ISI October/November 2015

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Transformations – From Cold Metal To Vibrant Art

By Jack McNeel Photo by Jackie McNeel Exploring Theresa McHugh’s website of custom designed and fabricated metal artwork will reveal an astounding variety and quality of work she creates. It might be as delicate as white syringa flowers on long stems, as massive as the 20foot sculpture that greets visitors to Coeur d’Alene, or as personal as an indoor floral motif commissioned by a homeowner. Whatever the subject and wherever the location you can be assured it’s both unique and of superior quality.

Theresa was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene where her parents owned Clark’s Jewelry. She learned about the jewelry business producing custom designed jewelry.

“I wasn’t really enamored by the jewelry business. I like big things and like to do big work. Although my current work may be just a bigger version of the jewelry, in a way.”

Theresa enrolled at Boise State University thinking of a career in architecture and engineering but when her father passed away suddenly, thirty years ago, she dropped out of college and returned home to help run the store.

She and husband Barry, now Kootenai County Prosecutor, started a family and this slowed Theresa’s plan to return to Boise State.

“I had three kids in three years and was just buried with kids and really wanted to be home with them,” she explains. “But about 20 years ago when they were 4, 5, and 6, I returned to Boise State and took up welding.”

Welding isn’t thought of as a woman’s field, which can reflect a certain bias. Theresa was lucky in having an instructor, a man of 80, who was pro women.

“I was the only woman in the entire vo-tec department, the whole building, and he told the guys to watch out because women make better welders than men,” she recalls laughing.

“I was happy to have that backing

because I was pretty intimidated.

“Women can become very good welders because they tend to be more detail oriented. That’s what my instructor said the very first day of class. I probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to stick with it considering all the crap I put up with. There was a lot of, ‘What are you doing here, you should be home?’ and all that.”

Welding skill is critical for an artist working with metal, plus the personality to enjoy such a physical form of art. Theresa fits that mold.

“I’m a stand-up-to-work, don’t-sit-down, kind of person.” Comparing herself to her husband, she adds with a laugh, (Continued on page 23)

PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3

Insight Into Caregiving

In the Idaho Senior Independent, you mention that poetry is an accepted contribution. I am submitting a poem entitled Assisted Living. I know from whence I speak, as I am a resident of the Cottages of Meridian since September 2012. I am 88 years old.

When it became necessary for assistance in my daily living, I became despondent and apprehensive. However, in a very short time, I became adjusted and contented in my new life and family.

My experience in this environment inspired my attempt to define my feelings on paper. Please accept my poem in pencil as my severe spinal arthritis precludes my writing with pen.

Michael F. Hoff Meridian

Assisted Living

By Michael F. Hoff As life progresses through our assigned time on earth from birth to maturity, assistance is the heart of life’s existence.

As we approach the winter season of life, situations may befall that render us limited in daily pursuits.

Necessity begets assistance.

Angels of mercy appear – devoted to endless hours of compassion – bearing assurance of tender loving care.

As daily needs are fulfilled, as night follows the day, angels fondly prepare us for hours of repose.

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At the rising of the new sun, ever present assisting angels, welcome us to a new morn.

Learn About Russians In British Columbia

Thanks for your article in the Aug/Sept 2015 issue. Another issue might well include the interesting history of the Doukhobors in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.

The travel to Canada is not as free as in past years, however with the exchange rate it is much less than the cost of a passport.

Edward Johnson Coeur d’Alene

Book Gathering To Benefit Senior Services

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Tapio Office Center in the Red Flag Bldg, 104 S. Freya St, Suite 201 in Spokane.

This event is to encourage attendees to donate books on an ongoing basis, with the collected books being delivered to Senior Centers, Assisted Living Facilities, Rehabilitation Centers, Retirement Homes, and Nursing Homes in Spokane and the surrounding area. We are requesting that attendees provide us with a business card or business flyer that we can use to offer their business as a community resource. We will be serving refreshments, snacks, and assorted wines from our local wineries.

Please RSVP. Sherrie Turner 509-714-1794 Spokane

Gold Mining History

The story on page 40 of the August/September issue of the Idaho Senior Independent featured a story by Dianna Troyer about Barb Chaffin, an octogenarian who still dabbles in gold mining on the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River near Stanley. This prompted my recollections of the historic Yankee Fork gold dredge mentioned in the article about which I have extensive knowledge. I am sending the article that explores the origin and demise of the dredge. I hope you can use it.

Paul Brown Boise ED: This article regarding the Yankee Fork dredge will be published in a future issue. ISI

We would like to announce our fall Book Gathering event for AdvantagePlusCaregivers.com on Thursday, November 5, 2015 from 5-8 p.m. the

Idaho Senior Independent A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3341 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3341 208-318-0310 • Toll Free: 1-866-360-5683 Fax: 406-761-8358 www.idahoseniorindependent.com E-mail: idahoseniorind@bresnan.net The Idaho Senior Independent is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October, and December by Barrett-Whitman, 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Idaho.

The mail subscription rate is $10.00 per year (6 issues). The Idaho Senior Independent is written to serve Idaho’s mature population of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles, and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

All copy appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano Lisa Gebo Joanne Bernard Sales Jonathan Rimmel Sherrie Smith

Office Manager Production Supervisor/Sales Advertising Graphic Designer Admin/Production Assistant

Contributing Writers Natalie Bartley Connie Daugherty Holly Endersby Cate Huisman Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig Larcom Liz Larcom Jack McNeel Michael McGough Dianna Troyer © 2015

Summer is over, and it’s fall – the hunting season time of year – a time when we can get out, hike in the hills, and with luck see plenty of wildlife and even stock the freezer with wild game. As with any activity, hunting can present challenges beyond our skill at spotting, tracking, shooting, and butchering an animal. Questions can arise about what is the “right” thing to do in certain circumstances.

Are legal rules absolute, or should we consider moral, social, or ethical factors when we evaluate our conduct? To some, the answer may be black and white – always one or the other. To others, the answer may be gray – it depends on a bigger picture of the context of our behavior.

Looking at our society today it seems that public discourse tends toward black or white on contentious issues like immigration, religious freedom, abortion, same-sex marriage, common core education, tax policy, Iran, etc. Perhaps this is due to the media’s thirst for audience share and their instant response to the world’s daily minutiae. In the past without a barrage of polarized and incomplete information, did we have more time to digest an in-depth newspaper article, for example, and

reach a conclusion based on thoughtful consideration?

This issue’s Remember When winner is Milt Turley of Kellogg, whose story about a long ago hunting trip with a friend raises similar questions about the “right” thing to do. Thank you, Milt for sharing your story, Dimmer’s Avery Tag. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections and contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc.

Photos may be included.

Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent features the contribution deemed best by our staff.

The contributor of the winning entry will receive a $25 cash prize.

We look forward to receiving your contributions for our December 2015/January 2016 issue.

Mail your correspondence to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net; or call 1-866-360-5683 or 208-318-0310. Visit us online at idahoseniorindependent.com.

Dimmer’s Avery Tag

By Milt Turley, Kellogg During the late 60s, I started hunting elk in the St. Joe River Drainage around Avery. My friend Dimmer and I would wait until late in the season when we could have snow on the ground for tracking elk.

“Dimmer” was the nickname that my friend got for knocking down two power poles in St. Maries that put the power out for two days. Thus the name.

During those days, I was working in Wallace, and I would leave work on Friday evening, drive over Moon Pass to Avery, and meet with Dimmer at the local watering hole called the Avery Trading Post. We would have a few drinks and talk about the elk situation. Dimmer was a logger and always had a good idea where to find elk.

This particular weekend we had about 6 inches of new snow on the ground and Dimmer had seen some elk on Turner Peak near Avery that evening.

The chances of getting an elk were good because of the snow and Dimmer knew of a road that could

get us up above the elk the next morning and enable us to hunt downhill.

The next morning, way before daylight, we headed out to a spot that was close to where the elk had been seen, getting there just in time for legal hunting. Our plan was for me to go down one side of the ridge, and Dimmer would go down the other side. We could cover more ground that way and have a chance of running an elk over the top of the ridge towards the other hunter.

We left the truck a little after legal shooting time and I was down the ridge about 300 yards when a cow elk jumped up in front of me. She made the mistake of stopping to see what got her out of her bed, I fired, and the elk went down.

For the next hour or so, I was busy dressing out my elk and getting ready to pack it to the truck when I heard two shots from the other side of the ridge. Dimmer always bragged about what a good shot he was. I figured he missed his first shot and had to take a second to harvest his animal.

I thought to myself, “At the Avery Trading

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Post this evening I’m gonna have a good time making fun of Dimmer’s poor marksmanship.”

When I finished dressing out my elk, I hiked back over the ridge to where Dimmer would be. He was dressing out an elk and not only had he shot one elk, a second elk was laying nearby.

I said, “What the hell did you do Dim; shoot two elk?”

He stopped his work and looked up at me with a little weird smile on his face and said, “Yes, I used my Avery tag.”

“What do you mean, Avery tag?” I replied.

“There is a family in Avery with two kids that had a bad year. The dad got hurt in a logging accident and his wife is sick. I take care of my friends in Avery and no one will ever know about this. They need the meat, so I used my Avery tag. It’s only good for Avery residents.”

With a bit of hesitation, after thinking about it for a minute, I said, “Okay, Dim. I hope we don’t get checked on the way home with an untagged elk.”

“Try two untagged elk, I forgot to buy a tag,” Dimmer replied.

“Damn, Dimmer, we can get into a lot of trouble if we get caught.” I said.

Dimmer just grinned.

We packed out all three elk in the next several hours and were headed back to Avery by about an hour after dark. As luck would have it, we never were checked and had both illegal elk hung ready for cutting the next week.

I will always remember that day, not because we did something illegal and wrong, but because we did the right thing for that family. It was a comfort to me and Dimmer both, that those people would have meat to eat that winter.

Dimmer also gave them lots of vegetables out of his garden.

Some people may criticize this behavior, but I would suggest, they have

Aviator Breaks Records With Gas-Less Plane

Provided by Association of Mature American Citizens It took Charles Lindbergh 33.5 half hours to make his historic New York to Paris solo flight in 1927. Lucky Lindy’s Spirit of St. Louis carried 425 gallons of fuel for the 3,500-mile journey.

Switzerland’s André Borschberg had no fuel aboard his plane, the Solar Impulse 2, when he took off on his record-breaking solo flight from Japan, landing 4,000 miles and nearly five days later in Hawaii on July 3, 2015.

Borschberg’s achievements included breaking the distance record for a solar-powered flight; breaking the endurance record, as well; and, of course, it was the longest solo flight by the pilot of any kind of airplane. But, his trip is not over. The aviation pioneer is out to break the round-the-world record.

“This oceanic flight to Hawaii demonstrates that if technological solutions exist to fly a plane day and night without fuel, then there is potential for these same efficient technologies to be used in our daily lives, and to achieve energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions,” said Bertrand Piccard, Borschberg’s partner and co-founder the company that built the aircraft. ISI

Sexy Seniors Surf The Net

Provided by Association of Mature American Citizens Who said seniors don’t know their way around the Internet? A new study shows that elderly Web surfers know at least enough to find sites that interest them-particularly those that cater to their curiosity about sex.

A scholarly article at the website of the Journal of Leisure Research by Drs. Galit Nimrod of Israel’s Ben-Gurion University and Liza Berdychevsky of the University of Illinois on research they conducted on the Internet quests of older folk for love-life advice.

“The popularity of sex-related discussions in seniors’ online communities suggests that in a reality of limited alternatives for open and direct sexrelated communication, seniors are finding channels to satisfy their needs for information and support,” they wrote.

Nimrod and Berdychevsky concluded that, “The role of sexuality for older adults is gradually getting more attention and becoming more socially acceptable than in the past. Many studies have documented the importance and health benefits of sexuality and intimate relationships in later life, and some have shown that sex is often associated with a sense of vitality as well as feeling young and healthy.” ISI

More Of Us Are Young At Heart

Provided by Association of Mature American Citizens Some people grow older while others just grow old, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens. More of us, these days, are boasting about elderly friends and family members with that age-defying look; they live their lives to the fullest well past their 60th, 70th and even their 80th birthdays.

They are out on the tennis courts and golf courses and they are working out in their local gyms.

According to the MacArthur Research Network on an Aging Society, “A substantial group of individuals at all ages experienced not just exceptional health, but their mental and physical functioning was at a level exhibited by people decades younger.” The study shows that “28% of those aged 85+ have excellent or very good self-reported health status; similarly, 56% of those aged 85+ report no health-based limitations in work or housework.” ISI

The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts, and the great art of life is to have as many of them as possible.”

- Vladmir Nabokov

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5

never been hungry. Others will say that social welfare groups would take care of this family. But, not in the 60s and 70s. If you were sick or hurt, you were pretty much on your own. No food stamps, welfare, or even decent medical care was available, especially in a little town like Avery. What little money they got from industrial insurance wasn’t enough to feed a family of four, let alone pay rent, and buy medicine.

I will always believe that we did the right thing that day. Even now, when one of the children from that family sees me, they thank me for the help that Dimmer and I gave to them.

They also always mention how different Dimmer was. Some people did not like Dimmer because he didn’t like many people. In fact, if he did not like you, he would just ignore you. He was a recluse, drank too much, wore a funny hat, and drove too slowly – a lesson learned from knocking down those two power poles.

I knew the real Dimmer. He was a caring man and the kind of friend that everyone should have. You could count on him in a pinch.

Dimmer passed away about 15 years ago, and I took him to the hospital the night he died. I am proud he considered me his friend.

Certainly, Avery tags aren’t legal today, and there are two sides to whether they should be. The comment on our society now may be how much effort we take to help each other in times of need. I doubt if they get used as much today. ISI

PAGE 6 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Reviewed by Connie Daugherty Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson, Farrar, Straus and Giroux; New York; 2005 For an avid reader it is always fun to meet new authors with new stories and that is generally what I do with this column. Sometimes however, especially in the summer, it’s nice to pick up an “oldish” classic. Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping was originally published in 1981 and became a modern classic almost immediately. She won the PEN/ Hemingway Award for an outstanding first novel.

It was re-released in hardcover in 2005. Like most classics, Housekeeping is as intriguing a read today as it was thirty-five years ago. It is the sort of story that you take your time with in order to absorb the nuances of the writing, the characters, and the plot.

Housekeeping is not so much about cleaning and decorating a home as it is about keeping a particular house in a particular place and the three generations of women who inhabit that house in shared isolation and always with a sense in impermanence. They are bound together by birth, circumstance, and necessity. Set in Fingerbone, a small lakeside town in Northern Idaho, Housekeeping is a quirky coming-of-age story told from the perspective of Ruth Stone.

“My name is Ruth. I grew up with my younger sister, Lucille, under the care of my grandmother… and when she died, of her sisters-in-law… and when they fled, of her daughter, Mrs. Sylvia Fisher.

Through all these generations of elders we lived in one house.” The entire story is summed up in this opening paragraph; the details of life in that house, of those generations of lonely, exceptional women make up the rest of the story.

This unexceptional house on a hill and surrounded by orchards in “this unlikely place” was built by Ruth’s grandfather who had moved from the Midwest to Idaho to live where he could be surrounded by mountains. He built the house, married, had three daughters, then died when the train he was riding in left the tracks and fell into the lake at the edge of Fingerbone.

“The disaster took place midway through a moonless night. The train… had been pulled more than halfway across the bridge when the engine nosed over toward the lake and the rest of the train slid after it into the water.” The train and its passen-

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

gers disappeared into the deep glacial waters as if it had never existed; “a suitcase, a seat cushion and a lettuce were all they retrieved.”

That event became part of Fingerbone’s history and a defining point in Ruth’s legacy. Unlike the other women widowed by the accident, Ruth’s grandmother did not leave Fingerbone. She chose to stay in the house her husband had built and to raise her daughters alone. “She was then a magisterial woman… because it suited her purpose, to be what she seemed to be so her children would never be startled… her love for them was utter and equal, her government of them generous and absolute… she never taught them to be kind to her.” Her daughters grew up and moved away.

Then one day Helen, the middle daughter, came back.

“It was a Sunday morning, when she knew her mother would not be at home… she put our suitcases in the screened porch… and told us to wait quietly… then she went back to the car… she sailed in Bernice’s Ford from the top of a cliff… into the blackest depth of the lake.”

At the time, Ruth and her younger sister, Lucille, were too young to understand what happened. They only knew that their mother was gone and had left them in the care of a grandmother they did not know. “For five years my grandmother cared for us… she whited shoes and braided hair, fried chicken and turned back bedclothes… as if re-enacting the commonplace would make it merely commonplace.”

There was no discussion about the mother who had abandoned them, no questions about their life before coming to the house in Fingerbone, just a new routine. “When she seemed distracted … it was, I think, that she was aware of too many things, having no principle for selecting the more from the less important.”

Then one day the grandmother who had so carefully cared for Ruth and Lucille did not wake up. “Lily and Nona were fetched from Spokane and took up housekeeping in Fingerbone, just as my grandmother had wished.” The sisters were, “maiden ladies of a buxomly maternal appearance that contrasted oddly with their brusque, unpracticed pats and kisses.” They were high-strung, nervous, and overwhelmed by the house, by the girls, by everything about Fingerbone. So, they

determined almost immediately to track down the girls’ mother’s younger sister. “One day as we sat at supper in the kitchen… Sylvie knocked at the door.” The elderly nervous sisters left. Sylvie told them stories about their mother and their father, played games with them, and gave them crackers for dinner.

As soon as the weather permitted, “Lily and Nona were taken by a friend… back to Spokane and we and the house were Sylvie’s.” But from the moment Sylvie walked in the door, Ruth and Lucille wondered how long she would stay. “She seldom removed her coat… Sylvie kept her clothes and even her hairbrush and toothpowder in a cardboard box under the bed. She slept on the covers… clothed, at first with her shoes on… clearly the habits of a transient… It seemed to me that if she could remain transient here she would not leave.”

Although Sylvie did not exactly settle in, she did stay. She took her coat off. She was sitting at the kitchen table when the girls came home from school. She stayed, in her own way. The house and the girls were more-or-less left to nature, “finely attuned to the orchard and to the particularities of weather, even in the first days of Sylvie’s housekeeping.”

Seasons passed and life in the house kept on as it had. The girls spent hours, days, and even a night once on the banks of the lake. Lucille longed to be like the other girls in school, to live in a normal house. Officials and well-intentioned church ladies came to check on the welfare of the girls. Lucille moved out. Then one night Ruth and Sylvie left.

“All is fact. Fact explains nothing. On the contrary, it is fact that requires explanation… I pass again and again behind my grandmother’s house and never get off at the station.”

Marilynne Robinson was born and grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho. She has written four highly acclaimed novels as well as several nonfiction books and essays. Housekeeping was a finalist for the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and was made into a feature film. Her second novel, Gilead was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer. Robinson’s most recent novel, Lila, was published in 2014. Robinson has been a visiting professor at several universities and current teaches at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. ISI

The heat is gone and finally it’s autumn – the weather’s a bit breezy, your nose a bit sneezy, and this rhyme a bit cheesy – but it is a great time to fall in love! Send in your letters and see where they take you.

To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message and address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

We will forward your response, including the address, phone number, and/or email address that you provide to the person placing the ad. When you respond to an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive replies.

Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of companionship and true love!

Responses to personal ads appearing in this column may be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the December 2015/

January 2016 issue, the deadline is November 7, 2015.

Widower would like to meet a lady of her 70s, who would like to relocate and live with me in my property apartment – for companionship, and who loves to cook a little bit of the time. Seeking lady who loves to drive in the country and eat out at outof-the-way cafes. SW Idaho area. You keep your money. Reply ISI, Dept. 11401, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SF, almost 60, fit, 5’4”, 125lbs. Youthful independent free spirit with city smarts and a country heart. Living active outdoor ranch/farm type lifestyle in far NW Montana. Athletically inclined tomboy on the outside, but all woman inside, and I clean up real nice. I favor public broadcasting and have an eclectic spiritual bent. Recreational interests include all water sports/activities, hiking, biking, bird/wildlife watching, winter skiing, some travel, and more. Home interests: gardening, houseplants, animals, cooking, reading, aerobic exercise, yoga, and similar practices. ISO one good man with similar/compatible interests who is a physically active, open minded, honest, emotionally mature, financially secure, in his 60s with good dental hygiene,

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7

and in the Idaho Panhandle area for intermittent companionship initially, and who knows what the future holds. Not interested in rushing into anything.

Do not like emotional drama or head games. If interested please send short letter to include address or phone number – sorry no email. Reply ISI, Dept.

11402, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

I am a senior widow looking for the right man. Companionship. 70s to 80s.

Will relocate. I love country, cooking, fishing, gardening, animals, birds and more. Would love to meet a man or a family who needs me. Love children, love life. Please write. Reply ISI, Dept. 11404, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Active, healthy octogenarian widower seeks retired female, possible roommate. I have a nice house, cat and dog, fenced yard, Boise area.

Prefer intelligent or super intelligent woman or woman who possibly might edit my writing, play chess, Quiddler, and Scrabble. I am a plain-food cook, do my own laundry, housework, yard work, but miss the companionship of an intelligent and witty woman. Reply ISI, Dept. 11403, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Single divorced female. Athletic and artistic. Presently into exploring and hiking to hot springs. I have my own airstream. 5’8” & 130lbs. I love wine tasting, swimming, bicycling, ceramics, thrift stores, and taking time out from time. I live in Idaho County. Age not an issue. Reply ISI, Dept. 11405, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI

Sandy Scott, World Traveler and Travel Agent Article & Photo By Jack McNeel “I knew from when I was in second grade I wanted to see the world. I told my mother, ‘There’s not enough for me here, I want to see the world.’

That was my goal and mission.”

Today Sandy Scott seems to have accomplished her goal – although there are always more places to visit – and as a travel agent, she now helps others live their travel dreams.

Sandy was born and raised in Kellogg where her father was in the grocery business. School was easy for her so she skipped a couple of grades and graduated at 15 and enrolled at Eastern Washington University, first in nursing and then in education. Teaching was to be her occupation for many years, mostly in foreign countries.

She and her husband Bill were married while they were in college. Bill ended up in the army, which provided them the opportunity to travel the world, first to Germany where their son was born. Bill’s specialty became the Far East, which provided the opportunity to spend time in Asia – three years in Indonesia where Sandy learned to speak the language well, to teach, and to run the Embassy Recreation Association.

“It was my favorite place in the world to live and to visit. I love the Indonesian people and my time there.”

Sandy also spent time in Thailand, Korea, and the Philippines – experience that helped her later as a travel agent. Military retirement came in 1984.

“Then Bill had a chance to go to Saudi Arabia to work for the Saudi Army. I’ll always be grateful.

I developed this love of travel through living it, and living in a place for a while is such a beautiful experience,” Sandy declares.”

In 1994, Sandy returned and enrolled in travel school at North Idaho College.

“I went to school and loved it. I took to it like a duck to water knowing it was my calling, my love.”

Sandy went to work at Silver Valley Travel in Wallace in 1995 and became their international specialist due to her years of travel. The travel industry evolved over the next few years, the agency was sold, and the new owners opened an office in Kellogg, which Sandy ran. Within a couple of years, the owners closed the office, so Sandy brought the business to her home.

“I had so many strong clients,” she explains, “and working from home I can work when I want, how I want, if I want, and with whom I want.

“Many people, especially younger people, love to do their own travel, and it’s easier to do on the

Internet. For older folks, an agent is important to planning a rewarding trip. Personally, my business is big – sometimes bigger than I would like it to be.

Working from home gives me the flexibility I want at age 74.”

Since travel agents no longer work on commissions, they charge a fee for their services, for example $30 for a domestic airline ticket and $60 for an international ticket. That way the agent takes care of any problems that may arise.

“First of all, if there’s a schedule change or a misconnect, they will come up and I see them.

Many tickets may be as much as 10 months out so there’s going to be many schedule changes. I usually don’t bother my clients with minor changes, but if it’s major I call and say, ‘We’ve got a problem.’ and let them choose what works for them. Those are the sorts of things we do for people.

“Our real bread and butter now are tours and cruises. I book them at least at the same price as the person would get on the Internet and often can beat it. I make some commission and that’s what keeps the agency open.”

Sandy also sells other types of travel: Eurail, Amtrak, Via Rail in Canada, and more to her specialty, FITS. “This is Foreign Independent Travel where a person doesn’t want to be part of a tour and walk behind a guy holding an umbrella. They may want to drive or sometimes take a train. It saves them countless hours of work and lets that person travel as they want. I enjoy doing those. Some want to backpack across Europe and want help getting a few hotels here and there. They do not want to spend a lot of money but want to see the world.

“Another mission is finding small boutique hotels next to a 5-Star, but that don’t cost as much and give incredible service because it’s more personal. I tell people to give me a chance because I can probably beat what they can get or match it and still take care of the details.

“You don’t go into the travel industry to make big money. The advantages are just the love of travel and encouraging people to see the world. You can read books but when you see it with your eyes, it comes to life.”

Sandy does not only do international travel; she has taken groups to Branson at least 20 times.

“It’s something se-

niors just love. It isn’t just country western anymore, there are all kinds of entertainment.”

Other popular destinations are Fall Foliage trips in the Northeast and eastern Canada, and Sandy has been there many times. She finds some older seniors may have lost some confidence and worry about wrong airline gates and missed flights.

“I’m there for them,” she says. “If they twist a knee I bring them ice. I love it and love to do it. I like to encourage people to travel – what an incredible experience it is and not to be afraid. I want them to keep on keeping on.”

Despite her love of travel Sandy confesses, “I’ve gone full circle. I love seeing the world and yet there’s nothing like northern Idaho. I left to see more and I’ve come back to really enjoy life here.” ISI

PAGE 8 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

We are on the cusp of the holiday release of new movies… but when you look at the list, don’t you wonder, “Where did all the good movies go?”

It seems like the old movies were just better – no, they did not have the fancy special effects or the surround sound, but the stories and the actors just seemed better and the stories better told.

Or, maybe they were not really better, but we just identify with them because they were parts of our younger lives.

When you work this month’s Movies and Movie Stars quiz let yourself go back a few years and recall where you were in your life when these

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

movies and actors were popular. Thank you and congratulations to Patty Friedrich for submitting this quiz. She is the winner of the $25 prize.

Thank you to all who participated in our How Well Do You Know Your First Ladies? quiz in the August/September 2015 issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Maryanne Gamble of Ammon. Congratulations, Maryanne!

Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. One prize goes to the person who submits the winning answers to the featured quiz

from the previous issue. The second $25 prize goes to the person who submits the entry that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for this issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles!

Please mail your entries to the Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net (include your USPS address) by November 10, 2015 for our December 2015/January 2016 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website www. idahoseniorindependent.com.

Movies and Movie Stars Submitted by Patty Friedrich Below are the numbered names of 25 movies and the letter-designated names of 25 movie stars. Your job is to match the actor or actress to the movie in which they starred. Just jot down your answers on a numbered sheet of paper and mail them to us. E-mail is fine too (be sure to include your USPS mailing address). Have fun with this journey onto the silver screen.

1. Thunder on the Hill 2. Gone With the Wind

3. Souls at Sea 4. The Unforgiven 5. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

6. David Copperfield 7. Casablanca 8. The African Queen 9. The Rainmaker 10. The Mark of Zorro 11. Sudden Fear 12. Jezebel 13. Breakfast at Tiffany’s 14. Sayonara 15. Mutiny on the Bounty 16. The Agony and the Ecstasy 17. The Grapes of Wrath 18. The Taming of the Shrew

19. Ulysses 20. The Old Man and the Sea 21. Cool Hand Luke 22. North by Northwest 23. To Kill a Mockingbird 24. How to Marry a Millionaire 25. North to Alaska A. Burt Lancaster B. W.C. Fields C. Gregory Peck D. Clark Gable E. Bette Davis F. Katherine Hepburn G. Clint Eastwood H. Paul Newman I. Claudette Colbert

J. Marilyn Monroe K. Joan Crawford L. Elizabeth Taylor M. John Wayne N. Marlon Brando O. Henry Fonda P. Richard Burton Q. Vivien Leigh R. Audrey Hepburn S. Humphrey Bogart T. Kirk Douglas U. Cary Grant V. Charlton Heston W. Gary Cooper X. Spencer Tracy Y. Tyrone Power ISI

Answers to How Well Do You Know Your First Ladies?

Submitted by Jim Kerns, Boise 1. G Abigail Adams 2. T Nellie Taft 3. H Florence Harding 4. F Mary Lincoln 5. S Hillary Clinton 6. I Frances Cleveland 7. E Grace Coolidge 8. R Harriet Lane 9. J Edith Wilson 10. D Ellen Wilson

11. Q Julia Grant 12. K Dolly Madison 13. C Bess Truman 14. P Ida McKinley 15. L Nancy Reagan 16. U Abigail Fillmore 17. O Mamie Eisenhower 18. M Jackie Kennedy 19. A Eleanor Roosevelt 20. B Lucy Hayes 21. N Lou Hoover ISI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9

ACROSS 1. *City on Seine 6. Sun Tzu’s “The ____ of War” 9. Sign of a saint 13. Rome’s Colosseum, e.g.

14. African migrator 15. Analyze 16. Religious devotion 17. Pillbox or tricorne, e.g.

18. Trojan War military action 19. *It has largest number of independent nations 21. *World’s largest Non-Polar desert 23. Beatle bride 24. Clinton or Gates 25. ____ along to a song 28. Movie “____ Girl” 30. Fish food unit 35. *Four Corners state 37. Captain ____ 39. Wasted on the young?

40. Former Attorney General of the U.S. 41. Streamlined 43. Cowboy’s prod 44. Circular gasket 46. “Happily ____ after” 47. Left or right 48. Ni 50. Carrie Underwood, e.g.

52. Clinton ____ Rodham 53. Cry out loud 55. As opposed to yeses 57. *Largest country 60. *Deepest lake 63. Infamous biker 64. *Dead or Black, e.g.

66. Implied by actions 68. Passion 69. Emergency Medical Services 70. Former anesthetic 71. Feline noise 72. French street 73. High-pitched

DOWN 1. OB-GYN test 2. “Summertime” or “Porgy and Bess,” e.g.

3. *Australia is famous for it 4. Preface 5. “Haste makes waste,” e.g.

6. Turkish honorific 7. Biochemistry abbr.

8. Hutu’s opponents, 1994 9. *Largest continent 10. One who takes drugs 11. Indian music 12. Reply to #37 Across 15. Olsen twin 20. “Too many ____ in the kitchen” 22. One of The Alps 24. Harass 25. *Second-largest Great Lake 26. Embryo cradles 27. Bouncing off the walls 29. *World’s longest river 31. Red ink in finance 32. Harry Potter’s professor Remus ____ 33. Short composition for solo instrument 34. *Number of capitals in South Africa 36. Goose cry 38. Owner’s acquisition 42. Swedish money 45. *Old Faithful, e.g.

49. Floral necklace 51. Hang around 54. Used in some surgery procedures 56. Type of edible ray 57. Of low density 58. Backward arrow on keyboard 59. Flat-bottomed boat 60. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in baseball, e.g.

61. Advil target 62. German song 63. Rapid escape 65. 2nd largest bird in the world 67. Give it a go ISI

Playing For Competition And For Fun

By Jack McNeel Chances are when Roger Baker sets his mind to something it will involve the outdoors: skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and even horseshoe pitching.

Once at a class reunion in a horseshoe match with an old friend who happened to be on crutches, Roger says, “He beat me,” even though he was on crutches. All the way home I said, ‘That’s not going to happen again.’ That was two and a half years ago and since then I’ve thrown, I don’t know, maybe 50,000 horseshoes.

So I’m pretty good.” He even joined the Coeur d’Alene Horseshoe Club for weekly competition.

If Roger does it, he goes all out and at 72, he says, “I just keep trying to be a player as long as I can. That’s been my attitude all my life.”

Roger grew up in a logging community on Washington’s west side and started logging after high school. Working in the woods gave him time off in the winter.

“I spent most of my life in and out of the brush logging and I worked in construction some too.

Living near a ski area, I became a ski bum and logger. I did both of those things most of my life.”

Roger describes his early life as utopia.

“I spent a lot of time in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness when I was a kid. It was literally out my back door. We were little guys and the only guys out there. It was a great time to be a kid.

It was trouble free. Mom would pack us a little lunch and tell us to be home by dark. That was

the only guidance – be home by dark. We’d be gone all day, no phones, no nothing. I suppose I was 10 or 12 climbing mountains by myself or with my buddies.

“I was also on the swim team as a kid from about eight to fourteen or fifteen. Then girls came around!”

During those years after high school, Roger moved a lot, spending winters in Aspen and throughout the northwest as well. He worked on ski patrol and as a ski instructor to earn a living.

“Ski patrol was the best job because you never waited in line, always first,” he recalls with an infectious laugh.

“Living in a logging camp was just a great experience and moving around the country. I could throw everything in a pickup and move in two hours and I did that for 20 years, just ricocheting around the country. That was a fun time in life!”

Roger and his wife Jackie have been married 34 years and have lived in the Silver Valley since 1991. He owned a little piece of property in the Silver Valley and they moved there due in part to its being near a ski area. It’s the longest he’s ever lived in one place. After fifty years of skiing the novelty began to wear off but new interests soon replaced it – snowboarding and mountain biking.

There’s an event in the Silver Valley called Leadman, a takeoff on Ironman but with more of a local twist. It’s also a three-part event where the participants start at the top of Silver Mountain.

“You ski down until you run out of snow.

Then you get on a mountain bike and ride a road to the bottom. (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 10 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

HONORING OUR VE Novem OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Documenting ‘Nam

to the courage of these filmmakers saying, “There’s nothing more noble than the voice that finally breaks the silence, even and especially if the

By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson message delivered is one that makes us confront the best and the worst Idaho and Vietnam may seem worlds apart, but not for filmmakers of who we are.”

Ken and Betty Rodgers, producers of Bravo! Common Men, Uncommon “It’s about war, it’s about what war does to people,” Ken said about Valor, a documentary film about Ken’s unit, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, Bravo!. “And it’s about not just the bad stuff, but the good stuff: the bonds, 26th Marines, during the siege at Khe Sanh. the humanity.”

Ken and Betty, who live in Boise, had never made a film before, but He and Betty made the film to honor the men who served alongside Betty compelled Ken to undertake the production to record the effects him at Khe Sanh. the war had on him and his comrades. The film has had an impact on “I have thought about Vietnam every day since the day I left there,” veterans and their families across the country. shares Ken. It has also affected others like Stephen Hunter, longtime film critic for In early 1968, United States Marines at the Khe Sanh firebase were The Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun. surrounded and besieged by a numerically superior North Vietnamese “It’s a privilege and an honor to come across a work as disciplined force. Over the 77-day siege, the marines were under constant rocket and and rigorous as Ken and Betty Rodgers’ Bravo! Common Men, Uncom- artillery bombardment. All supplies and replacements were transported mon Valor. This grunt film looks at history from over the lip of the trench. by air, and casualties went out the same way, even though the runway To watch it is to think: Where did we get such men?” (Quoting Michener, and aircraft landing on it were also under constant fire. On March 30, The Bridges at Toko-Ri) 1968, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines were ordered to attack Alan Heathcock, award-winning Idaho author of VOLT, pays tribute enemy trench lines on the Khe Sanh perimeter.

Exactly 47 years after that attack, Bravo! was screened at the Egyptian Theatre in Boise to benefit Ada County Veterans’ Treatment Court and the Idaho Veterans’ Network. Attendees included Khe Sanh veterans Ken Korkow, Ron Rees, and Steve Wiese who are featured in the film and who served with Ken Rodgers and Bravo Company.

“We are excited about how we can help folks learn more about the Vietnam War, the personal stories of the people who served, and its longterm costs in human terms. We are also excited to be able to work with all these great Idaho folks and organizations to be able to benefit the Ada County Veteran’s Treatment Court and the Idaho Veterans’ Network,” says Ken. Betty encouraged her husband to make the film after they attended one of the yearly reunions of Khe Sanh Veterans.

“The guys were all sitting around telling their stories and I just sat and listened,” shares Betty. “It really sank in at that that somehow we need to preserve this, their The Most Caring Hospital and Dialysis Center on Earth! time history, their story.”

The film stands as a testament to the men of Bravo Company, with photos, after-action reports, and never-before-heard audio that brings the battle to life.

Bravo! was nominated for one of the inaugural Idaho Media Awards, established by the Idaho Healthcare Services Media Professionals (idahomediapro.com).

Available for During production, Ken and Betty traveled Travelers across the United States conducting interviews “THANK YOU VETS” with 15 members of Bravo Company. They also traveled to George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in California for post-production work. The film’s sound and film editing was done by Vietnam veteran John Nutt, who also worked on Apocalypse Now and Amadeus, and four-time Oscar winner Mark Berger, who mixed the sound.

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ETERANS mber 11 & Always OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Though Bravo! offers a glimpse into some of the bloodiest fighting of the Vietnam War, most memorable are the stories of the men of Bravo Company.

As an article in Stars and Stripes states, “The film also provided some much-needed catharsis to the survivors from Bravo, many of whom opened up for the first time. ‘I don’t think anyone else could have [made the film],’ Marine Corporal Steve Wiese, now 66, told Stars and Stripes

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11

This November, a special symposium at Boise State University called Veterans Week will include a special screening of Bravo! Centered around Veterans Day, the schedule of events will also include a veteran’s art exhibit, lectures, and much more.

A screening to honor Veterans Day will take place on November 11 at Boise State University in Boise.

DVDs of Bravo! are available. Please consider gifting copies to a veteran, a history buff, a library, a friend, or family member. For more information, visit bravotheproject.com/buy-the-dvd/.

For more information visit: facebook.com/Bravotheproject/; Bravotheproject.com; and idahomediapro.com. ISI

At Prestige Care Rehabilitation & Care Center, we are devoted to enriching the lives of those entrusted to us.

Bravo Marines prior to siege. From left to right, Carwille, Foster, O’Hara, Jacobs, Furlong, and Rodgers. [Photo credit to Michael E. O’Hara]

from his California home. For years, he suppressed his experiences and was reluctant to tell his story. That changed when he sat across from the camera and Rodgers. ‘I carry major survivor’s guilt,’ Wiese said. ‘I don’t understand why I’m alive and others aren’t. I don’t understand why I’m here.’”

In the film, Wiese describes how his unit was ambushed during a patrol and how it took him all day to retreat about 400 yards to the besieged American base.

President Barack Obama proclaimed May 28, 2012 through November 11, 2025 as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. Obama writes, “We draw inspiration from the heroes who suffered unspeakably... who were wounded and still carry the scars of war, seen and unseen.”

“It’s about your buddies there and the guy next to you,” Ken recalls of his service in Vietnam.

“You need him to keep you alive. Those bonds that are created are more intense than anything you will find in your life.

“We’ve had people come up and say, ‘Now I understand my dad; I understand my brother, you know. I understand people who had this happen to them and now they can’t function like the rest of us; now I understand why they were the way they were,’” Ken adds. “This is part of the history of the United States.”

If you want to schedule a screening of Bravo!

Common Men, Uncommon Valor in your community, contact Betty Rodgers at bettykrodgers@ gmail.com or call 208-340-8324.

Prestige Care & Rehabilitation

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Phone: 208-743-4558 1014 Burrell Avenue • Lewiston www.prestigecare.com

Thank you to those serving & having served our country

PAGE 12 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Seeing Christmas Magic Through A Digital Screen

By Bernice Karnop Change. It’s one thing you can count on. Change has always defined our times, but the rate of change just keeps accelerating! For example, the shelf life of digital devices today, is so short it makes one’s head spin. Just when you get one device mastered, or at least managed, the grandchildren have moved on to the next must-have, and it’s faster, easier, and so much better than last week’s popular model.

While grandparents may never keep up with the grandkids, they want to tap into the technology that can bring joy and make life easier. In addition to assistive devices along medical lines, are devices and apps that give us faster, better communication with those we love. It is one of the best things about technology.

Say you can’t travel and be with your loved ones during the holidays. With technology, you can “be there” on FaceTime or Skype, talking like you were in the same room. For those who are afraid to try it, think of the digital world as we do electricity. One doesn’t have to “understand” electricity to flip the switch and have light. Neither do you have to “understand” a laptop, notebook, or smartphone to be able to use the programs that you most enjoy or find useful. You may need someone to help set up the program or instruct you, but once it’s set up, you can be chatting with the grandchildren like a pro. (Continued on page 13)

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

(Continued from page 12) Where can you find the help you need? Most salespersons are willing to help set up smart phones, tablets, or computers.

Family members, a neighbor, or friend might be able to help. Senior centers, libraries, and schools are possible sources for tutorial help.

Don’t assume that your mom or dad isn’t able to tap in to the digital magic. A senior friend recently said she’d given her old smartphone to her 84-year old mom and taught her to get on Facebook. She can now see the photos of a new baby down in California on a daily basis. Mom doesn’t use the phone like a teenager would, but she learned the functions that bring her joy and keep her connected to the rest of the family. Today her smartphone is her new grandma’s brag book!

If your grandchildren live nearby, ask your ‘tweens and teens to help you learn even more. They might show you how to manage your digital photos or to download music. Let them know you’re proud of their mastery of the technology. Show them that you care enough to learn something about what they are interested in, and enjoy the quality time of just being together, sharing an activity.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13

Presenting grandchildren with smartphones, tablets, e-readers, or gaming devices can be tricky. If you want to do this, check with the parents or caregivers first. In spite of all the advantages, they also have some serious pitfalls so parental guidance is crucial.

Some children are allowed their own flat screen television set in their rooms, but others are not. What is considered age-appropriate in one family may not be in another. The last thing grandpa wants to do is to spark a small war on Christmas day.

Whether or not we are comfortable with the change, we have moved into the digital age. While there’s no one size to fit all solutions to making the brave new world comfortable, you can start by taking some steps to make it work for you.

When you think about it, no one can appreciate this technology more than those who remember, not so long ago, when you had to take 36 photos before the film could be developed. Then you wrote a letter, added a print, sealed and stamped the envelope, and took it to the post office.

Here’s wishing our readers a blessed holiday season, and one that’s made even merrier because of the magic of digital technology. ISI

The Sock Monkey: Sharing Holidays Past And then they disappeared, going the way of Gumby and Pokey, Mr. Bill, and Mr. Potato Head.

Yet there they were again in my gift catalogs – the appealing little dolls in an assortment of colors and sizes, replicas embroidered onto cuddly lap blankets and fashioned into scarves, winter hats, and slippers.

By CJ Golden There is definitely magic in the air on December 25. Whether or not one celebrates the miracle of Christmas, there is no denying that this day holds something special – a day to bring families and friends together; a day to share good food and cheer; and most special of all, a day to remember Christmases of years past.

And that is just what occurred last year when I spent Christmas with my children and grandkids – all because of a sock monkey.

Let me explain. While rifling through holiday catalogs last year in search of suitable gifts for my friends and family members, I noticed the resurgence of the once ubiquitous sock monkey. These charming little creatures had first appeared in the early 1900s when several very ingenious and talented women started fashioning Rockford Red Heel work socks into monkey dolls for their children. The fad caught on and in short order, children around the country began toting their own sock monkey dolls, each with its own personal touches and characteristics. They were very charming, soft, cuddly, and a favorite of many children – myself included.

And then they disappeared, going the way of Gumby and Pokey, Mr. Bill, and Mr. Potato Head.

Yet there they were again in my gift catalogs – the appealing little dolls in an assortment of colors and sizes, replicas embroidered onto cuddly lap

blankets and fashioned into scarves, winter hats, and slippers. They were, indeed, the perfect gift for two of my friends – gals who I knew would enjoy the whimsy of these items and would be able to recall their own sock monkey dolls from childhood. I thought I had found something extremely special and unique.

Well, they might have been special, but they certainly were not unique. It wasn’t long before I started spotting adults and teens alike wearing all manner of sock monkey paraphernalia. And in seeing this amazing resurgence, I recognized that this was a gift my grandchildren would appreciate as well.

I had not realized, however, the profound significance of sharing this little guy with the children. Gearing up for my Christmas Eve overnight stay with my husband and daughter Donna at another of our kids’ house, I knew I wanted to appear on Christmas morning in a unique pair of pajamas – it is fun to be the “outrageous” grandmother and I work hard at keeping up that appearance.

Locating sock monkey pajamas and slippersocks online, I eagerly ordered them for Donna and myself. And then got smaller versions of the socks for each of the grandchildren. It was Donna who took it a step further; she Googled the Rockford Red Heel site and ordered two pairs

of socks with instructions for us to make our own sock monkey dolls.

Much to my pleasure, the kids were quite amused when Donna and I appeared in our pajamas and slippers. Even more exciting was their delight at receiving their own pairs of sock monkey footwear.

The piece de resistance came when Donna produced the sock monkey kits and we proceeded to spend much of the morning making these personable little dolls – complete with the hair color, button eyes, and hats of the kid’s choices.

And thus having been reborn, this charming little fellow gave to my family’s newest generation the same great pleasure he had given to me so many years ago when I was a child – to see this affable little fellow sitting atop heads and being wrapped around jackets as he keeps people warm in such a jocular manner.

Of course, I love the thrill of seeing the rebirth of the sock monkey shared as a piece of my childhood with my children and grandchildren.

They understand that in their sock monkey items they are experiencing a bit of the young girl Grams was so many years ago. And it brings us just a little closer together.

And that is what holidays are all about – bridging the years and bringing the generations together. ISI

PAGE 14 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Nudists Among Us: The Body Beautiful, Even with Scars

By Rita Robinson The woman standing in the buff near a fountain just inside the two guarded gates I had just passed through appeared to be in her late 60s. She smiled big, welcoming the sun to her entire body.

I chatted with her for a few minutes, and noticed that like me, she was flat chested. Not, though, by birth as I was. It was obvious that she’d had a double mastectomy. I caught glimpses of her throughout the day, and came to admire her graceful walk around the premises, acknowledging friends along the way, all of whom seemed overjoyed to be in her presence. Her smile was radiant, and eyes bright. Her step light and sure.

The hands expressive. And the laugh infectious.

Her mood and attitude lifted mine. I had driven down for a visit to a nudist camp from the still snowladen mountain area where I lived in Southern California. The May sun warmed my skin, although I wore a wide-brimmed hat and plenty of sunscreen like most others at the camp. And we all carried towels to sit on, of course.

I jumped in the swimming pool with abandonment because I wore no bathing suit to pull this way and that, or to bubble up the halter-top. Others played volleyball, ping pong, or just leisurely strolled around. None of the approximately 400 people there that day would have qualified for a beauty or Mr. Atlas contest. And no posturing took place, because Rolex watches matter little when no one is wearing any clothes.

I didn’t remember much else from that rare trip to the nudist camp until a few years later after I underwent cancer surgery. I gazed down somberly at the long scar running the length of my abdomen.

Although the scar was in a different place from that of the woman I had met at the camp, I remembered her grace, and obvious upbeat attitude in the face of her own scaring. At first, my scar didn’t bother me. Being alive was enough. Never would I fret over my body shape again, I thought. And I didn’t – at least not then.

My first trip while recuperating was to Las Vegas. I knew exactly what to do once I checked in. I headed for the swimming pool, removed my cover-up, and turned my body, clad in bikini, with

scar showing, into my statement of a woman ready to live again, and to do it without the usual body shape hang-ups endemic to Americans.

As the months passed, I realized scar and the poochy stomach were here to stay. Despite the use of vitamin-E oil and a couple of others touted to minimize the effects of scaring, the scar remained prominent. And I groused a little about it.

I’m more serene about it now, but the scar and the pooch remind me continually that most men’s and women’s bodies are imperfect to begin with, and that they continue to change through the ravages of time and mishaps.

Another friend, large busted, who used to model bathing suits professionally, is readying to undergo surgery for breast cancer. “I was always so proud of my breasts,” she said. Now in her early 60s, and continually fighting the battle of the bulge, she said, “I hope going through all this won’t undo all the weight I’ve lost.”

Down deep, I know that we must find our self worth in places that don’t involve the outside of our bodies. At the same time, we need to see ourselves as beautiful in the way we walk, or hold a child, the movement of our hands, the sparkle of a smile, the comfort or joy in the words we speak, and the family and friends we love.

I think the woman at the nudist camp knew these things, and so was not only unfettered by clothing, but free of inward hostility over imperfections. What a number we do on ourselves when we really have more important and fun things to do with our lives.

Rita Robinson, an award-winning journalist and author of 11 books, writes from Fawnskin, a mountain community in California. ISI

It Is Time To Pay It Forward for Healthy Aging Do you know there are students at Boise State University who have your interests at heart? It’s true. Students pursuing careers in aging are working to assure Idaho’s communities are age-friendly by gathering evidence on the needs of family caregivers for use by legislators, conducting research on the Idaho Fit and Fall Proof™ Program, working on technology designed to make it easier to age-in-place, and much, much more. Coordinated through the Center for the Study of Aging (CSA), this work links learning to the community and is very important to a student’s career.

Would it surprise you to know there are no scholarships specifically designated for these students at Boise State? We need career professionals dedicated to healthy aging, and we need to help these students pursue their education.

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We ask you to “pay it forward” for these students by donating to the Boise State Center for the Study of Aging Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact Dr. Sarah Toevs at 208-4262452 or stoevs@boisestate.edu.

Another option, charitable estate planning, al-

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15

lows donors to make the greatest possible impact on the lives of Boise State students while maintaining future financial security for themselves and their loved ones. To learn more, please visit giving. boisestate.edu/estateplanning. ISI

Osteoporosis Affects Men Too Provided by Comfort Keepers Osteoporosis gets plenty of press with older women, but older men would do well to assess their risk for this disease. Osteoporosis causes bone density loss in both women and men. Its progression is silent, and without screening, it usually becomes evident when the person suffers a fractured bone from a low-impact activity. More than half (55%) of all senior adults in the United States have osteoporosis. Until recently, osteoporosis was seen as a disease that affected primarily white, older women, but more research has shown that it affects both women and men of all races.

Current estimates indicate that osteoporosis affects two million men in the United States, with 12 million more at risk. As the population ages, these rates will only increase.

While osteoporosis appears to affect fewer men than women (one in five men compared with one in three women), the consequences for men are more severe. For example, older men are more likely to die within a year of having a hip fracture due to bone loss. Unfortunately, due to a lack of understanding of the disease, older men are also less likely to be diagnosed with and receive treatment for osteoporosis after a fracture occurs.

Considering this, men over 50 may want to be proactive and find out if they have osteoporosis.

They can start by assessing their risk. The same risk factors apply to women and men and include the following: • Family history of bone fractures, especially hip fractures, due to osteoporosis • Smoking • Inactive lifestyle • Excessive alcohol use • Certain medications used over prolonged periods, such as corticosteroids, sedatives, antidepressants, and medications that inhibit the absorption of calcium • Low body weight and weight loss • Loss of height • Abnormally low levels of sex hormones • Gastrointestinal disorders that prevent the absorption of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, vitamins D and K, phosphorous, and amino acids (all essential for bone health).

Older men with any of these factors should discuss their risk with their doctors and request a screening. They can also make lifestyle changes such as decreasing alcohol intake, stopping smoking, increasing activity levels, and doing weightbearing exercises. Tackling osteoporosis before it causes significant bone density loss will help ensure active and independent living. ISI

How to Save on Hearing Aids Dear Savvy Senior, Where can we find affordable hearing aids? My husband needs a set but we can’t really afford to pay a lot. Can you help us?

Loud-Talking Wife Dear Loud, It’s unfortunate, but millions of Americans with hearing loss don’t get hearing aids because they simply can’t afford them. Hearing aids – typically sold through audiologists’ offices – are expensive, usually costing between $1,000 and $3,500 per ear. What’s more, traditional Medicare doesn’t cover them and private insurance typically hasn’t either.

But there are numerous ways to save on hearing aids if you know where to look. Here are a few tips.

Check Your Insurance While most private health insurance companies do not cover hearing aids, there are a few that do.

United Healthcare, for example, offers high-tech custom hearing aids to their beneficiaries through HealthInnovations for $599 to $899 each. And a small number of other plans will pitch in $500 to $1,000 towards the cost of hearing aids, or give you a discount if you purchase hearing aids from a contracted provider.

And due to state law mandates, three states – Arkansas, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island – currently require private insurance companies to provide hearing aid coverage for adults and 20 require it for children. So check with your insurance provider to see if it offers a hearing aid benefit.

If your husband is a Medicare beneficiary you should know that while original Medicare (Part A and B) and Medigap supplemental policies do not cover hearing aids, there are some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans that do. To look for a plan in your area that covers hearing aids visit Medicare. gov/find-a-plan.

If he is a current or retired federal employee enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, some plans provide hearing aid coverage, including the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan that covers hearing aids every three years up to $2,500.

And, if you are on Medicaid, most state programs cover hearing aids, but requirements vary.

To find out if he qualifies, contact your state’s Medicaid program or visit Medicaid.gov.

Veterans Benefit If your husband is a veteran, the VA provides a hearing aid benefit if his hearing loss was connected to military service or linked to a medical condition treated at a VA hospital. He can also get hearing aids through the VA if his hearing loss is severe enough to interfere with his activities of daily life. To learn more, call 877-222-8387 or visit VA.gov.

Assistance Programs If your income is low, various programs and foundations provide financial assistance for hearing aids to people in need. Start by calling your state vocational rehabilitation department (see parac.org/svrp.html) to find out if there are any city, county, or state programs, or local civic organizations that could help.

Also contact Sertoma (Sertoma.org, 816-3338300), a civic service organization that offers a comprehensive list of state and national hearing aid assistance programs on its website. Or call the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at 800-241-1044, and ask them to mail you their list of financial resources for hearing aids.

Cheaper Buying Options If you are unable to get a third party to help pay for your husband’s hearing aids, you can still save significantly by purchasing his hearing aids at Costco or online.

Most Costco stores sell top brands of hearing aids for 30-50 percent less than other warehouse chains, hearing aid dealers, or audiologists’ offices.

This includes an in-store hearing aid test, fitting by a hearing aid specialist, and follow-up care.

And websites like EmbraceHearing.com and Audicus.com, sell quality hearing aids directly from the manufacturer for as little as $400 or $500. But, he will need to get a hearing evaluation from a local audiologist first, which can cost between $50 and $200.

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 T he Savvy Senior book. ISI

Helping People Get Their Chemotherapy Closer To Home

H

istorically, chemotherapy is offered in larger medical centers, so patients have had to travel for their treatments. Cassia Regional Medical Center is bringing your healing home by collaborating with your medical team and doctor to provide your chemotherapy treatments right here in Mini-Cassia.

PAGE 16 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Low Vitamin D Associated With Significant Decline In Cognition Vitamin D insufficiency among the elderly is highly correlated with accelerated cognitive decline and impaired performance, particularly in domains such as memory loss that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, researchers with the University of California Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center and Rutgers University have found. The effect is “substantial,” with individuals with low vitamin D declining at a rate three times faster than those with adequate vitamin D levels do.

The researchers said their findings amplify the importance of identifying vitamin D insufficiency among the elderly, particularly high-risk groups such as African-Americans and Hispanics, who are less able to absorb the nutrient from its most plentiful source: sunshine. Among those groups and other darker-skinned individuals, low vitamin D should be considered a risk factor for dementia, they said.

“Independent of race or ethnicity, baseline cognitive abilities, and a host of other risk factors, vitamin D insufficiency was associated with significantly faster declines in both episodic memory and executive function performance,” said Joshua Miller, professor and chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University.

“This work, and that of others, suggests that there is enough evidence to recommend that people in their 60s and older discuss taking a daily vitamin

D supplement with their physicians,” Miller said.

“Even if doing so proves to not be effective, there’s still a very low health risk to doing it,” he said.

The large, longitudinal study was conducted in nearly 400 racially and ethnically diverse men and women in Northern California participating in longitudinal research at the Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Sacramento, Calif. Fifty percent of participants were Caucasian, and 50 percent were African-American or Hispanic. The participants had a mean age of 76 and were either cognitively normal, or had mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

The participants’ serum vitamin D status was measured at the beginning of the study. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were prevalent among all of the study participants. Overall, 26 percent were deficient and 35 percent were insufficient. Among Caucasians, 54 percent had low vitamin D, compared with 70 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics.

Over five years of follow-up, vitamin D deficient individuals experienced cognitive declines that were two-to-three times faster than those with adequate serum vitamin D levels did. In other words, it took only two years for the deficient individuals to decline as much as their counterparts with adequate vitamin D declined during the five-year follow-up period.

“We expected to see declines in individuals with low vitamin D,” said Charles DeCarli of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center. “What was unexpected was how profoundly and rapidly [low vitamin D] impacts cognition.”

Exposing the skin to sunlight is the major source of vitamin D. Racial and some ethnic minorities are at greater risk of low vitamin D because the higher concentration of melanin that makes their skin darker – and protects against skin cancer in sunny climates – also inhibits synthesis of vitamin D. Diet is the other major source of vitamin D. Dietary vitamin D is obtained particularly through dairy consumption. The intake of dairy products is especially low among minority groups, with only 6.5 percent of African-Americans and 11 percent of Mexican-Americans nationwide consuming the recommended three daily servings of dairy products, the study says.

“I don’t know if replacement therapy would affect these cognitive trajectories. That needs to be researched and we are planning on doing that,” DeCarli said. “This is a vitamin deficiency that could easily be treated and that has other health consequences,” he said.

The UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center is one of only 27 centers designated by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging. The center’s goal is to translate research into improved diagnosis and treatment for patients while focusing on the long-term goal of finding a way to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease. Also funded by the state of California, the center allows researchers to study the effects of the disease on a uniquely diverse population. For more information, visit http://alzheimer.ucdavis.edu. ISI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Medicare Options For Travelers

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17

Medicare does not provide coverage outside the U.S. including cruising, except in rare cases, and Medicare drug plans will not cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S. either.

But, there are some Medigap policies that do provide limited coverage abroad. Medigap C, D, F, G, M, and N plans will pay for 80 percent of medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S., but only for the first 60 days of the trip, and you have to meet an annual $250 deductible first. There’s also a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000, so you would need to cover any costs above that amount.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage outside the U.S. will depend on the plan.

Some plans offer emergency care coverage while others don’t. You’ll need to check your plan for details.

If you want additional emergency medical coverage when traveling abroad, some good shopping sites are squaremouth.com and insuremytrip. com, which compare policies from major travelinsurance companies. Prices vary considerably, ranging from under $100 to several hundred dollars depending on your age, what they cover, and how long you’ll be away.

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.

Dear Savvy Senior, What are the best Medicare coverage options for people who travel a lot?

Almost 65 Dear Almost, The best Medicare options for retirees who travel extensively depends on your destination.

Let’s start with a quick review of the different coverage choices Medicare offers beneficiaries today.

One option is Original Medicare, which has been around since 1966, and covers (Part A) hospital services and (Part B) doctor’s visits and other medical services.

If you choose Original Medicare, you may also want to get a Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan (if you don’t already have coverage) to cover your medication costs, and a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy to help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Or, you could get a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan sold through private insurance companies that covers everything Original Medicare covers, plus many plans also offer prescription drug coverage and extra services like vision, hearing, and dental care all in one plan.

To help you evaluate your options, the National Council on Aging offers an online tool at MyMedicareMatters.org, and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free Medicare counseling – call 800-677-1116 for contact information.

You can also shop and compare Medicare health and drug plans and Medigap policies at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan, or call 800-633-4227.

Also note that whatever Medicare plans you choose to enroll in, if you find that they are not meeting your needs or your needs change, you can always switch to a different plan during the open enrollment period between October 15 and December 7.

U.S. Travel If you are planning to travel domestically, Original Medicare provides coverage everywhere in the U.S. and its territories (this includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) as long as the doctor or hospital accepts Medicare.

But, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage may be restricted. This is because most Medicare Advantage plans (which are usually HMOs or PPOs) require you to use doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies that are in the plan’s network within a service area or geographic region. So if you’re traveling outside that area, you may need to pay a higher fee, or your services may not be covered at all.

Before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, check the benefit details carefully to see what costs and rules apply when traveling outside your service area.

Traveling Abroad If you’re planning to travel abroad, Original

Submitted by Julie Brantley Today I was in a store that sells sunglasses, and only sunglasses.

A young lady walked over to me and asked, “What brings you in

I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped onto their belt or purse. I don’t want a cell phone, so I’m wearing my garage door opener.

ball but you are just too tired to bounce it.

You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn’t like me anyway.

When people see a cat litter box they always say, “Oh, have you got a cat?”

For once, I want to say, “It’s for company!” ISI

today?”

I looked at her, and said, “I’m interested in buying a refrigerator.”

She didn’t quite know how to respond. Am I getting to be that age?

Ramblings Of A Retired Mind

I was thinking about being older and decided that aging is when you still have something on the

Curcumin and Curry Help Diabetes and Cancer

By Suzy Cohen As the snowy cold weather begins to roll into Colorado where I live, I crave warmer, heartier meals like chili, stews, and brisket. Juicing kale and celery when it’s 4 degrees outside does not cut it. So at this time of year, garlic and curry go in everything I eat.

Let’s talk curry today. Penang, red or green curry, it’s all good with me! Curry sounds like it’s one spice, but it’s actually a blend of spices, and it always contains some turmeric spice.

Turmeric comes from the ginger family. This yellow-orange spice was first used as a dye until its medicinal properties were uncovered. Our research today proves turmeric positively benefits hundreds of health conditions, making it a healthy and tasty sprinkle for any dish. Do I want it right now? Yes please!

You can buy the spice called turmeric all by itself if you don’t like curry. Supplements of turmeric are sold everywhere. And you will find curcumin, which is one potent extract of turmeric.

Curcumin may prevent or improve age-related cognitive decline, dementia, and mood disorders.

This is not wishful thinking, it’s true. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial observed 60 adults between the ages of 60 and 85. After about one hour of their curcumin dose, these adults enjoyed a higher attention span and better memory than those who swallowed the dud pill, the placebo. After four weeks of curcumin supplements, memory, mood, alertness, and contentedness were considerably better in the participants.

Curcumin is a hot supplement, not spicy hot, but hot in the sense that research is conducted frequently. I found more than 900 published research papers pertaining to curcumin’s anticancer activity. One of these papers found that curcumin has the ability to make some cancer cells commit suicide. Curcumin programs the cell

ISI

to die! That’s a good thing – you want those cancer cells to go good-bye! Technically, we call this apoptosis. Cancers that are resistant to multiple other chemotherapeutic agents seem to respond to curcumin, at least in mouse studies. Because of curcumin’s long-term record of safety and low risk of side effects, I think it’s a great natural adjunct to many protocols, especially for breast and prostate cancer. It’s a strong anti-inflammatory.

Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. Diabetes Care, the journal of the American Diabetes Association, published a study about curcumin’s ability to prevent pre-diabetic patients from becoming full-blown diabetics. Results after 9 months showed 100% success! No one progressed to full diabetes. Further, curcumin-treated patients had better pancreatic beta cell function and higher adiponectin. Excellent! You know, I’m a pharmacist and I’ll tell you there isn’t one drug behind the counter that competes.

Curcumin is the “Kardashian” of herbs. It’s spicy, notorious, and a little goes a long way if you know what I mean.

Too much is not good, it’s a laxative. Most importantly, curry, and curcumin are considered effective and safe by most physicians. I’d ask about supplementing with it if you have inflammatory conditions, especially autoimmune ones like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, and psoriasis. ISI

I thought about making a fitness movie for folks my age and call it Pumping Rust.

PAGE 18 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19

Rich Hanna Has a Fascination With Single Cylinder Engines declares. That was about 30 years ago.

Today his garage is full of single cylinder engines and one with two cylinders. He would love to have some larger engines but space is at a premium. He has about 40 in his garage, but combined with two other storage areas, the total is about 60.

“I’ve had over 100,” he explains, but he is continually buying and selling as opportunities occur.

And, these old engines all tell a story, such as his oldest two.

“This is a 1910 5-horse Galloway and called a round rod. That’s what makes it unique. This one is a 1910 3-horse Ferrell and came off a wooden boat in Ellisport Bay on Lake Pend Oreille. I got it from an old farmer.

It’s a two-cycleAsked about value he replies, “The most expensive I have is about $2,500.

These other two are in the $1,500-$2,000 range. For many of them, if I could get $500 I’d be happy.”

Rich then points to another and explains that this particular engine is very reliable but they are so common, the price would be closer to $250.

When Rich started a 1917 Fuller and Johnson pump jack engine hooked up to an old Myers pump, the slow rhythmic sound of its single cylinder filled the garage.

“The way it’s set up it’s probably worth $1,200.

The pump is about $300 or $400.”

Looking around Rich points out one hooked up to a feed chopper.

Rich is obviously very knowledgeable, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

“See the blade in there? It comes around and the tray feeds in corn and stuff. This one over here is a corn shucker.

That’s a drag saw. This one ran a vacuum pump which was part of a milking machine.”

And he says every engine is different. “Just

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Article & Photo By Jack McNeel “That was my first engine, the little red one,” Rich Hanna says pointing across his garage. “It came out of the Lawrence mine in Clark Fork, up where the old Forest Service station used to be.

I think it probably pumped water. After I got it running, I left it just the way I got it.”

Rich has a love and fascination for old engines, especially single cylinder engines – and interest he believes came from his father who also collected old engines.

“I’m really just a novice but I watched him for years.

He was a machinist by trade. I don’t know why he got into this. He had worked mostly on cars but it likely was something he wanted to do when he retired.

“That little feed grinder over there came from Salmon, Idaho. This one was on a drag saw and came from Herron, Montana. My dad picked it up at a yard sale.

When Dad went to a yard sale, the first thing he asked was, ‘Do you have any old engines?’”

Rich was born in New York, and in 1958, the family came west to visit an uncle who farmed in Montana.

“My mother somehow talked my dad into picking up and moving out.” In 1960, they moved to Clark Fork and ran a trailer park there for nearly 40 years.

Rich taught high school science classes, first in Washington and then in Alaska, but when his mother passed away he returned to Clark Fork to help his dad with the business. A slot opened for a high school teacher in Clark Fork where Rich remained for the last 28 years of his 36-year teaching career.

Three years ago, Rich moved to his present home in Hayden where he prefers the weather compared to Clark Fork.

“The winter’s long, the snow’s deeper, and it’s colder up there,” he says with a laugh. “I like the milder weather.”

Rich’s first project was a 1923 Model T truck he found in Rathdrum. It was totally dismantled and stored in boxes up in the rafters.

“It’s one of those things I now wish I’d kept but somebody saw it, wanted it, and so I sold it,” he

PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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like people they all have their own personalities.”

He tries to get around to all of them annually and start them to make sure they’re in running condition. People like to watch them in action, so when he attends shows he hooks them up to demonstrate how they operate.

The big show each year is the Spokane Fair.

“They have a big country kitchen, tractor pulls, and plow days,” he explains.

Rich belongs to the Spokane Steam and Gas Buffs organization, which has about 300 members from throughout the region – an indication of how popular these old engines are from small to large.

Rich will attend the engine show at September’s Kootenai County Fair in Coeur d’Alene and a show in Kalispell, Montana.

In addition to the fairs and shows, there are also swap meets where collectors gather to buy and sell and exchange thoughts and ideas.

“They’re really neat people,” Rich adds. He’ll be going to a big swap meet in Brooks, Oregon in June, taking along half a dozen engines to sell or trade.

“And hopefully I’ll leave more there than I bring home,” he declares with a laugh. ISI

Kaniksu Land Trust – Building Vital Communities

By Eric Grace Executive Director, Kaniksu Land Trust Land trusts provide conservation options to landowners wanting their land to remain undeveloped for future generations, thereby enriching the health, happiness, and quality of life for all.

If you own land that you would like to protect into the future, consider working with a land trust.

Did you know many estate-planning tools used to protect wealth could be used to protect your property? Charitable remainder trusts, life insurance, and testamentary trusts are just a few options. If you own land, these tools can protect that land forever, while providing significant estate tax-savings.

Rehabilitation Skilled Nursing Services Assisted Living Independent Apartments Therapy 7 Days a Week To learn more about our services in Silverton, ID, call us at (208) 556-1147.

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In north Idaho, the Kaniksu Land Trust has successfully protected 2,300 acres. We also work with the medical community, schools, and other groups on education and health programs. We believe a vital community is determined by its appreciation and love of our environment.

The Kaniksu Land Trust is not alone. There are 19 land trusts operating in Idaho. For more information, please see our advertisement on page 36. If you do not live in north Idaho, contact the Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts (idaholandtrusts. org) to find a land trust that works in your area.

Please call 208 263-9471 or visit kaniksu.org for more information. ISI

Jack Parnell Breeds The Horses That Built America

By Cate Huisman Before meeting the famous horses – or even the humans – at Parnell Ranch, a visitor is welcomed by dogs: Rip, a blue heeler, and Clyde, a shepherd with a white blaze on his face. In a canine way, Clyde looks like a classic Clydesdale, so this is the perfect home for him.

Clyde’s owner, Jack Parnell, always wanted to own Clydesdales. He is a passionate advocate for American agriculture, and he sees draft horses as animals that helped build America into the agricultural powerhouse that it is today. So after decades in ranching, business, and government, he has settled into the Selle Valley north of Sandpoint with a herd of these classic gentle giants.

Parnell grew up on a dairy farm near Auburn, California, north of Sacramento, where his family used draft horses to farm hay for their cattle (they didn’t get a tractor until the 1960s). As an adult, he raised purebred Angus cattle and became a stock auctioneer.

“I traveled all over the United States as a pedigreed livestock auctioneer. I sold Angus cattle for 20 years, pure-

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bred registered Angus cattle,” he explains.

In addition, he published California Cattleman Magazine and started several businesses in Auburn, including a restaurant, a golf course, and the Auburn Bank of Commerce. He also felt drawn to service: two terms as California state secretary of agriculture and another as deputy U.S. secretary of agriculture, during the first Bush administration.

But after his stints in Sacramento and Washington, Parnell came back to work his land, and his passion for agriculture is evident.

“Every segment of our economy, except for agriculture, is taking out – they’re using up resources,” he says. “We’re very good at growing food. Agriculture is the one industry where you can plant a seed, let it grow, clip it off, and create brand new wealth, and do it all over again next year. You haven’t taken anything away from this planet. It’s a renewable resource that’s the very reason we have this magnificent economy we have.”

Although he has lived in north Idaho for 15 years now, he still owns farmland in California, where he grows rice in Sutter, Placer, and Yuba counties.

When he has asked about the attraction of raising Clydesdales – and Parnell is dedicated to raising the best of the breed – their place in American agriculture is prominent.

“Horses are what built America,” he says.

“That’s why we think these horses are so important, because we get people who want to see them, and we talk about agriculture and how important that really is.”

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Along the half-mile or so driveway to the ranch house, a visitor is surrounded by Clydesdales, grazing in the fields or gazing out from stalls along the side of the drive. In the spring, there are foals as well as adult and juvenile horses along either side. Clydesdales do not reach their full size of roughly 2,000 pounds until they are five years old.

Before reaching the log ranch house at the end of the drive, the visitor passes a large barn that houses an indoor riding/driving ring, several buggies, and a couple of sleighs. A second building features more stalls, a tack room, and a high blue ranch wagon, as well as a lab to manage Parnell’s sophisticated breeding program.

Together with his second wife, Michelle (he lost his first wife, Susan, to leukemia), he toured Scotland and Ireland looking for the perfect animal to start his line and found Ramsey, his foundation stallion.

“Breeding livestock is a genetic art,” says Parnell. “Our idea was to buy the best mares we could buy and breed them to Ramsey with the idea of breeding the horses that are tending toward predictability – predictable in appearance and mannerisms.”

Now they have a collection of brood mares that are all Ramsey’s daughters, and they have a new

stallion, Protégé, to breed to the daughters.

“Clydesdales can be any color,” Parnell adds, “but today, Budweiser sets the standard, which is a dark bay horse with four white feet and a blaze on its face.”

The Parnells closely monitor their mares and the mares’ pregnancies to create optimal conditions for bringing more classic Clydesdales into the world.

Ramsey’s sons, meanwhile, are sold to a variety of buyers for a variety of purposes.

Their most famous customer is Anheuser-Busch, known for Budweiser beer and its “hitches,” which are groups of Clydesdale horses that pull the wagons in its advertisements.

“We have a close association with them and we have for years,” says Parnell. “Some of what we’ve sold to Budweiser are stallions they use in their breeding program. Some go on the hitches, which would be geldings. But they’re only one of many customers.”

Other customers buy them for show or for work, to pull carriages; some buyers are police officers who ride them for police work.

Ramsey and Protégé are stunning examples of their breed, flawlessly put together and fit, and one cannot but be impressed by their size, strength, and beauty – in short, to be as enthusiastic as Parnell is about them. They are happy when he comes to visit them, in part because he has been sure to bring a treat in the form of carrots – a small contribution toward the 40 pounds of food a full-grown Clydesdale needs to eat each day. His fondness for these animals is evident as he poses for photos with them.

“They are noble creatures,” he reminds us.

“Horses built America.” ISI

David And Bonnie DeRoose Are Zipping Along In Retirement

Article By Jack McNeel / Photo By Jackie McNeel Retirement is just a word in the dictionary for David and Bonnie DeRoose.

They moved to Wallace in 2006 from California. David, a Wallace native, graduated from Wallace High School in 1962. Bonnie was born and raised in southern California.

“We moved here to retire,” Bonnie says. “But, we’ve never worked so hard.”

David had a construction maintenance company and Bonnie did civil investigation work for insurance and law firms specializing in construction defects while they lived in California. They visited the Silver Valley for golf tournaments at the Shoshone Golf Course starting in 1988 and a few years later started looking at property in Wallace where life would be a bit quieter.

“The traffic, crime – it’s just totally different,” David remarks.

“It’s been good for me, just to come back with the simplicity of living here versus San Diego.

Wallace has changed a lot since I was here before – fewer people and Don’t forget to ask for the Senior Discount more of a tourist town with more and more to do.”

Their first purchase in Wallace was the Eagles Building with an

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

apartment upstairs where they stayed while visiting in those years before moving to Wallace and purchasing a home.

Rather than retiring, they first opened a soda fountain Bonnie explains, “It was like an emporium with antiques and pinball machines in the lower part of the Eagles Building.”

The next purchase was the Molly B’Damn Motel, named after Molly, a well-known “professional” who was well respected for her generosity. She is buried in the old cemetery at Murray, just over the mountain from Wallace. That was followed by some condos located behind Harvest Boots.

But it was only the beginning as Bonnie explains. “We’ve kept busy in all these projects and now have Albi’s Gem Bar, the Day Rock, a smoke free cocktail lounge. Beside it is the Night Rock, an event center we opened about a year and a half ago strictly for events. This was where the emporium was in the bottom of the Eagles Building. We have weddings and birthdays, and the accordion festival is going to be held there, too.”

And what is their most unique business?

“We had the mountain, 260 acres overlooking Wallace on the north side of I-90 that we bought about four years ago thinking of dividing it and selling 10-acre lots for recreational use.

“I was up there one day looking around and thought, ‘That would be a great zip line.’ I started paying attention to the different elevation drops we had and designed a course with eight different zips. Then we contacted a designer/builder from Minnesota to come out.” They spent two days walking the property, David’s original ideas were tweaked, and then it was full bore to completion.

That study was made in October 2011. They opened Silver Streak Zip Lines on June 1, 2012 with tours starting from their building in downtown Wallace where customers pick up their zip line gear. Customers are taken by vans to the mountain

and the first of the zips.

“It’s been crazy,” Bonnie says with a laugh. “It gets busier and busier and busier. We get a lot of business from Coeur d’Alene and Spokane and we’re beginning to get more from Montana.”

Costco stores in Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane Valley sell gift certificates and certificates also sell online, all of which increase the zip line exposure.

The first “zip” is 450 feet in length.

“That’s just to acclimate to the zip line and understand procedures,” David explains. “Number 2 is 750’. Number 3, Dragon Breath, is like stepping off a 6-story building and it’s very quick over its 1,000+ feet. The two real scenic zips are numbers 4 and 5, and Number 6 is even more unusual. It has dual zips where you’re side to side with somebody, and that’s also over 1,000 feet.”

And Bonnie says, “Oh my gosh! Surprisingly, The majority of our people are over 55! Last month we had our very oldest participant. She was 92 years old. I keep meaning to go through our photos and put her on our web site. She was so cute.”

So, here’s another activity you might put on your bucket list – zipping down the mountain on the Silver Streak Zipline Tours in Wallace. Visit silverstreakziplinetours.com for more information.

Wallace has a variety of fun opportunities and the zip line tour was rated #1. Out of 63 reviews, 55 rated the experience as “excellent.”

The zipline has also provided jobs for local college students – about 12 employees, men and woman, work on the mountain as guides. David takes a turn as well when business is particularly busy and an additional guide is needed. He also does all the maintenance work while Bonnie “pretty much runs the office,” he says.

This is retirement DeRoose style. “We’re not looking for any more business,” Bonnie says with a laugh. ISI

Playing For Competition - continued from page 9 You then dump the bike and do a 4.5-mile run up around the golf course and back.”

The first Leadman, eleven years ago, was what got Roger into mountain biking. He didn’t buy a mountain bike until just before that Leadman but says, “Since then I’ve gone through thousands of dollars worth of mountain bikes, and a few trips to the emergency room.” His goal was to do ten Leadman races, but he passed on #11 this year.

“It’s a fun event because you don’t have to be an ironman to do it. The jocks will do it in about 35-50 minutes and the rest of us are strung out up to two hours behind them. I run just once a year.

I’ve worn the same pair of sneakers for all ten Leadmans. I look good out of the parking lot but as soon as soon I get out of sight I slow down and walk a lot.”

Roger rarely skis anymore finding snowboarding more fun and

easier. Like everything he does, when he decided to learn snowboarding it was all out.

“I went every single day for 37 straight days. By the end, I could snowboard. At least friends didn’t have to wait too long for me at the bottom of the hill,” he says laughing.

Roger enjoys biking the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes on a road bike but it’s the challenge of mountain biking that excites him.

“It’s a full attention gig, no doubt about it. You make a decision and react to it, thousands of times in one run which is minutes. It’s a nuanced move and it’s coming at you very fast. There’s all kinds of stuff that hurts if you go off the bike. Trees and rocks are much harder than snow! Anybody who does it much has some experience with drawing blood, that’s for sure.”

Asked when he retired he responded, “I was about 65 when I started playing a whole lot more than I generated income.”

Roger has always been an angler but doesn’t fish much anymore, usually taking one trip into

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the high lakes in the Cascades with his son and grandsons. He’s almost apologetic in saying he lives within a stone’s throw of the Coeur d’Alene River and some of the best fishing in the country but seldom fishes it.

Woodworking is Roger’s avocation and has a nice wood shop where he makes furniture.

“I’ve always had a love affair with wood but am pretty much self taught. I love the term rustic. My work isn’t museum quality stuff, folks,” he declares laughing again. “What saves me is that I have some beautiful wood. I have all kinds of maple burl. It’s pretty stuff so it hides my lack of skills.”

Despite Roger’s comments, he’s furnished his

own house, given a lot away over the years, and sold quite a bit too. He occasionally does commission work and a store in Harrison handles some of his work.

Roger enjoys gardening, too, especially flowers.

“I share my yard with the animals. The deer eat everything that the ground squirrels don’t,” he remarks. “There are a few things they don’t like to eat but I have to fence off little areas.”

At 72, Roger Baker is a good example that age is what you do with it – he may not be able to do everything he once did but he is still very much of a player. ISI

Transformations – From Cold Metal...

(continued from front cover)

“We couldn’t be more different. I’m the dirty one in custom interiors and exteriors for homes. Most doing the physical stuff and he’s the clean and are designed by the architect ahead of time and polished, in a suit every day, lawyer.” they call me in for the work. Plus some design But she’s quick to add that he has a great eye work as well.” and is very helpful when she is stuck on a project Theresa was expecting a large shipment of and needs some help determining the direction a sheet steel soon after we spoke. particular piece should take.

“They are going to wrap a fireplace, a chimney, “I’m definitely a person that doesn’t believe in and a bar. It’s fabricated and I’ll put the patina on limits based on your gender,” although now in her it and make it look like steel blue, like gun bluing.” early 50s she finds it’s becoming harder to wrestle A photo on her website shows a fireplace she sheets of steel. “That’s why I started working with finished earlier – a four-month project. aluminum because it weighs less and is a little Although largely self taught, Theresa is now easier to work. I mostly worked with steel before – in a situation where she can mentor others, which that and copper.” she finds very enjoyable.

In her studio, it is difficult to identify which was “I recently started teaching some classes with which. Theresa explains that aluminum doesn’t GIZMO. It’s a non-profit organization and has rust, whereas “steel’s job is to rust.” Once the piece woodworking, welding, clay, etc. I’ve taught two is designed it’s cut, welded, and then painted. She women-only welding courses there.” uses automotive paints and then covers that with The years of moving sheets of steel around are automotive clear coat. “No matter what the metal beginning to cause some physical aches and pains is, it needs some kind of finish if it’s going to be but it hasn’t slowed her enthusiasm for mountain outside.” biking with Barry.

The 20-foot sculpture on the east end of Sher“We are avid mountain bikers so we bike a lot. man in Coeur d’Alene was the result of a call for That, along with a big garden, fills my spare time.” entries in a competition. Her idea was selected and In the future, Theresa plans to do more of the it was completed in 2010. same but also dabble a little in painting and some“I worked on it for eight months, nearly every thing called encaustic, day,” Theresa explains. She has another piece, which is a beeswax kind very different, on the parking garage of the Coeur of color painting. She will d’Alene Hospital that she did under contract. move slightly away from Another piece, again very different, is located in the big, heavy, physical downtown Coeur d’Alene. It’s part of the program work. where the city puts out a call for artists to submit To learn more about designs and if selected the artist will create the this prominent Coeur piece and it will be shown and available for sale. d’Alene artist and her Earlier this summer Theresa delivered a work visit teresamchugh.

12-foot-tall piece to Ketchum. They have a simi- com. ISI lar program to that of Coeur d’Alene with the art placed in town and • Adult / Pediatrics available for sale.

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PAGE 24 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Roadside Assistance Services For Peace Of Mind

By Jim Miller Getting set up with a roadside assistance service you can call on day or night if your vehicle breaks down is a smart idea, and can provide you some real peace of mind. Here are some different options to consider.

Already Covered?

For years, auto clubs like AAA were the only option when it came to roadside assistance, but today you have many choices. Most plans provide services like towing, flat-tire changes, jump-starts, lost-key or lockout services, fuel delivery, and help with stuck vehicles.

Before you start shopping, you first need to find out if you already have coverage or access to coverage that you’re not aware of.

If you drive a vehicle that is under warranty, there’s a good chance you’re already covered for the period of the warrenty.

Also check your auto insurance provider, credit card issuers, and cell phone service providers. Many of these services provide different variations of roadside assistance.

But, be aware that many of these services are limited in what they cover, so investigate the benefit details including: who’s covered (individuals and vehicles); how many assistance calls are allowed each year (three or four is typical); the average response time per service call; and the towing rules.

Auto Clubs If you find that you aren’t covered, or you want a better plan, you’ll want to check out auto/motor clubs. Most of these clubs offer two or more levels of membership depending on how much roadside assistance you want and other services.

One of the best-known clubs, AAA (aaa.com), offers comprehensive services and has an extensive network of more than 40,000 roadside assistance providers, which usually means fast response times. Costs vary from $48 to $162 annually depending on location and plan.

Other clubs to consider include Allstate Motor Club (allstatemotorclub. com); AARP Roadside Assistance (aarproadside.com) for AARP members only; Better World Club (betterworldclub.com); BP Motor Club (www.bpmotorclub.com); Good Sam (goodsamroadside.com); and GM Motor Club (gmmotorclub.com).

On-Demand Assistance Another new option to consider is pay-on-demand roadside assistance services like Urgently (urgent.ly) and Honk (honkforhelp.com). If you use a smartphone and live in their service area, these non-membership appbased services will let you call for help via smartphone, and will only charge you for the assistance you need at a low price.

Whatever plan you choose, may your trips be safe and enjoyable. ISI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25

Meeting The Challenges Of Alzheimer’s Disease It is natural to feel overwhelmed, but the Alzheimer’s Association has resources to help you face the challenges you are going to experience.

Early-stage refers to people, irrespective of age, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and in the beginning stages of the disease. In this stage, they retain the ability to participate in daily activities and in give-and-take dialogue. This includes those persons with “younger-onset” who develop dementia under age 65 and are still in the early stages of the disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Idaho Chapter recognizes the needs of persons diagnosed with the disease and their caregivers. The following resources are available to help develop and navigate the many thoughts, emotions, and questions about memory loss and dementia.

Alzheimer’s Association 24/7/365 Helpline 1-800-272-3900 The Helpline is a resource for information and support. Information specialists and masters-level counselors are available at all times with one-onone assistance to help you better understand the disease, manage care, and make informed decisions regarding services and treatments.

Education Classes Free local classes and online seminars are available to help people living with the disease and family members increase their understanding of memory loss, communication, and changes in behavior, and make legal and financial plans. Medical professionals, employers, and facility caregiver staff are encouraged to participate.

Early-Stage Support Groups The Alzheimer’s Association offers professionally led support groups for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and their care partners. Potential participants are interviewed before each of 10 meeting sessions held every other week for 20 weeks to ensure that the group is appropriate for each person’s needs. They are not open on a drop-in basis.

Caregiver Support Groups Caregiver support groups are facilitated throughout Ada and Canyon counties and in the Magic Valley at various times each month.

These meetings are open to anyone who wishes to give and get support with the challenges of caregiving for family and friends.

ALZConnected This online social networking community is for anyone affected by Alzheimer’s disease. It provides a safe place for people to connect with others in similar situations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at no charge.

Community Resource Finder Finding reliable resources close to home can make a difference in quality of life and planning.

Visit communityresourcefinder.org to choose from a comprehensive database of legal experts, housing and care options, and programs and services all in one location. Professionals can register to be included in this database at no cost.

For additional information on any of these programs, please call 1-800-272-3900 or visit our website at alz.org. ISI

Take Action In The Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is reaching epidemic proportions as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Currently, 5.2 million Americans live with the disease, and the number is expected to triple by the year 2050. The Alzheimer’s Association needs your help in its efforts to change these numbers!

Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch™ With the help of human volunteers, scientists are constantly working to advance clinical research to find better treatments, prevention, and cures.

TrialMatch™ is a free, easy-to-use clinical-studies matching service that connects individuals with AD, caregivers, healthy volunteers, and physicians with current studies. Our continuously updated database of over 130 AD clinical trials includes pharmacological (drug) and non-drug studies being conducted at 500 trial sites across the country. To learn more, visit alz.org/trialmatch or call 1-800-272-3900 to speak directly with a clinical trials specialist.

Become an Advocate for Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s advocates play an important role in improving the quality of care and quality of life for people with AD and their families by carrying our message to elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels. As an advocate, you will receive regular updates about current legislative and public policy issues; be invited to communicate with elected officials via petitions, phone calls, and other calls-to-action; and be asked to share your story with others. Make your voice heard by signing up today. Join us in helping achieve

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

our vision of creating a world without Alzheimer’s.

Go to alz.org/advocacy to get involved right away!

Walk to End Alzheimer’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this

inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions of people. Families, friends, co-workers, and social and religious groups are invited to be a part of this fun experience. There is no fee to participate but all walkers are asked to set individual fund raising goals. It is easy to sign up a team online and

use our interactive tools to reach out to others to raise awareness and funds, which support local resources and research throughout the world. The Treasure Valley Walk is held in early October each year, followed by a Walk in the Magic Valley. Go online today to sign up and join in the fight at alz. org/walk! ISI

Hospice of North Idaho – It’s Never Too Early To Call!

By Amanda Miller What if you had a seriously ill loved one who might not recover from their illness? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could bring compassionate care from doctors, nurses, and support staff into your loved one’s home? What if these experts could deliver pain, symptom, and medication management, medical equipment, and other assistance – plus 24-hour trained counsel to address your concerns? Luckily, Hospice of North Idaho is available to provide these things to anyone in

our community who is faced with serious illness.

While hospice care has a 98+% satisfaction rate with family members, many surveys express some version of, “I wish we had called Hospice of North Idaho sooner.”

Hospice of North Idaho focuses on the quality of the days a patient has left with a goal neither to hasten nor extend life, but to affirm life. Patients and families benefit most from hospice when they enroll early and utilize all that comes with this service. Enrolling late can mean struggles

for the family caregiver and pain or discomfort for the loved one that could have been avoided.

Our local, non-profit Hospice of North Idaho has been serving the seriously ill and those touched by loss, regardless of their ability to pay, since 1981. Call us now at 208-772-7994 or visit hospiceofnorthidaho.org for information on end-of-life care, planning for the future, and serious illness – before the need arises! You have nothing to lose! ISI

BluePath Welcomes New PathFinders

To find an accessible business, a person with a disability will do a “drive-by” to see if there is parking or barriers. Or they will Google street view and study the picture to see if there are barriers.

Or they will call the business and hope the person understands their questions about accessibility.

Sometimes they do all three!

A new free website (blue-path.org) provides information to people with disabilities about where to shop, dine, or do business. By connecting local consumers with local accessible businesses, we can start the conversation to make every community more accessible. This is good for business as the disability market is twice the size of the teen

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market and represents $220 billion in discretionary spending. And this population is expected to grow.

By becoming a PathFinder, you can leave a review that can be helpful to someone else. You can educate and advocate about your needs with businesses who want to serve people with disabilities.

And you can recommend accessible businesses to be on the website. Businesses who are BluePath Members can find information and resources about easy ways to make their business more accessible and market directly to people with disabilities and their friends and family.

Please call 208-883-0523 for additional information. ISI

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What You Need To Know About Hospice

By Teresa Ambord If you’re thinking about hospice, you are probably aware that it’s not about a cure. It’s about comfort, symptom management, and pain management for someone who is terminally ill.

The point isn’t to lengthen life, but sometimes the reduced stress and pain do allow patients to live a little bit longer.

Since 2008, the need for hospice care has increased steadily. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) says more than 250,000 patients each year are added to hospice care, and this number is expected to continue rising as baby boomers age.

Who Is Eligible for Hospice Care?

To be eligible for hospice a patient’s regular doctor and a hospice doctor have to certify that the person is terminally ill and has a life expectancy of six months or less. The patient must also sign a statement choosing hospice care, rather than other treatment covered by Medicare that is related to the terminal illness. Once the decision to enter hospice is made, a plan of care is developed with a team of doctors, nurses, counselors, and social workers.

Most often, hospice care means the patient has decided to die at home, rather than in an institution. When hospice care at home isn’t an option, a patient might be able to have hospice care at a long-term facility like a nursing home, or at a freestanding hospice center. However, you should know, if you have hospice care anywhere other than your home, chances are Medicare will not pay for it, says the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. If you have other insurance, check with them before entering a hospice center, otherwise you may be paying for it.

Does entering hospice mean you have a within-six-months death sentence? Every experience is different. A year ago, I didn’t know what hospice was. In that time, I’ve had three loved ones enter hospice. Aunt Dorothy lived in a nursing home with round-the-clock care for a couple of years. Finally, her care switched to hospice, and she lingered for nearly six months before passing away peacefully.

A few months later, my dad had his first hospice appointment early one hot August morning.

Within an hour, he was gone. Then last winter, when my friend Ed went into hospice care, I was grieved to know his days were numbered. Two months later, he was deemed to be improving and was sent back to curative care, where he remains.

Many people mistakenly believe that once you enter hospice, you can’t go back to curative care. Your health may improve or your illness may go into remission. If you no longer need hospice, ask your doctor to change your care plan. But regardless, you have the right to stop hospice care at any time. What then? If you leave hospice, you will go back to the type of Medicare coverage you had before entering hospice. If you need to return to hospice care later and are eligible, you generally can.

Will Medicare Pay for Hospice?

Assuming you enter hospice in your own home and you have original Medicare, your cost, according to Medicare.gov, should be $0.

You may have to pay a small co-pay of $5 per prescription drug or other pain or symptomcontrol medication. Hospice workers are typically available on call, around the clock, every day, as needed.

While original Medicare does pay for hospice in the patient’s home, many areas are not covered. Generally, these areas relate to curative treatment, rather than palliative.

Here is the list, directly from Medicare.gov.

• Treatment meant to cure your terminal illness or related conditions. Medicare recommends that if you are in hospice and are considering getting treatment that will be curative; you should talk to your doctor. Medicare reminds patients they have the right to stop hospice at any time.

• Prescription drugs that are to cure your illness, as opposed to drugs to control symptoms or relieve pain.

• Care from any hospice provider not set up by the hospice medical team. Your care must be from the hospice provider you chose, and all care for your terminal illness must be given or arranged by that team, unless you opt to change your provider. You can still see your regular doctor if he or she is the physician you chose to supervise your hospice care.

• Room and board at a nursing home or inpatient hospice facility where you receive hospice care is not covered by Medicare. However, if your hospice team determines that you need short-term inpatient or respite care that is arranged by them, Medicare will generally cover your stay there. You might have to pay a small co-pay.

• Emergency room care, inpatient facility care, or ambulance transportation will not be covered, unless it is arranged by your hospice team or unrelated to your terminal illness.

For these reasons, it is important to contact your hospice team before you get any of these services, or you may have to pay the entire cost of care.

How Can You Know That a Hospice Program Is a Good One? Hospices are subject to state licensing requirements in order to deliver care. And if they want to be approved for Medicare reimbursement, they must comply with federal regulations.

Once they are approved, they must undergo periodic inspections to ensure they continue to meet regulatory standards. Otherwise, they will lose their operations license and the ability to be reimbursed by Medicare.

Need help finding a hospice? Go to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, at nhpco.org/resources/choosing-hospice.

Sources: nhpco.org/about-hospice-andpalliative-care/hospice-faqs and medicare.gov/ coverage/hospice-and-respite-care.html. ISI

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Housebound? Sixteen Tips To Help You

By Lisa M. Petsche When people are sidelined due to convalescence from an illness, recovery from surgery, or a major chronic illness or disability, their world shrinks considerably. Many resources are available to provide you with assistance right in your home.

Avoid the pitfall of becoming disconnected from others and the world in general, and try not to despair. There are many things you can do to

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remain involved in life. Sixteen ideas are included below.

1. Make it a point to stay connected to important people in your life. Call friends and invite them over regularly. It’s worth the time and energy.

2. Cultivate relationships with people who listen attentively, demonstrate compassion, and provide encouragement. Do be careful not to make your health problems and related frustrations the focus of every conversation. Perpetual frustration or self-pity will only alienate others.

3. Seek help from your primary physician if you continually feel sad, angry, overwhelmed, or unmotivated. There is no need to suffer – depression is treatable.

4. Practice self-care by eating nutritiously, exercising appropriately, getting adequate rest, and avoiding unnecessary stress. Ensuring you’re in the best possible health will help to maximize your quality of life.

5. Accept help. Be prepared when friends and neighbors ask if there’s any kind of practical assistance they can offer. Perhaps it’s dusting and vacuuming, doing laundry, running errands, sweeping the walk, or taking out the garbage. If necessary, ask for help rather than struggle alone.

People in your life will likely be very happy to provide assistance; they just need to know what you need.

6. Research and take advantage of businesses that offer home delivery – for example, grocery stores, drug stores, and dry cleaners, as well as personal concierge services. Do likewise regarding mobile services in your area, such as hairstyling, nail care, dental hygiene services, and dog grooming.

7. Purchase a treat by mail order (phone or internet) now and then; you’ll have something to look forward to while it’s en route. The gift to yourself might be a book, movie, music CD, or seasonal decor item, for example. If you have limited income, find out if the public library has an

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8. Make the effort to feel good about your appearance. Paint your nails, have a friend set your hair, or order a new accessory. Put together a pamper kit of items to give you a lift when you’re feeling down – for example, a relaxation CD containing soothing sounds of nature, scented candles, fragrant body lotion, or gourmet coffee or tea.

9. Cultivate some solitary pastimes – such as taking up word puzzles or jigsaw puzzles, writing, sketching, a handicraft, or playing a musical instrument – that bring pleasure or fulfillment and enable you to enjoy your own company.

10. Facilitate connections to the outside world by asking about family and friends and following current events. Arrange a subscription to a newspaper or newsmagazine if finances permit.

11. Get a computer and learn how to use it. Internet access can help you stay connected to loved ones, keep up with local and world news, shop, and gather health-related information, among other things. You can also take online education courses, play games like chess and bridge, and connect with others in a similar situation through Internet message boards and chat rooms.

12. Call a local volunteer office or a non-profit organization that resonates with you and find out if there’s anything you can do from home to assist them in their work. For example, you might volunteer with a telephone reassurance program that serves isolated seniors, or coordinate a prayer chain within your faith community.

13. If mobility issues prevent you from accessing the community, rent or purchase a walker, electric scooter, or wheelchair. Register with the local accessible transportation service if appropriate.

14. If you need an escort for outings and finances permit, hire a companion so you can regularly get out. Let loved ones know that a gift certificate to the home healthcare agency of your choice would be welcomed for special occasions.

15. Get information about community resources, such as meal delivery, friendly visiting, volunteer driver programs, and suitable leisure programs. Information can be obtained from the local office on aging.

16. If design issues make it hard to get in and out or around your home, and your physical challenges will be ongoing, consider renovations or move to a more accessible setting.

With a little planning and a positive attitude, you will be able to weather your health challenges with a smile. ISI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 29

Quilting: What’s Old Is New Again

By Tait Trussell referring to the styles of the craft popular in this My sister-in-law, Edwina Trussell, has been in- century. “Sewing took a little longer to find its way.” volved in the time-honored activity of quilting since Interest in modern quilting started to grow 1981. Since then, she has quilted 195 items, she after the 2002 debut of the museum exhibition tells me. This includes The Quilts of Gee’s Bend, “Practitioners say there’s no strict definition bed quilts, pillow covers, a collection of unusual of modern quilting. But characteristics of and wall hangings. She graphic designs by African a contemporary quilt can include an also has made quilts for American quilters from a emphasis on solid colors and bold, babies at her local hossmall Alabama community. minimalist designs; experimentation pital. with negative space; a reworking of traditional Modern quilters, such as I remember her colorDenyse Schmidt, began fabrication techniques; and an ful wall hanging in their improvisational approach to pattern making.” to publish books about the dining room, when they style, and quilters linked lived in New Hampshire. It so impressed me in its up online to share ideas and work. beauty, I recall with embarrassment that I spilled That’s where Carlton and Saafir connected. my wine. At least, I blamed it on the wall hanging. Both had regularly visited Rossie Hutchinson’s One might view Edwina a relative newcomer Fresh Modern Quilts Flickr group, an early form considering that quilting has been a form of art of social media for quilters. Then in 2009, Carlton since before the birth of Christ. But Edwina has wrote a blog post lamenting the lack of visibility for been interested in everything about the art for at the blooming modern style at a Long Beach quilt least the past generation or more. She is teaching convention. Saafir had attended the same convenher younger granddaughter the skill now. tion and suggested they meet and start a modern Although quilting is done mainly by women quilting group. to reflect their lives and the cultural history of a They did, and word of their group soon spread particular place and time, men also quilt. Men through the Internet. Chapters formed across the have used quilting to keep warm, to decorate country. their homes, to express their political views, and “Modern quilters were already eager to start to remember a loved one. meeting since we were already talking online Made by hand, using familiar materials such through our blogs and Flickr,” Carlton says. as scraps of clothing, quilts are personal and comNow, the L.A. Times story said, Carlton is exmunal, aesthetic and functional. ecutive director of the national Modern Quilt Guild, My brother, Edwina’s husband, does not en- and in addition to working as a casting director gage in quilting, although he is proficient in com- on reality TV shows, she has written two books pleting crossword puzzles, if you can define that on modern quilting and last year released a line as a skill. of fabrics. Saafir, a mechanical engineer, has a A recent article in the Los Angeles Times re- website called the Quilt Engineer. She also teaches ported on a movement that’s putting a new spin quilting classes at Sew Modern in West L.A. on the old craft of quilting. The story said the new Practitioners say there’s no strict definition of movement is attracting a new generation of sew- modern quilting. But characteristics of a contempoers. rary quilt can include an emphasis on solid colors When Alissa Haight Carlton and Latifah Saafir and bold, minimalist designs; experimentation with organized the first Modern Quilt Guild meeting negative space; a reworking of traditional fabricain Silver Lake in October 2009, they hoped they tion techniques; and an improvisational approach would find a few other like-minded quilters who to pattern making. wanted to get together.

According to the International Quilt Study CenThey weren’t alone: The modern-quilting group ter, an ivory carving of the Temple of Osiris found in today has more than 100 chapters and 5,000-plus 1993 and currently in the British Museum features members nationwide. Thanks to this movement the king of the Egyptian First Dynasty wearing a that’s putting a new spin on the tradition of quilting, mantle/cloak that appears to be quilted. it is attracting a new generation of sewers.

So, there may be some new trends in quilting.

“Quilting is the new knitting,” Carlton says, But, there is not much that’s older! ISI

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Understanding Reverse Mortgages Dear Savvy Senior, Where can I get reliable, unbiased information on reverse mortgages? My wife and I are thinking about getting one but want to do some research first.

Need Money Dear Need, For people that are house rich but cash poor, a reverse mortgage is a viable option, but there’s a lot to know and consider to be sure it’s a good choice for you. Here are some tips and tools to help you research this complex financial product.

Let’s start with a quick review. A reverse mortgage is a loan that lets older homeowners

convert part of the equity in their home into cash that doesn’t have to be paid back as long as they live there.

To be eligible you must be age 62 or older, own your home (or owe only a small balance) and currently be living there.

You can receive the cash as a lump sum, a line of credit, regular monthly checks, or a combination of these. And with a reverse mortgage, you, not the bank, own the house, so you’re still responsible for property taxes, insurance, and repairs.

Currently, nearly all reverse mortgages offered today are Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM), which are backed by the Federal Housing Administration.

Repayment is due when you or the last borrower dies, sells the place, or lives elsewhere for 12 months. Then you or your heirs will have to pay off the loan (which includes the money you borrowed plus accrued interest and fees) either with the proceeds from selling the place, or if you want to keep the house, with money from another source.

Educational Resources – To get a better handle on reverse mortgages and how they work, there are several excellent resources you can turn to for reliable information, but you’re going to need access to the Internet to utilize them.

To get started, the National Council on Aging created a free website called the Home Equity Advisor that’s designed to help you think through the best way to leverage your home – a reverse mortgage isn’t your only option.

Just go to ncoa.org/economic-security/homeequity/ to answer a series of questions about your personal and household situation to define exactly what you might need or want. Then, based on your answers, you’ll receive an individualized report offering information, tools,

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and consumer advice on a range of possible solutions that includes reverse mortgages and other alternatives.

If you find that you are a good candidate for a reverse mortgage, your next stop is at reversemortgage.org, a consumer website created by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.

This site offers lots of educational information including “Your Road Map” that will help guide you through all the features of reverse mortgages and the process of obtaining one.

It also has a calculator to estimate how much you’d be eligible to receive from a reverse mortgage, and offers has a comprehensive directory of licensed HUD-approved mortgage lenders, banks, and credit unions that offer reverse mortgage loans in your state.

Get Counseling – Another important resource to help you understand the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage and how it would work in your particular situation is through counseling.

In fact, because reverse mortgages are such complicated products, the federal government requires that all reverse mortgage borrowers receive counseling through a HUD approved independent counseling agency before they take out a HECM loan.

Counseling can be done in person or over the phone and some agencies today provide it free or at a minimal fee. Some locations charge around $125. To locate counseling agencies in your area, visit http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/ program_offices/housing/sfh/hecm/hecmlist or call 800-569-4287.

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. ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 31

Are You Ready To Sell? Consider Factors That Affect Home’s Value

(StatePoint) It may seem like the size of your home is the be-all and endall of your home’s value. But there are many other factors that come into play when determining the listing price of a particular home.

A new report offers some insights. The Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report, the most extensive home price comparison tool currently available in the country, ranks the average listing price of four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes in nearly 2,000 markets across the country. Analyzing more than 51,000 similar-sized listings, it addresses how much a home in one market would cost if the same home were located somewhere else in the United States.

For example, the report reveals that for the price of the average home in Los Altos, California, you could purchase 30 similar-sized homes in Cleveland, Ohio, nine homes in Charlotte, North Carolina, eight homes in Chicago, Illinois, five homes in Miami, Florida or two homes in Seattle, Washington.

But why are there such discrepancies?

“It’s amazing how much location impacts a home’s value,” says Coldwell Banker Real Estate consumer specialist Jessica Edwards. “Typically, urban markets are more expensive, while suburban and rural areas tend to be more affordable. However, many factors contribute to the average price of a home, such as commute time or proximity to the waterfront. The Home Listing Report is a helpful reference, so you can gauge how your area compares to other parts of the country.”

Local industry plays a role as well. In the case of Los Altos, which is ranked as the most expensive market in America, the continued success of many tech companies contributes to the boom.

This information can be useful, whether you’re planning to put your property on the market or you’re looking to relocate. For example, if you are scoping out a neighborhood where home prices are on the verge of increasing, area features to look out for include cultural institutions – such as art galleries and performance spaces – as well as such factors as unique architecture and proximity to mass transit and other trendy areas.

Edwards also recommends doing some quantitative research, including talking to your Realtor about how fast properties are selling in your area and whether business owners are investing in the neighborhood.

“Buying or selling a home is a huge emotional and financial decision,” says Edwards. “By doing your homework beforehand, you will be able to take some of the uncertainty out of the process.”

Remember, while this information is very useful for homeowners and prospective home buyers, it’s by no means a replacement for a professional real estate agent who understands local conditions.

For more details about the report, or to see how your area stacks up, visit hlr.coldwellbanker.com.

For many people, a home is their biggest investment and largest asset. Be savvy and stay informed about the ins and outs of its value. ISI

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Not Your Typical Nature Centre!

If the words Nature Centre conjure up thoughts of some small, dark building filled with a random mix of old displays and found nature objects, the Helen Schuler Nature Centre is going to change your mind! The newly expanded, energy efficient building features bright, open spaces with incredible views of the surrounding cottonwood forest, coulees, and world famous CP Rail High Level Bridge. Reflecting sustainable building practices, it is targeting a gold rating in the LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

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over 30 unique and stunning displays that are integrated into the building. The main gallery features new exhibits that are interactive, fun, and play-based for grandkids. A community art gallery rounds out the indoor experience; showing off what the local art community has to offer.

Every trip to the Nature Centre offers something new and different. You never know what you will discover, but their tag line promises that you will “Discover It Here!”

No trip to the Helen Schuler Nature Centre is complete until you find yourself sitting at eye level with the porcupines and songbirds in the canopy of the cottonwoods. The Prairie Roof, southern Alberta’s first and only fully accessible living roof, sponsored by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, is an experience like no other. It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for, the central feature of the building. So sit back, relax, and drink in the views.

Make sure you plan an extra day or two into your trip. The Nature Centre is only one of several incredible Lethbridge attractions nestled in the Oldman River Valley. Just a short walk to the south you will find yourself in historic Indian Battle Park. What’s more, you are only minutes from Fort Whoop Up, The Galt Museum & Archives, and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. You could easily spend two days wandering through these attractions, all of which are on the edge of downtown and the Oldman River Valley park system.

Lethbridge boasts one of the largest natural park areas in a Canadian city, with well over 2,000 acres of natural river valley parks just waiting for you to discover. There are hundreds

of kilometres of trails, from easy and fully accessible, to advanced fitness levels. Four separate nature preservation parks offer wildlife photography and relaxation opportunities for the nature purists. Adventure seekers will enjoy mountain bike parks and the technical hiking trails that the coulees provide. What’s a coulee? Head back to the Helen Schuler Nature Centre to learn more about these incredible landforms!

The helpful staff and volunteers at the Centre can recommend areas for you to explore and will provide maps to get you there, whether it’s “must see” sights or that unusual bird, flowering plant, or animal you just saw or want to see. Pick up your copy of the Coulees to Cottonwoods Field Guide that will give you a comprehensive look at the river valley, its unique geological history, and some interesting notes about its flora and fauna.

You might be surprised to know that Lethbridge is home to some very unexpected and rare desert species, like the western prairie rattlesnake, black widow spiders, and of course cactus! You will also discover what those coulees are, how they were formed, and why they have such an unusual name.

Filled with natural and cultural treasures, the Lethbridge area is traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy. It sits between several World Heritage Sites and straddles both the Badlands and the Rocky Mountains.

It is easy to lose yourself here. So plan a visit and don’t be surprised that you will want to stay awhile. For more information, call 403-320-4985 or visit lethbridge.ca or visitlethbridge.com. ISI

Bike And Barge Tour Of Holland’s Northern Islands

By Jack McNeel Amsterdam, the richest city in the world during the 1700s, has frequently been described as the “bicycling capital of the world.” In a city of 800,000 people, there are more bicycles than people – but bicycle thefts number around 60,000 a year, by far the largest petty crime in the city. Amsterdam was where we began our “bike and barge” tour through the northern islands of The Netherlands.

In bicycle parking areas are hundreds, if not thousands of bikes, many decrepit, single speed bikes, banged up and badly painted – you’re less likely to lose one of these than a nice looking, multi-geared bike.

From among numerous companies, we booked through Van Gogh Tours – which offers excursions of the Netherlands and other countries – a bike and barge trip through the Frisian Islands that separate the Wadden Sea from the North Sea. The opportunity to see ocean birds appealed to us.

Twenty of us from France, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S. gathered on a Saturday morning.

Despite different languages, it became a very congenial group. The fact that the four-person crew was multilingual and all four spoke English was very helpful.

We could have brought our own bikes, food, found lodging, and plotted our route, but using a bike and barge company makes the trip much less complicated and perhaps even less expensive.

These are not dirty ore-carriers, but clean and modern 35- to 45-meter former river vessels. This despite their long heritage. Our ship was built in 1898, but I would have never guessed, considering that it was remarkably up-to-date and maintained – immaculately clean is accurate.

These tours provide everything including small but very adequate berthing with a private bathroom, and the price includes the berth plus bicycles, helmets, water bottles, three meals a day, and a guide.

With all the biking, the delicious meals hungrily

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

anticipated. A wide variety of breads, fruits, meats, cheeses, and cereals were available for breakfast with a similar variety of sandwiches, fruit, juices, crackers, and energy bars for lunch. Excellent dinners offered a different theme such as Italian or Dutch and were beautifully prepared from salad through desert. Coffee and tea were available for breakfast, when you returned from a ride, and throughout the evening.

Our names were assigned to our properly fitted (we had previously submitted our heights), 24-speed bicycles, which were in excellent condition with hand brakes and a key lock, unlike those we saw in Amsterdam. With saddlebags attached across the rear fender to carry our lunches and

whatever other items we felt we might need, we were ready to go!

The boats are conveniently docked less than a five-minute walk from the Central Train Station in Amsterdam, and once aboard we motored to Enkhuizen for our first bike ride and our first night. It was a break-in ride and a chance to get acquainted with the bikes and the riding group.

The Wadden Sea looks and feels like the ocean but our skipper, Nico, explained that these waters are seldom over six feet deep. Mud flats can be seen over vast areas during low tides and a system of dikes provides the depths needed for boat traffic.

Boats are everywhere – mostly sail boats ranging from sloops to those with several masts and many sails. All provide beautiful photography opportunities. The docking areas at the various towns throughout the islands that encircle northern Holland are packed with sailboats, their masts forming a forest of white poles reaching the sky.

That first day’s 13-mile circular ride was a great way to start, and we were ready for dinner when we returned to the ship. Annamiek, the cook, would always describe the meal – what it was and why it was selected – prior to its being served. During the week-long tour I never heard a word of complaint from anyone regarding the meals.

After breakfast each day, we would either move to a new island or make a circular trip of the current island. These rides were frequently along dikes near the sea or through farmland with sheep, cattle, and even an occasional old windmill.

We were told that southern Holland still has many traditional windmills but here we saw many more for electricity generation such as we see here in the U.S. Small, quaint towns often established in the 1700-1800s dotted our daily rides. We might stop for coffee or ice cream, to browse through a shop, or take time to explore and photograph these beautiful communities. And bicycles were everywhere and truly the common transportation for residents of all ages.

We visited a cheese factory in Edam and purchased gifts for friends at home. We looked at life at an earlier time at the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen and even worked on a fishing net and played a children’s game from that era.

Travel anywhere is an education and bicycling provides an intimacy quite unlike any other mode. We rode roughly 150 miles in seven days, on very flat terrain with few hills.

Our guide not only led the way, thus avoiding wrong turns and extra biking, but also provided very informative interpretive insights for sights along the way.

We saw many water birds, took many photos, and enjoyed learning about an area rich in history.

Three additional days in Amsterdam filled out the trip nicely with the many sights, sounds, and smells associated with this city of canals.

The cost? For seven days and seven nights, including lodging, meals, bicycle and accessories, plus guide, skipper, cook, and a sailor who did a variety of tasks, the cost per person was $1160 for a berth with bunks or $1310 for a berth with two single beds.

For additional information visit www.vangoghtours.com or call 800-435-6192 or 781646-0096. ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 33

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Ready to Make Your Medicare Choices During Medicare Open Enrollment?

If you drop Medicare to take a Qualified Health Plan, there’s no guarantee that plan will pay for your medical costs. In many cases, a Qualified Health Plan has the right to refuse to pay costs for someone eligible for Medicare, and that means you’ll could be left with no coverage at all.

By Teresa Ambord Medicare Open Enrollment is just weeks away – October 15 through December 7 – and it’s your chance to make changes to your coverage if you want to. If you do make changes, they will become effective in January 2016. But should you change?

Medicarerights.org knows this can be a confusing time. They offer what they call “tried and true” advice. Overall, since you can only make changes during Open Enrollment, Medicare urges people to consider carefully their options.

• If you have Original Medicare and a supplemental plan and are happy with your coverage, you do not need to change.

• If you’re not happy with your coverage, shop around for the plan that meets your needs.

• If you have Medicare Advantage or Part D, you should know the costs change yearly so review your coverage yearly.

• Be sure to read your Annual Notice of Change for cost changes. You should have received this notice by September 30.

• If you decide to change your coverage, don’t call the plan. Instead, call 800-MEDICARE. When you speak with a representative, take notes on what you are told, the date, and the name of the person with whom you spoke.

You may also have to pay higher premiums if you did not enroll in Part B or D when you first became eligible, due to premium penalties for late enrollment.

What’s New and the Same for 2016?

Part B Premiums – For most Medicare beneficiaries, the Part B premium will remain at $104.90 per month. But for about 30% of Medicare beneficiaries, Part B will rise to $159.30 per month. Ouch!

Who is affected by the price increase?

• People who enroll in Medicare in 2016 and do not collect Social Security.

• People who have higher incomes, over $85,000 for individuals and over $170,000 for couples.

• You may also have to pay higher premiums if you did not enroll in Part B or Part D when you first became eligible. Your premiums will be higher because they will include a penalty for late enrollment.

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Medicare Advantage Plans – Medicare also wants you to know that Medicare Advantage plans are improving, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In 2013, only 37% were rated at 4 to 5 stars. In 2014 that rose to 52%. And for 2015, 61% achieved 4 to 5 stars. While this is just one part of the decision you need to make about your Medicare, it’s an important part.

Part D – Your Part D Medicare prescription drug plan premium will remain at $32.50 for 2016, though it may vary with your plan or the region you live in. You will know if your costs have changed when you receive your Annual Notice of Change

by September 30.

Medicare beneficiaries will still receive a 55% discount on the cost of brand name drugs during the doughnut hole period and a discount of 35% to 42% on generic drugs.

When you’re considering possible changes in your Medicare plan, be aware that the list of covered drugs changes year to year and restrictions may change, such as quantity limits and authorizations for certain drugs.

How the Affordable Care Act May Affect You in Relation to Medicare – Do you have a Qualified Health Plan through the Affordable Care Act – also called Exchanges or the Marketplace – in other words, plans that you shop for and buy online, since health care reform was mandated.

You should know how the Marketplace relates to Medicare, so you can avoid bogus plans or plans that will leave you uncovered.

• It is illegal for someone to sell you a Marketplace policy if they know you have Medicare.

Regardless of what you are told by a salesperson, as a Medicare recipient you are not eligible for any tax credits to help pay for Marketplace insurance.

• If you drop Medicare to take a Qualified Health Plan, there’s no guarantee that plan will pay for your medical costs. In many cases, a Qualified Health Plan has the right to refuse to pay costs for someone eligible for Medicare, and that means you’ll be left with no coverage at all.

• Also, you should know that the Marketplace does not sell Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap supplements, or standalone Part D plans.

Remember, if you need help with your decisions about Medicare or when you are ready to change, call 800-MEDICARE to speak to a representative. You can also log onto Medicare.gov by going to medicare.gov/Contacts/ and look for a representative in your area. ISI

Be Aware of Tax Identity Theft

800-247-4422 Open Enrollment is October 15–December 7 shiba.idaho.gov

Provided by AARP With all the news regarding hacking of corporate and government data, it is understandable to be concerned about tax identity theft – and there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim?

Every two seconds, someone’s identity is stolen. And with the end of the year and tax season just around the corner, con artists are stealing Social Security numbers to file for fraudulent tax refunds. It’s a big problem. To date, the IRS has identified around 15 million false tax returns alone. For more information on the latest trends in tax identify theft, check out AARP’s Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork.

And you can also view targeted information and a special video devoted to tax identity theft awareness at aarp.org/scamalert.

The Warning Signs How do you know if you’re a victim of tax identity theft? If someone files a fraudulent tax return using your identification, and then you file your return, the IRS will contact you by mail. The letter will state that more than one return was filed using your Social Security number. Note that the IRS will not contact you by phone, email, text, or social media. You can check the legitimacy of any IRS mailing by calling 1-800-829-1040.

You’ll also get an IRS notice if someone uses your Social Security number

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

to get a job and the employer reports that income to the IRS using your number. The letter will indicate that you did not report all of your earnings on your tax return. Another warning sign could be receiving a W-2 or Form 1099 from an employer for whom you didn’t work.

If You Fall Victim If you become a victim of tax identity theft, here are the steps to take: • Contact the IRS immediately using the contact information on the notice you received. You’ll be asked to fill out an IRS Identity Theft affidavit, Form 14039.

• Contact your bank and credit card companies and inform the credit bureaus of the fraud. Ask one credit bureau – Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax – to place a free fraud alert on your report, and the others will follow. A fraud alert lasts 90 days, but you can renew it.

• Access your credit report free from all three credit bureaus. Ask the bureau that places your fraud alert how to obtain your reports.

• File an Identity Theft report with the Federal Trade Commission. This will help you get fraudulent information removed from your credit report and stop companies from trying to collect debts related to fraudulent activity.

• File a police report. Bring the form you filed with the FTC to the police.

Tips for Avoiding Tax Identify Theft It’s becoming ever more difficult to protect our identities, but here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your family: • Monitor your credit reports. You can order free reports from all three credit bureaus once a year at annualcreditreport.com.

• Never give your Social Security number or other personal information to phone callers.

• If you file your tax return electronically, be sure to use a private, protected wireless network.

Filing your return from the local coffee shop, library, or other public place is not a good idea.

• Provide information to your tax preparer in person – avoid sending a fax that may easily be

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 35

seen by someone else.

• Shred papers that contain sensitive personal information.

Hopefully, you will never encounter any form of identity theft. Make sure to protect your personal information to the best of your ability, and know what to do if you’ve been victimized.

Sign up for the Fraud Watch Network at aarp. org/FraudWatchNetwork to get the latest information on ID theft and scams. You can also call the Fraud Watch Network Hotline at 877-908-3360 to get your questions answered directly from trained volunteers. And for help with filing taxes safely, see information about AARP’s Tax Aide program at aarp.org/TaxAide.

Do you have a question for AARP Idaho?

Send your question to “Ask AARP Idaho” at aarpid@aarp.org or 3080 E. Gentry Way, Suite 100, Meridian, ID 83642 or call our toll-free hotline at 866-295-7284. As we receive questions, we will consult with both internal and external experts to provide timely and valuable advice. ISI

New Survey From The Senior Citizens League Shows Social Security Benefits Not Keeping Up With Rising Household Costs Social Security benefits are not keeping pace with rising household budgets, according to the majority of retirees participating in a new survey

by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). The record low growth in cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in recent years is creating long-term budget trouble for an estimated 31 million Social Security beneficiaries age 65 and older, says TSCL. When asked to select between four statements that most closely reflected their feelings about their Social Security benefits, 42 percent of survey participants said their benefits “were not keeping up with household budget needs.” Another 25 percent said their benefits help “keep them out of poverty, while 9 percent said their benefits were “too low to sustain even basic needs,” and that they didn’t have enough to live on. Only one out of four survey participants, or 24 percent, said that their Social Security benefits help them to afford a “comfortable retirement.” “The promise of Social Security to help retirees live more comfortably in retirement is in danger,” says TSCL Chairman Ed Cates.

Since 2010, annual COLAs have averaged just 1.4 percent – less than half the average 3 percent of the decade prior to 2010. In 2010 and 2011, there was no COLA at all. Recently the Social Security trustees have forecast that there will be no COLA again in 2016. “Because the COLA sounds small, most people don’t realize the disproportionately large impact this has on their retirement income due to the loss of the compounding effect,” says Cates.

Low COLAs affect both those currently retired who receive an annual benefit boost when inflation is rising, and people who haven’t even started benefits yet, because COLAs are used to calculate the initial benefit amount. A year with no COLA would mean a lower initial retirement benefit for some

Three Reasons Investors Should Start Managing Their Savings Bonds U.S. Savings Bonds, owned by approximately 50 million Americans, can be a puzzling investment. Once purchased, paper savings bonds were often tucked away and forgotten in drawers or safety deposit boxes. The lack of any sort of financial statement is likely why most don’t understand how bonds work, or worse, what they are worth.

Thanks to the internet, bond statements and bond management services can be easily obtained.

Every investor should pull out their savings bonds and start managing them. Here’s why.

Savings Bonds Do Not All Perform The Same Since 1935, various series of savings bonds have been sold including A-D, E, EE, I, H, and HH along with a bevy of disguised E or EE bonds with patriotic names stamped on them. The series, month, and year of issue determine the rules, inter-

future retirees. According to an analysis for TSCL, people who retired in 2009 – with an average benefit of about $1,000 per month – will receive roughly $5,000 less in Social Security benefits through the end of 2015 than they would have if COLAs had been the more typical 3 percent. The analysis projects that if inflation remains at the low levels currently estimated by the Congressional Budget Office, individuals who retired with $1,000 per month in 2009 would lose almost $61,000 in Social Security income over the course of a 25year retirement. “Today’s retirees simply cannot afford to give up that much,” Cates says.

TSCL supports legislation that would provide greater retirement security by indexing Social Security benefits to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) and would provide all retirees moderately higher monthly benefits. To provide more secure benefits and strengthen Social Security, TSCL surveys indicate that the majority of older Americans support raising the maximum taxable earnings so that high-income earners pay taxes on all earnings over $118,500. To learn more about how you can take action and to sign up for TSCL’s free online newsletter The Social Security & Medicare Advisor, visit SeniorsLeague.org. ISI

PAGE 36 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

est rates, and regulations applicable to a particular bond. By accessing a detailed Bond Inventory Report or by simply opening a monthly summary emailed Alerts! Report (bond statement), bond owners will learn pertinent financial information including current cash-in values, investment growth, interest rate performance, along with important timing, maturity, and taxation issues.

Bond Management Services Help Investors Avoid Common Financial Pitfalls.

All too often bond owners make irreversible, costly financial mistakes. Common problems include improper registration, holding onto bonds earning zero interest, forfeiting up-to six months worth of interest, cashing in the best performers while holding onto those with the lowest yields,

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

redeeming more bonds than necessary, creating unfavorable taxation situations, and possible IRS penalties and fines. Bond management services educate bond owners about important information they need to know – up to three months in advance – so they can do proper financial planning, maximize their investment, and avoid costly mistakes.

Better Bond Protection And Replacement.

Thefts, fires, floods, and natural disasters occur

daily. Unfortunately, paper bonds are often destroyed or lost as a result. When bond information is stored in a reputable management service, such as SavingsBonds.com’s VIP Membership, getting bonds replaced – or the cash equivalent – is much quicker and easier.

To utilize a complimentary bond calculator and learn more, visit SavingsBonds.com. ISI

The Joy of Giving in Idaho: Are You Getting The “Helper’s High?”

By Atul Tandon The people of Idaho are among the most generous in the nation and, according to the latest research on charitable giving, they likely are among the happiest. Maybe even euphoric. Let me explain.

According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a leading periodical on nonprofits, Idaho saw a 50 percent increase in giving in 2012 compared to 2006. That percentage increase of adjusted gross income was the second highest in the nation.

So what does this mean for Idaho residents?

• The percentage of children living in single parent households below the poverty line is 28, second lowest in the nation, according to the Anne E. Casey Foundation. The average in the U.S. is 35 percent.

• Idaho ranks 18th in percentage of mortgage loans in foreclosure at 1.3 percent compared to the worst, New Jersey at 8.1 percent, as reported by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED).

• The Idaho Foodbank last year distributed nearly 15 million pounds of food to people through more than 200 community partners and with nearly 50,000 volunteers. Average recipients totaled 131,000 every month.

“Nonprofits touch Idahoans in each community,” says Janice Fulkerson, Executive Director, Idaho Nonprofit Center. “Regardless of social status and personal resources – if you hike a trail, attend a church, mosque, or synagogue, go to libraries, participate in after-school programs, access health care, or receive help with essentials like food, shelter, or clothing – we are all touched.

Nonprofits’ staff, board members, and volunteers prove that working together; we’re stronger.”

Interestingly, recent studies indicate that giving to help others is not only honorable, it’s physically pleasurable.

Researchers at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago discovered that our brains are neurologically wired to reward us with happiness and excitement.

“The (brain) scans revealed that when people made the decision to donate to what they felt was a worthy organization, parts of the midbrain lit up – the same region that controls crav-

ings for food and sex,” says Elizabeth Svoboda, author of What Makes a Hero? The Surprising Science of Selflessness. “The finding suggests that altruism and social relationships are intimately connected – in part, it may be our reliance on the benefits of strong interpersonal connections that motivates us to behave unselfishly.”

And the pleasure is related not just to financial donations. Those who donate their time also feel good and appear to be healthier than those who do not.

Ms. Svoboda refers to the feeling as “helper’s high.”

“Volunteers testified that inner warmth and a pronounced energy spike were characteristic qualities of this high.... People who helped others every week on a personal basis were ten times more likely to report good health than those who volunteered only once a year.”

As we all recognize, there always will be needs among those left behind, cast aside, or simply adrift. Consider: • Nearly one-third (29 percent) of all jobs in Idaho are in occupations with median annual pay below 100 percent of the poverty threshold for a family of four ($23,283), according to CFED. • About 8 percent of teens ages 16 to 19 are not attending school and are not working, the same as the national average. The lowest is Nebraska at 3 percent; highest is Louisiana with 12 percent, according to the Casey Foundation.

The health of our communities is not graded by the presence or absence of need; it is graded by the level of our response to that need. Do we care for our neighbors?

It is evident that the people of Idaho do!

Many of the state’s 1.6 million people give generously of their time, talent, and treasure to address the needs of the less fortunate of the state’s residents. With over 5,000 social service organizations working alongside the for-profit and government sectors, Idaho is a better place because of its residents. The state has 50,000 non-profit employees, and 425,000 volunteers, and countless generous donors, many of whom, as the science indicates, are on the road to happiness.

Are you one of them?

Atul Tandon is founder and CEO of the Tandon Institute, which equips social sector organizations with strategies, solutions, and staffing to grow their impact, revenues, public awareness, and leadership effectiveness rapidly. He was a keynote speaker at the annual conference of the Idaho Nonprofit Center, September 15 and 16 in Boise.

Contact him at atandon @tandoninstiute.com. ISI

Ramblings Of A Retired Mind

Submitted by Julie Brantley I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me. They were cramming for their finals. As for me, I’m just hoping God grades on a curve.

The older you get the tougher it is to lose weight because by then your body and your fat have become really good friends.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement. ISI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37

Your Support Protects Idaho’s And America’s Most Amazing Landscapes The Idaho Conservation League (ICL) works to protect Idaho’s clean air, pristine water, and stunning landscapes. As Idaho’s leading voice for conservation, we represent Idahoans who want to safeguard Idaho’s natural heritage and leave a legacy for future generations.

Since 1973, ICL has advocated wilderness designation for the BoulderWhite Cloud Mountains, a stunning landscape of 10,000-foot peaks, rolling sagebrush, and volcanic formations in south-central Idaho. It supports worldclass recreational opportunities as well as critical wildlife habitat, including the highest elevation salmon runs in North America.

Wilderness can only be designated through an act of Congress, but con-

gressional gridlock had stymied ICL’s efforts year after year. ICL maintained endless pressure and this past August, Idaho’s congressional delegation passed a bill designating 275,000 acres in the Boulder White Clouds as wilderness, forever protecting this stunning landscape.

ICL tackles a breadth of issues and is successful because of the support and involvement of our statewide members. Moving into the future, we are concentrating our wilderness advocacy on securing protection for Scotchman Peaks and the Clearwater Basin.

For more information about ICL, visit idahoconservation.org or call 208345-6933. ISI

IdahoSeniorIndependent.com Why a “Pour Over” Will May Be A Good Idea

By Jonathan J. David Dear Jonathan: My husband and I recently completed our estate planning. We were able to save a lot of money by downloading forms off the Internet. The forms were pretty straightforward and after doing our own research we feel very comfortable with what we did. One thing we chose not to do, however, was to prepare wills that we didn’t feel were necessary because we created a trust. It is our understanding that if we have a trust, our assets are protected from probate and a will isn’t necessary. Are we on the right track?

Jonathan Says: First, although this is selfserving, I never recommend that people engage in do-it-yourself estate planning. Estate planning can be a complicated process and the documents used to create an estate plan can be quite complicated.

Trying to prepare estate-planning documents on your own will most likely lead to mistakes and sometimes, serious mistakes.

Further, estate-planning forms you find on the Internet cannot be relied upon to address your specific concerns, are oftentimes poorly drafted, and may not even comply with the laws of your state. I would encourage you to consult an estateplanning attorney in your area to make sure that whatever documents you prepared are sufficient for your purposes and are valid under the laws of your state.

As for your specific question, you should always have a last will and testament regardless of whether you have a trust. Having a trust allows you to re-title assets to that trust during lifetime and if you do that, those assets avoid probate at your death. However, if, at the time of your death, you have any assets titled in your name alone, then those assets will need to be probated, and if you don’t have a will, upon the completion of probate, those assets will pass pursuant to state law and not to the beneficiaries of your own choosing. This

is because when you die without a will you are deemed to have died “intestate” and the state gets to decide who receives your assets.

If you want to make sure that all of your assets eventually pass into your trust, each of you will need to prepare wills naming your trust as the beneficiary of any assets that need to be probated.

This type of will is known as a “pour over will” which means that upon the completion of probate those assets will pour over, i.e., be distributed, to your trust to be held, administered, and distributed to the beneficiaries named in the trust pursuant to the terms of that trust.

If you have minor children, a will is also important to have because it allows you to name who you want to be their guardian while they are under age 18.

I also want to be clear that simply creating a trust alone does not protect by itself your assets from probate. Creating the trust is simply the first step. Once you have created the trust, the next step is for you to make sure that assets are re-titled in the trust name. Also, for those assets that allow a beneficiary to be named such as life insurance, you might want to consider having the trust named as either the primary or the contingent beneficiary. Because re-titling assets can be complicated, especially when real estate is involved, I suggest that you consult with an estateplanning attorney to help you make sure that your assets have been properly re-titled and/or beneficiary designations have been properly made (or changed) naming the trust as a beneficiary.

Good luck.

Jonathan J. David is a shareholder in the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C., 1700 East Beltline, N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525. ISI

PAGE 38 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Mustang Devotees Host Car Shows, Do Charitable Deeds

By Dianna Troyer A Mustang, no matter the year it was manufactured, captivates Rick Phillips.

The Treasure Valley resident, who owns vintage as well as modern models, is far from alone in his devotion to Ford’s iconic and enduring sports car with its powerful engine, sleek aerodynamic design, and ability to hold the road.

“There’s something about driving a Mustang that just makes you giggle and smile and feel good. You think of when you first drove one as a teen-ager, how well they handle, their distinctive design,” says Rick, president of the Treasure Valley Mustang and Ford Club. “Since 1964 when Ford started making them, more than 9 million have been sold.”

A retired aircraft mechanic, Rick, 65, and friends started the club in 1983.

“It was just a small group of us back then, and now we have 102 member-

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Treasure Valley Mustang aficionados participate in parades and gather items for local food banks. [Photo provided by Rick Phillips]

ships with most of them being couples,” he says.

“We’re Idaho’s only regional Mustang group affiliated with the Mustang Club of America.”

Members, who live in Idaho and surrounding states, host car shows, do community service, and meet monthly from spring to fall for coffee and cruises along Idaho’s scenic byways. Club members drive diverse makes and models of cars including vintage and modern Mustangs, Shelby Mustangs, Cobras, Mercurys, Edsels, DeTomasos, and other special interest Fords.

One motivation for starting the club was to help Mustang aficionadas find parts needed for restoration projects.

“Some of our charter members had businesses that involved Fords, so they knew where obscure parts were located and could help us,” says Rick.

Like many members, Rick restores Mustangs.

“For me, it’s really satisfying to drive a car I disassembled and reassembled with new parts. Right now, I’m working on a 1966 Mustang Fastback.”

He has shown his restorations at the club’s annual show, scheduled in June. “It’s open it to any make and model of car,” says Rick. “This past June, we had 330 cars.”

The annual show is an opportunity for club members to do community service. All proceeds went to the Meridian Food Bank.

“We were pleased to raise $3,000 and collect 675 pounds of food for their clients,” says Rick.

Besides food banks, club members have also participated in the Adopt-A-Highway program and cleaned up Mores Creek Summit on Highway 21.

They have also supported Toys for Tots and the Boys and Girls Club of Nampa and Boise.

The club’s fall show, The Turkey Trot, will benefit the Idaho Food Bank. It will tentatively be at the Boise Outlet Mall in early October.

“We’re still working out the details and will post the information at our website, treasurevalleymustang.com.”

Rick’s fascination with Mustangs was kindled as a teenager.

“Ford started selling them on April 14, 1964,” he says. “My dad bought a ’66 Mustang as a family car. We lived in the country outside Missoula, Montana, so he gave me the job of hauling my sisters to school and back. I loved it.”

One of Rick’s first cars he bought for himself was a 1965 Oldsmobile 442, the company’s hot rod model.

Like Rick, many club members own several Mustangs ranging from vintage to modern.

“The older sports cars are fun, but usually require a lot of work,” he says. “Some people like the newer ones because you can just slide in and drive off and don’t have to worry about mechanical problems.”

Features on the cars have changed significantly. The luxury options on vintage cars are standard features today. While the Mustang’s options have evolved, its classic flowing contours remain unchanged.

“So many cars today all look alike, like half a bubble,” says Rick. “The Mustang still has such a great design.” ISI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Mary Schmidt Caters To Resurging Interest In Home Arts

By Dianna Troyer After candy judges at the Western Idaho State Fair tasted Mary Schmidt’s creamy chocolate truffles, they yearned for her prize-winning recipe.

“I told them I’d list the ingredients but not my method,” says the 51-year-old Boise resident, who has won numerous blue ribbons and Best of Show at county and state fairs for her culinary creations.

Mary Schmidt’s prize-winning truffles are popular with friends and families at the holidays. [Photo provided by Mary Schmidt]

“It’s taken me years and lots of mistakes to get my truffle recipe just right. The key is a specific ratio of cream to chocolate.”

Mary’s truffles become perfection on a platter because her mixing methods are so precise. “A common mistake is that people tend to over mix or overheat the ingredients,” she says.

Before the holidays, Mary says she is swamped with truffle orders and makes more than a dozen flavors. “Most people ask for Irish Cream, Grand Marnier, Amaretto, Kahlua, and my newest Cherry Cream.”

Besides truffles, Mary also makes wedding cakes and candies. She is also adept with other traditional home arts such as sewing, embroidery, crocheting, and cooking restaurant quality meals.

“There’s a growing movement to be self-sufficient, especially among younger people,” says Mary, who teaches home economics at Capital High School. “More people want to learn how to make breads and desserts, to cook meals at home, and to make their own clothes. Consum-

ers are getting tired of their food being filled with preservatives and other ingredients they can’t even pronounce.”

Even youngsters are becoming more aware of ingredients in processed foods. Also a 4-H leader, Mary recalls the demonstration speech one of her club members gave about how to read a food label.

“She has food allergies, so it’s crucial she knows what she’s eating. She had a blueberry muffin and showed that by reading the label it didn’t even contain blueberries. It had little confectionary blobs that were flavored and colored purple to imitate real blueberries.”

Mary and her sister, Sue, learned home arts from their mom, Betty.

“When we were growing up, we made everything from scratch like a lot of people did years ago,” says Mary, who majored in home economics in college. “These days, those decades-old skills are all new to younger people, so they’re excited to learn.”

Planning and making a meal at home is definitely more cost effective than eating out at a restaurant. “These days, besides saving money, people are coming back to home-cooking because they like to buy locally grown ingredients.”

As for hand-made clothes, they might be more expensive than store-bought, Mary concedes. “But homemade garments whether sewn, crocheted or knitted are often more durable than mass-produced clothes.

Plus you have the satisfaction of wearing something useful, unique, and beautiful that you made.”

Wanting to share her knowledge with Treasure Valley residents, a few years ago Mary started Boise Bench Crafters and Home Arts Studio on Franklin Road in Boise.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 39

PAGE 40 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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“I love to share what I’m familiar with and to learn about the crafts other people make,” says Mary.

Twice a month, she opens her studio to others.

“For two hours, you can bring a project and work on it while we visit,” says Mary. “It’s a time to relax and get away from obligations and to-do lists for a short time. We’re in our 50s and 60s, though every age is welcome, and do everything from crocheting to knitting, embroidery, and quilting. We learn from each other.”

About a half dozen people come regularly.

“It’s not just for women,” says Mary. “A man comes all the time, too.”

In her limited spare time, Mary relaxes by sewing home décor and clothes, quilting, embroidering, and doing crewelwork, a type of embroidery using wool.

“My sister spins, knits, and does embroidery,” says Mary.

A few years ago, Mary became intrigued with felting, making a fabric or objects from shapeless wool fibers. The loose wool can be worked with a

needle to compress the fibers together and shape them into whimsical objects such as animals.

Another felting method is to apply water along with agitation and compression to the wool fibers to make cloth for purses, slippers, or other accessories.

Besides sharing her skills at her home studio and high school, Mary devotes herself to her 4-H club members, leading the Bench Bunch 4-H Club. Her 4-H volunteerism was recognized in 2013 when she received the Distinguished Service Award for Ada County.

While Mary is tight-lipped with her tips on making truffles, she is glad to share advice about home arts.

This fall, she will teach a variety of classes, which are listed on her website, homeartsstudio. com. The classes include instruction and kits for a project.

“You never know if you’ll like something until you try it,” says Mary. “Just give something new a try. You might surprise yourself.” ISI

Paddles, Pucks, and Pups

There is no future in rock ‘n’ roll, only recycled past.

- Mick Jagger

Photo & Article By Natalie Bartley Paddling kayaks, storming after hockey pucks, and bringing her beloved dogs to her retail store defines Jo Cassin’s life in Boise.

“I never really had a plan or clear vision,” says the athletic, adventurous 58-year-old. “Every day unfolded and I went with it.”

Originally from Littleton, Colorado, Jo had an opportunity to visit Boise in the late 1970s and immediately fell in love with the community.

“It’s embarrassing to say I followed my high school sweetheart who was playing for the Boise State University football team.”

She transferred from Arizona State University, joined the Boise State University Gymnastics team as a walk on, and settled into her new life studying

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political science on an athletic scholarship. Jo says she immediately knew this would be her home and she never thought about going back to Colorado or Arizona.

The boyfriend ultimately left Boise.

Jo stayed on working at the Bootworks, an outdoor shop selling backpacks, Nordic skis, rafts, canoes, kayaks, and mountaineering gear.

A requirement of the job was to gain outdoor skills. The staff took kayak lessons on the Payette River in April.

“My first experience was miserable,” Jo says. Contributing factors included the oversized kayak spray skirt and wetsuit built for a man’s body. Frightening swims after she capsized in the cold whitewater rapids didn’t add enjoyment.

Due to good teachers and her stick-to-it attitude, she gained competency.

Eventually the Bootworks shop stopped selling river gear. Then during a multi-day river trip on the Grand Canyon – a bucket-list river for any whitewater paddler – Jo and two other river-running enthusiasts cemented plans to fill the need for a river gear store in Boise. In March 1987, Jo and her business partners Stan Colby and Jim Ciardelli opened Idaho River Sports.

Jo laughs as she says, “We really didn’t know what we were doing.” They borrowed money from friends and family then opened with just six kayaks, ten paddles, and an assortment of river gear.

The shop endured many changes through the years. Jim left the business after two years and worked for the Forest Service. Stan left his Forest Service job and became a full-time co-owner with Jo. They added rafts, canoes, kayaks, and rental gear. Then the store outgrew its first location in Hyde Park. In 2015, the shop moved to Pleasanton Street near Quinn’s Pond, which allowed for quick access to flat-water and to the Boise River. Since the move, the city opened the Boise River Park and the roads were rerouted, giving the shop a new address and higher-volume foot and road traffic.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

“We had so much help from so many people,” she says. “It was a huge group effort.”

Jo recognized the potential of stand up paddle boards (SUP) and splashed into the market early by selling, renting, and providing SUP demos and competitions on Quinn’s pond. SUP popularity is in part due to the sport’s uncomplicated learning curve, minimal equipment needs, and ease of carrying to and from the water.

For over thirty years, Jo’s current “shop dog” would greet customers. The third in a series of amiable water-loving pups was Wilma, who passed away last year. Her business partner Stan carries Rudy – a fluffy, white Samoyed dog – in his canoe during the Idaho Paddling Club outings.

True to Jo’s membership in the baby boomer generation, this soft-spoken sweet lady served as a women’s libber by leading the way for the formation of the first women’s ice hockey association in southwestern Idaho. Initially she competed on the men’s Blues Brothers and the Boise Knights teams playing against men’s teams in Sun Valley, Idaho Falls, and Ogden, Utah.

Then the old rink off Fairview Avenue closed in the late 1980s. Prior to the opening of a city-owned ice rink in Boise in 1998, Jo attended an early ice rink planning meeting and asked about the plans for women’s teams. She was tasked with starting a team, and when Jo generated interest with a classified advertisement, women came forward, teams formed, and the Boise Women’s Hockey Association was born. Jo currently plays on the coed Crowmags team and the women’s Wildfire team.

Reflecting on the outdoor retailer business over the past years, Jo says, “It is still a wonderful industry.”

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 41

One change is almost all the smaller familyowned and independent companies are combined into larger companies. She used to talk with the business partners or family members of the original companies and is now more likely to work through a sales representative. Another change is that customers have more options beyond the small, knowledgeable, locally-owned shops.

Shoppers can now access large retail stores for mass-produced equipment sold without sales clerk guidance or buy online and not even interact with a person.

In the meantime, Jo, Stan, and their staff continue to provide specialized customer education and customer service. For example, Idaho River Sports improves women’s enjoyment and comfort in paddle sports by offering women-specific river gear and fitting advice.

Jo says her guiding principle in life and in business is, “Try to treat everyone the way you want to be treated. I believe if you are good to people they will be good to you.”

She’s excited about the opening of the third phase of the nearby Boise River Park, anticipated next spring. New river features and a waterway linking area ponds could entice even more business to this popular shop.

When considering retirement, Jo thinks about paddling. Even though she gets out on the water daily, Jo still dreams of extended paddling and camping trips. “Yet I will miss work a lot,” she adds.

For more information on Idaho River Sports, visit idahoriversports.com or call 208-336-4844.

Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based author of the mobile app travel guide Boise’s Best Outdoor Adventures and the trail guidebooks Best Easy Day Hikes Boise and newly updated Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest. ISI

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ROSEHILL COINS & JEWELRY, INC 3506 Rosehill St., Boise • 208-343-3220 Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 9:30-5:00pm; Sat 10:00-4:00pm, Closed Wed & Sun.

PAGE 42 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

A Rose By Any Name Enthralls Sandy Ford

By Dianna Troyer Decades have lapsed since roses first cast their spell upon Sandy Ford, a longtime member of the Idaho Rose Society. The vibrant 77-yearold Boise resident became enthralled with them unexpectedly while showing animals 29 years ago as a 4-H mom.

“At a fair, my three children were showing horses, a goat, and a dog,” she recalls. “I needed to take a break to get out of the sun, so I went to see the flowers.”

Curious about entering flowers at a fair, she asked the fair superintendent for advice.

“She invited me to the next fall meeting of the

Golden Garden Club, which I joined,” says Sandy.

Hobbyists who want to grow roses have more “Then in spring, she invited me to the Idaho Rose than 6,500 varieties to pick from worldwide that Society meeting. I became a member of that club, have been bred for color, fragrance, and hardiness. too.”

To thrive, roses need to live in specific conditions.

Since then, Sandy “They need six has become an accredhours of sunlight, air ited master judge for circulation, water, and flower shows through a pH of 6.5. Soil in the the Garden Clubs of Boise area is generIdaho Inc. and has ally 7 or higher,” says planted nearly 100 rosSandy. “Choosing the es in her yard. right plant for the right Her selection of rosplace is usually the es is small compared problem. They don’t like to other members of to be crowded and don’t the Idaho Rose Sotolerate tree roots, so ciety who have 300 don’t plant them under or more roses in their a tree.” yards. Sandy narrows it Some roses are down to a few favorites, more high maintenance based on the way they than others are. grow, color, form, and “The hybrid tea how long blossoms last. roses are called fussy “America as a roses because they climber, Heartbreaker like to have their dead as a miniature, Henry roses cut off so they Fonda for its bright yelcan grow more,” she low color, Sally Holsays. mes as a white shrub, She encourages and David Austin or gardeners to go organic English roses for their Sandy’s favorite rose is called Touch of Class. [Photo and avoid using pestifragrance,” she says. courtesy of Sandy Ford] cides.

“I could go on and on.”

“My yard always has bees and butterflies and Wanting to share her insights about growing hummingbirds in it,” she says. “I love watching flowers and specifically roses, Sandy has taught them work.” classes through local community education proGardeners are not the only people who apgrams and at the Idaho Botanical Gardens and preciate the fragrance and charm of flowers. The Edwards Greenhouse.

Boise-based organizations Sandy belongs to host She gained her floral expertise from attending flower shows in the area for those who like to look the National Garden Clubs Flower Show School. but might not have the room to grow flowers.

“There is so much information to learn from “Some assisted living homes bus their resithe schools about flowers, herbs, fruits and veg- dents to our shows,” says Sandy. “The seniors etables, plus floral designs and how to put on a really enjoy walking through and seeing all the flower show,” says Sandy. flowers they used to grow.”

She completed the rigorous flower show judge Sandy concedes that tending her roses is program. time-consuming.

“It takes three to five years, and participants “They’re worth it,” she says. “Before you know must pass a test at the end of each class,” says it, you get hooked and buy more and more of them.

Sandy, who has been a judge for 20 years.

Some people might look at it as work, but when you enjoy what you’re doing it’s all play.” ISI

Bebop Clown School Coming To Nampa If you ever wanted to be a clown this is the school for you!

Idaho Gem Jesters will be bringing Bebop the clown to Nampa on Friday and Saturday, October 23-24, 2015 to teach the art of clowning.

Aurora Krause began her adventure in the world of clowning in 1995, with her clown character “Bebop” – a musical and energetic clown who brings fun and enjoyment to all events. Her presentations include music, dance, silly magic, comedy antics, crazy skits, and more. She performs at children’s parties, family gatherings, and festivals and conducts humor presentations for special interest groups. She is also a “Caring Clown” who performs locally at hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters.

Since 2004, Aurora has been on staff

as instructor and performer at educational clown programs and conventions including World Clown Association, Clowns of America International, Comedifest, Southeast Clown Assn (SECA), and various others. As a passionate clowning instructor, Bebop offers two Clown Alley workshops. Her goals as an instructor are to inspire clown students to represent the “Art of Clowning” with respect and dedication. More information is available online at bebopsworld.com.

The classes will include Makeup, Clowning with Music, Caring Clown, Birthday Parties, Body Movement, Facial Expression, and Competition.

There will be also be a clown yard sale with good deals on clown clothes and accessories during the clown school, so come early Friday evening for the best selection!

Bebop’s Clown School will be held at First Church of the Nazarene, 601 16th Avenue South in Nampa from 7-9 p.m. Friday, October 23 and from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday October 24. Registration is $25 in advance and $35 at the door.

For information contact Mary Ann Kojis at 208484-5326 or markojis@msn.com, or Wanda Jennings at 208-362-7563 or desertfox4@cableone. net. Registration fees can be sent to Idaho Gem Jesters, PO Box 423, Meridian, Idaho 83680. ISI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 43

PAGE 44 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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