ISI August/September 2018

VOL 14 #3 • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018

IDAHOSENIORINDEPENDENT.COM

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Iceberg Lake in Glacier National Park lures hikers. Retirees often apply for job as park interpreters. Photo by Dianna Troyer.

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

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Proud of our Award-Winning Writers

REGULAR ISI CONTRIBUTER HOLLY ENDERSBY WINNER OF NATIONAL CONSERVATION AWARD We are proud to announce that one of our regular contributing writers, Holly Endersby, is the 2018 recipient of the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s top conservation award­­—the Jade of Chiefs Award.

Presented by the organization’s Conservation Council, the Circle of Chiefs, The Jade Award represents “an affirmation of OWAA’s adherence to, and support of, the principles of conservation.”

MAILING ADDRESS 1985 McMannamy Draw

Kalispell, MT 59901 PHONE 208-318-0310 or 866-360-5683 WEB idahoseniorindependent.com EMAIL info@idahoseniorindependent.com

Published six times per year, our paper exists to serve our mature readers.

We encourage our readers to contribute interesting material. As such, any views expressed in editorial are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Likewise, this publication does not endorse any particular product or service shown in the advertisements appearing in this paper.

All copy appearing in this publication is copyright protected and may be reprinted only with written permission of the publisher.

Endersby is only the third woman to receive this honor since it was established in 1958. ISI

Contributing Writers

Our Staff Robert Hunt....................... Publisher Janet Hunt.......................... Chief Financial Officer Kathleen McGregor........... Advertising Sales Diane Brosseau................. Advertising Sales Carol Blodgett.................... Advertising Sales ............................................ Digital Specialist Francesca Beckerle........... Advertising Sales Jonathan Rimmel............... General Manager ............................................ Graphic Designer ............................................ Webmaster Nann Parrett...................... Managing Editor Sherrie Smith..................... Production Assistant Ruth Hunt........................... Social Media Manager

Alice H. Dunn Holly Endersby Steve Heikkila Bernice Karnop Jack McNeel

Aaron Parrett Mary Terra-Berns Rob Tischler Diana Troyer

Contents Brain Games & Comics.................3

Recreation...................................... 12

Caregiving...................................... 25

Fluffy Critters................................. 4

Cover Story.................................... 16

Fitness & Nutrition........................26

Modern Senior.............................. 5

Eastern Idaho................................ 18

Travel.............................................. 28

Home & Lifestyle........................... 6

Money Matters.............................. 22

All About Idaho.............................. 29

Entertainment............................... 9

Health Care.................................... 23

Answers to Brain Games..............31

© 2018

AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Brain Games

PUZZLES•QUIZZES•GAMES•CONTESTS•BRAIN TEASERS•FUN

ANSWERS TO THESE PUZZLES ARE ON PAGE 31

s c i m o C

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

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Fluffy Critters PET TIPS•BREEDS•CARE•GROOMING

Idaho Shags: Tough, Loyal, with an Instinct to Herd RANCHERS SWEAR LOYALTY TO THE BREED

BY DIANNA TROYER Idaho’s many marvels extend beyond its iconic landscape of Hells Canyon plunging 7,993 feet, the deepest river gorge in North America, or the Bruneau sand dunes rising to 470 feet, the tallest single-structured dunes in America.

Idaho ranchers boast of a native canine marvel. The Idaho Shag or fuzzy dog originated in the eastern side of the Panhandle state, although its exact origins are blurry. It sounds like a breeding accident with a blend of Airedale terrier, border collie, kelpie, or heeler.

A versatile working breed, the Idaho Shag is renowned for its stamina, herding intellect, and, most of all, its unmistakable scruffy appearance as if it had an accident with an electric fence that left its hair permanently frazzled.

At first glance, Idaho Shags’ motley comical appearance makes it hard to take them seriously. Yet after working with the dogs, ranchers and guides swear their loyalty to the breed.

Bill Fuchs, 59, who owns the Henry’s Fork Ranch, a cattle and guest ranch in eastern Idaho near Chester, became a convert about seven years ago. He and his son Tanner, 24, began breeding the Idaho Shag because they bought one and liked the dog’s personality and how she worked livestock.

Their size, about 40 pounds, may make some livestock not take them seriously at first.

“If a cow doesn’t respect Marley or looks at her the wrong way, she lets them inch closer to her for a sniff, then she grabs their nose,” Fuchs said. “It’s her way of telling a cow to respect her space.”

The family has sold their Idaho Shags nationwide. “We put ads on www.ranchworldads.com,” Fuchs said. “It’s amazing how many people are looking for that specific breed. They’re great working dogs and companions. They’re friendly, not huge, and love moving cattle.

If they need to be aggressive with a stubborn cow, they’ll get right in there and get her moving.”

“The puppies are comical to watch,” he said. “They have such a herding instinct they try to herd each other and are always wrestling as youngsters. They look so easygoing, but we joke they turn into Tasmanian devils at dinner, because they’re protective of their food.”

Their herding instinct is so intense that they need some direction.

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“We have sheep here, too, and they want to herd them, but we teach them that sheep are not on the herd menu. Like all youngsters, they need an education. What makes them happiest is to go out and work cattle.”

Fuchs and his wife, Theresa, socialize the puppies, then their son Tanner trains them to work cattle.

Tanner said he prefers the breed because the Idaho Shags are gritty and have a lot of stamina.

“They really handle the weather well. The cold doesn’t bother them, probably because of the Airedale in them. They’re really loyal, too.”

Tanner said the dogs are versatile. “Some people have bought them to hunt coyotes and to tree bears. They’re energetic and like to have a job, so they can’t sit in the house all day.”

In mid-June, Marley had six puppies, while their other dog, Kate, gave birth to seven. “To keep the puppies affordable, we charge $300 each,” Tanner said.

Fuchs said at a recent branding in the Leadore area, most cowboys had an Idaho Shag. “That’s the breed they like to use up there.”

The scruffy 40- to 50-pound dogs are known as the Pahsimeroi Fuzzy in eastern-central Idaho, said Dr. Andrea Clifton, a veterinarian in Salmon.

“They’re awesome dogs,” she said. “I remember one named Fritz that was kicked by a cow and still kept working all day.”

They can be fearless, too.

“I’ve had some come in with porcupine quills. They learn quickly to leave them alone.” She said the dogs are intelligent, protective of family, have stamina, and want to please their owner.

“They’re tough and have an instinct to work cows all day, yet they can come home and play ball with the kids in the evening,” she said.

Cowboys are loyal to the breed, Dr. Clifton said.

“Once they start seeing how they work, that’s the only breed of dog they want.” ISI

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

PAGE 5

Modern Senior

TECHNOLOGY•SCIENCE•KNOWLEDGE•COMPUTERS•MOBILE

College Class on Memes Explains to Seniors Creative Ways People Get ‘Snarky’ Online

BY LISA MARIA GARZA, ORLANDO SENTINEL (TNS) Nancy Shutts, 78, first encountered internet memes a couple of years ago when her grandson shared a term paper he wrote for a college class. She couldn’t understand what the big deal was about the silly social media images with text—usually related to current events.

“I am so left-brained, this does not mean squat to me,” said Shutts, who has a degree in medical technology. “But I’m constantly looking at new things to expand my knowledge.”

Shutts and five other seniors came together in a Rollins College classroom to learn about memes and other trending images on the internet from art historian Adrienne Lee. A meme is a still shot—typically from a movie, television show or ad campaign—“that takes on a new life but is rooted in a context that we all share,” Lee explained to the class, offered for people 50 or older through Rollins’ Center for Lifelong Learning.

For example, an image of the late actor Gene Wilder as the title character in the

1971 movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”—with his top hat tipped upward, head resting on his hand and a smirk on his face—has spawned countless “condescending Wonka” memes.

Popular topics include mocking social media use, fad diets, and overused phrases.

“You know to read those words in a snarky, sarcastic tone because of how he played that character,” said Lee, 39.

“Memes are like organisms—they have a mind of their own, and they evolve and mutate.”

The lecture series, also explores other art history topics in relation to modern concepts such as: Are smartphone selfies an electronic version of a self-portrait? Does posting pictures of your brunch on Instagram equate to a still-life painting?

“It’s that idea that while the media has changed or evolved, the intent really hasn’t— that’s rooted in human nature,” said Lee, adding that she imagines Monet’s Instagram feed would be bursting with depictions of water lilies and haystacks.

Most of Lee’s students said they reluctantly use Facebook to keep track of family

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and friends but don’t embrace other apps such as Twitter or Instagram.

There’s a level of narcissism, they said, with constantly sharing carefully crafted details of one’s life on social media.

Apopka resident Yvonne King, who declined to give her age, balked at the idea of redefining art and comparing artists who painstakingly created masterpieces with people who use filters on their photos.

“People that are participating in it to a great degree ... they’re really not doing it for the art,” King said. “This is not an attack on anyone, but there’s quite an element of being very self-centered.”

Lee countered with the notion that all artists are prideful because they’re putting themselves out there through their work.

“All that art comes as a result of artists who are experiencing their world at a particular time ... that’s the real reason we can’t brush off these pop culture references, these social media trends, memes—it’s our visual representation of what’s happening now.”

“Art is for everyone, and through pop culture, I think we find ways to make it more accessible,” she said. ISI

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PAGE 6

Home&Lifestyle

GARDEN•REAL ESTATE•RECIPIES•DECOR•ANTIQUES

Homemade Cracker Crust Pizza

BY STEVE HEIKKILA Pizza is often a disappointedly bready affair where the delicious promise of sauce and toppings gets drowned in a doughy sea of blandness. But have you ever had a thin, crispy, cracker crust pizza before? Now that’s a thing of beauty.

I’m talking about crust so thin that it’s hardly noticeable apart from the welcomed bit of crunchy texture it provides. The zesty sauce, cheese, and toppings are the star of the show. It’s also got the added virtue of not being such a carbohydrate bomb, which I also appreciate.

The rub with home-baked cracker crust pizza is that you need an absurdly hot oven to get that crust crispy. This is the basic shortcoming of making any pizza at home, but especially

a cracker crust pizza. Pizza ovens run absurdly hot, as in 700° F or higher. Most home ovens only go to 450°.

Or so I thought. I discovered my own home oven—which is by no means a professional kitchen oven but basic Kenmore home oven—goes to 550°. After a good bit of experimentation, I’ve figured out how to make incredibly good cracker crust pizza at home.

It’s simple really. You just need to keep a few things in mind.

To ensure the center cooks before the edges burn, make individual-sized pizzas (about 9 inches in diameter) rather than one the size of a manhole cover.

Because you want to roll your cracker crust out to be ultra thin, it helps to use whole wheat flour because, it has less springy gluten in it than refined flours. Providing some fiber makes it healthier for you as well.

A pizza stone is essential—it’s cheap and easy to find. You want to put the stone onto the center rack of a cold oven and then heat it to an incendiary 550°F. Let the oven sit at temperature for a full 30 minutes before you cook your pizzas, to make sure the stone is completely heated through.

The melting point of most silpats is actually lower than 550°F, so don’t cook your pizza on a silpat. Instead, use plain parchment paper.

Go sparingly on the sauce, cheese, and other toppings. Thick application makes the pizza too thick, and the crust won’t crisp up. That means barely

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Spicy Italian sausage, bing Cherry, and arugula pizza on a cracker crust. PHOTO BY STEVE HEIKKILA.

a tablespoon of sauce for a 9-inch pizza, a sparse sprinkling of grated cheese that doesn’t completely cover the sauce, and plenty of space around each solid topping.

This is such a thin and delicate affair that the idea of moving the pizza from countertop to pizza stone is unthinkable.

Just roll out a golf-ball-sized piece of dough directly on the parchment, top it, and put it directly onto the pizza stone.

Because your oven is hotter than Hades, by the time your pizza is cooked, the corners of the parchment paper will be scorched brown.

Don’t freak out. This is okay.

Make sure to cool the pizza on a raised rack. If you don’t then steam from the hot pizza will “sweat” the crust and make it soggy, ruining all of that hard work.

As for toppings, you know what you like, but I’ve provided two of my favorite options just in case.

I adore this pizza. I hope you like it as well. ISI

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

MAKE A CRACKER CRUST PIZZA INGREDIENTS PIZZA CRUST << 1 Package active dry yeast << ¼ Cup warm water (100°-110°F) << 1 Cup 100-percent stone ground whole wheat flour << 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil << Pinch of salt PIZZA SAUCE << 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil << 1 Small onion (finely chopped) << 4 Cloves of garlic (finely chopped) << ½ Cup tomato puree << ¼ Cup tomato paste << 4-Inch sprig fresh rosemary << ½ Teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more if you like it hot) << 2 Ounces cabernet sauvignon (or other dry red wine) << Pinch of salt TOPPINGS OPTION 1: SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE, BING CHERRY, AND ARUGULA << 5 Ounces mild Italian sausage (cooked and crumbled) << 18 Fresh bing cherries (sliced in half and pitted) << 1/3 Cup chopped pistachios << 5 Ounces fresh mozzarella cheese (shredded) << 1 Cup fresh arugula (add after pizza is cooked) TOPPINGS OPTION 2: PEAR, FIG, AND BARBECUE PORK << 1 Teaspoon of fresh thyme (chopped) << 1 Ounces smoked gouda cheese (shredded) << 1 Fresh mission fig (sliced lengthwise into thin pieces) << 1 Small pear (cored and sliced lengthwise into thin pieces) << 1 Ounce of North Carolina style pulled pork barbecue << 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar (to brush onto fruit before baking) EQUIPMENT << Pizza stone << Parchment paper << Raised wire cooling rack PREPARATION PIZZA CRUST Sprinkle dry yeast into the warm water to wake it up. Let it stand for 5 minutes.

Mix flour, salt, and olive oil until the oil is well integrated, then mix in the yeast and water mixture.

Stir, adding more warm water as necessary until a stiff dough forms. Dough should be slightly sticky. Knead the dough for 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball, coat it lightly with more olive oil, and place it into a plastic bag or container with a lid and refrigerate overnight.

PIZZA SAUCE Saute onions in olive oil and a pinch of salt over medium heat in a pan until the onions begin to become translucent (about 5 minutes).

Remove the rosemary needles from the stem and finely chop them. Add the rosemary, garlic, and pepper flakes to the onion mixture, and sauté over medium heat until the garlic is cooked (about 3 or 4 minutes).

Deglaze the skillet with red wine, and let simmer until wine is reduced by about half.

Add tomato puree and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes.

Cool sauce completely. Save leftover sauce for another time (you can freeze it).

PIZZA ASSEMBLY Place the pizza stone in the center rack of your oven, and preheat to the oven’s maximum setting (hopefully 550°F). Once the oven comes up to temperature, let it stand at temperature for 30 minutes, to fully heat the pizza stone.

Place a golf-ball-sized piece (1/6 of the total) of pizza dough on a lightly floured square of parchment paper. Roll dough out to an extremely thin round, about 9 or 10 inches in diameter.

Place one tablespoon of sauce onto the crust, spreading it ultra thin to near the edges. The sauce can be spread slightly thicker at the edges, but keep it very thin in the middle.

Sparingly sprinkle with cheese (less than an ounce total). Total coverage is not necessary. Too much cheese will keep the crust from getting crispy.

Sparingly distribute toppings on the pizza. Again, heavier on the edges is preferable to placing a lot toward the center. The edges cook faster.

Place the parchment paper with pizza onto the hot pizza stone and bake until the edges of the crust are a dark golden brown (approximately 5 minutes).

You want to push right to the edge of burning to give the center time to crisp up.

Remove the parchment paper and pizza from the oven, and slide the pizza onto a raised cooling rack. This part is crucial. If you place the pizza on a solid flat surface, the crust will sweat and become soft. Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before cutting it into pieces. ISI

NO LAUGHING MATTER Submitted by Julie Fink/Brantley People used to laugh at me when I would say, “I want to be a comedian.”

Well, nobody’s laughing now.

Home & Lifestyle

PAGE 7

New device stops a cold before it starts

New research shows you can stop a cold in its tracks if you take one simple step with a new device when you feel a cold coming on.

Colds start when cold viruses get in your nose. Viruses New research: Copper stops colds if used early. multiply fast. If you don’t stop them early, they spread Copper may even stop flu that and cause misery. starts in the nose if used right away But scientists have found a quick and for several days. In a lab test, way to kill a virus. Touch it with cop- scientists placed 25 million live flu per. Researchers at labs and universi- viruses on a CopperZap. No virusties agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” es were found still alive soon after.

It kills microbes, such as viruses and People often use CopperZap bacteria, just by touch. preventively. Frequent flier KarThat’s why ancient Greeks and en Gauci used to get colds after Egyptians used copper to puri- crowded flights. Though skeptical, fy water and heal wounds. That’s she tried it several times a day on why Hippocrates, the “father of travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen modern medicine”, used copper to flights and not a sniffle!” she exheal skin ulcers, and why Civil War claimed. doctors used it to prevent infection Businesswoman Rosaleen says of battlefield wounds. They didn’t when people are sick around her know about viruses and bacteria, she uses CopperZap morning and but now we do. night. “It saved me last holidays,” Researchers say microbe cells she said. “The kids had colds going have a tiny internal electric charge round and round, but not me.” across the membrane surrounding Some users say it also helps the cell. The high conductance of with sinuses. Attorney Donna copper short-circuits this charge Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. and pops holes in the membrane. When her CopperZap arrived, she This immediately stops the mi- tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. crobe from reproducing and de- “My head cleared, no more headstroys it in seconds. ache, no more congestion.”

Tests by the Environmental ProOne man had suffered seasontection Agency (EPA) show copper al sinus problems for years. It was surfaces kill germs that are left on so bad it ruined family vacations them. That way the next person and dinners out with friends. His to touch that surface does not wife Judy bought CopperZaps for spread the germ. As a result of both of them. He was so skeptithis new knowledge, some hospi- cal he said, “Oh Judy, you are such tals switched to copper for various a whack job!” But he tried it and “touch surfaces”, like faucets, be- the copper cleared up his sinuses drails, and doorknobs. This cut the right away. Judy and their daughspread of MRSA and other illness- ter said, “It has changed our lives!” es in those hospitals by over half, Some users say copper stops and saved lives. nighttime stuffiness if used just The strong scientific evidence before bed. One man said, “Best gave inventor Doug Cornell an sleep I’ve had in years.” idea. When he felt a cold coming on he fashioned a smooth copper probe and rubbed it gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold went away completely.” It worked again every time he felt a Sinus trouble, cold sores, stuffiness. cold coming on and he hasn’t had People have used it on cold a cold since. sores and say it can completely He asked relatives and friends prevent ugly outbreaks. to try it. They said it worked for Copper even kills deadly germs them, too, so he patented Copper- that have become resistant to anZap™ and put it on the market. tibiotics. If you are near sick peoSoon hundreds of people had ple, a moment of handling it may tried it and given feedback. Nearly keep serious infection away. It may 100 percent said the copper stops even save a life. their colds if used within 3 hours The EPA says copper still works after the first sign. Even up to 2 even when tarnished. It kills hundays, if they still get the cold it is dreds of different disease germs milder and they feel better. so it can prevent serious or even Users wrote things like, “It fatal illness. stopped my cold right away,” and CopperZap is made in the U.S. “Is it supposed to work that fast?” of pure copper. 90-day full monPat McAllister, age 70, received ey back guarantee when used as one for Christmas and called it directed. It is $69.95. Get $10 off “one of the best presents ever. each CopperZap with code ISI6.

This little jewel really works.” Now Go to www.CopperZap.com or thousands of users have simply call toll-free 1-888-411-6114. stopped getting colds.

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PAGE 8

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

Home & Lifestyle

Late Summer Wines

BY HOLLY ENDERSBY August and September are filled with scrumptious, ripe vegetables from the garden, the smells of jam made from home-grown fruit, and lazy evenings grilling outside with friends and family.

A late August memory of mine is the aroma of lush grapes hanging in huge bunches off the vines my friend’s grandmother grew along a huge trellis. The entire yard was perfumed with the spicy-sweet smell of grapes as they hung ripening in the sun.

When I first smelled, then tasted, the American Niagara wine from Oak Knoll Winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, I was transported back to those wonderful years in that back yard. This is a sweet wine but when served chilled (not cold), the aroma and taste are divine. I have never smelled a wine that so perfectly reflected those giant purple globes ripened by the sun.

This wine is made with an original native American grape, so if you’re into buying American, this is the wine for you.

Serve it with light appetizers or with marinated, grilled chicken, and you will love it. At $8 a bottle, this is a steal.

Another nice transitional wine is the Sauvignon Blanc from Chateau Ste. Michelle in the Columbia Valley of Washington. The 2016 we tried was sprightly, not too sweet, and was the kind of wine you could easily enjoy out on the deck as you watch the sun set.

We paired it with clam fritters, and its fresh taste worked well with the pungency of clams.

This white wine has a nice balance between crisp and sweet, so it should tickle the taste buds of a wide variety of white wine lovers.

A beautifully balanced red, we enjoyed this summer, which would be perfect now and into the fall, was the Dreaming Tree 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon. This lovely, balanced wine with notes of dark chocolate and traditional blackberry and plum was served with grilled elk steak and it performed superbly with this mild, wild game. My husband is not fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, so when one gets his approval, which this did, I know a wide range of wine drinkers will enjoy it.

Dreaming Tree Winery is the cooperative brain child of musician Dave Matthews and native New Zealander Sean McKenzie. This California wine is exceptionally smooth with satisfying mouth tannins and is incredibly reasonably priced. If you can’t find it in a store near you, the winery can ship to both Idaho and Montana.

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel is a terrific transitional wine. Not as light as some summer wines, it is not a heav, merlot-type for rich winter meals. A group of four of us found this wine simply delicious.

This wine is made from 35- to 85-year-old grape vines. Head trained and spur pruned, these older vines produce smaller grapes in fewer clusters that have increased intensity of flavor, which is why Gnarly Head chooses to make old vine Zinfandel: it’s all about the richness of the juice these grapes produce.

I found this wine to be redolent of ripe blackberries, with a touch of plum, some spice, and a tiny bit of pepper. It’s aged in a combination of American and French Oak barrels, but the oak does not overpower the richness of the berry. We served this wine with smoked salmon pasta, and it was an immediate hit.

Finally, an interesting wine we tried was the Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2016 cabernet sauvignon, aged in bourbon barrels.

Having never tried a wine aged this way, I thought it was something we should explore.

Again, my husband gave this a resounding thumb up. The aging mellowed the edginess right out of the Cabernet Sauvignon without detracting from any of its lovely character.

Two other tasters felt this wine was exceptional as well, and at a huge discount of $6 a bottle, it was an absolute steal. If you can find this wine on sale, buy it. If not, try it anyway as it is perfect with such late summer dinners as grilled burgers, or even pizza, on the deck. ISI

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

PAGE 9

Entertainment

MUSIC•BOOKS•THEATER•DINING•ART•FILM•TELEVISION

The Ballad of Minnie and Pearl BRUCE ANFINSON, 2018

AARON PARRETT Bruce Anfinson puts the “treasure” in The Treasure State. Since the 1970s, he has been entertaining people all over the world with his stories and songs of Montana, delivered in his homespun country style.

He plays a handmade guitar with more holes and dings in it than Willie Nelson’s famous axe “Trigger,” its mellifluous tone a perfect match for Anfinson’s folky tenor voice.

His most recent album came out in 2016, but I just heard it played on the radio last Memorial Day. The album is called The Ballad of Minnie and Pearl, and the closing cut happens to be the most honest, unaffected version of the National Anthem you’re ever likely to hear: it’s the kind of version you can imagine Charlie Russell or Teddy Blue Abbott crooning to the cows late at night somewhere in the Judith Basin.

Photo courtesy bruceanfinson.com.

The title takes its name from the first song, an Anfinson original (Grizzly Gulch Music, BMI) about a pair If you’ve ever taken the Gates of the Mountains boat tour on of working horses Anfinson uses around his Last Chance Ranch way the Missouri River south of Holter Lake, chances are you’ve heard up in the mountains, above Helena. He used them for everything Canadian songwriter James Keelaghan’s song “Cold Missouri Waters.” from skidding logs to pulling the wagons that he carries folks up It’s about the terrible Mann Gulch Fire in 1949 that killed 13 smoketo his dining hall in for his world-famous prime rib dinners a few jumpers, inspiring Norman Maclean’s posthumous book Young Men times a summer. It’s one of three Anfinson originals on this album: and Fire (1992). Anfinson’s rendition of the song is an unaffected, the other two also offer personal glimpses of the author’s Montana simple arrangement that strikes to the heart of the tragedy, sung in lifestyle, especially “My Old Wood Skis.” He co-wrote “Rhubarb a plaintive, authentic voice.

Pie” with another Montana songwriting legend, Jim Schulz.

Anfinson does some excellent covers of other gems, including The album features some other sapphires in the gravel as well.

Tom Russell’s “Throwing Horseshoes at the Moon” and Ian Tyson’s “Wild Prairie Rose” was written by the late Jay Rummel, mostly famous “The Gift.” for his graphic artwork, but also admired and respected for his country Anfinson is joined in his efforts on the CD by some legendary music and for hosting a weekly show at Luke’s Bar in Missoula back northwestern talent, including Ken Nelson, who played both bass and in the 1980s called “Ace Wheeler’s Talent Showcase.” piano as well as co-producing the album, and C.M. Russell scholar and Rummel died in 1998 and made very few recordings in his lifetime. impersonator Rafael Cristy on the musical saw. Brian Oberlin chimes Anfinson recounted how the song ended up on the album. in on some tasteful mandolin chops, and Elana James ices the musical “My friend Martin Holt came to me when he knew he was getting cake with some soulful violin. close to the end of his life and said, ‘Anfinson, this is a damn fine The Ballad of Minnie and Pearl is widely available online at venues song, and I don’t want it to disappear. It would mean a lot to me if such as CD Baby and Amazon.com, or you can order a copy directly you kept it alive.’” from Mr. Anfinson at www.bruceanfinson.com. ISI

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Entertainment

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

The Rockin’ National Anthem ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

BY RANDAL C. HILL Bill Haley and His Comets recorded the first rock ‘n’ roll hit—“Crazy, Man, Crazy,” a now-forgotten piece of swing-based fluff that employed teen-oriented catch phrases of the day (“solid,” “crazy,” “gone”). Issued on Essex Records, the ditty reached Number 12 on Billboard’s 1953 singles chart. The success of “Crazy, Man, Crazy” caught the interest of industry giant Decca Records, who quickly wooed Haley away from tiny Essex and onto their powerhouse label.

On April 12, 1954, Haley and his band nervously entered Manhattan’s cavernous Pythian Temple studios to tape two songs for Decca that would become the Comets’ debut offering. Top-notch veteran Decca producer Milt Gabler focused his energy on the “A” side, a novelty called “Thirteen Women (and Only One Man in Town),” a droll tale of 13 women and one (lucky) man who somehow survive an H-bomb explosion.

The second track scheduled was an upbeat 12-bar blues dance tune called “Rock Around the Clock.” Haley wasn’t the first to record it; “Clock” had originally been done by a rock aggregate called Sonny Dae and the Knights.

Dae’s disc failed to catch fire, but Haley liked the song and played it on the road for two years as a hot dance number.

“Thirteen Women” took longer than expected, and the studio clock showed only 30 minutes of the three-hour session available for the “B” side. Haley’s quickly recorded two attempts proved less than perfect. But when time ran out, Gabler, in a deft display of recording-studio wizardry, grafted the two tracks onto one now-usable master tape.

Decca promoted “Thirteen Woman,” but deejays soon preferred the back side of the single (which was absurdly labeled a Fox Trot, a smooth ballroom dance).

Haley’s disc squeaked onto the Billboard Top 30 for one week in 1954, then faded into oblivion. Temporarily.

Young Peter Ford, the only child of Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell, was playing some of his favorite records—at full volume—when director Richard Brooks dropped by the Ford/ Powell home in Beverly Hills one evening in early 1955. Brooks had come to chat with Ford about a movie they were working on, called Blackboard Jungle, a gritty tale of inner-city juvenile delinquents based on Evan Hunter’s hit novel of the same name.

Brooks had been looking for a teen-oriented tune to use over the film’s credits. As rock ‘n’ roll was just gathering momentum, the pickings for just the right song were slim back then. But when Brooks heard “Rock Around the Clock” blasting from the younger Ford’s room, he knew he had the perfect musical insertion for Blackboard Jungle. Brooks borrowed the lad’s 78 rpm platter, promising to return it later (but never did).

On his website peterford.com, the now-retired actor/singer/businessman states, “I played a small but pivotal role in launching a musical revolution. Thanks to a unique set of circumstances, the musical passion of a fifth grader helped ‘Rock Around the Clock’ become, as Dick Clark called it, ‘The National Anthem of Rock ‘n’ Roll.’” ISI

Book Review: Dragon Teeth (MICHAEL CHRITON, HARPER/COLLINS, 2017)

BY BERNICE KARNOP The year 1876 was notable for several events, including the celebration of the 100th birthday of the United States at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and for the defeat of General Custer after his unfortunate decision to attack an Indian encampment that summer. Readers are probably aware of those events, but who knows about the Bone Wars of the 1870’s?

I learned about this historic rivalry between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh in the fiction book, Dragon Bones by Michael Crichton, published posthumously last year.

He tells the story through the eyes of a fictional Yale student, William Johnson, who signs up to go west with Professor Marsh.

The rich and spoiled 18-year-old goes because of a bet with a fellow student, not because he has any interest in either fossils or the West. On the train to Cheyenne, he learns the paranoia Professor Marsh feels against Cope.

This was the golden age of fossil hunting, where ground-breaking discoveries were literally being dug up in the West. The men were competing with each other to find and identify the new creatures.

Their fierce, bitter, and public rivalry became known as the Bone Wars.

Readers may check Wikipedia for a long article about the bone wars and will find that Crichton’s story follows the facts.

Marsh suspects Johnson of being a spy for Cope and ditches Johnson in Cheyenne. Johnson then apprentices himself to Cope, who takes him out to the Judith, where they camp for the summer and dig fossils.

Along with the dangers and discomforts, they unearth a major discovery, brontosaurus teeth. The story continues the tale of Johnson’s adventures bringing them back to the States with all the surprises and plot twists one would expect from Crichton.

Crichton’s wife, Sherri, discovered the manuscript on her husband’s computer. “It has Michael’s voice, his love of history, research, and science, all dynamically woven into and epic tale,” she notes on the website.

Michael Crichton (1942-2008) is a New York Times bestselling author of The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Jurassic Park and many others.

Jurassic Park readers and movie fans will enjoy Crichton’s return to paleontology in Dragon Teeth. ISI

AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Help Military, Overseas Citizens Vote in Midterm Elections (STATEPOINT) For Service members and their families stationed away and U.S. citizens living abroad, family and friends are vital connections to life back home. During the 2018 midterm elections, you can be an important source of voting information, especially for 18-24-year-olds voting absentee for the first time.

An easy way to help loved ones in the military or abroad to vote absentee is by referring them to the Federal Voting Assistance

Program (FVAP), which provides tools and resources to ensure that American citizens who want to vote can do so from anywhere in the world.

Voters can visit FVAP.gov to find state-bystate official registration and ballot request deadlines, as well as information on completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which is the registration and ballot request form, or the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), the backup ballot. Both forms are

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available at FVAP.gov and can be filled out with the online assistant or by hand.

For additional information, visit FVAP. gov, email Vote@FVAP.gov or call 1-800-438VOTE (8683).

The sooner voters register and request their ballots, the greater the likelihood they can successfully vote. That’s because ballots must be sent back before individual state deadlines, which vary by state. ISI

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PAGE 12

Recreation

SPORTS•ACTIVITIES•FISHING•HUNTING•CAMPING

Golfing on the Brain

BY MARY TERRA-BERNS Several recent studies have found that when we spend time outside, in a natural setting, our creativity and problem solving abilities improve.

“Exercising in nature can have more mental health benefits than on a treadmill.” said David Straker, adjunct assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. Fortunately, Idaho and Montana offer endless opportunities to get outside and improve our prefrontal cortex-mediated executive processes.

Both states offer abundant venues for recreating in a variety of natural settings. Hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, floating, paddling, wildlife watching, and photography are some

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of the more popular activities. National parks have exceptional scenic landscapes to take in, community parks offer space for relaxing or tossing a ball with your dog, there are even parks for playing Frisbee golf and, of course, numerous traditional golf courses.

Playing a round of golf on any one of the many outstanding courses in either Idaho or Montana benefits the brain and body just as much as any of the other outdoor activities.

Walking and swinging a club increases blood flow, improving nerve cell connections in your brain, which in turn improves strategic thinking and hand-eye coordination.

You burn around 1000 calories per round, a little less if you are using a cart, a little more if you are walking. Also, focusing on that little white ball both near and far improves vision by working the eye muscles.

It takes about four-and-a-half hours to play 18 holes, and the continuous exposure to all that green vegetation reduces stress, helps decrease anxiety, and relaxes the body.

In addition, various studies indicate a little bit

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of vitamin D from the sun also helps reduce heart disease and depression, among other health risk factors.

Both Idaho and Montana have top-rated courses, public and private, in a variety of natural settings. If you want to add a little more bulk to your brain’s grey matter, check out the Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda for some history with your golf. This course was built on the historic Anaconda copper smelter property. Many copper smeltering relics have been incorporated into this Jack Nicklaus Signature design course.

If you like Jack Nicklaus-designed courses, hop over the border to the Idaho Club, just east of Sandpoint, Idaho. It has 11 holes on the Pack River and adjacent wetlands and seven on the Moose Mountain side. With water and/ or vegetation on either side of the fairway, you want to keep your ball going as straight as possible.

The Idaho Club course is designed to be a bit tough; however, all of the golfers I know say the same thing about tough courses, “That’s the point, we want to be challenged.

That is what makes it fun.”

Another “fun” challenge is landing your ball on the famous 14th hole floating green at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, ranked one of Americas best 100 courses by Golf Digest. So many balls end up in the water that divers periodically collect them.

Amateur golfers feel more connected with professionals when they play a well-designed course that is just as challenging for them as a U.S. Open course is for the golfing elite.

U.S. Open courses are supposed to be difficult, and amateur golfers can empathize when they watch top pros like Phil Mickelson have a really, really bad day.

Essentially, golfing is good for you.

According to one study out of Sweden, conducted at the Karolinska Institute, golfers can expect an extra five years of life. You don’t even have to be good at it to gain all those brain and body benefits.

So, just keep that in mind every time you shank a ball or keep landing it in the sand traps. ISI

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Recreation

PAGE 13

RV Travel Provides Complete Flexibility for Today’s Boomers

BY ROB TISCHLER, CEO ALLSTAR COACHES Baby boomers have redefined each stage of their lives, so it’s no surprise that today they are redefining retirement. No longer seen as a time to simply play shuffleboard, bridge, or bingo, today’s boomers are viewing retirement as a new phase to pursue passions like starting a business, moving near grandchildren, or seeing the world.

On average, baby boomers are healthier, wealthier, and more educated as they head into their golden years than their parents were. That means there will be enough variety in their choices to turn even the less taken roads into major retirement trends over the next 10 to 20 years.

Many baby boomers plan to travel more as they enter retirement. In fact, 38 percent of them have created a travel bucket list they hope to embark upon within the next several years, according to an AARP survey of 889 © JIM’S PHOTOS, BIGSTOCK.COM baby boomers. After decades of cramming travel into long weekends and limited vacation time, new retirees often have a pent-up desire to visit new places.

Meg S. and Dierk M. knew exactly what they wanted to do when they retired in 2017.

“Go wherever whim and chance might take us in our recreational vehicle. We’re able to see parts of the country that you can’t possibly experience by air or by train. We’ve had the opportunity to visit so many quaint small towns that are really Americana,” said Meg. Her travel mate, Dierk, added “RV travel is relatively inexpensive from the standpoint that you are not paying $100-$200 per night for a hotel room. Yes, there is gas expense, but that is completely offset by the cost of a campsite for the night. Average campsites in state parks run from $20-$45 per night, which also includes electricity and sewer connections. You are able to camp lakeside, mountainside, and oceanside for a lot less than getting hotel rooms in any of those locations. There is just complete flexibility with this type of travel, not to mention what a great time for family bonding.”

In addition, many baby boomers are looking for flexible vacation options. They like being able to stop wherever and whenever they like with the luxury to extend or shorten their stay in any location. This particular age group is searching for a more fulfilling life—and quite a few are finding that RVing is the answer. Many are looking for outlets to unwind and unplug. It makes sense that people who spend time outdoors, cook at home, and spend quality time with the important people in their lives would be drawn to RV travel.

Need some road trip inspiration? Here are some stunning places to visit: << Grandfather Mountain (North Carolina) << Great Smokey Mountains (Tennessee) << San Pedro Resort (Florida Keys) << Appalachian Mountains (West Virginia) << Camp Gulf Holiday Park (Florida) << Libby’s Oceanside Park (Maine) Government Subsidized Apartments for Self-Reliant Elderly

“I would have never considered myself a “camping” girl, but now, I’m not sure I would want to travel any other way,” said Meg. “We’ve experienced the Rockies and the Tetons, along with Glacier National Park, as well as the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama to the Everglades, and the Atlantic Coast from Florida to South Carolina as well as many, many small towns and cities in between. We’ve also visited many American historical sites that I would never have experienced if traveling by air, with all the ease of traveling in my own home.” ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

Recreation

How About a Good Swift Kick?

BY LOIS GREENE STONE (SENIORWIRE) You’ve heard of “break a leg” before going on stage...so how about “sprain an ankle” before a golf tournament?

Here’s a true tale filled with bravery, action, suspense, and personal accomplishment, even though it happened quite a while ago. Got your hankies in hand? I’m relating an honest situation, and, if you stop reading this, perhaps you’ll stay number two when disaster threatens to doom your sports’ dreams.

Private country clubs usually have tennis courts and a pool in addition a golf course. Most offer both golf and tennis invitationals, and, at the club we belong to, the men’s tennis preceded the men’s golf tourney by a week. More tennis trophies to trap flit through my husband’s head as he signed up for the annual net event with a guest. He eyed the permanent plaque in the club’s TV room and mentally polished the blank bronze awaiting engraving. He’d been playing “A” tennis but “B” golf most of the summer.

Invitational was a gala beginning mid-afternoon on Men Only © Jure, Bigstock.com Day, ending with a stag dinner and card-playing. The sets went as he’d margined; a four-way play-off remained. I called the club.

No, I couldn’t speak to my husband, he was still on the courts. I couldn’t even drive out to see the match on Men Only Day. (Ah yes, “men only” did exist... even most of the original Ivy League universities followed that.) I re-dialed much later. When he didn’t respond to a page, I assumed he must be in the shower.

With the phone cradled against one ear, the other caught a sound of our electric garage door rising. I never expected him home so early.

Sure, he must be dropping off the silvery statue for safety before returning to the club. A limping man with a pregnant-looking ankle and third place prize entered. He’d jumped at the net when the playoff began, came down sideways on his foot and sprained an ankle. He continued, hopping like a kangaroo but looking like a crane, earning a place rather than the coveted prize.

X-rays revealed no break. An elastic brace with metal stays supported the ankle that needed rest and elevation but instead, saw golf shoes the next week. As his mid-season golf slump was still secure, my husband reasoned, he might as well play in the golf invitational.

Pivot or not, he wasn’t hitting the ball very squarely, so how much worse could he be with an all-arms swing? He practiced in the yard: no hip turn, no rolling to the left side of foot at follow-through, no weight shift. Disaster. Usually a fierce competitor, he was miserable but felt he’d be more miserable missing this annual happening.

He actually played his best round of the year! He had to play with his feet together, and somehow, this kept him from keeping his weight on his right foot, which was giving him a poor swing until his injury.

He heard a few negative comments about a stupid-looking swing, but was still so happy to be competing, he dealt with it; when he played well, besides, he was amazed.

When his large, discolored ankle descended to normal looking, he begged me, before the next big golf tourney, to kick him on his foot.

Funny, one October when I accidentally did re-injure that spot, he won an autumn men’s singles, men’s doubles, and, with me, a mixed doubles tennis tourney. And played one of his low-scoring rounds of golf!

Ah, now the club is gender-equal for most things, and women no longer have to be off the grounds on men’s day. The guest-days are still segregated and no one has dared to see what would happen if a male signed up for a ladies’ event. But I still wonder now, 2018, before my mate signs up for a golf event whether I should kick him and give him that edge? ISI

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Bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eyes BY: MIKE MCGOUGH (PACIFICO REFLECTIONS) For years his prowess with a rifle was unchallenged. He never shot anything but a bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye. In fact, some folks said, he was so good he could light a stick match with a single shot from his .22 at a hundred yard. A fellow once said he could even do it blind folded. No one had ever seen him do it, but everyone believed he could just the same. In search of a human-interest story, a new writer for the local paper, decided to pay him a visit. She didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe anyone could hit a bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye every time, so she decided to check it out for herself. She went out to his farm on the edge of town, and sure enough, there was all the proof she needed. On the side of the barn that faced the house there was one bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye after another. The bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes were in no particular pattern, but every one was shot once right through the center.

She quickly came to the obvious conclusion that he may in fact really be that good.

Then she spotted a hole that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even close to a bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye.  On a closer look she found that it was a hole made by a .22 round. Still amazed, she started toward the house to meet this guy who was a perfect shot. She had some questions about that stray shot, but guessed that maybe he was trying to teach someone else to shoot. Surely, a man who was that good couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss a whole bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye.

As she started toward the house, she heard someone whistling. An older fellow came around the side of the barn and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hi, can I help you?â&#x20AC;? He was carrying a bucket of white paint and a small paint brush. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m new around here and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard a great deal about a man who

is a perfect shot. I wanted to meet him and learn how he got so good.â&#x20AC;? She told him she was working on a story for the county paper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I suppose itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s me youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for, but I must warn you, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not nearly as good as folks like to think I am.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;You sure couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell from how many times you hit the bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes on the other side of the barn,â&#x20AC;? she countered. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh that,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really not that hard if you have some paint and a brush.â&#x20AC;?

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, not painting the bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes, I know anyone can do that,â&#x20AC;? she said. I mean shooting each one of them dead center. Can you really light a match at a hundred yards?â&#x20AC;? He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t answer, but just motioned her to follow him around the barn. She guessed that he was about to paint another bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye on the barn, then heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d walk up to the house and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d show her how he shoots them.

He looked around on the side of the barn for a while, then he found it. She thought he was looking for an open spot. Instead, he

was looking for that stray shot. With a steady hand and a clear eye, he painted a bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye right around that stray shot. He laughed while he was doing it, and she joined him in his amusement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Been doing this for years, and folks been believing it about that long too.â&#x20AC;?

He told her that once he had been a great shot and still was better than most. But he said for some reason, folks thought he was a lot better than he was. He said he liked his shooting reputation and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t figure it caused any harm letting folks believe he was a whole lot better than he actually was.

She spent some time with him that afternoon and he shared a little about his life and a pretty simple philosophy he had developed. He said folks tend to believe about each other what their perceptions tell them is true. He said reputations, whether good or bad, are more the result of peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perceptions than truth or fact. He also said that once folks get a notion in their head about someone, whether its good or bad, they just seem to want to hold on it. He said he hoped she wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too disappointed and started to ask if she would keep his little secret. Then settling back in his chair he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, it actually makes no difference whether you tell folks what you saw or not. What theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to believe about my shooting abilities is now far more believable than the truth will ever be.â&#x20AC;? She never did write the story, because she knew he was right. And besides, she had her own reputation to think about! ISI

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Cover Story

PAGE 16

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

Work is Play RETIREES LAND SEASONAL JOBS

AT NATIONAL PARKS

BY DIANNA TROYER The majestic Teton Mountains appear and disappear behind nowyou-see-me-now-you-don’t clouds, enchanting retirees who work seasonally near the Moose Entrance of Grand Teton National Park north of Jackson, Wyo. “I love this park,” said Richard Rynearson, 68, a Teton park ranger who mans the Moose Entrance booth. “A few years ago, I was crazy enough to fly here on a long weekend from southwestern Colorado, just to ride the paved bike path between here and Jenny Lake. The view of the Tetons is spectacular the entire way.”

Michael Cloherty, 77, a retired teacher and volunteer bike path ambassador for seven years, understands the tug of the Tetons on Rynearson and others.

“Years ago, a friend who grew up around here and bikes a lot told me, ‘Everyone should ride around the shore of Jenny Lake regularly.

It’s good for the soul.’ He was absolutely right. After my shifts end with a lot of laughs, I go home reminded of people’s basic goodness.”

At the nearby Dornan’s Moose Trading Post, David Bodine, 53, a retired New Jersey State Police patrolman, never tires of his routine when he takes a break as a store employee.

“I go outside just to look and make sure the Tetons are still there,” he said, grinning. “After work, my wife and I jump on our bikes or hike and explore.”

Nationwide, the National Park Service relies on retirees like these to fill vital seasonal jobs at more than 400 sites. Lured by the park’s postcard-perfect scenery, wildlife, and recreational opportunities, retirees agree their work is play and say they feel blessed to live from May to September in a place where most tourists stay for a only few days or a week.

“The value and experiences retirees bring is wonderful,” said Denise Germann, the park’s public affairs officer. “They’re enthusiastic and have an attitude of ‘I can’t believe I’m here.’ It’s great to be around people who love what they do.”

THEY COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. “We have former CEOs of corporations, an architect, police officers,” she said. “Many live in their RVs and work here in summers and winter elsewhere.”

Seasonal retirees often pick a different park to explore each summer and winter, then apply to work for the park service, or contractors, or private business nearby. Jobs include desk clerk, waiter, housekeeper, bartender, or hiking leader and interpreter.

“They’re an awesome segment of the park service’s workforce nationwide,” said Germann, who also worked with retirees at her

previous jobs at Glacier National Park in Montana and Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.

Before applying to work at a specific park, many retirees visit first, using their Senior Pass. Seniors 62 or older gain entrance to any site within the park service with a $20 annual pass or $80 lifetime pass.

DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK After his eight-hour shift had ended, Rynearson locked his tollbooth door and still looked energized. He grinned and his eyes gleamed with contentment, despite having answered countless questions and calculated admission for hundreds of tourists.

“It doesn’t feel like work when I’m taking admission and visiting with people,” Rynearson said. “It’s like that saying about when you love what you’re doing, you never work a day in your life.”

Before being hired at Grand Teton this summer, Rynearson had worked at several other national parks, including Yellowstone, Acadia, Denali, and Mesa Verde.

His stints working seasonal park service jobs started after he was invited to take an early retirement at age 59 in 2009. He had worked 20 years as a project manager for Halliburton in Houston when the corporation reorganized its workforce.

“In hindsight, I’ve realized my early retirement was a blessing, because I had been having some health issues due to work-related stress. I’m relaxed now.”

As part of a severance package, Rynearson and other employees completed several weeks of workshops, refreshing their skills for writing resumes and cover letters and interviewing for their next job.

He stunned a career coach when he told him of his future plans.

“He assumed I wanted to work for another corporation. I told him I was going to bag groceries at a general store in Yellowstone National Park. He thought I was joking. I wasn’t,” he said. “The summer before, we were in Yellowstone, and I got to talking with some retirees working at Lake Lodge, and it sounded like something fun to do.”

On his days off, he biked, hiked and kayaked. “That was the best summer of my life. I explored Yellowstone thoroughly. By the end of the season, I decided to apply to work at another park.”

Rynearson said he feels a personal and special connection with the National Park Service. “My birthday is August 25, the date the park service was established in 1916.”

He offers advice about the competitive application process to work at a national park. Most employers begin hiring about six months before a park opens.

“You can apply at usajobs.gov and do some networking to find out who is in charge of hiring. At Mesa Verde, I was told about 300 people applied for three jobs. Thanks to the grace of God and good luck, I was one of the three and sold tickets for tours. I was in the Air

AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Richard Rynearson, a Grand Teton National Park ranger, greets visitors at the Moose Entrance booth. In 2009, he retired as a project manager with Halliburton in Houston.

PHOTOS BY DIANNA TROYER.

Cover Story

Michael Cloherty, a retired teacher, volunteers as a bike ambassador and answers visitors’ questions along a paved bike path from Moose to Jenny Lake.

Force, so having that veteran preference helped, too. Apply and cross your fingers.”

Rynearson said his wife is supportive of his seasonal summer work.

“During summer, she stays home in Houston to help take care of our grandchildren and to work as a substitute teacher at a year-round school. I hope to be back here for a future season,” he said STILL TEACHING AS A BIKE PATROL VOLUNTEER Cloherty, tall and gregarious, swapped his classroom at nearby Wilson Elementary School for a room without a roof, one with bluebird blue skies, birdsongs, and breezes.

“I’m still teaching, but now tourists instead of children are my students,” said Cloherty, who taught 26 years. “They ask me about natural history, the glaciers that formed the valley, wildflowers, and hiking trails.”

The number of students he interacts with has skyrocketed. His new classroom happens to be in the ninth most popular national park in America, with 3.3 million visitors annually. Neighboring Yellowstone is sixth, with 4.1 million visits, according to NPS. One of his most memorable questions came from three women hiking the Taggart Lake Trail.

“At the trailhead, one lady stopped me and reached into a pocket of her cargo pants and told me to turn around while she pulled out a surprise,” he said. “I was afraid she’d picked wildflowers and wanted them identified.”

She cradled what looked like a handful of malted milk balls or chocolate-covered coffee beans.”

It was moose poop. “When I told her what it was, she still kept it.”

Cloherty carries an emergency kit with Band-aids, bear spray, and bike repair tools, including a wrench, patch kit, and pump.

“I’m glad a friend talked me into doing this,” he said. “The hours are flexible. I’m exercising and socializing and meeting people from all over the world.”

“

PAGE 17

During a break from working at a general store, David Bodine says a view of the Teton Mountains refreshes him.

He retired as a trooper with the New Jersey State Police.

After touring national parks last summer, they were smitten with northwestern Wyoming.

“We decided instead of paying for a two-week stay in an RV slot, why not find a job and live here for the season. We talked to the owner of Dornan’s and were hired. We get a meal plan at the restaurants here, a free place to park, and a completion bonus for staying through September.”

After their season ends, they will wander to their next temporary job. Last fall, they worked at an Amazon warehouse in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

“They needed extra help to fill holiday orders and gave a completion bonus for staying the entire time of our commitment.”

During winter, the Bodines park their Airstream in Melbourne, Fla., where they own a slot at an Airstream community.

“We’re flexible with where we go and what we do,” Bodine said.

They check websites for seasonal work that varies from the park service to grain harvests to Amazon.

He offered advice to other retirees pondering the next chapter of their life.

“Get out and explore,” he said. “Go for it.” ISI

It doesn’t feel like work when I’m taking admission and visiting with people,

GOODBYE STATE POLICE, HELLO PARKS AND CAMPERFORCE At Dornan’s, Bodine and his wife, Sherry, 52, landed jobs while touring the park last summer. They had retired from the New Jersey State Police, where he worked as a trooper, and she was in administration.

“We sold our house, bought an Airstream, and hit the road,” Bodine said. “We’d always encouraged our kids to explore, so they did. Our daughter lives in Missouri, and our son is in Tennessee, so we didn’t feel tied down to any particular area.”

”

To explore seasonal jobs, go to usajobs.com, coolworks.com, workamper.com, or www.amazondelivers.jobs/about/camperforce/

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PAGE 18

Eastern Idaho

LOCAL PEOPLE•LOCAL STORIES•LOCAL FUN•LOCAL BUSINESSES

Nez Perce Leader, Basketball Great, Historian, Dancer LEROY SETH OF LEWISTON

BY JACK MCNEEL Nez Perce tribal member Leroy Seth has been a tribal elder and leader in various ways throughout But he’s gotten much acclaim as an athlete, most notably as a basketball player.

Sseth’s stack of MVP and All-Star awards is beyond amazing.

He began life in Spalding on the reservation, where he realized his passion for shooting hoops. A childhood friend, the son of a fisherman, lived nearby. The boy helped his dad repair fishing nets, but he and Seth would make wire hoops out of hangers then attach nets and hang them on a wall to use as baskets.

“We’d shoot at them with tennis balls and make ‘swishers’,” Seth explained.

That was the beginning of a sport that took him around the country and influenced his life greatly for another 60 years.

School was tough for him at first. He could understand both the Nez Perce and Yakama languages, but English was difficult.

Basketball got him through high school and into college.

He started college at Washington State and made the basketball team, but studies were

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still difficult. He then transferred to Lewis and Clark State in Lewiston, where the team won the Northwest District Championship.

While there, Seth also competed in track and field, and a coach from Eastern Washington offered him a full scholarship to come and be part of the track team.

He competed in high jump, broad jump, hurdles, and javelin, which enabled him to go to the small college national tournament two years in a row.

He was also asked to try the decathlon, a 10-event contest over two days. He missed going to the 1960 Olympics by only 10 points in the tryouts.

Seth continued playing basketball for a semi-pro team sponsored by Rainier Beer.

They traveled to Lethbridge, Alberta, and won the championship. The list of athletic accomplishments and awards continued to grow.

After graduating from Eastern Washington, he was drafted into the army, spending time at four different U.S. bases. He most enjoyed the opportunity to go to paratrooper school and jump from planes.

“It was an extra $55 in the monthly pay.”

This was during the Vietnam War era, but he was fortunate to never leave the U.S. Returning to the reservation, he served first as a community building director at Lapwai. He then decided to run for a spot on the tribal council, won, and served for 2 ½ years.

Shortly after, his life took a major turn when he jumped at the opportunity to attend the University of Montana to study art and anthropology. The artwork allowed him to

visit Minnesota on college expense to meet new artists. Anthropology studies provided education about tribes across the U.S.

Leroy Seth. PHOTO BY JACKIE MCNEEL.

“It was pretty awesome,” he said.

Since then, he’s been creating drawings for the tribe, primarily for cultural programs.

He also has illustrated stories about Coyote legends.

But basketball never ended for Seth. He played for the Nez Perce National Team and recalled a tournament in Seattle where he got

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT to play against Michael Jordan. Seth’s team won the tournament, and he was picked not only as an all-star but also as a tournament MVP. His list of awards continued at big tournaments at Yakama, Browning and elsewhere.

“It was one of the best times of my life,” he said. “I was MVP four times and an All-Star about 10 or 12 times.”

Seth quit playing real competitive basketball in his mid-50s and got into tournaments for people 50 and over.

“At a Fort Hall Tournament, I played in a 60-and-over division,” he said. “Talk about aches and pains after the games! I was about 65.”

Dancing can also be an athletic event, especially if you’re a tribal “Fast and Fancy” dancer. As a younger man, he competed in Fast and Fancy dancing, involving a lot of jumping and spinning. He won championships in dancing as well as sports, placing third in the world championships

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in California. “I tell everybody I had a little more bounce back then.”

Another trip as an elder took him to Connecticut, where he took fourth place in traditional dancing—and won $1500.

Traditional dancing, what he does today, is a less physical, more sedate form of dance, and he still continues to dance.

But life is more than athletics for Seth. He has been involved in tribal life and traditions for many years, serving 21 years as the Health Educator for Indian Health Service in Lapwai.

“It was enjoyable for me. I got to work with a lot of people and explain a lot of things I’d learned, which help keep people fit. You are what you eat and what you do and where you live and what you see,” he said. “My most enjoyable times were when I was talking about spirituality and the circle of life: the spiritual, mental, emotional, and the physical—all four areas.”

“Later I tried to learn about the different forms of spirituality other tribes practiced.

PAGE 19

I got to participate in the Peyote religion, and I’ve gone to medicine dances, healing ceremonies, during Winter Dance. There are beautiful songs you never hear except during these ceremonies. It’s really awesome. The spiritual power is just amazing.”

Using these experiences and various forms of spirituality, Leroy worked another 11 years for the tribe as a patient advocate. He even gave lectures to tribal police from two reservations on how to relax and get rid of stress.

Seth now is a member of the Circle of Elders. This group works largely with cultural aspects: history, language, traditions, and rituals, many of which he learned as a youngster.

Upon meeting Seth, one would never guess him to be in his 80s. He looks, acts and talks like someone much younger.

Some people make a great impression at first meeting. Leroy Seth is one of those people. ISI

Phyllis King: Idaho Master Naturalist

BY HOLLY ENDERSBY Phyllis King is anything but leisurely retired: she’s a whirling dervish of energy and volunteerism that would leave most people decades younger exhausted. From her home near Island Park, Phyllis uses her Idaho Master Naturalist (IMN) background to engage in volunteer projects for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, The Nature Conservancy, The Henry’s Fork Foundation, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and the US Forest Service.

“For me, it’s mostly about citizen science,” King said. “IMN members interested in citizen science help to gather information or do projects, that support the agencies and foundations who are our partners.”

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game developed and promoted the IMN program with chapters scattered around the state. The purpose of the program is to “develop a corps of well informed volunteers to actively work toward stewardship of Idaho’s natural environment,” according to the IMN website.

Two tracks are available: Citizen Science and Education, although many IMN members blend the two.

“One of the projects our chapter has been involved in is water monitoring for clarity, temperature, stream bed erosion, oxygenation, and changes over time for The Henry’s Fork Foundation,” explained King. “We’ve also taken part in acoustic bat monitoring for IDFG, working at night to identify the location where bats roost and feed.”

Another important project King worked on was constructing beaver dam analogs (human-created dams to mimic natural ones) and starter lodges.

“We also returned later to do a little more work to encourage the beavers to stay put and to give them some protection while they got established.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

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MASTER NATURALIST / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

King and her fellow IMNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monitored areas where IDFG had collared bears to document their habitat preferences, what they might have eaten by checking on scat, and where day beds could be found.

Add to that swan surveys for IDFG at Silver Lake and Swan Lake and rebuilding jack fences at Harriman State Park for Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and you get a feeling for the wide range of activities King engages in.

King said she and her fellow IMNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have also helped IDFG by taking a tracking class then going out â&#x20AC;&#x153;to document where elk and moose approach or cross US HWY 20.â&#x20AC;?

The tracking class is an example of the kind of on-going education that master naturalists receive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The data we collect from the dead animals along the Montana/ Idaho border is important information for wildlife managers,â&#x20AC;? King explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We identify the species, what its general condition was before death, the sex, and possible age of the animal before we remove it from the roadway.â&#x20AC;?

Another partner, The Nature Conservancy, worked with Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fork Chapter of IMN to take down old barbed wire and install new wire at the Flat Ranch Preserve as well as planting willows along a stream to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also located and documented curlews, did a song bird point -count survey, and conducted a flammulated owl survey at the Flat Ranch Preserve,â&#x20AC;? shared Phyllis.

According to King, the important thing to understand about the IMN program is the education provided gives you the skills to participate in many different kinds of activities. Each IMN must complete forty hours of education and volunteer 40 hours within two years before they can be certified. After that initial certification, INMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need 8 eeks of education yearly and 40 hours of volunteering to be recertified. Chapters typically arrange for the experts to provide instruction although with chapter approval education from other sources can count.

While a lot of the activities occur from spring through fall, Phyllis says winter opportunities for volunteering are available.

Phyllis King (left) and fellow IMN and past president of the Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fork chapter, Val Zupsan, at a project for the Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fork Foundation at the Buffalo River fish ladder.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PHYLLIS KING.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;One year my husband and I skied into a fish rearing site for The Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fork Foundation to count, measure and identify the species of smolt before releasing them,â&#x20AC;? shares King. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And there are docent opportunities in the winter at Harriman State Park as well for IMN members.â&#x20AC;?

Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in volunteer efforts stems from wanting to be involved in her community. And her experience with INM is due to her love of the outdoors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My husband and I are very interested in wildlife issues, conservation, and the environment, so working as an Idaho Master Naturalist and partnering with several nonprofits and IDFG is something we really enjoy.â&#x20AC;?

King hopes folks interested in learning more about the IMN program will join her chapter August 9th in honor of their 10th anniversary. An open house will be held at Harriman State Park at the Pavilion, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Fran van Manen, supervisory research biologist of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team will be the guest speaker at 7:30 p.m. at the Boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a perfect opportunity to meet people just like Phyllis King who love the outdoors and want to help keep Idahoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wildlife healthy. ISI

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Money Matters

BUDGET•MEDICARE•TAXES•ESTATE•INVESTMENT•RETIREMENT

‘Extra Help’ Program Helps Seniors with Medication Costs (SAVVY SENIOR) A low-income subsidy program called Extra Help can assist seniors on a tight budget with paying for their premiums, deductible, and co-payments in their Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan.

Currently around 10 million people receive this subsidy, but another two million may qualify for it and don’t even realize it. They’re missing out on hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars in savings each year.

Changes in the law make it easier than ever to qualify for the Extra Help program. Even if you didn’t qualify before, you may be eligible now. The amount of additional assistance you would receive depends on income and assets.

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than $3.35 for a generic drug and $8.35 for a brand-name drug in 2018.

To get the subsidy, your assets can’t be more than $14,100 (or $28,150 for married couples living together). Bank accounts, stocks, and bonds count as assets, but a home, vehicle, personal belongings, life insurance and burial plots do not.

Also, monthly income can’t be more than $1,538 (or $2,078 for married couples). If you support a family member living with you, or you live in Alaska or Hawaii, your income can be higher.

In addition, the government won’t count any money if you receive help for household expenses like food, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, or property taxes.

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OTHER MEDICARE ASSISTANCE If you are eligible for Extra Help, you may also qualify for help with other Medicare expenses through your state’s Medicare Savings Program.

State Medicaid programs partner with the federal government, so income and asset qualifications vary, depending on where you live. Medicare Savings Programs will pay an entire Medicare Part B premium each month.

Some also pay for Part B coinsurance and copayments, depending on income. Contact your state Medicaid office to determine if you qualify for benefits in your state.

You can also get help through you State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free one-on-one Medicare counseling in person or over the phone. To locate a SHIP counselor in your area, visit ShiptaCenter.org or call the eldercare locator at 800-677-1116. ISI Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of the book, The Savvy Senior.

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Health Care

MEDICINE•PREVENTION•DIAGNOSIS•TREATMENT

Recognizing and Treating Depression in Retirement

BY JIM MILLER (SAVVY SENIOR) Depression is unfortunately a widespread problem among older Americans, affecting approximately 15 percent of the 65-and-older population. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources for screening and treatments, and how Medicare covers it.

IDENTIFYING DEPRESSION Everyone feels sad or gets the blues now and then, but when these feelings linger more than a few weeks, it may be depression.

Depression is a real illness that affects mood, feelings, behavior and physical health, and contrary to what many people believe, it’s not a normal part of aging or a personal weakness, but it is very treatable.

It’s also important to know that depression is not just sadness. In many seniors it can manifest as apathy, irritability, or problems with memory or concentration without the depressed mood.

To help you get a handle on the seriousness of your loved one’s problem, a good first step is for them to take an online depression-screening test.

Do this for free at Mental Health America, a national nonprofit organization that offers a variety of online mental health screening tools at MentalHealthAmerica.net—click on “Take a Screen” in the menu bar. Or at HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org, which is offered by Screening for Mental Health, Inc. Both of these tests are anonymous and confidential, they take less that 10 minutes to complete, and they can help you determine the severity of your husband’s problem.

GET HELP If you find someone is suffering from depressive symptoms, that person needs to see a doctor for a medical evaluation, to rule out possible medical causes. Some medications, for example, can produce side effects that mimic depressive symptoms—pain and sleeping meds are common culprits. It’s also important to distinguish between depression and dementia, which can share some of the same symptoms.

If a person is diagnosed with depression, a variety of treatment options are available, including talk therapy, antidepressant medications, or a combination of both.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective type of talk therapy, which helps patients recognize and change destructive thinking patterns that lead to negative feelings.

For help finding a therapist who’s trained in CBT, ask your doctor for a referral, check your local yellow pages under “counseling” or “psychologists,” or check with the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (FindCBT.org), or the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (AcademyofCT.org). You can also check your local hospital website.

To search for therapists who accept Medicare, use Medicare’s Physician Compare tool. Go to Medicare.gov/physiciancompare and type in your zip code, or city and state, then type in the type of profession you want to locate, like “psychiatry” or “clinical psychologist” in the “What are you searching for?” box.

MEDICARE COVERAGE You’ll be happy to know that original Medicare currently covers 100 percent for annual depression screenings occurring in a doctor’s office or other primary care clinic. Medicare also pays 80 percent of its approved amount for outpatient mental health services, like counseling and therapy services, and will cover almost all medications used to treat depression under the Part D prescription drug benefit.

If a couple gets Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, the private company must cover the same services as original Medicare, but will likely require individuals to see an in-network provider. Contact your plan directly for the details. ISI Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

PAGE 24

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018

HEALTH CARE

Ruby’s Story ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY After her husband’s death, Ruby’s increasingly bizarre behavior could no longer be simply dismissed as age-related forgetfulness or medication side effects. With growing concern, her children sought help from the Alzheimer’s Association.

FAMILY ORIENTATION—THE JOURNEY BEGINS “Not everyone in the family understood why we needed help from outsiders,” recounted Ruby’s daughters, Tammy and Beth. Joined by an Alzheimer’s Association Care Consultant, Ruby’s adult children met for a Family Orientation. In that supportive setting, the siblings gave voice to their hopes and fears, one by one expressing their desire that their mother be allowed to live out her remaining years with dignity in the comfort and familiarity of her own home. They were assured they would have the support of the Alzheimer’s Association throughout the journey that lay ahead, which would last another nine years.

MEDIC ALERT+SAFE RETURN PROGRAM— IT’S 3AM, WHERE’S MOM? The imposing silhouette of a uniformed police officer filling her bedroom doorframe at three in the morning is an image that Tammy remembered vividly, his presence pulling her sharply awake. Instantly she registered that her mother wasn’t asleep in the adjacent bed. She’d woken and wandered two miles from home in nothing but pajamas and slippers before being discovered and returned by the police. Though previously enrolled in the Medic Alert+Safe Return program, Ruby’s bracelet had gone unworn, the battle to get her to wear seeming not worthwhile…until now.

SUPPORT GROUPS—“IT WAS LIKE A FAMILY.” Tammy and Beth were initially reluctant to contact an Alzheimer’s Association Support Group, though once there they found comfort and relief. “It was like a family,” shared Tammy. The Support Group provided essential release and guidance for the family, even “giving us permission to grieve and express anger.”

24/7 HELPLINE—“SOMETIMES I JUST NEEDED SOMEONE…” “I can’t tell you how many times I called the Helpline,” remembered Beth. “They gave us the tools, affirmed our emotions… sometimes I just needed someone to tell me I was doing okay.” An important resource for information, referrals, and practical assistance, the 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) offers critical emotional support as well.

“I would hear the familiar, caring voice and I would just start crying,” said Beth.

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S—RUBY’S TEAM Tammy smiled at the memory of their first year as a Walk to End Alzheimer’s team.

“There were only about eight of us.

We didn’t even have a sign.” From that small, informal assembly of family and friends, Ruby’s Team now proudly wears their own red team t-shirts and is one of the largest family teams at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising thousands of dollars and untold awareness.

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Fundraising dollars fuel the mission: participation in the event helps to change the level of Alzheimer’s awareness in communities.

When Ruby passed away just one month shy of the 2015 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, no one would have questioned their decision to sit the year out. Her family instead redoubled their efforts, finding a therapeutic release in the activities that provided them a continued and meaningful connection with their mother.

Fondly Tammy and Beth remembered their mother’s involvement in prior Walks.

The meaning of the event was somewhat of a mystery to her, but Ruby seemed to innately understand that the growing sea of red t-shirts was a tribute to her, a fact that brought tears to her eyes.

It was a long and difficult nine-year journey, and both Tammy and Beth reflected fondly on the experience.

“We would do it all over again,” Tammy began. “In a heartbeat,” finished Beth.

“Our family’s goal, from that very first meeting, was realized. Mom went to heaven from her home…with dignity…surrounded by love.” ISI To take the first steps toward joining or participating in a Walk to End Alzheimer’s in your community, visit www.alz.org/walk or call 800.272.3900.

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Caregiving

SUPPORT•INSIGHT•COMFORT•SERVICE•ENCOURAGEMENT

Could You be Required to Pay Nursing Home Costs of Family Members?

BY TERESA AMBORD (SENIOR WIRE) The answer may be yes, depending on where you live and the circumstances.

Most of us feel some degree of obligation to take care of our parents when they can no longer care for themselves. But if your parents (or other adult relatives) haven’t taken the steps to plan for the worst possibilities—such as the cost of living in a nursing home—the costs could be enormous. That can be frightening and frustrating if your parents have neglected or refused to prepare with long-term care insurance or adequate savings or other arrangements to cover the costs.

Even with insurance, no policy covers everything. Sometimes the government will step in to fill the needs gap. But not always.

No federal law requires you to pay for the care your elderly relatives need. But before you breathe easily, some states do have such requirements. They’re called “filial responsibility statutes,” or “relatives’ liability,” and they vary by state.

Currently about 30 states have filial statutes. These statutes have been around for years, and the truth is, they are rarely enforced. However, that may be changing.

AGING POPULATION As the percentage of our population that is elderly or otherwise dependent grows, we should all be prepared for the possibility that we have to step up to the plate or be held accountable.

Filial statutes allow civil suits, so that nursing homes and government agencies can bring legal action to recover the cost of care from family members. Before you get too comfortable, it’s a good idea to find out what your state requires. Some even allow jail time if family members fail to provide filial support.

One well-known case that went to court in Pennsylvania ended with a man being ordered to pay $93,000 to cover the cost of his mother’s outstanding debt to a nursing home (Health Care & Retirement Corp. of America v. Pittas).

Be aware, this is not just for people with aging parents in nursing homes. It can also be parents of an adult child who requires health care services. In one case, a couple was pressured to pay the medical bills for their 47-year-old son who passed away. In

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yet another case, it was determined in court that siblings each had financial responsibility to share the support of their mother who required in-home care.

WHAT DOES A FILIAL STATUTE REQUIRE? Again, it varies by state, but in general they look at factors such as the assets and income of the person in question. I’m not in the legal profession, but I always caution people—out of common sense—about putting their names on any account or document that involves or could involve financial responsibility. But filial statutes in general require family members to pay for necessities such as food, clothing, housing, and medical care.

And if you’re the family member of someone who has racked up high medical costs, such as the 47-year-old man who died, you may be asked to prove that you don’t have assets to pay medical costs. If you truly don’t have the means, you may not be forced to pay, but don’t assume the authorities won’t dig deeply to make sure you really can’t pay.

Some states have alternate approaches to enforce filial statues, if they enforce them at all. If this is a concern for you, find out if your state allows you to declare you are not responsible for the medical costs of your adult family members. You may also be able to forfeit your inheritance rights to pay for the care received.

CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET FOR FILIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAWS TO KICK IN According to MedicalAlertAdvice.com: << Your family member must be receiving some state government financial aid. << He or she must have medical or nursing home bills without the ability to pay the bills, in a state that has filial responsibility laws.

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<< Family members must be considered indigent, which means that the cost of their care must exceed their Social Security benefits. << There must be reason to believe that you as the family member have the money to pay the bill and a lawsuit must be filed against you.

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Fitness & Nutrition

STRENGTH•FOOD•FLEXIBILITY•WELLNESS•MOBILITY

Chai Taking Western World by Storm

BY WENDELL FOWLER (SENIOR WIRE) Inspired by the revelation that my daily cup-o-joe rendered my temple’s pH unhealthily acidic, I gradually cut down and began ordering frothy, heavenly sweet chai latte at our cozy neighborhood coffee shop.

Oh my gosh, it was too delicious and I began ordering it regularly. Due to my unknowing, I let a barista brew the heady concoction. Well, one day I ask how it was sweetened: “Lots of sugar. It’s a powdered mix we buy.” Ugh… cue heart sinking and a jaunt to the tea shop.

Chai—rhymes with pie—dates back over 5,000 years when a king in India ordered a healing spiced beverage to be created for use in Ayurveda, a traditional medicinal practice in which herbs and spices are used for healing.

There are scores of people in the modern world who cannot live without it. The spices in chai have been used for millennia to promote overall health, well-being, and to treat various illnesses.

NatureChronicle.com shares: Chai tea is derived from the leaves of tea plants and is believed to have originated in the forest lands of Western China, Tibet and Northern India.

There is no exact time chronicled to claim the birth or discovery of chai tea but according to a Chinese legend, it was discovered in 2737 B.C. by the emperor of China, Shen-Nung. Tea is known as “cha” in Chinese and later this word moved westward and into the middle Eastern languages and finally settled down as “ chai” in most parts of Asia and mainly in India.

Though the word “ chai” is a household name in India today, it still owes its discovery in India to the prince turned monk, Siddhartha

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of Lumbini (Lord Gautam Buddha). According to the preaching and texts of Buddhism, propagating-Buddhism, Siddhartha was traveling towards China during the sixth century and it was during that tour that he miraculously discovered the power of chai tea.

The more I researched, the more benefits I discovered. Chai improves digestion, enhances the immune system, fights inflammation and has antioxidant properties. According to Ayurvedic (ancient Indian) medical philosophy, spices in chai are considered calming, vitalizing and mentally clarifying. Cherished for centuries in India, chai is traditionally a blend of cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and black peppercorns—dominant chai spices readily available in India. Vanilla, nutmeg, mace, star anise or fennel may also be seen in some traditional recipes has been used to preserve health and increase peace of mind.

The heat from ginger and black pepper was believed to stimulate digestion; the antiseptic properties in cloves were thought to help relieve pain; cardamom was used as a mood elevator; cinnamon supported circulation and respiratory function; and star anise was known to freshen breath. Many say steamy hot chai tea tastes like wassail.

No one is suggesting you immediately stop drinking coffee. Just be aware of what java does to your pH (acidity / alkalinity) and then gradually work chai into your habits.

Chai can be steeped in water alone, a mixture of water and milk (nut milks too), or in milk alone, depending on your preference. Never boil milk, though, or you could scald or burn it, leaving an off flavor. Avoiding dairy? Try

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almond, cashew, hempseed or coconut milk and honey to the delicious, healing tea.

This human behavior of clinging to outdated, destructive eating patterns from a time that no longer exists incubates the majority of today’s largely preventable disease, aggressive social behavior, and diminished quality of late life. That, and not enough self-love to make changes to end the suffering or, meh, it’s too late in life, why bother now?

Mindful change in your senior years can add more quality to the NOW. I can lead you to the water, or tea in this case, but it is you who must take a drink. Your “Earth Suit” is a marvel of the universe experiencing human form. Each of your trillions of cells reacts positively or negatively to what you consume, whether it be food, beverage, fear, TV or newsprint. How life plays out depends on the choices you make. We are at last discovering what Eastern practitioners have known for centuries. This ancient beverage is rightfully treasured by civilizations throughout the world. Honor your health one fragrant sip at a time. ISI

Dietary Psychiatry: Senior Malnutrition and Cognitive Function

BY WENDELL FOWLER (SENIOR WIRE) After locking my keys inside the car while it was still running, and

my wife rolling over one morning asking, “Who are you and why are you in my bed”— both of us in our early ‘70s acknowledged our mental health is indeed fading.

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT But seriously, there is mounting acceptance on the use of food and supplements to provide essential nutrients as part of a treatment for mental health disorders relating to depression, cognitive function, and dementia.

As we age, memory blips will increase, although you needn’t put out the welcome mat.

Widespread senior malnutrition in the U.S. is serious business.

According to the National Resource Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Aging, 1 in 4 older Americans has poor nutrition… in the U.S., in the 21st century.

Looking back, I’m certain the quality of Mom’s late life would’ve have been richer if she’d chosen or been encouraged to eat more than a deli turkey sandwich on nasty white bread with Miracle Whip and a sweet pickle every day, 365 days a year.

A paper napkin has more nutrition for goodness sake. Saturated fat, white flour, chemical preservatives, and sugars fertilize mental decline and starve the cells of much needed vitamin nutrition.

Seniors’ food choices profoundly affect their mental health. The NIH reports a lack of wholesome vitamin nutrition from fresh food contributes to the onset of poor mental health in people suffering from anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. People are eating too much canned, frozen, or processed institutional food.

Because we’ve become somewhat disconnected from the garden since the Industrial Revolution and plugged in to “Man’s genetically manipulated version of a garden,” modern seniors are woefully deprived in foods and nutrients considered “brain food”—omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water fish, flax and chia seeds, walnuts, cholesterol (yes cholesterol), D-3, and B-complex, especially B12.

Regarding cholesterol, aka, brain food, at least a dozen reports show the risk of suicide may be substantially higher in people with

Fitness & Nutrition

PAGE 27

low cholesterol. In a French study tracking 6,393 men, published in the September 1996 issue of the British Medical Journal, those with low cholesterol were three times more likely than the other men to kill themselves. A link between low cholesterol and depression has turned up in other studies as well.

Cholesterol was never really the health boogeyman the medical community made it out to be. Your brain needs cholesterol to grow new nerve cells and for these nerve cells to work properly. When your brain is deprived of cholesterol, things don’t go so well up there.

In fact, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center say that without enough cholesterol, you may even develop serious brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Of course, “Physical exercise has the best evidence for preserving memory and mental function with aging,” said R. Scott Turner, MD, PhD, director of the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University Medical Center.

In a world where we’ve been programmed to let others form our thoughts and opinions, we’ve long forgotten who calls the shots and knows what’s best—and it’s not a food corporation.

We’ve departed from the road of nutritional righteousness; disconnected from earth’s apothecary. It’s happened so slowly, we’ve not noticed how far we’ve strayed from the perfect plant-based diet our cells understand.

During this magnificent golden period of your life, give extra consideration to what foods you choose to eat. You were gifted one strong, sacred, and beautiful temple. Embrace it with dietary selflove. Choose to focus your thoughts on remaining the clear-headed, beautiful, unique being you are for as long as you can.

And don’t lock your keys in the idling car or wake up next to a stranger. ISI

Making the Most of Local Produce (STATEPOINT) Fresh, local produce is in its prime, making now the perfect time to take part in the farm-to-table movement. Whether you join a community supported agriculture (CSA) group or shop at your local farmers’ market, it’s easy to taste the elevated flavor profile of just-picked fruits and veggies.

Make the most of the season with these tips for storing, cooking and savoring fresh produce.

PLAN, PRIORITIZE, PREPARE Plan what produce you will purchase ahead of time. Many farmers’ markets and CSAs distribute eNewsletters or flyers that highlight what’s available. You can also search for seasonality charts in your region to get an idea of what items are at their peak, and plan accordingly.

Once you’ve shopped, prioritize your goods. Use tender greens and any ripe fruits and veggies right away. Roots, bulbs and squash tend to last longer and can be saved for later in the week.

Next, properly store produce to help to extend its life. If fridge space is limited, consider cooking down greens by either partially boiling or sautéing prior to putting them away.

SMOOTHIES, SAUCES, SOUPS Smoothies are a delicious, easy way to pack a lot of produce and nutrition into a meal. And if you’re processing the toughest whole foods, like dark, leafy greens, be sure to use a high-powered blender.

Take advantage of tomato season, preparing pasta sauces to enjoy now or freeze for those months when they aren’t readily available from local growers. Try adding red and green bell peppers, and even carrot shavings, to boost the nutritional value of a veggie Bolognese.

Soups make use of veggies now and later. Warm weather calls for cool concoctions like gazpacho or cucumber dill soup. A cabbage soup that combines hearty potatoes, onions and carrots can be made for cool fall nights or stored in your freezer for winter.

USE IT UP Remember that nearly all parts of produce are usable. Vegetables like beets, carrots, kohlrabi and turnips have edible greens that make an excellent addition to morning smoothies or a nutrient-rich stir-fry.

Compost any remaining scraps.

Don’t be afraid of bruises or dents. Greens with slightly wilted leaves can be blended with a bit of water and frozen in ice cube trays for future use in soups or smoothies. If you see a great deal on fruit like strawberries or cherries, buy them and combine with sugar and pectin for an easy freezer jam, or dry them out for on-the-go snacks.

Shopping for whole foods at farmers’ markets or joining a CSA is an opportunity to help local farmers and explore your culinary interests.

The availability of specific fruits and vegetables ebbs and flows; capture each at its peak to enjoy the bounty throughout the year. ISI

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Travel

CRUISES•GETAWAYS•CULTURE•VACATIONS

Head North of the Border to Nelson, British Columbia

BY BERNICE KARNOP The West Kootenays, just north of the Idaho border in British Columbia, provide an enticing playground for visitors. The mountains, lakes, and rivers are the backdrop to outdoor recreation that draws skiers, hikers, paddlers, and mountain bikers. It also draws those who simply want to enjoy a beautiful drive through stunning mountain scenery, coniferous forests, gorgeous wildflowers, and a number of Provincial Parks.

And the area is dotted with pleasant towns worth a stop. Nelson, for example, sits in the midst of the scenery, overlooking the west arm of Kootenay Lake (spelled Kootenai in the U.S.). This small city is known for its large and fun arts and culture scene.

Nelson was incorporated in 1897, but it already had a good start by that time. In 1887, the Silver King Mine on Toad Mountain brought rapid growth, and the railway arrived in 1892.

Nelson had a copper and lead smelter in 18961907, and following that boom, the economy thrived on the lumber industry. Today it’s a service center for the Kootenay region.

For visitors, this offbeat Victorian town comes to life through its historic buildings and art culture. In an organized effort, the town

deliberately restored its old buildings instead of demolishing them. More than 350 structures in Nelson are heritage sites and a treasure to all who know handcrafted buildings like these will not be built again. Many of the old structures are stores, and open for individuals to explore.

The Chamber of Commerce provides walking/ driving tour brochures.

Baker Street is the heart of downtown Nelson. As one can imagine in such an area that encourages an active life-style, boutiques sell gear for mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and backcountry touring.

These mix with arts and crafts stores and fashionable clothing venues. Visitors mingle with locals at sunny sidewalk cafés or at an upscale coffee shop. Nearly all of the restaurants double as art galleries. Festivals, street musicians, sidewalk artists, and other special events add to the fun.

In the winter people come to ski at Whitewater Ski Resort, half an hour from downtown. Whitewater includes cross country ski trails and heli-skiing tours.

Outdoor recreation is around every corner in the summer. Favorite summer spots include nearby Kokanee Creek, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, and West Arm Provincial Park, where one can enjoy sandy beaches,

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hiking trails, water sports, wildlife, and bird watching. In town, there’s Lakeside Park and Gyro Park, from which one can walk up to a scenic lookout.

Travelers may drive north to Kaslo on Highway 31 to see the restored S.S. Moyie, a luxury craft that the Canadian Pacific Railway brought here in 1898 to ferry people across Kootenay Lake. Over the next decades, it was used and abused for various purposes and retired in 1957. The city of Kaslo lovingly restored it and today the S.S. Moyie is a National British Columbia Historic Landmark, open daily from May to October. The site includes a visitor center that is built to look like a Canadian Pacific Railway station, and a beach along Kootenay Lake. Nearby are good restaurants and other shops.

Nelson is on the International Selkirk Loop, a 280-mile scenic byway through southeastern British Columbia and adjoining parts of Washington and Idaho. Tourists who drive north from Nelson on 3-A will arrive at Balfour. Here motorists find a working ferry, one that’s part of Highway 3-A. It takes vehicles and walk-on passengers on a 35-minute ride across one of British Columbia’s largest natural lakes. The ride is free even though the mountain and lake scenery is priceless. The ferry takes traffic from Balfour to Kootenay Bay on the east. From here Highway 3-A continues south along Kootenay lakeshore and right on into Idaho. ISI

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

PAGE 29

All About Idaho

LOCAL PEOPLE•LOCAL STORIES•LOCAL FUN•LOCAL BUSINESSES

Joe Willes, Retiree with Many Interests

BY ALICE H. DUNN Eighty-seven-year-old Pocatellan Joe Willes is no man to rest on his laurels. He has formally retired twice and still pursues many interests.

His energetic habits developed as he grew up during WWII on a two-and-one-half acre farm within city limits.

Willes’s father was away much of the time, working for Union Pacific Railroad while his stay-at-home mom kept the house and looked after their five children. He had chickens to tend and a cow to milk before riding his bicycle several miles to school plus a garden to hoe when he got home.

Willes still rides bicycles often. He has five times completed the Los Angeles Bike Tour, which runs in conjunction with their Marathon.

In one of the two sheds in his backyard, he keeps his bicycles in perfect running condition. In the other he builds curio cabinets and creates conductor’s batons and pens, using wood and acrylic material to shape his Bolt Action—the bolt extends the pen point the way a rifle ejects a bullet casing.

He makes other pens as well: a red, white, and blue Civil War with bullet-like tip and cap, a Wall Street-style business pen, a European Apprentice pen topped with a cap like an old-fashioned fountain pen, and a sleek Long Pen with a short rubber grip. Fashioned to look like its name, his Cigar Pen is actually made of wood.

Willes chooses beautiful, fine-grained woods for his baton grips.

He exercises several mornings a week with a senior group at a local gym and organizes activities for his 1949 high school graduating class.

Most retired folks would consider that enough activity, but Willes also maintains an active interest in music.

Willes’s father introduced his children to music by playing harmonica at home as evening entertainment, but it was his older son, already in the high school band, who inspired the younger Willes to sign up for band at Irving Junior High. “He always looked after me,” said Willes.

Trumpet, the “spotlight instrument,” was Willes’s first choice, but he switched to trombone “because it was the instrument I played best.”

He eventually got his bachelor’s degree in music, from Idaho State University, and was adept at playing any instrument well enough to teach it.

Willes first retired in 1996 from District Coordinator of PocatelloChubbuck School District’s music programs. Previously, he had taught band and orchestra for 13 years at Pocatello’s Highland High School, following a stint at Alameda Junior High School. He also taught at Marsh Valley High School as well as Filer High School, teaching both band and choir.

Willes’s proficiency on the trombone earned him a seat in the 45-member Pocatello Municipal Band while still in high school. Seats in that band, which was organized in 1934, are rarely vacant.

PHOTO BY ALICE H. DUNN

He was selected as the municipal band’s third conductor in 1965.

The band responded to Willes’s final directing performance in August, 2015, with an exhilarating concert. He resumed his seat in the trombone section. He has been a member for 71 years.

No martyr, Willes has always found the time and energy to participate in fun and creative activities that give him pleasure and fulfillment.

His high school dance band usually played for the school dances, but he always managed to break away for a couple of spins around the floor with his sweetheart, Isobel.

Married to Isabel and beginning his third year of college, Willes was devastated by a draft notice during the Korean War. He was already enrolled in the college National Guard program and expected it to fulfill his military obligation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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ALL ABOUT IDAHO

PAGE 30

JOE WILLES / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Willes personifies the saying, “When life deals you lemons, make lemonade” by earning assignment to the Camp Roberts 50-member armored division band.

Another lemon lurked, however. Camp Roberts closed, ending his time in the band.

By then a father with only nine months of his hitch remaining, Willes was shipped to Korea as a military policeman. To keep his mind off his sorrow, he applied himself to working with GIs who “sometimes bent the rules.”

He regards his nine months in Korea as good experience: “It taught me traffic control and logistics as well as how to work with men,” all benefits to his career.

Directing the municipal band, Willes initiated vocal solo performances. Once when

the soloist didn’t show up, a saxophonist volunteered to substitute. She belted out the famous aria “Messun Dorma” like a star.

Willes invited her to perform for several summers until circumstances took her away.

He also started a guest conductor program, either drawing a name from a basket filled by audience members or inviting a representative from the performance’s sponsoring organization to conduct. After 30 seconds of instruction, the tyro conductor, often a child, led the band in a spirited march.

At the end of the number, Willes would gift the guest conductor with the baton.

Willes, selected from the city band for “Band on Demand,” a small group of the band’s best musicians, helped raise more than $100,000 for the Pocatello Art Center, Idaho State Symphony, and ISU.

He also continues his long-time volunteer service directing his church choir.

He once directed 600 voices from several local churches choirs to perform for a visiting dignitary who said, “They sounded as good as the Tabernacle Choir!” Perhaps that was the highlight of Willes’s whole musical career.

Currently, Willes enjoys part-time employment repairing band instruments for a local music store. Who knows when he will retire a third time? When he does, he will probably still respond when a neighbor child’s musical instrument has problems by repairing it for free. ISI

Turning Garage Sale Castoffs into DIY Home Decor

BY DIANNA TROYER In her refurbished two-story farmhouse, Raegan Ricks suspended a gray, weathered wooden ladder from her kitchen ceiling as an inexpensive drying rack for her homegrown herbs.

Nearby was a weathered sliding barn door repurposed as a bedroom door. She decorated it with a piece of rusted metal she had bent into a heart shape. The headboard of a bed was once a wooden fence.

Ricks’ up-cycled, do-it-yourself home décor came from garage sales and thrift stores or was found in sheds on the small farm she and her husband, Rick, recently bought south of Malta in southeastern Idaho.

“I’ve always loved an old farmhouse style,” said Ricks, 53, who grew up on a small dairy farm near the Washington Coast.

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Raegan Ricks creates home décor from castoffs found at garage sales, thrift stores, and in old sheds. She uses a ladder in her kitchen from which to hang and dry some herbs.

PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER.

Self-reliant and creative, she has always built much of what she needed wherever she and her husband have lived.

Soon after they were settled near Malta, she began rummaging through sheds and in the fields. She found an old weathered piece of farm equipment and transformed it into a coffee table.

Sometimes friends have given her a project. The buffet in their living room was in pieces.

“A friend gave me the top, back, and doors, and a leg was missing, too. I put it back together and covered it with chalk paint.”

Ricks shares her chalk paint recipe, mixing her homemade version for a fraction of the cost of chalk paint sold in stores. She credits her niece’s husband with figuring out ingredients and proportions.

“Mix five tablespoons of Plaster of Paris in a quart of flat white paint,” said Ricks, while painting a fireplace mantle in a bedroom. “It costs about $11 instead of $38 a can.”

Once the paint dries, it has a hard durable, smooth finish.

“It’s great. You don’t have to strip old paint or varnish from furniture or weathered wood. You just brush this on, and it makes your piece look like an antique.”

Ricks said she is glad to share inexpensive, do-it-yourself tips she has used to turn thrift store and garage sale castaways into attractive, vintage-home décor.

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AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT Before moving to Idaho, she and her husband lived in Lake Point, Utah, near Tooele, where she often bought what others considered junk, to refurbish it, and sell from her garage workshop.

She also had a small wedding catering and decorating business and built props and décor for the ceremony.

Her husband supports her furniture makeovers. During their 32-year marriage, they have remodeled several houses together, and Ricks has decorated them.

“We like older houses with character instead of new ones that look like they came out of the same cookie cutter,” said Rick, 57.

“We laugh at ourselves, because it seems like once the fruit trees we planted are established and producing, we decide to move again because we’ve run out of projects.”

Rick said he enjoys the restoration work as much as his wife does.

“Neither of us are the type to sit around.

Watching TV is a waste of time, and you can read for only so long,” he said. “I’ve always been a do-it-yourself kind of guy and have had more time than money.”

Their last home remodel before moving to Malta was a two-story red brick house built in 1906.

“The front room was once a post office,” she said. “We really liked living there and had an acre for a garden, a cow, turkeys, and chickens.”

PAGE 31

They sold it in 2016 when Rick was hired to manage the Deseret Industries thrift store in Burley, and they found their cozy farmhouse near Malta.

Ricks then began to search for her next DIY projects at her husband’s work. He introduced her to the staff, laughing and warning them about her.

“This is my wife, and she’ll ask you to make her a deal, but don’t do it.”

Wherever they live, Ricks cans, grinds her own wheat, grows a garden, and raises a milk cow and chickens. Jars filled with peaches, pickles, and other food line shelves in her kitchen.

“I needed shelving that would fit in this space, so I made my own from old weathered wood,” she said.

Their five children and five grandchildren never know what project the couple will be working on next.

Her most recent project was painting a fireplace mantle with the chalk paint. While letting it dry, she bustled to her next project.

She picked fresh sage, oregano, and basil grown in pots and tied them in bunches to dry in the house.

Meanwhile, her husband arranged rocks in a decorative border near the front of their house.

“We love it here where you can see farmers and ranchers working and feeding the country,” he said. “It’s great to have elbow room.”

Eventually, the couple agrees they will finish their home improvement projects and start again, probably for the last time during retirement.

“We’ll definitely stay in the area,” said Rick.

“We really like the Elba and Connor Creek area,” said Ricks. “We’ll either find a house or maybe build a new one for the first time— with a vintage farmhouse look of course.” ISI

An old piece of farm equipment becomes a coffee table.

PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER.

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About Our Contributing Staff Writers Holly Endersby has been an award-winning outdoor writer for 25 years, working in newspaper, magazines, TV, and web-based magazines. She enjoys horse packing in wilderness areas, fishing, hunting, snow and water sports, yoga, and hiking. She was the first Conservation Director for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

Dr. Aaron Parrett is a professor at the University of Providence.

He runs a vintage print shop, the Territorial Press in Helena, Mont.

Steve Heikkila is a writer, photographer, cook, webmaster, social media guy, grocery shopper, and head dishwasher living in Portland, Ore. He is the author of the food-blog Slow Burning Passion.

Mary Terra-Berns is a freelance writer and editor with a master’s degree in fish and wildlife sciences from Texas A&M University. She has worked with, and written about, rare animals like wolverines and Canada lynx, not-so-rare species like black bears and burbot, and interesting people and topics from home and abroad. She enjoys hiking, fly-fishing, biking, running and spending time with her husband and two large mischievous dogs.

Bernice Karnop writes from her home in Great Falls under the supervision of a tortoise shell cat she calls Millie. Her great grandfather was a Montana pioneer who arrived at the gold fields in 1863.

Jack McNeel was born and raised in Idaho. His working career was spent with Idaho Fish and Game Department but after retirement he launched a career as a free lance writer and photographer for many publications, primarily about Native American subjects, hunting, fishing, and travel. He now lives in Hayden, Idaho. An author and musician.

Dianna Troyer is a freelance writer based in Pocatello, Idaho. She enjoys family and friends, skiing, riding horses, and hiking.

REQUEST FOR SUBMITTALS Readers are encouraged to submit interesting material such as: articles, letters to the editor, jokes, poems, and photos. Please send your submissions to: nann@idahoseniorindependent.com or to 1985 McMannamy Draw, Kalispell, MT 59901.

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