Zest For 50+ Living

Zest For 50+ living

NOVEMBER 2016

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Serving his community Korean War veteran Roger Olson served his country, now he serves others through volunteering at the local, state and national level ▲

Ten Korean War vets gather for final reunion and shot of moonshine ▲

Ralph Hanson named Aquatennial senior commodore ▲

Get finances in order before holiday shopping

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS NOVEMBER

Cokato American Legion Auxiliary fundraiser Cokato American Legion Auxiliary will have a fundraising chow mein luncheon and bake sale, serving from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Cokato City Hall, 255 Broadway Ave. S., Cokato. Tickets are $7. Proceeds will be used to support military veterans and their families.

Craft fair The annual Litchfield Opera House craft fair will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Opera House, 136 Marshall Ave. N. It will feature unique gifts, crafts and baked goods.

Free admission.

‘Murder at Café Noir’ A dinner theater production of “Murder at Café Noir” is a 1940s detective story. Each of the characters is over the top, as the play is a satirical tribute to the film noir Bogart era. Performances will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 3-5 and Nov. 1012 at Crow River Winery. Tickets are $40, which includes meal and the show, and can be purchased in person at Hutchinson Center for the Arts or Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce, or online at www.hutchtheatre.org.

‘Light of Love’ tree-lighting ceremonies Ecumen of Litchfield is planning tree-lighting ceremonies to raise money for hospice care. People can make a donation in memory of or in honor of a loved one for “A

Light of Love: To Remember Someone Special.” At each tree-lighting ceremony, names will be read of those who were remembered last year and this year in each community. Lights on the trees will stay lit through Dec. 31. For more information, contact Nicole Larson at 320-373-6604.

Tree-lighting ceremonies will be: ◆ Nov. 17: Cosmos on Main Street, 7 p.m. ◆ Nov. 18: Atwater, 301 S. Main St., 7:15 p.m. ◆ Nov. 19: Litchfield at Augustana Chapel, 3 p.m. ◆ Nov. 27: Kingston at the cemetery, 4:30 p.m. ◆ Nov. 28: Darwin at the Twine Ball, 6:30 p.m. ◆ Dec. 9: Dassel at the Mushroom Building, 4:30 p.m.

Holiday Tour of Homes Today’s Women of Hutchinson will host a Holiday Tour of Homes at 1 p.m. Nov. 19. Tickets are $30 each. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce & Tourism office. Participants will meet at one location and ride a bus together to each home. Following the tour, dessert will be served, and door prizes will be given away. Proceeds will be donated to local charities.

DECEMBER Advent luncheon, bake sale Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield will host its annual Advent luncheon and bake sale Dec. 1. The bake sale will begin at 10:30 a.m. The luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost for the luncheon is $8 per person.

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Zest For 50+ living

PUBLISHER Brent Schacherer schacherer@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4143

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Cover story:

NOVEMBER 2016 Vol. 7 No. 9

PUBLISHED BY Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 307, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266 Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road NW, Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-587-5000

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CONTENTS

▲

5 Senior spotlight:

Roger Olson, who has a lengthy list of activities he’s involved in, enjoys giving back to the community

Small-town boy Ralph Hanson, formerly of Litchfield,wins big-city title with Aquatennial

NEWS Juliana Thill, editor thill@independentreview.net 320-593-4808 Litchfield office 320-234-4172 Hutchinson office ADVERTISING Kevin True, advertising director true@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4141 Sales representatives Paul Becker • 320-234-4147 becker@hutchinsonleader.com Colleen Piechowski • 320-234-4146 piechowski@hutchinsonleader.com Joy Schmitz • 320-234-4140 schmitz@hutchinsonleader.com Greg McManus • 320-593-4802 mcmanus@independentreview.net Sarah Esser • 320-593-4803 esser@independentreview.net SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE Michelle Magnuson • 320-234-4142 magnuson@hutchinsonleader.com PRINTED BY Crow River Press 170 Shady Ridge Road NW Hutchinson, MN 55350 Zest is published monthly by the Litchfield Independent Review and Hutchinson Leader newspapers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.

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In the news: Ten of 71 men who left Litchfield in 1951 6 with the Minnesota National Guard’s Company I, 136th Infantry Regiment, 47th Viking Division, reunite one last time

12 Money matters: Get finances in order before end of year 13 Medicare: Medicare works differently with employer insurance 14 Recipes: Savor the season’s flavors with Pumpkin Pie Squares with Cinnamon Sugar Yogurt Topping,Tuscan Turkey Sandwich, and Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch

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A WARM WELCOME

W

hile we appreciate our veterans and their service to our country all year, this month we set aside a specific day to honor America’s military veterans on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. My father was a sergeant in the U.S. Army, serving on the 38th parallel during the Korean War. He returned home, married my mom, worked at 3M in the Twin Cities, and was a father to me and my three sisters. He died nearly 40 years ago from a brain tumor, and I don’t remember him talking about his time in the service.

Therefore, I am always interested in listening to stories from veterans, including Roger Olson of Hutchinson. His love for his country and his involvement in the community and veteran affairs is noteworthy.

Olson served in the U.S. Air Force for four years during the Korean War. He returned to his hometown, worked at 3M and also raised a family in addition to farming and volunteering. He slowly became active in his community, and after retiring from 3M, his volunteer and service hours have continued to grow. Read more about Olson and his community involvement in this month’s magazine.

We also have stories about other veterans, including former Litchfield resident Ralph Hanson, who now is a Minneapolis Aquatennial senior commodore.

In the magazine, you can read about the surviving Litchfield veterans who were among 71 men — all mem-

bers of the Minnesota National Guard’s Company I, 136th Infantry Regiment, 47th Viking Division — who were inducted into active service in 1951. They recently reunited and even toasted their reunion with a sip from a bottle of Alabama moonshine they had saved all these years.

With our stories about veterans in this magazine, we ran out of room to publish stories and photos from the Juliana Thill McLeod County Senior Expo and the Editor Meeker County Senior Expo. We will have updates about the expos in our December magazine. Both were well-attended, informative and inspirational.

Also, a reminder, for those of you on Medicare, be sure to use the Fall Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) to review your plan and make any necessary changes. The deadline will be here soon.

Cool autumn breezes and winter’s inevitable arrival have us adding more layers of clothing and using the oven more for baking and cooking. We offer three tasty, easy-tomake recipes that you can use around Thanksgiving time.

Again, we are thankful for all our veterans, we appreciate you and your service to our country.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Small-town boy wins big-city title Litchfield native serves as Minneapolis Aquatennial’s senior commodore

By Juliana Thill EDITOR

R

alph Hanson, an Air Force veteran, donned a new uniform this year.

The 1957 Litchfield High School graduate returned to his hometown in September for his class reunion, where he was asked to talk about his new role as Minneapolis Aquatennial senior commodore.

Hanson has been on the go since July, he said, appearing at community festivals and coronations, as well as volunteering.

“I feel 20 years younger with all the

running around I’m doing,” he said jokingly.

Hanson was born and raised in Litchfield. After graduating from high school, he went to work in St. Paul and then Ralph Hanson joined the military.

“I was in the Air Force for two years. I worked as a medical technician on the Air Evac, transporting the wounded from Vietnam back to the States,” he said.

“After I got out of active duty, I joined the Air Force Reserve ... that’s when I realized flying was in my blood.

I went to work for Northwest Airlines, flew for three weeks, and then they went on strike,” he said.

He worked other jobs at Northwest,

spending 38 years with the company before retiring.

This summer, a friend encouraged Hanson to run for senior commodore through the Minneapolis Aquatennial Senior Ambassador Association. He was named senior commodore at a coronation July 19.

In addition to public appearances, the association has a history of volunteerism in the community.

“We volunteer to furnish and serve meals at the Ronald McDonald house in the Cities,” he said.

Hanson also belongs to the Minneapolis Aquatennial Senior Singers.

“Twice a month, we go to a senior center or nursing home and sing for about an hour,” he said.

Hanson said he is treated like royalty at every event he attends.

“I am having the time of my life,” he said.

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IN THE NEWS Retired Gen. John Foss “swears in” members of Company I, 136th Infantry Regiment, 47th Viking Division during a reunion in September.

PHOTO BY BRENT SCHACHERER

Veterans gather for final reunion A group of 71 men left Litchfield for active service in 1951.Ten of them reunited in September and shared a shot of ‘Alabama moonshine.’

By Brent Schacherer PUBLISHER

I

t was a cold night 65 years ago, when a group of young men marched from the Litchfield Community Building to the train depot on Jan. 16, 1951.

The night was memorable because those 71 men, all members of the Minnesota National Guard’s Company I, 136th Infantry Regiment, 47th Viking Division, were inducted into active service. Their march took them to a train that carried them to Camp Rucker, Alabama, where they were trained to serve in the Korean War. “I was only 17 years old,” Merle Hanson said, grinning as he recalled his naivete at the time. “And I thought this was going to be a fun time. But things changed. They sure did.”

Hanson is one of the 12 surviving members of Company I. He joined others in September at what was billed as the final reunion of some of the remaining veterans of Company I. “It is a big day for us,” Hanson, said.

The reunion took place at the Litchfield Opera House, formerly the Community Building where the men gathered that cold evening in 1951.

The group has had regular reunions

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through the years, including a 50th anniversary reunion in January 2001, when they recreated their memorable march. But as their membership has dwindled, the survivors began planning a final reunion.

Vern Madson of Litchfield, who played a key role in organizing it, said the timing seemed right to do something this year.

“Sixty-five years ago, these men were 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 years old,” Madson said. “Here we are now, we’re all in our 80s. So it’s important to us that we have a gathering like this.

This will be our final formation.”

The program was designed to mirror the swearing-in ceremony in 1951, including speeches by dignitaries.

“It is because of you people that we are here today as a free country,” Mayor Keith Johnson said. “This is a special day for Litchfield.”

“You must have many memories of your time in the service, some good and maybe some not so good, but ones I’m sure that you cherish today,” American Legion Commander Deanna Frazier said. “Thank you for serving our country when called.”

Hanson recalled some memories from that time.

“The night that we got on the train down there, my dad took us down to the depot, my two brothers and I, and we boarded that troop train together,” said Hanson, who took a short break from service after Korea, then reenlisted and rose to the rank of colonel before retiring. “It was a tough time for our parents.”

Of the 71 men who boarded the train

for Camp Rucker, 22 served in Korea.

Of those, three — Sgt. Roger Gustafson, Sgt. Eugene Kronbeck and Sgt. Ralph Tacheny — were killed while fighting there. Maj. Sgt. Austin LaPlante was wounded and became a prisoner of war. Seven others were wounded.

While at Camp Rucker, several of the Litchfield soldiers procured a bottle of “Alabama moonshine,” which became the centerpiece of a kind of Last Man’s Club. Following their service, they agreed the bottle would remain sealed until 10 members remained, at which time those 10 would raise a toast to their brothers in service.

The survivors decided they would not wait for 10, Madson said, and opted to carry out their final reunion this year. Of the survivors, 10 — Boyd Annis, Anderson, Hanson, Donald Holmgren, Johnson, Aldeen Kadelbach, Madson, Robert Rosenow, James Tacheny and Gerald Thissen — participated in the program, while distance prevented Kenneth Blomquist and Nyle Lundstrom from attending.

The sacrifices made by men in the unit were recalled during a roll call of deceased members, with a chime ringing each time the name of one of the 59 was read by Madson.

Later, the bottle of moonshine was opened, and a shot poured for each of the 10 attending soldiers.

“This is a great thing here,” retired Gen. John Foss of Litchfield said after the program. “This company here was really a good company. We had an awful lot of good people. It is great they could be remembered today.”

GriefShare support group begins 13-week sessions in November GriefShare, a 13-session weekly support group, will be offered at Zion Lutheran Church, 504 Gilman Ave. N., Litchfield Sessions begin Nov. 7 and will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Monday through Jan. 30.

GriefShare is a network of 12,000 churches worldwide equipped to offer grief support groups. The program is nondenominational and features biblical concepts for healing after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend.

For more information or to register, call Janet at 320-699-0268; a $15 registration fee covers the cost of a workbook.

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IN THE NEWS

Minnesotans urged to register, vote on Nov. 8

M

ore than 3.2 million Minnesotans are registered to vote, the largest number Minnesota has ever seen ahead of Election Day, and Secretary of State Steve Simon would like to see that number even higher.

“The voter registration process in Minnesota is easier and more convenient than ever before ... Minnesotans who don’t pre-register can still register at their polling place on Election Day,” Simon said.

For nine elections in a row Minnesota was No. 1 in the country in voter turnout. However, in 2014, Minnesota fell to No. 6. Simon is challenging Minnesotans and the thousands of nonprofits and businesses across the state to help return Minnesota back to No. 1.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. In addition to voting for the next president of the United States, Minnesotans will vote for their member of the U.S. House of Representatives, their state senator and representative, as well as on a constitutional amendment. Some Minnesotans also will vote for their local county commissioner, soil & water supervisor, city officers, school board members, township officers, and local ballot questions.

Veterans make up a large share of voters each year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, when it comes to voting, 11.5 million veterans voted in the 2014 congressional election. Fifty-four percent of veterans cast a ballot in that election, compared with 41 percent of nonveterans.

Meanwhile, 14.7 million veterans voted in the 2012 presidential election. Seventy percent of veterans cast a ballot in that election, compared with 60.9 percent of nonveterans.

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Roger Olson volunteers with numerous community and civic groups.

As a Korean War veteran, one of his priorities is working with other veterans.

He served his country, now he serves his community

By Juliana Thill EDITOR

R

oger Olson is known by many titles: farmer, veteran, commander, promoter and volunteer.

This Hutchinson native who served his country and then returned to his hometown is still active in his community at age 82.

Olson, a Korean War veteran who works tirelessly for veteran organizations encourages veterans of all ages this Veterans Day to learn about the benefits and services available to them. “Take advantage of the

Roger Olson holds a photo of himself taken after he joined the U.S.Air Force and completed basic training in 1954.

PHOTO BY JULIANA THILL

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benefits that you’re entitled to — woman or man,” he said.

Some veterans mistakenly believe that because they weren’t in combat, they’re not entitled to benefits, he said.

“I wasn’t in combat, and I’m entitled to benefits,” said Olson, who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. “If they raised their hand to protect our country, they’re eligible,” he said, provided they were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Olson graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1952 and helped on his parents’ farm before entering the Air Force in December 1953.

“I just liked it,” he said when describing why he chose that branch of military. “I had two brothers who both joined the local National Guard here. I had friends in all branches. I wasn’t excited about the Army or the Marines. I didn’t think living on a ship was good. I knew I couldn’t fly because I wore glasses. So, I worked on aircraft, maintenance and such, whether it be electronics or hydraulics or routine maintenance.”

He didn’t know much about fixing airplanes but did understand the concept of hard work and working with machinery, having grown up on a farm.

“My dad kept us busy,” he said.

He completed his basic training in San Antonio, Texas, then transferred to Amarillo, Texas, for aircraft maintenance training.

“The aircraft we trained on were B47s,” Olson said.

The Boeing B-47 was a six-engine, turbojet-powered strategic bomber designed to fly at high subsonic speed and at high altitude to avoid enemy interceptor aircraft.

After his aircraft maintenance training in Amarillo, Olson was on leave for about two weeks in 1954. He returned home and married his high school sweetheart, Darlene Doring in Hutchinson.

Her parents also showed cattle, so the two families knew each other. They got to know each other better in high school.

“Our lockers were across the aisle from one another, and we dated in high school,” he said.

After he left for service, they kept in touch.

“We got engaged while I was down there (in Amarillo), and she was up here, and my dad gave her the ring,” he said a little sheepishly, not sure he wanted people to know how he proposed.

Married 62 years, the Olsons have two grown children, Robert and Kathleen.

“That’s a long time with the same woman,” he said with a laugh. “She’s a good cook and takes care of everything.”

After they were married, they drove to Wichita, Olson said, because he was stationed to work at McConnell Air Force Base and she also got a job.

The couple lived off base for nine months before Olson

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COVER STORY

Roger Olson served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1957. He completed basic training in San Antonio,Texas, then moved around before completing his service at Ladd Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

was transferred to Ladd Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska.

“I flew to Alaska first and then came back, and we drove the highway,” he said.

At the time, Alaska was a territory and not yet part of the United States.

“We were there, actually, to protect and watch the northern borders,” Olson said. “At that point, no one knew what North Korea would do. We saw no combat. None of our outfit saw combat.”

Instead, he and others serviced planes, performing routine maintenance and fixing problems the pilots reported.

There were three all-weather interceptor wings — the 449th, 433rd and 18th — at the base. Olson worked on F89s, which were twin-engine, all-weather fighter-interceptors designed to locate, intercept, and destroy enemy aircraft under all types of weather conditions.

“It was fun,” he said. “We would provide the maintenance.

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COVER STORY Roger Olson, left, poses with former National American Legion Commander Dave Rehbein, as well as Hutchinson American Legion members Don Pankake and Frank Fay. Olson, Pankake and Fay have all served as department commanders for the Minnesota American Legion. The Hutchinson post is the only one in Minnesota to have had three state commanders.

FILE PHOTO

Those planes were used for — you might say — a game of cat and mouse. The Russians would come close to our border, and we would scramble our jets to turn them around.”

When he was honorably discharged in 1957 as a staff sergeant, “we drove the Alaskan highway home with another couple from Minneapolis,” he said. “I always wanted to come back and live or farm here.”

Working with a fellow veteran When Olson returned to Hutchinson, he stopped at 3M and sought employment.

“I started working there about two weeks after I got home,” he said. “I was very fortunate.”

In addition to working at 3M, he bought a farm from his father and began farming, growing corn, oats and alfalfa.

“Later, we built a barn and milked cows and I still worked,” he recalled. “I worked 34 years at 3M in production to start with, on magnetic tape, and I moved up to supervisor.”

Shortly after starting at 3M, he was approached by a coworker who thought Olson looked familiar.

“I’ll never forget it,” Olson said, as he sat on the edge of his chair and began to mimic the conversation that transpired in a 3M hallway.

“It’s like it happened right now. He was walking down the hall and said, ‘Hey, you. Were you stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska? Were you in the 449th? I said, ‘yes.’ He said, ‘well, I was in the 18th across the base,’” Olson recalled with a smile.

The man turned out to be Stan Scieszka, who was from New Jersey but had moved to Hutchinson. While Scieszka was stationed in Minneapolis, he met a woman, whom he later married, who was from Cosmos.

After Scieszka was discharged in 1956, about six months before Olson, he moved to Hutchinson, was hired at 3M, “and stayed out here in God’s country,” Scieszka said.

“It’s a small world. I never knew him up there. He recog-

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nized me,” Olson said, chuckling at how their paths crossed after they left Alaska.

Scieszka said he remembers the first time he saw Olson.

“It was Christmas 1954. We were sitting in the Alaskan telephone office, and were both calling home and waiting for a call to get through to the States because at that time Alaska was overseas duty. I never asked him (Olson) his name. I just knew he was on the base. And all of a sudden, I’m working at 3M and here comes this new hire. I thought, ‘I know that guy from some place,’” Scieszka recalled. He remembered Olson from the telephone office and working across the base, so he went up and talked to Olson.

The two men worked together for a little over a year as co-supervisors at 3M, and then they worked in other departments. Scieszka also retired from 3M in 1991.

“He’s a nice guy to work with,” Scieszka said.

Both men are involved in the American Legion and Hutchinson Elks.

“He’s more active in the Legion, and I’ve been more active in the Elks,” Scieszka said. “He volunteers a lot. He’s active in the community — Legion, Shriners, VFW. He does a wonderful job volunteering.”

Community involvement After Olson moved back to Hutchinson and found a job, “my main interest then was registered holsteins. We showed cattle and were very active in the holstein business,” Olson said.

It wasn’t long, though, before his involvement in the community started to expand. He served as president of the McLeod County Holstein Association, and president of the state Holstein Association from 1967 to 1969.

When Olson wasn’t working at 3M or farming, he was volunteering.

Some of the areas where he is or has been involved include being a: ◆ Charter member of Christ the King Church.

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COVER STORY

Hutchinson schools. ◆ Charter member of the Elks Lodge.

“Hutchinson students are very atten◆ Member of VFW Post 906. tive when a speaker is speaking. You ◆ Member of Masonic Lodge No. 59. have to pat Hutchinson teachers on the ◆ Member of Crow River Shriners back. They command silence and there’s Club, president for past 10 years, which silence. They (the students) listen.” is a branch of Zurah Shrine Club.

He believes it’s important for veterans ◆ Member of Minnesota Holstein to continue to share their experiences, Associations, including two years as whether it’s through school programs or president, and member of the National elsewhere.

Holstein Association.

“I think they (students) develop a bet◆ Vice president of Allied Charities. ter understanding of what America is. ◆ Chairman of the Our Future — Our They learn how to respect the flag, and Kids levy referendum. in turn by respecting the flag, they learn ◆ Chairman of the McLeod County how to respect one another,” he said.

Veterans Park dedication. ◆ Member of American Legion Post Supporter of veterans 96, where he has held nearly every position and chairmanship including As a supporter of so many causes, finance, membership, historian, steerOlson pauses thoughtfully when asked ing committee, post commander, and why it’s important to him to support vetFILE PHOTO adjutant for 19 years. erans. ◆ State commander of the Minnesota Roger Olson was named Mr. “Some of the older vets, my peers from Hutchinson in 2012 during the Hutchinson, taught me a lot, and I felt I American Legion from 1997 to 1998. ◆ Vice chairman of the National Jaycee Hutchinson Water should step in and continue where they Resolutions Assignments Committee for Carnival. left off, and inform veterans,” he said. the National American Legion.

“One of the things I think we fail to do “I keep busy,” he said modestly. “I sold as a country on discharge is really the farm and then slowly got involved in a few other organ- inform the men and women. It’s a double-edged sword. izations.”

You’re so happy to get out, you don’t listen. We need to find He also was chosen as Mr. Hutchinson during the Jaycee a better way to follow up with veterans,” he added.

Hutchinson Water Carnival in 2012.

Olson encourages veterans and their spouses to contact At the time, Vice Commodore Josh Gehlen described their county veteran service officer to learn about the many Olson as, “a friend of schools, a friend of veterans, a friend benefits and services available to them such as medical, disof agriculture. In short, he’s a friend of Hutchinson.” ability, housing, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial.

Supporter of schools “There are a lot of things our veterans don’t know about.

He has supported schools because “I always believe a If a veteran passes on, there are benefits the spouse is entigood school system makes good citizens for tomorrow, and tled to,” Olson said.

Reflecting on his community, state and national involveI’ve always promoted schools,” he said.

Not everyone shared his belief when it came to raising ment, he said jokingly, “Probably a person shouldn’t retire, they get busier.” taxes for school levies, and he admitted.

But he has no regrets.

“I made enemies. But that doesn’t bother me. I believe in “It’s been a great life. The community has been good to what I think is right,” he said.

Olson also participates in Veterans Day programs at me,” Olson said. ■

For more information about veteran services County veteran service offices serve veterans, their dependents, and widows in providing assistance with applying for and obtaining benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Veterans Service office also provides assistance in gaining access to state veterans homes and VA medical centers for inpatient or out-patient treatment, including assistance with transportation to these facilities. They also keep veterans and their dependents informed of any changes in federal and state programs and policies.

McLeod County Veteran Service 2381 Hennepin Ave. N., Glencoe 320-894-1268 • www.co.mcleod.mn.us Meeker County Veteran Service 114 Holcombe Ave. N., Suite 120, Litchfield 320-693-5445 • www.co.meeker.mn.us/198/Veterans-Service Veterans Linkage Line: 888-LinkVet (546-5838) Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255, press 1

NOVEMBER 2016 | ZEST

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MONEY MATTERS

Get finances in order before end of year Reviewing financial situations before end of the year can help save money next year

I

t will begin soon enough — all those “beat the rush!” ads for holiday shopping, activities and events.

Right now, you have a great opportunity to beat the rush to organize your year-end finances and make some smart moves for the new year.

Consider the following tasks for your year-end financial to-do list: ◆ Total up your year-to-date spending. Whether you organize by computer or on paper, make sure your tracking system for spending, saving and investment is up to date. This way, you can make sure you are on budget for the year and ready with data for tax time. Once you are finished, determine your net worth — what you own less what you owe — and get an early idea of what you need to change next year. ◆ Check in with your planner or tax professional. Late December is a busy time for financial professionals. Take a minute to see if they can review your numbers and make suggestions on year-end financial activities and new moves you should make in 2017. ◆ Make sure you’ve reviewed all your credit reports for the year. You are entitled to one free copy (www.annualcreditreport.com) of each of your three major credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. It’s generally wise to schedule delivery of each at different points in the year to catch errors or irregularities. ◆ Check and rebalance your portfolio. With the dramatic market swings this past year, be sure to check if your retirement and other investments are still on track with your investment goals. Get qualified help if necessary to see if the assets you own still fit your needs. And if you need to do any tax selling by the end of the year, now is the time to start thinking about it.

12

ZEST | NOVEMBER 2016

Nathaniel Sillin Director of Visa’s financial education program

◆ Check your insurance coverage. If you buy your own home, auto, life or other insurance policies, contact two or three agents representing highly rated (www.ambest.com) insurers to review the adequacy and pricing of your coverage. If you have made any structural changes or improvements to your home, make sure those actions are reflected in your homeowners insurance. Such work may boost your home’s replacement value. Also, if you’ve had a major life or financial event, it’s time to make sure all your coverage is sufficient. ◆ Update your W-2, benefits and estate plan if necessary.

While you’re updating your insurance and investment needs for big life events related to family, property or marital status, see if your tax withholding and employee health coverage and investments need review. Get qualified help to make this assessment if you are not sure. ◆ Empty out your flexible spending accounts. If you have a Flexible Spending Account for health care or other qualifying expenses, it’s time to submit outstanding claims from the doctor, dentist or optometrist. Remember you can only transfer $500 in your remaining balance over to the next year. Make any appointments or medical purchases you need to now and get the paperwork in fast. ◆ Do a last-minute tax review.

If you work alone or with a tax professional, review your annual income, investment and spending data to see if there’s anything you can do in the final weeks of the year to save on taxes. If tax-deductible donations to qualified charities and nonprofits are

Check in with your planner or tax professional soon and see if they can review your numbers and make suggestions on year-end financial activities and new moves you should make in 2017. recommended, consult sites such as GuideStar (www.guidestar.org), CharityWatch (www.charitywatch.org/home) and Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) to evaluate your choices so you know your contribution is being well spent. ◆ Save time and cut back on waste with online bill pay and deposits. Automatic online bill pay means you won’t have to waste time writing checks or risk late payment fees. Scheduling bill payment through your checking and savings accounts can save time and money, while setting up regular electronic deposits to savings and investment accounts can also help you save money before you are tempted to spend it.

Bottom line: Doing a last-minute review of your finances can potentially save money and help you save, spend and invest smarter in the coming year.

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MEDICARE

Medicare works differently for people who have employer health insurance Dear Marci, I will turn 65 soon and be eligible for Medicare. I am still working and receive health insurance from my employer. If I sign up for Medicare, how will it work with my current employer-based insurance?

— Marco Dear Marco, Learning about how Medicare works with your current employer insurance can help you decide if you want to sign up for Medicare when you become eligible. Note that when we say “current employer insurance,” we mean insurance from either your or your spouse’s job.

The first thing to think about is whether Medicare will pay primary or secondary to your current employer insurance. Medicare paying primary means that Medicare pays first on health care claims, and your employer insurance pays second on some or all of the remaining costs.

Medicare paying secondary means that your employer insurance pays first, and Medicare pays on some or all of the remaining costs.

Medicare works with current employer coverage in different ways depending on the size of the employer. For people who are eligible for Medicare because they are 65 or older, Medicare pays primary if the insurance is from current work at a company with fewer than 20 employees.

This is called a small group health plan. Medicare pays secondary if the insurance is from current work at a company with more than 20 employees. This is called a Group Health Plan.

If you have insurance from your or your spouse’s current employer when you become eligible for Medicare, you might think about delaying Medicare enrollment. If you are covered by current employer insurance — regardless of the size of the employer — you can delay Medicare enrollment without penalty. (Those who work at companies with fewer than 20 employees may want to sign up for Medicare since it pays primary.) You will have a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Medicare at any point while covered by the employer plan or up to eight months after the first month you are without that employer coverage. To avoid gaps in coverage, it is often wise to sign up in the month before employer coverage ends.

Before you delay Medicare enrollment, note that you might encounter some problems if Medicare is supposed to pay primary. Your employer plan might refuse to make payments until Medicare pays. If your employer plan pays primary but was supposed to pay secondary, it might recoup payments, leaving you responsible for the out-ofpocket costs.

— Marci “Dear Marci” is a service of the Medicare Rights Center.

For more information, call the center at 800-333-4114.

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CALL US TODAY! 320-286-2158 182 Sunset Avenue Northwest • Cokato, MN 55321

www.cokatoseniorcare.com

NOVEMBER 2016 | ZEST

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FOOD & FUN

▲

Savor the season, be thankful for all you have, and share your blessings with others Pumpkin Pie Squares with Cinnamon Sugar Yogurt Topping

Crust: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 Tablespoons low-fat milk Cooking spray

Topping: 2 Tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt Heat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, oats, brown sugar, butter and milk.

Press into thin layer in a 9-by-13-inch pan greased with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes. While crust is baking, in another bowl, beat together pumpkin through salt. Pour over crust and bake for 40 minutes or until set.

Sprinkle pecans over filling and bake another 10-15 minutes or until center is set. Cool slightly in pan. Mix together sugar and cinnamon. Mix in

Filling: 2 cups canned pumpkin 2 eggs 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt 1/2 cup low-fat milk 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/MIDWESTDAIRY.COM

yogurt. Top each square with 1 tablespoon yogurt topping. Servings: 16.

Crossword puzzle Across 1. Certain apartment 5. Amigo 8. Preserve, in a way 12. Halo, e.g.

13. Break 14. Bender 15. Computer picture 16.“I had no ___!”

17. Forgo 18.Trembled 20.“Shoo!”

21. Downy duck 22. Coal container 23. Cold and sticky hands 26. Service for a death 30. Fix, in a way 31. A, B or C 34. Eastern music 35. Ally 37. ___ v.Wade 38. Money in the bank, say 39. Unload, as stock 40. Dog breed 42. Discharge letters?

43. Goo 45. Spin 47.“Don’t give up!”

48. Unimpressed 50. Fill 52. Proximity 56. Auspices 57.Yorkshire river 58. Crazily 59. Great balls of fire 60. Big game

14

Crossword puzzle answer on Page 15 61. Not yet final, at law 62. Reduce, as expenses 63.“To ___ is human ...”

64. Put one’s foot down?

Down 1. “O, gie me the ___ that has

ZEST | NOVEMBER 2016

acres o’ charms”: Burns 2.“That hurt!”

3. German married woman 4.Two-seater 5. Man with a mission 6. A chieftain 7. Detective’s need

8.Those who produce offspring 9.“Mi chiamano Mimi,” e.g.

10. Impose, as a tax 11. Golf ball support 13. Hippy tee style 14. Beau 19. Barely lit 22. Sticker 23. Pizza feature 24. Lid or lip application 25. Catlike 26. Pedal pushers 27. Bob Marley fan 28. Bond, for one 29. Coffee order 32. Certain surgeon’s “patient” 33.“Sesame Street” watcher 36. Roadside problem 38. Appeared 40. Arch 41. Desk item 44. Salad green 46. Letter 48. More like the sky 49. Doofus 50. “La Scala di ___” (Rossini opera) 51. Biology lab supply 52.The “C” in U.P.C. 53. Arabic for “commander” 54. Comme ci, comme ca (hyphenated) 55. ___ row 56. Death on the Nile cause, perhaps

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FOOD & FUN Tuscan Turkey Sandwich 1 1/2 teaspoons fat free mayonnaise 1 teaspoon prepared pesto 2 slices hearty white or buttermilk bread 2 to 3 slices Sara Lee Premium Lower Sodium Oven Roasted Turkey Breast 2 to 3 slices vine-ripened tomato Fresh basil leaves 1 slice Sara Lee Premium Provolone Cheese

SOURCE: WWW. CULINARY.NET/ SARA LEE PREMIUM MEATS

Mix mayonnaise and pesto in a small bowl until light green. Spread pesto mayonnaise on one side of bread. Add turkey, tomato, basil and provolone. Top with second slice of bread.

(62+/ Disabled)

Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1/4 cup butter 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal 2 cups Wheat Chex cereal 2 cups Honey Nut Chex cereal 8 ounces pecans SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/ CHEX In small bowl, mix brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice; set aside.

In small microwave-safe dish, microwave butter about 30 seconds or until melted. Stir in vanilla. In large microwavable bowl, mix all cereals and pecans. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly distributed. Add sugar and spice mixture and stir until coated. Microwave uncovered on high for 5 minutes or until mixture begins to brown, stirring every minute. Spread on wax paper or a cookie sheet to cool. Store in airtight container.

Answer to Crossword Puzzle published on Page 14

DINING & entertainment Advertise here! Call Advertising Director Kevin True at 320-234-4141.

• Lunch Specials Wed - Sun • Space Available for Small Parties • Meat Raffles Every Sat (Oct-Mar) • Space Available For Small Parties • Access to NFLs & ALL BIG TEN GAMES

• Nightly Dining 7 Days A Week • Event Planning • Pull Tabs, Dart Machines • Big Screen TVs • FREE Meeting Room Available For Non-Profits

BAR OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK HAPPY HOUR: MONDAY - FRIDAY 4 PM - 6:30 PM

NOVEMBER 2016 | ZEST

15

of Eye Care

Excellence

YEARS

Christopher R. Wallyn, D.O. Michael P. Merck, M.D.

Regional Eye Center

www.regeyecenter.com

320-587-6308

Allan D. Wortz, O.D.

Our “Tradition of Eye Care Excellence” spans for more than 25 years. Today, our dedication and focus on cutting edge technology, advanced diagnostics and surgical techniques has only been surpassed by our commitment to quality patient care.

From the latest breakthroughs in laser and cataract care – to 24 hour emergency eye care services, contact lenses and prescription eyewear – look to Regional Eye Center for a lifetime of better vision.

At Woodstone, we offer a smaller, more intimate, and more personal setting for our residents to call home. Being at home is such an important part of achieving a higher level of care. When a resident moves in to our community, they become a part of our family.

Residents have the opportunity to be active through resident outings, community events and volunteering with different local organizations. By getting to know each resident and their family individually, we can better tailor the experience, and care, that our residents receive.

Featuring: Care Suites and Memory Care • Private

Amy Nyquist, O.D.

Physician and Surgeon

Physician and Surgeon

• Health Related Services Apartments • Social, Recreational & Wellness • 24 Hour Staffing Activities • Emergency Response System • RN on staff • Personal Related Services • Home-Cooked Meals

• Salon/Barber Shop • Chapel • Weekly Housekeeping • Weekly Laundry

The more we care, the more beautiful life becomes.

1025 Dale Street SW, Hutchinson, Minnesota • 320-234-8917

www.woodstoneseniorliving.com