NEIGHBORS

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At 100, Scottsdale woman thrives as Red Cross helper

BY ROXANNE SCHORBACH

Progress Guest Writer

Betty Grenig of Scottsdale offered this amusing observation as she got ready to celebrate her 100th birthday today, Aug. 15:

“What does it matter how old I am today, or how old I will be tomorrow? Privately I’m having a little race of sorts with my 39-year-old refrigerator – to see who outlives the other!”

Born Aug. 15, 1921, Betty has been a Red Cross volunteer for more than 80 years.

Betty was 20 when Pearl Harbor was hit and was in the midst of wedding plans with her fiancé Robert who was in the army.

Understandably, his leave was canceled, and in turn, so were their wedding plans. Notwithstanding the interruption, they were married in a small chapel on base with Robert’s commanding officer giving her away.

As an Army wife, she traveled the world and spent time in Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. Betty sought out a Red Cross office wherever they were stationed, and her desire to help others was evidenced by her work helping soldiers suffering from head and eye injuries.

Although not a registered nurse, she was able to assist with non-medical occupational therapy. Betty taught the young soldiers to thread a knitting needle and knit small animals to develop eye-to-hand coordination. The time spent with the soldiers filled her days and gave her great personal satisfaction.

When the time came for a family, her children naturally became her number

Betty Grenig of Scottsdale turns 100 today, Aug. 15, and the Red Cross feted her with a small celebration last week. She’s been a volunteer for the agency for 80

years. (Courtesy of the Red Cross) seeRED CROSS page 21

Scottsdale lawyer’s book looks at ‘Pet Nation’

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Mark Cushing has worked as a lawyer, lobbyist and strategist for pet health care for names like Royal Canin, Mars Veterinary Health and Zoetis.

With names like that on his resume, Cushing has become an expert on the pet health care industry and how pets affect humans, which is the central topic of his upcoming book titled “Pet Nation.”

“Pet Nation” is slated to hit the shelves on Sept. 21 and offers a unique approach to the world of pets.

“Major publishers wanted the story with the viewpoint about what has happened with pets over the past 20 years and how pet’s role in society, our community and the household has changed,” Cushing said.

When asked how he would describe the book, Cushing offered the following visual.

“The book is like I am 1,000 feet in the air looking across the American landscape and reporting what changed, why it changed and what the impact of those changes are,” he said.

As someone who has been actively involved in animal healthcare for nearly 15 years, Cushing has noticed several trends.

A major trend has been how pets have affected our social lives.

“Pets have allowed strangers who would have never said hello out of respect to stop and talk,” he said. “It has become a very powerful social capital for people that were strangers.”

With pets serving as a social capital,

Scottsdale lawyer Mark Cushing, hanging out with his dog Louis and cat Yves, has written "Pet Nation," which looks at the evolution of household animals over the

one priority.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to spend as much time working with the Red Cross during those years and wasn’t able to go on Red Cross disaster calls which she describes as “one of the highest callings in the Red Cross.”

In 1961, Betty and Robert moved to Arizona, and Betty signed up with the local Red Cross office. Over the years, she worked in the office and at dozens of blood drives. In all, she has donated 25 gallons of blood.

Betty adamantly stressed, “Giving blood is one of the most important things you can do, and the Red Cross needs blood … it’s something more people should do.”

I asked her about her Red Cross memories, and she told me two stories.

First, she remembers the time a new volunteer came to the office wearing roller-skates. Then, being very diplomatic, she explained to the young woman that “we don’t wear roller-skates here,” and the woman tried to convince her she could work much faster on skates.

She also recalled when a group of Korean Red Crossers came for a visit.

They were eating cake in the kitchen, and Betty asked to stop by to speak to them for a few minutes.

When she entered the room, she said “hello” in Korean, which surprised her as much as the visitors as she hadn’t thought about the language in over 40 years and they didn’t expect someone to greet them in their language.

Betty told me about her unique Red Cross pin collection that she had arranged in a shadow box.

She showed me the various pins she had presented through the years – one for each of the five-year increments she volunteered and a few others. Betty proudly told me that she “earned them” and hopes someday her shadow

21

box will be on the wall in the Betty Grenig room at the Phoenix Red Cross headquarters.

Currently, Betty works at the chapter office in Phoenix.

“They give me piles of work, and I put together the disaster information packets handed to every family that has a fire or flood . . . this keeps me busy on Thursdays.”

She also takes literature home to assemble on her days off. “It’s good for me – it’s good to get out to volunteer and help others!”

Roxanne Schorbach is a Red Cross Volunteer.

CUSHING ���� page 20

it has allowed these animals to become something of a new species.

“The whole thesis of ‘Pet Nation’ is that pets became this new species,” Cushing said. “For baby boomers, I tie it back to when we were kids and watched programs like Lassie and Scooby Doo where you saw pets portrayed as something more than an animal that lived in the backyard and you hung out with them for ten minutes a day.”

Cushing thinks it is remarkable how pets have gone from backyard dwelling creatures to accompanying owners on vacations and while running errands in less than a quarter of a century.

“Twenty years ago, the idea that a hotel would have a floor dedicated to nonpet owners felt astronomical,” he said. “The same applies to workplaces, restaurants and stores, where we’re seeing pets marching in and out of places at a rate we have never seen.”

Although Cushing has been actively involved in the world of pets for around 15-years, he has seen the impact pets have on mental health and overall wellness.

“The most important thing to remember about spending time with a pet is that your oxytocin level increases, which is the source of relaxation in the brain, and the cortisol levels go down, which is the source of stress and anxiety,” he said.

When Cushing isn’t busy with his work as the CEO of the Animal Policy Group, which handles policies, regulatory issues and strategies among many other things in the animal health care industry, he is relaxing at home with his puppy and two kittens.

“The one thing I experienced has been a steady source of pleasure and calm,” he said. “When you’re with pets, a good thing happens and the bad thing reduces in your brain.”

As a pet owner, Cushing has also noticed another trend among other pet owners.

“I also think that the more time you spend with pets, the more you begin to appreciate how unique they are,” he said.

One of the most unique things he found is how important it is to take care of pets.

“Pets have the same systems and organs that humans have,” he said. “And there are things you can do that extend the life of your pet and keep them happier and pain free.”

“I think the number one thing is to take the healthcare of your pet seriously,” he said.

While there are many themes within Pet Nation, Cushing found one major takeaway.

“A big takeaway is that we’re not done and there are still a lot of challenges for pet ownership,” he said.

Info: animalpolicygroup.org

Temple opts for virtual open house amid COVID rise

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

The rising number of COVID-19 cases in the county have forced a local Jewish congregation to reverse course on its plans for an open house.

Beth Ami Temple, which calls itself the “small temple with a big heart,” had planned an in-person open house as it welcomes people back to activities and services for the fall.

While in-person High Holiday services are still being planned, the temple has opted for a virtual open house starting at 2 p.m. Aug. 27 at bethamitemple.org and available for viewing any time after that. A spokeswoman cited the “increasing number of COVID cases in the Valley” as the reason for the change.

Nonetheless, she said, the virtual show will give people an idea why “the active adult community is perfect for those over 50 seeking a spiritual and social connection with their Jewish roots in a warm, close-knit family.”

The open house will enable people to “virtually meet: current members, Rabbi Allison Lawton and Cantorial Soloist Michael Robbins.

People also can learn about the congregation’s many activities and active social groups including: travel, hiking, cultural outings, movies, book reviews, bridge, speakers, concerts, Torah study and more.

This unique temple has no building fund and modest dues and the spokeswoman said it “is especially welcoming to couples, singles and snowbirds.” Guests are also invited to the congregation’s in-person High Holiday Services starting Sept. 6, for $125 for a single ticket and $250 for a family ticket. Ticket costs can be applied to membership.

Beth Ami Temple has been providing a place for connecting to Jewish life and building relationships since 1978, when a small group who wanted to worship together in a friendly atmosphere created this community.

Now, Beth Ami Temple has more than 100 members. Shabbat services are held twice a month from September through May, and other holidays are celebrated during the year.

To make reservations for High Holiday services, call 602-956-0805 or email bethamitemple@hotmail.com.

“All attending events and services should be vaccinated for COVID-19,” the spokeswoman said. Beth Ami Temple is located at 3535 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, inside the Palo Cristi Church.