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Phase Two of Your Life
A Mature News Magazine for Southeastern Wisconsin
VOL. 30 NO. 7
Latso Sranko and Table Tennis: It’s high time for recognition BY JACK PEARSON
You probably don’t know this, but right here in the Milwaukee area lives a man who is one of the top competitors in his sport; not only in Wisconsin, but in the whole country. For his age, 63, he is close to being the best. His name is Ladislov Sranko, and his sport is table tennis. Despite his exceptional skills, however, he is not particularly well known, not even to his neighbors in Waukesha, where he lives. One of the reasons for all this anonymity is that his sport, table tennis, is not considered as a major sport in the United States; actually in most cases not even as a sport, period. And thereby lies the tale. So here, in the following narrative, I will attempt to rectify that misconception. By the way, although Sranko’s given name is Ladislov, everyone today who knows him calls him Latso. As to his sport, most Americans think of table tennis as a nice little game their children fool around with down in the basement rec room. They’re happy that it keeps the youngsters out of their hair for a few hours. Those same parents also think the game came from China, where it was invented eons ago and where they called it Ping Pong. In addition to competing in singles and doubles competition, Latso also participates in mixed doubles. Here he is with his partner at the Minneapolis Games, Yali Carpenter. Yali resides in Texas.
TABLE TENNIS continued on page 16A
July 2016
INSIDE....
GOD BLESS
America CONDO PARADE OF HOMES: A NEW WAY OF LIFE
Page 2B
SENIORFEST:
A GREAT TIME FOR ALL
Page 1B
“The Jazzy Jewels,” Pam Danzy of West Allis, and Marlene Russell, Nettie Richardson and Shirley Browne of Milwaukee.
Family Care/IRIS Proposal Withdrawn AGING ISSUES
By Tom Frazier
As you may know, the Department of Health Services (DHS) has withdrawn its Concept Paper from consideration by the Joint Committee on Finance. The Committee had to give its approval before DHS could
proceed to request a waiver from the federal government to implement changes to Wisconsin’s existing longterm care system which is regarded as one of the best in the country. The proposed changes would have
privatized Medicaid long-term care and health care programs by turning them over to national for-profit insurance companies. We appreciate that enough members of the Finance FRAZIER continued on page 3A
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Eye MDs Share Tips for Detecting Vision Loss
by Cheryl L. Dejewski Loss of vision can be less likely to notice than other impairments, such as hearing loss, which has obvious signs like needing to turn up the TV volume or having people repeat things louder. Loss of vision can go unrecognized because it seldom occurs suddenly or dramatically, and the person often adjusts without even noticing it. As a result, many people simply accept diminished vision as a fact of life. But, in the majority of cases, this thinking is wrong. Issues like cloudy vision and sensitivity to glare don’t have to be an inevitable consequence of growing old. In fact, problems can often be corrected with little disruption to a person’s daily routine, and the only regret is not taking care of it sooner. The team of doctors at Eye Care Specialists, Wisconsin’s leading ophthalmology practice, recommend that you make sure you and your loved ones are seeing life to the fullest by scheduling regular, comprehensive, dilated eye examinations. If there are no other concerns or conditions, such as diabetes or glaucoma, these exams should be every 2-4 years from ages 40 to 64, and every 1-2 years after age 65. In between examinations, patients and family members should watch for the indicators listed in the box at right. These symptoms may signal the need to see an eye care specialist to prevent permanent loss of vision.
Free Booklets & Information For free booklets on AMD, diabetes cataracts, and glaucoma, or handouts on low vision, floaters, eyelid problems, dry eyes, safe driving, and other topics, call 414-321-7035 or visit our extensive website at: www.eyecarespecialists.net If you don’t have an eye specialist, or would like a second opinion, call the offices at right to schedule a comprehensive exam, which is typically covered by Medicare and insurance.
Cataracts – Loss of Clear Vision A clouding of the natural lens inside the eye that is most commonly caused by the aging process (like wrinkles, age spots). Symptoms: hazy, blurry vision; dimmed colors; sensitivity to light and glare
Glaucoma – Loss of Side Vision Damage to the optic nerve, which carries information from the retina to the brain. (Often related to increased fluid pressure in the eye.) Symptoms: None, then “tunneling” of vision
Macular Degeneration (AMD) – Loss of Central Vision Damage to the sensitive area of the retina responsible for central and detail vision. Symptoms: difficulty doing close tasks, blind spots, straight lines appear wavy
Signs of Vision Loss Non-visual indicators that are red flags for caregivers, friends and relatives:
Visual indicators that are usually noticed by patients themselves: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Reduced or fluctuating vision A slowed ability to focus What to Difficulty reading fine print Slower ability to adjust when going for from light to dark and vice versa Loss of ability to discriminate colors and/or judge boundaries and edges Increased sensitivity to glare Distorted depth perception Poorer night vision
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Squinting Excessive frowning or blinking Complaints of tired eyes or headaches A shorter attention span Seemingly impaired memory Difficulties with fine motor skills More frequent falls or burns Changes in behavior or mental functioning Hesitation to participate in social situations or to perform certain tasks, like driving
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What it takes to be an effective citizen BY LEE HAMILTON
In presidential election years, we can lose sight of the fact that our system of government is not about a single person. For representative democracy to work, we must all have the skills and temperament to address problems. And because we will not solve all our challenges in a single generation, we must teach effective citizenship to our children. It’s so easy in a presidential election year to forget that our system is not about a single person. This year especially, when the dynamics of the presidential contest have dominated news coverage so thoroughly that even the Senate and House races have largely disappeared from view, the crucial role that citizens play — apart from serving as voters in the presidential drama — isn’t even an afterthought. Yet effective citizenship is the base on which our representative democracy rests. Our vitality as a country depends on the involvement of millions of people in their neighborhoods and communities, in interest groups and civic organizations, in groups agitating for change and groups defending the status quo. So just what constitutes effective citizenship? I believe it’s made up of several elements. FRAZIER continued from page 1A
Committee, especially Senate Republicans, were not ready to destroy Family Care and IRIS on flimsy claims of better services and cost savings. The lack of evidence for these claims was confirmed in a 40 page Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo to committee members on May 26, 2016. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau is a non-partisan, highly respected legislative service agency that prepares analysis of major issues for the Joint Committee on Finance. The big reason for the need to “reform” these programs was that “Medicaid spending was out of control.” Here is what the Fiscal Bureau said about that: • “In contrast [to the DHS statement about increase in costs] the total per member per month cost of all Medicaid-funded services to these individuals [persons enrolled in the state’s long-term care programs] increased from $3,116 in 2010 to $3,166
First, a confident belief that change is possible — that the country can indeed make progress over time thanks to the efforts both of ordinary people and of political leaders. In his recent speech at Howard University, President Obama noted that by almost every measure, the country has moved forward over the last three decades. The poverty rate is down, as are the rates for crime and for teenage pregnancy. More Americans are getting college degrees, more women are working and earning more money, many cities are far healthier than they were in the 1980s. Yes, we’ve got miles to go on many fronts, but on the whole, I’ll take where we stand today over where we stood in the 1980s. Our system is working better for more people than it did then. The people who helped make this happen understood two things: that progress was possible, and that it required their efforts. This might seem too obvious even to say, but those who were most effective had an impact because they had the skills to make a difference. I’m talking here about the fundamental ability we should all have as citizens to solve problems in a representative democracy that’s filled with people who have different beliefs,
perspectives, and experiences. This means knowing how to work together with all kinds of people, being able to find common ground, being forthright about aims and methods, forging connections to key officials and other players who can help advance a cause, building consensus, and communicating ideas effectively. I use the word “skills,” but in the end, good citizenship is as much about temperament as it is about ability. Mutual respect, tolerance, empathy, civility, humility, honesty, resolve — these are the simple virtues that our nation depends on in its citizens, not because they’re nice to see, but because in a vibrant and diverse democracy they’re crucial for making progress. So is a willingness to step up to challenges. The people who make a difference in our system are the ones who not only identify a problem, but then plunge into fixing it. I frequently hear from people who are exasperated by the obstacles they have to overcome in order to make a difference: fellow citizens who are ignorant of the system, politicians who are too obtuse or self-interested to see the light, incompetence in the bureaucracy, officials protecting turf.... But here’s the thing: those obstacles will always be there. You just have to keep
in 2015, an annual increase of 0.3%.” • “While the percentage difference cited by DHS is substantial, the figures also show that primary and acute care costs are a relatively small percentage of the total average costs the state Medicaid program incurs for these individuals (approximately 5.7% and 6.6% in April, 2010, and April, 2015, respectively). Arguably, the percentages cited by DHS could also be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the state’s current programs in controlling total MA-funded long-term care costs.” • “The savings total [$126.4 million over the six-year period] represents approximately 1.7% of the total amount that would be expended under the current programs…and they may be offset, to some extent, by one-time transitional costs.” • “DHS has not assumed savings would result in providing long-term care services under Family Care 2.0,
as DHS and most stakeholders would argue that the Family Care and IRIS programs have been cost-effective and have slowed the growth of long-term care costs…” • “In summary, it is not certain that any of the potential changes in long-term care costs would occur if the Family Care/IRIS 2.0 proposal were implemented.” I believe that you would agree that this is hardly a ringing endorsement that long-term care costs are “out of control” or that the state should disrupt the lives of all 55-60,000 Family Care/ IRIS enrollees for the modest amount of savings that is estimated to come from only 20% of those enrollees, especially since an equal amount could come from simply expanding existing programs. But, I don’t think the issue is going away. For example, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says, “It’s disappointing that the agency withdrew its savings proposal.” John Nygren,
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plugging away at overcoming them, whether by casting an informed ballot, sitting down with — or protesting against — political leaders, or finding the myriad ways you can improve the quality of life for your neighbors and fellow Americans. You may already have picked up on the final quality that makes for effective citizenship, and it’s a tough one. For the most part, we’re not going to solve our challenges in a single generation. So we have to educate our children and those who come after us in the same skill sets I’ve been talking about. That’s because, as I said at the start, our representative democracy is not all about the presidency. We —you, me, and our fellow citizens — are responsible for the future of our neighborhoods and our nation. Unless we all shoulder the obligation to learn the skills we need to shepherd it into the future, and then teach those skills to others, our country and our system will struggle.
Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar, IU School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.
Co-Chair of the Finance Committee states, “Medicaid is the single largest cost driver in our state budget.” Even Senator Alberta Darling, Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, who was instrumental in delaying a vote on the Concept Paper, says “We can be under no illusion that the program is sustainable in its current form.” After watching this issue for the last 16 months, I have two observations: 1). That those who want to control Medicaid costs should read the Fiscal Bureau memo, heed to the facts, and target the real cost-drivers which are acute and primary health care, not long-term care, and 2). That those who have turned down millions and millions of federal Medicaid dollars that could reduce the need for state dollars should look in the mirror when trying to find someone to blame for the “out of control” Medicaid costs.
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EDITORIALS
Positive vs. Negative How many times over all the years you have lived and worked to house, feed, clothe and provide comforts for your family, have you been confronted by a negative person? A positive attitude always has been, and continues to be, the key to success. Negative people don’t reach for great heights. They are not about to scale the walls of success in the business world. These people in any
company would hold back the forward structure. If dreams are to come true, they have to be propelled by positive attitudes. Surely, no one says that life is easy. It has many potential stumbling blocks. Meet the daily challenges. Be strong and be cheerful. A great attitude is what leaders are made of.
What we know about the Fourth of July Our flag is a symbol of freedom. It is dedicated and rededicated time and again over the years. It is the symbol of a great people united in hope and friendliness for the freedom and prosperity of all residents. As the people of the 13 colonies in America gathered to form the United States, they definitely were not in total agreement about their new country. The 13 colonies had declared their independence from England in the American Revolution, which had begun in April 1775. The United States Army was created on June 14, 1775. However, the actual document, the Declaration of Independence, was worked over and over and over as some members of the original Continental Congress could not come to terms with some of the wording early-on. The document was submitted to congress for final approval July 2,
Drones
The question today for homeowners is whether or not drones should be able to fly over their properties? Drone use is soaring throughout the country. Today, it is estimated there are 2.5 million in use. By the year 2020, drones are expected to total seven million. Drones even today are causing property owners’ concerns about safety and privacy. There are many persons who claim that drones represent new fron-
1776, but it was two days later, July 4, that the document was agreed upon. The actual signage had to await the printing of the document and this laborious action was completed with signage August 2, 1776. As the years passed, July 4th, known as the Declaration of Independence Day, took on greater public stature. It was not until 1870 that July 4th was first recognized as a national holiday. This was reaffirmed in 1939 and again in 1941. The movie, Born on the Fourth of July, traces the times and trials of the military in Vietnam. This story is mostly about the time of service of Ray Kovic and not about the founding fathers. Let us hope and pray that massive mobilization of military personnel never is needed again
tiers and that individuals should not have any say as to where they fly or when. Still, there are others who say that homeowners’ rights extend to 500 ft. above their properties. The question is which camp is correct? The answers aren’t there today, but should be made collectively (like government) and not as individuals. Yes, drones will become contentious issues.
It Makes Me
I am quickly tiring of the arguing and sarcasm that the mostly republican presidential candidate keeps hurling at Hillary. I will be grateful when the fall elections are over. May one of the least snarling candidates win. They should do as I was told to do when my blood begins to boil. My pastor told
SENIOR ANSWER MAN DEAR SAM: We get so many requests for money. Is it possible that I am being taken advantage of? Questioningly, Samuel Ernest
CRABBY me to take a walk when I feel like telling someone to take a hike or worse. Twenty minutes or so walking, thinking and reasoning with myself have proven to allow me to see the bigger and more important picture. This is just the guidance I needed. How simple! How effective!
DEAR SAMUEL: I don’t know for certain, but it seems to me that your name is being sold from one person seeking help to another. Some may even be bogus organizations that are just seeking your cash. A recent news item in the Wall Street Journal showed that 35 percent of seniors receive calls and letters asking for money. Many are legitimate, but do be careful. The scammers and schemers are out to get us. God give you good sense, Senior Answer Man
Killing TIME WITH JIM MCLOONE You should not use it for underarm cleaning, but we learned recently that Tide, the detergent, still is rated the best of detergents on the market for washing machine use. In second place, according to Consumer Reports, is a Walmart product, Persil Proclean. Until now, we thought Walmart just cleaned up on the competition at the cash register. OOOOOO Night may be designed to be a time to rest the weary bodies and the overused minds. But from the numbers of cars in front of the near taverns, you’d swear that nighttime is the time to whoop it up. The stars are the watchers of the nighttime activities. OOOOOO In doing a bit of research, we have found that the United States of America is the only country anywhere with a known birth date. OOOOOO What can we expect from the weather this month: How about much sunshine, a few thunderstorms and KILLING TIME continued on page 19A
50PLUS What’s New for Phase Two of Your Life
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Time to be lucky! A friend once told me that the definition of luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. In other words you are fortunate when you take advantage of an opportunity by being knowledgeable and prepared for that moment when it crosses your path. Have you heard that prices are going up and inventory is down? Each year has one defining set of circumstances that separate one real estate year from another. For instance, last year the recession was considered by most pundits over, due to those buyers who decided it was time to make the move and invest in their future. Prior to last year, young millennial purchasers were skeptical and afraid to buy their first home because they witnessed many of their cohorts losing their home to falling values from 20072013. Back to this year’s real estate activity. Homeowners have for the most part decided to wait and see what this year brings. So far, right out of the shoot in February, young buyers flocked to the market and began their search for their very first home. However, these
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
By Bruce Nemovitz eager homebuyers became a bit disillusioned when they put offer after offer in only to be rejected by homeowners who chose another buyer that offered more money. Quality homes that were in structural and top cosmetic condition attracted the greatest number of buyers. Homes were selling in one day significantly over asking. Properties that did not show well were penalized by would-be buyers and offers were significantly lower and in most cases no multiple offers. This trend continues, but has slowed up a bit in the last few weeks. Low interest rates (3.85% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage) plus high demand created a euphoric market for today’s homeowners as long as they
staged their homes and made sure all defects were taken care of prior to going on the market. As we all know nothing stays the same and change is the hallmark of real estate trends. Due to the word on the street that prices were escalating and selling time is short, many sellers have decided to wait on the sidelines and enjoy the appreciation which was absent in the recession. Another reason homeowners decided to put off their moves was the same reason today’s buyers are so frustrated. Low inventory, lack of choices and a frenzied market meant not being able to find a new home after selling their current home. This predicament has created a quandary for any potential home seller thinking of selling and downsizing. I have found the most successful moves involved sellers preparing their homes for the market by staging, fixing basements and roofs, a fresh coat of contemporary paint colors and placing furniture in just the right place. But before actually putting the home on the market, getting financing lined up (a bridge loan) so that you can first
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buy the home that meets your needs and then put your home on the market. This way you can take your time locating your new home without the pressure of having to move in 45-60 days after accepting an offer on your property. Not everyone has the financial means to use this strategy, but a visit to your local bank may prove to be the best appointment you’ll ever make. You may find it much more reasonable to buy and then sell after finding that the bank will work with you by offering an interest only short term loan which will be paid off when you sell your home. Remember, the stock market and real estate can change overnight. What seems like the market will last forever can be cut short by world events, financial shocks to the country and numerous other factors. Waiting is a good thing if you are not sure you really want to change your address. But if a move would improve the quality of your life, don’t wait. Have a Senior Real Estate Specialist visit with you so that you can understand the marNEMOVITZ continued on page 11A
The definition of luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. Being lucky in real estate is a matter of timing and circumstance. Low inventory and a high number of buyers equals a faster sale for a better price. The market is always moving and changing.
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6A • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
Allied Senior
Words of wisdom from Ken Burns
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Come to a neighborhood meeting to learn more about your UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan options. 07/21/2016, 6:00 PM American Legion Post W88W16652 Main St Menonomee Fls, WI 53051
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Ken Burns, quite an eloquent person, was the graduation speaker at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. While we do not have space for his speech, we will publish a few of his “verbal gems.” z Be curious, not cool. Feed your soul. Do it every day. z Remember, insecurity makes liars out of all of us; not just presidential candidates. z Don’t confuse success with excellence. “Careerism is death.” z Don’t descend too deeply into specialism either. Educate all of your parts. You will be healthier. z Seek out and have mentors. Listen to them. Embrace new ideas.
SPRJ18219
The Fisher House is open on the VA grounds at 5000 W. National Avenue and ready to receive guests, and we do mean guests as this facility offers free housing to veterans’ families as a home when they are forced to be away from their homes. This Fisher House is one of 70 - 68 of them in the United States - built via donations that since inception in 1990 have served over 250,000 families in times of need and perhaps saved them a total of $300,000 million in lodging and travel expenses. The VA Fisher House is part of the world organization that was an original dream of Zachery Fisher. Much financial assistance comes directly from the Fisher Family Foundation. Fisher Houses have helped many families in difficult situations such as accidents, a family member hospitalized, a tragic fire or home loss. Andrea Potthast, director of fund raising and marketing, says many of the donations that come from individuals, families, businesses and helpful foundations know that their donations will be utilized to make the house a home; to give it the feel of a cheerful place to reside. “Our intentions are that the Fisher House will be a place where the guests can relax and
z Bite off more than you can chew. z Travel. Don’t get stuck in one place. z Know that there are heroes. Be one. z Do not lose your enthusiasm. In the Greek language, Enthusiasm insists that God is within us. z Do believe that you, too, could add something that would last and be beautiful. z Vote. You indelibly underscore your citizenship and our connection with each other when you do so. z Inoculate yourself against selfpraise.
know that everything is being taken care of for them.” When veterans face problems when away from their own residences, Fisher Houses are very supportive of the military and post-military. Family members and/or caregivers of veterans receiving care at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center are eligible to stay at Fisher House without charge. The guests, where possible, should be responsible for their own food and personal items. Donated foods also are available. VA social workers and/ or medical personnel will determine who is eligible to stay at Fisher House. The Fisher House personnel then determine availability on a first comefirst used status. Fisher House residents are requested to leave the facility within 24 hours of the hospitalized veteran’s discharge from the hospital. A veteran needing lodging would be referred to the VA’s hotel program. Volunteer workers for Fisher House are welcome as are monetary and non-moneyed donations. Further information about donations or volunteering can be answered by calling 414-384-2000 ext. 41803.
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JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
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VETERANS Veterans Center fund raiser July 3 not only will find the place for fun, food and watching the lakefront fireworks at the Veterans Memorial Center. This will also be the time for the annual Veterans Board
Vets Net
The Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative is in a recently opened facility at 6317 W. Greenfield. Many post-military groups and others are
of Directors Fund Raiser. Volunteers will be collecting monetary donations from 1 p.m. on throughout the day and evening. Questions can be directed to Ron Laux.
assisting in getting programs up and running. Persons wishing to do so may tour the facility during regular hours.
Vietnam Remembrance Day The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War finds a “Welcome Home” celebration for all veterans, their families, military groups and the interested public in commemoration for our veterans who served during the Vietnam War on Thursday, August 4, from 5 to
9 p.m. at the War Memorial Center on the lakefront in Milwaukee. This is a free event. There will be live music, food trucks and beverages and an opportunity to meet with the authors of “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.”
Wisconsin Vets Day Fund Wisconsin Vets/Family Day will be July 16 as the Union Grove Veterans Home observes the day in honor of those who served. While this is a once a year event, its meaning and its meaningful activities go beyond this recognized event. With donations, Union Grove volunteers serve great food and beverages to the home away from veterans
there that day. Veterans need many items in addition to daily food. Any donations can be sent to Joe Razdik, 2033 Hickory Grove Ave., Racine, WI 53403. Any checks should be made out to Wisconsin Vets Day Fund.
The Pride Patrol of the Wisconsin American Legion reports the following named commanders as leaders of 100 percent membership posts in this area:
Allen Nohl, Franklin Post 387 Don Braun, Mukwonago Post 375 John Lukaszewski, Menomonee Falls Post 382 Joe Bromley, Pewaukee Post 71.
Pride Patrol Free events
Military personnel and veterans will be admitted during July to certain places and events. All admissions will require proof of service such as a Military ID, DD214, NGB 22, VA Health ID card, DL with Veteran Identifier or a Veterans’ Organization Membership Card. Summerfest, July 7, plus 4, noon to 3 p.m.
Festa Italiana, July 24, plus one other person. German Fest, July 29-31, plus families. Milwaukee Public Museum, July 1 three-day weekend plus five. Discovery World, July 2, plus five. The Zoo, July 3, plus nine. Tickets are required. Contact your local CVSO.
VETERANS’ AWARD: Jim McLoone is congratulated for receiving a special veterans award at an veterans meeting in Milwaukee. At left is the group chairwoman, Marcia Cunningham and , at right, is a daughter, Kathleen Herrick, Hartland.
SIDE EFFECTS CAN INCLUDE UNSTOPPABLE LAUGHTER, FAR TOO MANY ACQUAINTANCES, COMPETITIVE PLAY, A RENEWED SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AND SAFE AND CAREFREE LIFESTYLE LIVING HERE JUST MAY BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!
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8A • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
Are you an auditory deprivation victim? There’s an old adage: “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” This is particularly relevant to hearing; specifically the relationship between your ears and your brain. My focus this month is auditory deprivation. Auditory Deprivation is defined as: “a condition that occurs in individuals suffering from hearing loss where their brain loses the ability to interpret words due to a lack of stimulation over an extended period of time.” Often, I will hear, “my dad had hearing aids and he still couldn’t hear, so I figure why bother.” This is a bit of an over simplification. There are many factors that can lead to a dissatisfactory hearing aid experience. There is only one of these potential factors that has no solution: auditory deprivation. While it is certainly possible the hypothetical ‘dad’ referenced above was fitted poorly, didn’t get “good” hearing aids, or maybe diagnosed and counselled ineffectively; it’s also quite possible that absolutely everything was done to the best of my industry’s ability, but the reality is that dad simply put hearing aids off too long and his brain is no longer capable of making much use of
HEARING MATTERS
By John Dykstra them. By putting off your own treatment, you are destined to experience the same failure. I test for the presence of auditory deprivation during a hearing evaluation with a word recognition test. I first find a comfortable volume to present speech to the client. I present a list of words that very intentionally sound a lot like other words and because there is no context of sentence structure, when a client is presented with the word “cake” there’s no additional information to help that person know I didn’t say “take”. After a list of 50 words, I will have an accurate representation of what role, if any, auditory deprivation will play in the client’s success with hearing aids. Any hearing evaluation
Hearing Care It’s what we do. It’s all we do.
performed without speech recognition assessment should be viewed as incomplete. It is with this task we are able to set reasonable expectations for an individual. If the results of Speech Recognition Testing reveal no presence of Auditory Deprivation, then the client should expect to hear normally when fitted properly. Note: I did not state “hear perfectly,” but rather they should expect to hear as well as normal hearing individuals. None of us hear perfectly. If a client scores poorly, then reasonable expectations of success need to be stressed, and equipping the individual with better communication practices is essential. Every one tested will fall somewhere on the spectrum of success. The performance by individuals during this portion is a strong indicator of how long the hearing loss has been present. When an individual experiences a sudden loss of hearing, if he/she were to take an SRT the next day, they would score 100%. (It’s worth noting this hypothetical individual should go to a doctor immediately as sudden hearing loss can be a warning sign of serious
health issues.) The longer a loss is left untreated the closer to 0% one will get. This timeframe is not definable, as it varies from person to person. Auditory Deprivation (AD) is prevented from worsening with hearing treatment. When the ears are again giving adequate stimulation to the brain, we expect the level of AD to hold and not worsen. In some cases, after years of treatment, we can see some improvement in speech recognition scores, but for the most part, the effects of AD are permanent. If you expect you may have a hearing loss, please do the future you a favor and have it evaluated. Many of my peers and I conduct these evaluations free of charge. If you have already put off addressing your hearing, please do not take this article as a pass; as if to say, “Well it’s already too late.” Your hearing matters. John Dykstra Hearing Instrument Specialist- State License #1287 See this and previous Hearing Matters articles at: www.beltonewi.com/news/
How do you want to see for the rest of your life? This is the question we ask every one of our cataract patients at Milwaukee Eye Care Associates. Surgery addresses the blurriness and distortions caused by cataracts. Now, thanks to advancements in intra-ocular lens (IOL) technology, our patients also get to choose how they want to see after their surgery. Typically, we ask patients to choose one of the following options: 1. I don’t mind wearing glasses all the time to see near, intermediate and distance. 2. I want good distance and nighttime driving vision, but do not mind wearing glasses for near and intermediate vision. 3. I want a broad range of vision – close reading vision, intermediate computer vision, and distance vision, with little, if any, dependence on glasses. If the answer is, “I don’t mind wearing glasses all of the time,” a standard, monofocal IOL will be used. Monofocal IOLs provide only one point of
INSIGHT WITH MILWAUKEE EYE CARE ASSOCIATES
By Nicholas J. Frame, MD focus, usually set for distance vision. However, if you have astigmatism, it may be necessary to wear bi-focal or tri-focal glasses all the time to achieve your best vision. The shape of the eye determines the presence or absence of astigmatism and like near-sightedness and far-sightedness, astigmatism affects the clarity and sharpness of vision. If the answer is, “I want good distance and nighttime vision,” and you have astigmatism, a monofocal Toric IOL will be used to treat moderate to high levels of astigmatism. This lens option can also reduce the blurriness and glare around lights at night caused by untreated astigmatism. Most patients choosing a Toric IOL will still need to
Dr. Foote
wear reading glasses for close work. If the answer is, “I want to see near, intermediate and distance with little, if any, dependence on glasses,” one of several advanced multifocal or accommodating IOLs will be chosen. Multifocal IOLs split light into multiple points of focus providing excellent distance and near vision. Accommodating IOLs are monofocal IOLs that can hinge forward and backward to change focus from distance to near, similar to how the natural lens focuses light by changing its shape when we are young. Patients with low amounts of astigmatism can have their astigmatism treated with microscopic incisions in the outer perimeter of the cornea during cataract surgery, making them a good candidate for a multifocal or accommodating IOL. For patients with higher levels of astigmatism, a Toric accommodating IOL may be recommended to correct the astigmatism and provide a broader range of vision.
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At Milwaukee Eye Care Associates, we have performed thousands of successful cataract procedures. “Our patients really do have a choice as to how they will see after cataract surgery,” said Dr. Foote. “Our goal is not only to restore vision reduced by cataracts, but also make our patients 20/Happy by matching the right IOL with their desired visual outcome and their lifestyle needs.” Dr. Nicholas Frame is a comprehensive ophthalmologist at Milwaukee Eye Care Associates and specializes in cataract and glaucoma surgery. For over eighty years, the doctors at Milwaukee Eye Care Associates have helped set the standard in cataract and lens replacement surgery. Their tradition of eye care excellence continued with the introduction of the iStent glaucoma implant in August of 2014, and Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery in May of 2015. If your vision is getting worse, or you are in need of a screening eye exam, contact them at 414-271-2020 or visit www.milwaukeeeyecare.com.
Dr. Frame
YOUR EYES. YOUR VISION. YOUR LIFE.
414-271-2020
JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
Mike Jacobs
Longtime Milwaukee News Anchor
"We have received excellent eye care for over 10 years. Dr. Foote did my cataract surgery and my wife's LASIK, and we both had fantastic results. We see great! I have great trust and confidence in Milwaukee Eye Care, and I can recommend them without hesitation.”
10A • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
What is a cataract?
Moreland Medical Center St. Luke’s Physician Office Bldg. 1111 Delafield St., Suite 227 2801 W. Kinnickinnic River Pkwy. Ste. 350 Waukesha, WI 53188 Milwaukee, WI 53215 (262) 524-9323 (414) 649-4660 Seton Professional Building - Ozaukee 13133 N. Port Washington Rd., Ste. 120 Mequon, WI 53097 (262) 240-0457
Aurora Health Center - Kenosha 6815 118th Ave. Kenosha, WI 53142 (262) 857-5650
The Eye Centers of Racine and Kenosha are In laser cataract surgery, doctors use a precision laser beam to aid the removal of the cloudy lens. Our doctor’s skills are complemented by the computer-guided accuracy and consistency of the laser.
one of the few providers in the country who have laser technology with the capability to treat specific types of eye floaters. This minimally invasion procedure is done right in our office in an average of 10 minutes.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. What is the lens? The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred. What causes cataracts? The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it. But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see. Age-related cataracts can affect your vision in two ways: • Clumps of protein reduce the sharpness of the image reaching the retina. The lens consists mostly of water and protein. When the protein clumps up, it clouds the lens and reduces the light that reaches the retina. The clouding may become severe enough to cause blurred vision. Most age-related cataracts develop from protein clumpings. When a cataract is small, the cloudiness affects only a small part
of the lens. You may not notice any changes in your vision. Cataracts tend to “grow” slowly, so vision gets worse gradually. Over time, the cloudy area in the lens may get larger, and the cataract may increase in size. Seeing may become more difficult. Your vision may get duller or blurrier. • The clear lens slowly changes to a yellowish/brownish color, adding a brownish tint to vision. As the clear lens slowly colors with age, your vision gradually may acquire a brownish shade. At first, the amount of tinting may be small and may not cause a vision problem. Over time, increased tinting may make it more difficult to read and perform other routine activities. This gradual change in the amount of tinting does not affect the sharpness of the image transmitted to the retina. If you have advanced lens discoloration, you may not be able to identify blues and purples. You may be wearing what you believe to be a pair of black socks, only to find out from friends that you are wearing purple socks. When are you most likely to have a cataract? The term “age-related” is a little misleading. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to get this type of cataract. In fact, people can have an age-related cataract in their 40s and 50s. But during middle age, most cataracts are small and do not affect vision. It is after age 60 that most cataracts cause problems with a person’s vision. Who is at risk for cataract? The risk of cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include: • Certain diseases (for example, diabetes). • Personal behavior (smoking, alcohol use. • The environment (prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight). What are the symptoms of a cataract? The most common symptoms of a cataract are: • Cloudy or blurry vision. • Colors seem faded. • Glare. Headlights, lamps sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
Early retiree worries about Social Security payments
Q
BY TOM MARGENAU
: I am 53 and my wife is 50. We have had a very successful business and have made enough lucrative investments so that we have been able to sell the business and retire. But now we are a bit concerned about our future Social Security benefits. We could start another business, and pay ourselves a salary, just so that we continue to pay into Social Security until our mid-60s. But we are not sure if we will be compensated enough in potential Social Security benefits to offset all the Social Security taxes we will pay. Can you help?
A
: You really need to talk to a financial planner about this -not me. And frankly, I’m surprised you are even thinking about Social Security. If you could afford to retire comfortably in your early 50s, it seems to me that future Social Security benefits wouldn’t be much of a concern for you. But since you brought it up, I’ll give you some food for thought. Your Social Security benefit will be based on your highest 35 years of
NEMOVITZ continued from page 5A
ket and know the value of your home in today’s market. Go to your local bank or mortgage company and learn just how much you qualify for if you are thinking of purchasing. If you are selling and moving to an apartment or senior community, I would suggest selling while the market is hot… sooner than later as things do change and you are gambling on a trend that is unknown to all. Remember that life is precious and time is constantly moving forward. Trying to play the market is always a gamble. Don’t leave your future well-being to chance and change. Focus on what will improve your life and the rest will fall into place! Bruce Nemovitz is a Senior Real Estate Specialist, as well as Certified Senior Advisor. Bruce has sold residential homes in the four county Milwaukee-Metro areas for 35 years. He has published a book called “Moving in the Right Direction”, A Senior’s Guide to Moving and Downsizing. Bruce has just written his second book for the children of seniors, “Guiding Our Parents
earnings. If you remain retired, you will be missing out on about 15 years of what would normally be some of your highest years of income. And this will have an obvious adverse impact on your future Social Security benefits. To find out how much of an impact, you should use the retirement calculators at the Social Security Administration website. Just click on the “retirement estimator” link and follow the instructions. You can plug in various future earnings scenarios to come up with different estimates of your eventual retirement benefits. And as long as you are thinking about Social Security, here is something else to consider. Statistically, there is about a 30 percent chance that you or your wife will become disabled before you reach retirement age. And to be eligible for a Social Security disability benefit, the law says you need to have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years before you become disabled. In other words, if you and your wife continue on your present course with no more Social Security-covered work, you will lose potential disability coverage by your mid-50s. That’s probably not a game
in the Right Direction”, Practical Advice about Seniors Moving from the Home They Love. This book is now available at www.GuidingOurParents.com. Past articles about moving and downsizing and other important information can be found at www.BrucesTeam.com. Bruce received the 2010 “Realtor of the Year” from the 3,800 membership of the GMAR (Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors). Bruce is a featured speaker at several senior communities in the Milwaukee-Metro area. His discussions center on the challenge of moving from a long time home into a senior apartment or community. He has been listed in Milwaukee Magazine’s 5-Star Agents list for the last three years in a row. As such, he’s one of only a handful of Realtors who are continually included in the top 7% in client satisfaction in the Milwaukee Metro area. He’s rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, and was a finalist for Concordia College’s Ethical Business Leadership Award. He works with his wife, Jeanne, at Realty Executives Integrity.
changer for you, but it is something to think about.
Q
: I am 70 and have been getting my Social Security since I was 68. My wife is turning 62 on July 10. She has never worked outside the home. When should she file for spousal benefits so that her checks start in July and she starts getting half of my Social Security?
A
: If she wants to start her benefits at age 62, she will NOT get half of your Social Security. At that age, she’d get about a third of your regular benefit rate. If she wants to get that one-third rate at 62, she can file now. Social Security rules say you can file up to three months before you want your benefits to begin. But here is a little twist to her situation. There is a law that says she must be age 62 for an entire calendar month before she is due a Social Security benefit. And August is the first month she will be 62 for an entire month. So if she
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wants benefits at age 62, the first check she will be due is for August, which will be payable in September. (Social Security checks are always paid one month in arrears.) She still can file for those benefits now, even though she won’t get her first check until September. On the other hand, if she wanted to get one-half of your basic benefit, she would have to wait until age 66 to file her spousal claim. Finally, I should make this point. You said you started your benefits at age 68. So you got two years’ worth of “delayed retirement credits” added to your basic benefit rate. But your wife’s spousal benefit, whether she takes onethird now or one-half later, is based on your full retirement rate (your age 66 rate) not on the augmented benefit you are currently receiving. In other words, a spouse does not share any of the delayed retirement bonus paid to a retiree. But a widow does. So when you die, your wife’s widow’s benefit will be based on the total benefits you are receiving at the time of death.
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How much do you know about scams? 1. If there’s only a small amount of money involved, it’s probably not a scam. a. True b. False
When You Want More
2. A company offering to rescue your home from foreclosure may be running a scam if it: a. Says it will stop the foreclosure from taking place. b. Suggests that you transfer ownership of the home to the company, so you can rent and buy the property back from them. c. Advises you to stop talking to your lender, lawyer, or housing counselor. d. All of the above.
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3. Credit-based scams only occur when someone contacts you. a. True b. False
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4. One way to tell whether a website offers security to help protect your sensitive data is: a. A small yellow lock appears at the bottom of the browser window. b. Your friends shop on the website all the time and never have a problem. c. You heard about the website through an online search engine. d. The security certificate for the site matches the name of the site. 5. If you get an email from a federal government agency such as the IRS or the FDIC asking you to confirm or prove personal financial information, it’s always safe to do so. a. True b. False
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6. If you think you’ve been tricked by an internet scam, you should: a. Report it to the company whose email address or website was forged. b. Change the passwords on all your accounts. c. Check your financial statements immediately. d. All of the above.
INTERFAITH SENIOR FRAUDS AND SCAMS
By Kathy Gale 7. You’ve just realized that your ATM/debit card has been lost or stolen. To get the maximum legal protection against losses from unauthorized withdrawals, you should notify your bank: a. Within 2 business days of discovering card missing. b. Within 10 business days. c. Before your next statement arrives, even if it’s weeks later. 8. Your credit report may suggest that you’ve been a victim of identity theft if it shows: a. You have a credit card, loan, or lease in your name that you know you don’t have. b. A company you never tried to do business with has requested a copy of your credit report. c. A home address for you that you never had. d. All of the above. 9. It’s safe to enter personal or financial information into pop-up windows on websites. a. True b. False 10. The usual suspects who might want to scam me include: a. Strangers b. Family members c. Caregivers d. All of the above
See answers on page 13A
JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
Scam & Fraud Quiz answers: • False. No matter how much money is involved, you should always be alert for a scam. • (d) All of the above. Many homeowners who are having difficulty making their monthly mortgage payments are being targeted by criminals who falsely claim they can rescue a home from foreclosure, then charge large upfront fees and fail to deliver on their promises. In some of the worst cases, homeowners are tricked into signing away ownership of their house. • False. Credit-based scams on the Internet are on the rise. It can happen when you are seeking credit loans online as well. Be aware when entering applications online. • (d) The security certificate for the site matches the name of the site. Seeing the yellow lock icon is a good sign because the closed lock icon signifies that a website uses encryption to help protect any sensitive or personal information that you enter. To ensure it’s genuine, double-click on it to view the security certificate for the site. The name following “Issued To” should match the name of the site. If the name differs, you may be on a fake site, also referred to as a “spoofed” site. If you’re not sure whether a certificate is real, don’t enter any personal information. Play it safe and leave. • False. Just because an email or website looks like what you’d expect from a government agency, remember that there are convincing copycats out there. The IRS, other government agencies, your bank would never contact you online to ask for personal information such as account numbers and online passwords and usernames. • (d) All of the above. The best thing you can do after being tricked by an internet scam is to keep an eye on all of your accounts, alert the proper parties, and change your passwords so that no one an access your information. • (a) Within 2 business days of discovering the card missing. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, if your debit card or ATM card is lost or stolen, you maximum liability is limited to $50 if you notify your bank within 2 business days of discovering that the card is missing. If you wait more than 2 business days but no more than
60 days after receiving a bank statement that includes an unauthorized transfer, you could be liable for losses up to $500. But if you wait longer than that, the law doesn’t require your bank to reimburse you for any unauthorized transfers made after the 60-day period, even if that would clean out your account. NOTE: After you report a lost or stolen card, under most circumstances you will limit your responsibility for unauthorized transactions from that point on. • (d) All of the above. There are many good reasons to frequently review your credit reports, and one is to look for warning signs that an identity thief has been or is trying to obtain loans or commit other fraud in your name. The most important warning sign of ID theft in a credit report is a credit card, loan, or lease in your name that you know nothing about. Any one of these may indicate that someone has learned enough information about you to be able to steal your identity and conduct business acting as you. Also pay close attention to the “inquiries” section of the report that shows who has requested a copy of your credit history. That’s because thieves sometimes falsely claim to represent a company with a lawful right to obtain credit reports and then use the information to commit fraud. • False. It is not safe to enter personal or financial information into pop-up windows on the web. One common internet scam technique is to launch a fake pop-up window when someone clicks a link in an email message. It can look very convincing and might be displayed over a window you trust. Even if the pop-up window looks official or claims to be secure, you should avoid entering sensitive information because there is no way to check the security certificate. • (d) All of the above. Sadly, elders need to be careful of all the individuals in their life as potential financial abusers. This does not mean you need to isolate yourself from those who care about you, but it does mean you need to be alert to the motivations and actions of those around you. Keep an eye on your accounts and limit access to theses accounts. Kathy Gale is Executive Director, Interfaith Senior Programs, Inc. STOP Senior Frauds and Scams is brought
to you by Interfaith Senior Programs, Inc. through a grant from the Wisconsin Consumer Antifraud Fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. If you would
• 13A
like information on receiving a free STOP Senior Frauds and Scams presentation, please contact Interfaith Senior Programs at (262) 549-3348.
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14A • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
ANNIE’S MAILBOX(R) Family Feud on Facebook BY KATHY MITCHELL AND MARCY SUGAR
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Dear Annie: How do I tell my 91-year-old mother to stop posting political messages on my 16-year-old daughter’s Facebook page, especially when Mom supports Donald Trump and knows that my daughter supports Bernie Sanders? My daughter just turned 16, and is very shy and introverted. She’s only just starting to find her voice online and has taken an interest in politics only recently. She is a big supporter of Sanders and advocates for the rights of the LGBTQ community on her Facebook page (along with cute dog and cat videos). But my mother comments on her page with support for Trump. It has turned my daughter off so much that she is reluctant to visit Grandma. And when we do go, she keeps her distance. Time is short. What do you advise to bring these two together again and to respectfully avoid discussing politics? -- Neutral Observer Dear Neutral: First of all, your daughter can block Grandma’s posts on her Facebook page and we recommend doing that immediately. Then, consider this an excellent opportunity to teach your child that disagreeing with someone doesn’t mean you cannot love and tolerate them -- especially a 91-year-old grandparent. She doesn’t need to talk about the election with Grandma, and if the subject comes up, she can say that she’d prefer to discuss more pleasant things. It’s OK to agree to disagree, especially about politics, without becoming angry and disrespectful. Frankly, we wish more people would take this lesson to heart. Dear Annie: I read the letter from “Can’t Win in Tennessee,” whose wife uses foul language and constantly be-
rates him. I recognized some of my own qualities in his description, and I called my husband to apologize to him. Please let “Tennessee” know that his wife may be overwhelmed and depressed. While he is working outside the house, she is at home working with two small children. This can be very stressful. Does she ever get any adult interaction? He mentions all of the things he does around the house, but does he help with the kids, so she has time for herself? He makes it sound as if there is an unfair division of labor and he is doing most of it, but if she is the children’s caregiver 100 percent of the time, it will wear her down. There are two sides to every story. -- Seeing Myself in Alabama
Dear Alabama: We appreciate your take on the situation, and more importantly, your willingness to reflect on your own behavior and recognize the negative aspects. Depressed people often take out their frustrations on their loved ones, who might see only the anger and not the unhappiness underneath. Apologizing to your husband is lovely. But it’s also necessary to address your unhappiness and work on it. Staying home with little children can be both stressful and isolating, but there are ways to alleviate those things and, if necessary, a doctor can treat depression. Remember that kids grow up, but the damage to your marriage may be permanent. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@creators.com, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.
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JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
Aging and the power of positive thinking BY CHUCK NORRIS
According to the Census Bureau, the number of Americans 65 and older is expected to nearly double by the middle of the century. By 2050, 83.7 million Americans will be 65 or older, constituting more than a fifth of the nation’s population. Yet even given the size of the number of those marching into the Golden Years, so many of us still tend to think of aging as something we do alone. The fact that doctors tend to treat people as individuals, guided by the need to ensure patient confidentiality, can reinforce this pattern of seeing the changes and challenges aging brings on through our heads and our bodies, rather than as a shared experience. As our numbers grow, our need to stay united in this adventure becomes a key to the quality of these years. Experts believe that maintaining social connections and having a sense of purpose in life is a robust predictor of how well someone will live and thrive as they age. A 2002 study by epidemiologists at Yale found that “individuals
with more positive self-perceptions of aging, measured up to 23 years earlier, lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive perceptions.” And don’t be scared off by the idea of having a sense of purpose. Patricia Boyle, a neuropsychologist and behavioral scientist at Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago says it doesn’t have to be something complicated and lofty; something that’s goal oriented and gives you a sense of accomplishment will do just fine. According to researcher Becca Levy, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale School of Public Health, this mind/body connection can make a critical difference in how we age. In her research, one study showed that middle-aged people who had no cognitive impairment but did have negative views of aging were more likely to later develop the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The more negative their views, the worse those brain changes were. In another study, people with positive views of older adults were
much more likely to recover from major health setbacks. So, if you are in your fifties, and you just received your introductory membership application to AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons), don’t sneer at it, embrace it and get ready for the ride
• 15A
of your life. Approach it the right way and it might earn you with many extra years. It is also critical that, as we age, we don’t lose sight of the necessity to continue to pursue a healthy lifestyle, wholesome foods, daily exercise, and supportive social connections.
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Please stop in and try our “Demo” phones at these fine area Locations: ZOUNDS HEARING CENTER SAM’S CLUB 15280 Bluemound Rd, 1540 S. 108th St., West Allis 53214 Elm Grove 53122 600 N. Springdale Rd., 333 W. Brown Deer Rd, Waukesha 53186 Bayside 53217 VMP-SENIOR CENTER 3023 S. 84th St., Milwaukee 53227
BELTONE: 821 Meadowbrook Rd, Waukesha 53188
HEAR WISCONSIN 10243 W. National Ave., West Allis 53227
3333 S. Sunnyslope Rd, New Berlin 53151
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6805 S. Howell Ave, Oak Creek 53154 3180 N. 124th St, Wauwatosa 53222 AVADA 1140 N. Main St, West Bend 53090 RM COMMUNICATION PRODUCTS 9401 W. Beloit Rd/Ste 202, Milwaukee 53227
BECKER AUDIOLOGY 20720 W. Watertown Rd/Ste 102 Waukesha 53186
WISCONSIN HEARING AID CENTERS: 9211 W. Capitol Dr Milwaukee 53222
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823 N. 2nd St. Milwaukee 53203
16A • 50PLUS • JULY 2016 TABLE TENNIS continued from page 1A
That’s the general consensus, but it is way off. The accouterments part is right; the game is played with a paddle and a small white ball and on a table. But it’s not just a game. It’s also a highly competitive sport played all over the world. Among other venues, it is now a popular sport in the Olympics (and in the U.S. Senior Olympics, too, as noted in last month’s issue of 50 Plus). It’s really an incredible fact, but more people around the world are involved in table tennis than they are with any other sport. That statement may sound a little incredulous, but as a wise old wag once said, “You could look it up.” Another misconception, the game was not originated in China centuries ago. It was invented about 1850 in England. Seems a bunch of well-to-do English tennis players were sitting around one day in the winter, lamenting the fact that it was too cold outside to play. One of them suggested using a dining table on which to play the game, and instead of rackets they used the lid from an empty cigar box, and for balls used rounded off corks from bottles. Their impromptu sessions caught on, and more and more began to play it. Soldiers home on leave learned of the game, and adopted it. In that era, Great Britain ruled a quarter of the world with colonies on every continent except Antarctica. English soldiers and sailors took the game along when assigned to far off places such as Hong Kong. In the early 1900s the game was picked up by the Chinese, who went completely bonkers over it. China is the most populous country in the world, and soon half of the people there were happily whacking away at a ball. And finally, the name, Ping Pong, which was how most people used to refer to table tennis, may sound Chinese, but that has nothing to do with how the game was named. An American sporting goods company, which bought the rights to the game from a similar company in England, named the game that because of the sound made when the ball is hit back and forth across the table. Funny how some of the old beliefs got started. A number of people actually believed that beer was invented in Milwaukee. To be fair, I didn’t know about all of the above myself up until a couple of months ago. What happened was that John White, the President of the Wis-
consin Senior Olympics, called me and suggested that I write a story about four senior swimmers from Wisconsin, who had won Gold Medals in the National Senior Olympics last year. For your information, the Nationals in Senior Olympics is a huge event, with more than 20,000 contestants from all 50 states and involves 20 different sports. Since there are so many contestants and the competition is so intense, to win any kind of a medal, gold, silver or bronze, is quite a laudable feat. White gave me the official record book of the event to examine. I discovered that there were more than 450 athletes from the state of Wisconsin there, a record number, White told me, and many of them won gold medals. Perusing the book, I came to the section on Table Tennis, and saw that a man from Wisconsin had been a medal winner not only once, but three times. That’s where I first saw the name Ladislov Sranko. With a friend of his from Florida, Valek Lubomir, he won a gold in the doubles competition. With another friend from Texas, Yali Carpenter, (Yali is a woman’s name) he won another gold, in mixed doubles. Then in the singles, he fought his way to the finals before losing the last match by the slimmest of margins, to take a silver medal. It occurred to me that Sranko would be a good person for me to talk to about table tennis and its importance in today’s world of sport. So I called him to ask if he’d like to meet me for a short interview. He was most gracious and agreed to see me at any time. He chuckled about my use of his first name, informing me that everyone calls him Latso. “No one has called me Ladislov since my dear mother, back in Slovakia, more than 60 years ago,” he said, laughing. When we first met, I was a bit nonplused. He is not your average looking 63-year-old, that’s for sure. Latso is just over six feet tall, is slim and has the walk and moves of a young athlete. He has a full head of dark brown hair, and also sports an impressive walrus mustache, which is mostly white and is the only thing that gives his age away. Latso is the type of a person you take to at once. He is an obliging individual to interview, and answers all questions put to him quickly and informatively. (I wish all the people I interview were as accommodating.) He
A family portrait or at least a partial one. Latso and his wife, Draha, with their three grandchildren, Vivian, 5; Lilikoi, 4; and Mikey, 10.
also has a definite accent, and to me sounds like the old motion picture star from the ‘30s and ‘40s, Paul Lukas. If you assume that dates me, remember there are re-runs. After high school in Slovakia, he went “to university,” he told me. I have noticed that people from Europe, when talking about their educational background, do not go to “college,” they go “to university.” Anyhow that’s what the young Latso did, for five years, earning a degree in engineering. The area of engineering he was in was in the design of planes, and more specifically fighter planes. But I don’t have the space to get into that intriguing part of his life here, much as I’d like to. Besides his work, Latso’s sport was soccer, which he loved. “Yes, I did love it,” he said, “and was out there on the field almost every day. The problem, though, was that I was all the time injuring myself. Serious injuries, too; severe strains, broken bones, so many things. So one day my father said I had to quit; that if I wanted to play a sport I had to find one that was less dangerous and with no smashing together of bodies. So I chose table tennis.” Within a while, young Latso became quite good at the sport, even winning tournaments with the best of them. During this time, too, he met a lovely young lady. Her name was Draha, and they soon married. Two daughters followed, Elizabeth and Margaret, and they were twins. About 20 years ago, Latso and Draha decided on a new life in America and to emi-
grate. “Aside from all the expense and all the goodbyes to everyone,” Latso recalled, “there was also the problem of getting a job in the United States. That’s a strict requirement of emigration, you know, having a job waiting for you when you arrive. My degree in engineering didn’t offer much help in that regard, either. The degree wasn’t from an American school, so I had to accept whatever I could get.” A friend of his found him a job in South Dakota, and he had little option but to accept. South Dakota, in my way of thinking, may not have been the most appealing spot to start a new life in America, but they did their best. Within a couple of years a new job opened up in Racine, Wisconsin, and Latso took it. Then a year or so later, he obtained a job with a company in Waukesha. Today he owns his own firm, a cleaning operation. “When I came here, the work and raising a family took all my time,” he said. “So there was nothing left for table tennis. For 16 years, I didn’t touch a racket.” Then, about six years ago, with the daughters grown and into their own lives, he decided to renew his involvement with the sport. He was in his mid 50s, which was sort of late to get started again. But he had learned about an organization called the Wisconsin Senior Olympics, which, among other sports, offered table tennis competition. And that competition was different age levels. Perfect. He joined, and
JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
began play with the 55-59 age group. Like riding a bicycle, a long layoff, even for 16 years, doesn’t completely erode one’s skills and abilities, Latso told me. During 2011 and 2012, he continued to compete, and even began winning medals. Those that he won in `12 qualified him to compete in the Nationals in Cleveland in 2013. By then, he was at the top of his game again, and captured the bronze medal in his age group. It was in Cleveland also that Latso met Yali. The two decided to team up in mixed doubles competition for upcoming Nationals events. They did this, even though Yali lived in Texas, a thousand miles away from where Latso lived in Wisconsin. Thus, they had little if any time for practice together. It didn’t matter. As noted earlier in this article, they won the gold medal there. So just how good is Latso as a table tennis player, ranked against others in the state and on the national scene? There is a national ranking system for the sport, and the highest a player can attain is 2,600. The top player in Wisconsin, Latso told me, is ranked at about 2,300. His own rank, Latso said, was about 2,100. So how many players, I asked him, of any age in Wisconsin are ranked higher than him? He thought for a moment and then answered that besides the one who has the 2,300 ranking, there is another who is at about 2,200, and three more between 2,100 and 2,200. What this means is that in the whole state, there are only five players who were ranked higher than Latso. This, if you stop to think about it, is incredible. All five of those players are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Latso is 63. I don’t always like to make comparisons with other sports, but it’s the best way to make a point. Do you think it would be possible in baseball, for example, or in basketball, for a man in his 60s to be among the best five players in the state? The odds of that are probably more than a million to one. With all of this winning and fantastic accomplishments as a player, and especially so after having been away from the game for 16 years, you might assume that all of it would be a favorite subject with Latso. No so. What he likes to talk about are his students. During all this time, aside from his playing, Latso has become a highly successful table tennis instructor. He
teaches all ages, from little tots on up to golden agers, and even people who are handicapped. One day a few years ago, a couple from Madison called him and inquired about lessons for their young son. His name was Jenson Van Emburgh, he was 12 years old, and had been confined to a wheelchair since birth. He had never walked. But they had heard that children who were handicapped could be taught how to play table tennis, and among other things, that it was an excellent exercise and therapy for afflicted children. Would Mr. Sranko try to work with young Jenson? Latso said he would be happy to do so. The couple brought their son over from Madison a couple of times a week and Jensen slowly learned to play the game. He actually became quite good at it. About two years from the time he had started taking lessons from Latso, Jenson felt he was ready for competition. He entered the U.S. Olympics for Handicapped tournament, and would you believe he won a gold medal. A championship in an athletic event, for a boy who had never been able to walk. You can imagine the thrill and joy it was for him and his parents. And, of course, for Latso, too. Then, later that year, Latso had even more of a reason to rejoice. The Olympic Table Tennis Committee voted him as the Coach of the Year. “What that young boy accomplished,” Latso said, “followed by the award the Olympic Committee gave me for my part in his success, means more to me than all the medals and ribbons I’ve won over the years.” Today, in addition to his work with his own company and his continued table tennis competition, Latso also instructs a few days a week for the Milwaukee Tennis Club. He is an exceptional teacher, well liked by his students and fellow instructors. He is especially good with youngsters, firm, yet gentle. The club offers play and lessons at two locations, at school locations in Shorewood and the other in West Allis. It is a most interesting facility that I will attempt to tell you about in a future story in 50 Plus. I could do it now, but I’ve gone on too long about the good Mr. Sranko, and have run out of space. But if you want to learn how to play table tennis or want more information, call Linda Leaf, the president, major domo and head instruc-
tor at 414-271-3123. If you visit them at either of their locations, chances are you’ll meet Latso. You can judge for
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yourself if all that I’ve written about him is accurate.
Senior Olympics Whatever your own particular interest, whether you’d like to be a participant in one of the 21 Senior Olympic sports or would just like more information, try the numbers below. All sports begin this fall, the first in mid-August. They include Archery, Badminton, 3 on 3 Basketball, Basketball free throw and 3-point shooting, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, Horseshoes, Racewalk, Racquetball, 5K run/walk and 10K run, Shuffleboard, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field and Volleyball. In all sports, competition is in different age groups, 5054, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 on up to 100. Somewhere in there is a spot for you. You can try more than one, by the way. Those numbers are 414-931-1903 and info@wiseniorolympics.com. Also, if you’d like to be a contributor and/or a sponsor, the same numbers apply. Ten years ago I said I’d never move to a senior community.
I lied. “They say when you get older you get wiser and, well, I guess I wised up. Between the lawn, the repairs, my friends and neighbors moving away … the idea of staying in that house the rest of my life lost its appeal. I decided Cedar Ridge might be worth checking out. I got to choose my own décor, have plenty of room, met so many interesting people who share my interests. Now I’m free to enjoy my retirement years. “It’s OK to change your mind! I’m glad I did.” Call 262.338.8377 to schedule a visit or receive VIP event invitations. Independent living for adults age 55 and better.
cedarcommunity.org
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Why read obituaries?
Q
BY DOUG MAYBERRY
: My husband reads the obituaries pages in our newspaper every day. I think it is a waste of time. He disagrees. I try to convince him to do something more productive. I have lost that battle. How can I change my attitude and share his enthusiasm?
A
and how much joy that person brought them. Families want to let others know who has passed away and how they would like to be remembered. Readers like to know where people were born, causes of death, religious preferences, passions, careers and how they made a difference in the world during their time on Earth. -- DOUG
: Coming from a newspaper background, I learned years ago how passionately readers feel about obituary pages. Readers often threatened to cancel their subscriptions if editors did not publish an obituary page. Your husband probably compares what he has done during his lifetime with others. Obituary details are always positive, as relatives share their love for the person who has passed, revealing how much they truly cared
Q
BY MARY HUNT
RABBITS IN THE GARDEN. Blood meal (which can be found at your local garden center) works really well to keep bunnies away from flowers and vegetables. It is a natural rabbit and deer repellent, and it works incredibly well. Just sprinkle it on the soil around each plant. It keeps squirrels away, too! -- Kath
WISDOM OF PARENTS : I am a young woman in my early 20s and will graduate from college in June. Time to get on with my life and find out what’s ahead. I have a good family, but there have been some rough spots between my parents and me in the last couple of years. Luckily, our differences seem to slowly be working themselves out. My mom and dad read your advice column, and recently they suggested I might gain some insight
about how parents feel about their children by hearing what you have to say and taking your advice. What do you think?
A
: Yes! I have never met a writer who did not believe their words of wisdom would be helpful to readers. Certainly, your family holds a top spot in your priorities. Although you will make friends and acquaintances, your family should always be in the forefront. Learn to love yourself first. By doing so you can make others happier, too. Stay in touch with your family. Life is never perfect. Learn to be patient with others and give them a chance to share their viewpoints. Lifetime friends are small miracles, and the real friends you make are worth your effort. Find someone to love and who loves you. We only really need the ba-
sics -- money for food, shelter and education. Dream big, find a passion, be honest, be caring, learn to laugh daily, be compromising and creative and consider religion. Respond positively to whatever happens to you. Be grateful for what you have been given. Believe in magic! Be optimistic. Spend time with your friends. Forgive even when it is challenging, and seize opportunities. -- Emma, Doug’s granddaughter Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at deardoug@ msn.com. Betty is a friend of Doug Mayberry, whom she helps write this column. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Smart, savvy readers send kind responses My favorite thing about being the humble EC columnist is getting feedback from my readers. Your letters are so kind and encouraging. Only now and then do I receive a note saying, “Shame on you!” or “Please choose your words better,” comments I take into consideration for as long as it takes to hit “Delete.” But your messages frequently contain tips and additional information regarding a topic I’ve written about, from which all of us can benefit.
Here are a few such tips:
BEST SHOE REPAIR. You asked us to send suggestions, so here’s my contribution to the list of best shoe repair shops: Gene’s Hartland Shoe Repair in St. Paul, Minnesota (it’s the best of the Twin Cities -- St. Paul and Minneapolis). Gene has been repairing shoes for
Don’t Miss Seniorfest Day at Summerfest
Wednesday, July 6 • 12:00-4:00 PM
Come and visit the
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many decades. His website (hartlandshoes.us) has tons of helpful information about caring for shoes. He’s just the best. -- Sue
DENTAL SAVINGS PLANS. My husband and I were able to use a Dental Savings Plan (www.everydaycheapskate.com/dentalplans) to save money on our son’s braces, much of which was not covered by insurance. I just finished reading your column about a dental savings plan. Another option people could consider is getting treatments at a dental school at a university. While I attended college at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities I got my dental work there. It cost much less. Sometimes the visits take a little longer because the professors check the procedures and the students work slower. But I received exceptional care for a fraction of the price. I recently recommended this to a friend after her dentist told her it would cost $8,000 for one dental implant. I believe the price tag at the clinic was $3,000. -- Joan HOTEL SOAPS AND TOILETRIES. Local food pantries are always in need of personal care items. Having a supply
of those items allows the food pantry to dedicate its limited income to purchasing food for clients, while still being able to provide personal care items to help clients maintain hygiene and feel better about themselves. Thank you for providing such a great forum to share and educate your reader community. -- Lynlee INEXPENSIVE APPLIANCES. If you will need a new appliance in the next few months, know that the best deals are on or near Black Friday (this year it will be Nov. 25). Since 99.8 percent of shoppers are shopping for Christmas gifts, not appliances, you can get the best model of just about any appliance for as much as 50 percent off. -- Cathy Dear Readers: Keep those cards, letters and messages coming! Your message just might show up right here. Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate. com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.
JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
KILLING TIME continued from page 4A
absolutely beautiful sunsets. OOOOOO As the recent graduates are out and about seeking employment before deciding to continue schooling towards higher degrees because of much lack thereof, we will write again that there is a great difference between intelligence and education. Education looks good on paper, but it is intelligence that will get you ahead in life. OOOOOO Until I attended an Allied Veterans meeting, I did not know that veterans can get two free tickets to Milwaukee Brewers Sunday home games at Terrace Level by presenting proof of service at window 7 through 12 of the box office on the day of game. The box office number is 414-902-4000. Yes, your veterans’ organization membership card is sufficient. Three cheers for the Brewers! OOOOOO In spring, we buy seeds and fertilizer for lush lawn grass and then spend some free time a month later mowing it and trying to easily get rid of the clippings. OOOOOO Calling to mind the July 4th holiday reminds us that our forefathers struggled long and hard, facing many difficulties as they fought for the freedoms we now enjoy. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you have joined Gen. George Washington? OOOOOO Mentioning generals, General Karbler, stationed in Washington,
D.C., and an Arrowhead High School graduate a few decades ago, dedicates his time to going to the Iwo Jima monument to greet Wisconsin veterans to thank them for their service and to wish them the best of life still to come when Stars and Stripes Honors Flights visit Washington’s monuments. Thanks much, General, for giving up your free time. OOOOOO Hartland Police Officer Jim Weber was feted at a retirement party June 3. Jim, still a young man, will perhaps travel through life shooing that, which should not be there from his path through life. Hartlanders will recall him as somewhat of a saintly officer of the law. OOOOOO The July 4th holiday is celebrated in many places with parades. The Stone Bank Lions don’t growl, roar or show their teeth (assuming that they have some). But they sponsor a great parade every July 4. The fun and convivial atmosphere may not quite measure up to Summerfest, but don’t tell that to the people gathered in Stone Bank. OOOOOO If you believe the one above is bad, what about the fellow who always becomes ill when he goes to the airport. I guess they call it terminal illness. OOOOOO Rome is a tiny community in Jefferson County. It is not large enough to have a Caesarean section. OOOOOO
A brother-in-law and I had Whitehouse sandwiches recently at Hartland Inn. That’s about as close as either of us will get to the White House these days. OOOOOO I recently read that Catholics, the Christian faith with the largest number of followers, number less than 30 percent, overall, at weekly services. Our Sunday services have standing room only for latecomers. Being punctual pays off with a seat and kneeler. OOOOOO I had 20 tickets in a $10,000 lottery recently. I told the Lord that if I won, I’d give half of the winnings to charity. I must have picked one God didn’t really like as someone else won and kept the money for himself. OOOOOO A granddaughter recently had a surgical procedure done in a hospital. The staff must have given her a sleeping drug as she reported that she was an outpatient. OOOOOO I noticed an Emma column this week referring to extroverts and introverts. Both bring a lot to the table, knives, forks, spoons, napkins, plates, etc. OOOOOO The bald golfer recently said it was so hot on the course that day that the sun could have fried an egg on his head. Wouldn’t that have been of great interest? OOOOOO Who was the man that won the first ever PGA championship. The golfer was Cliff Barnes and the year
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was 1916. His score? Who knows what he did with a mashie, brassie, niblik, cleek and spoon. Yes, he did have what they called a driver and putter in his bag. OOOOOO Liking a real challenge, I hope to gain a few more readers this month. Perhaps Killing time should become Senior Moments. OOOOOO Let us hope that somehow, the political parties will bring forth a minimum of one candidate that most of the entire country hates. Two are two too many. OOOOOO Please invent a way that most of us will be able to tolerate country music. OOOOOO When will someone invent shoes for women that don’t feel so uncomfortable and look so ridiculous? OOOOOO When will the disabled drivers, looking for parking places illegally taken by non-disabled persons, begin taking necessary actions that will keep those designated parking stalls for the people they’re supposed to help? OOOOOO Drones are a topic elsewhere in this issue of 50 Plus New Magazine. But I will chime in anyway. A recent survey of homeowners finds that 42 percent would appreciate drone delivered small packages. Thank goodness that drone use is favored in search and rescue operations by 93 percent of responders. Really, only 93 percent!
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EVENTS
Calendar
Now thru July 16, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Starts & Stripes Honor Flight Display & Traveling Art Show Luther Manor, 4545 N. 92nd Street, Wauwatosa Honor flights started in November of 2008, and since then thousands of WW II veterans and guardians have taken a one-day trip to Washington, DC to be honored for their service to our country. Each trip generates countless stories, cheers, tears and smiles. The display includes approximately 120 of the best, most moving images of Honor Flight participants in Southeast Wisconsin. The display is open to the public and there is no charge.
July 5, 8 am – 6 pm First Tuesdays at the Gardens Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners The first Tuesday is free, with proof of residency, to encourage Milwaukee County residents to explore, “Milwaukee County’s Living Museum.” This gem of the Park System is renowned as a horticultural showplace. Over 600 acres of the land, which is Whitnall Park, were purchased from 1929-30. During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps built roads and bridges, dug lagoons and a lake, cleared streams and built dams, moved and rearranged tons of earth, and planted thousands of trees and shrubs.
July 6, 12:00 – 4:00 pm Direct Supply Seniorfest Day at Summerfest Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee All patrons age 60 and up will be admitted FREE when they check in at any gate. Those seniors will also receive an offer for $2 off of food and beverage (non-alcoholic) purchase over $10. Spend the day enjoying music spanning a range of genres, bands and performers, including: The Grass Roots, Doo Wop Daddies Gold, Ukuladies and many more! July 6, 7 pm Vagabond Ski & Social Club WG’s Banquet Center, 3200 S. 103rd Street, Milwaukee Join an active social club for singles and married couples. The evening begins with a meeting followed by a dance; with great music by The Ricochettes. Wear your red, white and blue to show off your U.S. pride. For additional information visit www.vagabondskiclub.com.
July 10, 1:30 – 3:00 pm Concert In The Park featuring the One More Time Band Three Pillars - Picnic Pavilion, 36293 Sunset Dr., Dousman Join members of the Three Pillars community and enjoy great music in a beautiful surrounding. There is parking available at the picnic pavilion off of Highway 18. For additional information please call 262-965-2111. July 12, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Drum Circle Pewaukee Public Library, 210 Main Street, Pewaukee Creating rhythm together helps build and celebrate community, and it’s fun! A Drum Circle is a gathering at which people use hand drums from many cultures and various percussion elements to create in-the-moment musical masterpieces. Tom Gill from Rhythm for Unity will guide participants as they tap, pound, shake and clang their way to a musical magical place. All equipment is provided and no previous musical experience is required. Registration for this FREE program for adults is required, by calling 262-691-5670 ext. 925.
JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
July 13, 9 pm Widow and Widowers Club Moose Club, 5476 S. 13th Street, Milwaukee The Widow and Widowers Club is an active social club for those who have lost a spouse. The meeting will be first, with dancing and entertainment to follow. Find friendship after losing a spouse. July 13, 20, 27, 10 am – 2 pm Westown Farmers’ Market Zeidler Union Square, 301 W. Michigan Street, Milwaukee Shoppers can enjoy a variety of lunch, prepared food and handcrafted art & jewelry vendors. The oldest and largest open-air market will feature over 50 vendors selling seasonal Wisconsin grown produce as it becomes available throughout the season. The market also has a full schedule of music and events for patrons to enjoy. July 14, 10 am – noon If You Give A Grandpa A Pill: Perils and Pitfalls New Berlin Library, Community Room, 15105 Library Lane, New Berlin Understand how the aging process places us at greater risk for drug-related problems. All medicines have their benefits and risks. Learn when you are at greatest risk and how to recognize problems. Common drugs can deplete your body of a host of vital nutrients essential to your health. Learn how correcting nutrient loss may improve how you feel. The presentation is free and open to all. Refreshments will be provided. Call Jean at 414-352-1966 with questions and reservations.
July 16, 6 to 8 pm Oconomowoc Arts Center Open House Oconomowoc Arts Center, 641 East Forest Street, Oconomowoc To kick off the Oconomowoc Arts Center’s ninth presenting season, the community is invited to an open house, sponsored by Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly. The free family event will offer live entertainment, box office specials, tours of the arts center, complimentary food and beverage and more. A variety of local arts, community and school organizations will also be on hand in the OAC lobby with information and demonstrations. July 16, 10 am – 4 pm Elm Grove and Mayfair Park Garden Club’s Garden Tour This year’s event promises to be bigger and better, with an increase to seven tour gardens with a more compact area to travel. Encouraged by previous popularity, the clubs have arranged to have Plein Air artists engaged in their art at several homes. Brookfield craftsman Carl Muenzmaier will be on display discussing the newly popular barn quilts. An enlarged contingent of garden oriented vendors will be stationed on the Sunset Playhouse grounds with items including nursery plants available for purchase. For ticket information and advance sale, contact Nancy at 414-257-2583. July 19, 3 – 4:30 pm SPARK! Air – Zentangle (Structured Pattern Drawing) Oconomowoc Enrichment Center, 1306 W. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc SPARK! AIR is a program for caregivers and loved ones with beginning to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Through
the use of multi-sensory stimulation, exhibit interpretation and object handling, SPARK! participants will gain knowledge and experiences in natural history, cultural and scientific topics. Join Artist, Joyce Block as participants discover a relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Registration is required by calling 262-549-3348.
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July 21, 10 – 11:30 am BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Drop-In Technology Assistance Greenfield Library, 5310 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield Get the most out of your library! Learn how to search for materials, place holds and manage your account through Countycat. You will also learn how to download e-books and magazines and learn about databases that the library offers. Please register for classes by calling the library at 414321-9595 ext. 105.
July 21, 8:30 – 10 am Senior Breakfast Club – Stroke Warning Signs, Emergency Actions, Treatments and Prevention ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital – 725 Grille’s south dining room, 725 American Ave., Waukesha ProHealth Care staff will share information about stroke warning signs and emergency responses to stroke. Participants will learn about the available treatments for stroke, risk factors for stroke and what you can do to reduce your risk. This is free, but registration is required, visit ProHealthCare.org/Classes or call 262-928-2745.
July 22, 8 – 9 pm Civic Band Concert Les Paul Performance Center, Cutler Park, 321 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha The Waukesha Civic Band is celebrating 73 years of performing in Cutler Park for the Waukesha community to enjoy. Each summer concert includes selections from a famous Broadway musical, a guest soloist, marches and contemporary band arrangements, along with the stirring closing composition, The Stars and Stripes Forever! Come out and join this treasured Waukesha tradition, it’s great for all ages!
FREE
Admission
Parking $5/Vehicle Preferred Parking $10/Vehicle
July 15-17, 2016
Friday 4pm-9pm Saturday 6am-9pm Sunday 6am-10am
www.waterford-wi.org
Thank you to our Signature & Diamond Balloonfest sponsors
Handicap parking available
Evergreen Elementary School Grounds 817 W. Main St Waterford
Independent LIvIng
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22A • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
Do enjoy family and friends on the fourth Here we are, as it becomes the Fourth of July. This always has been a rooting, tooting blast of a holiday for us. As kids, Henry’s and my family always had picnics with homemade ice cream, watermelon tosses, hamburgers on the old oaken grill at noon and hot dogs and toasted marshmallows about 6 p.m. Then we always went to the park to gather with friends to watch the sunset, which was closely followed by the city-sponsored fireworks. As kids, we surely did look forward to this. There were many different activities at the park that day, but we did not play tennis or softball or even jump into the lake for a quick wade
APRON STRINGS
By Aunt Emma or swim, as we got older. My mom once had sewn a bathing suit out of what had been a flour sack that had a bull’s eye on the sack. It seems the slogan was that when a person bought that sack of flour he or she had really scored a bull’s eye. Well, it just so happened that the bull’s eye target was right where my fanny fit in the sack. No thanks to wearing that in public.
I remember thanking ma and then using that homemade garment as a nightie. There always was a lot of whooping and hollering plus some oohing and aahing about the fireworks. I recall dad bringing along a couple of dollars as the city crew always passed the hat at fireworks intermission. I believe they had the intermission only to pass the hat. Anyway, they always collected enough money to have the fireworks again the following year. What fun that was. But as Henry told me publicly last month in this column that I have to quit living in the past, I reckon this recitation is a good picture of what he said. There’s a good bit of great music just up ahead at Summerfest. Would you ever have believed when this was staged the first year or two, that Summerfest on the Milwaukee lakefront would become the biggest and best, music festival? While we aren’t certain how old we are as a human race, we might think that some of those guys who guzzle too much beer at Summerfest might realize that morning will
come and with such arrival will be a giant-sized headache. Those growlers of suds do have a tendency to growl back in the a.m. It is especially this week with parades and such that my eyes get dewy. How I love to see our flag marched by, waving to all of us with those stars, stripes and the overall red, white and blue colors. It makes me so proud that Henry, a sort of home-soldiered boy who went to camp in summer and spent weekends working out with the military, did his duty until he got too old. No, don’t try to tell me that old soldiers don’t die or that they just fade away. They get rheumatism and all sorts of ailments that slow them down. Well, I am keeping this short this month as I just found out we are having the picnic this year and I had better hightail it to the store for some vittles, including corn and bratwurst. As I’m told, until we meet again, keep your mind open and your mouth shut and you’ll keep smiling. So long, Emma
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JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
2016 Milwaukee County Senior Citizen Hall of Fame Milwaukee Senior Citizens Hall of Fame honorees were recently recognized at the Milwaukee Italian Community Center.
Karen Borchardt “Karen is a person who recognizes that many times the true success of a volunteer project is borne by those who actually get out and do the necessary legwork while expecting nothing in return.” She volunteers at Milwaukee County’s Mitchell International Airport as well as Wilson Park Senior Center Oak Creek Historical Society, American Lung Association, Polish Fest, Oak Creek Community Center, Channel 10/36 and was elected as a state delegate to the National Education Association Council in 2000. Over the years, Karen has been a frequent competitor in the Senior Olympics and won numerous awards while participating in a wide range of events from biking and running to shot put and high jump. Lena Mitchell Affectionately known as “Mama Lena,” she is greatly loved, respected and appreciated by so many for her compassion, energy and selfless giving to others. With a love for her community and a natural character to work with people, Ms. Lena has humbly dedicated 32 years to community projects including the city-wide Resident Advisory Board of the Housing Authority City of Milwaukee. She has volunteered as a foster grandparent and many projects for the City Police
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Museum twice a week, giving lectures about the history of film and movies in the Nickelodeon Theater on the Streets of Old Milwaukee. He then quickly joined the Interfaith-MPS Tutor Program In the last 2 years alone, Tom dedicated 157 hours to helping students develop their literacy skills by working with the students in small groups and one-on-one. He also volunteers for the Volunteer for Veterans program and has served a total of 456 hours.
Auxiliary and Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful. She has been a dedicated Deaconess at her church, The Church of the Open Door and has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions. Bobby Thompson
John White John worked for MPS for over 30 years as a teacher, coach, counselor, director of athletics and administrator. Retired, he continues to uphold all of these roles through his dedication to health and wellness for older adults, volunteering 30-40 hours per week including the Wisconsin Senior Olympics (WSO), and the past four years, he has served as Board President. John has also devoted countless hours to Badgerland Striders, Wisconsin’s largest non-profit running/ walking club. In September of 2013, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Senior Olympic Hall of Fame as well as the USA Triathlon Century Club for competing in over 100 triathlons. Thomas Zychowicz In 2002, Tom began to contemplate life after retirement. Initially volunteering at the Milwaukee Public
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“Bobby continues to donate her time to helping others, always seeking to support and provide for others, wherever needed.” She encourages her neighbors to be proactive through her participation in a crime and safety group through District 7, as well as volunteering at St. Mark A.M.E. Church and Washington Park Senior Center.
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NN SECTION B • July 2016
WE SAW YOU AT . . . Seniorfest 2016 BY MARGARET PEARSON
Again presented by the Milwaukee Public School Department of Recreation and Community Services Programs for Active Older Adults, Seniorfest this year was conducted in the beautiful confines of the Italian Community Center. Major sponsors included 50 Plus News Magazine, United Health Care, Humana and Molina Health Care. Special guests included Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Some of those who attended the day’s activities included these smiling people.
Mary Kay Bahrke, Rosemary Lisowski, Joanne Humsik, and behind them, Duane Flitch and Toni Nieto, all of Milwaukee.
Barb Figi of Oconomowoc and Tom Delpst of Greenfield.
Part of the crew of entertainers, “The Jazzy Jewels,” Pam Danzy of West Allis, and Marlene Russell, Nettie Richardson and Shirley Browne of Milwaukee.
HAPPY Diane and Peter Burak of St. Francis with Rosemarie Fredrick of Greendale.
from all of us at Doug and Tammy Kuepper of Milwaukee with Dawn and Tim Hobbick of Pewaukee.
Darlene and Ashley Stabel of West Bend.
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2B • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
CONDO Parade of Homes
Why some people prefer condos
As we age condominiums become very appealing. No mowing grass or snow shoveling in the winter. Condo living is great but not for everyone, so make sure you ponder the pros and cons before purchasing one. First, many condos are adjacent to others, so owners often share a wall and live in close proximity. And if you live in a high-rise building, your
condo may be located above or below someone else’s like apartment living. Talk to friends or family members who live in condominiums. You’ll quickly find out why that so many people love the condo life. Here are a few reasons you may be drawn to one. No yard to mow or snow to shovel. This is a big appeal of owning a condo. There will be no mowing because you’ll pay dues to a condomini-
um association, which will take care of most of your maintenance needs, butmany times, it is cheaper than buying a comparable house. There is a sense of friendship and community. Condo owners tend to live in much closer proximity than many other homeowners, who often have big yards separating them. Happy condo owners explain that many social moments can occur throughout
the day. Just taking the trash out or to pick up the mail, there are opportunities that one just doesn’t get in a big neighborhoods of homes. It’s summer and the living is easy. Or maybe it is winter, snowy, and icy, but no worries for shoveling if you live in a condo. The living is easy!
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What do you believe about global warming? BY THERESA SOLEY
Do the young and naïve believe in global warming more than the old and wise? Two surveys investigate this question. Global warming believers make up 67% of Americans, according to a 2015 survey conducted by Yale University. While the majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, 1 in 5 are still convinced the phenomenon is a hoax. According to the Yale study, there was little difference in belief, or disbelief in global warming, depending on age. The study found that half of Americans who believe in global warming think it is occurring as a result of human activity. Adults over 30 were more likely to report that global warming was a natural tendency than younger adults. 90% of climate scientists believe global warming is human induced, the study suggested. Yet just 1 in 10 Americans realized this great agreement amongst experts. And older generations reported less trust in scientists than millennials. Lauren Feldman, a researcher at Rutgers University, contributed in 2010 Yale data by age. Adults were categorized into one of four groups: millennials (age 18-30), generation x (31-48), baby boomers (49-67) and the WWII generation (68+). The study revealed older generations were more engaged in the issues of global warming, more open to new information and less optimistic about human abilities to prevent warming trends.
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But older adults were deemed just as likely to believe in the concept of global warming as younger ones. Feldman said before the study, she expected “We would see pretty stark differences between the younger and older generations. It just didn’t manifest.” She said that this data is now six years old. “Perhaps we wouldn’t find the same thing if we were to run this analysis today,” Feldman said. The data suggested millennials were considerably “less concerned about and preoccupied with global warming than older generations.”
ing have already begun. In 2014, 61% of Wisconsinites reported a belief that global warming is happening, compared to 63% of Americans countrywide, according to Yale surveys. 18% of Wisconsinites reported disbelief, the same percentage
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reported by the rest of the country. Age alone can’t predict likelihood to believe. Geographic location, educational background, political ideology and religious beliefs all prove to be important factors.
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But a study conducted by Gallup in 2014 found its own trend. It suggested that the WWII generation (65+) was less likely to see global warming as a serious threat to their way of life, compared to younger generations. Approximately 4 in 10 millennials, generation x-ers, and baby boomers reported worry that global warming would seriously threaten ways of life, compared to only 2 in 10 individuals from the WWII generation. The Gallup study also found that the WWII generation was least likely to believe the effects of global warm-
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World War II documentary film is a real eye opener A documentary film, the Honor Flight, was shown at Arrowhead High School Theater, Hartland, recently to honor military veterans for their service to this country. The sponsoring organization of Arrowhead students, SAVE (Survivors and Veterans’ Experiences) had about a dozen World War Two veterans present as well as other former military personnel and representatives of the Stars and Stripes organization of volunteers who work so diligently in appreciation of veterans by taking them, free of any monetary charge, to and from visits to the various monuments in Washington, D.C. Over 2,000 now have taken these flights and more will be accommodated in the coming months. Karen Roelke of the Stars and Stripes voluntary organization, said, “We are working against the clock. Some veterans on the waiting list die before their opportunity is fulfilled. Three veterans who were on a recent flight died shortly after their return home. The last flight of 140 veterans included 12 World War II veterans
and one very ill Vietnam era soldier in addition to mostly Korean Conflict veterans.” Biographical sketches of several honored veterans follow. Julian Plaster, about to be 92 years old, knows that every day is a bonus. The one time teen-age Navy cook was on a ship involved in several of the fiercest naval battles of the war in the Pacific. Strafed by Japanese air power, many of Plaster’s fellow navy men were killed in action. Plaster still sheds tears as he recalls being a member of a 10 man burial party who buried perhaps 100 or more U.S. military and enemy combatants. He says to this day, “When you have to bury your dead buddies, it sticks with you.” Harvey Kruz went to war at age 16 in 1941 and saw much action against the Japanese while on board ships that were used to land U.S. military on the Japanese-held islands. In addition to telling his story in the documentary film, Kruz added to it with a few humorous anecdotes and proof of his then prowess by demonstrating
HONORED VETERANS: Joe Demler, Port Washington, seated, and Julian Plaster, Milwaukee, are among a handful of World War Two veterans whose wartime efforts are chronicled in “Honor Flight,” a 2013 $300,000 movie that concentrates on the benevolent voluntary actions of service personnel in World War Two. The accompanying story provides further details. It was the centerpiece of an evening’s activities at Arrowhead High School in Hartland where a student group, SAVE, sponsored the movie. SAVE stands for Survivors and Veterans Experiences.
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how he then still packed groceries at a supermarket. Joe Demler’s story in the movie was the most heart-wrenching as Demler, a soldier in the Battle of the Bulge, was captured and as a Nazi prisoner for four months almost wasted away, weighing only 95 pounds when liberated. His ordeal was written up in Life Magazine in 1945. Among other honored veterans in the movie was Orville Lemke, a bronze star winner for fighting in Europe, who has passed away due to cancer. Eugene Schulz, Milwaukee, was attached to General Patton’s army in Europe. Schulz was sickened when he went through a concentration camp
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and saw a large pile of men. Each had been executed with a bullet through his head. “I still try to overcome such thoughts,” he said.
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10B • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
Katherine is proof of where there is a will, there’s a way BY THERESA SOLEY
Katherine Erke, 89, is a breathing example of eking it out within today’s Social Security and Medicare systems. Her rent is subsidized at $130.00 per month. The walls of Erke’s modest Waukesha apartment are white. Above her toaster oven is a small print of “The Last Supper” painting. Across from an armed chair is a couch for guests, facing a small flat screen T.V. Outside her window, the tall cathedral towers of St. Joseph’s Church are visible, reaching toward the sky. Erke pays five times more for health insurance than for rent. Half of her monthly Social Security check goes toward health care because the benefits offered by Medicare don’t cover her needs. After nearly 90 years of wear and tear, medical issues are to be expected. Yet Medicare doesn’t provide sufficient coverage. And Erke isn’t alone. According to a 2015 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, half of all Medicare recipients can be classified as living in poverty. After divvying, the rest of Erke’s Social Security check goes toward prescription medications. Her prescription costs are more than twice what she pays in rent each month. Erke receives free “meals on wheels” from a nearby hospital. Erke lost her husband when he was in his fifties. The couple had five children, only four are still alive. Three of her children are scattered across the country, with one living in Waukesha. After Erke lost her husband, a machinist, she transitioned from child rearing to the working world. Erke worked at a printing facility, a nursing home in Pewaukee and retired at age 62. “I liked to work,” she said. “I worked hard.” After retiring, Erke got a job at Kmart where she was employed until age 68. In her own words, she was “working up until I couldn’t go no more.”
After retiring from Kmart, Erke started collecting Social Security payments based on her husband’s income. She has been living in the subsidized apartment building for the last 15 years. “Medicare is not picking up so much,” she said. But she makes do. One Wisconsin nonprofit, Interfaith, provides services for elderly people whose financial needs are not being met by Social Security and Medicare. Interfaith provides rides, friendly visitors, non-medical respite care and many other services. Local volunteers provide all care. Erke has been an Interfaith client since 2000. Volunteers give her rides to the grocery store. And they bring light, via human companionship, to her life. Erke has created strong bonds with Interfaith volunteers. For Erke, the greatest challenges of aging have been her dwindling health and the related financial burdens. She said the best thing about aging, and living a long life, is her sense of independence. “I’m so blessed,” Erke repeated.
Hannah Loppnow of Interfaith and Katherine Erke
JULY 2016 • 50PLUS
• 11B
BUSINESS AND SERVICES DIRECTORY LYNNE PALESSE
I Want To Buy Your House
email: lpalesse1@gmail.com
I will buy your house “As-Is” Therefore there’s no need to make repairs I will pay all regular closing costs I will pay cash without extra fees or hidden costs Call today to arrange for a FREE no obligation consultation CALL PATRICK TODAY 262-623-7640 EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO: PSCHERER59@GMAIL.COM
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JULY POEM It is July and time to honor our flag of stars and stripes. This month brings out the best in people of all types.
When he is through, do treat him to a piece of pie or cake. Use your talent, the kitchen oven’s there in which to bake.
Over many horrible wars, fighting for freedom was a must. Now, the written words of serious battles just gather dust.
Pretty flowers and other treasures are so perfectly in bloom. Do plant some for people who otherwise might be in gloom.
Soldiers from all of our states in battles were so gallant. Shoot guns at each other, men did not need much talent.
What of the farmers? Oh, they’re probably now cutting hay. Right now, they’re busy in their fields both night and day.
The date July 4th brings forth many patriotic celebrations. Veterans, so proud, gather in post-military associations.
So let us now bring July as a happy month to a close. Watch out for August and your stuffy pollen-laced nose.
VFW, American Legion and Army vets usually are front and center. These mostly were called to action to be a principled defender. Beyond July 4th are 27 days mostly filled with times of fun. Please do not continue to focus on the sounds of a gun. Church groups may now schedule a chicken or brat roast. Amber colored liquid often accompanies it as a toast. Children now may beg for money to take a carnival ride. Generous dads do dig deeply; others their wallets hide. All the while, the green grasses continue to grow. Where, oh where is the man who is hired to mow?
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12B • 50PLUS • JULY 2016
ON SALE NOW - WISTATEFAIR.COM
WELLS FARGO $2 DAY THURSDAY, August 4 Benefiting Hunger Task Force
Get into the Fair for just $2 when you donate at least two (2) non-perishable food items or make a cash donation outside any Fair admission entrance. Discounted $2 admission is valid on Thursday, August 4 only. Promotion will end promptly at 4pm.
Humana Senior recognition day New! Thursday, AuGUST 9 All Seniors (60+) will be eligible to receive $5 admission ALL DAY on Thursday, August 9 – a $2 savings off the regular senior admission price. During your visit to the Fair, stop by the foyer of the Exposition Center from 9am–10pm to learn about Humana and its great resources for seniors.
Other exciting acts performing at the Main Stage include: Shawn Mendes with James TW - August 4 Halestorm with We Are Harlot - August 5 Rascal Flatts with Kelsea Ballerini - August 6 Newsboys with Francesca Battistelli - August 8 Berlin featuring Terri Nunn with A Flock of Seagulls - August 9 I Love the 90’s featuring Salt N Pepa and more - August 12 Phillip Phillips & Matt Nathanson with A Great Big World - August 13 Main Stage tickets include Fair Admission when purchased prior to entering the Fair Park. No refunds. All shows are rain or shine.
THE ORIGINAL LIGHT BEER OF THE MAIN STAGE
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