ISI February March 136

VOL 13 #6 • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

INFORMING • ENTERTAINING • EMPOWERING

IDAHOSENIORINDEPENDENT.COM

COVER STORY ON PAGE 20

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

ABOUT US

In February of each year, since 1917, sled dogs and their owners descend on the small community to participate in the annual Ashton Dog Derby. Spectators and participants alike enjoy dog sled races, celebrity races, junior dog sled races, weight pulls, and various other activities.

The miscellaneous activities, as well as the start and the finish of the dog sled races, take place in downtown Ashton, Idaho. Thursday, Feb. 15 through Saturday, Feb. 17. For more information, visit www. americandogderby.com

A musher and dog team compete in the American Dog Derby, the oldest, All-American dog sled race in Ashton, Idaho.

PHOTO © DENTON RUMSEY, BIGSTOCK.COM

MAILING ADDRESS PHONE WEB EMAIL

PO Box 3363 • Great Falls, MT 59403 208-318-0310 or 866-360-5683 idahoseniorindependent.com info@idahoseniorindependent.com

Published six times per year, our paper exists to serve our mature readers. We encouraged our readers to contribute interesting material. As such, any views expressed in editorial are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Likewise, this publication does not endorse any particular product or service shown in the advertisements appearing in this paper.

Contributing Writers

Robert B. Hunt, Publisher Janet Hunt.......................... Chief Financial Officer Kathleen McGregor........... Advertising Sales Sherrie Smith..................... Production Assistant Jonathan Rimmel............... General Manager Graphic Designer Webmaster Nann Parrett...................... Managing Editor Carol Blodgett.................... Advertising Sales Digital Specialist Ruth Hunt........................... Social Media Manager

Natalie Bartley Holly Endersby Laura Friedman Steve Heikkila Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop

Jack McNeel Aaron Parrett Mary Ann Reuter Jonathan Rimmel Carrie Stensrud Dianna Troyer

© 2018

All copy appearing in this publication is copyright protected and may be reprinted only with written permission of the publisher.

Contents Letters............................................ 3

Recreation...................................... 18

Fitness............................................ 38

Brain Games.................................. 4

Cover Story.................................... 20

Travel.............................................. 40

Comics............................................ 7

Western Idaho............................... 21

Photography.................................. 42

Modern Senior.............................. 8

Senior Discounts........................... 24

All About Idaho.............................. 44

Home & Lifestyle........................... 10

Money Matters.............................. 27

Answers to Brain Games..............47

Inspiration...................................... 12

Health Care.................................... 30

Fluffy Critters................................. 14

Caregiving...................................... 34

Entertainment............................... 16

Nutrition......................................... 36

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

PAGE 3

A Letter to My Big Brother

BY JEANETTE PRODGERS

Photo © logoff, Bigstock.com Sometimes we would race and crash our toy cars on the living room floor. Then there were times when you teased me, like when you brought the plastic tyrannosaurus rex into my idyllic farm setting and terrorized all of the farm animals and knocked over the buildings, which caused me to cry. You comforted me with promises of penny candy.

When you bought the motorcycle, sometimes you’d say, “Come on, Sis,” and put on that orange helmet on my head, making doubly sure the strap was fastened securely under my chin. I’d sit in front, clutching the handlebars. We’d whiz by my friends, and I was so happy to have you as my big brother.

Often we would ride into the mountains, and I held on tenaciously as we climbed.

When those narrow dirt roads became to precipitous or rutted, you’d park the bike. We walked along, where you showed me so

many fascinating things to explore: defunct mines, abandoned cabins, and flower-laden meadows.

Sometimes, you caught slimy green frogs and toads in some secluded mountain pond and brought them home to live in the backyard. Or we would set out little snacks for the chipmunks, because I wanted one for a pet.

I felt like those places we went to were our own private paradises to share together forever.

How I wish I were once again 6, and you were 13, but now I am grown, and you have been long gone; yet those memories together are eternally treasured. ISI Jennette Prodgers is a licensed clinical social worker, practicing in Dillon. She is a graduate of the UM School of Journalism.

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Brother, do you remember back in ‘64 when I was six, an you were 13? How I loved it when you’d babysit. Remember when we made a bowl of chocolate soup and set it in the fridge with hopes of it becoming fudge? Oh, what a mess we made, with chocolate splattered all over the kitchen cabinets and floor.

Our siblings chastised us and made disparaging remarks about our culinary skills.

We didn’t care because we had so much fun, and oh how good our sloppy concoction tasted.

I remember when I was six, and you were 13. I would prop my elbows on the table and watch you patiently piece together a model.

To me you were invincible. I was much too young to sense your adolescent angst gnawing within.

Even though I must have been a pest at times, I can hardly recall an instance when you’d utter a harsh word or tell me to get lost.

You’d just look at me with those dark, black eyes and give a silly grin.

Every Saturday morning you’d faithfully shuttle me on your souped-up bicycle and fly me to my catechism lessons. You went so fast, taking precarious shortcuts through grassy fields or down steep inclines, which caused me to gasp and grasp your waist tightly.

It was scary, yet thrilling. I rested complete confidence in you. As you sped across the playground after dropping me off, I’d say to my fellow classmates, “There goes my big brother.”

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

PAGE 4

Brain Games

PUZZLES•QUIZZES•GAMES•CONTESTS•BRAIN TEASERS•FUN

ANSWERS TO PUZZLE PAGE FOUND ON PAGE 47

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Any inherited or estate items. Discretion assured.

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FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Brain Games

PAGE 5

New device stops a cold

A husband and wife go to a restaurant. The waiter approaches the table to take their order.

“I’ll have your biggest, rare steak,” says the husband.

“But sir, what about the mad cow?” asks the waiter.

“Oh,” says the husband, “she’ll order for herself.”

JOKEQUOTE.COM

New research shows you can the best presents ever. This little stop a cold in its tracks if you take jewel really works.” Many users one simple step with a new device say they have completely stopped when you feel a cold coming on. getting colds.

Colds start when cold viruses People often use CopperZap for get in your nose. Viruses multiply prevention, before cold signs apfast. If you don’t stop them early, pear. Karen Gauci, who flies often they spread and cause misery. for her job, used to get colds after But scientists have found a quick way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. Researchers at labs and universities agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, just by touch.

That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians New research: Copper stops colds if used early. used copper to purify water and heal wounds. That’s crowded flights. Though skeptical, why Hippocrates used copper to she tried it several times a day on heal skin ulcers, and why Civil War travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen doctors used it to prevent infection flights and not a sniffle!” of battlefield wounds. They didn’t Businesswoman Rosaleen says know about viruses and bacteria, when people are sick around her but now we do. she uses CopperZap morning and Researchers say microbe cells night. “It saved me last holidays,” have a tiny internal electric charge she said. “The kids had colds going across the membrane surrounding round and round, but not me.” the cell. The high conductance of Some users say it also helps copper short-circuits this charge with sinuses. Attorney Donna and pops holes in the membrane. Blight had a 2-day sinus headache.

This immediately stops the mi- When her CopperZap arrived, she crobe from reproducing and de- tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. stroys it in seconds.

“My head cleared, no more headTests by the Environmental Pro- ache, no more congestion.” tection Agency (EPA) show that One man had suffered seasonal copper surfaces kill germs that sinus problem for years. It was so get on them. That way the next bad it ruined family vacations and person to touch that surface does even dinners out with friends. His not spread the germ. As a result of wife Judy bought CopperZaps for this new knowledge, some hospi- both of them. He was so skeptitals switched to copper for various cal he said, “Oh Judy, you are such “touch surfaces”, like faucets, be- a whack job!” But he finally tried drails, and doorknobs. This cut the it and, to his surprise, the copper spread of MRSA and other illness- cleared up his sinuses right away. es in those hospitals by over half, Judy and their daughter both said, and saved lives.

“It has changed our lives!”

The strong scientific evidence Some users say copper stops gave inventor Doug Cornell an nighttime stuffiness, too, if they idea. When he felt a cold coming use it just before bed. One man on he fashioned a smooth copper said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.” probe and rubbed it gently in his Some users have recently tried nose for 60 seconds. it on cold sores at the first tingle in “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The the lip, and report complete succold went away completely.” It cess in preventing ugly outbreaks. worked again every time he felt a One family reports it has worked cold coming on. He reports he has to eliminate warts as well. never had a cold since.

The handle is sculptured to fit He asked relatives and friends the hand and finely textured to to try it. They said it worked for improve contact. Tests show it them, too, every time. So he pat- kills germs on fingers to help you ented CopperZap™ and put it on stay well and not spread illness to the market. your family. Rubbing it gently on Soon hundreds of people had wounds, cuts, and abrasions can tried it and given feedback. Nearly reduce or stop infections.

100 percent said the copper stops Copper may even help stop flu their colds if used within 3 hours if used early and for several days. of the first sign. Even up to 2 days, In a lab test, scientists placed 25 if they still get the cold it is milder million live flu viruses on a Copperthan usual and they feel better.

Zap. No viruses were found alive Users wrote things like, “It soon after. stopped my cold right away,” and The EPA says the natural color “Is it supposed to work that fast?” change of copper does not reduce “What a wonderful thing,” its ability to kill germs. wrote Physician’s Assistant Julie.

CopperZap is made in the U.S. “Now I have this little magic wand, of pure copper. It carries a 90-day no more colds for me!” full money back guarantee and Pat McAllister, age 70, received costs $49.95 at CopperZap.com or one as a gift and called it “one of toll-free 1-888-411-6114. (paid advertisement)

PAGE 6

Brain Games

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

Doodle Puzzle

This month’s Doodle seek-and-find page takes you on a tour of the great state of Idaho: Cottonwood, Moscow, Horse Shoe Bend, Rathdrum, to name a few. Do you think you can find everything on the list? While you’re at it, pull out your colored pencils and start doodling, maybe it will help you find these Idaho treasures!

Thanks to all who participated in our Doodle Puzzle contest for the December/January 2017-18 issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Eleanor Richardson from Potlatch, Idaho.

A $25 cash prize is awarded from each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent to the person who finds everything on the list and submits the prettiest Doodle coloring page.

Please mail your entires for all contests to the Idaho Senior Independent, 1985 McMannamy Draw, Kalispell, MT 59901, or email to info@idahoseniorindependent.com by March 15, 2018 for this edition.

FOUND IN THE STATE OF IDAHO 1.

2.

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Cottonwood Eagle Emmett Featherville Fruitland Grandview Greenleaf Homedale Hops (Beer & Medicine)

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Horse Shoe Bend Idaho Potatoes Marsing Moscow Rathdrum Redfish Lake Snake River Star Twin Falls

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

COMICS

PAGE 7

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PAGE 8

Modern Senior

TECHNOLOGY•SCIENCE•KNOWLEDGE•COMPUTERS•MOBILE

Is That My Echo?

BY DICK WOLFSIE (Senior Wire) I’m not tech savvy, so when I received the Echo my brother-in-law Tom sent me for a gift, I was hesitant to open the box. This gadget works like the computer that Captain Kirk talked to on Star Trek. You can pose a question (Who was the 13th president?), request a song, or ask it to call someone. Your wish is her command.

The person selling these kinds of products always claims something like, “It’s so easy to use. Just plug it in.” This is never true, although I got my new desk lamp working in under an hour.

When using the Echo, you must begin your command with her name, Alexa. I learned the hard way the importance of being precise when addressing her. A few days after I thought I had mastered my new toy, I said, “Alexa, play today’s phone messages.”

When she successfully completed the task, I said, “Alexa, now play yesterday’s,” which resulted in her playing the Beatles’ 1962 hit.

Then I said, “Alexie, stop the music.” “Alexie, shut up!” “Alexie, play something else.” Nothing worked.

Finally, I ripped the plug out of the wall, realizing I would have to reset the darn thing. Unlike Paul McCartney’s, my troubles did not seem so far away. I was going to have to pester my son again to reload all the apps necessary to make the Echo work.

I was saying Alexie instead of Alexa. The lady in the cylinder is very particular about this kind of thing, like when I mistakenly call my wife Shirley instead of Mary Ellen.

Mary Ellen read an article that said if the device is plugged in, it is on and always listening to what you say anywhere in the house.

So for the last two weeks, every time I’ve mentioned our finances, vacation plans or medical conditions, my wife shushes me. This has put a crimp in our conversations, not to mention any romance I had anticipated on New Year’s Eve.

Photo © Poravute Siriphiroon, Bigstock.com

Yesterday I got in the car (this is true) and when I plugged in my smart phone, I overheard two people—two complete strangers—on their Echo, having a love squabble. I can’t tell you much about the conversation, because I only listened for 15 minutes. I called my brother-in-law for a technical explanation for what I experienced, and he nailed it: “Wow,” he said, “that is creepy.”

By the way, I think Mary Ellen is getting a bit jealous of Alexa. When I wake up, I say, “Alexa, Good Morning!” In a very cheery voice, I get a return greeting and then a brief synopsis of something that happened on the same date in history. This pithy exchange of fascinating trivia is not something my wife or I expect from each other at 8 a.m. after 35 years of marriage.

“Mary Ellen, Good Morning!” “Dick, on this day every week, they pick up the garbage. I hear the truck. Get out of bed and take our can to the curb!”

Despite all of this, my wife wants her own Echo. But being the lady she is, she told me that it will be hard to tell Alexa to “Shut up!” Well, it worked effectively on me any time I tried to talk during “Downton Abbey.” ISI

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The trouble with politicians is they suffer from the Seven Dwarves Syndrome: One out of seven is dopey. ~JOKEQUOTE.COM

(Senior Wire) When it comes to the battery strength, your smartphone “lies” to you all the time.

At first glance, the battery-level icon seems to work like a gas tank. The first gallon of gas in the tank is as powerful as the last.

The dashboard gauge shows a good estimate of how much gas remains.

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This simple metaphor works reasonably well when the battery is young.

But as a lithium-ion battery ages, the little white lies told by the battery icon become Pinocchio-sized tall tales.

For complex reasons, batteries are nothing like fuel tanks. Batteries behave more like animals. They need sleep to recharge, extreme temperatures sap their energy, and sometimes they bite you unexpectedly. As they age, several factors weigh on a battery’s ability to make it through the day.

No simple gauge can communicate all that in a glance. So phones use different methods to make a guess as to how much power remains.

The older the phone, the less accurate the guess. These “lies” are not evil-minded, they are the natural result of battery chemistry.

Given the number of factors involved, the whole approach works reasonably well. Right up until it breaks down.

Recently the iPhone battery has been the center of attention in news headlines. Most of the stories I have read miss the point.

Here are the facts you need to know: as any phone ages, its performance slowly declines.

This decline is noticeable in some cases, but not always. In my experience, phones have a solid two- to three-year life span before there CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Photo © Poravute Siriphiroon, Bigstock.com IPHONE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

is a noticeable performance degradation. My family has two iPhones that have been in daily use for over four years, and the batteries still work fine.

Apple has announced they will release an update that provides a clearer picture of the battery’s overall health. They have also begun to discount battery replacement fees on some models. Once the update is available, you should be able to make an informed choice if a replacement is right for you.

If your phone is frustratingly slow, seek help to fix it. There are many reasons why phones slow down, and most have remedies. They do not have to be a daily source of frustration.

BATTERY APPS Measuring battery health is a complex and imperfect science. A good site to explain some of the nuances you will need to know is Battery University. I have added the link in the Wander the Web section below.

A search on any app store will reveal countless battery apps, but it’s hard to tell which ones provide the info you need. The best apps keep watch over a number of charge cycles and aggregate the data. Here are two excellent choices: On Android, look for an app called AccuBattery, at accubatteryapp.com.

On iOS, the best option is a Macintosh app called Coconut Battery. The app tests iOS devices and Mac laptop batteries. To test a phone, run the app while the phone is plugged into your computer. More info can be found for it at coconut-flavour.com.

Both of these apps are helpful, but I expect given recent criticism, manufacturers will be beefing up built-in battery health reports.

PREPARING YOUR PHONE FOR RETIREMENT You need to prepare your smartphone before you give it away to someone else.

First, and most important, back everything up.

With the current state of cloud services, backup has never been easier. Learn how it works on your specific device, and turn it on.

Then before you give the phone away, double check to make sure it has backed up all your pictures and favorite apps and so on.

Step two is to erase your personal data.

Again, the specifics depend on the device, but the most basic way to accomplish this is to perform a so-called “factory reset.”

The Search for Magic, Miracles, and Meaning

BY ROBYN JUSTO (Senior Wire) About a month ago, I was mentioning to a friend that I probably spent (and wasted) way too much time on the computer.

Within a few days, my laptop crashed in the middle of a long and tedious Word document.

Being Italian and Portuguese, I still have a bit of a temper even though I think the years have mellowed me some.

My hand just might have smacked the keyboard when this happened. Mercury wasn’t in retrograde, and as I sat helplessly and watched all of my desktop icons Photo © VLADGRIN, Bigstock.com fade to black, one by one, I wondered if this had something to do with me and my energy (and perhaps my temper.) This was the third time in the last two years that something like this had happened.

Twenty-some years ago when I worked in the high tech industry, no one wanted me around their computers. Strange things happened when I would walk by. I never had any desire to even own one of my own back then, but as time went on I gave in to the temptation of technology and traded my soul for a laptop.

My computer guru told me that it could indeed be a power surge of sorts, and maybe it was indeed my energy. He’s a rare breed, a techie with a spiritual background. Whatever the case, I had to face the painful possibility that I had lost all of my data again.

I wondered if my words a few days prior had reverberated across Cyberia and my statement about wasting time was answered with a retort from an etheric elf or laptop leprechaun somewhere who nonchalantly pushed a button, grinned sardonically, and said, “There, we’ll fix that for you right now.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

MODERN SENIOR

PAGE 9

On most Android phones, go to Settings and choose Personal > Backup > Reset. From here you can backup, reset, and erase everything.

On iPhones, go to Settings and tap on your name, then choose iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. Once finished, return to the Settings app, choose General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

The final step is to remove the SIM card if it is removable.

WANDER THE WEB Here are my latest picks for browsing: Battery University—This site will teach you everything you ever needed to know about how to get the most from rechargeable batteries and when to replace them. Although any accurate discussion of batteries quickly fills up with technical jargon, Battery University does a great job of making the topic accessible.

batteryuniversity.com

How Electricity Works—The fact we depend on electricity everywhere in our daily lives is obvious. Far less obvious is how this invisible stuff performs its magic. This link explains the science behind the magic. howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm iPhone Battery and Performance—The latest technical details from Apple on their phone batteries. It explains how performance degrades as batteries age over time and, spespecifically, which functions are affected. ISI A tech enthusiast his entire life, Bob DeLaurentis is currently developing an educational software project.

When not writing, he is in the kitchen cooking up something unusual, or outside with a camera. He can be contacted at techtalk@bobdel.com.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

PAGE 10

The Great Texas Chili Project

BY STEVE HEIKKILA Texas chili is the stuff of legend. Some people refer to it as chili con carne, but in Texas, it’s just called “chili.” The “con carne” part is a given.

For that matter, the “Texas” qualifier is redundant as well. Texans proudly refuse to entertain the idea that other styles exist.

Given that chili was invented in San Antonio, it’s hard to debate them on this point.

BIRTH OF THE TEXAS CHILI PROJECT Like most Americans, I grew up eating chili. It was sort of a meaty stew made with ground beef, canned tomatoes, kidney beans, and lots of “chili powder” that came in a tin or jar from the spice section of the grocery store.

This was, I would later realize, quintessential Mid-Western-style chili.

No self-respecting Texan would recognize this hearty stew as chili.

I was married once to a vegetarian hippie gal. In that era I made vegetarian three-bean chili. It had a lot of allspice and cider vinegar in it, and it was fantastic. No self-respecting Texan would call this stuff chili, either.

I’ve sampled chili here and there over the years all over the country, and I’ve found the

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quality to vary from disgusting (that runny, greasy ground beef glop they slather on “chili dogs,” which is technically chili con carne), to mediocre (bad Tex-Mex restaurants), to absolutely sublime (made by proud chili snobs).

A few years ago, I decided I probably ought to figure out how to make it like they do in Texas.

I researched and experimented and made a lot of chili until I settled on the recipe I’m sharing with you here. Before we get to that though, let’s look into this chili stuff conceptually, culturally, and historically.

TEXAS CHILI: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISN’T An entire culture and ethos exists around chili that is in many ways similar to barbecue culture. There are rules, methods, arguments about what makes it great, and closely guarded secrets. Chili masters compete fiercely in contests for first-place bragging rights in much the same way that barbecue pit masters compete.

Conceptually, it’s a simple dish: a kind of thick stew-like concoction made from dried chili peppers (ground into a powder, or reconstituted in hot water and pureed) and beef, slow simmered until it’s melt-in-yourmouth tender. That’s chili at its essence.

Surely, it also has a few other herbs and spices (amounts and types varying recipe to recipe), probably some onion and garlic, maybe an acid (vinegar) or a sweetener (brown sugar), and perhaps (although not necessarily) even a bit of tomato product or a pinch of masa as a thickening agent. That’s pretty much it.

Of course it’s the infinite variability of these ingredients that complicates the game.

Notice that beans are conspicuously missing from the list. That’s right, hippies. No beans. This is actually a big deal, which brings to mind a favorite Texas pastime: when they aren’t remembering the Alamo, or talking about how much bigger stuff is where they live, Texans absolutely love to act horrified by the suggestion that it’s somehow acceptable to put beans in chili.

While you can get away with taking some license here and there, chili simply has no damn beans! End of discussion. It’s a specific

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rule unto itself.

And while we’re at it, you don’t eat chili over spaghetti with cheddar cheese and raw onions, like the folks do in Cincinnati (unless, of course, you’re in Cincinnati).

PHOTO BY STEVE HEIKKILA.

THE HISTORY OF CHILI Cooking with chiles, meat, and herbs was certainly not unknown to Inca, Aztec, and Mayan culture. However, the dish we know as chili con carne originates with the “chili queens” who served it food-cart style to working men in San Antonio’s Military Plaza as early as the 1860s.

Eventually, chili caught on as a popular cattle trail food, and cowboys spread the chili gospel until “chili joints” serving up a “bowl of red” popped up all over the American Southwest.

It was the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago (i.e., The World’s Fair), where Texas operated an extremely popular San Antonio Chili Stand that helped introduce chili to other parts of the U.S. Soon people were putting it on hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, omelettes, and spaghetti, substituting tomatoes for the chilies, and yes, sometimes even adding beans and elbow macaroni (chili mac). Over the course of the 20th century, chili took on all of the weird regional variations we know today.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT TEXAS CHILI RECIPES In my quest to develop a decent, authentic Texas chili recipe, I’ve noticed a few things that are…disappointing. This is the section where I probably stick my foot in my mouth and get in trouble with certain Texan chili aficionados.

Hamburger—First, I was curious to find out what cut of beef was popular in Texas chili. It could have been brisket for all Southeastern Idaho I knew (some folks Community Action Agency do use brisket). Most Helping People. Changing Lives. recipes I see, however, are made with Affordable Independent Living* sirloin or chuck roast SEICAA is accepting applications for or tri-tip roast, or St. Anthony Place Apartments** a roast I’ve never • Newer flooring, appliances & paint even heard of called • We pay your utilities a “blade” roast. But • On-site laundry here is where it gets • Pets welcome with deposit strange.

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FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT the preferences and logic of the author), I’ve noticed that a lot of chili recipes begin with ground beef. Granted, they stipulate “chili grind,“ which differentiates itself from ‘hamburger’ by being a coarser grind. Maybe this is a Texas chili faux pas, but this just seems wrong to me. I don’t care if it’s “chili grind;” you’re making hamburger soup. I’d rather have a chili with a slightly more stew-like texture. Granted, it’s more labor intensive to dice three or four pounds of beef with a knife, but I think it’s worth it.

Packaged or processed ingredients—I’ve noticed that some award winning chili recipes are made from various packets of purchased and prepared chili powders and spices mixed into a pile of hamburger meat. I’m thinking here primarily of CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) competition chilies.

While I’m sure some people who know their chili produce these concoctions, I just don’t think dumping a mixture of storebought powders into a pot is really cooking.

Where’s the mortar and pestle? Where’s the knife and cutting board? Where are the dried chilies?

I can appreciate that this is largely a complex chemistry experiment, and getting the blend and amount of packet ingredients takes a lot of patience and meticulous trial and error.

But just like the “chili grind” hamburger, this just seems wrong. I’m a “from scratch” kind

HOME & LIFESTYLE

of guy, because I think the artistry, care, and attention to detail are reflected in the quality of the end product. You can taste the love.

Cooking from scratch is what distinguishes cooking as an art form from “throwing something together for dinner.”

This being the case, I’d prefer to roast and grind my own spices when I can. And instead of chili powders, I prefer to buy whole dried chili pods, stem and seed them, re-hydrate them, and grind them into a paste. This is cooking, right?

Goya Sazón—I’ve noticed a lot of chili recipes have Goya Sazón in them, which is a seasoning bouillon cube that reputedly imparts a “Latin American” quality to foods (whatever that means). It consists mainly of MSG and also has coriander, annatto, garlic, salt, and tricalcium phosphate. It pops up in recipe after recipe.

I tried it in a batch and didn’t care for it. It adds a metallic, aftertaste to the chili.

In fact, it’s really awful. I expect that some people grew up with it, and it has a nostalgia associated with it. I recommend skipping it.

The Matter of “Dumps”—I’ve also noticed that the timing of adding certain ingredients appears to be significant, at least to the competition chili cook. All of those spice mixes and chili powders are divided into “dumps,” which are added at various stages of the cooking.

PAGE 11

I read one explanation stating that ingredients like coriander or cinnamon can burn, so add them later. That makes a certain amount of sense, I guess. But some of these dump divisions seemed like alchemy to me, like something a Shakespearean witch would find important when adding eye of newt and Wolf’s Bane to a cauldron of witches’ brew.

I did hold back the sugar and the acids until later.

In the end, I learned that “competition chili,” with its refined packaged powders and aversion to fat (not kidding) that might pool in the surface and offend a judge, just doesn’t fit my more rustic, scratch-cooking ethos. So the chili I’m sharing here reflects that ethos.

I hope you enjoy it. ISI RECIPE ON PAGE 24

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

A friend once told me that sometimes a banana was just a banana, and not everything was connected or had a deeper meaning or significance. I begged to differ.

I have spent my life enjoying the synchronicities of life and the magical and often unexpected ways that this Universe responds to our words and intent.

After my ailing laptop was inspected, there was good news. All of my data was still on my hard drive, but it would need to be replaced.

And bad news. The cost would almost be as much as getting another laptop, so I bought a new one.

In the meantime, I looked for that deeper meaning. Oddly enough, I didn’t seem to miss all of that time on the Internet. I seemed to have a lack of affect about it all. Of course, I did have an iPad and phone, but I took this as a clue and a cue to recluse myself from it all.

When I had lost all of my data, photos, and memories when my computers crashed before, it was like starting over and being forced to let go of the past and the details I deemed so important. Gone were the selfies, the precious links, the bookmarks, and the videos, not to mention a lot of my work. Oh, how attached we become.

In a way, my personal operating system had been wiped clean, just in time for a new start for the new year.

I wondered if it might be the same when we (you know) expire here. Are we like data that disappears without a trace? Is anything left on our hard drive? Are we rebooted in another form?

I’ll never stop looking for answers in the cosmic breadcrumbs of this life. As I ponder the bits, the bytes, and the bananas, I can clearly see the correlation. My friend would be scrunching up his face right about now, but I am absolutely sure that a banana is never JUST a banana. ISI

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Inspiration

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A Tale of Two Wolves

Photo ©Reflux, Bigstock.com

and thought I might enjoy. After reading it, I

BY GAIL JOKERST realized it was not one I was familiar with. But the wisdom it contained certainly resonated While sorting through some papers with me and left me feeling that it was worth recently, my husband came across the followsharing with a wider readership.

One evening, a Cherokee elder was teaching ing Native American legend that he had saved his grandson about life.

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. This battle that goes on between the two wolves is inside us all.

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dogs figuring as key players. It seems everyone from Billy Graham to Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw has been touched by the ideas in this legend. One site noted that Graham even included a variation on it in one of his books.

In his version, the story tells of an Eskimo fisherman with a black dog and a white dog.

The two dogs fight each other weekly while the fisherman accepts bets on the outcome and always manages to win. Some weeks, the black dog would triumph. On the other weeks, the white dog would be the champion.

When the fisherman was asked how he was able to sustain his winning streak with such regularity, he essentially replied: “It’s easy. I just feed the dog I want to win and starve the other dog. The one I feed always wins because it is stronger.”

In whatever language or culture it may have appeared around the world, the point of the message seems to have remained the same and has continued to be meaningful to a wide cross-section of people.

According to one internet site, the “Tale of Two Wolves” was included in a 2003 film titled, The Missing. While I have not seen the movie to confirm that, I can say with certainty that a variety of videos are available online, and they bring the parable to life. You can easily search for them on the web. ISI Gail Jokerst (www.gailjokerst.com) is a frequent contributor to Montana Senior News and its sister publication Idaho Senior Independent. She makes her home in West Glacier.

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

INSPIRATION

PAGE 13

A Puppy Love Story

BY SAM BEESON The young boy stood nervously on the stage, aware that everyone was watching him.

“Contemplate.”

“Compemplate.”

He blushed. What was he doing here?

“Contemplate.”

“Conpenplate.”

He began to hear groans and sighs from some of the other students who were all watching this nobody making a fool of himself.

“Contemplate.”

“Comtemplate.”

Dang. Almost had it that time.

The young man thought about what brought him to this point in time standing on his high school’s stage being coached during a rehearsal for the school play on how to say a word that most elementary school kids could utter.

“Conpenplate?” He just couldn’t get it.

The play’s director decided to move on and coach the young man later on how to pronounce simple words.

That young man, was me. Shy for most of my life, when I entered high school I did something that was completely unexpected and out of character, I tried out for the school play. To everyone’s surprise, especially my own, I got a part in the school’s production of “Lost Horizons.” But I had to say that word.

And I just couldn’t.

One of the other students watching this spectacle on stage was a young woman. She could say “contemplate,” and couldn’t understand why this freshman simply couldn’t manage it. No doubt, she believed that this would be his one and only play and that he would disappear into the rabble of nameless, faceless others at a large metropolitan high school.

Eventually, with patient coaching from the play’s director, I finally mastered the word, and have rarely screwed it up since.

Furthermore, the experience awakened a part of me that I never even knew existed. A love for the performing arts. I was hooked. From that point on, I spent every hour of free time in the school’s drama department, both on stage and behind the scenes. I became a card carrying member of the theater clique.

I developed a fascination with stage lighting. So I was recruited into running the lighting for various school functions, including choir concerts. One day, I was running the lights for a concert. A friend of mine was in the lighting booth with me. Boys being boys, we decided to rate the best looking girls in each row of the choir. One of the members of the choir was the same young woman, now a There was never any doubt that Jennifer casual friend, who thought I was so inept for and I would someday be married. Rarely not being able to say the word “contemplate.” was one of our names mentioned without She would routinely tease me about this and the other close behind. It was destiny, kismet, we would both laugh at my awkwardness. But or sheer chance. anyway, as we picked the girls we thought You see, we came from completely differwere cutest in each row, we got to this young ent backgrounds. In fact, we shared very little woman’s row. I didn’t pick her. in common. But we persevered. Her unique “What about Jennifer?” My friend asked. qualities and mine combining to create a I still remember the moment as if it hapcouple with a wide variety of interests and pened yesterday. I stared for a moment at her, passions. and something strange happened. I fell in This is not to say there haven’t been bumps. love, though I would not admit it for months.

We certainly had our share. But through it all “Yeah. You’re right. It’s Jennifer.” there was a common denominator. No matter Jennifer and I developed a close, platonic what life threw at us, we would see it through relationship. At one time, we were both in together, and we have. other relationships that had their typical As of this writing, we are facing our 34th teenage problems. We would confide in each year of marriage, and our 41st year as a couple. other. We would talk on the phone nearly We recognize that most childhood sweetheart every night, telling secrets, sharing stories, stories do not end like ours. But this should and making sure we both understood that we serve to show that some can. were “just friends.”

And that love can find and change an It was in my sophomore year, and her awkward boy standing on a stage. And it is junior year, that we both finally realized never too late, nor too early to find it. what our friends already knew. We became And that is something to contemplate. ISI a couple (which is a whole ‘nother story for a later time). Not only a couple, we became THE couple. The “power couple” as a friend described us.

When Jennifer was 17, her mother and step father moved out of state, but Jennifer stayed behind living with We’re your full-service moving a sister in order to specialist. From selling your home keep our relationship together. Eventually, to personal property. her sister moved out of state, and Jennifer was left with no family at all here, but she still stayed.

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Fluffy Critters PET TIPS•BREEDS•CARE•GROOMING

Photo © Javier Brosch, Bigstock.com

Hazards to Dogs Abound PROTECT YOUR PET FROM THESE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, DOG TOYS, AND HEAT

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER The last thing any dog owner wants is for their beloved family pet to experience a life-threatening emergency. Unfortunately, many dangers to dogs are things pet owners least expect. During 2016 alone, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled 180,639 calls about pets exposed to toxins. In addition, hundreds of thousands of pets are treated or die from a broad variety of preventable accidents each year. The following are a few risks to your dog and what you can do to protect Fido.

CHIP BAGS Numerous dogs and cats have suffocated to death in chip and treat bags. In many cases, pet owners or their kids have left food bags out within their dog’s reach. But in many more instances, dogs have gotten into the trash or even cupboards and accessed the bags. Make a habit of storing snack bags in upper cabinets. Better yet, empty snacks into plastic food storage containers. Then, when you dispose of chip bags, cut them down the sides just in case your dog finds its way into the trash.

TOXIC FOODS Many foods that are perfectly healthy for humans are toxic to dogs.

Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure and death in dogs.

Chocolate can be fatal to both cats and dogs. Anything sweetened with xylitol can cause hypoglycemia, liver failure, seizures, and death to pets. Salty foods can also be a problem and can cause sodium ion poisoning as well as excessive thirst and urination in pets.

HEAT EXHAUSTION Any dog can experience heat exhaustion, but certain breeds are especially prone to it. Short-snouted breeds are at increased risk because of their shortened breathing system. But even some dogs with longer muzzles are at high risk as well. Be sure to research your breed to determine how well it can tolerate heat.

Regardless of the breed, dogs should never be left outdoors without shade during warm weather, nor should they be left in cars when temperatures exceed 40 or 50 degrees outside. In the sun, cars can heat up to 30 to 40 degrees above the outdoor temperature within a brief time. Dog owners should also be careful not to overexercise their dogs and always pay close attention to their dog’s signals of distress.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy panting, a swollen tongue, the tongue hanging out the side of the dog’s mouth, excessive drooling, frequently trying to lie down, or an irregular or fast heartbeat. If your dog shows signs of heat exhaustion, it needs to cool down immediately. Try to get your dog into the shade or preferably air conditioning. You can also put your dog in a tub of cool, but not icy, water, or use the hose to cool him off. Another option is to apply an ice pack to the head, but don’t feed ice to a dog that’s overheated as this can be dangerous to your pet.

LIT CANDLES When pets are around, candles are even more dangerous than usual.

First, pets can easily knock over a lit candle and cause a fire, but dogs, with their rambunctiousness or wagging tails, can also get burned. In addition, burning candles, particularly scented ones, are bad for your pet’s health. Save candle burning for occasions when you can restrict

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FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT your pet from the room. If nothing else, place candles high enough your pet can’t reach them, but make sure the flame isn’t too close to the ceiling or the underside of another shelf.

LIGHTERS These make interesting little chew toys for dogs of all sizes.

Lighters puncture easily with just a light chomp, causing an explosion in your dog’s mouth. This can cause a serious burn and also force shrapnel to lodge in your dog’s mouth or throat. Keep lighters well out of your dog’s reach.

DANGEROUS PET TOYS Rope tug toys—There are multiple issues with rope-tug toys that make them hazardous both to pets and humans. First, playing tugof-war with dogs is known to increase their aggression. It can also damage your dog’s teeth. Of even greater concern are the strings in these toys. Dog’s are known to unravel or shred these rope toys and ingest the strings, which then get tangled around the dog’s organs.

This is a life-threatening situation that’s required many emergency surgeries and has also led to death.

Rawhide—The first problem with this leather chew toy is that rawhide is treated with chemicals that are harmful to dogs. Plus, dogs can’t digest rawhide. In addition to posing a choking hazard when dogs swallow the rawhide, countless dogs have required surgical removal of the rawhide from their stomachs or intestines.

Squeaky toys—Usually made of soft rubber or cloth, these toys are easy for dogs to chew up or rip apart. This leaves the small round

FLUFFY CRITTERS

PAGE 15

squeakers, which are the perfect size for dogs to swallow and choke on.

Tennis and other small balls—To dogs, tennis balls make great chew toys. Unfortunately, they’re easy to tear apart, posing a choking hazard. If you have a large dog, it doesn’t even have to tear the ball apart for it to be a danger. Large dogs can easily swallow tennis balls, a problem that has caused many dog fatalities.

Kong and other toys with a hole—Rubber toys or balls with a hole large enough for a dog to fit part or all of its tongue into are hazardous.

Such holes are common in Kongs and other similar dog toys that are designed to hold treats. When a dog sticks its tongue into the hole, it creates a vacuum, and the dog’s tongue gets stuck. This causes the dog’s tongue to become engorged, cutting off circulation. Many dogs have required emergency tongue amputations, and some have even died as a result. To prevent the suction from occurring, make sure there’s an additional hole on the other side of the toy large enough, so air can flow through freely.

PLAY IT SAFE This is only a partial list of the many toys that pose hazards to pets. There are no controls in the dog toy market, and most pet stores sell countless toys that are known to be unsafe. Before investing in a new toy for your dog, research the toy online to make sure it’s safe. ISI Kimberly Blaker is a lifestyle and parenting freelance writer and blogger. You can visit her blog, The Young Gma’s Guide to Parenting, at www.theyounggma.com

Bad Breath Could Be a Sign of Poor Health

PHOTO © PAUL, STOCK.ADOBE.COM

(StatePoint) If you’ve ever experienced dry mouth, you know how uncomfortable it can be. Unfortunately, your pet can get dry mouth too, and it can lead to more serious issues down the line and can also be a sign of more serious current health issues.

Dry mouth is a condition where saliva loses its protective benefits and leads to an overgrowth of odor-causing bacteria and plaque

accumulation, as well as increases the risk of periodontal disease.

While such diseases as diabetes can contribute to dry mouth in pets, the most common cause is medication. What’s more, it is believed that medications increase the risk of developing complications due to dry mouth by 40 percent.

This side effect is far-reaching. Medications for allergies, anxiety, urinary incontinence, osteo-arthritis pain, heart conditions, high blood pressure and more can all contribute to dry mouth.

While most pet parents are not aware their furry friends have dry mouth because they may still drool even with the condition, watching out for bad breath can help, as it is often a red flag that something is wrong.

Experts say that you don’t need to wait until this becomes an issue to protect your pet’s health.

“Prevention is always the best medicine,” says Pamela K. Bosco, president of Pet King Brands.

Bosco recommends using oral care products that don’t require brushing. They contain water additives, breath freshening sprays, and brushless toothpaste gels and have enzymes working to replenish what is missing in order to help restore healthy oral flora, as well as destroy odor-causing bacteria and remove plaque biofilm. The products can help prevent complications from dry mouth and will benefit any age of dog or cat, especially those on medications or those pet parents averse to brushing. ISI

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Entertainment

MUSIC•BOOKS•THEATER•DINING•ART•FILM•TELEVISION

Small Regional Wineries Are Winners

BY HOLLY ENDERSBY

most discerning wine drinkers I know. Lightly seasoned grilled shrimp or smoked oysters would make an outstanding pairing with this wine.

Finally, a Barili red I loved was their $20 Double While the big-name cellars flourish in Washington, Idaho, and Barrel Red, a blend of 50 percent cabernet sauvignon Oregon, finding smaller wineries producing great wine at reasonable and 50 percent syrah. This produces a really wonderprices is still a fun challenge. In November, I ventured to the “cork fully smooth red, not overly acidic, that would be a district” in downtown Spokane, to see if we could find some underterrific wine for people who say they don’t like reds. the-radar wines that deserve more attention.

The blend holds its own and was the first wine Barili We weren’t disappointed. produced. Many blends seem nondescript, with no BARILI CELLARS real character or memorable flavors, but that’s not Barili Cellars is a young winery, producing its first vintage in 2007. the case here.

The tasting room is small and usually staffed by one of the owners.

The Double Barrel Red is not overly sweet as I find I am a self-avowed red wine drinker, and a white has to be really many blends to be, nor is it bland. Rather, it is robust good to grab my attention. Amazingly, Barili makes two that I found enough to handle beef and venison dishes very well. outstanding, both in taste and in price.

It has its own character, and I suspect it’s because the The 2016 sauvignon blanc had wine maker has limited the blend to two outstanding a luscious aroma, reminding me grapes. of gooseberries and ripe Niagara I would serve this with a hearty winter elk stew or grapes of my childhood. This a selection of robust, red–sauced Italian dishes or a beautifully balanced white is from great big marinated beef steak for the grill. the Ancient Lakes AVA (American COLTER’S CREEK WINERY Viticulture Area, which denotes Over the border in Idaho, in the tiny town of Julietta, south of an area producing distinctive Kendrick on Hwy 12, Colter’s Creek Winery has made a name for itself. wines due to a combination of The restaurant and tasting room in Julietta feature small plates of soil and climate found nowhere exceptionally well-prepared food that complement the wines produced else) near Quincy, Wash. from grapes grown in the region.

This wine has no cloying Named for a well-thought-of member of the Lewis and Clark sweetness, but instead has a Expedition, Colter’s Creek is now in the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, a lovely, lingering taste on the designation just assigned by the U.S. Government in 2016. The wintongue that is what I would ery produced its first 300 cases in 2008 and has continued to make describe as simply mellow. excellent wine from every vintage.

It would be great with turkey, On the advice of a friend, a group of us tried the chardonnay, and chicken, a mild white fish dinner, it did not disappoint us. We had it with grilled wild salmon, and it’s or with a creamy Havarti cheese pre-dinner. At $14 a bottle, this is a white that can stand up to the distinctive flavor of salmon without a steal. being overwhelming. It has just a touch of oak, but, most important, The second white from Barili also had me changing my mind about it has a smooth, yet robust, flavor redolent of light, summer fruits, chardonnay. From the Ancient Lake AVA again, this 2016 offering was without any cloying sweetness to diminish this fine white wine. superb. It was barrel-fermented, which gave it a light touch of oak Serve this chardonnay chilled, but not cold, letting it breathe (I’m not a fan of heavy oak in a chardonnay, so, if you like that, this for several minutes before pouring, and you will be awarded wine isn’t for you) and a delicious buttery taste and smooth mouth with a wonderful glass of fruit-forward flavor. feel. It has a light bouquet, and the color is a luscious, gleaming gold.

In addition to salmon, this wine would complement quiche, goat This balanced chardonnay at $15 is something I would serve to the cheeses, and cream-sauced dishes. On hot summer days, this wine would be fabulous CALDWELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTS... all on its own. With a price around $16, this is a white that is worth every penny.

Our next Colter’s Creek wine was their 2014 syrah, another recommendation from a friend. Four of us eagerly decanted the bottle, let it tantalize us for about 20 minutes, then poured glasses to accompany smoked wild elk tenderloin.

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FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

of dark fruits, deep, red ripe plums, and just a touch of pepper lingering in the mouth. It has enough character and integrity to age well

but is not too young to open right now and enjoy with spicy Italian red sauces or aged, sharp cheeses.

It received a Gold Medal in the 2017 Savor NW Wine Competition and was called

ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 17

“outstanding” in the category of Best Rhones under $30 by Wine Press NW in 2016. We didn’t know this when we bought the bottle for just under $17, but the four of us agreed it was a stand-out wine we’d all buy again. ISI

(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay OTIS REDDING, FEBRUARY 1968

BY RANDAL HILL Sittin’ in the morning sun I’ll be sittin’ when the evening comes Otis Redding was at peace—sort of— when he began his best-known creation on a friend’s houseboat in Sausalito, Calif. On one lazy, sunny afternoon in 1967, Redding strummed his acoustic guitar and softly sang whatever lyrics drifted into his head.

He was going somewhere with a tune; he just didn’t know where.

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Were those lines meant to be ironic? At that point, Redding was really all about change. He had wowed the (overwhelmingly white) crowd at the recent Monterey Pop Festival. Aretha Franklin had taken his “Respect” to Number One on Billboard’s pop chart. He had been listening to Bob Dylan and the Beatles. He talked of starting his own record label.

Born in 1941, Redding had grown up in Macon, Ga., the home of Little Richard and James Brown, both early major influences.

Redding left school at age 15 and went on the road to sing with the Upsetters, Little Richard’s former backup group.

Later on, Redding hooked up—as lead singer—with another Macon outfit, Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers. They had scored a regional hit, called “Love Twist,” and Atlantic Records was showing interest.

In October 1962, Atlantic invited Jenkins to do some recording in Memphis. Jenkins didn’t drive, so Redding chauffeured his friend in a borrowed station wagon.

The Memphis house band that day included a future Redding collaborator, guitarist Steve Cropper. The Jenkins session never came together, but, in the studio that afternoon, Redding cut an original soul ballad called “These Arms of Mine.” It became the first of 21 hits he would record in his brief lifetime.

On October 4, 1967, Redding met with Cropper in a Memphis recording studio, to polish Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.” “We knew we finally had the song that would cross him over to the pop market,” Cropper would say later.

But only Redding and Cropper believed in the future classic. The power people behind Volt Records (Otis’s label) hated what was offered and condemned the song as being too “pop” for Redding’s hard-core fans. Where was that signature Otis Redding soul? And what was with that ad-libbed whistling of Redding’s that showed up at the end?

Three days after finishing recording “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” Redding died at age 26, when his small private plane slammed into a Wisconsin lake. He and his five-piece band, the Bar-Kays, had been heading to Madison for a club date. One band member survived the crash.

Steve Cropper ended up tinkering with Redding’s work by adding sound effects of lapping waves. The result was a fine point on what rock historian Dave Marsh once declared being “whole, fully realized and mature.”

Music fans obviously agreed; by the end of the century, “Dock” had earned a phenomenal six million spins on the radio. ISI

PAGE 18

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

Recreation

SPORTS•ACTIVITIES•FISHING•HUNTING•CAMPING

Citizen Science: Backyard Bird Count and Intermountain Bird Observatory Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, citizen-collected data helps develop an accurate picture of bird health across our nation and the world.

Birding has become one of the most popular hobbies in the U.S. In 2005, 60,616 checklists were compiled, compared with 181,343 checklists world-wide in 2017, giving a snapshot in time of 6,240 avian species.

This data helps scientists know what species need conservation efforts to keep them healthy and which ones are rebounding after habitat improvement efforts.

Participants in the GBBC are asked to give at least 15 minutes to the count, but more time is encouraged. You don’t need a backyard to join in.

Visit a wildlife refuge near you, take a walk in a park or a hike in a national forest, or simply take a walk around your neighborhood.

When the last passenger pigeon was seen in our country, citizens had no concrete way to help Get out your bird book, and identify this unusual backyard bird! BY ROGER PHILLIPS, IDFG professional ornithologists monitor bird populations. Today, with technology like apps for cell phones and events like the GBBC, citizens can help inform scientists.

An easy way to participate is to download the free e-Bird app for

BY HOLLY ENDERSBY iPhones and Androids. This app helps you keep tabs of what birds you have seen and where, and it’s handy to have all year long. You can find We see them every day. Small brown and black darts, zipping a link to the download on the GBBC website, birdcount.org. among shrubs, looking for berries or tasty insects. Or in great During the GBBC, the website posts real-time maps and charts of gray flocks, plowing the sky in giant wedges that land and graze, where other birders are reporting from and what species they see. It sheep-like, on rich, green fields. also has an “Explore a Region” link that tells you what birds to expect If we’re lucky, we hear them every day, too, rat-a-tat-tatting on to see in your area. Directions for filling out your checklists are online old growth Douglas fir or mournfully hooting in the dark nights of as well. You use a new checklist for every day and a new checklist for December, hoping to attract a mate or “cronking” as they glide like each new location, even if it’s on the same day. some modern-day pterodactyl onto ponds and streams.

Last year’s data indicated some species were arriving in their Without birds, our world would be an impoverished place. northern habitats much earlier than in years past. It was also noted And today, while some species have healthy populations, others some species are moving farther north than they ever have before or are struggling. And that’s where you come in: as a citizen scientist, appearing in places where they aren’t normally found.

February 16-19.

Scientists speculate these changes in migration patterns may be The Great the first indication of climate change requiring adaptations on the Backyard Bird Count 7736 W. Fairview Ave. part of some bird species. is in its 21st year, Boise 208-376-6981 But don’t limit your bird watching to just one weekend a year. Look and singles, couples, www.pojos.com up the Intermountain Bird Observatory on your computer’s search families, friends, FAMILY FUN CENTER Locally Family Owned & Operated Since 1974 engine, and you’ll find additional ways to be a citizen scientist. beginning birders, Join us Mondays For Jessica Pollock, research biologist at IBO, says three program and experts are all Grandparent’s Day options engage a wide variety of people, some as volunteers helping invited to participate.

Receive 2 extra Ride Tickets w/ purchase of Monday Special with research and others simply observing what activities scientists Co-sponsored by the Grandparents Ride FREE all day Grandkids eat FREE with Adult Food Purchase and volunteers are doing. Conducting research and enhancing bird National Audubon Over 43 Years of Affordable Family Fun! conservation as well as educating and engaging the community are the two guiding principles of IBO. The IBO’s popular hummingbird banding sessions, running from May through August, take place at a private residence in Idaho City.

Registration is free, but you need to register in advance by calling the IBO office. It’s a great way for visitors to Idaho, as well as residents, to learn more about these fascinating birds.

“We had over 500 people take part in or observe the hummingbird banding program last summer,” Pollock said, “which is why people need to reserve a spot.”

People can simply watch the bird banding, or, with training, they can take data or release birds from mist nets. Only biologists are • Audiology & Hearing Aids • Problem Snoring Treatment allowed to actually band a bird.

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Call for an appointment today Another program is the songbird banding, which takes place from 208.816.4573 mid-summer to mid-October along the Boise River and at a new loca330 Warner Dr • Lewiston, ID tion at the intersection of Hwy 20 and Warm Springs Avenue in Boise.

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT “Both of these places are easy to get to for anyone with mobility issues,” said Pollock.

Owl and hawk banding are two other wildly popular IBO programs. These take place on Lucky Peak, reached by a road not for the faint of heart in the foothills near Boise.

“It’s a pretty gnarly road,” agreed Pollock, “ but we have lots of people who come for the banding, so it just depends on what you are comfortable driving.”

Owl banding takes place every night from late August to late October. “It’s really an amazing experience,” Pollock said.

Raptor banding takes place daily on Lucky Peak from August 28 until the end of October.

According to Pollock, 1,500 people showed up for raptor banding last year. No reservations

RECREATION

are required.

Like so many scientific endeavors, IBO runs on grant money, meaning scientists donate a lot of their time to get the data they need to plan conservation measures.

While there is never a charge for any of these programs, donations are gratefully accepted.

I’m lucky. Our home is bordered by national forest on one side and open pasture land on the other. This means that birds that need thick timber, like Great Grey Owls, hang out in our woods while the open, dry pastureland hosts a vast array of raptors, ravens, and upland game birds, like chukar.

In the spring, migratory songbirds come through on their way to northern breeding grounds, but in February, I can count on the

PAGE 19

raptors and owls to fill my GBBC checklists.

I’ve already invited three neighbors to join me for that weekend of birding: we’re going to turn our bird-a-thon into a roving party, going from our mountain ranch down to the Salmon River. After all, the GBBC is free, it’s easy, and it’s a great way to enjoy the great outdoors! Next summer, the three of us are headed to Lucky Peak and Idaho City to take part in our continuing engagement as citizen scientists! ISI The Montana chapter of the Audubon Society is planning a family-friendly Great Backyard Bird Count event on February 18. More information is available on www. mtaudubon.org/center/upcoming-programs-events/

Try Both Nordic Track Ski Techniques

BY NATALIE BARTLEY Nordic skiing provides refreshing outdoor exercise for improving balance and strength. If you’re new to the sport, cross-country skiing on a groomed Nordic Skate skiing is fast and fun along the Nordic trails trail is a gentle way to at Grand Targhee Ski Resort in western Wyoming. try this low-impact PHOTO BY NATALIE BARTLEY aerobic workout in crisp, snow-covered settings. Nordic equipment and trail fees are less expensive than costs related to Alpine equipment and lift passes.

Nordic skiers use two different styles of skiing on groomed trails.

Classic—also known as traditional or diagonal stride—is the easier technique to learn, though efficiency develops through practice and further lessons. It resembles walking while striding and gliding in grooved, parallel tracks set along the edge of the trail. Skiers use their poles in a pattern similar to walking with hiking poles. The stabilizing grooves and familiar walking motion give beginners confidence. Experienced classic skiers avoid shuffling movements and strive for longer, gliding motions.

Skate skiing requires more balance and is an intense aerobic workout. In this technique, skate skiers travel on the wide portion of the corduroy-groomed trail, using their upper body rigorously. The leg motions resemble those for roller blading or ice skating. With their skis pointed outward in a V-shaped pattern, skate skiers lengthen their glide through practice. They push or step each leg sideways and forward from the center of the body, one ski at a time.

The “V-1” is the beginner’s most-used skate-skiing pole pattern, with three points of contact on the snow when the two poles and one ski touch the snow simultaneously, then one point of contact when the other ski lands on the snow. Beginners gain balance and endurance then add other poling patterns.

Participants new to skiing usually start with classic skiing. As they gain balance and endurance, they often progress to skate skiing. Alpine skiers and bicyclists sometimes start with skate skiing due to either their prior ski experience or their high-level of aerobic conditioning.

Eileen Thuesen, a Boise-based Alpine skier and mountain biker, took up skate skiing. “It’s warmer than downhill skiing and better for my fitness,” she said.

EQUIPMENT DIFFERENCES Both classic and skate skiing equipment are specialized. Classic skis are longer, with a section in the middle of the ski where a sticky wax or permanent texture helps the ski grip the snow when it compresses

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during each stride. Skate skis are shorter, stiffer, and waxed for gliding without gripping the snow.

Classic ski boots offer more flexion than skate ski boots, which have high ankle support and a rigid sole. Both types of ski bindings are small and attach the toe of the boots to the skis.

Ski pole lengths differ. Classic poles are shorter, to accommodate the striding technique, while skate poles are longer, so skiers maximize efficient use of abdominal and upper body muscles. Employees at Nordic centers and retail stores help skiers with correct sizing.

Preparation for Nordic skiing helps ensure an enjoyable and comfortable experience. Skiers manage body heat with layers of clothing.

Start with a wicking layer next to the body, and then add an insulating layer, and lastly, a wind-breaking layer. Special water-wicking socks keep feet dry and warm in the thin, lightweight Nordic boots. A ski hat or headband keeps ears warm. Gloves work better than mittens because gloves allow for a more controlled grip on the ski poles and for better dexterity when putting on ski equipment or fine-tuning clothing layers.

Avoid the temptation to Nordic ski in your snowmobile suit or downhill ski pants and jackets, which are bulky and overly warm for aerobic exercising. Nordic skiing is a rigorous physical workout that produces sweat, and lots of it.

New skiers are surprised when they get sun-burned during an outing. Be sure to prevent high-altitude and sun-reflected sunburn by using lip-gloss, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Bring water or an energy drink to stay hydrated.

When novices first hit the trails, they often discover a lesson from a ski instructor rapidly increases their confidence and speed. During a lesson, the instructor guides beginners quickly through the learning curve with tips and drills for efficient skiing.

Nordic centers offer regularly scheduled group lessons, private lessons, and special clinics. Lessons typically cover one to two hours.

Clinics may last a half- to full-day. Inquire about senior discounts.

Allow plenty of time in advance of the lesson to assure a smooth experience by arriving ahead of the scheduled start time. Use this time to visit the bathroom, buy a trail pass, and rent equipment. Let your instructor know of any special needs or requests. Try to relax, and enjoy the lesson.

As fresh snow accumulates this winter, get on a pair of classic or skate skis at your local Nordic Center. Your mind and body will appreciate getting outdoors and trying something new! ISI Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based author of trail guidebooks Best Easy Day Hikes Boise and Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest. She is a member of the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association, Outdoor Writers Association of America, and Professional Ski Instructors of America.

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

COVER STORY

Ron Lopez Credits His Gene Pool for His Love of Bagpipes

BY DIANNA TROYER

The City of Boise Police Pipes and Drums practices at the Boise VA Medical Center.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOISE HIGHLANDERS

Ron Lopez attributes his love of bagpipe music to his genetics.

“My father’s heritage is Spanish, but I’ve always been drawn to my grandmother’s culture. She was a Wallace, so, for me, playing a Great Highland bagpipe is in my DNA,” he said. “For some reason, I’ve always been attracted to Scottish and Irish music. It just got into my soul.”

Lopez, 77, is the oldest bagpipe player in the Boise Highlanders.

Established in 1961, the non-profit volunteer organization is the oldest and largest bagpipe band in Idaho with 35 active members, including pipers, dancers, and drummers.

Before becoming the band’s manager, Lopez served 40 years as the pipe major. “We’ve passed that job on to a talented young man who’s doing great. As far as I know, I’m the oldest active piper in Idaho,” he said.

He still plays the first set of Great Highland bagpipes he bought in 1961. “They’re old and beat up like me, but they still sound great.”

The Highlanders are invited to perform year-round at community events. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Lopez and other members form teams of four and fan out throughout the Treasure Valley to play 15-minute gigs.

“Every year, we get requests to play at 30 to 40 places,” said Lopez.

“We go to as many as possible.”

Besides for St. Patrick’s Day, the group also performs for the Treasure Valley Highland Games in September, the Trailing of the Sheep in the Wood River Valley in October, and the Robbie Burns Night in January. They also perform in parades, at concerts, and other events.

In Oregon, they are regular performers at Chief Joseph Days, Global Village, and the Athena Caledonian Games.

As a member of the City of Boise Police Pipes and Drums, Lopez performs at other community events, including Boise State University’s graduation ceremonies.

The Highlanders welcome new and beginning pipers, drummers, and dancers and teach lessons. Prior musical experience is not necessary.

“We have members from grade school to senior citizens,” said Lopez. “They range from beginners to award-winning competitors.”

Lopez’s daughter, Sara Aycock, and her 13-year-old twin sons, Davin and Meric, share his passion for their Scottish heritage.

“Sara is our tenor drummer, and Davin and Meric started taking lessons when they were 9. They joined the band this past summer.

With them and others, the future of the Highlanders looks good.” ISI

Every October, the Boise Highlanders play at the Trailing of the Sheep in the Wood River Valley. They walk into formation at a park before marching along the street.

PHOTO BY SUE WESTERGARD

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PAGE 21

Western Idaho

LOCAL PEOPLE•LOCAL STORIES•LOCAL FUN•LOCAL BUSINESSES

Idaho Tribes Making a Comeback—Duck Valley

Duck Vally Mountain Scenic PHOTO BY JACKIE MCNEEL

BY JACK MCNEEL East to west and north to south, Idaho at one time was totally indigenous territory.

Tribes didn’t own the land; owning land is not part of their belief, but they certainly hunted, fished, and harvested throughout the state. Then Lewis and Clark arrived, followed by trappers and traders, and then settlers, and the world of the native people was changed forever.

But the tribes never left, and their five Idaho reservations are widely spread through the state with three from the Lewiston area northward and two in southern and southeastern Idaho.

Recent years have seen remarkable gains with significant impacts on Idaho, both financially and with a renewed vitality for the future.

The Duck Valley Reservation is home to the Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute Tribes. The reservation is unique in that it splits in half between Idaho and Nevada. The walkway leading to tribal headquarters is on the state line, the 42nd parallel.

Despite that, and the fact the nearest town is in Nevada, it’s listed as an Idaho reservation, located due south of Mountain Home on Highway 51, and operates on Mountain Time rather than Nevada’s Pacific Time. The only significant town within the reservation is Owyhee, Nevada. From there to Mountain Home is 97 miles, and south to Elko is 98 miles.

The reservation was originally created by executive order by President Rutherford

Hayes in 1877. It was then enlarged by President Grover Cleveland in 1886 and further expanded in 1910 by President Taft. It measures about 450 square miles.

In 1869, before this reservation was created, the government marched all the Western Shoshone to Fort Hall, north of what is now Pocatello.

The Bannock War took place in 1878, lasting eight months. The Northern Paiutes are part of the Bannock Nation, and the war involved both the Paiutes and Shoshone.

Following the war, some Shoshone remained at Fort Hall, and others traveled to the Duck Valley Reservation. It was after that when President Cleveland enlarged the reservation to accommodate the Paiutes as well.

This is high desert country for the most part and unlike any of the other four Idaho reservations. The town of Owyhee is at 5,400 feet in elevation.

For comparison, Boise is at about 2,700 feet, and even McCall is just over 5,000.

The highest point on the reservation is over 7,500 feet. The combination of green valleys, rock formations, high mountain ranges, plus streams and reservoirs create a beautiful landscape.

In earlier history, the Bruneau and Owyhee Rivers were filled with salmon and steelhead returning from the ocean to spawn. Tribal

members ate an estimated average of 143 pounds of these fish annually, a major part of their diet. That ended when a dam on the Owyhee River was built in 1932, along with an irrigation project by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Salmon runs ended, but, despite that, fishing is still important for other species.

Duck Valley is also unique to the other four Idaho reservations in that tourism has not been greatly promoted. It has no casinos or hotels, only a small motel in Owyhee, unlike the other reservations. The primary industries are ranching and farming.

The biggest lure for visitors is fishing, and that attraction dates back decades. Wild Horse Reservoir was created in 1937, providing waters that could be stocked, along with Lake Billy Shaw, Mountain View Reservoir, and Sheep Creek Reservoir, which were created more recently and add to the fishing opportunities for tribal members and visitors alike.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

PAGE 22

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

WESTERN IDAHO

IDAHO TRIBES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

Mountain View is the most heavily fished and nearest to the Idaho border with easy access. Lake Billy Shaw is relatively small, some 430 acres, but quite deep. It’s stocked with Kamloops rainbows and generally produces the largest fish, many in the 14- to 18-inch size with some running upwards of 20 inches.

Camping is also available at these locations, with electrical hookups available at Mountain View. Prices for fishing and camping are modest.

Season licenses are available as are single-day licenses.

Fishing can frequently be very good, but as with every fishing location, success rates will vary. Prices for the various options can be seen online at www.shopaitribes.org/fish/fishcampinfo.html.

Anglers may want to purchase licenses prior to heading to the reservation. License vendors are located throughout the Boise Valley as well as in Twin Falls, Bruneau,and Grandview. The names of vendors are also listed at the web site above.

Hunting is another activity gaining in popularity for visitors to the reservation. Antelope has been the primary species to hunt and requires a tribal license. Chairman Ted Howard pointed out that last fall, for the first time, two permits were also issued for elk hunting.

Jinwon Seo, Director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department for the tribes, said that both elk hunters took outstanding bulls. Each measured above the score for inclusion in the Boone and Crockett Records of North American Big Game.

The Duck Valley elk permit includes a five-day guided hunt providing meals, lodging, and licenses. Permit numbers for 2018 have not yet been set.

Antelope permits and guides have been available for more than 10 years with 37 issued last fall and a similar number expected this coming year. Seo added that the success rate was 100 percent, a rate seldom matched elsewhere. The average horn length over the last two years was nearly 14 inches. Most hunters were reported to be very satisfied with their hunts and the beautiful landscape on the reservation. ISI

Duck Vally flag PHOTO BY JACK MCNEEL

Duck Vally River Scenic PHOTO BY JACK MCNEEL

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Lonnie Rudd Ranks Among Nation’s Best Auctioneers fly to Fallon, Nev., with a plane ticket they bought for me. The sale was every Tuesday, and a car would be waiting for me at the Lonnie Rudd never doubted his life’s callairport. I’d do the sale, then beat feet back to ing as an auctioneer. “I knew as young as the airport to fly home and get a little sleep first grade that was the only job for me,” said before driving up to LaGrande, Ore., the next Rudd, 59. A resident of Wilder, he is ranked day for a sale there. Then I’d come back to the among the nation’s top livestock auctioneers.

Treasure Valley sale in Caldwell. That pace will “My earliest childhood memories are make you old quick.” going to livestock sales with my dad and Since having back surgery in 2011, Rudd listening to the auctioneers,” said Rudd, who has slowed down his schedule. He works twice grew up on a ranch a week at livestock near Homedale. sales in Twin Falls “My parents had and Emmett. a small mama cow He is careful outfit, and Dad to not strain his was always lookvoice. “I’ll switch ing to expand and with another improve his herd.” auctioneer every When Rudd 30 minutes,” he was about 2, his said. “If you ever dad started taking get a head cold him to sales. and keep talking, “We’d spend you risk cracking most of the day a vocal cord, and there, then he’d that takes forever wrap me up in his to heal.”

Levi jacket with After four the horse blanket decades of auclining and lay me tioneering, Rudd on the seat behind said he is able to him,” he said. “I’d read bidders’ body fall asleep on the language in the way home, still sale barn. hearing the auc“In some tioneer’s chants in cases, I can tell my mind.” people are going After gradto bid before they uating from ORIGINAL PHOTO COURTESY LONNIE RUDD. even do,” he said. high school, “You can watch Rudd enrolled in the Western College of facial expressions and know if someone’s Auctioneering’s intense, two-week course in interested in what’s being sold.”

Billings, Mont.

With his professional skills honed, Rudd “We’d start at 6 in the morning, have a few qualified six times for the World Livestock breaks and lunch, and on some days wouldn’t Auctioneer Championship. The Livestock finish up until 1 in the morning.”

Marketing Association organizes the annual He practiced his cadence, articulation, contest to spotlight North America’s top tongue twisters, and counting in halves to 100 livestock auctioneers and to salute their role in and then in reverse. marketing livestock. Auctioneers must qualify “You have to be able to move forward for the national contest. and back with the prices to keep momentum “There are 30 auctioneers competing in going,” he said. the national finals, and I’ve made He also learned there is much more to it there six times,” said Rudd. “I’ve being an auctioneer than talking quickly. done all right but haven’t come away “If you’re talking so fast people can’t with the big cigar yet, but that’s OK. understand you, it doesn’t do any good. I I’ve met wonderful people all over never did use a lot of filler words in my chant. the country.”

I kept it to numbers. While you’re talking, you Competitors are judged on the have to be able to look over a crowd and see clarity of their auction chant, enunwho will bid.” ciation, vocal quality, appearance, After completing the course, Rudd said he and ability to catch bids. Interviews and other graduates were told they would be are also done to see if an auctioneer the ones to decide their futures. is knowledgeable about legislation “They gave us the tools then told us to go and other issues affecting the livefind work,” he said. “Back then in the late stock industry. ’70s, most of the auctioneers were older men.

“At the contests, there’ll be five Some took me under their wings, and I was grateful they mentored Dale & Nancy Coffelt me.”

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judges scattered in the crowd, watching how you conduct a sale and to see if you catch all the bids. You’re penalized if you miss a bid.

You need to have a rhythmic, appealing tone to your voice, too, and keep the pace of the sale going while getting the best price possible.”

Rudd said he does not foresee retirement in his future.

“I’m not there yet, even though this job is hard on your voice. Plus, you need to keep your eyesight sharp, too, to see what’s going on in the sale ring and the crowd.”

No matter what he sells, Rudd said he strives to get the highest price possible for the seller.

“I work hard at selling, whether it’s farm equipment, one cull cow, or 250 to 300 head of feeder cattle. I give 110 percent because there’s nothing I’d rather do,” he said. “I love this business.” ISI

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INGREDIENTS << 1 quart of water << 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil << 1 medium yellow onion, diced << 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced << 2 ounces dried New Mexico chiles << 2 ounces dried ancho chiles << 2 ounces dried chile de árbol << 4 dried habanero chiles (optional if you like it HOT!) << 4 pound chuck roast, cut into ¼-inch cubes << 1-½ teaspoons kosher salt << 1 can (8 fluid ounces) beef consommé << ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper << 1 cinnamon stick << 1 tablespoon dried coriander seed << 1 tablespoon dried cumin seed << 1 teaspoon allspice berries << 1 teaspoon brown sugar << ½ cup apple cider vinegar DIRECTIONS Bring the water to a gentle simmer in a large pot. Remove stems from the chiles. Rip them open, and shake out the seeds while they’re still dry. Add chiles to the pot of simmering water and simmer until the chiles are soft—about 5 minutes.

Transfer the chiles to a blender, reserving the liquid. Puree until smooth, adding simmering liquid as needed to make a thin paste. Puree it well, so no bits and pieces of chile skin appear in the final soup. Set aside.

Gently sauté onion in olive oil in a large, lidded pot until tender. Add garlic. Cook until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent, but be careful not to burn the garlic (about 15 minutes).

Add the pureed chiles, the beef consommé, the beef, the salt, and the ground pepper.

Simmer, covered, over low heat for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, toast the spices in a dry skillet until fragrant and just beginning to brown. Be careful not to burn them.

Grind the cumin, coriander, and allspice in a mortar and pestle. The cinnamon is difficult to grind in a mortar and pestle, so use a coffee grinder if you have one, or just simmer the whole piece of cinnamon bark in the stock.

After the first hour has passed, taste the chili, and adjust the seasoning (it may require a bit more salt). Add the remaining ingredients. Simmer gently on the stove top, covered, stirring occasionally, until the beef is very tender—about another 1-½ to 2 hours. ISI

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Money Matters

BUDGET•MEDICARE•TAXES•ESTATE•INVESTMENT•RETIREMENT

Successful Tax Cut Bill Consequences

NOW POINTING TOWARD CUTS IN SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID?

BY ALAN M. SCHLEIN

case.

These are benefits that enrollees have paid for over their working lives, through the payroll tax, and in the case of Medicare, through annual premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Seniors are entitled to the benefits they’ve paid for.

Why the growing national debt matters is also a key to understanding what Congress will try to do about entitlements.

For decades, fiscal hawks have warned about the growing size of the national debt. But talking about the need to balance the budget and actually getting the federal deficit in control are two different things. Many politicians of both parties just talk the talk and are not willing to make the severe cuts needed to actually walk the walk and get the deficit in control.

When you take out a bank loan, the interest rate you get is based on the incentive the issuers of the debt have to lend you money. That works the same with the federal deficit. All $20 trillion dollars of debt currently accrued by the federal government has interest due.

So the tax bill’s adding $1.5 trillion to the federal debt means there’s additional interest owed on those dollars. Even if the debt is never paid down, the ongoing interest that accrues impacts the country’s credit rating, directly affects lending and borrowing rates and causes economic pain for almost everyone.

CBO projects that by 2047, Social Security and the major federal health-care programs, principally Medicare and Medicaid, will consume two-thirds of all federal spending (except for interest on the national debt).

During the presidential campaign, Trump declared he would not touch Social Security, arguing that the U.S. needed to honor a deal made long ago. He suggested eliminating waste and fraud in the system might help secure its future. But most everyone involved in these issues acknowledges that just getting rid of waste and fraud won’t come close to solving the problem.

The actual issue with Social Security is one of numbers. Since it’s mostly funded by payroll taxes, interest on its reserves and If you have become disabled income tax on beneor have been denied, you fits, right now, every need a Representative. retiree is supported financially by less Why Should You Appoint than three workers. a ‘Representative?’

They will greatly improve That’s a huge shift your chances of a favorable from the 45 workers decision. An experienced representative will know per retiree when the Social Security rules and program began in regulations, and can present an argument for your disabil1935. That number

(Senior Wire) With the tax bill signed into law, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has set his sights on reforming Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and welfare in 2018. But he will have to overcome several big barriers to be successful, including reversing President Donald Trump’s repeated campaign pledge not to touch those specific federal entitlement programs for the elderly.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Ryan are also at odds over whether to tackle entitlement reform in a mid-term election year, which traditionally PHOTO ©ZIMMYTWS, BIGSTOCK.COM favors the party out of power—in this case, the Democrats. Ryan has made no secret that he expects the national debt to skyrocket, thanks in part, to the tax legislation, which lawmakers approved without a way for it to pay for itself. So Ryan wants to balance the books over the next few years by tackling Medicare and other entitlement programs.

Ryan’s ideas were greeted with some blowback from his own party.

He has since appeared to narrow his expectations after several GOP leaders on both sides of the Capitol expressed reservations about the political optics of cutting the safety net for the elderly or poor when Republican majorities in the House and Senate are on the line in the 2018 midterm elections.

The tax legislation passed without a single Democratic vote in the House and the Senate. But Republicans will need Democratic support in order to get anything controversial done this year. The reality of the narrow Republican-controlled U.S. Senate—now one vote tighter with the election of the Democrat, Doug Jones, over Roy Moore in Alabama—is that for almost anything else to pass, Republicans will need at least eight or nine Democratic votes. It takes 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.

“I don’t think,” McConnell said, “as a practical matter in the Senate, we can do entitlement reform without bipartisan agreement,” he told the Washington Post recently. “And you can fill in the blanks,” McConnell said. “I mean, it applies to entitlements in general Medicare, Social Security, welfare—they’re so doubled down on that, I’m not going to devote floor time to something that has no Democratic support.”

That won’t deter Ryan in the House, however. He seems willing to push legislation through his chamber, knowing it may never get a Senate vote. That strategy gives House Republicans a record of votes on key issues, which they can take back to the voters at home to say they tried to get things done—even if those votes don’t have any chance of becoming law.

Pushing entitlement reform has some political risks for Ryan and House Republicans. After approving a tax bill that adds $1.5 trillion to the federal deficit, is it politically smart to cite the deficit as a pretext for eroding the social safety net that poor people depend on, especially when most of the tax bill appears to preserve benefits for richer people?

Reaching an agreement on how to stabilize Medicare and other entitlements is not just a political problem for Republicans. It’s an issue for Democrats too, who want to preserve crucial investments CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 in younger generations. To do so they’ll eventually—and perhaps begrudgingly—need to impose some limits on the rising spending for programs focused on seniors.

ENTITLEMENTS, THE FEDERAL BUDGET, THE NATIONAL DEBT, AND OTHER CONFUSIONS Often, talk of entitlement reform is factInsurance Agency Advisors You Can Trust! free and appears to be a politically-loaded word salad. So it is important to be clear what For all your Life, Medicare Supplements, “entitlements” are and what that means. It and Long Term Care insurance needs. is not a dirty word. Some use it to imply that 1043 E Park Blvd. Suite 100, Boise ID Ph: 208-345-4171 | Fax: 208-345-6668 recipients of these programs’ benefits get them www.craighowardinsurance.com because they’re “entitled” to it. That’s not the

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MONEY MATTERS

TAX CUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

could shrink to two workers per retiree by 2030. So Social Security can be stabilized largely by changes within the program.

Medicare and Medicaid are more complex because they are tied to the higher levels of cost and spending on health care. For the past 40 years, health care spending has consistently grown faster than the economy. America’s population is aging, and older people use a larger amount of health care services. Not only are the baby boomers aging, but they are living longer, which means they will utilize more of the Medicare and Medicaid entitlement program benefits for longer periods of time.

Part of Medicare is funded by payroll taxes known as the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) as well as by premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. Medicaid is overseen by the federal government, but each state establishes its own eligibility standards and determines the scope of services. States also set the rate of payment for services and administer their own Medicaid programs. The federal government pays a matching rate of funds to what states spend for the plan, but that amount varies from state to state and is related to state per capita income. It’s usually 57 percent of the costs.

Realistically, you can’t reduce the costs of Medicare or Medicaid in big way unless you cut the costs of services or eliminate services altogether. So it’s important to cut through the phony language when politicians lump Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid together in a fix-them-all-together solution. The policy solutions are different.

SO NOW WHAT? So far, the Trump administration and Congress have yet to enact any policies that would directly cut Medicare or Medicaid. But President Trump did support proposals that would slow down the growth rate of the Medicaid program or end Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion.

The White House’s budget proposal would cut more than $610 billion from Medicaid by slowing the growth rate or reducing the amount Medicaid spending is increased per year. The White House argues it doesn’t consider slowing down Medicaid’s growth rate to be funding cuts. Perhaps that’s just more word salad.

Ryan has been pushing his entitlement reform ideas since he arrived on Capitol Hill in 1999. He has changed some of the details, but for the most part, his policy idea remains to convert Medicare into a “premium

support” or voucher system. That way, the federal government would no longer pay directly for seniors’ health care, as it does now. Instead, it would provide a fixed sum of money for seniors to purchase private insurance. While seniors could still buy into the existing Medicare system, under Ryan’s plan, most analysts suggest it would quickly grow unaffordable to most seniors because only those with the greatest health needs would continue under Medicare.

Ryan has made another adjustment from when he originally proposed restricting Medicare, by pushing for it to only apply to Americans that were already 56 and older with a system of vouchers for anyone 55 and under. By targeting the younger generations, his plan is more popular with older, more conservative voters as long as there’s no change in what has been promised to them.

While some Democrats want to avoid any cuts to these programs and at the same time preserve discretionary spending, that leaves increasing taxes as about the only solution.

The last time anyone made a serious effort to curb deficit spending was the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, headed by then Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., and former Clinton administration Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles created in 2010.

Their proposed deficit solution was a three-sided agreement to raise taxes, impose some constraints on retirement programs, and preserve investments in future generations.

Nearly every bipartisan effort to reduce the deficit, including several presidential commissions during the Clinton, Bush, and Obama Administrations, almost always end up with some variation of the three-sided solution. As the 2010 Simpson-Bowles commission proposed and others have as well, the only way to persuade Democrats to accept entitlement cuts is to couple them with tax increases and vice versa for Republicans.

So is it even feasible, with the GOP tax bill’s huge debt increase, that Democrats would entertain the idea of changes in entitlements without significant tax hikes? And would Republicans approve of a tax increase in an election year after just approving tax cuts? Not likely.

Instead, what is likely to happen is Ryan will shift his focus to programs that largely benefit lower-income families, like welfare and food assistance. Ironically, those hardest hit would be blue-collar white folks in Rust Belt states who are at the core of Trump’s Republican base.

It is setting up a fascinating legislative year to come. ISI Also contributing to this story were The Atlantic and Politico

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Three Reasons to Consider Refinancing Your Auto Loan (StatePoint) Most people know they can refinance their mortgage, but less than half are aware that they can also refinance their auto loan, according to a study by Harris Poll for Ally Financial.

It’s a simple task that could reduce your car payments by PHOTO BY © PATHDOC, STOCK.ADOBE.COM about $1,300 a year.

The following considerations can help you determine whether refinancing your auto loan is the right step for you.

INTEREST RATES Can you reduce your monthly costs by lowering your rate? Compare your current interest rate to those advertised. Keep in mind that there are several aspects of your financial history that may have impacted your interest rate for a loan, including credit score and credit history.

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT If your credit score has significantly increased since you financed your vehicle, it may be time to refinance to a lower interest rate.

TIGHT MONTHLY BUDGETS If you need to make some room in your budget due to changing life circumstances or simply have a desire to sock more money away into savings, refinancing your auto loan is a move that may have a substantial impact on your finances.

REDUCING THE TERM Another reason many choose to refinance is to reduce the number of payments they will have to make, with the goal of reducing the total amount of interest paid over the course of the loan. This may appeal to you if you can now afford a higher monthly payment than when you purchased your vehicle, thanks to a raise or new stream of income.

MONEY MATTERS

PAGE 29

If you choose to refinance, be sure to review your loan agreement and terms to make sure you understand your current loan.

You should also be aware of any costs that could be incurred by refinancing or changing the terms of your loan. ISI

Financial Help for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

BY JIM MILLER (Savvy Senior) Money is often an issue for the millions of U.S. grandparents who are raising their grandchildren today. To help with the day-to-day expenses are a variety of government programs and tax benefits that can make a big difference in stretching your

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budget. Here’s where to look for help.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS For starters, find out whether your family qualifies for your state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which may include cash assistance, food stamps, and free or low-cost daycare. Or, if your household income is too high to qualify as a family, ask about the “child-only grant” for just the grandchild’s support alone.

Also, find out if your state offers any additional programs, like guardianship subsidies, non-parent grants, or kinship care.

Contact your state TANF program (see ACF.HHS.gov/ofa for contact information), or call your county social services office for more information on these programs.

You also need to find out if your grandkids are eligible for Social Security, including benefits for children, survivor benefits, or SSI. You can find this out at your local Social Security office, or call 800-772-1213 or visit SSA.gov.

And finally, use BenefitsCheckUp.org, a comprehensive website that lets you search for additional financial assistance programs that you may be eligible for, such as lower energy bills, discounts on prescription medications and more.

TAX BENEFITS In addition to the financial assistance programs, there are also a number of tax benefits that may help you, too, like the Dependency Exemption, which allows you

to deduct $4,050 in 2107 on each qualifying grandchild.

There’s also the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC, which is available to those with moderate to low incomes, or the Child Tax Credit if you make too much money to qualify for the EITC. If you’re working, and are incurring childcare expenses in order to work, there’s a Child and Dependent Care Credit that can help. And, if you choose to legally adopt your grandkids, there’s an Adoption Credit that provides a federal tax credit of up to $13,570.

There are even education-related tax credits that can help your grandkids go to college, like the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit.

To learn more about these tax benefits, call the IRS at 800-829-1040, or visit IRS. gov. You can also call the IRS publication line at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you the publications that further explain the aforementioned benefits. Ask for publications 501, 503, 596, 970, 972.

HEALTH INSURANCE If your grandkids need health insurance, depending on your income level, you may be able to get free or low-cost health insurance through your state’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. See InsureKidsNow.gov or call 877-543-7669 for more information.

LEGAL AID You also need to talk to a family law attorney to discuss the pros and cons of obtaining legal guardianship, custody, or adoption.

Without some sort of legal custody, you may not be eligible for many of the previously listed financial assistance programs, and there can be problems with basic things like enrolling your grandkids in school, or giving a doctor permission to treat them.

For help locating affordable or free legal assistance, visit www.FindLegalHelp.org, or call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 for referrals.

For more information and resources, see the Grandfamilies State Law and Policy Resource Center at GrandFamilies.org. ISI

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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Health Care

MEDICINE•PREVENTION•DIAGNOSIS•TREATMENT

Recognizing and Treating Depression in Retirement

BY JIM MILLER (Savvy Senior) Depression is unfortunately a widespread problem among older Americans, affecting approximately 15 percent of the 65-and-older population. Here’s

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GET HELP If you find someone is suffering from depressive symptoms, that person needs to see a doctor for a medical evaluation, to rule out possible medical causes. Some medications, for example, can produce side effects that mimic depressive symptoms—pain and sleeping meds are common culprits.

It’s also important to distinguish between depression and dementia, which can share some of the same symptoms.

If a person is diagnosed with depression, a variety of treatment options are available, including talk therapy, antidepressant medications, or a combination of both.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective type of talk therapy, which helps patients recognize and change destructive thinking patterns that lead to negative feelings.

For help finding a therapist who’s trained in CBT, ask your doctor for a referral, check your local yellow pages under “counseling” or “psychologists,” or check with the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (FindCBT.org), or the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (AcademyofCT.org).

To search for therapists who accept Medicare, use Medicare’s Physician Compare tool. Go to Medicare.gov/physiciancompare and type in your zip code, or city and state, then type in the type of profession you want to locate, like “psychiatry” or “clinical psychologist” in the “What are you searching for?” box.

MEDICARE COVERAGE You’ll be happy to know that original Medicare currently covers 100 percent for annual depression screenings occurring in a doctor’s office or other primary care clinic.

Medicare also pays 80 percent of its approved amount for outpatient mental health services, like counseling and therapy services, and will cover almost all medications used to treat depression under the Part D prescription drug benefit.

If a couple gets Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, the private company must cover the same services as original Medicare, but will likely require individuals to see an in-network provider.

Contact your plan directly for the details. ISI Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

HEALTHCARE

PAGE 31

Atrial Fibrillation: Take Your Fluttering Heart Beat Seriously

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER When we think of heart conditions, we often associate them with older people. Although aging does increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), and it’s found more often in those over 60, it can affect people of all ages, including children.

This serious condition, which affects 2 million Americans, increases the risk of health complications,including heart attack and stroke.

WHAT IS AFIB AND ITS CAUSES? AFib makes the heart beat rapidly and irregularly— commonly felt like a fluttering of the heart.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two upper Photo © alexaldo, Bigstock chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly—out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart.”

Atrial fibrillation, also known as arrhythmia, though a serious condition, is not deadly in and of itself. Rather, the reason this condition is serious is that it increases the risk of heart failure or can be caused by serious underlying health problems, such as heart disease, previous heart surgery, sleep apnea, lung disease, infection, or an overactive thyroid. Other causes include caffeine, heavy alcohol use, street drugs, and certain medications. It can also be genetic.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED? The most common symptom of AFib is a fluttering heartbeat or palpitations. But other symptoms sometimes also accompany the condition, such as fatigue, dizziness, thumping in the chest, anxiety, shortness of breath, feeling faint or confused, sweating, chest pain, or pressure.

In the event of chest pain or pressure, treat it as a medical emergency, since it could indicate a heart attack.

Diagnosis of AFib is painless and relatively simple. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and an electrocardiogram.

A patient-activated cardiac event recorder might also be used to help with the diagnosis.

TYPES OF AFIB AND TREATMENT There are four types of AFib, although one form can progress into another.

Paroxysmal AFib is intermittent. It can last for merely a few seconds or for up to a week. Symptoms can range from none to severe. Either way, it goes away on its own within a week or less.

Persistent AFib doesn’t go away on its own. Instead, it lasts until it’s treated, either with

medication or electric shock. For those at high risk for stroke or another known cause of the AFib, physicians will treat the source of the irregular heartbeat as well.

Longstanding persistent AFib doesn’t respond to the above typical treatments. Therefore, several forms of minimally invasive catheter ablation are considered. For this procedure, you’ll be given something to relax you and a local anesthetic to numb the groin or neck area where the catheter will be inserted to complete the procedure.

Finally, permanent AFib results when longstanding persistent AFib is unresponsive to treatment. When treatment has been ineffective, your doctor might decide it’s time to discontinue the treatment.

Unfortunately, this form of AFib is associated with increased risk of a heart attack and can also impact the quality of your life.

Regardless of the form of AFib, take the condition seriously. If you experience symptoms, do seek medical attention without delay. ISI Kimberly Blaker, of Michigan, is a lifestyle and parenting freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in more than 250 newspapers, parenting and women’s magazines, and other publications throughout the U.S. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Facebook.

PAGE 32

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

HEALTHCARE

Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body TIPS FROM THE LATEST ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH

INFORMATION FROM THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION For centuries, we’ve known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science is able to provide insights into how to optimize our physical and cognitive health as we age. Research in the areas of exercise, diet and nutrition, cognitive activity, and social engagement reveals the importance of adopting these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

Currently, no proven methods exist to prevent, cure, or even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Although there have not yet been any conclusive findings, researchers continue to discover links between healthy behaviors and a reduced risk of dementia.

At any age, we can adopt lifestyle habits to help maintain or even potentially improve our health. These habits may also help to keep our brains healthy as we age and possibly delay the onset of cognitive decline.

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Physical exercise can help maintain good blood flow to the brain and encourage the formation of new brain cells.

Recent studies have revealed that regular, moderate exercise among individuals in their 50s and 60s may help protect them against mild cognitive impairment, a condition of mild declines in brain function that may precede Alzheimer’s. Studies also show that unhealthy weight gain or weight loss may play a role in brain health. Obesity in middle age may increase one’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

Another area of focus for healthy aging is diet and nutrition. Again, we know that a healthy fueling of the body benefits brain functioning, but there are many differing opinions about what is the best way to eat to maximize health.

Research tends to show that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet is advisable. And there is growing evidence that a diet rich in dark vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, may help protect brain cells.

Cognitive activity and social engagement is another important area of emphasis for healthy aging. Social and mentally stimulating activities can reduce stress levels, which helps maintain healthy connections among brain cells and may even create new nerve cells.

Scientists are working hard to discover strategies for prevention, treatments, or cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Although there are no proven methods yet, making healthy lifestyle choices can improve overall health—staying physically active, eating healthy, remaining socially and mentally active, and avoiding smoking. ISI The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s®.

Visit www.alz.org or call 800-272-3900 for more info.

The Power of Prayer

Little Jimmy was shouting out a prayer for his birthday. “Please God, all I want for my birthday is a new X-Box. Thank you.”

His mom walked in and said, “Jimmy, why all the

shouting? God isn’t deaf.”

“I know,” said Jimmy. “But Grandpa is.” JokeQuote.com

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FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

HEALTHCARE

PAGE 33

®

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

FACTS & FIGURES 2017 2017 Costs of Alzheimer's = $259 Billion Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in America, with costs soaring past a quarter of a trillion dollars.

Medicaid $44B

• In 2017, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer’s totaled an estimated $259 billion.

Medicare $131B

• Average per-person Medicare spending for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is more than three times higher than average per-person speading across all other seniors.

Medicaid payments are 23 times higher.

Out-ofPocket $56B Other $28B

• Unless something is done, in 2050, Alzheimer’s will cost $1.1 trillion (in 2017 dollars).

• Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer’s. In 2050, it will be more than one in every three dollars.

Change in Number of Deaths 2000–2014

MARCH 2017

-1%

-9%

-14%

Stroke

HIV Alzheimer’s Disease

• Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 89 percent from 2000 to 2014, while deaths from other major diseases (incluidng heart disease, stroke, breast, and prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS) decreased.

Heart Disease

• Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and the 5th leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older.

Prostate Cancer

Alzheimer’s kills—and deaths have nearly doubled in the last 14 years.

Breast Cancer

89%

-21%

-54%

alz.org®

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

PAGE 34

Caregiving

SUPPORT•INSIGHT•COMFORT•SERVICE•ENCOURAGEMENT

How Hospice May Be Too “Sick” to Care For You

records, Kaiser Health News reporters found

BY ALAN M. SCHLEIN many cases where hospice care—whether in the home or at a facility—was troubling, and even tragic, in some situations. Despite (Senior Wire) People turn to hospice care this, the hospice agencies have faced almost when they or a family member get a terminal diagnosis and need a way to provide shortno scrutiny and even fewer consequences for its failures. term, pain-free final few days or weeks before Let’s be clear. The investigation doesn’t death. But if you think hospices are truly safe, condemn the entire hospice industry, which is a new investigation reveals some contrary now costing Medicare about $16 billion a year. findings.

Hospice, which can be provided in your own Agencies receive that money to send nurses, social workers, and aides to care for patients home or in a facility, is offered by more than wherever they live. While the vast majority of 4,000 hospice agencies around the U.S., which hospice care is covered by Medicare, some is pledge to be on call around-the-clock to tend paid for by private insurance, Medicaid, and to a dying person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. It is a booming industry that the Veterans Administration.

Most people are very pleased with the hosserved about 1.4 million Medicare patients pice care they or their families are provided. A in the U.S. in 2015, including over a third of Americans who died that year, according to 2016 survey of more than 2,100 hospices found the latest government and industry figures. that 80 percent of folks surveyed rated their family’s hospice experience a 9 or 10 out of 10.

By using government databases and state Nearly half of hospice patients receive care at home. But an analysis of 20,000 government inspection records highlight many disturbing situations, showing that missed visits and neglect are common for patients dying at home. Families or caregivers, stunned and angered by substandard care, have filed more than 3,200 complaints over the past five years. This has led government inspectors to uncover problems in 759 hospices, with more than half cited for missing visits or other services they had promised to provide at the end of life, KHN found.

Most disturbing is that in most cases there were few consequences for the profitable hospices, but severe consequences for the patients and their families. The hospice care that people expect and sign up for someThis facility is a Joint Commission accredited agency. times disappears when they need it most, the investigation found. Calls for help in times of crisis have been met with delays, Gooding • 208-934-4842 no-shows, and unanswered calls.

Meridian • 208-887-6633 There was the 31-year-old California woman whose boyfriend tried for 10 hours to Twin Falls • 208-734-4061 reach her hospice providers as she gurgled and turned blue. Or the panicked caregiver in New York who called repeatedly for midToll Free • 800-540-4061 dle-of-the-night assistance from confused ® hospice workers who were unaware of who LHCgroup.com It’s All About Helping People. was on duty.

In Michigan, a dementia patient moaned and thrashed at home in a broken hospital bed, enduring long waits for pain relief in the last 11 days of life, prompting the patient’s caregiver to call nurses and ask, “What am I gonna do?

No one is coming to help me. I was promised help at the end.”

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subject to oversight by federal Medicare officials and private accreditation groups. To get paid a daily fee by Medicare, hospice agencies face many requirements. They must lay out a

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plan of care for each patient, ensuring they’ll treat all symptoms of the person’s terminal illness. And they’re required to be on call 24/7 to keep patients comfortable, but because each patient is different, no mandate spells out how often staff must show up at the home, except for a bi-monthly supervisory visit.

Hospices must stipulate in each patient’s care plan what services will be provided, when and by whom, and update that plan every 15 days. When it works well, hospice provides a well-coordinated, interdisciplinary team that eases patients’ pain and worry, tending to the whole family’s concerns. A 2005 Medicare study of patients in their last six months of life found that 86 percent of Americans say they want to die at home, and hospice makes that increasingly possible.

But when hospice fails, federal records and the KHN interviews show, it leaves patients and families horrified to find themselves facing death alone, abandoned, even as agencies continue to collect taxpayer money for their care.

Take the disturbing but probably common case of Leo Fuerstenberg, 63, a retired Veterans Affairs counselor from St. Stephens, Minn., who died panicked and gasping for air on Feb. 22, 2016, with no pain medication, according to his wife, Laure Fuerstenberg.

She told KHN that a shipment sent from Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice included an oxygen tank, a box of eye drops, and nose drops, but no painkillers. “They were prescription drugs, but it didn’t say what they were or how to give them,” she recalled. “I just panicked. I called the hospice, and I said, We’re in trouble. I need help right away. I waited and waited. They never called back.”

For more than two hours, she tried desperately to comfort her husband, who had an aggressive form of amyloidosis, a rare disease that affects the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system, and digestive tract, and can lead to life-threatening organ failure. There is no cure for amyloidosis.

Leo Fuerstenberg died in bed in Laure’s arms, trapping her under the weight of his body until she managed to call neighbors for help. “That last part of it was really horrible,” she said. “The one thing I promised him is that he wouldn’t be in pain.”

FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT Laure, a school counselor, was one of the rare people who actually filed a complaint.

Later state investigators determined that Heartlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on-duty hospice nurse had muted her cellphone.

Hospice officials did not respond to KHNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s repeated interview requests. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They never followed their protocol, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never had anybody from there say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We failed, we were wrong,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? said Fuerstenberg, who said she relives her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death daily. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If that had been me on my job, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be fired.â&#x20AC;?

Experts say it is very rare for anyone to file a complaint, but about 1,000 people filed one, leading investigators to uncover wrongdoing from January 2012 to February 2017, federal records show. Many more families, experts say, may be too traumatized to take further action.

A recent national survey of families of hospice patients suggests the problem is widespread: 1 in 5 respondents said their hospice agency did not always show up when they needed help. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a failing grade,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Joan Teno, a researcher at the University of Washington in Seattle, who has studied hospice quality for 20 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to do better.â&#x20AC;?

Another problem is that many hospices fail to provide extra care in times of crisis.

That may be because of how Medicare pays them. To get Medicare payments, hospices are required to offer four levels of care: routine care, which is by far the most common; respite care, to give family caregivers a break for short time periods; and two levels of so-called crisis care, continuous care and general inpatient care, when patients suffer acutely.

But 21 percent of hospices, which together served over 84,000 patients, failed to provide either form of crisis care in 2015, according to Medicareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own study. While thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no guarantee that a given patient will need crisis care, not offering any such care for an entire year raises a concern about â&#x20AC;&#x153;whether theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re providing adequate symptom control,â&#x20AC;? Teno said.

Other research has found another big problem is a wide variation on how hospice staff visit people when death is imminent. A patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final two days of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;when systems escalateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is often a scary time for families and a time when they need professional help.

But regardless of how often they visit, hospices collect the same flat daily rate from

Medicare for each patient receiving routine care: $191 for the first 60 days and then $150 thereafter, with geographic adjustments as well as extra payments in a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last week of life.

Overall, Teno and her co-authors, in a 2016 study on the medical care of a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last two days of life, published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that 12.3 percent of patients on routine home care received no skilled visits in the last two days of life.

Patients who died on a Sunday had the worst luckâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they were more than three times less likely to have a skilled visit than those who died on a Tuesday. Teno said that gives her a strong suspicion that missed visits stem from chronic understaffing, since hospices have fewer staff on weekends.

Part of the problem is that, unlike nursing homes, hospices donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t face inspections every year to maintain certification. Medicare recently tightened its rules to require states to increase inspection frequency to once every three years by 2018. That means that promising to do better is the only requirement hospices face, even when regulators uncover problems.

Another issue is that there is really no punishment short of termination barring the hospice from receiving payment from Medicare or Medicaid, which is disruptive for dying patients who lose service.

Termination is rare. Through routine inspection,s as well as those prompted by complaints, CMS identified deficiencies in more than half of 4,453 hospices from 2012 to 2017, but only 17 hospices were terminated during that same period, according to their records.

In a 2016 survey, experts who follow the hospice industry recommended that CMS create a range of different levels of punishment for hospice infractions, such as requiring in-service training, denying payments, civil fines, and imposing temporary management.

While CMS actually canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t impose those alternative sanctions without changes in the law, it did increase transparency in August by launching a consumer-focused website called Hospice Compare (https://www.medicare. gov/hospicecompare/) that now includes hospicesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; self-reported performance on quality measure, and next year will include family ratings of hospices.

Until that happens, little information is available for families to try to pick a

CAREGIVING

PAGE 35

hospice that will show up when it counts.

Amy Tucci, president and chief executive of the Hospice Foundation of America, a nonprofit focused on education about death, dying, and grief, suggests that families of ill or frail relatives consider hospice options before a crisis occurs. Her group recommends 16 questions families should ask before choosing a hospice. The list, originally published by the American Hospice Foundation, is located at www.hospicefoundation.org/ End-of-Life-Support-and-Resources/ Coping-with-terminal-illness/how-tochoose/questions-to-ask -ISI Also contributing to this story was KHN, Kaiser Health News.

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PAGE 36

Nutrition

FOOD•HOLISTIC•WELLNESS•LONGEVITY•PREVENTION

Twelve Powerhouse Veggies to Easily Incorporate into Your Diet

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER

The good news is, Thanksgiving isn’t the only time of year you can eat them. Sweet potatoes make yummy French fries, which can even be baked rather than fried. Just look for one of oodles of baked We know how vital veggies are to our health, whether we like vegsweet potato fry recipes out there. etables or not. But not all vegetables are created equal. Each vegetable PEAS comes with its unique combination of nutrients and benefits—some, These contain a long list of nutrients. Of particular note, peas are in particular, are a powerhouse source of nutrition. very high in vitamins B1, C, and K, manganese, copper, phosphorus, If you’re not a fan of vegetables, it’s all the more reason to try a and folate. broad variety. There’s bound to Fortunately, peas are one be a couple of veggies you’ll dig vegetable most kids and adults if the vegetables are prepared just will eat. Add peas to a variety the right way. If those vegetables of soups, stews, and cassehappen to be some of these allroles. Another tasty option is stars, it’s all the better. to add them to macaroni and BUTTERNUT SQUASH cheese.

This winter squash is loaded BELL PEPPERS with vitamin A, in fact, four times Red, orange, yellow, or the recommended daily allowance green, bell peppers are nutri(RDA). It also contains double the tious whatever the color. All RDA of vitamin C and packs more are high in vitamin C, with red potassium than a banana. bell peppers containing 169 To become a butternut squash percent of the RDA. Also, bell fan, first, cut it in half, and peppers are high in vitamin A remove all the seeds. Then fill a and carry a good dose of other glass baking dish about 3/4” high nutrients as well. with water, and place the pieces of squash with the skin facing up.

Do you live by the motto This dark green leaf packs a whopping 684 percent of the RDA of vitamin K and well “everything tastes better with Bake at 400 degrees for one hour. over the RDA of both vitamins A and B6. Kale makes a great addition to smoothies. ranch?” If so, try bell pepper Allow the squash to cool enough PHOTO © MARILYNA, BIGSTOCK.COM slices for dipping. They also to handle it, then scoop all the go great on pizza and sautéed to top hot sandwiches. squash out of the peel, and top it with butter. If that doesn’t suffice, BRUSSELS SPROUTS try adding a touch of Vitamins K and C are what Brussels sprouts are particularly brown sugar. noted for. But this veggie carries numerous other nutrients in decent KALE amounts as well.

This dark green Still, what some of you may be wondering is how you’ll acquire a leaf packs a whoptaste for Brussels sprouts. If you’re not a big vegetable eater, it may ping 684 percent of be a challenge. But try what one mom did, Monica Kass Rogers, as she the RDA of vitamin When you want simple, inexpensive services... revealed in her article, “How I Got My Kid to Eat Brussels Sprouts.”

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Folic acid is what asparagus is especially noted for because it to the lettuce. If you’re contains 60 percent of the RDA. But asparagus also contains a healthy not a salad eater, kale Name: amount of vitamins K and C, as well as several other essential nutrients. makes a great addiAddress: Grilled asparagus is a tasty side. Before grilling, brush them lightly tion to smoothies.

City: State: Zip: with olive oil then add salt and pepper. Place the spears on the grill SWEET POTATOES Phone: Email: for 10 minutes, turn them, then give them a few more minutes until Vitamins A, B5 they’re lightly blackened. and B6, riboflavin, www.cremationsociety-idaho.com SPINACH thiamin, niacin, and Now here’s an RDA that’s impressive. Spinach contains 987 percarotenoids are the nutritional makeup of sweet potatoes.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT PAID ADVERTISEMENT cent of the RDA of vitamin K. Spinach is also an excellent source of vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper, and several other nutrients.

You can add spinach to both smoothies and pizza. Spinach quiche ® and spinach pie are also dishes many people love.

Gainesville, FL –If you’re one of the millions of but, other positive effects showed weight loss and BROCCOLI Americans that have been diagnosed with high improved bowel functions, which can help reduce Here’s another vegetable that’s a rich source of vitamin K, packing cholesterol, “Natural” help is now available from the chances of many forms of cancer. ® 245 percent of the RDA. Broccoli also exceeds the RDA for vitamin C the creator of Gatorade ! The highly regarded late Dr. Richard Goldfarb, MD, FACS, the Medical Dr. Robert J. Cade, while at the University of and is an excellent Director for Go Epic Health, Inc. states Florida, did extensive clinical trials utilizing a “CholesterAde is a natural alternative to statins source of chromium, special formula he developed containing soluble and other drugs that can create many types of fiber (Acacia Gum). folate, and fiber. health problems.”

Mix broccoli into This formula, “CholesterAde,” proved to lower For the first time Dr. Cade’s original delicious cholesterol in the human blood by over 17% most any cheesy tasting formula, “CholesterAde,” is now available during an 8-week period. Not only is this special at the retailer below. Call 1-877-581-1502, or go dish, and it’s easy to soluble fiber proven to lower cholesterol naturally to www.drinkcholesterade.com. gobble it up. Broccoli cheese soup, brocStokes Market coli smothered in 1310 Pomerelle Avenue, Burley | 208-878-7455 cheese, and other

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FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT cheesy pasta dishes with broccoli added are good options.

AVOCADO Although not a powerhouse of any particular vitamin or mineral, avocado still carries an adequate amount. What’s particularly notable about avocado is it’s an excellent source of healthy fats and can be used to replace unhealthy fats.

Guacamole is an all-time favorite. It’s also good mixed with egg salad or a tossed salad.

PUMPKIN (CANNED) This is an outstanding source of vitamin A, containing 2 ½ times the RDA, not to mention a fair amount of a host of other vitamins and minerals.

Numerous desserts can be made from pumpkin. So the next time you’re in the mood to bake, make something with a little added nutritional value. Try making pumpkin pie, bread, cookies, or cheesecake.

NUTRITION

PAGE 37

SCALLIONS Also known as spring onions, these pack 172 percent of the RDA of vitamin K. They’re also known for their antioxidants and are a good source of vitamin A. Scallions can be grilled just like asparagus.

Brush them with oil, add salt and pepper, then toss them on the grill until they’re lightly browned. If that doesn’t work for you, try wrapping them in bacon. ISI

Five Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

BY SUZY COHEN (Senior Wire) While waiting for a prescription, a friend of mine decided to check his blood pressure. He was dealing with a bout of walking pneumonia, and his blood pressure (BP) spiked to 140/100.

Has this ever happened to you, where you checked your BP at the pharmacy, and it was suddenly high?

You can blame stress, the modern diet, lack of exercise, or a bad infection like my buddy had. You can blame other lifestyle factors, too, like smoking. Or it could simply be your genes as high blood pressure, termed hypertension, tends to run in families. If left untreated, hypertension can cause or lead to blindness, stroke, kidney failure, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.

Now, the good news. Here are 5 natural remedies proven to really (really) work!

HIBISCUS TEA Hibiscus tea is a wonderful remedy for high blood pressure. It’s been used to lower blood pressure in other countries for decades, and it really works. In one study, researchers found that drinking hibiscus tea for just 12 days reduced systolic pressure by an average 11.7 percent and diastolic pressure by 10.7 percent. You can buy commercially prepared teabags, or you can easily make your own fresh hibiscus tea each morning. It’s fabulous for memory, in fact. If you email my customer service team (customerservice@suzycohen. com) I’ll send you the recipe card by email for “Memory Mint Hibiscus Tea.” MAGNESIUM THREONATE Some forms of vitamins are better for certain conditions. With hypertension, look for the mineral magnesium threonate because this form of magnesium leaves “the tube,” meaning it leaves your gut. This type of magnesium can get into the bloodstream and get across your blood-brain barrier, is easily absorbed by the cells, and has been proven to lower blood pressure and be stroke-preventative as well. Magnesium threonate is also

Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which dilate blood vessels and reduce pressure. A tasty combo comes to mind. Try chocolate-covered blueberries, or dark-chocolate dipped strawberries.

PHOTO © DEHOOKS, BIGSTOCK.COM

great for helping promote good, healthy sleep and relaxation.

GARLIC Garlic cloves and garlic supplements have been proven to lower blood pressure. Garlic is an allium vegetable that is rich in antioxidants, good-for-you phytochemical and polyphenols, and sulfur-containing compounds called allicin (which are wonderful for collagen promotion, too). Garlic is especially effective at lowering systolic blood pressure.

OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish and some plant foods like nuts, seeds, and cruciferous vegetables. Fish oil is wonderful for lowering high blood pressure, because it contains EPA and DHA, two wonderful compounds for lowering blood pressure and for keeping your heart healthy overall. Fish oils help reduce triglycerides, and that reduces risk for heart attack and stroke.

BERRIES AND DARK CHOCOLATE I saved the best for last. Berries and dark chocolate… Mmm! This sounds like a

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wonder-combo you can get on board with, right? Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, goji, and acai are rich in compounds called polyphenols which are blood-pressure lowering. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which dilate blood vessels and reduce pressure.

A tasty combo comes to mind. Try chocolate-covered blueberries, or dark-chocolate dipped strawberries. ISI

w.indd 1

PAGE 38

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

NUTRITION

Fitness

STRENGTH•EXERCISE•MOVEMENT•FLEXIBILITY•MOBILITY

Don’t Eat This if You’re Taking That Coumadin, Jantoven, or the generic warfarin, you should limit kale

BY JIM MILLER and other greens, including broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and brussels sprouts that contain vitamin K. These foods can block the effects of (Savvy Senior) If the prescription label says “take with meals,” these blood-thinning medications, putting you at risk for developing blood clots. You also need to does it matter what you eat? It depends on the medication. Many meds should watch out for garlic, ginger, vitamin be taken with food—any food—to E, and fish oil supplements because they can increase these medications increase their absorption and reduce the risk of side effects. But some foods blood-thinning abilities, putting you at risk for excessive bleeding. and medications can interact, reducing the medications’ effectiveness or ANTIDEPRESSANTS increasing the risk of harmful side If you take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant like effects.

To stay safe, you should always talk Marplan, Nardil, Emsam, Parnate, or generic isocarboxazid, phenelzine, to your doctor or pharmacist to learn the ins and outs of your prescriptions, selegiline or tranylcypromine, avoid aged cheeses, chocolate, cured meats, along with what foods and beverages to and alcoholic drinks. These contain avoid while you’re on it. In the meanMany medications should be taken with food—any food—to increase their absorption and time, here are some foods you should reduce the risk of side effects. But some foods and medications can interact, reducing the tyramine, which can raise blood stay away from for some commonly medications’ effectiveness or increasing the risk of harmful side effects. PHOTO © TIBOR13, pressure. Normally, the body controls BIGSTOCK.COM tyramine levels with an enzyme called prescribed drugs. monoamine oxidase, but the MAOI antidepressant blocks that enzyme.

CHOLESTEROL MEDICATIONS If you take a certain statin drug to control high cholesterol, like THYROID MEDICATIONS Liptor, Zocor, Altoprev, Mevacor, or generics atorvastatin, simvasIf you take a medication for hypothyroidism, like Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid or generic levothyroxine, you should avoid eating tatin or lovastatin, you should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice. tofu and walnuts, and avoid drinking soy milk. All these can prevent Grapefruit can raise the level of the drug in your bloodstream and increase the risk of side effects, especially leg pain. your body from absorbing this medicine.

BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE ANTI-ANXIETY MEDICATIONS If you take medication for anxiety, like Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, If you take an ACE inhibitor drug, like Capoten, Vasotec, Monopril, Ativan, or generic alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, or lorazepam, Zestril and others, to lower your blood pressure, you should limit food that contain potasyou should avoid alcohol. These medications act as sedatives, binding sium, like bananas, with the brain’s natural tranquilizers to calm you down. But when you mix these drugs with alcohol, the side effects intensify and can oranges, tomatoes, cause you to feel lightheaded, sleepy, and forgetful. spinach and other leafy greens, sweet If you’re taking antibiotics, like Sumycin, Dynacin, Monodox, or generic tetracycline, doxycycline or minocycline, you should avoid potatoes, and salt substitutes that condairy—milk, yogurt, and cheese, and calcium supplements and fortified foods—for a couple hours before and after taking the medicine. tain potassium. ACE inhibitors raise the Calcium in dairy products binds to the antibiotic and prevents your body from absorbing it, making it ineffective. body’s potassium levels. Eating too To find more dietary guidance on the drugs you take, see reliable health sites like MedlinePlus.gov or MayoClinic.org, or consider the many potassium-rich To learn more about our foods while taking excellent new AARP book Don’t Eat This If You’re Taking That: The Hidden community, call (208) 882-6560.

Risks of Mixing Food and Medicine available at Amazon.com and BN.com an ACE inhibitor can cause an irregular for $13. ISI heartbeat and heart palpitations.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or If you are takvisit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author All faiths or beliefs are welcome. of The Savvy Senior book. ing blood-thinning medications, like

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FITNESS

PAGE 39

Get Moving To Preserve Your Hearing

BY YVONNIE PHAN Many Americans, motivated to improve their physical and mental wellbeing, have already made the popular New Year’s resolution to exercise more frequently. This commitment has an additional, lesser-known benefit: exercise is proven to preserve hearing

Photo © Kzenon, Bigstock.com

health. Engaging in physical activity with proper safety precautions can delay or prevent age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, which affects a quarter of adults 65 to 74 and half of those older than 75.

Cardiovascular exercise is vital to hearing health as one ages. A person over 50 years old without a genetic predisposition to hearing loss and who engages in cardio for 20 to 30 minutes, five times weekly, is more likely to maintain a healthy auditory system than someone with low cardiovascular activity.

In a decade-long Miami University study of 1,000 subjects of all ages, those over 50 with moderate to high cardiovascular fitness levels maintained hearing sensitivity comparable to people in their 30s, effectively delaying presbycusis.

An additional investigation from the University of Florida affirms that routine cardio provides the necessary blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to maintain the health of important auditory systems within the cochlea. “The cochlea or inner ear, is a high-energy demanding organ,” Shinichi Someya, Ph.D. said.

Stretching and yoga are healthy alternatives to cardiovascular exercise. These activities facilitate proper blood flow

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throughout the body and activate the muscles. While stretching or performing yoga poses, it’s important to focus on breathing to increase oxygen and blood flow. There are even yoga poses designed specifically for individuals with tinnitus.

The hearing health benefits of exercise can be negated by noise exposure or improper ear care, however.

Listening to audio through headphones at a loud volume can increase one’s chances of Music-InducedHearing Loss (MIHL), as can the music played during exercise classes. Turning down the volume of an audio device, wearing earplugs, and giving ears time to recover from loud noises can help prevent damage to the auditory system.

Those who swim are encouraged to keep their ears

dry. Moisture in the ear allows for bacteria, or even fungi and viruses, to attack the ear canal, which can lead to Swimmer’s Ear and cause temporary hearing loss. Dry ears immediately, and do not insert anything, such as cotton swabs, into them.

Health professionals strongly recommend everyone incorporate exercise into their daily routine. There are many benefits in maintaining a consistent exercise regimen, and we can now add hearing loss prevention to the list.

Before starting a new fitness routine, consult a physician to assure the routine is safe and suitable for your health. ISI Yvonnie Phan is Marketing & Communications Intern for Hearing Health Foundation (HHF), the nation’s largest nonprofit funder of hearing research with a mission to prevent, treat, and cure hearing loss. Her article was originally published at www.hhf.org.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

PAGE 40

Travel

CRUISES•GETAWAYS•CULTURE•VACATIONS

See a Different Side of Yellowstone Park: Visit in Winter

STORY & PHOTO BY BERNICE KARNOP Do you want to see a different side of Yellowstone National Park? Visit in winter!

Yes, Yellowstone is cold in the winter. It’s snowy, and the roads are mostly closed to vehicles; however, people still visit, and they discover a wonderland sparkling, fresh, and breathtakingly different from other seasons.

It’s quiet, and the crowd are gone. The animals are down where you are more likely to see them, and they’re wearing their thickest, most luxurious coats. The geysers and hot pools bubble and steam, heedless of frigid air temperatures.

It’s fresh partly because of the way you see it. Instead of sitting inside of a temperature-controlled car, you see Yellowstone from the, slow, open-air on cross-country

skis, snowshoes, or snowmobiles. The easiest and, arguably, least stressful way to visit Yellowstone in winter is in the warm and guided comfort of a snow coach, which is what we did a few winters ago.

We started our visit by driving to West Yellowstone on the last day of February.

Traditionally, West Yellowstone gets snow early, making it ideal for winter sports from Thanksgiving through March.

The town’s historic structures, topped with marshmallow caps of snow, poked their geometric shapes into the smoothly sculptured, white-on-white world. While some of the town shuts down in winter, plenty is open, including motels, restaurants, and gift shops.

We boarded a bright yellow snow coach waiting outside our motel early the next morning and headed for Old Faithful. The rubber-tracked vehicle provided a quiet and

smooth ride out of town through snow-ghosted trees. The friendly driver, in old-fashioned gear-jammer style, was full of Yellowstone facts, trivia, and a few hilarious lies.

Between West and Madison Junction we passed snow-crusted bison standing like carefully sculpted bronzes, conserving their energy against the cold. A pair of young bulls started a head-butting contest, reminding us that, yes, they can move quickly when they want to.

We spent most of our day at Old Faithful.

The famous geyser spewed great clouds of steam into the overcast sky.

The new Visitor Center does an amazing job of explaining the underground geology of Yellowstone and how the geysers work. Being inside for awhile was a nice break from the wind and cold. We ate the lunch we brought in one of the yurts at Old Faithful. The wood fire burning in the stove cut the chill, but it still had the feel of a winter picnic.

After lunch we drove to Biscuit Basin, where scalding water steamed from the ground while icy crystals fell from the sky.

The walkways, in places, were packed with snow and ice, making for a challenging walk.

To complicate things, the steam from the geysers fogged our glasses until we struggled to see.

Both Rusty and Jewel geysers erupted while we were there. The wildlife are drawn to the warm pools, and we were careful not to come very close.

On the way back to West, we saw golden eye, Canada geese, and eagles along the Firehole and Madison Rivers. Other creatures out hunting for food to fill their bellies included a couple of fat coyotes, a small herd of mountain sheep, and the ever-present ravens.

We arrived back in West Yellowstone in the early darkness, after a totally satisfying day of seeing Yellowstone in winter. ISI

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TRAVEL

Lower Antelope Canyon Glows with Shifting Light

PAGE 41

BY DIANNA TROYER Walking through Lower Antelope Canyon is like Alice slipping down a magical rabbit hole and finding a wonderland. The popular slot canyon, a 10-minute drive east of Page, Ariz., is a wonderland aglow with shifting golden, terracotta, and violet light reflecting off Navajo Sandstone. An ideal time to tour the canyon is during the off-season in winter and spring.

Our Navajo tour guide led us on a 15-minute hike to the entrance of the canyon, nicknamed “The Corkscrew.” The Navajo word for it means “Spiral Rock Arches.” Looking at the undulating terracotta-colored sandstone on the surface, it seemed impossible for a canyon to lie beneath us. At the entrance, several flights of metal stairs led us down into the 120-foot-deep canyon.

For the next hour, we learned how steady water erosion, eons of flash floods, and geological forces sculpted and scoured the V-shaped canyon’s smooth walls and narrow sandy floor.

Around each curve along the half-mile path, a different hue of light beckoned us as ever-changing clouds and sunshine shifted above.

Depending on cloud cover, shafts of sunlight usually beamed down into the corridors between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The canyon is a paradise for photographers whose images have been turned into a Microsoft’s Natural Wonders Desktop Wallpaper.

It’s also a popular backdrop for graduation photos and weddings. As if on cue, a bride in her elegant, floor-length white dress and groom appeared around a bend.

The power of flash flooding is evident. Crews regularly the stairs and haul away rocks, sticks, and other natural debris deposited on the trail after storms.

Equally enthralling is Upper Antelope Canyon five miles away.

Nicknamed “The Crack,” it is shaped like the letter “A” with the canyon wider at its floor than its top. The Navajo word for it is translated as “The Place Where Water Runs Through Rocks.”

If storms are predicted, tours are canceled due to the potential for flash floods. Several tour companies in town take reservations, or you can just show up at the canyon and register. The area is managed as part of the Navajo Tribal Park, and tribal guides are required, due to past vandalism. ISI

Inside the canyon, light reflects off the canyon walls, making them glow gold, orange, or violet. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

PRESENTED BY:

The smooth ground above Lower Antelope Canyon hides the 120-foot-deep slot canyon below. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

The not-very-talkative President Calvin Coolidge, known as “Silent Cal,” was challenged by a lady at a dinner party, who said, “I made a bet with a fellow that I could get you to say more than 3 words.”

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

PAGE 42

Photography

LIGHT•LANDSCAPES•HOW TO•PEOPLE•GEAR

Calling all photographers....

SUBMIT YOUR MONTANA PHOTOS TO THE IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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Each issue, the Idaho Senior Independent will hold a reader photo contest with winning entries prominently displayed in the photography section of the printed publication as well as in our online gallery.

Submitted images need to show or represent the state in some way and must be a minimum of 300 dpi when printed at 5"x7".

Photos will be judged on Composition, Originality, Technical Image Quality, and General Creativity. We will not publish subjects of a sensitive nature.

Submit your images for consideration by completing our online form: www.idahoseniorindependent.com/reader-photo-submission/

Six Steps to Improve Your Smartphone Photography

BY JONATHAN RIMMEL About 42 percent of seniors use smartphones, and that number’s on the rise. Why? They’re a useful tool. Conveniently capturing photographs is one beneficial way to use smartphones. It’s the camera you always have with you.

Now I certainly don’t advocate setting aside your “real camera” anytime soon; however, I thought it would be prudent to offer some tips for getting the most out of these devices as photographic tools.

1. Don’t hold your phone like it’s a dirty diaper (as far away from you as possible.) Instead, tuck your elbows into your sides, and firmly grasp your phone with both hands. This will add stability to your shot. Additionally, if you can assign the shutter release to an external

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button like the volume control, do it. This is much easier than trying to contort your hand to touch the screen.

2. Use a dedicated camera app, such as Camera+ for iPhones or Camera FV-5 for Android phones. These apps will give you control over focusing, white balance, exposure compensation, flash, shutter speed, and iso. Unfortunately, most phones have a fixed aperture, so that can’t be changed, but using these apps will still be better than letting the phone decide what’s best.

3. Use RAW format if your phone supports it. If you know what RAW is, chances are you’re already using it. For those who don’t, the simplest explanation is to compare the RAW format to a film negative.

This gives you the most control and leeway when editing your images.

Just be sure to save them as JPEGs later if you want to share them online.

4. Use a photo-editing app, such as Snapseed, if you want to do some quick edits on your phone. This app in particular is quite easy to use, but still very capable of allowing you to change the image’s tone, sharpness, saturation, etc. Of course you can always offload images to your computer and edit in some more serious software, like Lightroom or CaptureOne. 5. Use the flash outside to balance the exposure on a backlit subject.

Now in the case of cellphones, this will work best if you are fairly close to your subject as the flash on these devices is not particularly powerful.

6. Think about your photo before you take it. Why are you taking the photo? What are you trying to convey? Do you have a clear subject?

What does the composition look like? Does anything look weird or out of place?

This list is by no means comprehensive, but it should give you a pleasant boost in the quality of your smartphone photography. Now get out there and make some beautiful images! MSN

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PHOTOGRAPHY

PAGE 43

Iceberg Lake, Glacier National Park. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept. ~ Ansel Adams

Frosty bison grazing in the morning sunlight at Lamar Valley, Glacier National Park. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

PAGE 44

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

All About Idaho

LOCAL PEOPLE•LOCAL STORIES•LOCAL FUN•LOCAL BUSINESSES

Vibrant Long-ago Era Comes Back to Life at Lost River Museum

BY DIANNA TROYER As Shirley Jones casually looked at a replica of a mine tunnel built with weather-worn timbers at the Lost River Museum, receptionist Lela Warner warned her.

“Fire in the hole,” Warner shouted before pushing a button at the nearby kiosk. The sound of a dynamite blast reverberated throughout the museum in Mackay, a town nestled in central Idaho’s scenic Lost River Valley, where the state’s tallest mountains tower to the east and west.

Dave Wilson, left, and Earl Lockie, along with other volunteers, remodeled an old store into the new museum in Mackay. The duo refurbished the sheep wagon behind them. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

Startled, Jones jumped, then grinned, at the lifelike experience of working in a mine.

Seeing her reaction, museum curator Earl Lockie smiled.

“Everyone loves that sound effect.

Mick Hoover, our special effects expert, wired in lighting and sounds to make the exhibits realistic.”

The nearly 5,000-square-foot museum, operated by the non-profit South Custer County Historical Society, opened last spring at its new location, 109 Main Street in the former Western Store hardware building.

More than a dozen themed displays re-create a vibrant glimpse into life a century ago in the valley when the economy depended on mining and ranching.

Exhibits focus on long-ago movie theaters, schools, early-day businesses, a typical pioneer homestead, military uniforms, musical entertainment, old-time fashions, farming and ranching, an early newspaper and print shop, and a large gallery of historic photos.

“This is a first-rate museum with how the exhibits are organized,” said Jones. “It’s impressive what volunteers in a small town can accomplish. They’ve kept their local history alive.”

Retirees Lockie, Dave Wilson, and other volunteers renovated the building, a labor of love that took 2½ years.

The original museum, a small, uninsulated wooden church, opened in 1987 with donated items. With limited floor and wall area, there was not enough room to display all the items in collections.

In the fall of 2014, the owner of the hardware store decided to close and sell his building. Lockie, Wilson, and other volunteers renovated the building, paying for new building materials with grants and donations.

“It was a perfect location and size, so the society used its savings of 25 years and bought it outright with all the shelving and fixtures inside,” recalled Lockie. “What we couldn’t sell, we gave away. It took months to clean out and prepare it for conversion to a museum.

Members of the Preservation Committee were a tremendous help in tearing out and removing the old ceiling and floor tiles.”

While volunteers were working one day, local insurance agent Jim McKelvey dropped by.

“We realized he had a great voice, so we drafted him as a narrator,” said Lockie. At several displays, visitors can push a button to hear historical information about mining, the railroad, and the newspaper.

“We thought we’d have plenty of room, but it has filled quickly,” said Lockie. “If people want to donate something, a committee will decide what to accept, using strict criteria. It has to be unique or historic.”

Wilson said the work is not quite done.

“We’ll develop some hands-on exhibits for students on field trips,” he said. “We

want to promote the museum as a destination during the school year.”

As for the future, Wilson and Lockie smiled as they envisioned it.

“We’ll probably never be completely done with the work here,” said Lockie. “There will always be something to do with the displays or rotating different historical items. So many people have helped make this happen.”

The museum is open by appointment for groups of four or more at any time. Call 5884500. From May through September, it is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. ISI

Shirley Jones reads about mining in the Lost River Valley. Gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc were mined from the mountains near town. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

A ukelin is a combination of a ukulele and a violin and was popular in the past. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

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ALL ABOUT IDAHO

PAGE 45

Channeling Creativity into Making Shoes, Fine Furniture rocking chair, and his wife, Terry, a talented seamstress and quilter, sewed the leather seat cushion.

With curiosity, creativity, and an appre“We had a mostly idle leather sewing ciation for century-old tools, Orlyn Gaddis machine, so I wondered what else to use it makes fine furniture and shoes for his hardfor besides belts and chaps. I thought, ‘Why to-fit feet. Whatever he envisions in leather not learn to make shoes?’ I’m still learning.” or wood, he can make.

Gaddis and his wife often collaborate on projects.

“It’s gratifying to live in a house with furniture, quilts, table coverings, and other things we’ve made ourselves,” he said.

Since retiring in 2011, Gaddis said he is grateful to have the time to learn whatever interests him—whether it is the art of making shoes or his decadesold pastime of crafting fine furniture.

“It’s great to live without schedules and deadlines,” said Gaddis, 64. “I retired at a younger age than most people because I still had so much I wanted to do.”

To learn to make shoes, Gaddis watched a video series on the internet and read online forums.

“One thing led to another.”

While researching shoe styles, he found a sleek and comfortable last design called the Munson Army field shoe, made in the early 1900s. A last is a wooden, foot-shaped form used to make shoes and boots.

“An Army officer whose last name was Munson realized soldiers needed comfortable shoes, so he designed Orlyn Gaddis makes shoes and furniture during his retirement this style,” said Gaddis, pointing to at his workshop adjacent to his house in central Idaho. Gaddis his shoes. learned the crafts from online resources. PHOTO BY DIANNA “It’s nice to have shoes made of TROYER leather. When your feet perspire, the leather absorbs the moisture and wicks it away, Since retiring as a design engineer at and your feet stay comfortable. Commercially the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering made shoes usually have a liner glued and Center, he now has time to satisfy his curisewn into the uppers. The glue forms a vapor osity and creativity. His latest endeavor is barrier, which traps in moisture instead of making shoes. wicking it away.”

“The heels and ankles of my feet are Gaddis does not sell or repair shoes. narrow, and the front is wide, so it’s hard to “It’s just fun to make them for family and find a comfortable shoe,” said Gaddis while friends without the pressure of having them working in his shop adjacent to his home in done by a certain time. It takes about 10 to 15 Leslie in central Idaho. hours to make a pair.”

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charities,” he said.

To make a pair, Gaddis cuts out the leather pieces and stitches them together, then glues and stitches them to the midsoles. He then uses a last to form the shape of the shoe.

Some tools he uses are more than 100 years old.

“I found them on the internet at leatherworking forums or through friends. It’s neat to use these vintage tools for their intended purposes. They’re simple but still work great.”

Built in the late 1880s, a leather splitter was used to control the thickness of leather.

A small, hand-operated sole-stitcher, built in the 1920s, speeds up the process of sewing the leather to the midsole.

“It would take me an hour to sew it by hand, but I can do it in about 10 minutes with the stitcher.”

Gaddis’s shoe-making and woodworking skills complement each other.

“I’ve made some wooden tools I needed for the shoes.”

When he needs a break from making shoes, Gaddis turns to his latest woodworking project.

“I’ve been working with wood since I was a kid,” he said. “I’ve always liked wood, and my grandfather taught me some woodworking skills. The grain patterns in cherry, walnut, and especially tiger-striped maple can be spectacular and unique.”

Stickley and Mission styles of furniture appeal to him for their simplicity.

“I’ve also been drawn to a Provincial style of furniture crafted in the late 1700s, after the Queen Anne period of design ended.”

He showed an elegant example, a cabinet where his wife stores her quilts. The doors are book-matched panels. To make them, he sawed a 2-inch thick piece of wood down the middle, so the two panels are mirror images of each other.

In their living room, a walnut stereo cabinet was built from a pattern for a linen press popular during the 1800s. He worked on it for about 500 hours. Gaddis said he has plenty of time these days for such pieces.

“When I retired, I told my daughter-inlaw to make a list of the furniture she wanted.

She couldn’t wait. I’ll be busy forever.” ISI

Orlyn Gaddis makes his own shoes for his hard-to-fit feet. As a former design engineer at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, he can make whatever he envisions in leather or wood. PHOTO BY DIANNA TROYER

PAGE 46

ALL ABOUT IDAHO

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY // MARCH 2018

Scott Hill, Ski Patrol and Attorney

Silver Mountain.

BY JACK MCNEEL â&#x20AC;&#x153;A host will meet and greet people when they arrive in the morning and will answer questions,â&#x20AC;? he explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We kind of get everyone Dividing oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time nearly equally between working as an attorney heading toward the mountain, and we spend time on the mountain, and on ski patrol is not a common situation, but for Scott Hill, it works looking for people who are having problems. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there to make sure great. He stressed the importance of keeping active as one approaches that folks are enjoying it as much as possible.â&#x20AC;? retirement, or is in retirement, and that working with others on ski Hosts also monitor speed on the slopes. patrol â&#x20AC;&#x153;adds to my life.â&#x20AC;? This winâ&#x20AC;&#x153;If there are areas where people like ter of 2017-18 marks his 21st year to go really fast, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s congestion, of working on ski patrol. hosts will show up and remind everybody He moved from Utah to Spokane they should ski a little slowerâ&#x20AC;? said Hill. to attend law school at Gonzaga â&#x20AC;&#x153;It puts a good face on the mountain and back in the 80s but had actually is a positive development.â&#x20AC;? begun ski patrol work at Solitude The number of these volunteers has Mountain Ski Resort in Utah prior grown over the two years the host proto that. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the second generation gram has been in effect, and it likely will to do this work as his dad, now 85, continue to grow. still works at Solitude.

Another major feature of the ski He graduated with a law degree patrol program is the value to those in from Gonzaga in 1992 and has the program. worked primarily in private pracHill watched his dad host for more tice. He has his own shop, which than 20 years, and he never forgot what provides the opportunity to devote his father told him years ago. more time to Silver Mountain â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skiing is great, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really neat to Ski Resort in Kellogg than might be on the mountain with a purpose. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not be possible if he were working just about the skiing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about being part elsewhere. of an organization, enjoying what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re â&#x20AC;&#x153;My kids are grown,â&#x20AC;? he comdoing, but also remaining active and being mented, â&#x20AC;&#x153;so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to make a part of something,â&#x20AC;? said Hill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s million dollars a year. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m able kept him young.â&#x20AC;? to do mostly weekend work on Hill has a passion for skiing, but being the mountain.â&#x20AC;? a part of ski patrol and volunteering He also emphasized that his to host on the hill has made it all the work doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just involve skiing, more enjoyable. but mountain biking as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m â&#x20AC;&#x153;I consider that group up there on the up there pretty much three days a mountain my second familyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;my mounweek most of the year.â&#x20AC;? tain family. It adds to my life,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Silver Mountain ski patrol is During his college years, Hill drove an an Emergency Medical Services ambulance. What he observed during that agency. experience directs his life to some degree, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of two or three even today. ski patrols in Idaho that are EMS Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a philosophy many seniors should agencies. This means that, in consider, he explained. addition to hiring people certified â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could see the difference in people This winter marks Scott Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21st year of working on ski patrol at Silver through National Ski Patrol (NSP), that just decided they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to Mountain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skiing is great, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really neat to be on the mountain we can also hire EMTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s,â&#x20AC;? said Hill. move anymore but just sat down and with a purpose. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just about the skiing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about being part of â&#x20AC;&#x153;It creates a bigger pool to hire watched TV,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not only were their an organization, enjoying what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing, but also remaining active from and brings people with a little lives slower, but you could tell they were and being part of something,â&#x20AC;? says Hill. PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT HILL different skill set. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve mainmiserable. There was no light in their eyes. tained that mix for close to 15 years.â&#x20AC;?

The sooner you start finding ways that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to extend into He is the Medical Systems Coordinator, and he also heads up the those years, the better off youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be.â&#x20AC;?

Mountain Host program, which is in its second year.

Hill added that it neednâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be skiing, but that it is important to be Snowbird originated the host program, which most major resorts involved with something. have implemented, so Hill has used his connections at Snowbird â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we move forward in life, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50, 60, or 70, being part to design and implement the volunteer program at Kelloggâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of something not only will it make that something better, but will make you better as well.â&#x20AC;? ISI

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