SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
00250227
2 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
features
On the cover: Roy and Linda Longworth run Lavender Hill Farms on Horton Bay Road.
6 Good Stuff
Good To Go: Corner squats A Good Word: Marriage encounter Grandparenting: Hayride
14 Good Escape Get away to The House on the Hill
28 Cover story A new lease on (working) life for area retirees
16 Good Humor Jerry Rosevear reflects
32 Good Cents Reverse mortgages: What you must know
8 Nod to Nostalgia 1945 - The War is over
18 Good Health Pain in the joints
11 Good Idea Mike Schlitt shares his love of photography
24 Good Times Cocktail mixers, sirloin with polenta, healthy burgers
35 Good Samaritan Little Traverse Civic Theatre needs your help 38 Good Shots Picture yourself here! GOODlife 3
We were here yesterday. We’re here today. We’ll be here
Tomorrow The moments in history that define us, the excitement of fulfilling our goals and the daily events that bind our community together. This is what you’ll find in the pages of the News-Review, Charlevoix Courier and Gaylord Herald Times, just as in the past 134 years.
Life. Captured daily. News-Review Home delivery: 231-439-9315 PETOSKEY
4 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
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© GoodLife, all rights reserved, 2010. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect any endorsement for any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement that there is approval for such endorsement. GoodLife is published bi-monthly by Northern Michigan Review, Inc. GoodLife Magazine 319 State Street, Petoskey, MI 49770
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GOOD STUFF GOOD TO GO
A GOOD WORD
Corner wall squats Squats can be scary, especially if balance in an issue. But they don’t have to be, according to Todd Ackerman, a certified personal trainer and certified fitness therapist with Tim Bondy Physical Therapy in Petoskey. Simply adding a corner to the routine can make all the difference, he noted, as it creates a safe and secure environment for the exercise. Squats are beneficial because they help strengthen the quadriceps, or thigh muscles, which help you rise to a standing position, Ackerman said. He added that because the exercise is weightbearing, it helps strengthen bones, which in turns helps prevent osteoporosis.
1. Find a corner in your home, and stand 6 to 8 inches out from it (you can stand closer if you wish or need; distance away from the wall can be built over time). Heels will be pointing to the walls, feet angled out slightly, and the spine should be stacked — don’t over flex your neck.
2.
Begin to lower, keeping in mind your knees should be above your toes, not extended over them. Arms move upward in forward flexion (if desired, hands can use the wall as a guide until the motion becomes familiar).
3. Continue lowering until your bottom touches the wall, and arms are extended out in front of you. Exhale as you stand up, and repeat for three sets of five reps. Add one to two reps each week until reaching 20 to 25 reps.
Marriage encounter Some time in our first year of marriage, I was reading the Ann Landers’ column in the Sunday newspaper out loud to my new husband. “Wondering” wrote: Dear Ann, I know I should do things with my husband so we can bond, but do you think I have to go with him to shoot rats at the dump? Ann’s reply: Dear Wondering: You do NOT have to shoot rats at the dump with your husband. I immediately saw this as a theme, or mission statement, for our married life. So here we are, 39 years later. On the eve of our wedding anniversary, my husband and I went to the gala 20-year celebration event at the transfer station for recycle material. It was great. We took a tour, ate ice cream, listened to good music and basked in the warm glow of knowing just how much good our empty milk jugs were doing for the world. All this, at no cost. As we walked back to our car, my husband asked me, “This counts, right? I mean, we don’t have to still go out to dinner?” I made him take me anyway. There was an anniversary where we window shopped in a mall and went into the Hallmark store, and showed each other the cards we would have bought if we felt like splurging. So we are making slow progress. It should be surprising with us both being Scotch. I pointed out to him the synergy of the Ann Landers story and going to the transfer station, but he thought it was “all different.” “We did not shoot rats at the dump,” he argued. I argued that a lot of words get up-grades, like buildings don’t have basements or janitors anymore; now they are lower levels and custodial engineers. I’m pretty sure we were at the dump.
RuthAnn Schwartzfisher, 84, of Petoskey, ey, models a corner wall squat. at.
6 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
— Katie MacInnis
GOOD STUFF GRANDPARENTING GRANDPARENTING
Hit the hayride W
ith the world awash in warm colors of fall, a perfect complement to the season is a hayride. This classic autumn activity is friendly for all ages, and offers a chance to get outside to experience the colors and sights of fall. Here are a few of the farms that offer the rides: Bill’s Farm Market, Petoskey — The market offers public hayrides starting at 2 p.m. Saturdays in October, and run until everyone’s taken a ride. Group hayrides for 10 or more people can be made for Monday through Saturday throughout the month. Cost is $3 per person, and includes the halfhour ride around the farm, apples, cider and a small pumpkin. Bill’s Farm Market is located at 4450 E. Mitchell Road in Petoskey. Phone GOOD THOUGHT (231) 347-6735 or visit www.billsfarmmarket.com. Pond Hill Farm, Harbor Springs — The farm offers hayrides noon-4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday October, and GOOD TOthrough KNOW rolls through fields, pastures filled with animals, swamps, forests and makes a stop at the trout pond to feed the fish. Cost is $4 per person, and kids 10 and under are free. Private hayrides are available upon request for $100 per hour, up to 30 people. Phone (231) 5263276 or visit www.pondhill.com.
Royal Farms, Atwood/Ellsworth — Hayrides are offered noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sundays from mid-September to October, weather permitting. Group rides for 10 to 15 people, or more, are given throughout the week. The rides travel through the property and apple orchard, and offer views of Lake Michigan. Cost is $3 per person, or $1.50 with entry to the corn maze; the corn maze is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Royal Farms is located at 10445 U.S. 31 North in Atwood/Ellsworth. Phone (231) 599-3222 or visit www.royalfarmsinc.com.
GOOD THOUGHTS Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to. — Bill Vaughn True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. — Kurt Vonnegut I never dared be radical when young for fear it would make me conservative when old. — Robert Frost
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NOD TO TO NOSTALGIA -- 19XX 1945 Music
Movie
Sentimental “The Lost Journey Weekend” xxxxxx xxxxxx Released on Nov. 16, 1945, “The Lost Les Brown’s “Sentimental Journey” hits No. 1 xxxxxxx xxxxxxx Weekend” chronicles the four-day binge of in 1945. xxxxxxxxxx He co-wrote the song, which was performed by Doris Day and became a theme song for those returning from World War II. Brown began playing the saxophone at age 7, and went on to study at the Ithaca Conservatory of Music after one year of high school. Brown was well known through “Les Brown & His Band of Renown,” a term coined by the radio announcer of “Spotlight Band” in 1942. After a long life of music, he died in January 2001 at the age of 88.
In the news In the news
xxxxxxxxxx alcoholic and failed writer Don Birnham (Ray Milland). It was the first movie to really look at the problems of alcoholism as a modern illness and met much acclaim. It was adapted from the 1944 novel of the same name by Charles R. Jackson. The film was nominated for seven Oscars, bringing home awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Billy Wilder, Best Actor in a Leading Role to Milland, and Best Writing, Screenplay, to Wilder and Charles Brackett.
The way it was The way it was
— World War II ends. — Franklin Delano Roosevelt dies in office, and is xxxxxx replaced by vice president Harry S. Truman. xxxxxxxxxx — The Detroit Tigers win the World Series against the Chicago Cubs in seven games.
xxxxxxx
The
Slinky Springing to the forefront of the toy kingdom xxxxxxx this year was the Slinky, whose debut was made xxxxxx
at xxxxxxxxxx Gimbel’s Department Store in Philadelphia. In 1943, naval engineer Richard James was working when he dropped a tension spring on the — “Animal Farm” by George Orwell is floor. When it began to walk, he took it home to published. his wife, Betty. The two thought it could make for a great toy, — The accidental discovery by Percy Spencer and 65 years later they are still made on the same reveals that microwaves can heat food, equipment he created. More than 300 million when a candy bar melts in his pocket near have been sold. the waves. In Swedish, “slinky” means stealthy, sinuous — The first general purpose electronic and sleek, which couldn’t describe the toy computer is completed and covers 1,800 better. It was adopted as the official state toy of If you a favorite feethave of floor space. nostalgic item you’d like to share with GOODLife readers, let us know! E-mail Beth Anne at bpiehl@petoskeynews.com. Pennsylvania in 2001. GOODlife 9
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GOOD IDEA
Just shoot By Matt Mikus • Photos by G. Randall Goss
M
ike Schlitt started shooting photographs of his two daughters on the competitive cheer team, but his hobby transformed into a passionate pursuit of nature photography that drew him to locations across the country and the world. After owning an automotive company for 18 years in the Detroit area, Schlitt retired in 1995 and moved to Charlevoix eight years ago. His focus on photography shifted toward nature. His photographs range from sunsets in Yosemite to lions, impalas and cheetahs in Africa. “Photography has opened my eyes to nature as never before,” Schlitt said. “I can be driving down the road
Photography provides a new way to look at life
now and see a cloud formation in the them when they’re looking so you sky, and just appreciate its beauty.” can see their eyes, and you’re lookHis house is a personal gallery of ing for that perfect light to shoot the his images and experiences. Walls photo.” are lined with images of grizzly bears, He also creates custom frames silverback gorillas, elephants and from exotic woods, which accentumajestic sunsets. Schlitt, 59, speaks ate elements and colors in his phoabout the story behind each image, tographs. Most of his materials are hiking through jungles, spending purchased from Rare Earth Harddays in the frozen tundra and simply woods in Traverse City. waiting for hours for the perfect sunEven though Schlitt has traveled light. the world to photograph exotic aniSchlitt compares his photography mals, he finds the beauty of Northern to the practices of a hunter, though Michigan a fascinating subject. The instead of the thrill of the kill, he contrast between summer and winter seeks the satisfaction of the image seasons, and the colors found during capture. the fall, constantly inspire Schlitt. And “A hunter can shoot them when after being a guest judge for a local they’re looking away, or at different photography competition, he realized times of the day,” Schlitt said. ”But as that he wasn’t the only one inspired a photographer, you have to catch by the scenery of Michigan. 4 GOODlife 11
Just shoot Continued from 11
Mike Schlitt is a Charlevoixbased photographer, seen in his home-based digital photo lab.
Equipment You can spend a lot of money on photo equipment nowadays. So what do you need and what can you wait on?
How to get started — Attend workshops, especially to learn the basics, such as understanding light and your equipment. — Join a photography club. You can meet others who share the same passion and offer friendly advice. — Do your research. Look through some how-to books on information such as shutter speed, focal lengths and depth-of-field. A quick Google search can reveal some fascinating photography websites. — Take pictures. Throughout all this, enjoy looking for interesting photographs. Don’t be afraid to just go out and shoot.
12 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Mike Schlitt suggested: — Buy a solid tripod. “Be willing to put some extra money into your tripod. You don’t want to be setting up your camera and have the wind knock it over.” — Stay with Canon or Nikon. Though there are many companies that create cameras, “Everything is based off of the two big names, Canon and Nikon. They’re the standard of the industry.” — Cable release. Designed to trigger the camera without moving the camera, it helps to reduce the blurriness of an image. “I shoot almost everything with a cable release.” — More expensive isn’t always better. Schlitt once took a photograph with a pocket camera and a tripod that was printed on a 5-foot canvas on display in a Grand Rapids residential building. “It doesn’t take that much to create great images.”
“I was blown away by the talent in Northern Michigan,” he said. “I wondered if there was a photography club, and I realized there (wasn’t).” So he started the Charlevoix Photography Club, which currently has 20 members and more than 60 participants. Members plan shoots together and attend photography workshops. The club also provides a location to give photographers an opportunity to edit their images, by providing computers with image editing software. They invite photographers to provide workshops in the Charlevoix-Petoskey area, ranging from portraiture to basic equipment training. The club is a part of the Charlevoix Circle of Arts. “We want to make this a worldfamous photography club,” Schlitt said. “We did a lot of research on where success comes from. And the successful clubs tend to have a common mission.” The mission, as announced in May 2010, is for the next two years, club members will collaborate to create a portfolio book focusing on the seasons of Charlevoix and surrounding areas. The group will sell the book as a fundraiser, and all proceeds will go to the Circle of Arts. The club welcomes any photographer, from the beginner to the experienced. Schlitt also stressed that the club isn’t just for nature photography. “There are so many different aspects of photography, from nature to portraits,” he said. “You just have to get involved in a club, shoot with other people and see if it’s for you.” Contact the Charlevoix Photography Club at (231) 675-3321 or visit www.charlevoixphotography.com. GL
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GOOD ESCAPE
Off to the hill
The House on the Hill offers rest and relaxation
in retail. The Realtor, who could sense my hesitancy, told us about estled on the shores of St. this bed and breakfast which was Clair Lake in Ellsworth sits for sale. After we did a walk through The House on the Hill, a bed the property, I knew we had found and breakfast inn. our new venture,” Marci said. Originally built in 1896 as a farm Phillip added, “I love Northern house and cattle barn, The House Michigan. I love its clean environon the Hill has been welcoming ment, the expansive landscapes, guests to Northern Michigan for the elevations and waterways. Most the past 25 years. Innkeepers Marci of all, I truly enjoy the friendly peoand Phillip Palajak, originally from ple who make up the villages and Auburn Hills, purchased the prop- towns. This is the place where I’m erty in August 2009. most inspired.” “We were interested in owning a Located on 53 acres of private business in the area. After our kids land, The House on the Hill offers headed off to college, we had our guests the chance to enjoy the outopportunity. At first, we were talk- doors as well as provides them with ing about operating a grocery store. an atmosphere of rest and relaxHowever, I really didn’t want to be ation. By Kristin Bates • Photos by G. Randall Goss
N
14 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
“One thing we like to emphasize, in addition to our quaint rooms and peaceful environment, is the fact we are a destination place complete with all the amenities to enjoy the outdoors. In the summer, guests can hike or bike our groomed trails. In the winter, they are perfect for snowshoeing or cross country skiing. And, we have kayaks and a canoe for guests to enjoy on the lake, fishing too,” Marci said. Guests at The House on the Hill have the choice of seven available rooms located within the main home and the carriage house. Surrounded by a wraparound porch, the main house has four rooms to choose from which include the Rose, the Birch, the Pine and the Cherry.
The main home:
Lauren (from left), Phillip and Marci Palajak on the front porch of The House on the Hill.
Room rates range from $150 to $175 a night in the main house. In the carriage house, there are three rooms: the Tamarack, the Maple and the Aspen. All the rooms in the carriage house feature a private bath, gas fireplace and semi-private deck. Rates are $200 a night. “With our wraparound porch, which is decorated with wicker seating and tables, guests have the opportunity to watch the Fourth of July fireworks. They are launched right off our beach front. You can’t beat the view,” Marci said. Included in the package, each guest is welcomed to a gourmet breakfast prepared by Marci, who is helped throughout the summer by her daughter, Lauren, a junior at Michigan State University. Phillip commutes each weekend from their home in Auburn Hills to help. With a wide selection of breads, muffins and entrees served each morning, they have compiled a cookbook with more 400 items featured at the inn. Marci said, “I love to cook. It’s been a passion of mine. While Lauren is here, she handles all the baking. In addition to breakfast, at 5:30
p.m. each night we set out a selection of cheese and crackers, iced tea and ice water for the guests. Then, when they return from dinner, Lauren serves fresh-baked cookies.” The bed and breakfast has hosted many community events as well, including a fashion show fundraiser. Plans for the upcoming fall and winter season include a high tea during the month of November and offering a painting class taught by a local artist, where each participant will leave with a painted canvas. “It’s such a relaxing and comfortable setting conducive to holding community events, and it gives the local people the chance to visit and see what we have to offer. The beauty of our bed and breakfast is having the advantage of meeting some fascinating people but at the same time having the opportunity to bask in the solitude of our vast property,” Marci said. The House on the Hill is open year-round and is located at 9661 Lake St. in Ellsworth. For room availability, visit www.thehouseonthehill.com or call (231) 5886123.
The Rose Room, originally the master bedroom, features a kingsize bed and a view of St. Clair Lake. It is decorated in bold geometrics, a collection of Eastlake antiques and a private bath and tub for added relaxation. With a gabled ceiling and windows on three sides, the Birch Room has a king-size bed complete with a sitting area overlooking the lake. Color washed walls add to the ambiance of the room, which includes a private bath. Featuring a 22-foot ceiling, the Pine Room has a palladium window overlooking the property. It is decorated in refinished pine pieces which include a four-poster, queen-size bed and a private bath. The Cherry Room, sister to the Pine Room, overlooks the carriage house with views of the surrounding property. It is decorated with dark cherry furniture, a four-poster, queen-size bed and a private bath.
The carriage house: The Tamarack Room, a guest favorite, offers a wrought iron and wood king-size bed. The semiprivate deck allows for wildlife viewing with a deer feeder and wild turkeys roaming the property and sounds of an artesian creek. The Aspen Room, decorated in blue and mauve colors, has wider doorways, an iron king-size bed and has handrails in the private bathroom facilities. There is access to a semi-private deck. The Maple Room has a king-size bed and two sets of antique chairs adorning the windows, which allow for more additional lighting as well as a view of the outdoors. There is access to a semi-private deck. GOODlife 15
GOOD HUMOR
Old habits die hard OR, JUST AS NERVOUS AS ALWAYS
F
or me some things never change. So I hope there are grandparents out there who can relate if they have grandkids playing youth sports. It can be a doggone trying situation, yet, at the same time, a lot of fun. Recently my wife and I attended a Little League state tournament downstate that our grandson was playing in. The tournament just happened to come exactly 27 years after our own son played in a state final. What I learned is I can be just as restless today as I was back then when watching a game. In 1983 as sports editor of the Petoskey News-Review, covering state finals was a given. Call me one nervous father because not only was I trying to cover the game in general, but I was also trying to keep a close tab on how our son was playing. Even today I have fans that were there tell me what a nervous wreck I was. Now let’s fast forward to this summer, and we are getting ready to watch our grandson and his teammates. We had lawn chairs set up and we were mingling with other parents and grandparents. Then the game started. Now, was I going to stay calm or drift back into that 1983 mode? Well, grampie (not grandpa, but grampie) was out of his chair in nothing flat, pacing, standing along the fence in the outfield, walking to the other side and talking with 16 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
over three decades ago in the early 1970s with introduction to Little League and other youth sports. That lasted into the 1990s and now here we are today, enjoying games but still feeling those old emotions. For the record, we now have two Little League playing grandchildren in Petoskey, Katrina and Trevor Daniel, and two in Lewisburg, Pa., Sam and Grace Rosevear. All four are involved in several sports. Those in Pennsylvania we by don’t get to see in action that much Jerry Rosevear but do ask for updates and photos on how things are going. We have, however, gone east for up to 10 parents and grandparents of oppo- days to watch Sam and Grace play nents, while keeping a close eye on competitive games (soccer, baseball, the diamond. softball) and plan on doing it again. Yup, the old rush was back. For That also brings up the point that three games the chair would be set grandpas and grandmas like to hear up but never sat in for more than a about success stories even if they minute at a time. Finally, someone are unable to attend a game. asked our daughter that if I wasn’t I remember when our oldest son going to use my chair, could they? began Little League. It was a ritual Thinking back, whatever sports to call his grandparents in Arizona our kids and grandkids were play- to fill them in on what he had acing — and there have been a lot of complished that night or the night them — it has been hard to just sit before. there and watch. I, for one, would This summer, our granddaughter rather be on the move. excitedly called from Pennsylvania Case in point was a recent youth to tell us that she hit a home run and softball invitational tournament tripled to score the winning run; our in Petoskey that our granddaugh- grandson called, also from Pennsylter was playing in. I was all over vania, when he hit an out-of-thethe place. I admire fans, especially park home run. grandparents, who can sit in the In this day and age it’s a little hardstands calm and collected, game in er for grandparents to keep track of and game out. grandkids because, compared to For our family, it all started well years ago, there are so many sports
Jerry Rosevear (back) with grandkids (from left) Trevor and Katrina Daniel of Petoskey, and Grace and Sam Rosevear of Lewisburg, Pa.
they can participate in and sports Little League district and state tourcamps to attend. Then, when they naments. are finished, it’s time to go back to Still, watching kids participate school. That little fact came to a re- in sports is just a fascination I have alization recently when my grand- always had, the highs, the lows, the son asked, “Do you know how many achievements, the fun stuff and yes, (sports) camps I have been to this antics on the field or court. It’s just summer?” My answer was, well, no, a riot how some kids react to cerbut his answer did not include the tain situations and show their exfact he missed Boy Scout Camp and citement. Hey, this grampie gets excited too, Camp Daggett because of baseball
and maybe that is why I have had an unwavering love of sports all my life. The wife will agree with that. On our retirement travels I can’t pass a stadium, sports complex or recreation area without sneaking a long look and her barking “Watch it. Will you keep your eyes on the road?” “Sorry, I can’t help it” is my reply! Now the grandkids are keeping my first love, next to the wife, alive, and I’m always ready for the next sports season and again watching youngsters give it their all. Besides, all this running around to various events helps keep me young and I anxiously await the next event in these retirement years. So, as long as the knees and legs hold out I will be standing, pacing and also leaning against the fence or railing. It’s apparent now I can’t sit. GL
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GOOD HEALTH
Pain in the joints Arthritis is more than just joint inflammation
18 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
By Danny Hopkins
A
rthritis, in a general sense, could be defined simply as inflammation in the joints. But it’s trickier than that. There are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis documented. There’s gout, caused by too much uric acid in the blood stream. There are types of arthritis connected to psoriasis and lupus. But the two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Irene Kazmers of Northern Michigan Rheumatology in Petoskey and The Arthritis Foundation offered information about these two.
decrease inflammation and less- tion, swelling and redness. This en pain, but the level of dosage process leads to the erosion of should be sanctioned by a pro- cartilage. The lack of cartilage fessional. Acetaminophen, the causes the bones to rub against active ingredient in something one another, and this can lead to like Tylenol, can also be taken crippling joint deformities. to decrease pain. But excessive Rheumatoid arthritis is charuse of analgesics can cause liver acterized by sudden flare-ups problems. and symptoms that change daySome rheumatologists also to-day. Symptoms vary from suggest taking something called person to person and, besides glucosamine sulfate, an amino the inflammation itself, include sugar formed in the human body fatigue, weight loss and general that is key for the formation of weakness. tissues such as cartilage. It is Some of the treatments used available over the counter, but for osteoarthritis can also be improvements may not be no- used on rheumatoid arthritis, ticed for months. And like most such as anti-inflammatory drugs, things at the drug store say on analgesics and therapy. But there their labels: consult a doctor be- are also several other options, fore taking anything. the most common of which inIt is also important to exercise clude corticosteroids and methoand strength train, to keep the trexate. muscles around arthritic joints Corticosteroids are connected in shape — this can also help re- to cortisol, a steroid hormone seduce pain. Treatment could also creted by the adrenal gland that include a referral to an occupa- is released during stress. The tional therapist. Occupational medication can be used to detherapists help people improve crease inflammation. their ability to undertake everyMethotrexate is a diseaseday tasks, from getting out of modifying antirheumatic drug, or bed in the morning to getting a DMARD. Methotrexate is cominto bed tonight, and everything monly used to treat cancer, but in between. It’s also good to be in low doses, and combined with educated about joint protection immunosuppressive drugs, it has techniques and the use of adap- been found to control rheumative equipment, which can help toid arthritis somewhat. GL take strain off problem areas.
Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, informally called wear-and-tear arthritis, is the most common. There are more than 27 million Americans with this type. It occurs when the cartilage at the end of bones breaks down, which can be caused by injury, being overweight, heredity or by simply aging. The loss of cartilage between bones causes bone-to-bone contact, resulting in inflammation, stiffness, pain and/or swelling, making it harder to use the affected joint. Osteoarthritis takes time to develop and usually becomes apparent in a person’s late 40s. It tends to rear its head in the Rheumatoid arthritis big joints, such as knees, hips and The second most common type spine, but can also wreak havoc of arthritis is rheumatoid, and it in the fingers and toes. The best affects around 1.3 million Ameriway to stave off osteoarthritis is cans. Anyone can get rheumatoid by maintaining a healthy weight arthritis, but it is most prevalent and by staying physically active. in those 40 or older. There’s no cure for osteoarthriThe cause of rheumatoid artis, and it’s progressive, meaning thritis has yet to be discovered. it gets worse as times goes on. It occurs when the body’s imBut if diagnosed, its presence in mune system confuses the joint’s your life can be managed. cells as hostile and attacks them, Over the counter anti-inflam- causing a build-up of fluid in the matory drugs can be used to joint, which leads to inflamma-
Want to know more? www.arthritis.org or consult your physician. GOODlife 19
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20 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Goodbye Pain. Isn’t it time you said hello to Chiropractic? Research has shown chiropractic to be an effective, conservative treatment for common conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches. The chiropractic approach is to find the cause of the pain and treat it directly without medication or surgery.
Find out how chiropractic can help you and say goodbye to pain.
Specializing in Applied Kinesiology n nÎ ££ U *iÌ Ã iÞ U Î{Ç {{{x
www.benoclinic.com Visit our website for a special offer for new patients! GOODlife 21
Delivering Award-Winning Care Throughout the Region NORTHERN MICHIGAN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM provides the opportunity for seamless patient care within the region through a system built on key strategic partnerships and whollyowned specialty medicine and healthcarerelated services. From rural healthcare providers outside of our walls to specialty services and physician practices within them, the Health System offers a complete spectrum of care.
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22 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
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Toski-Sands Plaza | Harbor-Petoskey Rd. Petoskey | 348-8390 GOODlife 23
GOOD TIMES Food and Entertaining
Cocktail mixers stir up Michelle Locke For The Associated Press
S
interest
pirits have gone premium. Bartenders have turned artisan. Even ice has become a little cooler. So, it only makes sense that mixers are getting a makeover with upscale versions promising to bring chic cocktails to a fridge near you. “Consumers just seem to get it immediately,” says Jordan Silbert, founder of Q Tonic, an all-natural product introduced a few years ago. “Why would I mix my Grey Goose with a soda. It just doesn’t make sense.” Silbert got the idea to make a better mixer after drinking gin and tonics at his Brooklyn home and realizing the premium gin in his glass had no business mingling with a dine is mostly artificial, red dye and City through FreshDirect, and are mass-market product containing sweeteners, Zaric says. EO grena- expected to be available in major high fructose corn syrup. dine is reduced 100 percent pome- markets soon at an upscale grocer, A similar epiphany struck Dush- granate juice sweetened with cane Zaric says. an Zaric and Jason Kosmas, mixolo- sugar and accented with spices. The Authenticity drove Silbert as well. gists at New York’s Employees Only lime cordial is reduced lime juice He figured out the components of bar who have just released two non- (also 100 percent) with agave nectar tonic — quinine (a bitter that in its alcoholic mixers — a grenadine and and kaffir lime leaves for flavor and natural form comes from the bark a lime cordial — under the name EO spice. of the cinchona tree), sweetener and Brands. “We really went to great lengths to carbonated water. Next step: order a “We were not so happy with what make sure that this is as natural and bag of bark over the Internet and get was commercially available out as delicious as it can be,” he says. to work. there,” says Zaric. Some purists say nothing comHe used agave nectar as a sweetThey researched and began mak- pares to mixing your cocktails from ener. But trying to create crisp, tight ing their own blend for the restau- scratch, but says Zaric, “Ours is as bubbles at home “drove me crazy,” rants, eventually deciding to bottle close as you can get.” so he found a plant in Massachuand sell it. EO Brands mixers are being mar- setts where he had a couple hundred Commercially available grena- keted to bars, online in New York cases made. Bartenders started buy24 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Mmmm ...
ing and he borrowed his father’s station wagon to make deliveries. “My dad actually sat in the car while I unloaded this stuff.” Then he got discovered by Plymouth Gin, caught the attention of the New York Times and now sells Q Tonic to almost 3,000 places around the country, including Whole Foods Markets. A pioneer in the premium cocktail mix was Stirrings, established in Nantucket in 1997. The company has since been bought by Diageo North America, a subsidiary of Diageo, a leading spirits, wine and beer company. Stirrings sells several mixers as well as cocktail rimmers, bar sodas and a new line of liqueurs including ginger, espresso and apple, says Jody Samuels Ike, a senior brand manager. The company uses real fruit juice, all natural ingredients and pure cane sugar, never high fructose corn syrup. Victoria D’Amato-Moran, a San Francisco bartender, has been making her own simple syrups and other mixers for years, even growing her own herbs. She likes the trend of going back to natural and organic ingredients in bottled mixers. “If you’re giving me a selection of 20 different tonics and ales and I can go to someone that has harvested their own grains and herbs, I’m going to go for that.” She was recently in New York and stopped in at Employees Only, where she got the chance to try their wares first hand. “I respect what they’re doing. They’re really passionate,” she says. The way she sees it, upping the quality of your mixer is a nobrainer. After all, “Why sacrifice a great gin and tonic?” GL
Steak
This highly flavorful steak is versatile enough to work for familystyle dining, as well as a party-worthy appetizer. It all comes down to the polenta. GRILLED SIRLOIN WITH POLENTA AND SOUR CREAM Start to finish: 1 hour (15 minutes active) Servings: 4 FOR THE STEAK: 1/3 cup olive oil 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 4 cloves garlic 1 1/4 pounds sirloin steak, trimmed of fat and very thinly sliced FOR THE POLENTA: 18-ounce tube prepared polenta 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and ground black pepper Garlic powder FOR THE SOUR CREAM: 1 cup sour cream 1 shallot, finely minced 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Because the steak is so thinly sliced, it thoroughly absorbs the marinade and cooks almost instantly on the grill.
Heat the grill to medium-high. Coat the racks with cooking spray or oil. In a blender, combine the oil, Grill the polenta slices for 3 vinegar, salt, peppercorns and gar- minutes per side, or until bold lic. Puree until smooth, then pour grill marks appear. Use a spatula to into a stainless steel or other non- carefully transfer the slices to servreactive bowl. Add the steak, mix- ing plates. ing gently to coat, then refrigerate Grill the steak for 1 minute per for 30 minutes. side. Mound 1 or 2 slices on top of Meanwhile, cut the polenta each polenta round. Top each with into 8 slices. Use a pastry brush to a dollop of sour cream. lightly coat both sides of each slice Nutrition information per servwith oil. Sprinkle both sides of ing (values are rounded to the each slice with a bit of salt, pepper nearest whole number): 925 caloand garlic powder. Set aside until ries; 408 calories from fat; 45 g fat the steak is ready to grill. (18 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 118 In a small bowl, whisk together mg cholesterol; 83 g carbohydrate; the sour cream, shallot and chives. 40 g protein; 9 g fiber; 216 mg soSet aside. dium. GL GOODlife 25
GOOD TIMES Food and Entertaining
HEALTHY BURGERS? Just add veggies Jim Romanoff Associated Press Writer
M
any people mistakenly assume turkey burgers are lean. But depending on the variety of ground turkey used, you can end up with more than 15 grams of fat in a 4-ounce portion. You can buy ground turkey that is 99 percent lean, but you’ll end up with dry, flavorless burgers. A good compromise is 93 percent lean ground turkey, which has about 8 grams of fat per serving. It’s enough to keep the burgers moist and flavorful, but lean enough to
include in a healthy diet. Of course, as with any meat, less fat means less flavor, so you’ll want a strategy for compensating for these losses. Think meatloaf. By mixing in chopped vegetables — such as onions, mushrooms and celery — fresh or dried herbs and a wet component, say ketchup or mustard, you will not only boost the flavor, but also add back muchneeded moisture. Consider adding breadcrumbs or quick cooking oats, too. They not only stretch the meat (which cuts the total fat per serving), but also help retain moisture. This robustly flavored stout and
onion turkey burger uses caramelized sweet onions and a reduction of intense, dark beer combined with zesty mustard and dried thyme to enhance ground turkey. Use this same flavor base to make excellent meatloaf or meatballs. If you like, you can top the burger with some tangy, extra-sharp cheddar cheese, which makes a perfect foil for the assertiveness of the stout. By using extra-sharp cheddar you can get away with using a full-fat cheese because just a little adds a lot of flavor. Serve these burgers with a side of sweet potato fries and a few crunchy pickle spears.
Get an inside look at some of the most elegant estates in Emmet and Charlevoix counties. Call 231-347-2544 for information on how to get HomeLife delivered to your home. 26 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Stout and Onion Turkey Burger
Central Drug Store
Lani & John Ochs, Pharmacists Serving & supporting Charlevoix since 1897 Ochs Family operated since 1914
Complete prescription services and education Diabetic, first aid and sports injury supplies 1 teaspoon canola oil 1 cup chopped Vidalia onion 1 cup Guinness or other stout 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound 93 percent lean ground turkey 1 cup panko (Japanese-style) breadcrumbs 1/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional) 4 whole-wheat hamburger buns or other small wheat bread
Start to finish: 1 hour (35 minutes active), Servings: 4 In a medium saucepan over medium, heat the oil. Add the onions and sauté until softened and slightly golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the stout and increase heat to high. Boil the mixture until reduced by two-thirds and making syrupy bubbles, about 20 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl to cool for 20 minutes. Heat a gas grill to medium-high or prepare a charcoal fire. Add the mustard, thyme, salt and pepper to the onion mixture. Add the ground turkey and breadcrumbs. Gently but thoroughly combine. Shape into 4 patties, about 3/4-inch thick. To oil the grill grates, wet a folded paper towel with oil, hold it with tongs and rub it over the grates. Grill the burgers until well browned on the underside, 4 to 5 minutes. With a spatula, turn the burgers carefully. Grill 4 to 6 minutes more, or until the burger registers 165 F at the center. Top with cheese, if using, during the last minute of grilling. Meanwhile, toast the buns at the edge of the grill. Serve the burgers on the toasted buns. Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 468 calories; 131 calories from fat; 15 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 73 mg cholesterol; 49 g carbohydrate; 32 g protein; 5 g fiber; 966 mg sodium. GL
After hours emergencies 231-547-4726
Charlevoix downtown by the traffic light Open M-F 8-6, Sat 9-5
(231) 547-2424 As pain specialists
We understand... your pain is not trivial. Our goal is to manage pain with as few side effects as possible and to provide multiple treatment options that will support the individual’s level of function.
WE OFFER: • On-site injection therapies • Medication management We provide evaluation and treatment for all types of pain problems, including pain due to: • Back and neck pain • Chronic headache and facial pain • Cancer-related pain • Complex regional pain syndrome (RSD) • Fibromyalgia • Phantom limb pain • Diabetic neuropathy
• Pelvic pain • Chest wall pain • Shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia) • Myofascial and other soft tissue problems • Musculoskeletal pain • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Neurological pain
Local pain specialist: Gary L. Fuchs, MD Board Certified in Anesthesia Board Certified in Pain Management
Northern Michigan
Pain Specialists, PC 1420 Plaza Drive, Suite 2B • Petoskey, MI 49770 231-487-4650 • Fax: 231-487-4601 Across from Home Depot and Office Max MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED • NO REFERRAL REQUIRED GOODlife 27
COVER STORY
F
or many, the career path is a straight line from first day to retirement — companies may change but the work stays largely the same. But a few others find that their initial path leads them to a fork in road, where they can stay the course or be off on a new adventure. Those who opt for the road less traveled find themselves on a whole new path, new career. Here are the stories of some local residents whose career paths took them to new territory.
A new lease on (working) life
By Maggie Peterson. Photos by G. Randall Goss
Instead, three nights a week From kindergarten to started adding to their family of ribbons to lavender two. she edited lecture videos for the Linda Longworth has had sev“I decided I didn’t have enough university from which she earned in me to work in a kindergarten” her degree. She was simultaneeral second careers. Her current endeavor is Laven- while raising their three children, ously volunteering at a school for der Hill Farms on Horton Bay Road, she noted. children with disabilities. which she owns with her husband, But when the children were old “They needed help with fundRoy. enough to all be in school, Linda raising, so I decided to go into deBut the path to the fragrant fields went back to school herself. She velopment work,” Linda said. This led her to work as developstarted more than 40 years ago, earned a degree in telecommunicament officer for the Medical Colwhen she had just graduated col- tions. lege and was teaching kindergarten Full-time editing, with its demand- lege of Wisconsin, raising funds for in Milwaukee, Wis. Linda was there ing and sporadic schedule, wasn’t go- research. But 15 years down the road, she for three years, when she and Roy ing to fit her life, Linda said.
28 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Linda Longworth has had several careers leading her to where she is now.
4
“I thought ‘I don’t have to go anywhere or be any place,’ and that frees up your mind.” — Linda Longworth decided it was time to move on and seek out a way to express her creative side. She described the feeling of walking into the unknown as freeing. “I thought ‘I don’t have to go anywhere or be any place,’ and that frees up your mind,” Linda said. “I was walking the streets trying to figure out what I wanted to do next.” Enter the ribbon store, Broadway Paper, which Linda half-jokingly dubbed “Martha Stewart’s warehouse.” When she purchased the business, it was a factory outlet for a ribbon store.
Shifting the focus from just ribbons to fine art papers as well, Linda said she was able to tap into the creative side she was missing in her other jobs. Ten years later, after Roy had sold his company and the couple was spending more time in his native Australia, Linda’s shop was proving too hard to manage from afar. She sold it. Not long after, the Longworths moved to Northern Michigan permanently. A Petoskey native, Linda and her husband settled in at their Walloon Lake cottage. She and her husband came across the property where Lavender Hill Farms stands when a friend called them about it. If someone local didn’t buy the land, it would be turned into a subdivision. There were no plans to farm it, but one day Linda was searching out deer-resistant plants to place on their nearby property. Lavender was chosen, and she began to notice bees from her beekeeping hobby frequenting the plants. Roy was on a trip to Australia at the time, but Linda recalled a conversation they had on the phone in
which he said, “The world market for lavender is underserved.” The spark was lit, and after researching for several months the first round was planted. That was seven years ago, and the pair have been adding about 1,000 plants a year since then. “The reason I did it was because it was challenging,” Linda noted. “ ... You can observe everyone else (and how they work with lavender), but you have to develop your own style on your own land.” Linda said despite having worked in so many different areas, her experiences have tied back to a discovery made during her teaching stint — see a need and fill it. “If you can focus on the talents of the group you do have,” you’re able to figure out what’s needed, she noted. Linda, 63, added that many are surprised by the road she’s taken, or rather where the road has taken her. “You’re doing what?” is a common question. “It’s just not typical,” she said. “But that’s one of the reasons it’s been so much fun. What says you have to be typical?” 4
Lavender Hill Farms is open seasonally, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday through Sept. 15. It will also be open by appointment and for special events through the end of the year. For more information, call (231) 582-3784 or visit www. lavenderhillmichigan.com.
GOODlife 29
Gene Reck and Joann Condino
into her career, serving as director art since childhood, when her parents owned Condino’s Cafe, a bar/ of marketing. “’I don’t want to go back to work,’” restaurant in Detroit. Her father Joann recalled Gene telling her made wine, and would take the during a conversation. “And I said, lids from wooden boxes of grapes Continued from 29 ‘Oh, OK.’” and sand them down. These were Gene said this change came her canvases. Her mother created From academia to art Gene Reck and Joann Condino when he looked around and real- colored water by boiling beets or fell into their second careers as ized that he wasn’t reaching all of greens, and Joann would use these owners of Three Pines Studio in his students, just a portion. This and paintbrushes to dye the wood. in turn meant he wasn’t achieving This progressed to silk painting, Cross Village. which she still does today. The gallery started as a way to what he wanted. showcase Joann’s art, and has been “I don’t want to do it because I’m Gene, 72, began his art career expanded from its original 10-by- not feeling successful,” he recalled later in life, shortly after the pair 10 dimensions into the gallery is it feeling. moved north. Joann was working But after a few months of re- on ceramics with a neighbor, and today. The pair moved permanently to tirement, the couple realized they the two would often send Gene on the area in 2000. They were on sab- wanted to do something more than missions to roll out clay or help batical in 1999 from Wayne State spend their days kayaking or being with the firing. University, where Gene spent the around the house. “I’m doing all this work — I might It was time to build a studio. as well do it myself,” he recalled. previous 35 years as a chemistry Joann, 59, has been linked to Many people ask him, isn’t that professor and Joann was 25 years
New lease on (working) life
30 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Home Care by Seniors for Seniors There’s a huge difference in the kind of home care you can receive from someone who really understands what your life is like as a senior. The concerns you have. The need for independence. Someone who like you, has a little living under his or her belt. Our loving, caring compassionate seniors are there to help. We offer all the services you need to stay in your own home, living independently.
Now serving Petoskey and northern Michigan
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11 a.m.-7 p.m. every day but Wednesdays, when the gallery is closed, through October. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Monday
Call us today. Like getting a little help from your friendsTM. If you’re interested in becoming a provider we would like to hear from you too. Call us at 989-448-8323 or visit our website at www.seniorshelpingseniors.com ©2009 Each office is independently owned and operated. All trademarks are registered trademarks of Corporate Mutual Resources Incorporated.
in November through April. For more information, call (231) 526-9447 or visit www.threepinesstudio.com.
an enormous jump from science to art? “I say no,” Gene said. The elements of each are transferable, he noted. The scientific method is about observation, as is art. Knowing the materials is as key to creating as it is to chemistry, and a lab book and sketchbook serve similar purposes. During her time at the university, Joann’s work and art were in separate compartments, although both a part of her. In this foray, the two merge. “I learned from those experiences to never separate being an artist, and creating art (is not) stop and go ... It’s not so much a change of career, as it is the ability to focus on certain issues, concerns,” Joann noted. GL
O
ne of our newest sections is our scattering garden. Loved ones may scatter cremains here at not charge although there is a charge to record the name and genealogical information at the cemetery office if so desired. A granite tablet is located near the garden and is available for inscriptions. For those who have chosen cremation, Greenwood Cemetery believes it is vitally important to inter cremains in a cemetery rather than to scatter elsewhere. Because of our work with
genealogists and our role as keepers of history we know it is important for future generations to have a place to ‘go’ to remember a loved one - perhaps even one they have never met. The cemetery is a resource for genealogy research since it provides a recorded history or our lives for future generations. With this in mind, some families have chosen to memorialize their loved ones here at the cemetery even though scattering elsewhere has already taken place.
GOODlife 31
GOOD CENTS
$$$$
Reverse
MORTGAGE By Maggie Peterson
What is a reverse mortgage? he words “reverse mortgage” A reverse mortgage is a home loan that are flying around a lot these days. converts a portion of home equity into But as with any loan, informa- cash. It is available to those 62 years and tion and caution are needed to older who live in the home and have paid make the right decision. off the home’s original mortgage or only This piece will provide basic in- have a small portion left to pay. formation about reverse mortgages No repayment is required unless the as provided by the Federal Housing home is no longer the principal residence Administration (FHA) of the U.S. Housing of the borrower or borrowers. Repayment andUrbanDevelopmentDepartment,through will be required if you die, sell the home, which more than 90 percent of reverse mort- do not pay property taxes or insurance, gages are transacted. The department calls permanently move to a new residence, them home equity conversion mortgages, or fail to live in the home for 12 consecutive HECM (heck-em). months, or allow the property to deterioProprietary reverse mortgages make up rate and be in disrepair. the balance, and come from banking, credit “For the vast majority of people, the unions or other financial companies; these are best deal is through a HECM. And that designed for very high value homes. is because FHA provides insurance that National Council on Aging Home Equity helps protect lenders, and that means the Initiatives vice president Barbara Stucki offered lenders are willing to lend more,” Stucki advantages and disadvantages of the loans. noted. 32 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
How it works the principal residence, the loan With a reverse mortgage, must be repaid in full. When the funds are paid to the borrower. home is sold, the borrower or There are five options through the estate will pay back the loan the housing administration plus interest and other fees to — tenure, term, line of credit, the lender. modified tenure and modified This means that if the home is term. sold or the borrower passes away, Tenure offers equal monthly proceeds from the sale will go to payments for as long as there pay off the loan. Whatever is reis one borrower living in and maining is left to the borrower or occupying the home as a pri- the heirs. mary residence. Term features If the home stays in the fammonthly payments for a fixed ily, it’s up to the family to pay the period of selected months. Line loan balance. Heirs often must of credit allows for withdraw- take out their own mortgage to ing amounts of choice whenever pay this. desired until the loan amount is Reverse mortgages are nonreached. recourse loans, which means that Modified tenure loans com- the borrower or the estate can bine monthly payments with a never owe more than the value of line of credit for the length of the home. This holds true even if occupancy in the home. Modi- the loan is more than the value of fied term combines monthly the home. payments with line of credit for a selected, fixed period of time. Advantages Unlike other home equity Barbara Stucki said there are loans, the reverse mortgage several advantages to reverse loan does not need to be repaid mortgages. until the home is no longer the — Liquidating home equity principal residence. without making monthly payThe amount of money paid ments, and the ability to spend is determined by a number of the money however wished, for factors. Generally, more money example health care, home repair is given the older the borrower, or replacing a lost pension. the more valuable the property — Flexibility in payment plans and the lower the interest rate. means loan payments can fit your needs. The plan can often What’s the cost? be changed for a modest fee. The cost of taking out a re— In general, income from a verse mortgage loan depends on reverse mortgage is not considthe individual, the current inter- ered income by the Internal Revest rate and the appraised value enue Service. It should not afof the home or the housing ad- fect Social Security payments or ministration’s mortgage limits Medicare; however, it may effect for the area. Closing costs vary Medicaid payments. per lender. — Reverse mortgages can provide additional assistance Repayment for middle-income families Once the home is no longer without many other assets, or
Online resources Several websites provide helpful information regarding reverse mortgages. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage home page: www. hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/ hecmabou.cfm Home Equity Conversion Mortgage question and answer: www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ hecm/rmtopten.cfm Reverse mortgage calculator through AARP: rmc.ibisreverse. com//rmc_pages/rmc_aarp/ aarp_index.aspx National Council on Aging “Use Your Home to Stay at Home” downloadable booklet: www.ncoa.org/ reversemortgagecounseling
those who do not easily qualify for low-income benefits. The borrowers do not have to sell their home or take out a conventional loan to get equity out of their home. Working payments into the finances may mean being able to stay in the home as long as they want, meeting borrower obligations. — Your credit doesn’t matter, as the home is secured by its own value. Disadvantages There are a variety of disadvantages when it comes to reverse mortgages, Stucki noted. — If you tap into your equity now, you won’t have it for later. — Reverse mortgages don’t always follow the conventional mortgage wisdom, for example with fixed rates. Because there aren’t monthly payments to 4 GOODlife 33
COUNSELOR INFORMATION
Federal Housing Administration portal.hud.gov
Housing and counseling referral line (800) 569-4287
Use caution and do your research when looking into reverse mortgages.
Reverse mortgage Continued f rom 33
debt on the reverse mortgage. • The interest on the reverse, which is compounded, has to be paid off. If interest is 5 percent, that adds on $2,500 in the first year. This adds up to paying 5 percent on $52,500 the second year. As the years pass, this can eat into the equity pretty quickly, leaving nothing left.
make, fixed rate is less of an issue. Fixed rate reverse mortgages require money to be taken out in a lump sum. If the money isn’t being used right away, the interest accrues on the lump sum, which can mean a lot of money to pay, quickly drawing down the home equity. — Sometimes, those who are using a reverse mortgage to pay the Use caution current mortgage think they are Reverse mortgages can be an just paying off the current mort- important option to finance retiregage. In fact, it is just delaying the ment needs, but only if used wisely, payment. Stucki offered the follow- Stucki said. ing example: Because there are many loan • Someone has to pay $50,000 types out there, there are plenty of on a conventional loan, which options. But this can make it hard costs $500 per month to pay. to decide on the right one. • Taking out a reverse mortShopping around is key, Stucki gage, they continue to pay off noted, as closing costs and interest the $50,000 current loan. rates can vary per lender. The dif• This puts them $50,000 in ference in 0.25 percent interest can
34 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
National Council on Aging www.ncoa.org
mean huge amounts of money, especially if someone’s staying in the house for many years. “What we really recommend that people do, that could help them shop around, is to go to a reverse mortgage counseling session. We recommend that they do that before they talk to a lender,” Stucki said. In the session, which can cost up to $125 currently, a counselor will provide background information and tables including loan comparisons and hypotheticals. Stucki noted that the basic information can help when seeking out a lender. Counselor information is available through the Federal Housing Administration’s website or by calling its housing counseling and referral line, (800) 569-4287. Lenders can be found through the same website. Stucki said common sense and careful thinking are two musts before entering into a reverse mortgage, because once it’s done, it’s done. “Anybody that’s sort of doing highpressure tactics, that’s a big red flag. Anybody who’s claiming that they have to pay big fees in order to get advice, that’s illegal. Nobody should be pressuring them to take out a reverse mortgage to do home repairs or buy an annuity; nobody should be required to do that. Anybody that tells you that you can get a reverse mortgage for life, that’s incorrect,” she noted. GL
GOOD SAMARITAN
Tonda Richey
The show must go on ... with your help “We have a wonderful volunteer The afterglow is a reception put base, but we want to give them a on after the first night of a perroductions for the Little break — it’s always nice to bring formance for the patrons. Efforts Traverse Civic Theatre in new blood in,” noted Tracy Ulrich, that go into this, such as budgeting for food and beverages, have Petoskey are swarming with organization treasurer. volunteers both on and off the According to Richey, there are been cut, and now rely solely on plenty of volunteer opportunities people donating hors d’oeuvres stage. “Our whole program is volun- for people of any age and most for the cause. teer based,” said Tonda Richey, time commitments are flexible. Similarly, the theater is always organization vice president. “We Opportunities range from baking, looking for people to bake finger couldn’t do what we do without to selling tickets at the box office, foods such as cookies and brownies them.” to ushering, to helping construct for intermission. Ushers will help the bakers distribute food at intermisWith their show season approach- and tear down sets. ing in October, the theater is in need Because of budget cuts in re- sion. Other duties for an usher inof many hands to help keep the cent years, more of the group’s clude arriving one hour prior to the shows rolling. There are four shows programs are turning toward vol- show and providing audience memper season and seven runs per show. unteers, including the afterglow. bers with directions to the box 4 By Brittney Moody • Photo by G. Randall Goss
P
GOODlife 35
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office, seats and restrooms. “If they have an interest in the arts and have a desire to see the community theater successful, volunteering is a small way to support it,” Ulrich noted. During any show, an average of 30 to 40 volunteers donate their time, not including the actors. Volunteers have the freedom to choose how many hours and which shows they would like to work. “For example, some people do every show, some just an hour at will call — it really depends on the time they want to give,” Richey said. All volunteers are allotted the chance to watch the production for free during the showing of their choice as well. Richey noted that volunteers can be trained; however, many times they have experience and suggestions that may have made a production better. “It gives us a collaboration of ideas,” Ulrich said. Contributing time for constructing sets, working the lights or sound board, painting scenery or doing hair and makeup are among the creative volunteer opportunities.
Many other tasks, such as selling 50/50 tickets, are equally as important to the theater’s success. According to Richey, during this past show season they had to pass up the opportunity to sell at a couple of productions because they were short handed. In the case of the 50/50 tickets, volunteers would be expected to sell them a half-hour prior to the show and stay to draw a winner at the end of intermission. Selling tickets at the box office allows for those who want to work daytime hours to come in and sell tickets 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sales start two weeks prior to each production and evening sales begin one hour prior to each show. Both Richey and Ulrich have high hopes for a great 2010-2011 show season. The theater is starting out the season better financially than in recent years, and if volunteerism grows, they hope to be set for success, the pair noted. “We are definitely invested in presenting the best quality shows as possible, which gets down to the crux of why we need the volunteers,” Ulrich said. To volunteer, call the office at (231) 348-1850 ext. 18. GL
Friendship Center of Harbor Springs
Located at Hillside Apartments, Community Room C 309 W. Main St. • Harbor Springs Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am-2:30pm
231-526-6061 36 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Little Traverse Civic Theatre 2010-2011 production schedule All shows performed at the Crooked Tree Arts Center: “Escanaba in Da Moonlight” — Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 14-16; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17; and 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 21-23. “Sabrina Fair” — Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 10-12; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13; and 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 17-19. Children’s production of “Alice in Wonderland” — Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 10-12; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 13; and 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 17-19. “25th Century Putnam Spelling Bee” — Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 5-7; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8; and 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 12-14.
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GOOD
SHOTS Maddison Rizzo of Washington Township, Mich., and Nicholas Brillati of Shelby Township, Mich., recently built two sandcastles off the shore of Douglas Lake while visiting their grandparents, Frank and Karen Spezia. It took them three hours of straight building, putting parts on each castle. It was a challenging experience since many parts of the underground garage kept falling apart. Included with the sand castles are mini bonfire pits and mini toy ponds. Photo submitted by Frank Spezia
ABOVE: Relaxing on the boat. RIGHT: Lake Michigan on Venetian Saturday night.
38 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Madeline Peters, 3, of DeWitt, takes a dip off a dock on Lake Charlevoix.
A view of Mackinac Island.
Photos by Karen Peters of Charlevoix
Photos by Karla Buckmaster of Petoskey
Connie Tanner (on tricycle), who was Petoskey School District music teacher for many years, celebrated a Tanner family birthday party recently at her home in Harbor Springs. The party kicked off with a music lesson for her children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Once the song, “The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,” played on kazoos and instruments, met her satisfaction, the family marched up and down her street, led by herself on the tricycle.
READERS: We want your really good shots of grandkids, pets, sunsets, birds ... whatever! Tell us about your photo and e-mail high quality jpgs to: mpeterson@petoskeynews.com. We may use your good shot in an upcoming issue.
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The eagle is on Karen Peters’ Lake Charlevoix beach.
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