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Leo Crane Is Idaho’s Oldest Licensed Outfitter By Holly Endersby Idaho native, Leo Crane, greeted this world in early June 1935 in Pocatello, and grew up on a ranch five miles south of town. It was this experience with animals, horses in particular, as well as lots of hard, physical work that started him on his path to becoming Idaho’s oldest licensed guide. As soon as he graduated high school, Leo went to work on a large cattle ranch near Chesterfield, where much of the land was “high country.” “I can still remember feeding cattle at -40 degrees,” Leo recalls. “We had 600 mother cows, 200 heifers, and 37 bulls.” There wasn’t a lot of mechanization on ranches in those days so hands like Leo depended on strong backs and lots of stamina to get the daily chores done. But, not content to continue feeding in those conditions, Leo moved onto a dry farm south of Pocatello and quickly found himself married with a couple kids and 600 acres of pastureland of his own. Unfortunately, that marriage didn’t last and after a divorce, Leo heard from a friend about some folks who were selling their outfitting business in north Idaho. “The other fellow and I went to take a look at the area,” says Leo, “and to see what it was all about.” It turned out that the friend decided not to buy into the business but Leo took the leap. “At the age of 29, I really didn’t know what an outfitter was,” he says with a laugh. “But I had grown up with stock and did a lot of hunting my whole life, so this seemed like a good chance for me.” Leo’s Clearwater Outfitting focused on the spectacular Mallard-Larkin country in north central Idaho, home to streams full of trout and, before Dworshak Dam, a spectacular run of steelhead. With the heavily timbered ridges and canyons flush with deer and elk, Leo specialized in high country elk hunting, helped many deer hunters be successful and he guided mountain goat hunters as well. (Continued on page 18)
Gather the Hidden Eggs! Win $25!
Just for fun, we have hidden a dozen Easter eggs (not this one) throughout this issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. Search for them and mail us a list of the page numbers on which you find them to Easter Egg Hunt, PO Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. This is a fun activity to do with those grandkids or great grandkids, and
who knows, with that $25 cash prize to the person who finds all of the eggs; you can take the little rascal(s) out for an ice cream cone! If there are multiple correct entries, the winner will be determined by a drawing. None of the hidden eggs is located within an advertisement. Have fun! ISI
PAGE 2 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
April/May 2017
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 Lisa Gebo Jonathan Rimmel Sherrie Smith
Natalie Bartley Holly Endersby Gail Jokerst Craig Larcom Jack McNeel
Production Supervisor/Sales Graphic Designer Admin/Production Assistant
Contributing Writers Connie Daugherty Cate Huisman Bernice Karnop Liz Larcom Dianna Troyer © 2017
When information moved slowly before radio, TV, the Internet, and the latest electronic devices, our knowledge was generally limited to what we could read in newspapers, magazines, or books. Today of course, there is more information than we can possibly absorb – and plenty of it is misleading or false. As current information has exploded and overwhelmed us, old information has been left in the shadows to be dug out of our memories (which may be fading) or from the search engines of digital resources. This issue’s Test Yourself With Trivia quiz will give you the opportunity to see how deep into the shadows you have to dig to find the answers. Thank you to Kelly & Rebecca Wilke, winners of the doubled $50 prize for submitting the winning featured quiz in this issue. Thank you to all who participated in our It’s Presidents Day! quiz in the February/March 2017
issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Francis Castillo of Caldwell. Congratulations, Francis! 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! Be sure to hunt for the dozen Easter eggs hidden throughout this issue (see page 1 for details). You may win the $25 cash prize! 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 May 20, 2017 for our June/July 2017 edition.
Test Yourself With Trivia Submitted by Kelly & Rebecca Wilke Below are twenty trivia questions regarding everything from soup to nuts and more. On a numbered piece of paper, write down your answers and mail or email them to us at the address above. You may just win our $25 cash prize! 1. What color boots did Superman wear? 2. What did Gerald Ford’s “WIN” button stand for? 3. What did Howard Hughes officially die of? 4. What town had a TV station named BDRX? 5. What singer was the “Shirley Temple” of Great Britain? 6. Whose parents paid $12.95 for his first guitar? 7. What was the Everly Brothers first #1 song? 8. What was the flavor of the original blue Popsicle?
9. Who couldn’t swim Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid? 10. Which of the Archies owned a dog named Hotdog? 11. What New York City building has 280 elevators and 43,600 windows? 12. What planet has the longest day? 13. Who ran away when the boys came out to play? 14. Who was Sitting Bull’s right hand man? 15. What is a funambulist? 16. What bird lays the largest eggs? 17. What’s the cube root of 27? 18. How many from the state of Arizona perished on the U.S.S. Arizona? 19. Who was the third man in space? 20. In 1980, what company’s motto said, “We bring good things to life?” ISI
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5. d. The first President to appear on black and white television was Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 30, 1939 at the opening ceremonies for the World’s Fair. 6. b. On Saturday, November 1, 1800, John Adams became the first president to take residence in the White House. 7. d. George Washington was unanimously elected by the Electoral College in 1789, and again in the 1792 election; he remains the only president to have received 100% of the electoral votes. James Monroe, the fifth President, received every Electoral College vote except one. A New Hampshire delegate wanted to preserve the legacy of George Washington. 8. b. “O Captain! My Captain!” is a poem written in 1865 by Walt Whitman, concerning the
April/May 2017
16. a. On September 9, 1996, Rosa Parks was presented, by President Bill Clinton, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a civilian by the United States Government. 17. d. Theodore Roosevelt was the first President to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. In June, 1905, President Roosevelt offered his good offices as mediator between Russia and Japan, asking the belligerents to nominate plenipotentiaries to negotiate on the conditions of peace. 18. a. Beginning in the fall of 1973, Bush attended the Harvard Business School, where he earned an MBA in 1975. 19. d. Two future U.S. Presidents signed the Declaration of Independence: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. 20. d. The Civil Rights Act of 1875, 18 Stat. 335, was a United States federal law proposed by Republican Senator Charles Sumner and Republican Congressman Benjamin F. Butler in 1870. The act was passed by Congress in February, 1875 and signed by President Grant on March 1, 1875. 21. b. Secret Service needed a car to drive Roosevelt to Congress to make his speech on Pearl Harbor the day after the attack. Luckily, the Treasury Dept. had impounded Capone’s armored car years earlier. 22. c. William McKinley was assassinated on September 6, 1901 by anarchist Leon Czolgoszwhile while attending the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY.
23. d. John F. Kennedy’s youth, and much of his adult life, was marked by health problems, including scarlet fever, an appendectomy, Addison’s Disease, and colitis. 24. b. Passed after a bitter debate in Congress, the Indian Removal Act paved the way for the reluctant, and often forcible, emigration of tens of thousands of American Indians to the West. It was signed into law by Jackson on May 26, 1830. 25. a. The White House Plumbers, sometimes simply called the Plumbers, were a covert White House Special Investigations Unit established July 24, 1971 during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Its task was to stop the leaking of classified information to the news media. Its members branched into illegal activities working for the Committee to Reelect the President, including the Watergate break ins and the ensuing Watergate scandal. ISI
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death of American president Abraham Lincoln. 9. a. Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Stanley Ann Dunham, an American of predominantly English descent from Wichita, Kansas, and Barack Obama, Sr., a Luo from Nyang’oma Kogelo, Nyanza Province, Kenya Colony. Obama is the first President to have been born in Hawaii. 10. a. On June 13, 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Tom C. Clark, saying that this was “the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place.” Marshall was confirmed as an Associate Justice by a Senate vote of 69-11 on August 31, 1967. He was the 96th person to hold the position, and the first African-American. 11. a. The purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867 is considered Andrew Johnson’s most important foreign policy action. The idea and implementation is credited to Secretary of State William Seward who dubbed the purchase Seward’s Folly. 12. d. Both George Washington and John Adams were inaugurated at Federal Hall in New York, NY. Thomas Jefferson was the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, DC. 13. d. Johnson was impeached on February 24, 1868 in the U.S. House of Representatives on eleven articles of impeachment detailing his “high crimes and misdemeanors”, in accordance with Article Two of the United States Constitution. 14. d. The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as the Warren Commission, was established on November 29, 1963, by Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22. Its 888-page final report was presented to President Johnson on September 24, 1964, and made public three days later. 15. a. Richard Nixon was the 37th President and 36th Vice President of the United States. Nixon was the only President to resign the office.
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3
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Part of growing up is coming to the realization that our perceptions of the world and our relationship to it do not always comport with the perceptions that our parents or grandparents have. “It seemed like such a great idea,” we might say as we look back at a particular incident when our understanding has been improved by time and wisdom. But, isn’t that what growing up is all about? This month’s Remember When comes to us from Jerry Kautz of Payette, who relates a childhood incident that was full of growing-up lessons. Thank you, Jerry, for your wonderful contribution. Our readers will undoubtedly reflect on their youth and recall experiencing similar situations. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections and con-
tributions 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 June/July 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.
Not So Much Fun With The Chickens By Jerry Kautz, It isn’t as if I didn’t deserve it – the whipping, I mean – it’s just that I didn’t know I was in trouble. That was the worst part, not knowing why. The day had started out in the normal fashion: get dressed, have breakfast, go outside, and play. It was going to be a nice day with the sun shining warm on my face, making me squint and sneeze when I tried to look up into it. That was fun when it made you sneeze. “Aahchoo!” After three or four times, I would be bored, so on to something different. There’s always something to do on a farm when you’re only five years old. I never failed to
find adventure – just kinda mosey along and let nature take its course. Some days I’d go down to the barn and see the baby calves. They always came to the fence railing out of curiosity or looking for something to eat. If I held out a little hay for them, they would only look at it and smell it a little bit. I didn’t realize at the time that they were too young to eat hay. I thought it was fun to hold my finger out to ‘em and let ‘em suck it. It kinda tickled. Then, whichever one was sucking on your finger at the time would butt your hand. I wondered, “Why would they do that?” On this particular morning, everything seemed usual, and then I found myself at the chicken house. The old hens were walking around and scratching the ground, clucking, and talking to one another. The chickens were never penned up, so they could run around and pick up bugs and things. A friendly bunch, those chickens were and they always said, “Hello” by picking at my shoelaces. Maybe they thought they looked like worms. As I stood there with the chickens around my feet, I happened to look up to the side of the chicken house. There, hanging on a couple of nails, were the “chicken hooks” my grandpa used. I had watched him do this many times. Whenever a chicken was needed for Sunday dinner, he’d get down one of the hooks, and reaching out he would snatch a chicken by the leg and drag it to him. In this way, Pa wouldn’t have to go chasing one all over the place. “Hmm! This could be interesting.” As I reached up and picked one of the hooks off the wall, the chickens started moving away. I think they had seen this scenario before, and so wanted nothing to do with it. It wasn’t as if I was going to chop off their heads and have them for dinner. But of course, the chickens didn’t know that. Next to where the chickens had been scratching around stood the granary.
“Ah ha,” said my little brain, “Me thinks we have an idea!” I went around to the granary door, but the latch was too high. I couldn’t reach it. Now what? Back to the other side where I had started. Coming out of the top of the grain-shed, was a galvanized pipe, about six inches in diameter. I discovered, if I pounded on this pipe, a few kernels of wheat would trickle out. As soon as the chickens saw this, here they came. It was perfect! As soon as the first old hen got close enough, I reached out and snagged her. Flapping her wings and squawking, I dragged her to me, took her off the hook, and released her. “Now we were having fun!” This catch and release game went on for some time. I bang on the pipe, here come the quarry; I catch one, and then release it. Repeat. “Boy, this was great. And I’m not hurting the chickens either.” I was busy having fun, but grandpa heard the commotion. When he came around the corner of the building, I was about to tell him of my new game, but seeing the look on his face, all I could think, “Oh-oh!” “What in the world do you think you’re doing?” he said. By the tone of his voice, I knew he really didn’t want to know. When he took me by the arm and spun me around and began beatin’ my bottom, all I could think was, “Why is my Pa doing this to me?” That old man had never laid a hand on me before this. I was in total shock and surprised. My feelings were hurt, and I think I was downright mad too. My best friend, doing this to me? The whole punishment process took less than a minute. I did not cry! When it was over, we just stood there, looking at each other. Not a word was spoken. Pa turned and walked away. I stayed there for some time, thinking, “Why was Pa so mad? I didn’t hurt the chickens. I was letting them go, wasn’t I?” Later when I confronted my grandma, she explained. “Jerry, it wasn’t the catching of the chickens that made Pa mad. It was because you were wasting the grain.” Pa swore he would never whip me again. And, he never did. “When I saw the look on that boy’s face – that look of hate and his not crying – it was all I could take. I’ll never lay a hand on him again.” If he had just explained it to me at the time – why I was in trouble – even the whipping wouldn’t have been so bad. God bless my granddad. He really didn’t know. We both learned a very important lesson that day. ISI
April/May 2017
Ghost Writer by Rick Just; Cedar Creek Press, 2015 / Reviewed by Connie Daugherty “Digital clock next to her bed read 12:01. She was now officially fourteen.” It was June 2014; the beginning of summer vacation and Samantha Reed could never have imagined what was in store. In his most recent award winning young adult novel, Rick Just takes readers on an adventure that is imaginative, instructive, and unexpectedly intriguing. As my grandchildren have grown from toddlers to teenagers, I have discovered an unexpected joy in reading the books they are reading. Many of these novels have a message for adults as well as for the young adult audience, and they are just plain fun to read. In Ghost Writer, Rick Just touches on the current controversy over childhood vaccinations as well as cleverly taking the reader back and forth between 1914 and 2014. The twists and turns of the story keep you reading, and the conversations and budding friendship between fourteen-year-old girls living a century apart are fun and entertaining. Sam is excited for her birthday gift; she has made it clear that she desperately needs a new iPhone – her old phone is… well old. The package is bigger than she expected, but “for a few more seconds, Sam held the future in her hands. Stretching out the suspense a little.” What she found when she finally tore off the wrapping wasn’t the future, but the past. An old leather bound book containing “dozens and dozens of desolate blank pages” with the word Diary embossed on the outside. Her father’s enthusiasm for the gift is in direct proportion to Sam’s disappointment. It’s an heirloom he insists, waiting just for her – a gift from the past from some unknown ancestor. After all, he found it at the “Big House” so it must be important – at least to him.
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5
“Sam’s dad spent all his spare time working on the Big House. His great-grandparents built it in the 1800s. No one had lived there since Sam’s great aunt died in 1990…. It smelled like mice and crumbling paper and old people.” Sam is not at all interested in the Big House, its history or its former inhabitants. She sent a text complaining to her best friend, Hailey. Her mother handed her a ballpoint pen. Reluctantly she opened the diary. “Dear Diary: Today is my birthday, June 15, 2014. I asked for an iPhone… I got this crappy diary instead.” Then she put it away as she went about her life watching TV and sneaking makeup from her mother’s limited supply for Hailey whose conservative mother didn’t own makeup and refused to let her daughters use any. Hailey’s parents also don’t believe in childhood vaccinations. Not that Sam cares much. It was in the middle of the night when she discovered it. “She half-turned and flipped the diary open to retrieve the pen… her eye registered a lot more writing than she thought she had done… Someone’s writing. Not hers.” The handwriting was beautiful, almost like calligraphy, and it was dated June 15, 1914. Her dad must be playing tricks on her, except his writing was more like scribbling than Sam’s was. Still who else could it be? She scribbled a response and could hardly wait to share the secret with her BFF, Hailey. She hid the diary, but the response kept coming. “She watched as the words appeared… snaking across the page and beneath the ballpoint pen.” Okay so it wasn’t her parents playing tricks on her, something too strange to be believed was happening. Frightening, yet intriguing – like magic. Sam and Hailey find themselves with a new BFF, Emma. She may have lived a century before these modern girls and communication with the
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past is actually impossible. Still – “Who wouldn’t want a little magic in their lives? Sam had long ago put magic up on the shelf with Santa, the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny. They were kid things and she wasn’t a kid.” But this was something special, something bigger, and more important than kid magic. This was an actual connection with the past – with her past. Just when the girls are really beginning to enjoy each other’s company, Sam learns a secret about Emma that even Emma doesn’t know, a secret she doesn’t want to believe. “Sam went through the rest of the day in a fog.” She hated knowing what she knew. She wondered if she could do something about it. “Even if she could change the past should she?” Then without warning Hailey became ill – very ill. And Emma got sick too. Their symptoms are the same. “She would owe Emma another entry, soon. And Sam has to make a decision. Ghost Writer is a fun read to share with your teenage granddaughter and has earned honors as Best Young Adult Book, Best eBook, and a 2015 Idaho Author Award. Author Rick Just is a native Idahoan who grew up on a ranch along the Blackfoot River. He is a former Marine, whitewater kayaker, artist, sports car buff, and alpha male of his schnauzer pack. As a student, he served as editor of Boise State University’s nationally acclaimed literary magazine, cold-drill. During Idaho’s Centennial, Rick wrote and produced the award-winning official Centennial radio series, “Idaho Snapshots.” Rick is the author of five young adult novels, including the Wizards Trilogy, one adult novel, and several books on Idaho history. ISI
PAGE 6 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
April/May 2017
Idaho, Oh My! By Bernice Karnop Idaho is a great state full of us – wonderful people that we are. But sometimes, you wonder about our lawmakers. We found some interesting laws that are said to be on the books in Idaho – and there are stories behind them – but no one knows what they are. And, we did not make them up. For example: • You may not fish from a camel’s back in Idaho. This law was promoted by frustrated Save the Whale people who needed something to protect a bit closer to home.
• To show how much we really love our fish in Idaho, Boise law says residents may not fish from a giraffe’s back. We are not sure this applies to non-residents, nor are we sure the law is meant to protect fish or giraffes. • It is against the law for anyone over the age of 88 to ride a motorcycle in Idaho. This is okay because octogenarians are allowed to ride giraffes and camels – as long as they are not going fishing. • In Idaho, riding a merry-go-round on Sundays is considered a crime. Wooden giraffes and carved camels are not exempt from the fishing rule. And only younger people can fish from their motorcycles. • Anti-delinquency statutes in Idaho prohibit juveniles from deliberately stepping on ants. This is willful destruction of possible fish food. Thankfully, they added the word deliberately, or this law would cause serious overcrowding of the jails. • One citizen is forbidden from giving to another citizen a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds. They might be tempted to use it for fish bait and this would rot the fish’s teeth. • Under Idaho law only two forms of city government are allowed:
April/May 2017
a mayor/councilor or a council/manager form. Either one can dream up important fishing regulations specific to their city or town. • In Pocatello, a law passed in 1912 provided that “The carrying of concealed weapons is forbidden, unless some are exhibited to public view.” That makes sense to us but we don’t think it came from the NRA. It certainly makes life safer for camels and giraffes. And possibly fish. • Nearly 85 percent of all the commercial trout sold in the United States are produced in the Hagerman Valley near Twin Falls. They are all certified to be camel and giraffe free. • In the late 1800s, there were several sightings of strange creatures
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 7
in Bear Lake. The Bear Lake Monster, they say, is up to 90 feet in length, can move faster than a running horse, and is thought to be a very large camel or giraffe. To this day, there are still those who refuse to night fish on the lake, and we don’t blame them. • Sixty-three percent of Idaho is public land managed by the federal government. Face it, maybe we need all the help we can get. • A person may not be seen in public without a smile on his/her face in Pocatello. No one has been jailed for this because most people laugh right out loud, and that’s legal. ISI
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April/May 2017
Did You Know These Interesting Facts About Idaho? By Bernice Karnop In the convoluted terrain of Idaho, one can access the great outdoors, literally, by just stepping out the door. We’ve picked a few Idaho facts that grabbed our interest and that we hope will interest our readers as well. • Idaho has more federally designated wilderness land than any state in the lower 48! That adds up to nearly four million acres, with an additional nine million acres of roadless public land. In other words, much of Idaho is accessible only by boat, on horseback, on foot, or by small planes landing on a backcountry airstrip. • Idaho assistant ranger with the US Forest Service, Ed Pulaski,
is credited with creating the pulaski, a hand tool used in wildland firefighting. The tool combines an axe and adze in one head on a wooden handle. It can be used to both dig soil and chop wood so it’s handy for creating firebreaks and otherwise fighting wildfires. Pulaski was inspired to come up with the tool during the disastrous fires of 1910 and later. It’s also handy for trail making, gardening, and other excavating projects in hard and difficult soils. • Travelers on the Oregon Trail faced their most difficult river crossing of their 2,000-mile journey at what’s now called Three Island Crossing State Park. Visitors can still see the islands in the Snake River and the scars worn into the land by the wagon wheels. ISI
April/May 2017
Spring is finally here! You can’t help but smile while breathing in the sweet aroma of gentle rain and budding plants. Listen to the birds’ floating melodies as they return to their warm weather homes. What a perfect season for love and friendship. Do you feel that new life in the air? Perhaps it is time for new friendships or a new romance! All you have to do now is find someone special. Take that first step by sending in your own personal ad and replying to one listed below. Just pick up your pen or dust off your keyboard and start writing. To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message, address, and phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including the address, phone number, and/or email address that you provide to the person placing the ad. When you respond to an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive replies. Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of friendship, 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 June/July 2017 issue, the deadline is May 15, 2017. Pretty, SWF 59. Looking to meet a SWM in his 40s–60s. I am fun, adventurous, enjoy movies, traveling, hiking, and dining. Prefer a Christian and/or spiritual man. Honesty, kind-heartedness, and sense of humor a must. Reply ISI, Dept. 13101, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SF, 61, 5’4”, 125 lbs. Athletically inclined, ponytailed tomboy on the outside, but all woman otherwise. Generally leftward leaning with an eclectic spirituality. Living active outdoor /rural lifestyle in upper NW Montana. Productive home life, have animals. Well rounded variety of interests including outdoor activities. Various exercise practices, an appreciation for the arts and sciences and exploring nature. Longtime married but on my own for a while now and ready to get my toes back in the water with a like minded male companion in the Idaho Panhandle area, who’s kind and considerate, open minded, honest, physically active, emotionally mature, financially secure, has good hygiene including dental, and not looking to rush into anything. If
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9
interested, send informational letter to include address or phone number for initial contact. Sorry no email. Reply ISI, Dept. 13102, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. North Idaho Panhandle retired country C/F looking for an old-fashioned teddy bear type country gentleman. Honest, clean, NO/D/D/S. Must have respect for themselves and others. Are you capable of a compliment now and then? I enjoy reading, fishing, travel, birds, dogs, camping, and music. “I’m gonna set right down and write myself a letter, and make believe it came from you.” (Old song) I’d rather the letter came from you, please. Let’s have some laughs and make a few memories this summer! Reply ISI, Dept. 13103, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Very young 70-year-old gal, 4’10” and 115 lbs! I am a self sufficient, creative, retired musician seeking a “country boy” at heart. I like fishing, exploring, RVing, star-gazing, rock hounding, concerts, arts and crafts, and want to share adventures with a like-minded, special man. Are your interests similar? Please send a letter and photo, and I’ll write back. Happy springtime! Reply ISI, Dept. 13104, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI
Online Dating Can Be Frustrating, Time-Consuming, But Can Produce Long-Term Results Dating in the digital age is big business, with daters turning to a slew of popular apps and sites in the hopes of finding that very special someone. The chances they will find someone are good, according to Consumer Reports, which discovered a substantial 44 percent of survey respondents who tried online dating said the experience led to a serious long term relationship or marriage. Consumer Reports surveyed almost 115,000 subscribers about online dating, as well as a subset of some 9,600 respondents who used an online dating service in the past two years rated the sites for effectiveness and value. Traditionally well known for reviewing products like refrigerators and services like banking, the survey was new territory for the nonprofit organization, which learned from the survey that 20 percent of respondents are either divorced or have never married and may benefit from the investigation. Readers were asked to rate sites and apps based on overall satisfaction and satisfaction with the quantity of matches, quality of matches, amount of information provided about the potential dates, value, ease of sign-up/profile setup, ease of making changes, search features, filter features, privacy settings, appearance, and messaging features. Popular free sites OkCupid, Tinder and Grindr received marginally higher ratings than paid sites. Ashley Madison, which had one of the highest fees for some of its services, was among the lowest scoring online dating services. “While the prospects of finding a long term match were surprisingly good amongst our survey respondents, our survey suggests that online dating can be as frustrating and emotionally fraught as off line dating” said Margot Gilman, Consumer Reports Money Content Development Team Leader. While long term success is possible, our ratings suggest online dating can also be highly frustrating. Respondents gave online dating services the lowest satisfaction scores Consumer Reports has ever seen. Complete ratings, survey results, and a field guide to popular dating sites are available at CR.org, or on newsstands in the Consumer Reports February 2017 issue. Disappointment was inevitable but also expected. CR’s survey found that among those reluctant
to try online dating, 21 percent of women and 9 percent of men said it was because they knew someone who had a bad experience. The survey also found that twenty-eight percent of online daters who used more than one service tried four or more. CR’s survey shows some consumers are concerned about dipping into Cupid’s digital world because they fear being scammed The survey found among respondents hesitant to try online dating, 56 percent of women and 41 percent of men had this worry. But the story suggests ways to protect yourself. “If a person you haven’t met face to face wants to quickly leave the dating site’s messaging app, and the privacy it offers, to talk by phone or send messages to your email address, that can be a red flag,” Gilman says, “Beware of ensuing pleas for money that might involve expenses for family members, medical problems, or a business deal gone sour.” For daters ready to commit to online matchmaking, CR recommends the following tips to help craft a better profile: • Use recent pictures, ones taken within the past 12 months, maximum. Everyone needs at
least one good, close-up headshot. • Consider your tone. You don’t want your profile to sound like a resume or to come across as bragging about how wonderful you are. Show that you’re human and humble through a joke, a self-effacing story, or a humorous anecdote. • Get the reader’s attention on your profile by keeping it brief but interesting. • To make a strong first impression, do more than use a string of adjectives describing yourself. Instead, describe your best qualities using anecdotes. • Never lie about your age or what you do for a living. Consumer Reports online dating services ratings are based on 9,636 Consumer Reports subscribers who completed the 2016 Online Dating Survey. Respondents told CR about their experience with one or two dating websites or apps between 2014 and 2016. The survey reflects 13,532 ratings. The complete article, including dating websites and apps ratings and online dating tips, is available at cr.org or on newsstands in the February 2017 issue. ISI
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PAGE 10 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
April/May 2017
Idaho Seniors Compete in Many Competitions For 2017 For those who are 50 and better, it won’t make much difference. They will still compete in their age groups. Lewiston, with its low elevation and pleasant weather, is a great place to get ready for the later competitions. Here athletes can test their skills against others and see where they need to improve for the later games. Individuals have more than two months to train before the Idaho Senor Games in Boise, where they can qualify for Nationals. This event is a fundraiser for the WashingtonIdaho Volunteer Center. The non-profit Volunteer Center is “an employment agency for volunteers.” They recruit and interview volunteers and refer them to agencies whose talents they best fit. Individuals may register in one of three ways – in person at the WA-ID Volunteer Center, 1424 Main Street, Lewiston ID 83502; by mail on forms from the website; or online at lewisclarkgames.org. See the list of events and more information at their website; email them at crobinson@lewisclarkgames.org or call 208-746-7787. Southeast Idaho Senior Games, Pocatello, July 7-15, 2017 The weeklong Southeast Idaho Senior Games are hard to beat for creative and diverse events. Along with all the usual games like basketball, Spring has arrived, and summer is just around the corner so it’s time to fill up your calendar with all the entertaining, fun, golf, and horseshoes, and educational events that the coming months promise. There are definitely too many fairs, rodeos, festivals, art shows, car people compete in bridge, shows, benefits, concerts, star-gazings, parades, music events, wine tastings, and sporting events for us to list them all here. line dance, and shuffleNevertheless, we have provided a sampling of fun things that may pique your interests, and with a little searching on the web, board. In addition to cyyou can fill in the gaps. cling and running events, To start, we would suggest readers contact the following resources: Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau at boise.org they play chess, croquet, or 800-635-5240; Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau at visitlcvalley.com or 877-774-7248; Idaho Division of Tourism at visiti- mahjong, darts, and Wii daho.org or 800-847-4843; Lewis Clark Valley North Idaho Tourism Alliance at visitnorthidaho.com; and Pioneer Country bowling. Some folks comTravel Council at seidaho.org or 888-201-1063. These are just a few of the regional and community resources that you can pete in their sport, then consult in order to make this a most memorable 2017! hang around to try someAdditional information regarding some events can be found in advertisements in this issue of the Idaho Senior Indepen- thing new just for fun or try dent. Many of the events listed run on multiple days, but we have listed just the first day of the event. Please call the listed to fit in as many events as phone number or visit the website for more details. they can. Start City Event Phone Web Address Pocatello welcomes Mar 23 Nampa Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 208-468-2385 nampaciviccenter.com from 300-400 people each Mar 25 Idaho Falls SARA: Myth, Dreams & Dramatic Episodes 208-301-1011 theartmuseum.org year for the Southeast Mar 29 Coeur d’Alene Adrenals & Thyroid – Fatigue & Weight Gain 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com Idaho Senior Games. Apr 1 Cranbrook, BC Genealogy Workshops – thru May 250-489-3918 cranbrookhistorycentre.com Most are from Idaho but Apr 1 Donnelly Idaho Pond Skimming Championship 208-325-1000 tamarackidaho.com they also have people Apr 5 Coeur d’Alene Natural Alternatives to Pain Killers 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com from neighbor states and Apr 12 Coeur d’Alene Take it or Eat it! Nutrients Vital to Your Health 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com beyond. Part of their sucApr 16 Twin Falls Canyon Crest Easter Sunday Grand Brunch 208-733-9392 canyoncrestdining.com cess lies in their awesome Apr 19 Coeur d’Alene Natural Solutions for Asthma, Allergies, COPD 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com volunteers and event coApr 22 Boise Jeff Foxworthy & Larry the Cable Guy 509-295-3987 tacobellarena.com ordinators, whether clubs Apr 23 Sweet Sweet-Ola Ride/Auction & BBQ 208-590-8852 sweetolabbq.wordpress.com or individuals, who have Apr 26 Coeur d’Alene Key Obstacles to Eliminating Excess Weight 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com remained consistent since Apr 27 Boise Johnny Mathis: The Voice of Romance Tour 208.426.1110 morrisoncenter.com the games were started Apr 29 Cranbrook, BC Antique & Collectibles Roadshow & Fair 250-489-3918 cranbrookhistorycentre.com in 2003. Sponsor PortMay 3 Coeur d’Alene 21-Day Purification & Weight Loss Program 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com neuf Medical Center has May 6 Pocatello Tree Houses 208-282-3168 imnh.isu.edu been on board since they May 13 Boise Susan G Koman Race for the Cure 208-384-0013 komenidahomontana.org started. The rewards for May 13 Sandpoint Bonner Community Food Drive 208-263-3663 foodbank83864.com volunteers include seeing May 14 Cranbrook, BC Mother’s Day Tea in the “Argyle” Dining Car 250-489-3918 cranbrookhistorycentre.com so many people having so May 14 Twin Falls Canyon Crest Mother’s Day Brunch 208-733-9392 canyoncrestdining.com much fun. May 17 Coeur d’Alene Successful Strategies – Overcoming Addiction 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com Participants can regMay 18 Lewiston Lewiston Civic Theatre: The Little Mermaid 208-746-3401 lctheatre.org ister online or download May 20 Coeur d’Alene Northwest Spring Fest 208-765-4969 northwestspringfest.com forms to mail in. Visit May 24 Coeur d’Alene Parasites? Signs, Symptoms, & Solutions 208-765-1994 vitalhealthcda.com southeastidahoseniorMay 25 Boise Taco Bell Arena – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill 208-426-1900 tacobellarena.com games.org and peruse May 27 Shoshone History Day 208-886-7787 lincolncountyhistorical.org the events sure to tease Jun 21 Lewiston Lewis-Clark Summer Games 208-746-7787 lewisclarkgames.org your interest. Email southJun 21 Twin Falls Canyon Crest Pigs & Pinot 208-733-9392 canyoncrestdining.com eastidahoseniorgames@ Jun 24 Clarkston, WA Cruzin to Clarkston Car Show 509-295-3987 tacobellarena.com gmail.com or call them at Jul 1 Grangeville Border Days Rodeo 208-983-5784 grangevilleborderdays.org/ 208-233-2034 for more Jul 7 Pocatello Southeast Idaho Senior Games 208-233-2034 seidahoseniorgames.org information. Jul 8 Shoshone Arts in the Park & Annual Music Festival 208-886-9811 shoshonearts.weebly.com Idaho Senior Games, Jul 22 Idaho Falls Extreme Blue Thunder Air Show idahofallsairshow.com Boise, August 4-27, 2017 Jul 22 Shoshone Lincoln County Fair & Rodeo 208-886-2406 lincolncountychamber.org The Idaho Senior Jul 29 Boise Outlaw Field - Diana Krall Summer Concert 208-343-8649 idahobotanicalgarden.org Games in Boise usually Aug 1 Livingston, MT International Fly Fishing Fair 406-222-9369 fedflyfishers.org sees more than 500 athAug 4 Boise Idaho Senior Games 208-861-8000 idahoseniorgames.org letes competing in 18 Sep 14 Shoshone Annual Lost N Lava Cowboy Gathering 208-886-7787 lostlavagathering.com different sports. Exercise Sep 14 Coeur d’Alene Susan G Koman Race for the Cure 208-384-0013 komenidahomontana.org is one key to good physiOct 7 Pocatello Susan G Koman Race for the Cure 208-384-0013 komenidahomontana.org cal and mental health and By Bernice Karnop The purpose of senior games and athletic competition is to encourage men and women 50+ to lead an active lifestyle, and some, like the Lewis-Clark Sumer Games and Komen Race for the Cure, do significant fundraising for an important cause! The games are fun to the point of being addictive, and Idaho seniors who go one year return repeatedly. The games are scattered around the state and across the summer calendar, so it’s not difficult to find fun and competition near you. Neither is it hard to take in all of them! Lewis–Clark Summer Games, Lewiston, June 10-13, 2017 (for those over 40!) Early on the calendar is the Lewis-Clark Summer Games in Lewiston, June 10-13, 2017. Instead of senior games, in Lewiston they’re called summer games, and men and women who are 40 and better are welcome, along with those over 50. Since they aren’t a qualifier for the National Senior Games (one has to go to Boise to qualify for Nationals), they don’t have to adhere to the national standards. As community games, they choose to inspire younger people to stay active and healthy, too.
In Every Corner of Idaho There Is Something Fun to See and Do
April/May 2017 the person who ties exercise to a game or competition is motivated to get fit because it is fun. Check out the website for a list of events and start preparing for your favorite sport. The games in Boise are the only games in the state that are qualifiers for the National Senior Games. The National Senior Games, held on odd numbered years, will be in Birmingham, Alabama, in June 2017. To register or volunteer get in touch through the website, idahoseniorgames.org, email idahoseniorgamesinfo@gmail.com, or call 208-861-8000. Also in Boise is the Komen Race for the Cure on May 13, 2017 Other events of interest in Boise include an ice cream social May 18, 2017 in Kleiner Park at 6 pm; a fun run/walk at Julia Davis Park, May 27, 2017 at 9:30 pm; and the Komen Race for the Cure, Saturday May 13, 2017. To kick off the Idaho Senior Games, enjoy barbeque on August 3, 2017 in Julia Davis Park. In Coeur d’Alene, plan on participating in the Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday, September 17, 2017. In Pocatello plan on participating in the Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, October 7, 2017. Not only will you enjoy the competition and camaraderie, you will be helping fight breast cancer through research funding and community outreach, a cause for which the Susan G. Komen Foundation has raised millions of dollars since 1982. ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11
Sunday Golf Provided by Julie Brantley Pastor Norton woke up Sunday morning and realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf. So he told the Associate Pastor that he was feeling sick and to perform the service that day. As soon as the Associate Pastor left, Father Norton headed out of town to a golf course about forty miles away. This way he knew he wouldn’t accidentally meet anyone he knew from his parish. Standing on the first tee, he relished the beauty and warmth of the day... and the solitude. After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church! At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from the heavens and exclaimed, “You’re not going to let him get away with this, are you?” The Lord sighed and said, “No, I guess not.” Just then, Pastor Norton hit the ball and it shot straight toward the pin, dropped just short of it, rolled up, and fell into the hole... a 420-yard holein-one! St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, “Why did you let him do that?” The Lord smiled and replied, “Who’s he going to tell?” ISI
What’s Your Secret?
A gushy reporter told Jack Nicklaus, “You are spectacular! Your name is synonymous with the game of golf. You really know your way around the course. What’s your secret?” Nicklaus replied, “The holes are numbered!” ISI
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PAGE 12 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
April/May 2017
Try British Columbia’s Scenic and Therapeutic Hot Springs Circle Route
By Bernice Karnop People looking for ideas for an early spring road trip usually think of going south. But, the British Columbia tourism website, hellobc.com, suggests heading north to the Canadian Rockies where hot water bubbles naturally out of the earth year round, no matter what the fickle weather may do – a different way to welcome the new season and cleanse and revitalize the body after a long winter. The Hot Springs Circle Route starts about an hour north of the Idaho border at Cranbrook and follows a series of developed, lesser developed, and undeveloped springs to Golden, over Roger’s Pass to Revelstoke, south to Nakusp, and finally Creston. More than a dozen of these naturally occurring geological phenomena dot this rough terrain, and there are more, in both B.C. and south of the border. Here are seven of the most accessible. Choose one as a destination resort and luxuriate in the water over several days, or stop briefly for a soak and continue to the next one. In any case, compare the various mineral cocktails and decide your favorite. Hellobc.com says that mineral content of the waters “may increase metabolism, accelerate
healing, soothe muscles, improve blood circulation, and detoxify the body’s lymphatic system.” Truth is, it’s hard to tell specific benefits of “taking the waters,” but not hard to agree that it’s pleasant. In addition to the healing waters, travelers will cruise through the spectacular Canadian Rockies, with opportunities to visit several Canadian National and Provincial Parks. Colorful towns small and large tempt travelers to their fun shops and invite folks to learn their unique local lore. For those who like enormous mountain scenery, forests, lakes, rivers, and a chance to soak in the mineral hot springs, this is a trip to repeat annually. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort on Highway 93 about an hour north of Cranbrook is one of the biggest and most popular hot springs resorts in Canada. One can sit in the massive hot springs pool and lose oneself in the beautiful scenery of the Columbia Valley and the mountains beyond. Expect a comfortable stay at the resort and wonderful food. Overnight guests have access to a private pool and spa. Grandchildren and folks of all ages will find activities for many interests at the year-round resort – so hike the trails, ride horses, go mountain biking, and, seasonally, ski or play golf. Lussier Hot Springs, in Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, lets visitors relax among the boulders in three small pools next to the river. It is north of Kimberly on the park turn-off beyond Skookumchuck. The well-marked springs are about 11 miles from the turn off. Plan to change clothes in the restroom and take a five-minute walk down a well-maintained trail to the Lussier River. The pools range from 110 degrees to about 94 degrees. Don’t worry about being too hot. Just slip over into the snow-fed river water to cool off in a hurry. Radium Hot Springs is one mile east of the west entrance to Kooteney National Park, a UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. This plunge is run by the Canadian Parks service and is tucked in to the spectacular rocky cliffs of Sinclair Canyon. This is the place for those who are bothered by the rotten egg smell of the thermal hot springs of Yellowstone National
Park. They say the water here is odorless, because it’s exposed to oxygen before it hits the surface. Canyon Hot Springs are in the mountains between Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks. Mineral waters are piped to the location from several miles away. Signs along the TransCanada Highway about 20 miles east of Revelstoke direct travelers to the hot springs, and around 200 campsites and cabins. This makes a great base from which to enjoy the parks and cities when not sitting in a steamy pool. Halcyon Hot Springs is located on highway 23, just south of the Galena Bay ferry landing. The resort, located in a narrow canyon of the Kootenay Rockies, opened as a luxury hotel back in halcyon days of the 1890s. The hotel burned in 1955, and sat until 1998, when the entire resort was rebuilt with new pools and state-of-the-art water treatment. They didn’t replace the old-fashioned name, which means tranquil or calm. One finds a variety of accommodations including chalets, cabins, an RV park, and camping. A restaurant and spa are in the main building. Nakusp Hot Springs is located near Nakusp, at the top of a well-maintained road. The circular warm pool encloses a small hot pool, making it easy to keep an eye on others in your group. Camping and cabins accommodations are available at the site. Ainsworth Hot Springs sits on the west shore of Kootenay Lake between Balfour and Kaslo, about half an hour north of Nelson. Here a person can soak in the majestic views of the lake and the Purcell Mountains while soaking in the water. At Ainsworth, the hot water gushes out into a unique horseshoe-shaped cave, the hottest of its three pools. Bathers sit on an underwater ledge in the steamy cavern. Guests cool down in the outdoor warm pool and swim in the cool plunge. Fine accommodations and dining are available year round. The property is proudly owned by Yaqan Nukiy, the Lower Kootenay Band of the Ktunaxa Nation, who welcome guests to enjoy the good medicine hot springs for healing the body and restoring the spirit. ISI
Step Back To The Time Of Luxury Rail Travel The Cranbrook History Centre is located in beautiful downtown Cranbrook where we offer specialized experiences for groups of all ages and types. Guided tours of the 17 restored railcars are an exciting way to experience the days of luxury rail travel. Tours range in duration and cost and can be customized depending on your mobility. Self-guided tours of the facility allow you to visit other areas of the Centre at your leisure where you will find interpretive information and exhibits on local and regional history, paleontol-
ogy, natural history, and first nations’ culture. Walk through the opulence of the beautiful Royal Alexandra Hall. Built in Winnipeg in 1906, the Royal Alexandra Hotel, a rare example of Edwardian architecture amongst the CP hotels, was considered the social centerpiece of Winnipeg for nearly sixty years before its closure in 1967. Widely considered the most elegant public venue in southeastern British Columbia, the Royal Alexandra Hall seats over 200 people. If you are passionate about model trains and
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April/May 2017
building astonishing working dioramas then our model train room will definitely be a must see. The size of the collection, layout, and the dedication to detail and craftsmanship will both amaze and delight you. For more information, call us at 250-4893918, visit cranbrookhistorycentre.com, and then just come on down and check us out! ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13
Round of Golf Submitted by Jim Meade Two men were playing a round of golf one day and were about to tee off when a funeral procession passed on the road beside the course. One of the golfers, Clyde, removed his cap and stood with his cap to his chest, and patiently
waited for the entire procession to go by. He then put his cap back on and proceeded to tee off. “Gee Clyde, that was a very nice gesture on your part. It was very thoughtful and respectful of you to do that,” his friend said. “Well,” Clyde replied, “I was married to her for 30 years, so it was the least that I could do.” ISI
Music, Theater, History, Travel, Volunteering Are All Part Of Becky Riendeau’s World Article By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel “I think I’ve been involved with most of the non-profit organizations in town,” Becky Riendeau explains with a twinkle in her eye. As she talks of the 45 years she and husband, Dennis, have spent in Lewiston, it becomes apparent how true that is and how broad her interests. After college, the couple moved to Lewiston from California. Becky had been raised in Whittier and attended an elementary school in a building that had been owned by Richard Nixon’s grandmother. While new territory for Becky, the move for Dennis was somewhat a return to the area of his grandparents’ ancestral home. Dennis opened his dental practice, and Becky worked as his bookkeeper – but she found plenty of time for civic involvement. First, it was music and theater activities. “I was actually on the stage only one time,” she admits with a laugh. So her primary involvement came as a keyboard musician frequently at the orchestra-pit piano during productions of the Lewiston Civic Theater. And she played percussion at various times in the thirty plus productions in which she has been involved. “Probably the pinnacle of my musical career at the theater was conducting the orchestra for Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein comedy.” Becky’s degree is in music therapy, a blend of psychology and music, which she finds to be a “fantastic lifetime hobby” and notes that “anytime you enjoy music, it’s a form of therapy, something that I do daily. “At one point, I took up the harp. I didn’t conquer it by any means but I dabbled,” she says with a smile. In addition to having performed musically, Becky has been involved with fundraising for the annual Fine Arts Ball, and not just for the Civic Theater. She once organized a Victorian Tea Party to raise money for the Center for Arts and History,
which turned out to be “a nice party and a good sized fundraiser for them.” Sewing is a skill she learned as a youngster that became part of a big project for the Lewiston Sesquicentennial celebration. She worked up the music of Stephen Foster from the mid-1800s before the Civil War. To look the part, she made a style of dress that would have been worn by Mary Todd Lincoln, entered the gown in a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) contest, and received a national second place award. As Becky explains, “I used some of the older sewing techniques, and it took me two years to finish. At the celebration, we had a big birthday party for Lewiston, and I did my Stephen Foster program dressed in my replica gown. It was pretty exciting – the thrill was wearing it and being in character for the music.” Becky is working with a newly formed docent group to assist tourists visiting the replica of the territorial capital on Main Street that was built for the Sesquicentennial. Because the curators do the majority of the docent work for tourists, Becky thought forming a docent group would generate additional historical interest and increase available staff. “We’re a fledgling docent group now but are going to help give tours to visitors.” Becky is a lifetime member of the (DAR) and has a long association with the Alice Whiteman Chapter where she
sits on the bylaws committee, serves as the state music director, and has served as past regent and state chaplain. Becky was the original “Dogwood Fairy” for
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PAGE 14 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
Lewiston’s annual Dogwood Festival that runs for three weekends complete with a car show, beer and wine tasting, the juried Art Under the Elms show, and other community events. “They needed a mascot type person so I offered to be their fairy. With my sense of humor, what could be funnier than a middle-aged, not-realslender lady dressed as a fairy running around? I designed a costume and went around greeting vendors as kind of an ambassador. As years went on, I recruited other fairies. Then we decided to have a tea with fairies, so we set up a tea tent with
April/May 2017 a tea party on the half hour. About four years ago I passed my wand along, but I was the original Dogwood Fairy.” Retirement from Dennis’ practice has brought some changes to their lives as Becky has slowed her community involvement a bit and they have started traveling in a 5th wheel to warmer places during the colder months. “When we travel, music is always an attraction. We’ve sat in on some community-band rehearsals in other places, and that’s a fun and social thing to do.
Dennis had not played the flute for years, but has resumed, and the two now perform together at events such as weddings and funerals and have taken three music vacations with a group of musician friends, and have even performed in the Cannon Caucus Room on Capital Hill. Becky often sings in the choirs while Dennis plays in the orchestra. As Becky sums up her community involvement with various non-profits over the years, she says, “I guess I’ve been a fulltime volunteer.” ISI
Lewiston Educator and Historian
By Jack McNeel / Photo By Jackie McNeel Calling Steven Branting an educator and historian is correct, but does not begin tell the whole story. Standing-room-only crowds have filled the space at Lewis-Clark State College to hear him speak about Lewiston’s wine history, its early Chinese population, and the history of prostitution as part of a lecture series held every spring and fall. As a teacher of talented and gifted children for many years, Steve was able set his own curriculum and adapt the subjects to personalize them for each particular class, which meant he could cover diverse subjects like archeology, fractal mathematics, geophysics, and creative problem solving. His historical work is reflected in his books on Lewiston and many large historical interpretive signs that he created and located throughout the city explaining various aspects of Lewiston’s past. A new one in the works will explore the bridges across the Snake River. Born in Troy, Steve moved to Lewiston in 1952 and graduated in 1970 in “the last class of the Lewiston Normal School. The last class to have ‘normal’ on their diploma,” he explains with a laugh, and adds, “Lewiston had the last normal school in the United States.” When Steve came to Lewiston High School in 1976, he was offered a position teaching gifted and talented children. As his teaching career pro-
gressed, Steve gravitated toward classes for very bright students in high school. “I’d offer a semester class on Shakespeare and maybe another on World Mythology. We even had universities come in to observe our programs.” “Thirty-three years later I retired,” he says with a laugh. “I was given the opportunity to complete a lot of projects that wouldn’t have been available to me had I been a classroom teacher.” One award particularly pleased him. “Everybody here in Lewiston was excited when we were a finalist for the History Channel’s Save Our History program. I had a cartography background and taught how to use satellites for mapping,” Steve adds. “I thought, ‘Why keep these skills to myself?’” Steve had the computers and architecture to run them and could get free software so he had students apply for the class. “They brought in about a dozen seventh-grade gifted students. I told them it was going to be a very hard course and the learning curve was going to be steep. Let’s see what you can do.” The class started as a project to find where people were buried in the early years of Lewiston in what is now Pioneer Park and why they were not buried where they were supposed to be. “Those kids were seventh graders when they began and into their masters degrees when they quit working for me. We were finding remains in the city park, cataloguing and doing deep research on microfilm and all kinds of digitized materials, and shooting the area with satellites to give us better images with infrared and radar. From 2001 to 2011,
we proved there were hundreds of graves left in the city park. That is what got us into the History Channel Award. “Lewiston is a very history conscious community and the oldest incorporated city in Idaho. Things happened here before they happened any place else in the state. Lewiston was the territorial capital from 1863-1867 and the first place in Idaho where women voted.” But little history had been published about Lewiston. Along with early photos, Steve presented a history program for the Lewiston Sesquicentennial in 2013. He was later contacted by a book publisher, so Steve put that material into book form, and it is now in its sixth printing – one of five books he has in print. It appears that in its early days, Lewiston’s population was primarily Chinese. In 1867, its population was about 800, and Steve has two accounts from individuals saying there were only eleven white families in Lewiston when they arrived. Steve has studied carefully a Chinese cemetery that is just two blocks from his house in order to locate remaining graves. “Interestingly, according to the custom of Chinese benevolent societies, after several years, men’s bodies were exhumed from their graves, their bones cleaned, and then they were shipped back to families in China. They didn’t exhume women and children.” As Steve explains, “In investigating an abandoned Chinese cemetery, never assume there are no bodies.” There is a lot of spectacular Lewiston history, but according to Steve, much of it has been forgotten. “Few people remember that Lewiston was once a sort of Napa Valley,” Steve explained to an audience of more than 250 during a lecture he gave at a local winery where he described how powerful the wine industry was before prohibition. A crowd of similar size showed up for a presentation about
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the early days of prostitution in Lewiston that Steve gave along with fellow historian Garry Bush. Their next project is to investigate the grave of Jane Silcott, daughter of Chief Timothy who died in 1895. Her grave is across the Clearwater River from Lewiston, and in the early 1950s, there was a scandal regarding whether her grave might have been rifled. The investigator decided her remains were gone. “This spring we’ll go there. The coroner is on board and we will have a mortician with us as required by law. We’ll open the grave again and see what has happened. Then, should we leave her on
April/May 2017 the hillside under a bunch of power lines or move her to the city cemetery with a ceremony? These projects never end,” Steve explains. “History, for a historian, is finding threads that don’t seem to be hooked to anything. That’s what historians do.” He told of a recent call from the museum saying they had some large heavy marble plaques, but knew nothing about them. They were beautiful bas-relief sculptures of a pair of women still in their original matting and old. He found the last recorded reference was at a San Francisco gallery in 1871. The mystery is how they got to Lewiston. “They had no ascension number and had never
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15
been in the collection because nobody knew what they were.” Steve worked with California galleries, relatives on the east coast, and found they had been in an old bank. For Steve it was an enjoyable thread to explore and is the fun work of a historian. History and education were a perfect mix. Steve taught 40 years ranging from primary school to doctoral students. “I loved it all,” he commented. “I’m a first born child and teaching was kind of the role I was as a kid and I just kind of fell into teaching.” In the process, he also received college credit from six of Idaho’s schools plus Arizona State University, a record few can match. ISI
Darlene Chase and Horses, a Lifetime Love Affair
By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel “Horses have been a passion of mine, and it seems as if everything I do is about that passion. It’s what makes me happy and active and balanced all this time,” explains Darlene Chase, a horse person through and through. “It dates to when I was a little girl, and it has taken me down great paths of accomplishments, friends, and different places. In high school I had a job on horseback penning cattle when they came out of the auction.” Darlene was born in Walla Walla in 1941, moved to Clarkston, and then to the Lewiston Orchards in 1950. After graduating from high school, she wanted to see a bit of the world and California was the place to be in the 1960s. She married former classmate, Cliff Chase, who was in the Navy in San Diego. They moved to Eugene where their two children were born, then to a little cabin in Troy, Idaho in 1968. It was then off to Deary, Idaho and a place geared toward horses with acreage, a barn, and horse arena. Darlene worked there as a school bus driver and 4H leader. The moves continued to Hayden, then to Seattle, and then back to Lenore where they built a little place overlooking the river where they lived for twelve years before finally settling back in Lewiston. During her years in Lenore, Darlene began working with American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) shows, something she continues to this day. “When I was in Deary, I was an avid show competitor. We had a special little mare that really did well and made my daughter and me both stars. She was so special! I really miss her today because she had a unique personality and many special qualities. Every horse I have owned since then has made me a better person. Animals do that,” she adds. Darlene started working for local horse shows as a volunteer but soon found the organizations needed a professional secretary. “The shows were growing. I hung my shingle out and away I went. I’m still doing that.”
For Darlene, a show consists of several disciplines. “We start with halter where they judge horses on confirmation. There is western pleasure, which is the movement of a horse in the ring walking, jogging, and loping. There is also English where they are in English gear. There’s now a big event taking off like wildfire called ranch riding, which was big back in the 70s with cutting events when a lot of cattle were available but later was dropped due to the expenses involved.” Darlene is happy to see its return. “Quarter horses are all-around horses. They can do anything.”
Her work as secretary for AQHA shows begins in the fall with lots of paperwork for the next spring’s shows. This includes processing applications to AQHA, hiring judges and their contracts, and just getting ready for the season that runs from May until October. She works with Lewiston, Spokane, Moses Lake, and Caldwell. Darlene has been involved with horse show programs locally, statewide, and nationally for the past 35 years and has served as secretary for about 30 years. “I’m one of the oldest secretaries, if not the oldest. I’m also one of the oldest competitors. When I go to a show, they have classes for us. It is usually people over 50 but I am 75, so 50 is pretty young for me. They call those who are 70 and older the ‘Super Select’. I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not,” she says with a chuckle.
She is not able to compete in shows where she serves as secretary so it usually means traveling some distance. “The shows where I get to play are few and far between. Usually I have to go to Montana.” Darlene’s husband passed away two years ago but she is very independent. “I have a man in my life and that is my horse,” she says with a laugh. “His name is Norman and he’s pretty darn special – a show horse, a big beautiful 16.1 hands gelding. He virtually takes care of me rather than my taking care of him, and he makes me happy to get up each morning and kind of brings new meaning to therapy. If I’m not feeling so good, I just go out and take care of Norman. He is a show horse so I get to compete a little bit on him at shows where I don’t secretary.” Working the different shows has provided opportunities to listen and serve Idaho people, and Darlene has become a strong advocate for youth involvement. “I’m always out there trying to get involved because I feel it teaches our kids responsibility, sportsmanship, humane animal treatment, and just everyday living interaction. Those are very important to me.” Darlene’s daughter and granddaughter have her passion for horses as well as good horsemanship skills. She also has a great granddaughter coming up, and Darlene is anxious to get her going with horses. Darlene feels her biggest accomplishment was being selected AQHA National Director for the State of Idaho, which takes her to conventions each March representing Idaho. She is also involved with the Northwest Interstate Quarter Horse Association and is a Founder of the Mountain States Quarter Horse Alliance, which formed about 10 years ago. And Darlene’s love of horses never wavers! “This passion I have has taken me down the horse trail,” she declares brightly. “It seems like every day I’m working on something with horses, horse shows, or horse programs.” ISI
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April/May 2017
Get Away at Grangeville By Bernice Karnop Where do you go when you want to get away from it all? If you’re trying to escape crowds, noise, pollution, traffic, hurry, and worry, try Grangeville. Grangeville sits in the middle of Idaho’s neck and is the county seat of Idaho’s largest county. Idaho County stretches across the width of the state from Montana to Washington. Bigger in area than New Jersey, it has less than 15,000 people and only one traffic light – and at least four million trees. Grangeville is surrounded by five Wilderness Areas and four National Forests. It lies on the south end of Camus Prairie, a rolling plain between the Snake and the Clearwater Rivers named for the pulpy nutritious bulbs that Native people harvested there for as long as they can remember. Jeff Kutner, from the Chamber of Commerce says, “Grangeville is a hub. People stay here and travel out to go fishing and boating on the rivers, hiking in the wilderness, and visiting historical sites.” Idaho’s U.S. Highway 95, which is the way travelers get from Boise and southern Idaho to the Canadian border, passes through Grangeville. Grangeville’s Main Street is Highway 13, and it meets
U.S. Highway 95 on its west end. Highway 13 connects with U.S. 12 to Lewiston as part of the Northwest Passage National Scenic Byway, Lewis and Clark’s route along the Clearwater River. The name Grangeville comes from the Grange Hall erected here in 1874 – its first building. The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was a secret fraternal society founded in 1867 to advance the interests of farmers. The organization declined, but the building in Grangeville remained a community center for a least a couple more decades. Native Nez Perce lived peacefully here, and aided Lewis and Clark on their journey along the Clearwater River north of town. Their history takes an ugly turn in 1877, the summer after Custer’s battle at the Little Big Horn. Just south of Grangeville on Highway 95, motorists see the site of the opening battle of the Nez Perce War, the vast sweeping terrain of White Bird Canyon. This sad event ended in Montana, just short of the Canadian border, more than three months later. Signage along the highway tells how the battle here proceeded. The White Bird Grade on U.S. 95 is breathtaking ride worthy of its designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Building it cost
April/May 2017
$8 million in 1975. Signs say it took 13 hours to drive the 197 miles between Boise and Grangevillle on the old road, which was paved in 1937. The curves and switchbacks of that old road would make a dizzying 36 circles if put together. Continuing south on Highway 95 are the towns of White Bird and then Riggins, where the Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers converge and head north. This deep gorge is only 1,800 feet above sea level, making it a small oasis in the mountains where residents can grow an array of delicious fruits, berries, and vegetables. At the north end of Grangeville is a reconstruction of a huge Columbian mammoth with its long, curving tusks. Bones of mammoths were discovered at Tolo Lake in 1994. Living up to their name, the Columbia mammoth could be 13 feet tall at the shoulders and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. The Idaho Museum of Natural History in Pocatello led digs at the site finding bones from at least nine mammoths. Tolo Lake today draws tamer creatures like birders and fishermen. In the early 1860s, gold was discovered in the Idaho Mountains, and rough towns like Florence and Elk City exploded with gold-seekers. Virtually nothing is left of Florence, but in 1862, its 14,000 residents built the first public school in what would become Idaho. They ripped $10 million dollars worth of gold from the ground before the next hopeful strike called them all away. Some miners stayed on to plant crops and raise cattle or sheep, staples of the economy today, along with the timber industry and tourism. For a genuine taste of the area and its people, come for the rodeo
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17
during Border Days over July 4, attend one of the free summer concerts, or check out the fly-in of antique aircraft in July. Anyone who loves the smell of leather and appreciates a good saddle may stop at Ray Holes Saddle Company in Grangeville. In 1936, Ray Holes opened his shop on Main Street, and built saddles that raised the standard for comfort, durability, and beauty. Ray’s gone but the Ray Holes Saddle Company is still open and they’re still producing world-famous saddles. The Grangeville Bicentennial Historical Museum is a treasury of historic information. A short drive to Cottonwood takes visitors to the eclectic Historical Museum at the Monastery of St. Gertrude. The castle-like Monastery of St. Gertrude was completed in 1924 by the Benedictine Sisters. Collections include religion, medicine, education, pioneer life, and Nez Perce history. An unusual collection of Asian artifacts reminds visitors of the many Chinese brought in by the railroad. Included are the personal items belonging to Polly Bemis (1853 to 1933). This Chinese girl, sold by her father in China, was purchased for $2,500 and taken to the mining camp at Warren. Her story is told in two books, Idaho County’s Most Romantic Character: Polly Bemis and Idaho Chinese Lore, both by Sister Alfreda Elsensohn. Cottonwood is also home to the worlds’ only bed and breakfast inn that’s shaped like a beagle. You’ll find it in Dog Bark Park. The best part of getting away from it all, is finding out what all you’ve been missing. Try a stay at Grangeville. ISI
April/May 2017
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Delicious Desserts
rosswordInventionsAnswers131 Answers: Famous Inventions
Idaho Senior Independent Feb/March 2017 page 9
ACROSS 1. Scottish Highlands’ pattern 6. ____ Brown from “Back to the Future” 9. “For ____ the Bell Tolls” 13. Alluring maiden 14. Feminists’ 1923 proposal, acr. 15. Push 16. Not Ionic or Corinthian 17. SNL’s “home” 18. Acquired behavior pattern 19. *Danish or croissant 21. *With ice cream 23. Color wheel feature 24. *”Baking with Julia,” e.g. 25. Rejuvenating spot 28. Stephen King’s “The Green ____” 30. License to park, e.g. 35. Olympic castaway? 37. Read, watched, or listened to 39. Hot spot 40. Swirling vortex 41. Wilt “The ____” Chamberlain 43. Beginning of musical staff 44. DNA and RNA 46. Recipe direction 47. Saw incision 48. Rh in Rh disease 50. “Follow me!” 52. Pig’s digs 53. Loud get-together 55. Actress Thompson 57. *Apple coat 61. *Like Cherries Jubilee 64. Defendant’s excuse 65. One who copies behavior of another 67. Lion sounds 69. “Thesaurus” author 70. Intelligent humor 71. Grassy plain 72. School activity 73. Anagram for #49 Down 74. Those in favor
DOWN 1. High degree 2. Roller coaster feature 3. Heavenly glow 4. March celebrants 5. Authoritative declaration 6. Refuse to accept 7. Eyeball shape 8. *Chocolate tree 9. George Michael/Andrew Ridgeley duo 10. Great Depression drifter 11. “Metamorphoses” poet 12. Boundary line 15. *Milk-based concoctions 20. Buggy control, pl. 22. Chop off 24. Cause to be enamored 25. *Common dessert ingredient 26. Study of behavior and mind, for short 27. Eagle’s nest 29. “____ Make a Deal” 31. Medieval torture device 32. The cocktail Moscow ____, pl. 33. Dead to the world 34. *Seaside candy 36. *In M&M’s pack: browns, greens, and these 38. Fit for a skinny one 42. Online troublemaker 45. What to do with an application 49. Greek letters on campus 51. Almost 54. Shredded cabbage dishes 56. Mexican detergent plant 57. Rental on the links 58. Medicinal succulent 59. Semis 60. Lend a criminal hand 61. Sheep’s milk cheese 62. Barnyard sounds 63. Marine eagle 66. *____-throwing contest 68. Vessel’s last call ISI
Leo Crane: Oldest Licensed Outfitter – “After paying all the bills and the crew, we made a whopping $200 that first year! I had to work in a cheese plant in Pocatello that winter to make ends meet,” he recalls. Luckily, the next year was better and Leo was able to stay in business. Not content to make a living just during big game seasons, Leo’s outfit included fishing cabins along the river before the dam was built. After the dam construction, the cabins were moved onto higher state land where they are to this day. Those cabins were used during hunting season but also helped build a thriving fishing business during the summer. Anglers and hunters still rent the cabins by the week. Leo’s love of the backcountry also contributed to his success as a fishing guide. “We would pack seven or eight miles into the Little North Fork of the Clearwater River,” he says. “It was, and is, a place for great fishing. Today, the fishing is as good as ever.” Fly-fishing is the way to go on the Little North Fork. “It is fantastic fly fishing,” he asserts. “We’ve had anglers from all over the world, including a fellow from New Zealand who said although he could catch a lot of fish there, he loved the trout and swift water of the North Fork.” That satisfied client, an older gentleman, took four guided trips with Leo. But according to Leo, fishing in Dworshak Lake is excellent, too. “The state planted kokanee and small mouth bass,” he shares. “Both are excellent to
Continued from page 1
eat and the bass are really fun to catch. The state record for small mouth bass came from Dworshak.” The life of an outfitter and guide can be relaxing one moment and deathly terrifying the next, and Leo has had his share of “adventures.” “I almost lost my life the first year after the dam was constructed and the lake was filling up,” he recalls. “I was leading a packstring of horses on the river trail that now was right next to the lake when the horse I was riding slipped into the water and started to swim to the middle of the lake where it ran into a log jam. The whole string of five animals followed me even though I had dropped the lead rope. I felt something bumping me from behind and when I turned, there were the other five animals in the water with me!” Leo then mentions that he can’t swim and is hanging onto the logjam for dear life. In the meantime, his riding horse swims to shore and gets out but the pack animals can’t get their footing because of the weight of the packs on their backs. While his pack animals struggled to stay afloat, Leo’s son, Scott, swam out to his dad with a rope and towed him back to shore then quickly began helping get the rest of the animals out of the water. “It took several hours to get all the animals out of the lake and up the creek to where they could get some solid footing,” the outfitter recalls. “Then, the last darn horse broke away from us and swam back into the lake.” Undeterred, non-swimmer Leo, got on a log, paddled out to the horse, got the pack off her, and led the horse back with a rope his brother-in-law swam out to him. Another “adventure” began with a pontoon boat loaded with hay for his horses. When Leo and his crew put the hay on the boat, they didn’t realize it was actually sitting on the lake bottom. “We loaded the boat really heavy,” Leo said. “The water was right at the top of the deck, clear (Continued on page 20) over the pontoons.”
April/May 2017
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Do I Need To File A Tax Return In 2017?
By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What is the IRS income tax filing requirement for retirees this year? My income dropped way down when I retired last year in 2016, so I’m wondering if I need to even file a tax return this year. New Retiree Dear New, There are several factors that affect whether or not you need to file a federal income tax return this year including how much you earned in 2016 and the source of that income, as well as your age and filing status. Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax filing requirement thresholds. For most people, this is straightforward. If your 2016 gross income, which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately, was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you probably won’t have to file. But if it’s over, you will. • Single: $10,350 or $11,900 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2017. • Married filing jointly: $20,700 or $21,950 if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $23,200 if you’re both over 65. • Married filing separately: $4,050 at any age. • Head of household: $13,350 or $14,900 if
age 65 or older. • Qualifying widow or widower with dependent child: $16,650 or $17,900 if age 65 or older. To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-8293676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the Tax Guide for Seniors publication 554 or see irs. gov/pub/irs-pdf/p554.pdf. Special Circumstances There are, however, some other financial situations that will require you to file a tax return even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirement. For example, if you had earnings from self employment in 2016 of $400 or more, or if you owe any special taxes to the IRS such as alternative minimum tax or IRA tax penalties, you’ll probably need to file. To figure this out, the IRS offers an interactive tax assistant tool on their website that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. You can access this tool at irs.gov/filing. Click on “Do you need to file a return?” under the Get Ready tab. Or, you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040. You can also get in person help
at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. See irs.gov/ localcontacts to locate a center near you. Check Your State Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check with your state tax agency before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state tax agencies see taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies. Tax Preparation Help If you find that you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly, or TCE, program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and lowincome taxpayers age 60 and older. Call 800906-9887 or visit irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you. Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at more than 5,000 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax Aide site call 888-227-7669 or visit aarp.org/findtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service. 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
The ABCs of Picking A Medicare Supplemental Policy By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you provide any advice on choosing a Medicare supplemental policy to help cover medical bills beyond what basic Medicare covers? I’ll be 65 in a few months and could use some assistance. Looking for Help Dear Looking, If you plan to enroll in original Medicare, getting a supplemental policy (also known as Medigap insurance) too is a smart idea because it will help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Here are some tips to help you choose an appropriate plan. Medigap Plans – In all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), Medigap plans, which are sold by private health insurers, come in 10 standardized benefit packages labeled with the letters A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. Plan F is the most popular policy followed by plan C because they provide comprehensive coverage. Plans K and L are high-deductible policies that have lower premiums but impose higher out-of-pocket costs. Plan F also offers a high-deductible version in some states. And a popular middle ground policy that attracts many healthy beneficiaries is plan N. For more information on the different types of plans and the coverage they provide, including Medigap options in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, see Medicare’s “Choosing a Medigap Policy” guide at Medicare. gov/pubs/pdf/02110-medicare-medigap.guide.pdf, or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to mail you a copy. How to Choose – To pick a Medigap policy that works best for you, consider your health, family medical history, and your budget. The differences among plans can be small and rather confusing. To help you choose, visit Medicare.gov, and click on Supplements & Other Insurance at the top of the page, then on Find a Medigap Policy, and type in your ZIP code. This will give you a list of the plans available in your area, their price ranges, and the names and contact information of companies that sell them. But it’s up to you to contact the carriers directly to get their specific pricing information. You can also compare Medigap prices on most state insurance department websites (see NAIC.org/state_web_map.htm for links), or you can order a personalized report from Weiss Ratings for $99 at WeissMedigap.com. Since all Medigap policies with the same letter must cover exactly the same benefits (it’s required by law), you should shop for the cheapest policy.
Elissa Edmonds 116 West C St Moscow, ID 83843 208-882-3431
Garrett Miyauchi 2024 Blaine Caldwell, ID 83605 garrett@garrettmiyauchi.com 208-455-9717 • 888-455-9717
PAGE 20 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
You’ll get the best price if you sign up within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B. During this open-enrollment period, an insurer cannot refuse to sell you a policy or charge you more because of your health. You also need to be aware of the pricing methods, which will affect your costs. Medigap policies are usually sold as either: community-rated where everyone in an area is charged the same premium regardless of age; issue-age-rated that is based on your age when you buy the policy, but will only in-
April/May 2017 crease due to inflation, not age; and attained-agerated where premiums start lower but increase as you age. Community-rate and issue-age-rated policies are the best options because they will save you money in the long run. You can buy the plan directly from an insurance company, or you can work with a reputable local insurance broker. Drug Coverage – You also need to know that Medigap policies do not cover prescription drugs, so if you don’t have drug coverage, you need to consider buying a separate Medicare Part D drug plan too. See Medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare plans. Also note that Medigap plans do not cover vision, dental care, hearing aids, or
long-term care. Alternative Option – Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a Medigap policy and a separate Part D drug plan, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan that provides all-in-one coverage. These plans, which are sold by insurance companies, are generally available through HMOs and PPOs. To find and compare Advantage plans visit Medicare.gov/find-a-plan. 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
The Pearly Gates Submitted by Julie Brantley A minister died and was waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him was a guy dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter approached the man and asked, “Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?” The man replied, “I’m Joe Mazzetti, a taxi driver out of Noo Yawk City.” St. Peter consulted his list, smiled, and said, “Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter
the Kingdom of Heaven.” When it was the minister’s turn, he stood proudly erect and in a booming voice said, “I am Joseph Snow, pastor of the Holy Church of the Shepherd for the last forty-three years.” St. Peter consulted his list and said to the minister, “Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” “Just a minute,” replied the minister. “That man was just a taxi driver, yet he got a silken robe and golden staff. How can this be?” “Up here, we work by results,” replied Saint Peter. “While you preached, people slept; while he drove, people prayed.” ISI
Leo Crane: Oldest Licensed Outfitter – Everything was fine until Leo’s wife walked to the front of the boat. “It went nose-down just like a submarine! The next thing I knew my wife and crew were throwing hay bales off the boat to keep us from capsizing.” And then there were the times when other hunters shot three of his horses thinking they were elk. “One of them was even a client of mine!” Leo laughs. Leo is proud of the fact he has been a licensed guide and outfitter since 1965. And in addition, he served on the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board for twelve years. To this day, Leo remains active in the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, attending legislative sessions in Boise each winter and donating time and expertise to raise money for worthy causes. “I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years,” he states. “When we first started, most of our guides were ranch kids who knew their way around stock and were used to long hours and harsh conditions. But our last few years as big game outfitters, we were getting kids with absolutely no experience from all walks of
(Continued from page 18)
life. Most had never seen a horse and had done no real big game hunting.” In desperation, Leo started a guide school in hopes of finding a few good kids by the end of the course. “We’d start with eight guys and be lucky to find two that could really work by the end of the training.” Leo says that over the years he’s seen all kinds of hunters. “Some guys arrived with rented rifles and the wrong ammunition. Others came with rifles that hadn’t been sighted in. One fellow, a guy from southern California, bragged he could make 500-yard shots but I didn’t believe him. To prove it, he stepped off his horse and shot a raven out of the sky like it was a clay pigeon: he was really an amazing shot.” Most of the time, Leo recalls, guides didn’t last more than one season. “Most of them had very little hunting experience and didn’t realize guiding means a lot of work, getting up long before daylight to feed and saddle stock, then leading hunters all day and returning to camp with even more chores to be taken care of.” Although Leo had his pontoon boat and fishing guide service filled in the summer months, and had a busy fall big-game hunting operation, winter was quiet so he began making pack bags and doing saddle repair during the off-season. “I also build pack saddles, craft breast collars, and bridles and personalize them however the client wants. Right now, I have a backlog of orders: it seems everybody waits until spring to get ready for hunting season.” Today, Leo makes most pack bags out of heavy-duty truck tarp vinyl instead of the more traditional canvas. “The outfitters and individual hunters like them better because you can just hose the blood out of them after packing meat.” Leo and his wife, Dee, sold the backcountry big game portion of their outfitting business in 2005 but kept the fishing business and their operation is now called Lake n’ Leather Outfitters. With a pontoon boat for fishing as well as offering beautiful dinner cruises featuring Dee’s fabulous cooking, this husband and wife team stay as busy as they want to be in what Leo calls, “semi-retirement.” With fifty years of experience, you’re in good hands if Leo Crane takes you fishing: Idaho’s oldest outfitter is waiting to show you a great time! ISI
April/May 2017
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 21
Tips For Managing Pain By Elizabeth Landsverk, MD Older adults are more likely to experience pain than the general population but they may be less likely to be treated for it. The most common reason that pain in elders is under treated is that it is under reported. According to Elizabeth Landsverk, MD, founder of ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, many elders consider pain a natural consequence of aging – something they just have to live with – and don’t report it to their doctors. “Untreated chronic pain puts a great deal of stress on the body and on the individual’s emotional health as well,” she adds. “It can lead to depression, anxiety, reduced mobility and strength, and loss of appetite and sleep.” Chronic pain can be caused by a wide range of factors. It is most frequently associated with musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis and degenerative spine disorders but may also be linked
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to conditions such as cancer, shingles, circulatory problems, and fibromyalgia, or may result from damage to nerves or the central nervous system. “The first step for someone suffering persistent pain is to have a doctor determine the source of the pain,” says Dr. Landsverk. “It is important to see a doctor who is familiar with pain assessment and treatment in elders, since the approach to pain management is different in older people than in the general population.” For less intense pain, Dr. Landsverk first recommends non-pharmacological steps like ice packs, physical therapy, and exercise. When pain relievers are called for, she recommends the progressive guidelines recommended by the American Geriatric Society. “Pain can be effectively managed in elders and pain relievers are safe for these patients,” she says, “but they must be prescribed cautiously, since older people metabolize medication differently, are more prone to side effects, and may suffer complications from interaction with other medications.” For these reasons, doctors often start their older patients on the lowest possible dose of a pain reliever and increase the dosage only as necessary. The American Geriatric Society classifies pain relievers in four groups: non-opioids, including acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); opioid analgesics; adjuvant drugs; and other medications. • Non-opioids: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is generally the first choice for pain relief in elders, particularly for arthritis and lower back pain. While there is some risk of liver damage with long-term use at high dosages, acetaminophen is the safest pain relief option. NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) may be more effective for inflammatory pain but pose serious risks of gastrointestinal bleeding and cardiovascular complications. Dr. Landsverk recommends avoiding them. • Opioid analgesics (acetaminophen with
oxycodone, hydrocodone, and stronger opioids such as sustained release oxycodone and morphine): The devastating effects of opioid abuse and addiction are well known. However, the risk of addiction is very low in older patients with no current or past history of substance abuse. But the side effects of opioids – particularly over-sedation and constipation – can be serious in elders and usage must be carefully controlled and managed. With cautious use, regular follow-up, and a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits, opioid analgesics can be safely recommended for some older patients with chronic pain. • Adjuvant drugs are those that were developed for other purposes but have been found to be effective for pain relief. These include some antidepressants and anticonvulsants such as gabapentin, which has been beneficial in relieving neuropathic pain. • Other medications used for pain are based on anecdotal evidence and limited clinical studies but have been found useful. Corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, and topical analgesics such as lidocaine fall in this category. “There are many treatment options for older adults suffering from chronic pain,” Dr. Lansverk concludes. “And there are lifestyle factors that can also mitigate its effects. The most important is to stay active – mentally and physically – to the maximum extent possible. It may seem contradictory but studies have shown that activity shifts the patient’s focus away from the pain and makes it more bearable. Another important factor is communication between patient and family, caregivers, and the medical team. Keeping relationships open and talking honestly about pain helps avoid misunderstandings and prevents the patient from feeling isolated and alone in dealing with the challenge of chronic pain.” Elizabeth Landsverk, MD, is founder of ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, a house-calls practice in the San Francisco Bay Area that addresses the challenging medical and behavioral issues often facing older patients and their families. Visit elderconsult.com for more information. ISI
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April/May 2017
PAGE 22 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
Don’t Feel As Good As I Look By Allen Smith When I was younger, I was indestructible. At least, I thought I was. All through my teens and 20s, I would routinely risk life and limb, cliff diving in Acapulco and driving at the speed of sound the wrong direction down one way streets. I did this all without giving a thought to the consequences if something were to go wrong. Old age has changed all that. Nowadays, before I even open my eyes in the morning, I run through a comprehensive physical checklist prior to swinging my feet out of bed; lower back: check, right and left knees: check, feet and ankles: check, hands, wrists and elbows: check, head and neck: check. If my inventory passes muster, I’ll pad into the kitchen to make coffee. If it doesn’t, I’ll initiate a whirlwind of events that inevitably lead to planning for my death and funeral. My last episode began with an innocuous pain on the inside of my cheek. Most people would sense some minor inconvenience, and then get on with their day. Not I. I need to know exactly what’s wrong with me and how it’s going to impact the rest of my life. By running the tip of my tongue over the affected area, I began to manufacture enough symptoms to warrant researching the malady on WebMD. I am not usually interested in what the discomfort is, but rather what it could be. WebMD has a handy symptom checker that lets me catalogue all of my daily aches and pains, saving them
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in a personal online profile on Facebook and Twitter. If anyone asks, “How are you today,” I can give them more information than they probably want. Next, I clicked on WebMD’s body map. After zeroing in on the face, they didn’t ask if it was inside or outside, the site presented a number of symptoms such as memory loss, drooping of one side of the face, uncontrolled flatulence, visible deformity, constipation, and impotence among 20 others. The worst one I could find that fit the bill was mild pain and discomfort. Then I had to choose if it was dull or achy, burning or stinging, throbbing, or none of the above. Since it was so early in the diagnostic process, I chose the last option. The site went on to refine my symptoms and ultimately suggested some possible diagnoses; trigeminal neuralgia, osteomyelitis, fractured eye socket, leprosy, salivary duct abscess, and a number of other lesser problems like sinusitis or toothache. It couldn’t be either of the last two, they were too simple. After some additional probing with a pair of French fry tongs, I settled on the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. It had a nice ring to it and would sound good in my obituary. It also had the most potential for gathering sympathy from my friends and getting prescriptions for strong painkillers and sedatives. Now that I knew what the pain was, I needed to start planning how my neuralgia was going to impact the rest of my life. Nothing I read said anything about how long I could expect to live with this life threatening condition, so I decided to assume the worst. I only had a few months to live. That being the case, I started to get my house in order. I went into Microsoft Outlook and generated a new email distribution group titled “Friends to Receive Death Announcements.” That way, I could mass email the bad news to all of my friends and the people who still owed me money while I moved on to other important tasks. Since I wasn’t entirely sure how long I had to live, I thought I’d better get a haircut. A clean cut makes it so much easier for the mortician should you suddenly drop dead. Since it was likely to be a closed casket service, I cancelled my gym membership. No sense worrying about losing weight anymore. I also sold my car, skis, snowshoes, furniture and gave away all of my clothes except for one nice suit and a few hospital gowns I had left over from my last knee surgery. They could come in handy should I become bedridden toward the end. I continued by cancelling my memberships to Match.com, REI, Jenny Craig, the Cheese of the Month Club, and The National Rifle Association, and submitted my three-month notice for termination of service for my utilities, Internet access, cell phone service, and NetFlix. Even if I ended up hanging around longer than I intended, they sometimes offer terminal patients discounts in their final hours, so it was worth the risk. The next day, my symptoms actually started to subside a bit, so I used
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April/May 2017 the end of a ball peen hammer to press against the side of my cheek until they came back. I found if I pressed hard enough, I could even cause some wicked discoloration that would look horrendous and confuse the dickens out of the medical examiner during my autopsy. Over the next month, I struggled with my neuralgia. No matter what I did, it seemed to get better.
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 23
So I started chewing a lot of hard ice cubes and sleeping with a rolled up sock in my mouth to try to recoup my symptoms. Unfortunately, no matter what I did, the pain inside my cheek began to subside. By the end of the week, it was completely gone. It’s been a while since I’ve woken up with any new complaints. That’s OK. I lost my job, and with
it my medical insurance, so I’ll need to curtail all my visits to the doctor and the dozens of prescription medications that line my nightstand. But I do have more free time to spend doing serious WebMD research now. In fact, I think I feel a new lump on the back of my neck… ISI
Podiatrist’s Five Secrets To Happier Feet During Warmer Season After hiding our feet in heavy socks and boots all winter long, we can now enjoy sandal season! Podiatrist Dr. Lauren Kishman, Akron General Orthopedics (Akron, Ohio), knows the most common foot complaints and lets you in on some secrets endure the heat of August. Five secrets to healthy feet: • Sweaty, smelly feet? Use antiperspirant – yes, on your feet. “Your feet have sweat glands. As your feet sweat, proteins are released which bacteria are able to feed on causing odor,” says Dr. Kishman. “It can be worse in the summer because of moisture and physical activity.” Change out your socks often and try a clear, roll-on antiperspirant on the bottom of your feet – apply after showering and drying your feet. If an over-the-counter antiperspirant does not work, there are prescription-strength antiperspirants to try – see your podiatrist. • Avoid fungus – wear sandals around the pool. “Fungus is easy to pick up in the summer, especially around moist environments like pools or hot tubs, so make sure to keep your feet covered there,” says Dr. Kishman. If you have athlete’s foot, over-the-counter antifungal medications are generally successful. Nail fungus, though, is typically more difficult to treat and often will require prescription medication to recover completely. • Don’t leave nail polish on all summer. “The chemicals and dyes in nail polish can discolor or crack nails. People often mistake this for a fungal infection,” says Dr. Kishman. “Don’t leave polish on for extended periods of time – remove after about two weeks and give your toes a break before reapplying.” Look for polishes with fewer chemicals or even try anti-fungal polishes. If you are not sure if it is fungus, see a podiatrist. Dr. Kishman cautions to make sure the salon where you go sterilizes its equipment. • Apply sunscreen all over your feet. “Skin cancer can affect the feet, so if there are any suspicious or dark spots on your feet – on your skin or underneath the nails – see a doctor to get them checked,” says Dr. Kishman. If you have cracking or dry skin, lotions with urea or ammonium lactate in them can help. • Ditch the flip-flops – wear supportive shoes. “In the summer we often trade supportive foot gear for flip-flop-type sandals. This predisposes the foot
to more stress through the arch, heel, and ball of the foot, which can lead to stress fractures and heel pain,” says Dr. Kishman. Look for thicker soles and arch support – avoid very thin or very flexible. A good way to check the shoe is to see if you can bend it in half – if you can, look for something sturdier. Also, sandals with more straps tend to be more helpful – you won’t have to grip with your toes as much so there is less stress on your tendons. Send Dr. Kishman your questions on Twitter @MyAkronGeneral #StinkyNoMore. Visit tinyurl.com/SummerFt to watch Dr. Kishman’s video and read an infographic. ISI
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April/May 2017
Mood Food For Suicidal Depression By Suzy Cohen You’ve been programmed to believe that serotonin deficiency causes depression. If SSRI antidepressants actually cured people, we would not see escalating rates of suicide, agitation, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The secret sadness that people carry is not always apparent to the rest of the world. For example, I went to lunch with a new friend who has a picture-perfect life by most standards. She confided to me that she has tried to kill herself three times and suffers with chronic depression. More than two decades have passed and not one psychiatrist or physician has ever suggested magnesium to this lovely lady. Not one! Unbelievable, considering the studies that suggest magnesium plays some role in depression, even with suicidal tendencies. The type of magnesium matters though. Studies suggest that cardiac problems may occur in the fetus when mothers take SSRI drugs during the first trimester, yet one in four women trying to get pregnant are taking an antidepressant. Antidepressants target several neurotransmitters, usually epinephrine, dopamine, or serotonin. But there are about 100 different brain chemicals involved in making you feel happy so targeting just those three is silly. No wonder there were thousands of suicides in 2009, and about a million attempts according to the CDC. Its ideal to
get information and/or track your progress if you have severe depression. Here’s how: • Interleukin 10 or IL-10. A blood test will measure this cytokine. Reduced IL-10 is seen with depression, feelings of helplessness, insomnia, and migraines. Lift your IL-10 with resveratrol, vitamin D, and exercise. • C Reactive protein. You’re more likely to be depressed when it’s elevated. Vitamins E and C, probiotics, and CoQ10 can lower this. • TNF alpha. This cytokine (measured in the blood) is high in depression, narcolepsy, bowel disease, and psoriasis. Reduce TNF (tumor necrosis factor) with probiotics, magnesium, lipoid acid, curcumin, boswellia, and essential fatty acids. • Thyroid hormone. Evaluate your Free T3. If it’s low, it’s a slam-dunk for depression, fatigue, and weight gain. I suggest you get this between 3.5 and 4.3 using thyroid medicine or supplements. Read my book, Thyroid Healthy. • Neopterin and biopterin. It’s a urine test and these two compounds are by products of chemical reactions involving tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) which is required to make epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This ratio is important if you have depression, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, or autism. Healing depression takes time, and requires relaxation. Breathing deeply reduces cortisol, a stress hormone that makes you tired, overweight, and sad! Balancing estrogen levels, raising progesterone, thyroid, or testosterone can help. Deficiencies of magnesium, vitamin C, B12, or folate are often involved. Methylation difficulties, definitely involved! Your gut is key, yet so overlooked. Probiotics improve your microbiome and positively influence your ability to deal with stress and make neurotransmitters. The cause of depression differs for everyone. Please don’t give up on life. Just so you have this handy, 800 273 8255, which dials right into the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline center. You are loved and needed by someone. I love you! I study every day to help you. And finally, don’t let anyone dismiss nutrients B – honestly your best mood food! ISI
Working Tirelessly To Reduce Breast Cancer Deaths
Save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in break-through research to find the cure for breast cancer. Over 40,000 women die annually from breast cancer in the U.S. By 2026, it is Susan G. Komen’s Bold Goal to reduce the current number of these breast cancer deaths 50%. Whether you are the doctor who won’t give up on a patient, the volunteer who gives time to push the cure forward, or the sponsor who allows us to provide vital breast health resources to the community. Together, we can save lives. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised by Komen Idaho Montana STAY LOCAL to provide
mammograms, diagnostic services, patient assistance, and breast health education programs to uninsured and underserved women and men in Idaho and Montana. We invest 25% in global breast cancer research to better diagnose, treat, and ultimately find the cures for breast cancer. To see how your dollars are being used locally visit
April/May 2017 komenidahomontana.org/grants/current-idahomontana-grants. To date Komen Idaho Montana has raised over $7 million for the fight against breast cancer. We need your help to keep this work going… Let’s Race for the Cure! Join us in Boise on May
The Health Fair Senior Advantage Your local health fair is a great place to explore healthcare resources and find information to help you stay active and healthy. Boundary Community Hospital is hosting a Community Health Fair on Saturday, May 13 from 9 am to noon. It’s an excellent opportunity to visit the hospital, take advantage of free tests, visit with local health vendors, talk with local emergency services (including a peek into a Life Flight helicopter), and support local health-related non-profit organizations. This year there will be a special area with Time Sensitive Emergency exhibits featuring trauma, stroke, and heart attack. Highlights of the Boundary Community Hospital Health Fair include: • On-site blood pressure check • Accucheck instant blood sugar test • Free Hemoglobin A1c (Glycohemoglobin) coupon ($38 Value) • Free Lipid Profile testing coupon ($62 Value) • Free information about Advance Directives – Your Right to Make Healthcare Decisions • Hearing screening • Nutrition counseling • Visit the Rehabilitation Services department and talk with the Therapists • Visit Diagnostic Imaging and see the state-of-the-art test equipment including the new Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner installed in summer 2016 As a Critical Access Hospital, we are often the first stop in an emergency, but our neighbors find that we offer much more to our Boundary County community. Find out for yourself. ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25
13 and in Helena on May 20 as we honor survivors, remember those we have lost, and raise money to find the cure. Take part in the fight by visiting komenidahomontana.org today and registering for the Race for the Cure®. ISI
“It Always Seems Too Early, Until It’s Too Late” Is Theme For National Healthcare Decisions Day By Kandice Dickinson Heart ‘n Home Hospice & Palliative Care, Fruitland With a mission to inspire, educate, and empower the public and healthcare providers about the importance of advance care planning. National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), April 16-22, 2017, is an initiative to get people talking and having the difficult conversations about wishes and preferences at the end of life. Talking about end-of-life healthcare wishes is difficult even in the best of circumstances; however, making decisions for a loved one in an emergency is even more complicated. End-of-life care planning is the process of making your healthcare wishes known, in the event that something should happen unexpectedly, leaving you unable to communicate your preferences and personal beliefs regarding your healthcare. These open conversations can reduce anxiety about a situation we are all subject to face. Part of the planning process includes completing advance directives, which is putting your preferences into writing. Advance directives come in two main forms: • A “healthcare power of attorney” designates the person you select to be your voice for your healthcare decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. • A “living will” designates what kinds of medical treatments you would or would not want at the end of life. If you have not completed your advance directives, now is the time to do so. To find free tools and resources on guiding yourself through this process, visit goHOSPICE.com or nhdd.org. ISI
Dermatologists Share Tips For Reducing Scars Outdoor activities and even the indoors can mean scrapes, cuts, and scratches. Whenever your skin is injured – whether by falling off a bike or tripping over a ball – a scar may form, as natural part of the healing process. Fortunately, there are things people can do at home to help care for these types of minor injuries and reduce the appearance of scars. Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar “The appearance of a scar often depends on how well your wound heals,” said board-certified dermatologist Ellen S. Marmur, MD, FAAD, associate clinical professor of dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “While scars from surgery or over joints like the knees and elbows are hard to avoid, scars caused by minor cuts and scrapes can become less noticeable by properly treating your wound at home.” To reduce the appearance of scars caused by minor injuries, Dr. Marmur recommends the following tips: • Always keep your cut, scrape, or other skin injury clean. Gently wash the area with mild soap and water to keep out germs and remove debris. • To help the injured skin heal, use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. Petroleum jelly prevents the wound from drying out and forming a scab; wounds with scabs take longer to heal. This will also help prevent a scar from getting too large, deep, or itchy. As long as the wound is cleaned daily, it is not necessary to use anti-bacterial ointments. • After cleaning the wound and applying petroleum jelly or a similar ointment, cover the skin with an adhesive bandage. For large scrapes, sores, burns, or persistent redness, it may be helpful to use hydrogel or silicone gel sheets.
• Change your bandage daily to keep the wound clean while it heals. If you have skin that is sensitive to adhesives, try a non-adhesive gauze pad with paper tape. If using silicone gel or hydrogel sheets, follow the instructions on the package for changing the sheets. • If your injury requires stitches, follow your doctor’s advice on how to care for the wound and when to get the stitches removed. This may help minimize the appearance of a scar. • Apply sunscreen to the wound after it has healed. Sun protection may help reduce red or brown discoloration and help the scar fade faster. Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply frequently. “Although no scar can be completely eliminated, most scars do fade over time,” said Dr. Marmur. “If you’re worried about the appearance of a scar, see a board-certified dermatologist. A dermatologist can answer your questions and talk about ways to make your scar less visible.” For injuries that are deep, very painful or become infected, Dr. Marmur recommends seeking immediate medical attention from a dermatologist or local urgent care facility. These tips are demonstrated in “Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar,” a video posted to the Academy website and the Academy’s YouTube channel. This video is part of the Dermatology A to Z: Video Series, which offers videos demonstrating tips people can use properly to care for their skin, hair and nails. A new video in the series posts to the Academy’s website and YouTube channel each month. For more information, contact the Academy at 888-462- 3376 or www.aad.org. ISI
Secret To A Happy, Long Life: Embrace Aging When it comes to aging, have confidence in your future. If you have a negative attitude about aging, odds are your attitude will have a profound impact on your later years, even on how long you’ll live, says Dr. Noelle Nelson, author of the new book Happy Healthy Dead: Why What You Think You Know About Aging Is Wrong and How To Get
It Right (MindLab Publishing). A 2014 University College London (UCL) study interviewed over 9,000 people with an average age of 65.
Contact us today at 1-800-HOSPICE for a free, in-home visit to get the assistance needed to stay comfortable and in your home!
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April/May 2017
PAGE 26 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
Those who had an overall sense of well-being – defined as having control, doing something worthwhile and having a purpose in life – were 30 percent less likely to die over the following 8 years than their least well being counterparts. UCLA Professor Andrew Steptoe, who led the study noted, “The findings raise the intriguing possibility that increasing well-being could help to improve physical health. There are several biological mechanisms that may link well-being to
improved health, for example through hormonal changes or reduced blood pressure.” “What do you value about getting older? If you say ‘Nothing!’ you’re in trouble,” says Nelson. “If what you see before you as you advance through your 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond is deterioration, ill-health, and decrepitude, well then, you’re in for a very unhappy time, and probably won’t live that long.” Another UCL study from 2015 found even fur-
ther proof: after suffering a heart attack or angina, the most pessimistic patients were twice as likely to suffer from additional serious health conditions over the next four years than were optimistic patients. “If all you see before you is a depressing future, it’s not too late to change that perception,” says Nelson. “Take on an appreciative and optimistic attitude. Seek out what makes you happy and fulfilled. If you do, you’ll find plenty of reasons to live a long and purposeful life. ISI
Nine Bone-Chilling Facts About Osteoporosis (NAPSI) No bones about it, osteoporosis – bone loss – is a serious disease, though fortunately, testing and treatments are available so you can protect yourself and those you care about. The Facts And Stats You Should Know: 1. Fifty-four million Americans have low bone density or osteoporosis. 2. One in two women can expect to develop osteoporosis at some time in her life. 3. Sixty thousand deaths annually are due to complications from osteoporosis. 4. Every year, 300,000 hip fractures occur and 20 percent of those affected die within a year, while half never regain their independence. 5. More U.S. women die each year from complications of hip fracture than from breast cancer. In fact, a woman’s lifetime risk of hip fracture equals her combined risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers. 6. Sixty percent of women 50-plus have either osteoporosis or low bone mass. 7. Seventy percent of fractures happen in people over 65. 8. Os teopor oti c fractures lead to 2.5 million medical office visits annually. 9 . Wo m e n w h o have a bone density test have 35 percent fewer hip fractures than those who do not, yet less than 24 percent of eligible Medicare patients are tested. Every three minutes, someone has a fracture due to
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osteoporosis – but you don’t have to be one. What To Do About It The experts at the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) say that if you’re a woman over 65 or a man over 70 or if you’re over 50, postmenopausal, and have risk factors for osteoporosis, you should probably talk to your doctor or other health care provider about getting a bone density test, especially if you’ve never had one. This test tells you if you have normal bone density, low bone density (osteopenia), or osteoporosis. It’s the only way to diagnose osteoporosis. The lower your bone density, the greater your risk of breaking a bone. The test can help you and your health care provider predict your chance of breaking a bone in the future and consider treatment to prevent that. Testing Your Bones X-rays are not able to show osteoporosis until the disease is well advanced, so the NOF recommends a simple, painless, non-invasive bone density test using a central DXA machine to diagnose osteoporosis. DXA stands for dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry. The test usually takes less than 15 minutes – though some newer testing devices are much faster than that. Understanding The Results Your bone density test results are reported using T-scores. A T-score shows how much your bone density is higher or lower than the bone density of a healthy 30-year-old adult. A health care provider looks at the lowest T-score to diagnose osteoporosis. What Your T-score Means According to the World Health Organization (WHO): • A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal bone density. Examples are 0.9, 0 and -0.9. • A T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 means you have low bone density. Examples are T-scores of -1.1, -1.6, and -2.4. • A T-score of -2.5 or below is a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Examples are T-scores of -2.6, -3.3, and -3.9. The lower a person’s T-score, the lower the bone density. A T-score of -1.0 is lower than a T-score of 0.5 and a T-score of -3.5 is lower than a T-score of -3.0. Learn More For further information about osteoporosis and your own risk, see your doctor. Many doctors are learning more about testing devices at hologic. com. ISI
• Deal with depression & stress • Preventing low blood sugar
A fun and interactive self-management program developed by Stanford University.
To learn about workshops in your area, call Qualis Health at 208-383-5942. Visit us at www.medicare.qualishealth.org/DSMP-Idaho.
This material was prepared by Qualis Health, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Idaho and Washington, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. ID-EDC-QH-2736-01-17
By Tait Trussell If your wife changed the baby when the tot needed a new diaper, it may be your turn soon to be the changer. People are becoming incontinent as they reach advanced ages, and many men will be changing their own diapers in old age. The nation’s fertility rate has dropped sharply. It’s at a record low of fewer than 63 births per thousand women of childbearing age. In the meantime, more than millions of Americans reach age 65 every year. As many as 25 million Americans – that’s about one in 10 adults – have some form of urinary incontinence, which can range from occasional small leaks when people cough or sneeze to a complete loss of bladder control. While most infants and toddlers wear diapers for two to three years, incontinence sufferers
April/May 2017 typically have to buy products for much longer, because the problem doesn’t go away. It’s something you have to live with permanently. Retiring baby boomers – Americans born between 1946 and 1964 – are creating a surge in the U.S. population age 65 and older, which is expected to nearly double to 83.7 million in 2050 and make up over a fifth of the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Over the past 15 years, sales of incontinence products in the United States have just about tripled to around $1.5 billion, according to the latest research. Worldwide, sales of $7 billion are growing at around 8.4 percent annually, faster than other paper-based household products, according to Ali Dibadj of Bernstein Research. Mr. Dibadj estimates Proctor & Gamble should be able to rake in over half a billion dollars in sales of incontinence products within a few years.
Back in the late 1970s, the Cincinnati company started selling adult-incontinence briefs under the brand Attends. However, it sold the North American business two decades later because it lacked the scale of sales P&G aims for with its brands. Around that time, market-research firms estimated Attends’ share of the adult-diaper market was under 5 percent, lagging behind incontinence products made by Kimberly-Clark, whose Depends and Poise brands had about half the market. The steps American companies are starting to take remind one of what Japanese companies did when a decades-long decline in the country’s birthrate and a rapidly aging and shrinking population forced them to expand into new areas to offset declines in sales of products geared toward younger consumers.
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 27
Speaking personally, at my advanced age, I haven’t yet come to the diaper stage. But I do have to climb out of bed three or four times each night to head for the bathroom. This, even though I take a capsule of Flomax each evening, which is supposed to stop such frequent excursions. One problem lies in the fact that when a person is lying down, much of the body’s water sinks to the kidneys. DiaperBuys.com, is one of dozens of online source for adult diapers. They generally refer to their main products for adults as incontinence supplies. But they understand that adult incontinence products go by a wide range of names. Just Google any of the relevant terms if you want the anonymity of purchasing products online rather than in person at a store. ISI
IdahoSeniorIndependent.com
PAGE 28 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
April/May 2017
Looking For Leks In All The Right Places Article & Photo By Holly Endersby Just how do you get an accurate count of sage grouse leks without disturbing the bird’s mating ritual? Well, if you are John Romero, you take to the air with Owyhee Air Research (OAR). Owned and operated by John and Cathy Romero, OAR is on the cutting edge of wildlife assessment for public agencies and private nonprofit groups interested in wildlife conservation. Their service is both critical and unique in helping agencies and groups manage wildlife. A visit to owyheeair.com will provide excellent examples of the type and variety of research they conduct. If OAR work wasn’t enough to keep this couple busy, they also own the ZX Ranch in the Owyhee country of Idaho where water in the arid West is the key to survival. Partnering with the Idaho chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Governor’s Office of Species Conservation, the Romeros have worked to increase meadow habitat and shallow ponds to rehab riparian areas along creek frontage enhancing habitat for scores of wildlife species and welcoming the return of beaver to an area long devoid of these master wetland builders. It was this commitment to working on their own property that put John in the forefront of sage grouse planning. He is still on the local sage grouse working group, which he chaired for five years but also served on the state sage grouse planning group for ten years. And it is this commitment to wildlife that is the basis for their air research as well. Cathy was raised on a ranch in northern Nevada’s Paradise Valley. She and John met in college and stayed true to their western roots, buying the ZX over 20 years ago. John’s degree is in Wildlife Management and although he did a short stint with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, his main work was as a pilot for American Airlines for 21 years. “I spent that time commuting from the ranch to places like New York
City and Miami,” he says. Ten years ago, it was time to refocus, however. “I took early retirement and Cathy and I started OAR. What I knew how to do is fly, so we found a niche as a wildlife aviation service. You can count on one hand the number of true wildlife pilots,” John shares. With Cathy supporting this second career, the two energetically sought contracts, using the ranch airstrip as their home base. “Our first job was with the Wildlife Conservation Society tracking wolverines in the Tetons and Wind River Range of Wyoming,” says John. “I was bundled up in long underwear and a heavy coat using radio telemetry to track wolverines.” This couple has pioneered the use of aerial infrared technology to precisely document the wildlife they are surveying; including the hundreds of sage grouse leks they fly over in March and April at the height of the lekking season when two OAR planes are busy in five states and the Province of Saskatchewan. John and Cathy are excited when they document new leks and can add to the database so important to wildlife management agencies. “We found quite a few new leks this past spring flying for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),” shared John, “including a really big lek in the Owyhees right on the Oregon/Idaho border.” One new, large project is to find and count new leks for the USFWS over 840,000 acres near Lakeview, Oregon. This is big, rugged high desert country making air surveying more practical than ground lek counts. And precision is critical. “We divide the area into transects,” John explains, “so that we have a standard approach to our surveying.” But how can John and Cathy be sure their counts are accurate? One way, John explains, is by counting wildlife that is a known quantity.
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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 29
Valley County And The Payette River Corridor – Cascade, Donnelly, McCall – Just Right for Visitors By Bernice Karnop McCall is one of Idaho’s better-known year-round resort towns, with summer weather “like Baby Bear’s porridge, just right,” according to Cort Conley’s Idaho for the Curious. The winter weather is just right for skiing, the mean snowfall being 151 inches, the highest for any town in the state. In the summer, beautiful Payette Lake is just right for boating, strolling on the sandy beach, and watching grandchildren play in the water. The town is just right for buying cool stuff at a specialty shop, tasting unusual varieties of ice cream at an ice cream store, and eating amazing meals at an upscale restaurant. Activities available include guided horseback rides, various events at Ponderosa State Park, visits to the fish hatchery where Chinook salmon are raised, and learning surprising history at the smokejumper base that’s been here since 1943. Eight miles north of town is Brundage Mountain where in summer, ski runs become trails for mountain bikers. When it’s
not ski season, everyone should ride the gondola to its 7,000-foot summit to have their breath taken away by the scenery. Those who can tear themselves from the lake and town can choose any number of day trips through the scenic and historic mountains. Driving a paved road north for 16 miles takes travelers up the North Fork Payette River to the small but lovely Upper Payette Lake. Fourteen miles further north is Burgdorf Hot Springs, a rustic pool with a national forest campground for accommodations. Travelers going west to New Meadow and Cambridge arrive at Hells Canyon. Traveling south on U.S. Highway 55, puts one on the Payette River Scenic Byway. Near Donnelly, the North Payette River enters Cascade Lake, a much larger body of water that’s a big draw for water enthusiasts with lots of sailing, waterskiing, fishing, swimming, and camping. The lake, actually a reservoir, was completed in 1948, has 110 miles of shoreline, 600 campsites, 24 boat launches, and lots of fishing – in winter and summer. At the south end of the lake
April/May 2017 (Continued from page 28) “OAR has worked with the United States (Continued from page 29) Geological Service (USGS) for four years determining the efficacy of using is the town of Cascade, the seat of Valley County and an outdoor enthusiast’s aerial infrared to count sage grouse leks. Our method included counting delight, with sporting goods stores and restaurants. It got its start with the hundreds of leks with ground observers while simultaneously counting the lumber industry and a big Boise Cascade sawmill. same leks from the air using infrared. The research confirmed aerial infraThroughout the year there are activities galore in Cascade – whether it’s red is a viable method to count leks and furthermore, indicates that aerial whitewater rafting, kayaking, the Payette River Games, Kelly’s Whitewater infrared is the most accurate way to count leks,” John explains. Park, or the Valley County Fair & Rodeo. And at the end of the day treat Maintaining this kind of high standard of excellence is what keeps fed- yourself to a luxurious rest at The Ashley Inn. eral agencies returning to OAR. The company has also done wild horse Leaving the highway at Cascade going east is a paved Boise National surveys for BLM and recently has been contracted by both the U.S. Forest Forest road that some say takes drivers on the finest backcountry drive in Service and BLM to do aerial reconnaissance of wildfires, helping to map Idaho. Fishermen can stop off at Warm Lake, where the pavement ends, the blazes and identify hot spots. or take a choice of roads from there to get to the edge of the Frank Church In addition, their sophisticated, military grade equipment, especially the River of No Return Wilderness and small mining towns, including Yellow infrared sensors, allows them to survey difficult to find newborn animals Pine. Adventurers should check with the Payette National Forest Service that are often hidden by their mothers. For example, they are able to find office in McCall on the status of the road. The Elk Creek Summit at 8,670newborn big horn sheep due to the heat signature these youngsters produce foot elevation can be blocked by snow until July 4. even if they can’t be seen visually. And their surveys are not limited to just Anyone wanting relief from Boise’s heat can head out on U.S. Highway terrestrial species. OAR can also detect and count salmon redds (where 55. You’ll find lots of “just right” places to stop and play, from Cascade all the female lays eggs) in streams and monitor raptor nesting sites as well. the way to McCall. ISI John and Cathy both say retirement isn’t something planned for the near future. “We just bought an airplane from England with two engines and high wings designed specifically for wildlife surveying,” John says. But, John and Cathy are quick to point out that their success is a team Article & Photo By Dianna Troyer effort. “We have great, professional, highly motivated, and dedicated emLike characters in a film or book, the historic buildings in Idaho City tell ployees.” It’s clear that John, Cathy, and the folks at Owhyee Air Research will be stories that mesmerized Barbara McClain when she moved to town decades ago. flying high for wildlife around the West for many years to come! ISI “When you walk through these houses and businesses that were built in the 1860s and 1870s, it’s easy to imagine what it was like to live here when it was a wild gold boomtown,” says Barbara, 65, Chairperson of the Idaho City Historical Foundation’s Building and Grounds Committee. Barbara says in 1979, friends persuaded her to move to Idaho City, a town of 500 tucked in the forest about 36 miles northeast of Boise. “I loved the mountains, sense of community, natural beauty, and got hooked on the town’s historical significance. A friend, Manetta Schrite, talked me into joining the foundation.” Barbara soon learned how Idaho City became a raucous mining town. In 1862, prospectors George Grimes and Moses Splawn found gold in a creek and set off Idaho’s gold rush in the Boise Basin. From 1863 to 1896, the land around Idaho City yielded more than 2 million ounces of gold with an estimated value of more than $250,000,000. Idaho’s gold rush was considered more prosperous than those in California and Alaska were. For two decades, Idaho City had a population of more than 10,000, making it the largest city in the Northwest. Residents supported more than 250 businesses, including three dozen saloons, theaters, an opera, and two dozen law offices. Many of the town’s buildings were the first of their kind in the young Idaho Highest Over 35 Prices Territory. Idaho’s first territorial jail, first Masonic Lodge, first Odd Fellows Turn Your Years S erv Paid In Old Forgotten the Trea ing Hall, and first Catholic Church for Euro-Americans were all built in Idaho City. Decades Treasures sure Into Cash!!! Valley Barbara says Idaho City’s concentration of historic buildings makes it a popular tourist destination during summer. While many aged buildings can Estate Jewelry We Pay Top Prices For Gold, Silver & be seen on a self-guided tour, others still house businesses and government Platinum Items. 9k, 10k, 14k, Dental 18k, 22k, 24k All Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry Any Condition New, Used, Or Damaged offices. We Buy From All Time Periods. Diamonds 1/2 Carat & Larger Loose Or Mounted “Only the Idaho State Historical Society maintains more buildings than All Shapes & Quality we do,” says Barbara. “We own or maintain four parks, two museums, the Pioneer Cemetery, and nine buildings including several that were residences Sterling and businesses.” Silver She says most visitors are surprised to learn that about 45 percent of the first residents, about 5,000, were Chinese. They worked as miners or in businesses in town. U.S. Silver Coins One of the most popular stops on a downtown tour is the Pon Yam Buying 1964 Coin Collections & Older House, the site of the Chinese Museum and Cultural Center. A successful businessman, Pon Yam used the building from 1867 to 1885. He filled its shelves with Chinese foods, including bean curd, cuttlefish, dried oysters,
PAGE 30 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
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bamboo shoots, and dried duck. He also sold Chinese books, clothing, gambling equipment, and firecrackers. Other historic buildings include a blacksmith shop, jails, and residences. With Idaho City’s intense winters and dry summers, the buildings become weatherworn and need annual maintenance. “We have wonderful people who write grants,” says Barbara. “Inmates come up from the South Idaho Correctional Institution for three weeks in April to help out. Plus we have great volunteers. They clean up the cemetery, paint buildings, repair roofs, and stabilize buildings.” On April 1, the Idaho City Historical Foundation (ICHF) received special recognition with the Sister Alfreda Elsensohn Award, the state’s highest award to a museum. It recognizes excellence in historical preservation and interpretation and was presented by the pooled resources of the Idaho Humanities Council, the Idaho Heritage Trust, and the Idaho State Historical Society. The award carries a $10,000 prize. Barbara says the money will be used to further preservation of the
April/May 2017 Pon Yam House along with other preservation and interpretation projects. The ICHF is also is the process of developing a Smoke Jumper and Fire Museum at the Strauss house, which will be a collaborative effort with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. “We look forward to a great summer,” says Barbara. “The Boise Basin Museum is open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on weekends after that. It’s a great place to begin to explore Idaho City.” She suggests starting a self-guided walking town tour of the historic district with a copy of the ICHF’s “Bricks and Boardwalks” booklet. “Or you can schedule your own tour with one of our guides.” More information about the Idaho City Historical Foundation may be found at idahocityhf.org or idahocityhf.org. ISI
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 31
Randy Priest Crafts Hats For All Personalities And Occasions
By Dianna Troyer Randy says hats have intrigued him since he Whether Randy Priest likes it or not, and was a teenager growing up in the Pocatello area. whether it’s a blessing or curse, he concedes he Just for fun, he often bought hats at pawnshops, has been destined in life to make took them apart, cleaned and custom western hats. reshaped them, and sold them. “Some unbelievable things While visiting his brother in have happened to me because Idaho City, he met a renowned of the hats,” says the 74-year-old hat maker, Manetta Bingham Donnelly resident. “I’ve always Rowell Schrite, who lived there seemed to have a knack for matchand described herself as the ing a certain hat style and its creas“old hat gal.” es with a person’s personality.” “She was a bundle of enAn award-winning hat maker ergy and had learned to make 5541 Overland Boise, ID 837 5541 Overland Road and natural storyteller, he named hats from her husband when ID 83705 his shop Silver Tip Custom Hats they lived in Boise and had a WhenBoise, you want simple, dignified, inexpensive servic (208) 322-3590 for grizzly bears that once roamed shop. After he died, she moved Call the Treasure Valley’s First Cremation Society the mountains near town. During to Idaho City and kept making Saveyou hundreds on services and merchandise. When want simple, inexpensive services... a lull in business, he sometimes hats. She showed me a few 322-3590 no-obligation details entertains clients with stories of techniques and loaned me CALL Save hundredsfor on Free, services and merchandise. the serendipitous events that have some equipment, and I bought send this coupon: Call (208) 322-3590 for details or happened to him during four desome supplies from her. She mail this coupon for your FREE, no-obligation information. Please send me FREE information at no obligatio Randy Priest, an award-winning cades of hat making. was no bigger than a yellow “About 10 years ago, there was hat maker, has been making hats jacket, but she could have quite AME Name: road construction in town and the for more than four decades. [Photo a sting, and everyone loved provided by Randy Priest] H#Address: only way to get to my shop was by her.” City: State: Zip: walking to it,” he says. “My lease was up in a couple Eventually, friends persuaded Randy to move DDRESS Phone: Email: of weeks, and I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to to Donnelly, where he has sometimes escaped renew it or invest in a different storefront.” the winters, only to meet international hat makers ITY STATE ZIP As he sat and pondered his financial future, a unintentionally. www.cremationsociety-idaho.com longtime client happened to stop in. While vacationing in Oaxaca, Mexico one “He flipped through my notebook and put winter, he happened to meet two old-time hat stickers on 25 hats he wanted me to make for makers. They taught him a centuries-old donkey him,” says Bill, who crafts hats from felt, leather, belly weaving technique using a material made suede, a 50/50 blend of beaver and rabbit hair, and from desert sheep hair that had been infused with even palm leaves. “Then he wrote me a check for wasp wax and mesquite gum. $12,000 and walked out the door.” “These days, I think I’ll adopt an otter’s philosoThe money enabled Randy to move to his cur- phy: if it’s not fun, I won’t do it. You never know rent location, a historic building on Main Street that who will drop by the shop here, so that keeps it once housed the town’s bank. Frequently people fun for me.” ISI have even bought the hats off Randy’s head. 3 Basics of Reverse Mortgages: “I name some exorbitant price for whatever I’m • No monthly payment (you are still responsible for taxes, wearing, and they still buy it,” he says. “I’m making insurance and maintenance) a living but not making a killing at this. I just make • Tax-free money from home hats. I never keep track of how many I make in a equity* year.” *The information in the advertisement does not constitute tax advice He has even made hats for celebrities including country singer Lyle Lovett and actors Scott Glenn • Never owe more than the home and Sam Shepherd. Bobette Wood is worth, or your mortgage Loan Officer balance, whichever is lower “My daughter is a movie producer so that’s how NMLS ID 875315 7639 W. Riverside Drive those celebrities heard about me,” he says. “Some Boise, ID 83714 collectors come to me, too, after hearing about my Direct 208-867-8918 Office 208-333-8204 hats through word of mouth.” bobettew@fairwaymc.com Randy received statewide recognition for his www.bwoodlending.com quality craftsmanship. In 2010, he won the Excellence in Folk and Traditional Arts Award from the Idaho Governor’s Awards in the Arts program. 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 Randy says he would like to pass on the tips 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 of his trade. “I’d love to have an apprentice,” he 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. says. “It’s just me here and sometimes it gets to Reverse mortage borrowers are required to obtain an eligibility certificate by recieving counseling be a little too much for one person. A few months 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 ago, I got burned out, so I went to see my kids in 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 California. Now I’m ready to go again.” specific situation. Owners are still responsible for property taxes, insurance and maintanance.
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PAGE 32 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
April/May 2017
Bill Burke Masters The Ancient Art Of Forging Damascus Steel
By Dianna Troyer As he folds and pounds layers of hot glowing metal, Bill Burke envisions patterns that will form in the Damascus steel he is making to forge his internationally renowned knives. “I named this Dragon’s Breath,” he says, showing a length of steel that has surface patterns like billowing flames. Since he started forging Damascus steel nearly 20 years ago, Bill, 55, has worked to perfect the art and science of the ancient craft. Named for the city in Syria where swords were made from the durable sharp steel centuries ago, Damascus steel is made by forging and hammering together metals to create unique patterns that range from mosaics to waves or swirls.
Bill specializes in making high performance to me to border on magic.” working knives by forging 52100 bearing grade With his experience as a millwright and welder, carbon steel, 5160 carbon steel, and his own he began forging knives. Damascus steel. Utilizing a san mai technique “They wouldn’t hold an edge, so I swallowed (three flat pieces), he uses 52100 for the core with my pride and called Ed,” he says. a jacket of stainless or Damascus steel. He drove to Ed’s shop in Riverton, Wyoming to He’s known for his professional chef knives, learn what he was doing wrong and met a kindred which sell quickly at bladegallery.com. spirit and lifelong friend. After several marathon “He won’t say this because he’s humble, but sessions and learning from failures, Bill began to he’s considered by many to perfect his knife-making skills, be among the top two makfocusing on heat-treating ers of custom chef knifes techniques. in the world,” says his wife, Starting in 2001, he began Patti. “Chefs argue about who winning prestigious awards makes the sharpest knives.” for his knives, from miniatures In 2008, Bill completed to Bowies and swords, at the rigorous requirements competitive shows throughout to become an American the Northwest. Bladesmith Society master “I’ll try to make anything smith. To become a master with an edge,” he says. smith, applicants must make In 2004, they moved north a Damascus pattern with a of Boise to help Patti’s dad at minimum of 300 layers. Testhis ranch and ended up buying the knife involves using ing a home and shop from her it to cut the end from a onebrother and her dad. inch diameter free-hanging “It’s a good thing we live in rope, chop a 2 x 4 board in the forest away from people two twice, and remain sharp because this is a noisy busienough to shave arm hair. ness,” says Bill. His shop is a Last year, Bill Burke showed his Damascus The knife is then clamped steel knives at the Sydney Knife Show in quarter-mile from their house. one-third of its length into Australia. At his shop in Idaho City, he makes “Hand-forging steel is fasa vice and bent more than world-renowned knives from Damascus cinating with different cultures ninety degrees without break- steel he has forged. [Photo courtesy of Bill around the world developing Burke] ing. their own methods,” he says. Famous for his craftsIn 2008, he traveled to manship, Bill was invited in Japan to learn traditional February to Australia for three weeks to teach the techniques for making tamahagane, a steel made American Bladesmith Society’s Intro to Blade- from iron sand. smithing class for the first time and to demonstrate The iron sand is put in a tatara, a clay tub furadvanced Damascus steel techniques. nace that is traditionally 4 feet wide, 4 feet high, “It’s starting to take off there,” he says. and 12 feet along. Charcoal is added to heat the Bill’s love for making knives started when he furnace to 2,600 to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. was about 7 years old growing up in Salmon. Sand and more charcoal are added every 10 “I made them from hacksaw blades,” he says, minutes and stirred for 36 to 72 hours. With the laughing. “They were crude, and I never put han- steel done and cooled, the furnace is broken. The dles on them. In high school, I upgraded to power steel is removed and broken into smaller pieces hacksaw blades and drew them to a blue temper and sorted according to texture and color. It is used on top of a wood stove.” traditionally to make swords. During the next 20 years, instead of making “There are only about 40 of us in the U.S. who knives, he struggled un- do it,” says Bill, who taught a workshop in Alaska successfully to buy one about the method. “You end up with a big bloom that “could stand up to in a kiln, let it cool, break it into wafers, and forge the everyday tasks that the pieces together.” were part of my life.” The Burkes’ three grown children, Joseph, WilHe worked as a liam, and Jessica, have also fallen for the ancient millwright for a mine and art and make Damascus steel and knives. Joseph a lumber company, was sells lengths of his hand-forged steel called billets a butcher, managed a through his business, Burke Damascus. tire store, and was a Bill taught Jessica to make Damascus steel residential construction knives in high school for a senior class project. carpenter. Once her project was done, she continued to make In 1998, a convolut- knives and sells them to clients nationwide through ed set of circumstances bladegallery.com. led him to his knife-mak“I really like doing it because it’s a centuriesing career. A competitive old craft. Plus, I like making something for myself rifle shooter, he was in a instead of buying it already made. You can make shop in Montana to buy so many things with Damascus steel like knives, a specific type of gun- spoons, wine racks, coat racks, hair picks and powder when he hap- jewelry.” pened to see the book, A junior at Idaho State University, Jessica’s Knife Talk by Ed Fowler. next project is making wedding bands for herself The thought that and her fiancé using a small piece of meteorite. a knife was capable of “We wanted something unique,” she says with doing the things that Mr. a smile. Fowler was claiming his Bill says the intriguing aspect of Damascus knives could do seemed steel is that “you never quit learning or making new patterns. I can see them in my head and can’t wait to see how they’ll come out in reality. While gazing into a forging fire, you can see back in time to when men fought for their lives with the tools they had created in that same fire.” ISI
April/May 2017
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 33
2017 National Nursing Home Week By Bernice Karnop In observance of National Nursing Home Week, May 14-20, 2017, nursing facilities across Idaho will be sponsoring events meant to encourage residents, families, and others to engage with their loved ones, family members, or neighbors. In fact, everyone can get set to enjoy the week as the American Health Care Association (AHCA) has designated it as the week to celebrate with the theme of Spirit of America. Families, friends, businesses, and the public are encouraged to recognize and appreciate during National Nursing Home Week the million Americans who need assistance with daily living needs. This week is set aside to remember not only residents and rehab patients, but also their families, care providers, and staff.
It just takes a visit to a nursing center near you to see the American spirit in action, where you can hear stories from proud veterans, immigrants, and other hardworking Americans from different faiths and backgrounds. This variety of people from different cultures and experiences helps define our proud country. Bring cookies, flowers, or other tokens of appreciation during National Nursing Home Week – or any time of year. A simple visit may be just the boost a resident needs. Those things that brighten the day for the resident brighten the day for caregivers as well. National Nursing Home Week is an annual observance sponsored nationally by the American Health Care Association, based in Washington, D.C. For more information on National Nursing Home Week, visit nnhw.org. ISI
Keep Older Guests Safe by Reducing Home Hazards
By Lisa M. Petsche Did you know that falls are the primary cause of injury and hospitalization for older adults, and that half of those injured do not regain their former level of independence? Health and age related changes that contribute to falls include arthritis, decreased sensation in the feet, known as peripheral neuropathy, loss of strength, visual impairment, balance problems, and the use of certain medications. Hazardous conditions in home environments are the other major cause of potentially serious spills. When guests to your home include relatives or friends who are physically frail, disabled, or have sensory impairment such as low vision, extra planning and preparations are in order to help ensure their safety. Planning Ahead Before extending an invitation, determine if guests have any special needs or limitations. Then go through your home and the surrounding property to check for potential problem areas. Consider the following factors. • Is parking available close to the entrance? Are the driveway and walkways level and in good condition? • Are entrances and interior doorways wide enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair? If a prospective guest uses one, find out the width of it and measure to be sure.
• Are all areas of your home that guests will need to access like the entrance, living room or family room, bathroom, dining area if there’s going to be a meal, and sleeping area if they’re staying overnight, on one level? If not, are prospective guests able to navigate stairs? If entrance steps are the only barrier, look into renting a portable ramp from a medical supply store. • Are porch steps and interior stairways in good repair, and do they have a non-skid surface? Are steps evenly spaced and moderate in height? Are there handrails, preferably on both sides, and are they secure? Ideally, rails should project past the top and bottom steps. • Is there adequate lighting throughout your home, including in closets, hallways and stairwells? If necessary, get battery-powered dome lights that easily attach to the wall, and what about at entrances and along outdoor paths? • If your home can’t accommodate your guest, perhaps it would
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be a good idea for a take him or her out to a restaurant that’s accessible. If you’re organizing a family gathering that includes the person, consider another member’s home, a restaurant with a private dining room, or a community hall, depending on the size of the guest list. Preparing Your Home • Ensure outdoor walkways are clear of clutter and debris. Be prepared with the necessary supplies for clearing snow and ice. • Replace burned out light bulbs both indoors and out. Consider using higher wattage bulbs in place of low watt ones. • Remove clutter in rooms, hallways, and
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April/May 2017 stairwells. If necessary, rearrange furnishings so guests can move within rooms freely and easily. Relocate excess pieces to a spare room. • Put away furnishings on casters. Also remove items that might pose a tripping hazard, such as footstools and floor plants. • Ensure walkways are clear of electrical and telephone cords. • Collect pet toys and stash them away. Do the same with children’s or grandchildren’s toys, unless your guests will include youngsters, in which case keep all toys in the corner of one room. • Ensure throw rugs and scatter mats have a non-skid backing. Better yet, remove them, since they are one of the most common causes of falls. • Have non-skid slipper socks available if you wish guests to remove footwear at the door. Be aware, though, that some older folks may need to keep their shoes on to ensure proper support. During The Visit • Keep lights on in all areas guests might need
to access, both inside and outside. • Locate candles where they can’t be inadvertently knocked over, or use the flameless, batteryoperated type of candles that flicker realistically. • Keep pets, especially high-energy kittens or puppies, in an area separate from the entertaining zone, so they don’t startle guests. Bear in mind that sleeping cats and dogs are also a tripping hazard. • Reserve for senior guests some chairs that have arms; the higher and firmer the seat, the better. • Be cautious about serving alcohol, which can impair balance. • If a guest experiences a dizzy spell, have them immediately sit down until it passes, and rise slowly when they’re ready to stand. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal experience with elder care. ISI
Enhance Your Ability To Cope With Changes And Challenges
By Lisa M. Petsche Although it has rewards, caring for a frail or ill older relative can be physically, psychologically, and emotionally demanding. The caregiving journey is particularly challenging when it continues over a long period and when the elder has a progressive disease, complex needs, a demanding personality, or mental impairment. Some caregivers seem to cope better than othGovernment Subsidized ers do with the ups and downs of providing care. Apartments for Self-Reliant Elderly The reasons can be varied, but one of them has to do with resilience, which the Merriam-Webster dicsenior living tionary defines resilience as “an ability to recover ~CALDWELL~ from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.” • A Loving Family Atmosphere If you are a caregiver, read on to learn about • On Site Beauty Parlor & Laundry Units strategies for fostering resilience. They can help • Home Cooked Meals Every Day you cope with the ongoing stress and periodic 208-454-0004 • 612 W Logan St crises involved in caring for someone who has a LoganParkSeniorLiving.com chronic illness. • Accept the reality of your relative’s disease. Denial will prevent you from moving forward and getting your relative the help he or she needs. • Learn as much as possible about the illness and its management, and educate family and friends to help them understand. Becoming informed is empowering. • Hope for the best possible outcome but prepare for the worst. Unanticipated situations can be the most difficult to handle. • Pick your battles; do not make a major issue out of every concern. • Nurture your spirit. Do things that bring inner peace, such as meditating, reading, writing in a journal, or listening to music. • Create a relaxation room or corner in your home – a tranquil spot you can retreat to in order to rejuvenate. • Develop a calming ritual to help you unwind at the end of the day. Avoid listening to or watching the news before going to bed. • Look after your health by eating nutritious meals, getting adequate rest, exercising and seeing your primary physiNursing cian regularly. and Rehabilitation • Stay connected Mountain Valley to your friends and community groups to which
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you belong. • Minimize contact with people who drain your energy or make you feel inadequate – those who are pessimistic, critical, or self-focused. • Simplify your life. Set priorities and do not waste time or energy on unimportant things. If finances permit, hire a housecleaning service or a personal support worker or companion for your relative, to free up some of your time and energy. • Be flexible about plans and expectations. Recognize that there will be good days and bad days, and therefore how you and your relative feel will fluctuate. Take things one day at a time • Give yourself permission to feel all of the emotions that surface, including resentment and frustration. Remind yourself that you are doing your best and are only human. •Don’t keep feelings and problems to yourself – seek support from a family member, friend, or counselor. Join a community caregiver support group (some offer concurrent care), or an Internet group if it’s hard to get out. • Seek help from your primary physician or a counselor if you continually feel sad, angry, or overwhelmed. There is no need to suffer, because depression is treatable. • Accept offers of help. Ask other family members to share the load and be specific about what is needed. Find out about community support services – including respite care options – and take full advantage of them. Information can be obtained from your local office on aging. • Don’t promise your relative you will never place him or her in a long-term care home. It’s important to keep all options open because it’s impossible to know what the future holds. • Do something nice for someone who is going through a difficult time. It takes your mind off your own situation, boosts your self-esteem, and strengthens the relationship. It may also help to be reminded that other people face challenges, too. • Look for ways to include laughter and joy in each day. This will enhance your relationship with your relative, and others with whom you come in contact, and help foster a positive outlook. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in senior health matters. She has experience with elder care. ISI
April/May 2017
IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 35
Accentuate The Positive – Change Your Attitude To Improve Your Life
By Lisa M. Petsche There is no shortage of information in the media about how to improve your well-being through positive lifestyle changes such as eating nutritiously, exercising, and not smoking. Did you know, though, that changing your mental attitude could also go a long way toward improving your life? Even if you do not consider yourself a naysayer, make it a point over the next few days to scrutinize everything you think and say. You might be surprised. For instance, how much of your self-talk and communication with others contains the words can’t, don’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, and never? Do you often start sentences with: If only, I can’t believe, or I hate it when? And do you tend to use think or use phrases such as it’s impossible, I have no choice, that’s terrible, and why me? Unfortunately, it is much easier to be pessimistic and critical of yourself, others, and the world in general than to be optimistic and enthusiastic. It doesn’t help that the media thrive on disaster, failure, and discord. Publicity not only perpetuates the negativity but also creates more. And it’s true that misery loves company; when we complain aloud, other people usually join in, reinforcing the gloom. Negative thinking takes many insidious forms – doubt, worry, catastrophizing (magnifying the importance of upsetting events), focusing on our own shortcomings or those of others, seeing only the flaws in proposed plans, dwelling on what we perceive to be lacking in our lives, approaching life from the perspective of entitlement (believing that we are owed certain things), denial, inflexibility, hopelessness, and regarding the world as an uncaring even hostile place. By-products of such thinking include self-absorption, depression, defensiveness, self-criticism, destructive criticism of others, sarcasm, distrust, blame, jealousy, bitterness, self-pity, avoidance, indecision, chronic complaining, low self-esteem, resistance to change, and helplessness and passivity. Negativity is harmful to your physical and mental health, generating stress that can lead to illness. Also harmful to your spiritual well-being, it is a significant drain on your life energy.
Below are some ideas on how to re-focus from negativity and accentuate the positive instead. • Limit your exposure to the news. • Use positive self-talk. Emphasize phrases such as I can, I will, and I choose. • Be generous with praise and encouragement and cautious with criticism, giving only the constructive type. • Cultivate a healthy sense of humor. Read the comics, watch a TV sitcom, or rent funny movies. Don’t take yourself or others too seriously. • Accept realities you can’t change and focus instead on those you can influence. • Trust there is a valuable lesson in every type of adversity. And remember that no matter what happens, you always have a choice about how to respond. • Stay connected to people who care. Minimize contact with those who are negative or self-centered. • Find an outlet for expressing your thoughts and feelings, such as talking with a friend or keeping a journal. • Pick your battles; don’t make a major issue out of every concern. • Don’t dwell on past mistakes, hurts, or other unpleasant events. • Look for the good in people and situations. Demonstrate empathy, give others the benefit of the doubt, practice forgiveness, and do nice things for others. • Let go of the need for perfection, and be flexible about plans and expectations. Take things one day at a time. Finally, focus on the good things in your life, such as supportive relationships, and seek beauty and tranquility – through appreciation of art and nature, for example. Count your blessings and learn to live in the moment, enjoying life’s simpler pleasures. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She can be reached at lmepetsche@gmail.com ISI
Men’s Jokes
(Laughter Is Good Medicine) Submitted by John Early Many jokes about blonde females float around the internet, and at water fountains or other places inhabited by men. You may be surprised, but there is a genre of jokes told by women that makes men’s foibles and missteps the object of laughter. Enjoy this other side of the gender-joke coin. One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, “What setting do I use on the washing machine?” “It depends,” I replied. “What does it say on your shirt?” He yelled back, “Ohio State.” And they say blondes are dumb.
“Probably that I married you for your money,” she replied. Q: What do you call an intelligent, good looking, sensitive man? A: A rumor. Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive him; and Patience for his moods. Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength, I’ll beat him to death. Amen. Q: Why do little boys whine? A: They are practicing to be men. Q: What do you call a handcuffed man? A: Trustworthy.
A couple was lying in bed, when the man said, “I am going to make you the happiest woman in the world.” The woman replied, “I’ll miss you.”
Q: What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name? A: You did not hold the pillow down long enough.
“It’s just too hot to wear clothes today,” Jack said as he stepped out of the shower. “Honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?”
Q: Why do men whistle when they are sitting on the toilet? A: It helps them remember which end to wipe. ISI
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PAGE 36 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT
Grow an Abundant Tomato Harvest in a Pot By Melinda Myers Harvest and enjoy the garden-fresh flavor of tomatoes right outside your kitchen. Grow them in containers set on your patio, balcony, deck, or stairs. You’ll enjoy the convenience of harvesting fresh tomatoes just a few feet from where you prepare your meals, and your guests will enjoy those fresh tomatoes in their salad or sandwich. Tomatoes need warm air and soil to thrive. Containers give you the ability to jump-start the season. Plant tomatoes in containers earlier than in the garden and leave them outdoors when it’s warm (but bring them inside whenever there’s a danger of frost.) Protect your plants with the help of season-extending products like cloches, red tomato teepees, or garden fabrics. These will help warm the soil and air around the plants, reducing the number of days to your first harvest. Select flavorful and disease-resistant varieties for your container gardens. Consider determinate tomatoes that are more compact and generally less than four feet tall. But don’t eliminate your favorite indeterminate tomato. Just provide a strong tall support for these plants that continue to grow six feet and taller throughout the season.
Grow your tomatoes in a sunny spot that receives at least eight hours of direct sunlight. You will grow the biggest harvest and reduce the risk of disease. Fill your container with a quality well-drained potting mix, and add a slow-release organic fertilizer to your potting mix if needed. This type of fertilizer feeds the plants for several months. Give the plants an additional feeding midseason or as directed on the fertilizer package. Check soil moisture daily and water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Maintaining consistent soil moisture means healthier plants and fewer problems with blossom end rot. This disorder is not a deadly disease, but it causes the bottom of the first set of fruit to turn black. You can reduce your workload by using selfwatering pots with a large reservoir for holding water that moves up into the soil to the plant roots as needed. This means you’ll be filling the reservoir less often than you would normally water other planters. Stake or tower your plants to save space, and increase air circulation around and light penetration into the plant. You’ll further reduce the risk of disease and increase productivity by growing vertically. So start gathering your favorite tomato recipes now, and soon you’ll be harvesting armloads of tomatoes to use in salsas, salads, sauces, and of course BLTs. Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gar-
Jump-start the season by growing tomatoes in container gardens. (Photo by Gardener’s Supply Company)
dening. She hosts The Great Courses How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone DVD set and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers’ web site is melindamyers.com. ISI
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As the only art museum in eastern Idaho, The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho (TAM) serves as a cultural gathering place where schoolchildren, families, and individuals of all ages and abilities gain confidence and independence in the creative process through exploration and self-expression. Working in partnership with area educators, TAM provides vital opportunities so that the arts are a basic component of every child’s education. From sending TAM art instructors into public schools at no cost to the schools, ARTours at the museum, or after-school classes and summer art camps, TAM serves as a regional resource for learning. The strength and beauty of TAM is that it was founded by the community for the community. Determined local artists turned their dream of an
art museum into a reality. The recently established endowment fund through the Idaho Community Foundation and the future addition of a muchneeded education wing will help ensure that this legacy of art continues. We urge you to visit this sanctuary on the banks of the Snake River and browse the exhibits at your leisure or join us for tours, family days, art lectures, studio classes, and more! We are open Tuesday thru Saturday from 11 a.m., and admission is free on the first Saturday of the month for everyone and free for seniors 62+, on the first Tuesday of the month. Visit theartmuseum.org, call 208-524-7777 for more information, or stop by 300 S. Capital Avenue in Idaho Falls. ISI
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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 37
Our Four-legged Loved Ones: End of Life Services ash-spreading container, a commonly used option. 3 feet from the surface. Article and Photo by Natalie Bartley Pet cemeteries are another choice, with burial Though more costly, crematoria also offer a We love them deeply. They’re our family members. And when their short stay on earth ends, we private cremation in which your pet is the only and mausoleum costs that range from several hunwant a smooth transition. Our dogs, cats, and other body in the cremation chamber, after which your dred to a thousand dollars. Memorial Pet Care in in-home pets can pass with dignity and comfort. pet’s ashes are returned to you. In a communal Meridian offers pet cremations and a cemetery. In Even in a rural state like Idaho, an assortment of cremation, multiple animals are in the chamber at North Idaho, the Family Pet Memorial offers a full businesses offers a range of services consisting of the same time without separation, and the ashes array of animal cemetery and cremation options. In Eastern Idaho, check out the options at euthanasia, cremation, and pet cemeteries Staker Animal Cremations. My yellow Labrador retriever is 14-yearsIt is soothing to know our pets have old and I know the day is coming when he many of the same eternal resting options will need veterinarian service for euthanawe have. sia. When I realized he is too heavy to lift Treasure Valley: into my vehicle, I was relieved to learn there • Ada Animal Crematorium, 208-375are options to ease him into the after-life. 2502, adaanimalcrematorium.com. Some veterinarian offices send their • Gentle Goodbyes, 208-297-3990, in-house staff for home visits, though the Quality of Life Survey at gentlegoodbyes. timing will require coordination with the com. veterinarian’s schedule. As an alternative, • Lana Roberts, DVM – Southwest Gentle Goodbyes, serving the Treasure Idaho, 208-288-2138. Valley, has a co-op of nearly two dozen • Memorial Pet Care-Pet Cremations veterinarians and veterinarian technicians and Cemetery, 208-887-7669, memorialfrom several hospitals. The co-op staff propetcare.com/. vides in-home exams, in-home euthanasia, North Idaho: transportation of pet to a crematory, and the • Family Pet Memorial, 208-457-7111, return of the ashes to the owner. Gentle Goodbyes can schedule a Even though Labrador retrievers are good swimmers, for idahopetcremation.com. Eastern Idaho: Quality of Life Exam to assess your pet’s whitewater trips Bruneau wears his life jacket on this outing • Staker Animal Cremations, 208-221contentment and comfort status. When con- down the Weiser River. [Photo by Natalie Bartley] 0847, stakeranimalcremations.com. sidering your pet’s comfort at the end of life, Beyond Idaho: Gentle Goodbyes managing partner Steve Havis are not returned. The Internet Cremation Society at cremation. A representative from the Ada Animal Creemphasizes, “It is better to be two or three days org has listings for pet and human cremation sermatorium in Boise says most people access their early than a few hours late.” On its website, Gentle Goodbyes provides a Quality of Life Worksheet to cremation services via a veterinarian. There are vices – handy for travelers, though Idaho listings many creative, meaningful spins on the eternity re- are under development. assist you in determining when the time is right. Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based writer. Her An end-of-life visit to you home can include a membrances offered by crematoria. For example, full-range of services. The basic end-of-life option the Ada Animal Crematorium offers a communal yellow Labrador retriever served as a photo model is scheduling a professional to come to perform cremation where all the pets’ ashes are spread on a in her newly updated Best Rail Trails Pacific the euthanasia, which involves an injection to re- 100-acre private property located in the mountains Northwest hiking and bicycling guidebook. ISI lax your pet followed by an injection that provides of Idaho City. Additionally, crematoria offer for your eternal rest for your pet. This process takes as little pet’s ashes a variety of urns, ash distributors, and as 20 minutes. Pricing varies, but you can expect locket necklaces. Lana Roberts, DVM, to pay approximately $175 to $200 for the visit, which may factor in the distance the veterinarian offers in-home euthanasia in the Treasure travels to your home. In addition to euthanasia, Gentle Goodbyes Valley and surrounding can take your pet to a local crematory and return areas. She provides a the ashes to you. The cremation cost is in addition free clay paw print, creto the cost of euthanasia and ranges from $50 to mation transport service, $600 depending on the type of cremation, pet’s and the return of ashes to the owner. size, and ash receptacle selected. If you are considerMany crematoria offer a cost-effective and ing burying your pet, energy-efficient partitioned cremation where your pet is in the cremation chamber at the same time check the state statutes as other animals, but is physically separated. Your and rules. 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Related How Again? By Mark John Astolfi Why did Maury Povich’s grandparents give his father a girl’s name, Shirley Povich? Sportswriter Shirley Povich’s first name is actually a last name or surname, and before that, it was a British place name dating back to the 7th century. It’s derived from “scir” meaning bright and “leah,” which was a forest clearing or meadow. If you wondered why that baseball pitcher from the 1980s, Bob Shirley, had a girl’s first name as a last name, it’s actually the other way around. The use of surnames as first or given names began as a way to honor a mother’s or grandmother’s family. The custom started with boys, but eventually included girls as well. Shirley Booth was one of the first famous female Shirleys, but it was Shirley Temple who really popularized the name for girls. Still, if things had been different, her name could easily have been Temple Shirley. Shirley Povich was born in Bar Harbor, Maine in 1905, when male Shirleys in the United States still outnumbered female Shirleys. He went to school with several other male Shirleys and had a male first cousin also named Shirley Povich. As he tells it, children in his family were named after deceased relatives, and by the time he came along, the eighth of an eventual ten siblings, they had just about run out. He was named after his grandmother Sarah, one Yiddish nickname for which is Suri. His parents decided Shirley was “close enough.” And yes, it’s true that in 1962 he was the only man listed in Who’s Who in American Woman.
Elly May’s father, Jed Clampett, and Jethro’s mother, Pearl Bodine, are first cousins, making Jethro and Elly May second cousins. I need some help. If my grandfather is a cousin to Brenda, what is Brenda to me? Here’s your help! What you are asking is the definition of “removed” cousins. Brenda is your removed cousin because she is the cousin of one of your direct ancestors. She is not your cousin, but the cousin of somebody removed from you by a number of generations. Your parent’s cousin is your cousin once removed. Your grandparent’s cousin is twice removed. Your great grandparent’s cousin is three times removed, and so forth. So Brenda is your cousin twice removed. Most of the time “cousin” means “first cousin,” but if Brenda were a different kind of cousin, say your grandfather’s half-third cousin, she’d likewise be your half-third cousin twice removed, because the “twice removed” identifies your grandparents’ generation.
Do Barbie dolls and her friends have last names? They sure do. Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Then there are Ken Carson, Midge Hadley, Alan (originally spelled Allan) Sherwood, and Francie Fairchild. In 2003, Midge and Alan were married and had several children, so she became Midge Sherwood. But in 2013, Midge was rebooted as single with no kids, so presumably she’s a Hadley again. Send questions and comments to relatedhowagain@gmail.com. Also visit I’m confused. On “The Beverly Hillbillies,” are Jethro and Elly May the World’s Most Fascinating Genealogy Blog at relatedhowagain.wordpress. siblings or cousins? com. ISI If by cousins you mean first cousins, then it turns out they are neither!
Are There Any Valuable Antiques In Your Attic? By Teresa Ambord Most every household has stuff that it could do without. Even if spring cleaning is not on your mind, you may be feeling the need more to clear out some space and maybe replenish your wallet. Why not try turning some of that stuff into extra cash? Instead of just wondering how, take action. Once you have dug into your closets and garage and have items to sell, here are some ideas. 1. Garage or yard sale. For maximum impact, combine with neighbors to have a bigger sale that will attract more attention. Most communities have ways that you can advertise such sales free, in the newspaper and possibly on a local radio station. Neighborhood signs are good, but don’t make the common mistake of wasting your effort with signs
that are not easily readable from the street. Sturdy, weatherproof, easy-to-read signs are a must. Overall, garage or yard sales are a very efficient and cost-effective way to sell your stuff. 2. Classified ads. Larger newspapers work, but community newspapers reach a more targeted market. If there is a senior center in your town or professional organizations, find out if they have a newsletter for ads. Some newspapers have both print and online editions, giving you more for your money. Online editions often allow you more space. 3. Online ads. You may be able to post your ads free online, on sites like Craigslist, or ToolzDo. com. ToolzDo requires users to enter a profile, so transactions are not anonymous. You can target your ad to a certain group by finding a bulletin board or message board that takes free or low cost ads. For example, if you want to sell your son’s old trombone, go online and type in Amusical instruments for sale, bulletin board. 4. Consignment stores. Consignment stores will usually net you more money for good quality items than you can get by selling them at a garage or yard sale. The beauty of a consignment store is that they do all the work for you, in exchange for a commission. Just be sure to find out the commission rate (some stores charge as much as 60 percent), and other terms. For instance, how long the store will keep your item before it discounts it. You will also need a realistic idea of what the item is worth in terms of resale value. 5. Online auctions. The great thing about online auctions like eBay is that they reach out to global audiences. And, they are set up to provide bidding tools and payments tools. If your attic is full of collectibles that you are tired of collecting, eBay might be the answer. eBay provides a tutorial so you can open an account and learn how to use the system. It’s important to add at least one
picture of the item. If you do not have a lot to sell, you may not want to bother with setting up an account. In that case, you may want to check with eBay’s Trading Assistant Directory, which is like an online consignment store. Just like a regular consignment store, the seller takes a commission for handling the auctions for you. 6. Traditional auctions. Do you have high-dollar items like antiques or artwork? You may want to have them appraised and contact an auction house to allow it to handle the sale for you. Many have online services that you can contact. Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide can be accessed online at kovels.com. Also try online appraisal sites like instappraisal.com and auctionwally.com. 7. Second hand stores. Shops that resell items, like used bookstores, music stores, or sporting good stores (like Play it Again Sports) may buy your stuff directly from you rather than dealing with consignment. 8. Pawn shops. At a pawnshop, you’re actually getting a temporary loan, and your item is collateral. You get cash, then the shop owner holds your item for a specified period. Depending on the state where the pawnshop is, it could be from 30 days, up to six months. During that period, you could buy back the item with interest. If you simply want to sell your stuff, that isn’t an issue. Safe Selling – The idea of clearing out unwanted items and making a few bucks may be appealing, but don’t forget, you are dealing with strangers. Before you place an ad, carefully consider the conditions to ensure you are in control. Take a trusted friend with you, and arrange to meet in a public place – though not a big open place like a park where mischief can occur – at a time when many people will be around. A mall or other busy place with lots of foot traffic might be best. Advise your friend to listen and watch for anything suspicious. It’s also smart to ask in advance for the buyer’s name and what he or she will be wearing so that you are not taken by surprise. Suppose the item you are selling is a heavy piece of furniture that cannot be easily taken to a public place? This is when you should consider placing the item in a consignment shop or using some other third party seller. If you have must allow buyers into your home, obviously you have to exercise common sense and take measures to limit your exposure. Set the time of the visit for when you can have someone there with you, preferably a trusted male. It’s also a good idea to have a man return the phone call to the buyer, just to set a tone for security. So put on your jeans and get to work – who knows what treasures lurk in that attic! ISI
April/May 2017
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Probate Homes for Sale - Pros and Cons
By Lora Davis Probate homes for sale are generally homes of a person who has died and did not bequeath their home to someone so the state will take over and administer the sale of the home. They could also include a home that the heirs have no intention of living in or keeping so they sell it. Buying this type of property is sometimes a good way to start building an interest in real estate. It is often possible to purchase these homes for sale at a reasonable price once the court system has completed the process of probate. There is a great deal of potential to resell these homes and make a tidy profit but there is also that chance that this might not happen, leaving you with property that cannot be sold no matter how many improvements have been made. Pros of buying probate homes for sale • If there are heirs, they may be willing to sell the home for a bit less than market value because they want to get rid of it quickly. • When you are able to purchase these homes for sale at a price lower than market value, it could make it easier to get the financing that you need to close the deal. • With a lower price, it gives you some money
to make a few improvements so you can resell it for a profit. Cons of buying probate homes for sale • Home locations could limit the number of buyers if you have bought the home and are trying to resell it for a profit. When the home is located in an area where many of the houses are rundown and look un-kept, or in an area with a high rate of crime you may be stuck with the home. • If you do not have it inspected before purchasing the home, you could find out that the plumbing and electrical systems need extensive work. This could lessen the amount of profit when resold. • Although you paid less than market value and remodeled it, you may not be able to sell it for a profit because of a soft home market. Before you purchase a probate home, take the time to have the property inspected so there are no unexpected repairs. Make sure that the structure is sound and the wiring and plumbing are up to date with the current standards. You should also check the neighborhood to see if other homes are well kept or rundown, which can help to determine if you can make a profit reselling the home. Provided by EzineArticles.com/expert/Lora_ Davis/2146280. ISI
When Is The Right Time To Sell And Downsize? By Miss Nora Dear Miss Nora: I’m having trouble convincing my children that I’m not going crazy or losing the will to live all because I’m getting rid of anything superfluous and planning to sell so that I can downsize my home. I’ve thought this through and considered every item in my home as to its need or purpose. I lost my husband last year after a lengthy illness, and I now feel ready to economize in order to live a much more modest lifestyle. I asked each of my three children to come collect anything they wanted and to fight it out amongst themselves as to who gets what. What I would be discarding is the accumulation of many years of junk collecting, books, and wellworn furniture. I also asked that they no longer buy me gifts and each holiday or occasion either to donate the money to a good cause or to spend it on coming to see me and taking me out to dine. You’d have thought I announced that I was shaving my head and joining a cult, such was their panic! They insisted that I seek help for depression and not make any hasty decisions! How can I get my adult children to realize that I am far from depressed and that I’m just trying to move into a community with more social contacts, and enjoy life? Done in Denver Dear Done: Good for you! I applaud your foresight and level-headedness. It’s a daunting task to make all the necessary decisions at any time, let alone while you’re dealing with a crisis or illness. So it’s commendable that you are managing this ahead of time. Trust me; your children will eventually appreciate the gift you’ve given them when it comes time to handling your estate in your absence. When my mother passed away suddenly, my siblings and I were forced to dispose of our mother’s entire household without the slightest idea of what she wanted. Had she been as sensible as you had, it would have been so much easier to know what she had, where she wanted it to go, and what to do with the proceeds from the sale of her home. As it was, we were left to blunder along blindly until we had removed everything and divided monies as
fairly as we could. I can’t help but to think of how much easier your children will have it than we did because of your organization. However, before you proceed too far, I strongly advise that you find a locally reputable realtor and company specializing in senior downsizing. These businesses have all the administrative skills and systems to make the sale of your home and the transition as easy and as safe as possible. Now, I can also understand that your emancipation might be alarming to your offspring. Obviously, your children fear that you might be depressed and waiting for your own death, taken advantage of, or regret your decision to reduce your lifestyle once it’s all done and dusted. Perhaps it’s time to write a short letter to each of them explaining that you are of sound mind and body and that you’re looking forward to the benefits. Give them all a firm deadline to claim their items of interest, the contact information of the realtor and downsizing company, and remind them you are preparing to live! I wish you a long, uncluttered, and carefree life and in fact I’m doing the same. For starters, I’ve decided to get rid of Walt’s stuff first! ISI
TOMLINSON
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