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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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14 L augh Out Loud: How Laughter Rejuvenates Body and Soul
Vol. 31, No. 1
When was the last time you had a laugh? If it has been a while, then you might be neglecting your health. Emerging research indicates that laughing is good for us, not just emotionally, but physically as well.
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LIFE Senior Services, Inc. Publisher Laura Kenny President and Chief Executive Officer
16 F unny for Life: Getting Bizarro with Piraro
Kelly Kirchhoff Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning
et to know painter, illustrator and cartoonist G Dan Piraro, whose eccentric Bizarro cartoon has been going strong since 1985. Learn more about Piraro’s career, comedic inspiration, thoughts on aging, and how he stays motivated and mentally sharp. Plus, enjoy two Bizarro cartoons Piraro generously shared.
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Erin Shackelford Managing Editor eshackelford@LIFEseniorservices.org Landry Harlan Associate Editor lharlan@LIFEseniorservices.org Bernie Dornblaser Advertising Director bdornblaser@LIFEseniorservices.org
20 L aughs From the Past
When everything seems to be going south, a good laugh can sure brighten things up. These famous comedians have endured a multitude of struggles, but they prove that even when life is rough, it’s still possible to laugh your way to joy and help others do the same.
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22 Perfecting Your Punchline: Tips for Telling Your Best Jokes
From one-liners to that funny story you tell your friends, jokes are a great way to ease tension, break the ice or start a speech. That is, of course, if you can get a laugh. Telling a good joke comes naturally to some people, but for others it takes practice and hard work.
24 Y ou’re So Funny!
Thank you to all of our readers who submitted jokes and funny short stories for this month’s humor-filled issue. Now, let’s laugh along together with help from some silly seniors!
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Dollars & Sense
Long-Term Care Insurance
The oldest of the nearly 70 million baby boomers are less than a decade away from their 80s, a time when some are going to need additional help with some of life’s more basic tasks. This is also a time when having long-term care insurance can really pay off.
Hide & Seek
Leah Weigle Graphic Designer and Photographer Carol Carter Copy Editor Carrie Henderson Bowen Circulation Coordinator cbowen@LIFEseniorservices.org
From the Publisher 6 Looking Back 8 Caregiver Corner 10 Learn to Laugh: The Brighter Side of Caregiving
dick mccandless Community Distribution
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine is published monthly by LIFE Senior Services (a Tulsa Area United Way nonprofit) and helps fulfill LIFE Senior Services’ mission to promote and preserve independence for seniors. This publication is printed and mailed at no charge. Donations of any amount are appreciated and will help offset LIFE Senior Services’ production costs.
Medicare & You 12 Tips for Avoiding Healthcare Fraud Keeping Your Information Safe From Scammers A donation of $30 per 1 year is suggested. The Dinner Belle 27 To make a donation, visit Noteworthy 28 www.LIFEseniorservices.org/vintagedonate Share Your Time & Talent 29 or call (918) 664-9000. Mindbender & Puzzles 30 LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine accepts Business Directory 33 advertising to defray the cost of production and Calendar 34 distribution, and appreciates the support of its advertisers. The publisher does not specifically LIFE EDU 35 endorse advertisers or their products or services. People & Places 36 LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine reserves the right Classifieds 37 to refuse advertising. Rates are available upon Vintage Friends 39 request by calling (918) 664-9000.
In honor of our Dan Piraro interview (and the quirky objects he often places in his Bizarro cartoons), we’ve hidden a few of our own objects throughout this issue. Below is the key. Happy searching!
© LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine and LIFE Senior Services, Inc., 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction without consent of the publisher is prohibited.
Answers on page 39
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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“Fulfilling our mission to promote and preserve independence for seniors – today – tomorrow – always, LIFE Senior Services is proud to bring you LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine.”
letter from the
publisher
L
aughter is an instant vacation. It can lighten your spirit, better your mood and make you forget your troubles. Not only does sharing a hearty laugh improve your disposition, laughter has the ability to improve our overall health and wellness. From increasing blood flow and strengthening the immune system to reducing our blood sugar levels, laughter is powerful medicine. We dive into the various health benefits of laughter in Laugh Out Loud: How Laughter Rejuvenates Body and Soul on page 14. Plus, we take a look at laughter yoga, a low-impact exercise that is becoming increasingly popular in senior living communities and activity centers across the country. It focuses on simulated laughter to rejuvenate and oxygenate the body. And while it may seem strange to fake a laugh, there are studies that suggest that simulated or forced laughter has the same benefits of natural laughter. However, we hear that the laughter quickly becomes natural once you give in to the goofiness. If you’re not up for attending a laughter yoga session just yet, we offer a few at-home exercises you can try, too.
Laura Kenny President and CEO of LIFE Senior Services, LIFE’s Vintage Housing and LIFE PACE
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On page 16, get to know illustrious cartoonist Dan Piraro, whose eccentric Bizarro cartoon gained popularity in 1985 and isn’t slowing down. Neither is Piraro, who still publishes 365 cartoons a year. Hear where he draws his inspiration from, how growing older has influenced his outlook and how he stays mentally sharp.
we remember a handful of comedians that made audiences hoot and holler with laughter for years. Learn about their beginnings, careers and some lesser known facts. For all of you aspiring comedians, we have some helpful tips for perfecting your punchline on page 22. Before you know it, you will be delivering expertly timed one-liners like a pro. Also, learn more about the Comedy Parlor, a local joint that hosts comedy nights and stand-up classes for people of all ages. Besides being a unique and fun hobby, learning how to perform stand-up is a great way to boost brain power and self-confidence, all while meeting new and interesting people. And wouldn’t you know it? We have more than a few funny guys and gals in our readership! Thank you to all of you who submitted your favorite jokes and humorous short stories for us to enjoy. Laugh along with you fellow readers on page 24! We round out this issue with a little luck o’ the Irish. On page 26, read about Tulsa’s most treasured Irish pub and restaurant, Kilkenny’s. Along with typical pub food selections and plenty of beers, ciders and whiskies, Kilkenny’s also offers a host of traditional Irish dishes sure to send you pining for the Emerald Isle. I hope you enjoy this month’s humor-filled issue of LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine!
While there are many comedians tickling funny bones today, some of the best come from the past. In Laughs From the Past on page 20,
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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looking back
|| Grabbing a Bite to Eat All photos courtesy of Tulsa Historical Society.
Men and cattle in downtown Tulsa outside of Bishop’s Restaurant, 1939.
YMCA cafeteria in Tulsa during the H.J. Hinds Banquet, 1915.
Want More? See additional pictures in the digital edition of July’s LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine at www.LIFEseniorservices.org.
in history Three employees behind the counter of a Tulsa restaurant, c. 1940s.
Tulsa High School cafeteria during lunch, c. 1920s-1930s.
this month in history
July 1, 1979: The first Sony Walkman went on sale Transistor radios were the only technology available to on-the-go music lovers until Sony sparked a revolution in personal electronics with the introduction of the first personal stereo cassette player. A device as astonishing on first encounter as the cell phone or digital camera later would be, the Sony Walkman went on sale in Japan for 30,000 Yen – or $150.
July 5, 1896: Bill Doolin escaped from jail Famous outlaw Bill Doolin escaped from an Oklahoma jail after only a few months of captivity. However, he was only free for a short time. A few weeks later on Aug. 25, a posse caught up with him. Doolin resisted arrest; and in the ensuing gun battle, lawmen shot him to death. July 10, 1925: The “Monkey Trial” began In Dayton, Tennessee, the so-called “Monkey Trial” began after John Thomas Scopes, a high school science teacher, was accused of teaching evolution – a violation of state law. The law made it a misdemeanor to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible ... ” The jury found him guilty, but the verdict was later overturned on a technicality.
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
July 16, 1945: Atom bomb was successfully tested The Manhattan Project (named for where the research began) came to an explosive end when the first atom bomb was successfully tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The project had an original budget of only $6,000, which ballooned to a total cost of $2 billion. Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japanese cities nearly a month later. July 21, 2011: NASA’s final space shuttle mission came to an end NASA’s space shuttle program completed its final, and 135th, mission when the shuttle Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the program’s 30-year history, its five orbiters carried more than 350 people into space and flew more than 500 million miles. NASA retired the shuttles to focus on a deep-space exploration program that could one day send astronauts to asteroids and Mars. July 27, 1964: Pentagon announced more troops to Vietnam The U.S. announced an additional 5,000 troops to Vietnam, bringing the total number of U.S. forces there to 21,000. Officials insisted that this did not represent a change in policy and that new troops would only intensify existing efforts. However, the situation changed in August when North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked U.S. destroyers off the coast of North Vietnam. © The History Channel www.LIFEseniorservices.org
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|| CAREGIVER CORNER ||
The Brighter Side of Caregiving
C
aregiving is many things. It’s hard, exhausting and demanding. But it’s also humorous. At least, it should be. “You have to have humor as a caregiver,” says Teddi Samuels, a caregiver for her aunt, uncle and parents. “You can’t function sanely if you take what is happening at that moment too seriously.”
floor. Woodson recommended just covering her mother up with a blanket. The caregiver’s job was to keep her mom warm and safe, not decide where she slept. Once she understood that, she could relax.
See comedy everywhere. Brian Olson didn’t have much to laugh about, but he found hilarity everywhere. His wife had been fighting two types of But should we feel bad for laughing? Is that disrespectful or insensitive cancer for two years. “Tough doesn’t come close to describing the impact to our loved one? Not according to senior care professionals. “Not only is of chemo, the stress on the patient,” says Olson. But every morning when laughing OK, it’s absolutely necessary,” says Cindy Laverty, a former caregiver his wife asks him if the hat she’s chosen to cover her bald head matches her who founded The Care Company. “We go into caregiving with this big dark outfit, he laughs. “Part of our morning routine has always been whether her cloud hanging over us – it’s stressful, it’s so awful. When we go in with that top matched the skirt. Now it’s the hat. OK, it’s not Leno material, but it attitude, that’s what it becomes. It is stressful and awful, but when we’re helps us both cope.” having a horrible day, a good day is sure to follow. And even in the midst of those horrible days, there are funny moments that happen. Recognize and Break away. Take what Woodson calls a “strategic retreat.” “The only appreciate those moments,” she says. way you can get some distance is to just not be there several times a week. Plus, laughter can be beneficial for your loved one. Instead of getting Get respite through your state’s Department of Aging, hire someone or use frustrated during a caregiving challenge, a hearty laugh can ease tension adult day [health services] … ,” she says. “The only way to keep humor and and greatly influence not only your day, but your loved one’s as well. When perspective is to know that there is more to life than caretaking.” Laverty was caring for her father-in-law, she found a way for him to continue his favorite activity: golf. Of course, he couldn’t trek around the greens, so Cherish every moment. Caring for your loved one is the last “journey” she set up a chipping station in her backyard. “He couldn’t balance well. you will have with them. “What do you want that journey to look like? Do When he swung the golf club, I had to squat down and hold his belt, so he you want it be miserable … or do you want it to be a special time in which wouldn’t fall. One time, he did fall … on top of me. We ended up in a very special memories are made? At the end of the day, as mad as I got at my incompromising position. His response was, ‘We have to stop meeting like laws when I was caregiving, I’d give anything if I could just hold their hand this.’ We both just cracked up. It lightened up the moment, and turned an one more time,” says Laverty. awkward situation into a hilarious one,” says Laverty. When your loved one is no longer here, it won’t be the times you took too seriously that will bring you comfort. It will be the goofy conversations, silly Keep It Light antics, funny moments and belly laughs you shared together that will bring Regardless of our desire to laugh when things get rough, that task might peace and solace … not to mention, a smile to your face. be easier said than done. How do you learn to laugh when you are seeing your loved one through a trying time? Dorothy Foltz-Gray, a caregiver, offers by Erin Shackelford, Managing Editor some advice in the article Find Your Funny Bone. Sources: www.spryliving.com/articles/humor-cope-caregiving; www.thehomecarespot.com/blog/finding-the-humor-in-the-midst-of-caregiving; Go with the flow. When declining mental health forced Beverly www.agingcare.com/Articles/laughter-and-humor-with-caregiving-148553.htm Hanson’s mother to move from her retirement community into Hanson’s home, Hanson had to find ways to cope with the challenges. When her mother would knock on her door too early asking for coffee, Hanson would answer, “The kitchen’s not open yet, Mother,” which would fit with her mother’s notion of where she was: her retirement center. Hanson also put her mother’s name and room number outside of her bedroom. By accepting her mother’s reality, Hanson made her job simpler and more humorous.
Define your job. Ask your loved one’s doctor what’s wrong, what’s fixable and what you can do. “You have to find out what you should be worried about before you can laugh,” says Dr. Cheryl Woodson, author of To Survive Caregiving: A Daughter’s Experience, a Doctor’s Advice on Finding Hope, Help and Health. Woodson remembers one client who fought with her mother who had Alzheimer’s because her mother liked to sleep on the 10
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
CAREGIVING 101 Are you a new caregiver or are you seasoned, but looking for some tips to help make it easier? This program offers a road map to success. Tuesday, July 26 • 1 – 2 p.m. LIFE Senior Services • 902 E. Pine St. • Tulsa Free • RSVP • (918) 664-9000
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medicare & you
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Tips for Avoiding Healthcare Fraud
Healthcare fraud is not just about losing money. It can make you sick. From unsafe drugs sold on the internet as a “cure” for cancer to wheelchair billing plots that try to bilk consumers and Medicare out of millions of dollars for unneeded or improper equipment, healthcare fraud concerns everyone. Consumers play a big role in the fight against healthcare fraud by reporting errors and possible fraud. Law enforcement is important, but the best protection comes from preventing individuals from being cheated in the first place. Here are 12 simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family: 1. Visit only your personal doctor, hospital or clinic for medical help. They are the only ones who should make referrals for special equipment and services or prescribe medications. 2. Never show anyone your medical or prescription records without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist. 3. If someone calls and tries to threaten or pressure you into something, hang up the phone. 4. If someone comes to your door and says they are from Medicare or some other healthcare company, shut the door. 5. Do your homework and talk to your healthcare provider before buying or investing in internet “cure-all” or “miracle” products and/or services. 6. Don’t keep mail in your mailbox for more than one day. Someone might steal personal information right out of your mailbox. 7. Rip up or shred your Medicare or other healthcare papers and other important documents before throwing them away. 8. Treat your Medicare and Social Security numbers like credit cards. If someone offers to buy your Medicare or Social Security number, don’t let them. It’s not worth it. 9. Remember that Medicare does not sell anything. 10. Read your Medicare summary notice or healthcare billing statement. This is the piece of mail stamped “this is not a bill” that comes after you get medical care. 11. If you suspect an error, fraud or abuse related to healthcare, gather the facts and report it. 12. Follow your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
To learn more about how to protect yourself or how to join in the fight against fraud: ontact the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s SMP (Seniors Medicare/ C Medicaid Fraud, Abuse and Waste Reduction Program) Helpline at (800) 763-2828 or visit www.map.oid.ok.gov. Register to attend the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s 2016 Senior Fraud Conference on July 12 in Tulsa. During this half-day conference, anti-fraud experts will address Medicare fraud, home repair scams, identity theft, credit card fraud and more. The event is hosted by the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Medicare Assistance Program and is funded in part by the Administration on Community Living’s Senior Medicare Patrol grant. See page 28 for more information. Tuesday, July 12 • 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. OU-Tulsa Schusterman Learning Center 4502 E. 41st St., Tulsa This event is free to the public, but space is limited. Register online at www.map.oid.ok.gov or by calling (800) 763-2828. by Cindy Loftin Medicare Assistance Program Coordinator at LIFE Senior Services Source: www.oid.ok.gov 12
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
Scammers are trying to get personal information from people by pretending to help with applications for disability benefits and claims. An alert from the Social Security Inspector General warns of this phishing scam. These scammers could contact you, whether or not you’ve started an application for benefits. They’re taking a shot in the dark, hoping that you have started an application and that you’ll give them information over the phone. They might ask you to give or confirm your Social Security number or bank account numbers. If scammers get your information, you could face identity theft and benefit theft. Here are a few things you can do to help protect yourself: Never give your Social Security number or bank account numbers to someone who calls you. Don’t wire money or send money using a prepaid debit card. In fact, never pay someone who calls out of the blue. I f you have disability benefits, regularly check their status and review your statements to make sure they’re right. Pressure to provide information is a sure sign of a scam. If you feel pressured, hang up immediately and report it online to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov and to the Social Security Fraud Hotline.
Social Security Fraud Hotline Call (800) 269-0271 or TTY (866) 501-2101 (from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST) Note: If you cannot reach the Fraud Hotline between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., you can report Social Security program fraud directly to any Social Security office, including representatives at the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number (800) 772-1213 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. Submit a Fraud Reporting Form online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report Mail information to the Social Security Fraud Hotline, P.O. Box 17785, Baltimore, MD 21235 Source: www.ftc.gov and www.ssa.gov
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LAUGH OUT LOUD How Laughter Rejuvenates Body and Soul
W
hen was the last time you had a laugh, not just a chuckle, but a deep down belly laugh? If it has been a while, then you might be neglecting your health. Emerging research indicates that laughing is good for us, not just emotionally, but physically as well. According to Cognitive Neuroscientist Sophie Scott in her TED Talk, “Why We Laugh,” there is a common misconception that only humans laugh. But she claims laughter is found throughout mammals, from primates to rats. We were born to laugh and play. It is good for us, body and soul.
Health Benefits of Laughter
Studies have shown that laughter increases blood flow, improves mood, strengthens the immune system and reduces blood sugar levels. According to The Laughter Consultants, a team of corporate wellness experts, after 10 to 20 minutes of laughter, our facial, chest, abdominal and skeletal muscles are exercised. Additionally, serotonin (the feel-good chemical) is released, the lungs are rid of residual air, muscles relax, cortisol (the stress hormone) is reduced and cell metabolism is improved.
Laughter Yoga at Home Here are five fun laughter exercises to get you started. You can do these by yourself or challenge a spouse or friend to laugh along. You will feel a little funny at first, but what do you have to lose? Try it! Source: www.laughteronlineuniversity.com
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
If that isn’t enough to get you guffawing, researchers at California’s Loma Linda University found that healthy older adults who watched funny videos performed significantly better when it came to memory recall than a control group. While our immunity to illness is strengthened by laughter, our “immunity” to laughter is low. “It is enormously contagious,” says Scott. “You can catch laughter from somebody else, especially if you know them.”
Laughter Yoga Club
I recently experienced the contagious nature of laughter when I visited a local laughter yoga club at LaFortune Recreation Center. I began smiling and felt lighter as soon as I entered the building and heard the group’s uproarious laughter down the hall. “Laughter yoga is not about contorting our bodies,” says Mickey Hinds, education coordinator at LIFE Senior Services, who organizes the laughter yoga club, “but about using yogic breathing.” When we laugh, we deeply oxygenate our lungs, much like the
1.
Animal Laughter
2. 3.
Beethoven’s Fifth
4. 5.
Cha Cha Cha Ha Ha
Studies have shown that laughter increases blood flow, improves mood, strengthens the immune system and reduces blood sugar levels.
Donkey noises, pig snorts, dog woofs, Cheshire cat caterwauls, hoot owls, chimpanzees and gorilla calls Ha ha ha haaaaaaaa, ha ha ha haaaa
Celebration Laughter
Whisper a secret, for example, “You won the lottery,” and then celebrate with lots of laughter Laugh as you dance, a la cha cha cha
Deck the Halls
With boughs of holly, ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha www.LIFEseniorservices.org
breathing techniques used in traditional yoga. And oxygenating our lungs is very important, especially as we age, since it helps prevent pneumonia, increase memory and focus, and reduce fatigue. Laughter yoga clubs were started by Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician in India, who realized the amazing health benefits of laughter. Kataria’s laughter yoga clubs have spread across the world. From Austin to Ankara and Tehran to Tulsa, people are meeting together to laugh. Hinds stresses that the health benefits of laughter are not dependent on jokes or humor; simulated laughter will do the trick. However, she acknowledges that simulated laughter often leads to the real thing, especially if you are around other people. “If you make yourself laugh and are looking at somebody else who is laughing, that simulated laughter turns into genuine laughter,” she says. It worked for me! I started my first laughter exercise with simulated chuckling. But soon, I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. The exercise was called “naughty laughter,” and though it sounds a bit racy, it involved simply shaking your finger at other club members, as if chiding a naughty child, while belly laughing. OK, you had to be there. But trust me, it was funny! For some people, simulated laughter is uncomfortable. “We’ve had people get up and leave a class,” says Hinds. “But the benefits are really worth pushing past the awkwardness. Try it,” she encourages. “And don’t just try it once. Your first laughter yoga club is going to feel weird. Your second will feel rejuvenating, and by your third, you will hopefully feel like you did at that last dinner party where you laughed with abandon. Laughter rejuvenates the soul,” she adds. Jessica Allen, the laughter yoga club instructor, admits it can still feel awkward for her, even though she leads the groups. “But our goal is to help others, and at least everyone is acting goofy together!”
Fake It ‘Til You Make It
You don’t have to join a club to laugh. Explore what tickles your funny bone. Is it YouTube cat videos? I Love Lucy reruns? A good friend with a great sense of humor? Whatever it is, begin to build it into your day. But remember, even if humor isn’t present, Kataria says to laugh anyway. Do a little “naughty laughter” with yourself in the mirror in the morning or surprise your mate with animal laughter at dinner – “Hee haw!”
Get Your Vitamin L
Dr. Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, says he envisions a time when physicians recommend 15 to 20 minutes of laughter a day the same way they recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise. “Let us begin to consider that, along with eating your vegetables and getting enough sleep, laughter is a sound prescription and a wonderful way to enhance health,” says Miller. Though more research is needed to prove all the health benefits of laughter, Robert Provine, noted laughter researcher, says, “Until the scientists work out all the details, get in all the laughter that you can!”
by Cindy Webb
Laughter Yoga Club Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month July 12 and 26 1 – 2 p.m. • LaFortune Recreation Center 5202 S. Hudson Ave., Tulsa Free • RSVP • (918) 664-9000
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L
ittle did I know that I would be the one making painter, illustrator and cartoonist Dan Piraro laugh first. But that’s exactly what happened on the day we spoke. It wasn’t a full-bellied roar or even a hearty ha-ha, but it was a chuckle nonetheless.
The phone rang, and Piraro answered with, “You’re calling from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma?!” Normally I would have called from my midtown Tulsa home, but I was in Broken Arrow for the day. And that’s precisely what I told him. That’s when he laughed. “Midtown? There’s a midtown in Tulsa?” Having lived in New York City for 10 years, the thought of Tulsa having a midtown was an amusing notion for Piraro. When I thought about it myself, even I chuckled. That exchange broke the ice for what turned into a really great chat.
Living on Tulsa Time
Piraro moved with his family from Kansas City, Missouri, to Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1962. In the summer of his sixth grade year, they moved again – this time to Tulsa, where Piraro would later be a part of the first magnet class at Booker T. Washington High School. One of Piraro’s fondest memories of Tulsa was being on The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting show with a group of his junior high friends in the early 1970s. “My three buddies and I were on the show doing a lip sync performance,” Piraro remembers fondly. “It was Gary Busey as Teddy Jack Eddy, Gailard Sartain as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi and Jim Millaway as Sherman Oaks.” “A few years ago when I was in Tulsa, I met Sherman Oaks [ Jim Millaway],” Piraro says. “It was the first time I had seen him without the mask. It was a thrill to meet him and reminisce about the show.”
Bizarro is published daily in more than 360 newspapers in North and South America, Europe and Asia. The cartoon is shared often on social media and enjoyed around the world.
Shortly after high school, Piraro made the choice to move away from Tulsa and pursue his artistic dreams in a bigger city. Since then he has lived in St. Louis, Dallas, New York City and most recently in Los Angeles with his lovely girlfriend Christy.
It’s also won a multitude of well-deserved awards over the years, including “Best Newspaper Panel Cartoon” from the National Cartoonists Society an unprecedented three consecutive years in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He won the award again this year. It’s also received several Genesis Awards from the Humane Society of the United States. The best award of all – “Cartoonist of the Year” – was given to Piraro in 2009 from the National Cartoonists Society.
Most of Piraro’s family still live in Tulsa, and he still makes a visit once a year or so.
The Cartoon Boom
Always the artist type, Piraro had big plans when he moved from Tulsa. Those plans paid off when his single panel cartoon Bizarro took off in 1985. Bizarro features a surreal and eccentric look at everyday life, colorful imagery, social commentary, dark humor, wordplay and sheer fun and hilarity. 16
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
BEST OF BIZARRO
Surely over the span of Piraro’s cartooning career, he had to have a favorite or one that generated a massive response – good or bad. Funny for LIFE continued on page 18 www.LIFEseniorservices.org
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Funny for LIFE continued from page 16 “I’ve been publishing 365 cartoons a year since January of 1985. That is over 10,000 jokes. So it’s hard to remember,” says Piraro. However, he does have a couple of favorites. That’s when the most exciting part of the interview happened. Piraro actually took the time to read some of his favorites to me. “[This one] gets a lot of reprints, and a lot of people like it,” Piraro admits. “It’s out in the country, there is a fork in the road, and there is a sign that has three homemade wooden signs. One says wisdom, one says justice and one says truth, and then there is an electronic sign below those that says 99 cent burgers,” Piraro laughs. “And, of course, all humanity is lined up for the burgers.”
Comedic Inspiration
I naturally assumed that he had gained some sort of inspiration over the years from his parents or grandparents, so I asked. “Well, that’s an interesting question I’ve never been asked before,” Piraro admits. “I would have to say yes. I think that every person I’ve ever known and everything I’ve ever done has been an inspiration in one way or another. Sometimes I do jokes about older people who are having trouble keeping up with technology and modernity – I’m getting to that place myself. I am 58, and modern technology drives me nuts.” We chuckled for a moment because we both knew exactly what he meant. “Most of the modern technology didn’t even exist when I was a kid,” Piraro continues.
Growing Up Bizarro
After more than 30 years of Bizarro, I wondered if the content of the cartoon has changed to reflect Piraro’s age. “Yes, I suspect it does. Nothing I can do to avoid that. The fact that I draw a cartoon every day without regular characters or storylines means that I start with a completely blank page and have to come up with some sort of joke or idea and illustrate it, so of course it ends up being a reflection of all the things I am thinking and doing, and part of that is getting older,” says Piraro. Piraro admits that aging is a big part of his life right now. “I have crossed that line where I’ve begun to be noticeably older to strangers – my hair is turning gray. Now, I’m seen as part of the older generation,” Piraro says. “You begin to see that people look at you differently.”
Some people presume that staying young is a good thing. I can honestly say that the only good thing about youth is the kind of health it provides. A better way to put that is that the only bad thing about getting older is the way our bodies begin to desert us.
Piraro is a long-time vegan, and just by looking at him (gray hair and all), you can tell that he is blessed with good genes and looks younger than his age. But how does he stay young?
“It’s a good thing to remember that the mind never stops absorbing, so it’s a good thing to feed it new stuff and see what it thinks about things,” Piraro remarks.
“Who knows,” he laughs. “Some people presume that staying young is a good thing. I can honestly say that the only good thing about youth is the kind of health it provides. A better way to put that is that the only bad thing about getting older is the way our bodies begin to desert us.”
Staying Motivated
Piraro believes that everything else about getting older is good. “I am much wiser. Much smarter. Less likely to be upset by small details,” he explains. “It’s easier to look at the big picture. I get less upset by politics because in the large picture of history everything begins to seem smaller.” Piraro said that in terms of staying young mentally, it’s important to keep an open mind. Continue to learn and experience new things. “I am intent on not digging into my cave and remaining the exact same person I was at 40 for the rest of my life,” Piraro says. “I think a lot of people make that mistake; they become who they are as an adult, and then they stay that person forever.” Piraro continues to learn, read, travel and think broadly and openly about everything, he prides himself on changing his opinions on things every decade or so, but “not just randomly of course.”
How on earth does this man continue to create something new every single day of the year? What keeps this artistic soul motivated? “I rely on my mortgage loan officer to do that for me,” Piraro laughs. “My creditors keep me motivated.” Piraro admits that it’s the creative endeavor that he really enjoys. “Part of what keeps the mind active is just forcing it to work.” Piraro says, “I think the whole creative gymnastics involved in that everyday process of creating is a part of what keeps my mind alert, and I cherish it for that reason.” Just how long does this creative guy want to keep up his Bizarro work life? “There have many times where I have thought, ‘Oh gosh, I’d love to just retire and go sit on a beach and drink mai tais for the rest of my life.’ Then, I think no; the rest of my life would be a lot shorter and less interesting if I did that. I need to keep working and doing this thing that I do.” This funny guy is serious when he says, “I am not about to quit.” by Joey Mechelle Stenner
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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Laughs FROM THE PAST
When everything seems to be going south, a good laugh can sure brighten things up. The following comedians endured different struggles, but they prove that even when life is rough, it’s still possible to laugh your way to joy and help others do the same.
Red Skelton
(July 18, 1913 – Sept. 17, 1997) Skelton’s life ambition was to make people laugh. He often dressed as a clown because he thought it made his humor more dynamic and because he wanted to be known as a clown. Beginnings At the age of 10, Skelton got his start in traveling comedy circuits, where he began to develop his skills in pantomime. His big chance at stardom came when he was invited to perform on the New York vaudeville scene in 1937. Knowing this could be his big break, he and his first wife Edna hired professional writers to sketch his routine. However, the audience didn’t laugh at any of the material. At least, not until Skelton reverted to a pantomime routine he and Edna had personally come up with called “Doughnut Dunkers.” This sketch – based on the couple’s experience watching patrons eat donuts in a café – launched Skelton into the limelight. He performed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt shortly after that. Career During his 70-year career, Skelton performed in many entertainment mediums, including radio shows, musical comedies and films. He is perhaps best known for his television shows – first The Red Skelton Show, then The Red Skelton Hour – spanning from 1951 to 1971. Lesser known is Skelton’s career as an artist. He produced over 1,000 oil paintings of clowns. It is estimated that his clown portraits brought in a larger fortune than all of his years working in public comedy forums combined. Little Known Fact Skelton had many other talents besides acting, singing and painting, often sleeping only a few hours a night in order to complete his creative projects. These included short stories, photography, composing music, gardening and writing commercials.
JACK BENNY
(Feb. 14, 1894 – Dec. 26, 1974) Known for his undisputed mastery of comedic timing and for his long-time radio/television portrayal of a miserly business man, Benny is recognized as one of the leading 20th century comedians. Beginnings Benny – born as Benjamin Kubelsky – began playing violin in vaudeville shows at age 17 after being expelled from high school. A few years later, Benny played in the same theater as the young Marx Brothers. Benny so impressed the Marx Brothers’ mother that she invited Benny to be a part of their traveling act. Benny’s parents refused to let him go. Career After having minor roles in vaudeville shows, Benny’s real fame came when he began his radio show The Jack Benny Program, which ran from 1932 to 1955. The program was a success and arguably laid the framework for modern day variety shows like Saturday Night Live. The show featured ongoing sketches and characters that audiences loved, like Benny himself as the petty, vain miser and his levelheaded chauffer Rochester. Benny wrote 20
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
Rochester’s character – a black man – to challenge the racial stereotypes at the time by presenting Rochester as wise, witty and respected. The radio show also had celebrity participation over the years, including appearances by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Barbara Stanwyck. Later, on his television show (which was also called The Jack Benny Program), highly sought after celebrities, like Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart, made appearances. In both radio and television, Benny did not care if it was he or another one of his characters that got the laugh, just as long as the audience was laughing. Little Known Fact Fans and admirers still drop pennies on Benny’s grave in Hillside Memorial Park in California to pay homage to his comedy sketch of the miser.
Lucille Ball
(Aug. 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) Best known for her role as the sweetheart full of silly antics on the television show I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball not only pioneered certain aspects of comedy and situational drama, but also became one of the first women to have production power in Hollywood. Beginnings Ball had a tumultuous childhood and sought relief through stage performance, enjoying the recognition she received there. She went to drama school in New York – where she was far outshined by a young Bette Davis – when she was 15, but was asked to leave because she was too timid and frightened to really stand out. Not giving up, she returned to New York in 1928 where she got a few small modeling jobs. Finally, Ball made a permanent move to Hollywood to pursue her real dream of becoming an actress. Career For a time, she starred in lower budget films, which earned her the critical title “The Queen of ‘B’ Movies.” But after marrying a young Cuban actor named Desi Arnaz, the two became a force to be reckoned with, forming the production company Desilu Productions. I Love Lucy premiered on Oct. 15, 1951, and had audiences reeling with laughter. The show presented real-life situations, like women in the workplace, marital issues and childbirth, previously unseen on television. Ball was so dedicated to her craft that she would often practice for hours before a taping to get Lucy’s iconic facial expressions and comedic antics just right. After Ball and Arnaz divorced in 1960, Ball eventually bought out Desilu Productions, becoming the first female to run a major television production company. Little Known Fact The episode where Lucy gives birth to Little Ricky garnered a larger viewing audience than President Eisenhower’s inauguration ceremonies.
REDD FOXX
(Dec. 9, 1922 – Oct. 11, 1991) Foxx is best known for his role as Sanford on Sanford and Sons and also for paving the way for black comedians by boldly addressing hot button issues in his comedy routines. www.LIFEseniorservices.org
Beginnings Born as John Elroy Sanford, Redd Foxx was born into poverty in St. Louis. From the beginning, Foxx had an adventurous, determined personality and left home at age 13 for Chicago, where he played the washboard in a band. Foxx took his surname from a famous baseball player, while his first name came from his ruddy complexion. Career Foxx rose to popularity through the “Chitlin Circuit,” a string of venues and nightclubs safe for African-Americans to gather and perform before the civil rights movement. His raunchy comedy routines garnered him a recording deal with the Dootone record label in Los Angeles. Going on to produce over 50 comedic albums, Foxx became known as the “King of the Party Records.” When Foxx began to star in the show Sanford and Sons, however, his fame skyrocketed. Foxx’s widespread fame allowed him to be one of the first black comedians to perform for white audiences on the Las Vegas Strip. After leaving Sanford and Sons, Foxx created his own show The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour. Current day comedian Jamie Foxx cites Foxx as being hugely influential to his work. He paid tribute to Foxx by taking his stage surname. Little Known Fact In his 20s, Foxx became an associate of Malcolm X, who in his autobiography described Foxx as “Chicago Red, the funniest dishwasher on this earth.”
Jackie “Moms” Mabley
(March 19, 1894 – May 23, 1975) Best known for her standup routines as a disheveled woman dressed up in a ratty housedress and floppy cap, Jackie “Moms” Mabley got her name because she was like a mother to many other comedians in the ‘50s and ‘60s. She bravely addressed issues like racial prejudice and sexual orientation, becoming one of the first openly gay comedians. Beginnings Childhood and adolescence was the stuff of nightmares for Mabley. Born Loretta Mary Aiken, she was born into a large family in South Carolina. Her father, a firefighter, died in an explosion when she was 11 and her mother was hit by a truck and killed on Christmas Day. She was raped twice by the time she was 14, both resulting in pregnancy and adoption. Choosing to become a strong woman rather than be defeated by her circumstances, Mabley ran away and joined an African-American vaudeville circuit, where her talents were quickly recognized. Career In the 1930s, Mabley worked with Zora Neale Hurston on a few different projects and starred in multiple films in the 1940s. Later on, Mabley became a highly sought after performer on the Chitlin Circuit, earning as much as $10,000 per show. After performing in Carnegie Hall in 1962, her fan base began to span into the upper echelons of white society. She also appeared on CBS’s show The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour while the show was enjoying a number one spot on television, spreading her influence even further. One of the bits that made her routines as the raggedly dressed motherly figure so wildly hilarious was her boldly professed attraction to younger men. Offstage, however, she was nothing like her bedraggled comedic persona, but rather quite glamorous and beautiful. Little Known Fact Whoopi Goldberg cited Mabley as being hugely influential in her own comedy career. Goldberg produced a documentary on Mabley’s life called Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley. by Tiffany Duncan
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Glenwood Apartments 10221 E. 34TH ST. • TULSA, OK
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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PERFECTING YOUR Tips for Telling Your Best Jokes From one-liners to that funny story you tell your friends, jokes are a great way to ease tension, break the ice or start a speech. That is, of course, if you can get a laugh. Telling a good joke comes naturally to some people, but for others it takes practice and hard work. You should be on a stage. There’s one leaving at 2 p.m. According to Ryan Green, anyone can be successful at comedy. And he should know. Green teaches stand-up at the Comedy Parlor in Tulsa. “The number one tip I tell my class is to make yourself comfortable,” Green says. “Imagine you’re at a party – only you’re the only one allowed to talk.” For some people, that scenario may be a dream come true and for others a living nightmare. That’s why you need good material. Green advises his students to look at their own lives for inspiration. “Think about the worst thing that has happened in your life and make jokes about it,” he says. “Look back on your life and find the funny. That will help the audience relate to you, and people are more willing to laugh with someone they feel they know.” Stand-up comic James Allen believes a comedian must be honest to who they are and what they believe. “If they do not believe the message in their material, then no one will take them seriously as a funny man,” he says. “An audience can see a fake faster on the comedy stage than on any other stage.” If you prefer to look online instead of within, the humor website Comic Wonder (www.comicwonder.com) has a section called Joke Limbo, which is filled with “joke scripts” waiting to be told by real people. Think of it as an online dating service for comedians and jokes. You can find one that fits your personality and make it your own. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. The next step on your road to the perfect punchline is to practice your material. This step is crucial. You don’t need to have it completely memorized – in fact, don’t memorize it at all. But you should be comfortable with your joke, so you can easily tell it if you get nervous or sidetracked – something that’s bound to happen in front of an audience of any size. 22
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
Green recommends practicing – cue ominous music – in front of an audience at an open mic night where you’ll perform in front of a live audience and fellow comedians. “Once you have five to seven minutes of material, practice it and go to every open mic you can,” he says. “It’s all about being conversational and relaxed onstage. Plus, comics are very good about being honest with each other. They’ll tell you what works and what doesn’t – and you’ll learn from watching them onstage.” If you find your material isn’t working, it’s OK to change it. “Even if you think it’s the funniest thing in the world, if no one’s laughing at it, then it’s not working. Get rid of it,” says Green. “You’re there to make your audience laugh.” It’s important to remember that this is all part of the creative process. All comics adjust, edit and embellish their jokes after seeing how they work in a real performance. As you work out your material, you’ll add details that can make a big difference. In fact, good jokes have a lot of details and personality, so don’t be afraid to embellish and try out different things to see what feels right and sounds best.
Photo courtesy of Comedy Parlor.
Comedy Parlor
328 E. 1st St. • Tulsa, OK (918) 921-3535 www.comedyparlor.com
Jerry Seinfeld spends hours crafting his stand-up routines. Like a song, he says he looks for the right words that will make the timing of his jokes perfect. He also looks for words that are simply funnier than others. And he saves the best for last. “In a long bit, the biggest laugh has to be at the end,” he says. Pi r-squared. No – pies are round; cakes are square. There’s a science to telling a joke and many comedians follow a formula to craft their material. While these formulas vary, the basic anatomy of a joke begins with a target. This is a person, place, thing or idea that the joke is about. It’s important that the target is suited to your audience and one they will not only be interested in, but likely to laugh at. www.LIFEseniorservices.org
“I did a show for oil field workers and needed blue collar material they could relate to – like relationships, bosses and current events,” Green says. “However, I didn’t use that material with the show I did shortly afterward at a rally for marijuana legalization. That show was an excuse to be weird because everybody else was being weird. It was a good place to experiment with new material, too.” Once you know your audience, it’s time for the opening of your joke. You want to create a realistic, but exaggerated setup. It should have a basis in the real world so your audience can relate to it, but it should also include exaggeration because that’s what gives it its humorous edge. And finally, you want to surprise them with the punchline. As Seinfeld says, this is your biggest laugh. This is the payoff. The end of your joke is what will make it succeed or fail. Let’s take that scientific approach and dissect a joke that’s perfect for your grandkids. “Why don’t ghosts like rain on Halloween?” This joke is ideal for your audience – kids love Halloween. And they can relate to the setup – nobody likes rain when they’re trick-or-treating. But there’s the exaggerated element of ghosts. And now for the punchline. Why don’t ghosts like rain on Halloween? Because it dampens their spirits. Comedian Ben Schwartz, a former writer for The Late Show with David Letterman, says Letterman’s formula was “one sentence to set it up, and one sentence to punch it down.” Schwartz recalled one of the jokes he wrote for Letterman’s monologue that demonstrates the formula. “A 20-year-old student set a new world record after solving a Rubik’s Cube in 11.3 seconds. And ladies, he’s siiiingle.” A rabbi and a priest walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What is this? Some kind of a joke?” With comedy, it’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it. Timing and delivery are just as important as the joke itself. Waiting an extra second or two before revealing your punchline creates suspense and may get a bigger laugh.
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“Your facial expression and look is part of your routine,” says Allen. “Words are only about 30 percent of communication. The rest is the tone, volume, the timing, expression, appearance, etc.” Also, as you practice your joke, learn which words to emphasize to get a bigger laugh. And above all, don’t laugh at your own jokes or continue talking over the laughter when you get it. “That’s your applause,” says Green. But seriously, folks. Stand-up classes aren’t just for youngsters with dreams of telling jokes on stage. Green says people of all ages and occupations can benefit from taking his class. “The class is a fun way to change how you think about public speaking and public interactions in general,” he says. “Once you’ve gone onstage and talked about your personal life, presenting quarterly projections is a breeze!”
Enjoy Where Takes You.
To find out how you can volunteer with LIFE Senior Services, call (918) 664-9000.
Green’s stand-up comedy class meets every Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Comedy Parlor, 328 E. 1st St., in downtown Tulsa. Each week, two students are guaranteed a spot in the open mic night that follows each class. “Stand-up is a great way to have fun, meet people and try something new,” Green says. “It sounds simple and trite, but it’s true. The lessons you learn in stand-up are appropriate for almost everything in life. If it’s not working for you, change it. Get rid of it and find what will work.” by Karen Szabo
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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rope walks into a bar. The bartender A yells, “We don’t serve your kind.” The rope walks out and fluffs and primps, then walks back in. The bartender said, “I told you. We don’t serve your kind.” The rope replies, “Frayed knot.” - Julie
You’re So
FUNNY!
Reader-Submitted Jokes and Stories
id you hear about the man who stole a D calendar? He got 12 months. - Elbert
What did the pirate say when he turned 80? “Aye matey.” - Leah hy doesn’t an old maid wear more than seven buttons? She can’t W fascinate. - Lois Meyer y friend, Karen, said that she had steak fingers, mashed potatoes and M corn for supper. I started to ask her what part of the cow the fingers came from. Then I remembered that everyone has heard of cowhands. - Delvine Nally
The Stories THE FIRM REPLY
A few years back, we were visiting our daughter and family in Florida. I woke up one chilly morning to get the newspaper and then headed to the kitchen. A few minutes later, in comes our 4-year-old granddaughter Cheryl.
The Jokes
“Cheryl, please go get your slippers on or you will catch a cold on this tile floor.”
ey won’t let the farmers in Texas have round bales of hay because the Th cows don’t get a square meal. - Bobbie Hudson
She immediately replied, “I don’t need to!”
A grasshopper walked into the bar. The bartender shouts, “Hey, we have a drink named after you.” The grasshopper says, “You’ve got a drink named Marvin?” - Mickey
“No, I don’t need to!” she said again.
hy did the scarecrow win the Nobel W Prize? Because he was outstanding in his field. - Leah
hy can’t you run through a campground? W You can only ran because it’s past tents. - Randy
ou only have enough time to say one word Y to Edgar Allen Poe before he walks into a tree. What do you say? Poetry! - Nancy
“Oh yes, you do. Or you will get a bad cold.” I then said for the third time and with great irritation, “Young lady, I’m telling you for the last time. Go get your slippers on or you will catch a cold!” She innocently, but firmly replied, “Grandpa, I don’t need to! I already have a cold!” - Chuck Scott
KEEP YOUR SENSE TO KEEP YOUR CENTS
I went to do laundry. I put my clothes in the washer. Everything was going OK, so I went to get a drink from a vending machine. I put in four quarters, hit the button and nothing came out. I quickly pushed the lever to get my money back. Only 25 cents came out. I lost 75 cents. S o, I went down the street to get a drink. At the drive-thru window, I gave the attendant a dollar bill, and expected to get 25 cents in return. In the process, I am told that I didn’t actually give her any money at all! So, I gave her 75 cents. Interesting. When I got back to the laundromat, I saw 25 cents displayed on the machine, and my clothes were wet. Another 75 cents lost! I realized I must keep my sense to keep my cents! - Dr. Paulette White-Jones
TAKE JUST ONE
I can’t elope with you! Oh, honey, do! - Lois Meyer
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
At the beginning of the school cafeteria line sat a basket of apples with a sign stating, “Take just one, remember, God is watching.” As the students came to the end of the line another basket full of oranges was there with a sign that read, “Take as many as you want, God is watching the apples.” - Pauline H. www.LIFEseniorservices.org
THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
As a newlywed in the early 1950s, I cheerfully volunteered to wash the supper dishes in my mother-in-law’s kitchen. I’d never seen such an ugly skillet! Slick black interior, bumpy black exterior. With quiet efficiency, I dipped that disgusting thingy into the soapy dishwater, scrubbed, rinsed and dried it.
“Ohh!” My mother-in-law gasped at my elbow. “You’ve ruined it!” I followed her scowl to the clean black frying pan I held in my hand. “Never. Never wash cast-iron pans with soap!” She shook her head with apparent exasperation. Elbowing me aside, she brandished the maltreated object by its black handle at arm’s length. “Now, the food will stick. What a mess!” I felt the heat of embarrassment inch up my neck and spread over my ears. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” My lips formed the words, yet only a whisper emerged. “ Well, maybe there’s a way to re-season it.” She settled the cast-iron victim on the countertop. As she stared out the kitchen window, her glaring gray eyes betrayed her languid stroking of the casualty of my abuse. I learned my lesson: once a cast-iron skillet is seasoned, never scrub it with soap and water. - Elizabeth Strance
Y ELLOW PAGE FUNNIES
The Yellow Pages set up their advertisers in alphabetical order. These are actual headings from a recent book … with my commentary. Buildings-Burglar: They advertise? Burglar-Bus: We take the 8:17 South, burgle, come back on the 9:27... Credit-Cremation: Overuse of a credit card Drainage-Drinking: Lie under the beer keg and open the spigot Drywall-Ear: Covered by workers’ comp? Fire-First: Fire, ready, aim... Hair-Handyman: Hey ... he’s a barber. OK? Fish-Fitness: Doesn’t all that swimming work? Foods-Forklift: A sign your portions might be too big Garage-Garbage: That old Ford Pinto Granite-Grass: Lasts forever, never needs mowing Liquor-Loans: A sign you might have a drinking problem Margarita-Marriage: Won’t last past the hangover Money-Monuments: That bright yellow Hummer Monuments-Mortgages: Payments on that bright yellow Hummer Oxygen-Packaging: Fancy name for a balloon Pizza-Plastic: How you pay at Domino’s Laser-Laundries: Now, that’s clean Plumbing-Police: Sir, just drop that plunger and step back Police-Poultry: K-9 chicken Skin-Snow: Dandruff Transmission-Trapper: Speed bump Trash-Travel: Plaid shorts, striped tank top, flip flops Wedding-Weight: Twenty-five pounds less than now Weight-Welding: That cream pie and your thighs Wood-Wrecker: Termite - Jeff Nix
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Cornerstone Village
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1045 N. Yale Ave. • Tulsa One Bedroom Apartments Available Full Kitchens with Appliances Elevator Small Pets Allowed Planned Activities
Must be 62 years of age or older, and meet income guidelines. Vintage Properties professionally managed by Sooner Management Consultants, Inc.
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LIFE’s Senior Centers KEEP PLAYING Nurture your mind, body and spirit for a healthier, happier LIFE at LIFE Senior Services’ two Senior Centers for active adults. LIFE’s Senior Center at Southminster 3500 S. Peoria Ave.
LIFE’s Senior Center at East Side 1427 Indianapolis Ave
Call LIFE’s SeniorLine (918) 664-9000 www.LIFEseniorservices.org
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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Dollars & Sense ||
Long-Term Care
INSURANCE T
he oldest of the nearly 70 million baby boomers are less than a decade away from their 80s, a time when some are going to need additional help with some of life’s more basic tasks, like eating and bathing. This is also a time when having long-term care insurance can really pay off. According to Shelley McKain, Senior Housing Advisor at Choice Connections and counselor with Purview Life, long-term care insurance (LTC) is definitely something you should consider.
What is Long-Term Care Insurance?
“LTC insurance is coverage for the costs of long-term care not covered by a healthcare or Medicare policy or anything else. It covers ongoing long-term needs with activities of daily living or severe cognitive impairment – those types of things that as our health declines, we need help with,” explains McKain. Long-term care includes a variety of services and supports to meet health or personal care needs over an extended period of time. Most long-term care is non-skilled personal care assistance, such as help performing everyday activities of daily living (ADLs), which are bathing, dressing, using the toilet, transferring (to or from bed or chair), caring for incontinence and eating. The goal of long-term care services is to help maximize your independence and functioning at a time when you are unable to be fully self-reliant. “When you have LTC insurance, you must be unable to adequately do at least two of the ADLs without either ‘stand by’ or ‘hands on’ assistance to invoke your claim. LTC insurance basically pays a caregiver to help you do those basic activities,” says McKain.
Who Needs Long-Term Care Insurance?
Long-term care is needed when you have a chronic illness or disability that limits your ability to perform ADLs. Your illness or disability could include a problem with memory loss, confusion or disorientation. This year, about 9 million Americans over the age of 65 will need longterm care services. By 2020, that number will increase to 12 million. While most people who need long-term care are age 65 or older, a person can need long-term care services at any age. Forty percent of people currently receiving long-term care are adults 18 to 64 years old. But do you really need another insurance policy to cover this type of care? McKain recommends it. “The high cost of LTC care is the very reason that it’s not covered by employee or private health insurance or Medicare. The costs per month can range greatly – from periodic home healthcare to 24-hour home healthcare to assisted living, memory care and nursing home care,” she explains. Long-term care is certainly expensive. According to Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey, on average in Oklahoma, a year in a nursing home costs from $53,290 up to $60,225. Expenses for care in an assisted living facility average over $40,000. Average hourly rates for care received at home range from $19 an hour for a state certified home health aide to $17 to $27 an hour for a Medicare-certified home health aide. A common misunderstanding that many people have is that they can rely on Medicare to pay for any long-term care services they will need. Medicare does not pay for what comprises the majority of long-term care services. 26
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
This year, about 9 million Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care services. Medicaid pays for the largest share of long-term care services, but only if you meet financial and functional criteria. Other federal programs, such as the Older Americans Act and Veterans Affairs, pay for some long-term care services, but only for specific populations and in specific circumstances. Most forms of employer-sponsored or private health insurance follow the same general rules as Medicare. Therefore, most people who need long-term care end up paying for some or all of their care out of their own income or assets.
What Should You Consider Before Buying?
When it comes to buying, McKain emphasizes timing. “The younger you purchase it, the better the prices. Good health buys you your policy because you can’t wait until you need it to buy it,” she suggests. How much LTC insurance should you purchase? It depends. AARP suggests taking the following into consideration: Your income currently and projected for the future. Your premiums and how they will fit your budget over time. Your support system to determine amount of need. Your savings and investments. Your tax deduction options for your claim awards. “[Any amount of LTC insurance] is probably better than nothing. You may not be able to afford enough to cover 100 percent of your future needs, even smaller policies can make a huge difference when the need arises,” says McKain. Beyond the cost, take note of how long you will have to wait before making claims for reimbursement for any LTC insurance you are considering. Look at the language of the policy and carefully assess the service dates. While we generally recognize the need for health and life insurance, LTC insurance is often overlooked. However, without it, costs can be overwhelming. “Life insurance is betting you’re going to die. LTC insurance is betting that you’re going to live, and you’re going to need help,” says McKain. by Kelsey Holder
Need More Information? The website www.longtermcare.gov is designed to assist you with planning ahead for your longterm care needs. It has a variety of user-friendly tools, including a savings calculator, so that you can see what it might cost you if you needed long-term care and how much you’d have to begin saving today in order to have enough to pay for your own care needs. You can also order or download a free Long-Term Care Planning Kit from the website or order by calling (866) PLANLTC (752-6582).
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
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The Dinner Belle ||
Traditional Irish Stew
Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/KilkennysIrishPub
I
KILKENNY’S Offers Irish Charm in Tulsa
f you’re looking for a flavorful, unique Irish meal in a fun atmosphere, look no further than Kilkenny’s Irish Pub on Cherry Street. It is the place to go for Irish food and drink in the Tulsa area. With a wide range of food, including typical pub selections, like burgers and fish and chips, and more traditional Irish dishes, like boxty and Dublin Coddle, Kilkenny’s appeals to a variety of palates. Kilkenny’s is located in the heart of Cherry Street – 15th Street between Peoria Avenue and Utica Avenue. While parking along this stretch can be a bit prickly at times, Kilkenny’s offers over 30 spots in its front and back parking lots. If you’re concerned about the parking situation, we suggest visiting during off-peak hours in between lunch and dinner. Since this issue is filled with humorous musings, it’s only fitting that Kilkenny’s menu also give you a chuckle. Like any self-respecting Irish pub, there is a healthy selection of beers, whiskies and adult beverages on the menu. But there are also a few amusing Irish rhymes to enjoy while you make your selections. “At noon, the haymakers sit them down, to drink from their bottles of ale nut-brown; Likewise the man that works in the wood, A bottle of beer will oft do some good.” While my husband and I are neither haymakers nor woodworkers, nor do we drink on our lunch breaks, we still enjoy our ale on occasion. These days, only my husband gets to enjoy the spirits, as we’re expecting our first child. During our visit to Kilkenny’s, Devon tried the Blue Velvet drink, which combines Angry Orchard Apple Cider, www.LIFEseniorservices.org
Fonseca Ruby Port and Guinness. According to Devon, it tastes like a candy apple in liquid form. Kilkenny’s offers several tantalizing appetizers, such as Dingle Bay Crab Cakes, Irish nachos, Freshford Reuben Rolls, Priestsvalley Pretzels, Pickelstown Fried Pickles and much more. Of course, you can get American dishes when you go to Kilkenny’s. They offer an extensive burger menu, with my personal favorite being their Black and Blue Burger – a half-pound burger with Cashel Blue cheese topped with crisp bacon. This time, we opted for the Irish dishes that Kilkenny’s does best. My husband chose a boxty – a traditional Irish dish common to rural Ireland. It’s a grilled potato pancake stuffed with your choice of homemade fillings. You won’t find anything quite like it anywhere else in Tulsa. And in case you haven’t had enough humor, Kilkenny’s offers another clever Irish quip. “Boxty on the griddle, Boxty in the pan, If you can’t make boxty, You’ll never get your man.” Well, I haven’t figured out how to make boxty, but fortunately, I did get my man, and he thoroughly enjoyed both his time with me and his boxty. Kilkenny’s has seven different types of boxties, filled with everything from chicken and beef to omelet ingredients. He chose The Craigue ($18), a boxty filled with crab, jumbo shrimp and cold water lobster sautéed in garlic and white wine, topped with creamy O’Fredo sauce (Kilkenny’s version of Alfredo sauce). The medley of seafood flavors was incredible. They are made even better,
Bruised Pear – pear cider and Guinness according to Devon, because they are “all wrapped in the love of a pancake.” It’s definitely a boxty worth trying! My dish, also truly Irish, left me completely satisfied. The Sevensisters Steak and Guinness Pie has tender pieces of steak baked in a rich Guinness gravy with mushrooms, carrots and potatoes cooked in an Irish cheddar pastry. It is also served with fresh sautéed vegetables. While I love the crêpe/potato-like texture that blankets Kilkenny’s boxties, I also loved the crisp texture of the pastry shell on this pie. The sauce was unlike anything I’ve ever had. The Guinness gave it loads of flavor – so much so, I couldn’t put my fork down! Other than the incredible food, Kilkenny’s also offers a unique atmosphere. The inviting, lively music transports you to the coziest pub in Ireland. The restaurant is mostly dimly lit, and much of it reminds me of a classic library, with many of the walls lined with bookshelves and candles. Of course, if you’d like to truly imagine you’re in Ireland, you might consider seating yourself at the bar top, where there are always plenty of strangers ready to welcome you into the conversation. by Lindsay Morris
Kilkenny’s Irish Pub
1413 E. 15th St., Tulsa, OK (918) 582-8282 www.tulsairishpub.com
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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Noteworthy Give Your Boots a Scoot at the 14th Annual Senior Star Round-Up
Events to Inspire, Educate and Motivate!
Laugh Out Loud at University Village’s Comedy Night It’s said that laughter is the best medicine and that laughing often can improve your quality of life. In honor of humor and all of its benefits, LIFE Senior Services has partnered with University Village for a knee-slapping evening of entertainment. LeAnne Taylor of KOTV’s Six in the Morning will emcee the evening, which will include hilarious skits, a hee-haw and surprise guests from the community. Audience participation might be requested!
Seniors from throughout the Tulsa area are invited to a special afternoon of live music and dancing at the historic Cain’s Ballroom on Sunday, Aug. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. The Senior Star Round-Up is an annual tradition for hundreds of older adults, many of whom have fond memories of Cain’s and Bob Wills. The featured band is Cowboy Jones, a vintage country and original Red Dirt band, headed by Bob Wiles and Anthony Pierce and accompanied by a talented cast of Oklahoma’s finest pickers. Cowboy Jones has evolved from a group that got together especially for this Senior Star fundraiser into a band that plays regularly across the area. The Round-Up Boys are returning as a special guest, bringing their classic country sounds and Bob Wills tunes to delight the crowd. The event is hosted by Senior Star Living and their senior housing communities at Burgundy Place, Woodland Terrace, The Arbors and Plantation House. Tickets for the event are $10 each and will be sold in advance Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning July 1 at Senior Star at Burgundy Place, 8887 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa and Senior Star at Woodland Terrace at 9524 E. 71st St., Tulsa as well as LIFE Senior Services, 5950 E. 31st St., Tulsa Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Ticket sales from this event benefit LIFE Senior Services. For more information, call Rickye Wilson at (918) 664-9000 or visit www.LIFEseniorservices.org. 28
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
The Comedy Night is free to attend and is scheduled for Friday, July 22 at 6 p.m. in the Stovall Theater at University Village, 8555 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa. For more information, contact Kathy Gustafson at (918) 298-3480 or Landry Harlan at (918) 664-9000.
Celebrate America’s Independence at Riverside Parks’ Freedomfest Tulsa’s muchanticipated FreedomFest includes endless entertainment, a variety of activities and tasty concessions. A Tulsa tradition since 1976, FreedomFest is known for featuring one of Oklahoma’s largest free fireworks displays and live music at three locations along the Arkansas River. Join the crowds at Tulsa’s River Parks and line the banks of the Arkansas River with lawn chairs and picnic baskets in preparation for the brightest and loudest show of the year! Arrive early to enjoy inflatables and face painting for the grandkids, beverage and food vendors, old-fashioned family picnics and a bicycle parade. At nightfall, turn your gaze skyward and be amazed as hundreds of fireworks choreographed to patriotic music are launched from the 21st Street bridge. Riverside will be closed off to cars after 5 p.m., and a crowd of 80,000 Tulsans is expected, so be sure to arrive early to find a place to park and a
good view of the fireworks. Due to construction of The Gathering Place, 21st Street to 41st Street will be closed. Organizers suggest trying River West Festival Park at 2100 S. Jackson Ave. and Veterans Park at 1875 S. Boulder Ave. first. For more information, contact the River Parks Authority at (918) 596-2001 or visit www.riverparks.org/freedomfest.
Fight Back against Fraud at the Senior Fraud Conference
New scams and attempts at fraud are a constant threat, especially for older adults who are often the target. In some cases, large sums of money or even life savings can be lost as a result of these transactions by unscrupulous individuals. Interested in learning ways to protect yourself and your family? Medicare fraud, insurance fraud, investment fraud and banking fraud will be the topics covered at the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s 2016 Senior Fraud Conference. The conference will feature a number of state experts who will bring their extensive and up-todate knowledge about fraud and scams to help seniors learn what to be aware of and how to protect themselves. Speakers include Ray Walker, director of the Medicare Assistance Program for the Oklahoma Insurance Department; Rick Wagnon, director of the Oklahoma Insurance Department Anti-Fraud Unit; Elaine Dodd, executive vice president of the Fraud Division of the Oklahoma Banking Association; Julie Bays, assistant attorney general with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office; Irving Faught, administrator with the Oklahoma Securities Commission; and Jennifer Shaw, enforcement attorney with the Oklahoma Securities Commission. The conference is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Learning Center, 4502 E. 41st St., Tulsa. A free hot breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. (doors open at 7:30 a.m.). There is no cost to the public for the conference or the breakfast. Space is limited, and the public is requested to make reservations early by visiting www.oid.ok.gov or by calling the Medicare Assistance Program at (800) 763-2828. www.LIFEseniorservices.org
Share
Alone we can do so little; together we can Your Time and Talent do so much. To submit a volunteer opportunity, please contact Associate Editor Landry Harlan at lharlan@LIFEseniorservices.org or (918) 664-9000.
LIFE Senior Services is looking for volunteers to help provide services to seniors and caregivers. The opportunities vary and can be based on your talents, skills, hobbies and volunteer goals. For more information and to get started volunteering with LIFE, call Julie Ryker at (918) 664-9000. YWCA Tulsa is looking for volunteers with a green thumb to tend to a six-bed vegetable garden. Volunteers are needed to water, weed, harvest and keep an eye out for pests. For more information, call YWCA Tulsa at (918) 858-2395. St. John Medical Center is in need of volunteers to work the Auxiliary Gift Shop on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon, and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from noon to 4 p.m. The gift shop offers a fun environment and volunteers have the opportunity to brighten someone’s day. All profits benefit projects of the St. John Auxiliary and help the St. John Health System. For more information, call Rebecca Brungardt at (918) 744-2198. Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa is looking for gift shop, special event, administrative and maintenance volunteers. Volunteer docents are also needed. For more information, contact Loretta Jones at (918) 557-1048 or museumguys@cox.net. INCOG Area on Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is looking for ombudsman volunteers. Volunteers support the program by visiting long-term care facilities on a regular basis to build the trust of residents and facility administrators. Extensive training is provided. July’s training is scheduled for Thursday, July 21 and Thursday, July 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 710 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa. Lunch is provided. For more information, call Lesley Smiley at (918) 359-1022. Youth Services of Tulsa is looking for volunteers to work in teams to lift the spirits of homeless teens. Volunteers are needed to cook and serve, as well as mentor teens at Youth Services of Tulsa’s facility one Saturday per month at 4:30 p.m. For more information, call Sherry at RSVP Tulsa at (918) 280-8656. Tulsa Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, a retail outlet store for used home improvement materials and supplies, is looking for volunteers to help customers during four-hour shifts Monday through Saturday. Proceeds from ReStore support Tulsa’s Habitat for Humanity. Training is provided. For more information, call Sherry at RSVP Tulsa at (918) 280-8656.
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
- Helen Keller
Zarrow Community Garden needs volunteers to work in the garden throughout the growing season to plant, maintain and harvest vegetables that are then donated to the Community Food Bank. Shifts are available Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sunday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call Sherry at RSVP Tulsa at (918) 280-8656. TARC (Tulsa Advocates for the Rights of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities) is searching for volunteers to be matched with adult clients in order to provide community connection and socialization to people who otherwise would become isolated. The time commitment is once or twice a month. Training and support are provided. For more information, call Sherry at RSVP Tulsa at (918) 280-8656. Saint Francis Hospital needs volunteers to serve as receptionists Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon or noon to 3 p.m. A meal, covered parking and training are provided. For more information, call Sherry at RSVP Tulsa at (918) 280-8656. Ability Resources is looking for volunteers with knowledge of the healthcare industry for social media and marketing plan development. For more information, call Sherry at RSVP Tulsa at (918) 280-8656. Tulsa SPCA needs volunteers to support staff in introducing visitors to animals at the shelter and answering questions about rescue and adoption. Training and support are provided. Shifts are available Monday through Saturday anytime between 9:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call Sherry at RSVP Tulsa at (918) 280-8656. Miller Hospice is looking for volunteers in Tulsa and the surrounding areas to bring smiles to their patients who are facing a life-limiting illness. Volunteers are needed to make crafts and to provide companionship, caregiver respite and office assistance. Training provided. For more information, call Keia Swall at (918) 742-6415. Choregus Productions is looking for volunteers to assist with the first ever Summer Heat International Dance Festival July 30 through Aug. 6. Volunteer activities include hospitality (e.g., helping set up the green room, providing transportation, assisting at receptions and/or preparing welcome bags), T-shirt sales at performances, assistance with master classes and residency activities, manning festival tables at performances and more. Complimentary tickets are provided for volunteers. For more information, call Betsy Perry at (918) 295-5965.
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||
mindbender & puzzles ||
Word search: Comedy
commonym
Find and circle all of the words.
Amusing Audience Banter Cackle Caricature Comedian
Comedy Comic Conundrum Cutup Enjoyable Entertainment
Funny Gag Giggle Hilarious Humor Jester
Joke Laughter Melodrama Microphone Monologue Parody
Pun Punchline Riffing Riot Sarcasm Satire
A commonym is a group of words that have a common trait in the three words/items listed. For example: the words; A car - A tree - An elephant ... they all have trunks. These will make you think! Answers on page 39.
Showcase Slapstick Standup Whimsical Wisecrack Witty
Basketball Court - Highway - Bowling Alley ________________________________
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A Scale - A Tire - A Checkbook ________________________________
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An Aquarium - An Army - A Car ________________________________
B H
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G W
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A Doughnut - A Cavity - A Prescription ________________________________
Y R E
T N E
S K N
K A P
J U C
N O F
W S Y
H A N
I R A
M C I
S A D
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C M M
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N U N
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A Male Goat - A Dollar - A Male Rabbit ________________________________
T S E J
S J L A
T G K Y
U N C W
O F A U
W H C B
G O C V
A Q H N
G B J S
G I L Y
C H D E
O E G P
M S I U
I B G T
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D J E J
A Hockey Game - A Restaurant - A Bank ________________________________ A Ball - A Salad - A Coin ________________________________
Doors - Paintings - Eye Glasses ________________________________ Jurors - Roses - Doughnuts ________________________________ French - Eskimo - Hershey ________________________________ © 2013 Wuzzles & Puzzles
SUDOKU
Difficulty: Hard. Answers on page 39.
5 2
6
1 7
3 5 6
4
9 2
7 4
9
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1 4 7
1
8 7
2 3
© 2013 Livewire Puzzles
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA SENIOR RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
We are apartment communities,
GLENPOOL OWASSO BIXBY BROKEN ARROW REDBUD PRAIRIE VILLAGE AUTUMN PARK VANDEVER HOUSE not assisted living communities orVILLAGE nursing homes. 3102 S. Juniper Ave. 14900 S. Broadway 12877 E. 116th St. N. 8401 E. 134th St. (918) 369-8888 (918) 451-3100 (918) 322-5100 (918) 371-3221 BRISTOW WOODLAND VILLAGE 131 E. 9th (918) 367-8300
COLLINSVILLE CARDINAL HEIGHTS 224 S. 19th St. (918) 371-9116
JAY JAY SENIOR HOUSING 1301 W. Washbourne (918) 253-8100
SAND SPRINGS HEARTLAND VILLAGE 109 E. 38th St. (918) 241-1200
BROKEN ARROW KENOSHA LANDING 2602 W. Oakland Pl. (918) 485-8885
COWETA CARRIAGE CROSSING 28530 E. 141st St. (918) 486-4460
JENKS PIONEER VILLAGE 315 S. Birch (918) 298-2992
SAPULPA HICKORY CROSSING 2101 S. Hickory (918) 224-5116
SKIATOOK WEST OAK VILLAGE 1002 S. Fairfax Ave. (918) 396-9009 STILWELL STILWELL SENIOR HOUSING 400 N. 8th St. (918) 696-3050
TULSA CORNERSTONE VILLAGE 1045 N. Yale Ave. (918) 835-1300 TULSA HERITAGE LANDING 3102 E. Apache St. (918) 836-7070
TULSA COUNTRY OAKS 5648 S. 33rd W. Ave. (918) 446-3400 TULSA PARK VILLAGE 650 S. Memorial Dr. (918) 834-6400
TAHLEQUAH BROOKHOLLOW LANDING WISDOM KEEPERS Now Open! 1286 W. 4th St. 2910 S. 129th E. Ave. • Tulsa • (918) 622-2700 (918) 453-9900 Serving seniors age 62 or older who meet qualifications and income guidelines. • Section 8 accepted. • Professionally managed by Sooner Management Consultants, Inc.
not assisted living communities or nursing homes.
VINTAGE AND CHEROKEE HOUSING
&AFFORDABLE
We are apartment communities,
Carefree
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Enjoy LIFE LIFE’s Adult Day Health can make any day a great one! Programs and activities are designed to increase and maintain physical skills and abilities, as well as provide an environment of engagement and fun for all participants. • • • • • • • •
Therapeutic individual and group activities Daily exercise classes Wii bowling, golf and fishing Active games like horseshoes and Frisbee golf Current events, discussion groups, reading Brain fitness activities Gardening, cooking, woodworking, arts, music Community outings
GIVE US A TRY! If you or someone you know is considering the services of LIFE’s Adult Day Health, give us a try by attending up to three free visit days. To learn more, call LIFE’s SeniorLine at (918) 664-9000 or visit www.LIFEseniorservices.org.
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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LIFE SENIOR SERVICES
25TH
July
PROUDLY PRESENTS
AUGUST 22
SOUNDS OF MUSIC ORCHESTRA BIG BAND
OLIVIA DUHON
Standards and Jazz Music MONDAY, JULY 25 • 7:00 P.M. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT CASCIA HALL CALL (918) 664-9000 OR VISIT www.LIFEseniorservices.org. •
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
Thank You
TO OUR SPONSORS APRIL 18
THANK YOU
MAY 23
THANK YOU
JUNE 27
THANK YOU
HealtHy at Home “at lIFe PaCe, an integrated team of healthcare professionals get to know each patient. their combined input creates the ideal healthcare plan. It is what medicine should be for everybody.” -- Dr. thomas Costner, medical director for lIFe PaCe
lIFe PaCe, a Program of all-Inclusive Care for the elderly, is a senior health plan that provides quality medical, social and home care services to tulsa area seniors who prefer to remain living at home, but need support to do so safely. Call (918) 949-9969 to see if you qualify for lIFe PaCe or visit www.lIFePaCe.org to learn more.
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
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business directory
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AWARD-WINNING
EXCELLENCE IN HOME CARE Home Care and Dementia Experts • Transportation Certified Home Health Aides • Up to 24 Hour Care Companion & Sitter Services • Medication Reminders Caregivers are Bonded and Insured
(918) 574-2273
www.seniorhelpers.com
Licensed Home Care Agency (No. 7926)
Keeping Seniors Safe at Home Stair Lifts • Lift Chairs • Grab Bars • Ramps • Railings • Scooters Walk-In Tubs • Medical Alerts • Vehicle Lifts • And More
Our Care Comes With Heart. Providing In-home Assistance
Personal Care/Bathing • Light Housekeeping • Meal Preparation • Transportation Medication set up by R.N. • 2 to 24-hour care• Staffed with Certified Home Health Aides
918-939-9710 or 918-938-2574 AmeriGlide-Tulsa-OK.com www.SeniorSafetyOK.com 3130 S. Winston, Tulsa, OK
Providing Wellness Services
Adult & Travel Immunizations • Health and Cholesterol Screenings • Foot Care Program
918-743-9810 • 7875 E. 51st St. • Tulsa
If you are concerned about the cost of Assisted Living or Home Care, there is a little-known benefit available through the VA, if you are 65 or older.
Up to $2,120 per month.
Call (918) 369-6192
or visit veteransassistedcare.com FOLLOW US ON
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
VA laws have changed, there are some things you MAY need to do NOW to stay eiligible for this benefit in the future.
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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calendar
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Festivals Events 4th on the 3rd Concert Presented by Signature Symphony July 3 • 7:30 p.m. • $12 VanTrease PACE 10300 E. 81st St. • Tulsa (918) 595-7777 Folds of Honor FreedomFest July 4 • Fireworks at 10 p.m. • Free River West Festival Park 2100 S. Jackson Ave. • Tulsa (918) 596-2001 1964 … The Tribute Presented by Celebrity Attractions July 9 • 8 p.m. • $25 Tulsa PAC 110 E. 2nd St. • Tulsa (918) 596-7122 Second Saturday Walking Tour Presented by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture July 9 • 10 a.m. • $10 Gypsy Coffee House & Cyber Café 303 MLK Jr. Blvd. • Tulsa (918) 914-1530
To submit a calendar item, please contact Associate Editor Landry Harlan at lharlan@LIFEseniorservices.org or (918) 664-9000. Tulsa SPCA Bingo Bash July 16 • 6 – 9 p.m. • $35 OU-Tulsa Founders Hall 41st St. & Yale Ave. • Tulsa (918) 743-1611 42nd Street Presented by Celebrity Attractions July 19 – 24 • Times vary $18+ • Tulsa PAC 110 E. 2nd St. • Tulsa (918) 596-7122 Genealogy Workshop With Professional Genealogist Mark Lowe July 23 – 24 • Free Saturday • 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m Sunday • 1:30 – 4 p.m. Hardesty Regional Library 8316 E. 93rd St. • Tulsa (918) 549-7691 Rachel Ignotofksy Women in Science Presented by Booksmart Tulsa July 28 • 7 p.m. • Free Fab Lab Tulsa 710 S. Lewis Ave. • Tulsa (918) 779-6025
Second Saturday Silents Presented by American Theatre Organ Society, Sooner State Chapter & Circle Cinema July 9 • 11 a.m. • $5 Circle Cinema 10 S. Lewis Ave. • Tulsa (918) 585-3504
Home & Garden Expo July 29 – 31 • Free Friday • Noon – 8 p.m. Saturday • 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. River Spirit Expo at Expo Square 4145 E. 21st St. • Tulsa (918) 493-8531
Affair of the Heart July 15 – 17 • $8 Friday & Saturday • 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. River Spirit Expo at Expo Square 4145 E. 21st St. • Tulsa (405) 632-2652
Tuesdays in the Park Live music from local & regional acts Tuesdays • 7 p.m. • Free Central Park 1500 S. Main St. • Broken Arrow (918) 259-6512
Broadway Show Tunes Presented by American Theatre Organ Society, Sooner State Chapter July 15 • 7 p.m. • Free Tulsa Technology Center 4000 W. Florence St. • Broken Arrow (918) 355-1562
Friday Night Opry Featuring classic country & gospel music Fridays • 6:45 – 9 p.m. • $6 St. Marks Methodist Church, Activity Bldg. 10513 E. Admiral Pl. • Tulsa (918) 258-1072
For a list of area fireworks displays, visit www.travelok.com and search “July 4th Celebrations.”
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
Brookside Farmers’ Market Saturdays • 7:30 – 11 a.m. • Free Whole Foods Brookside 1401 E. 41st St. • Tulsa Rose District Farmers’ Market Saturdays • 8 a.m. – Noon • Free Dallas St. & 1st St. Downtown Broken Arrow
Classes, Meetings Seminars Senior Fraud Conference July 12 • 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. • Free OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center 4502 E. 41st St. • Tulsa (800) 763-2828 Art Explorations For individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s & their caregivers July 12 • 10 a.m. – Noon • Free Gilcrease Museum 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd. • Tulsa (918) 596-2768 Monthly Meeting & Program Presented by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Indian Nation Camp July 28 • 6:30 p.m. • Free Herman and Kate Kaiser Library 5202 S. Hudson Ave. • Tulsa (918) 663-1228 ACBL Duplicate Sanctioned Bridge Mondays & Wednesdays • 11 a.m. Broken Arrow Seniors, Inc. 1800 S. Main St. • Broken Arrow (918) 355-6652 Ukulele Class Bring your own ukulele; beginners welcome Wednesdays • 10 – 11 a.m. Broken Arrow Senior Center 1800 S. Main St. • Broken Arrow (918) 259-8377 Single Seniors 60+ Join for lunch, visiting & cards Wednesdays • 11:30 a.m. Buffet Palace 10934 E. 21st St. • Tulsa (918) 371-4367 or (918) 341-3375 Computers for Seniors Series Fridays • 10 a.m. – Noon • Free Hardesty Regional Library 8316 E. 93rd St. • Tulsa (918) 549-7550 • RSVP
Support Groups LIFE’s Caregiver Support Groups (918) 664-9000 Respite provided • Free LIFE’s Adult Day Health at Broken Arrow July 14 • 3 – 4:30 p.m. • Free July 28 • 5:30 – 7 p.m. • Free 3106 S. Juniper Ave. • Broken Arrow LIFE’s Adult Day Health at Central July 7 • 6 – 7:30 p.m. • Free June 21 • 3 – 4:30 p.m. • Free 5950 E. 31st St. • Tulsa LIFE’s Adult Day Health at North July 19 • 5 – 6 p.m. • Free 902 E. Pine St. • Tulsa Grief Support Group July 11 • 6 p.m. • Free Hometown Hospice 804 S. Main St. • Broken Arrow (918) 251-6441 Digging Out Support Group Helping your loved one manage clutter July 12 • 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. • Free Improving Lives Counseling Center 6216 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 180 • Tulsa (918) 629-4828 • RSVP Caregiver Support Group July 13 • 3 p.m. • Free Forest Hills Assisted Living 4304 W. Houston St. • Broken Arrow (918) 250-1700 Tulsa Hearing Helpers Support Group For people who have lost hearing later in life July 14 • 10 – 11:30 a.m. • Free Total Source for Hearing-Loss and Access 8740 E. 11th St. • Tulsa (918) 832-8742 • www.tsha.cc Health & Wellness: Getting Motivated Presented by Forest Hills Assisted Living; dinner provided July 18 • 6:30 p.m. • Free Forest Hills Assisted Living 4304 W. Houston St. • Broken Arrow (918) 250-1700 Alzheimer’s Support Group Coffee Chat Presented by Oxford Glen Memory Care July 19 • 10 – 11 a.m. • Free Oxford Glen Memory Care Residence 11113 E. 103rd St. N • Owasso (918) 376-4810 • RSVP
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
Oklahoma Parkinson’s Disease Support July 28 • 1 – 3 p.m. • Free Owasso Community Center 301 S. Cedar St. • Owasso (918) 272-3903 Unburied in Treasures Support for hoarding, clutter & disorganization Tuesdays • 1 – 2:30 p.m. • Free Tulsa Fire Dept., Station 20 9827 E. 59th St. • Tulsa (918) 252-7650 • RSVP Grief Journey Group Tuesdays • 2 – 3:30 p.m. • Free Tuesdays • 6 – 7:30 p.m. • Free The Tristesse Grief Center 4646 S. Harvard Ave., Ste. 200 • Tulsa (918) 587-1200 • www.thegriefcenter.org
Dancing Belles & Beaus Square Dance Club July 12 & 26 Workshop 7 p.m. • Dance 7:30 p.m. St. Marks Methodist Church 10513 E. Admiral Pl. • Tulsa (918) 437-7277 Melodies & Memories July 16 • 2 – 4 p.m. • Free First Christian Church of Jenks 308 E. Main St. • Jenks (918) 299-7381 • www.fccjenksok.com Line Dancing Class Presented by the Owasso Community Center Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 1 – 2:30 p.m. • Free Tuesdays & Thursdays • 3 – 4:30 p.m. • Free YMCA • 8300 N. Owasso Expy. • Owasso (918) 272-3903 Clog Dancing Lessons Presented by Turtle Creek Cloggers Mondays • 5:45 – 8:30 p.m. Thursdays • 6 – 8:30 p.m. LaFortune Community Center 5202 S. Hudson Ave. • Tulsa (918) 627-0067 The Round-Up Boys Dance Mondays • 6:30 p.m. • $5 Broken Arrow Senior Center 1800 S. Main St. • Broken Arrow (918) 607-3600 Senior Square Dancing & Line Dancing Presented by Rushing Stars Square Dance Club Wednesdays Workshop 12:30 p.m. • Dance 1 p.m. Centennial Center 1028 E. 6th St. • Tulsa (918) 363-8380 Parkinson’s Dance Wednesdays • 2 – 3 p.m. • $5 Feel the Beat Dance 5970 E. 31st St., Ste. P • Tulsa (918) 747-3747
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
Tulsa Swingdance Club Featuring lessons in West coast swing Wednesdays • Start times vary Free Elks members • $5 nonmembers Tulsa Elks Lodge 5335 S. Harvard Ave. • Tulsa (918) 557-1699 Friday Night Dances Open to the public; nonsmoking ballroom Fridays • 7:30 p.m. $5 members • $6 nonmembers American Legion Post 308 11328 E. Admiral Pl. • Tulsa (918) 437-1635 (after 2 p.m.) Tulsa Swingdance Club Featuring lessons in country two-step, East & West coast swing Sundays • Start times vary $5 club members • $7 nonmembers The ClubHouse 2735 S. Memorial Dr. • Tulsa (918) 557-1699
Fitness
Parkinson’s Swim For individuals with Parkinson’s & their loved ones July 26 • 3 – 4 p.m. • Free Saint Simeon’s Wellness Center 3701 MLK Jr. Blvd. • Tulsa (918) 794-1945 • RSVP by July 22 Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance Tuesdays & Thursdays • 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Fellowship Lutheran Church 6727 S. Sheridan Rd. • Tulsa (918) 592-1235 • Free Aqua Mobility Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 12:30 p.m. University Village 8555 S. Lewis Ave. • Tulsa (918) 442-4600 • $25 per month Mind & Body Exercise Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays • 2 p.m. University Village 8555 S. Lewis Ave. • Tulsa (918) 442-4600 • $30 per month Zumba with Ariane Betancourt Mondays & Wednesdays • 6 p.m. Saturdays • 10 a.m. $7 per class • $50 for 10 classes 51st St. & Memorial Dr. • Tulsa (918) 812-5691 Functional Movement With personal trainer Brenda Weaver Tuesdays & Thursdays • 9 a.m. • $5 LIFE’s Senior Center at Southminster 3500 S. Peoria Ave. • Tulsa (918) 749-2623 Rock Steady Boxing Thursdays & Saturdays • 1:30 p.m. Title Boxing of Tulsa 8245 S. Harvard Ave. • Tulsa (918) 747-3747
Offered by LIFE Senior Services
LIFE EDU Senior & Caregiver Community Education Living Longer, Living Stronger Learn about tools and strategies to help you manage the challenges of living with a chronic health condition. The seven-week course ends on Aug. 23 Tuesday, July 12, 19 & 26 • 9:30 a.m. – Noon LIFE Senior Services • 5950 E. 31st St. • Tulsa Free • RSVP • (918) 664-9000
Laughter Yoga Club Laughter yoga is a fun and easy exercise. The club meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Tuesday, July 12 & 26 • 1 – 2 p.m. LaFortune Recreation Center • 5202 S. Hudson Ave. • Tulsa Free • RSVP • (918) 664-9000
LaFortune Brown Bag Series: Poetry and Creative Writing Studies show that writing can transform your health, both mental and physical. Learn how to take the pen to the page and get the creative juices flowing at this free seminar. Sponsored by MUSED., a Tulsa-based poetry nonprofit. Journal provided. Wednesday, July 13 • 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. LaFortune Recreation Center • 5202 S. Hudson Ave. • Tulsa Free • RSVP • (918) 664-9000
Basics of Medicare If you are newly eligible or soon to be eligible for Medicare, this seminar is designed especially for you. The seminar is presented by the Medicare Assistance Program at LIFE Senior Services and will cover the basics of Medicare, explain what you need to know about Medicare’s different parts and give you the information you need to make an informed decision about your coverage options. Reservations requested.
This seminar is intended for persons newly eligible or soon to be eligible for Medicare. It is closed to licensed Life, Accident and Health Insurance Agents, insurance company personnel, and anyone affiliated with a Health Maintenance Organization or other conflicts of interest.
Wednesday, July 20 • 10 a.m. – Noon LIFE Senior Services • 5950 E. 31st St. • Tulsa Free • RSVP • (918) 664-9000
Compassion Fatigue Caregiver stress can affect anyone at any time. This program offers caregivers effective tools to prevent and manage common stressors with real strategies for taking care of yourself while helping the person you love. Ask about free respite for this program. Friday, July 22 • 1:30 – 3 p.m. Tulsa Health Department • 5635 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. • Tulsa Free • RSVP • (918) 664-9000
LIFE’S SENIOR CENTERS With two locations in midtown Tulsa, LIFE’s Senior Centers offer a variety of activities for adults age 50 and older. Membership is only $25 per year. To discover all that LIFE has to offer, call LIFE’s SeniorLine at (918) 664-9000 or visit www.LIFEseniorservices.org/seniorcenters.
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people & places
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Mary Ann Holcomb from The Broadmoor Retirement Community competed in this year’s Ms. Senior Oklahoma pageant.
Roy Duren and JoAnn Reed danced to the magical music of Nick Bratkovich during the Town Village Spring Soiree.
Town Village residents Daisy Harper, Tom Meason, Sally Crego, Harold Miller, Barbara Heidler and Tom Cramer toasted to friendship at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
University Village residents are ecstatic about the new horseshoe pit on the property.
University Village residents Ruth and Marian got a chance to sit in the Ranger 2000 on a recent trip to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum.
Smiles come in many colors at Town Village. Raising their glasses to fun in the “Pinot and Picasso” painting class are Nell Lenart, teacher Tammie Olandese, Rae Troutman, Mary Craige and Chris Murphy.
ORU students hosted a Senior Prom for residents at University Village. Amir Curry, ORU senior, was happy to dance with resident Betty Cody.
Over 350 people attended the Family Fair Day hosted by The Broadmoor, Heatheridge and Leisure Village senior living communities. The event included a dunk tank, bounce house, carnival games and – of course – food and family.
Award winners Harold Battenfield, Marilyn Chaboudy, John Claybon, Lois Gatchell and LIFE Senior Services CEO Laura Kenny at LIFE Senior Services’ third annual Legacy Awards held at Harwelden Mansion.
Send Us Your Pictures
We Want To See Seniors Smiling & Active
Whether it is your traveling group, tennis buddies or a night on the town, we want your pictures! Submit high-resolution photos to editor@LIFEseniorservices.org by the 1st of every month.
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LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine does not endorse advertiser products or services. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising.
AUTO REPAIR Strickland Automotive Strickland Automotive is locally-owned and - operated with over 40 years of auto repair experience. We perform all types of vehicle repair, from computer and electrical problems to engine and transmission overhauls. ASE Certified mechanics. Open six days a week, with towing provided. Call Gary. (918) 832-7072.
CARPET CLEANING ALL PRO Carpet Cleaning Senior and caregiver discounts. Carpet, furniture, rug cleaning. Pet odor removed and Teflon protectant available. Emergency water extraction. Residential and commercial services. Professional truck mount steam cleaning. Carpet repairs and restretching. Prompt, professional, quality service at a fair price. Certified, insured. Call Thomas Fink, owner/technician, for free estimate (918) 636-6303.
CEMETERY LOTS A Bargain! A Bargain in Memorial Park Cemetery – 2 spaces, Lot 77-A, Section 20. Must Sell! $1,500. Call (918) 445-5373. Beautiful Lots in Rose Hill Double lots in Rose Hill Cemetery in the beautiful Prophets area. $1500 for both. Call (918) 747-3935. Lots in Green Acres Memorial Garden Two lots in Green Acres Memorial Garden located at 12410 North Yale (126th Street North and Yale Avenue). $800 cash for both lots together. Call (918) 272-3516.
COMPUTER SERVICES Computer and Electronic Assistance Are you stuck and need Help with your computer or any electronic device. Price and Son Computer and Technology Services, LLC will be glad to assist you in your home. Call James or Jared at (918) 236-6010 or email us at office@pricestechhelp.com to schedule an appointment. Does Technology Frustrate You? Honest, patient, ethical help with your pc, router, wifi, cell phone, email, streaming, camera, even sewingmachine! 26 years of IT experience in Tulsa. Special rates for seniors. References available.Call or email Carmen Armstrong Carmstrongva@gmail.com. (918) 688-7453.
DAYTIME CARE Daytime care for older loved ones LIFE’s Adult Day Heatlh offers convenient, affordable daytime care at three locations in Tulsa and Broken Arrow. For more information, call LIFE’s Adult Day Health at (918) 664-9000.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Hiring for Home Care Aides! Brighten your neighbor’s day by helping them stay safe in their home. We are looking for caring individuals to provide assistance to elderly/disabled clients. Tasks may include errands, light housekeeping, and personal
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care assistance. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, auto insurance and pass OSBI background check. Certified and Non-Certified positions! Apply Today!! www.oxford-healthcare.com or call: (918) 258-1111. Maintenance Man Needed Versailles Apartments needing back-up maintenance for weekends, holidays, after 5:00 p.m. and emergencies only. This position is part-time. Interview Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 4816 South Sheridan Road. (918) 627-6116.
ESTATE SALES 2MS Estate Sales ...Tulsa’s Finest! Downsizing? Estate liquidation? Let us take the worry away and maximize your return!!! No out of pocket expense for you, we handle all advertising, staging and the sale it self. We specialize in senior transitions, having been in the senior housing market for over 10 years. Please contact Michelle Reed (918) 691-5893 or Atulsa@aol.com for a free consultation. Estate Sales PLUS Tulsa’s largest and most experienced Estate Sales company with over 1,000 Estate Sales to our credit. Maximize the value of your estate…Let us organize, advertise and professionally manage your Estate Sale, Moving Sale, Downsizing and Appraisal. Bonded. Insured. Experienced. Accredited Member of the BBB awarded Best Customer Service. For more info go to www.estatesalesplus.com or email us at estatesalesplus@cox.net. Call for a free consultation at (918) 488-8853. Miss Lilly’s Estate Sale Services Miss Lilly’s Estate Sale Services specializes in Estate Liquidation, downsizing or moving sales. Our Estate appraiser has over 30 years of experience. If you are selling your home, we will work with your agent and bring potential buyers into your home. Contact Patti Lorimer at (918) 906-3539 for a FREE estate evaluation OR email misslilly’s@cox.net OR visit our website www.misslillysestatesales.com
EXERCISE Women’s Exercise – Free Visit Exercise for women any age. Burn calories while relaxing on our tables. No sweat. No strain. Low cost of $25 per month. First visit is FREE! No contracts. 5732 S. 70th E. Ave. Call Tone Zone at (918) 622-6116.
FINANCIAL/INSURANCE Medicare Assistance Program The Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) at LIFE Senior Services provides accurate information, counseling and assistance relating to Medicare benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives and persons soon to be eligible for Medicare. Call MAP at LIFE Senior Services (918) 664-9000 or toll-free (866) 664-9009.
Medicare Supplements & Medicare Advantage Plans The Health Insurance Enrollment Center is here to assist you with Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage, and Prescription Drug Plans offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. Call Bob Archer today at (918) 814-5550 for free information. Let me guide you through the outstanding Medicare Plan options that are available to you.
GARDENING/LAWN SERVICES A New Season Lawn Care & Landscape Now accepting new customers for 2016. Time for Spring Clean-Up! Mowing, trimming, leaf and small debris removal, shrub planting, leaf mulching, flower beds. Small tree trimming. Will haul off small appliances, scrape metals, etc. We offer weekly, bi-weekly & year round services for the manicured look. Best rates, senior discounts. Free Estimates. Call Todd (918) 639-2262. Kimble Davis Tree Company Family-owned and operated. Specializing in all aspects of tree care: restoration, pruning/thinning, removal, stump grinding, hedge trimming, firewood available. Serving Tulsa for 25 years. References. Member BBB. Insured. ISA certified arborist. Check us out at www.kdtreeco.com. Call Kimble at (918) 853-5383. Lawns & More Total lawn care. Stump grinding and small tree work. Dedicated to making your lawn look its best. Insured, honest, experienced and dependable. Veteran-owned. We are a small company with personal service. References available. FREE ESTIMATES. Call Larry. (918) 361-1299. Mower Repair / Maintenance All brands - Riders, ZTR’s, Walk-behinds, Hand-helds. Top Quality work, ASE certified Mechanic. Pick-up and Delivery available. Tulsa and surrounding counties. Maintenance specials include pick-up and delivery 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call Scott (918) 519-3869. HOME REPAIR/REMODELING A-OK Plumbing A-OK Plumbing is now offering handyman services. No job too big or too small. Free estimates. We work by the job or hourly. 10% off to all first time customers. Relax, everyone’s welcome. Sit back and give us a call. Special senior rates offered. (918) 810-0397. A Handy Helping Hand Professional home maintenance, painting, and improvements. Whether you’re making overdue repairs, sprucing up your home and garden, or optimizing your home’s “sale-ability” potential, call Joe Surowiak with A Handy Helping Hand. Professional results. Competitive rates. (918) 520-0333. Allen’s Handyman Services of Tulsa “Your Home Improvement and Repair Specialist.” 15th year serving Tulsa seniors. “One call can do it all.” 10% senior discount. Insured. All work guaranteed Continued
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in writing. No pay until job is completed. Plumbing, drain cleaning, grab bars, electrical, carpentry, painting, seamless guttering installation/repair/cleaning. Roof, tile and drywall repair. Wood siding/ trim replacement. Deck repair, power washing, staining. Tree trimming. No job too small. For free estimate, call Allen at (918) 630-0394. Big C’s Plumbing Services Your one stop Plumbing Shop! Call us and I guarantee you will never have to call another plumbing company. Licensed, bonded and insured for your protection.... Call (918) 855-9216, tell us you saw us in the Vintage Newsmagazine receive an automatic 10% discount....call us now. BJ’s Handyman Services I will tighten it, nail it, glue it, paint it, cut it, hang it, change it, assemble it, install it, and do other odd jobs. Quality work at reasonable prices. Our goal is to keep your costs low. Life member of Handyman Club of America. Serving seniors since 2005. We now accept all major credit/debit cards. Call BJ at (539) 777-2915. This is a local call. Bumgartner Plumbing Licensed, with over 30 years of experience. Rates are low and based on the job, not the hour. No service call fee or travel time charge. Senior and caregiver discount. Plumbing service and repair our specialty. Honest, professional service you can count on. Lic. # 82750. (918) 355-4747. Burton Painting Specializing in all aspects of exterior and interior home painting. Staining, sealing, and painting faux finishes. Decks, fences, cabinets and floors. Free estimates. 25+ years of experience. Reliable, courteous, professional service. Fully insured. (918) 378-2858. Contracting for Seniors by Van Repairs, painting, remodeling, some plumbing and electrical, small jobs. Special needs: grab bars, ramps, hand rails, door alterations to accommodate wheelchairs, handicap fixtures. Working with individuals, families, seniors, businesses since 1987. We function with integrity, with special concerns for seniors. Free estimates, insured. (918) 636-6849. Dave’s Heat and Air, Inc. Licensed, insured, and bonded. Honest and reliable service for over 30 years. Competitive rates. Specializing in heating and air conditioning service and repair. All makes and models. Residential and light commercial. Tulsa metro area. Family-owned and operated. (918) 437-8101. Doorman Door Service of Tulsa Thinking about replacing your windows? Call us first, glass replacement may be a better option. The Doorman provides service and installation for doors, windows and siding. We offer a senior and military discount. Financing is available and we accept all major credit cards. Visit us at www.tulsadoorman.com. (918) 430-4398.
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|| classifieds || Freedom Electrical Services Do you need outlets, ceiling fans or lights hung? Freedom Electrical Services provides quality workmanship. For all your electrical needs, call (918) 216-1846. Handyman & Construction Services New & Remodel Commercial & Residential - 25 Years. All Handicap Accessories - grab bars, handicap access abilities; Framing, Drywall, Tape & Bed; Texture & Paint, Plumbing, Electrical, Tile, Laminate & Wood Floors & Fences. Free Estimates, Competitive Rates, Professional Service. Call Craig (918) 892-4168. \Handyman / Painter Minor house work & repairs such as plumbing: leaky faucets, install new faucet & hardware. Electrical: replace bad light switches, or receptacle (wall plug ins) fix old light fixtures install new fixtures & ceiling fans, wood staining, furniture repair, interior /exterior home painting and repairs on walls or ceiling. Call David at (918) 346-3774. Home Improvemnets We are LIFETIME WINDOWS & DOORS serving the Tulsa area for 17 years. We install energy efficient replacement windows, entry doors, kitchen and bath remodeling, electrical and plumbing, interior and exterior painting, decks, guttering, roofing, vinyl siding and general repairs. We offer a 15% discount to those over 55. References furnished. Free Quotes. Call Richard Johnson (918) 261-9999. Same Day Services Light Hauling /Light Moving - help you rearrange room furniture, lawns-grass mowing/small paint jobs/cleanup/ fence repair/light construction/sheet rock tile repair - We are honest dependable. References. Call (918) 313-5230. Z&J Remodeling No job is too big or small. Painting, carpentry work, roofing, room additions, decks, sheet rock, carpet & carpet repairs, storm damage repairs and more. Free estimates and insured. (918) 629-1903.
HOUSE CLEANING Housekeeper Available Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly. Thorough and Honest. Integrity at work yesterday, today and tomorrow. 15 years experience. Adjustable fee according to situation. References Available. Call (918) 282-1617 or (918) 361-6966.
and care that is needed for that individual, and give them the ability to stay in their own home safely. I would prefer the Midtown/ Brookside area. Call Me! Mary (918) 791-3770, text or email: maryehayes@att.net
LEGAL Full-Service Estate Planning Law Firm Trusts, Wills, Gift and Tax Planning, Powers of Attorneys and more! With offices in Sand Springs and Tulsa. Discount to Veterans and Retired Teachers. Willing to meet you in your place for no extra charge! Call Penni of the Skillern Law Firm at (918) 805-2511. www.skillernlaw.com
OIL AND GAS Mineral, Oil/Gas Interests Want to purchase minerals and oil/gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO, 80201 Mineral Research By Experienced Landman If you own land in Oklahoma and not sure about your minerals, now, while oil prices are low, is a good time to have your minerals researched by an independent Landman. Let’s talk. Call John at OK LAND SERVICES,INC., (918) 798-3375.
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE Affordable Flexible Caregiver My name is LaQuanna. I am a caregiver. I am dependable, honest, caring and affordable. If you need someone to help you or your loved one call me at (918) 313-7433. Ask for LaQuanna. You have a blessed day! Assist in Daily Needs Will aid and assist with daily activities, nutritional needs, light housekeeping and other reasonable duties to help the client. Please call (918) 808-4801. References Available. Bobbi and Bob’s Personal & Business Assistance Secretarial and administrative tasks, project manager assignments, running errands, grocery/personal shopping, take to beauty shop, take to medical appointments,organizing home/office, housecheck, handle healthcare and medical insurance paperwork. Call Bobbi Warshaw, MPH, or Bob Warshaw, MBA, at (918) 747-3807. Website: www.errands-to-go.com, Email: bobbi.warshaw@att.net.
Tyson Window Cleaning I clean windows, chandeliers and mirrors. Need help? I clean houses, one time or regularly. I also do construction cleanup, clean move-in and clean move-outs. Will help pack and unpack your move. Satisfaction guaranteed, experienced, insured, senior discount, affordable rates. (918) 408-1353.
Companion For You Elderly and need a companion? Compassionate friendly and responsible woman seeks elderly people to help with your long and lonely hours. 25 years experienced teacher and Philbrook docent. References provided. Will provide companionship, run errands, organize and do light chores. Will travel to southeast and west Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Jenks. Please email me at okiejoy@aol.com or call (925) 890-2855.
HOUSING Live In Companion/Exchange Living Accommodations Living at Home for as many years as possible is a priority for many seniors. I can provide the in-home companionship
Compassionate Respectful Caregiver In need of someone to help with daily activities? I can help with getting dressed, laundry, light cooking, light cleaning and getting groceries. I provide transportation Continued
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to appointments or just out to have lunch. I can also help with medication reminders. 3+ years’ experience with seniors and/or special needs. Call (918) 805-2074. Financial Organizer Are you overwhelmed handling monthly finances (paying bills, balancing your checkbook, organization) for yourself or a loved one? I can help! I create customized systems that fit your needs, either for set up only or ongoing mnmonthly. Call me to discuss the options available. Essential Strategy Consulting, LLC. Gwen Stevens (918) 557-5259. Good Help is Here! Anything you desire from shopping, cooking and cleaning to small repairs, gardening and painting. Do you need an occasional driver, ready to take that trip? Help with computer use, bill payment & issue resolution also available. I’m honest, hard-working and would like to help you remain independent! Call Rachel (918) 845-6362. Mary’s Errands/ Senior Services Tulsa I do personal errands: deliver your groceries, pharmacy pick-ups, escort to Doctors appointments, Wal-Mart runs, and more! If you don’t see what you need listed call me! I am also available as a Live-In Companion-In Exchange For Living Accommodations, in the Midtown/ Brookside area. Call Mary (918) 791-3770, text or email maryehayes@att.net Melissa’s Miscellaneous Perform all personal assistants tasks: Dog walking, go grocery shopping, go to the pharmacy, pay bills and light secretarial work, pack luggage, transportation, go to post office, any general errands and running around errands and more. I can provide references from existing clients. I am also bonded and insured. (918) 899-2620 melmartinezbowman@yahoo.com
PERSONAL SAFETY EARS Emergency Alert Response Systems. Enjoy living at home while we listen for your safety with our quality personal medical alarm and monitoring service. Affordable with no long-term commitment. Locally owned and operated (918) 298-0500 or toll-free (877) 885-3277. HALO Medical Alarms HALO provides emergency response throughout Oklahoma with an office in Tulsa. Let a HALO medical alarm provide you with the confidence and security to live independently in your own home, where you are most comfortable. Call (918) 392-0566 or (877) 747-HALO (4256). www.halomedicalalarms.com
PERSONAL SERVICES Affordable Hairstyling In-Home or Shop Transportation and home service available for your hairstyling needs. I will come to you at the hospital, rehab or nursing home. A Mane Event hairstyling is for the entire family. 35 years experience. Senior specials for haircuts, perms and color. In-shop special: Haircut $7 for first
time customers in shop ONLY. Tuesday through Saturday. Near 11th and Yale at 937 South Canton Ave. (918) 834-2686. Darlene’s Salon Services Hair care for men and women, specializing in senior clients. Wet sets, blow drying, back combing, perms, colors, and cuts. Manicures and pedicures available. This month’s special: haircut OR shampoo and set for $12. First time clients only with this ad. Come see us at Highland Plaza, 5661 E. 41st St. (Corner of 41st and Hudson). (918) 742-3440. Detlef’s Master American European Hair Design Established 1964. Precision cuts, color corrections, perms by design from sensible to sensational. Former owner of Elizabeth Arden Red Door Miss Jackson’s Salon and Coiffures Continental Salon. Catering to classy and mature styles for ladies and gentlemen. Monday – Saturday. Shop is wheelchair accessible. Call (918) 663-8779. 4833 South Sheridan, Suite 405A in Fountain Plaza. By appointment only. In-Home Beauty Services of Tulsa We provide beauty services to our clients who are unable to leave their home, disabled, hospice care or independent living. We offer full beauty service for men and women in Tulsa and surrounding areas. Our services include: shampoo & sets, haircuts, perms, manicures. pedicures. Licensed and Insured.Visit our website www.inhomebeautyservicesoftulsa.com. Call (918) 630-6274.
PET SERVICES Cat Boarding Going out of town and need someone to care for your cats? The Kat Shack offers a calm and peaceful place for your cats to stay: no cages, no dogs, and lots of love. 23 years animal experience. (918) 364-cats (2287). www.thekatshack.com. SOCIAL/SUPPORT GROUP Single Seniors (60+) Are you over 60, single, divorced or widowed? We are a fun loving group of single seniors over 60. We meet every Wednesday,11:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Buffet Palace, 10934 East 21st Street. We eat at 11:15 have a short meeting and then play cards. Join us for great fun and fellowship. Questions, call Bob at (918) 371-4367 or Beverly at (918) 272-1049.
TRANSPORTATION Call Patricia! Need a go-fer to run errands, take you to an appointment or grocery shopping? Need someone to take you to hair appointments, the pharmacy, make deliveries? Need someone to stay with you during an out-patient medical procedure? Also, available as a driver/ companion for traveling; rates negotiable. Call Patricia! (918) 437-3456 or (918) 855-2302.
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
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My Driver Transportation Service Let me do the driving. To and from work, airport, shopping, errands, post office, appointments. Also, LIFT VAN transportation available. Able to assist getting to and from bed. Senior sitting. Also, small breed dog boarding. 20 years experience. CLEET certified and licensed. References. Member, Better Business Bureau. (918) 491-9929.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Hospice Volunteers Do you love hearing stories from “The Greatest Generation” veterans? RoseRock Healthcare is a certified “We Honor Veterans” program! We are always looking for volunteers to hear our hospice patients’ stories and provide a warm hand and heart! Other volunteer opportunities include clerical help in our office, patient companionship and running errands for homebound patients. Also, come meet our Therapy Dog, Mozart…. he loves to visit our staffand patients. Come join our fantastic team!For more information on volunteer opportunities at RoseRock Healthcare a Hospice provider call Debbie Hensley at (918) 236-4866 or send email to info@roserockhealthcare.com
Participants Needed For Study The Aging in Place Study at OU could use your assistance in a focus group. Has it been suggested to you that you use services specifically for seniors? Are you able to attend a group meeting for two hours? Participants chosen will be compensated for their time and travel. Transportation available. Must be 65 or older. Call Sam Kirzner at (918) 619-4754.
CLASSIFIEDS TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT:
Bernie Dornblaser, (918) 664-9000 or bdornblaser@LIFEseniorservices.org
www.LIFEseniorservices.org
In appreciation of contributions to LIFE Senior Services received in May 2016. We sincerely apologize for any error or omission. If there is an error, please call Carrie Bowen at (918) 664-9000.
want
Travel Made Easy Motor home with lift and driver available for short in-state or long out-of-state trips. Seats 6 comfortably. Cross country patient transfer or sightseeing. Also available for rent: powerchair for shopping, hospital visits, etc. Member, Better Business Bureau. (918) 491-9929.
Love Life’s Little Treasures? We do too! Volunteers needed to cashier, create displays, and provide friendly customer service at our upscale resale shop - coming in 2016! Bring your friends and make a difference. Contact Colleen at(918) 747-2273 or chelms@hospiceofgreencountry.org with Hospice of Green Country to join the fun!
Vintage Friends
SUBSCRIBE NOW (918) 664-9000 LIFEseniorservices.org/request
July Answers
For puzzles, see page 30. COMMONYM 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
All have lanes All have checks All are tossed All are balanced All have tanks
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
All are filled All are bucks All have frames Come in dozens Types of kisses
HIDE & SEEK Plate - Pg 27 Bird - Pg 10 Horse - Pg 30 Stapler - Pg 39 Coffee Cup - Pg 34
8 1 7 5 6 2 3 9 4
9 2 5 3 8 4 7 6 1
6 4 3 1 7 9 5 2 8
3 6 2 8 5 1 4 7 9
Umbrella - Pg 36 Humming Bird - Pg 8 Triceratops - Pg 23 Arrow - Pg 35 Lightbulb - Pg 26
5 9 8 7 4 3 6 1 2
4 7 1 9 2 6 8 5 3
7 5 9 2 3 8 1 4 6
2 3 4 6 1 5 9 8 7
1 8 6 4 9 7 2 3 5
Anonymous Lester and Donna Alcorn Bill and Jewel Alsip Sadie Althouse Berl and Betty Babiak Larry and Barbara Baird Robert G. Beck Vera Berlin Nicholas D. Bernard Dr. and Mrs. J. Randolph Birch John and Lila Blair Thomas Boone Mary Ann Bosley B. J. Boyd Nicole Boyd Bea Brazeal David and Margaret Bredow Wayne and Nadine Brown Judith K. Bush Lillian M. Cantrell James M. Casey Iris Chandler Ken and Mary Ella Coe Ralph and Margaret Coffman Lowell and Lois Conant Al Cooney David A. Cowan Gary and Yolanda Crooms Pat M. Crowe Randall and Darby Dahl Russell and Wanda Davis Clarence DeGarmo Rosalie Denton Missy Dickerson Velma Madine Dudding Martha Earls Pamela Edwards Mrs. Ruth S. Eichenberger Nancy Enders James and Patricia Farrell Gary R. Ferris Sr. Paul and Renate Fleming Betty Floyd Phyllis Ford Jacque M. Fowler Mary E. Garrette Veronica M. Geister Manuella R. Glore Bill and Pat Grosso Bob and Peggy Grotts Duane and Dona Hall Gen Hamilton Grace V. Hargis Ransom W. Herron Richard Herron Richard and Sybil Holland Samuel J. Holland Norma Hollaway INCOG Area Agency on Aging Richard V. Irons Samuel and Sherri Jenkins Cheryl Jones John E. Kauth Priscilla Kincaid Doris Knight Adele Kovzan Jerry and Phyllis Kramer Jacque Krusemark Angela Larson Ana Maria Lloyd Jones Jo Loyd Peter and Maureen Maroney Helen M. Marston James R. Mathieson Chris Matthies Philelle McBrayer Mary McBride
Alan and Deborah McIntyre John and Norma McQuary Robert M. and Carlene C. Miler Jack A. Miller Bob and Virginia Miller Jackie A. Minden Mary Carolyn Mitchell Mike and Leslie Moore Ralph and Marita Morgan Gary and Gayle Mourton Richard and Claire Mueller Frank and Janice Murry Jordan Neal Fern B. Nevels Robert R. Nichols Eric M. Olson Nina O’Shaughnessy Jo Ann Owens Gail Panula Charles and Ada Parent Marion Parks Robert and Mary Ann Perkins Dixie M. Preddy Paula Riggs John Rosso Maureen T. Sands Sue Sark Doris Schmidt Andre F. Siegenthaler Robert and Leona Snyder Church of St. Mary Douglas and Carol Stahl Stanley and Carol Staubach James Steinberg John and Betty Stewart Jeanne and John Sturges Patrick and Joy Thornbrugh Andrew S. Tiger Nancy Vanderburg Milton and Patricia VanDerwiele Dale and Barbara Vaught John and Jane Ward Marcia Weinstein Nina R. White Patti M. White Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Whitehead Ben and Mary Whitney David and Mary Ann Williams Mary A. Williams Rita Wilson D. A. Wipf Jeanette Witwer Harold B. Wright The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation In Honor of Honorarium for Carol Carter’s Presentation Tulsa Metro Retired Educators In Honor of my mother, Katy Cummins Shirley Spears In Honor of Dale Greiner Barbara Greiner In Honor and Memory of Joyce McMilllen Lisa McMillen In Honor of Ludie Ray Georgia Ray In Honor of All Seniors Mike and Jan Reynolds In Memory of In Memory of Irma Benight Smith Christine Smith Troy R. Smith
In Memory of E. O. Berglund Sally Berglund In Memory of Paul Buck Lou Ann Buck In Memory of Charlotte Chavez Vince J. Siren In Memory of Evelyn Coatney Betty J. Coatney In Memory of Sally A. Conrad Jerry R. Conrad In Memory of Bill and Elsie Creider Lou and Susan Stackler In Memory of Eva Lee Davidson Sybil J. Lovett In Memory of Ruth E. Davis Carl D. Davis In Memory of Russ and Betty Dexter Florence E. Swabb In Memory of Leo F. Edison, Jr. Jeraldine Edison In Memory of Theresa Ann Finck Theresa M. Finck and Mary Ann Finck In Memory of Tom N. Fowler Jacque M. Fowler In Memory of Florence E. Goudeau Reed Florence M. Reed In Memory of Louise Grant David and Barbara Headrick In Memory of Naomi Headrick David and Barbara Headrick In Memory of Dale Hockett D. Jean Tomassi In Memory of Frank Lubas Marge Lubas In Memory of Conny Lucas Nicholas H. Lucas In Memory of Dale R. Luton Betty J. Coatney In Memory of John E. McCleary Joan McCleary In Memory of Helen Melot Mary Reilly In Memory of Helen Meyer Edwin W. Meyer In Memory of Ida E. Ontman Iris Chandler In Memory of Toney Phillips Peggy J. Yarborough In Memory of Toney Phillips Christopher and Kimberly Merrill In Memory of Shirley Karen Potter Frances J. Potter In Memory of My Parents Jeannie Reed In Memory of Lawrence Rippetoe Melvin L. Rippetoe In Memory of Donald and Sandra Sharp June Sharp In Memory of Alice M. Tobin Fred H. Tobin In Memory of Mary H. Wamsley Jimmy Wamsley In Memory of Rod Ware Shirley Ware In Memory of “Mothers” who have passed away Carol Warnock In Memory of Erich Westfield Doris D. Westfield In Memory of Lisa Wheeler Hedges Rosemarie Wheeler In Memory of Harry Wisdom Robert and Carol Perryman In Memory of Toni Zucconi Dave Zucconi
About LIFE Senior Services
LIFE Senior Services is a recognized leader in aging services and an acknowledged voice on aging issues and is proud to be a nonprofit United Way organization. If you would like to make a donation in support of LIFE Senior Services, please mail your contribution to: LIFE Senior Services 5950 E. 31st St. • Tulsa, OK 74135-5114 Make your donation securely online: www.LIFEseniorservices.org
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine | July 2016
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