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SENIOR Lifestyles Handyman Putting woodworking skills to good use
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October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
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SENIOR
Lifestyles
inside
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Q&A
Ron Grandia transforms space into workshop
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Khrushchev in Iowa
Larry Hurto explores the Russian Premier’s visit to the U.S. 60 years ago
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Volume 2 Issue 3 Rich Paulsen Publisher
Puzzler
Enjoy a brain teaser with the crossword and sudoku puzzles
11 Events Find fun, upcoming events for
Pam Pratt Editor Senior Lifestyles is a Newton Daily News publication
the month of November
Spending time with pets provides benefits for older adults Newton senior care experts say seniors who interact with animals feel less depressed and isolated. Social isolation is becoming an increasingly common issue, with one in five Americans reporting they feel lonely. Seniors are especially vulnerable to these feelings. In fact, 43 percent say they experience loneliness regularly. A new survey of adults age 65 and older by Home Instead Senior Care found regular interaction with animals can help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. “While we recognize that pet ownership isn’t for everyone, we find that interaction with pets, even on a small scale, can have a big impact on older adults,” Jonna Wisnieski, senior care expert and owner of the Home Instead Senior Care in Newton, said. “A simple act like petting a dog, holding a cat or watching a bird can bring so much joy to a senior who may be feeling lonely.” Additional survey results found nearly half of older pet owners cited stress relief, sense of purpose and exercise as leading advantages to
owning a pet. In addition to providing positive health benefits, pets can also provide constant companionship for older adults who would prefer to age in place. In fact, 82 percent of senior animal owners surveyed said they would not consider moving to a senior living community without their pet. These findings are not a surprise to Steve Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), a nonprofit research and education organization. “There is a strong connection between heart health and pet ownership or interaction,” Feldman said. “Pet owners are more likely to get recommended levels of exercise, have lower blood pressure and experience reduced levels of stress. Pets have even been shown to aid in recovery after a heart attack.” While there are many benefits to owning a pet later in life, Home Instead also found that even occasional interactions with pets prove to be beneficial for older adults. Survey continued on page 8
Submitted Photo
Kierra, the dog of one of the caregivers with Home Instead Senior Care in Newton, is a perfect example. Whenever Kierra visits Chuck, a local senior with Alzheimer’s disease, they bring each other so much joy.
October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
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October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
10/4/19 2:28 PM
historical moment SIXTY YEARS AGO
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s visit to Iowa was controversial
By Larry Hurto
When President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced on Aug. 3, 1959 he had invited the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR to visit the United States in September 1959, the news was so overwhelming in some channels as to be shocking. “Khrushchev Is Coming!” These somber words ring like a death-knell in the ears of those
who love national honor and who believe that it is wrong to consort with criminals and to dignify murderers while the blood of the victims is hardly dry,” the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade “News Letter” averred. “[Secretary of State] John Foster Dulles has only recently been laid to rest in his grave and this overwhelming reversal occurs,” the editor of the “News Letter” Dr. Fred C. Schwarz, exclaimed. But this historic event was not unilateral. “The President has also accepted Mr. Khrushchev’s invitation to pay an official visit to the USSR later this fall,” the official announcement proclaimed. “Both governments express the hope that the forthcoming visits will contribute to better understanding between the USA and the USSR, and promote the cause of peace,” the announcement concluded. Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev, his family, and his party arrived in the U.S. Sept. 15. President Eisenhower welcomed him at Andrews Field near Washington. That evening President and Mrs. Eisenhower gave a dinner at the White House in honor of Khrushchev and his wife, Nina. The next day Chairman Khrushchev met the American and for-
eign press. The next five days were spent in New York (Sept. 17-19), Los Angeles (Sept. 19) and San Francisco (Sept. 20-21). Then Premier Khrushchev was off to Des Moines. The Allen-Bradley Company, of Milwaukee, a manufacturer of motor controls and electronic components, distributed a pamphlet on the eve of Khrushchev’s visit urging its readers to protest, wear black arm-bands, fly flags at half-mast, refuse to participate and join peaceful demonstrations. When the Soviet leader and his party arrived at the Des Moines airport he was met by
October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
Gov. Herschel G. Loveless, Mayor Charles Iles and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. Khrushchev remarked that he did see a placard which read, “We don’t agree with you on many questions, but we welcome you.” Many local newspaper reporters and television cameras greeted the head of the Soviet government at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. On the morning of Sept. 23, he and his party drove to Coon Rapids in western Iowa to inspect the farms of his longtime friend, Roswell Garst, and another farmer. continued on page 8 5
Handy habits
Christopher Braunschweig/Daily News
Ron Grandia, 86, sands a piece of wood inside the woodworking shop of Newton Village. The longtime Newton resident requested staff transform a maintenance room into a work space that he may use freely. Since then, Grandia has used the shop to build custom bookshelves for the Newton Village library.
86-year-old puts woodworking skills to good use By Christopher Braunschweig Between the pencil and notepad tucked in the front pocket of his red plaid shirt, and the fully stocked tool belt looped around the waist of his faded blue jeans, Ron Grandia has all the hallmarks of a classic handyman. If that look wasn’t an obvious giveaway, the thin layer of sawdust collected on the lenses of the Newton Village resident’s glasses sure is. Ever since staff facilitated the 86-yearold’s request to transform a maintenance room in the Newton Village garage into a woodworking shop, Grandia has spent considerable time putting his handy skills to good use.
Using his own equipment, Grandia built a work table to use for various fix-‘em-up projects. The space is open to his fellow Newton Village neighbors so long as they sign a waiver, but so far he’s the only one to find any use of it. These days, Grandia is busy with yet another project: a series of bookshelves for the Newton Village library. One shelf has already been completed, but a handful of others are in the works and will line one wall of the room and be filled with all kinds of literature. The facility provided $1,000 of start-up money to pay for the supplies. Additional
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funds, Grandia said, were needed to fully complete the project. Thanks to donations from Newton Village residents and family members, he now has the necessary items. Grandia was born and raised in Pella but has been a resident of Newton since 1955. So where did he gain his experience as a jack-ofall-trades, DIY guy? Well, he reckons it may have come from some of his past experiences. Have you always been a handyman? Grandia: Yeah, I guess so. I was born and raised on a farm. Eighty-six years ago, money was not all that flush. If something breaks, you have to fix it. So I kind of learned to do that. I always kind of wanted to build stuff and things like that. October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
What did you used to do as a profession? Grandia: I worked for Anderson Erickson Dairy in 1959. As I was working for them — somewhat by accident more than anything — I started moving houses and farm buildings and stuff like that in my spare time. What did you learn from that? Grandia: I was always around construction guys and I always kept my eyes and ears open with what they were doing. Probably the most important thing is what not to do. Did you mostly do personal, at-home projects? Grandia: Well, mostly I was working for other people. I did a lot of handyman stuff. We built our own home. It’s the very last street on Lambs Grove. There’s a log home on the corner there. I built that. We sold it about a year-and-a-half ago. We lived there for 20 years. How did it feel building your own house? Grandia: It’s a lot of fun! It’s something we wanted to do. I did a lot of construction stuff, so it was not an all new experience. It was a new experience as far as the logs themselves. My wife always talked about having a log home.
I heard you recently celebrated an anniversary with your wife? Grandia: Sixty-eight years. My goodness! Congratulations! That is so neat. Grandia: Thank you! We were just young kids. Didn’t know much of anything. Didn’t have anything much at all. But we just loved each other and our love has existed for this many years. So what other projects do you think you’ll tackle at this new woodworking shop? Grandia: Well, there’s a lot of fix-it jobs. There’s a little rocking chair with the legs and arms real loose. That type of thing comes in here all the time. What made you want to have a woodworking shop to begin with? Grandia: Oh, I just like this kind of stuff. Several people come in and chat a little bit or use a vice for a little bit. But nobody else really asks to use this. I tell them it’s not just mine to use. But I love it. I can work down here whenever I want to.
Christopher Braunschweig/Daily News
Ron Grandia, 86, looks through his tools inside the woodworking shop of Newton Village. The longtime Newton resident requested staff transform a maintenance room into a workspace that he may use freely. Since then, Grandia has used the shop to build custom bookshelves for the Newton Village library.
October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
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History continued from page 5 “During his tour today, Khrushchev saw a squaremile field of corn and a demonstration of the latest harvesting machinery,” UPI’s Jack V. Fox wrote. Later that day, the Soviet leader was enthusiastically welcomed by Iowa State University students in Ames. Khrushchev and his party left for Pittsburgh that evening, and from there returned to Washington. Before leaving Des Moines he made a short speech. Mr. Governor, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen: I wish to express my gratitude to the Governor of Iowa, the mayor of the city and to all the inhabitants of the city and the state I met. I am boundlessly pleased with the hospitality shown me, a representative of the Soviet state and of the Soviet people. On leaving I take with me and will convey to the Soviet people the friendly wishes which I received from the inhabitants of the state of Iowa. I once again thank you and wish you happiness and prosperity. Good-bye. Premier Khrushchev would go on to meet with President Eisenhower at Camp David. Eisenhower
declared that Khrushchev had agreed not to sign a peace treaty with the German Democratic Republic within a stated period of time, a victory of sorts which would have delayed transfer of Soviet control of Berlin to the East Germans. As a result of Premier Khrushchev’s visit, President Eisenhower enjoyed world acclaim. Peter Lyon, in his 1974 biography, “Eisenhower: Portrait of the Hero,” quotes “an influential journalist” in Britain as writing: “Mr. Eisenhower brought honor to himself, dignity to his office, distinction to his nation, and hope to the cause of peace. He has never enjoyed more public respect than he does now, nor has he ever deserved it so much.” At year’s end a date was set for what was to be the first in a series of summit meetings to seek resolution of major conflicts between the world powers. President Eisenhower, Premier Khrushchev, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and French President Charles de Gaulle were to meet in Paris on May 16, 1960. On May 1, 1960, just before Eisenhower left for the Paris summit, the Soviets shot down an American U-2 surveillance plane over Russia. In Paris, Khrushchev condemned the “inadmissible, provocative actions” of the United States. When Eisenhower agreed only to suspend spy plane flights, Khrushchev walked out and withdrew his invitation to Eisenhower to visit the Soviet Union. The Cold War would continue.
Pets continued from page 3 results indicate older adults achieve the same positive feelings when spending time with animals in other capacities, such as visiting with pets owned by family, friends or neighbors. “This interaction is especially important, as it also provides the opportunity to socialize with other people, further reducing feelings of loneliness,” Wisnieski said. “Our goal is to keep seniors safe and happy in their own homes for as long as possible and many times that includes helping them with their own pet, taking them to dog parks or visiting pet-friendly businesses to gain that animal interaction they desire.” To help older adults determine what type of pet interaction is right for them, Home Instead Senior Care is offering free resources and tips to help seniors incorporate animals into their lives. To learn more, visit PetsandSeniors.com.
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October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
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puzzler page CLUES ACROSS 1. Flat-topped hill 5. Fire usually accompanies it 10. Talked 12. Skillset 14. Unembarrassed 16. Where teens spend their days 18. Boxing’s GOAT 19. Used to anoint 20. Rust fungi 22. Panthers’ signal caller 23. Forests have lots of them 25. Lentils 26. One’s self-esteem 27. Where you entered the world (abbr.) 28. High school test 30. Large, flightless bird 31. Expectorated 33. Some practice it 35. Prickly shrub 37. French river 38. Told on 40. Steep hillside 41. Peyton’s little brother 42. Soviet Socialist Republic 44. Welsh river 45. Witness 48. Brews 50. Orange-brown 52. Separates DNA and RNA 53. Mexican agave 55. Self-contained aircraft unit 56. Encourage 57. Atomic #52 (abbr.) 58. About latitude 63. Trivial gadget
65. Film a scene again 66. Small blisters 67. Dark brown CLUES DOWN 1. Advanced degree 2. Goes with flow 3. The Caspian is one 4. Accumulate on the surface of 5. Vascular systems or plants 6. A popular kids magazine 7. __ podrida: spicy Spanish stew 8. Vandalized a car 9. Prefix meaning “within” 10. Soviet labor camp system 11. Strong hostilities 13. B complex vitamin 15. Go quickly 17. Toast 18. A team’s best pitcher 21. A Philly culinary special 23. Small child 24. Unhappy 27. Trims by cutting 29. Weepy 32. It might be on the back 34. Spy organization 35. Female body part 36. Came back from behind 39. Fall back or spring forward 40. Famed traveling journalist 43. Where the current is fast 44. Withstand 46. A Philly football player 47. Records brain activity
49. Aromatic powder 51. Circular panpipe 54. Ship as cargo 59. Bar bill
60. Adult female 61. OJ trial judge 62. One’s grandmother 64. Hot, massive star
October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
*Answers on page 11 9
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events
See what events are coming up in Jasper County
UWJC Autograph & Experience Auction 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 Newton Elks Lodge #1270
The annual event where you can take home some really amazing items from your favorite celebrities. Fundraiser for the United Way of Jasper County. Check out the Facebook event for a sneak peak at what will be available this year.
The Obituary: Yours or Someone Else’s 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 Newton Public Library
Beginning in the 19th century, obituaries were written by reporters, providing crucial information about prominent people and, later, soldiers, public servants and frontiersmen. By the 20th century, obits for ordinary people resulted in the common-man obit. Today, fanned by social media’s penchant for putting everything on the table, there are personalized obituaries — a mix of facts, observations and tidbits. Written by a family member, friend or even the deceased, they also gift us with knowledge of the past, insight on the present and wisdom for the future. This event is sponsored by Humanities Iowa and is free to attend. No registration required.
Annual Chicken Noodle Supper & Quilt Auction 5 to 7:15 p.m. Nov. 8 The Salvation Army
Annual Chicken Noodle Supper and Quilt Auction put on by the Salvation Army’s 1/4 inch Quilters Group. All proceeds raised go to support Salvation Army programs in Jasper County. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. and live auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a silent auction from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
Veterans Day Event 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 11 Newton American Legion
Event will honor military veterans. Guest speaker will be Brigadier General (R) Craig Bargfrede.
Monthly Potluck
11 a.m. Nov. 12 Jasper County Senior Center
The Jasper County Senior Center and the Golden Agers Club host a monthly potluck on the second Tuesday of each month. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at Jasper County Senior Center, 702 E. Third St. S. in Newton. Attendees are asked to bring a covered dish to share or a donation. Entertainment will follow the potluck, then the monthly meeting. After the meeting, Bingo will be played. Bring your own place setting.
Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors (OWLS)
15th Ave. W. in Newton, will host a Lunch & Learn on the second Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. The subject matter will be different each month. Participants will need to bring their own lunch. For more information, contact the Museum at 641-792-9118.
Nov. 28 Jasper County Courthouse Lighting Downtown Newton Square
Courthouse will light up at 6 p.m., then the parade will begin right after. Santa will be in the courthouse for families to visit, horse and carriage rides will be available around the downtown square starting at 5 p.m. plus many other activities.
Answer to puzzles on page 9
10 a.m. Nov. 13 Jasper County Conservation
Jasper County Conservation Board will host an OWLS program at the Jasper County Conservation Office, 1030 W. Second St. S. in Newton. The public is invited to come for 10 a.m. coffee and a program. This program is free and open to the public. The OWLS program is a conservation program that encourages seniors to stay active and learn new things about the natural world. For more information, contact the Jasper County Conservation Office, at 641-7929780.
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn Noon Nov. 13 Jasper County Museum
The Jasper County Museum, 1700 S.
October 2019 • Senior Lifestyles
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