VOL 35 # 2 • DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019
MONTANASENIORNEWS.COM
INFORMING • ENTERTAINING • EMPOWERING
PHOTO COURTESY TAMARA EARP.
Honoring Veterans Over the Holidays.
Read the story on page 36
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
ABOUT US
MAILING ADDRESS 1985 McMannamy Draw Kalispell, MT 59901 PHONE 406-761-0305 or 800-672-8477 WEB montanaseniornews.com EMAIL info@montanaseniornews.com Our paper—published six times per year—exists to serve and benefit our mature readers. We encourage the contribution of interesting material. Views expressed in editorial are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Likewise, this publication does not endorse any particular product, person or service shown in the advertisements appearing in this paper. All copy appearing in this publication is copyright protected and may be reprinted only with written permission of the publisher.
Our Staff
Contributing Writers
Robert Hunt.................... Publisher Janet Hunt....................... Chief Financial Officer Kathleen McGregor........ Advertising Sales Diane Brosseau.............. Advertising Sales Carol Blodgett................. Advertising Sales ......................................... Digital Specialist Francesca Beckerle........ Advertising Sales Jonathan Rimmel............ General Manager ......................................... Graphic Designer ......................................... Webmaster Nann Parrett................... Managing Editor ......................................... SEO Manager ......................................... Social Media Sherrie Smith.................. Production Assistant Peter Thornburg............. Distribution
Kat Dodd Holly Endersby Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Jack McNeel Kathleen Mulroy Aaron Parrett Lawrence Petit
Mary Ann Reuter Russell Roland Carrie Scozarro Dianna Troyer Gene Walborn Suzanne Waring LaDawn Whiteside
© 2018
Contents Letters............................................ 3
Fluffy Critters................................. 26
Caregiving...................................... 52
Brain Games.................................. 4
Money Matters.............................. 28
Entertainment............................... 56
Comics............................................ 7
Spotlights....................................... 30
Dining Guide.................................. 60
All About Montana........................8
Cover Story.................................... 36
Snow Time Calendar.....................61
Modern Senior.............................. 12
Nutrition......................................... 42
Travel.............................................. 62
Home & Lifestyle........................... 16
Fitness............................................ 45
Recreation...................................... 66
Inspiration...................................... 24
Health Care.................................... 48
Answers to Brain Games..............70
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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Letters to the Editor QUESTIONS•COMMENTS•PRAISES•SUGGESTIONS
Look, Ma... 11 Awards!
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS AND SISTER PUBLICATION IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT WIN BIG AT 2018 NAMPA CONFERENCE You may have noticed a new logo addition to our masthead. Our publishers Bob and Janet Hunt returned from the North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) conference in October with 11 — count ‘em, ELEVEN — awards in hand for our two publications (Montana Senior News and sister publication Idaho Senior Independent). Our papers were judged in the Class B division, for publications with 25,001-50,000 circulation. Since the Hunts acquired the papers in 2017, staff has worked diligently to make improvements with overall design and written content. We are happy to say our efforts have really paid off. Here’s a line-item report of how we ranked, along with the judges’ comments, for each category in which we placed.
to recreation, nature, travel, photography, fitness, nutrition, caregiving, entertainment, pets, recipes, home and lifestyle, Montana history and more. Uniformity in typography helps maintain consistency, and the writing adds personality and a strong sense of life in the West.”
1. GENERAL EXCELLENCE SECOND PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS “The array of content here is really quite breathtaking. What reader wouldn’t be pleased to find more than four dozen articles under a wide range of topics from health and money
4. COLUMN REVIEW SECOND PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS (Book Reviews) “Aaron Parrett’s book reviews are detailed and descriptive.”
2. & 3. MOST IMPROVED FIRST PLACE TIE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS/ IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT “Montana Senior News switched its cover format from a newspaper to a magazine design. It certainly adds a kick to the overall look. In addition, content is better organized and set off with attractive section headers. The content remained largely the same, but new organization makes it easier to access.”
5. SENIOR ISSUES FIRST PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS (“Montana’s Suicide Battle — A Major Health Issue,” by Maureen McInnis; June/July 2018) “Maureen McInnis writes clearly and compassionately about senior suicide.” 6. BRIEFS/SHORTS SECOND PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS (“Lunch at the Great Falls Senior Center — A Best-Kept Secret,” by Aaron Parrett; “Why Do We Collect?” by Jeremy Watterson; April/ May 2018) “Parrett writes in praise of the burgers at the Great Falls Senior Center — it’s enough to make you head out for your favorite diner. Jeremy Watterson’s piece about collecting baseball cards — a way to recollect memories and hold on to a piece of history. Both are evocative articles and sure to appeal to others enjoying their memories.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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Brain Games
PUZZLES•QUIZZES•GAMES•CONTESTS•BRAIN TEASERS•FUN
Sudoku Complete the grid, so each row, column, and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
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Crossword Clues ACROSS 1. “Anaconda” rapper Nicki 6. Sizable chunk 10. “Yuck!” 13. Carne follower, in Mexican fare 14. Roll at the airport 15. Former Vietnamese emperor Bao __ 16. Reason kept to oneself 19. Barack Obama, astrologically 20. Old Venetian magistrate 21. Boy in the first family
22. Wig out 25. Country singer Clark 28. Cold weather word 29. Thorny thicket 34. 1953 automobile innovation 35. Catch something 38. Put away 39. Some caviar 42. Johnny Olson catchphrase 43. West Indian sorcery 47. Young partner 48. Bum rap 53. Low-cost home loan org. 54. Lug 55. Letters left of center? 58. Leisurely lakeside activity, and a clue for the circled letters 62. “If __ again I meet him beard to beard ... “: Shak. 63. “Yuck!” 64. Whiz 65. Carefree syllable 66. Fun 67. Sarcophagus holder
DOWN 1. Stake-driving hammer 2. Part of a chain 3. Defense acronym 4. Thirst quencher 5. Rattle 6. Bend 7. Slow passage 8. Guitar players, slangily 9. Dust jacket info 10. Safe to put away
Brain Games
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11. Encourage to score, as a base runner 12. Brandishes 17. First name in despotism 18. Zap 22. Set up 23. NYC commuter line 24. Ordinal ending 25. TV sched. uncertainty 26. Aunt with a “Cope Book” 27. Divide 30. El __ 31. Maroon 5 singer Levine 32. Counter square 33. Lake of Lombardy 35. Auto company founder Citro’n 36. Golf bag item 37. Not the best of times 40. Universal donor’s type, briefly 41. Uvula doc 42. “Evita” role 43. Counterbalance 44. Loan officer, e.g. 45. Twain’s New York resting place 46. “Make it snappy!” 49. Country about 12 times longer than its widest point 50. Underwear brand 51. Zero 52. Literary monogram 55. Green attitude? 56. Sound often not allowed? 57. “It __ Right”: 1956 Platters’ hit 59. Lunchbox staple, familiarly 60. Cinephile’s TV choice 61. Tool sometimes used for steering © 2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. MSN
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Brain Games
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Doodle Puzzle ILLUSTRATION BY FLORENCE PAXTON Not everything is spelled out obviously in black and white. Let’s just say we’ve taken a more RED and GREEN approach to this holiday Doodle Puzzle. Can you find all the hidden items that are red and green? Congratulations to Margaret Peterson of Billings, Mont., for winning last issue’s Doodle puzzle! We award a $25 cash prize for each issue of the Montana Senior News to the person who finds everything on the list and submits the prettiest Doodle coloring page. Please mail your entries for all contests to the Montana Senior News, 1985 McMannamy Draw, Kalispell, MT 59901, or email to: info@montanaseniornews.com by January 15, 2019 for this edition.
RED ITEMS << Apple << Cardinal << Lady Bug << Red Head << Red Riding Hood << Red Wagon << Rose << Santa’s Long Johns << Strawberries << Watermelon
GREEN ITEMS << Christmas Tree << Frog << Grapes << Grass Hopper << Green Thumb << Leaves << Peas << Pepper << Shamrock << Worm
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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s c i m o C
Great Falls Community Concert Association “If YOU READ THE U.N. CLIMATE REPORT YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. NO, SERIOUSLY, THIS IS ALL THAT’S LEFT.”
WONDERFUL HOLIDAY GIFTS • Tickets to one or more of our terriÞc concerts; one concert $30.00, four concerts $79.00. Tickets available at the MansÞeld Box Office, 455-8514 or online at ticketing.greatfallsmt.net. TAPESTRY Thur., Jan. 24, 2019 • 7:30 PM “Tapestry” - Carole King Songbook, is America’s premier musical tribute to Carole King, presented by Suzanne Davis.
TAKE YOUR TIME BANNING THOSE BAGS AND STRAWS. I’VE GOT 60LBS OF PLASTIC IN MY GUT, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT YOU ENJOY YOUR SNAPPLE.
TRIPLE PLAY Wed., Feb. 27, 2019 • 7:30 PM Chris Brubeck, son of Dave Brubeck, returns with his ensemble including “Madcat,” premier harmonica player.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS Fri., Mar. 29, 2019 • 7:30 PM William Florian, former singer of the New Christy Minstrels, brings 60’s folk music and storytelling to Great Falls. PHILIP FORTENBERRY Thur., Apr. 25, 2019 • 7:30 PM Extraordinary pianist at the Liberace Museum in Los Vegas for ten years and Michael Douglas’s hands in Beyond the Candelabra.
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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All About Montana
LOCAL PEOPLE•LOCAL STORIES•LOCAL FUN•LOCAL BUSINESSES
A Story-Keeper for the Flathead: Jane Renfrow BY GAIL JOKERST For Jane Renfrow, preserving the Flathead’s history isn’t just an engrossing pastime — it’s an unapologetic passion. Admittedly, though, she is fascinated by history in general. Renfrow loves nothing more than learning why people have made choices others might find incomprehensible. And it doesn’t matter whether that person happens to be as famous as Napoleon Bonaparte or as obscure as her Swedish great-grandfather, who abandoned his wife and their Minnesota farm. “Studying history is a connection to our past. People need to feel they belong to something,” said Renfrow, who volunteers at the Northwest Montana History Museum in Kalispell, a.k.a. the Museum at Central School. “You come to realize we, like those before us, have had to make tough decisions and
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live with the results. I want to record those decisions and share what did and did not work for them. It tells us we are not alone.” Aside from serving on the Museum’s Board of Directors, she volunteers as an oral historian and acquisitions specialist dealing with artifacts linked to the Flathead. Renfrow’s 13 years at the Museum have taught her the importance of collecting accurate reference material for current and future researchers. They have also shown her that the county’s oldest citizens provide unique glimpses of a long-ago Flathead. As primary sources—individuals with first-hand accounts of a particular place or event—these are the individuals whom Renfrow targets to capture reminiscences of bygone times. She sees her role as being a gatherer of memories, so those recollections are neither lost nor forgotten. “First-person narrative is most important to researchers because it’s original. When people start to talk, they move to that part of their life that’s long gone and recall the smells, sounds, and sights,” she said. “They visualize again. I am fascinated by people who can remember wonderful details, like how something sounded that we’ll never hear again, such as the noise when putting a
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truck into gear before power steering. It was a loud ride. And they can recall how it felt to steer that truck and physically powerhouse that steering wheel when it was so heavy and difficult to keep under control.” While she’s interviewing, Renfrow records then painstakingly transcribes each session. One distant memory someone shared with her focused on the small portable sawmills, which lumbermen once brought into people’s yards to cut firewood sized to fit individual stoves. Children would toss the split wood through open cellar doors into basements and then stack it. Afterwards, they would rake any bark or wood splinters the sawmills left behind, and families would burn the debris curbside by their home. The sight of those little glowing bonfires up and down the streets, along with the distinctive aroma of smoldering wood and bark, has lingered with one Kalispell woman for more than nine decades. “The people I talk with are in their 80’s and 90’s with a wealth of knowledge I will never know or experience,” said Renfrow. “Take fishing for Bull Trout, for example. Because that trout is so rare now, we can’t do it anymore but I can still hear about what that was like.” Renfrow finds most people are willing to talk when she asks for an oral history interview, but they are often very modest. “They typically wonder, ‘why me?’ But once they start to remember building a tote road or clearing stumps with dynamite, the stories follow. They are happy to remember their touch with history,” she said. “It’s a privilege to hear these remembrances and experiences.”
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
Jane holds a miniature cast iron cook stove that belonged to her husband’s mother, who played with it as a child in the 1920s. She wears inspection gloves to scrutinize incoming items for invasive pests that no one wants in a collection. The gloves keep hand oils from affecting certain materials. PHOTO BY JIM JOKERST.
So how does she convince people to open up when they may be reluctant to talk to an interviewer or feel they have nothing worthwhile to relate? According to Renfrow, she starts by explaining what an oral history is and how it’s used. “I tell them I don’t want to write about you, but about your stories. Then I ask them: What stories do you want to preserve? If I am quiet enough and don’t ask more questions, the memories come,” she said. “Stories have the same power as they ever have.” Renfrow joined the Museum’s volunteer force after retiring from teaching for 28 years, mostly in the Columbia Falls school system, but not before heeding some helpful advice from a colleague. “‘Don’t say yes to anything for a year. Do what you want. Read something you want. Then choose.’ Those were her words,” said Renfrow. “I knew I had to do something and not just stay home. I haven’t the patience for crafts. When I started to volunteer at the Museum, it was fun for me and dovetailed nicely with the things I like to do,” she recalled. Renfrow could certainly be described as a woman with an insatiable curiosity about the world around her. “If I could live my life over and pursue a different career, I would have been a researcher,” she added. While some current-day Flathead residents might consider themselves examples of Western rugged individualism, Renfrow would likely say their predecessors set the bar high for anyone else laying claim to that character trait.
“This is a unique valley because of the topography and geography. It took a real independent, resourceful person to be one of the first to come here. It is the youngest settled valley in Montana because it was so difficult to get here,” she said. “We are surrounded by mountains and rugged landscapes. Before trains could come to Kalispell, the trappers left. Then the miners left because they couldn’t make it,” explained Renfrow. There weren’t enough resources to trap or mine, and the weather was horrible, she noted. “It was difficult to get here and even more difficult to stay and make a living.” It is no coincidence that one of the Museum’s exhibits is titled, “How we got here and how we managed to stay.” Reaching the Flathead today — though delays may arise due to road construction, traffic, or flight schedules at the airport — bears no comparison to yesteryear’s travel efforts. “Before 1891 when the Great Northern Railway brought trains through, you had to take a train to Missoula then a second train to Ravalli with the Northern Pacific Railway,” she said. “From there, you took a stagecoach to Polson. To get to Kalispell, you either went by steamboat to Demersville, if you were hauling more than a suitcase, or by stagecoach if you didn’t have household goods. From there, you were on your own to follow old trails or tote roads with a hired horse and wagon.” In her oral history work, Renfrow has met people from many walks of life but sees little difference amongst them or present-day Montanans, despite their disparate backgrounds. “People are people. Things are no better or worse than when I was young. The horrible or good things they have done to each other — it hasn’t changed,” concluded Renfrow. “We tend to believe this moment in history is so horrendous. Yes, we have information and innovation happening faster and
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
All About Montana
STORYKEEPER / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
faster, but people remain the same. It’s comforting to know they have found answers to the same pressing questions we face and have had to make the same human decisions and come through. Conditions may have changed but we still have to decide how we will react to circumstances.” When considering some of the most vivid memories she has recorded, Renfrow finds it challenging to pinpoint favorites. She is often surprised by the stories a person will choose to share — be they heartwarming or heart stopping, seemingly inconsequential or important. But all hold a special place for her in the county’s birth. She told of an agile teenage boy who fudged his age from 14 to 16, so he could
work as a “river pig” at the lumber mill in Columbia Falls for 60 cents an hour. His family was so poor during the Great Depression he rode the logs barefoot, jumping from log to log and wielding a pole with a metal spike to keep the logs from jamming up. When the boss saw him, he handed the boy a dollar and told him to buy himself a pair of hobnail boots to protect his feet and not come back without them. Another remembrance that has lingered for Renfrow came courtesy of a woman from Columbia Falls who related how technology had transformed lives and not necessarily for the better. “After dinner her whole neighborhood would go out for a walk, even in winter. People would stop and chat with each other. Radio changed everything. Their habit of
visiting outside in the evening gradually stopped,” recounted Renfrow. “Instead, they stayed indoors and listened to the radio. That altered her world even more drastically than television did.” Renfrow’s success at her self-appointed task stems from the dedication she brings to it along with a desire to capture even trivial memories. She also has mastered the delicate art of knowing when to encourage a speaker and when to remain silent. “I want people to forget I’m there. They are telling their story,” she emphasized. “I am not eliciting it.” MSN For more information, visit www.yourmuseum.org or call 406-756-8381.
Serve with Me
MONTANA VETERANS FOUNDATION’S WILLIS CRUSE HOUSE SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED Although this portion of my job is mega important, it is honestly BY DESIREE BAIN not very exciting. The part of my job that keeps me here is SO MUCH more rewarding. “Serving Those Who Served.” What does that mean? Am I a waitress I meet veterans who are down on their luck, sometimes by their own or housekeeper to ex-military individuals? doing, sometimes not. I meet real people, who deserve to be treated as such. No, I most certainly am not. These wonderful folks I get to meet have barriers keeping them I am a mid-30s gal sitting at a des k in an office inside a transitional from being self-sufficient and independent. home for homeless Veterans. At this desk I write grants, pay the bills, So, what is a “barrier?” There are debts, addictions, disabilities, pay the taxes, and pay the few employees we are able to staff. unidentified and non-medicated mental health issues, medical issues, unaligned benefits, strained relationships. Sound familiar? They should. These are real struggles that effect all of us. I get to meet people, help them realize and vocalize their barriers, and then help them find Eagles Homes on Prairie Soroptimist Voyageur creative ways to overManor the Range Tower Village Apartments come them. This transitional • Exercise Room • Grab Bars • All Utilities Paid • Utilities Included • Secured Facility • Beauty Shop • Air Conditioning • Beauty Shop • New Heating & • Fitness Center home where I work pro• Meal Program • Laundry • Activity Room Cooling Units • Social Hall w/ Kitchen vides all of the necessary • Massage Therapy • Fridge/Freezer • Chapel • Elevator • Spa/Hot Tub things we humans need • Laundry • Private Mailboxes • Emergency • Community Room • Library to survive — like a bed • Housekeeping • Electric Range Call System • Outdoor Gazebo • Business Center to sleep in, food to nour• One Block from • Close to Banking, • Close to Transport, • Spacious Rooms • Media Room ish, hygiene items and Senior Center & Medical Facilities, Medical Facilities, • Close to Shopping • Indoor Trash Removal Post Office Parks, & Shopping & Grocery store & Transport • Indoor Mail Delivery accessibility to showers and laundery. 20 W 3rd St 902 3rd St E 725 N 25th St 2400 13th Ave S 1630 Division Rd We provide comHavre Roundup Billings Great Falls Great Falls puters, Internet, and 406-265-5531 406-323-1291 406-248-3377 406-453-9379 406-208-6968 phone lines to encourage communication and connection to the outside world.
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS We have Case Management and tons of resources. Pretty basic stuff right? But more happens here within these walls. This is where vets go from “SURVIVE to THRIVE”! We are a family, ever changing, but family nonetheless. We collaborate meals and activities, and we share our stories. We work together to help each other. We build friendships, based on important things like honesty, trust, and accountability. So, when I sit at my desk with a Veteran resident, I am sitting with a new friend. I listen with an open mind and consider options, acting from the heart. I am a real friend who will do anything I can to help, while holding feet to the fire. For the past 16 years, Montana Veterans Foundation: The Willis Cruse House has operated under a per diem grant issued by the National VA. This funding source ended September 2018. I will continue to write grants and explore other funding opportunities, connections, and partnerships.
All About Montana
These endeavors take time, which is a luxury that we do not have. I am in the community, asking for sponsorship. We all owe it to the men and women who so honorably made sacrifices for their country and their people. They fought for our rights, now we fight for theirs. I have faith that the community will step up and support this program that has aided over 900 Veterans, with a 95-percent rate of successful transition. We cannot let another program disappear from our community. We cannot let the doors close on a house and program that has the capability and capacity to continue aiding our country’s heroes. The time to help is now. MSN Desiree Bain is the Director of Montana Veterans Foundation: The Willis Cruse House. The Willis Cruse House is a 12-bed transition home for homeless veteran men. Located at 1819, 1112 Leslie Ave, Helena, MT 59601 (406) 449-7666
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4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MONTANA VETERANS FOUNDATION! 4. It helps homeless veterans in Helena through the Willis Cruse House. 3. It has a 95% success rate and has helped over 900 veterans. 2. It lost the majority of its funding this year. 1. You can help them right now with your tax-deductible donation! Find the Montana Veterans Foundation on Facebook & check out our website at www.MTVF.org
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PAGE 12
Modern Senior
TECHNOLOGY•SCIENCE•KNOWLEDGE•COMPUTERS•MOBILE
Mechanical Cats and Dogs Make Great Pets For Dementia Patients BY RON HURTIBISE, SUN SENTINEL (TNS) Helen is enamored with furry little Bonita, who purrs, meows and stretches out in Helen’s arms. “It’s OK, it’s OK,” cooed the 84-year-old patient at the Alzheimer’s Community Care Organization’s Specialized Adult Day Care Center in Boca Raton, as Bonita rolled on her back for a belly rub. “You’re a pretty girl. Yes, you are. Are you going to be a good girl?” Bonita isn’t a real cat, and it’s unclear whether Helen realizes it. But if interacting with the robotic pet slows the advancement of Helen’s mind-robbing Alzheimer’s disease, it doesn’t matter that the cat isn’t real, the daycare’s operators say. Recently, the Center invited some of its donors and local media to witness a pair of robotic pets—Bonita the cat and a dog the residents named Ace—capturing the hearts and imaginations of the Center’s daily patients. The robotic pets were among the first products in a line developed for the aging market by a division of toymaker Hasbro. Called Joy For All, the division was spun off by the
products’ developers in May into a standalone company that’s looking at ways to integrate artificial intelligence into future robotic pets. Although real live pets still visit the day care center on pet therapy days, the robotic standins are safer to have around, said Karen Gilbert, vice president of education and quality assurPatient Aurora, 88, combs the hair of Bonita the robotic cat at Alzheimer’s Community Care’s facility ance for Alzheimer’s in Boca Raton, Fla. on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. PHOTO BY YUTAO CHEN, SUN SENTINEL/TNS. Community Care. “They’ll sit on In a clinical study involving 61 elderly adults with mild to moderate dementia, members your lap and respond to touch. The dog, we of the group that regularly interacted with a learned, even has a microphone and responds to voice commands,” Gilbert said. “Our robotic pet three times weekly for 20 minpatients can hold onto them as long as they utes each session were found to have lower levels of stress and anxiety and depression, want. They won’t jump off their laps. Live which allowed providers to decrease use of animals — you never know what they’ll do.” pain medication and psychoactive medication,
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS compared with the group that received standard activity programs. The study, published in November 2016 by the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, was funded by the Baylor Deerbrook Charitable Trust. Use of the robotic pets is one of many ways that the Alzheimer’s Community Care organization works to fulfill the intent of specialized adult day care centers, a type of center formally created in 2012 by Gov. Rick Scott and the state Legislature to help forestall nursing home placement for Alzheimer’s patients. Patients spend their days here but go home each night to their families or caregivers, said Jonathan Price, vice president, grants and fund development. A robust schedule of activities during the day helps them remain relaxed during the at-home evening hours, when people with Alzheimer’s tend to become agitated—a behavioral cycle known as “sundowning” —that can complicate family members’ caregiving roles. “One of the most effective ways to combat this is to have a patient have an active day,” Price said. Activities are rolled out one after another — word games, math games, arts and crafts, music and dancing — to keep brain synapses firing as much as possible, Gilbert said. “The more creative we are with activities, the more we challenge that person to slow the progression of this disease,” she said. Facilities licensed under the 2012 Specialized Alzheimer’s Services Adult Day Care Act are required to provide therapeutic activities for 70 percent of the day, Price said. Other requirements include a lower staff-to-patient ratio than standard adult day care centers, increased environmental safety measures to prevent patients from wandering off or harming themselves, and enhanced dementia-specific educational opportunities for caregivers and families. The organization had heard about clinical successes from introducing robotic pets to Alzheimer’s patients and purchased an initial
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Modern Senior
pair of Joy For All pets for about $100 each with a grant from the Palm Beach County Partnership for Aging. After seeing its own residents’ reactions, the organization asked its donor network to help locate money to buy more. Nancy Schiller, owner of a Boca Raton gift store, In Good Taste, stepped up, donating $3,000 to buy a pair of the hypoallergenic robotic pets for each of Alzheimer’s Community Care’s 10 other specialized day care centers in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. “It’s a joy to give to this organization because you know exactly where your money is going,” Schiller said. Joy For All’s cats come in three colors — orange tabby, silver with white mitts, and black and white tuxedo. The company’s website says they “look, feel and sound like real cats,” with sensors that respond to motion and touch, realistic fur and purring sounds and cat-like movements. The team decided to develop a product for older adults after noticing they comprised 10 percent to 15 percent of the market for animatronic toys created for children, said Ted Fischer, CEO of Ageless Innovation, the company that spun off from Hasbro to expand the Joy For All line. “We wanted to create affordable, realistic, interactive companionship (with a) play pattern that was recognized and understood,” he said. “They give something and they get something — it’s tactile.” But the brand’s developers weren’t trying to fool its elderly consumers into thinking the cats — or its robotic Golden Retriever pup — are the real thing, Fischer said. “We were trying to replicate an experience for folks who were unable to enjoy a live pet,” he said. A big inspiration, and one of the products’ early test subjects, was Fischer’s grandmother, currently in her 90s and living in a Memory Care community — a specialized living environment for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She
PAGE 13
was featured on the first product box, he said. Before the spin-off, Joy For All teamed up with Brown University for a three-year project to develop a smart robotic companion capable of using artificial intelligence to assist older people with everyday tasks. The project is supported by a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Fischer said. Fischer envisions a pet capable of finding its owner’s glasses and rules out possibilities suggested in the wide canon of science-fiction literature and film. Consumers who want the current versions would be best served by going online, to Amazon.com or other websites, Fischer said. It’s not a good fit for brick-and-mortar stores, he said. “There’s not really an aisle for a product like this because there’s not a focus on the aspirational side of aging,” he said. “There’s not a lot of joy and happiness in that (aging products’) aisle.” MSN
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Modern Senior
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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Modern Senior
PAGE 15
Artificial Yet Intelligent BY LOIS GREENE STONE (SENIOR WIRE) Artificial intelligence. Intelligence is a genetic gift. Like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest—would you want to be smart only to have it taken away? Will stem cells from research become real-life? Is manipulation or experimentation “artificial”? “Alexa, turn on the light.” My husband raises his voice, and a cylinder in the family room reacts. It is dusk. She answers, “okay,” and a floor lamp’s bulb responds. I ask “her” about the forecast, to set a timer as I prepare to make dinner, and my mate wants the score of the football game currently being played in another state. Do I want to upgrade to the new BLOB that can make phone calls and have video chats? I wonder about this. I can do Skype on my computer and FaceTime on my tablet, and the digital phone has speed dials. Do I want the competing device that allows multiple speakers offering surround sound, yet has the same basic function as Alexa? I read 1984 with the same attitude as comics that had decoder rings, or a camera hidden in a tie tack. There were no tie tacks then, only tie bars, and rings were just that, rings. The idea that someone could watch whatever I was doing was absurd; I closed my bedroom door and the outside vanished. My things, my room, my privacy surrounded me. I listened to the radio’s noise with programs I wanted; my parents and sisters could do the same in their private spaces. Television altered that as we grouped around a tiny screen seeing only test patterns for most of the time as programs were infrequent. Recording devices were fat reels with thin magnetic tape housed in a suitcase-like box. They could capture songs coming from the radio, the family singing or any one of us playing the piano, the audio of a special event such as a wedding. We controlled what it did. We turned on a light and the oven, raised the furnace’s temperature, used a paper dictionary, put a 78 rpm on a spindle and had brief minutes of recorded music before having to turn the shellacked disk over to the other side, dialed a telephone. How much is a recipe’s measurements if cut in half? Calculations were done with pencil and paper. “Echo, play Frank Sinatra music.” The hockey-puck sized Echo lights up when my husband enters his office room. Her circular colors
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indicates her obedience. She doesn’t require food or sleep or positive strokes to get through the day. She doesn’t need a flu shot, or shingles vaccine, or to bathe. She’s an object. Or is she? We have to be careful with our words else either of the devices will “hear” and start. I’ve started a sentence with “the economy” and she turns on just hearing the “eco.” And when my neighbor, Alex, calls, I hesitate to say the human’s name or AI lights up happily thinking she has been invited to talk. Is both our cylinder and the dot intelligent for real? Are we being secretly recorded, then the information stored on a cloud—like items from our computers? Do you think 1984 has still avoided our own homes? Are we safe to have heated discussions about news items, politics, religion, culture or is this seemingly-silent-until-we-activate-her BLOB really a listening device? Just in case we really are not alone, when we are near one of our AI machines, and are having a debate or serious conversation, we whisper. MSN
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PAGE 16
Home&Lifestyle
GARDEN•REAL ESTATE•RECIPIES•DECOR•ANTIQUES
A Pair of Loafers BY RUSSELL ROWLAND I was 10 years old, standing in the doorway of a small trailer. Ten wooden desks were lined in two neat rows, facing a large teacher’s desk and a chalkboard. Eight kids stood facing me, and I looked at their feet. All six of the boys were wearing boots. I wanted to find a way to hide my own feet. I wished I could go back to a few weeks before when I talked my mother into buying me a pair of black loafers. I have very narrow feet, and my mother had always been a stickler about buying shoes that came in narrow sizes. At Gorem’s Shoes in Sheridan, Wyo., the only style available in narrow sizes was black oxfords. So for years, that’s all I’d worn. When penny loafers became the big fad in third grade, I knew I didn’t have a chance of getting a pair. But when we went to Gorem’s for school shoes and learned that they had gotten a shipment of black loafers in narrow sizes, I begged my mother for a pair, failing to mention that they slipped in the heel. Now…standing in that doorway on my first day of fourth grade, I wished I’d known previously what I knew at that moment.
weeks, Dad was left to deal with the tension Just a couple of weeks earlier, my father on his own, not an easy task for a man who announced that he’d taken a job as a ranch struggled with conflict. manager. Despite not having worked on Although Peter Kiewit was a very nice a ranch since he was a teenager, he man, we later learned that he had married somehow landed a job managing a ranch owned by construction magnate Peter Kiewit, near the Montana/ Wyoming border. The ranch is right at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains, in one of the most glorious little valleys I’ve ever seen. But there were some major unforeseen problems. First of all, soon after our arrival at the X Bar X Ranch, my father realized that Mr. Kiewit had not I wanted to find a way to hide my own feet. © DANMORGAN12, BIGSTOCK.COM. informed the other ranch hands that Dad was going into this ranch, which was owned by his wife’s to be managing the place. Most of these men previous husband. So although he seemed to had worked there for years, and one guy had be interested in what was going on there, it’s been there for a very long time. He expected hard to say how invested he was. to be named manager. So there were hard feelings, not to mention Second, the community along Pass Creek was very tight-knit. There were about a dozen immediate conflicts. Because Mr. Kiewit lived ranches lining the gravel road that turned in Omaha, only visiting the ranch every few
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS off the main highway just north of Parkman, Wyo., and most of these ranches had been in the families for decades. They were not mean or ill-intentioned people, but every one of these families had a certain standing in the community; outsiders were subject to scrutiny. And of course, in a country where land is the most significant measure of position, hired help did not rank very high on the food chain.Which brings me to the most significant factor of what turned out to be the worst two years of my parents’ marriage. After growing up on a ranch, my mother had no desire to ever live on a ranch again. When she married my father, she was thrilled with the prospect of getting away from life in the country. She was happy that he wanted to be a teacher. Looking back on it from the present, it’s easy to imagine what motivated my father’s decision. He had just lost his own father, and I’m sure part of him wanted to fulfill Earl’s dream of being a cowboy. But my father made the mistake of not consulting Mom about this job beforehand, and it’s not hard to imagine why. He knew she would talk him out of it. So she was not happy about the move to Pass Creek, especially knowing that we would be considered “help.” Whenever the opportunity arose, she made a point of mentioning the fact that her parents’ ranch was larger than any along Pass Creek, a nervous tic that I’m sure did little to endear my parents to the locals. My sister Collette and I went to that little one-room school (Slack School) during the two years we lived along Pass Creek Road. And as is often the case, the dynamics among the children reflected those of the parents. It was confusing, because it was clear, especially when we were alone, that these kids did not dislike us. But as a group, they made it clear that we were not welcome. It was evident from the first day we arrived, when I looked around the room and saw those boots. The message was sometimes subtle, but always there. We were not invited to parties. We were ridiculed for petty things, especially the fact that my parents were Democrats. Our second year there, I was one of two fifth graders, and there was nobody in sixth grade in our one-room school. At the beginning of the year, the other fifth grader, Carl Caywood, gathered forces with the only fourth grade boy and three third grade boys, and they approached me with a proposal.
“Since you’re so much better at soccer than anyone else, we can’t really split the teams up even, so it should be us five against you and all the little kids.” Carl delivered this idea without looking me in the eye, and even then I knew they were blowing smoke up my ass. I also knew that any argument would be overruled. They had also appealed to a growing competitive drive in me. Part of me wanted to show them that they were making a big mistake by assuming we couldn’t beat them. “Okay,” I agreed. Over the next several weeks, or perhaps it was months, we played soccer every day at recess, and my little band of ragtag first and second graders and I lost every single game. There were no Chip Hilton moments. Instead, there were skirmishes and injuries, insults shouted and tears shed. I stubbornly refused to quit. They beat us every single time, and after weeks of this, I started to show an explosive temper, sick of the constant humiliation as I fought to try and win just one game. This temper followed me for years afterward, although this obviously wasn’t the only source. A lot of my anger bubbled up from some latent understanding of the unhappiness that was so heavy and omnipresent in our house. Sometime during that second year of our stay at Pass Creek, my father drove to the Veteran’s Hospital in Sheridan, where he approached the reception desk and told them that he needed help. The nurse at that desk asked him what was wrong, and he told her that he didn’t know, that he just needed to talk to someone. She told him that if he couldn’t be more specific about what was wrong, there was nothing they could do for him. My father was not an assertive man even in his best moments, and this was obviously not one of them. After this woman delivered this coldhearted diagnosis, my father left that building, sat down on the steps, and broke into tears. MSN
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Home & Lifestyle
Prevent a Multigenerational Home Thermostat War This Winter BY ANDREW ARMSTRONG, VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING, FUJITSU GENERAL AMERICA Multi-generational households are on the rise with a record one-in-five Americans living in homes shared by multiple adult generations, inevitably leading to various domestic conflicts — including home temperature. Increasing home prices, staggering child care expenses, exorbitant assisted living and nursing home costs, college debt, and longer life expectancies are all fueling this shift. The “boomerang” and “reverse boomerang” effect are the most common causes of this shared living trend. While adult children continue to return home, aging “Silent Generation” parents are increasingly moving in with their “Boomer” children with nearly 44 percent (28.4 million) of these households consisting of three or more
generations. It’s a widespread change making its impact felt throughout America. BRIDGING THE THERMOSTAT GAP Mom versus dad, grandmother versus grand-daughter. When it comes to home climate control, the generation and gender gap is real.
Multi-generaltional households are on the rise with a record one-in-five Americans living in homes shared by multiple adult generations, inevitably leading to various domestic conflicts — including over home temperature. © LOPOLO, BIGSTOCK.COM.
Everyone has a different “thermal comfort level” or preferred room temperature based on physical, psychological, and other factors, including clothing and activity level. Women’s bodies produce less heat than men ’ s w i t h w o m e n p r e f e r r i n g a f a r warmer environment (77 degrees) than men (72 degrees). As we age, our bodies become sensitive to cold temperatures because of a decrease in the metabolic rate. GET “SMART” ABOUT HOME TEMPERATURE When it comes to smart home temperature control, there are Smart HVAC Systems and Smart Thermostats. Smart HVAC systems have built-in Internet capability and can be controlled directly without additional equipment.
Smart Home Thermostats create “smart” systems by enabling remote temperature control via a mobile or Internet-connected device or voice-operated home automation system. Several leading manufacturers offer Smart Systems as well as options to control their single and multi-zone Halcyon and Airstage heating and cooling systems, using a third-party smart thermostat. INCREASE FAMILY PEACE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY Upgrading your system and installing a smart thermostat can significantly reduce your utility expense. The most energy-efficient heating and cooling products on the market, ductless mini-split systems, can save as much as 25 percent on your energy bill. Further, an efficiently controlled thermostat could save an additional 10 percent a year. Here’s how ductless mini-split systems work. Thin copper tubing pumps refrigerant from an outdoor compressor directly into an indoor air-handling unit, where the air is quietly distributed to the interior space. This eliminates the need for basement or attic evaporators and bulky, expensive ductwork. Mini-splits are easy to install and usually require only a 3- to 4-inch hole through a wall or ceiling to connect the indoor and outdoor units. GIVE EVERYONE THEIR OWN VOICE Everyone gets to “voice” their own temperature preferences. Most HVAC manufacturers offer apps that enable systems to be controlled from anywhere using a mobile device. Now, voice-control capability uses digital assistants, like Amazon Alexa, to verbally dictate home temperatures — “Alexa, set the living room temperature to 70 degrees.”
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS ENJOY CUSTOMIZED ROOM-BY-ROOM COMFORT Ending home climate conflicts, mini-splits feature custom zone control, letting homeowners connect two to eight indoor units to a single outdoor unit. Each zone has its own thermostat, so occupants can adjust each room to the temperature they want. Further, only occupied areas are heated, which can represent a significant savings considering the kitchen, dining room, living room, and bedrooms are left unoccupied for at least 40 percent of the time in most households. COME TOGETHER FOR FAMILY TIME Don’t let conflicting temperature preferences overshadow the blessing of multi-generational family bonding. Nothing can replace the value of convening in one room to eat a meal, watch a movie, or play a board game. Simple adjustments and compromises can go a long way. For example, those who are cold can wear a sweater, throw on a blanket, drink a cup of tea, or even place a space heater next to them. And, there’s nothing like gathering around the fireplace to foster family time. Promote multi-generational home harmony this winter with a combination of the latest systems, smart technologies, and good old fashioned togetherness that will keep your family warm without tempers heating up. MSN Andrew Armstrong is the vice president of sales and marketing for Fujitsu General America, a national manufacturer with distributors in local communities across the country, and a 30-year industry veteran. For more information, call (888) 888-3424 or visit www.fujitsugeneral.com.
Pass Down a Legacy of Values BY BERNICE KARNOP Juanita Rosales always had it in her heart to write the things that happened in her life, so her grandchildren would to know where they came from. Ten years ago the Great Falls woman wrote her story, beginning with her childhood in the Philippines. She was the last of 10 children living in extreme poverty. She told of escaping Manila when Japanese bombs surprised them the same day they surprised the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. She shared the years of brutal occupation during World War II and the way she felt God protected her from danger and certain death. She wrote how, against tremendous odds, she became a nurse and how she traveled to Great Falls as the first exchange nurse from the Philippines after the war, in 1953. Bible verses show up throughout her book-length story. “I put in the Scriptures that affected my life. They are the proven promises of the Lord to me,” she said. Juanita titled her book, My Journey with the Good Shepherd. “The legacy I want to pass down is my spiritual connection with God, so my family to future generations may also experience it,” she said. While she wouldn’t use the phrase, Juanita’s gift to her family is called an ethical will. Barry K. Baines, who wrote the book, Ethical Wills: Putting your Values on Paper, wrote, “Legal wills bequeath valuables, while ethical wills bequeath values.” The idea is far from new. Baines traces the tradition passing of values and blessings back to Biblical times, such as Jacob’s blessing of his 12 sons recorded in the book of Genesis, Moses’ farewell to the Children of Israel in Deuteronomy, and Jesus’ farewell to his disciples in the New Testament book of John. Ethical wills are like a mission statement of your life. Writing one gives individuals a chance to reflect on their life and say what matters to them. In addition to revealing who the person is, it’s an opportunity to express love to others and extend and ask forgiveness. It gives one a chance to pass down significant family stories that ought not be forgotten. They may tell what it was like growing up on a ranch, or how the family came to Montana. An ethical will not only blesses those to whom it is written, it also helps the writer to know himself or herself. It means taking time to think about what they value, what they want their family to know, and what they hope for the future. Writing these things down helps the writer live more deliberately in the present. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Home & Lifestyle
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Stop a cold before it starts
New research: Copper stops colds if used early. New research shows you can stop a cold in its tracks if you take one simple step with a new device when you feel a cold coming on. Colds start when cold viruses get in your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you don’t stop them early, they spread and cause misery. But scientists have found a quick way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. Researchers at labs and universities agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, just by touch. That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. That’s why Hippocrates, the “father of modern medicine”, used copper to heal skin ulcers, and why Civil War doctors used it to prevent infection of battlefield wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do. Researchers say microbe cells have a tiny internal electric charge across the membrane surrounding the cell. The high conductance of copper short-circuits this charge and pops holes in the membrane. This immediately stops the microbe from reproducing and destroys it in seconds. Tests by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show copper surfaces kill germs that are left on them. That way the next person to touch that surface does not spread the germ. As a result of this new knowledge, some hospitals switched to copper for various “touch surfaces”, like faucets, bedrails, and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses in those hospitals by over half, and saved lives. The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When he felt a cold coming on he fashioned a smooth copper probe and rubbed it gently in his nose for 60 seconds. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold went away completely.” It worked again every time he felt a cold coming on and he hasn’t had a cold since. He asked relatives and friends to try it. They said it worked for them, too, so he patented CopperZap™ and put it on the market. Soon hundreds of people had tried it and given feedback. Nearly 100 percent said the copper stops their colds if used within 3 hours after the first sign. Even up to 2 days, if they still get the cold it is milder and they feel better. Users wrote things like, “It stopped my cold right away,” and
“Is it supposed to work that fast?” Pat McAllister, age 70, received one for Christmas and called it “one of the best presents ever. This little jewel really works.” Now thousands of users have simply stopped getting colds. Copper may even stop flu that starts in the nose if used right away and for several days. In a lab test, scientists placed 25 million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. No viruses were found still alive soon after. People often use CopperZap preventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci used to get colds after crowded flights. Though skeptical, she tried it several times a day on travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people are sick around her she uses CopperZap morning and night. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. “The kids had colds going round and round, but not me.” Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” One man had suffered seasonal sinus problems for years. It was so bad it ruined family vacations and dinners out with friends. His wife Judy bought CopperZaps for both of them. He was so skeptical he said, “Oh Judy, you are such a whack job!” But he tried it and the copper cleared up his sinuses right away. Judy and their daughter said, “It has changed our lives!” Some users say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.” People have used it on cold sores and say it can completely prevent ugly outbreaks. Copper even kills deadly germs that have become resistant to antibiotics. If you are near sick people, a moment of handling it may keep serious infection away. It may even save a life. The EPA says copper still works even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of different disease germs so it can prevent serious or even fatal illness. CopperZap is made in the U.S. of pure copper. 90-day full money back guarantee when used as directed. It is $69.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap with code MSN8. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever.
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Home & Lifestyle
LEGACY OF VALUES / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
Occasions for a legacy letter or ethical will may be significant birthdays, births, weddings, or other turning points of life, including the dawning of this New Year! The busy-ness of life does not allow one to express conversationally how much they love their family or friends, but once a person writes these words, they may be treasured for generations after that person has passed away. End-of-life letters often express love, forgiveness, and how the writer wishes to be remembered. Individuals may use it to give a final word on what to include in their funeral, or provide a letter expressing thanks and appreciation to those who attend. For those who want a little help getting started, Baines’ book is helpful, as is his website. In his workshops and classes, Baines gives universal themes that many want to include — the value of family and friends, spiritual truths to live by, the value of education, honesty, and generosity. At the end of life, writing an ethical will brings a sense of completion and peace to both the writer and the receivers.
Ethical wills may be delivered in other ways besides being written on paper. Creative individuals pass their stories and blessings through letters and journals. Crafty souls may create photo albums, art work, or quilts to share their messages and love. Once one gets the ethical will written, they may give it to the people in their life immediately, or they may place it in a safe but accessible place to be read after they die. A good place to put it is with one’s living will, which is a statement of health directives for when they are unable to speak for themselves, and with their legal will. While grandchildren may love to inherit the family jewels, they will consider it a finer inheritance if you share the story of your life journey, the lessons you’ve learned, the spiritual values that sustained you, and blessings you want to share. While many know they should “write a book,” few actually sit down and do it. According to Rosales, “If it is something that will benefit the coming generations, they should do it while it is fresh in their minds.” MSN
Juanita Rosales’ legacy to her family is a treasure of stories from her life. Ethical wills share the writers’ love and values with generations to come in a variety of creative ways. PHOTO BY BERNICE KARNOP.
Christmas Stockings A Tradition BY SUZANNE WARING Some years ago I read that creating traditions make for strong healthy families. I realize creating and continuing traditions has been my familial responsibility for the last 25 years. With a full-time job and the stress of doing so much extra in a short time, I have found that Christmas traditions of baking cookies with the children, putting up a tree
with age-old ornaments each with its own story, and writing cards to everyone I haven’t thought of for a year lessened the pleasure of the holiday. Then when it’s all done, I’m glad that I continued to press forward. Well, that is, until last year. The Christmas stocking tradition, which went back some 60 years, came close to finding me throwing up my hands and telling my husband that we should escape to the nearest hideout to wait out the holiday.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the staff of
Something becomes a tradition if it is repeated over and over. When I first met my husband, he took me to his home to visit at Christmas time. From the moment I walked through the door and saw the Christmas decorations, I knew that tradition was big with this family. Of note were the large red felt Christmas stockings hung in a row. Each stocking had little felt ornaments, such as a wagon, angel, or felt Christmas trees, sewed on it. The owner’s initials were found on the stocking’s cuff.
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS Yes, they were beautiful. The first Christmas after we were married, we arrived at my in-laws, and, lo, I had a matching stocking with my initials hanging there in the row. It then hit me that these were home-made Christmas stockings my mother-in-law made. When our two sons came along, my mother-in-law made certain that their stockings hung with the rest of the family the Christmas after their births. By then I knew that making decorations, including stockings, was something that my mother-in-law really enjoyed doing. As the boys grew older, they liked spending Christmas at home, so the stockings came
The Christmas stockings at our house. Our sons’ families have the others. PHOTO BY SUZANNE WARING.
to our house. Then they grew up, and, one by one, they brought home wives. It was then that I grasped that it was my job to keep up the tradition by making Christmas stockings, but I was a woman cut from completely different fabric than my mother-in-law. I do have a sewing machine, but sitting around sewing on little ornaments simply isn’t my idea of pleasure — or relaxation. But making one stocking in a year didn’t seem too overpowering. I was game for the project. I asked about my new daughters-inlaw’s middle names, and their initials appeared at the top of the stockings as of old. Thankfully our sons didn’t marry the same year. Next grandchildren started arriving. I was so excited about being a grandmother, that it didn’t seem too difficult to make two stockings in 2011 and two more in 2013. Then we thought we were done. The mission was completed. The tradition of sewing home-made Christmas stockings had survived during
Home & Lifestyle
my years of being responsible. Psychologically, I appreciated not having the stress of making Christmas stockings ever again. I also felt a bit of satisfaction at having contributed to a strong healthy family by keeping up a tradition. Then in 2017, we had a surprise. Not just one, but healthy twin boys. It took a while to get it into my head that I had two more grandchildren. By the time euphoria settled into realization, Christmas was upon us. It was then that I comprehended I wasn’t finished making Christmas stockings. I had two to make in short order. I hadn’t even kept the pattern, green and red felt fabric, stars, or sequins. I had to start over, and it was almost too late. Then it occurred to me that the twins were only a few months old. It wouldn’t matter if they didn’t have matching stockings that first Christmas. But then, it was tradition. What would the older grandchildren think if there were no stockings for the two babies? I rallied. I told myself that a Christmas stocking for each member of the family was important, and I had better get a grip. I buzzed to the fabric store to pick up supplies and spent the following evenings under a strong light, stitching little ornaments onto the stockings and cutting out the twins’ initials to sew on the cuffs. For certain, making two stockings instead of one at the last moment made the process tedious. Once more I met the deadline, and the Christmas stockings hung in a row for Santa to fill with little toys, candies, and a tangerine. As I looked down the row of beautiful matching Christmas stockings my mother-in-law and I made, it occurred to me that each grandchild will take that Christmas stocking through life as my husband, our children, and I have done. The stockings will be brought out each Christmas, and the grandchild will remember that it was made by a caring grandmother. It couldn’t be better than that. MSN
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Montana, Aging, and the Search for A Home. BY KAT DODD The Baby Boomer generation is now the biggest senior generation of all time! According to the National Vital Statistics System, increased survival to old age and increasing expectancy of years in old age have created conditions unprecedented in human history. I was pleased to hear Donald L. Redfoot, PhD, speak at the recent Montana Governor’s Conference on Aging in Helena, Mont. According to Dr. Redfoot, our older population increased 16 fold since the start of the 20th century — from 3 million in 1900 to 49 million in 2016. It increased from 1 in 25 to 1 in 7 Americans and 1 in 6 in Montana! These numbers are projected to nearly double to 88 million by 2050. This trend makes it vital for our communities to start planning now for age-friendly communities, in particular, age friendly homes! Our seniors are more active than ever as they approach — and pass — the centenarian mark. Just this year, 124 persons were recognized at the conference for meeting and exceeding the 100-year mark! It’s important that we not stereotype our seniors — they are more active and also the most educated generation of our time. Seniors today look for walkable areas, trails, parks, outdoor activities nearby, shopping, restaurants, educational opportunities,
Just a few of the sought-after amenities in single-level homes are wider hallways, accessible cabinets and closets, larger bathrooms with walk-in showers, and comfort-height toilet seats. Unfortunately, these types of homes are low in availability. © PHONGSAK, BIGSTOCK.COM
and entertainment within a short walk or commute. In addition, homes that provide the freedom to stay independent as they age are in high demand. Just a few of the sought-after amenities in single-level homes are wider hallways, accessible cabinets and closets, larger bathrooms with walk-in showers, and comfort-height toilet seats. Unfortunately, these types of homes are low in availability. One builder I spoke to, James Rhodes with Point Arbor Construction, has been building homes with the aging population in mind for
years and will continue to do so. Since he’s keenly aware of the upcoming need. No longer will a jacuzzi tub be a determining factor when buying a home; however, a walk in shower will be a non-negotiable. According to AARP, one in three Americans is now 50 or older. By 2030, one out of every 5 people in the United States will be 65 or older. Will our communities by ready? The time to plan is now! MSN If you would like more information, please contact your Area Agency on Aging at flathead.mt.gov/ aging/.
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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The Age of Vicarious BY LAWRENCE PETTIT I think there should be, for everyone between the ages of 70 and 75, a gong that sounds the warning, “This is the Dawning of the Age of Vicarious.” One inevitably slips from devouring the joy of an activity to fading away to the satisfaction in seeing the joy that younger friends experience. The reality of that has been creeping toward me for several years, beginning when my buddy Aaron Williams (some 40 years my junior) launched us on a short boat trip from the dam to Isaak’s. “I hope you don’t mind if we don’t fish this trip,” he said, “I can’t row and untangle your line at the same time.” We laughed, but I knew it was a signal. Gradually, from 71 to my current 80, I withdrew from other activities with Aaron — building a cabin, mountain hikes, a more raucous nightlife. This didn’t diminish the friendship, but just meant less time together as I increased more sedate activities.
A typical time when another friend, Rennan Rieke (only 30 years my junior), and I can steal time together is for far-ranging conversation and either laughter or commiseration during the time it takes for a couple of drinks. The same for Bruce Whittenberg — only 20 years younger than I. His hikes and fishing excursions would be too much for me now. A typical evening — every Wednesday now for the past five or six years — is two glasses of wine at the Hawthorn, or two to four glasses of beer at the Blackfoot Brewery and then dinner and home by nine. Aaron and Bruce just returned from arduous fishing trips — Aaron in Alaska and Bruce in Yellowstone Park. I enjoyed both enormously, without raising a finger. I’ve got to say I love my vicarious period and will stretch it as long as I can with these and other close friends. Vicarious ain’t so bad. Except perhaps when it comes to sex. That transition takes more adjustment. MSN
NAMPA AWARD / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
7. PERSONAL ESSAY THIRD PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS (“Thieves,” by Ella Mae Howard; June/July 2018) “These are four-legged thieves, not the usual two-legged scalawags, in this observational column about calves and cows and feeding time. It gives cows credit for a level of sneakiness not usually known — so it’s both fun and educational.” 8. PROFILE ENTRIES SECOND PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS (“Helena’s New Mayor, Making History,” by Aaron Parrett; February/March 2018) “Aaron Parrett introduces us to both Helena’s new mayor and to some of the challenges he faces in his new job. A nice balancing act.” 9. HOW-TO GUIDE FIRST PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS (“Fermented Dill Pickles vs. Vinegar Dill Pickles,” by Steve Heikkila; October/November 2017) “Heikkila’s article about the two pickling techniques covers the topic thoroughly, from the how-to to the historic whys. Even if you never intend to practice pickling, this article is worth a read.” 10. BEST SINGLE AD-COLOR SECOND PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS (The Peaks) “This advertisement, for an independent living business, is presented in a cool blue to reflect the name (The Peaks) and the location. The information is presented vertically, and the size of the elements takes us down the page.” 11. WEBSITE GENERAL EXCELLENCE THIRD PLACE: MONTANA SENIOR NEWS/IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT “The rolling photos show off the broad [array] of content. The photo cropping captures your eye immediately. The page is clean, branded and organized. The categories of news are easily accessible from the strip across the top. The story promos are well written to tease readers.” MSN
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Inspiration
THOUGHTS•PEOPLE•STORIES•PLACES
‘Tis the Season
BY LAVERNE H. BARDY (SENIOR WIRE) Something nice starts to happen every year just about the time that leaves and temperatures begin to fall, and garden centers switch their sales from strawberries and sweet corn to pumpkins and apples. For women, it manifests itself in a impulse to bake apple and pumpkin pies, and to begin knitting mittens and afghans. Men hurry outdoors to cover deck furniture, chop firewood and rake leaves, and find themselves enjoying it. The crisp air is filled with the scent of burning leaves and the promise of good things to come. Happy feelings escalate as vacant lots start displaying Christmas trees, and Santa’s knee becomes every youngster’s desired destination. Trips to the mall are frequent, hearts beat faster than usual, and our love for mankind intensifies. Somewhere in the midst of these joyful feelings and fun-filled activities disquieting facts and disturbing images cast dark shadows over our hearts. They appear as stories in front pages of newspapers — stories that describe the plight of the homeless and include appeals for charitable holiday donations. They surface in photographs portraying despair in the eyes of children who look older than their years, with vacant expressions in
their eyes, and no hope in their hearts; children who know better than to dream of American Girl dolls and electronic video games and pray only for warm coats and shoes with soles. We read these stories and are deeply moved, so we write checks, and are motivated to pull children’s name tags from huge mall Christmas trees, and buy them gifts. Doing these charitable deeds during the holiday season mollifies our desire to bring a degree of happiness into the lives of those less blessed than we are. We walk away feeling righteous, believing that we have fulfilled our duty as spiritual, religious, caring, human beings. There is a tradition in Judaism called tzedakah, which very loosely translated means charity. But, while charity involves decision, tzedakah does not — it is an obligation. Charity is something we decide to give to the unfortunate to offset their adversities. Tzedakah goes beyond giving something to tide people over; it attempts to get people to, once again, stand with dignity. Even the indigent, who are sustained by charity are compelled to give tzedakah, so that the act of receiving does not leave them without dignity. I grew up in a spiritual Jewish family where doing for others was not simply a once-a-year holiday occurrence. There wasn’t a day when my father didn’t remind us to share our good fortune. He made it clear that doing for others was not a choice we were free to contemplate. It was something we were required to do as naturally as we were expected to draw our next breath.
In many Jewish homes, you will find a tzedakah box, which is a kind of piggy bank. All end-of-the-day loose change from family members ‘ purses and pockets is placed in this bank. When full, the contents are donated to a synagogue, church or trusted charity. It’s so easy to do and an invaluable example to set for our children. © CE PHOTOGRAPHY, BIGSTOCK.COM
I smile today, because I now recognize that we were not even remotely wealthy. My father was a farmer, a “gentleman farmer,” as he humbly referred to himself, who worked hard and died at the age of 46, never to see the fruits of his labor. Many weeks we went without meat, fish, or chicken because we couldn’t afford it. Instead, we lived on whatever the land produced, Kraft macaroni and cheese, and Campbell’s vegetarian and vegetable soup. CONTINUED ON PAGE 35
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Fluffy Critters PET TIPS•BREEDS•CARE•GROOMING
Living with Moose: Adopting a Tulip-Free Lifestyle That changed one snowy morning when I was talking on the phone. When we bought our house in Sandpoint, A moose passed through Idaho in 2002, there were no moose, and my line of vision as I there were a lot of tulips. People who lived gazed out the window into outside of town had to build fences to proour back yard. It moved tect their gardens, but not us. We had bugs in three feet of snow as if and slugs. That was it. Moose lived out in the snow wasn’t there. I the woods where moose belonged, and we dropped the phone. rarely spotted them. That would have been about 2008. It was the first of many visits by Boarding & Grooming that moose and others. Moose are massive and a • Spacious Indoor & Exercise Areas • Heated Floor & A/C for Comfort bit ungainly, and it was • Dog Grooming exciting to watch them • Therapeutic Hydro Surge Bath • Drop-In Visits Welcome move around the neighMoose at rest in neighbor’s yard. This handsome fellow is taking advantage of the fact that borhood. They munched on Open 7 days a week the neighbors are out, and their dog is in the house. PHOTO BY CATE HUISMAN. Call For Appointment 406-454-3100 our weeping willow, which 2005 Vaughn Rd Great Falls Vaccinations Required truncated half-leaves where moose had neatly had long drooping branches that had always clipped off the tops along with the buds. been a bother, so we appreciated that. As we contemplated next steps, the moose But when they went after the blueberry disappeared. Apparently they had somebushes and apple trees, we segued quickly where better to go in summer. But in the fall, from amazement to annoyance. We threw they were back, and they showed a fondness stuff at them — anything that was standing for cabbage as well as apples and blueberry by the back door — snow shovels, ski poles, shoots. We got a sling shot and launched the random trowel left over from fall gardenmarbles at them, but our accuracy was only ing. Since none of these items was designed slightly better than it had been with snow for accurate throwing, we never hit them, and shovels and ski poles. they gave no indication that they noticed they On the rare occasion that a marble was were under assault. on target, the moose just gave us an annoyed We blew a whistle, rang a bell, blew an air look, as though it had been bitten by a moshorn. They looked at us with mild amusement. quito. The biggest effect we managed to have Moose settled in. We saw them around was on our neighbor’s car, when an errant town, munching on anything about head marble missed a moose and went on to create height (for them, six feet and up). Sometimes an expensive little ding in the door. we would awaken to discover, as the light Now we realize there’s little point in fightcame up, that dark mass in the alley was ing it: The moose have adapted to city life. a sleeping moose. Sometimes we would Moose mothers bring their calves — one even realize we were walking within a few feet had adorable twins — through the neighborof one browsing on hood, showing them where there will be buds branches near the to eat in spring and cabbages in the fall. sidewalk. Moose sleep in the alleys and wander When spring the yards, wowing visitors as much as they came, and tulip annoy locals. leaves poked up from So we have adapted, too. Our local grade the thawing ground, school has a moose protocol, keeping children we eagerly awaited indoors when moose are on the playground. the annual spread Neighbors call when moose are on the way, of pink and white and we stand by with our slingshot in a quixblooms in the front M-F 11am - 3:30pm Lunch otic attempt to protect what we can. yard. It never came. 3:30pm - 6:30pm Dinner But we’ve admitted the tulips are gone Instead, we could see forever. MSN BY CATE HUISMAN
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FLUFFY CRITTERS
PAGE 27
All Weather Dog: Holiday Grabs for Winter Health BY MARY ANN REUTER Your dog may love to play in the snow, but cold weather can still affect your pet’s health. Small, old or thin-coated dogs are especially susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite. These dogs can benefit from a winter wardrobe that includes boots, coats, and sweaters. Dogs with furry feet that tend to collect ice and snow between the toes will especially benefit from booties, since even walks on cleared sidewalks can pose a health risk. Many salts and ice melts are toxic to canines, so, if your dog does not wear boots, be sure to rinse his feet. Get in between his toes with warm water when he comes inside, so he doesn’t ingest the chemicals if he licks his paws. Ice melting salts in particular can also burn your pet’s paws. Small, old, or thin-coated dogs are especially susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite. They can benefit from a winter wardrobe Dogs have a that includes boots, coats, and sweaters. © OKSSI, BIGSTOCK.COM. special circulatory system in their paws to keep them from losing heat as quickly as human feet do, but they still need protection — even if just to keep those four feet from getting cut by ice and jagged snow. Here is a cool site where you can order winter dog booties: alldogboots.com. Another favorite site of mine is iHeartDogs.com, where dog owners can grab holiday gifts to keep their pets safe and warm. The petwear collection includes vests and sweaters, calming aromatherapy bandannas, and even dog carrier slings, so little paws never touch the ground to get frosty. In addition to toys, supplies, treats and supplements, the site has plenty of winter wear for people, too — including fuzzy dog socks and fuzzy-paw fingerless gloves. Best of all, every order triggers a donation to help less fortunate pups waiting for forever homes.
While especially warming during the holidays, the iHeartDogs mission is timely all year round: healthier pups, happier homes and empty shelters. Look for pet-themed holiday ornaments in the home goods section, too. MSN
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PAGE 28
Money Matters
BUDGET•MEDICARE•TAXES•ESTATE•INVESTMENT•RETIREMENT
Be Prepared to Claim Your Senior Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit BY GENE WALBORN, DIRECTOR, MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Before you know it, it will be time for Montanans to file their income tax returns. Income tax is one of the most important ways we pay for our schools, local roads, law enforcement -- and more of the things we need to live, work, play and retire here in Montana. This year, I want to let Montana seniors know of one tax credit that could mean more money in your pocket, whether you need it to pay bills or just to spoil your grandchildren a little more. The Senior Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit is worth up to $1,000, and you can qualify for it even if you’re not required to file an income tax return. If you’re 62 or over, and you live in a household with a total income less than $45,000, and spent at least nine months of 2018 in Montana including six months as a renter or homeowner, you may be able to claim it. This year, there’s one significant change: We no longer print or use the form for this credit that many have used in the past, called Form 2EC.
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Now, the credit must be claimed by filing Form 2, the main form for the Montana state income tax return; or, if you don’t have to file a return and you don’t wish to file a Form 2, you can still claim the credit online through our secure TransAction Portal, which you can find on our website. The easiest and most secure way The Senior Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit is worth up to $1,000, and you can qualify for it even if you’re not reuired to file an income tax return. © DESIGNER491, BIGSTOCK.COM. to file your return is electronically. of Revenue, we want filing to be as easy as There are several computer programs that possible and we want all Montanans to get can do this, as well as free or low-cost tax preparation help across the state for those the refund they deserve, as quickly as we can make it happen. who qualify. You can find these resources Montanans look out for each other, for online at revenue.mt.gov, or by calling our our families and especially our elders. Tax help line at (406) 444-6900. We know nobody is crazy about filing return filing should be no different. So, it’s important that Montanans make sure they their tax returns. At the Montana Department — and their loved ones — file, file early, and seek help filing if they need it. It keeps our state running, and it’s the Need help finding the Premier Health right thing to do. And the sooner you file, Insurance best Medicare policy the more quickly you’ll receive any refunds of Montana or credits you have due. to fit your needs? And then, you can get back to spoiling your grandchildren. MSN
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
Money Matters
PAGE 29
What Good Is a Power of Attorney if Your Bank Won’t Honor It? A FEW WORDS MAKE ALL THE DIFFEENCE the bank teller was correct in telling you that power of attorney is ineffective and can no longer be used on behalf of your father. In that case, in order to be able to act on behalf of your father, your only recourse would be to be named as your father’s guardian and conservator, which will require a court proceeding in the county where your father lives. I recommend that you meet with an estate planning attorney in your area who can verify what type of power of attorney your father created and, if necessary, represent you in petitioning the court to appoint you as your father’s guardian and conservator. MSN
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ESTATE LIQUIDATIONS • DOWNSIZING
BY JONATHAN J. DAVID (SENIOR WIRE) Dear Jonathan: My father named me as his agent under his power of attorney several years ago. My father is now totally incapacitated and I need to start acting on his behalf through that power of attorney. Last week I went to his bank to get information regarding his bank accounts, and the teller, who is a personal friend of my father and knows that he is disabled, told me I could not access that information with the power of attorney I had. He further stated that the only way I could access those accounts was if I had a different type of power of attorney known as a durable power of attorney. I am confused and very frustrated. If I cannot access my father’s accounts with the power of attorney he prepared, then what good is it? Jonathan Says: Based on the information you provided in your question, it appears that the power of attorney your father
prepared is a general power of attorney and not a durable power of attorney. This is an important distinction because a general power of attorney automatically becomes void and unusable upon a person’s incapacity. If your father is in fact totally incapacitated, meaning he no longer has mental capacity to make decisions for himself, then that general power of attorney would no longer be viable. A durable power of attorney is a specialized form of power of attorney, which survives an individual’s disability or incapacity. In order to be classified as a durable power of attorney, the power of attorney needs to have special language that states the power of attorney “shall not be affected by my disability or incapacity or by the lapse of time and it shall continue in effect until my death or until I revoke it in writing,” or language similar to that effect. If the power of attorney your father created is not a durable power of attorney, then
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PAGE 30
Spotlights
HISTORY • FEATURED AREA • NARRATIVES • HUMAN INTEREST • TRENDS
The Frantics Are Back
BY AARON PARRETT In the case of Billings psych-rock band The Frantics, it has taken 50 years for their 1968 album Birth to see the light of day. Recorded a half century ago in Norman Petty’s studios in Clovis, New Mexico (where Buddy Holly recorded), Birth never made it to record stores until April 2018. One European music critic, Alex Carretero, called Birth “Probably the greatest lost US psych album ever.”
Thanks to Dave Martens, who put the record out this year on Lost Sounds Montana, a reissue label based in Havre dedicated to the preservation of historic Montana recordings, the world finally has a chance to hear this astonishing and accomplished piece of Rockn-Roll history. The Frantics narrowly missed becoming a band as big as those they toured with, including The Yardbirds, The Young Rascals, and the Everly Brothers. The full list of their connections to the world’s great rock-n-roll acts reads like a Rolling Stone Magazine schematic chart of 1960s band history. The Frantics got their start in Billings. Mont., in the spring of 1964 at Eastern Montana College. The original members were Don Mock, Larry Krank, Vaughn Smith, and Max Byfuglin. In 1965, Don Kingery joined the band, taking over drumming duties so that Max Byfuglin could focus on being the lead singer. Later that year, Bill Kogolshak replaced Krank on bass, and Kim Sherman replaced Vaughan Smith on lead guitar. Sherman was a welcome addition, having achieved some notoriety in another local band called The Malibus, who enjoyed a regional hit with a song called “Mr. Malibu.”
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In early 1966, the Frantics recorded a 45 at Klier Sound Studio in Billings, “Route 66” with “La Do Da Da” on the B-side. They acquired a manager, Ray Ruff, who booked the band in venues well outside their home state. Over the next year, as the band made a name for themselves in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, they went through several lineup changes, eventually becoming a six-piece “psychedelic” rock band. By the time they began recording Birth in 1968, the “classic” lineup of The Frantics featured Phil “Gordo” Head on drums, Max Byfuglin on vocals, Jim Haas on keyboard, vocals, trumpet, Kim Sherman on lead guitar, David Day on bass, and Dennis Devlin on rhythm guitar. Between 1964 and 1967, The Frantics quickly rose to prominence as one of the most sought-after and promising bands in Montana. In 1967, along with a band called Initial Shock, they started touring nationally, sharing the stage with such acts as The Who, Jethro Tull, Love, The Yardbirds, and Alice Cooper, to name a few. Some of the highlights of those years recounted by the surviving members of the band involved a late-night jam session with
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
Journey through
Spotlights
PAGE 31
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PAGE 32
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Spotlights
FRANTICS ARE BACK / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30
Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison of The Doors, as well as crossing paths with the Beatles in a New York club. In recalling those years recently, bass player David Day remarked, “there was not a lot of hard rock bands in Montana, and The Frantics just had this mystique, this kind of charisma. After the tour in 1966, we had a San Francisco-style light show, and a more psychedelic sound. I’d say we sounded like Pink Floyd meets Led Zeppelin.” In 1968, Phil Head recommended the famous Norman Petty Studio in Clovis, N.M., as the place to cut their debut album, a landmark studio where not only Buddy Holly started his career, but Waylon Jennings and Roy Orbison as well. Petty rivaled Phil Spector as one of the great rock-n-roll producers, though psychedelic rock was a bit out of his wheelhouse. The band recorded a dozen tracks with Petty, but the contract they’d signed limited their access to the tapes unless a record label agreed to use them. When The Frantics did make a record deal a year later, the producers decided to have the band start over in a new studio, which meant that if the band wanted the Petty material, they’d have to foot the bill themselves. As a consequence, the original recordings for Birth would sit in the archive in Clovis for 50 years. In 1969, the band recorded a second record called Conception, which received some critical acclaim, but the record lacked the verve and originality of their earlier recordings. As
Martens pointed out, the second album only featured a few originals, and only two of the songs from the Norman Petty sessions made it on Conception. A year later, as the band’s shot at a major release failed to gain traction, the band decided to call it quits. But the members of The Frantics all went on to have tremendous success in other bands. David Day for example, formed a band in LA in 1972 called Whitehorse, whose lineup included a lead guitarist named Mick Mars, who would a few years later achieve great fame playing guitar for the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. When Mars joined the Crüe, he took a few of Whitehorse’s tricks with him, including the gimmick of having the drummer on stage play upside-down in a special kit. Jim Haas, meanwhile, went on to do studio session work for years, achieving his greatest notoriety as the fellow who sang the popular TV show Happy Days theme song. He also performed background vocals on the studio albums of dozens of acts, most famously for Pink Floyd’s album The Wall in 1979. In 1980-81, Haas toured with Pink Floyd as a backup singer and reprised his role when Roger Waters resurrected the famous The Wall show in 1990 in Berlin after the Berlin Wall came down. Sadly, Jim Haas died in April of 2018, a day before Birth finally made it to vinyl, 50 years after he had first sung on the original tracks. They may not have realized it at the time, but the members of the Frantics were making Rock & Roll history as one of the few 1960s bands from Montana to brush up against the
big time. The members have proud memories of their days in Santa Fe and L.A. “At the time I joined the band, I only knew that they were from Montana,” recalled Phil Head. “I had seen them perform in Pueblo, Colo., at the Fantastic Zoo and thought they were the best band I had ever seen. This
The Frantics backstage with Jimmy Page and Chris Dreja of The Yardbirds, August, 1966.
was the first time I’d seen what I consider a power band. Their energy and charisma were overwhelming.” Head also notes the band had an unparalleled work ethic. “We always made the gig,” recalls Phil Head in the liner notes to Birth. We broke down in one of the worst blizzards New Mexico had in a hundred years, [and] we broke down in the Mojave Desert. We broke down in Castle Rock, Colorado, in a snowstorm, and Larry hiked a good mile to the only gas station to get the parts we needed. We drove across South Dakota with a cracked wheel on the truck wobbling, but we made the gig. We always made the gig. We were opening for Jethro Tull and Richie Havens at the Aragon Ballroom, and hours before we were to go on, a drunk cop broke David’s finger and then arrested him...but we made the gig.”
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS And not only did they always make the gig, but they put on great shows. “The thing about a Frantics show,” David Day said, “is that people would be stunned. They would walk out afterward just stunned. It was that good.” Thanks to Dave Martens and his love of “lost” Montana music, the Frantics’ Birth has finally hit the music store shelves, much to the delight of local audiophiles. It’s a monument to the 1960s era and its affection for psychedelic sound and songwriting. It’s clearly an important artifact in the annals of Montana music history. The musicianship and sonic quality of the album is impressive — this is not some garage band who happened to cut a record on the cheap back in the day.
Kim Sherman’s lead guitar work is crisp and precise, and surprisingly melodic for the late 60s. Byfuglin and Haas generate some powerful vocal work as well. The overall effect is interesting, because the album sounds both fresh and contemporary in the psych genre, but it also feels a bit like a sonic time capsule. “It’s surprising how well that thing holds up 50 years later,” David Day noted recently. Martens started the Lost Sounds Montana record label in Missoula in 2011 along with some other DJs at the college radio station, KBGA. Martens later launched a popular website (lostsoundsmontana.bandcamp.com/music) where he archives hundreds of recordings of Montana musicians ranging from old school country like Boone and the Buckskins to The Frantics.
Spotlights
PAGE 33
According to Martens, the mission of Lost Sounds Montana is “to preserve, archive, showcase, and make accessible the music and associated history of Montana across the decades.” Bringing Birth to the world was a complicated and challenging effort, according to Martens. “The Norman Petty Estate, which manages the tape archive, very rarely allows recordings to be prepared for release,” he said. “Recently, through the work of people like Shawn Nagy, efforts have begun to restore, preserve, and release the entire archive. The Norman Petty Estate even resurrected the Nor-Va-Jak label, originally Petty’s in-house label, to fund this [The Frantics’ Birth] and future archival releases.” MSN
Accordion Lady BY ELLA MAE HOWARD You will not find any whimsical twists in this writing. There are no stories of family jokesters, no descriptions of family outlaws, no remembering the aunt who forgot to put sugar in the pumpkin pie. What you will find in this writing is passion, commitment, appreciation, and love. Usually my writings focus on one person, but this writing is about two people. The first person is the school teacher from Wyoming who fell in love with a budding Montana rancher, married him, and moved to the remote country southeast of Biddle,
Mont., and who brought into this marriage five children. The second person in this writing is the lady who knew her 59 year old husband was gone long before they arrived in Spearfish, S.D., even though the ambulance folks continued with their CPR efforts. The University of Wyoming educated school teacher sure had no idea that her life was about to take a different direction when she drove to southeastern Montana in 1970 for a summer visit with her brother, who was working on a ranch. But as she told me, “I felt comfo r t ab le w i t h m y fu t u r e i n -law s , t he y were good people, and I knew there
was no room for me at my family’s ranch in Wyoming.” In 1972, when fall showed up, the young brown-haired teacher did not return to her home at Moorcroft, Wyo., to teach at the Green River school where she had taught for the previous five years. Instead, she packed her clothes, a few personal possessions and her accordion, and started life as Mrs. Leland Brimmer. In harmony with the hills and tall pines that dominate the landscape of the Brimmer ranch, the new bride’s music spread deep roots into daily life. Like a well-worn winter CONTINUED ON PAGE 34
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Spotlights
ACCORDOAN LADY / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33
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coat, it was part of the new Mrs. Brimmer. It was her. “As a little girl, I remember always wanting to play accordion.” She and her father drove to the music store in Casper, Wyo., and came home with her accordion. It was a dream come true. “I still have it, the accordion Father and I bought in 1961.” She has two other push-and-pull boxes, but the used one her father bought overflows with memories and will always have top spot on the shelf. It’s been almost 60 years since that memorable trip to the Casper music store. Mrs. Brimmer has gained a few pounds, and her brown hair is streaked with some gray. At 73, her step is a bit more cautious, and her fingers don’t move around the accordion like they used to. “I can’t play polkas. My fingers are not fast enough,” she said. “I like the old-time country music, songs like ‘Have I Told You Lately,’ and ‘I Overlooked An Orchid.’ That’s my favorite.” At the local country dances, she and her husband, Leland, often requested the song. “We loved to dance to it.” This writer has precious little music ability, so when Mrs. Brimmer ran her fingers over the accordion, explaining how it works, how it’s a reed instrument and doesn’t get out of tune, and that it is put together with bees wax, I found myself lifting the pen off my note paper and focusing on the love that came pouring out of Mrs. Brimmer’s eyes,
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 the smile I hadn’t seen in the first part of our interview. I looked out the big picture window, tried to put together a picture of a young Mrs. Brimmer playing music as her little kids sat on the floor. It was that special moment I always look for in my writing.
Mrs. Leland Brimmer. PHOTO COURTESY OF S.LEANN BRIMMER.
Now, we put down the pen and leave the accordion lady behind. Oh, but first we need to give our accordion lady a name — Hilda Ann Brimmer. She’s the other lady in this writing, a woman who never missed a step in keeping
HERITAGE CLUB
the family business running when her husband passed 15 years ago. And the name of this remarkable lady — Hilda Ann Brimmer. In 2010, the Brimmer Ranch celebrated 100 years of existence. It started out as a homestead. Today, with the help of a daughter, Mrs. Brimmer keeps the sheep and cattle ranch going. “We had bought neighboring places as they came up for sale,” she said. “It wasn’t long after Leland passed that I bought another, which we had leased for 40 years. I took the bull by the horns and made it go.” She continued, “You know land is a good investment.” We walked amongst the sheep as family and neighbors docked the lambs. Mrs. Brimmer noted lamb prices should be good this year. She recalled years ago when she and Leland left the sale ring where they had watched their 125-pound lambs bring $30. “We looked at each other and asked why do we do this, but we kept plugging long, staying with the sheep.” Today, this stocky Estonian lady admits that when she runs out of groceries, she does not make a special trip to town, but she will right quick get in her old Suburban if they need vaccines or mineral for the animals and head out. Before they make any business decisions, Mrs. Brimmer visits with her daughter Leann. “We talk on the phone, or as our paths cross around the ranch,” she said. “Leann will say she has been thinking about a project, like a new water line in a pasture.” Mrs. Brimmer admits she is a cautious business person. “I am not shrewd. Look at my old Suburban; we don’t have new equipment. We run used stuff.”
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Accordion player Mrs. Leland Brimmer with her sheep. PHOTO BY ELLA MAE HOWARD.
When we first spoke, Mrs. Brimmer explained her place is primitive — no TV, no internet. Just a radio to get the morning news. “If you don’t have it, you don’t miss it, I accept that I can’t go to town: accept it and make the best of it,” she laughed. “I am not a person who gets bored. I have times when I feel overwhelmed and do not know what to do next, but I don’t get bored.” Mrs. Brimmer does all the books for the ranch. It’s a big job. “I know where we stand financially. I know all the details of a lien.” Indeed it was obvious from the short time we spent together, this woman knows
the sheep and cattle business. She pointed to the short fine grass growing amongst the tall pines. The sheep do well on this grass and on the gumbo prairie of our summer pasture. By the time October comes around, the lambs are good-sized, very desirable in the marketplace. But the wool is good, too. Wool sheared from the ewes brings in part of the income. According to Mrs. Brimmer, the ewes have good clean fleeces in this country. “We are working on the genetics to produce finer wool.” Leann is a sheep person and has been since her toddling days. She lives and breathes sheep. Loves the shearing work. She is a world-class wool evaluator, as good as anyone in the business. The Brimmer Ranch must continue and never be sold, Mrs. Brimmer insisted. Hilda Ann Brimmer is her name, but that twinkle came to her eye when she told me, “Most folks call me Annie. They don’t know me as Hilda.” This writer prefers “Hilda.” Hilda who told me about the best part of family Christmas was when Leland would hook the team to the sled to go looking for a Christmas tree; who told me that it was playing the accordion and piano everyday that kept her going when Leland died. MSN
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But my father said we were fortunate, and that’s what my brother and I believed. Growing up it was not unusual to find a tattered vagrant sitting at our breakfast table. My father, who preached to us about the dangers of hitchhiking, would pick up strangers on the road—bring them home, and give them a cot to sleep on in our basement. In the morning mother would prepare them a hot, breakfast and a bagged lunch. Then my father would slip a five dollar bill into their hand, which was a great deal of money for us back in the early ‘50s, and drive them to some destination. When my brother grew up and moved to Manhattan, NY he regularly filled large shopping bags with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples, oranges and bananas, and walked the streets handing out food to the homeless. As a teenager I traveled by bus to a neighboring town where I worked summers, without pay, in an orphanage. In our family, doing for others was not viewed as something special. In today’s complex, dot-com world of two-paycheck families, high-interest payments, endless carpooling, supermarket lines, and time-consuming hightech communication devices, we barely have time to do for ourselves, much less doing for others. But, there is a simple way to teach our children that we are not solely self-involved. In many Jewish homes, you will find a tzedakah box, which is a piggy bank. All end-of-the-day loose change from family members’ purses and pockets is placed in this bank. When the bank is full, the contents are donated to a synagogue, a church, or individuals in need of assistance. It’s an invaluable example to set for our children. Maintaining the spirit of tzedakah throughout the entire year not only has the power to enrich the lives of recipients; it intensifies the quality of each contributor’s life as well. MSN
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Cover Story
Honoring Veterans BY DIANNA TROYER December weather cannot chill the fervor volunteers for Wreaths Across America (WAA) feel in honoring deceased veterans during the holiday season. Idahoans and Montanans are among more than a million volunteers who will dress veterans’ headstones with wreaths at 1,400 of the nation’s cemeteries on December 15. Each wreath is laid with names of the deceased spoken aloud. Since 1992, WAA has evolved from a few individuals placing wreaths at headstones of the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery to a national nonprofit organization with an army of volunteers on a mission — to remember the fallen, to honor those who serve and their families, and to teach children the value of freedom. Last year , the national cemetery Charmain Lindgren places a wreath to honor POW/MIAs during had nearly 245,000 an indoor ceremony in Helena, Mont. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTANA POW/MIA AWARENESS ASSOCIATION. wreaths on display over the holiday season. This year, volunteers will place an anticipated 5,000 wreaths at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise. In Helena, Montana’s capital city, 600 are expected for the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Wreaths will be on display for about a month, until volunteers retire them the third Saturday in January. How do volunteers accomplish their daunting task, and what sparked their passion? Tamara Earp, 46, of Boise, Idaho, and Linda Juvik, 66, of Helena, Mont., organize the annual holiday labors of love in their respective states and share their insights.
Volunteers in Helena, Mont., place wreaths for deceased veterans. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTANA POW/MIA AWARENESS ASSOCIATION.
IDAHO To coincide with the WAA ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery at noon, Boise’s program begins at 10 a.m., allowing for the two-hour time difference. “We had about 75 volunteers the first year in 2014 and last year had an amazing 500 to 600 volunteers of all ages,” Earp said. “When I see the truck coming with our wreaths, I can’t help but get excited because we’re honoring veterans and their families. I love it and meeting all the families. A lot of non-military families participate, too, so it’s an opportunity to teach children about veterans’ service and sacrifices.” Her husband, James, 46, is the director at the cemetery. After he retired from Fort Bragg with a 20-year career with the Army, the Earps moved to Boise, where Jim worked as a veteran service officer and eventually was hired to manage the cemetery. The wreaths are placed in designated areas throughout the grounds, where more than 7,000 veterans are interred. Headstones occupy one section of the grounds, while elsewhere are a columbarium, scatter garden, and wall, as well as upright and flat memory markers throughout. “We place wreaths at each section and let volunteers pick which headstones to place a wreath at,” she said. “Seeing the community support for this event is awe-inspiring.” MONTANA At Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison, 3,169 veterans and 1,101 spouses are interred. The Post Chapel ceremony begins at 10 a.m. with each wreath honoring five veterans.
Thousands of wreaths are placed at headstones at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. Volunteers say the name of the deceased aloud when placing a wreath. PHOTO COURTESY TAMARA EARP.
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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Over the Holidays “The community has been so supportive sponsoring wreaths and volunteering the day of the ceremony,” said Juvik, a member of the Montana POW/MIA Awareness Association. “We put the wreaths at the cemetery’s center circle on wooden stands, each holding 20 wreaths.” Along with the association and the Helena community, other participants include members of the local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and The American Legion and its Auxiliary. Juvik’s husband, Dick, 69, is a Vietnam War veteran and president of the association. He built the original 16 wreath stands for the memorial. A Boy Scout who helped with the ceremony in 2016 was so impressed that he built 10 more stands for his Eagle Scout community service project, to use in 2017. Dick built an additional four stands this year, hoping to secure sponsorships for 600 wreaths. The program has grown steadily every year with wreath donations and volunteers of all ages. The first year, volunteers placed 146 wreaths. In 2016, they placed 227. Last year, that number doubled, with 452 wreaths on display at the memorial. The event begins with a ceremony in the Post Chapel, where wreaths are presented for each branch of the military as well as one for POW/MIAs. Gold Star Families will also be honored with their own special wreath. “Boy Scouts place a white carnation in the wreath, one for each of the 43 Montanans killed in action in the Middle East after September 11, 2001, and the name is spoken,” Juvik said. After the ceremony, participants place the wreaths in the Chapel’s adjoining cemetery.
Money raised for this event goes to honor Montana veterans at their funerals. For every sponsored wreath, WAA gives $5 to the Montana POW/MIA Awareness Association. “We use that money to give a remembrance coin and packet of forget-me-not seeds to the family of each deceased veteran [for] whose funeral we stand [in] a flag line,” Juvik said. “We invite people to come honor veterans with us.”
Diane Carlson Evans participates in a ceremony at the Post Chapel before going to the cemetery in Helena, Mont. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTANA POW/MIA AWARENESS ASSOCIATION.
AWESTRUCK IN ARLINGTON: WAA ORIGINS WAA traces its origins to the boyhood of Morrill Worcester, when he stood in the national cemetery as a 12-year-old. After winning a contest delivering newspapers, he accepted the prize of touring Washington D.C. Awestruck in Arlington, he vowed to do what he could one day to honor the veterans there. After starting a wreath company in Maine, he had leftovers one year and drove with them and volunteers to the cemetery.
They dressed the headstones, launching his nonprofit. Fundraising is a year-round effort. Individuals can order wreaths online for $15 apiece (www.waa.org). Donors may designate a fundraising group and cemetery where their wreaths will be on display. MSN For more information, contact Tamara Earp at 208.995.1640 or Linda Juvik at 406.442.0493.
Families, local organizations, community members, and Boy Scouts honor deceased veterans during the holidays. PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTANA POW/MIA AWARENESS ASSOCIATION.
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Saving Roundup’s Historic Central School When the bond was passed to build a new school in 2014, the school board gave the BY SUZANNE WARING community three years to formulate a plan for the building, which is on the National Historic In Montana old buildings are a part of the state’s history. If we take care of our Register, or it would be demolished. A group important old buildings instead of demolorganized to save the building by creating a new purpose for it was organized. ishing them, we can pass them down to our This is the type of building that Architect children and grandchildren as one way to Randy Hafer of High Plains Architects in pass on our heritage. Billings gets excited about. As he has developed his thinking during his career, he has found himself standing for an architecture that should improve the world. “I believe that there are many ways to protect our planet from human wear and tear and to improve it for future generations,” he said. In 2008 when his company was growing out of its office, Hafer bought and repurposed a former saloon built in 1893. By using natural Central School in Roundup, Montana. air flow to ventilate the building, insulation PHOTO BY SUZANNE WARING. for more energy efficiency, rainwater collected from the roof and filtered in the basement for The beautiful Central School in Roundup, the water system, and natural light that called Mont., is an example of a building that should for infrequent artificial lighting usage, Hafer be kept and repurposed. proved to himself that these strategies to The Central School was built of nearby decrease their footprint on the environment quarried sandstone in two phases. In 1911, the could work. first phase consisted of nine rooms, considThe building received The Leadership in ered now as the west wing. By 1913 the number Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) of children enrolled grew, and the east wing Platinum certification from the U.S. Green was built. It was a building for which the Building Council in June 2009. community was proud. Hafer has completed 12 LEED Platinum Brick additions were added in 1962 and buildings, 10 certified historic tax credits 1974. These additions are now being used for projects, and he has been the recipient of a Senior Citizens’ lunchroom, the Food Bank, numerous green building and historic restoand a thrift store, but the core school house ration awards. stands empty. As he has repurposed old buildings, Hafer has been successful with using “green” concepts and knows they John Jeff McPartlin will be useful with Broker - Owner United States Navy Seal future sustainable projects like the From one senior to another... Gregory Michael Central School. It would be my honor to help McPartlin As the developer with your real estate needs. of the Central School jeff@mcpartlinrealty.com Project, Hafer has [Office] 406-453-4388 2300 12th Ave S, Ste 120 formed a Limited [Cell] 406-899-5556 Great Falls Partnership (LP) and is selling 25 shares at $25,000 each. He plans to
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remodel Central School into two types of uses: apartments on the two upper floors and neighborhood commercial spaces on the lower two floors. Market research has shown that there is a need for both. The building exterior will retain its historic appearance, while the interior will be remodeled and become energy efficient with solar power providing much of the electricity necessary for occupants in the building. Hafer estimates the total cost of this project will be around $2.4 million. When the plan called for people directly involved to invest beyond most individuals’ investment resources, an informal citizen committee in Roundup, with the assistance of the Snowy Mountain Development Authority and the Montana Cooperative Development Center, started putting together a rural investment cooperative association, the first in Montana.
Randy and Janna Hafer, owners of High Plains Architects, located in Billings, Mont. PHOTO BY SUZANNE WARING.
An investment co-op can be a tool to help rural communities combine their resources to save important heritage buildings, among other purposes, while building an economic base. Since the investment in this instance is $1000 per common or preferred share, more people of modest means can invest in the Central School project. In July a steering committee was appointed, and the co-op proposal was on its way to fruition. Naming the initiative the Musselshell Rural Investment Cooperative, the steering committee is thinking beyond the Central School to other projects up and down the Musselshell River. In this case, the cooperative will invest with the developer in $25,000 increments. Enough subscribers have stepped forward, so the co-op can buy one and possibly two shares and will elect a board of directors, vote on the bylaws, and vote on which projects to invest in. Both common shares and preferred shares are available. Specifically, a member of a Rural Investment Cooperative can purchase one common share that
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS provides the member one vote at each election. Any number of preferred shares can be purchased, but with the purchase of preferred shares, the individual does not have additional voting rights. A business or organization incorporated under Montana’s corporate statutes can join a cooperative as a member-owner. Shareholders may have addresses outside of Montana as well as within the state. In this way, a larger pool of resources and participants may assist in rural development with assets that are key to community and economic revitalization. Although annual returns to members on the co-op’s investment would be modest — not exceeding the 6-percent threshold established
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by Montana law, the benefits to the community would exceed any monetary gain. In addition, the apartments and office suites that will become available will meet the needs of a variety of businesses and individuals in that part of Montana. To learn more about investing in or the progress of the Musselshell Rural Investment Cooperative, call Wendy Beye at 406-320-2732. To learn more about investing with the developer, call Randy Hafer at 406-896-0250. Investing in projects like the future of the Roundup Central School will help rural towns continue to grow and thrive while retaining concrete evidence of Montana’s heritage. MSN
Montana Pioneer Dentist Elma Brockman BY SUZANNE WARING Elma Brockman’s life had already been filled with adventure when she headed east on a train into Montana from Spokane in 1899. Little did she know that her life would soon take even another turn. Elma was born in Kansas in 1876 to Mary and John H. Brockman, who was a farmer and was receiving a Civil War pension. In 1882 when she was 5-years old, she and her family, which included an older sister and brother, Fanny and David Richard, took a nine-day trip on an immigrant train from St. Joseph, Mo., to San Francisco, Calif. From there they took a ship — since there were no trains — to the Northwest and settled in McMinnville, Ore. Later they moved to the Spokane area where her father ranched, and her mother owned a millinery shop. In addition to making hats, her mother was a skilled photographer. Elma and her brother became interested in dentistry and attended Western Dental School in Kansas City, Mo. They both graduated in the same class of 1899. Elma received honors for operative dentistry. Later her older sister, Fanny, also became a dentist after studying at the Western Dental School.
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Elma practiced a short while in Washington but decided Montana needed dentists, so she became a “pioneer” dentist. She was in the first class to sit for examination with the Montana Dental Examiners. The day she headed east on the train, Elma was riding in a Pullman car the family had purchased. She and her brother planned to practice dentistry along the railroad line of northern Montana. They had living quarters along with their dental Elma Brockman Arnette on the left and her sister, Fanny. office and a photography lab in PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CULBERTSON MUSEUM. the Pullman car. Following their mother’s interest, they would also do photography in the communities where they stopped to practice dentistry.
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SPOTLIGHTS
MONTANA PIONEER DENTIST / CONT’D FROM PG 39
When they had completed all the work at one town, they would hitch onto a train and move on to another community. For example, an August 9, 1903 edition of the Great Falls Tribune reported that “Dr. D. R. Brockman is here with his dental car and will be here about a week.” All together, the Brockman family used the Pullman car for 14 years. It was in the town of Culbertson that Elma’s life took that big turn. She met Frank Arnette, who was 11 years older than she. Frank was born in Illinois on August 8, 1865. When he was 15, he journeyed alone on the steamboat, the Far West, to join his uncle, Henry Sieben, on a ranch near Helena, where he learned about the cattle industry. After working on ranches in several areas of the state, he moved in 1898 to Culbertson, where he was the foreman of the Bar Diamond Ranch, located across the Missouri River from Culbertson. He co-owned the ranch with a man by the name of Beach and his uncle, Henry Sieben. At 1,600 acres plus 10 sections of state land under lease, it was the largest ranch in the area and edged on the river and otherwise had an 18-mile stretch of wire fencing.
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 Being a big cattleman, Frank was soon recognized for his leadership qualities and became the president of the bank in Culbertson as well as a state legislator for Valley County. During his ranching years in Culbertson, Frank also showed that the area could raise crops. He was a pioneer at irrigating in the region. Frank and Elma were married in Spokane on June 6, 1900, and took up life as ranchers in Culbertson. She had been practicing dentistry, but she discontinued that work after she married, except for the dental care of the employees of their ranch and nearby ranches. In 1908, they built a bungalow home and included a dental parlor in the floor plan. Throughout the years, Fanny and D.R. also practiced in Culbertson and nearby communities, and, at times, used Elma’s dental parlor. Fanny once said that “Painless extractions were the worst thing that had happened to her profession because people always preferred a painless extraction over a painful filling.” Elma and Frank had two daughters, Rowena and Wilma. While leading the life of a rancher’s wife, Elma was also active in the women’s rights campaign. In 1914, when Montana women won the right to vote, she met in Helena with others who were campaigning for the cause. As
A Laxative, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, and Lemon Juice BACK TO THE BEAUTY BASICS BY KAREN WHITE-WALKER
(SENIOR WIRE) Don’t you just marvel at people (we mustn’t ever call them exaggerators or liars) who claim that getting more wrinkled and saggier is all part of the natural aging process, and we should be mighty grateful for having made it this far in life? I bet the plastic surgery industry reels when they hear rubbish like that. After all, we live in such a youth-oriented society, and how dare 25-year-olds look younger and fresher than 55 year olds? And who’s going to tell God that His plan is all a little lopsided? Not I! Tell me I’m not prejudiced against my own gender, but when I think of vanity, I envision mainly women sneaking off for tummy tucks, breast implants, liposuction, facelifts, and whatever else is out there that guarantees skin so tight and taunt, it has all the trademarks of a trampoline. Heaven help any poor mosquito that might light on that skin’s surface — it will be propelled clear into outer space!
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a professional in an era where there were few professional women, she let her voice be heard. In 1924, Frank died of cancer in the Glendive Hospital. After that Elma again took up her dental profession, used the office in her home, and built a “splendid” practice. Altogether, she practiced dentistry in Montana for 36 years. She also oversaw the farm and ranch, often leasing land to renters. In 1934, after a temporary stop in Florida, she moved to Spokane and lived with her sister. During the next 15 years, she served as the laboratory technician for Fanny’s dental office. She died August 1947 at her sister’s home after a long illness. Elma Brockman Arnette was among the many pioneers who helped mold Montana into the wonderful progressive state that it is today. By being a voice for woman’s suffrage and by providing dentistry to a community that might have gone without, she stepped forward to share her knowledge and position at a time when these attributes were critically needed. Visit the display depicting Elma Brockman Arnette’s life at the Culbertson Museum. MSN
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
© KEITH HOMAN, BIGSTOCK.COM.
Funny, but years ago when I was a young girl, the only beauty treatment was taking a good laxative to clean out the impurities in your system, and then your healthy, pretty glow came back into your now pinkish cheeks. Vaseline pure petroleum jelly was applied to our eyelashes for that dewy-eyed look, and lemon juice was used for our final hair rinse. I tell ya, for a few pennies, girls back then looked like a million bucks! My sources tell me (no, I don’t have connections with the CIA, FBI, or KGB) that more and more older men are going in for facelifts, chin implants, male breast reduction, and hair implants. For those poor balding, misguided guys who can’t afford hair implants or even cheap toupees, they just take their longest hair strands and drape them over their barest spots. Poor darlings. Don’t they realize they’re calling more attention to their loss? Actually there are a lot of women who think balding or completely bald men are terribly sexy, and instead of those men being humble and displaying a little couth, they puff up their chests and boastfully announce, “You bet your sagging
SPOTLIGHTS
boobies, ladies, I’m bald, and ya wanna know why? From performing somersaults in bed!” Tell me I’m not dense, but what exactly does THAT mean? I have an idea because writers are blessed (or is it cursed?) with vivid imaginations, so if you’re cursed (or is it blessed?), don’t expect me to explain. Besides, those braggarts look like they couldn’t bend over to remove the lint from their bellybuttons. There are those secure men and women who will come out with highly impressive statements like, “I’ve earned every gray hair on my head, and the sagging frown on this puss of mine, and I’m not hiding them from the world. ” But just go snooping into their medicine cabinet and there they all are: Clairol, Just For Men, anti-wrinkle cream, and firming foam. Try peeking into my bathroom and you’ll find, hiding behind Preparation H that I use for puffy eyes, a little harmless looking applicator that’s a roll-on lip enhancer. When applied, it makes your mouth feel like it has just been attacked by a swarm of bees. So what if the sting smarts so much that it makes your eyes and nose run, at least the pay-off is fuller, more sensuous looking lips—like I should really care at my age—but I do. And girls, you know what happens if we should have one of those “bad hair days,” there isn’t a talented enough hairdresser alive today who could ever make it right. Right? Oh, I’ll tell you that inner beauty is far more important, and it really is, but like almost everybody, I’ll say one thing and sometimes mean another. I never thought at this age I would become a lousy hypocrite. I thought that as we aged we would become more genuine, and the heck with all that surface stuff. It’s not the aging process that’s forcing me to be real; it’s our fluctuating economy that is making me face tough choices and getting life’s priorities straight
PAGE 41
— expensive make-up or meat for the week? Hair coloring with highlights or gas for the car? Electrolysis for my mustache and chin hairs, or a quick shave with my late husband’s razor? He used to say what every aging woman longs to hear. “You’ll always be beautiful in my eyes, ‘kid.’” Of course, when he said that the poor dear had cataracts in both eyes, but they couldn’t have come at a better time, because my looks were fading faster than those around me. Meanwhile, it’s back to the basics — a laxative, Vaseline petroleum jelly, and lemon juice. For those out there who can see clearly, they’ll think I’m a natural beauty! MSN
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PAGE 42
Nutrition
FOOD•HOLISTIC•WELLNESS•LONGEVITY•PREVENTION
7 Life-Saving Reasons You Should Eat Cauliflower bagged this stuff BY SUZY COHEN decades ago! Anyway, the cauliflower holds up (SENIOR WIRE) I was eating dinner with my husband, Sam, and remarkably well, even having homemade chicken soup with a slice of sourdough bread and melted butter. It was simple and delicious. We ate silently. Toward days later. It acts just like rice except with the end of the meal, he said, “We always eat our soup and bread cauliflower, you get silently because we are mentally calculating how to time the last the most incredible bite so it’s perfect.” health benefits. It’s LOL! So true. We usually chatter during meals and tell funny stories, but when soup and bread hit the table, it all goes to silence. I like to a crucifer, like its Cauliflower may be used as a rice substitute in soups, and you green cousins broctime my last bite so it’s soup (to wash down the bread). get the most incredible health benefits. It contains the same coli and Brussels Regardless, about this homemade chicken soup ... that’s what I cancer-fighting properties as broccoli and brussels sprouts. sprouts, so it has the really want to talk about. Tonight we made it differently with peas © JOLLIER, BIGSTOCK.COM. same cancer-fighting instead of celery (because you need something green) and with red onions instead of white ones. We used shredded cauliflower instead properties. I want you to start cooking with cauliflower. Here’s why. Cauliflower contains sulforaphanes, the compound that of rice, which was the biggest and most pleasant surprise, because I gives it a funky sulfur smell. This compound has been isolated didn’t think it would actually work. You can buy shredded cauliflower now in bags, in the proand studied. It clearly demonstrates cancer-fighting promise, duce department of your grocery store. Someone should have especially for breast, prostate, and other reproductive cancers. This has been shown repeatedly, in both animal models and test tube studies. Cauliflower contains antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals. There are many, but among the more recognizable, we find quercetin, vitamin K, vitamin C, beta-carotene and kaempferol. That last one is Comfortable & Affordable Apartments incredible. It’s rarely talked about but kaempferol has evidence behind it to show that it can block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Now Accepting Applications for Seniors! 62+ production in your body and “suppress ovarian cancer cell metastasis in vitro” according to one research study. Another article suggests kaempferol could interact with estrogen receptors on the cell and slow growth of cancer! • Income Based Rent, HUD 202 PRAC • On-Site Parking Cauliflower protects your bones. It is a rich, natural source of • On-Site Community Administrator • Mailboxes on Premises vitamin K and C, as well as minerals like potassium, manganese • Service Coordinator to connect • Utilities included and phosphorus. you with resources • Community Room Available Cauliflower gives you a low-carb alternative to digestible • Free On-Site Laundry fiber. It will help you achieve regular bowel movements, while Call (406) 248-9117 or (800) 253-4091 TTY eliminating toxins stuck in the deep crevices of your gut. In 1439 Main Street • Billings fact, sulforaphanes and glucosinolates found in cauliflower fight Helicobacter pylori, and that fact alone should reduce your risk of colon cancer. Cauliflower contains I3C (Indole 3 Carbinol) which helps metabolize estrogen into anti-cancer by-products and that’s good for both men and women. I3C has been studied for its role in cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis. If you’d like to get Premier Affordable Senior Housing some of my recipes using cauliflower, sign up for my newsletter and I’ll email them to Quality, Rent Subsidized Housing for Seniors Ages 62+ you (suzycohen.com). MSN
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Nutrition
PAGE 43
Light Bites for Healthier Holidays
(FAMILY FEATURES) For those who are always on the go leading up to the holidays, the season can feel more like madness than merrymaking. From planning get-togethers to building out a perfect menu for the events, there can be difficulties for hosts and guests alike to ensure proper nutrition is still top of mind. Instead of sacrificing taste or eating less, aim for simple changes that give you the energy to power through the busy season. For example, instead of opting for a carb-loaded breakfast in the morning, try a low-carb Milk Chocolate Protein Muffin, which takes just a few minutes of prep and microwave time. The quick cook time leaves you with ample opportunities to run errands or divvy up precious seconds toward other activities, while the protein can fuel you for the day ahead. Almost nothing beats warm soup on a chilly day, and Butternut Squash and Pear Soup provides feel-good flavor without weighing you down. Finally, when snacks are on the mind — as it tends to happen when constantly on the go — Coconut Muesli Clusters are simple to make and won’t undo the nutritious efforts you’ve made throughout the day. This full menu of tasty recipes is part of the Atkins low-carb lifestyle, a long-term, healthy eating approach focused on high-fiber carbohydrates, optimal protein, and healthy fats. The plan also aims to reduce levels of refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and the “hidden sugar effect” — when carbohydrates convert to sugar when digested. You don’t see the sugar, but your body does. Find more ways to live healthier during the holidays and learn more about the benefits of a balanced, low-carb lifestyle at Atkins.com.
Milk chocolate protein muffin. © GETTY IMAGES.
Coconut Muesli Clusters. © GETTY IMAGES.
MILK CHOCOLATE PROTEIN MUFFIN Recipe courtesy of Atkins Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 1 minute Servings: 1 << 2 tablespoons full-fat cream cheese << 1 egg << 3 tablespoons Atkins Milk Chocolate Protein Powder << 1/4 teaspoon baking powder << 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon << 1 dash salt 1. In a microwave-safe mug, heat cream cheese 10-15 seconds to soften. Add egg and blend briskly using a fork. 2. Add protein powder, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; blend until smooth. 3. Microwave on high for 1 minute. The muffin will puff up then deflate slightly once done. Remove from the mug and enjoy warm.
COCONUT MUESLI CLUSTERS Recipe courtesy of “Atkins: Eat Right, Not Less” Active time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Servings: 8 << olive oil spray << 1 cup plain protein powder << 1/2 cup unsalted sunflower or pumpkin seeds << 1 cup whole raw pecans << 1 cup unsweetened whole flake shredded coconut << 1/2 cup chia seeds or ground flaxseeds << 1 tablespoon stevia << 2 teaspoons cinnamon << 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric << 1 tablespoon coconut oil << 1 tablespoon peanut butter << 1 teaspoon vanilla extract << 2 large eggs << 1/4 cup water CONTINUED ON PAGE 44
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 LIGHT BITES / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43
1. Heat oven to 350 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, coat with olive oil spray, and set aside. 2. In large bowl, mix together protein powder, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, pecans, coconut, chia seeds or flaxseeds, stevia, cinnamon and turmeric. 3. In large skillet, combine coconut oil, peanut butter and vanilla extract; melt completely then stir in nut mixture. Turn heat off and add eggs and water, tossing well. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and spread mixture in layer about 1/2-inch thick. 4. Bake 10-15 minutes until mixture starts to brown and clumps together to make clusters. Cool completely on baking sheet then store in airtight container, refrigerated, up to 1 week. Mention This Ad
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Butternut squash and pear soup. © GETTY IMAGES.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PEAR SOUP Recipe courtesy of Atkins Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Servings: 6 << 1 tablespoon unsalted butter << 1 medium (2 1/2-inch diameter) onion, chopped << 2 pounds butternut winter squash, cubed << 1 medium pear, sliced, plus additional, for garnish (optional) << 1 teaspoon curry powder << 1/2 teaspoon salt << 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper << 5 cups chicken broth << 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice << 1/2 cup heavy cream nutmeg (optional) 1. In large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and saute until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add squash, pear, curry powder, salt and white pepper; saute 3 minutes. 2. Increase heat to high and add chicken broth. Bring to boil then reduce heat to low; simmer 20-25 minutes, uncovered, until cubed squash is very tender. Allow to cool about 10-15 minutes. 3. In blender or food processor, puree soup in batches until smooth. Return pureed soup to pot and add lemon juice and heavy cream. Stir soup over low heat until hot. Garnish with additional sliced pears and sprinkle of nutmeg, if desired. MSN
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PAGE 45
Fitness
STRENGTH•EXERCISE•MOVEMENT•FLEXIBILITY•MOBILITY
Move Slowly and More Mindfully PILATES EXERCISE PROGRAMS HELP PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
BY CARRIE SCOZARRO Pilates instructor Perrey Sobba figures at least half the members of her Kalispell-based Space Pilates are over 50, including Mike Fanning, who at age 82 does an impressive “plank.” Looking like the upward part of a pushup, the plank position is one of many exercises utilized in Pilates and other low-impact exercise programs gaining favor with audiences of all ages, especially seniors. “One of the reasons I love the practice so much is that it is wonderful for everyone,” said Sobba, “from young athletes to pregnant women and those recovering from injury.” Pilates can help on many levels, she adds, ranging from an improved golf game to reduced pain to recovery from injury. “For the older generation, it helps with maintaining deep core strength (especially pelvic floor), building muscle tone through resistance training without the full body impact on the joints, creating length and flexibility in the spine and body, and keeping bone density (especially important for women and those dealing with osteoporosis),” said Sobba, a lifelong athlete originally from Whitefish, Mont., who discovered Pilates as an international figure skater. Special considerations for seniors include orthopedic problems — hip or knee replacements, spinal and shoulder issues — as well as loss of balance, flexibility, and strength, said Susan Chapman Caswell, who runs Sandpoint, Idaho-based Xhale Pilates Studio with business partner, Corrina Barrett. Pilates, according to the Mayo Clinic, was invented in the 1920s consisting of “low-impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Pilates emphasizes proper postural alignment, core strength, and muscle balance.” Similar to yoga, Pilates movements have names — Leg Circle, RollUp, CrissCross — most of which are self-explanatory, yet just moving your body parts isn’t enough and
Mike Fanning, 82, does a plank at Space Pilates in Kalispell, Mont. PHOTO COURTESY SPACE PILATES.
might even be harmful, especially to people with injuries or who are advanced in age. Instead, people need to practice mindful movement, said Melissa “Missy” DodgeHutchins, a Master Pilates and 500-level yoga
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teacher based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she owns Metta Movement. “Mindful movement is being aware of where you are in space, where you initiate your movement from, how that initiation causes patterns in your musculoskeletal system to manifest, and how to decrease pain and increase performance,” said Dodge, whose background includes teaching Pilates at the University of Utah, as well as neuromuscular re-education for a Salt Lake City physical therapist. People with wrist issues, for example, such as those caused by carpal tunnel or arthritis, would need to modify the plank to limit bearing weight on affected areas, said
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PAGE 46
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Fitness
MOVE SLOWLY / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45
Dodge. Modifications for knee replacements might include using a stretchy band to limit range-of-motion. “In the Pilates world it’s called movement disassociation and is a skill one must work on,” said Dodge. “It does not necessarily come naturally.” Another significant benefit of Pilates (or any form of exercise that increases awareness of the body), said Caswell, is that it allows seniors to participate more fully in their favorite activities, eventually becoming ingrained into everyday movement.
And, she added, Pilates classes get you connecting with likeminded individuals, not just of your age, but all ages. Group classes can be a wonderful way for people to get exercise, yet the sheer volume of people in a class might mean seniors don’t get the individual attention they need, cautioned Dodge-Hutchins. Do your homework, advised the instructors we profiled, and be sure to inform him or her of specific injuries, limitations, concerns, etc., especially in a small-class setting or — better yet — one-on-one. “It’s a good idea to find a trained professional who can assist in moving in an intelligent and mindful way in order to stay healthy, rehab from an injury, and/or increase performance,” said Dodge. MSN
If You Can’t Do These Movements, You’re In Trouble BY WINA STURGEON, ADVENTURE SPORTS WEEKLY (TNS) As humans grow older, their lives usually get less physical. Those 55 and older do a lot more sitting. They are much less active. The problem with this is that important ranges of motion can be lost, the joints and muscles atrophied by lack of use. Bodies become stiff. The stiffness makes it harder, even more painful, to do the same simple movements that were done without even thinking about years ago. This is much more serious than merely being out of shape. Someone once said, “Age reels you in.” This is an apt description of what happens over the years if you allow it to happen. Do you wonder if your own ability to move is older than you are? Three simple movements will answer that question for you. The first is, as mentioned, a simple move. It consists of sitting down on the floor. Don’t lean against anything. Don’t have anyone lower you down. Just get into a sitting position on the floor without any help. Once seated, draw your legs up or stretch them out straight
in front of you, whichever is most comfortable. Keep your back straight. The second movement is just as simple; it’s even easier, actually. Stand up. Simply stand up, without anyone grabbing your hand to pull you up, or using any object other than the floor to get upright again. It’s something you do many times a day from a chair, couch, or other seat. The third part of this test is also a simple move: While sitting in a chair, or on a couch, put your head on or between your knees. It’s the classic position for someone who is feeling faint or dizzy and has nowhere to stretch out and lay down. Can you do all three? If not, that shows that you have lost a lot of your flexibility and range of motion. In fact, you were probably surprised to learn that you can no longer get your body to do these movements. They were always easy when you were younger. However, with a little practice, you will be able to do the ‘Three position challenge.’ The range of motion you will regain more than makes up for the efforts you will have to make to accomplish this task. No one would ever choose to be ‘fragile’ in their 70’s or 80’s, and these exercises will help you avoid that fate.
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Here are the reasons why it’s important to be able to do these three movements: The sit-down-on-the-floor move uses nearly every muscle and joint in your lower body and several muscles in your torso. The stand-up-again move not only tests but improves your agility and coordination. If you are unable to put your head on or between your knees, that shows that your lack of activity has caused your spine to contract. The shrinking of the spine is one of the major reasons we get shorter as we age. TIPS TO HELP YOU DO THESE THREE MOVEMENTS For sitting down, go to a kneeling position, turn onto one hip and one elbow, turn your knees up and push yourself into a sitting position with your back straight and your legs in a comfortable position. For standing up, lean sideways onto one hip and one elbow, draw your legs into a kneeling position again, and stand up. Some folks who haven’t made moves of this sort in many years may get leg cramps while practicing. The mineral supplement potassium gluconate can help stop leg cramps. When doing the spinal stretch of bending your head to your knees, be very gentle, and stop at the slightest sign of pressure or pain in your backbone. Easy does it with this movement. MSN Wina Sturgeon is an active 55+ based in Salt Lake City, who offers news on the science of anti-aging and staying youthful at adventuresportsweekly. com. She skates, bikes and lifts weights to stay in shape.
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
Fitness
PAGE 47
To All the Fitness Fads I Loved Before BY AMY LAUNDRIE (SENIOR WIRE) I admit it. I’m fickle. I can get caught up in exercise fads, buy equipment, and then, after the newness leaves, the new toys sit. I recently tried to get rid of a stationary © TILER84, BIGSTOCK.COM bike. “Pedal,” as I’d affectionately named her years ago, sat in an upstairs bedroom for over a year without her wheels rotating once. Our relationship had started off passionately enough, but it quickly waned. Hoping to get those sparks back, I bought a DVD that showed the gorgeous Irish countryside, so, as I pedaled, I could forget I was sitting inside cranking away on a stationary bike. Alas, the DVD didn’t work. Apathy set in stronger than ever. To soothe my spirit, I YouTubed Julio Iglesias singing “To All the Girls I Loved Before.” I listened again, focusing in on one stanza in particular. The winds of change are always blowing And every time I try to stay The winds of change continue blowing And they just carry me away. The song was an inspiration. It was time to make a clean break. My husband and I loaded the heavy bike into the back of our vehicle, not an easy task, and drove to our local St. Vincent’s. They wouldn’t take her. For a brief moment I remembered how it had felt to be the last one picked for playground baseball teams, and felt a twinge of pity for Pedal, but it was short lived. I lusted after the space I now had
with the bike out of the guest bedroom. Still, I wasn’t heartless. I didn’t want to just dump Pedal and run. “Free.” I taped the sign to Pedal’s back and set her in a prominent position near the driveway. Looking pathetic, she sat. And sat. And sat. Desperate to find her a home, I started harassing people, beginning with the carpet cleaner. “Would you like a stationary bike? It’s practically new.” “No,” he replied, “I already have one that we never use.” I called friends, but like gardeners with armfuls of zucchini in August, I couldn’t find any takers. Meanwhile, I unearthed more unloved exercise equipment: a weighted vest that’s supposed to combat osteopenia that I rarely used, various hand weights that I rarely used, and old VHS aerobic workout tapes. As I looked at the dusty covers with popular exercise promoters like Jane Fonda and Denise Austin, I recalled fantasies that if I only did the exercises, I could look like these women. I wanted to break out in song. “To all the tapes I once caressed, And may I say I’ve worked out with the best …” Meanwhile, poor Pedal still sat alone near the driveway. Maybe I could start a dating service for exercise equipment. I’d submit the first ad. “Single stationary bike looking for love. Preference given to those with soft cheeks.” Then, one fated day, my husband and I happened to talk to the director of Easter Seals. “Could you use an exercise bike at your Respite Center?” “Hmm.” My husband and I held our breaths. “Yes, I think we have just the spot.” Hallelujah!
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to a world where friends share life in exciting new ways, everyday! Retirement is a time to look forward to, and at Whitefish Manor you have the freedom to choose. Enjoy the outdoor activities Whitefish is famous for: a challenging 36-hole golf course; fine fishing, boating and water skiing; a winter wonderland including, Big Mountain and cross-country skiing; and of course, spectacular Glacier National Park, only 32 miles from your doorstep. Grocery and other shopping options lie only a short distance away and you’re only one mile from downtown and Whitefish Mall. So much of what life is about lies waiting for you. Maybe it’s finally time you make a change for the better. Welcome to retirement living at its absolute best.
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PAGE 48
Health Care
MEDICINE•PREVENTION•DIAGNOSIS•TREATMENT
Breathing Easy SENIORS REGAIN MOBILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE WITH CHRONIC OSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE Small, lightweight portable oxygen concentrators the size of a hardcover novel are increasingly replacing large, bulky oxygen tanks. For the over 2.5 million people who require supplemental oxygen, being tethered to a large, heavy oxygen tank can be life altering. Seniors, in particular, can become increasingly homebound due to the extra effort, planning, and even physical strength required to leave the home with a tank. When this happens, they lose more than their mobility, but also their quality of life. For seniors, any loss in mobility can lead to increasing disconnection from friends and family. Feelings of isolation and separation can emerge. Although the physical need for supplemental oxygen is being met, their social life suffers and can even impact their overall outlook on life. It can be a dwindling spiral. This is an important issue for seniors in particular because the risk of respiratory diseases increases with age. Take Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), for example. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, the highest rates of COPD, a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from
PHOTO COURTASY OF WWW.INOGEN.COM/
the lungs, are found in men and women over the age of 55. Seniors on oxygen therapy require a supplemental supply of concentrated oxygen. For
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decades, the standard has been to prescribe large, refillable compressed gas oxygen tanks. However, these metal tanks can weigh up to 18 pounds. They also require regular refilling, so users must ensure they have enough tanks on hand, schedule pick-ups of replacements, and carefully plan how far they travel. Even simple activities like taking a dog for a walk or visiting nearby friends require extra effort with an oxygen tank. Traveling on a plane with an oxygen tank is not permitted by the FAA either, which can be a significant barrier to staying connected with family and friends. According to Sharon Hehn, who has a mild case of COPD and lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, the oxygen tanks provided through Social Security impacted her mobility significantly. “I mentally boxed myself into my home, and the walls felt like they were beginning to close in on me,” said Hehn. Fortunately, there are alternatives to large, traditional compressed gas oxygen tanks. Some oxygen tanks contain liquid oxygen, which allows for a smaller, lighter tank. Liquid oxygen is also delivered at a concentration of 100 percent. In addition, liquid oxygen can be delivered at a higher rate of flow for a longer period of time than a gas system. However, liquid oxygen tanks are much more expensive. Another alternative is oxygen concentrators that separate the oxygen out of the air and store it, eliminating the need for refills. Portable Oxygen Concentrators, or POCs, Does your denture look like a denture? Are the teeth the wrong color? Are the teeth worn or the wrong size? When was the last time you saw your denturist?
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS According to Hehn, she has been on oxyare smaller sized concentrators designed for gen therapy for 14 months since her doctor greater mobility. The POC converts air into first prescribed the treatment to address concentrated oxygen by removing nitrogen her COPD, which resulted from long-term using a special filter. sleep apnea. As compared to the traditional compressed gas oxygen tanks, POCs are much smaller and lighter and operate more quietly. Units available on the market today, such as the Inogen One G4, weigh less than three pounds and can be worn over the shoulder as a hip bag or as a backpack. Founded in 2001, Inogen was founded by Alison Bauerlein, Brenton Taylor and Byron Myers to improve the life of Mae, Alison’s grandmother, and the millions of individuals like her using supplemental oxygen therapy. The concept was conceived as a project at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) by the three while attending business school together. POCs are smaller-sized conentrators designed for greater mobility. POCs require AC or DC Dissatisfied with the compromises to her power to operate. The rechargeable batteries mobility and quality of life that resulted from typically last for several hours. Double battery units are available, as are portable DC chargers using oxygen tanks, Sharon researched oxygen for cars. therapy solutions online where she learned about POCs. Having compared options, she Although some POCs provide a continuous selected and received a prescription from her supply of oxygen, the One G4 uses a pulse dose delivery method. With this approach, a small doctor for the One G4. Her husband ordered it for her and surprised her with it as an “early burst of oxygen is delivered every time the user inhales, matching the breathing pattern. Christmas gift” with the promise of bringing life back to normal again. The benefit is less oxygen is wasted.
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PAGE 49
After seven months using a traditional oxygen tank, the switch to a POC had a noticeable impact on Hehn’s quality of life. She refers to her POC as having “grab it and go” portability. She has returned to walking her dog every day and enjoys visits to a local farm each weekend with her husband. The POC unit has restored a sense of normalcy by allowing her to get back to many activities she enjoys. Unlike tanks, which are not allowed on planes, POCs can be used as long as the model is FAA and TSA approved and can fit under a seat or in an overhead compartment. For Sharon, who is retired from over 34 years in the airline industry, this means she can more regularly visit her son’s family and four grandchildren who live in another state. With enhanced mobility, a senior on oxygen therapy can have a more positive mental attitude. For Hehn, this has been the biggest advantage of using her Inogen POC since she cut what she describes as “an umbilical cord” with her oxygen tank. As she puts it, “I can do anything I want to do now. My wings are back.” MSN
PAGE 50
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Health Care
Alzheimer’s Warnings Often Show During Holidays It isn’t surprising that the time when family members are most likely to recognize the first signs of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in a loved one comes during the holiday season. Family members and friends who have not seen one another for months, or even a year, gather, and the signs of memory loss or behavioral change become obvious. The Alzheimer’s Assoc.’s free and confidential 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) sees its highest volume of calls at the end of the year. Changes PHOTO COURTESY MONTANA ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION. in memory or behavior that Here is a brief overview of the 10 seem gradual to those in daily Warning Signs: contact can appear as abrupt declines in Memory loss that disrupts daily life. A cognition to out-of-town visitors. typical age-related memory change is occaThe Alzheimer’s Association has develsionally forgetting names or appointments, oped a helpful checklist of 10 Warning Signs but remembering them later. A common sign to aid in the early detection of Alzheimer’s of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early (and other types of dementia). stages, is forgetting recently learned informaWhy is early detection important? Without tion. The increasing need to rely on memory it, the ones we love may wait too long to aids (reminder notes, electronic devices) or make necessary lifestyle changes that are family members for things that one previously important to ensure that all medical care handled on their own is a sign. options are explored, ranging from medChallenges in planning or solving probications to research. Other considerations lems. Making occasional errors, such as include personal safety, quality of care, and checkbook balancing, is not uncommon. If making necessary financial and estate plana person experiences changes in the ability ning adjustments.
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to follow a plan or work with numbers, or has difficulty concentrating and completing a task, that may be a concern. Difficulty completing familiar tasks. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. They may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget, or remembering the rules of a familiar game. Confusion with time or place. Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time is another indication. Sometimes people with Alzheimer’s can forget where they are or how they got there. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some individuals, vision problems can be a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance, or determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (such as, calling a “watch” a “hand clock”). Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. Putting things in unusual places
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Health Care
and being unable to find them. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing — with more frequency over time. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may also pay less attention to grooming and personal cleanliness. Withdrawal from work or social activities. Some individuals may avoid being social because of changes they’re experiencing, removing themselves from work projects, hobbies, and sports. Changes in mood and personality. Increased incidences of confusion, suspicion, depression, fear, or anxiety can be a sign. Individuals can become more easily upset at home, work, with friends, or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. If you or someone you care about is experiencing any of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association of Montana’s 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 for more information. The Helpline is staffed by trained professionals and offered at no charge. MSN
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EARLY AND ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS COULD SAVE UP TO
$7.9
TRILLION
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IN 2018, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation
$277 BILLION BY 2050, these costs could rise as high as
$1.1 TRILLION
5.7
MILLION Americans are living with Alzheimer’s BY 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly
The Alzheimer’s Association offers education, counseling, support groups, and a 24-hour Helpline at no charge to families. In addition, contributions help fund advancements in research to prevent, treat, and eventually conquer this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association advocates for those living with Alzheimer’s and their families on related legislative issues, and with health and long-term care providers. For information call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900, or visit www.alz.org.
14
EVERY 65 SECONDS
someone in the United States develops the disease
MILLION
FITNESS FADS / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47
We didn’t waste any time. We hauled Pedal over and set her in a prominent spot in the large gym. I gave her a pat on the seat. Pedal, you “traveled in and out my door. You live within my heart, you’ll always be a part, of all the fads I’ve loved before.” I walked away smiling and singing. To all the fads I’ve loved before Who traveled in and out my door I’m glad they came along I dedicate this song To all the fads I’ve loved before.
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Amy Laundrie is a retired teacher and the author of eight books. Her latest, Laugh, Cry, Reflect: Stories From a Joyful Heart features earlier columns about pets, nature, teaching, and family. Contact her at laundrie@live.com or www.laundrie.com.
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
PAGE 52
Caregiving
SUPPORT•INSIGHT•COMFORT•SERVICE•ENCOURAGEMENT
When Your Child is 59 ‘Going on 70’ COUPLE TALKS JOYS OF RAISING SON WITH DOWN SYNDROME, CHALLENGES OF EARLY AGING BY DONNA VICKROY, DAILY SOUTHTOWN (TNS) Tom and Rosemary Ryan’s story parallels the story of Down syndrome these past 59 years. Not only has the couple lived the joy, challenge, and learning curve that accompanies raising a child with special needs, they’ve dedicated their lives to pioneering change in governmental support, educational opportunities, and societal views. “A lot has changed over the years,” Rosemary said. “We’ve come a long, long way.” Like many parents of special needs children, love thrust them into the world of advocacy. When there was no preschool for their son, Rosemary started one. When the concept of housing adults with Down syndrome in group homes instead of institutions was proposed, they jumped on board — landing smack in the center of a national debate and garnering the attention of ABC-TV’s “Nightline” with Ted Koppel. And, now, as their oldest son endures perhaps the cruelest of characteristics often associated with his condition — accelerated aging — the Ryans are again at the forefront
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Tom and Rosemary Ryan have a son, Kevin, who has Down syndrome. They talk candidly about dealing with his age-related issues. © GARY MIDDENDORF, DAILY SOUTHTOWN/TNS.
of the discussion. Kevin Ryan is 59, but a checkup last spring revealed “he’s more like going on 70,” Rosemary said. “He’s gonna pass us up.” Raising a child with Down syndrome is “perpetual parenthood,” Rosemary said, “if you are committed to wanting the best for them.” Now in their 80s, the Ryans, who live in a retirement community, are simultaneously discussing end-of-life care for themselves and for their son.
INTO THE LIGHT When Kevin Ryan was born Aug. 4, 1959, Tom and Rosemary felt the way many parents of newborns with special needs felt back then — alone. The support and advice that is showered upon new parents of Down syndrome babies today, was nonexistent then, Rosemary said. Three pediatricians examined Kevin and agreed he had the condition characterized by an extra chromosome. “They called it ‘Mongolism’ back then,” she said. In those days, there were no prenatal tests to predict it, nor any way to prepare for it, she said. “We didn’t expect an anomaly with our first baby, but it was meant to be,” Rosemary said. The “new” thinking at the time was that the couple should take their newborn home, she said. And that’s where the advice ended. Rosemary could find only one very dated guidebook at the library that she said was so negative, “I couldn’t get past page three.” So she relied on her instincts and on training she’d received en route to becoming a pediatric nurse to get through the early years, she said.
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS “And we just kind of forged ahead,” she said. The Ryans went on to have three more children, with their second son quickly passing his older brother developmentally. Rosemary gave up her nursing career to stay home and care for the children. Testing had revealed that Kevin was on the border of EMH (educable mentally handicapped) and TMH (trainable mentally handicapped), she said. Those terms have fallen from the lexicon, along with “Mongolism,” but what Kevin’s score meant, Rosemary said, was that he’d struggle in an academic program, but likely excel in a training setting. They chose the latter. “Back in 1962,” she said, “public schools had EMH but no TMH.” The Ryans were living in Jacksonville, Ill., then and Rosemary and another mom decided to start a school in a nearby church. They set up an advisory board with a host of professionals and townspeople, and hired two teachers. Kevin attended for a year and a half, until Tom, who had given up teaching high school to work at State Farm Insurance, was transferred to the south suburbs of Chicago. CHANGING LAWS, CHANGING ATTITUDES While Rosemary had been organizing a school in central Illinois, other parents were doing the same in Chicago Heights. In 1965, after the Ryans moved to Park Forest, Kevin began at privately run Happy Day School. Ten years later, Public Law 94-142 mandated public school be available to all kids ages 3 to 21 (later extended to age 22), and Kevin transferred to SPEED Development Center in Park Forest. SPEED, Tom said, “was the creme de la creme” and Kevin continued there until he turned 21 and returned to Happy Day for adult workshop. The end of public school life often is a time of great concern and confusion for parents of children with special needs, Tom said, particularly if they haven’t planned ahead. “Some people choose to have their adult kids just stay home,” Tom said, but that can lead to problems if the parents’ health begins to fail. Kevin continued attending workshop at Happy Day and living with his parents until 1995. NADS Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition, said Linda Smarto, director of programs and advocacy at the National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) in Chicago. Approximately 6,000 babies with the condition are born each year in the United States, Smarto said. That translates to 1 of every 730 live births, a number that seems to be on the rise, she said. “When my daughter was born 24 years ago, the number was 1 in 1,200,” she said. “Eighty-five percent of (these) children are born to moms 35 years old and younger,” she said. “So it’s a great myth that (Down syndrome) only occurs to parents who are older.” While individuals with the condition develop more slowly at the beginning of life, the end of life seems to rush at them. Not everyone with Down syndrome is afflicted with premature aging, Smarto said, but
there does seem to be a precursor to that and Alzheimer’s disease. “Down syndrome, (researchers) say, will find the cause for Alzheimer’s because (scientists are) really pushing to find some sort of a cure and learn why this is happening,” Smarto said. The phenomenon can be heartbreaking for loved ones already wrestling with end-of-life care decisions. What to do with aging children who have Down syndrome is a huge concern, Smarto said, especially if the individual has medical issues. But, she added, it’s the same concern for anyone with a disability. And it’s the same for elderly adults who don’t have a living child to help care for them, she said.
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If a sibling or other family member isn’t available to assist, an individual may be placed in a state-run home. “Our goal is to have our individuals either live independently or with a family member,” she said. MSN To continue reading the full, extended version of this article, visit the www.montanaseniornews.com/ adult-down-child
WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE Read the complete story on MontanaSeniorNews.com
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A Montana Corporation whose mission is to preserve the quality of life and well-being of vulnerable adults. We provide trained conservators and guardians to assist with the guardianship of a person and conservatorship of estate and fiduciary services.
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PAGE 54
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Caregiving
Guardians from Hell Undermine Rights of Elderlies: Part 3 WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE Read the complete story on MontanaSeniorNews.com Many organizations that advocate for the elderly against guardianship abuse face a continual challenge in raising awareness about the nationwide scope of the problem. We have published Parts 1 and 2 of this article in our Aug/Sept. 2018 and Oct./Nov. 2018 issues of MSN. Visit our website to read the final, Part 3 of this series: www. montanaseniornews.com/ guardians-from-hell-pt3. © DIGITALISTA, BIGSTOCK.COM
You Are Not Alone DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE: IT’S MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK BY LADAWN WHITESIDE, ABUSE IN LATE LIFE ADVOCATE FOR THE FRIENDSHIP CENTER — HELENA In the past three weeks, four known individuals over 50 years of age received services from The Friendship Center (TFC) in Helena, Montana. The Friendship Center serves victims (men and woman) of domestic and sexual violence, stalking and vulnerable person abuse, in Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater counties.
Our mission at the TFC is to help individuals and families experiencing domestic and sexual violence gain access to community services and resources. We provide the assistance they need to resolve their crisis and begin to rebuild their lives. If a family member or intimate partner is causing you to fear for your safety, withholding medications, care, or personal items in order to control you, or causing emotional or physical injury, know that TFC is available to help you. The Crisis Line 406-442-6800 is available 24 hours 7 days per week. Walk-in
assistance is available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. In Montana, people depend on each other for support. We know that the rural nature of Montana makes reporting elder abuse difficult for the victim. It may be even more difficult to report an abuser if they are your caregiver, child, spouse, or friend. Limited access to phone or internet services, public transportation, shelters, emergency medical, or legal assistance causes additional barriers for reporting suspected abuse within very small towns.
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS Friends may not want to risk helping a friend for fear of becoming a target themselves. People over 50 who are confined to their home may be at higher risk of elder abuse if they are isolated from the community. Elders do not always have the financial resources necessary to protect themselves. Sometimes elders do not know who to contact for help and protection. Some elders are targeted by people who take advantage of them. One way that people can help protect themselves is by contacting agencies such as those listed below. Aging is natural, abuse is not. In an emergency, call or text 911. Free help is available at the following:
Caregiving
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• Adult Protective Services 844-277-9300 • Long-Term Care Ombudsman 844 277 9300 Providing free advocacy for people who live in a Nursing Home or an Assisted Living Facility • Montana Legal Services Association 800-666-6899 Assisting people over 60 with legal questions. MSN
To learn more about abuse in Late Life, please contact LaDawn Whiteside, Abuse in Late Life Advocate at The Friendship Center 406-442-6800.
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4800 Lower River Rd • Great Falls Kim Kraus-Wermling, Owner
SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER TO MONTANA STATE HOSPITAL PATIENTS The Department of Public Health and MSH is especially in need of winter coats Human Services (DPHHS) set up donation for men and women in sizes L–3X. boxes at various locations to receive holiIndividuals or service organizations interday gifts benefiting Montana State Hospital ested in “adopting” a patient are encouraged (MSH) patients. to contact Eastman at 406-693-7145. The effort is part of the annual Gifts With A Gifts mailed to the hospital should not be Lift program that has played an instrumental wrapped; however, donations of wrapping role in spreading holiday cheer to patients for paper and gift boxes are welcome. the past 66 years. The program ensures that “Please include a name and address all state hospital patients have a gift under in the package and a return receipt, so we the Christmas tree. may acknowledge the arrival of your gifts,” MSH Gifts With A Lift coordinator Beth Eastman said. Eastman said the program is very important Gifts or cash donations can be mailed to to patients. Gifts With A Lift, c/o Beth Eastman, PO Box “This program means the world to MSH 300, Montana State Hospital, Warm Springs, patients and helps brighten their day,” she said. MT 59756. In order to arrive in time for the “And, it’s been successful due to the amazing holidays, gifts should be dropped off or mailed generosity of Montana residents.” by December 15. Make checks payable to: Gifts Experience our beautiful indoor aviary! The program is jointly coordinated by With A Lift. MSN the National Alliance for Mental Illness-MT 80007 US HWY 87 LEWISTOWN and DPHHS. MSH is the only publicly operated inpatient psychiatric Ideas for gift suggestions following: hospital in the state. It provides treatment to adults who have serious mental illnesses and who are referred from << pocket games/books hospitals, mental health programs, and district courts << socks from across the state. << T-Shirts/sweatshirts << winter hats/adult winter gloves << magazines SPECIALIZING IN DEMENTIA /ALZHEIMER’S CARE << fanny packs << phone cards << jackets Robin Cislo Fleek-Owner/Administrator << craft kits << batteries Sapphire House • Ruby House << slippers Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays << blankets/ throws Private Rooms and 1 Bedroom Suites • RN On-Call ADDRESS: 811 2nd Avenue South, Great Falls << headphones Personalized Care • Home-Style Meals Laundry • Housekeeping • Medication Assistance << postage stamps and EMAIL: mtgemsinc@juno.com 72 & 77 Lily Valley Circle, Billings • 406-245-0334 • 406-252-0747 stationery
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
PAGE 56
Entertainment
MUSIC•BOOKS•THEATER•DINING•ART•FILM•TELEVISION
Bring on the Sparkle for the Holidays! BY HOLLY ENDERSBY December and January are packed with gatherings of family and friends, and often these times find us sharing good food and great wines. With gift purchases and events
impacting your budget, the wines presented here are both delicious and budget friendly. So, enjoy these yourself, and be sure to share them with those you hold dear! One of the most delightful sparkling wines we enjoyed recently is Prosecco D.O.C Brut by Candoni from Torino, Italy. This simple but sophisticated dry wine is best served chilled and goes with an array of party food. It’s crisp, very refreshing, and has the preferred tiny bubbles rising through your glass. It reminds me of ripe pears and is both light and satisfying. You can find it at your local wine shop for around $16, and it’s worth every penny. Serve it with spicy stuffed mushrooms, garlic shrimp and crostini with warm tomato and Greek olive tapenade, and you can’t go wrong. Another Prosecco Brut is made by Adami of Italy. This wine tasted of crisp green apples, with a subtle, but noticeable, mineral undertone. The Adami family has been producing fine wines in the Valdobbiadene area of Italy on steep slopes under the Dolomite Mountains. The climate is moderate and perfect for growing the white glera grape used in their Proseccos. The Alta Marca region is near
Treviso and has been producing wines since the Middle Ages, and, in 2009, the Italian government decided that only grapes grown in this region of hills could be called Prosecco. This wine is light and relatively low in alcohol, making it a perfect pre-dinner celebration wine. A crazy find for our group was the inexpensive Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvee Champagne from California. Under $10, we didn’t expect much ... and we were so wrong! It is delicious and does not have the aftertaste that some champagnes have. Even the non-champagne drinkers in the group agreed this was a brand they’d buy and enjoy during the holidays. There’s nothing sweet about this champagne using Chardonnay grapes: it is dry and very traditional with hints of apple and peaches. We found it crisp, refreshing, and able to complement a wide variety of foods. Buy this bubbly, and you won’t be disappointed. And believe it or not, we drank it with pizza! Our final sparkling wine was La Petillante by Coeur Clemintene from Provence. A gorgeous, pale Brut Rosé from France that is exceptionally dry, this sparkling wine is made from 100-percent Grenache grapes and undergoes natural double fermentation, which results in the desired small bubbles
© HELLGERD, BIGSTOCK.COM.
Tickets make great gifts! ABT Gift Certificate = Ca$h in Box Office Recipient chooses ANY show at ABT. GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
Featuring Great Gun Shows In Montana Promoted By Sports Connection, Inc.
Truzzolino’s
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Butte Civic Center Dec 28-30 Kootenai County Fairgrounds Dec 8-9
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Pasties Baked Fresh Daily Tamales & Tamale Pies Fresh or Frozen Mon–Fri • 8am–5pm 1921 Harrison • Butte • 406-782-0374
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS that enhance the drinking experience. Open this wine for New Year’s and enjoy the fresh berry taste while ushering in 2019. If you’re not into sparkling wines, then consider a wine that speaks to good energy! The 2016 Chakras red from Mendoza, Argentina focuses their label on “force
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centers of energy” to provide good vibes for their wines. This traditional vineyard in the Andes uses the intense heat of the region and old vines watered by snowmelt from the iconic mountains to produce a wine that is bright with a striking red-violet color. This wine
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is exceptionally smooth, redolent of ripe red berries with just a touch of cherry and topped off with a suggestion of vanilla. Thinking of prime rib for one of your holiday meals? Then you can’t go wrong serving Chakras and enjoying all that positive energy. Happy holidays to all! MSN
Book Review: Montana Women, From the Ground Up — Passionate Voices in Agriculture & Land Conservation (KRISTINE ELLIS, THE HISTORY PRESS, 2018) BY KATHLEEN MULROY An abiding love of the land, a strong streak of independence, a willingness to work hard, and the determination to succeed are characteristics shared by every ranch woman profiled in Kristine Ellis’s non-fiction book, Montana Women, From the Ground Up. Montana rancher Valerie Wadman says about her deep connection to her ranch: “…if it’s in you, it’s in you. It isn’t going to go away. That inner love for your land is the biggest asset you have if you are going to succeed in farming and ranching. It will give you the determination to make it work.” The women whose stories are told in this book also share a thirst for new knowledge. They know how important it is to keep up with modern agricultural techniques. CONTINUED ON PAGE 58
17th Annual Montana Early Music Festival J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (part 2)
Historically Informed Performances on period instruments
Festival Chamber Orchestra & Musikanten Montana Kerry Krebill, Conductor Amanda Balestrieri, soprano • Anne Kania, contralto Daniel Hutchings, tenor • Bobb Robinson, baritone
January 17 January 18 January 19 January 20
January 17–20, 2019
7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 3:00pm
Holy Rosary Church Immaculate Conception St. Francis Xavier Cathedral of St. Helena
Bozeman Butte Missoula Helena
Information & tickets: 406-442-6825 • www.musikantenmt.org
DON’T MISS WESTERN HERITAGE
CENTER’S High Noon Lecture Series • Free Noon-Hour Programs • 3rd Thursday of Each Month
For more information visit www.ywhc.org or call 406-256-6809 2822 Montana Avenue, Billings
907 Poly Drive in BILLINGS 3133 Central Ave #5 in BILLINGS 515 1st Ave N in GREAT FALLS 1133 Helena Ave in HELENA
• • • •
GreatHarvestBillings.com GreatHarvestBillings.com GreatHarvestGreatFalls.com GreatHarvestHelena.com
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Entertainment
MONTANA WOMEN / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57
Lee Jacobsen, for example, became the first woman in Montana who was licensed to artificially inseminate cattle. Rancher Donna Griffin says of modern ranching, “Now there is so much more to (ranching), it requires a broad knowledge of global markets and astute business skills as well.” She says that ranchers have to understand areas such as soil health, land conservation, livestock breeding, and trade opportunities. As for raising children on a ranch, these women say that there’s nothing better for kids, whether they end up staying in agriculture or going on to other careers.
Glenna Stucky, who not only ranches but is deeply involved in her community, including 4H, says, “Kids who grow up on a ranch learn how to do chores, how to act around livestock, and how to respect animals of all kinds, as well as to respect the world around us.” After raising her children on the ranch, Stucky feels fortunate to have been able to involve her grandchildren, and now her great-grandchildren, in the lifestyle she loves so much. Linda Finley’s family has run cattle on their ranch since the late 1800s, so the land has been home to multiple generations.
She remembers that both of her grandmothers taught her to love working outside. Finley notes that her childhood was “cash poor but full of joy,” and she “thoroughly enjoyed it all.” She says of her life now, “I have quite possibly the best job in the world because I can do a hundred different things in a day.” Ranching is not an easy life, but it’s one these Montana women love with a passion that has kept them going even in the toughest times. I finished this book with a real admiration for them, and a better understanding of their interesting lives. MSN
Our Elders Taught Us to Waste Not, Want Not. Still Good Advice BY ANN HATTES (SENIOR WIRE) Up to 40 percent of the food in the U.S. is never eaten, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an international nonprofit environmental organization working to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. Losses occur all along the food chain in farming, post harvesting and packing, processing and distribution, retail and food service, and finally in the household. There are many ways to help you prevent wasting food in the home. Plan meals in
advance, and use a shopping list. Store food properly, freeze and share, and don’t give up on droopy or bruised foods! Depending on what needs to be eaten soonest, even eat breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast. The most wasted foods are bread, milk, potatoes, cheese, and apples, all for which you should be able to find recipes and be creative to keep them from going to the landfill. For example, you can freeze bread to use for toast, and from stale bread, make croutons or a bread pudding. A variety of cookbooks are available to help on the path to reduce food waste. For example, Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money By Wasting Less Food by Dana Gunders helps cooks change their habits. With a mix of science, food tips and educational infographics, this handy guide includes 20 “use-it-up” recipes plus
a “Smarter Storage” section related to which items need humidity and which do not. American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of its Food by Jonathan Bloom writes about squandered food, why it matters, and what individuals can do about it, including interviews with chef Alice Waters and food psychologist Brian Wansink. Too Good to Waste: How to Eat Everything by Victoria Glass helps with creative thinking for getting the most of your food. While Pumpkin Maple Cheesecake is a great way to use the flesh, Pumpkin Skin Chutney and Pumpkin Seed Energy Balls help you use every bit of the pumpkin. Strawberry tops are brewed to a delicious tea while vegetable peelings turn into delicious crisps. This book offers dozens of ways to use produce in the crisper, leftovers like rice and mashed potatoes, as well as dairy products that are past their prime.
Copper Village Museum Local Artisans’ Pottery Exhibit & Sale december
& ARTS CENTER
Renovating The Judges Chamber
Quilt show January–February
FOR EVENT SPACE
• 25 TEAS OF CHRISTMAS • SOLEMATE SOCKS • STOCKING STUFFERS • CHILDREN’S TEA SETS 118 CENTRAL AVE GREAT FALLS
Historic
Christmas Ornaments
for sale!
Year-end donations are welcome!
Teen Art Show March
406-452-2225 LIKE US ON
401 E COMMERCIAL, ANACONDA • 406-563-2422 • COPPERVILLAGEARTCENTER.COM
Experience History at the
MASTERWORKS CONCERT IV
BACH’S MASS IN B MINOR
Open Thurs.-Sat., 10AM-5PM
SUN 24 FEB 2019 / MON 25 FEB 2019
7:30 P.M. CATHEDRAL OF ST. HELENA
J.S. Bach composed one of the supreme achievements in all of music with his epic Mass in B minor! For well over two centuries, it remains a spiritual and dramatic summit of human creativity. Experience Bach’s tour de force in the ethereal setting of the Cathedral along with nationally-acclaimed soloists, the Helena Symphony Chorale, and members of the HSO.
T I C K E T S : helenas y m phony.org
Guest Artists’ appearances are made possible through generous support by:
406 . 442 .186 0
new exhibits: The First World War and Pull Up a Chair: Tales from the Seats of History
vote on your favorite chair!
~~~
Open every day in summer 118 W. Chinook St., Livingston ~ 222-4184 www.yellowstonegatewaymuseum.org
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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Amazing Waste is a cookbook put together by students at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to help students get the most for their food dollar by using food scraps and leftovers, reducing waste in the process. The book is divided into two sections, one relating to food scrap recipes, and the other for re-purposing leftover food, transforming common leftovers into tasty dishes. It’s a very handy guide for any age cook
who wants to get creative and experiment. It has recipes for Beet Radish Turnip Top Sauté, Kale Stem Pesto, Baked Carrot and Parsnip Peel Chips using carrot and parsnip peelings, Veggie Scrap Lentil Soup, and Parsley Stem Smoothie. Remember, too, that you can revive wilting greens in cold tap water in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes. With supper leftovers, make items like fried breakfast noodles or leftover chicken fried rice. For these and other recipes plus information on the four UW-Madison student authors, visit this link to the Amazing Waste Cookbook site: www.gibbs-lab.com/wp-content/ uploads/2016/05/Cookbook050516.pdf. For more information and recipe videos visit theamazingwastecookbook.wordpress. com, www.gibbs-lab.com/Foodwastenelson. wisc.edu. In the meantime, give these simple recipes for Baked Bruised Apple Crisps and Overripe Banana Ice Cream a try. Both courtesy of Amazing Waste Cookbook.
The Man Who Came to Dinner
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BAKED BRUISED APPLE CRISPS << Bruised apples << Cinnamon Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Cut apples into slices, and arrange in a lined baking sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for 2 hours, flipping slices over after an hour. OVERRIPE BANANA ICE CREAM << Overripe bananas << Cocoa powder
Slice bananas and freeze. Blend frozen bananas until they reach ice cream-like consistency. Add cocoa powder. MSN
order your HOLIDAY FAVORITES COCKTAIL PASTIES SHRIMP DIP • CRAB DIP SHRIMP PUFFS • CRAB PUFFS STUFFED MUSHROOMS
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1641 Grand • Butte
BY JACQUELINE T. LYNCH (SENIOR WIRE) The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) is the kind of sparkling Christmas comedy we don’t see anymore, with more glitz and silliness than pseudo-morality tales about surviving holiday ennui. It’s all glamour and slapstick. If there’s a message at all, it’s about clinging to life with an iron grip and a sense of fun. Literate scripts are mostly out of fashion, too, and that is the driving force of this movie, taken from the hit stage play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. Monty Woolley plays a noted author, columnist, radio personality and full-time egomaniac who, making a brief Christmas visit to the home of a small-town industrialist, slips on the steps and is forced to spend his holiday with them as an invalid. Mr. Woolley is spectacular, never missing a beat with sarcasm, wit, and his impatience with lesser mortals. Bette Davis is his secretary, who is something of a revelation in this role. We’re used to seeing her as larger-than-life characters, and waxing melodramatic in weepy flicks, but here she makes a smaller, quiet role pivotal to the story by being the sane and sassy anchor. She is one of the few people who cannot be bullied by Mr. Woolley, by virtue of her sense of humor. Ditsy society matron Billie Burke fawns over Monty Woolley, invites him to her home for dinner. She casts an uninterested, condescending CONTINUED ON PAGE 60
PIANIST CLAIRE
SAT 26 JAN 2019
7:30 P.M. HELENA CIVIC CENTER
HUANGCI & B R A H M S’ FIRST SYMPHONY PAMELA BOMPART
Appetizers • Soups • Chef’s Specials • Kid’s Menu Seafood • Chicken • Pork • Beef • Noodles • Fried Rice Special Family Dinners • Lunch Specials until 3pm
BUFFETS - ALL YOU CAN EAT Lunch Buffet 11am-2:30pm • Dinner Buffet 5pm-8:30pm Mon-Thurs and Sun 11am-10pm • Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm
Dine In • Take Out • Delivery 406-585-0389 421 W Main St • Bozeman
Presents
New year’s eve with Collin Raye 90’s Top Country recording Artist
MASTERWORKS CONCERT III
Ms. Huangci’s appearance is made possible through generous support by:
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Proclaimed to have “the fastest fingers in the world,” international superstar Pianist Claire Huangci returns to perform Saint-Saëns’ lush and witty Piano Concerto No. 2, which took only 17 days to compose. Brahms labored for 20 years over his First Symphony – a heartfelt and triumphant masterpiece that culminates the concert.
JEAN & RON BALDWIN
T I C K E T S : helenas y m phony.org
The concert is sponsored by generous support from:
406 . 442 .186 0
Love Me, One Boy, One girl, My Kind of Girl, That’s My Story and many more! Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | Alberta Bair Theater
406-256-6052 albertabairtheater.org
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
Entertainment
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59
inclusion of the invitation to Bette Davis. Davis accepts, quietly, with gracious humility and the self-deprecating smile worn by one who is used to being dismissed as unimportant in the great man’s shadow, but who really runs the show. It’s a subtle gesture and tells us more about her character in 30 seconds than another actress would take the entire film to convey. Grant Mitchell plays the industrialist, proud of his ball bearing factory. In his own way, he is as equally self-important as Woolley, but is only a big fish in a small pond. Ruth Vivian, playing his fey, fragile, and quite weird sister, along with the wonderful Mary Wickes who plays Nurse Preen, are the only ones in the cast, besides Mr. Woolley, to have appeared in the original Broadway play. Mary Wickes is hysterical from beginning to end, as the severe nurse who suffers the lion’s share of bullying from the great man, and in her own diva scene, renounces her Florence Nightingale pledge to instead get a job in a munitions factory. His obnoxious treatment of her has driven her to thoughts of destruction. The lines are fast and funny and almost too numerous to quote. Reginald Gardiner is
FIESTA EN JALISCO Great Falls, Polson FiestaEnJalisco.net Authentic Mexican dishes & drink menus are available at these locations near you. You can visit us, fax, or call in your order to go. We look forward to serving you!
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MCCORMICK CAFÉ 2419 Montana Ave Billings 406-255-9555 | McCormickCafe.com “Where the locals eat.” We serve some of the best food in Billings & we’re open for breakfast & lunch, Monday thru Friday 7am–2pm, Saturday 8am–2pm & breakfast only on Sunday 8am–2pm.
as quick-witted and sophisticated as Woolley and does a drop-dead impression of a stuttering English fop to fool Ann Sheridan over the phone. Ann Sheridan is a hoot. The opposite of Davis’ down-to-earth character, Sheridan is off the walls as a self-centered, man-grabbing stage actress. Her first scenes playing kissy face on the phone with Woolley, and alternately hollering at her manicurist, are hysterical. Woolley turns the home of the industrialist upside down, and even conducts his annual Christmas Eve radio broadcast, complete with a boys’ choir, in their living room. Jimmy Durante plays a raucous pal from Hollywood who leers seductively at Nurse Preen. Crated penguins escape in the chaos. Possibly the funniest aspect of this script is the constant name-dropping. We are told
that Woolley’s character is friends with Winston Churchill, the Roosevelts, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor; that he has received Christmas gifts from Gypsy Rose Lee and Deanna Durbin. Presidential candidate and New York governor Thomas E. Dewey, is his lawyer. The film ends memorably with the voice of Eleanor Roosevelt on the phone calling her dear friend to wish him a Merry Christmas. To anyone with a cursory knowledge of popular history of the late 1930s and early ‘40s, this script is as fresh and funny as if it were written yesterday. However, I wonder if to someone not familiar with these names, does this make a good part of the film a mystery and that much over-used word to describe old movies: Dated? We may watch old Christmas movies for the nostalgia, but this film produced in 1942 was not nostalgic. It was up to the minute and topical, late-breaking news. Watching it, it still feels that way, decades later. That is the marvel of it. May your Christmas have a little glitz and glamour, too. But without the penguins. MSN Jacqueline T. Lynch is the author of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star, and several other non-fiction books on history and classic films, as well as novels. www. JacquelineTLynch.com.
MUZZLE LOADER CAFE 4912 Laurel Rd Billings 406-248-8608
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Our award-winning deli has a daily hot bar made from scratch in-house with a meat or meatless selection. Also offering a salad bar, sandwich bar, juice bar, and more. It’s slow food served fast! See us at Facebook.com/Realfoodstore.
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THE WOOD AT THE COTTONWOOD INN 54250 US Hwy 2 Glasgow 406-228-8213
Breakfast is only the beginning. Try our seasonal specials for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and don't forget dessert! Take home cookies, muffins, pies, and gift certificates for family and friends.
PORK CHOP JOHN’S 2400 Harrison • 406-782-1783 8 West Mercury • 406-782-0812 Butte porkchopjohns.com A Montana tradition for over 60 years. Featuring John’s origional pork chop sandwich and other tasty treats! Serving lunch & dinner. Harrison avenue location also open Sundays.
Family friendly atmosphere. Updated menus & decor. Fresh home made soups, desserts, daily specials, & prime rib nightly. Full service lounge & casino.
QT’S RESTAURANT 1701 Sheridan Ave Cody, WY 307-587-3654 ext 630 Special winter buffets: Seafood Dinner Buffet • Fridays 5:00am–8:00pm; Express Soup & Salad Bar • M–F 11:00am–1:00pm; Sunday Brunch • Sundays 10:00am–1:00pm. See us inside the Holiday Inn.
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
Entertainment
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Give the Grandkids the Gift of Montana [MONTANA FOR KIDS: THE STORY OF OUR STATE; ALLEN MORRIS JONES, BANGTAIL PRESS, 2018] BY AARON PARRETT If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your grandchildren, I think I may have found it for you. It’s called Montana for Kids: The Story of Our State, written and illustrated by Allen Morris Jones. From Bangtail Press in Bozeman comes this lovely book for children in the 4- to 10-year-old range that tells the basic story of Montana in simple, straightforward language. Each two-page spread features a significant facet of Montana history, ranging from the “The First Peoples” and “Horses” to “Steamboats,” “Butte, America,” and “Ranching.” Other spreads focus on significant historical events that every Montana kid should know about, such as “The Flight of the Nez Perce,” and “Vigilantes.” Jones uses an interesting mix of historical paintings and photographs laid over a background of kid-friendly, collage-style art to illustrate the text. The combination is just the right blend of engaging imagery for kids, reminiscent of Jon Klassen or Bill Martin, Jr. The narrative
is bright and economical, which is perfect for introducing kids to history. Consider this example of Jones’s deft prose, from the spread on Vigilantes: “A new sheriff, Henry Plummer, promised law and order. But when the crime wave only got worse after he was elected, some people thought that Plummer himself must be a road agent. They
Snow Time Events ANACONDA
Copper Village Museum Dec Jan-Feb Mar
Local Artisans’ Pottery Exhibit & Sale Quilt Show Teen Art Show Admission Free
401 E Commercial • Anaconda 406-563-2422 • cvmac.org
BILLINGS Alberta Bair Theater Dec Dec Dec Jan Feb Feb Feb
8 14 31 11 7 15 21
The Midtown Men Twas a Girls Night Before Christmas Collin Raye Martha Redbone Roots Project Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt The Hot Club of San Francisco The Irish Rovers
BILLINGS
Billings Symphony Events Dec 15 Dec 31 Jan 19 Feb 2 Mar 16 Apr 13
Holiday Pops New Year’s Eve with Collin Raye Family Concert: Symphony in the Wild Motown Magic Symphony Royale Beethoven & Brahms
2721 2nd Ave N • 406-252-3610 • BillingsSymphony.org
formed a “vigilance” group. These vigilantes began hanging people they thought were outlaws. Henry Plummer was one of their first victims. The crime wave slowed down, but the cure may have been worse than the illness. The vigilantes hung enough people that no doubt there were some innocents among them.” Kids tend to be hard on books, and I am delighted that the publisher used heavy stock for this one, so that the pages are both easy to turn and will resist tears. A solid book feels good to hold in the hands, and too often production values get ignored when it comes to children’s literature. This is the kind of well-made book that tends to outlast more than one curious mind and a few sets of grubby hands — the sort of book that your grandkids will have to pass on to their own kids, eventually. As this delightful journey through the important stories of Montana history is presented in such clear and plain language against the backdrop of such engaging illustrations, I’d be surprised if this book doesn’t end up in classrooms and libraries all across the state soon. MSN
HELENA Holter Museum of Art Thru Dec 30 Nov 30–Dec 30 Dec 21 Jan 18 Jan 18–Apr 14 Jan 18–Apr 14 Jan 18–Apr 14
Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate HoHo Holter! Annual Christmas Sale HoHo Holter Trivia Night Holter Museum Grand Reopening Across the Divide exhibition Vantage Point exhibition by Maggy Hiltner Looney Tunes exhibition by James Todd
12 E Lawrence St, Helena • 406-442-6400 • HolterMuseum.org
BUTTE Butte Symphony
The Myrna Loy
Dec 15 Holidays with the Symphony Feb 16 Four Centuries of Music from Northern Europe Apr 27 Double Bass Concerto & Schubert’s 6th Symphony
Dec 13
Mother Lode Theater • 406-723-3602 • ButteSymphony.org
2801 3rd Ave N • 406-256-6052 • AlbertaBairTheater.org
Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar
9 24 7 23 1
Brew & View: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Martha Redbone: Bone Hill Project Brew & View: Fargo Letters Aloud: Fame Myrna Loy Uncorked Speakeasy Molly Tuttle
15 N Ewing • 406-443-0287 • TheMyrnaLoy.com
WESTERN MONTANA
HELENA Billings Studio Theatre
Helena Symphony
Dec Elf the Musical Feb Be My Baby Mar Mamma Mia!
Jan 26 • 7:30pm Feb 24 • 7:30pm Mar 23 • 7:30pm
1500 Rimrock Rd • 406-248-1141 BillingStudioTheatre.com
May 4 • 5:30pm
Brahms’ First Symphony Bach’s Mass in B Minor Beethoven, Mozart, & Cellist Ovidiu Marinescu TOSCA in Concert
Tickets: 406-442-1860 or HelenaSymphony.org
17th Annual Montana Early Music Festival J.S. Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” (Part Two) Historically Informed Performances on period instruments Jan 17 ‘19 • 7:30pm Holy Rosary Church • Bozeman Jan 18 ‘19 • 7:30pm Immaculate Conception • Butte Jan 19 ‘19 • 7:30pm St Francis Xavier • Missoula Jan 20 ‘19 • 3pm Cathedral of St Helena • Helena Info & Tickets • 406-442-6825 • musikantenmt.org
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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Travel
CRUISES•GETAWAYS•CULTURE•VACATIONS
A Village of Lights LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON remain up from Thanksgiving through Valentine’s-Day weekend. BY JACK MCNEEL Leavenworth erects a half-million lights in their downtown core. It’s been my good fortune to have By comparison, Rockefeller Center in traveled extensively during my lifeNew York puts up about 30,000 lights. time, and much of that has taken place Leavenworth’s town site is roughly 5 in the western U.S. from Alaska to blocks wide by 12 blocks long, with a Mexico. Some towns hold a special population of just 2000. appeal and keep calling me back. Each The lights help create a magical state has probably two or three towns event. Streets are flooded with resithat hold that appeal. The small town of dents and visitors alike, and crowds Leavenworth, Wash., has a particularly number in the thousands. Buildings strong pull at Christmas. are lit, music plays, and people watch The town was originally a logging in fascination and sing along with the community but that began fading about Christmas in Leavenworth. PHOTO BY BRIAN MUNOZ, COURTESY OF THE LEAVENWORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. music. It’s a truly remarkable event for 1960. Jessica Stoller, Media Director for this Bavarian community. the Chamber of Commerce, explained Festivities get a jump start on pre-holiday It’s now become nationally recognized for that one of the business owners had been weekends when Santa arrives at noon to greet its old world charm. stationed in Germany, and he came up with young and old alike. Carolers can be seen and Last year they celebrated 51 years of the idea that the Leavenworth area with its heard through the town, and various musical mountains looked like Bavaria and suggested Christmas lighting. They do three weekends groups perform at the downtown Gazebo of lighting during December, when the town reinventing the town with a Bavarian theme during the day. As you stroll through town, is very busy with visitors from around the — one building at a time. you will likely inhale the aroma of roasted states and around the world. “It was basically do or die,” Stoller laughed. chestnuts in the air. The hill along Front Street Jessica pointed out that they celebrate She added that some of the festivals, including Park will most likely be busy with youngsters Leavenworth as a “City of Lights” and added the Christmas Lighting and Autumn Leaf sledding down the hill, adding to the joy and that these hundreds of thousands of lights are festivals, date back to those early years. “It’s excitement of Christmas. not only lit during the Christmas season but an American dream story really!”
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS Don’t let the fact that Leavenworth only has about 2000 residents misguide you. You will likely be astounded by the variety and number of unique restaurants and shops. Most are relatively small and many feature Bavarian gifts and food with such names as Red Baron Gift Haus, The Cheesemonger’s Shop, Die Musik Box, Kris Kringl, Nussknacker Haus, and about 45 more. Few towns match Leavenworth’s variety of meal offerings. Numerous wineries are in the immediate area. It’s one of the premier wine areas in the northwest. Visitors have the opportunity to tour many of these wineries and sample their offerings. Most have tasting rooms in town where wine samples are available, sometimes two or three in a single block. More than 20
different wine tasting rooms can be found in town. Lodging is abundant — but so are visitors, especially near Christmas time when advance reservations are recommended. The city map lists 41 lodging facilities alone, many with Scandinavian or German names. There’s A Scandinavian Escape, Der Ritterhof Motor Inn, Haus Hanika, Inn Vienna Woods, Bavarian Ritz, and many more. The towns of Cashmere and Wenatchee are just a few miles distant should Leavenworth be full. Youngsters, as well as their parents, will enjoy visiting the Reindeer Farm, a private farm half a mile north of town. The animals are tame and submit to petting. It’s a great experience for old and
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young alike and makes a wonderful Christmas experience. There is a fee, but visitors leave comments like “don’t miss” and “so much fun”. It’s ranked as the #1 activity, out of 35 in Leavenworth. For those seeking a more rustic adventure, possibilities abound nearby with the usual winter activities of alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and even dog sled rides. Two ski areas are located nearby, each within 32 miles of town. Rentals and operators are available if needed. Most Holiday dreams can be filled in and around Leavenworth, the little town with the massive Christmas celebration. MSN
Dessert on the Ceiling AND OTHER KOOKY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
© R. TAVANI, BIGSTOCK.COM.
BY RANDAL HILL More than 160 countries around the world celebrate Christmas. Overseas and elsewhere, some holiday traditions may seem wonderfully weird — and maybe even a bit bizarre. For some chuckles, let’s check out the yearly happenings across the globe.
Slovakia: During Christmas Eve dinner, the oldest male resident tosses a spoonful of loksa pudding (a mixture of sweetened poppy seeds, bread, and water) onto the ceiling — the more that sticks, the better his crops or business will do during the next year. Guatemala: Each neighborhood sweeps dirt into one large pile, then plants an effigy of the Devil on top before setting it on fire. England: The idea of kissing under the mistletoe began here. Refusing a smooch was said to bring bad luck, and one tradition required that, with each kiss, the participants pluck a berry from the mistletoe bunch. New Zealand: Summertime Santa often appears in “jandals” (New Zealand sandals) and an All Blacks (their national rugby team)
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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Venezuela: Caracas streets close to all traffic when Christmas Eve arrives. This is a safety measure as many city dwellers roller-skate — nobody seems to know why — to late-night Mass. Norway: All brooms are hidden in order to keep witches from finding them and riding off into the Christmas Eve night. Men also fire their guns into the evening sky. Japan: Since, the power of persuasive American advertising has established a newer tradition: enjoying a Christmas Day feast at the nearest Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Greenland: Folks relish holiday treats of mattak (whale skin with a strip of blubber
inside) and kiviak, the raw flesh of auks (a type of Arctic bird), which have been buried whole in sealskin for seven months until they have reached a certain level of decomposition. Wales: Some villages in South Wales celebrate Mari Lwyd, a wassailing folk custom in which a local man parades through the streets, his identity hidden under a sackcloth, while bearing a horse’s skull on the end of a stick. Germany: Each December 5th, German children leave a shoe outside the house. Wellbehaved kiddies awake to find the shoe stuffed with sweets. Those behaving otherwise are likely to find a tree branch instead. Canada: There’s an actual postal code used in Canada to send letters to the North
Pole: HOHOHO. All the letters received, even those in Braille, are answered by thousands of volunteers who donate their time every year. Czech Republic: Some folks fast on Christmas Eve in the hope that they will visualize a golden pig—a sign of good luck — appearing on a wall before dinner. South Africa: After residents enjoy a traditional Christmas Day meal, they eagerly tuck into after-dinner treats of plump, fuzzy caterpillars that have been fried in oil. Makes you wonder how some of our own Christmas traditions might seem strange to others, as well? MSN
Cruise the Continents BY VIC BLOCK (SENIOR WIRE) Civil War buffs Tom and Elaine Preston wander through reconstructed forts where a major battle of that conflict was fought. Betsy and Andy Cross follow a guide
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slogging through a dense rainforest. Lauren Davis and Jim Goodman enjoy an exciting Go-Kart track and exhilarating water slide. As inviting as these disparate experiences are, they have something in common. All take place during cruises that appeal to people who are seeking something a bit different. The Prestons are passengers on an American Cruise Lines boat sailing on the Mississippi River out of New Orleans. Along with the battlefield tour, they visit plantations and other sites along the way. Onboard activities include informative lectures by historians and naturalists. The company offers river and coastal trips to 25 states. For more information call (800) 460-4518 or log onto americancruiselines.com. Betsy and Andy Cross are exploring a very different locale. Their voyage aboard the Motor Yacht Tucano penetrates the vast Amazon rainforest which is home to some 15,000 species of wildlife. Launch rides and land hikes provide animal sightings and visits to isolated villages along the shoreline. The boat offers comfortable accommodations for up to 18 passengers. 800510-5999 or latinamericanescapes.com
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The Norwegian Cruise Line ship that Lauren Davis and Jim Goodman chose exemplifies the expanding choice of activities available at sea. Passengers may zip around a Go-kart track at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. The Ocean Loop water slide propels thrill seekers through a series of twists and turns including a transparent section that extends over the side of the vessel. 866-234-7350 or ncl.com. The choices are equally imaginative aboard some Royal Caribbean Cruises ships. If glowin-the dark laser tag and bumper cars don’t provide enough excitement, there’s the highest slide at sea and simulated sky diving. 866-5627625 or royalcaribbean.com. The pace is much slower on sailings touted as “Cruising with a purpose.” Craft Cruises specializes in planning voyages for people who share a penchant for knitting, crocheting and similar pastimes. Along with the usual cruise ship activities, they take classes from experts in their area of special interest. 877-972-7238 or craftcruises.com. Learning opportunities aboard Maine windjammer boats focus upon nautical pursuits. Passengers may try their hand at steering, get instruction in navigation and participate in other sailing tasks. As they do, the graceful wind-powered tall ships sail along the picturesque coast of Maine. The 13 member vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association also offer special interest trips that focus upon themes ranging from whale watching and birding to chocolate and wine. Contacts: 800-807-9463 or sailmainecoast.com.
DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
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What may be the most other-worldly body of water anywhere is Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. Its 600-square-mile seascape is punctuated by soaring jagged spires, limestone islands, caves and inlets. PHOTO COURTESY SENIOR WIRE.
Much further north, people line the deck of a nuclear-powered ship as it crushes through North Pole ice, then go aloft in a helicopter and tethered hot air balloon to search for polar bears, walruses and seals. Arctic cruises are among more than 600 itineraries available from Expedition Trips which travel to some of the most remote corners of the Earth. The company’s specialists help people arrange both cruises and land trips based upon their interests and budget. 877-412-8527 or expeditiontrips.com. What may be the most other-worldly body of water anywhere is Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. Its 600-square-mile seascape is punctuated by soaring jagged spires, limestone islands, caves and inlets. Mother Nature’s formations dwarf boats that ply the calm water, which include everything from rowboats and kayaks to fishing craft and bamboo vessels. The ship that I called home for several days and nights, as part of a Myths and Mountains tour, replicated a traditional “junk,” yet provided very comfortable accommodations and served sumptuous meals. 800- 670-6984 or mythsandmountains.com. We close with a brief questionnaire. Do you have time to go to sea for weeks or even months? Can you make do without the fancy, upscale amenities of a modern cruise ship? Are you happy as a member of a small group, rather than mingling with hundreds of other passengers?
If so, you may be a good candidate for freighter travel. A tiny percent of ocean-going vessels carry passengers along with cargo. They include container ships whose decks are laden with truck-size metal boxes, and general cargo carriers that transport an A (automotive parts) to Z (zucchini) alphabet of goods. Passenger cabins usually are more spacious than on regular cruise ships, and feature private bathroom and air conditioning. Some provide a mini-refrigerator, TV and DVD player. Other amenities might include a library, exercise room and even a swimming pool. One appeal for freighter fanciers is the opportunity to observe and get to know crew members. Passengers and officers usually share the same dining room, which provides an opportunity to hear maritime stories and anecdotes. There also are what some may consider downsides to freighter travel. First and foremost, some shipping lines have lower and upper age limits. The number of passengers usually is 12 or fewer, the maximum a ship can carry without having a doctor on board. Ships may spend as little as a half-day or as long as several days in ports, and there are no planned shore activities for passengers. Therefore it’s best to do a bit of research about scheduled ports of call and how you would like to spend time there. A good source of information and bookings is Maris, a freighter cruise specialist that operates a membership club which offers discounts
on voyages and periodic newsletters. 800-9962747 or freightercruises.com. Another helpful contact is Stride Travel. It includes listings of river and small ship cruises among thousands of packages offered by hundreds of tour companies. Especially helpful are trip and company reviews by both professional experts and other travelers. Another benefit is that Stride members receive a cash bonus on select trips when they reserve through the company. Membership is free. Stridetravel.com. MSN
Best Wishes to you and yours this Holiday Season!
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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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Recreation
SPORTS•ACTIVITIES•FISHING•HUNTING•CAMPING
It’s All Merry and Bright in the Wood River Valley! BY HOLLY ENDERSBY Sunshine — lots of it! Great venues for food and wine — so many to choose from! Super alpine and Nordic skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, and sleigh rides galore! If you want a whole lot of holiday happiness concentrated in one place, then head to the Wood River Valley Idaho towns of Ketchum, Hailey, Bellevue, and Sun Valley Resort this season. Start the holidays off right by designing and creating your own unique wreath or holiday center piece at the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens just off Hwy 75 south of Ketchum on Gimlet Road. The Garden will supply necessary greenery and helpful guidance. You can bring additional items from home to add inspiration to your creation. This terrific activity is available December 1 and 2 from 9:00 p.m. and costs $25-$28 for materials. You can always go more than once and create wreaths and table pieces to decorate your home for the holidays. Nothing says winter holidays more than snow ... lots of snow! And there’s no better place for folks to experience all that white stuff than Galena Lodge, right off Hwy 75 north of Ketchum. It’s hard to imagine a better place for cross country skiing or
snowshoeing than the North Valley Trail System that begins at Galena. Over 50 kilometers of beautifully groomed trails await both classic and skate skiers. A modestly priced trail pass is required, and rentals are available on site as well. The terrain is varied and can meet the needs of the rank beginner or the most advanced skier. A special feature is the 30-kilometer Harriman Trail that leaves from Galena Lodge and winds its way gently to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area parking area near Ketchum. If you’re not into skiing, then try snowshoeing on over 25 kilometers of groomed trails that are also dog friendly. In fact, the Lodge has two “loaner” dogs who just love to go with new friends on snowshoe adventures. A guided snowshoe tour is available for $35, with a minimum of three people, that includes rental equipment, trail pass, and guide. Galena Lodge also has a number of special dinners during December, all fourcourse meals and reasonably priced, but be sure to reserve in advance for these popular communal eats. To top off your winter escape, consider renting one of the four yurts the Lodge operates, to really get into the holiday mood.
While it is lovely to stay at the recently renovated Sun Valley Resort, most of their holiday happenings are open to guests and non-guests alike, so be sure to check out their ever-changing list of daily activities. A showing of the classic film, Sun Valley Serenade, is a must for visitors. This 1941 movie starring skater Sonja Henie and actors John Payne and Milton Berle is a mad-cap holiday musical showing at 2:30 at the Sun Valley Opera House, located on the Sun Valley Mall, on December 27th. Another film not to be missed at the Opera House is Warren Miller’s extreme ski film “Line of Descent.” At $5.50 a ticket, this movie with its phenomenal cinematography, is sure to entertain skiers and non-skiers in your party. Show time is 2:30 p.m. Films aren’t the only attraction in the Wood River Valley. On December 27th and 30th, you can enjoy a “Clicqout in the Snow” party, complete with wine tasting, live music, and photo booth at River Run Lodge on the Sun Valley resort property from 1:00-5:00 p.m. If you haven’t bowled in a while, put on those slippery shoes, and give it a shot. The resort bowling alley is open New Year’s Eve from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
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Ice at the Sun Valley The 31st is Resort ice rink. The also Family Night show is free, and Skiing on Dollar right after is the Mountain from annual Torch Light 5:00-9:00 p.m. Parade down Dollar It’s a real bargain Mountain. Don’t at $35 for adults miss the chance to and $25 for kids 12 see skiers lighting and under. the slopes as they That gets you a wind their way done ski and ride pass for the mountain. Quarter Dollar, plus Finally, the 7th access to face paintannual Bubbly Bash ing, hat decorating, happens again on an d ph oto booth New Year’s at River activities. Fireworks Run Lodge, beginon the mountain ning at 9:00 p.m. begin precisely at This event bene9:00 p.m. fits the Sun Valley Sleigh rides Center for the Arts are another popuand is co-hosted by lar activity in the Sun Valley Resort Wood River Valley. It’s hard to imagine a better place for cross country skiing or snowshoeing than the North Valley Trail System that begins at Galena, north of Ketchum, Idaho. PHOTO BY DEV KHALSA PHOTOGRAPHY. and the Center for During peak seathe Arts. son, hour-long Ste. Michelle Winery is the sponsor for rides are offered frequently and can be Dinner sleigh rides out to the Trail Creek the event and will offer complimentary wine reserved by calling 208-622-2135. Adult Cabin are much sought after, so be sure to at midnight. This Rock and Roll Party gets reserve as early as possible. Adults tickets are fares are $30 and kids twelve and under are sold out early, so call the SV Center for the $129, and kids 12 and under are $79. $15 during peak season. In regular season, Arts as soon as you can. If you miss this tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for kids. Christmas Eve is magical in the Wood River year, then put it on your calendar to call in Dates for these seasons can be found on Valley, and nothing says Christmas better than next November. MSN the free performance of the Nutcracker on the Sun Valley Resort website.
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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Hey Hey, I’m a Monkee! Quality Time with Mickey at the Bowling Alley BY SAM BEESON (SENIOR WIRE) I’ve been around the block a few times … usually on my feet. Sometimes crawling. I’m on the “this-ain’t-funnyanymore side of middle-aged, or perhaps as I prefer to think of it, the younger side of senior. I’m no spring chicken. I’m well-seasoned, even burnt a bit. I don’t gush. Well…usually. Generally speaking, I would not go out of my way to meet a celebrity. There are no politicians, no actors, no sports figures whom I would interrupt my afternoon nap to go and see. It’s just not my thing. Now, I don’t hate any of them for their success or their views or anything else. It’s just not of general interest to me. But … singers are something different entirely. To me, music is very near a religious experience. I am a fan of many different types of music, and even in the one or two genres that don’t enthrall me, I can generally find at least a song or two in them that I enjoy. I
must stress this, I LOVE music. I listen to it in the background almost constantly when I am not in a position to listen to it actively. It’s a major part of my everyday life. I was a child of the ‘60s, so I grew up listening mainly to rock music. Also, being of that generation meant that I watched no small amount of TV. This was back during the time when our parents were learning that a television set made a pretty good babysitter. It was also during the time when we only had a few TV stations to choose from. So once “Gilligan’s Island” or “F-Troop” ended, it was off the couch and into the streets, where we would play until the street lights came on. (My mom also used an air horn that she would BLAAAT on the porch when she wanted us home earlier. Our neighbors must have loved that. But I digress.) So back then, there wasn’t the same belief there is today that television was ruining our young minds. It was simply part of our play-day. Which brings me to one of my favorite TV shows…”The Monkees.” I LOVED The Monkees. Their show was unlike anything seen before or seen since. Even in my unsophisticated youth, I could appreciate the show was unique in many ways. Their musical montage bit was the forerunner to today’s music videos. And although the
show was certainly silly and lighthearted, some of the Monkees’ music, especially their later works when they were allowed greater musical freedom, rivaled many of the other popular groups. But I’m not here to argue their merits as a TV-turned-rock band (who are criminally being denied entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame due to their TV-show beginnings. Write your congressperson.) Instead, I am here to tell you about my career as the fifth Monkee. My family had a console record player. State of the art for its time. For hours out of the day, I would sit smack dab in the middle of the console and listen to The Monkees. I memorized their songs. I memorized every note, every supporting vocal, every inadvertent background noise of the band. And I would pretend. I was the fifth Monkee. They were all my pals, and, together, the five of us would do concerts in front of cheering fans. I was the keyboardist, sitting there in front of the stereo, pretending to be playing a keyboard even in songs where there wasn’t one. But I learned early that the music business is a quirky one. The music I loved so much was soon replaced by another sound. Disco. Ick. Life was over.
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DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS But life wasn’t over. It continues on, and my love for music branched out to other genres. Yet I still would hold fast to The Monkees. They were, are, and always will be my favorite. The Monkees enjoyed a nostalgia wave during the ‘80s and ‘90s and re-formed either in pairs, or trios for several concerts. I was thrilled to see them during this time when they finally came to my town. Since then, if any combination of them were in concert, I was there in the crowd. Then, in early 2012, Davy Jones died. By that time, of course, I was certainly old enough to understand that everyone’s time must come… even my heroes. Until that time I had always hoped that someday I would get a chance to meet The Monkees and tell them — probably like so many fans before me — how much their music meant. But now, I had lost that chance with at least one of them. I was fortunate a few years ago to meet Michael Nesmith (the guy with the beanie cap) after a solo concert in my hometown. I was able to chat with him a bit, get a photograph or two and an autograph. I was able to tell him that I had been a fan since we were both kids. One down, two more to go. This past Father’s Day I was given a gift
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from my wife and son that will likely never be topped. For a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a few select fans were given the
and greet” after a concert. This was actually a chance to spend some quality time in a small group with, arguably, the voice of The Monkees. To top it off, I love bowling and bowl in several leagues, so I was combining my favorite past time with my favorite band. I don’t mean to brag, but I ended up with the highest score from everyone there, my wife coming in second, and my son in third. So the Beeson family made an impression on Micky, and we ended up chatting quite a bit about bowling and life. As I said at the beginning, I don’t gush. I am a grown man talking with a peer, not some silly sappy teenager fawning over an idol. Yeah….that’s a bunch of malarkey. I gushed. I gushed all over the place. I’m sure I was quite embarrassing. But I would do it again in a heartbeat and will if I ever get the chance. My next goal, is meeting Peter Tork (the “dumb” one — who is actually anything but.) So Peter, if you’re out there reading this…watch out. Because I may be coming to your town. MSN
opportunity to go bowling with Micky Dolenz (the drummer). This was not a simple “meet
PAGE 69
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LAUREL 820 3rd Ave 406.628.8251
LIVINGSTON 510 S 4th St 406.222.0672
MISSOULA 3018 Rattlesnake Dr. 406.549.0988
POLSON Nine 14th Ave W 406.883.4378
SHELBY 630 Park Dr. 406.434.3260
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Answers to Brain Games PUZZLES•QUIZZES•GAMES•CONTESTS•BRAIN TEASERS•FUN
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BOGGLE ANSWERS MOLE PUMA LION LYNX BEAR GOAT HARE WOLF
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Jumble Jumbles: STRUM ALIAS INDIGO INDOOR Answer: When it came to Neil Armstrong’s determination to walk on the moon, he was — ON A MISSION
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Answers to Brain Games
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Need Help with Montana Taxes? Visit the Montana Department of Revenue website: revenue.mt.gov for: • Filing and Payment Options • How to Find Tax Assistance • Information on the Elderly Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit (worth up to $1,000)
Questions?
Call our Call Center at
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About Our Contributing Staff Writers Holly Endersby has been an award-winning outdoor writer for 25 years, working in newspaper, magazines, TV, and web-based magazines. She enjoys horse packing in wilderness areas, fishing, hunting, snow and water sports, yoga, and hiking. She was the first Conservation Director for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
Gail Jokerst is an award-winning writer and member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and longtime contributor to this newspaper. Contact her at gailjokerst@ gmail.com.
Bernice Karnop writes from her home in Great Falls under the supervision of a tortoise shell cat she calls Millie. Her great grandfather was a Montana pioneer who arrived at the gold fields in 1863.
Jack McNeel was born and raised in Idaho. His working career was spent with Idaho Fish and Game Department but after retirement he launched a career as a free lance writer and photographer for many publications, primarily about Native American subjects, hunting, fishing, and travel. He now lives in Hayden, Idaho.
An author and musician, Aaron Parrett is a professor at the University of Providence. He runs a vintage print shop, the Territorial Press in Helena, Mont.
Kathleen Mulroy is a freelance writer who specializes in grant proposals for nonprofits. A former educator and childhood literacy program director, she has lived in California, north Idaho and South Carolina.
Mary Ann Reuter is a Boise-based health and lifestyle writer whose interests include active aging, rural health, and the human-animal bond. You can reach her at ma. reuter@yahoo.com.
Russell Roland has published three novels, including In Open Spaces, as well as a non-fiction narrative, Fifty-Six Counties. He has an MA in Creative Writing from Boston University and currently lives in Billings, Mont., where he teaches online workshops and consults with other writers. Visit www.russellrowland.com for more information.
Carrie Scozarro has made a living and a life with words and images, from graphic design and marketing communications, to teaching public school art, to writing about art, education, food, and culture from her Coeur d’Alene-area home for such clients as Inlander, Sandpoint Magazine, and Western Art & Architecture.
Dianna Troyer is a freelance writer based in Pocatello, Idaho. She enjoys family and friends, skiing, riding horse, and hiking.
A multifaceted interest in Montana people and their communities keeps Suzanne Waring looking for topics to research in old newspapers and books and people to interview. During the busy times of her first career, Suzanne Waring wrote, “I raise a garden no matter what.” That statement is still true during her second career as a writer.
MONTANA SENIOR NEWS â&#x20AC;¢ DECEMBER 2018 // JANUARY 2019
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