Lovin' Life After 50: Phoenix - Oct. 2016

Reinvent youR RetiRement at Royal oaks

sun City’s premier campus for active retirees

REQuEsT OuR DOWnsIzIng guIDE TO hElp YOu gET sTARTED!

Royal Oaks residents like Claudia, a busy RN, author, educator and consultant, moved to Royal Oaks so she and her husband can enjoy life, not spend time on chores. Shouldn’t you do the same?

We invite you to visit our 38-acre campus and tour beautifully updated casitas and apartments. Our residents rave over chef-prepared meals, the maintenance-free lifestyle, activities, fitness, and friendships. Residents and family members enjoy financial peace of mind, knowing our Lifecare program provides increased services without an increase in fees. If a higher level of care is needed, we offer memory care, assisted living, and nursing care in a complete supportive living environment.

Discover more about Lifecare and Life Plan Communities by requesting our report, The Ten Most Important Questions to Ask a Retirement Community BEFORE You Move In. Download it and our downsizing guide, When In Doubt, Throw It Out immediately at www.RoyalOaks.com or phone (623) 815-4131 and we will send them to you.

marketingdept@royaloaks.com • 623-815-4131 10015 W. Royal Oak Road (south of 99th Ave. and Thunderbird Rd.) Sun City, AZ 85351

opinion For your eyes only The Curmudgeon

By Drew Alexander

If you are not a registered Republican and don’t hold conservative political values, you might just as well skip this column and go on to read another part of this fine publication.

GOP and independent conservative voters, this is for your eyes only.

November’s balloting to decide who will be the 45th president of the United States will be the most critical election in recent history, and to a profound extent determine the economic, political and moral direction of the republic.

Within the next four years, such major matters as employment, taxation, homeland security, immigration, national debt, foreign

affairs, judicial appointments, and scores of other crucial issues will be on the Oval Office desk at noon on Friday, Jan. 20, awaiting action by the new president.

By now, you have been exposed to over a year of intense nationwide electioneering. So here it is October and it all comes down to a principal choice between Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Donald J. Trump.

You enthusiastic conservative Trump supporters will obviously not vote for Clinton, an entrenched member of the old guard of privileged politicians, and who magically dodged a criminal indictment over her “extremely

careless” handling of classified e-mails while serving as Secretary of State— among other scandals swirling around her.

Then there are those of you who preferred a GOP candidate other than Trump, for several reasons. Chiefly among them are that you don’t like his flamboyant, outspoken style; that you disagree with some of the things he says or makes you feel uncomfortable; and that he’s not a “real” conservative.

As for Trump’s speaking style, well, his verbal stripes are an ingrained part of the man and will not change. Personally, I find it refreshing that a candidate speaks his mind with passion and candor—even though I disagree with him in some instances— unlike most office seekers who parse every word, and who speak down to me as if I’m a juvenile ward of the state.

Those of you who stayed home in 2012 and did not vote for Mitt Romney because by your measure he lacked conservative purity witnessed what your absence from the ballot box has wrought: four more years of President Barack Hussein Obama and

a stagnant economy with 94 million Americans out of work, an implosion of the ill-conceived Obamacare, a shady, secret unconstitutional deal with Iran, a weakening of our military capabilities, and a host of other negatives too numerous to list.

Trump is a man of ideas but not an ideologue, so don’t expect conservative perfection from him. Your simple choice on Nov. 8 is a somewhat less than impeccable Republican or a hugely flawed Democrat and all the terribly failed policies implemented by her party that have harmed the nation for decades.

A former member of the Arizona Senate, Lori Klein, succinctly summarized the unrealistic expectations of the American electorate, telling CBS News, in politics, “We want a virgin to do a hooker’s job.”

Drew Alexander, also known as “The Curmudgeon,” is a monthly columnist for Lovin’ Life After 50, writing about political issues. Send comments to drewalexander@cox. net or to Drew Alexander, in care of Lovin’ Life After 50, 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282.

IThe Up Side

I’m here for the concession stand

By Michael Grady

’m looking forward to election night. But not for the reasons you might expect. OK, yes. Like every other sensible American, I look forward to the moment the race is called and we can collectively pass this barbed, dangling kidney stone of an election from the pipes of our collective consciousness.

I look forward to clicking on a news website and not cringing as an omnipresent awning of blonde hair downloads. I will enjoy not wondering— at least for a while—why Hillary Clinton smiles like someone is running electric current through her.

And I will enjoy opening up my newspaper a few weeks from now to some traditional, old-fashioned bipartisan news. Like a liquor store robbery.

But on election night, I look for something else. After the electoral map has turned all blood and blue; after the talking heads switch their spin from “what-will-happen?” to “we-knew-thiswould-happen;” after the last salient statistic sets the election team nodding and the punditry blissfully starts running out of things to say...someone will have to make a speech.

Someone who lost.

That’s what I look for.

It isn’t schadenfruede. It isn’t a desire to shout “neener-neener” or revel in someone’s public embarrassment (you can get that on almost any reality show). It is an opportunity to see, finally, what this too-long and overfinanced election cycle has seldom shown us. Grace.

Let me say that I’ve talked to President Clinton. We had a good visit, and I congratulated him.

(BOOS)

No, wait a minute. Wait a minute. No, I’ve said repeatedly—I’ve said repeatedly in this campaign that the president was my opponent and not my enemy. And I wish him well and I pledge my support in whatever advances the cause of a better America because that’s what the race was about in the first place.

—Bob Dole, Nov. 5, 1996

Much of the election has claimed to be a discussion of America’s greatness. How can we “Make America Great Again”?

Is America still “the greatest country on Earth?” And while we have talked the subject blue on cable shows, talk radio and website comment sections, proof of her greatness will be present the night of Nov. 8: someone with a lot of supporters will win, someone with a lot of supporters will lose. And the loser will—grudgingly but surely—urge us to support the winner.

We will not have riots in the streets, like they had in Tehran in 2009. People will not be attacked at polling places, as they were in the Philippines last spring.

Military juntas will not try to seize the television stations, as they attempted in Turkey last summer. We will handle the transfer of power like Americans: the winners will drink excessively, the losers will make negative Facebook posts, and then we’ll all get on with our lives.

The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can’t risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people’s work.

—Mitt Romney, Nov. 6, 2012

Yes, I know: The losing party frequently begins a new fundraising cycle that night. The lip service about unity, and “giving the new president a chance” usually dissolves as soon as the new leader’s hand leaves the inaugural Bible. But there’s a reason why the losing candidate doesn’t say:

Listen, we’re all toast. This poor, sorry ********* you elected will be the death of all of us. FYI. Just want to give you a heads-up before the walls start bleeding and the locusts come. Good job, voters! (Laughs) If I’d known you were this stupid, I’d have campaigned on a platform of shiny objects and thrown candy! Well, I see the bar is open, so I’m going to do some tequila shots and hope for an asteroid. Drive safely!

Oh, the losing candidate may be thinking that. But they won’t say so, because—like us—they are hoping to serve a higher purpose. They are operating, in that moment, on the faith that the voters have some overriding wisdom, and the idea that our country’s future is more important than the fortunes of one despondent politician. The trick is carrying that faith farther

than election night.

We have all seen, and been shocked by, the divisiveness of this last campaign: the accusations of racism, the actual racism, the fighting at rallies, the name-calling, the press suppression, the inflammatory accusations, and that horrific night in July when our nation turned to Scott Baio for political advice.

This is what happens when we treat our elections like rugby matches. When finding the right candidate becomes less important than winning, we pick a side and stop thinking for ourselves. Remember issues? Civility? Phrases like “they both have a point”? They haven’t come up much in the last few months, because this election has become a running sucker punch on the other guy.

I hope the 2016 election amounts to a wake-up call. I hope we’ll leave the electoral map grateful for what didn’t happen, and determined to make the next election more of an honest examination of ideas and less of an Oakland Raiders tailgater. It’s probably naïve—I can’t remember an election that wasn’t dubbed “the worst one ever”—but, seriously, this truly was the worst one ever. And unless the two parties convene in 2020 to

nominate a howler monkey and a mold spore, this election will probably hold that title for a good long time.

So, here’s hoping for kinder contests and better days. Here’s hoping the downballot races offer enough consensus leadership to keep us from circling around in a self-imposed headlock the next four years. Here’s hoping for candidates with less persona and more platform next time; and voters more interested in finding solutions than winning the argument. It begins when our partisan hackles come down.

And that starts with a gracious concession.

Almost a century and a half ago, Sen. Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, “Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I’m with you, Mr. President, and God bless you.’’ Well, in that same spirit, I say to president-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country.

—Al Gore, Dec. 13, 2000

Michael Grady is a local playwright, reporter and the author of “Death Calls a Meeting.”

Aging Today Fall Precaution Celebrating the ‘fall’ season

By Bob Roth, Managing Partner Cypress HomeCare Solutions

Join me in celebrating the fall season, which started with Falls Prevention Awareness Month in September.

Do I really mean celebrate, you may be thinking? Well, perhaps observe or

commemorate is more fitting when it comes to an entire month to raise awareness of falls prevention. Yes, I do mean celebrate. Do you remember the excitement and energy in the air when

you baby-proofed your home? There was no feeling of impending doom, only an affirmation of protection for the future and the security of our loved ones. In Arizona, the Fall season feels like a time of renewal and is the perfect time to renew our commitment to the safety of our aging seniors.

Falling among older adults is a serious public health problem. The risk of hurting oneself upon falling increases with age, as reflexes slow, diminishing a person’s ability to protect oneself. Bones are more brittle making older adults more susceptible to breaking a wrist or even a hip. Unlike illnesses and diseases taking lives among elderly people, falling is completely preventable.

our seniors for a prolonged stay, or even an afternoon visit. Common causes for falls include: Slippery or wet surfaces, poor lighting, uneven floor surfaces, clutter in pathways, and thick soled or loose shoes. Rugs are the leading causes of falls, and ideally should be removed. Most falls in the home occur when going up or down stairs and in and out of the tub or shower. It is imperative that stairways have handrails that extend beyond the first and last step. Increasing the light by adding more overhead lighting fixtures or wall sconces can prevent falls. If lamps are added, cord management is essential.

Here is a list of things you can buy for less than $20 that will lower your risk for a fall:

• Grab bars for shower or tub.

• Mat for shower or tub.

• Nonslip bathtub strips.

• Velcro strips to secure electrical cords.

• Nonslip safety grip pad for rugs.

• Motion sensor night light.

• Slip resistant socks.

• Nonslip tape (skid tape for stairs).

• Raised toilet seat.

• Wheelchair seatbelt.

In 2014, the number of deaths from trips and falls almost equaled the number of deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents. The fact is, many of these trips and falls are caused by preventable circumstances. Falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among seniors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, elders have a one in three chance of experiencing a fall annually. Over 30,000 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries in 2013. Over 2.5 million seniors were treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.

Factors that contribute to falls include improper eyewear, such as wearing sunglasses indoors or inadvertently keeping readers on when walking. Additionally, reminding our seniors about getting yearly eye exams and updating their glasses if need be. Dizziness caused by medication can lead to falls. When filling prescriptions, make sure to ask the pharmacist whether the medicine can affect your balance. And remember, “medication” not only includes prescription medicines, but also herbal, natural and over-the-counter remedies such as aspirin or antihistamines. Request a brown bag check-up. A brown-bag check-up is when you gather all of your current medications and overthe-counter products into a “brownbag” and show them to your doctor or pharmacist so he/she can look for any potential problems.

Contrary to popular belief, falls are entirely preventable and not a natural part of aging. All of us have the ability to reduce the risk of falls in our aging loved one’s homes and when hosting

When hosting your aging loved one for an overnight or prolonged stay you may need to ensure your guest room is adaptable to the needs of your guest. Place night tables and shelves in places that are easily accessible. Offer to help your loved one unpack, ensuring to store clothing, medication, and necessities within reach. Make sure the outside of your home is well lit and there are no hazards blocking the entrance way to your home. Secure over excited or anxious pets to prevent them from jumping or becoming a tripping hazard.

Celebrating

Falls Prevention

Awareness is an extension of embracing aging and accepting the new normal. Notching those milestone birthdays is very much a privilege. If you don’t think so, just ask someone with a terminal illness. Aging gracefully is acknowledging that you may need a new sexy walker, a cool pair of nonslip shoes, or a Better Homes and Gardens grab bar for your bathroom. So hold on to your new prop and whistle your favorite tune to symbolically represent the spring in your step.

Vaccines and stem cells: Secret weapons in the fight against lung disease

By Cameron Kennerly

Once a year around the end of October, the United States enters flu season, sparking millions of parents and grandparents to pull their children kicking and screaming all the way to the doctor’s office. Although any needle is an unwelcomed one, we tolerate these injections because at our hearts, we just want to be healthy.

However, what is often unknown—or worse neglected—is that seniors have an inherently weaker immune system, leading to increased rates of medical complications and death from viruses like the flu—particularly those suffering from lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

Although many of these deaths are preventable, fortunately, the answer is simple: get vaccinated.

The relationship between vaccines and health cannot be understated, particularly for seniors suffering from respiratory illness, who are inherently at a higher risk of illness. For those who live with a debilitating lung

disease, exacerbations or flare-ups can be both physically and mentally exhausting. Exacerbations further lung degeneration, and when coupled with fatigue and a consistent shortness of breath, chronic lung disease is an extraordinarily difficult disease to live with. Throw in the flu and these factors produce a potentially lethal combination.

Although flu shots are known to reduce flu-related hospital admissions by up to 77%, when it comes to combating lung disease, there are few options available that directly address more than disease symptoms. However, as medicine has continued to advance, stem cell therapy and clinics such as the Lung Institute (lunginstitute.com) have come to the forefront as a method of treatment. With a success rate of 83% over three years of operation under the highest safety standards, the Lung Institute has been able to increase the quality of life for over 2,500 patients. Using stem cells as the body’s natural repair mechanism, stem cell therapy serves to promote healing from

Like the flu vaccine, stem cell therapy has begun to revolutionize the treatment of respiratory illness.

within, reduce lung inflammation, dilate airways and works to improve quality of life and pulmonary function in those with chronic respiratory illnesses.

Emerging from a time when epidemics wiped out a significant percentage of the population every century, science has taken humanity into a golden era of medicine and personal healthcare. Although neither the flu nor chronic lung disease possess a known cure, through the combination

of vaccines and stem cell therapy, it’s possible to dramatically affect the lives— and lifespan—of one of our nation’s most susceptible demographic.

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.

Abrazo Community

Cardiovascular Care Seminars:

• October 4 - Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital

New Frontiers In Cardiovascular Care: Common Conditions And Exciting New Treatment Options

• October 20 - Abrazo Arrowhead Campus

Aortic Stenosis – A Common And Serious Heart Valve Condition

• November 3 - Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital

Do You Have Wounds That Won’t Heal Or Experience Leg Pain When Walking?

Orthopedic Care Seminars:

• October 6 - Abrazo Arrowhead Campus

Understanding Back Pain: Arthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease And Stenosis

• October 13 - Abrazo West Campus Is It Time To Move On From Hip Pain?

Learn More: AbrazoHealth.com/OrthoEvents

• All seminars begin at 6:00 PM

• Seminars are presented by cardiovascular or orthopedic physicians

• Each seminar will have a Q&A session to answer your questions

• Giveaways, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and refreshments

We’veStraus’ Place

Three magic words

By Bill Straus

all had to return or exchange merchandise. You can’t avoid it. Oh, you may not do it often, but you do do it. And sometimes, I’m guessing you feel a little uncomfortable, like when you wash your brand new nice slacks only to discover they’re clearly marked “dry clean only.” I’ve done that. Or you break a new purchase while you’re opening it. You still want to take your chances, but you do so with the appropriate discomfort.

I suggest this: You walk in with your abused purchase, approach the clerk and then look him or her in the eye and say three simple words: “I’m an idiot.” That’s it! It has to be your opening comment and you do have to say the words with sincerity, but once you’ve said them, your troubles are over. It’s like magic!

The clerk will almost always respond, “No you’re not.” Now I have had the response, “Oh, I doubt that,” which compelled me to counter with, “No, I’m an idiot and I can prove it!” I then handed that clerk my ruined slacks. How can I be so sure of this, you ask? Oh, I’ve been employing the “I’m an idiot” tactic for more than 40 years. And by the way, it has never, ever failed me. I’ve even done it on the phone, but find that eye contact is a critical component of the whole process. And you don’t even have to have done anything wrong for this to succeed. Try it.

Let’s take a deeper look into what

happens when one does this. Almost all of us have that instinct to comfort someone in distress. Kindness. When you open with “I’m an idiot,” what can the clerk do but try to comfort you. Oh, you may indeed have done something idiotic, but that doesn’t seem to matter. The relationship between the two of you starts out on one of the nicest platforms possible, a distressed soul finding comfort and kindness from a stranger. In addition, the clerk sees you as a customer, not as an antagonist. I think we all know that most businesses subscribe to the old adage that “the customer is always right,” but in this case, the instinct toward kindness reigns supreme.

And you don’t have to restrict the use of this to returns or exchanges. Let’s say you’ve come under fire from Amazon or eBay for violating their terms of usage. Appeal to them as “an idiot” and you will likely find the opportunity for one more chance. If you’re at all skeptical about my conclusions, all I ask is for you to try it. Almost from the moment you utter the three magic words, your skepticism will dissolve like a sugar cube in hot water. I’ve long considered this one of my most trusted consumer behaviors and, as I stated above, have never been disappointed with the outcome. I’ve shared it with my children and friends and they, too, have found it to be foolproof...almost magical.

News Briefs

Elvis lives at The Forum’s casino night

The Forum at Desert Harbor hit the jackpot with a casino night that drew scores of lucky residents and guests.

Sharp-dressed dealers from Arizona Casino Parties kept high-rolling seniors on a roll with a wealth of blackjack and roulette table games. Winners cashed in their chips for raffle tickets that offered attendees the “luck of the draw” to win prizes.

Forum fans were “All Shook Up” as rhinestone-studded Elvis Presley impersonator, Bret Kaiser, performed the King’s signature dance moves.

To find out what’s shaking next at The Forum at Desert Harbor, call 623-9720995 or visit theforumatdesertharbor. com. The full-service, rental retirement community is located at 13840 N. Desert Harbor Dr., north of Thunderbird Road at 91st Avenue in Peoria.

Senior living community awards eight fall scholarships

The Plaza del Rio Foundation’s Fall 2016 Scholarship Awards Presentation honored eight employees from Freedom Plaza Retirement Campus, and Plaza del Rio Care Center, located on the Plaza del Rio campus in Peoria. Funded by resident donations, the William T. and Laura Lou Riggs Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded a total of $15,225 in scholarships to eight

students for the Fall 2016 semester. Scholarship recipients were awarded based on academic achievement, work experience and financial assistance needed to achieve their goals.

The Fall 2016 scholarship recipients from Freedom Plaza Retirement Community include concierges Stephanie Guzman and Nicole Lawson; dining services staff Dina Buzimkic and Erynn Duran; kitchen Jennifer Maya; and personalized living Courtney Kelly. Freedom Plaza Care Center recipients include medical records Kim Morales, and Plaza del Rio Care Center certified nursing assistant Roxanna Armstrong.

“Tonight is all about celebrating the scholarship recipients,” said Plaza del Rio Foundation president, Jeanne Chisholm, a resident of Freedom Plaza. She also expressed her appreciation to the board members and residents for their generous donations.

In addition to Chisholm, the Plaza del Rio Foundation board members include co-chairpersons Mary Koleski and Robert Hagen, committee members Wanda Baxter, Stewart Cecil, Ruth Davis, Pennie Doss, Bob Koonce, Paul Meeden and Joan Peters, all residents of Freedom Plaza, and Mary Jane Cannon, a resident of Casa del Rio.

Plaza del Rio Foundation Board member

Mary Jane Cannon, a Casa del Rio resident, awards a Fall 2016 Scholarship to Roxanna Armstrong, a certified nursing assistant at Plaza del Rio Care Center. A seven-time scholarship recipient, Armstrong is using the funds for her studies at the University of Phoenix.

The Riggs Memorial Scholarship Fund was founded in 1997, as a means of enhancing employees’ potential through the benefits of continuing education. In 19 years, the semi-annual awards ceremony has presented 368 scholarships, funding $487,343 for tuition and books.

A former nine-time scholarship recipient, Erin Gradel, a radiologic technologist graduate from Pima Medical Institute, concluded the program.

“I was a scholarship recipient throughout my college days,” said Gradel, an 11-year dining services employee of Freedom Plaza. “I saved $12,000 from foundation scholarships. Thank you to all of the residents who donate to the scholarship awards. I see myself as having 300 grandparents. My No. 1goal is to make each of you proud.”

To learn more about the Plaza del Rio Foundation and William T. and Laura Lou Riggs Memorial Scholarship Fund, call 623-876-2416.

The Freedom Plaza Retirement Campus, located at 13373 Plaza del Rio Blvd., Peoria, features 345 entryfee independent living apartments, 65 assisted living apartments at The Inn, 20 apartments with Alzheimer’s or dementia care at Clare Bridge Place, plus skilled nursing and rehabilitation services at two care centers, Plaza del Rio Care Center and Freedom Plaza Care Center. Visit brookdale.com for details.

Music at Trinity reveals fall/ winter schedule

The fall/winter season for Music at Trinity features a new chamber music quartet in residence, Christmastide concerts and the third annual Helen Peel Memorial Organ Concert.

Most concerts take place at Trinity Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt St., in downtown Phoenix. For more information, visit http:// trinitymusicaz.org.

Urban Nocturnes, Trinity Cathedral’s Artist in Residence group, debuts at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. Performing works by W.A. Mozart, Max Reger, Alessandro Rolla and Malcolm Arnold, the chamber quartet includes Christopher McKay (viola) Karen Sinclair (violin) Melita Hunsinger (cello) and Viviana Cumplido Wilson (flute), all musicians with the Phoenix Symphony. Tickets are $10.

The Trinity Cathedral Choir presents its fourth annual Messiah sing-along at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27. The choir invites music lovers to “come bring your score and help make up the chorus for our annual trek through

Handel’s Messiah Part I.” Tickets are $10.

Lessons and Carols, also performed by the Cathedral Choir, will celebrate the arrival of Christmastide at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. This service, first designed for use in King’s College, Cambridge, will include the music of Paul Edwards, David Briggs, William Mathias, John Rutter and Philip Ledger. Paula Provo, principal harpist for the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, performs a harp prelude. Free to the public.

Also to celebrate the holidays, the Cathedral Choir will perform as part of “Holidays at the Heard” at 11:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave Free to the public.

The Helen Peel Memorial Organ Concert with Kimberly Marshall is 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22. This is the third installment of the Music at Trinity annual organ concert. Marshall will perform works of César Franck and Johannes Brahms. Marshall is an organ scholar and holder of the Patricia and Leonard Goldman Endowed Professorship in Organ at Arizona State University. Free to the public.

The Cathedral Choir performs Choral Evensong for the Last Sunday of Epiphany at 4 p.m. Feb. 26. This evensong features the Pieces and Responses of Barry Smith, the Evening Service in G of Francis Jackson and Will Todd’s “The Call of Wisdom.” For information or to purchase tickets, visit the Music at Trinity website: trinitymusicaz.org or call Trinity Cathedral at 602-252-7126.

Peoria’s mayor from 1985 to 1991, Ron Travers, and his wife Virginia Travers, meet with “Elvis Presley” (Bret Kaiser). The couple lives in The Forum at Desert Harbor

MARLA LEVINE

MARLA LEVINE

Attention Retirees & Baby Boomers

Ask Gabby Gayle

Advice for the over-50 crowd

By Gayle M. Lagman-Creswick

Dear Gabby Gayle: I don’t know how I can help “Hurting Mom” at this point in her life. (The recalled that the mother never said a kind word to her daughter.) I wish I could. My life has been wonderful by having two loving, caring and helping children. One thing I know for certain, however, is my wife and I really worked at being good parents while they were growing up. As a result, they have both been loving, caring and very helpful to us (I am not criticizing “Hurting Mom”). My wonderful wife passed away in 2015 after several years of illness. My daughter and son-in-law sold their beautiful home in California and moved to Prescott Valley to be closer to us. They came to our house every week and stayed for three days to help me care for my wife. Our son, who lives in California, visited us numerous times. In spite of his many obligations to his family and work. He helped me complete many chores that I had neglected during my caregiving years. I thank God for the blessings of having such a wonderful wife and children. Signed, RDG

children and grandchildren are very close. Too many kids nowadays are waiters. They cannot wait to get what you have. Thank you for your time. Signed, SG

Dear SG: And yet another slant on the subject! Thank you, GG

Dear RDG: Thank you for writing such a heartfelt letter. I, too, have been blessed with loving children and loving daughters-in-law. I do realize that some parents have neurotic or even psychotic problems, or health problems which cause unwanted behaviors toward their children. And some kids develop mental illness, drug problems, etc. which cause them not to honor their fathers or mothers. I was not aware, however, that this was such a problem. I have received many letters on this subject—from both parents and adult children. We who do not have this challenge are certainly blessed. Thanks again for writing. —GG

DearGabby Gayle: Read your column about “Hurting Mom”. It has nothing to do with anything except rudeness and disrespect. I am 73, and believe me, I would not tolerate it the first time. It is not a case of three times and you’re out, and believe me, my

Dear Gabby Gayle: (This letter is referring to the grandmother who said she accepted her granddaughter was gay but did not want to attend their wedding.) This dilemma is not new. In marriages outside the faith, whether Catholic, Jewish, one Protestant faith into another faith, some families choose not to attend the ceremony. My stepson is gay. My husband and I strongly believe this goes against Biblical teaching and have told our son how we would handle his lifestyle. We have treated him as all our other children, but we recognize his partner as friend only. We have even liked some of his male friends, hosted them at restaurants, entertained them in our home, shared holiday gatherings, etc. We consider it unloving and against Christian teaching to be unkind in any way toward these men, but we also don’t look at them as prospective future family. Grandma needs to decide what her faith, values and comfort level are regarding the wedding. She then should express her feelings honestly to daughter and granddaughter. If they can’t accept grandma’s feelings, then they are the intolerant ones. Signed, SB

Dear

SB: I do understand and respect a person’s religious beliefs. However, in my world we have three sets of gays and one transgender. I love them all and accept them as family. We call it unconditional love. You say you treat your son as your other children. Do you accept your other children’s partners as family? Just asking. Thank you for your views on the subject! —GG

If you have a question for Gabby Gayle, please send it to: “Ask Gabby Gayle” in care of this newspaper, or email it to lagmancreswick@cox.net

Country Dance, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunland Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $7, (480) 8329003. Music by Angie Senger and Friends.

Sun City Christian Women’s Club Brunch, 9 a.m., Sun City Country Club, 9433 N. 107th Ave., Sun City, $15, reservations required by Nov. 9, (623) 341-6019, mwholick@gmail.com. Mary Lou Powell from Golden, Colo., is the guest speaker and the morning will also feature a trunk showing of thrift-store fashions.

November 24 Saturday

Sun Lakes Arts and Crafts Association Fall Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 N. Sun Lakes Blvd., Chandler, free, (602) 882-3651, (480) 982-7744.

November 25 Sunday

The Groves The Oaks

November 17 Saturday

Fleming’s Grilling Seminar—Holiday Poultry, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.., Fleming’s Peoria, 9712 W. Northern Ave., Peoria, $25, (623) 772-9463, www. flemingssteakhouse.com. Fleming’s Chef Partner Jeff Fearing will show guests how to grill turkey, cook beer can chicken and barbeque duck plus offer tips to make sure your bird is juicy and delicious.

The Big White Tent, Golf Resort, 6100 S. Kings Ranch Rd., Gold Canyon, free, (480) 982-5730, www.artistsofthesuperstitions.com. Thirty artists show/sell fine art.

November 26 Monday

Merrill Gardens

Winter Risotto Workshop, 7122 E. Greenway Pkwy., Suite 100, Scottsdale, $69, www.surlatable.com.

November 27 Tuesday

Myron Sommerfeld and His Music, 7 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $8, (480) 357-1148.

November 18 Sunday

Un Corazon Flamenco, 5 p.m., El Encanto, 6248 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, charge for meals, (480) 488-1752.

November 19 Monday

091316c_AllArizona_Lovin_Life_50_Enjoy_A.indd 1

Ina Garten’s Foolproof Thanksgiving, 6:30

The Swinging Resorters Big Swing Band, Sunland Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $5, (480) 832-9003.

November 28 Wednesday

“Dralion,” Nov. 28, thru Dec. 2, US Airways Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, $32 to $80, www.cirquedusoleil. com/dralion, (800) 745-3000.

million people worldwide since the show premiered in 1999, “Dralion” is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus traditions and the avant-garde style of Cirque du Soleil.

“Dealing with Emotions and Stress

• Air conditioned units • Laundry facilities • Free Parking • Swimming pool

• Close to valley wide transportation • Conveniently located to

10 a.m. to 11 a.m., SCAN Connections Resource Center, 1313 E. Osborn Rd., Suite 150, Phoenix, free but reservations required, (602) 778-3420.

November 29 Thursday

Basil Gourmetware and Cooking School, 10749 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 101, Scottsdale, $50, (480) 5965628, www.sweetbasilgourmet.com. Crispy Popovers with strawberry butter; Cast Iron Skillet Beer Bread; Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Muffins; Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze; Corn and Bacon Spoon Bread with tomatoes; California Date Nut Spiced Muffins; and Homemade Vanilla Bean Tortillas rolled with

November 30 Friday

7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunland Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $7, (480) 832-

• 24 hr. emergency maintenance • Onsite security

Send event information to: info@lovinlifeafter50.com

Area Agency on Aging will Help You Find Your Best Medicare Options

Open Enrollment occurs from October 15 to December 7 of every year. If you enroll in a plan during Open Enrollment, your coverage starts January 1. In most cases, Open Enrollment is the only time you can pick a new Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan.

Medicare Annual Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) is the time of year when people with Medicare can make changes to their coverage options. They can make as many changes as they need but the last change they make on or before December 7 will take e ect on January 1, 2017. Medicare bene ciaries need to be aware of plan changes taking place in 2017, to assess their options and make the best informed decision. The Area Agency on Aging’s Counselors o er independent, unbiased, and free-of-charge assistance to Medicare and Medicaid bene ciaries.

Review your current Medicare health and drug coverage.

Ÿ If you have Original Medicare, take a look at the 2017 Medicare & You handbook to know your Medicare costs and bene ts for the upcoming year. If you are not satis ed with your original Medicare coverage, you may be able to add a Medigap policy or switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Changes made to your coverage will take e ect January 1.

Ÿ If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, you should receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and/or Evidence of Coverage (EOC) from your plan. Review these notices for any changes in the plan’s costs, bene ts, and/or rules for the upcoming year. If you are dissatis ed

with any upcoming changes, you can make changes to your coverage during Open Enrollment. Changes made to your coverage will take e ect January 1.

If you have Medicare Advantage, you can also switch to Original Medicare. To get Medicare drug coverage, you must join a stand-alone Part D plan at this time.

Ÿ Even if you are satis ed with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should check to see if there is another plan in your area that will o er you better health and/or drug coverage at a more a ordable price. Research shows that people with Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) could lower their costs by shopping among plans.

The Area Agency on Aging offers independent, unbiased, and free-of-charge assistance to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Agency on Aging can help.

Ÿ If you want to join a stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP), call the Area Agency on Aging at 602-264-HELP (4357) or use the Plan Finder tool on www.medicare.gov. The Plan Finder tool compares plans based on the drugs you need, the pharmacy you visit, and your drug costs.

Ÿ If you want to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, call the Area Agency on Aging at 602-264-HELP (4357) to find out what plans are in your area. When you receive the list of plans, check the plans’ websites to see which best fits your needs.

Tried-and-True Advice for People with Medicare

If there’s one mantra for the open enrollment season, it’s “review your options.” Every year, the Medicare Rights Center advises people with Medicare to carefully consider how they get their Medicare bene ts; most people are allowed to make a change only during Fall Open Enrollment. Here is some tried-and-true advice we o er bene ciaries depending on their Medicare coverage:

† If you have Original Medicare and a supplemental plan (often called a Medigap) and are happy with your coverage, you do not need to make a change.

† If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should review all of your coverage options even if you are happy with your current coverage , because plans change their costs and bene ts every year.

† Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), since many plans make changes every year, and your current plan may not be your best choice for 2017. An Area Agency on Aging Counselor can help you review all of your options.

† If you decide to enroll in a new plan, call the Area Agency on Aging at 602-264-HELP (4357) for no-cost help with your enrollment.

Time to review your Medicare coverage

By Cate Kortzeborn

Sometimein late October, I’ll host the 12th annual Friends of Elaine Kortzeborn Medicare Open Enrollment Party.

Every year since 2005, I’ve helped a dozen or so my mom’s buddies review their Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance and make sure it still works for them.

At first, I ran into some resistance. Mom’s friends didn’t want to bother. They had coverage and didn’t see why they needed to keep checking their drug plans. After a couple of years, though, that attitude disappeared.

We kept finding that, every year, their health needs changed and so did the list of drugs covered by their plans. Shopping among the numerous plans and choosing the right one could mean saving hundreds of dollars a year.

Now, everyone’s on board to make sure they have coverage that’s right for them.

All this is just my way of reminding you that Medicare’s annual open enrollment season begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. This is the time every year when you can sign up for a

new Medicare drug or health plan, or switch the one you have now.

Any new coverage you select will take effect Jan. 1, 2017.

In addition to Part D drug plans, open enrollment applies to Medicare Advantage health plans, which are essentially managed care plans run by private insurers approved by Medicare.

If you have Original (traditional) Medicare and you’re satisfied with it, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment.

If you have a Medicare Advantage health plan or Part D drug plan, keep in mind that these plans can make changes each year, including what they cover, how much they charge for monthly premiums and deductibles, and which doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are in their networks.

Always review the materials your health or drug plan sends you, like the “Evidence of Coverage” and “Annual Notice of Change.” Make sure your plan still meets what you anticipate will be your health needs for next year. If you’re satisfied with your current plan, and your insurer is still offering

it in 2017, you don’t need to make any changes.

Here are resources to help you compare your current coverage with new plan offerings for 2017. You can:

Visit medicare.gov to review drug and health plans, including costs, available in your area and enroll in a new plan if you decide to. This information will be live on or around Oct. 1 (and before that on cms.gov.) Medicare rates the plans on a scale of one to five stars. Open enrollment information also is available in Spanish.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227) for around-the-clock assistance to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Counseling is available in a variety of languages.

Review the Medicare & You handbook. This handbook is mailed to the homes of people with Medicare each fall and it’s also online at: medicare. gov/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf

Get free, unbiased, one-on-one counseling from your local State Health In-

surance Assistance Program (SHIP). Local SHIP contact information can be found: at medicare.gov/contacts/ organization-search-criteria.aspx or; on the back of the Medicare & You handbook or; by calling Medicare (at the 1-800 number above).

People with Medicare who have limited income and resources may qualify for Extra Help to pay for their Part D drug plans. There’s no cost or obligation to apply for Extra Help, and it can save you thousands of dollars each year.

Medicare beneficiaries, family members, or caregivers can apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp or call Social Security at 1-800772-1213 to find out more. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.

Cate Kortzeborn is Medicare’s acting 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).

HMOs which Assume Responsibility for Medicare Coverage

Must have Part A and Part B of Medicare, Live in the service area, must reside in a long-term care community or plan approved location and not have ESRD.

pre-exiSting health ConditionS Not available for patients with end-stage renal (kidney) disease and receiving dialysis. Must not have ESRD Not available for patients with end-stage renal (kidney)disease.

CoStS on entry to hoSpital

oF Coverage For any one beneFit

Skilled nurSing FaCility

mediCal Coverage

per day for days 1-7 in plan hospital; same cost sharing for non-plan hospital with prior authorization (different cost sharing applies to inpatient mental health).

days in calendar year.

$0 per day for days 1-10 in plan skilled nursing facility; $20 per day for days 11-20; $120 per day 21-100 in plan SNF; same cost sharing for non plan skilled nursing facility with prior authorization. No prior hospital stay required.

For part b Covered in full after applicable copayments/coinsurance.

outpatient Care

Physician care for hospital or office services, surgery, anesthesia, X-ray, laboratory, injections, splints, casts, dressings, physical and speech therapy, radiology, ambulance, prosthetics, etc.

You pay $0 for each primary care physician office visit; $30 for each visit to most specialists. You pay $5 - $300 for x-ray/ultrasound; You pay $30 for each visit for occupational, speech, physical therapy or $15 for cardiac and pulmonary rehab (Medicare coverage limits apply). You pay $260 for each outpatient surgery. You pay $200 for each ground ambulance transport. You pay 20% coinsurance for durable medical equipment and prosthetics.

Days 1-100 $0 Copay

$0 Copay - Routine Nurse Practitioner Visits, $0 Copay - PCP; $0 Copay for Specialist; Laboratory-$0 Copay; Physical Therapy- $0 Copay X-Ray-$0 copay; $0 Copay Routine Podiatry every three months; $195 Copay - Ambulance; $0 Copay - DME if $499 or Less

Unlimited days for inpatient hospital. 100 days per benefit period for SNF. 190 lifetime days for inpatient mental health.

$0 per day for days 1-20. You pay $150 per day for days 21-100. There is a limit of 100 days for each benefit period.

Members must continue

You pay $0 for preventive care; $0 copay for each visit to your primary care physician, $25 for specialist visit; $20 for x-rays, $20 for lab services; $275 copay for ambulance; $150 for outpatient surgery hospital/ $100 Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC). outpatient

$2 for a 30-day supply of preferred generic, $10 for non-preferred generic, $45 for preferred brand and $95 for non-preferred brand drugs at retail preferred-pharmacies; 33% for specialty drugs.

$3,700 initial coverage limit. Catastrophic coverage with $4,950 spent.

1-6 : $0/$7.50/$40/$85/33%/$0 Network Pharmacy

A DOCTOR’S OFFICE FOR ADULTS 65+ TIME FOR BETTER CARE.

Iora Primary Care is not your usual doctor’s o ce. It is a team of exceptional caregivers, including some of the area’s best physicians, dedicated to your health and happiness. We listen to you, take all the time you need, coordinate with specialists and go out of our way to provide the best possible care. So it’s no surprise Iora held a graduation ceremony for Robert, who took classes to manage his diabetes. Now he’s traded in his diabetes medications for a healthy diet and exercise. Welcoming new patients!

HMOs which Assume Responsibility for Medicare Coverage

Other limitations may apply for other benefits.

Hospital - unlimited number of authorized, medically necessary days. Other limitations may apply for other benefits

Hospital - unlimited number of authorized, medically necessary days. Other limitations may apply for other benefits

Skilled nurSing FaCility

mediCal Coverage For part b Members must continue to pay Part B premium to Medicare Covered in full after applicable copayments/coinsurance. Covered in full after applicable copayments/coinsurance. outpatient Care

Physician care for hospital or office services, surgery, anesthesia, X-ray,

$699 Flyte 700 -$999 Flyte 900 MD Live Telemedicine $10 per encounter - XRAY $0-$100

and 2 -

Tiers 3,4 and 5 only

Plan 1: $0 Preventative Screenings. $0 copay for PCP and $45 for specialist. $75 for emergency care, waived if admitted, and 20 % for DME. $250 for ambulance - air and land. Outpatient hospital and outpatient surgery is 20%. Lab copay $10. Xrays $9. Copays and coinsurance count toward the out of pocket max of $5,500.

Plan 2: $0 Preventative Screenings. $0 copay for PCP and $25 for specialist. $75 for emergency care, waived if admitted, and 20 % for DME. $150 for ambulance - air and land. Outpatient hospital and outpatient surgery is $155. Lab copay $10. Xrays $8.Copays and coinsurance count toward the out of pocket max of $3,500.

Plan 1: Tier 1 is $2 copay, Tier 2 is $8, Tier 3 is $45, Tier 4 $95, and Tier 5 is 29 % to the initial coverage limit of $3700 . No coverage after $3700 until out of pocket costs equal to $4950. Then 5% or $3.30 for Generic and Preferred Brand, All other 5% or $8.25. Plan 2: Tier 1 is $2 copay, Tier 2 is $8, Tier 3 is $45, Tier 4 $95, and Tier 5 is 33 % to the initial coverage limit of $3700 . No coverage after $3700 until out of pocket costs equal to $4950. Then 5% or $3.30 for Generic and Preferred Brand, All other 5% or $8.25.

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Hula hooping a fun but intense way to lose weight

Ann Merrill has been in the fitness field for 42 years. Medicine ball, kettlebell, step aerobics, Pilates and classic aerobics. She’s done them all. But there’s one form of exercise that continually gets her heart rate and calorie count up: hula hooping.

“Hula hoop is my most intense class,” said Merrill, who leads a group at PebbleCreek in Goodyear. “It really gets me going. We leave with a sweat.”

Merrill, 59, has been hula hooping since May 2015, when she visited with a vendor at a Scottsdale fitness fest. She bought the hoop, returned home and prepared for a certification class the following month through FXP Fitness Hula Hoop System.

This hula-hoop program doesn’t use the toy that children and adults have used since Arthur K. “Spud” Melin and Richard Knerr invented it in the 1950s. Merrill and others use equipment that is sized and weighted to help users shed pounds, lose inches from their waistline and sculpt their body.

“I took my eight-hour class and learned all the principles of hula hooping,” Merrill said. “I came back to PebbleCreek where I work full time as a fitness director and started working with the ladies. That was a year ago.”

No fad

According to Mayo Clinic’s website, hula hooping isn’t just a fad. It can be beneficial for folks who swivel with a hoop that is bigger and heavier than traditional pieces, at least 10 minutes at a time.

FXP Fitness’ Kat Suwalski agreed.

“It really targets those muscles groups,” said Suwalski, the company’s director of education.

Her hoops sell for $44.95 to $189.95 at fxpfitness.com/

“We found success in our approach with our product, especially with the Baby Boomer demographic. We really back our promise of delivering a fun workout. We span every age group, but a good chunk of the people who use our hoops are Baby Boomers. It makes them feel young again, and useful.”

FXP Fitness managing partner

Remington Hotchkis added that hula hooping offers a full-body workout.

“It leverages Pilates, barre and yoga, as well as interval training,” he said.

“They’re weighted at two pounds and they break down into six pieces. They are used specifically for fitness and built with structural integrity. They have greater flexibility and strength. It has to stand up to Pilates and barre. The diameter is a little bit bigger, too.”

Vision screenings are performed annually.

Dental check-ups occur every six months.

What about HEARING?

Adults 55 years of age and older should have their hearing checked on an annual basis.

About 20 percent of adults in the United States — an estimated 48 million — report some degree of hearing loss. How many more haven’t reported any loss or don’t know what they can’t hear?

We’re here to provide diagnostics and hearing health treatment for all patients especially those age 55 and older.

At left, Ann Merrill finds hula hooping challenging. Above, Linda Long wasn’t a fan of hula hooping as a child, but now she loves working out with it.

Medicare Reminders for Arizona’s Seniors

Things to keep in mind for Medicare open enrollment

By Tim Brousseau Product Manager, Government Programs Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has received a great deal of attention over the past few months. With this emphasis on the ACA, seniors may be questioning if any of the recent changes impact their Medicare plans. The good news, and the answer is, “no.”

To put it simply, you don’t need to do anything differently. You will sign up at the same time and in the same way as previous years. While Medicare open enrollment isn’t changing there are still a few fundamentals to keep in mind when enrolling or switching plans for 2017.

1 5

2 3 4 5

Open Enrollment Runs Oct. 15 Through Dec. 7

This should not be confused with ACA “open enrollment,” which starts November 1.

Advice is Available

There’s help available to select the right plan for you. Arizona boasts a large, knowledgeable broker community. Some will visit your home and others will hold local seminars.

Most Individuals Become Eligible Around Age 65

Most people are eligible to enroll when they turn 65. Eligible seniors can actually enroll three months before the month of their 65th birthday, the month of their 65th birthday and three months after that same birthday. Medicare has a lot of different eligibility requirements that can found at www.Medicare.gov

Plan Information is Online in Many Places

To find out more about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s Medicare solutions visit us online at www.azblue.com/seniors or call 1-888-288-0019 (toll-free) or 711 (TTY) daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Learn more about Medicare in general by visiting www.Medicare.gov.

New Enrollees Need to Be Aware of Plan Differences

There are many options when it comes to Medicare. If you’re switching from an employer plan to a Medicare plan, be aware there can be significant differences between the two plan types. For example, your doctor may no longer be part of the network or you may need prior authorization for some services you didn’t previously. Here are other considerations as you switch plans.

• What are the costs associated with the plan? Those are deductibles, premiums, copays and out-of-pocket.

• Is your doctor in the plan’s network?

• Will your prescription drugs be covered and are there limits?

• What are the plan’s customer satisfaction scores?

• Will you have access to wellness programs or fitness discounts?

• What medical services are most important to you and are they covered?

Blue MedicareRxSM (PDP) is a Prescription Drug Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue MedicareRx depends on contract renewal. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. ATTENTION: If you speak another language, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 480-566-2868 (TTY: 711). ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 480-566-2868 (TTY: 711). D77 baa ak0 n7n7zin: D77 saad bee y1n7[ti’go Diné Bizaad, saad bee 1k1’1n7da’1wo’d66’, t’11 jiik’eh, 47 n1 h0l=, koj8’ h0d77lnih 480-566-2868 (TTY: 711). 278756-16

S6506_091516_B01 CMS Accepted 09/19/2016

FEARLESS IS DISCOVERING SOMETHING NEW

Learn about our Medicare plans at a FREE seminar.

BCBSAZ MEDICARE SERVICE CENTER-SUN CITY

14805 N. Del Webb Blvd. Sun City, AZ 85351

9:30 a.m. – 10/7, 10/12, 10/15, 10/19, 10/21, 10/26, 10/29

1:30 p.m. – 10/10, 10/17

DENNY’S

5161 W. Thunderbird Rd. Glendale, AZ 85306

10:00 a.m. – 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26

2:00 p.m. – 10/17, 10/20, 10/24

COCO’S BAKERY

2026 N. 7th St. Phoenix, AZ 85006

10:30 a.m. – 10/17

DENNY’S

3456 W. Bethany Home Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85017

2:00 p.m. – 10/13

JERRY’S

2323 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016

10:30 a.m. – 10/18

1:30 p.m. – 10/25

for attending while supplies last.*

OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS

For times and reservations, call 1-844-608-8830, TTY: 711 Daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. azblue.com/seniorseminars

*Free gift without obligation. Limit one per attendee while supplies last. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage (BCBSAZ Advantage) Medicare Advantage plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) Medicare Supplement and BCBSAZ Medicare Part D plans will be discussed. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-844-608-8830, TTY 711, daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. By registering for this seminar, a sales representative may contact you. A sales person will be present with information and applications. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage (HMO) is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage depends on contract renewal. Blue MedicareRxSM (PDP) is a Prescription Drug Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue MedicareRx depends on contract renewal. BCBSAZ and BCBSAZ Advantage comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. ATTENTION: If you speak another language, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 480-566-2868 (TTY: 711). ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 480-566-2868 (TTY: 711). D77 baa ak0 n7n7zin: D77 saad bee y1n7[ti’go Diné Bizaad, saad bee 1k1’1n7da’1wo’d66’, t’11 jiik’eh, 47 n1 h0l=, koj8’ h0d77lnih 480-566-2868 (TTY: 711)

S6506_081415_B02 CMS Accepted 08/26/2015 H0302_557_2016 CMS Accepted 08/26/2015

Straight... from page 34

Hula hooping is especially important for women older than 50, according to Merrill, who formerly was fitness director for the Village of Oak Creek, near Sedona.

“Hula hoops strengthen the core, which we all need at menopause in our

50s,” she says. Hula hooping’s results are similar to other aerobic activities, such as dancing—including salsa, hula, belly and swing dancing, the Mayo Clinic reports. An average woman can burn about 165 calories in 30 minutes of

ADVERTORIAL

Lock-In Great Benefits With LOW Interest Rates And Lockdown A More Liberating Retirement With A New Reverse Mortgage From Sun American Mortgage Company

Sun American Mortgage Company established their role in Arizona over 25 years ago, educating and helping people enhance their retirement lifestyle with a Reverse Mortgage. In fact, Terry Turk, President of Sun American Mortgage Company, wrote the first Reverse Mortgage in Arizona in 1989.

With current interest rates at an all time low, this is the absolute best time to consider a Reverse Mortgage. Most homeowners over the age of 62, with equity in their home, are eligible for a Reverse Mortgage. It is federally insured and is now being utilized by financial planners all over as a smart planning tool.

As an Independent Mortgage Banking Firm, Sun American handles ALL processing, underwriting, and funding in-house. This allows the company to alleviate much of the stress, hassle, time, and

anxiety often associated with the Reverse Mortgage process.

Sun American Mortgage Company has a 98% Satisfaction Rating and has been accredited with an A+ Ranking Status by the Better Business Bureau.

Satisfied Sun American clients, Don and Barbara, in Gilbert use their Reverse Mortgage to pay for emergencies and unplanned expenses. “It’s so nice to be able to use the tax-free funds from our reverse mortgage to pay for unexpected car repairs, and help our children with their down payment on a new home without having to pull our money out of the market.”

Sun American’s mortgage experts, licensed CPAs, and financial planners are eager to help people get the most out of their retirement. When asked why they continue to do Reverse Mortgages, Terry

hula hooping, and an average man can burn about 200 calories in 30 minutes of hula hooping.

“I have approximately 25 students,” Merrill said. “I keep asking them why they’re coming back. They tell me it’s because I make it fun. It burns a lot of calories, too. They keep coming back. I can’t believe it.”

One of Merrill’s students, Pat Biancardi, agreed that her teacher likes to mix it up.

“She varies the activity all the time,” said the 65-year-old Biancardi, who works out six days a week. “She’s super creative. She’ll make us pretend we’re playing the drums, or reaching for the sky, hopping from foot to foot. She maintains the novelty of it.”

Linda Long of PebbleCreek wasn’t even a fan of the hula hoop, when she stumbled upon the class.

“I tried it as a child a little bit and I wasn’t all that impressed with it,” she said. “We started out with about six of us and we dropped the hoop all the time.

“Now I really like it because, simply, I burned 500 calories an hour. It makes

me concentrate on my core. But she breaks it up so it’s not the same thing all the time. It was funny once. We had to do the hula hoop and walk. You could tell the newbies because we looked like zombies.”

Donna Hoshide, who lives in Quail Creek south of Tucson, began hula hooping just before she was to have surgery on her feet.

“I’m very active,” said Hoshide, a 57-year-old retired federal lawenforcement officer. “Just sitting around recovering would drive me nuts.”

Hoshide, who was certified by Hoopnotica in 2014, said her hulahoop workouts intrigued her Quail Creek neighbors. So she and the curious—most of whom are pickleball players—work out several times a week.

“When I started, my goal was to teach people how to hoop safely,” she said. “A lot of hoopers hadn’t hooped since they were little. Our bodies were built differently back then.

simply stated “We do this because a Reverse Mortgage can really make a significantly positive difference in our clients’ retirements, and in their lives! The security and peace of mind people gain when a Reverse Mortgage is done correctly is immense, and it will help them sleep at night.”

“There is a right way and a wrong way to hoop. When people are just following the hoop with their entire body, eventually they throw out their backs. I teach hoopers how to hoop safely and all the fun stuff will follow.”

Hoshide explained that it’s good for mental disposition, as well. It makes for a great social event, as well as a solo workout.

“I often get the urge to hoop, so I go across the street to the park, barefoot, turn on my iPod and I’m in my own world,” she said.

Like Merrill, she is incorporating other exercises with the hula hoop.

“I’m just now learning different country line-dance moves,” she said.

“I’d like to integrate the hooping with the moves. I have a couple of things going on right now. Hooping can get a little stale if you keep doing the same thing.”

Hula hooping, she added, helps with her pickleball play, in terms of stretching.

“You’re asking your body to do things it doesn’t normally do,” she says.

“I’m competing every month through February. A lot of the hoopers are pickleball players. Pickleball players, they like challenges and hooping is challenging.”

For more information about Hoshide’s group, which will resume in January, email donnaiko@aol.com.

K.T. Tanner concentrates as she works out with her hula hoop at PebbleCreek.

Pat Biancardi works out six days a week, but says her hardest exercise is with the hula hoop.

Diana Gregory Outreach Services honors seniors during luncheon

The Diana Gregory Outreach Services Foundation (DGOSF) was celebrated to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of senior achievers in the greater Phoenix community at its fifth annual senior awards luncheon on Sept. 30.

This year’s honorees include historic trailblazers who still serve and inspire residents of all ages in the Valley.

“Senior citizens, the very torchbearers of our history and societal culture, deserve to be recognized for their contributions and crucial roles in the development of the communities we call home today,” said Anna Maria Maldonado, director of sales and marketing, Care1st Health Plan of Arizona Inc.

corporate America and emulates the culture at Blue Cross Blue Shields, which focuses on improving quality of life.

Dr. Leland Fairbanks received the Community Health Award. Fairbanks has worked collaboratively with others achieving smoke-free hospitals, workplaces and public places— worldwide.

“Their lives are testimony to the fact that all of us, through collaboration, can come together to help build stronger communities today and for the future.”

Alfredo Gutierrez, author, immigration activist, former state senator and president of the Governing Board of Maricopa Community Colleges, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Honorable Cecil Patterson earned the Dick Gregory Humanitarian Award. Patterson, a retired judge from the Arizona Court of Appeals, has shared his time, talents and mentoring skill with countless community organizations, boards and committees. Sue Glawe, vice president of community relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield, was honored with the Corporate Philanthropy Award. She is a stellar model of seniors serving in

Elizabeth White, an entrepreneur of one of Arizona’s longestrunning restaurants, Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café, will receive the Living Legacy Award. Due to her legacy, three restaurants have been opened and are owned by her grandson under the name of Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles and there are three franchises.

Elaine Ryan, vice president, Government Affairs State Advocacy and Strategy Integration at AARP, was awarded the Community Collaboration Award as well as be the guest speaker, discussing caregivers and resources available by AARP.

The luncheon also recognized centenarians and seniors committed to transforming communities through service.

DGOSF is determined to fulfill its mission to improve the lives of seniors in the Valley. All proceeds from the luncheon will support outreach services for seniors and will provide more than 2,000 seniors with bags of fresh fruits and vegetables during the holidays.

The event was held at the Camby Hotel, 2401 E. Camelback Rd. in Phoenix. Susan Casper, host of ABC15’s “Sonoran Living Live,” was the emcee.

Diana Gregory

High Quality Rehabilitative Services Yields Positive Outcomes Determination Leads to Endless Possibilities

It’s a well documented fact that patients who have the opportunity to participate in rehabilitation after an injury or illness show improved functional outcomes over those who do not. Rehabilitation, in the hospital setting, provides the maximum potential for recovery.

Maggie’s Story

“Dr. Akinbiyi oversees our rehabilitation programs and technologies. His expertise in physical medicine and rehabilitation allows our hospital to offer the latest advancements in rehabilitative care,” said CEO Larry Niemann. “His role is crucial to providing high-quality services to our community.”

The Patient Experience At Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital

In an acute rehabilitation hospital, like Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, a full continuum of rehabilitative programs and services is offered for individuals who have suffered a major accident or illness, including trauma, stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, arthritis, chronic pain, neuromuscular, and pulmonary diseases.

Patient care is led by a medical director who supervises the hospital’s multidisciplinary team to provide a coordinated program of care including goal setting, treatment plans, family education and discharge planning.

Demonstrating Results

When Maggie DeSanti, 79, experienced a stroke, she was left feeling anxious and confused. She was in an acute care hospital for four days before being transferred to HealthSouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital. She was unable to walk, had severe balance issues and experienced difficulty swallowing, otherwise known as dysphagia.

At first, Maggie was apprehensive about rehabilitative therapy, but explains that the staff was “absolutely caring” when she arrived.

Once Maggie was stabilized, her HealthSouth team worked hard to get her back to living independently.

Each patient admitted to a HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital is evaluated using Functional Independence Measures (FIM™) to measure a patient’s functional ability in 18 separate areas. A collective FIM score is obtained upon admission and then again at discharge from the hospital. The scores help in setting goals during a patient’s stay and determining their ability to return home safely, as well as identifying the functional gain made during their stay. All FIM score data is reported to Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDS), a division of UB Foundation Activities, Inc. UDS represents a national standard for FIM score gains which Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital continues to exceed.

“With my physical and occupational therapists working together,” Maggie says. “I felt like I was really able to participate in my own recovery.”

“Our success depends on the quality of care provided to each and every patient,” said Dr. Hassan Akinbiyi, PMR, medical director at Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital. “We strive to help every patient maximize their potential and exceed their expectations. The expert team of physicians, nurses, therapists and hospital staff at Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital strives to be the rehabilitative provider of choice for metropolitan Phoenix by providing an exceptional patient experience.”

Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital met the rehabilitative needs of more than 1,400 members of the community in 2013. The higher level of care provided in an acute rehabilitation hospital allows for improved outcomes and return to independence in a shorter amount of time.

Maggie engaged in physical and occupational therapy at HealthSouth East Valley. She recalls how her therapists gave her “so much encouragement,” and helped her to understand her limitations. Maggie says these therapies were her “favorite parts of the day.”

Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital has earned certification in Stroke and Amputee rehabilitation by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ was awarded to the hospital for its compliance with the organization’s national standards for healthcare quality and safety in all three areas.

“The staff was so kind and understanding, even when I was discouraged,” Maggie says. Maggie played motivating games and puzzles as part of her treatment, and she also used VitalStim®, a device that helps patients with dysphagia, electrically stimulating the swallow function.

Local Rehabilitation Experts At Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital

Rehabilitation physicians, or physiatrists, have special expertise in rehabilitation medicine. They provide close medical management for each patient and coordinate the rehabilitation treatment plan. Physiatry is the medical specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation that focuses on improving functional outcomes for patients of all ages.

About Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital

When asked about her therapy team at HealthSouth, Maggie replies: “A-plus, number one!”

Maggie was at HealthSouth East Valley for two weeks before being discharged. She says her biggest challenge is walking again, but she is determined to reach her goal while in outpatient therapy.

In his role of medical director, Dr. Hassan Akinbiyi is a physiatrist that works with a team of skilled physicians and medical professionals to create a rehabilitation program tailored to fit each patient’s needs. Dr. Akinbiyi and the hospital’s physiatrists are trained to treat patients who have had a stroke, cardiac surgery, brain injury, amputation(s), complex medical problems, osteoporosis, back pain, and sports-related injuries along with many others.

Today, Maggie takes daily trips with her family and friends, including her son, who is a main source of support.

“I have never met such caring people before. My mobility has improved greatly due to my therapy,” Maggie says. “This is what patients need; more rehabilitation hospitals like HealthSouth.”

Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital is a 60-bed hospital that offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. These programs are designed to return patients to active and independent lives. Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital serves patients throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area and is located at 5652 E. Baseline Road in Mesa. To learn more about Healthsouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, call us at (480) 567-0350 or visit HealthSouthEastValley. com.

Jayson Harrison, left, owner of Cure All Plumbing, said he and his team pride themselves on offering outstanding plumbing services combined with top-notch customer service.

Cure All Plumbing offers immediate response times and 24/7 service

By Alison Stanton

About 15 years ago, Cure All Plumbing was meagerly founded in a home’s basement.

Since then, owner Jayson Harrison has helped grow the company to a one-stop shop that repairs and services everything to do with plumbing.

“The plumbing trade started out as just a way to earn my way through college. But I soon realized that it was something that I really enjoyed,” Harrison said.

From large and small jobs to residential and commercial clients, Harrison said Cure All Plumbing can do it all.

“The most common jobs include service, repair, replacement and warranty work for all brands of water heaters, disposals, toilets, water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, faucets and sprinklers,” he said.

“We perform reroutes, re-pipes, and slab leak repairs. We also specialize in drain cleaning, which includes camera and video documentation, jetting, and snaking. Our services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Too, Harrison said it’s not unusual for his team to end up going the extra

mile during their appointments.

“When our technicians are called to repair plumbing problems, many times you find them doing extra things like taking out the trash or helping bring in groceries,” he said.

“Also, our fully stocked trucks and uniformed technicians, provide a free written estimate to properly communicate what is needed to fix the issue the first time. Our per-job rates are fair and reasonable for the level of quality and professionalism of our services.”

All of these traits result in the company becoming the go-to plumbing professionals. In fact, repeat customers and referrals make up 93% of the company’s business, he added.

Harrison enjoys his work and interacting with his staff and customers.

“I love the constant challenges that the plumbing industry presents on a daily basis and the satisfaction of being the solution to someone’s problem,” he said.

Cure All Plumbing is located at 1835 E. Sixth St., Suite 23, in Tempe. For more information, call 480-895-5858 or visit cureallplumbing.com/home.

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING

Residents enjoy:

• Spacious new-home-like apartments with kitchenettes

• Three meals per day plus snacks

• Housekeeping & laundry service

• Emergency call system

• Comprehensive schedule of activities

• Social services coordinator

• On site dental clinic

Media Center with high speed internet access computers and a theater

Mini mart • On site hair care salon

• Staff on duty 24 hours a day

• Dietary laws observed • Medication Management

For more information or to schedule a tour, please call

443-8039

N. 36th Street • Phoenix, AZ 85018 Non-profit • Non-sectarian

Kivel Campus of Care is a constituent agency of the Jewish Community Association

• Located in the heart of Prescott on 16 lush acres

• Garden apartments available with walk-out patios

• Beautiful nature park

• Pet friendly walking paths and fenced in dog park area

• Underground parking available

• Restaurant style dining

• Voted “Best of the Best” for 12 years running - proven quality

• Independent living apartments with fully equipped kitchens and patios - choose from 9 different floor plans

• Assisted living apartments with professional and personal care

• Fitness Center/Barber & Beauty Shop/Transportation providedand much more!

Naturopathic News Ways to improve your blood pressure

By Crystal Jarvie

People with hypertension often need several medications to control blood pressure. But did you know that many lifestyle modifications can make a world of difference?

High blood pressure plays a contributing role in more than 15% of deaths in the United States, according to a Harvard study. Although it causes no symptoms, high blood pressure boosts the risks of leading killers such as heart attack and stroke, as well as aneurysms,

– Sponsored Content –

cognitive decline, and kidney failure. While medication can lower blood pressure, it may cause side effects such as leg cramps, dizziness and insomnia, just to name a few.

Fortunately, most people can bring down their blood pressure naturally without medication with home remedies for low blood pressure. First, one of the most important factors it to get to a healthy weight. I’ve listed tips and strategies below to help you get to an optimal weight which, while at the same time—will help you reduce the risk of heart disease and improve your blood pressure.

RETIRE LIKE YOU MEAN IT AT PROVINCE, A MERITAGE ACTIVE ADULT

COMMUNITY IN MARICOPA, AZ.

NEW HOMES FROM THE MID $100s.

These days, 55-plus can have many meanings. Whether it’s spending more time with loved ones, taking up new hobbies, spending time giving back or taking o on new adventures, this time is yours, and we say do it with all your might. Meritage Active Adult communities in southern Arizona are poised and ready to help, o ering brand new home designs from the mid $100s and new model homes available for touring.

Set within charming Maricopa, AZ, you’ll nd Province, a desert oasis encompassed by acres of crystal blue lakes and lush greenery. From the moment you enter this guard-gated community, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a newfound paradise.

If maintaining an active lifestyle is your top priority, you’ll nd an abundance of resort-style amenities to keep you going day in and day out, like a sparkling outdoor swimming pool and spa, indoor lap pool and spa, tness center and aerobics studio, pickleball and tennis courts, bocce courts, an 18-hole putting course and walking and biking trails. For the hobbyist, nd plenty of club and card rooms, a ceramics studio, billiards room and multi-purpose room with stage, dance oor and kitchen. Enjoy health and tness classes like Zumba, yoga, water volleyball, aqua-cize, line dancing and more. ere’s also a dedicated sta at the ready to ll your days with as much or as little activity as you’re looking for, from resident clubs and interest groups to social events planned year-round.

Maricopa o ers an idyllic setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, but close enough to enjoy its conveniences. A short drive into the Phoenix valley leads to major shopping and restaurants, sports and concert venues, theaters, Phoenix International Airport, top hospitals, and more. Within Maricopa, enjoy a host of champion-caliber golf courses, neighborhood shopping and dining, medical facili-

ties, brand new Copper Sky recreation center, a multi-tainment complex with state-of-the-art movie theater, restaurant and club, bowling center and arcade and Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort and Casino.

Province features three series of homes, from easy-maintenance attached living to expansive single-family homes. e Villas at Province, an enclave of duplex-style homes within Province, features new homes ranging from 1,321 to 1,725 sq. . and priced from the $160s. ese lockand-leave homes are perfect for anyone looking to spend more time seeking out their next new adventure instead of maintaining their home, with common area and front yard landscaping, plus exterior building maintenance included. eir just-right size o ers up to three bedrooms, private master suites, great rooms, two-car garages and covered back patios.

Seven brand new oorplans were recently introduced to Province within the Retreats and Estates series, o ering single-story homes from 1,690 to 2,553 sq. ., price from the $160s to the $260s. ese thoughtfully designed homes o er spacious master suites, open great rooms, beautiful kitchens and impressive optional features designed with the homebuyer in mind, like master retreats and dual master suites, casitas,

pet retreats with pet showers and doggie doors, multi-slide glass doors for indoor/outdoor entertaining, expansive covered back patios with outdoor kitchens, wine bars, areas for extra storage and golf cart garages.

Province and the Villas at Province are two of three Meritage Active Adult communities currently selling in Southern Arizona. Our 3rd community will nd you at Mission Royale in Casa Grande, o ering new homes from $180s, with resort-worthy amenities, thoughtfully interwoven throughout the Mission Royale golf course.

All Meritage Active Adult communities bene t from Meritage’s commitment to energy e ciency, o ering money-saving included features like spray-foam insulation, low-E vinyl-paned windows, 14-SEER air conditioning systems, ENERGY STAR® appliances, energy-e cient lighting, water-saving xtures, low VOC paint and carpet, dual- ush toilets and water-smart irrigation systems. Optional remote home management systems and solar power systems are also available.

Move-in ready and quick move-in homes are currently available at all Meritage Active Adult communities, allowing you to start enjoying your new lifestyle even sooner. For more information, visit www.meritagehomes/com/ activeadult or call us at 877-291-8747. Ask about our Explore and More guest pass, where you can discover the community like a resident for a day. Better yet, come visit us and see rsthand all that’s waiting for you in your next stage in life. Sales o ces and model homes are open daily at 9am, 7 day a week.

Go for power walks.

• Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline. Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Eat a healthy diet.

• Exercise regularly. Exercise helps the heart use oxygen more efficiently, so it doesn’t work as hard to pump blood. Go for power walks to get the oxygen flowing, and make sure to change your routine up every six weeks or so.

• Reduce your sodium. Reduce added salt. Do not eat packaged or processed products.

• Limit your alcohol intake. Try drinking more tea, flavored water.

• Glorious greens. Common options include bok choy, napa cabbage, kale, collards, watercress, mustard greens, broccoli rabe and dandelion.

• Learning to incorporate dark leafy greens into the diet is essential to establishing a healthy body and immune system. Greens help build your internal rainforest and strengthen the blood and respiratory system, including circulation, blood purification, improved liver gall bladder and kidney function.

• Incorporate potassium-rich produce to help achieve low blood pressure. Such as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, orange juice, potatoes, bananas, kidney beans, peas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon and dried fruits such as prunes and raisins.

• You want to eat monousaturated fats. They will raise good HDL and lower LDL. They are considered heart-healthy. Avocados, olives, olive oil, nuts, sunflower oil, seeds, halibut, sablefish, mackerel, vegetables high in oleic-acid.

• Eat polyunsaturated fats. Salmon, sardines,polyunsaturated fats mackerel, herring, trout, fresh tuna, flax seed, walnuts, flax seed oil, soybean oil.

• Raise good HDL and lower LDL. Omega fatty acids are considered anti-inflammatory.

• Breathe. Yoga and meditation decrease stress hormones, which elevate renin, a kidney enzyme that raises blood pressure. Try 5 minutes in the morning and at night.

• Inhale deeply and expand your belly. Exhale and release all of your tension.

Crystal Jarvie is certified integrative health coach for HealthStyles 4 You. For more information, visit healthstyles4you.com.

AChoices everyone should be prepared to make

Be informed about the choices available. How would you like to be remembered? Your funeral or cremation service should be personalized to reflect your wishes and should bring comfort to your family.

Prearranging gives you the opportunity to become informed about your options in an unpressured environment.

funeral or memorial service is an important part of the grieving process. Talk about it with your family and incorporate their wishes. The service provides an opportunity to express their grief, share memories, and to celebrate a life lived. Involving those most affected by your death can bring peace of mind and relief to those who will have to carry out your wishes. More importantly, knowing your wishes and carrying them out can bring great comfort to surviving family members and friends.

Lakeshore Mortuary

Funeral and Cremation Services

S.

1815 S. Dobson Road Mesa,

(480) 838-5639 www.LakeshoreMort.com

Today, 55-plus is whatever you make it. Here’s to making it your own. Kick back and relax with family and friends and your favorite activities. Or blaze new paths through community service and renewed interests. However you define retirement, we say, “go for it.” We’ll help you achieve it with affordable, energy-efficient homes in amenity-packed neighborhoods. Homes from the $160s to $270s.

Call us for your free VIP guest pass. Enjoy all our amenities, classes and clubs as if you lived here.

Shop for Angel Tree at Trilogy boutique

TNew model homes open for touring at Province and Mission Royale.

he Creative Designers Holiday Classic Boutique is set for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19, at Trilogy at Power Ranch, 4369 E. Village Pkwy., Gilbert. It will feature handmade items for the entire family, as well as the Corner Bake Shop for hungry shoppers. Angel Trees will be sold to benefit underprivileged children from Gilbert Public Schools and Higley Unified School District. For more information, call 480-219-1344.

Call the experienced professionals at Lakeshore Mortuary to assist with your planning needs.

Call the experienced professionals at Lakeshore Mortuary to assist with your planning needs.

‘The New Old Fashioned’

Straight No Chaser melds classics, contemporary hits

By Alan Sculley

Straight No Chaser plays Arizona twice in two months.

Straight No Chaser’s nonholiday albums have each had a readily apparent theme.

The a cappella group’s EPs, “Six Pack” (2008) and “Six Pack Vol. II” (2011), referred to each record having a half dozen songs. The 2010 release “With A Twist” referred to the a cappella group’s way of reinventing famous songs (and like the “Six Pack” EPs, the alcohol connotation of the Straight No Chaser name). The 2013 full-length, “Under The Influence,” was all about performing songs that illustrated the musical influences of the 10 vocalists—with the big bonus of having the stars who originated several of the songs, including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and Elton John, perform with the group on the recordings.

If You Go: Tucson

What: Straight No Chaser

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 17

But “The New Old Fashioned,” the title of latest studio album, may not seem to so directly suggest a theme. Singer Dave Roberts, though, said the thematic trend was very much at work again, as the title was inspired by a couple of songs on the album, as well as the group in a larger sense.

“There were a couple of mashups that were the theme of the album,” he said in a recent phone interview.

“So that’s where we got kind of the ‘New Old Fashioned’ (title). As we started creating the music in the studio, we found that the new old fashioned is exactly what a cappella is. It’s the oldest fashion of music that there is, and we are doing the new old fashioned. So that has kind of become the theme, not just of this album,

Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress, Tucson

Information: 520-547-3040 or foxtucson.com

but kind of our entire career.”

The mashups that fully fit that description are the Four Seasons’ 1960s hit “Beggin’,” which is interspersed with parts of OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” and Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again,” which is paired with the Zac Brown Band’s “I Play The Road.”

There’s also a mashup with a decidedly vintage touch—Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and “Proud Mary” (done with the highly rhythmic soul-infused tradition of the Ike and Tina Turner version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival original).

There’s also “Marvin Gaye,” the Charlie Puth hit that features a guest appearance from Meghan Trainor, isn’t the only recent hit that gets the fully vocalized treatment on “The New Old Fashioned.” Straight No Chaser also do a cool version of Hozier’s “Take Me To The Church,” the Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” and Walk The Moon’s “Shut Up And Dance.”

“The New Old Fashioned” also has one other significant twist—the group’s first original song to appear on album, a soulful ballad written by Don Nottingham called “Lost.”

Deciding how much emphasis to put on creating original a cappella songs will be a key question for the group to answer going forward, Roberts said.

“I’d have to say that it is very important to us to do both,” he said. “The challenge that we have is the music we perform mostly are hits. So for us to write music to be performed at the same time as some of these other hits or even to go on a record with these other hits is a really, really tall order.”

If You Go: Mesa

What: Straight No Chaser

As Roberts mentioned, the beginnings of Straight No Chaser indeed date back to college at Indiana University, where several of the current members founded the original edition of the a cappella group.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, December 31

Where: One E. Main St., Mesa

Information: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com

In 2006, a reunion was set for the former Straight No Chaser members and for the occasion, the group posted a video made in 1998 of

...continues on page 40

October 1 Saturday

Hillcrest Dance and Social Club, 7 p.m., Social Hall, 19803 RH Johnson Blvd., Sun City West, $4 to $6, reservations required, 623-544-0574, dancingqueen431@q.com, 515-491-0533. Midnight Moon will provide the music.

A Taste of Greece, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., repeats 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 2, St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 2716 N. Dobson St., Chandler, $3, atasteofgreeceaz.com. A Taste of Greece offers a weekend celebration with traditional Greek foods, imports, music and costumed folk dancing.

October 2 Sunday

A Taste of Greece, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 2716 N. Dobson St., Chandler, $3, atasteofgreeceaz.com. A Taste of Greece offers a weekend celebration with traditional Greek foods, imports, music and costumed folk dancing.

October 3 Monday

Basketball for Ages 50 and Older, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, mid-October through April, Villanueva Community Center’s gym, 15660 N. Hollyhock St., Surprise, call for charge, 502-298-5264.

Breast Cancer 101, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480325-4707.

Freedom from Smoking, Monday through Nov. 14, and Oct. 26, Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center Campus, 7301 E. Fourth St., Suite 4, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Caps for the Cure Knitting/Crocheting Group, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Duet’s Caregiver Support Group East Valley, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, 7550 E. Adobe St., Mesa, free, 602-274-5022, duetaz.org.

Bone Density Screening, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Women’s Diagnostic Center, Scottsdale, $20, appointment required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

October 4 Tuesday

Duet Caregiver (Alzheimer’s Disease) Support Group Phoenix, noon to 2 p.m., repeats Oct. 18, Duet, 555 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix, free, 602-274-5022, duetaz. org.

Breast Cancer Support Group, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., repeats Oct. 18, HonorHealth Breast Cancer and Research Center, 19646 N. 27th Ave., Suite 205, Phoenix, free, registration required, 623-780-4673, honorhealth.com/cancer.

Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, 1 p.m., Robson Library, 9330 E. Riggs Rd., Chandler, free, 602-6523000. Bill Phalen with the Arizona Department of Veterans Services will give an overview of the benefits provided by his organization.

October 5 Wednesday

Yoga for Recovery, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays in October, Deer Valley Medical Center, Medical Building 1, 19841 N. 27th Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623-780-4673, honorhealth.com/events.

The National Organization for Women, SC/WV, 1 p.m., UU Church, 17540 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, free, 623-972-6273, aznow-scwv.org. The program will be a discussion on misogyny in the media’s reporting on the upcoming election.

October 6 Thursday

Duet Caregiver Symposium, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Church of the Beatitudes, 555 W. Glendale Ave., Peoria, $20, 602-274-5022, duetaz.org.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group (Duet), 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2745 N. 32nd St., Mesa, free, 602-274-5022, duetaz.org.

Let’s Be Strong & Single, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Valley of the Sun JCC 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, reservations recommended, 480-481-7033, harrietc@vosjcc. org. This workshop helps middle-age, newly single women find confidence and begin the next chapter of their lives.

Growing Older, Living Well, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., HonorHealth Orthopedic Institute, 20401 N. 73rd St., Suite 130, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Mended Hearts Support Group, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., John C. Lincoln Medical Center Campus, Cowden Center, 9202 N. Second St., Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623-5805800, honorhealth.com/events.

Flu Shot Clinic, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, call for charge, 480325-4707. Bring Humana ID card.

Movie and Popcorn with “Mother’s Day,” 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

October 7 Friday

Euchre and Mahjongg, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

October 8 Saturday

Hillcrest Dance and Social Club, 7 p.m., Social Hall, 19803 RH Johnson Blvd., Sun City West, $4 to $6, reservations required, 623-544-0574, dancingqueen431@q.com, 515-491-0533. Manuel Dorantes will provide the music.

Rendez-Zoo, An Evening of Conservation and Cuisine, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, call for ticket prices, 602-286-3800, http:// rendezzoo.org/. Journey through the Serengeti while enjoying tempting hors d’oeuvres and alluring libations, distinctive auctions and a picturesque lakeside dinner, followed by vibrant music and dancing under the stars.

Public Safety Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8, Desert View Bible Church, 105 W. Carefree Hwy., Phoenix, free, honorhealth.com/events.

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

October 9 Sunday

Nature Connects: Art with Lego Bricks, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, included in zoo admission of $24.95 adults, $24.95 children, 602-286-3800, phoenixzoo.org. Bring the grandkids and play with Lego, while taking a break from the animals.

OCT 1-28

October 10 Monday

Pancreatic Cancer Support Group, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 301, Scottsdale, free, registration required, 480323-1100, option 5.

Quilting Group: Making Breast Cancer Pillows, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Basic Features of Computers, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, reservations required, 480-325-4707.

Crystal Bridge – Supervised Play, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, starting Oct. 10, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, $10, 480-481-7033, harrietc@ vosjcc.org. Supervised-bid play and learn with ACBL-accredited teacher and certified director Maddy Bloom. Earn master points in a friendly atmosphere. Games include mini-lesson, light refreshments and incentives for returning players.

Crystal Bridge – Duplicate Games, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays beginning Oct. 10, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, $10, 480-481-7033, harrietc@vosjcc.org. Regular sanctioned ACBL duplicate games for players with less than 750 master points. Led by ACBL-certified director Maddy Bloom. Enjoy light refreshments and a friendly atmosphere.

October 11 Tuesday

Duet Caregiver Support Group East Valley, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., repeats Oct. 25, Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 W. Via Linda, Scottsdale, free, 602-274-5022, duetaz. org.

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

Diabetes Support Series: Being Active, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, reservations required, 480-325-4707.

Let’s Knit, 1:30 p.m. t o 3:30 p.m., repeats Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, call for charge, 480-481-7033, harrietc@vosjcc. com. Share the pleasure of knitting and crocheting. Help others with projects and patterns. Can’t knit? We’ll teach you.

October 12 Wednesday

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, 480-3231321, honorhealth.com/cancer.

The Healing Powers of Ballroom Dance, 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m., Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., Suite 203, Scottsdale, free for cancer patients, $10 noncancer patients, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Eat Real: Praise to Pulses, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, 10460 N. 92nd St., first floor education room, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-5805800, honorhealth.com/events.

October 13 Thursday

Merrymakers Ballroom Dances’ Welcome Home

Party, 6:30 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 members, $8 nonmembers, 480-654-1994, dancemm.com. Manuel Dorantes will provide the music. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.; price TBA.

Duet’s Caregiver Support Group West Valley, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Skyway Church of the West Valley, 14900 W. Van Buren, Goodyear, free, 602-274-5022, duetaz.org.

Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s Guild’s Annual Craft Bazaar, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., repeats Oct. 14, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15, St. Michael’s Hall at Price of Peace Church, 14818 W. Deer Valley Dr., Sun City West, free admission. The bazaar features handmade crafts, recycled treasures, a bake sale and a raffle. Some items 50% off on Saturday.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group (Duet), 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., repeats Oct. 27, Duet, 555 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix, free, 602-274-5022, duetaz. org.

Sun Lakes Chapter of the HLAA’s Welcome Back Rap Session, 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Ed Robson Branch Library’s Lecky Center, 9330 E. Riggs Rd., Sun Lakes, free, Liz Booth halib72@gmail.com, Regina Milgroom reggiefaith@ gmail.com, Patty Dennehy 602-652-3000. The hearing loss support meeting starts with refreshments, followed by a report about June’s HLAA convention in Washington. The Walk4Hearing on Nov. 12 will also be discussed.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fatima’s 100th Anniversary of Apparitions, 6:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 230 W. Galveston, Chandler, 480-963-3207. The Mass will be followed by a candlelight procession, which is approximately a half mile into the neighborhood surrounding the church.

Movie and Popcorn with “Race,” 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

October 14 Friday

Euchre and Mahjongg, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

October 15 Saturday

December ’63, 7 p.m., St. Elizabeth Seton Church Hall, 9728 W. Palmeras Dr., Sun City, $25, 623-972-2129. Tickets to the Frankie Valli tribute band include refreshments.

Hillcrest Dance and Social Club, 5:30 p.m. (dinner), 6:15 p.m. (dance lessons), 7 p.m. (dance), Social Hall, 19803 RH Johnson Blvd., Sun City West, $10, registration required, 623-544-0574, dancingqueen431@q.com, 515491-0533. The Octoberfest Dinner Dance features a bratwurst

Entertainment Caped Crusader Burt Ward now ‘canine crusader’

TBy Nick Thomas Tinseltown Talks

here was a time when Burt Ward would leap dramatically across our TV screens in green shorts, beige tights, and a gold cape masquerading weekly as “Robin, the Boy Wonder,” one-half of the crime fighting Dynamic Duo in the popular TV show “Batman,” which first aired 50 years ago this year. Today, you’ll find Burt more comfortable at home in jeans, rescuing dogs, although he hasn’t abandoned the citizens of Gotham City entirely.

“I was the Caped Crusader, but now I’m the ‘canine crusader,’” Ward said with a laugh from his 5-acre property in Norco, California. “Since my wife Tracy and I began running Gentle Giants 22 years ago, we have rescued over 15,500 dogs and found safe, loving homes for them” (see gentlegiantsrescue.com).

The Wards actually share their home—inside and out—with up to 50 dogs, mostly large breeds like Great Danes, Greyhounds and St. Bernards.

The pack of pooches consumes 600 pounds of food each day, costing around $14,000 a month, while veterinary expenses run a staggering $50,000 per year.

Adoption fees and donations make little dent in the bills, and the money received from selling their own brand of dog food, also called Gentle Giants, goes directly to support the animals.

“We pay for everything and take no salary,” explained Burt. “This is our charity.”

In addition to saving the lives of “Man’s Best Friend,” the Wards claim to have also extended those lives by creating a unique, healthy dog food.

“Right now, we have 24 dogs between 15 to 26 years old!” said Ward. “But there’s nothing magical, it’s all based on quality and science.”

With a team of nutritionists, Burt said they developed a special formula which contains much less fat than many commercial dog foods. They tested it on their dogs for two years before making it commercially available in 2008.

of the style in the recent, edgier Batman features.”

While the reunion was enjoyable, Burt recalls the original series as being especially fun with all the gadgets and tongue-in-cheek humor, “except for the explosions, third-degree burns, and broken bones!” that occurred during filming. But despite the injuries, he said the cast were a joy to work with.

“It’s now sold in 1,200 stores in California, Arizona and Florida, and available nationally online from walmart. com and amazon.com,” notes Burt proudly, and with a level of enthusiasm reminiscent of the youthful exuberance he brought to his Robin role.

The original Batman series lasted for 3 seasons in the ’60s and led to a 1966 feature film and animated series in the ’70s, all starring Ward and Adam West as Batman.

Fans of the franchise will be delighted to learn that Burt hasn’t entirely retired from crime fighting. Together with West and the original Catwoman, Julie Newmar, the trio have reunited to provide voices for a new animated feature called “Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders” due for release in October on Digital HD.

“This is a Warner Bros. project that I’ve been aware of for about 18 months,” explained Burt. “It incorporates all of the great things that made Batman wonderful then—including the humor—and combines that with some

“Adam and I have been great friends for 50 years,” he said. “And Alan Napier (‘Alfred’) was the sweetest man in the world and so cultured. He carried around this tiny dog which would fit in the palm of his hand and only put it down while doing his scenes.”

Today, the Wards have no such luxury in dog transportation with their giant breeds that can weigh up to 300 pounds. Now 71, Ward said they do hire helpers to assist with the dog feeding and other heavy duties. But every other aspect of the rescue is essentially a two-person operation between Burt and Tracy, “but mainly Tracy” he adds.

“In our hearts, we know it’s really important what we’re doing,” said Burt. “We’re involved in other charitable work, but this is our daily hands-on cause.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama, and has written features, columns and interviews for over 600 magazines and newspapers.

Burt and Tracy Ward in their bedroom surrounded by just a few of their rescue dogs.

Burt Ward as Robin from the 1960s TV show “Batman.”

their wacky rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Craig Kallman, CEO of Atlantic Records, saw the video on You Tube.

Kallman loved what he saw and offered Straight No Chaser a record deal. The group has had a few lineup changes since, and today’s edition includes Roberts, Nottingham, Walter Chase, Randy Stine, Jerome Collins, Michael Luginbill, Charlie Mechling, Tyler Trepp, Seggie Isho, and Steve Morgan.

Roberts said there is no shortage of material that Straight No Chaser can put into its live set, which makes coming up with a set list a bit of a challenge.

“There are only so many hours and so many songs in the show that we can do,” he said. “So it’s a give and take there, for sure...There’s always that debate within the group of which ones we should continue to do because they are classic staples, and should we do a refresh? But because of what we do and because of the talent we have within the group, we’re able to sort of mix and match sometimes, too. So it will be a fun show.”

Ave., Sun City, free, 509-670-9994, suncitiessaddleclub@ gmail.com. Horse ownership is not required. Ride schedules are available at the meetings. Social events are also held during the riding season. Membership is open to all residents of Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand and Corte Bella.

October 25 Tuesday

Trick or Treat Bingo!, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

October 26 Wednesday

Healthy Cooking Demo: Anti-Aging Foods, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Ghost Towns of Arizona, 1 p.m., Robson Library, 9330 E. Riggs Rd., Chandler, free, 602-652-3000, mcldaz.org. This program will feature stories of ghost towns such as Crown King, Jerome and Two Guns courtesy of Marshall Shore, “Arizona’s hip historian.”

October 27 Thursday

Merrymakers Ballroom Dances, 6:30 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 members, $8 non-

members, 480-654-1994, dancemm.com. Rich Howard will perform during this Halloween dance. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.; price TBA.

October 28 Friday

Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s Guild’s Shred-aThon, 9 a.m. to noon, Prince of Peace parking lot, 14818 W. Deer Valley Dr., Sun City West, donations accepted, 623584-2327.

Euchre and Mahjongg, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Guidance Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Community Pizza Party, noon to 2 p.m., Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Rd., Sun Lakes, free, 480-895-8766.

October

30 Sunday

Nature Connects: Art with Lego Bricks, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, included in zoo admission of $24.95 adults, $24.95 children, 602-286-3800, phoenixzoo.org. Bring the grandkids and play with Lego, while taking a break from the animals.

210 studio & one bedroom apartments

• Basic cable & utilities included

• Small pets welcome

• Laundry facilities on each floor

Delicious & nutritious meal program in a fine dining setting available

Safe & Secure

• Off-duty police security patrol

• 24-hr emergency call system

• Automatic fire alarm & sprinkler system

Numerous Social and Recreational Options

• On-site media center & theatre

• Bingo, cards, crafts

• Exercise & Tai Chi

• Discussion groups & book clubs

• Kivel bus for shopping & outings

October 29 Saturday

Halloween Dance, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $7, 480-832-9003. The Breeze provides the music.

Hillcrest Dance and Social Club’s Halloween Party, 7 p.m., Social Hall, 19803 RH Johnson Blvd., Sun City West, $4 to $6, reservations required, 623-544-0574, dancingqueen431@q.com, 515-491-0533. Bobby Freeman and Charlene provide the music for this Halloween party. Costumes are optional. There will be prizes for best couple and best single person.

You will love living in a Kivel Manor Apartment...

Kivel apartments, located in east central Phoenix on a beautifully landscaped campus are specifically designated for income qualified individuals over 62 who want to live independently, with or without assistance, in a well-maintained community with great neighbors!

Kivel Manor is a HUD community where rent is only 30% of net income. Included in the rent are all utilities— electric, heat, AC, water, sewage and garbage along with basic cable.

Kivel campus offers a variety of amenities:

• Hair care salon

• Theatre where residents enjoy movies

• Mini-mart for those little things you might need!

• Attractive dining room serving affordable, delicious and nutritious meals. Dietary laws observed.

• On-site dental clinic

• Media center with high-speed internet access

Each apartment has:

• Kitchen with a stove/oven, full size refrigerator with plenty of freezer space and lots of cabinets

• Spacious bathrooms with grab bars and emergency call pullcords

Living at Kivel Manor you can keep active with participation in the many and varied activities arranged by our experienced Activity Staff.

• Bingo is a favorite event but card games, book clubs, crafts, painting classes along with discussion groups offer stimulating and fun things to do.

• Monthly outings aboard the Kivel bus and weekly shopping trips too!

There is a model apartment waiting for you to see so, give Donna a call now at (602) 443-8039 to schedule an appointment!

GARTEN THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA NOVEMBER 15

OCT 23 - ROBERT KLEIN

OCT 27 - THE ROMEROS

NOV 2 - CELTIC THUNDER - LEGACY

NOV 15 - INA GARTEN: THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA

NOV 16 - MANKIND TO MARS: ANDREW FAZEKAS

NOV 17 - THE PAUL THORN BAND

NOV 18 - VOCALOSITY THE ACA-PERFECT CONCERT EXPERIENCE

NOV 21 - JOHN CLEESE & ERIC IDLE SOLD OUT

NOV 26 - RIDERS IN THE SKY SALUTE TO ROY ROGERS

Entertainment

Trivia Contest B y Kenneth LaFave

October, the 10th month of the year, means “eighth month,” just as November, the 11th month, means “ninth month,” and December, the 12th month, means “10th month.” This stems from the old Roman calendar, when the year began in March.

What cruel fate made October both Pizza Month and Dessert Month? It’s bad enough to have an excuse to order four-cheese pies whenever you feel like it, without further incentive to top off the indulgence with chocolate-chip gelato. My solution: Celebrate each observance on alternative days: One day a couple of pepperoni slices; the next, a helping of peach cobbler, etc. This is my idea of healthy diet.

OMG, it’s also Pasta Month. We’ll pass on that without comment.

October is a great month for music and a pretty good one for history, at least when compared to the disasters of September. In music, we owe to this month the births of Beatle John Lennon, jazz trumpet great Dizzy Gillespie, and famed pianist Vladimir Horowitz. In history, October was the month that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door, starting the Protestant Reformation (1517); that the British surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown (1781); and that President Kennedy faced and brought to a safe conclusion the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

But if October were a person, it would likely be very sad that, aside from birthdays, the only day that means anything to anyone is its last: Halloween. The colorful holiday has its roots in the Celtic celebration of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to scare off wandering ghosts. It became Halloween when the Catholic Church proclaimed Nov. 1 “All Saints Day.” The name is a form of the term “All Hallows’ Eve.”

Month of October Questions

1

Which pope proclaimed Nov. 1 “All Saints Day,” prompting Samhain celebrants to rebrand their feast “All Hallows’ Eve”?

3

October is a rainy month in most places. In 1823, what Scottish designer began selling the first “raincoats”?

4

Jack o’ Lanterns now consist of candles inside pumpkins. What other vegetable originally cradled the candles of Halloween?

5

Approximately what percentage of candy sold annually in the United States is sold at Halloween?

To enter simply:

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!

2

Mark Twain proclaimed October “one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks in.” What did he name as the others?

for a

The band Green Day wrote the song “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”

2

The missing lyric is “days,” as in “And the days grow short.” 3

The treaty signed on Sept. 3 ended the American Revolution. 4

James Garfield and William McKinley died in September.

A certificate for a one-night stay at InnSuites Kim Anderson, Peoria A certificate

one-night stay at InnSuites Linda Wolfe, Mesa

Fort McDowell Casino

Bingo Happenings-

October 2016

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 purchase 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

Mesa Adult Center

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 http://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 http://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

Entertainment

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 http://rm.evadultresources.org

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 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 in May

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 pm.

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

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

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 A STER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

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.

DIFFICULTY THIS MONTH H H H H

H Moderate HH Challenging

HHH HOO BOY! HHHH Put on your helmet!

SCRAMBLERS

Across

1. Hummus holder

5. Gp. headquartered in Vienna, Austria

9. Applies crudely

14. Purim’s month

15. Unwilling

16. Put out, as stamps

17. Insignificant

18. Environmentalist’s concern

20. Site of the Hole in the Rock

22. Castaway’s site

23. Insult, in slang

25. Agcy. for new ventures

28. Capitol Hill V.I.P., abbr.

29. Drive

33. Hot

35. Polynesian kingdom

37. Cuckoo

38. Film set in Tucson High School

42. Minor appearance of a major

43. Flat replacement

44. Displays displeasure

46. “___ reminds me ...”

47. It’ll never fly

50. “60 Minutes” network

51. Bark

53. Tennessee footballer

55. Tucson park whose name means “Desert corner”

59. Revile

64. Fit

65. Became an issue

66. Baby holder

67. Change machine input

68. Double-edged dagger

69. Dame Myra

70. Cincinnati team

CROSSWORD

Down

1. Argentine grassland

2. Conceive

3. Big fish

4. “He’s ___ nowhere man” (Beatles lyric)

5. Mix

6. Dope

7. Europe’s highest volcano

8. Three or more harmonious

notes

9. Decline

10. Bat wood

11. Finish, with “up”

12. Sticker

13. “Comprende?”

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!

19. Winter sports gear

21. A deadly sin

24. Kind of heel

25. Moravian, e.g.

26. Nota ___

27. “Wheel of Fortune” buy

30. Defraud

31. African antelopes

32. “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

locale

34. Married a Beatle

36. Eastern nurse

38. Atkins no-no, briefly

39. “Famous” cookie creator

40. Green, in a way

41. “Big Band” period

42. Ozone depleter, for short

45. Fill to excess

47. Natural gas component

48. Roughed up

49. But

52. Veranda

54. Blood of the gods, in myth

56. Fast one

57. Elevator inventor

58. Bird noses

59. “___ in victory” (grade school lesson)

60. Aggravate

61. Bunion’s place

62. Dos Passos trilogy

63. Mont Blanc, e.g.

The ears simply transmit sounds to the brain. The brain relies on information from BOTH ears to determine things like the direction and location. The brain also uses the input from both ears to hear better in noisy environments. If you know someone who has lost total hearing in one ear, spend some time with them. You will see that, even with one good ear, they struggle to hear in many environments. For a very small population, only one hearing aid is enough. However, for the vast majority of us, if both ears have a hearing impairment, both ears will require treatment to optimize listening performance, particularly where most people want to notice improvement.

Mephisto

• No personal history of cardiovascular conditions or diabetes, (except hypertension)

• 50-64 years old

DESCRIPTION:

•

DETAILS

RETIREMENT ENGINEERING

2-Day Workshop for Adults Ages 50-70

WHAT EVERY WORKSHOP ATTENDEE RECEIVES

• 6 hours of interactive classroom instruction

• An in-depth Social Security Benefit Analysis

• Individual workbooks for each day’s workshop

• Comprehensive list of available on line retirement resources

• Recommended reading material

• Fillable budget worksheets

• Guide to Medicare costs and benefits

• List of 8 basic estate planning documents

*PERSONALIZED YEAR-BY-YEAR ANALYSIS OF:

• Tax liabilities

• Income streams

• RMDs

• Social Security income

• Social Security benefit taxation

• Provisional income calculation

• Overview of all assets

• Personalized C.O.R.E. powered retirement blueprint

*Available upon request at no additional cost

YOUR INSTRUCTORS

The creators and exclusive providers of the C.O.R.E. System, Garry Madaline and John Kieber, are The Valley’s premiere retirement consultants.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW BY SECTION

MODULE 1

RETIRING IN TODAY’S WORLD

•How to chose an advisor

•What is Retirement Engineering®

•Why traditional approaches will fail many retirees

•Taking a new approach to retirement in today’s world

•Embracing existing technology to plan more efficiently

•Creating a Retirement Blueprint that covers all aspects of retirement planning

MODULE 2

RETIREMENT TAX STRATEGIES

•Setting up your current 401 (k) properly

•Why 401 (k)s and IRAs could negatively affect your retirement income

•Examining the three types of tax accounts and how to maximize the benefits of each

•Effects of losing tax deductions in retirement

•Why our nation’s spending and debt have a direct effect on your retirement income

•Whether a Roth Conversion is right for you and how to do it efficiently and painlessly

MODULE 3

DISTRIBUTION PLANNING

•What are Required Minimum Distributions

•Strategies to eliminate Required Minimum Distributions

•Why the 4% Rule will not work in today’s environment

•The importance of liquidating accounts in the correct order

• How the sequence of your investment returns may dramatically impact your savings and how to get it right

MODULE 4

PROTECTING AGAINST MARKET LOSS

• Why “win by not losing” should be every retiree’s investment philosophy

• Why protecting your principal is more important than great returns in retirement

• Examining traditional approaches to risk management and how they perform in today’s market

• Using technology to replace outdated portfolio approaches

• How to build a comprehensive portfolio that protects you from market volatility

• Designing efficient income streams from your portfolio

MODULE 5

SOCIAL SECURITY PLANNING

• When and how you should take your benefits to maximize long-term income

• Updated Social Security strategies and how they relate to you

• Strategies to prevent your Social Security from being taxed

MODULE 6

ESTATE PLANNING AND LONG TERM CARE OPTIONS

• Options to pay for long term care events

• Current Medicaid spend down rules

• Pros and cons of wills and trusts

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP

Whether you are developing a retirement plan, nearing retirement or have recently retired, you’ll gain access to the latest strategies that help you build, protect and transfer your hard-earned nest egg. We begin by assessing your current financial situation. How can you get to your desired destination without knowing where you are starting? Then we devise a personalized plan to detail all the steps necessary to achieve your retirement objective.

A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE

If you take your financial signals from the media or websites sponsored by brokerages, you may not be seeing the

YOUR INSTRUCTORS

true retirement landscape. By contrast, this workshop is designed by a trusted, local and unbiased source to provide you financial education while pointing out any new dangers that can sidetrack retirees in today’s complex financial world.

BALANCED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

There’s a difference between taking your financial cues from media outlets and learning the basics of retirement planning from a trusted, reliable, unbiased source. This workshop is designed to give you an exhaustive and comprehensive view of financial education while uncovering the many new pitfalls that threaten to derail many retirees in the 21st century.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

RETIRING IN TODAYS ECONOMY

• The new retirement paradigm

• How to put your retirement into sharper focus

• Creating a retirement gameplan

• Moving effectively from one stage to the next

MANAGING THE RISK OF TAX RATE HIKES

• How to eliminate Social Security taxation

• Latest Social Security maximization strategies

AVOIDING DISTRIBUTION DANGERS IN RETIREMENT

• “Rate of Withdrawal” rules have changed

• How to ensure you won’t run out of money in retirement

Your instructors are Garry Madaline and John Kieber, the Valley’s premier retirement consultants. Garry and John are the creators and exclusive providers of the C.O.R.E. system.

PROVIDED IN THIS COURSE

UNBIASED APPROACH

Instead of focusing on a specific strategy or topic, this course takes a more comprehensive view of your retirement. This broad-based approach lays a foundation for proactive planning in an updated, 21st century context. Because of the educational nature of the workshop, no specific financial products are presented or discussed.

AN INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM SETTING

This course is taught by a nationwide network of instructors. These instructors are financial professionals from your community who bring to their workshops years of experience and knowledge from their careers in personal finance. They often supplement their presentation with real life stories and experiences to help personalize the principles and strategies taught in their workshops. This personal and interactive approach to the material helps make the educational process both practical and informative.

THE CHALLENGING WORLD OF RETIREMENT™ WORKBOOKS

As part of this course, you will receive a two volume set of workbooks that provides examples and illustrations designed to reinforce the concepts taught in the workshop. These workbooks help you follow along during the presentation and give you a step-by-step process to help implement the knowledge you obtain during the course.

OPTIONAL ONE-ON-ONE STRATEGY SESSION

If you have questions on how the principles you learned in this workshop apply specifically to your financial situation, you may arrange for a private strategy session with your instructor after the conclusion of the course. The strategy session is complimentary for all attendees but is not required.

• Who is warning that tax rates could double?

• The impact of rising taxes on retirement cash flow

• The Good News and Bad News affecting 401(k)s and IRAs

• Where did those deductions go? How your taxes change in retirement

STRATEGIES TO CREATE AN EFFICIENT RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION PLAN

• 3 basic retirement accounts and when to use each

• Tax-deferred or tax-advantaged accounts

• When an investment is truly “tax-advantaged”

• The ideal timing of a Roth conversion

• When IRAs and 401(k)s trigger Social Security taxation

• Strategies to reduce or eliminate taxes in retirement

SOCIAL SECURITY MAXIMIZATION

• The world of Social Security is changing dramatically in 2016

• Triggers of Social Security taxation

• Understanding today’s Social Security thresholds

• How to liquidate your retirement assets in the right order

• How to protect against “sequence of returns” risk

• How to minimize or eliminate dreaded Required Minimum Distributions

HEDGING AGAINST MARKET LOSS

• The impact of dramatic market loss in retirement

• Is “buy and hold” appropriate in retirement?

• How to protect against the two types of investment risk

• How to protect your assets from stock market volatility

• Why “asset allocation” alone may not be enough

• How to truly diversify your retirement portfolio

PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE

• How a long-term care event may affect your retirement

• Medicaid spend-down rules

• Community spouse rules

• The four common alternatives to pay for long-term care

• Recent innovations in longterm care planning

For additional workshop dates, locations, more information, or to register online please visit: www.myretirementclass.com

Retire In Style at

7220 N. 27th Ave • Phoenix

lemongrove@qwestoffice.net

Lemon Grove offers a quaint, cozy and beautifully maintained community, friendly neighbors, resident social activities and an exceptional staff to assist you or a loved one looking for that special place to call home.

83 One Bdrm Apts. Including four ADA accessible units.

Spacious units – approx. 600 sq. ft.

Excellent closet/storage space

Secured building access • Small Pets permitted

A royal contest in Louisiana’s Cajun country

Story by Andrea Gross; photos by Irv Green

Challenging

the Queen of England isn’t a job for the average attorney, yet Warren Perrin speaks of it casually, as if waging a legal war against the British crown is no big deal. In fact, it was a very big deal—not only for Perrin, but also for the half million people he represents: the Cajuns of South Louisiana.

The Louisiana litigator claimed the Crown owed the Cajuns an apology for deporting their French-speaking ancestors from Canada back in 1755. When the Acadians (French colonists) refused to bow to the British king, they were separated from their families, pushed onto small boats and forced out to sea. More than one third lost their lives, others were dispersed throughout the American colonies, and some eventually made it to south Louisiana, where they were welcomed by a largely French-speaking populace.

But as the saying goes, one man’s misfortune is another man’s good luck. Having lost so much, the Acadians, whose name evolved into Cajun, were determined to hang on to what they had left. Today, more than 260 years later, many of their traditions remain intact, making south Louisiana one of the most distinctive regions in the ofthomogenous United States.

Using Lafayette as our hub, my husband and I begin our immersion into Cajun culture by exploring the surroundings that greeted the new arrivals. To do this, we tour the swamps with Bryan Champagne, whose flat-

bottomed boat can slide over logs, weave through tunnels of moss-draped cypress trees and carve paths that take us past egret nests and snoozing gators. How different this environment must have seemed to folks who were used to Canadian winters!

Within a few short years, the Cajuns were building sturdy homes on dry ground. We see a typical Cajun community at Vermilionville, a heritage and folk life park that depicts Acadian life between 1765 and 1890. There’s a school, boat shed, forge and church as well as a variety of homes. One is a trapper’s hut, another replicates a native American dwelling and some are like those that belonged to Cajun and Creole families.

But Vermilionville is about more than the distant past. The costumed interpreters, who give demos of crafts such as violin making, quilting, and blacksmithing, generally grew up in the area and their discussions—as well as some of the exhibits—tell us about Cajun life in more recent times as well. We enter L’École, a reproduction of a mid-20th century schoolhouse. Up front is a giant U.S. flag with 48 stars. Below, on the blackboard, is an edict that the children were forced to copy during daily lessons: “I will not speak French on the school grounds.” A 90-plus-year-old gentleman is on hand to tell visitors how difficult that made life for the Cajuns. “We spoke Cajun at home, yet from 1916 until 1968 we couldn’t even speak French among

Cajuns found that gardening was easier in Louisiana than in Canada.

Visitors can hear traditional Cajun music at Vermilionville’s weekly jamfests.

ourselves on the playground,” he said. “Without a common language, it was hard to pass down our traditions.”

But the Cajuns managed. People eat crawfish in restaurants filled with traditional music, and they dance to age-old tunes at weekly jamfests. We return to Vermilionville on Saturday afternoon to find approximately two dozen folks playing fiddles, guitars and accordions before an audience composed mostly of friends and neighbors. A man next to me invites me to dance. I have two left feet, but the music is so inviting that I give it a try.

Finally, to enrich our minds while stuffing our stomachs, we sign up for a 3.5-hour tour that stops at six eateries, where people feed us Cajun stories along with Cajun food.

According to the Legend of the Shriveling Lobsters, when the Acadians were forced out of Canada, the unhappy lobsters followed the castaways to Louisiana. There, unaccustomed to Southern heat, the poor crustaceans shrunk until voilà, they became crawfish.

Today crawfish are a staple in Cajun

cooking and are often used in gumbo, jambalaya, bisque, boulettes, etouffée, maque choux, rice dressing and even cornbread. But the most authentic way to eat them is whole, a multistep twistsuck-and-crack operation that tangles my fingers as it tempts my tastebuds.

Fortunately, practicing is a lot of fun!

Meanwhile, Warren Perrin was successful in winning his royal battle.

In 2003 Queen Elizabeth II issued a proclamation decreeing July 28th as an annual “Day of Commemoration of the Acadian Deportation.” It wasn’t exactly an apology, but at least it was an acknowledgement that the Acadians had indeed been expelled against their will and suffered greatly as a result.

Now—thanks in large part to Perrin—French, albeit with a Parisian rather than a Cajun accent, is being offered in all Louisiana schools.

Laissez les bos temps rouler! [Let the good times roll!] www.lafayettetravel.com

For more on Lafayette and Cajun culture, go to our companion website: www.traveltizers. com. For helpful tips on travel in Louisiana, see the section titled Napkin Notes.

BETTER than GRANITE

Only Granite Transformations uses ForeverSeal™, which means our granite is more stain and scratch resistant than “ordinary” granite. And our surfaces bond permanently over existing countertops, walls, showers and tubs, so you get lifelong beauty without the usual

The Cajuns saw Louisiana had an environment far different than the one they’d left in Canada.

Legend has it that Canadian lobster shriveled to Louisiana crawfish under the heat of the southern sun.

Done

Islands in my life

By Ed Boitano

For many of us, traditional images come to mind at the mention of exotic island destinations: swaying palm trees, crystal clear waters and pristine golden sands. A place where time stands still and all troubles seem to be caressed away by gently blowing tropical trade winds.

I recently asked my brother, James, to name his favorite exotic island destination. Without a second’s hesitation he replied, “Iceland, definitely.” “Iceland?” I exclaimed. “Why Iceland?” His answer was just as certain. “The remote and windswept island of Iceland is one of the most inhospitable landscapes on the planet, yet it is also the world’s most gorgeous with its sub-Arctic expanse of volcanoes, glaciers, geysers and hot springs. Alongside that brutal beauty comes a sense of coziness and sophistication with multicolored shops, world-class hotels and restaurants, and a vibrant cultural scene. Now that’s exotic.” Maybe he’s right. Who says an island has to be tropical to be exotic? So I put on my thinking cap and selected three island destinations that are important to me; and the reasons why. Sure, one does fit the bill as tropical, but, after all, I am only human.

The Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Scotland, the Outer Hebrides is a 150-mile-long island chain of remote beaches, rugged bogs, sweeping fields of heather and stone, and Gaelic culture. It is also home to Harris Tweed. For centuries the islanders have hand-woven this rich cloth, known in Gaelic as Clod Mohr—The Big Cloth—in their homes. No one else in the world can call tweed “Harris Tweed” unless the pure virgin wool was dyed, spun and finished in the homes of the islanders of Harris. It is refreshing in this modern age of globalization where everything on our backs seems to be made in China to find something so unique and regional.

Arriving in little villages, some no larger than 12 or so homes, you will see handmade signs announcing that Harris Tweed is for sale. Knocking on the door of the home weavers and getting a tour of their little work area is an experience I will never forget. It was not a coincidence that my entire family received Harris Tweed scarves that year for Christmas.

Half Moon Island, Antarctica

After setting foot on the crescentshaped Half Moon Island, I began asking fellow travelers what made them want to go to Antarctica—the coldest, windiest and driest continent in the world; a landscape which is 98% continental ice sheet and 2%

barren rock; a continent so cruel and unforgiving that virtually no life can survive on it. The overwhelming answer was simple: “Because now I can.”

It was a good answer. The more I thought about it, I realized it was mine too. It was not confirmed until the early 1800s that there was even the existence of a “southern land,” until international expeditions began exploring the area, confirming Antarctica as the world’s fifth largest continent. Today numerous cruise companies offer excursions on the continent. Half Moon Island features stunning photo opportunities and close-up encounters with thousands of Chinstrap penguins. During austral summer, the black sand seems almost warm on your feet. Parent penguins are feeding their chicks. The scope and vastness of the surroundings are unimaginable. There were some days when I felt like I was on another planet. For many it is a journey into history; for others an unparalleled ecological experience; but for most, it is the trip of a lifetime.

Dominica

There it was in bold print: “Dominica is the only island Columbus would recognize if he returned today.” I’m not sure how the author managed to land that quotation, but even from the deck of my arriving vessel, I could see that this tiny

island nation of 70,000 was definitely an untouched paradise found. Located in the Eastern Caribbean, Dominica (pronounced Doe-mi-Nee-kah) is blessed with rainforests, undeveloped beaches, cascading waterfalls, small coastal villages and the highest mountain on any of the Caribbean Islands. In 1493, Dominica was a stronghold of the Caribs, who are the last indigenous people of the Caribbean. Situated high in the mountains, the Carib Territory is a must-see destination in the northeast part of the country. It is also where some of the most spectacular vistas of the island can be found. With a population of 3,500, most of the villagers live in huts that have changed little over the centuries. Unfairly categorized by the first arriving Europeans as cannibals, these are a gentle and shy people. Children would hide behind structures when my small group arrived by van. Young men, who were carving coconuts, offered us fresh coconut milk to drink. Today, income is derived primarily from crafts, fishing and farming. It’s a great place to purchase gifts or souvenirs to help the local economy.

For more information about travel to Iceland, Isle of Harris, Dominica & Antarctica, visit the following sites: www.visiticeland.com; www.explore-harris.com; www.dominica.dm and http://wikitravel.org/en/Antarctica

Nestled off the northwest coast of

Antarctica is 98% continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock.

The stunning beauty of Iceland.

JAMES BOITANO

DEB ROSKAMP

The smiles of the Carib children.

SEE THE WORLD WITH LOVIN’ LIFE AFTER 50

NORTH TO ALASKA, SKI, FUN IN THE SUN, RVS, WORLD-CLASS DESTINATIONS & MORE

v Compiled by Ed Boitano

NORTH TO 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

CLIPPERSHIP MOTORHOMES, INC. was founded in 1982 and has remained a family owned and operated business ever since. Our goal is to provide affordable and flexible Alaskan RV vacations and to help our clients create their own dream vacation. Whether your Alaskan vacation involves independent activities such as wildlife tours, glacier tours, fishing trips, or organized tours; Clippership Motorhomes can help make your Alaskan vacation dreams come true. Receive 10% discount at time of booking. (800) 421-3456 or www.ClipperShipRV.com

CORDOVA – Intentionally off the beaten path. Cordova, Alaska is an authentic commercial fishing town nestled in the heart of a spectacular wilderness, shaped by its dramatic natural setting, rich cultural heritage and colorful residents. In 2016 and 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 unforgettable 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. For nearly 70 years Gray Line Alaska has proudly delivered the best in Alaska tours. Visit graylinealaska. com or call 1-800-5442206 for reservations.

ICY BAY LODGE - Nestled at the base of Mount Saint Elias in Southeast Alaska, Icy Bay Lodge offers the ideal location for the perfect Alaskan outdoor adventure. We specialize in fishing for Silver Salmon on remote streams in the morning, and go deep sea fishing in the afternoon. Our guides are passionate about giving our guests a true Alaskan experience. Besides fishing, there’s wildlife viewing, kayaking and hiking. After an action packed day, kick back in the main lodge

To advertise

contact Ed Boitano at 818.985.8132 or

fresh Alaskan gourmet meals. Book by Jan 1 & receive $500.00 off list price. (303) 520 6344 or www. IcyBayLodge.com

PUFFIN INN is conveniently located near the Ted Stevens International Airport and Lake Hood and just ten minutes from Downtown Anchorage, shopping, flight seeing, fishing and more. Whether traveling for business

or pleasure, the Puffin Inn has four distinct room styles to suit your needs. Enjoy a morning newspaper and deluxe continental breakfast served daily. Free Airport shuttle available. (800) 4PUFFIN or www.puffininn.net

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

TOGIAK RIVER LODGE – Located in Togiak, Alaska, we are all about the fishing and keeping you comfortable and well fed. Yes we have the hot tub on the river’s edge, and a sauna too, satellite television for those who must catch up on their sports teams, Wi-Fi, daily room service and more, but it is the world-class

Alaska Salmon fishing, King Salmon Fishing, fly fishing Silver Salmon, and Trophy Rainbow Trout fishing that people travel to Togiak, Alaska for. Allow us to take care of you, your family or friends on a remote Alaskan wilderness fishing adventure of a lifetime. (503) 7847919; www.togiaklodge.com or llchinook@aol.com

TUNDRA TOURS – TOP OF THE WORLD HOTELWelcome to Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost city in the United States! Packed with excitement and exhilarating adventures, tourists come from around the world to experience this unique Arctic region. When you stay at the Top of the World Hotel, you can maximize your trip by enjoying easy access to some of the top things to do in Barrow, Alaska. Head out for an impressive visual experience, or take in some history at the Iñupiat Heritage Center. Most importantly, be sure to experience our new Winter Tours, departing from the hotel, including the Whale Bone Arch and Arctic Ocean visits. Put us on your Bucket List today. (800) 478-8520 or www.tundratoursinc.com

SKI & FUN IN THE SUN

CHATEAU BLANC CONDOMINIUMS offer convenience and comfort in Aspen. Located within easy walking distance of Aspen Mountain and the town center, our condominiums are a perfect choice for a winter or summer vacation. Choose from individually owned one, two and three-bedroom apartments with fully furnished kitchens, balconies, fireplaces, cable TV with DVD players, and free WI-FI. The management of over thirty years strives to make your Aspen vacation an unforgettable one! (800) 458-8871 or www.ChateauBlanc.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. The 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, Lido Restaurant, The Spa at Dolphin Bay and an array of activities, guests can experience the best of the Central Coast. (800) 5160112 or www.thedolphinbay.com

THE LODGE AT LAKE TAHOE - Centrally located in South Lake Tahoe. Our condominiums provide ample space and comforts of home to relax after a fun-filled day. Heated pool is open seasonally with hot tub open year-round. Our onsite resort amenities serve as the premier spot to relax and enjoy South Lake Tahoe. Call today (866) 469-8222 or visit www.8664myvacation.com

RUBY’S INN is the closest accommodations to southern Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. We offer 368 deluxe guest rooms, restaurants, general store and gallery, conference center, car care, and a RV park. Our guests can enjoy swimming pools and spas, or browse the general store, shops and gallery. We feature year-round activities including cross -country skiing,

horseback rides and scenic flights. Ruby’s Inn and Bryce Canyon National Park are open all year. (866) 8789389 or www.RubysInn.com

TAHOE LAKESHORE LODGE & SPA – The only all lake front Lake Tahoe hotel where every room has a lake view and fireplace. Offering both lodge rooms and condominiums, full kitchens available. Plan your winter ski trip in Tahoe, retreat to the comfort of our rooms after a day on the mountain. Relax tired muscles at the day spa or take a soak in the outdoor hot tub while watching the sunset. Centrally located just minutes from area ski resorts, Heavenly & Sierra-At-Tahoe. Use promo code AZCL to receive 25% off your stay 10/1/166/11/17, restrictions apply. (800) 448-4577 or www.TahoeLakeshoreLodge.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) 522-1555 or www.VagabondInn-Ventura-hotel.com

INTERNATIONAL

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 communities. An exceptional team of experts—biologists, historians, Inuit guides, authors, musicians and artists—provides daily lectures and onshore interpretation to complement 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 multi island destination in Hawaii, the St. Lawrence River, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, 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

DELFIN AMAZON CRUISES - Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, Delfin Amazon Cruises will take you into one of the world’s largest protected flooded forests, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Experienced guides will show you the immense biodiversity of the area. Voyages include visits to native villages, kayaking, swimming near pink river dolphins, fishing, daytime hiking, and night safaris. On board, guests can enjoy exquisite Amazonian cuisine in an authentic, intimate setting with the right amount of elegance and comfort. Call toll-free (844) 4-DELFIN or www.DelfinAmazonCruises.com

ELDERTREKS is the world’s first adventure travel company designed exclusively for people 50 and over. Established in 1987, ElderTreks offers active, off-thebeaten-path, small-group adventures by both land and sea in over 100 countries. ElderTreks offers wildlife and tribal African safaris, active hiking trips to the Rockies, Himalayas and Andes, expeditions by icebreakers to the Arctic and Antarctic and cultural journeys throughout Asia, and South America. Join ElderTreks on one of our small group adventures for travelers 50 plus. (800) 741-7956 or www.ElderTreks.com

JOURNEY PACIFIC - Planning a trip to the South Pacific is great fun but we also know it can be challenging. Our aim is simple: to help you create the perfect vacation including resorts, tours and transportation, all at the right budget for YOU. What is important to you is important to us. Whether your priorities are centered around the best beaches, gourmet food, professional surf waves, world class SCUBA diving, amazing value or all of these, we can point you in the right direction. We strive to have the best knowledge, the best rates and the best customer service. At Journey Pacific, we are here to make your travel experience simple, stress free and fun! Plus, beat the Arizona heat and enjoy cooling South Pacific trade winds and pristine beaches in the summer. Contact (800) 704 7094; e-mail sales@journeypacific.com or www.JourneyPacific.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) 3270080 or www.TaraTours.com

WILDERNESS TRAVEL has been creating dream journeys for over 35 years. With over 200 journeys worldwide, our cultural, wildlife and hiking adventures offer an incredible range of experiences with trips for every interest. From hikes in Switzerland to thrilling wildlife safaris in Africa and cultural journeys to Machu Picchu, we offer both Small Group Adventures and Private Journeys. All feature the exceptional quality that has made us a leader in adventure travel. (800) 368-2794 or www.WildernessTravel.com

Garvey, Eric Dickerson, Bobby Grinch, Fred Dryer, Larry Elder, James Worthy and the Rams’ Cheerleaders, giving free autographs during the show. Make sure to enter to win the Lance Travel Trailer Give-Away! Location: California’s LA Fairplex in Pomona. Date: October 7th -16th, 2016. Hours: 10am - 6pm daily. Adult admission: $10 each. (Delete – Military discount) $1 off coupon available on www.TheBestRVShow.com. Contact (818) 248-6600 or info@TheBestRVShow.com

OASIS LAS VEGAS RV RESORT - Experience the exciting environment of Las Vegas’ most spectacular RV resort. The Oasis Las Vegas, with its tropical “Casablanca” theme, helps guests relax in sunny Las Vegas by day and see the bright city lights by night. The

RV

THE 64TH ANNUAL RVIA CALIFORNIA RV SHOW is the largest RV Show in the West, featuring 1,325 new 2017 RV models to browse, spread over 1,000,000 square feet. The show includes 20 California Dealers, seminars, and Exhibitor Tent with hundreds of vendors selling everything from RV parts, accessories, vacation packages, services and just plain fun stuff! The once-a-year 10-day show also features live music, fair food, free Ferris Wheel rides, and the opportunity to ‘meet and greet’ your favorite sport celebrities that include Vic the Brick, Steve

resort is conveniently located just south of the Las Vegas Strip, only five minutes from the main hotels. If you are seeking an RV resort that offers numerous champagne-class amenities, affordable luxury and superb customer service, contact us today. (800) 566-4707 or www.oasislasvegasrvresort.com

PISMO COAST VILLAGE RV RESORT – 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

HAWAII

BANYAN HARBOR RESORT, Managed by OLS Hotels & Resorts, is exceptionally suited to accommodate couples, groups and families for your Kauai vacation. Each tropical vacation rental offers separate living, dining, and sleeping areas, plus fully-equipped kitchen. With amenities that include a salt heated pool, barbecue grills, tennis court, and shuffleboard, the Banyan Harbor Resort offers your perfect central island location for your next Kauai vacation. Ask about our $129 special for two-bedroom, fully-equipped condominiums. Add a car rental for only $29 per day. (800) 422-6926 or www.Vacation-Kauai.com

CONDOMINIUM RENTALS HAWAII has been managing vacation rentals on Maui and Kauai for over 30 years. Select from more than 350 one- and two-bedroom condos on or near the most beautiful beaches. Save up to 25% off now through Dec 20th or BOOK a car/condo package for as low as $118 per night!

(800) 367-5242. Choose and book your condo online at www.crhmai.com

THE KAUAI INN offers over 100 years of Aloha. Save $20 a night on our Lanai King, now $149. At the end of Nawiliwili Bay, our plantation style inn is the perfect getaway with a continental breakfast poolside and no resort fees. View us at www.kauaiinn.com. For this discount call direct at (800)-808-2330 and mention this limited offer!

WESTERN EXPERIENCES

COLORADO TRAILS RANCH - What you need is a week unwinding 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

RELOCATION

JUNIPER RIDGE RESORT is located approximately three hours northeast of the Phoenix metropolitan area in the White Mountains, at an altitude of about 6,100 ft. The resort is seven miles north and three miles east of Show Low, Arizona. Whether you are a dedicated golfer or tennis player, or enjoying playing cards, you will find exceptional opportunities to share your time with friends. Relax at the pool while the cool White

Mountain breezes ruffle the juniper trees. Contacts us for information on Park Model or RV lot sales and rentals at 928-537-4805 or juniperridgeresort.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

OneBear Market Report

What belongs in a trust?

By Teresa Bear

of the most popular estate planning vehicles is a revocable trust. This is sometimes referred to as a living trust or a grantor trust.

I think of it as a box for your financial treasures. But as I talk with clients I find that there is often confusion about what belongs in this box.

One of the problems that I find when meeting with clients is their box is empty. At some point in time they went to an attorney, paid a considerable sum to have them draw up the trust agreement and then never funded the trust. They end up paying a lot of money for an empty box.

To fill up the box, you must go through the time consuming process of retitling your assets in the name of the trust. This is time consuming for you, but much less time consuming and expensive than having your assets probated when you pass.

The first asset to place in the trust is generally your personal residence. Often your attorney who drew up the trust will help you change the deed from your name to the trust name. You will also need to go through the same process with any rental properties, vacation homes, farms or other real property.

You may ask “what if my rental property is held within an LLC?” If you wish to keep the business entity intact, you would change the ownership of the business to the new trust. Sometimes you can do this directly through the state corporation commission, but you may need to consult an attorney for assistance.

Next stop, the bank. Be sure to retitle all taxable accounts in the name of the trust. Sometimes I find that people will set up joint accounts with their children so that their kids can help pay bills in

case of emergency. The problem is that if your child gets in an accident or files for divorce, your bank account may be seized because their name is on the account. Because most trusts allow for successor trustees to act when the grantors are not able, there should be no need for those extraneous bank accounts.

Finally, you should retitle all of your brokerage and other taxable accounts in the name of the trust. These include any accounts that you receive a 1099 Int, Div or B. Don’t forget those savings bonds that you have tucked into the safe deposit box. (Alternatively, they can be cashed in if matured).

More importantly, what doesn’t need to go into a trust?

First of all, IRAs and tax-qualified

retirement plans such as 401(k)s cannot be owned by the trust. They must be titled in the name of a human. These accounts already avoid probate with properly titled beneficiary designations. Other accounts that avoid probate are Fixed Annuities, Variable Annuities and Life Insurance policies.

I am not an attorney and each person’s situation is unique. Be sure and consult with your legal, tax and investment team for advice on your individual situation.

Teresa Bear, CFP, CPA (TeresaBear.com 480-503-0050) specializes in retirement planning and asset preservation for retirees and those about to retire. She is the author of the book “She Retired Happily Ever After.”

Navigating Medicare Part D Enrollment

(Oct. 15 to Dec. 7)

MedicarePart D is a prescription drug coverage plan that can be added to your hospital and medical coverage, better known as Medicare Part A and Part B. Every year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, Medicare allows eligible patients to enroll in, switch or continue with their current Medicare Part D plan. This time-period is known as the Medicare Open Enrollment pe riod.

Prices of medications and copay ments can change from year to year. That is why during this enrollment pe riod, you should reevaluate your plan options to find a Medicare Part D plan that covers all of your medications with the lowest cost to you. When selecting a Medicare Part D plan, you should consider all the associated costs and options including the following:

Premiums: Monthly payments you must make for your prescription plan

Deductibles: An expense you pay before your insurance provides you benefits

Copays: Payment portion that you are responsible for when picking up your prescriptions

Tiers: A copay structure for generic, preferred and non-preferred brand name drugs; medications in higher “tiers” have higher out-of-pocket costs

Penalty: A late fee for not having pre scription drug coverage after the en rollment period

Preferred pharmacy: Pharmacies where you can fill your prescriptions at lower copays

During this year’s open enrollment period, stop by your Walgreens phar macy to obtain more information about selecting a Medicare Part D plan. Our pharmacy staff is happy to assist you by printing a list of your current medi cations. They can also provide you a list of Medicare Part D plans that al low you to conveniently fill your pre scriptions at Walgreens. You are always welcome to ask your Walgreens phar macist to review your medications and see if you can save money by switching to generic or lower-cost brand name medications.

For specific advice of which plan is best for you, contact our new Medicare prescription plan adviser. HealthPlan

One, an independent licensed health insurance agency, can provide you a free evaluation that includes a comparison of multiple Medicare Part D plans. HealthPlanOne advisers provide

4689, or visit www.Walgreens.com/ Medicare-Enroll for more information. You can also contact Medicare directly by visiting Medicare.gov or calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

scription medications compared to other select pharmacies. Walgreens also offers a variety of Medicarecovered pharmacy services such as immunizations. Stop by your nearest

ON MEDICARE PART B

AND HAVE DIABETES?

Pueblo El Mirage

11201 N. El Mirage Rd., El Mirage, AZ 85335 robertsresorts.com/resorts/ pueblo-el- mirage

Register now at pickleballtournaments.com

T HE F INIS H L INE

The Arizona Senior Olympics’ parent company Arizona Lifelong Fitness Foundation will soon launch a women’s group to support the work of ALFF and the Senior Olympic Games. It also provides a network of friendship and support for all women.

Women are encouraged to enlist their daughters, their mothers, other relatives and friends to become a part of this dynamic group of women.

Those who are interested in joining can call 602-274-7742, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or emailing irene.stillwell@gmail.com. Women will receive an invitation to the kick-off event, which is scheduled for early 2017. Women! Come join the

2017 games registration begins in October

Every state does it differently. The registration period for the senior games vary. You may ask, “Why can’t these things be standardized in senior games?”

A number of factors play into the start date for registration. Perhaps the most obvious is how long it takes to prepare the games for registration. The following are a few of the requirements necessary before registration can be opened:

• All venues must be reserved and confirmed.

• Every event must have committed leadership to run the actual event.

• There must be an effective software program in place and all the details of every event must be entered into it.

• All information regarding the games that is not in the registration program must be put on the seniorgames.org

website.

Although this seems like a short list, each requires hundreds of hours in planning, scheduling, recruiting leaders, volunteers and officials as well as obtaining the equipment and supplies necessary to put on the games. The timing of registration coincides with the number of people working on the planning.

“The 2017 early bird registration

If you breathe, you can practice Tai Chi

By Ellie Kallal

Tai Chi Commissioner Kenny Perez loves his sport. The practice of martial arts is his passion and his profession. He and his wife Deena have volunteered their time for Arizona Senior Olympics for many years, bringing this form of exercise to the annual Arizona Senior Olympics games.

Active in martial arts since 1972, Perez was living and practicing in China and Hong Kong when he injured his lower spine in 1984. He began to study Tai Chi as a way to recovery with Chen Yuen Vi, a wellknown traditional teacher.

“He’s very famous,” Perez says. “He helped me understand the concept of chi and focusing power. Once that happened, I really learned to appreciate the true power of the practice.”

Perez now teaches tai chi and kickboxing at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. Both are great forms of exercise and practicing keeps him in shape. Some people practice with swords, which can be quite heavy. Perez trained alongside of Li Lian Ji (Jet Li), working as an extra and sometimes doubling for Li on the set of “Dragon Fight” (1989).

The studio at the church’s Family Life Center has mirrors, which allows practitioners to check their form.

“Ideally, tai chi is meant to be done outside, in the sunshine and fresh air,”

Perez adds. “In China, you see people out doing it in the morning before jumping on their bicycles to go to work.”

Tai chi is an ancient martial art that has evolved over the centuries, with the most accepted history going to the 16th century in the Chen Village of Wen Xian County in Henan Province.

Doubling as a form of self-defense, tai chi is used more commonly as an exercise for health. There are three forms—chen, wang and wu—most practices involve a combination of the three, with the essentials of qi gung which focuses on inner strength through breathing.

There are some basic competition forms called the 42 steps and the 24 steps, and even the eight steps. In the Arizona Senior Olympics, competitors make up their own routines, often combining different styles.

“We have a panel of judges who are instructors from around the Valley, Perez says. “Contestants have 5 to 8 minutes to complete their routine. They may incorporate swords or not.

“Basic solo routines are judged on rhythm, continuity, style, content, structure, composition and harmony. Those who use swords are evaluated on their ability to control the sword, rhythm, continuity, style, content, structure, composition and harmony. There are also team entries, judged on rhythm, continuity, style, content,

structure, composition and harmony. The judges can see whether someone is a beginner or experienced; the contestants are separated into categories according to age and gender. The judges evaluate accordingly.”

Perez tells newbies to the sport not to be intimidated. Each class starts with basics and works its way through increasingly difficult moves. Some beginners stay only a few minutes and others bravely stay for the whole class, but, “there is no basic equipment. If you can breathe you can practice. You can do these exercises standing, in a chair, or even lying down. I have helped people practice in the water,” he says. “You can grasp the concepts in around two months.”

Many recent studies are showing that tai chi helps with balance, and because many seniors develop balance, doctors are recommending that their patients use this practice to steady themselves. Tai chi exercise is also easy on the body. There is no heavy pounding. Instead of straining the muscles, it uses the joints and helps them become stronger.

I took my first class today. Perez began with stretching warm-up movements and progressed to the Eight Pieces of Brocade or Tapestry. I was the klutziest person in the class. With all my exercise, I have no balance. There was a woman in class who looked to be in her late 80s

will begin in October, giving athletes some extra time to register,” said Irene Stillwell, executive director of the ASO Games. “We are urging all athletes to register early using our new, user-friendly, software. As an added incentive there will be a drawing from the early registrations and one lucky person will win two airline tickets to California.”

Kenny Perez trained alongside of Li Lian Ji (Jet Li), working as an extra and sometimes doubling for Li on the set of “Dragon Fight” (1989).

who could balance on one leg for what seemed like minutes. I’m going back. I used my SilverSneakers for my membership. You can learn more about taking classes at Perez’s website, dynamicwushu.com.

Check out our Facebook page for interesting stories, news about senior games across the country and the latest information about the Arizona Senior Olympics. You can help us by “Like”ing or making a comment on each post. Every time you do, we get a better placement and more exposure on the internet, reaching more seniors with our message of fitness and health.

Calling all basketball players

Do you know anybody older than age 85 who is still playing basketball?

A group of Michigan athletes is attempting to build a team so the National Senior Games will add an 85 and older category.

For more information, contact Dick Lane at 734-421-3884 or dickandlorraine2@gmail.com.

Any help would be appreciated, as these players would love to continue playing. The senior games is a great way for them to stay active and healthy.

Don’t miss the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

The 2017 National Senior Games are set for June 2017, and athletes and spectators will have the opportunity to explore the host city, Birmingham, Alabama.

There are many interesting things to see while visiting Birmingham and, if you love gardens, you won’t want to miss one of Birmingham’s best.

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens

is 67.5-acre site with gardens located adjacent to Lane Park at the southern foot of Red Mountain. The gardens are Alabama’s largest living museum with more than 12,000 plants in its living collections. The gardens’ 67.5 acres contain more than 25 unique gardens, 30-plus works of original outdoor sculptures and miles of serene paths. The gardens feature the nation’s

largest public horticulture library, conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and Japanese Gardens with a traditionally crafted tea house.

The gardens are open daily, offering free admission to more than 350,000 visitors each year. The address is 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, Alabama, 35223.

ANNOUCEMENTSGENERAL

ATTENTION SINGLE SENIORS!

Find your ideal companion through our special publications with photos and personal details of nice, decent, single seniors of all ages nationwide seeking lifetime companionship.

For complete details

Call Singles Scene at 800-884-4246

CEMETERY PLOTS

CLOSING OUT AN ESTATE

We are selling a single cemetery plot located in South Phoenix at East Rest Haven Cemetery on Southern Avenue. Seller will pay for the cost of transferring Quit Claim Deed to new owner - $3,999.

For more info contact Aaron Cooley: 602-625-0548

DOUBLE DECKER CRYPT

For 2 People. Located at the Valley of the Sun Cemetery, 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler AZ. The plot is in a prime location of the cemetery which has been completely sold out; "Garden of Matthews". This burial plot includes a double bronze marker, vault, flower vase, opening and closing of the grave. Seller will pay for the cost of transferring Quit Claim Deed to new owners$9,999.

For more info contact Aaron Cooley: 602-625-0548

EMPLOYMENT

MEDICARE

ASSISTANCE AND DIRECTION THROUGH YOUR TRUSTED MEDICARE COMMUNITY ADVOCATE

Supplements, Advantage, Entitlements, Eligibilities

Medicaid Help

Rxand Part B Cost Assistance No cost, Complete, Accurate Medicare Guidance

Jim Schmidt 480-296-3900

JimSchmidt@SignatureSenior Solut ons

MOBILE HOME PARKS

HEALTHY LIVING/ FITNESS

HYDROTHERAPY WALK-IN TUBS MADE IN USA

For those with arthritis & other ailments

Keep your independencelive in your own home longer rather than going into assisted living. Lifetime warranty, better quality and cost than other tubs

Call for more info: Todd 480-388-5335

WANTED TO BUY

WANT TO PURCHASE Minerals and other oil & gas interests

Send Details to: PO Box 13557 Denver, CO 80201

WE BUY ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES SILVER, GOLD, Jewelry, Watches, Paintings, Glass, Chanel etc. What do you have? We come to you! 602-989-1323

FENCING /GATES

ALL YOUR FENCING NEEDS

*Block Fencing

*Pool Fencing

*Chain-Link & Wood Fencing

*Concrete Work

*Pavers Work

Free Estimates

Call John Villaverde

602-435-4869

GLASS SERVICES

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE.

Shower and tub enclosures

Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors

We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices.

FREE Estimates

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR

Call 480-306-5113

wesleysglass com

SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

HANDYMAN

RONʼS HANDYMAN SERVICE

Licensed/Bonded/Insured

We can do most anything in Home Repairs

*Walls

*Doors

*Plumbing

*Blinds

*Pictures

*Landscaping

*Painting

*Electrical

Call Ron @ 480-332-3240

HAULING

DAVE'S DUMPING & HAULING

I haul it all!

Yard/construction debris, junk, furniture, appliances, clean-outs, etc., etc., etc.,

Jobs both big & small

I’m a 6th grade Mesa teacher working his 2nd job.

Phone Estimates

Dave 480-360-5865 or 480-360-JUNK

RUBBISH WORKS OF SCOTTSDALE / N PHOENIX

YOUR LOCAL JUNK HAULER

Labor, Hauling, Junk Removal, Old Furniture, Appliances, Electronics, Moving Boxes, Construction & Yard Debris.

Garage & House Cleanouts

We Donate & Recycle

Visit:

www rubbishworks com/phoenix

Call: 480-545-1220

Email Rita at: rbrady@rubbishworks.com

Need

HOLTZMAN HOME IMPROVEMENT

People do business with people they trust

Home Remodeling & Additions

*Kitchens or Baths

*Painting/Drywall/Stucco

*Plumbing/Electrical

*Tile/Flooring

*Decks/Garages

We Do It All!

24 Hour Emergency Services

Licensed/Bonded/Insured ROC#242008

FALL SPECIAL 15% off labor on any job over $1,000

Must mention this ad for discount

Can't combine with any other offer

Call for a Free Estimate!

602-628-8735 602-323-6574 Holtzmanhomeimprovement com

Small projects to full remodels & hydrotherapy tubs Todd

HOME & BUSINESS

REMODELING & REPAIRS BY MY FATHER'S TOOLBOX Honest, Dependable, Quality Workmanship

Upgrade your plumbing or electrical fixtures. Carpentry, Drywall & Painting Concierge Service Available For free consultation call 480-600-0958. We accept Major Credit

Cure All Plumbing offers immediate response times and 24/7 service

By Alison Stanton

About 15 years ago, Cure All Plumbing was meagerly founded in a home’s basement.

Since then, owner Jayson Harrison has helped grow the company to a one-stop shop that repairs and services everything to do with plumbing.

“The plumbing trade started out as just a way to earn my way through college. But I soon realized that it was something that I really enjoyed,” Harrison said.

From large and small jobs to residential and commercial clients, Harrison said Cure All Plumbing can do it all.

“The most common jobs include service, repair, replacement and warranty work for all brands of water heaters, disposals, toilets, water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, faucets and sprinklers,” he said.

“We perform reroutes, re-pipes, and slab leak repairs. We also specialize in drain cleaning, which includes camera and video documentation, jetting, and snaking. Our services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Too, Harrison said it’s not unusual for his team to end up going the extra mile during their appointments.

“When our technicians are called to repair plumbing problems, many times you find them doing extra things like taking out the trash or helping bring in groceries,” he said.

“Also, our fully stocked trucks and uniformed technicians, provide a free written estimate to properly communicate what is needed to fix the issue the first time. Our per-job rates are fair and reasonable for the level of quality and professionalism of our services.”

Jayson Harrison, left, owner of Cure All Plumbing, said he and his team pride themselves on offering outstanding plumbing services combined with top-notch customer service.

All of these traits result in the company becoming the go-to plumbing professionals. In fact, repeat customers and referrals make up 93% of the company’s business, he added.

Harrison enjoys his work and interacting with his staff and customers.

“I love the constant challenges that

ANNOUCEMENTS

SENIORS!

Find your ideal companion through our special publications with photos and personal details of nice, decent, single seniors of all ages nationwide seeking lifetime companionship. For complete details Call Singles Scene at 800-884-4246

HOW DO I ANSWER A FRIENDSHIP AD?

Compose your response and address it to:

the plumbing industry presents on a daily basis and the satisfaction of being the solution to someone’s problem,” he said.

Cure All Plumbing is located at 1835 E. Sixth St., Suite 23, in Tempe. For more information, call 480-895-5858 or visit cureallplumbing.com/home.