NW Boomer and Senior News Portland Metro Edition March 2015 by Northwest50Plus

DRIVING DOWN

PORTLAND-METRO & VANCOUVER EDITION MARCH 2015 • FREE!

THE AGING MIDDLE CLASS “I’m the queen of free,” says Charlene Levesque, who takes advantage of the many no cost or low-cost cultural events at Portland State University. She lives downtown to help cut costs on living expenses. Photo by NWBSN staff

Escalating costs, failure to save signal tough times ahead

By MAGGI WHITE BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

For many boomers and seniors, the idea of middle-class security may be a relic of the past. What remains are dwindling pensions and retirement packages, with half of all older adults dying without any financial assets. Escalating costs in housing, health care, food and other necessities are creating a new poor — the middle

class. It’s harder to spot this group because they aren’t living on the streets or in subsidized housing. In fact, there are programs designed to help the absolutely destitute. However, relatively few programs have addressed the diminishing resources of the aging middle-class. Meanwhile, life happens. Joyce McMonnin, director of outreach for AARP-Oregon, is among those individuals who never gave retirement a

thought until, in her 40s, she was encouraged to have a savings plan. To begin a savings plan, she gave up her gourmet coffee, dining out and other pleasures. Now 62, she worries whether she can afford to retire in three years. She feels lucky to work for an organization that has so many resources for its employees to be educated about saving for retirement. But it’s not everything. “At AARP, they talk about retirement

SOMETHING NEW ... You can now read ALL 4 EDITIONS of NW Boomer & Senior News online each month beginning this March... at NWBoomerandSeniorNews.com

See POOR p. 2

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

POOR CONTINUED FROM P. 1

all the time and we have a 401(k),” McMonnin says. “Without the kinds of resources I have at my job, it’s complicated and difficult to figure out the whole picture on your own. One never can foretell what lies ahead. What about the cost of a caretaker if you get ill or you get ill while your spouse is still working and he or she has to leave their job to care for you?” Giving up some of life’s little pleasures to start a savings plan wasn’t easy, says McMonnin, who worked her way through college and has always had a job. She learned that employees in their 20s and 30s should be saving about 10

percent of their income each year. That amount jumps up to 25 to 30 percent for those in their 40s. “It’s difficult to give up your cell phones, eating out and stopping spending,” she says. “We live in a consumerdriven society that greatly influences us every day.” Like McMonnin, Charlene Levesque has had to make some big changes in her life. It’s another example of life’s twists and turns. Levesque is retired as special events director at Portland State University. She had to give up her job when two serious cancers left her unable to work. Despite a large settlement and lifetime alimony from a contentious divorce, Levesque’s former husband left the country to avoid pay-

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

“

Without the kinds of resources I have at my job, it’s complicated and difficult to figure out the whole picture on your own. One never can foretell what lies ahead.”

ing. Eight years later, she finally was able to get his Social Security wages garnished. But when he dies, those payments will end. She went from a lifestyle that included a large home in Huntington Beach, California, a private swimming pool, live-

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in housekeeper and shopping at Nordstrom, to an approximately 600-square-foot, onebedroom apartment in the PSU area. It’s in a poorly-maintained building where the elevator often doesn’t work. While her living conditions have changed dramatically, Levesque does what she can to maintain her dignity. She still dresses stylishly, but now buys her clothes at a thrift store. She clips coupons for groceries, recognizing that two-thirds of her fixed income goes to rent, Medicare, utilities and an exercise class to maintain her health. Levesque says she has seen many people with a modest income outlive their retirement funds. Many of her friends who used to live in the PSU area have moved away because of rising rents. However, her entire lifestyle takes place there because, she says, “I’m the queen of free,” and at PSU there are free concerts, lectures, music programs, classes to audit and other cultural and educational activities she craves. She walks to everything, not something offered in suburban living. “Public transportation is

See CLASS p. 3

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difficult for a woman if it’s dark, cold, rainy outside and no pedestrian traffic,” Levesque says, admitting she feels safer living near the university. Now 79, she knows she will not be able to afford an assisted living facility or take advantage of a professional social worker that helps the aging emotionally navigate their final years. What will she do when the money runs out? There are myriad reasons why even those who did save for retirement cannot maintain their more modest lifestyles. An AARP middle-class security report indicates that income gains are likely to be wiped out by increasing health costs. Discussions about cutting Medicare feel like threats to older adults who realize they must impoverish themselves in order to receive public benefits, thus bringing to their knees the largest working class in the country’s history – those who have paid their bills, bought homes, supported their community, followed the law, raised children, fought wars and conducted themselves responsibly. Older women likely will suffer the most. Their average Social Security check is less than $1,300 a month, yet is virtually the only source of income for nearly three out of 10 women. Without it, nearly half of women aged 65 and older would be poor. About one-third of Americans aged 65 and older live alone. Although many older women actually enjoy this period of their lives, by age 80 they find themselves without sufficient income to meet their healthcare and social needs.

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PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

CLASS CONTINUED FROM P. 2

They have concerns about the future, driven by the awareness that their minds and bodies are less cooperative; they live on fixed incomes, and many of their friends are dying or facing the same challenges. Long-term-care services that allow them to stay in their homes are too expensive or not easily available, giving rise to the dreaded prospect of no longer being able to live at home. Those who have fewer financial resources will require informal and eventually formal support to continue to live alone. Many older adults have just enough savings and income to be disqualified for public programs such as home care aides, yet they can’t afford the hefty fees of private services for long periods of time. While there are few solutions, these problems have not gone unnoticed. Oregon Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) and Sen. Lee Beyer (DSpringfield) are chief sponsors of a bill now being heard in the Oregon Legislature that calls for an Oregon Retirement Savings Plan. The plan is the result of a task force, led by state treasurer Ted Wheeler, which studied the retirement needs of Oregonians. The bill proposes that employers who don’t offer a retirement plan can offer

Meals on Wheels opens new Aloha site

MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

Photo by NWBSN staff

Joyce McMonnin, director of public outreach for AARP Oregon, didn’t start planning for retirement until she was in her 40s. Now, with retirement looming ahead, she wonders whether she can afford it. employees a state plan instead. Once enrolled, a person can change jobs without losing any benefits. Among the results of the study, the task force learned: ● Oregon’s senior population is expected to double in the next 20 years. ● Half of Oregon employees have no retirement savings

option at work. ● One in six Oregonians aged 45 to 64 has less than $5,000 in a retirement savings account and only 29 percent of Oregonians have a 401(k) account. ● Widespread failure to save adequately for retirement will lead to increased burdens on costly social services.

The proposed plan would be voluntary, portable and provide a secure way to consistently save for retirement. It will deliver security for families, communities and the state’s bottom line. Employees can opt-out, and the plan would meet qualifications to receive federal and state tax deductions. ■

Meals on Wheels People, in partnership with the Edwards Center and Washington County Disabled, Aging and Veterans Services, began a new senior dining site in Aloha on Monday, Feb. 23, at 10:30 a.m. The site is located at the Edwards Aloha Community Center, 4375 SW Edwards Place in Aloha. Meals will be served every Monday at midday. Together, Edwards Center and Meals on Wheels People will provide activities, programming and volunteer opportunities on Mondays for seniors in and around the Aloha/Beaverton/Hillsboro/ Reedville area. The new Edwards Center location is the 35th neighborhood dining location for older adults operated by Meals on Wheels People in the greater metropolitan area. Visit mealsonwheelspeople. org for more information. ■

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Gardening books to get you in the mood

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

DIGGIN’ IT!

By GRACE PETERSON

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

MASTER GARDENER

One of the perks of being a garden writer is the plethora of invitations from publishers to review new gardening books. Everything from asparagus to zucchini is being written about these days and you’d think every topic under the sun would have been covered by now. But sure as rain, there is something new hitting bookstores and my inbox every few weeks. I’m not complaining. They make for an entertaining and educational escape when the weather is too inhospitable

for real gardening, so I enjoy any opportunity to dive in to one. Here are two that I’ve been wanting to share with you all.

“Garden-pedia: An A-to-Z Guide to Gardening Terms,” by Pamela Bennett and Maria Zampini, is an easy-to-read, full-color pocket guide of the

most common and often perplexing gardening terms that those in the business can throw at us. Definitions are given (in alphabetical order) along with relatable examples making it like a course in basic botany without too much scientific stuff to bog down the reader. As I worked my way through this charming book, most terms were familiar to me on some level, making it a worthy refresher course for the lifelong gardener. Admittedly, there are a few terms that I always have trouble remembering. “Dioecious” for instance. This simply means a plant has only female flower-parts or only maleflower parts. Holly plants are a good example of this. In order for the female plant to produce those luscious red berries, a plant with male flower parts needs to be planted nearby. So Holly plants are “Dioecious” A plant that has both male and female parts is called “monoecious.” Another term I always seem to forget is “pollarding.” This is the act of pruning in which you remove the upper branches of a shrub or tree to encourage new growth at the base. I had to do this with a few overgrown shrubs last fall. Many gardeners will pollard their

purple smoke bush (Cotinus ssp.) every year. This keeps the freshest, healthiest foliage right at eye-level. For a new gardener or anyone who wants to better understand the terminology of gardening, “Garden-pedia” is a must. There are several helpful and informative cut-flower gardening books on the market. A new one on my shelves is “The Cut Flower Patch: Grow Your Own Cut Flowers All Year Round” by Louise Curley. Nestled within pages of informative prose are breathtaking photos (especially welcome during the dreary winter months) taken by photographer Jason Ingram. This book will provide you with everything you need to know in order to create a beautiful cut flower garden and stunning indoor flower arrangements. The author covers everything from initial planning, site location, amending the soil and details on the most useful plants for growing and cutting. You’ll see plans for a simple, small cutting garden to a larger, more advanced one. At the end of the book you’ll find a seasonal calendar of gardening chores to undertake during that particular time of the year. ■

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HEALTHY VIBES

Myth-busting colonoscopy Here are five reasons why it’s not as bad as you think

MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

By DR. JONATHAN VINSON

We hear “colonoscopy” and our bodies clench. The bowel-emptying prep and the colon-invading scope can create strong feelings of dread and anxiety among even the hardiest of us. But getting screened for colorectal cancer is a “no-brainer” because the benefits dramatically outweigh the risks. If we find colon cancer early, we cure it. March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. If you haven’t had a colonoscopy yet because you’re afraid of the whole procedure, here are some myth-busting reasons why it’s really not that bad.

Music program takes audience on virtual vacation

A unique music program combines a “dog and pony show” with world music to enlighten the elderly and challenged younger adult populations in Portland. Meredith Dalglish owns and operates Art in Motion. She brings her little doggie dancer, Motu, and teaches her audience how to use their imaginations to “travel worldwide, while in their seats participating in a circle,” she says. “As the sounds move them, anyone who wants to, can move around to the music. It’s a win-win.” Dalglish has a master of fine arts from Claremont Graduate School. She moved to Portland in 2004 from Mendocino, Calif., and opened her business, “dedicated to loosening up creativity in all the cultural arts, particularly in music, art and dance,” she says. She also offers other art programs with monoprints, handmade paper, painting, collage techniques, mobiles and more. She’s also expanding her programs to include new adult populations in the business community, and offers individual sessions. Contact Dalglish at meredith@merartstudio.com, or call 503-7776363. ■

Have you visited our website? Go to NWBoomerandSenior News.com anytime

Myth 1: I can’t handle the prep. Have you ever had a stomach bug or food poisoning? Then, yes you can handle drinking a solution that will facilitate the emptying of your bowels. The good news? This is the worst part. But it’s necessary, because a thorough cleansing allows your doctor to detect even the smallest polyps on your colon wall — growths that, if not detected early, can turn into cancer.

Myth 2: The procedure is uncomfortable. Your doctor will administer anesthesia before the start of the procedure, along with a pain medicine. It’s not general anesthesia, and some patients may have vague or spotty recollec-

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

tions of the procedure, but most people won’t remember anything. In fact, a lot of people wake up and ask, “Have you started yet?”

Myth 3: I’ll have to stay in the hospital. Getting a colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure that lasts from 10 to 40 minutes, which means you’ll go home the same day. Colonoscopies are routinely performed in hospitals as well as in day surgery centers or in a specialist’s office.

Myth 4: It all takes too long. Most people only need to devote two days to take care of the colonoscopy steps. You’ll need to be home the day you’re drinking your prep solution — since you’ll be

spending a good part of the day in the bathroom – and you’ll need the next day for the procedure and recovery. The procedure itself doesn’t take very long, but you’ll be foggy from the anesthesia and probably drained from a day of cleansing.

Myth 5: I can’t afford the procedure. A colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer in people age 50 and older is considered a preventive screening and usually is covered in full by your insurance. However, there are exceptions, and some plans may require a copayment or coinsurance. If a polyp is found and removed during the colonoscopy procedure, that too can be a cost. Check with

your health plan to determine your specific benefit. Colorectal cancer is diagnosable, treatable and curable — but only if we find it early. And you can only find it early if you get screened. Once you’ve had a colonoscopy, depending on the results, you won’t need another one for five to 10 years. You know what we’re going to say now, right? Get over it, please — and get screened. Talk with your primary care provider today about the screening option that’s right for you. ■

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STD? HIV?

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

It’s straight talk about sex with Jacki Gethner, an author, massage therapist and drug and alcohol counselor. She believes older adults need to address the topic of intimate relationships to protect themselves both physically and emotionally.

Yes, it can happen to you

Photo courtesy of Jacki Gethner

So don’t be shy about addressing important sexual health topics

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Spend a little time talking with Jacki Gethner and you’ll never date a man without having him tested for a sexually-transmitted disease. When she candidly reminds that you are “sleeping with every woman he has ever been with,” you become a proponent for safe sex. New drugs and technology mean the dating scene has changed in recent years. Doctors can prescribe drugs that enable more men to engage in sexual activity longer into their older years. And many newly-single older adults are using online dating websites to find a relationship. This, Gethner says, lowers the chance they know the background and sexual history of those they are dating. Doctors prescribe erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra or Cialis, “but never say ‘Hold on, get tested.’” She thinks they should. With Jen Violi, Gethner has authored “Behind Door #3: Choose With Eyes Wide Open,” a book directed toward boomers and seniors who are back out in the dating world and who, perhaps unknowingly, are participating in high-risk behaviors. She is a licensed massage therapist and certified drug and alcohol counselor with 30 years of experience in various healing specialties. She received the 2009 Kaiser Permanente Diversity Award, which led to the nonprofit Women of a Certain Age, a peer education program for women 50 and older that addresses sexual health and high-risk activities by facilitating conversations on these topics. In the United States, for example, the fastest-growing bracket of new HIV cases is women over 50, and the heterosexual transmission rate

among these women has doubled over the past 10 years. Among its many ills, HIV causes throat cancer, which can lay dormant for 20 years. Beyond the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis is the most common blood-borne viral infection in the United States and is the most dramatic cause of liver damage. One in 33 baby boomers is unaware of having the virus until the liver damage is advanced. Gethner hoped writing the book would lead to important conversations about romantic relationships women have in their later years, in part because of the reasons women enter into intimate relationships. She wants to provide emotional support for women as they age, and to help remove some of the stigma over talking about sex. Older men and women often enter intimate relationships for different reasons, she says. Women tend to easily acquiesce to intimacy largely to help their selfesteem, while men in those years “feel like they’re doing community service,” Gethner says. “Men are acting like they are in high school, they expect to get sex by the third date.” Too many women, she says, believe they need a man to save their lives. They view men as a security blanket. Gethner’s advice: “Don’t sell your body and yourself. Tell (men) they should know better. Watch how they treat you. Ask them, ‘Is that the way you would want your daughters to be treated?’ Men should set an example for their sons.” She also advocates for women to carry condoms themselves, including female condoms, which are much less likely to fail. “If a man refuses to get them,” she says, “get out, leave.”

See STD p. 7

MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

STD CONTINUED FROM P. 6

As for sexual health, Gethner says older adults often discover they have a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) when it is too late, often because they were embarrassed to ask for the test. Many STDs do not have any symptoms unless the infection is serious. Doctors also may misdiagnose early symptoms of HIV infection — fatigue, weakness, memory changes — as normal signs of aging. She encourages sexually-active older adults to start a dialogue about STDs with their primary-care physician. Despite the imperative, having that “sex talk” is still challenging to address. Gethner hosts workshops but typically has low attendance because of the stigma attached to it. However, she will be discussing the content of her book in May at a Boston

College School of Social Work conference, and she often works with female members of the military at a VA hospital women’s clinic. More than just sex Gethner is eager to educate. She teaches tai chi at the Hollywood Senior Center in northeast Portland, sits on the board of the Association of Nurses and AIDS, speaks to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and attends to her

Authors sought for book festival

Authors and publishers now are being sought to participate in the seventh annual NW Book Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 25 at Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland.

The deadline to submit an application is June 25. Vendors pay a fee to rent a space at the festival. The public is invited. Visit nwbookfestival.com, or call Veronica Esagui at handson13@hotmail.com. ■

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION massage clients at Regenerative Therapy. She volunteers to help the chronic and terminally-ill, and teaches family members and their children how to massage feet to give comfort to loved ones, “instead of sending them stupid flowers.” She feels for every one she teaches, and they pass it on. “Too many seriously ill cannot afford massages, she says, “and touch is so comforting. People are afraid to touch the sick.” She tells a heartfelt anecdote about her father, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. She took his arm and said, “One day you will not remember who I am, which will be a sad day for me. But when I put my hand on your arm, deep inside you will know it is me and that I will love you and keep you safe.” She says she felt him respond and that he was comforted by her touch. ■

GSL

Of note

Jackie Gethner Facebook: Women of a Certain Age/Jacki Gethner JackiGethner.com

“Behind Door #3: Choose with Eyes Wide Open” includes a listing of resources on aging, senior health and advice about sex in the later years.

Gethner will be speaking at the Women and Girls Health Conference, Feb. 27-March 1, Portland Community College — Cascade Campus & the June Key Delta Center. Visit bit.ly/womengirls2015 for more information.

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PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

New website helps older women share housing expenses, companionship By MAGGI WHITE BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

Karen Venable never expected to be on her own at age 55. Recently divorced, she faced the challenge of finding a new place to live, struggling with finances and coming home every night to an empty home. A friend invited Venable to live with her. Later, she moved in with another mutual friend. What the Portland resident discovered was that it wasn’t easy for a woman her age to find an appropriate roommate with whom to share housing expenses and companionship. Her dilemma sparked an idea for a new business — Roommates4Boomers.com — that, since its inception nearly a year ago, has attracted inquiries from around the

Submitted photo

Karen Venable (left) found herself divorced and struggling to find a decent place to live. She was able to move in with a friend, Carol Buckle (right), and eventually, she founded a website that would help older women find compatible roommates as a way to share expenses, friendship.

world. She’s had interest from

Mexico and Canada. A woman living in Israel said she wished

there was a similar service in her country. Women from cities big and small in the United States have shown interest. Home sharing experimentation is occurring in cities across the country. Women purchase a large home together, then work out legal, financial and social sharing protocols to form a small community, all while reducing their individual living expenses. Venable’s online matching service for women is spot on, as they say. The question of living arrangements weighs on the minds of women as they get older. In Venable’s case, this is not her first venture. Armed with an MBA from Tulane University in New Orleans, she was a financial analyst for Portland General Electric until she started her own consulting business working with energy companies internationally. She managed a feasibility study for Private Power Development in Nairobi, Kenya; worked with the World Bank; and helped the U.S. Department of Energy and the Agency for International Development. She was a consultant to the managing director of Kenya Power and Light. She also founded Venable Consulting in Portland, where she helped new businesses with financing,

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marketing and developing offshore manufacturing facilities in India and China. However, she now devotes her full-time resources and energy toward Roommates4Boomers.com. The roommate-matching site is for women looking for a place to call home or who have a home to share. Roommates4Boomers.com is attracting highly educated women, probably because the required questionnaire defines prospects, not unlike an upscale online dating service. AARP, Inc., estimates that about 8,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day. Many are divorced, widowed or who never married, and they don’t want to age alone. Chances are, most boomers living alone like it that way, especially if they are recently divorced or widowed and experiencing their first independence. However, as friends and family either die or move away, they choose to consider other options. Here are some reasons for choosing a roommate, according to Venable. Living with a roommate could save your life. It has been proven that men who live with a wife or female partner live longer than men who do not. Women who have female friends live longer than those who do not. It’s pretty common to hear women say they don’t care about cooking any more or that it’s too much work. They don’t often admit it, but it can be too depressing to prepare a meal, then sit down and eat it alone. Thus, packaged instant meals and even junk food become their sustenance. Many women in shared living situations cook far more often. Or, one cooks and the other cleans. Either way, both eat more nutritionally. When women spend time together, they produce more of the hormone oxytocin, according to Dr. Paul Zak, author of “The Moral Molecule.” More oxytocin, he says, means less cardiovascular stress and an improved immune system. Taking a roommate does mean giving up some autonomy but some have moved together to a larger home or even bought a home together

See ALONE p. 9

MARCH 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

ALONE CONTINUED FROM P. 8

with more space for hanging out, entertaining, cooking and eating. Larger spaces foster a renewed interest in entertaining, garden parties, dinners for six, and a birthday celebration. People can work out different tastes in TV viewing, or the Felix and Oscar situation regarding clutter and cleanliness. If they are together, they can hire a housekeeper to come in once in a while. If family visits get noisy, they can plan activities when one of them is away. From a health standpoint, as

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Health and housing are the key needs for boomers. You can fall down even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fit. Many kids are living far away and some women have no children. They want to be safe, happy and cared for.â&#x20AC;? ~ Karen Venable, founder, Roommates4Boomers.com

women age someone will be there if one person happens to become ill or injured. Maybe a woman is becoming slightly more forgetful. She leaves the stove burner on or canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find her reading glass-

es. Roommates help each other out in this way. Many women are selfarranging their own communal living situations rather than depending on family or moving to retirement communities

Oregon Symphony adds to board

At its recent annual membership meeting, the Oregon Symphony Board of Directors elected 13 new members, each to a three-year term. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growing our board has demonstrable impact on our organization and the community of Oregon and Southwest Washington,â&#x20AC;? says Scott Showalter, Oregon Symphony president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These leaders invest significant time and money to grow the reach and impact of our artistic and community programs.â&#x20AC;? The new members, who bring the total board of directors membership to 38, assume shared responsibility to oversee the largest musical organization in the state. With an

annual budget of $16 million, the Symphony attracts more than 150,000 patrons to approximately 75 performances of classical, pops, kids and special concerts each season. It reaches an additional 50,000 children and adults through performances and music education programs in schools, libraries, neighborhood centers, and prisons. The new members include: Steve Bass, OPB Christopher Brooks, Brooks Estate Law Eve Callahan, Umpqua Bank Bill Early, Jeld-Wen (retired) Bob Harrison, Western Pacific

Dr. Jeff Heatherington, Family Care Don Hermanns, Oregon Symphony musician Grady Jurrens, Veber Partners Priscilla Wold Longfield, Community volunteer James Lynch, Intel Roscoe Nelson, Nelson & Nelson Derald Walker, Cascadia Jack Wilborn, KPMG (retired) The Oregon Symphony, which has finished with season-end surpluses for the past five years, is midway through its 2015/16 season. To date, ticket revenue and contributed income are running ahead of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results. â&#x2013;

until they decide they are ready. Venable says when she moved in with a roommate, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it was so much fun.â&#x20AC;? They were about the same age and there was a comfort in being with another woman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I found I was happy,â&#x20AC;? she says. On Venableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, interested women fill out a 45-page questionnaire that includes habits, lifestyle preferences, education, fitness and other pointed information that could indicate compatibility. However, â&#x20AC;&#x153;crazies are out there,â&#x20AC;? she admits, and so having people checked out is advised. She recommends a trial period in which the person moving in does not bring all their possessions and that

the two women go on a weekend trip together to test their compatibility before making a commitment. While Roommates4Boomers.com is her main project, Venable is a consultant with other pilot projects: TTN Housing, a project to help wealthy women age in place while living in a community called Village to Village; and Living in Communities, a place for both men and women. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Health and housing are the key needs for boomers,â&#x20AC;? Venable says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can fall down even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fit. Many kids are living far away and some women have had no children. They want to be safe, happy and cared for.â&#x20AC;? â&#x2013;

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10 PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

SPEAKING YOUR LANGUAGE

Photo illustration by Salem Health

Medical interpreters Eduardo Caballero (in bed) and Carmen Villa (right) pose as patient and interpreter with Salem Hospital nurse Donna Harris (center), to illustrate what might happen when a patient needs a language interpreter during a medical consultation.

Medical interpreters are your right — and your lifeline By MARY OWEN BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

Medical interpreters put the “I understand” in medical visits, sometimes helping to save lives in the process. “I remember being in Labor and Delivery with a 16-yearold about to give birth,” says Jazmin Manjarrez, an independent contractor with 12 years of interpreting experience. “She was alone and scared. As the nurses prepared her for birth and doctors paraded in and out of the room, I was there interpreting everything. She thanked me and told me my presence meant a lot to her. I understood her cultural concerns and was able to explain them to the care team. And in the end, seeing new life come into this world, a life you had a small contribution in, makes all the difference.” Helen Eby, president of the Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters, says interpreters like Manjarrez, an OSTI member, often act as cultural brokers. According to OSTI, as Oregon and the United States become more linguistically diverse, the use of professional, trained and certified healthcare interpreters in medical settings is more important than ever. “But it’s not easy to find people who are trained and

have passed a language proficiency test to do an interpreting assignment,” says Eby, a National Board certified interpreter who trains others via her company, Gaucha TI. The Aloha resident also writes a blog on her website, blog.gauchati.com. According to Eby, out of some 3,500 interpreters statewide, only about 140 are certified or qualified, yet the number of non-English speaking patients who need assistance continues to grow. “There is a big race to increase those numbers right now,” she says. “When someone speaks two languages, many think they can interpret. However, it’s more complicated than that. The meaning has to be transferred from one language to another. “It’s a little bit like playing the piano,” she adds. “Being able to play with one hand at a time is not that hard. Many people can get there with a little help. However, playing with two hands requires special training, especially when both hands are working somewhat independently. Transferring meaning from one language to another, whether orally or in writing, requires special training.” Her own training helped her learn “techniques, strategies, and ways to discuss things with my colleagues so that we could grow together,” she posts on her blog. “Certification didn’t make me better,” says Eby, who has an impressive list of interpreting proficiencies and career experiences. “It proved I had met a certain standard. I am still learning.” John Salinas got his start as an independent contractor and

now interprets for Kaiser Permanente. “One challenge is making sure that a non-English speaker is heard and understood, and that they can fully understand the interpreter,” says Salinas, who was born into a large Hispanic family that spoke Spanish at home. He says interpreters often times have to ask questions to clarify meaning, which may decrease the chances for medical mistakes to occur. “It’s very important to make sure that the patient and doctor fully understand each other,” he says. Eby says this can also happen with both patients and doctors. “In training, interpreters are taught to request clarification to solve these problems,” she says. “There are standard protocols for this – ‘The interpreter would like you to clarify what you mean by…,’ ‘The interpreter just asked the patient/ the doctor to clarify the meaning of xxx’ and on goes the interpretation. When interpreters follow this procedure, the participants continue to be connected to the main conversation and don’t wonder what is going on while the interpreter has a conversation with the other person.” For Carmen Villa, a medical interpreter with Salem Health, interpreters face challenges daily. “The complexity and evolving nature of the language is only one of them,” Villa says. “Even people speaking the same language have difficulties understanding each other sometimes. Regionalisms, colloquial language, and giving meaning to proverbs or jokes from one culture to another is

Of note

For more information on how to find a medical interpreter, ask your healthcare provider. Also, the Oregon Health Authority’s Care Interpreter Registry and related information can be found at oregon.gov/OHA/oei/ Pages/index.aspx. Other links include: the Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters, ostiweb.org, and the Oregon Health Care Interpreters Association, ohcia.org.

challenging.” Villa, who moved here two years ago from Mexico, says she “saw the need and understood the vicissitudes that foreigners like myself face every day. “Interpreting gives me the opportunity to serve people in my own community,” she says. Like Eby, Villa continues to learn the vast amount of information about different procedures, medications, conditions and diagnoses as well as updating language skills and learning ways to handling situations that are not always favorable. “There are times when interpreters might find themselves between abrasive conversations and keeping neutral,” Villa says. “Keeping neutral and repeating everything the way it has been said can become uncomfortable.” Delivering sad or unwelcome news is also difficult at

times, she says. “A professional interpreter should not let their personal beliefs interfere with their work, and sometimes it’s hard to keep your composure,” Villa says. “Being the voice informing family members about tragic events can make you feel awful, but also makes you evaluate your own life and appreciate those around you a little more.” Ultimately, Eby says when coupled with quality translation and community outreach, medical interpretation can lead to better outcomes in all fields. “As we help people connect with each other across language and cultural barriers, and they begin to understand each other, then our communities become stronger,” she says. “They can express themselves more freely and completely to find more in-depth solutions for their health care problems or educational issues, and maybe even find resources to connect better with our host communities.” Based on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, patients should not have to pay a penny for a medical interpreter, according to Eby. “If a provider is a recipient of federal funding, the language access is part of the service,” she says. “However, this means a whole lot of costcutting and ‘unfunded mandated’ issues.” Despite the challenges, these interpreters love what they are doing. “A highlight for me is doing a good job and knowing that everyone goes home happy,” Salinas says, “knowing I had a hand in the success of every encounter, and feeling good at the end of today.” ■

CREATING A MUSICAL VISION

MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

The A.H. Factor Band blends musical styles, often playing for charity events By MARY OWEN BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

The A.H. Factor Band blends “old school” songstyling with original works, encompassing blues, swing, country and pop. The local musical duo of Stefanie August and Michael Husser met three years ago in Alameda, Calif., at a gig where Husser’s band was performing. “I was in attendance as the manager of the bass player in another group that performed prior to Mike’s band,” August says. Husser adds, “We discovered that we had much in common as musicians, songwriters and producers, and decided to form The A.H. Factor.” Husser plays electric bass, a skill he picked up in 1964 and has perfected ever since. “I still use my Fender jazz bass, aptly named the ‘old man’ who is 50 years young,” says Husser, who has worked with such notables as Little Richard, Elvin Bishop, Harvey Mandel, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Shirelles, Norton Buffalo, Nick Gravinites and Barry Goldberg. The “A” in “A.H.,” August began her professional performance career in 1980 as the cocktail hour vocalist at the jazz room Gregory’s in New York City. “I worked with a great pianist named Don Golson,

Photo by Gery Aversa

The A.H. Factor Band is named after members Stefanie August and Michael Husser, who enjoy playing regional events, such as the Woodburn Tulip Festival shown here.

who was very supportive of my burgeoning career,” she says. “I was also a protégée of Jan Wallman, an NYC jazz club operator and raconteur who was influential in developing the careers of Barbra Streisand and Joel Grey.” August attended music school after many conversa-

tions with Pharoah Sanders, who played at the Village Vanguard near her NYC home. “He would let me sit at his table during performances,” she says of the man she calls her “grandfather.” “He urged me to study music when I was unsure as to what I wanted to do after high

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school graduation.” Taking Sanders’ advice, August graduated from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut with a bachelor of

music, cum laude. When not playing with the band, she works on writing a piano-technique book, “C-Quential Piano.” The A.H. Factor Band plays many local engagements, including the Marion County and Oregon State fairs, Silverton Fine Arts Festival, Habitat for Humanity Fundraising Auction, Molalla COC Silent Auction and the Wild BBQ and Cook-off event, Silverton’s Homer Davenport Festival, and many Silverton First Friday performances at the Green Store, Red Bench, Somewhere in Time, Villa Gusto and Howard Hinsdale Cellars and Bistro. “We have done many charitable events,” August says. “Recently, we went to Weed, Calif., to do a fundraiser for the victims of a large fire, set by an arsonist, in the Boles district that burned down over 100 single-family homes leaving 600-plus people homeless.”

See BAND p. 13

Ridgefield refuge seeks road upgrade 12

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

By BARRY FINNEMORE BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

The thousands of annual visitors to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge regularly are treated to striking wintering waterfowl. In a couple of years, they’ll also have a safer route if they walk or bike to a section of the southwest Washington destination. As much as $3 million in federal funds will be used to improve pedestrian and cyclist access at the north end of the refuge. The money, which Clark County and the city of Ridgefield sought together, will fund improvements along Northwest Main Avenue to the refuge’s headquarters. Plans call for building a 2,200-foot-long paved path along or near Main, replacing a culvert under Main with a 100-foot-long bridge at Gee Creek, and rebuilding the road near the new span. In announcing the funding, the county noted that the section of Main eyed for improvements lacks sidewalks, bicycle lanes or shoulders. The new path will be six- to 10-feet wide to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists who now share the narrow road with vehicles on their way to the refuge. Replacing the culvert also will remove a partial barrier for fish runs and dovetails with the refuge’s plan to restore fish-rearing habitat by reconnecting the creek to

U.S. Fish and Wildlife says the $3.7 million project will provide safer access for walkers and cyclists who now must share the road with cars for about one-third mile Photo by Barry Finnemore

Clark County officials hope to fund improvements along Northwest Main Avenue for pedestrians and cyclists entering Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. They also envision building a visitor’s center. Carty Lake. The improvements, which are still in the conceptual design stage and due to be built beginning in 2017, carry an estimated price tag of $3.7 million to design and build. The city and county will provide a funding match to help cover the project costs, and some of the match could come from state or federal grants, according to engineer

Bill Wright, the county’s transportation programming manager. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the refuge, also will provide some matching dollars, says Eric Anderson with the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex, adding that the project will provide safe access for walkers and cyclists who now face a situation

where sidewalks end at the city limits and, for about onethird of a mile to the refuge’s so-called Carty Unit, they must share the road with vehicles. The Carty Unit features the Cathlapotle Plankhouse. On its website, the refuge notes that “archaeological evidence, historic documents, and the Lewis and Clark journals suggest that plankhouses

of the lower Columbia River were magnificent structures, standing for hundreds of years.” The replica cedar plankhouse at Ridgefield was built in 2005 by the refuge, its partners and volunteers in order to interpret, educate and recover the refuge’s natural and cultural heritage. The Carty Unit also features a two-mile loop trail.

See ROAD p. 13

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MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

BAND CONTINUED FROM P. 11

According to August, the fundraiser pulled in more than $20,000 in one night, but more is needed. To help, an online fundraiser for the Weed fire victims has been set up at youcaring.com. Those donating will receive a copy of the band’s song, “Hi-Lo Girl,” written several years ago about the Hi-Lo Café. “We love all the folks at the Hi-Lo, the meatloaf and fried chicken and especially the HiLo’s baker, Mabel McKinley Steward and her sidekick Sarah Flores, who organized the event,” August says. Another highlight for August was filming the band’s video, “Wuck of the Wabbit,” which features Husser as the “Wucky Wabbit.” “We did this as a project with Blanchet Catholic High School students in Salem, who are very talented in all aspects of video production,” she says. The video can be viewed at ahfactorband.com/videos. “We wrote a campaign song

Photo by Carmen Harrison

The A.H. Factor Band played at the State Capitol back on Dec. 10, one of many local gigs where this duo could play their eclectic sound of blues, swing, country and pop. for the mayoral race in Richmond, Calif., called the ‘Arkansas Rattlesnake,’” says Husser, who hails from Richmond. “Tom Butt, the incumbent mayor who campaigned with $65,000, has been dubbed the Arkansas Rattlesnake by the opposition, who was backed by Chevron Corp. at over $3 million.” Butt won the race, and

Husser says the song has become a hit on many political websites around the globe. “Our mutual challenge is that we are both very focused and work to find common ground in our creative vision and practice efforts,” August says. “The intensity of our collaboration makes for great music.” August and Husser were

ROAD CONTINUED FROM P. 12

Although the refuge today primarily is accessed by vehicles, a shift may be on the horizon. “The hope is that the Carty Unit becomes more of bike and walking destination,” Anderson says. Visitor center envisioned Separately, another addition envisioned for the

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refuge’s Carty Unit is a visitor center. Anderson says such a project is a “first priority” for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Region 1, which includes Washington, Oregon and Idaho. No timetable has been established to design and build the center, and funding has not yet been dedicated to the project, but if constructed it’s anticipated to boost visitation at the 5,300-acre refuge, which already draws 125,000 annual visits.

Of note

For a free download of music, visit facebook. com/theahfactorband. CDs can be purchased at cdbaby.com/cd/theahfactor or via the band’s website, ahfactorband.com.

are available online or through direct order from August and Husser. “We want to recognize our production partners, Jason and Silver Carter and their staff, Josh, Miranda, Chris and John, at Wavelength Studios and Atomic Disk in Salem, who assist us in recording and duplicating our CDs,” August says. “They are also gifted musicians and vocalists. Their contributions can be heard on two of our CDs, ‘Candybox’ and ‘Oregon Rain.’ “We are very inspired by the people of Oregon and its natural beauty,” she adds. “We are so privileged to be able to serve the community with music.” ■ Located near the Columbia River, west of Interstate 5, the Ridgefield refuge, along with three other refuges in the Willamette Valley, were established in 1965 to provide winter habitat for waterfowl, particularly dusky Canada geese. Ridgefield is a mix of marshes, grasslands, woodlands and cropland. See great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, sparrows and many other birds. ■

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Improving access to the wildlife refuge means greater opportunity to see birds like these in their natural environment.

recently asked to manage the Mount Angel Performing Arts Center with outgoing Silverton mayor and theater owner, Stu Rasmussen. “We are planning to present live music and theater in a family-friendly environment,” August says. “Our projected opening is St. Patrick’s Day.” The theater will be available for rent to theatrical and musical groups and other presenters, she adds. “Stu is developing a special clock for the façade of the building, one that will go backward in time and have a cuckoo that sings something crazy — hence the name, Crazy Cuckoo Clock,” August says. “It will chime at off hours to the Glockenspiel Clock that is already in town.” The goal is to re-establish the theater as an intimate 160seat performance space that showcases excellent theatrical, musical and community events, August says. Since moving to Oregon, The A.H. Factor Band has released three albums: “Willoughby,” “Candybox” and “Oregon Rain.” All CDs

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Lucky Eagle breaks ground on huge expansion

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel has begun construction on a major expansion project that calls for an additional 41,000 square feet of gaming, food service and support services; 8,600 square feet of administrative space; and a 120,000 square foot parking garage. “We are very excited to enhance

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

the entertainment experience of our guests,” says Lucky Eagle CEO John Setterstrom. Lucky Eagle is operated by the Chehalis Tribe. “This project will introduce amenities never before seen in the gaming industry in the Pacific Northwest.” The project also will include a new sports bar and grill, increased meeting and entertainment space, and a new player’s club and lounge. The new parking garage will enable guests to go directly from their cars to the casino floor without a long walk or exposure to natural elements. The project is expected to have a positive economic impact in both the short- and long-term. Local

jobs will be created during construction and once the new areas are fully operational.

African film festival celebrates 25 years

There’s still time to catch an unprecedented number of feature and documentary film as part of the Cascade Festival of African Film’s 25th anniversary. The films are

C L A S S I F I E D

shown each February as part of Black History Month and is the longest-running African film festival in the United States. The films are shown through March 8 at Portland Community College. Visit Africanfilmfestival. org for listing of the free films, shown at PCC’s Cascade Campus Moriarty Hall and at Hollywood Theater. ■

If you’re looking for fun and interesting things to do, check out the Calendar of Events on p. 19.

A D S

Ads must be RECEIVED BY the 6th of the month PRIOR to publication Go to www.NWBoomerandSeniorNews.com for ad form and instructions.

9 Vacation Rentals LINCOLN CITY OCEAN FRONT, fantastic view, fireplace, TV/VCR/ DVD, 2 bdrms, kit/ dishwasher, no smoking, no pets. Very comfortable. 503843-3157. Email: holton@macnet.com. ROAD’S END, LINCOLN CITY. Oceanview home, private room for vacation rental. Google: Airbnb-Lincoln CityCozy Private Room Close to Beach. Or email dauble@gmail. com.

16 Units for Rent

HUD SUBISDIZED APARTMENTS for senior citizens, 62 or older. We offer spacious one bedroom apartments with private balconies, on-site laundry facility, community room & a courtyard with a nice Koi pond. All in the heart of downtown Eugene! Call 541-343-0433 for more information! Lawrence Court Apartments provides equal housing opportunities. Emerald Property Management, 541-741-4676.

and/or handicapped, available at this time. We are committed to providing equal housing opportunities. All utilities paid. Briarwood Manor, 643 Manbrin, Keizer, OR 97303, 541-9282545.

HUD SUBSIDIZED UNITS for senior citizens 62 or older, disabled and/or handicapped, available at this time. We are committed to providing equal housing opportunities. All utilities paid. Glenwood Manor, 1687 HUD SUBSIDIZED UN- NW Division St., CorITS for senior citizens vallis. 541-753-3408. 62 or older, disabled and/or handicapped, Health Care available at this time. We are committed to DRUG FREE APproviding equal hous- PROACH to reversing ing opportunities. All d i a b e t e s - d i a b e t e s utilities paid. Surf- neuropathy! Terminwood Manor, 4545 ate your pain & sufferSW Hwy 101, Lincoln ing. 503-523-7478. City, 541-996-3477. Free one hour consultation. HUD SUBSIDIZED UNITS for senior citizens 62 or older, disabled

29 Miscellaneous ECK (SPIRIT)-follow the voice of God to spiritual freedom. Video at www.miraclesinyourlife.org or www.eckankar-oregon.org.

32 Cemetery Plots BELCREST MEMORIAL PARK CREMATION, 2 plots side by side. Section 182, block 47. $2250 for both. Call 360-909-3937.

33 Wanted OLD SPORTS CARS WANTED: 1948-1972. Alfa, Austin Healey, Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes, MG, Porsche. “American Classics also!” 503-538-8096 CASH for DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. Help those in need. Paying up to $30 per box. Free pickup! Call Sharon, 503-6793605.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WANTED. Portland Music Co. always buying! Reputable since 1927. Free appraisals. 531 SE M.L.K. Blvd. Ask for Doug. 503-2263719. CASH FOR OLD TOYS, pre 1970. Sport & non-sport gum or cigarette cards, model kits; games, puzzles, comic books, old scrap books or??? Private collector. 503644-7947. BASEBALL & SPORTS MEMORABILIA wanted. Buying old cards, pennants, autographs, photographs, tickets, programs, Pacific Coast League, etc. Alan, 503-4810719.

36 Home Improvement AFFORDABLE PRESSURE WASHING, window cleaning, move in/out cleaning. Call

Jesse at 503-8844706, www.salemwindowcleaners.com. Professional services, insured. SENIOR DISCOUNT!

port. Commission based. Please send resume to dthouv e n e l @ n w s e n i o rnews.com. Must have a computer. No phone calls please. Monthly newspaper for 30+ Pets years. Prefer you live LOVING PET CARE! in coast area. 50+ years’ experience. Large, stress free, clean home. Fenced yard. Day or long NOTICE: Oregon term. References. state law (ORS 701) 661-242-1912. http:// requires anyone who www.youtube.com/w contracts for construction work to be atch?vjtzVp3AF8W8.

49 Sales Help Wanted SALESPERSON WANTED! INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR with selling experience needed for newspaper sales. From Astoria to New-

licensed with the Construction Contractors Board. An active license means the contractor is bonded and insured. Verify the contractor’s CCB license through the CCB Consumer Website www.hirali censedcontractor.co m or call 503-378-4621.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowlingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD Toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The Toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

REACH THOUSANDS of READERS with a FRIENDSHIP AD

ATTENTION!

Changes have been made to the existing Friendship Club format. As of January 2015, all Friendship Ads now appear in all four editions...and you can access the ad form online at: www.nwboomerandseniornews.com MAIL responses to: NW Boomer & Senior News, 4159 Cherry Ave. NE, Keizer, OR 97303; (include listing # you’re responding to)

Join the Friendship Club & broaden your circle of friends! EDUCATED WAF looks for sincere soulmate who may fill an empty heart. No games please. Photo please. #5577 SAF, intellectual, kind, sincere. Love travel, theatre, romantic drives to countryside. Love to find a gentle & kind man, 65-

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Ad Abbreviations M = Male S = Single W = White B = Black J = Jewish

F = Female D = Divorced A = Asian H = Hispanic C = Christian

N/S = Non-smoker N/D = Non-drinker ISO = In Search Of LTR = Long Term Relationship

WW = Widowed White WB = Widowed Black WA = Widowed Asian WH = Widowed Hispanic GLBT= Alternate Lifestyle

cated, articulate, humorous. Living with some medical restrictions. Please be between 55 & 65. #5586 SWF, 62, seeks stable, secure 60’s male who is open-minded towards marriage. Should enjoy: animals, movies, cooking. Prefer under 6’ tall, appealing males who don’t smoke tobacco. Eugene/ Springfield area. #5587 WWM, fit, 5’7”, 135#, attractive, college grad. Romantic,

egalitarian, stable, hygienic, well-off homeowner wants lady, 60-80, for friendship, romance, travel, shared cooking, banter, discussion, quiet times. Photo & phone please. #5588 YOUNG 82 WWM, uses walker, has car. N/S, N/D, spiritual, energy oriented, good health, kind, caring, giving, wise, intuitive-self-aware. ISO like person for simple life. #5589

WDM desires WF companion, healthy, sincere, clean, quiet, family type. 5’2”-5’7”, smallmedium, 55-65, N/s, N/D. Will be treated like a lady with respect, trust, held close, communicated with. Road trips. #5590 METRO, WWM, early 70’s, feeling 60. No repeaters please. Seek 60-75 age gals, N/S, lite drinks. Dance, drives, coast especially. Split costs. Fun is senior years. #5591

Discovering aesthetic in

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

SEATTLE

MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

The Seattle skyline looms in the distance behind the Z-shaped path in Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s just one of the art museum’s three venues.

This eclectic art can be hard to miss By PAT SNIDER BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

cruise terminal, aquarium, and Pike Place Market. The market, with its produce, flowers, T-shirts, and “flying” fish stalls, is home to a number of excellent restaurants and bakeries; and, just outside the market is the world’s first Starbucks. A few more blocks south, at the corner of University Avene and First Street, the Seattle Art Museum is easily identifiable thanks to Jonathon Borofsky’s three-story, animated sculpture called The Hammering Man. (Someone on the museum’s board must have been quite fond of large, outdoor sculpture installations.) Inside, the museum houses an impressive collection from Rubens and Rembrandt to hanging cars exploding with neon light shafts. The museum is best known for its extensive collection of Northwest Coast Indian art and artifacts. A special exhibition, ‘Indigenous Beauty,” runs through May 17 and features artifacts from one of the most comprehensive, private collections of Native American art. The third venue of the Seattle Art Museum is the Asian Art Museum, located some distance away in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Its collection includes paintings, pottery, textiles and sculptures from throughout Asia

mong the items in the bin of obsolescence, you’ll find rotary phones, cassette tapes, carbon paper, hardbound encyclopedias, and a funny little round, rubber circle with a plastic brush attached. Remember the typewriter eraser? It has not been forgotten by the famed husband/wife team of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen who created a whimsical, 19-foot sculpture of stainless steel and fiberglass called Typewriter Eraser, Scale X for the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. Located on the waterfront north of downtown in the Belltown neighborhood, this nine-acre park combines landscaping, art, and a stunning view of Puget Sound and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains to create an urban redevelopment success story. The site was previously occupied by Union Oil of California as a transfer facility and tank farm. When they pulled out in the 1970s, they left behind a blighted, industrial eyesore with soil contaminated by years of oil seepage. The idea of creating a sculpture park in this wasteland grew out of a collaboration between the Trust for Public Land and the Seattle Art Museum. Sufficient funds were raised to purchase the land, clean up the contamination, and engage the New York architectural firm of Weiss/Manfredi to transform the property into a vibrant green space to showcase art. The landscaping, an important element in the design, consists of four Northwest ecosystems: valley, meadows, groves and shore. Each is planted with native trees (over 500), shrubs, and wildflowers; and the entire area is connected with a 2,200-foot long, Z-shaped pedestrian path. Learn more about visiting the art museums, and view all the sculptures in the Interspersed along this path is a collection of monumental, modern sculptures outdoor park at seattleartmuseum.org. ■ designed by some of the best-known regional, national and international artists. Probably the most recognizable is Alexander Calder’s bright red Eagle which provides a perfect picture frame for Seattle’s Space Needle. Other noted artists represented in the collection include Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra and Louise Bourgeios. The 20-plus sculptures are mostly metal and abstract including benches mimicking eyeballs, curving monoliths in oxidized steel, and a 50-foot tall stainless steel tree. One unusual piece brings together art and science. The Neukom Vivarium consists of an 80-foot greenhouse occupied by a giant, dead “nursery log” where viewers can observe life and decay amid the ferns, lichens and insects that have made the tree their home. The park is open all year and is free to the public. In summer months, a café serves espresso and snacks, and Photos by Pat Snider the park’s amphitheater hosts a variety Above, take a stroll along the Seattle waterfront and enjoy more of special concerts and other events. pieces, like Schubert Sonata by Mark di Suvero. Top right: Some To view art in a more traditional This art piece is titled Father setting, it’s about a dozen blocks sculptures, like this whimsical 19-foot piece called Typewriter Eraser, and Son Fountain, and was south to the Seattle Art Museum. The Scale X, remind us of a time gone by. It was created by the husbandcreated by Louis Bourgeois. walk along the waterfront passes the and-wife team of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

Seniors with Oregon tax debt

16 PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

Law firm hopes a bill will help those who can’t afford to pay By DAN CHRISTOPHER BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS

Just two days into the new legislative session in Salem and Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) was already armed with 71 proposed bills that constituents hoped he would introduce. Among them is one designed to help ease the shock and fears facing some Oregon seniors by forcing the Oregon Department of Revenue to alter its method of pursuing back taxes owed to the state. Now living on little more than her social security, Lois Hughes, 69, of Portland says she has felt badgered when the state Department of Revenue started coming after her to collect an $11,000 tax debt. She was reportedly told to sell her car to help pay the bill. She argued that wasn’t possible because she has limited mobility and must use the car for weekly doctor visits in treating her diabetes. Hughes offered to pay $25 a week from her Social Security check. She says the state insisted “that’s totally unacceptable.” Hughes also says she was never told that certain income, including Social Security, disability, pensions, and VA benefits are exempt by federal law from tax collectors. A man from Medford, also facing a tax dilemma with the state, says he lived in fear of being arrested after receiving a notice from the Oregon Department of Revenue with a bold heading “DESTRAINT WARRANT.” A line in the notice read, “If you owe taxes, we will collect,” with no explanation that certain income is exempt. Cases like these are the motivation behind the legislation proposed by a nonprofit, Salem-based law firm called HELPS, or Help Eliminate Legal

Problems for Seniors and Disabled. HELPS attorney Eric Olsen says “a lot of elderly people are harassed by collectors or they get contacted by the Oregon Department of Revenue to pay taxes they can’t afford to pay.” After reported failed attempts to get voluntary disclosures by DOR, Olsen’s firm drafted legislation which mandates that tax delinquents be notified about incomes that are exempt from tax collection and protected under federal laws. The legislation also proposes that the state implement an “uncollectable status” like the IRS has, which would keep tax collectors at bay. The status would then be reviewed regularly to see if there is any change in the taxpayer’s ability to pay. Olsen says he’d like to see tax notices replace the worrisome “destraint warrant” headline with a more accurate notification as a tax lien. “Half of all seniors over 65 qualify financially as poor,” Olsen says. “Collectors call them on the phone, they harass them, they intimidate them, they get the demand notices. They (seniors) go without food or medicine, or they cut their medicines down, they turn the heat off to pay debt they simply can’t afford to pay. And they don’t understand that Social Security was never designed to

take care of this debt they carry for whatever reason.” HELPS hopes lawmakers like Rep. Bentz will spearhead a bill to ease the fears of seniors who are confronted with a system that could be better understood. Bentz says the draft legislation, currently known as LC 1830, deserves a cautious approach. He intends to review the matter with the Department of Revenue and other involved parties. “We have to make sure we aren’t letting people off the hook on assumptions that may not turn out to be true; the assumption being that this is all they have,” he says. “But if we made appropriate inquiries and it is indeed all they have, then one might ask what happens if things change, if they have an inheritance, get a job. How would other taxpayers in the state react if we discontinued collection activity and missed that opportunity to collect just debt?” Bentz says he could support the bill if it helps make the system work more efficiently and effectively without doing anything wrong. “I’ve been on the revenue committee for eight years,” he says. “I am very sensitive to making sure we collect from those who owe tax the amount that they owe. And the fact that someone’s income is limited does not absolve one from having to pay what they failed to pay. The question is how we walk that fine line between debt forgiveness, which we do not do unless we have to, because everyone has to pay their taxes. If you start forgiving debt, where does that end?” An Oregon DOR spokesman says the procedure and terminology to pursue tax debt is generally based on case law, and that there is a balance between providing enough information without making it overwhelming to clients during a stressful time. So far, the proposal remains a draft and has not yet become a House Bill. ■

70 YEARS Some things just get better with age. We’ve been providing affordable living and care for seniors since 1945.

Apartments with meal plans as low as $1,535 a month.

Call (503) 255-7160 today to tour or attend a “Lunch & Learn” event. EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

www.ParkviewRetirement.org Independent Retirement and Assisted Living

Seniors our concern ~ Christ our motivation!

RETIREMENT LIVING CHOICES Memory Care

Planned Activities

Utilities Included

Transportation

Housekeeping

LOCATION

BUY-IN MONTHLY RENTAL No. of Units

Asst. Living/RCF/Foster Care

COMMUNITY

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Independent Living

MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com

“No Buy-In”

Avamere at Bethany

16360 NW Avamere Court Portland, OR 97229 503-690-2402

Avamere Living at Berry Park Retirement Living Apartments & Cottages 13669 S. Gaffney Lane Oregon City, OR 97045 503-656-7614 www.avamerelivingat berrypark.com

Retirement Assisted Living Memory Care Call for pricing details.

No Buy In! Studio, 1 Bedroom & 2 Bedrooms: Rates starting at $1903/month 2 Bd cottages: $3525/month

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98 total units

“No Buy-In”

Beaverton Lodge 12900 SW 9th St. Beaverton, OR 97005 503-646-0635 www.beavertonlodge.com

Cornell Estates Retirement & Assisted Living

1005 NE 17th Hillsboro, OR 97124 503-640-2884 Charlene Torrey www.cornell-estates.com marketing@cornell-estates.com

Studio: $1695-$1750 1 BR: $1995-$2295 2 BR/1 BA: $2475-$2895 2 BR/2 BA: $2695-$2795 2nd Occ.: $395/mo.

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121 Units

“No Buy-In” Affordable Rates to fit your budget.

Call today for your complimentary lunch & tour.

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160 Units

“No Buy-In”

Creekside Village Retirement Residence A “Family Felt” Environment 5450 SW Erickson Ave. Beaverton, OR 97005 503-643-9735 www.creekside-village.com

1BR/1 BA: $2055-$2155 2 BR/1 BA: $2570-$2670 2 BR/2 BA: $2675-$2775 2nd Occ.: $395 120 Apts.

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“No Buy-In”

Good Samaritan Society

Fairlawn Village 1280 NE Kane Drive Gresham, OR 97030 503-667-1965 Patricia Smith

1 BR or 2 BR Cottages with ala carte services $905-$1930/mo Lodge Apts. - Studio or 1 BR with services $1755-$2405/mo Call for fees for Rehab and Skilled Care.

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185 Units

“No Buy-In”

Gresham Station Apartments 1003 NW Shattuck Way Gresham, OR 97030 503-665-2231 McKenzie White

1 BR/1 BA: $725 2 BR/1 BA: $825-$850 190 Units

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AMENITIES Did you know that Avamere at Bethany offers dementia care in our Arbor Community? Our staff is proud to provide a high quality of care to each resident, recognizing the uniqueness of each individual. We also offer assisted living apartments where residents can start out independent and as their needs grow we grow with them. Bethany has 8 condo cottages that are independent living with all the perks of living inside the community. Call today to schedule your tour!

Stop by Avamere at Berry Park today for a visit of our newly remodeled community. We offer housekeeping, laundry, 3 meals/ day in our beautiful dining room, transportation services, movie theatre, billiards lounge and a variety of activities here and off-site. Signature Home Care services are available on-site at affordable monthly rate providing you the independence you want, but assistance that you need. We can’t wait to welcome you home!

Some of the largest retirement apartments in the area. Pet-friendly, nonsmoking community. Two sets of onsite managers, front door video cameras - visible from residents’ TVs, indoor spa, mineral/saline pool, senior water aerobic classes, scheduled transportation, weekly shopping trips & excursions. Beautiful walking paths & raised bed gardens, satellite TV & much more.

You or your loved one deserves the best that life has to offer & that’s exactly what you’ll find at this active community on Portland’s Westside. Our residents love our affordable prices, safe & friendly environment, 24hour health care, & customizable care packages. Their families praise our diverse music, art, educational events & programs, quick access to medical care, doctors, shopping, & the personal, long-term staff caring for their loved one. Recipient of the Pacific University 2013 Community Partner Award.

There’s “No Place Like Home.” That’s why Creekside Village is where you’ll want to hang your hat. We serve 3 fantastic home cooked meals a day by our seasoned chef. We have 24hour on-call staffing. A walk around our beautiful grounds with a greeting from our creek side ducks makes for a pleasant experience. Just blocks from the Elsie Sturh Senior Center, Beaverton Library, and Beaverton Farmers Market.

Not-for-profit, faith based, continuum of care community on a beautiful 12-acre campus w/convenient, affordable 1- & 2 bedroom cottages, spacious lodge apartments, licensed in-home care agency for skilled and rehab care. Amenities: meals & housekeeping options, daily activities, transportation, beauty & barber salon, 24hr. emergency response, library, walking paths, guest rooms & dog park. Call to schedule a tour and have lunch.

Enjoy country club style living. Active 55+ community with controlled access building, shuttle service, new clubhouse and fitness center, business center, on-site management, on Max line, close to Gresham shops, services and activities.

This Retirement Living Directory can be a valuable resource when examining lifestyle options. Save it for future reference or pass it along to a friend. Go online to www.NWBoomerandSeniorNews.com to see more listings.

RETIREMENT LIVING CHOICES

Hazelwood

Retirement Community

11939 NE Davis St. Portland, OR 97220 503-255-4757 www.thehazelwoodlifestyle.com

Jennings McCall Center

2300 Masonic Way Forest Grove, OR 97116 Bev Buckner 503-357-4133 jenningsmccall.com

Johnson Assisted Living (at Parkview Christian Retirement Community) 10801 NE Weidler St. Portland, OR 97220 503-255-7160 Linda Williams

Knights of Pythias Retirement Center 3409 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98663 360-696-4375

Call Lori Fiorillo to schedule your personal tour with complimentary lunch

Privately owned & operated by Knights of Pythias, a not-for-profit organization

Pacific Pointe Retirement Inn at King City 11777 SW Queen Elizabeth King City, OR 97224 503-684-1008 www.pacificpointe.net Call for FREE lunch & tour Come check us out!

Parkview Christian Retirement Community 1825 NE 108th Ave. Portland, OR 97220 503-255-7160 Linda Williams

Royalton Place

5555 SE King Road Milwaukie, OR 97222 503-653-1854 Debbie Hart-Hartman

www.royaltonplaceseniorliving.com

Summerfield Retirement Estates An All-Inclusive Retirement Community 11205 SW Summerfield Drive Tigard, OR 97224 503-388-5418

“No Buy-In” Studio: $1580 1 BR/1 BA: $1790 2 BR/1 BA: $2405 2 BR/2 BA: $2460 120 Units

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Memory Care

Utilities Included

Planned Activities

Transportation

LOCATION

BUY-IN MONTHLY RENTAL No. of Units

Housekeeping

COMMUNITY

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

Asst. Living/RCF/Foster Care

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Independent Living

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“No Buy-In”

Studios 1 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms

75 Retirement Units. 129 Assisted Living Units 10 Memory Care Units

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No “Buy-In”

Not-for-Profit Studio: $2500 1 BR: $2975

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63 Apartments “No Buy-In”

Subsidized Studios & One Bedroom Apts. Private pay rates ● starting at $1045

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(incl. 1 meal)

166 Units

“No Buy-In” Apartments Studio, 1 BR - Lg or Sm, 2 BR - Lg or Sm, 2 BR Cottages Call for rate information.

The perfect balance of independence & support can be found here. In addition to spacious private apartments, we offer a full menu of personal support services, 24-hr. friendly care-giving staff & a full time RN & LPN nursing team. A variety of activities, outings, fitness, wellness & faith-based services, all promote friendship & a sense of community. Call today for a personal tour & complimentary lunch. Our non-profit organization offers very affordable housing. Amenities include meal program, housekeeping, laundry service, beauty shop, fitness center, art room, library, and a secured courtyard, 24-hr. security, secured entrance, emergency pull cords in each apartment. There are planned activities & weekly shopping trips at no cost. Stop by for a tour and lunch any time!

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Located in a quiet neighborhood near medical services, shopping & banks, our 6-acre parklike campus provides single-level courtyard apartments amidst landscaped walking paths. A full calendar of activities & outings, incl. faithbased services, promotes friendship & a sense of community. Entree choices galore, fresh salad bar & dedicated staff make meal time a joy. Stop by for a personal tour & complimentary lunch. Small pets welcome. 24-hr. staff. Daily well-being checks.

Not-for-profit

109 Retirement 63 Assisted “No Buy-In” Studios: $2630 & up 1 BR/1 BA: $3125 & up Call for more information.

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51 Assisted Units 19 Memory Units “No Buy-In”

153 Units

Located on 15 park-like acres with paved walkways & courtyards w/garden areas & a greenhouse. Spacious retirement apartments w/full-size kitchens & additional storage off patio. Assisted Living includes 7 days a week nursing care. Memory Care Unit opening in June 2013. Exercise/ game/craft rooms, theatre room, Bistro. Flexible meal plans w/restaurant-style dining. In house pharmacy services, & dental office. Contracted security firm - twice every night. Small pets welcome.

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No “Buy-In”

Studio 1 BR/1 BA 2 BR/1 BA 2 BR/2 BA Call for more information

Imagine an affordable retirement community w/gated entry & 24-hour staffing, built above a shopping mall with access to shopping & more, within walking distance to MAX. We offer 3 meals daily, all utilities except phone, bus transportation to medical appts., shopping, Spirit Mountain Casino monthly, weekly housekeeping/ linen service, activities, exercise classes & fitness equipment. Take a tour. Meet our wonderful staff.

All-Inclusive - Enjoy freedom from cooking, cleaning, yard work & home maintenance! Walk to shopping, banks, post office, pharmacy & medical offices or use our scheduled transportation. Beautiful grounds & walking path, activities, 24-hr. staff & emergency call system. Great food, staff & residents! Executive Director has been at Pacific Pointe for 20 years. On-site health care agency should you need it. Reasonable rates.

114 Units

Rent plus services as low as $1490 per month!

AMENITIES

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“People Who Care...Caring for People”TM Our philosophy of service at Royalton Place Assisted Living encourages an active and independent senior lifestyle that supports residents’ privacy and dignity. Royalton Place provides Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Respite services. Our senior housing environment provides full-service senior living with resort-style amenities.

Our beautiful grounds are surrounded by quiet, quaint neighborhoods to provide peaceful and safe living. Living at Summerfield has it’s perks—including membership to the Summerfield Golf & Country Club! The golf course, clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, exercise equipment & library are all available to our residents. Onsite managers, 24/7/365; pullcords in every apartment.

You’ll find lots to pick from in the MARCH Calendar of Events

MARCH 2015 • www.nwboomerandseniornews.com Newberg Community Band presents a circus-themed concert, 2:30 p.m., Bauman Auditorium, George Fox University. Newbergcommunityband.com.

“Let’s Dance,” with Oregon Symphony, 3 p.m., Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland. $22+. OrSymphony.org or 503-228-1353. Engaging with Adult Children, a VIEWS Conversation on Aging, 10 to 11:30 a.m., SE Multicultural Senior Center, 4610 SE Belmont, Portland. 503-988-7817.

“In the Mood,” 2 and 7:30 p.m., Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. 800273-1530.

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

Folk Dancing Club, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Marshall Center, Vancouver, Wash. 360-8285031. Bridging Life Transitions, a VIEWS Conversation on Aging, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Pioneer Community Center, 615 5th St., Oregon City. 503-6578287. Artist reception, 5 to 8 p.m., Sequoia Gallery, 136 SE Third Ave., Hillsboro. 503-693-0401. Prime Timers Dining Club, 6 p.m., Heidi’s Restaurant, 1230 NE Cleveland Ave., Gresham. 503936-5861.

(through March 7) Les 7 Doigts de la Main presents “Sequence 8,” Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. 800273-1530.

Genealogical Society of Washington County, 7 p.m., Hillsboro Public Library community room, 2850 NE Brookwood Pkwy. “Homesteads and Other Land Acts of the 1800s.” 503-640-4431.

Ghost Town Poetry open mic, 7 p.m., Angst Gallery 1015 Main St., Vancouver, Wash.

(through April 18) “Murder on the Nile,” 7:30

p.m., Coaster Theatre Playhouse, 108 N. Hemlock St., Cannon Beach. 503-4361242.

“As Time Goes By,” a dinner/casino fundraiser for Robison Jewish Health Center, 6 p.m., Tualatin Country Club. Sponsored by Cedar Sinai Park. $100. 503-535-4360.

(also 2 p.m. March 15, 8 p.m. March 16) Thomas Lauderdale

“rePLAY: Symphony of Heroes,” with Oregon Symphony, 7:30 p.m., Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland. OrSymphony.org or 503-228-1353.

with Oregon Symphony, 7:30 p.m., Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland. $22+. OrSymphony.org or 503-228-1353. The Aging Brain, an Ounce of Prevention, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Sage Center for Wholeness and Health, 12555 SW 1st St., Beaverton. 503-866-2901.

“Producing Pitch-perfect Project Promotion” with J. Wandres, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tualatin Public Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi Ave. $5/$10. 503-913-6006.

Book Group: “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” 7 p.m., Garden Home Community Library, 7475 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503-2459932. Song Circle: Adult singers and acoustic instruments play pop/folk songs, 6:30 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043. Bridging Life Transitions, a VIEWS Conversation on Aging, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Salvation Army Silvercrest, 1865 NE Davis, Portland. 503-536-3208.

True Stories of the Human Spirit, with local memoir authors, 1:30 p.m., Another Read Through Book Store, 3932 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland. Free. (also March 15) 33rd Annual Antique Spinning Wheel Showcase, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (noon to 4 p.m. Sunday), Old Aurora Colony Museum, 15018 2nd St. $2-$6. 503-678-5754. Junior Symphony of Vancouver, 3 p.m., Northside Baptist Church, 5201 NE Minnehaha St., Vancouver, Wash. $10 at the door. 3606964084.

Gospel Brunch, featuring the SEI Sounds of Soul choir, 1 p.m., Center for Self Enhance-ment, 3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland. $35/$50. 503-249-1721, ext. 1262.

The Elder Journey, a VIEWS Conversation on Aging, 10 to 11:30 p.m., Hollywood Senior Center, 1820 NE 40th Ave., Portland. 503288-8303. Boost Your Brainpower with SuperBrain Yoga, 7 to 9 p.m., RoseSprings Center, 5215 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite A, Hillsboro. Liza@heart-to-heart-healing.com.

Men’s Caregiver Support Group, 1 p.m., Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, Building 2, second-floor board room, Portland, 503-413-8791 or pmahoward@aol.com.

Heart to Heart, a VIEWS Conversation on Aging, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Salvation Army Rose Center for Seniors, 211 NE 18th Ave., Portland. 503-239-1281. Change Your Energy, Change Your Life, 1 to 3 p.m., West Linn Adult Community Center, 1180 Rosemont Road. Liza@heart-to-hearthealing.com.

Writers Mill, 1 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043. Health Fair, 1 to 3 p.m., Beaverton. Also on March 17 in Lake Oswego and March 18 in Portland. Learn how to reduce pain. Free. 503-523-7478.

“Willamette Valley Railways” with Richard Thompson, 7 p.m., Garden Home Community Library, 7475 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503-245-9932.

Learning from Grief and Loss, a VIEWS Conversation on Aging, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Calaroga Terrace, 1400 NE 2nd Ave., Portland. 503-234-8271.

Simple Living and Pioneer Style potluck, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Beaverton History Center, 12412 SW Broadway. $2. 503-430-0106.

(also March 22) Symphonie Fantastique, 7:30 p.m., Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland. $22+. OrSymphony.org or 503-2281353. Artist reception, Currents Gallery, 5 to 8 p.m., during McMinnville’s Art and Wine Walk. Exhibit runs through April 12. 503-435-1316.

Fruit Propagation Fair, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Clackamas County Fairgrounds, 694 NE 4th Ave., Canby. $4-$10.

“GriGris,” a film from Chad, 6:30 p.m., Garden Home Community Library, 7475 SW Oleson Road, Portland. 503-245-9932. Owl Book Group: “A Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks, 10:30 a.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503644-0043. Voices in Verse open mic poetry, 10 a.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

Union Pacific Employee Clubs Annual Charity Breakfast, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Odd Fellows Hall, 10282 SE Main St., Milwaukie. Raffle, bingo. $6. 503-714-4186 for tickets. (also March 29) Gold and Treasure Show, Portland Expo Center. $5/$10. 503-703-1142.

(through April 30) Paul Barthol exhibit, “On the Brink,” Nectar Café, 1925 NE 42nd Ave., Suite E, Portland. Meet the artist, 2 p.m. April 4.

Mount Hood Pops Orchestra, “Celebrating Music,” 3:30 p.m., Mount Hood Community College theater, Gresham. 503-669-1937. Tea and Tangles, 6:30 p.m., Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell Road, Suite 13, Portland. 503-644-0043.

Send your calendar items to: Calendar, 4159 Cherry Ave. NE Keizer, OR 97303 or email mte@nwseniornews.com by the 6th of the month for the following month’s publication.

PORTLAND-METRO/VANCOUVER EDITION

adopt me

HEATHER

The Oregon Humane Society’s Cat of the Month is Heather. She is 10 years old and has had a rough life get-

NW BOOMER & SENIOR NEWS • MARCH 2015

ting though these years. Heather is a sweet and spicy independent lady that is searching for a mellow, quiet home where she is given plenty of time and space to settle in. She is a social creature who does enjoy being petted and loved, but wants it to be on her own terms. She would appreciate a home without small children as she isn’t found of too much over-handling. She spends her time waiting for her next meal of some canned food and her internal calendar knows when it should be coming. Heather’s adoption fee includes spay, microchip ID, collar and OHS ID tag, initial

vaccines, free veterinarian exam and plenty of post adoption support. Meet with her at the Oregon Humane Society, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland. See her online at oregonhumane.org or call 503285-7722 for more information. Visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Adoption hours begin at 10 a.m. and end one-half hour prior to closing each night. Cats and dogs are also available at our Westside Adoption Center located inside of Lexi Dog Boutique & Social Club, 6100 SW Macadam Ave., Portland. ■

Spend time with Max at Cat Adoption Team’s Sherwood shelter, 14175 SW Galbreath Drive. Call 503-925-8903 or browse catadoptionteam.org. Shelter hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. ■ MAX Max is an older cat who is happy to spend his time lounging on laps and eating treats. Max is affectionate, easygoing and enthusiastic. After a few minutes of getting petted, Max will be a purring machine. Max loves attention and can’t wait to meet you.

REMEMBER! Pet overpopulation is a real problem. Spay/neuter your pet. Contact your veterinarian or local humane society to inquire about low-cost spay/neuter certificates to help offset the cost.

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