Senior Fest 2013
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Free Health Screenings, Flu, Pneumonia, Shingles Shots for Seniors Make room on your calendar for the 17th Annual Senior Fest coming to the Reno Town Mall Sept. 3, 9-2 p.m. Senior Fest 2013 is a wonderful community event for seniors and adults over 50. A tremendous offering to the community,
will be available on a first come first serve basis, as vaccine supplies last. Fasting is required of blood draws at least 12 hours before the test. Additionally, over 50 businesses and organizations will have vendor tables to provide informa-
2013 This Issue
page 3 - Senior Fest 2013
page 26 - this ‘n that
Windfall Elimination Provision
page 29 - Community Resources
page 4 - Opinion: Social Security page 5 - Opinion: Insurance Rebates Coming to Consumers page 6 - Washoe County Plan
Renown Health and Senior Care Plus are providing free health screenings the entire day, beginning at 8 a.m. Tests include basic Metabolic Panel and Lipid Profile, Glycohemogloben for diabetics, blood pressure checks, Body Mass Index, and pharmacist review of medications. (For a complete list of tests see page 20.) The Nevada Division for Aging and Disability Services is funding free flu shots, and vaccines for pneumonia and shingles to be administered by Renown Health and Senior Care Plus. (Restrictions apply for pneumonia and shingles shots.) This generous contribution to the community
tion and referral for retirement living, care management, health insurance enrollment, and a host of other services. This year’s live entertainment features a return performance of popular local artist CeCe Gable, appearing with The Biggest Little City Slickers, a six piece band giving us the best in jazz and musical classics. Krystal McMullen and the Electric Catfish the Band will perform a variety 70’s and 80’s tunes, while the Eldorado’s great Showroom headliner “Grease” will make the 50’s come alive. The Barbershop Express, a favorite Reno (Senior Fest page 20)
page 31 - Eydie Scher - Excerpts page 32 - Seniors 4 Travel
page 11 - Caring for Caregivers
Health
page 20 - Senior Fest 2013
Happier and Live Longer? Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. Center for Healthy Aging
page 19 - Silver College The Eldorado’s Grease to perform at Senior Fest around noon.
page 27 - Crossword
Health Screenings page 22 - Tips for Managing Your Prescription Drug Costs page 25 - Happy Birthday Rose Marie
Every Issue
page 18 - Calendar page 23 - Eclectic Observer page 24 - Biggest Little City
page 12 - Can Money Make You
page 14 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D. page 15 - CMS: What Home Health Services Does Medicare Cover?
Financial
page 7 - I’m a Trustee! Now What? - Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, Rader
Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510 (775) 348-0717 e-mai l : S eni orspectrumnv@aol . com S eni orspectrumnewspaper. com Publishers: Chris & Connie McMullen
Senior Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain. Publication of advertising contained does not constitute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. Copyrighted publication. All rights reserved.
August • 2013 • 3
Opinion
The Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision
U.S. Senator Dean Heller
As a U.S. Senator, one of my primary responsibilities is to assist my constituents Sen. Dean Heller as they deal with the federal government. It can sometimes be a daunting, even frustrating, prospect to navigate the many federal programs, regulations, and agencies that affect so many aspects of everyday life. My job is to help make sure that when Nevadans have questions or concerns relating to the federal government, they receive the meaningful and
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effective assistance and information that they need. The Social Security Administration is one such federal agency with which Nevada’s seniors frequently require assistance. More specifically, my office frequently receives inquiries and requests for assistance with particular situations related to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). As with many government programs, having an understanding of WEP’s basic framework and function will go a long way in helping to avoid unnecessary problems down the road. So I would like to offer a brief overview of WEP and
explain how it works, and how to avoid the costly and confusing consequences that can result from failing to understand it. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), as of 2012, more than 22,000 Social Security beneficiaries in Nevada were affected by WEP, and more than 21,000 of them were retired workers. Clearly, this particular aspect of the Social Security program has a real impact on Nevada’s seniors, and if you are not fully aware of how this provision operates, this information might be of interest you. WEP was enacted in 1983
as a part of legislative efforts to reform the Social Security program and ensure its longterm viability. The provision was designed to distinguish between workers who spent their entire working years in low-wage positions and those who appeared to have low-wage positions because they were not covered by Social Security for a certain amount of years. Before WEP, a worker who spent only a portion of their career paying into Social Security, and the rest of their career in a position that was not covered, would be subject to the same benefit formula as a worker who (Windfall page 10)
Opinion
Insurance Rebates Coming to Consumers
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid Nevada’s Seniors deserve quality health care that they can count on. And thanks Sen. Harry Reid to the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as “Obamacare,” good things are coming to Nevada. Recently, the Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius announced that in Nevada, 88,491 residents will benefit from nearly $4 million in rebates from insurance companies this summer. This averages out to about $75 per family. Nationwide, nearly 80 million consumers saved $3.4
billion on their premiums due to insurance companies operating more efficiently. When the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, the “80/20 Rule” as it is commonly called, requires insurers to spend at least 80 cents of every premium dollar on patient care and quality improvement. This is fair both to the consumer, and to the insurance company. If however, the insurance company spends an excessive amount on profits and red tape, they owe rebates for the difference to the consumer no later than August 1, 2013. According to Secretary Sebelius, “This new standard is increasing transparency and accountability, promoting better business practices
and competition among insurance companies, and ensuring consumers receive value for their premium dollars.” And, “[this] shows that more Nevadans are benefiting from the tools created under the Affordable Care Act to keep consumer costs down.” The 80/20 rule works, along with the required review of proposed doubledigit premium increases, to stabilize and moderate premium rates. The Affordable Care Act also makes changes to the health insurance market. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “These reforms work to put American consumers back in charge of their health coverage and
care, ensuring they receive value for their premium dollars. The law creates a more level playing field by cracking down on unreasonable health insurance premiums and holding insurance companies accountable for unjustified premium increases.” These rule changes get rid of the status quo that has existed for far too long, and it guarantees that no insurance company will ever again put a price tag on a human life. For more information, or to receive the Reid Report ENewsletter, visit Senator Harry Reid’s website at http://www.reid.senate.gov or write Sen. Reid at the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Bldg., 400 S. Virginia Street, Ste. 902, Reno, NV 89501.
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Join us in Building a Lifelong Community: The Washoe County Master Plan for Aging Services Grady Tarbutton, Director, Washoe County Senior Services
In 1900, seniors made up 4.1 percent of the U.S. Grady Tarbutton population. By 2020, it is estimated seniors will comprise 22 percent of our population. This comes from dramatic improvements over the last century in health care, from breakthroughs such as the Salk Polio Vaccine in the 1950s, the eradication of Small Pox, and programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans’ benefits and Social Security.
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We live in a society where everyone can live a long healthy productive life. So it is very good news that the senior population is the fastest growing in Washoe County. In 2010 there were 76,000 people over the age of 60, in 2020 there will be 100,000 and by 2030 130,000. But are we ready? In the 1950s, when the “Baby Boomers” became school age, schools were built and teachers hired to educate them. What do we need to do today? We all help our relatives as they get older, but are we ready for a change that may be the greatest in
the first part of the 21st century that will affect every business, public and private institution and family? What can we do to ensure older citizens live in a community that provides opportunities and, when they need it, support services that help them remain independent? Washoe County Senior Services wants your ideas for the Washoe County Master Plan for Aging Services. Over the next few months we will create a comprehensive plan that does three things: 1. Create a Master Plan for Washoe County Senior
Services, which includes goals and priorities to serve the most vulnerable seniors and innovations to attract new resources. 2. Create a planning resource for business, agencies, hospitals and government. 3. Create a resource for the State Legislature and State policy makers. The Master Plan will focus on six areas that support seniors to help them “age in place:” 1. Health and caregiving 2. Home and community–based services/ (Master Plan page 10)
I’m a Trustee! Now What? Brought to you by Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.
It is an honor to be named the successor Trustee of a loved one’s Trust. As the name implies, you’ve been given a position of trust and responsibility, and it means that your loved one thinks highly of your skill and ability, not to mention your integrity. So, what does a successor Trustee do? Normally, the person who creates a Trust serves as the initial Trustee. Your job as the successor Trustee doesn’t begin until that person dies (or, in some cases, becomes disabled). At this point, you step into the Trustee’s shoes. As the successor Trustee, you are in charge of adminis-
The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys www.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com
tering the Trust. This means that you are obligated to follow the written terms of the Trust along with any applicable provisions of state or federal law in gathering, managing, and distributing the Trust assets. The terms of each Trust are different, depending on the purposes for which it was established, the property owned by the Trust, and the situations of the various Trust beneficiaries. This means there is no one-size-fits-all set of instructions for administering a Trust. Instead, you will need to closely follow the written terms of the Trust, employ your good judgment, and likely seek the advice of
one or more experts. Some of the questions you’ll encounter as you administer the Trust include: • What distributions need to be made? Do these distributions need to be made to one or more beneficiaries, to one or more sub-Trusts, or to a combination of these? • What about taxes? Are estate taxes due? What about income taxes – do they need to be paid on behalf of the Trust grantor or the Trust itself? • Should you buy or sell assets on behalf of the Trust? How should you invest Trust assets? Serving as the successor
Trustee means you have a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries. You must manage the Trust assets in the best interests of the beneficiaries, rather than managing the assets as if they are your own. Managing this way can complicate certain decisions that would normally be simple. For instance, deciding how to invest Trust assets might seem simple. However, you’ll need to consider the written terms of the Trust, the requirements of state law, and a number of external factors in reaching the best choice. One of your duties is to invest Trust assets in a pru(Trustee page 8)
August • 2013 • 7
Trustee / page 7 dent manner. But what exactly does this mean? As the successor Trustee, it might seem that the safest decision is to continue the investment choices of the initial Trustee. However, this course of action doesn’t factor in changes in the market. A down market can mean losses for the Trust -- losses for which you as the successor Trustee could be held responsible. Each Trust comes with a unique set of circumstances that can make the job of a successor Trustee tricky. In most cases, it is wise to seek professional guidance as you complete the Trust administration process. An experienced estate planning attorney can review the terms of the Trust, brief you on the requirements of state and federal law, and alert you to pit-
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falls of which you might be unaware. With expert help, you can minimize costly mistakes and fulfill your role as the successor Trustee with confidence. Much of your job as the successor Trustee may be time sensitive. You’ll need to be aware of deadlines for taxes and other filings. The clock is ticking, but expert help is just a phone call away. The Law Firm of Anderson, Dorn & Rader, Ltd. is devoted exclusively to estate planning. We are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and offer guidance and advice to our clients in every area of estate planning. We offer comprehensive and personalized estate planning consultations. For more information, please contact us at (775) 823-9455 or visit us at www.wealth-counselors.com.
August • 2013 • 9
Master Plan / page 6
long-term care 3. Labor force participation/civic engagement 4. Active living 5. Economic security 6. Basic needs, which include housing, food, and transportation. And, of course, Washoe County Senior Services will focus on supporting families who are providing care and helping seniors without family support, who are frail and homebound, or are a member of a minority community or are low income. Please join us! When the Master Plan is presented to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners, they will know your concerns have been addressed. If you have suggestions or
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wish to volunteer to be a member of a committee working on this very important plan, you can call us at (775) 328-2575 or send an e-mail to sr_info@washoecounty.us. We respond to all questions and comments. You may also leave a comment on “Open Washoe,” a county survey website that will feature questions about seniors over the next four months. This is the address for Open Washoe: www.washoecounty.us/ind ex/openwashoe.html. We look forward to hearing from you! Write Grady Tarbutton, Director, Washoe County Senior Services at gtarbutton@washoecounty.us.
Windfall / page 4
spent their entire career in a low-paying position. Consequently, while one worker likely had other retirement income, the lowwage earner likely would not, and yet their benefit would be substantially similar. WEP accounts for other retirement income, accordingly reducing Social Security benefit payments for those who have other income, for example, from certain state and local government or federal civil service pensions. Many retirees may be unaware that their Social Security benefit is actually lower than what they are receiving because they are subject to WEP. Sometimes, benefits are even substantially overpaid before being adjusted for WEP, forcing the
beneficiary to payback the overpayments to the Social Security Administration, a situation my office has encountered numerous times in the past. The best approach if you think you may fall under the WEP benefit formula is to contact the Social Security Administration, or visit the agency’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov. And please feel free to contact any of my offices if I can assist you regarding Social Security (www.heller.senate.gov). Many Nevadans count on their Social Security benefits, for which they have worked hard and which they rightfully deserve. It is my hope that this information will help you avoid any WEP pitfalls as you navigate through the Social Security program.
Caring for the Caregiver
Helping People Access Resources for Assistance AARP Nevada held a panel discussion and resource fair in July to connect caregivers with resources to make life a little bit easier. About 75 people attended the discussion in Reno called “Caring for the Caregiver,” allowing for a question/answer session about services, assistance, and relief.
staying mentally sharp.” “Caregiving can be a health issue, and an economic issue,” Dent said. Caregivers can have difficulty balancing full-time work and family responsibilities, and may neglect their own health. Dent stressed the need for caregivers to be proactive about their own health care while caring for another. “The best way to find out about caregiving resources is through each other,” Gold said. “Word of mouth.” He also emphasized accessing existing resources to find out what help is available. Representing AARP on a panel discussion (left) Mary For instance, Liveratti, NV State President, Diane Ross, Ex. Board contrary to what member, and Barry Gold, Dir. of Government Relations. many people “According to a recent surbelieve, Medicare does not vey, one third of Nevadan’s over cover long-term care. Medicare age 50 are unpaid caregivers,” will cover long-term care for a said Maria Dent, Director of short period of time, but is not Community Outreach. ongoing for many months. Thousands of caregivers work For many home and comfull-time while providing care munity-based services are a in the home, caregiving a family good option to enable people to member that may be an aging live in the community instead parent, spouse, or disabled of long-term institutional care. child. The state has significant A recent member survey resources available that can be found that “31 percent of accessed online at Nevada females said they are http://aging.state.nv.us/ caregivers, while 17 percent People who are stressed can said they have provided care to also get respite relief through a their spouse/partner or parvoucher program offered by ent/older relative in the past Nevada Aging and Disability two years,” said Barry Gold, Services. Director of Government “We want our loved ones to Relations. Equally important, age in place,” said AARP “Sixty-seven percent said they Executive Board member Diane are concerned that their own Ross, of The Continuum. “The health can decline, while 83 voucher enables people to get percent are concerned about the respite care they need.”
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Adding Life to Years
Can More Money Make You Happier and Live Longer or is it the Root of All Evil? Larry Weiss
Recently, in a PBS News Hour report, “Money on the Mind,” economics correspondent Paul Solman reported on new research from the University of California, Berkeley. Professors Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner have researched how wealth and inequality affects us psychologically. The results are alarming. The series of studies report that having more money leads to more aggressive, selfish, and “morally reprehensible” behavior. In several separate studies conducted on the UC Berkeley campus, in the San Francisco Bay Area and nationwide and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, UC Berkeley researchers consistently found
12 • 2013 • August
Dr. Larry Weiss Center for Healthy Aging that upper-class participants were more likely to lie and cheat when gambling or negotiating, cut people off when driving, and endorse unethical behavior in the workplace. The studies concluded, "upper class individual’s unethical tendencies are accounted for, in part, by their more favorable attitudes toward greed." In two of the field studies on driving behavior, upper-class motorists were found to be four times more likely than the other drivers to cut off other vehicles at a busy four-way intersection and three times more likely to cut off a pedestrian waiting to enter a crosswalk. Another study found that upper-class participants presented with scenarios of
unscrupulous behavior were more likely than the individuals in the other lower socio-economic classes to report replicating this type of behavior themselves. The researchers asked participants, who were at all levels of socio-economic status, to perform simple mundane tasks, like playing Monopoly. The game was structured where one of the players (Money page 13)
Life to Years / page 12
would start with two dice and more money and the other player have only one dice and half of the money. So the game was rigged so the “winner” was chosen at the start. The researchers tested what the mind does to make sense of advantage or disadvantage. The results were shocking. “You become less attuned to all of the other things that contributed to you being in the position that you’re in,” Piff said about the “advantaged” test subjects in the report. He noted that the participants given the upper-hand showed signs of increased greed and a lack of empathy. While the lower socio-economic status people gave proportionately more to others. The Berkeley professors in these studies found that lower class individuals were prepared to devote a much greater share of their income to support charity than wealthy people. The study is supported by the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, which shows that people at the lower end of the income scale give almost 30 percent more of their income in comparison with the middle class and wealthy. It has been said that money is the root of all evil. Does money make us more likely to lie, cheat, and steal? According to Dr. Piff and his colleagues…Yes! Dr. Dacher Keltner, a co-author said, “One of the things that money does is it comes with a set of values. One of them is that generosity is for suckers and greed is good.” Across these experiments, the main variable found that consistently explains this differential pattern of giving, helping, and generosity among the upper and lower class is feelings of sensitivity and caring for the welfare of other people. Essentially, the emotion that we call compassion is lacking. So it's really compassionate feelings that exist among the lower class that's seen to provoke these higher levels of altruism, generosity, and charity toward other people. Back in December, 2011, I wrote about the importance of giving. According to Dr. Weber and others, the secret to aging well is developing the capacity to give, be thankful, and for-
give. There is a lot of data that show if you are generous, charitable and altruistic, you will live longer, feel more fulfilled, and feel more control and freedom in your life. Dr. Keltner states that "we are living in a period of historically high inequality and people in positions of power are not going to see the inequality. They are going to be blind to it and that has enormous implications for how we educate leaders, why they may not see what's obvious and why they may not even understand the suffering of the people below them." The economic troubled times have even made these attitudes and behaviors more demonstrative. The rich have gotten richer and the diversity between the classes has tripled. The richest 1 percent has tripled their portion of America’s wealth. Other social inequalities in health and education occur, as well. For example, life expectancy decreased for men in 50 U.S. counties and for women in 900 counties. The US does not even rank in the top 40 countries in life expectancy. These indicators coupled with this new
research in the inequalities of the rich and their greedy attitudes and unethical behavior will result in huge costs for millions of Americans. The good news is when the rich are put into the role of the poor, they actually can adopt more compassion, generous and altruistic behavior. Even in these experimental game situations, this experience can carry over to real life. "These findings have very clear implications for how increased wealth and status in society shapes patterns of ethical behavior, and suggest that the different social values among the haves and the have-nots help drive these tendencies," Piff said of the cumulative findings. Clearly, money does not facilitate happiness, longevity, nor does it “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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Ophthalmology
Is Poor Vision Keeping You Housebound? Michael J. Fischer, M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon
A recent study shows that adults with Michael Fischer eye diseases that compromise their vision are less likely to leave their homes, which has a rather severe impact on their social lives. When adults with glaucoma, age-related
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macular degeneration, and Fuchs corneal dystrophy (which adversely affects the clear outer layer of the eye) were compared with people without these eye conditions, it was found that 40 to 50 percent of them limited their activities due to fear of falling. Only 16 percent of their peers with normal
vision were less likely to leave home out of fear of falling. This study lends some further insights into the effects of vison loss. In this case, treatment could lead to greater social participation and less disability. It should be noted - according to the study mentioned above, women with vision
loss were more likely than their male counterparts to stay home out of fear of falling and suffering injury. If you would like further information on today’s topic or an appointment, please call my office at (775)8822988. We are conveniently located at 3839 N. Carson Street, Carson City.
What Home Health Services Does Medicare Cover? David Sayen, Regional Administrator, Medicare Region 9
Medicare covers a variety of heath care services that you can receive in the comfort and privacy of your home. These include intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, and occupational therapy. Such services used to be available only at a hospital or doctor’s office. But they’re just as effective, more convenient, and usually less expensive when you get them in your home. To be eligible for home health benefits, you must be under a doctor’s care and receive your services under a David Sayen
plan of care established and reviewed regularly by a physician. He or she also needs to certify that you need one or more home health services. In addition, you must be homebound and have a doctor’s certification to that effect. (Being homebound means leaving your home isn’t recommended because of your condition, or your condition keeps you from leaving without using a wheelchair or walker, or getting help from another person.) Also, you must get your services from a home health agency that’s Medicare-
approved. If you meet these criteria, Medicare pays 100 percent for covered home health services for as long as you’re eligible and your doctor certifies that you need them. For durable medical equipment (like a walker, wheelchair, or oxygen equipment), you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount, after you pay the Part B deductible ($147 in 2013). Skilled nursing services are covered when they’re given on a part-time or intermittent basis. In order for Medicare to cover such care, it must be necessary and
ordered by your doctor for your specific condition. Medicare does not cover full-time nursing care. Skilled nursing services are given by either a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse under an RN’s supervision. Nurses provide direct care and teach you and your caregivers about your care. Examples of skilled nursing care include: giving IV drugs, shots, or tube feedings; changing dressings; and teaching about prescription drugs or diabetes care. Any service that could be done safely by a non-medical (Medicare page 16)
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Medicare / page 15
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person (or by yourself ) without the supervision of a nurse, isn’t skilled nursing care. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speechlanguage pathology services have to be specific, safe, and effective treatments for your condition. Before your home health care begins, the home health agency should tell you how much of your bill Medicare will pay. The agency should also tell you if any items or services they give you aren’t covered by Medicare, and how much you’ll have to pay for them. This should be explained by both talking with you and in writing. The agency should give you a notice called the Home Health Advance Beneficiary Notice before giving you services and supplies that Medicare doesn’t cover. What isn’t covered? Some examples: • 24-hour-a-day care at home; • Meals delivered to your home; • Homemaker services like shopping, cleaning, and laundry (when this is the only care you need, and when these services aren’t related to your plan of care); • Personal care given by
home health aides like bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom (when this is the only care you need). If your doctor decides you need home health care, you can choose from among the Medicare-certified agencies in your area. (However, Medicare Advantage plans may require that you get home health services only from agencies they contract with.) One good way to look for a home health agency is by using Medicare’s “Home Health Compare” web tool, at www.medicare.gov/ HHCompare. This tool lets you compare home health agencies by the types of services they offer and the quality of care they provide. For more details on Medicare’s home health benefit, please read our booklet, “Medicare and Home Health Care.” It’s online at http://www.medicare.gov/pu blications/pubs/pdf/10969. pdf. David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
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Calendar August 2 - 18 - Jazz & Beyond. Over 50 bands. For schedule of events, see JazzCarsonCity.com or call Mile High Jazz Band at (775) 883-4154. August 6 - 11 - Hot August Nights. Visit www.hotaugustnights.net for the schedule of events. August 7 - Washoe County Senior Services Advisory Board, Multipurpose Room, Reno Senior
August
Center, 3 p.m., (775) 328-2575.
August 7 - Human Service Network, Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, 11:30-1 p.m., RSVP (775) 847-9311, ext. 102, humanservicesneswork1 @gmail.com. August 7 - Lazy 5 Regional Park, Alternative Country by The Refiners; August 14: Americana, Blues & Boogie with Colin Ross
Band; August 21: Celtic, Bluegrass & Contemporary by Contraband; August 28: The Bystanders with Katy Simon. For ticket information, call (775) 823-6500.
August 9 - Bridge Group, intermediate and advanced players, South Valleys Library, 1-4 p.m., call (775) 851-5190. August 10 - E-Book Cafe, bring your eReader with USB cord, tablet, or smartphone, 11-noon, Sierra View Library, (775) 8273232. August 10 - Knitting Club, 2nd and 3rd Saturday monthly, all ages, Northwest Reno Library 1-3 p.m., (775) 787-4100. August 10 - Evening of Wine & Wisdom, step back in time with Mark Twain, Wilbur D. May Museum, McAvoy Layne, 5-7 p.m., $20, (775) 785-5961. August 11 & 25 - Reno Senior Dance, 2-5 p.m., $5, Neil Road Recreation Center.
CeCe Gable - Senior Fest 2013, Sept. 3
August 12 - Cooperative Extension Workshop, “Cottage Foods’ and Farm to Fork,” new laws for farmers, home-growers, UNR, Reno; WNC, Fallon, $20, teleconference, (702) 397-2604, ext. 0, holysr@unce.unr.edu. August 13 - Bands and Balance, 910 a.m., $.50 drop in fee, Neil Road Recreation Center. Aug. 20, 27. (775) 689-8484 August 15 - “The Beauty Around Us,” Jerry Fenwick, 7 p.m., Sparks Museum and Cultural Center. August 17 - School of Medicine Student Outreach, free, General Clinic, 8-noon; Aug. 24 Women’s Clinic, 8-noon, Family Medicine Center, UNR campus. August 17 - May Arboretum Society Fundraiser, May Arboretum Endowment Fund. Garden Party, music, food 5:30-8 p.m., mayabroretumsociety@ gmail.com, (775) 785-4153. September 1 - 30 - Reno Balloon Race Collection, Sparks Museum and Cultural Center.
September 3 - Senior Fest, 9-2 p.m., Reno Town Mall, health screenings, entertainment, food, vendor information and referral. Special performance of Grease! Call (775) 348-0717 for information.
Volunteers
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Gentiva Hospice looking for volunteers, patient and or office/cler ical support. Contact Amanda A. Smith, VistaCare, (775) 825-5008, Amanda.Smith@gentiva.com.
Silver College: a goldmine of lifelong learning Question: What’s fun, enriching, social, affordable and silver? Answer: Low-cost Silver College classes offered by Community Education. Personal growth should be a lifelong experience. Research shows that learning and social interaction are great preventive medicine for a healthy brain. So, while your brain percolates, you can be making new friends, swapping stories and sharing laughter. Silver College is designed for active seniors who want to take classes for fun, on days and at times that work best for them. Silver College used to be part of TMCC but is now under the umbrella of Community Education. Silver College classes: • Don’t require a college application, • Focus on the interests of active seniors, and • Encourage students to expand their social network. Plus, no grades, term papers or final exams! And you never have to stand in the corner or tell your teacher that the dog ate your homework. Students of Silver College express their experiences best: • “I truly enjoyed your class. It brought a joy back into my life that I have missed for years.” – Piano student • “I would have never bought the Photoshop program if it wasn’t for this wonderful class and instructor.” – Photoshop Elements student • “Excellent pacing, explanations and repetition. Great for first-timers, as well as the more experienced students.” – Silver Tai Chi student Silver College has added a slate of new fall classes to go with the “perennials”. New offerings include:
• Bridge for Beginners • A Day in Local Wine Country • How to Identify Birds, Local and Elsewhere • The Healing Power of Pets • The Art of Caregiving: Dementia Communication Silver College adapts its classes to fit the needs of students, and it’s easier to register. Visit Community Ed online at washoecommunityed.org, call 829-9010 or pay them a visit at the Meadowood Center at 5270 Neil Road, across from the Sears Auto Center. Need financial assistance? Seniors may apply at the Community Education office for a Sunshine Fund scholarship to attend Silver College or any personal interest courses. Those who qualify receive $20 off the price of any course that costs $50 and above. So, what’s fun, enriching, social, affordable and silver? Correct! Silver College. Go to the head of the class.
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Senior Fest / page 3
unaccompanied (a-cappella) quartet, will kickoff Senior Fest. Their harmony characterizes the unforgettable four-part harmony of barbershop music. Entertainment is great fun but there’s more. The Eldorado, Bonanza Casino, and Atlantis Resort will pro-
vide free food samples, until supplies last. Bring a hat and spend the day…that’s Senior Fest, Sept. 3rd, where’s there’s plenty of free parking and shuttle assistance provided by Lakeside Manor and the Arbors Memory Care Community. Call Senior Spectrum at 348-0717.
Lab Screenings
Senior Care Plus, a Medicare Advantage Plan from Hometown Health, will be offering free screenings to attendees age 50 and older, regardless of their health insurance carrier. They include: • Basic Metabolic Panel and Lipid Profile • Glycohemogloben (Hemoglobin A1C) for diabetics • Blood pressure check • Body Mass Index (BMI) • Pharmacist review of medications Fasting is recommended for 8 to 10 hours prior to the first two tests listed above. Black coffee and tea are okay. Take morning medications as usual and drink water.
20 • 2013 • August
Flu and pneumonia shots will be given as available. Adult flu shots will have no out-of-pocket costs for Medicare, for attendees age 50 and older, regardless of their health insurance carrier. Pneumonia shots will have no out-of-pocket costs for those who meet CDC criteria and have Medicare (Part B), and Senior Care Plus members. For all others, the cost will be $75. Senior Care Plus members only screenings: • Heel bone scan (women only, 100 screenings will be done first come, first served). • FIT (fecal immunochemical test) at–home colon cancer screening For more on health screenings, call 982-5433.
August • 2013 • 21
Tips for Managing Your Prescription Drug Costs Nicole Duritz, Vice President of Health at AARP We all want to find ways to save money. And with today’s rising cost of critical and often life-saving drugs, every penny counts. But don’t fret — there is good news thanks to the cost-saving tips below, and a little
help from the Affordable Care Act. Everyone should: • Consider generic drugs: Ask your doctor if your brand-name medication is available in generic form. Generic drugs are the same as brand-name in dose, quality and safety. And the average cost of generic drugs can be 80 percent to 85 percent lower than their brand-name counterparts. To find out whether your prescription drugs are available in generic form, visit AARP’s Drug Savings Tool at www.aarp.org/drugsavings. • Order drug comparison guides: Printed guides from AARP and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) can help you compare the benefits, side effects and costs of medications to treat specific health conditions. Learn more by ordering your free online guide at www.aarp.org/healthorderform. If you’re under 65: • Get health coverage: Starting
22 • 2013 • August
October 1, as part of the Affordable Care Act, the new Health Insurance Marketplaces will open. These offer a place to shop for health plans in your state – and find a plan that works for you and your budget. All plans must offer a core set of benefits that includes prescription drug coverage. Now you won’t have to worry about being able to afford your muchneeded prescriptions. To learn more, visit the AARP Health Law Guide at www.aarp.org/healthlawguide. If you have Medicare: • Check out Extra Help: Extra Help is a program to help limited-income Medicare recipients pay for drug coverage. To find out if you’re eligible for Extra Help, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800772-1213. • Receive Medicare discounts: If you have Medicare, use the AARP Doughnut Hole Calculator at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole to learn how you can delay or avoid the Medicare Part D coverage gap, otherwise known as the “doughnut hole.” Even if you do fall into the doughnut hole, don’t panic — help is now available through a cost-saving benefit in the Affordable Care Act. In 2013, you will get a discount of 52.2 percent off the cost of your brand-name prescriptions, and 21 percent off your generic prescriptions, while you’re in the doughnut hole. These discounts will increase every year until 2020 – when the doughnut hole will be a thing of the past. Those drug savings adds up. Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, more than 6.1 million people with Medicare have saved $5.7 billion on prescription drugs. People with Medicare Part D saved an average of $706 while they were in the gap in 2012. Now that’s good news! To learn more, visit AARP’s Health Law Guide: www.aarp.org/healthlawguide.
ECLECTIC OBSERVER by Janet Ross
“It’s a piece of cake,” was the refrain from most of my friends when I announced that cataract surgery was on the horizon for me. This was encouraging, as my only surgery had been at age five, to have tonsils removed. The memory of that event has affected me for the remainder of my life. First came promises from my parents that after the surgery I could eat all the ice cream I wanted. It was sufficient to allay my fears of going to the hospital and being put to sleep for the necessary operation. I remember the “green balloon” filled with ether to put me asleep, but not being slapped by the nurse who was late for her lunch and couldn’t leave me until I was fully awake
after surgery. My Mother arrived to see this drama when she heard my terrorized screams. Oh, well ... there would be all that ice cream to compensate. Ha. Anyone who has endured a tonsillectomy is aware that eating anything after surgery hurts. Despite being blessed with excellent health, ageing does bring unpleasant conditions as our bodies wear out. My eye doctor noted the beginning of cataracts a few years ago, but advised I not rush in for surgery until I was aware of major changes in my vision. Those changes - most noticeable an inability to read road signs or see things clearly in dim light were apparent early this year when I went to my annual eye
exam. New glasses wouldn’t fix the problem this time. I was given the names of several recommended surgeons and chose one for the initial consultation. No problem with the diagnosis. My cataracts were sufficiently advanced to warrant surgery. Between my own research and the literature presented by the surgeon’s office, I had some choices to make. Did I want the Medicare-covered basic cataract surgery? Or, would I prefer a laser procedure to remove the clouded lens and new lens that could correct my astigmatism at extra cost to me? Did I want to see distance clearly without glasses? (Nearsighted and wearing glasses since age ten, this seemed a great idea.) With the exception of (expensive) multifocal lens implants, I’d need to give up my ability to read without glasses. Or, I could opt for
crystal clear near vision and need glasses for distance. I opted for the laser surgery, and an intraocular lens that would correct astigmatism to give me glasses-free distance vision. My weaker left eye would be first for the procedure, the right eye two weeks later if all went well. The surgery center was a surprise as I’d expected the doctor would “fix” my eyes in his office. After all, “cataract surgery was a piece of cake.” Ha. I have nothing but praise and respect for the staff at the surgery center, but I do wish I’d known the agenda before I showed up that first morning. After mountains of paperwork, I was escorted into a room with multiple cubicles filled gurneys. Laid out in one after being asked my name, date of birth, what eye was (Eclectic page 28)
August • 2013 • 23
BIGGEST
More Reno Air Races
little City by Harry Spencer
The most important ingredient in the expansion of the Reno Air Races has been the acquisition of the large Stead Air Base venue. When the Races were moved from Sky Ranch on the Pyramid Highway, which proved to be a very limiting site, it opened unlimited horizons for the Air Races. One of the most intrigu-
24 • 2013 • August
ing memories I have of the initial Air Races was the arrival of the Demo Team at the Mapes Hotel. While the pilots were actively engaged in flying during the daylight hours, they were able to take advantage of Reno’s sizzling nighttime entertainment. I can recall on several occasions in the Skyroom of the Mapes Hotel witnessing a very unique practice of the airmen. It consisted of them
downing a beverage they called “the afterburner cocktail”. The recipe for this drink was to take a shotglass full of liquor, light the fluid, and down the burning concoction without harming one’s lips. When I was offered one of the drinks, I gracefully declined. We mentioned last month that the primary national attention for the first Air Races was generated by the cross country race from Florida to Reno. We neglected to name the winner of that contest, who was Wayne Adams of Reno. Newspaper accounts of the event appeared in every one of the cities over which the planes flew. Of course, Roy Powers of Harold’s Club, who was the only sponsor of that race, collected reams of newspaper clippings to show his bosses. Roy was probably the longest-serving Renoite during the fifty years of the event. He was so enamored of the races that his ashes were scattered at one of the pylons of the race course. He was also the creator of a book that described and illustrated the various Air Race posters that have appeared. It was his artist, Mel Matthewson, who created the art work for the original trophy and logo for the races. Another individual who was instrumental from the start was pilot Bob Hoover. For years he was a starter of the unlimited class races and also performed many aerobatic feats, such as the 16 point rollover. He fell in love
with the races, Reno itself and the original committee. So much so that when we happened to visit him in LA he took us on a tour of the major bars along La Cienega Boulevard where he was extremely well received. Of all the individuals associated with the first Air Races there is none more important than Bill Stead. He originally conceived the idea for the event and was able to persuade his Hydroplane racing buddies to participate in it. His next move was to seek sponsorships from the Mapes Hotel, Harold’s Club and John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Having only seven airplanes available to participate, he was able to flesh out the spectacle with hot air balloons and the National Air Guard’s flying Demo Team, courtesy of Senator Howard Cannon. Fortunately the date of the first race coincided with the State of Nevada’s Centennial, enabling Stead to secure much of the necessary funding. Unfortunately Stead passed away doing what he loved most, flying his plane, in a fatal crash. Several of us have long pursued the creation of a lifesized statue of Stead to be placed at the main gate at Stead Air Base. It is an honor that has been long in coming. For an incredible one-ofa-kind event, the Reno Air Races which will be held September 11th-15th this year, while celebrating their 50th anniversary, cannot be surpassed.
Happy Birthday Rose Marie
By Nick Thomas
Best known for her role as Sally Rogers in the 60’s CBS sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, Rose Marie turns 90 in August. “I don’t feel it,” she admitted when I spoke with her recently. “I feel 60, and still keep busy.” In the past year, that included voiceover work for The Garfield Show on the Cartoon Network. “I love it. You don’t have to dress up or put on makeup. All you have to do is show up! Although I can do many different voices, the producer wanted my voice so people would know ‘that’s Rose Marie.’” Audiences have known Rose Marie for nine decades, since she began performing at an age when most children would still be potty training. Her phenomenal singing voice as a child (see www.missrosemarie.com) rocketed her to fame overnight. “I have no idea where that
voice came from, I think God just gave me a wonderful gift,” she said. “When I was three, I won an amateur contest, and my family took me to Atlantic City. We saw a showgirl named Evelyn Nesbit perform and I started singing along. She invited me up on stage to sing with her, then people began throwing money.” Backstage, Nesbit suggested changing her name to Baby Rose Marie and her career soon took off. “I had my own radio show coast to coast on NBC when I was five.” But there were also doubters. “Unlike other child singers, I sang adult songs with adult phrasing and mannerisms. People would write to the station in disbelief saying that no child could sing like that and I must have been a midget. So NBC sent me out to play theaters
Rose Marie poses with a hair bow and shoes from her Baby Rose Marie days donated to the Smithsonian's Museum of American History in 2008. To this day, she wears a bow in her hair which has great significance for her, but she has refused to explain why in any interview throughout her life. "It's a very personal thing," she said.
Rose Marie (left) poses with the cast of the Dick Van Dyke Show
to prove I was a child.” As her fame grew, the famous wanted to meet her. President Franklin Roosevelt invited her to the White House when she was just six.
“After I sang for him, we played tiddlywinks with some poker chips I found in his office.” She caught the attention of (Rose Marie page 30)
August • 2013 • 25
this ‘n that
by Anne Vargas annevargas3@gmail.com
An Abundance of riches…
Our three children have given us eight perfect grandAnne Vargas children, each of them exceptional in every way. Of course. The only problem is that their parents insist they live with them and none of them live in Reno. We are geographically challenged grandparents, envying our friends who enjoy close proximity. Three of the eight live in San Francisco, three in Seattle and two in New York. Since traveling for two of us is easier than for many of them, we
26 • 2013 • August
usually opt to pack the suitcases. We visit them all as frequently as possible but the map dictates that we see some of them more often. Two of the families come to Reno a couple of times a year but the ones in New York have parents whose careers preclude that happening easily so our relationship with them is based on our trips to the east coast. When all three families decided to visit us within weeks of one another in July, we were both astonished and elated. Frantic preparations ensued with a multitude of emails to find out who would
want (or not want) what to eat, resulting in ridiculously overloaded grocery carts. “Something magical happens when parents turn into grandparents. Their attitude changes from “money-doesn’t- grow-ontrees to spending it like it does.” Paul Linden First we saw the California crew who had just returned from Helsinki. Our daughter-in-law is from Finland and they had decided to immerse themselves in that culture for a year so we had a lot to catch up on and there were a multitude of tales to be heard. Next came
their Seattle cousins, two very active little boys and one little girl determined to do everything her brothers do, their energy level running only on high. Then Zachary & Sam arrived from New York for their first visit here; huge excitement for all of us. Life in a 12th floor condo is vastly different from life in a high mountain desert town. Manhattan offers a lot of excitement but grilling hotdogs, toasting marshmallows and eating outdoors aren’t among them. And who would have thought that a car wash could be so exciting? (this ‘n that page 30)
Answers page 28
August • 2013 • 27
Eclectic / page 23
being operated on more than once - my hair was covered with the equivalent of a shower cap. Next came a blood pressure monitor that checked my pressure every five minutes, three other monitors attached to check my heart function, a clip on my finger to monitor oxygen in my blood, an anesthetic drip attached to my arm ... and a Valium pill. Next came a series of eye drops to dilate and numb the eye. None of this was painful, it just seemed to go on forever. After about an hour, the surgeon arrived to do the laser lens removal. No pain. Didn’t take long. More eye drops. About half an hour later I was wheeled into the surgery room for insertion of the new lens. No pain. Didn’t take long. Back to the cubicle to be unhooked from all those monitors before I was escorted to the “coffee room” for tea and a cookie while a nurse gave my daughter post-op instructions. Crossword p.27
28 • 2013 • August
Those instructions included three different eye drops to be used four times a day, a plastic eye protector for sleeping, and a warning not to press or rub the affected eye. Post operative discomfort was minimal. As a result, within days, I could see distances with an eagle’s vision (well, it seemed that way), but I was one-eyed for reading until I bought a pair of reading glasses. My second surgery was sure to be that “piece of cake” as this time I knew what to expect, and it was ... until the week following when my vision hadn’t improved in the right eye and the surgeon hastily scheduled a second surgery to reposition the new lens. This seems to have worked. “Piece of cake”? Not quite. Now all I have to do is figure out how to apply eye makeup again when everything close to my nose is a blur.
RESOURCES NEVADA INFORMATION .........................211 AARP INFO. CENTER .........................328-2506 ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION 1301 Cordone Ave, Suite 180, Reno-786-8061 CARE CHEST 7910 N. Virginia Street, Reno..............829-2273 COMMUNITY EDUCATION SILVER COLLEGE, 5270 Neil Rd., Reno……829-9010 COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY 1090 East 8th, Reno .................................786-6023 ELDER PROTECTIVE SERVICES ADSD.….........................................................688-2964 FOOD BANK (TRUCK).......................331-3663 FOSTER GRANDPARENT.................358-2768 HAWC CLINIC, 1055 S. Wells, Reno.................................................................329-6300 MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, UNR, Sanford Center for Aging......................784-1612 NEVADA STATE WELFARE...........684-7200 CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING 999 Pyramid Way, Sparks......................353-3599 RTC ACCESS TRANSPORTATION Information..................................................348-0477 RENOWN MED. LOW INCOME CLINIC 21 Locust, Reno..........................................982-5270 RSVP, Reno...................................................784-1807 RSVP, Rural Counties Carson City...................................................687-4680 SANFORD CENTER FOR AGING, UNR.................................................................784-4774 SENIOR COMPANION.......................358-2322 SENIOR Community Services Employment, AARP, 1135 Terminal Way, Reno......323-2243 Job Connect, Reno....................................284-9600 Sparks..............................................................284-9520 SENIOR LAW PROJECT.....................328-2592 SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES...784-7506 SENIOR SAMPLER (Assistance League) 1701 Vassar St., Reno...............................324-2003 SHIP (STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ADVISORY PROGRAM)...........800-307-4444 SOCIAL SECURITY 1170 Harvard Way, Reno..............888-808-5481 VETERAN’S ADMINISTRATION Medical Center, 1000 Locust Street, Reno ............................................................................328-1293 VETERAN’S BENEFITS 5460 Corporate Drive, Reno.......688-1653, X1 (Source: Washoe County Senior Services)
August • 2013 • 29
this ‘n that / page 26 “The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes.” Marcel Proust Our deck, which has a view ranging from Dog Valley to Peavine to the lights of downtown was especially fascinating to them. Vast quantities of cereal were consumed there early every morning as they gazed at the panorama of mountains and sagebrush, watched hawks in quest of food in the ravine below, saw quails walking along the fence and humming birds hovering nearby. Accustomed to the continuous clamor of city traffic, only a distant train whistle marred the silent tranquility. We didn’t get to see any hot air balloons but one morning the Coyotes were howling, signaling a kill. It was wonderful to freshly see what is so familiar to us through their eyes. Sam later told us
Rose Marie / page 25
Baby Rose Marie 30 • 2013 • August
that the breakfasts were his favorite part of the trip and he wished he could stay for two more weeks, words guaranteed to melt a heart. Temperatures soared during all the visits and heat records were broken but the proximity of our housing area pool, just across the street, allowed for hours of fun in the sun. A steady stream of wet feet through the garage and zip-lock bags full of snacks became the pattern for every morning and again in late afternoon but mid-day found us repeatedly visiting the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum for children. Of all ages. “When I grow up I want to be a little boy.” Joseph Heller This amazing place on Center Street (site of the former City Hall) is something Reno can be justifiably proud of. Made possible by Terry
Lee Wells Foundation and a number of generous donors, it was seven years in the making under the guidance of people with vision. It really is remarkable, and after eight visits within three weeks, I feel I am something of an authority. Opened only two years ago, the museum continues to add new attractions that captivate everyone but don’t take my word for it, discover the Discovery Museum for yourself on Monday, August 12th on Senior Day when “you can get hands-on with Reno’s newest & most exciting community resource...” The Museum will be open only to senior visitors that day from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., admission $6 (instead of $8). You can wander on your own or request a guided tour (for any size group) by calling 786-1000. If you visit their website at www.nvdm.org you might want to be first in
line and plan to spend several hours. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, 490 S. Center Street, 7861000. “The time has come, the walrus said...” and all too soon it did. The visits were over, the cereal was depleted, the towels were dirty and the house was empty. As I drove home from the last trip to the airport I reflected with emotion on the abundant riches of the preceding weeks, the memories we would cherish. All of it was wonderful. And all of it was exhausting! I walked into the house and went immediately to the couch for a four-hour nap and then I went to bed. At six p.m.
the infamous, too. While working with Milton Berle in Chicago, a visitor came backstage. “It was Al Capone and he wanted to invite me to dinner! He picked me up the next day and we went out to eat with all the mob.” Years later as a young adult, she was invited to perform at the opening of the Flamingo Hotel, in Las Vegas, in 1946, along with Jimmy Durante, bandleader Xavier Cugat and other stars of the day. The invitation came from notori-
ous mobster and hotel owner, Bugsy Siegel. “We became friends and he was very good to me. I just didn’t think of those guys as gangsters.” At age ten, Rose Marie met Morey Amsterdam, who would become an important influence in her career and later her co-star on The Dick Van Dyke Show. “He was a popular writer for comedians like Fanny Brice and Fred Allen and become a comic himself,” she recalled. “We met when I guest starred on a radio program. He also wrote most of my nightclub material and become a life-long friend. I actually got him the Dick Van Dyke Show job.” As for Dick Van Dyke, she says it was a joy to work with someone so talented, and has
only fond memories of Dick and the cast. “We were a close group and genuinely liked working together. Everyone came to work happy, and oh did we laugh!” Speaking from his Malibu home, Dick Van Dyke recalled meeting Rose Marie for the first time. “I knew she had been in show business since she was three, but never met her until the first reading of the script,” he said. “She just knocked me over. She probably had the most razor sharp sense of timing of anybody I ever worked with. She was a delight and still is.” Nick Thomas is a freelance writer and the author of Raised by the Stars. He can be reached on his blog at: http://getnickt.blogspot.com.
“On the seventh day God rested. The grandchildren must have been out of town.” Gene Perret
Eydie’s Excerpts
Canadian Connections: The Chateau by Eydie Scher
No, this is not a history of Canada class. I will not grade this paper. You can if you want. This story is limited to one gorgeous Chateau in Alberta, Canada and how it came to be one of the grandest hotels in the world. Since the Chateau sits practically on Lake Louise, the lake has to be included. The story begins with the Canadian Pacific Railroad. William Van Horned, a fellow American, becomes the construction manager for the CPR. The last spike is driven in 1885
In 1884, the name of the lake is changed and renamed after the 6th child and 4th daughter of Queen Victoria. Its new name is Lake Louise. Four mansions are built across the Canadian Province of Alberta. Up until 10 years ago, they were still managed by the railroad. In 1890, William is privileged to look upon and take up residence at the original Chateau at Lake Louise. It gets cold up there in the winter and a hot springs provides hot water for the guests. They would sit on the veranda on the 30 by 50 foot cabin and enjoy the view.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
ones are conquered early on. It is a group of 4 Americans who reach the highest peak first. Near the top, the head mountaineer, Phillip Abbot falls past his horrified companions taking their only rope with him as he meets his demise. He is the
first mountaineering fatality in all of North America. But that doesn’t deter other climbers and it is the beginning of the Golden Age of climbing in the Rockies. Swiss guides lead expeditions safely for 55 years. (Chateau page 34)
The Chateau damaged in a fire.
and connects the entire Canadian country. Another friend, Tom Wilson, is the first to see the lake and names it Emerald Lake due to its green/ blue color. William decides that the railroad can be used for more than hauling freight and like the railroad in the States, could bring people and money out west. William used to say, “If we cannot export the scenery, we shall import the tourists”. Tourists need places to stay so he planned hotels along the route.
It is not known what causes the fire but fortunately the chalet is unoccupied. A second hotel is built in 1894 and the road is improved to allow a horse-drawn carriage ride to the lake. This structure is not a log cabin as was the first. In 1896, a second story is built. It is becoming a popular place. Guests from England, Europe and America arrive to climb the incredible unexplored mountains surrounding. The race is on to see who can ascend them first. The easiest August • 2013 • 31
Seniors4Travel
Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa
Summertime, and the Living is Easy July is always a special month for the Boyd/Prusa household – notably because of Reno’s Artown Festival, and for the family members we entertain during the month-long festivities. This year we were happy to welcome several of Robert’s clan. Yes, it’s hard to beat the warmth of a family gathering - especially in our recordbreaking heat wave (pun intended). During the most recent gathering of the clan, not even triple digit temperatures deterred us from experiencing some of the “vast tapestry of diversity and culture within our city”,
32 • 2013 • August
as Beth Macmillan, Artown Festival Executive Director, describes it. Considering that our visitors come from some pretty sophisticated cultural destinations, themselves – i.e. Washington D.C., the San Francisco area and Bentonville, Arkansas (with its world-class Crystal Bridges Museum) – it was nice to see how genuinely impressed they were with the Artown events they attended. Need we mention they were free? You can’t beat that. After a week, our family went back to their respective homes. We, however, continued to show up at one
park or another with our picnic and low back chairs for a variety of excellent concerts. We especially enjoyed the Monday Night Music Series at Bartley Ranch. The Glenn Miller Orchestra and Contraband concerts stand out in our minds. We were at Wingfield Park for Pops on the River with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, a night of Irish dancing, Yemen Blues, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Reno Jazz Orchestra and Pat Esters Gospel Choir concert, and Shuggie Otis - Artown’s closing night production. For eighteen years the Artown festival has been celebrated in our community during the month of July. And, for seventeen of those years we have been eager participants, especially at the concerts. It is our observation that as the years go by, the number, quality and diversity of cultural offerings all continue to expand. Our hats are off to Artown Executive Director Beth Macmillan, the city of Reno, and the numerous other sponsors who make it possible. Nevada Humanities Chautauqua Festival – June 19-28 Another educational and entertaining week in Reno is that of the Chautauqua Festival, a living history program that features scholars, in costume and character, bringing historical figures to life. It’s of special interest to us since, as a youngster in the early 1930s, Robert and his family spent their summers at the original
Chautauqua Institution in New York State. Many influential people whom most of us only read about in history books – Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein and Henry Ford, to name a few – were there during those years, leaving their indelible impressions on his young mind. The Institution still has its summer programs, of course, and years back we enjoyed a memorable week there. It was shortly after our move back to Reno in 1996 (we’d been here from 19891992) that, much to our delight, we discovered the Nevada Humanities Chautauqua Festival. And, wouldn’t you know it, among the performances this year were portrayals of Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford – the very men who in real life Robert remembers well. How much better could it get? Hot August Nights - Reno and Sparks – Aug. 6-11 And now, we’re in the midst of the 27th Annual Hot August Nights. While we’re not big classic car buffs, the entertainment lineup at the outdoor venues at Grand Sierra Resort and Victorian Square in Sparks features an incredible array of performers, including the likes of Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Righteous Brothers’, Bill Medley and the Jack Dempsey Band. Borrowing from the lyrics of George Gershwin’s famous hit song, “Summertime and the living is easy.” In Reno, Nevada, it sure ‘nuff is!
August • 2013 • 33
Excerpts / page 31
The Jagged Peaks of the Canadian Rockies In 1912, Walter Painter builds another extension. The Chateau can now accommodate 320 guests. It doesn’t last long. Another fire destroys an entire wing. No lives are lost and the luggage of tourists are saved. Reconstruction starts up almost immediately during a rough winter, as the new wing is to open the next summer. The whole structure is encased in a wooden and paper canopy
34 • 2013 • August
to keep the temperature above freezing. What ingenuity! Yes, the new wing opens on June 1, 1925 with 400 rooms. The next year, a pool is added. It’s the second largest outdoor pool in all of Canada. The hotel needs guests during the long winters. Ski resorts bloom in 1930 but the guests must walk up to the top. During the late 1960s, the Chateau is losing money and there is talk of either selling or demolishing it. Neither occurs. Fast forwarding to 1982, the hotel is now open year round.
Lake Louise
It is part of Canada’s National
Park System. The winter Olympics of 1988 is held and business is booming year round. In the 1990s there is another expansion at the Chateau. There are now 550 rooms. About 10 years ago, the Fairmont buys the Chateau and makes improvements. It always was an amazing place surrounded by the Rockies and Lake Louise though it’s even better today! It is the crown jewel of the Rockies and sits in the heart of Banff National Park. You might be interested in a few facts. Banff is the hiking capital of the Rockies. There are 100 miles of trails or over 200 kilometers. The Lake is 1.2 miles long, .25 miles wide, and 230 feet deep. The color varies throughout the year from a vivid blue to an emerald green. It is caused by minute particles of rock that are pulverized beneath the glaciers and carried down into the lake by meltwater streams. All the signs are in both English and French. It is the rule to use both languages all over the country even though the residents of most of Canada speak English. The Sierra’s don’t seem as huge as the Rockies and the color of Lake Tahoe is deeper than the hue of Lake Louise. The only boats allowed on Lake Louise are canoes.