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Aviation racing, camping, and volunteering – pilot Sherry Kandle does them all! Photo and Article By Natalie Bartley In June, Boisean Sherry Kandle completed her third cross-country race in her Cessna airplane. During the annual coast-to-coast Women’s Air Race Classic, Sherry and her female co-pilot covered 2,362 nautical miles in about 20 hours of flying time. Though the 4-day route varies yearly, the 2016 race started in Prescott, Arizona and finished at Daytona Beach, Florida with 55 planes participating. “I find racing the most interesting part of flying – it’s educational and I learn every time I do it,” says Sherry. The race consisted of nine legs covering 200-300 miles per leg. At
mandatory airport checkpoints, observers on the ground record each plane’s time. At each checkpoint, racers fly as fast as they can 200 to 300 feet above ground. “It’s fun and thrilling to go fast,” Sherry says. When you fly low to the ground, you feel the speed, more so than at higher altitudes. Sherry explains that originally, women were not allowed to fly in men’s cross-country air races because the men thought it was too hard for a woman to fly solo and do her own repairs. The first women’s air race – the Powder Puff Derby – was sponsored by The Ninety-nines, Incorporated. Formed by 99 women pilots in 1929, this international organization of women pilots has over 5,000 members worldwide with two chapters in Idaho. The organization awards scholarships to women seeking pilots’ licenses. Sherry is a member and treasurer of the Northwest Section. Various organizations have been in charge of the race over the years. Currently, the Women’s Air Race Classic is managed by volunteers. Sherry’s path to becoming a pilot and flying her own plane was a gradual process. It started when she met Doug Kandle, her future husband. “He said he had a plane and I thought that was a good pickup line,” she says. He took her up in his plane and they did spins. They attended aviation events such as the annual Experiential Aircraft Association (EAA) Airventure Oshkosh, held in Wisconsin. Doug and Sherry flew frequently to the backcountry to camp with friends and to southern Idaho airstrips to dine with other pilots at small-town restaurants. Yet, she did not feel the need to be a pilot. Sherry thought flying was exciting and adventurous. She says, “I enjoyed it and was never afraid to fly.” For many years, she was into her career in the computer industry. Plus Sherry and her husband owned an airplane (Continued on page 42)
PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
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about the whole idea.” I have to ask, what are we teaching our kids with all this fabrication coming out of the election cycle? How are parents to explain to their kids that those people aren’t lying; they are just running for office. With that query, I leave you right back at the cookie jar. How is a generation of kids going to grow up with an ounce of principle or integrity after watching the goings on of the modern American election? What does this say about our IQ (integrity quotient) as a society that we tolerate such dishonest behavior by our public officials? Al Kreymer Newport, Washington ISI
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Exasperated, Mom asks, “Yes, little Johnny, it was you that got into the cookie jar now wasn’t it, and why did you lie about it by saying you didn’t?” Little Johnny replied in all honesty, “But Mom, I was into the cookie jar and took a cookie but that isn’t a lie, just a cookie jar fib.” “Okay, then Johnny, where did you come by the difference between a big fib and a little lie?” questions Mom. Johnny replies, “I watch it all the time on TV.” Now that I am grown up and an adult, mostly, I don’t like cartoons anymore and I like watching grown up TV, like the selection of the next president. There, I see one side lying about the other. I am not sure which is or isn’t, but they both can’t be right, or they both must be lying. So back to Mom and the cookie jar. How is it that a fib about the cookie jar is rightfully called a lie, but supposedly, honest politicians’ manipulations of the truth are not lies? I’d say Mom is right. A lie is a lie, even if it is just cookie jar fib or truth manipulation for political purposes. That’s enough of the cookie jar bit, so Iet’s look at two neighborhood kids who, in this political season, want to run for president when they grow up. They are excited and eagerly discuss what they need to do to prepare themselves for the task ahead. First, says the young boy, “We have to learn the art of deception. That’s a nicer way of saying to lie or cheat.” The young girl replies, “Of course! Once we master that, it looks like the rest is easy. And who knows, we may end up running for the same office against one another. But don’t worry, if I told little fibs like you weren’t born in America or might be a terrorist, I wouldn’t really mean it and I’d take it back after I won. I’d even give you a tour of the Rose Garden to make up for it.” His once bright idea tarnished by these realities, the boy mumbles, “I’m not sure I like that part of the future political plan, let’s just forget
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3
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PAGE 4 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
Past President: A Dog Park Book by Stephanie Keller; Kindle Book; 2015 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty Although I always have a printed – actual paper – book in my stacks to read, I have also discovered the ease and convenience of using an electronic reader (Kindle) as well as audio books. I shouldn’t admit this, but sometimes I have all three “devices” going at once. It really isn’t multitasking; it’s more like meeting three different friends for lunch or coffee at different times. Past President, the first book in Stephanie Keller’s Dog Park Series, can also be ordered in
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
Natalie Bartley Holly Endersby Gail Jokerst Craig Larcom Jack McNeel
Office Manager Production Supervisor/Sales Graphic Designer Admin/Production Assistant
Contributing Writers Connie Daugherty Cate Huisman Bernice Karnop Liz Larcom Dianna Troyer © 2016
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
paperback, but I have enjoyed it on my Kindle. Past President is one of the best first-books I have read in a long time. It is beautifully written and the story line is both relaxing and exciting – a contradiction I know, but a perfect fit for the cozy mystery genre. A cozy mystery or traditional mystery is a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community. In this case, the small community is Boise – or more specifically the Boise State University (BSU) campus. “I never really liked Boise, and finding a dead body on the sidewalk in front of my office didn’t help.” From this intriguing opening through to the last page, Stephanie Keller keeps the readers’ attention with just enough detail to demonstrate an obvious knowledge of campus politics, and town and gown connections that adds to the intrigue of the novel. Her characters are quirky yet familiar – everybody knows a nosy busybody, a dedicated sports fan, and a lost soul. Keller touches on contemporary controversies such as allowing handguns on campus and domestic abuse. And of course there are the dogs who bring their owners to the dog park and therefore to each other. “We knew all the dogs by name, but the people often remained nameless, even when we talked to them every day.” Still, a sense of connection is formed among the dog owners who frequent the park. Although many remain strangers, they at least have dogs in common and that “made us a family.” BZ Klein’s, marriage to “a gentle man with a great sense of humor, who could put up with me,” is what first brings her to Boise “which seemed to me to be a place of extremes, too cold and snowy in winter, to hot and dry in summer.” Aside from the weather, however, BZ’s life in Boise was routine and comfortable. That is until that fateful morning in November. “The dead man sat with his back against a tree, facing the bike path along the river.” At first BZ assumed the man was a sleeping homeless person – not uncommon in the area – but something wasn’t right, so she found herself approaching for a closer look. What she saw changed everything. “He was fifty-four years old, left-handed, didn’t smoke, and drove a pearl white Cadillac Escalade SUV that he had washed and waxed weekly. It wasn’t that I had suddenly developed incredible powers of observation and deduction. I knew him. I worked in his office.” Suddenly BZ, whose real name is Elizabeth Zenobia Klein, finds herself in the middle of a
Candidate Caregiving
drama that she can’t escape. Her boss, the President of BSU has been shot and she discovered the body. She’s a celebrity with no answers but as many questions and suspicions as everyone. “I was so confused. I didn’t know who to trust.” Who could have killed Dr. Campbell and why? “A lot of people might have wished he was out of the way, because although he didn’t wield financial or strictly political power, he was probably one of the most influential people in town.” Influential maybe, but who would gain by his death? BZ decides to make her own list of suspects. A list that is a lot longer than she thought it would be especially when there is another shooting on campus. “For someone ‘everyone loved,’ President Campbell had potential enemies in almost every level of society.” However, one by one her suspects are eliminated, at the same time, new questions surface as others are answered. “No matter how traumatic an event was people had to go on living. Detectives and reporters moved on to other matters.” The spring semester begins and proceeds without incidents – at least any more shooting incidents. “By the time the crocuses and daffodils were poking up in sheltered spots, life was beginning to feel humdrum and ordinary again.” The police are no closer to solving either crime. And although life seems to have settled into the usual routine, there is still a feeling of stress and uncertainty on campus and in the community. “I pushed the mystery into the recesses of my mind and hoped it would slip further away, but I couldn’t let it go completely.” BZ finds herself still hyper alert and sensitive to her surroundings as well as to the people who remain on her suspect list. As graduation approaches, however emotions are running high, and suddenly things explode again and some surprising truths come out. Past President is a must read for anyone who has ever experienced campus life, followed a favorite sports team, or owned a dog. It is the beginning the Dog Park Mysteries, a series that promises to be intriguing and entertaining. Stephanie Keller’s Past President received an Idaho Author award top ten for fiction in 2015. Stephanie Keller “grew up everywhere,” the daughter of a career Air Force officer. She has lived in Boise for several years with her husband and Labrador/Pointer mix. While her books are written mainly to entertain, she also hopes to reflect compassion, tolerance, curiosity, and a deep love of nature. She has published several books for middle grade readers under Carolyn Gold. ISI
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
There is something magical about autumn. The trees have shed the summer greens in favor of their warm fall colors and subtle chill shifts through the air. And autumn is a time of change – kids go back to school, fireplaces cast their warmth, burning leaves waft their aroma across the valleys, we take time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for, and beautiful new romances come to life. Do you feel inspired? Why not take advantage, send in your letter to our Cupid’s Corner, and discover the magic of a new companion. 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.
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5
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 December 2016/January 2017 issue, the deadline is November 12, 2016.
sist. 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. 12403, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.
SM. I live in Eastern Idaho, and am a fiber farmer. Looking for a like-minded female. I enjoy animals and am art oriented. Reply ISI, Dept. 12401, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.
SM, built heavy and strong... just a little on the short side. I have had a small raised garden, but got tired of all the critters. I love dogs, I have one about 60 lbs. Most of my life has been hunting, fishing, and hiking. I wanted to be a fisherman, so I built my own boat. I fished in Alaska for 25 years. Reply ISI, Dept. 12404, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.
SM+ wants to meet with single gal, blonde or dark hair, ages 40-60 years for dating and possible relationship – holding hands and perhaps kissing. Looking for a companion who can dance. Reply ISI, Dept. 12402, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SF. I am not really looking but I could not re-
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PAGE 6 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
Fingerprints
By Marti Healy On the far, right-hand corner of my desk sits a small, round, glass paperweight. Occasionally, it fulfills its purpose of holding down wayward papers. But most of the time it sits alone. A silent memento. Often forgotten, I’m afraid. Yet it has a singular history. It’s one of those clear glass domes that mag-
nifies an item placed under it; a patch of black felt glued to the bottom keeps the item enclosed. I found it – empty – in the cheap section of an antiques store. But it suited my purpose perfectly. Because I tucked within it a small piece of the Berlin Wall – a relic brought to me by family friends. They had picked it up off the ground at the actual site where the wall had stood, shortly after it was torn down. In appearance this piece of the wall is a jagged chunk of light beige cement mixed with chipped brown stones, a few inches long overall, perhaps an inch in width. But whenever I look at it, I see fingerprints. From the hands that built it. The hands that tried to escape over it. The hands that tore it down. In my mind, the hands that built this wall were hesitant. They loved their country, their beautiful city; yet now they were being forced to divide it – splitting families, putting up boundaries around
lives and thoughts, closing in futures, shutting out freedom. They were human hands. They must have hesitated. In my mind, the hands that tried to escape over this wall were trembling. They were the hands of men, women, even children. They were the hands of people who would leave everything, risk punishment, imprisonment, and death for an ideal. Though they trembled, these hands must also have been exceedingly courageous. In my mind, the hands that tore this wall down were strong and sure and came from both sides. Young and old. Brave and frightened. Acting out of intellect and instinct. These hands belonged to people who had to be very proud of one another. So this piece of the Berlin Wall itself isn’t important. The “fingerprints” on it matter. The unnamed lives it represents. The human hearts and hands imprinted on it. And as I look at this small fragment of history,
Peter MacDonald Sr., 88, is th By Dianna Troyer Convinced of his imminent death in a South Pacific foxhole, Peter MacDonald Sr. did what he had been taught since childhood. The Navajo Code Talker took a pinch of corn pollen from a pouch next to his dog tags, licked it, sprinkled a small amount on his head, and scattered the rest. He said what he thought would be
his final prayers. His life was spared, and now at age 88 he tells of his wartime experiences to raise money for a new national Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veterans Association Center near Window Rock, Arizona. “Chevron gave us 200 acres for the museum,” he says, after giving a talk in Kayenta, Ariz., about
VETERANS ember 11 & Always OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7
s on the Wall
it now makes me think of another wall – one on the far east side of the small town where I live, in the local Veterans Memorial Park. I recently spent time in this park, sitting by the fountain, walking gently over the commemorative bricks underfoot, reading the far too-many names etched on the black granite wall of all the lives from the county also given in defense of an ideal. At the top of the wall are the words, “In honor of all veterans – past, present, future.” The names engraved are those who have been killed in action. The first name is from World War I – Walter Bell. The most recent is the name of Jason Lyle Moski, who gave his life fighting in Operation Iraq Freedom, and it is achingly fresh, the gold etching still bright within the hollow letters. What wrenches my heart the most, however, is the amount of blank surface on this wall awaiting names. As if we are somehow compelled to fill it, to fulfill the prophecy of that title at the top “...past,
present, future.” It was raining when I visited this place. A slow, quiet drizzle of tear-like drops slid down the surface of the wall, softly curving along the letters of each name. But, in my mind, I saw “fingerprints” again. Fingerprints from the hands of those left behind – those who loved these souls whose names are etched here. Fingerprints from touching the memory of someone special one more time. I left my fingerprints there, too. In silent thanks, I respectfully reached out and touched Jason’s name. And Walter’s. Names that must never be forgotten. And then, I touched the blank spaces on the wall. And I prayed with all my heart that this part of the wall would someday be torn down – unused, unneeded. I prayed that one day, scraps of this un-etched portion of the wall would be relics captured under a glass-domed paperweight on the far corner of someone else’s desk. I prayed that only fingerprints would be there. ISI
he youngest Navajo Code Talker 50 miles north of his home. “We want to raise money to get it built in the next couple of years. There are only 15 of us left, and we lose about three a year. Our story is a national story of how Americans whatever their language and skills help to make our country strong.” From 1942 to 1945, about 400 Code Talkers in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific relayed vital messages, using about 600 words from their language to refer to military terms. For example, a hummingbird translated to a fighter plane, an eagle was a transport plane, while a battleship was a whale. “In twenty seconds, we could relay a message that would have taken 20-30 minutes using the decoder machines of the day,” he says. “At the Battle of Iowa Jima, code talkers worked 48 hours relaying messages.” The only wartime code that has never been broken, their work was classified as top secret. The idea of using the Navajo language was suggested by Robert Johnston, who had grown up on the reservation as the son of missionaries. After the war, the Code Talkers were told never to speak of what they had done. “When my family asked what I did, I had to tell them I was just a radio man and to not ask me any more questions.” The youngest Code Talker still alive, Peter enlisted in the U.S. Marines as a 15-year-old. He told the recruiters he was 17 and that no birth certificate had been issued when he was born. “My cousin vouched for me,” he recalls. After the war, Peter returned to the reservation and served as tribal chairman for four terms. Until the museum is built, a detailed code talker exhibit is at the N a v a j o Tr i b a l P a r k headquarters at Monument Valley about 20 miles north of Kayenta. “We hope our last mission will get a national museum built,” he says. ISI
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PAGE 8 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
From the days of Shoeless Joe Jackson, Babe Ruth, Cyclone Taylor, and the many other stars of professional sports teams, the connection between the teams and their host cities has been key to their professional success. Interestingly however, only two current NFL teams, the Decatur Staleys (Chicago Bears) and the Chicago Cardinals (Arizona Cardinals), are original NFL teams. And, the Green Bay Packers is the oldest NFL franchise in continuous operation with the same name in the same location. From its United States origin in 1904, professional hockey became prominent in Canada early in the 20th century and then expanded back into the United States and eventually to many countries around the world. Basketball’s invention by James Naismith was followed by the founding of the National Basketball League in 1898, which produced its first champions, the Trenton Nationals. These were followed by
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
the New York Wanderers, the Bristol Pile Drivers, and the Camden Electrics. As is natural in big business, times and tastes change, but it seems that in recent history, professional sports franchises have moved frequently in search of new stadiums and bigger tax breaks as cities compete for the economic benefit of hosting a professional team. With professional sports as a theme, we hope you enjoy this month’s quiz submitted by Gary Bores of Boise, who is challenging your knowledge of where a number of professional teams resided before their current location. Thank you, Gary, winner of this month’s $25 prize. Thank you to all who participated in our British Invasion Rock Music quiz in the August/September 2016 issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Francis Castillo, of Caldwell. Congratulations, Francis! Thank you anyone who entered our Oktober-
fest at the River, Spokane contest, and we’re certain a good time was had by all the Oktoberfest partiers! 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! 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 November 7, 2016 for our December 2016/ January 2017 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website at idahoseniorindependent.com.
Where Did They Come From – Moving Sports Franchises Are Like Whack A Mole
The first one who uses ‘but’ has lost the argument. - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Submitted by Gary Bores, Boise Below are the numbered names of twenty-five current North American professional sports franchises. Match the letter of the city from which each franchise made its move to its present location. 1. Atlanta Braves 2. Arizona Cardinals 3. Baltimore Ravens 4. Calgary Flames 5. Carolina Hurricane 6. Colorado Avalanche 7. Detroit Pistons 8. Golden State Warriors 9. Indianapolis Colts 10. Kansas City Chiefs 11. Los Angeles Clippers 12. Los Angeles Dodgers 13. Los Angeles Lakers 14. Memphis Grizzlies 15. Milwaukee Brewers 16. New Orleans Pelicans 17. Oakland Athletics 18. Philadelphia 76ers 19. Phoenix Coyotes 20. San Francisco Giants 21. St. Louis Rams
22. Tennessee Titans 23. Texas Rangers 24. Utah Jazz 25. Washington Nationals A. Seattle B. Kansas City C. Montreal D. Washington D.C. E. St. Louis F. Los Angeles G. San Diego H. Philadelphia I. Winnipeg J. Cleveland K. Baltimore L. Dallas M. Minneapolis N. Milwaukee O. Houston P. New Orleans Q. Vancouver R. Fort Wayne S. Hartford T. Quebec City U. Syracuse V. Charlotte W. Atlanta X. Brooklyn Y. New York ISI
Answers to British Invasion Rock Quiz
By Gail Jokerst 1. X – I Know A Place 2. G – All Day And All Of The Night 3. I – I Only Want To Be With You 4. J – Sunshine Superman 5. L – You Can’t Always Get What You Want 6. N – She’s Not There 7. T – A World Without Love 8. Q – Heart Full Of Soul 9. V – I’m Telling You Now 10. R – Gloria 11. S – Don’t Bother Me 12. W – Glad All Over 13. B – Don’t Bring Me Down 14. U – Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter 15. C – Summer Nights 16. A – Look Through Any Window 17. O – Ferry Cross The Mersey 18. E – Love Potion Number Nine 19. Y – The Mighty Quinn 20. M – Nights In White Satin 21. P – Game Of Love 22. H – My Generation 23. F – Gimme Some Lovin’ 24. D – Tobacco Road 25. K – Yesterday’s Gone
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
Putting off retirement Interest rates have remained static and low since the Fed first reduced rates to near-zero in 2008. It my have been a good thing to do for the economy, but for seniors – many of whom rely on their lifetimes of saving - it has been an added burden, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens. How come, then, can the government claim that elderly Americans are making more money today than they were ten years ago? One obvious reason is that many seniors have given up on retirement and are spending their days working instead of playing golf or relaxing in their backyards. According to the pollsters at Gallup, fewer of them are retiring at age 65 or younger. Thirty-seven percent of workers who are approaching what used to be known as “retirement age” are keeping their jobs as long as they can. ISI
Rising healthcare costs If you think that seniors get a break when it comes to healthcare costs, think again, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens. In fact rising personal healthcare costs for seniors is fueling the healthcare industry, making it one of America’s biggest businesses. In a recent article in the Huffington Post, Carol Marak, aging advocate and Editor at Seniorcare.com, wrote, “Even though seniors have access to Medicare, they are not insulated from the burden of medical care expenditures. Consumers pay a bigger portion of their plan premiums and experience higher out-of-pocket costs. The increases will continue as more Americans develop chronic conditions in older age.” ISI
How to say, “Thanks” We’ve just celebrated Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day but the memory lingers, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens. As the Memorial Day weekend was getting started this year, The Week magazine featured a set of poignantly appropriate stories. One of the brief articles focused on a young Massachusetts woman who stopped at a local Dunkin Donuts for some refreshment. When she returned to her car, there was an envelope under her windshield wiper containing $40 – a token of appreciation from an anonymous admirer. It also contained a note that read, “I noticed the sticker on the back of your car. Take your hero out to dinner when he comes home. Thank you both for serving. Him deployed and you waiting.” It was signed, United States Veteran / God Bless. The vet had spotted her bumper sticker that said, “Half my heart is in Afghanistan.” ISI
ACROSS 1. “Peter, Peter Pumpkin ____” 6. Lawyers’ league 9. Versus “Wall” street? 13. Less than 90 degrees 14. Eric Stonestreet on Modern Family 15. Beautiful, in Spanish 16. Overthrow an argument 17. It comes with or without seeds 18. “___ ___ for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost” 19. *Ingalls’ homestead setting 21. *a.k.a. American bison 23. Junior 24. Tom, not Tabby 25. Cathode-ray tube 28. Deity, in Sanskrit 30. Belonging to Cree, e.g. 35. Cambodia’s neighbor 37. *An outlaw does it to his horse 39. Zzzz 40. Miners’ passage 41. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ guitarist Benmont 43. “The Man Who ____ Too Much” 44. Angers 46. “The Way We ____” 47. Abominable humanoid 48. It’s meant to be 50. Display displeasure 52. Word for a nod 53. Oration station 55. Type or kind 57. *____ Murrieta, a.k.a. the Robin Hood of El Dorado 61. *Cowboy’s biannual trip 65. Loathing 66. Flying saucer 68. Oceanic trenches 69. Caffeine-containing nut tree, pl. 70. Hard to escape routine 71. Hanukkah coins 72. At one time, formerly
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9
73. “____ he drove out of sight...” 74. “The Waste Land” poet DOWN 1. *Wyatt or Virgil 2. Tennis serving whiz 3. Lowest brass instrument 4. Lady’s pocketbook 5. Retread, past tense 6. *Homesteader’s purchase, sing. 7. *Hudson’s ____ Company 8. Naked protozoa 9. State of irritation 10. Karenina or Kournikova 11. Object of worship 12. Post WWII military alliance 15. Inmates without hope of freedom 20. Like helium 22. Last, abbr. 24. March tradition 25. *Corps of Discovery explorer 26. Half of diameters 27. Works hard 29. Whoopi Goldberg’s opinion, e.g. 31. Pac Man’s blue ghost 32. 1970s disco band “____ M.” 33. Mountain ridge 34. *Corps of Discovery explorer 36. Kind of cell 38. Shade of beige 42. Sunny prefix 45. Stonecrops 49. Chi forerunner 51. Programmer’s clumsy solution 54. Accustom 56. Strike a pose, in church 57. “Knock-Knock,” e.g. 58. O in b.o. 59. Pains 60. African tea 61. Memorization by repetition 62. Kosher establishment 63. “If it were ____ ____ me...” 64. Attention-getting sound 67. *Trading post ware
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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11
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Join The Fight Against Alzheimer’s By MacKenzie Rodgers It is an amazing feeling to get up every day and head off to a job that you believe in with all your heart. Before her death, my Grandma Bridges had dementia and forgot everyone and everything she knew and loved – no memory of the long life and large family she had. This devastating disease literally took everything from her and it took her from our family long before she was actually gone. Two years ago, my Grandpa Klima was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body dementia. Diagnosis took a long time, and unfortunately, Grandpa’s health and safety were threatened in the process. This disease not only stole
his memory, but also his personality. He became paranoid, delusional (a symptom of Lewy Body), and most days did not resemble the grandpa I grew up loving. There were some good days mixed in, but most of the time he was confused and angry. No one should have to live like that, not for a minute, not for a week, and definitely not for his or her last years on earth! I lost my Grandpa Klima, my last living grandparent, in December. This horrible disease has stolen yet another member of my family. And it will not end there, not unless we all do something to stop Alzheimer’s.
I have two sons now, and I cannot imagine looking into those beautiful faces and not knowing their names or what they mean to me. Something has to be done to stop the staggering trajectory of this disease. I will do everything I can now to make sure that we find a cure or a viable treatment. But, we need your help. Please donate today to help us spend more money on the research that is so vital to finding a cure. No donation is too small. Donating money today is a little thing, curing Alzheimer’s so that millions of families do not have to hear the words, “Who are you?” is a BIG thing. Do a little, big thing today, donate! For more information visit alz.org/walks or call 208-206-0041. ISI
MIND Diet May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s
By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve heard that there’s a new diet that can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. What can you tell me about this? My 80-year-old mother has Alzheimer’s and I want to do everything I can to protect myself. Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, It’s true! Research has found that a new diet plan – called the MIND diet – can have a profound impact on your brain health as you age, and can even lower your odds of getting Alzheimer’s disease. The MIND diet takes two proven diets – the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and the blood pressure lowering DASH diet – and zeroes in on the foods in each that specifically affect brain health. The MIND diet, which stands for “Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay,” was developed by Martha Clare Morris, a nutritional epidemiologist at Rush University Medical Center, through a study funded by the National Institute on Aging. The study followed the diets of nearly 1,000 elderly adults, who filled out food questionnaires and underwent repeated neurological testing for an average of 4.5 years. It found participants whose diets most closely followed the MIND recommendations had brains that functioned as if they were 7.5 years younger, and it lowered their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 53 percent. And even those who didn’t stick to the diet perfectly but followed it moderately well reduced their risk of Alzheimer’s by 35 percent. The MIND Menu The MIND diet has 15 dietary components with emphasis on eating from ten brain-healthy food groups and limiting foods from five unhealthy groups. Here’s a rundown of the healthy foods you should work into your diet: • Green leafy vegetables (like spinach and salad greens): Eat at least one serving per day. • Other vegetables: At least one other vegetable a day. • Whole grains: Three or more servings a day. • Nuts: Five one-ounce servings a week. • Beans: At least three servings a week. • Berries: Two or more servings a week. • Fish: Once a week. • Poultry (not fried): Two times a week. • Olive oil: Use it as your primary cooking oil. • Wine: One glass a day. And the five unhealthy food groups you should limit include: • Red meat: Eat fewer than four servings a week. • Butter and margarine: Less than a tablespoon daily.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
• Cheese: Less than one serving a week. • Pastries and sweets: Less than five servings a week. • Fried or fast food: Less than one serving a week. Other Benefits One of the best things about the MIND diet is that it’s easer to follow than most other diets and you don’t have to stick to it perfectly to gain the
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13
benefits, which makes it more likely you’ll follow it for a long time. And the longer you eat the MIND way, the lower the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Another advantage is that the MIND diet can help you lose some weight too, if you keep your portions in check and are careful about how the food is prepared. It’s also important to understand that even
though diet plays a big role, it’s only one aspect of Alzheimer’s disease. So get regular exercise, if you smoke, quit, and learn how to manage your stress to lower your risk even more. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI
Navigating Life with Alzheimer’s By Lynn Mullowny “I didn’t know it would be like this,” Barbara said, “I can’t remember people’s faces now or their names. They have on name tags, but I can’t read anymore.” She paused and then quietly said again, “I didn’t know it would be like this.” Barbara has Alzheimer’s. Driving, reading, cooking, following along in a conversation, and even choosing what to wear, are activities of daily living that Barbara can no longer do, given the deteriorative effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Together, Barbara and Mike, her husband of nearly 50 years, are navigating life with Alzheimer’s. A schoolteacher her entire career, Barbara realized in 2010 that something wasn’t right when she had to put name tags on her students’ desks. “I always knew their names,” she says. Barbara told Mike about her forgetfulness, and he remembers thinking that maybe it was a brain tumor. The Alzheimer’s diagnosis came some months and many doctor visits later. Mike, who is Barbara’s primary caregiver, admits that their retirement years are not shaping up as they had planned. Still, he is quick to clarify; there is no place he’d rather be than by Barbara’s side. Like most family caregivers, Mike took on providing all aspects of her care by choice, not because he was especially well prepared for all it entails. Few people are. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s has been referred to as the 36hour day. Feelings of guilt, frustration, confusion, and fear become constant companions for caregivers struggling with the unending demands of care coordination, managing legal concerns, and attending to daily matters of diet, hygiene, and socialization. Underlying it all is the experience of a troubling and prolonged loss of a loved one. Alzheimer’s is all too often a profoundly misunderstood and undiagnosed illness. Not a normal part of aging, Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease, the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is a triple threat with soaring prevalence, lack of treatment, and enormous costs that no one can afford. More than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. Of that number, over 23,000 ages 65+ live in Idaho and approximately ten percent are under the age of 65. In Idaho, another 79,000 family members provide their care. The human costs mount as caregivers, predominantly elderly spouses or adult children, often neglect their own health and emotional needs, and increase their risk for physical health problems. Most are managing the burden of care alone, subsisting on modest incomes with limited family or com-
munity support. The duration of the disease varies, but can last from eight to 10 years, a time during which families can become emotionally, physically, and financially shattered. The Alzheimer’s Association is working to bring help and hope to families like Barbara and Mike’s. Through a 24/7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, Idahoans can access confidential care consultation or resource referral to local services at any hour of the day or night. There is never a cost for this confidential help, whether it is for decision-making support, crisis assistance, or education on issues families face every day. Barbara and Mike take part in Walk to End Alzheimer’s every year, raising money for the cause while sharing a day of laughter and tears with family and friends. By working with the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Mike, “we’ve met other families facing this disease and we realize we are not alone.” If you are interested in getting involved or getting help for yourself, a friend, or family member, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900 or visit alz.org/idaho. ISI
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Dietary Guidlines Submitted by Jim Meade 1. My goal for 2016 was to lose just 10 pounds… only 15 to go. 2. I ate a salad for dinner. Mostly it was croutons and tomatoes. Well, really just one round crouton covered with tomato sauce... and cheese. Okay, fine – I ate a pizza! 3. How to prepare tofu in two easy steps: throw it in the trash; grill some meat. 4. I just did a week’s worth of cardio after walking into a spider web. 5. I don’t mean to brag, but I finished my 14-days of diet food in just 3 hours and 20 minutes. 6. A recent study has found women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who mention it. ISI
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PAGE 14 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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Renae Andersen Guides Grandparents As Parents Support Group By Dianna Troyer After raising her son, Renae Andersen became a mom again – this time to her grandson. About six years ago, when her grandson’s parents were unable to care for him, she and her husband, Wayne, provided their home and eventually became their grandson’s legal guardians. “We adopted him in September,” says the 53-year-old Boise resident. “He’s 9 now and told us he wants to live with us forever. We’re still on good terms with his parents.” The Andersens, like other grandparents in the Treasure Valley who are raising a grandchild, belong to Grandparents as Parents (GAP), a non-profit support group. “Officials at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare have told us there are about 2,000
ive thanks this Thanksgiving (208) 882-6560 | Moscow
grandparents in our valley raising their grandkids,” says Renae, GAP chair for the past three years. “Statewide, we were told nearly 29,000 children are being raised by grandparents or other relatives.” Treasure Valley’s GAP chapter has about 84 families. “Everyone’s situation is so different,” says Renae. “Sometimes, the parents are incarcerated. Other times, children are physically abused and have to be removed from their parents’ home, so Health and Welfare intervenes. In some cases, the parents just dropped off their child with the grandparents and never came back.” Leading the support group is satisfying, Renae says, because grandparents are grateful to learn about resources dealing with health insurance and legal aid to help them raise a grandchild. “It’s rewarding to get them started in the right direction and to later hear how the kids are doing well in school and bonding with their grandparents,” she says. “I get four to five calls a week from grandparents who have questions or who just want to talk to someone about their situation. For many, it’s financially stressful. Some grandparents sacrifice their retirement and go back to work so they can pay the additional costs of raising a grandchild.” While she is grateful to watch her grandson grow up, Renae admits, “I miss being his grandmother and instead having to be his mom. It’s all worthwhile, though, because a lot of times,
he says things that make us glad we have this role in his life.” Due to time constraints, Renae hopes a volunteer will replace her as the chair of GAP in the Treasure Valley. “I keep asking, so if someone is willing, I’d love to be contacted,” she says. “I’m working with the Area Agency on Aging, too, to help with the group.” GAP in the Treasure Valley meets the first Monday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For location information, call Renae at 208-9380808. ISI
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By Lisa M. Petsche The majority of older people has at least one chronic illness, defined as a permanently altered state of health that significantly affects daily living. Examples include arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Some conditions are visible, while many are not, and some are more debilitating than others are. Chronic illness often has a negative effect on one’s quality of life. Affected persons may no longer be able to do things they want or need to do, because of altered abilities, fatigue, or pain. As a result, they may become frustrated and disheartened, and perhaps even depressed. If it is hard to get out of the house for any length of time, their world may shrink as they are forced into seclusion. How To Help The following are some things that you, as a friend, relative, or neighbor can do to support someone who is in this situation. Plan to call or visit when you are not rushed. Arrange a regular date to get together, and when you do, treat the person the way you always have. Allow them to express their emotions freely. Illness and disability affect people physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, but everyone’s experience is unique. Listen attentively, demonstrate compassion, and provide words of encouragement. A listening ear and empathetic demeanor can go a long way in lifting your friend’s spirits. Encourage the person to practice self-care by eating nutritiously, exercising (if appropriate), getting adequate rest, and avoiding unnecessary stress. Also encourage them to keep medical appointments. Do whatever you can to help make this happen. For example, bring over a meal or offer to drive them to a medical visit. Ask, rather than guess, what kind of practical help would be most valuable. If your assistance is declined, continue to express your desire to help. Meanwhile, take it upon yourself to deliver a casserole or muffins or, if you’re a neighbor, mow
the lawn or bring in the garbage cans. Encourage the person to ask for and accept help rather than struggle alone. Bring a surprise gift, such as a favorite movie, magazine or food treat, fresh flowers or a plant, or a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant that has takeout and delivery service. If you’re on a limited income, sign out reading material, movies, or music the person would enjoy from the public library. Help the person feel good about their appearance. For example, offer to set a female friend’s hair or do her nails, or bring her a pretty new accessory. Put together a pamper kit of items to give the person a lift when they’re alone – for example, a relaxation CD containing sounds of nature, scented candles, fragrant shower gel or body lotion, foot balm, or herbal tea. Encourage the person to cultivate some solitary pastimes – such as taking up word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, writing, sketching, or a handcraft – that bring pleasure or fulfillment and enable them to enjoy their own company. Facilitate connections to the outside world by sharing news about family, friends, and current events. Bring a newspaper or newsmagazine with you. Better yet, arrange a subscription to your friend’s favorite daily paper or periodical. If mobility issues make it hard to get out, encourage the person to rent or buy a walker, electric scooter, or wheelchair and help facilitate this. Also help them register with the local accessible transportation service if appropriate. Offer to get information about community resources, such as home health care services, friendly visiting programs, shopping services, meals on wheels, and accessible recreation and leisure programs. Encourage your friend to seek help from their primary physician or a counselor if they continually feel sad, angry, or overwhelmed. There is no need to suffer, because depression is treatable. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder care. ISI
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15
Rehabilitation Important When Weight Loss Signifies Health Loss By Tait Trussell From what one sees – from TV commercials for slimming product to scholarly research – obesity seems almost rampant among the aging in America, But many seniors, instead, are victims of dangerous loss in weight. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) not long ago issued new statistics on obese citizens and those dangerously underweight. It said that it is clear that being overweight can have fatal results, but for the elderly being underweight also appears lethal. “Involuntary weight loss (IWL) is commonly observed in the older population, affecting 13 percent of ambulatory patients and 50 percent to 60 percent of nursing home residents, according to a Mayo Clinic study. Loss in weight “is an important indicator of significant decline in health and function, resulting in a higher risk of infection, depression, and death,” according to a scientific paper by physicians Michael Lewko and others at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. Lewko is chief of geriatrics. Although weight can fluctuate over a period, a weight loss greater than 5 percent over six months should be investigated. The first steps in managing patients with weight loss “are to identify and treat any causative or contributing conditions and to provide nutritional support when indicated. Orexigenic (appetite stimulating) drugs have found an established place in the management of protein-energy malnutrition.” Food intake changes with increasing age, on occasion leading to what is called “psychological anorexia of aging,” according to the authors of the study. A “satiating hormone” increases in the bloodstream, sometimes making you think you are full. There’s interplay between the brain and the gut
that’s getting increasing attention as a cause of anorexia and weight loss. It’s a very complicated process involving taste, nerve, and hormone signals in the stomach, and elements in the brain that combine to regulate food intake. Psychosocial factors also can influence the sensation of hunger or feeling full. Increased rates of body fat and obesity that occur often with age can be explained by lack of physical activity. But “generally speaking, individuals aged 65 and older experience a mild loss of weight with more fat but less non-fat mass loss. Loss of skeletal muscle mass can play an important part in involuntary weight loss of 5 percent to 15 percent. The loss of skeletal muscle mass, leading to a loss of protein, “may play an important role in IWL,” the authors of the research said. They suggested that muscle loss could be the result of negative nitrogen balance that occurs with normal aging and with not enough protein in one’s diet. Age-related changes in certain hormones may also contribute to non-fat mass loss. Low testosterone levels in men are linked to loss of lean body mass. And loss of estrogen during menopause is associated with non-fat mass loss in women. Growth hormones also play a part in the body’s composition. Replacing the hormone, which declines by as much as 14 percent each decade, results in increased lean body mass when replaced. The study lists some of the consequences of IWL as anemia, decreased cognition, edema, falls, hip fracture, immune dysfunction, muscle loss, osteoporosis, and pressure sores. Depression is not only an indicator of poor
functioning but also an independent factor associated with weight loss. “It has been found that weight loss precedes the development of Alzheimer’s disease in 50 percent of patients,” the physicians caution. When someone is becoming “skin and bones,” so to speak, a medical exam is called for with a comprehensive history and physical exam, with an emphasis on relevant medical, pharmacological, psychological, and functional facts. A thorough review of medications may reveal that a person is experiencing “polypharmacy,” which is known to interfere with taste and to cause anorexia. After age 75, the number of people dying increased when their body mass index (BMI) declined. Administering testosterone has improved functioning of men during rehabilitation following hospitalization for malnourishment. Nutritional supplements taken early in the weight-loss occurrence may help avoid some of the complications related to the loss. Caloric supplements should be taken between meals, not with meals. “Total caloric intake does not improve with this method of administration,” the study authors said. Liquid calorie supplements were said to be preferable to solid supplements. “With liquids, the gastric emptying time is quicker, and total caloric intake is more likely to be maximized,” the study authors said. ISI
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By Lynn Pribus Lower back pain is one of the most frequent causes for people to miss work and play. In fact, 60-90% of us experience back pain at one time or another. Men and women experience back pain about equally, partly because of aging, but also because of sedentary life styles and the lack of a fitness program. Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., Director of the John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention and author of the useful book Strong Women, Strong Backs (G.P.Putnam’s Sons, 2006), cites three primary reasons for back pain. (See more about Dr. Nelson at strongwomen. com.) First are causes within your control, especially improper lifting or repetitive physical work. Other factors are poor posture, poor mattress, poor physical condition, smoking, remaining motionless for long periods, and being overweight. Second are physical things beyond your control such as age, a sports injury, a fall, degenerative or herniated discs, compression fractures, infections, and arthritis. Third, says Nelson, “It is now well known that stress and depression heighten back pain.� The reasons are not clearly understood, but poor sleep and constant muscle tension are likely culprits as well as diminished coping ability and a feeling of lack of control over one’s life. Why Is the Back So Vulnerable? Think of the lower back as a hinge in the middle of the body, subject to all sorts of mechanical forces such as being asked to twist and bend and sometimes at the same time. When the lower back isn’t strong – that is, if the spine-supporting core muscles are weak – it’s an invitation to problems. Muscles are rather like sponges and they when they are “cold,� they don’t have much blood in them. With some warm-ups and stretching before using the back in exercise or chores, however, the muscles become “well oiled,� substantially reducing the likelihood of an injury. When Should I Seek Medical Help? Pay attention if you have back pain that is significantly different from what you have experienced before. It could be overworked muscles, but it could be more serious. It’s important to convey accurate information, so write down symptoms and report them clearly to your healthcare professional. Be clear on the nature of the pain – sharp? constant? intermittent? – and what makes it worse or better. How Should I Treat a Sore Back? It used to be that people with back pain were routinely sent to bed, but no more, says Nelson. In fact, she adds, a sedentary lifestyle is a strong predictor of back pain. Instead, she recommends gentle activity within 24-48 hours of the onset of back pain. “Movement,� she continues, “is nourishing to the spine. It pumps fluid into the discs that cushion the vertebrae and increases strength and flexibility of all the supporting muscles in the trunk – the abdomen as well as the back.� Experiment with heat or ice packs – or both alternately applied for 10-20 minutes every couple of hours – although heat is generally not used within the first 48 hours because inflammation is often involved. Anti-inflammatory drugs can also help to reduce both pain and inflammation. What Can I Do to Prevent Problems? First, try to pinpoint the cause. It may be easy to identify the moment of an injury, but other situations take detective work. Notice the times your back hurts – at work, following a tense encounter, after a long drive, in the middle of the night? When you find a pattern, seek the trigger. A mushy mattress? An awkward office chair? Poorly adjusted car seat? Anxiety or tension? Are you sitting too long without a break or using an ill-placed computer? Your monitor should be directly in front of you and between 20 and 40 inches away. Your chair should support your entire back – especially the lower lumbar region – your feet should be flat on the floor and your hips just a little higher than your knees. If you must stand for long periods, elevate one foot on a footrest. “I can’t stress enough that whether you sit or stand, it is important to change positions regularly and take frequent breaks,� emphasizes Nelson. When lifting things: tighten your abs, visualize
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a forklift (straight back, bent knees) rather than a crane (bending at the waist), hold the load close to your body, and keep breathing. “If you have to hold your breath to lift something, it is too heavy and you shouldn’t be lifting it,” Nelson says. Exercise Is a Preventative The latest research, Nelson continues, shows quite clearly that progressive strength training decreases pain in people with chronic back discomfort. And why wait, when strengthening your muscles can forestall back problems? Specifically,” Nelson advises, “target the scaffolding of the back – that is, the muscles in the chest, the abdomen, the shoulders and the lower, mid, and upper back.” Before beginning any exercise program, get an okay from your healthcare provider. If you have ac-
cess to a personal trainer or physical therapist, that person can ensure that you do exercises properly. If you don’t have in-person help, the Internet is a good resource. Various websites offer line drawings, photos, and videos of basic back exercises with explanations, pointers, and cautions. If stress might be a factor, consider “mindbody” exercises that can target the back via the brain as well as directly. These include meditation, Tai chi, yoga, Nia, and Pilates. Other approaches include massage, guided imagery, self-hypnosis, and practice of the Relaxation Response. When Is Surgery Indicated? You can’t undo back surgery and there is always a risk so it’s smart to pursue non-surgical options first. Always work through your diagnosis
Meeting The Challenges Of Caregiving At End Of Life Kim Camacho, LMSW Heart ‘n Home Hospice Heart ‘n Home Hospice & Palliative Care, LLC Caring for a loved one at the end of life can be a rewarding and challenging task. Often caregivers feel overwhelmed, alone, and emotionally and physically drained. Having the assistance you need and understanding what to expect provides caregivers the confidence to provide safe and appropriate care. One of the most important things to consider as a caregiver is your own quality of life. You must take care of yourself in order to be a good caregiver. One benefit of hospice is providing assistance with respite care (temporary care to provide relief to the caregiver). Whether you utilize a volunteer to sit with your loved one while you go to the grocery store or use a respite benefit in a skilled nursing facility to give you a break from your caregiving duties, hospice can assist in getting you the support that you need. Other ways caregivers can get relief from the stress of caregiving is to ask for help. Be specific in what you need from your family and friends. How can they be helpful to you? Do you need assistance with picking up groceries or bringing over meals? Perhaps you simply need a listening ear. Your hospice should offer caregiver support from social workers, and spiritual care providers, and caregiver support groups. Remember to protect your health by eating well, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep. Sometimes the duties of caregiving can be overwhelming. Take it one day, one hour, and one step at a time. It is okay to experience frustration and anger,
but learning positive coping skills will go a long way in relieving the stress of caregiving. Many people find it helpful to keep a journal, watch a good movie, or plant a garden. Identify activities that you enjoy and that are manageable amongst your caregiving duties. Finally, knowing what to expect is essential in creating caregiver confidence. Needs will vary from person to person, but you will learn what the specific needs are for your care receiver. Caregivers often experience anxiety about creating a safe care setting. Tips for creating a safe environment: • Avoid infection by using disposable gloves during cares • Always wash your hands • Clean soiled items and surfaces • Avoid falls by ensuring hearing aids/glasses are worn, keeping a cane/walker by the person at all times, having the person wear non-skid socks or shoes, keeping the home well lit, removing rugs or other objects that may increase risk for falls, and educating yourself how to safely transfer a person by learning from the Hospice Nurse or CNA. Some caregivers experience a change in the personality and/or behavior of their care receiver. This can be upsetting and difficult to understand. Behavior changes may be related to medical reasons, so always check with your hospice team or primary care provider. Do not take things personally. Often, anger or frustration is directed at the situation as opposed to the caregiver. Validate your care receiver’s feelings and utilize your support system. ISI
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in a systematic way. Consult with a neurologist or rehabilitation physician for a second opinion if surgery is suggested. Useful Links include: bigbackpain.com; nismat. org/orthocor/programs/lowback/backex.html; and mayoclinic.com/health/back-pain/LB00001_D, which is a well-explained slideshow of basic back exercises. Lynn Pribus, a frequent contributor on wellness topics, is very faithful about her exercises after repeated bouts of back pain.ISI
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Five Things You Need To Know About A Memory Care Facility By Emma Lavengood Samaritas Senior Living 1. It’s more than just assisted living. Memory care is more than just a room. Memory Care is a program, a way of life. We train our staff to care for residents with cognitive issues and how best to help them with daily living tasks. We implement certain activities geared specifically to residents with memory loss. The purpose of the activities is to enhance their physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of life. 2. Just because it’s “secured” does not mean it’s lonely. Security is essential in our memory care program. Residents living with memory loss need the extra protection because they tend to wander more than other residents do. Just because the doors are locked, doesn’t mean it’s lonely. Wellness programs keep residents busy and entertained while staying socially and intellectually stimulated. You also can find comfortable living spaces and homelike touches within the locked doors. 3. Loved ones will be at peace. Memory care eliminates worry and anxiety for family members who may have taken care of the
resident on top of their own daily tasks. A peace of mind occurs knowing your loved one is in a safe place. Professional staff is not only there for the resident, but also to act as support to the family members. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas or resources with staff or lean on them for support. 4. Memory care centers improve the quality of life. Communities with memory care programs have reported a higher quality of life in numerous areas, including reduced medication and medication side effects; fewer falls, injuries, and hospital visits; increased nutrition and wellness; and greater independence and social interaction. 5. Research is very important when choosing memory care. It’s important to do your research to make sure you are choosing the right fit for your loved one. Before you make your decision, consider his or her individual needs, as well as features and treatments available at the community, its policies, security, and safety, its on-site staffing, and whether you and your loved one have a positive impression of the facility. ISI
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Hospice of North Idaho believes in caring for the whole person. When we meet with our patients, we get to know the story behind each person; who they are, what they love, and how they want to live their life. We tailor our care to help individuals live fully and focus on what’s most important to them.
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It’s never too soon to ask questions. Call us today! Hospice of North Idaho • 208.772.7994 9493 North Government Way • Hayden www.HospiceOfNorthIdaho.org
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Do you remember the feats of engineering, innovation, and entrepreneurship that helped tame the rivers, forests, and vast expanses of the West in the early days of the 20th century? From the dam projects of the New Deal to the post WWII timber and mining operations that expanded on the 49ers’ lust for riches, the intrepid spirit of these projects helped create the landscapes of the West we see today. Though not without often-disastrous environmental consequences, we cannot help but appreciate the incredible power these operations had to reshape entire rivers, mountains, and the countryside. We must marvel at the boldness and creativity of these speculators. This issue’s Remember When winner is Paul Brown of Burley, whose story, The Gray Ghost of the Yankee Fork takes us through the gold mining operations in the Salmon River area and the epic journey of a dredge that lasted over two decades. Thank you, Paul.
Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections and contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included. Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent features the contribution deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry will receive a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our December 2016/ January 2017 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.
“The Gray Ghost” of the Yankee Fork By Paul Brown It was 1937, when the Silas Mason Co. of New York showed an interest in gold dredging on the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Following exploratory drilling in the latter half of that year including bitter cold and heavy snow, the investors in the project liked the assessment and the project’s potential. The company was named Snake River Mining Co. because the investors were easterners who had little knowledge of any landmarks in Idaho except the Snake River. The company solicited bids from dredge manufacturers, and at just under $310,000, Bucyrus-Erie got the nod in January 1940 to build a machine with smaller than normal buckets and extra strength in critical places to dig the tightly compacted earth on the Yankee Fork. Various parts of the machine were sub-contracted – engines to Ingersoll Rand and electric motors to General Electric. By April, twenty-five pontoons arrived at the site where Ramey Creek dumps into the Yankee Fork, followed closely by the remaining parts. Assembly of the huge, custom-designed Yankee Fork dredge – now known as the “Gray Ghost” – required only 116 days until its completion in August with peak employment of 43 men reached in June. The statement of completion in August reads, “Turned over machinery for twenty minutes.” The Gray Ghost’s 5.5-mile journey upstream to the dredging site followed. Some maintenance buildings can still be seen today at this spot now populated with summer cabins. During the Gray Ghost’s 24-hour operating days, employees and their families lived in a camp – really a small city. A school for worker’s children was established and most family activities were planned around the men’s working schedules. Employees’ houses were the most modern in the area with indoor
plumbing and electricity generated by a Caterpillar engine running 24/7. Mail arrived three times per week from Challis to the Sunbeam Post Office, where it was eagerly anticipated by the families. The Gray Ghost floated in a self-excavated pond on 25 pontoons. Its hull was 112-feet long
with a 54-foot beam and a 64-foot high stern gantry that supported both the spud and the stacker. The spud was a 17-ton vertical probe embedded into the ground from inside the dredge that served as an anchor and pivot point as the dredge swung around and chewed away at the bank with the buckets. The stacker was a 105-foot-long conveyor that carried rocks out of the machine and dumped them in neat rows. Seventy-one, one-ton buckets did the excavating – each with a capacity of eight cubic feet – at the rate of 26 per minute. The buckets could dig 37 feet below the water line to reach the greatest gold concentration, commonly lodged on bedrock. The buckets were dumped into a hopper, and water at the rate of 1,200 GPM washed the rocks and mud into a revolving 3/8” screen called a trommel. Material too large was washed out to the stacker to be discharged, while the fines were washed over sluice boxes where the gold was caught on mercurycovered traps behind riffles. With sixteen sluice boxes providing 1,066 square feet of recovery area for accumulation of gold, the Gray Ghost could run non-stop for two weeks before “cleanup” was required. Clean up meant an eerie silence while the machine was shut down during
the collection of the accumulated gold from the riffles. The recovered gold was chemically processed and cast into a gold bar that was wrapped in newspaper and tossed under the seat of an old brown Chevy company car. On mail days, the gold bars were delivered to the Sunbeam Post Office and mailed like any other package. Deemed non-essential mining in deference to the war effort, the dredge ceased operation in October 1942, and the Gray Ghost of the Yankee Fork sat deserted near Jerry’s Creek until March 1946, when Snake River Mining Company resumed dredging that lasted until mid 1947 when the value of the gravel became borderline. The Snake River Mining Co. then sold to partners, Fred Baumhoff and J. R. Simplot, doing business as Warren Dredging Co. for $75,000. They operated until the dredge had gobbled its way past Bonanza and the end of their claims. One final hurrah was dredging of the Morrison claim along Jordan Creek where the monster machine shut down in August 1953 and passed into the pages of history. But the dredge was still on the Morrison claim, so it was restarted briefly, and the giant’s Ingersoll Rand engines and squeaks and bumps of heavy metal rang over the valley one last time as it was moved back to Simplot’s property where it stands today. The Gray Ghost rested silently turning to rust – neglected and vandalized – until 1966 when J.R. Simplot donated the monster to the Forest Service for use as a museum. Only minimum preservation was done, but no funds were available to create a museum. In 1979, Bart Nordling, Forest Service museum director of the Yankee Fork District, gathered the Gray Ghost’s former dredge operators for a reunion, which spawned the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge Association and the labor to restore the dredge. Former dredgemen who had hands on experience led tours that were enthusiastically received – as evidenced by receipts from an onsite donation box. The Gray Ghost is a landmark and tourist attraction today as it sleeps silently near the confluence of Jordan Creek and the Yankee Fork. This relic from earlier mining days is responsible for the neat windrows of rock and gravel still in place from the 1940s and 1950s. Visited by hundreds of people each summer, visitors can take a selfguided tour. Ex-dredgemen whose efforts helped shape the history of this valley with the 5.5-mile epic journey of the Gray Ghost up the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River are available to answer questions. For this article, information from Gold Dredge on the Yankee Fork by Howard A. Packer, Jr. of Challis, Idaho was used with his permission and encouragement. ISI
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19
Rod Schobert Directs Tours from Coast to Coast Article & Photo By Jack McNeel If you have visited Glacier National Park, you have probably seen the historic red buses for which the Park is famous, as they carry tourists throughout this spectacular area. Driving one of those historic vehicles might have been Rod Schobert or members of his family. When Rod retired early from a 34-year business career with Pfizer, the animal health company, he wanted to work part time, and the idea of leading tours appealed to him. His wife, Cindy Lou, agreed. So the year before retiring, Rod took a course in tour directing in California; this excited him and he’s been leading tours ever since, not just in Glacier National Park, but also across the country. He is now in his twelfth year in the tour business. Rod became a licensed guide in Washington, D.C. In 2005 and has done many tours in the area since then explaining our nation’s fascinating history to tourists – despite his not having enjoyed history as a young student. “I always thought history was boring, both in high school and college and I avoided it any time I could. I just didn’t get it through my thick skull while going to school.” But things changed after graduation as he became fascinated with the lives, stories, and circumstances revealed in his historical reading. Now he keeps informed regarding locations where he leads tours. “A large part of what I do is student tours,” he explains. These are several day tours and often involve walking 4-5 miles a day. “I’m now 67, and I’ll get students – unfortunately some in rather poor physical shape – who ask, ‘How do you do all this?’ I’m sort of an exercise nut and one thing about tour directing is being active, getting out, and keeping the body going.” Rod usually runs four days a week, two to three miles each time to keep in shape. He also loves to ski and has had ski passes for years. “Just keeping physically tuned up has a positive effect when it comes to directing tours,” he adds. His East Coast tours normally take place before snows recede in Glacier National Park. “I take lots of groups to Philadelphia, the historic core. It’s a fascinating starting point for much of the U.S. Then Williamsburg is a quite common tour, then Monticello, Boston, and New York City.” He also leads tours on the West Coast, mostly in California – San Francisco and San Diego are the most frequent cities. When he leads tours in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it’s a good commute from his home at Hayden Lake. He works for two companies that arrange the tours and pay his airfare. As a part time job, he leads tours 25 to 65 days a year, but he’s starting to cut back, saying he doesn’t want to get late in life and be gone all the time. “My wife and I are going on 42 years of marriage but she didn’t ask me to cut down. I just thought the Lord was knocking and saying, ‘You’re gone from here pretty much.’ I’ll do about 35 days next spring.” Glacier National Park is really the second component and a bit different from the other locations. In the big city, someone else drives the buses while
Rod narrates the history. In Glacier, he drives those unique red buses and tells his clients about the National Park. Rod’s father’s love of travel may have sparked the desire in Rod. “It was something about what was around the next corner that fascinated me.” That desire hasn’t faded, nor has his love of Glacier National Park. “The first time I was in Glacier was 1976, and I don’t think I’ve missed a year getting to the park since then, at least for a visit. Our three children, all of whom are in their thirties were raised going to Glacier.” Rod explains it was actually their son Chad who got them working in Glacier. “Chad was just out of high school and one day had been searching the Internet when he came to me and said, ‘I’ve got a job in Glacier, can you take me over there?’ He was the first one in our family to do daily tours over there. I thought, ‘That’s a job I’d like to do!’” To make this idea work out economically both Rod and Cindy Lou got jobs driving red buses while Chad was also there. They would sometimes meet on the highways and greet each other over the mike saying, ‘Hi Mom’ or ‘Hi Dad.’ “It was kind of cool,” Rod says laughing. “They started calling us Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear.” Rod got away from driving at Glacier for five years while he ran a tour called Great Lodges of Glacier, but it’s no longer an entity. For the past two years he’s back to driving and narrating such things as railroad history, history of the Blackfeet Tribe in that area, geology, trees, the role of wildfire, and other aspects of the park. To keep up, Rod is continuously reading because as he says, “I try to keep the gray matter going.” And he adds, “For those looking for a semiretirement occupation it’s important to have something a person is passionate about. If you can find a tie-in with your interests it can go a long way toward having a fulfilling retirement.” Retirement has given Rod time for volunteering, something that just wasn’t possible when he was working a full time
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PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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job. “Now I have a chance for a little payback along the way,” he explains. For the past six years, Rod has volunteered with Family Promise in Coeur d’Alene – one of the organizations 80 offices across the country. “It’s a homeless ministry for families with kids. Here it’s based out of the Episcopal Church but it is not affiliated with any particular church. There are probably 12-15 different churches in the area that host these homeless families a week at a time.” As a van driver and member of the transportation committee, it is easy to see why no grass grows under Rod Schobert’s feet! ISI
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Sculptor Chosen for Major Bronze in Coeur d’Alene
Article & Photo By Jack McNeel When a call from the Coeur d’Alene Arts Council went out last year to artists throughout several states, Cheryl Metcalf submitted her idea for a bronze of Chief Morris Antelope, a noted Coeur d’Alene tribal member born in 1864. The proposals from many artists were reduced to five and residents at the Coeur d’Alene Library, North Idaho College Library, and the Wellness Center in Plummer, Idaho, voted on those five. Cheryl’s submission was selected. Many months and hundreds of hours of work later, the finished statue was dedicated in July at a ceremony along the Spokane River adjacent to North Idaho College. It’s a tribute to the long history the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and to Chief Morris Antelope who led the tribe as a spokesman and businessman who ran a massive ranching/farming operation. But Cheryl did not reach this point in her artistic life on a straight trajectory. “My daughter was in her last year of high school and very artistic but still was feeling her way around, trying to decide what she was doing with herself,” Cheryl explains. “I was on a garden tour and met an artist named Mickey Mank who was working on a sculpture in one of the gardens, and I was drawn to it.” Through her Cheryl met Terry Lee, an artist and teacher in Coeur d’Alene. To help her daughter get into sculpting, Cheryl bought supplies from Lee, but the plans changed when Cheryl’s daughter resisted – she wasn’t interested and said that sculpting was her mother’s thing. So Cheryl in her 40s took a class from Terry Lee, whom she admires immensely. “Once I went to that class and realized there was a naked person in front of me—that was uncomfortable—I couldn’t get the clay on my armature fast enough and I was hooked. I just couldn’t stop.” That was thirteen years ago and the rest is history. Surprisingly, Cheryl is a full time manicurist and has been for many years, but it was through that job that she sold her first bronze. A client named Martha had asked her numerous times to sculpt a large black bear. “But I felt I was a beginner and too inexperienced,” Cheryl explains. “Then, in the middle of one night I literally sat up in bed and said, ‘Martha wants me to build a bear.’ Those were my exact thoughts, not sculpt, but build her a bear. The next time I saw her, she again said, ‘I’ve been asking you for a year.’ So she commissioned me to do a life sized black bear that now sits in her yard.” Cheryl puts in about 40 hours a week as a manicurist but it’s spread over just 4 days. The remainder of the week is spent on her art. She would like to reduce further the time as a manicurist but also realizes how supportive her clients have been. Many have commissioned her to do small pieces such as a bronze of their dog or cat. She also realizes the importance of those contacts with others throughout the community. “In this area I need to do more animals although my figures sell as well as any animals I make. They both sell. It’s a matter of having new products out. That’s my struggle, having enough time to keep producing.” Cheryl also is caring for her mother. “I took her out of a nursing home in California —went down and brought her home. She doesn’t need full time help but it’s a little different with doctor appointments.” Her mother is doing better and is supportive of Cheryl’s artwork. “Just go for it,” was her mother’s response when Cheryl was thinking of submitting her design of the Chief Morris Antelope bronze to the Arts Council. “When I did Chief Antelope I would work mornings, nights, and the weekend,” she explains. “Anytime I have a big project and you put fire under me I can get it done.” Cheryl was born and raised in Auburn, California before moving to Macon, Georgia but she wanted to come back west but not to California. Lake
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
Tahoe had been her getaway place when she lived in California, and Coeur d’Alene reminded her of that mountain jewel. Cheryl shows her work at the Friday night art walk in Coeur d’Alene and at the Painter’s Chair Gallery where she does a demonstration. She normally does the Garden of Artistry Show in Sandpoint in the summer and is planning to do Art on the Green in Coeur d’Alene next summer.
“As life settles down I would like to do more,” she declares. Cheryl also attends auctions. “I like to do quick sculptures, so I’ll do a piece that day, sort of finish the details. The last was a playful black bear on its back. Another was a grizzly bear stepping over a log.” She has also worked with museums on ‘family nights’ where she brings a model and interacts with
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 21
the audience. She particularly likes encouraging kids to participate and asks those that wish to help sculpt with her. Her enthusiasm for her work is contagious. “Sculpting is so rewarding for me. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done other than having my children.” To see Cheryl Metcalf’s work visit cherylmetcalf.com. ISI
Steve and Janet Funk, from Medical to Environmental
Article & Photo By Jack McNeel Steve and Janet Funk have lived in the Wolf Lodge Creek area east of Coeur d’Alene since 1972 where they have created an award-winning management plan for their acreage. In 2010, they were selected as the Idaho Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. In 2011, they were awarded the Western Regional Tree Farmer of the Year, one of four regions across the country. Later that same year, in competition with the other regions, they were selected as the National Tree Farmer of the Year. Surprisingly, neither has an environmental or silviculture degree. Steve had been an anesthetist for more than 40 years when he retired at the end of 2011. During those years, he worked on more than 50,000 procedures. Jan worked as a nurse in Chicago, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in Columbia, Missouri and finally in Idaho before retiring in 2003. “But, I grew up in an agrarian town in Illinois,” explains Steve. And Janet was from Twin Falls. They met while in school in Chicago but the first time they visited Idaho together was on their honeymoon. Steve had hoped to fish the Yankee Fork. “But water was too high. And Steve fell in love with the trees as much as I did, so we say we landed on this place by default,” Jan explains. A position opened at the hospital in Silverton and Steve grabbed it. Mines were going full bore at the time and only one house was available. The realtor they called said he’d hold it without earnest money, so they headed west with everything in a U-Haul. When they arrived, the realtor raised the price $5,000, which they didn’t have. However, a doctor at the hospital owned this Wolf Lodge property and said even though it wasn’t much it would get them through the winter. “We didn’t have a choice,” Jan recalls. It turned out the shallow well was contaminated. If two electrical things were plugged in, fuses blew. The pipes produced only a little stream of red water. The heat pipes in the floor produced no heat, and so it went. But they made it through the winter. Their youngsters were 2, 4, and 6 at the time. It’s a very different place today with a beautiful two story white house, a new barn, and various other structures – and everything works. “It’s about 369 acres – flattened out we say we’ve got about 600 acres,” Steve declares with a laugh. Their management plan is comprehensive. “We intend to keep it as a forest with emphasis on meeting the needs of wildlife. We have enough property that we can incorporate everything,” Steve explains. Years ago, they put in a wildlife pond. “It was just kind of a drinking pond,” Steve says. “We put some quaking aspen around and they’re taking off. We get ducks and two sets of geese that come back every year. We have lots of turkeys – loads of turkeys.” Wildlife includes whitetail deer, elk, bear,
moose, cougar, bobcat, badger, and beaver. “We manage it as a forest but for the wildlife too by making sure everything is healthy from the little microorganisms in the soil all the way up the chain. “You’ve got to provide habitat,” Steve continues. “We have some areas that are open with nice grasses growing. Nearby are many trees for cover, and up high is a seep that we developed. When you provide cover, water, and food you don’t have to worry about them because they’ll show up.” Steve and Janet have three sediment basins – drop structures and water barbs that help create little eddies for the trout. With the shade and cover from trees, it all provides for the needs of fish. Associated with the property is interesting history from when Coeur d’Alene was Fort Sherman in the late 1800s. The Fort ran cattle on the property. “Over the years we have found lots of old stuff – wagon parts, old stirrups, etc. are everywhere. There was an old cabin that they used as the slaughter house for the beef,” Jan adds. In the 1950s Herb and Gladys Buroker, early aviation pioneers, lived on the land. Gladys became an instructor prior to World War II. “They built some planes here, on this property,” Jan says. Steve and Jan both recognize the importance of water and Jan has made water her focus while Steve works more directly with trees. Wolf Lodge Creek has a long history of flooding and erosion and was designated as a stream segment of concern. A Wolf Lodge Creek Protective Association was formed, Jan was nominated to be its spokesperson, and she has worked with various federal and state agencies to overcome the problems. The couple learned a lot about forestry and taught it to their kids but was encouraged to pass it on to others. They started hosting school kids for field trips and later weeklong teacher tours. With 4-H as a platform for their classes and tours they are helping educate others about water, forestry, and wildlife habitat and how these are tied together in a functioning ecosystem. But their property is more than just a show place, it’s also a producing forest with a small sawmill. “We don’t do much dimensional lumber, just for us,” Steve explains. “Mostly we cut wood you can’t buy at Ziggys. We just finished an order for a contractor that was full sized 10 x 10s, 6 x 12s, and 6 x 6s. One of the 10
x 10’s was 26 feet long. “We save everything,” Steve adds, “all the bark and flitches (the edges cut off the boards). I have a chipper that goes on the back of my tractor and I take all that and make chip out of it. People use it for landscaping and in their gardens. I use it for erosion control. My grandsons take some of the bigger stuff and it’s made into fire wood to make some money by palletizing half cord units.” The Funks have three horses for the grandkids,
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PAGE 22 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
are getting some feeder calves this fall, and the hay is beautiful. “It’s just incredible. Looks good and smells good too.” Jan laughs as she tells of their first experience with cattle. “We were renting and Steve brings back eight cows with calves at their sides. We had no fences – but we got some in a hurry.” Their new barn is a fine structure that shows the beauty of the finished lumber covering the walls, not only the wood but Steve’s workmanship. A lot of work has been done to the buildings throughout the property, all of which he has done himself. “That building, save for the trusses and the green lumber, was all made right here – studs, rafters, plates, and beams. I made 6 x 12 beams around it,” he says. Steve and Janet Funk are a remarkable couple and their property reflects their love of the land and an understanding of good environmental management practices. ISI
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
Land Trusts Are An Important Financial Tool By Eric Grace, Executive Director Kaniksu Land Trust Land Trusts work with landowners to conserve wetlands, habitat, farmland, timber resources, and recreation for future generations. We also provide opportunities to enrich the health, happiness, and quality of life for all. In north Idaho, the Kaniksu Land Trust has successfully protected 2,400 acres. We also work with the medical community, schools, and other groups on education and health programs. We believe that fostering the appreciation and love of our environment helps define our community and contributes to economic development. If you own land that you would like to see re-
main protected into the future, you might consider working with a land trust. Many estate-planning tools used to protect wealth can be used to protect your property. Charitable remainder trusts, life insurance, and testamentary trusts are just a few options. If you own land, these tools can also be used to protect that land forever, while providing significant estate tax-savings. The Kaniksu Land Trust is not alone as there are other land trusts that operate in Idaho. For more information, please see the advertisement on page 37. Contact the Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts (www.idaholandtrusts.org) to find a land trust that works in your area. ISI
Betsy Bullard, A Long History with Peace Corps Article & Photo By Jack McNeel For the past half-century, thousands of American volunteers have fanned out across the globe to help the world’s citizens live better lives through the Peace Corps. With a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Colorado and a certification to teach, Betsy Bullard was ready to be one of those volunteers. “In 1967, I joined the Peace Corps and went to Ghana, West Africa, and taught there for three years at a small secondary school – Zion College of West Africa.” she explains. She learned the language and worked with kids doing theater. “Their strongest memory was when we put together a play about the history of the area written by a previous headmaster. We took it around to different high schools to produce it. They slaughtered a goat and had a big feast in our honor, which was exciting and fun.” When in Ghana, Betsy stayed in a village with a local family and two other Americans with whom she has stayed in touch over the years. After Ghana, Betsy went into college administration, first at Skidmore College in New York as assistant dean of studies and then to Columbia University Teachers College for a masters degree in college administration. Then it was to State University in Albany and then back to Skidmore for six years. Because of her experiences in Ghana, she did a lot of work with students going abroad and with foreign students studying in the U.S. Still single Betsy did some traveling that included hiking and camping in Alaska and Machu Pichu, Peru and its Inca Trail. Her next stop was at Ball State University as assistant director of admissions. Perhaps even more important, it was here she met Mike, soon to become her husband, through a local magazine ad. “It was before computer dating.” Betsy says with a laugh. “Our first date was a 15-mile canoe trip and five weeks later we decided to marry. We spent our honeymoon climbing Mt. Hood in Oregon.”
Betsy was 41 and she and Mike wanted children, so within three years their two sons were born. They soon moved to Twin Falls where Mike took a position as pastor of a Presbyterian Church. Five years later, in 1993, they moved to Coeur d’Alene where Mike became pastor of the Presbyterian Church and Betsy took a position as Arts Commission Coordinator in Post Falls. At one point, she worked with Susan Jacklin helping change the “Old Church” into the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center. Betsy is also a violinist, taught strings in the schools for a couple of years, and worked at the Area Agency on Aging from which she retired in 2014. But there is an interesting twist to her story. “When I went back to Ball State in the 80s it had been about 15 years since I had been in Ghana. I was attending an international dinner when I saw this fellow across the room and I could tell he was from the tribe I had lived with. So, I went over and asked him where he was from. He said he was from the Volta region of Ghana and the village of Anloga. I said to him that he must know Mrs. Ametewee.” He replied, ‘I just married her daughter.’ “I think the likelihood of such a meeting is incredibly small. Was it luck or destiny?” Betsy asks. “And then, three years ago I got a call from a woman asking for Miss Suhre. That was my maiden name,” Betsy explains. “I have been looking for you for 40 years,” the woman explained. “It was one of my former students. We reconnected and also got in touch with this family I’d lived with. They had a daughter I’d helped bring over, plus her husband. They are still in the states. This lady said, ‘I’m going back to Ghana for my mother’s 80th birthday.’ This was in 2013. I said, ‘That’s wonderful and I wish I were going.’ I hung up but decided to go and I did. I went over for several weeks that summer and they were my hosts. “The woman I’d lived with those many years ago started a school there about 20 years ago. I’ve decided to help with that school, so Mike and I are going to that little village in Ghana in October and plan to stay about seven weeks. Dr. Storm Gibson is also going to do eye exams for the kids. Another woman is going to do some classroom management. We’ll work with teaching skills, work with the school on what they need, and hopefully develop a long term relationship with them to provide support as they progress.” And so it is that Betsy’s volunteering has come full circle over the past 50 years. ISI
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 23
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Hiking’s Tiny Dynamic Duo Or Much Ado About Magnets By Gail Jokerst; gailjokerst.com Never let it be said that the little things in life can’t make a hiker happy. Proof of that humbly resides on my backpack’s sternum strap, which buckles across my chest. Measuring a mere 1/2inch in diameter and weighing all of 4 grams, the object of my affection is none other than an oldfashioned magnet. When employed as a means for taming a wayward drink tube dangling from said backpack, its status shifts from inconsequential to indispensable faster than it takes to swallow a mouthful of water. Turning back the calendar three decades when I began hiking, I relieved my thirst with a pair of water bottles sidesaddled in my fanny pack. To avoid spilling the precious liquid meant frequent but necessary stops to remove and replace bottle caps before returning each bottle to its holster. This method worked fine until I started venturing higher and deeper into the backcountry. Longer treks, I soon discovered, required downing more water more often while I inhaled and exhaled my way up breath-stealing switchbacks. These treks also required persistently putting one foot in front of the other if I wanted to reach a mountain pass or fire lookout before moonrise or the age of 90, whichever occurred first. Some years later after water-bladder hydration systems became more visible on trails, I bought one to insert in the backpack I was then using. My new best friend came with a refillable reservoir, a flexible drink hose, and a bite valve from which I could sip water as I walked. All well and good, or so I thought. The frontal plastic tube was a definite improvement over the fanny-pack system. It eliminated awkward stretching, fiddling with bottle caps, and
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unwanted stops. However, it also exhibited a trait about which I was not so enthusiastic. Thanks to the pressurized water within its confines, the tube seemed to possess a mind of its own akin to a rambunctious two-year-old – rambunctious being the operative word. A pair of elasticized bands on my shoulder strap attempted to keep the tube tucked close to my pack, but couldn’t subdue its quirky nature. The jouncing appendage would migrate to different positions with each boot step, at times bumping into my arm as I wielded my hiking poles. Or, it would get entangled with the cord attached to my sunglasses or ensnarled in the cinching strap of my hat if either rested off-line around my neck. Eventually, I began to notice water tubes on the trail that displayed no such tendencies. They actually behaved themselves remaining obediently in place until needed. And they all had something in common. The secret, I found out, was attributable to a pair of small round magnets – one placed on the pack’s sternum strap, the other affixed at the base of a companion bite valve. Furthermore, I learned the pair could be purchased as a set for less than ten dollars at my local sporting goods store. Well, you could have knocked me over with a granola bar. Once I realized how simply the problem could be solved, I replaced my original bite valve with the magnetized version and fastened its 4-gram mate to the partner strap. Granted, those two magnets are little. But acting in tandem, they have the power to make this hiker very happy. ISI
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Planning For Your Pet’s Future
Most of us think of our pets as part of the family, although many of us never think about their lives after we are gone. But, what if your pet outlives you? Do you have a plan in place for its care? Family members surrender many pets to shelters after an owner passes away, however, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. At Kootenai Humane Society, a no-kill, nonprofit organization, we find orphaned pets new, loving homes. One way to ensure the success of pet adoption is to remember Kootenai Humane Society in your planned giving. Making a planned gift is a wonderful way of showing your support to Kootenai Humane Society and its mission while accommodating your own personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. The dedication you exhibit for your pet can transcend to thousands of homeless pets through your gift. As a responsible pet owner, it’s critical to plan. Not only for your pet’s future after you are gone, but also for all the other animal companions who find their way to Kootenai Humane Society. We urge you to consult your professional advisor and find out how you can leave a legacy of hope for pets like yours. For additional information, visit kootenaihumanesociety.com or call Vicky Nelson at 208-819-2812 or 208772-4019. ISI
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
Ready for a Move to a 55+ Community? By Patricia M. Johnson Are you ready to hear about the pros and cons of moving to a 55-plus community? I have yet to read articles on the entire truth about the problems, rules and regulations, HOAs, BOTs, community meetings, and much more. Before you make that move, let me go over a few things with you. My husband and I have lived in a 55+ community for the past year and a half. It’s the best move we ever made – wish we had done it ten years earlier. There are more good things coming out of the move, although knowing some things about this endeavor beforehand, would have prepared us better. Location Location is still the most important rule in real estate. If you desire to relocate to a warmer climate and it’s many states away from your family and/or friends, check out your dream environment thoroughly. Most of us need convenient access
to transportation, shopping, culture, community amenities, places of worship, and social opportunities. Should the community you have selected be located a good distance from family or friends, check out the distance to the nearest airport. Check to see if there is an airline that goes from you to your destination. See if there is a limo or bus that can come to you for a pick-up and bring you back home. Also consider the cost of moving from your current home to the new location. You may find it best to sell some of your furnishings and purchase new upon arrival. The cost of moving can be a big factor for many people. Builder We tend sometimes to overlook our needs when we see the beautifully landscaped and decorated model homes. It’s easy to be in awe of such beauty and not realize that what you are seeing are options above and beyond the standard given at the builder’s listed price. The builder is responsible for all aspects of the home buying and building experience – from sales to construction, to guarantee service after settlement. Being a member of The National Association of Homebuilders, acknowledges your 55 + community builder as among the finest in the trade. If you are buying a home in an already established community, the realtor will advise you how to handle many matters; if not, select another realtor. If you are buying a house from another party, you need to know all the facts.
Surrounding Area It is a wise decision to view the surrounding area of your 55 + community. Before entering the sales office or seeing homes for sale with a realtor, drive around and look at the homes. Have they been maintained? If you hear several dogs barking at the house next to the one you want, and you don’t enjoy dogs, reconsider. Most communities allow up to two animals per home. Dogs must be on a leash when going outside. The use of a doggy cleanup bag is necessary and most communities have “drop-off containers” located at several locations. Cats must remain inside. Homeowners Association and Board of Trustees Most sales offices can give you a copy of their by-laws or answer questions before you buy. You may find it of interest to attend an open board meeting of either one or both, if allowed, before purchase. It is in your interest to know whether the people on these boards are qualified in the field because many are not. By typing in HOA problems on your computer server, you’ll see that too have been mismanaged, which can lead to further problems in the years to come. You would not want unqualified people handling your personal monies, nor do you want that stress and added insecurity when retired. Enjoy your dream come true; make it the best move ever! Patricia Johnson is a retired interior designer/ architect. She has been helping others ease the chore of moving for many years. She can be contacted through this publication. ISI
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Copyright©2015 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4801 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-877-699-0353. All rights reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Equal Housing Lender. FIMC is not affiliated with any government agencies. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency. Reverse mortage borrowers are required to obtain an eligibility certificate by recieving counseling sessions with a HUD-approaved agency. Must be at least 62 years old. Loan proceeds are not considered income and will not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits. Your monthly reverse mortgage advances may affect your eligibility for some other programs. Consult a local program office or your attorney to determine how, or if, monthly reverse mortgage payments might affect your specific situation. Owners are still responsible for property taxes, insurance and maintanance.
By Teresa Ambord Although the economy has improved and fewer people are facing foreclosure, there is still no shortage of schemes and scams to separate you from your money using twisted transactions with your real estate. In some areas, you can’t stop at a red light without seeing a poster tacked to a pole offering “help” to save your home. Thieves are shameless when it comes to preying on desperation. They know anyone who is facing the loss of a home is probably terrified and willing to grasp at any straw. If you or someone you know is in danger of foreclosure, be on guard against offers to help you. It is true there are some new government programs that can help, but there are a lot more scams. You need to know the difference. The Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov), which is the U.S. consumer protection agency, says scam artists deal in half-truths, if not outright lies. They promise relief and will be your best, most sympathetic friend, for now. Often, by the time they are done, they leave their customers far worse off than before. They may: • Claim most of their customers successfully save their homes from foreclosure, and may say they offer a money-back guarantee. • Tell you they are affiliated with the government or your own lender. • Promise the help of attorneys or real estate professionals as part of their service. No Help No Pay In an attempt to protect us from scam artists, the FTC put in place the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule, which makes it illegal for companies to collect any fees until you, the homeowner, have received and accepted a bona fide offer of relief from your lender. In other words, even if you have agreed to accept help from a company, if the results you get are not what you wanted, you do not have to pay. If you have been contacted by a company that promises relief from the threat of losing your home, the FTC wants you to be aware of some typical language scam artists use, on flyers, bus stops, business cards: “Stop foreclosure now!” “Get a loan modification!” “Over 90% of our customers get results.” “We have special relationships with banks that
can speed up the approval process.” “100% Money Back Guarantee.” “Keep Your Home. We know your home is scheduled to be sold. No Problem!” The FTC warns thieves will go to great lengths to appear legitimate in order to win your trust. Thieves would have you believe they have no self-interest and are thinking only of you, when in reality they have a great deal to gain and you have everything to lose. Here are some of the schemes the FTC has run across: Offers of Counseling or Other Help: For a fee, they say, they will help you negotiate with the lender to lower your payments and save your home. A few tip offs to this scam are: they may claim to be attorneys, tell you not to contact your lender or other adviser, they may tell you the help begins when you pay a fee, and they may instruct you to pay your mortgage payments directly to them. If you are contacted by someone like this, don’t walk away… run! Offer to Audit: Another scam involves an offer to have experts review your mortgage documents to ensure the lender complied with the law. The idea is to help you avoid foreclosure, reduce your mortgage, or even cancel your loan. The FTC says there is no evidence this kind of “help” will provide any relief. Rent-to-Buy Scheme: This is a scam where thieves try to convince you to surrender your home’s title as part of a deal where you then rent your home from them and you presumably will buy it back later. In reality, the “deal” generally becomes so expensive you cannot possibly regain the title to your home, and you lose it. They walk away with all the money you put into the house, then the new “owners” default and you are evicted. Again, don’t walk away, run, run, run! This scam has other variations, such as renting your home to you but they neglect to say they will raise the rent until you can no longer afford it and you are evicted. Don’t Pay a Fee Unless…: Again, the FTC reminds you there is no obligation to pay any money until the company delivers the results you want. The company is acting illegally if they charge you any fee before they have given you a written offer regarding the changes to your loan or loan relief and you have accepted the offer and been provided with documents regarding the agreement, including a clear statement of all fees. ISI
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25
Have A Haunted Halloween at Old Pen Article & Photo By Dianna Troyer 1973 when a new prison was built, attracts not Unpredictable events happen year-round at only former inmates and staff but also 60,000 visithe Old Idaho Penitentiary – not just at Halloween tors a year. Exhibits in the institution’s sandstone when paranormal researchers wait and wonder if buildings describe life on the sprawling 500-acre prisoners’ ghosts will appear. “I’m always surprised when ex-inmates come back to see their old cells,” says Jennifer Finke, who has been volunteering as a receptionist and tour guide at the Old Pen since 2006. “I guess they’re coming to reflect on how much their lives have changed since they were released.” In August, several former inmates visited with her. “One man, now in his 60s, had been convicted of burglary and dropped in to see his old cell,” she says. “He was here during the prison riots of ’71 and ’73, so I had to ask if he was involved. He said he was in The Hole, in isolation, so he didn’t have anything to do with the rioting.” After visiting his cell, he told her that his toothbrush was still there. “He had a twinkle in his eye and asked me if he could take it with him,” she says, laughing. “I had to tell him that after the state gave the property to the Idaho State Historical Society in 1974, all the Maybe Big Water Blowitems had to stay in place.” A short time before that, three former inmates out, HSN & Riggins came together to tour the grounds. “They develSalmon Run events oped a friendship while here and apparently listed. have grounds and how incarceration philosophies have kept in touch.” Even former employees are drawn back to the changed during the past century. Volunteer guides show visitors the cellblocks, Old Pen. “One of our newest volunteers used to be the head of the maintenance department here death row, the gallows, dining hall, and the womand wanted to keep busy during retirement. We en’s prison. Inmates also worked in a cannery, always need more volunteers, and it’s a fascinating license plate factory, and shirt and shoe factories. During late summer and fall, Jennifer helps and fun place to work.” The Old Pen, in operation from 1872 until prepare for one of the Old Pen’s most popular
sold-out events, Frightened Felons, scheduled for Halloween. “We started seven years ago, and it’s grown so much that we’ve had to limit each night to 1,300 people,” says Jennifer. Family night is scheduled on Oct. 28 and offers children’s activities, while on the second night, Oct. 29, events are geared to frighten adults. Both events begin at 7 p.m. About 15 actors become inmates, mingling with visitors to tell their stories. One year Jennifer dressed as former inmate Margaret Hardy who was convicted in the late 1890s for killing her stepdaughter by throwing acid on her. After setting her straw mattress on fire with an oil lamp, Margaret was evaluated and transferred to a state hospital for mentally ill patients. Another infamous prisoner, Lyda Southard, was nicknamed Idaho’s Lady Bluebeard for becoming wealthy after poisoning four husbands to collect life insurance benefits. Idaho’s first female serial killer, she put flypaper in water to soak off the arsenic and then used the liquid to make pies and soups. An inmate from 1921 to 1941, she escaped in 1931 for 13 months after using a rose trellis for a ladder. A male prisoner who had been released waited for her outside the walls to help her. “She must have had the right twinkle in her eyes to persuade him to run away with her.” While Jennifer shares her vast knowledge about the Old Pen and its inmates, she shies away from ghost stories. “I don’t believe in ghosts, so I don’t get spooked.” She admits she did get spooked when an actor did an extremely convincing job portraying Ray Snowden, the last prisoner to be hanged in 1957 at the Old Pen.
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PAGE 26 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
“I couldn’t even stand to have him walk behind me down a hallway.” People who want to see for themselves why the Old Pen has been called one of Idaho’s most haunted places can join the International Paranormal Reporting Group from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Oct. 7. The team will set up its equipment in the prison. Tickets to join them cost $30 individually or $25 for two or more. Besides leading tours, Jennifer sews and embroiders items for the gift shop including bags
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
and beanie hats. “I enjoy seeing kids and others take home an affordable gift I’ve made.” Her volunteer hours vary year-round. “We’re busiest in spring with school tours and in the fall with the Halloween events. Working here is loads of fun, and the staff is wonderful. Volunteers are treated as equals and made to feel like family.” An accountant, Jennifer began volunteering after she retired from the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles, where she ended her career as
an auditor with the bureau for licensing commercial vehicles. “I had too much free time the first winter of retirement and saw an article in the paper for volunteers and applied,” she says. “It’s more than fulfilled my expectations.” To volunteer, call 208-334-2844. Old Pen events are listed at history.idaho.gov/old-idahopenitentiary-events. Tickets for activities may be purchased at brownpapertickets.com. ISI
Fall And Winter Bring You Idaho’s Famous Steelhead If your passion is catching the top sport fish in North America, Riggins is the place to be. As fall arrives, so do Idaho’s steelhead returning from the Pacific Ocean to spawn and maintain a healthy and sustainable fishery for future generations. Riggins’ low elevation and mild climate provide one of the longest and most productive steelhead seasons in the Pacific Northwest. The smaller fall-run “silver bullets” are great fighters – leaping and standing on their tails while spooling reels as they race upstream searching for their spawning grounds and cooler water. The best fishing is mid October to early December.
Our late January to early March winter fishery provides the solitude and quiet of the river canyon but offers bigger, girthy fish that winter over in deeper pools. Hooking one of these will bring a smile to any angler as these lunkers fight and do their best to spit the hook. Fishing guides offer trips by drift boat for two anglers or by jet boat for 6-8 anglers depending on your preference and group size. For a complete list of Riggins area outfitters, please visit rigginsidaho. com and click on outfitters under the directory tab. For additional information, call 208-628-3320. ISI
The Pleasures of Dining out By Geno Lawrenzi Jr. There are few things more pleasurable in life than dining out. This becomes even truer as you age. I find my dining out experiences to grow more pleasurable the older I get. Being a divorced male, I generally dine alone. There are times that my daughter and grandchildren will join me, and that enhances my enjoyment of the food and the surroundings. But for the most part, my experience in a restaurant is one I’m certain to enjoy it to the hilt. One thing I enjoy about restaurant dining is the fact that strangers surround you. I happen to be a talker and I have developed a perfect opener for a conversation. After I am seated at my favorite table, I will select a couple or a three or foursome sitting at a nearby table. Then I will lean over and say in a conspiratorial whisper to one of the people, “Whatever you do, don’t let him (or her) stick you with the bill.”
That always draws a smile or outright laughter. I said this to a woman who was celebrating her 90th birthday with her six grandchildren in Albuquerque, N.M. She caught on to the joke and whispered back loud enough for all to hear, “But I’m the only one with an unexpired credit card.” People love a good joke and most of them enjoy smiling. I wear a black Stetson and sometimes when a man wearing a hat enters the restaurant and sits next to me, I will say, “Congratulations.” He will look at me and say, “For what?” I’ll respond, “When I came into this restaurant, I thought I had the coolest hat in the place. Then you walked in.” That will bring smiles and it opens the conversation so we can find out more about one another. I like good service in a restaurant. When a server does an exceptional job of serving me, I will call them aside, compliment them, and ask for the
name of their supervisor. I will let the server know I am pleased with his or her services and want to let the supervisor know. That always results in even better service – especially when I add a tip. One of my tricks of getting management involved occurs when I enter a new restaurant. I will ask the manager, “On a scale of one to 10, how good is your coffee?” (or steak or meatloaf or whatever it is I intend to order). The person will give me a number. I will respond. “Okay, I’ll take your word for it. But if it isn’t half as good as you claim it is, as soon as my attorney gets out of jail, you could be in real trouble.” When the laughter dies down, I’ll quickly add, “But don’t worry. He’s a terrible attorney and he’s never won a case yet.” The next time you dine out; try some of these smile-grabbers yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised at the results. ISI
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Steve Puyleart Builds Stylish Rustic Furniture Article & Photo By Jack McNeel Like a Phoenix, Coeur d’Alene’s Steve Puyleart emerged from a serious logging accident and created a furniture business specializing in handcraft-
ed, rustic, and reclaimed pieces known throughout the region. Raised in Wisconsin, Steve moved to Bonners Ferry shortly after graduating from high school in 1978. He went to work for a helicopter logging operation and it was here that he was nearly killed. “I kind of got crushed by a tree,” he explains casually. “I had a skidder shove a tree over on top of me, accidentally,” Steve continues. “It pretty much broke everything on my right side. My shoulder was broken; it broke six ribs and cracked the rest of them. It broke my back. They called my wife and told her I was on my way to the Spokane hospital but not to hurry, that I wasn’t going to make it. I was pretty broken up. But, I did make it.” Steve was out of work for eight months or so and when he recovered enough to work again, he got a job in a local mill, which didn’t work out. The challenges of his situation put a strain on his marriage and divorce followed, so Steve moved to Coeur d’Alene to start a new life and career. He found a shop in Hayden to rent and with a few woodworking tools from his married days, Steve started supplying furniture for a friend who owned a waterbed store. “He needed someone to build futons and tables and accessories – simple, easy stuff to do.”
The futons etc. evolved into his building rustic furniture and Steve learned as he went. “I had no prior experience – none,” he says. “This is all self taught; I never had wood shop in school, just kind of played with it a little bit. It was years and years of trial and error. “I was kind of doing that on the side and looking for a job. I never did find a real job,” he adds with a laugh. “It grew into actually hiring help and trying to keep up. From there it just kept growing. I taught myself how to do the furniture we’re doing now.” The progress was gradual but continual. Log furniture was becoming popular about that time and Steve began building dressers and other items to go with the log beds that others were doing. The wood he used was blue pine, which is actually diseased yellow pine. “When yellow pine dies, a fungus gets in it and turns it from the normal yellow color to shades of blue and gray before eventually turning it punky and rotten.” Other people weren’t doing much furniture building with this kind of wood at that time. “Even when I worked at the mill we saw a lot of lumber that had blue stains and back then they threw it away. But people liked the color, thought it looked cool, so I started building dressers out of it, and it went really well with log beds.” But as with other trends, when the blue pine became popular, competition caused the profit margin to drop. “So I started using reclaimed wood, or barn wood,” Steve explains. “And from there I went to alder, which I would get scribed at an old circle mill and put saw marks back on it. It’s different from reclaimed wood – a little less rustic but still considered rustic furniture.”
Steve Derricott Teaches Ancient Art Of Braiding Rawhide
Article & Photo By Dianna Troyer Steve Derricott’s mind and fingers are equally nimble as he braids numerous strands of rawhide in his leather shop in Meridian. What might become a tangle of laces for a novice will become intricate reins, a bosal, headstall, or quirt in his expert hands. The number of strands Steve uses ranges from six up to 32, depending on what he is braiding for equestrians. In some pieces, he has used 200 to 300 feet of hand-cut rawhide plaits. “Rawhide braiding is one of the oldest traditional art forms,” says Steve, 66, who has taught the ancient craft through the Idaho Commission on the Arts’ Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. To prove his point, he refers to a photo he posted on his LaceMaster Facebook page. It shows rawhide braiding used to attach an axe head to a wooden handle in Egypt about 1,350 B.C. “It’s the exact same knots we still make today,” he says of the everlasting art. “It’s amazing.” The commission’s apprenticeship program enables Steve, who is nicknamed “Twister D,” to share skills he has honed for more than three decades. He says he feels gratified to know that whatever he and his students make will last for generations. “It’s also humbling and an honor to be able to pass on the rawhide braiding skills my dad taught me,” says Steve, who was an apprentice to his father Lloyd through the art commission’s program in 1994. “I was so thrilled we were accepted,” he adds. “Dad was self-taught and I’d watched him braid as a youngster, but I never had the patience for it until I was 44.” Building on the solid foundation from his dad, Steve has continued to enroll in rawhide braiding workshops to refine his craft. In addition to the one-on-one apprenticeship program, Steve has taught braiding at leather shops, trade shows, and seminars including the art commission’s Rawhide Rendezvous in Salmon last April. He also shares his insights at lacemaster.com and gfeller.us.
It wasn’t long before Steve had to hire help and he continues to do so, working out of a large shop behind his home in a wooded area north of Hayden. At times, he employs as many as seven people. Aside from the furniture business, Steve tries to find time for a little hunting and fishing. “I love hunting but if I shot something and had to pack it out, well I’m not so in love with that anymore.” He is planning to do some hunting this fall with his son despite the fall months being often the busiest in the shop. Steve also fishes both Pend Oreille and Hayden Lakes but his favorite is heading down to the Clearwater River for steelhead and salmon. Steve Puyleart stands as a testament to perseverance and adaptability as he moved from the hospital bed to furniture manufacturing and survived the vagaries of the marketplace by creating stylish, unique, and quality pieces for his customers. For more information, visit thewoodshop.com where photos reveal the quality and uniqueness of Steve’s work better than any written description. ISI
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For his expertise and willingness to teach, Steve was selected for a 2016 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in the Folk and Traditional Arts category. The awards will be presented to Steve and other recipients on Nov. 10 in the Idaho State Capitol rotunda. Steve has even developed tools of his trade. His patented LaceMaster, which he designed in 2004, is used to cut and bevel rawhide or leather. “I’m proud it’s an Idaho-made product. We use a foundry in Melba to cast the metal. A machine shop in Boise makes the parts, and we assemble it here at the shop.” Besides braiding rawhide, Steve also makes diverse handcrafted niche-market leather items. Geologists, engineers, and field scientists have used his hammer holsters, field cases, and compass cases to protect tools, maps, and notebooks at project sites worldwide. Steve unexpectedly stumbled onto his leathercrafting occupation while working as an exploration geologist in 1983. A Boise State University geology graduate, he had worked for companies throughout the West on diverse projects, searching for rare minerals and analyzing geothermal resources. “I’ve had a ball,” he says. “For a person who loves the outdoors, exploration geology is a dream come true. But it meant I was gone for long periods, and I wanted to spend more time with my family.” While on a field trip in Nevada, he mentioned to another geologist that he needed a career change. “He told me Gfeller, a geoscience leather equip-
Steve Derricott, a rawhide braider and leather artisan, cleans a project at his shop in Meridian. He will receive a 2016 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in the Folk and Traditional Arts category, which will be presented to Steve and other recipients on Nov. 10 in the Idaho State Capitol rotunda. (Photo by Neccia Derricott)
ment supplier, was for sale in Washington,” recalls Steve. “I’d already used their leather products in the field and had an affinity for leather work since I was young. It seemed like a good fit.” After buying Gfeller Casemakers in 1985 and learning leather-crafting tips from the owner, Steve and his wife, Lori, eventually moved the business to Boise and later Meridian, where they have been making and selling profoundly functional leather items.” Committed to quality and traditional techniques, Steve uses only linen thread instead of polyester or nylon blends. “Those synthetic threads can actually tear leather over time.” Steve applies centuries-old leather-crafting techniques with a modern twist. He has also crafted notebook and computer protectors, cell phone holders, and satchels. He designed and makes a small case shaped like a taco shell to hold electronic charging cords. His leather covers also protect a popular Japanese day planner called Hobonichi Techo. “We specialize in small runs of 25 to 500 items,” he says. “We’ve worked with all kinds of companies: a voltmeter business in Ohio, a security firm in California, and even the Army’s military academy at West Point because they needed saber belts and parade style cartridge boxes.” Wanting to pass on his rawhide and leather craft expertise, Steve hopes to organize a workshop in his hometown of Montpelier within the next year. “That would make Dad smile.” ISI
When Parents Follow Children Into College By Bill Hall This is the time of year when the fruit ripens. So do the young people of college age. This year’s freshmen crop now parades through the neighborhood with suitcases and boxes, entering college for the first time, many of them the first in their families to do so. We live two blocks from a college where I have seen several of these fledglings recently with their suitcases and members of their families helping them move from the nest at home into their dormitories. I saw one such family the other day consisting of a young man of 18 or so, a barely middle-aged mother, a sister about 12 and a brother about 9. The new student was carrying a battered family suitcase and the rest of the family packed boxes of borrowed comforts from home. I thought I saw sadness in the body language of the mother. That’s because parents realize this isn’t just going away from home for a few weeks and then returning. This is going away from home for good. Somehow, a kid who leaves for college at that age or for some other adventure hardly ever comes back to the nest to stay. Nonetheless, the mother helped him leave, as parents must if they are to see their children flourish. Someone is stealing her baby away and she is cooperating with that theft. On the other hand, this is a proud mother with a kid going off to college, as she and her husband never did. That’s why she is an accessory to his
leaving. I have been there, carrying a battered family suitcase into a college, into the rest of my life, trailed by parents carrying boxes. My father finished the eighth grade, my mother the tenth. They drove me across the state to college, to the chance they had once wanted. But a depression and a dust bowl got in their way. I know what that kid the other day had in his suitcase. He had dreams in there. When you go away to college, you carry with you certain hopes. Sometimes it is simply the general hope that you will make something larger of yourself than you had once imagined. Sometimes you have specific hopes that you will become a teacher or a writer or a scientist or a businessman or even, alas, a politician. Sometimes a kid like that is pushed by a parent or a teacher into entering a college or a trade school whether he wants to or not. Sometimes it is the student’s idea. Either way, in a family where no one has gone to college before, everyone is changed. Consider, for instance that family the other day. That young man with the suitcase full of dreams was unwittingly leading his younger brother and sister down the same path and into dreams of their own. If he could do it, they could do it. And sometimes these days, a kid in that situation can give ideas to his parents. His mother wouldn’t be the first to follow a child into college,
Growing Old Gracefully
A research vessel bumped into an extra-large shark off the coast of Greenland. It was turned over to scientists who conducted a detailed study using radiocarbon dating technology. Their amazing discovery: the shark was some four centuries old, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens. Danish researcher Julius Nielsen, lead author of a research report published recently in Science magazine said the shark was the world’s oldest living vertebrate. Greenland sharks are a super-slow growing species and that may account for its longevity. They take a century and a half just to reach maturity, he noted. When the research team was done with its study, they released the aging, but still spry, creature back into its icy-cold habitat. ISI
to get the idea from a son or daughter that her dreams still matter and can be dusted off and realized. These small state colleges are brimming over with parents like that. They are crawling with the middle-aged and even older students who seek a second chance in life. It wasn’t that way when I carted my battered suitcase into college decades ago. During that time, college was for kids. I wish my parents could have hung on until this time. They loved learning. That day they dropped me at college, they were uncommonly quiet, perhaps sad that another little bird was leaving the nest. But those two victims of the Depression were also looking at that college and thinking of what might have been. I suspect that middle-aged mother I saw the other day dropping her chick off at college might now get the education itch. She and the brother and sister have seen the place where they give you the ladders of life. In a single afternoon, they have all three become more likely to go to college. Indeed, it is not uncommon now for parents and children to graduate from the same college on the same day. When they say “never too old” in the world of education, they mean it. All you need is a battered suitcase and a collection of dusty dreams. Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone.net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. ISI
The Games People Play
By now, most of us have heard about the Pokémon GO craze that has swept the nation, especially among cell-phone-toting youngsters, but it is also now catching on among rehab patients, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens. The mobile phone game requires users to hunt so-called monsters in a virtual environment and the task requires concentration and long walks. Jaclyn Batts, a registered occupational therapist at the DeBary Health and Rehabilitation Center in Florida, came up with the idea of Pokémon therapy. She calls it a great motivator and tool to facilitate occupational therapy. Batts’ colleague Michele Turbin said, “My first thought when I heard the idea was ‘What a great story!’ followed by ‘But, are the patients actually using it?’ The answer was a resounding ‘Yes!’ I saw happy people, who ordinarily would sometimes not want to go to therapy, learning a new skill and waiting their turn to play. ISI
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Imaginative Leafpeeping By Victor Block Jill and Bill Kelly oooh and aaah at the scenery passing below the hot air balloon in which they’re sailing gently above the treetops. The ride is very different for Mark and Marylee Sutherland as they help steer a rubber raft through a stretch of rockstrewn river and over a 12-foot-high waterfall. Nancy and Victor Goodman travel at a much slower pace, in a horse-drawn covered wagon rolling along a high ridge that early explorers called the “top of the world.” These disparate experiences seem to have little in common, but all three couples share a common goal. They sought, and found, new ways – and places – to enjoy the annual fall foliage show that is among Mother Nature’s most magnificent handiworks. “Leaf peepers” seeking to enjoy the annual Technicolor display have many more choices than a drive along a traffic-clogged road or a hike through the woods. They also can find surprising places around the country to take in the multi-hued spectacle, and imaginative ways of doing so. Aptly named Balloons Over New England, located in Vermont, operates the ride that the Kelly couple enjoyed. The flight has been likened to an aerial nature walk that skims over two river valleys and offers distant views of the Green Mountains. The treat for the eyes is followed by one for the taste buds, with a champagne, fruit, and pastry repast. As with any excursion planned to view fall foliage, the peak period can change a bit from year to year. In Vermont, color usually begins in late September and lasts to mid-October. In the west perhaps a little earlier. Rather than gliding gently over treetops, Mark and Marylee Sutherland alternated opportunities to enjoy vibrant color along river shorelines with frantic paddling as the raft in which they traveled shot through heart-stopping rapids. Trips offered by the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina and Tennessee pass through steep gorges and mountain backdrops that are blanketed with trees that burst into fall colors. Those who prefer to view the foliage in a more leisurely way have a choice of less challenging rivers. As avowed landlubbers, Nancy and Goodman found a covered wagon ride at the Buena Vista Ski Area in Minnesota to be the perfect way to enjoy the fall colors. They jounced over a route that was
traveled by Native Americans, early explorers, and pioneers. Activities at this annual Fall Color Festival include square dancing, blacksmith demonstrations, and chainsaw carving. Wagon rides are also available. A variety of other conveyances also awaits those seeking a new and different way to view foliage. The Mid-Continent Railroad Museum operates restored vintage passenger cars through the rural Wisconsin countryside during Autumn Color Weekend. Itineraries include evening dinner served in a 1914 diner-lounge car and daytime coach and caboose trains. Speaking of vintage, how about a thrilling flight in a World War II-era open cockpit airplane that can carry two passengers! Training planes and fighter aircraft fly low over rolling hills and California vineyards, and those who are adventurous and brave enough may ask the pilot to take them through aerobatic maneuvers. The color of grape vines at ground level don’t pack quite the visual wallop of a tree canopy, but the red and yellow leaves against a backdrop of green have a beauty all their own. Granted that zip lines don’t go as high or fast as airplanes, but zipping though and above treetops clad in a coat of many colors can be just as rewarding. One place among many to enjoy this experience is the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, which has the largest stand of old-growth forest east of the Mississippi River. The kaleidoscope of autumn colors there lasts for several weeks well into November. The diversity of trees adds to the spectrum of vibrant hues. While a number of ski resorts throughout the country operate their lifts during the foliage season, Snowmass in Colorado does most of them one better – and then some. There’s a reason the town it’s in is called Aspen. The trees of that name turn the 2.3 million acres of surrounding national forest a brilliant shade of gold. It’s no wonder that Travel & Leisure last year ranked it among America’s Best Towns
Baby, You Can Drive My Car By Bonnie McCune “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain Of travel, writer Henry Miller said, “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” Since a major benefit of grandchildren is that they also provide you a new way of seeing things (poking a roly-poly bug with a finger to study the resulting tight and tiny circle, or licking the latest flavor of ice cream in total anticipation of delight), add grandchildren to travel to come up with an unforgettable experience. With this in mind, my husband and I set off to one of our favorite locations, Mesa Verde National Monument, with our two grandchildren in tow. We wanted to share this treasure with our curious and questing offspring, not just for their benefit but for ours, too – a different perspective, new challenges, and renewed appreciation. Mesa Verde requires a nine-hour, four-hundred mile voyage from Denver to its cultural, historic, and archeological wonders. So we loaded up Lola, age ten, and Sean, age seven, for an expedition long enough to challenge us and short enough not to resemble a purgatory. We were realistic. No, we couldn’t expect the children to be quiet the entire way. Yes, we knew distractions had to be planned. No, we had no hopes of a clean car interior, hands, faces, and clothing. In addition, we favored human interactions over electronics. Television wasn’t an option, for our lodge had none. And we would use the portable DVD player minimally. Each child brought a backpack of books, colors, and toys. The distrac-
for Fall Colors. If, after considering the alternatives, you still prefer the tried and true ways of enjoying the changing leaves, you still might find some surprises. For example, how many people are aware that leaves of dogwood, maple, and red alder trees in Oregon display a rainbow spectrum of color? An autumn hike in the Rogue River National Forest passes through old growth trees that provide a variety of fall shades, and the Santiam Pass Scenic Byway leads past waterfalls and a volcanic landscape set off by vibrant colors. When planning a leaf peeping driving getaway, would you be likely to head for Arkansas? Yet that state experiences a color extravaganza, which begins in October in the northern Ozarks, moves slowly south and peaks in late October and early November. A favorite route is the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop, which traverses nearly undeveloped mountain areas and tree-covered canyons. The Talimena National Scenic Byway, which winds along forested mountaintops in one of the highest ranges between the Appalachians and Rockies, offers a series of breathtaking panoramas. ISI
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tions Grandma and Grandpa supplied tended to be based on our own interests pointing out the routes traveled by pioneers and noticing areas that forest fires had decimated. These made welcome breaks in the routine and led to. . . Conversations! Seven-year-olds can have real conversations in which they state opinions, mull information, and ask questions. Just give the kids time and a little direction. You’ll get highly original points of view while building bonds between the
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
generations. We used the trip to test and try new things. A shower that functions differently from that of the home bathroom (we struggled several times before discovering the “warm” setting), people who speak in other languages (America is not the center of the world), life lessons through observations of human behavior (“See that careless child littering?”), broadened the children’s knowledge and experience. Traditional ways to create our own fun centered on games like Clue, good for all ages. In the car the long-beloved activities like car Bingo, nonsense songs, license plate sightings, all passed the time in positive ways. I hardly dared suggesting one pastime: reading aloud. I feared the kids would think this a chore. But remembering their parents’ fascination three decades before with a narration
of The Great Brain, I wanted to try. I didn’t have to. Lola brought Harry Potter and read it to all of us, thereby providing entertainment, improving her reading skills, and making Sean eager to try reading subsequent volumes by himself. Our four-day adventure was chock-full of fun, exercise, new sights and experiences, and a few disagreements from which we all learned. Sean challenged himself to climb tall ladders; Lola became an expert at detective work. None of us will forget the deer nibbling grass right outside the lodge room or the eerie yet exhilarating fog that spread over the entire landscape one morning. Best of all, we became closer with our family’s next generation, and they learned more about us. As Sean said at the conclusion of our trip, “Grandpa is my new best friend.” What can beat a result like that? ISI
Christmas in Canada 8 Hotels in the heart of the Canadian Rockies
BANFF HOTEL ROOMS SUITES CONDOS 1-800-563-8764 www.bestofbanff.com
By Bernice Karnop There’s no place like home for the holidays, but wait. One is home for many other days of the year as well. Maybe it’s time to make some new and different memories at a location that is not home. You might take only a few days break before Christmas, or you might take your spouse, children, or grandchildren for a real vacation. You’ll add some special memories that will last for years to come. One could experience Disneyland when it’s decorated for Christmas. Maybe you dream of flying off to the warm sea and sands of the Caribbean, to England for a traditional Christmas, or away to the snowy Swiss Alps. Snow lovers in Idaho might consider looking a bit closer to home. The Canadian exchange rate looks very good, and there is much to love just over the border. How about taking advantage of a clear fall or winter day to drive to Nelson, Lethbridge, or Calgary for a bit of shopping? One could spend a long, relaxing weekend and
What’s on Your Bucket List?
Australia AND New Zealand? Zealand? This once in a lifetime program, explores the deep blue seas on a catamaran cruise, adventure at the Great Barrier Reef, the beauty of Sydney Harbor and explores aboriginal villages. We tour Cairns, Sydney, and Melbourne, then head off to New Zealand visiting Christchurch, Queenstown, and more. Visit the magic of Australian beaches, caves, and the beauty of New Zealand’s rivers and mountains.
September 10–26, 2017
17 Days, 14 Nights including: Hotels, Meals, Day Trips, & Airfare from Boise, ID
$7,399* Call or Email
Theresa Hardin
93 at (208) 459-74be r.org thardin@caldwellcham
n: For more informatio r be am Caldwell Ch of Commerce ell, ID 704 Blane St., Caldw
Additional optional trips also available at additional cost.
Hurry! We only have 30 seats available. *Cost per person, for double occupancy. Add $1,099 for single occupancy. Fuel surcharges/taxes & fees of $895 per person included in the price & valid at the time of printing, but subject to change.
take in a concert, ballet, or theater production. The Alberta Ballet puts on the Nutcracker in December or you will find wonderful Christmas classics such as a Christmas Carol and Handel’s Messiah. Need more noise and adrenaline? Attend a hockey game featuring the Lethbridge Hurricanes or the Calgary Flames. Some people take the whole family – all the kids and grandkids – to a special place for Christmas itself. For an old-fashioned Christmas with all of the fun and none of the fuss consider resorts in Banff and Lake Louise. The outdoor setting rivals Santa’s house at the North Pole and Santa himself could hardly match the nature’s winter finery. Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful lakes on the planet. Just imagine looking out the window at the blue lake you saw in the summer and seeing it covered with ice, the trees and bushes decorated with snow, and the mountains towering white all around. Compared to a summer visit, it’s quiet, but there’s an abundance of Christmas activities, both outdoors and in. For a start, imagine taking an old-fashioned horse drawn sleigh ride that puts some pink in your cheeks. People skate all day on frozen Lake Louise, warming up with cups of hot chocolate. Around 70 miles of cross-country ski trails keep trekkers exploring for days. For those new to cross country, they offer lessons to get you started. Wherever you are in the Candian Rockies, Mountain guides take guests on snowshoe hikes. They share information about winter in this cold and icy country, or about the creatures who winter here, and how to identify them by their tracks. What could be more magical than night owl snowshoeing? Or watching the sparks rise into a star-studded sky from a big winter bonfire? Or tasting hot maple syrup, brought in from Ontario or Quebec, poured on to fresh snow and rolled onto a stick? One can be as cozy as the Caribbean when vacationers move inside their hotels where they can enjoy the afternoon teas, special liquor laced with hot chocolate, iced wines, and amazing food according to a person’s tastes. Many resorts offer spas for a massage, facial, or other body treatments, hair styling, and fancy nail paints. Photographers will snap professional portraits to remember the trip, and sessions with the photographer will improve one’s own photos. Other instructional offerings can include local history and getting cooking tips and tastes from local chefs. If you take the grandkids, they’ll be delighted with sledding hills and organized outdoor winter games. They’ll keep busy with board games, movies with popcorn, a pajama party, and crafts. Of course, greet Santa when he arrives at the front door on Christmas Eve. When you think about making Christmas memories this year, consider going to Canada. You’ll be amazed at how many things they have to offer. And the favorable exchange rate makes everything, from shopping to entertainment to whole vacations, a bargain! ISI
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Indoor Cycling for Longevity and Virtual Travel! By Jan Hunter Inevitably, relentlessly, the doctor’s advice is, “You need more exercise, particularly cardio exercise to keep your heart healthy.” But let’s face it, I can’t think of anything more boring than pedaling a bicycle inside. I mean, isn’t the main joy of riding a bike to go somewhere – explore new places and get some fresh air? To be staring at a wall or watching a sitcom while pedaling just seems dull compared to that glorious feeling you get on a bike whizzing along down a great country road like so many we have here in Idaho. So, I wonder as I’m looking at the exercise bike gathering dust in the corner, what’s the answer? Cycling is healthy and provides increased muscular endurance, lowered stress levels, and aids in weight control. And don’t overlook the benefit of safety when it comes to indoor workouts. Sadly, in 2014 there were 50,000 cycling accidents resulting in injuries in the U.S. alone. And winter weather can make cycling very hazardous. Drivers distracted by texting and cellphones pose a serious threat to cyclists – so is it worth it? Who wants to spend a valuable part of your life recovering from injuries or permanently disabled from a bicycle crash?
Cycling inside is a logical solution, but how to keep the ride interesting? Playing videos showing down-the-road scenery and discovering what’s around the next bend piques riders’ interest and curiosity. When the videos explore exotic, famous, and significant destinations, even the most stubborn couch potatoes can get in the mood for serious cardio workouts. In cities with large fitness facilities where indoor cycling (spinning) classes are so popular, large screen videos stimulate and excite riders. But now people in rural areas and smaller communities who ride at home can take advantage of the motivating power of virtual reality without the fuss of a long commute to a gym. The idea of virtual cycling videos is not new. VHS tapes first appeared in the 1990s and Les Mills included cycling in its nationwide workout programs in the early 2000s. Bike-O-Vision started in 2004 and has been followed by several other startups. Others such as The Sufferfest and Rides by Endurance Films are called “trainer videos” tailored more for the aspiring professional cyclist competing with other riders seen in the video. Most indoor cycling videos are used with the riders on their exercise machine in front of a TV
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande; Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2014 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty “There is arguably no better time in history to be old,” writes Dr. Atul Gawande in his bestselling book, Being Mortal. If you find yourself getting older, not younger – if you or any of your family is experiencing ODTAA syndrome (One Damn Thing After Another) then this is the book for you. A respected and practicing surgeon, Gawande, once again examines how the medical profession both helps and hinders our lives – in this case the natural process of aging. Gawande’s emphasis is on the importance of experiencing a good life until the end. And, as he makes clear in his conversational writing style, that good life experience is different for each one of us. Through touching personal stories – including his own family – and dedicated research in Being Mortal, Gawande offers a guide to ask, and answer some of the most important questions about what it means to have a good life until the very end. He cites statistics and correlates those statistics to individual patients he has worked with in a way that makes the abstract not only concrete, but also humanizing and personal. He addresses each topic with compassion, professionalism, and a hint of humor. Gawande begins with a look at being mortal over time and discusses how life, sickness and dying have changed over the last century as he supports his statement that this is a good time in history to be old. “Modernization... gave people – the young and the old – more liberty and control… the liberty to be less beholden to other generations.” He sets the positive tone for the book by acknowledging an inevitable contradiction of life. Veneration of elders has been replaced, not by veneration of youth, but “by veneration of the independent self,” he says. However, he adds, “our reverence for independence takes no account of the reality of what happens in life: sooner or later, independence will become impossible…. The body’s decline creeps like a vine. Day to day, the changes can be imperceptible. You adapt. Then something happens that finally makes it clear that things are no longer the same.” In the chapter, Things Fall Apart, he discusses the role modern medical practices and political policies play in illness and aging. “The progress of medicine and public health
has been an incredible boon – people get to live longer, healthier, more productive lives.” This is the good news. However, not everything is good and eventually all of us have some not-so-healthy experiences and unfortunately, as a society, we are not prepared mentally or emotionally for those times. “We regard living in the downhill stretches with a kind of embarrassment… we feel as if we somehow have something to apologize for.” And the medical profession, Gawande admits, often does not help the situation much. “We often regard the patient on the downhill as uninteresting unless he or she has a discrete problem we can fix.” Doctors are, by training and temperament, fixers; that’s why most of them go into the field. But sometimes there is no obvious fix and for most of them that is a just too much to deal with. Enter the geriatrician – not enough of them around by the way. “To a geriatrician… people can’t stop the aging of their bodies and minds, but there are ways to make it more manageable and to avert at least some of the worst effects.” Gawande’s goal is that more physicians, whatever their specialty, would approach the treatment of their terminally ill and aging patients more like a geriatrician. “The job of any doctor…is to support quality life…as much freedom from the ravages of disease as possible and the retention of enough function for active engagement in the world.” From the time we are toddlers we are constantly redefining what active engagement in the world means. For some people it is physical activity, for some it is mental activity, for some it is social activity; for most, it is a combination of all of the above. As we age and our options become limited, we have to decide what is the most important. “Even when a sense of mortality reorders our desires, these desires are not impossible to satisfy.” They must, however, be defined.
playing a DVD. Regular old exercise bikes work fine as do recumbent cycle machines, ellipticals, and treadmills. For those not training for the Tour de France who just want the natural beauty of the outdoors without other riders in the viewscape, Bike-OVision provides a series of 54 different videos that feature the natural beauty of amazing places like Lake Como Italy, the Swiss Lakes, the British Virgin Islands, and the California Coast. Spectacular scenery can take the rider’s mind off the tedium of exercise and transport him or her to the Salmon River or the French countryside. And these videos are even more spectacular in stunning high definition Blu-ray – also available from Bike-O-Vision! So if losing weight, improving your cardio fitness, boosting those endorphins to improve your mood, or working to keep Alzheimer’s at bay seem like good ideas, get out that bike or treadmill, put in a Bike-O-Vision DVD, and start moving. You will be motivated, entertained, and enthralled by combining virtual travel and real fitness! For more information, visit bike-o-vision.com or call 707-569-9307. ISI
PAGE 32 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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Although each person’s definition of a good life differs, there seem to be some things we have in common. What is it we need beyond being housed, fed, safe, and alive? First, we need a cause beyond ourselves, in order to give our lives meaning and create a sense of self worth. Also, “human beings… have a need for both privacy and community, for flexible daily rhythms and patterns, and for the possibility of forming caring relationships with those around them.” Sounds perfect and easy. However achieving the goal can be more complex than it seems as anyone with physical disabilities or any caretaker can attest. In dealing with his own father’s health, Gawande learned that “people with serious illness have priorities besides simply prolonging their lives.” For some it’s avoiding pain, for others it’s “being with family, traveling, or enjoying chocolate ice cream.” One of the aspects that Gawande emphasizes throughout Being Mortal is communication. Honest and sincere communication between doctor and patient, between family members, and most importantly in your own mind. And as with any kind of communication, the most important part is
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listening – listening to more than just the words. In the chapter, Hard Conversations, he shows how others have successfully achieved this vital emotional relationship and how he struggled with it in his own family. It really is a learning process. “The closing phase of modern life often looks like a mounting series of crises for which medicine can offer only brief and temporary rescue… deliberating on options is exhausting and complicated.” And eventually, because we are all mortal, we must consider death – the enemy that always wins. But people “want to end their stories on their own terms…this role is among life’s most important, for both the dying and those left behind.” In Being Mortal, Dr. Atul Gawande shows his readers a variety of ways in which they can compose their stories. Atul Gawande is the author of three bestselling books. He is also a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a staff writer for The New Yorker and a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. He is chair of Lifebox, a nonprofit organization making surgery safer globally. ISI
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guidelines, and end on surveys for treatments and prevention. Woven throughout are stories, both medical and anecdotal, from women such as Angelina Jolie, Joan Lunden, Melissa Etheridge, Sandra Lee, Rita Wilson, Christina Applegate, and Suzanne Somers. Every 23 seconds someone in America is diagnosed with cancer. Education is the key, and by using clear and concise information by means of celebrity stories, Reimagining Women’s Cancers can teach countless readers who might otherwise not pay attention to an epidemic likely to affect them or a loved one. About The Authors: Dr. Mark Boguski and Dr. Michele Berman are a husband and wife team of physicians who have trained and taught at some of the top medical schools and research institutions in the country, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, the National Library of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health. Celebrity Diagnosis, the website they founded and launched in 2009, is now featured as an integral part of the American Association for Cancer Research website and combines celebrity health conditions with up-to-date medical information on numerous cancers. Through their website, Dr. Boguski and Dr. Berman have created numerous “teachable moments in medicine,” giving the medical facts behind the headlines. Their aim is to increase health awareness and medical knowledge for patient empowerment and professional development, and raise the likelihood of consideration for early detection and preventative behavior. For a patient facing cancer, or for a medical student overwhelmed by data, medical information alone can be quite daunting and often misses the human factor that is so vital in prevention and healing. David Tabatsky, through his writing and editing, has added an essential element to the book through his interviews with patients and cancer support groups. ISI
Yes, You Are Getting Older! Submitted by Jim Meade 1. Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk through nine feet of shag carpet to change the TV channel. 2. Senility has been a smooth transition for me. 3. Remember back when we were kids, and every time it was below zero outside, they closed school? Me neither. 4. I may not be that funny, athletic, good looking, smart, or talented... I forgot where I was going with this. 5. I love being over 70; I learn something new every day… and forget five others. 6. A thief broke into my house last night, and started searching for money. I got up, and searched with him. 7. I think I’ll just put an Out of Order sticker on my forehead, and call it a day. ISI
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 33
Breast Cancer And The Summer Within
By Sally A. Connolly In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. – Albert Camus This past Christmas one of my daughters gave me a boxed calla lily. Ready for planting, the lily came with fertile soil and a clay pot. In the midst of a harsh New England winter and a personal health crisis, the bulb promised me a beautiful spring. Throughout the winter, I have tended the lily, watering it faithfully and adding fertilizer as needed. Because I am following all the directions on the box, I have every reason to believe that my careful tendering will produce a specimen as glorious as the stargazer lilies I planted several years ago in my garden. My first foray into bulb planting, though, nearly failed. Although the stargazers blossomed en masse, the lily leaf beetle appeared as well, threatening to decimate the crop. But I didn’t despair. I began a mission of search and destroy. Each day I handpicked the nasty creatures and dropped them into soap-filled jars. Throughout the odious task, I focused on saving the lilies for both that season and the next. The following year I added to my arsenal of defense. Bayer Rose and Flower Spray kept the
beetles at bay, while Miracle-Gro provided nour- doses of 1500 mg of calcium and 1000 mg of Viishment for the soil. Not only did the lilies survive; tamin D3. These supplements, health experts say, they flourished. reduce the risk of osteoporosis. This year, I plan a similar attack: on both the And, finally, I am increasing my level of physical lilies and the cancer that has invaded my personal activity. This defense comes highly recommended. space. The editors of the British Medical Journal say, “the This new invader has already been weeded health benefits of exercise are so great that it is out. Surgery has removed the cancerous lump in probably the most important self-help treatment my breast, and six weeks of radiation have killed available.” any lingering cells. To prevent recurrence and To get me through the long winter months, I am spread, my doctors and I have decided to use relying on my resurrected Tai Chi and dance/exerhormones as adjuvant therapy. We have chosen cise DVDs and my faithful standbys, the treadmill aromatase inhibitors rather than Tamoxifen be- and exercise bike. cause research shows them to be as effective or As for my lilies, I have done all that I can. And even more effective for postmenopausal women. according to my mother, “Angels can do no more.” In addition, I am trying to be Mediterranean in So, I wait expectantly for spring, confident that “My my food selections, including in my diet more fruits, flowers from a hundred cribs will peek, and prance vegetables, and olive oil. Experiments suggest that again.” (Emily Dickinson) the polyphenols (or natural antioxidants) in extraIn the human breast, hope springs eternal. ISI virgin olive oil “drastically suppress overexpression of the cancer gene HER2 in human breast cancer cells.” For additional protection, I am fortifying my Directly from our Montana Warehouse nutrient intake with daily
The Hazards of Sleep Deprivation By Dr. Holly Carling Affecting nearly one-third of the US population, according to the National Institutes of Health, insomnia is of huge concern – especially to those suffering from it. The effects on the body are far-reaching. Sleep deprivation has an accumulative effect. In fact, according to one study, people who are chronically deprived of sleep are at a three times greater risk of all-cause mortality. Studies have found that even disrupted sleep can affect health in major ways. According to Stanford University’s David Spiegel, M.D. and Sandra Sephton, M.D. concluded from multiple studies that certain hormonal imbalances resulting from inadequate sleep influence cancer cells and leave you at higher risk of getting cancer. These and other hormonal
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imbalances resulting from inadequate sleep have been implicated in abnormal immune function, blood sugar, and weight gain. Other symptoms include increased anxiety, decreased ability to cope with stress, disrupted physical and mental performance including problem solving, heart disease, digestive disorders, sex hormone imbalance, and mood disorders. To a great degree, our plugged-in lifestyle of TV, computers, tablets, and cell phones has set us up to have poor sleep because the light signals the brain to stay awake rather than to go to sleep. It is best before sleep to relax in darkness and sleep in a cool, dark room. But keep your feet warm.
Eating a late, large meal interferes with sleep, too. Eating lightly, 3-5 hours before sleep is best, and a small protein snack (the size of a 50-cent piece) can aid sleep. Minerals are also very helpful. Avoid alcohol, coffee, and sugar at least five hours before bedtime. Electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) can negatively influence the pineal gland causing reduction of melatonin, a hormone essential for sleep. It is best to keep radios, cell phones, and other electronic equipment six feet or more away from your body while sleeping. Invest in an alarm clock with a remote control snooze if you like to snooze awhile and make sure your alarm wakes you gently to avoid a startling shot of adrenaline. Acupuncture helps induce sleep by correcting the underlying mechanisms associated with imbalances within the body. In addition, it is possible that acupuncture works on insomnia by increasing serotonin production, strengthening the tongue and palate muscles, and reducing the frequency of shallow breathing. While the effects of poor sleep quality and quantity can have a profoundly negative impact on your health, there are effective ways of resolving sleep issues while avoiding the side effects and hazards of sleep medication. 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
What Does It Mean To Donate Your Body To Science? From the study of diseases to developing less invasive surgical techniques, medical researchers rely on whole body donation to push medicine forward. The resulting advancements lead to improved medical care and lowered surgical costs. When considering whole body donation, there are factors to weigh when selecting the right program for you. • Is the program accredited? Accreditation through the American Association of Tissue Banks ensures that the highest standards are practiced by those programs. • Are there any costs? Many programs provide no cost services for donation-related expenses, but not all cover items such as death certificates or transportation to and from the facility. • How broad are the acceptance criteria? Many programs don’t have upper age limits, but criteria related to body size and the presence of specific communicable diseases is common. • How extensive is the program’s network of medical researchers and educators? The broader the medical communities that a program supports, the more likely a donation will be utilized in a timely manner. There are many programs available that provide support to medical research. By donating your body to one of these programs, you’re helping advance science while minimizing your end-of-life expenses. It’s a great way to pay it forward. For more information about MedCure, visit medcure.org or call 866560-2525. ISI
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How Statins Cause Diabetes By Suzy Cohen When you are told you have high cholesterol, you assume it comes from eating too much fat, right? After all, cholesterol is a lipid of “fat” and that seems like normal reasoning. If you think high cholesterol is due to a high-fat diet, you’re wrong. Very little fat from foods becomes cholesterol. What makes high cholesterol is consumption of sugar and carbohydrates – soda, candy, cake, potato chips, bread, pasta, and other carbohydrates. So to make this clear, high cholesterol and triglyceride almost always occur as a consequence of eating too many sweets, not butter or eggs, okay? If your body turns excess sugar into cholesterol, and statins reduce the cholesterol formation, then where does all the sugar go when you take a statin drug? It’s a good question, and I need to give you an answer so you can get well! If you tell your liver to “knock it off and stop making cholesterol” then it’s going to push all the sugar (glucose) back out of the liver and into your blood stream rather than turn it into cholesterol. It’s just going to lock the door and tell the sugar, “Get out!” You know this already but just in case, when a doc finds excess sugar in your blood, you’re told you have “diabetes.” Then you start driving in the fast lane of a multi-billion dollar business, one complete with shots, drugs, and scary complications (amputations, blindness). If we personally met and you told me you had diabetes, I won’t even take a breath before I ask, “Are you by chance taking a statin?” Please make sure you have diabetes, the real
disorder, and not a man-made disease induced by a medication you needed for high cholesterol. This is basic health 101, folks. The treatment plan differs dramatically if you have diabetes versus drug-induced hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Statins block endogenous production of cholesterol, meaning your internal production, the cholesterol that you make, not eat. You see, many of you still think statins block the fat (cholesterol) you get when you eat a bacon cheeseburger. That’s not true. Statins don’t reduce cholesterol from exogenous (external) sources – that bacon cheeseburger is going straight to your arteries even if you take a statin. So is the cherry croissant you eat for desert. The statins offset the cholesterol you make, not eat. You can’t negate a greasy snack with one tiny pill. Because statins block your own endogenous cholesterol production in the liver, they force your liver to “spit out” the glucose that comes from eating sugary, starchy foods. Normally, your liver would turn that PB & J sandwich into cholesterol but instead, the glucose gets pushed back into your bloodstream. In your relentless quest to lower cholesterol, you may be giving yourself diabetes. I recommend reducing cholesterol with diet and exercise and healthy EFAs (essential fatty acids like fish oil, chia seed oil, etc). Can you lower cholesterol without a statin? “Surprise, surprise, surprise,” as Gomer Pyle used to say. Of course, you can! And avoiding statins is much better for your blood sugar levels. ISI
Direct Primary Care: One Solution to the Healthcare Problem
Article & Photo By Cate Huisman I first met Frazier King, MD, 15 years ago, as he asked my consent to sew up a cut over my daughter’s eye. Seventh-grader Sarah had leapt for the same airborne football as had a fifth-grader coming from the other direction. Since my husband was off with the family car, I’d biked to the clinic when her teacher called. New in Sandpoint, we had yet to find a family doctor, and Sarah had been taken to King’s clinic because it was right behind her school. He was easy-going and reassuring, a native Idahoan, unlike us, raised in Burley. Sewing up Sarah was straightforward, but what followed was not what we were accustomed to, having previously seen doctors in a big-city medical practice. King spent some time visiting and getting to know us, and then, since he figured Sarah might be a little wobbly, he put our bikes in the back of his pickup and drove us home. However, paying for her care was every bit as complex and convoluted as big-city medical billing. King’s staff first had to determine which of thousands of medical billing codes appropriately described sewing up Sarah. Then they billed our insurance company, and the insurance company decided how much it would pay, based on the code used for billing. Weeks later, after King’s office got the insurance payment, his staff billed us for a portion of the remainder – the portion the insurance company allowed. Neither King nor our family had ACR is looking for adult volunteers, ages 18 and over, with much say in the matter. Fast forward 15 years and our family has been type 2 diabetes to take part. seeing Dr. King ever since that fateful football accident. My husband and I have reached an age Qualified participants will receive: where expensive flu shots are recommended for us, and our insurance company has assured us that, • study medication and study-required exams at no cost because of our age, it will pay for them. However, King’s experience has been that it won’t. Finding • compensation for parking and travel the right combination of codes – one for pushing the plunger to give the shot, and another for the To learn more, stuff that comes into us through the needle – has proved elusive. call Advanced Clinical Research today! We try to get our flu shots from a local chain 208-955-9030 or visit www.acridaho.com Advanced Clinical Research pharmacy instead. But the pharmacy tells us they
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PAGE 36 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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won’t know the cost or coverage of the shots until they send the bill and see the insurance company’s response. In other words, we have to commit to paying before we know what the cost will be. The upshot? King gave us the shots. He didn’t expect us to pay the whole cost, and I don’t know whether he was ever able to collect from our insurance company. But shortly thereafter, he abandoned the whole system. Of course, it wasn’t just his experience with us that led to his exit – we were among the less complicated of King’s patients. For decades, he had been enduring a frustrating back-and-forth with insurance companies about patients’ needs. Would insurance pay for a given service? What portion of the cost they would pay? Would they pay for the drugs he prescribed? And which of the more than 100,000 codes should his staff enter for any given medical service? “Thirty to forty percent of what I did was filling out forms, arguing about what med I wanted to use, getting preauthorizations... it was maddening,” King recalls. By last year, after 21 years practicing medicine in Ogden and another 15 in Sandpoint, he was ready to give up. Thirty-six years isn’t bad to call it a career and retire, but he didn’t want to. He’s curious and as he says, “I love the diagnosing. I wasn’t ready to quit, but the insurance-based model was so onerous, so burdensome, that I really seriously considered it.” Then he heard about “direct primary care” at a continuing medical education conference. In this model, patients pay a set monthly fee, and their doctor provides whatever medical care they need. No insurance companies are involved. King switched to the model last October. He has about 350 patients who visit him as often as they feel necessary, and they can call him on his cell phone at any time as well. He provides basic prescriptions right in his office, so there is no need to visit a pharmacy after the doctor visit. And since he buys the meds in bulk, he can provide them at a fraction of the cost patients would otherwise pay. King and his staff now also have time to explore options to help patients minimize costs for procedures he doesn’t provide. For example, he can direct patients to imaging centers where they can save substantially on a MRI if they pay directly, as they pay him, and the center doesn’t have to bill an insurance company. Or they can pay directly for lab work at a much lower cost than an insurance company would be billed for the same work. He anticipates allowing his practice to grow to as many as 500 patients. This compares with the 2,500-3,000 patients typically seen in a mature, insurance-billed practice. How can he make ends meet with so few patients and no insurance payments? “Anything that is inefficient or costs money, in terms of administration, we try to get rid of,” says King. “We’re meeting a small overhead,” he points out,
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and of course, he doesn’t have to pay anyone to bill insurance companies. Best of all, now he can provide the kind of care he believes a doctor should provide. “The main advantage is I’m working for patients instead of insurance companies. I’ve always taken the approach that you take whatever time you need.” As an example, he explains, “Let’s say a person comes in; they’re newly diagnosed with diabetes. They don’t know anything about diabetes. With no penalty at all, I can see them the first day, get them a glucometer, and then see them the next day if I need to. There’s no copay, it doesn’t cost them a penny.” He can see them again in two or three days. After three or four visits, they’re feeling comfortable with how to take care of themselves. They don’t have to worry about the copay for repeated visits, and he doesn’t have to worry about billing for each visit. “You have this enormous flexibility. I don’t have to get the insurance to approve it; it’s just what makes sense from a medicine point of view. I think it’s the salvation to one segment of the health care problem,” King concludes. Doctors who would otherwise burn out and give up their practices (as he would have) stay in the field and continue to serve patients. For him, it makes for a far more satisfying approach to primary care. “This practice is really a family to me,” he says. “It’s nice to be able to take care of my patients in the way they need to be taken care of.” To learn more about Dr. King’s practice, visit sandpointdpc.com. To find a direct primary care provider in your area, visit dpcfrontier.com/mapper. ISI
Flu And Pneumonia Vaccines, It’s That Time Of Year
By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any specific flu shots that are better suited for seniors? I just turned 65 and would like to find out what’s recommended and how Medicare covers it. Semi-Healthy Senior Dear Semi-Healthy, There are actually two different flu vaccines available this year that are designed specifically for seniors age 65 and older. One option is the Fluzone High-Dose, which has been available since 2010, and the other is the new FDA approved FLUAD vaccine. You only need to get one of these. The Fluzone High-Dose, fluzone.com, is a high-potency vaccine that contains four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection. The new FLUAD vaccine, fluad.com, contains an added ingredient called adjuvant MF59 that also helps create a stronger immune response. The extra protection these vaccines provide is particularly helpful to seniors who have weaker immune defenses and have a greater risk of developing dangerous flu complications. The CDC estimates that the flu puts more than 200,000 people in the hospital each year and kills an average of 24,000 people, 80 to 90 percent of whom are seniors. However, be aware that both the Fluzone High-Dose and FLUAD are not recommended for those allergic to chicken eggs, or those who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past. You should also know that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, does not recommend one vaccination over the other, and to date, there have been no studies comparing the two vaccines. If you decide you don’t want to get a senior-specific flu shot, there are other options available to people 65 years and older including the standard, trivalent flu shot, the quadrivalent flu shot, which protects against four different flu viruses, and the FluBlok vaccine for those who have egg allergies. To locate a vaccination site that offers any of these flu shots, visit vaccines.gov and type in your ZIP code. You’ll also be happy to know that as a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will cover 100 percent of the costs of any flu shot, as long as your doctor, health clinic, or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays. Pneumonia Vaccines Two other important vaccinations the CDC recommends, especially this time of year, are the pneumococcal vaccines for pneumonia. Around 1 million Americans are hospitalized with pneumonia each year, and about 50,000 people die from it. The CDC is now recommending that all people 65+ get two vaccinations, Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered just once at different times, work in different ways to provide maximum protection. If you haven’t received any pneumococcal vaccine you should get the Prevnar 13 first, followed by Pneumovax 23 six to 12 months later. But if you’ve already been vaccinated with Pneumovax 23, wait at least one year before getting the Prevnar 13. Medicare Part B covers both shots, if they are taken at least 11 months apart. Send your questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
Medicare Open Enrollment: Five Things You Need To Do (NAPS) Routines help keep us focused, organized, and even healthy. However, if your health routine doesn’t include preparing for Medicare’s Open Enrollment, now’s the time to kick start a new healthy habit. If you have a Medicare health or prescription drug plan, Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 and is the time you can make changes to your plan. Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, you might find something that’s a better fit for your budget or your health needs. If you miss an Open Enrollment deadline, you’ll most likely have to wait a full year before you can make changes to your plan. Here are five important things every Medicare beneficiary can do to get in the Medicare Open Enrollment routine. 1. Review your plan notice. Be sure to read any notices from your Medicare plan about changes for next year, especially your Annual Notice of Change letter. Look at your plan’s information to make sure your drugs are still covered and your doctors are still in-network. 2. Think about what matters most to you. Medicare health and drug plans change each year and so can your health needs. Do you need a new primary care doctor? Does your network include the specialist you want for an upcoming surgery? Is your new medication covered by your current plan? Does another plan offer the same value at a lower cost? Take stock of your health status and determine if you need to make a change. 3. Find out if you qualify for help paying for your Medicare. Learn about programs in your state to help with the costs of Medicare premiums, your Medicare Part A hospital insurance and Medicare Part B medical insurance, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, and Medicare
Part D prescription drug coverage costs. You can do this by visiting medicare.gov or making an appointment with a local Idaho Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) counselor. 4. Shop for plans that meet your needs and fit your budget. Starting in October, you can use Medicare’s Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov/ findaplan to see what other plans are offered in your area. A new plan may cost less, cover your drugs, and let you go to the providers you want, like your doctor or pharmacy. If you find that your current coverage still meets your needs, then you’re done. Remember, during Medicare Open Enrollment, you can decide to stay in Original Medicare or join a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch back to Original Medicare. 5. Check your plan’s star rating before you enroll. The Medicare Plan Finder has been updated with the 2016 Star Ratings for Medicare health and prescription drug plans. Plans are given an overall quality rating on a one to five star scale, with one star representing poor performance and five stars representing excellent performance. Use the Star Ratings to compare the quality of health and drug plans being offered. These are a few easy ways to get a jumpstart on your Medicare Open Enrollment. For more information, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE and say, “Agent.” TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Help is available 24/7. If you need help in a language other than English or Spanish, let the customer service representative know the language. You can also visit a local SHIBA counselor. SHIBA counselors provide free, person-to-person, nonbiased Medicare assistance. Get free, personalized, health insurance counseling by calling Idaho SHIBA at 1-800247-4422. ISI
Consumers Warned About Fraudulent Unclaimed Property Letters/Emails August 3, 2016 (Boise, Idaho) – As the official representative of the state unclaimed property programs, the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) is warning consumers to be on their guard against fraudulent letters and emails alleging that there is an unclaimed sweepstakes listing that must be liquidated. NAUPA is warning consumers to be on guard against fraudulent letters arriving via the U.S. Mail and in consumers’ email inboxes alleging that they have unclaimed property. This particularly deceptive letter is on fake NAUPA letterhead and requests money be sent to claim the property. “Not to be confusing but Idaho Unclaimed Property is currently contacting some rightful owners with a letter as part of an outreach campaign and those letters are legitimate,” said Idaho State Treasurer Ron Crane. “The association (NAUPA) does not notify owners of forgotten or missing funds and never has.” If a citizen receives a letter from Idaho Unclaimed Property, it will be on the Unclaimed Property letterhead. However, if a person is ever in doubt of a letter’s legitimacy, there is a phone number at the bottom of the letter along with the claim agent’s name. Many times the intent of this type of fraudulent letter is to entice people to respond with personal information for the purpose of stealing their identity, or the victim will be asked to send a fee so that the claim can be processed. NAUPA encourages individuals to report any suspicious unclaimed property communication to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) online at ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators is a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Association of State Treasurers. ISI
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Are You Protecting Your Parents From Identity Thieves? 2.6 Million Are Victims By Sandra Bernardo, Experian While anyone can be a victim of identity theft, seniors may be at even more of a risk than the general population. According to the Department of Justice, the number of elderly victims of identity theft increased from 2.1 million in 2012 to 2.6 million in 2014. This increase is likely due to the fact that seniors often live alone, crave companionship, and have fading memories that make them easy prey for identity thieves who take advantage of their loneliness and vulnerability. What’s more, identity theft in the senior population can be truly tragic as bank accounts are drained and retirement funds vanish, leaving these people without any resources in their golden years. Protecting our aging parents can be simple if you know where to start. Here are four ways to keep them, and their nest eggs, safe. • Give the gift of a shredder. It may not be much of a sentimental gesture, but a small crosscut shredder can go a long way to protect your aging parents. With thieves dumpster diving for personal information, shredders can be used to destroy unneeded personal documents, receipts, pre-approved credit offers, unused or old checks, and any other items that include personal information about your parents or their accounts. • Protect their mail. Leaving outgoing mail in the mailbox for the postman is never a good idea. Thieves can quite easily snatch mail waiting to be picked up, including letters that include checks or other personal information, and since your parent is expecting them to disappear, they’ll
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never be the wiser. Encourage your parents to take their outgoing letters to the post office, and to purchase a mailbox with a lock for added protection. • Monitor their accounts. Your parents are likely not as computer savvy as you are. Help them to monitor accounts as well as their credit information online. You can even set up credit monitoring and bank alerts to make this a seamless process for you both. A product such as Experian CreditWorks is a great option for people looking for comprehensive credit monitoring. • Educate them about identity thieves. Remind your parents that thieves take many forms, and impress upon them how detrimental losing their personal information can be. They should never give out personally identifiable information like a social security number or bank account number over the phone. Remind them that a legitimate business would never ask for this type of information. To learn more about identity theft and how identity protection services can help your parents, visit Experian.com. ISI
Donating Time And Money Will Benefit Your Community & America By Tait Trussell Millions of Americans are writing checks and setting aside money to give to their favorite charities. Giving late in the year is typical because donators delay their contributions to get an income tax deduction for the year. Seniors are said to be the largest per capita donors to charity. But how much to give and to what charity are the big questions for many people. Although the largest amounts of donating are to religious organizations and education, many other needs are appealing for your dollars. As for other giving, you want to know that the bulk of your donation will go for the organization’s purpose, not to overhead or fund-raising costs. To give you some idea of need, the following list includes several wellknown organizations or foundations and representative dollar amounts given by individuals (foundations also give large amounts), as well as “charitable commitment.” The second figure shown in the list, charitable commitment, is how much of the donation went directly to the organization’s purpose and not to management overhead or funding promotion. There are about 700,000 federally recognized charities. • Alzheimer’s Association – $153 million, 75% • American Cancer Society – $906 million, 70 % • American Heart Association – $488 million, 76% • American Lung Association – $120 million, 84% • Big Brothers Big Sisters of America – $177 million, 78% • Boy Scouts of America National Council – $301 million, 88 % • Boys and Girls Clubs of America – $631 million, 80% • Campus Crusade for Christ – $439 million, 88% • Catholic Charities USA – $545 million, 89% • Easter Seals – $128 million, 86% • Feed the Children – $803 million, 90% • Focus on the Family – $126 million, 84% If you are giving personal property, such as art, instead of money, make sure you get a receipt from the charity saying how they intend to use it. The Internal Revenue Service requires this to make it a legitimate deduction. For cash contributions, you will need a copy of your cancelled check or a credit card statement in order to have a legitimate deduction for tax purposes. In the past, all the IRS wanted was a log of individual donations. For contributions of $250 or more you must have a receipt from the charity. A cancelled check alone won’t qualify for a deduction. In the past, you could put your $10 or $20 dollar bill in the collection plate at church, and claim a charitable deduction. But now you have to have written out a check and get a receipt from the church to deduct your weekly offering. Low value items donated must be in good condition or better to get a deduction. The Salvation Army will take used clothes no matter what their condition. If they aren’t in good enough condition for needy families, they are bundled up and sold as rags. IRS now has the authority to deny deductions of minimal value. Any individual can give $14,000 a year to anyone free of gift tax. If you are well enough fixed financially, both you and your spouse can each give $14,000 to each of your children or grandchildren. “Seniors tend to be generous. Many feel they want to give back to society for the successes they have enjoyed in life,” according to the National Crime Prevention Council. But, “remember, giving wisely means being cautious. Contributing
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to a cause that you care about can give you great satisfaction. And making sure your money is used as you intended can make you feel even better.” So, think through your contribution and plan the way you would like the contribution to be used if you want to target a specific project within your chosen charity. Otherwise you can count on your dollars to do their good within the broad goals of
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 39
the organization. Being aware of the charitable committment of the organization will get you the most bang for your buck. Seniors are important in providing time and money following disasters. In the months following Hurricane Katrina, for instance, seniors and others contributed countless hours and more than $1.3 billion to the Red Cross alone.
Always donate by check and keep track of your expenses when volunteering, such as mileage and any special equipment or supplies you might need. This way you will have complete tax records of your contributions. Most importantly, thank yourself and others for lending a hand to help the organizations that make us the most giving nation. ISI
Social Security Benefits Lagging Expenses A majority of older voters thinks Social Security should be strengthened, but are opposed to cutting benefits, says a national survey by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). The new national survey found that older voters favor some changes that provide the program with more revenue, and provide retirees with modestly higher benefits in the future. According to TSCL 2016 Senior Survey, 71 percent of older voters think Social Security should be expanded to provide modestly higher retirement benefits and more fair cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). An analysis for TSCL estimates that if COLAs were indexed using a senior consumer price index, the government Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), Social Security recipients would receive a 1.3 percent increase instead of an estimated 0.2 percent COLA in 2017. TSCL believes modestly higher retirement benefits are needed by a majority of people at or nearing retirement. A number of national studies indicate that millions of older Americans are entering retirement without the financial resources to cover retirements for 30 years or more. A 2015 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office that says about one-half of households 55 and older have no retirement savings, and many of those that do run the risk of falling short of income. “Record low growth in Social Security benefits over the past seven years is contributing to the problem,” says TSCL Chairman, Ed Cates. Social Security recipients receive an annual COLA in most years to protect the buying power of benefits from rising prices when they retire. But since 2010,
the annual raise has averaged just 1.2 percent – less than half the more typical 3 percent average from 1999-2009. And while Social Security benefits have flatlined since 2010, retirees report that household expenses are still climbing – causing people to spend retirement savings more quickly and to go into debt. This year Social Security recipients received no COLA at all, but 73 percent of survey participants reported that their monthly expenses grew by more than $79 over the past twelve months. Things aren’t likely to improve soon. The Social Security Trust Fund trustees estimate that the COLA in 2017 will be just 0.2 percent – just $2 per $1,000 in benefits. TSCL believes that benefits should be increased, not cut. To do this and keep the program solvent for another 50 years, 78 percent of TSCL’s survey participants favor raising the taxable cap on earnings so that Social Security taxes would be collected on all earnings. Currently only earnings up to $118,500 are taxed for Social Security. “This means the nation’s highest earning people, like the CEOs of some of the nation’s biggest companies, are pocketing a huge tax break on all earnings over the cap,” says Cates. TSCL is working hard for legislation that would lift the taxable maximum cap, expand Social Security by boosting retirement benefits, and provide greater retirement security by using a seniors consumer price index, the CPI-E, to determine the annual COLA. To learn more, visit seniorsleague. org. ISI
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PAGE 40 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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Find joy in the journey, ex-prosecutor Monte Stiles urges his audiences By Dianna Troyer Toward the end of a 28-year career in law enforcement, former federal drug prosecutor Monte Stiles says he often thought about how his experiences had impacted his view of the world, his family, and countless others he had encountered. Before changing his life’s focus about five years ago, Monte spent the last 24 years of his legal career as an Assistant United States Attorney. He supervised the Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force – a group of agents, analysts, and attorneys who investigated and prosecuted large-scale drug trafficking organizations including Los Angeles street gangs, Mexican cartels, inter-
national drug smugglers, and money launderers. I could to save others from making similar choices “During that time, I was an eyewitness to some – both adults and children.” of the darkest aspects of humanity – criminal orgaBy combining his interests in photography nizations that traffic in human misery through the and drug abuse prevention, Monte has become sale of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and a motivational speaker and trainer (montestiles. other harmful drugs,” recalls Monte. com). Slender and fit, the 61-year-old has trav“After our youngest eled throughout America child moved away to coland the world sharing his lege, life changed dralife experiences and phomatically. My focus shifted tos. He gives multimedia almost entirely to the negapresentations to teens, tive consequences of subparents, community drug stance abuse and the ways coalitions, law enforcethat it shattered the lives of ment officers, community countless people. I started leaders, churches, and to wake up with the feelcorporations nationwide. ing that the world wasn’t a “My favorite audiences good place.” are youth leaders who But instead of allowing become powerful voices his experiences to cloud in communities when they his life, Monte turned his truly understand the conattention to a camera. sequences of substance “Photography had been abuse.” a small hobby for several During his career, thouyears, but I started to resands of drug users and alize that when I looked addicts told him that they through the lens of a cambegan experimenting with era, I rediscovered the drugs due to boredom or beauty of the world and to relieve emotional pain. everything that’s wonderful For Monte, a cure for Retired federal drug prosecutor Monte Stiles says about life. It allowed me to photography helped him to see the beauty in the world boredom “is to tap into the focus my mind and soul on and not to focus on the destruction of the illegal drug sense of wonder we all felt positive things that brought industry. (Photo courtesy of Monte Stiles) as little children. This is joy to me.” infinitely more satisfying Two photos, however, haunted him and led him than anything the drug culture can offer. Instead to a new mission when he left the U.S. Attorney’s of becoming addicted to a chemical – whether pot, Office. One photo shows a beautiful young teenag- meth, alcohol, nicotine, or prescription drugs – find er, a close family friend what brings real joy to your life. Life is full of natural with brunette hair and highs that don’t include mind-altering drugs.” dark brown, vivacious He says his message has become more urgent eyes. The other photo, with the legalization of marijuana in other states. taken a few years later, The marijuana industry lures customers by marketcaptures expressionless ing pot as “natural” or even as “medicine.” eyes and a face that had Society teaches kids simultaneously that tochanged dramatically bacco smoke kills, but marijuana smoke heals. “It’s from methamphetamine a terribly confusing message that has resulted in abuse. significant increases in youth marijuana use.” “I watched this He says people often tell him, “‘Dude, mariyoung lady grow up in juana is just a plant.’ The truth is that it contains our neighborhood and hundreds of chemicals.” saw how drug addiction The most widely studied chemicals in marislowly destroyed her,” juana are a psychoactive ingredient called tetrahe says. “Her parents hydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), asked me to speak at a non-psychoactive derivative that is being reher funeral. It was one searched by the Food and Drug Administration of the hardest things I’ve as a possible medication to control seizures. ever done. After that, I “THC impairs your judgment and impacts wanted to do everything physical and mental abilities. The marijuana being
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
sold today is not the pot of Woodstock in 1969 when the average percentage of THC was 3 percent.” It has become much more potent through its commercialization. “It’s not uncommon to see 20 percent to 30 percent THC in marijuana products. Marijuana concentrates can be as high as 99 percent pure THC. Prolonged use changes the way your brain develops, especially in young people.” Despite his life experiences, Monte is optimistic. He supports several national and statewide drug abuse prevention organizations that focus on positives instead of preaching negatives. Some of the most effective programs include the Meridian Anti-Drug Coalition (meridianmadc. org), Drug Free Idaho (drugfreeidaho.org), Idaho Drug Free Youth (Idahodrugfreeyouth.org), and other groups that sponsor positive youth programs such as “Natural High” and “It’s My Future.”
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 41
At the end of a presentation, Monte envisions a bright future for his audience as he shows one of his favorite photos. Taken by the Hubble telescope, it reveals a dark universe filled with twinkling galaxies. “In the deepest part of the known universe, we have found light from billions of galaxies filled with trillions of stars,” he says. “Whatever you do, at whatever age, you are empowered to be a light to others.” At the end of a day, Monte says the wonderful things in life far outweigh the pain, fear, and darkness caused by the drug culture. “We still live in a world full of amazing people, beautiful landscapes, fascinating creatures, and boundless opportunities and adventures. How can we ever be bored?” ISI
If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates. - Jay Leno
Behind Bars in Boise By Dean & Nancy Hoch Driving through the bustling city of Boise one afternoon, we had an extra couple of hours on our hands and were excited to spot the Old Idaho Penitentiary on our map. Always interested in historical sites, we couldn’t resist making our way to this amazing, yet somber place of history – one of only four territorial prisons in the U.S. that are open to the public today. Thinking of the root word penitent as we walked about the various buildings of the century-old site made us ponder on the thousands of inmates who lived and died here – many who were no doubt penitent – and many who no doubt were not. Eleven died on the gallows, and most that died here are buried in the adjacent prison cemetery. Between 1901 and 1924, ten men were hanged in what is now the rose garden on site. You can walk within the stark, old building that housed the inmates on death row to the austere hanging room in that same building and see the window through which viewers watched the 1957 execution of Ray Snowden. He was the only man hanged in this building before lethal injection became the law. Known as Idaho’s ”Jack, the Ripper,” Snowden stabbed a women named Cora Dean 35 times and boasted about killing two other women. Be sure to plan on at least an hour to walk through this century of prison history – 1872- 1973. It’s fascinating to read the captioned pictures of many of the notorious inmates housed here. Some were as unbelievably young as 11, others in their teens, and most, of course, tough, hardened adults. Two hundred and twenty-three women also found their way to the Boise “pen” between 19061920. You don’t want to miss seeing the building that housed these female prisoners including serial killer, Lyda Southerd. Several women served time at this penitentiary for the crime of adultery, which curiously is still on the books in Idaho though not enforced. You will notice in this building that the women served their time in much better circumstances than the men, though certainly still primitive by today’s standards. In its century of activity, over 13,000 prisoners were incarcerated (600 maximum at a time in the chilling cellblock tiers). The State Historical Society offers a poignant, but very dated, video presentation of the history. There’s also a self-guided tour and gift shop. One can only begin to imagine how inmates suffered with no air conditioning in summer – and we learned that the men scratched ice off the concrete walls of their cells in the bleak winters – especially those housed in the Spartan 3’ x 8’ cells in solitary confinement known as “Siberia.” One of the most notorious of the prisoners was Albert Edward Horsley, better known by his pseudonym, Harry Orchard, a miner who was convicted
in 1905 for the assassination of Idaho’s former Governor Frank Steunenberg. While incarcerated, Orchard was baptized a Seventh Day Adventist and became a model prisoner and a friend of the warden. Like the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” Orchard mended his ways so much so that he was allowed to have his own little area outside the prison walls where he raised flocks of chickens. He served more than 46 years, longer than any other inmate, dying at age 88. Also on the property is what has been called the world class J. Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit: the History of Arms and Armaments, a not-to-be-missed museum of war weaponry that’s included in the prison admission price. With an emphasis on Highest Over 3 World Wars I and II, the Prices Turn Your Years S 5 In d erv ai P Old Forgotten display features every the Trea ing Decades Treasures sure kind of war weapons Into Cash!!! Valley imaginable, from preEstate Jewelry historic times to modern We Pay Top Prices For Gold, Silver & Platinum Items. 9k, 10k, 14k, Dental 18k, 22k, 24k days, including the faAll Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry Any Condition New, Used, Or Damaged We Buy From All Time Periods. mous Gatling gun. You Diamonds 1/2 Carat & Larger Loose Or Mounted can even handle a WWI All Shapes & Quality machine gun that’s perSterling manently positioned in Silver a setting just as it might have been on one of the gruesome battlefields U.S. Silver Coins of that war. Buying 1964 Daily hours are 12-5 Coin Collections & Older p.m. with last admission at 4:15 p.m. Site lockup (appropriate terminology) begins at 4:45 p.m. Hours are 10 a.m. Premium Paid For Uncirculated Rolls. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day We Pay More For Rare through Labor Day. Dates And Collections. Just make certain you are on the outside GOLD & SILVER BULLION, BUYING GOLD looking in when the EAGLES, MAPLE LEAFS, KRUGGERRANDS, heavy doors clank shut, SILVER BARS & ROUNDS, TOP BUY SELL SPREAD or you might find yourPaper Money U.S. Gold Coins self listed as Inmate #13,001! Admission is $6 for adults; $4 for seniors, and $3 for children. Group and AAA discounts are available. Prices Subject to Market Changes. For more information, visit history.idaho.gov ROSEHILL COINS & JEWELRY, INC or call 208-334-2844.
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We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. - Aesop
maintenance business based out of the Caldwell airport. Her hobbies at that time were reading and bicycling. “I was always enamored by those who fly but couldn’t imagine myself as a pilot,” says Sherry. One year on their way from Oshkosh to Idaho, Doug and Sherry stopped for fuel. An 86-year-old female pilot helped push Doug’s plane away from the gas pump after their purchase. The woman asked why Sherry wasn’t using her husband’s plane to train to be a pilot. “I had all these opportunities to learn and I questioned myself why I didn’t,” says Sherry. Her excuses included that she didn’t have time, she was fearful of flying alone, and she didn’t want to take away from her recreation time to train as a pilot. A big shift in her aviation life came when she had a dream in which she flew with her husband, landed with him, and then dropped him off. Her dream continued with her flying solo but not knowing how to land the plane alone. “I do believe in the power of dreams,” Sherry says. Thus in her early-fifties, she started studying and practicing for a pilot’s license. She earned her license in 2009 with her husband as her flight instructor. Now at 61, she races long-distance and is the only female pilot in her group of her closest friends, consisting of male pilots and their spouses. One of her best experiences in a plane was her first solo flight. On a sunny winter day, she overcame her fears and successfully completed her solo flight, a requirement for obtaining a pilot’s license. Now she has many solo hours under her wings. “I grew to love being up there alone – it’s
peaceful, exciting, and I am in control,” says Sherry. Through flying, she enjoys planning flights, seeing the country, flying into new airports, and identifying the airport flight patterns and radio frequencies. A highlight for Sherry is the 10,000 to 12,000 airplanes that fly into the Oshkosh aviation show for the seminars, exhibits, and air shows. Her biggest challenge was encountering heavy crosswinds near Arco, Idaho, while flying home solo from Oshkosh. Sherry owns her own plane and co-owns another while her husband builds his planes from kits. She says, “I never thought I would be so consumed by flying! It’s given me a purpose after retiring and I’ve met so many friends.” Sherry serves on the board for Chapter 103 of the EAA. She volunteers with the Young Eagles youth program and the Eagle Flights adult program where she introduces potential candidates to the world of flying. For people considering recreational flying, she advises, “Flying is somewhat demanding so you have to take care of yourself, physically and mentally. Don’t quit flying, instead change your habits.” Some of the women pilots in the air races are in their 80s. Sherry’s next goal is to obtain her instrument rating, enabling her to fly in bad weather and through clouds. In the meantime, look for Sherry and her friends at backcountry airstrips unloading their dogs and backpacks for hikes in the wilderness. As Sherry says, “Live your life and enjoy your adventures!” 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
ATV riders Bill and Pauline Jones Maintain and Explore Countless Idaho trails
By Dianna Troyer When longtime friends Bill Jones and Bob Jackson retired, the peaks surrounding their homes near Boise beckoned. “We wondered if we could ride our ATVs to the top of every mountain we could see,” says Bill, who officially retired in 1995 after a career in law enforcement, education, and recreation. “It took us five years, but we finally did it. We had to brag a little about it, of course.” Impressed with their tales, friends began asking the duo to take them along on their next trail riding adventures. “Pretty soon, we had so many people riding that we started a club, the Idaho ATV Associa-
tion. That was 1992,” recalls Bill, 82, founder, and past president of the association. “From there, it just kept getting bigger. I asked a couple of our members who lived in other towns close to Boise if they’d like to start a chapter, and it took off.” Eventually, the original association had five chapters including Boise. When Bill was asked in 2009 if his organization could become a statewide association to replace the struggling Gem State ATV Association, he agreed. The word “state” was added to the association’s name and it became the Idaho State ATV Association (ISATVA), idahostateatv.org. Today, the ISATVA has 23 clubs and about 2,200 members. At that time, the Boise Chapter became the Boise ATV Trail Riders Club. Whatever the names of the clubs, their members have similar goals: exploring scenic trails and keeping them open for future generations to enjoy. “We’ve adopted hundreds of miles of trails that our members maintain, so the Forest Service doesn’t have to close them,” says Bill, referring to areas near Lowman, Sage Hen Reservoir near Emmett, and the Danskin Trail System near Boise. In addition to trail clearing, he and other riders have worked with the Owyhee Cattlemen’s Association to repair fences, to keep gates closed, and to donate hay to ranchers who lost grazing pastures due to wildfires. Bill says he not only cherishes the scenery but the history associated with the countless trails crisscrossing Idaho. He and fellow riders are exploring places that were routinely traveled by Oregon Trail pioneers, Native Americans, and fur trappers. “I’m a history nut,” says Bill. “I love being out there with no windshield seeing what they would have seen and just being in the natural world God has left for us. I really like showing others Idaho’s history. You can still find black marks on
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rocks from Oregon Trail travelers who lubricated their wagon wheels and scraped off the excess grease.” For Bill, riding was always a way to take a break from his career and to relax – whatever his varied jobs during his career. He worked for the Idaho State Police, was a professor and athletic trainer at Boise State University for 21 years, science teacher at Lowell Scott Junior High, and later supervised the recreation department at the Idaho State Penitentiary. Whenever they ride, Bill says he and his wife, Pauline, 71, take their time, each riding their own machine. “We’re not out there to set any speed records,” says Bill. “We stop whenever something interests us.” Pauline refers to certain outings as “Kodak Rides” for the number of times they pause to take photos or to look at historical sites. This summer Bill led a Kodak Ride to Wees Bar along
Longtime ATV riders, Bill and Pauline Jones have been exploring and cleaning Idaho trails for two decades. They and other riders cleaned Miller Mountain, a scenic peak in Boise County. (Photo courtesy of Bill and Pauline Jones)
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the Snake River near Marsing to show friends the remains of an old rock house and petroglyphs. “From our ATVs, we’ve seen all kinds of wildlife and beautiful sunsets,” says Pauline. “Besides seeing the backcountry, we ride to have fellowship and fun with others, especially on camping trips.” When they come home, she switches roles from rider to the club’s webmaster and posts her photos at boiseatvtrailriders.ord and on its Facebook page facebook.com/boiseatvtrailriders/. Pauline says they have been logging fewer miles in the past few years. “We’ve been riding 20 years and now ride about 500 miles a season instead of 1,000 to 1,500 as we used to,” she says. She says there are so many places to ride that they rarely go to the same trail more than twice. “I love seeing all the breathtaking scenery. From the deserts to the forests, each type of area has its own beauty. A lot of times, we turn our machines off and just enjoy the solitude.” ISI
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