August 2020 Senior Spectrum

Virtual Events: Educational Lectures Virtual Gatherings Walking Group Weekly Meditation

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Special Session Delivers Medicaid a Blow

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he Nevada 31st Special Session held July 8, reversed over two decades of work to keep people self sufficient and living independently. Legislators in the Special Session Final Appropriation Act approved cutting Medicaid providers fee-forservice reimbursement by 6 percent to make up the deficit in the state budget, a result of the COVID-19 virus.

The 6 percent cut will reverse years of work to pay health care providers the true cost of the work performed in accepting low-income, Medicaid clients.

The 6 percent reduction applies to numerous health care providers enrolled in Medicaid State Plan Services, to take effect August 15, 2020. The decrease in annual aggregate expenditures for the provider types total $199,135,611 for fiscal year 2021.

Affected are State Plan Services that will have providers debating if they want to continue accepting Medicaid

patients. Services include: Outpatient Surgery that is hospital Based, Inpatient Hospital and Outpatient Hospitals, Behavioral Health Outpatient Treatment, Registered Dietitian and Medical Nutrition Therapy, Specialty Clinics that include Family Planning, Genetics, Obstetrical Care, Birthing Centers, Public Health, School Based Health Centers, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehab Facilities, Community Health, Early Intervention, HIV, Substance Abuse Agency Model and more. Health care professionals to see reductions in pay include: Physician, M.D., Osteopath, D.O., Podiatrist, Dentist, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Optometrist, Psychologist, Radiology, Ambulance - Air or Ground, Therapy, Chiropractor, Optician, Swing Bed - Acute Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Audiologist, Physician’s Assistant, Hospital Based End Stage Renal Disease Provider, Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Treat(Medicaid page 5)

THIS ISSUE Page 3 -Medicaid Cuts

Page 9 - CMS: Protecting

Page 11 - Willie J. Wynn

Nursing Home Residents

Apartments Open, Renting

Page 11 - Prominence Health:

Page 13 - Emergency Room

TeleHealth Here to Stay

Service in Your Home

Page 17 - Calendar

Page 15 - Mountain Lakes

Page 27 -this ‘n that

Estates Retirement

Page 28 - Biggest Little City

Community Ready to Open

Page 29 - Resources

EVeRY ISSUE Page 4 - US Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto Page 6 - Sparks City Councilman, Khristopher Dahir

Page 30 - Tinseltown Page 31 - Crossword Page 33- Simply Smart Travel

Page 7 - Isolation, Loneliness, and Healthy Aging - Center for Healthy Aging

Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510 775/348-0717 email: SeniorSpectrumNV@aol.com Web: SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com Family Publishers Connie McMullen • Chase McMullen Editorial not necessarily the opinion of SSN www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // August 2020

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Opinion

The ACA Plays a Vital Role in Keeping Nevadans Safe from COVID-19

By U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

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evada is facing the biggest public health threat in decades, and while we’ve worked hard to slow the spread of coronavirus, thousands of Nevadans will continue to require COVID-19-related health care services in the coming months. Yet amidst this global pandemic, the current administration is pushing a lawsuit that threatens to eliminate the Affordable Care Catherine Cortez Masto Act, putting thousands of Nevadans at risk of losing their health care right when they need it most. In the Silver State alone, over 400,000 Nevadans have gained health insurance coverage since the ACA was enacted, and 1.2 million Nevadans have peace of mind that insurance companies can no longer deny them coverage because of a pre-existing condition. The repeal of the ACA could also mean that insurers could deny coverage to

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August 2020 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com

coronavirus survivors of all ages due to conditions caused by the virus. That’s why these protections are more crucial than ever as we work to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and protect our seniors, who are particularly vulnerable to the disease.

For many, the Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline during the coronavirus pandemic. Access to quality, affordable care and free COVID-testing and diagnostics plays a key role in keeping Nevadans healthy. Expanded enrollment opportunities have allowed unemployed Nevadans to sign up for coverage, and Medicaid expansion helped vulnerable families gain subsidized coverage in the ACA marketplace known as Nevada Health Link. Should the ACA be repealed, Nevadans could lose all these benefits, and older Americans could be at risk as well.

Seniors are more likely to live with a chronic health condition, and if the ACA were nullified, insurers would again be able to deny health coverage or charge higher premiums to those with pre-existing conditions. For seniors covered by Medicare, the life-saving prescription drugs that they rely on could also increase substantially in cost through the return of the Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole”, forcing 33,000 seniors in Nevada to pay an average of $1,077 more in prescription drug costs each year.

Furthermore, nursing homes, which have been working hard to mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus, could also face devastating repercussions as a result of this administration’s attempts to repeal the ACA. A repeal would weaken resident protections and limit long-term-care options for many seniors by undermining funding sources being used to improve nursing-home quality during an already overwhelming time.

Unraveling the ACA’s expansion of Nevada’s ability to offer home- and community-based services would also hurt the growing number of seniors who hope to “age in place” rather than face the current risks of moving to a nursing home.

During these unprecedented times, I’ve been working hard to safeguard the Affordable Care Act and provide necessary aid and resources to all Nevadans, especially those most vulnerable to the effects of this health crisis. I’m fighting to protect and strengthen the ACA and I have called on Congress to expand access to health care coverage in any upcoming COVID-19 relief bill. I’m also working with state and local officials to ensure Nevada consumers are extra mindful of insurance-related scams, which have increased as more people sign up for health coverage. Fraudulent actors may try to sell

Medicaid / from page 3

ment, Applied Behavior Analysis, and the list goes on.

For Senior Spectrum readers, the list hits closer to home especially for those who cannot pay for their own care, are on fixed incomes, and are struggling to live in their homes. The services cut include Home Health Agency, Durable Medical Equipment, Adult Day Health Care, Home and Community Based Waiver for the Frail Elderly, Home and Community Based Waiver for the Frail Elderly (in Residential Care), Home and Community Based Waiver for Persons with Physical Disabilities, Home and Community Based Waiver for the Frail Elderly (Augmented Personal Care Services), Hospice, and Hospice Long-term Care.

To say that the budget reductions are being made on the backs of the most vulnerable, who cannot or have no other means to pay for their care is putting it mildly. The 6 percent reduction will indirectly reverse years of advocacy to keep people independent, but sadly will take even more years to restore if ever.

The reductions, if approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will be devastating to peoples lives. Many will not seek care in hospital emergency rooms, or at doctor’s offices. They simply will stay home and suffer, some will not make it.

The cuts in service are coming at a time when our states health care professionals are working diligently to provide care during uncertain times, putting their own lives at stake to care for the sick and disadvantaged. This is not a time to cut Medicaid services, or any health care.

ACA / page 4 low-cost “coronavirus” or “COVID-19” health coverage while marketing for these types of scams, and to know that the ACA and Nevada Health Link insurance plans will cover COVID-19 related care without the need for additional coverage. If you think you or a loved one has fallen victim to a scam, you should report the incident to the Nevada Attorney General’s Office at ag.nv.gov. Taking an extra few minutes to thoroughly review the content or double check any “too good to be true” offers with a loved one could save you from falling victim.

While I recognize that the Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, I also know how much it’s helped so many families, and I want to improve upon the legislation. The ACA is providing coverage to Nevadans in need, offering affordable, accessible care to families across our state and giving so many peace of mind during this pandemic. It’s clear that the solution to fixing our health care system doesn’t start with stripping affordable health care from millions of Americans in the middle of a pandemic. Instead, it starts with providing for our most vulnerable and ensuring we’re all educated on how we can avoid scams and protect ourselves and our loved ones. www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // August 2020

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Opinion

Kristopher Dahir Sparks City Council

Cel ebrating the Nation

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he earliest Fourth of July that I can remember was when I was 7-years-old and we gathered as a family at my grandfather’s mechanic shop in Omaha, NE. I loved this holiday, as we usually spent it with our loved ones, proudly celebrating our country, eating delicious food and watching an amazing fireKristopher Dahir works show over Rosenblatt Stadium. Since then, the stadium has been torn down, and most of us have all moved away and grown our own family traditions.

Through all of those changes, there is one thing that still beats in my heart every July 4th. That is my gratefulness for this amazing country that I was born in. We truly have a wonderful heritage, filled with success, failure, growth, and an ability to work together. When those fireworks explode overhead and I hear the great songs like “God Bless America” and “Proud to be an American,” it feels like I am 7- years-old again and all the cares of the world disappear. The waves of emotions filled with excitement, pride, gratefulness and strength pour into my soul. It is as though I can hear the voices of those men and women from our past telling me that they forged the way for me to be right where I am and that I have a responsibility to keep pressing forward.

Ideals like equality, fairness, and freedom will always require men and women of opposing views to gather, to find common ground, and to become better together. This 4th of July, was a very important one for me. With the absence of large celebrations and festivities, I chose to quiet my mind and look into my heart to see what pieces of this great American Holiday we must never forget.

I don’t how our founding father, John Adams, could had known that having fireworks was going to be a hit, but even before the first celebration on July 4, 1777, was to take place, he wrote a letter to his wife sharing his vision of this splendid occasion:

In closing, what do you think of when you remember the Fourth of July? What resolve will you have to help generations to come know of the lessons that have been learned along the journey? I truly hope you had a wonderful Independence Day celebration.

Here are some pictures taken by the amazing Ashley Meyers this year in our region. I hope you enjoy the firework show.

To Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776 he wrote that the occasion should be commemorated “with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”(slate.com) I chose to write this article to you because this was probably the first year that many of us did not get to see fireworks, gather as a family and listen to those special songs. However, let me encourage you with this. If there ever was a time for us all to remember who we are, where we came from, and focus on our resolve to grow by working together, it is now.

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• I resolve to build upon what was gifted to me.

• I resolve to protect that which I was so honored to be born into.

• I resolve to pass down to the next generation the gift of freedom.

• I resolve to listen and grow.

• I resolve to continue to shape this country into a safe place for all who call it home.

• I resolve to honor and thank each and every person who worked for, fought for and died for the life I get to live out today.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence

Many blessings

Ashley Meyers

“Adding Life to Years” Dr. Larry Weiss Center for Healthy Aging

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Isolation, Loneliness, and Healthy Aging

have written about social isolation and loneliness among elders a lot, but it is particularly important now with COVID-19 hitting our country so hard. Social isolation is almost mandated by staying at home to be safe.

It is a fact that socially isolated older adults are more at risk for poor health Larry Weiss and death than their well-connected counterparts. Studies have shown that a lack of social contacts among older adults is associated with an estimated $6.7 billion in additional federal spending annually, and the risk of death is about 50 percent higher for those who are socially isolated. Social isolation is defined as a lack of meaningful contacts with others. Elders may be especially at risk for social isolation because they are more likely to have losses of friends and loved ones, as well as a variety of health problems that increase their need for a strong foundation of robust social relationships.

Social isolation is a clear risk factor for illness and even death.

Drawing attention to it as a social health determinant should create incentive for policy makers and public health officials to place more emphasis on population-based surveillance and the development of evidence-based interventions. These prevention activities could prolong life and reduce the burden of illness and health spending. Increased frailty and disability play a role in age-related social isolation. Poor health may lead to older adults’ isolation, or they may be isolated first, which contributes to their poor health outcomes. Both pathways may be present. Social relationships—both quantity and quality— affect mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk. Public health professionals have played a key role in establishing the link between social relationships and health outcomes, identifying explanations for this link, and discovering social variation. Studies show that social relationships have short- and long-term effects on health, for better and for worse, and that these effects may begin in childhood and grow (Isolation page 8)

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Isolation / page 7

throughout life creating advantages or disadvantages in health later in life.

Research shows that those elders that are socially isolated are more likely to be male, to be white, to live in an urban area, and to have lower household income and wealth. The socially isolated are also more likely to have depression, to have difficulty performing one or more activities of daily living, and to have five or more chronic illnesses. Surprisingly, being married does not necessarily mean that they are socially connected.

Many married elders, especially men, are socially isolated.

One element effecting social isolation is that about a quarter of the elders live alone. Living alone has its own inherent dangers. Falls, illness or other health problems can quickly escalate into something much more dangerous for a person living alone without visitors. An example would be an elder man who lives by himself and falls and breaks his leg. If he’s socially isolated, he may not receive help for hours or even days and could suffer from other problems like dehydration that could put him at risk of dying. One preventable service is having Philips Lifeline Emergency Response System which can call a friend or other upon a fall. The Center for Healthy Aging can provide this service.

Other risks of social isolation come from not having other eyes on a senior’s living situation. Frequent visitors are more likely to identify potential dangers, such as a dangerous throw rug, bad wiring, a loose rail or broken step. They may also notice problems with medication or diet. Imagine a daughter visiting her mother to discover no food in the house. The mother, a life-long cook, was forgetting to buy groceries and forgetting to eat. This and other observed issues led to the discovery that the woman’s mother was suffering dementia and could no longer safely live on her own.

In addition to the situational risks brought on by social isolation, there are the physical and mental health problems.

Being alone all the time is simply not good for anyone. Social isolation puts elders at greater risk for a number of physiological concerns: Decline in mobility; Increased risk of heart disease, including heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure; Cognitive decline, like the dementia example; increased risk of infectious illness, such as COVID if contracted while grocery shopping; Increased vulnerability to chronic illness, such as Type 2 Diabetes. Social isolation also puts elders at greater risk for mental health issues, such as depression, suicide. Clearly social isolation and loneliness have a serious and impactful health consequence on elders.

Social isolation is not inevitable as people age, most elders are not isolated. But for those elders who have poor social connections we need the state and federal policy makers, as well as community providers, to identify and enact interventions to alleviate isolation. This will help improve Medicare beneficiaries’ health and quality of life, while saving the Medicare program millions of dollars. In addition, future research needs to be done on the relationship between social isolation among elders and Medicaid spending. No doubt the results will also show that it also costs billions of Medicaid dollars.

We need to fund public–private partnerships to identify and test interventions—including health prevention and promotion activities—for social isolation that are culturally competent and consider differences in socioeconomic status, marital status, mental and functional health status, and chronic illness status. Interventions should explore the desirability and feasibility of using technology, especially during COVID to reduce isolation among older adults. Clearly social isolation needs to be included as a social determinate of health and included in the annual Medicare physician visit, which can hence identify those elders that need intervention. Many different types of service could be utilized, such as the wellness visit, warm home, weekly friend call, post card, family or neighbor visit, zoom internet call, etc. What better way to “add life to years”.

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. is CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weiss welcomes your comments on this column.

Write to him at larry@addinglifetoyears.com or c/o Center for Healthy Aging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV 89519.

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Taking Action to Protect America’s Nursing Home Residents Against COVID-19

By Seema Verma Administrator, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

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ursing homes have become ground zero in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with outbreaks causing high rates of illness and death among vulnerable residents living together in close quarters.

That’s why the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken a series of aggressive actions over the last Seema Verma several months to protect nursing home residents against the spread of this new coronavirus.

We understand how terrifying these outbreaks are for nursing home residents and their families, and how essential it is for them to know what is going on inside nursing homes.

So, we acted accordingly. Beginning in May, CMS required nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid to inform residents, their families, and their representatives within 12 hours of when a single confirmed COVID-19 case is reported, or when three or more residents or staffers develop respiratory symptoms within 72 hours of each other.

Residents, families, and their representatives also must be given weekly updates or be told by the end of the next day each time a subsequent COVID-19 case is confirmed and/or three or more residents or staffers develop respiratory symptoms within 72 hours of each other.

Nursing homes also must include information about what actions they’re taking to prevent or reduce the risk of transmission, and inform residents and their families about how those actions will change normal operations in the nursing home.

But we didn’t stop there. We also developed a system so the public could quickly and easily access data reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the prevalence of COVID-19 at every CMS-certified nursing home in the country.

This information is now publicly available in a searchable database that allows people to look up individual nursing homes and see how many COVID-19 cases and deaths, among both residents and staffers, have been reported there. This new system of national reporting for nursing homes is unprecedented.

The data can be found at our Nursing Home Compare website.

(Nursing Homes page 10)

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Nursing Homes / from page 9

(See the “Spotlight� section for the link.) CMS will update the data weekly and take enforcement action against nursing homes that do not report the required information. About 15,400 nursing homes nationwide are certified to accept people enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid.

The Nursing Home Compare website features a FiveStar Quality Rating System to rate nursing homes, with one star indicating the lowest overall quality of care and five stars indicating the highest. Early analysis of reported COVID-19 data shows that facilities with a one-star health inspection rating were more likely to have larger numbers of COVID-19 cases than facilities with a five-star health inspection rating.

In March, CMS and the states suspended standard inspections of nursing homes and began looking specifically for violations of infection control and prevention rules. We also provided a focused infection-control survey tool for nursing homes to do self-assessments to ensure they were taking necessary steps to protect their residents against COVID-19.

CMS is providing additional support and technical assistance to low-performing nursing homes through its Quality Improvement Organizations. QIOs are composed of health quality experts and clinicians with experience in helping healthcare providers to improve the quality of care for people with Medicare. CMS directed QIOs to focus their efforts on providing

education and training to all nursing homes in the country.

Finally, CMS recently provided state and local officials with recommendations on phased re-openings of nursing homes in their areas, including when and under what circumstances to allow visitors.

Visits from family and friends are generally restricted at nursing homes now to help control and prevent the spread of the virus, except in compassionate care situations. We understand how hard it is to be separated from loved ones, especially elders, for so long.

But as nursing homes meet certain criteria, they may be in a position to allow visitors again. Our guidelines recommend that visitation be allowed in Phase 3 with screening and additional precautions, including social distancing and hand hygiene (e.g., use of alcohol-based hand rub upon entry). We also recommend that all visitors wear a cloth face covering or facemask for the duration of their visit.

You can read more about the reopening guidelines here: https://www.cms.gov/files/ document/qso-20-30-nh. pdf-0

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Be assured that CMS will use every tool at its disposal to protect the health and safety of America’s nursing home residents.

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Telehealth is Here to Stay Dr. Traci Biondi, Medical Director Prominence Health Plan

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hen the COVID-19 pandemic hit, new forms of healthcare technology emerged allowing patients to continue to access care during the crisis. Telehealth skyrocketed in popularity, allowing many people to visit with their provider via a phone call or a video conference appointment.

Traci Biondi

Over the next several months and years, we will continue to have to navigate the uncertainty of this pandemic and telehealth is a beacon in the storm. A virtual telehealth visit is a simple way to reduce exposure and ultimately a great way to protect yourself, your family and the community.

As Nevada starts to reopen and people begin venturing out more frequently, we expect that telehealth is here to stay.

Many people enjoy the medical care they receive via telehealth. It’s convenient and effective and people appreciate the ease of access to their health care provider. Rather than traveling to see your physician and spending valuable time in a waiting room, you can visit your provider from the comfort of your home or during your lunch break.

exception is for emergency services. If you have an emergency, immediately go to your nearest medical facility or call 911.

Digital Convenience: Technology is readily available at our fingertips. There is no need to miss work, sit in a waiting room, or find childcare in order to have a visit with your doctor. With telehealth, you can meet with your physician wherever you are, at work during your lunch-break, or from the privacy of your own home.

High-Risk Patients: There are many reasons to be optimistic, as vaccine development is well underway. Until then, we must continue to reduce the risk of exposure and proceed with caution. Wear a mask and maintain social distancing to mitigate risk and slow the spread of COVID-19. For elderly or immunocompromised patients telehealth is a powerful resource. It is a valuable way to provide necessary care while helping you stay safe and minimize risk.

(Telehealth is here on page 14)

There are many benefits to telehealth, however, some people are understandably hesitant to try it. Some may feel uncomfortable, not knowing what to expect. To help ease concerns, we put together a guide on how to use telehealth and why it’s a great alternative to in-person appointments.

What is Telehealth? Telehealth is a user-friendly, HIPAA-compliant resource designed to allow virtual appointments with doctors and other providers through video or audio from the comfort of your own home. Digital appointments can result in faster diagnoses, treatments, and increase the efficiency of care while reducing stress. All you need is a device that connects to the internet such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Types of Services: There are a variety of services and appointments that can be conducted via telehealth, including primary care, specialty or urgent care visits. Some providers or services even offer appointments 24 hours a day. Many primary care providers and specialists are currently conducting appointments over the telephone or through video chat. If you have an upcoming appointment or if you need to schedule an appointment, we recommend asking your provider if they are capable of doing the appointment via telehealth. The only www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // August 2020

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Willie J. Wynn Apartments Open, Renting

he Reno Housing Authority Willie J. Wynn Apartments are open and renting affordable senior housing units in Reno.

Named after RHA Board Member Reverend Willie J. Wynn, a leader and affordable housing advocate, the new two story apartment building offers 44 one and two bedroom units, designed to support seniors aging in place. There is also an emergency assistance fund available for at risk seniors. One out of four apartments, or 12 units, are dedicated to seniors transitioning from motels and shelters, or who are homeless. The RHA entered into a partnership with the Washoe Reno Housing Authority Willie J. Wynn Apartments

County Human Services Agency to provide case management and a housing subsidy for those who qualify for emergency assistance.

The target earnings for Willie J. Wynn residents is 40 percent or less than the area median income. For many seniors impacted by unemployment and the COVID-19 virus, there is growing demand. RHA Executive Director Amy Jones says a committee has been formed to meet the need of developing more affordable housing in the community. “I am so proud to have been able to provide these units,” said Jones. “This is a first step in affordable housing that is greatly needed.”

Jones says funding from the CARES Housing Assistance Program apply to renters. The RHA was given $5 million from the Nevada Housing Division to help renters with individual payments dating back from April that could extend until December 31, this year. Eligibility and availability of funds must be COVID-19 related to a loss of income, and owing rent. Jones says this is not a traditional way to provide assistance, as it applies to a broader scope of individuals who need help. People interested can make application on line at www.housing.nv.gov.

If approved, funds will be disbursed directly to the landlord.

The Willie J. Wynn Apartments are all ADA compliant with complete kitchens. There is a community room, open kitchen for family dining, and an outdoor BBQ grill. The building is located just behind the Reno Senior Center, which offers the Aging and Disability Resource Center, the Advocate for Elders program, Food Bank of Northern Nevada resources, a Veterans Affairs Service Officer, nutrition services, the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.

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Units range from $432 to $739 a month and are based on a sliding income. Currently, there are two bedroom units still available for rent. The Willie J. Wynn Apartments are located at 1202 Hillboro Avenue, Reno, NV 89512.

Company Brings Emergency Room Service to Your Home

by Connie McMullen

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ew to northern Nevada, the company DispatchHealth is bringing emergency room treatment right to your doorstep. Operating in the Reno Sparks since April, DispatchHealth offers high-level urgent medical care in the privacy of your own home, eliminating the need for hospital or physician office visits.

What has so many elders isolating in their homes is the fear of catching the COVID-19 virus. DispatachHealth has instead made it safer to offer personalized emergency treatment for the elderly and vulnerable when it is most needed.

Operating in 20 cities nationwide including Las Vegas, DispatchHealth teams an advanced practice provider with a nurse practitioner or physician assistant to provide emergency room care in your home, an assisted living residence, high-rise condo, or 55 plus community. In the era of COVID-19, DispatchHealth provides all levels of care to seniors who may be isolating in place and fear exposure to others.

patchHealth operates from 8-10 p.m. daily, seven days a week and on holidays.

(DispatchHealth page 14)

Marketing Director Joe Cummings says the service focuses on seniors, but the medical team can treat everyone in the family if need be. “The entire extended family, Moms and kids, can receive medical care at home.”

DispatchHealth teams can provide a variety of services if necessary. “They can order imaging, tests for flu and strep throat, a blood sample or test function for endocrinology.

Patients do not have to make office appointments, or drive long distances to receive care. DispatchHealth technicians can order medicine, or treat patients right on the spot. “If someone has a migraine headache, medication can be administered during the visit.”

DispatchHealth is connected to most insurance carriers and can bill and do follow up physician paperwork. “We try to remove barriers to care.”

To make the service more accessible, the company offers consumers an app they input in advance with information to make visits easier. Once the information is completed on line, consumers can call and discuss their medical needs (720-6475329). Like telemedicine, care can also be provided on the phone, by text, or website. “You do not have to have a physician referral to use the service. It is a benefit of a person’s insurance.”

What is important is patients get care when they need it. Diswww.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // August 2020

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DispatchHealth / from page 13

In 2013, an ER physician developed DispatchHealth in a pilot program. What makes the program work is its ability to treat frequent, chronic users who have difficulty with hospital or doctors office visits, but who need constant care. BJ Wright, operator of the Las Vegas office, says the primary user may be a severely dehydrated senior or elder with a urinary track infection in need of an IV drip and fluids. “We will stay with them 45 minutes or more. Our teams listen, access, diagnose, and treat the patient.”

Dispatch Health teams use an SUV they call the Rover on each medical call. Wright says the most common visit is the “result of a fall and risk assessment, broken bones, or skin tears, common among aging adults. We can also order crutches or test for COVID-19.” And unlike long emergency room visits, or teledoc visits, “we can do hands on stuff,” Cummings said.

“We can order tests or a prescription right on the spot. We can look at wounds and order the needed medicine.”

DispatchHealth has a track record at lowering medical costs, and reducing hospital readmissions. “We have a score of 98 out of 100 from people who say they are satisfied or trilled with the services.”

DispatchHealth teams are also good partners in the community. “We take good clinical notes, and suggest follow-up

care with their primary care physician.” DispatchHealth has partnered with Renown Health and Hometown Health to offer ER care. They are in the process of developing agreements with all the medical providers in the community to make visits successful for the people they treat.

Common questions consumers often ask are: How much does a DispatchHealth visit cost? A DispatchHealth visit costs roughly the same as a walk-in urgent care visit. On average most patients pay anywhere from $5 to $50 after insurance. (The cost may vary with your insurance plan and deductible).

What if I do not have insurance? DispatchHealth accepts payment of a flat rate of $275 at the time of treatment via credit card.

How quickly does the medical team arrive at the home? After contacting us, it typically takes 1-2 hours for a medical team to come to your location. When you call to schedule a visit, you will be given an accurate arrival time.

Who are the DispatchHealth providers? Two providers arrive at your home, including a physician assistant or nurse practitioner and a medical technician. An ER physician is always available by phone for consults.

How do I book an appointment? Booking an appointment is done by phone or through the mobile app. DispatchHealth is based in Reno, but offers its service in the patients home. To learn more about the company, visit DispatchHealth.com or call 720-647-5329 to schedule a visit.

Telehealth / page 11

COVID-19 Symptoms: For those experiencing symptoms associated with the coronavirus, you can make an appointment via telehealth services right away. This helps to minimize exposure for others who may have an essential in-person doctor’s visit. If you are not experiencing symptoms, scheduling a telehealth appointment is a great way to avoid the waiting room and stay healthy.

Seek Behavioral Health Help: Your mental health matters. For individuals with underlying mental health conditions, the daily report of grim statistics related to COVID-19 can be stressful. It may evoke feelings of anxiety or impending doom. Telehealth is a great way for patients to seek help for mental health issues without having to leave their homes.

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Telehealth gives you the ability to meet virtually with your physician or health care provider and have a high-quality healthcare experience at your convenience. A virtual telehealth appointment allows a patient to connect with their provider so they can get the care they need when they need it. Give it a try! Ask your doctor about scheduling a telehealth appointment today.

Mountain Lakes Estates Retirement Community Set to Open Mountain Lakes Estates is situated on a picturesque lake front with breathtaking views of the Sierras.

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Backdrop features view of lake front shoreline.

ountain Lakes Estates Retirement Community is set to open this fall, offering a large independent senior living community for northern Nevada retirees.

The community features 131 affordable retirement apartment homes, in studio, oneand two-bedroom units, for residents 55 plus.

The four story, 121,000 square foot building, is all inclusive offering meals, transportation, snacks, recreation activities, housekeeping, linen, and cable. Other amenities include parking, fitness center, and billiards. Covered patios and an outdoor fire pit bring the outdoors, indoors. There are winding paths for walking and biking, and nearby trails for early morning hikes. From the shoreline residents can fish or launch their canoe or kayak for a morning paddle. Every aspect of the community has been “designed to make healthy, active, and connected living a way of daily life,� explained Darryl Fisher, president of Mission Senior Living.

(Mountain Lakes page 16)

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Mountain Lakes / from page 15 Other amenities include a movie theater, creative arts center, beauty salon and barbershop. Exercise classes and programs will be offered in the wellness/fitness center, along with access to fitness equipment.

“Construction is nearly complete, and residents are expected to start moving in this fall in September,” Williams said.

Balconies are available in select residences. According to Fisher, the community was designed to be a “room with a view” at every turn. “Every window, balcony and outdoor seating area is the perfect spot to take in Reno’s natural beauty.”

Mountain Lakes Estates circular entrance includes plenty of parking.

Mountain Lakes Estates Administrator Nate Williams, adds that the community is located in a great area. “The building is safe and there is concierge assistance available. Dining options include chef-prepared meals served in the dining room, and lighter fare offered in the bistro and coffee shop. There are expansive indoor and outdoor areas for entertaining and social gatherings, including the outdoor firepit, gardening areas, and benches situated along the lake.”

Mountain Lakes Estates is close enough to downtown Reno for residents to stay connected to the community and experience the culture. There’s the theater and performing arts center, galleries and museums, lifelong learning classes at the nearby University of Nevada; and local spas, shopping and casinos. Renown South Meadows Medical Center is just a short distance away on Double R Blvd.

Fisher said leaving behind the hassles of home ownership, residents can lock up and leave without having to worry about maintenance or security. “Community living is ideal for people who view retirement as a new chapter in life. When you have the freedom, conveniences and resources available, you can live life however you choose.”

Mountain Lakes Estates is located at 765 South Meadows Parkway, Reno. A limited number of apartment homes in select sizes and styles are available. Call (775) 384-1026 or visit http://www.mountainlakesestates.net. Follow the community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mountainlakesestates/.

Mountain Lakes Estates aerial building view.

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August 3 & 5 - Senior Mat Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-303-2845.

August 3 & 5 - Senior Mat Yoga, 12-1 p.m., Evelyn Mount Community Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845.

August 4 - Zumba Gold, 11:15-12:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $10.

August 4 - It Starts With Hello, Virtual Gathering Series, 12-12:45 p.m., connect on your computer by Zoom, https:// zoom.us/j/96269295417, or phone at (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417.

August 4 - Cancer Support Workshop 3: Thrivorship - After Cancer Care - Virtual Only, 3-4 p.m., Renie Anderson, RSVP to 775-982 - RSVP. August 4 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 - 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775-325-5409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday. Email: Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

August 5 - Heartfulness Meditation - Learn How to Meditate - Virtual Only, 10:30-11 a.m. No RSVP required for this event. To join please click: https://bit.ly/2XqneUN If you do not have a computer, join us by calling 775-325-5409 and when prompted, type in the conference ID: 531 903 850# For more information please email instructor, Schauntelle Puliti at spuliti@renown.org August 5 - Weekly Reflection, Prayer & Song Interfaith Service- Virtual, Estelle J. Kelsey Interfaith Sanctuary, 1 - 1:15 p.m., no RSVP is required to attend. To join please click: https://bit.ly/371DQFS If you do not have a computer, join us by calling 775-325-5409 and when prompted, type in the conference ID: 592 912 415#.

August 6 - Zumba Gold, 10-11 a.m., Paradise Park Activity Center, $10.

August 6 - Zumba Gold, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $10.

August 5 - Chair Yoga, 1:30-2:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $8 per month, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-303-2845.

August 6 - Chair Yoga, instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845, Neil Road Recreation Center, $8 per month.

August 6 - It Starts With Hello, Virtual Gathering Series, 12-12:45 p.m., connect on your computer by Zoom, https:// zoom.us/j/96269295417, or phone at (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417.

August 6 - Virtual Downtown Reno Bomb Shelter Tour, downtown Reno Library has a bomb shelter from the Cold War era. Virtually tour the darkened tunnels that are beneath the library, 5 - 6 p.m. Digital Library, www.washoecountylibrary.us.

August 7 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 - 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775-325-5409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday. Email: Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

August 10 - Cancer Support Workshop 2, Mind- Body Techniques to lessen side effects of radiation therapy, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Virtual Only, Renie Anderson, RSVP to 775-982-7787, renown-RSVP (7787), Renown.

August 10 - Cancer Support Workshop 4: Caregiver Workshop, Virtual Only, 3-4 p.m., Renown RSVP, Phone: 775-982RSVP (7787) Email: Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

August 10 & 12 - Senior Mat Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845.

August 10 & 12 - Senior Mat Yoga, 12-1 p.m., Evelyn Mount Community Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845.

August 11 - Zumba Gold, 11:15-12:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $10.

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Calendar / from page 17 August 11 - Food Bank Truck, 11:45-12:30 p.m., Sparks Senior Center.

August 11 - It Starts With Hello, Virtual Gathering Series, 12-12:45 p.m., connect on your computer by Zoom, https:// zoom.us/j/96269295417, or phone at (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417.

August 11 - Stroke Support Group, guest speakers offer medical expertise on various topics, call Dottie Reed, Stroke Program Coordinator, 775-982-5172 or Gloria Dow, Stroke Program Manager, class 4- 5 p.m., 1495 Mill Street, 775982-7787, email: renown-RSVP@renown.org.

August 12 - Heartfulness Meditation - Learn How to Meditate - Virtual Only, 10:30-11 a.m., Renown RSVP at 775-9827787, email Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

August 12 - Chair Yoga, 1:30-2:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $8, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-303-2845.

August 13 - Chair Yoga, instructor Pam Pearson, 775303-2845, Neil Road Recreation Center, 10-10:45 a.m., $8.

August 13 - Zumba Gold, 10-11 a.m., Paradise Park Activity Center, $10.

August 13 - Zumba Gold, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $10.

August 14 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 - 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775-325-5409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday. Renown-RSVP@renown. org.

August 15 - Reno 1868 FC vs Orange County SC, Greater Nevada Field, kickoff 7:15 p.m.

August 17 & 19 - Senior Mat Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845.

August 17 & 19 - Senior Mat Yoga, 12-1 p.m., Evelyn Mount Community Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845.

August 18 - Assistance League Food Pantry, 8 a.m., Reno

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Senior Center, 9th & Wells, income limits apply.

August 18 - Zumba Gold, 11:15-12:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $10.

August 18-19 - Reno Venture Conference 2020, Nevada Museum of Art, hosted by EDAWN, 8 p.m., 3411 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA., www.renoventureconference.com.

August 19 - Food Bank Truck, 9-10 a.m., Sun Valley Community Center, income limits apply.

August 19 - Chair Yoga, 1:30-2:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $8 per month, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-303-2845.

August 20 - USDA Commodity Food Distribution, 8-10 a.m., income limits, Reno Senior Center, 9th and Wells.

August 20 - Food Bank Truck, 8-11 a.m., Reno Senior Center, 9th & Wells.

August 20 - Chair Yoga, instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845, Neil Road Recreation Center, 10-10:45 a.m., $8 per month.

August 20 - Zumba Gold, 10-11 a.m., Paradise Park Activity Center, $10.

August 20 - It Starts With Hello, Virtual Gathering Series, 12-12:45 p.m., connect on your computer by Zoom, https:// zoom.us/j/96269295417, or phone at (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417.

August 20 - Nevada Historical Society: High Noon. Historical Characters: My Lives in Chautauqua virtual speaker series with speaker Frank Mullen Jr., from the Nevada Historical Society, 12-1 p.m., register.

August 20 - Zumba Gold, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $10.

August 20 - Virtual Book Club: November Road, Digital Library, discussion via Zoom, register for event 1 hour prior to discussion,2-3:30 p.m., the title is in Overdrive (e-book catalog).

August 20 - Wine Pairing, 5-7 p.m., 727 Riverside Dr., Reno, Miner Family Winery, wines paired with Dorinda’s Chocolates, $25 per-order, $35 day of.

August 21 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 - 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775-3255409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday.

August 21 - Support Group for Dementia Caregivers - Conference. Call Only, 1:30-3 p.m., 1-347-896-0946 and input pin number 773-546-218#, call 775-982-RSVP or email to Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

August 24 - Cancer Support Workshop 2: Mind-Body Techniques to Lessen Side Effects of Radiation Therapy Virtual Only, 1:30-2:30 p.m., please email Renie Anderson @ renieanderson@att.net.

August 24 & 26 - Senior Mat Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845.

August 24 & 26 - Senior Mat Yoga, 12-1 p.m., Evelyn Mount Community Center, $25, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845.

August 25 - Inclined to Read Book Group, American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, 10:30-12 p.m., Zoom-Register to receive link to event, Incline Village Library.

August 25 - Breast Cancer Newly Diagnosed Orientation Class - Virtual Only, 11-12 p.m., free, Renown, RSVP at 775982-RSVP, or Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

August 25 - Zumba Gold, 11:15-12:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $10.

August 25 - It Starts With Hello, Virtual Gathering Series, 12-12:45 p.m., connect on your computer by Zoom, https:// zoom.us/j/96269295417, or phone at (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417. Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club, a free program offered for 55 and over. Learn more and sign up to be a member at renown.org/SterlingSilver.

August 25 - Huddle of Hope - Virtual, 12-12:15 p.m., Evangelical Christian tradition, this huddle is open to all – including any person from any Christian denomination or non-Christian belief system. To join, please click: https:// bit.ly/2U3Qm2g If you do not have a computer, join us by calling 775-325-5409 and when prompted, type in the conference ID: 257 787 299# August 26 - Mindfulness Meditation Class at Renown, 10:30-11 a.m., Mindfulness Meditation class at Renown

with Schauntelle Puliti: To join please click: https://bit. ly/2XqneUN or join us by calling 775-325-5409 and when prompted, type in the conference ID: 531 903 850# For more information email instructor at spuliti@renown.org.

August 26 - Chair Yoga, 1:30-2:15 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, $8 per month, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-303-2845.

August 26 - Land Use & Infrastructure, FOCUS: Building the Nevada of Tomorrow, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, 5-8 p.m., McKinley Arts Center.

August 27 - Chair Yoga, Instructor Pam Pearson, 775-3032845, Neil Road Recreation Center, 10-10:45 a.m., $8 per month.

August 27 - Zumba Gold, 10-11 a.m., Paradise Park Activity Center, $10.

August 27 - It Starts With Hello, Virtual Gathering Series, 12-12:45 p.m., connect on your computer by Zoom, https://zoom. us/j/96269295417, or phone at (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417. Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club.

Sign up at renown.org/SterlingSilver.

August 27 - Zumba Gold, 12:301:30 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $10.

August 28 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 - 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775-325-5409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday.

August 29 - Reno 1868 FC vs Austin Bold FC, Greater Nevada Field, kickoff 6:45 p.m.

September 1 - Roznitovsky Harp and Piano Duet @ 11 - 12 p.m. Recurring Event Venue: Renown Regional Medical Center, Tahoe Tower Lobby, 1155 Mill St., Reno, NV 89502, 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

September 2 - Heartfulness Meditation - Learn How to Meditate - Virtual, 10:30-11 a.m., Renown RSVP at 775-9827787, email Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

September 2 - Meet the Dogs, 11-1 p.m., healing arts, Renown South Meadows Medical Center-Northview Room, RSVP at 775-982-RSVP, Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

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Calendar / from page 19 September 2 - 2 Week COPD Education Program, 4-5 p.m., Renown Regional Medical Center – Roseview Tower – Third Floor Conference Room, 1155 Mill Street - Institute for Cancer Entrance, Reno, NV, 775-982-RSVP, Renown-RSVP@ renown.org.

September 2 - Grief Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m., Reno Senior Center, Renown Hospice Care is offering free grief support groups for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. 775-982-RSVP, Renown-RSVP Renown-RSVP@ renown.org.

September 3 - It Starts With Hello, Virtual Gathering Series, 12-12:45 p.m., connect on your computer by Zoom, https:// zoom.us/j/96269295417, or phone at (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417. This event is a part of Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club, a free program offered for men and women ages 55 and over. Learn more and sign up to be a member at renown.org/ September 4 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 a.m. 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775325-5409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday.

September 11 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 a.m. 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775325-5409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday.

September 11 - 10th Annual Gold Classic, LakeRidge Golf Course, 10-9 p.m., hosted by Nevada Military Support Alliance, 1218 Golf Club Drive, Reno.

September 13-20- 2020 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center; Horse Sale: Sept. 19.

September 16 - Family Estate Planning Series, 8 week series via Zoom, Week 1 - Quiz & Planning Guide; Week 2 Fundamentals of Estate Planning; Week 3 - Wills, Probate & Trusts; Week 4 - Power of Attorney, Health Care Directives, DNRs and Ethical Wills; Week 5 - Benefits of Trusts; Week 6 - Responsibilities of Fiduciaries, Executors, and Successor Trustees; Week 7 - Estate Planning for Digital Assets & Customize Your Planned Giving; Week 8 - Long-term Care Planning & Wills Planning Guide. More information found at https://nevadafund.org/family-estate-planning-series/ 10:30 - 12 p.m. Continues 1:30-3 p.m.

September 17 - Virtual Book Club: The Dry, Digital Library, via Zoom, register for event 1 hour prior to discussion,2-3:30 p.m., the title is in Overdrive (e-book catalog).

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September 18 - Nitro Circus Live, Greater Nevada Field, 6-8:30 p.m.

September 25 - Virtual, Walk with Your Neighbors, 8 - 9 a.m., download Microsoft Teams Meeting, or call 775-3255409, and type in conference ID 184 439 792#, Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Every Friday.

September 19 - A Very Potter Crawl, 8-4 a.m., Harrah’s Plaza, downtown Reno.

ARTS

The World Stage: Contemporary Art from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, 90 contemporary artworks by 35 renowned American artists, Nevada Museum of Art, through February 7, 2021, John Hawley Olds Lagatta Gallery, floor 3.

Where Art and Tech Collide, Newton and Louise Tarble Gallery, floor 2, through August 30, 2020, Nevada Museum of Art. John Yoyogi Fortes: An Eyeful of Nothing A Brain Full of Everything, through January 3, 2021, Nevada Museum of Art, Small Works Gallery, floor 2, multiple sources of art.

• August 14 - Virtual Art Afternoon: Workshop and Social for Seniors, instructor Carol Raphel shares perspectives on several works from the Nevada Museum of Art collections and exhibitions, 1-2:30 p.m.

• August 20 - Virtual Art Discussion, enjoy selections from the comfort of your home, Nevada Museum of Art, 4-5 p.m.

Performances

April 2-4, 2021 - Waitress, a Broadway Musical, was rescheduled, Pioneer for the Performing Arts, 775-686-6600 for information.

May 1-2, 2021 - A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s The Little Mermaid, was rescheduled, Pioneer for the Performing Arts, 775-6866600 for information.

May 22, 2021 - Benise, The Prince of Spanish Guitar, was rescheduled, Pioneer for the Performing Arts, 775-6866600 for information. Share this event: https://pioneercenter.com/Online/article/Benise2020

Coronavirus Resource Guide

The Return of Sports...

Months after the coronavirus pandemic shut down American sports, the games are returning. MLB, NBA, and NHL have begun, with the NFL season just a month away!

Their restarts have broad similarities. All of the professional leagues decided to sharply restrict or outright ban fans from attending, focusing instead on the television audience at home. They also will all be repeatedly testing players and staff for COVID-19 throughout the season. They most sharply diverge in where the games will be held. Generally, sports with smaller roster sizes (NBA, NHL) are playing in “bubbles,” isolated from the outside community, while sports with larger rosters (NFL, MLB) are playing at their regular stadiums and traveling between cities. Here’s where each league stands in its attempt to get back.

MLB (Baseball)

Jays, the league’s only Canadian team, will play in Buffalo because the Canadian government did not approve its plan to continually cross country lines.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday that holding the season in a “bubble” would not have worked because MLB has large teams and wants to hold a 60-game season.

Rules Changes: National League will use a designated hitter, and extra innings now begin with a runner automatically on second. Rosters have been expanded to account for possible infections, and the playoffs have been expanded to 16 teams. Highfives and hugs are discouraged and spitting, that that beloved baseball pastime, is banned.

NFL (Football)

When: The National Football League begins its season at its normal time, in the second week of September. All preseason games are canceled.

Where: Games will be held at teams’ regular stadiWhen: Major League Baseball began its season on ums around the country. It’s not clear yet how fans July 23, months after its usual April start. The plan is to play a 60-game season leading into an expanded will be allowed to atend. playoffs from September 29 to the end of October.

Rules Changes: Overall, the NFL has not changed Where: Games will be held at teams’ regular stadi- much. Locker rooms have been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing, and players will be ums, with no fans in attendance. The Toronto Blue

(Sports Return page 22)

Coronavirus Resource Guide Sports Return / from page 21

tested before arriving to training cramp and then consistently throughout the season. Up to 80 players will be allowed in the team building at a time.

NBA (Basketball)

When: After shutting down in March, the NBA’s season resumed July 31, leading into the playoffs from August 17 to October.

Where: All of the games will be played in a bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. Players will live, practice and play within the bubble. Fans are not allowed to attend in person, but can attend virtually online.

Rules Changes: Only 22 teams will be returning to play. Each team will play eight regular season games before the playoff seedings begin. The NBA also added a potential play-in tournament for the 8th and final seed, but the playoffs will continue as normal.

Current Status: On track. At the restart of the NBA season there have been no positive COVID-19 test results from the 346 players tested since July 13.

WNBA (Basketball)

When: The WNBA began its season on Saturday July 25, and plans to hold a 22-game season followed by a regular playoff format.

Where: All of the games are being held in a bubble at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. No fans are in attendance.

Rules Changes: Players were required to quarantine before entering the bubble and will be tested throughout the season. Otherwise, the rules are as usual.

Current Status: The season successfully began on Saturday and no players within the bubble have yet tested positive for coronavirus since then.

The “Bubble” and Virtual Fans

Having basketball fans attend NBA games amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was never going to work. Allowing spectators to enter the league’s campus would defeat the entire purpose of constructing a “bubble” environment. But the NBA has created an opportunity for fans to still score great seats as teams battle for playoff positioning.

During the NBA’s 2020 season restart, virtual fans will be featured around the court, including behind the benches of their favorite squads. The NBA is utilizing Microsoft Teams’ new “Together Mode” to put fans on 17-foot-tall LED screens.

Coronavirus Resource Guide NHL (Hockey)

When: After shutting down in March, the National Hockey League restarted its season on Saturday Aug 1st, leading into an expanded playoffs.

Where: The games will take place in separate “hubs” in Canada, away from the public. The Eastern Conference teams will play in Toronto, while the Western Conference teams will play in Edmonton.

The Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals will all take place in Edmonton.

Rules Changes: The top four teams in each conference will play a “round-robin” series to decide playoff seeding starting August 2. The 16 other teams will play in a “qualifying round” starting August 1 to decide who makes the playoffs. From there, the first round of the playoffs begins August 11 and lasts through October 4 at the latest.

Current Status: On track. The NHL said that, thus far, there were no positive Covid-19 tests among the 4,256 tests given to more than 800 players from July 18-25.

Rules Changes: Players and caddies are subject to testing throughout a tournament week. Because of that testing, international players are now allowed to arrive to the US and compete in tournaments without quarantining, the PGA Tour said.

Current Status: Several golfers have tested positive for coronavirus since it resumed in June, but the sport’s individual nature and outdoor setting have so far prevented a widespread outbreak among players or staff.

Tennis

When: Tennis restarts its season with The US Open, one of tennis’s biggest events, starting August 31.

Where: The US Open for men and women will be held in New York at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It will be immediately preceded by the Western & Southern Open at the same site.

Rules Changes: Fans will not be allowed on site.

The men’s and women’s doubles events will be smaller, with 32 teams rather than 64.

MLS (Soccer)

When: Major League Soccer returned with its “MLS is Back” tournament on July 8, and the 16-team knockout tournament began July 25, and continues until the championship match on August 11.

PGA (Golf)

When and Where: The PGA Tour canceled a number of golf tournaments in March and April, but restarted its season in June and is gearing up for its majors. The PGA Championship will be held August 6-9 in San Francisco, the US Open will be held September 17-20 in Mamaroneck, New York and The Masters will be held November 12-15 in Augusta, Georgia.

Where: All of the games are being held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Rule Changes: All teams traveled to Orlando and were tested after arriving, and will continue to be tested throughout the remainder of the tournament.

Team members on the bench are required to wear masks and social distance, and players are asked not to exchange jerseys with other players or kiss the ball.

Coronavirus Resource Guide How To Collect Your Anterior Nasal Swab Sample For COVID-19 Testing

How To Collect Your Deep Nasal Swab Sample for COVID-19 Testing

Coronavirus Resource Guide

Prevent The Spread of COVID-19 if You are Sick Prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick Accessible version: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community.

Stay home except to get medical care.

• Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and are able to recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.

• Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take overthe-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.

• Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: • • • • •

Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Bluish lips or face Inability to wake or stay awake

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor.

Separate yourself from other people and pets in your home.

• As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a cloth face covering. ɞ See COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions about pets: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq. html#COVID19animals ɞ Additional guidance is available for those living in close quarters. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-hj ncov/ daily-life-coping/living-in-close-quarters.html) and shared housing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ daily-life-coping/shared-housing/index.html).

Monitor your symptoms.

• Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath but other symptoms may be present as well.

• Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. Your local health authorities will give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.

• Call ahead. Many medical visits for routine care are being postponed or done by phone or telemedicine.

• If you have a medical appointment that cannot be postponed, call your doctor’s office, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19.

If you are sick, wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth.

• You should wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people or animals, including pets (even at home).

• You don’t need to wear the cloth face covering if you are alone.

If you can’t put on a cloth face covering (because of trouble breathing for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people.

This will help protect the people around you.

• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2 years, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to remove the covering without help.

Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks are reserved for healthcare workers and some first responders. You may need to make a cloth face covering using a scarf or bandana.

Coronavirus Resource Guide

If you test positive for COVID-19

this ‘n that

by Anne Vargas annevargas3@gmail.com

and I’m really pretty good at it!

M

ost of my friends have made impressive use of the lengthy, Anne Vargas unanticipated time at home and cheerfully boast about all the cleaning, sorting, organizing, rearranging they have accomplished. Vast assortments of old photos were finally put into albums. Book collections and knickknacks, were readied for donation. Decisions were made about what to do with other no longer used household items that nobody wanted. Garages have been cleaned. Stacks of books have been read. Legal documents have been reexamined and updated. Advance obituaries have been written.

New recipes have been tried. Old recipes have been put into booklets for family members to keep. Ancestry has been researched. The internet has been investigated for self-education in a variety of subjects; art, history, music, even foreign languages. On-line religious services have been discovered.

YouTube has been explored and enjoyed. Virtual Yoga and exercise classes have been taken. Remarkably, even a few diets were successfully adhered to. Hearing about all those impressive accomplishments has been somewhat disheartening because…

“I’m so busy doing nothing that I can’t do anything else”

THE TRAIN OF LIFE: “At birth, we boarded the train of life and met our parents, and we believed that they would always travel by our side. However, at some station, our parents would step down from the train, leaving us on life's journey alone.

As time goes by, some significant people will board the train: siblings, other children, friends, and even the love of our life.

Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we won't realize that they vacated their seats! This train ride has been a mixture of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.

A successful journey consists of having a good relationship with all passengers, requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery that prevails is that we do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. Thus, we must try to travel along the track of life in the best possible way -- loving, forgiving, giving, and sharing. When the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty -- we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who continue to travel on the train of life. Let’s remember to thank our Creator for giving us life to participate in this journey. Thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!”

Jean D’Orm What a lovely, simple concept. Reading this poem was like opening a book full of memories, each chapter being someone who was a significant part of my life at some point. Have I ever taken the time to tell any of them what they mean to me, tell them that I cherish and value “their chapter”? I want to use the gift of this time to make contact where possible. It won’t be a message requiring a response, simply a message of gratitude intended to let them know what they mean to me, to thank them for being one of the passengers on my train.

As I write this, we are entering week twenty-one of quarantine and my own list of achievements in non-existent. Twenty weeks of doing nothing much, which takes a lot of time.

Twenty empty, wasted weeks. And who knows how many more weeks of quarantine lie ahead? I have decided to view the time as a gift and make good use of it and I have decided how.

Someone sent me a wonderful, thoughtful-provoking poem by French novelist Jean D’Orm, that has inspired and motivated me. www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // August 2020

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BIGGEST Little City

by Harry Spencer

O

Cinema Cowpokes

f all the special events cancelled by COVID-19 in northern Nevada, the one that I miss the most is the annual Reno Rodeo, Reno’s original Special Event. As Harry Spencer a director emeritus of the rodeo association, I still remember the professional bronc busters who attended during Reno’s golden era.

In addition to the pros, I recall the numerous film wranglers who I encountered over the years. I suppose I should start with the actor who reached the highest office in the land, Ronald Reagan, whom I met in Sparks when he was Governor of California and Paul Laxalt was Governor of Nevada.

Because the majority of cowpokes I met were at the Mapes Hotel I remember, Robert Redford and Gene Hackman in the SkyRoom who were here for the premiere of Downhill Racer.

Three guys who appeared in Westerns were here for the filming of the Misfits. They included Clark Gable, Montgomery Cliff and Eli Wallach. A silent movie Western star, who owned a store in Reno, was Lt. Governor Rex Bell. The four stalwarts of Bonanza were here for the world premiere of the long running TV show. They were Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts. Tallest cowboy to receive Reno’s Silver Spurs was Jim Arness. Two actors I happened to meet while at the U of Nevada were William Holden and Dale

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Robertson.

Getting back to the Mapes, it’s amazing how many A-list actors donned Western duds. Those stars included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Mickey Rooney, Richard Boone, Tony Curtis, Jim Backus, John Carroll, Burl Ives, Roy Rogers, Dick Shawn, Dennis Morgan, Keenan Wynn, Rory Calhoun, Ken Murray, Raymond Burr, Richard Widmark, Jimmy Stewart, and Bob Wilke.

During the middle of the last century there was a strong connection between Reno and Hollywood. Many top entertainers appeared on local stages and this area was the scene of locations for many motion pictures. In those days I spent a great deal of effort in Tinseltown. While there I interfaced with a lot of cinema cowboys. The top would have to be Gregory Peck. Others included Dean Jagger, Jack Lemmon, Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Wagner, Forrest Tucker, John Carradine, Hoagy Carmichael, Peter Brown, Jack Elam, Brian Keith, Robert Walker and Clint Walker.

Along with Reno, Lake Tahoe was the scene of many Western celebrities. Most famous one was probably Clint Eastwood followed by Bob Hope, Stu Whitman, Lloyd Bridges, Jim Garner, Van Johnson, Jerry Van Dyke, Cornel Wilde and Greg McClure.

The Reno Airport was the spot where I met the top Hollywood cowboy, John Wayne. He had come to Reno to receive the posthumous Silver Spurs award for the late Ward Bond.

Richard Boone received the living award that year. When Wayne and I arrived at the airport we found his flight delayed by several hours, so I asked him if he wanted to grab something to eat or visit the bar. Naturally he said, “The bar.” While we put a severe dent in a fifth of Jack Daniels, he reminisced about his days in Hollywood particularly with his best friend, Ward Bond. Another Western type I met at the Reno Airport was Dana Andrews who was in his cups at the bar and had been refused boarding his flight because of his condition. It was my job to sober him up at the adjoining coffee shop so that he could catch a flight home. Another Western legend I bumped into when the old Reno airport was located in a Quonset hut was Gary Cooper. Along with the many male stars there were several on the distaff side who made their way to Reno over the years they included Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Debbie Reynolds and Inger Stevens Two Western actors I ran into at the Eldorado were Rod Steiger and William Smith.

I saved this individual for last because I spent a great deal of time with him when he first came to Hollywood. His name was Paul Newman and he had been lured from Broadway to play the lead in a movie entitled The Silver Chalice. We met at Bob Patten’s, a struggling actor himself, where Newman had dropped in with his current girlfriend Joanne Woodward.

As the party was breaking up Newman asked me if I knew of a cheap place to eat in L.A. I replied that “Steaks-R-Us” on La Cienega was probably the cheapest.

Harry Spencer is a 75-year resident of Nevada and a freelance writer living in Reno.

- Direct # 702-868-5179

www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // August 2020

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Tinseltown Talks:

By Nick Thomas

Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020) – the end of an era

I

t's a sobering thought for fans of classic film. The passing of Olivia de Havilland in late July, just three weeks after her 104th birthday July 1, represents the loss of the last surviving big-screen legend from Hollywood's Golden Age of the 1930s.

While other actors are still with us who were indeed active in film during the 30s, Ms. de Havilland was truly the last A-list star from that era whose name could be bundled with the likes of Bogart, Gable, Hepburn, and so many others. They are simply now all gone.

While I never had the chance to interview de Havilland directly, she did answer some questions by mail in 2009 for a story I was preparing for the Washington Post on the centenary of Errol Flynn's birth.

The letter arrived by FedEx from France where she lived for most of her post-Hollywood life and was handsigned in her glorious flowing script. In it, she shared some memories of the Aussie co-star with whom she was frequently cast.

De Havilland and Flynn (1909-1959) were one of the most popular on-screen couples during the early classic film era. The pair worked together in eight movies from 1935 to 1941 and appeared in separate scenes in a ninth film, “Thank Your Lucky Stars,” in 1943.

Flynn, of course, continued to be sensationalized by the

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Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn in Robinhood.

press and authors long after his death. Was he mischaracterized, I asked her?

“His roguish reputation was very well-deserved, as he more than candidly revealed in his remarkable autobiography, ‘My Wicked, Wicked Ways,’” she wrote. “However, through this very same book, we also know that he was a reflective person – sensitive, idealistic, vulnerable, and questing. But I think he (Tinseltown page 32)

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Tinseltown / from page 30

has been incompletely represented by the press: It vulgarized his adventures with the opposite sex and seldom, if ever, touched upon or emphasized the other facets of his life.”

Despite his popularity, Flynn was never recognized for his acting with even an Oscar nomination (de Havilland was nom-

SOLUTION FROM PAGE 31

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inated 5 times and won twice). Was that an oversight, I asked her?

“Unfortunately, at the time when Errol enjoyed his greatest success, the adventure film, as a genre, was not sufficiently appreciated and therefore his appearances therein were not as highly regarded as they might,” she explained. “However, I do feel he played his roles with unmatchable verve, conviction, and style. In doing so, he inherited the mantle of Douglas Fairbanks Sr., who was my favorite film star.

No one since Errol has worn that mantle; it is buried with him.”

I was also curious if she ran into Flynn after their time together on-screen. She said that happened only on three occasions, the last one at the Beverly Hilton’s Costumers Ball two years before his death.

“Quite unexpectedly, while I was talking to friends during the cocktail hour, Errol left his own group and asked if he could take me to dinner,” she recalled. “He seated me on his immediate right and, soon joined by others, took on the role of gracious host with everyone on his left – all the ladies – while I did my best to entertain the gentleman on my right.”

De Havilland’s letter concluded with a delightful postscript indicating a longtime private ritual which she adhered to every year.

“On June 20 (Flynn’s birthday), I raised a glass of champagne to Errol, as I always do.”

Come next July, many classic film fans will likely repeat that ritual to honor Olivia, too.

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 800 magazines and newspapers.

Simply Smart Travel

By Jeff and Virginia Orenstein

Wilmington, Delaware And The Brandywine Vall ey Note; Since our travel is on hold due to the pandemic, we are updating past articles to help you plan for future trips. The venues mentioned are currently open, some by appointment, but check before you go.

W

ilmington, Delaware and its adjacent Brandywine Valley are true destination gems just waiting to be discovered by Simply Smart travelers who are seeking a rewarding alternative to yet another visit to one of the northeast’s giant metropolises.

Wilmington proper is a medium-sized urban area on the Christina River.

It’s central location and abundant transportation alternatives make it easy to get to and explore.

The city is home to several major financial centers, a surprisingly vibrant night life, attractive and historic urban architecture, cultural riches, an emerging restaurant scene and an ongoing riverfront gentrification that begs to be enjoyed.

If that isn’t enough to interest you, the nearby Brandywine Valley complements Wilmington’s attractions with a cornucopia of beautiful scenery, picturesque towns, impressive museums and the riches of several DuPont Family mansions turned into impressive museums and gardens.

Before You Go! Check out • www.tourismvancouver.com • www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hU6a-b6ADSE

• https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-harbour.html • https://www.goandroam.com/webcams/canada/vancouver/ • https://www.vanaqua.org/visit/live-cams-penguin • https://www.vanaqua.org/visit/live-cams-underwater-otter (Smart Travel page 34)

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Smart Travel / from page 33

Getting There Wilmington is very accessible by air, rail and road.

• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is 21 miles away.

• Amtrak has a beautifully refurbished and busy station in downtown Wilmington, with several fast trains an hour leaving to Washington, D.C. and Boston and many intermediate points. SEPTA commuter trains serve Philadelphia from the station as well.

Check with Amtrak or Septa for currently-reduced train frequency.

• I-95 goes through Wilmington, 32 miles from Philadelphia and I-295 connects to the New Jersey Turnpike, 125 miles from New York City.

When You Are There • Explore Wilmington’s restored riverfront and downtown, filled with shops and restaurants.

• Have dinner at Banks Seafood Kitchen.(formerly Harry’s Seafood Grill) which offers good food and a view. Check out Rodney Square, Chase Center, the Frank Furness Railroad District and Trolley Square.

• Rent a car to enjoy the beautifully-restored DuPont The grounds of the Winterthur Mansion and Museum (a DuPont family estate) are ablaze with blooms each spring. Credit: Winterthur, Russ Kennedy homesteads surrounding Wilmington.

• Explore the scenic and historic Brandywine Valley some steps are necessary to fully appreciate the Duincluding picturesque towns like Chadds Ford, PA. Pont attractions, gardens and museums in the region.

This Destination At A Glance Mobility Level: Moderate. Walking and climbing

When To Go: May is a perfect time to take in the dogwood and other spring blooming plants. September has fewer crowds and the weather is still nice. October brings fall color and December is cold but holiday décor abounds.

Where To Stay: The beautiful Westin Wilmington is a great choice. It is centrally located on the riverfront and connected to the Chase Convention Center and has free parking.

Other national chains and bed and breakfast properties are plentiful in the region.

Special Travel Interests: American history, the DuPont Family, Wyeth paintings.

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Jeffrey Orenstein, Ph.D and Virginia Orenstein are travel writers from Sarasota, Florida, jorenstein@simplySmartTravel.com .