Montana Senior News Oct/Nov 2012 by Montana Senior News

Glacier Park Bears Photo by Dianna Troyer

COMPLIMENTARY! TAKE ONE! FREE! Jackie Bread Creates Contemporary Art through A Traditional Form

Jackie Bread wraps up in a wool blanket with the beaded border that the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian bought from her this summer. The four portraits include two of her ancestors, Yellow Kidney and Little Dog. The other two are Curley and Thunder. [Photo by Bernice Karnop]

By Bernice Karnop In August, Great Falls artist, Jackie Bread, showed an indigo wool blanket with large beaded border at the Santa Fe Indian Market. The border carries four highly rendered portraits of historic Blackfeet men, tipi decorations, the night sky, the daytime sky, the morning star, and other designs. Each one is stitched dramatically in pixels of tiny colored beads. It is embellished with ribbons, ermine, and shiny cloth silhouettes of the same hue. Out of all the fine art at this popular market, the blanket caught the eye of the director of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. He purchased it for its collection. “That was a really nice surprise,” says Jackie, who has other beadwork at the Smithsonian as well. “It made me feel like what I am doing is valid and respected. You really can’t ask for more than that.” Her work is indeed valued and respected. She has won close to 90 awards since she started showing in 1995. Her beaded art can be seen in The Museum of the Rockies, the C.M. Russell Museum, and the Montana Historical Society. It has been in displays at such places as the Museum of Art and Design in New York, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Holter Museum of Art, and Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum. Jackie has been making photo realistic portraits in beads for more than 30 years. This is an unusual subject for beading, and the faces are striking with light and shade from both translucent and transparent colored beads. She uses a traditional technique called the appliqué stitch, where one needle and thread carries the beads, and the other needle and thread sews them down. It is very durable. The technique is traditional, but the work is very contemporary, according to Jackie. The themes are almost exclusively Blackfeet because that is what she grew up with on a ranch outside of Browning. “That’s what I know,” she explains. Although her grandmother died before she was born, the beadwork she left mesmerized Jackie. She examined the stitches and the colors to figure out how and why her grandmother chose what she did. In this way, Jackie taught herself the art of beading. After she graduated from Browning High School, Jackie planned to attend Montana State in Bozeman. But in April that year, she learned about a school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, called the Institute of American Indian Art. It is the only Native American art school, and it is internationally renowned. “It changed my world,” says Jackie. She had thought beadwork was a craft that you used to make things for family or to make small items that you could sell. In Santa Fe, she discovered that beading requires every skill that a fine artist uses, from being able to compose a drawing, to using positive and negative space, highlights, and shadow. She discovered that you do not just have to create designs with beads; you can be individual and very creative. She likes to say that her pieces each have (Cont’d on pg 29)

PAGE 2 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 3

Montana Senior News A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3363 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3363 406-761-0305 or 800-672-8477 FAX 406-761-8358 montanaseniornews.com email: montsrnews@bresnan.net

Become An Informed Voter In November These days in our rough political climate, politicians/Congress use vital services as a bargaining chip to woo the lobbyists who feather their nests. They “say” Social Security and Medicare are going broke. Well neither would be “broke” if these elected officials hadn’t used the money over decades for their slush fund, like to pay for the Vietnam War and hide spending for instance. And, they simply didn’t put the money back into those funds as they should have. People like me have paid into Social Security and Medicare all our lives and have no time left to save for the future, because the future is now. That’s OUR money. At the end of last year, these same people couldn’t figure out how to keep the government running because they are “broke.” Yet this past March we gave the Egyptian Army $1.5 billion dollars after their dictator was overthrown. Now if we can’t make our ends meet, how can they keep giving away money, not just to Egypt, but all over the world, especially to countries that don’t particularly like us? There are some tools to help us make better choices this election year. Check out followthemoney.org to see who is bankrolling whom in the statewide elections. Also, for the federal election there is opensecrets.org and some others if you do a search. There is also votesmart.org that lists the can-

didates who have the political courage to tell you what they believe. In November, be an informed voter! Marla Clark East Helena

Fond Recollections Of Montana Every time I read Montana Senior News, I am fascinated by your consistently interesting articles. For example, I just clipped the prostate cancer article by Plato Rosinke, to give to my friend Ken, who was just diagnosed with that. I myself am an 8-year prostate cancer survivor. One would think that after several years now, I should not be surprised. I never claimed to be the smartest spy in M15, if you get my meaning. Having spent my long-ago childhood in Helena soon after WWII, and fast forward to today, living as I do in the West Village of New York City, one might be forgiven for thinking I would have left Montana behind me by now. No. Can you leave common sense behind? Well, maybe, but I hope I haven’t done that. I may have lost a few brain cells, living as I do generally in the East maybe particularly in The Big Apple, but not all of the common sense I began to acquire starting in Helena. All the best wishes to the Good Folks in Big Sky Country. John F. Early New York City

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 Gebo Rhonda Lee Peter Thornburg Sherrie Smith Nann Parrett

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

PAGE 4 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Against “Against Dying With Dignity” Title Perhaps it was an oversite [sic] but the title that was applied to the letter from Ted Friesen in the Aug/Sept 2012 issue was very unprofessional. A quick read of his letter would not render the title, “Against Dying with Dignity.” Would it? I hope you agree. Bradley Williams

Suffering For Christ’s Sake Is Good I always think of a testimony I heard years ago, whenever I see people go through suffering, or through a bad time. The story was by Kay, who helped care for and became a witness of the suffering of a wonderful lady who had a stroke. A part of the testimony came from her eulogy, “No matter how bad the vessel was cracking, it seemed that Laura’s belief in God became stronger.” Laura became a witness of faith to those around her. Part of the testimony reads, “Laura taught me patience (I have a lot of patience – she taught me more.)” God does allow suffering in our lives and, through it, we become witnesses to others. Through our faith, we teach others the patience of God, the love of God, the Grace of God, and we, ourselves, learn to wait on the Lord. Our suffering is what brings our hearts into humbleness, where we let go of this world and prepare our hearts to stand before the throne of our mighty and holy God. If there is any testimony that compels us to be strong and keep the faith, it is Paul’s in “2 Corinthians 12:7. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I stand with Montanans Against Assisted

Suicide and thank them for giving of themselves to make Montanans aware of the truth about “aid -in-dying.” Randi Meehan Great Falls

Suicide Rate Already High – Not Okay For Doctors To Kill For Whatever Reason I am happy to see that Bradley Williams and Ted Friesen are fighting against Assisted Suicide in our state. As a retired doctor from the state of Montana, I too am concerned over the issue of Physician Assisted Suicide. First, and most importantly, Physician Assisted Suicide is NOT legal in Montana. The Baxter case far from legalized Assisted Suicide in our state. It merely gave physicians a “possible defense” should they be criminally charged in assisting in the death of one of their patients. This is not a position any healthcare provider should ever be subject to. The very oath they have taken says they pledge “to do no harm.” Doctor’s are often wrong in determining a prognosis for their patient’s demise. Depression is a primary reason that a patient would choose this end, and often that is associated with pain or hopelessness. Pain can be addressed through palliative measures, but as tracked through the Washington and Oregon profile, the treatment of depression is often not addressed. Allowing Physician Assisted Suicide could position our most vulnerable citizens in a place of abuse by family members or others, that find the care of an infirmed person too much to deal with, or worse yet, would like to benefit financially from the death of that individual. We already have an excessively high occurrence of elder abuse, not to mention our state being one of the highest for suicide. This is the wrong message to send to our populace – that it is okay to have a doctor kill someone for whatever reason. I pray the citizens of Montana think seriously about where this could lead and remember, we too, could someday be placed in the position of victim. David Hafer Dayton

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Montanans Might Move Away If Doctors Encouraged To Practice Assisted Suicide I strongly support the editorials by Bradley Williams and Ted Friesen regarding assisted suicide. It is sobering to see that where people choose to live can be influenced by where they hope to have the freedom to continue living! We need to reject proposals to encourage doctors to practice assisted suicide. This is not in the public interest, for the following reasons: Assisted suicide can foster elder abuse by allowing heirs to pressure older people to cut their lives short. It can also allow health care practitioners to steer people toward assisted suicide. Besides its effects on the elderly and chronically

ill, I am very concerned about this death culture and its effect on our young people. We have a high rate of suicide already, and legalization and/ or encouragement of assisted suicide will only make it worse (as it has in Oregon). Prognoses for how long a person with a terminal disease will live are based on averages, which means that some people live a lot longer than diagnosed. Encouraging people to commit suicide will make a terminal diagnosis meaningless, because there will no longer be reliable data to determine how long patients would live out their natural lives if allowed to live. We should not encourage assisted suicide in any way. All of our lives depend on it. Ruth Plesner Victor MSN

Vote In This Election As If Your Future Depends On It... Because It Does! By Bob Campbell Having been denied our right to control corporate negative advertising in our Montana elections, we have experienced such a saturation of negative political ads that the credibility of our entire political system is threatened. For years, I have been speaking to schools and service clubs about our constitutional history and, while admitting it was imperfect, urged working within our system to improve the quality of our lives as our founders envisioned. This year, the Congress has failed to meet even the most basic requirements of governing, and this special interest paralysis has resulted in a record low level of public respect â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just 9 percent. In Montana, we have a stellar state constitution that includes many protections that would have made the national financial disaster impossible. We have required an open government and a strict requirement of a balanced budget each year. We do not allow unrelated amendments to be attached to bills in the legislature, and our rules would never allow one person to derail all legislation. What we do not have in Montana is a good faith working relationship between the governor and the legislative leaders. Even with a surplus of $450 million, there is no suggestion that a short special session could restore some of the cuts

that were not necessary in the last session, which underestimated our state revenue. Our current crisis in confidence in all government is being tested as never before in Montana. The programs we have supported for decades are now under attack, and if the special interests have their way, many will be a thing-of-the-past. We cannot let that happen. As a registered voter, you will receive your Voter Information Guide from the office of Secretary of State, which you should read for the discussion of the six ballot issues to be decided. On the national scene, the televised debates will give you a good discussion of the major issues and allow you to have an informed vote to protect your interest and our future generations. This year the Libertarian party has active candidates, and such third parties have been influential in advocating positions later adopted as policy. We will get Montana back when the smoke leaves our valleys, and the special interests leave the state. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 5

PAGE 6 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Family Tree Center – Helping To Stop The Hurt Before It Happens

WE DO OUR PART. YOU DO YOURS.

By Stacy Dreessen The Family Tree Center, Billings Exchange Club’s Child Abuse Prevention Center, will host its 27th Annual Festival of Trees, November 29 through December 1. There will be a Winter Wonderland with 40 decorated trees to be auctioned on November 29 and activities for all ages throughout the weekend. The event funds Family Tree Center Programs that provide support and education in order to build strong families. The Family Tree Center is a private, non-profit agency, and The Festival of Trees is its main fundraiser. The Family Tree Center has been working with families for 27 years, to provide parenting classes, in-home mentoring, respite childcare, and education on preventing child abuse and neglect. Please help us “stop the hurt before it happens.” It is the only agency in the area with the sole mission of preventing child abuse and neglect. Come to the Shrine November 30 through December 1 and make The Festival of Trees a part of your tradition. If you are not able to attend the Festival of Trees this year and would like to support our mission of child abuse prevention, you may do so by donating through our web site, or you may donate as part of your annual year-end giving. Please call us at 406-252-9799 or visit festivaloftrees@qwestoffice. net or familytreecenterbillings.org for more information. MSN

Working together, we can enjoy the beneﬁts and conveniences of natural gas while keeping our community safe.

Montana Veterans Memorial… A Place Of Honor

NATURAL GAS SMELL? If you smell gas, evacuate the building immediately. Call us from another location and we’ll send help. (888) 467-2669

CARBON MONOXIDE CONCERNS? Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. And contact us if you’re concerned about carbon monoxide in your home. We offer 24/7 assistance. www.northwesternenergy.com

By Larry Malby Along River Drive in Great Falls, an inscription on a masonry wall catches those eyes that drift away from the scenic Black Eagle Falls on the right. Three quick left turns unveil a panoply of blackened walls that morph into thousands of small granite tiles as the distance closes. U.S., Montana, and POW-MIA flags flutter 30 feet high in the ever-present breeze. Thirty steps from the flags lead to an inner circle framed by more tiles that are centered by a towering bronze Celtic Warrior sculpted by the late Marvin “Doc” Brewster, a highly decorated Vietnam combat corpsman. The “HONOR” belongs to America’s veterans whose names and branches of service are inscribed on the tiles. Thousands of visitors in their own way pay honor. Movements here are slow and deliberate. A figure rests quietly on a granite bench with a contemplative far away gaze. A finger points as a name is found on a wall. A hand soothingly caresses a tile. A tear follows another as a head slowly nods. A tiny memento sometimes remains behind the tile: “Our Dad.” Montana Veterans Memorial touches not only the senses; it reaches into the heart. To honor a loved one who has served, call Montana Veterans Memorial at 406-454-9070 or visit www.montanaveteransmemorial.org. MSN

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 7

PAGE 8 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

There are times when the poignancy of a situation reaches us in such a way that we cannot escape its emotional impact. This month’s Remember When piece will give us all pause to consider how we spend our time and what are the most important things to us considering our relatively short lives and particularly when facing the challenge of our mortality. Thank you to Karen Burkett of Kalispell for sharing Slow Dance with our readers. Karen works for Real Estate Management

Specialists, managers of numerous senior retirement apartments across Montana and is the winner of our $25 Remember When prize for this issue. 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 fea-

tures 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 December 2012/January 20103 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.

Slow Dance By a Terminally Ill Young Woman in a New York Hospital Submitted by Karen Burkett, Kalispell Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You’d better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last.

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die cause you never had time to call and say, “Hi?”

Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask, “How are you?” do you hear the reply?

You’d better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last.

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?

When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there.

You’d better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last. Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift ... thrown away. Life is not a race. Do take it slower. Hear the music. Before the song is over. MSN

If you have difficulty understanding words clearly over the phone, just fill out this form! You may qualify for free assistive telephone equipment through the

Montana Telecommunications Access Program!

The Montana Telecommunications Access Program (MTAP) provides FREE assistive telephone equipment to those who qualify, making it easier to use the phone to do business or keep in touch with family and friends.

Equipment available through MTAP includes: Amplified (louder) telephones Captioned telephones Loud bell ringers TTYs (text telephones) Artificial Larynxes Much, much more!

The Ghosts of Jefferson County

Sept 8 - Nov 17, 2012 Yes, I want to learn more about MTAP!

Return form to: MTAP P. O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604

Name: ____________________________________

Address: __________________________________

Forty-two Black & White Photographs of the Ghost Towns of Jefferson County

City: ______________________________________

State: _____________ Zip Code: _______________

Admission Free, Donations Accepted

Montana Department Phone: _____________________________________

of Public Health and Human Services

For more information just mail us this form or call toll-free:1-800-833-8503

@aV_ 7cZ DRe " 'a^ %!' *$$ &&#)

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 9

Healing Veterans Through Fly-fishing By Debra Polhemus Montana Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. Board Member As fall quickly approaches, and we find ourselves deep into the political season, I hope you will find it refreshing that I am open and honest. My confessions are that I am neither a veteran, nor presently serving in the military, nor do I have any history with fly-fishing. But, I consider myself a patriot, and I wanted to find a way to help veterans and active duty military personnel. Over the past decade, as our young and brave women and men have dutifully answered our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call, it has been well reported that many of these soldiers have had some difficulty transitioning back into their non-combat life. A number have Post Traumatic Stress Disease (PTSD). From this genesis, Montana Project Healing Waters (MtPHW) was formed by a group of Helena-area fly-fishing enthusiasts, many of whom are veterans. For the past three years, we have hosted up to 50 veterans per year in our fly tying classes, fly-fishing lessons, and river excursions. One of our founders, a fly-fishing enthusiast and veteran, says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The healing qualities of flyfishing have been well-documented. For a veteran who is experiencing the effects of PTSD, the solitude, peace, outdoor beauty combined with the focus required to complete the task, is a very healing experience.â&#x20AC;? I have also witnessed the camaraderie as the

veterans bond with each other through their new adventures. Whether from service in Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan, these â&#x20AC;&#x153;brothersâ&#x20AC;? easily bond and will hopefully provide a lasting support system. I got involved after a flight into Helena where I sat next to an injured soldier from Alabama, who was coming to Montana for a weeklong excursion on the Smith River that was coordinated by the national Project Healing Waters group. He was eager to share his military experiences, and was especially excited for his adventure. After I de-planed, I approached a volunteer, offered my services, and soon became a board member. It has been an especially rewarding experience! MtPHW takes great pride in offering this healing experience to qualified veterans at no expense. However, we are only able to do this through the generosity of the Helena area communities. If you would like to support Montana Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, please send your donation to MTPHWFF, PO Box 1798, Helena, MT 59624. You can find out how to participate by contacting us on Facebook â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Montana. Thank you for your support. MSN

Mann Mortgage

I worked may way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty. - Groucho Marx

Reverse Mortgage Loans for Homeowners 62 & Older

T R I E D , T R U S T E D , P R OV E N

Â&#x2021; WK 6W 6 *UHDW )DOOV

3D\RII ([LVWLQJ 0RUWJDJH Â&#x2021; &RQVROLGDWH &UHGLW &DUG 'HEW &RYHU +HDOWK &DUH &RVWV Â&#x2021; 0HHW 'DLO\ 0RQWKO\ ([SHQVHV Â&#x2021; 5HPRGHO RU 5HSDLU <RXU +RPH

Terry Graham

Kari Thurston

terry.graham@mannmortgage.com

kari.thurston@mannmortgage.com

License #258004

Mike Elliott

License #306599

License #377171

mike.elliott@mannmortgage.com

Do You Need More Money for Retirement?

Since 1865

Make a gift and increase your income with a Salvation Army charitable gift annuity. Q

Fixed income for life Relief from taxes

Income now or later Support your community

ONE-LIFE GIFT ANNUITY RATES Age Rate

Age Rate

65 66 67 68 69 70 71

72 73 74 75 76 77 78

79 80 81 82 83 84 85

86 9.2% 87 9.5% 88 9.8% 89 10.1% 90+ 10.5%

5.7% 5.8% 5.9% 6.0% 6.0% 6.1% 6.2%

6.3% 6.5% 6.6% 6.7% 6.9% 7.0% 7.2%

7.4% 7.6% 7.8% 8.0% 8.3% 8.6% 8.9%

Two-life rates available. Rates subject to change.

For information call 800-357-0856 or return coupon.

Name(s) Address City, State, Zip Age(s) Phone ( ) E-mail The Salvation Army Stephany Marreel, Planned Giving Director 1370 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, CO 80203 Toll Free: (800) 357-0856 E-mail: stephany.marreel@usw.salvationarmy.org Visit: www.salgift.org

MSN ACGA4a ÂŠ2012 The Salvation Army

PAGE 10 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

The Color of Sunlight by Michelle Alexander, RN and Michelle Diane Rose; 2010. “As with nearly all memoirs, this book is not so much a dry reporting of facts as it is an impression; a moving portrait through the mind’s eye of the events surrounding the last days of a singularly unique person,” the authors explain in the beginning of this well-written and well-edited, self-published book. It is a true accounting of how a chance meeting changed one woman’s life and another woman’s death. And it is that heart-felt truth that draws you in and keeps you there to the very end. The addendum on the title page of The Color of Sunlight explains that the memoir is “a true story of the unconditional acceptance between a rural RN and a blind, terminally-ill transsexual.” In reading The Color of Sunlight, you may, like Michelle Alexander, be “challenged, shaken and jolted out” of your comfort zone. But the experience is well worth it. The story begins in an interview room of the Kalispell police department. Alexander has been accused of the murder – actually assisted suicide – of her terminally ill patient, a person who was much more than just another patient. Once a nurse crosses the boundaries from professional caregiver to best friend, everything changes. It all began one day in March when Alexander arrived at work. “I’m a nurse, a Home Health Care provider,” she explains. “One of those perennially cheerful women with a degree, a sensible car that always needs washing, and a big black bag that’s somewhat heavier than it looks.” The only thing unusual about that morning was the new patient to which she was being assigned. The woman, whose name was listed in the case files as Mishelle Woodring, was suffering from an infection that was seriously aggravating her already advanced COPD. She was also blind – had been since childhood. She had a fractured vertebra that resulted in chronic back pain, and she was transgender. Okay, a bit of a challenge, but a patient in need of Alexander’s care, no matter what. So Alexander packed up her bag and headed off to the address on Woodring’s folder. “I turned the knob, pushed, and another part of my life began in that instant,” Alexander writes. “There was an aura of… serenity around her. I’ve seen that sort of thing before in terminal patients who know things we don’t… it’s like blood and bone: an integral component of their existence, for whatever existence remains to them.” Alexander was a bit uncomfortable and confused by the person who was her patient, but she found herself immediately drawn to her in a very special way. “Even though I considered Mishelle an odd character, I was actually looking forward to seeing

Ántonia “ the whole adventure of our childhood” By Willa Cather | October 2012

CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH READING.

Full month of events, lectures, and book discussions at www.ReadMissoula.org

her again. It never occurred to me that I was crossing lines by thinking of her as something other than a patient… she was from a different world, one I never knew existed.” Almost as though these things were out of her control – as though it were fated to happen – Alexander the RN began to think of Woodring the patient as a friend. She wanted to learn more about this exotic creature’s life; she wanted to understand her in a deep and personal way. The knowledge and understanding would come in bits and spurts over the next few months; the unconditional acceptance came immediately – not in the way we accept someone who is different, who has no connection with nor affect on our lives, but in the way we accept someone who is vital to our own existence. One of the first bursts of insight came when Alexander realized that because of her total blindness, “Mishelle could not possibly compare herself with other women and know that she wanted to look like that or be like that… she would never actually see herself as feminine.” Because Woodring had never actually seen what a woman was supposed to look like, she had no visual role model to follow; all she had was her sense of self. At that moment, Alexander decided that her patient was “the most self-aware individual that I’d ever met… possibly the sanest, most authentic person I’d ever met.” Alexander’s bond with her patient grew over the next weeks and months. She began spending more and more of her free time with Woodring. Alexander introduced her patient to her own family; she gave Woodring her home phone number and her email address. She talked to her or emailed her almost every day. She began to think of her as her best friend. She broke almost every rule governing the nurse/patient relationship. “I loved her: not because she was unloved or that she needed to be loved, but simply because she was worth it,” Alexander insists. But at the time, she really did not know what the next few months held in store. Alexander the RN was the caretaker, but Woodring the patient was the teacher. “It has been only two short months since I’d… had my comfortable, complacent, day-to-day routine of nurse, mother, and housewife turned upside down and inside out. I’d been challenged, shaken, and jolted out of that rut, that predictable routine.” At least in the predictable routine, Alexander was safe. She was content. She would never have found herself accused of murder. The Color of Sunlight takes the reader along for a detailed journey of how their friendship grows and how it encompasses the other people in their lives. As Woodring’s condition worsens, Alexander cares for her as only a loving friend could. She comes to know her patient intimately – to share

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

and understand her innermost secrets. At least thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what she believes. Even when she discovers the secrets that Woodring has been keeping from her, she continues to love and care for her. Then one night, when the two of them are alone in Woodringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, the inevitable end comes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I looked at the sky and the flowers and listened to the world go on around meâ&#x20AC;Ś trying to see the world as fundamentally no different than it had once beenâ&#x20AC;Ś. But it was. It would always be different. I had changed, and I could never go back to what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been or anything like the life Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d once led.â&#x20AC;? This statement had more truth to it than Alexander realized. Within days of Woodringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death, the Kalispell police were notified â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the circumstances

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 11

surrounding the last days and hours of her death seemed suspicious. Alexander was the prime suspect. Her life was about to change even more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hell is sitting numbly waiting for the phone to ring, waiting to hear if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a job; a reputation; a lifeâ&#x20AC;Ś waiting to hear that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wanted for murder; that everyone thinks you did awful things to a helpless personâ&#x20AC;Ś Hell is waiting.â&#x20AC;? The Color of Sunlight grew out of the journey of friendship, written by a nurse who â&#x20AC;&#x153;hates writingâ&#x20AC;? but had an important story to tell, and a writer who did not live the story, but understood the importance of getting it out. The collaboration between Michelle Alexander and Michelle Rose resulted in an enlightening and inspiring memoir that is well worth reading, no matter what your attitudes toward gender identity might be. MSN

Leaving a Legacy to Glacier National Park The creation of Glacier as a national park was only the beginning. It will take both public and private support to preserve this precious place! Leaving a legacy to Glacier National Park is a wonderful way to make a lasting gift to the Park. Planned gifts allow you to donate to Glacier in the future, even though it may not be practical today. Planned gifts can be designated through bequests, charitable annuities, retirement plans, or life insurance. Bequests by will are the simplest form of planned giving and may be designated to a specific project or program, or they may be unrestricted. Another very popular way to leave a legacy to the Park is through the Glacier National Park Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trees of Remembrance program. A memorial tree offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the reforestation efforts in Glacier. By supporting the memorial tree program, not only are you leaving a perpetual gift in memory of a loved one, you are also leaving a legacy to Glacier. For more information on other ways to support Glacier National Park and the tax deductions allowed for various types of gifts, please contact the Fund at 406-892-3250 or visit www.glaciefund. org. MSN

Heartwarming Stories Possible With Planned Giving At NeighborWorks, we hear success stories every day. Our stories weave a fabric of community revitalization, homeownership, safe and affordable rental housing for seniors and families, anti-foreclosure work, and development of workforce housing to fuel business growth and expansion. The story of Jennifer is no exception. Jennifer is no spring chicken, but she wanted to own her own home. Her family did not think it was possible at her age, but Jenny persevered. She came to NeighborWorks and learned how to make her dream come true. She worked hard, saved her money, and joined every NWGF pro-

gram for which she was eligible. Now, as a new homeowner, she says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m secure. I feel planted, and I know I never have to move again.â&#x20AC;? And Jenny, who purchased her home during the winter months, added this poignant comment, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the first time in 10 years that I have been warm. I go into the kitchen, and it is warm. I go into the bedroom and it is warm. What a wonderful feeling.â&#x20AC;? Please consider a planned gift to the NeighborWorks Endowment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Place to Call Home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and help us continue to create success stories. To learn more, please call Sheila Rice at 406761-5861. MSN

Man blames fate for other accidents but feels personally responsible for a hole in one. - Martha Beckman

Reverse Mortgage Loans for Homeowners 62 and Older

Lifesmemories in stone

s www.gcmonument.com 1035 Ronan St, Missoula L OCALLY OW N ED & OPERATED FA MILY B USINESS

t 1BZPĂ˛ FYJTUJOH .PSUHBHF t $POTPMJEBUF $SFEJU $BSE EFCU t $PWFS )FBMUI $BSF $PTUT t .FFU %BJMZ BOE .POUIMZ FYQFOTFT t 3FNPEFM PS SFQBJS ZPVS IPNF $BMM GPS B $PNQMJNFOUBSZ $POTVMUBUJPO

Kathy G. Earle 3FWFSTF .PSUHBHF "EWJTPS

0ĂłDF 406-258-7526 t $FMM 406-240-1695 LFBSMF!HVJMENPSUHBHF OFU 4 )JHHJOT "WF 4UF " .JTTPVMB .5 *OEJWJEVBM /.-4 (VJME .PSUHBHF $P /.-4 *% #SBODI /.-4

PAGE 12 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

We can help Professional in home support: Filing & paperwork Household bills & statements Internet research Computing & household electronics Customer service intermediary Free consultation Bozeman and surrounding area

406-600-4992 blueskieshmllc@gmail.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss Wonderful advice for any age and certainly for any new relationship, whether it’s love or friendship. If you are looking for friendship or love, take a few minutes to look through the personal ads below. Love could lurk on one of these pages. To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message, address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. When you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please be sure you submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive responses. Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of true love! Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the December 2012/ January 2013 issue, the deadline is November 10, 2012.

to take care of and a gentleman to lean on when needed. This is a great time of life to get to know new people and explore. Reply MSN, Dept. 29102, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWM, 61, 165 lbs., I am seeking correspondence with a single, Christian lady interested in gardening, nature, country life, and herbal healing. I am also interested in bible study. Kindness and a good sense of humor are a plus. Reply MSN, Dept. 29101, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF, 69, seeking someone special to share my hopes and dreams. Let’s meet and see if we are made for each other. 69+ please. Great Falls area only. Reply MSN, Dept. 29105, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF, Great Falls area, looking for a go-to guy for an occasional dinner, concert, and dancing on a Saturday night. I am an easygoing, sociable girl, who likes to have someone

SWM, 61, seeks companionship with a single lady, 61-75, who likes to kiss and cuddle. Personality is more important to me than looks in a long-term relationship. I am a non-smoker and a non-drinker. Please send picture and phone number. I will answer all replies. Reply MSN, Dept. 29103, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. WWM, seeking a lady with common interests plus adding her own – like a bucket list! Must haves would be good conversation, hand-holding walks, looking for that small cafe for candlelit dining, all types of traveling, appreciation of several types of music to include; jazz, country, and classical, and cuddling at day’s end with a toddy or two. I quit smoking, but to each his own; however, no drugs. Less important to me are age, religion, race, ethnicity, and politics (maybe). If the lady I am seeking goes for shopping and yard sales, I’ll tag along and maybe even drop a buck or two. Let’s try it all. No picture necessary, but if you insist, send yours first. Reply MSN, Dept. 29104, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF, Scandinavian decent, 5’6”, slim, brown hair, brown eyes, attractive, up-beat, fun-loving, sense of humor, spiritual Christian. Enjoy cooking, spoiling, togetherness, walks, camping, outdoor activities, traveling, exploring new places, old ones, too. I like art, movies, reading, trying new things. I can be open and flexible in our decisions in life. Sharing the same values is important. Accepting each other’s uniqueness. Want to meet a gentleman, 65-75, warm, caring, romantic, openhearted with sense of humor, secure, intelligent. I

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

want someone to care for, respect, love, and laugh with for the rest of our lives. Time is wasting. Let’s make life exciting! Will consider relocating; where we live is not important. I’m a little bit country. No smoking or drugs. Please send photo with phone number and address. Reply MSN, Dept. 29106, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

sibility of long-term relationship. Someone who is kind, understanding, and can accept me for who I am on the inside. Must be willing to meet me half way in life. Depending on where you live, I would be willing to eventually meet you half way. Must be between 50 and 65. Will respond to all. Reply MSN, Dept. 29109, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

WWM, 68 years young, 6’5”, 245 lbs. N/S, N/D, N/D. Like garage sales, hunting, fishing, long walks, long drives, and seeing new country. Own home in Stillwater County. Looking for slender, healthy, active lady who wants to have fun and enjoy life. I will travel to meet you. Send picture if possible, phone, likes, dislikes, and wants. Reply MSN, Dept. 29107, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF, very adventurous, western-styled, young-at-heart, NW-Montana-girl (mid-60s). Seeks her “cowboy at heart” who loves the Lord and is looking for a happy, petite lady for some long-termed “happy trails.” As a retired, country, old-time rock and original material singer/writer, I’m still into music, concerts, crafts, art, some flea marketing, outdoor activities, cooking, gardening, occasional drink or two. A non-smoker, but healthful herbals and “coast to coast AM radio.” I’m of Scotch/Irish/Chippewa/Norwegian/French ancestry and ready for a man who isn’t afraid to show his love without mush or gush. Couch potato is OK some nights, as long as we share the same interests and are growing. No “old dudes” though. Fame and fortune totally insignificant, but honesty and openness are important! Are you out there somewhere? Send photo and some “stuff” about you, okay? I’m pretty picky and waiting for your letter. Reply MSN, Dept. 29110, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Ladies – 68-year-old Kalispell man, retired, but still full of fun, looking for compatible lady between 55 and 68 yrs. I want someone who likes to cuddle and hug, who enjoys movies, walking, and going to plays and such. I am 5’7”. I’m also very kind, gentle, and caring and would be good to you. I like going to church and would be so happy to have someone to go to church with. I want to be able to go out, have some fun, and enjoy each other’s company. So, please send your picture and your phone number if you are interested. Reply MSN, Dept. 29108, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, 56 years old, non-smoker, non-drinker. Live in Northeastern Montana. Like going for walks, traveling, listening to music (all the way from 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, older country music). I am Catholic and come from a very big family. I am a certified nurse’s assistant (36 years) and work in the hospital in my hometown. Working on family history. Work in the yard (flowers and garden). Like yard sales, old things, and watching old movies. Like to spend quiet time at home, visiting with family and friends. Like pets. In search of SWM, first as friend with pos-

SWF, 62 years old, looking for a gentleman around the same age who enjoys adventures and is looking for someone to share them. If you’re looking for a model-type woman, it’s not me. I am recently semi-retired and have lots of time to spare. I love traveling, attending plays and performances of all kinds. I like to take walks and am always looking to do something new… something I’ve never done before. This past summer, rafting was one of those adventures and was great fun… would do it again in a minute. I’m a bit on the shy side and will never be the gal dancing on the bar in the local pub. I don’t smoke, no drugs

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 13

PAGE 14 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

+(/(1$ $5($ 75$16,7 6(59,&( 0Â˛) ([FHSW +ROLGD\V

2IĂ&#x20AC;FH +RXUV D P Â˛ S P &XUE WR &XUE 6HUYLFH D P Â˛ S P ($67 9$//(< +(/(1$ &+(&. 32,17 5287(

D P Â˛ D P S P Â˛ S P

D P Â˛ S P

1257+ 0217$1$ $9( _ :+((/ &+$,5 $&&(66,%/(

for me; however, a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, and sitting on the backyard swing with a special guy sounds romantic to me. The kind of man Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m attracted to is someone with interesting conversations, someone with an adventurous side, someone who wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to take off his shoes and sit in a chair in the middle of a running creek to cool off on a hot, summer day. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking to meet someone willing to talk until midnightâ&#x20AC;Ś interested in traveling to new places and meeting new people. If you like to go to movies, listen to live music, BBQ in the backyard, and then you might enjoy my company. I am self-supporting and would hope that there is a gentleman out there who is the same, someone who enjoys a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company and has time for a relationship. Reply MSN, Dept. 29111, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWM, 79, mentally and physically active, semi-retired, NS/ND. ISO that illusive, 60-plus spirit mate who is not rooted to ground, her grandchildren, or job. Art/animal interests, adventurous nature desirable. Reply MSN, Dept. 29112, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF 58 years young looking for friendship. I am looking for a single gentleman somewhere in Northeastern Montana (within 250 miles of Sidney). I like dancing, playing pool and having a few drinks every now and then. I also like concerts, rodeos, and dining out. Looking for someone between 52 and 62 years of age. I am a nonsmoker, 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;4â&#x20AC;?, have blue eyes and short brown hair. Reply MSN, Dept. 29113, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWF cuddly, fluffy in my early 60s. Not relocatable. Own home in Hamilton Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to share if your heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire is for a lifelong Christ-centered relationship with a partner, best friend, and sweetheart. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a long time recovered alcoholic who loves my 12 Step Program and Jesus. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m honest, faithful, opinionated, funny, and tender hearted. My home and I could both use some TLC, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be given also. Enjoy family, camping, dancing, singing, classic rock, art, movies, plays, church, TV, board games, cards, eating out, open communication, romance, and chivalry. Love is more than a feeling. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a decision involving commitment. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a clean, compassionate, affectionate, generous, dependable, conservative Christian man who isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t into alcohol, drugs, or gambling letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s begin as friends. Prefer slim to medium build, but height, race, age not important. Photo and address please. Reply MSN, Dept. 29114, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWM 65, retired architect and journeyman in the construction finishes crafts, newer to Montana from Lake Tahoe area. Looking for companionship with an artistically inclined, educated female 60-67 in the Kalispell area. Culturally active, still considered attractive at an older age, like to read and think, share ideas and havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen all of Montana yet. Preference to A, G, C, L, L, and possibly not a burned-out P birth signs. As an Irish Leo, I have a sense of humor, not entirely urbane, ride and have hat and boots to relate to my cattle ranching ancestors. Best of both worlds. Reply MSN, Dept. 29115, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. MSN

Promoting the Art of Fly-Fishing Since 1964, the International Federation of Fly Fishers has been an organized voice for fly fishers. We represent all aspects of fly-fishing from casting instruction and fly tying to the protection of our fisheries. The International Federation of Fly Fishers and its councils are the only organized advocates for fly fishers on an international, national, and regional level The Federation is a non-profit organization engaging in the education of fly fishers all over the world through various programs. We teach the technical side of fly-casting and the art of fly tying at organized events in the United States and several foreign countries. In addition, the IFFF supports conservation

Accessible Space, Inc. Premier Affordable Senior Housing

Van Ee Apartments

Quality, Rent Subsidized Housing for Seniors Ages 62 and Better - Four Montana Locations Summer Wood Apartments - Bozeman The Portage - Great Falls Aspen Village - Helena Van Ee Apartments - Kalispell (Openings immediately in Kalispell and Helena) CALL TODAY! Features and Ammenities

Summer Wood

- All one-bedroom Apartments - Rent based 30 % of gross adjusted monthly income - Spacious kitchens and large bathrooms - Controlled access entry and lobbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s - Large, multipurpose community rooms - Elevator service & on-site laundry facilities - Outdoor patios and gas grills (at select buildings) - Activity rooms and tub rooms (at select buildings) - And much more!

Call 800-466-7722 TTY/TDD 800-627-3529 www.accessiblespace.org

projects throughout the United States with grant funds, as well as assistance from numerous conservationists who sit on the Conservation Committee. The headquarters of the International Federation of Fly Fishers currently houses a collection of fly-fishing objects, art, and books. As an integral part of the Federation, the collection and library represent the culture and history of fly-fishing and the environmental and public policy issues affecting the sport. We invite you to visit our museum at 5237 U.S. Highway 89 S, Suite 11, Livingston, Montana, call 406-222-9369, or visit www.fedflyfishers.org. Become a member, and join us in preserving the sport of fly-fishing. MSN

Please Help Provide Food For The Holidays The holidays are upon us, and many families right here in Montana cannot afford to look forward to them. For many individuals, the holiday season means trying to figure out how to stretch an already tight budget to impossible lengths. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the hardest time of year for us. It is always a question of whether to buy food or Christmas gifts,â&#x20AC;? says Kristen, a food pantry client. The pressure of the season can add extra burdens onto families who are already struggling. The hard fact is that one in seven Montanans struggle with hunger, and one in five Montanan children are struggling with hunger. The Montana Food Bank Network distributes nearly eight million pounds of food to partner agencies across the state, but we cannot do it alone. We need the help of our neighbors to continue our work, and we invite you to join us. For every donated dollar, the Montana Food Bank Network can provide enough food for seven meals. Please visit mfbn.org or call 1-800-809-4752 to help. MSN

Taxes are paid in the sweat of every man who labors. - Franklin D. Roosevelt

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 15

PAGE 16 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Virginia City â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The old and the new Article & Photo By Jack McNeel Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. The road twists and turns, climbing steadily Deke Di Marzo is among the numerous through juniper and pine. The multi-storied casi- volunteers who dress in period clothing and panos and hotels of Reno fall away from sight as the rade through town, graciously posing for photobus inches ever closer to the summit. We finally graphs at one of the local watering holes or next top out at nearly 6,800 to an intriguing sign. feet, a 2,200-foot rise Deke is dressed as from Reno in just nine Eugene Blair, a Wells miles, and then start Fargo guard back in the descent on the other the early days of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old side. It is not far, and we Virginny Townâ&#x20AC;? as it only descend about 600 was (Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page feet when, suddenly, 41) once called. Blair the town is before us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rode shotgun on the Virginia City, Nevada. stages to guard the ore I have criss-crossed or prisoners that might the West many times need transporting elseWhat other people may find over many years, but where and developed in poetry or art museums, I this is my first sight of a reputation for being find in the flight of a good drive. the famed Virginia City. LLocall volunteers quick to shoot, should l t add dd to t the th intrigue i ti and d photo h t opportunit i ties by dressing in 1800s attire and parading through town. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a little surprised at the need arise. These - Arnold Palmer what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m seeing. I have volunteers add a nice visited many early mining towns â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from virtually touch in helping bring the old West alive, in addinonexistent to others that have managed to hold on tion to creating great photo opportunities. tenaciously. A few have even become substantial You can tour the town in an open trailer pulled towns of modern buildings. Virginia City still has by a tractor and get an excellent historical account that late 1800s look with wooden sidewalks, old of Virginia City from the driver. Another option is bars, and mercantile buildings, much like it looked to ride in a carriage pulled by a horse driven by a over 100 years ago â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but it is busy with tour busses woman dressed in late 1800s attire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or you can and tourists strolling along the streets. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big- simply explore on your own. ger than I expected. The main street is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Câ&#x20AC;? street, Virginia City once had nearly 30,000 residents, along which most of the businesses are located. It several newspapers, five police precincts, numerruns for several blocks, the buildings dating to the ous fraternal groups, and the Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first â&#x20AC;&#x153;rising 1860s and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;70s. Some room,â&#x20AC;? what we call an elevator today. And it also names I recognize, from had opium dens, many bars, and a thriving red books or movies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The light district. Today the population numbers about IN Bucket of Blood Saloon 1,000. Seasonal / Year Round and the Silver Queen CaAn interesting option is the one-and-a-half-hour sino Hotel for example, ride (one way) on the old steam-powered Virginia which date from 1876. & Truckee Railroad cars that run from Carson City I go from store to to Virginia City. You choose whether to ride one store, reading and remi- way or round trip, depending on your desires and niscing. A person could schedule. I take the train down to Carson City, and )XOO\ IXUQLVKHG PRELOH KRPH UHQWDOV VDOHV LQ D FRPPXQLW\ spend hours, days even, then bus back to Reno. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an interesting ride, takRentals including lot space: 3 month lease from $1,250 PRQWKO\ Â&#x2021; 1 year lease from $550 monthly just wandering through ing you through a 566-foot tunnel, past American Olympic Size Pool | Clubhouse with Activities / Billiards | Horseshoe Pits the town. It was 1863 Flat, where a town once stood that nearly became when a young writer by Nevadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital. The attractive scenery throughSUNSET RESORT MOBILE HOME AND RV PARK, LLC the name of Samuel out makes it all the more enjoyable on this day, as ' '"& && ' k #' ('% %$ k PbZ U^a 9TUU k bd]bTcV\/X]Q^g R^\ Clemons, working for well as when we see three different small groups the local newspaper, of wild horses. first penned the name So, on your next trip to Reno, give serious Mark Twain, author of thought to spending a day exploring the early western history that makes the region so intriguing. A trip to Virginia City might just be the highlight of your entire vacation. MSN

Resort Living

Mesa, Arizona

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 17

Visit www.montanaseniornews.com for quality Products & Services from

Caregiving

Coins Education End of Life Entertainment

Environment Family Heritage Funeral Gifts

Health

these Online Advertisers.

Hearing Home

Insurance Jewelry Legal Library Lodging

Monuments Real Estate

Resort Restaurant

Restaurant Retirement Living Reverse Mortgages Shipping Social Services Transportation Travel

Autumn Springs Assisted Living Cambridge Court Highgate Senior Living Stay at Home + Home Care The Crest American Coins CoinsPlus Billings Catholic Education Foundation Montanans Against Assisted Suicide Hamilton Players Jefferson County Museum Museum of the Rockies Spokane Symphony Yellowstone Gateway Museum Sportsmen for Montana Glacier Signs & Monuments Smith Funeral Chapels Avon Hi-Country Trading Post Holiday Food & Gift Festival American Heart Association Barrett Hospital & Healthcare Benefis Healthcare Foundation Cascade Audiology Dahl Memorial Healthcare Assoc. Granite Health & Fitness Ozog Eye Clinic Ronald McDonald House Charities Montana Telecommunications Access 4G Plumbing & Heating Habitat for Humanity Intermountain Heating & A/C Northwestern Energy Sun Rental Center New West Thurston Family Insurance Harmonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agate & Silver Crowley Fleck, PLLP Morrison & Balukas Law Firm Missoula Public Library Best Western Ramkota - Casper Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge Best Western War Bonnet Inn Chateau Rouge Comfort Inn & Suites - Spokane Valley Elkhorn Mountain Inn Jackson Hole Lodge Sundowner Inn - Best Western Goose Ridge Monuments Dallas Land Company Havre Hi-Line Realty - Kim Kripps Jon Freeland - Fidelity Real Estate Kootenai Creek Village Deadwood Gulch Resort West Star Hotel & Casino Billings Petroleum Club Corral Steakhouse Dimitris Greek-American Restaurant Peking Gardens West Perkins â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Billings The Parrot Timber Creek Village Emeritus at Cambridge Place Sweetwater Retirement Mann Mortgage Ship-It Billings Food Bank Neighborworks Butte-Silverbow Transit A & B Tours Laird Leisure Travel Missoula Senior Center Satrom Travel & Tour

www.autumnspringsassistedliving.com www.cambridgecourtassistedliving.com www.highgateseniorliving.com Phone: 406-781-9172 Phone: 406-494-7035 www.montanacoins.com www.coinsplus.com www.billingscatholicschools.org www.montanansagainstassistedsuicide.org www.hamiltonplayers.com www.sites.google.com/site/jeffersoncountymuseum www.museumoftherockies.org www.spokanesymphony.org www.yellowstonegatewaymuseum.org www.sportsmenformontana.com www.familyheritageprotectors.com www.smithfuneralchapels.com www.youravon.com/ajeffery www.hicountry.com www.holidayfoodandgiftfestival.net www.americanheart.org www.barretthospital.org www.benefisfoundation.org/page.aspx?NavID=146 www.cascadeaudiologymt.com www.dahlmemorial.com www.granitebillings.com www.ozogeye.com www.rmhcmontana.org www.montanarelay.mt.gov www.4gplumbing.com www.billingshabitat.org www.intermountainheating.com www.northwesternenergy.com www.sunrentalcenter.biz www.newwesthealth.com www.thurstonfamilyinsurance.com www.harmons.net www.crowleyfleck.com www.mbtaxlaw.com www.readmissoula.org www.bwramkota.com www.rockymtnlodge.com www.bestwestern.com www.chateaurouge.com www.pheasanthillinn.net www.elkhornmountaininn.com www.jacksonholelodge.com www.bestwesternsouthdakota.com www.gooseridgemonuments.com www.dallas-land.com www.havrehilinerealty.net www.missoulahomes.com www.kootenaicreekvillage.com www.deadwoodgulch.com www.weststarhotel.com www.billingspetroleumclub.org www.corralbar.com www.facebook.com/DimitrisRestaurant www.pekinggardenswest.com www.perkinsrestaurants.com www.parrotchocolate.com www.timbercreekvillagecommunity.com www.emeritus.com www.sweetwaterretirement.com www.mannmortgage.com www.ampc.org/store/ship_it www.billingsfoodbank.com www.nwgf.org www.co.silverbow.mt.us www.abtoursonline.com www.lairdleisuretravel.com www.missoulaseniorcenter.org www.satromtravel.com

PAGE 18 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Are You Visiting Canada By Car? Driving in Canada has changed in recent years. Changes have been implemented for border crossing procedures to increase and enhance security. You need to know about driving in Canada before you set off. Ignorance could get you sent right back home if you fail to gather all necessary information first. If you are not familiar with the laws and border crossing regulations, many sites supply this information free. Be sure to look them up. You must bring your photo identification with you to Canada as well as your driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license and your passport. Recent changes require everyone to bring a passport when crossing the border from either side. This allows officials to verify that you are who you claim to be and that you are not a security risk. Make sure that your driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license and all other I.D. are up to date. Any expired information will need to be renewed

before you can enter Canada. Check that it will not be expiring while you are there either. Everyone traveling with you inside the car will need to provide the same information. Border control has to verify every person who wishes to cross the border, not just the driver. Even children will be required to show a passport, so get this type of information gathered before your planned trip. It can take time to get a passport if you do not have one, so factor in the timing for that as well. The rules regarding what you can and cannot bring into Canada tend to change, so make sure you are up to date on the latest. This information will be listed online, so make sure you are compliant. It would be unfortunate to pack things you cannot take and then have to dispose of them at the border. You will always be asked for the legal information for your vehicle. Have everything on hand

to show border patrol. They are always on alert, watching for stolen vehicles. Having your information up to date will help you get through that much faster. If you buy anything in Canada, make sure that you keep all of the receipts. The border guards may ask to see them when you pass through on your way home. It is just another way of making paperwork help you get through the line that much more quickly. You can also look up border wait times online to get an idea which crossing will be the quickest. Keep in mind when driving in Canada that some of the traffic rules may vary. The speed limit is posted in kilometers rather than in miles, so remember that too, or you may find yourself with a speeding ticket. Driving in Canada can be beautiful and exciting if you take care to plan effectively. MSN

VOTE | NOV 6 406-544-6263 cliff@larsenusa.com www.larsenusa.com

Finding common-sense solutions... together! WORKING FOR SENIORS TO:

STANDING UP FOR VETERANS

Continue funding meals-on-wheels, home care services & prevent cuts to senior programs.

Over 100,000 Montanans have served in our armed forces. As a Vietnam veteran, I know our heros come first.

ECONOMY, JOBS, EDUCATION Invest in our education system so the next generation can compete. Paid for by Larsen for Senate District 50, Democrat | Kim Browne, Treasurer | 8925 LaValle Creek Road | Missoula, MT 59808

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 19

Best times in Bend, Oregon By Natalie Bartley Photos by Dave Lindsay and Natalie Bartley Quietly tucked into central Oregon is the city of Bend, a growing tourist destination surrounded by stunning snow-covered volcanic peaks, the fish-filled Deschutes River, miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, and plentiful breweries that attract residents and visitors. Using Bend as a home base in April, my husband and I explored this diverse high-desert environment. Start your stay with an overview of the area with a one-mile drive on a paved road or a 1-mile hike on a trail up to Pilot Butte State Park located on the east side of Bend on US Highway 20. At the scenic overlook at the top of the old cinder cone, gaze at the city of Bend, population about 80,000. Notice the snow-capped volcanoes of the Three Sisters, Broken Top, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Bachelor. Then head into the valley and enjoy all Bend has to offer. For a better understanding of the flora, fauna, and history, don’t miss the High Desert Museum about five minutes south of town on US Highway 97. Its bird and wildlife recovery program provides visitors with views of Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles, otters, a lynx, a bobcat, and a porcupine. In need of some exercise? Paddle on a placid

section of the Deschutes River. We used stand-up paddleboards to navigate the river as it passes through the Old Mill District. Atop a surfboard adapted to river paddling, we launched from the Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe rental and sales shop. With long single-blade paddles for propulsion, we completed an easy up-river and down-river outing on a portion of the Deschutes Paddle Trail that took us near tempting shore-side restaurants. Along the way, we passed a dog park with a swimming section for the canines, where we weaved among pets chasing water toys. Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) is a growing recreational pursuit in Bend and other towns. Laurel Brauns, the marketing director at Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe said, “Six years ago we were the only ones selling SUPs in Bend and now even the snowsports stores are selling SUPs in the summer.” Brauns has found it a popular pursuit for women. “The coolest thing about this sport is it is so easy to learn,” she said. Another advantage is you are higher up than in a canoe or kayak and can see the rocks and fish under the water. The local Bend Parks and Recreation District’s trail system delights residents and out-of-towners.

My yellow Labrador retriever enjoyed numerous walks on the local trail system including Sawyer Uplands Park, Pioneer Park, and Shevlin Park. For a forested hike about 12 miles west of Bend, check out Tumalo Falls. Take Skyliners Road past the Conservation Education Center and on to Tumalo Falls Road. Start hiking from the Deschutes National Forest trailhead a few miles further up the dirt road. (Pay the $5 Day Use Fee or display the Annual Northwest Forest Pass, usable in Oregon and Washington.) To quench our thirst and hunger during the active visit, we sipped on a six-glass beer sampler at the Deschutes Brewery and Public House on NW Bond Street in downtown Bend and gobbled pulled pork Havana sandwiches at Jackson’s Corner in a residential section on NW Delaware Avenue. Grab a local tourist map and make it your mission to get a brewery (Cont’d on page 57)

PAGE 20 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 21

PAGE 22 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 23

PAGE 24 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Step by Step, Melanie Bush Helps the Blind Article & Photo By Liz & Craig Larcom The legally blind tyke had much to learn, and Melanie Bush had the expertise to teach it. But Bush’s instruction often involves many little steps, and this case was no exception. “She didn’t know me. And she didn’t like me either,” Bush recalls. “So I would go sit by her, and she’d move away, and so I’d scoot over,” Bush says, emphasizing the point by scooting herself to the right as she speaks. She pauses. “And I just kind of scooted around the room with her until she could tolerate me to sit next to her.” “Then I started holding toys that made noise, kind of just engaged her that way, got her to just reach out towards the sound.” “It’s a very, very slow process,” Bush says. “And then I set the toy in front of her and tell her, ‘Oh Amy, the toy is in front of you.’” In the world of instructing blind and low vision people, Bush serves as an orientation and mobility professional, teaching awareness of space and how to move about efficiently and independently. As such, she makes a difference in people’s lives. Ed Worrell, a 28-year-old Great Falls man who lost his vision over a period of eight months, knows how useful Bush’s instruction can be. Now that Bush has worked with him, he can capably descend stairs and cross streets, filling in for his lack of vision with his ears and a white cane that extends his sense of touch and informs him about what lies ahead. With a new sense of navigation, Worrell stands

ready to direct the guide dog scheduled to arrive any day now. Pleased with his progress, he referred a friend in Conrad to Bush, who travels widely from her base in Great Falls to provide services to a scattered clientele. Not many people have heard of an orientation and mobility (O & M) professional, and when she worked as a classroom teacher and later taught preschoolers as a family support specialist, Bush had not either. But then she was assigned three blind preschoolers from a departing coworker’s caseload, which opened her eyes to the world of the legally blind, 10 percent of whom have no vision and 90 percent of whom have partial but ineffective vision. Working with those preschoolers, something clicked for Bush. She wound up quitting her job to pursue the master’s degree that would permit her to become an orientation and mobility professional. Mission accomplished in 2000, she worked in Iowa and Alaska before returning to Great Falls, where she worked for the state’s Blind and Low Vision Services. But the agency does not serve preschoolers, and as Bush says, “Regardless, if it’s vision, if it’s hearing, if it’s a learning delay, the sooner the work can start, the better. But specifically with blind babies, I mean, if you think about it, the reason kids start moving is because they see something. They see Mom or they see the dog or they see whatever. They want to find out; they want to get there. So you have to teach them that there are

Our Family is Committed to Yours.

Emeritus Senior Living Everyone agrees that the “golden years” should be a time of relaxation, comfort, security, and independence. Retirement living can give you the opportunity to relax and enjoy your time while we take care of the housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, and meals. Now you can truly relax and enjoy your freedom.

Call us today to schedule a free private tour and visit our newly remodeled community. We’d love to have you!

(888) 695-8813 1104 Sixth Ave. N., Great Falls R www.Emeritus.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

things out in the world. “I’ve seen preschool-aged kids that think that everything just appears in front of them, because there hasn’t been any intervention. So their play appears in front of them, and then it goes away. And then their pudding appears in front of them, and then it goes away. And they have no idea where it came from, or where it is going. All they know is that in this little space, everything comes to them. Their crayon, whatever they want,” says Bush. “So you’ve got to talk to the parents and the preschool teachers. ‘You know, all Tommy’s classmates help pass out the supplies for the art project. Tommy needs to know where those things are stored. Tommy needs to learn how to pass them out.’” Bush could not change the agency, so she struck out on her own, forming her business Walk by Faith Not by Sight Vision Services. Now she serves a full spectrum of ages. As with preschoolers, Bush works with adults, one-on-one. Whether blinded by macular degeneration, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, or another cause, Bush considers any additional health issues, stamina, and the person’s immediate goals. Does he want to learn how to walk from his front door to the mailbox to get the mail? Does she want to learn how to ride the city bus? She sees no point in teaching someone the route to the credit union if he never goes there. The process includes many details, but Bush always wants her students to quickly experience some level of success. “They’re so scared. They’re usually just terrified, uncomfortable, embarrassed, and all of those things,” she says with sympathy. The cane may be part of the embarrassment, but what the cane lacks in cool, it makes up for in usefulness. Students who embrace the cane with a sense of adventure progress further and faster. The tots have the edge here. Bush recalls a little girl named Kathy. “I started teaching her how to use a cane when she was two. I mean, she was all about the cane. Now that’s not to say that she wouldn’t throw her-

self down on the ground and throw a tantrum and tell me I was mean and all of that. But she wanted to use her cane. “Her mom told me that one night they went to Kathy’s aunt’s house. Kathy fell asleep while she was there, so Dad carried her out and put her in the car and they went home. When she got up next morning to go to preschool, she could not find her cane. Well, it was at her aunt’s house. And she was in a huff. “She said, ‘Now I am going to have to walk by the guide (holding onto somebody’s arm) all day long!’ She wanted her cane. That’s what she wants. That’s what that early intervention does.” Older people tend to warm to the cane more gradually, and a good number never use it long enough to do that. Specialists hear a common refrain, “It’s not that bad.” A student who did not use her cane in her hometown for years heartens Bush, because she later turned into a champion of the cane. Just this year, the student became part of a mission trip to Africa, bringing along canes and magnifying glasses for people there to learn about and use. Once blind or low vision people stumble onto the various specialists who can help them live a fuller, more independent life, they wonder, why didn’t my eye doctor tell me about this? Rushed by a large patient load, doctors might leave it at, “There’s nothing else I can do for you.” But what they mean is only that they have exhausted medical treatment or procedures, says Bush. In reality, a variety of trained specialists stands ready to help. Count Bush among these. As for effectiveness, a 51-year-old woman told Bush this summer, “I prayed that I would meet people that would make a difference for me with my vision loss. You’re an answer to my prayer.” Proving that her passion to assist blind and low vision Montanans runs strong, Bush now offers her services free, a change that she initiated a year ago. Readers may reach Melanie Bush by phone at 406-868-8181or e-mail at mtwalkbyfaith1@ hotmail.com. MSN

Grandpa, What Is Couple Sex? An 8-year-old girl went to her grandfather, who was working in the yard and asked him, “Grandpa, what is couple sex?” The grandfather was surprised that she would ask such a question, but decided that if she was old enough to know to ask the question, then she was old enough to get a straight answer. Steeling himself to leave nothing out, he proceeded to tell her all about human reproduction and the joys and responsibilities of the consequences. When he finished explaining, the little girl was looking at him with her mouth hanging open, eyes wide in amazement. Seeing the look on her face, the grandfather asked her, “Why did you ask this question, honey?” The little girl replied, “Grandma says that dinner will be ready in just a couple secs.” MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 25

PAGE 26 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Barry Dardis Fills His Bucket Lists By Bernice Karnop “Don’t do what you can,” she insisted. “Do Bucket List: a list of things a person wants to do what you can’t. There’s nothing wrong with your before they “kick the bucket” (i.e. die.) muscles. It’s your brain. Tell it to do something Barry Dardis, who retired to Great Falls 15 over and over and over again, and you will build years ago, has done so much from his bucket new brain circuits.” list that his wife asks, “How many buckets?” The “can’t do” list stretched long in the beThis former ginning. His right telephone company hand refused to do manager, who grew what came natuup in Great Falls, rally weeks before. owns a telecomHe struggled with munications trainbasic life skills and ing and consulting could not type or business, writes a play the guitar. He column for Signacould not drive, ture Montana, plays and he could not guitar and sings fly. with Dave Wilson But the teleand Friends, and is phone man una recreational pilot. derstood circuits. “I’m definitely Pilot Barry Dardis gears up for a ride in his Cessna 172 at Great He refused to let retired,” he jokes. people wait on him, Falls’ Front Range Aviation. [Photo by Bernice Karnop] Thirteen years forcing his body to ago, he came close to overturning the buckets, get up and do things himself. He couldn’t drive, and that was no joke. A stroke left him unable so he rode a bicycle. Friends from the GF Aero even to raise a fork from his plate to his mouth. Club flew with him, challenging his memory and Even worse, the stroke turned out to be the best physical ability. Grassroots Gold radio icon Dave part of his medical crisis. The CAT scan they ran Wilson kept after him until he could play the guitar because of the stroke showed two aneurisms in again. It was one of the greatest challenges of his his brain that were ready to rupture. They required life, one he did battle with for the next five years. two deep brain surgeries, done six months apart. He succeeded, even to the point of passing “When my mother knew I was going to live, the physical to be able to fly again. He says the she came into my hospital room and said, ‘You’ve stroke effects are not entirely gone, but one would had a stroke. Get over it,’” he recalls. not guess by watching him. His mom had had a severe stroke ten years Flying played a big part of his healing. prior to his. She had rehabbed herself by her faith First, aviation stories run deep in his earliest in God and her own legendary tenacity. family memories. His dad taught advanced fighter training in 1943 and piloted B-29s during the war. One uncle flew the Burma Hump and another flew torpedo bombers off the USS Enterprise in the South Pacific. Their tales etched their way into the minds of Barry and his cousin, Rex Tanberg, Jr., who would later become Brigadier General and commander of the Montana Air National Guard.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Barry could not be prouder that the tradition continues to the next generation. His son, Mark Dardis, soloed last year off the exact runway in Great Falls from which he and his dad first soloed. “It was never a matter of whether I would learn to fly, just when,” Barry says. A worn, black leather-bound logbook tells the story of Barry’s flying experience. His first lesson is dated May 1955, and his instructor was his dad. Barry was 15 years old. There is a gap in the flying record during his time in the Navy. There he specialized in radar, which led to his 45-year telephone career. He took more flying lessons in the early 1970s from Jackie Benton of Holman Aviation. One memorable afternoon she was teaching him how to maneuver the airplane in a slow speed situation. She was teaching him to stall the plane and then recover from the stall. He stalled the Cessna 150 all right, but then hit the wrong rudder and put it into a spin. “She recovered the spin but I scared the heck out of myself,” he admits. Today he does stuff like that on purpose. Through a group in Kissimmee, Florida, he re-

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 27

cently flew the Crazy Horse, a P-51 Mustang, that an advanced fighter trainer like his dad used to fly in World War II. He also flew an AT6 Texan War Bird. With an instructor from the group on board, they would fly upside down and perform other air show maneuvers. The difference is that today, the loops and rolls are fun, instead of scary. “It’s always been a passion of mine to fly some of the airplanes my dad flew during the War,” Barry says. It is among the top three most rewarding things he has done. The best thing, he says, is that he married his wife, Marcie. The other one is having the privilege of making music with Dave Wilson. Topping today’s bucket list is to keep on enjoying the things he is doing now, and to seize whatever else comes his way. He looks forward to writing for an e-publication called Conservative News Montana, published by his daughter-in-law, Amy Dardis. For more about Barry Dardis’ telecommunications training and consulting business, visit his web sites www.alsetcorp.com or dardis.com. Read his column, “Reducing the Impact” in Signature Montana. MSN

It is unwise to be to sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. - Mahatma Gandhi

Experience May Make a Difference With the volatility in the market, wouldn’t you like to have experience on your side? Since 1890, we’ve provided expert knowledge and personal service to investors in all types of markets. Let us provide the ﬁnancial strategy you need with our more than 120 years of experience with market highs and market lows as well as personalized, professional service.

(406) 761-3500 300 Park Drive South, Suite 101 Great Falls, Montana 59405

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated Member SIPC and NYSE

PAGE 28 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Rocks Rock at the Trex Agate Shop in Bynum By Bernice Karnop “People, when they see the sign Rock Shop, either have to stop or don’t want to stop at all,” says John Brandvold, owner of the Trex Agate Shop in Bynum. That’s the one in a remodeled church right along Highway 89 that says Rock Shop on the side. Some think they’ve seen enough rocks clearing their fields. Others are just in too big a rush to stop.

He just laughs. “They have no idea what they ucts for low prices. He isn’t afraid to quibble and are missing.” argue with the sellers until the price is down where He’s right. We made a trip to Bynum this sum- he thinks it should be. Then he doesn’t mark it up mer and my jaw dropped when I came through three or four times like some shops do. the door. Shiny sinks made with polished fossils, “I don’t have to make all my money on one decorative posts with fossils, even a fossil book sale,” he says. carved from polished rock greeted me. Glass John loves to help get people started collectbowls brimmed with pastel rocks that looked like ing rocks. “Collecting rocks is like having a diary,” candy – orange, green, blue, pink, yellow, purple, he says. “Every rock has a story to tell. You never caramel, and black. Stunning Kanab sandstone forget where you found it or what you were doing picture rocks that look like the canyons they come when you found it.” from, and large purple John told a woman amethyst crystals, onyx from Florida who came eggs, and much more in, “If it don’t talk to you drew me from one area don’t buy it.” She anto the next. swered, “They are all This shop doesn’t screaming at me.” resemble the dusty rock They were screaming store I envisioned any “Buy me! You need me!” more than a diamond When she left she wrote resembles a chunk of a check for $12,000, and mud. she’s been back several It’s no accident the time since. shop is clean, bright, People fly in to Monand beautiful. When John Brandvold stands in front of some Kanab picture tana to take in the parks, rocks in the Rock Shop in Bynum. [Photo by Bernice J o h n a n d h i s w i f e , Karnop] and when they buy rocks, Marion moved into the he ships them all over the church in 1968, they left the rough rock behind in U.S. and around the world. He’s sent rocks and the workshop. fossils to Japan, England, Italy, and Switzerland. “You can’t keep the dust and dirt out if you have “UPS loves us,” he says, considering that they rough rock,” John explains. also deliver rocks to him. In fact very little happens randomly in this In addition to being beautiful and fascinating, shop. John has definite ideas about how to do rocks are sought for healing from illness, pain, business. First, they know rocks, fossils, and and stress. John tells about a woman who came geology, and love to visit with customers. He also in after breaking dozens of bones in a car wreck. likes to change what he has so people will see He had her carry around a certain stone for about something new each time they stop. He brought 10 minutes and she felt better. He also knows a barnacles one year, and used them to display his young woman that held a stone during childbirth, natural pearls. Not many people in Montana are which helped her have an easy delivery. familiar with barnacles. These and other stories convince him of the He buys his most extravagant pieces – and therapeutic value of stones. “Some people have he has a lot of them – at the Arizona Mineral and psychiatrists and some have stones,” John quips. Fossil Show in Tucson Marion Brandvold started the Trex Agate Shop each winter. The first in 1937 with her first husband, Clifford Trexler. amethyst crystals from He died of cancer in 1962. They left his name on Brazil he bought were the store to honor him. Most people just call it the lower grade because Rock Shop. they were cheaper. Marion, who is now 100 years old, worked in When all of a sudden the store until she was 96. She’s now in a nursing people started looking home in Choteau and John visits her each day. for the better quality, Although she’s no longer in the shop, her legacy he’s been buying them. is strong. The difference between Marion grew up in a coulee near Bynum and a grade four and a grade left a glamorous career in dance and modeling to ten is amazing, accord- come back because she loved rocks and horses ing to John. The crystals more. They bought a small ranch out of Bynum. are bigger and the dark Marion discovered the first baby dinosaur bones purple color is richer. in North America, which shifted how scientists unHe sold some amethyst derstand dinosaur behavior. After that discovery in cathedrals this year that 1978, many people stopped just to hear her stories, were six feet tall. which she loved to tell. Travelers lingered two or John and Marion three hours and left feeling like it was a highlight built a reputation for hav- of their trip. Marion’s son, David Trexler, is a paing good quality prod- leontologist and the curator for the Two Medicine

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Dinosaur Center in Bynum. Marion and John have been married for 47 years. “She is a wonderful woman and she was so good for me,” he says. John came to Montana from Minnesota as a plumber and he never returned. Stones never wear out, so you might think a rock shop would run out of

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 29

customers after a while. That’s not so, according to John Brandvold. “Rocks are fun,” he says. “You always want more.” For more information about the Trex Agate Shop, call 406-469-2314, mail to 5507 Highway 89, Bynum MT, 59419, or visit www.trexagateshop.com. MSN

Jackie Bread Creates Art- continued from page 1

an element of tradition and an element of surprise. She started painting but let that go in favor of beading. “I bead what I would have painted,” she says. “I paint with beads.” Beading is an incredibly time consuming medium. On a good day, Jackie can complete about a two-inch-by-two-inch piece of work. She estimates the blanket border took her 300 hours. But it is not patience that keeps this softspoken woman beading; it is passion. In fact, she has an extra dose of passion for who she is, for where she is from, and for her Blackfeet tradition. Her work starts with a solid idea but typically evolves into something she did not expect. She never tires of it because she is always challenging herself to do something bigger, something harder,

or something more complex. “You get good by practice,” Jackie says. “You do it over and over and over again.” And even though she has done it all her life, things still surprise her, and she never considers herself through learning. Although she taught herself to bead, part of her joy now is to teach others. She has a loyal following who take her yearly classes at the C.M. Russell museum in Great Falls. She has taught weeklong classes to schoolchildren in Browning, and, of course, she teaches her own two children. Children, she notes, are naturally creative. Her two are excellent artists who show their ledger art with her beading. Jackie’s husband is Nathan Bread, a sculptor whose grizzly bear is displayed along the Missouri River in West Bank Park in Great Falls. Jackie values her artwork not only because it is both satisfying and a way to make a living. It has allowed her to be home with her children every day. They have watched her art evolve, and they have become interested in art. Beyond that, she is happy to know that her art will live on in places like the Smithsonian. “It allows people to see what I was thinking at a particular time,” she says. “The beadwork tells a story of the Blackfeet people.” MSN

Because we are diversified in our services, we are able to keep our prices for hearing aids competitive and reasonable.

CASCADE AUDIOLOGY

$100 OFF ANY HEARING

& HEARING AID SERVICES, PC

AID PURCHASE!

Quality Hearing Aids, Assessments and Services for All Ages

42== FD E@52J 406-727-6577 Jeffrey D. Griffin,

MS, CCC-A 401 15th Ave S Ste 207 3URVSHFWRU +HLJKWV 0HGLFDO &HQWHU Great Falls

www.cascadeaudiologymt.com

$250 OFF A PAIR OF HEARING AIDS PURCHASED!

This offer is exclusive to this paper only. Must present coupon. Not valid with other discounts. Expires 11/30/2012 MSN

Great Falls Community Concert Association Join us for our 83rd Season CAHAL DUNNE Irish Music Sun., Nov. 4, 2012

TWO ON TAP

CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES 2

PETER SIMON

TAKE ME HOME*

ala Victor Borge Thur., Mar. 14, 2013

Music of John Denver Tue., May 14, 2013

NEW ODYSSEY

3 Guys30 Instruments A SECOND HELPING Thur., Apr. 25, 2013 Sat., Feb. 9, 2013 Adult Season Tickets $70.00 • Student Season Tickets $35.00 • Student Season Ticket with Each Adult $15.00 *John Denver tribute not part of Individual Show Tickets $30.00 • Take Me Home Tickets $30.00/$20.00/$10.00 concert season Tickets available at the Mansfield Box Office, Great Falls Civic Center, at 455-8514 or on line at ticketing.greatfallsmt.net Tap and Song Mon., Oct. 22, 2012

PAGE 30 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Hallie J. Wilson Creates Beautiful, Wearable Art Article & Photo By Bernice Karnop Hallie J. Wilson, Great Falls bead artist, has more ideas in her head than she has time. When she sees a piece of material that strikes her fancy, she picks it up and buys it, even if she knows she won’t work with it for a while. “I know it will be gone the next time I go to look for it,” she says. Like the lovely stones and beads she buys today for the day she will use them in a unique piece of jewelry. She suppressed this desire to create beautiful jewelry many years ago. It was not until she retired as the Administrative Assistant for the Great Falls Symphony Association in 2001 that she seized this art form, took classes, and began creating wearable art. “Jewelry was always important to me,” she says.

When she was 10, she wrapped tape around a pearl ring that her aunt gave, her so she could wear it. She spent $25 – an extravagant amount in 1960 – for a ruby necklace when she was in college. She made several payments before it was truly hers. Hallie’s necklace and earring sets are oneof-a-kind works of art that make meaningful gifts for special occasions. The rich colors of the natural stones and beads have depth and beauty of their own, and the intricate details speak to the skill she has developed over the past decade. A necklace of amethyst chips and leaves resembles a bunch of grapes. Her bead netting looks like fine crochet work. She wraps Alaskan Jade squares with lines and swirls of 14k-goldplate wire and drops them from a necklace of beads or with other natural stones. Hallie also takes classes from nationally known Native American beader Jackie Bread and has created some stunning pieces in this style. She does not actively ti l market k t her h Native American work because she is not Native American. She does her work for the enjoyment she gets out of it, but she also looks for outlets where she can get a return for her work. You can see her creations in downtown Great Falls at Gallery 16, where she works part time, or at Sutherland’s Jewelry. “Marketing is my greatest challenge, especial-

ly since the downturn in the economy,” she says. You can purchase her necklaces and earrings at www.etsy.com/shop/icreatewonders or see them at her personal web site, www.icreatewonders. com. Inspiration is no problem for this energetic woman. “Eclipse Beads in Great Falls is chock full of beads and rocks and crystals and stone. I get a lot of inspiration when I walk in the door,” she says. Hallie might well be called a Renaissance woman because she loves to learn new things, loves history, and reads three or four books a month. She is a movie buff and holds two degrees in music. She recently began serving on the Great Falls Downtown Association. Hallie was born in Michigan, moved to Mississippi when she was five, went to college in Ohio, and spent five years in New York. She worked and raised her family in California, where she lived for f nearly l 30 years. When her husband retired he found Great Falls “a very appealing place.” They liked Lewis and Clark, liked Great Falls, and liked Montana. She counts moving to Montana as one of the best things that she has done. “I have developed a wonderful support group of women up here that I did not ever develop in California,” she says. “I didn’t realize how important that was until I acquired it.” MSN

  Article & Photo By Craig & Liz Larcom You could call it a feat of the feet. In nearly 17 years working as a letter carrier, Ralph Wagenhauser of Great Falls walked some 51,000 miles. With a daily route of 12 miles on foot and a bag of mail weighing up to 35 pounds, this fellow did not go to the gym after work. Especially on the days he carried two bags. “People don’t understand how physical this job is,” says Wagenhauser, who retired last June. Then again, Wagenhauser didn’t appreciate the physical demands himself when he applied. “I thought I was fit,” he says. Although he spent the final five years of his 20-year stint as an Air Force engineering assistant at a desk, he also played racquetball competitively. Then Wagenhauser landed the mail job. “I’ll tell you, your arm gets to hurting, your legs are hurting, and your finger on the mail does, too. Rigor mortis set in pretty fast!” he says. Plenty of other walking postmen discover the same thing after they are hired. Wagenhauser served as a trainer to some of them, like the man who

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

spoke to turned out to be the blind woman’s sister from Virginia. The woman had passed away. The sister told Wagenhauser, “You were the only person that she would come in contact with for most of the week. And just that ten minutes that you were there, reading the letters or mail or bills or whatever, was a big deal.” “I didn’t think about that. I was just doing what she asked me to do,” says Wagenhauser. “You don’t realize what impact you’re making on people’s lives in that short period of time.” Another customer’s situation struck a deep chord in Wagenhauser, whose wife, Marsha passed away February 13, 2010, a victim of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. When he realized that the man of the household would be treated for cancer in the same hospital in Seattle where he had supported his wife, and that he himself would be visiting his son and daughterin-law in Seattle at the same time, the postman offered to visit them. Surprised and pleased, the wife phoned him with the room number when the time came, and he did exactly that. “They still talk about it,” says Wagenhauser. “They sent a letter and a card down to the postmaster and said, ‘Hey we can’t believe this guy actually showed up and took time out of his vacation.’ So that’s how these relationships develop.” Relationships with animals also develop, such as the hawk that dive-bombed Wagenhauser repeatedly during nesting season the past two years. It hit him in the head twice last year and once this year. Ouch! As for dogs, maybe half a dozen bit him. But that wasn’t the reason he did not let his two kids own one. “After listening to barking all day, there was

lasted only two days. “He said his legs were killing him,” Wagenhauser says. Others washed out, too. Another man stuck it out, but the fact that he lost 50 pounds in short order speaks for itself. Wagenhauser’s first day delivering mail in Great Falls still stands out in his memory. For half the day, he followed a walking route in a downpour. A casual employee rather than a regular one at that point, he had no uniform, and the only raincoat in his closet proved inadequate. So when rain soaked him to the skin, he got permission to return home for dry clothes. In the afternoon he had a different assignment, driving a truck to empty the collection boxes. But he frequently hopped out into the continuing rain to do that. “I was running late, and I got done about 8:30 that night. I was soaking wet again,” he says. He was also muttering to himself, “So you wanted to be a mailman. You thought that was a good idea!” But after that unpromising beginning, Wagenhauser hit his stride and found himself enjoying his work. “To me it wasn’t a job. I guess it was kind of a challenge. See how fast you could put the mail up (lay it out in proper order), get it down (loaded), and get it delivered to the houses,” he says. Not that his desire to be quick kept him from what Wagenhauser considered the best part of his job, getting to know the people in the 538 households on the route. He watched with pleasure as the boy who played T-ball grew into a young man heading for college, and listened raptly when a man reminisced about World War II and showed the letter carrier his photo album from those days. One customer puzzled him at first, because she always seemed to have the TV on, and all the lights off. “But it turned out she was blind, so I would read her mail to her every day. You know, let her know what she got and everything,” he Democrat HD 21 says. One day, he came back from vacation, and people were cleaning out her apartment. “That State Representative doesn’t look right,” he thought. So he asked, and the woman he 1 B JE GP S CZ +FBO 1SJ DF G PS )% 4IFMJ B 3J DF 5SFBTVSFS t UI 4U 4 (SFBU 'BMMT .5

SUPPORTS SENIORS

RE-ELECT

JEAN PRICE 406-452-9315

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 31

PAGE 32 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

D MITR S GREEK-AMERICAN CUIS CUISINE IN E

Lunch & Dinner 11-9 Tue-Sat Sunday Breakfast with American Fare 9-2

406-452-5774 1919 3rd St NW, (SFBU 'BMMT t 3 blocks W of Walmart

406-761-4652 413 Central Ave Great Falls

Classes & Shipping Available pamsknitnstitch.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

no way I was going to have a dog at home!” he declares. Of course, most dogs on the route behaved themselves, like the big golden retriever that nuzzled the back of his hand one day as he walked along the street. For three or four blocks, the dog would run up on the porch of the next place, sit waiting for Wagenhauser, and then dash off again. “I didn’t have a problem with it, but he looked like the dog that belonged across the street from the school, so I took him back to the school,” Wagenhauser went on. While the dog lay in the school’s lobby, Wagenhauser told the secretary about the retriever because he knew its owner worked for the school. So she called the man, and Wagenhauser headed off. Later the secretary told him the rest of the story. When the owner walked the dog into the house, the retriever walked to the back just like he knew what was where. But when it started eating the dog food, the owner looked up and saw a second golden retriever standing at the screen door with a look on its face that might have read, “Who is that, and why is he eating my food?” The man looked back and forth at the nose-tonose dogs that could have been twins. When he let the interloper into the back yard, his own dog wanted to settle a score with the stranger, so the man had to bring the wanderer back in. Animal control, which came to pick up the dog, located

the new retriever’s owner later. The episode left the owner embarrassed in extreme. “I can’t recognize my own dog!” Now that Wagenhauser lives the retired life, he says his knees, which became troublesome the last couple years, thank him every day. The 62-year-old, ever a fan of the outdoors, likes to golf, bicycle, and yes, walk. But he also has his eye on what he calls a fantasy job. “I don’t know if it even exists. What I want to do is become a caregiver mentor,” he says. “A cancer patient has the hospital, and has doctors and nurses, but there’s nobody watching the caregiver.” What if my loved one spikes a fever? Who do I call? How will he react to chemo? What does the weird vocabulary mean? “That’s my goal, to help people to understand and to deal with trying to get through that,” he says. Having twice played the caregiver (for his wife and also for his now 35-year-old son who had cancer as a teenager), Wagenhauser has the background to offer this kind of help. In fact, he already assists a couple caregivers. “I’m going to see if I can maybe volunteer, or it would really be awesome to be paid to help people,” says Wagenhauser, who plans to move to Phoenix. No feet up for this male. MSN

The Visitor Center is Great Falls’ Welcome Wagon By Bernice Karnop Eleanor Stearn from Canada started her visit to Great Falls with a stop at the Visitor Center. It’s easy to find from the major highways and because it’s on a hill, she could orient herself to city, the river, and the streets. Between the helpful literature and the knowledgeable volunteers, she found all the information she needed, and more. Eleanor covered so much ground the first day that she stayed over an extra day. Her second visit to the Visitor Center she was on her bicycle, asking where to find unscented cosmetics. “I can’t leave before I ride the trail,” she admitted. “There aren’t many cities that have such great place to bike.” Vicki Everson, Visitor Center Co-Coordinator along with Sue Ferrin, says this happens all the time. Out of towners like Eleanor stop at the Visitor Center and end up spending an extra day or two in Great Falls because they want to see more. “The volunteers here are ambassadors for the city of Great Falls,” Vicki says. “We’re the Welcome Wagon that links them to things they weren’t aware of.” Some of these under-the-radar fun events include music at the library plaza, band concerts at Gibson Park, the Farmer’s Market, and the Friday Art Walk. Lewis and Clark would have loved having this Welcome Wagon to point them to the best route

to their destination. Today’s more fortunate guests learn where to expect delays due to construction. They ask such things as whether there’s really a zoo in Billings, and what to do in Havre. “We can answer 99.9 percent of the questions. If we can’t, we find somebody who can,” says Vicki. She is very pleased with the quality of the volunteers. This summer a family from Brazil visited and they were difficult to understand. Imagine their relief when a local volunteer who spoke Portuguese helped them with their airplane schedule and with planning all their time in Montana. In 2011, more than 14,000 people stopped at the Visitor Center. This year there were 3,447 in August alone. They came from every state, the District of Columbia, and from all seven continents. Often visitors connect with each other at the Visitor Center and share information. Some have been to Yellowstone and are on their way to Glacier while others are heading from Glacier to Yellowstone. Individuals who follow the Lewis and Clark Trail love to talk about their adventures. Many tell staff that the Interpretive Center here is one of the best they’ve seen. People are on holiday and tend to be in high spirits, ready to make connections with each other and local people. Neighboring Canadians come to shop, but also take in the restaurants, museums, State Parks and events. They come through Great Falls on their way to somewhere else and often stay longer than they planned. The information dispensed doesn’t have to be about travel. A woman from Canada became interested in a potholder one of the volunteers crochets. The volunteer showed her how to make it and gave her the patZZZ &522.('75((&2))(($1'&$.(6 FRP tern before she left. 406-315-1221 Continued on page 43) 501 1st Ave NorWK *UHDW )DOOV

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 33

PAGE 34 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Coping With Uncertainty When Caring For A Loved One... Planning and Self-Care Can Minimize Anxiety By Lisa M. Petsche Looking after an aging relative, however personally rewarding it can be, is not without its share of stress. If the relative has been diagnosed with a chronic illness, one source of stress may be uncertainty about the future. For instance, how are your relative’s needs likely to change and over what period of time? Will you be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to handle the caregiving role on an ongoing basis? Will your relative eventually require residential care? While no one knows what the future holds, there are strategies that caregivers can use to minimize surprises and cope with challenges and changes. Accept • Accept the reality of your relative’s illness. Let go of any bitterness resulting from unrealized plans and dreams, so that you can move forward and channel your energy in constructive ways. • Accept that how your relative feels and what they can do may fluctuate, and be flexible about plans and expectations. Learn • Educate yourself about your relative’s medical diagnosis.

• Be open to learning practical skills, such as proper transferring and bathing techniques. Mastering these tasks will make caregiving as safe, easy, and pleasant as possible. Communicate • Allow yourself plenty of time to adjust to your relative’s illness and the changes it necessitates. Your relative will also need time to adapt. Be patient, and keep the lines of communication open. • Keep the rest of the family informed of changes in your relative’s physical and mental status. Prepare • Find a medical specialist whom you and your relative respect and trust. • Find out what to expect during the course of the illness in terms of probable symptom progression as well as caregiving skills, medical equipment, and community supports that are likely to be needed. • Talk openly with your relative about their wishes. Discuss living arrangements, outside help, surrogate decision-making, medical intervention, and end-of-life care and funeral arrangements. Be careful, though, not to make any promises you may not be able to keep. Simplify • Eliminate as many sources of stress in your

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

life as possible. Set priorities, streamline tasks, and learn to settle for less than perfection. • Take things one day at a time, so you don’t become overwhelmed. • Learn to live in the moment, and focus on life’s simpler pleasures. Practice self-care • Cultivate a healthy sense of humor. • Set aside quiet time each day, to nurture your spirituality and help keep you grounded. If applicable, turn to your religious faith for support. • Look after your health. Eat nutritious meals, get adequate rest, exercise, and see your primary physician regularly.

• Schedule regular breaks from caregiving duties. Take a couple of hours a day or an overnight. By being kind to yourself this way, you’ll also be more effective when you resume your caregiving tasks. Connect • Stay connected to your friends. • Find at least one person you can talk to openly – someone who will listen and empathize. It’s important to express your thoughts and feelings. • Talk with other caregivers. They understand better than anyone else what you are going through. Join a support group in your community or on the Internet.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 35

Get help • Accept offers of help. Ask other family members to share the load, and be specific about the help you need. You can’t, and shouldn’t, do everything alone. • Join a caregivers’ organization – for example, the National Family Caregivers Association (www. nfcacares.org) – that offers information and support and advocates for caregivers’ needs. • Seek help from your primary physician or a counselor if you continually feel sad, angry, or overwhelmed. Such feelings, when they persist, may be symptomatic of clinical depression. The good news is that it’s treatable. MSN

What is alternative medicine and is it right for you or your loved ones? By Susan Bonner, RN Although alternative medicine is gaining acceptance here in the United States, it has been around for a very long time. Traditional Chinese medicine has a more than 4,000-year history based on a concept of balance (yin and yang, qi, blood, jing, bodily fluids, the five elements, the emotions, and the spirit) that is rooted in Taoist philosophy and Chinese culture. As such, it is considered an alternative form of therapeutic practice in the Western world. In Europe, some alternative medicine practices can be traced to ancient Roman bath houses. Western European history reflects two major trends: physicians who belonged to the upper classes and folk healers who lived among the peasant population. Herbalism and naturopathy developed over 2,000 years. Like other ancient healing systems, Native American medicine is focused on a holistic approach to medicine that treats the entire person – including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Native American healers – medicine men, medicine women, or shamans who believe that individual health is intertwined with the natural and spiritual worlds – incorporate healing rituals, ceremonies, and the use of herbal remedies. As a practicing Nurse of 19 years, I have seen all kinds of treatments that work to varying degrees on different people. That goes for alternative medicine too, where I have seen herbal remedies that work after patients had tried numerous pharmaceutical medications. I advocate the use of both modern medicine and alternative medicine, which is referred to as “complementary medicine.” But as

always, healthcare is an individual decision. Today, 69 percent of Americans use some form of alternative medicine each year, but how do you know what treatments are effective? What parts of the mind and body are supposed to be affected by the treatment? Let’s consider some of your choices. Acupuncture is done by putting very thin needles into your skin at certain points on your body, to influence the energy flow. Sometimes heat, pressure, or mild electrical current is used along with needles. Acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your chi. This is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance. Chi is vital force thought to be inherent in all things. In traditional Chinese medicine, the unimpeded circulation of chi and a balance of its negative and positive forms are held to be essential to good health. Acupressure uses the same model as acupuncture, but with the therapist’s fingers and hands, instead of needles, to access these points of energy flow. Acupuncture, however requires a skilled and certified practitioner. Both of these treatments are considered to be under the category of traditional alternative medicine that affect the body. Other commonly recognized alternative treatments that affect the body include chiropractic care, therapeutic message, Tai Chi, and Yoga. Herbal Medicine uses the whole herb, unlike many conventional medicines that single out an active ingredient

of a plant and reproduce it in a laboratory. Herbalists use the entire components of the herbs; they believe the harmony represented in the plant will transfer into optimal success in treating ailments. Once harvested, herbal medicine can embody several forms: oils, teas, juices, creams, tablets, or syrups. A session with an herbalist will probably last an hour or longer with questions about your health, medical history, lifestyle, and diet. They might perform a physical. The Herbalist will then create a personal herbal medicine specifically

PAGE 36 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

:+$7 0$.(6 +263,&( 2) 0,6628/$ ',))(5(17" 2XU WHDP VSHFLDOL]HV LQ H[FHOOHQFH LQ HQG RI OLIH FDUH :H DUH 0HGLFDUH FHUWLILHG DQG DOZD\V JR WKH H[WUD PLOH WR HQVXUH WKDW \RXU FDUH LV H[WUDRUGLQDU\ 6RPH H[DPSOHV

SUHVFULSWLYH PXVLF PDVVDJH WKHUDS\ PHGLFDWLRQ GHOLYHU\ 'U KRPH YLVLWV OLJKW KRXVHNHHSLQJ DQG PXFK PRUH

&$// 86 :( /29( 72 &+$7 /HDUQ PRUH DERXW )UHH KRVSLFH FDUH KRXVH FDOOV DQG KRZ ZH IRFXV RQ ZKDWÂˇV LPSRUWDQW WR \RX

designed for you and your condition. This treatment is categorized under diet and herbs. Aromatherapy is in this category as essential oils, which are derived from plant materials, are applied to the skin or inhaled. Ayurvedic medicine, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest medical systems, originated in India and has evolved there over thousands of years. The aim of ayurvedic medicine is to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit. The practitioner uses a variety of methods to achieve these goals. Like acupuncture, it requires a trained practitioner and extensive research. I highly recommend scouring the internet before consulting a practitioner. Remember, knowledge is the best weapon to help manage your health. Medical Marijuana: In 1972, the US Congress placed marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act because they considered it to have â&#x20AC;&#x153;no accepted medical use.â&#x20AC;? Since then, 17 of 50 US states and DC have legalized the medical use of marijuana. Proponents of medical marijuana argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions. They cite dozens of peer-reviewed studies, prominent medical organizations, major government reports, and the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history. Opponents of marijuana argue that it is too dangerous to use, lacks FDAapproval, and that various legal drugs make marijuana use unnecessary. It has been proven to increase appetite in cancer patients, decrease nausea, and decrease chronic pain and muscle spasms. But the controversy surrounding this natural drug continues, and state and federal lawmakers have not come to any compromise. Alternative medicine has evolved out of the need to heal sickness with the methods and ingredients that were available to ancient people. It is important to remember that modern medicine has its roots in traditional medicine. People are going back to these ancient practices with good results. Recognizing the advantages and limitations of regular and alternative medicine and how they can complement each other, the only question to ask is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is it right for me or my loved ones?â&#x20AC;? MSN

What is Hospice Care?

Provided By Roberta Wold Alliance Home Health and Hospice Hospice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a Placeâ&#x20AC;ŚIt is a way of caring! Hospice is a very with love, specialized way of caring for terminally ill individuals while providing care, education, and support to their families. The concept of Hospice began as 1XUVH $YDLODEOH +RXUV D 'D\ a guesthouse that was available to sick travelers who needed to rest during a long journey. Today the idea of hospice is to offer compassionate care. .HQVLQJWRQ 6WH 0LVVRXOD The focus of Hospice is on the individual and their family, not the ZZZ KRVSLFHRIPLVVRXOD FRP disease process. The main goal of Hospice is to provide assistance, care, and comfort through a team of caring professionals that includes a medical director, a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, certified nursing assistants, licensed social workers, a chaplain for spiritual support, and volunteers. Before a person receives Hospice care, nurses and physicians review the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease history, current symptoms, and life expectancy. Hospice can be provided anywhere the individual calls home. Who qualifies for Hospice care? Any person who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less. They can be any age from an infant to a senior citizen. The person must have a physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order to receive care. What is Palliative care? Palliative care focuses on making a person comfortable by reducing or taking away the symptoms of an illness. None of this medical care will make the disease go away, but instead it Â&#x2021; +RPH +HDOWK will help keep the patient as comfortable as possible. Â&#x2021; +RVSLFH How is Hospice paid for? Hospice is a benefit covered by most private insurÂ&#x2021; +RPH 0HGLFDO (TXLSPHQW ance companies, HMOs, Medicare, and Medicaid and is available to anyone who Â&#x2021; ,QIXVLRQ 7KHUDS\ needs it. Under the Medicare Hospice ACHC benefit, the patient and family are never Â&#x2021; +RPH &RPPXQLW\ %DVHG 6HUYLFHV ACCREDITED billed for Hospice services, equipment, or medications that are related to the diagnosis. Hospice social workers adQDWLRQDOO\ DFFUHGLWHG KRPH dress and assist with finding funds to KHDOWK FDUH RUJDQL]DWLRQ :H pay for the care of clients who have no &R IRXQGHG E\ 6W 3DWULFN +RVSLWDO DQG &RPPXQLW\ 0HGLFDO &HQWHU insurance through community funds and KDYH EHHQ EULQJLQJ KHDOWK FDUH foundations. KRPH WR SDWLHQWV DQG WKHLU Hospice is not for everyone. People have the right to decide if Hospice is a saintpatrick.org IDPLOLHV LQ :HVWHUQ 0RQWDQD service they need or want. The important thing is that they understand the services that Hospice offers. When you and a loved one are facing end-of-life decisions, you may want to >:DD@F=2 Â&#x201D; %!' (#) ))%) A@=D@? Â&#x201D; %!' ))$ )%"# www.partnersinhomecare.org discuss what options are available to you #')( AR]^Vc De DeV 3 " "%eY 2gV H with your physician. MSN

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 37

Alzheimer’s Research Advances with New Discovery of Genetic Influences By Tait Trussell After what seemed like months without a front-page story about Alzheimer’s disease, the New York Times ran an important piece last April. It described two studies that analyzed the genes of over 50,000 people in the United States and Europe. The discoveries double the number of genes involved in Alzheimer’s from 5 to 10. The research also sheds new light on contributing factors, such as cholesterol, inflammation, and the concept of innate immunity. The newly discovered genes don’t seem to increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s, however, as much as having one or two copies of the APOE 4 gene, but they are likely to be helpful in understanding the disease and maybe in developing treatments. Researchers say the studies, leave little doubt that the five genes make the disease more likely in the elderly and have something important to reveal about the disease’s process. They may also lead to ways to delay its onset or slow its progress. “The level of evidence is very, very strong,” said Dr. Michael Boehnke, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Michigan and an outside adviser on the research. For years, there has been unproven information, but hints that cholesterol and inflammation are part of the disease process. People with high cholesterol are more likely to get the disease. Strokes and head injuries, which make Alzheimer’s more likely, also cause brain inflammation. Now, some of the newly discovered

genes appear to bolster this notion, because some are involved with cholesterol and others are linked to inflammation inside cells. An estimated 5.4 million Americans have the incurable Alzheimer’s disease, most of whom are elderly. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in eight people over age 65 has the disease. Its annual cost to the country is $183 billion health experts have estimated. By themselves, the genes are not nearly as important a factor as APOE, a gene discovered in 1995 that greatly increases risk for the dis-

ease: by 400 percent if a person inherits a copy from one parent, by 1,000 percent if inherited from both parents. In contrast, each of the new genes increases risk by no more than 10 to 15 percent; for that reason, they will not be used to decide if a person is likely to develop Alzheimer’s. APOE, which is a protein involved in metabolizing cholesterol, is in a class of its own says Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, a neurology professor at Harvard Medical School and an author of one of the papers. Of the 10 genes now known to be associated

Aging has enough difficulties. Getting the care you need shouldn’t be one of them. Highgate Senior Living offers full care for all, no matter what your age or ailment. Our team of compassionate professionals can handle almost anything, including complex medical issues and post-acute hospital care. In fact, we specialize in services normally provided in skilled nursing, such as diabetic care and oxygen management, injectable medications, wound care, feeding tubes, catheter monitoring, two-person transfers, and hospice. Just call any of our three Assisted Living/Memory Care communities in Montana, and we’ll make sure your move into Highgate is one of the easiest things in your life right now. Highgate at Billings 406-651-4833

Highgate at Bozeman 406-587-5100

Highgate at Great Falls 406-454-0991

PAGE 38 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dementia or

Depression? End the Suffering Do you or someone you know suffer from one of these medical conditions? Does it seem to be getting worse? If so, St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Behavioral Health Unit can help. Our program is designed to help stabilize the symptoms and treat the conditions quickly and safely in a secure environment.

www.stpetes.org Â&#x2021;

with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in old age, four were found in the past few years and are confirmed by the new studies. APOE may have other roles in the disease, perhaps involved in clearing the brain of amyloids that pile up in plaques, the barnacle-like particles that dot the brain of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patients. They are the one unique pathological feature of the disease, the Times story said. It is known that one of the first signs of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease is an accumulation of beta amyloid, or a-beta, a protein that forms plaques. And it is known that later in the disease, twisted and tangled proteins â&#x20AC;&#x201C; called tau â&#x20AC;&#x201C; appear in dead and dying nerve cells. But what is not known is why a-beta starts to build up, why the brains of people with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cannot get rid of its excess, or what is the link between amyloid and tau. One of the new papers, by American investigators, analyzed the genes of 54,000 people, some with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and others the same age but without the disease. They found four new genes. The other paper is by researchers in Britain, France, and other European countries with contributions from the United States. They confirmed the genes found by the American researchers and added one more gene. One of the researchers, Dr. Schellenberg set out to gather all the data he could on Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patients and on healthy people of the same ages. The idea was to compare one million positions on each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genome to determine whether some genes were more common in those who had Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I spent a lot of time being nice to people on the phone,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Schellenberg said, according to the Times. He got what he wanted: nearly every Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s center and Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geneticist in the country cooperated. Dr. Schellenberg and his colleagues used the mass of genetic data to perform an analysis and find the genes. Then, using two different populations, they confirmed that the same genes were conferring the risk. That helped assure the investigators that they were not looking at a chance association. It was a huge effort, Dr. Mayeux said. Many medical centers had Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tissue sitting in freezers. They had to extract the DNA and do genome scans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of my jobs was to make sure the Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cases really were cases â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that they had used some reasonable criteria for diagnosis,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Mayeux said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I had to be sure that people who were unaffected really were unaffected.â&#x20AC;? Meanwhile, the European group, led by Dr. Julie Williams of the School of Medicine at Cardiff University, was engaged in a similar effort. Dr. Schellenberg said the two groups compared their results and were reassured that they were largely finding the same genes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there were mistakes, we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the same things,â&#x20AC;? he added. Now the European and American groups are alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pooling their data to do an enormous study, looking for genes in the combined samples. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are upping the sample size,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Schellenberg said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are pretty sure more stuff will pop out.â&#x20AC;? MSN

The Crest... Welcome Home Providing Rehab Services, Long Term and Memory Care Â&#x201C; Therapy services available to include speech, occupational and physical therapy Â&#x201C; Private rehab wing Â&#x201C; Complex wound care Â&#x201C; Memory care unit specializing in dementia and Â&#x201C; Acute & chronic renal disease Â&#x201C; Short-term and respite Â&#x201C; Family oriented Â&#x201C; Variety of optional pay sources available Â&#x201C; High nursing staff to resident ratio

Call the administrator, Sheri Cislo, for a personal tour!

THE CREST 3131 Amherst AYHQXH Â&#x2021; %XWWH 0RQWDQD Â&#x2021;

Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress. - Mahatma Gandhi

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 39

Financial Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren When it comes to raising grandkids, you definitely have plenty of company. Across the country, about 5.8 million children are living with their grandparents, as the parents struggle with a variety of problems such as financial hardship, drug and alcohol addiction, prison time, domestic violence, divorce, and more. To help with the day-to-day expenses of raising grandkids, a variety of government programs and tax benefits can make a big difference in stretching your budget. Here’s where to look for help. Financial Assistance – For starters, find out whether your family qualifies for your state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which may include cash assistance, food stamps, and free or low-cost daycare. Or, if your household income is too high to qualify as a family, ask about the “child-only grant” for just the grandchild’s support alone. Also, find out if your state offers any additional programs like guardianship subsidies, non-parent grants, or kinship care. Contact your state TANF program (see www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa for contact information), or call your county social services office for more information. You also need to find out if your grandkids are eligible for Social Security, including benefits for children, survivor benefits, or SSI. You can find this out at your local Social Security office, or call 800-772-1213 or see www.ssa. gov. And finally, use benefitscheckup.org, a comprehensive web resource that helps you search for additional financial assistance programs that you may be eligible for, such as lower energy bills, discounts on prescription medications, and more. Tax Benefits – In addition to the financial assistance resources, Uncle Sam offers some tax benefits that may help you too like the Dependency Exemption that allows you to deduct $3,800 in 2102 on each qualifying grandchild. There’s also the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC that is available to those with moderate to low incomes, or the Child Tax Credit if you make too much money to qualify for the EITC. If you’re working, and are incurring childcare expenses in order to work, there’s a Child and Dependent Care Credit that can help. And, if you choose legally to adopt your grandkids, there’s an Adoption Credit that provides a federal tax credit of up to $12,650 per child. There are even education-related tax credits through the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit to help if your grandkids go to college. To learn more about these tax benefits call 800-829-1040, or visit www. irs.gov. You can also call the IRS publication line at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you the following publications: 501, 503, 596, 970, 972, and Form 8839. Health Insurance – If your grandkids need health insurance, depending on your income level, you may be able to get free or low-cost health insurance through your state’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. See insurekidsnow.gov or call 877-543-7669 for more information. Legal Issues – You also need to talk to a family law attorney to discuss the pros and cons of obtaining legal guardianship, custody, or adoption. Without some sort of legal custody, you may not be eligible for many of the previously listed financial assistance programs, and there can be problems with basic things like enrolling your grandkids in school, or giving a doctor permission to treat them. If your need help locating affordable or free legal assistance use findlegalhelp.org, or call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 for referrals. Savvy tip: To find support with other grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, visit the AARP GrandCare Support Locator at giclocalsup-

port.org where you can search for support groups in your area. 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

The next best thing to being at home! 1208 6TH Ave E | Superior, MT

406-822-4841

PROFESSIONAL LONG-TERM CARE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY )XOO DUUD\ RI RXWSDWLHQW VHUYLFHV )XOO WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ VHUYLFH Comfortable living with a sense of home and full housekeeping services 24-7 nursing care with the best care-giver to resident ratio in the state Freshly prepared meals overseen by a licensed dietician )XOO SKDUPDF\ VHUYLFHV )XQ DQG H[FLWLQJ GDLO\ DFWLYLWLHV

PAGE 40 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 41

PAGE 42 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

How You Die Is Your Choice! By The Reverend John C. Board Episcopal Church Helena After a 10-year battle with brain cancer, my friend and fellow activist Steve Johnson died peacefully on August 13 at his summer home near the Little Blackfoot River. His wife of 51 years was with him when he died, along with their three children and loyal dog. Steve was a tireless champion of patient autonomy and the right to aid in dying. He began his work early in 2010, after the Montana Supreme Court ruled that patients have that right. By then, Steve had talked with his doctor about what was likely to happen as his brain cancer progressed. He was already fairly disabled, and it was likely that he would go blind. He was very concerned about intense pain and loss of dignity as the cancer worsened. As Steve simply put it, “I think I should have something to say about my ending.” Our Montana Supreme Court decided, in Baxter v. Montana, that our end-of-life medical choices are private. Terminally ill adults can request medi-

cation to bring about a peaceful death. It was a great comfort to Steve knowing he could ask his doctor to honor his decision when the time came. Although an unassuming man and not one to draw attention to himself, Steve led a “My Life, My Death, My Choice” campaign to preserve and protect the Baxter decision recognizing the right of terminally ill Montanans to physician aid in dying. His plea for a peaceful and dignified death on his own terms was broadcast throughout the state of Montana. He testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2011 to fight a bill that would have revoked the right of terminally ill patients to request aid in dying from their physicians. Steve was passionate about and committed to this issue. It was never about him, he merely wanted others to have this option available to them if warranted. He died at peace knowing he had done all he could do to leave all Montanans with a choice in this matter. We are all thankful for Steve and the legacy his efforts have left us. MSN

A Mind Full of Clutter By Saralee Perel Last week, instead of heading home on the highway, my husband, Bob, and I took an extra 10 minutes and drove along the scenic route. We passed gorgeous cranberry bogs, yards filled with chrysanthemums, and farm stands overflowing with pumpkins. All through the drive, I cried. Sweet Bob wanted to hear my thoughts. “I’m worried about your doctor’s appointment,” I said through tears. “I’m so sorry I spoiled our drive.” “But I want you to talk to me.” “Bob, the only purpose my worried thoughts served was to lose every precious moment of a beautiful drive with you.” At that instant, I learned that one word could change life for the

better. The word? Clutter. In a single day I said to myself, “clutter,” each time I noticed a pointless negative thought. I stopped counting after about a hundred. Recently, Bob called from his cell. “I’m at the store. I’ll be home in 20 minutes.” I thought, “What if he has an accident?” Clutter. By identifying the useless thought, I could stop it. This de-cluttering business goes way beyond the “what if?” container. The life of my cat, Eddie, was wonderful. But the second I think of him, I visualize his ending. Clutter. So I asked Bob, “What do you think of when you think of Eddie?” He laughed. “I think about Eddie-proofing the house, like keeping the toilet paper in a coffee tin.” Then he laughed harder and said, “I think about when he’d jump in my shower, and every time

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

I’d pull him out and then close the bathroom door behind him, he’d decide it was a challenge. He’d turn the door knob, race back to the shower, use his paw to quickly slide the shower door open, and jump right back in!” Last week we went to the movies. We could not bring our dog, Becky, because of the weather. I said, “Bob, I can’t stop thinking about how unhappy Becky is right now.” The truth is I can stop thinking about … anything. We all can. Do you see any purpose in my taking time away from enjoying the movies by focusing on leaving my pooch at home? Today, Bob and I stopped at a farm stand and bought corn. Now, I could have done what I did last time, which was to complain about the weather

(clutter) and stay in the car while Bob bought the corn. Instead, I spent a wondrous five minutes with my husband, picking out corn and counting all the colors of the geraniums. That beat sitting in a car thinking about the seven calls I had to return. It was a simple uncluttered moment in time, when all I had was the feel of the corn silk, the aroma of the sweet basil, and the sight of a hummingbird on a petunia. And all that I had … was plenty. Saralee Perel’s new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. She welcomes e-mails at sperel@saraleeperel.com. Her website is www.saraleeperel.com. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 43

COMPETITIVE PRICING WHETHER YOU ARE BUYING OR SELLING! Experience the best at Grizzly Gold & Silver!

Visitor Center is Welcome Wagon - cont’d from page 32 “It’s that kind of personal service that is reason for the bountiful compliments we hear about the city and the people of Great Falls,” says Vicki. Great Falls residents also visit the center. They pick up state maps and other literature to plan trips for themselves or for their guests. They check the events calendars and learn what’s going on around the area. Vicki says local individuals who know and love Great Falls are welcome to volunteer at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center was built in 1983 near the giant American Flag and the Bob Scriver bronze of Lewis, Clark, York, and Seaman in Overlook Park. Near the door is a sculpture by artist Jay Laber, whose fascinating sculptures also stop traffic on the borders of the Blackfeet Reservation. Since Park and Recreation added the sidewalk that goes around the figure, Vicki says it might be the most photographed item in Great Falls. Before this building, the visitor Center consisted of a kiosk at the east end of town. Volunteer Rosalie Skifton worked there years ago and thought that was fun but it was a far cry from the pleasant building where she volunteers today. She marvels at the views of the river, the bridges, and the city from the windows and the outside deck. A wall of photos alerts people to some of Great Falls’ most visited sites. Visitors take a chair on the deck and plan for

the day. They bring their lunch and enjoy a cup of complementary coffee while robins, finches, and flickers rustle around in the leaves below them. There’s Wi-Fi service here and visitors may use the computers to check email or pay bills on line. The Center sells a few Montana made items like t-shirts, books, and cards. The rich, steamy coffee, which adds so much to the friendly atmosphere, is complements of Morning Light, and Vicki calls it an example of the extraordinary hospitality of the Great Falls businesses. While a great deal of information is dispensed from the Welcome Wagon on top of the hill, occasionally the message goes off track. Vicki told one individual about the First People’s buffalo jump at Ulm. “What’s that?” the woman asked. Vicki explained that, before they had horses, the Native People ran the bison over a cliff to help kill them to feed the families. “Ok,” the woman replied. “When does it start?” MSN

A secure foundation for a diversified portfolio.

406-541-6690 1935 Brooks St Missoula, MT

PAGE 44 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

We Rent Everything Under the Sun!

DELIVERY AVAILABLE

406-723-4368

' ##% # ' # 4 5a^]c Bc Â&#x2019; 1dccT bd]aT]cP[RT]cTa QXi

Bringing Nature Home Turkeys, bears, elk, deer, squirrels, doves, passenger pigeons, blue jays, and even mice were catalogued as depending on dinner from the nuts this tree produced and the shelter it provided. There are now two species of chestnuts in America and an American Chestnut Society devoted to programs designed to breed a Chestnut tree resistant to the blight. They have crossed an American chestnut with resistant Asian species and think in a few years they may succeed. There are now some 5,000 species of alien plants growing in America, many introduced by nurseries for ornamental landscaping and bringing with them injurious insects and viruses. The author notes that the worst plants with takeover tendencies were multiflora roses, autumn olives, Japanese honeysuckle, kudzu, Norway maple, oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, and something called the mile-a-minute weed. Tallamy says this weed was on his property, and despite digging up wheelbarrow loads, knew he would have it forever. While we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suffer from most of these in the West, our bad examples take up their own space in the form of crested wheatgrass, which has spread over 10 million acres, spotted knapweed, whose only organic eradicator has been goats, wild white yarrow, and bindweed, a type of morning glory that has roots that can go on forever and is an impossible strangler of other plants. Studies show that bird numbers declined in areas heavily invaded by alien plants, and these plants are not utilized by the butterflies and moths, who still prefer native trees, shrubs, bushes, and flowers. In the wonderful old book Songbirds in For All Your Railing Needs... Your Garden by John K. Terres, he notes some */5&3*03 t &95&3*03 garden flowers whose seeds attract birds, and 3&4*%&/5*"- t $0..&3$*"while I have often won$BMM 5PEBZ dered what little birds are picking up on the Senior Discount ground, he says it might &,(E&'*E#+,& v be seeds from asters, bachelor buttons, colum-

By Clare Hafferman If you are interested in how things fit together in nature, are of a scientific mind, and admire good photographs, you will want to read Professor of Entomology Douglas Tallamyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bringing Nature Home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in our Gardens. With 288 pages of detailed facts, plus beautiful photographs of insects, many of the moths and butterflies existing in our country, and some of the birds and beetles that live with them, there is enough material and research in detail to make you think about the connections among these diverse species. In the first few chapters, Professor Tallamy discusses the importation of what he refers to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;alienâ&#x20AC;? plants and the insects and diseases that may have come with them. Some of these plants were brought into our country for specific reasons but with disastrous, unintended consequences. Kudzu, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;vine that ate the South,â&#x20AC;? is one, and the well-known disappearance of the American chestnut tree is another. A blight-infected Japanese chestnut was transported to the American Northeast in 1876. Lesions from this blight were first discovered on an American chestnut at the Bronx Zoo in 1904, and within 50 years, Castanea dentata, which had been the dominant forest tree from Maine to Mississippi, was functionally eliminated from the Eastern United States. Beyond the other trees populating the land at that time, this chestnut tree had been a main source of food for animals, birds, and insects.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 45

M O N TA N A

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE

Big Sky Honor Flight – to recognize Montana World War II Veterans Big Sky Honor Flight’s mission is to recognize World War II veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by flying them to Washington, D.C., – at no cost to them – to see their memorial. The flights are scheduled on a continuing basis until all of Montana’s World War II veteran’s that wish to go have done so. The trip includes stops at important memorials and landmarks in the Washington area. The highlight, however, will be a stop at the National World War II Memorial, which was opened in 2004 as a tribute to the millions of Americans who served and died to protect the freedoms still enjoyed today.

Since the Big Sky Honor Flight committee began its work last fall, personal donations and commitments have been remarkable. The overall fundraising continues as the group aims to get flights scheduled from Montana over the next two years. Continued support from corporate sponsors, community groups, businesses, ongoing personal donations, and family fundraisers all make the flight possible. About $152,000 is needed to get each flight off the ground. “It is a big goal, but it’s the least we can do for this group of Montanans who were so brave when this country needed it the most,” said Tina Vauthier, the Big Sky Honor Flight committee’s co-president. To learn more about applying for the flight, fundraising and donation opportunities visit: www.bigskyhonorflight.org

You are making the right choice.

Keep on the lookout for fundraising events in your area like

WE OFFER A CON TINUU M OF CAR E:

Purse and Jewelry Sale Saturday, November10

Hillside

Health Care Center 4720 23rd Avenue Missoula, Montana 59803 (406) 251-5100 www.hillsidesenior.com

All proceeds go to Big Sky Honor Flight.

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. REHABILITATION • MEMORY CARE LONG TERM CARE • END OF LIFE CARE

Hillside ValleyHealth ViewCareEstates Health Care Center Center 4720 23rd Avenue Missoula, Montana 59803 (406) 251-5100 www.hillsidesenior.com

The Village Health Care Center 2651 South Avenue West Missoula, Montana 59804 (406) 728-9162 www.villagehealthcare.com

Billings& Rehabilitation Health Community

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

225 North 8th Street Hamilton, Montana 59840 (406) 363-1144 www.valleyviewestates.org

Riverside Health Care Center 1301 East Broadway Missoula, Montana 59802 (406) 721-0680 www.riversidesenior.com

Valley

Health Care Center 1807 24th Street West Billings, Montana 59102 (406) 656-5010 www.valleyhcc.com

INDEPENDENT • A SSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE

The Village Hillside Place Senior Residence Assisted Living 2815 Old Fort Road Missoula, Montana 59804 (406) 549-1300 www.villagesenior.com

4720 23rd Avenue Missoula, Montana 59803 (406) 251-5100 www.hillsidesenior.com

Westpark Village A Senior Living Community Platinum Service Communities Managed by The Goodman Group.

2351 Solomon Avenue Billings, Montana 59102 (406) 652-4886 www.westparksenior.com

PAGE 46 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

bines, coneflowers, coreopsis, cosmos, forget-menots, gallardia, larkspur, and delphinium. All are easy to grow in our climate. To encourage gardeners to plant some of the natives that will attract some of the 11,500 species of moths and butterflies in our country, there are several pages of host plants for all sections of America. A list for each section names trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, grasses, sedges, and even rushes for swampy areas that you could begin with or intersperse with what you already have. At the list for the Pacific Northwest, I was glad to see that I already had a chokecherry tree (a bird dropped a seed for that one), an Italian prune tree, a mountain ash, blue spruce, a heneysuckle vine, ferns, Oregon grape, a few

herbs, and many of the desired flowers. And until we eliminated the weeping willow, I have to give it credit; it attracted the mourning cloak butterflies and underwing moth and was home to a sphinx moth that dropped pellets on the deck and hatched a big green caterpillar with a blue horn on one end â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a fascinating sight. A salient fact related to this is that birds need insects of all kinds and caterpillars, bugs and worms sustain them. One study of house wrens revealed that every time the mother wren approached the nest, she had a spider in her beak. The point was also made that Ladybugs subsist on aphids, and swallows catch mosquitoes and, in one case noted, rid old buildings of house flies. Insects that hatch in trees, shrubs, under story bushes, or swampy areas mean breakfast for the birds. There are more details and explanations to encourage gardeners to incorporate native plants in their landscapes, and, like myself, you may be discovering new facts. It is a book that needs a wider audience. It is available through inter-library loan. MSN

Real Estate Investment Analysis Software By Kim Charles Petty Investing in Real estate is acquiring an increasingly critical profile with advancement in technology. Like other businesses, all aspects of real estate investing also have become technology oriented and complicated. You may find handling day-to-day operations quite stressful and difficult to handle without obtaining expert support. The easiest way to cope with such a situation is to use real estate investment analysis software. The software is user friendly and will prove to be the ideal option to manage your high profit ventures in real estate investing. To make it easier for you to handle the software, a detailed user manual and a CD are provided along with it. This will let you clearly comprehend the application and procedure for using the software. The software consists of many features that are of immense use to committed real estate investors, brokers, real estate agents and developers. It allows quick and easy real estate investment analysis presentation for individual investors that help them in understanding implications of their investment moves and lets them make an informed decision on real estate investing. Many companies sell real estate analysis software. Good quality software is a powerful tool that will let you determine your return on investment and analyze cash flows. It provides a near accurate estimate of future wealth/ net worth and allows comparing multiple income properties through an executive summary. Using an executive summary, you can run assumptions against different income generating properties and then make a comparison of the financial data derived through the executive summary to determine

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

the property that will give the highest return. This caters to systematically building wealth through your real estate investments by making quick and better-informed decisions. This user-friendly software is available for all types of real estate like apartment buildings, singlefamily rental housing, office buildings, industrial properties, warehouses and mini warehouses, commercial buildings etc. The software will help you generate all types of related financial reports like income statements, cash flow statement, rent roll, mortgage and equity, sensitivity analysis, executive summary, operating expenses etc. It can also let you have a breakdown of operating expenses in the form of expense item amount expressed as a percentage of total operating expenses and a percentage of effective gross income as well. Real estate investing analysis software provides you with the flexibility of entering 2/3 mortgages on a one property to let you make a

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 47

mortgage analysis of your investment real estate. It can take into account interest only mortgages, fully amortized mortgages, one future mortgage or refinancing, interest only mortgage with balloon payments, fully amortized mortgage with balloon payments etc. You must look for real estate investing software that allows powerful sensitivity analysis by incorporating variations in purchase price, loan interest rate, appreciation growth rate, income growth rate, expense growth rate, vacancy rate, and reinvestment rate of return. In the real estate business, you may come across terms that may appear to be complicated or confusing. Good real estate investment analysis software will invariably include an encyclopedia to help you out with this. It will clarify and help you understand the various real estate terms as well as its principles, concepts, practices and calculations with explanations to financial indicators like return, cap rate, IRR, GRM, DCR, DSR etc. MSN

When Downsizing Is Not Enough: Many Reasons For Moving To A Retirement Residence By Lisa M. Petsche As people age, there is a good chance their home will no longer suit their lifestyle or their needs. Moving to a different house, a condo, or an apartment is not always the solution, though. In some situations, a retirement home turns out to be the best choice. Retirement residences are private pay, wellness-oriented facilities that enable active seniors to maintain or improve their independence, health, and overall quality of life. The following are common reasons for choosing a retirement home. • Freedom – To reduce responsibilities associated with home ownership - particularly property maintenance and keeping track of a multitude of bills - to allow more time for preferred activities. • Independence – To offload as many responsibilities of daily living as possible, in order to continue to live independently, in spite of decreased physical abilities. People in this situation may wish to eliminate not only property maintenance tasks but also housecleaning, laundering, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. • Accessibility – To increase the accessibility of their living space – specifically, to make it easier and safer to enter and exit, access all areas, and use rooms for their intended purpose. • Finances – To reduce expenses associated with home ownership, including property taxes, utilities, and maintenance, particularly if they live in an older home that is not energy efficient or that requires extensive repairs. Another reason for moving is that the cost of home adaptations to improve safety and accessibility is beyond their means or is not a wise investment from a real estate market perspective. • Peace of mind – To ensure that help is available if they run into difficulty. This can provide them, as well as concerned loved ones, with reassurance. • Socialization – To increase social contact. Opportunities to make new friends can be found throughout a retirement home, from the dining room, lounge areas, and activity rooms to outdoor spaces and organized events. • Recreation – To engage in new and previously enjoyed activities that are stimulating and pleasurable and provide meaning or entertainment value. • Security – To reduce the risk of being victimized. For example, those who are anxious about answering the door, leaving their home unattended, or coming home to an empty house may experience increased peace of mind living in a residence with a security desk and locked mailboxes. (Continued on page 63)

Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends. - Shirley MacLaine

Maintenance Free Living Custom Single Family Homes Gated Entry Community Clubhouse Putting Green Convenient Location Parks & Walking Trails Energy Star Efficient Homes

406.546.6930 KootenaiCreekVillage.com

Western Montana’s Only 55+ Community

PAGE 48 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

New Guideline Helps Doctors Diagnose Breast Cancer (NAPSI) About one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but the disease is much more than a statistic to Ruth Chermok. Chermok is a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed with ER/PgRpositive breast cancer at age 46. “I was on top of the world. Rick, my high school sweetheart, and I had just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and had started our lives as empty nesters. Life throws you for a loop sometimes. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with ER/PgR-positive breast cancer.” Thanks to her medical team, Chermok can count herself as a survivor. That team included a pathologist - a physician who examines cells, bodily fluids, and tissues to diagnose disease. And now, pathologists have a new tool to help them give their patients the best possible care: new evidencebased recommendations from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) that will improve the accuracy of ER and PgR testing in breast cancer. As many as two-thirds of breast cancers are ER and/or PgR-positive, with their growth influenced by activation of the estrogen receptor pathway. Accurate determination of tumor phenotype is critical for proper selection of therapy options and individualized treatments. In particular, the new guideline recommends that breast cancer patients should have their tumor tested for estrogen and progesterone receptors, and that the testing should be performed by an accredited laboratory that follows

New Mastectomy Items Help Women Feel Comfortable and Confident After Breast Surgery

THERAPY CENTER at WESTVIEW HEALTH CARE

Breast Cancer Screening Controversies

Susan Landgren, MS, Certified Genetic Counselor

Pat Mahana, RN, CBEC, Diagnostic Breast Navigator

specific testing procedures and handles the samples in a consistent way. According to Elizabeth Hammond, M.D., FCAP, co-chair of the CAP/ ASCO Hormone Receptor Testing in Breast Cancer Panel, a board-certified pathologist at Intermountain Healthcare, and professor of pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, “Increased attention to simple measures such as the handling of tissue specimens from the moment they are taken from the patient to when they reach the pathologist, the uniform fixation of specimens, the standardization and validation of lab assays, rigorous reporting procedures, and greater access to treatment interventions have the potential to significantly improve breast cancer outcomes around the world.” The CAP/ASCO Panel also expects that the new ER/PgR guideline will foster improved communications among cancer specialists and also between patients and their doctors. “It is our hope that the CAP/ASCO ER/ PgR guideline will facilitate processes at each health system and institution, so that appropriate measures to ensure accurate predictive biomarker testing [including ER/PgR] are in place and that breast cancer patients receive the highest quality care possible,” says Dr. Hammond. Chermok agrees. “My skilled team of a radiologist, surgeon, and pathologist had brought me this far, and I had great confidence that my pathologist had correctly identified the nature and structure of the tumor cells, and given the oncology team the information necessary to create a plan of treatment.” The College of American Pathologists offers two websites, www.MyHealthTestReminder.org and www.MyBiopsy.org. These sites can help women remember to schedule their next mammogram, as well as provide patient guides for those diagnosed with breast cancer, including breast cancer that is ER/PgR-positive. For more information, visit www.cap.org. MSN

Kathryn Waitman, Doctorate in Nursing Practice, FNP, AOCNP

There has been a lot of conflicting information in the news about mammograms, clinical breast exams and self-breast exams. Join us for a Lunch & Learn and learn the facts about the importance of early detection. Hear a breast cancer clinician, a genetic counselor and a diagnostic breast navigator talk about screenings and why family history and genetics play a role. Learn about opportunities for free mammograms for uninsured or underinsured women. Some of the questions to be addressed include: • Mammograms – • Clinical breast exam – • Mastectomy vs. what age and is this necessary and lumpectomy? how often? how often? • Recurrence of breast • Self breast exam – • My sister had breast cancer – why and who? why or why not? cancer – will I get it?

Wednesday, October 17 • Noon to 1 pm Mary Alice Fortin Health Conference Center, Billings Clinic Hospital No charge, but seating is limited. Please register in advance by calling 255-8440 or 1-800-252-1246, or register online at www.billingsclinic.com/classes Also available via Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network. Check with your local site coordinator for availability in your community.

By Bernice Karnop Debbie King and Lisa Malespin, who are certified prosthetics fitters, say they have the best job in the world. They get to meet and know wonderful women and help them feel confident that they can wear almost anything in their closet and look normal after a mastectomy. Debbie and Lisa are both certified by the Camp Institute of Applied Technology and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics. They have helped women find breast forms and mastectomy bras that are comfortable and that allow them to feel feminine and pretty. After undergoing breast cancer treatment, women may have breast reconstruction surgery, or they may choose to have a prosthesis that can be worn in a pocket of their bra. It is important to do one or the other for more reasons than to look good. When a breast is removed or altered, the body shifts out of balance. An implant or breast form helps balance the body, preventing back or neck pain. It helps keep one shoulder from dropping and the other one from lifting up. Many women choose to have breast reconstruction right after surgery. Others are tired of the medical aspect of breast cancer after having a mastectomy and going through chemo and radiation. “They just want to take a time out and wear our items for a while and then reconsider having reconstruction a year or two down the road.” Debbie says. The breast forms cost around $350 and the bras around $50. The good news is that most medical insurance pays or helps pay for mastectomy items. Most providers help patients with the task of dealing with their insurance companies and with Medicare.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Very helpful is a packet that patients can take to their doctor to make sure they comply with the recent changes in Medicare’s policy for these items. Women who have worn breast forms for years or who have never been comfortably fit with them can call for a consultation without obligation. Debbie says there are new options that were not available in the past. For example, silicone breast forms come in a variety of weights, including a

lightweight one that is infused with air. A super lightweight form is made from medical grade Styrofoam beads. Many find this one to be cooler and more comfortable during the hot months. Some breast forms adhere to a woman’s chest and are more comfortable to some women who say these forms feel more like part of their body. “Our goal is to have everyone happy with what we fit them with,” says Debbie. “If they are not

Focus On Breast Cancer Central Montana Family Planning (CMFP) administers the Montana Cancer Screening Program (MCSP), which provides free or reduced cost mammograms, clinical breast exams, Pap tests and pelvic exams for early detection of breast and cervical cancers, and colonoscopies and FOBT tests for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Diagnostic testing is also provided for the follow-up of abnormal screening tests. CMFP/MCSP processes all paperwork, helps with appointments, and ensures proper payments of the screenings. Some financial assistance is provided through generous donations from local fundraising projects for those women that do not qualify or who might have services outside of our payment schedule. The MCSP follows the screening recommendations

of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, which has recently updated the screening guidelines for both breast and cervical cancer. Talk with your medical provider to determine how often you should be screened. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which honors women who have had or survived breast cancer as well as those who are its victims. It also focuses attention on the importance of being screened. Our office serves the six geographical counties of Central Montana (Fergus, Judith Basin, Petroleum, Golden Valley, Musselshell, and Wheatland) For more information about enrolling, call 406-5358811 or 1-877-421-8646. MSN

Slow Weight Loss Will Result In Better Results By Rebecca Conroy, Community Medical Center Current media has tricked us into thinking that exercise means tremendous and immediate weight loss. The truth is that for most of us who are not in great shape, exercise will help us to build muscle as we start to lose fat. This can mean frustration because the scale does not change. If weight is lost too quickly, it often means there is muscle loss. Muscle burns calories, so keeping muscle as you lose weight is important. Slower truly is better. The scale is only one measure of body com-

position. Body composition is the amount of fat and amount of other things – brain, bones, and muscles – that you are made of. You control the amount of muscle you have. You can increase your muscle size, which increases the weight of muscle. Muscle is denser than fat. This means that increasing the percentage of your weight made up of muscle generally makes you smaller. Gradual weight loss is a sign that you have transformed the lifestyle habits that create fat into lifestyle habits that create healthy muscle. Most people are interested in losing weight when they start an exercise program, which is

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 49

comfortable and are not happy with it, we want to know about it, so we can fit them with something they are happy with, something they want to use.” Debbie and Lisa go home each day knowing that they have helped women to feel happy and confident about how they look after a mastectomy. And, it works both ways. “It not only makes our patients feel good; it makes us feel good as well,” she says. MSN

PAGE 50 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

good. There are so many advantages to increased activity that are not limited to losing weight, all of which will assist you in healthy weight loss. The goal of exercise should be to increase strength, increase flexibility, and increase aerobic conditioning. These three things, when balanced, will lead to weight loss for multiple reasons. As you increase your strength, you increase your muscle mass. More muscle mass means more calories burned, even when you are brushing your teeth. Increased flexibility keeps you limber and helps avoid injuries. Increasing aerobic conditioning requires movement, and movement burns calories. Exercise helps your body to use oxygen more efficiently. This translates into an easier time, and less huffing and puffing, when walking, hiking, and riding bicycles, and general active working or playing. Exercise increases your ability to lift, move, run, and walk because your muscles are in bet-

ter shape. Exercise increases your self-esteem. Do you know someone with a poor self-esteem? Help that person by working out together. Your body will do what you want it to, and that is a great feeling. Increased activity and exercise make you steadier on your feet. If you have an elderly friend or family member, you can help that person avoid a potentially life threatening injury from a fall by working out together. Consult a healthcare provider for your appropriate activity level. Now for the bad news: activity increases hunger. In order to lose weight in a steady and safe fashion, and to keep it off, exercise must be paired with healthy eating habits. Losing weight is not about getting skinny fast. It is about being healthy, so you can be around for your children and their children, so you can enjoy life more fully. Exercise and activity are about being healthy. MSN

Bone Scans Keep That Calcium Coming to Keep Results Positive By Tait Trussell, Senior Wire Older women - maybe you - just got some great news: Women age 67 or older with normal bone mineral density may not need to have a density screening (to see if they are developing osteoporosis) again for a decade. Until now, there has been no definite scientific evidence to guide women in this medical area. Since 2002, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has been recommending that women age 65 or older have a screening for osteoporosis every two years. But a study, the results of which were presented at a meeting of the Society for Bone Mineral Research, said, in effect, that there was no need. The bone density of most older women does not change significantly. The study found that “it would take about 16 years for 10 percent of women in the highest bone density ranges to develop osteoporosis.” That was longer than expected, and it is “great news for this group of women,” the study scientists said. Those with somewhat lower density could go for five years without screening. The study analyzed data from more than 5,000 women aged 67 and older who were part of the longest-running osteoporosis study in the country - the Study of Osteoporosis Fractures. And fractures, of course, are what it is all about. A hip fracture, for instance, can often lead to death for elderly people within a year of the break.

Many women, as they age, take calcium supplements to guard against osteoporosis. They believe that this could protect against vascular disease by lowering cholesterol in the blood as well as protecting bone health. But these supplements could be risky to your health in another way. Scientists at the University of Auckland launched a study on the effect of calcium supplements on heart attack and stroke. Their study involved 1,471 healthy, postmenopausal women aged 55 or older who had previously taken part in a study to assess the effects of calcium on bone density and rates of fracture. Some of the women got a calcium supplement and others got a placebo. Heart attacks were reported more commonly in the group taking calcium. The occurrence of any of three vascular events - heart attack, stroke, or sudden death - was also more common in this group. The findings are inconclusive, but they do suggest that high calcium doses might have an adverse effect on vascular health. The key word here is “high.” In 2007, another study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis discovered that women who get most of their daily calcium from food have healthier bones than women whose calcium intake is mainly from supplemental tablets. This is the case even when the supplement takers ingest higher average amounts of calcium. The researchers found that women could be divided into three groups. One group, called the

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

â&#x20AC;&#x153;supplement group,â&#x20AC;? got at least 70 percent of their calcium from tablets or pills. Another, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;diet group,â&#x20AC;? got at least 70 percent of their calcium from dairy products and other foods (such as leafy green vegetables). And a third group, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;diet plus supplement group,â&#x20AC;? consisted of those whose calcium-source percentages fell somewhere between these ranges. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;diet groupâ&#x20AC;? took in the least calcium, an average of 830 milligrams a day. Yet this group had higher bone density in their spines and hipbones than women in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;supplement group, who consumed about 1,030 milligrams per day. Women in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;diet plus supplementâ&#x20AC;? group tended to have the highest bone mineral density as well as the highest calcium intake, at

least 1,620 milligrams per day. Obviously, adequate calcium is important to guard against osteoporosis, which affects about 8 million women and about 2 million men in the U.S. Another 35 million Americans have low bone mass. This places them at greater risk of osteoporosis. The whole idea in taking calcium is to maintain bone density by preventing our bodies from stealing the calcium it needs for other purposes from our bones. So, draw your own conclusions, but be sure to get plenty of calcium as you age. MSN

Making Time for Better Health

Menopausal Madness; Coping With the Change By Susan Bonner, RN Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best way for a husband to predict the mood of his menopausal wife? Assume her mood is lousy, and occasionally heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be wrong. Trusting a menopausal woman to control her emotions is like trusting a tornado to mow your lawn. Yes, menopause has long been the subject of comedians, but trust me, it is no laughing matter. I know, from first hand, as I have just begun â&#x20AC;&#x153;the change.â&#x20AC;? New technologies have discovered that not only is there menopause, but there is also peri-menopause, and a syndrome that affects men, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;low testosteroneâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;low Tâ&#x20AC;? that may have a similar effect on a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physiology as menopause has on a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physiology. Early beliefs about women in Western society evolved from misconceptions about a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly menstrual cycle and events leading up to the end of her reproductive years, which coincided with average life expectancies. Thus, the end of her childbearing years was proof that a woman had

|ĂšĂš Ă?Ä&#x2019;Äź Ä¤Ä¤Ä&#x2019;ĂŞÄ&#x2030;Ĺ&#x2019;Ä&#x192;ÂźÄ&#x2030;Ĺ&#x2019; <ÂźĹ&#x201E;ĂšĂŞÂź `Ă¤Ä&#x2019;Ä&#x192;Ä¤Ĺ&#x201E;Ä&#x2019;Ä&#x2030; .Ä&#x2030;ÂŽÂźÄ¤ÂźÄ&#x2030;ÂŽÂźÄ&#x2030;Ĺ&#x2019; Ă&#x2013;ÂźÄ&#x2030;Ĺ&#x2019; Ă&#x201D;Ć&#x192;Ĺ?ĂŠĹ&#x152;Ĺ?Ć&#x192;ĂŠÄ&#x153;Ä&#x153;Ă&#x201E;Ć&#x192;

@aÄ&#x201C;Ç¨Ç¨Ç¨Ç¨ĆşĆ&#x2022;ÄźĂ&#x203A;Ć?Ĺ&#x2013;

The Arthritis Foundation representatives often hear stories with a common theme when providing outreach and education to those with arthritis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People get the diagnosis of arthritis and read a brochure about it at the doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office or find some information onlineâ&#x20AC;Ś but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have time to invest in learning much more than that,â&#x20AC;? says Carrie Strike, AF Programs Manager in Montana. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to make sure people know of the benefits of coming to an Arthritis Foundation exercise program, so they make time in their schedule to attend.â&#x20AC;? Here is a story from an Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program Instructor in Billings: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A few weeks ago, Minnie told me how she was walking and saw a piece of paper on the ground. When she went to retrieve it, she lost her balance and started to fall backward. She said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I felt I was going to fall but I stayed upright and strong. Our exercises come in handy.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; She had a big smile as she hugged me.â&#x20AC;? Contact the Arthritis Foundation for the latest brochures, drug guides, research updates, local educational forums, or exercise programs. The Arthritis Foundation can get you connected to the information you need. Call 800.475.6447 or visit www.arthritis.org for more information. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 51

CHq HT C

C|Ä&#x2030;Â&#x203A;Ĺş ZÄ&#x192;ĂŞĹ&#x2019;Ă¤ .Ä&#x2030;ÂŽÂźÄ¤ÂźÄ&#x2030;ÂŽÂźÄ&#x2030;Ĺ&#x2019; Ă&#x2013;ÂźÄ&#x2030;Ĺ&#x2019; Ă&#x201D;Ć&#x192;Ĺ?ĂŠĹ&#x152;Ĺ?Ć&#x192;ĂŠÄ&#x153;Ä&#x153;Ĺ?Ă&#x201D;

C q <H `.HC ZT . <.x.C& .C B . V TVH e `Z

Ĺ?Ĺ?Ă&#x2018; ÂźÄ&#x2030;Ĺ&#x2019;Äź|Ăš ĹśÂźÄŞ qÂźĹ&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2019; Ä&#x2018;Ĺ?Ć&#x192;Ä&#x153; Â&#x161; &ÄźÂź|Ĺ&#x2019; %|ĂšĂšĹ&#x201E;ÂŠ B` Ă&#x2018;Ä&#x17D;Ă&#x201D;Ć&#x192;Ă&#x201D;

PAGE 52 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

a statement concluding that menopause was not a disease to be treated or outlived her usefulness. In 1925, modern scientists unveiled human hormonal make-up and were eliminated, but a natural phase in the life of women. Needless to say, knowledge and education are the keys to overcoming able to differentiate between estrogen and progesterone. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until March of 2005 that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued the stigma attached to women’s natural cycle. As I always advocate when it comes to one’s health, knowledge and education are the keys. Peri-menopause literally means the time “around” menopause, the beginning of the estrogen decline that leads to menopause and the first symptoms. Montana Oral Surgery For some women, this is as early as their thirties. By their mid-forties, most AND women notice at least occasional signs that their estrogen is beginning to Dental Implant Center decline. Hormone levels can fluctuate during the peri-menopause, dipping and even rising to higher levels than before. You will have your own unique response to these changing levels. Something to note, during peri-menopause, a woman can still get pregnant because she is still producing eggs. Menopause occurs naturally when a woman’s ovaries run out of functioning eggs. At the time of birth, most females have 1 to 3 million eggs, which are gradually lost throughout a woman’s life. Normally, FSH, or folliclestimulating hormone (a reproductive hormone), is the substance responsible for the growth of ovarian follicles (eggs) during the first half of a woman’s menstrual cycle. As menopause approaches, the remaining eggs become more resistant to FSH, and the ovaries dramatically reduce their production of a hormone called estrogen. Estrogen affects many parts of the body, including the blood vessels, heart, bone, breasts, uterus, urinary system, skin, and brain. Loss of estrogen For tooth replacement or to act as anchors for your dentures. General anesthesia for your comfort, is believed to be the cause of symptoms associated with menopause. At the local anesthesia for your convenience. Extractions and general Oral Surgery. Harvard educated. time of menopause, the ovaries also decrease their production of testosterJason H. Fleischmann DMD, MD one – a hormone involved with sex drive. The diagnosis of menopause is Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons when you’ve had 12 consecutive months without a period, so keep track. 65 Medical Park Dr Helena 443-3334 montanaoralsurgery.com Signs of menopause vary in every women, but as a guideline, symptoms can include hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/ or cold flashes, clammy feeling, irregular heartbeat, irritability, mood swings, sudden tears, trouble sleeping through the night, loss of libido, dry vagina, crashing fatigue anxiety, feeling ill at ease, difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion, disturbing memory lapses, incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing, urge incontinence, and itchy, crawly skin. Again, this is an incomplete list and as always, I urge you to continue with research. But take heart. Some symptoms may disappear as the body progresses toward the post-menopausal stage. Depending on the type of symptoms that you have, treatments can include birth control pills, estrogen creams, rings or tablets, hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle changes, medications, and phytoestrogens. I have decided to use naturopathy. Soy and cohosh pills work well for me, as does maca root. Numerous websites explain their properties. Exercise is beneficial for women in their menopausal years. Exercise helps relieve and prevent symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, thinning and irritation of the vagina, depression, insomnia, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular risk factors. Gentle exercises that promote mobility, flexibility, and relaxation often help the menopausal woman. Vigor and energy are usually enhanced with regular exercise. Visit www.project-aware. org/Managing/exercise.shtml for more exercise information. I first heard the term “menopausal madness” from my Korean War friend, Danny, a male. He had cancer and they had to give him hormone Your health – our commitment to you, from day one. therapy that put him into full-blown menopausal symptoms. He swears to this day that being a women is the hardest thing he has experienced, and that does not include giving birth. But there are options that will help us with this change. Symptoms can last anywhere from three to five years. It is up to us to find treatments for this Dizziness wasn’t planned for my workout this morning. occurrence because, like it or not, it is a part Glad I talked to Community’s Nurse on Call. of a women’s life cycle. Now, anytime you’re faced with a troubling medical symptom, we’ll put you in the fast lane to easing your mind. Good luck ladies, and Community Medical Center’s new 24-7 Nurse on Call telephone service will give you the answers you need to give you remember; what’s the peace of mind. Call us. Our registered nurses will help determine if your symptoms require emergency care or whether difference between a they’re issues that can be handled by your primary care provider tomorrow. We are your local, trusted resource to pit bull and a woman in check symptoms fast, without having to look elsewhere. Call us at 406-327-4770. menopause? Lipstick! For the level of care you need, when you need it, of course it’s Community. MSN communitymed.org Community Medical Center is an independent, local, non-proﬁt hospital.

Specializing in Dental Implants

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 53

How to Organize and Remember Your Medications By Jim Miller Anybody who juggles multiple medications can relate to the problem of forgetting to take a medication, or not remembering whether they already took it. Here are some solutions that can help. Medication Helpers - Getting organized and being reminded! This magic combination can help your parents stay on top of their medication regimens. And with all the self-help products and tools that are available today, it is easy to do. Today, there is a bevy of inexpensive pill organizers and medication reminders on the market that are incredibly helpful, and the best place to find them is at www.epill.com (or call 800-549-0095). This is the granddaddy of medication helpers that offers dozens of different pillboxes, vibrating watches, beeping pill bottles and pagers, and even dispensers that talk to you. Forgettingthepill. com is another good resource to check. And for some unique medication management products, consider the following: • Talking pillbox: For $70, MedCenter (www. medcentersystems.com; 866-600-3244) offers a neat product that organizes a month’s worth of pills and alerts you up to four times a day when your medication is due. • Smart pillboxes: These are small, fit-in-yourhand, high-tech, portable devices that chime or beep when it’s time to take your medication; let you know which medicine to take at that particular time; how to take it; and will remind you if you missed a dose. They can even be set up to alert a caregiver if desired. To learn more see the Med-eMonitor (www.informedix.com; 888-582-4480; $30/month rental fee) and MedSignals (www.medsignals.com; 866-965-9200; $200 purchase price). Prepackaged Meds - Another way you can simplify your parent’s medicine consumption is by prepackaging their individual doses, and there are

various ways to do it. One is with DailyMed (www. dailymedrx.com; 800-973-1955), a pharmacy dispensing service that provides, sorts, and organizes prescription drugs, vitamins, and over-the-counter medications into individual, single-dose packets that are labeled in large print with the day and time they need to be taken. The cost for DailyMed is $15/month, not including medication costs. Or if you want to do it yourself there is Dose Guardian ($200; www.doseguardian.com; 804-726-5448), an easy-to-use home device that lets you do the organizing and packaging right at your own kitchen table. If your parents are in need of comprehensive medication assistance, consider EMMA ($10/day rental; www.inrangesystems.com; 814-940-1870), MD2 ($745; www.epill.com/md2.html; 800-5490095) or CompuMed ($900 or $100/month rental; www.compumed.com; 800-722-4417). These are sophisticated, home-based machines that will not only remind your parents when it is time to take their medication, it also dispenses exactly what they need to take and will report to a caregiver if they miss a dose. Reminding Services - If forgetfulness is the main problem, there are electronic services available today like OnTimeRx where you can have your parents called, e-mailed or paged for all types of reminders – daily medications, monthly refills, doctor and dentist appointments, or other events, for $10 to $30 a month (407-843-8966; www.ontimerx.com). CareCalls (www.parentcarecall. com; 888-275-3098) is another service that offers medication reminders, wake up calls, and more over the phone, along with caregiver

Diabetes and Healthy Eating By Pam Lockwood, Community Medical Center, Missoula Many people think having diabetes requires a strict diet that is dull and flavorless. In the past the diabetic diet was restrictive. Times have fortunately changed. A dietitian knowledgeable about diabetes can help individuals make a personalized meal plan that is a guide for the amounts and types of food to choose at meal and snack times. The meal plan can help improve blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, and help with weight management. Food contains carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Carbohydrate-containing foods have the greatest effect on blood glucose, which makes these foods the key to managing blood glucose levels. This does not mean carbohydrates should be eliminated from your diet; it just means you need to know the amount you are eating. Make healthy choices and watch the serving sizes. Keep in mind that carbohydrates provide the most efficient energy for humans, and they contain other important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Carbohydrates are found in starchy foods like bread, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes, fruit and fruit juice, milk and yogurt, and sweet treats, and snack foods. A large part of managing diabetes is about making healthy food choices. The following principles have stood the test of time and can help you and your family: • Try to eat regular meals and avoid skipping meals. • Eat fruits and vegetables every day. Include a rainbow of colors. • Choose whole-grain foods over processed grains: 100% whole wheat bread, old-fashioned oatmeal, brown rice, or whole-wheat pasta. • Try a “meatless” main dish using pinto beans, kidney beans, or lentils. • Include fish at least two times a week. • Since people with diabetes are at risk for heart disease and stroke, it

alerts if your loved one does not answer within three tries. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. MSN

PAGE 54 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

I am not a mammogram.

I am a retiree with a full schedule.

Early detection saves lives. That’s why the St. Vincent Yellowstone Breast Center offers the latest in digital mammography. We also offer the same level of professional, compassionate care through our mobile mammography coach that travels to meet with women who might not otherwise schedule an appointment. Learn more about the importance of regular screenings at svh-mt.org.

Hear more Hear m mor oree in or n Anne’s Anne An ne’s ne ’s words. w wor ords or d . ds

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

is a good idea to limit saturated fat and trans fats. • Choose lean round or loin cuts. Remove skin from poultry and trim the fat from other meats. • Select lower fat dairy products such as non-fat or 1% milk, lower fat cheeses, and light ice cream instead of regular full fat ice cream. • Choose liquid oils instead of solid fat. Liquid oils such as canola or olive oil are a better choice than butter, margarine, or lard. Keep portions small. Fats add undesirable calories that may cause weight gain. • Choose water and calorie-free diet drinks instead of regular soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages. • Cut back on high calorie snack foods and desserts. Consider them treats and eat only occasionally rather than daily. • Watch serving sizes and practice portion control. The key really is moderation.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 55

• Manage your weight. • Increase your daily physical activity. Foods that are best for someone with diabetes are the same healthy foods for people without diabetes. Healthful eating is a strong foundation to build on. A positive approach when making changes is to think about healthy substitutions rather than total avoidance of certain foods. If you are newly diagnosed with diabetes and do not know where to begin, adjust the amount of food you are already eating. Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables and smaller amounts of starchy foods and meat. After you have reduced portion sizes, start working on healthier food choices. Focus on what to include, not what to exclude, and enjoy! You may also want to ask your provider for a referral for diabetes education. Pam Lockwood is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Community Medical Center. MSN

Your Best Shot of the Season Is A Flu Shot By Bernice Karnop Sometimes your best shot of the fall nets more than trophy antlers. In fact, many readers line up each fall for a special shot – one that targets the flu. “It really doesn’t hurt as much as you might think,” assures Mary Kay Burns, RN. “Getting a flu shot protects not only you, but it also protects the whole community.” The flu is a serious disease, especially for those with respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, or other lung issues. It is gateway for pneumonia, which may land you in the hospital for an extensive vacation you won’t enjoy. Even if you don’t get a flu shot for yourself, be a sport, and get it for those you love. You don’t

want to be the one responsible for passing this disease on to your precious grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, or any child in the community. Flu is more severe for babies and young children. Your inoculation could well help prevent an outbreak among your family and friends. Asked about the risks of getting the flu shot, Burns states, “There really aren’t any.” People with severe allergies to eggs or other ingredients of the flu shot will not be able to get a flu shot. If you are sick or have a fever, simply wait a few days until you feel better. The inoculation is very effective in preventing the flu. If you do get the flu after having the immunization, the symptoms will be less severe than if you hadn’t had the shot.

Man’s greatest blunder has been in trying to make peace with the skies instead of making peace with the neighbors. - Elbert Hubbard Ronald McDonald House Charities of Montana

RMH Houses RMH Family Rooms RMH Caremobile Healing Happens Together

BILLINGS - MISSOULA - KALISPELL www.rmhcmontana.org

According to Burns, it’s best to get the shot in the fall, so you will be covered for the entire flu season. Since immunity lasts from six to eight months, you need to get a flu shot every year. Because it is so important that everyone get a flu shot, the Health Department makes it very easy. Your can get your flu shot from your doctor or at your local health department. In my community, they hold drive-thru clinics, where you do not even have to get out of your car. They have flu shot clinics in places like the Senior Centers and pharmacies. Burns says it makes no difference. They’re all the same. Your really have no excuse to not get a flu shot. Last year I got mine at Sam’s Club! MSN

PAGE 56 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Cataract Rates Are On the Rise In Americans Age 40 and Older The incidence of cataracts in the U.S. has risen 19 percent since 2000, impacting nearly 25 million Americans age 40 and older. In fact, more than half of all Americans will develop cataracts by age 80, according to Prevent Blindness America’s Vision Problems in the U.S. report. In response, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart program is educating the public about cataract risk factors, detection, and treatment options during Cataract Awareness Month. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens, which can make it more difficult to focus light onto the eye’s retina – the light-sensitive tissue that sends images to the brain. Cataracts, a natural part of aging, are the most common cause of vision loss in the U.S. They typically develop slowly, so symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Over time, cataracts can cause vision to become blurry, cloudy, dull, or dim, and can interfere with daily activities. The good news is that cataracts are almost always treatable with cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, an ophthalmologist – an eye medical doctor with the training and certification to provide the full range of eye care and surgery – removes the eye’s cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens implant called an intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery is often performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require an overnight hospital stay. It is one of the safest types of surgery, and 90 percent of patients who

have cataract surgery enjoy better vision afterward. “If you notice vision changes, cataracts could be to blame, and you might need more than a new pair of glasses,” said David F. Chang, M.D., a clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco. “If you do have a cataract, you should be reassured that it is a normal aging change and not an eye disease. Cataract surgery usually carries an excellent prognosis, and you should talk to your ophthalmologist about whether surgery should be done to restore your eyesight.” As the aging population grows, it is increasingly important for people to understand cataract risks, symptoms, prevention, and treatment options. The American Academy of ophthalmology recommends the following tips to maintain healthy vision: • Get a baseline exam by age 40. All adults should get a baseline eye exam by age 40 when early signs of eye disease and vision changes may start to occur. During this visit, your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) will advise you on how often to have follow-up exams. • After age 65, schedule regular eye exams. Anyone age 65 and older should visit an ophthalmologist regularly to detect eye diseases and conditions like cataracts early and to monitor any vision loss. People age 65 and older may qualify for an eye exam and up to one year of care at no-out-

of-pocket cost through EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of American Academy of Ophthalmology. See if you qualify at www.eyecareamerica.org. • Know your risk factors for cataracts. Diabetes, smoking, extensive UV exposure, serious eye injuries, steroid use, and a family history of cataracts can increase your risk for developing a cataract. • Reduce your risks to prevent or delay the onset of cataracts. Use sunglasses and hats to protect your eyes from UV damage. Do not smoke. If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar carefully through diet, exercise, and medications if needed. • Talk to your ophthalmologist about your treatment options. Vision loss from cataracts can interfere with daily activities. Talk to your ophthalmologist about whether cataract surgery is right for you. When preparing for surgery, give your doctor your complete medical and eye health history, including a list of medications that you have taken. Some medications can cause the iris to move out of its normal position and may require your ophthalmologist to adjust his or her surgical technique. For more information on cataract symptoms, risk factors, surgery, and other eye health information, visit www.geteyesmart.org. MSN

Don’t Let Depression Get Your Heart Down By Michael A. Ell Heart disease affects millions of Americans each year and is responsible for a quarter of the deaths in the United States. There is now evidence suggesting that depression can exacerbate heart disease symptoms. Depression can manifest as persistent feelings of hopelessness and sadness and cause poor concentration, uncontrollable crying, lack of energy, and/or significant changes in sleep patterns and appetite. Depression can interfere with daily life activities as well as relationships with loved ones. When left untreated, depression can create immense physical pressures on the body and even aggravate heart disease.

“After an acute coronary episode, you can experience a strong awareness of your own mortality. People begin to have regrets about their lives, which can lead toward depressive episodes,” says Dr Patricia Bowling, psychiatrist and medical director of St. Peters Behavioral Health Unit. But there are ways to prevent and treat depression with medications, therapies, and in-patient options. Speak with a medical or mental health professional before starting treatment for depression, so you can let your healthy mind make a healthier heart. If you have any questions or concerns about depression, you can call the St. Peter’s Behavioral Health Unit 24 hours a day at 406-495-6560. MSN

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Earl Armstrong top and Larry Awbrey - bottom preparing for a days work. [Photos by Dianna Troyer]

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 57

Behind-the-scenes maintenance Staff care for historic Many Glacier Lodge By Dianna Troyer As a teen, Earl Armstrong Jr. saw a side of Many Glacier Lodge most summer tourists cannot even imagine. “During winter, it’s not unusual for snow to drift 20 to 40 feet high and temperatures to drop to minus 40-degrees,” says Earl, 62, whose first job in the park was helping to shovel snow off roofs and balconies at the historic four-story lodge. The lodge and its two annexes were built from 1914-1917 to resemble Swiss chalets. “My dad worked in the park doing road maintenance and taught me how to fix things. Here, it’s so remote that you have to learn to be self-reliant because you can’t run to town for every little thing.” Earl grew up near Babb, 12 miles from the famed international peace park that attracts two million visitors

annually from around the world. He left the park’s winter harshness for nearly three decades and worked for the city of Choteau. “I started as a laborer and worked my way up to city superintendent.” After retiring, he returned to his roots in Babb and Many Glacier Lodge. “I’ve been back here at the park for about 15 years,” says Earl, a location engineer who supervises a five-man maintenance crew during the park’s peak summer season and closes the lodge in fall and reopens it in spring with the help of one other employee. “It’s great working here. You can’t beat coming to work with views like that,” Earl says, motioning toward Grinnell Peak and other mountains reflecting in the morning mirror-like stillness of Swiftcurrent Lake adjacent to the lodge. “I like meeting people from all over the world who either come here to work during summer or stay as guests. Here at Many Glacier, the staff is like one big family.” Most visitors relaxing around the fire in the lodge’s lobby have no idea of the frenetic and intense work that takes place after the lodge closes in mid-September, when Earl and Larry Awbrey, a maintenance man, close up the lodge with its 214 rooms for winter. Earl and Larry remove door and window screens on the lower levels. “We have to nail up plywood on the outside of the windows to protect the building from drifting snow,” says Larry, 58, a retired roofer from the Los Angeles area who started working at the park four years ago. “There are hundreds of windows.” Pipes are drained before frost sets in. “In the fall, it gets cold around here fast,” says Larry. “Most of the plumbing dates back to 1958. It seems like there are plugs everywhere.” They have to finish by November 1. In early April, they return to get the lodge ready for a new season. The lodge shifts with the seasons, contracting in winter and expanding gradually with the warmth of spring and summer. “In spring, sometimes, the doors to the rooms don’t open right away,” says Larry. “The deck on the lake side of the lodge (Cont’d on page 77)

Bend, Oregon - continued from page 19 stamp from the eight participating craft breweries along the Bend Ale Trail. For a picturesque drive, take the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway towards Mt. Bachelor. In the summer, stop at some of the high mountain lakes and paddle a canoe or kayak. If you didn’t bring a boat, consider a day-trip with Wanderlust Tours. In addition to paddle trips, they offer caving adventures, natural history tours, and specialty tours. If you are looking for a well-rounded outdoor-oriented destination, snag the dog, boat, bicycle, and hiking shoes and then head to Bend. Getting to Bend – Approach Bend from the east and west by driving US Highway 20 or from the north and south on US Highway 97. Information – Official Bend Visitor Guide (Free) at www.visitbend.com or 1-877-245-8484. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department at www.oregon.gov/OPRD/ or 1-800-551-6949. High Desert Museum – www.highdesertmuseum.org. Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe – www.tumalocreek.com. Deschutes Paddle Trail – www.deschutespaddletrail.info. Wanderlust Tours – www.wanderlusttours.com. Bend Parks and Recreation District – www. bendparksandrec.org. Natalie Bartley authored the Boise’s Best Outdoor Adventures mobile app, available through iTunes, and two trail guidebooks. Email: natbartley@earthlink.net. MSN

PAGE 58 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 59

PAGE 60 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Floating the Smith River in Montana By Natalie Bartley Photos by Dave Lindsay or Natalie Bartley Nothing soothes the soul more than a multi-day float trip on a scenic river. The Smith River in west central Montana stands as a prime example of an enticing destination. Rafters, canoeists, kayakers, and drift boaters ply its waterway, oft in pursuit of rainbow and brown trout. This past summer I had the good fortune to float the 59-mile stretch of the Smith River from Camp Baker outside of the town of White Sulphur Springs to Eden Bridge south of Great Falls. The river meanders through the Little Belt and Castle Mountains to the east and the Big Belt Mountains to the west. At the lower end of the canyon, the terrain widens and shifts to open range with ranching enterprises. This famous trout stream is suitable for intermediate boating skills. Months later, I still have vivid memories of floating peacefully past miles of colorful limestone canyon walls and through deep forests. Mergansers and mallards kept us company as they herded their young through small riffles. Canada geese calmly rested on grass-filled shorelines. Green dragonflies and assorted butterflies floated near my inflatable kayak, allowing me a close inspection of their beauty when they landed on my gear bags.

Each campsite was clearly marked by a sign visible from the river. Four nights of wilderness camping allowed for wildlife viewing. A bald eagle soared then perched in a tree next to our camp one evening. Swallows circled in pursuit of insects, then flew back to their cliff-side nest at middle Sunset Cliff campsite. Fish jumped in the cool of the mornings and evenings. Deer cautiously moved along the riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bank, seeking water. Wild flowers showed sunny faces during short uphill hikes from our campsite. Though the main float season generally runs from midApril to mid-July, a permit is required year-round. My friends secured one through the annual lottery drawing. The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Lewis and Clark National Forest, and the Helena National Forest manage this stretch of river. Suggested water flows for each type of non-motorized boat are posted on the Smith River website listed at the end of this article. The day before the launch, we confirmed our vehicle shuttle and checked in with the river ranger at the put in. Users are required to camp at the designated campsites assigned the morning of your launch. The permit holder in our group arrived the day before to get on the list to request campsites. Even arriving a day early, two groups

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 61

PAGE 62 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

were ahead of us on the campsite selection roster. During the check-in process on launch day, we paid $60 (cash or check) per person to cover the non-resident camping fee for four nights on the river. Residents and certain age groups pay a lower amount. The ranger gave us permits to attach to the boats, provided everyone with a river map, and reviewed the river regulations for keeping the river pristine and safe for future use. If we were following the catch-and-release technique, the ranger said to fish in the morning or evenings, due to the warm water temperatures and lower water levels stressing the fish. An invasive species permit was not required for floating on the river, which other states in the region require. Instead, the ranger asked us to inspect, clean, and dry our boats at the take-out to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The water level was slightly below the recommended 250 cubic feetper-second (cfs) lower limit for floating rafts on the day we put in early July. Each boat captain had to occasionally get out and push their raft, cataraft, or inflatable kayak through the shallows. Campsites had pit toilets, except Deep Creek Camp, thus we did not need to bring our own pack-out system for human wastes. Surprisingly, the one-walled pit toilets on their concealed perches provided pleasing views of the canyons, revealed during each visit. Fire pits and grills were provided at each designated boat camp, so we left behind our fire pans. There are no reliable fresh water sources at the Camp Baker put in, nor downstream. Water from Indian Springs at mile six and at a PVC pipe below Lower Bear Gulch below mile 29 could be used at our own risk. We filled water jugs at home and in the town of White Sulphur Springs. As a backup, we carried a water purification system to filter river water. If you want to experience the Smith River but lack the watercraft or camping gear, consider signing on with one of the authorized outfitters. Either way, a trip down the Smith River produces pleasant memories and deepened friendships. Further information: • Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks - Great Falls Office 406-454-5840 Camp

Public Service Commission Gail Puts the “Public” in Public Service Commission "As Your Public Service Commissioner for the past four years I always consider the needs of utility customers first. Seniors, especially, need someone to hold the line on the cost of utility bills. I promote energy conservation for both customers and utilities, which is the easiest and cheapest way to reduce energy costs."

I’d appreciate your vote on the absentee ballot, or on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Paid for by Friends for Gail Gutsche for PSC t Barbara Berens,Treasurer t 606 Simons Way t Missoula, Montana 59803

Baker ranger during peak season 406-547-3893 fwp.mt.gov/recreation/activities/boating/smithRiver/default.html. Permit Process: The lottery is open the first week of January through mid-February. Fill out an online application and pay the non-refundable $10 fee. Lottery winners are notified in late February. Call after mid-March for remaining dates or cancellations. Group size is limited to 15 people. During May 15 through July 15, camping below the put in at Camp Baker is limited to a maximum of four nights. Smith River Water Flow Data at US Geological Survey website: waterdata. usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv?site_no=06077200. Amy’s Think Wild Shuttle Service: White Sulphur Springs 406-547-2215. A shuttle along a short rough route is available for $110 per vehicle. A longer smoother route for $130. Authorized Smith River Outfitters: fwp.mt.gov/recreation/activities/boating/smithRiver/outfitters.html. Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based author of the mobile app travel guide Boise’s Best Outdoor Adventures available at sutromedia.com/boise, and the trail guidebooks Best Easy Day Hikes Boise and Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest available at amazon.com or your local outdoor retailer or bookstore. MSN

Don’t Miss the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center at Bynum Article & Photo By Bernice Karnop If you have stopped at any of the sites along Montana’s Dinosaur Trail, you should know that each one is distinct. The distinctions may be especially noticeable at the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center in Bynum, north of Choteau on Highway 89. For one thing, this center in the smallest town is home to the world’s longest dinosaur. The Seismosaurus’s legs dominate the floor of the main display area. Its neck stretches 23 feet high above you, and, altogether, it snakes around the room for 137 long, bony feet. It is not going to fit very well into a photo. Two Medicine Dinosaur Center paleontologist David Trexler made the scientifically accurate dinosaur reconstruction right here in Bynum, based on one found in New Mexico. Seismosaurus had been the centerpiece of a traveling exhibition that toured major cities in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The most exciting item at Two Medicine Dinosaur Center is still the baby dinosaur bones found by a local woman, Marion Brandvold, who is now 100 years old. Although small bones are rare because they disintegrate faster than larger ones, these were preserved because of the distinct alkaline nature of the Two Medicine Formation. These were the first baby dinosaur bones found in North America, and they changed the way people think about dinosaurs. Before this, dinosaurs were believed to lay their eggs like a reptile and leave them to hatch and survive on their own. The bones in nests at Egg Mountain near here show that dinosaurs were more like birds. They laid their eggs in nests and tended their young. Cory Coverdell, director of Two Medicine Dinosaur Center, stresses that they are “always digging, always doing research, and always doing education.” They are one of only two centers in the state that offer hands-on research to the public. The other one is the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Unlike most field programs that only take people out a couple weeks of the summer, Two Medicine Dinosaur Center may take visitors out almost any day

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

of the week. You can choose to go for three hours or for as long as 10 days. Advanced registration is required, and grand children are welcome as long as they have a legal guardian along. Children tell Coverdale that they see the world differently after spending time in the field program. “We take an active, dynamic approach,” says Coverdale, stressing the need for caution when drawing conclusions from the findings. “There are

many missing pieces,” he adds. Prices may vary but generally are $75 for three hours and $150 for a day-long adventure that includes a basic fossil recognition class, a stop at the research site, and participation in actual research alongside the crew. The longer the program, the more one learns about collection, preparation, and other aspects of field paleontology. Last year they remodeled the building, adding a second story with extra office space and classrooms. They increased the size of their prep site and the gallery as well. Fees for visiting are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children 4-12 years old. Younger children are free. The Two Medicine Dinosaur Center is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, and donations are always welcome. Contact them at 800-238-6873, P.O. Box 786, Bynum Montana 59419, or visit www.info@tmdinosaur.org or www.tmdinosaur. org. MSN

Downsizing - continued from page 47 • Community Access – To improve access to shopping and other businesses, medical resources, places of worship, and other amenities, such as parks and recreation centers. Those who drive and live in the suburbs or rural areas may seek a more central location to reduce travel time. Those who do not drive – or who anticipate being unable to drive in the near future – may desire a home with easy access to public transit or within walking distance of various amenities. Regardless of the location, many retirement homes offer a shuttle service for transportation to medical appointments, errands, shopping, cultural amenities, and community events. • Health – To ensure that ongoing health care needs are met, beginning with the basics: nutritiously balanced meals and opportunities to stay physically active and mentally stimulated. Other needs may include medication management, a special diet, and assistance with bathing. Many retirement homes offer assisted living packages for residents who need some degree of help with daily personal care. • Lifestyle - To enjoy an all-inclusive lifestyle. Seniors who have the financial means and wish to enjoy life to the fullest may seek a luxury setting. Amenities may include elegant spaces, concierge service, fine dining, a cocktail lounge or pub, fitness center, swimming pool and hot tub, well– stocked library, beauty salon and spa, café, Internet lounge, in–house theater, convenience store, greenhouse, putting green, and more. Retirement homes vary considerably in terms of price, size, amenities, and services, which can make it difficult to choose. If you are in the market for one, carefully consider your financial situation and preferred lifestyle to determine which places to focus on. When making a choice, it is important to go beyond location, curb appeal, and advertisements and take personal tours. Plan to visit several places, and bring a notebook and pen, so you can take notes. Also, bring along a friend for a second opinion. Many residences offer a complimentary What if You could protect Your lunch or dinner – take them up on it. Before future Great-Great Granddaughter making a decision, you with Wise Words of Advice . . . may wish to consider a What would You say to Her? trial stay at the place. Lisa M. Petsche is a Get the SECRET From social worker and a freea 73 Year Sage: lance writer specializing 406-270-7459 (Carole) or online: in boomer and senior FamilyHeritageProtectors.com/Advice4Granddaughter issues. ISI

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 63

PAGE 64 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Beyond the Beaches of Puerto Rico the early inhabitants of the Island survived on on La Ruta del Lechón [The Trail of the Pig], Story by Andrea Gross; photos by Irv Green It’s Sunday afternoon, and I’m in the mountains corn, fruit, and fish, their diet expanded when the which had taken us into the high country south of of central Puerto Rico, munching barbecued pork Spaniards came in the early 1500s, bringing with San Juan; we opt for a caffeinated high by going them pigs and cattle as well on La Ruta del Café. This brings us to Ciales, a under a tin roof. as wheat, rice, and olive small town in the mountains west of San Juan. “This reminds oil. Later when the Africans Coffee has been produced in this area since the me of Sundays when arrived, people learned early 1700s. I was a child,” says to combine these foods Don Pello Maldonado, the third-generation cofour guide. “Except into exotic dishes, such fee roaster at Café Don Pello, teaches us how to instead of eating in as pasteles [meat, green curl our hands around a cup of steaming brew, sniff a lechonera [resbanana, and deeply, and sip taurant specializing spices wrapped slowly in orin pork], we ate in in plantain der to detect my grandmother’s leaves] and subtle differkitchen.” She heaps mofongo [fried ences in arosome arroz on my plantain stuffed ma and taste. plate. The rice is with pork or Then he tests seasoned with soseafood]. The our newfound frito [onions, garlic, knowledge and peppers] and Many people spend their entire time in Puerto Rico enjoy- grandmothers ing the beaches and never get to the countryside. suddenly had by serving us has a yellow color cups of severand nutty flavor from annatto seeds. It’s a plain, more options. I take second helpings of pork and al top-ranked hearty meal, the kind the grandmothers of Puerto arroz, all the while tapping my feet coffees. WithRico have been serving for generations. out prodding, Puerto Rican meals are a unique blend of Eu- in rhythm with the high-energy salsa ropean, African, and Latin American flavors. While music that drifts in from outside. I feel The seeds of the annatto plant are responsible for each person as if I’m at a neighborhood party as the yellow color of Puerto Rican rice. They also o n t h e t o u r children play in the street, adults gos- add a slightly nutty flavor. chooses his sip with friends, and almost everybody or her favorite. over a certain age sips frosty piña coladas, the The winner: Puerto Rico’s Alto Grande, one of deceptively innocent drink that was dubbed the only three coffees in the world to be designated official beverage of Puerto as “super-premium.” It’s Rico in 1978. so rarefied that it’s been Like most visitors to the served in the Vatican for island, we had whiled away more than 200 years. our first days in Puerto Rico The next day we restrolling on the beach, wigturn to San Juan and, havgling our toes in the warm ing become enamored of sand, and taking occasional Puerto Rican flavors, start dips into the water. But we our day at the century-old knew that Puerto Rico is more La Bombonera Restauthan the sun, rum, and grand rant. There we treat ourhotels that line the coast. It selves to some traditional also has a vibrant culture in mallorcas [a sugarcoated the interior, one that is most At Café Don Pello visitors can taste-test pre- pastry, eaten plain, with easily experienced through a mium coffees. butter or, more frequently, relatively new series of “epifilled with a combination curean pilgrimages” or “themed trails.” of meat, egg, and cheese]. We accompany the Therefore, thoroughly stuffed by our pig-feast pastries with acerola juice, which comes from a

urs Motor Coach To tana Departing Mon

Branson

%LOOLQJV 0LOHV &LW\

*OHQGLYH

2013 TOURS

The Holiday Season 'HVHUW 'HOLJKW

0 Nov 12-2 d

ODWH -DQXDU\ pp 4 $133 /RXLVLDQD /RZGRZQ 9 Shows featuring , oji Sh 0DUFK ll, O'Donne ny Branson Belle, To +XJJLQJ WKH Orlando, Johnny &RDVW +Z\ Mathis & More ODWH 0D\ Plus Great Meals! Always ask for early registration savings on tours.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

vitamin-rich tropical berry. I trust the health benefits of acerola will compensate for the indulgences of mallorcas! Afterwards we walk through the old parts of town, where the colors of the Caribbean overwhelm the senses. The buildings, painted in hues of turquoise, gold, and salmon, have arched doors and handsome grillwork and are often adorned with bougainvillea. We pass the historic Fort El Morro and there, across the bay, is the Bacardi Rum Distillery. While Ponce de Leon never found the fabled Fountain of Youth, he brought a fountain of rum to the Island, and that may have been equally appreciated. In the 600 years since he governed Puerto Rico, rum

Rum is central to both Puerto Rico’s economy and charm.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 65

has become central to its economy. Over the next few days, we try rum with mint and lime [a mojito], with cola and lime [a Cuba libre], and with pineapple and coconut [a piña colada]. We even convince a bartender to make us a coquito, which is a creamy coconut-andrum concoction that’s People feast on roast pork in countryside lechoneras. generally only served during Christmas and New Year’s. But with its bright colors, good food, coffee, and rum, every day in Puerto Rico is like a holiday. Visit www.seepuertorico.com for more! MSN

Plan a Vacation to Remember... Call your Travel Agent Today! SATROM TRAVEL & TOUR 561 South 7th Street Bismarck, ND 58504 800-833-8787 RIMROCK STAGES 1302 West Towne Ave Glendive MT 59330 406-365-2600

MISSOULA SENIOR CENTER 705 S. Higgins Missoula, MT 59801 406-543-7154

OCTOBER 2012 20-21 Jersey Boys Escape Tours Oct 29 Branson Holidaze -Nov 4 Satrom Travel & Tour Oct 29 Christmas Branson -Nov 10 Laird Leisure Travel NOVEMBER 2012 3-4 Jersey Boys Flathead Travel 5-13 Passport to Branson Satrom Travel & Tour 12-17 Branson Flathead Travel Nov 27 Nashville Air Tour -Dec 2 Satrom Travel & Tour Nov 27 NYC Theatre Tour -Dec 2 Satrom Travel & Tour DECEMBER 2012 6-7 Coeur d ‘Alene Holiday Magic Missoula Senior Center 20 Dinner & Light Tour Missoula Senior Center

LAIRD LEISURE TRAVEL 1106 9th St S Great Falls, MT 59405 406-761-9700 866-967-9700

FEBRUARY 2013 tba Mayan Riviera Mexico Flathead Travel tba Walt Disney World Missoula Senior Center

FLATHEAD TRAVEL 500 South Main, Kalispell, MT 59901 800-223-9380 ESCAPE TOURS P.O. BOX 3833 Missoula, MT 59806 406-240-8687

MAY 2013 tba Rocky Mountaineer Flathead Travel

MARCH 2013 tba War Horse Broadway Flathead Travel

A&B TOURS PO Box 2176 Minot, ND 58702 701-852-8144 800-440-2690

11-21 Alaska Cruise Satrom Travel & Tour Sep 26 Danube River Cruise -Oct 6 Satrom Travel & Tour

20-29 Jasper Rail & Sail Laird Leisure Travel

7-16 Hawaii Cruise with Pearl HarJUNE 2013 bor Jun 21 Reformation Tour (Germany) Satrom Travel & Tour -Jul 6 Satrom Travel & Tour 9-10 Rock of Ages Escape Tours

AMTRACK 800-872-7245

JULY 2013 Jul 31 Britain, Scotland, Ireland & -Aug 10 Wales Satrom Travel & Tour

OCTOBER 2013 tba Virginia Beach USO Tour Flathead Travel Oct 29 Christmas Branson -Nov 10 Laird Leisure Travel NOV/DEC 2013 tba New Orleans Christmas Flathead Travel MSN

SEPTEMBER 2013

9-10 War Horse Escape Tours 23-24 West Side Story Escape Tours

ALL ABOARD

for the trip of a lifetime.

APRIL 2013 tba DC & Cherry Blossom Festival Satrom Travel & Tour 13-14 Flashdance Escape Tours 23-29 Springtime in Branson Satrom Travel & Tour

Enjoy the freedom to see landscapes that can only be seen by train while you relax in a comfortable seat with large panoramic windows. Travelers age 62+ receive a 15% discount* For schedules and information call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.

Fares, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. *15% coach discount applies to seniors age 62 and over. Offer not valid on all trains at all times and other restrictions apply. Amtrak and Enjoy the journey are service marks of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

PAGE 66 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 67

Uppity Women Threaten To Upset The Apple Cart By Bill Hall It must be 20 years since I first realized that about half the preachers I was hearing at weddings and funerals were female. And fair enough. Half the people getting married and dying are female. I was not offended the first time a preacher walked out, and she was a woman. She seemed competent. If my aunt or sister or daughter heard the call and became a minister, I would not want some silly old men in the congregation to say nay. One of my favorite relatives, my mother’s brother, was a Nazarene preacher. My cousin Doris was his daughter and a preacher’s wife. Even though Doris was “only” an untitled woman, she could still rouse a congregation with her great gift of gab, a strong singing voice, and the heart of a determined but pragmatic do-gooder. In my very biased opinion, she had a greater grasp of preacher skills than her husband had and could have given her father a run for the money. So I was a little surprised when women first started appearing in the pulpit, but it seemed like a happy idea. And it seemed to me that most of the other people in the pews felt much the same way. There was scant resistance among people I knew to the rise of women into church leadership. Before women moved up the religious leadership ladder a few decades ago, the most obvious women in religion were mostly Roman Catholic nuns. They were gifted and demanding teachers, though I am told by Catholic friends, the sisters were sometimes a little quick to apply a yardstick to a young rascal’s bottom. The elevation of women to the ministry coincided with massive changes of that sort in most professions. When I was young, there were few female doctors or lawyers. Today, women are a majority in many professional schools. When I was young, state legislatures and Congress had no more than a handful of women members. I covered one legislative session about 40 years ago, and there were no female legislators. Today, they are numerous. They have become governors, cabinet members, serious presidential candidates, Supreme Court justices, and even a speaker of the U.S. House Of all those changes, I was least surprised by women turning up as full-fledged preachers. You cannot generalize wildly about men or women. Both sexes have weak and strong members. But even churches that still will not let a woman near the controls would probably agree that, overall, women are more religious than men are. And

overall, women are more nurturing. Surely those are prime qualities for religious leaders. And I dare you old men leading antiquated churches to suggest that women are not smart enough and competent enough to do what you do. That is why it seems so strange that substantial Christian congregations (like many Muslims) keep women in secondary roles. The Mormons, for instance are great neighbors and forward looking in other matters. But women in that church are ruled by men. Most bizarre of all perhaps is the Roman Catholic Church. It is so short of priests that it is consolidating its churches in my city among many others. And yet it ignores the solution of using the intellectual and religious depth of the nuns. Worst of all, those intellectually tuckered old men who run that church are so deep in denial that Rome now openly hammers America’s nuns,

calling them on the crimson carpet, telling them to shut up and listen to their betters. Nuns aren’t just denied an obvious way to enlarge the number of clergy in that church. These smart, educated, and heartfelt women are talked down to by a male hierarchy transparently pulling gender rank on women. It is being female alone that disqualifies them. In all other respects, they are as wise, as decent, and as devoted as the bossy men at the top of the church are. Not only that, but somebody up there is not sharp enough to know what the brave and sassy nuns know: The American people, Catholic or otherwise, are overwhelmingly on the nun’s side. The church’s leaders have bitten off more than they can chew. And if they are not careful, those former Catholic students are going to feel the sting once more of a yardstick across their conceited bottoms. MSN

PAGE 68 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Do you remember all the TV shows, movies, and local, national, and world events that have occurred in the last 70 years? Probably not personally and probably not every one of them, but you likely have heard of them in school or from friends, parents, or grandparents. This month’s winning quiz Do You Remember These will test how much you are aware of a sampling of items from across the 20th century. Thank you and congratulations to Julie Hollar-Brantley who submitted the winning quiz for this issue, Can You Remember These? Also congratulations to our $25 winner Earl Jackson of Deer Lodge who submitted the winning answers to the State Monikers, It’s All in a Name quiz that appeared in our August/September 2012 issue (Answers on page 77). Thank you, Earl.

Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Montana Senior News. One prize goes to the person who submits the entry that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for that issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles! The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the 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 November 10, 2012 for our December 2012/January 2013 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website www.montanaseniornews.com.

Do You Remember These? Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley If you are reading the Montana Senior News, you probably remember the answers to the following prompts. Where you fill in the blanks, each one is for one word. Just write your answers on a piece of paper and drop them in the mail to us… you may win $25! 1. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, “Who was that masked man?” Invariably, someone would answer, “I don’t know, but he left this behind.” What did the Lone Ranger leave behind? 2. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. in early 1964, we all watched them on the _____ _____ Show. 3. “Get your kicks on _____ _____.” 4. “The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to _____ _____ _____.” 5. “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, _____ _____ _____ _____.” 6. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we danced under a stick that was

lowered as low as we could go. This dance was called the _____. 7. “Nestlé’s makes the very best… _____.” 8. Satchmo was America’s Ambassador of Goodwill, and our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was _____ _____. 9. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? 10. Red Skeleton’s hobo character was named _____ _____ _____, and Red always ended his television show by saying, “Good Night, and _____ _____.” 11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by burning their _____ _____. 12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front was called the VW. It was also called a _____ or a _____. 13. In 1971, Don MacLean published American Pie, a song about “the day the music died.” This was a tribute to _____ _____. 14. In 1959, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into orbit, which was called _____. 15. One of the big fads of the late 50s and 60s was a large plastic ring that we twirled around our

Place your Christmas order early! 442-1470

PARROTCHOCOLATE.COM 42 N. LAST CHANCE GULCH

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

waist. It was called the _____ _____. 16. One of the most popular brands of cigarettes in the 40s used L.S./ M.F.T. on its pack, which means _____ _____ _____ _____ _____.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 69

17. “Hey Kids! What time is it? It’s _____ _____ _____!” 18. Who knows what secrets lie in the hearts of men? The _____ knows! MSN

Across

Down

1. Fish using lines dragged through the water 4. Spiny finned fish 7. Tuna type 10. Pull in a fish and then let it go (3 words) 12. Dot the i’s and cross the ___ 13. Being situated 15. “___ upon a time I caught a fish this big.....” 16. Toward the stern 17. Fishing equipment 19. Atlanta-based channel 21. Soft plastic bait 23. Raw meat 24. Augusta’s state 25. Beaver dam component 27. Large oceanic sport fishes 28. Australian mammal that lives off fish and worms 32. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 34. Street, for short 35. Legendary big fish in Scotland (3 words) 41. Aka porgy 42. ___ Lingus (Irish airline) 43. Conger or moray 44. Prized catches for deepwater anglers 45. Sailing ship 47. Fish bait 48. Sea-run rainbow trout 49. ___pole

1. Fishing equipment 2. Stabilizer for a canoe 3. Musical note 4. Fish features 5. Strips of fish 6. Chilean ____ (2 words) 8. Sun protection 9. Japanese food fish (2 words) 11. Seasonal salmon spawnings 14. Fish found off the Southern California coast 18. Russian river 20. Channel marker 22. Crest 24. Shark 26. Saw briefly 27. Worldwide ray-finned fishes 29. Yellowfins 30. Application 31. Type of bass 33. Get away 36. Have a baby whale 37. Sixth sense, for short 38. Lions DT, Dominique 39. Pitch 40. Rainbow for one 44. Fish ___, important source of omega 3 46. “ . . . m a n ___ mouse?” MSN

PAGE 70 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Classic DVD’s: Custer, The Civil War, and Battle of Little Big Horn By Mark Fee Earlier, this year I was honored to meet relatives of George Armstrong Custer. Having written an essay while studying at the University of Great Falls about Custer and Jeb Stuart’s Civil War careers, I have had a long-standing interest in Custer. His relatives were impressive. Custer was nothing if not controversial. He was a pit bull and glamour boy during the Civil War. The Indian Wars and his failure at the Battle of the Little Big Horn made him even more controversial. He became the scapegoat of our government’s failed Indian policies. His image in Hollywood has changed dramatically over the years. Raoul Walsh’s They Died with Their Boots On (1939) portrayed Custer as a romantic, dashing, and rebellious hero. He sympathized and defended Native Americans in Washington, D.C. He was also prepared to fight Indian tribes. Custer’s image changed drastically with Arthur Penn’s revisionist Little Big Man (1970). Penn’s film depicted Custer as an Indian-hating Hitler. He was portrayed as a raving lunatic. Mike Robe’s Son of the Morning Star (MTV, 1990) offers the most compelling and haunting portrait of Custer. It does not deny Custer was

impulsive and arrogant, but also shows him as very human and complex. His relationship with his wife Libbie is depicted as passionate and romantic. Native Americans are portrayed as fierce warriors and victims of dehumanizing government policies. Revisionism has all but removed the romance and glamour of the Civil War and threat of the Indian Wars. There were over 800 battles and skirmishes during the Indian Wars. Listed below are some of my favorite films about Custer and the Battle of the Little Big Horn, a few forgotten Civil War films, and a Disney film. Raoul Walsh’s They Died with Their Boots On (1939) is frantically alive with excitement. Errol Flynn’s portrayal of Custer was supposedly like the real man. Flynn’s Custer is full of zest and verve, slightly manic. Olivia De Havilland is beautiful and gracious. The script takes many liberties with history. The Battle of the Little Big Horn is frenzied and fabricated. Rated G, three stars. In John Houston’s Red Badge of Courage (1951), Audie Murphy plays a young man in the Civil War, who is terrified in his first battle. He experiences a severe trial by fire but becomes stronger because of it. The film explores other men’s reaction to battle. Houston’s film is based on Stephen Crane’s classic story and is impeccably made. It is overpowering and unforgettable. Rated G, four stars. In Walt Disney’s Tonka (1958), Sal Mineo plays a young member of the Sioux nation whose name is

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

CUSTOM FRAMING & GIFTS

406-265-3125 4

220 3rd Avenue 8SSHU /HYH 8SSHU /HYHO $WULXP +DYUH KSJ#KLJKSOD KSJ#KLJKSODLQVJDOOHU\ FRP

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 71

PAGE 72 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

White Bull. White Bull captures a magnificent horse and tames him. He calls the horse Tonka. Captain Myles Keough renames the horse Comanche. Keough is killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. White Bull is honored by the cavalry. The film is a highly fictionalized portrait of the disaster, Keough, and Comanche. Custer is portrayed as ruthless Indian hater. Rated G, 2 1/2 stars. In the underrated and forgotten Civil War epic, Raintree County (1957), Montgomery Clift falls in love with and marries the ravishing and disturbed, Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor is from the Deep South. Clift is from the North and abhors slavery. Clift was in love with the vibrant, Eva Marie Saint. He enlists in the War Between the States. When he returns, he finds his wife is going mad. The film is exceptionally well-made, evocative, and well worth seeing. Not rated, 3 1/2 stars In Arthur Penn’s revisionist Western, Little Big Man (1970), Dustin Hoffman plays Jack Crabb. Crabb is 121 years old and the sole survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The film is about

Crabb’s life in the Old West with Native Americans and his experiences with Custer. The acting, particularly by Hoffman and Chief Dan George, is extremely good. The depiction of Custer as a psychotic Hitler is extremely questionable. Rated R, three stars Michael Robe’s Son of the Morning Star (MTV, 1991) lingers long after it is over. It is sharpest and most compassionate portrait of Custer. It is narrated by Rosanna Arquette, who plays Libby Custer. Buffy St. Marie narrates as Kate Bighead. Bighead narrates the story of Crazy Horse and the Native American story of the Little Big Horn. It covers Custer’s development as a hero in the Civil War and the harrowing disaster at the Little Big Horn and death of Crazy Horse. It is an extremely impressive film and a must see. Rated PG-13, 3 1/2 stars Until the next time, enjoy these classic films about Custer, the Civil War, and Battle of the Little Big Horn. MSN

Live Musical Theater To Entertain The Missoula Area Missoula Community Theatre (MCT) produces five outstanding community theatre productions each year. While best known for musical theatre, MCT also produces one non-musical drama or comedy each season and an opera with the UM every other year. Performances are held at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. Missoula Community Theatre proudly unveils its 2012-2013 Season Series, a lively, diverse catalog of five performances of classic novels, Broadway masterpieces, holiday favorites, contemporary American dramas, and famous movie

musicals. Economical subscriptions for the season series, which starts October 19 with Camelot and includes Miracle on 34 Street, Steel Magnolias, The Marvelous Wonderettes, and wraps up May 12, 2013, with Footloose, are available through the MCT box office, 200 North Adams Street, or by calling 406-728-7529. If first-rate theatrical values, positive community synergy, and an overall dynamic outing sound enticing, then you will not want to miss a single show. Please call us or visit www.mctinc.org for more information. MSN

Hamilton Players Brings Rousing Live Theater To the Bitterroot Another year of community support has kept the Hamilton Players moving forward. We have five great shows coming up in 2013: Sweeney Todd, The Women, Anything Goes, Nunsense, and a TBA K-12 grade musical. Our youth theater school has expanded again to include an additional K-3 grade Introduction to Musical Theater Class, and we have a delightfully funny concert fundraiser coming up in January: Forbidden Bitterroot. Despite quality programming and expanding services, performing arts organizations cannot survive on ticket revenues alone, and the Hamilton

Players is no exception. We rely on the community and its continuing generosity to help keep us alive. Donations to our general fund are critical to keep us open, now more than ever. So please remember us in your endof-year, tax-deductible giving and in your estate planning. To donate to the Hamilton Players so that we can continue to provide quality entertainment and a creative outlet for the community, please contact us at 406-375-9050 or visit www.hamiltonplayers. com, and click on donations. Thank you! MSN

DINOSAURS, PLANETARIUM, KIDS DISCOVERY CENTER, MONTANA HERITAGE & HISTORY, MUSEUM STORE, & MORE

...Montana’s most entertaining museum... — Lonely Planet Bozeman, Montana 600 West Kagy Boulevard 406.994.2251 museumoftherockies.org

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 73

It Is Medicare Open Enrollment And Time To Get Your Ducks In A Row By Teresa Ambord From October 15 through December 7 – people on Medicare will have the opportunity to decide whether their current Medicare plans are meeting their needs. If you are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Part C), or a Part D prescription drug plan, this is your chance to look around and see if you can do better. Take some time to reconsider the plan you’ve chosen and you may be able to improve your benefits, or lower your premiums, or both. Or perhaps you just need to tweak your plan to suit your current needs. Also during this period, individuals who are already Medicare eligible but not enrolled in Medicare Advantage can sign up in a new plan. And those who are participating in a Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Part D plan can cancel during this period. What if you miss your annual window of opportunity to make changes? You will need to wait until next year. So let this be a strong reminder, don’t miss this opportunity. Assuming you are happy with your current plan, why should you change or consider changing? Because other things change, including your health care needs, your prescriptions, the benefit options, your geographic location, and possibly the premiums charged by insurers. It is natural to be leery of change, especially if you have not been unhappy with your plan as it is. But this is an opportunity to gain control over high health costs, possibly improve what you are getting, and tweak your plan to meet your personal medical needs. Here is a list from Medicare.gov of actions you can take during Open Enrollment: • You can join a Medicare Prescription drug plan. • You may wish to drop Medicare prescription drug coverage completely. • You may switch from one prescription drug plan to another, within the Medicare plans. • You may switch from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa, from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare. • You may switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan.

• If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan that does not have drug coverage, you may switch to one that does. Confused About How to Decide? First, do not assume nothing has changed. Competition in the health care field may have forced insurers to rethink what they offer. You can get advice from an insurance agent who is a licensed insurance broker specializing in Medicare. Just be sure that the agent is not tied to a particular company, so that he or she has a more objective, broader spectrum of options for you. But remember, what works for someone else’s health needs may not work for yours. You can do some research on your own by logging onto Medicare.gov, or talking to someone at 800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. However you make your decision, here are some points to compare: • Monthly premiums • Out of pocket expenses • All deductibles • Copayments • Coinsurance Consider how your health care needs may “Ask me about the AARP® have changed since you Auto & Home Insurance last chose a plan. • How frequently do Program from The Hartford.” you see your doctors? Now available in your area! • What ongoing prescriptions do you take This auto and home insurance is designed exclusively for AARP members that may be new? — and is now available through your local Hartford independent agent! • Has your current Call Today for your FREE, no-obligation quote: plan notified you of any upcoming changes that affect you adversely? &,1'< -2+1621 '$51,(//( ,1685$1&( $*(1&< It may seem daunt1320 28th St W ing, but reviewing your ® PO Box 21300 Medicare situation now Billings, MT 59104 is absolutely essential www.darnielle.com and will bring you apThe AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. In Washington, the Program is underwritten by Trumbull Insurance Company. AARP and its affiliates are not insurance agencies or propriate health care for carriers and do not employ or endorse insurance agents, brokers, representatives or advisors. The program is provided by The Hartford, not AARP or its affiliates. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays a royalty fee to AARP for the use of AARP's intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes your circumstances and of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. The premiums quoted by peace of mind. MSN an authorized agent for any Program policy include the additional costs associated with the advice and counsel that your authorized agent provides.

406-652-4180

107995

PAGE 74 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Health Insurance Options for Pre-Medicare Spouses

406.534.0133 960 2 24th St W Ste H, Billings ThurstonFamilyInsurance.com

Unfortunately for you and millions of other couples in your position, Medicare does not provide family coverage to younger spouses or dependent children when you qualify for Medicare. Nobody can obtain Medicare benefits before age 65, unless eligible at a younger age because of disability. With that said, here are some options for your wife depending on your situation. Work longer: If possible, you should consider working past age 65 so your wife could continue coverage under your employer health insurance until she becomes eligible for Medicare, or, if that’s too long, at least for a few more years. Check employer options: If your employer provides retiree health benefits, check with the benefits administrator to find out if they offer any options that would allow your wife to continue coverage under their plan. Or, if your wife works, see if she can she switch to health insurance provided by her own employer. Use COBRA: If you work for a company that has 20 or more employees, once you make the switch to Medicare, your wife FAMILY INSURANCE, LLC. could stay with your )PNF t "VUP t -JGF t -JBCJMJUZ

company insurance plan for at least 18 months (but could last up to 36 months) under a federal law called COBRA. You’ll need to sign her up within 60 days after her last day of coverage. You also need to know that COBRA is not cheap. You’ll pay the full monthly premium yourself, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. The other benefit of using COBRA is that once it expires, your wife will then become eligible for HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which gives her right to buy an individual health insurance policy from a private insurer that can’t exclude or limit coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. To learn more about COBRA, visit askebsa.dol.gov or call 866444-3272. If, however, the company you worked for had fewer than 20 employees, you may still be able to get continued coverage through your company if your state has “Mini-COBRA” (39 states offer it). Contact your state insurance department (see naic. org) to see if this is available where you live. Buy an individual policy: This is health insurance you buy on your own, but it too can be expensive depending on your wife’s health history. Any pre-existing condition such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc., can drastically increase her premiums or can nix her chances of being accepted at all. To search for policy options and costs go to healthcare.gov. If you need help, contact a licensed independent insurance agent. See www.nahu.org/ consumer/findagent.cfm to locate one near you. Or, if you only need health coverage for a short period of time – less than 12 months – a short-term policy is another lower-cost option to consider. You can get quotes and coverage details at ehealthinsurance.com. Get high-risk coverage: If you can’t purchase an individual health policy for your wife because of a pre-existing medical condition, you can still get coverage through a state or federal high-risk pool. State pools, which are offered in 35 states (see naschip.org), provide insurance to any resident who is uninsurable because of health problems. While costs vary by state, premiums run about 150 percent of what an individual policy costs. Or, consider the federal Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan (see pcip.gov) which is available nationwide. Created in 2010 under the health care reform law, this program is intended to bridge the gap until better options become available in 2014 when the main provisions of the law go into effect. To qualify, your wife must be uninsured for six months before applying. Send your questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. MSN

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 75

Does the â&#x20AC;&#x153;4-Percent Ruleâ&#x20AC;? Hold Up for Retirement? By Ross Blair, CEO of PlanPrescriber.com The Baby Boomer generation is now aging into Medicare at a time when health care costs are growing and there are questions about the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. This raises concerns for a fastgrowing population unsure if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to afford health care once they retire. On average, about 3.5 million Baby Boomers will age into Medicare each year for the next 17 years, which makes it critically important that boomers accurately anticipate their health care costs and choose the right health care coverage for their needs. For decades now, William Bengenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular â&#x20AC;&#x153;4 percent rule,â&#x20AC;? has taught retirees that if they spend no more than 4 percent of their nest egg each year, their savings will last 30 years. But, the rule may need some adjustment in light of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic reality. Depending on when you retire and how long you live, some financial experts are suggesting that a lower withdrawal rate might be necessary. When it comes specifically to health care costs, here are some startling statistics from The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College: â&#x20AC;˘ $197,000 - At age 65, a typical married couple free of chronic disease can expect to spend $197,000 on remaining lifetime health care costs - excluding nursing home care. However, this couple faces a 5 percent probability that these costs will exceed $311,000. â&#x20AC;˘ $260,000- Including nursing home care, the mean cost is $260,000, with a 5 percent probability of costs exceeding $570,000. â&#x20AC;˘ 15% - Less than 15 percent of households approaching retirement have accumulated that much in total financial assets. To help manage health care costs in retirement, those 65 and older typically consider benefits like long-term care insurance and Medigap coverage. But, anyone saving for retirement or nearing Medicare eligibility should be aware of the following issues: Learn the basics of Medicare - Trying to understand Medicare can make anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head spin. A recent survey by PlanPrescriber/Opinion Research Corp. found that 55 percent of Baby Boomers believe Medicare functions just like health insurance. However, Medicare differs from traditional health insurance in many ways, and there are some things that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cover. Before you get inundated with sales pitches and unsolicited advice, try to understand the basics of how Medicare works. There are three basic ways to cover yourself: 1. Original Medicare: This includes Medicare

Part A and Medicare Part B (original Medicare), with a Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan; 2. Medicare Advantage: Also called Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage bundles parts A, B, and D into a single plan managed by a private insurance company. These plans can include vision, dental, and other benefits. 3. Medicare Supplements (also called MediGap): People who have original Medicare (Part A and Part B), can enroll in a separate MediGap plan to fill gaps in Original Medicare. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also recommended people enroll in a separate Part D plan. Figure out what you can afford. It sounds simple, but if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t estimated what your retirement income will be, start doing that math before you enroll in Medicare. Calculate your income after Social Security benefits, pensions, IRA and 401(k) savings, etc.

:( 81'(567$1'

&200,70(17

52//< 1(/621

-2( (&.+$5'7

)LQDQFLDO $GYLVRU $$06

Financial Advisor

For decades, Edward Jones has been committed to providing ďŹ nancial solutions and personalized service to individual investors. You can rely on us for: t Convenience Locations in the communiity and face-to-face meetings at your convenience t A Quality-focused Investment Philosophy A long-term approach that focuses on quality investments and diversiďŹ cation t Highly Personal Service Investment guidance tailored to your individual needs

Call or visit today. 5ROO\ 1HOVRQ

-RH (FNKDUGW

:HVW 0DLQ 6WH %DQN (OHFWULF %XLOGLQJ /HZLVWRZQ 07

: 0DLQ 6WH %URRNV %XLOGLQJ /HZLVWRZQ 07

7) ZZZ HGZDUGMRQHV FRP

Member SIPC

Then, create a list of monthly expenses including rent, utilities and food, as well as other things like your prescription drug costs. Subtract your expenses from your income to develop a good sense of what you can afford to spend on Medicare on a monthly basis. Finally, look at your savings and think about how big of a deductible you could afford if you had a large medical expense. Once you know what you can afford each month, and what you could afford in an emergency, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to start comparing plans. Do side-by-side Comparison. If you want to make the most of your health care dollars, get the broadest possible view of all of your Medicare options. There are four â&#x20AC;&#x153;partsâ&#x20AC;? to Medicare (A, B, C and D), plus ten Medicare supplements, each with their own costs, benefits and potential gaps. The only way to really know if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making

PAGE 76 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

an informed decision is to compare plans side-byside and make sure you understand what you’ll pay each month and what you would have to pay in a “worst-case” type of medical scenario. The average Medicare beneficiary has 20 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in their county. Rural counties average 13 plans, while urban counties average 22, according to Kaiser Family Foundation. Plans do vary by county due to cost and provider networks, so beneficiaries

should review plan availability and benefits in their county by zip code. In most states there are 10 standard types of Medicare Supplement plans, and about 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries nationwide select this type of coverage. Each insurer decides how to set the premium for its Medigap policies. It can be set one of three ways: through community rating, issue-age rating, or attained-age rating. How the premium is set will affect how much you pay now

and in the future. Comparing plans can be overwhelming, but there are online tools including www.medicare. gov/find-a-plan and www.planprescriber.com that can help simplify the process. Though it may seem overwhelming at first, taking the time to research your best option could really pay off and help ensure your nest egg will last as long as you need it. MSN

Charitable Giving Basics By Mansi Gupta Charity is perhaps the best feature of humanity. It is a perfect way to support the downtrodden. There are many types of natural and manmade evils in our society. So, there are variable causes for which the blessed ones can and should donate. Unlike before, nowadays there are numerous charitable institutions across the globe that are working in different areas. The main aim of a charitable organization is to help the people in need and work for their development. For instance helping in the rehabilitation of victims of natural disasters like famines, tsunami, earthquakes, etc., working for prisoners of war or any oppressed community, child education, women’s rights, and so forth are some different tasks taken up by these organizations. Charitable organizations can be literary, religious, scientific, and many other types. These organizations largely rely on government grants, member dues, and the donations of people who share the goals of the charity to function and continue with their respective social service. However, people may have different motives behind donating money in these charitable foundations. While there are those who contribute for the sake of the goal of the organization, others do it to earn recognition and save taxes. Tax avoidance possibly If you’re a homeowner age 62 is one of the foremost reasons now that many affluent people and national and multinational corporations give money to charitable organizations. or older, a reverse mortgage However, those who donate for saving taxes should keep in mind that from Security One may help not every charitable donation is tax deductible. What you are looking for is provide a way for you to turn an organization that has been classified as 501(c)(3) entities by the Internal the equity in your home into Revenue Service. Once you donate to such an organization, you receive a receipt to assist you in claiming your tax deduction. cash you can use to pay for But besides being a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, several other things about things you need, including: an organization should be considered before making a donation. • Check the annual report of the organization that will brief you on the financial details such as current work, situation, finances etc. of the organization. • Also take into consideration the institution’s aims and means proposed to achieve them. • What percentage of your donated dollar actually is available to do the work of the charity. In other words, is their overhead too high? • Notice the amount and source of the charity’s donations. • In case of door-to-door solicitations, prior to parting with your money, be certain of important details (the name, full address, phone number, goals, licensing, tax deduction, etc. If you are not provided with the details, do not Get all the information you need to decide if a reverse make the donation. mortgage from Security One is right for you. Another factor to consider is what type of donation to make. Certainly, cash but other types can be useful to the charity and to the donor. For example if the charity is working for rehabilitation of tsunami victims then donating tents, food stuffs, clothing etc. will be an appropriate rather than simply cash. Consider planned gifts whereby you might donate a sum of money or an asset such as stocks, bonds, or real estate, which you might continue to Reverse Sales Area Manager use during your lifetime and which would pass to the charity when you die. Or you might donate the asset and the charity would pay you income on the amount during your lifetime. There are many variations on the theme, with kdewolf@S1L.com the important thing being to get sound professional advice before making www.kellydewolf.com your planned gift. Generally, people are under the illusion that only large sums of money can be given as charity, but this is not the case like. Donations can be as small as $10 or $20 dollars and the amount does not matter. What actually matters are your philanthropic feelings and desire to contribute. MSN

Get more out of life

with a reverse mortgage

s 0RQWKO\ liviQJ expeQses s HeaOWK FarH FRVWs s +RPH LPSrRYHPeQWs s 3XUFKDVHV DYDLODEOH

WK *HQHUDWLRQ 0RQWDQDQ 6HUYLQJ WKH QHHGV RI 0RQWDQD 6HQLRUV Kelly j. DeWolf

406-431-4651

Saddle Up!

become a member of the Montana Historical Society!

Why should you join? Here are just a few reasons: History is fun, fascinating, and there is always Õ something new and interesting to learn Access the largest and most comprehensive Õ collection of Montana-related history Receive a subscription to the award-winning Õ journal, Montana The Magazine of Western History Receive two complementary history related Õ research requests a year Receive a 15% in the MHS Museum Store Õ (in person, by phone, or online) AND MANY OTHER BENEFITS… Õ

P.O. Box 201201 225 North Roberts Street Helena, MT 59620-1201

Become part of a group that shares a passion for Montana’s history. Call (406) 444-2918 or join online at www.montanahistoricalsociety.org

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Many Glacier Lodge - continued from page 57 buckles from the snow. In spring, it can look like a skateboard ramp.” Getting the water flowing to rooms can be problematic. “The pipes dry out in winter, so particles accumulate,” says Earl. Sometimes broken lines have to be replaced. Earl and Larry’s fall late-season and spring pre-season work is intense and varied, difficult and strenuous, yet it is a job they love. Larry says his seven-month contract at Many Glacier has restored his health. “When I retired, my doctor told me I was 40 pounds overweight.” Worried, his daughter found the Glacier job posting on the internet and suggested her dad apply. “I had never been to Glacier but had always taken my kids camping in the Sierras, so I thought I’d give it a try. Since I started, I’ve lost 50 pounds,” says Larry, who is fit enough to walk up and down the lodge’s countless stairs. “I love working here. On my days off, I go fishing. I’ll keep coming back. I wish more seniors would apply for park maintenance jobs. There’s a talent pool out there of retired plumbers, electricians, and carpenters.” Earl is the first to return every April to reopen the lodge. “We never know what we’ll find, but it’s never boring.” MSN

Answers to State Monikers: It’s All In A Name Created by the MSN staff. Alabama ~ (F) The Yellowhammer State Alaska ~ (C) The Last Frontier Arizona ~ (B) The Grand Canyon State California ~ (W) The Golden State Delaware ~ (O) The First State Florida ~ (J) The Sunshine State Idaho ~ (T) The Gem State Kansas ~ (Q) The Sunflower State Louisiana ~ (I) The Pelican State Massachusetts ~ (X) The Bay State Michigan ~ (L) The Great Lakes State Mississippi ~ (D) The Magnolia State Montana ~ (Y) The Treasure State Nebraska ~ (G) The Cornhusker State New Jersey ~ (V) The Garden State New Mexico ~ (M) The Land of Enchantment North Carolina ~ (R) The Tar Heel State Ohio ~ (U) The Buckeye State Oregon ~ (H) The Beaver State Rhode Island ~ (A) The Ocean State Tennessee ~ (S) The Volunteer State Utah ~ (N) The Beehive State Vermont ~ (P) The Green Mountain State Washington ~ (E) The Evergreen State Wisconsin ~ (K) The Badger State MSN

Anybody who thinks money will make you happy, hasn’t got money. - David Geffen

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 77

PAGE 78 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

Getting Rid of the Bats Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Three pastors were having lunch in a diner. The first one said, “You know, since summer started, I’ve been having trouble with bats in my loft and attic at church. I’ve tried everything – noise, spray, cats – nothing seems to scare them away.” The second pastor said, “Me too. I have hundreds living in my belfry and in the attic. I’ve even had the place fumigated, and they won’t go away.” The third said, “I baptized all mine, and made them members of the church. Haven’t seen one back since!” MSN

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 79

PAGE 80 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

New West is Here for You. New West simpliﬁes the Medicare process so you can focus on what’s important to you. Our knowledgeable local representatives offer straightforward information with personalized service. We provide a full line of comprehensive plans 888-873-8044 · TTY 888-290-3658

newwestmedicare.com

including Medicare Advantage and New West Connect Medicare Supplement plans. Contact us and we will help you understand your options.

New West Makes Medicare Simple New West Health Services is a health plan with a Medicare contract. Phone hours of operation 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. H2701_NW#469A-08-12 CMS Accepted

175 MACHINES SENIOR MONDAYS 50 + $10 FREE PLAY

s a n a t n o M nest Fi ng i m a G ience r e p x E

NORTHERN WINZ CASINO 406-395-5420

6 MILES NORTH OF BOX ELDER