August 2012
MAGAZINE.COM
Are You Ready for a Family Reunion? Beware of Heat Induced Illness Extend Your Garden Enjoyment The Skinny About Fat
It’s easy to plan, with our expert tips from A to Z by Chanize Thorpe
The Pension Pinch The Heart of Rock and Roll
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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COVER STORY Are You Ready for a Family Reunion? | It’s easy to plan, with our expert tips from A to Z | With families scattered all over the country — and sometimes even the world — reunions are more important than ever.
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HEALTH | FITNESS 04 | Beware of Heat Induced Illness | For the past month, the heat has been relentless and the forecast shows no relief in site. Temperatures near 100 degrees are in our future for the next few weeks a least. It is important to remember that the elderly, the very young, those with chronic illnesses, and pets are at greatest risk for developing heat-related illnesses. 06 | Extend Your Garden Enjoyment | Don’t let fall or potentially frosty temperatures stop you from enjoying garden- fresh produce. Extend the nutritional value and homegrown flavor into your fall and early winter meals with the help of short season crops and season extending strategies. 07 | The Skinny About Fat | Adult stem cells extracted during liposuction can be used to grow healthy new smalldiameter blood vessels-+9 use in heart bypass surgery.
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DOLLARS | SENSE The Pension Pinch | States coast to coast are in a pension pinch and are going to extreme measures to try to make their state and local pension plans more solvent.
ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT The Heart of Rock and Roll | This year’s summer concerts have been a boomer’s dream. In June, Blood, Sweat and Tears played the Sandy Amphitheater, in July, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band played at the USANA Amphitheatre, and Crosby, Stills & Nash (sans Young) will play to a sold out crowd at Red Butte Garden.
Editorial
Publisher.......... Utah Boomers Magazine, LLC
Dear Fellow Boomers,
Managing Editor................................ Teresa Glenn
Welcome to another issue of Utah Boomers Magazine. We have been a bit erratic with the publication, but it looks like we are back on track.
Contributing Writers
Stephanie Suesan Smith, PhD Melinda Myers Jaclyn A. Brennan, M.S Julien H. Arrizabalaga, B.S Chanize Thorpe Sean P. Lee, MSFS
Photography............................................ Mark Crim Advertising Sales info@utboomers.com media kit www.utahboomersmagazine.com Webmaster Claye Stokes, New Shoe Media
Utah Boomers Magazine is published monthly for the baby boomer population of Utah. The information contained in this publication my be contributed by independent writers and does not necessarily reflect the views of Utah Boomers Magazine management. Copying or electronic distribution of any content within this publication is strictly prohibited without the written permission of Utah Boomers Magazine and the author. For reprint permission, editorial or submissions or comments, email teresa.glenn@utboomer.com. Questions and suggestions info@utboomer.com
As we have discussed before, we, as a unique generation, have huge demands on our time. At a time when we thought we would be relaxing and enjoying our security, we are faced with boomerang children, aging and ailing parents, grandkids, work, and of course, the economy. We here at UBM are no different. Still, we are a resilient bunch and still enjoy life to the fullest. As summer begins the slippery slope to winter, we hope you will enjoy the warm weather while you can. Some of you will be attending family reunions (or have been wrangled into planning next year’s). Wether you are hosting ten or a hundred, it is important to anticipate everyone’s needs, and so the good people at grandparents.com have provided us with a great article that will help you to do just that. If you are in the heat, take precautions—heat related ails are not to be taken lightly. Take care of yourself, Teresa
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n I d t u a c e ed H f
Stephanie Suesan Smith, PhD
For the past month, the heat has been relentless and the forecast shows no relief in site. Temperatures near 100 degrees are in our future for the next few weeks a least. It is important to remember that the elderly, the very young, those with chronic illnesses, and pets are at greatest risk for developing heat-related illnesses. In addition, certain medications increase one’s risk. By knowing who is at risk and what prevention measures to take, heat-related illness and death can be prevented. 4|
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t is summer in the Northern hemisphere and the fact that it is hot has probably not escaped your notice. Of course, hot is relative. In the summer of 1980, we left record heat here of up to 113 degrees and spent some time in England, Germany, and Italy. People were dying there because it was 85 degrees, an extreme heat wave for them. Whatever your heat tolerance, some things can make you sick in the heat much faster. Many medications make you sun sick quicker than normal. Wearing the protective clothing required when spraying many pesticides can keep your body from being able to regulate its temperature normally. Working in the hot sun with no shade doesn’t help, either. Ideally, you work in your garden early in the morning or late in the evening, when it is cooler. Sometimes, though, you have to work in the heat of the day. Make sure you drink enough fluid to help your body stay cooler. Much like a radiator boiling dry, your body overheats without enough fluid. If you are not having to go to the bathroom at least once an hour, you are not drinking enough. At the same time, do not drink more than 12 quarts in any 24 hour period. If you work outside, know the signs of the three levels of heat illness: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat cramps start, obviously, with cramps in the muscles. This is usually caused by an imbalance in the electrolytes so needs to be treated with a sports drink or other electrolyte rich fluid.
Getting out of the heat is important, too. Heat exhaustion is more serious. According to OSHA, “the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, confusion, thirst, heavy sweating and a body temperature greater than 100.4°F. “ You must leave the heat and get inside, slowly sip water, and not go back out until your body temperature is normal. You also need to call your doctor and report this, as it can have long lasting negative effects. Finally, heat stroke is a medical emergency. The body is no longer perspiring, cannot cool itself, and is severely overheated. Confusion, loss of consciousness, and death are imminent. Call 911 and get help if you or a companion reach this stage. Getting out of the heat is important, but not sufficient. Going for medical care is a must. Hopefully, you will never experience a heat related illness. However, knowing the symptoms of them will help you in case you or a companion get too hot. Fluid, rest, shade, those are the things that help prevent heat related illnesses. Stephanie Suesan Smith, Ph.D. is a master gardener, member of the Garden Writer’s Association, photographer, and woodworker. She writes on almost any nonfiction topic and has had some unusual experiences that contribute to that ability. Getting pooped on by a rattlesnake probably ranks tops there. Her website is stephaniesuesansmith.com.
Medications That Increase the Risk of Developing Heat Related Illness Medications, which increase the risk of developing heat-related illness, include but are not limited to: Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline- ElavilR, imipramine- TofranilR, etc) Antihistamines (diphenhydramine- BenadrylR, chlorpheniramine- Chlor-TrimetonR) Diuretics (furosemide- LasixR, hydrochlorthiazide, DiurilR) Antipsychotics (haloperidol- HaldolR)
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Extend Your Garden Enjoyment Strategies for Growing Edibles Later into the Season Melinda Myers Don’t let fall or potentially frosty temperatures stop you from enjoying garden- fresh produce. Extend the nutritional value and homegrown flavor into your fall and early winter meals with the help of short season crops and season extending strategies. Lettuce, spinach, radishes, turnips, and beets are quick to mature from seed to harvest. Plus, the cooler temperatures enhance their flavor. Simply count the number of frost-free days left in your growing season and compare it with the number of days from planting to harvest listed on the seed packet. Protect these late plantings and other vegetables from chilly fall temperatures with cloches, coldframes, and floating row covers. Many of these devices have long been used by gardeners to jump start the season in spring and extend it much later into fall. These devices trap heat around the plants, protecting them from frosty temperatures. Convert gallon milk jugs into garden cloches for individual plants. Remove the bottom of the jug and slide it over the plant. Use the cap to capture heat or remove to ventilate your homemade cloche on sunny days. Or purchase reusable cloches with built in ventilation. Originally made of glass many of the newer cloches are plastic, making them more affordable, easy to stack and portable. You can make your own coldframes. Many gardeners convert discarded windows, a bit of lumber and nails into a homemade shelter for their
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plants. The window size usually determines the size of your coldframe. Just make sure you can reach all the plants inside. For best results your frame should be higher in the back then the front so water and melting snow can drain off. And if possible, facing south for better warming. The internet and garden books are filled with plans. I prefer the construction-free, all-purpose garden fabrics. Simply drape these floating row covers (season-extending fabrics) over your crops. Anchor the edges with rocks, boards, or wire wickets. The fabric traps heat around your plants, but allows air, light and water through so there is no need to uncover the plants during the day or for watering. Increase the ease of season-extending fabrics with low and tall frost pop-up covers and plant protection frost covers from Gardener’s Supply. The frames are fitted with all-purpose garden fabric to create protective tents. You can protect new plantings and extend your harvest by protecting plants down to 24 degrees Fahrenheit. So with a little preparation you can keep enjoying fresh-from-the-garden flavor long past the traditional end to your harvest season. Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments which air on over 115 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Melinda has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist and was a horticulture instructor with tenure. Her web site is www.melindamyers.com
Skinny Fat
The about
Researchers used stem cells from fat to grow new small-diameter blood vessels in the laboratory. Adult stem cells extracted during liposuction can be used to grow healthy new small-diameter blood vessels for use in heart bypass surgery and other procedures, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2012 Scientific Sessions. Millions of cardiovascular disease patients are in need of small-diameter vessel grafts for procedures
engineered blood vessels have good mechanical properties and we believe they will contract normally when exposed to hormones. They also appear to prevent the accumulation of blood platelets—a component in blood that causes arteries to narrow.” In this study, adult stem cells derived from fat are turned into smooth muscle cells in the laboratory, and then “seeded” onto a very thin collagen
Lab-grown small-diameter blood vessels could help patients undergoing procedures such as heart bypass surgery. requiring blood to be routed around blocked arteries. These liposuction-derived vessels, grown in a lab, could help solve major problems associated with grafting blood vessels from elsewhere in the body or from using artificial blood vessels that are not living tissue, said Matthias Nollert, Ph.D., the lead author of the study and associate professor at the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, in Norman, Okla. “Current small-diameter vessel grafts carry an inherent risk of clotting, being rejected or otherwise failing to function normally,” Nollert said. “Our
membrane. As the stem cells multiplied, the researchers rolled them into tubes matching the diameter of small blood vessels. In three to four weeks, they grew into usable blood vessels. Creating blood vessels with this technique has the potential for “off-the-shelf ” replacement vessels that can be used in graft procedures, Nollert said. The researchers hope to have a working prototype to test in animals within six months. Co-authors are Jaclyn A. Brennan, M.S., and Julien H. Arrizabalaga, B.S. Author disclosures are on the abstract. Funding for this study was provided by the American Heart Association.
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Are You Ready for a Family Reunion? It’s easy to plan, with our expert tips from A to Z Chanize Thorpe, contributing writer grandparents.com
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Editors Note: If you are about to plan your family reunion for this year, or have been put in charge of your next year’s party, the following are excellent suggestions.
With families scattered all over the country — and sometimes even the world — reunions are more important than ever. Whether it’s a long weekend at a relative’s home or a tropical getaway, these events give families a chance to reconnect and make priceless memories. Planning these gatherings, though, can be a challenge. That’s where our ABC planning guide comes in. Follow these tips, and the whole process becomes more manageable, allowing everyone to focus on what really matters — time together. Arrange Details in Advance. Success or failure is in the details. Allow six months to a year for planning,
for maximum efficiency. The CEO should help to research destinations and the price of accommodations and food, keep the group informed and — most importantly — delegate responsibility so it’s clear who is responsible for each element needed to make the reunion a success. Design a website. The best way to communicate with relatives near and far? Launch a simple webpage to keep everyone in the loop. It’s more efficient than endless emails and phone calls. You might want to set up a special Facebook page or use a site like Triporama.com, which allows families to vote on key decisions and see the latest news in one convenient place. Easy Does It. Summers are popular, and long weekends are best for family reunions, especially
With families scattered all over the country — and sometimes even the world — reunions are more important than ever. and be sure you know exactly what you’ll need for and from each member of the family. If you have a particularly large group, or if you’re booking flights or vacation rentals, you’ll find better choices and rates if you book early. Balance the Budget. Whether it’s a low-key backyard barbecue, a weekend in a national park, or a weeklong stay at an exotic resort, you’ll need to figure out the costs involved and how they’ll be divided. You may need to charge a reunion fee to help cover the costs of mailers, phone calls, and other expenses. Handling payments for travel arrangements can be stressful, and you don’t want to be chasing latepayers for cash or getting stuck with a big bill. One option is to have everyone book their own travel, taking the pressure off the group organizer and allowing greater flexibility for individuals. Arrange for a group booking number at the hotel or venue so everyone can pay at their convenience. Choose a CEO (Chief Event Organizer). The job is to ensure that everyone’s efforts are coordinated
when children are involved. Start by picking three dates for the group to vote on. (Any more and it becomes overwhelming.) If you can’t find a date when a majority of your group is available, try again with three new dates. Find a Fair Spot. Find a location that’s equidistant for almost everyone, or select a dazzling destination that makes globetrotters of you all. You’ll also want a place that has activities for all ages. National parks are great sites for families who enjoy outdoor activities and, of course, cruises and theme parks are great options if you have the resources. Grab Group Discounts. No matter your plans, there’s a deal out there that can help you to do more with your money. Devote some time to researching discounts for your event. A good place to start is the Grandparents.com Benefits Club, or organizations such as AAA. Hire Help. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Hire sitters or a nanny service to watch the kids if August 2010 | 9
you plan on having dinners or evening activities that go well into the night. Consider occasional catering to take pressure off the family cooks, or just hire two or three individuals to help serve and clean. Find a tour guide who can show you around an area that may not be familiar to you. If the reunion commemorates a milestone birthday or anniversary — or if your family is rarely all in one place — consider hiring a professional photographer or videographer.
who genuinely want you to enjoy your visit to their hometown and will give you invaluable insider tips. They may help you save money, too. Make Memories. It bears repeating: this get-together is about spending time with people you love who love you right back. Relax and enjoy one another’s company. Share family stories and record them for posterity. You can post the videos on your website for everyone to enjoy. Family members also can post photos and stories of the event. Consider using
While it’s important to have one person at the helm, the workload needs to be divided. Involve Everyone. While it’s important to have one person at the helm, the workload needs to be divided. Delegate responsibility for ensuring the group has transportation, accommodations, activities, food, and incidentals. The bigger the group, the more organization you’ll need. Jump for Joy! With the work involved and the tension that family gatherings can sometimes inspire, there may be moments when you lose sight of your purpose. Take a deep breath and remember: This is a happy event. Let the little things go and rejoice in the knowledge that you have a family that wants to spend time together. Not everyone is so blessed. Keep It Simple. Reunions can be pricey and travel costs can add up. Don’t make anyone uncomfortable by choosing a luxury spot that you know not everyone can afford. Find a nice place with a discount that puts it within everyone’s price range. You probably won’t ever be able to please everyone, but it’s better to ask people with more to spend less than to risk overextending those whose budgets may already be strained. Locate Local Experts. Contact the area’s local visitor bureau and tourism board for help with party venues, restaurants, hotels, and local attractions and activities. They’re almost always staffed by people
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a service like Blurb to translate these impressions into a hardcover book, which may be especially appreciated by those who wanted to attend but weren’t able to, or those who aren’t Internet savvy. Never Say No to a Reasonable Request. Aunt Gina wants to bring her homemade cookies that taste like rocks? Accept them graciously and put them on the dessert table. Cousin JoJo fancies herself the next American Idol but sounds like Alvin the Chipmunk? Paste smiles on your faces and let her be a star for the duration of a song. Make family time fun for everyone, and reunions will get bigger and better with each passing year. Consider this: will your reunion be a disaster or a delight? Order More and Order Bigger. If you have a family reunion fund, consider creating a family logo and ordering hats and T-shirts as souvenirs. When you place the order, keep in mind that someone will always want an extra hat or T-shirt, and chances are, after a day or week of relaxing and enjoying delicious favorite family foods, they’ll want a bigger size. Perfection Is Overrated. Accept that no matter how carefully you plan, things probably won’t go perfectly. It may rain when you’d hoped for sun. The
kids may fall in the mud. A dog may overturn the dessert table. A skunk may decide to crash the party. Unless they involve danger or physical injury, laugh at unexpected complications. If it will be funny later, it’s probably funny now. Quit While You’re Ahead. Resist the urge to cram every moment of the reunion with activity. Family time is lovely but it can be intense, too, and everyone will appreciate having some downtime. Remember It May Rain. Have a back-up plan in case it rains, and make sure everyone knows what it is. Share and Share Alike. Share the responsibilities for making the arrangements and for cleaning up afterward. Share the food, the fun, and the laughter. Share the photos and the stories of your time together.
“just in case,” but be prepared to let things unfold in completely unexpected ways, too. Waste Not, Want Not. Beach barbeque? Park picnic? In addition to ensuring you have any permits you may need, please be good stewards of the environment. Make sure that all the trash is collected and that recyclables are separated from other trash. eXplain It All to the Technopobes. It’s great if you have website or if most of the family is on Facebook. But remember that some older relatives may not be as wired as the rest of the family. Make sure they still get all the important reunion news the old-fashioned way, like in a phone call. You’re Supposed to Enjoy Your Time Together. It bears repeating: The purpose of any reunion is to
Every family has its drama. Try to see to it that well-known inflammatory topics aren’t introduced. Take Time to Be Grateful. Hand in hand with sharing the day is gratitude for having the opportunity to do so. In the middle of the hubbub, don’t forget to take a deep breath, look around, and think how lucky you are to be part of this crazy, imperfectly perfect tribe you call family. Use a Travel Agent. A good travel agent will give you an inside track to the best deals and alert you to last-minute problems you might no know about otherwise. Agents can also track and manage payments being made. They also have access to perks and amenities you might not otherwise be able to secure. Veer From the Program If Need Be. After so much prep work, it’s natural to want to adhere to The Plan, but everyone will enjoy their time together more if there’s also room for spontaneity. If you see that the game of kickball is a bust, be willing to move on. It never hurts to have plans B and C in mind
strengthen the ties that bind. It should be fun for everyone, and that means you, too. Give yourself the time and space to really enjoy the kids’ hijinks, the grown-ups’ camaraderie, and, hopefully, the delicious food. Zap Feuds Quickly. Every family has its drama. Try to see to it that well-known inflammatory topics aren’t introduced. And if an old argument should reappear, defuse the situation quickly: Have a joke at the ready; put recognized family peacemakers on alert; send the squabblers to separate corners to simmer down; or bring the kids in to distract everyone from the tension. Do all you can to make sure that the memories everyone carries away from the event are happy ones. Grandparents.com is the premier social media website for the 21st century generation of active, involved grandparents. The website offers enriching activities, discussion groups, expert advice, ten monthly newsletters, and a Benefits Club with discounts on thousands of goods and services.
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tates coast to coast are in a pension pinch and are going to extreme measures to try to make their state and local pension plans more solvent. California has recently proposed hiking its state income tax from 10.3 percent to 13.3 percent in an effort to cover some of its pension deficits, which would make it the highest rate in the nation, and a New Jersey judge just upheld legislation that would forgo Cost of Living
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Adjustment (COLA) increases for pension recipients until the program became more stable, likely year 2040. In the private sector, pensions at some of the nation’s largest institutions are undergoing massive changes as well. Car powerhouses GM and Ford, for example, are planning to offer former employees lump sum buyouts of their pension plans in an effort to unload part of their huge pension liabilities. At home, Utah has a
The Pension Pinch:
What to do if your retirement income is in jeopardy
public pension liability of $25 billion. The 2008 crash caused the state pension fund to lose 22 percent of its assets, going from 100 percent funded in 2007 to 70 percent funded in 2009. In March the legislature passed a law that instated a defined contribution plan for all new hires. The state contributes a generous 10 percent of a worker’s salary to the account, and the reform will eventually cut state pension liabilities by half. “Pension programs used to be rock solid retirement plans, but today many can hardly be counted on to provide a secure income in retirement,” said Sean P. Lee, retirement advisor and president of Murraybased financial advisory firm, SPL Financial, Inc. “It’s important now that you work to structure an income stream that you can really count on to get you through retirement.” Lee offers the following insight on the pension problem(s) many area residents are facing now…
Possibility of Pension Reform Unfortunately, due to the vast majority of states and corporations that have underfunded pension programs, pension cost reduction plans are in the works. These may include lower pension payouts, decreased benefits,
increased member contributions or shifting the pension plan to a hybrid retirement savings plan, making the member responsible to save and invest part of their retirement savings. If your employer is changing the structure of your pension plan, check with your plan administrator and learn what could potentially change or what changes are already in the works. Where you are in your career could affect how the potential changes impact you personally. A change to a hybrid pension program, for example, may only be applicable to those with ten or more years left to retirement. If you suspect changes to your pension plans, but your employer has not made a formal announcement, do your homework. You can find out the financial strength of your company’s pension program by visiting www. freeerisa.com. If assets are less than the average 76 percent of liabilities, it may be time to put your back up income plan for retirement into action.
Pension Buyout Because of the long-term outlook of growing pension liabilities, many state, local and private pension programs have begun offering retirees a pension buyout option. August 2010 | 13
In this scenario, pension recipients are offered a lump sum at retirement in lieu of a lifetime income stream from a pension. If your employer is offering a pension buyout option it may be best to consider the offer. Compare the current cash value they’re offering to the potential future value, and decide what makes the most sense for you. Public pension managers estimate a 4 percent to 8 percent return on their investments. The lump sum option may be a good deal if you think you can beat their rate of return. In most cases the lump sum won’t fully compensate for the loss of the secure income with the pension, but you can turn that lump sum into a secure income source for retirement yourself.
Bankruptcy and Reorganization If you’re concerned about your current or former employer filing bankruptcy or reorganizing and whether or not you will receive your pension benefits in the future, the government has programs available to help you collect. About 80 percent of private pension programs are insured by the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The PBGC will pay benefits up to a maximum insurance protection level. While this is assuring, highly compensated employees could receive a cut in benefits. For 2012, the maximum monthly benefit for workers retiring at age 65 is $4,653.41. If you run into trouble collecting your pension from a former employer, you can get legal assistance from the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Pension Counseling and Information Program. www.aoa.gov. Government pensions are not covered by the agency but are often protected by state laws.
Create Your Own Personal Pension Plan Pensions are comprised of contributions from employees and employers, as well as earnings from investments. To build your own private pension, consider the following steps:
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Commit to saving. In order to build wealth for retirement, a portion of your annual salary should be contributed to a retirement savings plan each year, increasing incrementally as you age. Pick a percentage that you can afford to live without today and contribute regularly for your future. Consider putting your savings on auto-pilot. If you don’t see the money each month, you may be less likely to miss it. Continue investing. A pension counts on its return on investment in order to build enough assets to fund one’s retirement. In order to achieve this in your own personal pension, be sure to invest in a manner that is consistent with your timeline to retirement and risk tolerance. The closer you get to retirement though, the more conservative your investment strategy should be. Structure an income stream. Financial products, such as annuities, can be utilized to produce a monthly income stream in retirement. This income stream can be for a period of time, such as five years, or spread out indefinitely over the duration of retirement, if set up that way. GM used some of its pension monies and purchased a group annuity in order to fulfill its pension liabilities for 118,000 retirees. A qualified professional can assist you with turning your lump sum into an income stream as well. Sean P. Lee, MSFS, Founder and President of SPL Financial, Inc., specializes in financial planning for the retirement years. He is an Investment Advisor Representative and offers investment advice through Global Financial Private Capital, LLC. He is also life and health insurance licensed. For more information visit www.SeanPLee.com.
The Heart of Rock and Roll This year’s summer concerts have been a boomer’s dream. In June, Blood, Sweat and Tears played the Sandy Amphitheater, in July, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band played at the USANA Amphitheatre, and Crosby, Stills & Nash (sans Young) will play to a sold out crowd at Red Butte Garden. I have been lucky enough to see a lot of the old bands play in venues here in Salt Lake and Wendover. I have attended concerts from Face to Face, with Elton John and Billy Joel, to the Dave Matthews Band with Joe Cocker. Most are good, but still, you sometimes get the feeling that the bands are tired and are only here for the money rather than the music—their hearts just aren’t in it. One band that I had the pleasure to see in Wendover and can’t wait to see again at Red Butte Garden, doesn’t give that impression. They play as if they would be making music—regardless of the money
or of the audience—for the shear love of it. That’s Huey Lewis and the News. I was introduced to Huey Lewis and the News by my husband. In the seventies and eighties, he was a runner. No matter the weather, he strapped on his walkman and headed out, running his course through downtown Salt Lake, up through City Creek Canyon, and finally, home. His music of choice during these runs generally had to do with the beat, rather than his particular preference. He was constantly stealing cassettes from the kids, and would often be caught with the unlikely pop tunes of Debbie Gibson or Boy George. One cassette he stole but didn’t return was Sports by Huey Lewis and the News. Like his shoes, he wore out more than cassette while pounding out the miles to songs like “The Heart of Rock and Roll”, “Heart and Soul”, and “Bad is Bad”.
Being a child of the sixties and seventies music, there was no end to the teasing he got from me about his “running music”. He didn’t apologize. He was smitten. Before long, Sports made it out of the walkman and into the car. It didn’t take long for me to see the appeal. And why not? Lewis’ exuberance is infectious. It didn’t hurt that not a few of his songs such as “Bad is Bad” have a certain ironic humor.
album, Sports, they finally secured a number one spot on the charts. Sports has sold over ten million copies, (several of which were purchased by my running husband). It helped that the hit movie Back to the Future featured “Power of Love”. Huey also had a small acting role in Back to the Future and although he has continued to show his acting chops in feature films and TV, he is quoted as saying, “Film is a lark to me—thank God I don’t have to make a living from it.”
Huey Lewis joined his first band, Slippery Elm in 1969. In 1971, he joined Clover, a band from the Bay Area. Clover cut two albums that didn’t go anywhere and in 1978, Clover disbanded. Next, he formed a band called Huey Lewis and the American Express. His manager, Bob Brown suggested that they change the name to Huey Lewis and the News. The band didn’t have much success with their first self-titled album, but their second album, Picture This rose to number thirteen on the charts thanks to the single “Do You Believe in Love”. Finally, with their third
Huey is now 62 and as exuberant as ever. His concerts are full of energy, and there is no doubt he and his talented band loves what they do. While the band still plays all the pop classics, their most recent album is Soulsville, a cover tribute to the artists of Stax Records, a label dedicated to soul, jazz and blues. The band includes songs from the album in their repertoire and I can attest that their choice of move to the blues is a good one. So on August 26th, you’ll find me, my smitten husband, our kids and kids-in-law, brothers and sisters at the Huey Lewis and the News concert at Red Butte Garden. My husband will be the one yelling “Huey!” like a love-struck teenager. Photos courtesy of www.hueylewisandthenews.com
RESOURCES Advocacy
AARP of Utah 801.561.1037 Utah Dept of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) Phone: 801.538.3991 www.hsdaas.utah.gov/ Utah State Courts Estate Planning & Probate www.utcourts.gov/howto/wills/ Phone: 801.578.3800
Senior Centers
Most Senior Centers supply transportation and meals. They are open Monday through Friday, and the hours varies. Call your center for times. Davis County Autumn Glow Center 81 East Center Kaysville, UT 84037 Phone: 801.544.1235
Social Security Administration 1.800.772.1213 www.ssa.gov
Golden Years Center 726 South 100 East Bountiful, UT 84010 Phone: 801.295.3479
SAGE Utah Services & Advocacy for GLBTQ Elders www.glccu.com/programs/lgbtqelders-50
Heritage Center 140 East Center Clearfield, UT 84015 Phone: 801. 773.7065
Dental Services
Legal Services Utah Legal Services 800.662.4245
Salt Lake County Columbus Senior Center 2531 South 400 East Salt Lake City, UT 84115 Phone: 801.412.3295
Magna Center 9228 West 2700 South Magna, UT 84044 Phone: 801.250.0692 Midvale Senior Center 350 West Park Street 7610 S Midvale, UT 84047 Phone: 801.566.6590 Mount Olympus Senior Center 1635 East Murray.Holliday Road Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Phone: 801.274.1710 River’s Bend Senior Center 300 North 1300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84116 Phone: 801.596.0208 Riverton Senior Center 12891 South Redwood Road Riverton, UT 84065 Phone: 801.254.7609 Sandy Senior Center 9310 South 1300 East Sandy, UT 84094 Phone: 801.561.3265
Draper Senior Center 12350 South 800 East Draper, UT 84020 Phone: 801.572.6342
South Jordan Senior Center 10778 South Redwood Road South Jordan, UT 84095 Phone: 801.302.1222
Eddie P. Mayne Kearns Senior Center 4851 West 4715 South Salt Lake City, UT 84118 Phone: 801.965.9183
Sunday Anderson Westside Senior Center 868 West 900 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104 Phone: 801.538.2092
American Diabetes Association-Utah 801.363.3024
Friendly Neighborhood Center 1992 South 200 East Salt Lake City, UT 84115 Phone: 801.468.2781
George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84148 Phone: 801.582.1565
Harman Senior Recreation Center 4090 South 3600 West West Valley City, UT 84119 Phone: 801.965.5822
Taylorsville Senior Citizen Center 4743 South Plymouth View Dr. Taylorsville, UT 84123 Phone: 801.293.8340
Healthcare Resources
Alzheimer’s Association of Utah 801.265.1944 American Cancer Society of Utah 801.483.1500 American Chronic Pain Association 800.533.3231
Respite Care
Medical Home Portal www.medicalhomeportal.org CHTOP Chapel Hill Training-Outreach Program chtop.org/ARCH/National-Respite-Locator.html
Tenth East Senior Center 237 South 1000 East Salt Lake City, UT 84102 Phone: 801.538.2084
Kearns Senior Center 4850 West 4715 South Salt Lake City, UT 84118 Phone: 801.965.9183
West Jordan Center 8025 South 2200 West West Jordan, UT 84088 Phone: 801.561.7320
Liberty City Center 251 East 700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Phone: 801.532.5079
Washington County Council on Aging http://www.washco.utah.gov/ contact
The Washington County Council on Aging provides services for senior citizens 60 and older. These include classes (pottery, painting, aerobics, yoga, square dancing, and computer training) tax assistance during tax season and other services. Nutrition is a main focus of the senior centers. In-house meals are served as well as Meals on Wheels. The following centers are supported in part through the donations of those patrons who use the facilities. Gayle & Mary Aldred Senior Center 245 North 200 West St. George , UT 84770 435.634 . 5743 Washington County Senior Citizens 150 East 100 South Street Enterprise, UT 84725 435.878.2557 Hurricane Senior Citizens Center 95 N 300 W Hurricane, UT 84737 435.635.2089
Volunteering
Utah State Parks Volunteer Coordinator 1594 W North Temple, 116 Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (801) 537-3445 robinwatson@utah.gov The Nature Conservancy in Utah www.nature.org/wherewework northamerica/states/utah/volunteer/ Volunteer Match www.volunteermatch.org United Way www.unitedwayucv.org/volunteer Utah Commission on Volunteers volunteers.utah.gov/