Senior Scene 03-01

2013

MARCH-APRIL

SeniorScene Senior For Seniors & Their Families | Tehachapi & Southeastern Kern County

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Friday, March 1, 2013 — The Weekender

On the Cover

PHOTO COURTESY OF ED GORDON

Ed Gordon (right) with Gino Lovosolo, president of Technical Electronics Milano, at the 1984 World Video Show in Montreux, Switzerland.

Ed Gordon: globetrotter calls Tehachapi home

BY MATTHEW MARTZ TEHACHAPI NEWS

A glass jar full of foreign currency — bills and coins left over from trips gone by — serves as a reminder of another side of mild-mannered, suspender-clad Tehachapi News reporter Ed Gordon.

The 70-year old familiar to local residents as a reporter, community volunteer and sometime keeper of the downtown train store owned by his wife Linda, was once a man of international flair.

A retired certified professional broadcast engineer, Gordon spent nearly five decades trotting the globe, establishing some of the most innovative television and radio stations and systems of the time.

From building and launching one of the first pay television services in the country in 1980 to being a keynote speaker for the Canadian government at a telecommunications conference in Japan, he enjoyed a successful career in radio, television, Internet and satellite engineering and management.

Named one of the great talents in teleproduction by RCA in 1981 during his time as Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Times Mirror Satellite Programming, Gordon most recently served as a senior project

manager for the British Broadcasting Company where he was responsible for helping to construct three radio stations and one television station on the small island of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as facilities in Santiago, Chile.

Before that, Gordon worked as director of engineering for E! Entertainment Network and Internet conglomerate FASTV.com, as well as KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, which was once owned by a group of investors that included famous entertainer Bing Crosby.

During his 47 years in the industry, Gordon said he spent a lot of time on the road and in the sky working on projects and attending conferences in 24 different countries and all but two continents on the planet.

And although he said there are places that he’d rather forget — like Jakarta, Indonesia with its extreme heat and uncomfortable conditions — there are places he will remember forever, like the alluring snow-covered Swiss countryside.

With such a diverse resume, it's easy to see why many of Gordon’s colleagues consider him one of the greatest raconteurs of broadcast technical history. His travels clearly have given him a privileged view of broadcast evolution.

See GORDON • Page 3

SeniorScene SENIOR SCENE is a publication of the Tehachapi News, 411 N. Mill St., Tehachapi, CA 93561. © 2013, no material may be used without advance permission of the General Manager.

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The Weekender — Friday, March 1, 2013

Gordon worked in 24 countries and on nearly ever continent Continued from Page 2

Bitten by the broadcast bug Growing up in western Pennsylvania, Gordon was a science geek, spending many days as an adolescent building beer can rockets and launching them hundreds feet into the air. So it was no surprise that he would enter college in 1960 as an atomic physics major intent on building the first ion-drive spacecraft engine.

However, it wasn’t long before the broadcast bug bit Gordon, and during his freshman year at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, he embarked on a notion that would change his major and his life forever.

“I decided to try out for the college radio station right after freshman orientation,” Gordon said. “I got hired to do the evening show, got hooked on broadcasting and it all went down hill from there.”

A month later Gordon was hired by local radio station WTTF to do a morning drive show and before his third year in college, he was headed back to the East Coast where he finally landed his first gig in television.

In those days, disc jockeys needed a third class FCC license, mainly so they could be held accountable for using objectionable words on the air or transmitting personal messages. So, Gordon took a short test, paid his fee and hit the airwaves. But when the opportunity allowing him to slip from on-air radio personality to behind-thescenes television engineering came knocking on the door — he answered.

“At that time in radio, you could be wearing slip-ons and a guy may not like the way your shoes were tied and fire you,” Gordon said. “So, I decided engineering looked more stable.”

A few years, jobs, cities and an FCC

first class license later, Gordon eventually landed in Buffalo, New York, as the technical operations manager for WGR-TV. He was immediately thrust into moving an entire television station in the middle of the night during a severe snow storm — a meticulous process that took only four hours and prompted William H. Hansher, Vice President of Engineering for the Taft Broadcasting Group, to transfer Gordon to Philadelphia — the fourth largest television market in the country at the time.

During his time in Philly as manager of engineering for WTAF-TV, Hansher once again challenged Gordon, this time with building a $3 million, 165 kW, five million watt UHF television transmitter, which would allow the station to broadcast its signal into New York City, nearly 100 miles away.

The transmitter, if successful, would be the first of its kind.

“In spite of being told by RCA it couldn't be done. I felt it could,” Gordon said. “He (Hansher) told me to ‘Do it your way, but you better be right.’

The man’s blind faith in me made a never-ending impression on my life.”

The system worked. Gordon was just 26-years-old.

Television’s move to satellite

On Aug. 12, 1960, NASA launched the world's first satellite into orbit. It was once a distant dream found only in science fiction books. At the time, Gordon had little idea of how transmissions using a space satellite worked.

However, in 1978 during his time at KCOP in Los Angeles, Gordon became a self-taught expert at satellite signal news gathering, drawing the attention of Executive Vice President of Times Mirror Cable Television John Cook, who recruited Gordon to build and operate a new satellite facility that would revolutionize popular entertainment and spark an explosion in technological development.

Launched in 1981, Spotlight TV became one of the first pay television outlets competing with media giants HBO and Showtime. It eventually became so successful that Showtime purchased the channel in 1984 for $50 million, shutting it down and turning it into The Movie Channel.

Out of a job, Gordon found work with several major cable television networks, and in 1991 helped develop a technology to insert local commercials and promos into nearly 2,000 network cable heads through custom designed remote controlled switching Ed Gordon’s I.D. badge issued by the BBC when he worked as a Sr. devices.

Project Manager from 2004 until his “first” retirement in 2007 The endeavor,

PHOTO BY TEHACHAPI NEWS

Ed and his wife Linda give a little traditional “train wave” welcoming their customers at Trains Etc., on Tehachapi Blvd., where Linda has been the owner since Jan. 2006. in time, led to the creation of an interactive data delivery machine, which would print a coupon directly tied to a commercial into the homes of television viewers all across America.

Gordon patented his one-of-a-kind machine, launching the program in two cities. But in a short time, the idea would ultimately fall to the rise of the Internet.

“We became a victim of technology,” Gordon said.

After a brief stint with FASTV.com that ended during the dot-com bubble burst of 2000, Gordon went to work for the BBC, where was hired as a senior project manager.

Spending days, weeks and sometimes months at time away from home, he bounced around the globe linking countries together via spaceage technology, collecting trinkets and building memories, until turning down an offer to work in South Africa just six weeks before his 65th birthday.

“I just decided it was time to call it quits,” said Gordon who left the BBC in 2007.

Life as a journalist Today, Gordon is a reporter for the Tehachapi News and lives in Stallion Springs with his wife Linda, who after walking in to buy a model train, ended up owning downtown Tehachapi’s Trains, Etc. He also serves on the Stallion Springs Community Emergency Response Team and belongs to the Friends of the Tehachapi Depot where his name is emblazoned on a bronze plaque in the lobby in honor of his helping to restore the historic railroad sta-

tion after a fire destroyed it in 2008.

“She (Linda) has stood by me through all of me crazy long hours at work, traipsing around the world and trying things that couldn't work but did,” Gordon said. “I doubt most women would have put up with it. She has been a jewel.”

The couple will celebrate 50 years of marriage this July.

Once an editor for Television Broadcast Magazine, to stay busy today Gordon spends his time chasing down breaking news and covering the city government beat for the Tehachapi News, spending countless hours sitting through civic meetings and combing over mounds of agendas and legal documents.

Among his most memorable events as a reporter, is his coverage of the Comanche Fire that plagued Stallion Springs in the fall of 2011.

“I was chasing horse trailers, blocking roads and calling in to the newsroom to report my story,” Gordon said.

“All while doing my job as a member of CERT.” On Feb. 6, Gordon turned 70. And while most retirees top their bucket lists with plans of traveling to places both near and abroad, one has to wonder what someone like Gordon who has already seen it all would do.

“To tell you the truth, I just don’t honestly know,” he said. “What I do know is that I am not ready to retire (again) just yet. I like doing what I do, sticking my nose in everyone’s business and sharing the information I get with people.”

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Friday, March 1, 2013 — The Weekender

TRAVEL

Nostalgic tour of the Central Coast

TEHACHAPI NEWS PHOTOS BY CLAUDIA ELLIOTT

ABOVE: Driving on the beach continus to be a favorite pastime in Oceano; AT LEFT: A view of Morro Rock from the natural history museum at Morro Bay State Park.

BY CLAUDIA ELLIOTT TEHACHAPI NEWS

Having spent most of my life in Central California, ranging from Tehachapi north to Hanford and Porterville and west to San Luis Obispo County, the Central Coast feels to me like an extension of home, just as I think it must to our California Condors.

Yet every so often I meet someone in Tehachapi who might have been to Morro Bay or Pismo once, but doesn’t really know our coastal territory.

So this story is for both types of readers — those who have years of memories of trips to “our coast” and those who don’t know what they’re missing.

The Central Coast might be considered from Santa Barbara to Monterey, but for me it is the coastline of San Luis Obispo County, stretching from Oceano Beach on the south to San Simeon on the north.

I love this stretch of coastline for its natural beauty and for its memories.

While you can take in the entire length on a weekend, we usually just pick a few favorite places — and often find something new to enjoy, as well.

On a recent trip, my husband Chuck put up with my desire to reminisce, so we started out at Oceano, where I lived from second through sixth grade. In those days, my dad worked construction and was often out of work in the winter, so the daily routine was that he would pick us kids up after school and

we would spend the afternoon on the beach while our mom was at work. Dad would go clamming while we played in the dunes or made sandcastles in the damp sand closer to the water and then we’d head home where he’d have a pot of simmering chowder ready by dinner time.

Of course, at the time I didn’t realize how lucky we were. Playing on the beach every afternoon was just part of life. And driving on the beach didn’t seem unusual at all. In those days there were three beach ramps — one at Oceano, another at Grover City (the town’s original name) and another at Pismo. You could drive for miles.

On our recent trip we learned you now have to pay $5 for a day pass and can only travel a relatively short distance. Still people seemed to be having a great time.

Other than the beach, there is not that much to do in Oceano, but the Great American Melodrama theater is located there, away from the beach on Highway One, and that is quite a fun place. Oceano is an old working town; when I was a kid the passenger train stopped there and it is still a hub for local agriculture which includes strawberries. But other than a few tourist attractions, it doesn’t look much different from some poor ag communities in the San Joaquin Valley.

We drove around Oceano to see the house where we once lived (my par-

ents paid less than $10,000 in 1958 and the house seemed large to us; now it seems really small and you is probably worth $250,000 — and that’s after the price drop). Who could have known?

Pismo Beach Next we headed to Pismo Beach.

When our kids were teenagers, Pismo was the place they wanted to be when we went to the coast. And one thing I’ve noticed about Pismo is that if you’re from somewhere in Central California, you can almost count on running into someone you know walking down the street in Pismo if you’re there

on the weekend. Yes, happened on this trip, too.

Fortunately, we didn’t have any teenagers along and didn’t have to wait in the long line at the popular Splash Cafe. We passed up some other eateries we’ve enjoyed through the years and headed up from the pier to the Pismo Brewing Company. We didn’t know what to expect, but found that it was a small operation in an old house with a comfortable atmosphere.

Chuck tried one of their local brews, I had a root beer float and we took advantage of the checker game to take See CENTRAL COAST TOUR • Page 5

The once funky beach town of Cayucos has been spiffed up within the past few years with old-time facades and bright paint.

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The Weekender — Friday, March 1, 2013

Central Coast tour Continued from Page 4

a break. No matter that there were eight checkers missing (red and black) and we couldn’t quite remember the rules. We worked it out.

Food Often our trips to the coast revolve around food.

We have our favorites — McClintock’s in Pismo, the Old Custom House in Avila Beach, Garland’s Hamburgers in Grover Beach, the Great American Fish Company in Morro Bay and the Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo.

But on this trip we consciously tried to spend more time doing something or seeing something than we did eating, so we settled on only one big meal out which ended up being brunch at the Apple Farm.

The natural history museum at Morro Bay State Park has been a favorite for generations of families and multitudes of school children.

For the uninitiated, the restaurants I’ve mentioned are all great — but there are many more and honestly we’ve never had a bad meal anywhere.

Morro Bay After brunch on our second day, we headed to Morro Bay where we stopped at the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay State Park, south of the main part of town.

Visiting this museum was also part of my nostalgia tour. I went there as a child, took my children there and more recently my grandchildren. It’s small, but worth the visit.

Up in the main part of town was the next stop on the Morro Bay nostalgia tour — the funky old Morro Bay Aquarium. I have to admit, it’s really awful. First you go through the gift shop, buy some stinky fish pieces to feed the seals and then into a dark room with grimy fish tanks that look the same as they did when I was seven. But there’s something about it I can’t resist.

Cayucos and behond Sometimes we visit Cambria and San Simeon, but this time we decided to spend more time in Cayucos which we didn’t visit last year.

We were really surprised by some of the changes as Cayucos in the past was pretty much reliably the same, a funky little beach town.

Paul’s Liquor and Skippers next door looked pretty much as they always have, but across the street and down the block Cayucos has become gentrified with new and remodeled buildings.

Can’t say it’s bad — just different. And I wonder if I’ll recognize the place in a few years.

Time passes and things change, but fortunately many old favorites are at least recognizable, here and on the Central Coast.

And even when what we’re looking at does change, we still have the memories.

Longtime favorite restaurants on the Central Coast include the Apple Farm Restaurant in San Luis Obispo.

For more information, please call Tehachapi Hospital at 661-823-3000 Flu shots will be offered to adults only, 18 years and older at a cost of $15.00 a shot, and will be given on a first come first serve basis.

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Friday, March 1, 2013 — The Weekender

Easy Riders, Tehachapi style

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORM HAUGHNESS

Left to right, Bob Schmidt, Dave Lamkin, J.R. Collins, Dave Trunkey, Gene Gary and Ron Cruse after a meal in a Ridgecrest restaurant.

BY NORM HAUGHNESS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If you’re near Tehachapi’s Burger King about 7:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, you’ll see a cluster of motorcycles in the parking lot.

Inside there’ll always be a convivial group of coffee drinkers gabbing animatedly about bikes and any other subjects that strike their fancy.

Come eight o’clock, all get up, don jackets, gloves, and helmets, start engines, and head off on a ride. Typical day-trip destinations include Kernville, Sherman Pass, (from which you can plainly see Mount Whitney), Leona Valley, Cambria and Inyokern.

Goal stop is always for a hearty lunch to reward the inner man for the miles behind and ready him for those ahead.

Mileages covered on typical Wednesday rides range from 120 to such 400-mile round trips as to Solvang’s Motorcycle Museum or Cambria on the coast. Most of the expeditions get riders home by early- to mid-afternoon, but anyone can peel off early. Whatever works. Occasional overnight rides attract a smaller number of iron-butts.

It’s all pretty casual and easygoing, yet there’s sensible organization at work too. Someone often rides “safety” at the tail end, in continual radio contact with J.R., our fearless leader. Some other riders are tuned in as well, monitoring and contributing chatter en route.

So who are the Wednesday easy riders, what do they ride, and why do they ride? In their own words, here are some responses: Stan Gilbert, 78, car hauler, rides a Can Am Spyder “for the fellowship. Go fast or be last,” is his advice.

J.R. Collins, 83, equipment operator,

straddles one of his two Honda Gold Wings to lead the gang “for the riding."

“Beemer Dave” Trunkey, who admits, “Okay, I’m on Medicare," rides his BMW 1200 “for the camaraderie.

Woulda, shoulda, coulda don’t make for crap. Never have, never will. Just do it!"

Jim Matteson, 68, correctional worker, who drives a Yamaha V-Star, likes “the rest of the riders. And to discover where we’ll have breakfast.”

Gene Gary, 78.5, truck driver, rides “for the friendship and to see a different place each week. Hey, if I’d known I’d live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.”

Harley Charlie (Chuck), 70, retired water superintendent, mounts his Harley Davidson or his Gold Wing. “I may kid around with these old folks, but I’d never hang out with them.”

Bob Schmidt, 79, aerospace engineer, rides a Honda Valkyrie Interstate: “I like the group I ride with.” His advice: “Be ready to fall down, but never think about it.”

Dave Lamkin, 71, a retired fireman who drives a Yamaha FJR and a Triumph Scrambler, says he likes “the B.S. stories” he hears during these excursions.

Dennis Tope, 70, former school administrator, rides his BMW 1150 “for the biker camaraderie and the rides to interesting places. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. You can quote me.”

Ron Cruse, 69, who riding a Honda ST1100, claims to be “retired.” From what?

He’s cagey, but he’s been around. Why he likes the rides? “They scare me.”

Lee Price, 78, “retired,” enjoys riding his Gold Wing 1800 “on great roads with a bunch of great men. Well, most of them.”

Eddie Meeks, 71, rides his Honda Gold

Nine bikes from Tehachapi in a row at the private motor museum at Kramer Junction Wing and likes “the good friends and the (sometimes) nice weather,” adding, “Remember, watch the road in front of you!”

Eugen Kunstmann, 60, retired, gets on his Suzuki Boulevard S83, “to get outdoors and ride with friends.”

Ron McCoy, 65, school bus driver (and a lot of etc.), mounts his Triumph Bonneville, Honda ST-1300, or Yamaha XZ-550 and likes “sharing the enjoyment of riding. His comment: “You don’t stop riding because you get old. You get old because you stop riding.”

Norm, who won’t see 85 again, rides his Yamaha Virago 1100 and Vision 550 “for the wind in the face and great interaction with a variety of really accomplished guys.”

This is a pretty eclectic group. Definitely not, as one rider’s wife joshed, “Just a bunch of old fogies who sit around, gab, and drink coffee.” Although, okay, that may be part of the fun.

Over the decade or more that this

loosely knit gang has been burning up the byways of Kern County and beyond, people from many walks of life have taken part. Current ages range from upper 40s to pushing 86.

The rule is, show up on a sound bike, and you’re welcome.

We have some memorable boredomkillers, like being buzzed last week by a low-flying Navy F-18 fighter jet on a road near China Lake. One rider swore he could see the pilot grinning at him as his violent wake wobbled our helmets. Having to thread your way carefully through a herd of skittish cattle, as on the way to Twin Oaks, keeps you awake too. Then there’s the continuing thrill of trying to keep up with J.R. By now almost a local institution, Tehachapi’s Wednesday morning easy riders have become one of the features that make our community unique. As I wrote in a 2007 Tehachapi News report on this bunch, it’s a privilege to participate.

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The Weekender — Friday, March 1, 2013

Financial pointers for older, unmarried couples Metro — Moving in together is something typically associated with young couples, but more and more unmarried men and women over the age of 50 are choosing to cohabitate.

According to an analysis of 2012 U.S. Census data conducted by the Performance Reference Bureau, roughly 10 percent of the 15.3 million oppositesex unmarried cohabiting partners in the United States are between the ages of 55 and 64, while 15 percent are between the ages of 45 and 54.

Such figures indicate that living together as an unmarried couple is no longer exclusive to younger couples.

The incentives for older, unmarried couples to cohabitate are similar to those for younger ones, but older couples should heed a few financial pointers before deciding to move in together.

• Iron out the financial details ahead of time. Young couples who move in together often do so as a precursor to getting married. Such couples do not

typically have much in the way of financial assets and, as a result, do not need to come to any formal agreement regarding their finances. Older couples, however, might be bringing a more substantial financial portfolio into the relationship, and these finances can complicate matters.

Before moving in together, older couples should document their finances and how household expenses, including a mortgage if one exists, will be paid. Decisions regarding who will receive the tax breaks you might be eligible for when paying a mortgage should also be considered. Documenting your financial situation can protect your assets should you break up. If these arrangements are not documented, unmarried couples who break up could find themselves in a contentious financial battle not unlike couples going through a divorce.

• Maintain some financial independence. Older, unmarried men and

women who choose to cohabitate with their partners should still maintain some financial independence after moving in together. A joint checking or savings account might work down the road, but initially keep these accounts separate to avoid any disputes. Keep paying your own bills, including car payments and credit cards, at the onset as well.

• Update certain documents and policies. Upon your death, a partner with whom you cohabitate does not have the same legal rights of inheritance as would a spouse. As a result, it's important for unmarried individuals who cohabitate with their partners to update their wills, especially if they have been cohabitating for an extended period of time and want their partner to be taken care of in case of their death. In addition to updating information regarding beneficiaries, older men and women might want to update certain information regarding their health,

like who should take legal responsibility for medical decisions should one partner become incapacitated.

In addition to updating your will, update any existing life insurance policies and retirement benefits to include your partner if you so desire.

• Discuss any changes with your family, especially any children. When you make changes to your will, those changes will affect your beneficiaries.

Upon making these changes, discuss them with your existing beneficiaries so your partner does not have to deal with relatives whose feelings might be hurt upon your death. This might not be an easy discussion, but you will want your partner to have your family as a support system upon your death.

Older, unmarried couples are choosing to cohabitate more and more.

While the incentives to doing so are numerous, there are some precautionary measures couples should take before moving in together.

How to keep marriage going strong into your golden years Metro — The trend of long-married couples calling it quits has been growing. However, there are some steps couples can take to keep their relationships going strong.

According to the AARP, divorces among people over the age of 50 have doubled since 1990.

According to Susan Brown, codirector of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University, one out of three Boomers will face their golden years unmarried.

There are a number of reasons why divorce rates have skyrocketed among the over-50 set.

Understanding just why these divorces are taking place and taking proactive steps to alleviate some of the divorce triggers can be a recipe for a happy marriage that continues throughout a couple's golden years.

• Increase accountability. Ours is a transient society where families no longer bat an eyelash over moving great distances away from other family members. As a result, Boomers may feel like they are not connected to children or grandchildren. With this in mind, they may feel less attached to their

SOURCE: METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Going on dates is a great way for older married couples to create excitement and romance. marriage or their responsibilities or believe that no one will get hurt by a divorce. Keeping families close and remaining in frequent contact can increase accountability and reduce the propensity for divorce.

• Get things out in the open. A major reason for a failed marriage is years of avoiding significant issues rather than addressing problems.

Couples should make time to talk to each other about anything that might be bothering them rather than letting too

many things slide. If these conversations turn into shouting matches, there is always the option of bringing in a third party to serve as a mediator.

• Spend time apart.

After retirement, couples may find themselves spending hours upon hours in each other's company. While togetherness can be beneficial, too much time spent together may lead to feelings of suffocation and the perception that each member of the relationship is no

longer his or her own person. Individuals can remedy this by doing more things on their own, whether spending time apart with friends or engaging in hobby time without your spouse. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Brief periods of separation can make the time married couples do spend together feel more meaningful.

• Recommit to your vows. After 30 or more years, the vows you shared on your wedding may be a distant memory. Some people may have different views on the permanence of vows, putting personal happiness ahead of the happiness of the couple. Take stock of what you promised one another on your wedding day and stick to those words.

• Become a comedian.

Laughter has a way of dissolving a tenuous situation. Focus energy on laughing at mistakes instead of pointing blame. Couples can make fun of themselves and resolve to not take things too seriously.

• Act like you're dating. Couples often become complacent after many years of marriage. They may forget about the little details

that made the relationship fun in the early years. The personal notes and cards and other surprises may fall by the wayside after being together for some time. Make an effort to go on dates, write love notes and think of what was appreciated by your partners when you were in the dating stage.

• Practice selflessness.

Sometimes all that is needed to rekindle a relationship is a selfless act that shows how much you care for your partner.

Couples who are on the fence with regard to divorce can make an effort to improve the relationship rather than simply see divorce as the best option.

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8

Friday, March 1, 2013 — The Weekender

FINANCE

Simple ways to avoid overspending as retirement nears Metro — When the nest is empty and the kids no longer need financial support, many men and women find themselves with some extra money in their budget. Fewer mouths to feed and no more college tuition bills can give parents a sense of financial freedom they may not have had since before starting their family. But that freedom can also lead to overspending, something that can put retirement in jeopardy if people are not careful.

Though it's understandable for men and women to splurge on a welldeserved getaway once the kids have finally left the house, it's important for adults to ensure that such splurging does not become routine. The following are a few ways men and women with some newfound disposable income can avoid overspending and putting themselves in financial hot water as they get closer to retirement.

• Pay with cash whenever possible.

Swiping a debit card or credit card is certainly a convenient way to shop, but it can also be dangerous. Many people find it difficult to keep track of their spending when they use debit cards or credit cards to make their purchases.

Using cash to make purchases, especially daily purchases like a morning cup of coffee, reduces the likelihood of overspending. This can help you get a better idea of how much money you're spending and if there are any steps you can take to curtail that spending.

An effective way to use cash is to withdraw money from the bank once per week and use that as your weekly

METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Empty nesters can track their monthly expenses, including how much they spend on dining out, to ensure they aren't overspending as they inch closer to retirement. supply of money. If you find yourself frequently running out of money each week, then you're likely spending more than you should.

• Keep a financial journal. Men and women who must adapt to having newfound disposable income may find it is not much different from younger men and women learning to manage their money when they first start

working. Some of those lessons, like saving more than you spend, might need to be relearned.

One way to get a grip on your spending is to keep a financial journal to track your daily and monthly expenses as well as larger purchases like a new television. Write down the monthly expenses you know you have each month, such as a mortgage payment or

a car note, and each and every purchase you make, including how much you spend on dining out each month.

Do this for at least a couple of months.

When you have logged several months' activity, examine your journal to see if there are any expenses that can be trimmed to save money.

• Don't go overboard rewarding yourself. Once your last child has left the nest, the temptation to reward yourself with a luxury item or two might prove overwhelming. After all, raising a family and paying for college tuition has no doubt required substantial sacrifice on your part, so it's well within reason that you want to reward yourself after all these years. Avoid overdoing it so your finances aren't stretched too thinly. A vacation with your spouse is reasonable, but buying a villa overseas might be a little over the top. Luxuries can be nice, but they can also drain a budget. Your monthly expenses once the kids have moved out should be lower, so if you find your cost of living has increased now that your nest is empty, you might be forced to determine which of your expenses are luxuries and which are necessities.

• Take advantage of your "experience." Though accepting a "senior" discount might be a blow to your pride, it also can be a boon to your bottom line. Many establishments, including gyms, restaurants and movie theaters, offer discounts to men and women age 55 and older. This can help you save a substantial amount of money over time, and no one has to know you've started cashing in on your experience.

Things to consider as retirement approaches Metro — Though many people are delaying retirement, the day will still come when they leave their jobs behind and retire. Retirement can be a difficult adjustment that takes some getting used to, but it can also prove an exciting time, especially for those who planned ahead to ensure their retirement was a time to be cherished and not feared.

Whether retirement is right around the corner or still a decade or so away, men and women should consider several factors to make sure their retirement years are an enjoyable time that allows them to live life to the fullest.

• Income: Just because you're no longer working doesn't mean you won't have income. Government benefits, retirement accounts and perhaps even some light consulting work are just a few ways retirees can earn an

income. Though your retirement income will likely pale in comparison to your income as an adult working fulltime, estimate what that income will be so you can get at least an idea of how much will be coming in each month.

• Monthly expenses: Once you have an idea of what's coming in, estimate how much will be going out each month. Certain costs associated with working, such as the cost of commuting and maintaining a professional wardrobe, can be removed from the ledger. But other expenses, including utilities, car payments and possibly even a mortgage payment, will still need to be made. Once you have an idea of your projected income and your expenses during retirement, you can get to work on a prospective budget to show you what you will need to live on

during retirement.

• Employment: Many people now look at retirement as the end of one career and the beginning of another. As retirement draws closer, men and women might want to consider turning an interest or passion into a second career. Such a move might make retirement more exciting while removing some of the fear of finding enough things to pass the time that many people have with regard to retirement.

• Relocation: Where to spend your retirement years is another thing to consider before the big day arrives. Do you, like many retirees, prefer to stay in your own home?Do you want to relocate to a warmer climate or move to another country? Do you want to move closer to your children and grandchildren? Do you want to split your time in separate cities? Is a retirement village

something you might be amenable to?

Each of these options is different, and each requires a different financial commitment, so carefully consider where you want to spend your retirement and then consider how you can make those wishes a reality.

• Medical costs: Private insurance or government-sponsored programs likely won't cover all of your medical costs, which typically increase as a person ages. There are various ways to prepare for the medical costs that might arise during retirement, and the earlier you start that preparation the less stressful paying for medical care as you age figures to be.

Retirement should be an exciting time for men and women, especially for those who have spent years planning their retirement to ensure it's as enjoyable as possible.

9

The Weekender — Friday, March 1, 2013

HEALTH

The challenge of shedding pounds after 50 Metro — Losing some weight is a goal for many people regardless of age. While youngsters and young adults might be able to get away with a few extra pounds without suffering any significant consequences, older adults carrying some extra weight might be putting their overall health at considerable risk.

Shedding weight after the age of 50 is not always easy. As a person ages, muscle mass tends to dwindle while body fat has a tendency to increase.

Since fat burns fewer calories than muscle, weight gain as a person ages is bound to happen. But that doesn't mean such weight gain is inevitable. In fact, men and women willing to make certain changes with regard to diet and exercise can shed pounds after 50 while preventing future weight gain.

Diet Men and women need fewer calories as they age. For example, men and women in their 40s may need as many as 200 calories more per day than they will when they reach their 50s. Counting calories might seem difficult, so men and women in their 50s and older who don't think they can count calories can try to eat more low-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Consuming fewer calories often requires changing dietary habits, not only with regard to what you're eating but also how you're eating and even how you shop for food. Men and women used to dining out for lunch every day can start bringing their own lunches so they can gain greater control of their daily caloric intake. For those who find they're frequently too exhausted to cook each night, they can prepare meals in advance to have healthy, homemade meals waiting instead of always ordering takeout or delivery. When shopping for food, people should avoid doing so on an empty

METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Muscle-strengthening activities, including yoga, can help men and women over 50 lose weight and keep the weight off. stomach so they're less inclined to buy unhealthy snacks.

Exercise Exercise is another essential component to shedding pounds after 50, though men and women over 50 should always consult a physician before they begin a new exercise regimen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that regular exercise can help older men and women prevent the onset of a host of ailments, including heart disease and diabetes. In addition, the CDC notes that regular physical activity as one ages helps muscles grow stronger, which increases the chances that an individual will be able to perform nec-

RESOURCES Local and Kern County resources for seniors include: Aging & Adult Services 868-1000 / (800) 277-7866 Elder Abuse/Adult Protective Services 868-1006 / (800) 277-7866 In-Home Supportive Services 868-1000 / (800) 510-2020 Meals on Wheels 822-6255 / 256-0557 (Rosamond) Part of the Tehachapi Senior Nutrition Program, providing hot, nutritious meals to area seniors. Call for more information.

Multipurpose Senior Services Program (800) 510-2020

Probate Conservatorship/ Public Guardian (800) 277-7866 Senior Center 500 E. “F” St., Tehachapi 822-5412 Senior Nutrition 822-6255 / (800) 277-7866 Senior Outreach Assessment Response (SOAR) (800) 277-7866 Social Security Administration, Bakersfield Information 661-861-4242 To make an appointment 1-800-772-1213 www.ssa.gov

essary daily activities without the assistance of others. Maintaining that independence into older adulthood is a

goal for many men and women, and it's a goal that's far more realistic for men and women who exercise than it is for those who don't.

When coupled with a healthy, lowcalorie diet, routine exercise can help men and women over 50 shed extra weight and keep the weight off once it's gone. According to the CDC, older adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, every week and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 more days a week. These muscle-strengthening activities should work all the major muscle groups, including the legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms.

Muscle-strengthening activities include lifting weights, working out with resistance bands, exercise such as push-ups and sit-ups that use body weight for resistance, and yoga. Even gardening that involves digging and shoveling can be considered a musclestrengthening activity.

Weight gain is often an expected side effect of aging. But men and women don't have to gain weight as they get older. Some simple dietary changes and a commitment to routine exercise is all it takes to shed weight after 50 and keep that weight off once it's gone.

10

Friday, March 1, 2013 — The Weekender

Medicare Update

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Coming soon: A new way to buy health insurance

BY DAVID SAYEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When key parts of the health care law take effect in 2014, you’ll have a new way to buy health insurance for yourself, your family, or your small business: the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace is designed to help you find health insurance that fits your budget, with less hassle.

Every health insurance plan in the new Marketplace will offer comprehensive coverage, from doctors to medications to hospital visits. You can compare all your insurance options based on price, benefits, quality, and other features that may be important to you, in plain language that makes sense.

You’ll know you’re getting a quality health plan at a reasonable price, because there’s nothing buried in the fine print.

When you shop at the Marketplace, all your costs are stated upfront. So you’ll get a clear picture of what you’re paying and what you’re getting before you make a choice.

California’s Marketplace is called Covered California (www.CoveredCa.com).

Under the health care law, you and your family also will have new protections. Health insurance companies can’t refuse to cover you, or charge you more just because you have a chronic or pre-existing condition. And they can’t charge more for women than for men.

Here are three things to keep in mind about the Health Insurance Marketplace: • It’s an easier way to shop for health insurance. The Health Insurance Marketplace simplifies your search for insurance by gathering all your options in one place. One application, one time, and you and your family can explore every qualified insurance plan in your area -- including any free or low-cost insurance programs you may qualify for, such as Medi-Cal or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

• Most people will be able to get a break on costs. Programs that lower costs are available for almost everyone. You may be eligible for a free or low-cost plan, or a new kind of tax credit that lowers your monthly premiums right away. New rules and expanded programs mean that even working families can get help paying for health

insurance at the Marketplace.

• Clear, apples-to-apples comparisons. All health insurance plans in the Marketplace present their price and benefit information in simple terms you can understand, so you don’t have to guess about your costs.

Starting on Oct. 1, 2013, you’ll be able to enroll in a health plan through Covered California. Detailed information will be available about all the insurance plans offered in your area.

You can sign up now at www.CoveredCa.com to get email updates that will let you know how to get ready to enroll in the plan of your choice.

If you have difficulty finding a plan that meets your needs and budget, there’ll be people available to give you personalized help with your choices.

These helpers aren’t associated with any particular plan, and they don’t receive any type of commission, so the help they give you will be completely unbiased. www.CoveredCa.com will be much more than any health insurance website you’ve used before. Insurance companies will compete for your busin ess on a level and transparent playing field, with no hidden costs or misleading fine print. You’ll have more choice, more control, and more clout when it comes to health insurance.

Insurance coverage offered through Covered California takes effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

DAVID SAYEN is Medicare’s regional administrator for California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Trust Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1800-633-4227).

Take Your Calls at 822-6828 or at Our Customer Service Number, 1-800-953-5353

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11

The Weekender — Friday, March 1, 2013

DISCOUNTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE — PLEASE CONFIRM BEFORE ORDERING IF YOUR BUSINESS offers a senior discount and you would like to be included in the next Senior Scene discount guide, call 822-6828.

The following Tehachapi businesses offer senior discounts, as follows: 58 RESTAURANT, (55 yrs. +) 15% daily, 480 E. Steuber Rd., 822-9992.

ALL AMERICAN TIRE, (62yrs.+) 10% daily, 787 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-4950.

APPLE SHED, (65 yrs. +) free non-alcoholic beverage w/ purchase of food, 333 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 823-3333.

BASKIN ROBBINS, (65 yrs. +) 10% daily, 785 Tucker Rd., 822-3496.

BURGER SPOT, (60 yrs. +) 10%, 208 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-3145.

CANINE CREEK, (55 yrs. +) 50% off just bathing on Wed. only, 538 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-0307.

CITY SLICKERS, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 1001 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-4939.

DENNY’S, (55 yrs. +) 20% daily, $1 coffee with AARP card, senior. menu, 9000 Magellan Dr., 823-7380.

DOMINGO’S, (55 yrs. +) senior menu daily, 20416 W. Valley Blvd., 822-7611.

THE DRESSING ROOM, (62 yrs. +) 10% Wed., 20406 Brian Way Ste 3C, 822-4924.

EXPRESSIONS, (65 yrs. +) $5 off any service any day, 20608 South St. Ste. D, 823-7007.

GOLDEN HILLS SALON, (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20021 W. Valley Blvd., 823-0880.

JAVA LOOP, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20001 W. Valley Blvd., 822-9987.

KELCY’S CAFÉ, (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 110 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-4207.

KELLY’S CAFÉ, (60yrs. +) 10% daily, 20424 Brian Way, 822-1608.

KING OF SIAM, (55 yrs. +) 15% daily, 760 Tucker Rd., 823-9977.

LAS PALMAS, (55 yrs. +) Sr. menu, 108 S. Green St., 822-5506.

LINDA’S CAKES N’ THINGS (55 yrs. +) 10% on cakes and goodies (not including wedding cakes), 822-1122.

M&M FISH AND CHIPS, (60 yrs. +) 10% on Tues., 640 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-3411.

McDONALD’S, (55 yrs. +) 75 cent beverages, 2000 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 823-8300.

OLD TOWNE PIZZA, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20430 Brian Way, 822-3558.

P-DUBS GRILLE & BAR, (55 yrs. +) 10% on Wed., 27725 Stallion Springs Dr., 823-7777.

PACINO’S SPAGHETTI FACTORY, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 1100 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 8229400.

PETRA MEDITERRANEAN DELI, (65 yrs. +) 10% daily, 200 S. Green St., 822-1900.

PRIMO BURGER, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 118 East F St., 823-7202.

1or5Di% King of Siam scount ni

Se ni

of dayy of Ev eryy da Ever w eekk e th the wee

T H A I R E S TA U R A N T

823-9977 760-B Tucker Rd.

Eat in or Take-out

Discount for 55 years + for repairs In House

Open 7 days a week 11am 11am to to 9pm 9pm Sun.-Thurs.

Sun.-Thurs.

11am 11am to to 10pm 10pm Fri. Fri. && Sat. Sat.

Rentals Mark and Juanita Torres Owner/Operator

822-5997 | 20601 Santa Lucia 20936 Sage Lane 823-8205

Books & Crannies

Kern County’s only new and used book store Open 7 days a week

Seniors receive

50% Off Corner Of Valley Blvd and Tucker Road, next to Radio Shack

TO BE INCLUDED on this list in the next edition of Senior Scene call 8226828.

10%

Under new Ownership and Management

(661) 822-8440

QUIZNO’S, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 1001 W. Tehachapi Blvd., 823-9886.

RAVEN’S NEST RESTAURANT, (62 yrs. +) 10% daily, 16332 Harris Rd., 822-5267.

RED CARPET GROOMING, (60 yrs. +) 5% daily, 20608 South St. #C, 823-1119.

RED HOUSE BBQ, (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 426 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-0772.

SAVE MART (55 yrs. +) 5% Wed. only, 841 Tucker Rd., 822-6849.

STUDIO J ask for LINDA, (55 yrs. +) $5 off cut/style, 114 East F St., 822-3669 ext. 227.

THAI PALMS RESTAURANT (60 yrs. +) 10% daily, 20909 South St. #3, 822-8121.

TEHACHAPI COLLISION CENTER, 10%, 2601 Santa Lucia, 822-5997.

TEHACHAPI FITNESS CENTER, 20936 Sage Lane, 823.8205.

TKO REMODELING, 15%, 822-0703-1998.

VILLAGE GRILL, (55 yrs. +) 10% daily, 410 E. Tehachapi Blvd., 822-1128.

Cage Free Dog Boarding

Senior Class Schedule SENIOR FIT - a low impact class designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen heart & muscles, increase flexibility and balance.

JAZZERCISE - Dance exercise! GO-minute workouts are a fusion of Dance & Muscle Toning choreographed to a Mix of today's hottest music!

PILATES - Tone up that wobbly middle! Designed to strengthen your core.

YOGA - Iyengar Yoga, created by BKS Iyengar of India, characterized by a focus on precision of physical alignment, as well as by its use of props & holding poses over long periods versus moving quickly from one pose to the next.

ZUMBA® - Party yourself into shape? Exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitnessparty!

12

Friday, March 1, 2013 — The Weekender

Presented by

March 23 • 11 am to 3 pm Rabobank Theater

FREE Admission!

Sponsored by

Basic health care screening by

Competition

Mascot appearance by the CSUB Runners

Mascot

appearance by the Condors

Photo opportunity with Courious George

Stage show with Ronald McDonald