Montana Senior News August / September

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A Tale of Two Gardeners Growing Organic Blossoms in Bozeman

Article & photos by Kim Thielman-Ibes Most gardeners would agree that the best plants – and perhaps the best gardeners – are those that have arrived with a story. Marci Gehring (above) and Jenny Thornhill (left) are no exception. They have been indelibly linked and partners of the garden since an early age. Gardening is an essential pleasure for Marci Gehring. She remembers gardening with her parents as a tot, and by the time she was a teen, she was “one of those odd teenagers” who enjoyed tending her parents’ backyard garden. Her love of gardening continued, though it was not until she had children that Marci turned her green thumb into a commercial flower venture. “I started growing more flowers and doing the Farmers Market in Bozeman for extra income about eighteen years ago. It sort of progressed from there,” says Marci. She started with a 20x100 foot garden plot, where she harvested enough flowers to fill a small card table dotted with mason jars, each bursting with a kaleidoscope of garden perennials, and her garden grew and today covers almost two-acres just south of Bozeman. Her husband commandeered a small part for his organically grown vegetables, and it is the one space where she humorously states, “I’m not allowed.” Though Marci’s garden is a playful mix of colors, textures, and form, there is a formal note to its tidy rows of annuals and a distinct sense of function within its well-tended perennial beds. Each spring, she lays down a thick layer of weed-free sheep manure, and over the years, it has rendered her soil into a loose and rich organic medium akin to powdered sugar – perfect for growing a bountiful mix of blossoms and making for quick work on weed detail. The rich soil negates the need for fertilizer – an additive she avoids, thus minimizing weak plants that topple over in high Montana winds. Compost is also a no-no in Marci’s garden as it attracts more skunks and coyotes than flowers. Her garden wisdom has matured over the years to the point where every action has a purpose, and the mantra “recycle, repurpose, and reuse” is second nature. She cuts and uses spent perennial stems as additional weed control, and unsold flower production is recycled in her nature-inspired dried flower creations. Watering is never done overhead, preventing powdery mildew and leaf rust. Each fall she cuts back her perennial beds to prevent their reseeding in unwelcome areas. Marci loves flowers, but more than flowers, she loves making people happy. “I give away a lot of flowers to see a smile on someone’s face. Sharing their beauty is one of the biggest pleasures I have.” While Marci finds solace in an orderly, well-tended space, just a few miles north of Bozeman, fellow organic flower gardener Jenny Thornhill follows a much more random garden path. Like Marci, Jenny was drawn to gardening at a very young age. “I recall climbing, army-style, through a patch of weeds along the fence in our yard,” Jenny says. Here, she spied on her neighbor’s flowering gardens. The vivid blossoms across the fence sparked a sense of adventure and (Cont’d on page 70)

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

What Is The Best Place To Snowbird?

Were You A Rosie The Riveter?

Montana Senior News A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3363 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3363 406-761-0305 or 800-672-8477 FAX 406-761-8358 montanaseniornews.com email: montsrnews@bresnan.net The Montana Senior News is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October and December at 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Montana. The mail subscription rate is $8.00 per year (6 issues). The Montana Senior News is written to serve the reading interests of mature Montanans of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. All copy appearing in the Montana Senior News is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

American Rosie the Riveter Association is trying to locate women in Montana who worked on the home front during WWII. Thousands of women worked to support the war effort as riveters, welders, electricians, and inspectors in plants. They worked sewing clothing and parachutes for the military, as ordinance workers, rolling bandages, and doing clerical and many other jobs, such as volunteer workers collecting scrap metals. Now in their late 80s and 90s, these Greatest Generation women have stories of their WWII experiences that are of historical value and perhaps have never been told. American Rosie the Riveter Association is in the process of collecting those stories. American Rosie the Riveter Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to recognize and preserve the history and legacy of working women during WWII. This organization was founded in 1998 by Dr. Frances Carter of Birmingham, Alabama and now has over 4,000 members nationwide. If you are a woman or the descendant of a woman who worked during WWII or if you are just interested in more information, please call toll free 1-888-557-6743 or e-mail americanrosietheriveter2@yahoo.com. Mabel W. Myrick Membership V.P., P.O. Box 188, Kimberly, AL 35091 • 205-647-9233

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano Kathleen McGregor Lisa Gebo Rhonda Lee Peter Thornburg Sherrie Smith Nann Parrett

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

I would like some information from your readers regarding retirement resorts for the winter months. I would like to spend 2-4 months in Arizona or Nevada next winter in a rental apt. or condo I do not know anyone that rents apartments or condos or where a good, safe place is. The information on the Internet is for places to buy. Thanks for the help. Jean Chapman – Belgrade

Against Dying With Dignity I was glad to see the advertising in your publication by Montanans Against Assisted Suicide & For Living with Dignity. Assisted suicide is an important topic for Montana where proponents are wrongly claiming that the practice is legal and the majority of the population is senior citizens (over 50 years of age). I retired from the Motion Picture Pension and Health Plans in Studio City, California, as Chief Financial Officer. One reason that I retired to Montana was that I had the perception that it was senior citizen friendly, unlike Oregon and Washington, which adopted laws allowing doctors and family members to assist in killing themselves. That was repugnant to me. The proposed legalization is for terminally ill persons. “Terminally-ill” is a term that I am all too familiar with. In my previous employment, one would need to be terminally ill to qualify for a pension if he or she had not attained a specified age. Many, many times doctors deemed someone terminally ill and they wound up outliving their caregivers – not really but they lived many years. If these persons had instead applied for a lethal dose and used it,

Contributing Writers Bob Campbell Connie Daugherty Clare Hafferman Sue Hart Kim Thielman-Ibes Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig Larcom Liz Larcom Michael McGough Jack McNeel Dianna Troyer © 2012

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they would be dead long before their time. Ted Friesen – Bigfork

For Dying With Dignity Again, I am heartened by the wisdom and the superior judgment bestowed upon Montanans by the folks who believe that dying with dignity is a gracious act. The people of Compassion and Choices have thought this action through, attended workshops and have sponsored informational sessions, which I have attended. Eventually I will be a recipient of the forethought presented during my attendance. This transfers to a quiet and compassionate passing on. The sincerity of a competent person helping another competent person who may be experiencing the end of a fatal illness, the cessation of immense pain unmanaged to the point of extreme agony or the dignified ending of a terminal illness is the height of human sensibility and care giving. It is my sincere hope that others will see the importance of how a good friendship continues throughout a person’s lifetime with a sacred act of prime closure. Wayne Yankoff – Helena I’m writing today in support of the Board of Medical Examiners’ decision to consider aid in dying just like any other end-of-life decision. First, let me say that I’m a Christian. After 73 years of life’s experiences as well as personal experiences, I am glad that aid in dying is an end of life choice in Montana. My personal experience comes from having not one, but three husbands who have gone through the death experience from the ravages of cancer. Twenty-one years ago, the first one fought his malignant brain tumor by undergoing two different brain surgeries, as well as entered into a drug trial, utilized radiation, and all chemo treatments available. When he accepted that nothing could be done and he started having seizures, he begged me to

help him die before he became a vegetable... not because he was afraid of pain or dying... but mainly because of ego, not wanting his family to see him in such a condition; and how such an experience would affect his family and the time he would be in a vegetative state. My second husband did not have an option as to how he died either, as he battled multiple myeloma, but wished often that it would be over. But my third husband who passed away 8 months ago, did have options because of the aid in dying law. Though he did think about it, he opted not to pursue such an option. So, he suffered through 18 months of pain and mental anguish. Which goes to show that not everyone would choose to use this method of death... but everyone should have that option if they so choose. There are many reasons that a person might want to end life besides pain: lack of insurance and the stress of knowing what that will do to those left behind; or the effect to the patient seeing what their condition is doing to the family... for not only the patient is affected, but their loved ones as well. I may never have the need, but as an American, I definitely want the right to choose how I live and how I want to die! Pat Buell – Helena Aid in Dying (AID) is legal in Montana despite the attempts of Montanans Against Physician Assisted Suicide and for Living With Dignity to have you believe it is not. Those who oppose AID are engaging in a campaign of distortion and halftruths in an attempt to frighten the public. Certainly, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion on any issue, but it does not grant the right to distort the facts. Montanans meeting the criteria delineated by the Montana Supreme Court in the Baxter decision have the right to consider AID in addition to other end of life choices (EOLC). They should be able to do so based on the facts and their own wishes. Peg Hunter – Helena MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 3

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Straight from the horse’s mouth… or pony’s as it were. This cute story of fated friends with a history of the same picture on a beautiful pony reminds us all of our first encounter with these beautiful creatures. This issue’s winning Remember When contributor is Pat Salomon of Polson, whose story written from the equine perspective is fun and thoughtful. Thank you and congratulations to Pat for winning our $25 Remember When prize. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections, contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days,” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may

be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included. Each issue of the Montana Senior News features the contributions deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our October/November 2012 issue. Mail your correspondence to Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to montsrnews@bresnan.net; or call 1-800-672-8477 or 406-761-0305. Visit us online at www.montanaseniornews.com.

The First Pony Ride By The Pinto Pony aka Pat Salomon, Polson This is sorta’ a story of yester years and you will have to trot along with me as I tell it to you. I am a long time ago pinto pony who had made myself a small niche in history back when I was doing my thing in those long ago times. Now that I think of it, I can envision the 1930s and just how life was back then. I was a rather handsome black and white pony, and I was do-

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ing my job of standing quietly in my given spot and waiting for another youngster to be placed upon my fancy black and white saddle. Once a child was in position on my saddle, my boss would snap a photo of us. I did not realize that hardworking photographer would plan to sell the picture to an admiring parent. My reward, if any, was a handful of oats and a fresh fork of lush grass. One of the little girls I remember best is

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named Mickey Rosa and she now lives in Polson. This photo of us was taken in Lewistown. The other girl is Patricia Salomon who also lives in Polson, and this was taken at her parent’s home in Whitehall. Maybe it is fate that these two met and soon realized that both had pictures of themselves, probably taken about the same time, but miles and miles apart. Later when they compared prints the evidence of just how great I looked and what a handsome fellow I really was is very apparent. So with this I’d like to think that what goes around really does come around and this story is straight from the pony’s mouth and that I just wanted you to see a small bit of the past, and of course, of me too! Horsefully, The Pinto Pony MSN

Straight From The Pulpit And The Church Bulletin 1. This afternoon there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends. 2. Thursday at 5 p.m., there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All wishing to become little mothers will please meet the pastor in his study. 3. This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Brown to come forward and lay an egg on the altar. 4. Ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind, and they can be seen in the church basement on Friday afternoon. 5. On Sunday, a special collection will be taken to defray the expense of the new carpet. All wishing to do something on the carpet please come forward and get a piece of paper. 6. Tonight’s sermon: “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practicing. 7. Another marriage-encounter weekend is being offered. It’s a chance for a weekend away for just you and your souse. MSN

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

By Connie Daugherty At The Edge by Virginia Fortner; AuthorHouse, 2012 “Ed Moffitt chose his hiding place in the same abrupt way he left the young girl‌ Fear of the past or the future could be tamped down to a manageable lump in his gut as long as he kept going without much thought.â€? In her novel, At the Edge, Virginia Fortner explores the guilt, fear, and confusion that drive middle-aged Ed Moffitt from his pulpit as a pastor in Kansas City to the mountains of northwestern Montana near his family home — a place he abandoned as a teenager and avoided most of his adult life. “Maybe in these mountains away from everybody and everything, he could find a way to save his [soul].â€? With unexpected twists and turns on every page, Fortner has created a nicely crafted, fastpaced story of one man’s discovery of himself. The title, At the Edge, is at once a symbolic metaphor and a descriptive reality. “At the edgeâ€? of his sanity, the former pastor sets up camp “at the edgeâ€? of a cliff in a forest “at the edgeâ€? of the private property of a strange, but friendly woman, who has set up her hot tub in the wilderness. The setting is also “at the edgeâ€? of the small northwestern Montana town where Ed Moffett grew up. “He angled the Ford toward The Mint next to Benji’s, filled his lungs for courage, and got out‌. This was the test to see if Ed Moffitt, fugitive from justice, could pull off a new life in his old

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hometown.â€? There was a chance that someone from the old days might recognize him. On the other hand, he had not been back for over 20 years — not even for his parents’ funerals. Sitting at the bar in The Mint, “he christened himself Ned Parvoe, man with no past and an uncharted future in Wild Horse Plains, Montana.â€? Like a snake wiggling out of its skin, inch-byinch, Ed Moffett works to become Ned Parvoe. But the more he tries to re-invent himself, the more he finds himself reliving his past, struggling with memories he had long denied. He gets to know his mountain neighbor, Lisa, and the Christian pastor is introduced to Buddhism, Hinduism, and some Native American theology and traditions. He finds himself a job — hard manual labor at a local quarry. He also finds himself making friends. But at night, when he tries to sleep in his tent on the ledge, the memories and questions flood his dreams. Memories long buried — buried so deep he is not sure they are memories at all. But whether they are memories or nightmares, the thoughts trigger questions never dared asked. Suddenly Ed is not only asking the questions, but also actively seeking the answers — the truth. Strange things happen to him, he thinks about needing something and it suddenly appears. His ripped shirt is mended, but by whom and when? The deer and the bear check out his camp, but do him no harm. It’s almost as though someone or something is taking care of him and leading him toward a particular end — an end not necessarily of his choosing. Awakening from a nightmare, he takes off up the mountain climbing higher and higher as the sun rises. “Ed took in the scenic panorama slowly‌ The heaven I used to preach couldn’t have been much more beautiful than this welled up into his thoughts.â€? He continues toward a high “honey-on-straw-coloredâ€? mountain meadow, and in the midst of all the heavenly beauty, he finds hell — hallucinations, a vision message from a higher power, or just his guilt-filled imagination running wild? “An eerie silence echoed in Ed’s head.â€? After his frightening mountain experience, Ed finds himself questioning not only what he has always believed, but also who he has always thought himself to be. He begins to connect the theory he has preached his entire career with a

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

practical, day-to-day living understanding of what he realizes had simply been abstract concepts for him before — the right words spoken at the right time to make others feel better or behave in a certain way. He had preached about God’s grace — a gift freely given — more often than he could count. But it is during a discussion with Lisa in the middle of the wilderness, far away from any pulpit, that he begins to understand the true meaning — and his own shortcomings. “He had attached strings to gifts he gave.” Whether he gave a physical item, or shared his time, he always had some sort of expectation for the “gift” and felt insulted if his expectations were not met. Without preaching, without lecturing, Lisa shows him that giving and expectations do not belong together. Quiet times with Lisa in the wilderness stimulate his mind; the backbreaking solitude of stacking stones in the quarry forces him to deal with the self-evaluation that follows. “What happened to make him the way he was? He had run from

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 7

temptation, and it had pursued him…. There was no getting away from it. He loathed who he was and what made him like that.” Ed is At the Edge of a decision, and there is no going back to the way things used to be. He can run away again — though he is not sure what he’s running from. He can stay and face whatever is chasing him, taking a chance on damnation or the forgiveness he has preached. Either way, he feels as if he could be stepping off the cliff. Virginia Fortner takes her character and the reader right up to the last page — to the edge with possibilities and promises. At the Edge is a great summer read — short enough and engaging enough to fit into any busy schedule. Virginia Fortner has won essay, poetry, and short story awards over the years. She has worked as a teacher in China and Saudi Arabia as well as a Stephen Minister counselor. She currently lives in Plains, Montana. At the Edge is her first novel. MSN

Are Impulse Buys Killing Your Retirement? As a registered investment advisor, Steve Orr is used to juggling millions, but he knows those millions started out as pennies. “It’s the little things,” said Orr, president and owner of the Orr Financial Group. “It’s the dollar here, two dollars there things that we pick up every day that start to add up. The insidious thing is that it still doesn’t add up to so much that we think it could make a difference in our futures, because we only see those expenses in terms of the dollars we spend, but not the dollars – plus the interest – we could be earning on them.” Orr’s point is that pension funds are being wiped out, companies are canceling their matching contributions to employee 401(k) programs (or wiping them out completely) and the future of Social Security seems dimmer than ever. That’s why Orr, author of the book The Noisemakers (www.thenoisemakers.com), wants people to realize that some of their everyday little impulse buys are robbing their accounts of pennies today… and millions later. To illustrate that, Orr can demonstrate how simple, everyday expenses – when eliminated – can turn into big bucks down the road. For instance, the daily specialty coffee from the local coffee stand costs about $3.95, depending on where you live in the U.S. If you got one every day of the week for about 40 weeks out of the year for the typical 35 years of work between

ages 25 and 60, it would cost you about $27,650 over that 35 years. The formula looks like this: • Coffee or Latte: $3.95 x 5 = $19.75 x 40 = $790 x 35 = $27,650 • Energy shot: $3.99 x 5 = $19.95 x 40 = $798 x 35 = $27,930 • Muffin: $3 x 5 = $15 x 40 = $600 x 35 = $21,000 Our Family is Committed to Yours.® • Lunch: $8 x 5 = $40 x 40 = $1,600 x 35 = $56,000 “If you were to put the total of all these items into your 401(k) or Roth IRA or any other type of retirement investment vehicle every year for 35 years and you earned a minimum of 3 percent annual interest on that money, you’d have an extra $246,560 in your retirement account at the end of that 35 years,” Orr said. Moreover, Orr said that between 1970 and 2006, the annual return rate of the S&P 500 was

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Change your thoughts and you change your world. - Norman Vincent Peale

11.5 percent. At that interest rate, at the end of 35 years by Orr’s calculations, workers would have an additional $1,792,373 in their retirement accounts. “Depending on the state you live in, most employers match some level of contribution to a company 401(k) or retirement plan,� he added. “It’s usually around 50 cents on the dollar up to 6 percent of your salary. So, if you’re making around $35,000 a year and you aren’t currently contributing to your plan, you could be losing out on about $465,000 at the minimum, assuming you never get

a raise and stay at $35,000 a year for 35 straight years. Keep in mind, those calculations are based on someone who starts at age 25 and retires at 60. Now, we know a lot of people don’t start that early, and many more are working way beyond age 60, so it’s still achievable even for someone in their 30s. When you wean yourself off the little impulse buys and put those funds back into your retirement account, not only will you lose a few pounds and get off the caffeine – you’ll wind up a little more comfortable when you retire, as well.� MSN

Dating is an art, and with this cute tidbit of advice, you are sure to be successful. “There are three parts to a successful date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment (conversation), food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection IS the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted.� – Anonymous Try it – it might just work. To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message, and address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. When you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please be sure you submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no

charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of true love! Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the October/November 2012 issue, the deadline is September 10, 2012.

SWF, 86, retired and looking for friendship. I am a country girl living in Shelby, and I have lived here about 10 years. I have not been married, and do not have any children. I am 5½ feet tall and have shoulder length hair. Please write and tell me more about yourself. Reply MSN, Dept. 28602, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, 79, raised on the family ranch and still loving it. I am healthy and secure and enjoy my clean simple lifestyle. I am looking for a single

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SWF, 60 years young, 5’3’’, a little extra cuddly, with blue eyes. I love Jesus and His word. I love life and want a solid Christian man, 55-70, and in decent health with lots of get up and go to “shake it with.� I have a lot to offer the right man starting with; integrity, love, kindness, and more. I love the outdoors, crafts, hugs and kisses, sunsets, and so much more. Proverbs 31:10-31 also, read Gal. 6:14-22 and if you are interested please write and send a photo. Reply MSN, Dept. 28601, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

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gentleman living in Western Montana. I would like to meet someone to share an active life of sightseeing, rodeos, shopping, music, social activities, mutual friendship, and a slow dance every now and then. Reply MSN, Dept. 28603, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWM, 68, 5’11�,200 lbs. I am looking for companionship with a single lady 60-70 years old. I do smoke, but no drugs or drinking. I enjoy cooking, movies, yard sales, and most of all, the great outdoors. I would like to meet a lady in the Thompson Falls area. Please send a picture and phone number. Reply MSN, Dept. 28604, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. WWM seeks a retired, secure lady in her 70s from the Billings area for friendship. I do not smoke, drink, or use drugs. I am interested in travel, country music, and spending quality time at home. Please send a letter with a picture and phone number and I will do the same. Reply MSN, Dept. 28605, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWM, 61, seeks companionship with single lady 61-75 who likes to kiss and cuddle. Personality is more important to me than looks in a long term relationship. I am a non-smoker and non-

drinker. Please send picture and phone number. I will answer all replies. Reply MSN, Dept. 28606, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Hi Gentlemen, if you are 65-72 years young, educated, versatile in your activities, don’t let grass grow under your feet, are willing to share interests, thoughts, ideas and dreams, and have a knack for keeping a relationship new, fresh, and alive then you have just what it takes. This tall, slim, attractive lady who enjoys everything from hiking and snowshoeing in the mountains to an evening of dining and the theater would be delighted to hear from you. I am a non-smoking, non-drug using lady and prefer the same in a gentleman. Please send a recent photo, and perhaps we can both look forward to a new and lovely beginning in our lives. Reply MSN, Dept. 28607, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Looking for love! I am a Kalispell gentleman 6 ft tall and 200 lbs. I am looking for a lovely lady 80-90 who would love to meet and spend time with me. If spending the rest of your life with love and security sounds good to you then we’ve got it made. I am waiting to hear from you very soon. Reply MSN, Dept. 28608, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN

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PAGE 10 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Classic DVD’s: Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone, and Sam Peckinpah By Mark Fee As a film critic, I’ve met some of Hollywood’s most iconic and notable actors and directors, including Sylvester Stallone and Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah was the most depressing. Stallone was fascinating. I met the controversial Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch, 1969; Straw Dogs, 1971) at the screening of one of his most numbing and miserable films, Cross of Iron (1977). The film’s star, James Coburn, was warm and affable. Peckinpah had his entourage with him and looked depressed. I thought some of his films were great, but told him most of his recent films were like film diarrhea. He

glared at me. It was an ominous sign, and I moved out of the way. Peckinpah is an acquired taste. I’ve loved some of his films and hated others. His classic, The Wild Bunch (1969) was nominated for two Academy Awards. Years later, I met Sylvester Stallone when he was in Seattle promoting Assassins (1994). Meeting Stallone was more promising than my encounter with Peckinpah. I asked him if there was anything he was writing or producing that most people weren’t aware of. He said he was writing a screenplay about Edgar Allen Poe. His response threw me. I couldn’t imagine Stallone writing about Poe. Stallone grew up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen and lived with foster families. He was kicked out of 14 schools. Stallone went on to score a knockout with Rocky (1976) and a number of sequels and was awarded an Academy Award for writing the screenplay for Rocky. I also spent the day with Clint Eastwood’s best friend, Jack Catron, when Eastwood and his production company were filming the third Dirty Harry film, The Enforcer (1976) in San Francisco. Catron was very encouraging. We developed an easy repartee and talked for hours about the world of film. He gave me an improvised acting test. I learned recently, Eastwood and I may have been born, though years apart, in the same hospital. Eastwood is an accomplished Academy Award winning actor (Unforgiven, 1992) and director (Million Dollar Baby, 2004). Listed below are some of my favorite classic DVD’s with Eastwood and Stallone, as well as a poignant, hilarious sleeper directed by Peckinpah.

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In Where Eagles Dare (1969), Eastwood and Richard Burton play a British and OSS assassin who rescue an American general during WWII. The general is held at a German stronghold, high in the Bavarian Alps. The film was written by Alistair McLean (The Guns of Navarone, 1961) and has non-stop action and is extremely exciting. Rated PG; 3.5 stars In Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Eastwood plays a conman/thief who robs a bank with Jeff Bridges. George Kennedy plays another thief who wants vengeance against Eastwood and chases Bridges and him all over Montana. The film has become something of a cult classic and was directed by Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter, 1978). Rated R; 3.5 stars Eastwood plays a failed cop in The Gauntlet (1977), who is sent to Las Vegas to extradite a hooker. Eastwood is unaware the hooker is a star witness and that his boss in Phoenix has ties with the mob. Sandra Locke plays the hooker. Eastwood directed the film, which includes a brassy, bluesy soundtrack by Jerry Fielding. Rated R; 3 stars. In Escape from Alcatraz (1979), Clint plays an inmate who masterminds a brilliant escape from the notorious prison. The escape requires months of preparation. Eastwood develops an uneasy relationship with the prison’s director, played by Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan is a control freak and unaware of the escape plan. The escape is chillingly staged. Directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, 1971). Rated R; 3.5 stars Sy lvester Stallone plays an undercover New York policeman who tracks an international terrorist in Nighthawks (1981). The film, dismissed by many film critics, is terrifying and relentlessly exciting. Some scenes are exceptionally well staged. Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, 1982) is ruthlessly compelling as the terrorist. Rated R; 3 stars. In Victory, Stallone teams up with Michael Caine and a group of POWs to play the Nazis in an unprecedented soccer game. The Nazis have an elite team and want to use the game as propaganda. Caine, Stallone, and other allied POWs (including noted soccer star, Pele) have other plans for the game. Rated PG; 3 stars.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Sam Peckinpah’s Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), caught critics by surprise when it was released. The film was a complete reversal from his exceptionally violent The Wild Bunch (1969). Jason Robards plays Hogue, who is left to die in the desert by his friends. He finds water and starts a business and falls in love with a voluptuous, gorgeous hooker, played by Stella Stevens. The film is a gentle ode to the Old West and very, very funny. Stevens sings the haunting, lovely Butterfly Mornings. Rated R; 3.5 stars. With all this summer heat, take a trip to the video store, sit back in the air-conditioned comfort of home, and lose yourself in these excellent films. MSN

Are You Ready For A Quick Draw How fast could you draw your gun in a showdown on Main Street against the likes of Wyatt Earp or Buffalo Bill Cody? The Bull Mountain Drifters, armed with single action .45-caliber Colt revolvers, will provide would-be “fast draw legends” an opportunity to test their skills and know their times in thousandths of a second. If you missed them last year, cheer up, because they are back this year at the 27th Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The shooting gallery will be set up Saturday, August 18 at 10 a.m. on 2nd Avenue near the famous Montana Tavern (you know, where you can see Spring Creek running under the floor). In a competition match, two shooters (father & son, brothers, husbands & wives, girlfriends, etc.) are paired to determine the fastest on their respective target. The targets are set at 21 feet from the shooting line and are connected to a timer that measures the reaction time from the instant the light goes “on” on the target (signaling the shooter to draw), to the hit on the target. The ammunition used for this sport is a wax bullet set in a standard .45LC case that has been drilled out to accept a shotgun primer. The fastest shooter in the pairing wins, while the looser gets an “X” for each round. At the end of the competition, the shooter with the fewest “X’s” wins the match. The firearms used for the fast draw competitions are modern versions of the original Colt Single Action Army, known throughout the Wild West as the famous Peacemaker. The original version was introduced in 1873. The high-tech timer system used by the Bull Mountain Drifters was developed by Quick Draw Electronics in Park City, Montana. The Bull Mountain Drifters, part of the American Cowboy Quick Draw Association, hail from Roundup, Montana where the Montana State ACQDA Championships and ACQDA World Championship competitions are held each year. The Bull Mountain Drifters are regulars at the Roundup 4th of July RIDE festivities each year. They have also been featured at special events in Billings, Bozeman, Reed Point, and Red Lodge. They premiered in August 2011, at Montana Cowboy Poetry and were a big hit! (No pun intended). Shooters need only have a 3-day gathering pin pass to participate in the fast draw shooting gallery. The Bull Mountain Drifters bring a unique opportunity for pistol-packin’ mammas and cowboys to test their reaction times and shooting skills in a fun, safe, entertaining way. Central Montana characters like Calamity Jane, Belle Starr, Rattlesnake Jake, and Kid Curry depended on their reaction times and shooting skills to stay alive. Experience the rush of beating their times when testing your skills. “Keepin’ It Cowboy,” for all to enjoy! MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 11

PAGE 12 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Exciting Season On Tap for Bozeman Symphony Nothing compares to the magic of live symphonic music. It begins the moment one enters the concert hall. A feeling of anticipation is in the air – an expectation that what is about to happen will transport you to a special emotional and spiritual plane. No one knows ahead of time how it will turn out. The atmosphere is charged with intensity. The drama is captivating. The music making is electric. The Bozeman Symphony is beginning our 45th concert season, and we promise to electrify you with captivating performances of some of the greatest music ever written. We will welcome an

exciting mix of world-class guest artists, celebrate New Year’s Eve with a new Gala performance and party, and introduce young people to the exciting and fun world of symphonic music. You will have four opportunities to hear the wonderful Symphonic Choir, and we will offer two world-renowned pianists in recital. With a few surprises mixed in, a season subscription to the Bozeman Symphony promises a thrilling journey for all. Visit our website at www. bozemansymphony.org or call the Symphony office for details and tickets at 406-585-9774. MSN

No, You’re Not As Old As The Dinosaurs The Two Medicine Dinosaur Center features the world’s longest dinosaur, a skeletal model display of a Seismosaurus, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Dave Trexler, Two Medicine paleontologist designed and built this scientifically accurate, 137-foot model with a curved neck and tail. Other displays include the first baby dinosaur remains found in North America, and the actual remains of other new dinosaur species. Programs available through the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center of Montana are designed to allow participants to work beside actual research professionals and staff. Such interaction allows participants to learn current principles and techniques of fossil preservation, leading to better reporting and documentation of fossil discoveries. All programs require advance registration, and begin at 9 a.m. unless prior arrangements have been made. Custom programs may be tailored to specific interests and duration. Come on in, look around, and make plans to visit our Center this summer! Call 406-469-2211 for more information. MSN

The Ghosts Of Jefferson County

‘The gallery’ ExclusivelyVeteran Artwork in the Heart of Helena A New Project of the MontanaVeterans Foundation 318 Fuller Avenue, Helena 406-449-7666

The 42 black-and-white photographs of local ghost towns were taken over a 22-year period (1988-2010) in Jefferson County. The images document small mining communities in the region that began in the late nineteenth century and lasted into the early twentieth century. Each photograph is accompanied by a short text that either explains the history of the structure or settlement or offers general insight into the era. These ghost towns continue their inexorable slide into oblivion – some images in the exhibit portray structures that have since been demolished – but still offer something for the curious. Photographs in the show include images of an old railroad water tower, a livery barn, abandoned mining mills, dilapidated cabins still resisting the onslaught of winter snowstorms, a beehive charcoal kiln, a roofless saloon, and cemetery monuments whose inscriptions tell woeful tales of death at a young age. The black-and-white medium accentuates the antiquity and somber atmosphere of these nearly defunct places. Lee Silliman is a retired high school science and math teacher and former museum photo archivist. His creations have been exhibited in museums in ten states over the past twenty-five years. His tool of choice is the 8 x 10-inch

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

view camera loaded with sheet film, a device not too different from the cameras of the 1800s. The Ghosts of Jefferson County exhibit will be displayed at the Jefferson County Museum in Clancy from September 8, 2012 until November

17, 2012. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 6 pm. Admission is free. For additional information, call 406-933-5528. Also on display will be several current and historical photos of Jefferson County ghost towns. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 13

BAIR MUSEUM

Bozeman Public Library Is Much More Than A Good Read This summer the Bozeman Public Library, a centerpiece on downtown’s Main Street, is the recipient of an additional hour of service and a new, spiffy roof to remedy past hail damage. The doors remain open until 6 p.m. now on Friday evenings, allowing more access to all the services and materials provided. Residents and visitors have free use of computers, periodicals and newspapers, reference materials and databases, recommended reads, peer reviews, and help from librarians. People with library cards can enjoy the complete collection, including many new fiction and non-fiction books, DVDs, CDs, audio books, downloadable e-books, and homebound service. The Library also has many programs and fun

events scheduled for the fall through year-end, including art receptions, music programs, book group discussions, staged readings, computer classes, and the popular One Book – Once Bozeman. All of these happenings can be found by accessing the calendar at www.bozemanlibrary. org or calling 406-582-2400. Public libraries serve as the cornerstone of our society; learn how the Bozeman Library is transforming and growing to stay vital and relevant in our changing world. If you are interested in making a donation to ensure these services continue, please contact Foundation Director Paula Beswick at 406-5822426 or director@bozemanlibraryfoundation.org.

Step into Montana History!

MSN

Join The Stream Team At The Madison River Foundation By Richard Lessner, PhD Executive Director Did you know that 16 tributary streams of the Madison River have been designated “impaired” because they do not meet state water quality standards? Or that a company wants to construct a hydroelectric generating power plant on the Madison below Quake Lake, and divert the river into an enormous pipeline? These are just two of the many challenges the Madison River Foundation is working on. Our mission is “to preserve, protect, and enhance the Madison River and its related watershed.” The Foundation is a non-profit organization, based in Ennis with members in 34 states. Our goal is to ensure that we pass along to future generations a healthy and vibrant Madison ecosystem so that our children and grandchildren have the same

opportunity to enjoy this incomparable resource that we have enjoyed. You can help. Become a member and join hundreds nationwide who love the Madison and want to preserve it. We have many volunteer opportunities, from helping at our annual Fly Fishing Festival to boots-in-the-water conservation projects. Visit www.madisonriverfoundation.org or call us at 406-682-3148. Memberships begin at just $25. Join our Madison Stream Team! MSN

Visit the beautiful new state-of-the museum and the sprawling family ranch home; it’s a visual legacy of a proud family heritage! Alberta Bair and artist Will James

The Charles M. Bair Family Museum 10am -5pm, 7 days a week, Memorial Day through Labor Day $5 adults, $3 seniors. The Museum is located on Hwy 294, just 1 mile south of Hwy 12 between White Sulphur Springs and Harlowton.

Martinsdale, Montana www.bairfamilymuseum.org (406) 572-3314 info@bairfamilymuseum.org

PAGE 14 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Are You Ready For the Road?

The Best of Montana

Road Scholar is an affordable and fun way to experience the culture, scenery, and charm of Central Montana. Our 2012 program includes the following classes: Artist C.M. Russell, Plains Indian Culture & Traditions, and The Lewis & Clark Period. Join us for a week of educational adventures in lifelong education, and enjoy diverse lectures, fascinating field trips, handson learning, fellowship, and more! Classes for Road Scholar are taught by Jack Smith, Bob Doerk, and Don Fish. We still have room for extra participants. The cost for these seven days (August 12-18) is $580, which includes six overnight stays, classes, meals, transportation, and all field trips. Ursuline Centre is a unique non-profit organization that benefits thousands of individuals every year through retreats, conferences, workshops, and meeting grounds for organizations. There is no other facility in the state that meets the wide variety of ecumenical needs or uses that Ursuline Centre provides. Childcare and pre-school classes continue to be offered in this peaceful Christian environment, and we encourage educational and spiritual growth for all. Additionally, we are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and provide a rich repository for written, oral, and artifact history. Information about Ursuline Centre and the 2012 Road Scholar Elderhostel program, call 1-800-454-5768, 406-452-8585, or www.roadscholar.org. MSN

By Roy Jacobs The Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act introduced by Senator Max Baucus protects the Front’s existing and inspiring beauty, human uses, and premier wildlife and hunting opportunities by creating some 208,000 acres of Conservation Management Areas and 67,000 acres of Wilderness Areas. The protection of these landscapes, and of ranching and other traditional land uses, represents an irreplaceable promise to the future, and it represents something else of great importance. Today we have cause to wonder if democracy really is working very well; many of our national dialogues have broken down, and so has our ability to find agreement to get needed decisions made. These problems have also been present in our state for some time, especially on issues surrounding public land management. It is fitting that Senator Baucus has introduced this legislation. For many years, he has followed a very nonpartisan approach to representing our state in the Senate. Today this approach looks especially commendable and courageous. The Heritage Act is a made-in-Montana solution that will protect the natural beauty we all cherish. For more information www.savethefront.org. Roy Jacobs grew up on the Front and is an avid hunter who lives in Pendroy. MSN

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 15

Stop the Whining! Three years ago Montana’s Supreme Court said terminally ill Montanans have the freedom to make their own end-of-life choices. Some people didn’t like that, and they’ve been whining ever since. They just won’t take “NO� for an answer!

‹ ;OL` HZRLK [OL JV\Y[Z [V [HRL H^H` `V\Y MYLLKVT Montana’s Supreme Court said NO!

‹ ;OL` HZRLK [OL SLNPZSH[\YL [V [HRL H^H` `V\Y MYLLKVT The legislature said NO!

‹ ;OL` HZRLK 4VU[HUHZ KVJ[VYZ [V [HRL H^H` `V\Y MYLLKVT

The Board of Medical Examiners said NO!

‹ ;OL` HZRLK [OL ZHTL X\LZ[PVU HNHPU The Board still said NO!

Now they’re asking you! The whiners won’t accept the right of every Montanan to aid in dying. Calling themselves “Montanans Against Assisted Suicide,â€? they won’t listen to the court; they won’t listen to the state’s medical authorities. Polls of Montanans show 70% of you want to hold on to freedom at the end of life, but they won’t listen to you either. They won’t listen to anybody unless they get their way. (UK UV^ [OL`ÂťYL NL[[PUN TLHU Failing everywhere else, they hired a lawyer to threaten doctors across the state with jail and lawsuits. It’s time to tell them once and for all:

NO MEANS NO!

Mail us this ad. We’ll tell them to stop whining and stop threatening our doctors!

You can’t take away our freedom. Terminally ill Montanans have the right to a peaceful death. Name: ___________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Tell doctors and lawmakers I support aid in dying.

Phone:______________________E-mail: ______________________________ Mail to: Compassion & Choices Montana PO Box 1348, Helena, Montana 59624

MSN 8/2012

Compassion & Choices Montana. Care & Choice at the End of Life. *VTWHZZPVU(UK*OVPJLZ VYN ‹

PAGE 16 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

What’s An Antique, What Is Selling, and How Do I Sell Mine? By Terri Sullivan – Downtown Antiques, Bozeman Antiques: the word means so many different things to different folks. It often brings back memories of Grandma’s china, doilies, and bric-a-brac. It might be 1950s dinette sets with teal, bright yellow, or stop-sign red and grey Formica tops and vinyl upholstered chairs. Some might go for funky 70s vintage clothes – double knit bell-bottoms or snap button western shirts, fedoras, and jewelry along with rock LP’s and turntables to play them on. In short-it depends on who you are, as to what appeals to you! Technically, antiques have to be 100 years old in the U.S. to be true antiques; anything younger is “vintage” or “collectible.” With a state as young as Montana-most antique shops would be hard-pressed to carry only true antiques – our stores would be half-full! In the West, rustic or simply styled, well-made antique furniture sells well, whereas the fussier Victorian ornately carved pieces not so well. I think that we are so casual in our living that we want furniture and accessories to complement that lifestyle. China sets are the kiss of death for antique shops at this time. The younger generation just doesn’t want sets of china, and we get the “Gramma gave me her china set, and I don’t want it-would you buy it?” call at least once a week! But there are exceptions to every rule, and the occasional wonderful or unusual china piece might sell. In general, our Montana customers seem to lean towards antique pottery, rustic accessory items, Western collectibles like chaps, Indian blankets, spurs, hats, and primitives to decorate with. But our customers are a varied bunch, and often eclectic and unusual things race out the door like hotcakes. Architectural items, midcentury toys, turn of the century hand tools, neat old advertising items… one never knows what " `iÀÊ* «Õ >Ì ÃÊUÊ >À}iÀÊ1ÀL> Ê Ài>ÃÊUÊ- > iÀÊ,ÕÀ> Ê Õ Ì ià will walk in or out the door at an antique shop! That’s the fun of the biz – you never know what you What will this mean for your school, your health, will find and every day is an adventure! Þ ÕÀÊLÕà iÃÃ]ÊÞ ÕÀÊÌ Ü ¶ The proliferation of antique related programs on television has skewed Find out when One Montana and the Wheeler Center present the public’s perception of the antique business. The guys who travel 2,000 miles, buy three or four things, and make CONFERENCE $200 per item just aren’t even making gas and travel expenses on that trip! They pass up barns Over twenty speakers, including AARP full of salable items and Board Chair Robert Romasco, will look at pick one or two items this future from a variety of perspectives that they like. Although and ideas. we all try to buy what we like, as antique dealIf you want to make the right decisions ers, you also have to buy what sells! And if for your business, your community, you can score a huge your state, join us at the Colonial Inn in amount of merchandise Helena — or via live web stream at your at one location – you’ll computer or at satellite locations around cut way down on your the state including Miles City costs of doing business! and Kalispell. I suspect there’s a trailer full of good stuff following them behind the camera truck! In our business, as -i«ÌÊ£äÊEÊ££]ÊÓä£Ó with most antique shops $35 per person (to attend in Helena) – we’ll buy one item or a houseful-but we love the housefuls! Register to attend in person and review the schedule at Valuing and selling w w w . w h e e l e r c e n t e r. o r g / # r e g i s t e r : 1 6 your own antiques is Tune in to the live webcast and lear n more at www.onemontana.org a difficult task for most non-dealers. “What is it worth, & how do I sell it?” is a question we hear every day. Unlike the road show type programs – your average antique dealer does not have thousands of antique prices in their heads on AREA AGENCIES a moment’s notice when ON AGING you walk in with your (Cont’d on page 18)

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures. - Henry Ward Beecher

Glimpse the future, Montana 2030...

THE

GRAYING OF MONTANA

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 17

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Country Mall Antiques Montana Antique Mall Big Sky Glass Works Yates Body Shop Bozeman Library Foundation Stoneydale Press KOA - Hardin Autumn Springs Assisted Living Cambridge Court Highgate Senior Living Stay at Home + Home Care The Crest American Coins CoinsPlus Billings Catholic Education Foundation Montana Outdoor Science School MAAS Arts Council of Big Sky Bozeman Symphony Society C.M. Russell Museum Copper Village Museum & Arts Center Glacier County Historical Museum Hi-Country Trading Post Jefferson County Museum Mineral Museum at Montana Tech Museum of the Rockies Opal Moutain Gems Yellowstone Gateway Museum Madison River Foundation Debt Counsel for Seniors Pioneer Federal Savings & Loan Smith Funeral Chapels Wayrynen-Richards Glacier View Golf Club Judith Shadows Golf Course Village Greens American Heart Association Associated Dental Care Barrett Hospital & Healthcare Benefis Healthcare Foundation Dahl Memorial Healthcare Assoc. Dr Jane Helle Granite Health & Fitness Ozog Eye Clinic Ronald McDonald House Charities The Ridge Athletic Club Youngevity Montana Telecommunications Access 4G Plumbing & Heating Document Destroyers Habitat for Humanity Intermountain Heating & A/C Northwestern Energy Sun Rental Center Tilleraas Landscape Nursery Thurston Family Insurance Crowley Fleck, PLLP Debt Counsel For Seniors Morrison & Balukas Law Firm Banff Lodging Company Bayshore Inn Best Western Ramkota - Casper Best Western War Bonnet Inn Chateau Rouge Crandell Mountain Lodge - Waterton Hampton Inn Jackson Hole Lodge Paradise Lodge & Bungalows Quality Inn - Billings Red Lion Kalispell Center Rocky Mountain Lodge Sundowner Inn - Best Western Timbers Motel - Bigfork Wingate Inn Goose Ridge Monuments Bennett Homes Realty Dallas Land Company Havre Hi-Line Realty - Kim Kripps Jon Freeland - Fidelity Real Estate Kootenai Creek Village Select Realty - Helena Custer State Park Montana Outfitters 7 Gables Resort Deadwood Gulch Resort Iron Wheel Guest Ranch Bella Valle Billings Petroleum Club Dimitris Greek-American Restaurant Peking Gardens West Perkins The Corral Steakhouse The Parrot The Soup Place Two Rivers Bar & Casino Timber Creek Village Emeritus at Cambridge Place Holiday Retirement Montana Independent Living Sweetwater Retirement Mann Mortgage Ship-It Heebs East Main Grocery MT Veterans Foundation Family Service Butte-Silverbow Transit A & B Tours Escape Tours Laird Leisure Travel Missoula Senior Center

www.antiquemalls.com/stores/12382.aspx www.montanaantiquemall.com www.bigskyautoglass.com www.yatesbodyshop.com www.bozemanlibrary.org www.stoneydale.com www.koa.com/campgrounds/hardin www.autumnspringsassistedliving.com www.cambridgecourtassistedliving.com www.highgateseniorliving.com Phone: 406-781-9172 Phone: 406-494-7035 www.montanacoins.com www.coinsplus.com www.billingscatholicschools.org www.outdoorscience.org www.montanansagainstassistedsuicide.org www.bigskyarts.org/festival.php www.bozemansymphony.org www.cmrussell.org www.coppervillageartcenter.com www.glaciercountygov.com/about-2 www.hicountry.com www.sites.google.com/site/jeffersoncountymuseum www.mbmg.mtech.edu/museum/museum.asp www.museumoftherockies.org www.opalmountaingems.com www.livingstonmuseums.org www.madisonriverfoundation.org www.debtcounsel.net www.pioneerfed.com www.smithfuneralchapels.com www.wayrynen-richards.com www.glacierviewgolf.com www.judithshadows.com www.montanagolf.com www.americanheart.org www.associateddentalcareofhelena.com www.barretthospital.org www.benefisfoundation.org/page.aspx?NavID=146 www.dahlmemorial.com www.inlitenment.com www.granitebillings.com www.ozogeye.com www.rmhcmontana.org www.ridgeathletic.com www.tmondale.youngevityonline.com www.montanarelay.mt.gov www.4gplumbing.com Phone: 406-539-2663 www.billingshabitat.org www.intermountainheating.com www.northwesternenergy.com www.sunrentalcenter.biz www.tilleraas-nursery.com www.thurstonfamilyinsurance.com www.crowleyfleck.com www.debtcounsel.net www.mbtaxlaw.com www.bestofbanff.com www.bayshoreinn.com www.bwramkota.com www.bestwestern.com www.chateaurouge.com www.crandellmountainlodge.com www.missoula.hamptoninn.com www.jacksonholelodge.com www.paradiselodge.com www.qualityinn.com/hotel-billings-montana-MT015 www.redlion.rdln.com www.rockymtnlodge.com www.bestwesternsouthdakota.com www.timbersmotel.com www.wingatehotels.com www.gooseridgemonuments.com www.bennett-homes-realty.com www.dallas-land.com www.havrehilinerealty.net www.missoulahomes.com www.kootenaicreekvillage.com www.selectrealty.com http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/events/ buffalo-roundup.aspx Phone: 406-666-2220 rono@nemontel.net www.sevengablesmontana.com www.deadwoodgulch.com www.ironwheel.com www.bella-valle.com www.billingspetroleumclub.org www.facebook.com/DimitrisRestaurant www.pekinggardenswest.com www.perkinsrestaurants.com www.corralbar.com www.parrotchocolate.com www.thesoupplace.com www.connermt.com www.timbercreekvillagecommunity.com www.emeritus.com www.holidaytouch.com www.milp.us www.sweetwaterretirement.com www.mannmortgage.com www.ampc.org/store/ship_it www.HeebsGrocery.com www.mtvf.org www.famserv.com www.co.silverbow.mt.us www.abtoursonline.com www.facebook.com/pages/Escape-Tours/291250404229227 www.lairdleisuretravel.com www.missoulaseniorcenter.org

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What’s An Antique? – continued from page 16 treasure! Appraisers do charge for their services, but will often provide you with high retail. Dealers don’t buy and appraise at the same time. It is a conflict of interest. Most dealers are not jumping at the opportunity to give you a price off the street. Their knowledge has often come from years of learning, as well as ongoing daily researching of merchandise for their own shop inventory. They aren’t free appraisers and generally prefer you to have a ballpark idea of what you’d like to sell for. If you spend a day perusing antique shops for prices and another day on the internet doing the same thing, you will quickly see why appraisals are not free! For one thing, price is a nebulous concept, and prices are all over the map varying by location, condition, scarcity, etc. There are price guides, as well, but if you look at five of them, and happen to find your item in two of them, they will be miles apart! So prices are obvi-

ously not set in stone and have to factor in many things. Condition is important! I remember customers with an item that was just like the one on the TV that was $100,000.00. Except, theirs is made of mahogany not rosewood, and the mirror was broken, the legs had been sawed off, all the hardware was missing, and Grandpa had painted it pink. Other than that, though-it was just the same! Pricing is really a combination of all of the above. And that is only if you are then willing to take the time to retail your items – like at an antique show, or flea market, ad in the newspaper, or on the net. If want to skip all of that, you must be willing to accept wholesale if you sell to a shop. So it is a matter of how much time you have to learn values, and market and sell your own items, or settle for less, and be done with them. Which brings me to another issue. Nostalgia. If you are the LEAST bit reluctant to sell your antique… DON’T sell it! All shops have stories about the lady who sold her item, had second thoughts, and came back 15 minutes after it sold, with tears in her eyes and wanted it back! Some pieces just have sentimental value to you, which is fine! Just keep it, and let your children decide if it has meaning to them later on! Antiques do sell at garage sales, of course, but it is tough to get full shop-retail at them. There is just that mentality that the items at these sales will be a deal, so be prepared for that! They might offer you 50% or less off of your asking price. Don’t be offended. It’s a dance that you need to respond to! But it is a challenge to get retail prices at a garage sale-so be prepared for that! All in all buying and selling antiques is a ton of fun and never a dull moment! Buying is the most fun, of course antique dealers are just antique customers that have gone overboard and had to open a shop or mall booth because they couldn’t walk thru their homes and garages anymore! Enjoy! MSN

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

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What better way to reflect the magnificence of the good old USA than in the colorful nicknames of our 50 glorious states. We have selected half of them for our State Monikers: It’s All In A Name featured quiz. How good is your knowledge of geography and state history? Our winner of the $25 prize for the winning answers to the Thoughtful Quotes From Famous Folks quiz that appeared in the June/July issue is V.K. DeLeon of Emigrant. Congratulations! Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Montana Senior News. One prize goes to the person who submits the entry selected by our staff as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for

that issue. Turn your creativity loose and send us some good, interesting puzzles! The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the correct answers to the featured quiz or puzzle from the previous issue. When there is a tie, the winner is determined by a drawing. Please mail your entries to the Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 or email them to montsrnews@bresnan.net by September 10, 2012 for our October/November 2012 edition. Remember to work the crossword puzzle in this issue and on our website www.montanaseniornews.com.

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49. Hooded water-repelling garment used for a raincoat 52. At leisure 54. You get one in class 55. Colorful fish 56. Exist 57. Gator or lemon? 59. ___ bag, a drawstring bag used to carry camping items 60. Miss Piggy’s “moi” 61. You can do this summer camp activity on a mountain or on the road

Down

Across 1. ___box, container for keeping your camp kitchen organized 4. A way to attach a tent to the poles 8. This organization hired young men from 1933 to 1942 to revitalize America’s forests, for short 10. “Leave ___ trace,” statement meaning that you should clean up your campsite before you leave 12. Set up 13. __verter, electrical device used when “boon docking” 15. Lunch time 16. Poorly lit 18. ___ tai, tropical cocktail 20. Round tent type 21. ___ stove, a portable cooking surface

22. National Park Service, for short 23. ___ water, water that has been used in the sink, shower, or laundry 24. ___ bag, tapered sleeping bag 27. You, in Quebec 28. Lexus __ 29. Fish eggs 30. Sun beams 31. Route finder 32. Small, standby flame 34. Animal coat 35. Tent and sleeping bag closer 38. Concerning 40. Campfire desserts 42. In that location 43. Transcendental number 44. Promissory note, abbr. 46. Horse motions

1. Charcoal ___, a tool used outdoors to start charcoal for the grill 2. One, en Francais 3. Tent bed 5. Clothes ___, a suspended rope in a campsite used to hang wet clothes to dry 6. ___pane, camp stove fuel 7. Vice 9. Hike helper 11. Metal eyelet used to secure the ends of tent poles 14. Short snooze 16. ___ camp, type of summertime camp for kids 17. 21st century communication, abbr. 19. Philosophy, suffix 21. Baked beans holder 23. ___-line, a rope used to secure tents and keep them from blowing away 25. Website address 26. Farm noise 27. Waterproof tent covering

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 21

28. ___ gas, this gas is used to fuel appliances in an RV 31. “Ready, set, ___!” 32. Water-well feature 33. Metal 34. Failing grades 36. Ma’s mate 37. Din___, booth-like dining area in an RV 38. Decide 39. Reelly fun camping activity? 41. Something to do around the campfire 45. Out of the sun place to put your tent 47. Poison ___, rash-causing plant that you might encounter on a hike 48. ___ watching, popular camping activity where you may use binoculars 49. Campfire fly, for example 50. Study strategy 51. Lyrical poem 53. Started a fire 58. Approve MSN

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Help A Relative Enjoy The Summer By Lisa M. Petsche Many people look forward to the mild temperatures and increased daylight of summer, which positively affect their mood and allow new opportunities for enjoyment, especially outdoors. However, those who may be socially isolated – due to illness, disability, or loss of a companion, for example – may find it difficult to reap the benefits of the season. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to help a relative, friend, or neighbor in this situation partake of summer’s pleasures. Lighten the load – Prepare extra foods or beverages to share with the person – for example, homemade lemonade or iced tea, pasta salad, sliced watermelon, strawberry shortcake, or rhubarb pie. Offer to help with gardening or lawn care. Take your relative out to the mall for shopping – perhaps for a new summer wardrobe and lunch. If they use a wheelchair, investigate accessible taxi options or register them with the local accessible transportation service. If they can get in and out of a car and walk short distances, arrange to borrow a wheelchair from the mall’s customer service kiosk. Let them know when you are heading out to the grocery store or on other errands, and ask what you can drop off or pick up to make things easier.

If they do not drive, offer transportation so they can get their hair done, do banking, or attend a special event. Try some pampering – Summer is a good time to indulge a little. Share fresh fruit, vegetables, or flowers from your garden or the market. Include a vase with the latter, so they are ready to display. Buy your relative some toiletries or home fragrance products in a summery scent, such as lily of the valley or peach. Get them a box of favorite ice cream treats the next time you are at the grocery store. Or take them out to the local dairy for an ice cream cone or sundae. Buy them a seasonal outdoor gift to enjoy – for example, wind chimes, a hanging plant, decorative flower pots, a bird feeder, solar garden accents, or a patio chair and side table. Ideas for activities – Invite your relative over for a barbecue or to watch a favorite summerthemed movie. Have a picnic in their backyard or yours or at a nearby park. Go for a stroll around the neighborhood, using a wheelchair if necessary. Take them to the local farmers’ market for fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as favorite meat, cheeses and baked goods.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Go to a park or other outdoor public space and people-watch. Invite them to some of your children’s or grandchildren’s baseball or soccer games and provide transportation. Just be sure they can safely navigate the distance and terrain from parking lot to sports field. And don’t forget a chair for them that offers good support. Take them to an outdoor concert or summer arts festival. Go for a drive in the country. Encourage them to reminisce about summers from their youth, including family customs, special people and places, and touching or humorous moments. Heat wave hints – Make daily checks during heat waves to ensure they are eating and especially drinking sufficiently. Buy them pre-cooked foods that only require warming, and arrange for more groceries as necessary. Also, ensure they are not overdressed and are acting normally. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any concerns about their physical or mental state. If they do not have central air conditioning, ensure they have fans or window air conditioners to improve airflow and evaporate sweat. Check that any such appliances are in good repair and being used. Encourage your relative to stay on the lowest possible floor of their home, preferably on the shaded side, and to open windows in the evening if there is a breeze. Help them obtain an air conditioning unit if they do not have one, or arrange during a heat wave for them to stay with someone (you, another relative, or a friend) whose home is climate controlled. Provide or arrange for transportation to appointments, for errands, or to take them to a cool place. They should not be walking any distance or waiting at bus stops in extreme weather. With a little help from a friend – you – the summer time for a loved one or friend can be enjoyable and full of entertainment and variety. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. She has professional and personal experience with elder care. MSN

Is It Time To Move? Things To Think About By Lisa M. Petsche As people age, and especially if they have chronic health conditions, at some point they are likely to find that their home no longer suits their lifestyle or their needs. It is worth considering a move if it might improve life in one or more of the following areas. Freedom. Reducing responsibilities associated with home ownership, particularly property maintenance. Also, allowing more time for recreation and leisure activities, such as engaging in a hobby, spending time with family, volunteering, or traveling. Independence. Offloading as many responsibilities of daily living as possible, in order to continue to live independently in spite of decreased physical functioning. People in this situation may wish to eliminate not only property maintenance tasks but also housecleaning, laundering, and meal preparation. Climate. Relocating to somewhere with a moderate climate, for health and safety reasons or for comfort and convenience – to be able to engage in favorite outdoor activities year-round, for example. Home design. Increasing the accessibility of one’s home – specifically, making it easier and safer to enter and exit, access all areas and use rooms for their intended purpose. A one-floor, open concept plan is typically desirable. Some people (those who use a wheelchair, for example) may need a setting designed for the physically disabled. Finances. Reducing expenses associated with shelter, including mortgage or rent, property taxes, utilities, and maintenance. Another reason some people move is that the cost of home adaptations to improve safety and accessibility is beyond their means or is not a wise investment from a real estate market perspective. Socialization. Increasing opportunities for social contact. Specifically, the goal might be moving closer to family members, especially children and grandchildren, or relocating to a community of peers. Security. Reducing the risk of victimization. For example, those who are

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anxious about answering the door, leaving their home unattended, or coming home to an empty house may experience increased peace of mind living in a gated community with security patrol or an apartment building with a security desk and locked mailboxes. Community access. Improving access to shopping, medical resources, places of worship and other amenities such as parks and recreation centers. This might entail moving closer to the city center or to public transit routes. Health. Ensuring ongoing healthcare needs are met. Needs may include one or more of the following: medication management, medical monitoring, a special diet, skilled nursing care, personal care and supervision or assistance with mobilizing. Residence options There are many possibilities for alternate living arrangements, depending on a person’s needs and preferences. Options include: • Moving in with a relative or friend for companionship and perhaps practical assistance, and to share expenses • Moving to a similar-sized home with a more suitable design • Downsizing to a smaller house or a condominium or apartment (some seniors’ apartments

may be geared to income and have modified units for the physically disabled) • Moving to an adult lifestyle community • Moving to a long-term care setting such as a retirement home or a skilled nursing facility. If you are considering a long-term care residence, it is important to go beyond location, curb appeal, and advertisements and to take personal tours. Plan to visit several places, and take a relative or friend along for a second opinion. Also, take along a notebook and pen for recording information, observations, and impressions. Planning ahead Because a move in mid to late life usually involves downsizing, it’s wise, if you anticipate changing residences in the next few years, to begin now to sort through your possessions and sell or give away items. It takes longer than expected to go through this emotion-laden process. If you intend to relocate in the near future, consider hiring a professional organizer to assist with the paring-down process, or a senior move specialist who can help with everything from planning to setting up in your new residence. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. MSN

Whose Choice? By Bradley Williams Have you been asked to engage in “aid-indying?” Were you told that “aid-in-dying” is legal? Did something about what you were told seem not quite right? “Aid-in-dying” is a euphemism for assisted suicide and euthanasia. See e.g., the Model Aidin-Dying Act, at www.uiowa.edu/~sfklaw/euthan. html (note the letters “euthan” in the link). The term, “aid-in-dying” is also not limited to people who are dying. In the Montana Supreme Court case, Baxter, the plaintiffs had sought to legalize “aid-in-dying” for people with chronic conditions, for example, an 18 year old who is insulin-dependent. See www. choiceisanillusion. files.wordpress.com/2012/07/schrempp_wonderly_opn_ltr1.pdf “Aid-in-dying” is, regardless, not legal. Baxter did not legalize the practice. Moreover, a bill that would have legalized the practice (SB 167) was defeated by the last Montana legislature. Proponents claim that legalization will assure patient “choice.” This is untrue. The bill proposed last session allowed the lethal dose to be administered without oversight. If enacted, the bill would have created the opportunity for an heir, or someone else who would benefit from the death, to administer the lethal dose to the patient without the patient’s consent. Not her choice! Even if she struggled, who would know? To learn more, contact Montanans Against Assisted Suicide & For Living with Dignity, 610 North 1st Street, Suite 5-285, Hamilton, MT 59840 at 406-531-0937 or visit www.montanansagainstassistedsuicide.org. MSN

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 27

Hemochromatosis: A Common But Under-diagnosed Disease By Lisa M. Petsche Chances are good that you have never heard of hemochromatosis, also known as iron overload disease, despite its being the most common genetic disorder in the western world. Although it can affect males and females at any time in life, it typically manifests itself in middle age. The disease is potentially fatal, but the earlier it is diagnosed, the better one’s chances are of being able to lead a long and healthy life. A metabolic, multi-system disease, HH causes the body to absorb and retain too much dietary iron – two to three times the normal amount. Since there is no regular mechanism for eliminating iron from the body, the excess iron is stored in tissues and can cause damage in many areas, including joints, the heart, brain, liver, pancreas, and endocrine glands. “The speed at which iron builds up and the severity of the symptoms vary,” says the CDC, and “many people do not have any early symptoms.” Unfortunately, by the time they are diagnosed – if they are ever properly diagnosed – they have sustained irreversible damage. Take the case of Lorraine. After several years of health issues – including fatigue, weakness, abdominal and joint pain, and Parkinson-like symptoms – and visits to numerous medical specialists who were puzzled by symptoms, she was extremely frustrated and discouraged that no underlying cause could be found. Meanwhile, her physical functioning became more and more compromised. A naturopath suggested iron testing. In 2006, at age 69, Lorraine was diagnosed with the disease. Her iron levels were life-threateningly high but gradually returned to normal because of weekly phlebotomies (blood removal treatments from the arm, similar to blood donation) over the course of a year. Lorraine was told she was lucky that her internal organs had not been damaged. However,

her joints have been severely affected, leading testing ordered with regular medical checkups. Author’s note: Lorraine is my mother, and we to the need for multiple joint replacements. The management plan includes regular blood testing are making it our mission to spread awareness to check her iron levels, and periodic phlebotomies about hereditary hemochromatosis. If we can save even one person from the health problems she has as indicated. Diagnosis of HH is difficult because symptoms endured, and perhaps even save a life, our efforts are vague, often masking themselves as other, more will have been worthwhile. MSN common conditions. In her journey through the healthcare system, Lorraine discovered that most Compare us to other Retirement Communities and healthcare professionals you will discover exceptional living at an affordable price and the real value Sweetwater offers in a know little about HH. fun-loving, home environment. She found valuable research articles, and Retirement is meant to be enjoyed. Sweetwater is other materials through where it happens! the Hemochromatosis Call us at 406-651-8111 to schedule a private tour Society. (1-888-655and come see why we say… IRON (4766) or go to the website at www. ® americanhs.org.) Talk to your doctor, because two simple and inexpensive blood tests can detect iron overload Sweetwater Villas, Independent & Assisted Living and may save your life. These tests are not part 3140 Sweet Water Drive • Billings, MT 59102 of the standard blood SweetwaterRetirement.com

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Keeping Peace Of Mind In Long-Distance Care By Lisa M. Petsche Approximately seven million Americans are involved in the care of an older adult - usually a parent - who lives in a different area, be it an hour’s drive or a plane trip away. The average travel time to reach their relative is four hours. At the best of times, caregiving involves a certain amount of stress, but often the anxiety is compounded when there are many miles between the caregiver and care receiver. Indeed, long-distance caregiving can be emotionally and financially draining. Worries about a parent’s physical, mental, and emotional health and safety can be overwhelming at times. You may wonder if plans you have set up are being implemented properly, or if you are going to get a call that there is a crisis. You may also feel guilty that you can +RPH +HDOWK not be there on a daily basis to see how your parent is doing (which may be quite +RVSLFH different from what he or she reports) and provide assistance as needed. You +RPH 0HGLFDO (TXLSPHQW might wonder if you should be making more sacrifices - either moving closer or ,QIXVLRQ 7KHUDS\ inviting mom or dad to come live with you. ACHC Then there are the financial costs: the +RPH &RPPXQLW\ %DVHG 6HUYLFHV ACCREDITED many long-distance telephone calls; travel expenses, and wear on your car; and perhaps the cost of hiring a companion QDWLRQDOO\ DFFUHGLWHG KRPH or personal support worker because KHDOWK FDUH RUJDQL]DWLRQ :H you cannot be there yourself. If you are &R IRXQGHG E\ 6W 3DWULFN +RVSLWDO DQG &RPPXQLW\ 0HGLFDO &HQWHU employed, you may have to take time off KDYH EHHQ EULQJLQJ KHDOWK FDUH work to deal with crises; some employKRPH WR SDWLHQWV DQG WKHLU ers are less sympathetic than others are. Despite these challenges, there are saintpatrick.org IDPLOLHV LQ :HVWHUQ 0RQWDQD many ways to maintain peace of mind while providing long-distance care: Make it easy for people to get in touch with you. Get an answering machine if you do not already have one, >:DD@F=2 %!' (#) ))%) A@=D@? %!' ))$ )%"# www.partnersinhomecare.org and perhaps a cell phone or pager as #')( AR]^Vc De DeV 3 " "%eY 2gV H well. E-mail may also be advantageous.

PAGE 28 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

Set up a regular time to call your parent (many people choose Sunday evenings). Find someone local who can check with your parent daily, either by phone or in person. This could be a reliable neighbor or relative, or even a

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

volunteer from a telephone reassurance service. Keep important phone numbers handy: your parent’s neighbors, close friends, family physician, local pharmacy, and any home health care providers. Ensure all of these people also have your name and contact information, and encourage them to call you with any concerns. Stay in touch to get their ongoing perspectives on how your parent is doing, and do not forget to express appreciation for their assistance. Shop around for a good long-distance savings plan so you do not have to be too concerned about the frequency and duration of caregiving-related telephone calls. You might consider getting a private, toll-free number so that friends, neighbors, and health care providers have no reservations about regularly calling you. Maintain a file of key information, such as your parent’s medical conditions and surgical history, medications, medical specialists, banking institutions, and other financial contacts, lawyer, clergy, as well as daily or weekly schedule and any upcoming appointments. Obtain a local phone directory if possible. If your parent has a chronic illness, obtain information from the appropriate organization (for example, the Parkinson Foundation) to help you

understand the disease and get an idea of what to expect for the future. Investigate other available resources in your parent’s community, which might include: personal emergency response systems; letter carrier or utility company alert services; accessible transportation; adult day care programs and other leisure programming; outreach services such as foot care and seniors dental clinics; home health services involving nursing, homemaking, therapy, and companion services; and alternative housing. Such information can be obtained from the local Area Agency on Aging. (To find the appropriate office, call the Administration on Aging’s toll-free Eldercare Locator Service at 1-800-677-1116 or search online at http://www.eldercare.gov/.) When you do have an opportunity to visit, pay close attention to your parent’s physical condition, mental functioning, and mood. Consult his or her family doctor if you have any concerns. Perform a safety assessment of the home environment to identify potential hazards - for example, throw rugs that do not stay in place - and do what you can to remove them. Visit a medical supply store and check out the many products that might make daily activities easier and safer for your parent. Better yet, locate an occupational therapist who performs home assessments and can make recommendations in this regard. If you have siblings in the area, arrange a family meeting to discuss your parent’s needs and determine who can provide help. Ideally, plan to stay with your parent long enough so you are not rushed. That way you will have ample time not only to attend meetings (try to set these up in advance of your arrival) and run errands, but to enjoy your parent’s company. Even if he or she appears to be managing well right now, it is a good idea to begin learning about resources in the community should your parent require help in the future. Keeping one-step ahead will help make your role as long-distance caregiver a little easier. Lisa M. Petsche is a clinical social worker and freelance writer specializing in elder care issues. MSN

A Message from Barrett Hospital & HealthCare Gregory J Moore, MD FACEP FAWM The entire staff here at Barrett Hospital & HealthCare is excited for our new hospital that provides our great community an atmosphere of healing and better care. Patients who face extreme illness often do not remember the specifics of what was done, or even the exact meaning of what may have been said to them. What patients do remember is how you make them feel. Excellent medical care arises from a team of professionals, and we have an outstanding staff totally committed to patient care and have imbued a personal compassion for our patients. Our new hospital creates an “environment of healingâ€? that addresses our patients’ growing needs in light of advancing medical technology. The new hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring capabilities and upgraded technology to provide patients with the latest medical advances - all in renewed surroundings that are an optimal setting for you and your family. Our entire staff is highly dedicated and looks forward to attending to your health and healing. We are grateful and honored to be a part of this community and we thank you for making Barrett Hospital & HealthCare your first choice for great care. For additional information, please call us at 406- 683-6737. MSN +(/(1$ $5($ 75$16,7 6(59,&( 0²) ([FHSW +ROLGD\V

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Support the Hospice Expansion Campaign The Benefis Peace Hospice Residential Facility is a special place where hospice patients can spend their final days surrounded by loved ones, living with dignity, comfort, and peace. Unfortunately, since 2009, a waiting list has left many patients unable to take advantage of this special care. In response, the Benefis Health System Foundation has launched a $1.57 million campaign to add eight new rooms to the Hospice House, along with an elevator and second staircase to access storage and multi-use space in the basement. We still are about $400,000 short of our goal. A meaningful way you can support this important campaign is to purchase a paver, beautifully engraved with the name of a loved one, your family name, or any special words you wish to share. Pavers will be placed in the central atrium, where patients and families can enjoy a lovely garden and other peaceful sights and sounds. Pavers are available in three sizes: 6-by-6-inches for $500; 12-by-6-inches for $1,000; and 12-by-12inches for $2,000. To purchase a paver or for more information, please call the Benefis Foundation at 406-4555840. You also may make a gift or download paver order forms online at www.benefisfoundation. org. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 29

Special Projects From MT Independent Living Project MILP was recently awarded a grant to provide mobility management service in Meagher and Wheatland counties through the National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST). At MILP we understand that people are sparse and space is wide. We hope to improve that gap by increasing the availability of transportation options in these counties. The grant provides support and guidance to the rural communities to form ride-share and voucher programs as well as to establish Transportation Advisory Committees to encourage community support and sustainability. For more information on this program, please contact MILP at 800-735-7300. In recent advocacy news, the four Centers for Independent Living in Montana have advocated for DPHHS to apply for a Money Follows the Person (MFP) planning grant. The MFP grant will be managed similarly to other home and community-based services. The grant will assist seniors and individuals with disabilities to transition from long-term care facilities back to a community-based setting of their choice. After all, isn’t that where we all want to live? With MFP funds, those individuals who wish to move into a less restrictive environment will be provided case management, independent living skills, and financial assistance to achieve their goal. MSN

Charles Russell was inspired by the American West. What will inspire you?

PAGE 30 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Enjoy Your Montana Summer By Turning Off Political Pollution By Bob Campbell Anyone fortunate enough to enjoy childhood in Montana remembers those wonderful summer days hiking, fishing, or just escaping from civilization. Life was so less complicated and campaigning for political office was suspended from Memorial Day to Labor Day except for the patriotic county fair booths handing out materials. Those days are gone forever and have been replaced with unlimited negative political

messages flooding our airwaves. Congress is in such political paralysis that its approval rating has slipped to 9 percent, the worst ever recorded. Fortunately, we do have a clear majority of Montanans agreeing that our state constitution has served the state well. On June 15, the signers of the Montana Constitution met in the House Chambers in Helena to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ratification of the document in 1972. Leaders from both political parties praised the vision of the document that was designed to meet the challenges of a modern Montana. We have excellent protection of individual rights to know what policies are being proposed and an opportunity to appear and comment on such policies. Recorded votes are required at every stage of the process

and judicial review is available to settle disputes. We have the only state constitution that recognizes and requires the state to preserve the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians – true American natives. Thomas Jefferson knew that a democracy could not exist without a quality system of free public education. To insure the protection of the funds necessary to provide this education, diversion of such funds is prohibited to non-public schools whether directly, indirectly, or through a system of vouchers. Each year some ten million visitors come to Montana to see how we were able to have such a remarkable environment and stable government. This enjoyment is much greater if you can avoid the negative ads from out-of-state special interest groups. MSN

Ann George’s Novels Are Entertaining & Satisfying By Clare Hafferman When I was selling books for a living, a wellknown customer came in one night, and we began discussing mysteries. “Well,” said the customer about a famous author, “he’s got the formula.” I cannot remember which writer he referred to, but I caught the meaning. Let us say it was Rex Stout. He wrote about Nero Wolfe and his devotion to his orchids on the third floor of his Brownstone dwelling in New York City. Then there was Archie and the dialogue that ensued between Nero, his employer, and him. The crux of these books was that Nero never went outside of his own door if he could avoid it. He sent Archie. Then Archie would come back with the details of the crime committed, and Nero would expose the psychology of the criminal and solve the mystery of the physical evidence. Included in this formulaic writing were the police, represented by the ill-tempered Inspector, and to bring another note to the symphony was Nero’s chef, Fritz, whose menus and activities in the kitchen were lovingly described. Also included as a break from the routine were instances when Archie took time off and escaped to go dancing. That might sound odd, but in an excellent PBS series that dealt with Mr. Stout’s books about Nero, one of the delightful portrayals was when the character representing Archie (and he couldn’t have been better) would go dancing. You would have had to be a fan to appreciate that. Readers who want to meet certain characters again and again through the printed page don’t mind the formatted storyline, and pick up the next edition on that basis. I have two friends who told

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

me they own every one of Rex’s books. The seven books that Anne George wrote in the Southern Sisters series could be said to follow a formula. The younger sister is Patricia Anne, a retired teacher. She leads you in and out of the crimes committed. She and her husband Fred, who owns a metal-fabricating business, have grown up children, who are lovingly described. So is Fred. Patricia’s sister Mary Alice is her aider and abettor, but a woman with a different personality and someone who shades the truth willingly. Patricia is described as small and slim. Mary Alice is six feet tall, but claims it should be five-eleven and that she is “close to” 200 pounds. She is a wealthy widow whose three deceased husbands have been buried side by side in the local cemetery. She goes to visit their gravesites on occasion. On one of these times she tells Patricia that she also took flowers to Bear Bryant’s grave because as a loyal Alabaman, you wouldn’t want to forget “The Bear.” Patricia just says, “Too true.” The action for these books takes place in Birmingham, Alabama, once famously known for its steel production. As a reminder of that industry, a gigantic statue of Vulcan, God of the forge, overlooks his city wearing a leather apron to, according to Patricia, protect him from the fire, but with his bare backside mooning the rest of the population. I haven’t written to the Chamber of Commerce to confirm that, but I still might. There are other details of this Southern locality that you would probably recognize. The sisters and their friends and relatives get along on gallons of sweet tea they buy by the jug at the Piggly Wiggly. Patricia and Mary Alice eat out frequently on Mary Alice’s dime, (who wants to cook in that heat?), and when minding their manners, they refer to lessons their Mama gave them. If this all sounds too simple to be read, I skipped the other part. Anne George wrote with tongue-in-cheek humor and a straightforward way of saying things. She also acquaints you with another part of the country – its weather, its flowers and trees, its attitudes among relatives, friends, and children – their aptitudes, jobs, failings, and successes. I could relate to these people, and when I learned that the author had left this mortal coil in 2002, I felt like I had lost an articulate and funny friend. One night when I could not sleep, I picked one of her paperbacks off the shelf. A few sentences later I snorted with laughter. There are no spies, no intrigues, nothing you have to mull over or try to solve. This was just an author writing about a place and people she loved and understood. With a little crime thrown in. Mayhem with humor. I liked it. I hope you like her, too. MSN

Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. At’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is. - Bob Feller

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 31

CASEY

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PAGE 32 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

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Testosterone and Prostate Cancer By Plato Rosinke Everyone should know that when testosterone is metabolized, it produces DHT as one of the by-products, which is what allows your muscles and erections to grow. That is a good thing! However, DHT that doesn’t get burned up during sex or working out is also what is at the root of your prostate problems. The fact of the matter is that DHT is always being produced, and a lot of us simply cannot burn it off fast enough – no matter how much we work out in the gym or how much sex we have. In the case of prostate problems, one camp blames a lack of testosterone while the other camp blames too much of it. I have even heard of a doctor suggesting castration as a means of preventing the spread of prostate cancer because he believed it was the only way to prevent testosterone from acting as fuel for the cancer. Talk about a case of throwing away both the baby and the bathwater! I’m sure that we’ve all heard at some point or another the notion that more sex is the solution to prostate problems, citing as evidence the high incidence of prostate cancer in celibate priests. Let’s think about this for a moment: If more sex was really the solution, why did a certain rock-star die from prostate cancer? Also, if prostate cancer is the number one cancer killer of males, were all these murdered males celibate? Not likely. While common sense would indicate that utter sexual abstinence may be harmful over the course of a lifetime, prostate cancer remains the number one cancer-killer of males DESPITE the fact that very few males are either rock stars or priests! So, prostate cancer has little to do with sexual activity or the testosterone that fuels it. Rather, it is an issue of how we handle the excessive DHT in our bodies. With today’s meat and hormone-filled diets, it should be no wonder that our current report card is so poor. This is why pro-hormone supplementation is replete with warnings that people with prostate problems should not be taking their products. (Bodybuilders love excess DHT that they can direct into their muscle tissue.) Benign prostatic hyperplasia, often referred to as simply BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate gland that usually occurs in men who are over the age of 50. This enlargement in the prostate gland can cause a gradual squeezing of the urethra, which makes urinating difficult and painful. Many men who experience this prostate problem do not have any symptoms at all and it may not be detected until an annual rectal exam. Men with this prostate problem who do experience symptoms are likely to notice difficulty in starting urination, frequent urination as well as an increased frequency in awakening at night to urinate. Prostate cancer, another prostate problem, is perhaps the most severe and is one of the leading types of cancers diagnosed in American men. Each year almost a quarter of a million new cases are diagnosed. It is estimated that prostate cancer will affect one out of every ten men. Each year more than 30,000 men die from prostate cancer. Because of the seriousness of this prostate problem, prostate cancer is perhaps the most serious of all the different types of prostate disease. Prostate cancer generally occurs in men who are over the age of 65, although cases in younger men certainly occur. There is a high incidence of prostate cancer occurring in men who are shown to have a family history of this disease. African-American men are considered to be particularly at risk for prostate cancer and suffer from the highest death rates related to this disease. MSN

Grandmother Gardener Health nut Vegettarian

Heart patient

When it comes to heart health, Community gives me more than an ounce of prevention. The Montana Heart Center at Community has always believed when it comes to heart health, defense is the best offense. But for the times it isn’t enough, we’re here to provide all aspects of cardiac care. It takes only seconds for a heart attack or stroke to occur, but it takes years of experience to be able to offer best-in-class cardiac care. From nuclear imaging to personalized cardiac rehabilitation programs. If it’s cardiac care, of course it’s Community. Visit communitymed.org/cardiology Community Medical Center is an independent, local, non-profit hospital.

communitymed.org/cardiology

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 33

Cataracts — What You Should Know Provided by the Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute Cataracts are a cloudiness that develops in the clear lens of the eye. This cloudiness worsens until it scatters or blocks light trying to enter the eye and causes vision to become dim, blurry, and distorted. A cataract is not a growth over the eye. It is the result of a breakdown inside the clear lens of the eye. This breakdown is the result of the natural process of growing older. It can happen quickly, within a few months, or so slowly that the loss of crisp, clear vision may go unnoticed. As cataracts mature, vision dims, fine detail is lost, and more and more light is required for reading. Driving at night with glare and bright lights can be bothersome and dangerous, and detail work can become increasingly difficult. Symptoms - When cataracts begin to form, the following symptoms may be noticed: • Blurry or distorted vision • Foggy or cloudy vision • Slowly but steadily degenerating vision • Need for more reading light • Increasing problems with glare from lights Once the cloudy lens begins to affect a person’s daily activities and impair their lifestyle, cataract surgery should be considered. Risk Factors - Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, and if people live long enough, most will eventually develop them. However, formation can be accelerated by: • Smoking • High exposure to ultraviolet light • A severe blow or trauma to the eye • Certain diseases, medications, toxic chemicals, and radiation The Solution - The only treatment for cataracts is to surgically remove the clouded lens. It is normally replaced with a tiny artificial lens implant. When performed by a skilled surgeon, cataract surgery is one of the most successful operations available. And it can be done as outpatient day-

surgery with quick recovery. How Vision Works - Many parts of the eye work together to catch and focus light rays, so we can see. Light passes through the cornea, the pupil, and then the transparent lens, where it is shaped and focused onto the retina at the back of the eye. Tiny receptors in the retina capture and send these light images to the brain. How Cataract Surgery Works - Cataract surgery is performed under a powerful microscope and involves two stages. First, the eye’s cloudy lens is removed, and second, an artificial lens is inserted to replace the eye’s focusing power. The surgeon makes a very small opening at the edge of the eye to allow precision instruments to reach inside the lens. With delicate skill, the surgeon guides a tiny ultrasound probe to gently break up and suction out the cloudy lens material. Then, a specially selected lens implant is carefully placed inside the eye to restore clear, bright vi-

sion. Several lens implant options are available for those who want to reduce their need for corrective eyewear. The opening into the eye is so small, it heals without any stitches. Advice and Guidance – Your family eye doctor can discuss options and help you decide if cataract surgery is the best choice for you. Together, you can decide when the time is right. MSN

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PAGE 34 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Family History of Eye Disease Dramatically Increases Risk for Blindness Many people are unaware that eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma can run in families. Having a family history of these diseases can significantly increase a person’s risk for developing them. In fact, people who have a family member with glaucoma are four to nine times more likely to be stricken by this leading cause of blindness. Being armed with your family medical history is a key component in preventing vision loss from genetic eye disease. That is why the American Academy of Ophthalmology and EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, encourages all Americans to discuss their eye health history with family members. Family reunions and other summer gatherings offer a great opportunity to share this important information.

“Many people don’t know if eye diseases run in their family,” said Richard P. Mills, M.D., M.P.H., chair of EyeCare America. “Family gatherings are a great time to find out. Having this valuable information can help you and your ophthalmologist – an eye medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery – to take the appropriate steps to minimize your risk and save your sight.” The Academy and EyeCare America encourage people to take the following steps during family visits: • Ask family members if they have an eye disease. • Tell family members of any eye disease you have yourself. • Go to www.eyecareamerica.org to see if you or your family members qualify for a free eye exam, and then share any family history of eye disease with your ophthalmologist. Along with knowing family history of eye disease, eye exams are a critical tool to catch eye diseases early and prevent vision loss. To ensure that high-risk communities, including people with a family history of eye disease, African-Americans, Hispanics and those ages 65 and older, have access to sight-saving eye exams and care, EyeCare America offers free or no-out-ofpocket cost eye exams to qualifying individuals. The organization matches eligible patients with an ophthalmologist in their area who will provide a comprehensive eye examination. In some cases, patients may also receive up to one year of care at no out-of-pocket cost. EyeCare America is made possible through the generous support of the Knights Templar Foundation, Genentech, and Alcon. Those interested in finding out if they qualify for a free eye exam by a local ophthalmologist may visit the online referral center at www.eyecareamerica.org. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons – Eye M.D.s – with more than 32,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s.” For more information, visit www.aao.org. The Academy’s EyeSmart® program educates the public about the importance of eye health and empowers them to preserve their healthy vision by providing the most trustworthy and medically accurate information about eye diseases, conditions, and injuries. Visit www.geteyesmart.org to learn more. MSN

Diabetes On-The-Go A whole industry has grown up around freeing diabetics to lead less restricted lives. Tubeless insulin pumps, a needleless blood-glucose monitoring system, and diabetic-friendly frozen foods are among the innovations helping people with the metabolic disorder to live lives on the go. With the number of diabetics growing worldwide – 246 million at last count, according to the World Health Organization – businesses are motivated. In 2011, diabetes therapeutic products were a $23.7 billion dollar industry

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

feeding a growing population that’s starving for a better quality of life, says Chef Robert Lewis, “The Happy Diabetic,â€? author of two cookbooks for people with the metabolic disorder. “It wasn’t long ago that Type 1 diabetics had to be sure they packed ample sterile syringes and insulin, whether they were going to work for the day or on a road trip,â€? he says. “Monitoring blood sugar levels, which is crucial to keeping vital organs healthy, was painful, primitive, and hit-or-miss. “And food? That’s been the hardest. A diabetes diagnosis can feel like a life sentence of bland eating.â€? Among the “firstsâ€? Lewis says diabetics can look forward to: • The first tubeless insulin pump. Thirty years ago, people with insulin-dependent diabetes had to give themselves shots around the clock to control their blood sugar levels. In some cases, diabetics were hospitalized to ensure they got the insulin necessary to prevent ketoacidosis, a condition that can lead to coma and death. In 1983, the insulin pump was introduced. It attaches to the body and provides continuous insulin injections. But while it was a major breakthrough, it can be bulky and awkward, with a dangling catheter. The most recent innovation is a streamlined version called the OmniPod. It has no tubes, it’s smaller, and it attaches anywhere on the body with adhesive. It also has a built-in glucose-monitoring system. • The first needleless glucometer. The Symphony tCGM System uses ultrasound to monitor blood sugar levels, which will free people from the painful pricks needed to get a small blood sample for testing multiple times a day. The device, which attaches with adhesive to the body, continuously tracks glucose levels day and night and can send the readings to your smart phone. Under development for more than a decade, Symphony is undergoing the studies necessary to win regulatory approval.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 35

• The first diabetic-friendly frozen meals. Meals-in-a-Bun (www.lifestylechefs.net) arrived in Northeast U.S. grocery stores in July and will roll out across the country through the end of the year. They’re low on the glycemic index, low in sugar and carbs, high in soluble fiber, low in trans fat, high in lean protein, and low in sodium, Lewis says. “And the best thing is, they are delicious.â€? The five varieties – two vegan and three vegetarian – include selections like Thai Satay – mushrooms, broccoli, and tofu in a whole-wheat flax bun. “This is particularly exciting because, while there have been advances in equipment that makes life easier for diabetics, there haven’t been for convenient, packaged foods.â€? Diabetics who do not watch what they eat may wind up suffering kidney damage, stomach problems, heart disease, pneumonia, gum disease, blindness, stroke, nerve damage, complications during pregnancy, loss of limb, and other health problems, according to the CDC. But many Americans are trending toward healthier diets, eating less meat, gluten, salt, and sugar, Lewis says. Tasty foods developed for diabetics will be excellent choices for them, too. “What’s good for diabetics is good for everyone,â€? he says. “And you don’t have to give up one teaspoon of flavor. “There’s a reason why I am called The Happy Diabetic; I have discovered the joy of nutrition-rich food.â€? Lifestyle Chefs is a Santa Clara, Calif., company specializing in creating meals inspired by world cuisines and using only natural, healthy, and nutritious ingredients. Lifestyle Chefs’ products are all vegetarian and diabetic-friendly, perfect for families who want fast, convenient meals that are low in calories, high in nutrition, and robust in flavor. Chef Robert Lewis, The Happy Diabetic, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1998. He specializes in flavorful recipes that won’t spike a diabetic’s blood sugar. MSN

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Crack One Open By Wendell Fowler “This recipe is certainly silly. It says separate two eggs, but it doesn’t say how far to separate them.” – Gracie Allen It is a fowl proposition, but are demonized eggs all they’re cracked up to be? As a grateful survivor of heart disease, I’ve avoided eggs, the symbol of life, a new beginning, and fertility, since one egg contains the daily limit of 250 to 300 mg of cholesterol. Whoa, let’s back up the old egg cart. Do eggs build up excess cholesterol, or is inflammation to blame for high cholesterol levels? Or maybe it’s not the egg but the hog-wild, supersized consumption of pork sausage gravy, unctuous bacon, salty ham, lard-o-licious hash browns, and petite trans-fat coffee creamers of death accompanying the noble egg that clog arteries with plaque? Wouldn’t it be cool to shake the brave hand of the first hungry human who, after observing a chicken strutting around and then squirting out beige objects, remarked, “Hey, let’s eat one of those!” An Egyptian legend says the egg was created from the sun and the moon. Egg consumption in Western civilization was documented in Roman times and appeared in French and English cookbooks in the 1400s. In the mid19th century, chickens became popular in Europe and America. In China, the barn fowl is described as “the domestic animal who knows time.” Historians believe the first chickens related to today’s egg layers, were brought to America by Columbus. Our intelligent Holy Temple produces the cholesterol it needs, so we needn’t snarf additional. That’s where

things get scrambled. Despite its bad rap, cholesterol is quite essential to many important functions of our systems. The American Heart Association has amended its guidelines on eggs! There is “no longer a specific recommendation on the number of egg yolks a person may consume in a week.” In the other nesting box, if your blood cholesterol is high, have other risk factors for heart disease, or already have heart disease, drop the egg, Bub, and prepare some steel-cut oats or local, protein-rich egg whites for breakfast. I’m a dumb cluck for dissing nature’s most nutritious foods, but today I see them otherwise. Local eggs from family farms are infinitely more nutritious and clean. The 70-calorie “cackle berry” – restaurant jargon for the sound of a frying egg, is rich in protein, riboflavin, niacin, iron, and vitamins D, A, B12, and K. And eggs contain lutein and zeaxanthin, required for healthy eyes. Eggs contain biotin, a member of the vitamin B complex (vitamin H). A deficiency of H can cause dermatitis, dementia, loss of hair, and occasionally brittle nails. Some good eggs are fortified with Omega 3 EFAs. Our Holy Temple cannot produce essential fatty acids; therefore, they must be consumed. As a 23-year vegetarian, I get my EFAs from flax seed and flax seed oil. Fish oil is best. When someone brusquely tells you, “Go suck an egg,” cook it first. Salmonella lurks in a small but unpredictable percentage of raw eggs and can be fatal to infants and those older than 65 with weakened immune response. Scrambled, poached, deviled, basted, boiled, Caesared, or souffled – eat them fresh and in moderation. Grocery eggs can stay in a warehouse for up to six weeks and longer. Please stimulate your local economy by purchasing eggs from a community organic-egg family farm. All established farmers markets will have delicious local fresh eggs. Eggs-istentialist Foghorn Leghorn, president of the LLU, (Local Layers Union) stutters, “Well, I say, I say, this is certainly great news for America’s 240 million exhausted layers producing 5.5 billion dozen eggs per year.” You won’t be pecked to death when you eat local. Instead, you’ll cluck in delight. To purchase a signed copy of Chef Wendell’s new cook book with food essays: http://www.chefwendell.com/book-store.html. MSN

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PAGE 38 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Dad’s Fight for a Gentler Death By Roberta King, Missoula Dad called me in 2008, the summer before he died, and told me he had purchased a gun to end his life. He had gone to court to seek a legal right to aid in dying, but it was taking a long time, and his aggressive cancer was progressing fast. When he told me his plans, I scolded him for being selfish, pointing out my mother would have that violent death as her memory of his passing. We argued about the case that was before District Court Judge Dorothy McCarter. I was hoping it would resolve soon, and I of course, being the child, didn’t think he would leave so soon. He was

only 76 years old. Dad never mentioned it again; he sucked it up and hung on as long as he could. During the last few months of his life, my father’s disease progressed to the stage where he suffered a great deal and was in constant misery. His symptoms included severely swollen glands, pain and aching that made it extremely difficult for him to sit up, problems breathing, chronic fatigue and weakness, persistent infections, inability to sleep, loss of appetite, weight loss, and horrible episodes of alternating sweating and cold. He had lost about 30 pounds from his thin frame by the time he died. My dad was a very proud man. As his disease progressed, his ability to do things for himself decreased. He lost the ability to drive; this was crushing to him. He had been a truck driver for most of his life, and now he couldn’t even drive himself to doctor appointments. He had to rely on my mother for everything. Dad went on hospice November 1, and I went to Billings to see him. I spent the whole drive thinking about what was coming. Once again, selfishly, I didn’t think he would leave so soon. He was so sick and miserable. From statements he made to me and other members of our family, it is clear my father would have availed himself of aid in dying if that choice had been legal in Montana and available to him. But we had heard nothing from the court. I saw him again three weeks later, the week before he died, a skeleton of the man I knew. He was so thin his glasses wouldn’t stay on his face. I immediately burst into tears, and Dad had to comfort me. He asked me how long I thought he would have to endure before he finally died. I couldn’t tell

him. I spent those few days trying to find ways to comfort him: a pillow so he could sit, something to keep his glasses up. When my husband and I left, he said goodbye to me and meant it. I didn’t say my final goodbyes, because I thought I would see him again. On December 5, 2008, I was packing to come back to Billings to see him again. That was the day Judge McCarter issued her ruling. She wrote, “The Montana constitutional rights of individual privacy and human dignity, taken together, encompass the right of a competent terminally [ill] patient to die with dignity…. The patient’s right to die with dignity includes protection of the patient’s physician from liability under the state’s homicide statutes.” My father was sleeping when the news came that he had won his case. He never woke up. The Montana Supreme Court agreed to review Dad’s case. His name was Robert Baxter, and the case is known as Baxter v. Montana. I’m proud that my father’s name will be forever linked to this cause. Just over a year later, the court announced its decision: Terminally ill Montanans have the right to choose aid in dying under state law. Now Montanans have the choice Dad wished and fought for. If they’re confronting cancer or some other life-threatening disease, they don’t have to consider using a gun. They can talk to their doctors about how they want to die. Montanans are doing that now, and doctors are helping them avoid suffering and have a peaceful death. Every Montanan can help strengthen this freedom: just ask your doctor if he or she would support you if you ever wanted to consider aid in dying. Some people are really against anybody having the freedom to make this choice. They hope to scare doctors out of talking about aid in dying with their patients. But I believe in Montana doctors. They won’t hide their heads in the sand in response to bullying. They’ll follow the path lit by medicine and science, and respond to the needs of their patients. MSN

Watching the Mad Men Die

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By Bill Hall I stopped filling my lungs with cigarette smoke years ago, so I suppose it was inevitable that I would retreat in horror from a television program that filled my mind with the memory of smoldering coffin nails. I refer to the AMC series Mad Men that has won widespread acclaim. My wife and I decided to check out the series starting with the initial episodes from five years ago. And that’s possible. Unlike smokers, television series never die. Some of us prefer it that way. Instead of tuning in each week to a live broadcast, we wait a few years and then, if a series seems to measure up, we watch the installments in batches of two or three at a time. When we have a slow week, we binge on episodes, getting over the agony of waiting to find out how the story ends. There’s nothing new about that. My generation cut its teeth half a century ago on Saturday movie theater series that were known appropriately as “cliff hangers.” Typically, each episode would end with a heroine hanging from a cliff by her lovely manicured nails, and then the screen would fade to black with the announcer urging us to return next Saturday to see whether Pauline escaped a horrible death. Pauline never died. To this day, she is living somewhere on a reel of film – and on YouTube, of course. Mad Men is like that, but with the characters sitting calmly in their ad agency chairs smoking like chimneys, hanging on, not by their lovely nails, but by their sooty lungs. The series accurately and chillingly portrays office life as it was in the 1960s when everybody inside a workplace smoked. And I mean everybody, either directly with a cigarette between his lips or as an innocent victim sitting there inhaling office air

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

dense with tobacco smoke. Smoking was especially prevalent in newspaper offices. It went with our image of ourselves as social rebels inclined toward working hard and playing hard, complete with Humphrey Bogart rain coats, a glass of hooch in one hand, a pack of smokes in our shirt pockets, and the pose of a crusader committed to comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. Somehow, smoking was supposed to go with that image. It was as if the bad guys had no respect for an investigative reporter if he didn’t smell like burning weeds. Then one day I came home from my crusading journalist duties feeling half-sick. I realized I had polished off two packs of cigarettes in an eighthour shift. Angry with myself, I stubbed out my last cigarette, gritted my teeth for a couple of months, and slammed the door on coffin nails forever.

After a year or so, a strange thing happened: I started dreaming about smoking. And I wasn’t dreaming that I wanted a cigarette. The opposite was true. It was a nightmare, a dream that I had fallen off the smoke wagon and started the downside of smoking all over again – the yellow fingers, the ashtray-flavored mouth, the holes burned in polyester slacks, the lingering background fear of a smoker that he’s headed for that Big Smokehouse in the Sky where he will spend eternity sitting next to Humphrey Bogart while both hack their lungs out, pretty much ruining their gig in the celestial choir. After two installments of Mad Men, we snuffed out that series because it was so depressing watching all those fictional TV characters smoking and especially because we feared for the actual present-day damage to those Mad Men actors on that set. It was like watching a train crash in slow

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 39

motion. I read that the actors were actually smoking some kind of dried vegetable cigarettes, allegedly safer than tobacco. But smoke is no way to treat your lungs even if it contains no nicotine. The whole thing was ominous to an ex-smoker. I was once in a car crash and I don’t want to watch a television series about that. A television story on a former foolish habit is in the same ballpark. So we bailed on Mad Men. I admit that the show is amazingly accurate in its portrayal of smoking in an office half a lifetime ago. But watching actors shortening their lives with corrosive vegetarian smoke is far more gruesome than it is entertaining. Bill Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone.net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. MSN

How to Find Help Paying for Your Hearing Aid By Jim Miller It’s unfortunate, but millions of Americans with hearing loss don’t get hearing aids because they simply can’t afford them. Hearing aids are expensive, typically costing between $1,000 and $3,500 per ear, and most insurance companies including traditional Medicare don’t cover them. While there’s no one simple solution to finding affordable hearing aids, there is a variety of options you can look into that can help. Check Insurance – Your first step is to check with your health insurance provider to see if it provides any hearing aid coverage. If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, you need to know that while original Medicare (Part A and B) and Medicare supplemental policies do not cover hearing aids, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do. If you have an Advantage plan, you’ll need to check with your plan administrator. Medicaid also covers hearing aids in some states to people with very limited means. Your county social service office can give you more information. Or, if you’re a federal employee or retiree, hearing aid coverage may be available through some insurance plans in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Or if you’re a veteran, the VA provides free hearing aids if you meet certain conditions such as being compensated for any service-connected disability or if your hearing loss is connected to military service. See va.gov or call 877-222-8387 to check your eligibility. Financial Assistance – Depending on your income level, there are various programs and foundations that provide financial assistance for hearing aids to people in need. Start by calling your state rehabilitation department (see www. parac.org/svrp.html for contact information), or the nearest chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (hearingloss.org) to find out if

there are any city, county, or state programs, or local civic organizations that could help. There are also a number of nonprofits that offer hearing aids at deeply discounted prices or free. Some good ones to check out include: • HEAR Now: Sponsored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation (starkeyhearingfoundation.org, 800-328-8602), this program provides hearing aids for people with net incomes below $19,058 for a single or $25,743 for couples. Your only costs are a hearing test and an application fee of $125 per hearing aid request. • Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project: Offered through some Lions clubs throughout the U.S., this program provides the opportunity to purchase new, digital hearing aids manufactured by Rexton for $200 per aid, plus shipping. To be eligible, most clubs will require your income to be somewhere below 200 percent of the federal poverty level which is $22,340 for singles, or $30,260 for couples. Contact your local Lions club (see lionsclubs.org for contact information) to see if they participate in this project. • Sertoma: A civic service organization that runs a hearing aid recycling program through its 500 clubs nationwide, refurbishes them, and distributes them to local people in need. Call 800593-5646 or visit sertoma.org to locate a club in your area. • Audient: This program (audientalliance. org, 866-956-5400) helps people purchase new, digital hearing aids at reduced prices ranging from $495 to $975 for one hearing aid, or $990 to $1,575 for a pair. To be eligible, your income must be below $27,075 for a single or $36,425 for couples. For a list of more programs, visit the Better Hearing Institute website at betterhearing.org, and click on “Hearing Loss Resources,â€? then on “Financial Assistance.â€? Or, call the National

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Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at 800-241-1044 and ask them to mail you their list of financial resources for hearing aids. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. MSN

PAGE 40 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Do Older People Need More Sleep? By Fred Cicetti, Senior Wire Seniors need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults - seven to nine hours a night. Unfortunately, many older adults do not get the sleep they need, because they often have more trouble falling asleep. A study of adults over 65 found that 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. Also, older people often sleep less deeply and wake up more often throughout the night, which may be why they nap more often during the daytime. Nighttime sleep schedules may change with age too. Many older adults tend to get sleepier earlier in the evening and awaken earlier in the morning. Many people believe that poor sleep is a normal part of aging, but it is not. Sleep patterns change as we age, but disturbed sleep and waking up tired every day are not part of normal aging. If you are having trouble sleeping, see your doctor or a sleep High-quality orthopedic surgery specialist. Here are some pointers to help you get better sleep: You don’t have to travel far to Go to sleep and get quality care when you’re wake up at the same suffering from a sports injury or time, even on weekneed a total joint replacement. ends. Sticking to a regMichael Righetti has over 20 ular bedtime and wake years of experience and is a time schedule helps board-certified orthopedic keep you in sync with surgeon. Providence St. Joseph Medical Center has exactly your body’s circadian what Western Montanans clock, a 24-hour interneed, right here – nal rhythm affected by close to home in Polson. sunlight. Try not to nap too Joel Mohler, RN; Michael Righetti, MD; Cody Brown, PA-C much during the day - you might be less Six 13th Avenue East, Polson, 406-883-5680, saintjoes.org sleepy at night. Try to exercise at regular times each

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day. Exercising regularly improves the quality of your nighttime sleep and helps you sleep more soundly. Try to finish your workout at least three hours before bedtime. Try to get some natural light in the afternoon each day. Be careful about what you eat. Do not drink beverages with caffeine late in the day. Caffeine is a stimulant and can keep you awake. Also, if you like a snack before bed, a warm beverage and a few crackers may help. Do not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes to help you sleep. Even small amounts of alcohol can make it harder to stay asleep. Smoking is dangerous for many reasons, including the hazard of falling asleep with a lit cigarette. Also, the nicotine in cigarettes is a stimulant. Create a safe and comfortable place to sleep. Make sure there are locks on all doors and smoke alarms on each floor. A lamp that is easy to turn on and a phone by your bed may be helpful. The room should be dark, well ventilated, and as quiet as possible. Develop a bedtime routine. Do the same things each night to tell your body that it is time to wind down. Some people watch the evening news, read a book, or soak in a warm bath. Use your bedroom only for sleeping. After turning off the light, give yourself about 15 minutes to fall asleep. If you are still awake and not drowsy, get out of bed. When you get sleepy, go back to bed. Try not to worry about your sleep. Some people find that playing mental games is helpful. For example, tell yourself its five minutes before you have to get up and you are just trying to get a few extra winks. If you are so tired during the day that you cannot function normally and if this lasts for more than 2 to 3 weeks, you should see your family doctor or a sleep disorders specialist. If you would like to ask a question, please write fred@healthygeezer.com. MSN

How do you get there? Submitted by Julie Hollar A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery store when a man approached and asked, “Son, can you tell me where the post office is?” The little boy replied, “Sure! Just go straight down this street a couple of blocks and turn to your right.” The man thanked the boy kindly and said, “I’m the new pastor in town. I would like you to come to church on Sunday. I’ll show you how to get to Heaven.” The little boy replied with a chuckle, “Awww, come on... you don’t even know the way to the post office.” MSN

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Fighting Osteoporosis By Linda Hightower, RN, ONC A woman falls on her way to the mailbox and lies there until someone walks by to rescue her, because she has broken her hip and cannot get up. She goes to the hospital for surgical repair of the hip and dies of complications several days later. This scenario is more prevalent than we would expect. There are more than 350,000 hip fractures every year due to osteoporosis. Nearly a quarter of those people will die after their fracture. There are more than a million other fractures also due to osteoporosis. Did you know that half of the women over the age of fifty will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis in their remaining lifetime? This does not have to be! Osteoporosis is preventable and treatable. Osteoporosis is a disease process that slowly steals strength from bone making it easily broken. It occurs more frequently in women than men and more frequently among older people. Some things we can do to prevent osteoporosis include: • Consuming enough calcium and vitamin D

- Calcium is a big part of the material needed to build stronger bones. Most of our bone strength is accumulated during teen years so teens need about 1300 mg of calcium a day. Adults need about 1000 mg a day to maintain bone strength. The most common source of calcium is dairy products. An eight-ounce glass of milk whether non-fat or whole milk contains about 300 mg of calcium. That same glass of milk is also fortified with 200 International Units of vitamin D that helps the body absorb the calcium. Some other food sources of calcium include cheese, yogurt, and sardines. If your consumption of these foods is very low, you may think about adding supplements to your diet. • Exercise is very important as well. Exercise does for bones what it does for muscles - makes them stronger. When we stress our bones with exercise, they respond by building more mass to make them stronger. Weight-bearing exercise like walking, running, hiking, dancing, and skiing are best. • Talk to your doctor about osteoporosis. Find

out if you are at risk. Some important risk factors include family history of osteoporosis, smoking, and using certain kinds of medications. • Have a DEXA scan. This test is easily done and relatively inexpensive. It will tell you exactly how much bone mass you have. It will also help your doctor develop a treatment plan for you if one is needed. Talk to a physical therapist about preventing falls. They can evaluate your balance and give you an exercise program to help improve balance, strength, and endurance to help prevent those falls that can result in broken bones and other injuries. There is no cure for osteoporosis yet but there are medications that will help improve strength so that when a fall does occur, it is not so likely to result in a broken bone. Protect your bones; they need to last your lifetime. Linda Hightower, RN, ONC, is the Disease Specific Care Coordinator at Community Medical Center, Missoula. MSN

What Love Means To A Young Child Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Touching words from the mouths of babes were the outcome when a group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 yearolds, “What does love mean?” The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth. – Billy (age 4) Love is when a girl puts on perfume, a boy puts on shaving cologne, and they go out and smell each other. – Karl (age 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 (age 6) Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired. – Terri (age 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 (age 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 (age 8) Love is what is in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. – Bobby (age 7) If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate. – Nikka (age 6) Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it every day. – Noelle (age 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 (age 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 (age 8) My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night. – Clare (age 6) Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken. – Elaine (age 5) Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

is handsomer than Robert Redford. – Chris (age 7) Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. – Mary Ann (age 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 (age 4) When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you. – Karen (age 7) Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross. – Mark (age 6)

You really shouldn’t say I love you unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget. – Jessica (age 8) The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” MSN

Fighting terror the naked way By Bill Hall Okay, I will admit it. I let them take a near-naked picture of me. But I had no choice. Otherwise, they would not have let me on the plane. We were going through security before boarding our flight when one of the security people pulled me out of the regular line and invited me to go stand in the undressing machine. That was a first for me. You may find it had to believe, given my 74-year-old, sort-of-buff, not-really-very-saggy physique, but I have never been asked before to pose for almost-nude pictures. It was one of those new airport machines for peering inside your clothing to see what you’ve got. And I do not mean a stunning figure. I mean guns and knives and bombs and the occasional exploding shoes or shorts. I do not know why the authorities chose me from among the many passengers. A part of me would like to believe it is because I look dangerous in handsome and melodramatic ways. But I have a bathroom mirror. I know what I look like. I look like some old pasty white guy. I look like somebody’s grandpa. I look like someone who is terrified of explosives, especially if they are in my skivvies. So I suspect the security people chose me totally at random. And if you ask me, that’s what they should be doing, not picking passengers because they are dark or young or looking like a fanatic. Some of my relatives are dark and young and fanatical, especially at football games and political conventions. But in truth, they wouldn’t hurt a fly. On the other hand, sooner or later some old dude who looks like somebody’s grandpa is going to go batty, join some international terrorist organization, and volunteer for mass murder duty. Airport safety people should never assume anything when it comes to looking for people who are consumed with bitterness and determined to include some of us in their in a last lethal puff of smoke. So I consider it something of a civic duty to have near-naked pictures taken of me. If they are checking people who look like me, then none of you deadly

crackpots is safe from detection, no matter how normal you manage to look. But I admit it is a bit strange to be plucked from a mob of travelers and invited to have your clothing removed electronically for a picture that will display your imperfections. When they finished with me, ruling me officially harmless, I tried joking about the situation. “Could I have an 8 by 10 of that picture?” I asked the security guy. “I’d like to give it to my wife for Christmas.” “Believe me, sir,” he answered with a chuckle, “you don’t want to see it.” For a moment, I wondered what the heck he meant by that. Was my picture that grotesque? But then I remembered the silly part of objections to security screening. A few passengers are still outraged that, in the common defense, they might be expected to bare their bodies a bit to prove they are unarmed. It is the security people – required to probe, pat, and peer at massive numbers of physically imperfect passengers – who are the most egregiously offended by this process. It is not a pretty sight. And we don’t all bathe regularly. No wonder they wear rubber gloves. Theirs is not even remotely an erotic job. They go home at night, rubbing their stressed eyeballs and feeling slightly nauseated. The only people who have it worse are doctors and nurses, and we do not whine about it when they do what they gotta do to protect us from harm. MSN

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Gathering Chickens The farmer’s son was carrying a crate of chickens his father had entrusted to him. All of a sudden, the box fell, broke open, and the chickens scurried off. The determined boy walked all over the neighborhood, scooping up the wayward birds. Hoping he had found them all, the boy reluctantly returned home, expecting the worst. “Pa, the chickens got loose,” the boy confessed sadly, “but I managed to find all twelve of them.” “You did real good, son,” the farmer beamed. “You left with seven.”

Assertiveness

A mild-mannered man was tired of being bossed around by his wife, so he went to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist said he needed to build his selfesteem and gave him a book on assertiveness, which he read and finished on the way home. The man stormed into the house and walked up to his wife. Pointing a finger in her face he said, “From now on, I want you to know that I am the man of this house and my word is law! I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I am finished eating my meal, I expect a sumptuous dessert. “Then, after dinner, you’re going to draw my bath so I can relax. And when I’m finished with my bath, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair?” “The funeral director,” said his wife.

Quote Work hard, do your best, and keep your word. Never get too big for your britches. Trust in God, have no fear, and never forget a friend. – Harry S. Truman, U.S. President MSN

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Traveling Switzerland’s Mountains By Train, Bike and Hike Article & Photos By Kim Thielman-Ibes Late last summer I was hiking Blackmore Peak, a magnificent craggy mountaintop within the Gallatin Range. Near the top, the trail follows a rocky ridge just before winding its way to the 10,154-foot summit. As I sat on an outcrop admiring its spirit-lifting panorama another small group of three summited. Breathless and smiling we exchanged greetings. The hellos turned into conversation, as often happens to likeminded souls. As we spoke, I detected an accent – the couple was from Switzerland and staying in area with relatives. As I was, they were in awe of the pristine scenery, the wideopen alpine meadows, tumbling waterfalls, and the never-ending supply of peaks left to summit and explore – seemingly all visible from this one. I had just come back from an outdoor adventure in Switzerland. We spoke of the many places visited and found many similarities between us and our countries through our mutual love of the outdoors. As I descended the 6-miles of Blackmore Peak, memories of my Switzerland adventure flooded back into my mind. My Switzerland trip began in the heart of Europe and Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich. Sitting on the shores of Lake Zurich, surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, this historic city is as captivating as it is beautiful. But my interests were elsewhere and soon I found myself

hopping a train, the lifeblood of Switzerland, headed towards the mountains. Trains, as common in Switzerland as cars are in Montana, vary from those with luxurious whiteclothed dining tops and gourmet meals to historic and a bit more rustic, and of course those that are simply fast and efficient. Trains stations are a buzz of energy, conversation, and friendly faces. One of the most memorable train trips I took was on the scenic Glacier Express. It is one of the most famous railways in the world and a magnificent Alpine experience, crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels on its way to the chic spa and ski towns of St. Moritz and Zermatt. Riding the Albula/ Bernina Express was equally impressive. Here we crossed the pictureworthy Landwasser Viaduct – a curved, sixarched single-track railway constructed of limestone. Built in 1901, this rail bridge spans 446 feet between tunnels, rising 213-feet above the Landwasser Gorge – a breathtaking experience and one worth repeating. Throughout these railway tours, scenic wonders stack up like dominos. It is easy to understand why the Glacier and Bernina Express were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008. The Glacier and Bernina Express are just two of Switzerland’s scenic train tours; others include the William Tell, the Chocolate Train – vineyards, castles, chocolate factories, and the Golden Pass Line to Lake Geneva. Viewing the mountains from the train’s panoramic windows is perhaps the best invitation to hiking and biking them. Our Swiss adventure took us to the mountain village of Champery,

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the gateway to the “Les Portes du Soleil� (Gates of the Sun) ski region – twelve resorts spanning Switzerland and France. The charming village of Champery has a very old-fashioned feel. Its narrow mountain streets are lined with a small number of century-old chalets, all adorned with sloping gabled roofs and colorful flower boxes atop decoratively trimmed balconies. Champery is one of the oldest and largest ski resorts in Switzerland, its rustic feel made me feel right at home. On this day, our morning activity began just a short walk from the village, our goal was to hike and climb the Tiere Via Ferrata. There are several Via Ferrata’s –iron paths, throughout Europe. This one was considered a beginner d route and after scrambling up severall exposed rock faces it made me wonder what the expert routes were like (and thankful I was not on them).

These paths, a mixture of hiking and fixed-rope climbing up small iron ledges affixed to mountain cliffs, originated during World War I to aid in alpine military movements. The endeavor was certainly not for the faint of heart, but one worthy of trying for it is truly an experience like no other. From Champery, we rented mountain bikes and, via an enormous and very modern cable car, ascended onto the sunny slopes of the Dents du Midi peaks, where we could put one mountain biking shoe in France while keeping the other in Switzerland. Mountain bike riding high atop the Swiss Alps along the Grand Paradis route, pedaling over its flower-lined mountain meadows serenaded by a cacophony of bells – from the petite jingle affixed around th l d necks k of goats to the fist-sized ones the slender attached to mountain cows, made me think of my home in Montana.

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Squeezing the last bit of adventure out of the day we descended the mountains for an evening of kayaking on the shores of Lake Geneva – making for our very own Swiss triathlon. The only thing that could have made that day better was to end in a natural spring or spa – not to worry that was in the plans for day two. As this summer moves toward fall, I again find myself atop Blackmore Peak and cannot help from wishing myself back in Switzerland. MSN

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Fun In the Sun With Food Safety By Susan Frances Bonner RN, BSN I live on a mountain in Southwestern Montana and am thrilled that summer is upon us and that I get to cook in my outdoor kitchen and entertain family and friends at outdoor barbeques. But with wonderful warm summer weather and outdoor eating activities come those pesky food-spoiling bacteria. Surprisingly, bacteria have a lot in common with humans. We both require food and water to survive, and we both love warm temperatures. Unknown to most people, two types of bacteria can turn a wonderful weekend picnic into a gastric nightmare. Spoilage bacteria cause food to deteriorate and develop odors, tastes, and textures – fruits and vegetables get mushy or slimy, and meats develop a bad odor, but they do not cause illness. On the other hand, pathogenic bacteria cause illness, but usually don’t affect the taste, smell, or appearance of food, so food that is left too long at warmer temperatures can be dangerous to eat but smell and look just fine. E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella are examples of pathogenic bacteria. Warm temperatures are the issue. My husband is what I lovingly call a “temperature Nazi.â€? We have thermometers in our fridge, both of our freezers, in our oven, one for our grill, one inside our living room, and one for outside. Now, as crazy as all of those thermometers around my house sound, my husband is correct in making sure our food stays at a certain temperature. Both spoilage and pathogenic bacteria start to grow at 40Âş F, a common temperature for refrigerators in many households. Spoilage bacteria die at 140Âş F, and pathogenic bacteria die at 160Âş F. Food must be stored at a safe temperature at all times, even when you leave the supermarket. I take two types of coolers with me to the supermarket be:LQGRZV ‡ 'RRUV ‡ 3DLQW cause it takes me about )ORRU &RYHULQJ ‡ %DWK )L[WXUHV ‡ &DELQHWV an hour to drive back up &RXQWHUWRSV ‡ $SSOLDQFHV my mountain. But even if you live in town, it is

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a good idea to keep your food cool on the drive home from the market during warm months. Cooking food at a safe temperature can be tricky also, but every packaged food has cooking instructions with the optimal cooking temperature listed. Three easy steps can help stave off bacteria as you are getting ready to put meat on the grill or preparing that famous potato salad. • Make sure your hands, all your cooking utensils, work surfaces, and fruits and vegetables are clean. Soap and water are all you need. • Use separate cutting boards and plates for produce and for meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. • Finally, make sure that the food is cooked fully. For those who like meat medium rare, cook to 140º F. Now that everyone has eaten the first course during that wonderful BBQ picnic and is now talking or playing a game of volleyball or croquet, what happens to the leftovers that everyone will want after the games? When considering storage, remember the drop in temperature can actually increase bacterial growth as food cools. But you can keep your food above the safe temperature of 140˚F by using a heat source like a chafing dish, warming tray, or slow cooker. Foods that need to be kept cold should be stored covered in the cooler they came in or in a dish surrounded by ice. My husband and I got a nasty visit from the food poisoning fairy after a BBQ when we lived in the woods and swamps of North Florida. We were completely incapacitated for three days with vomiting, diarrhea and a fever of 103º. We later learned that a raccoon that was hiding in a tree above the food table had decided to do its business on everyone’s food. Keeping food healthy while having fun in the sun takes vigilance. Hopefully, you now have some tools in your arsenal to ensure that your outdoor activities this summer remain safe and fun. It is important to fight bacteria and food-borne illnesses, but with a little vigilance and by using the above information, we can have enjoyable outdoor dining on these warm summer days. Susan Bonner is the author of Opening A Registered Nurses Eyes; A life Altering Journey Across North America. MSN

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Do You Know Who You Are? Digging Up Roots is the theme of the annual Montana State Genealogical Society (MSGS) conference to be held in Billings September 20-22 at the Big Horn Resort, I-90 at Zoo Drive. The conference is open to the public. D. Joshua Taylor, featured genealogist on NBC’s Who do you think you are? will be the main speaker. He will bring exciting research tools and online resources. Other speakers are Robert Larson on grave dowsing and DNA; Kevin Kooistra on the First Crow Agency; and Joyce Jensen on Pieces & Places of Billings History.

A pre-conference activity is a tour of the Bureau of Land Management public records, such as homesteads and Indian allotments. A postconference event will be grave dowsing at a local cemetery. Registration, which includes three meals, is $95. Without meals, the charge is $45. Registration information can be found at montanamsgs. org/index.html or by contacting blgsmarket@aol. com . Rooms are available at the Big Horn Resort for $99, plus tax, per night. MSN

Butte Food Bank Brings It To The Table The Butte Emergency Food Bank wants to ensure “that no one in our community experiences the fear and pain of hunger.� As a result, we have served thousands of people in the last decade, but the number served has increased steadily to over 24,000 people served during 2011. We need your help! We are expanding our focus on the seniors and children of Butte. After-school programs for the Legion Oasis and the Silver Bow Homes facilities provide a healthy snack for hungry kids after school to help them focus on homework. Our Back Pack Program for youngsters who

receive reduced or free school lunches will target the weekend - when getting food can be a problem. Starting in September, we will provide a container with enough food to help them get through the weekend. This program will require over $60,000. We have also started a Community Meals Program for approximately 90 individuals who are hungry two days per week - seniors who are struggling, but too proud to seek assistance. We are very fortunate to have over 100 volunteers and believe that they are our lifeline, but we need your help, too! Give us a call today at 406-782-6230 to volunteer or to donate. MSN

Attract Birds & Butterflies, No Matter What Size Your Landscape By gardening expert, TV/radio host & author Melinda Myers Add a little extra color and motion to your summer garden with containers designed to attract birds and butterflies. Many garden centers continue to sell annuals throughout the summer and many of these mid-season annuals are a bit bigger, providing instant impact. It’s easier than you think to attract birds and butterflies, and the good news is you don’t need a lot of space to do it. Container gardens give you the ability to attract wildlife to your backyard, patio, deck, or even balcony. Simply follow these four steps, and your garden will be filled with color, motion, and a season of wildlife. 1. Provide food for birds and butterflies. Include plants with flat daisy-like flowers like pentas, zinnias, and cosmos to attract butterflies. For hummingbirds, include some plants with tubular flowers including nicotiana, cuphea, salvia, and fuchsia. And don’t forget about the hungry caterpillars that will soon turn into beautiful butterflies. Parsley, bronze fennel, and licorice vines are a few favorites that make great additions to container gardens. You can even create containers that will attract seed-eating birds. Purple majesty millet, coneflower, coreopsis, and rudbeckias will keep many of the birds returning. 2. Include water for both the birds and butterflies. It’s a key ingredient and a decorative small shallow container filled with water can be included in a large container. Or include a freestanding birdbath within your container collection. I used a bronzed leaf birdbath

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in just this way. It created a great vertical accent, added interest to a blank wall and provided a water supply for the birds. 3. Give them a place to live and raise their young. Add a few evergreens, ornamental grasses, and perennials to your container garden. Use weather resistant containers that can tolerate the extreme heat and cold in your garden. Then fill with plants that are at least one zone hardier. Or add a few birdhouses. These can be included in the container or mounted on a fence, or nearby tree.

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4. Skip the pesticides, please. Nature, including the birds you invite into your landscape, will devour many garden pests. Plus, the chemicals designed to kill the bad guys can also kill the good bugs and wildlife you are trying to attract. And, if pests get out of hand, use more eco-friendly products like soaps, Neem, and horticulture oil as a control mechanism. And, as always, read and follow label directions carefully. And to conserve time and energy, try using one of the self-watering containers or hanging baskets that are on the market. This helps to make it both easy and convenient when time constraints and vacations get in the way of providing ideal care. I filled one with wildlife-friendly petunias along with papyrus and golden moneywort. After a five-day trip during hot dry weather I returned to find my container garden in great shape and hummingbirds visiting the flowers. So gather your family and get started planting your wildlife container garden today.

Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments that air on over 115 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and writes the twice-monthly “Gardeners’ Questions” column. Melinda also has a column in Gardening How-to magazine. Melinda hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio program for over 20 years as well as seven seasons of Great Lakes Gardener on PBS. She has written articles for Better Homes and Gardens and Fine Gardening and was a columnist and contributing editor for Backyard Living magazine. Melinda has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure. Her web site is melindamyers.com. MSN

How About Some Help for Our Friends By Clare Hafferman Of all the insects that visit our gardens, to me bees have always been the most needed and interesting species. Although they are a vital piece in the garden puzzle, for the past six years, the honeybees we depend on have fallen prey to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Beekeepers discovered this when checking a hive and finding a low number of adult bees present, but with a live queen and no dead honeybees within the hive. Often, there was still honey and immature bees, but all the rest of the former workers had simply disappeared. Honeybees are important first because of pollination – they are responsible for $15 billion of added crop value. They are also responsible for 80% of the world’s flowering plants that depend on them. They give us honey, beeswax, royal jelly (the food they feed their queens), and propolis, a sticky gum they collect and use with beeswax to construct their hives. Both propolis and royal jelly are used in cosmetics. Bees are so important; let’s examine what beekeepers and researchers have discovered, so that we as citizens and perhaps as gardeners or farmers can help the world of the bees. The number of honeybee colonies in this country has dropped from 5 million in the 1940s to only 2.5 million. However, the need for hives for pollination has increased, resulting in beekeepers trucking their bees further and moving them more

frequently than ever before. One of the biggest demands comes from the almond orchards in California. Bees, hives, and drivers pour in from all over the country. Without the winged fliers, there would be no salted almonds for your snack. It is estimated that one mouthful out of three in our diets, directly or indirectly comes to us because of honeybee pollination. There are other pollinators, such as the familiar bumblebee, or the alkali bee, needed to insure a good alfalfa crop, and the wasps, hornets or certain bats that all do their part, but in the big scheme, the honeybee flies first. Initial research revealed that killer bees, an African strain existing in some southern states, and organically raised bees, were unaffected. One Arizona newspaper reported that Dee Lusby had 900 hives of organically raised bees that she kept far from all chemicals. She thought feeding corn syrup to bees and subjecting them to long moves were not good management. Dee advocated maintaining a smaller comb size, which created natural-sized bees and resulted in fewer mites that invaded the cells. Other beekeepers agreed with her. The mites that prey on bees have been around for a long time, so they could not be the sole reason for the bees’ disappearance. Researchers at the University of Montana and the Army’s Chemical Center at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland suggested CCD might also be caused by a virus and a fungus. The virus was similar to a virus reported in India 20 years ago. Fungi from the genus Nosema could infect bees, and that infection with both of these pathogens would be more lethal than either one alone. The other factor is the burgeoning use of herbicides and pesticides in agricultural practices, home lawn and garden use, and worldwide golf courses and other manicured greens. The researchers named seven neonicotinoids, nicotinebased insecticides known as IMD. It is similar to DDT, except that it was designed to affect insects and is supposedly safe for humans and animals. The Bayer Company is the major producer. IMD is a systemic insecticide, which means it infiltrates the plant tissue, stems, leaves, and roots. It can’t be washed off by rains. Often, it does not need to be sprayed on. The seeds soaked in IMD can be grown and the mature plant will contain it. Any insect that collects pollen or bites into the plant would ingest the poison. Some countries in Europe condemned the usage of IMD although the Bayer Company disputed their claims. As a citizen and a gardener, what can you do? First, reduce or eliminate your own use of herbicides and pesticides. Every year, homeowners in America apply at least 90 million pounds of pesticide to lawns in our country. If you consider having your own beehive, there are books and blogs on the subject and organizations that give you information on keeping bees. Should you still want to help, but don’t want a

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

hive, consider planting any one of the 35 plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees that are listed as attracting bees and providing the pollen and nectar that they need. This list includes many herbs you might already have, fruit trees, perennials, and wild flowers that would also attract butterflies and other helpful insects.

Two excellent info-crammed books are Fruitless Fall by Rowan Jacobsen and A Spring Without Bees by Michael Schacker. Both of these editions will give you lots to think about while you contemplate just what kind of help you can give our friends. MSN

Have You Tried Social Networking? By Kim Hong When most people hear the word “online gamer,” they picture a pimply-faced teenager wearing headsets in front of a computer? Well, they might want to think again after discovering what recent studies revealed this year. The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project revealed that social networking sites nearly doubled in usage among people ages 50 and older since last year, and has grown 100% among people ages 65 and older. Surprisingly, usage among these older groups is growing at a faster pace than younger generations. Even more surprising is that 46 percent of social gamers are at least 50 years old and dominated by women, according to the 2010 Popcap Social Gaming Research. The study establishes social games as a fast-growing pastime for mature adults. With more than 80 percent of gamers stating that playing games strengthens their relationship with friends, family and colleagues, social gaming reinforces the appeal of social networks. These older folks are paving the way for “next generation” online gaming sites. They enjoy playing multi-player games in real-time, making new friends, and winning real prizes. Social media sites have been a long-time favorite among the younger generations, but now older generations are taking a deep interest and companies are starting to come up with niche sites specifically to address

their social needs. “I’m in a wheelchair and pretty much homebound,” said Gail Davis, a 55-year-old from Chattanooga, Tennessee. “I used to be so depressed and lonely until I discovered online game sites that let me play with real people at the same time. Social game sites have been a lifesaver for me, so many friends and so much fun!” Davis’ story is just one of thousands of mature adults who are finding a new way to form rewarding relationships online. Popularity of social games among boomers and seniors has taken off for a variety of reasons: 1. Connecting with old and new friends 2. Being homebound or with limited mobility restricts people from leaving their homes for real life social interaction 3. Games provide mental stimulation that improves health 4. Social games offer real-time interaction for those seeking companionship to help overcome social isolation 5. Cooperative games promote positive interaction that lead to feelings of happiness and long-lasting friendships 6. Social Networking sites are designed so that EVERYONE can easily create a profile

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and start connecting with others immediately 7. Bridges generational gap by providing a unique platform where parents, teenagers, grandparents, friends, and neighbors regularly communicate 8. Timeout, need an outlet to relieve stress and forget about problems for a few minutes 9. Need a sense of purpose in life, and being a “host” on a website fulfills this desire Experts on aging say that staying socially connected is a key part to a healthier and more fulfilling life because it improves physical and

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emotional well-being, and increases mental acuity. New research studies confirmed that human interaction lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, promotes heart health, minimizes the effects of stress, and helps to cope with major life changes such as job loss, health problems, and bereavement. For these reasons and more, social gaming sites will continue to gain rampant popularity among the fifty-plus population. They are wired and embracing technology at full speed now more than ever! MSN

Keeping Your Realtor On Task In the current real estate market, with home sales slumping like an injured athlete, many sellers are pulling out all the stops to get their homes to sell. One of the most common tactics is to change realtors when the one they are using is not getting the job done. However, one expert believes that there is another way. “Switching realtors every few months is not necessarily a strategy for success,” said Pat Hiban, a billion-dollar selling real estate agent and author of 6 Steps to 7 Figures (www.hiban.com), a selfhelp guide for realty agents. “In this market, it’s not uncommon for a home to stay on the market for many months. The problem with switching agents frequently is that you eat up a lot of time with the learning curve with each agency change. Every time you fire an agent, you lose their institutional memory with regard to your house and your situation. Instead, you can try to reinvigorate their efforts by introducing them to some simple sales tips.” Hiban’s advice includes: • Be Proactive – Successful people are productive every morning. In sales, that means you need to be making prospecting calls, doing open houses, calling contacts, writing notes to people, making new contacts, and getting in people’s faces. If your agent is waiting around for the phone to ring, ask them if they are working every avenue they can, and suggest they beat the bushes. • Plan The Week – Ask them what their agenda is for the week, and make sure they are doing something every day to promote your property. Some realtors tend not to pay attention to properties that are not generating a lot of excitement, and instead they focus on the properties that might be easier to move. Keep them focused with an agenda every week, and you will increase the chances they will be successful for you.

• Get Busy – Activity breeds activity. It is a universal truth that the more you push your flow out to potential buyers, the more inward flow of contacts you will generate. One thing really does lead to another, so even when the response is slow, keep them motivated to keep plugging away. You never know when they will catch a break, but if they are not in the game and getting out in the community, they will never have a chance to find one. • Accept All Invitations – Networking can many times win the day, and real estate agents typically receive every invitation available to local networking and community events. When they attend these functions, everyone in the room could be a potential client for them or a potential buyer for you. Ask them if they attend local events, and when you know some are coming up, email them the information. Do not Panic – Panic and negativity on your part make your agent feel the same way. Do not vex them. Help them stay focused and positive. If you keep going, they will keep going. “Sometimes, the solution is to make a change in agents,” Hiban added. “But if you find yourself in a cycle of change, with no results, then maybe you can use these tips to get a little more out of the agent you’ve chosen.” Pat Hiban is one of only a few residential Realtors in the entire world to have the title of Billion Dollar Agent, having sold one billion dollars in homes, one house at a time. Much of Hiban’s specialty is in the foreclosure market with current clients that include Freddie Mac, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. Is Your Realtor Falling Down on the Job? Five Tips to Get Your Realtor Back On Task MSN

Just In Case You Have Been Wondering About Moms… Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Here are some questions regarding moms and some of the answers given by second graders. Why did God make moms? 1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out when we were getting born. How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt – just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic. Plus super powers and a lot of stirring. 3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts. MSN

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The Vital Aging Secret Betty White Knows All About By Sue Ronnenkamp What’s the vital aging secret that Betty White knows all about? Life doesn’t end until it ends. I love that Betty White is such a hot commodity today because she’s giving all of us another positive role model for vital and successful aging. Her appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2010 (at age 88) not only made her the oldest host ever and resulted in huge ratings, she also showed the world that her wit and comedic timing were still as sharp as ever. And she didn’t stop there. She’s currently a valued and popular cast member of the sitcom Hot in Cleveland. And her recent 90th birthday rated a prime time, celebrityfilled special on NBC. The greatest part about all of this: Betty looks like she’s having a ball! Betty White isn’t alone in living life to the fullest. People who follow their passion know all about this and have been doing it for decades. I think of role models like Pablo Picasso who produced more work in the last two decades of his life than at any other time. I think of Frank Lloyd Wright who worked on the Guggenheim Museum until his death at age 91. I think of Grandma Moses who started painting seriously at age 78 and continued until her death at age 101. I think of U.S. Poet Laureate, Stanley Kunitz, who pursued his passion for poetry until his death at age 100. People who follow their passion don’t stop what they love doing because of age. They fully understand that life doesn’t end until it ends, and they continue making the most of every day they’re given. People who won’t let dreams die also know all about this. I think of George Dawson who was the son of a former slave and someone who had always

dreamt of learning to read. He didn’t think he was too old to do this when he joined an adult literacy program at age 98. He continued attending program classes until his death at 103 and fulfilled his dream. But that’s not the whole story. By going after this dream, George had the opportunity to co-author a book about his life called Life is So Good that led to a book tour and speaking at several national book festivals. Here’s my favorite George Dawson quote: “Ever since I turned a hundred, life has been busy.” Think you’re too old to start something new? Just remember this story about George Dawson and put that thought OUT of your mind. Life doesn’t end until it ends. People who believe they can make a difference in the world know all about this too. I think of Doris “Granny D” Haddock who earned her fame by walking across America in her 90th year to promote campaign finance reform. You can read about this experience and her wonderful insights about life and aging in the book that she co-authored with Dennis Burke. I was reminded of Granny D and her story last year when I read of her death at age 100. Family friends noted that Granny D’s age was not a factor in what she did. She never gave up. Until the end, she was still advocating for causes she believed in. My favorite Granny D quote: “I have not lost my reason to live... I want to plant a few more seeds here and there before they plant me.” Opportunities for planting new seeds and positively affecting the world around you don’t end at a certain age. If you think they do, think of Granny D and then think again. Life doesn’t end until it ends. The great news is that stories like these are becoming more and more commonplace with our growing aging population and the shattering of old stereotypes. And role models for vital and successful aging and full lifelong living can be found anywhere and everywhere. You just need to look for them – and seek them out – and follow their lead. Their positive examples are becoming the new norm for how later life is meant to be lived. It’s really true. Life doesn’t end until it ends.

Sue Ronnenkamp is the creator and founder of Age-Full Living, an aging education and consulting firm that focuses on the positive aspects, opportunities, and gifts of growing older. For more information, visit Sue’s website at www.AgeFullLiving.com MSN

Less Is More By Peggy Henderson There are no easy rules for successful aging as there are no easy rules to eradicate an addiction. Each day an individual strives to make his or her own way. The uncertain journey winds through peaks and valleys of decisions based on personality traits and cultural family background. And, who’s to judge what path is THE answer? Regarding age, the one thing we know is that our bodies will decline and no matter how many nips and tucks we may be able to afford, the body will let us know when it’s our time to cross the finish line. Once we totally accept our imminent death, we crafty seniors can concentrate on what really matters, and that’s today. High on my list of importance is that my relationships with my family and friends remain in a state of reciprocal pleasure just being around each other. I’m not asking for the moon, and so far, so good. This means: No obligatory responsibilities. No strings attached promises. No grand drama for drama’s sake. Above all, unconditional love. I’ve been pondering the issue of living in harmony with myself and others I love. A universal ponder. The idea that positive senior living is an art form appeals to me rather than stuffy, pragmatic principles. I don’t want to revisit my school days. Remember the “do this or else?” I confess that I prefer creative options that offer a sense of freedom rather than how-to manuals that offer sketchy solutions. But of course this is the catch-22, I’ve always wanted my cake and chocolate icing too. By happenstance, I’ve discovered that one option is to practice the adage “less is more.” To avoid unnecessary conflicts, I attempt, more times than not, to bite my tongue. Actually, I was born with red hair and with the red came along a rosy temper. As we age, it’s natural to slow down and live more measured lives. Gleefully, we own more time than our adult children. This gives us the opportunity to use our measured time wisely. For example, before we expose our mind to the public or private arena, we can choose our words carefully before we allow our irretrievable views to escape our lips. The message less is more means: resist the impulse of being daily involved with family mem-

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

bers. I believe that the motto, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” works. Don’t give sage advice unless asked. Be consistently authentic. This self-serving discipline is more of a headache than a challenge for me because I egotistically like to entertain the thought that someone might actually value my opinion. An unhealthy dialogue begins with: As your mother, I feel that I must; Being a close friend you should be aware of; or Nana loves you but. The irony is that 99 per cent of the time, the recipient of your advice is NOT listening to you. They are

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itching to pull out their Smartphone. It could be a generational issue, or worse, just the boredom. By the way, the same message applies to one’s spouse. They appear to be listening to you about your lunch with Martha, but dare to suggest something that might interrupt their comfort zone and watch them zoom into focus. The good news is that as we practice the skills of reticence, I’m convinced that improved communication will enrich our lives. We don’t have to do anything. Just sit back, relax and let life play itself out. And what could be better? MSN

Railroads, Rockets, and Radios Article & Photo By Connie Daugherty Jim Schmidt of Deer Lodge is a rocket scientist who loves trains. “I’ve always loved working with model trains,” he says. But what you see when you walk into Jim Schmidt’s “train room” is not just a model train set - it is the 1950s in miniature. With the precision of a rocket scientist and the imagination of a design engineer, Jim has created a masterpiece. This 24’ x 32’ room is a museum-quality diorama that will astound you. There are towns and cities, trestles, tunnels, bridges, a train yard, a mining operation, and what seems like miles and miles of track. The outside track is 206 feet long and there are additional inside tracks. Jim can actually run 10 trains at one time, though he seldom has them all going at once. The operations center, with its four control panels, looks like something from an actual railroad switchyard. It is a complex collection of wires, switches, lights, and train-activated signals. Jim designed and built it all using his electrical, carpentry, and sculpting skills.

“I like working with trains because I like solving problems...” he says, “the coupler design, the wheel spin, and getting the slope just right are all fun to do.” He was born and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where his father worked as a safety and accident investigator for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Having lived around the real thing during his childhood and having worked for the railroad as a teenager gave Jim an insight into the details of operating a railroad. But it was his own personality that brought him to the design stage.

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He got his first model train - a Lionel - in 1949 when he was fifteen. That was the beginning, even though doing anything more elaborate had to take a back seat for a few years. Meanwhile, he got a degree in physics. “I like physics because it has science, mechanics, and electrics - everything all in one,” he says. Shortly after he finished his Masters degree, he went to work for Lockheed. It was while he was working at Lockheed in Washington that he met and married his wife, Lynn. During those years at Lockheed, Jim worked on the Atlas missiles and on the first Air Force spy satellites. “It was a fun, exciting time,” he says. The technology was changing and developing so fast that each day presented new challenges for the design engineers, and Jim was right in the middle of it all. “We would put pieces together as a unit and then describe how it should be tested,” he explains. Jim and his family were living in California by then and often took the train - thanks to family passes supplied by his father - back to Nebraska to visit the relatives there. “We would ride the California Zephyr,” he says with pride. It was the perfect way to travel for them. In 1960, Jim was able to realize the vision he had in 1949, when he designed and built his first sophisticated model railroad layout. He named the town Big Dipper after the ranch land where their house was located at the time. He called the railroad the Big Dipper & Pacific (BD & P) after a railroad that had run through the area near San Jose at one time. Of course, included in this layout were California Zephyr cars, each with authentic names. He enjoyed the layout for awhile, but he “put it up for several years when our son was of an age that it was not good to have delicate models lying around.” Another hobby that Jim developed during this time was photography. He has a collection of 35 mm cameras and lenses of various vintages. At the 1964 National Model Railroad Association national convention in Philadelphia, he won first place in the black and white photo contest for a picture of his layout. During this time in California, Jim also developed his interest in ham radio operations. He joined Civil Air Patrol (CAP) with his son, and the engineer/scientist in him immediately became

engrossed with emergency radios. He earned his ham radio operator’s license and worked with the communications at Moffitt Field during his time with CAP. Jim still has a wall full of radios and receivers in his work room. Through it all, Jim’s interest kept coming back to model railroading because, like physics, it includes a little bit of everything - especially the way Jim goes about it. He uses electrical skills to design and set up the circuits, mechanical skills to work on the train cars, and carpentry skills to design and build bridges, trestles, and platforms. He also does his own plaster casting and molding to make mountains and boulders, and he paints the background scenes on the walls. When Jim retired in 1995 and they decided to move to Montana, L d i d their h i h Lynn designed house with a model railroad room in mind. “I didn’t imagine anything like this though,” Jim admits, surveying the huge room that is nothing but model railroad. Since he had the space, he found a way to fill it. He works on his hobby about four hours a day. “It has helped keep us married for fifty-two years,” he jokes. Like his quiet, unassuming personality, Jim’s sense of humor is subtle but clever. One sign near the tracks admonishes, “No parking on railroad track except when train is coming.” The weigh station is in the town of Weigh and the local train goes to the town of Local. The line by Ghost Mountain offers “ghost to ghost” service. You have to look closely at the details to notice the Spring Water Co. workers filling water bottles from the fire hydrant. Not too far away stand twin hot and cold water towers. Along the track some joggers are being chased by a bear and nearby some teenagers parked in a car are about to be “discovered” by a police officer. Not all of the details are designed for humor. Many are Jim’s way of working with electronics and mechanics to simulate reality. The boy scouts’ campfire near the track springs to life when the train passes, triggered by sound. Lights flash as a train approaches and trains switch from one track to another at the appropriate times. Some of the details also come from Jim’s determination to have authenticity augmented with creativity. The clock in the clock tower is from Lynn’s old watch and it works. The billboard ad-

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

vertising a gynecological service is modeled after an actual billboard in Michigan with a photo of the doctor holding their grandson at birth. Each town has a restaurant, but Jim only puts in restaurants with food that he likes. Many aspects of the towns, bridges, lakes, and mountains are modeled after real places. There is also a “Railroad Museum” made up of trains from his 1960s layout. “They still work,” he explains, “they just don’t run as smoothly as the new ones.” “How would you like to go for a ride?” Jim asks, and he is serious. Just hop aboard one of the trains via a closed circuit television system that Jim designed and off we go. The tour that passes through the towns of Big Dipper, Weigh, Local, and Ursa

and then out through the countryside and over the trestle looks realistic. At first, it seems as if this is a video of an actual train ride until you start to recognize buildings and scenes from the diorama. There is a radio transmitter mounted in one of the cars. “It was supposed to be an observation car,” he says. What is next for Jim Schmidt and the railroad extravaganza? Maybe some additions to the town of Omaha or an ore train for the mining operations. “It’s a great pastime with no deadlines and no committed date to have things done,” Jim says. It is just a constant work in progress with new things appearing all the time. And whatever it is, you can be sure that it will be unique and intriguing. MSN

It’s All About the Customers By Connie Daugherty Remember the days of the neighborhood grocery store when the shopkeeper knew your name and greeted you with a smile when you walked in the door? When the owner worked at the store as long as the employees worked? Well that seemingly long-lost time is alive and well in Butte thanks to Bruce and Linda Collins, owners and operators of Eastgate IGA - a small store tucked away in a Butte residential neighborhood. “I like the people, like the work,” says Linda. Seven days a week at 6:00 a.m., Linda and Bruce unlock the door, turn on the lights, prepare the cash register, and turn to greet the first customers. A few regulars stop by each morning for the daily paper and perhaps some fruit or milk for breakfast. Both Linda and Bruce are cheerful and wide-awake no matter how tired they feel. It is part of doing a good business, part of serving the customer. “It’s a personal touch,” Linda says. And the customers feel it. It is a great way to start the day. Whatever else they need to do in the store, Linda and Bruce make sure “we are on the floor” as much as possible. The people who walk into their store are more than customers, they are friends. Bruce and Linda know where they live; they know the names of their children and grandchildren. They remember a couple from Opportunity who traveled into Butte every Saturday to do their shopping. Linda notices when her customers change their hair color or lose weight. “We worry about them if they don’t come in or

if they are sick,” she says. The older customers are the biggest worry. “That’s the only sad thing,” Linda says. “You get to know them well, and then you read in the paper that they have passed away.” Bruce’s story goes back to his teenage days in Missoula when he worked as a box boy for Safeway. That is where he met Linda. Her mother worked with Bruce at the store and each day Linda would pick up her mother at work. Like a typical mother who knows what is good for her daughter, she introduced Bruce and Linda and encouraged them to date even though they were both still in high school. “It kept us out of trouble,” Linda says. The rest, as they say, is history. They were married in 1970. They moved to Bozeman, where Bruce attended the Montana State University. He continued to work in the grocery business while he was going to school and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in accounting in 1975. Linda stayed home with their daughter and babysat for other college students. Bruce worked for Safeway for about six months as an auditor. He checked out accounting jobs, but, “I could make more money

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in the store than as an accountant,� he says. So he went back to the grocery business - a career he really enjoyed anyway. Eventually, they moved to Great Falls and Bruce managed a Safeway store for four and a half years. By this time, he was convinced that he was going to use his accounting education in the grocery business. He knew the business from the ground up, knew what would make a store successful and profitable. He knew how to create an environment that was a good place for the customers and the employees alike. Then in 1988, they got the opportunity to buy an IGA (Independent Grocery Association) store in Butte. It was an opportunity to be in charge, to make decisions about how to run a store and about what to stock without corporate directives. Both Linda and Bruce were familiar enough with the business to know what they were getting into - the hours it would involve, the time, and the commitment. “That’s where it all started,� Bruce says. So they gathered up the family and moved to Butte. That was 23 years ago, and life has been busy since. In 1989, they purchased the Dillon IGA store, which they still own. For a few years, they also ran two IGA stores in Butte until the uptown store was bought out. For the first few years, Linda stayed home raising their two children until they were established in school. Then she went to work in the Butte store. “I was the oldest box boy in Butte,� she jokes. She would get to the store after the kids left for school and work until it was time for them to be home. Now she is an integral part of the everyday operations, helping with the bookkeeping. Bruce programs the prices into the computer, which have to be updated regularly, especially for sales. Even when the computer is uncooperative or crashes as all technology tends to do, he does not mind. He has learned to do his fair share of troubleshooting, and he remembers the days when they did it all by hand with an ink-stamp. Bruce also spends much of each day traveling between the stores in Dillon and Whitehall. He helps when needed, separates out the Butte share of bulk sale items, and then transports the load back to Butte in his own pickup. “It’s hard work for an old guy,� he admits. He is sixty this year. “But the customers make it all worthwhile,� he adds. By the time they were in high school both their son and daughter were working in the store. Now, their daughter helps with the bookwork at the Butte store. In 2008, Bruce and Linda bought the IGA store in Whitehall, and their son manages it. Even their grandchildren work in the store. “It wasn’t supposed to be a family business,� Linda says. “But all of a sudden it was.� Therapy services available to include speech, Independent Grocery Association means just occupational and physical therapy that. These independent grocers join together to buy bulk when possible and share advertisPrivate rehab wing ing costs and private label products. But all the storeowners operate their own stores in their own Complex wound care ways. “We also try to stock some of the old stuff that our customers still want,� Bruce explains. Memory care unit specializing in dementia and alzheimer’s They stock things that often cannot be found in the chain grocery stores or the big box stores. “If Acute & chronic renal disease people ask about it we try to keep it.� Sometimes these items are hard to find, but they work at it until they get what their customers want. Short-term and respite From the very beginning, friendly and efficient customer service has been their primary concern. Family oriented It really is all about the customer - both Bruce and Linda not only preach it, but live it. It shows not Variety of optional only in their attitude and actions, but also in the pay sources way they run their stores. available “We make sure that everyone who works for

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us knows how to cashier,” Bruce explains. It is efficient for one thing; no matter what any of them are doing - including Linda and Bruce - unloading a shipment, stocking shelves, even cleaning, they can be called on to help check. Nobody is standing around doing nothing because they are not trained. Most of all it is good customer service. There is no waiting in line at Eastgate. “Many of our customers want to run in and out,” Linda says. They know what they want, they know where to find it on the shelves, and they

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know that they do not have to waste time standing in line. They would much rather spend those minutes visiting with Linda or Bruce or one of the other employees, sharing a joke or catching up on the latest family news. “It’s like Cheers,” Linda says, “a place that you can go where they know your name.” That is what it has been for 23 years, and, if Linda and Bruce Collins have anything to say about it, that is exactly what their store will always be. MSN

Leading by Sharing is Butte Couple’s Legacy Article & Photo By Connie Daugherty In every community, there are people who stand out as leaders even though they do not seek the limelight. Butte’s Jim and Joanne Cortese are just such people. When they appeared as the Grand Marshalls for the 2010 St. Patrick’s Day parade most everyone along the parade route — rich and poor, influential and disenfranchised, young and old — had a story to tell about a personal connection with one or both of them. For Jim and Joanne life has always been about reaching out, about giving of themselves and never doing anything half way. The job title on their personal business cards is “Volunteers/Grandparents.” They have only been grandparents for a few years, they have spent a lifetime volunteering. “The one thing about volunteerism is that there is always something to do,” says Jim. “It’s just a case of connecting.” Jim and Joanne have been connecting with each other, with their families, with their careers, with their community, and beyond for most of their adult lives. Everywhere they go, with every project they take on, every person they touch is a little bit better for the experience. This energetic, enthusiastic, caring couple is constantly reaching out, doing whatever they can to help others whether family or strangers. In August 2001, they left their Butte home, their Georgetown Lake cabin, their family, and their friends and joined with a group of Dominican Sisters on Chicago’s West Side, one of the nation’s most depressed neighborhoods. “We wanted to experience a different perspective,” says Joanne who had just retired after more than twenty years of teaching at Montana Tech. For eight weeks they volunteered at the Catholic Church sponsored Connections Learning Center and at the near-by Westside Education and Employment Center in inner-city Chicago. They got their different perspective. Working and living at the Connections convent with women who had

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taken the traditional vows of the Catholic Church was not new for either Joanne or Jim; that part of their adventure was like returning to their own early career choices. Jim was once a Catholic priest; Joanne was a nun. Born Joanne Gillen in Fairboult, Minnesota, she was the youngest of ten children. She grew up in a traditional Catholic home, attended Catholic schools, and at eighteen joined the Dominican Sisters in Edgewood, Wisconsin. By the time she was nineteen she was teaching 2nd graders in Chicago. She remained with the order, teaching in different schools around the country including Mobile, Alabama and Anaconda, Montana. In Anaconda in 1965 she met Jim, the parish priest. Jim grew up in Walkerville, north of Butte. He also had a traditional Catholic upbringing. He attended Carroll College in Helena where he studied social science, philosophy, Latin, and education. It was while attending college that Jim decided to become a priest. He went to seminary at St. Thomas in Denver, worked at the Church in Deer Lodge for three years, and in 1962 was ordained in Anaconda. For ten years he served the community and the Church, but decided to leave the priesthood in the early 70s. “It isn’t like we were blazing any trails,” Joanne says. “A lot of priests and nuns were leaving in the early 70s.” While their families and the people of the community were surprised, they were also supportive of the young couple. In 1974, Jim and Joanne were married. They worked at a variety of jobs and remained active in

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their church, often volunteering. In 1976 their son, Brian, was born. A daughter, Jackie, came along about 18 months later. “They have been such a blessing,” says Jim. In 1978 Jim went to work for Westinghouse in sales and in 1979 Joanne began her new career as a professor at Montana Tech. Their lives settled into a busy, happy, family-based routine. The kids grew up and went away to college. In 1997 Jim retired from Westinghouse. Joanne had committed to another four years at Montana Tech as she took on a department head position and worked to develop a new masters degree program in Technical Communication. By the spring of 2001, she also was ready to move on. Ready for, not only change, but a challenge and continued growth, was the reason Jim and Joanne contacted Sister Virginia in Chicago, a long-time friend of Joanne’s. To say it was a bit of a culture shock is understating the obvious. “Butte is miles away from the Westside of Chicago,” says Joanne, and she is not talking about the geographic distance. Although both had worked with the poor throughout their earlier ministry and as volunteers in Butte, it was not at all the same. The abject poverty, the desperation, the constant threat of violence, the hopelessness, and the daily struggle just to survive was beyond anything they had experienced.

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Sister Virginia assigned Joanne to help all the students at the Learning Center write resumes. As a college English professor, Joanne was accustomed to helping students prepare resumes, but the clients she worked with in Chicago did not have the same needs Many of the people she worked with did not even know what a resume was, let alone how to begin creating one for themselves. “A seventeen-year-old single mother, high school drop-out with two children, and little if any work experience, and we had to find something positive,â€? she explains. This was a typical situation, and in typical Joanne fashion, she helped each person find something positive to present. It was an exciting process and momentous achievement for the students at the Center and Sister Virginia hung each resume on the wall. Jim, who soon became known as “Mr. Jimâ€? or “Brother Jim,â€? also worked with the Food Pantry at the Westside Center. Because he had volunteered at Butte’s Food Bank, it was familiar territory, yet not at all the same. In this extremely poor neighborhood, there is no such thing as a mail carrier food drive, or community contributions. Nobody has anything to contribute. Therefore, everything was state and federal subsidies and there was never enough to go around. “I conversed with the people as they came in to pick up food,â€? Jim recalls. “They were given enough for about six meals and it was supposed to last them a month.â€? However, “three blocks north‌ are some real fine Italian and French and German restaurants‌ they work the dumpsters between ten and eleven at night and can usually get some pretty good stuff,â€? Jim explained the survival mechanism the clients told to him about. Before Thanksgiving Jim and Joanne were back in Montana, happy to be home yet grateful for their Chicago experience. “We learned a lot and we are still reaping that in various ways,â€? Joanne said. They touched the lives of others and their lives were enriched in turn. In no time at all Jim was back volunteering at Butte’s Food Bank and soon Joanne was right there with him. When the director retired, Jim and Joanne found themselves nominated as co-directors. They agreed to help for a while. As always, they couldn’t do things half way. As they became more and more familiar with the process at the Food Bank, they determined what was needed to best serve the clients and set out to make it happen. Before long, they were improving the processing of food distribution. They used their community connections not only to encourage more volun-

teers, but also to develop additional ways to raise money. Jim, an avid golfer, had the idea of sponsoring a golf tournament with all the proceeds going to help the Food Bank. Joanne used her writing skills successfully to write several grants when the Food Bank had a need and a grant was available. They were often invited to speak at local civic clubs. When a local bottling company building came up for sale Jim and Joanne saw an opportunity that was too good to pass up. The building offered more refrigeration space as well as additional open space for the Food Bank not to mention a more accessible location. All of which would result in better service for their clients. The building was just what the Food Bank needed and Jim and Joanne set out to make sure the need was met. With lots of work on their part, lots of support from the community, and of course, plenty of prayers they finally moved into the new building. They accomplished their mission. Meanwhile their son and daughter had both married and started families of their own. Jim and Joanne loved traveling to visit the grandchildren in North Dakota and Washington. Life was good. But it was about time for a change. A friend once told me that you should always leave a position when you are on the top. That is exactly what Jim and Joanne did. After about 10 years of service, their names had become synonymous with the Butte Food Bank, but they decided it was time to move on. They turned over the management of the Food Bank in 2011. This spring they have been busy helping their son, Brian, and his family with their hay farm. “Jim is the bailer,� Joanne explains. Joanne continues to serve on the Butte’s hospital board, thus maintaining her connection to the Sisters of Charity. Although Jim and Joanne left the formal service of the church when they got married, they continued to be practicing Catholics, raising their children in their faith, volunteering in the church, and maintaining long-standing relationships with former classmates and colleagues. Reminiscing with old friends is always enjoyable, but the publicized problems within the Church over the years continued to upset both Jim and Joanne. “It’s disheartening and embarrassing,� Joanne says. “We both grew up loving the Church and respecting religion in general.� While all that is happening in the world and in the Catholic Church in the name of religion has not destroyed their faith, it has reaffirmed what they felt thirty years ago; some things need to change. “It’s a discouraging lack of leadership,� she adds. “There is too much

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emphasis on authority and power.� She recalls the 1963 Vatican Council and all the changes that were written into the documents that came of that. “The ideas made it into the documents, but the documents never made it into the world.� Meanwhile, the foundations that Jim and Joanne Cortese developed in their own interpretation of their faith — love of family, concern and caring for others, an appreciation of the world God created, and living each day with humility and honesty — guide and inspire them today as much as when they took their vows. They continue to volunteer wherever and whenever they are called. They both know that life is a gift to be appreciated and treasured. As for the future, “I look forward to whatever it is, the challenges, the adventures, assuming our health continues to be good,� Joanne says. Jim smiles and nods in agreement. MSN

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Montana Neighbor States are Full of Surprises By Bernice Karnop Montana 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. North Dakota Scattered across North Dakota are giant statues of a dairy cow, buffalo, turtle, Viking and more. But do you know about the granite museum? The world famous Paul Broste Rock Museum in Parshall is built of natural granite quarried from the area. The entire structure was constructed with volunteer labor and opened for business in 1965. Paul called it his Acropolis on a hill. North Dakota grows more sunflowers than any other state, it is the only state in the nation never to have had an earthquake, and it was the first state to complete its Interstate highway system. With the most wildlife refuges in the U.S., more ducks reproduce in North Dakota wetlands than anywhere in the nation. The winter Lewis and Clark spent in North Dakota, each man ate more than ten pounds of meat per day in order to stay warm. Custer’s troops camped here, too, and two of them, Frank Neely and William C. Williams, carved their names into the Badland sandstone southeast of Medora. One was with Reno at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the other was with Benteen. Both survived.

As practice makes perfect, I cannot but make progress; each drawing one makes, each study one paints, is a step forward. - Vincent van Gogh

South Dakota While Rugby, North Dakota is the geographical center of North America, the geographical center of the United States is in Belle Fouche, South Dakota. Dinosaurs were the first to make the Black Hills their playground. The Mammoth Site at Hot Springs contains a mammoth amount of Columbian and woolly mammoth bones. A National Natural Landmark, it has the only fossil mammoths in America, displayed just as they were found in the ground. Older than the mammoths are the beds of dark red pipestone found on Split Rock Creek near Garretson. The mineral, held sacred by Native people, is found in few other areas in the nation. Early explorers in the Black Hills were looking for gold. One prospector named his promising claim “The Little Allie” for a neighbor’s daughter. When his angry wife demanded that the claim should be named for her, he changed it to “The Holy Terror.” The site of a rich gold strike in 1875, Deadwood retains its mining town atmosphere. While Deadwood is one of the most highly publicized mining towns of the trans-Mississippi West, much of its fame rests on the famous or infamous characters that passed through. The Anne Hathaway Cottage at Wessington Springs, styled after the original Anne Hathaway home in England, is the only structure in the Midwest that features a thatched roof. Henry Holland built an English-style mill in Milbank back in 1886. Until 1907 settlers brought him their wheat and corn to grind and their wood to saw. Idaho Deep wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail and California Trails scar the land in Southern Idaho across which pioneers struggled to get to more hospitable country. Up north in Lewiston, Idaho boasts a seaport from which today’s farmers send their grain down the Snake River to the Columbia and on to the Pacific Ocean for overseas shipment. Idaho rivers are not so friendly. The Salmon earned

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its name as the River of No Return from explorers who thought they could handle it. Idaho pioneers also dealt with a Monster like Scotland’s Nessie. It was seen several times in the late 1800s on Bear Lake on the Utah border. Ingenious Idahoans put their hot springs to work heating the Statehouse in Boise and dozens of other buildings. A chilling place in Boise is the Old Idaho Prison. Visitors can walk through the courtyards, the cells, the gallows, and the “coolers� where unfortunate souls sought rehabilitation in solitary confinement. One person who should have cooled off in prison came to Montana instead. He was Bannack’s infamous Sheriff Henry Plummer, and he is rumored to have buried a tidy cache at Beaver Canyon near Spencer. It has not been found as far as anyone knows. Wyoming There is a story behind the Bucking Horse and Rider on the Wyoming license plates. The horse, who started bucking back in the 1900s, is Old Steamboat and he could never be ridden. The cowboy might look secure, but he is about to be unloaded. The Bucking Horse and Rider 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 stay right in the basin. The Wind River oddly changes its name at the north end of the Wind River Canyon, where it becomes 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. Washington Seattle’s Pike Place Market opened in 1907, and it is the longest operating Farmer’s Market in the U.S. In fact, it is old enough to host an interesting colony of ghosts. Seattle’s shopping went indoors when the Northgate Shopping Mall opened in 1950 as the first fully enclosed shopping mall in the nation. Starbucks is the biggest coffee chain in the world. Mount Rainier is the highest point in Washington. The man it was named for, Peter Rainier, was a British soldier who fought against America in the Revolutionary War. Washington has the most glaciers in the lower 48 and Cape Flattery on the Olympic Peninsula is the northwestern most point of those states as well. The largest manmade 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. MSN

King Tut: Treasures of the Tomb Ten years in the making, from the artisans of the Pharaonic Village in Giza, Egypt and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this dazzling collection of Tutankhamen’s (King Tut) legendary treasures recreates the richest archaeological find of all time. With an expansive scope of over 131 artifacts masterfully produced in Egypt, this blockbuster exhibition is larger and more complete than any previous exhibition of the originals. Displayed in open glass cases, the exhibition includes replicas of the pharaoh’s sacred and personal possessions along with associated artifacts from the period surrounding Tutankhamen’s reign. Reconstructing both the historic discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter and the life and times of Egypt’s most celebrated boy-king, this exhibition takes visitors on a journey they will never forget. Discovery of the Tomb – 33 centuries ago a young pharaoh worshiped as a god was laid to rest in eternal splendor – his rule mysteriously cut short by an infected injury. An innocent puppet-ruler, he had been caught in the midst of a dangerous and profound political, spiritual, and artistic revolution

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against the entire pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods by the first monotheistic religious cult in history. Hidden in darkness beneath the desert sand for over three millennia, his spectacular golden treasures were discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. After the discovery, these treasures fulfilled their ancient magical task of ensuring that the name of Tutankhamun – the longforgotten boy pharaoh – would live on forever. From 1961 to 1981, the original traveling Tutankhamun exhibition from the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, toured the United States, Canada, Japan, France, England, West Germany, and the Soviet Union. Curated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the exhibition presented 55 artifacts in the order in which they were removed from the tomb, each grouped according to the chambers in which they were found. After 20 years of wear-and-tear on the priceless objects, the tour was concluded and the collection returned to Egypt. In 2005, in association with National Geographic, the tour returned to the U.S. in Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs with 50 objects found in the tomb along with approximately 80 additional items from a variety

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of other periods. Exhibition Explanation – Since all pharaohs were buried with more or less the same sacred equipment, even Tutankhamun’s own treasures were replicas in their day. Crafted from the same ancient traditional designs, the riches in King Tut: Treasures’ of the Tomb collection are presented as a composite portrait of an ancient individual and the remote times in which he lived. Instead of traditionally focusing on the chambers of the tomb, the artifacts are grouped according to aspects of the pharaoh’s life: an Introductory Hall, the Hall of the Discovery, the Private Pharaoh, the Public Pharaoh, and the Sacred Burial. The pharaoh’s muchoverlooked African heritage is explored along with the religious magical nature of his sacred objects and the infamous curse of Tutankhamun. In addition to the replicas made in Egypt, this exhibit also features an authentic 18th Dynasty sandstone stela, bearing a superb relief of Akhenaten, and three genuine 26th Dynasty gold and faience funerary necklaces.

While the experience of seeing the original artifacts is unsurpassable, there are enormous benefits to viewing these reproductions. The sheer number of replicas far exceeds the number of original objects that were allowed to leave the Egyptian Museum for viewing abroad. For those who have stood in long lines and paid lofty admissions to see the originals, it affords an opportunity to see far more of the pharaoh’s treasures than were available in the other touring exhibitions and at a more accessible price for families and schools. “The objects are all cast to look like the real thing . . . with the flaws and all,” said Marty Martin, curator from The Origins Museum Institute, where the exhibit originally was put together. “People can really experience them [the pieces] and they can actually breathe and live within the exhibit.” The collection of legendary artifacts faithfully preserves the grandeur and mystery of the most astonishing archaeological treasure ever discovered. General Information – King Tut: Treasures of the Tomb is open through Nov. 24, 2012. Admission prices are $8/adult, $7/senior, $6/student, $25/ family, and $20/family on Family Night (Mon 5-8 pm). Hours are Mon & Tues from 9 am – 8 pm, Wed – Sat 9 am – 5 pm, and closed Sunday. For more information, visit museumofidaho.org or please contact Britni Storer, Director of Marketing at 208-522-1400 ext. 3004 or at britnistorer@ museumofidaho.org. MSN

Minot Parks Recovering From Disastrous Flood We are coming back! Despite the flood of 2011, we are rebuilding all of our facilities. Nine holes are open at Souris Valley Golf Course, with nine more being rebuilt for a scheduled opening next summer. The Roosevelt Park Zoo is also coming along. The new Visitor Center will be open in August, and we may see some animals coming back later this summer. The Clinic/Giraffe exhibit area and the Children’s Zoo are under construction. With luck, we can open a portion of the zoo this year, with the majority of our animals on display again next spring. Baseball is being played again in Minot this summer with resodded fields and games scheduled through the rest of the summer.

A grand reopening for Oak Park was held on June 22, the anniversary of the flood. The splash pad and Magic Smiles playground are operating, and the Farmers Market and Arts in the Parks free concert series are going strong. Roosevelt Pool and Waterslide are under construction and should open next summer. Grass has been seeded in most of our parks and we are seeing some green again. Many thanks to all of the volunteers, major donors, and all who have contributed in any way to help us rebuild our facilities. We hope to have a normal season in 2013! For information on how you can help call 701-8574136 today. MSN

Hot Springs Bubble in the Canadian Rockies By Bernice Karnop The Rocky Mountains increase in majesty and beauty as you travel north along the east slopes from Glacier National Park in Montana to Waterton, Banff, and Jasper National Parks in Alberta. Recently, I was surprised to learn that it was not these snowy, rugged peaks and lovely lakes that inspired Canada to designate Banff as its first National Park. Instead, it was the discovery of hot mineral springs bubbling in these mountains. In 1885 when Banff was established, natural hot springs were highly valued, not just as an enjoyable place to hang out on a lazy afternoon, but also as a place to regain your health. To discover a treasure akin to the European Spas like BadenBadan, Germany thrilled the entire nation. Back then, hot water did not come easily for most folks. It meant lugging water from the pump if you were lucky, a creek, or stream if you weren’t. It meant firing up the wood stove to heat the water and pouring it into a galvanized tub not quite big enough to sit in. The water stayed warm just long enough for a family to get clean. What a blessing, this hot water coming right out of the earth in an endless supply, ready to enjoy. What a treat to sit up to your neck in the hot water for as long as you wanted to. The excitement over the therapeutic value of hot springs waned as remedies of other kinds replaced its healing allure. However, the old cures have made a comeback. Hot tubs are popular these days, and people seek out holistic health professionals rather than rushing to have surgery. Alternative health providers often suggest a cure-all my grandmother swore by – Epsom salts, which is akin to the natural mineral baths of the hot springs. Each of these hot springs in the Canadian Rockies boasts its own signature mix of minerals, gasses, and temperature. Test them out like gourmet coffee, and find your ideal blend. Banff Upper Springs – The Banff Upper Springs in the town of Banff is the highest hot springs in Canada at an elevation of 5,200 feet. The water is pushed up from deep within the earth’s crust through a big crack called the Sulphur

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Mountain Thrust Fault. In spite of this long trip, the water comes from the ground at 117 degrees. The outdoor pools are kept at comfortable temperatures of 98 degrees and 104 Fahrenheit. Minerals in Banff Upper Hot Spring include sulfate, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, and sodium. The Banff Upper Springs is open all year. You can indulge yourself in the restaurant, gift shop, and spa, as well as in the hot water. To get there from the town of Banff, follow Banff Avenue over the Bow River and turn east at the last set of traffic lights. The Hot Springs parking lot is at the end of Mountain Avenue. Miette Hot Springs – Miette Hot Springs is in Jasper National Park, but it is not as easy to find as the hot springs in Banff. It is about 35 scenic miles east of the town of Jasper. Follow highway 16 to the Pocahontas Bungalows, and then take the Miette Road to the plunge. From the outdoor pool, you relax with stunning views of the Fiddle River Valley and the peaks that surround it. At these “hottest hot springs in the Canadian Rockies,” water flows from the mountain at 129º F. They make sure it is cooled down to 104º before you dip your toes in, however. Upgraded in 2007, the pool is wheelchair accessible. You will need to plan to enjoy a relaxing time here. There are no service stations and no overnight camping, although there is a motel, cabins, a picnic area, and a restaurant. West Side of the Canadian Rockies – On the west side of the Canadian Rockies, you will find another series of hot springs. Like those in Alberta, the healing waters are augmented by stunning views and all the recreation you can imagine. Lussier Hot Springs – Lussier Hot Springs are the least developed pools in our list. Near the entrance to Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park off Highway 93, they are checked on by Park Rangers. Lussier is north of Kimberly on the park turn-off beyond Skookumchuck. The well-marked springs

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are about 11 miles down this road. You can change clothes in the toilet in the parking lot. It is about a 5-minute walk down a maintained trail to the Lussier River and four small pools. The water in the first one is about 110 degrees and cools with each successive pool. The bottom pool next to the river is about 94 degrees. Brave souls can cool off quickly with a dunk in the icy creek nearby. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort – Fairmont Hot Springs is just north of Lussier on Highway 93. This destination resort at Columbia Lake has everything – spa, skiing, golf courses, hiking, trail rides, mountain biking – and more. It is open yearround and is a family friendly place to spend a few days with the grandchildren. They will not only enjoy the water, but the trails and other activities offered by the resort as well. Fairmont Hot Spring has more than a million and a half gallons of mineral-rich hot water flowing through the pools daily. At night, they drain the pools, scrub, and refill them, so they are clean. If you have had a hip or knee replacement, come here for rehab you can really enjoy.

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Fairmont Hot Springs is on BC 93 about an hour north of Cranbrook. Radium Hot Springs – If you do not like the rotten egg smell of the Yellowstone Park hot springs, Radium Hot Springs might be the place for you. The hot water here is odorless. On its journey to the surface, this mineral water encounters oxygen. This, they say, takes care of the hydrogen sulfide “fragrance” before the mineral water reaches the surface. Radium Hot Springs is a Canadian Parks Service plunge that’s just one mile east of the West Gate of Kootenay National Park. Nakusp Hot Springs – This community owned plunge with nearby camping and cabins, claims to have the cleanest, clearest healing water in British Columbia. Amenities include heated floors in the locker rooms, guides to outdoor recreation, snacks, and more. From Nakusp, go one mile north to the junction on BC 23, and signs will direct you to the springs eight miles east. MSN

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Sweet Pea Festival of Arts Article & Photo By Kim Thielman-Ibes Bozeman has a long and storied history of celebrating the arts. During the early 1900s, the town sought to attract a sugar beet processing plant by putting on a carnival like no other. At that time, sweet peas grew everywhere. Their delicate pastel flowers climbed up white picket fences lining rural boulevards, their spindly vines crept indiscriminately along dirt paths and around the foundations of simple yet efficient homes. There was no argument as to what the festival would be called. Why, Sweet Pea of course! Bozeman failed in its bid for the sugar beet processing plant but the Sweet Pea carnival was quite a success, attracting people from miles around. After a time, the festival fell by the way until it was revived in 1977, when another group of community members also found themselves inspired by the ubiquitous sweet pea. The planning called for a Sweet Pea ball, Sweet Pea parade, and a stage where musicians and artisans would gather to share music and artistic creations. The festival’s planning overwhelmed its execution such that it was not until the following year that their efforts would culmi-

nate in the revitalization of Sweet Pea. Bozeman’s Sweet Pea Festival celebrates its 35th year this August. As usual, the event will take place over three days during the first weekend in August (August 3-5). Attendees can view performances by local and national performance groups ranging from Irish dance to acoustic Bluegrass. Art exhibits, arts and crafts sales, flower shows, Shakespeare in the Parks, dance workshops, and children’s activities are just a few of the events you will enjoy at the festival. Most of the events take place in downtown Bozeman, primarily in the shaded pines of Lindley Park located on the east end of Main Street. This year there will be over 100 arts and crafts vendors throughout the park. Here the stage will also be set for a wide variety of performances including the Philadelphia based BalletX, an innovative creative dance company that should not be missed. Every year a contest is held to design the official Sweet Pea Poster. The annual posters have become collector’s items and always portray the delightful sweet pea. Posters and t-shirts with its design can also be purchased during the event. Sweet Pea is essentially a celebration of the arts. The mission of the festival is to promote and cultivate the arts within the Bozeman community and within the hearts and minds of those who come from places far and wide to share in this historic cultural event. “I think for the community it’s definitely a time to gather in one central location and see friends and neighbors that maybe haven’t been seen since the following year at the festival,” says Andria Huntsinger, Executive Director of the Sweet Pea Festival. Andria volunteered on the Sweet Pea board for 9 years prior to becoming the festival’s director in 2011. “For me personally it’s so amazing and heartwarming how many people give of their time to make this festival happen every year.” The festival has a volunteer board numbering in the mid-40s. There are hundreds of additional volunteers needed to put on this annual festival. Over 1,000 people volunteer their time each year and over 16,000 attend.

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The non-profit festival is self-supporting – there are no corporate sponsors. Those attending purchase wristbands for admission available through a variety of Bozeman businesses, including the Sweet Pea office. A 3-day pass purchased before August 1 is $15 ($20 at the gate) or a day pass is $10 at the gate. Tickets to the Sweet Pea Ball are $15 per person. The Bite of Bozeman takes place on August 1, the Wednesday prior to the start of the festival. Bozeman closes Main Street for food vendors, music, and fun. The Sweet Pea Arts show will start on August 1 and run through August 24. Call the Sweet Pea office for location. The noteworthy

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Sweet Pea Parade takes place on Saturday, August 4. Runners can participate in the Wind Drinkers Stampede (5K or 10k) and line up for the 34 annual Sweet Pea race set for Saturday morning on August 4. For more information on the race see: www.winddrinkers.org/classic/classic. The proceeds are used to put on each year’s festival with remaining funds given as grants for art and art education. This year, thanks to an accumulation of funds over a couple of years, $10,000 was given in grants. For more information about the Sweet Pea Festival schedule, visit www.sweetpeafestival.org or call 406-586-4003. MSN

From Retired Army Nurse to Certified Nurse Midwife: Lori Newman really delivers Article & Photo By Kim Thielman-Ibes As illustrated by references in the Bible, midwives have delivered babies for millennia. For early Europeans and colonial Americans, midwives were considered the gold standard of care and preferred birth attendant. With the advent of formalized medical schools in the early nineteenth century, the apprentice model of midwife training became frowned upon in the obstetrics’ community. By 1935, midwives attended to only ten percent of births. Even after formalized medical programs trained and designated the Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), midwives continue to receive less respect in the medical community. The apprentice program remains a popular choice for today’s midwives and most women who choose a midwife opt for a home birth. “In doing so, midwives are rarely affiliated with a group of physicians who are their backups when a birth gets complicated and they transfer their birthing mothers to the emergency room,� says Lori Newman, “From a physician’s perspective, if you ever get caught caring for a midwife’s emergency birth you might develop a

biased view.� Lori Newman, a family nurse practitioner who went back to medical school for her certified nurse midwife degree has experienced these biases during her career as both a practicing midwife in the army and in working to attain delivery privileges at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. After twenty years in the army and working a little more than eight years with Bozeman OB/GYN, she finally attained delivery privileges at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital two years ago. To date she is the first and only CNM at the hospital. One doctor Lori worked with years ago told her he was uncomfortable working with her as a nurse midwife. Within six months, he had a complete turnaround in his perception about the midwife profession. A native of Helena, Lori is a 1982 graduate of MSU’s College of Nursing. It was while she worked in the Army Nurse Corps that she first entertained the idea of becoming a CNM. “I was working in

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a very high-volume, high-risk labor and delivery unit,” says Lori, “I saw lots of families run through the birthing process like it was an assembly line and felt there must be a better way to take care of childbearing families by becoming a different kind of birth attendant.” In 1992, Lori graduated with her CNM from the Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver and practiced the full scope of nurse midwifery until she retired from service in 2002. During her army career Lori went on to attain her FNP - family nurse practitioner degree. After retiring, she and her family moved to Bozeman where she was hired by Bozeman OB/GYN as a nurse practitioner. “I accepted the job as a nurse practitioner having been told that there was no chance of being involved in obstetrics,” says Lori. She hoped that over time she could earn the trust of her fellow physicians and get back to her roots as a certified nurse midwife. It took a little more than six years, but Lori finally met her goal. That decision made Crystal Turner one happy

new mom. “Lori was not on a rotating schedule like most doctors,” says Crystal, “I really liked that. Who wants to see someone every month, then twice a month, then weekly, and then have some stranger in the delivery room?” Crystal appreciated the options that Lori presented to her regarding the birthing process - from natural to medicinal delivery, along with her very personal care - hallmarks of the midwife profession. Lori used to keep a birth log, writing down every baby she had delivered. She stopped recording in 1997 after approximately 800 births. “I really enjoy what I do,” says Lori, “Even when the nights are long and things are stressful, there’s always a reward - a word of thanks, a baby picture or hug from a grateful woman along with the words, ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’ What more could I need?” For more information about the history of midwifery in the United States, read Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812. MSN

Day Hikes in and around Bozeman There are so many great hikes around the greater Bozeman area that even most of its own residents have not had the pleasure making them all. Whether or not you are looking for a quick stretch of your legs between meetings, a soothing hike to listen to the rush of falling water, or a more aerobic alternative, Bozeman trails have it all. To give you a good start, here are a few choice trails for your consideration and enjoyment. The M Trail and beyond to Mt Baldy – The M trail is perhaps one of the most iconic and well-loved trails in the greater Bozeman area. The beauty of this hike is that it has a trail for everyone from 5 years of age to 95. There is a variety of options, including the 1-mile round trip direct approach straight up the mountain or the 3-mile round trip meandering trail that gently takes one to the 250-foot white rock M created by MSU students in 1915. A series of benches is available along the

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gentler route, allowing the opportunity to take in the glorious views south to the Gallatin Range and West to the Madison Range. Part of this trail’s allure is the early and late summer wildflowers that fill its sunny slopes. Early spring yellow bells, Wyoming kittentails, bluebells, and larkspur mark the way, waiting for an abundance of arrowleaf balsamroot that soon follows. By late summer, bluebells, wild hyacinth, and fuzzytongue penstemon delight. . For those who have more time and are looking for a much more strenuous and aerobic outing, continue on the trail beyond the white-rocked M. This trail continues to the top of Baldy Mountain and beyond, along the spiny ridge of the Bridgers. At Baldy Peak’s summit, 360-degree views make the scramble well worth it. The M trails are best hiked during the morning hours. From downtown, travel north on Rouse and Bridger Canyon Drive 4.2 miles to the M parking lot on the north side of the road. There’s plenty of parking across highway at the local fish hatchery, which also plays host to another wonderful trail, Drinking Horse. Drinking Horse Trail – One of the newest additions to Bozeman’s Main Street to the Mountains trail system, this meandering trail opened in 2009 and was built on 40 acres donated to the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service by the White family. This 3.2mile (round trip) trail begins by crossing Bridger Creek, a great place for both people and dogs to cool off. The Drinking Horse trail system was built in a figure 8, and like the M trail, there is an easy way and a steeper alternative. Here also, benches

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are thankfully located throughout the trail system, along with a picnic table on the top of the mountain. Grotto Falls Trail and beyond to Hyalite Peak – South of Bozeman, the Gallatin Range offers a dizzying supply of hiking opportunities. If you are willing to hike for it, the views are intoxicating, the wildflowers aromatic and plentiful, and the waterfalls... let’s just say you would be remiss not to bring your camera. The beauty of the Grotto Falls trail, aside from starting at elevations just under 7,000 feet, is that it’s wheel chair assessable, rises under 300 feet in elevation, tracks to a beautiful, soothing waterfall, and gives the more restless in the group miles of additional trails to discover. The trail to Grotto Falls is smooth and wide rising 250 feet over 1.5 miles. The trail continues through the Valley of the Falls, a little over 6 miles to Hyalite Peak. Arch, Champagne, Shower, and Alpine are just a few of the falls you’ll experience beyond Grotto. There are nine falls along the 7-plus mile hike up to Hyalite Peak. The elevation gain at the peak is 3,500-feet. For an endless supply of hiking opportunities, pick up 100 Great Day Hikes Around Bozeman and The Greater Yellowstone and the Gallatin Valley Land Trust Map, both available at many local Bozeman locations. Happy hiking! MSN

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A Tale of Two Gardeners - continued from page 1 joy in her younger self, deeply connecting her to the garden. These early flower encounters shaped the lens through which she views the world – for her, flowers symbolize a sense of future and hope. Jenny grew up in Glasgow and moved to Bozeman with her husband and five children in the mid-1980s. Her garden started with a small plot, a mix of flowers and vegetables for her family’s personal use. Patrons of Jenny’s flowers have the Big Timber water slide to thank for her jumping into the business a little over ten years ago. “My kids wanted to go to the Big Timber water slide, and I didn’t have the money to take them. So, I filled their wagon with flowers and sold them around our neighborhood.� This success led her to start selling flowers at Bozeman’s co-op and then the Farmers’ Market. Jenny’s gardens are a testament to her artistic and relaxed style.

Some meander around the foundation of her brick home built to replicate an old school house in rural Montana, while others form a semi-circle of color around fruit trees she planted over twenty-years ago. Though her family owns five acres, her flower farm covers just over one. A self-described plantaholic, Jenny plants and harvests blossoms that personally appeal to her. Her garden’s storybook quality is enriched by a diversity of earthy-hues ranging from deep purple to sky-blue. When possible, Jenny sprinkles an unusual collection of black-petaled flowers throughout her garden. Black irises provide a bit of parental supervision and add a stately presence to an otherwise wild and tangled collection. “I’m more of a seat-of-my-pants kind of gardener,� Jenny confesses. She plants in curves and drifts, and on windy planting days, finds herself simply throwing seeds in the air to let them find a home on their own. Artistry and experimentation go hand in hand. She prefers to pick the grasshoppers off her plants rather than spray them; she uses Goat compost and sacrifice plants like radishes, along with a whole lot of backbreaking weeding, to care for her garden. “There was an elderly woman who would go to all the other Farmers Market booths, buying vegetables and all the essentials. Then, she would approach my booth and say, ‘And now, something for my soul.’� And so goes the glory of the garden. MSN

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Medicare Open Enrollment is Right Around the Corner: Change or Stay? By Teresa Ambord October 15 through December 7 – people on Medicare will decide whether their current Medicare plans are meeting their needs. If you are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Part C), or a Part D prescription drug plan, this is your chance to look around and see if you can do better. Take time to reconsider the plan you’ve chosen and you may be able to improve your benefits, or lower your premiums, or both. Also during this period, individuals who are already Medicare eligible but not enrolled in Medicare Advantage can sign up in a new plan. And those who are participating in a Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Part D plan can cancel during this period. If you miss your annual opportunity to make changes, you will need to wait until next year. Assuming you are happy with your current plan, why should you change or consider changing? Because other things change, including your health care needs, your prescriptions, the benefit options, your geographic location, and possibly the premiums charged by insurers. But this is an opportunity to gain control over high health costs, possibly improve what you are getting, and tweak your plan to meet your personal medical needs. Here is a list from Medicare.gov of actions you can take during Open Enrollment: • Join a Medicare Prescription drug plan. • You may wish to drop Medicare prescription drug coverage completely. • You may switch from one prescription drug plan to another, within the Medicare plans. • You may switch from original Medicare to

Medicare Advantage, or vice versa, from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare. • You may switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan. • If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan that does not have drug coverage, you may switch. Confused About How to Decide? First, do not assume nothing has changed. Just be sure your agent is not tied to a particular company, so that he or she has a more objective, broader spectrum of options for you. Yo u c a n research on your own by logging onto Medicare. gov, or calling 1-800-633-4227. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. However you make your decision, compare: • Monthly premiums • Out of pocket expenses • All deductibles • Copayments • Coinsurance Also consider how your health care needs may have changed since you last chose a plan. • How frequently do you see your doctors? • What new prescriptions do you take? • Has your current plan notified you of any upcoming changes that affect you adversely? Suppose you make a change on October 15, and later, during the open enrollment period discover you have made a mistake – what then? As long as you are still within the Open Enrollment period, you may make as many changes as you wish. Only the last one will count, and those final changes will take effect on January 1, 2013, allowing you to use your Part D benefits. Your old plan will automatically discontinue.

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Disenrollment Period If for some reason you want to leave Medicare Advantage to return to original Medicare, you may do so from January 1, 2013, to February 14, 2013, and select a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan. Your coverage under your new plan will begin the first day of the month following the time your enrollment form is received. According to Medicare. gov, here are a few things you cannot do during the Disenrollment Period. You cannot: • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan • Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another • Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another • Or join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan. Special Enrollment Periods There are also Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) that are available when certain events occur to change your coverage or eligibility. Examples would include events like changes in your living arrangements, such as if you moved to an area that is not served by your plan, if you return to the United States after living elsewhere, just left a nursing home, or were released from jail. SEPs may also be available if you lose your current coverage, have a chance to change your coverage (such as being offered coverage through an employer), and more. To see if your situation qualifies for special enrollment, call 1-800-6334227. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Medicare also offers more specifics at www.medicare. gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11219.pdf. You can also get more personalized information

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 73

to suit your situation by logging onto Medicare. gov. Here are some tools provided to help you understand your options. • Medicare Eligibility Tool: Provides Medicare eligibility status information. Select “New to Medicare?” and then “Find Out if You’re Eligible.” • Medicare Plan Finder: Provides personalized information about available Medicare Prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, other Medicare health plans, and Medicare supplement insurance (medigap) policies. Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. Newly Eligible? Those who turn 65 in 2013 can enroll in Medicare Part D and have a seven-month window to enroll. The seven months begin three months before the individual’s birthday, the month that includes the birthday, and three months after. So a person who turns 65 in September of 2013 can enroll in June through December 2013. To be sure your benefits begin by your birthday, you must sign up in the three-month period prior, otherwise, benefits will be delayed. The best policy is to sign up at the earliest opportunity. MSN

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Nothing But Fun At Montana Senior Olympics Betts Stroh from Lewistown strides to the finish line at the Race Walk event at the Montana Senior Olympics. Betts, 79, started out as a reluctant racer. Her friend Charlotte Orr asked her to run with her at the Chokecherry Festival but Betts was not interested. She did agree to come along to encourage Charlotte. When the whistle blew, Betts started running like the rest of them, hiking boots and all. The following winter Betts watched a TV show telling how to prepare for a 5 K. She bought a pair of running shoes and when it was time for the Montana Senior Olympics, she climbed into her RV with only her dog, and went to Kalispell. Charlotte says Betts had never run a 5 K before in her life, and she qualified for Nationals. “I’m competitive but I’m not jealous of anyone,� she says. But she did think it might be an advantage to have longer legs. Betts will be back next year, whether or not she decides to participate. “I like to watch,� she says. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

Barbara Wilson, 82, is a swimmer from Billings. She grew up in Massachusetts where there is lots of water and she is a good swimmer. But she is not a one-sport person. “Next time come and see me ski,� she says with a laugh. As a young nurse in Boston Barbara was determined to learn to ski but the ski hills were at least three hours away. “If you want to ski you should go live at the bottom of the ski hill,� she says. So she applied for a nursing job in Jackson, Wyo. In addition to falling in love with skiing, she fell in love with a Wyoming cowboy and later moved to Montana. Friends at the Billings Aquatic Center encouraged her to participate in the Montana Senior Olympics six years ago. She did not come to Great Falls alone. Cheering her on were her five children, two daughters from Nevada, one from Whitehall, and sons from Havre and Billings. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

Steve Harper, Helena, says that race walking has been an Olympic sport since 1908. In fact, at the turn of the century, the highest paid athletes were race walkers! He enjoys it because you can work up a hard sweat without hurting yourself. “You’re not pounding your knees,� he says. In February this year he took second in the 60-64 bracket 30K race walk at the USA Track and Field National race walk competition in New York State. He is a very good race walker, but Steve could also be an advertisement for skin cancer prevention. He wore long pants, long sleeves, and this hat that protected his face and neck. Steve teaches computer science at Carroll College, started race walking about ten years ago when Jonathan Matthews who also teaches at Carroll College, introduced him to the sport. Matthews, 56, is a nationally ranked race walker who set several records at the USA Track and Field Nationals competing with men half his age. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

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Ron Reighard from Sunburst has no problem being in the pits as long as it’s the horseshoe pits. Ron and his wife Judy came with friends Faye and Ken Tomeyer who farm out of Galata. Ken and Ron pitched horseshoes at the Senior Olympics and all four of them bowled. Judy brought them to the Montana Senior Olympics last year after reading about the in the Montana Senior News. She is working on bringing a lot more people next year. Ron and Judy are interested in participating in other senior games out of state and in the National Senior Games, which occur on odd numbered years. The 2012 Montana Senior Olympics was a qualifier for the national games in 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Games were good for the Reighards all year long. Judy walked nearly every day to keep in shape and she participated in the race walk clinic at Memorial Field on Thursday. Next year the games will be in Great Falls again and Judy will compete in the race walk. She and Faye eyed the horseshoes competition as well. “The more you participate the more you enjoy it,� Judy says. “More people would be here if they had any idea what it’s really like. Besides, what else can you do for only $4 per event?� [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

How do you warm up after your swimming event if the showers in the locker room are cold? Charmaine Lindgren, 70, Helena, and Leslie Allen, 55, Butte, discovered this sunny corner near the building, soaked up some rays, and enjoyed some giggles between their races. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

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Caddy Memories By Edward A. Joseph Nick was short, overweight, and not beautiful. As caddy master Nick had a deal going that if a caddy wanted a loop – carrying a golfer’s bag for eighteen holes – he had to pay up. The going rate the summer of 1957, just before I started high school, was 15 cents for one bag and 25 cents for two bags. I once carried three bags, but Nick only charged me a quarter. Small as it was, Nick had a dread of any club member seeing him take the bribe. During my first month as a caddy, I committed the egregious error of publicly trying to give Nick money. He looked at me as if he was St. Francis of Assisi and I had asked him to step on some birds. He saw me later and told me never to

do that again, and then he took my 15 cents. St. Francis accepted donations. I knew curse words before I started to caddy, but they were mundane compared to the lurid lexicon of the experienced caddies. Their language became particularly colorful when they played cards. Poker was the game of choice. Because it smelt of cigars and urine, no one went into the small caddy room except in bad weather or to play poker. I had been caddying for over three years when I became a “made man.” In caddy land, this meant playing poker with the men. Lucky me. After playing a couple of hands, I felt as if I was walking through a minefield. I was betting more money than I ever had before, and if I made a stupid play, I would be taunted as “a dumb kid.” Scariest of all was the fact that some of these guys were belligerent losers. Things were all smiles and jokes if they were winning, but if they started to lose, especially to a kid, their banter turned to verbal assault. In a malevolent tone of voice they would snarl, “You’re a lucky #//!*#, but it ain’t going to last.” Fortunately for my stomach – and perhaps the rest of my body – things worked out great. I lost all my money and did not say, or do, anything too stupid, according to the older caddies’ code of social graces. One senior caddy was different from the rest. “Skeets” never cursed or gambled. He was tall, thin, and walked with his head and shoulders slanted forward. It looked as if he had to focus on every step to keep from falling down. Looking back, I think he must have been at least in his early 60s. He caddied every day – always carrying two bags – and sometimes for 36 holes.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

I caddied all through high school and got to know Skeets pretty well. In the spring of my senior year, Skeets told me he had married a younger woman and that he had recently become a father. I was incredulous and envious. My last memory as a caddy involves Skeets. It was late afternoon and the sun was the background as I watched Skeets walking down the fairway of the first hole, the heavy golf bags stretching the skin on his normally wrinkled face like a tight drum. As usual, he walked with a tilt. He told me before he took the loop – he had already done 18 holes that morning – that he had

to go out again because his baby needed shoes. I knew as I watched him go down the fairway I would never see him again. I would be going away to college and would not be returning. In the more than 50 years that have passed since I first gave Nick that 15 cents bribe, I have often thought about my experiences as a caddy. My clearest memory is always of Skeets, with the afternoon sun illuminating and enveloping him, walking down the first fairway to pay for his baby’s shoes. Contact the author at edwardajoseph@optonline.net. MSN

Taking To The Great Outdoors: Meeting A Woman’s Unique Needs In The Outdoors By Susan Frances Bonner, RN BSN If the beginning of summer has gotten away from you, it is time to turn your thoughts to outdoor summer activities that can continue into fall. These can include hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, four-wheeling, and 4x4 excursions. While these may seem like male-oriented activities, women’s changing roles make their participation in these activities perfectly normal and unremarkable. No matter what your outdoor skill level, there are always things to be considered when leaving the comforts of home. Such as, what are you willing to do without? Or, what type of activity will you be engaged in and for how long? Are you prepared for unexpected events? Whether it is a walk in the park or a twoweek excursion, we as women need to be prepared. One way to do this is to look at the

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basic equipment we need to get through one day in the great outdoors. Then we can expand it to a weekend or longer. Making a list of what we need and then eliminating items that we want but do not necessarily “need� from that list is a good way to start. What do we need to survive? Food, water, and shelter. Now expand each category. Under the food category, (besides food), make sure to include the medical emergency kit, any medicines, and hygiene products. And ladies, leave your perfume and makeup home. The rule of

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thumb is that if it smells good to you it smells good to insects and animals. I always carry unscented baby wipes around for when I want to “freshen up” and smell good. Under the shelter category list clothes and bedding you will need to fit the type of sleeping quarters you will be using. Whether a tent or an RV, you will still need to be protected from the elements. Most women get colder faster than men get and get cold in different spots on their body than

men do. In general, a woman’s “cold spots” include the head, chest, hands, hips, and feet. Therefore, pick clothes or sleeping bags that have extra layers or insulation in these spots. Outdoor clothes and equipment that are exclusively made for women are tricky to find. Most outdoor stores have sections for woman’s clothes but are limited in their selection. The following web sites have a large selection of items for women: landsend.com; llbean.com; campmor.com; and rei. com. And do not be afraid to look in the men’s section of your local outdoor store or in men’s sports catalogs. Cabela’s shooting catalog for example, has a woman’s issue that comes out every August. For those who are avid hikers, backpacks are an essential part of your outdoor clothing choice. As a women, choosing a backpack can be an adventure in its self. Just remember two things, when ordering from a catalog or web site look for a height and weight chart. And if you can, always try it on. Just like clothes and shoes, if it’s not comfortable you’re not going to wear it no matter how nice it looked on the shelf. Now that we have our gear together, how do we package it? “Keep it simple” applies wonderfully to this question. Ziploc bags make marvelous organizers. They come in many different sizes, are water proof, help keep odors from reaching the noses of furry critters, and make great garbage bags when empty. I use them for everything. Food in one, hygiene products in another, and I pack one up as my emergency kit. To carry gear on long trips in the RV or camper, I suggest Rubbermaid tubs or Action Packers. Both are relatively cheap, roomy, and have easy-carry handles. Once, on a three-day camping trip with my dog, I packed all my camping gear including tent and food into one Action Packer. Then I used my backpack for my clothes, loaded it into my mini-van and off we went. How do we protect ourselves? It may be against those four-legged creatures or worse, the two-legged kind. Whichever it is, you must be totally comfortable and competent with the type of protection you use. And do not think for one minute that some form of protection isn’t needed out there. It does not matter how many self-defense classes you have taken or how many targets you can hit accurately; women are still thought of as easy prey by all predators. My first line of defense and early warning device is my dog then I have my hiking stick and my gun. Like all choices, this is personal. Only you know what type of protection you feel comfortable with and only you know what you will grab when the time comes and you feel threatened. But no matter what form that takes, make sure you are proficient in its use. There is no use in pulling out a tool and not knowing what to do with it. Remember when it comes to being outdoors only you can determine your unique needs and concerns. Take some time to consider what they are. Just because we are different from men does not make us weaker; it allows us to be more creative and innovative. So gear up ladies, get out there and go for it! MSN

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