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Patricia Keith is documenting the world with a video camera

From the depths of Hells Canyon and its mining and ranching history to the political upheaval in the mountains of Tibet and the jungles of Burma, Dr. Patricia Keith records video for her documentaries. (Photo by Sean Cassidy)

By Jack McNeel Lewiston’s Patricia Keith has gone from a teaching career to filming documentaries. “It turns my adventures into the kind of travel I like – opportunities to meet people and learn more about their lives,” she explains. “I don’t need to go into any more museums.” Following her earning a Ph.D. from Brandeis University, Patricia heard the call of the west and with big Colorado trees in mind arrived in Lewiston in 1983 to teach English at Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC). When she arrived, she thought, “Hmm, this isn’t my idea of the west.” Laughing, she says, “It took me about a year to realize I’m kind of a desert rat. Now I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the world.” In her semi-retirement, Patricia still teaches one course that she developed seven years ago. Known as the Hells Canyon Institute, it was designed to be one semester with students taking a full load of courses while living in Hells Canyon. “But given the nature of LCSC students, that didn’t happen,” Patricia explains. “We do spend a week during spring break living in Hells Canyon. It is a lot of fun. I have faculty from geology, history, botany, all over the place, involved in the class.” It is now to a threecredit upper division, interdisciplinary course. Her first documentary, a thirty-minute film about the mining operation at Eureka Bar, was filmed about twelve years ago in Hells Canyon. Now documentaries occupy much of her time. Patricia’s first longer ones, each about an hour and twenty minutes in length, dealt with Tibet and Burma. “I call them my Oppressive Regime series.” Patricia returned to that region last January and found conditions somewhat different –increasing oppression in Tibet but more openness in Burma and optimism about changes being made by the government. She has an agent who books the films into places that want to meet the filmmaker. “These are often civic organizations that have travel film series. Sometimes they are universities that have film series. It kind of pushes the envelope for people who are doing travel film series. The films are much more oriented to people and culture rather than sites to see. They’ve been shown on both coasts and everywhere in between,” she (Continued on page 38) adds.

PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Although we are generally visually aware of the horrors in the world through the media, for most of us, simply turning off the switch insulates us. We do not live in a place where we can smell, taste, or feel the physical pain of the violence. Most of us do not see the worst sides of humankind out our windows, down our streets, or in our neighborhoods. Yes, there are some instances, but in fact, we are lucky! Our winning Remember When selection A Fearless Girl Now Schools Men by Bill Hall of

Lewiston is a look at the courageous 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai who despite being terrorized and brutally shot has not been silenced by those who would prevent her and other girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan from reading. Thank you, Bill! Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections or contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days,” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be essays, stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included.

Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent features the contribution deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our October/November 2013 issue. Mail your correspondence to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net; or call 1-866-3605683 or 208-318-0310. Visit us online at www. idahoseniorindependent.com.

A fearless girl now schools men By Bill Hall One day when I was six years old, a 13-yearold girl took me by the hand, walked me into a public library and told me I could read any of the hundreds of books on the shelves. And I could read them for free. That girl was Lois, my sister. She has been gone for some years now. But I think of her each time books and libraries are in the news. I thought of her recently as the huge new town library opened and I happily walked through the door with my inner six-year-old. I thought about my sister again a few days

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

later while watching a speech on television by one of the strongest and most influential teen-age girls you will ever witness. Most of you are aware of that fairly famous 16-year-old girl named Malala Yousafzai who was shot last year for the crime of female reading. In her recent speech at the United Nations, she fired up her movement to advocate for the many children in the world who have been denied the opportunity to learn how to read. She spoke especially on behalf of girls who have been specifically forbidden to read by the strange, male bullies of the Afghanistan and Pakistan Taliban who shot her. Malala bluntly told her story: “…the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. “The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear, and hopelessness died. Strength, power, and courage was born. I am the same Malala… I am here to speak for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. “I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was standing in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion I have learned from Mohamed, the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha…” (You can find the video of her entire speech on

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YouTube under “BBC News - Malala Yousafzai.”) What a vicious and clumsy mistake the Taliban has made. They not only motivated Malala to greater passion for her cause but they massively magnified her international influence. And if that were not enough, now that the global spotlight has reached her, it turns out that she was born to lead a cause. That teen-age girl from Pakistan stood there on international television with millions watching and spoke with a passion and a dramatic grasp of language and gestures that are normally found among a historical handful of much older orators. She is a new Gandhi, a new King, a new Mandela. The Taliban has shot itself in the foot, and then some. And Malala knows it. She said, “let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty, and terrorism. Let us pick up our books and our pens; they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” Nobody ever kept my sister from learning to read – partly because the men of this society wanted our sisters and our daughters to have books. But my sister’s role in handing me the world of books makes me wonder all the more about what kind of men would shoot girls, especially for the imaginary sin of reading. The women and girls I know love books so much. Giving books only to men and taking them away from women is like giving flowers, poetry, and babies only to men and shooting little girls

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

who differ with that decision. It reminds me once again that even some peaceful religions, who wish their girls and women well, have underestimated the worth of women. Many Christian, Muslim, and Jewish congregations overlook the fact that, on the whole, women are even more religious and nurturing than men. Doesn’t that make them especially well qualified to join men in the leadership positions

from which those religions still bar them? My sister Lois was my leader in the land of books. I wish she had lived to see how a brave girl can lead ignorant men out of the darkness Bill Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone.net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. ISI

Yes, it’s still summer and the leaves will stay green until the season changes and they paint the countryside with beautiful fall colors. As the evenings get chilly and the mornings bring a coating of frost, what better time to warm your heart in the company of a new friend or companion who may become a special someone in your life. Take time today to write a personal ad or reply to one of the personal ads on these pages. To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message, address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. When you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please be sure you submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of true love! Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad to appear in the October/No-

vember 2013 issue, the deadline is September 20, 2013. I am a very healthy and slim Christian lady 80+. I am a conservative and non-smoker. I like weekend trips. I ride my bike, walk my dog, water ski, and lots of yard work. I love to dance, especially BIG BAND, and line dance. I enjoy short hikes. Would love to hear from someone with similar interests. Reply ISI, Dept. 9301, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWWM, NS, ND from SE and SW Oregon and Idaho area. Have great place to live, but I hate to cook. No expense for a lady who owns nothing and would cherish her own special place. Age and nationality no concern. I love animals and birds. I have plenty of green flowering plants in my home. Some are wild unknown. Come enjoy the ride. Reply ISI, Dept. 9302, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF looking for a special guy, 70-plus, who would enjoy meeting a romantic, affectionate, country gal with interests in traveling, camping, fishing, boating, and four-wheeling. Let’s meet for coffee! Please respond with phone number. Reply ISI, Dept. 9303, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Dependable and clean, attractive, compact 1955 model with low miles. Auburn hair, green eyes, 5’2”, sense of humor, old fashioned, affectionate, considerate, honest spontaneous, down to earth. Like quiet times at home, reading, and gardening. Enjoy camping, spontaneous road trips, antiques, and yard sales. Seeking man 52-64 years financially secure with similar interests, qualities, and good personal hygiene/daily habits. Facial hair a plus. No boozers, smokers, druggies, or whiners. An honest one-to-one. Please send photo. Reply ISI, Dept. 9304, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWF, “relocatable,” 5’6” slim, brown eyes, long brown hair, attractive, up-beat, fun-loving, who loves walking together, romance, cooking, RVing, and traveling. I want someone to care for, respect, love, and laugh with for the rest of our lives. ISO caring gentleman, 55-75, with sense of humor. Intelligent, secure, share same values. Not seeking a place to stay or financial gain. Time’s a wastin’. Let’s make life exciting! Photo/phone #. No D/S. Reply ISI, Dept. 9305, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI

Dear Editor, Thank you for the opportunity to write an article about dementia for the June/July 2013 issue. Unfortunately, an editorial change to my original submission resulted in the inaccurate statement, “Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60% to 80% of those symptoms we call dementia.” It should have read, “Alzheimer’s disease is the cause of 60% to 80% of dementia cases.” I appreciate you making this clarification to your readers. Eric Collett Executive Director Emerson House at Riverpointe

An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets the more interested he is in her. - Agatha Christie

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

By Connie Daugherty Godforsaken Idaho by Shawn Vestal; New Harvest, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; New York, 2013 Godforsaken Idaho is a collection of previously published short stories by journalist Shawn Vestal. In the beginning he offers a passage from the Book of Mormon, “if there is no sin… there is no righteousness… no happiness… no punishment nor misery… no God… if there is no God we are not… all must have vanished away.” Then in the collection of nine short stories, he sets out to make the points of the passage using flawed and searching characters. The collection is grouped into three sets of three with similar characters. The characters in the first three stories are all fathers. The next three stories present characters that are all selfish, self-centered, and antisocial. The final three stories explore and expose the Mormon faith – the faithful and the not-so-faithful. Vestal’s writing is crisp and cynical with subtle hints of humor; the stories are nicely paced. Sometimes it isn’t the story, but a single phrase or sentence in a story that catches your attention and brings the story to life. His messages are thought provoking and his descriptions detailed and precise... his characters depressingly familiar. Godforsaken Idaho is a dark, sarcastic study of the Mormon faith and of all religious faiths and what part that faith plays in everyday living. Most of the characters are sinners and mistake-makers struggling to find their way in a world without the God that they have forsaken. Vestal’s opening story, The First Several Hundred Years Following My Death, presents a unique and not exactly inviting view of heaven. Heaven is life, exactly as you left it, the moment you left it with the exception of the cafeteria. In the cafeteria “people sit with others of their age and era,” and order their favorite food from their former life – every day, repeatedly if they want. If food is your passion, then this is the heaven for you. However, “there is no peace here… If you want peace you have to find it in the life you left behind.” The story follows the character’s search for peace, for some sort of meaning to it all. “I finally find it, and it’s not even an hour,” he says finally. “I never wanted to be a criminal until I was one. And then, for a while, I couldn’t imagine wanting to be anything else.” Thus begins the second story, About as Fast as This Car Will Go, which is not so much about fast cars as it is about decision making, about choosing between right and wrong, and about how sometimes wrong can seem right. “I thought it was a big mistake, but I had no language for that,” he says. In Families are Forever, “which sounded like a threat,” Vestal introduces a daughter longing to be free of her family and her background, yet she is financially dependent on them and her less-thanhonest boyfriend. “Nothing that happens has to be real, and anything is possible,” the boyfriend gets it. Pocket Dog, is the story of a young adult stuck in that selfish adolescent stage of growing up. His view of life is self-centered, sexual, and substance-supported. “That’s what I’m about, Grandma. You said you wanted to know,” the character declares. “For most of my life I couldn’t have found Idaho on a map… I had no picture of the place in my head,” but now the character finds himself in Godforsaken Idaho. In Idaho, far away from Chicago and still poor. “I hated being poor… I can hardly bear to pay a bill,” hardly bear to give up even one hard-earned penny. “In this I am like my landlord. I want my money, too.” Is there anything more important than money, no matter how little or how much it might be? The Winter Elders, “materialized with the first snow, at least that how it seems to Bradshaw, a

reluctant young father. When the boy was born, Bradshaw kept waiting for… the surge of joy.” Instead, “he felt like he was being filled with life and drained of life all at once… he ached for the way he used to be filled with himself, only himself.” Then the missionaries from the church show up, all smiles, kindness, and helpfulness and it’s just more than he can bear. “I had died, bleeding on the earth in the Tetons, killed by a posse, and the thirty-two years passed in a black instant and I awoke… behind the eyes of a stranger, a sailor on an armored warship.” In Opposition in All Things, Vestal uses a doppelganger to examine the morality of war and killing, of lust and sex, and of solitude and society. “He yearned for sin, and then forgiveness, and then for sin and he could not decide, moment to moment where the wickedness was greater, in himself, in the church or in the world.” Vestal uses both first person and third person to allow the reader to see life through the eyes of two characters at once – a challenging technique in a short story, but he makes it work. As a background for, Gulls, Vestal uses the Mormon legend of the seagulls saving the farms of the faithful from an infestation of crickets. “Sara Miller wanted to know what would happen if she said no… She didn’t love Bishop Warren.” Sara prays about it, prays, and asks for a sign, and then the crickets come. In the final story, Diviner, we meet a young Joseph Smith hired to read his special stones and divine the location of a hidden treasure. Not everyone believes in his power. “We do not live in the same world, my neighbors and I. They live in a world of codes and secrets and the hope that all will be understood, and I live in the world where bafflement and mystery are but the foundation and the condition.” Godforsaken Idaho, presents for the reader “a world where bafflement and mystery”

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5

are the norm and the condition. And in the middle of this world, Vestal’s characters are expected to make decisions – life-altering decisions. Godforsaken Idaho is an excellent literary collection and well worth exploring. Shawn Vestal is from Gooding, Idaho and was raised in the Mormon faith. He is currently a reporter and columnist for the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington. His stories have appeared in many prominent publications. ISI

PAGE 6 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Can You Find These Observances? Created by Idaho Senior Independent Staff Are you ready to win $100, $75, or $50? Did you know that there are more than 600 observances that occur during the months of August and September? We did not until we started looking, and we are betting that there are many more! Some are serious, some humorous, and some plainly ridiculous. What we have done, with the cooperation of our advertisers, is add an observance within the borders of some of the ads appearing in this issue. In fact, more than 40 ads in this paper have an observance on them. They are scattered throughout

the paper in no particular pattern, and your job is to find them. Only observances that appear within the border of an ad are correct answers. Therefore, you cannot use the observances mentioned by way of introduction or explanation that appear on this page or on any other page of the paper. Again, only observances that appear within the borders of ads in this paper are correct answers. What we require is that you find any 30 of the 40+ ads that have an observance on them. Then, on a numbered piece of paper, write down three things: • the page number on which each ad appears;

• the name of the advertiser (Acme Travel Agency for example); • the observance that appears on the ad i.e. Healthy Weight Week. Mail or email (idahoseniorind@bresnan.net) your answers to us by September 20, 2013. By drawing from the entries submitted, we will award three cash prizes to the first three correct entries, one each of $100, $75, and $50. What are you waiting for... it’s time to start scouring the paper to find the ads with the observances! ISI

Answers To Match These State Flowers Submitted by Jean Carr, Twin Falls 1. Alabama: E. Camellia 2. Alaska: J. Forget-Me-Not 3. Arizona: S. Saguaro Cactus 4. Arkansas: I. Apple Blossom 5. California: N. Golden Poppy 6. Colorado: T. Rocky Mountain Columbine 7. Hawaii: K. Yellow Hibiscus

8. Idaho: O. Syringa 9. Kansas: A. Sunflower 10. Montana: L. Bitterroot 11. Nevada: C. Sagebrush 12. New Mexico: R. Yucca 13. Nebraska: H. Goldenrod 14. Oregon: B. Oregon Grape 15. Oklahoma: P. Mistletoe

16. Texas: F. Blue Bonnet 17. Utah: M. Sego Lily 18. Washington: D. Rhododendron 19. Wisconsin: Q. Wood Violet 20. Wyoming: G. Indian Paintbrush Information on the state flowers from Fandex Family Field Guide “50 States” by Thomas J. Craughwell; Workman Publishing, New York. ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7

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1. Half of the Odd Couple 6. “___, the Beloved Country” 9. Greek portico 13. Just outside a fairway 14. Thou, today 15. Sound units 16. Covered with hair 17. 2, on a telephone dial 18. Moonshine 19. *He drove Miss Daisy 21. *Played TV doc before becoming movie star 23. Water snake 24. Nightcrawler 25. Michigan’s “___ Five” 28. Kind of jerk 30. King Tut’s and Napoleon’s hangouts, e.g. 34. Paella pot 36. *Without Tijuana Brass, this Alpert appeared in “The Ten Commandments” 38. Civil rights org. 40. Sound of pride 41. Breastplate 43. Smoothie berry 44. Ionic and Corinthian predecessor 46. *He was a dead man walking 47. Lose coat 48. Phobias 50. A personal view 52. Court divider 53. “Once ___ a time...” 55. Baseball stat 57. Of the essence 61. *A Bond man 65. Flowing tresses 66. Genetic stuff 68. Handy 69. Express a thought 70. H+, e.g. 71. *Ed Sullivan Show vetriloquist, _____ Wences 72. Post-deductions amount 73. Armageddon 74. Muse of love poetry

1. “Carmina Burana” composer, developed system for teaching music to kids 2. Lemon quality 3. “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me” band The ____ 4. Come to terms 5. Nursery poems 6. Greenish blue 7. *Sam Seaborn on “The West Wing” 8. New Mexico’s state flower 9. Begone! 10. Roger Rabbit, e.g. 11. One third of thrice 12. Light grey 15. Quantum of light 20. #46 Across said, “_____, Mr. Hand” 22. Ignited 24. Enter uninvited, 2 words 25. *Indiana 26. Reserved 27. Harsh noise 29. Profound 31. “Yes, ___” 32. *He was rebellious and footloose 33. Found on a map 35. “Mi chiamano Mimi,” e.g. 37. Tough spot 39. *He stole from Louise and spent seven years in Tibet 42. Contemptuous look 45. *He had Zellweger at ‘’Hello” 49. Kind of resort 51. Excite 54. “An _____ but a goodie” 56. Daisylike bloom 57. Hurry up 58. Bright yellow flower, ___seed, known for its oil 59. U in I.C.U. 60. *Rapper 50 ____, acted with De Niro and Pacino in “Righteous Kill” 61. Boston or Chicago, e.g. 62. Columbus’ vessel 63. Loads 64. “I, Claudius” role 67. Negation of a word

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PAGE 8 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Always Call 811 Before Digging‌ Damage Prevention is a Shared Responsibility With August 11 almost here, Dig Line hopes this date on the calendar, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. Every eight minutes in the United States, an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811. When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Dig Line, the local one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags,

spray paint or both. THIS IS A FREE SERVICE! Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines, and inconvenient outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting. “On August 11 and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors alike to call 811 two business days before digging to eliminate the risk of striking an underground util-

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ity line,� said Linda Phillips, Manager for Dig Line, Inc. “It really is the only way to know which utilities are buried in your area.� The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. Visit www.call811.com or www.digline.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices. ISI

ď ‚ď Ľď ˇď Ąď ˛ď Ľď€ ď ´ď ¨ď Ľď€ ď ’ď Ľď ¤ď€ ď †ď Źď Ąď §ď łď€ ď Żď Śď€ ď ’ď Ľď Ąď Źď€ ď …ď łď ´ď Ąď ´ď Ľď€ ď ‰ď Žď śď Ľď łď ´ď ­ď Ľď Žď ´ď ł By Karen Telleen-Lawton Dear Karen: My folks are in their mid-80s, and recently shared with me their list of investments. The advisor they have been with for over ten years has about half their funds in “trust deeds.â€? It looks like they are real estate loans for apartment complexes, small office complexes, a couple of vacation home rental buildings, and a few single-family homes. Each deed has about 15-20 investors, and my folks’ share ranges from a couple percent to over 12%. Most of this money comes from IRAs. The other half of their investments are also invested with this guy in mutual funds and a few blue chip stocks. He is 75 years old and seems to have a sole practice. He sends them a letter every month or so detailing the interest they’ve earned and what’s happening on the properties that defaulted (at least two did in 2009, but they continued to invest in more properties). He also tells them of new deals he’s investigating. He flies around in his own plane and checks them out himself. The whole thing sounds fishy to me, but they are happy with him. I don’t want to rock the boat if this is normal. Your thoughts? – Worried daughter Dear Worried: Your parents are invested in a form of Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). In your case, the trusts are small (few investors and few properties), closed (not likely traded on an exchange) investments in loans (rather than outright ownership). Investors hold real estate and mortgages for a couple of reasons. For example, retirees and others see the rental payments as stable income. Second, they reason that no matter what happens to stocks and bonds, the real property is tangible, so the value will “alwaysâ€? be above zero. On the surface, then, the investment is not necessarily “fishy.â€? Nevertheless, I see several potential red flags with this relationship. First, most advisors will tell you that keeping tabs on any particular “alternativeâ€? investment (such as trust deeds) should be considered a part-time job if your holdings are greater than five or possibly 10% of your portfolio. Perhaps your parents are retired real estate professionals or mortgage brokers and they stay active in the field. Then a 10% allocation or even a bit more might be reasonable.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

The defaulted properties are obvious red flags. 2009 was a particularly difficult year for real estate, but the fact that he is able to convince them to keep adding to their holdings despite the fact that these properties have still not sold or generated income means he is very convincing. One major downside of real estate is that it is highly illiquid. Defaulted properties have turned them into landlords with all sorts of potential costs from maintenance to updating to the necessity of insuring against disasters. These properties are generating no income but are generating costs, which may not be totally recouped when the property is finally sold. For the real estate trusts, there are a couple of figures that are imperative in analyzing particular investments. One is the loan-to-value ratio. This tells what percent of the value of the property is being funded. Most professionals won’t accept a ratio

of more than 65% of the property value. In addition, if any of the loans are not First Trust Deeds, there are other parties ahead of your parents’ batch of lenders. You would want to know these facts for each of the investments. Besides my questions about the investments, I have concerns about their advisor. Perhaps this guy has a well thought-out and viable succession plan. At the age of 75 and flying his own private plane, his investors should be made well aware of this plan and to whom they can direct questions in case of an emergency. Furthermore, they should check out his record with the SEC at this website. If he has even a minor mark against him, they should ask him to discuss it frankly, and they should listen carefully to his explanation. Finally, the fact that he continues to soft sell more real estate investments and further reduces

The War With Weeds By Clare Hafferman In my ongoing fight against an invasion of weeds this year, I was reminded of the 1970s when we lived in a small town surrounded by mountains and forests. During one of those years people reported that a crop of wild Shaggymane mushrooms were sprouting in all sorts of places. Those tasty morsels will even come up in the gravel along the road if it’s one of those years. That also reminded me of Bobby Morris, but I’ll tell you about Bobby a little later. When I heard the spotters were picking mushrooms, I asked a friend who had lived there a lot longer, was an employee of the local mill, and had good knowledge of the woods, what they produced. “Sparky,” I said, “How come those mushrooms surfaced now, when they don’t normally occur for a long time?” “Because,” he answered, “those spores are under the ground until the climate, the rain, and the conditions are just right, and when they are, you can just get your dishpan and go get ‘em!” It made sense to me and it made sense to my young acquaintance, Bobby Morris, one of the four Morris boys who lived nearby. Our boys were about four and five and Bobby was about ten. Somebody told him that I liked to pick huckleberries and look for mushrooms. Bobby liked to do the latter and one day when his Mother was busy, he told her he was coming over to see if I could take him out to where he heard there were mushrooms. I loaded up the two boys and their trucks, Bobby, and myself and if I remember correctly, we picked Shaggymanes somewhere near Apgar, enough for both of us, while the boys played with their trucks, It was nice to know somebody younger who thought picking free stuff from nature=s cupboard was fun. When my friend Sparky outlined mushroom growing. I had a sinking feeling that weed growth this year was the same deal. We had enough moisture that under cover of darkness and dirt, those weed seeds and assorted grasses had quietly been waiting to spring up and GROW! Some of the offenders are many I’d never seen before. One kind of grass we’ve never had spouted a feathery head and intermixed with absolutely everything. It was easy to pull, and admittedly with all the rain, the soil was loose and most of the criminals came out without a fight. I recognized the old squad like the dandelion boys, the salsify family, tons of chickweed, the pineapple weed, so called because it has a pleasant odor if you care about odors, and a whole bunch of sticky blue stuff that threads out everywhere.

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whatever diversification they have makes me uncomfortable. If they have so much money that they rightfully can have little fear of running out, and neither can be said to be cognitively impaired, then I suppose they have the right to spend their money the way they want. But if they depend on their portfolio to generate income for their support, then you are right to be concerned. Karen Telleen-Lawton serves seniors and preseniors as the Principal of Decisive Path Fee-Only Financial Advisory in Santa Barbara, California (http://www.DecisivePath.com). You can reach her with your financial planning questions at ktl@ DecisivePath.com ISI

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Creeping charley, when I identified him by name, didn’t even creep. He just pushed forward and said address him as Cousin Charles. He grew among the rocks, in the gravel, underneath the wood chips and between the raspberry plants. You name it, he was there. But if you can stay with it for a couple of hours in the early morning, (that’s all I’m good for), there is a reward to see all those invaders end up in a black plastic yard sack. A few years back I had visited my favorite plant nursery and in conversation with the clerk revealed that I was digging what I had identified as bindweed, having seen it in abandoned lots and in many places in my side of town. Her reply was aptly depressing. She said, “And you’ll have it forever.” Reading later about different kinds of weeds, bindweed was characterized as having roots that could go down six feet. I quit reading. Among the villains I was trying to eliminate, bindweed was the worst. The only solutions offered were to dig it, spray it with Roundup, or cover the area with thick black plastic held down at the edges with rocks and then wait two years for the obituary. I encourage the bees with flowers, so Roundup was out and two years is

a long time. So it was two hours a day pulling and digging. On a happier note, this has also been a good year for watching the birds in our yard, and like the Seven Dwarfs in the Disney movie, they can “whistle while you work.” The goldfinches came back in May, the chickadees were busy finding food for whatever is feathering up in the birdhouse on a post, and the red-winged blackbird alerts me with his “rusty hinge” call at the backyard feeder while three hummers fight in mid-air at their hanging breakfast bar. All my gardening friends said they were late getting anything planted, and so was I. Rain and then snow in May put a damper on anybody’s efforts. Another vendor and I were talking about this and our weeding woes, when a passerby said he had subdued knapweed with a spray of white vinegar and some dish washing detergent to make it stick. I thought I would have to see it to believe it, but on consideration, I had all those ingredients. Better than black plastic and a twoyear hiatus. Maybe hit the dandelions first and see what happens. The bindweed could have a double shot later! ISI

40 years of marriage... Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said to the couple, “For being such an exemplary married couple and for loving each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.” The wife answered, “Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband.” The fairy waved her magic wand and poof… two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands. The husband thought for a moment and then said, “Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again. I’m sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than I am.” The wife and the fairy were deeply disappointed… but a wish is a wish. So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof… the husband became 92-years-old. The moral of this story: Men who are ungrateful should remember fairies are female. ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11

Marsha Ramey Took The Road To The Boston Marathon Article & Photo By Jack McNeel If you’ve never done sports seriously and then turn 60, what do you do? In the case of Lewiston’s Marsha Ramey, you take up marathon running. Now, just three years later, she ran the Boston Marathon. Marsha isn’t entirely new to physical education and exercise. She was born and raised in Sweetwater, Texas and eventually got degrees in psychology and sociology from Hardin-Simmons University. While there, she had a job at a state school for people who were mentally handicapped. She worked in physical education and recreation, something of a precursor to Special Olympics. In 1980, after a stint in Denton, at Texas Women’s University working toward a degree in physical education specializing working with the handicapped, Marsha and her husband moved to Lewiston where he taught at Lewis & Clark State College for 25 years. As her kids grew older, Marsha worked for the Department of Health & Welfare for seven years. “I ran some but not seriously,” she said of those years. Marsha played the piano, flute, and harp and during those intervening years, she and a friend opened a music studio in downtown Lewiston where Marsha gave lessons. She had learned the harp after moving to Idaho and meeting a woman in Moscow who gave her lessons and the lead on where to buy an old harp. “I found a little harp at a convent in Moscow that had it since the ‘20s,” she explains. “It was built in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1915. I quickly outgrew it and got a bigger one.” She has continued to teach music and has become involved with Lewiston civic theater playing in orchestras for various productions. She has also played for weddings and at restaurants. But there was still nothing to indicate marathon running in her future. “When I was in school girls didn’t do sports, so I never did sports. I didn’t

consider myself an athletic person.” Then she turned 60. She was taking a yoga class at Gold’s Gym. A friend was turning 60 and thought it would be a good idea to walk a marathon and asked Marsha if she would train with her. “Yeah, I think I can walk 26 miles,” she replied. “We signed up for the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon.” Then she found out there was a time limit on completing the walking marathon. “You had to do it in less than seven hours. You can’t just stroll.” Marsha’s son lives in Boise and is a serious runner. He told her about a half-marathon planned in Boise before the Seattle event. Her reaction was, “Yeah. I think I can walk 13. It shouldn’t be a problem. We did the Seattle Marathon in 5 hours and 55 minutes. That’s 26.2 miles. That .2 is the killer. It’s a fast walk and we were exhausted.” Completing a walking marathon caused her to wonder how fast she could run the distance. Her daughter was running then so they both signed up for a half marathon in South Dakota. “I started to see if I could run a little bit. We did that half marathon, the first time I’d run 13 miles. I was pretty sore but it wasn’t too bad.” That was about 2 ½ years ago. She signed up for more half marathons with her kids and her husband was walking some of them as well. In 2011 she signed up to run the South Dakota Marathon in August and her husband signed up to walk the Portland Marathon in October. However, tragedy struck and her husband died from an aneurism in June. “I think the endurance running I’d been doing really helped me to get through that. It was an important part of my life and I’d learned I could endure.” Marsha just wasn’t ready to attempt the South Dakota run so soon after her husband’s death, but her son suggested she ask the Portland Marathon

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organizers if she could run in that event and wear the number that had been assigned to her husband. They said, “Sure.” “I ran the entire Portland Marathon – my first one. I was kind of in a state of amazement that I could do that. It wasn’t a lot of fun but my daughter-inlaw jumped in the last eight or nine miles and kept encouraging me. At one point she said, ‘You’ve only got three miles to go.’ I almost started crying. ‘What do you mean only three more miles?’”

The qualifying time for women in the 60-64 age bracket for the Boston Marathon is 4 hours and 25 minutes. Marsha ran the Portland Marathon, her first, in 4 hours and 45 minutes – only 20 minutes from qualifying. In January of 2012, Marsha began working with a trainer to reduce her times. She also signed up for the Leading Ladies Marathon in South Dakota in August. “It’s a great event and just for women. Except for a couple of hills, it’s downhill. I thought if I’m ever going to qualify for Boston it’s going to have to be on a downhill course,” she says with a laugh. During the race, she kept watching her watch and checking her pace. About halfway through she thought, “I’m really going to be able to do this.” She even began walking through the aid stations for water because she knew her time was good. “I crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 10 minutes.” That’s 15 minutes under the time required for Boston! And, this was just the second marathon she had run. Marsha did run in the Boston Marathon in April and was still on the course when the bombs exploded. “My son and I were about half a mile from the finish line when everything came to a screeching halt. People were saying two bombs had gone off at the finish line. My daughter-in-law was going to meet us at the finish line so it was scary but she had not made it there yet. “The people of Boston were just amazing. People were offering us to

Aof Taste Idaho

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

come into their homes, giving us coats, and giving us their cell phones to use. “It was pretty frightening, but up until then it was an amazing event. I hope this never happens again because it was just such a wonderful, joyous occasion until the tragedy.�

Color Blind: The Forgotten Team That Broke Baseball’s Color Line By Tom Dunkel; Atlantic Monthly; 345 pp; $25 Reviewed by Wyatt Larson Leroy “Satchel� Paige was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history. At 6’3� tall, Paige towered over the batters who faced him and developed a reputation as a power pitcher early in his career, which led him to play professionally in the Negro League. Always looking for an opportunity to make more money and while playing for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Paige received an offer he

Marsha gives part of the credit for her running success to living in Lewiston. “We have the ideal climate. You can run almost the year around. It’s become a very important part of my life.� And Marsha has only been running for three years! ISI

could not refuse – $300 to $400 a month plus the signing bonus of a used Chrysler to play baseball in an unexpected place, Bismarck, North Dakota. Tom Dunkel follows Paige and the Bismarck squad through its ups and downs, and the first National Semi-Pro Tournament in Wichita, Kansas in his new book Color Blind: The Forgotten Team That Broke Baseball’s Color Line. The acquisition of Paige was the culmination of many circumstances. Extremely unhappy in Pittsburgh and feeling underpaid and underappreciated, Paige’s performance on the field had suffered. In his final season at Pittsburgh, Paige was responsible for more losses than wins, and players were hitting his pitches at will. The lucrative offer from the West came at the perfect time for Paige.

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13

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The Weavers’ harp and flute music soothes and comforts By Dianna Troyer Harpist Joyce Weaver once apologized to the Idaho Home Health and Hospice volunteer coordinator for playing music that made one of their patients cry. “I called to tell her what happened and that I had really goofed. She said the client’s family had told her that the music allowed the client to relax enough to cry, something she really needed, but hadn’t been able to do. She wasn’t crying from anything I’d done wrong,” says Joyce, 68, who began volunteering with the hospice organization after moving from Elgin, Illinois to Pocatello in 2001 to be near family. “Harp music is extremely soothing. People ask me how I can play for someone who is dying, and I ask, ‘How can I not?’ Seeing people’s reactions is still so moving to me,” says Joyce, as tears pool in her eyes. “If you aren’t moved to tears sometimes, life isn’t worth living. I always want to feel compassion.” Often, as she begins to play her harp, the people she is playing for start to relax. People who know and love the hymns in her repertoire sometimes clasp their hands in prayer as she plays. “Many times, you can see stress leave the faces of spouses and other caregivers who listen.” Besides performing for hospice patients, Joyce and her husband, Loren, a flutist, play every Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the lobby of the Portneuf Medical Center. One morning, Al Brawner of Pocatello, who was walking by the lobby, sat down to listen. “Harp and flute music have such therapeutic value,” he says. “It’s relaxing, and they play so beautifully.” How do the Weavers decide what to play?

“She’s the music expert and does all the arranging,” says Loren of Joyce, who has been a choir director and performed professionally for several years in the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Besides hymns, pieces from operas, and other

Loren & Joyce Weaver perform at the Portneuf Medical Center lobby on Thursday mornings. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

classical music, the Weavers play Irish dances and folk songs including Irish, English, Scottish, and American. Joyce has compiled several programs with different arrangements, depending on what instruments are being played. “I have about one hour of songs for me playing solo, and about two hours of songs that Loren and I play here at the hospital or at churches and nursing homes. Our trio arrangements are songs for me, the flute teacher from ISU, and Loren playing either flute or English horn.” When the Weavers moved to Pocatello to retire and be near their daughter Laurie Orr and her family, they didn’t plan to do public musical performances. “I thought I had planned the perfect retirement, but what actually happened was much better,” says Loren, 71, a physics professor who retired from the community college in Elgin, Illinois. “Instead of my plans materializing, God had other ideas for our lives.” Three days after they arrived in Pocatello, Loren got a phone call from the math department at Idaho State University asking if he would be interested in teaching part-time. He was and taught math and/or statistics until 2009. In his spare time, his musical interests revived. He bought and restored a pipe organ, which he plays at home. After going to a concert, his desire to play flute was reawakened. “I played in high school, then didn’t have time while I was teaching and quit for 48 years. After hearing a concert here, I told Joyce, ‘It would be a lot of fun to start playing again.’” Joyce’s passion for harp was kindled after their daughter Laurie began to play at age 5.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

“We had gone to Bible studies in people’s homes, and one woman played harp. Laurie fell in love with the instrument and has played ever since.” When Laurie was nine, they bought her a student harp. By eighth grade, she couldn’t advance any farther with the student harp, so they bought her a pedal harp. “It cost $10,000,” recalls Joyce. “I worked as a church secretary and used all my salary for a year, plus more, to pay for it. With it sitting there and being so expensive, I decided to learn to play, too. I was 42 at the time.” Today, Laurie performs with the Idaho State Civic Symphony and has several harp students including her mother.

“People ask me if it’s hard to have a daughter for a teacher, and I tell them she’s a better player than I am, and I improve by doing what she suggests.” When Joyce isn’t playing harp, she directs the Southeast Idaho Chapter of Project Linus, a national program that provides hand-made blankets to needy children or youths, or to those who have suffered trauma of some kind. Joyce coordinates about 30 to 50 volunteers who make blankets, which are distributed through hospitals, law enforcement agencies, schools, and domestic violence organizations. “Last year, we gave away 587 blankets,” says Joyce. “Some kids are in horrendous situations and have no control over those circumstances.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15

I’m glad we can help improve their lives a little.” Joyce is grateful, too, for brightening people’s lives with their music. “I’ll be back next week to listen,” says Al Brawner as the Weavers pack up at the hospital. Joyce admits at times the thought of wrestling her 70-pound harp onto its dolly and loading it in their vehicle for a performance is daunting. “It’s almost as tall as I am, about 5 feet, 9 inches,” she says of the harp she plays at the hospital. “The one I play for hospice patients is slightly smaller.” Once she starts to play, though, she says her fatigue vanishes. “I get energized from God and feel better. Our lives have been blessed through our music.” ISI

Understanding Cataracts A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. Cataracts and Aging – Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Age-related cataracts develop in two ways. • Clumps of protein reduce the sharpness of the image reaching the retina. • The clear lens slowly changes to a yellowish/brownish color, adding a brownish tint to vision. Protein Clumpings Cloud the Lens – The lens consists mostly of water and protein. When the protein clumps up, it clouds the lens and reduces the light that reaches the retina. The clouding may become severe enough to cause blurred vision. Most age-related cataracts develop from protein clumpings. When a cataract is small, the cloudiness affects only a small part of the lens. You may not notice any changes in your vision. Cataracts tend to grow slowly, so vision gets worse gradually. Over time, the cloudy area in the lens may get larger, and the cataract may increase in size. Seeing may become

more difficult. Your vision may get duller or blurrier. Discoloration of the Lens – Cataracts cause the lens to change to a yellowish/brownish color. As the clear lens slowly colors with age, your vision gradually may acquire a brownish shade. At first, the amount of tinting may be small and may not cause a vision problem. Over time, increased tinting may make it more difficult to read and perform other routine activities. This gradual change in the amount of tinting does not affect the sharpness of the image transmitted to the retina. If you have advanced lens discoloration, you may not be able to identify blues and purples. You may be wearing what you believe to be a pair of black socks, only to find out from friends that you are wearing purple socks. Risk Factors – The risk of cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include: • Certain diseases like diabetes • Personal behavior like smoking or alcohol use • Environmental factors such as prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. Common Symptoms – The most common symptoms of a cataract are: • Cloudy or blurry vision and poor night vision • Glare - headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright or a halo may appear around lights • Double vision or multiple images in one eye • Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses. Tests for Cataract – Cataract is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes a visual acuity test, dilated eye exam, and tonometry.

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• The visual acuity test is an eye chart test that measures how well you see at various distances. • In the dilated eye exam, drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. • In tonometry, an instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test. Dealing with Symptoms – The symptoms of early cataract may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment. Surgery

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involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. You and your eye care professional can make this decision together. Is Surgery Right For You? – Once you understand the benefits and risks of surgery, you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you. In most cases, delaying cataract surgery will not cause long-term damage to your eye or make the surgery more difficult. You do not have to rush into surgery. There are two types of cataract surgery,

phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery. Your doctor can explain the differences and help determine which is better for you. After the natural lens has been removed, it usually is replaced by an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens, or IOL. An IOL is a clear, plastic lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of your eye. Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. It also is one of the safest and most effective types of surgery. In about 90 percent of cases, people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward. ISI

Respiratory Infections have no seasons By Susan Frances Bonner RN BSN One of the three lifesaving techniques taught to save someone who has stopped breathing is to open the airway so oxygen can fill the lungs and be circulated to the heart and brain. Oxygen is essential to our survival! There are many ways that our breathing can be impaired – disease, disability, and accident to name a few. With older people, flu is one of the most potentially serious illnesses that affect breathing. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are as usual as the common cold, which can be acquired without regard to climate, time of year, age, gender, or race. It is highly contagious and can linger briefly or for long periods, and become acute and lead to pneumonia. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are usually caused by one of more than 200 viruses and are rarely serious. They include the common cold, tonsillitis, sore throat, sinusitis, laryngitis, and croup. Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are usually more serious. They affect the trachea, bronchi, and the lungs. Bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, and pneumonia are common LRTIs. RTIs can spread when tiny droplets of fluid containing a pathogenic organism are launched into the air from sneezing, coughing, or speaking. Infections can be spread through direct and indirect contact as when you touch your nose or eyes before touching someone else. Respiratory tract infections are usually caused by one of over 200 viruses, bacteria, or fungi. For example, streptococci usually infect the upper respiratory system, and bordetella pertussis usually infects the lower respiratory system. These are two of the kinds of bugs that can affect the lungs. Your

medical professional must test you so that the appropriate medication can be prescribed. Since bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics and viral infections usually cannot, it behooves us to know what we have and why. From upper and lower respiratory tract infections you can expect some of these classic symptoms: fever, cough, malaise, ear ache, sneezing, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and a runny stuffy nose. Of course, you can have a few of the symptoms or none at all depending on the type of organism and your overall health. People that are more at risk of lung infections than others include children, the elderly, smokers, people with compromised immune systems, people who have chronic lung conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, and travelers. Treatment for the common cold and respiratory infections are age old – chicken soup for the common cold and leeches on the chest to suck out the evil causing the sickness. My mother would rub Vicks VapoRub on my chest when I got a cough accompanied by a steaming shower. There may be some validity to these home remedies, but for most types of respiratory infections, the best treatment is to drink plenty of liquids, get some rest the first few days, and wait for symptoms to resolve. Most colds last seven to ten days. If, in the middle of a cold, you suddenly feel much worse and develop a fever and cough up green/brownish mucus, it could mean that the cold has become a bacterial infection and may require different treatment. If you have to seek medical attention, you can expect tests of your mucous membranes, as well as blood work to determine what you may have acquired.

Idaho eye doctors help legally blind to see Local low vision doctor helps those with vision impairment to keep reading and driving.

Charles C. George, M.D. Ophthalmology

Adult / Pediatrics Examinations

&DWDUDFW 6XUJHU\

208-263-8501 1-800-881-8501 307 South First Avenue Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 eyeclinicofsandpoint.com

By Elena Lomabardi Just because you have macular degeneration (or other vision-limiting conditions) doesn’t always mean you must give up driving or reading. Ever look through a pair of field glasses or binoculars? Things look bigger and closer, and much easier to see. Dr. Jared L. Cooper of Southern Idaho/Utah and Dr. Cheryl Dumont of Coeur d’Alene are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration or other eye conditions. “Some of my patients consider me the last stop for people who have vision loss”, says Dr. Cooper, a low vision optometrist who limits his practice to visually impaired patients in his offices throughout Southern Idaho. “People don’t know that there are doctors who are very experienced in low vision care, many of my patients have been told that there was nothing left that they could do to improve their vision, fortunately this is usually not the case.” “My job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person functioning.” said D r. C o o p e r. “Even if it’s driving”. A patient of Dr. Cooper, Ross Johnson, 73 a retired rancher from Utah, approached the Low Vision Clinic last February. “I could not read the street signs soon enough when driving, and I couldn’t read my morning paper.” He was fit with bioptic telescope glasses. “Amazing,” says Ross, “to be able to see things far away again. Even the television is so much better now.” He was also provided with a Clear Image Microscope glasses for reading the newspaper. “Telescopic glasses usually cost over $2000,” says Dr. Cooper, “especially if we fabricate them with an automatic sunglass.” Not all low vision devices are that expensive - reading glasses start at $500 and hand magnifiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires. Call Dr. Cooper or Dr. Dumont for a free telephone interview at 800451-2015 or visit Dr. Cooper on the Internet at www.drjaredcooper.com. Dr. Jared L. Cooper Idaho License #ODP-100238.

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Then your doctor may prescribe decongestants, antihistamines, analgesics, mucolytics, antitussives, or antibiotics. There are some natural alternatives such as elderberry, which may reduce the duration of flu-like illnesses by up to four days. Tamiflu and Relenza reduce the duration of symptoms by one day. Honey, has recently shown to be as effective as dextromethorphan for treating cough in children. Other alternative treatments are inhalation of warm humidified air (infused with mint if you like), warm compresses on the nose or throat, and yes, sitting in a steam room with Vicks on your chest. All

of these methods have one thing in common – to clear the lungs of extra fluid and mucous. Again, do your research to see what is most practical for you and your lifestyle. Prevention of this common and prolific condition is very easy; it’s called basic hygiene and cleanliness. You should wash your hands regularly and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Home as well as office surfaces (keyboards, phones, etc.) should be kept clean especially if there are infected people around. Using soap and water is just fine. Consider wearing a mask if you are already

Hip Replacements: Potential Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them By Linda Grayling Age is the most common risk factor associated with osteoarthritis, due to the gradual wear-andtear damage our joints take over many years. And osteoarthritis pain is the most common reason for needing a hip replacement. This means that the majority of those undergoing hip replacement surgeries are seniors. Other risk factors for hip replacement include family history, previous injury to the joint, congenital defect, obesity, and repetitive high-impact activity. Most people who undergo hip replacement surgery can expect a favorable outcome of restored function and reduced hip pain. However, as with all surgery, there are risks. Blood Clots and Infections: These are most common during the first few weeks of recovery, and can be life threatening. Blood clots in the legs will present with pain or swelling, skin that is warm to the touch, and coughing or chest pain that gets worse as you take a breath. Infections in the blood stream or at the incision site will present with symptoms like fever, pain, shaking and chills, redness, and swelling of the incision or liquid discharge from the incision. Avoid blood clots by following your doctor’s instructions, which may include prescription blood

thinners, compression hose, and exercises like ankle rotations to increase blood flow. Avoid the need for revision surgery by alerting your doctor at the first sign of an infection. Most minor infections can be treated with antibiotics, which your doctor may prescribe preemptively after surgery. Dislocation: You are at the greatest risk of dislocaƟon, where the ball dislodges from the socket, during the first 6-8 weeks of recovery when the muscles surrounding the hip are not fully supporting the new joint. Dislocation can cause pain and swelling, and depending on severity may even require revision surgery. Avoid painful dislocation by working with a physical therapist to strengthen the muscles supporting the hip and increasing your range of motion. Remove rugs or rearrange furniture to avoid obstacles that may cause a fall. You should refrain from using stairs, bending at angles greater than 90 degrees, sitting on low chairs, sleeping on your side, and crossing your legs. Defective Implants: Flawed metal-on-metal hip implants were manufactured by Stryker Orthopaedics and DePuy Orthopaedics and used in hip replacement surgeries worldwide before their serious complications were made known. When

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infected. You probably have seen pictures of the Japanese population wearing them during the bird flu epidemic and wondered how effective it was. Believe it or not, that was the best option to deal with an airborne infection that was rampant and widespread. Remember, we can control and prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, and hopefully I have given you some tools – because we all need air! ISI

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the metal components rub together, they release metal particles into the bloodstream and surrounding tissues, which can cause metal poisoning. They are also linked to premature implant failure and an increased need for revision surgery. Although the defective models have been recalled, many patients were affected and are pursuing legal action. Avoid these serious complications by working with your surgeon to select an implant that is comprised of more than one material, not all metal. Instead, choose one made of plastic, ceramic, and metal. If you received Stryker’s Rejuvenate or ABG II model or DePuy’s ASR system, your blood should be monitored for toxic levels of metal.

Long Term: The life of a hip implant ranges from 10-20 years, depending on the implant. Over time, with resumed hip function, the artificial hip is subject to wear and tear and revision surgery becomes necessary when the implant’s components wear out. These revision procedures are often more complex with longer recovery times to restore function again. Avoid the need for revision surgery any sooner than necessary. Obesity, high-impact activities, and poor alignment of the implant contribute to a shorter implant lifespan. Linda Grayling is a writer for Drugwatch.com. She enjoys keeping up with the latest news in the medical field. ISI

From Stem Cells to New Teeth By Tait Trussell Astonishingly, a fourth of all Americans over 65 have lost all of their original teeth. A promising discovery, however, may make you smile: Researchers from the College of Dental Medicine at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Florida have developed methods to enable stem cell growth to generate real replacement teeth. The NSU researchers’ approach is to extract stem cells from oral tissue, such as inside a tooth itself, or from bone marrow. Once harvested, the cells are mounted to a polymer scaffold in the shape of the desired tooth. The polymer is the same material used in absorbable sutures, so the scaffold eventually dissolves. Teeth can be grown separately and then inserted into a patient’s mouth or the stem cells can be grown within the mouth reaching a full-sized tooth within a few months. To date, teeth have been regenerated in monkeys and mice. Clinical trials with humans are under way. It is still uncertain whether teeth created in this manner can be nourished by blood and will have full and natural sensations. Growing new teeth presents a challenge, according to Dr. Peter Murray and his colleagues who developed the tooth-growing process. The stem cells must be stimulated to grow the proper balance of hard tissue, dentin (the major part of the tooth beneath the enamel), and the enamel. Dr. Murray is said to believe that if it can be proven that re-growth of teeth is safe and effective these teeth will be widely accepted in the U. S. Interest from fellow dentists is evident in the fact that his presentation Regenerative Endodontic Procedures sold out at the American Dental Association conference in Las Vegas recently. The promise held by dental stem cell therapy has led to the rise of tooth banks. Stem cell therapies already are being used to repair bone damage and even organs. Research progress, however, is still sometimes suspect because of the politics surrounding embryonic stem cell research. Look at some statistics on tooth loss: seven out of ten adults age 35 to 45 have lost at least one tooth and about 20 million people – those over 65 – have lost all their permanent teeth. High sugar diets have increased the prevalence of periodontal disease. You can see that the market for tooth replacement is a big mouthful, so to speak. Having a full set of teeth is increasingly important as an aging population seeks to continue to live an active lifestyle. The growth of social media also has led to people’s faces being plastered all over Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. So how your teeth look is more important than ever, especially with more high quality cameras built into these mobile devices. Some people who feel the need to replace a missing tooth or teeth invest in implants. How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the type of implant and the condition of your jawbone. But all dental implant surgery occurs in stages and can involve several procedures. The major benefit of implants is solid support for your new teeth – a process that requires the bone

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to heal tightly around the implant. Because this healing requires time, the process can take many months. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. It is inserted into the jaw to hold artificial teeth in place. It is typically made out of titanium, which is compatible with the jawbone. The direct fusing of bone and an implant is called osseo integration, which is a special characteristic of titanium. When a tooth is lost, some bone that helped support the tooth is also lost. Dental implants help stabilize the jaw, preventing future bone loss and maintaining the jawbone’s shape. Implants are a convenient alternative to den-

tures because they never have to be taken out and they feel much more natural and comfortable. They are better than traditional bridges and crowns because they aren’t just cemented in place. When mounted to implants, bridges and dentures won’t shift or slip in your mouth, which can make talking and eating easier and worry-free. This also avoids other common problems such as gagging, poor alignment, and sore spots. Implants aren’t cheap. The cost depends on a number of things including what dentist or surgeon you go to, the type of implant and procedure, how many and which teeth you need replaced, how many implants are required to support these teeth,

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how much insurance coverage you have, and your geographical location. Once you get an examination and talk with your dentist, he or she will be able to provide you with an estimate. A single tooth implant typically costs $1,000 to $3,000. If additional procedures such as bone grafts, extractions, and extensive imaging and/or modeling are required though, the price can easily rise to $5,000 to $10,000. Your dentist will be able to give you an idea of what costs you are looking at after a preliminary examination. All of which shows the importance of stem cells used to grow new teeth. ISI

My Triathlon with Prostate Cancer: Diagnosis, Discovery, and Treatment By Pat Purcell, MBA and Former Cancer mately, I determined that proton therapy was the Patient best choice for my active lifestyle. The fact that I I remember the phone call that would change experienced minimal side effects during treatment my life forever. In 2011, while at a charity golf tour- and no impact to my quality of life post-treatment, nament, I received a call from my doctor telling me confirmed that choosing proton therapy was I had prostate cancer. Those three simple words, among the best decisions of my life. “Pat, it’s cancer” ignited a cycle of fear, uncertainty, During my 9-week proton therapy experience, doubt — what am I going to do next? I worked full-time from a virtual office close to the The good news was that my cancer was in the center where I received my radiation treatment. early stages and still contained within my prostate. My colleagues set up a web conference protocol The unanswered question was where to go from where I’d meet with them every morning by web there. My doctor encouraged me to investigate a cam and conduct my regular one-on-one meetings number of different treatment options. He said, as well. The radiation took a little bit out of me, and “There’s really not just one answer that I can give I probably did not have the same energy level that I you.” Instead, he recommended consulting several normally would have had. Nonetheless, I ran every different physicians. morning and found myself biking, swimming, and I often think of my journey with cancer as a lifting weights at the local health center. In fact, triathlon made up of three demanding pursuits, each challenging in its own right: diagnosis, discovery, and treatment. As I began my journey and started talking with various oncology experts, I knew that for me, my quality of life after treatment was a top priority. I wanted to live a full life for the next 30 or 40 years so I chose proton therapy. Sadly, I am not the only man that will have to face this challenge. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in American men. But there’s now a new hope in the fight against prostate canYour Partner in Diabetes cer – a next-generation Education and Support treatment called proton St. Luke’s Humphreys Diabetes Center has therapy that’s now resix locations and 13 diabetes educators to gionally available for meet your diabetes education and prevention Idaho cancer patients. needs. Call us today to find out how we can As a former proton help you live a long, healthy life. therapy patient, I experienced the benefits of this less toxic form of raLola Burdick, St. Luke’s diation first-hand. I con(208) 331-1155 Humphreys Diabetes sidered a wide range of hdiabetescenter.org Center patient and 2009 treatment options from winner of our “Living Well Locations in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, with Diabetes” award. Mountain Home, Fruitland and Weiser. radical prostatectomy to watchful waiting. Ulti-

during my course of treatment, I competed in the Fearless San Diego Triathlon a few hours from the medical center. Mentally, this cancer journey is a big deal — you come to grips with your own mortality, and

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

“Patient” doesn’t define your loved one.

“Hospital” doesn’t define us. In our hospice care, we treat every patient as a good friend. Bonner Comunity Hospice understands the uniqueness of each individual, while maintaining a reverence for life. Hospice care directs itself to the whole person and supports each person’s right to dignity in the final days of life.

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you come to grips with your own mortality, and what’s also important is that the people around you come to grips with that, too. They get strength from the strength that you have. One of the things that has changed since I returned is my perspective on things — on what’s important, and giving back, and helping other patients who are going through this process. So what are protons and how do they work? Only available in 11 U.S. cities, proton therapy, like traditional radiotherapy, attacks tumors with powerful doses of radiation. But unlike traditional radiotherapy, proton therapy allows doctors to precisely target tumors and avoid exposing healthy tissue to excess radiation. Sparing healthy tissue can reduce many of the short- and long-term side effects associated with radiation therapy.

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When researching whether proton therapy was right for me, I discovered a number of long-term benefits from reducing the amount of radiation that hits healthy tissue. For example, traditional radiation to the bladder and surrounding areas can cause incontinence for some patients. However, because of the precision of protons, physicians can limit the radiation delivered to this area and reduce a patient’s risk of incontinence. Proton therapy also significantly reduces a patient’s risk of erectile dysfunction and rectal bleeding, two other common side effects of prostate cancer treatment. Patient access to proton therapy is growing too. In March, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Pro-

ton Therapy, A ProCure Center, opened the first proton therapy center in the Pacific Northwest, making proton therapy accessible for residents in Wyoming, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Hawaii. My advice to prospective patients is quite simple: know your PSA level and know your treatment options. While the treatment of prostate cancer should be tailored to each individual’s needs, patients should consult their oncologist to evaluate all their options and decide the best treatment modality for their specific case. To find out more about proton therapy and hear additional stories from survivors visit www.SCCAProtonTherapy.com. ISI

Delta, Utah delights rock collectors By Dianna Troyer Jay and shop owner Bob Harris are glad to Finely ground topaz crystals glinted in the sun- share advice and give directions about where to light, as if silver glitter had been sprinkled on the find the varied stony treasures. dry gray riverbed on the southern flank of Topaz “The best time to come is the end of SeptemMountain. ber and beginning of Northwest of Delta, October because of the Utah, the mountain atweather,” says Bob, 79, tracts rock hounds yearalso a Delta native. round or families like us Trilobites, a threelooking for an outdoor sectioned extinct marine weekend outing. A friend arthropod, helped pay of my husband’s recomBob’s college tuition. mended the mountain, “I came back from an easy drive about two the service and stopped hours southwest of Salt in a rock shop in SpringLake City. dale on the way home Maps are available and saw trilobites for throughout town, so Bob Harris, who grew up in Delta, Utah, is glad to take sale. I couldn’t believe we followed them and a break from cutting a rock in his shop to give advice anyone would buy them. signs to the mountain about finding topaz, trilobites, and other rocks. [Photo They were so common by dianna Troyer] and found topaz crystals when I was growing up.” about the size of our little fingernail, clear from In 1960, he obtained a lease on state land, being bleached by the sun. opened a quarry and began mining and selling the People with professional expertise, like Jay trilobites to rock shops when he wasn’t going to Spor, who grew up in the area, know where to find Brigham Young University, where he was studying prized collection-grade topaz crystals in hues of linguistics with a specialty in Russian. translucent brown in pockets where they haven’t “One day, I realized I was already doing what previously been exposed to sunlight. I loved – finding and selling rocks – so I never did We met him at West Desert Collectors, a lo- graduate.” cal rock shop on Main Street in Delta. “I grew up He and his wife, Iris, often packed their three collecting rocks and crystals,” says Jay, a fifth- kids in the car and criss-crossed the country, selling generation rock hound. “This area is a great place their Utah rocks to rock shop owners. that attracts rock collectors from around the world.” “I’m an unstructured kind of person who flies by Nearby Spor Mountain, named for his family, the seat of his pants and likes to be self-employed,” is famous for Apache tears, a type of obsidian. says Bob. “I’ve been in this business 50 years Besides topaz and obsidian, within a one- and can’t think of any better job. I meet the most to two-hour drive from Delta are deposits of interesting, wonderful people, including amateur sunstones, agate, placer gold, quartz crystals, collectors, leading paleontologists and European geodes, azurite, copper, calcite, dendrite, won- professors. It’s been a perfect profession for derstone, and trilobite fossils. me.” ISI

Idaho’s Neighbor States are Full of Surprises By Bernice Karnop Idaho is surrounded by states with interesting people, stories, and geography. Some things are well known, but others are more obscure. Like a snoopy neighbor you can Google them and uncover some surprising gossip about their heroes and villains, their hidden natural features, and their secrets treasures. Washington - Seattle’s Pike Place Market opened in 1907 and it’s the longest operating Farmer’s Market in the U.S. In fact, it’s old enough to host an intriguing colony of ghosts. Seattle’s Northgate Shopping Mall brought shopping indoors when it opened in 1950 as the first fully enclosed shopping mall in the nation.

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Mount Rainier is the highest point in Washington. Peter Rainier, for whom they named it for, was a British soldier who fought against America in the Revolutionary War. Washington has the most glaciers in the contiguous states and Cape Flattery on the Olympic Peninsula is the northwestern most point of those 48 states as well. The largest man-made island in the nation is Harbor Island and the longest floating bridge in the world connects Seattle and Medina across Lake Washington. There are more than 8,000 lakes in Washington and more than 40,000 miles of rivers and streams. The longest natural sandspit in the U.S. is the Dungeness Spit along the Straits of Juan de Fuca shoreline. Oregon - Oregon’s state flag carries two designs, a heart shaped shield with multiple symbols on one side and a beaver on the reverse side. It’s the only state with designs for front and back. Oregon has one city named Sisters and another called Brothers. Sisters’ name comes from the peaks known as the Three Sisters in the nearby Cascade Mountains. Brothers? It was likely chosen to balance out the family names. At Silver Falls State Park, visitors can hike more than 20 miles of peaceful, forested trails past ten waterfalls. Oregon beneath the surface can be visited at Oregon Caves National Monument. Located within the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains, the caves are a unique and botanically diverse region. Sea Lion Caves near Florence are the largest sea caves in the world. Nevada - Elko is the home of the annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Those who love to laugh, come year after year to enjoy this rollicking event. In addition to being a ranching community, Elko is known for gold extraction. Bertha the performing elephant entertained visitors to the Nugget casino in Sparks for 37 years. She died in 1999 at age 48. People who want to get away from it all should know that there are few stops on the 287-mile stretch of state Highway 50 between Ely and Fernley. It’s called the Loneliest Highway in America. Those who don’t want to be lonely should go to Las Vegas, but that’s no secret. Area 51, a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base, is an area of intense secrecy. Also known as the Nevada Test and Training Range, the parcel of land 83 miles northwest of Las Vegas, includes a military airfield where the U.S. most likely develops and tests experimental aircraft and weapons systems. Wyoming - There’s a story behind the Bucking Horse and Rider on the Wyoming license plate. The horse, who started bucking back in the 1900’s, is Old Steamboat. The cowboy might look secure but he’s about to be unloaded. Old Steamboat was never ridden. The Bucking Horse and Rider, a registered trademark of the cowboy state since 1936, was used as early as 1918. Among the natural oddities in Wyoming is the basin created where the Continental Divide splits. The Red Desert in south central Wyoming drains neither east nor west, but instead, the waters evaporate or stay right in the basin. The Wind River oddly changes its name at the north end of the Wind River Canyon where it becomes the Big Horn River. The Popo Agie River near Lander disappears entirely. It flows into a limestone cavern at the Sinks, and flows underground until it emerges a quarter mile down the canyon at the Rise. Strangely, dye tests show that the water takes over 2 hours to make the quarter mile journey and that more water flows from the Rise than enters the cavern at the Sink. The name of the river is also odd and frequently mispronounced. It is from the Crow Indian language and is pronounced popo shuh. Utah - Everyone knows that the Great Salt Lake lies just south of the Idaho border, but not everyone realizes that the lake has no outlet even though water flows into it from four river drainages. The water leaves only through evaporation, creating high concentrations of minerals and salinity. Only brine shrimp, brine flies, and several types of algae can survive the salinity. These creatures provide food for migrating birds. The sand, called oolitic sand, is formed in concentric circles similar

to the way a pearl builds up. Layers of aragonite, a form of calcium carbonate, form around mineral grains or brine shrimp fecal pellets, and can be rough on bare feet. The Escalante River is considered the last major river to be discovered in the contiguous United States. Capitol Reef National Park, one of six national parks in Utah, protects the Waterpocket Fold – a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the earth’s crust known to geologists as a monocline. The Waterpocket Fold extends from Thousand Lakes Mountain to Lake Powell. Rocks pushed upward along the Fold and erosion cut through the layers to make intriguing formations. Hikers can explore slot canyons, arches, natural bridges, and other scenic features. Montana - Each of Montana’s Dinosaur Trail stops claims its own unique focus. The Two Medicine Dinosaur Center in tiny Bynum north of Choteau on Highway 89 is in the smallest town but is home to the world’s longest dinosaur. The Seismosaurus’ neck stretches 23 feet in height and the skeleton snakes around the display room for 137 feet. The most exciting items at Two Medicine Dinosaur Center though, are the baby dinosaur bones found by local woman, Marion Brandvold. The small bones were preserved because of the distinct alkaline nature of the Two Medicine Formation. The Rock Shop next door to the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center is a surprise as well. At the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine near Helena you pay for the back breaking privilege of using a pick and shovel to dig gem-bearing gravel, shake it through screens, wash it in a bathtub, and pick though it with tweezers. The rewards are gem quality sapphires in a variety of colors. What better way to feed your grandchildren’s inner rock hound? The large prehistoric Plains Indian Rock Art collection at Bear Gulch between Lewistown and

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Grass Range has endured centuries of exposure to the sun, rain, wind, and snow. The petroglyphs etched in, on, and around them are less visible. The Bear Gulch Pictographs lie on a ranch owned by Macie Ahlgren’s family since 1919 and are accessible only through the ranch with a guide. Come prepared for the half-mile hike into the gulch and for half a mile of trails around the cliff art. It’s worth the effort. The first city in the nation to own a windpowered utility was Livingston, where four windpowered turbines were installed in 1981. Three weeks after they were installed one was destroyed by the wind and the other three were shut down. They had them back in service several months later. ISI

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Add Some “Homemade Happiness” to National Assisted Living Week, September 8-14, 2013 By Bernice Karnop The theme of this year’s National Assisted Living Week, September 8-14, 2013, Homemade Happiness, may seem inappropriate when describing an assisted living setting. After all, a person left their home to live there. However, a growing number of individuals find that they are happy to let go of the increasingly demanding responsibilities of home. Assisted living provides them a group of friends, lively staff, creative programs, security, and more. Families, who in our changing society must

meet the demands of their own professions and responsibilities, are free to come and simply enjoy their loved one rather than providing rides or fixing things. Families and friends also become part of the homemade happiness at an Assisted Living residence. The American Health Care Association (AHCA), a non-profit federation of health care organizations that give daily care to around a million Americans who are elderly or disabled, established National Assisted Living week in 1995. This designation gives families, individu-

als, businesses, and the public an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the professionals who care for America’s seniors, veterans, and others who need assistance with daily living needs. Quality care and quality of life for individuals who require services in a Long Term Care setting doesn’t just happen. The AHCA advocates for this vulnerable population on the national, state, and local level. It provides education, information, and tools to enhance care. The people who help turn the residence into a home include all the staff, from management to those who clean the rooms, cook meals, fix and repair things, plan activities, shampoo hair, and more. Watch for opportunities to express your appreciation and celebrate those who care for older Americans during National Assisted Living Week. Acquaint yourself with the Assisted Living homes in your area and do what you can to contribute to the “homemade happiness” they provide. Bring cookies, flowers, and other tokens of appreciation. The best way to bring a ray of sunshine to those who care for others is to visit the individuals they care for. The caregiver’s day is brightened when they see their client’s joy when they have an opportunity to visit with an old friend or loved relative. This year set aside some time to add your bit of homemade happiness to National Assisted Living week in your hometown. ISI

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By Ross Blair, Senior Vice President, eHealthMedicare.com The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period only lasts about eight weeks each year, but Medicare beneficiaries are the target of phone scams and identity theft all year long. Each year reports of scam phone calls are reported nationwide, which is why it’s so important to familiarize yourself with these scams and how you can protect yourself. Common Scams: Fraudulent callers typically make up stories to try to obtain your personal information, like your name, Social Security number, or your Medicare or credit card numbers. Your new card is in the mail: A common scam is for someone to call and tell you that your new Medicare card has been mailed out to you and then ask for your checking account number so Medicare can deposit funds directly into your checking account. Your card number has been updated: Other phone calls will ask you to verify your Medicare number (which is also your social security number) so that you can be issued an “updated” Medicare card. Paying for medical supplies: Another variation of these scams if for the caller to say Medicare is ready to pay for medical supplies and then request your social security number for confirmation. Regardless of the scenario, the goal is usually the same: accessing your bank account or stealing your identity. The fraudulent callers aren’t always easy to identify, especially since they often already have some basic information, including, for example, your first and last name and mailing address. Some reports suggest these callers are very empathetic and knowledgeable, which makes them appear credible. In other cases, the callers reportedly speak in heavy, foreign accents, and broken English, making them slightly easier to spot. As the Fall Open Enrollment nears, you may increasingly receive information about new Medicare products. Unfortunately, Medicare scams

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also tend to increase during Fall Open Enrollment. Here are some important things to know to protect yourself and your bank account: Medicare generally won’t call you. In the rare instance where they might call, they will never request sensitive information. It’s important to remember that Medicare will never call or come to your home uninvited to sell Medicare products. Social Security representatives may call Medicare beneficiaries if they need more information to process their applications for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Again, this is rare. If a phone call is needed, you’ll receive an official letter to arrange a telephone interview. You will be asked to confirm the date of your telephone interview by returning an acknowledgement form to Social Security. Medicare cards don’t expire, and you

should keep them safe. Never carry your Medicare card in your wallet. Instead, keep it in a safe and secure spot that you’ll remember. If you must carry your Medicare card, make a copy and black out all but the last four digits with a marker. Medicare cards do not expire so be wary of someone saying they need to send you a new one. If you lose your card, contact Medicare directly to report the missing card. If you ever question the validity of a phone call, say you’d like to call them back and then ask for the direct number. This will usually prompt them to hang up. Guard your personal information and contact Medicare if you have questions. A good rule of thumb is not to give out potentially sensitive information over the Internet, on the phone, or to unsolicited strangers. However, if you join a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan over the phone, you may be asked to give this

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25

information to the plan. You may also be asked for this information if you use the Medicare Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. Only give personal information when needed to doctors, other health care providers, and plans approved by Medicare, and to people in the community who work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or Social Security. Additionally, you may always contact the customer service number on the back of your Medicare card if you have any questions or concerns. If you think you may have provided personal information to a fraudulent caller, or if you have been the victim of identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Hotline at 1-877-438-4338. By taking the time to learn about potential scams and how to address concerns, you can protect your identity and your nest egg. ISI

Local Families Advised to Monitor Risk for Stroke For families with aging loved ones, very few serious health risks present the same level of concern as an unexpected stroke. In the U.S., someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and more than 75 percent of these incidents occur in people over the age of 65. Fortunately, fewer than 20 percent of all strokes are fatal – but unfortunately, most stroke survivors suffer some lingering health effects that affect long-term quality of life. Senior Helpers, a leading national and local in-home provider that cares for stroke survivors every day, is spreading awareness about strokes among aging Americans. Although strokes can strike without warning, Senior Helpers is encouraging families to talk to their aging parents and grandparents about some simple changes that can help reduce the risk. “Stroke can sometimes be a scary topic that people don’t want to talk or even think about, but it’s important for concerned family members to realize that stroke is the leading cause of longterm disability in the United States, and the risks go up drastically with age,â€? said Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers. “After a close family member suffers a stroke, there is a high likelihood that they will require more help and more attention to live their daily life.â€? Facts about Stroke: • Strokes are the sudden damage or loss of

a section of brain cells caused by restricted flow of oxygen to the brain, usually due to hardened arteries or blood clots. • Stroke is the leading cause of disability and third leading cause of death across the country (Alliance for Aging Research). • Almost 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke every year, and more than 185,000 of these are recurrent attacks (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). • The chances of having a stroke doubles each decade after turning 55 (Alliance for Aging Research). • 75% of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65 (American Stroke Association). • 90% of all stroke victims suffer lingering, longterm effects (University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey). The latest research from the American Stroke Association shows that women tend to be at slightly greater risk of suffering a fatal stroke than men. Also, people living in the Southeast are more at-risk than individuals in most other regions are. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of stroke, including age, family history, high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, and any medical history involving previous episodes or symptoms of stroke. However, some basic and simple lifestyle changes can reduce the overall risk

How to Prevent Falls By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you write a column on fall prevention tips? My 81-year-old father, who lives alone, has fallen several times over the past year. What can you tell us? Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Falls are a big concern for millions of Americans and their families. In the United States, roughly one-third of the 65-and-older population will suffer a fall this year, often with dire consequences. But many falls can be prevented. Here are some steps you can take to help keep your dad up on his feet and reduce his risk of falling. Check His Meds: Does your dad take any medicine or combination of medicines that make him dizzy, sleepy, or lightheaded? If so, gather up all the drugs he takes – prescriptions and over-the-counter – and take them to his doctor or pharmacist for a drug review. Schedule an Eye Exam: Poor vision can be another contributor to falls. If your dad wears glasses, check to see if he is wearing the correct prescription and beware of bifocals. Multifocal glasses can impair vision needed for detecting obstacles and judging depth. Check His Balance: Balance disorders, which can be brought on by a variety of conditions like inner ear problems, allergies, a head injury or problems with blood circulation, are also a common cause of falls. If you dad is having some balance issues, make an appointment with his doctor to get it checked and treated.

Start Exercising: Improving balance through exercise is one of the best ways to prevent falls. Strength training, stretching, yoga, tai chi are all great for building better balance. Some simple exercises that he can do anytime are walking heelto-toe across the room, standing on one foot for 30 seconds or longer, or getting up from a chair and sitting back down 10 to 20 times. For more balance exercise tips, call the National Institute on Aging at 800-222-2225 and order its free exercise DVD and free exercise book or you can see it online at go4life.niapublications.org. Modify His Home: Because about half of all falls happen around the home, some simple modifications can go a long way in making your dad’s living area safer. Start by picking up items on the floor that could cause him to trip like newspapers, books, shoes, cloths, electrical or phone cords. If he has throw rugs, remove them or use doublesided tape to secure them. In the bathroom put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower, and have a carpenter install grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet. Also, make sure the lighting throughout the house is good, purchase some inexpensive plug-in nightlights for the bathrooms and hallways, and if he

for millions of aging Americans. Stroke Prevention Tips: • Exercise regularly to reduce blood pressure • Avoid high fat and cholesterol foods on a regular basis • For those with or at risk of diabetes, keep blood sugar levels under control • Reduce sodium in daily diet • Quit smoking immediately Warning Signs of Stroke: • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking and understanding • Sudden trouble seeing out of one eye • Sudden trouble walking or loss of balance • Sudden, severe headaches without cause ISI

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PAGE 26 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

has stairs, consider putting handrails on both sides. In the kitchen, organize his cabinets so the things he uses most often are within easy reach without using a step stool. For more tips, call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 and order a free copy of their “Preventing Falls at Home” brochure. Other Pitfalls: Believe it or not, the improper use of canes and walkers sends around 47,000 seniors to the emergency room each year. If your dad uses a cane or walker, be sure it is adequately adjusted to his height and that he is using it properly. A physi-

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

cal therapist can help with this, or see the Mayo Clinic slide show on how to choose and use a cane (mayoclinic.com/health/canes/HA00064) and a walker (mayoclinic.com/health/walker/HA00060). Another possible hazard is pets. If your dad has a dog or cat, he needs to be aware that – because they can get under foot – pets cause many falls. Shoes are another issue. Rubber-soled, lowheeled shoes are the best slip/trip proof shoes for seniors. Savvy Tip: Consider getting your dad a home

monitoring system, which is a small pendent-style “SOS button” that he wears that would allow him to call for help if he fell. Available through companies like lifelinesys.com and lifealert.com these systems cost around $1 per day. 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. ISI

Hearing Aid Assistance Is Available By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any organizations that you know of that offer low-cost hearing aids to people on a very tight budget? Hard of Hearing Dear Hard, Unfortunately, there are millions of Americans with hearing loss that go without needed hearing aids because they simply can’t afford them. Digital hearing aids are expensive, typically costing between $1,000 and $3,000 per ear, and most insurance companies including Medicare don’t cover them. But there’s good news! Today, there are a number of organizations that offer hearing aid assistance programs. Most programs have income requirements that you’ll need to meet to be eligible, and they all require a hearing evaluation by an audiologist, which in most cases you’ll have to pay for yourself. Here’s where to look for help. Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project - Provided by the Lions Clubs International Foundation and offered through many local Lions clubs throughout the U.S., this program provides the opportunity to purchase new, behind-the-ear, digital hearing aids manufactured by Rexton, for $200 per aid. To be eligible, most clubs will require your income to be below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is less than $21,660 (or $29,140 for a family of two) in 2009. Contact your local Lions club to see if they participate in this project. To reach your local club, visit LionsClubs. org or call 800-747-4448 to get the number to your state Lions Club office, which can refer you to your community representative. Help America Hear Program - Provided by the Foundation for Sight & Sound and the EarQ Group, this program provides free, digital hear-

ing aids to individuals making less than $25,000 per year. All applicants must be referred by an EarQ hearing professional (call 866-432-7500 or see EarQ.com to find one) and pay a $75 nonrefundable application fee. Visit FoundationForSightandSound.org or call 631-366-3461 for more information. HearNow - A national non-profit program and part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, HearNow provides new digital hearing aids to those in need, for practically free. Your only costs are a hearing test by an audiologist and an application fee of $100 ($200 if you’re requesting two hearing aids). To be eligible in the lower 48 states, your income must be under $18,403 (or $24,675 as a couple) with limited assets. To learn more call 800-3288602, or visit Sotheworldmayhear.org/hearnow where you can download an application. Sertoma - This is a civic service organization that has over 600 clubs nationwide, some of which collect used hearing aids, have them refurbished, and distribute them to local, low-income people in need. Call 816-333-8300 or visit Sertoma.org to locate a club in your area. Next month, Sertoma is also launching Hearing Charities of America (HearingCharities.org), an affiliate program that provides hearing aids to those in need who don’t live near a participating club. Audient Program - This nonprofit service helps people purchase new, digital hearing aids at discounts of 30-75 percent. To be eligible, your income must be no higher than $27,075, or $36,425 for a family of two (the guidelines in Hawaii and Alaska are higher). Assets are not considered. Go to AudientAlliance.org or call 877-283-4368 for more information. Travelers Protective Association of America - They offer a scholarship trust fund to help pay for hearing aids to those who need assistance. There are no income or asset qualifications. Ap-

plications must be received each year by March 1. To download an application, visit www.tpahq. org or call 314-371-0533. Local Organizations - Depending on where you live, other hearing aid assistance programs may be available to you. Contact the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 or visit www.eldercare. gov to find your local Area Agency on Aging or your state assistive technologies director (see www.ataporg.org for contact info). There may be city, county, or state programs or local nonprofits that can help. Also check the local chapters of service groups such as Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Masons, Optimists, Elks, Easter Seals, United Way, and Quota International. They, too, may offer assistance. Savvy Tip: The Better Hearing Institute offers a comprehensive listing of hearing aid financial resources at BetterHearing.org. Click on “Resources,” then on “Financial Assistance.” 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. ISI

Making Sure Older Traveling Parents Are Safe By Marion Somers, PhD I suggest you help them prepare for any worst case scenarios so you can feel more at ease. My experience has been that once you have all of the bases covered, things usually go very smoothly. Before your parents go on a trip, take the following precautions: • Visit the doctor with your parents to be sure that they are healthy enough to take the trip. Never go against their doctor’s orders. • Have your parents’ legal papers in order. I am talking specifically about their wills, healthcare proxies, durable power of attorney, and DNR. They all need to be in order in case something happens. • Gather all of your parents’ prescriptions (including eyeglasses) and photocopy them so they can be taken on the trip in case they need to be refilled. Also, if they have allergies, include that. • Be sure they travel with their medications on them at all times. Do not put them in the suitcase in case of theft or loss. • Type out a short list of their key contacts including: two next of kin and other family members, lawyer, primary doctor(s), dentist, rabbi/priest. • If your parents wear medical bracelets or medical necklaces, be sure all information is up to date including medicine, allergies, doctors’ numbers, e-mail addresses, and cell phone numbers. The same goes for key family members’ numbers. • If they require any extra attention such as a wheelchair, raised toilets, increased safety features, or special meals, call ahead and alert the airline and/or hotel. • Photocopy other important documents such as a passport, credit cards, and driver’s license in the event of theft or loss. This can save time if replacements are needed. Dr. Marion is the author of Elder Care Made Easier and has over 40 years of experience as a geriatric care manager, caregiver, speaker, and expert in all things elder care. She offers tools, solutions, and advice to help caregivers everywhere through her book, web site, iPhone apps (Elder 411/911), cross-country speaking tours, and more. Visit www.DrMarion.com for more information. ISI

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Help For Those Who Worry About Memory Problems By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, My mother, who is 72, has become very forgetful lately and is worried she may have Alzheimer’s. Is her forgetfulness really something we should worry about? What should we do? Worried Daughter Dear Worried, Many people worry about memory lapses as they get older, fearing it may be the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia. To get some insight on the seriousness of your mom’s problem, here are some key warning signs and some resources you can turn to for help. Warning Signs – As we grow older, some memory difficulties – such as trouble remembering names of people or places or forgetting where you put your glasses – are associated with normal aging. But the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are much more than simple memory lapses. Knowing the early warning signs is a good first step in recognizing the difference between typical age-related memory loss and a more serious problem. To help you evaluate your mom’s condition, here is a checklist of some common early symptoms to watch for: • Asking the same questions repeatedly. • Getting lost in familiar areas. • Failing to recognize familiar people. • Having difficulty following directions. • Misplacing items in inappropriate places, for example putting her keys in the microwave. • Having difficulty completing familiar tasks like cooking a meal or paying a bill. • Having trouble remembering common words when speaking, or mixing up words. For more information, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of warning signs that you can access at 10signs.org, or call 800-272-3900

and request a free copy of “Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease: What it is and what you can do.� Another good screening tool is the selfadministered cognitive screening (SAGE) test that was developed at The Ohio State University Medical Center. This test helps identify mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, and can be taken at home in about 10 to 15 minutes. You can download the SAGE test along with scoring instructions at sagetest.osu.edu. Get Help – After going through the warning signs and/or testing of your mom, if you are still concerned, get her in to see her doctor for a thorough medical examination. Her doctor may then refer her to a geriatrician or neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease. Keep in mind that even if your mom is experiencing some memory problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean she has early stage Alzheimer’s. Many memory problems are brought on by other factors like stress, depression, thyroid disease, side effects of medications, sleep disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and other medical conditions. And by treating these conditions, she can reduce the problem. Free Memory Screening – Another option

Travel tips for the heart smart among us Provided by www.spot55.com Far too many people see taking vacations as a free pass to eat whatever they want and worry about the consequences afterwards. How many times have you promised yourself to go on a diet as soon as you returned from that luxury cruise or holiday visit to see the family? We are all guilty of that. But for those of us who are at elevated risk for heart disease, there is no such thing as taking a vacation from a healthy lifestyle. Here are some of the most helpful heart healthy travel tips to help keep you on track while you vacation. Plan heart healthy travel activities. Wherever you go, there will be plenty of opportunities to get your exercise, even if you are on vacation mode. Hopping aboard a cruise ship? There is plenty of room to walk around each day to keep your heart and muscles pumping. Cloistering up in a romantic hotel for a few days? Seek out nearby health clubs where you can get a day pass, or use your hotel’s gym services. Create a daily agenda and stick to it. There is nothing easier to do than to fall into relaxation mode because you have nothing special planned and are in no rush to do it. But if you make sure to plan out your activities in advance, you won’t have the opportunity to let last night’s dinner go to work on your waistline – you’ll be too busy being on the move, which is one of the best possible heart healthy travel tips. Eat smart. Heart healthy travel is only an impossibility if you have convinced yourself that Government Subsidized Apartments for Self-Reliant Elderly

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you should know about is National Memory Screening Day on Nov. 13, where your mom can get her memory tested free. Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), this free service provides a confidential, face-to-face memory screening that takes about 10 minutes to complete and consists of questions and/or tasks to evaluate her memory status. The screening is given by doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers or other healthcare professionals in more than 2,500 sites across the country. It is also important to know that this screening is not a diagnosis. Instead, its goal is to detect problems and refer individuals with these problems for further evaluation. To find a screening site in your area visit nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866-232-8484. The AFA recommends checking for a screening location shortly before Nov. 13, because new sites are constantly being added. Send your 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. ISI

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there is no way in the world to eat healthy when you are on vacation. Fortunately, as long as you recognize that’s just an excuse to enable you to ignore your heart health, there is no reason why you should not be able to eat smart wherever you are. Opt for heart healthy or vegetarian dishes when you are dining in restaurants and choose fruit desserts instead of cardiovascular no-no’s. Be aware of your surroundings. Vacation destinations that experience extreme climates (whether hot or cold) can be unhealthy for those with existing heart issues. Plan ahead by researching the climate of your destination and by finding out what the expected forecast will be when you are there. Pack vacation attire that matches up well with the expected climate. Overexerting yourself in hot or humid weather is bad for you, but so is overdoing it in cold weather. Altitude is another important consideration, because the higher the altitude, the less oxygen your body gets – making your heart work harder even when resting. You do not have to avoid vacation destinations with high altitudes, but it is a smart idea to hold off on any high-energy activities until you have had a couple of days to acclimate. There are many ways to achieve heart healthy travel that will not cause you any major health setbacks, but in the end, it is entirely up to you to ensure you make those smart choices. ISI

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Home Care Can Enhance Quality Of Life – Nursing Agencies Offer An Array Of Services By Lisa M. Petsche Family members may take on a variety of responsibilities to keep a chronically ill, disabled, or aging relative at home. But despite their best efforts, there may come a time when outside help is advisable, if not imperative. Many circumstances can precipitate the need for home care on a short-term or long-term basis. For instance, the care receiver may need extra help while recovering from a serious illness, injury or surgery, or they may have a medical condition that gradually erodes their independence. Conversely, it may be the caregiver who becomes acutely ill or has an accident or surgery and requires a period of convalescence. Caregivers may also find themselves burning out – experiencing significant psychological distress or physical ailments – due to the ongoing demands involved in their role, especially if they are trying to do everything alone and overlooking their own needs. When lay people hear the term “home care,” assistance with personal care activities readily comes to mind. What some don’t realize is that home healthcare agencies provide many types of medical and non-medical nursing support. Read on to learn about the variety of services that typically is available. Personal Care – Assisting with hygiene and grooming activities, including mouth care, nail and hair care, bathing, dressing, shaving, and applying moisturizer and cosmetics. Other types of help include giving medication reminders, checking weight and vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and body temperature), and encouraging activity and rest as appropriate to the person’s condition and goals of care. Toileting – Assisting the client to the bathroom or onto a bedside commode, assisting with the use of a urinal or bedpan, providing incontinence

care and emptying a catheter or colostomy bag. Nutrition – Preparing appropriate types and textures of meals and snacks, assisting with feeding, monitoring nutritional intake and encouraging or limiting fluids as per physician recommendations. Mobility – Assisting with walking or transferring between bed and chair, repositioning someone confined to bed and assisting with home exercises recommended by a physical therapist or physician. Home Support Services – Assisting with routine household chores such as making the bed, changing linens, doing laundry, maintaining kitchen and bathroom cleanliness, washing dishes, dusting and vacuuming, watering plants, picking up mail, taking out garbage and assisting with pets. Companionship – Taking the client for a walk, taking them out on errands, accompanying them to medical appointments, escorting them on leisure outings (for example, to a concert) and engaging them in leisure activities at home for stimulation and enjoyment (for example, playing board games). Transportation for outings may or may not be provided by the hired caregiver. In the latter case, the person can make appropriate arrangements for a taxi or accessible transportation service. Specialized services – For situations that require expertise beyond the clinical scope of a certified nursing assistant (CNA), registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) can be arranged as appropriate to coordinate complex needs, manage medications, and assist with injections, tube feeding, wound care, and other needs requiring skilled assessment and treatment. Home healthcare agencies may have specialized programs addressing particular needs or diagnoses, such as diabetes care, respiratory care, and palliative (end of life) care. Specially trained

caregivers work closely with clinical nurses, not only preventing problems as much as possible, but also identifying symptoms of potential concern before a crisis develops. Common red flags include changes in appetite, weight, energy level, mood or mental status, shortness of breath, swelling, fever, and chest congestion. Early identification and treatment of complications reduces the need for potentially traumatic trips to the hospital emergency department. This helps to maximize the quality of life of both the care receiver and caregiver – the ultimate goal when seeking professional support. Agency nursing services are available on an hourly basis (a minimum number of hours per visit may be required) or a shift basis. Help can be provided around the clock, as when a family caregiver is temporarily unavailable or at the end of life when a person with significant care needs wishes to die at home. The financial cost of home care is often a concern for caregivers. However, there may be publicly subsidized services available within the community. The local office on aging is a good source of information. Employer benefits, veterans’ benefits, long-term care insurance, or other resources may also cover some or all of the cost of needed services. It’s worth investigating, and many home healthcare agencies will assist with this. Caregivers may also wish to explore whether other family members are able and willing to contribute to the cost of hiring help. If needs become extensive, your relative’s or your income decreases, or savings being drawn upon to finance private-pay care run out, it’s time to start looking into residential care options. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. ISI

Color Blind - continued from page 13 of poker at the local gambling hall or trying to close a deal at his car dealership. His desire to win was second to none, and Neil Churchill needed a dominant pitcher. The competition among semipro baseball teams in North Dakota was fierce. Local and regional rivalries were built to the point that the owners were bringing in talent from all over the nation to compete. Churchill thought that if he brought in Paige, his team would reap the benefits of his pitching and win more games... and he was right! When Paige arrived in Bismarck, he was surprised to learn that he was going to be playing with white players. He had never experienced this before. For the first time, “those guys” were on his team. Although Paige was not the first African American on the Bismarck team, he quickly became the first non-white star on the team. His reputation as a hard throwing right-hander preceded him, and the crowds flocked to the ballpark to watch Paige dominate his competition. After his first year, the team from Bismarck finished in first place. After his first season, Paige took part in professional barnstorming tours all across the country playing against some of the best white ballplayers not playing in the major leagues. In California, Paige pitched against a young Joe DiMaggio, whom Paige struck out. Paige spent the 1934 season in the Negro League, but returned to Bismarck in 1935. By this time, the Bismarck baseball team had turned into a powerhouse, and former rivals could no longer provide adequate competition for the Bismarck nine. Owner Churchill noticed the drop in competition through plunging ticket sales. Trains that used to carry cars full of passengers to opposing cities were no longer scheduled. Local interest in the team had plummeted. Churchill looked to national tournaments in order to provide enough revenue to pay his team.

Churchill took his team to Wichita to play against the best semipro teams from around the United States. The Bismarck team faced tough competition from every opponent, but Paige was up to the task. He pitched well throughout the tournament, and Bismarck became the champion. After the 1935 season, Paige never returned to North Dakota. He played all over the Western hemisphere, from Puerto Rico to California and Mexico and the Dominican Republic. He finally got his chance to play major league baseball with the Cleveland Indians in 1948. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971, Paige will be remembered as one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of the game. An owner’s desire for elite pitching brought the great pitcher to the Northern Great Plains,

and only the desire for more fame and riches could pull Paige from the rolling hills of North Dakota. As Paige said of the Bismarck squad, “That was the best team I ever saw. The best players I ever played with. But who ever heard of them?” Dunkel has written an entertaining and mustread book for anyone interested in the history of baseball. ISI

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Open Enrollment Runs From October 15 Through December 7 – What You Need To Know About Medicare To Prepare? By Brian Bailey What is Medicare? Original Medicare is a federal health insurance program available to individuals 65 years of age or older. Original Medicare is also available to younger individuals with certain disabilities and people with end-stage renal disease. Original Medicare is a fee for service plan

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managed by the Federal Government and provides basic coverage for medical expenses What is Medicare Part A? Part A covers inpatient care in a hospital or a limited stay in a skilled nursing facility. It also helps cover hospice care and home health care. A Medicare beneficiary will not pay a Part A premium as long as he or she has worked 40 or more quarters throughout his or her life (10 years on average). What is Medicare Part B? Part B is optional but very important because it covers the majority of medical services a Medicare beneficiary will obtain. Medicare Part B covers doctor’s services, outpatient care, outpatient surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy, chemotherapy medications, air/ground ambulance, and many more services. In 2013, a Part B beneficiary usually has to pay a monthly premium of $104.90; however, this payment can fluctuate due to income guidelines or late enrollment penalties. What is Medicare Part D (PDP)? This prescription drug insurance program (PDP) is available to everyone who has Medicare, regardless of income or health status. A Medicare beneficiary need only be enrolled in Medicare Part A to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan. Private companies provide the insurance coverage; beneficiaries choose the drug plan and pay a monthly premium. Due to the number of options available, you should ask your advisor and review the Medicare.gov website, which provides you the tools to compare the coverage and cost of the options that are available. What is a Medicare Supplement Plan? Medicare Supplement policies are purchased in addition to Original Medicare. A beneficiary generally must be 65 years of age or older to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan. Supplement

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Plans are designed to pay some of the costs that Original Medicare does not cover – for instance Original Medicare’s deductibles and coinsurance. While these plans do not include prescription drug coverage, beneficiaries can purchase a separate stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D). If purchased, Medicare is still the primary payer. An eligible Medicare beneficiary can apply for this type of coverage during any time of year. However, unless he or she has qualified for their initial 6 month open enrollment period (automatically starts the month the beneficiary turns 65 and enrolled in Part B) or qualifies for a Guaranteed Issue Right, Medicare Supplement carriers can turn you down if you do not meet their medical underwriting requirements Which Medicare Supplement Plan and Insurance Carrier is Right for Me? There are many different plans and carriers from which to choose. That being said, Medicare Supplement Plans are standardized so each insurance carrier’s coverage is identical, however their insurance premium rates are not. Therefore, price is very important. First, visit www.doi.idaho.gov/shiba/shmedigap.aspx, which provides a Medicare Supplement rate comparison of each carrier’s premiums. Second, request information regarding the carrier’s premium rate history for the previous 5 years. This will give you an idea of what you can anticipate paying in premiums over the next 5 years (not guaranteed). Third, ask your advisor or potential insurance company how many Idahoans are insured with their company. If the carrier’s current Idaho enrollment statistics are low, there is higher probability that their future insurance premium rates could be more volatile due to their inability to spread their risk. ISI

How to Find Lost Life-Insurance Policies By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, When my father passed away, we thought he had a life insurance policy, but we haven’t been able to track it down. Do you know of any resources that might help? Searching Family Dear Searching, Lost or forgotten life-insurance policies are actually quite common in the U.S. In fact, it’s estimated that around $1 billion in benefits from unclaimed life-insurance policies are waiting to be claimed by their rightful beneficiaries. While unfortunately, there isn’t a national database for tracking down these policies, there are a number of strategies and a few new resources

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that can help your search. Here are several to get you started. Search records: If your dad died recently, searching through his financial records is a good first step. Check his files for a policy, records of premium payments, or bills from an insurer. Also contact his employer or former employer’s benefits administrator, insurance agents, financial planner, accountant, attorney, or other adviser and ask if they know about a life insurance policy. Also check safe-deposit boxes, monitor the mail for premium invoices or whole-life dividend notices, and review old income-tax returns, looking for interest income from, and interest expenses paid to life-insurance companies. Contact the insurer: If you suspect that a particular insurer underwrote the policy, contact that carrier’s claim office and ask. The more information you have, like your dad’s date of birth and death, Social Security number, and address, the easier it will be to track down. Contact information of some big insurers include: Prudential 800-7782255; MetLife metlife.com/policyfinder; AIG 800888-2452; Nationwide 800-848-6331; Forethought

800-331-8853; John Hancock johnhancock.com – click on “Contact Us” then on “Account Search Request.” Get state help: Some state insurance departments have a policy locator service program that can help you locate lost life insurance, or offer resources that can help you with your search. To reach your state insurance department, see the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website at naic.org – click on “States & Jurisdictions Map.” Search unclaimed property: If your dad died more than a few years ago, benefits may have already been turned over to the unclaimed property office of the state where the policy was purchased. Go to missingmoney.com, a website of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, to search records from 38 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The pulldown menu under Links connects you to a map and addresses for unclaimed-property agencies. Or, to find links to each state’s unclaimed-property division use unclaimed.org.

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If your dad’s name or a potential benefactor’s name produces a hit, you’ll need to prove your claim. Required documentation, which can vary by state, is detailed in claim forms, and a death certificate might be necessary. If you need a copy of your dad’s death certificate, contact the vital records office in the state where he died, or go to vitalchek.com. Tap MIB database: The MIB Group Inc., an insurance membership corporation whose main purpose is fighting fraud, offers a policy locator service to help consumers in their searches for life insurance policies. This service, however, only tracks applications for individual policies made since 1996. The service costs $75, requires an original death certificate to get the ball rolling, and takes about seven to 10 days to produce a report. To learn more, visit policylocator.com. 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. ISI

How to Choose the Right Executor for Your Will Dear Savvy Senior, What are my options for choosing an executor for my will? I was considering asking one of my kids to do it but I don’t think any of them are up for the job. What can you tell me? Still Kicking Dear Kicking, Choosing an executor – the person or institution you put in charge of administering your estate and carrying out your final wishes – is one of the most important decisions in preparing a will. Picking the right executor can help ensure the prompt, accurate distribution of your possessions with a minimum of family friction. Some of the duties required include: • Filing court papers to start the probate process (this is generally required by law to determine the will’s validity). • Taking an inventory of everything in the estate. • Using your estate’s funds to pay bills, including taxes, funeral costs, etc. • Handling details like terminating credit cards, and notifying banks and government agencies like Social Security and the post office of the death. • Preparing and filing final income tax returns. • Distributing assets to the beneficiaries named in the will. Given all the responsibility, the ideal candidate should be someone who is honest, dependable, well organized, good with paperwork, and vigilant about meeting deadlines. Whom to Choose. Most people think first of naming a family member, especially a spouse or child, as executor. If, however, you don’t have an obvious family member to choose, you may want to ask a trusted friend, but be sure to choose someone in good health or younger than you who will likely be around after you’re gone. Also, if your executor of choice happens to live in another state, you’ll need to check your state’s law to see if it imposes any special requirements. Some states require an out-of-state executor to be a family member or a beneficiary, some require a bond to protect your heirs in case of mismanagement, and some require the appointment of an in-state agent. Also, keep in mind that if the person you choose needs help settling your estate they can always call on an expert like an attorney or tax accountant to guide them through the process, with your estate picking up the cost. If, you don’t have a friend or relative you feel comfortable with, you could name a third party executor like a bank, trust company, or a professional who has experience dealing with estates. If you need help locating a pro, the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (naepc.org) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) are resources that provide directories on their websites to help you find someone.

Executor Fees. Most family members and close friends (especially if they are a beneficiary) serve for free, but if you opt for a third-party executor, it will cost your estate. Executor fees are set by each state and typically run anywhere from one to five percent depending on the size of the estate. Get Approval. Whomever you choose to serve as your executor, be sure you get their approval first before naming him or her in your will. And once you’ve made your choice, go over your financial details in your will with that person, and let him or

her know where you keep all your important documents and financial information. For more information on the duties of an executor, get a copy of the book The American Bar Association Guide to Wills and Estates fourth edition for $17 at ambar.org/wills or call 800-285-2221. 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. ISI

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In today’s world, you can’t be too careful… Clever scammers are just a click or phone call away Q: My 72-year-old mother was almost a victim to a foreign inheritance fraud. She could hardly believe her luck when an attorney in London emailed her, claiming to be relieved to have finally located her, because he was administering the will of someone who was distantly related to her and very wealthy. He said the deceased had left her a vast amount of money. After exchanging a few emails, he eventually called her at 4 a.m. asking her if she was “ready to receive the money?” He instructed her to go to Western Union and wire him $350 for the transfer fee. Fortunately, she balked because she just didn’t have the money. When she told me about the incident, I had to convince her that this was a swindle and she was lucky she didn’t lose any money. After she finally believed me, she was ashamed of herself. How can people protect themselves these days from unscrupulous scam artists? A: Your mother shouldn’t be ashamed, because she is hardly alone. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population falls for one kind of fraud or another each year. According to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) research, the average fraud victim is between 55 and 65 years old. The U.S. estimates that foreign-based inheritance and lottery fraud alone bilks Americans out of literally billions of dollars a year. Moreover, the FTC estimates that more than 90 percent of lottery scams go unreported because the victims are too ashamed to file a complaint.

Elderly people are often the target of scams because they tend to be more vulnerable. Con artists know that they are generally on fixed incomes and the offer of money makes good “bait” to lure them into a scam. To spot and avoid scams of all types, including fraudulent lotteries, “business opportunities” and Ponzi schemes, here are 10 tips from Doug Shadel, a leading expert and author on fraudulent schemes and Senior State Director of AARP Washington: 1. If anybody ever asks you to pay a fee to collect a “prize” you have won, they are trying to scam you. 2. If anybody invites you to play a foreignbased lottery – or tells you that you have won such a lottery – they are trying to scam you. How do we know this? Because foreign lotteries are illegal in the U.S. 3. Fraudsters will try to get you whipped into an emotional state of excitement. It doesn’t matter if the emotion is thrill, grief, guilt, or anger – getting you into the emotional state is the goal. When you are in that state, you literally cannot access the rational part of your brain. 4. Do not engage in personal conversation with people attempting to sell you an investment opportunity or “process your winnings.” They will collect personal details they can use to push you into the emotional state they need you to be. 5. With investment opportunities, make sure the person trying to sell you the investment product is properly licensed and registered. In the State

of Idaho, you can call the Securities Bureau of the Department of Finance at 1-888-346-3378 to make sure the agent is licensed and the product is properly registered. Finally, beware of investments sold by friends or members of an affinity group to which you belong. 6. Before investing, investigate and understand what the company does to earn the return it is promising. If you don’t know how the company makes its money, it may be a Ponzi scheme. 7. All that glitters is not gold. Never buy coins (or other investment opportunities) from a telemarketer, and never put an excessive amount of your investments in one type of vehicle – like gold. 8. Even if you meet these salespeople in person and find yourself impressed with their offices and marketing materials, it could still be a scam. 9. Learn more about how scam artists work their black magic. Read Outsmarting the Scam Artists: How to Protect Yourself from the Most Clever Cons, a book by AARP’s Washington State director, Doug Shadel. 10. Log onto the AARP Consumer Protection Resource Center for the latest scams and schemes at aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/. The old adage still applies today: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Send your question to “Ask AARP Idaho” at 3080 E. Gentry Way, Suite 100 Meridian, ID 83642. Phone: 1-866-295-7284 (toll free), Email: aarpid@ aarp.org . As we receive questions, we will consult with both internal and external experts for advice. ISI

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Vietnam Nurse – Connie Evans Article & Photo By Jack McNeel “I always wanted to be a nurse,” says Connie Evans, but during those years growing up as a Nez Perce tribal member in Kamiah, she did not see service as an army nurse in Vietnam as part of her future. It was 1960, and the federal government’s assimilation policy was encouraging adult Indian people to move to one of seven cities including San Jose, where Connie followed her family after her high school graduation. With an LPN certificate, Connie left California after a year and was hired at the hospital in Grangeville. Eight months later with her eye on being an RN, Connie enrolled in the nursing program at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise and graduated in 1965. Connie signed up for the Army’s student nurse program that paid $200/ month during her final year of school. Following graduation and passing the state board, she was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. The Vietnam War was at its height, and after basic training in San Antonio, and waiting for orders, she arrived in Vietnam in November of 1966. “When we got to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon we had to circle for an hour because it was being shelled and they couldn’t land,” she remembers. “When we finally landed and they opened the doors – it was November and we were in our winter uniforms – it was over 100 degrees and the smell! It was just all new and different and we didn’t know what to expect.” Just getting to the hospital area of the 25th Infantry Division was an experience. Initially they were to go by helicopter because a bridge had been blown out the previous night. However, if it were to open they would go by road. Finally, they went by convoy with helicopters overhead. “I remember when we pulled in to the hospital area. All the trees had been bulldozed and it was just dirt. The hospital was right there. They were Quonset huts,” she recalls. The first month the staff set up the hospital wards, beds, and got in supplies in. Once casualties came, they were very busy. “We worked twelve hour shifts,” she explains. “Because of the use of helicopters we got wounded within fifteen minutes of the time they were shot. We saw a lot of fragment injuries, small arms fire, booby traps, and mine injuries. They would lose their legs or their arms. “There was firing all the time – day and night. Even the hospital came under fire a few times. We had an 8-inch cannon across the street – Big Bertha – and when they fired it, everything would shake. The surgeons finally

complained saying they could not operate under conditions like this because when it went off their hands were jumping. It was knocking things off our shelves. “When the hospital came under fire we had to try to get our patients under a bed and put mattresses over them,” she explained. “We had bunkers right beside where we slept. Whenever there was incoming fire, we would grab our helmets and flak jackets and run to the bunker. None of the nurses in our unit was ever injured but we did have a couple of patients who were reading the bulletin board by the mess hall one afternoon when we were shelled. Both died!” After leaving Vietnam, Connie spent a year and a half in Germany before leaving the Army. In the early 1970s, she moved to Seattle, first working for a public health service hospital and later for a private hospital, but she still wanted a college degree. She enrolled at the University of Washington and two and a half years later completed her bachelor’s degree. Connie then worked for the Seattle Indian Health Board, which would pay for her schooling if she wanted to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. She began a master’s program at the same time and completed both in 1976. Connie laughs as she notes that with all the schooling, she should have been a doctor. Connie had a son by then and was making monthly trips back to the Nez Perce Reservation. She wanted him to learn about tribal culture and their ancestral land. Her son wanted to stay in Idaho so she returned home and went to work at the Indian Health Service clinic in Lapwai where she remained for 15 years, retiring in 1991. Not ready for retirement, Connie became involved with the language program on the reservation and taught the Nez Perce language at Lewis & Clark State College for several years. She also became involved with the VFW. Despite being a combat nurse in Vietnam, it was a challenge to be accepted into this all-male organization, which garnered an article in the New Yorker Magazine.

Connie and her husband opened a business called Old West Enterprises, which combined making plateau-style tipis with some horse work, which they closed two years ago when Connie decided she was, “tired of crawling around on my hands and knees.” At 71, Connie is an attractive woman and lives with her husband near Lapwai in a beautiful home. However, like many veterans, Connie has paid an emotional and psychological price for her service because the war does not necessarily end when the battle zone is left behind, but can remain for years into the future as the ghosts of war refuse to stay away. ISI

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2870 Juniper Drive Lewiston, ID 83501 Ro oy RoyalPlazaLewiston.com Care Center: 208.746.2855

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Learn About Idaho’s State Horse! Come and visit the Appaloosa Museum in beautiful Moscow, Idaho! We offer self-guided exploration of exhibits that include a theatre, a full-service library, and archive as well as a fun, hands-on activity center where young and youngat-heart can learn about Idaho’s state horse! You can visit the Apalousey Trading Post gift shop for the something unique and special. Exhibit themes range from the earliest evidence of the spotted horse in art and literature, the relationship between the Appaloosa and the Nez Perce, and much more. Upon request, we provide guided group tours that include a brief interactive lecture and exploration of the museum. The Museum is open Monday-Thursday 11-4, Friday and Saturday 10-4, or by appointment. For more information, visit www.appaloosamuseum. org or call 208-882-5578. Don’t forget to “Get Spotted at the Museum!” ISI

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Surviving 39 months as a POW – Marvin Smith Article & Photo By Jack McNeel The date was May 6, 1942. Bataan had fallen to the Japanese army on April 9. Manila Bay, off the island of Corregidor, was the finest harbor in the Far East and critical for the Japanese army. They were determined to take it under Japanese control but first they had to take Corregidor. Heavy shelling from Bataan and from planes had battered Corregidor for weeks, beginning on December 29, 1941. Corregidor is only 3 miles long but over 600 missions were flown by Japanese planes. Artillery battered the island and it was estimated that on May 4 alone more than 16,000 rounds hit Corregidor. The American forces could hold out no longer and they surrendered to the Japanese. Marvin “Bill” Smith of Kooskia was one of those defenders. He was to spend the next 39 months as a prisoner of war. He did not receive a letter in all that time. He was listed as “Missing in Action.” Bill is now 94 years old and lives with his wife, Lilas, in a retirement home in Lewiston. His story is remarkable and spellbinding, a story of survival under conditions that caused many of his comrades to perish. He has written a lengthy booklet, What to Expect and How to Survive if Captured, which has been reviewed by the Brigadier General of the U.S. Army, among others, for incorporation into their field manuals. Bill was born in Harpster, Idaho, east of Grangeville but graduated from Kooskia in 1938. “I was riding freight trains in those days all over the northwest doing whatever work I could find. I was in Seattle and down to my last 50-cent piece and went to the Federal Building. I started to join the Navy but had a little cold and they wouldn’t take me. I couldn’t wait because I didn’t have any money so I walked down the hall and joined the army.” That “little cold” likely determined the rest of Bill’s life. He signed up on October 1, 1940, still a year before World War II started. He went directly from the recruiting station to Fort McDowell in California, then by water transport to the Philippines and the 59th Coast Artillery on Corregidor. Their job was to keep the Japanese out of Manila Bay. “They never got into Manila by water until after the surrender of the whole Far East,” Bill relates. During the infamous Bataan Death March, approximately 1 in 8 of the 75,000 or so Americans and Philippinos died horrible deaths, but Corregi-

dor held fast. “The Japanese got on the beach at Bataan, lined up their artillery, and just poured it in our back door. We couldn’t even turn the big guns around in that direction.” Despite that, they held on for another month. They had fought the war for six months but on May 6, 1942 General Wainright surrendered the Philippines to the Japanese. “We all ended up in the same place only by different routes,” Bill commented in reference to the Bataan Death March. The treatment by the Japanese was horrible. “They kept us at a little lagoon for a while and didn’t feed us anything. They took us out on detail and the only thing we had to eat was what we scrounged, stuff that was buried. After leaving Corregidor for Manila they made us jump off the ship into 6 to 8 feet of water to make us look as bad as they could, then they marched us down Dewey Avenue to show the natives what we looked like. “We were at a camp called Cabanatawan. An American doctor was in charge of the hospital, but it was only a place to die because there was no medicine. Our ration was one ear of boiled field corn twice a day. The corn was overripe and our digestive system thought it was buckshot.” Their latrine was essentially a hand-dug trench used by the 5,000 POWs. “Flies blackened the air, their never-ending buzz like a thousand bee hives.” The doctor talked the Japanese into giving a small rice ball in exchange for a cup of dead flies. “The rice balls were about the size of a hen’s egg, but a lot better than the corn.” Bill recalls. He fashioned a flytrap made of screen from a hut. It also occupied his time while waiting for the rescue that never came. “We attempted to eat leaves, grass, roots, and bugs. We picked up garbage and discarded orange peelings found along the road on the way to work,” he writes. Over the years of captivity, he was held in different camps and the treatment varied. They were sometimes leased to private contractors. One job was hand digging a navy dry dock. Bill describes it, “as big as two or three football fields and pretty deep.” They would return to camp at night. At one point, his weight dropped to about 110 pounds from his normal 160. Toward the end of his captivity, Bill was held in a city on a harbor where ships would arrive from Manchuria. The prisoners would help unload the ships and in the process were able to steal enough

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to eat better. “We had one guy who would carry sugar off the barge in big sacks on his back. He had a hole in the sack and sugar would run down his neck.� During that period, Bill was able to regain much of the weight he had lost earlier. In the booklet he wrote, Bill explains that food was a big issue. “Eat your own ration, at the time it is provided. Hunger makes your mind rationalize. I lived one winter on boiled, unsalted, sweet potato vines supplemented with onion and carrot tops. Twice we were provided with a few horse bones. We boiled them. After drinking the broth, we ground up the remainder and ate the bone meal. Nothing was thrown away or wasted.� Prisoners suffered in the heat of summer. “In the evenings we hauled our dead away in a two-wheeled cart to be burned. Our number had dwindled to one-third of the original fifteen hundred.� One factor in survival as a POW appeared to be their social level prior to their military service. “The majority of survivors came from a disadvantaged social level,� Bill notes. “They had to scratch for a living and unknowingly prepared themselves both mentally and physically to face the problems encountered in prison. It was the farm boys, hobos, dead-end kids, Mexican Americans, Native Indians, and the people with dirt under their fingernails who survived.� Most of the POWs learned to speak some Japanese and they learned the war was ending by hearing the Emperor speaking on Japanese radio. “The guards just pulled out and left us,� he said. American planes soon arrived and dropped a variety of items into the camp, which included food and uniforms. Bill had contracted pneumonia and was transported by Dutch ship to Seattle where he was hospitalized at Fort Lewis. “The first thing I did was call my wife.� At that time, they were not married but had gone to high school together and corresponded until Bill was captured. “I called to see if she was married. She wasn’t and agreed to meet me in Spokane. To make the story short, they married soon after. That was in 1945 and Bill and Lilas have been together for 68 years. Bill remained in the military for 20 years, living throughout the country. After retirement, he worked for the Employment Agency in Lewiston and later in Salmon where they lived for 25 years. As age crept up their kids wanted them closer, so they moved back to Lewiston where they have lived since the late 1990s, the last few at the Royal Plaza Retirement Home. “It’s not like home,� Bill says, “but we’ve managed to get by pretty good. And of Lilas he says, “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.� ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37

At Prestige Care Rehabilitation & Care Center, we are devoted to enriching the lives of those entrusted to us.

Prestige Care & Rehabilitation

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1014 Burrell Avenue Lewiston, Idaho 83501 Phone: 208-743-4558 Fax: 208-746-7657

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Peace of mind... uncompromising quality of care.

Literacy Without Borders By Gail Jokerst; www.gailjokerst.com As a volunteer organization, Doctors without Borders has earned an international reputation for providing the gift of medical assistance. Here in the Northwest, the Lewis Clark Valley Literacy Council (LCVLC) has also earned a reputation for its good works without borders and the valuable gift it provides. And gift is, indeed, the operative word. This organization makes it possible for any adult American or newcomer to this country to learn to read and write English. Thanks to a team of selfless volunteers, an active sevenmember board, and the financial contributions of concerned individuals and local businesses, this is a free service, which happens to be needed by more people than you might expect. “According to the last U.S Census,� says Darlene Larson, LCVLC’s coordinator, “about 16,000 LewistonClarkston Valley resiRona Welling, the 2012 LCVLC Volunteer of the year, and dents can’t read a newstwo of her Chibnese students, Amy and Fiona. [Photo provided by LCVLC] paper to find a job or fill out an application.� Though based in Clarkston, Washington, LCVLC maintains a borderless policy for students seeking its support and for the men and women it trains as tutors. No matter whether someone hails from Idaho, Washington, or some other place on the planet, anyone age 18 and over can participate. “Literacy isn’t determined by a border or a geographic line,� notes Darlene. “We’re funded by people who believe that literacy is a basic right and a necessity to becoming a functioning part of a community.� Ever since 1985, LCVLC’s volunteers have tutored adults in the three Rs. They have also taught English as a second language; helped people fill out applications; and prepared them for citizenship, GED, and driving tests. Last year alone, their 1880 hours of tutoring time translated to a donation of $40,000, which enabled 38 people to have a voice in their communities. “The value for our students is much higher than you can put a dollar amount on,� says Darlene. “It’s satisfying to see students develop skills and become self-sufficient and know you’ve taken

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PAGE 38 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

a part in their lives even if you never see them again. They are like fledgling birds born without feathers. As they learn skills, they can communicate and take flight to live an adult life that’s worthwhile.� With programs such as this, it is hard to decide who is more remarkable – the students or tutors. Stories of humility, commitment, and fortitude abound on both sides. One current volunteer is wheelchair-bound but as reliable and dedicated as anyone with more mobility is. Another volunteer brings her students to supermarkets to learn to read labels and into her garden to share fresh veggies, recipes, and flowers. A past volunteer, who was also a founding member of LCVLC, tutored students for over 20 years into her ninth decade. And then there is Darlene with her own special history. Following a 1996 car accident, Darlene found she could not move her hands or remember how to write her name. It took three and a half years before she could finally sign her name again. “I was fortunate to have a support system to do what was necessary to once again function as a respected adult in my hometown,� says Darlene. “I’m now able to hold a part-time job; assist others trying to learn to speak, spell, and write; and be seen as someone of value.� Although Darlene’s odyssey of recovery did not include LCVLC’s services, her experience helped prepare her for the job of overseeing this

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important community organization. “I know how difficult it is to overcome fear or the expectation of failure. I’ve seen the looks and felt the shame associated with not being able to read or write myself,� states Darlene. “The fear of success is even more troublesome, because if people succeed, it means getting a job, losing financial support, having to pay for transportation, child care, medical insurance – the list is unending and scary. Breaking the barriers of poverty takes years, not days or weeks.� When recounting the stories of those stalwart individuals who finally shattered those barriers, Darlene feels justifiably proud of the students and volunteers who aided them. Occasionally, she even gets to see the humorous side of events. She tells of one student who made her way to LCVLC’s door after going to the grocery store for baking powder and coming home with laundry soap.

“It was the same color and size box as the baking powder looked like in her country,� recalls Darlene, who can now laugh about the experience along with the student. She also tells of a college graduate from China who barely spoke any English before moving to America. Four years after enrolling at LCVLC, the woman passed her U.S. citizenship test. And another woman in her 60s, originally from Mexico also became a citizen after studying with an LCVLC tutor. “I have lived in Washington, DC and been in the Capitol building and all the national monuments, museums, and memorials,� says Darlene. “But I have never been as proud of being a U.S. citizen as I was that day when I joined her in that Federal Court Room for her Naturalization Ceremony.� For information, call 509-758-1788 or email lcliteracycouncil@yahoo.com. ISI

Patricia Keith Films Documentaries (Continued from cover) Hells Canyon remains a favorite subject and Patricia recently filmed a documentary on the history of ranching deep in the canyon. “These are places where most people don’t go unless they’re rafting down from the dam or taking a boat up to the dam,� she explains. She calls it a “very satisfying project� because she was able to interview about a dozen people who had lived there before it was taken over by the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (HCNRA). “These were people in their 80s and sadly several died before I was able to finish the film.� “What a legacy of stories and photographs they’ve left us!� she exclaims. Patricia obtained footage from the Asotin County Historical Society taken by an optometrist from Lewiston in the 1940s. “He had what he called a ‘Technicolor movie camera.’ He took it into the canyon on the mail boat with a friend and just did great documentation including shots of some of the people I had a chance to interview as well. It was fun, in terms of film making, to be able to weave that in with contemporary shots and interviews. It’s a film I’ve been very satisfied with and people around here have been excited to see it. Many people in this area have long-term connections with the canyon.� Patricia has produced films for many different kinds of jobs. Some, like the Hells Canyon films, are mostly shown locally, although in November in Los Angeles she will show it as part of a travel series. The Hells Canyon films are available in bookstores throughout the region. She shot another film in Ecuador with a medical anthropologist. “We did a film on changing child birth practices in an indigenous group.�

This spring she was in Peru with an anthropologist from Whitman College and a geographer from the University of Ohio. “This trip was pretty much exploratory,� Patricia explains. “If the project goes someplace it will be a film for anthropology and geography classrooms.� She had been to Peru before to film a wedding for a friend. “Have camera, will travel,� she says with a laugh. “It’s a good excuse.� Two recent projects have involved work with the Nez Perce Tribe. “These are opportunities to learn material I just don’t have access to otherwise. It’s been another way for me setting down deeper roots in this place I call home.� One of those projects was filming the master’s degree project for tribal member Angel Sabotta that included performances of the Nez Perce Creation Story in the Nez Perce language. Patricia documented the story from the beginning showing the actors learning their scripts and working with elders on pronunciation and meaning. “There was a lot of time sitting around the table with the elders, a lot of laughs, and a really great way to bond the actors with each other and with the script.� Three performances were held, one at the University of Idaho and two at LCSC. “It’s been a fascinating project. I think ultimately it will be quite a good film the tribe can use in a lot of ways.� Another project involved working with tribal member and Master’s Degree candidate Jan Kirchhoff Smith that dealt with landscape architecture. For Patricia it was another chance to learn more about the history and culture of the Clearwater Basin that she now calls home. ISI

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Submitted by Julie Hollar The next time you take an oceanography course, you will be totally prepared, because these kids have just about got it figured out. Read on! “If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you don’t have ocean all round you, you are incontinent.� – Mike, age 4 “Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She’s not my friend anymore.� – Kylie, age 6 “Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves in to chargers.� – Christopher, age 7 “The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don’t drown I don’t know.� – Bobby, age 6 “My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean. What he doesn’t know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom.� – James, age 7 ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 39

42, The Jackie Robinson Story Reviewed by Wyatt Larson The Brooklyn Dodgers finished the 1946 season in second place behind the St. Louis Cardinals and missed a World Series opportunity. Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey knew he needed better players to win the National League pennant the following year. The solution to Rickey’s problem came from an unexpected source – he purchased Jackie Robinson’s contract from the Montreal Royals and made him the first African American to play major league baseball, thus ending sixty years of segregation in professional baseball. The recent film, 42, the Jackie Robinson Story, explores Jackie Robinson’s (played by Chadwick Boseman) struggle to break the color line in major league baseball and how the hardnosed, but compassionate Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford) made Robinson’s transition to the major leagues possible, despite the racist backlash against Robinson from opposing teams and teammates alike. Rickey had been looking for the perfect candidate to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier. Satchel Paige was too old. Roy Campanella wasn’t fast enough. Rickey wanted someone young and daring, a player with his best days ahead of him and in Jackie Robinson, Rickey found the perfect amalgamation of talent, intellect, and perseverance. Growing up in California, Robinson faced little racism in his youth. He played with and against whites and nonwhites in every sport. Earning a scholarship to UCLA, Robinson lettered in four sports and tuned his leadership abilities as one of the best athletes in the school’s history. After graduating, Robinson was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and served in World War II. His leadership abilities made him Rickey’s prime choice to break the color barrier. Robinson’s experience as an athlete and officer gave him the perfect balance of determination and pride that Rickey sought. Rickey knew that

Robinson would encounter racists and racism at every stop on the road, but recognized that Robinson could not respond with frustration and anger. Rickey wanted someone who could find motivation in the ugly racist slurs, someone smart enough and strong enough to turn the other cheek. And Robinson was that man. The racism came quickly at Robinson’s first spring training from his own teammates. The veterans on the ballclub signed a petition demanding that Robinson be dropped from the team. Robinson and all nonwhites had no place in major league baseball, they argued. When Rickey learned of the petition, he called the petitioning players into his office and told them if they did not want to play with Robinson, they would be traded or released. Although Robinson was a very strong individual, he was not immune to the racism. Playing against the Philadelphia Phillies was the same as going into any ballpark on the road; Robinson faced scores of people who did not want him playing the “white” game of baseball. The most vocal member of the opposition to Robinson was the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies who stood outside the dugout yelling at Robinson whenever he was at bat. Unable to concentrate on the pitcher, Robinson couldn’t get a hit as the pressure from the Phillies’ manager got to him. After his final failure and fed up with the constant racism he faced, Robinson lost his composure and retreated to the hallway between the dugout and the clubhouse. Alone in the hallway and unable to confront the Phillies’ manager in person, Robinson relieved his frustrations on the brick wall by pulverizing two wooden bats. Robinson openly wondered how horrible the racism and racists would become and if he would have the strength to persevere. In his moment of self-doubt, Rickey rushed to his side. “Jackie,” Rickey said, “you are not doing this for you. You are doing this for the people who believe

What Love means to a 4-8 year old... Submitted by Julie Hollar A group of professional people posed the question, “What does love mean?” to a group of 4-8 year-olds. The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. Read on. When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love. – Rebecca, 8 When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth. – Billy, 4 Love is when a girl puts on perfume, a boy puts on shaving cologne, and they go out and smell each other. – Karl, 5 Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs. – Chrissy, 6 Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired. – Terri, 4 Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay. – Danny, 7 Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss. – Emily, 8 Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. – Bobby, 7 If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate. Nikka, 6 Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt and then he wears it every day. – Noelle, 7 Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well. – Tommy, 6 During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore. – Cindy, 8 My mommy loves me more than anybody does. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night. – Clare, 6 Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken. – Elaine, 5 Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford is. – Chris, 7 Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. – Mary Ann, 4 I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones. – Lauren, 4 When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you. – Karen, 7 ISI

in you you and and d for the he people peo p eopl ple e whose whos wh ose e dream drea dr eam it is to o be b lilike ike k yyou ou.” . Robinson Rob obin inso in son so n understood u ders un r tood thatt his his mission m ss mi ssio ion n you.” wa as larger larg la rger err tha than being being g the th he first African American Am merican was than a at hlet ete to play pla ay major majo ma jorr league leag le ague ue b a eball. His m as issi is sion on athlete baseball. mission wass to b wa be e an a mbas mb assa as s do sa dorr to the the eg ame am e of o baseball ambassador game forr the fo the next n xt g ne en ner erat atio at ion io n. n. generation. A the se seas a on as np pro r gr ro gres es sse sed d an and d Ro R bins bi nson ns on b eeAss the season progressed Robinson became ca me mor m ore or e po p p la pu lar,, Rob R o in ob inso son so n fa face ced ce d le less ss a nd lless esss es more popular, Robinson faced and raci ra cism sm.. Because Beca Be caus use e of his his play pla l y on the th the field, field ld, fans fans began b racism. to ffor orge or g t th ge hat h he e wa w s bl b ack athl ac let ete, a nd they star rte ted d forget that was black athlete, and started to o rrealize ea alilize ze tthat hatt he w ha as a g gre reat re at b bas aseb as ebal eb alll pl al layer ayer ay er.. As was great baseball player. hiss po hi popu pula la ari rity ty g gre rew, w, sso o di did d hi hiss ad admi m rers re ers rs.. popularity grew, admirers. W hen the hen th he Dodgers Dodg Do dger dg erss next n xt ne x played pla p laye y d in Philadelphia, ye Phi P hila lade la d lp de lphi hia, hi a a, When Ro obi bins bins n on rreceived ecei ec eiive ved d a me ess ssag ag ge fr ffrom o tthe om he P h lll ies’ hi ie es’ Robinson message Phillies’ m ma na age g r. IInstead nstte ns ead of of being bein be in ng laced la ace ed with with wi h racial rac ra ac cia iall slurs, slur sl urss, ur s, manager. itt w was a a as n invitation invi in vita vi tatittiion o for for or a pre p ress re sss p ph hoto hot ho to sh sshoot hoot o hoot ho off th he an press photo the two tw o men. men me n. The The Phillies’ Phi Phi hilllllie es’ s man manag nag ger n ow wan ante t d to te t manager now wanted be ssee een n as a ssu uppo p rt r er o off Ro Robi bins nson on – a sstr trik ikin king g seen supporter Robinson striking chan ch ange ge o off op opin inio ion n iin n jjust ustt a fe us few sh horrt we week ekss. ek s. change opinion short weeks. Rob R obin ob inso in s n wo so won n th the e Ro Rook okie ok iie eo the e Year Year awa Ye a ward wa rd Robinson Rookie off th award in 1947, 194 1 947, 7, became bec ecam a e a World Worl rld ld Champion Cham Ch hampi pion ion in in 1955 1955 when 19 whe h n the th e Brooklyn Broo Br oo oklyn D Dod odge gers rs d def efea eate ted d th the e Ne New w Yo York rk Dodgers defeated Yank Ya n ee eess in n ssev even en gam g ames es a att the the World W rl Wo r d Series, Seri Se ries es, and and Yankees seven games wass el wa e ecte ec te ed to B as aseball’s H allll o Fame me in in 19 1962 962. 62 2. elected Baseball’s Hall off Fa 1962. R Ro obi bins bi nson ns on n’s s ssuc ucce cess ss a that at ttim im me wo woul uld d lilike ke ely n not ot Robinson’s success att th time would likely have ha v b ve ee en po p sssib ible le ew wit ititho h ut ho u B r nc ra ch Ri R ckkey ey.. been possible without Branch Rickey. R ic cke k y an a nd Ro Robi bins bi ns nson son w ere er e a pe erffect ect co omb mbin inaa aRickey and Robinson were perfect combinatitio on o on off personalities pers pe r on rs onal a itties al ie es an and d sk skil ills ls ccoming omin om ing in g to toge geth ge ther err at at tion skills together tthe th e right righ ri g t time. gh titime m . Rickey me R ck Ri ckey ey acted act cted ed d as as the the rails raililss to Robra Ro ob bin nso s n’ n s tr rai a n, n a and nd h is s ccommitment o mitm om mitm tmen men entt to t R ob bin inso son so n inson’s train, his Robinson ma m ade de tthe he ed eseg es eg egr gre rega gat atition no ajo jorr le lleague lea eag ague ague u b ba aseb as ebal alll made desegregation off ma major baseball p po oss ssib sib ible le le. e. Ro R Robi obi bins n on ns on’s ’s sp l y on tthe la he e ffield ield ie dm mad ade ad e hi h ma possible. Robinson’s play made him base ba seba ballll ccha hamp mpio ion n an and dh iss co cont ntri tribu b tit on tto o so cietty ci baseball champion his contribution society can ca n only o lyy be on be measured meas me asur ured ur ed by by the the far-reaching farfa r re rreac achi hing n success ng ssuc u ce uc cess sss of African Afr fric ican ic an American Ame meri rica ri can ca n athletes athl at hlet hl etes et ess who who h have hav a e played play pl ayyed and and exce ex c lllled ce e iin ed n pr prof ofes of e si es sion onal al sspo port rtss fo forr th the e last last sseven even ev en excelled professional sports de eca cade des. de s. decades. IIff you you enjoy enjo en joyy baseball base ba seba ba alll a and nd g gre reat at Ame Ameri rica can n perp rpe great American sona so nalilitties na ties s, yo you u wi willll ffin ind d 42 42,, Th The e Ja ack kie R ob bin inso son so n sonalities, find Jackie Robinson Stor St ory ye nter nt e ta er tain inin in ng an and d en enli ligh g te gh teni ning ng g. No Now w av avai aila la abl be Story entertaining enlightening. available on nD DVD VD a nd B lu-r lu -rray y. IS IISII and Blu-ray.

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Lifelong friends discover rare Idaho flowers By Dianna Troyer Four years ago, Sharron Akers and Sharon Huff, lifelong friends who grew up in Mackay, Idaho, could barely distinguish a lupine from a larkspur or a yellow fawn lily from a yellow bell. “When we started photographing flowers, we knew next to nothing,” says Sharon. “I just wanted to make a CD of central Idaho’s wildflowers to support Sharron’s project, a memorial to the veterans of Custer County at the Land of the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center. We made a CD showing more than 150 flowers and all the money from sales is given to the center for upkeep and replacing flags at the memorial.”

Unexpectedly, the 77-year-olds’ floral photographic quest has led them to fame for having one of their photos published in a guidebook and to fortune for discovering rare flowers. “We never know what we’ll find, especially close to Mackay,” says Sharron. “On the Smelter Road, there are red osier dogwood with unusual bluish instead of white berries. They’re being cultivated at a University of Idaho Experimental Station nursery.” Their photo of an unusual variety of Bessey’s crazyweed (Oxtytropis Besseyi var. salmonensis) was published in the late Dr. A. Scott Earle’s most recent edition of Idaho Wildflowers. “Dr. Earle wrote in his book that the species as a whole is relatively common, but the variety we found is not and grows only in Idaho’s dry mountain valleys that drain into the Salmon River south of Challis.” When they first began photographing flowers, they realized they needed more expertise than what they read in guidebooks, so they began mailing specimens to university botanists, who helped with identification. They soon learned a new language of polysyllabic botanical names to identify rare flowers. “We love the challenge, adventure, and incredible beauty of the flowers we find in out-of-the-way places,” says Sharon. “Our obsession grows every summer. The thrill of finding a new flower or taking a gorgeous photo is exhilarating for both of us.”

Friends since sixth grade, they laugh at each other when they try to stand up again after kneeling down to photograph a flower. “Our knees and backs aren’t that cooperative any more, so we laugh about our age and immobility,” says Sharron. “We’re grateful to see such an incredible variety of flowers. To me, each flower is a lovely creation by God with its own special beauty.” One of Sharon’s favorites is a tufted evening primrose, a delicate flower that grows in arid places like gravel beside a road. “They bring so much beauty to unattractive areas. After the white flowers are pollinated, they turn a gorgeous pink before they shrivel,” says Sharon of the stunning two-inch-wide flowers with four heart-shaped petals that open in the evening and close by midmorning. While she adores primroses, she also loves Mariposa lilies with three cream-colored petals and a burgundy center. “But then, blazing stars grab my heart and so do the primroses, bitterroot, shooting stars, and dwarf hesperochiron. There’s so much beauty out here waiting to be discovered.” ISI

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Pageant winner Janet Staples celebrates elegance of aging By Dianna Troyer Perfectly poised in a cobalt blue gown, Janet Staples knew every second counted when she told her life philosophy to judges of the Ms. Idaho Senior America Pageant. “We each had precisely 35 seconds,” recalls the Pocatello resident who was crowned Ms. Idaho Senior America in 2012 in Coeur d’Alene and spent the past year representing the national organization at civic events. She told judges, “I plan to never be too old to keep improving myself, to lead the life God has led me to live by living in honesty and grace and extending myself to others, and to exhibit my core values and personal beliefs. I feel great joy upon awaking to realize that I have another opportunity to have a full day of choices and to make the most of them.” Besides her poise in her gown and life philosophy, Janet was also judged on talent. “We had exactly 2 minutes and 45 seconds for that,” says Janet, who played Johnny Green’s popular song, I Cover the Waterfront, on the piano. As the 10 contestants awaited the judges’ decision, they shared a sense of camaraderie instead of competitiveness. “We knew we were all winners in life regardless of the judges’ choice.” Janet never knew the pageant existed until the organization’s state director Fay Briscoe came to her tap dance class to encourage people to enter. Fay told the dancers that the Ms. Senior America Pageant has been around for 40 years to honor women 60 and older who have reached the age of elegance. “She said the pageant is a search for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity, and inner beauty of all senior Americans,” recalls Janet, who along with other seniors was learning tap and hula at Gateway Foundation for Theatre and Dance. “I had been doing years of fund-raising for the local arts and music community and was ready to take a break from that, so I entered,” says Janet, describing her age as in her 70s. “I’m glad I did. I had a marvelous time and made genuine friendships.” After she won the state contest, she qualified to compete in the national pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. in October 2012. “There, the toughest question from the judges was how being a volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters had affected my family,” she recalls. “Meeting some of the kids made me realize how I wanted to raise our three.”

She told them how some of the at-risk youths had become an extended family to her family. “We’ve kept in touch with some and others have drifted away. One young man told us he’d love us as long as he lived just because we picked him up two to three times a week and listened to him.” Because she was crowned, Janet was required to represent the pageant during the past year. “The newspaper kept me informed as to upcoming events, and several organizations contacted me to speak and or to entertain.” Janet says she was never nervous during the competition or speaking in public because she has always been comfortable on stage. She says Keith, her husband of 60 years, has always been her biggest supporter, which bolsters her confidence. “I’ve sung, danced, modeled, and ridden our Arabian horses in parades and precision drills,” says Janet, who grew up in Nebraska and moved to Pocatello in the early 1970s because of her husband’s employment. Her love of music has led her abroad. In July, she and the Camerata Singers, a local group that performs with the Idaho State Civic Symphony, sang for two weeks in Spain, their sixth time overseas. “Previously, we had sung in London, Italy, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. Those were unforgettable experiences.” Janet says she is glad to answer questions about the pageant and may be reached at 208-233-2070. Information about the organization can be found at www.senioramerica.org. ISI

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Tendoy store is more of a calling than a job for Viola Anglin By Dianna Troyer Honey is more than a product on the shelves of the rural Tendoy Store, the only business in this remote ranching community. It’s how store owner Viola Anglin, 94, has been greeting people seven days a week since 1948 when she and her late husband bought the business on Highway 28 about 20 miles southeast of Salmon. “Hi honey, how are you doing today?” she asks, treating regular customers and tourists with equal graciousness. They stop in to buy gas, pick up mail, or to buy sundries ranging from food to hardware, bolts, socks, and T-shirts. Scott Kesl, a local rancher who drops in to get his mail, has known Viola since he was young. “She’s amazing because she greets you with a smile and never gets sick or goes on vacation.” Viola says she lives in a vacation destination

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and doesn’t need to travel anymore. Besides, she in for a cold drink and to get directions to the famed has lived in plenty of other places. pass, a national historic landmark 12 miles east of After she and her late husband, Wilmoth “Ten- Tendoy on the Montana/Idaho border. nessee” Anglin were married, they lived throughout They look at the newspaper clippings Viola the West, where he found jobs at mines. has posted on the walls about local Indian history. “Eventually, we “Viola is a living, were living in Casper, walking history book, Wyoming with me and our chance enworking for Salt Creek counter with her is Freight and him worksomething we’ll aling for the city when ways treasure,” says someone called to tell Ed. “We’ll always us the store was for remember her stosale,” she says. “We ries about how teewanted to get back pees were set up home and bought it in the field nearby and haven’t left. He and how the childied 25 years ago, dren would come and I’d rather come and sit in her store. here then sit at home At one time, the main and look at four walls. street in town had I love being around teepees on one side people.” and wood-framed When inquisitive houses on the other.” travelers drop in, Viola Viola Anglin makes a new friend, Fannie Miller of Ohio, who Viola’s son Kelly, shares insights about needed directions to nearby Lemhi Pass, a national historial 59, is the postmaslocal history, a subject landmark. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] ter, overseeing mail she taught in nearby services and about Leadore, where she grew up. After the school 200 postal boxes inside the store. day ended, she worked for the railroad and phone Even though the store is in a remote area, it has company. At about 11:20 p.m., when a conductor a steady stream of customers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. reported to her that the train had passed through “Whenever I do get a minute, I have to clean. a tunnel and reached Montana, she closed the There’s not much down time here,” she says. “After switchboard and threw switches to connect 5, it takes about an hour to clean and close up.” Salmon to Dillon. She used to keep the store open until 10 p.m. She tells people that Tendoy was named for a “But at my age, I’m getting too old to cut the Lemhi-Shoshone chief and is home to Sacajawea, mustard any more.” who assisted Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Viola celebrated her birthday on July 6. “My It is the nearest town to Lemhi Pass where the kids and I get together every year. Honey, I just explorers crossed the Continental Divide in 1805. love it here in Tendoy because of the people and Ed and Fannie Miller of Millersburg, Ohio, stop the store.” ISI

Don Warth possesses a passion for timepiece repair By Dianna Troyer I’ve always loved every type of clock and anything At his workbench, clock repairman Don Warth mechanical. I happened to be born with an anagrins as he gazes into a puzzling labyrinth of gears, lytical mind, so fixing clocks is natural for me.” cogs, and staves. The complex mechanics of the To pay his tuition to Idaho State University, timepiece make perfect sense to the 56-year-old Don repaired clocks. After graduating with a whose fascination degree in electronwith clocks began ic technology, he when he was a child. was hired at the “I’ve had a paslocal semiconducsion for clocks since tor plant, where he I was 4 when my dad worked until 1998. gave me one to take With 21 years of apart,” recalls the service, he was Pocatello resident, able to retire. a self-taught horolo“I finally had gist whose pleasure time to get back reading consists of into clocks,” he repair manuals and says as a quail books about timeclock serenades pieces. him every quarterWhen Don was hour in his base10, he made himself Don Warth, a horologist in Pocatello, repairs and collects vintage ment repair shop. A a little workbench. clocks. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] dozen other clocks Recognizing his he has repaired tick son’s aptitude, his dad, who fixed watches at his or chime loudly, while awaiting their owners. “You jewelry store, gave him a clock to fix. get used to all their sounds and tune them out.” “He told me, ‘Here you go.’ That’s what started After starting his shop during retirement, anit all. Dad loved watches, especially pocket watch- tique storeowners, and others began to seek his es, so while he did that, I worked on the clocks. expertise, hearing about him via word-of-mouth.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

To repair a clock, Don estimates he spends four hours in the afternoon for two to three days. “You have to tear a clock completely down and clean everything,” he says. “Sometimes you need bushings because the brass is worn. I have a lathe to make parts because you can’t find them anymore.” Before inheriting his late father’s tools, Don bought specialized equipment he needed from retiring clock repairmen. He shows some unusual clocks he is working on. A circa 1840 clock with weights had to be mechanically wound daily. An anniversary clock required winding only once a year, on a couple’s anniversary. A 19th century Sidney advertising clock encouraged consumers to buy clothes, pharmacy products, or feed and livery items. “It has three rotating cylinders on the bottom that changed every five minutes to a different

advertisement.” Whenever Don needs a break from his eyestraining work, he looks over the 80 clocks he has collected or received as gifts. Dozens of circa 1900 kitchen clocks stand in neat rows along a stairway wall. “Most are American-made,” he says of the clocks in their intricately carved wooden cases. “I like ones that are older than 50 years. I’ve always gravitated to nostalgia. The gears were machinemade, and the clocks were hand-assembled in plants.” He displays his mantle clocks in his living room on floor-to-ceiling shelves. “They’re from quite a few different manufacturers including Seth Thomas, Gilbert, Ingraham, and New Haven.” Looking at the clocks, he talks about how ideas concerning time have shifted during the centuries. In the 1800s, people weren’t obsessed with time.

Don Aslett is the Don Juan of the John Article & Photo By Dean & Nancy Hoch How many people have nicknames such as Don Juan of the John, Captain Commode, or Flush Gordon? Most likely, only a Southeast Idaho native who has spent the last several years building a one-ofa-kind-in-all-the world green museum located in Pocatello, of all places. It’s true! And, this huge, amazing, five-story, 75,000 square foot complex that houses a mind-boggling array of every kind of cleaning implement and related displays is unique enough to have been featured not long ago on Scott Pelley’s CBS evening news. “Yes, I came up with the idea many years ago,” says Don Aslett, founder of a multimillion dollar corporation built totally on the “Theme of CLEAN,” and his amazing museum is appropriately called the Museum of Clean. “Raised on an Idaho farm, I went to college at Idaho State University back in the fifties. I needed part-time work to get through school, so I hired a few friends, and we started a company called Varsity Cleaners. We made a lot of mistakes getting starting – among others shrinking a lady’s pure wool rug by using hot water to clean it – also killing another lady’s parakeet by creating too many toxic fumes while cleaning her living room. The poor bird died in its cage on her grand piano,” Aslett says. “However, we survived those early days,” Aslett explains, “and that small start of a residential cleaning business has grown into a commercial cleaning organization that we’re proud to say is functioning

in all fifty states, as well as all of Canada. Our company has shown annual revenues as high as $260,000,000. “Daily thank you notes from people as far back as 20 to 30 years ago make me feel satisfied about all the good things that have happened in my lifetime. However, I’ve always had the philosophy that loving your profession, hard work, and sometimes simply enduring will all pay off... and it does!” Author of many books relating to cleaning and dejunking – 37 so far – that have sold into the millions of copies, Aslett adds, “Life’s a lot more fun when you get rid of all the clutter and when you learn how to clean fast and efficiently.” His first book, Is There Life After Housework? sold more than a million copies. Note: This was a book that a major publisher had said would never sell because it was “too cutesy.” Aslett subsequently self-published and the rest is history. That first book was followed by other self-published titles, such as the classic, Clutter’s Last Stand, and Who Says It’s a Woman’s Job to Clean? B just three of the many, as noted, that Aslett has penned. Through his decades of hard work, this Baron of the Biffy, as the British describe him, began collecting all kinds of cleaning implements. Little by little, the collection outgrew its original home, and the huge, classic, 1916, brick building at 711 So. 2nd Avenue in Pocatello became the new location at a cost now exceeding six million dollars. Housed in the museum is an immense col-

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 43

“Stores often had a clock with only an hour hand,” he says. “In many towns, stores didn’t even have clocks. There was a tower clock for the entire town.” When railroads began crisscrossing America, time became more crucial due to scheduling. Telegraphs enabled depot time masters to synchronize depot clocks to the second. The most modern clock, an atomic clock, relies on an electronic transition frequency as a standard for its timekeeping element. “Time is fascinating. The earth’s rate of rotation is slowing slightly and steadily with time.” As Don works, he loses track of time. “This keeps my mind occupied and challenged. I’m still learning. I always will be.” Information about his work may be found at www.donsclockrepair.com. ISI

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lection of items such as a life-size, horse-drawn vacuum cleaner (circa 1902), as well as 47 preelectricity vacuum cleaners, and Aslett’s prize piece, a 2,000-year-old terra cotta bowl used by the ancient Romans to wash themselves. There’s also a Noah’s ark for the kids, an auditorium for special programs, an impressive art gallery, a gift shop, a cinema room and a live theater. A large roof deck is planned for wedding receptions and other events, making the entire venue a multipurpose community facility. A common comment of visitors is, “This museum was the highlight of our trip,” and one lady from the East Coast excitedly said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s wonderful.” Aslett’s favorite comment of all so far was from a lady who averred, “This museum is not about all the wonderful cleaning implements; it’s really about a lifestyle.” Kids, by the way, have the fun of following a yellow brick road into a kids’ cleaning sphere and, on the way, they are vacuumed off, go through a recycling exercise and even have a hands-on

window-cleaning stop. The museum’s creator, meanwhile, is tanned and weathered from a lifetime of hard work, including lots of outdoor labor on his 60-acre ranch in McCammon – and more recently spending as much time as he can at a maintenance-free, second home that he built in Hawaii. At 77, his schedule would defy the Road Runner. He has appeared on over 5,000 television shows in the U.S. and Great Britain, including QVC, where thousands of his cleaning products are currently sold. He has also appeared on the Discovery channel, on Regis and Kathy over a 10-year span, and on “Oprah” where he is known affectionately as “Oprah’s Cleaning Guy.” He remains a keynote speaker on home shows and various other venues. And there’s a lot more to the Don Aslett story. “My wife and I raised six kids,” he reflects. “In the early years, Barbara helped me get the business started, and both of us are still actively involved in church and community service of many

kinds.” Certainly, the most colorful custodian you will ever meet, Aslett, for example, is a powerful advocate and leader in Boy Scouts and has been for decades, including attending several national jamborees. He also gives freely of his time to many charitable institutions. As noted, he is a popular, entertaining speaker, and he thrills huge groups of people with his mile-a-minute personality and his never-failing humor. He lights up in front of audiences – usually on his favorite subject: cleaning and dejunking. “Both a janitor and a dentist work in enamel,” he jokingly contends. “Both make an important contribution. Both deserve respect,” and with Aslett, that fact is beyond question. His legacy now is his Museum of Clean where he hopes other people will catch his life-long vision of helping clean up and de-junk their homes, as well as their businesses and their lives. For more information, call 208-236-6906 or visit www.museumofclean.com. ISI

Here Are Some Interesting Facts 1. What color roses do Women prefer? Men? A. Studies show women prefer pastel colored roses, while men prefer red. 2. What type of bulb can substitute for an onion? A. Tulip bulbs can be used in place of onions for cooking. 3. In 2013, when was the Vernal Equinox? A. On March 20 at 6:02 MDT, the Vernal Equinox occurred, and Spring began. On the equinox, the sun rises exactly in the East, travels through the sky for 12 hours, and sets exactly in the West; every place on earth experiences a 12-hour day. 4. What two flower colors do honeybees prefer? A. Of the approximately 270,000 species of flowers, honeybees prefer yellow and blue ones. 5. From how many flowers must bees collect

pollen to make a one-pound comb of honey? A. Bees collect nectar from 2 million flowers to make a 1-pound comb of honey. 6. Do children grow twice as fast, or gain more weight in the spring? A. Children grow twice as fast in the spring, but gain more weight in the fall. 7. How many worms does a young robin eat daily? A. A young robin will eat as much as 14 feet of earthworms a day. 8. Where does a hummingbird’s “hum” come from? Are they all the same? A. The hum of a hummingbird comes from the swift beat of its wings. These smallest birds beat their wings up to 80 times per second; bigger birds are slower, about 20 beats per second. 9. What is the average lifespan of a small

cloud? A. The average lifespan of a small cumulus cloud is 10-15 minutes. 10. If you are standing next to someone, do you both see the same rainbow? A. The image of a rainbow is formed by light refracted through raindrops in the atmosphere. Since the person standing next to you will see different droplets from a slightly different angle from the ones you see, it will appear different to each person. More Trivia 1. The rare and expensive spice saffron comes from a certain type of crocus. 2. In 1986, Congress voted to make the rose America’s national flower. 3. California is our source for nearly 60% of all USA-grown fresh cut flowers. ISI

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