman Del Allen spearheaded an effort to make it a public work of art. Lighting the bridge had been suggested in the past, but no one had actually tackled such a huge project. To light a mile long structure required a great deal of confidence, commitment, and perseverance! The spectacular view of lights reflecting on a mile-long row of steel trestles gives visitors an irresistible reason for grabbing a camera. In addition to beautifying the city, the lights demonstrate that the people of Lethbridge still have a strong commitment to their city. The bridge is lighted every year on the anniversary of the bridge’s completion and on other special occasions as well. Del Allen enjoyed the challenge, saying, “It was very exciting and I like doing exciting things.” ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9

ing poison-tip spears, and how women weave baskets that are among the finest in the world. Travelers seeking an adventure vacation couldn’t do better than to think Alaska. Others who prefer to observe wild animals and equally wild scenery from a distance also are likely to find much to like about the state. For information about Alaska, log onto travelalaska.com or call 800-667-8489. ISI

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Wallace History Lures Mike And Janet Feiler By Jack McNeel â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been lifelong collectors and admirers of old homes,â&#x20AC;? Mike Feiler says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We decided when we retired to have an old house, especially one we could restore ourselves. A gift to history, I suppose. We looked around the region and liked the small town feel of Wallace.â&#x20AC;? Mike and Janet became active in the community from the moment they settled here nearly four years ago. Within a year, Mike was elected President of the Wallace Chamber of Commerce and remains in that position to this day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if anybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done it before. Many people wondered how in the world a new person could get a job like that. What I tell them is that we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lived here long enough to make enough enemies so people didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know any better when they elected me,â&#x20AC;? Mike says with a laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great job. Very fun!â&#x20AC;?

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Mike was born in Wisconsin, but his father, a with that program in Idahoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Silver Valley. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do four mobile food distributions a year. veteran of WWII and the Korean War, was career military, so moving, even to Munich, Germany, My wife, Janet, is president of the local chapter was normal. Mike studied forestry at Utah State now.â&#x20AC;? Mike and Janet love history, the thing that drew University, thinking he could â&#x20AC;&#x153;put on a backpack and make a fortune walking around the woods them to Wallace. Mike has been a serious collector of post cards and he collects memorabilia from the doing fun stuff.â&#x20AC;? Then came the realization that success would old naval base at Farragut. They have also collected â&#x20AC;&#x153;stuff for old homesâ&#x20AC;? as they have restored mean sitting at a desk. His dad by then had moved to Idaho State and decorated their Wallace home, a tour of which University as a ROTC instructor and Mike decided is like stepping back in time. They have maintained to move to Pocatello and get into journalism. Even the century-old feel of the house with old clocks, more important, that is where he met Janet who tin food boxes, and photographs of that era. Mike also serves on the Board of Directors for was from Filer, Idaho. Beginning at a small newspaper in Burley, as the Sixth Street Melodrama, which Mike finds â&#x20AC;&#x153;kind of interesting.â&#x20AC;? For those a photographer and farm unfamiliar with Wallace, reporter, Mike moved on the Melodrama hosts live to a position as city editor theater in a building that and finally managing edionce was a house of ill tor where he remained repute consistent with until 1990. Wallaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very colorful Mike is proud that he and bawdy past. Interwas a co-founder and estingly, it was the only charter vice president wooden structure remainof the Cassia County ing downtown after the diHistorical Society during sastrous fire in the 1890s. those years. Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wears his The Coeur dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alene love of Wallace on his Press recruited him and sleeve. he moved north as city â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wallace in pareditor, then managing ticular is a really active editor, and then worked JJanett andd Mik Mike F Feiler il on the th stairway t i off their th i centuryt town. There are lots of for a time as publisher of old Wallace home with photos from Janetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. [Photo by Jackie McNeel] interesting events and the Post Falls Press until things to do. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a walking 2000. community. We have a major bike trail (part of the Taking a career change, Mike went to work Trail of the Coeur dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alenes) just a short distance for Private Financial (now Thrivent Financial for Lutherans) managing its volunteer program in its from where we live, and a river runs through it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s territory that included all of Idaho, about 80% of got all the right pieces!â&#x20AC;? Mike likes to tell about their grandson who was Montana, and half of both Oregon and Washingvisiting them in Wallace. ton. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One day he said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Grandpa, I think we need to Mike became involved with Second Harvest take a break and do a jigsaw puzzle.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; So we walked whose mission is to fight hunger. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of all the things I did at that time, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m most downtown to a variety store, came back, and he went to Janet and said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Grandma, in Wallace proud of that program,â&#x20AC;? Mike explains. Mike learned that Second Harvest in Spokane everything is in our neighborhood.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I guess thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed volunteers more than money. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was what we like, everything is in our neighborhood.â&#x20AC;? Mike and Janet are working feverishly on a the kind of thing I was looking for,â&#x20AC;? he recalls. historical book they hope to have published by â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eventually I was able to get about $250,000 in grants from our corporation to buy three refrig- Thanksgiving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Her family was really unique,â&#x20AC;? Mike explains. erated trucks, one each in Boise, Spokane, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were part of the original settlers on the CloMissoula. Then trucks loaded with fresh food could ver Tract between Buhl and Twin Falls.â&#x20AC;? reach rural areas where normally the food banks The book will highlight these Lutheran families did not have anything but canned and dry goods.â&#x20AC;? With the aid of volunteers, the Spokane truck as they migrated from Germany in the late 1800s, alone distributed one million pounds of food in the through the upper mid-west to Nebraska, and fifirst three years of the program. Quantities have nally to Idaho. Family photos that Janet inherited will illustrate the book. Just one more example of increased significantly since then. Since his retirement, Mike has remained active their love of Idaho and their place in it. ISI

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Sandpoint’s Legendary Mailman in Shorts By Cate Huisman Rod Dosher is a creature of habit. He’s been backpacking with some subset of his three sons the third week in July “every year since I can remember.” He’s pole vaulted since high school, coached Sandpoint High School’s vaulters for more than two decades, and still competes in masters’ vaulting himself. He’s been doing coldwater plunges at least annually since he started with Sandpoint’s traditional New Year’s Day swim in 1989. So when, on a bet, he started wearing shorts to deliver the mail, he kept doing it. For seven years, all year round. “Once I start something, I get into a routine,” he notes. Like a lot of guys in Sandpoint, Dosher is fit and active. He was actually one of several men who worked downtown year-round in shorts, but “all these guys were inside; I was the walker,” he points out. “The UPS guy had a vehicle, FedEx had a vehicle. I was the only one that was outside walking.” He had a deal with the postmistress: “If it got below zero, I was supposed to put pants on.” Sandpoint isn’t that cold. “In the seven years, I think I wore pants seven times.” Maybe so, but nobody noticed. He was a local legend as the mailman who wore shorts all winter long. Dosher grew up spending the school year with his mother in California and summers in Priest River with his father. He excelled at football and track, but “I wasn’t a natural athlete,” he says. “I had to work hard at it.” His work habits paid off when he broke his school’s pole vault record and was its first representative in a decade at the state meet. After high school he tried college. “That wasn’t working. I wanted an outside job.” He joined the postal service because walking outside all day sounded perfect. He started out as a mail carrier in San Leandro, but then he tired of the crowds of California and moved to Sandpoint

to be closer to his dad. At the time, it was hard for a guy from California to get a job in the post office in Sandpoint, because the Sandpoint routes were harder and the California guys were considered lazy. “It was a big difference,” Dosher explains. “My route in California was easy. The routes up here, they were tough. You walked all day; we didn’t have vehicles. One of the routes was thirteen miles long.” After two years filling in on different routes part time, he got City Route 1, nine miles long. He walked it for the next 28 years. Route 1 was considered the business route. Dosher did morning deliveries downtown, and then another couple of hours of residential deliveries in the afternoon. “I had a lot of great people on the route,” Dosher remembers. “One guy over on Third Street by the hospital, every day he’d come out and meet me.” In hot weather, he might bring Dosher a cold drink. But usually it was Dosher who provided the service, and like many traditional mail carriers, he was a lifeline for some of the people on his route. For a few customers, he’d walk in the house and stop to chat as he dropped off the mail. For one wheelchair-bound lady, he shoveled snow in order to keep her from trying to shovel it herself.

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He was as well known among the canines along his route as among the humans. A German shepherd from a house behind the post office followed him on his rounds, and for a while, his own dog, Odie, joined him as well. It wasn’t that Dosher brought him to work. “Every day after I left the house, he’d show up at the post office about 10 minutes later. The postmaster had a bowl there of water for him, and he was just part of the family at the post office for four or five years.”

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Dosher admits he carried dog bones, though feeding dogs is supposed to be a no-no for mail carriers. “I had bag of bones in my vehicle, and I put some in my pocket. The boss saw the bag of bones and she gave me a letter of warning for feeding dogs. You know, she never saw me feed a dog. So I said, ‘You can’t tell me what to eat.’” He promptly ate a dog bone from his pocket, and offered one to his boss. He heard no more about the letter of warning, and when postal supervisors visited from Spokane, “I’d always offer them a bone.” Over 28 years, Dosher enjoyed watching the town evolve, construction projects go up, businesses and people come and go. He got so he could tell which locations were good for business. He remembers delivering to a brand new company called Coldwater Creek, which grew so much it made the post office grow. “I saw a lot of people have kids, and the kids have kids.”

But he lost the man on Third Street. “One day I came by and his wife was out there, and she looked pretty upset. He’d died of a brain aneurysm, just that fast. She came out to tell me, because he met me almost every day. “I’ve seen a lot of people move here, buy a house, and not think too much about a job. And then when they realized that they weren’t going to make a whole lot of money here, they had either to sell or lose it. It’s a tough place. I was fortunate, I mean really fortunate, to come here and get the postal job, because I might have been one of those people. How many companies can you work 35 years, and be able to retire when I did at 55 and have a good pension? It’s like a needle in a haystack to be able to find a job like that.” Dosher’s year now starts with pole vaulting in the spring, when he coaches at the high school. With summer comes rafting season, backpacking season, and kayaking on the lake. In the winter he skis, and he wears long pants. ISI

Visit Wallace – The Little Town With The Big History If you haven’t visited Historic Wallace in a while, you have been missing out! Within the last five years, a zipline opened on top of the mountain overlooking the town, a half dozen historic stairways were restored for use by locals and visitors, the ever-popular Sierra Mine Tour added a ghost tour, the mining exhibit at the Visitors Center was greatly expanded, and an Accordion Festival and Blues Fest were added to the summer events lineup. New downtown businesses include an upscale wine bar, event center, second brewery, RV park, organic foods store, and more antique stores than ever before. The little town with the big history has be-

decked its streets with hanging baskets of colorful flowers to welcome summer guests. The Sixth Street Theater has scheduled two new melodramas to engage and entertain its audiences. Eateries have expanded their menus to offer everything from breakfast burritos and BBQ to tapas and formal afternoon tea. Add in the nearby biking, hiking, RVing, fishing, and camping and you have the perfect place to spend your summer vacation, or just a day. If you haven’t visited Historic Wallace in a while, it’s time to come back! Festival schedule and more information are available at www. wallaceidahochamber.com or by calling 208-7537151. ISI

Join A Hard Rock Mining Adventure In Kellogg Go underground with the Sierra Silver Mine Tour! A retired miner is your guide as you experience the world of hard-rock silver mining in a real silver mine. Your guide will demonstrate the use of real mining equipment as you learn how silver and other metals are harvested from the earth, and how today’s responsible mining practices bring these metals into your life. On the way to and from the mine, you’ll enjoy a narrated trolley ride that will give you a look into the colorful history of Wallace, Idaho the Silver

Capital of the world. During July and August, step aboard the Ghost Town Trolley and enjoy a fun history lesson as a character from our past will share their story as we retrace the significant historical events of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District and the nearby ghost town of Burke. We are celebrating our 33rd season during 2014, please come join us! For more information, please call us at 208-752-5151 or visit silverminetour.org. ISI

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Blacksmithing – More Than A Hobby For Steve Stransky Article & Photo By Jack McNeel If the year were 1890 every town in Idaho would have at least one blacksmith, if not several. That may not be the case today but Steve Stransky says that blacksmithing is making a comeback even though it largely died out after World War II. “A huge amount of anvils got melted down in the war effort and with modern machining and building stuff the blacksmith was out of the picture. You’d still find them around old farming communities because they could fix a lot of things and shoe horses.” It wasn’t until the 1970s that blacksmithing really picked up again with people who liked working with metal. “The Artist Blacksmith Association of North America started in 1973,” Steve explains. “I think there were like 20 guys, mostly from the east coast and midwest. It brought a resurgence and it’s been growing since then.” Membership in that organization is now 5-6,000. Steve moved from his home in Ukiah, California to northern Idaho in 1976. Originally he lived in Sandpoint but over the intervening years home has been in a variety of area towns: Hayden, Chilco, Coeur d’Alene, Dalton Gardens, and now Athol. Work wasn’t always easy to find and during his ten years in Sandpoint he commuted to Coeur d’Alene eight of the years. He was working full time as a welder and it wasn’t until 1980 that he got interested in blacksmithing, picked it up as a hobby, and taught himself. “There weren’t any schools for it in the early 80s,” Steve states. “Most blacksmiths around my age probably learned it on their own. There are schools now and blacksmiths who also teach it.” Steve bought his first anvil 34 years ago plus a little forge and various tongs and hammers from a neighbor in Sandpoint. Free “He was like 80 Local years old and his father was a blacksmith in Area Sandpoint at the turn Education of the 20th century.” Larry Waters NMLS 400451 Basic equipment Reverse Mortgage Consultant for being a blacksmith is relatively simple. Steve has two forges, 208-762-6887 one is coal and the second is propane. Most of his work is done with the propane forge 157 W Hayden Ave Ste 104 as it is a lot cleaner. Hayden, ID 83835 In addition to various 855-762-6887 / NMLS 1079636 hammers and tongs for

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holding different shapes, he also uses grinders, sanding discs, saws for cutting material, a power hammer, and smaller items as squares and levels. “That’s the basic stuff,” he said. “There’s a lot of specialty stuff you make as well.” Steve began working for Energy Products of Idaho soon after he came to Idaho and has been with them 35 years. He originally did welding and fabrication but has spent the past ten years in the drafting department. Blacksmithing remains a sideline and something he will take up nearly full-time after retirement in two or three more years. “You don’t pay for college and getting your kids’ teeth fixed on a blacksmith’s wage,” Steve adds wryly. The blacksmithing he does is mainly things a person might use around the house or in the garden or yard. However, some jobs are custom work for a particular location or need. He cites making big custom pot racks for ceilings as an example. “I make tables, fireplace sets, hooks and hangers and barbeque tools. Last year I did two big projects. One was a graveyard memorial and

the other was a stand for the sanctuary lamp at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene.” People often associate blacksmithing with shoeing horses and certainly some blacksmiths do, but Steve is quick to point out that farriers shoe horses and not all are blacksmiths and vice versa. (Continued on page 26)

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Senior Games Liven Up The Summer You don’t stop training because you get old. You get old because you stop training. By Bernice Karnop Men and women of all sizes, shapes, abilities, and ages participate in Idaho’s Senior Games despite age, knee replacements, hip surgery, cancer, and more. Those who cannot run races may compete in shuffleboard, table tennis, croquet, billiards, pinochle, or bridge. What about you? Challenge yourself this summer by taking part in the heady excitement of a Senior Games near you. You will be the winner. Your trophies will include health, well-being, and enhanced quality of life – trophies that need no dusting and take up no space on a shelf. Lewis-Clark Senior Games, Lewiston The first senior games of the summer are in sunny Lewiston, June 18-21. The slogan for the Lewis-Clark Senior Games is “Explore the possible.” Manager Cathy Robinson explains that, while athletes revel in the competition with others, their main goal is to go faster, do better, and play smarter than they did the last time, whether they are swimming, running, jumping, or biking. Cathy loves watching active

seniors beat the stereotypes. Detailed information, on-line registration, and contact information on this four-day promotion of healthy lifestyles is available at lewisclarkseniorgames.org or by calling 208-746-7787. Southeast Idaho Senior Games, Pocatello Pursuit of gold takes commitment and determination. With personal goals and high expectations, competitors will gather July 11-19, 2014 for the Southeast Idaho Senior Games proving that no one is ever too old to go for gold. These games draw as many as a thousand athletes, many from out of state. Be sure to make motel or campground reservations early. The emphasis of the Southeast Idaho Senior Games is to provide participants, 50 years of age and better, with opportunities for competition, fun, and camaraderie. For registration information, visit seidahoseniorgames.org or call 208-233-2034.

Idaho Senior Games, Boise The 2014 Idaho Senior Games in Boise will be held on various days at various times August 2-31, 2014. Turnout is expected to exceed last year. Registration for this year’s games is online at idahoseniorgames.org. Don’t miss the registration party on June 7 at Shu’s Idaho Running Company, 1758 W. State Street, Boise. For more information visit idahoseniorgames. org or contact Mike Thornton at 208-297-2032 or email idahoseniorgamesinfo@gmail.com. National Senior Games This is a qualifying year for the National Senior Games to be held in Bloomington/Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. July 3-16, 2015. The National Senior Games, held in oddnumbered years, is the largest multi-sport event in the world for adults 50 and older. To qualify, athletes must first win in their state Senior Games. Additional information is available at nsga.com. ISI

Travel the Magical Mesa Falls Scenic Byway Article & Photo By Natalie Bartley Thundering waterfalls, pungent pines, and vast views of the Grand Tetons greet visitors traveling the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway in eastern Idaho. This scenic road trip offers delightful detours to campgrounds, streams, and trails for camping, hiking, and relaxing. Though only 28.7 miles, this designated byway packs a wallop of opportunities. During a quick one-hour trip, take in the 65-foot Lower Mesa Falls and the 114-foot Upper Mesa Falls on Henry’s Fork

of the Snake River. Simply park at the roadside turnouts and take a short walk on paved paths to the overlooks. Continue north on the scenic byway through the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and on to open plains offering stellar views of the Grand Teton mountain range. Better yet, plan a long weekend and go deeper into the soothing environment with invigorating activities. Use one of the forest service campgrounds as your home base. For quick access to the riverside rail-trail, two rivers, and the scenic byway, stay

ing

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at the Warm River Forest Service Campground located about nine miles east of Ashton. Hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders access the Yellowstone Branch Line Railroad ROW Trail, an old rail bed converted into a 38-mile diverse-use recreation trail. Find the trailhead at the edge of the campground. The first three miles are for non-motorized use only and starts with a gentle uphill incline paralleling Warm River. Near the Bear Gulch trailhead and parking area, the trail levels as it heads north and is shared with off-road vehicles. After a refreshing hike, return to the campground for some evening fishing along the Warm River or float downriver from the campground on

your own inner tube or a canoe. Bring your own equipment or book a river boat trip with a nearby outfitter. Another option is to base out of the Grandview Forest Service Campground by the Lower Mesa Falls turnout. You’ll be centrally located along the scenic byway with easy access to the impressive falls, the Upper Mesa Falls Visitor Center, and other destinations along the route. In winter, the forest service roads and the rail-trail are ideal for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. During an extended stay in the area, another worthwhile detour is to Cave Falls and Bechler Falls, with hiking options along two different rivers. Consider base camping at the Cave Falls Forest Service Campground, located on the border of Idaho and Wyoming. It’s a brief drive from the campground to the southwestern boundary of the Yellowstone National Park for views of Cave Falls on the Falls River and Bechler Falls on the Bechler River. Access the area located about 24 miles east of Ashton by following Idaho 47 to Cave Falls Road (Forest Road #582) then continuing to the Cave Falls. If you enjoy the outdoors, you might be interested in a club offering frequent outings. The Idaho Alpine Club was established over 50 years ago. Retirees, working men and women, and families comprise this 100-member club. Four club members hiked the rail-trail along the Warm River this past autumn. Sam Pole, the club hiking coordinator, said they selected the rail-trail for an outing because they had not been there in a few years. “It’s a pleasant hike and not all that strenuous,” said Sam. Getting to the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway: • Southern entrance – From Ashton at the

junction of U.S. 20 and Idaho 47, follow Idaho 47 east, then north for about 29 miles, to a second junction of highways U.S. 20 and Idaho 47. • Northern entrance – Pick up the scenic byway near Harriman State Park at the northern junction of U.S. 20 and Idaho 47, then head south on the scenic byway. For further information: • The Caribou-Targhee National Forest’s Ashton ranger district office is located near the junction of U.S. 20 and Idaho 47 in Ashton, less than an hour’s drive northeast of Idaho Falls. Pick up a travel map and hiking information. Call 208-652-7442 or visit fs.usda.gov/recmain/ctnf/ recreation .

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15

• National Forest Campground Reservation System 877-444-6777 • Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association at oglb.idaho.gov • Idaho Alpine Club – Outings include backpacking, bicycling, climbing, skiing, water sports, and other mountain sports. idahoalpineclub. org Natalie Bartley is a freelance outdoor writer/ photographer based in Idaho. She has over 800 magazine and newspaper articles to her credit. Look for her mobile app travel guide Boise’s Best Outdoor Adventures and trail guidebooks Best Easy Day Hikes Boise and Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest. nataliebartleyoutdoor.com. ISI

PAGE 16 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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Golf Tips from a No-Longer-a-Low-Handicapper By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire If you are a golfer, you will read this. There is no such thing as a golfer who is not looking for some new secret that can lower his or her score. Even though I am too old to play low-handicap golf any more, I do know what works. Golf is an important part of life for millions of men and women. No longer does anyone exclaim “wow” when I whack the ball off the tee. As age accumulates, strength dissipates as well as focus to follow all the correct techniques. I am now satisfied if I can see my drive safely in the fairway, even if it is only 160 or so yards out. If it takes three or even four shots to get to the green on a par-four hole, I know I can still putt. No Herculean effort needed there. Like most other golfers, I still watch the tournaments on TV, read the golf magazines, and I used to buy the latest equipment. I have taken lessons along the way from five different teaching pros. I even spent the day with the famed British teaching guru David Leadbetter. But, let’s get to the tips.

First, a couple of things about the grip. As one scratch golfer once told me, “You should hold the club in a manner that you would grasp a small bird. In other words, not too tightly. Squeezing can create tension that transfers to your whole body. Next, to assure a relaxed grip, try lifting your thumbs from the shaft on short iron shots – just hold the club with your other fingers. Kenny Perry is the only golf pro I know who lifts the club with his arms on his backswing. Somehow, he gets away with it. Practically every other successful golfer – as you know – accomplishes a smooth backswing by turning his shoulders to carry the club behind his head. That tends to put the club on the correct path. Of course, the downswing is most important. Just before the downswing is when many golfers find the 250 things they have been taught rushing through their brain: Keep the head still, eye on the back of the ball, right elbow close to your side, etc., etc., etc. All that is important, but if you have developed your swing, it is no time to think of what is right and what is wrong. Think instead about NOT hitting the ball. If just hitting it is the goal in your mind, you are giving up much of your power. As you must know, if you have had any instruction, that you must swing through the ball, ending up facing toward your target. Everyone knows that club head speed is what is important for long shots. That is what makes many golfers begin building speed at the top of their backswing. This often leads to flailing, rather than fluidity. Follow-through completes the swing arc. Most importantly, it builds the continuing power for long shots. But you knew that, didn’t you? One pro, years ago, told me, “You have to go through a little hell to get to heaven.” What he was saying was that you have to wind your shoulders to get that club back as far as possible to unleash the power to send the ball soaring toward heaven. You know you have wound up tightly if your left shoulder touches your chin. Some fine golfers have built a pause into their swing at the top of the backswing. A friend, who once invited me to play at the exclusive Burning Tree club where President Eisenhower and other notables played, always had a momentary pause at the top of his backswing. His handicap was in single digits. I trust you know the downswing does not begin with your hands. It starts with your feet, legs, and hips. That pivot commences the downswing. “Oh, no, not in the bunker” You have missed the green. Your ball is in the sand. But no real problem getting out. Set up with your feet farther apart than usual. Weight on the left foot. Open the face of your sand wedge. Then, hitting an inch or two behind the ball, drive through the sand with your arms while keeping your legs still. Out pops the ball. I’ve found on almost any putt, if I stare at the hole long enough to implant a mental picture of its location, I can then stroke the ball in or quite near the hole. Finally, do not wear yourself out with all those practice swings; save your strength for swinging at the ball. ISI

Friends can be said to “fall in like” with as profound a thud as romantic partners fall in love. - Letty Cottin Pogrebin

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By Connie Daugherty Kickers: a Novel of the Secret War by Patrick Lee, CreateSpace; 2013 “The POW pulled his thin blanket tighter to him. The temperature in the cave in the mountains was that of a mild day in Chicago winter and he was not dressed for it. He blamed that, too, on not paying attention.” The only way the POW can maintain even a slim grip on reality is to drift into fantasy and memory. He can touch, smell, and taste his memories; the future is not so vivid – actually, the future is unimaginable. “Jungle prison had made him introspective…. When that happened, he escaped to a memory of adventure or pleasure or vindication.” It is the 1960s, “The Cold War was afoot and not everyone felt bad about that.” The ever-present threat is the expansion of communism. The French have had enough of Indochina. The United States becomes involved, but much of what is going on must be kept secret for fear of heating up the cold war. It is due to that need for secrecy that the POW from Chicago is somewhere in the jungle of Laos. In his first novel, Kickers, Patrick Lee tells a story of war, friendship, and loyalty, but also of deception and disillusionment. He deals with this hidden, and often ignored, piece of American history – the war in Laos – in a way that brings the reality home. It is not a gentle story, but it is a touching story and a meaningful one. Kickers is a novel, but the story is well-researched and based on interviews with men who lived and survived it. Patrick’s writing is clean, clear, and precise. It is also engaging and enticing with just enough detail and description to transport the reader into his world. It is a world where the ideals of adventurous young men and determined political processes collide. Patrick introduces three young men from three very different backgrounds who come together at a smokejumper school in Idaho and form an unexpected bond. “It was a time of ideology and hubris. Atrocity became the ordinary in life.” When the fighting with the Communists “seeped into the mountains,” Thanasis fled Greece with his uncle. They ended up in Boston and though Thanasis, “knew a hell of a lot about herding sheep,” there was not much call for sheepherders in Boston. A car dealer told them about a place two thousand miles away – Idaho. “Charlie Mazzarelli thought he should have been named captain of the cross-country team. It was his senior year. He was the fastest on his team. He lettered every year.” But he did not get the honor of being captain. “The captain has to train, abide by the rules, and lead by example. All require discipline.” Charlie had talent, daring, and determination, but he did not have discipline. “At first Charles Stewart Parnell Touhey’s mother had worried about her small son… it was a matter of deportment.” He was teased in elementary school because of his long name and his small size. He handled it his own way, “hence the failing grades in deportment.” Eventually Charles

Stewart Parnell Touhey earned himself a short, descriptive nickname, Dog. “Not only was the name cool among his friends, it signified a change in tactics that reduced the number of schoolmates interested in fighting the freckle-faced boy.” Thanasis, Charlie, and Dog meet at a smokejumper training camp in McCall, Idaho. While herding sheep in the Idaho mountains, Thanasis meets a firefighting crew and “imagined himself a smokejumper in an airplane, guarding the forest.” Dog moved west to work at a fire lookout station in Idaho. “Two developments about him that summer surprised him…. The first was the longing for fire…” The second was that he liked watching lightening. At the end of that fire season, he also knew “he loved silk canopy as much as lightning, and for much the same reason.” When he got kicked out of the private catholic high school, Charlie’s father kicked him out of the house. He began hitchhiking west. Charlie ended up in McCall determined to be a smokejumper. “Smokejumper IQ has never been measured, … jumping out of an airplane to fight a fire in a wilderness mountainside takes a high level of intelligence and lots of optimism.” Thanasis, Dog, and Charlie all had varying degrees of both. The plan to employ smokejumpers to deliver supply packages to the Meo tribes in the mountains of Laos was hatched in Washington DC far away from McCall, Idaho and even further away from Laos. “CIA recruitment of smokejumpers for covert operations began at Silver City, New Mexico… each jumper was given an intelligence test, a polygraph test, an assumed name… and a briefing. The plan grew from an idea for an experiment... and Charlie, Dog, and Thanasis found themselves volunteering as employees of ‘Aerial Delivery Service Research’ and Development.” In Laos another deal was being made, encouraged by “the Meo and their resolve to fight for their mountains… Within days of the Meo pledge, smokejumpers were in the back of Air America airplanes kicking food and arms… to ten thousand Meo gathered on Padong.” Sometimes those “cargo kicker” smokejumpers ended up in the jungle. Sometimes they died. Sometimes they disappeared into a POW camp. “When he woke from the dream the escape plan came to the POW, clear and whole. They would begin by pissing on the posts of the log hut wall.” Kickers is more

Learn How The West Was Won In Baker City Nowhere is there a more colorful story about how the West was developed than at the Baker Heritage Museum in Baker City, Oregon, where the authentic artifacts of the original settlers and Oregon Trail travelers are on display in the former community natatorium. Wander through the memories of yesteryear as you view exhibits telling the stories of the adventurous souls seeking their fortunes out west. You will not want to miss the Cavin-Warfel Rock Collection, one of the largest and best-known rock and mineral displays in the Northwestern U.S. Summer is a great time to visit with special events planned for Dads on Father’s Day, and the whole town is hopping during the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally and the Miner’s Jubilee in July. Check the Museum’s website for special events at bakerheritagemuseum. com or call 541-523-9308 for more information. Just a short scenic drive from about anywhere brings you to Baker City and the Baker Heritage Museum, 2480 Grove, across from the City Park. The Museum is open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through October. ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17

than a powerful engaging story, it is a tribute to those dedicated smokejumpers who fought in the Secret War and to those who did not return and to the survivors whose lives were forever changed. Patrick Lee is a former smokejumper who made twenty-five jumps into the Idaho Primitive Area fighting forest fires before he left to study law. He practiced law in Washington DC for forty-five years. Interviewing surviving smokejumpers about their CIA experiences in Laos convinced Lee their stories needed to be told. In 2012, he was awarded a writer’s residency by the Jentel Artist Residency Program based on the Kickers manuscript. Lee lives and writes on a ranch in the Sawtooth Mountains of Central Idaho with his wife Janis. ISI

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Mountain Men & Women Hail From Almo & Albion Artricle & Photo By Dianna Troyer Mike Taylor of Almo cannot put his past behind him whenever he goes to a mountain man rendezvous, where friends call him “Grass Killer.” “You have to do something kind of stupid to earn your name, and then everyone keeps reminding you of it,” says the good-natured brand inspector. While competing in a shooting event several years ago, he earned his nickname. He had tamped in a cap and black powder, but his gun would not fire. “I pulled the trigger and click, nothing would happen. I kept trying; tapping in a little more powder and click, tap, click, tap. Still nothing. Then I pointed the barrel toward the ground. Boom. Off she went, and dirt and grass sprayed everywhere. There was a burned patch where the grass had been.” Mike’s wife, Linda, hasn’t been given a name. “She’s more sensible and hasn’t done anything to get a name yet.” Every year for more than a decade, the Taylors, who are members of the Oregon Trail Muzzleloaders, have been attending mountain man rendezvous, re-enacting the lifestyle of trappers and traders of the 1840s and earlier. Participants wear period clothing and compete in shooting, hatchet and ax throwing, storytelling, running, starting a fire with flint and steel, and other events. Mike says trappers deserve respect and a lot of credit for opening up the West. “Lewis and Clark wouldn’t have had a prayer

without relying on trappers’ knowledge and experience because trappers were familiar with the land and Indians. Trappers were tough, slogging through the snow and mud in their buckskin clothes and rawhide boots. They didn’t have overshoes or rain gear. It’s amazing how they survived, especially while trapping in winter when the pelts were in their prime.” Mike laughs and says, “I’m a free trapper at heart. They never did have too many responsibilities.” The Taylors’ friends, Albion ranchers George “Bent Trigger” Montgomery and his wife, Gwen “Ramrod Molly,” earned their names after they began attending various rendezvous in 2005. “We were at Hagler one year and George had trouble with his gun,” recalls Gwen. “He adjusted it wrong and the next thing he knew, the trigger was bent clear over to the side.” Gwen earned her name when she was on a trail walk. “I was keeping track of everyone’s gun status, whether they were loaded or empty. I forgot that my own ramrod was still in my barrel and shot it up on the hillside at the target. It kicked like a mule.” Once, she accidentally burned a hole in her dress. “I was practicing fire starting with flint and steel in a friend’s camp,” she recalls. “The spark went under my coat, so I didn’t know my dress was on fire until the

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smoke rose from under the coat.” Gwen patched her dress and still wears it. “I had bought it along with another one at an estate sale in Albion. It was owned by a pioneer woman, so it has sentimental value.” More than a decade ago, the Taylors were introduced to a mountain man rendezvous during a fateful trip to visit their son in Colorado. When they stopped at Fort Bridger, Wyo., to stretch their legs, a rendezvous was being held. Stepping into the village of teepees, the Taylors felt right at home. “We’ve always loved stuff from that era,” says Mike. “The Fort Bridger rendezvous is the biggest in our region and is primitive, so everything in the village has to be authentic to the 1840s or earlier.” When the Taylors returned home, they looked for local mountain man groups and found the Oregon Trail Muzzleloaders. “In our region, you can find a rendezvous almost every weekend from May until fall,” says Mike. George and Gwen take time off from ranching to take their seven grandchildren to a rendezvous. Their grandchildren have won prizes in shooting, and their oldest, Casey Knudsen, won a .32 caliber rifle. “A rendezvous is fun, family-oriented, and instills positive values,” says Gwen. “It attracts the kind of people who love a good joke. The adults laugh that we’re old people still playing kids’ games. We’re still young at heart.” There are serious moments, too. One year, Rick Ramsey organized a flag ceremony with three era flags and a “Don’t Tread on me Flag.” “Kids held the flags and stood on a ridge,” recalls Gwen. “As he talked about our country, the sun was silhouetting them from the west. It was really moving. There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.” In the evenings, they gather around a campfire to tell tall tales. “Someone can always find something to lie about better than another person can,” says Mike. The Taylors return to the Fort Bridger Rendezvous every fall. George and Gwen have been to Fort Bridger twice. “It’s huge with about 40,000 people from everywhere,” says Gwen. “It’s fun to step back in time for a while.” ISI

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A city boy, Kenny, moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. Early in the morning, the farmer drove over to Kenny’s. “Sorry son,” the farmer said,” the donkey died.” Kenny asked for his money back, but the farmer said he had already spent it. Kenny said, “Okay then, just unload the donkey. I’ll raffle him off.” A month later, the farmer met up with Kenny, who said he sold 500 raffle tickets at $2 each and made a profit of $898. “Didn’t anyone complain because the donkey was dead?” the farmer asked. “Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back,” Kenny explained!” ISI

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Caves near Shoshone are a haven from summer heat Complementary coats hang on pegs for those who By Dianna Troyer On a toasty summer day, two caves with the forgot to bring one. Totem poles and a towering promise of cool temperatures near Shoshone green dinosaur watch over the place. “We have 20,000 tons of ice in here,” says beckon us. Idaho’s Mammoth Cave and the Shoshone Ice Caves lie north of town off Highway 75. Fred. “We’re the lowest ice cave in the world at “They’re both wonderful and different,” says about 4,500 feet elevation. The ice stays yearClaudia Reese, a member of the Shoshone Cham- round. In most caves, the temperatures range from ber of Commerce, who recommends visiting both about 45 to 50 degrees, but we’re an icon because caves. “The mammoth cave has self-guided tours, of our low temperatures and ice.” Every year from May 1 and the other cave has to Sept. 30, about 13,000 ice throughout it and has people from around the guided tours. People from world trek through the icy around the world visit both cave during an hour-long of them.” guided tour. During the Both caves were next hour, as we walk formed 20,000 years ago, about three-quarters of when Black Butte Volcano a mile and navigate 160 exploded and lava flowed steps, Fred tells us about throughout the area. As the cave’s geology and the lava cooled, tubuhistory. lar caves formed. Native The icy stalagmites Americans used the caves Mammoth Ice Cave offers a cool respite from sumfor shelter and food stor- mer heat near Shoshone. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] rising from the floor and stalactites dripping from age. Idaho’s Mammoth Cave lies 8 miles north of the ceiling shimmer and sparkle like diamonds. town and was developed by Richard Olsen in “By late spring, the stalactites have melted, but 1959. As a high school senior, he discovered the the stalagmites hold until mid-summer. They melt cave in 1954 while hunting bobcats and eventually then reform in spring,” says Fred, 60, who has led was granted title to it through the Small Tract Act, tours of the cave for 30 years. The main cave stretches for 1,000 feet. Ice using it for agricultural purposes. “I grew mushrooms for several years. Then I forms inside the cave as frigid air flows through realized there was a better market using the cave the subterranean water. Native Americans used for tourism instead of agriculture, so I opened it to the cave, leaving arrowheads, mortars and pestles, the public in 1963,” says Richard, 77. “I’ve always and other items, which are displayed in the muloved nature, and caves are especially interesting seum. In the late 1800s, business owners from the to me.” The cave is so large that it was used as a civil town of Shoshone cut blocks of ice from the cave defense shelter during the 1960s Cold War. The and hauled it to town to use in their box refrigerators, restaurants, and saloons. military stored food in the cave for 20 years. Fred recalls a few memorable moments during We descend into the cave with propane lanterns, taking a quarter-mile hike. It takes about a the past three decades. “Once we had someone from Africa come half hour to navigate the shadowy cave, and we appreciate the 41-degree temperature. An unusual through. He had never been in temperatures below life form on the walls makes the cave look silvery. freezing, and he didn’t like it at all. After the tour, After the tour, we enjoy the Shoshone Bird he sang a traditional song for us in the gift shop. Museum of Natural History, which Richard built to It was really cool.” Serious language barriers don’t exist at the share his love of animals preserved with taxidermy. caves. On down Highway 75, about 16 miles north of “Another time a woman from Japan couldn’t Shoshone, we stop at Shoshone Ice Caves. The cave here is much colder than the Mammoth Cave, speak English and kept flapping her arms like she and temperatures hover at 32 degrees year-round, was flying. We finally realized she wondered if bats lived in the cave.” says proprietor Fred Cheslik. That prompted Fred to tell his bat joke. “When “My dad and uncle loved the cave. For about 60 years, a lease from the state of Idaho to operate people ask if we have bats in the cave, I tell them tours and care for the cave has been in our family.” if bats were in there overnight at freezing temperaFred’s grandfather, Dr. Edward Stewart Rob- tures they would be bat-sicles by morning.” Fred says the same people visit the cave every inson and Edward’s son, Russell, built a curio shop and museum resembling a red log fort and year to see how the ice formations have changed. Fred and his staff must be keeping them happy a caretaker’s house near the cave entrance.

Cache Valley’s Hidden Treasures Cache is a French word that means “to hide or store one’s treasure.” You and your family will find plenty of hidden fortune in Logan, Utah. This high mountain agricultural valley is known for outdoor adventures, hands-on heritage experiences, and performing and fine arts. Mountain biking, canoeing, fly-fishing, bird watching, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are a few of our outdoor attractions. All ages love to visit the American West Heritage Center, a 160-acre living-history museum where you can experience the Old West through Native Americans, mountain men, farmers, and pioneers. And do not miss driving the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway through dramatic limestone cliffs and forests to the breathtaking turquoise waters of Bear Lake. Take the self-guided Cache Valley Food Tour and sample our famous cheeses, chocolates, coffee, cookies, honey, fruit, ice creams, and pastries. The city of Logan is home to Utah State University and the stunning 1923 Ellen Eccles Theatre, home of the renowned Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. With many performances of this season’s lineup of Les Miserables, Oklahoma!, Vanessa, and the Student Prince, plus special concerts, backstage tours, and more, you will be entertained! For more information visit explorelogan.com or call 435-755-1890. ISI

because they keep coming back. We agree with Fred that walking through the cave is a great way to spend a hot summer day. To schedule appointments for an ice cave tour between 8 a.m. and 7:15 p.m., call 208-886-2058. For information about Richard’s cave, go to www. idahosmammothcave.com or call 208-539-7072 or 208-886-7072. ISI

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PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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Mildred King Stays Nimble With Exercise Class And Quilting Article & Photo By Dianna Troyer Mildred King, 95, reminds friends they’re never too old to start exercising. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, the Heyburn resident participates in a one-hour, 60-and-older exercise class at the Rupert Community Center. “It makes me feel better,” says Mildred after class one morning. “I’ve been going since it started 16 years ago. People who think they’re too old to start exercising should just give it a try. Just do what you can do.” Mildred can still do plenty. “First we walk for 30 minutes and lift weights as we’re moving. Seventeen laps around the gym is a mile. I make it to about six times around in a half hour. Then we lie down on a mat and do leg exercises and some tai chi to cool down. It’s a really good program.” Every year her teacher, Alice Schenk, throws a birthday party for the oldest student in her class. “It’s always me,” says Mildred, who goodnaturedly accepts teasing from Alice and other students. At Mildred’s birthday party on Sept. 16, Alice dressed up like a dinosaur and brought in inflated dinosaurs, a “Geriatric Park” sign, and a cake. “One smart-aleck man just had to ask me if that’s what they looked like back in my day,” says Mildred. “We all had a laugh about that.” Alice says she and others are blessed to have Mildred in the Over 60 and Getting Fit class. “She’s such an encouragement to all of us with her faithful attendance, her ability to participate in what we do, her quick smile, and her beautiful personality,” says Alice. “It amazes us all that she gets down on the mat and stretches with the class. We all love her very much.” While toiling to stay physically fit, Mildred strives to stay mentally active, too. After class, she goes home and whips up a batch of banana bars, trying a recipe for the first time. As they cool, she

begins hand stitching a pattern on a quilt stretched snugly on a frame in her living room. “I’ve made more than 100 quilts of all sizes,” she says. “I make about three a year for family and friends. I like to give them for a high school graduation gift.” Mildred buys attractive pieces of material and

stitches a pattern on them. “These days, I don’t see much point in cutting up little pieces of material and sewing them back together again,” she says, chuckling. “Why not save some time and start with a big piece?” Mouke, a 12-year-old Shih Tzu, keeps her company as she sews, barking to alert her to visitors. Her daughter Leann Smith stops by after work. “Mom taught us to always keep a positive attitude throughout life,” says Leann, 64. “She also wanted to make sure we knew the homemaking

arts, how to quilt, crochet, embroider, knit, and sew. Some of those crafts aren’t as popular as they once were.” As secretary for the Minidoka Fair Board, Leann sees entries in homemaking crafts declining each summer. “These days, some kids are too busy with their electronic toys to learn to sew and do other things,” says Mildred. Leann has passed on the tips she learned from her mother to her daughters and granddaughters. “We sewed all our own clothes until after we were married. Our dad always joked that we couldn’t get married until we could bake bread.” The aroma of freshly baked bread filled Mildred’s home for decades. “This house has a lot of good memories. I’ve lived here since 1940,” says Mildred of her red brick home. “My late husband John had it halfway built when we got married. As our family grew, we added on a few rooms. When we moved here, there was nothing around us but sagebrush. We cleared it and planted more than 40 fruit trees.” After graduating from Heyburn High School in 1937, she met John through friends. “We all went roller skating. John and I hit it off and dated for about three years before getting married.” After they married, John raised crops, while Mildred reared their seven children. Their son Ferril bought the farm, so it would stay in the family. Photos of her late husband, who died in 2009 at age 94, and other mementos of him abound in the house. Her great grandchildren play with a wooden marble run John built decades ago from scrap wood and tin cans. “Colton likes to play with that,” says Mildred of a great grandson, who comes with Leann. He is one of her 89 great grandchildren. “I’ve also got 36 grandchildren and three great, great granddaughters. I’ve been blessed.” ISI

Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or leave its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is. - Bob Feller Turning alpacas’ wool into clothing - continued from page 1 “We knew zero about them, but with her advice we felt we could care for them and keep their hooves trimmed and give them their annual shots,” says Tussy. Because the Ferbraches did not want to become breeders, they picked four males. “Once we got them home and spent some time around them, we fell in love with them,” says Tussy. After buying them, the Ferbraches learned about their history. Incan royalty cherished alpaca fiber and raised them on the high Andean Plateau and in the mountains of South America. Weighing 100-200 pounds, they stand about 36 inches tall at the withers and graze on grasses. Alpacas were first imported into the U.S. in 1984. After a year, the Ferbraches bought two more alpacas and fenced more of their yard. Today the alpacas keep the grass trimmed and dine on orchard grass hay during winter. They deposit their pellet droppings near the barn, making cleanup easy. “Since we bought them, drivers quit speeding along our road because they want to see them,” says Tussy. “Or if they have kids, they stop and get out of their cars and pet them.” Tussy grins and says when she was a child she could never imagine she would one day own alpacas and dogs. “I grew up in Wiesbaden, Germany, a big city and we didn’t even have a dog. Now look at this,” she says. After earning educational credentials to be a tailor, Tussy moved to Mountain Home, where she met Andy.

“A friend told us an upholsterer was needed in this area, so we came 35 years ago,” she says. The Ferbraches have gradually increased the size of their flock. When the alpaca breeders in Emmett decided to move, they called Tussy and Andy to see if they wanted to buy a few more. “Now we have 12,” says Tussy. “That’s our limit. Their average lifespan is 20 years, so we do not want them to outlive us. It’s a privilege to have them in our lives.” Andy says, “They’re such gentle animals to be around. We really enjoy them.” ISI

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Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease: Caregiving and Communication Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease and as many as 16 million will have the disease in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and other dementias is estimated to total $214 billion in 2014. Approximately 22,000 people here in Idaho have been diagnosed with the disease and over 75,000 Idahoans are caregivers. Caregiving for a loved one can be very rewarding. But as those 75,000 Idahoans know, it can be challenging, frustrating, and stressful. As families try to deal with memory loss, behavior changes, financial planning, and safety issues they need to reach out to find resources and ideas to support these efforts. Here are some helpful ideas to address one challenge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; maintaining communication. Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease and other dementias gradually diminish a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to communicate. Communication with a person with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requires patience, understanding, and good listening skills. Changes in the ability to communicate are also unique to each person with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. In the early stages of dementia, the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s communication may not seem very different, or he or she might repeat stories or not be able to find a word. As the disease progresses, a caregiver may recognize these other changes: â&#x20AC;˘ Using familiar words repeatedly â&#x20AC;˘ Inventing new words to describe familiar objects â&#x20AC;˘ Easily losing his or her train of thought â&#x20AC;˘ Reverting to a native language â&#x20AC;˘ Having difficulty organizing words logically â&#x20AC;˘ Speaking less often People with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and other dementias have more difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions, and they have more trouble understanding others. Here are some ways to help the person with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s communicate. â&#x20AC;˘ Be patient and supportive. â&#x20AC;˘ Let the person know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re listening and

trying to understand. â&#x20AC;˘ Show the person that you care about what he or she is saying and be careful not to interrupt. â&#x20AC;˘ Offer comfort and reassurance. If he or she is having trouble communicating, let the person know that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay. Encourage the person to continue to explain his or her thoughts. â&#x20AC;˘ Avoid criticizing or correcting. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell the person what he or she is saying is incorrect. Instead, listen and try to find the meaning in what is being said. â&#x20AC;˘ Avoid arguing. If the person says something you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t agree with, let it be. Arguing usually only makes things worse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; often highlighting the level of agitation. â&#x20AC;˘ Offer a guess. If the person uses the wrong word or cannot find a word, try guessing the right one. â&#x20AC;˘ Encourage unspoken communication. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand what is being said, ask the person to point or gesture. â&#x20AC;˘ Limit distractions. Find a quiet place. The surroundings should support the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to focus his or her thoughts. While a person with later-stage Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s may not always respond, he or she still requires and benefits from continued communication. When communicating with a person with dementia, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially important to choose your words carefully. â&#x20AC;˘ Identify yourself. â&#x20AC;˘ Call the person by name. â&#x20AC;˘ Use short, simple words and sentences. â&#x20AC;˘ Speak slowly and distinctively. â&#x20AC;˘ Patiently wait for a response. â&#x20AC;˘ Repeat information or questions as needed. â&#x20AC;˘ Avoid confusing or vague statements. â&#x20AC;˘ Turn negatives into positives. â&#x20AC;˘ Avoid quizzing or asking, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do you remember whenâ&#x20AC;Ś?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Write things down. â&#x20AC;˘ Treat the person with dignity and respect. â&#x20AC;˘ Convey an easygoing manner.

Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease is a challenge, but with patience and understanding, you can give the best care and love possible. Content for this article was excerpted from the Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association website. Find more information about care, support, and research at www.alz.org. Contact your local Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association chapter for information on other resources such as free classes, support groups, fundraising activities at 208-405-9068. Contact us at our free 24/7 hotline at 1-800-272-3900. You are not alone. ISI

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Just Pick Up Your Pen and Make a New Irish Friend! By Jonathan Rimmel In 1976, during a particularly cold winter, Willie Bermingham â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Dublin, Ireland fireman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; found a number of older folks dead in their homes, ignored and forgotten. This discovery ignited a passion within Mr. Bermingham. Together with a small group of friends and colleagues, he distributed food, fuel, and blankets to suffering seniors. ALONE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an independent charity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; builds upon this legacy. ALONE continues today, assisting those at risk of homelessness, the socially isolated, the vulnerable, and those in crisis. It provides Supportive Housing, Befriending, Community Response, and Campaigning services to over three hundred seniors weekly. ALONEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age-friendly homes provide affordable accommodations to one hundred residents supported by staff developed plans, individually tailored to maximize independence and quality-oflife. With ALONEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Befriending Service, volunteers make visits to over two hundred older folks each week, offering companionship and practical assistance with daily needs. The ALONE Community Response Service supports those in crisis, dealing with an average of thirty such emergencies each month. ALONEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Campaigns for Change shine a light on poor or inadequate services in addition to campaigns for policy changes to protect seniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights. (Continued on page 31)

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Changing Demographics: The Graying of Idaho By Bruce Weaver, MPA, PA-C AAging Better In-Home Care Post Falls There has been a largely unnoticed change going on in Idaho that is just becoming visible. Although it has been apparent for a number of years in sunshine states such as Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, and Southern California, we can see it now across our northern region. It is a revolution where the wave of Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) is changing the composition of the senior population and its effects on society in general. Rather than marking nearly the end of life, age 65 has become the beginning of retirement with an expectation of living another 15-20 years and the challenges that brings. This expanding senior demographic will become Idahoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest growing population segment

for the next couple of decades as retirees moving into the area combine with the aging local population. The impact of this group of 77 million baby boomers on social services will be significant. In Idaho, our Department of Health and Welfare struggles to meet increasing demand without adequate funding for Medicaid and other programs that provide care and assistance to our older citizens. One solution is to emphasize programs and services that can help people age safely at home. Family members and professional in-home care agencies can provide assistance with shopping, meal preparation, house cleaning, assistance with bathing, transportation, and a variety of other services. When a person struggles to accomplish the activities of daily living, a family member or an agency can step in to assist. As a result, seniors may not have to move into a nursing home. Many grown children of elderly parents do not know where to look for help when Mom has fallen and broken a hip or Dad has had a stroke. Medicare only pays for in-home services after a hospitalization, and to qualify for Medicaid, a person can have only limited assets and income. When a spouse is unable to provide care and the children have families and full-time jobs, an in-home care agency can step in to provide care of loved ones. This leaves families with peace of mind and the loved one safely in the comfort of their own home. When in-home care is needed, call the local Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-786-5536 for a list of area home-care agencies, check the Yellow Pages under Home Care or Home Health, or the Internet under North Idaho Home Care. Remaining safely at home for as long as possible is the choice of virtually everyone and will remain so as the senior population wave sweeps across Idaho and our region. ISI

Four Things You Should Know About Assisted Living

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Provided by Janice Ahles Good Samaritan Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Moscow Maintenance, safety, finances â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there are many factors to consider when thinking of moving from your house. If staying in your home is no longer the best option for you, here are four things to know about assisted living. 1. Assisted living is community living. You may feel isolated and lonely at home, even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to talk about it. Moving to an assisted living community can help you connect with others and fill the gaps in care you are not receiving at home. Knowing that 24-hour medical assistance is available can help you feel safer, and participating in organized activities can keep you active. 2. You set your level of care. Assisted living communities are licensed healthcare providers that offer housing, personal, and supportive services. You can discuss your specific needs with staff members and choose your level of care. Assisted living services help you remain as independent as possible while also receiving the individualized care you need and want. 3. Many payment options may be available. Before you pay for assisted living privately, explore other payer sources. For example, some assisted living communities accept Medicaid, and some long-term care insurance policies cover assisted living services. Veterans may qualify for an Aid & Attendance pension through the Veterans Administration that covers some services. 4. Assisted living isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your only option. If you like the idea of getting some extra help but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not ready to move, look for home care agencies in your area. Home care services could include personal assistance, housekeeping, monitoring of medication, nursing care, and more. For more information, contact an assisted living facility near you or call or visit 888- 296-1445 or www.good-sam.com. ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 23

Stroke: Preventable, Treatable, and Beatable! Provided by Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest Every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke! Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of adult long-term disability. It can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex, or age. But, annually, more women suffer from strokes then men, and twice as many African Americans suffer from strokes as do Caucasians. While the statistics may seem grim, the good news is that stroke is largely preventable, treatable, and beatable. A stroke occurs when blood flow and oxygen are blocked from getting to the brain – usually caused by a blood clot or broken blood vessel. When this happens, brain cells begin to die, and brain damage occurs. This can affect speech, movement, and memory. How a stroke patient is

affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much of the brain is damaged. For example, one person who has a stroke may only experience minor problems such as weakness of an arm or leg, while another person may become paralyzed on one side or lose his or her ability to speak... or worse. While some risk factors for stroke such as age, race, gender, and family history cannot be controlled, 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented through controllable risk factors. Some ways to lower your stroke risk include: • Manage your blood pressure • Eat a healthy diet • Exercise regularly • Limit alcohol consumption • Stop smoking • Lower your cholesterol • Lose excessive weight In addition, meet regularly with your physi-

cian to discuss and manage any ongoing issues. Know and share your family history and be sure to discuss your risks and any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be having a stroke, acting fast is critical to saving a life. ISI

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When You Need a Little Help, But Aren’t Quite Ready For Nursing Home Care By Ron Pollack, Families USA Have you started to experience challenges with living on your own? Do you need help with medical care or daily activities? A nursing home may seem like your only option. But there are good alternatives, including home care and assisted living. However, it is important for you to learn what kinds of services Medicare and Medicaid will and won’t cover. Medicaid is the nation’s health insurance program for low-income individuals and families – including seniors – and for people with disabilities. What is home- and community-based care? You may have access to services such as Meals on Wheels, visiting and shopper services, and adult day care programs. But what if you need other kinds of assistance? Home health services (also called home- and community-based care) help folks who need additional support so they can safely stay in their homes or who are recovering after a hospital stay. These services include short-term nursing care and rehabilitative care – like physical therapy. Registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational

therapists, speech pathologists, home health aides, and medical social workers provide home health care. Medicare pays for a limited number of onehour home health visits, but only for medical care. Medicaid may pay for other types of home care, depending on your situation and the state you live in. You may be able to find other non-medical services in your community through your local Area Agency on Aging. What is assisted living? Assisted living facilities (or assisted living homes) bridge the gap between independent living and nursing homes. These facilities typically provide services like assistance with personal care and medications, and they give residents more freedom and privacy than nursing homes. They range in size from small houses that serve a few residents to very large facilities with hundreds of residents.

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Assisted living facilities cost less than nursing homes but are still very expensive, costing an average of $3,300 a month. What do Medicare and Medicaid pay for nursing home care and nursing home alternatives? Many people are confused about what Medicare and Medicaid cover. Nursing Home Care Medicare does not cover most nursing home care. Medicare pays only for certain skilled nursing or rehabilitative care, and only after a hospital stay. The duration of this coverage is limited. To learn more about coverage limits, visit the Medicare website at medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facilitycare.html.

Medicaid covers most nursing home care if you have a low income. Each state sets its own income eligibility level for Medicaid coverage of nursing home care. In many states, you must also have limited assets to have Medicaid cover your nursing home care. Alternatives to Nursing Home Care Medicare covers very little of this care. For example, Medicare wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay your rent for an assisted living facility, but it will cover some health care you receive while you are in assisted living. Medicaid pays for some assisted living costs for people with low incomes in several states. Every state has at least one Medicaid program that will pay for other alternatives to nursing facility care, and most have multiple programs. Each stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program is different. Plus, individuals must meet the eligibility rules for that particular program. For example, some programs focus on individuals with particular health care needs. And some programs are limited to a certain number of people, which creates waiting lists. Many people end up paying the full cost of assisted living entirely out of their own pockets. To Learn More To learn more about Medicare and Medicaid coverage of nursing home care, assisted living, and other options, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. SHIPs offer free counseling and assistance by phone and in person. Find the SHIP in your state online at shipnpr.shiptalk. org/shipprofile.aspx. Also, the Eldercare Locator connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services. Find it online at eldercare.gov/ eldercare.net/Public/Index.aspx. ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25

Avoid Fumbling the Football in the Red Zone of Retirement – The Six Documents You Need for Your Estate Plan Playbook By Ginny Grimly The start of football season may be months away, but the game’s on the minds of many after the NFL draft. Minicamps are gearing up and team personnel are organizing in preparation for the 2014-15 season. Football is a big deal in the United States – and so is the surge of retirees – 10,000 baby boomers every day for the next 18 years, says multi-certified planner Larry Roby. The last thing pre-retirees want to do at this stage of their lives is to fumble while in the red zone of their retirement date. “Only 23 percent of pre-retirees have calculated how much they’ll need to save for retirement, according to New Retirement Landscape. While three-quarters say they’re confident in the red zone of retirement, an equal amount of people haven’t even done the math yet!” says Roby, founder and president of Senior Financial Advisors, (sfabridge. com), a wealth-management firm. “Confidence in your retirement portfolio is good – if it’s justified. Otherwise, it can lull people into a false sense of security and lack of preparedness.”

Having a diverse portfolio and understanding your options for life insurance, Social Security, and 401(k) or other retirement accounts are staples for retirement planning. But there are also six crucial documents that are often overlooked in an individual’s playbook. Here are the six documents you need for a solid red zone estate plan: • Joint Ownership – Enables you to own property jointly with another person and upon the death of the joint tenant, the surviving joint tenant automatically becomes the owner of the property. • Last Will and Testament – A legal document that expresses the wishes of a person concerning the disposition of their property after death and names the person who will manage the estate. • Durable Power of Attorney – Grants authority to another individual to act on behalf of the person who executes the instrument and is commonly used for legal and financial purposes. • Durable Health Care Power of Attorney – Grants authority to another individual to make

health care decisions on your behalf should you be unable to make such decisions. • Advance Care Directive – A set of written instructions in which a person specifies which actions should be taken for their health, if they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity. • Living Trust – Created during your lifetime. Assets are transferred to the trust while you are alive and provides written instructions for the disbursement of the trust assets upon your death. “These documents can play a vital role in the major plays during the fourth quarter of your life,” Roby says. “Understanding how they work now can make the difference between a last-minute victory or loss.” Larry Roby is a four-year member of the Million Dollar Round Table and has achieved “Court of the Table” status for the past three years. Roby attained his Series 65 license, which allows him to serve as an Investment Advisor Representative. ISI

Relive The Action At Warhawk Air Museum The Warhawk Air Museum is located at the Nampa Municipal Airport in Nampa where it tells the story of the American experiences of World War I, World War II, and the Cold War Era including the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Visitors learn about the experiences of men, women, and children who lived through those times and the impact of technological advancements on our society. Step into this 40,000 square foot museum and enter a world of sweetheart pillows, ration books, V Mail, Mothers Flags, Victory Puzzles, and numerous other items that represent the home front during times of war. Among a large collection of airplanes and equipment, visitors will experience the thrill of seeing two of only a few remaining Curtiss P-40 World War II fighter airplanes left in the world; a

very rare World War II P-51C Razorback Mustang fighter airplane; a Korean War era F-86 Saber Jet; a Korean War era Russian MIG-17 and a later MIG-21, a Vietnam era Cessna L-19 O-Bird, and a Vietnam era Huey helicopter. Compare their relatively modern technologies with the museum’s World War I DR-1 Fokker Tri-Plane replica German fighter airplane and the D-7 German fighter airplane. View survival gear, equipment, a link trainer, and a Norden Bombsight – all examples of the most advanced technology known to humanity during the 1940s. Experience the personal histories of American veterans who sacrificed so much for our country and discover the meaning of patriotism, responsibility, courage, and self-sacrifice as well as the

power of propaganda. The Warhawk Air Museum is a Library of Congress Veterans History Project Partner and a 501(c)(3) non-profit (Tax ID 94-3092941). If you would like to support our mission to preserve the military history of our veterans who served in any war, please call us for more information. Museum hours are Tues-Sat 10-5 and Sunday 11-4. General admission is $10, $8 for folks 65+, and $4 for kids 5-12. ISI

Become a Senior Volunteer! One of the many programs that the Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho provides is a vast network of volunteer opportunities. Everyone 55 and older is eligible to volunteer through our agency and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Volunteer opportunities are selected based on the volunteers’ own interests! Our members may choose to serve in their volunteer positions from just a few hours to as many they would like. The benefits of volunteering include the opportunity to network with other people, enrichment activities held throughout the year, free insurance while you are volunteering, a quarterly newsletter, and the annual volunteer recognition luncheon and

awards presentation. Volunteers work at many sites including law enforcement, emergency services centers, senior centers, libraries, and food banks to name a few. Senior volunteers also conduct and assist with neighborhood/rural patrols, clerical duties, training of volunteers, and public education. We also have our Friendship Corps where volunteers visit seniors who are isolated and lonely. If you or someone you know has the skills and desire to volunteer, we would love to hear from you! Email us at rsvp@aaani.org or call 208-6673179 or 800-786-5536 for more information. ISI

Jane Fritz Finds Her Calling With Idaho Mythweaver By Cate Huisman When Jane Fritz was growing up outside Toledo, Ohio, her family would go to an amusement park on Sundays after church. One of the attractions was a Native American man in full traditional regalia. “All my brothers and sisters wanted to go on the rollercoaster and the rides... and I just wanted to hang out with this Chief,” Fritz recalls. Fast-forward more than half a century and it’s not surprising to find Fritz as board chair and volunteer director of the Idaho Mythweaver, an organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the authentic culture of western native peoples and their relationship with the earth. But her path

here was not as direct as her devotion to that first Native American in her life would suggest. The Chief receded into memory as Fritz grew up. Inspired by her father’s tales of hunting deer outside Yellowstone and fishing for steelhead on Idaho’s Salmon River, she moved west and landed in Sandpoint in 1979. Drawn to the outdoors and feeling a connection to the land and to Lake Pend Oreille that verged on the spiritual, she began exploring the lake by canoe and became president of the Panhandle Environmental League. She formed a public relations business and worked only for nonprofits – arts organizations like the Pend Oreille Arts Council and environmental ones like the Clark Fork Coalition. She did her best to create a dialog

Contact our Aging & Disability Resource Center for information about services available in your community for older adults and adults with disabilities.

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PAGE 26 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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between those who saw forests as resources to be harvested and those who saw them as shrines to be preserved. But environmental issues grew more controversial as the timber wars of the 1980s heated up. “I got burnt out and tired of fighting all the time,” says Fritz, “so then I went into the arts.” It was a natural segue from her PR work. She had an opportunity to buy a small arts publication, the Idaho Arts Journal, and she set about building it and Idaho’s arts scene too, which was not a light undertaking. “When I started publishing, Idaho was 52nd in the nation in arts funding – behind Guam and the Mariana Islands.” Despite its accomplishments – Fritz credits the journal with helping Idaho move up to 35th in arts funding – it went into bankruptcy after three years. But the last issue set some wheels in motion. In response to a friend’s suggestion, Fritz focused that issue on Indian art, which prompted her attendance at the Indian Expo at the Idaho Centennial celebration in Boise. There, suddenly memories of the Chief flooded back. The swan song of the Idaho Arts Journal had helped Fritz realize she wanted Native American stories to be told. After the Indian Expo, she sought Indian storytellers as well as funding to present their

Jane Fritz with the Chief, taken when she was five years old, sits on her desk. “He’s got his hand on my shoulder and we’re shaking hands, like we’re making an agreement.” [Photo provided by Jane Fritz]

stories to modern Idahoans, and thus began the Idaho Mythweaver. Its first project was a set of five half-hour radio documentaries on Idaho tribes, called Idaho Keepers of the Earth. Fritz also set up a storytelling tour, visiting 14 towns with seven elders from five tribes, so the elders could tell their stories in person. Since then, the Mythweaver’s work has included sponsoring performances of Indian artists, training Indian youngsters in audio production, and making presentations around the inland northwest. Given its location in Sandpoint, its focus has turned to the Kalispel Tribe of Indians who once lived here; it even brought a traditional Kalispel sturgeon-nosed canoe to Sandpoint’s classic boat show. During six of her 25 years with the Mythweaver, Fritz was also working on writing Legendary Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s Wilderness of Water, universally known as “the lake book.” With historic photos, maps, paddle routes, and hiking trails, it forms a comprehensive guide to a body of water Fritz knows intimately. Working on the book helped Fritz get to know the modern Kalispel, who are based on a reservation just over the Washington state line in Usk. Francis Cullooyah, director of the Tribe’s Cultural Program and former board president of the (Continued on page 36)

Idaho State Parks Trivia - continued from page 7 dam in the Western Hemisphere and the third highest dam in the U.S. 5. The 18-mile long Skyline Drive in McCroskey State Park overlooks the Palouse Prairie. Uniquely, the land was deeded to the state in 1955 “in memory of frontier women and the hardships they endured.” 6. Visit Winchester Lake State Park, at the foot

of the Craig Mountains, and the Wolf Education and Research Center, home to the Sawtooth wolf pack. They do research and provide education concerning the grey wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountains. 7. Rock climbers love City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park, but one doesn’t have to climb them to enjoy these granite

spires, some reportedly 60 stories high. It was a landmark on the California Trail. 8. Land of the Yankee Fork State Park is great for hiking, fishing, and hunting, but it is also rich in mining history. The museum at Challis shows how to pan for gold and tells about ghost towns, the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge, the Challis bison kill site, and more. 9. Bear Lake State Park, which laps over into Utah, is a beautiful high elevation lake at 5,900 feet. It’s 20 miles long and 8 miles wide. 10. Thousand Springs State Park is a collection of beautiful scenery. Niagara Springs tumbles down the canyon, attracting photographers and birds. It is designated a National Natural Landmark. ISI

Blacksmithing More Than A Hobby continued from page 13

“Horseshoeing has gotten to be almost a science and you specialize in it or do like I do and don’t shoe horses.” His outlets are more commonly at farmers’ markets where he sometimes will set up his portable forge and demonstrate his art while selling items he’s made and brought with him. After retirement he plans to do a lot more of this. He only gets in 10 or 12 hours a week of blacksmithing at present but plans to put in much more time after retirement. “Then I can stop when I want to and go fishing,” he says with a laugh. Steve believes there is plenty of work to keep him busy full time and so he advertises primarily by word of mouth. He plans to start a web page and do more travelling to markets and shows after retirement to supplement his retirement income. The name of his business is Lone Mountain Forge. Steve and his wife, Barb also grow a huge garden and raise about 95% of all the vegetables they freeze and can to eat throughout the year. Of course, this takes a lot of time and makes it hard to do as much blacksmithing as he would like. Reading is another passion for Steve. “I enjoy reading a lot,” he says. “I read enough to consider it a pastime.” But despite reading and gardening, blacksmithing is Steve Stransky’s real passion. “It seems like a hobby but it’s more. I’m always looking for things to do and people to do jobs for. I’ll be blacksmithing until the day I can’t lift a hammer anymore.” ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 27

Consider A Conversion Van To Assist With Your Mobility Challenges Cars are for everybody and even those physically challenged enjoy the comfort of a car. And that is exactly the reason accessible conversion vans exist. With the comfort of a car and ultimate convenience and practicality, a conversion van is just the answer. Not only do they have sufficient space, they too can run at nearly the same efficiency when loaded as if they are empty. Compared to trucks, vans have the proper coverings and frames, which provide protection and comfort to their passengers. These features are something that few trucks have. Although a truck can be converted for use by the disabled, it would surely cost a lot. In the case of other cars, like minivans, some features would also put them in “not so okay” or “just okay” categories. Of course, although they can be used too, it would still be better to provide the best available comfort to our disabled family

members, friends, or clients. Again, the main considerations are comfort and convenience. Unfortunately, though some vans may look good, they lack certain features to accommodate wheelchairs or scooters. A vehicle that lacks space is uncomfortable not only to the disabled person, but to those riding with them. Moreover, this equipment contributes weight, and so a car with no capacity to load heavy weight is not practical. Conversion vans are special because they are intentionally customized to benefit handicapped people depending on the person’s disability and the necessary equipment to assist them. But remember, there are some basic common features that are important. Here are the four essential features of accessible vans:

Study: Even Low-Intensity Activity Shows Benefits For Health CORVALLIS, Ore. – A newly published study looking at activity trends and outcomes among American adults found that you don’t need to kill yourself by running 10 miles a day to gain health benefits – you merely need to log more minutes of light physical activity than of sedentary behavior. And the bar is pretty low for what constitutes light physical activity, researchers say. It can mean sauntering through a mall window-shopping instead of ordering online, fishing along a riverbank, or ballroom dancing. In other words, casting a spinner or spinning on the dance floor can help offset our sedentary ways. The problem, the authors say, is that nearly half of Americans surveyed did not engage in a sufficient amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (more than 150 minutes a week) and, in fact, spent more time in sedentary mode than even doing light physical activity. “That’s actually rather frightening,” said Bradley Cardinal, co-director of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Program at Oregon State University and co-author on the study. “About half of the people in this country are incredibly sedentary – basically, couch potatoes. And that

can have some very negative effects on one’s health.” Results of the study have been published online in the journal Preventive Medicine. The study looked at the activity patterns of more than 5,500 adults through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants wore accelerometers recording movements that could be broken down by the minute, and the researchers found that 47.2 percent of Americans engaged in less than 150 minutes a week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and, perhaps more importantly, logged fewer minutes of light physical activity than of sedentary behavior. They found that when the balance was on the positive side – adults spending more time moving than sitting – there was a strong association with favorable levels of triglycerides and insulin.

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“It is preferable to get at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in each day, but we now know that if you sit for the remainder of the day after getting this dose of exercise, you might not necessarily be escaping the risk of developing chronic disease,” said Paul Loprinzi, a former doctoral student under Cardinal in OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences. Now an assistant professor at Bellarmine University, Loprinzi is lead author on the study. “These findings demonstrate the importance of minimizing sedentary activities and replacing some of them with light-intensity activities, such as pacing back and forth when on the phone, standing at your desk periodi-

cally instead of sitting, and having walking meetings instead of sit-down meetings,” he added. Cardinal said results can vary with individuals, based on age, fitness levels, movement “pace,” and other factors. In general, however, when even light activity minutes in a day surpass sedentary minutes, it can result in improved triglyceride and insulin levels. “Someone just ambling along on a leisurely stroll may not get the same benefits as someone moving briskly – what we call a ‘New York City walk,’” Cardinal said, “but it still is much better than lying on the couch watching TV. Even sitting in a rocking chair and rocking back-and-forth is better than lying down or just sitting passively. “Think about all the small things you can do in a day and you’ll realize how quickly they can add up,” Cardinal pointed out. Some of the ways Americans can get in some light physical activity without Olympic-style training: • Go on a leisurely bicycle ride, at about 5-6 miles an hour; • Use a Wii Fit program that requires a light effort, like yoga or balancing; • Do some mild calisthenics or stretching; • If you want to watch television, do it sitting on a physioball; • Play a musical instrument; • Work in the garden. “Even everyday home activities like sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, doing dishes, watering the plants, or carrying out the trash have some benefits,” Cardinal said. “Remember, it’s making sure you’re moving more than you’re sitting that’s the key.” ISI

The Return of the Sun and Vitamin D By Susan Frances Bonner RN BSN The sun, that great fusion reactor in the sky, the main source of heat for our planet, the reason things grow on our gardens, is also one reason our bodies can produce Vitamin D. The sunshine vitamin was discovered in cod liver oil by American researchers Elmer McCollum and Marguerite Davis in 1914 and originally called vitamin A. British doctor Edward Mellanby noticed dogs that were fed cod liver oil did not develop rickets and concluded vitamin A, or a closely associated factor, could prevent the disease. In 1922, Elmer McCollum tested cod liver oil in which the vitamin A had been destroyed. This modified oil also cured the sick dogs, so McCollum concluded the factor that cured rickets was distinct from vitamin A. He called it vitamin D because it was the fourth vitamin to be named. It was not initially realized that vitamin D can be synthesized by humans through exposure to UV light. Vitamins D and K are the only vitamins that the human body can produce on its own. To make vitamin D, your skin needs adequate exposure to the sun so that a cholesterol substance called provitamin D3 will react with the ultraviolet-B (or UVB) rays in sunlight to form vitamin D3. The vitamin D then passes through the liver and kidneys, converting it along the way into a form that the body needs. Vitamin D is crucial for the metabolism of calcium and phosphorous, which have various functions, especially the maintenance of healthy bones. It is an immune system regulator and may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold. It may reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis and vitamin D may play a role in helping the brain work well into later life, according to a study of 3,000 European men between the ages of 40 and 79. One form of vitamin D may be a main protection against damage from low levels of radiation. Various studies have shown that people with adequate levels of vitamin D have a significantly lower risk of developing cancer, compared to those whose levels are low. High vitamin D doses can help people

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recover from tuberculosis more rapidly and one 2012 study suggested that low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of heart attack and early death. There are five forms of vitamin D (D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5). D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol) seem to matter most to humans. In order to determine the amount of sun you need you must consider your latitude, time of year, time of day, weather condition, color of your skin, and the amount of skin exposed to the sun. You can

get plenty of vitamin D if you spend about half the time it takes for your skin to turn pink from the sun. Some research says that as little as 10 minutes of fun in the sun is enough to let your skin do its vitamin D magic. The Norwegian Institute for Air Research has developed a calculator to determine how much vitamin D you are getting from the sun. Visit http:// nadir.nilu.no/~olaeng/fastrt/VitD-ez_quartMED. html

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Of course, many foods are already fortified with Vitamin D including breakfast cereals, bread, pastries, oil spreads, margarine, milk, and other dairy products. The sun is crucial to earth and every living thing here. It is good for our health and well-being, but we must spend some time under it to reap those benefits. So, get outside and take in those rays and make some vitamin D – with moderation of course. ISI

Six Tips That Could Save Your Life By Suzy Cohen Dear Pharmacist: I take four different medications now. Lately, I’ve had stomach pain, insomnia, headaches, and dizziness. I am sure it’s related to my medicine. What should I do, stop everything? While I do believe in drug holidays, I don’t think you should ever undertake those without your physician’s approval and supervision. If you stop certain medications suddenly that you are supposed to be weaned from slowly, it could cause seizures or major withdrawal problems. If you’re fed up and insist on stopping everything, you must do it properly, and with supervision by your doctors. When beginning a medication, or new dietary supplement, it’s ideal to keep a little notepad handy, an app, or a computer document to track progress. Doing this allows you to pinpoint which medication triggers a side effect. I believe many side effects are caused by drug nutrient depletion, something I call the drug mugger effect. Unfortunately, the side effects are often misdiagnosed and labeled a symptom, thus giving you some new disease. By restoring nutrients stolen by your medicine, you can avoid these new symptoms. That’s important, because nutrient deficiencies look just like diseases. For example, a diagnosis of

restless legs syndrome could be tied to your cholesterol medicine stealing vitamin D and CoQ10. Your depression diagnosis may just be related to your acid blocker, which suppresses your ability to make neurotransmitters by mugging your body of probiotics and methylcobalamin (a form of B12). I’ve been a pharmacist for 24 years, so here are some of my ninja secrets to help you minimize side effects and interactions: • Go to the same pharmacy each time. There is a computer record of your medication profile that automatically screens for interactions. If you chase coupons and stray, the new pharmacy will not have the rest of your medication profile and you’re more apt to experience an interaction. • Take your medication at the same time each day. If you take your blood pressure pill at different times of the day, you will experience

more highs and lows in your blood stream, and the swinging blood levels can cause dizziness, nausea, and faintness. • Consider the drug mugging effect. If you take only a couple of medications and suddenly need more medications for brand new symptoms, it’s probably related to one of your drugs stealing

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nutrients! You have to fix the nutrient depletions, not layer on more medications. • Don’t drink coffee with stimulants. There’s an additive effect of caffeine with certain drugs like Provigil, Adderall, Concerta, and Ritalin. Avoid the stimulants.

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• Don’t drink alcohol with sedatives. There’s an enhanced effect on your nervous system, and the alcohol can make your medicine work much more strongly causing your breathing to stop completely. It’s bad news to combine drugs that depress your nervous system.

Ask both your doctor and pharmacist directly, “Will this new medication interact with anything I’m taking.” This is particularly important if you visit multiple physicians. ISI

Blindness Cure Advancing with New Studies By Tait Trussell British scientists have used a functioning gene to replace a defective one to restore sight in six blind men age 35 to 63. A single injection in the patients who suffered with a degenerative eye disease called choroideredmia, which affects one in 50,000 people, helped restore their sight. The disease progresses to complete blindness by middle age. The blindness is caused by degeneration in the eye’s retina, which is the part of the eye that sends visual information to the brain. This gene therapy is a big step past a partial cure for the blind, which I have reported earlier. That was a breakthrough for people with macular degeneration – the number one cause of blindness – and a disease that increases with age. It is possible through a new technology that combines an eye implant with glasses in which is enclosed a tiny video camera. The device is called Argus II. Perhaps gene therapy some day may lead to a cure for that most common cause of blindness

in seniors – macular degeneration. As for the choroideredmia eye disease, the scientists at the University of Oxford hoped that the functioning gene would stop the cells in their patients’ photoreceptors from dying. The men who were patients in the study had not yet reached the stage of blindness, but the disease was advancing. Six months after the injections of the healthy gene, the team of researchers conducting the trial found the retinas improved in six patients, and two of the patients had substantially improved vision. These results, which have been published in The Lancet medical journal, are encouraging, though this is just the first phase of a trial with a small sample group. So far, the researchers have analyzed only the data from the first 6 months after the procedure, so we don’t know what the long-term effects of this kind of treatment are. Writing on the results of the trial, Hendrik Scholl, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., said, “The short follow-up of the new

study prevents any conclusion about preventing degeneration in the long term. It remains to be determined if gene therapy will have an effect on the progression of photoreceptor degeneration. Even if the effect turns out to be only slight, this might have important positive implications because there are additional therapeutic avenues targeting photo receptors that could help to save or restore visual function.” Age-related macular degeneration might well be one of the diseases that could be subject to gene therapy, the British scientists suggested. If so, the procedure would have very broad consequences. Based on published data, an estimated 8 million older Americans are at high risk to develop advanced macular degeneration (AMD). Of these 8 million, 1.3 million would develop advanced AMD within 5 years. However, now with treatment, 300,000 of these patients could avoid the severe vision loss associated with advanced AMD over a 5-year period. ISI

Under-Eye bags or Festoons? Nationally Recognized Physician Explains Why You Should Know the Difference For a malady that’s as common to aging as waning vision, festoons – also called “malar mounds” – aren’t well understood by the public, says Adam J. Scheiner, M.D., an international eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeon specializing in the treatment of festoons and featured on The Dr. Oz Show and The Doctors. “The more people know about the causes of festoons and how they are often misdiagnosed, the better informed they are to be their own effective health-care advocates,” says Dr. Scheiner, who educates the public through his popular blog at www.adamscheinermd.com and his new book, The True Definition of Beauty. “A growing part of my practice is correcting treatments with less than favorable results that patients have had done elsewhere; like fillers used under the Recognizing the signs of a stroke is as easy as acting F.A.S.T. eyes to treat bags, or lower eyelid surgery that Ask if they can [FACE] smile (are there signs of face drooping?) doesn’t address the pa[ARM] raise both arms (arm weakness?)

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tient’s festoons,” Dr. Scheiner says. “The lack of awareness around festoons and how ubiquitous they are – and how often they are misdiagnosed – is why my practice has executed an educational marketing campaign to bring clarity to combat the misinformation and confusion surrounding this condition,” he adds. What is the difference between bags and festoons? “Bags are caused by fat protruding through the skin in the lower eyelid area, while festoons, which also protrude, are primarily on the upper part of the cheek,” Dr. Scheiner says. “The two together can look like one large protrusion, but they’re separate issues.” Physicians will perform procedures to help a patient’s lower eyelid bags, but often they leave the festoons behind. This is because festoons are notoriously hard to treat. The result? When they are not repaired at the same time as the bags, festoons can actually look worse compared against the newly rejuvenated lower lid. Festoons can also be a marker for pre-cancerous skin conditions on other parts of the face – another good reason to know the difference between festoons and bags. Dr. Scheiner offers tips for evaluating whether you have bags or festoons, the causes of both, and solutions: • Are they bags or festoons? Bags often appear as puffy circles directly beneath the eye. “If you touch them, they’re usually firmer, and you can’t

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easily move them from side to side. That’s an indication they’re bags,” Dr. Scheiner says. “Also, if you look up, they become more prominent.” Festoons, on the other hand, are high on the cheek, although they can extend to the lower lid area. “They feel squishy to the touch, and they can be easily moved from side to side. They don’t become more prominent when you look up.” • What causes them? Bags are generally associated with aging, although younger people can also get them, Dr. Scheiner says. Festoons are usually the result of damage. Sun exposure, smoking, and aging are among the possible causes, and the results can be worsened by the contrasting pull of underlying facial muscles over the years. Fair-skinned people tend to be more susceptible to festoons. • What can you do about them? “Effective treatments for removing bags have been available for quite some time, but physicians have struggled with removing festoons,” Dr. Scheiner says. “Festoons are complicated to treat.” Medications and steroid injections can provide temporary improvement, and some older surgical procedures offer mixed results. One of the biggest problems with festoons and eye bags is that they occur around the most expressive area of the face – our eyes. The eyes speak volumes, but they can give off the wrong message if they are framed by festoons or eye bags. “My patients say people are always asking them if they’re sick or if they’re tired,” Dr. Scheiner says. “It’s hard to hear that over and over again, and it begins to impact how you feel about yourself, as well as your energy level. What I love about the advanced laser and heating protocol that I developed is that it fundamentally changes the quality and the health of the skin – it takes swollen, sun-damaged skin and makes it smooth, tight and younger. It cleans up the messages around the eyes so that people can appear well and rested.” Adam J. Scheiner, M.D. is world-renowned in laser eyelid and facial plastic surgery for his groundbreaking treatment for festoons. He wrote the medical text on the condition and treated two complex causes of festoons for The Dr. Oz and The Doctors TV shows. ISI

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Pick Up Your Pen - Cont’d from page 21 Most citizens in Ireland live cheerfully and fulfilled, but for one-in-ten seniors still vulnerable, ALONE lends a hand. We invite you to give a little cheer to Irish seniors in need. Certainly, donations and legacy gifts keep ALONE running, and they are vital, however by offering your personal touch you can brush away the clouds of loneliness. Become a pen pal with one of ALONE’s clients and make a new Irish friend! We list below three short biographies of Irish folks who would like to hear from you. Martha, 86, lived in the UK most of her life, though remaining strongly involved in the Irish community. Later, she returned to Ireland, but with her family still living in the UK, Martha had little support. She now lives in a small, comfortable bedsit – a form of rented housing – receiving visits from an ALONE Befriending volunteer. Though a very social lady, Martha recently became housebound due to poor mobility. Each Monday, Martha’s volunteer, Mary, takes her for drives along the coast, followed by a cup of tea and a chat. Martha really looks forward to these visits, being the only social outlet she has each week. Patrick, 70, originally hails from Donegal, though at present lives in Dublin. He has two sons, one daughter, and three grandchildren, all of whom live in England. As a former carpenter, Patrick worked in many countries, including Wales, England, and Holland. He lived on the second floor of a bedsit so damp he says, “You could keep your hand on the radiator for an hour and only be barely warm. I would take my clothes out of my wardrobe, and they would be damp and moldy.” These unsuitable conditions severely affected Patrick’s mental health. Thankfully, he loves his new age-friendly home from ALONE, settling in quite well. Speaking of his new home Patrick exclaims, “The house is warm and comfortable and I rarely have to put on the heat.”

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Joan, a 93-year-old widow, lived in many different countries, held numerous jobs from secretary to governess, and even wrote a published book in the 1970s titled, Love in the Fast Lane! In 1980, Joan’s husband sadly passed away. “I miss him terribly even after all these years.” A few years later Joan lost sight in both eyes – consequently she struggled to survive each day and had little money to her name. Thankfully, ALONE came to the rescue, and she now lives with her adored Pekinese dogs, Tarquin and Tanya, and enjoys visits from ALONE volunteers to help her. We urge you to pick up a pen and make a new Irish friend by writing a letter (regular post or email) to one of these folks. Please send

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your letters to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403 or by email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net. We will forward your correspondence to the

intended recipient. In the future, Martha, Patrick, and Joan will share their experiences with our readers. ISI

Understanding Medicare Premiums By Ron Pollack Executive Director Families USA At the end of May, the Medicare Trustees reported that Medicare costs are expected to grow more slowly than was previously expected. One of the positive effects of this trend is that Medicare premiums are also expected to increase more slowly. What does that mean for you and your family? Here’s a look at the different types of Medicare premiums. Q: What do people mean by “Medicare premiums”? A: When people talk about Medicare premiums, they’re often thinking of the Part B premium (Part B primarily covers doctor visits and other outpatient services). For most beneficiaries, this premium is automatically deducted from their Social Security benefit each month. In 2013, most people with Medicare pay a Part B premium of $104.90 a month. Q: What other Medicare premiums exist besides Part B? A: Most people with Medicare do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A (which covers hospital and other inpatient care) because they or their spouse paid enough in Medicare taxes during their working years to qualify for premiumfree Part A. If you have a Part D prescription drug plan, you do pay premiums. In 2013, the national average for a Part D monthly premium is $40.18, but Part D premiums vary widely from plan to plan and region to region. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan,

your plan usually charges an additional premium. Finally, you may have a private Medicare supplemental policy, from either a former employer or private company. The premiums for these policies vary significantly. Q: How are Medicare premiums determined? A: By law, the Part B premium must cover 25 percent of Medicare’s Part B costs. When Medicare costs grow more slowly, so do premiums. Part D premiums are similarly tied to the costs of prescription drugs. Medicare Advantage premiums are determined by a more complicated process, but they also reflect trends in costs. Because Part D and Medicare Advantage plans are run by private companies, premiums can vary a lot. Even so, when health care costs rise more slowly, premiums usually do too. Q: Does everyone pay the same premium? A: If your income is more than $85,000 (for just you, or $170,000 for you and your spouse), you pay an additional Part B premium. How much more depends on your income: People with the highest incomes pay the most. Also, since 2011, the same high-income beneficiaries have paid higher Part D premiums. Part A premiums and Medicare Advantage premiums are not affected by these rules. Q: If I have a limited income, can I get help paying my premiums? A: For people with limited incomes and resources, the Part D Extra Help program covers all or most of their Part D premium, as well as other pharmacy costs. You can find out if you qualify and apply online at www.socialsecurity. gov/prescriptionhelp or by calling 1-800-MEDI-

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CARE. Each state also has Medicare Savings Programs that cover Part B premiums for people with limited incomes. In some cases, these programs also cover other Medicare costs. To learn more, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask for a referral to your local state health insurance assistance program (SHIP), or go to this website www.familiesusa.org/resources/programlocator and click on your state. Q: What will happen to Medicare premiums in the future?

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A: Medicare premiums depend greatly on what happens to health care costs, specifically Medicare costs, in the future. No one knows for sure if the recent slowdown in Medicare costs will continue. The early indications from the Medicare Trustees’ report are that the trend should continue for now, and that the 2014 Part B premium will be unchanged from 2013. For anyone with Medicare living on a fixed incomethis is encouraging news. ISI

Shirley Kraus stitches prize-winning quilts, carves gourds, and beads medallions By Dianna Troyer Shirley Kraus thrives on detail work that would drive many people daffy. The Paul resident stitches prize-winning quilts, paints gourds, and beads medallions. “All these projects have kept me young at heart,” says Shirley, 79. “I do this because I love to create beauty. Once I envision a project, I wake up excited to work on it and can’t wait to see what it will turn out like.” She shows her current project, a lap quilt of brightly colored multi-layered circles that she calls “Insanity.” Her 20-year-old Bernina sewing machine hums for hours most days as she works at a round oak kitchen table in front of a living room window. Hours seem to pass like minutes when she is engrossed in a project. “The light is perfect here, and when my eyes need a rest, I can look outside. My machine is old, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It doesn’t do a lot compared to newer machines, but I do a lot with it.” While her husband, Ruben, 84, worked long Shirley Kraus works on her latest project, a lap quilt she days as supervisor for the Minidoka County calls “Insanity.” [Photo by Dianna Troyer] Highway Department, she quilted. “She’s so talented. Whatever she does, she does very well. I’d be out plowing snow all day and was amazed to come home and see what complicated pieces she had made,” says Ruben, who retired after 35 years with the department. “I’d give her a gentle shake, feel her forehead, and ask if she had a fever and was still sane,” he says, laughing. “All that detailed work was enough to drive most people crazy.” Shirley says she’s grateful for his enthusiasm about her fabric art. “He’s always encouraged me and never minded how much time I spent working on the quilts,” she says. “We’ll be celebrating our 61st wedding anniversary on June 14.” Shirley started quilting about 25 years ago after their three children were grown and had moved out. “When they were young, I did Scout activities with them, so there wasn’t time for quilting,” she says. “Then I saw a quilt in a magazine and thought I’d whip that up. It was harder than I thought it would be, but my enthusiasm has kept me going all these years.” Shirley’s unique artistic quilts have won prizes at regional and national quilting shows. Providing for the health care needs of seniors since 1957. “I’m not the traditional quilter who sews mostly geometric patterns and uses only cloth,” she says. “I design my own patterns and use whatever items inspire me like ribbon, buttons, beads, heirloom doilies, handmade lace, suede... .” Remember to schedule your Annual Medicare Wellness Visit After quilters saw her prize-winning work, they Orofino Clinic: 208-476-5777 asked her to teach workshops. “Because of the quilts, I’ve traveled to classes Cottonwood Clinic: 208-962-3267 and shows throughout the Northwest and as far as Houston, Texas. It was thrilling to see my work shown with high-caliber quilters. One of my favorites, a Baltimore album quilt, won best of show at every contest it was entered in.” Baltimore album quilts, popularized in Baltimore Endoscopic procedures in the 1840s, are made of blocks with appliquéd Make sure you are ‘up-to-date’ with your colonoscopy. designs of flowers, wildlife, or scenery. Colon cancer is one of the only preventable cancers. Talk to your doctor. Shirley’s immaculate home is like an art gallery of her work. In the living room, she displays quilted MRI & CT scans and appliquéd wall hangings of a historic house, available at our hospital where you can avoid a an abstract purple design, and a meadow of bright flowers. commute and remain close to home and family. She says she has made “more quilts than I can count,” so she can switch them in a hallway, where a quilt hangs from a wooden display bar. Her quilts are neatly stacked and (Continued on page 36)

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Prevent Falls – Don’t Let Gravity Get You Provided by the National Safety Council Falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the United States, accounting for approximately 8.9 million visits to the emergency department annually (NSC Injury Facts 2012). Adults 55 and older are more prone to becoming victims of falls, and the resulting injuries can diminish the ability to lead active, independent lives. The number of fall deaths among those 65 and older is four times the number of fall deaths among all other age groups. Most people have a friend or relative who has fallen, or maybe you have fallen yourself. Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death in

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homes and communities, resulting in more than 26,000 fatalities in 2012. The risk of falling, and fall-related problems, rises with age and is a serious issue in homes and communities. Take the time to remove slip, trip, and fall hazards. The following are common locations for slips, trips, or falls: • Doorways • Ramps • Cluttered hallways • Areas with heavy traffic • Uneven surfaces • Areas prone to wetness or spills • Unguarded heights • Unstable work surfaces • Ladders • Stairs Many falls can be prevented by making simple personal and lifestyle changes. Your doctor also can assess your risk of falling and suggest ways to prevent falls such as: • Securing electrical/phone cords out of traffic • Removing small throw rugs or use nonskid mats to keep them from slipping • Removing tripping hazards (paper, boxes, toys, clothes, shoes) from stairs and walkways • Periodically checking the condition of walkways/steps, and repairing damages immediately • Never standing on a chair, table or other surface on wheels

• Clean up all spills immediately Mild weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, climbing stairs, and water workouts may help slow bone loss from osteoporosis as well as maintain strength, coordination, and balance. Having strong bones, especially in your lower body, can prevent fractures if you fall. Practicing tai chi will also help prevent falls by improving your balance and control. It uses slow, flowing movements to help you relax and coordinate the mind and body. Group and community exercise programs, such as A Matter of Balance and Stay Safe, Stay Active, will help increase your flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. These kinds of exercises also can be done at home. Maintaining your overall health is important to effective fall prevention. Take the following steps to reduce your risk: • Have your vision tested at least once a year or if you think it has changed. • Get an annual physical examination and have your blood pressure checked both lying down and standing up. • Reduce your risk of bone fractures by maintaining a diet with adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium. Proper shoes and clothing are also important to your personal safety. • Wear properly fitting, sturdy non-skid shoes. • Replace loose/stretched-out slippers. • Use a long-handled shoehorn if you have trouble putting on your shoes. • If you are a woman who cannot find wide enough shoes, try men’s shoes. Medications can create an increased risk of

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falls. Take the following steps to minimize the risk. • Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medications – prescription and over-the-counter medicines and anything else you are taking. Some medications do not work well together and may affect your coordination and balance.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 35

• Make sure all medications are clearly labeled and stored in a well-lit area according to instructions. • Have an up-to-date medication list and bring it with you to all doctor visits.

• Take medications on schedule with a full glass of water and avoid drinking alcohol in excess. Taking the above steps will go a long way in helping you avoid uncomfortable, inconvenient, and perhaps deadly falls. ISI

Video Surveillance Meets Neighborhood Watch Jim Van Sky Big Country Communications, Coeur d’Alene All over the U.S., Neighborhood Watch groups are looking to the video surveillance industry to assist in keeping their neighborhoods safe. When it comes to calling the police about mischievous acts against your pink yard flamingos or the grand theft of your 7 Series BMW, a quality surveillance system will keep you from sticking in the mud like your flamingos. Police departments can’t do anything about petty crimes, like yard gnome napping, without evidence. And a video surveillance system can do much more than keep your yard art in place. It can monitor your home while you are on vacation, protect belongings like cars, golf carts, or bikes, and most important – keep your family safe! These are all good reasons to have a video surveillance system for

yourself and throughout your neighborhood. Many communities use their clubhouse or a watch member’s home to store video footage, while placing network cameras on houses throughout the neighborhood. If you are in a private community with a gated entrance, you can easily store all the data at the gatehouse. The cameras can watch all vehicles as they enter and leave, capturing important information like license plate numbers that can prove crucial if a crime is committed in your neighborhood. With communities growing larger, a video surveillance system may be just what your Neighborhood Watch group needs. Multiple watch members can view the cameras from their home computers or smartphones while all images are constantly recorded for later review and possible evidence for you local police department. ISI

Great Other Ideas For Grilling and Smoking… and Rhubarb for Father’s Day By Ann Hattes Rhubarb, a native of China, was first used in medicinal treatments there and much later in European countries as well. A versatile vegetable, it is classified and most often used as a fruit here in the U.S. Rhubarb Renaissance (Minnesota Historical Society Press) by Kim Ode introduces more than 50 practical recipes, concoctions like rhubarb corn fritters, spiced couscous with rhubarb and figs, rhubarb-bacon compote, and rhubarb ketchup. In the dessert category, there is rhubarb foster, salted caramel rhubapple pie, rhubarb-peach pavlovas, rhubarb-zucchini bread, and more. Salmon and Rhubarb in parchment paper deliver sophisticated results, as do the other recipes. To make sweet roasted rhubarb, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place 3 cups rhubarb, cut in1inch pieces, in a shallow baking dish and sprinkle 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar evenly over fruit. Roast for 20 minutes until rhubarb is very soft. Late summer rhubarb with less moisture may need a tablespoon of water to prevent scorching. Serve as is on ice cream or scrape into a bowl, stir briskly to break rhubarb into a smooth puree for other recipes. Makes 1-cup puree. Savory roasted rhubarb is made similarly by drizzling with ¼ cup real maple syrup, and sprinkling with ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary, pinch of cayenne pepper and pinch of salt. Serve as is alongside grilled meats, or scrape into bowl, stirring briskly to make a puree. Brown sugar may replace maple syrup, sage or marjoram, the rosemary. The purees can be frozen for up to six months. The Ultimate Guide to Grilling (Skyhorse Publishing) by Rick Browne informs how to grill just about anything, from steaks to lobster, tofu to apples. Divided into chapters such as fish and shellfish, lamb, beef, sauces and marinades, and vegetarian BBQ, this book makes it easy to plan for a huge party, complete with sides and desserts. With easy-to-follow instructions and detailed photos, grillers have no problem making maple-smoked lamb shanks with whiskey onion marmalade, southern sugared ribs, Teriyaki buffalo rib eyes, zesty smoked oysters, crab cakes with basil mayonnaise, or grilled nectarines. Rick also includes tips on building barbecue pits and anecdotes about his travels as an award-winning griller. Weber’s Smoke by Jamie Purviance is a guide to smoke cooking for everyone and any grill. The

87 recipes inspire, ranging from the classic beston-the-block baby back ribs to the ambitious, like smoked duck and cherry sausages. And many of the recipes let you achieve that smoke flavor in a matter of minutes, not hours. There are basic and advanced smoke cooking methods for traditional smokers as well as standard backyard grills. Learn about smoking woods’ flavor characteristics and food pairing suggestions that complement each distinct type of wood. The delicate flavor of alder, for example, pairs well with fish, while the mild, slightly sweet, but dense fruity flavor of apple pairs with beef, poultry, game birds, and ham. Slightly sweet mild cherry also pairs with poultry, game birds, and pork. The moderate pungent, bacon-like flavor of hickory goes with pork, poultry, beef, wild game, and cheeses, while strong mesquite, in a class by itself, pairs best with beef and lamb.

Try the recipes for various rubs, marinades, brines, and sauces. And for the best possible results, follow Weber’s Top Ten Smoking Tips: Start early. Go low and slow (most of the time). Regulate the heat with a water pan. Don’t overdo it (i.e. don’t add too much wood; smoke should flow like a gentle stream). White smoke is good; black smoke is bad. Keep the air moving (open vents draw smoke from the charcoal and wood so that it swirls over the food). Don’t go golfing (be mindful and safe, checking the temperature every hour or so). Try not to peek. Let the bark get dark (Ribs and large chunks of beef and pork should be enveloped in a dark mahogany, borderline black crust called “bark,” the consequence of fat and spices sizzling with smoke on the surface of the meat developing into a caramelized crust.) Feature the star attraction (every flavor plays a supporting role to the main ingredient). ISI

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PAGE 36 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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Jane Fritz Idaho Mythweaver - continued from page 26 Mythweaver, wrote the book’s introduction. More recently, Fritz and Cullooyah have been curating a group of tribal artifacts for a new highway rest area and tribal visitor center on Washington State Highway 20 in Cusick. The central atrium of the building takes the form of a traditional Kalispel winter lodge, and numerous details inside recall traditional Kalispel life. The patterned ceiling mimics the tule mats that formed roofs for Kalispel homes; the tile patterns in the bathrooms reflect the patterns of a woven basket; and couple of ceramic whitefish – a staple of the ancestral Kalispel diet – swim across the floor. Six large photographs portray Kalispels, including Cullooyah’s grandfather. One shows the

Kalispel baseball team that was said to have struck out Babe Ruth three times when he was on a barnstorming tour in the early 1920s. “That may be just a story,” admits Fritz. Artifacts in a display case show how Kalispels used the natural resources of the Pend Oreille Valley, and photos introduce modern elected tribal leaders. There is no record of the historic Kalispels drinking coffee, but modern visitors of all kinds can get a cup in the attached café, run by enrolled tribal member Shantel Revais. The coffee comes from Mayan farmers in Guatemala. ”Indigenous to indigenous,” says Revais. Now Fritz is working with Cullooyah on a book about Kalispel life, particularly the transition period

after the reservation was formed in 1914. “The book will highlight the oral histories of living and deceased tribal members,” says Fritz. Cullooyah wants the stories to show how the infiltration of European culture affected his people and how the tribe survived. Next up for Fritz? “I want to share what the elders wanted to share,” she says. Because it’s a natural next step to marry modern technology with the stories of the past, Jane Fritz plans to digitize the Mythweaver’s audio recordings and present them on a blog – soon to come to www.mythweaver.org. ISI

Shirley Kraus stitches quilts - continued from page 33 stored in a spare bedroom. A permanently displayed quilt displays her ancestors. She used transfers of historic blackand-white photos, doilies, and pieces from her great great grandfather’s cream-colored cotton wedding shirt. One of her grandchildren’s favorite quilts is a tropical ocean scene with colorful eye-popping fish swimming around coral. “I had to dye material to get the right colors for

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this school of fish,” she says of a fuchsia and gold combination. “Then I cut out each fish and stitched on each one.” Shirley’s interest in dying fabric arose because stores failed to carry the perfect colors she needed. “I’ve made some mistakes with dying, but then some have turned out more beautiful than I ever imagined.” She started quilting with batik, a method of hand-dying fabric, after her friend Renee Clark gave her 40 yards of batik from Indonesia. “After I used it all up, I started making my own,” says Shirley. “I needed background scenes of specific colors and shapes.” About 10 years ago, “when my thumbs gave

out from appliquéing,” she began carving and painting gourds and beading leather medallions. “You look at gourds, and they seem to tell you what they want to be,” she says. “This one was shaped like a chicken, so that’s what I painted it to be. And this one looked like a pot, so I painted some giraffes on it.” She makes necklaces by stitching beads onto round leather medallions. “I do whatever pattern I’m inspired to do. Some are floral, others geometric.” Shirley says her artwork isn’t for sale. “It’s for our enjoyment and for our children and grandchildren. I’ll keep doing this for a long time.” ISI

Jim Fenstermaker Tackled Hardships With Humor, Hard Work By Dianna Troyer Visitors to People’s Quality Packing in Rupert always feel welcome with a fresh pot of coffee brewing and plenty of entertaining rodeo stories from owner Jim Fenstermaker, who was inducted into the Idaho Cowboy Hall of Fame. “He’s an old-time cowboy in a modern world,” says Bill Martsch, a retired brand inspector who stops in to pick up meat Jim processed for him. Bill and Jim recall the times they used to banter at weekly livestock sales. “He’s quite a character and is well known in the community. We’ve done business for years, and I’m glad he still runs the packing plant.” From 1951 to 1972, Jim competed in rodeo throughout the West, riding rough stock. “For me, competing in bull riding, bareback, and saddle bronc was second nature. I could tell you rodeo and cowboy stories all day long, most of them true,” says the 76-year-old. In 2010, he was inducted into the hall of fame. “I rodeoed with most of the guys who are in the hall of fame,” says Jim. “I rode anything. I had a winning streak with bulls and was never bucked off for three years and 10 months.” One of his fellow competitors, retired saddle bronc rider Dick Anderson of Albion, says, “Jim had so much heart when he competed. He was glad to share tips

with anyone who asked for his advice. He was always fun to be around.” Whatever troubles arose throughout his life, Jim learned at a young age to tackle them with humor and hard work. He even had a knack for squeezing a profit out of a problem. “When I was young, I worked for a rancher helping with his hay crop, and on payday he tried to short me $70. I finally convinced him to pay me and bet him I’d easily double that money, and I did.” With the nickname of “The Wild Man,” Jim used the $70 to enter rodeos and won prize money to cover more than his entry fees. Jim began competing in rodeos when he was 14. He was always comfortable around livestock from working at feedlots and local sale yards opening gates and checking on cattle. “Some years I worked more days than I went to school, but I still managed to keep up my grades and graduate from Declo High School. That’s just the way life was back then. Most everything I’ve learned in life was from the school of hard knocks.” His friend Dick says, “Every penny he ever earned was the hard way. He’s had a job ever since he was a boy.” With savings from his jobs and rodeo cash prizes, Jim bought a six-cylinder 1950 Chevy truck, “A six banger. I’d drive to as many rodeos as I could on a weekend. My jockey box was stuffed with speeding tickets.” His two-decade rodeo career came to an abrupt end, not from riding rough stock but from

JUNE/JULY 2014

a team roping accident. “My rope hooked on a young mare’s ear,” he recalls. “She bucked and I bailed off and ran for the fence to climb away, but she landed on me.” His right femur was broken and his lower leg had eight fractures. He spent 18 months recovering. “The anesthesiologist in Twin Falls said he needed me to be his roping partner and be his header, so he wouldn’t let the doctor amputate my leg.” With his rodeo career over, he eventually was hired at People’s Quality Packing where he learned the butchering trade. “After a while, some financial issues came up, so the owner offered to let me be a partner instead of being paid. I’ve been here since 1972.” Evidence of his generosity to community youth activities can be seen on his office walls. They are covered with plaques and other mementos of appreciation from several organizations including 4-H clubs, high school rodeo teams, and bowling leagues.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37

Whenever local high school cowboys and cowgirls qualify for national finals rodeo, Jim knows how to help. “They can always use some gas money, so I give them some cash to get them there and back home,” he says. “I’ve been there and know what you need to get down the road. I always tell them, ‘You better do some good.’” Besides donating money, Jim offers meat to the local homeless shelter and his artwork for community fund-raisers. He paints scenes and designs on bleached cow skulls, reminiscent of a Charlie Russell style of painting. “I gave one to the Elk’s the other day, then someone came in and bought five,” he says. As a young man, Jim Fenstermaker spent most weekends “I’ll have to paint a few more.” in his truck, driving to compete in rodeos. He shows his When he is not at the plant, he grows hay and plaque from being inducted into the Idaho Cowboy Hall of tends to his herd of 40 cows. Fame. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] “That’s enough for an old man like me,” he says. “Being here and farming and raising cattle sure beats watching TV. Moss won’t ever grow on me.” ISI

Flash Drive Longevity By Mr. Modem Q. I use a flash drive to back up my data and I leave it plugged in all the time. Does leaving it plugged in wear it out quicker, or should I be plugging it in only when I need to copy something to it? A. Leaving a flash drive plugged in will have no adverse effect on the drive. Wear and tear occurs during the read/write process, not from a flash drive sitting idly in a USB port. I recommend (and use) a rotational flash-drive backup protocol which results in one or more backup flash drives NOT residing in a computer at all times. In other words, I have two or more flash drives for each computer and each time I back up data, I remove one drive and insert another. So at any time, my flash drives are either current or one backup behind. I also keep my most important data backed up within a free Gmail account I maintain for that specific purpose. To do this, I simply mail (as an attachment) any important files I want to keep safely off-site. ISI

Beware The Danger Of Getting Behind On Property Tax By Teresa Ambord You may think being a little behind on property tax couldn’t do you any real harm, other than a penalty. But some former homeowners would be quick to warn, do not let that happen. If that’s your situation, clear it up as soon as possible. The same may be true if you fall seriously behind on city-owned utility bills like water and sewer. If the amount remains unpaid, a lien could be filed against you. Even if that lien is only for a few hundred dollars, you could end up losing your home. Here’s how this happens: A recent report from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) described the gory details. Homeowners, often seniors or persons with very low income, miss a property tax payment or other municipal obligation. All states have laws permitting local governments to file liens in order to collect unpaid amounts. These tax liens take priority over all other liens, including mortgages. You, as the homeowner may receive notice of the lien, but in many areas, the seriousness of the situation is not made clear. In fact, the NCLC report says the deck is often stacked against homeowners. Most state and local governments just don’t have the resources to educate and assist the homeowner. Few have any process at all for protecting homeowner interests. According to the report, there have also been cases where corrupt officials worked with investors to make the possibility of foreclosure

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more likely. Many people have come to believe there is no real danger until theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten several notices of increasing urgency. You may remember an episode of Roseanne where the Connors fail to pay their utility bills for months, and finally the power is shut off. Roseanne cries â&#x20AC;&#x153;unfair,â&#x20AC;? because they only got three final notices none of which was pink. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown used to multiple warnings before anything serious happens. We may even wait until the sheriff shows up. If you are behind in your property tax or city-owned utility bills, trouble may be brewing that you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aware of. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why you need to take action immediately to clear up the problem. If the amounts owed are not paid, a lien may be filed against your property. Once the lien is filed if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take care of it, local authorities may sell the lien at auction to the highest bidder. To add insult to injury, the new owner of the lien may have paid only a few hundred dollars to buy your house, then turn around and sell it for an enormous profit. Not only is your home gone, but so is the equity you built up over many years. What is the motivation for investors to buy property tax liens? Simple. The bank pays interest on most savings of less than one percent. But in some locations, state law allows the purchasers of tax liens to earn as much as 20 to 50 percent interest, according to the NCLC report. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never heard of such an outrageous practice, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably because you are not in the market for shady deals. Property tax lien sales are promoted mostly on the Internet, or in late night get-rich-quick infomercials. They emphasize the â&#x20AC;&#x153;get richâ&#x20AC;? aspect of course, and fail to mention the former homeowners evicted from their homes. Devon Senior Apartments Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not unusual, said the report for the owner 208-735-2224 of a home worth, say $200,000, to fall behind on / $PMMFHF 3E t 5XJO 'BMMT property taxes, through misunderstanding or neglect or inability to pay â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the reason doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter. Eagle Manor For the default of property tax that may amount to 208-939-0409 only $1,200 or so, a lien may be issued, then the $FEBS 3JEHF 4U t &BHMF lien sold at auction. The bidding process is often biased against the homeowner, said the report. Friendship Manor I & II The result, the lien is sold to an investor. 208-459-7075 8 -PHBO t $BMEXFMM Attorney John Rao of the NCLC said in the agency report: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The tax sale procedures in most Gleneagles states are exceedingly complicated and are gener208-735-0308 ally understood only by investors and purchasers. )BSSJTPO 4U / t 5XJO 'BMMT Inadequate notice and a lack of judicial oversight over the process leave many homeowners in the Leisure Village I dark about steps they can take to avoid a home 208-452-7927 loss. Homeowners most at risk are those who have 4 $PMPSBEP "WF t 'SVJUMBOE fallen into default because they are incapable of handling their financial affairs, such as individuLeisure Village III als suffering from Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, dementia or other 208-459-6036 4 UI "WF t $BMEXFMM cognitive disorders.â&#x20AC;? Two specific cases cited in the NCLC report Leisure Village IV include a homeowner in Baltimore who was behind 208-452-7927 in her water bill to the tune of $362. Legal fees, 4 UI 4U t 1BZFUUF interest, and penalties were added to bill, which quickly rose to $3,600. When she could not pay it, Leisure Village V she was evicted. In another instance, an 81-year208-459-6036 old Rhode Island woman was evicted from her #FMNPOU 4U t $BMEXFMM home two weeks before Christmas. After 40 years in the home, she could not pay a $474 sewer bill. Maryland Village A lien was filed, the home sold for $836 and later 208-442-4300 4VOOZSJEHF 3E t /BNQB resold for $85,000. Is There a Remedy? Poplar Grove If you are behind in property tax or city-owned 208-678-9429 utilities, contact the proper authorities and ask "MNP "WF t #VSMFZ about payment arrangements in order to avoid a lien. Once a lien is filed, before your home can be Portstewart foreclosed upon, you have the right to redeem your 208-455-9888 property, according to the report. You do this by 4 UI "WF t $BMEXFMM paying the purchaser of the tax lien the purchase price, plus interest, penalties, and costs incurred, Sunset Manor I 208-934-8141 within a specific time. If you do not redeem the &BTU .BJO t #VIM property on a timely basis, foreclosure may result. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous investors and Sunset Manor VI others have been known to tack on expensive 208-436-1380 legal fees that appear to jack up the price. They UI 4U t 3VQFSU do not tell you, however, that it is not necessary to pay all of these fees in order to buy back the lien. Sunset Manor V & VII If you believe you are in danger of a lien, or 208-587-7419 are already subject to one, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait until further / SE & t .PVOUBJO )PNF action is taken against you. Contact your local Troon Apartments property tax office to find out about installment 208-746-1100 payment plans. You may need to seek legal ad +VOJQFS %S t -FXJTUPO vice or the help of another trusted advisor, but do it quickly. If you have a mortgage, you might be Van Engelen able to set up an escrow account for the payment 208-465-7832 of property tax and avoid future delinquencies. ISI TU 4U 4 4UF t /BNQB

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Almost Losing Our Bill of Rights By Gordon Mercer and Marcia Gaines Mercer “A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse...” Thomas Jefferson As the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention recessed in 1787, the delegates were reasonably confident that their work on a strong national constitutional form of government with separation of powers and checks and balances would be easily ratified. As delegates began to arrive home, however, they were hit with a “firestorm.” They had not put in a Bill of Rights with freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, trial rights, the right to bear arms, and the many rights we value today. “Wasn’t this tyranny all over again,” many asked? Before the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention ended, George Mason, a delegate from Virginia, began arguing for a Bill of Rights. Elbridge Gerry presented the motion but Federalists like James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and most other delegates thought the separation of powers and other checks on power protected the people’s rights sufficiently. They argued that if they put in more rights, it would suggest citizens did not already have these rights. George Mason of Virginia had authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights and felt the proposed U. S. Constitution left out the very freedoms we had fought the Revolutionary War to gain.

PAGE 40 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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As the delegates at the convention decided against a Bill of Rights, 13 unhappy delegates left the convention early. George Mason and Edmund Randolph of Virginia and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts remained but refused to sign. The Anti-Federalists urged their state conventions not to ratify the proposed Constitution because a strong central government without a Bill of Rights would permit tyranny. Anti-Federalists were so effective in arguing that liberties and freedom would be lost without a Bill of Rights that ratification in Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts was threatened. James Madison and other key Federalists at last agreed that the first priority of the new U.S. Congress would be to propose and pass a Bill of Rights, which led to the passage of the new U.S. Constitution. James Madison led the successful effort to establish a Bill of Rights as the new U.S. Congress convened. The passage of a Bill of Rights was a turning point in our history. We had learned without a strong, vocal minority our rights of freedom of religion, freedom of press and assembly, the right to bear arms, the right to petition the government, the right to a fair trial, as well as rights reserved to the people and states would have been lost. A small persistent minority is always the starting point of a better community. ISI

JUNE/JULY 2014

A justly deserved summer is finally arriving... it’s true! Warm days are finally here with all the rodeos, family reunions, 4th of July celebrations, farmers markets, ice cream socials, fairs, expos, carnivals, camping, fishing, hiking, boating, and more. Isn’t this a fine time to find a friend or someone special with whom to share these endless activities and events? Take time today to write a personal ad or reply to one of the personal ads on these pages. To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message, address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. When you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of true love! Responses to personal ads appearing in this column may be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad to appear in the August/September 2014 issue, the deadline is July 10, 2014. SWWM, NS, ND from SE and SW Oregon and Idaho area. Have great place to live, but I hate to cook. No expense for a lady who owns nothing and would cherish her own special place. Age and nationality no concern. I love animals and birds. I have plenty of green flowering plants in my home. Some are wild unknown. Come enjoy the ride. Reply ISI, Dept. 10201, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF looking for a special guy, 70-plus, who would enjoy meeting a romantic, affectionate, coun-

try gal with interests in traveling, camping, fishing, boating, and four-wheeling. Let’s meet for coffee! Please respond with phone number. Reply ISI, Dept. 10202, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, 61, I have an 11 year old Yorkshire terrier. I socially smoke and drink. I love to go out to a fancy restaurant, or to get a hot dog at the ball game. Enjoy playing cards, movies, museums, and sport games. Looking for SWM at least 5’8”, good health, sincere, and honest. Age 55-65. Enclose picture please. Reply ISI, Dept. 10203, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 41

fullest and make the most of each day I am blessed with. If you feel the same, please contact me! Reply ISI, Dept. 10205, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF country gal,, 5’6”, slim, attractive, long brown hair, brown eyes, spiritual, Christian, funloving, up-beat. I like traveling, new adventures, history, art, camping, fishing, outdoor activities, walks together, romance, and many other interests. I am looking for a true companion, 60-75, who has a sense of humor, is spontaneous, someone I can respect, love, care for, laugh with, and share my heart, dreams, and goals. Would like a loving, openhearted gentleman who knows how to love his woman – sharing the same values to see if we are compatible in the big ”this-is-our-life” and “we’re-in-this-together” decisions. Accepting each other’s uniqueness, spoiling each other for the rest of our lives. Age is not important if you have learned from the past and still keep an open mind. Will consider relocating. I am debt free. No drugs or smoking. Occasional drinking okay. Please enclose a phone number, address, and photo. Reply ISI, Dept. 10206, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF. I enjoy a variety of activities from hiking, biking, x-c skiing to symphony and theatre to gardening. Activities and quiet time at home are nice, too. I like to learn and explore. I love nature and animals, especially dogs and horses. I am looking for an active gentleman who is kind, honest, positive, and genuine who enjoys many of the same activities and values. He’s a team player in the relationship and values the person he is with. Laughing and fun add a lot to the quality of life. I am 69, healthy, active, Christian, N/S, N/D, ocSWM, 78, ex-hyperactive adult, nominal Chriscasional drink. Picture would be nice. Reply ISI, tian, latent Buddhist, looking for little old lady in Dept. 10204, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box tennis shoes, country girl or otherwise adventurous 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. woman for friendship, companionship... potential partner. Pen pal okay and I will answer all reDo you have a zest for life? Do you have the sponses. Reply ISI, Dept. 10207, c/o Idaho Senior time, desire, physical well-being, and freedom to Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. pursue it? Do you know how to really communicate? Do you know how to reciprocate? If you answered Looking for someone who still enjoys making yes to all these questions, please read on. I am a love - kissing, cuddling and maybe more. I may be spiritual, SWM, 63, 5’9”, 175 lbs., retired, and in getting old but I still care about love. I am interested good physical condition. My interests include walk- only in sexually active people for correspondence ing, reading, music, dancing, boating, motorcycling, and possible meeting. I am 5’9” and 180 pounds, camping, and traveling. I live in Coeur d’Alene. I seek a non-smoker, a non-drinker with a great sense of a woman, 45-65, with similar interests, values, and humor. I love to laugh. Girls and guys, let’s become qualities for friendship, companionship, fun, and friends. Reply ISI, Dept. 10208, c/o Idaho Senior perhaps more. My philosophy is to live life to the Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403 ISI

Living In The Moment By Saralee Perel Recently, my husband, Bob, was taken by ambulance to the emergency room. He was having sharp chest pains, so I called 911. By 4 a.m., the ER doctor reported that Bob’s tests were good, but that he needed to see a cardiologist right away. Thank God, he has been feeling good ever since, though he’s gone through many cardiac tests and has worn a monitor to record data via electrodes on his chest. This experience has transformed him. He has a newfound appreciation of life. I find it nauseating! “Saralee,” he said one morning, “look at my water glass.” “Yes, Bob. It has water in it.” He said, “It has water in it!” “Uh huh.” “I’m drinking the water,” he said, closing his eyes while he “fully experienced” as he put it, a “sacred” swallow. Then he kissed me. “Bob.” I was choking during the inordinately long kiss, “I can’t breathe.” “I can’t either.” He gasped for breath. “Isn’t this magnificent?” Then he turned on a lamp. “Look at that!” he said, wide-eyed. “I’m looking.” I didn’t see anything. “The bulb. It’s giving out light.” I sat him down. “Sweets,” I said. “This new shtick? It’s got to stop.” “Why?” “Because – because.” And then I realized that Bob had nothing to stop. He’s always been appreciative of the greatness of so many things that I take for granted. Why on earth would I ever put a damper on that? On that dreadful night when he had chest pains as I waited for the results, I wondered if the next thing I hear would be, “We have bad news.” Sometimes love can be so painful.

How shockingly and suddenly a life can fall to pieces. Was that the lesson I was supposed to learn from all this? No. That night in bed, Bob and I cried. We were so relieved to be touching each other. In silence, we tenderly caressed each other’s faces. No words were needed. We knew we were both thinking that our lives have been unusually beautiful – with good times and bad, through loss of loved ones, pets, and personal tragedy – when literally in a moment, our lives changed and we wept with grief over the loss of a way of life that was never again to be. “Bob,” I said in bed, still touching his face. “We both know that anything can happen suddenly to horribly change the present.” He smiled as he looked at me and whispered, “We’re not going to live that way. Look at us at this very moment. Have you ever experienced such beauty in your life as now?” I said, “It couldn’t be better than this.”

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He told me, “If we concentrate on awful possibilities, we’ll miss out on the wonders we’re sharing – right now.” “Right now,” I whispered back. “Now is all we have.” “But tomorrow, anything can….” He stopped me from finishing my sentence.

“Who knows about tomorrow?” he said. “All we can be sure of is this moment. Our kitten in my armpit, sleeping and purring at the same time. Me massaging your thumb knuckle, which always makes you sleepy. The sounds of the wind. This kiss.” Bob’s kiss was a gentle as a butterfly’s wings.

English – this beloved language that drove us crazy as students but can entertain us in poetry, story, and song – is such a full language of homonyms, antonyms, synonyms, eponyms, heteronyms, tautonyms, etc. where minor differences in spelling can produce significant differences in meaning or pronunciation. We took a turn this month toward language and spelling as the basis for our quiz. Pete Shea created this issue’s winning quiz, Add A Letter Word Puzzle. Thank you, Pete for challenging one of our most basic language skills. We hope you all enjoy solving this quiz. 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 that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle for that issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, challenging, and interesting puzzles!

I was filled with light and love in these moments – these beautiful moments on this beautiful night, with my husband safe in my arms. I was contented and fulfilled – completely. Award-winning columnist, Saralee Perel, can be emailed at sperel@saraleeperel.com or at saraleeperel.com. ISI

The second prize goes to the person who submits the winning answers to the quiz presented in the previous issue. This month’s $25 winner of the State Tree quiz from the April/May issue is Leona Carpenter of Princeton, Idaho. Congratulations Leona! Thank you to all of the folks who sent entries to the special Easter egg hunt from the April/May issue. The winner of the $25 cash prize is Judi Cronk of Caldwell. Thank you Judi. Congratulations to all our winners! Please mail your entries to our Add A Letter Word Puzzle to the Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net by July 10, 2014 for our Aug/Sept 2014 edition. Remember to work the crossword puzzle on our website idahoseniorindependent.com. ISI

Add A Letter Word Puzzle Submitted by Pete Shea Below is a numbered list of words and a lettered list of clues. Add one letter to each word to create another word that means the same as one of the clues. For example, the correct answer to 1. is damp, which matches clue n. moist. On a numbered sheet of paper, write the new word and the letter of the clue that matches it. Mail or email your answers to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net and you may win the $25 prize!

1. dam 2. heave 3. cap 4. plan 5. ram 6. nice 7. hear 8. fee 9. pot 10. pear 11. comic 12. heat 13. let 14. ran 15. outage 16. rack

17. latte 18. tied 19. save 20. cow 21. not 22. banana 23. care 24. fight 25. tale 26. ramp 27. bear 28. deer 29. ham 30. quit

Clues: a. musical symbol b. violent anger c. kind of fish d. celestial home e. fear, alarm f. silent, still g. at no cost h. trim facial hair i. black bird j. vital organ k. turn aside, inhibit l. cereal grain m. dining surface n. moist o. the second of two p. injury

q. female kin r. precipitation s. abdominal pain t. lustrous gem u. fissure v. standard sized paper stack w. cut, whittle x. related to the universe y. sleepy z. two-dimensional surface aa. facial growth bb. harbor cc. scarf dd. for fear that ISI

Answers to Do You Know Your State Trees? By Patty Friedrich 1. c – Redwood – California 2. r – Palo Verde – Arizona 3. d – Blue spruce – Colorado 4. y – White pine – Idaho 5. a – Tulip tree – Indiana 6. j – Oak – Iowa 7. f – Cottonwood – Kansas 8. t – Southern pine – Arkansas 9. y – White pine – Maine 10. v – Ponderosa pine – Montana 11. f – Cottonwood – Nebraska 12. p – White birch – New Hampshire

13. m – Sugar Maple – New York 14. i – Buckeye – Ohio 15. x – Douglas fir – Oregon 16. w – Hemlock – Pennsylvania 17. b – Palmetto – South Carolina 18. g – Pecan – Texas 19. n – Red Oak – New Jersey 20. d – Blue spruce – Utah 21. m – Sugar maple – Vermont 22. f – Cottonwood – Wyoming 23. u – Sitka spruce – Alaska 24. s – Black Hills spruce – S. Dakota 25. e – Dogwood – Virginia ISI

Answers to Gather the Hidden Eggs Below are the page numbers where the twenty-one Easter eggs were hidden in the April/May 2014 issue. Thank you to the many folks who participated! 1. 3 2. 7 3. 14 4. 15 5. 17 6. 19 7. 21

8. 23 9. 26 10. 27 11. 28 12. 30 13. 32 14. 33

15. 34 16. 36 17. 38 18. 40 19. 41 20. 42 21. 43

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Science Fiction Comes True By Bill Hall People in a survey who were asked what they would most like to see happen in the future answered that they would like to travel through time. But we are all traveling through time. That’s what we do until the day we die – and maybe even beyond. Of course, that’s not quite what would-be time travelers mean, especially the young ones just getting acquainted with the beginning of their lives. People who say they would like to travel through time are actually talking about traveling through far more than a normal lifetime. They are talking about traveling hundreds of years backward and forward like a wandering science fiction tourist. I understand their curiosity. They want to have dinner with President Abe Lincoln one day and with Hillary Clinton’s great granddaughter, President Mary Bush, the day after that. Actually, such goals are virtually impossible so far as we know. The future hasn’t happened yet. There ain’t no there there. But the respondents to the survey are on the right track in wishing for the impossible. The possible is so boring by comparison. Those of us who have actually journeyed through time for 60, 80, or 100 years have seen some of the wildest predictions of science fiction come true. So why shouldn’t we toy with the thought of coming back from a future that hasn’t happened to visit a past that occurred before we were born. The New York Times reports that the recent survey by the Pew Research Center and Smithsonian Magazine asked respondents to guess what time will yield over the next five decades. But five decades is a pittance. Millions of us have already done more than that. Sixty years ago, I was among the many young people of 12 or so years who doted on the popular science magazines that stirred our curiosity. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, those imaginative magazines taught us that ordinary people would one day soon be riding rocket-like airplanes to France or Australia or China in a matter of hours. Radio would grow into flat moving pictures three or four feet wide, hung on the wall for our viewing pleasure. Doctors would stop hacking people open with knives and would operate on them instead with a tiny tube inserted into the body cavity through a

nostril or a small, discreet slit. Monkeys would ride rockets to the moon and maybe so would human beings, but we doubted that at first. One day polio, smallpox, and maybe even the flu would take a beating from the tenacity and skill of our bold medical researchers. Telephones would become Dick Tracy devices strapped to our wrists. And not only could we carry on audible conversations but we could even have tiny little keyboards on the devices where we would type messages to one another with our thumbs. Nah, on second thought, people wouldn’t be stupid enough to send clumsy messages with their thumbs when they could use their voices instead. Surely not all the guesses on the future would come true. But now that so much of what was once our science fiction future has come true, why not ask people, young and old, what we expect to see 50 years into the future? The most obvious discovery of new miracles is in medicine. Several diseases are already on the ropes or nearly so – AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, and several cancers. And from the perspective of my 76 years, the most remarkable breakthroughs that are about to happen will include building new body parts from scratch – legs, lungs, hearts, livers, eyes, noses, bladders. Some of our favorite exhausted body parts will be grown in the laboratory and used to replace those old favorites that no longer function for us. Some of the lesser needs of medicine will also be addressed. For instance, if you have the bad fortune to suffer from the chronic boyhead that denies you the natural, normal manly loss of hair on your mature noggin, be patient. Science will find a way. And don’t be surprised if a safe new growth hormone won’t soon be at our service, letting every high school grow its own basketball team of taller players. Best of all, science may develop replacement skin, letting hasty people be able at last to rid themselves of that tattooed name of the fickle girl who dumped them. Bill Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone.net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. ISI

Adaptability is not imitation. It means power of resistance and assimilation. - Mahatma Gandhi 30. *Cross between varieties 35. Church sound 37. Mojito, _ ___ drink 39. Wintry mix 40. Norse capital 41. Brightest star in Cygnus 43. Approximately, two words 44. Japanese port 46. Slash mark 47. Drawn tight 48. House cat, e.g. 50. Greek Hs 52. *Special Hawaiian flowers form this garland 53. Getting warm 55. Street in Italy 57. Hang a banner, e.g. 60. *Refuse turned fertilizer 64. Ancient assembly area 65. Unagi 67. Like outside-of-main stream art 68. Relating to aquarium scum 69. Shag rug 70. Spaghetti Western maker Sergio _____ 71. Short of history 72. Sophomore’s grade 73. Dog-_____ book

DOWN ACROSS 1. Torah expert 6. Chain letters 9. Barred bed 13. Shoelace tip 14. *First gardening mo.? 15. Unit of money in Poland 16. Abdul or Zahn

17. White House Dwight 18. Big dipper 19. *Climber support 21. *Tiny garden shovel 23. Afflict 24. Lick 25. Be quiet! 28. Ta-ta! in Italy

1. Feeling great delight 2. Lab culture 3. *Like many Gentians or Delphiniums 4. Swan of Twilight 5. Emphatic, in print 6. Honoree’s spot 7. *Short for nitrogen, phosphorous,

potassium 8. Thin mountain ridge 9. Old-fashioned bathtub foot 10. *What gardener did to riding lawn mower 11. It will contraction 12. So long! 15. Plural of #15 Across 20. Homeric epic 22. Rally repeater 24. Club enforcer 25. Tina Fey/Amy Poehler schtick, e.g. 26. Siddhartha author 27. Conforming to dietary laws for Muslims 29. Greek god of war 31. Soak some ink 32. Opposite of urban 33. Question in dispute 34. Hindu garment

36. Mischievous Norse deity 38. *What Venus flytrap eats 42. Opera house exclamation 45. *One-time plant 49. Poetic always 51. He fights like a lion, e.g. 54. Warn or arouse 56. Sleeper’s woe 57. Wrinkly fruit 58. Wooden pegs 59. Short for brotherhood 60. Family group 61. *The corpse flower is famous for its bad one 62. Cosine’s buddy 63. ____ up a golf ball, past tense 64. I see! 66. *Potato bud ISI

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