Encore February 2012

ncore E Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Ferndale Record

A GUIDE TO A FULFILLING SENIOR LIFE IN WHATCOM COUNTY

A supplement of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Senior center’s gift shop is a treasure trove of handmade items

Craftsmanship high, prices low at Lynden Community Center Calvin Bratt Lynden Tribune LYNDEN — Everything in this gift shop is locally handmade. Everything carries a surprisingly low price. And everything sold helps out the Lynden Community Center to some extent.

Just a small sign marks the spot near the entrance of the 401 Grover St. center.

But the obvious color and craftsmanship of the items inside entice the passerby.

The gift shop attendant on a Monday morning is Shirley Speelman. She is also a bountiful contributor to all the knitted and crocheted items that you see on display.

How about some brightly patterned kitchen towels? Or a baby sweater set, again in a variety of appealing hues?

Producing them comes naturally to this lady. “I can make a couple of them in an evening,” she says of her additions to the towels. “But these sweater sets take a little longer.” And when does she make all these things? “I’m kind of watching

Shirley Speelman’s needlework has contributed various items to the gift shop shelves. — Lynden Tribune | CALVIN BRATT

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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A Barbie Furniture set was made by Ruby Blasingame. — Lynden Tribune | CALVIN BRATT

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TV and knitting at the same time.”

Speelman might even be knitting while she is playing cards or calling bingo games at the senior center, where she is a regular for the noon dinner.

Try these on for warmth and comfort: stocking hats, scarves, slippers, bed socks, children’s clothing. Or consider these for usefulness: aprons, pot holders, table runners, tea cozies. Others who do much of the needlework are Alice Van Egdom, Sophia Van Wyk, Mary Jane Radney, Sarah Haveman and Harriet Rich.

“We have our own patterns and our own designs, and we kind of go by the season,” Speelman said.

She also makes cloth dolls. When one of them recently disappeared from view, word filtered back to Speelman to check inside the miniature wooden outhouse made by George Van Achte and on display in the shop. Sure enough, that’s where it was, and that’s where it’s staying for awhile.

The two can be bought separately, however. The doll is only $20, the outhouse just $50.

The baby’s wear area sees the greatest demand. Besides Speelman, contributors are Frances Jordan, Francis Neff and Alice Heckhausen.

There’s more artistic talent. Most of two walls is devoted to the quilts, comforters and pillows produced by the center’s Quiltmakers group that gathers each Wednesday morning. Prices range from $14 to $25.

C3 Kelli Wisniewski and Harriet Rich make jewelry. Esther Meyer, Cora Jean Buma, Aly Johnson Vos, Bonnie Van Alsberg and Karen Aase contribute their handmade cards suitable for all sorts of different occasions. “For 25 cents. Where do you find a card for 25 cents?” exclaims Speelman.

Miniature windmills are contributed by Ernie and Sharon Buss of Lynden.

Ruby Blasingame fashioned a red Barbie Furniture set of plastic canvas.

Nora Sundstrom is the main contributor of assorted finished dishware, from salt and pepper sets to vases and mugs.

The wintery things in the gift shop will soon give way to symbols of summer. This week, one table definitely had a pink Valentine’s Day feel to it.

Clara Zoet is the current gift shop representative on the Lynden Community Center board of directors.

Because of the legal nonprofit status of the community center, the gift shop area must be operated as tenant space and really can’t be advertised, said center director Cathi LeCocq. Some items, such as the quilts, are donated for their proceeds to go fully to the center. Much merchandise is consigned, with 10 or 25 percent of the sale price as display fee.

Alice Fairall, office manager, said that in 2011 the gift shop raised $6,500 for the senior center. The quilts were the biggest piece of that, making $2,600.

Email Calvin Bratt at editor@lyndentribune.com.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Once a teacher, always a teacher Retirement full of extended learning opportunities for Eileen Wascisin Tim Newcomb Lynden Tribune WHATCOM — Eileen Wascisin simply can’t imagine retirement without activity.

So, after 35 years of teaching at Lynden High School, the early retiree has extended her former Lynden job into a chance to support current teachers — including those at Lynden — and keep herself personally on a path of continual learning.

As a business educator for so many years at LHS, Wascisin developed an expanding network of contacts. Upon retirement in 2008, she grew those connections even more. She got heavily involved with a pair of state associations for business educators (she has served as president of both association) and with the National Business Education Association, once serving as the secondary school program director and currently a candidate to become the director for the western region. And if those duties, including helping to plan curriculum and conferences throughout the nation, weren’t enough to fill her time, she recently joined on as the Northwest representative for the Washington State School Retirees Association.

“Oh yes, it keeps me active,” she said about her activities. “I think you could get into a rut if you retire and it would be very easy to do nothing. There are a lot of things I like about retirement, but a lot of things I miss about teaching.”

And that is what makes her roles so ideal for her; she gets a mix of both worlds.

For example, Wascisin is currently in California, teaching a class to business educators. But the joys of retirement afforded her and her husband a leisurely route to the conference, one that involved a vacation in Scottsdale, Ariz., along the way.

“We figured we might as well go down to Arizona,” she said. “We made it a roundabout trip.”

When Wascisin, 61, returns home from her trips, staying involved with local teachers has proven a great way to stay connected, she said. Even as an active teacher, she had always been a member of the retired teachers association. Now she joins with the group, which meets once a month, usually at Bellingham Technical College, as a group of around 30 to couple their love of education with their desire to learn and socialize. Each month, the group brings in a speaker to discuss wideranging topics (recent speakers have addressed decluttering and health issues).

The group also took a recent field trip to the newly remodeled Whatcom Middle School, providing some teachers a chance to see the changes made at a school they once taught in.

The retired teachers also support current teachers in Whatcom County by handing out 30 mini-grants of $150 for things

such as field trips that a school district is unable to fund. Wascisin said that extra items, such as special books, help support teachers trying to create innovative classrooms. Recently, a school in Bellingham that supports students who can’t function in a normal school setting applied for a mini-grant. The retired teachers were able to help fund the purchasing of products to help students learn hygiene skills. The retired teachers have also worked with PEMCO Insurance to hand out 16 recurring scholarships of nearly $1,000 each, including last year to Kailey Weidkamp at Lynden High School.

During the holiday season, the differing retired teachers associations in Northwest Washington all did a little something special to celebrate Christmas, a chance to both support teachers and stay connected to a profession — and a group of people — they love.

Wascisin’s work as a business educator has certainly been more involved, including stints as the president of the Washington State Business Education Association and Western Business and Information Technology Educators, jobs that encompassed travel and conference planning. Pair those responsibilities with her work with the national association and her retirement has been filled with trips to the Midwest, the South, the East and all across the West, trips she has been able to plan for both pleasure and business.

“The people I’ve met is one of the most unbelievable aspects,” she said. “I use programs and conferences to keep up with what is current out there. That is why I stay involved, so I can stay current.

It amazes me sometimes to see teachers now not as up-to-date as I am and I’m not as up-to-date as I should be. It is interesting to stay up with the new technology out there.”

Wascisin knows that having a goal in mind when she retired has helped her to create “the absolute best thing in the world” in terms of balancing her former life with her current one. “You need to have some plans in place,” she said. “I think you could be floundering, not knowing what to do. I truly enjoy being around people and seeing what they are doing.”

She said that current teachers could use more of what the retired teachers are experiencing by visiting conferences and meeting new folks all the time. “I feel really sad that schools don’t allow teachers to go to conferences anymore,” Wascisin said, referring to budget crunches. “The teachers just sit there in the school around the same people. I think you have to get new ideas and networking with people clear across the United States made me a better teacher. I think that is important.”

Email Tim Newcomb at tim@lyndentribune.com.

Eileen Wascisin, a former Lynden High School teacher, has served as president of the Washington State Business Education Association and Western Business and Information Technology Educators. — Courtesy photo

Tax time is a good time to review beneficiaries One of the most common mistakes people make is failing to update the beneficiary designations on financial contracts to coordinate with their will and other estate planning documents.

Beneficiary designations supersede bequests made in a will. Your intentions for giving your estate may be at risk if your designations are not kept up-to-date.

Life insurance and financial services companies can distribute money only to the designated beneficiaries.

Life events make it necessary to update your designations from time to time. If your beneficiary moves, you should update their address to ensure they’ll be contacted should benefits need to be paid out. Also, if you become divorced or widowed, you should review your designations and possibly update them.

Wills are created to eliminate confusion for your loved ones in your absence. Some work now will be worth it when the time comes to enact your will.

Consult a professional The laws related to inheriting assets are complex and can be confusing unless you have an experienced professional at your side. Financial professionals can help guide you through the process of updating your will. They can answer questions and provide insight on common solutions to will-related issues, and they can ensure that your wishes are granted with the way you set up your plans.

An ongoing process Many financial professionals recommend you review and update your beneficiary designations at least once a year or any time you have a life event.

Regular reviews can prevent surprises down the road. They also provide an opportunity to discuss the future with loved ones — conversations that may otherwise be avoided. Leaving a legacy for the people and causes you care for

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Workshop can give guidance through elder care choices Evening session is on Feb. 27 at community college BELLINGHAM — Looking for guidance through the options of elder care? An informational workshop on Monday, Feb. 27, can help.

Debbie Gann, Home Attendant Care director, will teach the workshop for Whatcom County senior citizens and their loved ones at Whatcom Community College from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Titled “Elder Care Options – Help When You Need It,” the class will help people navigate through the often confusing maze of care options available to the elder population and will provide information on many resources available.

Gann is a recognized expert in the field of elder care. She merges more than 20 years of professional knowledge with personal experiences (her own mother has Alzheimer’s) to provide seniors with the best information available.

Attendees will learn about alternative living situations, transportation, nutrition, medical services, and in-home care including home health and hospice. Information about how to access these services, the costs of each and the role of Medicare, Medicaid, long-term

"As the child of a senior with Alzheimer’s, I understand care options can be very confusing.”

— Debbie Gann

care insurance and other funding sources will also be shared.

“Many of us will one day need to care for ourselves or a loved one. As the child of a senior with Alzheimer’s, I understand care options can be very confusing, so I am happy to share my experiences and resources with workshop attendees,” said Gann.

Through Home Attendant Care, Gann manages a team of caregivers who serve clients throughout Northwest Washington from offices based in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

The workshop costs $19. Register by phone at 383-3200 or online at http://homeattendantcare.com/news_events.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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From the doctor:

Cataracts 101 Surgery for relief from ‘blurry vision’ one of most common in U.S. Dr. Mark Pyle for the Lynden Tribune WHATCOM — Donna is 66 years old.

She likes crocheting, artwork and watching her grandkids play sports. And Donna has cataracts.

She had been told by her eye doctor in the past that she had “baby cataracts,” but wasn’t sure what those are and if that is what was affecting her vision now. She did know that her glasses didn’t work like they used to — everything is blurry, especially at night. She had even stopped driving after dark because of the glare from headlights.

Donna is not alone. According to the National Eye Institute, over 22 million Americans over the age 40 have cataracts.

And by the age 80, over half of Americans have cataracts.

“Blurry vision at night is one of the classic symptoms of cataracts,” said Dr. Brook Walker, an optometrist at Vision Plus in Ferndale. “It is like looking through a dirty windshield, and when the light hits it just right, the glare can make it impossible to see.”

Other symptoms include blurry vision, difficulty reading, and sensitivity and glare with lights, often with halos or starbursts around lights.

This is because cataracts are a clouding of the body’s naturally clear lens. The lens sits right behind the colored iris, inside the eye, and helps focus light onto the retina. Poor focusing is usually the reason we need glasses, but what happens when

the lens isn’t clear — no glasses are able to help us see.

The exact reason we have cataracts is unknown, but it probably has a lot to do with sun exposure, diet, tobacco use and, most importantly, birthdays. Cataracts can also be caused, but more rarely, by eye trauma, radiation exposure and use of certain medications.

Donna was anxious about the surgery.

I explained what it would be like and that most likely she would not need distance glasses after the surgery because the surgeon replaces the cloudy lens with a clear plastic lens that incorporates her glasses prescription right into her eye.

There are even multifocal options that can reduce the need of glasses to almost nothing.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries in the United States.

The surgeon will usually do one eye first, taking about 10 to 15 minutes in the operating room. Surgery on the next eye comes about a month later.

Speaking of the procedure, Donna said, “It was simple and fast. It didn’t even hurt. I was just in and out … [Now] I feel good ­— I can see.”

If you think you might have cataracts, please contact your eye doctor for a dilated evaluation. Nothing in this article should be used for self-diagnosis.

Mark Pyle is an optometrist with the Vision Plus eye clinic at 1824 Front St., Lynden, 933-1815.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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People with all sorts of different medical needs are able to subscribe to the Lifeline quick-alert service.

— Courtesy photo

some other bulky carrier like some services, Lifeline utilizes a small, convenient, waterproof button device around the neck that can be taken into the shower or bathtub. It’s worn by almost 1,000 subscribers throughout Whatcom County.

“Lifeline can be used for anything from a fall to a medical emergency,” Light said. “Some people have used it if they may be concerned with a break-in.”

When a prospective subscriber contacts Lifeline, in-

PeaceHealth St. Joseph offers Lifeline service Almost 1,000 county subscribers benefit from quick response BELLINGHAM — PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center has provided Whatcom County residents with Lifeline for more than three decades, but that doesn’t mean the service hasn’t changed along the way.

Some might recognize Lifeline from its widespread TV commercials, but residents in need know it as a necessary part of their day-to-day lives.

“Basically, it’s a button that people can push 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to get help from either 911 or friends and neighbors,” said Michael Light, program coordinator.

Many Lifeline programs are operated nationally. One aspect that sets the St. Joseph program apart is its locality: the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is run directly

from an office located on the hospital’s grounds.

The active range of the local devices is also a point of pride for the St. Joseph staff. The device-to-receiver range can stretch to almost the length of a football field. That means a user can go outside a bit, maybe even out to the mailbox, and still be connected electronically.

A more recent development in the Lifeline world is the auto-alert function. When a subscriber’s Lifeline device detects a fall, it automatically makes a help call either to 911 or to the registered friends, relatives or neighbors.

“Lifeline is the only (program) that has really made that an available technology,” Light said.

Along with being simply available, the technology is also nonintrusive. Instead of using a large belt strap or

“Lifeline can be used for anything from a fall to a medical emergency.

Some people have used it if they may be concerned with a break-in.”

— Michael Light

formation is exchanged over the phone and Lifeline personnel will visit the subscriber’s home to work out the details.

“We plug a speaker box directly into a telephone line,” Light said. “The button works off that speaker box.

The phone number just dials into the response center.”

The PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Lifeline program is run through the St. Luke’s Foundation, and a grant from the foundation allows the hospital to provide the service to community members who are on a low fixed income.

For more information on the Lifeline service, call 788-6748.

Email Brent Lindquist at sports@lyndentribune.com.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | Ferndale Record

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Left: Tina Miller was recently hired as the new activities coordinator at the Lynden Community Center. Right: Center member and prominent local veteran Walt DeKraai (in hat) recently celebrated 90 years and had a public open house at the community center on Saturday, Feb. 11.

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