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It’s All About the Craft for Helena’s Paul Gordon

By Connie Daugherty There is an aviation treasure tucked away inside a blue hangar at the Helena airport. Paul Gordon has spent thousands of hours over nearly three decades preserving aviation history in the form of restored, airworthy antique planes.

“When I finished my first airplane, all of a sudden I was empowered,” he recalls. “Wow, I did that, I can do that!” A quiet, unassuming, but uniquely talented craftsman, Paul literally knows these

planes from the inside out – every bolt, every nut, every weld, as well as the history of the model and the individual story of each specific plane.

“This one was a 1931 American Pilgrim from Alaska,” he says indicating the lightweight metal frame for the fuselage and floorboards. When the rescued plane came to Paul all that was even partially intact was the engine compartment. For 60 years before it came to Paul, the plane sat near the Yukon River where it crashed. He has carefully machined, crafted, and assembled each piece of the fuselage himself.

“There are no plans or blueprints for this plane,” he explains. You have to be a detective to find information and parts for these old planes.

There were only 26 Pilgrims built and Paul has worked on three of them. One is in a museum in Alaska and this one is destined for a museum in Port Townsend, Washington.

Paul does have a maintenance manual for the plane. “It has photographs, but it doesn’t have drawings of parts.” And it is the parts that this plane needs. When he was working

on the first American Pilgrim, he needed special clamps to hold all the woodwork. Paul assumed that he would have to figure out a way to duplicate the original hardware, but much to his surprise, the company from 1931 is still quietly in existence and surprisingly still makes the same clamps.

Reconstruction of an antique plane is more than just the mechanics of putting the pieces together; it is about bringing to life a concept.

“Conceptualization is really, really important,” Paul explains. “You have to have a mental picture of what to do before you ever do it.”

As a youngster, Paul did not know exactly what he wanted to be when he grew up, but he did know that he had been born in the wrong place – Westchester, New York. He also knew he liked to tinker with motorcycles and work with metal.

“As a teenager I was fascinated with welding,” he says and he took his first welding course when he was twenty. Over the next several years, he held a variety of jobs, and many included some aspect of welding.

As soon as he was able, he left New York and headed west. Paul worked on fishing boats off the Oregon coast for several years, and then worked with a geologist in Utah the southwest. But finally, he decided he needed a real trade.

Paul relates, “I spent quite a bit of time in various colleges taking machining, welding, and engineering courses,” (Continued on page 42)

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MTPR Brings You The World I would like to share with readers of the Montana Senior News one of the treasures in my world – Montana Public Radio.

Montana Public Radio is my station in life. It keeps my mind young and my curiosity peaked. It helps me look at the world from a broad perspective and learn about the local viewpoint. Montana is such a big state, and MTPR provides me with a connection to all the corners, Eureka to Ekalaka, Anaconda to Poplar.

I know I can rely on MTPR to bring me both the breadth and depth of news, science, music, literature, and general entertainment. I enjoy and am touched by it every day, throughout the day.

I can count on it, and I like that feeling. Over the years, the station voices have become part of my daily life – familiar, warm, and reliable. They have brought me the voices of friends and family, and now they even bridge the ocean gap when my friends tune their computers to MTPR Live Streaming.

KNOW WHO TO CALL WHEN YOUR BONDS ARE CALLED.

What a joy it has been to share the same news stories or listen to the same music with friends who live around the country and around the world. What a way to stay connected! MTPR is a great resource in this full-size state of ours, and I am proud to be a listener and member!

Margaret Osika Anaconda

Digging Up Roots At The Montana State Genealogical Society D. Joshua Taylor, nationally known genealogical author, lecturer, and researcher, will be the main speaker at the 23rd annual Montana State Genealogical Society (MSGS) conference to be held in Billings, Montana, September 20-22 at the Big Horn Resort. Mr. Taylor was a featured genealogist on NBC’s program Who do you think you are?

Bob Larson of Fort Collins, Colorado, will present “Locating Your Ancestors Underground – Grave Dowsing – Locating Known or Missing Graves.�

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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 Lisa Krebs Rhonda Lee Peter Thornburg Sherrie Smith Nann Parrett

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

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

APRIL/MAY 2012

Mr. Larson is president of the Larimer County Genealogical Society. Other topics and speakers are to be determined.

The conference will be hosted by the Yellowstone Genealogy Forum of Billings, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The workshops are open to the public, although there is a registration fee and charge for meals. Anyone interested in family history is invited to attend. For details and registration, contact blgsmarket@aol. com.

P. J. Smith President Yellowstone Genealogy Forum 406-669-3139 Billings

Ken Miller For Governor The older I get, the more I miss common sense... especially in elected officials.

The populace overwhelmingly votes to support something and our legislators ignore them. The economy is screaming for jobs and their endless analysis results in paralysis and missed opportunities.

Our nation, our state and our economy is starving for leaders who still possess common sense and who are not sold out to special interest groups who prevent them from using it.

In the gubernatorial race, Ken Miller is the candidate with the most common sense.

We can count on him to apply it for the benefit of

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 3

our whole state.

I love the fact that he is knowledgeable and does not have to ask his campaign staff for the best answer. And, I love the fact that you, yes you, can call him on his own personal cell phone and ask him anything!

You can like or dislike him, but you can never say that you don’t know where he stands on the issues. Just call and ask him. Whatever he tells you is exactly what he will do as Governor of Montana.

You can count on it.

Meg Burvainis Billings MSN

The Federal Courts Have Not Been Good For Montana In my last column, I praised the Montana Supreme Court for enforcing our 1912 voter enacted Corrupt Practices Act that ended decades of corporate buying of candidates for public office. Now the United States Supreme Court with unusual speed has issued an order defending corporate contributions.

They want to look at Montana’s right to have a clean and open election.

This spring they also reversed and remanded another Montana Supreme Court decision that corporations had to pay fifty million dollars for the riverbeds upon which hydroelectric dams were built.

To add insult to injury the chief federal judge in Billings, recently dis-

closed that he had misused his office internet to forward to six of his friends a despicable attack on the integrity of the president’s mother. It has started a Congressional move to bring him to account for such conduct and whether he should be disciplined or even continue to be a federal judge. His slander was so outrageous that I cannot put in print his idea of a decent sense of humor.

Out of all the fifty states, why does Montana deserve such attention in our decision to make corporations accountable and keep our state elections fair and open?

PAGE 4 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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We are experiencing an alarming federal expansion of corporate rights overriding our essential states rights guaranteed by the 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That amendment was so important that some states would not join the union unless they had this written protection against a federal takeover of state governments.

Suddenly this new activist court expands the fiction that corporations are actually people and they can ruthlessly saturate the media with millions of dollars of false or misleading ads that are disrupting elections nationwide.

With lifetime appointments, federal judges cannot be voted out of office. However, these

run-of-the-mill politicians are different. We must let them know that we will not elect those who support this betrayal of an oath to give us our sacred constitutional protections.

Congress now has an approval rating of 9%.

Our country cannot survive without the thoughtful participation and consent of the governed. This year we are looking at the most important election year in our lifetime. Do your homework by studying the issues so that you are immune from the pervasive distortions of negative advertising.

Ask questions of the candidates. And cast a vote based on knowledge. Only then will we be able to preserve our democracy. MSN

For the Love of Beer! From humble beginnings to Helena’s Favorite Micro-Brew

By Kim Thielman-Ibes “If I could go back and picture Brian and myself in my basement, either brewing, washing or filling bottles, then have someone stop and ask us if we were going to build a brewery, I would say, ‘Heck No,’” says Brad Simshaw, partner in Blackfoot River Brewing Company – Helena’s first handcrafted brewing company. “No one ever wakes up and says, let’s start a brewery,” adds Simshaw.

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The gradual process, from home brewer to handcrafted artisan, normally evolves over at least three stages notes Simshaw, and Blackfoot River Brewing was no exception.

“The first stage,” he confides, “is I can make beer cheaper than I can buy it.”

The second and third stages progress in a meandering pattern depending on the passion of the home brewer and go from, “Yes! I can make good beer” to “I think others out there would have this same passion over what we’ve brewed.”

Once Simshaw and Smith hit their third stage, a little over three years after they began their weekly, basement brewing projects, they teamed up with Greg Wermers to open Blackfoot River Brewing along Helena’s historic Placer Street.

From their humble beginnings in 1993 as home brewers, they have built a successful craft brewery that now boasts a brand new brewing and tasting room facility located just across the street from their original storefront. The threesome began brewing beer commercially in 1998 and six months later, in early 1999, they rolled out their first keg of Blackfoot River beer.

“We convinced ourselves we could eventually quit our state day jobs and go into this full time,” recalls Simshaw. True enough, four years after the first keg was produced all three were working at the brewery in a full time capacity.

“It didn’t mean we were getting paid a lot in those early days,” says a smiling Simshaw. Over-

APRIL/MAY 2012

time, he and his fellow proprietors learned that the hard work, long hours, and dedication to making the finest craft beer possible was indeed the foundational block to their current success. Simshaw gives credit to his fatherin-law, Rolly White. He taught Simshaw hard work by example, “All the good business sense I learned from Rolly,� says Simshaw. “All my bad business sense is my own doing.�

The three have strong ties within the Helena community and many of their most stalwart customers are those that began tasting their concoctions during their early From eft to right: Brian Smith, Brad Simshaw, and Gregg days of experimenting Wermers. [Photo by Kim Thielman-Ibes] and brewing in Simshaw’s basement. “We would have people coming to our basement door and asking if we were brewing,� remembers Simshaw. Smith and Simshaw would reply, “It’s Thursday isn’t it.�

People would gather, fill up their glasses with the flavor of the week, and listen to Smith regale them with stories about beer from its place in history to a brew maker’s vision in utilizing the various and mysterious ingredients to make the perfect beer.

They chose the name Blackfoot River Brewing to reflect their Montana roots and all of their brews are simply called Blackfoot River beer, distinguished solely by the style such as their single malt IPA, Amber Ale, and IPA India Pale Ale. “One of our philosophy’s is that it’s our beer that defines us, not any gimmick or name and we hope that if people know our brewery they’ll be more willing to try something new from anyone of our line of taps,� explains Simshaw.

A visitor to Blackfoot River Brewing’s tasting room will have a choice of up to ten different styles of craft beer to choose from on any given

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 5

day. The brewery crafts its beer in small batches around 13 barrels each and brews up to 5 times each week. In the first two months of 2012, they crafted 16 different styles of beer for their customers to taste. In 2011, they brewed just under 3,300 barrels of beer, quite a change from the 150 barrels they brewed in their first year of business. Yet they remain a hands-on operation, no push of a button here. “We practically see every drop of beer that we make,� says Simshaw.

The brewery starts with grains and hops purchased from a Great Falls malting facility that insures them they are getting 100% Montana grain.

“It starts in a field about 100-miles from here up around the Fairfield Bench – it’s some of the best malting barley in the world,� notes Simshaw with more than a hint of pride. The grains are handfed into their mill where they watch it mash and boil, then add the hops – the amount added changes the flavor profile to bring out different aromas and degrees of bitterness, then off it goes to the fermenter and finally their conditioning tanks.

A third ingredient, yeast, is added, which also

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APRIL/MAY 2012

affects the beer’s flavor profile and intensity given the many different types of yeast available.

“Our brewery sticks to the true style of beer, not too much adjunct flavoring like fruit,” adds Simshaw. However, they still enjoy experimenting with unique flavor profiles, adding molasses to their winter seasonal beer or crafting special beers for community fundraisers.

Each Monday evening the brewery celebrates its commitment to the community with Community Night. Local organizations set up informational tables in Blackfoot River’s comfortable taproom to talk directly with customers. Blackfoot River

Brewery donates a dollar for each pint sold during the event to the club. The taproom is set up to bring their community closer together every day of the week, 6-foot family-style tables encourage the formation of new friendships and have even resulted in a marriage or two.

You will find Blackfoot River Brewing’s tasting room on 66 South Park Avenue in Helena. Stop in for a pint or two and before long, everyone is sure to know your name.

Visit www.blackfootriverbrewing.com for more information. MSN

The Archie Bray Foundation one of Montana’s Cultural Gems Article & Photo By Kim Thielman-Ibes Each spring, as the snow begins to melt and tiny crocus blossoms peek out of the moist soil, I pack my camera, my curiosity, and my sense of wonder and point my car toward Ten Mile Creek just west of Helena’s historic city center. Here, I find random buildings sprinkled throughout a mildly industrial landscape where old blends with new. In front of my parking space, a small sign verifies that I have navigated to one of my most favorite spring destinations, the Archie Bray Foundation for the ceramic arts.

No matter how many years I have made this pilgrimage, or the enthusiasm with which I set out, ghts me and e ceeds the Archie Bray always delights exceeds my expectations. This year, I can’t decide what

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I look forward to the most, walking through the historic beehive kilns, meandering among the various outside ceramic-sculpture gardens, or looking at the current resident ceramic artists’ creations of the past year. In the end, I have set aside the afternoon and I am sure not to leave until I have rediscovered it all.

At one time, over 90% of the brick used in buildings throughout Montana came from the Archie Bray Foundation’s kilns. During the late 1800s demand for brick skyrocketed creating a business opportunity for local brewer Nicholas Kessler, founder of the Kessler Brick and Tile Works. after Kessler hired young Charles Bray, a Soon after, master brick maker who learned his craft in his native England.

Bray ended up buying the clay business in the 1920s. By then it was known as the Western Clay Manufacturing Company, the largest manufacturer of clay products in Montana. Bray clay built most of Montana’s university campuses, state hospitals, and historic mansions.

Today the Archie Bray Foundation is known more for its contributions to the craft of ceramics, but it was not until Charles Bray’s death in 1931 and the rise of his artistic-minded son, Archie, to the ranks of management that this transforma-

APRIL/MAY 2012

tion began to take place. Archie learned how to mold and burn brick at the factory and augmented these skills with a degree from Ohio State University, home of one of the most prestigious ceramic engineering schools in the nation.

The transformation from brick company to ceramic powerhouse evolved from Archie’s innate love of art, his bullheaded tenacity to create a place that could mass-produce ceramics, and his determination to provide a place for ceramists to work. Throughout his journey, he was greatly supported by a group of talented Montana-born artisans he had collected as friends – including Townsend natives and brothers Peter and Hank Meloy, a successful judge and painter respectively. During the 1950s, this 26-acre industrial site became a beehive of artisan activity as potters descended upon the facility to use the kilns, experiment, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow ceramic enthusiasts.

Ironically, it was Archie Bray’s son, Archie Jr., a Bray like his grandfather who lacked an interest in art, ceramics, and his father’s foundation, that turned Archie Bray’s vision into a reality after senior’s untimely death in 1953.

Today the Archie Bray Foundation is a center for not only those who love to make ceramics, but it is also a haven for the casual art enthusiast. There is so much to explore throughout its grounds that the foundation has put together a walking tour map to help orient visitors. The map guides visitors through the center’s various pottery buildings and its many exterior sculpture gardens including the Potter’s Shrine. This 25-foot diameter circular sculpture with 8-foot walls and an 11-foot center totem, was built by Canadian-born ceramic sculptor Robert Harrison to celebrate both Archie Bray’s brick-building past and its ongoing contributions to this ancient art.

My favorite outdoor sculpture is the Aruina, another Harrison creation that resides alone on the edge of the foundation’s buildings. Its five decidedly Romanesque-columns frame the east-

ern foothills below the continental divide. With its playful colors and shape, the unfinished work looks decidedly out of context with its landscape, though certainly right at home at the Archie Bray.

The center’s original buildings, many now abandoned, still stand and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among them is the original, 100-year-old, brick factory that will soon be transformed into an art center. The original round, brick beehive kilns are some of the only standing structures of their kind in the country. They were originally fired with coal and you can readily see the burned, black marks that striate the interior walls.

Yet another highlight at the Archie Bray is its ceramic residency program, the first of its kind in the United States. Today, ceramic artists apply from around the world for one of its coveted positions. Their work is a must-see and ranges from the humorous to the bizarre, the downright perplexing to the most utilitarian and charming.

It is displayed and for sale in the pottery building.

Should you find yourself inspired, sign up for one of their community ceramic classes for people of all ages from beginner to advanced.

The Archie Bray remains true to its roots, still manufacturing and selling clay. Whatever time of year suits you, be sure to add a visit to this Montana cultural icon to your list. For more information on the Archie Bray Foundation, which is open year round, seven days a week, visit www. archiebray.org or call 406-443-3502. MSN HELENA AREA TRANSIT SERVICE M–F Except Holidays

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The Richest Hill on Earth: a novel by Richard S. Wheeler; Tom Doherty Associates, 2011 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty Butte has been known as the “richest hill on earth� since the 1800s and almost as many stories as minerals have come off that hill. Richard Wheeler is known as one of “the greatest western writers around today.� The combination of Butte’s colorful history and Wheeler’s talent for storytelling is a guaranteed success. Wheeler is as well known for his Skye’s West series of genre westerns as he is for his historic novels and the ability to write both styles speaks to his ability and dedication as a researcher as well as a talented writer. As he did in Aftershocks, and many of his other novels, Wheeler takes an event in history and tells the history from the perspective of the often over-looked participants – the common person and woman.

The war of the Copper Kings is as much a part of Montana history as it is of Butte history, but there is so much more to the story than what was going on between William Clark, Marcus Daly, and Fritz Augustus Heinze. The real story of Butte was happening in the mines and the bars, the homes and the small businesses that grew up around the mining camp. Richard Wheeler is a master at telling the story with an insight that brings the reader into the time and space of the historic event.

Wheeler allows the Copper Kings their space at center stage in The Richest Hill on Earth; he shows how their self-centered battles affect the ordinary people struggling to survive in the mining city. So we not only meet Clark, Daly, and Heinze, but also John Fellowes Hall, the newspaperman, Big Johnny, the union boss, Red Alice, the stubborn widow of an Irish miner, Slanting Agnes, the fortune teller, and Royal Maxwell, the mortician. These are the character and the color of Butte’s history. And simply because they live and work in Butte, their lives are, of necessity or by choice, intertwined with those of the Copper Kings. “Butte was the place to get rich. It wasn’t money‌ It was reputation.

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end.â€? The rich and the poor alike were all striving for that sense of reputation, an acknowledgement of their worthiness in this world. Some, like the newspaperman, John Fellowes Hall thought he had figured out a way to get the reputation he wanted; he just did not understand the price. “William Andrews Clark‌ owner of many‌ mines and reduction works‌ street railway‌ a bank, surrounding forests, thousands of mortal souls, and about to be the owner of John Fellowes Hall.â€? When Hall moved to Butte to become the editor of the Mineral, Clark’s newspaper, he sold himself to Clark. His reporting and his editorials sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally helped Clark achieve his long time dream of becoming a U. S. senator. For Clark, “other human beings were there to be exploited, most for their muscle, but Hall for his brain.â€?

Clark was not the only one in Butte who exploited his fellow man. For Royal Maxwell‌ Butte was a mortician’s paradise.â€? Men were regularly dying of disease or injury. And Maxwell saw each death as an opportunity. If the widow could not pay, someone else would. Maxwell knew the game; the union would always come through. For the lowliest of miners Big Johnny Boyle would pass the hat, collect what few coins he could, which was enough to provide at least a simple pine box. “There was another place to visit‌ Marcus Daly was usually available.â€? If things went just right, Maxwell could collect from the union and from Daly for one funeral. Unlike Clark, Daly was at least approachable.

Clark’s thoughts were about himself, Daly’s about his company. “Daly was a man to go after coalitions that would do what the company needed‌ it was all for the company‌ all those men he was responsible for‌ the men whose pay envelopes put food on their tables and sheltered their families.â€? But Daly had his own dreams as well. He was determined that his shining new city of Anaconda would become the state capital. For years, he worked toward that goal with as much determination as Clark worked toward becoming a senator.

Meanwhile Alice Brophy buried her husband and refused the marriage Big Johnny arranged for her. A fatal mistake, maybe. Big Johnny was used to getting his own way. “There was a killing to be made‌ if he controlled who went down the shafts, he had something to sell.â€? Big Johnny’s product was not only the miners but also their votes. “He owned a thousand votes‌ and a word from him would influence several other brotherhoods‌ maybe

APRIL/MAY 2012

three thousand votes.” Big Johnny represented labor to the miners and to the bosses and he basked in his power plotting ways to manipulate the battle between Clark and Daly to his favor. “Big Johnny and the mine management were tight as could be, so this local alone… was actually silent about all the red-hot issues burning through the miners of the West.”

And the battle of the Copper Kings was about to take on a new dimension. “The snazzy young man stepping off the railroad coach… intended to stay.” He also intended to make himself and his family very wealthy. He was no stranger to Butte or to the Butte mines. In fact, he had worked the mines as a mining engineer, “mapping copper and silver veins indelibly in his mind. He had an uncanny grasp of what lay under the surface of Butte.” He had left, but now Fritz Augustus Heinze was back, “well schooled to begin his adventure.” And that adventure meant taking on both Daly and Clark.

Slanting Agnes predicts an unexpected outcome, with “this man she had seen earlier, in one of those sudden, shocking transports into another time,” at the center of it all. He has a plan, he is clever, he is educated, and he is determined.

Marcus Daly just wants to “protect his Irish associates and workers and their families and to protect Butte.” William Clark “intended to become a

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 9

United States senator, and nothing on earth could stop him. If it came to buying votes again, as he had in 1888, he would do it.” And Heinze “was determined to gouge out whatever he could…

Adversity simply got his juices flowing.”

As the battle of the would be kings rages, Royal Maxwell struggles to maintain control of the funeral business Alice Brophy promotes socialism and earns her nickname, Red Alice, even if she doesn’t earn enough money to feed her children.

She takes on Big Johnny who discovers that he can push his weight around just so far. And J. Fellowes Hall remains in the middle of it all as he embraces sensational journalism as a way to keep the Mineral, himself, and the story alive.

Richest Hill on Earth is a must read. The facts are well researched, and the fiction is exquisitely delivered. Once again, Richard Wheeler has brought a sense of humanity to history.

Richard Wheeler, one of Montana’s most prolific and well known authors, lives and writes in Livingston. He holds six Spur Awards, and the Owen Wister Award for lifetime contributions to the literature of the West. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2012

The ABCs of Arthritis

By Susan Frances Bonner RN, BSN, author of Opening a Registered Nurse’s Eyes: A life Altering Journey Across North America The topic of arthritis is near and dear to my heart because both my husband and my stepdaughter have ankylosing spondylitis, one of several chronic diseases where joint pain is primary.

Although it is not truly an arthritic disease, it is an autoimmune disease, which brings us to the “A” of arthritis.

Arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease, which is where the body tissues are attacked by body’s own immune system. The immune system is designed to defend the body against invaders of the body, including infectious agents.

With autoimmune diseases, patients have antibodies circulating in their blood that target their own tissues.

Today, there is no cure for the numerous autoimmune diseases, and people can have more than one autoimmune disease at a time. Since most of these chronic illnesses are not immediately lifethreatening, treatment can be tricky and is primarily focused on helping the person with the disease live as active and pain free life as possible.

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint, typically accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, that results from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes.

It can occur in different forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. I know that everyone reading this article knows at least one person with arthritis or has one form of it himself or herself. This is not a new human condition. It is just that we are now finding out more about it and how best to treat it.

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Indeed arthritis is a very old disease. Osteoarthritis has been discovered in dinosaurs, and the first evidence of arthritis in humans dates to 4,500 BC. Arthritis appears to be the most common ailment of prehistoric peoples and has been observed in skeletal remains of Native Americans found in Tennessee and Kansas. Evidence of arthritis has been found across the millennia, from the Ötzi mummy (circa 3,000 BC) found in the modern Italy/ Austria area, to Egyptian mummies circa 2,590 BC. So, if you or loved one has been diagnosed with arthritis, what should you do? The “B” of arthritis has to do with basic life changes to alleviate pain and keep you as mobile as possible because mobility is a very important therapy.

But if you are in pain, you will not want to move. There are many medicines that treat the pain and inflammation of arthritis, for example aspirin, ibuprofen, glucosamine and chondroitin, Celebrex, and steroid medications. This is a short list and any medications should be discussed with your provider, even over-the-counter meds.

Unfortunately, taking medications is one change that must be made to help combat this disease.

Losing weight and exercising are necessary life changes that will help keep your muscles and joints supple and strong. Less weight on joints and muscles will help alleviate pain. Light exercise is recommended because heavy exercise will put strain on joints and muscles and increase inflammation and pain. Remember that exercise is to keep you moving, so stretching, walking, and swimming are all excellent ways to maintain mobility.

The “C” of Arthritis has to do with the cure; however, there is no known cure for this chronic illness despite old wives’ tales promising relief.

APRIL/MAY 2012

Such mythical remedies include eating rum-soaked raisins, eggplant, and other nightshade vegetables and following the grapefruit diet, for example.

There is no scientific evidence that anything can cure arthritis.

The best way to combat this complicated dis- with this complicated chronic disease. ease is with knowledge from your physician, from Susan Frances Bonner RN, BSN is the author the library, and from reliable sites on the Internet. of Opening A Registered Nurses Eyes; A life AlterBy making lifestyle changes and using appropriate ing Journey Across North America. MSN medications, you can live a long and rewarding life

What are your Healthcare Wishes?

Are your healthcare wishes known to those you love? Having a conversation with your family, loved ones, physicians, and healthcare providers about your healthcare choices promotes understanding about what is most important to you and defines how you want to live the rest of our life. A conversation like this is a gift of assurance to your loved ones when they have to make healthcare decisions for you if you cannot.

At St. Patrick Hospital, Advanced Care Planning (ACP) is an organized approach to healthcare decision-making. ACP initiates discussion, reflection, and understanding about a person’s current state of health with respect to their goals, values, and preferences for future treatment decisions.

Our ACP facilitators can help you create

your own Advance Care Plan. They will walk you through how to create your plan, which will allow you to indicate your preference for future healthcare decisions if you are unable to make and voice your own wishes. This written legal plan is an Advance Directive, which names your durable power of attorney for healthcare and defines your treatments for your living will.

Do you need Advance Care Planning assistance? Everyone over the age of 18 should have a plan about healthcare choices for future healthcare conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider or contact St. Patrick Hospital Advance Care Planning for assistance at 406-329-5714, or mtsphacp@ saintpatrick.org. MSN

Staying In Shape

By Clare Hafferman I had always thought that I got enough exercise from gardening and doing yard work and ordinary household chores... until I got a call from a representative of our health insurance company. She said that to stay healthy and out of hospitals and nursing homes, our insurance was promoting a diet and exercise program, which would be followed by “telephone coaching” if there were something in either program that I questioned.

Ironically, the last two injuries I suffered and for which this company helped pay had occurred when I was working outside, so I told her that since I could still bend over and touch my toes, that should be good for now.

I did allow her to send me the exercise deal.

What I got was a pedometer that I cannot figure out... and no coach has called so far.

Then I began thinking about health and fitness centers. I had been to the largest facility in our area for water therapy, but a check in the yellow pages revealed a total of seven such businesses, plus six others in nearby towns. There are also biking,

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hiking, walking and dog trails inside and outside of town, two ice-skating rinks, and a frozen pond. If the average citizen wanted to “work up a sweat,” there were plenty of places to start.

I called the simplest one I knew, the Senior Center, since two of my friends had gone there.

The manager told me they hold exercise sessions, three times a week, upstairs on a wooden floor, where up to 20 to 30 people stretch, bend, and pay an inexpensive fee of $1 per session.

My second call went to the facility where I had gone to swim. It has a pool, exercise equipment, physical therapy, special classes, different kinds of exercises, plus lectures on health and fitness, and senior rates for those over 65.

If you want to try what they offer, you can pay $9 for the day and avail yourself of everything. Bargain day occurs the first Wednesday of any month, where $1 covers the tab. Then you can choose the programs you desire.

One of these is a “Journey to Wellness” that requires a prescription from your physician who has advised you to get more exercise. The program

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I checked in next at Curves, which has an exercise program for women. The machines here deliver upper body, lower body, and cardio-vascular exercise and the circuit to achieve this can be done in 30 minutes. The manager, Patty Quiram, explained the function of each machine and noted that the square pads that each woman stepped on

APRIL/MAY 2012

several times are called recovery boards, which help keep the heart rate sustained, so there is no slow down between exercises.

Patty has one local client who is 93 and exercises with three of her friends. On the younger side, some parents have brought in their 10-year-olds to introduce them to exercise at a young age.

Some health insurance companies will pay for memberships, so be sure to check.

One exercise emporium is located outside of town, and has the extra attraction of a walking or running track. It also holds a cardio-vascular room with specific moves to get your system circulating.

It provides aqua aerobics in a physical therapy pool, a women’s exercise room, the main weight room, and unlimited aerobic classes for everyone.

A first-timer is given a free fitness exam by a professional trainer who will set up a program for that person and a monthly check-back to see how they are doing. The initiation fee is $40 and then $33 per month... about $1/day.

I then discovered that if you wanted to breathe faster and get thinner to music, the local paper printed a long column in the Entertainment section, guaranteed to turn you into Fred and Ginger as a

couple or a whirling dervish if you tried it alone.

Costs varied from free line dancing to $15 for a couple to learn Salsa. Skip the tomatoes and bring on those hot peppers!

This exercise expedition ended at the Silver Sneakers location in a building by the downtown post office. This program is led by Instructor Nancy Mehring, who is CPR certified with 27-years of teaching experience. She advised checking the 800 number on the back of your health insurance card to see if it will pay for Silver Sneakers, which can be used in any U.S. City where the program exists.

Two classes are taught in this regime. The first uses small, soft balls, weights, and rubber bands to do slow, gentle exercises to help improve strength. The second is a cardio-circuit that uses the same equipment but with more cardio-vascular emphasis. People who have had a stroke or are on oxygen or in a wheel chair can benefit from this routine.

These examples are from the Kalispell area, so check in your town for the best way to get a stronger heartbeat going. You already know how to touch your toes, don’t you? MSN

Why does Breast Cancer Spread?

Breast cancer can spread to any part of your body through the blood and lymphatic system.

By Alex White Breast cancer can spread to any part of your body through the blood and lymphatic system. The metastasis of breast cancer cells is what makes the disease very dangerous. Metastasis means the cancer cells have traveled from the place of origin, i.e. the breast, to other parts of the body.

When the cancer cells travel from the breast to the underarm lymph nodes, it is still considered

an early stage of breast cancer and it has a high potential to be completely cured. With surgery and treatment there is a very high chance that all the disease can be completely eradicated from the body.

When the cancer cells travel beyond the lymph nodes to other distant parts of the body, the patient is said to have distant metastasis. The bones, lungs, and liver are the most commonly affected places in the body to which breast Cancer cells spread. Though treatment is available for breast

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 13

cancer and for metastatic breast cancer, once the cancer has traveled beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodules, it can no longer be totally cured.

Scientists have discovered a molecule that could be the main reason behind the spreading of breast cancer cells to different parts of the body.

The molecule known as Brk is found in almost 60% of breast cancers and they accelerate the growth of the tumor cells, encouraging metastasis to other parts of the body.

The study was conducted on breast cancer patients who had extremely poor responses to the treatments. The Brk molecule was found in very high concentrations in these patients, which means that not only does it cause the cancer to grow more aggressively; it also encourages its rapid spread to other parts of the body.

Another crucial finding of the study was that tumor cells died when the Brk molecule was inhibited, but the cancer cells re-emerged when the molecule was introduced again. This points to a significant level of involvement that the Brk molecule has in encouraging the breast cancer cells to survive, grow, and spread. Scientists are currently studying how exactly the Brk molecule promotes the growth of breast cancer cells so that they can develop ways to prevent that from happening. The findings are quote encouraging and shed new light on the age-old battle against cancer. MSN

Komen Race For The Cure Promotes Survival!

On May 19, thousands of Montanans will gather at the State Capitol in Helena, for the 18th Montana Komen Race for the Cure. Breast cancer survivors, families, friends, men, women, and children all come to walk, run, remember, and honor.

Every donation to the Race makes an impact in Montana. Last year alone, Komen Montana funded eight community grants totaling $182,000 for breast cancer screening, education, and follow-up care. Since 1995, almost $1.2 million in community grants have been awarded across the State.

Of the dollars donated to Komen Montana, 75 percent remains in Montana and 25 percent funds national breast cancer research – research that has helped fund all major breast cancer advances in the biology, early detection, prevention, treatment, or the study of the causes of breast cancer.

Our mission is too important to be overshadowed by recent controversies.

Any loss in fundraising hurts underserved women and their families across the state who do not have the privilege of early detection for a disease that can have an almost 100% survival rate if found early.

No other breast cancer organization does as much to find cures for breast cancer, and to help women who face this disease. Our commitment to these women and this cause will never waver.

For more information visit www.komenmontana.org. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2012

Does background noise make it hard for you to keep in the conversation?

Inspiring Stories and Honest Advice for Overcoming Hearing Loss

By Melissa K. Rodriguez, BC-HIS One in six Americans suffers from hearing Do you feel like everybody else mumbles? loss, but who is listening to their cries for help?

New book explores how hearing loss affects the Tired of not being able to understand the quality of life and how to help your loved ones face a new, silent reality. person on the other end of the phone?

Sarayi was born without ears, but now she hears the birds and her motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice. Donna :KHQ ZDV WKH ODVW WLPH \RX KDG is a nurse who chooses to hear every heartbeat clearly. Margaret was reunited with the love of \RXU KHDULQJ H[DPLQHG" her life when her husband decided to seek help.

Joseph, a former boxer, hears the bell ring at his Doctor of Audiology Heather Powers beloved matches once again. performs complete diagnostic These are just a sampling of the real-life stoaudiological evaluations and ries of people profiled in Hear Your Life: Inspiring specialized treatment for: Stories and Honest Advice for Overcoming Hearing Loss, by Melissa Rodriguez, Board Certified in Â&#x2021;Hearing Aids Â&#x2021;Vertigo Hearing Instrument Sciences. Rodriguez, hearing Â&#x2021;Tinnitus Â&#x2021;Dizziness aid expert and hearing loss advocate, regularly witnesses how hearing loss negatively affects people of all ages. As a result, she has made it 'RQ¡W PLVV DQRWKHU ZRUG her lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work to bring awareness to hearing loss, &DOO IRU DQ DSSRLQWPHQW advocating for those who may be too scared to +HDWKHU admit they need help.

3RZHUV $X ' â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preconceived ideas about hearing loss are primarily negative,â&#x20AC;? Rodriguez says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No (406) 444-2135 %URDGZD\ Â&#x2021; +HOHQD Â&#x2021; VWSHWHV RUJ one wants to admit to hearing loss. They think it means theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stupid.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; My mission is to show people that hearing loss can happen to anyone and that getting help doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make them weak.â&#x20AC;?

Hear Your Life is written to reveal the serious effects of hearing loss by reading the acYour health â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our commitment to you, from day one. counts of real sufferers.

Rodriguez profiles more than a dozen patients sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked with to Gardener design and fit their hearHealth nut ing aids, ranging from young children to cenVegettarian tenarians! The resource guide included in the back provides useful information to all readers; like measuring the decibels of common noises, interesting facts about the ear, and a hearing self-exam. Finally, the When it comes to heart health, Community list of FAQs provides answers for hearing loss gives me more than an ounce of prevention. sufferers and their loved The Montana Heart Center at Community has always believed when it comes to heart health, defense is the best offense. ones; like how to help But for the times it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to provide all aspects of cardiac care. It takes only seconds for a heart attack a parent or loved one or stroke to occur, but it takes years of experience to be able to offer best-in-class cardiac care. From nuclear imaging seek help; how expento personalized cardiac rehabilitation programs. sive hearing aids are; If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cardiac care, of course itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community. Visit communitymed.org/cardiology and how frequently one communitymed.org/cardiology should test oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearCommunity Medical Center is an independent, local, non-proďŹ t hospital. ing.

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APRIL/MAY 2012

In an informative and inspiring read, Hear Your Life explores: • Why hearing loss is the least talked about, most severely under diagnosed, and most often untreated medical problem.

• The societal stigma of hearing loss and how to encourage loved ones to get the medical attention they need.

• Why hearing loss can cause isolation, financial hardships, negativism, missed opportunities, and broken relationships.

• Tips for supporting family members and loved ones who suffer from hearing loss.

• Real-life stories of success over hearing loss with the help of hearing aids and support from loved ones.

Melissa Kay Rodriguez grew up around the hearing aid business. Shortly after high school, she obtained her license to fit hearing aids and obtained her National Board Certification in 1995.

She is currently the owner of Hear On Earth Hearing Care Center in El Paso, Texas and an active volunteer with the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Rodriguez sat on the board of the Texas Hearing Aid Association and served a six-year term on the Texas Governing Board, regulating the fitting and dispensing of hearing aids. She has made multiple humanitarian trips to fit hearing aids in Juarez and Mexico City, Mexico; Peru; as well as many other locations. She is currently a member of the International Hearing Society, the Texas Hearing Aid Association, and eWomenNetwork.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 15

Rodriguez is an avid ballroom dancer who directs stage productions semiannually at her husband’s dance studio. She currently lives in El Paso, TX with her husband Mando their two rescue dogs, who frequent her hearing center to mingle with the patients.

Hear Your Life: Inspiring Stories and Advice for Overcoming Hearing Loss (May 2012) will be available on Amazon.com, bookstores across the country, and www.HearWithMelissa.com. MSN

Get the best value for your hearing aid dollar Save time and money… buy hearing aids the right way

By Jay Richwine Hearing Connection, Miles City Hearing aids cost good hard-earned dollars and everybody wants value. You have probably heard stories from friends who spent bundles of cash for hearing aids that did not work. You have likely studied your options and compared prices until you were blue in the face. Keep reading to learn how to save thousands of dollars on your hearing aids, identify the best technology to match your lifestyle, and determine what you might pay for a set.

You have probably seen the ads in your mailbox promoting ultra low-cost hearing aids that say things like, “Don’t spend thousands of dollars for hearing aids. Experience crystal-clear sound with our personal listening devices. Only $299!”

Similarly, online hearing aid companies suggest you “cut out the middleman” and buy premium hearing aids at a fraction of the cost.

These offers are enticing, especially when a fixed income only goes so far. But as they say, “If something seems too good to be true…” well, you know.

I believe you get what you pay for. Inexpensive hearing aid alternatives utilize obsolete technology. Using one-size-fits-all amplifiers to treat hearing loss is like polishing brass on the Titanic. They perform poorly in most real world situations. People who purchase questionable mail order devices will eventually replace them with properly fitted hearing instruments from a local audiologist or hearing aid specialist.

Even though an online purchase may seem cheaper, the question to ask yourself is, “Should I bundle my services with the cost of my hearing

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aids?â&#x20AC;? Programming, follow-up care, cleanings, repairs, and other vital services associated with hearing aids are not included when you buy online. On the other hand, reputable clinics bundle these services into your purchase price.

You may initially see a higher sticker price from your local clinic, however in reality you could pay thousands more for that online purchase.

But, how do you know what is right for you?

Two words: trial period. Montana law gives you thirty days to try hearing aids before you purchase them. Some establishments will extend the trial period, even as long as sixty days.

No money is due until the end of the trial period.

Eliminating financial pressure gives you plenty of time to find the right devices for the job.

The technology that operates your hearing aids can be divided into three categories: basic, automatic, and intelligent. Generally, basic devices are less sophisticated and marginally successful in challenging environments, but are budget friendly. Automatic hearing aids are better equipped to match your hearing loss, make programming decisions for you, and represent the middle tier of pricing. Intelligent hearing aids build upon the features of the previous categories. They offer the most flexibility and precision in programming, allow you to train them to your personal preferences, and (no surprise here) cost the most. Many automatic and intelligent hearing aids can be equipped with bells and whistles. For example, Bluetooth allows you to link your TV and cell phone wirelessly to your hearing aids.

Hearing Aid Technology Evaluation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Do this simple exercise to help decide which level of technology best fits your lifestyle. Circle the number next to the statement in each group

that describes you best. Next, tally your score to see which technology category fits you and its estimated price range.

1. I am often in challenging noise situations.

2. I spend most of my time outdoors.

3. I am a homebody.

1. Only the best for me!

2. Treatment is more important than cost.

3. Cost is king.

1. Communication is vital to my active lifestyle.

2. I miss a lot and want to fix that.

3. My loved-one is pressuring me to get hearing aids.

1. I am an avid traveler.

2. I socialize with friends 3 or more times per week.

3. Most of my day is spent in quiet or watching TV. If your total score is: 4-6, then consider intelligent technology $5,000-$7,000; 7-9, then consider automatic technology $3,500-$5,000; 10+ then consider basic digital technology $2,000-$3,500.

It is important to note that if a hearing aid dealer wants to charge you more than $7,000, the price is probably excessive.

Trust your hometown audiologist or hearing aid specialist to match you with the correct instruments for your, lifestyle, and budget and also to provide you with the follow-up care and services that you will need for the best hearing experience and most improved lifestyle. MSN

THERAPY CENTER at WESTVIEW HEALTH CARE

APRIL/MAY 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 17

How to Find and Research Doctors Who Accept Medicare

By Jim Miller Depending on where you live, finding a new primary care doctor or specialist that accepts Medicare patients can be challenging. Because of low reimbursement rates and greater paperwork hassles, many doctors today have opted out of Medicare or they are not accepting new patients with Medicare coverage.

With that said, Medicare is now offering a service that makes finding Medicare-approved doctors a little easier. And, there are a number of good resources available today that can help you check up on prospective doctors for free. Here’s what you should know.

Medicare Doctors – The government’s new online “Physician Compare” tool is one of the easiest ways to locate doctors in your area that accept traditional Medicare. Just go to www. medicare.gov/find-a-doctor where you can do a search by physician’s name, medical specialty, or by geographic location. Or you can also get this information by calling 800-633-4227.

Keep in mind, though, that locating a Medicare-approved doctor doesn’t guarantee you’ll be accepted as a patient. Many doctors limit the number of Medicare patients they accept while others have a full patient roster and don’t accept any new patients.

Another option you may want to consider is to join a Medicare Advantage plan. These are government approved, private health plans (usually HMOs and PPOs) sold by insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare.

These plans may have more doctors available than original Medicare does. See www.medicare.gov/ find-a-plan to research this option.

Doctor’s Check Up – After you’ve found a few Medicare-approved doctors that are accepting new patients, there are plenty of resources available today that can help you research them.

Some of the best include HealthGrades, Vitals, and RateMDs. Here’s a breakdown of what each site offers: • Healthgrades.com provides in-depth profiles on around 750,000 U.S. physicians including their education and training, hospital affiliations, board certification, awards and recognitions, professional misconduct, disciplinary action, and malpractice records.

• Vitals.com provides some basic background information on around 720,000 U.S. doctors along with unedited comments from past patients and ratings on things like promptness, bedside manner, accurate diagnosis, and more.

• Ratemds.com primarily offers ratings and

anonymous comments from past patients.

It’s a good idea to check out all three doctorrating sites so you can get a bigger sampling.

Fee-Based Help – Another good resource to help you gather information is at angieslist.com (888888-5478). This fee-based membership service also offers doctors ratings and reviews from other members in your area for $7.60 for one month or $25 for the year.

Or, consider purchasing a copy of the “Consumers’ Guide to Top Doctors.” Created by Consumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit consumer organization, this book will help you find top-rated doctors recommended by other doctors. Their database lists 24,000 physicians, in 35 different fields of specialty, in 50 metro areas. The cost for this guide is $25 plus shipping and handling (call 800-213-7283 to order a copy), or you can view the information online at checkbook.org/ doctors for $25.

Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2012

How Much Do You Need to Retire?

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Is there an easy way to figure out how much savings a person needs to retire? I’m 52 years old – about 10 years from when I would like to retire – and I want to see where I stand.

Planning Ahead Dear Planning: How much money you need to retire comfortably is a great question that all working adults should ask themselves. Unfortunately, far too few ever bother thinking about it.

But calculating an approximate number of how much you will need to have saved for retirement is actually pretty easy and doesn’t take long to do.

Here is a quick, simple three-step approach that can help you find your magic retirement number.

Estimate Expenses – The first step is the trickiest – estimating your future retirement expenses.

If you want a quick ballpark estimate, figure around 75 to 85 percent of your current gross income. That’s what most people find they need to maintain their current lifestyle in retirement.

If you want a more precise estimate, track your current expenses on a worksheet and deduct any costs you expect to go away or decline when you retire, and add whatever new ones you anticipate.

Costs you can scratch off your list include work related expenses like commuting or lunches out, as well as the amount you are socking away for retirement. You may also be able to deduct your mortgage if you expect to have it paid off by retirement, and your kid’s college expenses. Your income taxes should also be less.

On the other hand, some costs will probably go up when you retire, like health care, and depending on your interests, you may spend a lot more on travel, golf, or other hobbies. And, if you are

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going to be retired for 20 or 30 years, you need to factor in the occasional big budget items like a new roof, furnace, or car.

Tally Income – Step 2 is to calculate your retirement income. If you contribute to Social Security, estimate how much your monthly benefit will be at the age you want to retire. You can get a personalized estimate at www.ssa.gov/estimator. If you are married, remember to count your spouse’s benefits too.

In addition to Social Security, if you have a traditional pension plan from an employer, find out from the plan administrator how much you are likely to get when you retire. And, figure in any other income from other sources you expect to have, such as rental properties, part-time work, etc.

Calculate the Difference – The final step is to do the math. Subtract your annual expenses from your annual income. If your income alone can cover your bills, you’re all set. If not, you will need to tap your savings, including your 401(k) plans, IRAs, or other investments to make up the difference.

So, let’s say for example you need around $45,000 a year for retirement and you expect to receive $25,000 a year from Social Security and other income. That leaves a $20,000 shortfall that you’ll need to pull from your nest egg each year ($45,000 – $25,000 = $20,000). Multiple your shortfall by 25, and that is how much you will need to have saved.

In the case above, you would multiply $20,000 by 25 and come up with $500,000.

Why 25? Because that would allow you to pull 4 percent a year from your savings, which is a safe withdrawal strategy that in most cases will let your money last as long as you do – at least 30 years.

If you find that your savings are lacking, you might want to go back to your worksheet and cut some costs. Or, you may need to consider part-time work during retirement or postponing retirement so you can boost your savings.

Savvy Tip: If you need help figuring out how much you will need to retire, there’s a variety of free online calculators that can assist you. Some top tools are offered by Analyze Now (analyzenow.com), T. Rowe Price (www3.troweprice.com/ ric/ricweb/public/ric.do), and AARP (aarp.org/ work/retirement-planning/retirement_calculator).

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 2012

2011 Tax Filing Requirements

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, With April 17 tax filing just around the corner, what are the 2011 IRS income tax filing requirements for retirees? I had to file and pay federal income taxes last year, but my income dropped and I’m wondering if I’m exempt this year.

Recently Retired Dear Retired: According to the Tax Policy Center, 56 percent of retirees will not have to file or pay federal income taxes this year mainly because their incomes are under the IRS filing threshold. Here’s a breakdown of the 2011 filing requirements along with a few other tax tips to help you determine if you need to file.

IRS Requirements - If your gross income is below the IRS filing limits, you probably won’t have to file a federal tax return this year. Gross income includes all the income you receive that is not exempt from tax, not including Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately. You probably don’t have to file this year if: • You are single and your 2011 gross income was less than $9,500 ($10,950 if you’re 65 or older).

• You are married filing jointly and your gross income was under $19,000. If you or your spouse is 65 or older, the limit increases to $20,150. And if you’re both over 65, your income must be under $21,300 not to file.

• You are head of household and your gross income was below $12,200 ($13,650 if age 65 or older).

• You are married filing separately and your income was less than $3,700.

• You are a qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child and your gross income was less than $15,300 ($16,450 if age 65 or older).

Special Situations - You also need to be aware that there are some special financial situations that require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirement.

For example, if you had net earnings from self-

employment in 2011 of $400 or more, or if you owe any special taxes to the IRS such as alternative minimum tax or IRA tax penalties, you’ll probably need to file.

To figure this out, the IRS offers a page on their website called “Do You Need to File a Federal Income Tax Return?” that includes a list of financial situations and a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file (if you’re due a refund). You can access this page at www.doyouneed2file.info, or you can get help over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040.

Check Your State - Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. Check on that with your state tax agency before concluding you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state and local tax agencies, see taxadmin.org – click on “Links.”

Tax Help - If you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-829-1040 to locate a service near you.

Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at around 6,100 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site call 888227-7669 or visit aarp. org/findtaxhelp.

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

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 19

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APRIL/MAY 2012

APRIL/MAY 2012

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PAGE 22 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

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APRIL/MAY 2012

The first buddings of spring are the perfect metaphor for the emergence of new love. They are a reminder that beautiful blossoms can emerge from small, simple seeds. Why not take that metaphor to heart, and plant the seeds for new love? If you respond to one of these ads, you may watch true love coming into full bloom!

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 is 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 next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of true love!

Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the June/July 2012 issue, the deadline is May 10, 2012.

WWM from Billings, 75 years old, no smoking, drugs, or drinking. Would like to meet a secure, retired lady, 70-75, for a friend relationship to start with. Send current picture and phone number. Being from Billings would be excellent. Reply MSN,

Dept. 28401, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

WWM in my late 80s. No smoking, drinking, or drugs of any kind. Like traveling out to dinner or just staying home and watching TV. Looking for a lady companion around the same age to share my home and life’s golden years together. Will answer all letters. Reply MSN, Dept. 28402, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls SWF country gal,, 5’6”, slim, attractive, long brown hair, brown eyes, spiritual, Christian, funloving, up-beat. I like traveling, new adventures, history, art, camping, fishing, outdoor activities, walks together, romance, and many other interests. I’m looking for a true companion, 60-75, who has a sense of humor, is spontaneous, someone I can respect, love, care for, laugh with, share my heart, dreams, goals. Would like a loving, openhearted gentleman who knows how to love his woman – sharing the same values to see if we’re compatible in the “Big-this-is-our-life” and “we’rein-this-together” decisions. Accepting each other’s uniqueness, spoiling each other for the rest of our lives. Age isn’t important if you’ve learned from the past and still keep an open mind. Will consider relocating. I’m debt free. No drugs or smoking.

Occasional drinking OK. Please enclose a phone number, address, and photo. Reply MSN, Dept.

28403, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF, 5’2”, 135 lbs, would like to meet a gentleman, age up to early seventies. Healthy, activeminded, optimistic, financially secure, in order to join me in traveling, not only to explore our beautiful state, but also other countries and cultures.

Someone who would also consider spending some winter in a warmer place. If you like nature, animals, outdoor activities, and have some appreciation of music and art, that would be great.

Non-smoker and some social drinking. Located

APRIL/MAY 2012

in SW Montana. Should you be interested, do write me and send a photo. I will do the same. Reply MSN, Dept. 28404, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

I’m a SWF in my 50s, hoping to find friendship and fun. I will respond to people of all ages. I love the outdoors, like walking, gardening, along with bowling and a good glass of wine. I like to travel and look forward to meeting someone to share experiences with. Laughter and light-heatedness are favorites of mine, so write and let’s get to know each other. Reply MSN, Dept. 28405, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF, youthful 62, soft, cuddly, N/D, N/S. Own home in Hamilton. Not relocatable. Disabled, but enjoy movies, plays, cards, camping, classic rock, dancing, singing, TV, chivalry, and mutual TLC. I love Jesus and my 12-Step Program, but am missing someone to share life with. He’s a dependable, stable, honest, kind, Christian who doesn’t drink, gamble, or do drugs. Do you still believe in forever?

That love is not just a feeling, but mainly a decision involving commitment and action? Then this attractive, opinionated, tenderhearted gal may be just the one to begin as friends with. Photo and address with letter please. Reply MSN, Dept.

28406, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Retired, SWM, 65, 6’2”, 220 lbs. Enjoy dining out, all animals (I have two dogs), sports, some travel, outdoors, friends and family, TV, and movies. Want to meet a caring lady, 55-70, for a lifetime of sharing, love, and commitment. Please send photos. Reply MSN, Dept. 28407, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

WWF Christian lady would like to meet a Billings area, Christian, non-smoking, non-drinking gentleman in his 70s. I enjoy a simple life of spending time outdoors, watching movies, and going to concerts. If you are interested, I would appreciate a letter. Reply MSN, Dept. 28408, c/o Montana

Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Looking for someone who still enjoys making love - kissing, cuddling and maybe more. I am interested only in sexually active people for correspondence and possible meeting. I am 5’9” and 180 pounds, a non-smoker, a non-drinker with a great sense of humor. I love to laugh. Girls and guys, let’s become friends. Reply MSN, Dept.

28409, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

I am a 65 year old female, 5’1”, with short, dark blond hair and average weight. I am a nondrinker, non-smoker looking for a Bitterroot Valley gentleman 65-70 years old who is honest, a good person and a believer in Jesus Christ. I would like someone to be first a friend, with a possible later relationship. I am retired, independent, and strong-willed. I like to cook, watch movies, listen to concerts and take walks. My hobbies are needlework, crochet and sewing. Reply MSN, Dept.

28410, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF interested in meeting a gentleman in his late 70’s to early 80’s who lives in Billings. I am 5’2’, medium build, have brown eyes and blond hair. I am interested in traveling, most kinds of music, a wide variety of books, all things historical, antiques, and I really like to dance. I am a considerate, kind person with a sense of humor and open to new experiences. If you have some of these interests, I’d be glad to hear from you. Reply MSN, Dept.

28411, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWM seeking very affectionate female companion 55-75 years old. Looks are unimportant.

I live in Great Falls and do not smoke or drink.

Replies are welcome and I will answer all. Please send a picture and phone number. Reply MSN, Dept. 28412, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN

Inspiring Music A minister was wondering how to ask the congregation to come up with more money for repairs to the church. He was also annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in. The substitute wanted to know what to play.

“Here’s a copy of the service,” he said impatiently. “But you’ll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances.”

During the service, the minister said, “Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100, please stand up.”

At that moment, the organist played The Star Spangled Banner.

MSN

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Missoula Indian Center Glam at Every Age: Really?

By C.J. Golden I am sitting here perusing the Awards Show Special edition of People Magazine. How interesting it is to see the glitz and glamour – to applaud, or vilify, the various gowns worn by those women who serve as our role models in the “epitome of physical perfection” department. This issue of the magazine, along with numerous similar media pieces could be great fun if not for the hurtful stereotypes they proffer to the women and young girls who are ready to fall prey to their toxic messages.

The first things I notice, of course, are the beautiful, tall, and svelte bodies that are stuffed into those fabric works of art. With nary a woman on these pages with a BMI over, hmm, 12, our body-obsessed culture is sending the message loud and clear that slim is the only way to be beautiful. This particular issue of People even has an article, which details the all-liquid/starvation/ bordering-on-anorexia diets adopted by many of the stars prior to their red carpet foray. Of course, they can pour themselves into those skin-tight dresses; their bodies are now 98% liquid!

Yes, I know there are women strutting down the red carpet who appear to have “real” bodies; women like Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis. But they are not the ones chosen to epitomize “beautiful” in the sections specifically devoted to the gowns, makeup, hairstyles, and overall exquisiteness of the women who grace the awards spectacles.

And to add to that insult, when I came to the article dubbed Glam at Every Age, I soon discovered that the fashion guidelines presented are for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Does that mean that, as a woman in her 60s, there

is no earthly way in which I can be glam? What a shame, for at this age I am now more comfortable in my skin, am more joyful and appreciative of every day of my life. These qualities radiate out from within our souls and make us truly beautiful. Where in those magazine pages are Faye Dunaway, Goldie Hawn, Mia Farrow, Sigourney Weaver, or Helen Mirren?

I am fortunate to spend much of my working life with women and teen girls, as together we explore our own self-images, negate harmful stereotypes, and learn to embrace our individual and unique beauty. I am short of stature, long on years, with hair of grey, and a body that is not as slim or firm as it once was. Yet I hope to inspire others to recognize that there is still a beauty within me – as there is in all of us – that transcends height, weight, and age. And in doing so, help to perpetuate a new definition of glam, one that will allow women of every size and in every decade of life to be represented in the pages of our contemporary media.

C.J. Golden, author of Tao of the Defiant Woman, and the award winning Tao-Girls Rule! can be reached at www.taogirl.com MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2012

44th Annual Governor’s Conference on Aging “In Good Health: Mind, Body and Spirit”

By Bernice Karnop The Capital city of Helena is hosting our Governor’s Conference on Aging May 1-2 at the Colonial Red Lion Hotel. The theme is Aging in Good Health: Mind, Body and Spirit, so you can expect a wide range of topics with a holistic theme.

The Governor’s Conference on Aging is designed to educate people on health, but also many other topics. The better informed you are, the better you can advocate with your local legislators.

Director Brian LaMoure says that while the Governor’s Conference on Aging is designed to inform, they also do their best to entertain. “Each year we have people saying, ‘This is the best one ever!’”

Brian looking forward to having it in Helena because here they have access to elected officials who can come across town, speak, and then go back to work. Although there is only one conference this year, Brian expects to go back to two next year, so more people will be able to attend.

Day one is planned by the Governor’s Advisory Council. Attendees will be brought up to date on national issues by representatives of such groups as AARP and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. The state of aging in Montana and the state of aging in the nation will be covered by representatives from Montana’s Aging Services office.

The Future of Medicare will be addressed with opportunities for you to express your concerns and ideas.

The Orthopedic Center of Montana — a partnership p between the Great Falls a llll s Orthopedic Associates an and d Benefis Health System — is a leader le eader e er in providing the most advanced a va ad anc nced d programs, technology and innovative innovattiv i e orthopedic care for patients tthroughout h oughou hr outt Montana.

Orthopedic care that is centered on you.

Within this state-of-the-art facility, the physicians, therapists and staff provide complete orthopedic care. Whether you need injury care, surgery, physical therapy, imaging, joint replacements, sports medicine or spine care, you will find it all in one e location lo oca ati tion on at The Orthopedic Center of Montana. na. a For unparalleled orthopedic care e that tha hat is s tailored to your specific needs, call calll The The Orthopedic Center of Montana today tod oday ay y at 406.731.8900.

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The conference lunch will include the delightful opportunity to meet Montana Centenarians. If you know someone who should be included, let Brian know by April 2 so he can put him or her in the program.

The second day of the conference is planned by the local Area IV Agency on Aging. Likely topics include sessions on staying sharp mentally, arthritis, exercise, and Alzheimer’s disease.

A study in 2010 ranked Montana 50th out of 50 states in broadband Internet penetration. You can learn about the Montana State Library project that addresses this issue. Find out the location of 43 libraries they are providing faster access speeds and how you can make the best use of these resources.

Who can attend? People love attending the Governor’s Conference on Aging. It is stimulating, educational, and fun. The only qualification is an interest in aging, whether for yourself, your parents, or someone you care about. You will go home more confident in the future and more certain of where the truth lies in all the many voices around you.

“We try to make it very affordable and easy,” says director Brian LaMoure. Registration costs $25 per day, or both days for $50, which includes lunches. But the price also includes all of the sessions and coffee breaks. So sign up soon. The deadline is April 25.

If you are staying over in Helena, special state rates are available at both the Colonial Red Lion and Jorgensen’s.

You can register online or use the registration form included in the Montana Senior News. Agendas and updates are available at the click of your mouse at the Aging Services web site, www.aging. mt.gov. Call conference director Brian LaMoure at 1-800-332-2272 if you have any questions.

The state of Montana brings you good, solid, reliable, and truthful information, but the best information in the world will not do you any good unless you come out and listen to it.

And do not forget to pick up a free copy of the Montana Senior News at the Governor’s Conference on Aging. We always aim to keep you informed!

See you in Helena! MSN

APRIL/MAY 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 29

Need Help? myneighborinneed.org Can Help!

Question. How can someone ask for help in a private, dignified way and receive help from the community in that same manner? The answer is a new website that went LIVE on March 20, 2012. www.myneighborinneed.org is the creation of Great Falls resident, Dave Snuggs, and is the fulfillment of an idea from the summer of 2001. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am excited to announce that the long wait is over. It is hard to imagine that what started out as a dream now does just what I had hoped. This website and web-based system connects those who have a need with those who wish to fulfill that need, all in a private, dignified, and nurturing way. This system is a free service and is available to anyone who has a need and/or anyone who wishes to help their neighbor in need by fulfilling a need,â&#x20AC;? Snuggs said. www.myneighborinneed, developed by Tom Penwell of Tomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Web Designs, allows for anyone to ask for help with a specific need whether the need is for themselves or for someone else in their community by simply going to the website and completing the Request a Need form and clicking submit. If a person does not have access to the website to complete the form, they may call 406-453-4357 (HELP) and the form can be completed over the phone.

In addition, the Request for a Need form can mailed to P.O. Box 1788, Great Falls, MT 59403. In your written request, please provide contact information including a description of the need.

Once the form is submitted, it is retrieved through a private back-office computer system accessed only by our â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good Deed Doers.â&#x20AC;? The Good Deed

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Doers are trained RSVP Volunteers who then review the submitted form, contact the person requesting help, and through a series of questions, complete the verification process. Once the need has been verified, the status is changed to â&#x20AC;&#x153;approvedâ&#x20AC;? and the need instantly goes LIVE on the website so anyone may review the request (24/7) and offer assistance by pledging to fulfill the need.

Finally, when a need is fulfilled, it will be listed on the website so everyone can share in the joy that Good Deeds are being done every day.

Completely funded through 2013 from a generous donation made by Montana Farmers Union, www.myneighborinneed.org provides help for you, help for all, help for our Neighbors in Need. MSN

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by D Doug C Coffin ffi for f HD-93, HD 93 4730 Mark M k Ct, Ct Missoula, Mi l MT 59808 Ron Erickson, Treasurer

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) needs help updating its list of Montananâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who will turn age 100 and older by the end of 2012. DPHHS maintains a list of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centenarians so they can be honored every year at Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conference on Aging.

This year, the Centenarians will be honored on May 1, 2012 at a luncheon in Helena at the Colonial Red Lion Hotel. The most current list from 2011 features 89 Centenarians. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even if they cannot attend the conference, we would like to honor them with a certificate from the Governor and add them to our list,â&#x20AC;? said DPHHS Director Anna Whiting Sorrell. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We request just a little bit of information and the questions can be found on our Web site.â&#x20AC;? The information can be found at www.dphhs.mt.gov.

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Ron Bealer, at Glacier Monuments of Cut Bank says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a shame this senseless vandalism happened, however, there is a solution to this problem!â&#x20AC;? He describes his effective and exclusive 2-part solution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If only families knew about our Vandal Prevention Programâ&#x201E;˘ and our $10,000 Memorial Protection Programâ&#x201E;˘ they

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If you are a Centenarian or are aware of one and would like them to be recognized, please supply us the following information. Submitted photos are also requested, in addition to replies to the following questions: â&#x20AC;˘ Centenarian name and address. â&#x20AC;˘ Where and when they were born. If not born in Montana, what is their story on how they got to Montana? â&#x20AC;˘ What is the secret to their longevity? â&#x20AC;˘ What has been the most amazing event in their life that they would like to share? â&#x20AC;˘ What would their favorite quote be? â&#x20AC;˘ Anything else they would like us to know. â&#x20AC;˘ Will they be attending the luncheon? Please RSVP if possible.

We look forward to meeting all the new centenarians! MSN

APRIL/MAY 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 31

AERO: Community Supported Innovation

By Courtney Lowery Cowgill, Conrad Three and a half years ago, my husband and I packed up our little house in Missoula, left our jobs and career opportunities, and moved home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to rural north-central Montana â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to start Prairie Heritage Farm.

We grow organic vegetables, ancient and heritage grains, and pastured turkeys, all of which we sell via farm share programs, or what is often called community supported agriculture.

I admit that farming was a bit of a preposterous idea when my husband first broached it with me more than five years ago. I grew up on family farm that weathered the 80s farm crisis, only to falter in the early 2000s.

This farming thing was a no-win situation in my mind. But then Jacob brought me into the community that gave him the inspiration in the first place. I attended my first AERO meeting and met all smart, passionate people who reminded me that farming was important, who told me that farming was inspiring, innovative, interesting, and finally that farming did not have to create the kind of heartbreak that my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farm did.

That is really what finally opened me up to the idea. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what brought me back to my roots â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what made me see all the good in where and how I grew up.

Those smart, passionate people are now our investors, our mentors, the people we call when we need a combine header that will pick up something like black chickpeas and the people we have on speed dial for those long, hard, hail and coyote-ridden days.

Everywhere, people are talking about how to jump-start economies, how to foster innovation, and how to encourage small businesses.

And while policy work, fund-raising, and institutional support are all great avenues to grow these things, the most important thing any small business owner, entrepreneur, innovator, or farmer can have is one that is kind of hard to explain.

It is community and connection â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no matter if that community is the old-fashioned geographically-based community, or a far-flung, valuebased community like the one we got when we entered the sustainable agriculture world via AERO. Anyone going out on a limb needs someone telling them their work is possible, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important, and most of all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth it.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call it community-supported innovation.

Courtney Lowery Cowgill, a board member of the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (www.aeromt.org). AERO has been linking people with sustainable agriculture and energy solutions since 1974. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2012

Social Security Supports Montana Economy

By Max Richtman President and CEO - National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Everybody knows about Social Security. You pay into it throughout your working life, and in return, you can count on a decent retirement. But the benefits earned through Social Security help more than individual workers – those benefits are essential to the economy of each and every state.

Here in Montana, 192,000 people receive Social Security benefits. Most are retired, but 26,000 disabled workers and 13,000 children receive benefits too. Together $2.3 billion comes into Montana each and every year – and that money is a key source of income for local businesses.

In the real world hardworking Americans face every day, there is zero wage growth, decimated savings, and shrinking home values. Too often, saving for retirement has to take a backseat to daily survival. But Americans know that, no matter what, Social Security will be there for them in their old age, if they become disabled, or for their family should they pass away.

Even in these polarized times, Americans share a decidedly bipartisan view of Social Security: 85% of Democrats, 78% of Independents, and 69% of Republicans oppose cutting Social Security. And for good reason, Social Security means more than a secure retirement for Montana families. It means a stronger local and state economy as well. MSN

Helena’s Historic Walking Tours: into the Past with Pam Attardo

By Kim Thielman Ibes During the heyday of Montana’s Gold West Country, men amassed fortune and power, displaying their spoils by building massive edifices to celebrate their good fortune. Many of these historic mansions still stand today as a testament to Montana’s rich cultural past. Helena’s west side historic district, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, remains one of the most prolific and entertaining area’s in Montana to step into our past and learn firsthand about some of Montana’s most daring entrepreneur’s and their opulent 19th century lifestyles.

During the mid1800s, Helena began the transition from gold-mining camp to the center of Montana’s political and monetary activity. Just two years after its incorporation in 1867, over 75 structures were built of granite and brick – including the lavish brick mansions erected on

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Helena’s prestigious west side.

Pam Attardo, Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Officer, works to organize both the summer tours and self-guided maps for the walking tours of these historic mansions. For the past several years Attardo has also guided the walking tours through the historic neighborhoods, one of which she also calls home.

“My father was a preservation contractor,” says Attardo who grew up restoring old homes with him. It was this early interest in preserving the past that spurred Attardo to initially volunteer with the county’s historic preservation office.

“I love history and helping people understand the significance of the architecture in Helena’s historic districts. It’s easy to take these things for granted but it’s my belief that if we can make our history relevant it will help us to save our past for the future,” says Attardo.

Attardo’s office organizes several different walking tours each summer, typically beginning in June and running most Friday nights into September. Each month a different walking tour is presented. One monthly walking tour might feature the magnificent mansions of the upper west side, the “Mansions and Millionaires” walk, or perhaps a stroll through Last Chance Gulch retracing the footsteps and livelihood of Helena’s founding citizens.

The preservation office has also published a self-guided map for three distinct historical districts: Rodney Street, Upper West Side, and the Last Chance Gulch. These maps, chock full of history about the people and places that made Helena so special, are available from Attardo’s Office, allowing one to walk leisurely through Helena’s fascinating and storied past.

One of Attardo’s favorite sites on the tour is the Atlas Block – located within the Last Chance Gulch walking tour.

“It’s called Richardsonian Romanesque, built out of granite for the Atlas Company,” said Attardo. For a significant number of years from the mid 1800s through the early 1930s, fire was

APRIL/MAY 2012

a constant hazard in the community. Atlas did a New York City boy whose family’s wealth rivaled booming business as a fire insurance company. that of the Rothschilds, found his way to Montana A spire at the very top of their building includes due to his family’s mining interests. His family’s three very stylized, copper-detailed salamanders. business and personal wealth were an important The mythical creatures were once thought to be factor in saving Montana businesses after the impervious to fire and still stand on the building financial panic in 1893. An attractive bachelor of as a testament to Helena’s past. the day, he built the house amid rumors that he The most stunwas nearing the ning architecture end of his sinbelongs to the many gle status. Upon mansions that recompletion, he main occupied. The and his bride T.C. Power manmoved in to the sion located at 600 prominent manHarrison, part of the sion.

Mansions and MilAttardo, lionaires walk, was along with the completed in 1891 many volunteers after two years of from the historiconstruction. Tocal society and day, as in its heyLewis and Clark day, it is considered C o u n t y, h a v e one of the most reconstructed elegant homes in Helena’s storied Helena. Power, one past, using cenT C Power home on the Historic Walking tour in Helena. of Montana’s most sus records, ear[Courtesy of Helena/Lewis & CLark County Historic prolific and sucly newspapers, Preservation Office] cessful businessand passed down men built his fortune shipping goods throughout knowledge shared by community members to Montana and Canada. He branched out into bring these amazing stories to life. banking, mining, cattle, and the mercantile busi“I really enjoy giving the tours, it’s nice to see ness. Like many prominent businessmen of the the look on people’s faces when they realize the day, Power spent time guiding Montana’s future significance of what they’re looking at,” Attardo as a senator, settling into this monolithic stone says. structure in Helena’s west side mansion district.

For more information on the tours or maps, The A.J. Seligman home at 802 Madison contact Pam Attardo at the Helena/Lewis & Clark Avenue is as interesting for its architecture, de- County Historic Preservation Office at 316 North signed by an architect out of St. Paul Minnesota, Park in downtown Helena, 406-447-8357, or visit as it is for the owner’s storied past. Seligman, a www.helenahistory.com. MSN

Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.

- F. Scott Fitzgerald

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 33

PAGE 34 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

What is Live! at the Civic?

Live at the Civic is a non-profit group that supports bringing live performing artists to Helena. Live! at the Civic started with Archie Bray. The organization is going into its 83rd season. Our shows include classical music, big band, swing, jazz, Broadway, Celtic, Gypsy, Dance, and Acrobatics to name a few.

Shows are funded by the community dollars collected in our spring campaign and through donations. Historically our senior community has enjoyed and given the most consistent support to the organization. We also attempt to hire artists who agree to provide educational outreach to local students, musicians, dancers, or anyone interested in the arts.

How can you help? Buy a season ticket! Advertise your business in the Live! at the Civic season program book. Make a donation. Remember LATC in your estate, or create an endowment to ensure Live! at the Civic survives for another 83 years!

For more information call 406-422-4083, visit liveatthecivic.org, or write to Live! at the Civic, PO Box 143, Helena, Montana 59624.

Thank you for your support and enjoy your upcoming season of entertainment! MSN

The University of Great Falls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Our University

By Eugene J. McAllister, PhD President Great things are happening in Great Falls. In a relatively short time, we have become a regional, residential liberal arts university. Over the past three years, enrollment has grown 49% - to the largest number of students in 12 years. We are very proud that 40% of our incoming freshmen have high school GPAs of 3.5 and higher, with an average GPA of 3.26. We are equally proud that 50% of our students receive Pell Grants, which is a Federal grant aimed at lower income students, and 40% of our students are first generation.

A critical part of our story is we are growing because we are changing.

We are not doing the same old things, just more efficiently. We are changing everything we do, and it is change anchored in our mission of â&#x20AC;&#x153;preparing students for living and making a living.â&#x20AC;? Our mission makes us important; we are truly ambitious, seeking to â&#x20AC;&#x153;formâ&#x20AC;? each of our students, helping each to find a vocation in life. That is why we are succeeding.

We work together at our University to change each studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. We want each student to see himself or herself differently, to see the world differently, and to see himself in the world differently. That takes courage, but we have plenty to share.

For more information, call 800-856-9544. MSN

Do You Have a Plan for the Care of Your Pet? As animal lovers, we care deeply for our companion pets, and we expect to be there to care for them always. While most people outlive their pets, some do not. Today, more and more pet owners are making estate plans for their furry companions to ensure their petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-being when they can no longer care for them. For this reason, the Humane Society of Northwest Montana created the Legacy of Care program that ensures a home for companion pets that outlive their owners.

Under current law, you cannot leave money in your will to your pet. However, you can leave a legacy gift to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana to be used for your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care or to be used to help support orphaned cats and dogs at the Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center.

Although a bequest by will is the most common method for legacy giving, the Humane Society of Northwest Montana can be named as the beneficiary of your trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy, financial accounts, or cash accounts. If you would like to plan for the care of your pet visit, www. humanesocietypets.com or call 406752-7297. MSN

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 35

Do you know where your cat is?

By Bill Hall The Internet website LiveScience recklessly reveals a dirty little secret about cats with no apparent realization that the information might put cats out of business if we all come to realize what we have been sponsoring all these years.

What we have been sponsoring is wholesale mayhem. We have been harboring fuzzy little murder machines that cut a merciless swath of daily death through millions of well-intentioned though filthy rodents.

LiveScience makes the brave and honest point, whether we want to hear it or not, that rodent populations would explode without cats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our cats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; carrying out their constant savagery.

Apparently, the website offers that information with good intentions, not only excusing the cats but also praising them. After all, cat violence minimizes rodent damage to the food supply and to the general health of human beings. However, I for one didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually going on out there. I know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a dirty job and somebody has to do it, but a hitmanstyle murder by your own hitcat is not something a person likes to dwell on.

Let me put it this way: Do you know where your cats are? And do you know what they are doing right now?

There are some things a person doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to know. If the clumsy oafs at LiveScience have any mercy, they would keep their yaps shut.

Oh, we are not completely ignorant about what transpires in our home and outside in the bushes. We have had several cats over the years that were quite probably knocking off their fellow creatures. In fact, they had the disgusting habit of terminating a mouse and then proudly bringing it to us as a gift. We have seen the bodies. And we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grateful.

Unfortunately, a cat usually slobbers on such a trophy for a few tasty moments before delivery. And the delivery usually involves leaving the wet little body on the carpet at the edge of the bed where Sharon steps on it with her bare feet as she gets up in the night.

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what fear is until a wife shrieking like a banshee has awakened you in midsleep. It makes your blood run cold as a wet mouse.

But when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sitting on the couch watching a baseball game with Jack and Annie, our two hairy substitute children, spending some quality time with them, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to know what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing out there in the night.

For that matter, if you have actual human teen-agers rather than fourlegged subs like ours, do you truly want to know where your children are and what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing?

Not me, buster. Mind your own business and let me continue to wallow in my ignorance, whether cat or kid.

Discount Home Improvement Center And as if there werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already enough busybodies in the world giving us too much information, now we are being harassed by those hypocrites in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). They are currently in court trying to prove that animals have the same rights as humans to Open To The Public constitutional protection against slavery.

Shop and/or Donate Specifically, PETA argues that captured killer whales are in effect slaves

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APRIL/MAY 2012

because they are kept in huge tanks and compelled to perform daily for grubby tourists.

Let me give you another dirty little secret: Is there any doubt that members of PETA also keep slaves? Are we to believe that nobody in PETA has a cat or a dog they imprison inside the home rather than let it go play in the street?

If whales have a right to freedom from compulsory containment, then so do dog and cats. So do guppies, which should be liberated from home aquariums and poured into the nearest creek or ocean.

And so I say to PETA people, open your doors along with your hearts.

Let Bowser run and play wherever and whenever he wants. Sure, it’s dangerous out there. But whether a real child or a substitute child, a child is better off in the end roaming free rather than being chained to the bed.

PETA is probably right about the whales. But the same ethic applies to cats and dogs – and to rats, for that matter. So set your kitty free!

And speaking of rodents, it’s pretty ratty of PETA to trivialize the actual historic horror of human slavery by using it as a reckless metaphor for better treatment of animals.

Contact Hall at wilberth@cableone.net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. MSN

History By The Book Article & Photo By Gail Jokerst Book clubs, like ice cream, come in many flavors to suit many tastes. Some groups are dedicated to women’s literature while others highlight travel or science fiction. But the most popular flavor of all for a group that meets in the Flathead Valley is Montana history.

Started six years ago at the Museum at Central School in Kalispell, this group has read over 60 books focused on Montana’s bygone days and shows no signs of slowing down soon. For these enthusiasts, any aspect of the state’s history – in fiction or non-fiction form – is a contender.

“We look for variety. It’s not all about farmers or pioneer women,” says Kalispell’s Diane Etter, who joined the group five years ago. “However, the books we choose are always Montana-based covering some period of history. Anyone can show up for the discussions and there are no dues.”

Since the club first read Pretty Shield by Frank Linderman, it has continued to attract Flatheadarea readers as well as regional visitors. It lures people wanting to learn about the individuals and times that shaped the Treasure State. And it interests almost as many men as women, a rarity for most book clubs.

“I’m in two other book groups, but this is the only one that draws men. They give a different perspective than women since they tend to like different books,” says Diane. “Apparently, men like history because many come with their wives and they aren’t just being dragged along. You know that because of how vocal they are in the discussions. They read the books.”

Unlike some book groups where the quality of the writing figures prominently in the discussions, this group values content more than style. Though participants certainly appreciate well-written prose such as Ivan Doig’s.

“His portrayals of early Montana bring that period alive. You can put yourself on that ranch and feel like you’re there in that time. But it’s the history we’re learning from the books that counts most and the details. Did you know the transit time on a train from Chicago to Seattle was just as fast before WWII as it is today?” asks Diane, whose dad, uncle, and grandfather were all locomotive engineers for the Great Northern Railway. “That’s one of the details I picked up from All Aboard for Glacier by C.W. Guthrie. The depictions of train travel during that time were fascinating.”

APRIL/MAY 2012

By inviting an author or expert in the subject matter to join them, the club has enriched its meetings and made the pages of various stories sparkle. Many authors, including John Fraley, Carol Buchanan, Lois Lonquist, Ben Long, and Darris Flanagan, have graciously attended and participated in the monthly gatherings.

When the group discussed Skid Trails: Glory Days of Montana Logging, one member invited an 80-year-old former logger to visit.

He happily answered questions about logging methods from the 1940s to the 1970s and everyone loved hearing his anecdotes.

For David Altâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Glacial Lake Missoula, a retired college professor spoke about the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geology. People who never before had attended showed up just to hear his presentation.

And when the group read Yogo: The Great American Sapphire, a jeweler brought an array of Montana sapphires to the meeting and answered questions. As one participant, Betsy Wood, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The book is a great story of human nature regarding those who have mined Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rare and famous gem.â&#x20AC;?

Obviously, people read these titles for diverse reasons. For Shirley Folkwein, the appeal is the connection with her past. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy putting my Montana ancestors into the pages, the stories, and the locations and imagine them as part of the adventures of the day. From where did their hope, their energy, their spirit come? In each book the answer is different,â&#x20AC;? says Shirley. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The hard physical work, long hours, and emotional strength required just to survive in such primitive conditions were unbelievable. I have to ask myself if I could have lived like that, survived, and kept up my hopes and spirit. In my wildest imagining I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put myself there.â&#x20AC;?

So far, the club has been a boon for history buffs, local authors, and the museum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We set up the book group because it meshes with the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to preserve and present history,â&#x20AC;? explains the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 37

director, Gil Jordan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are folks out there who read, care about, and want to learn about history. It all fits well together for a book club.â&#x20AC;?

Since the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inception, it has increased museum attendance. In addition, it has brought funds into the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coffers through book sales. The gift shop carries all the books the group reads and stocks over 150 titles dedicated to Western history.

For the July 12, 2012 meeting, the group will discuss Bloodshed at the Little Bighorn: Sitting Bull, Custer, and the Destinies of Nations.

They will be joined by the author, Tim Lehman, a history professor at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. His book presents a fresh viewpoint of what occurred during that fateful battle. All are welcome to drop by the museum at 6:30 to join the discussion.

For more information, phone the Museum at Central School: 406-756-8381 or visit www. yourmuseum.org/.

Seven Recommended Reads The following is a sampling of some of the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite Montana history books: 1. Wild River Pioneers by John Fraley contains short stories about the people who settled along the corridor of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Each story features places familiar to Flathead residents and provides a strong sense of connection to local landscapes.

2. How It Looks Going Back by Doris Knowles Pulis tells of life in the Yaak during the 1950s and 1960s, which was still a pioneering era for this remote region. The misadventures and mistakes of city dwellers from a warm climate trying to adjust to the realities of a rural Montana winter make for fun reading.

3. Lady Black Robes: Missionaries In The Heart Of Indian

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Country by Irene Mahoney was penned by a nun and draws on journals, letters, and archival material to relate the story of the Ursuline Sisters who established missions in Montana during the late 1800s. It was a life of hard physical labor requiring strength and endurance. The book chronicles the perseverance of the Sisters in bringing education to native peoples and provides an honest look at the negative impact of missionaries on native culture.

4. Undaunted Courage by Steven Ambrose is an apt choice for a Montana history book club considering Lewis and Clark traveled more miles in Montana than in any other state. Among the surprises readers encountered was how tough the Corps of Discovery was under harsh conditions and what strict disciplinarians both captains turned out to be.

5. A Bride Goes West by Nannie Alderson and Helen H. Smith recounts how a young bride

from the East begins married life as the wife of a Montana rancher during the late 1800s. Readers relate to the brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s struggles to learn basic cooking and housekeeping skills in primitive conditions. Although it was a difficult adjustment, the bride was happy with her life and marriage.

6. A Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Way West by John Fraley captures the tenacity and adventuresome spirit of a young woman determined to live life her way in the early days of Glacier National Park during the 1920s and 1930s.

7. The Bloody Bozeman: The Perilous Trail to Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gold by Dorothy Johnson describes this shortcut to the goldfields for six years before the army abandoned its three forts along the way. The Bozeman Trail also happened to be the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last stronghold of Indian territory.

The authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dry wit, winning writing style, and detailed research paint an intriguing picture of 1860s Montana. MSN

Choosing Those Extras for Your New 55-plus Community Home

By Patricia M. Johnson When you first visit these new adult community homes, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find it a bit overwhelming. The basics are beautiful and the models more beautiful with their costly extras. My husband and I will soon have been living in our home in a beautiful 55-plus Community for two years. It was move-in ready.

We knew this house was meant for us the minute we walked through the door. Actually, so did our Pomeranian. He scooted in, examined the rooms, stretched out on his back with all fours in the air. It was his, all his.

As a retired designer, I knew I could change what we needed to change. Actually, nothing much came to mind.

Of three bedrooms, one was the master; one my office; and one my husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room for all his choo-choos. My fear is that one day he will drill a hole into my office and start installing track to

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expand his exciting new world.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m mentioning the following points because I hope youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll not make some of the mistakes weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made and those of others Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve interviewed in our area.

Flooring â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Most builders will give you tile at the entrance, kitchen, and master bathroom. Some will exchange for hardwood, which will cost you.

Laundry rooms usually get vinyl, master bedroom and extra bedrooms, carpet. Family room, if one is there, would be carpet. If the home is already built, replacing flooring with tile and hardwood will be costly.

Hardwood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Our home came with hardwood in the entire living room, dining room, entrance, hallway, office, family room, and sunroom. It is a dark cherry finish. Beautiful? Oh, yes. Easy to keep clean? Oh, no. My lifesaver is one of those small, lightweight steamers. They really work on those doggy nose prints. And when the grandchildren visit, I pull out the steamer the next day. Others and I have agreed that the lighter the hardwood flooring, the better.

Safety in Flooring â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Throw rugs on hardwood flooring are not good unless the rugs are backed with slipproof tabs. When water or liquid is spilled on the floor and your vision is not the greatest, you can go flying. Breaking your whatever is not on your retirement list, so make the best decision on material items suited

We all look back and think fondly about the good old days, and we are doing a bit of that this year as NorthWestern Energy celebrates a century of service in our Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota service areas. As we take our quick walk down memory lane, we soon realize how much better life is today and how promising the future is.

This year, we are planning a variety of events to mark this important milestone for our company. Most signiďŹ cantly, we are focusing on ways to give back to the communities we serve. Stay updated on what we have going on between now and our ofďŹ cial anniversary date of Dec. 12, 2012, by visiting www.northwesternenergy.com and searching on the word Centennial.

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APRIL/MAY 2012

to you and your spouse’s needs.

Think about the tile you want in the master bathroom. A three-dimensional tile is best and not as slippery when wet. I can’t tell you how many glass/porcelain containers I’ve dropped – gone forever. Have dentures? Better have a spare.

My kitchen is big. Why couldn’t I have had this when the children were small and I cooked up a storm? But the tile floor can play havoc with your legs and feet. Have you ever had bone spurs?

Need I say more? Use a rubber mat by the sink.

The model home kitchens show every extra a kitchen has to offer. But do we really need all of that when we retire?

Appliances and Cabinets – A double sink is great but the newer deep sink is wonderful for me and not so for my neighbor. I’m tall, she’s short and is afraid she may fall in one day and wouldn’t get out. Seriously, I want you to think about all these things. Beauty has a way of telling us that we want it and want it now. Our range came with the world’s heaviest top grids. What fun (NOT) it is to clean that range. It takes all my strength to lift

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 39

one side with one hand and clean with the other.

Our dishwasher was put in for party-people. It is restaurant-size. Is it necessary for two people? Almost forgot to mention the microwave located way above the range. It cooks, grills, bakes, reheats and, my word, it even microwaves. It comes with a DVD. It is so scary that I use my $29.95 counter microwave.

Many of the cabinets in these models go upward, on, and on. Even I need a small ladder to reach the top shelves. The drawers in many new cabinets are self-closing – and fast closers. If you have arthritis in your fingers, beware. I’ll send you photos of my bruises. However, once you’re used to them, you’ll be fine.

Ceilings – We have 10-foot ceilings. Many have standard 8-foot. Expect a slight rise in your electric or gas bill if you have 10-footers. It costs more to heat two more feet, even though heat rises. Think about screwing in a light bulb when one blows. We have a handyman in the area whom we greeted at the door in our pajamas one morning at four A.M. after two hours of a malfunction in one

smoke alarm. We have since bought a long extension pole that removes a bulb and replaces any size. That is, if you can balance the pole without falling over. Tricky, but fun.

Windows – Windows are much longer vertically with 10-foot ceilings. Most have blinds that leave 12-inches of open space above the blinds for extra light. We really like this. Some prefer to cover the space with a valance. It sure lights up the bathroom, but at night or early evening, I found out something interesting. When you are in the shower and look up at the uncovered 12-inches – you see your reflection. Can your neighbors see you too?

I’m not even going to ask.

Considering the above, I want you to know that we enjoy and love our new home. We really would not want to live elsewhere. The new friendships, the security, and all the things we need in retirement are all together in one package.

Patricia Johnson is a retired interior designer/architect. She enjoys helping seniors ease the chore of moving. She can be contacted in care of Montana Senior News. MSN

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PAGE 40 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

M O N TA N A

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE Long Term Living in a Nursing Home

By Karen Powers, The Goodman Group

A Hard Decision At what point in our lives do we need to transition a loved one to a skilled nursing home? Well, mostly it comes down to health and physical needs, when one or more personal care issues a have become facts of life AND are beyond what can be managed at home or past the extent that assisted living services can cover.

• Multiple health conditions, symptoms and treatments that need ongoing monitoring by nursing, therapists and physicians • Help with the myriad of tasks throughout the day: meal preparation and eating, medications, social activities and transportation • Personal assistance with bathing, dressing and incontinence care • Special dietary needs, food consistencies or assistance eating • Moderate to extensive memory loss that results in difficult behavior, wandering and loss of communication • Physical mobility being limited, stand by assistance to help walk, maneuver a wheelchair, the inability to sit for any length of time resulting in resting in bed for many hours of the day These are physical needs and concerns. What about the quality of life? What will it be like?

For any of us, significant keys to quality of life are a balance of personal happiness, a sense of self-worth and feeling relevant.

Nursing homes need to extend beyond their medical – facility identity and be cognizant that residents and families have turned over the trust for care and wellbeing as well as of quality of life.

Characteristics of a good nursing home: • Personalized service is paramount.

Residents are individuals so make sure the staff takes the time to get to know their desires, concerns and wishes for their personal care.

• Residents should have choices and input as to when and what they would like to eat, when they would like to rest, have company, or be as active as they would like to be.

• Nursing home staff should be enhancing independence, not just doing for the residents. Residents should be well-groomed. Clean clothes, neat hair and being wellgroomed has a tremendous effect on a person’s sense of well being.

• While physical, cognitive and health conditions can affect a person’s energy level, ability to communicate or participate, the activity programs should be focused on bringing life to their doorstep, adjusted to their ability to join in.

• A comprehensive activity program provides the residents the opportunity to enjoy music, continue a spiritual life, and contributes to a sense of community by providing volunteering and social opportunities, fitness, readings, dancing, games, coffee socials, baking clubs, craft groups, shopping, movies, performances, and other entertainment. Activity programs also honor and assist with resident’s desire for solitary pursuits like reading, one-on-one conversations and visitors.

• Look for multiple common spaces inside and outside so resident’s feel they are living in an entire community, not just a room.

In an ideal world, families could provide all of the care needed, money would not be a concern, and bodies would give out quietly in the night at just the right time. In the real world, nursing homes provide long term care, companionship, life enrichment and restoration.

Ultimately, getting the right care is the right choice.

The Goodman Group –

Serving Missoula Seniors Since 1980.

You are making the right choice.

At some point, we all need help for ourselves or someone we love and we have to make the choice.

Getting the right care is the right choice.

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2115 Central Avenue Billings, Montana 59102 (406) 656-6500 www.billingshealth.com

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Westpark Village A Senior Living Community 2351 Solomon Avenue Billings, Montana 59102 (406) 652-4886 www.westparksenior.com

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 41

PAGE 42 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

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Paul Gordon - continued from page 1 but aircraft mechanics seemed to be a good fit and the school in Helena offered just what he wanted. So Paul and his wife moved to Helena in February of 1984. The plan was to get his training and his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) License then move to Alaska. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But we just sort of got established in the community here and decided to stay,â&#x20AC;? he says.

About the time he finished the course, Paul connected with a local dentist who had a very expensive, very complicated kit plane he had started, but needed help to finish. Paul finished that one and then built an even more involved one for the same customer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But what I really wanted to work on was old airplanes,â&#x20AC;? says Paul who is also a licensed pilot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To me the most interesting time in aviation was the late 20s and early 30s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the golden age,â&#x20AC;? he explains. His fascination is with radial engines as much as with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;new closed-cockpitâ&#x20AC;? planes of that time.

Paul was an experienced welder by the time he started his class work in Helena. So after he had finished the A&P schooling and worked on some planes, he got to thinking about his welding experience and ways to put it to use on airplanes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I built this fuselage,â&#x20AC;? he recalls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was what I called my proof-of-concept project.â&#x20AC;? And that was just the beginning. He ended up building six more fuselages, â&#x20AC;&#x153;including all the gear legs, the engine mounts, the seats, the control sticks, lift struts, tail surfaces, and tail wheels.â&#x20AC;?

Combining his welding ability with his interest in the golden age of aviation, Paul formed his own antique airplane restoration business about 20 years.

He has completed about 12 planes including several biplanes. Some of his planes are flying, others are in museums around the country. Each completed project is a testament not only to Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skill, but also to his dedication and his patient attention to the often invisible, but important, details. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You work and work and work and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see what you did,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then one day you put a bunch of stuff together and it looks like you did something.â&#x20AC;? But it takes many, many, many hours to get to that point. Each plane takes thousands of hours to construct. Paul Gordon is doing by himself, what a crew of workers would have done when the planes were originally built.

Although he has enjoyed the challenge of working on each plane, his favorites are his own personal planes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 1943 Interstate L-6, and a 1929 Stinson, which too often have been tucked away in a back corner covered with sheets while he worked on a project for a client. His Pietenpol with its wooden frame still hangs from the rafters.

Now he has four planes in various stages of reconstruction including the close-to-complete Interstate and the Stinson. He has owned the Stinson for about 18 years and has built most of it from scratch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably spent about 10,000 hours just on my own planes,â&#x20AC;? he says. Neither of them is ready to fly yet but they will be.

For relaxation, between planes, Paul likes working on the 1950s and 1960s British motorcycles that he has in a corner of his hangar. One thing he likes about working on the motorcycles is that the results of his efforts are more immediately noticeable. As with the planes, he understands and appreciates the history as well as the craft. He recently completed a tank for one of his antique motorcycles using what the British call, â&#x20AC;&#x153;panel beatingâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;making stuff â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in this instance a motorcycle tank â&#x20AC;&#x201C; out of piece of metal.â&#x20AC;?

Paul explains that this is a process of crafting metal that goes back to the days of constructing armor for knights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really would like to begin doing more sophisticated metalwork,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Something that is more artistic.â&#x20AC;? To that end, he is planning to train with one

APRIL/MAY 2012

of the few metalworkers in this country who can be considered an expert in the craft. Meanwhile, at sixty-two Paul Gordon will continue to share a piece of himself by keeping history alive as he

restores his antique motorcycles and airplanes and passes along his hard-earned knowledge to the students in his aircraft mechanics classes at Helena’s College of Technology. MSN

Improve Your Golf Swing by Improving Your Tempo

By Sean Cochran, EzineArticles.com We have all heard the word tempo in relation to the golf swing. Announcers on television speak of the “great” tempo Ernie Els has in his golf swing.

What does tempo mean to the amateur and their golf swing?

Tempo in the golf swing is a combination of many parts. Tempo is part timing in all aspects of the golf swing. It is part sequencing of each position within the golf swing, and it is part “feel.”

Interconnecting each phase of the golf swing; address, take-away, backswing, transition, downswing, impact, and follow through is one part of tempo, Performing each of these phases with the correct timing is also tempo. Finally “feel” for the club head is part of tempo.

How To Develop Tempo in the Golf Swing?

A great question that does not have a simple answer. Developing tempo in the golf swing is a task that requires patience, practice, and time.

There really are no short cuts to developing it within your golf swing. One practice session at the driving range will not do it. The use of a single training aide will not get you there. The implementation of a golf fitness program will not achieve this task on its own.

I say this because developing a PGA Tour type golf swing requires a “basket of tools” in your arsenal. Developing tempo and a silky smooth golf swing requires you to: • Receive proper instruction on the fundamentals of the golf swing • Maintain a consistent practice schedule with your golf swing • Use swing drills to develop every as of your golf swing • The possible implementation of training aides into your practice sessions • Implementing of golf fitness program to develop your body around the golf swing.

The “basket of tools” listed above put together can lead you to developing great tempo in your golf swing. It requires a comprehensive approach in which no

short cuts can be made. Let’s look at the bullet points above to get a better understanding of how to go about this process.

Proper Instruction in the Mechanics of the Golf Swing Learning the fundamentals of the golf swing is key to developing tempo. This can be achieved through quality instruction. This will allow your body to learn the nuances of the swing. This is the first step in developing tempo.

Consistent Practice of the Golf Swing As they say, practice makes perfect. In order for your body to learn and be able to repeat to proper mechanics of the golf swing, you must practice on a consistent basis. The body learns biomechanical movements through repetition. The golf swing is no different. Repetition through proper practice session is the second key to developing tempo.

Swing Drills to Develop the Golf Swing The golf swing as a whole is one of the most intricate athletic movements to perform.

In its entirety, it is a very

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 43

PAGE 44 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

best when learning the golf swing to break it down into parts, which allows you more easily to master each phase of the swing. This is accomplished through the implementation of golf swing drills that break the swing down into manageable parts.

Training Aides in Association with Your Golf Swing Drills Training aides assist the body in developing the golf swing. Think of training aides as “training wheels” on a bicycle. They simply help your body learn certain movements and positions associated with the golf swing.

Implementing a Golf Fitness Program Your body swings the golf club and performs the biomechanics of the golf swing. In order to perform the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly, it is necessary for your body to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power.

If your body is lacking any of this aforementioned list learning the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly will be very difficult. A golf fitness program is the final key to developing tempo in your golf swing. MSN

Montana Senior Olympics In Great Falls, June 7-9, 2012

By Bernice Karnop For the second year, the city of Great Falls will host the Montana Senior Olympic Games, June 7-9, 2012. We encourage readers to participate with this friendly, welcoming group that is always looking for new people to join in the fun.

Kay Newman, executive director from Boze-

man, says, “All ability levels are encouraged to participate because to enter is to win.”

The games, which consist of twelve different sports, are open to men and women who are fifty years and older. Events include archery, basketball (3 on 3 and shooting), bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, racquetball, road race, swimming,

APRIL/MAY 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 45

GeraniumFest

A fundraiser for the gardens of ZooMontana Beautiful plants at beautiful prices Annuals and perennials available

May 19th 2012 10am-5pm

Free!! tennis, table tennis, and track and field. Athletes compete with their peers in age brackets of fiveyear increments, for example, 50-54, 55-59, and 60-64, etc.

Maybe you are thinking, “Oh, I play just for fun.

I couldn’t compete.”

Entry booklets are now available. Athletes who have competed in recent years will receive a booklet in the mail.

New participant may contact MSO headquarters at 2200 Bridger Drive, Bozeman, MT 59715, by calling 406-5865543, or by e-mailing kayjn@ imt.net to receive a booklet.

Entry fees, which help cover the cost of the games, are $10 for early registration plus $4 for each event entered.

Early registration closes May 23.

The Games open Thursday, June 7, with an Alive@ Five event that includes music, street dancing, and vendors at Gibson Park in Great Falls. The annual banquet will be poolside at the Holiday Inn. Athletes will be introduced, and the Outstanding Athlete of the Year will be announced. This Outstanding Athlete is a person who has demonstrated the ability to continue to exercise and compete despite physical disabilities or illness.

The 2011 winner was Judy Schroeder or Great Falls.

Send nominations for this award to Kay Newman at the contact information listed above. Include the person’s name and information about his or her experiences.

Medal winners at this year’s summer games will qualify for the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio.

Kay reminds people that the competition is friendly.

“We encourage you to stay active to help maintain your good health and physical fitness,” she adds.

Also part of the Senior Olympics is the Senior Softball Tournament, which will be in Kalispell on July 13-15.

For more information about the softball tournament, contact Jim Valentino at 406837-9994. MSN

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.”

– Walter Elliot

2100 S. Shiloh Rd. Billings 652-8100

PAGE 46 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

Keeping Cool When Things Get Hot – Consider These Alternatives For Beating Summer Heat

By Lisa M. Petsche When temperatures push those summer highs, you need to do something to stay comfortable.

Cranking up the air conditioning is one option, of course. But there are other, less expensive and more environmentally friendly ways to feel a bit better when things heat up.

Choosing Clothing – Wear lightweight, loosefitting clothes that allow air to circulate and perspiration to evaporate. Stick to natural fibers like cotton, or microfiber materials with an open weave.

Wear a hat to shade your face from the sun and remember the sunscreen.

Activities – Avoid strenuous activity, including exercising, gardening, and mowing. If possible, stay indoors during the hottest part of day.

Try to schedule outdoor activities in the early morning or evening. Otherwise, rest often in the shade.

Around The House – Close drapes on sunny days.

Consider awnings, shutters, or roll-up porch blinds to shade your house. Also consider growing vines.

Run an electric fan to circulate air in the room you are using. While it will not alter the room temperature, it will evaporate sweat, which will increase your comfort. Place a fan in front of an open window at night to draw in the cool evening air.

Install ceiling fans to circulate air in the rooms you use most. They can be reasonably priced, and use relatively little energy. (They increase heating efficiency in the winter, too.)

Stay on the lowest floor of your home.

Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture

from the basement.

Hang laundry outside to dry. If you use the dryer, do so during the coolest parts of the day.

The same goes for the dishwasher, to minimize the impact of its heat. (Consider washing dishes by hand during heat waves.)

Cooling The Décor – Accessorize your home with light, bright colors. Room accents can take the form of cushion covers, tablecloths, place mats or a mantel scarf, for instance. For color inspiration, think summer flowers and tropical fruits. Do not overlook white, which gives a crisp, fresh look. For patterns, try florals and gingham checks.

Choose ocean blues and greens for a psychological cooling effect.

Marine themes are always popular at this time of year. Bring out that collection of seashells and display them in a shallow bowl.

Summer is a good time to be whimsical – have some fun with decorating.

Cooling Yourself – Try cool showers or sponge baths.

If you don’t have air conditioning (or it breaks down) and the heat becomes unbearable, visit a friend or relative who has air conditioning, or go to a cool public place such as a senior center, shopping mall, or public library, during the hottest part of the day.

Avoid extreme temperature changes. For example, do not have a cold shower right after coming in from outside on a sweltering day.

Cook meals outdoors on a grill or use the microwave in place of a regular stovetop or oven.

Drink plenty of extra fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Sip water or stock up on fruit juice and

APRIL/MAY 2012

iced tea. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Eat light, more frequent meals to avoid taxing your digestive system. Go easy on protein, and avoid foods that are spicy or heavy with calories.

Energy Efficiency – An air conditioning unit is a must-have for older adults – especially those with chronic illnesses - to prevent adverse health effects when heat and humidity become oppressive. The following are some ways to maximize its efficiency.

If you have a room air conditioner, try to shade

it from the sun so it does not have to work as hard.

If you have central air conditioning, keep your furnace and a/c system – which function together – properly maintained. To ensure maximum aircooling and save energy. Follow the tips below.

• Regularly check and replace air filters.

• Keep the area around your furnace and air conditioning unit free of clutter, plant overgrowth, and debris.

• Dust around equipment, and vacuum filters and vents regularly.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 47

• Have your system regularly inspected by professionals.

• Adjust controls accordingly when your home will be empty.

• Turn off air conditioning and open windows when the outdoor temperature decreases at night, especially if there is a cool breeze.

Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues. MSN

How to Pick Out a Nursing Home for Mom – Or Maybe Not

By Ira Rosofsky People ask me, “How do I pick out a home for mom?”

I say, “You don’t pick the home, the home picks you.”

You can read all the how-to-find-a-nursinghome books you want. The reality is you fall and break your hip, or come down with pneumonia, and a few days later the hospital social worker is calling around to find an available nursing home bed. Nobody is saying you have to take the available bed, but Medicare will not pay for the hospital after it is no longer medically necessary. They are telling you it is time for rehab at a nursing home, and we will pay for that.

There is no nursing home tour for old people equivalent to the high school junior’s college tour.

I have rarely noticed a family kicking the tires in a nursing home, wondering if this will be a good place for Mom. But is there anything you can do to get the best place for mom? When the social worker is making noises about finding a nursing home, you might have a day or two to rush around and check them out.

The first rule of checking them out is not to be faked out by the chandelier. It is easy to hang a chandelier in the lobby over the leather couches.

But the bottom line for mom is how long it takes them to clean her bottom. If there are more bottom

cleaners per resident in Agincourt Rehabilitation than in Crecy Acres, Mom’s bottom will be spiffier sooner, chandelier or not.

But finding a home with more bottom cleaners can be a problem. No matter how bright the chandelier, a nursing home has only to adhere to a minimum standard. They asked an astronaut if he ever gets scared on the launch pad waiting for liftoff. He replied, “No more scared than anyone would be sitting on a billion parts all built by the lowest bidder.”

The bottom-line standard for care – set by Medicaid – is 2 hours and 40 minutes per resident of personal care, but a survey by the Kaiser Foundation revealed that 2 hours and 20 minutes is the national median. And it does not matter if you live in a rich state or city; everyone’s adhering to the minimum standard for mom’s bottom.

I often wonder why they bother with the cos-

metic facades and the euphemisms when they are all the same under the skin. Somehow, there seem to be differences.

• Follow your nose. If it smells bad, it probably is bad. Poop and vomit do not smell as bad when they are fresh.

• Check the nursing station. If you see teetering piles of forms and documents, or if it looks like your

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APRIL/MAY 2012

teenage daughter’s room, the staff is too harried or disorganized to keep up.

• I can put in a small brief here for religion. God motivates some of the people to do good work some of the time. If you see a nun walking around, it might be a good thing. Secular non-profits can also be a sign of people with a mission – even as many religiously based or non-profits are selling themselves to corporations.

Even if you find mom or dad in an unpalatable nursing home because it is the only bed available, you then have the luxury of a deliberative search.

Go to Medicare.gov, and you will find a link under “Resource Locator” to nursing home safety reports, staff data, quality measures, and a checklist for

when you visit. Just as when you are looking for a home contractor, ask your friends and family for suggestions. When you visit, follow the home buying strategy of showing up at odd times, not just when they want to schedule a visit for you.

And remember that when it comes to nursing homes, “Beauty is only skin deep.” The scruffy facility may have a heart of gold, unlike its clean, sterile competitor down the road.

Unfortunately, if you find the best place, chances are others have found it too, and you will have to put your name on a waiting list.

After I became unhappy with my own father’s nursing home, I put him on the waiting lists for seemingly better nursing homes. Dad died on the waiting lists. Three years after he died, I heard from one asking me if I still wanted him on the waiting list. I tell them the wait will be forever.

Ira Rosofsky is a psychologist who works nursing homes, and the author of Nasty, Brutish, and Long: Adventures in Eldercare. MSN

Exercises That Can Help Ease Arthritis Pain

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can exercise help people with arthritis? I have osteoarthritis and have read that certain exercises can help ease the pain, but I don’t know where to start, and I certainly don’t want to make it any worse than it already is.

What can you tell me?

Sedentary Sally Dear Sally, Many people who have arthritis believe that exercise will worsen their condition, but that is not true. Study after study has shown that exercise is actually one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis.

Proper and careful exercises can help reduce joint pain and stiffness, strengthen muscles around the joints, and increase flexibility. It also helps manage other chronic conditions that are common among those with arthritis, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Here are some tips to help you get moving.

Exercises for Arthritis – Determining exactly which types of exercises are best for you depends on the form and severity of your arthritis, and which joints are involved. It is best to work with your doctor or a physical therapist to help you develop an exercise program that works for you.

APRIL/MAY 2012

The different types of exercises that are most often recommended include: • Range-of-motion exercises: These gentle stretching exercises can relieve stiffness as well as improve your ability to move your joints through their normal range of motion. These exercises should be done daily.

• Strengthening exercises: Calisthenics, weight training, and working with resistance bands are recommended (two or more days a week) to maintain and improve your muscle strength, which helps support and protect your joints.

• Aerobic exercises: Low-impact activities like walking, cycling, swimming, or water aerobics are all recommended three to five times per week to help improve cardiovascular health, control weight, and improve your overall function.

It’s also important to keep in mind that when you first start exercising, you need to go slowly to give your body time to adjust. If you push yourself too hard you can aggravate your joint pain, however, some muscle soreness or joint achiness in the beginning is normal.

To help you manage your pain start by warming up with some simple stretches or range of motion exercises for 5 to 10 minutes before you move on to strengthening or aerobic exercises.

Another tip is to apply heat to the joints you will be working before you exercise, and use cold packs after exercising to reduce inflammation.

If you are experiencing a lot of pain while you exercise, you may need to modify the frequency, duration, or intensity of your exercises until the pain improves. Or you may need to try a different activity – for example switching from walking

to water aerobics. But it you are having severe, sharp, or constant pain, or large increases in swelling or your joints feel hot or red, you need to stop and see your doctor.

Exercise Resources – To help you exercise at home, there are a number arthritis exercise DVDs you can purchase to guide you through a wide variety of activities.

Collage Video (collagevideo.com, 800-8197111) sells several at prices ranging between $10 and $25, as does the Arthritis Foundation Store at afstore.org or 800-283-7800.

Also see go4life.niapublications.org, a resource created by the National Institute on Aging that offers a free exercise DVD and book that provides illustrated examples of exercises you can do to improve your condition. You can order your free copies online or by calling 800-222-2225.

If you need some motivation or do not like exercising alone, ask your doctor about exercise programs in your area for people with arthritis.

Hospitals and clinics sometimes offer special programs, as do local health clubs and senior centers. The Arthritis Foundation also conducts exercise and aquatic programs for people with arthritis in many communities throughout the U.S. Contact your local branch (see arthritis.org/ chaptermap.php, or call 800-283-7800 for contact information) to find out what may be available near you. Also see fightarthritispain.org for more tips.

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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The crocus may be peeking out but there will still be plenty of spring snow for sledding. The fun and wild abandon of youth are nicely captured in Lucille Lewis’ short recollection of seeing the wonder of snow on a morning that can only portend a full day of zipping down the sledding hill on a Flexible Flyer. Thank you and congratulations to Lucille, who is from Helena, for winning our $25 Remember When prize.

Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections, contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days,” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included.

Each issue of the Montana Senior News features the contributions deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize.

We look forward to receiving your contributions for our June/July 2012 issue. Mail your correspondence to Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to montsrnews@bresnan. net; or call 1-800-672-8477 or 406-761-0305. Visit us online at www.montanaseniornews.com.

Winter Sledding

By Lucille Lewis, Helena Sounds of children’s laughter carried up to our third-floor Brooklyn apartment. What was going on out there? I rushed to the window. Off in the distance I spotted a group of children sliding down a snowy hillside. What a happy bunch of youngsters! Sleigh riding was allowed on nearby Prospect Park hills at no cost. Quite a difference from today’s costly ski resorts.

I lost no time getting into my warm woolies, coat, and snow boots and digging out the Flexible Flyer, which had been a Christmas present.

Flexible Flyers were wonderful sleds, well built

with shiny double runners that sang in the crispy snow. I picked up Johnny, my school friend, and we spent a couple of hours having the best time, sliding down the hill, and walking back up. We were oblivious to the exercise we were getting. There is never any tiredness when you are having fun!

Word quickly got around that Prospect Park was open for sledding. At times, the hillside was packed, and there would be minor collisions of sleds - nothing serious. We were careful and the Flexible Flyers had better steering mechanisms than many of the other sleds. For us, winter could not come too soon! MSN

Oops, Be Careful What You Wish For Submitted by Jim Meade A 54-year-old woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.

While on the operating table she had a near death experience and so seeing God she asked “Is my time up?”

God said, “No, you have another 43 years, 2 months, and 8 days to live.”

Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay

in the hospital and have a face-lift, liposuction, breast implants, and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in, change her hair color, and brighten her teeth! Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it.

After she had recovered from her last operation, she was released from the hospital. However, while crossing the street on her way home, she was run over and killed by an ambulance.

Arriving in front of God, she demanded, “I thought you said I had another 43 years? Why didn’t you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?”

God replied, “I didn’t recognize you.” MSN

APRIL/MAY 2012

A Womb With A View

By Pearl Hoffman, Los Angeles

Inside me breathes a small voice, with a mindset all its own.

It whispers in my good ear, in a soft and gentle tone.

I listen when it speaks to me and note its sage advice, and if I don’t pay due respect, it tells it to me twice.

It seems it keeps a tally of the things that I have done, yet though I share my life with it, we do not think as one.

And when I don’t know where to turn, which way to make a choice, my whispering friend counsels me in my mother’s voice.

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone’s mother.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 51

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Driving Computers with Wheels

By Bill Siuru The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHSTA) reports, of all policereported crashes in 2010, some 17 percent involved driver distraction. About a third to half of these accidents were attributed to distraction when the driver talked on a cell phone, tuned a radio, entered an address in a navigation system, or did something else requiring taking eyes off the road and a hand off the wheel for even a couple of seconds.

Vehicles are coming with ever more electronic devices and displays that can cause distraction.

Lane departure, pedestrian, and drowsy driving warning systems as well as brake assistance and active cruise control save lives, but their displays and warnings can be a distraction. So can navigation systems, radio/CD/MP3, and cell phones that allow text messaging.

Soon drivers will be able to surf the net and access Facebook and Twitter. Displays in electric vehicles show battery state-of-charge, remaining range, and even location of charging stations.

Others have displays to help drivers achieve greater fuel economy.

Talking on cell phones and texting while driving are already being addressed with 35 states and the District of Columbia banning texting while driving. Nine states and D.C. ban hand-held cell phones except for emergencies.

Now, the feds are addressing distraction from communications, entertainment, navigation, and other electronic devices. NHTSA recently proposed guidelines, now voluntary, that cover manufacturer-installed devices that require drivers to look at a device, hand manipulate a control,

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or watch for visual feedback. Guidelines include recommendations to limit complexity and task length, limit operation to one hand, limit off-road glances to fewer than two seconds, limit unnecessary information in the field of view, and limit number of manual inputs required.

The proposed guidelines also recommend disabling some devices when the vehicle is in motion. This includes the ability to browse the Internet, text message, access social media, make navigation system entries, dial a phone or view a display of over 30 text characters unrelated to driving.

NHTSA is also considering future guidelines for systems brought into the vehicle and used while driving. These would include portable navigation systems, smartphones, electronic tablets, and other mobile communications devices. A third set of proposed guidelines could address voiceactivated controls in aftermarket and portable devices It could be years before these recommended improvements appear in cars in dealer showrooms. Also since many people buy pre-owned vehicles – even more years before they are found in all vehicles on the road. Even then, vehicles will still be designed for buyers who have grown up with multitasking, computers, smartphones, and texting, and who want all the electronic bells and whistles. There is an adage in the automobile industry: “You can sell a young person’s car to an old person, but you can’t sell an old person’s car to a young person.”

The bottom line is that everyone will have to learn how to safely drive what some are calling computers with wheels. Here are some tips:

APRIL/MAY 2012

â&#x20AC;˘ If you purchase a new vehicle, plan on spending the amount of time needed to read the owners manual and learn how to use all systems.

Unfortunately, the learning curve can be steep and the manual is not exactly light reading. You might elicit the help of a computer- or car-savvy relative, friend, or neighbor to help you. If you have a grandson or granddaughter who, like most, plays video games and uses a smartphone, ask for their help. Some dealers, especially those selling upscale models, offer a course or will have someone to help familiarize you with your new vehicle. â&#x20AC;˘ Spend time learning the location and use of controls including those on the steering wheel so you can find and operate them without taking your eyes off the road. â&#x20AC;˘ Especially learn about any warning lights or sounds that might be activated while driving.

Otherwise, you could be startled and distracted by a light that suddenly starts glowing or a chime

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 53

that sounds when driving. â&#x20AC;˘ Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use a cell phone, even a voice-activated one, while driving. Pull over and stop before using. (Remember when you had to find a pay phone, park and get out, and find a dime if you wanted to make a call?) â&#x20AC;˘ Never text message while driving. Texting on a cell phone is 23 times riskier than just talking. â&#x20AC;˘ If you have a navigation system, put in destinations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including stops â&#x20AC;&#x201C; before starting out.

If you need to make changes or have to confirm your location, pull over and stop, just as you probably did when you used paper maps. Rely on voice commands rather than trying to watch the display, which is often difficult because of glare from the sun. If you have a passenger, turn over the navigation task to him or her. â&#x20AC;˘ If you rent a car, spend some time familiarizing yourself with controls and displays before driving off. MSN

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WHAT? No Spare Tire!

By Bill Siuru You go out to the garage and find you have a flat tire. Worse, you are driving and suddenly you have a flat or even a blow out. You open the trunk and look for the spare tire, but canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find one. No, it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been stolen; the manufacturer never installed a spare tire.

Today many vehicles, especially smaller and sportier models, are no longer fitted with spare tires, not even those small, donut spare tires that will get you to a repair shop at reduced speed. In some cases, you can still order a full size spare, but in most vehicles there is no place to store one.

Manufacturers havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eliminated the spare to make more profit, though it does cut costs.

The big reason is new government fuel efficiency standards that require corporate average fuel economy of combined 29.7 mpg for the 2012 model year, increasing to 34.1 mpg by 2016.

One way to achieve better fuel economy is to reduce vehicle weight. A full-size spare tire, jack, and lug wrench can weigh over 40 pounds.

This may be a relatively small amount, but today every pound counts. Also with ever-smaller cars, there is no space for a spare without reducing space for people and their stuff.

Many upscale cars and SUVs use runflat tires, that like donut tires, will let you drive to get repairs or a replacement tire. Runflats can run for some distance without air, typically about 50 miles. Since you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t often detect a flat with a runflat, there is usually an instrument panel warning that lets you know of a tire failure. Depending on the design, runflats can provide a harsher ride.

Many other vehicles now come with an emergency sealant and inflator kit rather than a

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APRIL/MAY 2012

spare. The inflator is typically a small, batteryoperated air compressor. Unfortunately, this will be of little value if you have a blowout or the tire is damaged so it cannot hold air.

If you are unsure what type of “spare” you have, read your owner’s manual. If you have a full size or donut spare, check it for proper inflation pressure when you check the other tires.

Since sealants deteriorate with age, check the “use by date,” if used. In any case, replace it every five years. Don’t forget to replace if you use it to fix a flat.

Tires deteriorate with age and after about six years, they are really too old for safe driving. You can determine when a tire was produced by the federally mandated Tire Identification Number on the side of the tire. Actually, the spare can deteriorate faster: since it doesn’t roll, oils do not migrate through the tire to keep it soft and pliable.

If you are unfamiliar with the spare used on your vehicle, read the manual and perhaps even make a dry run. It is better to practice on your driveway on a sunny day than to “learn” on the side of the road on a rainy night.

Since proper tire inflation pressures are so important for good fuel economy, future vehicles could run on self-inflating tires. Goodyear is working on its Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) that keeps tires inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics. All components of the AMT system, including a miniaturized pump, would be contained within the tire itself. Power for the pump would be supplied by the tire as it rolls down the road. MSN

The support in this runflat tire allows driving on a deflated tire.

Here Is A Free Method for Going Farther on Less Gas… Hypermiling

By Sue Ann Carpenter Hypermiling is the art of wringing every ounce of fuel efficiency out of any car. Start by simply maintaining your car and improve mileage by 19 percent.

First, calculate your MPG (miles per gallon) and keep a record. Fill the tank completely and write down the vehicle’s odometer reading.

When it’s time to refuel, fill the tank completely and write down the number of gallons it took to fill the tank and the new odometer reading. Now you can calculate the distance driven by subtracting the previous odometer reading from the new one. Next divide that number of miles driven by the number of gallons it took to fill the tank. The result is your vehicle’s MPG for that period.

One tip is to think about what normally goes on in your head while you drive – your opinion of other drivers, what you do when you’re in a hurry, how often you’re in a hurry, what you do when drivers tailgate, etc. Instead, focus on maximum carefulness by offering buffer space between you and other drivers, and pay attention. The U.S. Department of Energy says that by following the speed limit and swearing off aggressive driving, mileage can be improved from 12-55 percent.

If you leave at least 2 seconds or more between you and the car in front, there will be more

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time to coast before putting on the brakes. And if you see a red light way up ahead, let your foot up on the gas.

People who don’t leave much space between their car and the car in front use their brakes more often. Braking turns motion into heat via the friction of the brakes, slowing down your car, while gas was used by your engine to achieve motion.

So when you apply your brakes, you are turning gasoline into heat instead of using the rest of the motion – by coasting through the space buffer between you and that car ahead, or that red light ahead – that you paid gas money to obtain in the first place.

You get zero MPG when you are stopped at a red light or any other time you are stuck in traffic and not moving. So minimize that time. Let your foot off the gas the minute you see a red light in front of you. And think ahead, even if you don’t see a red light: maybe there is a big street coming up, or a “stale” green light (a light that has been green a long time and you suspect it may go yellow before too long.)

Try to minimize the time you spend fully stopped with your engine idling. That can save you 19 percent. The second that you see brake lights in front of you, take your foot off the accelerator pedal, or hit the cancel button on your cruise control, and stop burning the gas that you know you’ll be using up at zero MPG while you are stopped. Also, if you’ll be in a drive-through lane for 10 seconds or more cut the engine and conduct your business inside.

You use the most gas when you accelerate.

And to get to a certain speed in 3 seconds, it takes more fuel than it would to reach that same speed in 4 seconds. So when you start moving after a stop sign, and if you are in a car with an automatic transmission, give an extra second of time between when you release the brake pedal

APRIL/MAY 2012

and when you hit the gas pedal.

Besides, an automatic transmission car will automatically start moving slowly with no brake applied. You can use this to your advantage, as a form of starting out slowly from a stop, even if you only do it for a second. Then once your car is in motion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; however slowly it may be going â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you can start accelerating with the gas pedal.

This helps because it takes more energy to get a stopped object moving rather than to get a moving object moving a bit faster because of inertia. Letting an automatic transmission start moving slowly under its own very small acceleration â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even just for a second â&#x20AC;&#x201C; allows you to start using the gas pedal while the car is already in motion. Of course, this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work on hills, only on flat or down grades. Accelerating more slowly makes a big difference in your MPG and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;accelâ&#x20AC;? button on your cruise control is a great way to save. It allows you to accelerate with very small, defined increments.

Keep in mind that the cruise control normally doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow you to turn it on until you reach a certain speed, like 25 mph. To deal with this, just accelerate slowly up to that speed, and then hit the â&#x20AC;&#x153;setâ&#x20AC;? button on the cruise control to turn it on, and then use the â&#x20AC;&#x153;accelâ&#x20AC;? button to go up from there. (Of course, make sure that the road condi-

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 55

tions are safe for slow acceleration and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do this on a freeway onramp.)

While you use the cruise control, you can slow down by turning it off with the cancel button.

Make sure to learn how the decel, accel, set, and cancel buttons work in situations where you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t risk an accident. By practicing with the cruise control, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find over time that your thumb becomes adept at taking care of the accelerating and decelerating that your foot does during any trip. However, never forget that a cruise control does not have the ability to apply brakes. Never let your feet become so relaxed that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re unable to hit the brakes.

Some other tips are that cars arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully efficient until the engine is warmed up, so if running a series of errands, drive to the farthest location first, and work your way back. And for every 30 pounds of extra weight in your car, MPG is decreased. So de-clutter it today. Another simple strategy is to always park so you can pull forward rather than waste gas backing up (a 25 percent improvement on mileage).

None of these suggestions costs money, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just common sense. Try it. The proof will be in the improved record of your MPG, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to see your actual savings. MSN

Stolen Car Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Several days ago as I left a meeting at our church, I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing. Suddenly I realized I must have left them in the car.

Frantically I headed for the parking lot. My wife, Diane, has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. Her theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the doors of the church, I came to a terrifying conclusion. Her theory was right. The parking lot was empty. I immediately called the police.

I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.

Then I made the most difficult call of all, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honey,â&#x20AC;? I stammered. I always call her â&#x20AC;&#x153;honeyâ&#x20AC;? in times like these. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen.â&#x20AC;?

There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard Dianeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ken,â&#x20AC;? she barked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I dropped you off!â&#x20AC;?

Now it was my turn to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, come and get me.â&#x20AC;?

Diane retorted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car!â&#x20AC;? MSN

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A. R. Toni Hagener Tells Trainloads of Havre History Article & Photo By Bernice Karnop If you do not think there are many tourist attractions around Havre then you have not talked to A.R. “Toni” Hagener.

“We have plenty,” she emphatically states, and proves it by rolling off stories as persistent as the freight trains that roll through here. She shares the Native American legend about a giant buffalo bull that, with a hook of his horn cut a path through what was once known as Bull Hook Mountain.

She can make you feel the rumble of bison hooves at Wahcapa Chu’gn kill site, and of the soldiers’ horses at Fort Assiniboine. You will sense the power of the behemoth steam engines and feel the heat with those shoveling coal into their mighty fireboxes. You will imagine the clanging of milk cans from as far away as Lustre, trucking in to the Vita Rich Dairy to be tested for quality.

You will sense the loneliness of homesteading women and laugh with Harry Truman when his daughter stepped out onto his campaign train car platform and tried to keep her hair from blowing.

“Let it go, Margaret. It blows all the time around here,” some Havre wag called out.

“I really enjoy my involvement with local history,” says this petite 85 year old. She has not only gathered bits of history, she has witnessed much of it, and she has even created some.

Toni came to Havre in 1949 with her late husband, Dr. Louis Hagener, a biological science professor and paleontologist at Northern Montana College, now MSU Northern. Having grown up in Colorado Springs, she says she supposed they missed the mountains at first, but they saw it as an adventure. They were quickly taken in by not only his career but also the abundance of hunting and fishing opportunities and by the fascinating Bears Paw Mountains. Toni had little time to miss anything because she had four children in rapid succession and substitute taught at the college between pregnancies.

With her biological science degree from the University of Denver, she was asked to set up a quality-testing laboratory for Vita Rich Dairy in Havre. This was the first dairy laboratory of its kind in Montana, and she had free rein to set it up just the way she wanted it. She loved the challenge and worked there for 15 years testing for butterfat, longevity of product, and bacterial contamination. Because it was the first in the state, she met many interested people and enjoyed the experience completely.

During that time, the local people started a small museum of Havre history. Toni enjoyed collecting bits of material and eventually began working there, first as a volunteer and finally as paid staff. Her 15 years at the H. Earl Clack Museum left a legacy others can enjoy today. This museum affiliation brought her into the Montana Historical Society and she served on that Board of Trustees.

Toni first stepped in to politics when she ran for county commissioner.

It was not unheard of for a woman to do this, but it was unusual enough. When her mother was flying up to visit Toni, her seatmate asked where she was going. She said she was going to visit her daughter who was a county commissioner. His answer was, “She’s lying to you. There are no women county commissioners!”

She was the first woman to serve as chair of the Montana Association of County Commissioners.

Toni remembers that in those days church groups and woman’s clubs everywhere were active in communities, including Havre. “After World War II we were rebuilding the world, including schools and libraries,” she says. The women’s groups are no longer popular, and she thinks perhaps they are not needed so much any more. “We built them and now we don’t need to work so hard,” she says.

Her involvement in church ministries years ago sparked her awareness of the growing aging population, a concern she has worked for through the years. She stepped up when AARP opened offices in Montana and served as a volunteer and as district director.

Elected as a Democrat to the Montana House of Representatives in 1995, 1997, and 1999, she says, “I did the best I could to help my community,” She also served on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging and works with the Area X Agency on Aging. These experiences fire her continued involvement and interest in politics.

She worries about the cuts for aging services. The needs of Montana’s aging population are a major concern and

APRIL/MAY 2012

problem that is not going to go away.

“We will have to come up with ways we can deal with this and how we can take care of them,” she says.

Although she stays interested and involved in her community and the college, Toni says it is good to slow down during this season of life. She continues to volunteer in the hospital, care center, and church. And she still gives talks about the history of the area.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 59

“I feel fortunate to have been able to do the things I’ve done in the past and if I maintain some of them now, that’s fine,” she says. “I look back on it and think I was privileged to participate in all those different things.”

And anyone who gets a chance to look back at the history of Havre with Toni Hagener will catch her enthusiasm and enjoyment for the stories and attractions found around this busy Hi-line town and its neighbors. MSN

Browning Eagle Shields Elder Center Encourages Innovative Programs

By Bernice Karnop wanted to serve and they had no way to deliver Browning’s Eagle Shields Center opened meals on wheels. There was not a room large twelve years ago, but when you walk in, you might enough for the monthly training of the workers in think it was new. Even more important to Director the Personal Care Attendant program.

Connie Bremner are visitor’s comments on the Connie and her administrative assistant, gracious and warm welcome they receive from Terry Flamand, approached the Housing Program her staff. and asked for a new “The building is building. This group, always clean and funded by the Departwarm and cheery. ment of Housing and We hear that a lot,” Urban Development, she says. responded with vague Ernie Heavy Runpromises. ner lives in an apart“ We w a n t e d a ment at the center. firm commitment so “Connie runs we just kept bugging Eagle Shields rethem. I think they fially strictly,” he says nally approved doing smiling. “She likes something for us just to keep it clean and to get us out of their make sure everything hair,” Connie says works properly, inwith a laugh. cluding washers and Approval was only dryers.” the first step on what This metall sculpture Thi l by b Blackfeet Bl kf artist i Ll Llewelyn l A Arrowtopknot k Ernie lectures at decorates the outside of Eagle Shields Elder Center in Browning. she calls a long and the Heritage Center The Eagle Shields Center is the heart of one of the best Indian arduous journey that during tourist season elder programs in the nation. [Photo by Bernice Karnop] continues ten year and he emphasizes later. the strong role of Indian women in Blackfeet hisThe Eagle Shields Center is the springboard tory, and Connie is a prime example. for programs that make a difference. Daily, 100 Connie grew up and graduated from high people eat at the center, and Meals-on-Wheels school in Browning. She claims the school of hard delivers 99 more. The beautiful atrium is large knocks for her higher education. After working at enough to host a variety of events, including the the Blackfeet National Bank, Connie was hired 2009 Governor’s Conference on Aging. At one as director of the Eagle Shields Center in 1994. end, stands a full-sized tipi and sixteen elders or She set about meeting the needs of elders on the individuals with special needs live in apartments Reservation but quickly hit a wall, or you might surrounding the atrium. say, four walls.

The building at 5525 Haul Road took two years The old facility was too small to do what to complete, and the Blackfoot Tribal Council conneeded to be done. The dining room could ac- tributed $80,000 for the state-of-the-art kitchen plus commodate only a small number of the meals they furniture for the dining room and atrium. Proceeds

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PAGE 60 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

from a grant application purchased a custom-made Meals-on-Wheels delivery truck. While parked in a garage near the kitchen, the truck can be loaded inside with hot meals.

Connie warns others who would like to have a building of this caliber that they need to have the wherewithal to maintain it once it is built. Ongoing operating costs are a constant challenge. The small amount they ask for meals and the income-based rent on the 16 apartments do not cover costs so groups need to have outside sources to help make up the difference.

Montana seniors know Connie as a respected member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging on which she will serve through 2012.

“We are well known throughout the nation in Indian Country for innovative programs like this building,” she says. “We finally got a finished product we could live with and we love it.” MSN

Quickest Trooper in the West In most of the United States, there is a policy of checking on any stalled vehicle on the highway when temperatures drop to single digits or below.

About 3 one very cold morning, Montana State Trooper Allan Nixon #658 responded to a call about a car off the shoulder of the road outside of Great Falls. He located the car, stuck in deep snow with the engine still running.

Pulling in behind the car with his emergency lights on, the trooper walked to the driver’s door to find an older man passed out behind the wheel with a nearly empty vodka bottle on the seat beside him. The driver came awake when the trooper tapped on the window. Seeing the rotating lights in his rearview mirror and the state trooper standing next to his car, the man panicked. He jerked the gearshift into “drive” and hit the gas.

The car’s speedometer was showing 20, 30, 40, then 50 MPH, but it was still stuck in the snow, wheels spinning. Trooper Nixon, having a sense of humor, began running in place next to the speeding (but stationary) car. The driver was totally freaking thinking the trooper was actually keeping up with him. This went on for about 30 seconds and then the trooper yelled, “Pull Over!”

The man nodded, turned his wheel, and stopped the engine. Needless to say, the man from North Dakota was arrested and probably is still shaking his head over the state trooper in Montana who could run 50 MPH. Who says troopers don’t have a sense of humor? MSN

APRIL/MAY 2012

Incredible Loop Drive

By Jack McNeel Majestic mountains, beautiful water, interesting towns, and a lengthy (free) ferry ride highlight this auto trip in southern British Columbia.

Looping around and across Kootenay Lake, it can be traversed in a day but it is much more enjoyable to take more time and explore sights along the way.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s begin in Creston, just minutes from the Idaho border at Porthill. Orchards and vegetable farms surround the town, encroaching into the back yards of motels and homes. Summer/ fall visits reward travelers with a variety and multitude of produce while earlier visitors enjoy the sights and scents of trees in bloom. You might enjoy a visit to Kootenay Candles, a small factory that offers tours as well, or possibly a tour of the Columbia Brewing Co., makers of Kokanee beer. Just west of town the Creston Valley Wildlife Area provides boardwalks through the marshes for photo opportunities and a fine wildlife museum as well.

Heading west on Highway 3 the road leads over Stagleap Pass where you will occasionally see caribou and bighorn sheep. It is the highest point on the loop at 5,800 feet so snow may still hug the roadside into the month of June. Then it is down to Salmo where the road turns north.

The small town of Ymir is just ahead, now with a single hotel where once there were thirteen.

Nearby is the Stewart Creek Rest Area, a great place for a picnic lunch with a gorgeous waterfall that practically falls onto your table.

Nelson soon appears, a good place to spend the night if you are planning to make this more than a single day trip. Incredible old homes and businesses crowd the town that sits on an arm of Kootenay Lake. If you like to shop and eat, this is the place, and with many unique gift shops, excellent restaurants, and amazing old buildings it is well worth the trip all by itself. The Court Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conical towers and the nearby City Hall with its pink brick and marble face make downtown colorful.

Heading northward on 3A it is a short drive to Balfour

where you will board a ferry for the 30-minute cruise across Kootenay Lake to the eastern shore. The ferry departs hourly and is part of the B.C. road system so there is no charge for you or your car. Mountains rise up on all sides and reflect in the crystal clear waters of the lake, which are noted for fishing. You can see circles on the water where trout have dimpled the surface as the ferry slides past.

If you want a short side trip and chance to stretch your legs there is a road leading to the south from the parking lot and six miles farther, a sign marks a trail to Pilot Bay Lighthouse. A 10 to 15 minute walk through the cedars brings you to the 1907 lighthouse where spectacular scenes of the lake are visible from the viewing platform.

Back on 3A, you will soon come to Crawford Bay where a variety of craft businesses sells handmade items. There are glass blowers, wood workers, soap makers, potters, weavers, and blacksmiths. A business sells handmade brooms of many styles and sizes.

If you need a gift, or a memento of the trip, you will find many things of quality.

Kokanee Springs Golf Course is also nearby, a beautiful 18-hole

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 61

PAGE 62 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

course at the northernmost point of this loop drive.

Heading southward back toward your beginning at Creston, Kootenay Lake will be almost continually in view. The road is good but slow, turning and twisting almost continually through dense forests. It has been named B.C.’s best motorcycle ride because of the rhythm of turning back and forth, but it also means autos seldom exceed 45 mph. Various rental cabins and motels

provide overnight lodging and meals are available throughout this stretch as well.

You will likely stop at the Glass House, an amazing home made of glass – over 600,000 embalming bottles went into its construction.

The bottles are not only used in the house but in the bridges and small storage buildings as well. The landscaping is interwoven with the glass structures and includes small ponds and

figurines. The Glass House rests on a small bluff with beautiful views of the lake.

It is just a few more miles to Creston and the Idaho border.

The combination of artists and artisans, incredible lake and mountain views, majestic old buildings, a valley of produce – plus a free ferry ride, make this one of the most attractive and enjoyable auto trips anywhere in the west. MSN

Crazy Horse celebrates Montana’s historic legacy History ties Montana to South Dakota’s Black Hills. Crazy Horse Memorial is a focal point in honoring that legacy by educating new generations to keep those ties alive.

Students and adults from Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Reservation make yearly stops at Crazy Horse while on their 400-mile trek for the Fort Robinson Outbreak Spiritual Run. The event remembers the estimated 130 Northern Cheyenne

who escaped from Fort Robinson, Nebraska on Jan. 9, 1879 to return to their Powder River country homeland.

Today’s Northern Cheyenne runners often encounter frigid subzero cold, just as their ancestors endured. The youth and their supporters say they draw strength at Crazy Horse to complete their journey.

Crazy Horse Memorial is a nonprofit cultural

education project that honors the history and living cultures of all American Indians. Lakota elders saw the development of Mount Rushmore and asked Korczak Ziolkowski, a rising New England sculptor, to create this colossal Memorial in the Black Hills to proclaim, “The red man has great heroes also.”

NBC Today and Rand McNally-USA Today travel correspondents in 2011 listed Crazy Horse among the country’s most patriotic spots to visit.

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Northern Cheyenne students run toward Crazy Horse Monument during Fort Robinson Outreach Spiritual Run [Photo courtesy of Crazy House Monument]

The reporters noted that the Memorial is near the geographic center of the U.S., the heart of an area considered sacred by many tribes. Additionally important to the media crews is Crazy Horse’s mission to tell the story of American Indian people and their role in the country’s history.

For similar reasons a group of collaborating travel savvy parents called Trekaroo recently listed Crazy Horse as No. 3 among South Dakota’s top 10 family attractions.

The world’s largest mountain carving in progress represents the spirit of Native Americans in the form of legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse. He was a key strategist at the June 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn that saw tribal warriors defeat cavalry troops led by George Custer.

The anniversary of that fateful fight in southeastern Montana is remembered with a night blast on the Crazy Horse mountain carving.

The hugely popular June 26 special event coincides

APRIL/MAY 2012

with a salute to Crazy Horse Memorial PresidentCEO Ruth Ziolkowski, the wife of Crazy Horse sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski.

A second night blast, on Sept. 6, remembers the 1877 death of Crazy Horse and the 1908 birth of the sculptor.

For such special events (nine are observed annually at Crazy Horse), residents of Montana and other neighboring states are admitted free to the Memorial in exchange for food or cash donations for the KOTA Care & Share Food Drive to benefit area needy families.

Crazy Horse Memorial is open every day, and as weather permits, visitors see and hear the drilling and bulldozing, and feel the explosions shaping the carving that will be 641 feet long and 563 feet high when completed.

In addition to the uplifting carving, the Memorial has an awe-inspiring offering of educational encounters, including Little Big Horn Battlefield items.

A Montana resident, Charles Eder, an Assiniboine-Sioux and three-term chairman of the Fort Peck tribal executive board, in 1965 donated the first exhibits at the Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse, which included jewelry, dance regalia, quill and beadwork items, and ceremonial spiritual ritual artifacts.

Now the museum has thousands of delicately preserved artifacts and vibrant contemporary art displays from tribes throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Visitors also enjoy: â&#x20AC;˘ The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dynamite & Dreamsâ&#x20AC;? movie explaining the Memorialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and mission. â&#x20AC;˘ Meeting artisans creating and selling works at the Native American Educational Cultural Center, and programs featuring American Indian drummers, singers, and dancers. â&#x20AC;˘ Talking with student greeters from the Indian University of North America. Many of the students are tribal members from across the country. â&#x20AC;˘ The Ziolkowski family home and sculptorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio, filled with antiques, fine art, and examples of Korczakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sculpture. â&#x20AC;˘ Laughing Water Restaurant, Snack Shop, and traditional free coffee. â&#x20AC;˘ Museum shops offering exclusive Crazy Horse souvenirs and American Indian-made gift items.

From Memorial Day weekend through mid-Oct., visitors also can see the dazzling Legends in Light laser-light program on the mountain nightly at dark.

Crazy Horse is located on U.S. 16/385, just 17 miles from Mount Rushmore. Call 605-673-4681, e-mail memorial@crazyhorse.org, or visit www. crazyhorsememorial.org. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 63

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APRIL/MAY 2012

Kick Up Your Heels at the Calgary Stampede

By Bernice Karnop Those of us who live where the Rockies meet the High Plains enjoy history stocked with horses, cattle, and the cowboys who care for them. It’s a history that we cherish even when the working cattlemen and farmers give way to oil production and high finance.

This is especially true just north of the border in Calgary. When it’s time for the Calgary Stampede each July, business and professional people forsake their business suits for Wranglers and their wing tips for cowboy boots.

This year the city tips its Stetson to the Centennial commemoration of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. The ten-day 100th birthday party, We’re Greatest Together, runs from July 6 through July 15, 2012.

The rodeo tradition plays out in many towns south of the border as well, but there’s nothing quite like the Calgary Stampede. How can we compete with the pageantry of the red-coated Royal Canadian Mounted Police? How can our Rodeo Queens compare with real royalty? Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip were at the Calgary Stampede in 1959, and they opened the festivities again in 1973. And who can forget the pictures of Prince William and Catherine looking right at home on the range at last year’s Calgary Stampede?

The Stampede’s official opening kicks off with a parade featuring multiple marching bands, scores of floats, First Nations dancers, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, clowns, and as many as 700 horses.

First Nations culture, including powwows, reenactments, artwork, and more is a highlight visitors seek out at the special encampment area. Photos of horses pulling canvas covered wagons around the race track at breakneck speed are an iconic part of the Stampede. Called the Rangeland Derby, these chuck wagon races started in 1923 and have grown increasingly popular each year. They drive so fast and recklessly that it has been called the “Half Mile of Hell.”

Other features of the Calgary Stampede include pancake breakfasts, street dances, youth performances, agricultural exhibits and competitions, concerts, stage shows, and fireworks displays.

The outdoor Rodeo is still the heart of the Calgary Stampede. It is held at Stampede Park, southeast of downtown Calgary, right where it started 100 years ago. It consists of six major events, bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, saddle bronc, and bareback riding. It draws the best of the rodeo cowboys from both sides of the border and has one of the richest payouts as well. In the past century it’s grown into the largest and

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most famous rodeo in the world.

The first show in 1912 was put together by Guy Weadick, a showman and trick roper. It has continued to be a good mix of working cowboys, rodeo cowboys, and Hollywood cowboys, first drawing more than a million spectators in 1976.

New this year on the midway is the only rollercoaster ride named for a bull — The Outlaw. It’s even designed to feel like a bull ride, starting with

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 65

a blast out of the chute and continuing with twists and dips and leaps that might give you a taste of what it’s like to ride the real thing.

Another Centennial feature is the My Stampede web site. Log onto this site, record your memories of past Stampedes, and have some fun reading what others remember as well.

While it is true that the Calgary Stampede

romanticizes the Wild West, the spirit of the celebration centers on positive western traditions.

For ten days in July, Calgary reverts into the cow town it might have been 100 years ago. They welcome strangers with open arms and old-fashioned hospitality. The whole city relaxes the grip of the more serious aspects of making a living to kick up its heels just for the fun of it. MSN

Reach high in northeastern Oregon in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Story and photo by Natalie Bartley The Eagle Cap Wilderness is readily accessible. Just a short drive from the town of Joseph puts hikers and horseback riders at trailheads where a day’s worth of walking or horseback riding transports adventurers to high mountain lakes.

Alternately, the fastest and easiest way to get high into the Wallowa Mountains is a ride up the Wallowa Lake Tramway at the south end the fourmile long lake. Opened in the 1970s, the tramway carries visitors up 3,700 feet over 1.83 miles to the summit of Mt. Howard at 8,150 feet. Bicycles and wheelchairs are hauled on a special tramway platform, for those who want or need wheeled transportation.

Hurricane Creek Forest Service Campground.

Short day-hikes into the wilderness are possible via the trail along Hurricane Creek. Expansive meadows dotted with wildflowers, steep mountain peaks, a rock-strewn stream, and the Slick Rock Creek waterfall supply photogenic scenery within six-miles of the trailhead.

Another wilderness access point is reachable via Oregon Highway 82. Enter the Eagle Cap Wilderness drainage containing the Lostine River.

Drive south on a forest service dirt road past numerous campsites and two trailheads at the edge of the wilderness. In the summer, spawning salmon head upstream in the shallow clear water. While camping next to the Lostine River, it is common to hear fish splashing and see them swimming past your campsite.

Getting there - Wallowa Lake State Park and Wallowa Lake Tramway are accessed via Interstate 84 to La Grande, then Oregon 82 east to

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Views of Wallowa Lake from the Wallowa County Park.

[Photo by Natalie Bartley]

At the top, there are more than 2.5 miles of trails leading to five overlooks. Enjoy the bird’s eye views of the Wallowa Lake basin, Wallowa Whitman National Forest, and the granite peaks towering over 9,000 feet in the 364,000-acre Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Before you leave the summit, sample a meal at the Summit Grill and Alpine Patio. The mulberry cobbler with ice cream is luscious. After the tram ride back down to the valley, investigate the unlimited options for enjoying the rugged mountains.

Explore the area by foot or on horse by heading to the Wallowa Lake Trailhead. Located only about a mile from the tram, short day trips or multi-day adventures start into the wilderness on the Chief Joseph Trail and access the waterfalls sighted from the tram.

While in the area, consider staying at the Wallowa Lake Campground open year-round, at the Wallowa Lake State Park. Complete with a marina and beach, all the services are located at the south end of the lake. If you prefer to stay indoors, accommodations are offered just outside of the park, along with an assortment of restaurants.

For variety, drive four miles along the lake to the Wallowa County Park on the north end of the lake. Take in views of the mountains in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and use the free boat launch to start your kayak, canoe, or motorboat adventure. In the evening, the setting sun glints off the tramway’s white gondola chairs above the mountain slope on the southeast side of the lake.

If the popular Wallowa Lake Campground is full, consider camping in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest along Hurricane Creek. It is only about six miles from the town of Joseph in the next drainage west of Wallowa Lake.

The undeveloped, primitive campsites offer views of Sacajawea Peak. Sounds of the creek’s soft gurgling are a perfect backdrop for contemplation of the sunset and sunrise over the distant peak. Hurricane Creek Trailhead, another Eagle Cap Wilderness access point, is a few hundred yards from the campsites and two miles from the

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PAGE 66 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2012

Joseph. Continue another six miles south of Joseph on the Wallowa Lake Highway. An alternate approach is from Baker via Oregon 86 to Forest Service Road 39 in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, then to Oregon 350 and Oregon 82. From the north, access the area via Oregon 3 to Oregon 82.

Information - Wallowa Lake State Park, phone 541-432-4185 or visit www. oregonstateparks.org.

Wallowa Lake Tramway - Tickets are $17 to $26, depending on age, and the tramway generally operates through late Sept., weather dependent. For hours call 541-432-5331 or visit www.wallowalaketramway.com.

Purchase forest maps from the Wallowa Whitman National Forestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vending machine and get road information at their office on 3285 Eleventh St. Baker City, Oregon. For information call 541-523-6391 or go to www.fs.fed. us/r6/w-w.

You can also purchase maps ahead of your trip with a credit card by calling the combined ranger district office for the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Eagle Cap Wilderness, and Wallowa Valley at 541-426-5546. Due to a fire last year, the Visitor Center is temporarily located at 201 East Second Street in Joseph in the old elementary school. Maps cost $6 to $10 per map.

Purchase your trailhead passes at the Visitor Center or at the trailheads. Day passes are needed for the Eagle Cap Wilderness trailheads and cost $5 per day. Consider buying the annual Northwest Forest Pass for $30.

Natalie Bartley is author of the Best Easy Day Hikes Boise guidebook and the Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest guidebook, available online and at outdoor retail shops and bookstores. Watch this summer for her upcoming mobile application about Boise-based outdoor adventures. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2012

Classic DVDs from around the world

By Mark Fee Over the past 60 years, the film world has changed immensely. A few monstrously successful film companies once dominated Hollywood.

Very few films were made outside Hollywood or in other countries. But the film industry has become increasingly global and richly diverse. Despite the industry’s growth, films like noted French director, Francois Truffaut’s semi documentary, The Wild Child (1971), a never-equaled masterpiece, are often forgotten.

MGM’s Dark of the Sun (1967) was produced in Africa, but written off as an action film. The film is an extremely intense and nerve wracking experience. Your local DVD store has numerous classic and overlooked films worth viewing. Some of my favorites and a few sleepers are listed below.

In The Naked Prey (South Africa, 1966), Cornel Wilde leads a greedy, irresponsible group of white hunters on a safari with terrifying consequences. Wilde is sensitive to African tribal customs. The hunters are arrogant and indifferent.

The safari is attacked. Wilde and the surviving members are tortured. Wilde is the only member of the safari, who is given a chance to live. He has to run for his life. The film is chillingly realistic.

Wilde directed the film and plays the safari guide.

His achievement is breathtaking and startling. Not rated; 3.5 stars.

In The Endless Summer (1966, USA), two young California surfers take their surfboards around the world, in search of the perfect wave.

The film follows the adventures of Robert August and Mike Hyson from West Africa to Australia, Tahiti, and Hawaii. The cinematography is unbelievable. The dialogue is natural tongue in cheek,

and Bruce Brown’s direction is stunning. If you have never seen this film, it is a delightful must see! Rated PG; 3.5 stars.

In Dark of the Sun (1968, South Africa), Rod Taylor leads a volatile group of mercenaries, deep into the Congo, to rescue millions of diamonds.

One of the mercenaries is a compassionate African American (Jim Brown); the other is a former Nazi.

Taylor and his crew are responsible for delivering a group of frantic refugees to safety, as well. The journey is terrifying and grueling. Beautiful Yvette Mimeux (The Time Machine, 1960) plays a young nurse. Kenneth Moore plays an alcoholic doctor, who has a change of heart and stays behind to care for his patients. Jack Cardiff’s direction is razor sharp. A harrowing sleeper, but well worth watching. Rated PG; three stars.

The Wild Child (France, 1970) is meticulously crafted, awe inspiring, and based on a true story about a boy raised by wolves in France and taken to a doctor, played by Truffaut, who tries to help the boy with language and socialization. But, the boy cannot speak and is deaf. Truffaut’s film follows the doctor’s work with the boy and ultimate failure.

The film is fascinating, heartbreaking, and not to be missed. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Rated PG; four stars.

In Juggernaut (Great Britain, 1974), Richard Harris and a crack team of specialists, has to dismantle a bomb aboard the luxury liner, Britannic.

The ship has 1,200 passengers. Richard Lester directs the film with adroit skill. Harris is extremely effective as an alcoholic anti bomb specialist. Omar Shariff plays the ship’s captain. Harris cannot find the bomb and time is ticking away. The film is an exquisite thriller. Rated PG; three stars.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 67

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Peter Riegert plays an oil representative in Bill Forsythâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hilarious Local Hero (Scotland, 1983), who is sent to Scotland to negotiate a land deal. He has to purchase a small town. But nothing works the way he thinks it should. The town is stubborn, animated, and unpredictable. Riegert falls in love with a mermaid. Jazz guitarist Mark Knopflerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soundtrack is unforgettable. Burt Lancaster plays an eccentric oil tycoon. An extremely funny and poignant film and must see. Rated PG; 3.5 stars.

In Roland Jaffeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Academy Award nominated epic, The Mission (South America, 1986), Robert De Niro plays Mendoza, a hardened former slave runner

who becomes a Catholic priest and defends the Indians, he once sold into slavery. Jaffeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film is critically evocative of a little known incident in South America in the 18th century. Jeremy Irons plays Father Gabriel who befriends Mendoza. When the church betrays the Indians, Mendoza picks up the sword to defend the village. Gabriel does not. The film is demanding to watch, and Ennio Moreconeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soundtrack is majestic and heartbreaking. Rated PG; 3 1/2 stars.

Classic films are richly rewarding. I hope you enjoy the films I have mentioned. See you next time with classic DVDs! MSN

Montana PBS Vital To Montana MontanaPBS is a vital service â&#x20AC;&#x201C; locally owned and operated â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whose programming choices are informed by our viewers and our mission. Viewers all around the state rely upon our service, especially during difficult times. â&#x20AC;˘ MontanaPBS is available to nearly all Montanans, reaching more than 400 communities. â&#x20AC;˘ More than 173 communities have free over the air access to MontanaPBS. â&#x20AC;˘ Our local programs, made right here by and for Montanans provide an insight into our state that you will not find anywhere else.

â&#x20AC;˘ With high ratings and online and mobile content usage, MontanaPBS is increasingly serving Montana children wherever they live, learn and play through educational and engaging PBS KIDS content.

Your planned gift donation enables us to fulfill our Mission: sharing diverse stories; connecting our citizens, discovering common ground; and celebrating the independent spirit and beauty of Montana.

As a public service, we strive to ensure that we are responding to the needs of our viewers and our neighbors. If you ever have any suggestions, comments, or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Anne Hossner, Director of Fundraising at 406-994-6221. MSN

Baptizing A Drunk Submitted by Julie Hollar A man was stumbling through the woods very drunk when he came upon a preacher baptizing people in the river. The drunk staggered into the water and bumped into the preacher. The preacher turned around and was almost overcome by the smell of booze. Whereupon he asked the drunk, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are you ready to find Jesus?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes I am,â&#x20AC;? replied the drunk. So the preacher grabbed him and dunked him in the river. Then the preacher pulled the drunk up and asked him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brother have you found Jesus?â&#x20AC;?

The drunk replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.â&#x20AC;?

The preacher, shocked at the answer, dunked him into the water again, but for a bit longer this time. Then he pulled the drunk out of the water and asked again, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have you found Jesus, my brother?â&#x20AC;?

The drunk again answered, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, I have not found Jesus.â&#x20AC;?

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seconds. When the drunk began kicking his arms and legs, the preacher pulled him up out of the water and again asked him, “For the love of God, have you found Jesus?”

The drunk wiping his eyes and gasping for breath glanced at the preacher with a puzzled look on his face and asked, “Are you sure this is where he fell in?” MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 69

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Political defeat better than death

By Bill Hall Tell me something: Why is it that members of the military repeatedly risk their lives for their country but most members of Congress will not even risk losing an election?

Why is it that police officers routinely go out there in the night along lonely highways and down dark alleys daring death, but members of the House and Senate tremble in their boots at the thought of defying moneyed lobbyists and ignorant voters on matters of principle?

Why is it that members of the fire department dare run into a fire to save a child, but most members of Congress don’t dare tell a menacing lobbyist with a pot full of cash to put it where the sun don’t shine?

What is it that they fear?

They fear leaving Congress – their love, their joy, their ego drug.

They do not fear for their lives or least of all for their honor. By comparison with a selfless military death, what they fear is a pitiful little setback like losing their current jobs.

They fear something that is wonderful by comparison with dying in a war. They fear anonymity. They fear going home and retiring among their grandchildren.

Most of all, they fear us. And in one sense, they should. We voters today are a nasty, largely ill-informed, and totally selfish bunch. We behave like rabid badgers, snarling at members of Congress, threatening to bring them home and back down to earth.

In many cases, we would be doing them a favor by voting them out of office. We would be rescuing them from a life of rolling over on their backs for alpha lobbyists with fangs full of cash.

But all the Tea Partiers, union kingpins, grayhaired senior activists, rabid environmentalists, overpaid corporate big shots, pharmaceutical lobbyists, and other welchers too cheap to pay their full national dues can’t really hurt members of Congress that much.

Part of the problem is that voters today do not consume much uncolored news. Many among us watch the most heavily slanted cable channels and read narrow-minded Internet drivel that feeds us “facts” invented by people who are as ignorant and pig-headed as we are.

A generation ago, there were only three national television channels and stacks of newspapers that provided a ton of news and only a little opinion. It was much harder then to avoid the straight news while wallowing in propaganda.

Today, we are at the mercy of our own avoidance of accurate information. We are hopelessly susceptible to fantasy we want to hear. And we refuse to believe most of what we need to hear.

Thus we find ourselves with chronically terrified congresspeople who, if they speak their true minds and their honest convictions, fear they will lose the holy grail of victory in the next election.

But is an honorable defeat for too much truthfulness such an awful thing for an ethical person? Is winning an election that important?

It is not as if members of Congress don’t have the golden parachute of lucrative pensions and better health insurance than what they have ever been willing to provide for the rest of us.

Losing your life in the military or as a first responder is a tragedy. By contrast, losing a congressional seat is a disappointment. It is the difference between coming home to your family slightly embarrassed and coming home in a box.

But you should be embarrassed most that you lost our legislature to the moneyed forces of greed who now own it.

It is not like the military. When defeated, at least we bring you back alive. We give you back your friends and your grandchildren to comfort you until you die and join our nation’s real heroes in the cold, cold ground. MSN

Great Falls

APRIL/MAY 2012

Golden Oldies streaming on the radio can jolt you back to memorable moments in time. For this month’s quiz, Billboard Rockin’ Chart Toppers of the 60s, we reflect on some of those musical blasts from the past. Can you name the artists who hit number one on the Billboard charts and their tunes that got you dancing?

Congratulations to Beverly Bermes of Billings who submitted the winning answers to the Famous Inventions quiz that appeared in our February/March 2012 issue. Thank you, Bonita.

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

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 71

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 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, 2012 for our June/July 2012 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website www.idahoseniorindependent.com.

Billboard Rockin’ Chart Toppers of the 60s Created by MSN Staff Below are 25 clues about some of the numberone Billboard hits of the 60s, followed by the 25 artists who made those songs stick in our heads.

On a numbered sheet of paper, match clue with the corresponding artist and send it to us. As an extra challenge, name the songs in the clues. The winner will receive a $25 cash prize. Good luck!

1. This man had the moves, swooning to the lonesome ladies of the evening in 1960.

2. His August 1960 chart topper was about making a fashion statement at the beach, and being embarrassed about it.

3. These women jumped to number one in December 1961, with their snail-mail hit.

4. He may have been blind, but you wouldn’t want to mess with him! He saw his way to the top of the charts in 1961, with his in-your-face-number.

5. Even today, you are likely to hear this group’s 1962 number every time Halloween rolls around.

6. Despite his size, this rocker really gave the crowd a workout in January of 62.

7. She could host a shindig and not care whether or not her guests were having fun, with her 1963 hit.

8. These gals had a reputation to keep with their 1963 hit.

9. This foursome charted a whopping six times in 1964.

10. This group’s playful romance diddy shot to the top in October of 1964.

11. This satchmo blew to the top with this 1964 musical number.

12. Although they swiped the tune from Bob Dylan, this band rocked it up, shooting to the top of the Billboard charts in the summer of 65.

13. This group made the charts in 1965 with this tempting number about a special lady.

14. This British pop group clung to cloud nine when they hit number one in November of 65.

15. This east coast duo “ever-so-quietly” rose to number one in January of 66.

16. Just as her father the very same year, this classy lady stomped her way to the top in 1966.

17. They definitely were not slow in the race to number one when their cheery number hit in March of 67.

18. They had no doubt they had a hit when this playful foursome busted the charts with at the top of year in 67.

19. This young artist demanded respect when she hit the scene in June 1967.

20. He wasted no time, really, when he

rocked the charts in the spring of 68.

21. It is no rumor…. with this Motown crooner, the audience could not stand still. Even the raisins were dancing to this 1968 Billboard hit.

22. This L.A. trio introduced themselves with a rockin’ unconventional, love song in the summer of 1968.

23. This sly group knew about people like you and I, which is why their song raced to top of the Billboard charts in 1969.

24. This group’s sweet tooth got the best of them, that’s why they charted in August of ‘69.

25. This folk group rose to the top in 1969 with a melancholy number about a sad departure.

A. Lesley Gore B. The Byrds C. Elvis Presley D. Aretha Franklin E. Manford Man F. Rolling Stones G. The Marvelettes H. Nancy Sinatra I. Marvin Gaye J. Chubby Checker K. Sly & the Family Stone L. Peter, Paul, & Mary M. Ray Charles N. Otis Redding O. The Beatles P. Louis Armstrong Q. Simon & Garfunkel R. The Turtles S. The Temptations T. The Angels U. The Archies V. The Doors W. Bobby “Boris” Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers X. The Monkees Y. Brian Hyland MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2012

Across 1. Tim Lincecumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nickname (2 words) 5. Diamond corners 9. Have in your fantasy baseball team 10. Hitterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stat 11. First name of the one the most famous hitters of all time 12. Mark â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ___â&#x20AC;? Fidrych, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers 14. Underhanded 16. Touch a runner to put him out 18. â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ so fast!â&#x20AC;?

19. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s between the back edge of the infield and the fence 42. Place on the bat 23. Raise where the ball will travel 25. Pitcher, Clemens the greatest distance (2 26. Friendly words) 28. Oakland team 45. Yankeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; star 30. Lady 46. Red Sox pitcher, ___ 32. Like ___ Wakefield 33. Old record 48. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take me out to the 34. Roman 6 ballgameâ&#x20AC;? subject 35. ____ a base 49. Lost to the Phillies in 37. _____ play 40. Continue! (2 words) the 2008 World Series Down 1. One of the greatest hitters of all time, known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Georgia Peachâ&#x20AC;?

(2 words) 2. Defense mistake 3. Phillies top pitcher, first name 4. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hammerinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;? last name 5. In 1951, he hit the â&#x20AC;&#x153;shot that was heard around the worldâ&#x20AC;? (2 words) 6. Pitcher who was given the most expensive contract for a pitcher in the

history of baseball, as of May 2011 7. Direction 8. Play where the batter has to swing at the ball while the runner tries to steal (3 words) 13. Period 14. Go fast down a mountain 15. Knock out, abbr.

17. Snagged 20. Advocate 21. One of the bases 22. Do very well at 24. Atlanta players 27. Not me 28. Against __ odds 29. Pace 31. Short ___ (catches a ball as it bounces) 36. Sense of self 37. __ or die 38. Big home run hitter, first name 39. Joey Votto plays for this team 41. Giantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; giant, Mel 43. Items purchased 44. Friend 47. â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ Baseballâ&#x20AC;? starring Tom Selleck MSN

Answers to Famous Inventions Created by MSN Staff J â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Eli Whitney B â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Henry W. Seeley Q â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Judson L. Whitcomb V â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Edwin Herbert Land C - Johann Vaaler Y - Samuel Finley Breese Morse M â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tim Berners-Lee H â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Otto Fredrick Rohwedder S â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ezra Warner A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ruth Wakefield P â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dr. John Stith Pemberton W â&#x20AC;&#x201C; George Crumb

F â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dr. Percy LeBaron Spencer E â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thomas Moore U â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Earl John Montagu L â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thomas Sullivan I â&#x20AC;&#x201C; James Naismith D â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Frank Henry Fleer O â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Arthur Wynne X â&#x20AC;&#x201C; John Lloyd Wright G â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Frank J. Zamboni K â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Benjamin Franklin T â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alessandro Volta N â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Galileo Galilei R â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mary Anderson MSN

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Neighbors East and West: A Trip to the West Bank, Palestine

By Sam Neff, Whitefish Once again Neighbors East and West (NEW), an organization that arranges people-to-people travel, sponsored a trip to a part of the world not often seen by Americans. This past June a group of twenty-four, including five from the Flathead, traveled to Palestine, and spent a week in the West Bank, from Hebron to Jenin. The travelers, my wife and I among them, also spent six days in Israel – three in Nazareth and three in Jerusalem. The main point of the trip was to meet Israeli and Palestinian people, and learn about their lives.

We were fortunate to be able to stay in homes of Palestinians, both in the busy city of Beit Sahour near Bethlehem, and in the small village of Bil’in not far from the green line that marks the boundary between Israel and the West Bank. In both places we immediately felt at home, and we were treated as welcome guests.

We also encountered Palestinians carrying on their lives of business and commerce, and making the most of a difficult situation. We saw the busy trade around Bethlehem in religious items carved from olive wood, and fair trade producers of soap, olive oil, za’atar (roasted sesame seeds) and other uniquely Palestinian products.

We had many meetings with Christians, Muslims, and Jews, living on both sides of the green line.

We met with nearly a dozen Israeli Jews who had dedicated their lives to exposing the injustices of the Israeli

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APRIL/MAY 2012

occupation of the West Bank, and who were convinced that it should end soon for the benefit of everyone involved.

However, we did not see the occupation’s stopping. Instead we were constantly exposed to the ways in which it impinges on the lives of Palestinians.

In Bethlehem we saw the wall meant to separate Israelis from Palestinians. We followed it as it snaked around Rachel’s tomb, blocking main streets and disrupting communication. In that region the wall provides a perfect canvas for graffiti.

Hebron was bizarre. The main part of the city has a Palestinian population of 130,000, with 500 Israeli settlers in the middle, living mostly in the upper floors of buildings on either side of the old commercial center. Israel has taken control of that part of the city, still home to 30,000 Palestinians.

We were well aware of the 2,500 Israeli soldiers in the city to protect the settlers, and the many street closings and checkpoints throughout the area that severely limit the Palestinian mobility.

Many of the shops in the center of Hebron are closed, and above those shops which lie under the settlers’ homes the shopkeepers have installed nets to catch the garbage that is thrown down on them from above.

Bil’in, the village we enjoyed visiting, is about six miles from the green line. Near Bil’in the bar-

rier has separated thousands of valuable olive trees from their owners. For the past five years the people of Bil’in have been demonstrating nonviolently to get back their land.

We saw the separation fence and the Israeli soldiers behind it, the tear gas canisters, and the ashes of many olive trees owned by Bil’in farmers but inside the fence. The trees had been burned to the ground by the Israeli settlers.

We left the West Bank with great respect for the people who somehow could find the strength to maintain their lives despite great adversity, and who treated us so graciously and warmly.

We spent six busy days in Israel, filled with visits to pilgrimage sites and more meetings. Finally, during the last afternoon of our stay we had an opportunity to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the Old City. Then it was time for a final dinner, packing, and an early morning departure. We left the Holy Land tired, better informed, and certainly perplexed.

Since returning to the United States we have given several programs about our travels to the Holy Land. Anyone interested in seeing more of our photos or learning more about our trip can contact us at 406-862-1629, or by email at samn@ earlham.edu. More detailed accounts of our trip are also available at the website, www.neighborseastandwest.org. MSN

To Be Eight Again!

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A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching his wife, who was looking at herself in the mirror.

Since her birthday was not far off, he asked what she would like to have for her birthday.

“I’d like to be eight again,” she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Fruit Loops, and then took her to Adventure World theme park. What a day! They went on every ride in the park – the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Roller Coaster, everything there was.

Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach was a little queasy. He then took her to a McDonald’s where she ordered a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.

Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure!

Finally, she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted.

He leaned over to his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, “Well Dear, what was it like being eight again?”

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. “I meant my dress size!” she said. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 75

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