Generations july2018 by Park Rapids Enterprise

ISSUE 137

April 2018

Mike Berneck demonstrates the reading machine available through the Park Rapids Lions Club. He and wife Anita purchased the first one for the club five years ago. "I've got stories of people just crying because they can read again," he said. (Photos by Shannon Geisen/Enterprise)

A man of service

Park Rapids veteran epitomizes Lions’ motto of ‘We Serve’ By Shannon Geisen

sgeisen@parkrapidsenterprise.com

and was sent to Guam. “What our duties were when we went to Vietnam, we had a crew of carpenters. We had heavy equipment operators. We’d go into an area and build a road, or airbase or sleeping quarters for the troops that came. I was a mechanic,” he explained. Today, as a Park Rapids Lion, Berneck is heavily involved with the development of the Lions Eye Institute, a $40 million building project that will be constructed adjacent to the Lions Research Building on the University of Minnesota campus. It’s slated for completion by 2022. “Vision is the number one focus of Lions, always has been,” Berneck

Mike Berneck has a vision: aiding others. The reward is knowing you did the right thing, says the longtime Long Lake resident. In 2011, he retired after 32 years as an insurance agent and district manager. When asked about his plans, “I said, ‘I’m going to help people for the rest of my life.’ So that was my philosophy. That’s what my mission is, and that’s still my goal today – to help other people.” A life of service began early. Ber- Mike Berneck neck was 16 when he and his seven siblings lost their dad. Berneck said. dropped out of school to earn a living and care for The new institute is the “biggest Lions project ever them. in the state,” he added. It will be 80,000 square feet At 19, he entered the military service and served 2.5 years as a Seabee, a construction division of the Navy. He spent one year in Vietnam, then volunteered again SERVICE: Page 3

Inside this issue... 2 New shingles vaccine provieds better protection for seniors 4 Cooking with vegetables 5 As emerald ash borer beetle approaches, an update on invasive insects 6 Wine bottle shapes communicate quality and content

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New shingles vaccine provides better protection for seniors The Savvy Senior BY JIM MILLER Columnist

Dear Savvy Senior, A good friend of mine got a bad case of shingles last year and has been urging me to get vaccinated. Should I? ~ Suspicious Susan Dear Susan, Yes! If you’re 50 or older, there’s a new shingles vaccine on the market that’s far superior to the older vaccine, so now is a great time to get inoculated. Here’s what you should know. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a burning, blistering, often excruciating skin rash that affects around 1 million Americans each year. The same virus that causes chickenpox causes shingles. What happens is the chickenpox virus that most people get as kids never leaves the body. It hides in the nerve cells near the spinal cord and, for some people, emerges later in the form of shingles. In the U.S., almost one out of every three people will develop shingles during their lifetime. While anyone who’s had chickenpox can get shingles, it most commonly occurs in people over age 50, along with people who have weakened immune systems. But you can’t catch shingles from someone else. Early signs of the disease include pain, itching or tingling before a blistering rash appears several days later, and can last up to four weeks. The rash typically occurs on one side of the body, often as a band of blisters that extends from the middle of your back around to the breastbone. It can also appear above an eye or on the side of the face or neck. In addition to the rash, about 20 to 25 percent of those who get shingles go on to develop severe nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN) that can last for months or even years. And in rare cases, shingles can also cause strokes, encephalitis, spinal cord damage and vision loss.

ing Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, but be aware that the shingles vaccines are not always well covered. So before getting vaccinated, call your plan to find out if it’s covered, and if so, which pharmacies and doctors in your area you should use to insure the best coverage. Or, if you don’t have health insurance or you’re experiencing medical or financial hardship, you might qualify for GlaxoSmithKline’s Patient Assistance Program, which provides free vaccinations to those who are eligible. For details, go to GSKforyou. com. Dear Savvy Senior, Though it may seem hard to believe, at age 65, I never have gotten around to making a will, but I’d like to now. My question is: Do I need to hire a lawyer to write my will, or can I do it myself? I want to get my affairs in order, but I hate paying an attorney fee if I don’t have to. ~ Getting Organized Dear Getting, It’s not hard to believe at all. Fewer than half of American adults have a will, mainly because they either haven’t thought about it or gotten around to it, or they’ve put it off because they don’t want to think about dying. But having a will is important because it ensures that your money and property are distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death. If you die without a will, your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors. Assets go to first to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on. You also need to be aware that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up-to-date too.

Do you need a lawyer?

Not necessarily. Creating a will with a do-it-yourself software program may be acceptable in some

New shingles vaccine

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new vaccine for shingles called Shingrix (see Shingrix.com), which provides much better protection than the older vaccine, Zostavax. Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, Shingrix is 97 percent effective in preventing shingles in people 50 to 69 years old, and 91 percent effective in those 70 and older. By comparison, Zostavax is 70 percent effective in your 50s; 64 percent effective in your 60s; 41 percent effective in your 70s; and 18 percent effective in your 80s. Shingrix is also better that Zostavax in preventing nerve pain that continues after a shingles rash has cleared – about 90 percent effective versus 65 percent effective. Because of this enhanced protection, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone age 50 and older receive the Shingrix vaccine, which is given in two doses, two to six months apart. Even if you’ve already had shingles, you still need these vaccinations because recurring cases are possible. The CDC also recommends that anyone previously vaccinated with Zostavax be revaccinated with Shingrix. You should also know that Shingrix can cause some adverse side effects for some people, including muscle pain, fatigue, headache, fever and upset stomach. Shingrix – which costs around $280 for both doses – is (or will soon be) covered by insurance includ-

cases, particularly if you’re single and have a modest bank account. But if you have significant financial assets or a complex family situation, like a blended family or child with special needs, it’s best to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area. Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,500 to get your will made. To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several different firms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more efficient. If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see www.FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral. If you are interested in a do-it-yourself will, one of the best options is the Quicken WillMaker Plus 2018 software (available at NOLO.com) that costs $70, works with Windows personal computers and Macs, and is valid in every state except Louisiana. It’s also recommended that if you do create your own will, it’s wise to have a lawyer review it to make sure it covers all the important bases.

Where to store it?

Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, or in a safe deposit box in your bank. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it. Or, if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s office. Also, be sure to update your will if your family or financial circumstances change, or if you move to another state. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, Okla. 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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April 2018

Your legal rights: Beware of Medicare card fraud information. Under one variation, scammers ask a beneficiary to pay a processing fee to receive or activate their new Medicare card. The scammer may even threaten to cancel a beneficiary’s Medicare benefits if they don’t pay the fee. In another variation, the scammer claims that the beneficiary must verify his or her SSN to receive their new Medicare card. The scam artist can use this information to commit identity theft. In yet another variation, the scam artist claims a beneficiary is owed a refund for a transaction on their old card and asks the beneficiary for his or her bank account information to process the supposed refund. The scammer can use this information to drain the beneficiary’s bank account.

Your Legal Rights By Lori Swanson Minnesota Attorney General Over 55 million people receive Medicare benefits, including about 950,000 Minnesotans. In the past, Medicare cards have included beneficiaries’ Social Security Numbers (SSN) to help identify them and process their claims. To help protect against identity theft, Medicare is issuing new cards without people’s SSNs. Unfortunately, scammers are trying to take advantage of the transition to new cards to defraud Medicare beneficiaries.

Who to contact

Changes to the Medicare Card

A federal law requires that SSNs be removed from all Medicare cards by April 2019. The new cards will use a unique “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier” (MBI) to identify people rather than their SSN. MBIs will have 11 characters, including a combination of numbers and uppercase letters. An example MBI is from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is 1EG4-TE5-MK73.

What to know

CMS began sending new Medicare cards to beneficiaries in April 2018 and will continue to do so on a rolling basis until April 2019. New cards are being sent to beneficiaries in waves based, in part, on the state in which they live. According to CMS, Minnesota is in wave three, which will occur sometime after June 2018. New Medicare cards are sent automatically to

beneficiaries. There is no activation process or fee to receive a new card, and beneficiaries do not need to take any action to receive their new card as long as the address they have on file with Social Security is correct. Moreover, CMS states that it will not call beneficiaries and ask them to provide personal or financial information to receive a new Medicare card.

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and report the incident to CMS by calling 800-633-4227. People targeted by this scam are also encouraged to report the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by calling 763-569-8000 and the Federal Trade Commission by calling 877-382-4357. For additional information, contact the Office of Minnesota Attorney General at 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400, St. Paul, MN 55101; 800-657-3787 or www.ag.state.mn.us.

How the scam works

New Medicare cards are being issued to prevent fraud, but con artists are already perpetrating new scams in an attempt to take advantage of the process. The scams vary, but typically begin with a phone call from a scammer posing as a representative of Medicare or another government agency, and attempting to get the beneficiary to reveal personal

Correction

The number for the “Do Not Call” registry was incorrect in the June issue. The correct number is 1-888382-1222.

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and four stories. It will join a Lions eye bank, eye clinic, eyeglasses recycling center, retinal imaging center, research center and eye surgery center already located at the U of M. “The problem we’re having is there are too many people my age with eye problems today, and we don’t have enough eye doctors to keep up,” he said. With more surgeons and a more efficient facility, the Lions Eye Institute expects to be able to do 1,000 more surgeries per year. Berneck sits on the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation board of directors. He represents about 35 Lions Clubs in northwestern Minnesota. They are currently in the fundraising phase for the new institute.

Local Lions projects

There are currently 40 Park Rapids Lions Club members, according to Berneck. Each June, they hold a large garage sale. “About 100 percent of it goes back into the community for numbers of projects. It could be for grade school children who need glasses, as an example,” he said. One of the most gratifying projects for Berneck is providing reading machines for people with macular degeneration or vision loss. “Right now, we have 18 of them out in the community,” he said, all within a 30-mile radius of Park Rapids. The machine magnifies the book, newspaper, magazine, prescription bottle, greeting card, family recipe, Bible or whatever is placed beneath the camera. “They can read again. They cry, and I cry. It’s very emotional to see how excited they get when they can read again,” Berneck said. The machines are loaned out, free of charge, by the

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Berneck also volunteers for the Park Rapids Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 38 transportation program. He drives vets to Fargo and Bemidji for their medical appointments two to three days a month. The DAV’s mission is to better the lives of Minnesota’s disabled veterans and their families. To further that goal, the DAV accepts gently used clothing at its big, lime-green bins. There are three or four stations in the area, Berneck said. He delivers the donated clothing – 8,000 pounds every two weeks – to Fargo, where Savers pays the DAV 34.5 cents per pound of clothing. Those funds pay for some of DAV’s gas expenses and car insurance for the transportation program. “This is really a good thing we have going in Hubbard County to help them,” Berneck said. “I guess my favorite part about it is, again, I’m able to help somebody.” Most the veterans served in World War II, and they are in their 90s. “They have no way to get to a doctor unless a family member can drive them. Most of them are widowers, so they live alone or are missing limbs.” Berneck appreciates visiting with the veterans. “It’s pleasant. It’s just enjoyable spending time with them,” he said.

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Cooking with vegetables Nutritional Nuggets BY ELLIE BAUER RDN, LD According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), less than one in 10 Americans eat the recommended amount of vegetables a day. The amount goal amount of vegetables depends on age and gender. Children need about 1 to 1.5 cups and students and adults need about 2.5 to 3 cups. Vegetables have been linked with decreased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and obesity. A good rule of thumb is to make half your (and your child’s) plate fruits and vegetables. Luckily, all forms of vegetables count, including fresh, frozen, and canned. Here are a couple recipes that can help your family meet their vegetable goals from the WIC Cookbook, available to all families receiving WIC. (Check health. state.mn.us/wic/eligibility to see if your family qualifies for nutrition education and supplemental food through WIC.) Honey-Orange Carrots 6 large carrots, sliced or 3 cups baby carrots

1/2 cup water 3 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup orange juice 3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar 1-1/2 teaspoon dried ginger Heat carrots and water in a medium pan until boiling. Reduce heat and cover, cook just below boiling for 10-15 minutes until carrots are crisp-tender, drain. Combine butter, orange juice, honey, and ginger in a small pan or covered microwave-safe dish. Heat on medium heat or microwave until butter has melted. Add melted butter mixture to carrots and stir to coat. Tangy Bell Pepper Stir-Fry 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 cup zucchini, sliced 2 large red bell peppers, chopped 2 large green bell peppers, chopped 1 cup carrots, sliced thin 2 cups red cabbage, sliced Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add zucchini, peppers, and carrots to pan and stir for five minutes. Add cabbage, vinegar, salt, and pepper to pan. Cook and stir for five more minutes or until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Creamy California Medley 1 bag (15-16 oz.) frozen California blend vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots) 1 cup celery, chopped 3/4 cup sour cream

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April 2018

An emerald ash borer beetle on a green leaf. Thinkstock photo

As emerald ash borer beetle approaches, an update on invasive insects Growing Together BY DON KINZLER Columnist When it was first reported that the ravenous Japanese beetle had entered North Dakota and Minnesota, and the tree-killing machine called emerald ash borer was feeding its way toward us, it seemed insect invasions were getting steadily worse. Sort of like the locust troubles of the ancient Egyptians who didn’t follow Moses’ control recommendations. Insect invasions aren’t new. I remember five decades ago how the elm bark beetle began spreading Dutch elm disease into our region that devastated our elms. Beautiful elms remain, but fewer. I recall my mother relating the difficulties of growing gardens in the 1930s when plants carefully tended during the drought years were hungrily consumed by hordes of grasshoppers. Insects will probably always come and go, but when a new wave is marching toward us, it’s concerning. I contacted Charles Elhard, plant protection officer with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industries Division, for an update on two high-profile insects hovering around the region’s doorstep. Charles provided information for the following updates:

Japanese beetle

The insect is extremely devastating because it devours more than 300 species of plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, fruits, vegetables and turf grass. Farmers have reason for concern because Japanese beetles consume soybeans and corn. The state Department of Agriculture has monitored for the Japanese beetle since the 1960s, catching two beetles in 2001, but not again until 2012. Since then,

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the beetles have been caught in monitoring traps each year. In 2017, a wholesale nursery from an infested area accidentally introduced live Japanese beetle larva in container nursery stock and shipped potentially infested stock to nearly 80 nurseries across North Dakota. The Department of Agriculture placed 1,200 traps statewide and caught 1,467 beetles in 22 counties last year. Monitoring continues in 2018, with approximately 800 traps statewide, but it’s hoped that this region’s past cold, dry winter might have prevented Japanese beetles from overwintering. Traps will be monitored throughout the flight period of the species, which is from June 1 to Sept. 30. The adult Japanese beetle is rounded-fat, half an inch long and metallic green in color with copper-bronze wing covers.

A comparison of the size and exit holes of the emerald ash borer. Special to Forum News Service

Emerald ash borer

First discovered around Detroit in 2002, the emerald ash borer (EAB) was likely imported into the United States from China in wood packing material. Since then, it has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in the U.S., which is the only tree type it attacks. EAB has now been found in 34 states and three Canadian provinces, but hasn’t been detected in North Dakota to date. The closest since 2009 had been the Minneapolis-St.Paul area in Minnesota, but in December 2017, EAB was discovered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and most recently in Sioux Falls, S.D., in May 2018. The Department of Agriculture, along with partners the North Dakota Forest Service and city foresters across the state, will place more than 250 EAB traps across North Dakota at high-risk sites, including state parks, rest areas and campgrounds. The adult EAB is a narrow beetle about half an inch

Japanese beetles, which are smaller than a dime, have recently been found in our area. They can cause devastation to a wide variety of ornamentals and food crops. Forum News Service file photo

long, with metallic-green wing covers with coppery reflections. When the wing shields are spread, the bright metallic-red upper surface of the abdomen is visible. Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, worked as an NDSU Extension horticulturist and owned Kinzler’s Greenhouse in Fargo. Readers can reach him at forumgrowingtogether@hotmail.com. He also blogs at http://growingtogether.areavoices.com.

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Wine bottle shapes communicate quality and content World of Wine BY RON SMITH Columnist When in the Burgundy or Bordeaux regions of France, the bottles of wine from those particular regions have distinct shapes. The high-shouldered Bordeaux bottle (also called the Claret) communicates the Bordeaux wines that make up the blend. The same goes for the sloped-shouldered Burgundy bottle. If it is a red wine in the bottle, it is pinot noir; a white wine, chardonnay. The bottles from the Rhine regions of Germany in their tapered, flute-like form will be a white wine such as riesling or gewürztraminer. Most wines of the world will end up in one of these three bottle shapes. Glass bottles go back to when Roman artisans blew them into assorted shapes, that really were too delicate for shipping wine or storing it. A wood-burning fire is no match for coal-burning furnaces which came about in the 17th century, which resulted in thicker, stronger and darker glass that had been previously impossible to produce. Given the standardization of bottle openings and

the wholesale use of cork to seal them, we have a container that will allow for storing and handling wine more resistant to breakage. Looking closely at bottles, you may notice there are some that flat on the bottom, while others will have a deep indentation known as a “punt.” When I quiz my students about what the function of that punt may be, the answers range from “a place to put the thumb when pouring” to “to make the bottle more stable when sitting on a flat table” to “to strengthen the bottle.” In reality, it could be all of these answers and more, with the perception being it adds quality to the wine within. We naturally associate the bottle with-

out the punt to be found on cheaper wine brands. The exception would be the fluted white wines from Germany, which never have a punt. Notice with cheaper wines the presence of visible seams. Quality wines are in bottles that are nearly or completely seamless. This indicates better glass quality and bottle-making efforts by the manufacturer. Materials used in making these bottles – silica sand, sodium bicarbonate and limestone – are the purest available, and heated to 2,700 degrees or higher. Bottle color is both a functional and aesthetic part of marketing. Clear glass bottles show off the color of white zinfandel, or some rosés, while the Rhine bottles of riesling will typically have brown glass. The most common and classic antique green color of most bottles is intended to protect the wine from sunlight. There are rumors that winemakers could try to save weight and shipping costs by using lighter and stronger glass bottles, but that move would have difficulty gaining traction with consumers, especially with Champagne and other sparkling wines. The heavier weight supports perceptions of high-quality wine. For show, handling and storage, let alone uncorking, nothing will replace the bottle in the foreseeable future. Ron Smith, a retired NDSU Extension horticulturist, writes weekly about his love of wine and its history. Readers can reach him at tuftruck1@gmail.com.

Take a break before transitioning to non-caregiving life Minding Our Elders CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist Dear Carol: I quit a job that I enjoyed, one with good benefits, in order to be a caregiver to my parents up until their deaths just months apart. They did help some financially and I don’t regret doing what I did, but now I need a change. I’m 57 years old and must go back to work. Before I even worry about that, though, I’d like to take a vacation. I’ve been planning a cruise with a friend, but my brother has me reconsidering. I didn’t inherit a lot of money, but I have enough to cover the trip and still retain some savings. He says that I should land a job first and then consider a vacation. I know that he’s right in a practical way, but I really need to regroup and do something for myself before beginning to rebuild my life as a non-caregiver. My brother was across the country during the caregiving so I’m not certain that he understands. What do you think? Am I being foolish and reckless as my brother says? – RH Dear RH: To me, one key statement in your letter is that your brother was across the country and he probably can’t understand what it’s like to put your own life on hold. You not only gave up much of your

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freedom, you gave up the income that you’d have been earning, the seniority in your field, any chance of matching 401(k) or other retirement funds and a huge chunk of your future Social Security. That’s a lot. I don’t know the details of your financial situation. What counts as “some savings” to one person may be a lot of money to another. The reverse is true as well. I also don’t know what you would consider a decent retirement. I’m assuming that you wouldn’t be planning this trip if it would leave you without the means to pay your basic bills. Therefore, I’d encourage you to take this cruise since that is your choice for a boundary between your caregiving life and your upcoming life. Others may choose different methods of marking this boundary, but it’s very common for former caregivers to need a transition before they can truly move forward. It seems to me that your thought process is healthy. I don’t think that your brother is consciously trying to ruin your plans. However, since he didn’t live your life, you are right in saying that he truly can’t understand. Tell him that you appreciate his concern and are considering his advice. Then think through your finances with your eyes wide open. You need to be sure that this trip won’t seriously hamper your

future if you don’t find a job right away. If it will, you may want to settle for a more modest way to mark this change in your life. Whatever you choose to do, I hope that you can find an enjoyable way to make this transition and that you find a satisfying way forward. You deserve it. Carol Bradley Bursack is a veteran caregiver and an established columnist. She is also a blogger, and the author of "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories." Bradley Bursack hosts a website supporting caregivers and elders at www. mindingourelders.com. She can be reached at carolbursack@msn. com.

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April 2018

Social Securithy BY MICKIE DOUGLAS Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

In 2018, more than a million people will be diagnosed with cancer around the world. This alarming statistic affects people and families everywhere. Social Security supports people who are fighting cancer. We offer support to patients dealing with this disease through our disability program. People with certain cancers may be eligible for a “compassionate allowance.” Compassionate allowances are cases where individuals have medical conditions so severe they obviously meet Social Security’s disability standards, allowing us to process the cases quickly with mini-

mal medical information. There’s no special application or form you need to submit for compassionate allowances. Simply apply for disability benefits using the standard Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application. Once we identify you as having a compassionate allowance condition, we’ll expedite your disability application. Social Security establishes compassionate allowance conditions using information received at public outreach hearings, from the Social Security and Disability Determination Services communities, from medical and scientific experts, and from data based on our research. Visit our Compassionate Allowances website for more information, including the list of eligible conditions. Some illnesses are more disabling than others and Social Security tries to treat everyone with equal compassion relative to their condition. If you think you qualify for disability benefits based on a compassionate allowances condition, visit our www. socialsecurity.gov to apply.

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