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Fred Flint And The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation By Gail Jokerst If you like the idea of living outdoors 24/7, find energetic volunteer work appealing, and enjoy seeing tangible results from your efforts, look no
farther than The Bob Marshall Wilderness for your next adventure. Thanks to the grass roots The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation (BMWF), opportunities abound for individuals, families, and groups to donate time and muscle power to help support activities in the 1.5-million-acre region. According to the foundation’s president, Fred Flint, each year some 300 volunteers participate in more than a dozen projects. Chief among these are restoring campsites and historic cabins; keeping noxious weeds from spreading; and maintaining trails tread on by humans as well as horses. Last year alone, volunteers improved some 350 miles of trail throughout The Bob, as the area is often referred to by its many fans. “These trails are critical. If you don’t have them you don’t get where you want to go. Bad
trails make traveling a lot more difficult. If you’re hiking, you can scramble, but if you’re on horseback they’ll stop you,” cautions Fred, who makes his home in Columbia Falls. “You can go so much farther on a well maintained route that’s not brushy.” Whatever the project, BMWF supplies the tools, camping equipment, food, and even the backcountry riders to pack volunteers in and out and transport supplies. All that volunteers need to bring is their personal gear plus a willingness to work for one to ten days in a region that by anyone’s standards would qualify as remote. This pristine landscape, which stretches eastto-west from Choteau to Lincoln and north-to-south from Glacier National Park to Seeley Lake, is one of Montana’s ten officially designated wilderness areas. That means no wheeled vehicles - except hand-powered wheelchairs - enter its boundaries. “The Wilderness Act protects against motorized and mechanized vehicles so people can enjoy a more primitive type of recreation on foot or horse only. If you do take in a non-motorized wheelchair,” adds Fred, “it requires two or three good friends to help. These trails are narrow, steep, and rough. The Bob is a wonderful (Continued on page 49)
PAGE 2 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
APRIL/MAY 2010
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Love Your Paper I am writing to say how much I love your publication! It is always chock-full of great articles that are well written. Many laughs wait in the pages of each issue, as well as interesting and informative stories. Kudos to everyone on your staff. I can’t wait for the next issue. Thank you for the wonderful nod to we older folks. Even the personals are intriguing! Karen Simons Missoula
Contest Corner Crashes I just got the February Montana Senior News today to match answers for the Cake Contest from December, but the Cake Quiz and the answers do not match. There were only 14 cakes listed, but there were 15 answers. I think that #5 was omitted in the original puzzle. Eleanor Arbauch Butte
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 3
ED: That is correct. We heard from a number of readers concerning the errors in December’s Cake Quiz. In the original quiz, we left out question 5, the cake that weighs the most, which was the pound cake. But, we included all fifteen answers, which made them off by one number and in the process created a mess for which we apologize to all of our readers. We will do better in the future. CORRECTION: In the February issue of the Montana Senior News, we incorrectly printed the web address for A Carousel for Missoula, which is www.carrousel.com. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this error. MSN
The Memorial Stone Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Billy died and his will provided $30,000 for an elaborate funeral. As the last guests were departing, his wife, Joyce, turned to her oldest and dearest friend, Jan. “Well, I’m sure Billy would be pleased,” she said. I’m sure you’re right,” replied Jan, who lowered her voice and leaned in close. “How much did this really cost?” “All of it?” said Joyce. “Thirty thousand.” “You’re kidding!” Jan exclaimed. “I mean, it was very nice, but $30,000?” Joyce answered. “The funeral was $6,500. I donated $500 to the synagogue. The whiskey, wine, and snacks were another $500. The rest went for the memorial stone.” Jan computed quickly. “$22,500 for a memorial stone? My God, how big is it?” “Two and a half carats.” MSN
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 www.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.
Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano Kathleen McGregor Angie Erskine Rhonda Lee Peter Thornburg Sherrie Smith
Production Supervisor Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Graphic Artist Distribution Admin/Production Assistant
Contributing Writers Bob Campbell Connie Daugherty George Engler Clare Hafferman Sue Hart Kim Thielman-Ibes Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig Larcom Liz Larcom Michael McGough Dianna Troyer © 2010
PAGE 4 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
APRIL/MAY 2010
As John Donne wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself.” And neighbors are no small reflection of the community that we feel in Montana where great distances separate us, and where in times of crisis neighbors can be our key to survival. Our winning Remember When contributor is Elsie Pankowski of Great Falls whose recollection Neighbors reminds us how much we rely on the help of others in times of need. Elsie also reminds us that we share this world with lots of non-human neighbors and that it is best to respect and accept them as part of our communities. Thank you and congratulations to Elsie, the winner of 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 June/July 2010 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 406-7610305. Visit us online at www.MontanaSeniorNews. com.
Neighbors By Elsie Pankowski, Great Falls Some folks might think that it was lonely on our family’s remote 640 acres in eastern North Dakota. The truth is we were blessed with neighbors all around us. There were the good people who lived just over the hill in every direction. In times of crisis, they could be counted on for support. At one time, our neighbor to the south was stricken with a serious illness at harvest time. During their own busy season, farmers from all directions converged on his place bringing their tractors, combines, trucks, and wives laden with food. Within a couple of days, his crops were in and there was one less worry on his mind. However, neighbors can come in all shapes and sizes. Mourning doves woke us each morning with their sad calls from the grove. We were entertained by pigeons that nested in the cupola on top of the barn as well as swallows that built mud nests under the eaves and hung like graceful brush strokes in the sky. Red-winged black birds teetered on reeds, and killdeer decoyed us away from their pebble
nests in the middle of the summer fallow. Goldfinches flashed like sparks of light in the bushes. Ducks were a show from the time they emerged from their shells until they took wing, while sparrows cheerfully chirped in the background of our days. We had other shadowy neighbors, of which we caught glimpses now and then. I remember looking out of my upstairs window early one misty morning. A coyote mother led her two pups across a field, a surreal image that has remained with me all these years later. Once I caught sight of a brown weasel sitting straight up on his haunches in the doorway to the barn. Other times, we found the remains of young chickens that one of his brothers had killed, but it was rare to see one. On a morning walk to school, I somehow ended up between two skunks marching toward each other so intently that they did not even notice me. I sidled away before I was the recipient of odoriferous spray. It must have been mating season. Later on that summer, our headlights outlined a mother skunk and a trail of little ones. Once, while on a horseback ride, we startled a badger near its burrow. I remember a ferocious response. It hissed and made intimidating leaps
APRIL/MAY 2010
toward us. We decided retreat was the wisest thing to do. Rabbits and gophers were common sights, but my father scoffed a bit when my little sister ran to him with a tale of seeing a raccoon. After all, none had been seen in the area previously. Soon, however, they were all over the place. Although we had many deer, especially in the coulees, it was in later years that antelope moved in. I do not remember seeing a fox around when I was a
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 5
child, but they are abundant now. Perhaps it was because a government program, Soil Bank, turned many of the old farms into wild areas. We went back recently to visit our deserted farmstead. Down in the old horse pasture, beavers had dammed the spring to create a lake. Deer peered at us from behind the bushes. Everywhere we went one critter or another bounded away. It seemed to me that our furry neighbors had moved in and now owned the place. MSN
Grandma’s Button Drawer By Connie M. Kelley - Springfield, Missouri (Written shortly after grandmother Inez Craker passed away at the age of 93.) Submitted By Julie Hollar-Brantlley When I was just a child, 5 or 6 or more, I liked to sneak my hand Into Grandma’s button drawer. I’d dip and scoop and stir My fingers through the past, Remnants of her handiwork, Strong and meant to last.
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Brain Transplant Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley The relatives gathered in the waiting room, where their family member lay gravely ill. Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and somber. “I’m afraid I’m the bearer of bad news,� he said as he surveyed the worried faces. “The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant. It is an experimental procedure and very risky but it is the only hope. Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the brain yourselves.� The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a great length of time, someone
asked, “Well, how much does a brain cost?� The doctor quickly responded, “$5,000 for a male brain, and $200 for a female brain.� The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked. A man unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, “Why is the male brain so much more?� The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the entire group, “It is just standard pricing procedure. We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because they’ve actually been used.� MSN
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APRIL/MAY 2010
ď &#x2030;ď Žď&#x20AC; ď ?ď Żď Žď ´ď Ąď Žď Ąď&#x20AC; ď &#x2C6;ď Żď °ď Ľď&#x20AC; ď ď Žď ¤ď&#x20AC; ď &#x2122;ď Żď ľď ´ď ¨ď&#x20AC; ď &#x201C;ď °ď ˛ď Šď Žď §ď&#x20AC; ď &#x2026;ď ´ď Ľď ˛ď Žď Ąď Ź By Bob Campbell A few years ago, I was speaking to a group at the Sidney MonDak Heritage Center about being a delegate on the Bill of Rights Committee at the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention. One fellow waited until after my presentation to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would have been better for all of us in Eastern Montana if you had made us part of North Dakota. Legislators in Helena do not know what problems we have farming here and it would be one third the distance to the state capital.â&#x20AC;? He was right, of course. The one thing I would not enjoy in North Dakota is the more frequent arctic fronts. This year the cold spells were so severe that not only did Florida get five days of 20-degree temperatures; one artic blast extended freezing temperatures all the way to Cuba! This winter was so mild in western Montana that for all practical purposes it ended on January 17 when I put out my hammock and could have taken off the studded snow tires. Animals here have not yet adjusted to the changing weather patterns. Each day I watched my family of red squirrels frantically eating sunflower seeds to prepare them to hibernate in the cold weather that never arrived. One downside of this warmer and drier winter is that it is a dinner bell to pine beetles as they devour our forests - now dead red across many mountainsides. At MacDonald pass west of Helena, they have already killed 90% of the trees and when the wind blows them over it could make the trails unusable.
The 50% decrease in the western Montana snow this year increases the pressure on our water supply for agriculture, fishing, and recreation. It also greatly increases our chances of fires more difficult and expensive to fight. Just when I am convinced our younger generation is hopelessly lost in the internet world of vacuous social networking, I am surprised at their insight and understanding of the world around them. This year I enjoyed being a judge for the state AA speech and debate finals held at Sentinel High School in Missoula. Each school sent well-qualified teams that thoroughly presented arguments on whether the federal government should invest more money to fund programs to reduce poverty in this country. Their thoughtful presentations made me regret that our Montana legislators do not match their skill in debating serious issues. If these young men and women do not become consumed by the polarized politics of policy and continue on the path of thoughtful advocacy for the benefit of their communities, I feel confident this younger generation will come up with better answers to the problems we have not been able to solve in our lifetimes. With warmer weather, hope springs eternal. The renewal of life in Montana is a reminder that we have the opportunity to enjoy all that our special Montana has to offer. But we must not be so conspicuous that the rest of the world wants to move here and bring with them problems we have never had in our special corner of the world. MSN
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Find â&#x20AC;&#x153;All Things Broadwater Countyâ&#x20AC;? at Broadwater County Museum and Library By Bernice Karnop three-toed horse fossils collected in the valley by If you are driving through Townsend this sum- Townsendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late Mort Sperry. mer, or if you pass through there on your way to Area residents have donated mining parapherthe Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conference on Aging, stretch your nalia and relics from the gold rush town of Diamond legs a bit at the Broadwater County Museum and City and other ghost towns in the area. Historical Library. It is Grandchildren will right behind the courtbe amazed at the windhouse on Highway 12, up toys that march, or Broadway, coming wave their hands, and in from White Sulphur pound on drums. A Springs. hundred years ago, no â&#x20AC;&#x153;People are surone could imagine that prised at how big it is and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toys would how well itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s put togethbe operated with bater,â&#x20AC;? says museum board teries. Youngsters enjoy member John Stoner. visiting the museum, acCurator, Mike Castlecording to Castleberry. berry, says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We specialA temporary exhibit ize in all things Broadwathis summer will celter County.â&#x20AC;? Broadwater ebrate the 125th anniCounty, you may be surversary of the Methodist prised to discover, emChurch in Townsend. bodies much of what is It will bring a delightin Montana - unique fosful peek into the life sils, Native People, the of pioneer circuit-ridLewis and Clark Expeing preacher, Brother dition, gold rush towns, Van, who started many pioneer paraphernalia, churches in the state. and artifacts from early Since it opened in businesses. John Stoner, shown, and Troy Helmick built a dugout ca- 1976, the museum has The pioneer histo- noe for the Broadwater County Museum using hand tools received wholehearted to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which passed ry exhibits were not so available this way on the Missouri River. [Photo by Bernice Karnop] support from the commuch put together as munity as a repository they were simply relofor local family history. cated to the museum. The blacksmith shop was You can find family photographs, papers, and donated intact. The millstones came from the old written histories in the archives. The museum Bedford flour mill just out of town, and the old has a complete map of all the graveyards in the Canton store was brought in when the town site county, and maps identifying who is in each of the was flooded by Canyon Ferry Dam. cemetery plots. Someone donated a wool scale and sheep In the summer, people come in and search wagon with metal instead of canvas sides. The first through the papers and books in the Broadwater printing press in town, which came up the Missouri County Museum and Library. The library is Castleon a riverboat to Fort Benton, is preserved at the berryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite spot now as well. He is updating museum, and the original cages and a safe from the Broadwater County History book originally the State Bank of Townsend. published as Broadwater Bygones. Fine Native American artifacts have been The Broadwater County Museum and Library found in Broadwater County, including stone ham- is open from 1-5 pm from mid-May until midmers and projectile points. Broadwater County September or by special request. The hours are also features pictographs in Hellgate Canyon. from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are Going much further back in time, you can see appreciated. MSN
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APRIL/MAY 2010
John Stoner and Troy Helmick Share Lewis and Clark Saga in Broadwater County
By Bernice Karnop I have loved the notion that one person can make a difference because it is true. Still, while many say so, few actually roll up their sleeves and show us how it is done. Townsend’s John Stoner, Troy Helmick, and Hal Price (deceased), are among the latter. They organized the Crimson Bluffs Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail Foundation, which restored a historic name to the map and saved a historical site from development. They wrote an auto-tour brochure for the Lewis and Clark trail through the county, and initiated a scientific study of some local fauna. For them it was a labor of love, long in the making. The fascinating adventure of Lewis and Clark captured Troy Helmick’s interest the first time he heard about it in school. He grew up, he says, “on the other end of the journey” in West Virginia. Montanans may forget that Captain Lewis gathered arms and equipment at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the site of the U.S. Army’s arsenal, before he headed for the Missouri. At Harpers Ferry, he supervised the construction of the iron boat frame that failed him here in Montana. Troy jokes that he came to Montana “right after Lewis and Clark” to see what was out here. Actually, it was 1952. “I was out of school, out of the service, and out of work,” he says. His cousin, stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, invited him to spend the summer. He married a girl from Three Forks and never went back. One of Troy’s early jobs was in the Dillon area. He measured snow for the Soil Conservation Service on top of Lemhi Pass, an important place on the Lewis and Clark journey. Troy spent his spare time in the library in Dillon where he could read copies of the original journals, books that could not be checked out. Then he would stumble around trying to pick out the spots where the Expedition traveled. “It was pretty difficult to pinpoint places from
those original journals,” he says. He thought of those early days when he wrote the Crimson Bluffs Chapter’s Auto-Tour of the Townsend Valley brochure with John Stoner. “We attempted to make it easier for others,” he explains. John Stoner, whose home is on the Missouri River just outside of Townsend, says Clark probably walked right through his living room. When he is walking his Sheltie, he adds, “We see what they saw. We’re aware of things they put in the journal.” John, who calls himself a newcomer to Broadwater County because he has only lived here 30 years, is a retired Fish Wildlife and Parks employee. He feels no need to travel around the country looking at other Lewis and Clark sites. “There’s so much right here in Broadwater County I don’t have time to go looking elsewhere,” he says. Troy and John crafted a one-half scale model dugout canoe using hand tools like the Corps of Discovery used - ax, chisel, and draw knife. The dugout, on display at the Broadwater County Museum, is complete with the square sail, a fifteen star United States flag, and the carved paddle. John notes that most canoes do not come with a sail, but these men used the wind, whenever they could, to help them lug the heavy boats around on land or the river. In addition to researching Lewis and Clark, John digs around in the Broadwater County Museum and Library to sift out interesting stories and nearly obscure sites such as Old Woman’s Grave, the Gopher Hole CCC camp, and Gallatin City. Most recently, he has been learning about riverboat companies that optimistically planned to haul freight on the Missouri above the Great Falls all the way to the original Gallatin City, which was in Broadwater County. John is interested in everything historical, but he wears his favorite on his sleeve, or more specifically, on his hat. It’s a Lewis and Clark cap, embellished with the Crimson Bluffs Chapter pin. MSN
Elkhorn Maintained As A Remembrance By Bernice Karnop The silver-mining town of Elkhorn was located deep in the mountains near Helena, but it could not hide from the dreaded diphtheria. In 1888 and 1889, epidemics swept through Northern Europe and the United States. The cemetery above this isolated ghost town bears sad reference to the fact
that even here diphtheria took the lives of many infants and children. The fact that there were infants and children in Elkhorn is surprising. Most Montana mining towns were full of gold-hungry single men. Elkhorn’s miners consisted primarily of married European immigrants. Silver was discovered near Elkhorn by a Swiss immigrant, Peter Wyes, in 1870. He died two years later, mysteriously, without cashing in on the rich strike. In 1875, Anton M. Holter, a Helena financier, acquired the claim and developed the Elkhorn Mining Company. The company did underground mining to the 800 foot level and built a stamp mill and a smelter. In 1889, a mining syndicate from London, England, bought the mine for half a million dollars. They more than recovered their investment in only
APRIL/MAY 2010
two years. Elkhorn is reported to have sent out $32 million in gold and silver. The wide main street of this mining town boasted three hotels, a post office, a two-lane bowling alley, a confectionery, barbershop, livery, blacksmith, several general stores, an ice house, butcher shop, jewelry store, and 14 saloons. People worshiped in the Methodist Church, the only church, and the mining company ran a large boarding house. The Northern Pacific Railroad built a spur line into Elkhorn in 1889 and daily trains brought in supplies and transported the silver ore to East Helena for processing. In its heyday, as many as 2,000 people lived in Elkhorn. “It’s hard to believe how many more buildings were there,” says Elkhorn State Park manager, Craig Marr, of Helena. Many of the houses were torn down and the wood sold to a man at Big Sky who wanted the weathered wood. “A lot of the property is private around town, so it’s important for people to know that the only two buildings that are public are Gillian Hall and Fraternity Hall,” says Marr. These two bear witness to the high value the citizens placed on social activities and to the pride they took in their town. The men who built them might be surprised that these grand examples of frontier architecture are some of the most photographed buildings in the state today. Both are two stories tall and are built of wood with stone foundations. Fraternity Hall is modified Greek revival architecture with a false front and a small balcony on the second story, right over the front door. One cannot help but wonder who stood in this little “Pope’s window” to address the crowd below. Inside is a large room on the first floor with an enclosed staircase to the second floor. The second
floor consists of a small reception room and a large meeting room with an elevated platform at the far end. Lodge meetings were held upstairs while community events could be carried on at the same time downstairs. The hall is said to have hosted concerts, traveling theater, prize fights, boxing, school programs, and many dances. As you snap your own photos of these buildings, think about this. At the 1893 Chicago World Fair, Montana’s exhibit included a glass case filled with Montana silver, silver miner’s candlesticks, a set of miner’s tools, and a photograph of Elkhorn. The boom in Elkhorn ended in 1889 with the drop in silver prices; however, Elkhorn continued to produce for a few more years. Elkhorn State Park is Montana’s smallest and isn’t slated for improvements. Gillian Hall and Fraternity Hall were stabilized in 1995 with new roofs and foundations. “Elkhorn is kept as a kind of remembrance,” says Marr. “We are just trying to maintain it as it is.” Elkhorn State Park is located south of Helena off I-15. At Boulder drive seven miles south on Highway 69, turn left and cross over a small bridge. Turn right on to a gravel road and drive for 13 miles, bearing left at each of two forks in the road. The road is passable for passenger cars year round. After visiting the Ghost Town, drive on up the hill and read the stone and wooden markers in the well-maintained cemetery. Watch for signs that mark hiking trails as you drive along the scenic road through the Helena National Forest. For more information call park manager Craig Marr at Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 406495-3260. MSN
Cowboy Bank Loan Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley A cowboy from Billings, Montana walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan officer. He told the loan officer that he was not a depositor of the bank but was going to Paris for an international rodeo for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000. The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the cowboy handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank. The cowboy produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest. Later, the bank’s president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the cowboy from Idaho for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank’s private underground garage and parked it. Two weeks later, the cowboy returned and repaid the $5,000 with interest of $23.07. The loan officer said, “Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. We checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a highly sophisticated investor and multimillionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. In addition to your ranching interests in Montana, we understand your investments include a large number of wind turbines near Laramie. What puzzles us is why would you bother to borrow $5,000?” The good ol’ Montana boy replied, “Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?” MSN
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Ben and Suzie Tuss are Building on a Strong Foundation By Bernice Karnop Photo by J Thomas Wojtowick Ben Tuss grew abiding by the rule, “If you need something, go build it.” As a kid, he even built his own toys. Seven decades later he hasn’t outgrown that mind-set. Instead of toys, he’s constructing a house on part of the property his grandfather homesteaded east of Lewistown. Rather than going to town for everything, he uses the pine and fir that grow on the hillsides and the rocks that lie on the ground. “All the building material needed to build our little house exists here on this property,” he says. “All we have to do is be ambitious enough to figure out how to take the trees out and process them, and how to take the rocks from the ground and put them together.” Ben has a small sawmill, a lifetime of experience, and the necessary ambition. The original homestead house was built of log and stone. When he tore down the deteriorating structure, Ben saved and numbered the 50 stones his granddad used for the entryway, doorway, and window. He plans to reuse them, even though he does not claim to be a stonemason. He is Croatian, however, the nationality of immigrant families who were stone masons in Lewistown. Ben’s wife, Suzie Tuss, is a Plovanic, and descended from the best of the stonemasons. Her grandfather, John F. Plovanic, built the last stone addition to St. Joseph’s hospital and lived in a stone house on the hospital grounds. You can learn about Plovanic and other Croatian stone masons at the Central Montana Museum in Lewistown. The Croatians fled the violence and war in their homeland in the early 1900s and found a new beginning here in central Montana. Some, Ben remembers, never wanted to return because of the terrible memories of their former lives. Ben’s parents returned, but found that two world wars and
being under the rule of neighboring countries had changed Croatia. Ben and Suzie, who were a bit more distant from that history, enjoyed their visit. Ben’s Croatian grandfather was a prospector. People called on him to find coal in the hills around Lewistown and he did. His own coal mine was located on a ridge on the homestead. Tuss’s early memories are of his father’s hard work in that mine. He drilled and blasted the coal loose underground, shoveled it into the car and pulled it out of the mine. The small coal cars held between a ton and a ton and a half of coal, and they brought out eight or nine cars a day. When gas came to Lewistown in the late 1940s, coal was no longer in demand. His dad began share cropping. After high school, Tuss attended college, married Suzie, and began working for wages. “I didn’t come back home. There was nothing to come back here for,” he says. He worked in Great Falls with his cousin, surveying and laying out building sites. They checked elevations and grades, and read blueprints and drawings. Finally, he could take the drawing and just go build. The Tuss’s spent most of their lives working for multinational construction companies. They worked on sites across America and, like their Croatian forbearers, didn’t hesitate to cross oceans. They spent time in Alaska, Africa, Aruba, and elsewhere. They vacationed nearly every year in Lewistown where their parents and families lived. When they were ready to retire Lewistown still felt like home. “I probably changed more than the town changed,” Ben says. Travel, which both he and Suzie still enjoy, gives a person a different perspective on life. “When we were born and raised here that’s all there was. Now I’m very curious about how others live in different parts of the world,” he adds.
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Now that he’s retired from the building trades industry, Ben has time to build the community in other ways than construction. As a member of the volunteer Fergus County Community Council, he represents the people in the community on county road maintenance and other issues. Ben says the volunteer commitment is interest-
ing and he really likes the people he works with. However, coming from a job where you couldn’t move fast enough, where you were always concerned about getting the job done and getting it done on time, he has to gear down. “Here, he admits, “I’m learning that government moves slowly.” MSN
Lewistown: Refreshing Like Big Spring Water By Bernice Karnop Lewistown is a lucky place. It has been around for more than a century and no one ever decided it had to be modernized. The population has not changed appreciably. Many of the old buildings, especially the Croatian Stone buildings, still stand. We cannot promise you will discover the fountain of youth here, but have you had a sip of Big Spring water? Icy cold and 99.9 percent pure, it bubbles out 90 million gallons of water every day. If you do not find the fountain of youth, try the soda fountain of youth. You can recapture your 16-year-old grin when you step onto the checked floor of the Bon Ton Soda Fountain. The building is older than any of us - opening first as a bar in 1893. The soda fountain took over in 1908 and survived the Great Depression and a couple of World Wars. Recently owners revived the space and remodeled it into a bright 1950s joint, complete with poodle skirts, saddle shoes, and popular songs that will do your heart good. Order a hamburger and a root beer float, or choose from any number of other sandwiches and treats. Sorry, McDonalds. Surrounded by all this youthful atmosphere, it is time to get out doors. Go out to Big Spring, just six miles south of Lewistown, for a peaceful place to relax, rejuvenate, and hike the short trail along Big Spring Creek. Watch for waterfowl and wildlife. Among common critters like deer, muskrats, and beavers, you might be lucky enough to see an eagle, kingfisher, or wood duck. Big Spring Fish Hatchery produces some three million cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout, and kokanee salmon. Bring some nickels, especially if the grandchildren are along, because you will
want to feed the fish and watch the lunkers circling the show pond. Big Spring Creek flows from here through the city. You can see the creek flowing underneath the Montana Tavern. If you watch long enough, a fish might swim by. It is fun to walk up one side of Main Street and down the other stopping to shop for items not found in towns geared to the tourist trade. Pick up a selfguided tour map at the Chamber of Commerce covering several districts in the city. If you find yourself asking questions about the early days, stop at the Central Montana Museum. The history of Lewistown lives in these Native American artifacts; stories of Camp Lewis, established in 1874 to protect commerce on the old Carroll Trail; the Métis families who settled here in 1874; gold mining in the Judith and Moccasin Mountains; cowboy life before barbed wire; and homesteaders, Croatians, and the arrival of the Jawbone Railroad from Harlowton in 1903. You will find extensive photo collections both here and at the Lewistown Public Library. To walk without the distraction of food or stores, tie on your sneakers and head for one of Lewistown’s popular trails. The city transformed the two railroad beds into walking and biking paths that rival any you will see. Why visit the city at the geographic center of Montana? First, to attend the Governor’s Conference on Aging, May 11 and 12, 2010. Then come back for the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Old Time Fiddler’s Contest, the Chokecherry Festival, and a ride on the Charlie Russell ChewChoo Dinner Train. MSN
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Autumn Springs Assisted Living www.autumnspringsassistedliving.com Billings Catholic Education Foundation www.billingscatholicschools.org Fort Belknap College www.fbcc.edu U of M Continuing Education www.umt.edu/ce/plus50/summercamp.htm Ursuline Center www.ursulinecentre.com Entertainment Hamilton Players www.hamiltonplayers.com High Plains Western Heritage Center www.westernheritagecenter.com Intermountain Opera Assoc www.intermountainopera.org Spokane Symphony www.spokanesymphony.org Fitness The Ridge Athletic Club www.ridgeathleticclub.com Flowers Bitterroot Flower Shop www.bitterrootflowershop.com Knox Flower Shop www.knoxflowershop.com Golf Johnson Distributing www.johnsondistributing.com Pine Meadows Golf Course www.pinemeadowslewistown.com Village Greens www.montanagolf.com Health American Heart Association www.americanheart.org Better Life Montana www.betterlifemontana.com Big Sky ENT www.bigskyearnosethroat.com Hemp & Cannabis Foundation www.thc-foundation.org Komen Montana www.komenmontana.org Mental Health America www.montanamentalhealth.org Hearing Cascade Audiology www.cascadeaudiologymt.com Mt Telecommunication Access www.montanarelay.mt.gov Home Air Works www.airworksmt.com Habitat for Humanity www.billingshabitat.org Home Resource www.homeresource.org Intermountain Heating & A/C www.intermountainheating.com Outside In www.outsideinplants.com Phantom Retractable Screens www.888phantom.com Inspiration Our Lady Of The Rockies www.ourladyoftherockies.com Legal Crowley Fleck, PLLP www.crowleyfleck.com Morrison & Balukas Law Firm www.mbtaxlaw.com Lodging Aspen Village Inn www.theaspenvillageinn.com Banff Lodging Company www.bestofbanff.com Banff Voyager Inn www.banffvoyagerinn.com Bayshore Inn www.bayshoreinn.com Black Hills Lodge Best Western www.blackhillsbestwestern.com Chateau Rouge www.chateaurouge.com Days Inn www.allyellowstone.com Delta Calgary South www.deltahotels.com/hotels/hotelsphp?hotelld=215 Fairfield Inn Spokane Downtown www.marriott.com/gegfi Flagg Ranch Resort www.flaggranch.com Holiday Inn Calgary South www.hihotelcalgary.ca Jackson Hole Lodge www.jacksonholelodge.com Pheasant Hill Inn & Suites www.pheasanthillinn.net Rainbow Ranch Lodge www.rainbowranchbigsky.com Spruce Grove Inn www.banffsprucegroveinn.com Super 8 - Deadwood www.deadwoodsuper8.com Waterton Lakes Resort www.watertonlakesresort.com Mortuary Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary www.michelottisawyers.com Smith Funeral Chapels www.smithfuneralchapels.com Pets Lewis & Clark Humane Society www.mtlchs.org Real Estate Dianne Click - Bozeman Broker Group www.dianneclick.com Harry Jacobs Phone 406-439-5009 Jon Freeland - Fidelity Real Estate www.missoulahomes.com Kootenai Creek Village www.kootenaicreekvillage.com NW Montana Association of Realtors www.nmar.com Prudential Montana Real Estate www.thebryanteam.com Realty Executives www.reexecs.com Remax of Billings www.isellbillings.com Restaurant McGarryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roadhouse www.mcgarrysroadhouse.com Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pancake Parlor www.thegrubclub.com/a/pauls/ Peking Gardens West www.pekinggardenswest.com Perkins www.perkinsrestaurants.com Retirement Living Accessible Space www.accessiblespace.org Cambridge Place www.cambridgeplace.blogspot.com The Remington www.remingtonseniorliving.com Reverse Mortgages Mortgage Solutions www.62toqualify.com Social Security NCPSSM www.ncpssm.org Social Services Family Service www.famserv.com Great Falls Community Food Bank www.greatfallsfoodbank.org Travel A & B Tours www.abtoursonline.com Laird Leisure Travel www.lairdleisuretravel.com Main Connection Travel www.mcthelena.com Minot Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitminot.org Norsk Hostfest www.hostfest.com Post Falls Chamber of Commerce www.visitpostfalls.org Rimrock Trailways www.rimrocktrailways.com Trapper Travel www.trappertraveltours.com Warhawk Air Museum www.warhawkairmuseum.org
PAGE 14 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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In America Phone: 406-543-2642 for Sale, James Koch and Craig Bouchard examine the phenomena from Cell: 406-240-1695 the perspective of insiders. kathy.earle@wellsfargo.com â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a tale, perhaps even a parable, of classic, energetic, risk-taking www.wfhm.com/kathy-earle U.S. entrepreneurs battling to succeedâ&#x20AC;Ś. [T]he Esmark narrative is best Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. understood as fitting into a mosaic with a much larger context.â&#x20AC;? The tale is Š 2009 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. #165612 02/10-05/10 told by Craig Bouchard, one of the founding partners of Esmark, and James Koch, a member of Esmarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of directors. Esmark was a large steel-services firm that was bought by Severstal, an even larger Russian steel firm in 2008. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having survivedâ&#x20AC;Ś the two of us possess both experience and a few war wounds to offer in support of our viewsâ&#x20AC;Ś,â&#x20AC;? they explain. They argue that this specific story has a general economic relevance for three reasons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Firstâ&#x20AC;Ś another sustained burst of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;America for saleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is just over the horizonâ&#x20AC;Ś. Second, the steel industry differsâ&#x20AC;Ś from many other U.S. industriesâ&#x20AC;Ś. Steel is a core industry.â&#x20AC;? Finally, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the steel industry provides a useful metaphor for future developments in the U. S. economy because it reflects so many of the economic stresses currently dogging U. S. companies.â&#x20AC;? America for Sale is an economistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s text of facts, charts, and graphs. It is more dry than it is entertaining, but chock-full of information and food for thought as the global economy comes closer and closer to home. Although it is not exactly a thrilling page-turner, it is definitely an intriguing tale. Koch and Bouchardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s explanation of the history of the building of an American company and its eventual sale is cleverly and clearly delivered. Their analysis of the decision-making processes behind the sale, merger, or take-over of Cars have changedâ&#x20AC;Ś one company by another is fascinating. Written in 2008 and 2009, the information and ideas are relevant to each of us today. Readers will come away â&#x20AC;Śand so have traffic rules, driving conditions from this book with almost as many questions as answers, but with a better and the roads we drive on every day. understanding of high finance and how it affects each of us in our everyday lives. Let us bring you up to speed. 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They also list eight arguments in favor of the sale of U.S. assets to foreign Call 1-888-227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/drive. investors and discuss these throughout the book often explaining it all in terms of relevance to the average consumer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone is appreciative when they pay lower prices for new automobiles because foreign firmsâ&#x20AC;Ś have opened production facilities in the United States, or when they encounter low prices at Wal-Martâ&#x20AC;Ś because of increased foreign competition transplanted to the United States.â&#x20AC;? In chapter two, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want Eurosâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;You can Keep Your Dollars,â&#x20AC;? the authors discuss the globalization trends, and argue that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If and when America is perceived to be on sale this is the joint result of our actions and the behavior of foreign countriesâ&#x20AC;Ś. Events elsewhere 0LEASE #ALL /UR -ONTANA #LINIC s OR in the world affect us.â&#x20AC;? In â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can it (will it) Happen to Meâ&#x20AC;? Koch and Bouchard bring the discussion closer to main street and individual consumers and investors. They propose 15 points for individuals to consider as they evaluate their own investment decisions including; the falling U.S. dollar, regulatory policies (both state and federal), trade union involvement, economic stability, and of course national security. Although the current global recession, during which this book was written, continues, making any U.S. assets less attractive the authors
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APRIL/MAY 2010
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 15
predict that, “the unprecedented expansion of the U.S. money supply renders a high degree of inevitability” that American assets will soon become “much more inviting targets.” Beginning in chapter four, “All that is Made of Steel is Not Unbreakable,” the authors switch from the general to the specific as they tell the story of the steel industry and more specifically of Esmark, its conception, growth, and eventual decline and sale. All of this serves as a metaphor for other U.S. industries. Following one company in one large industry helps readers understand some of the decision making process from an insider’s perspective. The next chapters, “Esmark on the Attack, “Hunted by the Pack,” and “Winners and Losers” detail the process. It is in these chapters that the book, while still an economist’s text, has more of a story feel. It is informative and intriguing at the same time. In the final chapter, Bouchard and Koch offer
their personal opinions about how all this pertains to the U.S. economy and national security as a whole. They neatly sum up the pro and con argument of foreign purchase of U.S. assets, detailing the difference between which types of assets can be foreign owned, and which should not, and advocating for increased government oversight of what goes on in private industry. America for Sale is a truly recommended read for everyone who has an interest in how the economy affects his or her personal finances. James V. Koch was president of the University of Montana from 1986-1990. During that time, an Exxon Foundation study selected him as one of the 100 most effective U. S. college presidents. He is an economist and has published nine books, numerous articles, and has been awarded four honorary doctoral degrees from universities in Japan, Korea, and the U.S. MSN
Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley Remember, the Brit’s would say, “You Yanks don’t even know how to pronounce English.” So, just how easy is English? 1. The bandage was wound around the wound. 2. The farm was used to produce produce. 3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. 4. We must polish the Polish furniture. 5. He could lead if he would get the lead out. 6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. 7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. 8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. 9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object. 11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 13. They were too close to the door to close it. 14. The buck does funny things when the does are present. 15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 18. Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear. 19. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. MSN
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PAGE 16 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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The Garden Boxes-Round 2 Article by Clare Hafferman Photo by Clifford Kipp In January of 2009, six women who attended Agency on Aging meetings decided to have some garden boxes built that could be placed by senior apartments and assisted living centers. We were a diverse group. One attendee was a farmer directing traffic and workers on her plot of ground. She and her partner ran it as a business and sold produce to local restaurants and at Farmers Markets. One woman had never gardened before she discovered that she could raise cherry tomatoes in a pot on the back porch. The third interested party volunteered in the community on a regular basis and had some practice writing grants, while the fourth was employed by Experience Works and helped people find jobs. I had gardened into my old age and sold at the Farmers Market. We had help and advice from a young woman who had already converted her front yard into a series of elevated boxes that provided food for her family of six. What inspired this project was our interest in helping others, the current trend to encourage Americans to duplicate the Victory Gardens popular in WWII, and the health benefits of eating fresh-grown produce that has not been sprayed or watered with questionable irrigation. The basis for the boxes was a well-known book written in the 1980s by gardener-author Mel Bartholomew, Square-Foot Gardening, and recently updated for today. It was formulated on the idea of constructing a 4’x4’ wooden box, set on layers of cardboard, filled with layers of different materials, and divided for planting into square foot sections. Behind this simple idea was the hope that gardeners who did not have a lot of ground to cultivate could still grow several small crops through summer and into fall. The ingredients in the box would be good for two years if additional compost
was added during the second year. Once the initial plantings were eaten, you add compost and put in other seeds. In case there are others who have thought of implementing a similar project in their communities, the old adage about the “best laid plans of mice and men” would be appropriate here. I will tell you where we succeeded and where we strayed off the path into the weeds. We sought materials and volunteers to put this plan together. The local Parks & Rec department donated two-year-old leaf mulch and elm tree logs that had been cut down. Someone in the group found a volunteer to cut these into usable lengths. A high school shop teacher had his students build the boxes and eventually we had ten of them. A chicken farmer donated fertilizer and someone else donated straw bales. We also enlisted Clifford Kip and his Montana Conservation Corps as well as youngsters doing community service. We posted an article in the newspaper, and then we called Senior Centers and apartments to compile a list of willing applicants. Several interested individuals asked the Agency on Aging to put them on a waiting list, too. Late last April (2009) we arranged a public demonstration at the Community Garden and the young woman who had the front yard boxes showed an enthusiastic crowd how to put things in layers in the box. With all the work, publicity, and effort, we assumed the boat would float without our continued paddling. That idea could probably be compared to overseeing your children’s homework. They have an assignment but you have to check that they are actually doing it. So here is where we got a less than perfect grade. Some of the boxes were put in the shade by people who had never gardened. Others were accepted, put in a sunny spot, but never watered
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sufficiently. One ended at a facility whose cooks could not use other than government issued food. One box was never used because no one wanted to garden on their day off. A gardener who did want to use a box injured his hand and was out for the summer. Some of the people we anticipated would be happy campers said it was too difficult for them to get up and down. But in the midst of these negatives, one box by a senior building was adopted by a forthright soul who not only planted and cared for the contents, she planted flowers all around the exterior. This information came from the woman in our group who had never gardened but meticulously took notes. In mid-summer, she enlisted a friend to check on the recipients. When we met again in the fall to compare notes, we acknowledged that the homework had not been checked and debated doing this again in 2010. We knew we needed better communication and more volunteers to coordinate things. We still had a list of people who wanted a box and there was grant money and seeds left from last year. We also had an ex-logger capable of making different kinds of boxes and selling them. As the months have passed there has been renewed interest in starting more community gardens in our county, plus a slated demonstration and film to show how Mel had it all laid out. The City has more elm logs, the chickens have not quit producing, straw bales, leaves, and compost are available, and the carrot seed and tomato plants are looking for a place to put their feet. Clifford has volunteered his muscle and we are in the ring again for Round! Hopefully, this will be a clean fight, and I will let you know later if we scored a knockout. MSN
Missoula’s Home Resource Is A Resource For Homeowners Home Resource is a 501(c)(3) building materials reusage center. Our mission is to collect and sell reusable building materials to reduce waste, build healthier communities, and promote a more vibrant and sustainable local economy. Home Resource accepts donations from the public of reusable building materials like lumber, metal, bricks, windows, doors, plumbing, lighting, electrical, and more! Re-using building materials saves about 95% of the energy that would be required to produce the same new materials. The demolition debris from a typical residential kitchen remodel equals, by weight, four years of curbside recycling from an average household. Home Resource’s Deconstruction Services dismantles buildings at rates competitive with standard demolition, and materials from your deconstruction project are taxdeductible when donated to Home Resource. Tax benefits usually result in significant savings over conventional demolition for the home or building owner. Home Resource also offers Good Wood, a lumber product harvested using forestry practices that maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystem integrity, while maximizing the quality and quantity of timber grown under sustained-yield management principles. We assure the sustainable nature of our product using a “chain of custody” partnership with Vander Meer’s Wildland Conservation Services, who directly track the wood from local forestry sites through two local mills (Tricon Timber in St. Regis, and Pyramid Mountain Lumber in Seeley Lake), and onward to Home Resource. For more information contact Home Resource at 406-541-8300 or visit www.homeresource.org. MSN
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Have you ever wished you did not have to cart those old windows, doors, outdated cabinets, or that perfectly good can of paint (wrong color) to the landfill? Could someone else use it? Next time, visit the Habitat for Humanity ReStore where they accept and sell building and home improvement products - bathroom fixtures, floor covering, light fixtures, and much more - products donated by caring folks who do not want to throw away something that is perfectly good. All sales from the store generate funds for the Habitat for Humanity program that builds homes in partnership between volunteers and qualified low-income families living in substandard housing. After working hundreds of hours of sweat eq-
uity, the family buys the house from Habitat with a 0% mortgage, which keeps their house payments around $500/month. By helping a family build a stable home, the children win! By adding homeowners to a neighborhood, the neighborhood wins! By removing the worry of housing, the family wins! By donating to the restore and keeping reusable materials out of the landfill, WE ALL WIN! Call 406-652-0960 to inquire about qualifying for home ownership. For information about ReStore or to make a charitable donation to Habitat for Humanity this building season, call 406-256-0409 or stop by 201 North 15th St, Billings, MT 59101. MSN
The Butte Heritage Cookbook
Remodel on the Cheap Home ReSource has the building supplies you need to get those projects done, without spending a fortune. learn more about Home ReSource at www.homeresource.org
New location opens April 2010! Missoula
Reviewed by Clare Hafferman We are all familiar with cookbooks that simply list its recipes and photos and illustrations. Then there is the “reading cookbook” where the author puts the recipes in context, such as the history of Aunt Mamie’s well-praised pork chops and sauerkraut and how she discovered that succulent dish, or a secret sauce passed down in the family that won a well-known recipe contest. James Beard, the chubby, well-celebrated chef, was an educator. In my copy of Beard On Bread, he comments on flour, special flours, leavening, pans, tiles, bread knives, and even comments on bread and butter. This type of cookbook makes cooking and baking more interesting to anyone wanting information about what they are attempting. One cookbook a little closer to home incorporates colorful history in every section of its 290 pages by describing both the food and the nationalities that populated Butte. The Butte Heritage Cookbook was originally printed in 1976 as a Bicentennial project, edited by Jean McGrath, and illustrated and compiled by many Butte citizens. It had gone through seven printings by 1984 and is still available from the Butte-Silver Bow Arts Foundation with the proceeds supporting local arts projects. Twenty years after the Civil War ended, Butte had a population about 22,000, most this coupon in to of Cornish and Irish immi-
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grants. As in many other western mining regions, men with the itch to scratch silver and gold filtered into places that might satisfy that urge, and stayed to live on the hills around the site of dreamed wealth. By 1918, Butte’s population peaked at around 100,000 souls, and one history of Montana proclaimed more money had been shipped out of Butte to furnish and pay for luxurious apartments in New York City and overseas villas in Europe than could be imagined. But for the ordinary workers who fueled the payrolls and went down in the mines, Butte was known as a democratic region where every nationality celebrated their holidays, festivals, and foods. A Scandinavian lutefisk dinner drew diners of all heritages and the Serbian Christmas and Name Day always included non-Serbs in the mix. One of the best-known Butte staples for food was the pasty, originally designed for a miner’s lunch pail and still offered today. The recipe consists of beefsteak, onions, potatoes, salt, and pepper enclosed in a flaky crust. Mike Mansfield’s wife Maureen offered her pasty recipe in the Irish section, which also included recipes for Irish stew and Finnan Haddie. Italian offerings were equally well known and celebrated, and at one time people came from all over the state to eat at Teddy Traparish’s Rocky Mountain Cafe in Meaderville. It was one of many businesses and dining spots along Meaderville’s crowded streets, and I mention it because I ate there once and had one of the best meals I have ever enjoyed. Teddy’s Special Cuisine, much of it
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imported, is listed on Page 267, and should bring a tear to your eye when you know that for not much money an ordinary dinner could be served this way. I have only listed two of the nationalities noted for their kitchen talents so you have many treats in store if you buy this book. It is an entry into avenues of food preparation from practitioners who were at it long before we came along. It gives meaning
to eating local, and anyone who reads cookbooks and cooks will enjoy it. Order your copy today from Butte-Silver Bow Arts Foundation at 405 West Park, Butte, MT 59701or 406-723-7600 or 406-491-5636. The cost is $25 (plus $4 for shipping), and they accept Visa and MasterCard. MSN
Should Your Real Estate Purchase Be In A Retirement Community? Pros and Cons By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire You’ve undoubtedly seen the TV real estate commercials. “Live the lifestyle of a millionaire on your retirement budget,” promises the voice-over. Then the arrays of visuals that accompany the ad depict a lifestyle that’s been described as “gated geritopia.” There are retirement communities everywhere with similar advertising. The particular ad is about The Villages, the largest gated retirement community in the world. It covers more than 20,000 acres, has two zip codes, and takes up parts of three counties in a section of once relatively unpopulated central Florida. We all want to live an independent, active, engaged life, and the Villages certainly offers that. Divided into dozens of separate communities, it provides its more than 75,000 residents, a financial district, several shopping centers, with all of the retirement communities connected by 100 miles of golf cart trails. But, the Villages is a world without children. Kids may visit but are limited to 30 days a year. The developer even has the right to request any of the residents to verify their age. As one writer described The Villages, “The neighborhood is so immaculate that it resembles a set from Leave It to Beaver. But Wally and the Beaver are no where to be seen. The Villages began as a small trailer park, called Orange Blossom Gardens. Now most of the homes are valued at a couple hundred thousand dollars and up. New homes today are being sold at the rate of a home every hour or two. Gross revenues for the developer, Gary Morse, exceed a billion dollars. Residents, who have to be 55 or older, seem to love it by and large. And no wonder. If you’re a golfer, you can play on a different championship course very day of the month. There are scores of community pools, tennis courts, and espresso
bars. The community has its own newspaper, The Daily Sun. The Villages deed restrictions prohibit doorto-door solicitations. The financial structure gives the developer such advantages as the right to obtain tax-free bonds. So, he doesn’t have to seek construction money from a bank. The developer doesn’t have to repay these bonds himself. He can pass them along to the homeowners. The Villagers supposedly pay a reduced rate when they buy. But at closing they must assume a portion of the bonds’ debt. Some of life’s annoyances don’t exist at The Villages. But as one critic said: No clever euphemism about senior enjoyment can hide the fact that “these communities are based on a selfish and fraudulent premise - the exclusion of children and families....” For many at The Villages, it’s like taking a roughly 30-year vacation, depending on your lifespan. But do leisure and fun and games bring us complete happiness or diminishing returns? Today’s retirees, in the main, have something more to pass along to those coming behind them than the uninspiring life. Seniors are the nation’s repository of experience and perspective gained over the years. This needs to be shared, or some retirees leave little meaningful legacy. MSN
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studios for budding folk dancers and gymnasts. Contact the Russian Center at 415-921-7631 or www.russiancentersf.com. Iowa’s Domestic Denmark - With a population of 650, Elk Horn, Iowa is a very small small-town. Yet, as the hub of the largest rural Danish population in the United States, it boasts a 60-foot tall windmill imported from Denmark, a terrific Danish museum, and some of the best Danish food this side of the Atlantic. The windmill, built in 1848, lets visitors see how flour was ground 150 years ago. Nearby a full-size replica of a Viking home and blacksmith
shop takes folks even further back into Scandinavian history, while the Danish Immigrant Museum traces the relatively recent arrival of Danes to the United States. The Danish Inn Restaurant serves such Danish specialties as open-faced sandwiches, meatballs, red cabbage and, for dessert, a scrumptious Dansk lagkage (layer cake). Hint: The Inn’s Sunday smorgasbord is, say the locals, both autentisk and dejlig (authentic and delicious). Contact The Danish Windmill Corporation at (800) 451-7960 or www.danishwindmill.com. MSN
California’s Russia — Photo © Irv Green
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Traveling the World Without a Passport By Andrea Gross, Photos by Irv Green mired and celebrated. The street is lined with quaint little houses, and The Great Stupa is as tall as a ten-story builda gracefully Gothic Catholic Church dominates the ing, and while the outside is inspiring, the inside town square. is even more so. Visitors are welcome to enter the “Bonjour,” says a woman as she strolls by, a main level, and few fail to be awed. A 20-foot-tall fresh baguette in her mesh bag. I smile, feeling Buddha, gleaming with gold, sits solemnly beneath as if I am in a small French village. Instead, I am a ceiling covered with intricate Tibetan paintings. in southern Texas, indulging in one of my current, The floors are equally elaborate, consisting of a recession-induced passions. I am exploring the mosaic of inlaid granite and quartz. world without leaving the A small gift store carries United States. Buddhist prayer flags, brass To date I have “visited” offering bowls, and other more than 20 countries on Tibetan items. four continents, all without Contact Shambhala at once using my passport, and 888-788-7221 or www. I would like to share with you shambhalamountain.org. four of the best. California’s Russian EnTexas’ French Hamlet clave - The golden dome of Castroville, Texas, 25 miles the Holy Virgin Cathedral west of San Antonio, was is visible for nearly a mile settled in the mid-1840s in both directions as you by folks from the French drive along San Francisco’s provinces of Alsace and LorGeary Boulevard, a maraine. Like their homeland, jor thoroughfare that links this area of Texas boasts ferdowntown with the Pacific tile farmland tucked between Ocean. The surrounding a river and the mountains. Iowa’s Denmark — Photo © Irv Green area, which extends along The weather, however, Geary from about 15th to is different - a fact of which 26th Avenue and includes the newcomers were unaware. They built houses the side streets, has a distinctly Russian flair. topped with steep, snow-shedding roofs like those Shops sell Russian lacquer boxes and matriin Alsace, not realizing how unnecessary this oshka nesting dolls, restaurants feature Chicken would be in southern Texas. The Visitors Center Kiev and pelmeni [Siberian dumplings], and bakerdistributes a free booklet that details the history of ies have crusty Russian breads and sweet poppy many of these homes, as well as that of the church, seed cakes. schoolhouse, store, saloon, and hotel. Old women with babushka headscarves and No visit to France, whether in Europe or Texas, long coats jostle with young teens on skateboards would be complete without great food. Castroville as they walk along the boasts two French restaurants extraordinaire - La crowded streets. Normandie, which specializes in traditional French While the Cathedral cuisine, and The Alsatian, which features “German is spiritual heart of the food with a French flair.” community, the Russian For more information, contact the Castroville Center is its social cenChamber of Commerce at 800-778-6775 or www. ter. In addition to a small castroville.com. museum that contains Colorado’s Tibetan Center - Eight thousand artifacts dating back to feet is a mere hill in the Rockies and a valley in the prerevolutionary days, Himalayas, yet it is high enough to give a heavenly it houses a theater and glow to the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya. This grand example of sacred Buddhist architecture, the largest in North America, presides over the Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, a place where the cultural heritage of Tibet can be ad-
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Aging Smart in Big Sky Country: Attend a Governor’s Conference on Aging in Polson, Lewistown, or Miles City By Bernice Karnop Most people are good. However, there are some whose only goal in life is to cheat the unsuspecting. It is so important to know the difference that the 2010 Governor’s Conference on Aging will focus one full day on fraud. The conference is titled “Aging Smart in Big Sky Country.” If you are a victim of fraud, if you know anyone who has been harassed by a scam artist, and especially if you have yet to run across one of these individuals, you should be there. Tom Wojtowick from the Council on Aging in Lewistown says they are notified about a new scam about every ten days and they cannot keep up with them. Someone walked into a business in Lewistown asking for donations for the library. The Library Board (and Tom is a member) did not know about it until the miscreant left town with the generously given cash. Getting to the Governor’s Conference on Aging in Montana is easier and less expensive than ever this year. Instead of asking you to come to Helena, they are bringing the conference to a town near you. Two-day conferences will be held at the Kwataqnuk Resort in Polson May 10-11; at the Yogo Inn in Lewistown May 11-12; and at Miles Community College in Miles City on May 12-13. The conferences start at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Governor’s Advisory Council members believe the hard work of bringing last years conference to three Montana locations paid off. Three times as many people attended, and more of them were seniors. Organizers are not sure that they will be able to do three conferences again next year, so this is your best chance to attend. Wojtowick says his goal is for people to go home with an understanding of the tsunami of retirees coming up and with some assurance about where we are nationally with insurance, social security, and other issues. The state is packing six days of conference into a five-day workweek because speakers coming all the way from Denver and Washington, D.C. will be shuttled to all three conferences. Cindy R. Padilla, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary on Aging is the number two person in the Administration on Aging, and she will bring a national perspective to Montana. Padilla was appointed to her position in December 2009, and she most recently served as the Secretary of the New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services Department under former Governor Bill Richardson. The Administration on Aging wants to address the challenges of providing services in rural and frontier locations. Traveling the state between conferences will give Padilla an on-theground understanding of our situation that is difficult to grasp any other way. Montanans seldom enjoy a chance to have their concerns heard on this level or to learn first-hand what we can do to access help offered by the federal government. The first day of all of the conferences has been planned by the state and features a series of fraud sessions and the address by Cindy Padilla. Mini-grant recipients will be revealed and the alwaysdelightful Centenarian Awards Luncheon will be held at 11:30. The second day of the conference at each venue will feature a locally planned agenda addressing local issues and interests. In Polson, nation-
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ally recognized speaker on Alzheimer’s disease Jolene Brackey will discuss different aspects of this tragic illness and ways for caregivers to deal with their situations. A session on suicide prevention will take listeners through the common signs of suicide and ways you can help prevent individuals from carrying it out. The conference will tip the hat to historical centennials important to the area, including the 1910 forest fires, the establishment of Glacier National Park, and the opening the Flathead Indian Reservation to homesteading. In Lewistown, Dr. Ray Kohler will address sleep issues and Dr. Ann Rathe will talk about legal competency as it relates to an individual’s making his or her own decisions. Strong People, Strong Bones is a low impact weight lifting demonstration to help people get interested in weight lifting classes that are held twice a week at the Council on Aging in Lewistown. After taking the class, one woman stopped using the cart at Wal-Mart and started walking the aisles on her own power again. Experts will be available to help you with Social Security questions, public assistance questions, and veteran’s benefits. The Council on
Aging is hosting a roast beef dinner Wednesday night. In Miles City, day two will cover the important topics of estate planning, nutrition, diabetes, the psychology of aging, taking care of caregivers, and home exercise. Everyone with an interest in aging issues is invited to attend any or all of the Governor’s Conference on Aging sessions in Polson, Lewistown, or Miles City. The registration fee $40 at Lewistown and Miles City and $35 at Polson, which includes all of the sessions for both days, coffee breaks, lunch, and in Lewistown a dinner at the senior center. To assist conference planners, everyone is urged to sign up as soon as possible. You can find a registration form on page 27 of this issue of the Montana Senior News. Agendas, updates, and registration forms are available at Aging Services web site, www.aging.mt.gov. Call conference director Brian LaMoure at 1-800-3322272 if you have any questions. Conference Chair Gladys Considine reminds readers that the state of Montana is bringing them good, solid, reliable, and truthful information for Aging Smart in Big Sky Country. However, the best information in the world will not do you any good unless you come out and listen to it. We will see you there! MSN
By Dannette Fadness, MOLLI Coordinator MOLLI, a lifelong learning organization for individuals over 50 in Missoula, seeks to connect generations in scientific exploration, so MOLLI will once again host a grandparents and grandkids science day camp at The University of Montana July 12-13, 2010 in collaboration with SpectrUM. MOLLI Adventures in Science: Connecting the Circle will include courses for grandparents and grandkids ages 6-12 on balloons (weather), bugs, bees, bones, and brains. Comments from participants from the 2009 summer camp included, “Absolutely a terrific experience to share with the kids… Great idea to connect the generations… Yes, yes, yes, [I would attend again] quality time with a grandchild, plus it will keep the old brain alive and tingling!” In conjunction with SpectrUM, MOLLI is hosting two science workshops for individuals over 50 (no grandkids allowed): Classic Mediterranean Cuisine: Chemistry in the Culinary Laboratory with Ray Risho and Chuck Thompson on Apr. 14, 5:30-8:30 pm; and Wonder Wheels with Jesse Gajewski and Glenn Govertsen on May 22, 9 am-4 pm. These workshops are free with MOLLI membership. Join MOLLI today to engage in scientific exploration at UM! To learn more call 406-243-2905 or go to www.umt.edu/ce/plus50. MSN
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Fort Belknap College Honors The Past and Educates For The Future The mission of Fort Belknap College is to provide quality post secondary education and maintain cultural integrity by honoring the past, which is essential in understanding the wisdom of the ancestors. History, native languages, and traditional ways are key components that are infused in the unique education at Fort Belknap College. Fort Belknap College values culture and tradition, a philosophy that is offered in the educational instruction of all students. The curriculum at Fort Belknap College blends the knowledge of the past with modern science and technology thereby creating positive change in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives today and tomorrow. Fort Belknap College provides the environ-
ment for students to apply personal knowledge, life history, and culture, inspiring them to plan for the future. Traditional values are nurtured and honored. Strengthening traditions encourages students to plant their feet firmly on Mother Earth while striving for success and reaching for the stars that guide their future. At Fort Belknap College, we offer individual attention, high academic standards, and quality educators. It is a college where achievement and creative and critical thinking are applauded. For more information, please visit our campus, visit our website at www.fbcc.edu, or call us at 406353-2607. MSN
Interested in Aging? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the Montana Gerontology Society (MGS) Conference The theme for the 28th annual MGS conference is The Silver Tsunami: Crisis or Opportunity? that will be held April 14-15 in Missoula at the Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park. Two exciting keynote speakers will address aging and the baby boomers. Dr. Cheryl Woodson of the Woodson Center for Adult Healthcare in Chicago Heights, Illinois, will present Can You Surf the Silver Tsunami? Helping 21st Century Professionals Meet the Growing Need to Serve Seniors Successfully on April 14 from 8:30- 10:30 a.m. She will speak on how the health care system needs to prepare for the upcoming wave of aging baby boomers. She is the author of To Survive Caregiving: A Daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Experience, A Doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advice on Finding Hope, Help and Health. Dr. Jeffrey Goldsmith, president of Health Futures, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia, is the keynote speaker on Thursday, April 15 from 8:3010:30 a.m. His address, The Future of Baby Boomers, discusses the
impact of this generation on the health care system and on society as a whole. Dr. Goldsmith is an Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia. He is a health care industry analyst who writes and lectures actively on health policy, financing, and technology. He is the author of The Long Baby Boom: An Optimistic Vision for a Graying Generation. The public is welcome to attend the two keynote presentations or the entire conference which targets anyone working or interested in the field of aging: service providers, volunteer and Area Agency on Aging Coordinators, activity directors,
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Alzheimer’s: Wandering What To Do By Jim Miller Wandering is a very common behavior in people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. For caregivers, this can be frightening because many of those who wander off end up confused and lost, even in their own neighborhood, and are unable to communicate who they are or where they live. But there are things you can do to guard against this and protect your loved one. Wandering Numbers - The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease today is estimated at 5.3 million, and according to the Alzheimer’s Association more than 60 percent of them will wander away from their homes at some point. Most wanderers – around 95 percent – are found within a quarter mile of their last location, but if an elderly person is not found within 24 hours, there is a 50 percent chance they will suffer a serious injury or die. Home Solutions - To help keep them safe and at home there are a number of things you can do. For starters, you can reduce their tendency to wander by keeping them occupied with simple activities and by encouraging them to move and exercise. There is also a variety of simple household adjustments you could make like installing a key access deadbolt or some type of safety lock on the exterior doors. To keep them from driving away, hide the car keys. You can find many other wandering prevention tips at alz.org/safetycenter. It is also a good idea to alert your neighbors that they may wander so they can keep an eye out. Have on hand a recent picture to show around the neighborhood or to the police if they do get lost. Helpful Programs - There is also a variety of programs that can help locate them if they happen to wander off. Here are some to check: • Silver Alert - Currently available in about a dozen states, this program is modeled after Amber Alerts for missing children. If they go missing, you contact Silver Alert and they alert public and law enforcement agencies and the media so that
citizens can be on the lookout. To find out if Silver Alert is available in your state, contact your local Alzheimer’s Association – call 800-272-3900 to get your local number. Congress is currently considering a national Silver Alert bill, which would provide funding to help all states create programs. • Medic Alert + Safe Return - Offered by the Alzheimer’s Association (medicalert.org/safereturn; 888-633-4298), this is a national program that can also help locate them if they wander away. With this service, they would wear a medical alert ID bracelet or pendant engraved with their medical conditions and the Safe Return phone number. They will also be listed on its national database that anyone can call at any time to report them missing or found. • Project Lifesaver - Currently offered by 1,100 local law enforcement agencies around the country, Project Lifesaver (projectlifesaver.org; 877-580-5433) provides a wristband to its members that contains a radio transmitter and emits tracking signals. If a member goes missing, one or two officers will use the tracking equipment to locate them. The cost for this service is around $30 per month with a $99 enrollment fee. • GPS Tracking - The Alzheimer’s Association recently introduced a new GPS locating service called Comfort Zone (alz.org/comfortzone; 877259-4850) that can help too. Powered by Omnilink and specifically designed for Alzheimer’s patients, with this service your loved one would carry or wear a small GPS tracking device that would notify you or other caregivers via text or e-mail if they were to wander beyond a pre-established area, and would let you know exactly where to find them if she did. Costs: $200 for a tracking device plus monthly service fees ranging between $43 and $80. 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
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dieticians, nurse practitioners, nurses, nursing administrators, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, and students. The conference provides 21 Montana experts presenting their work in one-hour concurrent sessions with time for questions. Aging brings risks and delights because it involves political and legal conundrums, life, and death. The sessions may be informational, hands-on training, disease specific, surprising, controversial, and inspiring. There is something for everyone. The cost for the entire conference is $120 for MGS members; $150 for non-members; $55 for
students and seniors (65+). Either Wednesday or Thursday only is $70, $90, or $30. If you wish to attend one or both of the two keynote addresses, the cost is $10 for each session. MGS is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing professional development and understanding among people interested and working in the field of aging. For more information and registration, visit http://www.montanagerontology.com/index.htm or contact Barbara Morgan, in Missoula at 406-2432480, barbara.morgan@umontana.edu, or MGS, P.O. Box 3583, Billings, MT 59101. MSN
Help for those who need it By Gayle Gifford, Executive Director Great Falls Community Food Bank Dan* was a hard worker who had always been able to provide for his family and supported his community by giving to food drives. When he was injured and unable to work for eight weeks, he called us for help. After being referred to one of our partner agencies, Dan received much needed food assistance to help him through his tough times. Now Dan is back to work and helping the Great Falls Community Food Bank with regular donations. As Montanans, we are blessed to be living in
a beautiful state rich in culture, abundant in resources, and generous in spirit. It is because of this richness that organizations like the Great Falls Community Food Bank can be there serving agencies that serve people. Many families needing emergency food assistance have jobs but find themselves struggling to make ends meet. Job loss or reduction in hours, serious illness of a family member, foreclosure or eviction from their home, or other unexpected hardships can result in the sudden loss of income. Three out of every ten Montanan’s are “food insecure” – meaning they frequently worry about where their next meal will come from. Yo u r s u p p o r t means families just like yours can receive help. Contact the Great Falls Community Food Bank at 406-452-9029 or visit www.greatfallsfoodbank.org to learn how you can help. *Name changed MSN
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In 1987, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) discontinued reimbursing veterans for transportation costs to and from VA medical facilities due to budget cuts. Because many disabled veterans were on fixed, low incomes and lived miles from the nearest VA hospital, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organized a nationwide Volunteer Transportation Network (VTN) to provide free transportation services. In its first 22 years, Montana DAV VTN volunteers drove over 11 million miles. Currently there are 40 VTN vans and 200+ volunteer drivers, with plans for more as veterans’ needs and supporting volunteers increase. As grants have dwindled due to the economic situation, Montana DAV relies more heavily on donations from fundraisers, communities, and businesses to raise funds for van purchases. Excellent coordination with the VA in the management of vans, volunteers, and staff is a prime example of the DAV’s Building Better Lives for America’s Veterans. It is important to note that a veteran does not have to be disabled to use the VTN. It is also important that as many veterans as possible utilize the VTN to ensure that the service will continue for those veterans who have no choice for transportation. To schedule transportation, become a volunteer (you do not have to be a veteran), or donate to Montana DAV VTN, please call one of the following: Billings Hospital Service Coordinator (406-651-2143); Helena Hospital Service Coordinator (406-447-7760); or DAV Headquarters (406-324-3994). MSN
Sunday School Kids You never know what kids are going to say! Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley Lot’s Wife - The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot ‘s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, “My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,” he announced triumphantly, “and she turned into a telephone pole!” Good Samaritan - A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan when she asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?” A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence saying, “I think I’d throw up.” Did Noah Fish? - A Sunday school teacher asked, “Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?” “No,” replied Johnny. “How could he, with just two worms.” Higher Power - A Sunday school teacher said to her children, “We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher power. Can anybody tell me what it is?” One child blurted out, “Aces!” MSN
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Hit the Road and Discover the Heart of Phoenix By Kim Thielman-Ibes During a winter getaway to Phoenix my husband and I decided we would spend more time enjoying the desert’s natural, historic, and cultural diversions than golfing, poolside napping, or visiting Phoenix’s many shopping destinations. Taliesin West, the Desert Botanical Garden, a scenic hike up Pinnacle Peak followed by an evening listening to the Scottish Pipes at the Westin Kierland Hotel were on our list of to-do’s and I hope that after reading this they might be on yours too. Standing on the front court of Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s summer home and main campus for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Scottsdale, Arizona, I found a distinct affinity for the man who became so distraught over the installation of monstrous utility lines obstructing his uninhabited desert landscape that he reengineered and reoriented his home to make them disappear from his sight. I have always loved Wright’s architectural premise of using local materials and integrating his structures with its natural surroundings so I was delighted to discover that Taliesin West was open for tours. Nestled on a hill overlooking the Sonoran desert, Taliesin West, with its native red, yellow, and gray boulders inlaid into the low structured and gently tapered cement walls, seems to have risen from the ground beneath. The home seamlessly blends indoor spaces with outdoor gardens and its many secret nooks. Sprinkled throughout, private patios are adorned with a variety of metal sculptures, water fountains, ceramic arts, and desert views. The fountains were erected with a purpose. Wright had a few of his homes burn to the ground in the early 1900s, he was determined that should this structure, built in 1937, find itself in similar peril he would be prepared. Tours for Taliesin West are regularly scheduled from September 1 through May 31, including tours of the home itself, tours of the desert shelters Wright’s architectural students erect, and night tours of the home and
gardens. Two years after Wright built Taliesin West the Desert Botanical Garden opened its facilities in Phoenix to protect the desert landscape that Wright found so inspiring. The garden’s collection of rare, threatened, and endangered species from around the southwest intertwined with its attention to detail in presenting more than 50,000 plants on its 145 acres though five distinct thematic trails gave me a new appreciation for the desert’s prodigious variety of plants. Though the garden’s wildflower trail lies in dormancy during the short winter months, the cactus and succulent galleries along the desert discovery trail are amazing. The garden has skillfully placed patio cafés, restrooms, and shaded benches along its looped trails making this an all-day destination. The garden presents special concerts and events throughout the year including a Jazz in the Garden spring concert series and a Chiles and Chocolate Festival later in the year. With my walking shoes firmly tied, the next day we set out for an afternoon hike on Pinnacle Peak, known for providing one of the most spectacular views of the valley. This popular, three and half mile, short though vigorous hike followed geography akin to the two humps of a camel’s back. Its trails are dotted with interpretive signs describing the plants, animals, geology, and cultural history of the area, which makes it a perfect follow-up excursion to the Desert Botanical Garden. And what better follow-up to a couple of days out trekking the Arizona countryside than an evening soaking up the sounds of bagpiper Michael McClanathan at the Westin Kierland Hotel. As McClanathan walked the greens beyond the courtyard, we sat at the fire pit enjoying the views of the golf course and soaking up the hauntingly beautiful melodies of his Highland bagpipe - part of the Scottish Pipes at Sunset series - a fitting end to an incredible week in Arizona. For more information, visit Taliesin West at www.franklloydwright.org; Desert Botanical Garden at www.dbg.org; Pinnacle Peak Hike at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/pinnacle/; and Scottish Pipes at Sunset, Westin Kierland at http://www.kierlandresort.com/#/resort/about-us/ scottish-experience/. MSN
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Planning your fly fishing trip By Dale East When planning for your fly-fishing trip, several factors should be considered. A little time spent planning will make your fly-fishing trip more enjoyable and your time on the water more productive. In order to properly plan your fly-fishing trip, you will need to take a close look at... What type of fly-fishing do you prefer? One of the first things you need to consider when planning your fly-fishing trip is the type of fishing you want to do. Whether you are planning on tubing some alpine lakes and casting to big browns that are cruising near the bank. Or possibly, you prefer fishing meadow streams and beaver ponds for native cutthroat. Maybe your plans are to spend some time doing both. Regardless each will require a different plan of attack. This one decision will tell you what time of year to take your trip. You will also be able to tell what the climate will be, as well as hatches, needed fly patterns and equipment. It will also give you the information that will help you decide where to go
on your fly-fishing trips. Make a Checklist - I don’t think I could get through the day without using some kind of checklist. This is especially true when getting ready to travel. Whether you are driving or flying, it is a pain to get to your destination and realize that you left some key stuff at home. Most of us have had this experience. One time I left my extra waders at home, and the pair that I did bring started leaking. (Not good at 9000 feet and 38-degree water.) We were just lucky to find a fly shop open in a little town in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say, I always take an extra pair of waders with me on every fly-fishing trip. The point is, had I used a checklist, I would have had my spare waders on that trip as well. Now all that is left is to go through your checklist and make sure you have everything you need. Once you are sure it is all there, hit the road. And have a great fly-fishing trip. MSN
Eagle Scout Continues to Give Back An organization that many of us have come to know as a wonderful training ground for boys turns 100 years old in 2010. The Boy Scouts of America passed the century mark on February 8, 2010. And, Bob Frost was ready to join this second century of Scouting tradition. Bob first became a Cub Scout in 1932, just two years after the newly organized “Cubbing” program joined Scouting. Within a short time, he joined the Boy Scouts and went on to earn his Eagle Scout Award in 1941 in Irvington, New York. Now, 77 years later, Frost still is an important part of Scouting in Hamilton, Montana. When asked, Frost indicated that he has no interest in quitting. “As long as I can do it, I’m not going to stop.” Bob feels he is rewarded each time a young man earns his Eagle Scout Award. Frost takes credit for helping hundreds of young men on their journey through Scouting. Among the accomplishments of his young Eagle Scouts, Frost points to a number of community improvements in Hamilton as tokens of
their good works. Legion Park has been host to a number of Eagle projects. Likewise, blood drives and other projects can be credited to Boy Scouts over the years. The Montana Council, Boy Scouts of America salutes Bob Frost and many, many other great leaders for 100 years of service to the youth of Montana. For information about how you can support scouting visit www.montanabsa.org. MSN
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By Kay Newman Montana Senior Olympics (MSO) will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary at this year’s games in Kalispell June 10-13 under the leadership of Ron Tjaden, from Rollins. The Summit Athletic Club will be headquarters thanks to Operations Manager, Bob Norwood. These games will serve as the qualifying event for June 2011 National Senior Games in Houston, Texas where some 10,000-12,000 athletes are expected to participate. Most of our medal winners will be eligible to compete. MSO provides athletic competition for men and women who are 50 years of age and older. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to those who place first, second or third in their respective five-year age groups. All ability levels are encouraged to participate in the friendly competition where fitness is the main objective. MSO offers competition in thirteen sports including: archery, basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, racquetball, swimming, tennis, table tennis, road racing, softball, and track and field. The social events include a pasta buffet on June 10 and a banquet on Friday, June 11 where the attending athletes will be recognized. Competitors from all over Montana, surrounding states, and
Canada will compete. Fitness has become a way of life for all ages, and MSO provides an opportunity to demonstrate your personal abilities in your particular sport with the following objectives: • To provide senior men and women enjoyment and a chance to make new friends through competition. • To focus attention on the importance of regular physical exercise regardless of age and ability. • To improve endurance, strength, and agility. • To provide enjoyment in participation and to add quality to lifestyle. Remember it is important to stay active. Start making your plans now to participate because entries close on May 29 (except softball), so do not delay. For more information or for entry materials, check the website at www.montanaseniorolympics. org. You can call 406-586-5543 or email at kayjn@ imt.net. The mailing address is MSO, 2200 Bridger Dr, Bozeman, MT 59715. The Kalispell Invite 2010 is the Senior Olympics and Open Softball Tournament for teams in Montana, other states, and Canada to be held at the Conrad Complex in Kalispell on June 12-13. There will be a mandatory meeting at 3 pm at the Complex on Friday, June 11. The tournament is under the direction of Bob Tuman, Flathead County Parks and Recreation, (weed1@digisys. net), and Jim Valentino (406-837-9994). Contact them for entry materials or check the web site at http://flathead.mt.gov/parks_rec/. Age brackets are 50+, 60+, and 70+. Softball entries will close on May 21. MSN
Eight Backpacking Trip Essentials By Steve Gillman I have had backpacking trips that included rain, snow, lightning, rockslides, altitude sickness, and twenty-mile days - all in a summer weekend. Wilderness trips can be dangerous, but you can make them less so, by having the following essentials in your backpack. 1. Knowledge. What good is a compass if you do not know how to use it? Play with matches if your fire-making skills are shaky. Learn what to do when you see a bear. Read a little, practice a little - knowledge is more likely to save you than gadgets. 2. Matches and lighter. Bring both, or waterproof matches and a fire starter of some sort. Having two ways to start a fire is much safer. 3. First aid kit. Buy a pre-packaged one or build your own. 4. Foot care. Your first aid kit needs moleskin, and maybe a pin, to treat blisters. Your feet have to be well cared. 5. Water purification. A filter works, but they clog and break so often that you should have a small bottle of iodine tablets or other water purification as back up. 6. Rainwear. One of the biggest killers in the woods is hypothermia, and it often starts when you get wet. Try to stay dry. 7. Shelter. This can be a tent, tarp, or bivy sack. 8. Sleeping bag. Down bags are the warmest for their weight. Make your own list if you take regular backpacking trips. It is no fun when a friend tells us ten miles down the trail that he is allergic to bees and forgot his medicine. MSN
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Golf Tips from a No-Longer-a-Low-Handicapper By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire If you are a golfer, you will read this. There is no such thing as a golfer who is not looking for some new secret that can lower his or her score. Even though I am too old to play low-handicap golf any more, I do know what works. Golf is an important part of life for millions of men and women. No longer does anyone exclaim “wow” when I whack the ball off the tee. As age accumulates, strength dissipates as well as focus to follow all the correct techniques. I am now satisfied if I can see my drive safely in the fairway, even if it is only 160 or so yards out. If it takes three or even four shots to get to the green on a par-four hole, I know I can still putt. No Herculean effort needed there. Like most other golfers, I still watch the tournaments on TV, read the golf magazines, and I used to buy the latest equipment. I have taken lessons along the way from five different teaching pros. I even spent the day with the famed British teaching guru David Leadbetter. But, let’s get to the tips. First, a couple of things about the grip. As one scratch golfer once told me, “You should hold the club in a manner that you would grasp a small bird. In other words, not too tightly. Squeezing can create tension that transfers to your whole body. Next, to assure a relaxed grip, try lifting your thumbs from the shaft on short iron shots — just hold the club with your other fingers. Kenny Perry is the only golf pro I know who lifts the club with his arms on his backswing. Somehow, he gets away with it. Practically every other successful golfer - as you know - accomplishes a smooth backswing by turning his shoulders to carry the club behind his head. That tends to put the club on the correct path. Of course, the downswing is most important. Just before the downswing is when many golfers find the 250 things they have been taught rush-
ing through their brain: Keep the head still, eye on the back of the ball, right elbow close to your side, etc., etc., etc. All that is important, but if you have developed your swing, it is no time to think of what is right and what is wrong. Think instead about NOT hitting the ball. If just hitting it is the goal in your mind, you are giving up much of your power. As you must know, if you have had any instruction, that you must swing through the ball, ending up
Of course, the downswing is most important. Just before the downswing is when many golfers find the 250 things they have been taught rushing through their brain: Keep the head still, eye on the back of the ball, right elbow close to your side, etc., etc., etc. facing toward your target. Everyone knows that club head speed is what is important for long shots. That is what makes many golfers begin building speed at the top of their backswing. This often leads to flailing, rather than fluidity. Follow-through completes the swing arc. Most importantly, it builds the continuing power for long shots. But you knew that, didn’t you? One pro, years ago, told me, “You have to go through a little hell to get to heaven.” What he was saying was that you have to wind your shoulders to get that club back as far as possible to unleash the power to send the ball soaring toward heaven. You know you have wound up tightly if your left shoulder touches your chin. Some fine golfers have built a pause into their
swing at the top of the backswing. A friend, who once invited me to play at the exclusive Burning Tree club where President Eisenhower and other notables played, always had a momentary pause at the top of his backswing. His handicap was in single digits. I trust you know the downswing does not begin with your hands. It starts with your feet, legs, and hips. That pivot commences the downswing. “Oh, no, not in the bunker” You have missed the green. Your ball is in the sand. But no real problem getting out. Set up with your feet farther apart than usual. Weight on the left foot. Open the face of your sand wedge. Then, hitting an inch or two behind the ball, drive through the sand with your arms while keeping your legs still. Out pops the ball. I’ve found on almost any putt, if I stare at the hole long enough to implant a mental picture of its location, I can then stroke the ball in or quite near the hole. Finally, do not wear yourself out with all those practice swings; save your strength for swinging at the ball. MSN
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Time Gets Better With Age Submitted by Jim Meade I have learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing “Silent Night.” Age 5. I have learned that our dog does not want to eat my broccoli either. Age 7. I have learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. Age 9. I’ve learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again. Age 12. I have learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. Age 14. I’ve learned that although it is hard to admit it, I am secretly glad my parents are strict with me. Age 15. I’ve learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice. Age 24. I’ve learned that brushing my child’s hair is one of life’s great pleasures. Age 26. I’ve learned that wherever I go, the world’s worst drivers have followed me there. Age 29. I have learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. Age 30. I have learned that there are people who love you dearly but just do not know how to show it. Age 42. I have learned that you can make someone’s day by simply sending them a little note. Age 44. I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others. Age 46. I have learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47. I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. Age 48. I have learned that singing “Amazing Grace” can lift my spirits for hours. Age 49. I’ve learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone. Age 50. I have learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 51. I’ve learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. Age 52. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53. I have learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a
life. Age 58. I have learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage. Age 61. I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62. I’ve learned that you should not go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. Age 64. I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. Age 65. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. Age 66. I have learned that everyone can use a prayer. Age 72. I have learned that even when I have pains, I do not have to be one. Age 82. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. Age 90. I have learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 92. MSN
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Depression: What You Should Know
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By Jim Miller Depression is the nation’s most overlooked and undertreated public health problem that affects nearly 20 percent of Americans age 65 and older. Here is what you should know. Depression - Everyone feels sad or gets the blues now and then, but when these feelings linger more than a few weeks, it may be depression. Depression is a complex medical problem that can affect your mental, emotional, and physical health. Depression is not a normal part of aging or a personal weakness, and it’s usually not something you can just snap out of. While there’s no one cause for elderly depression, it can be triggered by numerous factors like: a side affect to a medication, a physical illness (heart disease, cancer, stroke, arthritis, and more), a disability, loss of a loved one or friend, a major life change, stress, low self-esteem, alcohol abuse, isolation, or it can be genetically inherited. Are You Depressed? Recognizing depression can be very difficult because symptoms can be subtle and will vary from person to person. Here are some of the warning signs you should know. • A persistent feeling of sadness. • Lost interest in hobbies or activities that you formerly enjoyed. • Feeling worthless or hopeless. • Inability to sleep or sleeping too much. • Loss of energy or motivation. • Not eating or eating too much. • Trouble thinking, concentrating, and making decisions. • Feeling anxious, restless, or irritable. • Thinking about dying or killing yourself. Savvy Fact: Seniors have the highest suicide rate of any age group in the United States. Helpful Resources - Unfortunately, only around 10 percent of older Americans with depression seek help, mainly because they either do not know they have it, they think they can handle it themselves, or they are too ashamed to admit it. Today there are various online resources that offer seniors an inconspicuous way to understand and recognize depression and find help. The resources include: • National Mental Health Association: Offers a free confidential online screening test for depression, information on symptoms and treatment options, and explains the different types of mental health professionals. Visit www.depressionscreening.org or call 800-969-6642. • National Institute of Mental Health: Offers a variety of free booklets, fact sheets, and other information about depression. Call 866-615-6464 or visit www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/depressionmenu.cfm. • Geriatric Mental Health Foundation: Provides a free Depression Recovery Tool Kit and can help you identify depression and locate help in your area. Call 301-654-7850 ext. 100, or visit www.gmhfonline.org. • Screening for Mental Health: Sponsors the National Depression Screening Day on October 5, at more than 8,000 sites nationwide. This is a free service available to people of all ages. To find a site near you visit www. mentalhealthscreening.org.
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• Positive Aging Resource Center: Provides information for older adults and caregivers on depression, and offers quizzes that can help identify depression or anxiety related conditions. See www.positiveaging.org. Treatment Options - The first step in treating depression is recognizing that you are depressed. The second step is seeking help, beginning with your doctor. Once you seek help, you will find that there is a variety of treatment options to help you get back on track such as antidepressant medications or professional counseling or a combination of both. Other treatment options may include herbal remedies like St. John’s Wort, light therapy for those with seasonal depression, and for severe depression electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be recommended. Most seniors improve dramatically with treatment. However, without treatment, depression can get worse and significantly increase your risks of cardiovascular disease, other illness, and the possibility of suicide. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” books. MSN
May is Mental Health Month… Are you or someone you love unhappy? Growing older usually means adjusting to changes in life. Sometimes, these changes can mean the loss of loved one, of old routines, and of excellent health. It is normal to feel sadness or distress during these periods, but most older adults move on and eventually feel satisfied with their lives. For some people, however, the sad feelings persist. The pleasure found in daily life can be lost. This may mean that the person is experiencing clinical depression. Clinical depression is a serious illness that results in unnecessary suffering and, without treatment, may even lead to suicide. It is not normal for people to become depressed as they grow older. Clinical depression is treatable and should be treated… at any age. If you or someone you love is dealing with depression, please seek professional help. Mental Health America of Montana is a statewide organization that provides education and advocacy for Montanans dealing with mental health issues. May is mental health month, and we encourage everyone to pay attention to their health! For more information on mental health issues and resources in the state, contact 1-877-927-6642 or visit www.montanamentalhealth.org. In addition, help is available through the Montana Warm Line, a free non-crisis hotline that provides a friendly connection when you need a little support or just someone to talk to. Call 1-877-688-3377 Monday – Friday from 4-10 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 1-10 pm. MSN
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Know Stroke. Know Signs. Recognizing stroke symptoms More than 600,000 new strokes are reported in the United States each year. In fact, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. However, treatments are available that can greatly reduce the damage caused by stroke if you know the symptoms and get to a hospital quickly. “A stroke is a brain attack and occurs when blood flow is interrupted to the brain. Brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop receiving the oxygen and nutrients for optimum cell function,” says Hisham Bassiouny, M.D., medical director of the Vascular Institute of Chicago at Weiss Memorial Hospital and chief of vascular surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “Strokes affect the entire body and can result in a wide range of problems. Knowing the signs of stroke and acting quickly is crucial to minimizing its long-term effects.” Think FAST - face, arms, speech, and time - the four areas to observe when detecting and seeking treatment for a stroke, according to the Stroke Awareness Foundation. Hone in on these healthful hints from the experts at Weiss Memorial Hospital, watching out for these signs:
• Numbness or weakness: The loss of feeling or extreme weakness on one side of the body such as face, arm, or leg is a key indicator a person is having a stroke. The sensation may be complete or partial, and there may be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area. • Trouble speaking or/and confusion: Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding is another key indicator. Often weakness in the facial muscles will cause drooling, or the victim may experience trouble seeing in one or both eyes. • Trouble walking: Loss of balance, coordination, problems walking can be a sign your brain has been denied the blood flow it needs. • Headache with no known cause: Headaches that suddenly appear or that are severe also may be an indicator of stroke. Not all stroke victims will experience all symptoms, which is why it is important to know what to look for. If you or someone you love has these symptoms, immediately call 911 or get to a hospital right away. Prevention is the best medicine. If you are at high risk for stroke, annual vascular screenings at a trusted medical provider are encouraged. MSN
Pill Splitting: When it’s safe, and when it isn’t By Jim Miller Splitting your pills – literally cutting them in half – is a simple way to save money on your prescription drugs but be sure you talk to your doctor first, because not all pills can be split. Here is what you should know. Savings and Safety - The reason pill splitting is such a cost cutter is a quirk in the way drugs are manufactured and priced. A pill that is
STROKE Prevention starts with early detection. Stroke ß Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm ß Peripheral Vascular Disease ß Venous Insufficiency
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twice as strong as another may not be twice the price. In fact, it is usually about the same price. So, buying a double-strength dose and cutting it in half may allow you to get two months worth of medicine for the price of one. But is it safe? As long as your doctor agrees that splitting your pills is okay for you, you learn how to do it properly, and you split only pills that can be split, there is really no danger. What to Do - If you’re interested in pill splitting, the first step is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out if any of the medicines you use can be safely split. It is also important to find out whether splitting them will save you enough money to justify
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the hassle. The pills that are easiest to split are those with a score down the middle. However, not every pill that is scored is meant to be split. Pills that are most commonly split include: â&#x20AC;˘ Cholesterol lowering drugs, like Crestor, Lipitor, and Pravachol â&#x20AC;˘ Antidepressants, like Celexa, Paxil, and Zoloft â&#x20AC;˘ High blood pressure medicines like, Monopril, Prinivil, Univasc, Zestril, Avapro, and Cozaar â&#x20AC;˘ Erectile dysfunction pills, like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra Having the right equipment helps too. Do not use a knife to cut your pills in half. It can cause you to split them unevenly resulting in two pieces with very different dosages, which can be dangerous. Purchase a proper pill cutter. They only cost around $5 to $10 and are available at most pharmacies and large discount stores. For convenience, you might be tempted to split the whole bottle of pills at once. But check with your doctor first. It is possible that exposing the interior of the pills to the air could reduce their effectiveness. It is also important to know that pills are only safely split in half, and never into smaller portions such as into thirds or quarters.
Unsafe Splitting - Many medicines, because of their ingredients or design, cannot be split safely. Here is a list of pills that should not be split: â&#x20AC;˘ Blood thinners (Coumadin, warfarin) â&#x20AC;˘ Chemotherapy drugs â&#x20AC;˘ Anti-seizure medicines â&#x20AC;˘ Birth control pills â&#x20AC;˘ Capsules of any kind that contain powders or gels â&#x20AC;˘ Pills with a hard outside coating â&#x20AC;˘ Extended-release pills that deliver medication over time in your body â&#x20AC;˘ Pills that are coated to protect your stomach â&#x20AC;˘ Pills that crumble easily, irritate your mouth, or taste bitter Again, your doctor or pharmacist will know which drugs can and cannot be split. If you are taking a medicine that can be split, you will need to get a prescription from your doctor for twice the dosage you need. Then you can start splitting and saving safely. 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Savvy Seniorâ&#x20AC;? book. MSN
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 37
MPACT. MAKE ONE.
Life Interrupted - Telling Breast Cancer Stories By Paula Mozen I came to Bozeman in 1994 to teach filmmaking at MSU. In June 2008, I was diagnosed and effortlessly inducted into the â&#x20AC;&#x153;dreaded sisterhood.â&#x20AC;? I found a small lump under my arm, while working out at a local gym. I was able to see a surgeon who booked me for a biopsy on a Friday. When I did not hear from the hospital on Monday, I became suspicious and on Tuesday morning, they finally called with disturbing news. I had tested positive, and I was stunned! An hour later, my diagnosis finally hit me - I had CANCER. Mortality was my new reality,
In hindsight, it should not have been so much of a shock. My mother had recently passed away after a 12-year bout with stage four metastatic breast cancer. Now it was my turn. There I would sit, in the same Cancer Center waiting room chairs awaiting my own diagnosis and treatment protocols. Despite a 15-year regimen of yearly pap smears, breast exams, and mammograms, technology had failed to find my tumor. I found it myself and am living proof that we cannot be lulled into relying on our technology alone for early detection. While receiving surgery and 38 radiation treat-
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PAGE 38 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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ments, I kept my friends and family in the loop by sending out emails on a regular basis. I received a huge outpouring of support and people told me they actually looked forward to getting my news (well, they were sorry about my diagnoses but they loved getting the inside scoop.) Filmmaker friends pressed me to make a film. “No way!” was my initial response. I had too much to do in my own recovery. Time passed and I learned to take charge of my own circumstances by educating myself on prevention and treatment techniques. I later became the “go to” girl when friends or friends of friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. Each woman that I listened to had a unique take on the breast cancer experience; this was not a “one-size fits all” disease or treatment process. No matter whom I met, we always had an immediate connection because of our shared journey into breast cancer. A year later, I realized that I in
fact am the right person to make a film on breast cancer. I am now producing a new documentary film called LIFE INTERRUPTED: telling breast cancer stories. The film will chronicle through varying stages of the disease, the experiences, including my own, of five breast cancer survivors with widely diverging ages (20s to 60s), ethnicities, socio-economic, and geographic backgrounds. These women have already confronted a lifealtering diagnosis, and responded to their disease process and the rebuilding of their lives with honesty, dignity, humor, and grace. My goal is to give newly diagnosed patients and their families hope through intimate stories about handling the diagnosis and navigating the medical system. For more information, please visit www.lifeinterruptedfilm.wordpress.com or email Paula Mozen at pmozen1@gmail.com. MSN
Geriatric Training Research Project Underway By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire The Institute of Medicine says that 75 percent of Americans over 65 suffer from at least one chronic medical condition requiring continuing care. Add to this fact that 20 percent of these aging individuals have five or more chronic conditions. Over the next two decades, the number of seniors in this country is expected to increase to 70 million. This situation cries out for a significant increase in geriatricians - doctors who specialize in treating the aging. The Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) reports that in 2008 there were only 7,590 board certified geriatricians in our land. That is one for every 2,500 Americans 75 or older. Moreover, the ratio is expected to slide to one geriatrician for every 4,254 older Americans by 2030. The Institute of Medicine last April called for more and enhanced geriatrics training for all health professionals as well as financial incentives to
boost recruitment and retention of these specialists caring for the elderly. The increasing shortage of doctors for the elderly led the MetLife Foundation to launch the Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) program several years ago. Since 1994, that program has trained about 1,350 medical students from nearly all of the medical schools in the country at nationally respected training centers supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), another sponsor of the program. NIA is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The MSTAR program recently announced it has awarded a $200,000 grant to the American Federation for Aging Research. That grant will supply enough money to give 50 medical students the opportunity to take part in an eight-to-twelve-week research, educational, and clinical mentorship program among top experts at leading academic institutions in the nation. Corrine Rieder, executive director of the John A. Hartford Foundation said, “Given the demographic realities of the next 20 years and beyond, our healthcare system desperately requires more clinicians trained to meet the special needs of older patients. The MSTAR program is a powerful and effective vehicle for introducing talented future physicians into the field [which] will help us reach many more students, who will in turn serve as resource for their peers.” Richard Hodes, MD, director of the National Institute on Aging, said, “For the past several years,
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the MSTAR program has successfully brought medical students and mentors together in the interest of aging research. This has encouraged some of the best and brightest in medicine to pursue a basic science, health services, or clinical research career for the benefit of our aging population.â&#x20AC;? As important and worthwhile as the MSTAR program is, it is fighting against difficult barriers. Medicare has never reimbursed geriatricians as much as it has other physicians. It is because they have to spend more time with the elderly and chronically ill patients than do other physicians, who can run many more patients through their offices in a day. It is partly because of inadequate compensation from Medicare that so many up-and-coming doctors choose to go into other fields. The American Federation for Aging Research is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support biomedical research on aging. Its literature says it is devoted to creating the knowledge that all of us need to live healthy, productive, and independent lives. Since 1981, AFAR has awarded approximately $124 million to more than 2,600 early and mid-career scientists and medical students as part of a broad-based series of grant programs. It maintains that its work has led to â&#x20AC;&#x153;significant advances in our understanding of the aging process, age-related diseases, and healthy aging processes. Something to be thankful for. AFAR notes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Research on aging and the aging process leads to a greater understanding of all age-related diseases. It has the potential to improve public health to a far greater extent than science that examines only one disease at a time. Aging research is likely to be the least expensive path to preventing and curing many diseases of the aging. For 28 years, AFAR has been at the forefront of this approach to the science of healthier aging â&#x20AC;&#x153;studying the components of the diseases related to aging and studying the underlying mechanisms of aging and how they regulate the processes in our bodies.â&#x20AC;? AFAR says the number of seniors over 65 will double by 2030 and â&#x20AC;&#x153;the existence of an estimated 500,000 people over the age of 100 will force us to reexamine long-held notions of old age.â&#x20AC;? MSN
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 39
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How to Choose Hearing Aids - Some Good Advice
Hearing solutions you can trust.
Kelley Olenick, Au.D. With so many types and hundreds of brands of hearing aids from which to choose, it is no wonder people are confused. First, do not go it alone. Too often, people are wooed by a catchy ad or a pushy salesperson and wind up with a poor quality hearing aid that they never use. Instead, work with a qualified hearing professional who can conduct a thorough hearing evaluation, determine the type of hearing loss, and recommend appropriate hearing instruments. Some hearing aid establishments focus on hearing aid sales and are basically hearing aid dealers. When you choose a professional audiologist, you will receive care from someone who has a masters or doctorate degree in the study of hearing. The first thing the audiologist will do is to perform some basic hearing tests conducted in a sound treated test suite. Do not settle for anything less. After conducting the tests and isolating your hearing problem, if a hearing aid is the right solution, an audiologist should perform a lifestyle needs analysis to determine the type of hearing aids that will work best for you. Some questions the audiologist will ask are: â&#x20AC;˘ How active are you? â&#x20AC;˘ Do you have trouble communicating in noisy places? â&#x20AC;˘ Do you live alone? In an apartment? In a large home? â&#x20AC;˘ Do you talk on the telephone a lot? Watch TV often? â&#x20AC;˘ Do you regularly go out to eat at restaurants? â&#x20AC;˘ Do you have trouble hearing certain family members such as women or children? Hearing aid technology is constantly improving, and new products are introduced all the time. Here are some of the newest advances in hearing aid technology: â&#x20AC;˘ Open fit aids. A common complaint among people with hearing aids that fit into their ear is that they hear distractions, such as an echo when they speak, themselves chewing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open fitâ&#x20AC;? hearing aids
sit behind the ear, with only a wire and tiny loudspeaker going into the ear. â&#x20AC;˘ Digital feedback reduction. New hearing aids have good feedback reduction, to reduce or eliminate another common hearing aid complaint: whistling noises. â&#x20AC;˘ Digital noise reduction. Using complex algorithms, this feature is making hearing aids â&#x20AC;&#x153;smarterâ&#x20AC;? and able to tell the difference between speech and background noise. â&#x20AC;˘ Directional microphones. The directional microphone allows the user to focus on whoever is directly in front with reduced interference from conversations behind and to the sides. â&#x20AC;˘ Automatically adaptive. With this technology, the hearing aid changes the way it works when the user walks from one place to another. The hearing aid detects sounds exceeding a certain loudness level, and then self-adjusts to reduce the amplification. â&#x20AC;˘ Bluetooth compatible. The user does not have to hold the cell phone up to their ear, which alleviates the feedback some people hear when they answer the phone. When a call comes in, it rings through the hearing aid itself, instead of ringing from the phone. To answer, the wearer simply presses a button. Even after selecting the right hearing aids, do not expect to adapt immediately. It often takes a month or more for patients to get used to their new devices. Often, people who are using hearing aids for the first time will be startled at how loud the world is. Suddenly, the refrigerator makes a roar, the newspaper rattles, and even the turn signal in the car can sound disruptive. It is important to wear the hearing instruments all day, every day. If you wear them only sporadically, you will never get used to the volume of new sounds, and the brain will be confused. It takes at least several weeks for the brain to put those new sounds into perspective. So be patient. It requires time to adjust to hearing aids. Your listening skills should improve gradually. If it is a loved one who is new to hearing aids, it is a good idea to accompany them to their audiology appointment. Remember, hearing instruments are clear sounding, simple to use, and they restore lives. MSN
Preserve. Enhance. Live. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re experiencing hearing difficulties, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crucial that you get a complete assessment as soon as possible. Since hearing troubles may stem from a variety of causes, including some medical conditions, it just makes sense to have your hearing evaluated where you have direct access to an audiologist and ear, nose and throat physicians. At Big Sky ENT Hearing Services, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll receive comprehensive analysis and care, whether you need to be fitted for a hearing instrument or require access to medical treatment.
No referral necessary. Make your appointment today. Hugh Hetherington, M.D. Trang Rogers, AuD., Board Certified Audiologist
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 41
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I am an easygoing man with a good income. I own my home and have no debts. I am very secure financially and will pay all living expenses plus give you at least $500 per month to do with as you please. I have a large home and beautiful yard in Livingston. I am willing to move any place that you would like inside the United States. I like to take short drives and long drives to interesting places. I like good music and have a large collection. I also have a large library of good books if you like to read, and several hundred of the best movies ever made if you like to watch a good movie. I like to eat at good restaurants frequently, but I am a fair cook. I like to spend quiet times at home. Please send a photo and your phone number and I will do the same. Reply MSN, Dept. 26404, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Wanted: a tall gentleman age 78 or younger who is active, white, honest, and has many interests in life. No drinkers, smokers, drug users, overweight, or braggers please. I seek a person who is financially prepared, must love animals, and meeting new challenges. As for me: I am a tall lady who is average weight, blonde, fashionable, 77-years-young, very attractive, keep fit and in shape, and I don’t smoke, drink, or use drugs. I look younger and am very healthy, honest, and have a sense of humor. I also like to do fun things, and have many interests. Gentleman will have to relocate if interested. Letter and picture please. Reply MSN, Dept. 26405, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Female in late 60s wants male dancing partner who likes country/western music in the Bozeman area. Reply MSN, Dept. 26406, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I am a born and raised Montana gal. Looking for a nice, good timing man between the ages of 60 and 70. I am in good health and like to travel. Please write and I will do my best to answer. Reply MSN, Dept. 26407, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Are you tired of looking across the dinner table and seeing only an empty chair? Well, I am tired of that also! Let’s do lunch and get to know one another. I’m a single, white widow (for 9 years) in my late 60s. I live in the Billings area. Farming and ranching are my background. I enjoy movies, country music, rodeos, going to the fair and seeing the animal exhibits, traveling, cooking, going to church socials, and outdoor activities. I am a non-smoker, non-drinker (social okay), and do not use drugs. I am friendly, with a good sense of humor, and communication is very important to me. I do volunteer work for several
organizations. I enjoy holding hands, and cuddling. I have no computer, but will communicate by phone or letter. A photo would be nice. Any phone calls or letters will be answered back. Enjoy your day! Reply MSN, Dept. 26408, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. DWM, 56, easygoing, sometimes adventurous, believer but not religious. I am an artist and craftsman, and a retired graphic artist. I like to fish but don’t go hunting. I do not drink and am a light smoker. I am looking for a mature but young-atheart woman ready to commit to making life/love work. Reply MSN, Dept. 26409, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I’m a single male in my mid sixties. I don’t do drugs, drink, or smoke. I am retired and own my own home. I am looking for companionship, someone who likes to travel, and dine out. So if you are a lady 55 to 65, and like to have fun, let me know. I’m ready to share my home with Miss Right. I will
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 43
answer all responses. No email. I live in Great Falls. Reply MSN, Dept. 26410, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Single male seeks live-in female companion 60-70. Looks unimportant. I do not smoke or drink. Any reply welcome. Will answer all. Reply MSN, Dept. 26411, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I would like to meet some nice fella out there who is an ethical gentleman who appreciates the simple things in life. I am a moral person, who does not sleep around. When I find the man of my dreams, he will be the only one for me to love and cherish. I do not smoke or do drugs. I like to eat out and have an occasional drink; however, I do not need it! I am an easy going, country type gal who likes jeans and tee shirts, but I also like to dress up for special occasions. I have a sense of humor. We can exchange pictures after we get to know each other. I am in my (Continued on page 71)
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At last! Spring is here, the snow is melting, the tulips and daffodils are coming up, and wouldn’t it be a fine time to add some spring warmth to your heart with a new relationship. It is time to find that special someone to enjoy all that is new this time of year. Submit your reply today and who knows...? To those who wish 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. If you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That’s up to the person who placed the ad. Please make sure you submit your correct address plainly printed so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our June/July 2010 issue. There is no charge for this service and your ad may bring a breath of fresh air to your heart as well. Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad, the deadline for the June/ July 2010 issue is May 10, 2010.
relax by figure modeling for local folks with art/ photo/video projects. Social/recreational nudity and soaking up the sun are also high on my list of things I enjoy. I am usually fairly conservative, but very open-minded. Isn’t there a medium super slender lady 5080+ who is looking for an old fashioned romantic who likes to listen, pay attention, and is interested in having her own dedicated “Boy Toy” for affection, fantasy, and adventure? I am baggage free, socially acceptable, have a sense of humor, and not afraid of commitment. It would also be nice to meet couples who share my interests and are fun. All responses with name, address, phone, and photo (or description) will be answered. Be frisky, take a chance, and quit being shy! Tell me what interests you. You are beautiful and perfect! Reply MSN, Dept. 26401, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.
I am a retired Naval Officer (Medical), well traveled and educated, with a home in the Bozeman hills. Being 70, I am pleasant looking, active, neat, clean cut, healthy, 6’1”, 190#, and fun. No drugs. I enjoy all music (except Rap) and would like to become good at CW dancing. I read everything I can, and spend time working on my house. When I am not working on major landscaping projects, I
I am a single white male looking for a lady 55 to 65 who does not do drugs, smoke, or drink. I would like to find someone who likes to travel, go to a movie occasionally, go for walks, or just stay home and watch TV or cook together. I am 66, retired, and enjoy every day. I live in Great Falls, but am lonely since my wife passed away in 2007. I would like a dining companion. So, if you are the lady I am looking for, I will treat you the best way I know how. Please write so we can meet. Reply MSN, Dept. 26403, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Fun-loving, kind lady with a loving heart, good values, personality, good cook and homemaker, secure, honest, sincere, attractive, and has many interests is looking for a LTR with love and companionship. I would like to meet a warm caring Christian gentleman 65-75, intelligent, active, romantic, honest, secure, with a sense of humor, and healthy attitude on life. No drugs or smoking. Reply MSN, Dept. 26402, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.
WANTED: A lady for possible marriage between the ages of 50 and 70, trim or fairly trim, a non-smoker, non- or light- drinker, no drugs, and who has no children to care for.
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Walking Is A Way Of Life For Eva Bair By Gail Jokerst If you ever find yourself thinking, “I’m just too old to get out for fresh air and exercise,” consider Eva Bair. Three years ago, after she decided to give up driving, Eva resumed what to her was business as usual - using her feet instead of wheels for transportation. At 92, Eva walks just about anywhere she needs to go from the public library to church to the supermarket. And these destinations are not just around the corner from her Kalispell apartment or merely a few city blocks away. Eva has been known to trek as far as three miles one way to do her shopping and covers that distance at a twentyminute-mile pace. “I’ve always been a walker. As a kid growing up in Kalispell, I walked back and forth between home and school four times a day. Back then, students usually ate lunch at home,” recalls Eva. “After I got married I walked anyplace I needed to go. I didn’t learn to drive a car ‘til I was in my mid-40s, so I walked everywhere. I didn’t have a choice.” Unsurprisingly, Eva’s passion for walking city avenues seamlessly translated to a passion for trekking in the mountains. She started hiking in Glacier National Park during the 1970s and has never stopped. “I think the park is beautiful and it’s close,” remarks Eva. “In the past, I would drive up by myself and go anyplace I wanted - Iceberg Lake,
y B. [Photo b
okerst]
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the North Fork - if I knew other people would be on the trail. Now I do less strenuous hikes, things more in the three-to-four mile range such as Howe Lake, Hidden Lake Overlook, and Avalanche Lake, and I don’t go alone.” About 18 years ago, she contacted Kalispell Parks and Recreation to join a hiking group for retirees that she had heard about. “I was looking for someone to hike with,” says Eva, “and this seemed like a good solution.” Although the group officially disbanded in 2008 because funding was no longer available to pay a coordinator to organize and lead outings for the group, the hikers chose to continue on their own informally. Dubbing themselves, The Mountain Mob, eight stalwarts including Eva take to the hills weekly. When snowflakes start to fly, they switch from hiking boots to snowshoes and cross-country skis and go exploring together. “I think walking has kept my health up. Going uphill is good for the heart and going downhill is good for the bones. I believe that. Now that I’m older,” states Eva, “I feel a good part of why I can still walk long distances is because I’ve always done it.”
APRIL/MAY 2010
Her advice to others to get started on the same path is practical and helpful. “Pick a place you enjoy going to and do it. Try to get out for an hour - it’s not too long - and do it several times a week,” suggests Eva. “If there’s a Rails-to-Trails near you, walk it for whatever distance you can. They’re easy and level. You can get out and do these things.” As in years past, Eva still shoulders a backpack when she heads out for a trek. But she keeps its contents to a minimum. Just a sandwich and granola bar, a quart of water, rain poncho, cap, and gloves in case it turns cool. “I don’t carry bear spray because someone in the group I hike with always has it. But I do bring binoculars,” she adds. “I love all that beautiful country and especially like to see birds and wild roses and beargrass. Although I’m not a list person, I try to identify trees, plants, flowers, and birds when I’m on the trail.” A gentle, soft-spoken woman, Eva brings that sense of tranquility with her outdoors. “It’s hard to walk uphill and talk,” she says matter-of-factly. One of Eva’s hiking buddies from The Mountain Mob, Rosie Olsen, confirms that. “We enjoy ourselves and have a good time and so does Eva, but she’s often quiet on the trail because she’s so busy looking around at the trees and flowers and feeling the tree needles and cones. In fact, she’s so quiet, sometimes we don’t even know she’s stopped to enjoy the scenery or use her binoculars,” says Rosie, who has also discovered that when Eva is not engrossed with the countryside, her pace accelerates impressively. “She’s a goer,” comments Rosie. “Eva has always been a fast walker and an example to others. The way she lives sends the message, ‘If you want to do something, do it! Don’t let age interfere.’” By the time she unlaces her boots after a day on the trail, Eva says she usually feels tired but good. “If it’s been a warm day and I come home feeling hot and tired, I like a bottle of beer. Nothing hits the spot like a cold beer. Any brand will do,” she adds. “I’m not at all fussy.” Born in Sunburst on her family’s homestead,
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 47
Eva has lived all but 13 years of her life in Montana. Her father sold the homestead in 1923 and moved the family to Kalispell. “He wasn’t a farmer by heart; he was a lumberjack by trade and he could hunt and fish all he wanted in the Flathead. He was quite contented here,” recollects Eva, “and would get up early in the morning before work to catch whitefish off the old steel bridge.” Eva and her husband raised four children together in Kalispell and after the last child left home, Eva joined the work force. She was employed primarily in clerical posts until retiring but says she always hiked and walked in her spare time, even when she was working. “It’s always been a part of what I’ve done,” notes Eva. “After retiring I had more time, so I’ve been able to do a lot more hiking.” None of Eva’s children shares her zest for longdistance walking but they and Eva’s grandchildren are all supportive of the family matriarch and her yen for the outdoors. “They think I should carry on and they even encourage me to try new things,” says Eva as she pulls out a clipping one of her daughters sent her about a 90-year-old skydiver. Although Eva does not take the idea seriously for herself, it obviously tickles her to read aloud the words her daughter scrawled in the margin: “Come on, mom. You can do it!” For information about The Mountain Mob, call Rosie Olsen at 406-257-2544. MSN
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PAGE 48 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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Time For A Career Change By Chérie Newman “I used to think I had a lot of time,” says author Carol Buchanan, “but when I turned 60 I knew it was now or never to write fiction.” That realization propelled Buchanan into retirement. She gave up a long and successful career as a technical writer, journalist, and nonfiction writer. Then she and her husband moved to Kalispell, in her home state of Montana, where she launched herself into her life-long dream of writing novels. Finally released from typing “deathless prose like ‘Press Enter,’” Buchanan was thrilled with her new freedom. Although she had mostly enjoyed her job as a technical writer, the unlimited choices F
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inherent in writing fiction ignited new fires of cre- cialist, publicist, marketing whiz, and distribution ativity - bonfires. manager. Oh, yes, and business manager. Those creative fires burned hotly throughout So how exactly does a person make the switch the seven years it took Buchanan to research and from writing nonfiction to writing fiction? Buchanan write her first novel. (It is her first if you do not count says it has to do with which side of your brain you the novel she wrote when she was ten years old.) use. In true technical-writer fashion, she simpliBy then, she was in her late sixties and had no fies a complex neurological process by assigning patience for the traditional publishing process. nonfiction to the left side of the brain and fiction to Buchanan is not new to publishing. She has the right hemisphere. written three books about gardening, one of which, According to Buchanan, technical writing has a Wordsworth’s Garfew major requiredens, was a top ments. ten finalist in the “Use simple senWashington State tences. Write short Book Awards for paragraphs. Use 2002. (She wrote simple words. Get her PhD dissertathe job done,” she tion about the Engsays. These are lish poet William all left-brain proWordsworth.) So cesses. she knows how “Fiction writing long it takes to go joins things togethfrom manuscript to er,” she adds. “It bookstore - years. melds characterizaWhile young writtion, action, emoers can afford to tion, and descripwait through multion.” It is the right tiple rejections and side of the brain the rest of the prothat “synthesizes tracted publishing disparate parts into process, Buchana coherent whole.” an does not have Instead of dethat kind of time. scribing history in So she decided to dispassionate, palself-publish her hisatable chunks, as torical novel, God’s Buchanan the nonThunderbolt: The fiction writer did, the Vigilantes of Mon- [Photo provided by Carol Buchanan] fiction-writing Butana. It was a bold chanan describes decision, but one that has paid off. the emotions, motivation, and experiences of her Her book has received favorable reviews in characters. For example, a 19th-century character print and online publications. She has been in- “tries to homestead a section of land in Eastern terviewed for a regional radio program, and the Montana to make a future for her two sons. Does Western Writers of America awarded God’s Thun- she succeed?” Buchanan asks herself. And if so, derbolt the 2009 Spur Award for Best First Novel. what did it take to get there? “Everything between page 1 and the end is a To put these accomplishments into perspective, imagine yourself functioning simultaneously as synthesis of the character’s dreams and desires, writer, editor, copy editor, layout and design spe- the setting, the sights, sounds, smells, and experiences of the land, the animals, and the people.” It is Buchanan’s knowledge of history and her skill at research that transforms people in dusty old books into vibrant and complex fictional characters. And Buchanan loves writing those people back into life. It is a passion - burning more fiercely, no doubt, because it was delayed for so long. She does not intend to retire again - ever! The main character in God’s Thunderbolt, Daniel Stark, continues his adventures in the new book she is writing, Gold Under Ice. She also writes and publishes short stories and opinion pieces. And she blogs. On her Web site, www. swanrange.com (named for the mountains near her home just south of Glacier National Park), she describes three novels and one story she plans to write, and gives probable publishing dates for each. Wow. That is ambitious. Buchanan intends to write fiction for the rest of her life. “I have the novels and stories stacked up in my mind enough to last me another lifetime,” she says, “and I can’t write them all down fast enough.” What she needs is time, which is why she is hoping she inherited her “mother’s longevity gene.” Carol Buchanan’s mother lived to be 106 years, 2 months, and 10 days old. Chérie Newman writes, edits, and produces radio programs in Missoula. MSN
APRIL/MAY 2010
Fred Flint & Bob Marshall - Continued from front cover place mainly because there aren’t many people there. It’s wild undeveloped land on a huge scale vestiges of what America was like 100 to 200 years ago. You can get on a horse and ride for 10 to 15 days at a time. The Spotted Bear Ranger District alone is larger than Glacier National Park.” While arguably not as well known as Montana’s national parks and national wildlife refuges, The Bob has long been familiar territory to dedicated hunters, backpackers, horseback riders, and anglers from inside and outside of the state. It is also a prime destination for some 50 to 60 outfitters, who make their livelihood by bringing people into the backcountry on horseback. Fred estimates that tens of thousands of people visit this wilderness area annually. No entry fees are charged but licenses are required for hunting and fishing. “I like it better than ever now. The place grows on you. You come to appreciate being able to get away from radio, TV, newspapers, and politicians. You forget the day of the week and the time. All you have to remember is to keep count of when you have to leave,” says Fred, who spent 23 years of his U.S. Forest Service career working here as a resource and a recreation forester. Contrary to what you might think, wilderness areas like The Bob are safe places. According to Fred, freak accidents like falling off a horse or slipping on a trail cause the most problems, not outof-control wildlife or harsh wilderness conditions.
Widdle Wabbit Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley A precious little girl walked into a Petco store and in the sweetest little lisp, between two missing teeth asked the owner, “Excuthe me, mithter, do you have widdle wabbits?” As the shopkeeper’s heart melted, he got down on his knees so that he was on her level and asked, “Do you want a widdle white wabbit, a thoft and fuwwy bwack wabbit, or maybe one like that cute widdle bwown wabbit over there?” She, in turn, blushed, rocked on her heels, put her hands on her knees, leaned forward, and said in a tiny quiet voice, “I don’t think my python weally carths.” MSN
Star of the Euphrates Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus the pawnbroker to ask for a loan. Croesus examined the stone and said, “I’ll give you 100,000 dinars for it.” “But I paid a million dinars for it,” the King protested. “Don’t you know who I am? I am the king!” Croesus replied, “When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are.” MSN
“I’ve been closer to grizzlies than I want to be but they’ve never been aggressive. They just turned and went their own way,” recalls Fred. “However, you’ve got to be aware at all times because you’re in such a remote area. It requires a different mindset than usual because you’re 30 miles from the nearest road and help is five or six hours’ away. That makes me think more about taking risks and understanding repercussions. It’s always in the back of my mind that I need to be cautious about what I do. I think things through more than I would in town.” If you would like to support The Bob but prefer to do it less strenuously without forsaking hot showers and sleeping on a firm mattress at night you can help in other ways. Like all non-profits, BMWF welcomes financial contributions of any amount and assistance with clerical work. You could buy one of their license plates. That income typically generates around $40,000 annually for the organization. You could give them (used or new) tools and backcountry equipment. You might also consider participating - as an attendee or contributing artist - in their fall fundraiser held at the Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell. “People have donated quilts, pottery, sculptures, paintings, even blacksmithing in the past,” says Fred. “It’s all appreciated.” For more information call 406-387-3808 or visit www. BMWF.org. MSN
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 49
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MON TANA
SPRING 2010
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE
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We Care Because You Care. How Does Skilled Nursing Care Get Paid For? By Karen Powers, The Goodman Group
Until it becomes a factor in our life, most of us do not know how skilled nursing care is paid for. The first hours during admission to a skilled nursing facility are full of information. This is the time when financial responsibility will be addressed with several options presented by the admissions coordinator. For a short-term rehabilitation stay, using a Medicare benefit and a Medicare supplemental insurance might be all that is needed. When skilled nursing care is required for a long term living situation the options become private pay, long term care insurance or Medicaid benefit.
Questions we all have: How much of my nursing care is paid for by Medicare? With a qualifying hospital stay and qualifying diagnosis, your first 20 days will be 100% paid for. Thereafter, Medicare will pay 80% and you are responsible for a co-pay of $137.50 per day (2010 rate). How long does my Medicare benefit last? Your Medicare benefit can last up to 100 days as long as you are showing improvement with treatment and rehabilitation.
What is Private Pay? Private pay is using personal funds to pay for staying in a skilled nursing facility. When Medicare benefits are exhausted and a person continues to need care, the monthly expense is billed directly to the resident. Can Medicaid help me with my nursing home bills? Medicaid can be a resource for paying for long term care. However, there are age and income requirements with variables involving marital status and financial assets. What if I still have a spouse at home? Medicaid has guidelines that take into account a spouse still living at home and relying on the family income. How do I apply for Medicaid? If it seems Medicaid services might be an option, you will be directed to the social services representative of the skilled nursing facility. This person is very knowledgeable about the Medicaid benefits, how to qualify and how to apply. They have the applications at hand and can walk you through the process.
“Discover how good life can be.” • Independent Living • Assisted Living 2815 Old Fort Rd. • Missoula • (406) 549-1300 • www.villagesenior.com • Rehabilitation • Short- and Long-term Skilled Nursing Care • Memory Care Wing • Accepting Medicare, Private Insurances and Medicaid 2651 South Ave. W. • Missoula • (406) 728-9162 • www.villagehealthcare.com • Rehabilitation • Short- and Long-term Skilled Nursing Care • Memory Care Wing • Accepting Medicare, Private Insurances and Medicaid 1301 E. Broadway • Missoula • (406) 721-0680 • www.riversidesenior.com • Rehabilitation • Short- and Long-term Skilled Nursing Care • Memory Care Wing • Accepting Medicare, Private Insurances and Medicaid 4720 23rd Ave. • Missoula • (406) 251-5100 • www.hillsidesenior.com
For any of your questions regarding payment and funding, please feel free to contact any of the skilled nursing communities listed to the right and ask to speak to Admissions or Social Services.
• Rehabilitation • Short- and Long-term Skilled Nursing Care • Memory Care Wing • Accepting Medicare, Private Insurances and Medicaid 225 N. 8th St. • Hamilton • (406) 363-1144 • www.valleyviewestates.org
We Care Because You Care.
APRIL/MAY 2010
Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? By Tait Trussell Plenty of aging folks are among those scratching hard to find a job these days. But a 55-year-old fellow I know in Florida just found a good management position in a large hospital in Jacksonville. He had been in management at a nursing home, which was cutting back on staff. He did it by networking, a recommended approach. U.S. Department of Labor projections indicate that the 55-plus population will account for nearly 93 percent of the net increase in the U.S. civilian labor force in the 2006 to 2016 period. Do not ask how the Labor Department can make such a specific forecast. Just hope it is correct if you want to keep working or get a new job. The study of individuals ages 55 to 70 was based on in-depth interviews of 1,200 seniors. It recommended adopting “new attitudes, specific skills and a fresh set of expectations.” Like the successful 55-year-old Floridian, networking is “especially critical for job-seekers. It’s easiest to do when you’re clear about your passion and you can connect with people who have similar interests,” the study said. “Acknowledge the new realities of the job market. Anger about perceived age bias will not get you a job... Identify nearby industries and organizations in regions that are stable or growing... Self-employment is one other option.” Boomers must identify and articulate the specific value they can bring to an organization, while simultaneously recognizing that their underlying skills must constantly evolve, the study said. “The most consistent finding from the interview was the need for older job-seekers to update their computer skills. Older job-seekers who aren’t familiar with Facebook and LinkedIn need to learn
about them - fast.” That does not mean aging boomers have to reorganize their lives around the latest communication and networking technologies. But they should try them and be able to talk about them, so they are not caught unprepared the next time a 40-year-old hiring manager asks, ‘Are you on Twitter?’ “It may be late for older baby boomers to start planning their retirement finances, but they should recognize the conflicting pressures they may have about work and retirement. Despite financial need, a significant segment of those interviewed was ambivalent about staying in the labor force. Job counselors shared stories of program participants consistently sabotaging themselves in job interviews.... Older job seekers should be clear about their actual financial needs, especially for consistent and stable sources of retirement income, as they struggle with making a decision about finding work,” reported the study. DeLong, author of the study, said, “Older job seekers who don’t recognize that they’re viewed differently in the job market are in for a rude awakening... and this study shows what they have to do to make themselves relevant and successful in the changing employment market.” The study was based on data from 24 interviews conducted with executive coaches, job counselors, and other experts working with older job-seekers; in-depth interviews with 21 people age 55-plus who have changed employment in the past two years; and 21 men and women with “a broad range of experience levels were interviewed. Quantitative information, DeLong said, was from a survey of 1,242 Americans ages 55 to 70 who were seeking work or were retired because they could not find work. MSN
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Across 1. Preserving the planet 9. Washington and Oregon area of the US 11. Blue sky, poetically 13. It’s turning into sea too fast! 15. ___ quality is a key factor in life quality 16. The movement which is raising awareness of the environment and its importance 17. Crazy 18. Wire service 19. Make toxic 21. Opening scene locale of “The Bourne Supremacy” 23. A lovely planet 25. Having beautiful views 26. Need 28. Listen to ... (warnings about global warming) 30. Description of the rivers and mountains 33. Promotion 34. Say __ to expansion of fossil fuel usage 35. Criticize..... (for too high emissions?) 36. Maximum degree 37. ___ and watched the night sky 39. Water poison 41. Hi! 42. Important layer we are losing slowly 43. Stumbling expressions.... (to try to explain what is happening to the glaciers in the Arctic) 44. UK auto plate 45. Flightless bird 46. Green play area 47. The sun is one 49. Energy that provides
natural heat 52. ____ degradable 53. Origins 54. Former 55. Littered
Down 1. The polite way of saying “global warming” (2 words) 2. Necessitate 3. Govt agency to handle the environment 4. Truth 5. __ the crossroads for the human race 6. Heat prefix 7. That is, abbr. 8. Grown without chemicals 10. Source of natural energy 12. Polar bear concern? 14. Ice ___ 19. Baby bed 20. Hawaiian island 21. Unwanted gases 22. ____ rain 24. Obese 25. Strait, for short 26. What we need to stop throwing at the planet every day 27. Good source of natural power, if we can handle its 26 down 29. Carry out 31. Relating to a state building natural gas pipelines 32. Young person 33. A car that will help (2 words) 37. Earth we grow in 38. One, before a vowel 40. Mess up 44. Large desert 48. Oh __! ... hopefully we can get on top of this environmental situation quickly.... 50. Overdraft, abbr. 51. Concerning
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 53
Who amongst us doesn’t start to move when we hear a little bit of that good old rock ‘n roll music? Remember those great tunes, sock hops, poodle skirts, saddle shoes, milkshakes made with real ice cream, and penny loafers. Our winning contest is from Julie Hollar-Brantley of Choteau whose Doo Wop - 30 Oldies Quiz makes us wonder why they quit making that good ol’ rock ‘n roll music. Thank you, Julie. Congratulations to Marjorie June of Bozeman who submitted the winning answers to the Can You Match These Names? quiz that appeared in our February/March 2010 issue. Thank you, Marjorie. 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 that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for that issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles! The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the most correct answers to the featured quiz or puzzle from the previous issue. When there is a tie, the winner is determined by a drawing. Please mail your entries to the Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to montsrnews@bresnan.net by May 10, 2010 for our June/July 2010 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle in this issue and on our website www.montanaseniornews. com.
Know Our Environment By Miles Mellor
Doo Wop - 28 Oldies Quiz Will Have You Snappin’ Your Fingers And Tappin’ Your Toes Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Below are thirty wonderful musical memories that were a source of great fear and consternation for our parents and teachers in the days when rock n’ roll was thought to be a very corrupting influence on our young minds. It is a simple quiz - just jot down the correct lettered answer with each numbered question and drop it in the mail to us. You may just win the $25 prize! 1. When did Little Suzie finally wake up? a. The movie’s over, it’s 2 o’clock b. The movie’s over, it’s 3 o’clock c. The movie’s over, it’s 4 o’clock 2. Rock Around The Clock was used in what movie? a. Rebel Without A Cause
b. Blackboard Jungle c. The Wild Ones 3. What is missing from a Rock & Roll standpoint? Earth _____ a. Angel b. Mother c. Worm 4. ‘’I found my thrill . . .’’ where? a. Kansas City b. Heartbreak Hotel c. Blueberry Hill 5. ‘’Please turn on your magic beam, _________ bring me a dream,’’ a. Mr. Sandman b. Earth Angel c. Dream Lover 6. For which label did Elvis Presley first
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record? a. Atlantic b. RCA c. Sun 7. He asked, ‘’Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?’’ Who was he? a. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown b. Charlie Brown c. Buster Brown 8. In Bobby Darin’s ‘’Mack The Knife,’’ the one with the knife, was named: a. MacHeath b. MacCloud c. MacNamara 9. Name the song with ‘’A-wop bop a-loo bop a-lop bam boom.’’ a. Good Golly, Miss Molly b. Be-Bop-A-Lula c. Tutti Fruitti 10. Who is generally given credit for originating the term ‘’Rock And Roll’’? a. Dick Clark b. Wolfman Jack c. Alan Freed 11. In 1957, he left the music business to become a preacher: a. Little Richard b. Frankie Lymon c. Tony Orlando 12. Paul Anka’s ‘’Puppy Love’’ is written to what star? a. Brenda Lee b. Connie Francis c. Annette Funicello 13. The Everly Brothers were named... a. Pete and Dick b. Don and Phil c. Bob and Bill 14. The Big Bopper’s real name was: a. Jiles P. Richardson b. Roy Harold Scherer Jr. c. Marion Michael Morrison 15. In 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr., started a small record company called a. Decca b. Cameo c. Motown 16. Ed Byrnes had a hit with Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb. What TV show was he on? a. 77 Sunset Strip b. Hawaiian Eye c. Surfside Six
17. In 1960, Bobby Darin married: a. Carol Lynley b. Sandra Dee c. Natalie Wood 18. They were a one hit wonder with Book Of Love a. The Penguins b. The Monotones c. The Moonglows 19. The Everly Brothers sang a song called ‘’Till I ______ You.’’ a. Loved b. Kissed c. Met 20. Chuck Berry sang ‘’Oh, ___________, why can’t you be true?’’ a. Suzie Q b. Peggy Sue c. Maybelline 21. ‘’Wooly _______’’ a. Mammoth b. Bully c. Pully 22. ‘’I’m like a one-eyed cat . . . .” a. can’t go into town no more b. sleepin’ on a cold hard floor c. peepin’ in a seafood store 23. ‘’Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do...’’ a. cause there ain’t no answer for a life without booze b. cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues c. cause my car’s gassed up and I’m ready to cruise 24. ‘’They often call me Speedo, but my real name is…’’ a. Mr. Earl b. Jackie Pearl c. Milton Berle 25. ‘’You’re my Fanny and nobody else’s...’’ a. girl b. behind c. love 26. ‘’I want you to play with my…’’ a. heart b. dreams c. ding a ling 27. ‘’Be Bop A Lula...’’ a. she’s got the rabies b. she’s my baby. c. she loves me, maybe 28. ‘’Fine Love, Fine Kissing...’’ a. right here b. fifty cents c. just for you MSN
Answers to “Can You Match These Names?” 1. B 2. D 3. E 4. C 5. H
Submitted by Sylva Mularchyk, Santa Maria, California 20. R 6. A 16. M 11. I 21. V 7. F 17. Q 12. K 22. T 8. G 18. U 13. N 23. S 9. J 19. W 14. O 10. L 15. P
APRIL/MAY 2010
Living Well With Parkinson’s Disease By Lisa M. Petsche Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive disorder involving damage to nerve cells in the brain that control muscle movement. According to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1.5 million Americans currently have the disease and approximately 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Incidence increases with age and the majority of cases develop after age 60. The main symptoms of PD are shaking (known as tremors), slow movements, rigidity (due to muscle stiffness), and balance problems. Other symptoms may include low energy, loss of coordination, loss of facial expression, difficulty initiating or continuing movement (“freezing”), stooped posture, a shuffling walk, decreased speech volume, and depression. Early symptoms are subtle and may be overlooked. Diagnosis is made by a neurologist, who may order tests to rule out other conditions with similar features. Although symptoms and rate of progression vary among individuals, usually PD advances slowly, and patients can lead active lives for many years. While no cure exists, medications are available that alleviate the symptoms. In cases where medication does not work, surgery may be considered. Lifestyle modifications are an important part of any treatment plan. Upon diagnosis of a degenerative condition such as PD, patients typically experience shock or disbelief. Subsequent emotions may include anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness. Once patients accept the reality of the disease, they can focus on taking control of their situation as much as possible. If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, here are ways to empower yourself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Mental well-being • Learn as much as possible about PD, its management, and educate family and friends. • Be receptive to learning new ways of doing things. Concentrate on what you can rather than cannot do. • Recall past life challenges and how you
overcame them, to remind yourself of your resilience. • Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Learn to live in the moment and enjoy life’s many simple pleasures. • Find role models: celebrities or other people who are living well with PD, from whom you can draw inspiration. Emotional self-care • Allow yourself plenty of time to adjust to your illness and the changes it necessitates. Recognize that your family and friends will also need time to adjust. Let them know how you wish to be treated, and keep the lines of communication open. • Find an outlet for expressing your thoughts and feelings. Consider attending a support group. • Accept that how you feel and what you can do may vary from day to day, and be flexible about plans and expectations. • Stay connected to people who care. If your social network is limited, develop new connections through volunteering, taking an adult education course, or joining a club or group. • Seek help from your family doctor or a counselor if you continually feel sad, angry, or overwhelmed. Depression is highly treatable. Spiritual well-being • Set aside quiet time each day to nurture your spirituality and help keep you grounded. • Do things that provide you with meaning and purpose, such as writing a family history or helping someone. • If applicable, turn to your religious faith for comfort and strength. Because PD is incurable, the goal, from a medical perspective, is to achieve the highest possible level of func-
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tioning and prevent or minimize complications. The following are some strategies that can help. • Find a neurologist whom you respect and trust. • Follow the management plan prescribed by health professionals, which might include medication, diet changes, exercise, rest, adaptive aids, lifestyle changes, stress management techniques, and regular medical check-ups. Let them know right away if the plan is no longer working. • Join an exercise class for people with PD. To locate one in your area, call the American Parkinson Disease Association at 1-800-223-2732 or go online to www.apdaparkinson.org. • Use a cane or walker when recommended, to minimize the risk of falls. If mobility issues prevent you from getting around in the community, rent or buy a scooter or wheelchair. • Set up a record-keeping system to organize your health information. Ready-made products can be found in office supply stores and book-
stores. • Do as much for yourself as possible. Set priorities, simplify tasks, and learn to settle for less than perfection. • Find substitutes for enjoyable activities you can no longer engage in. Just do not overdo it. • Make your home as safe as possible - for example, remove scatter mats and install handrails along stairs. Arrange for an occupational therapist to perform a home assessment, to identify hazards, and to recommend ways to carry out daily activities more easily and safely. If your home’s accessibility is inadequate, renovate or move before a crisis develops. Accept offers of help and ask for assistance as needed. Research services in your community that can help you now or in the future. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in health and senior issues. MSN
Sunday School Kids You never know what kids are going to say! Submitted by Julie Hollar Brantley Moses And The Red Sea - Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. “Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.” “Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?” his Mother asked. “Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!” Unanswered Prayer - The preacher’s 5-year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why. “Well, Honey,” he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. “I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.” “How come He doesn’t answer it?” she asked. MSN
Nature Makes Western Montana Beautiful. Our Staff Makes It Feel Like Home. The spectacular scenery surrounding both of our handcrafted retirement communities in Montana’s Big Sky Country adds something special to every day. And the sincere, caring attitude of each staff member helps all of our residents enjoy life to its fullest. With charming, resort-style settings and great amenities for a carefree retirement, these communities are the perfect places to live.
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 57
Radium for hot springs and bighorns Article & Photo by Jack McNeel The pool at Radium shimmers turquoise below me. Mist rises from the 100-degree water on this crisp October morning as a skiff of snow whitens the hillside behind and golden leaves on poolside trees contrast with dark green conifers. It is a beautiful scene and already some three dozen people are relaxing, soaking up the heat, and enjoying the quiet of this large outdoor pool. Radium Hot Springs, BC, is beautiful at any season and the tourist season here is year around. If you are into downhill or cross country skiing, or snowmobiling, those are all available nearby for winter visitors. For those who prefer warmer activities you might wait for the spring through fall months – although there is something really nice about soaking in hot mineral water while snowflakes drift slowly down around! Radium Hot Springs is within Kootenay National Park, but just barely. Normally a person must purchase a pass to enter Canadian national parks but that requirement is waved when you are just visiting the hot springs. It’s one of three major developed hot springs in the national parks of the region. The hot springs at Banff was the first to be developed followed by Radium. The third, Miette, is less known and located beyond Jasper. The water temperature at Radium Hot Springs is kept between 98 and 104 degrees. The costs
vary depending on age and whether it’s a one-time soak or all-day pass but either way it remains under $10. The senior price is $5.40. The minerals, in order of abundance, are sulfur, calcium, bicarbonate, silica, and magnesium. Many visitors tout the curative powers of mineral hot springs while others just enjoy the heat and peacefulness of relaxing in the waters. First Nations people have enjoyed the hot springs since long before Europeans found their way to the area. The Canadian government acquired the land in 1922 and began development of the springs. The present building and pool were completed in 1951 and have been well maintained. The town of Radium has fewer than a thousand permanent residents, and survives on tourism. Numerous motels line the streets, and their summer flower displays are gorgeous. Two 18-hole golf courses, both owned by the Radium Resort, are located Flagg Ranch Resort is centrally located, between Yellowstone National Park, and here and there are nuGrand Teton National Park, 55 miles north of Jackson, Wyoming. Our mountain merous others in nearby lodge houses an attractive dining room, pub, gift shop and a convenience store with communities. Tourism adjacent gas station. Stay in one of our cozy cabins or at our full-service campground is promoted more on a with full RV hookups, pull-through sites and tent sites. Step out your door to hiking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and a wide range of other fun activities! “Columbia Valley” experience rather than just Radium itself as several communities are just minutes away and all contribute to a visitor’s (307) 543-2861 (800) 443-2311 www.flaggranch.com opportunities and enjoyment.
PAGE 58 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
Spearfish,
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Yes, this is the same Columbia River which flows through Washington to the Pacific Ocean. Its origin is south of Radium and it flows northward past Radium through the Columbia Valley before turning west and then south to enter Washington State in its curious route to the coast. Another major attraction in Radium is the bighorn sheep – scads of bighorn sheep. If you play the golf course in Radium you may have to alter your shots to avoid hitting a sheep. For that matter, take care when driving through town for the same reason. Sheep may be anywhere. I counted roughly 50 on the golf course at one time last fall with at least an...How Time Flies other dozen wandering through town grazing on the shrubs around Spearfish, South Dakota homes. Some of these were adult rams with large, full-curl horns. • LIVE BUFFALO AND LONGHORN Cars stopped to avoid CATTLE sheep standing in the • SMALL-ANIMAL FARM (SUMMER) • BOOK STORE & GIFT SHOP • LIVE COWBOY MUSIC AND POETRY • HISTORICAL PROGRAMS
• COWBOYS, RANCH LIFE, HISTORY OF RODEO • NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND ARTIFACTS • GOLD MINING, FORESTRY AND BENTONITE • AUTHENTIC WAGONS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN OUR ANTIQUE FARM IMPLEMENTS • FURNISHED LOG CABIN AND 200 SEAT THEATRE. RURAL SCHOOLHOUSE www.westernheritagecenter.com
middle of the highway and people were leaned out with cameras and camcorders to record the moment. The sheep provide a rarely seen spectacle around November 1 each year when visitors can watch the jousts between rams during the rut. This “Head Bangers” tour allows visitors to watch as the rams rise on their hind legs and lunge forward to crash head-on with their opponent. This educational tour during the “sex on the rocks” annual occurrence is a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Wildlife viewing, while perhaps not what it was 20 or 30 years ago, is another reason to visit the area. The manager of a motel I stayed in one night told of watching a sow bear and her cub feeding on a fruit tree just a few yards from the back of the motel on several evenings the week before. We also photographed deer on the hillside adjacent to town. Radium is that kind of town. Radium is also just an easy day’s drive north on US Hwy 95 from Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho or north on US Hwy 93 from Eureka, Montana. MSN
Poker Tournaments Are For Everyone Pros And Newbies Alike!
By Eric Madsen So, you want to play in a poker tournament. Well, you are not alone! Tournaments are growing bigger all the time. Before we really get started, let’s define “poker tournament.” Tournaments are poker competitions where all of the players play at the same time and continue to play until only one player is left. The player that is left is the one to take home all the loot! Tournaments Are Hot! Why are tournaments such big events? They are fun to play in, have low entry fees, offer a large prize pool to be won, are an inexpensive way for novice poker players to learn how to play the game, provide a place for more experienced players to gain experience. Types of Tournaments - While there are many different types of poker games played at casinos and online rooms, tournament play is usually reserved for Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7-card Stud because these games have a large following. Poker tournaments can have as few as six players (single table tournaments) to thousands of players for larger events. Large tournaments consist of many tables, each table having 8 to 10 players. The tables are slowly removed from the tourney as players are eliminated, and players are balanced from table to table as needed. (These are known as multi-table tournaments). Finally, all but the last table will be removed and these last 8 to 10 players play until only one of them remains. Tournament Basics - To play in a tournament players have to pay two fees. • They have to pay an entry fee to the poker room hosting the tournament to cover the expenses involved. This gives the player an assigned seat and a set quantity of tournament chips with which to play (these chips have no cash value). • Players also pay a buy-in fee. The buy-in fee is held and paid out as prizes. The prize payout differs from tournament to tournament but typically, it all goes to the few players fortunate enough to make the final table. The object of a tournament is to win all of the chips. All tournament players start out with the same quantity of chips to play with and all start playing at the same time. Players play until they lose all of their chips and are then removed
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from the tournament. A tournament continues nonstop, often for several hours, until only one person remains. As playing progresses the stakes rise, making it more and more difficult for players with short stacks to remain in the game. Players are awarded prize money based on their finishing position in the tournament. The top finishers earn the most money with the 1st place winner usually receiving about 30% of the total prize money, the 2nd place winner about 20% and so on. The number of winners and the size of the payouts depend upon the rules for the tournament being played and the number of people playing. Re-buys and Add-ons - Some poker tournaments allow players a re-buy option. This re-buy option allows players to purchase more chips if they run out of them at the start of the tournament. A player can purchase the same number of chips
that he/she started the tournament with. Some poker tournaments allow unlimited re-buys during the first hour of play, while other tournaments allow only a single re-buy. An add-on option is similar to the re-buy option. Add-ons differ in that they are usually only offered once at the end of the re-buy period and can be purchased regardless of how many chips you have. As the name implies, these chips are added on to your stack of chips. All proceeds from re-buys and add-ons are added to the prize pool less house fees (if applicable). Betting - Tournament betting is structured with the betting limit increasing regularly. The changes in betting limits occur differently depending on the tournament. MSN
North Dakota from A to Z By Gail Jokerst From its vibrant arts community to its four zoos, North Dakota is a state full of welcome surprises and down-home hospitality. If all you’ve seen so far of the Peace Garden State are the pastoral views from a car window while barreling down Interstate 94, you may want to think twice about getting better acquainted with Montana’s eastern neighbor. Here are some of the A-to-Z reasons: U – Ukrainian Cultural Institute (UCI) The gift shop alone is worth a detour to this Dickinson repository of all things Ukrainian. You will find ethnic cookbooks and regional histories as well as festive hand-painted eggs and beautiful imported linens. Call ahead for reservations and you can even eat a Ukrainian dinner here. Locals adore the UCI’s varenyky or cheese buttons, a hearty dish that immigrated to North Dakota with the Germans and Ukrainians who settled here. You may have tasted similar fare called pirogi or pirozhki (or some variation thereof). By whatever name they are known, these boiled half-moonshaped dumplings come stuffed with fillings such as cheese, prunes, sauerkraut, and potatoes and
taste mighty good. 701-483-1486, www.ukrainianculturalinstitute.org. V – Valley City Family-friendly Valley City comes by its nickname, “The City of Bridges,” for a good reason: the town has eight historic bridges, which can be toured on foot or by car. Rail fans will want to see the 1908 High Line Bridge, one of America’s longest and highest single-track railroad bridges on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line. They can also learn more about the region’s railroad and agricultural history at the Rosebud Visitor Center, which does an admirable job of welcoming travelers. The center’s fully restored 1881 rail coach, a home on wheels with all its original furnishings, shows how luxuriously the superintendent of Montana’s Yellowstone Division lived. Medicine Wheel Park with its solar calendar replicas and outstanding birding opportunities (over 320 viewable species) offer additional reasons to spend time in this pleasant gateway town to the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway. 888-288-1891, www.hellovalley.com.
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W – White Pelicans Preserved by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in the midst of prairie pothole country and is a prime destination for one of North America’s largest nesting colonies of white pelicans. It is estimated that between 4,000 and 35,000 breeding pelicans flock here annually. They share the 4,385-acre refuge with eared grebes, cattle and snowy egrets, Virginia and sora rails, plus a host of other feathered critters. For information about the best birding opportunities, stop at the Chase Lake Visitor Center in Medina or at refuge headquarters three miles east of Woodworth. If you plan to visit between April and September, you will need to pick up a free permit at refuge headquarters. 701-752-4218, http://chaselake.fws.gov.
still has fossil-bearing sites dating as far back as 73 million years. If you would like to be better acquainted with the likes of Plesiosaurus, Rhinoceroses, and Mosasaurs, visit Pioneer Trails Regional Museum in Bowman and check out their exhibits. Or if you prefer to experience personally a dino dig, join one of the museum’s daylong or weeklong field tours offered during the summer. Under the supervision of a guide, participants search for and collect specimens and scientific data for the museum while learning about ancient environments. 701-523-3625, www.ptrm.org. Another place to discover more about the earliest inhabitants to wander this land is the Dakota Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson. You will find 14 full-scale dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops as well as Allosaurus and Fleeing Ornithomimus. The museum also features some 800 specimens of fossils and sea life, minerals and mammals. 701-225-3466, www.dakotadino.com.
X – Extinct species Long before North Dakota became home to the old-world immigrants who have settled here, prehistoric creatures roamed this land. The state
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Y – Ya you-betcha If you attend the 32nd annual Norsk Hostfest this year, you are practically guaranteed to hear “Ya you-betcha” more times than you can count. Join the tens of thousands, who arrive in Minot every autumn to celebrate the cooking and crafts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland at North America’s largest Scandinavian festival. Over 200 artisans, crafters, and chefs will be participating in this year’s festival, which will be held from September 29 to October 2 at the All Seasons Arena. Aside from eating your fill of traditional dishes such as Danish aebelskivers, Norwegian lefse, and Swedish meatballs, you can enjoy world-class entertainment and shop for authentic Scandinavian sweaters, jewelry, handcrafts, and fine arts. 701-852-2368, www.hostfest.com. Z – Zoo exhibit The largest of the state’s four zoos, Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo features an impressive new milliondollar Big Cat Complex. This state-of-the-art exhibit with its pools, native trees, and grasses as well as its many viewing opportunities both indoors and outdoors allows visitors to get up close and personal with tigers and snow leopards. You can even crouch along a low-ceilinged tunnel into the heart of the enclosed area and stand up in a safe bubble-glass dome where you will find yourself surrounded by graceful felines. Catch these cats in the right position and you might find yourself going nose-to-nose with them. When you have had your fill of cat gazing, spend the rest of the afternoon seeing the remaining 125 native and exotic species housed here. If you are traveling with children, be sure to hop aboard one of the zoo’s trains for a leisurely tour of the resident birds, reptiles, and mammals. And do not forget to stop at the Bismarck Tribune Discovery Center where kids can milk a giant cow and listen to hissing cockroaches among numerous other fun activities. 701-223-7543, www.dakotazoo.org. MSN
APRIL/MAY 2010
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 61
Getting Away To Enjoy Wine (NAPSI) - Millions of people tour wineries each year, with wine tasting now a popular attraction at destinations around the world. In fact, the state of California welcomed 19.7 million visitors to its wineries in one year alone, according to WineBusiness.com. With wine tourism on the rise, connoisseurs have identified one of the best spots to experience the bouquet and flavors of award-winning wines, in an area that you might not expect: Canada. The Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia is home to a number of acclaimed wineries, producing some of the best wines in the world. A Taste of Elegance - In 2010, wine lovers can experience a unique and exclusive wine tastingthemed vacation with Rocky Mountaineer, known for its acclaimed two-day, all-daylight-rail journeys offering exceptional service, spectacular scenery and a gourmet culinary experience. Visitors to Western Canada can embark on an exclusive eight-day/seven-night journey with the new GoldLeaf Themed Experiences - Wine Tasting tour. Wine enthusiasts travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver into British Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interior region, where they deboard and tour some of the Okanagan Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top wineries. Onboard the train, guests have the opportunity to enjoy
regionally sourced cuisine, expertly paired with local British Columbian wines - all as they enjoy panoramic views and the elegant surroundings of an exclusive GoldLeaf dome coach. After experiencing the best of the wineries in the region, the train continues to Banff, Alberta, in the Rocky Mountains, where guests are treated to a separate but no less stunning region of Western Canada. During the trip, rail travelers have ample
free time to relax, enjoy area shopping, or play a few rounds of golf. Travelers can even take a helicopter tour of the Canadian Rockies. But for many, the getaway is mainly about experiencing an exclusive rail journey while discovering some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest wines straight from the wineries that produce them. For more information, visit www.rockymountaineer.com. MSN
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Highway Safety Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley A good olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boy had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait. A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was. The man replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a flat tire.â&#x20AC;? The passerby asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;But whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with the flowers?â&#x20AC;? The man responded, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither. MSN
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 63
Telling Stories Through Music And Art: Thom Harris By Gail Jokerst to the Stones along with some 100 original tunes When you get to know Thom Harris, you cannot he has written and recorded. help but think of him as a current-day Renaissance Thom learned to play his first instrument, the man. He is equally adept at strumming guitars, ukulele, at age 10 when a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad brought penning lyrics to complement the music he writes, home several of the small four-stringed guitars designing whimsical murals, or illustrating greeting from Hawaii. The two boys lost no time in helping cards. Whether heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wielding a pen, guitar pick, or each other master enough chords to sing a few paintbrush matters not to this catchy tunes. soft-spoken Kalispell man, â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the other kids would who seems to have one misknock on doors come Halsion in life: to share a story loween and say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Trick or and to make it memorable. treatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,â&#x20AC;? laughs Thom. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But Known for his rich barinot us. My buddy and I tone, Thom can effortlessly would sing Good Night Irene rove several octaves into or Five Foot Two for our bass and tenor territory while candy.â&#x20AC;? Not surprisingly, the singing folk, country, or blues duo would also return home tunes. And like the troubacarrying an impressive stash dours of yesteryear, he sees of sweets. music as a means to comFrom the ukulele, Thom municate narratives as well went on to teach himself as political ideals. other instruments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ricky â&#x20AC;&#x153;Troubadours were the Nelson inspired me to play local newspapers of the past. guitar,â&#x20AC;? he remembers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I They started in the 1300s needed a creative outlet and and told their news stothe guitar gave me that.â&#x20AC;? ries with the lute,â&#x20AC;? explains The banjo and harmoniThom, who relies on a 1957 ca followed around the time Martin guitar instead of a lute [Photo coutesy of Thom Harris] Thom became intrigued by for accompaniment. The Kingston Trioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recordFrom the start, he was influenced by folk-genre ings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Something inside me connected with them,â&#x20AC;? legends Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. They he remembers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They brought the rich tradition of are both people he considers modern-day trou- American folk music into the mainstream and were badours, singers who promoted social awareness the ones who launched me. Then I began listening through their music and lyrics. And like these two to Joan Baez and got swept up even more in the musical giants, Thom has never strayed far from folk movement.â&#x20AC;? that path. Considering Thomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s background, his interest Since he began performing professionally in in the arts came naturally accompanied by strong 1959, Thom has played solo engagements and in family support. folk bands on scores of stages from Key West to â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mother and aunt were both illustrators and Korea. During this time, his repertoire has grown to my two grandfathers loved music. One grandfainclude over 200 cover songs ranging from Sinatra ther was born on a cotton plantation in Mississippi
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PAGE 64 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
APRIL/MAY 2010
and taught me the gospel tunes he grew up with,” recalls Thom. “My other grandfather always sang You Are My Sunshine, which is the first tune I learned.” A Vietnam Veteran and former military officer, Thom formed a folk-singing group with other military personnel while serving in Japan during the 1960s. He left the armed forces in 1966 and thanks to the Beatles made the leap soon afterwards into music as his profession. “I gave up my day job forever when Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band came out. Hearing that made me realize I wanted to play music fulltime,” says Thom, who describes himself as going from, “a spit-and-polish officer to a troubadour.” He ended up crisscrossing America for the next 20-plus years and he traveled lightly during his odyssey. With him, he took only a backpack, a guitar, and a desire to share the stories that had touched his own life about the disenfranchised and downtrodden struggling for survival. “I’ve always been happy to play music wherever I am,” says Thom, who feels that folk music is making a comeback. He has also sensed that these mellow tunes fill a niche for lots of people
who have lost their hearing after years of indulging in hard rock. However, Thom readily acknowledges that all of his listeners are not as moved by social causes as he is. And that is okay with him. He can easily adapt his play list to the audience at hand be it at a community festival, cabaret, tavern, or coffee house. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Thom majored in fine arts during his college years with an emphasis on ceramics, printmaking, and painting. Today, he uses those artistic skills to paint murals for homes and businesses, to illustrate his three music CD’s, and to fashion greeting cards and posters. His artwork is vibrant and fun to look at with a lighthearted touch that shines through. “You could say my art borders on the fantastic. I try to mix my imagination into everything I do and I’ve always been interested in using light and color to show my impression of something. Folk music also conveys impressions. Music with lyrics is poetry and the message is as important as the music,” concludes Thom, who comfortably and contentedly wears the mantle of a 21st century troubadour. For more information, contact Thom Harris at 406-756-8188. MSN
APRIL/MAY 2010
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 65
Movie theaters reign as America’s favorite entertainment destination
(NAPSI) - Long gone are the days of heading off to the movie theater just to catch the latest flick. Once upon a time, the movie theater was only a venue to view films and munch on popcorn. Today, as movie theater chains experiment with special programs, a whole host of new alternative content can be seen on the big screen. The movie theater has become the premier entertainment destination where Americans can immerse themselves in the worlds of art, politics, sports and more. Screenvision, the world’s foremost cinema advertising company, is leading the pack in transforming the theatergoing experience. The company provides theaters with a wide array of intriguing programming ranging from operas and live baseball games to documentaries and children’s films. Moviegoers could witness President Obama’s Inaugural Address on the big screen in January 2009 and celebrate the New York Yankees’ 27th World Series win with the Official World Series Film in November 2009. Screenvision also prides itself on bringing the arts to the public, including screening operas from the famous Italian opera house La Scala. Special programming has been expanded by Screenvision to incorporate in-theater gaming in which audience members physically participate in entertaining motion- or audio-based games during the preshow. We might not all have the opportunity to listen to the inaugural address live or root for a team at a World Series game, but the size of a movie theater
screen, the digital surround sound and the excitement of the crowd around you makes it feel like you are actually there, capturing the thrilling essence of the live event. And start your engines, NASCAR fans! Starting in early 2010, Screenvision will present original NASCAR content including racing highlights, top moments, driver profiles, behind-the-scenes vignettes, and fan tributes to over 15,000 screens nationwide. Advances in digital cinema have made these types of alternative programs easy to present and enable the content to be broadcast in the highest definition and crispest sound that only a theater experience can provide. Screenvision will continue to expand its offerings through 2010 and beyond. By acquiring the rights to such diverse programming, Screenvision has transformed the movie theater into a gathering place to enjoy more than just movies. Screenvision’s programs are available at various times and locations throughout the Screenvision cinema advertising network of over 15,500 screens in over 2,400 theaters across all 50 states. Participating theaters include Carmike Cinemas, National Amusements, Rave Motion Pictures, Harkins Theatres, Mann Theatres, Clearview Cinemas, Pacific Theatres, and many more. You can check out your local theater schedule-for more than just movies. For more information on Screenvision, please visit www.screenvision.com. MSN
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Raising the Curtain on the Hamilton Players Hamilton Players started as a dream for a group of enthusiastic actors who had a passion for performing. The Players presented shows wherever they could find a venue until a historic building nestled at the base of the Bitterroot Mountains became available. Through intent and hard work by the entire community, the Hamilton Players found its new home in the former Rocky Mountain Lab building. A host of volunteers pitched in and today we enjoy a first class theater facility. The Hamilton Players has provided live, quality theatre for over thirty years, building a large supportive audience. This relationship has inspired many more community members to take the stage and join the Hamilton Players family. The new vision of the theater extends to creating a Theater School for children ages K-12. This has been a successful endeavor reaching a new generation of performers. This will also mark the inauguration of what they hope to be an annual summer tradition - The Renaissance Faire. Upcoming events include I Hate Hamlet (April 16-18, 23-25); Theater School Spring Production (May 14-15); and The Renaissance Faire (July 31). For the new 2010/2011season, the lineup will include Annie Get Your Gun, You Can’t Take it With You, My Fair Lady, and Shadowlands. For additional information, contact Hamilton Playhouse, 100 Ricketts Road, Hamilton, MT 59840; phone 406-375-9050; email info@hamiltonplayers.com; or visit online at www.hamiltonplayers.com. MSN
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Dying Without a Will - Who gets what? By Jim Miller If you die without a will, what happens to your assets will depend on the state you live in, and which of your family members are living at the time of your death. Here is what you should know. Who Gets What - No one ever really dies without a will. That is because even if you do not get around to creating one yourself, the state you resided in will make one for you. But that also means the state gets to determine who gets your property and money – not you. The state laws that determine how your estate will be distributed if you die without a will are called intestacy laws, and they can vary greatly from state-to-state. The best way to find out how your state works is to go to MyStateWill. com. This free site has an intestacy calculator for every state so you can get an exact breakdown of how your estate would be distributed. In the meantime, here is a breakdown of what can happen to a person’s assets – depending on whom they leave behind. • Married with children: When a married person with children dies without a will, all property, investments, and financial accounts that are jointly held (or community property) automatically go to the surviving spouse, without going through probate, which is the legal process that distributes a deceased person’s assets. But for all other
separately owned property or individual financial accounts, the laws of most states award onethird to one-half to the surviving spouse, while the rest goes to the children. Married with no children or grandchildren: Some states award the entire estate to the surviving spouse, or everything up to a certain amount (for example the first $200,000). But many other states award only one-third to onehalf of the decedent’s separately owned assets to the surviving spouse, with the remainder generally going to the deceased person’s parents, or if the parents are dead, to brothers and sisters. (Note: Jointly owned property, investments, financial accounts, or community property automatically goes to the surviving spouse.) Single with children: All state laws provide that the entire estate goes to the children, in equal shares. If an adult child of the decedent has died, then that child’s children (the decedent’s grandchildren) split their parent’s share. Single with no children: In this situation, most state laws favor the deceased person’s parents. If both parents are deceased, many states divide the property among the brothers and sisters, or if they are not living, their children (your nieces and nephews). If there are none of them, it goes to the next of kin, and if there is no living family, the state takes it. Simple Wills - If you do not like the idea of your state handling your financial affairs after you are gone, you can change that by creating a simple will, and with all the self-help resources available today it is quick, and inexpensive. For example, Web sites like Buildawill.com and Legacywriter.com create a will for you by asking you questions and inserting your answers. The whole process takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish and costs around $20. Or if you need a little extra help, try Legalzoom.com for $69. This site works like the others, but then has a specialist double-check your answers. Or, if you do not find the online resources appealing check out Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker Plus 2010 (Nolo.com, 800-728-3555), which offers a downloadable computer software program for $40, or a CD for $42. Nolo also offers a new online will service for $50. And if you do not have a computer, there is Nolo’s “Quick & Legal Will Book” ($13), which comes with legal forms and step-by-step instructions. 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
APRIL/MAY 2010
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 69
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Financial Potpourri By Gerald Townsend, Senior Wire the year before. If you had “total positive income” Q. Which is a better choice an index fund from $200,000 to $1,000,000, the audit rate inor an actively-managed fund? creased to 2.6% and for those with income above A. What is the best tool a screwdriver or a $1,000,000 the audit rate rises to 5.6%. Threehammer? It depends on what you are trying to fourths of audits were correspondence audits and do. Index funds have low expenses and track only one-fourth were conducted by IRS agents and their benchmark index reasonably well. However, examiners. Keep in mind that it is not just your which index or combination of indexes should you income level, but audits are triggered by certain be tracking and when should you alter this mix? types of income and expenses. For example, oneActively-managed third of the individual return audits were selected funds have higher ex- based on an earned income credit claim. penses, but also provide Q. What is the difference between the Disopportunity to outper- count Rate and the Federal Funds Rate? form the A. When averages, you hear In its most recent annual data book along with about the (for fiscal year 2008), the IRS reported that the posFederal only about 1.0% of individual returns were ausibility of Reserve under(the “Fed”) dited, which is about the same rate as the performchanging year before. If you had “total positive income” ing the interest from $200,000 to $1,000,000, the audit rate averages. rates, it reincreased to 2.6% and for those with income Since the ally means above $1,000,000 the audit rate rises to 5.6%. combined that the perforFederal mance of Open Marall funds represents the ket Committee (FOMC) has set a target Federal average, there will al- Funds Rate. It is a target rate only, because the ways be some funds actual rate is determined by the market. When a that do better and some bank has balances (federal funds) at the Federal that do worse. If you Reserve, it can lend these funds overnight to other are interested in active banks that need the balances. The interest rate management, look for earned by these banks is the Federal Funds Rate. funds that are not “closetInstead of borrowing this money from another “I just w wrote one list; index” funds and seek bank, it could be borrowed directly from a Federal he wen went out and quoted those funds who march Reserve Bank, in which case the borrowing bank the wh whole package.” to the beat of their own would pay the Discount rate, which is usually – ina a Farmers client –T –Tina, drummer otherwise, an higher than the Federal Funds Rate. While the index fund might be the Fed cannot set a specific Federal Funds Rate, it better choice. can establish a specific Discount Rate. Finally, keep in mind Q. I have a large IRA and some of my benthat index vs. active eficiaries are minor children. I am concerned should not be your main about their inheriting too much money at such concern. Instead, the a young age. How can I protect them? major factors that will A. You could leave the minors’ share to a cus® ultimately determine your todian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act investment success are (UTMA), but ultimately the IRA would still pass to having an appropriate a child when they become a legal adult – usually and reasonable asset al- age 21. For more control and flexibility, consider location strategy, adding utilizing a formal trust as the beneficiary of the Ready feels good. Not having to deal with multiple to your portfolio on a reg- IRA with the minors as the beneficiaries of the ular basis, and sticking trust. You will need an estate attorney to draft insurance agents feels even better. And when you to your plan especially properly the trust document in order to maximize combine all your insurance needs with Farmers, we don’t just save you during the tough times. the benefits of continued tax deferral as well as Q. What are the protecting and providing for the beneficiaries. One time. We can also help you save lots of money. Contact us today to find odds that my tax return item to consider: Will there be just one big pot that out how we can help streamline your life. And your budget. will be audited? benefits all the children, or will each child’s share A. In its most recent be kept separate? Call an agent today about insurance for auto, home, business, life, and more. annual data book (for fisGerald A. Townsend, CPA/PFS, CFP, CFA, is cal year 2008), the IRS President of Townsend Asset Management Corp reported that only about (www.assetmgr.com), a registered investment 1.0% of individual returns advisory firm. Submit your question to 5120 were audited, which is Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612 or email ANACONDA KALISPELL about the same rate as Gerald@AssetMgr.com. MSN
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APRIL/MAY 2010
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 71
Personals - continued from page 43 young 80s, considered attractive, and like to watch sports on TV. Reply MSN, Dept. 26412, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. This petite, brown-eyed brunette, Chippewa Cree/Norwegian Montana gal (62) seeks her “cowboy at heart” gentleman (58-70). Perhaps together we could enjoy the beauty of God’s nature, travel some, fish, camp out, garden, do crafts, watch TV, and have quiet times. I do love to cook healthful meals, herbal remedies, the Lord and his wondrous ways (though not at all religious), and more. You could find this adventurous retired country singer/songwriter, floral designer somewhere up here below the Mission Mountains, if you will send a note and photo. I’m hopeful... are you? Reply MSN, Dept. 26413, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I have a very good sense of humor, and I love to have fun. I have a reputation as a dancer. The owner of a large dance hall near Helena asked me and my former fiancé to do a dance as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers. Although I don’t like to brag, I am quite the gentleman on the dance floor. My favorite dance is the jitterbug, but I also waltz, 2-step, 1-step, and polka. I am a college graduate of the University of South Dakota, with a degree in accounting. I worked for the Government Accountability Office. Because of constant travel, I moved to Helena and worked the Montana State Government as an auditor. I would like to meet a woman from Helena or the surrounding area. I have a good idea of what I want in a woman. I want one who is true and doesn’t sleep with other men. Here are some of my main characteristics: social person, gentle, ethical man with strong principles, and a dancer with a love for music. Looks are relatively important. I prefer slender women, as I am slender also. I dislike a liar because I deal only in the truth. I am a light smoker. Religiously I am a very firm believer in the Holy Trinity. But for reasons that are too complicated for this letter, some events in my life have been very cruel to me. Reply MSN, Dept. 26414, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. I am a male in his late 70s, non-smoker, nondrinker, and do not use drugs. I like fishing, traveling, walking, and going out to dinner. I am looking for a lady companion in her late 70s or mid 80s to share these things with me. Reply MSN, Dept. 26415, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, 60, 140 lbs, 5’7”, blue eyes, auburn hair, looking to meet a gentleman around the same age. I like going on drives, and am willing to try new things. Among my other interests are reading, gardening, going out to dinner, and dancing. I am an
honest and compassionate person who has a real passion for animals. I live in the Great Falls area, and would make a good best friend for someone. I do smoke and drink socially. Reply MSN, Dept. 26416, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. Retired, nice looking, amiable, SWM seeking a 60 something, youthful lady who does not use tobacco, trim not slim, willing to relocate a plus, healthy, no drugs, light drinker okay, pleasant looking, outdoor type, non gambler, and friendly to large breeds of dogs for LTR. I am a non-hunter, gambler, drugs, tattoos, body piercing, have all my teeth, good eyesight, and health conscious. I am clean-shaven with blue eyes, salt and pepper hair, 5’8”, 180 lbs, and I seldom take a drink. I live
in the western half of Montana with rental homes and forested land. I love wild salmon, and other ocean fish. I also like swimming, bicycling, exploring, sports, being friendly, tennis, picnics, good movies, and hugs and kisses of course. Reply MSN, Dept 26417, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. WWF, 79 looking for a special male companion in his early 80s. I am an active, attractive, 5’2” medium build woman. I am a non-smoker, but drink socially. My interests are traveling, reading, history, music, dancing, and dining out. I also like to try new experiences. I love to meet people. If you are interested, please write. I am in the Billings area. Reply MSN, Dept 26418, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN
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APRIL/MAY 2010