Lovin' Life After 50: Phoenix - April 2017 by Times Media Group

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Drew Alexander, Teresa Bear, Mike Butler, Becky Cholewka, Jan D’Atri, Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Irv Green, Andrea Gross, Marilyn Hawkes, Kenneth LaFave, Gayle Lagman-Creswick, Jimmy Magahern, Irene Stillwell, Bill Straus, Glenda Strickbine, Marshall Terrill, Nick Thomas

Hello.

My name is Niki, and I’m the new editor of Lovin’ Life After 50, or LLAF, as we call it around the news room. This publication was founded as Arizona Senior World in 1979, and over the past 37 years, it has grown into the premiere publication for active adults across Arizona, covering issues important to both Baby Boomers and seniors – like housing, health and fitness, food, family and travel – but also providing a fair dose of opinion columns, entertainment, and of course, the ever-popular puzzle page.

I was born in 1976, making me just three years older than LLAF. Over the past 40 years, I’ve graduated college; had a successful career in editing newspapers and magazines; buried my grandparents, my father, several other family members and a few friends; and traveled the world, and I’ve grown into… well, I don’t know. I’m still growing and changing. I think we are all still growing and changing, no matter our ages.

Growing up, whenever I watched a movie or television show with my father and one of the characters reminisced about all the loves and losses of their lives, my dad admired and aspired to that, as if he too would be sitting around one day very, very far in the future, thinking about all his many days past. He never had the chance. He died of a heart attack at age 47.

Some people may disagree with me that we are all growing and changing regardless of age, but nobody can deny that not everybody gets to live a long life. And certainly not everybody gets to live – regardless of age. That’s what lovin’ life is all about – making the most of this fleeting thing we’re experiencing in the blink of an eye, whether we live to be 18 or 80.

Lovin’ Life After 50 is changing and growing, as well. But it won’t be growing old. The idea is to give you more of what you already know and love about Lovin’ Life, and then to give you new things to love. We’ve added more features, expanded the entertainment section, and introduced a gardening column and a dining section.

There are more new, actionable elements to come in future issues, but I’ll let those be surprises. Please let us know what you think. We promise the puzzles aren’t going anywhere. In fact, you can count on them being on the same page every single issue – page 38. But there’s much more personality, color, flavor, fun, and just plain loving life to come.

Niki D’Andrea Executive Editor

“ Lovin’ Life After 50 is changing and growing, as well. But it won’t be growing old.”

Men’s Jerome Women’s Lacapa

opinion The Curmudgeon Business No Longer Just a Business

By Drew Alexander

Sometime during the past hundred years, a gradual transformation occurred in the world of commerce as businesses morphed from being just workplaces to functioning as personal benefits providers.

From mom-and-pop establishments to multinational corporations, businesses today operate on a vastly different model than a century ago, or even as recently as the 1950s. There was a time when someone risked their capital to open a business, and in the process added employees as the venture experienced sales growth and turned a profit.

A pretty simple arrangement, actually, between employer and

employee: “An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay,” goes the old adage.

Only now that “honest day’s work” has gone far beyond just a “day’s pay,” a minimum amount fixed by government, not by business management. A good portion of a business’ resources must now be devoted to providing employee group health care insurance, paid vacation time, paid so-called “sick days,” and applicable overtime pay.

For companies with more than 50 employees, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act requires unpaid, job-protected leave for medical reasons. This includes 12 workweeks

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for the birth and care of a child. Benefits voluntarily or involuntarily furnished by employers in addition to a salary are fixtures within the structure of the American business community. But it makes me wonder how far a business must go beyond paying for an honest day’s work.

Actually, the answer is already out there in plain view. A business today is no longer a commercial enterprise whose primary purpose is to produce a return on investment – in other words, to make a profit for the individual or group ownership.

“Profit” has become a dirty word, and the work part of employment is almost incidental to the elephant in the room of employee benefit packages. Whether it’s a restaurant or a research center, a car dealership or a clothing store, that business now exists to be mommy, daddy and nanny to its employees.

According to the U. S. Department of Labor, combined benefits are worth about 30 percent of a full-time employee’s compensation package. So if someone’s annual salary is

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$50,000, the benefits would be worth approximately $15,000, boosting the total compensation to $65,000. But in some leftist quarters, no matter how benevolent management is toward its employees, if you are a corporation, you are demonized as a greedy, evil entity, thriving on the labors of your downtrodden workers. As they speak the word “corporation,” it rolls off their lips with the greatest disdain, depicting it as some disembodied creature functioning outside human control.

The same anti-capitalists who verbally pummel the manufacturers, distributors and retailers of goods and services regularly exhibit their hypocrisy by driving cars, flying in passenger aircraft, wearing shoes, eating food, using a credit card, operating a computer, dunking a doughnut, taking an aspirin, drinking a beer, and consuming hundreds of other things – all made readily available by giant corporations and mom-and-pop stores.

Golly, who would have guessed it?

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Straus’ Place All About Self

By Bill Straus

Okay, here’s a riddle for you: What do Jim Jones, Gandhi, Warren Beatty, Saddam Hussein, Liberace, Alec Baldwin, FDR, Pablo Picasso, Stalin and William Shatner have in common?

They are all considered narcissists by those specifically trained to identify that personality disorder. I’m fascinated by this and decided to devote my 500 words this month to what narcissism is and how we can identify it.

Narcissism is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one’s physical appearance.”

Psychology Today goes further, saying “it is more accurate to characterize the pathological narcissist as someone who’s in love with an idealized self-

image, which they project to avoid feeling like and being seen as the ‘ugly duckling,’ even if they painfully don’t want to admit it.” It is also interesting to note that narcissism is evident in gradations, from somewhat benign to extremely dangerous.

Narcissism has its origin in a 2,000-year-old Greek myth. Narcissus was a handsome young man who rejected all those who fell in love with him including the nymph, Echo. Echo wasted away in unrequited love so that all that remained of her was a voice that echoed her sadness. When Narcissus happened by a pool of water, he noticed his own reflected image. Tragically, he fell deeply in love with his own image, and because even this

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love was unrequited, he too withered away, and all that remained was the flower we call narcissus to this day.

So, how do we identify people with this disorder? Here are a few signs, also courtesy of Psychology Today:

1. Narcissists hoard and often interrupt conversations. If you do manage to get a word in, the narcissist will often either correct you or “one-up” what you had to say.

2. They are rule-breakers. They don’t conform to conventional rules or norms and often feel they are “above the law.”

3. They frequently violate boundaries, showing wanton disregard for other people’s thoughts, feelings and physical space.

4. They project a false image, trying to impress others by making themselves look better than they actually are. This “trophy” complex can exhibit itself physically, romantically, sexually, socially, religiously, financially, materially, professionally, academically or culturally.

5. They feel entitled. After all, in their

minds, the world revolves around them!

6. They portray grandiosity at any and every turn. They actually feel that they alone can solve problems and that others cannot live without their invaluable contributions.

7. Many narcissists enjoy arousing negative emotions to gain attention, feel powerful and keep you insecure and off-balance. They are easily upset at any real or perceived slights. They may throw a tantrum if you disagree with their views. They are extremely sensitive to criticism, and typically respond with heated words or even violence. Additionally, narcissists are often quick to judge, criticize, ridicule, and blame you. Some narcissists are emotionally abusive.

It certainly appears that avoiding this kind of person is beneficial, albeit impossible. But it does help to know who they are. Can you think of anyone fitting the profile whom I may have left off my list at the beginning of this column?

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“TBuilding Wealth Responsibly

Protecting Assets Is Priority One

Writing the Next Chapter on Retirement Security

United Retirement Advisors Group

he book on baby boomers retiring hasn’t been written yet,” says Garry Madaline, President of United Retirement Advisors Group. “Thirty years from now, I’m afraid the story may be that too many retirees didn’t change their ﬁnancial strategy when they left the workforce and didn’t realize their mistake till it was too late.”

“For retirees who can no longer contribute income to recoup their losses, taking a hit in the market can have dire consequences.”

To Madaline, a Boomer himself, this unhappy narrative serves as a cautionary tale for today’s pre-retirees. A long time ﬁnancial advisor, he’s been in the business since 1979, following a six-year stint as a police oﬃcer in Philadelphia, Madaline has made it his personal mission to help retirees lay the foundation for a happier ending.

“Our grandparents and parents stayed with one employer, received a comfortable pension and lived a diﬀerent lifestyle,” he says. “Markets behaved diﬀerently; staying fully invested over the long term made sense. But times have changed. Less than 5% of Baby Boomers have retired and a very dangerous trend has already begun to emerge. Many are following the same investment strategies they used while working and assume the results will be the same. The fact is, following the same strategy after retirement as before retirement just won’t work for many retirees.”

Ask Gabby Gayle Advice Column for the Over-50 Crowd

By Gayle Lagman-Creswick

gave some advice to our married son that has our son and his wife not speaking to us. He has changed from a reasonable guy to a bully in a year’s time. I have considered leaving him. What do you think? Signed, Wife

Signed, Missing Him

Madaline’s top priority for his clients, to whom he has a ﬁduciary responsibility as a Series 65 advisor, is protecting their assets from the eﬀects of market downsides. While working, most people contribute to their 401(k) plan every pay period. They are putting money in every week regardless of whether the market is going up or down. This can be a good idea while you’re working as purchasing fund shares in a declining market will net great returns when the market recovers. In addition, your employer may also be matching some of your contributions helping you buy even more shares at a discount price.

The problem with using this strategy during retirement is that you are no longer buying any new shares during down markets. In addition, you must now remove money from these accounts to live on. If you are taking losses and removing money from your retirement accounts, even for a short time period, no reasonable amount of recovery will make up for the losses and eventually you may run out of money. This is what happened to many people in 2008. There’s no magic to this conclusion it’s simply basic math.

Madaline is highly selective in the advice he gives, preferring fund managers who share his ‘protection ﬁrst’ philosophy.

“I only recommend market investments whose risk management techniques come ﬁrst and money-making strategies come second,” he says. “As an independent advisor, my primary concern is for my client’s well-being. When it comes to managing other people’s money, nothing is more important to us. A cornerstone of making this a reality is aligning the money manager’s approach and goals to share that of the clients.”

To learn about how to adopt a new approach into your own retirement plan in an educational setting, a great place to start is the C.O.R.E. Retirement Workshop at a Community College near you. For more information and class dates please visit www.myretirementclass.com and enroll today!

Dear Missing Him: I say let him go. He is looking for a good business deal and you are looking for love. In his case, the two will never meet. There are legal ways of doing a pre-nup that could spell out these details; however, it sounds like he is looking for a good horse to buy, and you are not it. Move on to find a true love. I am not saying money is not important; it is just not number one in my book. We all have criteria for a partner in our head. And when dating, we are constantly weighing those criteria. One of my requirements is that the person values the relationship above all else. I believe if the relationship is solid, the rest will fall into place. Good luck. GG

Dear Gabby: I am finding that you can be married to a guy for 50 years only to find out that you do not like him very much. It is a low blow to come to that realization at my ripe old age of 69. We have always agreed on most important things, but we have differed somewhat on politics and whether to interfere in our adult childrens’ lives. This year, his politics differ hugely from mine, to the point of making me walk out of the room when he gets started. Recently, he

Dear Wife: Marital problems are tough at any age, but especially hard after you have invested 50 years in it. Here are some thoughts: It is possible there could be a medical reason for this, such as small stroke, medication reactions, other brain changes, etc. It is possible that this is part of his aging – they say you do not change a whole lot as you age, but you usually become more of what you are and have been. So if you are a person who likes to advise your kids, you may want to advise them more as you grow older. See what I mean? Get him in for a good medical checkup, including a mental health inventory. Talk to your doctor about the changes. Don’t give up on this 50-year relationship just yet. Good luck. GG

Dear Gabby Gayle: I live in a second-stage retirement community in the independent section. I have a pet peeve. There are a few people here who flip out when some of the residents lose a few of their abilities. They want them immediately shipped off to the health center – out of their sight! What is wrong with people? They act as if disability is catching. My granddaughter is coming to visit, and she is in a wheelchair with M.S. I can just hear those yappers when I take my daughter in her wheelchair into the dining room. What happened to “There but for the grace of God go I?” Signed, Ticked Off

Dear Ticked: I don’t think there is anything you can do to change those folks, except pray for them, if you are so inclined! Hold your head high and give thanks that you are not like that!

Sound Of f

Just want to tell you I love reading Drew Alexander. He tells it like it is and he’s one of the few voices of reason in what seem to be mostly liberal magazines in this part of Arizona. Bill Straus is one of those liberals that just doesn’t get it. In light of what happened in London this week, he needs to rethink his remark about “Trump’s made-up problems, specifically with regard to terrorism.”

I used to enjoy reading the comics but I don’t anymore since they have become so political. Some of them criticize President Trump in a very despicable way. During the eight years that Obama was president, that did not happen because if any of them criticized Obama, they would be called racist. This is something that should not be going on. Comics are supposed to make people feel good and laugh and not be political. The media is so biased, it’s just unbelievable.

The FBI is investigating 300 people who were admitted into the United States as refugees. America, what are we doing to ourselves by admitting thousands upon thousands of Muslim refugees whose ideology is so against the Western world? We are setting ourselves up for disaster.

Shock and “Aw, shucks, I really did not mean it,” best describe the words and deeds of the new president.

The Catholic Church is being given $91 million to resettle Muslim refugees, whose religion tells them you convert or you die. Other religious organizations are getting tax money. I resent this.

Paul Babeu: hear no evil. Joe Arpaio: see no evil. Donald Trump: evil.

In New York City, they have eliminated the literacy test for anyone applying to be a teacher. So you don’t have to pass a literacy test to teach our children. The dumbing down of America continues.

I just finished reading your Sound Off complaining about how the Democrats have opposed every decision that Trump has made. It doesn’t feel good when the shoe is on the other foot, does it? Seeing how the Republicans opposed every decision that Obama made. I’m just sayin’.

During his eight years of presidency, Obama filled our courts with activist judges who were making law rather than interpreting the law, which is their job. For a judge in Hawaii to stop President Trump’s temporary ban on people from six Muslim nations, which by the way, Obama had picked, just doesn’t make sense. Since when does a judge in our constitution, in our law, have more authority than the duly elected president of the United States? What in the world is going on?

Letters to the Editor

Don’t be a game changer

Just when you thought your philosophy of life was simplifying, either you were a Donald fan or on Obama’s side, and all you had to do is figure out what that means, along comes another voice giving you two other choices: a right wing and whatever the other side is, leaving you having to figure out whatever those meanings are all over again. Of course, I’m referring to the Lovin’ Life March 2017 “Sound Off” comment somebody decided should lead off the section. It said Drew Alexander is a rabid right winger (funny, I always thought he was radical but don’t read him much anyway, so what do I know) and reminded everyone that Donald lies. The comment called to mind an article a few years ago in Arizona Senior World that criticized either Gabby Gayle’s long time predecessor, I forget her pen name, or the tone of the latter’s “Sound Off” column, if that is what it was called then, as being too conservative and not giving voice to the other side. The article left a notable impression. It was written in crude ‘50s Communist lingo, which seemed strange in that later era, but nevertheless its presentation is comparable to the aggressive style of today’s “political” commentary. The history that followed then left the unrecalled author of that previous column replaced by today’s Gabby Gayle and Arizona Senior World, in addition to a name change, becoming more politically correct. The moral of this recollection is don’t let what looks like an obvious propaganda play be a game changer again. Keep on being whatever you think you are.

– James Crandall Arizona

but will probably never see the light of day with our myopic legislature. We have already hosted the NCAA’s Football Championship in Glendale, the “greatest show on grass” has been held in Scottsdale (the Waste Management Open), one gigantic NASCAR event has been held already, we are in the last couple weeks of MLB’s spring training, and the NCAA’s Final Four Men’s Basketball Tournament will be held in early April.

How much revenue for our schools would be generated with a 10 percent surcharge on every ticket sold for these events, with the funds specifically earmarked for public education? How about looking at surcharges on alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, and all professional sports team tickets (we have four of them)? In other words, there are monies out there to aid our besieged and under-funded schools without increasing fees on the necessities like food, shelter, gasoline, clothing and health care.

Is there foresight, intelligence, and will from our current crop of lawmakers to make any of this a reality? Based on the past behavior of legislators, the answer is slim to none. However, we the voters can select an entirely new group of lawmakers in coming elections that simply don’t just talk the educational funding talk, but actually walk the educational funding walk.

I hope I’m around to experience this epiphany!

– Richard K. Meszar, Ed.D. Mesa

Carry on, Drew

Walk the educational funding walk

For years, if not decades, we the voters have complained that our miserly lawmakers have failed to provide sufficient funds to our public schools. The lawmakers’ responses have been predictable, i.e. we will not raise taxes and the tax breaks for corporations will make our State wealthier and stronger. So much for theories…

Here’s an idea that merits discussion,

I have especially liked Drew Alexander’s column. He has a good handle on the political scene. His January, February and March comments were very good!

–

William Phalen, retired engineer Sun Lakes

News Briefs

By LLAF staff

Leta Sproule crowned 2017

Ms. Senior Arizona

Leta Sproule from Sun City West was crowned the 2017 Ms. Senior Arizona at the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant on March 18 at Valley Vista Performing Arts Theatre in Surprise. The pageant, now in its 27th year, honors mature women who compete in four categories: Philosophy of Life, Judges’ Interview, Evening Gown and Talent. All the contestants were 60 or older and came from 10 different cities throughout Arizona.

Contestants displayed a wide range of skills in the talent competition, including playing the Theremin, performing Zumba Bollywood routines, reading poetry, singing and tap dancing. Ms. Sproule, 67, played piano and tap-danced to a recording of her piano music. In addition to winning the main crown, Sproule also took top honors for Most Elegant, Most Photogenic and Best Philosophy of Life. She will travel to Atlantic City, New Jersey in October to represent Arizona for the Ms. Senior Arizona title. (Read more about the 2017 Ms. Senior Arizona and top five finishers in the May issue of Lovin’ Life After 50).

“The pageant is the first and foremost pageant to honor the ‘Age of Elegance’ [and] accentuates the motivation and inspiration we get from our senior women, our grandmothers and our great-grandmothers,” said pageant executive director Herme Sherry, who was Ms. Senior Arizona in 2004. “We learn from each of our ladies the value of perseverance, integrity, humor, and love, to name just a few of the principles and qualities to live by.”

The Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant is a charity event, with proceeds benefitting domestic violence victims and survivors

throughout the state. For more information, visit msseniorarizona.com.

Boxing and ballet classes for Parkinson’s patients grow in popularity

Two Valley institutions have come up with active ways for Parkinson’s patients to battle their disease. Rock Steady Boxing in Mesa has added new classes specifically designed to improve the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients. Coach Landon Vance will lead the classes, which are based on the results of a two-year study by Indiana University that shows the Non-Contact Rock Steady Boxing Program slows the progression of Parkinson’s. Classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Gene Lewis Boxing Gym at 59 W. Broadway Road in Mesa. For more information, call Landon Vance at 480926-2887.

In collaboration with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, Ballet Arizona also hosts classes for people with Parkinson’s disease, every Wednesday and Friday. Instructor Debbie Barganza says her students’ average age is about 70, and in addition to learning moves that help improve their flexibility, students gain confidence and make a body-mind connection. For class information and registration, visit balletaz.org.

High school students host “Sweet 16” prom for seniors

Nearly a hundred students from Sunrise Mountain High School’s National Honor Society recently hosted a senior prom for residents of The Forum at Desert Harbor in Peoria, a combination independent and assisted living community. The multigenerational prom was started in 2002 by math teacher Sheila Raleigh, and pairs students and seniors together for a night of dancing and merriment.

The theme of the prom was “Sweet 16,” and the auditorium was decorated in a “Garden Party” aesthetic, with hanging paper lanterns and candlelit tables with floral centerpieces. Music was provided by the Route 66 Trio, which performed such classics as “Sentimental Journey” and “Tennessee Waltz.” Promgoers had commemorative photos taken by student photographers against a backdrop featuring a field of marigolds, and students framed the photos with silk flowers for prom party favors.

Last year’s prom king and queen, Bill and Lorraine Battis, were present to pass their crowns along to the 2017 prom king and queen, Carl Flister and retired sixth-grade science teacher Burney Donges. The two met 10 years ago on a cruise along the Mexican Riviera.

AARP issues statement opposing the American Health Care Act

AARP issued a statement in March, announcing its opposition to the American Health Care Act (AHCA). According to the AARP statement, the proposed plan – which was released by House Republicans as a replacement for the Affordable Care Act (commonly known as Obamacare) – would “weaken Medicare, leaving the door open to a voucher program that shifts costs and risks to seniors.”

“Older Americans need affordable health care services and prescriptions,” AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond wrote. “This plan goes in the opposite direction, increasing insurance premiums for older Americans and not doing anything to lower drug costs. On top of the hefty premium increase for consumers, big drug companies and other special interests get a sweetheart deal.”

In a letter of opposition sent to Capitol Hill, Joyce A. Rogers, a senior vice president at AARP, wrote the bill would “dramatically increase health care costs for Americans 50 to 64 and put at risk the health care of millions of children and adults with disabilities, and poor seniors who depend on the Medicaid program for long-term services and supports and other benefits.”

The American Health Care Act passed the Budget Committee, but the bill was withdrawn from the House floor on March 24, before it could be brought to vote. Paul Ryan, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, indicated to media that Republicans would not try to overhaul the health care system again anytime in the near future. “Obamacare is the law of the land,” he said. “It will remain the law of the land until it is replaced.”

Senior Theatre seeks submissions for its 2018-2019 catalog

ArtAge Publications is seeking submissions for it Senior Theatre 2018-2019 catalog. The Oregon-based publisher is looking to feature plays and musicals that run up to 20 minutes and include savvy characters to be portrayed by senior casts. “Directors look for comedies with mainly female casts that require few technical elements and ones that can be staged as readers’ theatre,” according to

submission guidelines, which include the tip “Roles should challenge performers yet be fun to stage.” ArtAge will hold a “Writing Plays for Seniors Discussion Group” conference call on April 12 at 2 p.m. Interested parties can sign up at seniortheatre.com/product/playwrightdiscussion-group. The deadline for catalog submissions is June 15.

Sun Lakes Rotary Club names Rotarian of the Month for March

The Sun Lakes Rotary Club has named Doug Baker of Oakwood its Rotarian of the Month. Baker, a retired U.S. Air Force and United Airlines pilot, works with Robson Publishing to raise funds for distribution of the rotary club’s Splash newspapers and annual Source books. Baker’s duties include being in contact with Robson Communities and the delivery trucks to ensure the delivery of the papers. “Doug Baker is the man who gets it all in order,” said rotary member Norm Noble. “We will never know how many ulcers he has gotten after all these years, but he still has that big smile!” Baker joined the Sun Lakes Rotary Club in 2004. The club meets for breakfast every Tuesday morning in the Oakwood Country Club Ballroom. For more information, visit sunlakesrotary.com.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

Leta Sproule was crowned 2017 Ms. Senior Arizona.

(Photo by Maria Levine/Special to Lovin’ Life After 50) 2017 “Senior” prom king and queen Carl Flister and Burney Donges (standing) with last year’s royal couple, Bill and Lorraine Battis.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

Doug Baker was named Sun Lakes Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Month for March.

Cosmetic Shift

Shed of its stigma, cosmetic surgery now offers a smorgasbord of targeted procedures — some even covered by insurance, if you know the right doc.

By Jimmy Magahern

At times, tooling around Wickenburg with a face and figure she’s invested thousands of dollars into maintaining, Jean Tazioli can feel like a glamorous Lisa Douglas trying to adapt to Hooterville in Green Acres – with all of the other like-aged women around town playing versions of dowdy handywoman Ralph Monroe.

“I’m really displaced up here,” admits Tazioli, who, at 72, says she’s often mistaken for being about 20 years younger, thanks to a combination of liposuction, Botox, Juvéderm and eyelid surgery she’s had performed over the past six years. “There’s nothing wrong with the women in Wickenburg; they’re very healthy. But,” she hesitates, “they all wear ponytails, you know what I mean? They’re all horseback riding or they’re in their Polaris ATVs going across the desert. I mean, this is a very outdoorsy town. I’m more of a Scottsdale woman that’s living in Wickenburg.”

Tazioli, a Chicagoan for her first 55 years who now has 15 horses herself on the 18-acre ranch she shares

with partner Lew Sowards, says she sometimes catches a little side-eye shade from the other women in town.

“They’ll say, ‘Oh gee, you spend so much money on your appearance,’” she says. “I just smile and say, ‘Honey, if you can’t justify spending money on yourself, there’s something wrong.’ People spend money putting in a new roof or windows on their house. This is just more maintenance – only you’re doing it on yourself!”

Tazioli’s openness toward cosmetic surgery reflects a nationwide shift that has boosted not only the amounts of elective surgeries and procedures being performed each year, but also the types of procedures patients are choosing. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), overall procedures have risen 115 percent since 2000, but surgeons are also seeing more variety in the areas of the body patients are choosing to address. While facelifts remain a popular option among patients, there’s also been considerable growth in buttock implants (up 252 percent since 2000), lower body lifts

(up 3,973 percent) and upper arm lifts (up 4,959 percent). Particularly popular among the 55-and-older set are Botox, or Botulinum Type A toxin injections; bariatric or weight loss surgery and varicose vein treatments.

“Over the last ten years, it’s gotten more socially acceptable to have cosmetic surgery,” says Todd Case, M.D., medical director at Profiles Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Care in Tucson. “There used to be a stigma around just having cosmetic surgery done – nobody wanted anyone to know about it. Now everybody’s like, ‘Hey, look what I had done!’”

The demand for a wider variety of procedures that allows patients to focus on specific target areas of the body they want to improve has pushed surgeons to expand beyond their specialties to include more options.

“I do a ton of eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty,” says Emilio Justo, M.D., the surgeon who performed all of Tazioli’s work and the founder of the Arizona Eye Institute and Cosmetic Laser Center, which has offices in Sun

City, Sun City West and Wickenburg. “But over the last 20 years, I’ve expanded into other forms of cosmetic surgery to include liposuction, endoscopic brow lifts, face lifts and then a whole host of non-surgical procedures – from the Cosmetic ...continued on page 13

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50) Dr. Emilio Justo specializes in eyelid surgery.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

injectables, such as your Botox and dermal tissue fillers, to chemical peels, microdermabrasion, sclerotherapy for spider veins and more.”

Thanks to advances in cosmetic surgery procedures and faster recovery times, patients are also able to have a variety of work done at once. Tazioli ordered a full menu of procedures that she had done on the same day.

“In June of 2011, I had a mini face lift, liposuction and my upper and lower eyelids done at the same time,” she says. “I just combined everything because I only wanted to be under the knife once.”

She says that, contrary to her fears, the overall experience (done under anesthesia) was largely painless.

“You have the surgery done, go home, and then the next day you go back in and they take out all the bandages,” she says. “You look like a mummy when you leave the first day, but about four or five days later, I was going out to restaurants. I had very little bruising. You could see the stitches around my eyelids a little, but I just wore sunglasses for a few days.”

Tazioli admits that looking “Hot in Wickenburg” is a dubious honor. “I’m always in makeup and $120 jeans mucking out stalls around the horse ranch,” she says, with a hearty laugh. But she says the reason she decided to get all that work done had more to do with boosting her morale than looking like a Hollywood star.

“I had just buried my dad and my

brother within six months of each other, and it took a toll on me,” she says. “People started saying to me, ‘Are you tired? Do you feel OK?’ And I think that was really just a polite way of saying, ‘Girl, you’re looking old!’”

After the surgery, Tazioli says she looked and felt refreshed.

“It makes you feel good, it really does. It gives you more energy, because you feel better about yourself.”

“The biggest misconception about cosmetic surgery is that it’s only for the rich and famous,” Case says. “I can tell you that, at least in the community I serve, most of my clients are everyday working people. I get women who are school teachers or bus drivers, I get older males that are trying to compete with the college graduates in the sales force and want to look younger. It’s kind of a whole cross-section of the community that gets plastic surgery now. It’s not like it was maybe 40 or 50 years ago, where it was only for the rich folks who came down into the city from up in the hills to get some work done.”

To be accurate, the cost of cosmetic surgery is still fairly out of reach for many city folk, particularly retired adults on a fixed income. According to the ASPS, the average physician’s fee for a full facelift is close to $7,000, a breast augmentation averages around $4,000 and popular procedures like liposuction and eyelid surgery each cost around $3,000. Average fees for less invasive procedures like laser treatment

MONDAY, MAY 22 & TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2017

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Life After 50)

Jean Tazioli of Wickenburg, before and after cosmetic surgery.

What’s New, Doc?

Arizona cosmetic surgeons offer innovative procedures and weight-loss programs

By LLAF Staﬀ

Around Arizona, plastic surgeons, dieticians, psychologists, life coaches and more are coming together to provide patients with vast menus of looksenhancing elective and cosmetic procedures. Here are profiles of just a few. You can find more at boardcertifiedplasticsurgeon.com.

Gastrotrim Center’s weight loss program takes a mind-body approach

Doctors Swarnjit Singh and Brendan Levy have some advice for people looking to overcome obesity: Change your relationship with food.

The Chandler-based, board-certified gastroenterologists have developed a holistic system for healthy weight loss that includes input from Valley nutritionists and psychiatrists. Programs are tailored toward each individual patient and fo-

cus on all the factors that contribute to obesity, not just the physical, Dr. Singh said. “Refined carbohydrates and fats are very addictive,” he explained. “They raise levels of dopamine, endorphins and certain ‘happy hormones’ in the striatum portion of the brain, similar to drugs like cocaine, morphine, and methamphetamine.”

Besides an addiction to food, other causes of obesity include sedentary lifestyles, unrestful sleep cycles and stress. Singh and Levy’s approach isn’t the only thing that’s new at the doctors’ Gastrotrim Center at 600 S. Dobson Road. Singh and Levy also utilize a non-surgical, FDA-approved gastric balloon that leaves no scars and produces the results of bariatric weight loss surgery but is temporary and reversible. This, in combination with the mental and nutritional aspects of the

program, helps patients address both physical and psychological needs. “The Gastrotrim Program reshapes not only the body, but the mindset, giving the patient the means to lose weight and the tools to make sure it stays off forever,” Levy says.

Programs last 12 months and include balloon procedures, IV hydration, nutritional counseling, behavioral therapy, lipotropic fatburning shots, resistance bands, a FitBit, nutritional supplements and more. The staff has more than 25 years’ experience in endoscopic procedures.

endoscopic Scottsdale). Interested par-

The Gastrotrim Center offers free consultations at its Chandler location (future Gastrotrim Centers are planned for Peoria and Scottsdale). Interested parties can find more information at gastrotrim.com and make appointments by calling 480-757-8000.

Doc ...continued on page 17

A Hero Hangs ‘Em Up

Stanley Kolodny Jr. spent his career in the air

Story and photos by Aaron Kolodny

My father, Stanley Kolodny Jr., is a simple guy. His life is outlined by the basics and inclined toward efficiency. His oil is changed, registration current and taxes paid. A normal day starts with a walk alongside Yogi (his Corgi) and coffee with his wife, Teresa, and maybe a trip to the stables or an errand to run – nothing too spectacular, but filled with time spent appreciating just what he wants: the simple stuff. Though his current schedule may lead one to consider him the missing fifth Golden Girl, don’t be fooled. This laidback gent just finished spending his “typical” days soaring 30,000 feet in the air.

On March 15, Stan turned 65 years old, the government-mandated age ceiling for commercial pilots. He hung up his wings the previous Sunday, gliding into Sky Harbor for the last time. He completed more

than 20 years incident-free as a captain for Southwest Airlines. An accomplished career as an airline pilot is quite an achievement, but that’s actually just the finale to an incredible aerial calling.

Stan followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the U.S. Air Force after graduating from the University of North Texas. Both Stan and his brother Carter became officers, but unlike Carter and their father, Stanley Sr., Stanley Jr. chose a throttle over a stethoscope.

During his 20 years as an Air Force fighter pilot, Major Stanley Kolodny served as flight commander and earned Top Gun honors in 1986. He flew a variety of aircraft, from the swift and aggressive F-4 to the more tranquil OV-10. But of all his time in the sky, he’d likely say his time piloting an A-10 Warthog was his favorite. In addition to flying multiple vessels, Stan and his family had the opportunity to live in various places stateside and abroad, from Spain to New Mexico, Hawaii to Texas, his favorite abode being Alaska, where, coincidentally, he lived down the street (on Elmendorf Air Force Base) when his own dad was stationed there decades before, and during the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964.

Outside satisfying his love for flying and his calling to serve his

country, the Air Force’s best offerings were the relationships forged, many of them bettering four decades and covering generations, with a handful enduring to this day. In fact, one of Stan’s best friends and flying and riding buddy from 30-plus years back, RayJay, surprised him on his farewell flight. He hopped on a flight from Phoenix to Ontario with the sole intention of getting immediately back on a flight returning to Phoenix, only this time he’d accompany Stan and First Officer Craig on Stan’s concluding flight. Though grounded, these “brothers” are still each other’s wingman as they continue their motorcycling traditions together, including long trips across several states and short ones to grab coffee or a pint.

There are definitely some accomplishments, noteworthy achievements and monumental entries that would fill in the above’s timeline – but even though his son, I’ll likely never

know the full extent of my humble father Stan’s aeronautical career. Thanks, Pop, for serving the country as a fighter pilot, for schlepping countless people safely to their destinations, and for being my hero.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

Yogi the Corgi will get more of Kolodny’s attention now that he’s retired.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

Kolodny (right) takes his ﬁnal ﬂight before retirement with another captain.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50) Stanley Kolodny Jr. retired after 20 years ﬂying incident-free for Southwest.

Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery offers innovative new services

The Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery has offices Valleywide – including a Sun Lakes location at 10440 E. Riggs Road in Chandler – and offers many new and innovative services, says Dr. David Kelly, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who works out of the Gilbert office.

The practice, which has eight offices, has developed a concept that’s taking hold in other Valley practices – patients can have skin cancer removed in the office and have reconstructive surgery the same day.

Kelly says the Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery has board-certified dermatologists who practice Mohs surgery, a technique that removes the smallest possible amount of tissue until only cancer-free tissues remain. “It has the lowest recurrence rate.”

After skin cancer removal, patients will often need to see a plastic surgeon to repair damage. “On any given day, we remove silver dollar-sized cancers on the nose, forehead and scalp,” Kelly said. In most practices, patients are then referred to a plastic surgeon and it might take a week or two to get an appointment. “We try to take care of ev-

eryone the same day. It’s a much better and quicker experience for the patient.”

Having plastic surgery the same day is not only convenient, but also has health benefits. “If a patient waits, there’s a higher rate of infection and scarring,” Kelly said. “It’s better to close (the area) as soon as you can.”

In addition to skin cancer reconstruction, Kelly also performs breast reconstruction and breast augmentation. He’s using the newest generation of breast implants – teardrop-shaped –that gives a more natural look.

For those looking to refresh their appearance without undergoing a major surgery such as a face or neck lift, the Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery offers minimally invasive procedures that get similar results, Kelly says.

To get rid of skin laxity and wrinkles in the jaw and neck area, sometimes patients opt for ThermiTight surgery, an in-office procedure that involves three pencil-eraser-size incisions and uses radiofrequency to stimulate collagen production under the skin. Patients can return to work in a few days with little down time.

Another new and popular procedure uses Kybella, an injectable product recently approved by the FDA that helps combat the double chin. “It’s a minimally invasive way for people to get rid of excess fat in the chin without having to undergo liposuction or a face or

neck lift.”

The Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery invites the public to attend a free melanoma screening on May 1, which has been deemed Melanoma Monday by the American Academy of Dermatology. People can stop by or make an appointment to reduce wait time. Kelly says they usually detect melanoma in a few of the hundreds of people who come in for screening on that day. For more information, call 480-905-8485 or visit azskindoc.com.

Je’LeNae Medical Spa’s program spurs rapid weight loss

Losing weight can be a frustrating experience, especially when the pounds come creeping back a month later and your jeans feel tight. Going it alone is one way to tackle those extra pounds, but sometimes you need a little extra help.

There are many options to choose from, but Je’Lenae Medical Spa offers a three-phase medically supervised diet program that produces quick results.

During the first phase – the Clean Start Fast Weight Loss Program – patients experience rapid weight loss with the help of daily hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), injections and a limited diet. Phase two incorporates a weight management program with individualized nutrition and exercise counseling. The third and final phase includes a weight maintenance program to help patients keep the weight off permanently.

Where Kindness Counts

Introducing Terra Pointe, Glendale’s newest locally owned and operated memory care community.

Terra Pointe is designed to promote maximum independence while assisting our residents in maintaining their dignity, purpose and respect. Terra Pointe was created to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents and their families.

Doc ...continued on page 18

Perfect Placement

Arizona Senior Options ﬁnds new homes for older folks

By Marilyn Hawkes

Arizona Senior Options, a placement agency for seniors in transition, has a motto: “Let our family help yours.” Co-owned by Denisa Barbur and her mother, Anca Barbur, Arizona Senior Options offers a personalized approach to those seeking a change in living arrangements as they age.

Denisa, who initially wanted to attend medical school, founded Arizona Senior Options in 2015 after working alongside her mother as a caregiver and administrator in three assisted living group homes the family owns in the West Valley.

After watching placement agents tour the group homes and give families inadequate information, Denisa was inspired to start her own agency. “I noticed that a lot of people who work in the geriatric health care domain don’t have the passion or the patience to work with seniors.”

In many cases, individuals put off thinking about the future when a move may be necessary because of illness, safety concerns or becoming overwhelmed by home upkeep. If the need to move is sudden, on the heels of a serious illness or hospitalization, clients may feel overwhelmed.

“Families come to us for answers and we want to help them make informed and confident decisions,” Denisa says.

When someone contacts Arizona Senior Options, Denisa or Anca will go to the person’s home and conduct an indepth evaluation that covers health care

Doc ...continued from page 17

“We’re geared toward long-term success,” says Don Pohl, a certified physician’s assistant who owns the patient-focused medical spa with his wife, LeNae.

The Clean Start Weight Loss program is designed to help people who need to lose more than 15 pounds, Pohl says.

In the initial phase of the 12-week program, patients eat 500 calories a day and give themselves daily injections of hCG, which suppresses appetite and cravings. The needles are small and painless, Pohl says.

During the first two days of injections, patients are instructed to preload on high-fat foods so that when they start the low calorie diet, the body has some fat floating in the bloodstream to utilize, Pohl says. “To be successful, you have to commit to the rapid weight loss portion for at least 26 days.”

Once through the rapid weight loss portion, patients gradually increase caloric intake but don’t immediately re-

turn to a normal diet. “You have to do a step-by-step process and incorporate different types of foods,” Pohl says. “You have to slowly add foods back in, and that’s what speeds up your metabolism so you can maintain that body weight.”

During the 12 weeks, patients also come in for weekly weigh-ins and B-12 fat burning injections.

Je’LeNae Medical Spa sets itself apart from other weight loss clinics by giving patients a more personalized approach, including providing a life coach to help patients discover their triggers and causes of overeating. “We focus a lot on nutrition and exercise counseling and we also work with a personal trainer,” Pohl says. “We’re all about what’s going to make people have lasting results”

Je’LeNae Medical Spa is located at 3303 S. Lindsay Road in Gilbert. Call 480-686-9502 or visit chandlermedicalspa.com for more information.

concerns, level of care needed going forward, lifestyle and social preferences, geographical considerations and financial status.

Once an evaluation is made, Denisa and Anca will make recommendations for different senior living options based on the individual’s needs and wants, ranging from in-home care and independent living communities to assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Some may need a group home setting, while others require a memory care or dementia care facility.

“We present them with all the options and really explain what the differences in services and costs are.” Many people express a desire to age in the comfort of their homes, but sometimes that becomes cost-prohibitive, Denisa says.

After narrowing down recommendations, Arizona Senior Options will schedule facility tours so clients and their families can have a closer look at the services and surroundings.

Arizona Senior Options doesn’t charge for its referral and placement services, but is compensated with a finder’s fee from whichever facility or community the individual or family chooses.

“We never pressure families with regard to transitioning,” Denisa says. “When they’re ready, we’ll be there for them.”

For more information on Arizona Senior Options, call 602-903-6365 or visit azsenioroptions.com.

Cosmetic ...continued from page 12

of varicose veins ($353) and Botox ($382) run considerably less, although each of those treatments may need to be repeated to avoid recurrence of the conditions they treat. Tazioli says she has to go in for repeat Botox injections about every three months. “Four, tops. Or else people will start asking me, ‘When do you go back in for shots?’”

Since cosmetic surgery is considered an elective procedure, it’s typically not covered by health insurance. However, there are some ways to at least get insurance to pay for work around the eyes, a particular favorite among the 55-and-older crowd.

Justo, whose medical training at the University of Michigan was as an ophthalmologist, has the unique capability of getting upper eyelid surgery covered by many patients’ insurance, as he’s able to do visual field testing to measure the patient’s peripheral vision, thereby qualifying an improvement in that area as a legitimate medical expense.

“If we can document that their peripheral vision is impaired, or that they’re experiencing myriad other symptoms that people can have just from having heavy lids weighing down on their eyes — maybe the patient has eye fatigue, or brow strain causing headaches — we’re pretty adept at navigating the authorization process

with each insurance company to get that approved,” he says.

If anything, today’s Dr. Lookgoods may have to caution patients not to make sampling from the wide buffet of cosmetic surgery procedures too much of a regular habit. Justo says most procedures cosmetic surgeons do today don’t need to be revisited for 10 to 20 years, but often patients will come in much sooner than that for a “touchup.”

“Remember, what you’re doing in any cosmetic procedure is turning the clock back, but you’re not stopping the clock,” he says. “So it’s not really a question of how long will the surgery last, it’s how long will it be until the patient chooses to do it again in order to get back to that point where they started from.”

Tazioli says she’s already looking forward to turning that clock back again.

“I can’t wait to have work done again!” she says. “I just asked Dr. Justo a couple of weeks ago when I can have a touch-up face lift. And he told me, ‘You’re fine. You don’t need it now. Wait a couple more years.’

“If I was in Scottsdale,” jokes the Highland Park suburbanite turned Wickenburg rancher, “they’d probably say, ‘Oh, most definitely, honey! Come on in – and bring your credit card!’”

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

13575 West McDowell Road Goodyear, Arizona 85395

16640 North 38th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85032

“Mom was worse today; she could not remember it was her birthday and she is so angry. Meanwhile, dad looks very tired; I saw that he had moved the chair next to the door again, to try to keep mom inside at night.” “My brother is off his medication again; we are worried he may hurt himself.” These are of many stories our patient’s family tell us when they tour one of our Communities.

Our Communities offer the best behavioral health treatment and secured housing for individuals with challenging behaviors related to a mental illness, dementia related illness or traumatic brain injury. The diverse and highly trained teams include Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Directors, Social Workers, Caregivers and Administrators all working together to provide individualized treatment plans which address both behavioral and medical needs. Windsor Healthcare provides the continuum of care of specialized and separate units for individuals with dementia with behaviors and non-dementia behavioral care. Our Arizona communities located in Phoenix include Ridgecrest Healthcare in North Phoenix, Palm Valley Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Phoenix, Maryland Gardens and Encanto Palms Assisted Living in central Phoenix and Austin House Assisted Living in Cottonwood.

Maryland Gardens

31 West Maryland Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85013

3901 West Encanto Blvd Phoenix, Arizona 85009

Prior to being admitted, each resident is assessed by a Master’s Level Clinician who gathers pertinent clinical information and passes it on to the behavioral and medical treatment teams at the facility. The treatment teams review the assessment and collaborate to create an individualized treatment plan that addresses both the member’s behavioral and medical needs. After the resident is admitted, a series of assessments is completed by the Behavioral Health Clinical Director: a Psychiatric Evaluation and Nursing Assessment allow treatment plans to be modiﬁed to further the individualized care the resident requires. Throughout the residents stay, caregivers and nurses complete daily documentation on behaviors to track the frequency, intensity and duration of the behavior for the psychiatric and Clinical Director provider to review on a weekly basis. Treatment plans are then adjusted if necessary, and if the resident‘s behaviors has been extinguished, the resident and family may consider stepping down to a less restrictive environment within the Windsor Communities.

All units are secured and are ﬁrst divided based on the diagnosis into either a dementia/memory care unit or a behavioral non-dementia unit. They include the High Acuity units where residents may exhibit aggressive, combative, suicidal, or exhibit extreme temper outbursts. These units are highly staffed with 1 Caregiver for every 2 residents for constant supervision and safety, and residents are actively engaged in activities. The Moderate Acuity Units are best for individuals who demonstrate behaviors such as verbal aggression, sexually inappropriate comments or gestures, non-compliant or resistive to care, wandering or elopement risks or overall disruptive behaviors. Finally the lowest levels of care are the Assisted Living facilities in which the residents are able to complete most of their activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, self-care, etc) with moderate to no assistance. All levels of care include daily programming to keep residents actively engaged to avoid downtime, which tends to increase behaviors. The behavioral (non-dementia) based units may include Cognitive-Behavioral and evidenced based Anger Management groups, AA/NA groups, Peer Training and Support, Journaling and Reﬂection groups, and the like, and the residents are encouraged to attend.

195 South Willard Street Cottonwood, Arizona 86326

Windsor Communities pride themselves on providing personalized integrated behavioral and medical care for their residents. Compassionate professionals and highly trained caregivers are here to softly and gently deal with the behaviors and treat the underlying roots of the behaviors. Our residents are more than diagnosis and treatment plans. They are loved ones who require the additional care from behavioral health and medical professional. Families and caregivers no longer need to subject themselves to the challenging and exhausting behaviors of their loved ones, and loved ones need not be cared for by someone not trained in the behavioral health interventions and diagnosis. Windsor Communities are here to help.

For more information on services please email; David Salgado dsalgado@windsorcares.com

David King dking@windsorcares.com

Lights, Camera, Aloha!

Exploring movie locations in Hawaii

By Ed Boitano, Travel editor | Photographs Deb Roskamp

The evening fog blanketed the Honolulu skyline, compliments of the volcanic ash that blew in from towering Mt. Pelée on the Big Island of Hawai’i. The textured haze was more a curiosity than a hindrance, having no ill effect on the screening of a larger-than-life Elvis, singing and strumming a ukulele on Waikiki Beach, projected on a mammoth screen right on the shore. This was a real Elvis sighting, thanks to the Hawaii International Film Festival (scheduled this year in November), where the film Blue Hawaii was shot. As patrons spread across the sand in

rapt attention, it occurred to me that no personality had a greater effect on tourism to Hawaii than the King. Even today, movie-mad tourists and Elvis aficionados journey to Kauai’s’ Coconut Hotel (now closed for possible renovations), the King’s accommodation of choice, when staying on the islands. Movies resonate with people. I once asked a guest at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of O‘ahu why she chose this property for a vacation. Her answer was simple: She was introduced to the Turtle Bay Resort in the film Finding Sarah Marshall and had always wanted to stay there. I’ve noticed that

even when films are loosely based on facts, viewers often prefer the movie version’s take on historic events than the real thing.

So what to do? So many movie sights to see and so little time. O‘ahu has 600 square miles that can duplicate the looks of Africa, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. mainland. A trip to the 4,000acre Kualoa Ranch seemed in order. With its wide open pristine location, surrounded by majestic mountains and native vegetation and nestled right on the ocean, it is known as the “Backlot of Hawaii.” Films shot on the ranch include Jurassic Park, Windtalkers, Pearl Harbor, 50 First Dates and the TV series Lost

There has been much speculation if the George Clooney character, Matt King in The Descendants, was based on the ranch’s CEO and president, John Morgan. The most modest of men, Morgan would not confirm he was the role model for the character, but did say that director Alexander Payne and Clooney each spent a separate day with him to get a feeling for his character. Morgan and his family regard themselves as stewards of the land, committed to preserving the natural beauty and cultural significance for future generations to enjoy.

The Kualoa Ranch also offers a Jungle Expedition Tour, Ancient Fishing Grounds & Tropical Gardens Tour, Legends & Legacy Tour, Hakipu’u Hike, Secret Island Beach, Ocean Voyage Tour, ATV or Horseback Tours, Dinner & Entertainment, and a cave used as a bunker during WWII which now serves as a museum for films made on O’ahu. Outside the ranch, the famous beach scenes used in From Here to Eternity, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Mister Roberts and In Harm’s Way were also shot on O’ahu. My movie blood was on fire and I was ready for more cinematic delights.

ON TO KAUA’I

Soaring through the air in an Island Helicopter, you could see why the

tropical beauty of the island of Kaua’i proves the ideal setting for a movie shoot. Blessed with lush green valleys, waterfalls and sweeping mountain ranges, much of this rural, 552-squaremile Garden of Eden is inaccessible by car. Plus, 50 percent of the island’s 111 miles of coastline is beach. County law prohibits buildings from being taller than a coconut tree. More than 80 movies have used Kaua’i as a backdrop, including The Descendants, South Pacific, Donovan’s Reef, Tropic Thunder, all three Jurassic Park films, King Kong (1976) and even the pilot for the TV series Gilligan’s Island

But once again, where to start? A helicopter stop at the waterfalls used in Jurassic Park was a high point. But there was so much more to see. Locals pointed to Roberts Hawaii Kaua‘i Movie Tour. Participants take a van ride to various movie locations on the island.

A video monitor is synchronized in the van so that when you arrive at a film’s location, the monitor shows the scene from the movie. Another pivotal scene from The Descendants was shot on

Kaua’i, where the Clooney character and family bask out at the stunning inherited land for sale, which he ultimately declines to sell.

A tour of the stunning Allerton Garden, National Tropical Botanical Garden featured locations used in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Jurassic Park. It rates a tour regardless of the reason.

The most popular stop: the beach and rental house in The Descendants where the Clooney character confronts his dying wife’s former lover. Walking on the soft sand with the alluring waves caressing the beach, I thought about not getting back in the van and staying there forever. But then I remembered if Clooney’s Matt King could soldier up to reality, then so could I. Besides, Elvis’ Coconut Hotel was the next stop on the tour.

For further information about Kualoa Ranch, visit kualoa.com/

For further information about Roberts Hawaii Kaua‘i Movie Tour, visit robertshawaii.com/kauai/tours/hawaii-movie-tours

An Indiana Jones remnant at Kualoa Ranch.

Thanks to Elvis and Blue Hawaii, many consider Waikiki Beach the essence of Hawaii.

The Kaua’i waterfalls used in the ﬁrst Jurassic Park.

THE “COOL COUNTRY” TRAVEL PLANNER

HAWAII, WORLD-CLASS DESTINATIONS, TREKS & TOURS

v Compiled by Ed Boitano

HAWAII

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To advertise in this section, contact Ed Boitano at 818.985.8132 or Ed@TravelingBoy.com

ber. Our rental condominiums are located in the center of one of the two championship 18 hole golf courses on the grounds of Turtle Bay Resort. Enjoy spacious and well equipped condominiums, complete with a full size kitchen, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, washer/dryer, and cable TV. The Estates are only minutes away from swimming, surﬁng, snorkeling, or just plain relaxing on the miles of pristine sandy beaches. (888) 200-4202; (808) 293-0600; etbinformation@gmail.com or www.turtlebay-rentals.com

KUHIO SHORES OCEANFRONT CONDOMINIUMS Located on the sunny South Shore at Poipu Beach, just 10 steps from the ocean, our fully equipped 1 and 2 bedroom condos provide the best Kauai has to offer in oceanfront vacation rentals. Enjoy magniﬁcent sunsets, watch surfers and sea turtles from your lanai or snorkel at the beach right in front of the building. At our owner managed oceanfront units, you’ll enjoy the sound of the ocean from every room. Experience the Aloha spirit and ambiance at Kuhio Shores - an excellent value for Kauai vacation accommodations at their ﬁnest. (800) 543-9180 or www.kuhioshores.net

NOELANI CONDOMINIUM RESORT – Welcome to Maui’s ﬁnest vacation rental resort. Away from the tour bus crowds of high rise hotels and overde-

veloped resort areas, this is a unique, private haven where you can still enjoy all the peace, tranquility and Aloha Spirit of Old Hawaii. Maui No Ka Oi! All of our Maui vacation condos for rent are oceanfront, not just ocean view, like so many other Maui vacation condo rentals. Enjoy the best of Maui in our oceanfront resort condos. Relax in our swimming pools, Jacuzzi, private lanais and tropical island setting, just steps from the beach. See our video on YELP. (800) 367-6030 or www.Noelani-Condo-Resort.com

OCEANFRONT SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY - Kauai is a great place to own real estate. Kauai offers you a mild year-around climate, clean water and air, open spaces, relative safety and a relaxed lifestyle. You may choose to live in it, use it as a home away from home, rent it out or hold it for investment. Kauai real estate is a good choice as it has appreciated in value over the years. Contact Trudy Vella at (808) 651-8397; trudy@oceanfrontSIR.com or http://trudyvella.oceanfrontsir.com

RAMADA PLAZA WAIKIKI - Your island stay begins at Ramada Plaza Waikiki! We are steps away from beautiful Waikiki Beach, Ala Moana Shopping Center, and surrounded by an array of restaurants and local activities! As an off-beach property, we offer affordable accommodations with NO resort fees! Our primary goal is to provide you with our gracious hospitality and comfortable non-smoking rooms. Come and relax, recharge and experience the island lifestyle that awaits you… Special discounts for Seniors and AARP members! Reservations: (808) 744-4351 or visit us at www.ramadaplazawaikiki.com

SHORELINE HOTEL WAIKIKI is a modern boutique hotel with classic island-chic style, just 2 blocks from the beach and upscale shopping. Choose from 135 rooms, designed with sleek, minimalist interior design that accents ample natural light each with their own private lanai. The property features Heavenly Organic Restaurant and lounge and an outdoor rooftop pool with panoramic view of the Paciﬁc Ocean. Shoreline Hotel Waikiki is within two blocks of Royal Hawaiian Center and The International Market Place. Book Direct and save 20%. www.shorelinehotelwaikiki.com or (808) 931-2444

WAIKIKI RESORT HOTEL puts you in the heart of Waikiki Hawaii, footsteps away from of silky, white sands, renowned shopping and incredible attrac-

tions and activities. The three-star Honolulu beach resort features 275 hotel rooms and suites, outﬁtted in tropics-inspired furnishings and deluxe amenities, including mini refrigerators, high-speed Internet access and 32” HD LCD TVs. Enjoy two onsite restaurants, bar and lounge, outdoor pool, spa, hotel shops and more. Consider Waikiki Resort Hotel when seeking hotels that offer comfort, convenience and value. Mention Booking code: 55 Plus (800-3675116) or http://www.waikikiresort.com/specials/senior-special

ALASKA

ALASKA CRUISES AND VACATIONS BY TYEE TRAVEL — What kind of cruise is right for you? From casual same AFTER 50ll-ship cruises to elegant luxury ships, Alaskans at Alaska Cruises & Vacations have experience and ﬁrst-hand knowledge to plan your perfect cruise. Customize a land tour to make your journey complete. For advice from Alaskans who cruise themselves, go online at www.akcruises.com or call (800) 977-9705

CORDOVA — Intentionally off the beaten path. Cordova, Alaska is an authentic commercial ﬁshing town nestled in the heart of a spectacular

natural setting, rich cultural heritage and colorful residents. In 2017, let Cordova become your base of operations for an unforgettable Alaskan adventure. Go hiking, ﬁshing, birding, boating, kayaking, or travel to other parts of the state. (907) 424-7260 or www.cordovachamber.com

GRAY LINE ALASKA offers a wide variety of Alaska tours from local experts. Our diversity of Alaska vacation options will bring you unfor-

gettable memories. Breathtaking scenery, wildlife, glaciers and mountains are just a few of the perks you may experience when traveling with Gray Line Alaska. Choose from post or pre cruise options as well as guided and independent Alaska travel packages. Now offering 2-for-1 rates on our Denali Rail Tours! Visit graylinealaska.com or call 1-800-544-2206 for reservations.

SEWARD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — Known as the ‘Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park’ Seward is a picturesque town located 126 miles south of Anchorage. Discover our bustling harbor and historic downtown filled with quaint shops and art galleries. Experience trophy sport fishing, glacier and wildlife cruises, sailing, hiking, kayaking, flight seeing and more. A wide range of accommodations, restaurants, RV parks, tent camping, and visitor services are available. (907) 224-8051 or www.Seward.com

CALIFORNIA

BIG SUR LODGE is located in ancient groves of redwood and oak trees in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur, California. Guests are invited to step back in time to an earlier, more peaceful era. Our 61 newly-renovated and remodeled cottage-style guest rooms, each with its own deck or porch, are located on a hillside, within walking distance of our restaurant, gift shop, and grocery store. Your stay at the Big Sur Lodge includes free access to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Andrew Molera State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Ask about our Lovin’ Life discount. (800) 424-4787 or www.BigSurLodge.com

DOLPHIN BAY RESORT & SPA — Set along the rugged California Coast, just south of San Luis Obispo, Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa is centrally located in Pismo Beach. Dolphin Bay is the ideal hotel for romantic getaways or family vacations where guests stay anywhere from two nights to months at a time. With 60 spacious 1 and 2 bedroom suites featuring all of the amenities of a home, The Spa, award winning restaurant, Lido at Dolphin Bay and an array of activities, guests can experience the best of the Central Coast. (800) 516-0112 or www.thedolphinbay.com

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES OF ATASCADERO — Stay, explore, savor the best of the Central Coast. Experience our award-winning wine country hotel featuring full hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, refrigerators/ microwaves/ Keurig coffeemakers in each room, and an outdoor heated pool & spa. Conveniently situated in the heart of the Central Coast – minutes to Hearst Castle and historic Atascadero City Hall. Marston’s 101 Restaurant & Cocktails, and Caladero Event Room – NOW OPEN! (805) 462-0200 or www.hieatascadero.com

PISMO COAST VILLAGE

— Located right on the beach, this

beautifully landscaped RV resort features 400 full hookup sites, each with complimentary Wi-Fi and cable TV, on 26 grassy, tree-lined acres. Enjoy general Store, children’s arcade, restaurant, Laundromat, heated pool, bicycle rentals and miniature golf course. The resort offers the ideal location for wineries, golf or Hearst Castle. Pismo Coast Village RV Resort was awarded the 2007/2008 National RV Park of the Year. (888) RV-BEACH or www.PismoCoastVillage.com

OAKDALE TOURISM & VISITORS BUREAU - FIND YOUR COUNTRY

- Whether you’re just passing through or are looking for a laid-back getaway to kick up your boots, you might try rustic Oakdale on for size. We’re the Cowboy Capital of the World, chock-full of farmland, fresh and artisan foods, hiking trails and handmade crafts. And, of course, top-of-the-line cowboy hats, horse riding lessons, a professionally-sanctioned rodeo (second weekend of April) and the Annual Western Festival (ﬁrst weekend of October.) It doesn’t matter if you’re from the big city or a small town--Oakdale’s got something that folks from all around can enjoy. Now is the time to FIND YOUR COUNTRY! (209) 345-9264 or www.VisitOakdale.com

VAGABOND INN VENTURA is located in downtown Ventura only 2 blocks from Historic Old Town with its specialty shops and antique stores and the Ventura Mission. From our Ventura hotel, you can take the footbridge at the back of our property with pier and beach access. After a long day, you can go for a swim in our heated pool or relax in our spa. Start your day with our complimentary continental breakfast. Great value, friendly people it’s how we do things. (805)-648-5371; (800) 5221555 or www.VagabondInn-Ventura-hotel.com

UTAH

CANYON SERVICES - Escape the heat; ﬁnd your mountain get-away at Alta/Snowbird Utah. Your vacation memories are waiting to be made... in one of our great homes or condos! Enjoy easy access to Alta Ski Area and Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort offering great activities and cool mountain air. Our properties give you spectacular views, access to incredible day hikes, and close proximity to Salt Lake City events! With just a day drive to many National and Utah State Parks,) this location is perfect for your summer vacation or extended stay! (888) 546-5708 or www.CanyonServices.com

LOGAN, UTAH is a few degrees cooler in so many ways. This beautiful high mountain valley offers unparalleled access to world class performing arts on the edge of the great outdoors. It’s only a 10 minute drive from the downtown theater district to hiking, fishing, or picnicking in the Wasatch Cache National Forest. Explore Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway with its dramatic limestone cliffs and wildflowers. Our valley is famous for outdoor adventures, hands-on living history experiences, and fine arts. Just 90minutes north of Salt Lake City. (800) 882-4433 or www.explorelogan.com

PANGUITCH, UTAH is located in a valley 6,624 ft above sea level, creating the perfect summer time temperatures. A Native American Paiute word meaning “Big Fish,” Panguitch is undoubtedly named for the plentiful lakes in the nearby mountains, ideal for year-round ﬁshing. Just 24 miles northwest of Bryce Canyon, surrounded by many National Parks and Monuments, Panguitch is the central hub to many outdoor activities: hiking, biking, camping, ATV trails, making this magical town in the cool mountain air one of Utah’s best kept secrets. (435) 676-8585 or www.panguitch.com

SUNRIVER - ST. GEORGE is southern Utah’s premier master-planned active adult lifestyle community. Built in an unspoiled, rural location, SunRiver St. George provides a quiet, superbly planned community with occupancy limited to at least one resident 55 or older. From the golf course layout and community center design to the ﬂoor plans of our sensational SunRiver St. George homes, the active adult lifestyle is our central point of focus. SunRiver St. George is “building a lifestyle, not just homes.” (435) 688-1000 or www.SunRiver.com

and exploring the wonders of our ﬁrst class guest ranch. Colorado Trails Ranch is not far from Durango, in Southwest Colorado. Set in the spectacular panoramas of the San Juan Mountains, our dude ranch resort offers lifetime experiences for singles, groups and entire families. There isn’t one difﬁcult activity in our perfectly personalized programs. The food is delicious, the comfort is wonderful and you’ll feel like a well cared member of the family. (800) 323-3833 or www.ColoradoTrails.com

THE DUDE RANCHERS’ ASSOCIATION - Dude ranches are a popular destination vacation for families, couples, singles and groups. All seem to fit in nicely with the easygoing ranch atmosphere. Since most ranches offer a wide variety of activities such as horseback riding, fishing, river rafting, swimming pools, children’s programs, cattle drives, cookouts, line dancing, spas and plain relaxing on the porch swing, everyone is sure to find something that appeals to them. (866) 399-2339 or www.DudeRanch.org

INTERNATIONAL

ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL CHILE - Wine Tour to Chile & Argentina September 03-10, 2017. Enjoy the best wines of South America. Visit top wineries, stroll the picturesque vineyards, savor famous local varieties, and learn about Chilean and Argentine cuisine, culture and history. We specialize in small groups, expert bilingual guides and guaranteed departures. We also welcome wheelchairs and slow walkers. Contact us at: info@accessibletravelchile.com or www.accessibletravelChile.com

Polar Expeditions

WESTERN EXPERIENCES

COLORADO TRAILS RANCH — What you need is a week unwinding

ADVENTURE CANADA — Join Adventure Canada on a voyage through the legendary Northwest Passage. We’ll search for polar bears, seals, walrus and whales; visit vast Arctic bird colonies; hike among budding wildﬂowers, and tour welcoming Inuit com-

HOME O F

munities. An exceptional team of experts—biologists, historians, Inuit guides, authors, musicians and artists—provides daily lectures and onshore interpretation to complemente your journey. (800) 363-7566 or visit www.adventurecanada.com

CRUISEONE specializes in cruise and land vacations to the world’s most exotic destinations, including all western coast

destinations, the St. Lawrence River, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera. Programs range from family reunions at sea and honeymoon cruises to river cruising and land vacations. Each independently owned and operated business combines the latest technology with old-fashioned customer service. Contact Joni Notagiacomo in Los Angeles at (800) 600-4548 or www.luv2cruz.com

THE RAMADA INN & SUITES DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

- Our newly renovated hotel on Granville Street offers a great mix of comfort, style, and affordability while visiting Vancouver, BC. Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Vancouver’s vibrant entertainment district, we are only steps from the city’s top restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping venues. Each guestroom and suite has been recently renovated to provide the ultimate in comfort and style along with highspeed wireless Internet, in-room coffee and tea, and ﬂat screen TVs. Our warm and courteous staff looks forward to welcoming you to Vancouver, BC and the Ramada Inn & Suites Downtown Vancouver Hotel on Granville Street. (888) 835-0078 or www.ramadavancouver.com

TARA TOURS specializes in tours to Latin America with more excitement and mystery one could experience in a lifetime of travel. Tara Tours can take you there, with great service and tour programs, designed with your desires and budget in mind. Experience the majesty of Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro’s “Cidade Maravilhosa,” indigenous market of Chichicastenango; Peru’s Amazon Jungle; the incredibility of the Galapagos Islands, Chile and Argentina’s Patagonia,the ruins of Tikal, Easter Island, and natural beauty of Costa Rica. (800) 327-0080 or www.TaraTours.com

Organizing

A Sweet Visit to the Colonial South: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Story by Andrea Gross | Photographs by Irv Green

Traditionsays Moravian cookies are “Christmas cookies,” mostly to be enjoyed during the holidays. But these paper-thin cookies – tangy with spices and sweet with molasses – are good year-round. In fact, they’re so good that after we saw them being made during our recent trip to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, my husband and I filled our suitcase with the delectable goodies and can now enjoy the chocolate crisps at Easter, the lemon ones during the Fourth of July, and the sugar delights every night before we go to bed.

Winston-Salem, which is about 100 miles west of Raleigh, North Carolina, is one of the two largest Moravian communities in the United States, the other being Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The town is both a thoroughly modern city with a population of approximately a quarter million people, and the site of Old Salem, a living history site that has been so well preserved that it’s been declared a National Historic Landmark.

The modern city is known for its vibrant arts scene, culinary treasures (many, though not all, of which are Moravian-inspired) and nearness to the Yadkin Valley, which sports more than 40 vineyards, most of which are open to the public.

But for us, the draw is historical Old Salem. It’s not as well known as Williamsburg or Sturbridge, and while today’s Moravians blend into the dominant population in a way that the Amish with their distinctive dress do not, Old Salem provides visitors with a close-up view of colonial life in the upper South.

In the early 1700s, the Moravians, a religious group that traces its roots to Bohemia and Moravia (territories that are now part of the Czech Republic), began immigrating to America, seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity. After first settling in Georgia and Pennsylvania, they arrived in North Carolina, where in 1766 they founded the town of Salem. The residents soon became as well known for their hard work, fine craftsmanship and business ingenuity as for their religious beliefs.

Much later, in 1913, after the nearby secular city of Winston had also become a thriving industrial center, the two towns merged into a hyphenated whole, now known as Winston-Salem.

Today interpreters, clad in costumes that show how people dressed during the heyday of the community, explain that Moravian core beliefs are similar to those of other Protestant denominations, differing mostly in the details of specific rituals and practices. Moravians always focus on simplicity, fellowship and service.

Although rife with gardens, Old Salem was more of a business community than an agricultural one, and small shops lined the streets. Skilled craftsmen produced items that were used for daily living as well as ones

that could be sold to folks from surrounding communities.

Many of the shops had two doors, one that led into the store and the other that opened into another shop or into the owner’s home. After watching highly-trained volunteers engage in historical trades such as wood-working and gunsmithing, we walk outside and see a chalkboard near the left-side door of a nearby gift shop. It tells us that within the store we’ll find “unique gifts, tinware and Moravian cookies.” I nibble a sample and become an instant convert.

But before indulging, we proceed to the Moravian Log Church, built in 1823 to serve Salem’s African and African-American residents, most of whom were enslaved. The log church was replaced by a brick building in 1861, and it was from this new pulpit that a Union Army cavalry chaplain read the Emancipation Proclamation to the congregants.

Equally interesting is the Salem Tavern, a place to house “outsiders” as they passed through town on business. When a new tavern was built in 1784 to replace the older one that had been destroyed by fire, it was deliberately constructed without windows on

the first floor. After all, it was best for townspeople who didn’t need to know what all those outsiders might be up to. Today the Tavern is a museum, best known as a sleeping spot for George Washington, who stayed there for two nights while making good on his campaign promise to visit every state if elected.

Finally, we go to Mrs. Hanes’ HandMade Moravian Cookie Shop. It isn’t physically part of Old Salem – it’s ten miles away – but culturally it’s as authentic as it can be. Owner Evva Foltz Hanes learned to make Moravian cookies from her mother, who in turn traces cookie-making in her family back six generations.

Evva’s husband, Travis, shows us around. “Every cookie is mixed, rolled, baked, stamped and packed by a person, a real person,” he says. “The only thing better than the cookies are the people making them.”

Mrs. Hanes’ Cookies come in six flavors and are shipped worldwide, which is why people can happily enjoy Moravian “Christmas” cookies even in mid-July.

For more on North Carolina travel, see www.traveltizers.com.

The Moravians love gardens for their beauty but also for their ability to provide food, medicinals and craft materials.

Moravians were — and still are — known for their culinary talents.

Old Salem became known as a “merchant town” because so many of its residents were skilled craftsmen.

Old Salem has been so well preserved it has been declared a National Historic Landmark. Moravian cookies come in six ﬂavors and are shipped worldwide.

No kidding: Goat yoga is a fun way to stay ﬁt

Story and photos by Mike Butler

April Gould said she recently received a message from someone who referred a woman to goat yoga and described her as a certified sourpuss.

“He said goat yoga broke her,” Gould says. “We love making people happy.”

Gould owns a three-acre farm in Gilbert, where she and business partner Sarah Williams have been holding sold-out goat yoga classes for the past few months.

This isn’t your arty goat yoga, either, where the animals roam about as extras in the background. These goats like to get in on the action, jump up on participants’ backs and cause laugh-fueled commotions.

An added bonus this time of year: baby goats!

The classes appeal because it’s a serious workout for some, an adult petting zoo for others and a fun time for all,

Mountain View – they became good friends.

Williams went on to ASU, majored in exercise science, and pursued her career as a trainer and teacher. Gould became a professional water skier at SeaWorld San Diego and skied in shows all over Europe.

After getting married and settling down, Gould and her husband moved to an acreage lot near Lindsay and Ocotillo roads about 15 years ago. That was out in the country back then. They figured goats would make excellent lawn mowers and be good companions for their three kids.

Williams says. “There’s so much positive energy.”

The seeds for the Williams-Gould goat yoga partnership were planted in high school in Mesa. Although rivals –Williams went to Westwood, Gould to

As the years went by, Gould realized she was as fit as she was as a teenager because of her work tending goats. She got on the popular NBC show American Ninja Warrior in 2015 and 2016. She was known as the Goat Whisperer. Williams competed on the Baltimore-based show during the 2013 season. “That was our mid-life crisis,” she says.

Gould says she keeps Nigerian miniature goats because they’re gentle, friendly and trainable. With a snap of her fingers and the lure of an alfalfa pellet, she can have a goat joining a human-goat pyramid in

goats because they’re gentle, friendly and trainable. With a snap of her fingers and the lure of an alfalfa pellet, she can have a goat joinan instant.

the

Goat yoga classes, which cost $10, are offered several times per week. There’s usually a 10 a.m. Wednesday class, a 5:30 p.m. Friday class and a 10 a.m. Saturday class. Times change slightly as the seasons change. Often, there’s a theme, such as Mardi

100.

Her initial three goats mushroomed to a herd of 40 at one point, but she maintains a more manageable 12-17 now. Over the years, she kept the best-behaved goats and the ones with the best colors and patterns. Goat yoga classes, which cost $10, are offered several times per week. There’s usually a 10 a.m. Wednesday class, a 5:30 p.m. Friday class and a 10 a.m. Saturday class. Times change slightly as the seasons change. Often, there’s a theme, such as Mardi Gras or Tropical Goat Yoga. Classes are limited to 100. But when a class fills out, a new one is added. Visit azgoatyoga.com for more infor-

fills out, a new one is added. Visit more mation.

Goat yoga classes are offered several times a week.

Gould keeps Nigerian miniature goats because they’re gentle, friendly and trainable.

EXPERIENCE Makes a Di erence

For

The classes appeal because it’s a fun time for all.

Carrying On

Kansas looks back at hit album Leftoverture

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Since guitarist Richard Williams cofounded Kansas, he has learned to live in the moment. No expectations, no regrets.

As a result, Williams’ 43-year-run in Kansas has gone quickly.

“I never thought I’d be doing this when I was 30,” said Williams via telephone from Atlanta, where the band has been based since the 1970s. “I just turned 67. I’ve had almost 40 years of surprises.

“Our goals were set pretty low when the original six of us got together. We wanted to make an album, in the hopes of breaking out of the Midwest bar market. We didn’t play the kind of music that club owners would love to have. We played a lot of weird stuff. They wanted people up there dancing, so they’d get thirsty and drink more beer.”

Kansas stuck to its guns and found success along the way.

The band is now celebrating the 40th anniversary of the album Leftoverture by performing the collection in its entirety. The show at the Chandler Center for the Arts will also feature hits, deep cuts and new songs from The Prelude Implicit

“The show is two-and-a-half hours long,” he said. “It’s the longest show we’ve ever done. It’s very satisfying for the band. I always felt like, with oneand-a-half-hour shows, we were just getting warmed up. It wasn’t worth the trouble and expense to get somewhere. Now, I feel it’s really worth my time and I know the crowd agrees.”

Leftoverture was released in 1976 and includes the million-selling single “Carry on Wayward Son,” as well as “The Wall,” “Miracles Out

April 1 Saturday

The Myron Sommerfeld Orchestra, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, call for charge, 480-357-1148.

The Mesa Arts and Crafts Festival (MACFest), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., repeats April 15, North Macdonald Street, between Main Street and Pepper Place, downtown Mesa, free admission, macfestmesa.com, info@macfestmesa.com.

Marcia Fine Book Signing, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., LDV Wine Gallery, 6951 E. First St., Scottsdale, free, 480-6644822, ldvwinery.com. Featuring complimentary light bites, wine tasting for a small fee. Marcia Fine signs her seventh book and fourth historical ﬁction novel, “Hidden Ones: A Veil of Memories.”

April 2 Sunday

Music for a Sunday Afternoon, 3 p.m., Mission del Sol Presbyterian Church, 1565 E. Warner Rd., Tempe, $5-$25, 480-883-1698. The annual concert is a scholarship fundraiser presented by the PhoenixArea Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity. Featured artists are Caitlin Kierum, clarinetist, Alex Moxley on the horn, Dr. Mark Ramsey, organist, and a piano quartet featuring four people at one piano.

April 3 Monday

HonorHealth Bariatric Center Support Group, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., repeats April 19, Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, 480-882-7460, honorhealth. com/bariatrics.

of Nowhere” and “What’s on My Mind.” The album peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s album charts and reached sextuple-platinum status.

The Prelude Implicit hit stores on September 23 and reached No. 14 on the top-200 album chart, No. 41 on the Billboard 200, No. 5 for rock albums, No. 6 for physical albums, and No. 17 on the vinyl albums chart.

When Leftoverture was recorded, the goal was simple – just to break out of the Midwestern market.

“There wasn’t a lot of future thought on that,” he said. “We didn’t come from a place where big dreams come true. That was as big of a dream as we had.”

But music publisher, producer, talent manager and songwriter Don Kirshner had other thoughts.

“He was putting a lot of money into

us,” he said. “With Leftoverture, he got the hit he wanted and then suddenly we were selling millions of records, which helped sell the past catalog.

“We achieved dreams so far beyond our dreams. I do this now because it’s simply what I love to do. I love to travel. I love the performances. I love the guys. It is so much fun. Instead of waiting for a goal to be reached to expect happiness, I’ve learned to slow it down and just appreciate the day.”

FOR MORE INFO

What: Kansas

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, April 23

Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler

Cost: $48-$68

Info: 480-782-2680 or chandlercenter.org

Caregiver Forum, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Methodist Church, 13658 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, free, 623-584-4999, benevilla.org. Free educational event for family caregivers to help them navigate the many challenges of caregiving.

Crystal Bridge, Sanctioned Game 0-750 Masters Points, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., with mini lesson at 12:15 p.m., repeats April 10, April 17 and April 25, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, $10, 480-481-7033, harrietc@vosjcc.org.

Parkinson’s PRW!Moves 2, Noon to 1 p.m., repeats April 10, April 17 and April 24, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free for J members, $5 nonmembers, registration required, 480-481-7090, healthandﬁtness@vosjcc.org. This class includes PWR!Moves 1 movements and prone and supine ﬂoor exercises.

April 4 Tuesday

West Valley Astronomy Club (WVAC) Meeting, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 17540 Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, free, 623-544-2425, johclin@cox. net, wvac.net. Carl Hergenrother, of the University of Arizona Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar Laboratory, discusses “Probe of Earth Trojan Asteroid Bennu.”

on page 31

(Photo by Michie Turpin)

Kansas (from left): Richard Williams, Billy Greer, Zak Rizvi, Phil Ehart, Ronnie Platt, David Manion and David Ragsdale.

Parkinson’s PWR!Moves 1, Noon to 1 p.m., repeats April 11, April 18 and April 25, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free to J members, $5 nonmembers, registration required, 480-481-7090, healthandﬁtness@vosjcc.org.

Heart of a Woman Educational Support Group, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, 623-5805800, honorhealth.com/events.

Tribute to Debbie Reynolds by Jan Sandwich, 7 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $5, 480-832-9003.

Let’s Knit, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., repeats April 11, April 18 and April 25, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, 480-481-7033, harrietc@vosjcc.org.

Education Series: Wills & Trusts – What If I Do Nothing?, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Benevilla Main Campus, 16752 N. Greasewood St., Surprise, 623-584-4999, benevilla.org. Benevilla’s education workshops provide resources and practical solutions to address all of life’s changes.

April 5 Wednesday

East Valley Friends and Neighbors, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., repeats ﬁrst Wednesday of each month, Grace United Methodist Church, 2024 E. University, Mesa, free, 480-8285146, evfanaz.org. This nonreligious, nonpartisan group welcomes East Valley residents who wish to meet new folks and participate in social, educational and charitable activities.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) SC/WV Chapter Meeting, 1 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 17540 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, free, 623-9726273, aznow-scwv.org. Speaker Letha Martin, from Eve’s Place, will share information on providing innovative empowerment for victims of domestic violence and teen dating abuse.

It’s Not Just Lunch, Noon to 1:30 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, $5 suggested donation, registration required, 602-492-7670, chani@ sosaz.org. Guest speakers and a different topic each month with a full kosher lunch.

Causes of Joint Pain Osteoporosis and Arthritis, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Cowden Center, 9202 N. Second St., Phoenix, free, 623-870-6300, honorhealth.com/events.

Yoga for Recovery, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Deer Valley Medical Center, Medical Building 1, 19841 N. 27th Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623-7804673, honorhealth.com/events.

Stroke Support Group, 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m., HonorHealth Outpatient Therapy Services, 3134 N. Civic Center Plaza, Scottsdale, free, 480-882-6821, honorhealth.com/events.

Let’s Talk Current Events Discussion Group with Bill Adler, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, 480-481-7033, harrietc@ vosjcc.org.

April 6 Thursday

The Breeze (formerly Joey and Gloey), 6 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 to $10, 480654-1994, dancemm.com.

Chocolate Seder, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, $30 members, $45 nonmembers for families up to ﬁve people, 480-634-4949.

Let’s Be Strong and Single, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-481-7033, harrietc@vosjcc.org. This 60-minute workshop will help recently widowed and divorced women ﬁnd the conﬁdence to begin the next chapter of their lives.

Planning Ahead for Social Security, 6 p.m., Queen Creek Branch Library’s Zane Grey Community Room, 21802 S. Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, free,602-652-3000, scottsjolin@mcaz.org. Learn what is required to receive benefits, and how to maximize your benefit from Jack Burns, Public Affairs Specialist from the Social Security Administration. You will learn how to decide when it is the right time to file, and how Medicare fits into your retirement benefits. Create your free My Social Security account online at ssa.gov/myaccount prior to attending.

Parkinson’s PWR!Moves 3, Noon to 1 p.m., repeats April 13, April 20 and April 27, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free to J members, $5 nonmembers, registration required, 480-481-7090, healthandﬁtness@vosjcc.org.

Gift of Good Health: Women’s Health Event, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center, 7400 E. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Breast Cancer Support Group, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., repeats April 20, HonorHealth Breast Cancer and Research Center, 19646 N. 27th Ave., Suite 205, Phoenix, free, 623-780-4673, honorhealth.com/cancer.

Moving Forward in Your Journey, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., repeats April 13, April 20 and April 27, HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, ﬁrst ﬂoor conference room, 10460 N. 92nd St., Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623580-5800, honorhealth.com/cancer.

April 7 Friday

Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Palm Ridge Summit Hall, 13800 W. Deer Valley Dr., Sun City West, $6 members, $8 guests, 602-679-4220, rocknroll.scwclubs. com. This dance features the music of the 1950s and 1960s.

“Cinderella”, 7:30 p.m., Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix, $30-$145, 602-266-7464, azopera.org. Soaring arias and outlandish hijinks abound in this version of the classic story. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

April 8 Saturday

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You? 10 a.m. to noon, Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Pancake Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $4, bring your own plate and utensils, 480-832-9003.

Karaoke Night, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $2 at the door, 480832-9003.

“Cinderella,” 7:30 p.m., Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix, $30-$145, 602-266-7464, azopera.org. Soaring arias and outlandish hijinks abound in this version of the classic story. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

the Elderly & Disabled.

• Air conditioned units • Laundry facilities

• Free Parking • Swimming pool

• Close to valley wide transportation

• Conveniently located to Downtown Phoenix

• 24 hr. emergency maintenance

• Onsite security

April 9 Sunday

“Cinderella”, 2 p.m., Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix, $30-$145, 602-266-7464, azopera.org. Soaring arias and outlandish hijinks abound in this version of the classic story. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

April 10 Monday

Pancreatic Cancer Support Group, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.,

HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-323-1321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

April 11 Tuesday

Are You Living with Back Pain? 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Appaloosa Library, 7377 E. Silverstone Dr., Scottsdale, free, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Heart Health Evaluation, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Diagnostic Center, Scottsdale, $20, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Breast Cancer Support Group, Noon to 1:30 p.m., HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-323-1321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

Grief Support Group, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., repeats April 25, HonorHealth Breast Cancer and Research Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-323-1321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

April 12 Wednesday

Bone Density Screenings, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Diagnostic Center, Scottsdale, $20, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

April 13 Thursday

Merrymakers Ballroom Dance, group TBA, Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 to $10, 480-654-1994, dancemm.com.

Veterans History Project, 10 a.m. to noon, Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Rd., Mesa, free, 480-644-3253, events. mesalibrary.org. On the second Thursday of every month, veterans can tell their stories, which will be documented and stored in the Library of Congress.

Make the Right Call: When to Call 9-1-1, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Civic Center Library Auditorium, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., lower level, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-5805800, honorhealth.com/events.

Colorectal Cancer Support Group, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Support Groups, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-323-1321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

April 14 Friday

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 7:30 p.m., repeats 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 15, Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix, $25-$93, phoenixsymphony.org. The swing revivalists invite fans to bring their dance shoes to this gig.

April 15 Saturday

Taj Express, 8 p.m., Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St., Mesa, $30 to $50, 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com. Subtitled “The Bollywood Musical Revue,” this combination of film, dance and music celebrates modern and traditional Indian culture.

April 17 Monday

Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group, 10 a.m. to noon, Cowden Center, 9202 N. Second St., Phoenix, 623-8706300, honorhealth.com/events.

Let’s Appreciate Art, 11 a.m. to noon, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, 480-481-7033, harrietc@vosjcc.org. This month’s topic is “The Story of Great Love: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.”

April 18 Tuesday

Genetics and Breast Health, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Deer Valley Medical Center, Medical Office Building One, 19841 N. 27th Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

GYN Cancer Support Group, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-323-1321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

Banner Alzheimer’s Institute Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Rd., Mesa, free, registration required, 602-839-6850, bannerhealth.com/ calendar. Attend a workshop for caregivers with the title “Behaviors: Expressing What Words Cannot,” which includes solutions to common behavioral problems.

April 19 Wednesday

Caregiver and Family Support Group, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-323-1321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

Osteoporosis Support and Education Group, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

April 20 Thursday

Are You Living with Back Pain? 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Let’s Eat: Mature Mavens Dinner, 5 p.m., through the Valley of the Sun JCC, 602-371-3744. Meet for dinner, socialize and make new friends. Dinner is separate checks. Call for a schedule of restaurants and to reserve a place.

The Sun Lakes Democratic Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Sun Lakes Country Club’s Navajo Room, 25601 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. N., free, 480200-3322, craftidoll1@gmail.com. The speaker will be Miguel Medrano, executive director of the Maricopa County Democratic Party. Breast Cancer Support Group, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., HonorHealth Breast Cancer and Research Center, 19646 N. 27th Ave., Suite 205, Phoenix, free, 623-780-4673, honorhealth.com/cancer.

SPOHNC (Oral, Head and Neck Cancer) Support Group, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, first floor conference room, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-323-3214, honorhealth.com/cancer.

Discussion with a Rabbi, 11 a.m. to noon, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, reservations required, 602-492-7670, chani@sosaz.org.

April 21 Friday

Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Palm Ridge Summit Hall, 13800 W. Deer Valley Dr., Sun City West, $6 members, $8 guests, 602-679-4220, rocknroll.scwclubs.com. This dance features the music of the 1970s and 1980s.

Parkinson’s Education Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, registration required, 1-877-728-5414. Spend the day with experts from the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute and learn about living better with Parkinson’s.

April 22 Saturday

Community Conversation on Prostate Cancer, Phoenix Elks Lodge #335, 14424 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, registration and lunch are free, 877-978-7866, ustoo.org.

Karaoke Night, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $2 at the door, 480-832-9003.

April 23 Sunday

The Dixie Cats, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, One San Marcos Pl., Chandler, $25-$35, 480-620-3941, azclassicjazz.org.

Adult Swim Clinic: Flip-Turn and Freestyle, noon to 2 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, $35 members, $50 nonmembers, registration required, 480481-7035, aquatics@vosjcc.org. A master swim coach teaches swimmers 18 and older how to flip at the wall and improve freestyle progressions.

Lost in a Dream Bassist Bruce Hall revels in REO Speedwagon’s longevity

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

WhenBruce Hall joined REO Speedwagon 40 years ago as its bassist, he knew it was the start of something good.

The band had been together for 10 years already, and he knew some of the musicians, as they had shared a home in Illinois. But he never imagined that four decades later, he would be helping to celebrate REO Speedwagon’s 50th anniversary.

“Whoever would have thought this would happen?” Hall says. “We shake our heads. We never expected this to be our life career. We were young men, like college students, and we said, ‘Let’s get a band together’ and everything just kind of kept going.

April 24 Monday

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m., Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, starts at $12, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

April 25 Tuesday

Advance Care Planning, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Cowden Center, 9202 N. Second St., Phoenix, free, 623-870-6300, honorhealth.com/events.

Grief Support Group, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., HonorHealth Breast Cancer and Research Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 480-3231321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

Jim Turner’s “What Makes the Grand Canyon So Grand,” 7 p.m., Total Wine, 1416 N. Litchﬁeld Rd., Goodyear, free, goodyearaz.gov/arts.

Schmooze and Pastry with Chani, 11 a.m. to noon, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, registration required, 602-492-7670, chani@sosaz.org.

Education Series: “What is a Placement Service and Why Do I Need One”, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Benevilla Main Campus, 16752 N. Greasewood St., Surprise, free, 623-584-4999, benevilla.org. This event will be a Q&A panel discussion with experts from AAA Senior Placement, A Better Solution, Assurance for Seniors, Geriatric Specialists and Senior Care Authority.

April 26 Wednesday

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You? 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Bone Density Screenings, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Diagnostic Center, Scottsdale, $20, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

April 27 Thursday

“Members have come and gone throughout the time. Gary passed away last year. Alan moved on a couple years back. He started a restaurant in Santa Barbara called Mona Lisa that was a big success. He’s living in Northern California right now. I don’t get to see him much anymore.”

To celebrate the milestone, REO Speedwagon – singer Kevin Cronin, guitarist Dave Amato, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Bryan Hitt – is heading out on tour, and playing the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on Friday, May 5.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been this long,” Hall says. “It’s unbelievable. For this tour, we’re going over some of our older songs. We’re trying to see what we can add to our show from the first album. We do a song called ‘157

Riverside Avenue’ sometimes, not all the time.

“We find songs that people will like, and please some of our older fans who grew up with that.”

Longtime friends

Hall joined the band in 1977, but had known the guys since their formative years in Champaign, Illinois.

“I played in a band with Gary before he was in REO Speedwagon,” Hall says. “When they asked me to join in 1977, I already knew the songs and them. It was a piece of cake for me. They were already my friends. We all lived in this big house. We were in different bands, but we were pals.”

It’s that ongoing friendship that has kept REO Speedwagon together.

“Kevin and I are good buddies,” says Hall, whose grandparents retired to Apache Junction. “Neil is a big-

time buddy. The ‘new guys’ have been in the band for over 25 years. They’re great. Brian’s a great drummer, and Dave’s a great guitar player. He’s one of the best I’ve ever heard.”

Hall is just thrilled to help REO Speedwagon celebrate a half century of music.

“I don’t know how I got so lucky as to do something I love so much,” he says. “To play live is the best part of being in a band. It’s not even work. It’s more of a joy than anything.”

FOR MORE INFO

What: REO Speedwagon and Paul Gurvitz & The New Army

When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 5

Where: Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix

Cost: $50-$195

Info: 602-267-1600 or celebritytheatre.com

Shoulder Arthritis, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Deer Valley Medical Center, Medical Ofﬁce Building One, 19841 N. 27th Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623580-5800 honorhealth.com/events.

Parkinson’s Health and Fitness Day, noon to 1:30 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, registration required, membership@vossjcc.org.

April 28 Friday

Beer ‘N Bones, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa, $15 to $40, 480-644-2230, arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org. Drink craft beer, play games, speed date scientists and hang out with dinosaurs and live animals at this annual fundraiser.

April 29 Saturday

Women’s Tea, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

April 30 Sunday

AZ Swing Kings, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Willowbrook United Methodist Church, 19390 N. 99th Ave., Sun City, $5, 623974-5637, ext. 15.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

REO Speedwagon is digging deep into its catalog for the tour that stops at the Celebrity Theatre on Friday, May 5.

Fort McDowell Casino

Bingo Happenings - April 2017

Mesa Adult Center

Experience bingo in Fort McDowell Casino’s state-of-the-art and award-winning 1,700-seat bingo hall.

WHEN: Seven days a week, various times

WHERE: Fort McDowell Casino, 10424 N. Fort McDowell Rd., Fort McDowell

COST: Charge for cards

INFO: 800-THE-FORT, ext. 4380, or fortmcdowellcasino.com/ bingo.php

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino

Gamers who stop by Bingo Park enjoy picturesque National Park views in the state-of-the-art, 550-seat bingo hall.

WHEN: Seven days a week, various times

WHERE: Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, 15091 S. Komatke Ln., Laveen

COST: $2 to $32

INFO: 800-946-4452, ext. 1942, or wingilariver.com/index.php/ vq-vee-quiva-hotel-casino/gaming/bingo-park

Lone Butte Casino

The state-of-the-art and spacious bingo hall features 850 seats and has morning, matinee and evening sessions. The morning sessions include ﬁve regular games and two specials, with three for $10 and $1 specials.

WHEN: Seven days a week, various times

WHERE: Lone Butte Casino, 1077 S. Kyrene Rd., Chandler

COST: $2 to $32

INFO: 800-946-4452, ext. 8928, or wingilariver.com/index.php/ lone-butte/gaming/bingo

Sunland Village East

Prize money will vary during the year based on attendance. WHEN: Sundays, at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Sunland Village East Auditorium, 8026 E. Lakeview Ave., Mesa

COST: Charge for cards varies to number purchased INFO: 480-986-9822 or 480-313-7033

Beuf Senior Center

Moneyball, 10 regular games plus double action.

WHEN: Mondays and Thursdays, sales start at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Beuf Senior Center, 3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Phoenix

COST: Starts at $4/pack, City of Phoenix Membership card or $5 guest

INFO: 602-534-9743

Chandler Senior Center

Bring a friend or make some new ones while enjoying some fun, laughter and prizes.

WHEN: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

WHERE: Chandler Senior Center, 202 E. Boston St., Chandler COST: 50 cents per card. No limit on cards purchased. INFO: 480-782-2720 or chandleraz.gov/senior-adults

Twenty-one games, win up to $500 in losers’ bingo, social bingo and big game bingo.

WHEN: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Mesa Adult Center, 247 N. Macdonald St., Mesa COST: Various costs, call for pricing INFO: 480-962-5612 or mesa.evadultresources.org

Social Bingo

Join others during social bingo.

WHEN: Mondays, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Apache Junction Active Adult Center, 1035 N. Idaho Rd., Apache Junction

COST: 25 cents per card

INFO: 480-474-5262 or aj.evadultresources.org

Brentwood Southern

There is a money ball; 17 games include three that are percentage payout.

WHEN: Mondays, hall opens at 4:30 p.m., sale starts at 5:15 p.m. and bingo starts at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Brentwood Southern, 8103 E. Southern Ave., Mesa COST: Varies according to games and number purchased INFO: 480-306-4569

Granite Reef Senior Center

Everyone welcome. Enjoy 20 games of bingo with prizes.

WHEN: Tuesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd., Scottsdale

COST: $1 per card; three-card minimum. No limit on cards purchased. INFO: 480-312-1700 or scottsdaleaz.gov

Devonshire Senior Center

Devonshire Senior Center provides money ball, 10 regular games plus progressive coverall. Split-the-pot games are early birds and double action.

WHEN: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, sales start at 12:15 p.m.

WHERE: Devonshire Senior Center, 2802 E. Devonshire, Phoenix COST: Starts at $2; must have City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation membership card to be eligible to play.

INFO: 602-256-3130

Red Mountain Active Adult Center

Bingo seating begins at 12:50 p.m.

WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Red Mountain Active Adult Center, 7550 E. Adobe Rd., Mesa

COST: Tuesdays there are various prices; Thursdays the cards are 25 cents

INFO: 480-218-2221 or rm.evadultresources.org

Entertainment

Peoria Community Center

Prize money will vary based on attendance.

WHEN: Tuesdays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Peoria Community Center, 8335 W. Jefferson, Peoria COST: 25 cents per card; 50 cents for overall INFO: 623-979-3570

Community Bingo

The 200-seat bingo hall is open Wednesdays through Sundays in Goodyear. The building — new and well-lit — features Ana’s dinners and desserts.

WHEN: Wednesdays through Sundays at 6:30 p.m.; Fridays at 10:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Community Bingo, 3690 S. Estrella Pkwy., Suite 108, Goodyear

COST: $21 (includes progressive) for 18 games; $14, late night and matinee for 13 games.

INFO: 623-512-8878

Sun Lakes VFW Post 8053

The organization holds bingo for up to 230 people. Payouts are based on sales; total may reach $900. All proceeds go to veteran needs, including homeless veterans, disabled veterans and military families.

WHEN: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Sales start at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 N. Sun Lakes Blvd., Sun Lakes COST: $7 minimum for play of all 19 games INFO: 480-895-9270

Sunland Village

Auditorium doors open at 4:30 p.m., cards are sold at 6 p.m. and play begins at 7 p.m. There’s a $900 progressive pot.

WHEN: Thursdays

WHERE: Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa COST: Charge for cards varies according to number purchased INFO: 480-832-9003

Palmas del Sol

Come join the group to play Bingo weekly. Bingo doors and snack bar open at 5:15 p.m.

WHEN: Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Palmas del Sol, 6209 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa COST: Charge for cards varies according to number purchased. INFO: 480-528-4689

Sunrise Village

Join the group to play Bingo weekly. The cards start selling at 5:45 p.m., early bird at 6:45 p.m., and regular bingo at 7 p.m.

WHEN: Fridays at 5:45 p.m.

WHERE: Sunrise Village, 5402 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa COST: $13 minimum buy-in

INFO: 480-985-0548

Las Palmas Grand Bingo

WHEN: Monday Night

WHERE: Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, AZ COST: $21 buy-in

INFO: 480-357-1148

Snack Bar: Opens 5 p.m.

Early Bird Session: 6:30 p.m.

Games: Double action, Betty Boop, $1,000 progressive jackpot with additional number added each week, with a $300 Consolation Prize. Pay out $70, Early Bird; $100 Regular Game

2-Day Workshop for Adults

Ages 50-70

Scottsdale Community College

ASU - SkySong

Paradise Valley Community College

Mesa Community College

Glendale Community College North Campus

Maricopa Corporate College

RETIREMENT ENGINEERING WORKSHOP™

Baby Boomers are facing a challenging new world of retirement ... and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

“WHAT YOU DO TODAY WILL IMPACT ALL OF YOUR TOMORROWS”

Before relying on retirement advice from biased sources, learn the basics as well as the intricacies of the retirement process from trusted, reliable, unbiased retirement ﬁ duciaries in an interactive, professional environment. The C.O.R.E. workshop compares the old retirement paradigms with the new by discussing up-to-date strategies for maximizing Social Security beneﬁ ts and Required Minimum Distributions from retirement accounts. In addition, the workshop offers in-depth information on future income tax issues, principal protection investing, Roth Conversions, account distribution issues and much more. This workshop will change the way you look at retirement!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Discover what hundreds of Valley residents have learned by attending the two-day C.O.R.E. Retirement Workshop. You will ﬁnd this acclaimed workshop relevant whether you are developing a retirement plan, nearing retirement or currently retired.

PARADISE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WEDNESDAYS 4/26 & 5/3, 6:30-9:30pm ASU SKY SONG SATURDAYS 5/13 & 5/20, 8:30-11:30am

BALANCED RETIREMENT INFORMATION

… not a product or investment seminar.

… you’ll never look at retirement the same way again.

… can’t believe the number of potential pitfalls this workshop uncovered.

… don’t make another retirement or ﬁnancial decision until you’ve taken this workshop.

… six hours that will change your approach to retirement.

… the best $49 investment you’ll ever make.

EVEN EXCHANGE by

Donna Pettman

SUDOKU TIME

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from M ASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

DIFFICULTY THIS MONTH H H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY! HHHH Put on your helmet!

GO FIGURE!

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the ﬁgures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank quares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS MONTH H H

H Moderate HH Diffﬁcult HHH GO FIGURE!

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!

Entertainment Fifty Years of The Carol Burnett Show

AcoupleTinseltown Talks

By Nick Thomas

years ago, visitors to Carol Burnett’s home might have observed the comedy legend glued to the TV set, binge-watching every episode of her old variety show. But it wasn’t a case of extreme celebrity vanity sweeping through the Burnett household.

“I’d been getting calls from writers wanting to interview me about the show,” Burnett says from Los Angeles. “So I thought, maybe I should write a definitive history of the 11 years I worked on The Carol Burnett Show because, after all, I was there!”

Her timing was perfect. Her book, In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox, was published late last year as a prelude to this year’s 50th anniversary of the show, first broadcast in September 1967. Scrutinizing the episodes, Burnett jotted down notes to help with the book preparation.

“I watched all the episodes – over 270 of them – in a period of several weeks. I fast-forwarded through the sketches that I remembered, but really wanted to jog my memory about the ones I’d forgotten. Watching also

helped me remember behind-thescenes stories and the great variety of guests that appeared each week.”

As she progressed through the viewing marathon, Burnett says it was fascinating to watch the cast evolve.

“We all improved over the first 3 or 4 years. Harvey (Korman) was brilliant from the beginning, but even he honed his craft. Vicki (Lawrence) was 18 and right out of high school at the start, so Harvey took her under his wing teaching her accents and giving her acting tips. She absorbed everything like a sponge and millions of viewers watched her evolve into a brilliant comedienne.”

Audiences were also treated to a parade of weekly special guests throughout the series, which collectively could be considered a history of Hollywood from the period.

“We might have had more famous guest stars than any other TV show,” Burnett says. “My husband (the late Joe Hamilton) was producing the show and we would say, ‘Let’s call so-and-so and ask him or her on the show.’”

But their guest wish list wasn’t always fulfilled.

“We wanted Bette Davis and had a standard fee for all our guest stars, but she asked for too much money,” Burnett recalls. “I wanted to pay her more but we couldn’t because everyone would have wanted more.”

In addition to its impressive guest list, the show is legendary for the cast “breaking up” during filming.

“People remember those sketches and think we did it all the time but we really didn’t,” she says with a laugh. “Nor did we ever do it on purpose and it was mostly when Tim (Conway) was on. We’d tape two shows on Fridays with different audiences. Tim would do it the way we rehearsed for the first taping, then go crazy for the second without telling anyone what he would be doing.”

For all her television work, Burnett amassed an incredible collection of honors, including three personal Emmys for The Carol Burnett Show alone.

“Of course, I’m proud of the awards and they’re sitting on a shelf – but I don’t go and polish them every day!” she says with a laugh.

Already an author of several other popular books on her life and career, Burnett’s latest 320-page memoir on

the show has been warmly received by critics and fans. She says she wasn’t too concerned about finding an audience for a book about a 50-year-old TV show.

“It still airs on cable and there are old and new fans watching it. But I really just wanted to get the memories down on paper for myself and if others enjoy it, that’s the cherry on top of the sundae.”

(Photo by Tony Esparza/CBS)

Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Carol Burnett, Lyle Waggoner and Vicki Lawrence in 1992.

Entertainment

Trivia Contest

Hello April, named after a Latin verb meaning “to open,” as when spring flowers open and the heart opens to the coming of spring. Of course, in Arizona, spring – generally about 15 days in late February and early March – is already history by the time April rolls around.

There are more songs about April than any other month, “April in Paris,” “April Come She Will,” “April Showers” and “April Love” among them. There are three songs just about the month’s first day: “April Fool” by Soul Asylum, and two different songs named “April Fools,” one by Rufus Wainwright and another originally sung by Dionne Warwick.

This year, April sees both Passover and Easter, the latter in all three dispensations: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Woven in and around these most serious of high holy days are such goodies as National Chocolate Mousse Day, April 3; National Beer Day, April 7; National Cheese Fondue Day, April 11; National Garlic Day, April 19; National Prime Rib Day, April 27; and National Shrimp Scampi Day, April 29. Perhaps April 30 should be National Indigestion Day.

Historical April isn’t all flowers and sunshine. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated April 4, 1968. On April 5, 1994, Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain committed suicide. On April 15, 1865, Pres. Lincoln was assassinated. The Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912.

On the other hand, Disney’s The Love Bug was released in April of 1969, pretty much evening things out.

What questions can you answer about April?

April Questions:

What songwriting team penned Dionne Warwick’s “April Fools”?

What disaster befell music on April 10, 1970?

Two U.S. vice presidents became president in April of different years when their predecessors died in ofﬁce. What were their names?

What historical ﬁgure committed suicide on April 30?

The highest April temperature in Phoenix was 105 degrees Fahrenheit. What day and year?

by Kenneth LaFave

To enter:

On a sheet of paper, list the correct answers in order 1 through 5. Include your full name, mailing address, phone number and an email address (if you have one).

Mail your trivia contest entry to: Lovin’ Life After 50 Attn: Trivia Contest 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy. Tempe, AZ 85282

Or email your entry to: trivia@lovinlife.com

The deadline for entry is the 15th of each month. Please be sure to have your entry postmarked by that date. If you’re a winner in our drawing, we’ll contact you via telephone. Good luck!

Contest Prizes

For April, two readers in Tucson and two readers in Phoenix will win a certiﬁcate for a one-night stay at InnSuites.

March 2017 Winners

The winners each received a one-night stay at InnSuites:

Phoenix: Alexander and Dorothy Meek James Cruze

Tucson: Dawn McClary Eileen Leith

Last Month’s Answers

1As the saying goes, “March comes in like a ---- ?” (lion).

2On March 10, 1862, the U.S. government did what for the ﬁrst time? (issued paper money)

3Four U.S. presidents were born in March, including the only one to be married in the White House. What was that president’s birthday? (March 18)

4What famous youth organization was founded March 12, 1912? (The Girl Scouts of America, or Girl Scouts)

5Who won his ﬁrst (non-U.S.) presidential election on March 26, 2000? (Vladimir Putin)

dining Bites of Spring

Proof Canteen’s new menu goes green but keeps it meaty

By Niki D’Andrea

Wouldn’t

it be great to eat your way across the U.S.A. without leaving Scottsdale? Thanks to Proof Canteen, you can. The menu at this upscale casual restaurant just got a makeover for spring, and the concept is “a food-based road trip across America,” according to Executive Sous Chef Joey Cavaretta.

most luxurious resorts in the Valley, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Proof is approachable and affordable –and downright hip, Cavaretta says. Especially on Friday nights, when dinner comes with a side of live music and smokehouse specials (see sidebar).

Smoked New York strip steak

“Proof really tries to change how people conceptualize the Four Seasons,” says Executive Chef Chuck Kazmer, who took the reins of the resort’s restaurants in January after a stretch at the Four Seasons Hotel Amman in Jordan. “People can come here in Tshirts, shorts, golf clothes. That’s really the message – we’re not stuffy and overbearing.”

of three sauces (Carolina BBQ, bourbon maple or hot ’n’ spicy). “The skin shrinks on the bone, and it leaves a little lollipop,” the chef says. Another jawdroppingly good appetizer is the bowl of buttery, croissant-like pretzel knots, a popular staple of Proof’s menu since the canteen opened five years ago.

But they will stuff you. Cavaretta’s crossed the country multiple times from Phoenix to his hometown of Buffalo, New York and back, stopping at eateries along the way for inspiration, and putting his own spin on Americana classics like poke, chicken

and waﬄes, and clam chowder. Being from the Empire State, Cavaretta takes particular pride in his smoked New York strip steak – a delectable, thick cut with a scrumptious seasoned char around the edges that’s served over fresh spring peas in a morel mushroom cream, topped with charred Cipollini onion and accompanied by a side of baked potato fries.

Cavaretta remembers a resort guest from New York, who was especially pleased with Proof’s Buffalo wings, which are prepared using chicken tulips before being slathered in one

If you’re going for the greens but have a carnivorous bent, the duck pastrami salad could change your life – or at least change your opinion of duck. The marathon mastication usually required to swallow a bite of the toughfleshed waterfowl is a non-factor here: This duck, sliced super-thin and cured in-house with pastrami spices, melts on the tongue. The flavor plays well with the frilly mustard greens, spiced pecans, pungent blue cheese, watermelon and vanilla-bourbon vinaigrette. Vegetarians will fare better at breakfast or brunch, which features innovative meat-free delights like heritage grain and berry bowls, and a crêpe stuffed with fried cauliflower, charred corn, black beans and roasted poblano, served with a tangerine barbecue sauce and tomatillo pico de gallo. “We always want to make sure we have in-

There’s a time-capsule vibe to Proof, too. The environs resemble a stop along Route 66 in its glory days –wood-paneling and vintage sign reproductions give the bright and airy restaurant a soda jerk diner vibe, which is bolstered by a 1950s-style ice cream bar and a shuﬄeboard table. Menu books are bound in repurposed license plates. But the throwback tropes are balanced by hip, modern details. The music emanating from the speakers could skew classic rock and blues one day (Aerosmith, Tom Petty, B.B. King) and edgy alternative the next (The Black Keys, Queens of the Stone Age). Despite being embedded in one of the

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

Sous Chef Dell Morris

Asadero Cocina + Cantina brings fresh Southwestern ﬂavor

By Niki D’Andrea

Don Molonich, executive chef at Asadero Cocina + Cantina, is inspired by the Mexican food in Arizona. Ohioraised Molonich has lived here for 20 years, and Southwestern flavors shine through on his menu, which he says has “a lot of Latino influence, from Veracruz to Sinaloa” and more.

Located in the space that formerly housed En Fuego at the Hilton DoubleTree Resort, Asadero is part of a recent $12 million renovation, but some fan favorites remain – like the tongue-tingling jalapeño-bacon-wrapped shrimp, which has been on the menu in some form at least 14 years. Molonich put a twist on the longtime dish by replacing the former coconut mojito sauce with a bed of butternut squash hash in maple gastrique. “Maple syrup and bacon is like peanut butter and jelly,” Molonich explains.

The bacon-wrapped shrimp is a popular go-to item for locals, and a popular to-go item for guests. “People will say ‘Give me two orders of bacon-wrapped shrimp – I’ll be back after I drop off my luggage,’” general manager Doug Heaton says.

red onion, to be scooped up in generous, juicy heaps on warm, house-made corn tortilla chips. Every bite bursts with bright citrus and spring flavors. Molonich’s lamb meatballs (which he calls “kind of fun”) are tender, toothsome, and topped with a spicy marinara sauce and pungent crumbles of goat cheese.

Cocktails are crafted in mad-scientist, break-out-the-beakers fashion by mixologists Jessica Barry and Danielle Dominguez. Their drinks taste deceptively smooth and lack the back-of-thethroat alcohol burn that warns the imbiber of its potency. Using homemade purees and a garden-to-glass approach, Barry and Dominguez have concocted spirited potions such as the Prickly in Pink (house-infused prickly pear vodka and soda water) and The Saguaro (house-infused jasmine gin, lemon juice, honey, water, club soda, and frothy egg white garnished with thyme).

(house-infused ser-

But the real kick in the tonsils in the Blackberry Serrano Margarita, with Hornitos Reposado Tequila, Grand Marnier, house-made blackberry serrano puree and margarita mix, and fresh-squeezed citrus, garnished with half a jalapeño and with a glass rim seasoned with an incendiary sriracha salt. Diners will need several bites of Molonich’s cuisine to quench the fire.

While Molonich gives standards a spin, he’s also introduced numerous new appetizers: piquant lamb meatballs, avocado toast (on locally made Noble Bread), a pitch-perfect hummus plate punctuated with zesty cherry tomatoes, and shrimp aguachiles.

The latter plate, which Molonich aptly describes as a “fork-and-chip dish,” consists of chile- and lime- marinated shrimp, coriander, avocado and shaved

rano puree and margarita mix, and fresh-squeezed citrus, garnished with half a jalapeño and with a glass rim seasoned with an incendiary sriracha (on locally ly describes as a “fork-and-chip dish,” consists of chile- and lime- marinated shrimp, coriander, avocado and shaved Strawberry basil lemonade

Among the entrées, scallop and shrimp Veracruz with sweet pea risotto satisfies lighter “surf” appetites, while “turf” fans can tuck into braised short rib in red wine sauce with green chili mac and cheese and broccolini. The kitchen also takes roasted chicken breast to the next level by bathing it in a beer molasses sauce.

Proof ...continued from page 41

ventive, fun options for vegetarians,” Cavaretta says. “We wanted to make something for people who usually have to order pasta or risotto. They’re kind of over it.”

And the desserts? Talk about a sugar rush! Executive Pastry Chef Lance Whipple’s elaborate-looking creations double as conversation starters. Fellow diners will invariably ask “What is that?” when they see something like the Big Island – a long, boat-like dish with pineapple chunks bobbing in a sea of coconut rum ice cream and topped with a dried pineapple slice – or the chocolate pretzel caramel cake hit your table.

Those who like to wash down their meals with something spirited will appreciate the extensive wine, beer and cocktail menus. Proof’s signature drink is the Proof Sangria – and if you think it tastes more potent than a typical sangria underneath all that fruit, you’d be right. The white sangria gets a shot of vodka, while the red sangria’s bolstered by bourbon. Both the vodka and bourbon were made stateside – like everything on Proof’s list of libations.

“Our entire beverage menu is Amer-

Of the renovated menu, Molonich says, “I’m really happy with all these dishes.”

So are we, Chef.

ican,” Cavaretta says. “All of our beers, our wine, our hard liquors – are made in America.” The point is to drive all aesthetic toward the American roadtrip culinary tale. As Executive Chef Kazmer says, “It creates the story.”

Proof Canteen at Four Seasons –Troon North

Where: 10600 E. Crescent Moon Drive, Scottsdale

Info: 480-513-5085, proofcanteen.com

SMOKEHOUSE SPECIALS

Every Friday night from 5:30 to 9:30, Proof goes up in smokers – meat smokers, that is. Along with sous chefs Joey Cavaretti and Dell Morris, Executive Chef Chuck Kazmer gives guests a taste of his Texas foodie roots with offerings like smoked beef brisket, St. Louis-style ribs, half chickens and bonein pork loin – all cooked low and slow to toothsome perfection, and served with sides such as housemade kombucha apple fennel slaw and warm baby red potato salad. Specials change weekly, and diners get the entrée and two sides for $28. A custom pie is paired with each special for an additional $11, and a Proof Manhattan can be had for $16. The stunning sunset views of Crescent Mountain and Pinnacle Peak are free.

(Special to Nearby News)

Shrimp aguilachiles is a “fork-and-chip” dish.

(Special to Nearby News)

The blackberry serrano margarita burns so good.

Pretzel Bites

By Jan D’Atri

April is National Soft Pretzel Month, according to nationaldaycalendar.com, and I’m not about to dispute it. I will use any excuse possible to indulge, especially when they’re pretzel bites. See, pretzels and I go way back. I can’t tell you how many times pretzels got me through a stressful situation. I remember having a bag of pretzels at my desk daily as I was starting my television anchoring career. Rush hour traffic? A bag of pretzels helped me munch away the tension. I was such a pretzel addict that when Rold Gold Pretzels changed their recipe from the regular size to a thinner version, I penned a letter to the president of the company begging him to reconsider. Now that’s an addiction gone too far. I’d gone off the deep end. Then, there’s the soft pretzel. Those are a much harder habit to break, so I just quit trying. Instead, I decided to

Soft Pretzel Bites

Ingredients:

– 1-1/2 cups warm water

– 1 teaspoon honey or sugar

– 1 package active dry yeast

– 2 cups all-purpose flour

– 2-1/2 cups bread flour

– 1 tablespoon kosher salt

– 6 tablespoons melted butter

– 5 cups water

– 1/3 cup baking soda

– 1 egg yolk

– 1 tablespoon water

– Pretzel salt

Directions:

Step #1: Make the dough. Place warm water in a small bowl. Add honey or sugar and stir. Sprinkle in yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups bread flour, melted butter and salt. Add yeast and knead, using a dough hook attachment. If dough is sticky, add additional 1/2 cup of bread flour. Knead for 5 minutes or until the dough forms a smooth ball.

Step #2: Place dough in a large bowl coated with butter. Cover with plastic

hunt for a great recipe because driving to the mall every few days for a soft pretzel was just not an option. I think I finally found a bite-sized bonanza.

wrap or towel and let rise until double in size, about one hour. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 420 degrees.

Step #3: Place dough onto a clean work surface. (Do not flour surface.) Cut dough into six to eight sections and roll the dough and form long ropes. Using a knife, cut the ropes into 1-1/2 inch pieces.

Step #4: Make the egg wash by mixing together water and egg yolk. Have pastry brush, slotted spoon, pretzel salt, kitchen scissors, and baking sheet ready. Bring 5 cups of water to boil. Add baking soda. (Do not skip the baking soda step. This is what gives the pretzel its unique taste and appearance.)

Step #5: Put about six or seven pieces of pretzel dough into the simmering solution and let cook for 30 seconds. Remove pieces with slotted spoon and place them on baking sheet. Continue with remaining dough. Brush each piece with egg wash, sprinkle with salt and using scissors, cut a cross into the top of each pretzel piece. Gently transfer pieces onto a clean baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 420 degrees for 9-10 minutes or until golden brown.

(Jan D’Atri)

columns Asking for the leash Aging Today

By Bob Roth, Managing Partner of Cypress HomeCare Solutions

Helping loved ones navigate the realities of aging can be heart wrenching, such as recognizing when it is time to give up the family pet. You may find yourself in the position of taking away a dog from the very person who rounded out your childhood by including a pet. A quick search of the literature includes exponentially more information to support the advantages of pet therapy for a wide range of disorders and diseases. However, according to American Pet Products Association, Baby Boomers, the historically largest segment of the pet owner market (37 percent), are nearing a point when they are no longer able to care for a pet.

delay after coming to this conclusion. Being an active participant in the rehoming of the pet is paramount.

It is heartbreaking for those suffering from debilitating diseases to consider a new home for their faithful companions. The physical and emotional stress that affects the patient and family caregivers can also adversely affect pet care. Some pets may even mirror the declining condition of their owners. Poor hygiene and worsening behavior may be a clue that your pet needs a change.

Other signs that it may be time to find a new home for a pet include:

– Your loved one is unable to provide a pet with adequate exercise.

– Loved one’s inability to drive or use public transit to purchase food and supplies or take him to the vet.

– Injuries occur while attempting to care for pet.

– Medical treatments that cause lethargy make it difficult to provide care.

– Medical bills make your loved one financially unable to provide care, especially if a pet has a medical condition requiring expensive treatment.

– Loved one’s condition has changed their lifestyle so much that a pet is noticeably unhappy.

If you recognize these circumstances, execute a plan rather than react in panic mode. It is so stressful when the juggling act of dealing with a senior includes what to do with the family pet. Though it is difficult to accept, don’t

Asking another family member to adopt the pet is usually the most ideal solution, especially since he or she is already familiar with him. Even if they can’t take him in, friends and family are also great resources for potential adopters. They might know someone who is interested and can act as a valuable reference. Confirm that the pet has a clean bill of health and is up to date on vaccinations. This will undoubtedly increase his chances at adoption. If your senior signed an adoption contract, they may be required to return the pet to the same person or organization. Some rescue groups specify that an animal be returned regardless of how much time has passed. Reach out to rescue organizations. They may have foster families available to take in the pet and/or help you interview adoption candidates to find the right home. To have the luxury of time to be a part of the re-homing process is a psychological comfort. Ideally, a smooth transition can include play dates and overnight stays to help the pet with new surroundings. Though you’ll pass on many of the pet’s supplies to his adopter, consider holding onto a keepsake, like a collar, that will serve as a reminder.

Your loved one will need support. Encourage your loved one to keep in touch with the adopter to receive updates about the beloved pet. If you are the caregiver of someone who’s recently had to give up a pet, stay supportive. Don’t be afraid to talk about the pet because it’s often helpful to the grieving process to reminisce. Keep an eye out for depression symptoms including fatigue, withdrawal, weight loss, loss of interest in hobbies, and self-neglecting. Giving up a pet is a devastating situation, but when the animal’s and the senior’s well-being are at stake, it is the best choice for everyone.

Bear Market Report

Medicare fraud alert

How to protect your identity and assets

By Teresa Bear

Mary was working around the house when she heard the phone ring. Hubby Marvin answered it. Was it the kids? Grandkids? Friend? Nope. The side of the conversation she heard sounded money-related. Then she heard Marvin say three frightening numbers – 5-2-6. Yikes! Those digits struck terror in her heart. Why? 5-2-6 were the first three digits of Marvin’s Social Security number. Who was asking for that information over the phone? Mary reacted faster than a flying golf ball. Leaping over the ottoman in a single bound, Mary grabbed the phone out of Marvin’s hand.

“Who is this?” she demanded.

“I’m Susan, with Medicare. We are calling to make sure that you are receiving all of the benefits that you are entitled to.” Mary was very suspicious of this person and spent a few more minutes talking to her. The woman insisted Mary needed

to provide a Social Security number to ensure she and Marvin were getting all the benefits they were entitled to. The woman also implied that if Mary didn’t provide the information immediately, Mary and Marvin would lose their Medicare benefits. How terrifying! Marvin had suffered a minor stroke a few months earlier; no wonder he was willing to comply with the caller’s request. Fortunately, Mary determined it was a scam and hung up the phone.

Regrettably, retirees are often targets of scams like these. Anyone can buy a list (for a nickel a name) with retirees’ address and phone numbers. Believe it or not, you can be targeted by your age. The list companies buy your personal information from the credit reporting agencies and resell them to businesses – both legitimate and illicit. When you apply for a loan, the lender agrees to keep your per-

sonal information private – except for reporting to credit agencies. There’s no such privacy standard with the credit agencies, so they happily sell your information to listmaking companies. Seems like a big loophole to me, but I’m not holding my breath that our lawmakers in Washington will institute legislation to protect us. Therefore, we have to protect ourselves. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Seniors are targets. Thieves go where the money is, and scammers can buy lists targeting not only age, but assets as well.

2. Seniors are polite. Normally this is a good trait, but your good nature can work against you if you are less likely to hang up the phone on a questionable caller.

3. Scammers are professional thieves. They will be very persuasive and persistent.

4. Government agencies will NEVER call asking for money or other personal information. If you think the caller is a scam-

mer, be rude. Terminate the call. If you have any information about the call, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Congratulations! You’ve saved yourself time, heartache and money.

Proper shredding of documents also helps to prevent identity theft. Readers are invited to our annual Shred-A-Thon. This will be held at our Mesa office east parking lot at 4115 E. Valley Auto Drive on April 17 between 9 a.m. and noon. Hope to see you there!

A new frontier

By Cameron Kennerly

Imagine for a moment that someone asked you to make a flying car. You can have all the time you want, and you can use whatever resources you have available. Do you think you could do it? “No, of course not,” you say. “That’s impossible.”

But is it?

The Wright Brothers were from the small town of Dayton, Ohio. On curiosity and a whim, they decided to throw their hats into the ring in the pursuit of aviation. They weren’t particularly experienced, formally educated or born with a silver spoon. Yet they defied the established order and pioneered a breakthrough that would put them in the book of human history for all time.

In similarity to the impossible Wright Brothers, today we’ve found our society at the center of a challenge. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

has devastated the lives of over 15 million Americans and risen to the thirdleading cause of death in the U.S. This is a problem, but courtesy of American clinics like the Lung Institute (lunginstitute.com), a solution may be here.

With a history stretching as far as the 1950s when stem cell transplants were used to successfully treat leukemia, the crowning advancement of stem cell therapy came with the discovery that stem cells could be extracted from a patient’s blood or bone marrow and reintroduced into their body to promote healing from within.

As the field of regenerative medicine continues to see rapid breakthroughs in disease application, the treatment of lung diseases such as COPD, emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis has been turned upside down. For patients facing the unchanging rigidity of tra-

ditional medication, where only the relief of symptoms can be promised, stem cell therapy has shown the potential to address symptom relief as well as the potential to address the disease’s progression. This dynamic change has created a shift in the way those with lung disease view their life’s outlook. The possibility of having more time and better health with their family and loved ones has restored hope. Innovation is courage and self-determination. The Wright Brothers believed the impossible was tangible and

able to be accomplished through sheer willpower. Although COPD has no cure, a better life isn’t outside the realm of possibility with the aid of stem cell therapy.

Sometimes a favorable wind is all the strength you need to push forward and do the impossible.

If you or a loved one suffer from a chronic lung disease, the specialists at the Lung Institute may be able to help. You can contact the Lung Institute at 855-842-7878 or visit lunginstitute.com/Lovin to ﬁnd out if you qualify for these new treatments.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

Like the Wright Brothers’ ﬁrst ﬂight, stem cell therapy may just be the world’s next big innovation.

Blood pressure too high? Remember to DATE—diet, adhere, tobacco and exercise

High-blood pressure, or hypertension, affects over 30 percent of Americans. Having uncontrolled high-blood pressure severely increases the risk for having a heart attack or stroke. Some of the common risk factors for high blood pressure include age, family history, race, tobacco use, high-sodium diet, physical inactivity, obesity and underlying health conditions such as diabetes. There are many ways to manage blood pressure, and so here is an acronym to help remember them: D.A.T.E.—diet, adherence, tobacco, exercise

Diet: Sodium, or salt, adds flavor to foods we eat, but it also causes our bodies to hold excess fluid, which raises blood pressure. Sodium is commonly found in packaged and frozen foods. Fast foods and even food from restaurants are often heavy in sodium. Most Americans consume twice the recommended amount of sodium per day!

Here are a few suggestions to help lower your blood pressure through your diet:

• Limit your sodium intake to less than 2 grams per day.

• Avoid eating out, cook most of your meals and remove the saltshaker from the dining table.

• Flavor your food with fresh herbs and spices as an alternative to salt.

Adherence: Re membering to take your blood pressure medications every day is important in managing your blood pressure. Patients often forget to take their medications because they don’t “feel” that their blood pressure is high. Keep in mind that high blood pressure is a health condition that we are not necessarily able to feel, but we need to take our medications on a regular basis in order to keep it under control. There are many tools we can use to help us remember to take medications, such as pill organizers. Feel free to visit your local Walgreens pharmacy to ask for additional tips on how to remember to take medications.

Tobacco: Quitting tobacco is one of the best ways to manage blood pressure. Smoking or chewing tobacco increases your blood pressure

immediately, and over time, tobacco causes our blood vessels to narrow, which then increases blood pressure even more. The short pleasures obtained from using tobacco do not outweigh the lifelong complications that are associated with tobacco. So see your local Walgreens pharmacist for more information on how to quit tobacco for good.

Exercise: Aerobic and resistancetraining exercise have beneficial effects on blood pressure. Performing about 120 to 150 minutes of exercise per week is recommended, and it is most effective to divide that amount to five 30-minute sessions per week. It is important to start slow and work your way up to becoming more physically active. Regular exercise may help

patients lose weight, and weight loss also helps to reduce blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, remember to DATE—diet adherence, (quit) tobacco and exercise. Keep these tips in mind to better manage your overall health and wellness. Feel free to stop by any Walgreens pharmacy to ask for more information on how to lower your blood pressure.

Hearing loss is no joke

Signs of hearing loss and tips to get

By Ken Arcia, Arizona Relay Service

Although April begins in a lighthearted fashion with April Fools’ Day, there is nothing funny about hearing loss. It may be difficult adjusting to the fact that your hearing may be worsening but make this April the month you begin taking the warning signs and symptoms of hearing loss seriously.

Despite the unwillingness you may have accepting it, hearing loss that occurs gradually as you age is actually quite common. According to data from the Mayo Clinic, about 25 percent of people in the United States between the ages of 55 and 65 have some degree of hearing loss. This number increases for those older than 65, where the ratio for those with hearing loss is almost one in every two people. These statistics may be surprising but it is better to get a handle on your hearing loss sooner rather than later.

This being said, how can you tell if you are beginning to experience hearing loss?

The Hearing Loss Association of America

ahead

(HLAA) has put together some signs and symptoms associated with hearing loss that should not be ignored:

• Asking people often to repeat what they say

• Having trouble hearing in groups

• Thinking that others are mumbling

• Failing to hear someone talking behind you

• Continuously turning up the volume on the TV or radio

• Having trouble hearing on the phone

• Not hearing your alarm clock as easily

• Having difficulty hearing at the movies

• No longer enjoying noisy parties or restaurants

Some of these may happen to you every once in a while – no one’s hearing is perfect! However, if you are experiencing most of these symptoms and at an increasing frequency, it may be time to make an appointment with your doctor or audiologist.

Apart from being challenging, hearing

loss can be a difficult concept to grasp. Seeing a doctor will not only help to diagnose your specific hearing loss but it will also allow for a better understanding as to why it’s happening. There are three main types of hearing loss but even within those, there are a number of causes of hearing loss and each has a different treatment plan.

ear canal, ear drum or middle ear and

Conductive Hearing Loss: This type of hearing loss is due to problems with the ear canal, ear drum or middle ear and its little bones. Conductive hearing loss can be caused by an outer or middle ear malformation, ﬂuid in the middle ear from colds, ear infections, allergies, perforated eardrums, impacted ear wax, otosclerosis or having a foreign body stuck in the ear.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

Also known as nerve-related hearing loss, SNHL is due to problems with the inner ear. It can stem from exposure to loud noise, head trauma, a virus or disease, genetic hearing loss, aging, malformation of the inner ear, Meniere’s Disease, otosclerosis and tumors.

Mixed Hearing Loss: This refers to a combination of conductive and SNHL, which means there may be damage in the outer, middle or inner ear or even in the auditory nerve.

Hearing loss is as varied as it is complex and can only be diagnosed based on the person’s history, behavior and from the results of medical and audiological examinations. After your doctor’s initial evaluation, he or she may refer you to an audiologist. The Mayo Clinic has put together a list of what you can do to prepare for your appointment.

List any symptoms you’re experiencing. Apart from your own recall, ask your loved ones for their input. Friends and family may have noticed changes that aren’t obvious to you; each and every detail is important.

Write down key medical information. It

“April hath

is especially important to record any and all of the problems you’ve had with your ears; this includes chronic infections, injuries or ear surgery. You should also list any medications, vitamins or supplements you’re taking.

Summarize your work history. This includes all of your jobs, even those from a while back and especially those that may have exposed you to high noise levels. Take a family member or friend along. Apart from the support they will provide, having someone else in the room to remember all of the information the doctor provides can be highly beneficial. Write down your questions. Jot down a list in advance to help you stay on track and make the most of your appointment. If you are diagnosed with hearing loss, the biggest thing to remember is that you are not alone. Organizations like the HLAA have a large amount of information available to people experiencing hearing loss. You can also find support in participating in your local HLAA chapter meetings as well as becoming involved with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing and Arizona Relay Service.

For more information on the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, visit acdhh.org, or for Arizona Relay Service, visit azrelay.org.

How to ﬁle a complaint against your Medicare drug or health plan

By Greg Dill

Having practiced pharmacy for many years, I often find myself talking to people about their Medicare prescription drug, or Part D, plans. People with Part D usually share their thoughts about a favorite pharmacy or pharmacist, or how their plan offers medicines at affordable prices. Sometimes they report problems with a Part D plan, ranging from the cost of drugs to difficulty in getting a specific medication their doctor prescribed. A first step to correcting problems is always to contact your drug plan (contact information is on the back of your drug card). A call to the plan usually will resolve your issue. If that doesn’t work, you can file a complaint. You can do that by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or going online at Medicare.gov. Complaints can be

made against Part D drug plans as well as Part C health plans, also known as Medicare Advantage plans.

The online Medicare Complaint Form is easy to use. Medicare takes the information you send and directs it to your plan. Then we follow up and monitor how well the plan resolves your complaint.

To find the complaint form, go to www.Medicare.gov and locate the blue box near the top of the page that says “Claims & Appeals.” Place your cursor over that box until a dropdown menu appears and click on “file a complaint.” When the next page comes up, click on “Your health or drug plan.”

You can also lodge a complaint by calling or writing to your plan. Your complaint could involve a problem with customer service, difficulty in getting

access to a specialist, being given the wrong drug, or being given drugs that interact in a negative way.

If you file a complaint about your Part D drug plan, certain requirements apply:

• You must file your complaint within 60 days from the date of the event that led to the complaint.

• You must be notified of the decision generally no later than 30 days after the plan gets the complaint.

• If your complaint relates to a plan’s refusal to make a fast coverage determination or redetermination and you haven’t purchased or gotten the drug, the plan must give you a decision no later than 24 hours after it gets the complaint.

In addition, you can make a complaint if you have a concern about the quality of care or other services you get from a Medicare provider. This includes doctors, hospitals, or other medical providers; your dialysis or kidney transplant care; or a Medicarecertified supplier of durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and oxygen equipment.

How you file a complaint depends on what your complaint is about. For more

information, go to www.medicare.gov/ claims-and-appeals/file-a-complaint/ complaint.html.

As a Medicare beneficiary, you also have certain appeal rights. What’s the difference between a complaint and an appeal? A complaint is generally about the quality of care you got or are getting. For example, you may file a complaint if you have a problem contacting your plan or if you’re unhappy with how a staff person at the plan treated you. However, if you have an issue with a plan’s refusal to pay for a service, supply, or prescription, you file an appeal.

For more information on appeals, take a look at your “Medicare & You” handbook, mailed each fall to every Medicare household in the country, or go online at www.medicare.gov/ claims-and-appeals/file-an-appeal/ appeals.html.

Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Paciﬁc Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

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Arizona Greenthumb Master gardeners share planting and pruning tips

By Glenda Strickbine

The time to plant spring tomatoes has passed. But don’t despair –you live in the low desert, and there is always something growing here. There are plenty of timely gardening projects for April, according to University of Arizona Master Gardener Bill Felton, with whom I recently spent some time, picking up tips to share with you.

If you’re planting in early April, some good choices include green beans, lima beans, summer squash and eggplant. If you have never had the pleasure of seeing eggplant grow, do yourself a favor and plant some. It is pure delight to watch their progress, as a delicate lilac blossom gives way to shiny, purple fruit. Eggplant is good for you and delicious. Think ratatouille.

As the days get longer and the temperatures climb higher, geraniums and pansies struggle to stay fresh; however, there are still plenty of pleasant days left to plant flowers. You can catch a kaleidoscope of colors with coleus, or choose some hearty desert marigolds. Another option is the lovely Mexican sunflower, a favorite of Monarch butterflies.

For best results when planting vegetables or flowers, always prepare your soil. This step is especially important here in the desert. Mix organic compounds with the soil and add a fertilizer that contains nitrogen and phosphorous (you may have to add some phosphorous if your drainage is poor). For a raised bed, use a mix that’s half garden soil and half artificial soil mix, course sand, perlite or vermiculite.

April is also an excellent time to shape up your trees for the coming months and Arbor Day which is celebrated on Friday, April 28, this year.

Trees anchor our landscapes and ask very little in return. Incorrect pruning can damage trees and in our “survival of the fittest” landscape, that can spell trouble. There is an old saying among professional arborists when it comes to pruning: “If in doubt, don’t prune.” If a tree is improperly pruned, it can reduce its lifespan, so proceed with caution. It’s important to remember you are shaping the tree from the bottom up, not giving it a haircut.

I recently attended a two-hour class

about pruning trees and shrubs at the Desert Institute of Gardening. The class was presented by Master Gardener and arborist John Eisenhower. In a two-hour session, we received an excellent overview and a hands-on demonstration of pruning. Eisenhower advised, “Have a clear objective, justify every cut and no recreational pruning.”

You should never take away more than 25 percent of a tree’s canopy. The circumference of a tree’s root system is slightly larger than its canopy so it needs those leaves to manufacture food. Arborists refer to this as your “root to shoot” balance. Some trees are more sensitive than others to pruning. Olive and mesquite trees do a good job of compartmentalizing damage, but fruit trees are not as hardy. Pruning trees is an art and a science, so some hands-on instruction is a good idea.

Thanks to Bill Felton for his help and expertise, and to John Eisenhower for an informative presentation. Both experts enrich the great

resources at University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension, which offers classes on various gardening subjects for a small fee. There is also an on-call service to handle your questions, free gardening publications specific to the low desert, and even a Master Gardener course, which gives in-depth training through a series of classes. Find it all at extesion.arizona.edu/maricopamg.

T HE F INIS H L INE

Arizona’s Leader in Senior Fitness

California teams sweep 2017 tourney but Arizonans hit home

Fourteen enthusiastic women’s softball teams descended on Peoria’s Rio Vista Sports Complex on March 4th and 5th for what turned out to be one of the most exciting tournaments in Arizona Senior Olympics history. The teams represented three age groups, and each of those groups included a team from the California Spirit organization.

The ﬁrst day of competition involved round robin play, with some of the younger teams mixing it up with older teams to provide the smaller bracket with some variety in their competitors. Sportsmanship (or it would it be sportswomanship?) abounded as players appreciated the opportunity to not only play, but to also watch others and cheer.

The record of the teams from the ﬁrst day were used to place them in a double-elimination bracket on the second day. The smallest bracket, 70plus, was decided early, with the gold medal going to California Spirit 70.

In the 60 bracket, the California Spirit team cruised through the winners’ side of the bracket to the championship game, but was trailing by four runs in the bottom of the ﬁnal, seventh inning. The lead had changed three times throughout the game, and California Spirit started a comeback of two runs. Then, with two runners on base, a walk-oﬀ run completed the come back and secured the gold medals for the outof-state team. As is always the case at Arizona Senior Olympics events,

huge smiles and great sportsmanship were in abundance as congratulations were exchanged for a well-fought tournament.

The event was a challenge for Arizona Senior Olympics, as it was our tournament director’s ﬁrst weekend on the job. In a wonderful show of helpfulness, a group of players from Arizona met with him and ASO’s executive director a couple weeks later to provide constructive suggestions and concrete oﬀers of assistance for growing the softball tournament in the future. New dates, a larger facility, and some discount hotel arrangements for teams are all being explored. The 2018 tournament promises to be bigger, better and even more fun!

The 2017 Arizona Senior Olympic Games are over, but not quite

The 2017 Arizona Senior Olympic Games ended with the Triathlon on March 26th, with only one event incomplete. The Annual Fall Pickleball Tournament will once again be in October.

This year’s games were, as always, ﬁlled with wonderful stories. Everywhere you looked seniors were smiling, greeting old friends, and working to perform at their “personal best.” They have learned through the years that the motivation of competition helps them to stay active, ﬁt and strong.

It is hoped that the pictures in this issue will inspire you to follow their example and begin an exercise program or go back to a sport that you once loved. Either way, you will be healthier for the eﬀort.

The camaraderie of sports will inspire you, and Arizona Senior Olympics is ready to help you begin.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50)

Dueling it out in doubles handball.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50) Power lifters share their techniques.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50) Months of training pay off.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50) A vaulter clears the bar while clouds loom.

(Special to Lovin’ Life After 50) A happy power lifter celebrates.

Give a triathlon a try

The Arizona Senior Olympics Triathlon will be the last sport in the games until the Pickleball Tournament in October.

Triathlons have been a part of American amateur sports for many years. It’s an opportunity for senior athletes to test themselves in swimming, cycling and running. The ASO Tri is a sprint with distances of a 400-meter swim, 12-mile cycling course and 3-mile run.

The event is held in conjunction with the Anteater Tri-Family Racing Tri held each year in Goodyear. The facility is beautiful, the course is challenging and the people are friendly. This is a great tri to “try” if you are a ﬁrst-timer. It’s a multi-generational triathlon with a place for everyone. Awards for Senior Olympians are given separately and the fee includes a T-shirt.

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