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October 2012 Vol 25 No. 10
COMPLIMENTARY
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STATEHouse CAPITOL Selling Your COMMENT
WANTED TO BUY By Matt Pommer
Emma
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MOVING IN THE page 11A RIGHT DIRECTION 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
EDITORIALS
NEMOVITZ:
Blood Test Confusion
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Securing a bright future starts with a plan
ERVICES OFFERED LIPSHITZ
Home Health Care Guide
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POMMER: Health Care
page 7A
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Karen Ellenbecker
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SENIOR
The Wealth Gap; Answer can Man it be closed? By Tom Frazier
AGING ISSUES
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.
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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
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Mitt and Tommy, a pair to dispair on care Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney now says he won’t eliminate all the provisions of President Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act. In an appearance on “Meet the Press,” he pointed to the provision covering those with pre-existing health conditions as one example of those he would retain if elected president to succeed Obama. Currently, millions of people with health problems have a difficult time getting health insurance, including cost and coverage provisions. Sick people are more expensive than care for the healthy. Obamacare would prevent insurance carriers from denying them coverage. Earlier, Romney had vowed to repeal all of the Affordable Health Care Act, sometimes pejoratively called “Obamacare,” the day he is sworn in as president. But many of the provisions are popular. Tommy Thompson, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, seemed to sense that even before the August primary.
FRAZIER continued from page 1 care.” He goes on to say, “Even though Social Security benefits are progressive, neither Social Security or Medicare is means-tested. Ryan ignores the fact that Medicare is somewhat means-tested (higher income beneficiaries pay higher Part B and Part D premiums), and Social Security benefits are taxable for those with higher incomes. The problem with Ryan’s analysis is that he completely omits the main focus of the CBO report. The primary conclusion of the report is that “average household income, measured after government transfers and federal taxes, grew by 62 percent” between 1979 and 2007. And, “For the one percent of the population with the highest income, average real after-tax household income grew by 275 percent between 1979 and 2007.” For the 20 percent
“I’m proposing a new voluntary state-federal initiative to enable coverage for pre-existing conditions, “ Thompson said, adding that risk-sharing must be solved. “But we can do it without excessive new regulations or mandates,” ThompMOVING IN THE son said. RIGHT DIRECTION “Risk-sharing” can be translatBy Bruce Nemovitz ed into the question of who is going to pay for the costs of caring for those with existing health problems. Thompson suggests this could be done on a voluntary basis. Voters deserve a more detailed explanation of how Thompson’s voluntary system would work. AGING In the week after the “Meet the ISSUES By Tomsaid Frazier Press” program, Romney those with pre-existing conditions should be covered if they have “continu-
ous” coverage of their health care needs. Romney probably will be asked in the upcoming debates what his ideas mean to those currently with pre-existing conditions and no current health insurance. Romney and Thompson are knowledgeable about healthcare services. Thompson served four years as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As governor of Massachusetts, RomEmma ney signed into law a bill mandating By Aunt Emma health insurance coverage, in ways similar to Obamacare. Other benefits in Obamacare also are popular, including allowing young people to age 26 to stay on their parents’ insurance, reducing the “donut hole” on senior citizen drug plans and covering several types of cancer screening. Paying for reform looms a much larger issue. The wealthy face higher federal taxes to pay for it under Obamacare. About 2.5 million households ($250,000 for a couple and $200,000 for an individual) will pay a 3.8 percent surcharge on their investment income. Remem-
of the lowest income group, income only grew by 18 percent. The CBO reportPLANTING states “AlTOMORROW’S though an increasing concentration DREAMS of market income was the TODAY primary By Brad Olson force behind growing inequality in the distribution of after-tax household income, shifts in government transfers and federal taxes also contributed to that increase in inequality.” In other words, changes in government transfers (e.g. Social Security) and federal taxes made SPORTS income distributionSports less equitable Plus By Jack Pearson from 1979 to 2007, but still By Jack Pearsonhad much less impact on inequality than the huge shift in income to the top one percent of the wealthiest households. Ryan continues his article by saying, “A much less discussed form of inequality is the growing gap between old and young. Fresh Census data show that the wealth gap between the elderly and the young has
reached an all-time high as households over 65 have net wealth that is 47 times higher than households under 35.” He concludes that a more “prudent course of action for policymakers” would be to adopt the Bowles-Simpson Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform to reduce Social Security benefits for higher income workers, and his own Path to Prosperity budget to deal with Medicare. Incidentally, Paul Ryan was a member of the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and voted against the final recommendations. What Ryan fails to mention in his article is that “wealth” for older households is $170, 494, which By Enis Wright Hope Yen, in an article for the Associated Press (November 7, 2011), points out “includes the value of a person’s home, possessions and savings. Older Americans tend to have higher net worth because they are
STATE CAPITOL COMMENT By Matt Pommer
ber that’s investment income, not on salaries. It would raise more than $300 billion in the 10 years. It seems a sure bet that the vast majority of those 2.5 million households have health insurance coverage, regardless of their health needs. Romney and Thompson talk of reform. Each man proposes to help the federal budget by sending each of the 50 states a block grant that allows them to create their own answers to Medicaid, which is the state-federal program that provides care to the poor and disabled. Both Romney and Thompson praise the ideas of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan of Janesville. Thompson said Ryan’s ideas and “entitlement reform” will help pay for healthcare changes. Would changing the age for Medicare eligibility be more attractive to voters than raising taxes?
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more likely to have paid off their mortgages and built up savings over time.” If you only read Ryan’s article you would believe that he was very concerned with making government programs and policies more fair for lower income persons. But I think you would be wrong. His budget, Path to Prosperity, would make huge cuts in programs for lower income persons, and give huge tax breaks to the wealthiest, including the one percent. In my opinion, which is not necessarily that of this publication, it is disingenuous, at best, to say that he wants to “refocus the government’s safety net to those in need,” while proposing major cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. And, I believe that would make the wealth gap far worse than it is already.
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By Tom Frazier
EDITORIALS Our liabilities grow so quickly
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Plaudits to Stricker Steve Stricker, Madison, is not only a well-recognized PGA golf professional and famous for his golfing talents, but his acclaim can Emma and does come in many other ways. Stricker once again demonstrated By Aunt Emma the genuine feelings he has for others in September when he joined others in raising funds to benefit Wisconsin veterans and their families at a Wisconsin Warriors charity golfing event in Madison. This event raised money for timely and necessary care, benefits and services
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60 HERMAN WHITE I am not crabby today. In fact, the following bit of information was forwarded to me and I found it to be worth sharing. If you’re crabby, perhaps it will bring a smile to your face. When I was told that seniors had more aids than any other age group in our country today, I questioned this. It was difficult for me to be-
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a real Deerr,” said Who would not say that we smiled and congratmore than promises? ulated Lenore Deerr September 1 at ment often after a career as head Why should we continue to pay her 90th birthday party in the party dietician at St. Mary’s Hospital in the “Do Nothing” people we have room at Sussex Mills Senior Liv- Racine. Originally from Sussex, elected to represent this nation? Our ing. Lenore, shown with her chil- Lenore moved back to her original future is very uncertain. We need ac- dren, was honored by almost 100 community seven years ago. She is SPORTS Sports Plus SPORTS tion, not more empty phrases. IfSports they well-wishers as they gathered to tell shown above with, front, daughters Plus By Jack Pearson By JackPearson Pearson By Jack By Jack weren’t paid, they might quickly be Pearson stories ofthe her growing up, her mar- Paula Koeppen and Sue Drasch. WRIGHT the WRIGHT agreeable to each other in seeking riage to the late Byron Deerr, Jr., her Standing behind them are her Deerr SIDE her of struggles sons, Daniel, Ronsolutions. children’s’ highlights, SIDE of By Enis Wright Enis Wright As USA Today says, “We need as a widow and Byher life in retire- ald and Byron. to hear from every federal candidate how he/she proposes to address with Jim Jim McLoone McLoone with these issues.” The people they represent are running out of patience After a bout with knee surgery, our behalf, are and have no great tolerance for the I am back in action; well, sort of. forgotten. demagoguery and partisan sniping At age 83, my activities seem to be vvvvvv that is today’s Washington, D.C. more limiting every day. I have told Is it really an insult to tell peo“The stakes for this country are far people that my goal with the new ple that your precious great grandtoo high,” as USA Today so aptly knee was to be able to walk, talk and daughter is cute as a bug? What bug puts it. chew gum at the same time. I’ve the could you be comparing her to? walking and talking under control, vvvvvv but those darned partial plates still Who would ever have thought won’t allow the gum chewing. that the Indian Nickel, with the bufearned by and for veterans and their vvvvvv falo on the back, would be valued at families. All funds went to directWhile Christmas is still almost several dollars? How about a silver ly support Camp American Legion, three months away, be wary of im- dollar valued at between $25 and the Veterans’ Employment initiative pulse buying. These items generally $30? plus the Troop and Family Support are things that you won’t use, don’t vvvvvv Fund. need and the kids won’t know what As fall arrived, we did get some With tears of gratitude in the to do with when you’re long gone. rain, but perhaps too little, too late. eyes of many, 23 Wisconsin Purvvvvvv The drought has shrunk the harvest. ple Heart recipients were honored With Veterans’ Day just ahead in Did you help out by doing a rain during a special ceremony at the November, try to be nice to one of dance, reciting a few prayers or just Cherokee Country Club. the numerous homeless veterans that muttering as the total kept spiraling Stricker was joined by other noyou meet or pass by on the streets. at the market checkout counter? tables, among them David Feherty Homeless veterans are said to numvvvvvv of television and Golf Digest fame. ber about 80,000. How quickly their achievements, or at least efforts on KILLING TIME continued on page 23A
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90 years young HERMAN WHITE WRITES HERMAN WHITE WRITES 90 years young: “Yes, she’s a
PLANTING PLANTING TOMORROW’S TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY dear, oh wait, DREAMS By Brad TODAY Olson By Brad Olson need friends as they
According to USA Today, the price of federally unfunded governmental liabilities is growing at the rate of $10 million each minute. This certainly must challenge our standard of living and long-term national security as well as the economy. Aunt Emma The apparent lack of jobs (Thank goodness that Wisconsin is not as bad off as some states) and lack of fiscal stability should haunt our candidates for Congress (Both House and Senate) as well as the presidency. Our do-nothing Congress certainly does not help the current situation. How do we at least begin to solve this mess? We could begin with a simpler, more fair to all people tax code that would be free of loopholes.
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lieve this as factual. We are a moral segment of society. But then we have to consider band-aids, Rolaids, STATE CAPITOL walking aids, hearing aids, medical COMMENT By Matt Pommer aids, governmental aids and, not to forget, the financial aids we give to others.
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WRITER/PROOFREADER Cyndi Strayer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Saran Piehl Hartland, WI 53029 ART DIRECTOR/ 262-367-5303 EDITORIALS PRODUCTION MANAGER PUBLISHERS Nicole Hesse Tom and Maureen Slattery GRAPHIC DESIGNER EDITOR APRON Peggy Duffy Emma TRAVEL STRINGS Jim McLoone OFFICE MANAGER Paula Koeppen By Aunt Emma
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OCTOBER 2012
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Who are the workers dropping out of the job search? BY: TERRY SAVAGE The numbers don’t sound so bad — and may even sound like they’re improving. A drop in the unemployment rate from 8.3 percent to 8.1 percent appears to be moving in the right direction. But the decline in the headline unemployment rate came despite a paltry 96,000 new jobs being created last month. The rate fell because 368,000 more people dropped out of the workforce and stopped looking for jobs. The workforce “participation rate,” which peaked at 67 percent in 2000, has now dropped to 63.5 percent. It seems like a small percentage decline, but that number
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— Women of a ‘certain’ age. Women joined the workforce in increasing numbers in the 1970s — and not just working “until they were married,” as had been the case with their mothers. Most expected to work their entire lives — at least until they were ready to collect Social Security. The most shocking experience for a woman, especially a woman alone, is to find herself unemployed in her late 50s — years from being able to collect Medicare and Social Security benefits. Some were executives, many were executive assistants and others worked in now-shuttered plants and factories. They bought homes or condos that have dropped in value and are losing them to foreclosure as their paychecks disappear.
a dead-end as they lost jobs, not because of poor performance, but simply for budget reasons. They are parents of small children, wondering how they will make the mortgage payments and put food on the table. They can’t afford anything — least of all to give up hope. Solution? I’ve been hearing about “resume deflation” — the act of rewriting your resume to eliminate mention of advanced degrees or previous management responsibility. Thus, if a job opening does appear, the potential employer will not “fear” that you’ll leave when the economy improves. These are by no means the only groups that are unemployed. There are literally millions of heartbreaking stories in America today. Many
I’ve been hearing about “resume deflation” — the act of rewriting your resume to eliminate mention of advanced degrees or previous management responsibility. Solution? We need churches or civic groups to recognize this quiet, but devastating community issue. We can’t have a generation of bag ladies. Creativity will be the key — perhaps matching those who might lose their homes with potential “renters” of rooms in those homes. Many young mothers are looking for home child care, while older women are looking for a place to live and a way to contribute. — College grads, just starting out. By now, it’s well understood that we have a generation that took on student loan debt to invest in their future job marketability. Now they have the debt — but no job openings. They’re forced to live at home — if their parents still have a home. Solution? Do NOT go on to grad school and pile up more debt — even though the education is valuable. Volunteer. Get involved with the community — and business leaders might recognize an additional dimension to your worth. — Mid-career executives with experience and skills. So many of these unemployed or underemployed people had started on a great career track — and ran into
are veterans returning from defending our country. Sadly, more than 45 million Americans are collecting food stamps today. That’s 15 percent of our population — compared to less than eight percent in the years between 1970 and 2000! That’s the real way to count the number of people who cannot earn enough to feed themselves and their families. It has been estimated that roughly $6 billion will be spent on the presidential elections in 2012. Couldn’t some of that money be spent more wisely — on creative ideas to generate economic growth? For that’s what it will take to get people back to work — a spurt of economic growth and activity that will create the demand for products and service — and jobs for the people who provide them. Right now, the only people with secure jobs seem to be the advertising agencies that create those outrageous commercials for both political parties. Money down the drain. And that’s the Savage Truth. Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and is on the board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
STATE CAPITOL COMMENT
OCTOBER 2012
• 50PLUS • 7A
By Matt Pommer
It’s time to move:Worried your house won’t sell? Every home will sell in any market at any time of the year! That is a bold statement, but it’s true. Of course, the price will vary depending on condition, time of year, location and the state of the economy. The price you put on your home will determine whether or not you go to a closing table in a timely fashion. I visit with sellers every day and I find there are so many misconceptions about the value of their property as well as the relationship between condition and final sales price. When I visit with a potential client, more times than not the seller is holding up the tax assessment value set by the community in which they live. Your assessed value can be right on, or it can be off by as much as 30 percent depending on your community. After all, a community, when assessing your home, does not consider condition. Therefore, it takes a seasoned agent or appraiser to help you determine the true value of your home based on current market conditions as well as how your
APRON STRINGS
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION By Bruce Nemovitz
home will be valued by a potential buyer. Remember, a home or any other commodity is only worth what a buyer will pay. It is a hard truth, but that concept has been with us as long as capitalism has AGING guided our ISSUES economy. Tom Frazier As I enter into aByconversation with my clients, my first question is how motivated are you to make your move into your new home? Why are you considering moving? It is critical to establish the urgency to make a move. Making a move from PLANTING and any home is a highly stressful TOMORROW’S important decision. IfDREAMS motivation TODAY is By Brad Olson weak, then I find that the homeowner will make bad decisions subconsciously sabotaging any potential
sale by over-pricing the home or not preparing Emma the home properly to have a chance of attracting an offer. By Auntangered Emma They may become easily by their agent or potential buyers if there is not a compelling reason to make a move. Deep down, we all dread change and will try to avoid that uncomfortable feeling if at all possible. However, I have found that if one looks to the future and sees a better situation that will enhance the quality of one’s life, then decisions will be made intelligently based on the reality of the market place. Therefore, the first step to a successful sale is establishing a compelling reason to move, taking into account the advantages of that move to a better situation. A well thought out move will almost always be successful. Once a decision has been made to move with a strong motivation, all seems to fall in place. I will ask the owner what his or her goals are as to price. If an owner decides to reach
By Jack Pearson By Jack Pearson
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for the top values in the area, then condition must be excellent both inside and outside. In many cases that seller would decide to hire a stager who would collaborate with contractors such as painters and flooring companies to update their home so that young buyers would pay that top dollar. In other cases, my sellers decide to sell their home in its current condition, which may need work. We then price accordingly based on that condition. In some cases, sellers do not even want to deal with showings and marketing of their home and decide to sell to a cash broker or investor. As you can see, there are many ways to sell a home. If one is realistic with an understanding of the market place, a sale is always the result in a relatively short period of time. A properly priced home will result in a timely sale in any market, any time of the year. A well-informed homeowner with a strong incentive to move will always be successful in
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EARLY JANUARY – Call me for a free personalized market estimate as well as a game plan for preparing the home for market. I will explain how you can take advantage of this unique real estate opportunity, and offer suggestions as to any contractors or inspections needed. By Enis Wright
MID-JANUARY – Visit the senior community of your choice. Meet with the marketing director to determine what the apartment and service options are, as well as pricing information and availability.
KILLING TIME with Jim McLoone
EARLY FEBRUARY – Reserve an apartment at your chosen retirement community to assure you have a new home established. The marketing director will work closely with your realtor to create a smooth and timely transition. This would also be a good time to sign up with a moving and packing company. MID-FEBRUARY – Put your home on the market. The buyers will be actively looking for their new home already so they’re assured of being able to take advantage of the tax credit that will expire at the end of April. You want to make sure you’re first on the market to take advantage of these early buyers. MARCH - APRIL – You typically have to be out of our home 30-45 days after you have an accepted offer. APRIL - MAY – Move date. Your moving company will have been contacted at the time of accepted offer to set the move date.
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Same-sex marriage and Social Security
“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. We cheer everybody on—I love it!”
••
“I felt the need for people around me.”
K
ay, a retired kindergarten teacher, lived alone for six years after her husband died. The need for social interaction prompted her to move to Regency. “Regency has so many things to keep us busy and entertained. I’m involved in reading, crafting and I love the exercise programs. They give us what we need to keep limber and agile. The best part is all the wonderful company I have around me. I’ve made so many new friends. I can prepare meals in my apartment. But if I feel like being with company, I can take advantage of the wonderful meal program.”
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“Regency is all about our continued independence.”
D
ennis and his wife Bev describe Regency as “our kind of place. It’s not an old folks home. If you just take a tour and look around at how happy the people are—that’s what sold us. Everything is first class. Our neighbors are very friendly and helpful, we just love it here. Regency helps us keep our independence. We highly recommend it!”
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Q
BY: TOM MARGENAU . I am a 61-year-old gay man who is about to retire. I have a 60-year-old partner. We have been together now for 38 years. I have worked all my life. My partner has spent most of his life as a stay-athome husband and father. (Yes, we raised a son and daughter, both of whom are now very successful.) I really enjoy your column and have learned a lot from it. But I have never seen a column in which you have discussed Social Security issues that impact gays and lesbians, especially with respect to benefits for spouses. What can you tell us about this?
A
. Frankly, there isn’t much to tell you that doesn’t apply to everyone else. In almost all respects, Social Security is the same for straight people and for gay people. You said you worked all your life. So you will qualify for reduced Social Security retirement benefits when you turn 62. Or you can choose to wait until 66 to get your full rate. Or you can even wait until age 70 to retire, at which point you would get your full benefit plus a 32 percent delayed retirement bonus. But there is a huge difference for gays and lesbians when it comes to spousal benefits. There aren’t any! I am used to telling people that Social Security follows state law when it comes to marital relationships. In other words, if your state says you are legally married, then Social Security will consider you legally married. Of course, all states recognize routine marriages between a man and woman. But this rule becomes an especially important issue for people involved in “common law” relationships. There are only a few states that recognize common law marriages, so there are only a few states where people in such relationships will qualify for spousal benefits from Social Security.
As most people know, there are also only a few states that recognize same sex marriages as being legal. So normally, I would be able to tell you that if you were married in one of those states, your partner would qualify for Social Security spousal benefits on your record. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you know, there is a federal law that trumps state laws on these matters. It has the silly name (in my opinion) of the “Defense of Marriage Act,” or DOMA. Among other things, that law essentially says that when it comes to any kind of spousal benefit from a federal program (and Social Security is the biggest of all federal programs), those benefits can only be paid if the marriage is between a man and a woman. As one might guess, that law was passed by a very conservative Congress in 1996. President Clinton signed the bill into law and has pretty much regretted that move ever since. Obviously, President Bush supported DOMA. And President Obama has decided not to work to repeal the law, but he has instructed the Attorney General not to defend the law in courts whenever challenges are mounted against it. I know I am putting my liberal stripes on display here. My conservative readers will take offense at what I am saying and will send emails blasting me for my views. But I just have a hard time understanding why the law allows a divorced spouse in a heterosexual relationship who was married for only 10 years to claim full benefits from the ex-spouse’s Social Security record. Yet the partner of the person who wrote this letter, someone who has been together as part of a couple for almost 40 years, someone who has raised two wonderful kids, can’t claim a nickel of his partner’s Social Security benefits. Where is the justice in that?
OCTOBER 2012
We need each other!
Q
BY: DOUG MAYBERRY : I have never been comfortable in a group of people. My experience is that I often put my foot in my mouth and say the wrong things when I am with a group of people. However, I actually like being with people. How can I change my attitude and enjoy others without the fear of offending them? : Everyone has blurted out something when they were not thinking and immediately regrets it. When we make one of these knee-jerk reactions, one successful response is to immediately laugh and simply say: “Now wasn’t that a dumb thing to say?” This serves as an acceptable apology. Practicing patience and becoming a better listener will give you time to consider your response. The reality is that those who know how to respond intelligently are usually believed to be smarter and their comments are always welcomed. We all eventually learn that politicians can be among society’s smartest speakers. They understand that few want to think and nobody wants to listen. However, they know how to applaud! Talking is always about “us.” Should you prefer others speak, simply say: “That’s interesting, tell me more” or “That’s a good question” or “I never thought about that.” These responses are effective. In fact, sometimes you need to be silent to be heard. Over time, we all are willing to admit we do not have any real answers, only opinions. Individuals connect when they admit their vulnerability, self-disclose who they are, confess their weaknesses and avoid moralizing. Never say never, none, all, everything, totally, constantly or make judging of others your hobby. Tell your family and friends how much you love and need them. That helps to destroy fears you may have.
A
Q
: We only have one grandson. Almost everyone loves him. He is popular, has a positive attitude, is fun and his friends are similar. But when he wants a new toy, his parents open their wallet. The truth is that we all love and spoil him. As grandparents, we realize that he is not being taught a work ethic or how to make a life commitment and therefore, he will probably not be qualified to enroll in a top academic college because he is a B student. He could do better. He loves football, sports, and of course, girls. We believe, as most of us did at his age, he and his peers are experimenting, maybe with drugs and sex. He has a car and has already gotten his first ticket. Is it too late to rattle his cage and give him an adult wake-up call? : Getting from childhood to maturity takes time. Sometimes shame and embarrassment work in the short term. Professional counseling may be in order. However, the basic problem is that your grandson has too much time. A job would limit his options and free time. But few, if any, jobs are around. Continue to love him, encourage him, discuss goals and future options and remain close to him and his friends. Remind him of his competition and steer him to educational opportunities that offer employment. Also, discuss the importance of finding his passion in life and offer up other positive options — this could prove to be the best advice you have to offer. Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community.
A
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Use of PSA blood test questioned by task force BY DR. DAVID LIPSCHITZ Conflicting opinions on cancer screening have caused a great deal of confusion for health care providers and the general public. This particularly applies to breast and prostate cancer screenings. Most recently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a definitive recommendation against using the PSA blood test to screen for prostate cancer in healthy men of any age. Even in those who are at a high risk for developing prostate cancer, including blacks and men with a strong family history of the disease, the value of the test is questioned. Their recommendation is primarily based on two facts: First, the task force maintains that the PSA does not reduce deaths from prostate cancer. Second, screening leads to needless biopsies (as many as one million annually) and unnecessary surgeries and radiation that frequently results in incontinence, erectile dysfunction and other urinary and bowel problems. Many patients receive hormonal therapy to decrease testosterone levels. This often causes fatigue, weakness, osteoporosis and a poor quality of life. Many urologists and cancer experts strongly oppose the notion of completely abandoning the use of the PSA. They maintain that early detection does indeed save lives, and worry that failure to detect prostate cancer early will lead to a far greater number of patients who develop widespread disease throughout their body. Symptoms include severe bone pain and fractures, neurological issues due to spread of the tumor to the brain and many other problems. Widely disseminated prostate cancer causes a great deal of suffering. Their point of view is strengthened by the fact that the task force recommendation was based on an American study that was seriously flawed with inaccurate conclusions. Recently, an important research article was published in the New
England Journal of Medicine that attempted to weigh the potential benefits of a PSA screening against the impaired quality of life as a consequence of further testing and treating prostate tumors. In this study, the PSA test was measured every four years in 1,000 men between the ages of 55 and 69. Their analysis predicted that the PSA test would result in an increased number of prostate cancers diagnosed, from 112 to 157 cases. But the number of deaths from prostate cancer would decrease from 31 to 22 cases, and the number requiring end-of-life palliative care would decrease from 40 to 26. In this study, screening healthy men led to a 37 percent reduction in mortality from prostate cancer. Their research also demonstrated the downside of screening, including a marked increase in the number of biopsies. And of the 104 cancers identified, a total of 45, or 43 percent, were over-diagnosed. In other words, prostate cancer was diagnosed and treated despite compelling evidence that showed the tumor would never have caused symptoms or reduced life expectancy. Quality of life was also affected by the high risk of significant complications. An editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine acknowledged that the PSA test saves lives but at a high cost. The publication does not believe that definitive information is yet available to make a concrete recommendation either for or against PSA screening. Each patient should have a frank discussion with his physician before a screening decision is made. Screening practices in America are very different from Europe. Here, annual testing is recommended. In contrast, in Sweden, men are screened every two years, and, in Holland, every four. Deaths from prostate cancer are the same in all three countries. BLOOD TEST continued on page 11A
OCTOBER 2012
Alzheimer’s warning signs The Alzheimer’s Association has 10 definitive warning signs that the disease may be creeping up on you or a loved one. WATCH FOR: • Memory loss that disrupts normal daily life. • Challenges in planning things or solving problems. • Difficulties in completing familiar tasks whether they are at home, work or play. • Confusion with time or place.
• Difficulty in understanding visual images and/or spatial relationships. • New problems with words when speaking or writing. • Misplacing things; losing the ability to retrace your steps when searching for something. • Decreased or poor judgment. • Withdrawal from work or social activities. • Changes in a person’s mood and/or personality.
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Is angIna squeezIng the enjoyment out of your lIfe?
Older persons on family care may be eligible for reimbursement BY TOM FRAZIER In his 2011-2013 state budget, Governor Walker and the Legislature placed a cap on enrollment in the Family Care program. Family Care provides long-term care services, and began in Milwaukee in 2000 for older people. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) determined that the cap violated the waiver agreement between the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and CMS. Since older persons in Milwaukee County were eligible for Family Care services under the federally approved waiver, they should not have been placed on a waiting list. If you were on Family Care or applied and were eligible, you may be entiBLOOD TEST continued from page 11A Annual screening leads to more unnecessary biopsies and more diagnoses that cause more harm than good. And in the United States, PSA tests are measured in men in their 80s despite the fact that there is no evidence that screenings are of any value in men over age 70. The upper limit of the normal range for the PSA is 4. This is the level at which a referral to a urologist should be considered. In medicine, nothing is ever clear-cut. As I am in my 70th year, I will no longer be screened. But at a younger age, testing should be considered if you fully understand the potential downsides of over treatment.
tled to reimbursement for any health care costs during the period July 1, 2011 to April 3, 2012. In a letter to the state Medicaid Director, CMS said, “If such individuals appeal to the State from service or eligibility denials, the State should reimburse the individuals improperly placed on a waiting list for any health care costs incurred while on the waiting list.” If you believe that you may be entitled to reimbursement for such costs, you should contact Senior Law (if over age 60) for free advice and assistance. You can call Senior Law at (414) 278-1222 or toll-free at 1-888-278-0633 between 9-11 a.m. on Monday, Thursday and Friday, or on Tuesday between 1-3 p.m.
Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book “Breaking The Rules Of Aging.”
Announcing a clinical research study for people with angina. If you’ve been unable to control your symptoms of angina, you’re invited to see if you may qualify for the Renew Study. The purpose of the study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of an investigational therapy using a patient’s own stem cells for the treatment of angina. Each individual must be 21 or older, and will be evaluated to determine his or her eligibility. Qualified participants will receive either the investigational therapy or placebo, or continue with current approved angina treatment options, providing researchers with a standard comparison to the investigational therapy. All participants will receive study-related medical exams and lab tests at no charge. Compensation for time and travel may be available. To find out if you may qualify, visit RENEWstudy.com and call the area doctor below.
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Blindness and vision loss spike by 23 percent in the U.S. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is urging seniors to save their sight through prevention and early detection. This is especially important since blindness and vision impairment are on the rise in the United States. A recent report by Prevent Blindness America indicates that, since the year 2000, incidence of blindness and vision impairment has increased by 23 percent among Americans age 40 and older. However, most blindness in this country is preventable with proper eye care. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and EyeCare America urge Americans to get regular eye exams to better prevent and detect sight-stealing eye diseases. Rising rates of age-related eye diseases and conditions are largely to blame for the increase in vision loss. Four of the most common causes of vision loss are: · Diabetic retinopathy, where blood vessels in the retina swell or become blocked due to diabetes · Age-related macular degen-
eration (AMD), a breakdown of the eye’s macula · Glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the optic nerve · Cataracts, in which the eye’s lens becomes clouded. All four of these conditions have shown a marked increase over the past 12 years: · The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy increased by 89 percent. · The frequency of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) increased by 25 percent. · The incidence of glaucoma increased by 22 percent. · The number of people affected by cataracts increased by 19 percent. As baby-boomers continue to age, the incidence of age-related eye disease is also expected to continue to increase. Currently, people age 80 and older constitute only eight percent of the population, but account for 69 percent of all cases of blindness. Early detection and treatment by an ophthalmologist – an eye medical doctor – may help prevent
and in some cases, such as cataracts, even reverse vision loss. Many seniors age 65 and older may qualify for an eye exam and up to one year of care at no out-of-pocket-cost through EyeCare America, a
Since the year 2000, blindness and vision impairment have increased by 23 percent among Americans age 40 and older. public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. EyeCare America matches qualifying patients age 65 and older with an ophthalmolo-
gist who provides a comprehensive medical eye examination. EyeCare America is co-sponsored by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc, with additional support from Alcon. To see if you or a loved one is eligible, visit the online referral center at www.eyecareamerica.org. “Regular eye exams are imperative to detect and treat eye diseases and prevent serious vision loss,” said Richard P. Mills, M.D., chairman of EyeCare America. “This is especially true for people age 65 and older who are at increased risk for eye diseases. That’s why EyeCare America is so focused on providing access to eye care, and we hope that fewer people will suffer from preventable causes of blindness as a result.” To learn more about EyeCare America or to find out if you or a loved one qualifies for the program, visit www.eyecareamerica.org. Learn more about eye diseases and conditions, and keeping your eyes healthy at www.geteyesmart.org.
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- Francis Meadows: (262) 210-8501
Cudahy
- Cottonwood Trails: (414) 254-8490
Delafield
- Hillside Woods I & II: (262) 313-8751
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
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OCTOBER 2012
ELLEMBECKER continued on page 1 States. By 2020, they are expected to control $22 trillion. Ninety-five percent of women will be their family’s primary financial decision maker at some point in their lives. “Women have really good intuition when it comes to finances, but they don’t trust themselves to listen to it,” Ellenbecker said, which can have devastating consequences.
their lives, whether due to the death of a spouse or divorce. “Don’t depend on your husband for your retirement. That’s a mistake,” she said. “If divorced, a couple may split an IRA, but it is the husband who will have the opportunity to continue to contribute to it – growing retirement security.” Women are more conservative with finances than men, Ellenbecker
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It’s never too early to start to plan for the future. • Eleven percent of women ages 65 and older are poor, compared to seven percent of men age 65 and older. (Investment News) • Only 49 percent of women contribute to their 401(k) plans. (Investment News) • A single woman has an 82 percent chance of outliving her financial assets in retirement. (The Fiscal Times) Women make less money than men and typically can’t find the money to contribute to a retirement fund. “This puts them in a vulnerable place,” Ellenbecker said. “Also many women work part-time or are underemployed.” Typically, women are the ones who take a break from their careers to raise children or take care of elderly parents. “If you are not vested in the fund when you leave, the matching funds you received while at the job may not go with you,” she said. Since 1999, the number of adults taking care of elderly parents has tripled, according to a 2011 study by MetLife Mature Market Institute. “During this time they lose income and opportunity to continue to contribute to their retirement,” Ellenbecker said. The same study showed the average result for women who take time off to care for a parent is $142,693 in lost wages and lost Social Security benefits of $131,351. According to the National Center for Women and Retirement Research, as many as nine out of 10 women will be solely responsible for their finances at some point in
said. But regardless of your attitude about finances, investments or money, find someone to help you understand how much risk is involved in any investment – in tax liability and hidden fees. “Remember, an adviser works for you.” According to FinancialPlanning.com, more than 70 percent of married women fire their financial professionals within one year of their husband’s death. “I feel it’s because they are not being heard,” Ellenbecker said. “Women are told ‘this is how he always did it,’” referring to the husband’s directive on their investments.
A single woman has an 82 percent chance of outliving her financial assets in retirement. (The Fiscal Times) Women, whether divorced or widowed, have a difficult time maintaining their lifestyle due to loss of a husband’s pension or retirement fund. There is the specter of raising healthcare cost and, Ellenbecker points out, “singles pay more in taxes than couples.” According to the Women’s Institute for Financial Education, women tend to outlive their husbands. Only one-third of women over 65 are
Karen Ellenbecker married, and on average women will M&I Trust. She has seen the finansurvive their husbands by 15 years. cial landscape change throughout The median age when a woman los- the years. “We are seeing parents es a spouse is 59 years old. taking care of their adult children, On average, a female retiring at spending money on their children age 65 can expect to live another 19 who should be independent. Women years, three years longer than a man particularly put others before themretiring at the same age. Savings can selves.” increase a woman’s chances of havThe world is changing. There ing enough money to last during her are more people who choose not to retirement, according to the United get married. There are couples that States Department of Labor. own property together, but who arHow to determine how much en’t married. They may have propmoney will be needed in retirement? erty and investments in different “You want to maintain your life- names. When one partner dies, the style. We have programs that can extended families may not agree on project out 30 to 40 years to deter- property or financial distributions. mine inflation, tax projections and There are healthcare and end-ofhealthcare costs,” Ellenbecker said. life concerns and the distribution of In retirement, one of two things treasured items. Have an estate plan has to happen: you will have enough so there’s no doubt or dispute later, savings to support your current life- Ellenbecker recommends. style, or there will need to be a shift • Track your finances – know in your lifestyle, she said. “And usu- what you have: pension, retirement ally the shift is down.” savings, stocks, Social Security, etc. Look at your pension and So- You may have forgotten some financial Security. Do you have longev- cial resources. ity in your family? What is your • Educate yourself about your health situation? “There are factors financial health. you can’t control, like taxes, mar• Find an advisor you trust – ket volatility and healthcare costs,” someone you’re comfortable with. she said, “but just because there are • It’s never too early to start to some things you can’t fully predict, plan for the future. doesn’t mean you should ignore beEllenbecker said, “When things ing prepared.” are going well, people don’t worry Ellenbecker has been in the about money. People seek advisers industry for nearly three decades when they are unsure of their finanand has owned her company for 17 cial future.” years. Before Ellenbecker Investment Group, Ellenbecker worked at
14A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2012
EDITORIALS
The need-to-know about vacationing in Germany STATE CAPITOL COMMENT By Matt Pommer
APRON STRINGS
Emma
TRAVEL
By Aunt Emma
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
A German vacation offers a tourist traveling in Germany the opportunity to visit unique and interestingMan sites that include medieval Answer cities, historic castles, popular beer halls and modern cities full of excitement. If you have an upcoming German vacation planned or if you have ever just dreamed of traveling in Germany, there are a few things you need to know to make it your best trip possible. Unless you are fluent in German, the first thing you may want to consider is downloading a German translator app that allows you to simply say a sentence in English and immediately hear the German
SENIOR
By Bruce Nemovitz
IT MAKES ME
AGING ISSUES
By Tom Frazier
PLANTING TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY By Brad Olson
HERMAN WHITE WRITES ARTS
SPORTS Sports Plus
By Jack Pearson
By Jack Pearson
CRABBY
the WRIGHT SIDE of By Enis Wright
ENTERTAINMENT
translation. You can download the free app from GooglePlay and once you can understand the language a little better, you will be all set to explore and navigate the many interesting sites a German vacation has to offer. Germany is located directly in the middle of Europe and shares a border with nine European countries. It is an interesting mix of beautiful scenery, exciting nightlife, historic greatness and fascinating culture; and the perfect German vacation will allow you to catch a glimpse of it all. According to LonelyPlanet. com, there are several popular cities that those traveling in Germany most often include in their itineraries. These popular German vacation destinations are listed herewith, along with a few details about what makes them such great places to visit.
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OCTOBER 2012
Five must see cities to visit during your German vacation Berlin -- The capital of Germany, Berlin is a fast paced and energetic city that has become a trendy and cultural melting pot filled with a background rich in history. Popular Berlin landmarks include the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the Reichstag, the old Berlin Wall, the Holocaust Memorial and many museums, as well as popular German pubs. Cologne -- The fourth largest city in Germany, Cologne is known for its rich culture and dynamic architecture. The city is filled with medieval churches, historic museums and well attended concert halls. The most popular attraction is the Cologne Cathedral, known as the Dom, which fills the city’s skyline with its beauty. Cologne also features chocolate makers, a culture of art and fun filled beer halls. Rügen Island -- This island is home to about 356 miles of beautiful coastline. The lush surroundings and blue water are included in the island’s national parks and protected nature reserves. Popular with tourists, the resort of Binz as well as the Stubbenkammer, are located in the Jasmund National Park and host many visitors each year.
Dresden -- A classically beautiful city, Dresden is popular with artists who are inspired by the beautiful views from the Elbe’s northern bank. From soaring towers to ancient palaces and historic churches, this unique city offers a magnificent cultural experience. With world class museums and Mediterranean feel, you will want to spend a few days here to soak in its charm. Hamburg -- Home to the largest port in Germany, Hamburg is also a booming media capital and the richest city in Germany. Hamburg’s rich maritime history makes it a wonderful city to visit. It is a popular town with the young, rich and hip crowd who like an energetic nightlife with lots of activities. Take a popular riverfront sightseeing tour near the Elbe River, see buildings shaped like ocean liners, and enjoy the scenic views and city sights of the beautiful hillside district of Blankenese. No matter what your idea of the perfect German vacation is, you are sure to find something everyone will enjoy while traveling in Germany. Spend a week or a month and soak in the rich culture this historic country has to offer. Content Provided by Spot55. com
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16A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2012
He photographed the stars; the earthly variety that is By Jack Pearson Pictures, Pictures, everywhere! That is what you would see if you visited the home of Robert Lewis in Menomonee Falls. Now in his 80s, Robert is always seen with his trusty pipe, which he absolutely will not part with even when it is not lit.
And each day, he is surrounded by thousands of photographs of famous and glamorous personalities from the entertainment and sports worlds he has met over the past half century. He has an amazing collection; many are framed and cover all the walls of his apartment, and many,
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Johnny Cash and a pair of admirers.
many more filling scrapbooks and albums on every table and flat surface. There are even more packed away in boxes. What’s remarkable is that Robert took every one of them, even the ones with him in them. When he was very young, Robert’s parents bought him a gleaming, new 35mm camera. You know, the old kind from days of yore in which you had to put film in it. It changed his life. From that point on, taking pictures became his passion. But he did not photograph beautiful sites, such as the Wisconsin Dells, or of stunning architecture, like our State Capitol, or even birds and animals. Robert went on to photograph wellknown, prominent entertainment and sports figures.
Robert may have been only an amateur, but he was quite professional in his approach. The paparazzi style, running pell-mell after famous stars, shooting off flash bulbs in their faces and acting like idiots, was never for him. He always politely and quietly requested a photo, thanked his subject, and offered, if they wished, to send them a copy of the picture free of charge. He especially remembers shots he took of Sammy Davis Jr. and Jerry Lewis. “I was in the service then, and I recall that Davis treated me like an old buddy. He actually asked me more questions about myself than I did about him. And maybe it’s because it was one of my first photographs of the stars, but the one I took of Lewis has always been my
OCTOBER 2012
LEWIS continued on page 16 favorite. I’ve read where he can be rude and short with people, but he sure wasn’t like that with me. Great guy,” Robert said. Incidentally, Robert sometimes stuck himself into the pictures he took of the ultra famous. In them, he, like Ed Sullivan, rarely smiled. Another early star photo Robert took was of Bob Hope. “I actually took pictures of Hope three times,” Robert said. On the second and third occasions, he said he remembered me, which was very nice of him. “He was probably putting me on, but it was something I appreciated. You know, in all the thousands of stars I photographed, the bigger and more important the stars were, the more accommodating and considerate they were,” Robert recalled. Robert explained that as he ages, it is sometimes more difficult to remember all the stars he has met and photographed. He says that being able to look at the pictures helps him remember. “That’s why I have them plastered up all over the place. I’m not trying to put on the dog with all these photos all over the place; I’m the only one who sees them. My wonderful wife, Arlene, is dead, and I don’t get to see the kids or the grandkids much.” Even though Robert never sold any of his pictures or put them up in an exhibition, what he was doing became known. One person who heard of Robert’s skills in portraying the rich and famous was Bob Barry, the famous WOKY DJ and show host of the time. Barry regularly hosted motion picture, Broadway, radio and television stars on his show, and was looking for someone to record all of that action in pictures. “Bob called me one day,” Robert said, “and told me that the Beatles (then the most famous singing group in the world) were coming to town and had requested that he, Barry, serve as the master of ceremonies for their show. He asked me if I would consider coming over and taking pictures of them. It took me about a half a second to happily agree.” Today, those pictures have found their way into scores of publications and are regarded as among the best
was a picture of him and his late wife Arlene, dancing in formal attire, both with big, happy smiles on their faces. “This one I didn’t take,” he said. “On this one I was on the other end of the
camera. But if I ever had to get rid of all of them, this is the one I’d keep.”
Here’s Robert’s favorite photo; of himself and his late wife, Arlene. ever taken of the group. “So then, over the years, whenever Bob had a famous guest on the show, he’d call and let me know and I’d take the pictures. Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, Frankie Laine, Patti Page, Perry Como, the Everly Brothers, Al Hirt, Michael Jordan, Paul Newman, Lawrence Welk and all his singers and band members, Eviel Knievel, the Osmonds, Zsa Zsa Gabor . . . Hey! I better stop. If I told you the names of all the stars I photographed, you’d get a writer’s cramp trying to write them all down.” Incidentally, Barry, whom Robert considers “special,” often drops in to see his old photographer buddy, and, in fact, was the one who suggested this story about him. In addition to Barry and WOKY, the Milwaukee Bucks also heard about Robert’s skills and contracted with him to shoot pictures at their home games, for many years. Another who became aware of Robert and his work was the late and world famed portrait artist from Kenosha, George Pollard. Invariably Pollard’s portraits were of famous people --the Pope, U.S. Presidents, top sports figures -- yet he also composed one of Robert, with pipe in hand, of course. When asked which photo was his favorite, Robert looked at me for a moment, then walked over to a wall and grabbed a framed photo. It
• 50PLUS • 17A
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18A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2012
HERITAGE LAKE
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Heritage at Deer Creek 8-12:Layout 1 7/17/12 3:24 PM Page 1
Time waits for no one STATE CAPITOL COMMENT By Matt Pommer
It seems as though time waits for no one. But then how can we have so much time on our hands? I believe that I run out of time many days. Why, it seems that I have only talked to Annie, Giselle and Gertrude plus having three cups of cofMOVING IN THE fee and it suddenly almost is time RIGHT DIRECTION for me to prepare Henry’s dinner. By Bruce Nemovitz In fact, more than a few nights, the dinner fare is a big surprise to both of us. Little does Henry know that I always keep one tucked away in the freezer that can be quickly thawed if and when I otherwise might be in AGING time trouble. ISSUES I guess it is time for me to get By Tom Frazier my apron on. Henry says that I am broad-minded. Yes, I am glad he says that about my thinking. I’d be terribly disappointed if it was my Henry who was broad-minded. I do hope you get what I mean. PLANTING But really now, howTOMORROW’S can one TODAY simple little word like thatDREAMS have such By Brad totally different meanings? To Olson me, as Henry says, I am broad-minded. Yes, that is true. I think about a wide range of things and try not to zero in on one thing or even a few that I look down my nose at. I do like people of all different religions and I can honSPORTS Sports Plus estly say that I even like people who By Jack Pearson By Jack Pearson are professed members of that Tea Party. I guess I surely would never want to attend one of their parties. Their only conversation might be on how we can manage to get by in this country without raising our taxes. I suspect that fellow, Slim Pickins, must be one of their leaders. The only people I don’t like and I hate to admit it are a few of those loud mouths at the club. Henry has to associate with them, or so he says. I guess he refers to them as brothers. Those brothers would rather quickly get under my skin or should I say, “Get my dander up.” I can’t stand their gumption of referring to every one of the ladies as sweetheart or darling and always trying to maneuver themselves into a position where they might brush against you. Glory be! If they could only see themselves as others see them. While I am telling you about certain people being the wrong
Emma
APRON STRINGS By Aunt Emma
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kind of broad-minded, I am referring to the fellows who sometimes, with their eyes, practically undress women as they pass by. To men like that I would like to, but don’t dare say onto them, it would be better to be even narrow-minded. I guess this last means that a person who is known to be narrow-minded has his brain train stuck on a narrow gauge track. Or possibly, it never even left the smart station. He may even think those “three r’s” that kids learn in grade school all really do begin with the letter r. Some things never do change and, still, there are good things occurring all the time. While I mentioned the club, I guess I should have said the post. We are very active members of our post. Henry says many of the old-timers, WWII and Korea, are fading away; at least they’re not as active as they were when the post was a jumping place on Friday and Saturday nights. We Vietnamers seem to be mostly running the post now. Enis Wright Jensen of It is good to By see Wayne Milwaukee elected to the top post in Wisconsin, department commander. Yes, he’s one of us and was, as Henry says, very active in the Milwaukee Police Post and also served as the Fourth District commander. Henry says he knows that Jensen is the type of commander who will do everything in his power to welcome the Afghanistan and Iraq troops home and into our fellowship. Henry, and more than a few others, cannot forget the apathy, let’s call it as it was, almost hostility, that greeted the boys as they came home from Vietnam. Henry still wonders why? While I don’t know exactly, what is happening with the art people, I do know that Henry hopes the
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HERMAN WHITE WRITES Regardless of how old we are, it seems to me that none of us is too old to sometimes not look wistfully back on our careers whether they were in labor, at a counter or sitting behind a desk. Yes, we do recall so many of those days as tough and gritty. Still, if the time mechanism could be reversed, there are times, things and activities that we definitely would work to change. There are also others of the grin By Enis Wright and bear it types. All always was not
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well. Those times cannot be undone. There is no such device as being able to retrieve times gone by. If you left a tomato to ripen on the windowsill, forget it. What we must be more concerned with are the things of yesteryear that may not ever be recovered or changed, but which still live with us. If we only could bury these as we plow new furrows in the fields of life.
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KILLING TIME EMMA continued from page 18
beckon veterans to their home away lakefront. Henry emphasizes, from here today to eternity, we’re comrades as veterans and we’ll stand together through thick, thin or the scenario of your choice. Don’t just let that final bugle call you too soon. We’re striving, or so Henry says, for 100 percent membership at the post this year. But we do keep
with Jim from McLoone home on our beautiful really
American Legion members will put their oars into the waters (money also would really help) at the War Memorial Center and move our veterans’ agenda and interests forward. Henry says nobody ever won a war with a paintbrush, a palette or water colors. We stand for our colors. May they long wave as they
October Poem
While September may be a great month for us to remember, There’s also much to be said as an aging golden life member. Our hair may be changing to varying shades of white. But there are old men who have none; they’re quite a sight. To attain great aging status, you need a certain passion. As you already know, growing old and frail requires no fashion. We move into October’s 31 days with very swiftest of strides. This month, for certain, will not be swept out with the tides. Scenery around us is changing to shades of brown and yellow. Hardwood trees seem to shiver as winds around them bellow. If this is just October, what will the next month bring? Perhaps some snow, definitely birds on southward wing. Now resting, there was great cheer when old Pop retired. Little did he know then of $$ messes in which he might be mired. Will we all of wintery weather ahead in opinions agree? But your thoughts, as mine, we always will cherish as free. Do remember to honor Columbus on October eight. He sailed blindly here, but arrived about this date. Soon we’ll look forward to a beautiful harvest moon. Though pretty and bright, I’d rather celebrate high noon. I ask as you do, will daylight time be here forever? This time dating guy must believe he’s so very clever. Crops soon will be in, storm remedies taken or in place. Take heed. Enjoy now as too close is Winter’s ugly face.
OCTOBER 2012
Did your boss or your dad passionately disagree with your idea or was he upset by something you did? You knew it was right then and you’re still convinced of it now. You would have loved to tell him that he was an egotistic dumbbell. But you kept your mouth closed to save your job or to keep from getting a whipping. Of course, you recall how you were always full of good advice. As time marches on, look on those days of yore as nothing more than watching the trains go by while you waited behind the crossbar. They’re gone. What we must do now is keep the sun shining on our lives. Lock out the dim past. Recall the people in your past life who
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were meaningful to you, people who loved you, helped you, complimented you. How about that pet pooch, ‘Rusty’? When no other person seemed to like you, good, old Rusty was there to still wag his tail. There is so much to productively do today. Mind wandering won’t bridge any gaps or change the past. Be happy you are here today. Make it meaningful. Put smiles on the faces of those people you will meet today. You can put a new wrinkle on life without it showing on your skin.
losing members to the Grim Reaper. But as my Henry, he’s so smart, tells me that’s just a fact of life.
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20A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2012
PLANTING TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY By Brad Olson
HERMAN WHITE WRITES
The King gave up his crown; his glory is now forgotten Here are a couple of college football trivia questions that most fans would not answer correctly. 1. Who was the first collegiate backfield star to win All-American honors in football three years in a row? 2. What Big Ten college football coach with at least eight years on the job had the highest winning percentage in conference history? The headline above gives you a clue, for the answer to both questions is the same, a gentleman by the name of Philip King. His story is a vital part of the history of the sport of football, and especially football in Wisconsin. Vital, yet most unfortunately, forgotten. Phil King lived, and his tremendous achievements occurred long ago, more than a century in fact. This somewhat explains the obscurity of his name today. King’s accomplishments in college were truly legendary, as evidenced by those three All-American awards. He later became the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin, leading the Badgers to the first two Big Ten Conference Championships; and in his eight years there, he put together a higher winning record than any Wisconsin football coach with that length of service or more, in over a century since. Actually, his was a higher winning record than any Big Ten football coach with that length of service or more. In his first year as the UW football coach, King won the Big Ten title. This is also significant as it was also the first year, 1896, for the newly created conference. As the head coach for the Badgers, King led his squad to three championships. In more than a hundred years of intercollegiate competition since, no Wisconsin football coach has won more. Barry Alvarez, currently the Wisconsin Athletic Director, also won three Big Ten titles when he was the UW football coach, but it took him 16 years to do so; King did it in eight. King also won two Big Ten crowns coaching the baseball team, something no other Wisconsin or Big Ten coach
SPORTS Sports Plus
By Jack Pearson
By Jack Pearson has ever done. As a young man, King played football for Princeton University, where he earned All-American honors in 1891, 1892 and 1893, at both the quarterback and halfback positions. In that era, Princeton, along with Yale and Harvard, were the elite of college football, the most powerful teams in the land. In ‘91, ‘92, and ’93 Princeton, led by King, won 35 games and lost only three, scoring 1,094 points and allowing only 51. In 1893, they were undefeated and ranked as National Champions. Most college teams in those early years didn’t have official head coaches. That duty was usually performed by the team’s captain. King was the Tiger’s captain as a junior and senior, but he coached the team in all of his undergraduate years and in the season after he graduated as well, always on an unpaid basis, of course. Over 100 years ago, they didn’t keep many statistics, other than the final score of the games. Forward passing hadn’t been invented yet, so it was strictly a running game. Because of the lack of stats, we don’t know how many yards King gained, or what his rushing average was. But newspaper stories from that time reveal that in one game he scored 11 touchdowns. That is not a misprint; 11 touchdowns in just one game. Touchdowns then counted for only four points. That was King’s freshman year, and he scored a total of 29 TDs for the season. Because it was his first year with the varsity, he wasn’t put into the starting lineup until mid-way through the season, so he got those 29 TDs in only six games. The game where he ran wild for those 11 tallies was against
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Columbia, and Princeton won 85-0. Players then were the same size as regular students. Someone 200 pounds or more was considered huge, and there weren’t many that big. King, himself, was only 155 pounds and stood 5’ 5 1/2” tall, but size was not a factor in his success. He was fast and elusive, and for his size, surprisingly strong. He was also one of the smartest players By Enis why Wrighthe was the on the field. That’s coach as well as the star player. Because he only played in six games as a freshman, he wasn’t accorded All-American honors that year, only in his next three years. King was not only an All-American in football three times and captain of his team twice, he was also an All-American in baseball two times and captain of the team two times. This is a feat never accomplished before or since at any school. He was a star in the biggest football game ever played until then, the 1893 season ending battle between Princeton and Yale. Yale had been the national champion in both ‘91 and ‘92, and had won 37 straight games, a record then. For the ‘93 game, both teams were undefeated at 10-0 each. King played in the game despite a severe ankle sprain suffered the week before in a game against Pennsylvania. That didn’t matter; he played the whole 60 minutes, on offense and defense, and led the Tigers to a 6-0 win. Fans today would hardly recognize the game of football as played in those days. The field itself was 130 yards long and there were no end zones. There were two 50-yard lines. Each half was 45 minutes long. There were no cheerleaders, no real stadiums and only rickety wooden stands. Players didn’t wear helmets, which made for many serious injuries, sometimes even death. Players also didn’t have numbers on their jerseys or protective pads. Touchdowns started out counting for only one point, then four, with field goals counting the same. It wasn’t until 1909 that touchdowns counted as six points and field goals were reduced to three.
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With no passing (that little innovation was a couple of decades into the future), the only offense was running. King was listed in some records as a quarterback, in others as a halfback, but it really didn’t make much difference. When the ball came back from center, any of the four backs could grab it and run. To have scored as much as he did, and to have been selected as an All-American, King had to have carried the ball more than any of the other backfield men, whether he was listed as a quarterback or halfback. King was obviously one of the greatest running backs in the history of Princeton University. But here is some commentary written about his baseball playing ability, written many years ago by the noted writer, Vicent X. Flaherty, “King was a great infielder, endowed with large hands that smothered everything driven his way. He was a tremendous hitter and crashed out whizzing drives for amazing distances. When he graduated, be-whiskered Big League scouts were all around, eager to sign him for the infantile professional game.” King, who was the salutatorian of his class, shunned professional athletics. The National League in baseball (there was no American League then) held no interest for him. The Helms Athletic Foundation began selecting national champions in football in 1889: Princeton took the first championship. From 1889 to 1900, Yale took four national titles, Harvard and Princeton three each, and Penn two. The first school other than an eastern university to win a national championship was Michigan, in 1901. The Wolverines were 10-0 that year. (Wisconsin was 9-0). Unfortunately, the schools didn’t play each other that season. They each played Chicago, however; Michigan beat them 22-0, Wisconsin won 39-5. In 1912, Harvard, with a 9-0 record, was selected as the national champion; Wisconsin, at 7-0 and also undefeated, again was overPEARSON continued on page 21
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PEARSON continued from page 20 looked. Harvard averaged 19 points a game and gave up an average of 3; Wisconsin averaged 35 points a game and gave up an average of 4. Which team was best? Although Wisconsin has had a long and excellent football history, it has never been awarded with a national championship. In both 1901, with King as their coach, and in 1912 the Badgers may have been as good or even better than the school that was chosen as the national champ. As somebody once said, it’s an unfair world. After he graduated, King stayed on at Princeton for a year, serving as the school’s unofficial football coach. Then, in 1895, he moved on to get his law degree from an institution then called the New York Law School. While there, he also coached football for the Crescent Athletic Club of Brooklyn. The headline on this column says, “The king gave up his crown.” It’s a play on words to the extent that the king was Phil King, and the crown he gave up was the head coaching position at the University of Wisconsin. He left, voluntarily, to return home to Washington, D.C. to run his family’s business. There will be more on that later. By the way, we were unable to obtain any good photographs of King. Photography, as was the game of football, was in its infancy in those years. There were few action photos and none close up. About the only time a coach got in a photo was at the end of the year in the annual team photo. In King’s case, he didn’t look much different than his players; he was only about two or three years older than most of them. Neither the Princeton nor the Wisconsin Sports Information Departments had anything, except those team shots. From the time of the first collegiate football contest in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers, the game of football was primarily an Eastern sport, played by schools such as those two, and Yale, Harvard, Pennsylvania and Cornell. But then, in the ‘80s and into the ‘90s, other schools across the country began to put teams together. In 1896 in the Midwest, sev-
en schools, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Chicago and Purdue decided to form their own athletic group. They called it the Western Conference. In later years, with the addition of other schools, it was renamed as the Big Ten. Officials at Wisconsin knew that in order to compete well, they had to have an experienced head coach. Up until then, they had made do with faculty members taking over the job for a year each, Alvin Kletzsch, Ted Mestre, Herb Alward, Frank Crawford, Parke Davis and H.O. Stickney. Davis, who was a Princeton grad, brought up the name of Phil King, and it was through his efforts that King was enticed to come west. His salary was to be all of $3,500, and he was permitted to continue to practice law. Thus only three years after his graduation, when he was just 24 years old, King became the new head football coach at the University of Wisconsin. In his first year, he amazingly led the Badgers to a Big Ten Championship and an overall 7-1-1 record. In his second year, they again won the conference crown. Over his years at Wisconsin, he compiled a remarkable 65-11-1 record. He was undefeated in ‘01; lost only one game in ‘96, ‘97, ‘98 and 1900; only two in ‘99 and ‘05; and three in ‘02. There has never been another record that dominating by any UW football coach. Notice there is no record for ‘03 and ‘04. King left Wisconsin after the 1902 season to return home to Washington, D.C., where he took over running his father’s department store, The King’s Palace. He would also coach the Georgetown University Football Hoyas on the side, winning seven of ten games. In 1904, he was out of coaching entirely, devoting all of his time to the department store. Then a year later, in 1905, he came back to Wisconsin to coach his Badgers to an 8-2 record, before going back home for good. Why all of this flip-flopping is not explained in any of the available accounts of King’s life and career. King’s overall record at Wisconsin, 65-11-1 made for a winning per-
centage of .851. Of all the Big Ten coaches since the conference was formed in 1896, who have coached at least eight years, the top five are: Phil King, Wisconsin, .851; Fielding Yost, Michigan, .833; Fritz Crisler, Michigan, .805; Bo Schembechler, Michigan, .798; and Woody Hayes, Ohio State, .761. Think about that for a moment. Anyone today earning three consecutive All-American honors in football; scoring 11 TDs in a single game; pacing his team to the national championship; then taking over as head coach at a major university and leading his team to conference championships in his first two years and compiling a better winning record than those four famous coaches named above, would quite probably be the most celebrated athletic figure in the world. And yet, who remembers Phil King? The reasons are many. Besides the passage of so many years, there was no radio or television then; coverage of sports in newspapers and magazines was sporadic at best; very few records were kept; and the college sport itself was in its infancy. The most popular sports were boxing, baseball and horse racing. The heavyweight boxing champion was the best-known athlete in the world. Here’s a bizarre story involving King during his coaching days at the UW. In the 1898 Northwestern game, King felt his players had become overconfident, and he stressed the importance of scoring first in the game. He told the team that if they managed to score points in the first two minutes, he’d buy them a case of champagne to celebrate afterwards. When Northwestern won the coin toss and elected to receive, however, it didn’t look good for King’s plan. How could Wisconsin score if they didn’t have the ball? But the Badgers forced the Wildcats to punt, and with only a couple of seconds left before King’s time requisite, Badger star Pat O’Dea, far up field, hauled in the kick and called timeout. It had been raining and the field was quite wet and muddy, but O’Dea got off a perfect drop kick that soared some 65 yards through the air and over the middle of the Wildcats’ goalpost. That night, as promised, King
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bought a case of champagne for his players, and a celebration ensued. By the way, Wisconsin won the game, 47-0. Now if giving players champagne as an inducement sounds a bit risqué, keep in mind that customs and rules then were far different than they are today. Players were even encouraged to gamble and bet, on themselves, of course, as it was believed that this would give them more of an incentive to win. Eligibility was equally lax. Coaches could use players who had already graduated, or even members of the school’s faculty, to play in games. Can you imagine them doing that today? Well, maybe at Ohio State, but nowhere else. After leaving Wisconsin in 1905, King took over running his father’s department store in Washington, D.C. In 1931, a few years before his death, he was interviewed by Milwaukee sports columnist James Wright, and he offered a bit of insight into his decision. “Wisconsin is my second alma mater,” he said. “My memories of my years there are very dear to me. I was able to build some great teams there because of players such as Pat O’Dea, Jerry Riorden Arthur Curtis, who became a prominent physician in Chicago and Norsky Larsen, to name just a few. I’ve never regretted leaving the coaching profession. My father had died, and my brother said he needed me to help carry on the business. As far as I was concerned, that was it. My first duty was to my family. I’m Jewish, and family plays a major role in the Jewish faith.” King died in 1938 at the age of 65, following an operation for an abdominal ailment. He was survived by his wife, Jeanette, and a son, Phillip Jr. This column was initiated by a couple of questions. We’ll close with one more, however I don’t have the answer for it. Why in the world is Phil King not in either the UW Sports Hall of Fame or the State of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame?
22A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2012
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NEMOVITZ continued on page 7 selling their home. The final sales price may not be what we wish for, but acceptance of the current market place will lead to a better life in healthier surroundings. Finding a Senior Real Estate Specialist who is experienced and trustworthy is essential when pricing a home. Motivation, trusting an expert and accepting current market conditions are the keys to reaching your goals to a healthier and happier new home! Bruce Nemovitz is a Senior Real Estate Specialist, as well as Certified Senior Advisor. Bruce has sold residential homes in the four coun-
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OCTOBER 2012
clothes dryer or vacuum cleaner, then the best alternative is to get out Might God point us in the right of the room. political direction? We only have vvvvvv to look to Europe to decide, do we This may be my last golf joke wish to ultimately be like Greece or of the season. The avid golfer walks Germany? Most compasses head 900 miles a season and he drinks north. about 22 gallons of water while dovvvvvv ing so. This means that he actually We notice that steer wrestling is gets about 41 miles to gallon. taking a spotlight in Wyoming. A lot vvvvvv of young guys have been indulging Grandparents’ Day will never in heifer wrestling for a long time. rate as a real winner for the greeting vvvvvv card companies. It may seem like a Everything accomplished be- great idea for those of us who are tween persons should be mutually grandparents, but grandkids don’t beneficial. seem to respond due to being othvvvvvv erwise too involved. Or perhaps it’s Who would have thought that because grandma and grandpa didn’t the bathroom in your home is the send the money to buy the cards and most dangerous of all places? One stamps? Would we write off all 19 in three people over age 65 fall of the 20 grandchildren who didn’t there each year. Actually, I thought remember us on Grandparents’ Day? the most dangerous part of the bath- I guess it will take more than that. room might be the heart attack after vvvvvv looking at the plumber’s estimate As Sr. Golf League came to a for a makeover. close at Nagawaukee for another vvvvvv season, the names of the best golfers We read much about deafness didn’t change. Jay Mays posted an these days. One day, we counted, in 8 handicap with Buzz Whettam was different publications, eight hearing right on his tail at 8.1. I guess those aidCAPITOL advertisements. Life definitely guys cannot be counted as being in STATE COMMENT is noisy. An estimated 22 million the semi-senile senior class. By Matt Pommer people have some degree of hearing vvvvvv loss due to noise exposure. Do proAs for the oldest member of the tect yourself; however, if your love- league, that would be Bob Nevins at APRON Emmathe dishwasher, ly other is running for 18 TRAVEL STRINGSage 94. He has a 31 handicap KILLING TIME continued on page 4
holes. There are at least 16 golfers of all ages with handicaps higher than that. Great scoring, Bob! vvvvvv Have you ever sneezed, perhaps more than once in close succession, while waiting in a medical facility? It happened to me recently after I took a whiff of the pretty flowers in the waiting room. They were plastic. I got dust in my nostrils; hence, the sneezing. The dirty lookers must have thought I’d been planted there to create more nose and throat problems than some of the waiting patients already had. vvvvvv I was visiting a son last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. “This is the 21st century, old man,” he said. “We don’t have
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newspapers. Here, you can borrow my iPad.” “I can tell you, that damned fly never knew what hit it....” vvvvvv Something keeps popping up on my computer at home. It is Michelle Obama asking me to tell Barack that I’m in debt, in trouble, in a quandary as what to do, one foot in the..., in need of help. Amen to that, Mrs. Obama. Do tell that to Pres. Obama. vvvvvv Time was when we might give certain politicians only scornful looks for some of their misleading or false statements. Now, we would like to give them 25 years to life, not in prison, but in elective office.
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MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
DEAR SAM: I guess that I need some advice. My friends believe (at least two of them do) that the government and I are being ripped off. I have been a regular patient at a certain clinic AGING for several years. I go regularly, but ISSUES my particular problem doesn’t ever By Tom Frazier improve. The medical team there tells me that they are keeping it from worsening. The regular visits are quite expensive. I pay about $25 per visit above my Medicare. I will PLANTING appreciate your comments. TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY Questioningly, By Brad Olson DONALD DABZYN
By Bruce Nemovitz
SENIOR
Answer Man
good” operation. They make you feel as good as you can without getting better. Possibly there is nothing really wrong with your health. Just because treatment is expensive does not mean that it is good. The highest quality of care is not necessarily that which is most expensive. The bottom line is that you cannot judge quality care by its cost. Yes, I agree with your friends. Try a different medical clinic. We hope you will improve there. At the least, this may lessen the illnesses of your wallet. Good luck while doctor hunting, SR. ANSWER MAN
IT MAKES ME
CRABBY
HERMAN WHITE WRITES ARTS
DEAR DONALD: The best care does not have to be the most expensive. It sounds to me like this clinic may be a “feel
SPORTS Sports Plus
By Jack Pearson By Jack Pearson
the WRIGHT
ENTERTAINMENT
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Let us show you our beautiful community and private apartments from just $895/mo! • Meet our residents & staff • Choose senior or assisted living options
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24A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2012
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HERMAN WHITE WRITES 2B • 50plus • October 2012
ARTS October 3
the WRIGHT SIDE of
ENTERTAINMENT
calendar October 6
60
Vagabond Ski & Social Club Knights of Columbus Hall 3200 S. 103rd St. Enis Wright An activeBysocial club for singles and married couples. Meeting and dance with the Big Band sounds with of the 19 piece Command Performance Band, 7:30 (meeting), 8:30 (dance). www.vagabondskiclub. com.
KILLING TIME
The Joy of Painting Cedar Valley, 5349 County Road D, West Bend Learn to paint a “Snow Birch” scene, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Space is limited. Advance registration is Jim McLoone required. For more information and cost of supplies for the event, visit cedar-valley.org, call (262) 629-9202 or email cvcinfo@cedarcommunity.org.
October 6
Sturgeon Fest 2012 250 E. Elm St., Thiensville The Wisconsin DNR, Riveredge Nature Center, volunteers, sponsors and donors will release the seventh batch or river water imprinted sturgeons to the Milwaukee River. This is a free event from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. For details call (262) 275-2715.
October 7
Maxwell Street Days Firemen’s Park W65 N796 Washington Ave. Cedarburg Popular flea market from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Rain or shine. Vendors with a varied selection of antiques, collectibles, crafts, fine arts, fresh produce, seasonal items, sports memorabilia, flea market items and more.
October 9
Corigliano and Elgar Oconomowoc Arts Center 641 East Forest Street, Oconomowoc Violinist Lara St. John will spotlight the World Premiere of the new Violin Concerto by American master John Corigliano, orchestrated by Martin Kennedy. Preconcert at 6:30 p.m. Call (262) 547-1858 to order by phone.
October 13 - 14
Oktoberfest Cedar Creek Park Downtown Cedarburg Delicious German foods, specialty beers, music, dancing, special German chef, Cedar Creek Wines and fabulous desserts, Live Glockenspiel Show (Cuckoo Clock) daily. From 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon - 5 p.m. on Sunday.
October 15
Challenging Behaviors Tudor Oaks Retirement Community S77 W12929 McShane Dr. Muskego This free seminar helps to understand Dementia, at 1:00 p.m. in the Olive Wood Theatre at Tudor Oaks Retirement Community. For more information or directions call Brenda or Steve at (414) 5290100.
October 17
Alzheimers Association Support Group Jackson Crossings Retirement Community Lakeshore Building N168 W22026 Main Street Jackson Open to the public, free of charge, refreshment provided, 6 p.m. Linda Markut of the Alzheimers Association of Southeastern Wisconsin will be the speaker and will answer questions. www.jacksoncrossings.com.
October 19 November 11
Big the Musical Todd Wehr Theater Marcus Center The 1987 hit movie bursts onstage with this new version created just for our family audiences. For tickets, call (414) 273-7206 or visit marcuscenter.org/box.
October 20
“A Community Affair” Menomonee Falls High School W142 N8101 Merrimac Dr. Exhibitors featuring arts, crafts, antiques and collectibles, timeless treasures and today’s trends, an eclectic approach to fashion and home decorating. Admission fee $4, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., sorry no strollers. All Proceeds to Charities. (414) 581-0352; www.communityleague.com.
October 2012
October 25
50 Plus Expo Don’t miss this exciting event, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., vendors, coffee and snack at the beginning of the event, prizes of $50 gift cards for the mall from 50 Plus, (be sure to sign up at our booth to get your name in, must be present to win), entertainment, fashion show, travel, finance advice, medical and more.
October 26, 27 & 28
Classic Golden Oldies Concert Mega Discount Nursery 1901 East Rawson Ave. Oak Creek Come on down and let Russ entertain you with his melodious voice as you dance away to real hits by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Sam Davis Jr. and Engelbert Humperdinck. Tickets available at door and in advance at location. For details, call (414) 571-6565.
October 27
November 3
Future Events November 3 - 11
November 9
Halloween Show by Randy Roeder Jackson Crossings Retirement Community, Lakeshore Building Entertainer and impersonator Randy Roeder will keep your spirits up for Halloween, 6:30 p.m. Free of charge.
Christmas Fantasy Home Join the American Cancer Society for a walk through our winter wonderland and get into the holiday spirit! Check the website for group rates and advanced-ticket locations. www.christmasfantasyhouse.com or (262) 523-5567.
Annual Bazaar Manor Park Senior Center VMP Manor Park Variety of crafts, bakery, music, clowns and good food. The Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. You may enter at 8536 W. Oklahoma Ave. or 8621 W. Beloit Rd.
4th Annual Pull Up a Chair in Your Neighborhood Luncheon
• 50plus • 3B
Clarion Hotel Airport 5311 S. Howell Avenue Milwaukee Join Emcee Mark Baden, Chief Meterorologist, WISN-TV, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Must register by November 1. Highlights of the luncheon include: a live auction featuring hand-painted chairs; silent auction, wine pull, restaurant tree, Christmas ornaments and a basket drawing. Photos of the painted chairs and registration form on our website, www.interfaithmilw.org.
CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION TO DEPART FROM!
8621 W. Beloit Rd. West Allis - 53227
7300 W. Dean Rd. Milwaukee - 53223
Saturday, October 20th - 12:30pm RSVP by 10/12 at (414) 607-4125
4B • 50plus • October 2012
PLANTING TOMORROW’S DREAMS TODAY By Brad Olson
HERMAN WHITE WRITES ARTS
Title 19 & Pre-Arrangements
Simple Cremation $595.00 (Excluding Cremation Permit & Fee) SPORTS Sports Plus By Jack Pearson Traditional Funerals 1, 395.00 By Jack Pearson at your Church or Cemetery Chapel of your choice Call for more details
414.453.1562
SERVING ALL OF WISCONSIN
On-Going
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60
Milwaukee Art Museum the WRIGHT 700 N. Art Museum Dr. SIDE Open 10 a.m. - 5of p.m. Tuesday By Enis Wright
Sunday. Call (414) 224-3200 or go to www.mam.org.
O.A.S.I.S. 2414 West Mitchell Street Fifty Five Plus Travel Club meets monthly. For details, call (414) 647-6041.
KILLING TIME with Jim McLoone 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.
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Senior Day is every Tuesday of the month. That means more chances for you to win! Fire Keeper’s Club® members 55 and older. Stillwaters Cancer Support Services 434 Madison St., Waukesha Visit www.stillwaterscenter.org or (262) 548-9148.
The Thriller at Miller 2012 By Margaret Pearson The VMP’s annual Grand Day at the Ballpark on July 14 once again had perfect weather and featured a multitude of fun and games at Helfaer Field, followed by a Major League Baseball Game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Events at Helfaer included softball games between students from the Marquette School of
There was a U.S. Army recruiter there, who luckily didn’t sign anyone, but he did make a pal of this young lady.
Dentistry and the Medical College of Wisconsin; between a combined team of students and the Michael’s Restaurant team; between the VMP All Stars and the Super Seniors; and a final students game for the Cadaceus Cup. Also featured were lively presentations by the Seniorgee! Dance Team, the ever-popular Mascots and the VMP Pep Band.
Mary Beth Haas and Nancy Ott of Waukesha, with young Mallory and Cooper.
October 2012
• 50plus • 5B
Don’t forget about the 50 Plus or Better Expo October 25th
THRILLER AT MILLER: The VMP Pep Band.
Bringing the Community & Professionals Together Thursday October 25th American Serb Hall
Seniors & Health Care Professionals Are Invited To Attend This FREE & Exciting Event
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.
Northwest
Bistricky-Irsch-Grosse Chapel 6709 W. Capitol Dr.
West Allis
Skubal-Slattery-Koelsch, Larsen Bros. Chapel 7626 W. Greenfield Ave.
Education Program Begins at 11:00am Learn about social, emotional, and physical wellness through healthy eating, exercise, and dance. Discover a variety of interactive free and low cost activities for older adults. Programs Include: Fitness and Health
Tai Chi Demonstrations
Walk With East
Stepping On
Living Well With Chronic Conditions
Health Care Executives & Professionals: Three educational sessions will be offered for Health Care Professionals & Health Care Executives. 9:00-10:30 - General Session Milwaukee Premier of “Age of Champions” and panel discussion to follow regarding what keeps our seniors motivated to stay active and fit. Wisconsin Senior Olympians will join in the discussion too! 11:00 - 12:30pm Choose from: Alternative Programming: Targeting Depression, Anxiety, Dementia & Chronic Conditions, OR INTERACT II: Interventions to Improve Care Across the Continuum
Join us for the debut of the Golden Spatula Awards. Facilities will compete to see who has the best Signature Dish, Heart Healthy, High Fiber and Celiac Disease meals.
New Berlin
Ryczek , Larsen Bros. Chapel 3774 E. Underwood Ave.
Local service providers & home medical suppliers will be available to talk with you and provide you with information on their services
(Health Care Sessions are $20 each for MAC Members, and $30 for Non-Members)
Ritter, Larsen Bros. Chapel 15250 W. National Ave.
Cudahy
Hosted by the Milwaukee Aging Consortium Milwaukee County Department on Aging Older Adults & General Public: Exhibit Hall Opens at 9:00am
-Gordon Hinkley
www.churchandchapel.com Gordon Hinkley is the spokesperson for Church & Chapel and is not a funeral director.
Flu Shots and Supplemental Health Insurance Companies will be available to answer your health care questions. For more information visit: www.milwagingconsortium.org
6B â&#x20AC;˘ 50plus â&#x20AC;˘ October 2012
2012 Exhibitors f 50 Plus News Magazine - Sponsor f Action Sales Group/Realty Executives f ADT Home Health Security Services f American Heart Association f American Republic Insurance Services f Asset Management Alliance, LLC f Badger Tour & Travel/High Rollers f Bath Fitter f Burback Builders f Capri Senior Communities f CapTel Captioned Telephone f Everdry f F & S Direct, LLC f Heritage at City Center Deer Creek Village f Highlands Communities f Home Instead Senior Care f Horizon Management Services f Lamers Tour & Travel
f Meadowmere, Mitchell Manor, Manor Pointe f Milwaukee County Department of Family Care f Milwaukee County Department on Aging f Peace of Mind Funeral & Cremation Services f Potawatomi Bingo Casino f San Camillo f St. Clare Terrace f Steeple View Christian Senior Community f United Healthcare Medicare Solutions - Sponsor f VMP Manor Park - Sponsor f Waddell & Reed Inc. f Williamstown Bay Senior Apartments f WPS Health Insurance
October 2012
• 50plus • 7B
Home Health Care Directory What is Home Health Care? Home health care helps seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and can often delay the need for long-term nursing home care. More specifically, home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy and even skilled nursing. It may involve helping the elderly with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and eating. Or it may include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping jobs and monitoring one’s daily regimen of prescription and over-the-counter medications. At this point, it is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the
same (and home health care may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chores and housecleaning services, home health care usually involves helping seniors recover from an illness or injury. That is why the people who provide home health care are often licensed practical nurses, therapists or home health aides. Most work for home health agencies, hospitals or public health departments that are licensed by the state. How Do I Make Sure that Home Health Care is Quality Care? As with any important purchase, it is always a good idea to talk with friends, neighbors and your local area agency on aging to learn more about the home health care agencies
in your community. In looking for a home health care agency, the following questions can be used to help guide your search: v How long has the agency been serving this community? v Does the agency have any printed brochures describing the services it offers and how much they cost? If so, get one. v Is the agency an approved Medicare provider? v Is the quality of care certified by a national accrediting body such as the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations? v Does the agency have a current license to practice (if required in Wisconsin)? v Does the agency offer seniors a “Patients’ Bill of Rights” that describes the rights and responsibilities of both the agency and the se-
nior being cared for? v Does the agency write a plan of care for the patient (with input from the patient, his or her doctor and family), and update the plan as necessary? v How closely do supervisors oversee care to ensure quality? v Are agency staff members available around the clock, seven days a week, if necessary? v Does the agency have a nursing supervisor available to provide on-call assistance 24 hours a day? v How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality? v How are agency caregivers hired and trained? v What is the procedure for resolving problems when they occur, and who can I call with questions or complaints? v Is there a sliding fee schedule homehealth continued on page 8
Health & Rehabilitation
8B • 50plus • October 2012
Home Health Care Directory Cedar Home Health & Hospice 5505 County Rd. Z West Bend, WI 53095 Contact Person: Carrie Schepp Phone: 262-306-2691
Cedar Home Health & Hospice services Waukesha, Washington, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Ozaukee and Sheboygan. Services we offer include, housekeeping, respite care, cooking/feeding, telephone reassurance, personal care, baths, etc., administer medication, check medication compliance, companion/daily check, supportive care, case management and hospice. We are Medicare approved and do paperwork on insurance claims. Staff includes a registered nurse and medical director. Benefits of home health care include quality care, trustworthy with a solid reputation in the medical community. Helps prevent medical emergency, peace of mind.
New Health Services
2020 West Wells Milwaukee, 53233 Contact Person: Whitney Sellnow Phone: 414-937-2033
Serving Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha. New Health Services offers housekeeping, respite care, cooking, feeding, telephone reassurance, overnight care, personal care, baths, etc., administer medication, check medication compliance, companion/daily check and community living/intergeneration. Our staff includes a registered nurse. Benefits of home health care to seniors include independence, increased health and wellness and deciding how and where you spend your day.
Fulfilling hope where you call home.
Cedar
home health hospice pathfinders
Find us on
5505 County Road Z West Bend, WI 53095 262.306.2691 cedarathome.org
Quality Home Health Care, Inc. W125 S7554 Coventry Lane, Muskego (414) 315-3717 - Kim (414) 315-0504-Lynette Contact persons: Kim M Jrolf CNA Lynette Stefanec, RN BSN, RCS
Quality Home Health Care is committed to providing its patients with the highest quality care. Services provided include housekeeping, respite care, cooking/feeding, telephone reassurance, overnight care, personal care, baths, etc., administer medication, check medication compliance, companion/daily check. We are a health care service provider that provides in home skilled and non-skilled nursing services to individuals in the comfort and privacy of their own home. We are staffed with registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, companions and housekeepers. Our staff is available 24/7 to provide you or your loved one that personal care that is deserved. Quality Home Health Care promotes appropriate, adequate, effective and efficient health care to all its patients. The future of this type of service will grow as the population reaches maturity.
Rent-A-Daughter, LLC 12660 W. North Ave., Brookfield Contact person: Jean Henke Phone: 262-754-0550
Rent-A-Daughter serves Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. Services offered include housekeeping, respite care, cooking/feeding, overnight care, personal care, baths, etc., check medication compliance and companion/daily check. Our mission is to come alongside older adults to help them live independently by providing non-medical home care. Rent-A-Daughter caregivers becomes an extension of the love and compassion that people receive from their own families. As for the future, we see the needs of the elderly population increasing. homehealth continued from page 7 based on ability to pay, and is financial assistance available to pay for services? v Will the agency provide a list of references for its caregivers? v Who does the agency call if the home health care worker cannot come when scheduled? v What type of employee
screening is done? When purchasing home health care directly from an individual provider (instead of through an agency), it is even more important to screen the person thoroughly. This should include an interview with the home health caregiver to make sure that he or she is qualified for the job. You should request references.
October 2012
• 50plus • 9B
Home Health Care Directory St. Camillus Home Health 10101 W. Wisconsin Ave., Wauwatosa (414) 258-2418
St. Camillus Home Health Agency provides compassionate, personalized care in your home, serving Milwaukee and Waukesha County. We provide skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. These services are often covered by Medicare, Medicaid or Private Insurance. We also provide Home Health Aides and Homemaker Companions to help with bathing assist, mobility assistance, nail care, medication assistance, exercises, incontinence care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry and accompaniment to appointments. We have experience caring for people with dementia and we also provide 24 hour-in-home care.
Supportive Home Living Services, Inc. 250 W. Broadway Ste. 2, Waukesha Contact Person: Kellie Kingston Phone: 262-544-0687
We serve Washington, Racine, Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Waukesha. Services we offer include housekeeping, respite care, cooking, feeding, telephone reassurance, overnight care, personal care, baths, etc., administer medication, check medication compliance, companion, daily check and non medical home care services. Home health care benefits the seniors with one on one quality care and affordable.
New Health Services provides: Supportive home care
Personal care services
Companionship and supervision
Respite care for family caregivers Expertly trained caregivers
Diverse, multilingual caregivers On-call 24-hour services
We will also hire and train the caregiver of your choice!
Serving southeastern Wisconsin since 1999.
1-414-937-2033 | newhealthservices@mcfi.net | www.mcfi.net/nhs/htm
10B • 50plus • October 2012
De-aging: The miracle of each moment By Marilynn Preston Dear Readers: I’ve decided to double-down on de-aging. I’m rerunning one of my favorite columns and inviting you to send your best de-aging moments to me at myenergyexpress@aol.com. Taking this vacation day is one of mine. I have a friend visiting me on this small, remote, glorious Greek island. He is a Zen master, a poet, a peace activist and a world-class calligrapher. His name is Kazuaki Tanahashi. Sometimes, when people ask hello, how are you? Kaz will laugh and answer, “I am de-aging.” In his late ‘70s now, Kaz is the inventor of de-aging. It’s not a product or a program. It’s a concept, a way of slowing down the aging process without resorting to desperate anti-aging measures involving pills, plastic surgery or fetal lamb cells. “Anti-aging is defensive thinking,” Kaz explains to me one day after breakfast, sitting high atop a hill, overlooking an endless sea. “De-
aging is more active. Each moment we have a choice.” Kaz takes a breath, and so do I. I’ve heard him talk about de-aging before. This time, I’m taking notes. “The idea is we lose vitality and gain vitality each moment. Aging is not a one-way street, going downhill. We become older, we become younger, every moment.” Kaz has explained his de-aging theory to many friends who are doctors, and they all agree it’s a good one. “We age as a whole,” Kaz continues, his long scraggly beard waving in the breeze. “Our body, our mind ... we can’t reverse it. But when we look at aging at the micro level — each day, each hour, each moment — we see that it goes up and down. So in each moment, we have a choice.” The choice is between doing something that ages us, or de-ages us, something that makes us more vital or less vital, more healthy or less healthy. He mentions eating well and exercising. I see a column
arising in my mind. I am happy. I’ll be free to spend the afternoon de-aging at my favorite beach. “If I’m tired, I can choose to take a walk, or I can watch TV,” he elaborates. “I can choose to relax and meditate, or I can smoke. I can overwork, or I can rest. I can take a job that is more stressful or less stressful ... and in this way, we can shape our life. Are we aging or are we de-aging? It’s an active choice.” When it comes to living a healthier, happier lifestyle, it always comes down to personal choices. Fortunately for all of us, you don’t have to be a Zen master to figure it out. Will you have a doughnut and diet cola for breakfast or yogurt and fresh fruit? Hold onto anger or let it go? Drive your car or ride your bicycle? “You can’t really control overall aging,” Kaz says, “but by doing de-aging, we can slow it down.” “So de-aging is a kind of practice,” I say. Kaz doesn’t pick up on the word practice. I feel myself aging, just a little. What are some other ways we can de-age? “It’s important to be excited about life!” Kaz says, raising his voice to just above a whisper. “Being in love! You could be in love with art, grandchildren or doing service work. Have a passion. Love what you do!”
Kaz says he loves what he does — writing, painting, running a revolutionary nonprofit called A World Without Armies (aworldwithoutarmies.org) — but he is aware of his tendency to do too much, for too long. “I am Japanese; I’m a kind of workaholic. I have to tell myself to slow down, to be lazy. Lazy people don’t have to be reminded to be lazy.” He stops to laugh at his own joke. “To be lazy doesn’t mean not to work. It means to slow down, do less work and be more effective. That kind of laziness.” Negative emotions get in the way of de-aging, Kaz goes on. “Anger, envy, jealousy, hatred ... all these negative emotions contribute to aging. So you have to find a way to turn a negative situation into something positive. This is the practice of being calm, more compassionate, more understanding. This turns aging into de-aging” It’s time to take a break, another form of de-aging practice. Can I call it a practice even if Kaz does not? It’s something to think about as I sit on the sand and build a little tower one stone at a time, watching myself grow younger every moment. Marilynn Preston — fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues — is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country.
89%of our rehab patients return home*
* Company-wide average
After surgery, illness or injury, you want to get home and back to your life as quickly as possible. Come tour ManorCare, see our staff in action and receive a complimentary tour package. We will also show you our outcomes that are targeted to getting patients back home.
ManorCare Health Services – Pewaukee 262.523.0933ÊÊUÊÊÜÜÜ° > ÀV>Ài°V
October 2012
• 50plus • 11B
We Saw You At . . .
The 2012 Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts By Margaret Pearson The 42nd Annual Art Festival, the oldest and largest in the state, was once again held at Fowler Park in Oconomowoc. Thanks to perfect weather, attendance was again a record, with visitors from all over the state and beyond. Featured art included paintings, sculpture, ceramics, fiber and leather goods, glass, graphics, jewelry, photography, wood products, mixed media and more by more than 250 artists. Winners of the 2012 Festival of the Arts and Virginia Harris Scholarships were Sarah Kleist and Sara Imperl, both graduates of Oconomowoc High School. Officers of the Festival were Jeff and Mary Bates, co-presidents; Barb Baker, recording secretary (and past president); and Meg Rohde, treasurer. Among those enjoying the event were:
Dawn and David Lang of Oconomowoc.
Don and Denise Vollbrecht of Delafield.
Event Chairpersons Mary and Jeff Bates. Group of entertainers
N168 W22022 Main Street Jackson, WI 53037 www.jacksoncrossings.com
Retirement Community • Independent Apartments • Assisted Living • Memory Care
(262) 993-2838 Hwy 45 North to Hwy 60 East Exit
Sorting out senior living options? We Can Help
Marina Lee (sculptor, left) and Eileen Wolf of Milwaukee.
Call or stop for a free consultation. Meet our seniors who are delighted they discovered Jackson Crossings. See our beautiful extra large apartments on the lake.
Enjoy the Good Life Only Minutes From Milwaukee
SCREENINGS
FOR PRIZES
12B • 50plus • October 2012
$50 October 27th n Mall 9am-2pm Gift Cards October 27th n 9am-2pm Drawing each
o or Better at Southridge Mall E hour 10am-2pm
Register for prizes
EXPO
9:00 A.M.- Mall LET'S TAKE THE MYSTERY at Southridge OUT OF ANTIQUES! n
• What questions have you always n 9:00 A.M.- LET'S TAKE THE MYSTERY Free Coffee wanted to ask an appraiser? at Southridge Mall OUT OF ANTIQUES! • What about all the memorabilia related TV Bakery • always What is a fair& price if I sell myWIN items? 1 O What questions have you October 25th ••9am-2pm • What is “Market Value” v/s$50 “Insurance Valu wanted to ask an appraiser? MALL 9-10 • Let's talk aboutTVauthenticity, What the about mystery all the memorabilia related shows? 12:00 P.m.- Let’s•take fraud. • What is a fair price if I sell reproductions my items? and downright CERTIFICA out of antiques! • What iswanted “Market Value” v/s “Insurance Value”? • What questions have you always toby ask an appraiser? Presented Barbara J. Eash who is a Member, Certified Drawing • Let'sAppraisers talk about • What about all the memorabilia related TV authenticity, shows? Guild of America, #02-0120013 After the stage and Eash downright fraud. provide one-on-oneeach ho • What is a fair price if I sellreproductions my items? presentation, will provide • What is “Market Value” v/s “Insurance Value”? consultation 11:00Certified a.m. Presented by Barbara J. Eash who is auntil Member, 10 AM - 2 • Let’s talk about authenticity, reproductions and downright fraud. Appraisers Guild of America, #02-0120013 After the stage n 10:00 A.M.SECURE HORIZONS presentation, Eash will provide provide one-on-one Medicare, Medigap Insurance Plans consultation until 11:00 a.m. n 11:00 A.M.- FASHION SHOW n 10:00 A.M.SECURE HORIZONS Presented 9:30 A.m.- Milwaukee County perform Medicare, Medigapidols Insurance Plans by Village at Manor Park
oram Better Ex
Presented by Barbara J. Eash who is a Member, Certified Appraisers Guild of America, #02-0120013. Barbara will provide provide one-on-one consultation from 10am-2pm. From 10-11am Barbara will be selecting items to discuss at her noon presentation on stage.
50 What’s
n 12:00 P.M.- MILWAUKEE COUNTY IDOLS PERFOR n 11:00 FASHION SHOW 10:30 a.m.-A.M.Secure Horizons Secti Presented Medicare, Medigap Insurance Plans by Village at Manor Park WHA n 1:00 P.M.- AMBASSADORS OF HARMONY n 12:00 MILWAUKEEby COUNTY IDOLS PERFORM Sponsored 11:30 a.m.-P.M.FASHION SHOW jcpenney SOUT Will treat all in attendance to by: Presented by Village at Manor Park & MIK a fabulous show n 1:00 P.M.- AMBASSADORS OF HARMONY Sponsored by: GET T Will treat allof in attendance to 1:00 P.m.- Ambassadors harmony MEDS Will treat all in attendance to a fabulous show a fabulous show
Sponsored by:
She is also a columnist for: Reminisce Magazines Country Woman Magazine, Waukesha Freeman Newspaper, UW-WKE Continuing Education Instructor, MPTV Coordinator, Annual Appraisal Fair Eash is also serves as an expert witness for court and sought after speaker. “Antiques are wonderful, they distinguish furnishings, personal style & identity. They hold value, remain in vogue and are a memory that you can touch with your hand....”.
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