50 Plus November Issue

Health

travel

Alzheimer’s Disease

European Tours

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November 2012 Vol 25 No. 11

COMPLIMENTARY

Sports

Roach Races, really?

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ERVICES OFFERED WANTED TO BUY FOR SALE SS continued on page 9A

Stressed Out?

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Archery, a time honored sport for all ages and capabilities

Social security increases only 1.7%

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the Social Security Administration announced recently.

The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013.

Increased payments to more than eight million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012.

Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $113,700 from $110,100. Of the estimated 163 million workers who will pay Social Security tax-

living

Karl Nelson, who has served as the director of the archery competition in the Wisconsin Senior Olympics for the past 15 years, won quite a few ribbons himself before he took over his administrative duties.

By Jack Pearson When the ancient and esteemed sport of archery comes to mind today, it’s usually because of a movie that we’ve seen. Old classics such as the one about Robin Hood and his merry men competing in a medieval tournament or about William Tell having to shoot an apple off his son’s head. More recently, this past summer’s popular hit, “The Hunger Games,” did much to revive interest in bow and arrow use.

Most fans today, however, are wrapped up with mega-dollar sports such as football, baseball, basketball and golf, and rarely even think of archery. For these archers aren’t even considered athletes.

In a way, this is part of the sport’s charm and intrinsic value.

Archery, as a participant sport, pearson continued on page 20

What will happen to Bush-era tax cuts?

EDITORIALS

By Karen Ellenbecker, guest columnist There are many uncertainties in the tax law and planning climate today. The one certainty for 2013 is that no one knows what is going to happen with the Bush-era tax cuts. With so many tax and revenue challeng-

es we can assume that something is going to have to change regardless of the political outcomes. The Bushera tax cuts are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012 resulting in even more uncertainty. We all agree that taxes will go up either directly or

through loss of deductions.

One of the biggest concerns is the 2012 sky-high exemption on estate and lifetime gift tax allowing you to pass up to $5.12 million to any individual, including grandchildren, estate tax free. Currently, the

limit is $10.24 million for couples.

Next year, these exemptions could drop substantially. If the estate tax legislation sunsets back to 2002 the exemption once again be at only $1 million.

Taxes continued on page 18A

2A • 50plus • November 2012

Will diabetic eye disease affect someone you know?

Diabetes is being diagnosed in epidemic numbers across all ages and races. This increase means a corresponding surge in complications related to the disease, including sight-robbing “diabetic retinopathy”—now the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. "Of the nearly 26 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, up to 45% have some degree of diabetic retinopathy (damage to the sensitive retina in the back of the eye), which can lead to vision loss and blindness,” reports Dr. Norman Cohen, an eye surgeon who has treated thousands of diabetic patients since 1975. “For some people, when a routine vision check-up uncovers signs of retinopathy, it is their first clue that they even have diabetes.” n How diabetes affects vision With diabetes, high blood sugar levels can weaken blood vessels in the eye, causing them to leak. This causes the retina to swell and form deposits that can lead to vision loss. Blood sugar fluctuations can also promote the growth of new, fragile blood vessels on the retina, which can sometimes leak blood into the vitreous (the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the eyeball). This retinal blood vessel damage, or retinopathy, can blur vision and lead to permanent sight impairment. n Who is most at risk?

"Diabetic eye disease can appear as early as a year after the onset of diabetes.

All diabetics—type 1 or 2, insulin-dependent or not—are at risk, which increases with the number of years you are diabetic.

Diabetes-related damage to the retina can cause blurring and/or dark spots that can lead to loss of vision.

For example, patients with diabetes for less than five years have about a 15% incidence of retinopathy. This skyrockets, however, to 80% in people with diabetes for 15+ years,” says Dr. Robert Sucher, co-founder of Eye Care Specialists. n What are the symptoms?

Usually, none. Most people don't notice a problem until retinopathy is so far advanced that lost vision can't be restored. That’s why annual dilated eye exams are crucial. You should also call your doctor immediately if you notice vision changes in one or both eyes (not associated with fluctuations in blood sugar), numerous floating spots (like spider webs), or a veil over your vision.

n How is retinopathy detected?

Eye care specialist Dr. Daniel Ferguson notes, "It is vital for people with diabetes to understand that significant retinopathy may be present and progressing even if their vision appears to be good. And, because fluctuations in blood sugar levels can temporarily affect vision, it's sometimes hard to know if a serious eye problem is developing.”

Diabetes-related eye damage can only be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Pupil dilation (enlargement with drops) is necessary to best check the back of the eye for early signs of retinopathy, such as microaneurysms (tiny blister-like outcroppings on retinal blood vessels that can bulge and leak), before noticeable vision loss occurs. n Prevention and Treatment “Diabetes-related sight loss is often preventable with yearly exams and early intervention. But all of our expertise, lasers and treatments are of no use if patients don’t come in for regular eye check-ups,” comments Dr. David Scheidt, optometrist and 17-year member of the Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group.

“We have been very pleased with the success of medications that can be painlessly injected directly into the eye to stave off progression of the disease. We typically use Avastin because it is both cost-effective and works to inhibit the growth of the abnormal blood vessels related to diabetic retinopathy,” says Dr. Brett Rhode, an ophthalmologist who has

Local engineer designs plan for good health & vision Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of six, 32-yearold Michael Zabel can hardly recall a time when the disease wasn’t a part of his life.

“I remember when I was little, the doctor always told me it was important to have my eyes checked every year.”

Careful planning and monitoring of his condition has paid off for Zabel, an urban planner who designs roads and bridges for an engineering firm in Menomonee Falls.

His vision is 20/20 in both eyes without glasses or contacts.

Despite his perfect eyesight, however, Zabel was recently given surprising news from his ophthalmologist Dr. Mark Freedman. During a regular comprehensive office visit, Freedman detected bleeding in both of Zabel’s eyes.

“Mr. Zabel was smart and fortunate. His vigilance in maintaining proper blood sugar levels and scheduling regular eye exams enabled us to catch diabetes-related damage to the blood vessels of his retina before they could impair his vision.

If he had waited until he noticed symptoms, it probably would have been too late to preserve his eyesight at its current level

of excellence,” notes Freedman, a leading area eye surgeon and lecturer on diabetic eye disease.

“It was kind of scary to think that even though I thought everything was okay, I didn’t really know what was going on in terms of my eye health,” said Zabel. Following laser treatment, however, his vision remains stable at 20/20.

Zabel utilizes his good vision at work and play. He is quick to point out the importance of exercise, “That goes for anyone, not just diabetics!” he stresses. Zabel, who never let his diabetes stop him from playing sports as a kid, is still an avid soccer player and water skier. “When I can’t play soccer, I like to go for a run or a work-out at the gym. You need to take a look at the bigger picture of your health and stay active and get routinely checked— you can’t afford not to.”

Whether a person is a type 1 or 2 diabetic, young or old, Zabel has one last bit of advice to share, “You need to see your ophthalmologist. It will give you peace of mind. You can’t be your own eye doctor. You can’t see what’s going on inside your eyes— only the doctor can.”

conducted continuing education programs for area diabetes coordinators. An ophthalmologist who sees patients at all three Eye Care Specialists’ locations, Daniel Paskowitz, MD, PhD, adds, “We have seen some amazing results with Avastin, including not only stabilization of vision, but in some cases, improvement in sight.

However, we must evaluate each patient’s response individually to determine if and when (often every 6-12 weeks) they should receive injections.”

Although not all diabetics can have or need it, laser treatment can also be effective in reducing the incidence of severe vision loss, especially if started early enough,” notes Daniel Ferguson, MD, who treats thousands of patients each year with diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other concerns. n FREE Booklets & Information Call 414-321-7035 for free booklets on AMD, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes or dry eye disease. Or call an office below to schedule a comprehensive evaluation.

Since 1985, Eye Care Specialists has provided comprehensive care for virtually every eye condition to more than 121,000 Wisconsinites and has made the following achievements: ■ First in state to utilize phacoemulsification (ultrasonic) cataract removal & foldable artificial lenses ■ Forerunners in OCT laser eye scans for diagnosis, tracking & treatment ■ Leaders in AMD, glaucoma & diabetic eye disease treatment (including lasers & Avastin injections) ■ Provide continuing education for optometrists & physicians ■ Accept Medicare & most insurances ■ “Top Doctors”—Milwaukee Magazine

YE CARE T SEPECIALISTS Norman Cohen, MD Robert Sucher, MD Mark Freedman, MD Brett Rhode, MD Daniel Ferguson, MD Daniel Paskowitz, MD, PhD David Scheidt, OD n n n

West Allis

414-321-7520 10150 W. National Ave. Milwaukee 414-298-0099 735 W. Wisconsin Ave. Wauwatosa 414-258-4550 2323 N. Mayfair Rd.

www.eyecarespecialists.net

November 2012

• 50plus • 3A

‘I am ruined’ said La Follette and he really was politically The biggest stumble in presidential campaigning may belong to Robert M. La Follette Sr. as he prepared to seek the Republican nomination for the White House in 1912.

La Follette and New Jersey Gov. Woodrow Wilson were the featured speakers at a meeting of the Periodical Publishers Association in Philadelphia in February. The attendees were 600 opinion makers – editors, reporters, publishers and politicians.

A century ago this may have been the political equivalent of today’s presidential debates. Radio and television were yet to be invented, and newspaper coverage was at the heart of the American political scene.

Wilson had given a moderate speech which was received and forgotten as the night’s developments unfolded.

La Follette was either fatigued or had too much to drink, depending on which version you believe.

Irvine Lenroot of Superior, then a strong ally of La Follette’s progres-

STATE CAPITOL COMMENT

By Matt Pommer

sive agenda, recalled the disaster in his memoirs, later published in a political biography of Lenroot. More on him later in this column.

“Something was wrong,” Lenroot wrote. La Follette “took a belligerent tone and at times his voice rose almost MOVING IN THE to a shriek He had a prepared manuRIGHT DIRECTION STATE CAPITOL script before him and at one point he

By Bruce Nemovitz COMMENT mislaid the sheets. Without appearing

By Matt Pommer to realize it he repeated about three pages of the script.”

La Follette continued on before a growing restless audience. The Wisconsin senator droned on past 1 a.m., and the audience began to applaud in derision after AGING almost every sentence. LaFollette saidISSUES he wouldn’t

stop talking until the audience quit applauding.

“Inside of a few seconds one could have heard a pin drop in the large room,” according to Lenroot’s account. La Follette stalked out of the room.

In his memoirs, Lenroot said he went to La Follette’s home in Washington the following day. He found La Follette in his bed moaning “Oh, I am ruined. I am ruined.”

In Emma those memories Lernoot, first a congressman and then Wisconsin’s

By Aunt Emma other U.S. senator, told how another ally reported that La Follette had several glasses of whiskey to brace himself for the big speech. He had not had dinner, and the speech had been delayed. The La Follette family would claim the Philadelphia disaster was because of fatigue.

Lenroot and La Follette began to split on politics when Lenroot stayed Emma with the Republican Party rather than support Teddy Roosevelt,Bywho ran as Aunt Emma the Progressive Party candidate. Their

split became permanent when Lenroot and LaFollette disagreed over America’s entry into World War I. President William Howard Taft would get the GOP nomination in 1912, but the party’s split would help Wilson, the Democratic candidate, win the White House.

Lenroot went on to be a highly respected U.S. senator, and his fellow GOP senators wanted him on the 1920 GOP ticket to balance Warren Harding, a conservative Ohio senator, who had been nominated on the tenth convention ballot.

Restless delegates to the long, hot convention revolted and selected Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge who had broken a Boston police strike to be Harding’s running mate.

Coolidge, rather than Wisconsin’s Lenroot, would become president in 1923 when Harding died.

La Follette would run for president in 1924 as a third-party Progressive candidate. He would carry only Wisconsin.

EDITORIALS

APRON STRINGS

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Family care exceeding goals; time to move forward

By Bruce Nemovitz

In 1999, Governor Thompson included a small pilot program in the 1999-2001 state budget that he named “Family Care.” This was the result of several years of work by many people to “redesign” Wisconsin’s long-term care programs. Advocates for older persons and people with disabilities had been calling for reform because the main, and many times the only longterm care program was nursing home care. This was the most expensive form of long-term care, and almost all consumers wanted care in their own homes and communities.

Now, fast forward to 2012 when over 30,000 people are enrolled in Family Care. A new (Walker) administration expressed concern over the increasing costs of Family Care, and placed a cap on the growth of Family Care as part of the 2011-2013 state budget pending a study (program audit) by the Legislative Audit Bureau.

The cap was determined to be in violation of the state’s waiver agreement

PLANTING TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY

By AGING Brad Olson

ISSUES

By Tom Frazier

with the federal government and has since been lifted. The Audit Report was completed, and generally indicated that Family Care was working as planned. But, there wereSPORTS still questions Sports Plus regarding cost-effectiveness, and the

By PLANTING Jack Pearson ByServices Jack Pearson Department of Health (DHS) TOMORROW’S that operates Family DREAMS Care wasTODAY asked to OlsonNew submit several followBy upBrad reports. data emerging from these recent reports provides overwhelming evidence that Family Care is not only meeting, but also exceeding, expectations.

Back in 1999 and before, I was one of the main advocates for reform for the elderly, and after 1999, for the implementation of Family Care.

Back SPORTS Sports Plus

SENIOR Answer Man HERMAN WHITE WRITES

then, we wanted reform to accomplish several goals: 1) to eliminate long waiting lists for access to services, 2) to provide greater choices to consumers in being able to receive care at home as well as in nursing homes, 3) to decrease the state’s over reliance on nursing homes, and 4) to use the savings from less nursing home utilization to serve more people in less expensive home and community settings.

The recent reports I mentioned above document that all these goals are being realized. The August 31, 2012 report from DHS to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee indicates that waiting lists have gone from 6,263 in March 2012 to 4,177 in June 2012 to 1,452 in August 2012. At one time, waiting lists for long-term care services

By Enis Wright exceeded 10,000 persons. Waiting lists in Milwaukee have been eliminated for the elderly and will shortly be gone for people with disabilities. Another DHS report shows that the number of Medicaid-paid nursing home days has de-

clined by 25 percent between 2006 and 2012. In addition, Medicaid spending on long-term care has decreased from 53 percent of the total Medicaid budget in 2002 to 43 percent in 2011. And, during that period, spending for nursing homes has gone from 62 percent of the budget to 31 percent while spending for Family Care and community services has gone from 38 percent to 69 percent of long-term care expenditures.

The August 31st report also states that Family Care is the most cost-effective when compared to other home and community programs, such as I Respect, I Self-Direct (IRIS) and the old Community Options/Community Integration waiver programs. The report concludes by saying, “Over the last decade, expenditures for Medicaid LTC programs have transitioned from primarily fee-for-service payments for institutional services, such as nursing homes, to managed care programs

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MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION APRON RIGHT DIRECTION

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EDITORIALS

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

IT MAKES MAKES ME ME CRABBY SENIOR IT Consider estate and gift taxes Answer Man

By Bruce Nemovitz

AGING AGING ISSUES

By ISSUES Tom Frazier

By Tom Frazier

Dear William: I am not going to agree with you totally as I certainly do believe that we must help our brothers when we can. But I will tell you herewith a portion of an old Irish prayer.

Please, Lord God, may we do the best we can and make every effort to love our neighbors. God, also may our neighbors all love us and, God, if any of them don’t love us as we love them, may you turn their ankles so we’ll know who these are from their limping.

How’s that for an evasive answer?

SAM

Do you need a cardiac monitor 55 percent maximum gift tax rate beand possibly a defibrillator as you comes the law of the land as of Jan 1 Dear SAM wonder what will happen with the es-AGING without any action.

I am really befuddled. We don’t tate and gift taxes in the year 2013?ISSUES Our president, just this year, pro- seem to be able to make real friends

By Tom Frazier PLANTING I really hope you need only a lawyer posed an estate tax exemption of $3.5 with some people. There are othPLANTING TOMORROW’S TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY or good financial advisor if you have million and a tax rate of 45 percent to ers that we throw money at and, at DREAMS

By Brad TODAY Olson

By Brad Olson much money or great investments. be part of his budget. But the Republitheir first opportunity, they’d spit in Depending on what occurs, you pos- can Congress, by not acting, indicates our faces. Am I wrong in thinking Aunt Emma sibly will need to call in a psychiatrist it wants to keep the current $5 million that perhaps it is time that we begin as you prepare your estate for passage, exemption and the 35 percent tax rate. minding our own business, protectPLANTING TOMORROW’S or at least to keep it intact into 2013.

Our guess is that the current tax ing our own shores, propping up our DREAMS TODAY On second thought, that psychiatrist rates own companies, putting tariffs on

By Brad Olson for both estates and gifts will SPORTS Sports Plus SPORTS possibly would do better if he placed be continued for some time intoSports Plus and taking care of old Uncle others Bythe Jack Pearson By Jack Pearson

By Jack Pearson Jack Pearson people from the Congress and the future. But, depending on the By outSammy’s the kids. WRIGHT WRIGHT White House on his truth bench. come of the presidential election, we Am I the way off base?

SIDE of We believe that over the years wouldn’t bet our bank account on SIDE of Questioningly,

By Enis Wright OL

By Enis Wright most of us have made many important such happening. So, if you believe William Corlinger T er decisions. But the question we face you have an estate worth giving, do SPORTS Sports Plussome serious thought to what now is should we act or shouldn’t By we give with Jim Jim McLoone McLoone Jack Pearson with By Jack Pearson in regard to gifts and bequests to our may happen when you pass away. Just families and/or to favored charities. If remember that you really can’t take it theEmma people representing us in Wash- with you. But who will get the most We’re told that for real peace of The old cutters

By Enis Wright your ington, D.C. do about what they have of what dollars you leave behind, mind we should do this or that. I be- with the snow blades pulled by horses

By Aunt Emma been doing the last four years, we kids, charities or the government? lieve that the mind finds no greater or were placed into action. Almost every can expect Congress will do nothing If you do nothing else, we suggest more frequent place for “peace” than farmer then still had horses to help Jim McLoone with the plans now in place.

But what you ask your senior center to have a with with the field chores. The snow had while asleep.

N does this do? It means that as of the knowledgeable person explain the poz fallen so quickly that I headed with••••••• coming Jan. 1, the combined federally tential susceptibilities and financial What a snow job! Was it 1937 out a jacket, as the morning early on imposed estate taxes and gift tax ex- maneuvering that can be done. or ‘38 when we had what was called had been warm to my grandmother’s emption will drop to $1 million. The the Armistice Day blizzard? It hit ru- house a long block away. Along the ral Minnesota where this writer was way, I lost a moccasin type shoe. We then about a fourth grader (Hey, that found it months later when spring fiwas only about 74 years ago) with a nally arrived. There were few turkeys seemingly vengeance. Was it about 11 that year in the local stores. The birds a.m. that fateful day when the swirling had frozen to death in the fields where Have you ever been on a tee- every week, except when federal holi- snow began to fall? Farm kids couldn’t they were kept. It became a bumper ter-totter since you’ve been an adult? days come and go. Wow! even get home. They found shelter year for the farmer who raised geese.

I am more than a bit disturbed by I propose that we as citizens do with city folks, their friends. But who Not only did we get a Thanksgiving the teeter tottering that goes on with our best to save this postal service that knew it might be a full day to two be- goose, but one for Christmas as well. the U.S. Postal Department. Right has suffered due to electronic media fore some of them could get home? killing time continued on page 23A now, I would have to admit that the and private freight delivery systems. postal people are on the low end. How? Why not have five-day delivery Writer/Proofreader S They have been bounced around by schedules? Letting the postal system Y Cyndi Strayer the politicians even though the postal fail is a ridiculous thought, but cutting Advertising Director service is a separate entity and sup- its expenses by eliminating one day of ports itself, or at least tries to. It even service each week is not. I’m thinkSaran Piehl ht Hartland, WI 53029 pays its future retirement needs into a ing Saturday since business in genArt Director/ 262-367-5303 EDITORIALS Production Manager fund. As for the rest of government, eral, excluding that at malls, doesn’t retirees probably are being paid with function much on this sixth day of the Nicole Hesse Publishers STATE CAPITOL borrowed Chinese dollars. week.

COMMENT graphic designer Tom and Maureen Slattery

By Matt Pommer Might the savings be as much as The postal people do a great serPeggy Duffy s Editor vice for this country. Just think of 12 to 15 percent? With the now abbren n APRON Office Manager Jim EmmaMcLoone it; every house or business in all the viated day on Saturday, a saving of 17 TRAVEL STRINGS Paula Koeppen

By Aunt Emma nation’s cities, nooks and crannies percent perhaps is not realistic. find us on facebook at receives six days of service each and 50 Plus News Magazine MOVING IN THE www.mymilwaukeelife.com

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November 2012

• 50plus • 5A

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Flu shot recommended for just about everyone

by: Dr. David Lipschitz As fall continues, I hope that everyone will remember the importance of receiving the influenza vaccination. These days, it could not be easier since the vaccine is now routinely given at your neighborhood pharmacy. Who knows whether this flu season will be mild or severe?

There is always the possibility that a rapid outbreak of an unusual strain of the influenza virus can lead to millions of cases of infection, a great deal of suffering and many deaths.

This year, there appears to be an outbreak of influenza that can rapidly spread from pigs to man. Since July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a rather large number of infections with an influenza A virus (H3N2) that predominantly affects pigs but can readily spread to people. For this reason, the CDC urges that anyone planning to have contact of any kind with pigs be vaccinated as soon as possible.

To date, most infections have occurred in young children with little immunity against the influenza virus. However, serious disease may occur in anyone at high risk, including young children, pregnant women, anyone with a reduced ability to fight infections, people with heart disease or diabetes and people over the age of 65.

A vaccination is required annually, as each year the influenza viruses included in the vaccination change.

Every February, a committee of the World Health Organization determines which of the numer-

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ous strains of the virus are likely to cause the most infections. As the flu is predominantly an illness that occurs during the winter, epidemiologists track which viruses are causing the most havoc in the Southern Hemisphere. As winter approaches the viruses march northward. They can always lead to serious illness, particularly in those who have not been vaccinated.

Currently, each vaccine provides protection against three strains of virus (trivalent vaccine), but soon, a new vaccine that protects against four different strains should become available.

So should we all be vaccinated?

The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older receive yearly vaccinations. If supplies are limited, it is critical that the vaccine be given to those at the highest risk, including children age six months to four years, pregnant women, anyone over age 50, and those with severe lung disease, a suppressed immune system, morbid obesity or diabetes.

Anyone under the age of 18 taking aspirin must be vaccinated, as they are more prone to develop a serious complication from influenza called Reye’s syndrome. Every nursing home patient should be vaccinated, as should all health-care providers, caregivers or workers who come in frequent contact with young children or older people.

For the very old and those with the greatest difficulty fighting infections, a high-dose flu shot should be considered. Called Fluzone HD, this vaccine contains four times as much antigen (a protein in the virus that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies). Research has shown that the high-dose vaccine is as safe as the regular kind, and leads to a much more robust immune response in those over the age of 65.

The experience with this vaccine is still insufficient to determine if the higher dose provides a greater protection against developing a severe infection. The CDC emphasizes that the high-dose vaccine should not be used in anyone under the age of 65.

November 2012

Social Security reform

by: Tom Margenau No matter who is picked as president in the upcoming election, in today’s column, I will tell you what he will do about Social Security reform.

But before I get to that, I must once again go over the reason why reform is needed.

It all comes down to a simple matter of demographics. Aging baby boomers (like me) play havoc with the financing of the system. It’s not our fault, of course. It’s just that there are so darn many of us. There are currently about 50 million Social Security beneficiaries. By the time all the boomers cash in their paychecks for pension checks, the numbers will have gone up dramatically. There are projected to be 85 million people getting Social Security benefits by 2030.

Despite the boomer generation’s reputation for free love and uninhibited sex, they never transitioned their sexual prowess into baby-making proficiency. That means fewer young workers are coming along to finance their boomer parents’ retirement. The Social Security system has operated in the black for decades at a three to one ratio of Social Security taxpayers to Social Security recipients. (In the very earliest days of the program in the 1940s and early 1950s, the worker to retiree ratio was much higher, but it quickly leveled off at three to one, and that’s where we’ve been ever since.)

But by 2030, that taxpayer to beneficiary ratio will be two to one. There will be about 170 million workers supporting those 85 million beneficiaries. And the bottom line is Social Security — as it is currently structured — simply cannot work with only two workers supporting each retiree.

However, regardless of all the scary stories you might hear from politicians or pundits who predict gloom and doom for Social Security if things don’t change dramatically, our nation’s bedrock retirement system can be kept solvent for many decades to come with some relatively modest adjustments.

Here is what President Obama will do in his second term, or what President Romney will do in his first term, about the future of Social Secu-

rity.

First, he will establish some sort of bipartisan commission on Social Security reform. This isn’t anything new. Every president in the last 30 years has set up a similar panel. Most of the time, they hold meetings, they get input from both experts and members of the public alike, and then they make a series of proposals for Social Security reform. Unfortunately, instead of acting on those proposals, various congresses and presidents in the last three decades have thanked the panel members for their expertise and then filed away their reports — never to be seen again.

That’s where I think things will be different this time around. I believe we have finally reached the point where politicians and, more importantly, members of the public, are willing to take on the task of making some longrange reforms to Social Security. And here is a list of what I think those reforms will be.

—The retirement age will increase. The current full retirement age is 66. It’s scheduled to increase to 67 in the next decade. They will almost certainly propose bumping that up to 68, probably effective in the 2030s, and possibly even to age 70, but not for another 50 years. This one change alone wipes out about 40 percent of Social Security’s long-range deficit.

—Cost of living (COLA) adjustments will be lowered. For the past 40 years, the annual Social Security COLA increase has been pegged to an inflation index. But almost all economists agree that the inflation index used does not accurately measure the buying and spending habits of senior citizens. Using a revised inflation index would lower annual COLAs by just three-tenths of one percent. Yet, that reform would eliminate about 20 percent of the deficit.

—Social Security taxes will be increased on wealthier Americans.

Currently, workers pay Social Security taxes only up to $110,100 in annual income. In other words, Bill Gates pays the same amount of Social Security tax as your neighborhood plumb-

• 50plus • 7A

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Reform continued on page 9A baxter6939 Renew_4.75x11.125_M.indd 1

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STATE CAPITOL COMMENT

8A • 50plus • November 2012

Warmth is where the heart is!

By Matt Pommer

“This is my second family.”

F

ormer biology teacher Lyn chose Regency because of the independence and activities the campus offered. Lyn stays active with volunteering, socializing and exercising.

“Exercise keeps your motor going. I enjoy everybody here very much. I always say they’re my second family. This is the best place to find friends and activities...we have people playing cards practically every single night.

There’s bingo, exercise programs. My favorite sport is darts, and my team is the noisiest.

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Life is change. Change is hard.

Procrastination can be the result of avoiding decisions that we know in our hearts have to be made. I believe that deep down in our psyche when we are faced with change we all too often put fear of the unknown ahead of all other considerations when weighing our options. We deprive ourselves true happiness for “solid rational thinking,” which all too often puts our security far ahead of our true joy.

As we age, our financial security becomes a greater and greater issue as our earning power diminishes.

We look to protect ourselves from dependency on others. We want to stay independent, and that includes not having to rely on others for financial support.

In trying to protect ourselves from insecurity, we often over-estimate what will be necessary to maintain our current and future lifestyles.

Obviously in many cases, it is and will be necessary to rely on others for our daily living; but I am referring to those of you who are weighing your decisions far too heavily on that security and shutting off the possibilities for true happiness.

I have far too many clients living a life of seclusion and just trying to get by each and every day. When we talk about their options, many won’t even count the sale of their home as an asset factor in their decision-making. I have worked with folks in their 90’s who feel they need enough financial backing for the next 25 years! I can understand where that thinking comes from, as we want to make sure we can weather any storm coming our way, and we want to leave a legacy for those we love.

However, what makes you happy, truly happy? Is it your children and grandchildren? Is it your church or temple? Is it your friends and neighbors? When do you experience your most fulfilling moments?

These questions focus on experience rather than rate of return or the Dow

E

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

By Bruce Nemovitz

Jones average. We know what those moments feel like. We want more of our days filled with those great moments. We know how to make those events happen more often. In so many cases, we have the means AGING ISSUES to get to that great happiness, and Frazier yet, we cut ourselves By offTom from those events by an imbalance in our decision-making.

When making your next important decision, place your experiential happiness on equal footing with your financial security. Be rePLANTING alistic about that financial security.

TOMORROW’S Are you spending less on your needs DREAMS TODAY By Brad Olson than you were when you designed your financial plan? Take your age into account when deciding how much you will need for the rest of your life.

Also, when making a decision about change, give lifestyle a boost in importance. Do you want to live SPORTS Sports Plus closer to your grandchildren and

By Jack Pearson

By Jack Pearson children? Do you want to have others living nearby in a community setting? Do you want to be closer to your place of worship and be more active in your church or temple? Do you want to have less responsibility in home maintenance? Do you want to feel safer by being near those your love?

If I have learned any lesson in life that truly has helped in my decision-making, it is that of balance.

Balance in all aspects of life leads to true happiness and well-being. This holds true in any aspect of your life.

So when facing your next important challenge involving change, try to use a more balanced approach. Give as much or more weight to what truly makes you happy than to that of your financial security. As I always say, “Life is not a rehearsal.

IT

H

A

th

KILLI

nemovitz continued on page 10A

November 2012

Reform continued from page 7A

er. Eliminating the wage base entirely would take care of about 70 percent of Social Security’s economic problems.

—Future benefits will be reduced. If Mitt Romney is elected, I doubt that taxes will be increased on wealthier Americans. In that case, an alternate reform would be a change to the formula used to figure Social Security retirement benefits. It’s too complicated to explain in this short space, but it would result in about a five percent reduction in future benSS continued from page 1A

es in 2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.

Information about Medicare changes for 2013, when announced will be available at www.Medicare. gov. For some beneficiaries, their SoFrazier continued from page 3A

that enable people to live in their own homes and community-based settings.”

Governor Thompson had the vision. Governor Doyle had the cour-

efits. That would reduce the system’s deficit by around 35 percent.

Earlier in this column, I labeled these as “relatively modest” reforms.

But I totally understand that “modest” is in the eye of the beholder. When I recently was talking to a group of union officials, they booed when I discussed increasing the retirement age. When I gave a speech to a group of senior citizens, they booed when I talked about lowering cost of living adjustments. When I met with a local Chamber of Commerce, they booed when I mentioned the elimination of cial Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola. age to continue and expand. Governor Walker now has the opportunity to move forward to make the goals of his predecessors a reality-- that is the best long-term care program in the country.

My

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the taxable wage base. And when I gave a seminar to a room full of near retirees, they booed when I said that the benefit formula might change resulting in reduced future benefits.

Obviously, different groups will not like individual reforms. But I believe that taken as a package, a well thought out set of reforms that “spread the pain” across the spectrum of the American public will be sup-

• 50plus • 9A

ported by a majority of people.

These and other options for reform, along with an explanation of how Social Security is financed, are included in a fact sheet I have written.

It’s called “Myths and Facts About Social Security Financing.” You can request a free digital copy by sending me an email at thomas.margenau@ comcast.net.

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10A • 50plus • November 2012

Herman White

Only one president was elected to three terms Will Barack Obama as the 44th president of these United States of America be among the notables who have served at least second terms?

I am writing of the two term notables due to the fact that during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a third term in office, one which he failed to serve fully due to his untimely death in 1945. He was first elected in 1933. No president ahead of him sought a third consecutive term and legislation passed by Congress makes it impossible for a current or future president to do so.

One president ahead of FDR campaigned for a third term after leaving the office for four years, but he was rebuffed by the voters who didn’t want the “Bullmoose” (Teddy Roosevelt) back in office.

Another president, Grover Cleveland served two single terms, and was elected to do in 1885-89 and 1893-97.

Richard Nixon resigned from the office of president early in his second term as a result of the Watergate Break-in Scandal.

Pres. Truman served slightly more than one term, having ascended to the office following Pres. Roosevelt’s death. The same occurred for Pres. L.B. Johnson, who was elevated to the office from the vice presidency following the killing of Pres. Kennedy.

The two-term presidents, to date, include our founding father, Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, Jackson, Madison, Grant, Coolidge, T. Roosevelt, Wilson, Eisenhower, Reagan, Clinton and the second Bush.

This November, we will know if Pres. Obama will added as number 14 to the list of two-term presidents.

By way of interest, Pres. George Washington’s terms of office did not begin until 1789.

nemovitz continued from page 8A

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, and 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 BBB, and was a finalist for Concordia College’s Ethical Business Leadership Award.

He works with his wife, Jeanne, at Realty Executives Integrity. Please call Bruce or Jeanne with any real estate questions at (262) 242-6177 or email Bruce@BrucesTeam.com.

Visit their website at www.brucesteam.com for more information.

It is a gift, which is why we call it the ‘present!’”

Bruce Nemovitz is a Senior Real Estate Specialist and Certified Senior Advisor. He 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. (www.MovingInTheRightDirection. com). He received the 2010 “Realtor of the Year” from the 3,800 membership of the (Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors). Bruce is a featured speaker at several senior communities where his discussions

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November 2012

• 50plus • 11A

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Men’s health:

Encouraging good health habits

By Sharon Naylor When men are advised by their doctors to follow a healthier diet and to exercise, those who love them want to see those changes being made at home. And if he doesn’t make those changes, you’re likely to want to take action by trying to help your loved one live a long time, avoid medical procedures and illnesses, and cut down on that handful of prescription pills each morning and night.

First, accept that change may not come easily. As we age, people tend to become creatures of habit, and some of our comfort foods will be quite difficult to give up or limit. So if the man in your life, or woman for that matter, fights your suggestions or rebels against your strict rules be gentle and remind him or her that you’re acting out of love and concern. *Increasing Exercise Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day. “Lead by example,” says Nicole

Clancy, a certified fitness trainer and medical exercise specialist. Rather than be a nag, encourage the man in your life to go for a walk, Clancy suggests try to say things like: “It’s a beautiful day outside; let’s walk to breakfast,” “The grandkids will be here soon; let’s walk to the corner to greet them,” or “Parking is a bit tight; let’s walk from the dry cleaners to the pharmacy.”

Clancy also suggests combining exercise with social outings. “Exercise is way more fun if we’re doing it with your friends,” she says. “For example, coordinate a coffee group after the morning gym visit. Schedule a walk-and-talk visit with long-time neighbors who have been traveling.

Enlist the help of an exercise professional and plan for a small group circuit class along with your favorite music. The small informal fitness format will be less intimidating.” If men’s health continued on page 13A

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As with any surgery, knee replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and death. Implant related risks which may lead to a revision include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), and reaction to particle debris.

The information presented is for educational purposes only.

Knee implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint.

Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level.

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November 2012

men’s health continued from page 12A the man in your life prefers solo exercise, arrange for him to swim laps in the pool while you do your water aerobics.

Many seniors are signing up for charity walks or bike ride events.

“Encouraging friendly competition or goal setting is an instant way to improve motivation for ourselves and others,” Clancy says. “Register to participate in an event that supports a cause near and dear to his heart. Many communities sponsor walking or athletic events with a local nonprofit as the beneficiary. The man in your life will be inspired to head out for daily walks to prep for the event, knowing his participation is raising awareness.

Encourage others to join you and form a team. Choosing to participate in honor of a loved one will also encourage activity. Make the outing about the cause, not the fitness.”

*Healthier Diet Improving the man in your life’s diet can be a challenge if he enjoys fast food or nighttime snacks, so endeavor to introduce healthier options gradually. It’s a wise idea to speak with a doctor or a nutritionist in order to learn what’s advised for his particular health issues. You might be encouraged to make hearty minestrone as a dinner once a week, switch from 2 percent milk to 1 percent, add leafy greens to stews or drink more green tea.

Linda Hollinger-Smith, Ph.D., vice president of Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, says, “Nutritional needs change as we age. Older adults must ensure they’re consuming the right kind and the right amount of food.

One of the main goals for older adults’ diets is to increase nutrition while taking in fewer calories. This can be done by consuming the daily-recom-

mended servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, consuming more fiber and including low-fat, high-protein meats in your diet. In general, older adults should avoid anything containing sugar, salt and caffeine -- basically anything that may interfere with organ function or digestion.

“Also avoid saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol -- such as red meat, cheese, any type of junk food (chips, crackers, ice cream) and prepackaged or frozen meals, because eating too much of any of these may increase the risk of heart disease, says Dr. Hollinger-Smith. “As you support the man in your life, start by serving fruits at breakfast and as desserts and trying new recipes to add more antioxidant-, fiber- and calcium-rich foods to your weekly menus. An immediate change you can make is to include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats -- found in fish, nuts and

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• 50plus • 13A

vegetable oils -- to reduce saturated fat calories in his diet, and yours. And eating a diet rich in potassium helps counterbalance sodium’s harmful effects on blood pressure.” *Sound Sleep Sleep is an important health element. Without it, our bodies and minds don’t function as well as they should. “Contrary to popular belief, older adults require as much sleep as they did when they were younger,” Dr. Hollinger-Smith says. So encourage a regular sleep schedule, which might involve eliminating nighttime snacks and going to bed a half-hour earlier.

It is also important to encourage and praise the man in your life when he makes a smarter health choice, and celebrate when he receives better medical test results from his new, healthier lifestyle.

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14A • 50plus • November 2012

Alzheimer’s Disease

Healthy lifestyles slow its gradual onslaught Dr. David Lipschitz Alzheimer’s disease is the most feared illness after cancer.

There are many misconceptions about the disease both in Europe and Heritage at Deer Creek 8-12:Layout 1 7/17/12 the United States.

In polls, more than half the people questioned believe there is a reliable test to diagnose Alzheimer’s as well as effective therapies to treat the disease. And 32 percent of respondents are PM not Page aware 3:24 1 that the disease is fatal.

At a recent international conference sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, encouraging information showed that imaging studies and blood tests may be able to identify those at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s 10 to 20 years before symptoms develop. These tests involve detecting abnormal proteins (beta amyloid and tau proteins) that accumulate in the brain of a patient with the disease.

A cure will be possible only if the disease is identified long before symptoms develop. Much research is under way to more accurately define mechanisms leading to the disease, and drugs are being designed that will either arrest or reverse the gradual brain damage produced by Alzheimer’s.

With no effective therapies, the expensive tests now used to try to identify at-risk individuals offer no benefit. Though those who develop the disease have ongoing damage to the brain, there is much that can be done to keep the brain healthy, making it possible to delay the onset of symptoms for many years. These tactics benefit our general health, whether we are high risk or low risk for Alzheimer’s.

By age 85, half the population will have memory loss that is severe enough to interfere with quality of life and the ability to live independently without assistance. Delaying the onset by a few years may allow someone to

live a full life without ever becoming significantly forgetful.

Because of the prevalence of the disease, everyone who is 50 or older should do all he can to reduce his risk of Alzheimer’s. Those at greater risk must be even more vigilant.

Age is the most important risk factor for the disease, but Alzheimer’s is also likelier if more than one family member has the disease or if a relative develops the disease while younger than 70.

Head injuries, high blood pressure and heart attacks are also risk factors for the disease. There are also certain genes associated with a higher risk of the disease. The most prevalent is apolipoprotein E4, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 50 to 100 percent, depending on whether an individual has one copy of the gene or two.

The most effective way of decreasing risk is by living a hearthealthy lifestyle. Eating right, maintaining an ideal weight and exercise have been shown to protect memory.

Important, too, is appropriate treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol and heart disease.

And for those who have no evidence of heart disease but are at an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, some -- but not all -- experts recommend being treated as if you have had a heart attack. healthy continued on page 15A

November 2012

Alzheimer’s progress is cruel and only one-way

By Dr. David Lipschitz Alzheimer’s is a gradually progressive disease that eventually leads to relentless declines in memory, with loss of virtually every aspect of intellectual function. Early on, the disease is nothing more than a minor disability.

Short-term memory is impaired, but with strong family support, compulsive medical care and perhaps the use of medications to slow the rate of progression of the disease, an individual can have many productive years and be perfectly able to manage in the community and enjoy life with family

and friends. At this stage of the illness, anything is possible.

But as the disease relentlessly progresses, memory insidiously declines and with time, many different elements of intellectual function become impaired. The patient may remain physically healthy but intellectually, he or she becomes more and more dependent and closely anchored to his or her major caregiver, either a spouse or an offspring. At this stage of the disease, the patient may follow the caregiver from room to room and become agitated if the caregiver leaves his or

healthy continued from page 14A

Though anyone may retire from his job, he must not retire from a life that should be filled with passion, learning and excitement. The more engaged and active -- physically and intellectually -- you are the less likely the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Being a lifelong learner, continuing to read avidly, solving crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and attending classes at a community college are all worthwhile endeavors. Playing bridge, which combines socialization with intellectual stimulation, is a powerful way to protect the mind.

In the long term, it all comes around to a commitment to health. If you wait until a disease or symptoms develop, it will be far too late.

David Lipschitz’s weekly column, “Lifelong Health,” is on creators. com.

This involves making sure that blood pressure is always in the normal range, ensuring that the bad cholesterol, or LDL, is below 70, and being treated with a medication called an ACE inhibitor, which not only reduces risk of heart attacks but also may delay Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Preventing damage to blood vessels in the brain by reducing cholesterol deposits and preventing blockage that leads to mini-strokes ensures that as much of the brain as possible remains healthy as the inexorable and irreversible damage to brain cells occurs as Alzheimer’s slowly progresses.

Exercising the mind is most important. The more educated one is the later the age at which Alzheimer’s develops. The likely mechanism is an increased intellectual acuity that helps adapt to the damage of the brain that leads to memory loss.

alzheimers continued on page 22A

• 50plus • 15A

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Congress has forgotten how to oversee the executive

By Lee Hamilton You’ve likely never heard of William Natcher, which would have been just fine with him. Natcher spent four decades in Congress representing the area around Bowling Green, Kentucky, and for the most part the national press ignored him, just as he ignored them. He didn’t have time for burnishing his public image; he was what is known on Capitol Hill as “a work horse, not a show horse.”

For many years, Natcher chaired a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee that dealt with the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. In his day, the Appropriations subcommittee chairs were arguably the most powerful legislators on Capitol Hill: they were known as “the College of Cardinals” and were feared and respected not just by their colleagues, but, more importantly, by the people who ran the executive-branch departments they oversaw.

These days, the position carries much less power. As Scott Lilly, a longtime congressional staffer who now teaches at Georgetown University, put it recently in an insightful

article for the congressional-affairs journal Extensions, the chairmen once known as the cardinals are now “more like a rag tag band of parish priests.”

I’m telling you this because what might seem like a bit of obscure congressional trivia is actually a key reason Congress is far less effective as an institution and why power has shifted to the executive branch. Congress may still oversee executive agencies, but not very well. The disappearance of legislators like Natcher is a big reason why.

Watching Bill Natcher at work was a lesson in what it means for Congress to be a co-equal branch of government. He prepared painstakingly for his subcommittee hearings—scrutinizing agency budgets, filling entire notebooks with questions and observations about executive-branch decision, reaching out to the contacts he’d made over decades to understand the implications of the tiniest changes in policy, working closely with his Republican counterpart to examine every line in the budgets they oversaw.

He’d spend days grilling administration officials, making them explain their policies and holding them

accountable for every dollar they’d spent and proposed to spend. He wasn’t rude or impatient or partisan— officials of both parties knew they’d be treated courteously, but that when they came before him, they’d better know their budget and operations in detail as well as be able to justify every increase they were proposing.

Natcher wasn’t alone. Most of his fellow Appropriations subcommittee chairs did this. They secured the information Congress needed to make informed decisions about the federal budget and government policies. And they put the executive branch on notice that Congress was watching its every move.

As Scott Lilly points out, various changes have undermined this role. The Republican caucus decided in the middle 1990s to limit its subcommittee chairs to six years. Being a member of Congress today requires endless fundraising and public relations, and affords far less time for committee business. The partisan environment stresses ideological point scoring and downplays rigorous oversight. Congress now relies excessively on omnibus and supplemental

bills. All this has shifted power to a distracted leadership and out of the hands of congressional experts who had the time and interest to oversee executive agencies.

Why does this matter? Because for all its faults, Congress is still the most representative institution our nation possesses, and therefore the place where tough oversight of the executive must occur.

The appropriations process, when the executive branch must ask for funding, is the strongest lever Congress controls to ensure that taxpayers’ money is being spent effectively and that policy represents the interests of the American people. When legislators no longer have the skills, interest or ability to gather the detailed information they need to hold executive-branch officials accountable, Congress simply cannot do its job properly.

“We are dealing with a $10 billion black box,” one frustrated congressional staffer told Lilly, lamenting how easy it has become for federal agencies to sidestep scrutiny from Capitol Hill. The power of the executive is going unchecked.

Downsizing: A Step-by-Step Solution to an Easy Move!

The word I hear so often from my senior clients who are thinking about moving – especially from a long-time home – “overwhelming!’ But every-

thing gets much easier to deal with when broken down to bite-sized pieces. So, I’ve put together a step-by-step approach to help downsize years of personal “treasures,” allowing you to focus on the most important aspect of moving – a better quality of living in your new senior community!

5 Keys to Managing your Downsize 1. one rooM at a tiMe. Go through each item in a room and decide what you will take with you, what you will give away, what you will sell and what you will donate. You can tag items with different colored post-it notes for easy identification.

2. get Help. Call those you love and ask them to be a part of your move. Give them specific tasks or projects they can do to help.

3. give it away. Invite family/friends to come over and let you know which items they would enjoy having. Have colored post-it slips for them to put their name on and attach it to the items they wish to take to keep track of their preferences. Put a deadline on the pick-up dates and remember that the goal is to get the property out of the house, not store it for years to come.

4. Call a professional. If family is not available to help, call a packing and downsizing company. These businesses can make all the difference for a smooth and easy move! This service is more affordable than you might expect, and will make your move so much less stressful. Contact me for my recommended company.

5. sell, sell, sell. At this point you’re on your way to a successful home sale! Once you have a move-in date, talk to your Senior Real Estate Specialist about when to put your home on the market. You’ll want to have the home completely “thinned out” by that date. When you’ve accepted an offer, consider an estate sale. You will usually have 30-45 days between the accepted offer and the closing. An estate sale company can host the sale at your home – usually for two days. When it’s over, they’ll clean the entire home. You usually keep two-thirds of the sales price and the estate sale company keeps one-third.

After the estate sale, all that’s left is to move into your new apartment and move on with your life!

Call Bruce or Jeanne at 262-242-6177 for an appointment to begin your journey to a successful move.

262-242-6177 | www.BrucesTeam.com

November 2012

• 50plus • 17A

Medicare Advantage remains strong Enrollment in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program is projected to increase by 11 percent in the next year and premiums will remain steady, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, Medicare Advantage premiums have fallen by 10 percent and enrollment has risen by 28 percent.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug programs have been strengthened and continues to improve for beneficiaries,” said Secretary Sebelius. “Since the law was enacted in 2010, average premiums have gone down, enrollment has gone up, and new benefits and lower drug costs continue to help millions of seniors and people with disabilities.”

For the third year in a row, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) used authority provided by the Affordable Care Act to protect beneficiaries from significant increases in costs or cuts in benefits. Access to supplemental benefits remains steady and beneficiaries’ average out-of-pocket spending remains constant.

The average MA premium in 2013 is projected to increase by only $1.47 from last year, coming to $32.59. However, if beneficiaries choose lower cost plans at the same rate in 2013, as they did in 2012, the average premium is expected to increase by only 57 cents. Access to the Medicare Advantage program will remain strong, with 99.6 percent of beneficiaries having access to a plan. Additionally, the number of plan choices will increase by seven percent in 2013.

Last month, CMS announced that the average estimated basic Medicare prescription drug plan premium was projected to be $30 in 2013, holding steady from last year.

Today’s projections show that access to a Medicare prescription drug plan will remain strong in 2013. Everyone with Medicare will have access to a wide range of plan choices.

Coverage for both brand name and generic drugs in the Part D do-

nut hole coverage gap will continue to increase until 2020, when the donut hole will be closed. This year, people with Medicare received a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs and 14 percent coverage of generic drugs in the donut hole.

In 2013, Medicare Part D’s coverage of brand name drugs will begin to increase, so people with Medicare will receive approximately 53 percent off the cost of brand name drugs, and coverage for 21 percent of the cost of generic drugs, in the donut hole.

Since the Affordable Health Care Act was enacted into law, 5.4 million people with Medicare have saved over $4.1 billion on prescription drugs in the donut hole. An estimated 37 million people with Medicare received a preventive benefit free of charge in 2011.

The Annual Open Enrollment Period for health and drug plans began on October 15 and ends December 7. Each year plans change what they cost and what they cover.

To find helpful Medicare tools and information, and compare the cost or benefits of 2013 Medicare health plans in your area, visit the following website: http://www.cms.gov/ center/openenrollment.asp.

Veterans go to Washington

Clayton Chipman, Brookfield, was accompanied by his grandson, Jeremy Baier, Waukesha, when Chipman was one of a plane full of World War II veterans airlifted to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II monument in their

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18A • 50plus • November 2012 Taxes continued on page 1A

This is a tough decision for many who fear that passing a large estate to a child before they have had a chance to develop a good work ethic is not worth the tax advantage. However, if the beneficiaries are grown with well established careers, families and homes, taking advantage of the tax savings and making the gift becomes much more appealing.

There is a concern that taxes on capital gains and dividends will be going up next year. It is important that you determine what the impact will be on your income. In addition, the Health Care Bills impose an additional 3.8 percent Medicare surtax on net investment income beginning in 2013. It may be worth considering moving your dividend and income paying investments into a tax-deferred retirement account to lower your tax exposure.

If you own a large highly appreciated equity position and you currently have a lower taxable income you might consider selling all or a portion of that stock without paying

any capital gains prior to year-end.

If you like that particular stock you can purchase it back the next day establishing a new cost basis if the stock was sold at a gain.

If capital gains go up next year it may make sense to sell some of your highly appreciated assets and capture the 15 percent capital gains tax in 2012. It will be important to verify with your CPA regarding offsetting any of those gains with losses from prior years.

If you have losses either personal or from your business (NOLs) this might be a great opportunity for you to use those losses to offset taxes by taking a distribution from your IRA or 401(k) and doing a Roth conversion.

If you have reached 70 ½ and are taking your mandatory required minimum distribution (RMD) that you do not need to spend you may want to gift that distribution to a qualified charity, which will avoid increasing your tax bracket and will gift completely tax free. 2012 may be the final year for this provision.

If taxes increase in 2013 it might

be the perfect time to convert all or a portion of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA prior to year-end.

It is possible that high-income taxpayers will no longer benefit from no limitation or itemized deductions. In 2011 and 2012, the limitations were repealed and it is uncertain if this provision will be extended.

Reviewing your estate plan and checking your beneficiary designations is an important step to confirming that your assets will pass correctly with the least amount of tax burden to your beneficiaries. If your documents are not correct the taxes and expenses incurred could potentially have a much larger impact on your legacy than current legislation ever will.

What can you do to make sure you have considered the impact of pending tax law changes? Have a conversation with your investment advisor, CPA or tax preparer.

If you wait until tax-time, many CPAs will be too busy preparing returns to offer planning strategies.

Make sure your investment advisor

has a copy of your most recent income tax return to determine your income tax bracket, implications of a Roth conversion and any carry-forward losses.

The unknown definitely makes it difficult to plan, but don’t let the unknown prevent you from planning. Understanding your specific situation and being prepared is the first step to making a good financial decision regardless of what Congress ultimately decides. As with all planning strategies, there is no one shoe that fits all. It is important is to evaluate with a financial planner and accountant to determine which strategies will benefit your individual situation.

Disclosure: Securities and advisory services offered through SII Investments, Inc. Member FINRA/ SIPC & Registered Investment Advisor. Ellenbecker Investment Group, Inc. and SII Investments are separate companies. SII does not provide tax or legal advice.

Burlington

- Francis Meadows: (262) 210-8501

Cudahy

- Cottonwood Trails: (414) 254-8490

Delafield

- Hillside Woods I & II: (262) 370-2662

Franklin

- Clare Meadows I & II: (414) 421-8499

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White Oaks: (414) 229-7923 Crestview: (414) 541-3333 High Grove: (414) 541-3333 Prairie Hill: (414) 541-3333 Hill Crest: (414) 541-3333

Menomonee Falls - Alta Mira II: (262) 719-3884

Milwaukee

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Wauwatosa - Cedar Glen: (877) 648-8394

November 2012

• 50plus • 19A

Review this fall prevention checklist The first day of fall kicks off a Fall Prevention Crusade to warn local families to safety proof their homes to prevent seniors from falling. Falls are the number one cause of injuries, hospital visits and deaths among those 65 and older. That’s why Senior Helpers, one of the largest in-home senior care companies (with a local office of highly trained caregivers specializing in dementia and Alzheimer’s care), warns families to safety proof their homes with a “Fall Prevention Checklist.”

“Falls have become a nationwide problem and despite what people may think about the older population… falls are not inevitable. In fact, they’re largely preventable,” says Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “Up to 30 percent of those who fall suffer injuries such as hip fractures or head traumas. Our highly trained caregivers can help spot danger zones in and around seniors’ homes and help seniors move around their environment more carefully.”

Consider This from the CDC: • One out of three seniors falls each year.

• In 2008, 19,700 older Americans died from fall related injuries.

• In 2008, 2.1 million older Americans were injured in falls.

Senior Helpers “Fall Prevention Checklist” Install handrails on BOTH sides of stairs and grab bars in bathrooms.

(It is estimated that one-third of households in America with stairs DO NOT have banisters or handrails; and only 19 percent of households in America have grab bars in tubs/showers.)

Provide plenty of light at the top and bottom of stairs and throughout hallways.

Paint the bottom basement step white to make it more visible.

Secure rugs to the floor to prevent tripping.

Attach non-slip strips to the bottom of slippers and shoes.

In outside areas, check steps and walkways for loose bricks, cement or

stone.

Senior Helpers “Fall Prevention Checklist” for Dementia/Alzheimer’s Patients Encourage seniors to wear hip protectors (90 percent of hip fractures are due to falls).

Make sure they have a walking aid within reach.

Use an emergency sensor overnight to help detect wandering.

Do not use bed rails overnight.

Instead, lower the bed to the ground.

Encourage seniors to rest with the head of the bed slightly raised.

Use a seatbelt on a shower chair.

Never leave a patient in the shower or bathroom unattended.

“When you care for a senior with dementia, you have an added responsibility because dementia puts seniors at the highest risk for wandering, which increases chances for falling,” says Ross. The “Fall Prevention Checklist” is one initiative in our dementia and Alzheimer’s program called our Senior Gems® program.

We recommend families hire our caregivers because they know how to keep senior loved ones safe while simultaneously encouraging mobility and independence. This takes training and experience.”

Other Tips To Help Prevent Falling: Measure Foot Size each time your senior buys shoes. Foot size changes with age and a shoe that is too big increases the risk of a fall.

Exercise Regularly – choose activities that increase leg strength and improve balance in seniors, such as Tai Chi. Eye Check-ups – make sure senior loved ones have their eyes checked by a doctor at least once a year and have their eyeglasses updated as needed.

A good tip: consider getting a pair with single vision distance lenses for activities such as walking outside.

Review Medications – have a doctor or pharmacist review medications/prescriptions to learn what may cause side effects, such as dizziness or drowsiness.

This story affects all seniors and their families. Help us spread the

word about Fall Prevention Awareness by touring a senior’s home with Senior Helpers experts/caregivers as they point out the most common danger spots.

Did You Know?

In 2008, 82 percent of fall deaths were among people 65 and older.

Fall-related fractures occur more than twice the rate for older women than for older men.

More than 90 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls.

Direct medical costs of falls equalled $28.2 billion in 2010.

To learn more visit www.seniorhelpers.com. There, you can also request a complimentary Senior Gems DVD. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AgedCarer

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20A • 50plus • November 2012

Archery, a time honored sport for all ages and capabilities pearson continued from page 1A can be played and enjoyed by virtually everyone: Seniors from 50 to 100; women and men; children and teenagers; people in wheelchairs or who have other physical disabilities.

“And also individuals who love sports and competition but who have not been blessed with exceptional athletic abilities,” points out Gary DePerry, the Physical Education Chairperson at Reagan H.S. in Milwaukee. “Many young people today are simply not big enough, or tall or strong enough for major team sports,” he said. “But they can partake in archery. A small young boy who would never make the football team, or a petite young lady who would never grow tall enough to play basketball or volleyball, not only can participate in the archery program, they can become winners, even champions.” DePerry has taught and coached in Milwaukee Public Schools for 24 years, including seven years as the head basketball coach at Bradley Tech High School.

Representing the other end of the age spectrum, Karl Nelson, the director of the archery competition for the Wisconsin Senior Olympics, agreed with DePerry about the advantages of the sport. “Senior men and women who were good athletes once in certain sports, but because of aging can no longer effectively compete in those sports, can still be active and successful in archery,” he said. “ I’m a good example.

At one time I thought of myself as a fairly good baseball player. I could hit and throw and run with the best of them. I sure can’t do those things now, much as I’d like to. But I can still be a winner in my age category in archery.”

The Wisconsin Senior Olympics are conducted every year. Nelson has served as the Event Coordinator for the archery competition for the past 15 Olympics, and when he’s not busy running the show, has won 10 ribbons himself in those Olympics.

Despite all these qualities, archery is a comparatively forgotten sport.

Check out the sport pages of newspapers and magazines today or watch television and you’ll rarely come across anything about archery. The Wisconsin Archery Alliance, the governing body

for the sport in this state, recently conducted its major summer tournament.

It was held on the 40-acre grounds of the Kenosha Bowmen’s Club, and included most of the top archers from all over the state and some from out of state. Did you read anything about it either before or after the event? I didn’t see anything.

Never mind. Archery is alive and well, despite its anonymity. For example: • It is one of the sports in the World Olympics. This past summer at the games in London, England, the U.S. archery team did far better than expected, coming within a smidgeon of winning the gold medal.

Coach Gary DePerry, with two of his young Reagan High School archers, Shannon Couillard and Jonathan Cruz. Both students won first place awards at the recent MPS City Archery Tournament, not bad for just taking up the sport this past year.

• The National Archery in the Schools Program, which DePerry’s school is a part, started in 2002 and now involves more than ten million students and nine thousand schools from across the country. In Wisconsin there are more than 60,000 students in roughly 400 schools now learning the sport.

• Archery was one of 22 sports featured in the recent Wisconsin Senior Olympics competition referred to earlier.

• Wisconsin has more archery clubs than gun clubs (and they don’t make anywhere near as much noise).

Here’s more on each of those

points: In features about the Olympics in publications such as Sports Illustrated magazine and USA Today newspaper, the odds-on favorite to win a Gold Medal in archery was not the U.S. or a European nation as your might expect; rather it was a small Asian country, South Korea.

In both the men and women’s competitions, France, Italy and China were considered favorites following South Korea. A South Korean by the name of Im Dong-hyun was regarded as the best male archer in the world, and the best for the women was Ki Be-hae, also of South Korea. It was in the men’s division that the U.S. almost pulled off the upset of the games. It was the closest competition that anyone could recall, and in the end, Italy took the gold over the U.S., 219-218, while South Korea had to be satisfied with a bronze for third. The South Koreans had won the gold the last four Olympics in a row.

The American team was made up of three Californians, Jake Kaminski, Brady Ellison and Jacob Wukie.

So for a couple of weeks, the sport of archery earned a wee bit of notoriety around the globe; but still not nearly as much as basketball or swimming, to be sure, but a bit. ****** One of the most noteworthy developments in recent years in the field of archery has been the creation of that National Archery in the Schools Program. This program offers students in grades four through 12 the opportunity to try archery in physical education classes and on a club basis. In Wisconsin, it has not yet become an interscholastic sport such as basketball or football. However, students do compete against one another in their PE classes, in the clubs and against students from other schools at the annual State Archery Tournament in Wisconsin Rapids.

Some of the elementary level schools in the Milwaukee area that have adopted the program are Clarke Street, Good Hope, Parkview and Starms; and some at the high school level are Hamilton, Reagan, South Division and Washington.

At Reagan High School, the ar-

chery program was introduced in late 2011 at DePerry’s suggestion. More than 50 students signed up for the program. It is offered as a club activity, similar to a drama club or a music club. No academic credit or sports letter is given; the club is there just for students’ interest and enjoyment.

“A little more than that,” DePerry said. “One of the benefits of sports is that they provide a means by which students can feel good about themselves. If they make the team, or if they perform well, it gives them a sense of accomplishment that they may not gain anywhere else. As noted earlier, not all students are well enough endowed physically to be on the football or basketball or other teams. This is where a sport such as archery comes in.”

DePerry noted that of the 50 some students now in the program at the school, better than a third are girls. And the majority of them are not in other sports. “Not that our star athletes are not welcome to join the archery program,” DePerry said. “In fact one of our archers is a four year letterman in soccer. The program is open to all students.”

DePerry said that initially there had been some apprehension about safety factors, especially among parents, when the archery program was being considered at Reagan. “But right from the beginning, safety was emphasized. Everything we teach stresses that factor. There’s absolutely no horsing around, and the students understand. As a result, we’ve never had a mishap or anyone hurt in any way.

In fact, since the NASP program was started ten years ago, the same can be said.” And he smiled and knocked on his desktop, which, of course, was made of wood. ****** Every year the Wisconsin Senior Olympics conducts competition in 22 sports. Because there is no one site where all the events can be held, each event is conducted in different locations and cities. The sports are, in alphabetical order, archery, badminton, basketball (3 on 3), basketball free throw, bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, lawn bowling, pickleball (I bet you don’t know what that is?), powPearson continued on page 21A

November 2012

pearson continued from page 20A er lifting, racewalk, racquetball, road race or walk (5k), shuffleboard, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track & field, triathlon and volleyball.

Archery is always conducted in Beloit, and is hosted by the Beloit Field Archers Club. Competition in all sports is for men and women 50 years old and older.

Although individual states such as Wisconsin conduct their Senior Olympic Games every year, the National Senior Olympics is held every other year, always in a different part of the country. The 2013 Games are scheduled to be held in Cleveland next July and August. In order to qualify for the Nationals, a contestant in one of the state events has to win a medal and a certain number of points. Not everyone who qualifies makes the trip, however.

There are considerable costs involved, which include travel (usually by air), food, accommodations and entry fees, to name the main ones. Because most seniors are retired and on fixed incomes, a good many of them, sometimes those with the highest scores, just can’t afford to go.

While qualifying for the National Olympics, a state gold medal winner must also score at least 550 points with his or her 90 shots at the target.

A contestant can win a gold in his or her event, for example, with any score if he or she is the only one competing in that specific age category. Here are two cases: Gordon Schalla of West Bend is 86 years old, and competes in the 8589 age group. He’s the only one in his group. Schalla has been competing for more than a half century, has won more ribbons and awards than any archer in Wisconsin history and is the only archer in the Wisconsin Senior Olympics Hall of Fame. So, added to his gold medal, he had to score at least a 550 to qualify for the Nationals, He shot a 724, and, the Good Lord willing, plans to compete at those Nationals next summer in Cleveland.

In the other instance, Gwendolyn Sheppard of Brown Deer was the only woman entered in the 50-54 age group for females, and as such won a gold medal. Her score, however, was only 156. That minimal score can be explained in that Sheppard is a beginner in archery and is just learning the sport.

“I have to give her a lot of credit for just entering and competing,” Nelson said. “We had only two women this year at our event; I wish we had more.”

On the subject of Schalla, Nelson had even more praise. “I’m not sure just how many archery tournaments Gordon has participated in over the past half century, or how many ribbons and awards he’s won, but I’m sure it’s far more than anyone else who’s ever been involved in the sport. He is something.” At 86, Schalla was the oldest participant in the archery competition.

The next two were Roy Rider, 79, one of the two archers from Michigan who entered, and Richard Lindeman, 77, of Beloit.

At the Wisconsin Senior Olympics competition in Beloit, as it is at most state meets, the two different styles of bows that are used are called the “compound release” bows and the “recurve” bows. A compound release is the modern version and is made up with several parts (see photo of Karl Nelson). The recurve bow is similar to the one that was used by Erroll Flynn in the movie, “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” a long, single piece of wood tapered to both ends. The modern style obviously makes for greater accuracy and distance. Many archers, however, still prefer the old fashioned recurve bow.

In the Senior Olympics archery competition, separate ribbons and points are awarded in each category.

Since archery competitors shoot a total of 90 arrows (30 at a target 40 feet away, 30 at a target 50 feet away and 30 at one 60 feet away), and are given one to ten points per shot, depending on where the arrow hits the target, the highest possible score would be a 900, which is next to impossible to attain.

Nelson said the highest he has ever seen at a State Olympic event was an 893. When you consider that an archer is shooting at a tiny bullseye only a couple of inches across from a distance of a half of a football field or more, that is phenomenal shooting. An 893 would be hitting the bullseye 83 times out of 90 shots.

Here are the ribbon winners from the archery competition in Beloit, age competitions, bow style, ribbon and score, and hometown of the archer.

Age 50-54, Gwendolyn Sheppard, recurve, 156 score, Gold, Brown Deer;

• 50plus • 21A

As pointed out by Richard Lindeman of the Beloit archers, the bullseye on a target is pretty small, even more so when you’re looking at it from 60 yards away.

Chris Daigneault, compound release, 834, Gold, Elkhorn.

Age 55-59, Don Ward, compound release, 885, Gold, Stoughton; Dennis Nicholson, compound release, 867, Silver, Beloit. Thomas Havel, recurve, 746, Gold, from Illinois; Robert Powell, recurve, 710, Gold, Mequon. (Two Golds are awarded in an event if one archer is from out of state.)

Age 60-64, John Bronson, compound fingers, 787, Gold, Beloit; Kenneth Daroszewski, recurve, 620, Gold, Madison; Larry Core, compound release, 855, Gold, Michigan; Dennis Mellott, compound release, 851, Silver, Illinois.

65 - 69, Kendra Tutsch, compound release, 756, Gold, Lodi; Doug Grade, compound release, 868, Gold, Sussex.

70-74, Jerald Tutsch, compound release, 739, Gold, Lodi. (Kendra and Jerald Tutsch are married. Note who had the highest score.) Joseph Resch, compound release, 624, Silver, Delafield.

75-79, Roy Rider, recurve, 721, Gold, Michigan; Richard Lindeman, compound release, 800, Gold, Beloit.

80-84, no competitors.

85-89, Gordon Schalla, compound release, 724, Gold, West Bend.

So there you have it, the results of the archery competition at the recent Wisconsin Senior Olympics games.

We would have liked to give you the ribbon winners from all 22 of the sports, but there simply is not enough room here, and after all, the subject of this column is archery. But in any event, it all goes to confirm the mot-

to of our good friends at the Village at Manor Park, which states, “You’re Never Too Old To Play.” ****** If all this commentary about archery has piqued your curiosity about the sport to any degree, you might want to investigate any of the fine clubs in the area. Any of them would be happy to provide more information and even to let you try a shot or two. Here are a few in southeastern Wisconsin: The Big Foot Archers of Lake Geneva; the Buck Rub Outfitters of Pewaukee; the Buck Trail Archers of Burlington; the Falls Archery Center in West Bend; the Golden Arrow Bowhunters of Waterford; the Horicon Marsh Bowmen of Mayville; the Kenosha Bowmen of Bristol; the Racine Instinctive Bowmen of Racine; the Sherwood Forest Bowmen of Sussex; the West Allis Bowmen of Franksville; and West Town Archer of Brookfield. There are more, of course, and many more in other areas of the state. Most of the clubs have instructional programs for beginners and children; most are members of an archery league and there is continuous competition; and most offer accompanying social programs, picnics, parties and camping. Membership rates at all of them are quite reasonable. Just like any other sport, however, there is a wide range of prices for equipment. You can buy a serviceable bow for $100 or less, and you can pay $1,500 or more for one.

22A • 50plus • November 2012 Alzheimers continued from page 15 her sight for even an instant. Ever so slowly, the person we cherished and loved, whom we recognized physically, becomes more and more of a stranger. It is a truly cruel disease.

During the course of the disease, many problems occur. Most alarming is the involvement of the front of the brain, which plays a key role in language and judgment. It is the part of the brain that keeps us centered, sensible and prevents us from doing things we should not. It keeps us inhibited.

Frontal-lobe involvement in Alzheimer’s disease creates disinhibition.

A deacon of the church may start to curse or behave inappropriately sexually, physically or verbally — saying or doing things that before would be truly unthinkable. Sadly, there is not much that can be done to reverse or improve this embarrassing and difficult behavior, except to be understanding and realize that the symptoms are not the patient’s fault and that our role as loved ones must be to protect and avoid disasters.

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Just as serious are hallucinations and delusions. Fortunately, hallucinations are usually not frightening. The patient may see children playing or have discussions with friends who are not there. These should never be treated unless they make the patient agitated or distressed.

If this does occur, medications can be prescribed that can prove helpful.

These drugs increase the risk of death and stroke in older people and must be used only if absolutely needed and as a last resort. An example is a medication called Risperdal. (It has been so widely misused that an Arkansas trial judge recently imposed a fine of $1.2 million on the pharmaceutical company that aggressively marketed the drug for nonindicated reasons.)

Occasionally, patients with advanced Alzheimer’s may develop disruptive behavior and can become violent. The patient may fail to recognize someone he sees daily. If this person is not appropriately trained and attempts to persuade the patient to get dressed, bathe or go to the dining room, he may

lash out because he sees a total stranger attempting to manhandle him. Often the patient is blamed and medication is prescribed that does more harm than good. Well-trained staff who truly understands the subtleties of patient care can minimize problems.

Many caregivers experience great pain when their loved one no longer recognizes them or asks who they are and demands to see his spouse.

Too much noise and too many family members can make things worse, leading to more agitation and difficult behaviors. At this stage of the disease, the patient can no longer be left alone and on occasion, may wander away.

Dealing with Alzheimer’s truly takes a village. The nurse, social worker, psychotherapist and physician all play key roles in improving the quality of life of the patient and the family. Just as important are community support groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Arkansas. Crises occur frequently, and a team is needed to obtain the appropriate help.

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EDITORIALS

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50 Plus News Magazine

November 2012

EDITORIALS killing time continued on page 4 You may believe this to be an exaggeration, but the snow was piled up along the railroad track that passed through town higher than the roofline of the depot.

••••••• Reading the above, I guess grandkids today might say, “Sure grandpa, tell us another of those stories about Aunt Emma when you were young.” Their disbelief is natural as things today are so different. Life has become too much of on again, off again; kind of like the electric switch that you flip to on or off.

••••••• I guess this problem has been around for a long time and most people never realized what it was that ailed them. Many have it today and still can’t spell it, Mesothelioma, otherwise known as lung cancer due to such as asbestos exposure. Many of us old-timers experienced that, didn’t we?

••••••• It seems so remote now, but so scary then when in 1952, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought us to the brink of a nuclear war as the Soviet Union

APRON TRINGS

continued

brought nuclear warheads to its young ally, Cuba. Fifty years later, how close again to nuclear war is the situation regarding Iran? We suspect more tense times are ahead of us.

••••••• A caller asked if I really thought there was a difference between the North Dakota Polka and the Tennessee Waltz? Not knowing what to say, I guess I’d just comment that the polka seemed like, better exercise.

••••••• After listening to others at a senior gathering tell about all the health problems they have, I wondered how the average Jane or Joe has escaped all these maladies?

••••••• So you don’t know what PTSD is an abbreviation for? Just be happy you aren’t a military war zone veteran returning home with post traumatic stress disorder.

••••••• A reputable clothing company, Haband, recently had an advertisement for Cargo Comforters. I was surprised that “Cargo” pants weren’t just for bigger people.

•••••••

TRAVEL

SENIOR

Answer Man

ES ME

CRABBY

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ht

• 50plus • 23A

If you are a veteran, make plans for the great breakfast and program the morning of November 8th at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Wauwatosa.

••••••• We are living much longer today than most of our forefathers. Could it be due to the many new innovations, machines and drugs on the market?

The doctors of earlier generations did the best they could with their own knowledge and personal skills. It could be true that they buried a lot of patients.

••••••• A person recently told me that his mouth dropped in surprise as a friend confided something or other to him.

Of all the body parts that could have dropped, I guess he was happy with the mouth.

••••••• Some of those huge NFL linemen could give their wives bruised ribs along with happy hellos after returning home from a victory.

•••••••

HERITAGE LAKE

How can a person who never has been to either the Arctic or Antarctica be said to be with bipolar disease?

••••••• The FAA is abbreviation for Federal Aviation Association. The FAA of Mental Health is comprised of faith, attitude and acceptance. We suspect there are many Packer fans whose mental health has gone the way of victories and defeats due to their addiction to Rogers throwing touchdown passes. Life these days can be measured as immensely enjoyable for those who care not about UW or Green Bay football. Is it ever too late for outcomes to change?

••••••• Box Elder bugs were almost everywhere this past month. We had some at our house even though there weren’t any such trees within sighting distance.

THE REGENCY

War Memorial controversy With no decision yet in sight as to whether the Milwaukee Art Museum will take control of the Veterans War Memorial Center on the lakefront in downtown Milwaukee, Stanley Kogutkiewicz, Veterans Memorial chairman of the board and a member of American Legion Post No 427, Milwaukee, said, “We are calling upon the Art Museum and War Memorial to address unmet veterans service needs with as much emphasis as they are discussing needed facility repairs. The art museum by resolution, is being asked by the veterans to make what veterans call fair market payments in exchange for the ample square footage of space that it occupies in the War Memorial Center structure.”

The Milwaukee County board of veterans directors have stated that the War Memorial Center was built to honor area war dead by serving

the living and to be a rallying place for veterans in need of a place for meetings.

Milwaukee Art Museum officers state that they will not pursue taking control of the center unless the veterans agree to this. Kogutkiewicz has said, “Veterans will not be used as pawns or scapegoats if MAM does not get what it wants. We are troubled that the art museum people have declined several invitations by the War Memorial board to meet.

This suggests that they believe their leverage is in the courthouse and not the community.”

The Milwaukee Art Museum has said it would, with control, begin a $15 million renovation project. At present, it occupies about 75 percent of all space on the lower level, which is accessible from the parking area.

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ME with Jim McLoone

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November 2012 Issue Section B

The Great Madagascar hissing cockroach race; SERVICES OFFERED You haven’t missed seeing it again, have you?

By Jack Pearson You’ve seen races where the participants were people, and probably even those where the runners were horses or dogs. Then there are the not so common races in which the racers are camels, ostriches, turtles and mice. But have you every heard of a cockroach race? Cockroaches!

You must be joshing, you say. Admittedly, it sounds a bit ludicrous, nevertheless I can attest to one’s existence; I recently saw such a race.

It was the 12th Annual Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Race right here in suburban New Berlin. The event was created and has been conducted every year by Jerry Batzner, the diligent president of the Batzner Pest Management Company of Southeastern Wisconsin.

You might assume that the whole affair is some kind of a joke. Not so.

True, there is a good deal of gaiety and laughter involved, but the race also has more than one purpose. It’s part of the National Customer Service Week, and such brings added awareness to its company. Over the years, the race has attracted national attention. A couple of summers ago ESPN Sports came to town, filmed it and termed it one of the top ten sports events of the week. And finally, the race raises funds for a number of local charities, this year the Ronald McDonald House.

But first, what is this creature known as a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, and does it actually hiss?

As their name indicates, these little creatures come from Madagascar, a good-sized island (it’s actual-

ly about four times the size of the state of Wisconsin) off the southeast coast of Africa. The island is largely tropical and covered with jungle, and is noted for spawning many strange critters.

You may not be aware of this, and perhaps don’t care, but there are more than 3,500 species of cockroaches in the world. Most of them are small, less than a half inch in length, have wings and can fly, and they can scoot across the floor in amazing speeds when you try to squish them. The main variety in Wisconsin is the German cockroach.

In Florida, they are called Palmetto Bugs, a name undoubtedly devised by a chamber of commerce there.

Madagascar cockroaches, however, grow to be three to four inches in length, are fat and sort of shaped like a man’s thumb, they don’t have wings and move very slowly. They are reddish brown and black in color, don’t bite and are not harmful.

The ones the Batzner firm keeps in captivity are in a clean enclosure and thus don’t have the germs and loathsomeness usually associated with roaches. You can even pick one up and it will crawl over your hand, if you’re not too squeamish, of course. Some people even keep them as pets, sort of like goldfish.

The ones in captivity can live for up to five years, if kept in a warm environment. They would die outside during the cold Wisconsin winters, so there is no chance of any of them escaping and starting to breed in the wild here.

One of the amazing aspects of these bugs is that they actually hiss,

WANTED TO BUY FOR SALE EDITORIALS Here are two of the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. Although they are the biggest of the more than 3,500 species of cockroaches, they don’t have wings to fly and are found only on the island of Madagascar (that is, unless they are transported elsewhere). somewhat like a snake. Of all the thousands of species of cockroaches, the Madagascar is the only one that has this ability. They reportedly have five different hissing sounds; two for courting purposes, one for mating, one for starting a fight and one for alarm. (Why they have two for courting is an intriguing aspect of which I haven’t been able to find the answer.) When a whole group of these Madagascar roaches all start hissing at once it can make for a frightening sound. Female Madagascar roaches are quite prolific, and can give birth to as many as 750 babies during their short life.

In Madagascar, these roaches have many predators, such as jungle snakes, animals, birds and other insects, and, would you believe, A scene at the 12th Annual Madagascar the natives themselves. A cockroach Hissing Cockroach Race at the Batzner supposedly has three times the protein of steak or chicken, and the na- Pest Management Company in New Berlin. tives say they are delicious. Do not That’s Rick Anderson at the left, the handler take this as advice in any way; this for racer number 3, which won in the record time of 15 seconds. is just a report on conditions found in a land far away. backed by a team of ten employees, As for the race itself, Batzner, and each team was led by a handler after realizing that the race could who urged the roach along during grow in importance and popularity, the race. The event was under the recruited his entire staff to help in the endeavor. This year, each roach was Madagascar continued on page 2B

2B • 50plus • November 2012 Madagascar continued from page 1B supervision of Batzner District Service Manager Dave Kusnierek and Batzner Marketing Manager Chris Venuti. Pari-mutuel and all forms of betting were, of course, discouraged. Safeguards were installed to assure that none of the Madagascar roaches had been aided by steroids or other stimulants.

As the gate went up and the crowd roared, number 3, given only the slightest of a nudge by its handler, Rick Andersen, flashed to the lead and was never caught, winning in the record time of 15 seconds. The time amazed everyone, and winning roach Number 3 was promised an extra helping of ro-

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maine lettuce at dinner that night.

An official review of the outcome of the race was made by Jerry Batzner, who happily confirmed it.

The Batzner Pest Management Company, by the way, has more than 90 employees and is the largest privately owned pest removal firm in the state. They can and do get rid of all kinds of pests for you, from the bigger ones, such as raccoons, skunks, bats and rodents, as well as all kinds of flying and creeping insects, even spiders and bedbugs.

Unfortunately, they do not get rid of any of those insidious pests who call you by phone at all hours trying to coerce you into buying something or

to vote for some yahoo.

The company was started by Jerry’s uncle, Edward Batzner, in 1946. Jerry’s parents, Al and Gloria Batzner, purchased it in 1972 and operated it until 1990, when Jerry took over.

Now, if you’d like to know more about Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, for any reason, you can call Chris Venuti at (262) 797-4160, or Jordan Fox, at (414) 352-2645. Or, if you have any problems with pests, the non-human variety that is, call the Batzner Pest Management Company at 1-(800) 878-2110.

November 2012

Go exploring EDITORIALS with your better half!

CAPITOL MMENT

t Pommer

European barge tours are for the young at heart If you are looking for the perfect vacation with a mix of adventure and relaxation, a European barge tour may be just the ticket for you and yourEmma better half.

European river cruises

By Auntoffer Emma an excellent way for you to see some of the most exciting cities in Europe and are among some of the of the beauty and charm Europe has best cruise deals around. If you are to offer. looking for a unique way to explore Barge tours provide the best the beautiful cities of Europe while cruise and a variety of excitAnswerdeals Man being pampered along the way, Euing destinations including France, ropean river cruises and a barge tour England, Ireland, Holland, Scotcan really be the way to go. land, Italy, Germany, Scotland and Soak in all of the beauty, history Germany. and culture of Europe as you travThe best part of going on vacael on your floating hotel along the tion is exploring new places, having historic rivers and towns along the exciting adventures and discovering banks. Travel in comfort and style as a world of things you never knew you relax on a barge that resembles existed. There’s no better place to a stylish boutique hotel filled with start a new adventure than on a Euamenities. The barge crew will preropean river cruise. pare delicious meals, you will have Content Provided by Spot55. a well appointed, comfortable room, com and, of course, a front row seat to all

APRON STRINGS

G IN THE RECTION

Nemovitz

TRAVEL

SENIOR

IT MAKES ME

GING SUES

m Frazier

NTING ORROW’S MS TODAY ad Olson

ORTS ts Plus k Pearson Pearson

London skyline from the Thames river.

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• 50plus • 3B

4B • 50plus • November 2012

Stressed out? There is help out there.

Q

by Dough Mayberry : Our 29-year-old granddaughter is driving our family crazy with her ongoing complaints about being overstressed. She is one unhappy girl! As a family, we try our best

to be supportive, but our efforts are not working. She is attractive, has a college degree, a part-time job and still lives at home. What can we do to help?

A

: If your family has not sought professional counseling, it is time to do so.

Because her negative attitude is ongoing, it may even accelerate if the problem is not solved. Finding a life-long comfort zone, loving you and loving others should be her goal.

Focus on the specific reasons for her stress. Many psychologists have provided, what they believe, are the major reasons that cause stress. The highest stress levels occur upon the death of a spouse, a major health issue, a change in residence, trouble with friends, lack of career choices, jealousy and even during vacations. You can find a complete list online. Discussing some of these more stressful traits with your granddaughter might prove to be an eye-opener.

Who we are and who we have become results from our experiences with both negative and positive situations. Learning to deal, balancing and taking action based on a positive attitude could solve the problem. Continue to be patient with your granddaughter and encourage her efforts to become a happier individual.

Q

: For over 30 years, since our parents died, we have stored several boxes of the family’s memories and all that stuff. We have always intended to go through the boxes and pull out souvenirs of the good times. Now that we have sold our home and are downsizing, we are finding the joys of a lifetime in the boxes. Our grand-

parents wrote love letters when they were forced to separate for job purposes, about their love and courtship, caring for our parents, how they shared birthdays and holidays, how the children were raised, school and career choices, their hopes for the future and other information that we have forgotten or never knew.

It boils down to learning how life really existed for our families.

We are not preparing a box for our family now. But how could we accomplish that, as the contents of our grandparents’ box has proven to be such a treasure chest?

A

: Today, with the almost total change in communication — email, little letter writing, fewer phone calls and keeping busy, busy, memory books have not received much attention. Consider buying or making an old-style family memory book. It would not require a lot of effort, but it’s worth it.

On family birthdays and holidays, what fun it would be to pass it around as a remainder of the growth and activities that your family has enjoyed. Plus, if it becomes a success, you could make a copy of your memory book for each member of the family. That would be a great gift.

As a grandparent, I would spend time looking at it and loving my family. You could not buy a present better than that!

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community.

November 2012

• 50plus • 5B

Finnerty gets award Jim Finnerty, a member of Milwaukee’s Alonzo Cudworth American Legion Post for 44 years, received a first place gold medal recently in the 2012 National Veterans Creative Art Competition, which had over 4,000 entries from

across the country. The award was presented to Finnerty at ceremonies in the Massachusetts State House in Boston on Oct. 12. His mixed media painting was titled, “UBLUIT.”

Attention 50 Plus readers: Do you enjoy the convenience SECTION B TRAVEL SPORTS HEALTH of picking up your monthly 50 Plus at this location?

NOW may be a good time for you to thank the management!

Let them know you appreciate Securing a bright future starts with a plan that your 50 Plus is here for you POMMER: Health Care SERVICES OFFERED T when you shop.

EDITORIALS NEMOVITZ: 50 Plus is available at many Selling Your House WANTED TO BUY other locations in the area, each APRON LIPSHITZ TRAVEL STRINGS Blood Test month!

Confusion FOR SALE Blindness & Vision

German Vacation

page 12A

Coach Phil King

page 14A

page 20A

Home Health Care Guide

page 7B

October 2012 Vol 25 No. 10

COMPLIMENTARY

page 3A

page 7A

STATE CAPITOL COMMENT

By Matt Pommer

Emma

By Aunt Emma

Thank you for saying “Thanks”

MOVING IN THE page 11A RIGHT DIRECTION

Karen Ellenbecker

ELLENBECKER continued on page 13

SENIOR

By Bruce Nemovitz

EDITORIALS

By Judith Berger he maxim “failing to plan is planning to fail” is particularly true when it comes to your retirement. Knowing you should plan is one thing, but having a realistic plan is the “coin of the realm.”

Karen Ellenbecker, president of Ellenbecker Investment Group, takes a measured tone when talking about preparing for the future. “It’s never too early to start saving for retirement. Take advantage of your employer’s matching fund. Don’t miss the benefit of the tax-deferred contribution,” she said. She understands things get in the way of saving: getting married, buying a home, having children, etc. But if you have a plan and pay yourself first, it’s a start.

Ellenbecker and her financial advisers guide both men and women -- clients of all ages, situations and stages of life, but she seems particularly concerned about how women will fare as they face a myriad of life circumstances. Research shows women are not on a level playing field when it comes to retirement.

According to Investment News, women control $14 trillion in personal wealth assets in the United

The Wealth Gap; Answer can Man it be closed?

By Tom Frazier

Paul Ryan, in an article he wrote entitled “Government Must Refocus Its Safety Net to Those in Need,” decries the distribution of household income in America that favors older households over younger house-

holds. He cites a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, which he claims shows that government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, are transferring wealth away from those who need it.

IT MAKES ME

AGING ISSUES

By Tom Frazier

PLANTING TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY

By Brad Olson

SPORTS Sports Plus

By Jack Pearson By Jack Pearson

Ryan says, “This shift reflects a growth in programs that focus on the elderly population and are not for the most part income-adjusted, such as Social Security and MediFRAZIER continued on page 3

CRABBY

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By Enis Wright

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6B • 50plus • November 2012

Holiday Gift Guide

Will November be Different?

Time is said to fly by and so do as daytime and night.

This 11th month still finds most days cheerful and bright.

Barren trees’ leaves are raked into piles at the curb.

Dropping of leaves occurs whether in city or suburb.

Elections have come, gone and promises abound But will tunes be different or as previously wound?

November also brings excitement such as hunting.

While die-hard football fans still wave their bunting.

Due to drought, farmers this year have harvest in.

Crops, though smaller than some, are in the drying bin.

Veterans’ Day we’ll observe on November eleven.

Recall especially those who God has called to Heaven.

Only vets can say there are no atheists in fierce battle.

Many of these peaceful boys at home now tend to cattle.

Whether from farm or city, boys became soldiers so soon.

They fought valiantly to keep us safe from foreign ruin.

But as we continue to move forward in this year, Smiles turn to grim looks, a face may even shed a tear.

The good Lord always blesses us with oh so much.

We must not only for our personal welfare do clutch.

The sad state of the world today does shout for aid But often, goodness is diminished by such as a raid.

As we again gather to enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner, Do pray there’s action still ahead for 2012 to be a winner.

you can have it all.

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November 2012

Holiday Gift Guide

• 50plus • 7B

Purchase any of these gifts at

www.milwzoogifts.com or call (414) 258-2333.

• Zoo

Pass Enjoy free Milwaukee County Zoo admission for a full year. New Zoo Pass gifts include a plush-toy animal (while supplies last).

• Sponsor the Zoo’s baby Bactrian

camel OR choose one of 2,200 other Zoo animals to sponsor. Camel package includes a plush-toy camel (while supplies last).

• Holiday ornaments featuring Zoo animals This year’s ornament features a Fennec fox mom and two babies.

• Gift Certificates If you are having trouble deciding

on the perfect gift, purchase a certificate that can be used for a Zoo Pass, Zoological Society events, or education classes and camps.

Zoological Society of Milwaukee County 10005 W. Blue Mound Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53226 A Zoological Society and Milwaukee County Zoo Partnership

5412J12

8B • 50plus • November 2012

ED

Squirrelly, Squirrels STATE CAPITOL COMMENT

By Matt Pommer

vember 2012 17-12

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As this is the first real month of wintry weather, I guess that I can write to you about Henry’s taking the snow blower out of the back of the garage and finding a squirrel’s nest in the engine casing. Henry suspected right away that it was a MOVING IN THE squirrel’s nest as thereRIGHT wereDIRECTION several broken open nuts in the area.

Can

By Bruce Nemovitz you imagine blowing one of those nuts out through the blower if he had started the engine without first cleaning it?

How is that for a starter today?

I am hoping that Henry will take AGING the hint and buy a new apron or two ISSUES for me for Christmas. InBy Tom fact,Frazier my aprons, which I wear one of every day, are becoming rather the worse for wear to put it mildly. Henry has taught me, well, really my mother did, too, that you try to always do things mildly as opposed toPLANTING meanly.

Let me tell you about TOMORROW’S Annie. She DREAMS TODAY always espouses our doingBy more exBrad Olson ercise. She claims that staying active into old age (We’re not even there yet) keeps everything working when it should be working. I am not certain what she all means by this as she talks a lot. I was afraid to ask her if walking at the mallSports also helps SPORTS Plus

By Jack Pearson keep her voice box in working order.

By Jack Pearson Henry says that the battle lines are drawn at the factory. He said that his heart probably skipped a beat or two the other day in the lunchroom when Alfredo, an immigrant, who went to school nights to learn our language, kind of mounted a soapbox for the very first time. He told those of us around him, who were not really paying much attention early on, that we should be ashamed of ourselves for not being thankful for what we have. He said if we had lived for any time at all in his mother country that we would realize just

Emma

APRON STRINGS

By Aunt Emma

what we really have, freedom to do as we please as long as it is not illegal, opportunities for education, gainful employment, good medical Answe and dental care and decent places in which to live.

Alfredo reminded us that we have so much to be thankful for.

One guy, verbally supported Alfredo by urging us to applaud him. He said he should stand up in church on Thanksgiving Day and give the eulogy.

Henry says that Alfredo really did impress him. But a couple fellows, always kind of losers at the factory when it comes to, as Henry says, moaning and complaining, put their two cents worth in. They complained about the proposed two percent raise next year; that the union was kind of turning its back on the workers (not true) in not seeking a nice raise for next year like we had for several years in succession back in the late 90’s. They even clamored for more days off, with pay, of course. Henry said he joins Alfredo

By Enis in being thankful forWright the jobs we do have especially when so many are unemployed. Even many of the employed are what economists today with Jim are referring to as underemployed.

Alfredo is not the Union steward, but as Henry says with a sly grin creasing his face, “Not yet.”

Do enjoy your Thanksgiving Day with your family and/or friends.

SENI

IT MAKES ME

HERMAN WHIT ARTS

the WRIGHT SIDE of

ENTER

cale

60

KILLING TIME

Apartments & Moderate Income *Some restrictions apply. Only select sites participating in the Fall Savings Promotion. Some apartments reserved for moderate income

Connect with us!

My

C

CHECK US OUT AT

w www.mymilwaukeelife.com

November 2012

• 50plus • 9B

Put these whole grains into your recipes by: Charlyn Fargo Almost nine out of 10 of us simply don’t get enough whole grains in our daily diet. Yet, 75 percent of us want to, according to a poll by the International Food Information Council. To start to tackle this issue, getting to know whole grains is the first step. Just what is a whole grain? Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain is a grain product.

Whole grains, as opposed to refined, contain the entire grain kernel -- the bran, germ and endosperm.

“Foods with at least eight grams of whole grain per serving can significantly contribute to meeting whole grain recommendations,” says Kathy Wiemer, registered dietitian with General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. She spoke recently at the annual meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Philadelphia, PA. The confusing part is that foods high in whole grains aren’t always high in fiber. But whole grains do provide some fiber. The bottom line is we need both. While brown rice may not be as high in fiber as wholewheat, both are good.

Strive for 48 grams of whole grains per day. Here are some tips from USDA My Plate to help: 1. Make simple switches. Substitute a whole-grain product for a refined grain product such as 100 percent whole-wheat bread or bagels instead of white bread or bagels.

2. Whole grains can be healthy snacks. Choose popcorn, 100 percent whole-wheat or rye crackers.

3. Save some time. Cook extra bulgur or barley when you have time and freeze half to heat and serve later as a quick side dish.

4. Mist it up. Use whole grains in mixed dishes such as barley in vegetable soups or stew and bulgur wheat in casseroles or stir-fries. Try a quinoa salad or pilaf.

5. Try whole-wheat versions.

Try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. Even baby steps, such as mixing brown with white rice or wholewheat pasta with regular, can help.

Try brown rice stuffing in baked

green peppers or tomatoes and whole-wheat macaroni in macaroni and cheese.

6. Bake up some whole-grains.

Experiment by substitute buckwheat, millet or oat flour for up to half the flour in pancake, waffle, muffin or other flour-based recipes.

They may need a bit more leavening in order to rise.

7. Check the label for fiber. Good sources of fiber in whole grains have 10 to 19 percent of the daily value; excellent sources have more than 20 percent.

8. Check the ingredients list.

Choose products that name a whole grain first such as whole-wheat, brown rice, bulgur, buckwheat, oatmeal, wholegrain cornmeal, whole oats or whole rye.

9. Don’t be fooled by color. The color of a food is not an indication that it is a whole-grain food. Foods labeled as multigrain, stone-ground, cracked wheat, seven-grain or bran are usually not 100 percent whole grain products and may not contain any whole grain.

10. Be a good role model. Set a good example for children by serving and eating whole grains yourself.

Q and A

Q

: Is it true that eating more vegetables and fruit helps you lose weight? I’ve been trying, but my weight hasn’t budged.

A

: Eating more vegetables and fruits is one great strategy to promote health both directly, through the nutrients and protective phytochemicals you get, and indirectly, through help in reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. However, adding more vegetables and fruits will only promote weight loss if it helps you reduce total calorie consumption. Here are steps you can take to achieve that goal: First, make sure you eat vegetables and fruits that are low in calories. Most vegetables are naturally low in calories but if they are deepfried or served smothered in cheese and high-calorie dips, they are no

longer as healthy. Select fiber-rich whole fruit -- fresh or plain frozen -and limit intake of high-calorie fruit juice and dried fruits. Second, substitute these low-calorie vegetables and fruits for higher calorie foods.

Do this by adding more vegetables to stews, soups, casseroles and stirfries without adding more fat. As you add more vegetables to these dishes, cut back on the amount of meat and rice or pasta you use. You can also serve larger side portions of vegetables that are steamed, microwaved or stir-fried with just a bit of oil and flavored with citrus juice, vinegar or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. If you add fruit to an already

large bowl of cereal, cut back on the cereal portion. Snack on vegetables or fruit instead of chips, not in addition to them. If you’re still having trouble, try tracking your calorie consumption with a website or a smart phone app. A registered dietitian can be a great resource to help you figure out why you have trouble losing weight.

Information courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian from Springfield, Ill. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com.

Church and Chapel FUNERAL SERVICE

Non-Sectarian Ritter, Larsen Bros., Skubal-Slattery, Koelsch, Ryczek, Rudolph, Bistricky-Irsch-Grosse-Abe, Leszczynski

414-476-0052

262-827-0659

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE • Church and Chapel Funeral Services provides dignified funeral services in your church, cemetery chapel, our funeral home chapels, or the chapel of your choosing with savings of more than $2,000 are common.

• For example, we provide the service in your church, or beautiful cemetery chapels are available when final disposition is made there.

• We make personal service arrangements in the comfort and privacy of your home, church, our arrangement office, or any of our funeral home locations.

FUNERAL HOME LOCATIONS Brookfield

Ritter-Larsen Chapel 1875 N. Calhoun Rd.

Waukesha/Pewaukee

Rudolph, Larsen Bros. Chapel Bluemound Rd. at Hwy. J 4 Blocks South of I-94

• We display monuments, caskets, vaults, and urns making Church and Chapel your one stop planning center.

• Pre-planning Centers are open Monday through Saturday or by appointment. Stop by and browse at your leisure and receive free no-obligation information. Should you wish, we can meet in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

• Dignified Services with less expensive fees compared to other fine funeral homes.

• All cremation service options are available utilizing on-site crematory.

PRE-PLANNING CENTERS • 92nd & Bluemound • Bluemound Rd @ Hwy J With Church and Chapel Funeral Service...

Savings of $2,000 are common

South

Ryczek Chapel 1910 W. Becher St.

New Berlin

Ritter, Larsen Bros. Chapel 15250 W. National Ave.

Northwest

Bistricky-Irsch-Grosse Chapel 6709 W. Capitol Dr.

Cudahy

Ryczek , Larsen Bros. Chapel 3774 E. Underwood Ave.

West Allis

Skubal-Slattery-Koelsch, Larsen Bros. Chapel 7626 W. Greenfield Ave.

-Gordon Hinkley

www.churchandchapel.com Gordon Hinkley is the spokesperson for Church & Chapel and is not a funeral director.

Y

HERMAN WHITE WRITES 10B • 50plus • November 2012

ARTS

ENTERTAINMENT

calendar

s

Current Events

n

the WRIGHT Big the Musical SIDE ofMarcus Center Todd Wehr Theater,

Variety of crafts, bakery, music, clowns and good food. The Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Enter at 8536 W. Oklahoma Ave. or 8621 W. Beloit Rd.

60

Through November 11

By Enis Wrightbursts onstage The 1987 hit movie with this new version created just for our family audiences. For tickets call (414) 273-7206 or visit marcuscenter.org/box.

November 3

Family Free Day

KILLING TIME with Jim McLoone Through January 13

Rembrandt Van Dyck Gainsborough

Milwaukee Art Museum The Treasures of Kenwood House, London, an exhibition of forty-eight masterpieces on tour from the Iveagh Bequest collection.

(414) 224-3200/mam.org.

November 2

Salvation Army’s Annual Red Kettle Benefit Concert Featured performance by Frank Sinatra, Jr., at 7:30 p.m. at The Pabst Theater. Tickets can be purchased by calling (414) 286-3663 or visiting www.pabsttheater.org.

November 3

Annual Bazaar

Manor Park Senior Center VMP Manor Park

Milwaukee County Zoo All visitors receive free zoo admission, but the parking fee remains in effect, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. www.milwaukeezoo.org.

November 9 - 11 and 16 - 18

Miss Saigon (School Edition)

Pius XI High School officially opens their new Performing Arts Center with this epic musical masterpiece. In the turmoil of the Vietnam War, an American soldier and a Vietnamese girl fall in love, only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years ends in tragedy for her and a fighting chance for the child he never knew he had. (414) 290-0204 or http://www.piuspac.org/.

November 10

49th Annual Milwaukee Veterans Day Parade & Day of Honor

Downtown Milwaukee - War Memorial Center, 11:00 a.m.

November 10 & 11

Free admission for Veterans

Harley-Davidson Museum Harley-Davidson Motor Company believes that freedom is what got us here. (Free admission for veterans with a Military I.D., plus one additional adult and four children under the age of 18).

November 11

Polish Independence Day/ Veterans Day luncheon

Polish Center, 6941 S. 68th St., Franklin We welcome all interested to attend this luncheon at 1:30 p.m. with cash bar at 12:30 p.m. For further information and cost call Sharon, (414) 761-3574 or Nina, (262) 746-9519 November 11

Veterans Day!

Thank those who made it possible for you to live free!

November 14

Travis Tritt

The Northern Lights Theater Potawatomi Bingo Casino Rock out to this unique Southern rock legend for one night only in Milwaukee, 8 p.m. Order tickets by calling (414) 847-7922.

November 15 - December 31

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival

From our lights, wreaths, animated sculptures and Moravian stars, we’ve packed the six-week festival with hundreds of activities to offer a little something for everyone.

Come see for yourself!

November 15 - December 31

Jingle Bus

Plankinton Arcade at The Shops of Grand Avenue 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue Tour downtown’s festive scenes on the G4S Jingle Bus. At just $1 per

person, this 40-minute narrated tour acquaints riders with key downtown landmarks and all the festive scenes. Thursdays through Sundays, 6 - 9 p.m. (414) 220-4700.

November 17

Milwaukee Holiday Parade Downtown Milwaukee, 9:30 a.m.

November 18

The Berenstain Bears Family Matters

Ruth A. Knoll Theater, (Schauer Art & Entertainment Center), 147 N. Rural St., Hartford Brother Bear’s grades are slipping, Sister Bear has a few things to learn about making friends, and Papa Bear can’t stop eating junk food.

Thankfully, Mama Bear helps set things right. Based on the books by Stan and Jan Berenstain. www.schauercenter.org or call (262) 670-0560, ext. 3.

November 22

Community Thanksgiving Dinner

(For anyone who would otherwise be alone) From 11:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. at three locations: St. Mary’s Parish Hall, West Bend, (262) 3385600, New Hope UCC Church, Jackson, (262) 677-2345 and Faith Lutheran Church, Germantown, (262) 251-8250. Donations are being accepted at all Westbury Bank Locations. All are welcome to attend. For delivery dinners to those unable to attend due to illness or physical impairments, (262) 3050669.

November 25

The Irish Tenors

Marcus Center for the Performing Arts The Irish Tenors continue to tour constantly, thrilling old fans and winning new ones all around the globe. For tickets, call (414) 2737206.

November 2012

November 29

Holiday Craft & Gift Sale

Cedarburg Senior Center W63 N643 Washington Ave. Cedarburg Over 20 crafters will sell craft and gift items at the show, which runs through Dec. 1. Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free admission.

November 30

The Robert Cray Band

The Northern Lights Theater Potawatomi See this five-time Grammy® Award winning artist one night in Milwaukee, 8 p.m. Order tickets by calling (414) 847-7922.

November 30

Kids 2 Kids

VMP Manor Park 3023 S. 84th, West Allis The Winter Wonderland Toy Collection from noon - 7 p.m., (414) 607-4110. Please help us make this a special Christmas by taking your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or neighbor to purchase a toy for a child that is less fortunate. Then drop off your toys and enjoy the outdoor VMP Winter Wonderland, Usinger’s sausage or hotdog, coffee bar, hot chocolate, entertainment and much more!

November 30 - December 2

Doc the Halls: A Merry Doc Holiday!

Marcus Center for the Performing Arts A concert of festive seasonal favorites. Carols, sing-a-longs, holiday Big Band—Doc leads it all. For details, call (414) 291-7605.

Upcoming Events December 1

Midnight Magic 2012

Mukwonago Old fashioned Christmas celebration from 10 a.m. - midnight. The Christmas Parade starts at 3:00 p.m. with a tree lighting at the library immediately after.

December 2

Winter on Main

Downtown West Bend

Visit Santa & his live reindeer on December 2 and 3. Take a carriage ride, listen to the strolling carolers while finishing your holiday shopping. www.downtownwestbend. com December 3

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

Amtrak depot, 433 St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee, around 7:30 p.m., and in Hartland, around 9:15 p.m. at the parking lot adjacent to Cottonwood Ave. and Pawling Ave. Fundraiser for food banks in the area with live entertainment on board. website: cpr.ca December 8

David Seebach’s Merry Magic Christmas

Schauer Arts & Activities Center Ruth A. Knoll Theater 147 N. Rural St., Hartford David Seebach’s popular holiday show features The March of Toys, the Divided Lady Illusion, the Littlest Elf, and Candy Cane Levitation, as well as silken sorcery with red and green scarves, an appear-

GraB a seat On a line run tO POtaWatOMi BinGO CasinO anD Play.

Monday–Saturday daily packages are just $17 and include a $10 slot offer, $10 for lunch and round-trip transportation on Badger Bus. Sunday and daily evening line run guests receive a $15 slot offer and round-trip transportation for $15.

To see a list of pick-up locations and to make your reservations online, visit paysbig.com/bustrips.

Or, call Badger Bus:

877-894-6287 for reservations.

Make a sure Bet— knOW YOur liMit. 1721 West Canal street • MilWaukee, Wi 53233 • 1-800-PaYsBiG • PaYsBiG.COM Must Be at least 21 Years OlD anD a fire keePer’s CluB MeMBer tO PartiCiPate MeMBershiP is free • Winners resPOnsiBle fOr all taxes ManaGeMent reserves all riGhts • GaMBlinG PrOBleM? Call 1-800-426-2535 ©2012 fOrest COuntY POtaWatOMi COMMunitY, WisCOnsin ®

ance by a live tiger, and multiple opportunities to join the show on stage, 1:00 p.m. (262) 670-0560, ext. 3.

December 4 A Royal Christmas Shattuck Auditorium Carroll University Featuring The Wisconsin Philharmonic with choirs from Waukesha North and Waukesha West High Schools, 7:30 p.m. Call (262) 5471858 for tickets.

On-Going Afternoon Dance American Legion Post #449 3245 N. 124th St., Brookfield Everyone Welcome! Second Monday every month, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., $3, Big Band dance.

• • • • • Charles Horwitz Planetarium S14 W28167 Madison St. Waukesha Visit www.waukeshaschools.com/ planet for more information on upcoming programs.

• • • • •

• 50plus • 11B

The French Canadian/Acadian Genealogists of Wisconsin Mayfair Mall, Hwy. 100 and North Ave. Meets each month, 7:30 p.m., visit www.fcgw.org for details.

• • • • • Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N. Art Museum Dr. Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday Sunday. Call (414) 224-3200 or go to www.mam.org.

• • • • • Milwaukee County RSVP – Interfaith Older Adult Programs, Inc. If you are 55 years of age or better contact Lynn at (414) 220-8651 to be a volunteer.

• • • • • Museum of Wisconsin Art 300 South Sixth Ave., West Bend Public hours, Wednesday – Saturday 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1 - 4:30 p.m. (262) 334-9638/ www.wisconsinart.org.

• • • • • O.A.S.I.S. 2414 West Mitchell Street Fifty Five Plus Travel Club meets monthly. For details, call (414) 647-6041.

12B • 50plus • November 2012

E-bills arrive and can be easily paid

by Terry Savage Paying your bills online is only the first half of the personal finance billing revolution. The long-delayed second half of the technology has now arrived at almost every bank website. It will save you time and

energy — and it will save millions of trees. But it will cost more jobs in the postal system.

I’m talking about “electronic bill presentation,” or eBills. This goes beyond just viewing and paying your bill at the biller’s website.

You can already do that at the sites of insurance companies, utilities and department stores.

But this next generation of e-billing now means your monthly bill will show up at your bank’s website — ready for you to view,

November 15 - December 9, 2012 A Next Act Original

From our South Water Street “studio,” we bring you our own radio adaptation of the beloved Bedford Falls fable celebrating the best of the holiday spirit.

Don’t miss John’s fabulous new character, Earlene Hoople, as she tapes her last Christmas special.

December 12 - 31, 2012 A

Kodachrome

CHRISTMAS For more information or for tickets visit www.nextact.org or call 414-278-0765.

Featuring

John McGivern

255 S. Water St. Milwaukee, WI

decide how much to pay and schedule the payment. You still have the same control over your bills — but you don’t have the chore of piling them up on your desk, opening them and throwing out the return envelope and statement stuffers, and then going to your bank website to make the payment.

Major companies, ranging from telephone, wireless, department stores, utilities, credit cards and mortgage companies are now participating in eBills. And more than 3,800 financial institutions (including many credit unions, smaller community banks and brokerage firms like Schwab), are already offering eBills. The moment has arrived!

When your bank agrees to provide eBills, it will put an eBill icon on your bill pay page, next to each of your payees that has agreed to offer eBills. Click on that icon, and acknowledge that you want your bills to be presented electronically. They already have your account number and banking info, so the process is easy. (And if you’re skeptical, most banks will offer a 90-day trial, during which you’ll receive both eBills and paper bills so you can see if you like it!)

The company will send your bill to the bank website. And you’ll receive an email notification that the bill has arrived at your online bill pay account. The email will include a link to your online bill pay, where you’ll sign in as usual to securely access your bank account.

Once there, you can click on the bill to review it. You’ll see the date it is due, the minimum required payment and the details of this month’s statement. Then you can decide how much to pay and when. Schedule that payment with a click of your mouse.

If you’ve forgotten to make the payment, you’ll receive another notification five days before the bill is due. Paying on time will help improve your credit score and your money-management skills.

And you still have a “paper ebills continued on page 13B

November 2012

ebills continued from page 12B trail” if you need the information for future reference. Most banks store your bills securely online for at least a year. And if you’re still hooked on real paper, you can always print out your eBill and store it in a file folder.

Plus, if you’re using Quicken, you can still download all that information into your budgeting program.

As you can see, this is not an automatic bill pay system. Many people already set up automatic monthly payments for bills that require the same amount to be paid every month, such as on your mortgage, rent or car loan.

But eBill presentation is designed for those bills that vary in amount every month, or may come less frequently. Those are the bills you want to review, and decide the amount and timing of what to pay based on your bank balance and money available. It’s exactly how you handle your current paper bills — but you don’t have to go through the hassle of opening them and piling them up!

• 50plus • 13B

And, you have an extra degree of flexibility. If you’re traveling or on vacation, you don’t have to wait until you get home, and possibly miss a payment deadline. When you receive the email that your bill has “arrived” at your bank, you can simply log in and then click and pay securely from your laptop or tablet.

Even better, recognizing that mobile apps are the next new thing, many banks are starting to offer the ability to view and pay your bills from your smart phone or tablet, through a secure link to your online banking account. That will be the next generation of click, view and pay.

Of course, eBills are secure.

Perhaps even more secure than the paper bills now landing in your mailbox. No one can click on your email to see your bill, unless they have your online banking password and pin.

I remember that just a decade ago, many people were skeptical about online bill payment, wondering if it was safe. Now more than 70 million American households are ebills continued on page 14B



I’m 55+. What do I do now?

CAPTAIN FREDERICK

PA B S T M A N S I O N

Professionals age 55+ with talent, experience and generosity of spirit can make a social impact and reinvest a career’s worth of skills towards serving a nonprofit in their community.

Learn How What is ReServe Southeast Wisconsin?

ReServe Southeast Wisconsin is operated by Interfaith Older Adult Programs and matches continuing professionals age 55+ with part-time service opportunities, which are critical in helping nonprofits meet their mission These opportunities allow you to give back to your community while earning a stipend.

Attend a First Impressions information session in Milwaukee.

To register, go to www.reserveinc.org and click on “Register” in the upperright corner.

Questions?

Learn more at

www.reserveinc.org/ southeastwisconsin or contact us at 4 14.220.8643 .

“GRAND AVENUE CHRISTMAS” HOLIDAY TOURS • NOV.16 - JAN.13 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave. • 414.931.0808 Tickets $10 • www.PabstMansion.com

14B • 50plus • November 2012 paying bills online, delighted at the ease, time saving, organization and the fact that they don’t have to buy postage! So let’s complete the process by receiving our bills online, too.

If you want to be green — and have more green in your wallet — this is the next step. And that’s The Savage Truth. ebills continued from page 13B

Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and is on the board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

She appears weekly on WMAQ-Channel 5’s 4:30 p.m. newscast, and can be reached at www.terrysavage.com.

She is the author of the new book, “The New Savage Number: How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?”

Join Milwaukee RecReation!

Discover Milwaukee Recreation’s programs for active seniors in society, located at various locations in the city. Enjoy sports leagues like pickleball or volleyball, join a musical ensemble, or learn a new craft. Meet friends, reduce stress, and stay active throughout the year!

To learn more, please call (414) 647-6041 or visit SINCE 1911 MilwaukeeRecreation.net.

SINCE 1911

We all Win When young people

succeed in school

That’s why United Way of Greater Milwaukee is joining United Ways across the country to recruit one million readers, tutors and mentors by 2014. Here in the Milwaukee area our goal is to recruit 3,000 new volunteers.

Be part of the change. Sign up today at UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/ReaderTutorMentor

UnitedWayMilwaukee.org

MEMORY FITNESS

Stay sharp

By Chandra Orr It’s never too late to boost your brainpower. The brain thrives on challenge and variety, so amp up your attention span and maximize your memory with a daily mental workout.

“If you make it a point to work out your memory, you can, in fact, improve it at any age,” says Chester Santos, the 2008 U.S. national memory champion. “The brain is very trainable. The more you force it to do something the better it gets at doing it.”

“Regardless of age, our brains retain the ability to form new connections, called plasticity,” explains Marc Agronin, author of How We Age: A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Growing Old. “By engaging in mentally stimulating activities, especially activities that are somewhat novel to our routine, we can build new connections and enhance our cognitive abilities. In this case, practice does indeed help make us more perfect.”

*Practice Neurobics

Experts have long championed the use of crossword puzzles, Sudoku and other brainteasers to keep the brain spry, but even simple challenges, such as eating a meal with your non-dominant hand or crocheting with your eyes closed, can have a surprising effect on your mental acuity.

It’s called neurobics.

“Neurobic exercises involve using one or more senses in a different way to engage the attention and change a routine -- for example, getting dressed in the dark or brushing teeth with the non-dominant hand,” says Joanne Telser-Frere, co-director of

memory continued on page 15B

November 2012

memory continued on page 14B CogFit-Quest, a cognitive fitness clinic. “These exercises cause the brain to create new neural pathways that help to strengthen cognitive skills.”

The brain craves newness and novelty, so take a different route while walking the dog; shop at a new grocery; tap your fingers while listening to the rain; or skip your usual oatmeal and orange juice and try something new for breakfast.

Anything that breaks up your routine and engages the senses gives the brain a workout.

also regulates thinking about how to prioritize the day and anticipates what needs to be done,” says Dr. Larry McCleary, author of The Brain Trust Program.

To stay sharp, stay social. Make plans to meet up with friends each week; join a local seniors group; or just chat with a stranger while waiting in line.

• 50plus • 15B

50 Plus News Magazine

Bring your mission to life

*Play Memory Games

Train your brain by putting your memory to the test. Try memorizing random word lists -- for example, your weekly grocery list -- using the “story method.” Tap into your visualization skills and your senses to create a story linking all the words in the list. When it’s time to access the information, just review the story in your mind.

“This technique is extremely effective for recalling information because it gets many areas of the brain involved in the coding process. It also takes advantage of the psychological aspect of memory and makes memorizing things more enjoyable, thus encouraging continued memory exercise,” Santos explains.

Such exercises help ward off the effects of aging.

“Memory-boosting activities help build new neurons that are then stored in the brain. This is what is known as cognitive reserve,” Telser-Frere explains. “This reserve may help to ward off dementia by creating alternate neural pathways that are utilized when existing ones break down.”

*Stay Social

Whether you’re meeting new people at a weekly book club or chatting with old friends over lunch, socially engaging activities help flex your mental muscle.

“Socialization forces the brain to use much of the frontal lobe region, which performs executive functions, such as problem-solving and making social connections. It

The Marcus Center Presents

THE IRISH TENORS

The Premiere Irish Holiday Celebration Tour

WRIGHT

KEARNS

TYNAN

SUNDAY, NOV. 25 • 6 P.M. Tickets $38-$78

Midwest Premiere!

The hilarious journey to hell... and back!

JANUARY 3-27 • VOGEL HALL On Sale Nov. 9th • Tickets $40 • Buy Early!

Use Offer Code: PARTY (For Adult Audiences)

A donor’s best charitable investment option Whether you want to give back now or leave a legacy long after you are gone…support charitable work here or halfway around the world…the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is your best option. For almost 100 years, we have collaborated with donors to build their individual legacies, with complete confidence and assurance. Let us show you how to do the same.

Agency endowments mean success for nonprofits In times of uncertainty, we can guarantee one thing – your future is safe with us. When you create an agency endowment fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, your agency can focus on its mission while we focus on your financial future. With a sound investment strategy and careful stewardship, our investment performance stands the test of time. Join the more than 100 agencies that have taken advantage of this great resource.

Please contact the Development and Donor Services department at 414.272.5805 for more details.

MARCUS CENTER

Box Office 414.273.7206 MarcusCenter.org • Ticketmaster.com GROUPS OF 10+ SAVE! CALL 414.273.7121 EXT. 210

101 W. Pleasant St., Suite 210, Milwaukee, WI 53212 www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org

16B • 50plus • November 2012

We Saw You At . . .

The Brookfield

Wagfest

Happy, woofing, tail wagging canines outnumbered their human masters during the Fifth Annual Elmbrook Humane Society Wagfest at Mitchell Park in Brookfield on Sept. 8. The event was a complete success, with proceeds going to benefit the local Humane Society. If you love dogs, this was the place to be. A few of the participants were:

Rodney and Sue Rowland of Muskego and their Golden Retriever youngster, Abby.

Robert and Robin Jebavy of Brookfield with their Japanese Akita named Rufus.

Clara Putterman of Cudahy and her Siberian Husky, Alaska.

Pat Shine of Milwaukee and Linda Martin of West Allis with a trio which obviously like to dress up, Ernest, Clara and Linda.

Marv Kenhofer of Cudahy had his hands full with this quartet of Beagles, Sally, Abby, Sasha and Hobo.

Mary Bloha of Hubertus with Goober, a Springer Spaniel female; and Kim Miszewski of Milwaukee, with Harley, a young Great Dane.

Michelle Vandam of Brookfield and her pal, Brianne, and Lynette Kocialski of Muskego, with her buddy, Kendall.