August / September 2016

idahoseniorindependent.com

TAKE ONE! FREE!

Loretta Hansen And Ukulele Club Pluck Heartstrings

Loretta Hansen, who started the Pocatello Ukulele Club, tunes up the diminutive instrument at home and says it can banish the blues.

Playing everything from old classics to currently popular songs, the Club gets together and enjoys the sound of the music and the comaradarie of the group.

[Photo by Dianna Troyer]

By Dianna Troyer A ukulele plucked from a toy box turned out to be priceless for Loretta Hansen.

“Years ago, my brother found a ukulele in a house he was renting and let the kids play with it,” recalls the 61-year-old Pocatello resident. “When he decided to have it re-strung, he found out it was worth well over $1,000.”

It was so valuable because it was made by Martin, a company renowned for producing quality ukuleles since 1916.

“Not long after, he took it camping where I pretty much hijacked it for the weekend,” she says, laughing. “I’d taught myself guitar in high school, and my fingers seemed to remember what to do.”

Smitten with the instrument, she bought two when she returned home.

“My brother still has the ukulele and has never thought about selling it.”

For Loretta, it was invaluable because it inspired her to start the Pocatello Ukulele Club.

“I envisioned people of all ages getting together to play their ukuleles,” she says.

For the past two years, she and friends have been meeting every other Wednesday to play.

“We’re informal and strum and sing just for fun,” she says. “No one has to be perfect.”

Ukuleles are becoming more popular nationwide as clubs are being formed, grants in schools pay for ukuleles and classes, and even sporting goods stores sell them for entertainment around a campfire.

In June, Loretta was invited to lead a new class at the Piano Gallery.

“Playing a ukulele is great for so many reasons,” she says. “They have such a unique sound, are easy to play with only four strings, and are inexpensive. Prices begin around $50 and go up from there.

You can buy them at a local music store.”

The sound of a ukulele just makes a person smile, she says.

“Our group likes all kinds of songs from Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off to Amazing Grace and classics like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I’m Yours, and Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Playing is great for seniors, too, she points out.

“It coordinates the brain and body, helps people socialize, and chases away any bad moods.”

At family reunions and camping trips, ukuleles can always be heard.

“I have five siblings, and four of us play,” she says. “I have several ukuleles, (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Compliments

I want to compliment you on a wonderful paper.

I’ve enjoyed every issue and pass them on. Keep up the good work!

Lela Dunder Plummer

We Must Be There For Veterans

I had the honor of attending the New York premiere of the new documentary Almost Sunrise on June 11. This fine presentation portrays two friends who, “in an attempt to put their haunting combat experiences behind them, embark on an epic 2,700-mile trek on foot across America seeking redemption and healing as a way to close the moral chasm opened by war.”

Part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, this film was presented in partnership between Stop Soldier Suicide and PBS’ POV. What attracted me was a recent New York Times article

by Jane E. Brody, War Wounds That Time Alone Can’t Heal. Since she gives a better synopsis and analysis, I pass the baton to Jane E. Brody and urge readers to read the article at http://well.blogs. nytimes.com/2016/06/06/war-wounds-that-timealone-cant-heal/?_r=0.

Anthony Anderson and Tom Voss, the “two troubled Iraq war veterans walking from Milwaukee to Los Angeles” – both of whom this reviewer had the pleasure of meeting at the premier – “were helped by a number of counselors and treatments, including a Native American spiritual healer

and a meditative technique called power breathing.”

Father Thomas Keating, one of the spiritual guides, is quoted by Brody as saying, “Antidepressants don’t reach the depth of what these men are feeling – that they did something terribly wrong and don’t know if they can be forgiven.”

This being another issue with which to grapple, I urge every concerned citizen wanting to educate themselves about Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) plus an expanded explanation of moral injury, to see this documentary. Further information is also available at www.pbs.org/pov/ almostsunrise/ and sunrisedocumentary.com.

John Early New York City ISI

Have A Wonderful Scalia And Me

By Bill Hall I regret to inform you that I caught myself agreeing with the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia the other day. I began to differ from many of you, my regular readers.

I realize that makes me look a bit like an ingrate, but I will not fib and tell you that you are always right. In truth, some of you go overboard in obsessively digesting the pathetic trivia of your fellow fanatics on Facebook.

Suffice it to say, despite my frequent disagreements with Scalia, I have recently run across one of the most fascinating things he ever said, and I admit my agreement with what he observed.

Read on.

“I don’t know,” he said, “why anyone would

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 Jonathan Rimmel Sherrie Smith

Office Manager Production Supervisor/Sales 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 Dianna Troyer © 2016

like to be ‘friended’ on the network. I mean, what kind of narcissistic society is it that people want to put out there – ‘This is my life and this is what I did yesterday?’ I mean… good grief. Doesn’t that strike you as strange?”

Yes, your honor, that does strike me as strange – every time I peek in on Facebook and discover still another day’s overload of petty, boring concerns from people I know. I immediately recognize relatives and friends who beat useless information to an empty pulp.

I am worried about people who spend so much time comparing new shades of fingernail polish, reporting another fanny tattoo, or announcing that their stomach rash seems to be clearing up. And frankly, sometimes I get to wondering why Facebook friends read so many comic books.

Scalia is right. Most people who live on Facebook could live a larger life. Some of this daily drivel comes to me from well-intentioned but giddy friends. They have sloppy language, such as an inability to use any adjective except “awesome.”

Worst of all, they have the boorish habit of constantly telling me and everybody else “Have a wonderful day,” like it or not.

I don’t like it. Constant wonderful days can be exhausting, especially when I am lost in thought, savoring a latte, or hoping to take a nap. I prefer something less grandiose than a “wonderful” day.

I don’t like being ordered to have over-the-top emotions by some goofy do-gooder.

Could we have a recess from these incessant demands to have a nice day? Try something more subtle like saying, “Have a great nap, old timer” or “Brush your wonderful teeth, all three of them”?

I have no doubt that Justice Scalia would agree with me. Surely when he died recently, he didn’t want to hear, “Have a nice day.” He could finally have a chance to relax and tell all those

lawyers crowded into his life to stop driving him crazy by begging him to have a wonderful day. Is there no surcease?

And now, being of a like mind, I assure you that a justice like Scalia is not going to be sitting around wasting life (or his death) by seeking tips on how to wash his socks, choose the “right” color of lipstick, or stupidly ask friends to help decide whether to name the new puppy Binky. Spare Scalia... and me from constant visits to Facebook. Death is unpleasant enough as it is without learning there is a Facebook in heaven, On the other hand, come to think of it, I do remember something my mother used to do years ago that was not unlike today’s email and Facebook gossip. She was constantly out in the back yard, chatting and laughing across the garden gate with a neighbor.

Come to think of it, the men of those years and of today have also had their pleasure of trading quips and fishing lies, sitting around drinking coffee or beer, enjoying each other’s company.

The people of my childhood did friendship that same way.

Today, such neighbors and friends go well beyond the garden gate or the coffee klatch. They share their pleasure and their troubles with each other on Facebook, the new garden gate.

Justice Scalia and I have wondered why so many people waste so much time in their lives on Facebook. Is it possible that Scalia and I may have been a little slow to figure out why people we know seem to be enjoying each other?

If Scalia and I run into each other in the hereafter, I assure you, I will be the first to shout in his direction, “Have a wonderful eternity.”

Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone. net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. ISI

For Quality Products & Services, Visit The Following Advertisers Online at idahoseniorindependent.com!

Caregiving

Silverwood Good Samaritan Center

Entertainment Gold & Silver Health

Lemhi County Museum Rosehill Coins & Jewelry Cassia Regional Medical Center Peaks & Plains, Inc. University Health Care Dialysis Qualis Health Eagle Home Mortgage Tabby Jolley for Representative Dist. 17 Four Seasons Realty Hayden Lake Realty Cache Valley Visitors Center Kootenai Creek Village

Medicare Mortgages Political Real Estate Recreation Retirement Living

good-sam.com/index.php/ locations/silver lemhicountymuseum.org rosehillcoins.com intermountainhealthcare.org peaks-plains.com utahdialysis.org qualishealth.org eaglehm.com jolleyforhouse.com 4seasonsrealty.net haydenlakerealestate.com explorelogan.com kootenaicreekvillage.com ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Summer’s heat has climbed to its zenith, but this doesn’t mean the fun has to end. You can still take pleasure in plenty of engrossing activities and events in August and September. Why not find someone to share this wonderful time, and many more seasons. After all, “joy shared is joy doubled.”

So take a moment to reply to one of the personal ads listed below or send in your own. Certainly, a bit of ink and paper is worth meeting someone who will bring a smile to your face.

To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message, address, and 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!

You may submit your responses to personal ads appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the October/November 2016 issue, the deadline is September 7, 2016.

SF, 60, 5’4”, 125lbs. Fun, fit, independent free spirit, living active outdoor/rural lifestyle in upper NW Montana. Spiritually eclectic and I favor public broadcasting. Longtime married, but on my own for a while now and looking to get my toes back in the water with a recreational companion who does not want to rush into anything. Wide variety of interests include: outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, canoeing, etc; productive home life; animals; reading; various exercise practices; occasional visits to the city for dining, movies, symphony, museums etc; some travel. ISO one good man in the Idaho Panhandle/Eastern Washington area with similar/compatible interests. Please be open minded, physically active, emotionally mature, and financially secure for starters. If interested, please send short informational letter to include address or phone number for initial contact. Sorry no e-mail. Reply ISI, Dept. 12301, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Boise area older man, 64, fit, looking for nice lady for trips, fun, pool, hiking, outdoor activities.

Gentle, kind, grandfather, Vietnam veteran, well adjusted journalist. Reply ISI, Dept. 12302, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3

ISI, Dept. 12303, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWWF. Hi, I am 75 years young, 5’4” 138 lbs, living in Utah. Still have most of my own teeth, not plastic parts, no arthritis, no pain pills, color my hair, have wrinkles. Love the outdoors, gardening, target practice, and hunting. I am a knowledgeable horsewoman. I am paid for riding a dumb horse. I have my own tack and would like to ride with you when I am in Idaho. Reply ISI, Dept. 12304, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SF. I am not really looking but I could not resist.

I am not as sweet as homemade apple pie. I am ornery, like the cattle, which break through the fence. Gentle, as the smell of lilac in the spring.

Oh, but I am strong like the tall pine-limbs, heavy laden with cone. I am like an old country road, winding around. Like the whip-poor-will passing through the sun. I am 77 yrs, 5’5” 106lbs. I drive a Nissan Rogue. How’s that for style? Reply ISI, Dept. 12305, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI

Widower desires to meet a little squirt, white haired from Northern Nevada, SW Idaho, or SE Oregon. I have many YARNS to tell to keep your interest. Much older or younger doesn’t impede as the true feelings come from the heart. Reply

What you don’t know about Walk-In Tubs can hurt you.

The Walk-In Tub reinvented… by Jacuzzi Inc. Myth #1- Walk-In Tubs are only for safety. While having a door on your tub can prevent bathroom falls, a great Walk-In Tub does so much more. Only Jacuzzi® Walk-In Tubs feature the patented PointPro® jets that provide the optimum mix of water and air to provide strong yet gentle hydrotherapy.

Myth #2- Walk-In Tubs make you wait a long time while they fill and drain. Most do, but the innovative engineers at Jacuzzi Inc. have spent years perfecting the FastFill™ and FastDrain™ Technology that enables you to spend more time bathing and less time waiting.

Myth #4- Walk-In Tubs are expensive. Moving into an Assisted Living Facility is expensive. So is a broken hip. Jacuzzi® Walk-In Tubs are a great investment and can even increase the value of your home. Quality craftsmanship and innovative design are worth every penny.

Myth #5- All Walk-In Tubs are the same. They aren’t.

And only one of them is made by the company that’s known worldwide for its bathtubs- the company that practically invented hydrotherapy.

Now that you know a little bit more about Walk-In Tubs, why not take the next step. Call now for more information on the Walk-In tub that’s revolutionized the bathing industry.

Jacuzzi® Walk-In Tub… there’s only one.

For your FREE special report

“Tips on Living to be 100” FREE

Call Toll-Free Today

1-888-610-1536 Please mention promotional code 102661.

© 2016 Aging In The Home Remodelers

81418

Myth #3- You have to pay for extra features. Most Walk-In Tubs are base models, and as you tack on extra features the price goes up… a lot. Jacuzzi® Walk-In Tubs come standard with Air and Water Jets, Color Light Therapy, Aromatherapy, FastFill™ and FastDrain™ Technology and the only foot massage jets on the market. All for one low price.

PAGE 4 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Gift of the Phoenix - By Donna Cook Penrose House Press; Boise, ID; 2012 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty “When the flame that had been burning for the last 1,074 years fell to a wisp and winked out of existence, the seven men and women ringing the altar knew they were about to witness something rare.” What happened in the magical moments that followed was even rarer than these uniquely gifted people could imagine. A turning point set in motion that some of them would not live to see realized.

Thus begins Donna Cook’s Gift of the Phoenix, the beginning of an intriguing saga. The sequel, The Lost Branch, was published in 2015.

Although categorized as a young adult fantasy, this well written, and exquisitely executed magical

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

journey, like so many other young adult novels, reaches beyond its niche to any reader who enjoys escaping into a world of wizards and fairies and changelings. Also, like many other fantasies, there is a message – actually several messages – about politics and greed, loyalty and betrayal, family and friendship introduced and explored in the wonderfully unencumbered way offered in an alternative world.

Three stones – red, yellow, and blue and three young men – a wizard, a farmer, and a prince – strangers who seemingly have nothing in common are brought together by an old woman with an unbelievable tale. Two young women, each with a magical secret of her own, also find themselves in the middle of something over which they have no control. Each has an inherited a gift from the Phoenix. Each gift, while amazing, seems to come with an expectation and unknown obligations. Each receiver of a Phoenix gift has her own particular responsibility or role to be fulfilled.

I enjoy discovering a series of this quality midway through because when I finish reading the first book, I don’t have to wait too long for the sequel.

“Before she could think… Nashua started speaking… as each word passed out of her mouth, the Order members listened in astonishment which soon ascended to horror.” Nashua was young, but entrusted with a secret and a responsibility way beyond her years. Now 1,203 years later, all that was prophesized is about to occur. She is an old woman, but she has to complete her task before she can rest. She delivers the red stone to Corren of Tower Hall South. “He felt as if part of him was sliding into its depths.” Later when Nashua gives the young wizard a strange task, he finds himself surprisingly willing to follow her directions.

“The day the woman visited Nicolai, he had been clearing the ditch… she placed the stone in his palm. A sensation ignited in his palm, shot up his arm, and caused him to jerk in surprise.”

Together Corren and Nicolai set out to meet with Prince Marcellus, who also possesses a stone given to him by a mysterious old woman.

The red, yellow, and blue stones are finally coming together, but their secret powers will remain hidden until the time is right. It is one of those pivotal times when good has an opportunity to defeat evil, but only if the good

ones can put their own needs aside.

Only when the three are together does Corren share the old woman’s tale – a tale that not only reveals their relationship to each other, but also, information about the past, a warning about the present, and a fear of the future. All of it, at least according to Marcellus, is a “foolish prophecy, a threat to his right to the throne and… competition for his father’s affection.” Fearless on the battlefield, Marcellus finds himself overwhelmed by the magic being thrust upon him. Prophecy or no prophecy, magical threat or not, he still has a kingdom to protect so he takes off for the place where he feels most confident… the battlefield.

Meanwhile, in a guest room of the castle, a princess waits. “Praea… went to her trunk… she removed a small bag drawn up with a tie.” Inside the bag was, “a deceptively delicate-looking necklace… designed so that the glass ball on the end of the necklace would rest at the base of her neck… she secured it around her neck… weariness pressed over her.”

And outside the castle, the king’s only female knight is confronted by her own realizations and questions. “Janus watched this most unlikely trio exit the prince’s tent with a disbelief that oscillated with fascination… for now Janus could only with and watch and wonder.”

The Three have come together just as the prophecy required. But that is only the beginning.

They must learn what is required of them, then they must decide if they can work together to accomplish the task. And if they are willing to risk their own lives and the lives of their loved ones to save the Phoenix and their world.

In Gift of the Phoenix, the reader meets The Three and those who support them as well as those who would destroy them. All that happens along the way – the accomplishments and the failures are just the beginning. “Corren walked forward slowly, his cloak torn, his forehead gashed… ushered in the greatest age of magic known to man.”

But this new age does not necessarily guarantee peace and tranquility. Evil still threatens and The Three must continue to work together. In The Lost Branch, the most recent installment of the saga, Corren, Nicolai, and Marcellus continue to struggle with their own self-discovery as well as the evil that seems to strike at the very core of their existence.

“Even two days later the magic… lingered in the water. Corren followed the sensation of it all the way here like following a trail.” All too quickly it becomes clear to The Three that although they may have won a battle, the war against evil is far from over. Many of the answers The Three need to solve the problems of the present lie in the past.

“There is a man whose name has been blotted from every record… he is known... only as the Mapmaker. Mapmaker headed into the previously unexplored territory of… an unnamed forest. This

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5

forest held some intangible glory that seemed to vibrate within all he saw.” Jealousy and greed, deception and broken promises change a budding friendship into painful animosity that will set the tone for centuries.

Thus, the Gift of the Phoenix saga continues in the search for The Lost Branch as The Three continue to draw on each other’s strengths in order to diminish each one’s personal weakness. They must also learn to trust again, and this could be

the hardest task of all.

Donna Cook’s Gift of the Phoenix has won numerous awards including First Place Fantasy in the North American Book Awards. She lives in Boise with her family. ISI

When we are young, our imaginations run wild with the adventure stories we read or learn about – think Tom and Huck, Sir Edmund Hillary, National Geographic Magazine, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, David Livingstone, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Around the World in 80 Days, Lewis and Clark, Kon-Tiki, or the Spirit of St. Louis.

As we get older, the realities of life and aging may dim our thoughts of adventure or we satisfy ourselves reliving the adventures of our younger years. But, for some of us the urge is stronger and we keep on with new adventures.

This issue’s Remember When winner is John Amonson of Wallace, whose story, From Salt Water To Muddy River – Lewis And Clark Wouldn’t Have Believed It!, about a very long bike ride he made at the time of his 50th high school reunion will inspire us all to get out and take new adventures while we still can. Thank you, John.

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 October/November 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.

From Salt Water To Muddy River – Lewis And Clark Wouldn’t Have Believed It! I had to be selective. My knees kept reminding me that skiing was no longer advisable and running was limited to smooth surfaces and minimal challenges. My lungs were only 70% as efficient as normal due to damage from rock dust in the mines. Fortunately, I never had a smoking habit!

The one thing I could do comfortably was ride a bike, and I was capable of knocking down 50 miles or so in a day on a level bike trail. But those were recreational adventures, not a serious trip.

Undaunted, I figured a long bike ride was possible.

June 1 was my grandfather’s 150th birthday, so I loaded up the station wagon and headed for a salt-water beach at Seahurst Park, near Sea-Tac airport. I’d start my ride east from there at first light.

With limited lodging choices across Washington, I needed to reach Ritzville by the evening of

the second day, so the goal was Ellensburg the first night. I’d have to cross the 1,300-foot-high Tiger Summit, then Snoqualmie Pass at around 3,000 feet, then two more hills at around 2,500 feet each.

Total distance, about 125 miles that day. I made it by dusk!

(Continued on page 9)

TECHNOLOGY SIMPLIFIED – BIGGER AND BETTER

Wow! A Simple to Use Computer Designed Especially for Seniors!

Easy to read. Easy to see. Easy to use. Just plug it in!

There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you in mind.

This computer is easy-to-use, worry-free and literally puts the world at your fingertips. From the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection.

Then you’ll see the screen. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a

new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help.

Until now, the very people who could benefit most from E-mail and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time you took part? Call now, and you’ll find out why tens of thousands of satisfied seniors are now enjoying their WOW Computers, emailing their grandchildren, and experiencing everything the Internet has to offer. Call today!

Call toll free now and find out how you can get your own WOW! Computer.

NEW

Now comes with...

Larger 22-inch hi-resolution screen – easier to see 16% more viewing area Simple navigation – so you never get lost Intel® processor – lightning fast Computer is in the monitor – No bulky tower Advanced audio, Better speaker configuration – easier to hear Text to Speech translation – it can even read your emails to you!

U.S. Based Customer Service

FREE

Automatic Software Updates

Mention promotional code 104020 for special introductory pricing.

1-877-745-1429

© 2016 first STREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

81059

By John Amonson, Wallace According to an old saying, “It’s not age, it’s atrophy!”

Add to that those slow healing injuries and other ailments and it’s easy to make excuses for becoming inactive as the years pile up.

“Not without a fight,” I thought as my 50th year Wallace High School reunion was approaching in 2013. The year was also special because: • It was 210 years since Lewis and Clark were preparing for their epic journey, • It was my dad’s younger brother’s 100th Burke High School graduation anniversary, and • It was my late grandfather’s 150th birthday.

In fact, Patrick Gass, the longest-lived member of the Corp of Discovery, was still alive when gramps was old enough to start school!

PAGE 6 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7

PAGE 8 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

The year 1963 marked a memorable era in pop music history known as The British Invasion.

That year American disc jockeys played their first Beatles’ recordings and teens from coast to coast could not hear enough of it. The incredible response nationwide to their “Mersey Sound” opened the way for the Fab Four’s televised performance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February the following year and America’s music scene has never been the same.

The invasion may have started with the Beatles but it by no means ended there. Soon the voices of other artists popular in Great Britain were heard almost exclusively on the nation’s airwaves. Seemingly overnight, the names of vocalists Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark as well as bands

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

such as the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, and the Dave Clark Five became as familiar to music-loving teens as those of Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, and The Four Seasons. So dust off those old LPs, tap into those old memories, and before you know it you’ll be humming, singing, and dancing to those ‘60s classics from across the pond.

Thank you to all who participated in our Rock n’ Roll... What Music! quiz in the June/July 2016 issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Dick Dorfman of Boise.

Congratulations, Dick!

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 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!

For this issue only, we will be giving away tickets donated by Spokane’s Oktoberfest at the River.

To the first three readers who mail us a card/letter/ etc. (no email) with their name, address, phone number, and “Oktoberfest at the River, Spokane” written on it, we will send a free all-weekend ticket to Spokane’s Oktoberfest at the River (Sept. 23-25, 2016). Hurry; there are just three tickets available!

Please mail your entries to all contests to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to idahoseniorind@bresnan. net by September 7, 2016 for our October/November 2016 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website at idahoseniorindependent. com.

British Invasion Rock Music Quiz

By Gail Jokerst; www.gailjokerst.com All of the British performers listed below took part in the invasion. (And yes, the Nashville Teens really were a British – not an American – rock group.) See if you can match each lettered song with the individual artist or band that made the song famous. Good luck!

Artist/Group 1. Petula Clark 2. The Kinks 3. Dusty Springfield 4. Donovan 5. The Rolling Stones 6. The Zombies 7. Peter And Gordon 8. The Yardbirds 9. Freddie And The Dreamers 10. Them 11. The Beatles 12. The Dave Clark Five 13. The Animals 14. Herman’s Hermits 15. Marianne Faithfull 16. The Hollies 17. Gerry And The Pacemakers 18. The Searchers 19. Manfred Mann 20. The Moody Blues

21. Wayne Fontana And The Mindbenders 22. The Who 23. Spencer Davis Group 24. The Nashville Teens 25. Chad And Jeremy Song Title A. Look Through Any Window B. Don’t Bring Me Down C. Summer Nights D. Tobacco Road E. Love Potion Number Nine F. Gimme Some Lovin’ G. All Day And All Of The Night H. My Generation I. I Only Want To Be With You J. Sunshine Superman K. Yesterday’s Gone L. You Can’t Always Get What You Want M. Nights In White Satin N. She’s Not There O. Ferry Cross The Mersey P. Game Of Love Q. Heart Full Of Soul R. Gloria S. Don’t Bother Me T. A World Without Love U. Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter V. I’m Telling You Now W. Glad All Over X. I Know A Place Y. The Mighty Quinn ISI

Answers to Rock n’ Roll... What Music!

By Gail Jokerst 1. Z – Gene Pitney 2. U – Aretha Franklin 3. W – John Denver 4. I – Chubby Checker 5. Q – Elvis Presley 6. D – Buddy Holly; R – Ritchie Valens; M – J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson 7. T – Roy Orbison 8. Y – Fats Domino 9. A – Del Shannon 10. P – Dionne Warwick 11. J – Johnny Cash

12. X – Phil Everly 13. E – Brenda Lee 14. K – Ricky Nelson 15. S – Diana Ross 16. B – Neil Sedaka 17. V – Les Paul 18. O – Sam Cooke 19. F – Dion DiMucci 20. G – James Brown 21. C – Jerry Lee Lewis 22. L – Carl Perkins 23. N – Little Eva 24. H – Frankie Valli 25. AA – Ray Charles ISI

If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these State of the Union speeches, there wouldn’t be any inducement to go to heaven. - Will Rogers

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

37. Bluish green 39. Japanese-American 40. Individual unit 41. Cry of the Alps 43. Sign of engagement 44. Levi’s fabric 46. *Halfway around links?

47. Modern support 48. Catch in a snare 50. Delivery org.

52. Renewable Energy Technology, acr.

53. Obama is in his last one 55. One of Bo Peep’s flock 57. *S’more cooker 61. *Summer movie venue 65. Tear jerker 66. Pilot’s estimate 68. “Around the World in Eighty Days” author 69. Homo homini ____ 70. Tank 71. Cereal killer 72. Ivan the Terrible, e.g.

73. Compass point between NE and E 74. City on Rhone River

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9

27. With regard to, archaic 29. Vegas glow 31. *Gardener’s turf 32. Willow twig 33. Use an épée 34. Conflict or dispute 36. Arab chieftain 38. *It’s in your sunglasses 42. A pariah avoided by others 45. Monastic nighttime liturgy 49. P in m.p.g.

51. Office chair feature 54. “Super” Christopher 56. Each and all 57. *Summer discharge 58. Cross to bear 59. Australian palm 60. They were Fantastic 61. Romantic occurrence 62. Cogito ____ sum 63. Involved in a secret 64. *Butterfly catchers 67. *Popular summer color ISI

DOWN

ACROSS

1. Téa Leoni’s “____ Secretary” 6. Red and blue states 9. *Summer sandal, e.g.

13. Ancient Greek marketplace 14. “____-a-dub-dub” 15. Royal topper 16. See-through curtain 17. Santa ____ winds

18. *Olden-day road trip assist 19. Brezhnev’s hat fur 21. *Luminescent summer catch 23. D.C. bigwig 24. Octagonal warning 25. Rejuvenating spot 28. Windshield option 30. Fall asleep 35. Bowling ball path

1. Jim Carrey’s 1994 disguise 2. Muslim honorific 3. As opposed to talker?

4. Zones 5. *Outdoor shopping venue 6. Russian mountain range 7. *Soaked up in summer 8. Behind a stern 9. Location 10. Two quarters 11. Like family lore 12. Piece of cake 15. Saltwater game fish 20. Wholeness 22. Charge carrier 24. *Peanuts and Cracker Jack venue 25. *Slip-n-____ 26. Similar to a plate

From Salt Water To Muddy River – continued from page 5 Day two started out beautiful and mild. Hot temperatures were predicted with showers later. I had yet another pass to cross before reaching the Columbia River, then about a mile long climb to the crest of the Frenchman Hills before I could get off the freeway at George and follow the frontage road.

These alternate roads were narrower and crossed more hills, but the reduced traffic was better. I did encounter a few showers as I pulled into Ritzville near dusk.

I cringed on day three when I climbed on the bike at first light and saw a huge flag flapping in the wind. This strong headwind had me riding on level ground in my lowest gear and still having to rest every couple miles. My plan was to turn south at Sprague on Highway 23, which gave me a crosswind.

Even with the additional hills, I made better time with less fatigue than I had those first 25 miles!

Sparsely travelled roads crisscross the Palouse farm country, so my ride to Tekoa was pleasant and satisfying. I arrived about 6 p.m. and continued on to the Idaho State line about two miles ahead. I was ready to celebrate!

I’d crossed Washington in three days. Although, I was close enough to home near Wallace to sleep in my own bed, I couldn’t yet!

I didn’t saddle up for day four until about 10 a.m. It was about 12 miles from the state line to Plummer, and then 72 miles of beautiful paved bike trail to Mullan. I walked the bike most of the way up Lookout Pass, crossed into Montana and continued to the rest area about 4 miles ahead.

I’d crossed two states in four days, and started for Missoula early on day 5. I had some headwind and construction ahead of me, and it was still 86 degrees when I rolled into town at 7:15 local time. Distance covered, 100+ miles.

Day six started out calm and clear, but weather was a concern. I only needed to knock down 80 miles of beautiful country, so I pushed hard enough to reach Lincoln by 4:15 and was safely under cover when a thunderstorm and torrential rains pummeled the region.

By morning, skies had cleared; winds were calm and the scenery spectacular as I rode from Lincoln to the base of Rogers Pass. I walked the bike the last mile or so to the continental divide at around 5,600 feet elevation.

After the spectacular ride down the east side of the Rocky Mountain Front, I had forgotten how many hills and valleys were between there and the little town of Simms, but I got an eye-opening reminder that day!

I caught the frontage road at Vaughn, crossed under the freeway to Central Avenue and followed it into the Great Falls business district, the Missouri

River Bridge, and the park on the east side of the river. My wife grabbed my camera and got a couple photos of me pouring river water on my head! It was 4:15 pm.

I had covered nearly 700 miles in seven days. On a $200 road bike using

only muscle power, I had traversed the Northwest from the salt waters of the Pacific to the muddy Missouri River in Montana.

Every day of the ride, I ate no solid food until I reached my destination.

Only one of those days (Lincoln) did I eat my only meal of the day before 7:30 p.m. I occasionally had some pop or V-8 juice for the electrolytes, so I was getting some nutrients, but essentially, I rode and walked all day every day with minimal nutrition! I slept two of those nights under the same roof I had been sleeping under for the last 40 years. By the afternoon of day seven, most of the soreness in my legs had dissipated. I was tired, yes, but certainly, I wasn’t a basket case!

What would Lewis and Clark have thought? ISI

Logan Park

PAGE 10 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Government Subsidized Apartments for Self-Reliant Elderly

senior living

~CALDWELL~

• A Loving Family Atmosphere • On Site Beauty Parlor & Laundry Units • Home Cooked Meals Every Day

208-454-0004 • 612 W Logan St Equal Opportunity Provider & Employer

LoganParkSeniorLiving.com

National Assisted Living Week Is September 11-17, 2016

By Bernice Karnop Keep Connected is the focus for National Assisted Living Week 2016. The theme recognizes the opportunities technology offers that may enhance a person’s care and overall experience in assisted living communities. National Assisted Living Week was established in 1995 by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), a non-profit federation of health care organizations.

The focus on technology encourages assisted living communities to support the use of the latest tools to help residents engage and stay connected with the wider world. The ability to communicate with children, grandchildren, and other family may be the thing residents most appreciate. They can find old friends, order things online, find the news, and research medical issues or other interests. They may connect with organizations they belong to, and to their church family. Some may enjoy playing games or making greeting cards. The Keep Con-

nected theme also helps overcome the stereotypes that say seniors aren’t interested, or can’t learn to use new technologies.

Over a million Americans need assistance with daily living needs, including seniors, disabled veterans, and others. The AHCA provides education, information, and tools to encourage quality care and quality of life for this vulnerable population.

During National Assisted Living Week, families, individuals, businesses, and the public are encouraged to recognize and appreciate not only the folks in assisted living, but also the health care professionals who provide daily care for them.

What can you do to honor residents and the staff who serve them in assisted living facilities? Bring cookies, flowers, or other tokens of appreciation during National Assisted Living Week – or any time of year. A simple visit adds a joyful note, not only to the resident but also to the workers who care for them.

For additional information visit nalw.org. ISI

Staying In Your Next Place: What to Look For In a New Home

By Lisa M. Petsche As we advance in age, there’s a good chance that eventually our home will no longer suit our lifestyle or our needs.

Common reasons for relocating include simplifying home ownership responsibilities, reducing living expenses, maximizing accessibility and safety, and increasing personal security, community access, or opportunities for activities and socializing.

There are many options for boomer and senior home ownership, including moving to a comparable-sized home with a different design, downsizing to a smaller house or an apartment-style condominium, and moving to an adult lifestyle community containing detached homes or townhouses.

If you or a loved one is planning to relocate, it’s important to consider not only your current needs and preferences but also potential future needs. By doing so, you can maximize your chances of being able to “age in place.”

To help your search, we’ve prepared a best questions list to guide you through your property hunt.

Building Features • When was it built?

Does it appear to be in good condition?

• Is the exterior maintenance-free?

• Is there an entrance at ground level? Is it sheltered?

• If there are steps to enter or to navigate once inside, is there plenty of landing space?

• Does the entrance door have a wide angle viewer (peephole)? Are door locks easy to operate?

• Is there a sizable foyer with room for a bench?

• Is there a one-floor plan? If not, is there a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and laundry room on the main floor? Is there an open concept layout?

• Are hallways and doorways wide enough to accommodate a mobility device?

• Is there non-slip flooring? Does carpeting have a low pile?

• Are there sturdy handrails on both sides of stairs? Are steps deep enough to place the whole foot? Is the stair rise a comfortable height, and are risers closed? Are stairwells wide enough to accommodate a stair lift? Are they well lit?

• Is there a light switch within easy reach at the top and bottom?

• Is there an attached garage?

• Is there central air conditioning? A programmable thermostat?

• Are there plenty of windows? Are they easy to operate? Energy efficient? Low enough to have a view while sitting?

• Are door handles easy to operate? (A lever type is ideal.)

• Are light switches easy to reach from doorways?

• Are there ample electrical outlets and phone jacks? What about high-speed Internet access?

• Are there smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors?

• In the kitchen: Do countertops have rounded corners? Is there counter space next to appliances and cupboards?

• In the bathroom: Are there grab bars in the tub? A hand-held shower head? A walk-in shower?

Built-in shower seat? Easy-to-handle faucets? (A single lever is best.)

• Is there a spare bedroom and, ideally, a second bathroom, should live-in help be required?

• If walls are shared with neighbors, what kind of soundproofing exists?

Apartment Considerations • Is the building fully air-conditioned?

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

• Are common areas spacious, clean and bright? Are furnishings and decor attractive and modern?

• Can elevators easily accommodate a wheelchair or scooter? Are the buttons easy to access?

• Does every unit have a balcony or terrace?

• Are there in-suite laundry facilities? If not, is the laundry room easy to access? Are the appliances in good condition?

• Is the lot level?

• If there’s an entrance ramp, does it have a gentle incline?

• Is there covered parking? Ample space for visitors’ vehicles?

• Are the grounds child-friendly for visiting grandkids?

• Does the neighborhood have sidewalks?

With a house • Are the grounds low maintenance?

• Is there room for a garden?

• Are paved areas in good repair?

• Are there sturdy railings and handrails on porches and decks?

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11

• Are there motion sensor lights?

With a condo • Are hardscaped areas and green spaces well maintained and do they include benches?

• Is there a furnished patio?

• Shaded areas?

• A residents’ garden?

• Walking paths?

• Water features?

• Plenty of lighting?

Location • Is it central to local relatives and friends?

• Is there easy access to major roads and highways?

• Is it central to frequently accessed amenities, such as a grocery store, drug store, bank, medical clinic, and place of worship? What about proximity to a shopping center, library, continuing education institution, park, recreation center, restaurants, and cultural attractions?

Amenities (in a condo or lifestyle community) • What kinds of security measures are in place?

• Is there a party room for family gatherings and a community room for group meetings?

• Are there fitness facilities, such as a swimming pool, gym, or tennis court? What other recreation and leisure opportunities are available?

• What amenities are included in the monthly condo or Homeowners’ Association (HOA) fee, and would you make use of enough of them to justify the cost? What is the cost of optional amenities, such as a golf club membership or a boat slip?

With careful evaluation of your options, you will be able to make a move that will ensure your comfort, social opportunities, healthy lifestyle, and safety.

Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior concerns. ISI

Have a Plan in Place for Medical Emergencies – Being Prepared Can Help Reduce Stress

By Lisa M. Petsche Chances are good that the relative you care for will require urgent medical attention at some point, especially if he or she has chronic health conditions. Trips to the Emergency Department are stressful at best, and can also be frightening in some cases.

Fortunately, there are numerous ways you can prepare for a medical crisis. Then, should one arise, you’ll be ready to assist your relative and the hospital staff and manage your stress in the process.

Advance Planning At Home Maintain a log of your relative’s medical diagnoses, past and present medications, specialists consulted, hospitalizations, and surgeries. Be ready with the following paperwork to bring to the hospital: a list of current medications – including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and natural remedies – and the dosage; health insurance information; and a copy of your relative’s advance directives or living will and durable power of attorney.

Prepare a list of relatives and friends who should be notified in an emergency. List as many phone numbers as possible – home, work, cell, and vacation home – to maximize the chances you can reach these people in a hurry. Regularly review information to ensure it’s up to date.

Keep the above information organized in a file folder or binder. Store it in an easily accessible place and bring it to any hospital visits. Get a cell phone if you don’t have one, become comfortable with its basic features, and keep it charged.

Prepare an emergency kit of essential items to take to the hospital. You may wish to include: a notebook and pen for jotting down questions to ask and recording information provided to you and your relative; a change purse with coins and small

We bring healing

HOME. This facility is a Joint Commission accredited agency.

bills for parking, pay phones, and vending machines; a spare cell phone charger and a phone card with extra minutes, if applicable; reading material and a spare pair of reading glasses; and non-perishable snacks. Attach a note reminding you to bring your relative’s medical file and medications – the latter in case they’re needed in a timely fashion (as with Parkinson’s medication, for example) and not readily available from the hospital dispensary.

At The Hospital Let staff know if your relative has hearing or vision impairment, language impairment from a stroke or dementia, or a limited command of English. In the latter case, arrange for someone in the family to provide interpretation.

Be prepared to share your relative’s health symptoms and medical history multiple times, with a variety of healthcare professionals, and exercise patience. If your relative can speak on their own behalf, al-

When someone you care about needs caring for • Medicare/Medicaid • Certified Licensed Physical, Occupational Speach Therapists • Skilled Therapy Services 7 Days-a-Week • 24-Hour Licensed Nurses • Cardiac Rehab/Wound Care • Certified Recreational Therapist • Semi-private & Private Rooms • Assisted Living • Independent Apartments

Gooding • 208-934-4842 Meridian • 208-887-6633 Twin Falls • 208-734-4061 Toll Free • 800-540-4061 It’s All About Helping People.®

LHCgroup.com

SILVER WOOD VILLAGE

To learn more about the services we provide in Silverton, call (208) 556-1147, visit us at www.good-sam.com or 405 7th St., Silverton, Idaho

4610467-0823

PAGE 12 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

low them to do so, and simply fill in any gaps.

Give your full attention when medical professionals are speaking (don’t try to text family members at the same time, for example). Don’t interrupt them unless you need to correct or add crucial information. They will ask questions as they feel the need. Ensure before they leave that understand any findings and next steps.

Keep the volume of your voice as low as possible during conversations, for privacy reasons and because others may be trying to rest. Keep in mind, too, that even if your relative is relatively stable, or becomes stabilized, surrounding patients may be in serious medical condition.

Coping Tips The following are some suggestions to help you through this unsettling time. Initially take things an hour at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Call or ask staff to call a supportive person in your social network, especially if you don’t cope well with crises. If no one is available, ask for a visit from the staff social worker or chaplain, depending on the circumstances and your needs.

If you anticipate significant waiting periods, purchase a newspaper or magazine from the

hospital gift shop. Or, if you own a personal music player, arrange for someone to deliver it to help you pass the time and manage stress.

Make it easy to keep others informed by identifying a key contact person who can disseminate updates from you. Encourage your relative (if able) and close family members to share in decision making. Don’t unnecessarily shoulder all of the responsibility.

Look after yourself. Step away from your relative’s bedside periodically to stretch your legs, and get nourishment at regular intervals. If your relative’s stay is expected to be prolonged, arrange for family members or friends to spell you so you can go home to rest and freshen up.

If you learn your relative is being discharged home and you don’t feel prepared, ask to speak with a social worker. He or she can discuss options and share information about community supports.

Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder care, including some crisis situations. ISI

The Business Of Aging

We

As America grows older, the business of aging grows bigger, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens. Pharmaceutical companies are now among the biggest advertisers on television. Shop-at-home medical suppliers offering everything from canes to reading hang the petty thieves and appoint the glasses and catheters are racking up big sales, nationwide. great ones to public office.

Meanwhile, the at-home senior care sec- Aesop tor has joined the ranks of the fastest growing industries in America www.completehospice.com with sales said to be approaching the $40 billion level.

Complete Hospice & Palliative Care

Improving the quality of life for the ones you love.

Growing Old With Grace And Dignity

Comfort and care for you and your loved ones. Improved quality of life.

Empowerment over your personal care.

Dignity during your time of illness.

These are things Complete Hospice Care offers you.

With a team of medical professionals, social workers, volunteers and spiritual counselors, we provide 24 hour care beneficial to you and your family regardless of insurance terms or financial means. Services are provided in the patient’s home, so family has 24 hour access.

PHONE: (208) 391-2724

Complete Hospice C are Comfort, Care, Support.

250 Bobwhite Ct. #130, Boise

A New York Times opinion writer got off to a bad start with senior citizens when his column on aging contained a litany of the afflictions we face as we grow older, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens.

“You are milling in the anteroom of the

aged,” the author warned. Readers appeared to be largely offended. One letter to the editor said the essayist, “Sounds more like a Debbie Downer than a guru on aging. He seems to recognize few advantages to late middle age, and to focus instead on the disadvantages.”

Another reader pointed out that, “Aging isn’t just about losing capacities and about saving them with a new activity like tennis. It’s also about accepting and deepening who you are and using what you have to continue to learn and grow.”

Yet another expressed her surprise that the author was only 63 years of age. “In 1996, when I was only two years younger than [the author] is now, I was just entering Peace Corps preservice training in Moldova. My husband and fellow trainee was 70. We felt like teenagers.”

Centenarian Sets New World Record

Ida Keeling, the 100-year-old sprinter who set a new world record for the hundred-meter dash at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia recently, had advice for seniors as she accepted her trophy, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens.

She stated, “Love yourself. Do what you have to do, not what you want to do. Eat for nutrition and not for taste. And exercise at least once a day.” Keeling ran the 100 meters in 1 minute, 17.33 seconds. ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13

Aging Gracefully

By Alicia Balija – Vital Health & Fitness When researching our average life expectancy, it seems the results are mixed. Are we living longer? While it’s true more people live into their 80s and 90s, it is also true that we are dying of “old people diseases” at a substantially younger age than we used to. It’s not unusual to hear of someone dying of cancer or heart disease in their 40s and 50s and even in their 30s.

Cancer, of course spans all age groups.

While we may have extended the life expectancy, the quality of life into those years is appalling! Long-term care homes are bursting at the seams!

When I think of living, I think of quality of life. I think of being able to romp around the house with my grandkids hanging all over me, on my shoulders, or wrestling with me, without reservation.

“Living” is feeling healthy and not encumbered by feeling tired, being in pain, or having to use caution with activities for fear of aggravating a health condition. With that definition, what is our average life span?

Living in a nursing facility is difficult living, and though living longer, our quality of life seems to be falling below that of past decades. I see 40-year-olds that look 60 and 60-year-olds that look 80. And then there are those who appear younger than their chronological age.

In my experience, there seem to be several common denominators that distinguish aging early or aging with grace.

People that live into their 90s and are still active have a sense of humor. They seem to take life lighter and not let its daily challenges get them

down. Also, they avoid medications whenever possible. Not long ago, one of my new patients related asking her doctor for a different remedy than a drug and her doctor said, “Good for you.

If you want to stay healthy and live longer, avoid medications as much as possible.”

Individuals who age gracefully also seem to avoid eating fast food. They understand the impact these foods laden with harmful ingredients have on their health. They also eat out an average of just once per month and thus eat healthier by cooking at home. Today it seems fewer people cook anymore, especially young adults. Sadly, I see daily the long-term effects of poor eating.

Aging gracefully also requires behaviors needed to stay well – getting plenty of sleep, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol. Aging gracefully means having the health to enjoy a long and high quality life.

If you want to improve your health and age more gracefully, implement some of these healthy behaviors. You should also consider the services of a qualified natural health practitioner.

Remember, the body you have is the only one you’ll get, so if you want it to last, you have to maintain it and fix its problems. It will serve you well if you do!

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist, and Master Herbologist with nearly four decades of experience.

Dr. Carling offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic. Visit vitalhealthcda.com or call 208-765-1994 to learn more. ISI

IdahoSeniorIndependent.com

Adults Need Vaccines Too!

Check with your Provider today!

This material was prepared by Qualis Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Idaho and Washington, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. ID-F1-QH-2461-06-16

PAGE 14 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Nutritious Eating Means You Can Throw Out Those Multivitamins

By Suzy Cohen I used to think multivitamins filled a nutritional gap, but today I think differently. There’s no way that 1.7 mg of any B vitamin will boost energy, or 20mg of magnesium could improve mood. I’m beginning to realize that multivitamins are an absolute joke! It’d be funny except the joke is on us, and we spent good money on them! Here’s my rationale.

Negligible amounts: There are so many nutrients in a multivitamin that the amounts of each become negligible. For example, 1 mg of pyridoxine (B6) doesn’t affect you metabolically speaking. I think it’s on the label “for show” as clearly this amount doesn’t optimize health. By the time this 1 mg gets past your digestive tract, hardly anything could have made it to your blood stream, no less your nerves where B6 is required. The same goes for cyanocobalamin, a typical form of vitamin B12. One popular multi-billiondollar-producing brand has one mcg cyanocobalamin in it! MICROGRAM folks! That is just one-thousandth of a milligram. With hundreds of B12 dependent metabolic reactions (including methylation), what do you think that 1 microgram does for you? I’ll tell you, nothing! It’s there for show.

Allergies: Multivitamins have upwards of 68 different ingredients, some of which are synthetic – are you sure you’re not allergic to this stuff?

Inactive forms: It’s one thing to take insignificant amounts of a nutrient, but there are

The government awarded DAVITA TWIN FALLS DIALYSIS CENTER top marks in its Five-Star Quality Rating System for providing quality dialysis care to patients.* DAVITA TWIN FALLS DIALYSIS CENTER 582 POLE LINE ROAD • TWIN FALLS Call 208-733-2006 to schedule a tour and see why our DaVita Center exceeds quality standards. Learn more at DaVita.com/Five Star. © 2014 DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. *According to 2014 data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating System.

usually completely inactive vitamins in your multivite, and they remain inactive until converted by your liver to something that could work. After you take cyanocobalamin B12, your body breaks it into cyanide and cobalamin, and then you have to methylate it. Superior forms of B12 are methylcobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, or adenosylcobalamin.

Potential toxins: Let’s revisit that cyanocobalamin B12 – what I consider inferior to other B12 supplements. It contains minute amounts of cyanide that has low potential to do harm when bound to organic cobalamin, but still, I don’t want it in my body even in teeny-tiny amounts.

Cramps and diarrhea: Yep, you could get that due to the addition of cheap forms of magnesium such as the “oxide” form. Gentler forms of magnesium include the “chelated” forms, or threonate or glycinate.

Artificial colors: One popular brand contains three artificial colors FD&C Red #40, Blue #2, and Yellow #6 and there is a controversy over the safety of those dyes.

The greatest deception is that the minerals from these multivitamins will get into your bones. Magnesium oxide and calcium carbonate don’t penetrate your bone cells well. They have a tough time leaving your intestines.

In my humble opinion, it’s not possible to take a multivitamin once daily that contains biologically active ingredients and has them in dosages that advance your health. This is why I threw out my multivitamins. You can get biologically active nutrients if you just eat real food, nothing from a box or can. Your diet should include the basics like salads, greens, nuts, seeds, citrus fruits, berries, beans, and of course, lean, clean protein. We need to stop fooling ourselves into thinking we can eat garbage and take one tiny pill to fix it all... ain’t gonna happen! ISI

A Tradition of Caring For Our Community

In 2016 was a great year for Boundary Community Hospital and Nursing Home and our north Idaho neighbors. We were recognized for clinic quality by the American Hospital Association; received the FOTO® Outcomes Excellence Award for Clinic Quality for Orthopedic Rehabilitation; and were awarded their ninth Schoonover Excellence in Caring Award by the State of Idaho. These awards and recognitions demonstrate the care taken of the community by our knowledgeable caregivers and medical staff. As a Critical Access Hospital we are often the first stop in an emergency situation, but our neighbors find that we offer much more.

After a serious illness or surgical procedure, some patients are not able to return home immediately. The Acute Care Swing Bed Unit and the Extended Care Facility offer options to our neighbors in Boundary County who would like to be close to home and family while recovering from surgery or extended illness. Our 24-hour skilled nursing services, care management team, and speech, physical, and occupational therapy services prepare each patient to return home. The specialized training of our therapy staff enables them to assist each resident in attaining their highest level of independence. For many patients, a temporary extension of care is all they need to return to their normal, daily lives.

For more information, call 208-267-3141 or visit boundarycommunityhospital.org. ISI

Hearing Aid Success Requires a Holistic Approach

Better Emergency Care Together Specialized emergency room care, close to home.

U N I V E R S I T Y O F U TA H

HEA LTH C ARE

208-359-6900

| 450 E Main, Rexburg | www.madisonhospital.org

By James Richwine, HAD Many people purchase hearing aids mistakenly believing the devices should work perfectly right out of the box. Nothing could be further from the truth. Treating hearing loss is much more involved than slapping hearing aids in your ears and calling it good. Proper selection, fitting, and programming of sophisticated digital hearing aids, months of neural adaptation, and most importantly, commitment, are essential to your long-term success with hearing aids. People are delighted with their hearing aids when these prerequisites are accomplished. However, rushing or ignoring the process can lead to significant challenges for the user.

Take Gladys, for instance. Gladys walked into my office last month with major problems.

She was obviously distressed as she pulled her hearing aids from her ears, tossed them on the counter in front of my office manager, Monica, and blurted out, “I got these hearing aids from someone else two years ago. They are worthless!

I spent all this money, and I still can’t understand what people are saying today any better than I could before I bought them. So here I am looking for help.”

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Monica reassured Gladys that we would get to the root of her problem and give her some ideas for improving her experience.

Since it was my first time working with Gladys, I performed a comprehensive hearing evaluation to get a feel for her hearing capabilities and, especially, her hearing potential. After running her through an hour-long hearing evaluation she was sure was going to be the death of her, I discovered that Gladys’ hearing loss is significant in the areas responsible for understanding speech. I learned that she struggles the most when background noise is present (which she already knew), and that considerable time and attention would be needed to assist her brain through the process of accepting digital amplification.

Next, we evaluated Gladys’ hearing aids. They were in great shape – clean and in good working order. However, when we verified her settings we learned that her programming did not match her prescription.

We concluded that since the hearing aids did not match her hearing loss, she was experiencing very little benefit from them.

We reset the hearing aids to match Gladys’ hearing loss more closely and her eyes lit up with the immediate improvement. However, after a few minutes she complained that the dramatic change in her hearing was

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15

overbearing. We turned the hearing aids down to a comfortable, yet challenging level. Then we developed a personalized plan slowly to integrate more amplification into her hearing aids at a slow and steady pace. Finally, through routine check-ups, we are currently monitoring Gladys’ progress as she works toward her target.

Like Gladys, when hearing aid wearers follow a systematic approach to selecting, programming, and adapting to hearing aids, their performance with them dramatically improves, and satisfaction goes through the roof.

If you are currently struggling with your hearing aids, talk to your local audiologist about developing a long-term plan for your hearing aid success.

To achieve hearing aid success, three things are required: 1. Proper fitting & programming, 2. Neural adaptation, and 3. Commitment by the patient.

With these things, patients are delighted with their hearing aid experience, excited to wear them each day, and are successful over the long haul. ISI

Research Identifies Key Genetic Link In The Biology Of Aging

By David Stauth Research at Oregon State University suggests it may be possible to slow age-related disease with new types of treatments.

Scientists have tracked the syndromes associated with aging to their biochemical roots, and identified a breakdown in genetic communication as part of the problem. The findings imply that aging happens for a reason, and that while aspects of it may be inevitable, there could be ways to slow down disease development.

A new study outlines findings about the protein Nrf2 that helps regulate gene expression and the body’s reaction to various types of stressors. The research was published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, in work supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon.

“We’re very excited about the potential of this area of research,” said Tory Hagen, corresponding author on this study, and the Helen P. Rumbel Professor for Health Aging Research in the Linus Pauling Institute and the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the College of Science.

“At least one important part of what we call aging appears to be a breakdown in genetic communication, in which a regulator of stress resistance declines with age,” Hagen said. “As people age and their metabolic problems

Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation?

Medications May Not Be Enough Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition that can sometimes require more than medication. If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, you might benefit from electric cardioversion, cardiac ablation, or surgical ablation.

For the first time in our region, electrophysiology is now available at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Alejandro Perez-Verdia is a board-certified Cardiologist with exceptional skill and experience treating patients with heart disorders. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Dr. PerezVerdia completed his Fellowship in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Missouri Kansas City/Mid America Heart Institute, and another fellowship in cardiology at Texas Tech University. He completed a residency of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University, and earned his medical degree at the Universidad Anahuac in Mexico.

Dr. Perez-Verdia speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys the outdoors, fishing, listening to music and cooking.

Alejandro Perez-Verdia, M.D.

eirmc.com/hearts

PAGE 16 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

increase, the levels of this regulator, Nrf2, should be increasing, but in fact they are declining.”

Nrf2 is both a monitor and a messenger, OSU researchers say. It’s constantly on the lookout for problems with cells that may be caused by the many metabolic insults of life – oxidative stress, toxins, pollutants, and other metabolic dysfunction.

When it finds a problem, Nrf2 essentially goes back to the cellular nucleus and rings the alarm bell, where it can “turn on” up to 200 genes that are responsible for cell repair, detoxification of carcinogens, protein and lipid metabolism, antioxidant protection, and other actions. In their report, the scientists called it a “longevity-assurance” factor.

Nrf2 is so important that it’s found in many life forms, not just humans, and it’s constantly manufactured by cells throughout the body. About half

• Adult / Pediatrics Examinations

• Cataract Surgery Charles C. George, MD • Bruce D. Bellin, MD Board Certified Ophthalmologists

208-263-8501 or 1-800-881-8501 307 South First Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 eyeclinicofsandpoint.com

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

of it is consumed every 20 minutes as it performs its life-protective functions. Metabolic insults routinely increase with age, and if things were working properly, the amount of Nrf2 that goes back into the nucleus should increase to help deal with those insults.

Instead, the level of nuclear Nrf2 declines, and the OSU scientists say they have discovered why.

“The levels of Nrf2, and the functions associated with it, are routinely about 30-40 percent lower in older laboratory animals,” said Kate Shay, director of the Healthy Aging Core Laboratory at OSU and co-author on this study. “We’ve been able to show for the first time what we believe is the cause.”

The reason for this decline, the scientists said, is increasing levels of a micro-RNA called miRNA146a. Micro-RNAs have been one of the most profound scientific discoveries of the past 20 years.

They were once thought to be “junk DNA” because researchers could see them but they had no apparent biological role. They are now understood to be anything but junk – they help play a major role in genetic signaling, controlling what genes are “expressed,” or turned on and off to perform their function.

In humans, miRNA-146a plays a significant role. It can turn on the inflammation processes that, in something like a wound, help prevent infection and begin the healing process. But with aging, this study now shows that miRNA-146a expression

doesn’t shut down properly, and it can significantly reduce the levels of Nrf2.

This can cause part of the chronic, low-grade inflammation that is associated with the degenerative diseases that now kill most people in the developed world, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and neurological disease.

“The action of miRNA-146a in older people appears to turn from a good to a bad influence,” Shay said. “It may be causing our detoxification processes to decline just when we need them the most.”

Some of the things found to be healthy for individuals, in diet or lifestyle, may be so because they help to conserve the proper balance between the actions of miRNA-146a and Nrf2, the OSU researchers said. Alternatively, it may be possible to reduce excessive levels of miRNA-146a with compounds that interfere with its function. There may also be other micro-RNAs associated with this process, they said, that need further research.

“Overall, these results provide novel insights for the age-related decline in Nrf2 and identify new targets to maintain Nrf2-dependent detoxification with age,” the researchers wrote in their conclusion.

The Linus Pauling Institute at OSU is a world leader in the study of micronutrients and their role in promoting optimum health or preventing and treating disease. Major areas of research include heart disease, cancer, aging, and neurodegenerative disease. ISI

Nothing So Beautiful As A Sharp Poke In The Eye: Let Melons Ripen, Not Your Cataracts

By Allison St. Claire My friends and relatives were stunned by my recent emails. “I am so excited – I’m finally getting my silicone implants next month.”

Most, of course, immediately thought I meant “down there.” Depending on your generational memory set point, I can only describe myself as already built like Jane Russell, Dagmar, or Anna Nicole Smith. This did not compute.

No, no, I assured them. These little silicone beauties are the new intraocular lenses (IOLs) I’m going to have put in both eyes in place of those pesky cataracts when they’re removed.

But wait a minute. Removing and inserting meant cutting my eyes open first! I am not a fan of painful bodily invasions. Just ask any dentist who’s dared to stick his or her hand into my mouth with something sharp and lived only to pull back a nearly bloody stump.

And if I thought my gag reflex was strong, anything coming remotely near my eye – say eye drops – would incite a powerful bout of blinking, frowning, and head twists up, down, and sideways. I wince and moan just watching other people put in their contacts. Clearly some sharp pokes in the eyes were not anything I could possibly look forward to.

Looking back (and that’s easy to say now that I can see again), cataract surgery was the best thing I’ve chosen to do for myself in decades.

Some facts to start.

• Cataracts are a normal part of aging.

Approximately 50% of Americans between 65 and 74, and 70% over age 75 have cataracts.

• Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness.

• More than two million people have cataract surgery to correct their vision every year. More than 95 percent of all surgeries are very successful, and they result in improved vision.

• While there are no known causes, studies have identified a number of risk factors: age; excessive exposure to sunlight; cigarette smoking; high cholesterol/triglycerides; diabetes, and cortisone medication taken orally over a long period. Boaters, sunbathers, and people who do not habitually wear adequate protective eyewear are also at risk.

There are various types of cataracts. In one eye, I felt as though I was looking out through a yellowish contact lens that had slipped to one side.

That one took several years to develop. The other eye grew cloudier by the hour over a matter of a few months. I’d clean my glasses feverishly several times a day trying to clear what seemed like increasing layers of Vaseline smeared on them.

Vision problems that result from cataracts are not pleasant, and especially not safe if you need to drive. I can attest to every one of these.

• Increased nearsightedness.

• Sensitivity to light and glare, especially while driving at night.

• Distorted images in either eye.

• Changes in the way you see colors or colors seem faded.

• Cloudy, filmy, or fuzzy vision • Double vision.

• The edges of stairs and curbs are difficult to discern.

• Streaks or rays of light seem to come from light sources, such as headlights and stop lights, at night.

• The reflection of light from metal on a car, road pavement, or a bright, cloudy sky may cause glare.

• Fluorescent ceiling lights or bright reading lamps may cause glare.

• Print appears faded and lacking in contrast.

• Sunglasses appear to reduce your vision.

This does not add up to a fun way to live or productive way to work. But I kept waiting for some sign that these little buggers were “ripe.” After all, many decades of editing material for older readers had drilled into my brain the concept that cataracts had to “ripen” before considering surgery.

Wrongo, bongo, as a young friend used to say! Or as Brad Schuster, MD, says, “Ripening is for melons, not cataracts. The term was in use when cataract surgery was a more dangerous

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

proposition. A ripe cataract was one that looked subjectively thick to the ophthalmologist and basically was blinding to the patient.”

Schuster is an associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, the current chairman of Kaiser Permanente’s national glaucoma committee – and the doc who gave me the latest psychedelic experience of my aging hippy life with a couple of sharp pokes in my eyes. (You have to be awake during surgery to react to orders the surgeon may give. So with my eyes wide open I saw all sorts of colors, shapes, and movement while listening to the otherworldly noises of the ultrasound machine sucking out the cataract. Since you’re not allowed to move without warning the doc, I had to swallow my giggles when a soothing New Age woman’s voice pronounced, “Chop” as the machine was finishing up.) Best of all, I never felt a thing!

No more trying to remember why I plan on going into the next room, but also making sure I had the right pair of glasses with me – reading, computer, and distance. I almost toppled my desk

chair when I turned on the computer the day after surgery and found my monitor was in Technicolor!

Every line of type was three times the size it had been. I took exceptional joy in removing the Web Eyes toolbar from my screen, and dumping the Virtual Magnifying Glass into the virtual wastebasket.

And no more heavy large-print books to lug home from the library.

Obviously, the choice for any surgery is a tough one. Things can go wrong. But cataract surgery is one of the safest procedures done today. And be very, very aware that today’s guideline for considering it is when a cataract starts to interfere with your daily activities.

Your procedure may involve having a large incision, using a technique where the lens is removed whole or in 2-3 chunks. According to Schuster, that surgery usually requires sutures and takes longer to heal. It is still the most common method used in the world today. Most places can’t afford the ultrasound gadgetry to do phacoemulsification where the cloudy lens is broken up and suctioned out, he noted.

Holy Smokes! Don’t Let Forest Fires Take Your Breath Away

By Bernice Karnop It’s summer, and time to sit on the porch, barbeque on the patio, play some horseshoes in the park, and.... But wait! Remember last year when the air was thick from wildfire smoke? Being outdoors wasn’t so pleasant. Now that everyone has celebrated one more birthday, it’s not likely that the smoke will be less irritating. In fact, it’s likely to be worse.

Heavy smoke from the fires of a hot, dry summer affects everyone who breathes. For some it is only mildly irritating, but for others it can be life threatening. For most it’s somewhere in between.

Symptoms include dry, irritated eyes, runny nose, headaches, and worsening of allergies. Those with congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or asthma experience such things as shortness of breath, cough, chest-tightness, and extreme tiredness.

Some individuals leave their homes for a smoke-free area until the air clears. Since that isn’t possible for everyone, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other sources offer guidelines to prevent health flair ups from summer forest fire smoke.

• Check local air quality reports. Montana has monitoring stations all over the state, and information is available on the Montana Department of Environmental Quality web site. Click on today’s air. Television, radio, and newspapers all report when the particulate level is dangerous.

• Stay indoors and keep the indoor air as clean as possible. Shut windows, doors, and fireplace dampers. If you have an air conditioner, used the recirculation setting so outside air will not enter.

• Don’t burn candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves

because they increase indoor pollution. Vacuuming stirs up particles inside your home. Don’t smoke cigarettes or allow smoking in your home.

• Avoid exercising outdoors.

• Keep your car windows and vents closed while driving. Use air conditioning in the recirculate setting.

• Make sure your prescriptions are up-to-date and filled. Individuals with asthma or COPD should carry a fast acting rescue inhaler with them at all times and know how to use it. Over the counter eye drops may help with irritated eyes.

• If you are in the path of wildfires listen to the news and follow instructions about when and where to evacuate.

• Do what you can to prevent wildfires from starting. Start and extinguish campfires safely.

Check with local fire departments before burning debris or trash and burn only when the weather is safe for burning.

• The dust masks found in hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, like sawdust. They will not protect your lungs from the small particles found in wildfire smoke.

• Anyone with lungs is at risk during forest fire season. Plan. Don’t let fire season take your breath away. ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17

I was lucky to be able to have both eyes done at the same time. I overheard a pre-op nurse say that Dr. Schuster was the only one who did those.

At my HMO, I wondered? In the state? Anywhere?

His response to my query was thought provoking.

“As far as I know, I am the only cataract surgeon routinely doing bilateral cataract surgery in the U.S. today. Why do only one eye at a time? Many reasons possible but the only one that is legitimate is if the other cataract isn’t interfering with lifestyle.

All other reasons are disguises for the fact that the surgeon is paid less for the second eye if done simultaneously.”

The obvious advice holds: Shop around, ask around, compare, and contrast your best options.

Technology has moved ahead with the times. You can too.

Go forth and see well!

An excellent resource for any vision problems and solutions is lighthouse.org/medical. ISI

COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL & SPEECH THERAPY

1501 HILAND AVE • BURLEY, ID 83318 208.677.6530 www.cassiaregional.org/rehab

PAGE 18 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Many Solutions for Bladder Problems

By Fred Cicetti Q. This is embarrassing to discuss with anyone so I thought I’d write to you about it.

I’m having bladder-control problems. What can I do?

About 10 percent of men and women over the age of 65 have trouble with bladder control, also known officially as urinary incontinence. Women suffer from this more than men do.

During urination, muscles in the bladder contract, forcing urine into the urethra, a tube that carries urine out of the body. At the same time, muscles surrounding the urethra relax and let the urine pass. If the bladder muscles contract or the muscles surrounding the urethra relax without warning, the result is incontinence.

Short-term incontinence can be caused by infections, constipation, and some medicines. If the problem persists, it might be caused by weak bladder muscles, overactive bladder muscles, blockage from an enlarged prostate, or damage to nerves that control the bladder from diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s.

In most cases, urinary incontinence can be treated and controlled if not cured. If you are having bladder control problems, go to your doctor.

Doctors see this problem all the time, so there is no need to be embarrassed.

Your doctor may do a number of tests on your urine, blood, and bladder. You may be asked to keep a daily chart about your urination.

There are several different types of urinary incontinence. If urine leaks when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or put pressure on the bladder in other ways, you have “stress incontinence.” When you can’t hold urine, you have “urge incontinence.”

When small amounts of urine leak from a bladder that is always full, you have “overflow incontinence.” Many older people who have normal bladder control but have difficulty getting to the bathroom in time, have “functional incontinence.”

You can train your bladder with exercises and biofeedback. You can also chart your urination and then empty your bladder before you might leak.

Your doctor has other tools he can use. There are urethral plugs and vaginal inserts for women with stress incontinence. There are medicines that

relax muscles, helping the bladder to empty more fully during urination. Others tighten muscles in the bladder and urethra to cut down leakage.

Surgery can improve or cure incontinence if it is caused by a problem such as a change in the position of the bladder or blockage due to an enlarged prostate. Surgery for stress incontinence involves pulling the bladder up and securing it.

When stress incontinence is serious, the surgeon may use a wide sling. This holds up the bladder and narrows the urethra to prevent leakage.

Even if treatment is not fully successful, management of incontinence can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable about the problem.

If you have a question, please contact fred@ healthygeezer.com. ISI

Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer?

Provided by National Cancer Institute One course of treatment that can be used for prostate cancer is hormone therapy, which can be used in several ways.

Adjuvant hormone therapy. Hormone therapy that is given after other primary treatments to lower the risk that prostate cancer will come back is called adjuvant hormone therapy. Men with early-stage prostate cancer that has an intermediate or high risk of recurrence may receive adjuvant hormone therapy after radiation therapy or prostatectomy (surgery to remove all or part of the prostate gland).

Factors that are used to determine the risk of prostate cancer recurrence include the tumor’s grade (as measured by the Gleason score), the extent to which the tumor has spread into surrounding tissue, and whether or not tumor cells are found in nearby lymph nodes.

Men who have adjuvant hormone therapy after prostatectomy live longer without having a recurrence than men who have prostatectomy alone, but they do not live longer overall. Men who have adjuvant hormone therapy after external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer live longer, both overall and without having a recurrence, than men who are treated with radiation therapy alone.

Neoadjuvant hormone therapy. Hormone therapy given before other treatments is called neoadjuvant hormone therapy. Men with early-stage prostate cancer that has an intermediate or high risk of recurrence often receive hormone therapy before or during radiation therapy, in addition to receiving hormone therapy after radiation therapy.

Men who receive hormone therapy in combination with radiation therapy live longer overall than men who receive radiation therapy alone. The use of neoadjuvant hormone therapy (alone or in combination with chemotherapy) before prostatectomy has not been shown to prolong survival and is not a standard treatment.

Hormone therapy alone. Hormone therapy is sometimes used alone for palliation or prevention of local

symptoms in men with localized prostate cancer who are not candidates for surgery or radiation therapy. Such men include those with a limited life expectancy, those with advanced local tumor stage, and/or those with other serious health conditions.

Hormone therapy used alone is also the standard treatment for men who have a prostate cancer recurrence documented by CT, MRI, or bone scan after treatment with radiation therapy or prostatectomy. Hormone therapy is often recommended for men who have a “biochemical” recurrence – a rapid rise in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level – especially if the PSA level doubles in fewer than 12 months. However, a rapid rise in PSA level does not necessarily mean that the prostate cancer itself has recurred. The use of hormone therapy in the case of a biochemical recurrence is somewhat controversial.

Finally, hormone therapy used alone is also the standard treatment for men who are found to have metastatic disease (i.e., disease that has spread to other parts of the body) when their prostate cancer is first diagnosed. Whether hormone therapy prolongs the survival of men who have been newly diagnosed with advanced disease but do not yet have symptoms is not clear. Moreover, because hormone therapy can have substantial side effects, some men prefer not to take hormone therapy before symptoms develop.

The length of treatment with hormone therapy for prostate cancer depends on a man’s risk of recurrence, which is based on the clinical stage (the amount or spread of cancer in the body), Gleason score (system of grading prostate cancer tissue based on how it looks when examined under a microscope), and PSA level. For men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, hormone therapy is generally given for 4 to 6 months; for men with high-risk disease it is generally given for 2 to 3 years.

Many prostate cancers that initially respond to hormone therapy with LHRH agonists, LHRH antagonists, or orchiectomy eventually stop responding to this treatment. This is referred to as castration-resistant prostate cancer. Castrationresistant prostate cancers need lower levels of androgen to grow than androgen-sensitive cancers.

Several potential mechanisms may allow prostate cancer cells to grow even when androgen levels are very low. These include increased production of androgen receptor molecules within the cells, a change in the androgen receptor gene such that it produces a more active protein, and changes in the activities of proteins that help control the function of the androgen receptor.

Doctors cannot predict how long hormone therapy will be effective in suppressing the growth of any individual man’s prostate cancer. Therefore, men who take hormone therapy for more than a few months will be regularly tested to determine the level of PSA in their blood. An increase in PSA level may indicate that a man’s cancer has started growing again. A PSA level that continues to increase while hormone therapy is successfully keeping androgen levels extremely low is an indicator that a man’s prostate cancer has become resistant to the hormone therapy that is currently being used.

For information cancer.gov/types/prostate. ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19

Tim Joseph Never Tires Of Taking His Best Shots

By Dianna Troyer Whenever Tim Joseph grips his pool stick, nothing else exists in his world except the billiard table and balls.

“You can’t think about appointments you might have next week or of a shot you might have missed,” says Tim, 67, a national champion billiards player. “You have to focus totally on the game if you want to win. If you get distracted, you’ll start missing shots you usually make.”

The Pocatello resident’s ability to concentrate coupled with decades of practice has paid off.

Last year in the Billiard Congress of America Pool League (BCAPL) National Championships in Las Vegas, he played well.

Individually, he tied for fifth place out of 270 players in the Super Seniors 8-ball Division. The 9-ball team he put together placed fourth out of 100 teams. He named the team Club 91 after the bar he and his wife, Evelyn, own.

In 2008, Tim won the BCAPL National Seniors 8-ball Championship.

“Pool is a great hobby for people of all ages,” he says. “I’ve loved the game since I was a kid. You have to do what you enjoy while you can because you never know when health issues pop up in your life unexpectedly. Pool is such a mental challenge.

You have the constant pressure of hitting the ball right and setting up your next shots.”

To keep his skills honed, he plays in leagues two nights a week.

“At home every day, I’ll shoot four or five racks, take a break to do something else, and then come back to it,” says Tim, who was introduced to the game as a child in Wisconsin.

“I lived in a small town, and there was a res-

taurant with pool tables in one area and another area for playing cards. While my dad played cards, I shot balls.”

He continued playing in high school recreation-

some advice. Then I practiced and practiced.”

About 25 years ago, he began competing in tournaments throughout the region. He entered one sponsored at Club 91 in Pocatello and learned the business was for sale.

“We ended up buying this in 1999,” he says.

“We’ve got four tables.”

He soon met other pool players and in 2013 put together a competitive team. His Club 91 team placed second out of 554 teams in the men’s mixed open team division at the BCAPL National Championships in Las Vegas.

“People mistakenly think the most competitive teams are from large cities because there’s a bigger pool of players to pick from,” says Tim. “We were excited about what we accomplished. We had a terrific time.”

Rules prohibit Tim from having the same team members for two years.

“That time has passed, so we’re going for it again in July,” says Tim. Tim’s other teammates will be Jim Pierce, Shane Shumaker, Ross Guttterud, and Bill Karn.

“We’ll give it our best shot again,” he says. “Pool is a game in which you can’t always win. It’s just Every day, Tim Joseph concentrates intensely whenever the nature of the game. Most players have equal he practices pool, a sport that is a mental challenge and talent and at this level hardly ever miss.” makes time pass quickly. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] Besides that tournament, Tim is looking forward to playing in the Valley National 8-Ball League ally, but then as a young man, a career in construc- Association tournament in late May in Las Vegas. tion took priority.

With his decades of expertise, Tim is happy to “Then I hit 30 and was living in Salt Lake City offer advice to other players if they ask. and realized I could be decent at this if I put in the “I can give plenty of pointers, but it’s up to you time. I watched instructional videos, read maga- to practice,” he says. “You get out of it what you zines, and found an older player who gave me put into it.” ISI

From Nagasaki to Idaho hunting, Harvey Peck’s stories bring the past to life

By Dianna Troyer Visiting with Harvey Peck is like being whisked through a time machine.

For decades, the Pocatello resident, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on Aug. 30, has meticulously filed photos and newspaper clippings about the state’s and world’s historic events. From a lifetime of hunting and fishing, he also has trophy mounts and mementos including his dad’s 1911 Idaho hunting license.

“When people want to write about history or see photos of what life was like here, they come to my house,” says Harvey, a World War II veteran, avid hunter and conservationist, and businessman. “Take a look at this.”

He spreads neatly labeled manila envelopes on his kitchen table and tells stories of sailing into Nagasaki Harbor after an atomic bomb flattened it, living through the Portneuf River flood of 1962, and the Teton Dam bursting in 1976.

Serving in the Navy from 1944 to 1946, Harvey traveled the world for 13 months aboard the USS Grant, a transport ship. He completed his tour of duty on a large tug, the USS Tolowa, the vessel that took him to Nagasaki for seven days in the spring of 1946.

“You could still see the rubble and aftermath of the bomb. A friend of mine from Shelley that I served with took photos and gave me copies.”

Bear Lake Memorial Hospital 164 S. 5th St. Montpelier, ID 83254 • www.BLMHospital.com • 208.847.1630

• 24/7 Emergency Services • Digital X-Ray • Lab Services • Dialysis • Sleep Clinic • On-Site CT Scan • Orhopaedics

• Physical Therapy • Skilled Nursing Facility • Home Health Services • New Hope Weight Loss Clinic • New Private Patient Rooms • Assisted Living Center • Respiratory Therapy

He and his curious shipmates noticed 18 two-man Japanese subs docked in the harbor.

“I climbed down inside one to see what it looked like,” he says. “Seeing how small they were made me glad to be on a ship.”

He shows a circular half-dollar-sized cardboard gasket with Japanese writing on it that he found in the sub.

“How many billions of people are there in the world, yet how many have something like this?” he says, laughing.

After his discharge, Harvey returned to his hometown of Pocatello, where fate led him to his fiancé.

“I went to the Orpheum Theater with some friends and noticed an usherette named Beth who was as kind as she was pretty,” he recalls.

They soon began dating and were married on April 11, 1948.

“We’d been married 66 years when she passed away two years ago.”

Harvey worked at the local naval ordnance plant and for Bannock Paving before running his own trucking business, H.D. Peck Trucking, from 1960 to 1980.

“After the Teton Dam broke, we hauled rock and gravel to help build dikes and put in rip-rap.”

Harvey retired from Union Pacific RR, where he worked as a machinist.

PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Whatever his jobs, Harvey found time to hunt and fish with Beth and their sons, Gary and Rick.

He credits his dad, George, for teaching him to be an outdoorsman.

“Can you believe it,” he says, showing a photo of himself and a friend, Sherm Geyer, after a day of bird hunting in1974. “We had our limit of geese, ducks, and pheasants all in the same day.”

Harvey even hunted on American Falls Reservoir in December of 1972 when the temperature routinely dropped to minus 20 degrees.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

“My dad’s homemade chokecherry wine helped populations of Canadian geese in the area today keep us warm,” he says. “Even at those tempera- are due to that project.” tures, it never froze. It just got a little slushy.”

Harvey is as proud of his sons as of his own Trophy-sized mounts of antelope, elk, deer, accomplishments. Gary, a local award-winning fish, and ducks fill his garage and home. taxidermist even in high school, mounted his dad’s Also a conservationbig game trophies. ist, Harvey shows files “As a teen-ager at filled with years of cortaxidermy shows, he respondence with state was competing against and federal legislators adults and winning,” and former Gov. Cecil says Harvey, pointing to Andrus concerning wildGary’s prize-winning pair life management issues. of chukars in flight and His efforts earned him a hooded merganser several honors. In 1984, standing on snow. the Idaho Wildlife FederHarvey’s hunting ation named him Wildlife days stopped a few Conservationist of the years ago after he lost Year. The same year, his sight in his right eye the Southeast Idaho due to retina issues.

Rod and Gun Club hon“It affected my ored him for spearheaddepth perception, too,” ing habitat and land he says. “I’m glad I was management projects. able to hunt 31 elk and He helped feed my last bull elk when I wild game during winwas 85.” ter, planted bitterbrush Still, time has not for deer, and helped tarnished the stories erect 75 goose-nesting he tells his four grandplatforms along Marsh children and two great Creek south of Pocatelgranddaughters about lo. hunting and other his“These projects toric life experiences. couldn’t have been Instead of saying done without the help goodbye after chatting of sportsmen and landwith visitors at home owners,” says Harvey. Harvey Peck is dwarfed by a bull elk he harvested deor friends in a store, ago. The Pocatello resident is an avid outdoorsman “Purina Chow donated cades Harvey grins and says, and WWII veteran. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] 12 tons of hay pellets “Have a good life. Anyfor deer. Gary Shepherd and his crew at his truss one can have a nice day, but think about it. Make company in Blackfoot built the goose nesting an effort to have a good life because every day platforms that we put up. Some of our year-round that passes is one you can’t make up.” ISI

For Henry Etcheverry, Raising Sheep Is A Rewarding Non-stop Lifestyle Article & Photo By Dianna Troyer To follow his flocks of sheep during summer, Basque businessman Henry Etcheverry is a blur as he works from his home in Lava Hot Springs. While most visitors in the tiny resort town relax in the natural hot springs, he is nearly always in motion.

“I’m doing exactly what I want to do,” says the 67-year-old, whose other home is near Rupert,

where his father, Jean Pierre, started Etcheverry Sheep Company in 1948.

“I’m not the type to play golf or tennis,” says Henry, laughing. “I like being outside, being my own man, and facing the challenges of making a good product.”

Henry is one of the last Basque sheepmen in southeastern Idaho. Every year, he sells about 10,000 lambs through Mountain States Lamb Cooperative and 80,000 pounds of wool to Pendleton Woolen Mills.

During summer, he oversees about a dozen Peruvian shepherds who care for his seven bands of sheep as they forage on mountainous grazing allotments near Lava Hot Springs and Soda Springs.

His days are endlessly varied and unpredictable. He brings fresh food to the shepherds, repairs trucks, shoes horses, and moves traditional sheep wagons. He even occasionally calls a Union Pacific Railroad dispatcher in Omaha to stop trains so a band of 2,300 sheep can cross railroad tracks.

“It takes less than 5 minutes for the sheep to cross, but neither of us wants a train there at the same time,” says Henry with a chuckle.

While working with the sheep, Henry often thinks of his father’s accomplishments.

“My education from him was as valuable to me as college was,” he says referring to studying business management at the University of Utah, where he met his wife, Kathy.

In 1929, at age 16 Jean Pierre moved from Bidarray in the French Basque country to America.

“He was one of the last Basques to get here right before the Depression and temporary shutdown on immigration,” recalls Henry. “He was looking for economic opportunity and had a brother in Ely, Nevada, who worked at a mine.”

His dad worked there for eight years.

“In those days, you didn’t get paid until you quit your job,” says Henry. “The job included food

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

and lodging, but can you imagine waiting that long to get a paycheck?”

With the money and other income from working in mines and investing in a Basque boarding house, Jean Pierre and his wife, Louise, eventually bought land near Rupert to start the sheep business.

Since age 12 when Henry began working beside his dad, his lifestyle has been dictated by the sheep. In late summer, the lambs are shipped to meat processors in Colorado, ultimately ending up on dinner tables in the West and as far away as New York City.

In fall, the sheep are bred and shipped to his Rupert home. Lambing season starts in January.

After overseeing his sheep’s shearing and branding in spring, he supplies his sheepherders as the flocks forage on fresh vegetation on the desert until they are trucked to their summer grazing allotments.

As for the future of the family business, Henry says he will sell out one day because his daughters, Dominique and Nicole, have chosen other professions.

“My parents lived into their 90s, so I’ve still got a few years left in me to enjoy this work,” he says, grinning. ISI

Call today to experience the

Quail Ridge lifestyle.

(208) 233-8875 797 Hospital Way Pocatello, ID 83201 www.quailridgeretirement.com

AN ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Help at the push of a button!

The Man With The Baton!

By Dean & Nancy Hoch “C’mon along, c’mon along, let us take you by the hand Up to the man, up to the man, who’s the leader of the band. . .”

Most folks who like summer concerts in the park perk up to the words and music from the old tune, Alexander’s Ragtime Band. This kind of concert – a remarkable slice of Americana – is where, for the past 50 years, we have heard toe tapping, sometimes nostalgic, and ever delightful band music under the direction of Pocatello’s Joe Willes. Problem is, Joe will not be stepping onto the podium to conduct the 2016 season.

His selection of rousing Sousa marches, colorful Broadway show tunes, semi-classical and classical pieces, Latin American music, and much more has filled the outdoor air each week and made the concerts so much fun to attend.

Joe started his musical career as a trombone player when he was 13 and later as a band and choral director, guided thousands of students on their musical journeys. At age 17, he auditioned and gained a spot as a trombone player in the summer concert band. He has been playing – and leading – ever since.

A native of Pocatello, Joe attended local schools and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Idaho State followed by a master’s degree in music performance from Brigham Young University.

“Mr. Music” has held several positions in the area including three years in Filer, where he taught choir and band, five years in Marsh Valley, and 14 years at the local Highland High School. Joe’s final ten years were spent as Director of Music in the district office.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 21

Sixty-four years ago he married Isabell Yearsley, and they are the parents of two sons and a daughter, as well as grandparents of 10 and greatgrandparents of 17.

Their son Paul worked as a foreman and trainer with the railroad and followed his dad for nearly 40 years with the summer band as a trumpet player extraordinaire. At age 62, he has been one of the featured soloists as well as band librarian. Son David is a cost accountant with the space shuttle program, as well as a bassoon player who directs a community choir, while daughter Melissa is an elementary school principal in California.

The Pocatello summer band boasts dozens of dedicated musicians, some playing only one year so far and many who have played in the band year after year as far back as the 1950s! This latter group includes Alan Frantz who has been in the band since the 70s and who has more recently taken on the task of the unassuming and humorous announcer each week. He researches each piece and presents introductions that educate, inform, and entertain. He also livens things up with his famous jokes.

Frantz summarizes the feelings of the entire

Spring Creek, American Falls • 208-226-7856 Edgewood Soda Springs • 208-547-2057 edgewoodseniorliving.com

• Help for the elderly or disabled at the push of a button • Enhance independence for those who live alone • Know that your elderly loved one can get help in an emergency • 24-hour dispatchers on duty Locally owned & operated serving the Idaho Falls & Upper Valley areas

NEW!

Your Personal Response Network

208-523-2704 Idaho Falls/Upper Valley

Mobile services for coverage wherever you go!

With AssureLink Your’re Never Alone!

FREE ACTIVATION on Landline Service

PAGE 22 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

band when he says, “Joe is a wonderful person and musician. It is amazing to think that he has dedicated the past 50 summers to the Pocatello Municipal Band as director and many summers before that as a trombone player – that is dedication!”

Taking over the post as director this summer will be Kerrie Tolman, an experienced and lively musician who has directed bands for the local school district for many years. She knows she has big shoes to fill, but Joe says that he is certain she will do an outstanding job as she starts her own 50 years in the post.

Regarding his stepping down, Joe says, “It’s been a tough decision, but it’s been a wonderful experience with great support from the City, the many dedicated musicians in the band, and all the great audiences!”

Joe plans to continue with the band next season playing his trombone.

Dean & Nancy Hoch are freelance travel writers with several books and numerous articles to their credit. They are avid supporters of the Pocatello City Band Program and love those delightful summer evenings in the park each year. dean.nancy@gmail.com. ISI

It Is Much More Than Just A Name

What’s in a name? In 2010, several people were arguing the merits of an acronym. To convey the essence of the student success program they were building, the name had to capture imaginations, intrigue hesitant students and families, and express commitment to funders… then someone said well, you have to start to finish… and Successful Transitions And Retention Track (START) had the focal point they had been looking for.

In 2016, START remains a FREE resource, which has served over 350 students, awards scholarships three times a year, provides mentors, and collaborates with partners to encourage and build readiness skills for students transitioning into college. Both an Albertson Family Foundation grant and university commitment have made START a model for support of underprepared students.

An increased need for community connection has allowed START to engage four Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs). Connecting with students, families, and organizations in Bannock, Power, and Bingham counties these VISTAs are increasing access to quality education, and enhancing support for career and educational transitions through Adult Education and START. For anyone wanting a roadmap for his or her educational expedition connect with one of our VISTAs at 208-282-5051, or 208-282-4359 or check us out now to begin your journey this fall at isu.edu/start. ISI

ATTENTION

INL

•

Let Him Talk Submitted by Julie Brantley It seems a farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise.

“Hey Willis!” the farmer yelled. “Forget your troubles. Come on in and eat with us and then I’ll help you get the wagon up.”

“That’s mighty nice of you,” Willis answered, “but I don’t think Pa would like me to.”

“Awe, come on,” the farmer insisted.

“Well okay,” the boy finally agreed, and added, “But Pa won’t like it.”

After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. “I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset.”

“Don’t be foolish,” the neighbor said with a smile. “By the way, where is he?”

“Under the wagon,” replied the boy. ISI

•

RE

2015

H EA

LT H C A

• • • • • •

RE

EA

LT H C A

BUSINESS OF DISTINCTION AWARD

H

354 West Sunnyside Rd, Ste C Idaho Falls, ID A Better Choice for Former INL Workers

Loretta Hansen - cont’d from page 1 so my kids can play, too.”

The diminutive instrument was introduced to Hawaii in August 1879 when Portuguese immigrants from Madeira came to work on the sugar cane plantations. To celebrate their safe arrival in Honolulu Harbor, they sang folksongs and played their four-stringed machete de braga brought from their homeland.

Enchanted, Hawaiians named it the ukulele (which means jumping flea) and adopted it as their national musical instrument. King David Kalakaua, a musician and composer, became an avid player and established it in the island culture.

In modern times, Tiny Tim made the ukulele famous with his 1968 novelty song Tiptoe Through the Tulips. A 1990 release of Israel Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole playing ukulele while singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow helped kindle its recent boom in popularity.

Loretta encourages people to learn to play.

“It’s never too late to try new things. Anyone who wants to join us can text my cell phone at 208-766-3058,” she says.

Information about buying, playing, and caring for a ukulele may be found at ukuguides.com. ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 23

There Is Plenty Of Summer Left... And Still So Many Fun Things To Do In Every Corner Of Idaho

Indeed, there are too many fairs, rodeos, festivals, art shows, car shows, benefits, concerts, star gazings, parades, music events, wine tastings, and sporting events going on into the fall and beyond to list them all here. But we have provided a small sampling of fun things that may pique your interests, and with a little searching on the web, you can fill in the gaps.

To start, we would suggest readers contact the following resources: Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau at boise.org or 800.635.5240; Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau at visitlcvalley.com or 877-7747248; Idaho Division of Tourism at visitidaho.org or 800-847-4843; Lewis Clark Valley - North Idaho Tourism Alliance at visitnorthidaho.com; and Pioneer Country Travel Council at seidaho.org or 888201-1063. These are just a few of the regional and community resources that you can consult in order to fill your end-of-summer and fall days and evenings with enjoyable events!

Additional information regarding events marked with an asterisk can be found in advertisements in this issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. Many of the events listed run on multiple days, but we have listed just the first day of the event. Please call the listed phone number or visit the website for more details.

Start Date

Location

Event

Phone

Aug 1

Idaho Falls

208-522-1400 museumofidaho.org

Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug

1 3 3 4 5 5 5

Rupert Sandpoint Twin Falls Sandpoint Boise Coeur d’Alene Yellow Pine

*Museum of ID: America’s Revolution Rebels with a Cause Minidoka County Fair Farmers Market Herrett Center: Violent Universe The Festival at Sandpoint ID Shakespeare Twelfth Night Street Fair Music & Harmonica Festival

Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug

6 6 6 6 6

Boise Idaho Falls Jerome Potlatch Potlatch

Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug

6 8 11 11 12 15 19 19 19 19 19 19

Rigby Downey North Idaho Boise Wallace Burley Boise Boise Council Idaho Falls Pullman, WA Salmon

Aug 19 Wallace Aug 25 Lewiston Aug 26 Pocatello Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

26 31 2 2 3 3 3 3

Stanley Boise Boise Boise Blackfoot Kamiah Sandpoint Wallace

Idaho Senior Games Farmers Market Farmers Market Scenic 6 Fiddle Show Return to Riverside Country Music Festival Farmers Market Bannock County Fair & Rodeo Crazy 8 Shop Hop ID Shakespeare My Fair Lady Accordian Festival Cassia County Fair & Rodeo Basque Museum Wine Fest Western Idaho Fair Council Mntn Music Festival Summerfest 2016 National Lentil Festival Agai’dika Heritage Days – Sacajawea Center Huckleberry Festival Hot Aug Nights Show & Shine *Bannock Cnty Bluegrass Fest

Web Address

208-436-9748 208-597-3355 208-732-6655 208-265-4554 208-336-9221 208-415-0116 208-633-6945

sandpointfarmersmarket.com herrett.csi.edu festivalatsandpoint.com idahoshakespeare.org cdadowntown.com yellowpinemusicandharmonica festival.com 208-861-8000 idahoseniorgames.org 208-339-3230 idahofallsfarmersmarket.org 208-731-8394 farmersmarketcr.org 208-875-0947 208-875-0947 208-745-0166 208-237-1340 208-476-3358 208-336-9221 208-753-7151 208-678-9150 208-343-2671 208-287-5650 208-253-4582 208-360-2800 800-365-6948 208-756-1188

bannockcounty.us/fairgrounds idahoshakespeare.org wallaceidahochamber.com cassiacountyfair.com basquemuseum.com sharemyfair.com councilfestival.com lentilfest.com sacajaweacenter.org

208-753-7151 wallaceidahochamber.com 208-790-1148 lewistonhan.com 360-436-1179 bannockcountybluegrass festival.com Sawtooth Salmon Festival 208-343-7481 idahorivers.org Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic 208-344-6363 spiritofboise.com Boise Little Theater: Odd Couple 208-342-5104 boiselittletheater.org ID Shakespeare Forever Plaid 208-336-9221 idahoshakespeare.org Eastern Idaho State Fair 208-785-2480 funatthefair.com Kamiah BBQ Days Festivities 208-935-2290 kamiahchamber.com Schweitzer Mountain Fall Fest 208-255-3031 schweitzer.com Under Freeway Flea Market 208-753-7151 wallaceidahochamber.com

20TH ANNUAL

OCTOBER 5-9, 2016

“Ten Best Fall Festivals in America” — USA Today 208.720.0585 • WWW.TRAILINGOFTHESHEEP.ORG

IdahoSeniorIndependent.com

PAGE 24 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Plan NOW for Fall Festivals and Fun!

Sept. 10 Historic Home Show Tour Sept. 8-10, 15-17 Cache Valley Parade of Homes Sept. 18-25 Utah State University Homecoming Sept. 24 USU vs. Air Force Homecoming football Sept. 29- Oct. 1 Vintage Market Days Cache County Fair Grounds Oct. 21-22 Fall Harvest Festival American West Heritage Center

1-800-882-4433 | explorelogan.com Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

5 7 10 10 11

Cambridge Lewiston Buhl Salmon Coeur d’Alene

Music in the Park Lewiston Roundup Rodeo Trout Festival Salmon Marathon Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

15 15 16 17 17

Lewiston Orofino Payette Boise Boise

*Lewiston Civic Theatre: Oliver Lumberjack Days *Big Nasty Hill Climb *Old Boise Oktoberfest Felons & Fords at the Old Pen

Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

17 22 23 23 24

Nampa Sandpoint Priest River Spokane, WA Clarkston, WA

Rock’n Brews & BBQ Festival State Draft Horse/Mule Show Head of Pend Oreille Regatta *Oktoberfest at the River *And Books, too! Asotin County book signing Ocktoberfest

Sep 24 Priest River Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov

24 30 5 7 7 19 27 10

Nov 14 Dec 3 Jan 26 Mar 23 May 18

Thermopolis, WY Mountain Home Ketchum Lava Hot Springs Wallace Sun Valley Thermopolis, WY Lewiston

*Oktobrewfest Idaho Star Party *Trailing of the Sheep Festival Oktoberfest Fall for History Jazz & Music Festival Moolight Madness *Lewiston Civic Theatre: Three Musketeers Thermopolis, WY Keys to the City Winter Promo Wallace Yuletide Lighting Festival Lewiston *Lewiston Civic Theatre: Monty Python’s Spamalot Lewiston *Civic Theatre: Fred’s Follies Lewiston *Lewiston Civic Theatre: The Little Mermaid

208-257-3533 509-758-7489 208-543-6682 208-469-0617 509-456-0456

cambridgeidaho.com visitlcvalley.com buhlchamber.org salmonmarathon.com act.alz.org/tr/walk2016/wawashingtonstate?fr id= 9385&pg=entry 208-746-3401 lctheatre.org 208-476-4335 orofinolumberjackdays.org 208-573-4255 208-345-7852 oldboise.com 208-841-6009 history.idaho.gov/oldpenetentiary 208-465-8147 rocknbrewsandbbq.com 208-661-4587 208-448-2721 hopregatta.org 509-621-0125 oktoberfestattheriver.com 509-758-3626 andbookstoo2@gmail.com 208-448-2721 307-921-8605 208-720-0585 800-423-8597 208-753-7151 877-478-5277 307-921-8605 208-746-3401 307-921-8605 208-753-7151 208-746-3401 208-746-3401 208-746-3401

Oktoberfest Goes International

By Bernice Karnop The first Oktoberfest, held in Bavaria in 1810, celebrated a royal wedding. Crown Prince (and later King) Ludwig married Princess Therese of SaxeHildburgerhusen. They invited the local people to celebrate the royal event on the field in front of the Munich city gate, which they renamed for the new bride, calling it Theresienwiese or Therese’s meadow. The celebration included parades, traditional dress, and beer and wine tasting tents. A convenient hill served as a grandstand for the final and most exciting event, horseracing.

While people love a royal wedding, they love a party more. The local folks enjoyed the celebration so much that they planned a similar festival with horse races in the same place the following year – and the next. They skipped the event in priestriverchamber.com/ 1813, because the Napoleonic Wars cooled their attractions/ ardor for just having fun, but they did not forget it. thermopolis.com In 1814, they made up for the lost year by adding boiseastro.org a carnival, games, and small beer stands. In 1819, trailingofthesheep.org Oktoberfest became an annual event run by the lavahotsprings.com city of Munich. They dropped horseracing in 1960, wallaceidahochamber.com but kept the agricultural show that went with them. sunvalleyjazz.com Oktoberfest has been canceled for such things as thermopolis.com wars and cholera epidemics, but it continues to grow lctheatre.org more popular with age.

More than 200 years after its beginning, Okthermopolis.com toberfest has gone from a local celebration to a wallaceidahochamber.com widespread international beer-bash. Folks who lctheatre.org know nothing of King Ludwig I and his bride, and who have little knowledge of Bavaria, celebrate lctheatre.org Oktoberfest with beer and all things German. Even lctheatre.org in Idaho, where some claim German roots, OktoberISI fests pop up in cities and small towns as an excuse to have a good time. On St. Patrick’s Day everyone is a little Irish, so during Oktoberfest, everyone is a little German.

One may find Oktoberfest events almost anywhere but those who crave authentic German beer, music, food, and festivities, must book a trip to Munich.

To confuse matters just a bit, Oktoberfest is generally in September. The royal wedding took place on October 12, but over the years, they chose to move the celebration up to take advantage of nicer weather and longer days.

In Munich, the celebration starts the third weekend in September and ends the first Sunday of October, September 17 through October 3, 2016, which is Unification Day in Germany and another event to celebrate.

The festivities lead off with the grand entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries where visitors can see all the colorful traditional dress – lederhosen, Bavarian hats with tufts of chamois hair (imitation chamois hair today), and dirndl dresses. Munich has a long-standing brewing tradition that contrasts greatly with our newly minted microbreweries. During Munich’s Oktoberfest, as much as seven million liters of beer may be consumed by the 6 million festivalgoers.

Rousing brass band music and a 21-gun salute marks the ceremony of the tapping of the first keg of beer. The Mayor of Munich does the honors, and promptly offers the first liter of beer to the Minister/President of the State of Bavaria.

Today Oktoberfest welcomes an international crowd to the huge Oktoberfest grounds. One will find more than a dozen huge beer tents but that is not all. The bright lights of the big carnival lure guests to carousels, roller coasters, and other rides. Fun events welcome visitors of all ages and ethnicities.

Traditional German music features brass bands and other music styles for dancing as well as listening. The festival grounds are also filled with mouth-watering smells of authentic German food. Of course, everyone has

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

to try the brats, but other traditional dishes include such things as warm potato salad, sauerkraut, pretzels, and sweet and sour red cabbage. Notto-be-missed desserts include apple strudel and German chocolate cookies and cakes.

Those who dare the sensory overload of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes, are booking their tours and flights to Munich this fall. Why not join them?

But if you cannot, look for an Oktoberfest celebration in a town, restaurant, and tavern near you.

One celebration to consider is Spokane’s Oktoberfest at the River (Sept. 23-25, 2016), an authentic German event in partnership with the German American Society, which in 2015 drew to the Spokane Convention Center nearly 8,000 people in its first year. In anticipation of larger crowds, the event will move to Exhibit Hall A (53,000 square feet) of the newly expanded area of the Spokane Convention Center on the river.

You won’t want to miss all the German food,

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25

drink, and entertainment. Manuela Horn, the queen of Oktoberfest, is booked, as are the Alpen Band California and the Oom Pa’s and Ma’s, both providing plenty of authentic German music for dancing and listening.

The festivities run from noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visit oktoberfestattheriver.com for additional information. ISI

Have a Wild, Woolly Weekend at Idaho’s Trailing of the Sheep Festival One would be hard pressed to find a more authentic or unique cultural heritage event than the 20th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, held October 5-9, 2016 in the picturesque Wood River Valley of Idaho. Each fall this popular festival celebrates the 150+ year tradition of moving sheep from mountain summer pastures south through the valley to traditional winter grazing and lambing areas. This annual migration is Idaho living history and a weekend-long, family-friendly festival that highlights the people, arts, cultures, and traditions of sheep ranching in Idaho and the west. This is not a reenactment; it is living history at its best!

The wild and woolly event has national and international appeal, drawing thousands each autumn to the charming mountain communities of Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley in central Idaho. The Trailing of the Sheep Festival has garnered its share of top accolades including recognition as one of the Top Ten Fall Festivals in the World by msn.com travel, Top Ten US Fall Festivals by smartertravel.com, Top Animal Festivals in the World and Top Ten Fall Festivals by USA Today, America’s Wackiest Fall Festivals

by HuffingtonPost, One of the Greatest Cultural Events in the West by Northwest Travel, and is the recipient of the Idaho Governor’s Award for Cultural Heritage.

In 2016, the Festival concludes its three-year program Celebrating Generations designed to share and save the memories of these western sheep ranching families. This year the voices of the next generation will share their perspectives on how and if they can take up the dream of their great-grandfathers and make it their own. This may be the most important storytelling session the event has ever had as it addresses the past while leading into the future.

The five-day Festival includes nonstop activities in multiple venues – history, folk and traditional arts, music, dance, storytelling, Sheepdog Trials, and the Trailing of the Sheep Parade. The celebration honors the tradition of welcoming fathers, brothers, sons, and family home from a long summer of grazing in the mountains and the colorful history, heritage, and cultures of Idaho and the west. It is a celebration of tradition that is well loved everyone.

2016 Highlights • Culinary events highlighting Lamb Tastings, Lamb Feast at the Folklife Fair, Cooking with Lamb classes, a Farm to Table Lamb Dinner, and a Parade Lamb BBQ. • Fiber Festival with classes, workshops, a quilt show, and special presentations.

• Sheep Tales Gathering, Photography Outing, Hikes, and Histories featuring Idaho’s sheep ranchers and renowned storytellers.

• Sheep Folklife Fair featuring Basque, Scottish, Polish, and Peruvian dancers and musicians, sheep shearing, folk, fiber, and traditional artists, storytelling, children’s activities, entertainment, and food.

• Sheepherder’s Ball with the sizzling Hot Club of Cowtown from Austin – named best music group 2012 by True West magazine.

• Three days of Championship Sheepdog Trials with 50 of the most talented border collies in the U.S. • Trailing of the Sheep Parade (authentic living Idaho History) starring 2,000 sheep trailing down Main Street in Ketchum.

For information and detailed schedule, visit trailingofthesheep.org ISI

America’s Revolution: Rebels with a Cause at the Museum of Idaho

By Deborah M. Chessey The Museum of Idaho’s (MOI) newest exhibition, America’s Revolution: Rebels with a Cause, is open and runs through November 26. Enter the Museum of Idaho to experience the year 1776 when a group of American rebels joined ranks and declared our sovereignty from the world’s most powerful nation.

Travel back in time to the foundation of the United States of America, when a group of men and women fought for the right to self-govern.

Examine the letters they wrote and experience how their ideas came together to form the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington, Paul Revere, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock – you know the names from history books and classrooms. At the MOI, you will see artifacts from our Founding Fathers, some of which have never been exhibited in public and may never be displayed again.

This exhibition is the product of two years of scouring the nation for collectors willing to share their treasures and it is the greatest collection of

Revolutionary War artifacts west of the Mississippi. Experience these artifacts that personalize and humanize the men and women who fought the King – and Won! The MOI will be showcasing weapons that were the personal possessions of men such as John Stark who declared, “Live Free or Die!” and a decorative pair of Hessian dueling pistols that were taken after the battle of Trenton. Visitors will see personal item such as a Simon Ross’ powder horn that has an etching of his hometown, Lancaster County. There is no doubt that each time he filled his musket, he remembered exactly why he was fighting.

Take a break from the politics that are a part of election season, and get in touch with the patriotism that fueled the birth of our great nation.

Admission is $9 adult, $8 senior (65+), $7 youth (4-17), $30 family, and $25 on Family night (Mondays 5-8 p.m.). The MOI is open Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday thru Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and closed on Sunday.

About the Museum of Idaho The MOI is a non-profit organization and the Intermountain West’s premier museum in bringing exceptional exhibits to our region. The MOI is dedicated to preserving and displaying the sciences, the humanities, and natural and cultural history while also providing new experiences and unique educational opportunities.

The museum is located at 200 N. Eastern Avenue in Idaho Falls. For more information visit museumofidaho.org or contact Deborah Chessey at 208-522-1400 ext 3012 or email marketingdir@museumofidaho.org. ISI

PAGE 26 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Medicare Open Enrollment Is On The Horizon It’s time to review your Medicare coverage and decide if and what changes you want to make for 2017.

What is Fall Open Enrollment?

Fall Open Enrollment occurs each year from October 15 to December 7. During Fall Open Enrollment, people with Medicare can make changes to their Medicare coverage with their new coverage taking effect January 1 of the following year. Outside of this time, people with Medicare generally cannot make changes to their Medicare coverage unless certain circumstances qualify them for a Special Enrollment Period.

During Fall Open Enrollment, people with Medicare can do the following: • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan • Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare • Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan • Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to another Medicare prescription drug plan • Join a Medicare prescription drug plan for the first time Before making any changes during Fall Open Enrollment, it may be helpful for you to look at your current Medicare coverage to see whether your benefits and costs will change in 2017. If there aren’t any changes to your Medicare coverage and you’re satisfied with your coverage, you don’t need to make any changes during this time. However, if there are changes to your Medicare health and drug coverage or you are unsatisfied with your Medicare coverage, you have the right to make changes during this time.

You can make any number of changes to your Medicare coverage during Fall Open Enrollment, but keep in mind Highest Over 35 Prices that your last coverage Turn Your Years S erv Paid In Old Forgotten the Trea ing decision made during Decades Treasures sure Into Cash!!!

Valley this time will take effect January 1, 2017. To Estate Jewelry We Pay Top Prices For Gold, Silver & avoid enrollment probPlatinum Items. 9k, 10k, 14k, Dental 18k, 22k, 24k All Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry Any Condition New, Used, Or Damaged lems, it’s best to call We Buy From All Time Periods.

800-MEDICARE when Diamonds 1/2 Carat & Larger Loose Or Mounted All Shapes & Quality making any changes to your Medicare health Sterling and/or drug coverage.

Silver I plan to switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to OrigiU.S. Silver Coins nal Medicare during Buying 1964

ROSEHILL COINS & JEWELRY, INC is

BUYING

Coin Collections

& Older

Premium Paid For Uncirculated Rolls.

We Pay More For Rare Dates And Collections.

GOLD & SILVER BULLION, BUYING GOLD EAGLES, MAPLE LEAFS, KRUGGERRANDS, SILVER BARS & ROUNDS, TOP BUY SELL SPREAD

Paper Money

U.S. Gold Coins

Prices Subject to Market Changes.

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.

Fall Open Enrollment. Can I also sign up for a Medigap plan during Fall Open Enrollment?

Whether you are allowed to buy a Medigap plan during Fall Open Enrollment (October 15-December 7 of each year), depends on your circumstances and your state’s specific rules on Medigap enrollment.

A Medigap plan is supplemental coverage designed to pay for out-of-pocket Original Medicare costs, such as deductibles and coinsurances. Medigap plans do not work with Medicare Advantage plans. You can only have a Medigap plan if you have Original Medicare.

Under federal law, you have the right to buy a Medigap plan at certain times. Federal law allows people 65 years or older to buy Medigap; however, some states may extend that right to people who are under 65 years old and become eligible for Medicare due to disability, end-stage renal disease, or Lou-Gehrig’s disease (ALS). For exact rules and protections in your state about Medigap enrollment periods, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or State Department of Insurance.

I received a grey notice in the mail that said I would no longer automatically qualify for Extra Help. What does this notice mean?

Sometime in the fall, certain people with Medicare may receive grey Extra Help notices from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This grey notice informs people that they will no longer automatically qualify for Extra Help, beginning the first of the following year. Extra Help is the federal assistance program that helps pay the cost of prescription drugs for those with limited finances.

Generally, people who receive this grey Extra Help notice automatically qualified for the program in the past by having Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program, or by receiving Supplementary Security Income. The grey notice is sent to individuals who will no longer qualify for Extra Help in the upcoming year, because they no longer qualify for Medicaid, have a Medicare Savings Program, or no longer receive Supplementary Security Income.

People with limited income and resources may still qualify for Extra Help. However, they must apply directly to Social Security to continue receiving the benefit. They can do so by filling out the application attached to the grey notice or by visiting secure.ssa.gov/i1020/start.

Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights. org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. ISI

Social Security Loses Buying Power (Washington, DC) – Social Security beneficiaries have lost 23 percent of their buying power since 2000, according to the 2016 Survey of Senior Costs released today by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). The findings indicate that except for higher medical and prescription drug costs, overall prices have changed relatively little over the past year. Inflation remains very low, almost nil, mainly due to the dramatic drop in oil prices.

“TSCL is concerned,” says TSCL Chairman Ed Cates. “There appears to be a high risk of either an extremely low annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) next year, or worse – none at all,” he says.

Older Americans and disabled Social Security beneficiaries received no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2016 due to low inflation last year, but TSCL’s new survey found that lower inflation didn’t translate into lower household expenses in 2015. In fact, nearly 1,200 survey respondents recently said that monthly household expenses made steep increases in 2015.

The majority, 72%, indicated their monthly expenses went up by more than $79.

“With today’s Social Security benefit averaging $1,230 per month, that’s an unsustainable level when there’s no benefit increase to match,” Cates says.

In most years, Social Security beneficiaries receive a small increase in their Social Security checks, intended to help them keep up with rising costs.

But since 2000, the COLAs rose just 36.3% while typical senior expenses have jumped 75.3%.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

“Going without any COLA in 2016 has long-term consequences for retirees when real costs continue to climb,” Cates says. “People must spend down retirement savings more quickly than expected, and those without savings are either going into debt, or going without,” he says.

A person with average Social Security benefits in 2000 received $816 per month, a figure that rose to $1,166.30 by 2016. However, according to the survey, that individual would require a Social Security benefit of $1,430.50 per month in 2016 just to maintain his or her 2000 buying power, the study found.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 27

The study examined the increase in costs of 38 key items between 2000 and January 2016. The items were chosen because they are typical of the costs that most Social Security recipients must bear. Of the 38 costs analyzed, 29 exceeded the amount of increase in the COLA over the same period. The selected items represent eight categories, weighted by approximate expenditure.

“This study illustrates why Congress should enact legislation to provide an emergency COLA this year,” says Cates. “To put it in perspective, for every $100 worth of expenses seniors could afford in 2000, they can afford just $77.00 today,” Cates adds.

A majority of the 57 million senior and disabled Americans who receive Social Security depend on it for at least 50 percent of their total income, and one in four beneficiaries relies on it for 90 percent or more of his or her total income.

To help protect buying power of benefits, TSCL supports legislation that would base COLAs on the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly.

TSCL and its members are lobbying Congress for an emergency COLA for 2016. To learn more, visit SeniorsLeague.org.

ISI

Bob Bailey 529 Americana Blvd Boise, ID 83702 208-343-2547

Garrett Miyauchi 2024 Blaine Caldwell, ID 83605 garrett@garrettmiyauchi.com 208-455-9717 • 888-455-9717

Anita Wardwell Ins. Agency Inc. 416 W Cameron Ave Kellogg, ID 83837 208-784-1388

Elissa Edmonds 116 West C St Moscow, ID 83843 208-882-3431

PAGE 28 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Adventures Await Travelers Between Baker City And Bend, Oregon

By Natalie Bartley For a delightful summer road trip, consider eastern and central Oregon.

This diverse region of arid landscapes, roadside fossil beds, snowcapped volcanoes, and pristine mountain lakes provides numerous options for exploration. I took a week in June and explored between Baker City and Bend.

Prolific camping, hiking, biking, and boating opportunities abound.

Heading out of Baker City on the Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway on Oregon 7 leads one through pastoral valleys, lava rocks, and pine forests. Along the way, visitors can learn about the historic gold mining and logging era during a 2-hour roundtrip train excursion on the Sumpter Valley Railroad.

The byway joins highway US 26, becomes the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, and passes near the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Fossil beds in the basin span 55 million years. The monument covers 14,000 acres with three far-flung separate units. I hiked the trails at the Painted Hills Unit, one of Oregon’s seven wonders, located off highway US 26 just west of Mitchell between John Day and Prineville. Short ¼- to ½-mile trails and a longer trail show off red, orange, gold, and grey layers of color on various mounds and hills.

It’s easy to cool down from the arid hikes by camping in the Ochoco National Forest at the Ochoco Divide Campground. At dusk deer grazed behind my campsite as I savored the fresh scent of pines and the soothing green.

Another rejuvenat-

ing area is the boat launch and campground at the Ochoco Lake County Park. Water views are plentiful at this small campground along US 26. The park serves as a convenient location to access the Twin Pillars Trail in the Mill Creek Wilderness via Forest Road 33. Half of the 10-mile road to the Twin Pillars is paved. The trail starts at Wildcat Campground at the border of the wilderness area and the Ochoco National Forest.

Hikers reach the 200-foot high remnants of an eroded volcano by the 8.5-mile trail from the campground. My shoes were soaked after a series of creek crossings along the undulating trail through the forest and rock fall. The trail is in the Wilderness Area thus pack animals and hikers are permitted but bicycles and motor Fishing, camping, hiking, and beachcombing are popular bikes are not. I ran out at East Lake in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. of time and I didn’t get [Photo by Natalie Bartley] to the Pillars, so I was pleased the road to Wildcat Campground passes a scenic overlook with clear views of the 350-foot tall Stein’s Pillar.

My next destination was the 66-mile Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. The snow-topped volcanic peaks, sparkling lakes, and the green Deschutes National Forest are a photographer’s dream.

I picked i up by driving on Oregon 372 from Bend as it heads southwest.

The road ascends towards Mt. Bachelor, continues past the ski resort, passes several roadside lakes, and turns south as the paved Forest Road 46.

Several resorts located along the various lakes offer cabins, restaurants, campgrounds, and boat rentals. You can also base out of the many national forest campgrounds. I camped at lakes and then explored trails and shorelines. Other visitors canoed, kayaked, sailed, and fished.

From my campsite at Cultus Lake Campground, located mid-way through the byway, I mountain biked on the Winopee Trail. The path travels along the lake on the edge of the Deschutes National Forest and Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Other trails lead off the lakeside trail and into the wilderness area.

At Gull Point Campground at Wickiup Reservoir, near the southern portion of the byway, I lounged at my beachfront campsite and took in the distant snow-covered volcanic peak. A refreshing lake swim invigorated me.

There are several Stand-up paddle board rentals are offered at Elk Lake paved forest service and other resorts along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway roads heading east off [Photo by Natalie Bartley] the byway, allowing for convenient routes to highway US 97 between Crescent and Sunriver.

Consider an overnight stay at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument’s campgrounds on Paulina Lake and East Lake located at high elevations in the monument. Alternately, take a short visit to the Lava Lands Visitor Center and ride your bicycle with a park ranger. Both sites are located off US 97 on your way north to Bend.

If you are in the area, a visit to Bend is a must. I paddled the Dillon Falls section of the Deschutes River with my friend Laurel. We picked up stand-up paddleboards from Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe shop in Bend, drove to the put-in, and paddled up and down this calm segment of the river. The boat launch is located about 20 minutes outside of town in the Deschutes National Forest.

Bend is known as Beer Town USA. A visit to a beer establishment served as a refreshing finish to an afternoon on the river.

With my journey’s end nearing, the road called me east towards Idaho. I wanted to get about halfway to Boise so I bypassed the several campgrounds near Prineville and John Day. I stayed at the Yellow Pine Campground. It’s one of a cluster of three

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

campgrounds located around 5,000 feet elevation in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest between Austin Junction and Unity on US 26, popular with Baker City residents.

With so many options between Baker City and Bend, it’s challenging to decide what to do and where to camp!

General Information: • Bring water because some forest service campgrounds don’t provide potable water.

• Check with local land managers for updates since some forest service roads are only open between May and October.

• Pickup an Ochoco National Forest Map ($9) or Motor Vehicle Use Map (Free) at the forest service office On US 26 in Prineville.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 29

• Carry a Delorme Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer offering topographical maps, GPS grids, and information on lesser known recreational sites or visit delorme.com.

• Purchase a Day Use Recreation Pass or Annual Northwest Forest Pass for recreation sites along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and in national forests, sold online at fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/recpassespermits.

• Learn more at Discover Oregon Scenic Byways traveloregon.com/ byways and Deschutes Paddle Trail at deschutespaddletrail.info.

Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based author of trail guidebooks Best Easy Day Hikes Boise and the newly updated Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest. ISI

Cedar City Beckons With Scenic Hikes By Day And Shakespeare By Night landscape painting.

By Dianna Troyer Here, the ooh and aah moments are not limEnthralling and timeless stories abound in and around Cedar City, whether dramatically on stage ited to daytime. Nights are equally dazzling. With at the renowned summer Utah Shakespeare Fes- clear skies and no light pollution, constellations tival or geologically at nearby state and national glitter overhead, the rangers assure us. Star parparks and monuments. The southern Utah city ties are scheduled throughout summer.

Instead of staying for the nighttime celestial is a great base for exploring parks aglow with show, we heeded the call of a ancient red and few other stops – an afternoon golden sandat Parowan Gap and later the stone by day and new theater complex. West of watching a Tonythe monument, Parowan Gap Award winning shelters one of the largest contheater company centrations of petroglyphs in by night at the the West. Among the hundreds new $39 million of chiseled figures, some depict Beverley Center lunar and solar calendars. for the Arts on Others tell Hopi and Paiute Southern Utah creation or migration stories University’s and how they braved drought, campus. cold, and famine. Walking From the along the windswept gap, it’s list of parks, we p i c k e d C e d a r Parowan Gap’s petroglyphs tell migration and creation easy to envision Native Americans tapping their stories as Breaks National stories. [Photo by Dianna Troyer] if the rocks were permanent Monument at 10,500 ft. to escape the heat. We put other parks, pages in a history book.

Back in Cedar City, we visited with Joshua including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Kolob Canyons, Stavros, media and public relations manager and Grand Staircase on the to-do list.

In mid-June, it was a Goldilocks morning at for the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Standing in Cedar Breaks with weather not too hot and not too a central courtyard where the scent of blooming cold – just right. At an overlook, we met someone chamomile fills the air, he pointed out the nearby who had been to Zion, where it was 107 degrees. state-of-the art theaters and art museum.

“We’re proud to have some of the best theater We were grateful to be in a cool alpine area and had just sculpted a couple of snowmen at the in the country with up to 95,000 tickets sold evnearby Alpine Pond Trail in the shade of pines and ery summer,” he says. “What makes our festival aspens. Although most of the trail was clear, a few memorable are pre- and post-show talks and snowbanks lingered, and patches of snow looked backstage tours, and the audience and actors like lacy white tatting with a green background of mingle after performances.”

In June, construction workers were still busy sprouting grass.

Like the temperatures, the scenery was putting the finishing touches on two new theaters equally soothing. A 2,000-foot-deep natural that opened in early July. The new multi-tiered, amphitheater revealed 60-million-year-old pink, outdoor Shakespearean theater, built in the round peach, purple, and red pillars, domes, and spires. to resemble the playwright’s Globe Theatre of The formations told a story of sculpting by power- centuries ago, seats 900 spectators who are close enough to the stage to see actors’ expressions. ful forces of uplifting and erosion.

“It was built as authentically as possible to Rangers at the nearby visitor center reminded us to look also at the scenery underfoot. As make you feel like you’re part of the play,” he says.

The festival (bard.org) brings together an imsummer progresses, more than 150 species of vibrantly colored wildflowers thrive like a living pressive seasonal crew of 400, including actors

from throughout the U.S., technicians, and other support staff.

A new black box studio theater seats 200 with a high tech chair configuration that can be changed depending on the play. The two new theaters complement the traditional 750-seat indoor theater.

Next to the theaters, the Southern Utah Museum of Art has 5,300 square feet of exhibition space and new state-of-the-art climate controls,

A new $39 million Beverley Arts Center in Cedar City, home of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, includes a new 900-seat outdoor theater built to resemble the playwright’s Globe Theatre. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

enabling it to host traveling exhibits from prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian.

“This center is all about telling a story,” says Josh, “and telling it well in whatever art form.”

The art and stories in and near Cedar City, whether naturally formed or manmade, had made amazing and unforgettable memories for us. ISI

Traveling Easier, Safer

By Bobbie Green

Packing Tips One bottle of baby oil plays multiple roles. On cotton balls it is a great makeup remover. Put in bath water as a skin moistener or use as body lotion.

Save shower caps and the long plastic bags your newspaper may come wrapped in. They both make wonderful shoe protectors in your luggage.

They fit all size shoes and keep dirty shoe soles from your clothes.

If longer trips will require washing your clothes, do not forget to pack a pillow case or large bag to carry your clothes to and from the laundry. I include a pod of all-color bleach and dryer sheets in the bag.

I always pack an extra, small, folding suitcase/bag, just in case my shopping bug bites and I find an offer I can’t refuse.

Everyone knows to pack socks inside shoes, but ladies, do you remember those change of purses? I find they are good for nylons, hair ornaments, jewelry, and any small items needing extra protection.

Use only TSA-approved locks on your checked bags. If your bag is selected for random screening, agents will not have to cut the lock to get inside.

Rolled clothes really do have fewer wrinkles.

When cruising, pack one small bag with nightwear, toothbrush, travel papers, and one change of clothes for pre- or post-hotel stay. That way you will not have to carry or open your major large bag.

When traveling abroad, do not forget to pack extra copies of your travel documents, passport and I.D. Things will go much easier if your wallet or purse is stolen with the originals in them or you can’t get phone service if that’s where you stored copies.

Do not forget plug adaptors for foreign outlets; and suction wall hooks are a must for ship cabins, small rooms, and showers.

Health and Safety Tips Travel insurance. Accidents seem to happen while on vacation. Check with your health insurance policy to see if you are covered while traveling.

Medicare only covers the U.S. and its territories, as do some insurance companies. While in a foreign country, getting home to the U.S. can be costly, and timeliness may be important for your health. Getting an airlift home may not be possible without insurance. If you are not covered by other insurance, you will need to purchase travel insurance.

Take all your medication in the correct prescription bottle with the label attached. A letterhead letter from your doctor listing the generic names

PAGE 30 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

of your meds would be useful should you have to get a new prescription filled because of loss or damage.

Carry a list of your life-threatening allergies.

If going to a foreign country, list your travel plans with the U.S. embassy in that country. Enroll online at step.state.gov/step. Enrolling will enable the embassy to keep you informed of natural disasters, civil unrest, or family emergencies.

If you are informed you need to evacuate the country, the cost incurred is yours to pay. If the embassy has to arrange for evacuation, it will be to the nearest safe place, not necessarily to your home. ISI

Texas Attitude

Submitted by John Early, New York City One day, a very gentle Texas lady was driving across a high bridge in Austin. As she neared the top of the bridge, she noticed a young man fixin’ to jump. (Fixin’ in Texas means getting ready to do something) She stopped her car, rolled down the window, and said, “Please don’t jump! Think of your dear mother and father.”

He replied, “My mom and dad are both dead; I’m going to jump.”

She said, “Well, think of your sweet wife and precious children.”

He replied, “I’m not married, and I don’t have any kids.”

She said, “Well, then you just remember the Alamo.”

He replied, “What’s the Alamo?”

She replied, “Well, bless your heart! You just go ahead and jump. You’re holding up traffic!” ISI

Catch of the day!

Submitted by Julie Hollar The rain was pouring down, and standing in front of a big puddle outside the pub was an old Irishman, drenched and holding a stick with a piece of string dangling in the water.

A passerby stopped and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Fishing,” replied the old man.

Feeling sorry for the old man, the gent said, “Come in out of the rain, warm up, and have a drink with me.”

Inside as they sipped their whiskies, the gentleman could not resist asking, “So how many have you caught today?”

“You’re the eighth,” the old man replied. ISI

REKINDLE YOUR HAPPILY E V E R OPOLIS. . .

Visit Thermopolis, Wyoming. Worlds largest mineral hot springs... and more!

THERMOPOLIS.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 31

Double the Joy of Visiting Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites with Parks Canada Discovery Pass 2-Year Deal

By Bernice Karnop Canada’s best National Parks are just across the border – Waterton, Banff, Jasper, and Elk Island in Alberta, and Glacier, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke, Pacific Rim, and Yoho in British Columbia. If you love visiting Canada’s western parks, or if for some reason you have never visited these stunningly beautiful mountain paradises, this is the year to update your passport and go.

The Parks Canada Discovery Pass that gets you into nearly 100 National Parks, National Historic Sites, and National Marine Conservation Areas operated by Parks Canada, is good for not one, but two years during the 2016-2017 seasons.

The special price signifies the beginning of the celebration of the 150th year of Canada’s Confederation. On July 1, 1867, the British Colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into one – the Dominion of Canada. To celebrate this peaceful political process, Parks Canada encourages people to discover the beauty, history, and intrigue of not just the western parks, but all of the lands set aside for public enjoyment, from Prince Edward Island (think Anne of Green Gables) to British Columbia.

The Parks Canada Discovery Passes cost $136.40 CD (approximately $107 USD) for a family or group – up to seven people arriving together at the park in a single vehicle. Passes for youth

6-16 cost $33.30 CD (approximately $26 USD); for adults 17-64 cost $67.70 CD (approximately $53 USD); and for seniors 65+ cost $57.90 CD (approximately $45 USD). A couple traveling together may prefer a family/group pass rather than two single passes, so if travelling with friends or family members, the cost will be covered. Passes can be purchases as gifts.

To purchase a pass, visit achatsparcs-parksstore.ca and to make reservations for campsites and Parks Canada accommodations including cabins, yurts, teepees, and tents. Parks Canada Discovery Passes are available at the entrance to any participating park, historic site, or marine conservation area, but faster and more convenient if the pass is purchased ahead, however.

The pass pays for daily entrance fees, but does not include camping fees. Discovery Passes purchased in 2016 are valid for two full years from the date of purchase, so passes purchased in August 2016 are good through August 2018. Passes are non-transferrable and it is important to keep your receipt as proof of purchase in case you lose it.

The passes quickly pay for themselves over individual visit fees, and profits are used to help maintain the National Parks, National Historic Sites, and National Marine Conservation areas. Think about it. Unlimited visits to one hundred fascinating sites over two full years, for the group price of just

a little more than $100. Make plans now to help Canada celebrate its independence by visiting our beautiful neighbor country and learning about its history and special events.

For more information or if you have questions contact National Information Service at 1-888-7738888 or information@pc.gc.ca. ISI

8 Hotels in the heart of the Canadian Rockies

BANFF HOTEL ROOMS SUITES CONDOS 1-800-563-8764 www.bestofbanff.com

BOOK YOUR ROOMS NOW FOR THESE E V E N T S !

SEPTEMBER 24 oktobrewfest

OCTOBER 27

moonlight madness

NOV 14–FEB 14

Keys to the City Winter Promotion

Thermopolis is your perfect destination for those special getaways. Just three scenic hours

from Billings, you will enjoy soaking and relaxing in the healing waters of the World’s Largest Mineral Hot Spring.

Whether it’s just the two of you enjoying each other or it’s a special trip with the grandkids, Thermopolis offers a world-renowned dinosaur center and dig site, unparalleled outdoor activities, and unique scenic attractions.

From antique stores and art galleries, to fur and buffalo hide stores and whiskey-distillery gift shops, you will enjoy an eclectic shopping experience reflecting the town’s unique character. To satisfy your palate, choose from many distinctive, locally owned restaurants. Finally, well-appointed and comfortable lodging will let you wind down in dreamland and rest for another day.

T H E R M OPOLIS.COM

PAGE 32 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them.

- Adlai Stevenson

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 33

Shirlee Hennigan – Longtime Actress and Director Article By Jack McNeel Photo by Jackie McNeel As a long-time theater arts educator with a stage career that included acting and directing, Shirlee Hennigan is well respected and recognized throughout the Lewis Clark Valley. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Shirlee attended college at Ohio State and Kent State Universities and then taught in Ohio for three years. She moved to New York City and earned her Master’s degree from Columbia University.

She wanted to move west, didn’t quite make it to California, and landed in Pierce, Idaho teaching honors English. But, Professor Nydeger from Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) in Lewiston visited Pierce to adjudicate a play performed by Shirlee’s class and lured her away.

“He asked if I had an advanced degree, and I said, ‘Yes, from Columbia University.’”

LCSC offers a degree in Theater and Communication Arts, and Nydeger as Dean of the Department asked her to apply for a job at LCSC. “I asked, ‘Does it snow much in Lewiston?’

He said, ‘A lot less than here in Pierce.’ I said, ‘I’ll be there tomorrow,’” and thus began her career in Lewiston. “I was at LCSC for 25 years,” Shirlee adds.

During that time, she earned her PhD at Washington State University. Her dissertation, The Woman Director in the Contemporary Professional Theater, was certainly a reflection of the path her career took – as an actor and as a director.

In 1968, Fiddler on the Roof was her first show for the Lewiston Civic Theater in the leading role of Golda at the Silverthorne Theater on the LCSC campus.

Forty-six years later Shirlee did her last show for the Civic Theater.

“During those years, I did many, many shows both acting and directing,” Shirlee explains.

At the Lewiston Civic Theater there is a dedication wall prominently displaying several photos of Shirlee honoring her contributions.

Fred Scheibe, former artistic director for the Civic Theater says, “Shirlee did a lot of directing and acted in many shows at the Civic. She was a high quality director – very good, very knowledgeable, and was in several of my shows. She worked very hard and was a concentrated actor who could get into character and hold that character. I really enjoyed working with her. The shows she’s directed have been extremely good – just excellent and very knowledgeable about theater.”

In 1994, Shirlee received the Idaho Governor’s Award for Art Education from former Governor Cecil Andrus.

“That was a really special night,” she says, “and Patty Duke actually presented me with the medal.”

For several years, Shirlee also directed for Spokane Civic Theater doing such Broadway productions as Hello Dolly, South Pacific, and Oklahoma.

“I loved doing it – being in a big theater – but the time involved in commuting from Lewiston became a factor.

Shirlee also represented the northwest region for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), serving six years each as vice chair and chair. Through state, regional, and national festivals, participating

schools celebrate the creative process, see one another’s work, and share experiences and insights within the community of theater artists.

“I travelled throughout the region to adjudicate theatrical productions at many schools,” Shirlee explains, “including in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, Oregon, and more.”

Through the Kennedy Center, she also made an exchange trip to Russia.

“We saw everybody and did everything!” she recalls, “the Bolshoi Ballet and much more.”

After returning from the trip, Shirlee spoke to various groups in the area explaining her trip and the Russian artistic scene. And, she hosted a young man from Russia.

“His name was Mark Rozovsky and he wrote Strider, which was produced on Broadway and is all about horses and their masters – a marvelous show!”

One of Shirlee’s favorite roles was in the The Full Monte.

“I was the old lady, Jeannette – the person who ran the music. It was hilarious and I had so much fun doing it. I had done a lot of acting when I was much younger, so it was fun to be in an old person show. That was in 2010.” Her daughter, Stephanie, played Vicki in that show.

One of Shirlee’s former students was Bill Peterson who played in the TV show CSI. “He was going to school at Pullman but he heard mom was directing shows down here that he wanted to do and that he felt were more challenging,” Stephanie explains.

“He came down and did Hedda Gabler just to be in it with mom. I think that’s pretty cool. He was on that CSI show for many years. Mom would watch it and say, ‘There’s Bill.’”

Shirlee has retired from her various careers and lives quietly in Lewiston with Stephanie, but she still smells the greasepaint and hears the roar of the crowd. ISI

CVHC Saturday

Walk - In Clinic We’re here for you.

Open 9am – 5pm on Saturdays Check-in located at CVH Emergency Room

Enjoy the Comforts of Home with the Loving Care You Need.

At Clark Place, a full range of assisted living services and advanced levels of care are available in the comfort of a warm, friendly community.

To take a personal tour, please call us at 208-882-3438.

TM

Clark Place Senior Living

1401 North Polk Street Moscow, ID 83843 208-882-3438

enlivant.com

Call 208-476-455 with any questions.

Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics

An Affiliate of

PAGE 34 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Gene Wightman – A Talented Engineering Mind

Article By Jack McNeel Photo by Jackie McNeel You wouldn’t know it from his cookie cutters, but Gene Wightman of Juliaetta is not a baker.

However, he is a very creative “engineering genius.”

Born and raised in Lewiston, Gene and his wife, Caroline, have spent their lives in the Clearwater Valley. Following high school, he took a job with Potlatch, first working on the “bull gang” – in the maintenance department as “a garbage picker upper and doing the hand clean up, getting materials in the mill, and running dump trucks Assisted Living and the flat bed.”

Come see why we’re unique.

That job soon led to pipefitting, a higher salary, and after 38 years, he retired in 1994. Now in his late 70s Gene is still going strong making cookie cutters and keeping his days full with 1639 Birth Avenue in Lewiston other activities.

(208) 746-1077 Gene’s cookie cutter business started about 20 years ago when he made a few for a neighbor to use to cut clay for her art projects.

“She liked them and took some to Portland to a ceramic school. They were impressed, and she told them where she got them. They called me and the first order was for 400 – and it mushroomed from there.”

Gene now sells them from New York to Portland and Minneapolis to Texas. “I sell them just strictly by wholesale to stores all over the place.”

The cutters are 16-gauge stainless steel and cut clay that has been rolled to a thickness of about a quarter of an inch.

“They cut squares, rounds, and rectangles.

I make twenty six different shapes plus people want custom shapes so I make a lot of different oddball shapes like flowers and leaves – whatever they want.”

The neighbor’s husband describes the cookie cutters as exquisitely made and Gene as “the most talented engineering mind I have ever known.”

Gene would not have guessed that he would still be making cookie cutters twenty years after that initial sale, but the sales are still rolling in.

“It mainly keeps me busy. That’s basically the only reason I started doing it.”

Gene does no advertising “It’s just word of mouth. If a person really wanted to get into it and advertised it or sold them yourself over the Internet, you could probably do a lot more and make a lot bigger business out of it.”

But for someone wanting to keep busy, this has worked out very well for Gene, and LOCATED IN LEWISTON IDAHO keeping busy is important, although he does watch some Seahawks football. Lewiston has always been a “heck As a top rated facility, we offer a wide range of care of a baseball town,” for residents including independent living, assisted and he and Caroline used to travel with the living, & memory / dementia care. minor league Lewiston Caroline’s dad Caring for Family the old-fashioned way... at home. Broncs. was Sam Canner who served as manager of PET FRIENDLY • HOMEY ATMOSPHERE the Broncs at one time.

During the winters when there isn’t much 2421 Vineyard Ave. Lewiston, ID 83501 else going on, Gene works on other projects.

V ISIT OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS IMMEDIATE OPENINGS!

Call for a tour 208.743.6500

He spent several years building his first two miniature steam and donkey engines, which are amazing in their finest details. Other things he’s created are equally amazing.

“Steam tractors were old farm tractors,” Gene says. “There’s one in Colton on Main Street and another in Lewiston at the Dodge dealership.

The ones I built look exactly like them. I had a set of plans but no kit. Everything was built from scratch.”

Gene and Caroline’s home is a testament to his engineering ability. He had the house rough framed and ready for siding and roofing in 1978.

Then he took over and spent the next two years finishing the house, which includes a massive fireplace.

“I had never laid rock in my life,” he explains.

“It’s made of large basalt rocks Caroline and I collected from the old Winchester Grade. I built a chain saw winch, strung a line across the canyon, and tied it to a tree. Caroline was on the highway where the line was tied to a guardrail. We used buckets, gunny sacks, and a pulley to ferry them across the canyon,” he relates with a chuckle.

The lower level of the home is paneled with wood from a mine near Elk City. Some boards contain stones embedded in them from the blasting done during the mining.

Pointing to beams high overhead, Gene says, “These were part of the pen gates from Dworshak Reservoir.”

And then there is the unique twisting stairway.

“I didn’t like the idea of a metal stairway. You get a ringing sound, so I put a buckskin tamarack there.” This isn’t a small tamarack and is somewhere between 20-30 feet tall and massive.

“That beam up on top,” Gene adds, pointing upward, “is a 12 x 24 beam from a Potlatch shed where they stowed their lumber. There was a big monorail that ran back and forth and when they tore the rough shed down, I got a couple of 38’ beams.

“I built my own hot water tank. There is 200’ of 5/8” copper tubing running back and forth in the attic where it gets up to 140 degrees in the summer. The coils run through the hot water tank and that transfers heat to the water so what we use is preheated and it cuts down on the utility bill.”

From all the unique features of Gene and Caroline’s home, I understand fully the neighbor’s description of Gene’s engineering talents.

Winter is also time to leave for the warmer climates of southern Arizona. Apache Junction and Salome are where they’re likely to be. While many retirees winter in Arizona for warmth and relaxation, Gene and Caroline add four-wheeling to the mix.

“We take the four-wheelers down and generally spend from one to two months.”

Springtime finds Gene back home making cookie cutters and working on other unique projects. ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 35

Riding Appaloosas on the Nez Perce Trail “It was the last day of the ride, and we got caught in a bad wind. Many of riders had parkas on, which caught the wind and blew up really big.

My horse spooked, bolted on me, and as we ran over the hills and open hillside, I hit the ground and broke my shoulder. That was my first broken bone in my life! You know the saying ‘get back on the horse.’ Well I got back on the same horse the next year of the ride and Jon and I have been riding ever since!�

July’s 2016 ride was year 13, meaning it covers the final trail section that ends at the Bear Paw Battlefield.

The Nimiipuu on the ride held a special empty saddle ceremony to honor those in the Nez Perce War of 1877 and the Chief Joseph Trail riders who have passed.

Participation this year included approximately 150-175 riders plus 100 non-riders who covered the distance by car and truck and provided help where needed.

The ride is a history lesson for Indian and nonIndians riders alike facing challenging weather and terrain and the emotional connection to the trail and its meaning. “For the Nez Perce you’re thinking of what your ancestors and their horses went through as you’re traveling the route. It was emotional, especially the year when we rode into the Big Hole Battlefield.

The Big Hole changed everything. Up to that point, our ancestors thought they’d left the war behind them in Idaho. They weren’t worried. They weren’t expecting what happened,� Rosa explains.

Early on August 9, 1877, Army troops crept down to the willows lining the banks of the Big Hole River and began shooting into the Nez Perce teepees killing approximately 55 women and children and 33 warriors.

Since 1977, the tribe has held memorial ceremonies to honor their ancestors and promote healing at the primary battles at Whitebird Canyon, Big Hole, and the Bear Paw. Notable Nez Perce tribal members and war veterans Wilfred Scott and Horace Axtell, now deceased, have led these services.

There have been numerous books telling one of the most remarkable stories in American history of the non-treaty Nimiipuu and their thirteen-hundred-mile-long trip, all on either foot or horseback, and evading and outsmarting the army at nearly every turn. To understand better the history of the Nez Perce Tribe and its remarkable journey during that turbulent period, I suggest Yellow Wolf – His Own Story by L.V. McWhorter. “The trail seems to be one way people of Nimiipuu ancestry come together, by sharing the story. Every step of the trail is a sacred step.

When you’re first growing up you don’t realize these things happened because it was hard for the elders to talk about – but then you learn,� Rosa concludes. ISI

Regency Pullman A Retirement and Assisted Living Community A R E G E N C Y PA C I F I C C O M M U N I T Y

Bringing independence to living and quality of life • Spiritual activities & programs • Daily physical fitness • Scheduled senior group trips • Weekly house keeping • Trained staff on-site

• Independent & Assisted Living • Respite program • Prompt referral placement program • Three meals served daily • Creative social learning

1285 SW Center St. • Pullman • (509) 332-2629 For more information and photos, visit us at www.whitmanslc.com

DEDICATED HOPE, HEALING AND RECOVERY TO

We Offer: t 5SBOTJUJPOBM $BSF 6OJU

- Short-term Rehabilitation Unit Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy -Outpatient Therapy

t $PNQMFY 8PVOE $BSF 5FBN t 4FMFDUJWF .FOV T 'JOF %JOJOH BOE 8J Ăś t 0O TJUF .FOUBM )FBMUI $POTVMUBOU t .FEJDBSF .FEJDBJE .BOBHFE $BSF $POUSBDUT BOE 7" BQQSPWFE

MAKE A RESERVATION

If you have a scheduled surgery and will need Rehabilitation therapy following the procedure, call and make a reservation for your continued care. Our therapists will work with your physician to get you back home as quickly as possible. REHAB MADE EASY!

Please call to schedule a tour or just drop in. We are always available to show you the center and answer any questions you may have.

t UI 4USFFU -FXJTUPO

&&

Article By Jack McNeel Photo by Jackie McNeel For nearly 25 years, Rosa Yearout, a lifelong resident of the Clearwater area, has been reliving the Nez Perce tribe’s valiant flight in 1877 to avoid capture by the U.S. Army. Rosa, a Nez Perce tribal member, and her husband, Jon, participate in the annual Chief Joseph Trail Ride. Each year in sequence, the ride follows a different 100-mile section of the trail used by the Nimiipuu (“the people�) when they were forced to leave their homelands in the Wallowas of Oregon and along the Snake and Clearwater Rivers in Idaho.

The Nez Perce Trail stretches from these homelands across the Bitterroot Mountains into Montana, through Yellowstone Park, and then northward toward Canada – roughly 1,300 miles.

The Battle of Bear Paw was the final engagement of the Nez Perce War, and some of the Nez Perce were able to escape safely to Canada, just 30 miles away. But Chief Joseph was forced to surrender the majority at the Bear Paw Battlefield near Chinook, Montana – now part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park.

Many people recognize it as the site where Chief Joseph famously said, “Hear me, my chiefs.

I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.�

The Appaloosa Horse Club of Moscow sponsors the ride, a reflection of the long association between the Nimiipuu and Appaloosa horses, which they had been selectively breeding before Lewis and Clark arrived in 1805-06. The ride is restricted to riders on Appaloosa horses, other than the support crew.

Rosa and Jon breed Appaloosas. “We have over 20 mares and when they foal each year we have quite a few around, so probably 60 or 70,�

Rosa explains in estimating her herd.

Rosa and Jon also have what they call the “old herd� – descendants of Nez Perce horses from the Wallowa band. In May 1887, when the Nimiipuu were told they had to go to the reservation near Lapwai, Ollokot, younger brother of Chief Joseph, left some horses with a rancher in the Wallowas, since they expected to return to their homeland.

But following the Battle of the Bear Paw, they were shuttled off to Kansas, Oklahoma, and elsewhere, but never allowed to return to the Wallowas. Ollokot died at the Bear Paw Battlefield.

Years later, the family owning the descendents of Ollokot’s horses wanted to return them to the tribe to a direct descendent of Ollokot. Irwin Waters from Sweetwater stepped forward.

According to Rosa, “Jon was a friend of Irwin’s and when he cut down his herd; we ended up with a lot of those mares, which now make up the “old herd.�

Over the years, Rosa has ridden many hundreds of miles along the Nez Perce Trail without incident, but she recalls one harrowing incident.

PAGE 36 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Ballistics Expert and Community Volunteer Article By Jack McNeel Photo By JackieMcNeel Lewiston’s Bruce Young turned a working career into a full time occupation as an expert witness in gun related court cases. And, he still finds time to volunteer in community programs.

The change in careers was unexpected but came

t’s about helping the whole person live the whole of life.

(208) 882-6560 | Moscow

MOSCOW VILLAGE FAIRVIEW VILLAGE ESTATES

All faiths or beliefs are welcome.

as a result of his expertise in forensic science.

Bruce was raised in Muskegon, Michigan where he developed interests in hunting and fly-fishing, two activities that remain uppermost in his work and volunteering activities. As a youngster, he was an avid outdoorsman, adding boating and scuba diving to his list of activities.

“But, fly fishing took a back seat when I discovered girls and went to college,” he says with a laugh.

College took him to Michigan Technological University, which led him west to Spokane where he spent a dozen years working for Kaiser Aluminum. Then it was on to Lewiston and work in the arms and ammunition business at CCI/Speer, from which he retired at the end of 2003. CCI/Speer is now part of Vista Outdoor in Lewiston.

“Although it has changed its name several times over the years, to me it’s CCI/Speer,” Bruce explains. “I consulted with them for five years after retiring, and then they hired me for a year on a special project.”

Bruce was also a technical adviser for American Firearms and Tool Marks Examiners (AFTE), which led to his present work serving as an expert forensic witness around the country in court cases regarding firearms and ammunition.

“A lawyer called me in 2008 or 2009 and asked me if I’d work on a case,” Bruce explains.

“I wasn’t looking for a job since my wife was close to retirement, but then when he told me what he was going to pay me, I prostituted myself,” he adds laughing. “And that’s what I’m doing now.”

The cases Bruce works on run the gamut of firearms related situations. He is currently working on one involving a muzzle loader, and other cases have involved malfunctions of firearms, law enforcement, etc. Some cases go to trial, but many settle out of court, and the work can take him away from home for long periods.

“A couple of cases involving law enforcement were more firearms problem where the guns were destroyed. Was it the guns or the ammunition? Or was it the individual and his conditions?”

Bruce explains.

IdahoSeniorIndependent.com

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

Prestige Care & Rehabilitation

T h e

O r c h a r d s

Others have been personal injury cases arising from hand loads. One case involved a .454 Casull cartridge fired through a revolver not designed for that cartridge.

“When he fired the weapon, it took the top strap off and most of the cylinder. He was going to sue everybody, but the evidence was there that he had fired a .454 Casull so the onus was on him and not the defendant.”

Bruce volunteers with young people and since 1988 has worked in the hunter education program through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, where he taught two or three classes a year until his “retirement” when he dropped to one class a year. His experience at CCI/Speer and his interest in youth have contributed to his being an ideal hunter education instructor.

In fact, he was designated “Volunteer of the Year” in Lewiston and later was named “Volunteer of the Year” for the State of Idaho.

At the Jack O’Connor Center, which recognizes one of America’s premier big game hunters and outdoor writers with a sizeable museum collection of specimens and memorabilia from Jack O’Connor’s life and travels around the world, Bruce volunteers as a docent explaining to visitors the collection and the man himself.

As a lifelong angler since his childhood days in the lakes area of Michigan and with extensive small boat and scuba diving experience, Bruce volunteers at the Juvenile Correction Center working to expose youth to the outdoor world in conjunction with the Kelly Creek Flycasters Club.

“We hold classes there covering everything from ‘why to fly fish’ to tying flies to actually taking the kids out on the water and letting them experience fly fishing on their own. It’s been very successful and has really taken over,” he exclaims. “Now they’re looking to institute a similar program St. Anthony as well as in the Boise area,” he adds.

Bruce’s favorite fishing waters are the North Fork of the Clearwater River and the Lochsa River. As he says, “I like being outdoors.” ISI

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

Good Ideas For Daily Living

Submitted by Julie Brantley 1. Accept the fact that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.

2. Always keep your words soft and sweet just in case you have to eat them.

3. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4. Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.

5. If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

6. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

7. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

8. Never buy a car you can’t push.

9. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.

10. Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.

11. Since it’s the early worm that is eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12. The second mouse gets the cheese. ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37

Selling Your Home And Moving Into Rental Property During a Landlord’s Market

By Teresa Ambord When it is time to downsize, you may consider renting an apartment or condominium as your future housing. Various economic forces have produced a tight rental market, so you may have little choice but to find a rental. If it has been awhile since you rented, you might be surprised to learn it’s much harder than it used to be. Landlords can afford to be choosy and they can charge higher rents. And getting a long-term lease or even a lease for more than a year at a time may be a thing of the past.

When you do find a place you’d like to be, don’t sign anything without knowing exactly what is in the agreement.

Here’s some advice culled from a variety of sources.

• Does the lease include an option to renew? If so, is there a clause that escalates the rent in subsequent years? Assuming there is a rent escalation clause, how is the increase calculated? This is important because it allows you to anticipate to some extent what your added cost will be. It could be based on the cost of living, on a percentage of the first-year rent, or it could be a fixed dollar amount. Mike Akerly, a real estate broker in New York told brickunderground.com, “the important thing is to understand what the escalation is going to be in dollar terms.”

• What, if any, grace period is there to pay the rent in case you miss the deadline? Know what the penalty will be if you are late. Akerly also warns renters to be aware of when the lease term is up and when they need to renew if they intend

to stay. “The tighter the rental market, the more important it is to renew on a timely basis.” Also know what kind of notice is required if you need to break the lease.

• Do you have the right insurance? Be aware, said Akerly, that your landlord’s insurance is… your landlord’s insurance, not yours. If water or fire damage your property, like furniture, clothes, electronics, etc., you will wish you had renter insurance. Also, if something happens, like you accidentally let the bathtub overflow and the water damages the property of a neighbor in an adjoining apartment, you’ll wish you had a personal umbrella policy to pay for their loss.

• What is the procedure when a repair is needed? Find out when and how to contact repair and maintenance people. Also, although landlords generally pay when new appliances are needed, that’s not always true. Better to find out and know what you are dealing with.

• Are you permitted to make improvements or alterations? If so, be sure to get the agreement in writing. Otherwise if you paint a room hot pink and you didn’t have written permission, you’ll likely have to return the apartment to its original condition.

• When it’s time for you to leave, when will your security deposit be returned? Some landlords will include in a lease that the security deposit will be returned “within a reasonable period of time.” Don’t leave that to chance, or your landlord may drag his feet. Ask to get in writing how many days after the apartment passes final

inspection before you can expect your deposit back.

• What, if any, furnishings are included in the lease? The lease should contain a list of all included furniture and a confirmation that those items are indeed there, and their condition if there is anything questionable.

• What is the condition of the apartment and any outside space that is yours to use?

Examine the premises, and document anything unusual. For example, is there excessive wear on a bedroom carpet? I once moved into an apartment where the previous tenant had spilled hot wax on a bedroom carpet, creating a large, irreparable stain in a remote corner. The landlord was so friendly and welcoming that I did not call it to her attention. I assumed she’d seen it, but that was a mistake. When I moved out she claimed I’d done it and I had to fight for my security deposit.

If I’d taken a picture of the stain upon moving in, or if I’d asked to do a move-in checklist with her, that wouldn’t have happened.

• What is your responsibility at the end of the lease? Your lease may include a requirement that you allow the apartment to be shown to prospective tenants before you move out. Be sure to look over the exact terms, like whether you’ll need to be available for open houses, who can have access, etc.

• What if you cannot fulfill the lease time?

Know before you move in if you are permitted to sublease the apartment, and if so, do you have to have written permission first? ISI

PAGE 38 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Why pay money to have yor family tree traced; go into politics and your opponents will do it for you.

- Author Unknown

Maintenance Free Living Custom Single Family Homes • Gated Entry Community Clubhouse Convenient Location • Parks & Walking Trails Energy Star Efficient Homes

406.546.6930 • KootenaiCreekVillage.com

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Armchair Aviators, Facebook News, and What the Heck Is a Hashtag

By Bob DeLaurentis Q. I want to fly radio-controlled airplanes but do not have the space. Might drones be a good option?

A. I loved flying model planes when I was a kid.

Unable to afford radio-controlled models, I made do with the small gas-powered models that flew on the end of a string. Of course, those were the days when kids played with lawn darts and home glassblowing kits.

Today’s drones exchange explosive liquid fuel for the comparative safety of battery power. And since drones hover like a helicopter, they can be used where space is limited. So the short answer is yes, drones can be used practically everywhere.

However (there is always “however” when dealing with untethered flying objects), space is not the only consideration. Once again the technology of what is possible has leapfrogged legal and cultural norms, so much so that drones find themselves at the heart of many controversies.

The place to start is to research the rules governing drones, which are formally called Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The FAA requires that anyone age 13 or older must register as a drone operator at faa.gov/uas/ registration/. Flying them outdoors means navigating a patchwork of rules and regulations depending on where you live, but a healthy dose of common sense is necessary as well.

The next step is to find a drone you can afford. My advice is to start small – as a way to flatten out the learning curve and to protect your budget. Most drones aren’t easily repairable, yet all Western of them are very easy Montana’s Only to crash. You can have 55+ Community plenty of fun with starter models like the under $50 Syma X11 or Hubsan X4.

Some inexpensive models even sport cameras. Learn to fly it indoors, and then move outside on a calm day.

As your flying skills improve, you can transition to larger, more complex aircraft.

Q. One of my friends posts things on Facebook I’d rather not see. How can I turn them off?

A. When you first

open Facebook, most likely you see the News Feed. This list of items is generated automatically with criteria known only to Facebook. Everyone’s News Feed is unique, and while some things cannot be changed, you do have choices.

There was a time when the only way to change the News Feed was to unfriend someone. That still might be an option. Unfortunately, quietly unfriending someone can sometimes cause more friction than it cures.

The small menu that appears as an icon at the top right of each post is your new best friend. This menu permits you to fine tune the News Feed to better reflect your taste.

The most limited option is to Hide This Post, which will immediately remove it from your News Feed. Facebook will attempt to keep similar items from appearing in the future. As a side note, there is also a choice to turn off notifications for a post, which is useful to pare down the volume of message alerts.

The other option is probably the most useful for your situation: Unfollow <name of person>, which is not the same thing as unfriend. When you unfollow someone, you remain friends, but you no longer see their posts in your News Feed.

Q. Sometimes I see words or phrases that begin with a # symbol. What is going on?

A. Alas, words like that are called hashtags.

Hashtags first appeared on Twitter, moved to many other sites, and now they show up everywhere, even TV broadcasts. Hashtags stitch together the fabric of social networks. They allow anyone to turn #anyseriesofletters into a tag. In addition to a literal meaning, hashtags can also convey emphasis much as bold and italicized text.

Hashtags are most commonly used on social networking services to express a connection to an event or an object. Typically one person coins a hashtag, and other people begin to use it on their posts. When the use grows beyond a certain point, the hashtag becomes a trend, which is simply a topic receiving a great deal of attention at the moment. Instagram and Twitter make the heaviest use of hashtags, and their apps are optimized to use them.

I use hashtags to follow news events. If something newsworthy occurs just about anywhere, you can expect that photos of it with appropriate hashtags will appear on Twitter or Instagram almost instantly. To get a sense of how they work, search anywhere for #blizzard2016 or #superbowl50.

Wander the Web Here are my picks for some worthwhile browsing this month: Jabberwocky Vaccine. Some days the Web reads like a Tower of Babel on steroids. Torrents of words slosh past one another as we attempt to explain our point of view to a few billion other souls out there all trying to do the same thing.

Fortunately, we can borrow the tools debaters and philosophers have used for centuries to sort

Ground Level Independent

SENIOR LIVING

• Custom Designed Units

• Dinner Buffet w/Fresh Fruit & Salads Daily

• Luxurious 1 & 2 Bd Floor Plans • Garages Available • Ground-Level Private Patios • Comfortable & Quiet • Close to hospitals & shopping

Call for Details & a Tour

509-928-9197

1309 N. Evergreen Rd. Spokane Valley www.courtlandplacespokane.com

SPOKANE VALLEY’S ELITE COMMUNITY

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

out the difference between sense and nonsense: logical fallacies. The idea behind the site is that once you know what a logical fallacy is, the better equipped you are to avoid them and to spot them

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 39

when they are directed toward you. From slippery slopes to the middle ground, this small site is a useful roadmap for critical thinkers and babel worshippers alike. yourlogicalfallacyis.com ISI

Five Tips For The Grill (NAPSI)–You can step up your grilling game this summer with some insider tips and tricks from Chef Kevin Gillespie, BBQ expert, restaurant owner, cookbook author, and fan favorite from Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

From temperature tips to unexpected ingredients such as hard cider, Kevin has some great tricks to make your grilling easier and even more delicious: • Make sure your grill marks are brown, not black. Dark char can give food a burnt taste.

• Have all your ingredients and tools readily available. The grill cooks foods faster than most traditional cooking techniques, so be sure to watch carefully and have what you need close by.

• Be generous when seasoning. With a grill, there’s less surface area than when cooking on a stove – all those gaps in the grates on the grill – so salt, pepper and other seasonings may fall through.

• Temperature is key when grilling. A general rule of thumb is to cook on medium or medium-high heat. The hand trick is good to go by. Carefully hold your hand 6 inches over the surface of the grill. If you can count past three, the grill is too cold. If you can’t count to three, it’s too hot.

• Using cider, such as Angry Orchard Hard Cider, for your marinade, as an ingredient or on its own produces juicy, tender meats while infusing a refreshing, fruit-forward taste into every bite. It also helps to create that golden-brown grill mark color you’re looking for as the sugar helps to caramelize the outside of your meats.

Hard Cider is also a refreshing alternative to beer and wine when grilling or for any occasion.

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple is available in 12oz. and 16-oz. cans, so you can flip a burger with one hand and hold your cider in the other – it’s handy when you’re on the go, too. ISI

Putting Out the Fire

By Barbara Newell As we go through life, we prepare for situations such as health, with phone lists of doctors and family members. We have our list of medications, transportation choices and so on. But, what about safety in your home, fire safety?

I have a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible place in my home. Actually, a friend bought it for me, and one would be a great gift for someone you know as well as yourself.

A residential fire extinguisher is a life- and property-saving tool. You should be trained to use the extinguisher and keep up regular maintenance on the unit.

The five classes of fire extinguishers are: 1. Class A: used for fire of ordinary combustible materials such as cloth, paper, wood, rubber, and plastics.

2. Class B: used for fire of flammable liquids such as grease, oil (including oil-based paint), and gasoline.

3. Class C: used for fires of appliances, tools, and any electrically operated items.

4. Class D: used for fires of metals commonly found in industry.

5. Class K: used for fire from vegetable oils and animal fats or fats in cooking appliances in commercial facilities.

There are also combinations of the classes of extinguishers: A-B and A-B-C classed fire extinguishers that can be used on several types of fires.

You will also find a number on the fire extinguisher right before the letter. The reference to this number tells you the effectiveness of that unit for combating the fire. The higher the number, the more effective the unit will be.

There are symbols used on the label to indicate the class of fire that can be extinguished with that

particular unit.

Be sure to hold the extinguisher before you purchase it. You will be able to determine if it will be too heavy for you. You must be able to effectively hold and operate the unit.

Once you determine which extinguisher you are able to handle easily, the next step is to decide if you want a disposable or a rechargeable unit. The rechargeable units have metal valves compared to the disposable type, which have plastic valves.

Obviously, the rechargeable is more expensive to purchase, but in the end, the rechargeable will be less costly, even when you consider the fee to recharge the unit.

Your fire extinguisher should be placed in an easily accessible area, such as by an exit. This way as you fight the fire, you will be between the fire and the exit and can easily escape.

In case of fire, persons should exit the home immediately and the fire department should be called. When the flames are small, the extinguisher can be used. If the fire is large, exit the home and leave the firefighting up to the professionals.

PASS is an easy way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher – Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep – PULL the pin, AIM at the heart of the fire, SQUEEZE the trig-

Feeling Hot?

Let Us Help!

SENIOR DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE GREAT FINANCING ON AIRCONDITIONING

208-762-9857 www.rdiheating.com

9443 N. Government Way • Hayden

PAGE 40 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

ger while holding the unit upright, and SWEEP the extinguisher contents over the fire. Do this until the unit is empty.

Once the fire extinguisher is used, replace it or refill it, depending on the type of unit you have.

There are periodic maintenance tasks you will have to do to insure your extinguisher will operate for

you in your time of need.

• Look at the pressure gauge to see if the pressure is sufficient.

• Check for any signs of rust or damage.

• The hose and valve should not be loose, torn, or damaged.

• The unit itself should be clean and ready to

use.

Every home should have a fire extinguisher.

You should be familiar with the use of the extinguisher and have a safety plan. Check with your fire department for fire safety booklets, and take a class if they offer one. Learn about fire safety. Save a life. ISI

CCOA – Aging, Weatherization, and Human Services Changes Name to Metro Community Services It is with great pride and pleasure to announce a change in our name to Metro Community Services. This new identity became effective July 5, 2016, as we moved forward in rebranding our organization. Although our name has changed, the same great service for seniors and limited income individuals remains the same.

CCOA – Aging, Weatherization, and Human Services has administered its programs under many faces and names. We are now unifying all operations under one name and one brand. Our physical location, addresses, and phone numbers remain the same.

Our new website is MetroCommunityServices.net. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter as we announce even more exciting changes coming soon to our organization.

The following divisions under Metro Community Services include: • Metro Meals on Wheels • Metro Community Living: Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Adopt-a-Senior, Food Bank, Senior Medicare Patrol, Medicare Education, ECHO, Prescription Assistance, Representative Payee • Housing: Contractor Services, Weatherization, and Chore • Transportation • In-Home Services: Homemaker, Respite, Personal Care Services.

For additional information, please feel free to stop by 304 N Kimball Ave in Caldwell or give us a call at 208-459-0063. We will be happy to serve you. ISI

Plant A Pollinator Garden And Enjoy The Many Benefits

By Melinda Myers Whether planting a garden, enjoying the beauty of your landscape, or sitting down to a delicious meal, you have bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to thank. These essential members of our ecosystem are responsible for much of the food and beauty we enjoy each day.

Though pesticides and habitat loss threaten their existence, you can do a lot to help! Turn your garden, backyard or balcony into a pollinator’s habitat.

Plant a variety of flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the season. Planting masses of natives, herbs, and other pollinator favorites like sedum, zinnias, alyssum, cosmos, and columbine will attract these beauties to your landscape.

Include a variety of day and night blooming flowers in a variety of colors and shapes to support the widest range of pollinators. But don’t let a lack of space dissuade you; even a window box of flowers can help.

Keep your plants healthy and blooming with proper care. Match the plants to the growing conditions, provide needed water and fertilize with an organic nitrogen fertilizer when needed. You’ll promote slow steady plant growth that is less susceptible to drought and pests. Plus the slow release low nitrogen won’t interfere with

We’re very much the same store we were in 1954...

Our main focus is, was, and always will be: service.

That’s why we are a favorite of do-it-yourselfers. Our product knowledge and willingness to take the time to show our customers how best to use our products makes all the difference. It’s true that we are popular with a lot of contractors, but you get the same quality service even if you just need a light bulb!

Do It Yourself and Save!

NAMPA: 824 Caldwell Blvd (208) 466-7807 BOISE: 5730 W Franklin Rd (208) 342-6576 TWIN FALLS: 130 Eastland Dr South (208) 733-7304 Filename: 314 Publication: Senior Independent

Mon–Fri 8:00 to 7:00 Sat 8:00 to 5:30 Sun 9:00 to 4:30

www.groverelectric.com Proudly serving the Magic and Treasure Valleys since 1954

flowering, which is essential to the health and well being of our pollinators.

Supplement pollinators’ diets with a bit of rotten fruit. And be sure to provide trees, shrubs, parsley, dill, and other plants that caterpillars, grubs, and the immature stage of other pollinators prefer to feed upon. Put away the pesticides and tolerate a few holes in the leaves of their favorite plants. With a diversity of plants you can easily overlook the temporary leaf damage. Plus, this is a small price to pay for all the benefits pollinators bring to the garden.

Provide pollinators with shelter from predators and the weather. Include a variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials. Leave patches of open soil for ground nesting bees and some leaf litter to shelter some butterflies, bumblebees, and other pollinating insects.

Supplement natural shelter with commercial or homemade nesting boxes. You’ll find do-it-yourself plans on the internet from various educational sources.

Puddles, fountains, birdbaths, and even a damp sponge can provide needed water. Include water features with sloping sides or add a few stones to create easier access. Or sink a shallow container of sand in the ground. Keep it damp and add a pinch of sea salt for the butterflies and bees.

Maximize your efforts by teaming up with your neighbors. Together you can create a larger more diverse habitat that provides pollinators with the resources they need to thrive.

Your work will be rewarded with greater harvests, beautiful flowers, and colorful birds and butterflies visiting your garden.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com. ISI

The Latest Buzz

Submitted by Jim Meade The summer band class I taught was just starting when a large insect flew into the room.

The sixth-graders, eager to play their shiny new instruments, tried to ignore the buzzing intruder, but eventually one student, Tommy, could stand it no more. He rolled up his music book, swatted the insect, and then stomped on it to ensure its fate.

“Is it a bee?” one student asked.

“Nope,” Tommy replied. “Bee flat.” ISI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 41

Ten Ways for Non-Quilters to Enjoy a Quilt Show

By Bernice Karnop Idaho quilters are well into their Row by Row Experience travel by now. If not, there’s still time. The program doesn’t end until October 31.

Row by Row Experience participants visit participating quilt shops, in or out of state, and receive a free pattern for a row in a quilt. Then they creatively combine the rows to make a spectacular quilt to win prizes. More than 2,000 shops nationwide and in Canada participate, but one only has to visit eight.

Quilt shop junkies can’t drive past a quilt shop, show, or competition. Sometimes their travel partner needs a bit of convincing. We’ve found that those whose interest is on the mild side can enjoy themselves, too, with a little encouragement, creative thinking, and an adventuresome spirit.

Here are some tricks to encourage those who aren’t quilt junkies to enjoy the shop or show.

1. Some quilts will draw a person to them. Try to understand what it is that attracts you. Is it the colors or the pattern?

2. Once you get your eye on an interesting quilt, look a little closer. Notice whether the quilting stitches enhance the pattern or just hold the quilt together. The stitches may echo the pattern or

outline the block. Maybe they cause some parts to puff up and others to recede.

3. Quilt shows often include a boutique or store that sells small items that make great gifts. Less interested visitors will find ornaments, wall hangings, table runners, tree skirts, totes, or purses.

These make one-of-a kind, hand-made gifts for friends and family.

4. Quilts are not just bed coverings anymore!

Notice how many different items are quilted. The most unusual thing we have heard of is a wedding gown. Stunning!

5. History buffs may find themselves captivated by the antique quilts and their stories. Stories include information about the person who made them, when they were made, and how the quilt got to where it is today.

6. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are many ways to judge a quilt and most are subjective. Judged shows like those at a fair follow published criteria. Exercise your own judgment and vote for the “people’s choice.”

7. Woodworking and quilting have much in common including points and corners that match up perfectly, and the need to measure twice, cut

once. Those who make beautiful inlaid wooden bowls, platters, and cutting boards, find fresh and beautiful patterns for their woodwork in the quilt patterns.

8. Some folks would rather talk than look.

Strike up a conversation with a vendor. They are a wealth of information and many are fun to talk to.

9. Some quilt shows are paired with celebrations, sales, or auctions of other items. Check out the annual Kamiah BBQ Celebration that features an Art Show and Sale, an Arts and Crafts Show, and Quilt Show over Labor Day weekend. There should be something there to catch anyone’s interest.

10. For the true hard-to-sell partner? There could be a solution – both of you go to the other’s favorite. He will go to your quilt show and you got to his gun show, for example. Who knows? You both may have fun and learn a lot!

Quilting has come a long way in the past few decades. There are traditional quilts, modern quilts, art quilts, and more. Look at quilts in a different way next time you have the chance. And be sure to enjoy the show! ISI

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in getting a tablet for my 78-yearold mother for video calls and email but want to get one that’s easy to use. What can you recommend?

Shopping Around Dear Shopping, There are several different ways to shop for a simplified tablet that’s easy to use. Depending on how much help is required and how much you’re willing to spend, here are a few options to consider.

Simplify a Tablet If your mom already has a tablet but it’s too difficult for her to use, you can install a free userfriendly software application on it like Oscar Senior, OscarSenior.com. The app works on Apple iPads and Android tablets.

This app will change the appearance and performance of your tablet into a device with big, understandable icons for commonly used features like video calls, photos, instant messages, Internet, news, weather, reminders, and contacts. This reduces screen clutter and makes for easy navigation. The app even offers remote access so you can see what she sees and help her if she is stuck.

Limited Tech Skills If you are interested in purchasing your mom a new tablet that’s specifically designed for ease of use, you have a few choices. For people with some, but limited, computer skills, AARP’s RealPad is an Android Intel tablet with a 7.85-inch touchscreen that provides a simplified home page with large text icons for frequently used functions.

It also comes with 24/7 phone support, and a Real QuickFix tool that connects users to technology support agents who can access the tablet and fix problems. AARP recently announced that the

RealPad will be discontinued when inventory sells out in a few months, but they will continue offering customer/technical support throughout the life of the product. Available at AARPrealpad. org for only $60.

No Tech Skills If your mother is completely unfamiliar with technology, two simpler options are the GrandPad and Claris Companion.

GrandPad is a 7-inch touchscreen Android tablet designed for people aged 75+. It comes with a stylus, charging stand, and Verizon 4G LTE built-in so it works anywhere within the Verizon network. Wi-Fi is not necessary.

This tablet provides a simplified menu with big icons and large text, giving your mom clutter-free, one-touch access to make phone and video calls, send voice emails, view photos and videos, listen to music, check the weather, play games, and more. In order to simplify usage and avoid confusion, it does not offer Internet browsing.

GrandPad also has a “Help” button that offers 24/7 remote assistance to help your mom with any facet of her tablet and comes with damage and theft insurance so if your mom breaks or loses her tablet it will be replaced at no additional cost.

Available at grandPad.net or call 800-704-9412, a GrandPad leases for $60 per month or $53 per month if you pay one year in advance.

Another good option to check out is Claris Companions, Wi-Fi or 4G tablets that cost $349, $549, or $649 plus a $29 or $49 monthly subscription fee.

Claris Companions are 10-inch Android tablets that have big buttons and text for only essential functions. These tablets are designed specifically for people living at home so their families

can connect with them via video calls, email, text messages, and photos. It also gives caregivers the ability to receive alerts and monitor compliance with medications, treatments, and important appointments. Visit ClarisCompanion.com or call 866-284-4939 for more information.

Send your 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

Simplified Tablets Can Make Internet Use Easier

Newspaper Errors Submitted by Jim Meade In at least one respect, a printed publication is a marvel and perhaps even a miracle. Limitless possibilities exist for error, both human and mechanical.

Add the crushing pressure of deadlines, and it’s surprising there aren’t more mistakes.

When goofs do occur, editors scurry to print corrections, even though we often prefer the misprint to the corrected version. Here are a few samples: 1. IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you are one of hundreds of parachuting enthusiasts who bought our Easy Sky Diving book, please make the following correction. On page 8, line seven, the words “state zip code” should have read, “pull rip cord.”

2. It was incorrectly reported last Friday that today is T-shirt Appreciation Day. In fact, it is actually Teacher Appreciation Day. 3. There was a mistake in an item sent in two weeks ago which stated that Ed Burnham entertained a party at crap shooting. It should have been trap shooting.

4. From a California bar association’s newsletter: The following typo appeared in our last bulletin. “Lunch will be gin at 12:15 p.m.” Please correct to read “12 noon.” ISI

PAGE 42 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

School Has Started For Kids And For Fish

By Art Butts, Fisheries Biologist folks with unlimited patience and willing to spend and density is tricky business and specific to each Idaho Department of Fish all day trolling. Now, Kokanee are on the cover of water body. and Game – Southwest Region popular angling magazines. Websites and social The source for most of Idaho’s hatchery Ko As we head into early fall, parents and kids media report on all the latest fishing techniques, kanee is Deadwood Reservoir, about 45 miles have had about a month of getting into the routine news, and gear. Larger sections of tackle aisles east of Cascade. Early each August, a fish weir of “back to school.” For many of us at Idaho Fish are filled with specialized kokanee gear, and with is constructed across the Deadwood River, and and Game, late summer and early fall have us better gear and more informed anglers have come during the next four to six weeks, Kokanee are occupied with schools of another kind – schools higher catches. trapped and spawned at the site. Fertilized eggs of kokanee that is, which have ascended many of No better example of the increase in Kokanee are then flown from a nearby backcountry airstrip our local rivers. to Cabinet Gorge Hatchery in Clark Fork.

Kokanee are a miniature form of sockeye Fertilized Kokanee eggs need cold, clean salmon that spend their entire life in freshwawater to survive and develop to hatching. ter. They mature at two-three years of age, The flight costs are offset by increased egg when they turn red and take on the spawnsurvival and reduced spawning days at the ing characteristics of their ocean-returning weir. After about 45 days, developing eggs relatives. Males develop elongated hooked are then transported to Mackay State Fish jaws and humped backs. Females remain Hatchery. Here, the warmer water helps Koslender except for their bulging abdomen kanee grow quickly (three to six inches) for full of eggs. stocking the following spring.

Idaho is home to both early- and late-run Fish and Game biologists use a combiKokanee. The early-run Kokanee around nation of methods to track Kokanee popuBoise spawn in August and September. lations. This includes trawling, gillnetting, Late-run Kokanee spawn in November and sonar, water quality, and creel surveys.

December. Spawning Kokanee either miBiologists can increase populations by grate into a lake tributary or, in some cases, stocking Kokanee or allowing more adult fish spawn on the lake shoreline. Like their anadto ascend spawning streams. On the other romous brethren, Kokanee die soon after hand, biologists reduce kokanee populations spawning, their bodies providing valuable Each August, a temporary weir is constructed across the Deadwood by limiting spawning numbers, increasing nutrients to sterile stream environments. River, preventing kokanee from moving upstream to spawn. [Photo by angler bag limits, and stocking predatory This boosts the productivity of the stream Art Butts, IDFG] fish such as fall Chinook. food web: more algae grow more aquatic In the Southwest Region, fish biologists insects for their progeny and other fish to eat. popularity exists than right here in the Treasure just completed the fourth year of an annual May In the Boise area, people travel to Mores or Valley. The nearby Kokanee populations at Ar- creel survey for Kokanee at Arrowrock and Lucky Grimes Creeks or the South Fork Boise River to rowrock and Lucky Peak Reservoirs are among the Peak Reservoirs. At a check station near Highway witness this spawning exhibition. The bright red best in the west for catch rates and fish size. In 21, anglers were interviewed for catch rate inforfish dig redds (egg nests) in the stream gravel 2011, anglers made around 66,000 trips and spent mation, and each angler’s fish were measured and and fight off competitors for mates or prime redd almost $4.8 million in fishing-related expenses at weighed. Tiny bone structures called otoliths were locations. Kokanee fishing during these spawning the two reservoirs. An increased statewide demand extracted from the head of each kokanee to verify runs is a popular activity. However, spawning ko- for the fish is reflected in the number of Kokanee the fish’s age. Catch rate and fish size information kanee can be finicky as they are more interested stocked by Fish and Game. Just a few years ago in is then related back to the number of fish stocked in spawning than eating. Silver spinners or orange- 2010, the department stocked 1.4 million Kokanee in each reservoir. Biologists also examine what the colored flies are popular offerings. into 13 lakes. In 2014, 2.4 million Kokanee were reservoir conditions were like during the lifetime of Early in the run, kokanee offer good table stocked into 17 lakes. the fish. What were the reservoir conditions at the fair with many people preferring to can or smoke Kokanee management can be difficult and is time of stocking? How far was the reservoir drawn the fillets. As spawning approaches, Kokanee focused on finding a desirable balance between down and for how long? How warm was the water become poor table fair as their muscles deterio- catch rates and fish size. Enough spawning fish in each reservoir? After gathering data for several rate. Even late in the spawning run, aggressive are needed to seed a new year class, but not so years, biologists will find a balance between maxiand territorial males will still strike lures and flies. many that members of the new year class become mizing fish size and catch rates.

In Idaho, there is no snagging season for game stunted. Kokanee exhibit a density-dependent relaIndeed being “back to school” may cause sadfish, including kokanee, and any fish not hooked tionship between fish growth and lake productivity. ness or joy depending on whether you are a child in the mouth or jaw must be released.

When adult Kokanee are small – say less than 10 or a parent. However, both can take comfort in Kokanee fishing is becoming more popular inches – there are likely too many Kokanee. Vise- knowing that when Fish and Game gets “back to throughout the western United States. A decade versa, if adult Kokanee start exceeding 20 inches, school,” we are working hard at Deadwood Resago, Kokanee fishing might have been too spe- there are likely too few Kokanee to provide desired ervoir making sure that schools of kokanee can be cialized for most. It was a sport best suited for catch rates. Finding the balance between growth found across Idaho for many years to come. ISI

The Trailer

By Bruce A. Smith We knew it was the perfect trailer for us the second we saw it. Sharron had been looking at trailers for years. I had been looking for at least ten minutes.

The trailer was a used Arctic Fox, about 22 feet long, with a nice interior that had many upgraded features. Even though we both knew that it was the one, we were both afraid to say it. So we coquettishly skirted the issue and agreed to look around at a few other dealers.

The first of these dealers had trailers made of aluminum foil by an especially skilled origami craftsman. The second dealer appeared to be run and operated by one man, who, we later determined, was able to keep his business alive by bullying people into buying what he had on the lot. After he showed us a bunch of trailers that cost twice as much as the Arctic Fox, but with half the features, we told him that we just were not interested.

“Do you mind if I ask why you’re not interested?” he said.

I immediately recognized this for the trap it was. Whenever a telemarketer or a salesperson asks why, there’s only one reason. They want to argue with you. With telemarketers, I usually just hang up. We tried to think of a more adult way to deal with the situation. Sharron settled on sticking out her tongue. I said, “Neiner, neiner, you big doofus. We’re not buying from you!” And then we turned and ran.

(Editor’s note: The author has taken certain liberties with this story in order to make it funnier.)

Back in the truck, we both admitted that we were in love with the Arctic Fox we had seen earlier, and we went back to purchase it.

Buying the trailer went smoothly, except, as can be expected, during the finance part. We were lucky enough to be paying cash for the trailer, but there are always the add-on fees such as extended warranties and, in this case, the towing package. Still, we were having too much fun to notice.

For example, the bank insisted that instead of making one large payment, we had to split it up half-and-half between our two credit cards from the same account – $5,000 on each. The finance person, trying to be funny, said, “Whose card do you want to put what $5,000 on?”

We caught on immediately.

“I want him to put $5,000 on his card,” Sharron said.

“No. no,” I countered. “I want Sharron to put $5,000 on her card.”

“No you,” Sharron said to me.

“No you,” I answered.

The finance person waited until we were through with our little game.

(Editor’s note: this part is not fictional. Bruce and Sharron really act like this.)

When the time came actually to charge the cards, one of them went through, but the other didn’t. This meant we had to call the bank and sort it all out, which we did, but as I think back on it, it was a missed opportunity.

Instead, I should have said, “See Sharron, I should have used your card.”

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Then she could have answered, “And I should have used yours.”

We could have gone for another five minutes, while the finance guy, with a strained look on his face, thought about a possible career change.

In the end, we got out of the finance office relatively unscathed, but we were told that there were certain items we needed to have for camping. We were given a list and sent off to the parts department. On a shopping spree that makes one’s head explode with the sheer excitement of it all, we purchased a septic hose, a regular hose, a water pressure controller for the hose, special toilet paper, chemicals for treating wastewater, blocks for the tires, a rug to keep the dust down, covers for the steps leading into the trailer, extra fuses, grease for the hitch, and a battery charger.

The finance guy came over and wrote up a loan so that we could afford it all.

Soon we were ready to roll, and we glided away from the dealer with our new trailer in tow.

“Where are we going to park this?” Sharron asked.

“I have no idea,” I said.

We found a storage space the next day. There we learned that every single person we had ever talked to about a trailer had lied to us. They all said that when you park a trailer, all you have to do is to turn the wheel in the opposite direction of where you want the trailer to go.

“If you want it to go left,” they said, “then turn the wheel to the right.”

What they did not explain is that for this to work, the trailer and the truck have to be lined up to begin with. If not, then the rule is different.

Then the rule is that if you turn the steering wheel to the left, the trailer will jackknife, and if you turn the wheel to the right, the trailer will jackknife.

It actually took us more time to park the trailer than it did to buy it. But don’t worry; I’m getting the hang of it. I can now figure out how park the trailer with nothing more than a protractor, a

The Science of Superstition

By Jim Brown Are “After 50” golfers superstitious? No. Superstitious is a word that is not strong enough to describe the extreme behavior that many of us exhibit before, during, and after a round of golf. We have taken superstition to the level of science.

What goes on in golfers’ heads? You probably don’t want to know everything, but mental conditions like the yips, poor preparation, lack of concentration, and a strong case of the jitters are as curable as they are real.

We may not be more superstitious than younger golfers, but we’ve have had more time to contemplate and refine our beliefs. By now, our superstitions have endured and have moved toward science. No matter how ridiculous, we are firm in our superstitions and we’re sticking to them.

So, here is a starter list of golf superstitions submitted by readers who were given advance notice.

• “Don’t talk to my ball. After I strike the ball on a putt, be quiet. If I miss the shot, it’s because your comments affected the path of the ball. I’m serious.” – Jess, Louisiana • “If I’m playing well, whatever I’m wearing stays on the entire round. It doesn’t matter if it was 40 degrees when I started the round and now it’s 83, I’m wearing long sleeve shirts, sweaters, jackets... the whole deal. Of course, if I start playing badly, I’ll dress more reasonably.” – Mike, Ohio • “I never buy a golf ball, period. It’s not that I’m cheap. I’m retired and have no money worries.

But I can’t play with a ball other than one that I find. I figure if it’s been lost, it’s looking for a new owner. When I find it, I know that it wanted to be mine and for a reason that has to be good. But I cannot play a Top Flight. If I find one of those, I quickly give it away. That ball is bad luck for me.

Just Slazengers and Titleists are good.” Jim – Massachusetts • Finally, Australian golfer Adam Holden offers this four-pack: 1. On a trip to the U.S., he packs 300 day-glo orange tees. “Won’t use anything but, mate.”

2. “If I change spikes on my shoes, each spike must be exactly the same. No mix and match jobs.

And I change them a lot, because if one is worn just a bit, out they all come.”

3. “If someone touches my clubs prior to a tournament, I’m ready to see a psychiatrist, withdraw, or fight because I figure I just lost all chance of winning or playing well.”

4) “I eat a ham sandwich before each tournament and it MUST be between two pieces of bread. It cannot be on any kind of bread roll.” ISI

Birthing Class Submitted by Jim Meade The room was full of pregnant women and their partners. The Lamaze instructor began the class saying, “Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you. Walking is very beneficial and will make delivery that much easier. Try to stay on a soft surface like grass. Partners! Try walking together as a shared experience.”

The room became very quiet as a partnerslowly raised his hand.

“Yes?” said the Instructor.

“I was just wondering, would be all right if she carries a golf bag?” ISI

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 43

compass, and a sextant. Look for my upcoming book, How to Park Your Trailer Using the Stars as Your Guide. Please buy extra copies because we need the money to pay for gas and campsites.

If not, we’re going to have to keep on staying in our favorite spot.

“Where’s that?” you ask. Super Storage. We love it there.

(Editor’s note: none of the editor’s notes was really from the editor. Go figure.) ISI

PAGE 44 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016