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Where Kindness Counts

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

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

—Joe Heard, former White House photographer

“

I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows. None can compare to what I saw tonight.”

—Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic

“Absolutely the No.1 show in the world. No other company or of any style can match this!”

— Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet

“Absolutely the greatest of the great! It must be experienced.”

—Christine Walevska, “goddess of the cello”, watched Shen Yun 5 times

“This is the highest and best of what humans can produce.”

—Oleva Brown-Klahn, singer and musician

“I just wish there is a way that I could cry out to mankinds, they owe it to themselves to experience Shen Yun.”

—Jim Crill, veteran producer, watched Shen Yun 4 times

WOMEN’S

opinion

The Curmudgeon

I know who’s to blame

By Drew Alexander

It was supposed to be a shoo-in that Hillary Clinton would be elected president of the United States. But then something happened on the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The Electoral College expelled Hillary and admitted Donald Trump. Who or what caused this monumental upset?

Some dazed Democrats attribute the loss to the Fox News Channel. Still others blame conservative guru Rush Limbaugh, or FBI Director James Comey, or George W. Bush, or the ghost of Ronald Reagan.

ther finger-pointing has turned to Sen. Bernie Sanders, that gruff old animated socialist from Vermont who dared challenge the lady standing

confidently first in line at the hite House door.

Among all the hand-wringing and blubbering, there are those distraught left-wingers who put the Clinton loss squarely on climate change, that horrific phenomenon caused by fossilfuel-loving right-wing capitalists whose goal is to destroy the world – a world that could only be saved by electing Hillary Clinton president of the United States.

Then there are those pesky Clinton e-mails and the private server squirreled away in a bathroom at the Clinton mansion in Chappaqua, New York. Yes, it’s those terribly misunderstood e-mails that sank the Clinton mighthave-been ship of state. Hillary

admitted that it was all a mistake and apologized, so let’s move on.

Or maybe it was the Benghazi scandal that cost the lives of the American ambassador to Libya and three CIA operatives. But, after all, what difference does it make?

No, what really lost the election for the former senator and secretary of state was the dominance of misogynistic voters who were loath to have a woman as president for the first time in the nation’s history.

Or the truth actually is – as it came from Mrs. Clinton herself – that her election campaign was derailed by Donald Trump’s supporters who are a ‘‘racist, sexist, Islamophobic and xenophobic basket of deplorables.’’

Forget all of the above.

It was… the Russians.

The mass media have been telling us the Ruskies hacked into undisclosed computers at undisclosed locations and in some undisclosed way caused the Nov. 8, 2016 presidential election outcome to favor Trump.

What they have not told us is that the ussian means to influence the election was not through cyberspace. It was much more direct and personal.

I was about to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton, the candidate President Obama said was the most ualified to ever seek the country s highest office. That s when felt a tap on my right shoulder. I turned around and saw a burly man wearing a big fur hat glaring at me. ‘‘I am Boris from Kay-Gee-Bee,’’ he said. ‘‘You vill vote for Dawnold Tromp.’’

‘‘I vill?’’ I answered.

‘‘You vill – or else.’’

That insidious scene was repeated by Russian KGB agents all across America. And that’s how Moscow really engineered the defeat of Hillary Clinton.

It certainly could not have been, as Mr. Shakespeare might have written, that the fault, dear Hillary, is not in your stars; the fault is in yourself.

Could it?

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.

“Your aunt Dot is tossed!”

Skip the misunderstandings, not the moment.

With a captioned phone, you can hear and read your phone calls on a

easy-to-read screen. No asking to repeat. No “can you speak up?” Just the simple joy of conversation.

The Up Side

Finding truth in the age of fake news

By Michael Grady

My wife was in a shop last week, making small talk, when the other woman asked her: “Did you know California just passed a law making child prostitution legal?”

“WHAT? No!” My wife said. Surely, she was mistaken.

But the woman doubled down: “It was on the news.”

“What news?” My wife asked. “Oh, all over!” She said. “On television. And on the radio just now.”

The woman insisted this was just more proof that the world was going to hell in a handcart. “Can you believe it? Now it’s legal to be a child prostitute in California!”

My wife came home and did a little research. Turns out, California did pass a bill, SB1322, that decriminalizes prostitution for minors. Child prostitution is still illegal. The bill just puts the focus of punishment on pimps and removes the criminal stigma from the underage kids they manipulate. But conservative opponents, in a fun-house mirror distortion of the bill, characterized it as “a legalization of child prostitution.” And a like-minded website ran with the distortion. And a like-minded radio station used it as a source…

Welcome to Fake News Nation. Where BS grows on trees.

Fake news isn’t new. It is probably just slightly younger than the printing press. It has been making an impact at least since the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in 1898, after publisher William Randolph Hearst famously told his illustrator, “You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war.”

I just thought our country was smarter than this. Now, the laughably fabricated tabloid fodder that leers at us in supermarket checkout lines has spread to our networks, our casual conversation, even to the halls of government.

I can hardly wait for Bat Boy’s confirmation hearings on Capitol ill. The gatekeepers that once protected us – fact-checkers, story editors and journalistic integrity – can now be outmaneuvered with social media. On

Facebook and Twitter, news travels at the speed of outrage. We hear about something in the time it takes one of our like-minded friends to read a headline and get mad.

We are our own gatekeepers now.

And if the woman crying “legal child prostitution,” or the lady who confidently (and incorrectly told C that millions of fraudulent votes were cast in California, or the guy who shot up a ashington, D.C. pi eria to fight a (fraudulent illary Clinton-run child sex ring are any indication, we’re not doing a very good job.

So how do you sift credible from crap?

Next time you hear or surf or scroll into “breaking news,” a few things you should ask yourself: Is it just what you wanted to hear? Or your worst nightmare? Either way, it’s probably fake or at least exaggerated. Fake news generators usually start with your fondest wishes or deepest fears and walk them backward into a legitimate-looking story.

Does it have a provocative headline? A headline is a story’s carnival barker, calling out to clickers along the midway. They are frequently written by a different writer, and often skewed for shock. Read the entire story first, to verify what its headline claims. Don’t forward anything until you’ve read the whole thing. That’s how the world gets stupider.

Is it from a legitimate URL?

Reliable news sources have a recognizable URL: newyorktimes.com; npr.org. Not com.co, not org.biz. If you think one or two letters doesn’t make a difference, I have some Beetles albums to sell you. Does it have a byline? Has someone claimed authorship? Did anyone put their name on it ( xclusive sources or rom our writers is not a name. If not, well, my little dog authors an unsigned work twice a day, and it’s worth about as much.

Does it quote actual people? And do the people have recognizable names or job titles? I can get the crazy guy at my convenience store to say he burned

down the Reichstag, but that doesn’t make it true.

Does it cite actual sources? And are those sources reputable? Good sources have proper names, like Senator Susan Collins, or italicized names, like The Chicago Tribune, ABC News, or Face the Nation. Bad sources have names that are not proper nouns, like “sources say,” “as everyone knows” or “guy at the convenience store.”

Does it look or sound like a lunatic? Frequently, fake stories reveal their agenda with misspellings, ALL CAPS RANTING or terrible grammar. Still in doubt? Read it aloud. Objective journalism will sound like Walter Cronkite. Hack pieces will sound like y sbourne with his head on fire. Is it current? Recently, a story about Ford moving a Mexican assembly plant to Ohio surfaced on the Web. The timing (and some headlines suggested the move was prompted by Trump’s election… but the story was from 2015. Nothing dies on the Internet, except Bob Denver from Gilligan’s Island, who died in 2005 and again three times on Facebook last year.

Are other news agencies covering it? Standing out against the crowd is

great, if you’re a teen in a coming-ofage movie. If you’re a news story, and no other network, website or newspaper is covering you, that’s not a good sign. Check to see if the major players have picked up your story. Yes, every once in a while the outlier proves to be right. But for every Woodward and Bernstein, there are a thousand Al Capone vaults. Can it beat other Internet sites in a ﬁght? pecifically, nopes.com, Factcheck.org, or Politifact? If you run across a dubious story, chances are these sites have run across it, too. Even oogling the facts of a story ( oe iden cyborg from the future will usually bring up your culprit – and multiple sources debunking it.

All of these questions can help you parse truth from fiction. And all of them take a little bit of time. If that’s inconvenient for you, and you’d rather read, rage and forward in one swift motion... you’re part of the problem. You know the phrase, “A lie can circle the globe before the truth can put on its pants”? Be the truth-teller of your circle. Be the one who takes the time to get it right. In this crazy, click-bait world, too many things are already running around without pants.

HateStraus’ Place

We need hate crime laws

By Bill Straus

crimes pose a particularly unique threat in the world of criminal behavior. And yet the very concept of hate crimes – and the laws we have enacted to punish them, for that matter – are misunderstood by many.

Hate crimes are once again on the rise, in America and beyond, so it appears to me that this is an appropriate time to revisit the subject. And I’m just the guy to lead that effort. I advocated on behalf of hate crime laws and worked with thenMaricopa County Attorney Rick Romley to pass them in Arizona just over 20 years ago when I hosted a KTAR talk show. And then I went to work for the AntiDefamation League (ADL , the agency that virtually led the effort to create hate crime laws.

irst, let s define the term. The defines hate crimes as a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.” I cannot tell you how many calls fielded at the ADL from alleged victims of hate crimes who had been called an epithet or a slur. But I can tell you that most of them were not. Calling someone a name is not a crime, so it cannot be a hate crime.

Two complaints were raised at the time of Arizona’s consideration of hate crime laws. Several callers to my radio show accused me of promoting the “thought police” because of my advocacy of hate crime legislation. Hate crime laws are not

a manifestation of the “thought police.” One cannot be punished for merely thinking hatefully. It’s legal to be a bigot in America. It is only when one crosses the line of criminal behavior and was probably motivated by those thoughts that a hate crime has taken place. The other complaint was that we simply don’t need additional laws to punish crimes; they already exist. I say that hate crimes are far more likely to involve violence. The victim of a hate crime assault is four times more likely to require hospital treatment than the victim of a similar assault without the motivation of bias or hate. Additionally, hate crimes are far more harmful in their aftermath, with many victims suffering from long-lasting post-traumatic stress. But the primary difference between hate crimes and all other criminality is that hate crimes send a message. It’s a threetiered message, each tier more threatening than the preceding one:

1. You are different, so you’re not wanted here.

2. Get out!

3. Get out – or else!

The message’s most sinister aspect is that the entire community hears the message loud and clear. For example, when a cross is burned on a family’s lawn, you can rest assured the African-American community knows about it. Hate crimes literally victimize entire communities. Hate crime laws enhance the sentencing for the perpetrators of those crimes. And we need them – the laws, not the perps.

Ask Gabby Gayle Advice for the over-50 crowd

By Gayle M. Lagman-Creswick

Dear Gabby Gayle: Well, here goes. I can’t talk to my doctor about this. I can’t talk to my kids about this. Who can I talk to? Gabby Gayle. I feel like I am the only one in the world with this problem. I am a widow of seven years and am 60 years old. I have met a man that I really, really like and it is getting romantic. I’m afraid he will want to have sexual relations and that scares me to death. You see, my husband died from prostate cancer and we had no relations for the last 10 years of his life. I am not sure I can perform. I have heard that if you don’t use it, you lose it! The whole idea unnerves me. Please, please help me. Signed, Scared Silly

Dear

Scared: If you cannot talk to your doctor about this, you need a new one! Go to a gynecologist to make sure all is well. While I am not Dr. Ruth, I can tell you there is probably nothing to fear. If you love this guy, I suggest you let nature take its course. Older people should be able to enjoy sex all their lives unless health interferes, and even then, there is help from the medical field with drugs, devices, counseling, etc. I will quote: “There is nothing to fear except fear itself.” Good luck. Signed, GG

Dear Gabby Gayle: I told my mother the other day that she needs to downsize her home and belongings, and she was insulted. She is somewhat of a hoarder, or maybe she is just a collector of everything under the sun. When this subject was brought up a couple years ago, she said she was saving the collections for her kids. There are five of us and none of us wants those things. When she passes, we will have a real mess on our hands trying to get rid of those things. She is now 82 and in good health. What do you suggest? She reads your column and is always quoting you!!

Signed, Frustrated Daughter

Dear

Daughter: I would bet that many mothers who read this are going to think one of their children wrote this, because this is a pretty universal problem. First, I would like to explain why I think older people behave this way. We have lost a lot that we had in our younger lives –our spouses, our jobs, sometimes our children, other loved ones and friends, jobs. So we often clings to what’s left –our things. Not saying it is right, but it happens. I recently downsized myself, so my kids won’t have to get rid of my stuff. It almost did me in. It is not easy. That said, I want to say to my peers, try to remember what is important in your life – it is not the stuff – it is the people, your kids, your grandkids, your extended family, your friends, but most of all your God, however you conceive him to be. You will be amazed after parting with the stuff, and the feeling that a burden has been lifted. Go ahead. You can do it! Signed, GG

Dear Gabby Gayle: I have recently retired at age 65. I couldn’t wait to retire, but now that I have, it has hit me that I am getting old, and that thought gives me the creeps. It scares me. I don’t know why I didn’t give more thought to this retiring business. I should have kept working. What do I do now?

Signed,Old

Dear Old: (I had trouble writing “old” because you are not old) I am a bit surprised to find someone your age who feels old! First off, “old” is not bad, it is “gold.” You have some wonderful years ahead of you. If you want, you can get a part-time job, you can volunteer, you can take up something you never had time to do when working, you can join a dating site, if single; you need to get involved! Retirement does not mean to stop living, it means to “re-tire” – put on new tires and get going.

Signed, GG

Anca & Denisa Barbur Senior Living Advisors

Over 16 years combined experience

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Sound Off

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.

November 24 Saturday

Hi I’ve been reading your paper for several years and I really enjoy it, but I noticed in December, you left out Sound Off. I used to enjoy that quite a bit, just reading people’s opinions. It’s been decreasing over the months and in December, I didn’t see it at all. Just wondering.

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.

Editor’s note: Sound Off returns this month!

November 17 Saturday

Hello friends. Here are six trends to watch and plan for in 2017:

1. Lower taxes

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.

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

Lots of lower tax proposals on the table. Most people in the middle – $75,000 to $225,000 – would be in the 25 percent bracket, so not much change there. The top bracket would come down to 33 percent from 39.6 percent. Overall, more money in people’s pockets should mean more consumer spending.

2. Freelancers vs. full-time jobs

November 18 Sunday

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

Freelancers are now 35 percent of the total U.S. workforce. It’s the fastestgrowing segment of the workforce. It’s good for flexibility, bad for job security, and another great reason to have multiple streams of income.

November 19 Monday

3. Part-time gigs in retirement

Ina Garten’s Foolproof Thanksgiving, 6:30 p.m., Sur La Table, 7122 E. Greenway Pkwy., Suite 100, Scottsdale, $95, (800) 243-0852, www.surlatable.com.

November 20 Tuesday

From Uber and Lyft to direct sales and network marketing businesses. According to JP Morgan, more than 400,000 seniors are earning money from alternative sources in retirement. Expect this trend to grow.

4. The stock market 2017

Thanksgiving Luncheon, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale, $5 residents, $8 nonresidents, (480) 312-5810. The event features a catered Thanksgiving meal in a heated tent, plus live entertainment.

November 21 Wednesday

National Active and Retired Federal Employee Association (NARFE) Chapter 1395, 11 a.m., Brothers Family Restaurant, 8466 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria, lunch must be paid for by members, (623) 934-7431.

Broad market exposure may not be the best way to uncover growth. While the U.S. economy looks pretty optimistic, the global economy’s capacity for rapid growth looks to have been severely dented. According to Blackrock, overall equities should do good but targeting specific sectors may do better. Traditional diversified portfolios may not cut it.

5. Consumers have power

November 22 Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving from Lovin’ Life After 50.

November 23 Friday

Sun City Fall Arts and Crafts Festival, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 24, Sundial Recreation Center, 14801 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, free, (623) 876-3048. The event features rafﬂes and awardwinning crafts from more than 40 clubs in Sun City.

Consumers have a powerful seat at the marketing table by sharing their needs and priorities through direct feedback and purchasing choices via social media. Companies will increasingly shape their product offerings around the latest lifestyle trends and increase the incentives offered to consumers. Creating your own “social brand” can be good for those with the entrepreneur mindset.

6. Rising interest rates

Myron Sommerfeld and His Music, 7 p.m., Venture Out, 5001 E. Main St., Mesa, $8, (480) 832-9000.

Maybe a few .25 percent hikes. Not enough to make a real difference for

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.

savers. (Yeah! A five-year CD now pays 1.25 percent!) But cost of borrowing will go up. Lock in fixed rates while you can.

Denver Nowicz

November 25 Sunday

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

What a wonderful article by Michael Grady! I laughed and agreed with him all the way through the article called “We are the bugs on the windshield of choice.” It’s good to be single, so I don’t have to argue with anyone but myself about what to watch!

Barb McNeill

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

November 27 Tuesday

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

November 28 Wednesday

I would like to get in touch with Michael Grady, who wrote an article called “The Upside” in November. I have some information he might be interested in regarding his article. I do not have a computer, so I’m not on the email, Internet, that sort of thing, but I’m still able to talk on the phone.

“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 Management,” 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

There’s a lot of talk about intervention by the Russians in the 2016 presidential election. Who’s to say whether Russia intervened with it or not? I don’t think they did, but let’s say they did. It is miniscule in comparison with the divine intervention that came from God. God intervened in this election big time, and the reason he did is because Donald Trump is unconditionally and dedicated totally to pro-life and God is pro-life, no matter what the Democrats think. So, did Russia intervene? If they did, so what? As Hillary would say, what difference does it make?

Best Quick Breads, 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 cinnamon and sugar.

November 30 Friday

Friday Night Dance, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunland Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $7, (480) 8329003. Music by the 4-50’s Band.

Send event information to: info@lovinlifeafter50.com

News Briefs

Landscaping tips for do-it-yourself desert gardener

Carefree Desert Gardens is hosting Tom Gatz — a retired wildlife biologist, horticultural aide in the education department at the Desert Botanical Garden and certified desert landscaper at a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.

His talk will center on landscaping smaller areas and how to plant to achieve year-round color and contrast. Gatz’s garden has been featured in Phoenix Home & Garden magazine, The Sonoran Quarterly, magazine of the Desert Botanical Garden, and other wildlife and urban publications.

The program will include a plant raffle. It will be held at the Speakeasy on Easy Street, Jazz Supper Club, on the northwest corner of the . . ost ffice, asy t., Carefree. A minimum donation of $5 is suggested. For more information, call 480488-3686.

NVSO to host gala fundraising event

North Valley Symphony Orchestra has scheduled its first gala fundraising event.

Caribe Devine, 12 News anchor and meteorologist, will emcee the event set for Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Moon Valley Country Club, 151 W. Moon Valley Dr., Phoenix. The gala features a silent auction to contribute to operation and growth of NVSO and its youth programming, and speaker Kevin Kozacek, the NVSO music director, who will give the orchestra’s history, plans and goals.

Attendees will have a variety of silent auction items to consider, including two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines, a violin handmade for the event by Jody Summerford, a variety of restaurant gift

cards, an entertainment package by Agave String Quartet and themed baskets. Entertainment will be provided throughout the evening by NVSO small ensembles, including Agave String Quartet and NVSO Youth Octet. The Mardi Gras-themed event begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., giving guests the opportunity to browse the silent auction items until dinner is served. Event tickets are $75 each or two tickets for $125, and include dinner, one entry to the evening raffle pri e and one cocktail. Reservations can be made at northvalleysymphony.org/events-calendar.

Rotary Club set to raise funds for Soldier’s Best Friend

oldier s est riend is the beneficiary of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale North’s annual fundraiser on Saturday, March 18. The organization provides U.S. military veterans living with PTSD or traumatic brain injury with service or therapeutic companion dogs.

Last year, the Rotary Club chapter raised more than $14,000 for the group.

The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pinnacle Peak Village, General Store Patio, 8711 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale. The $40 tickets include two glasses of wine or beer, food by a local restaurant, the ability to bid on live and silent auction items, and music by The Last Straw.

For more information, email jmcmanus@mndomain.com or visit rotaryscottsdalenorth.org

Cave Creek Museum’s “Home and Garden Tour” features four stunning locales

Cave Creek Museum’s biggest fundraising event, the “Home and Garden Tour,” will feature four unique homes that range in style from Western traditional and modern.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 12. The tour includes:

The Binkovitz residence, a midcentury modern home that boasts spectacular views of the surrounding desert and mountains from its location atop a hill above Rancho Mañana.

The Hamline residence: One of the original five homes built in Carefree, this historical home was designed by renowned Carefree architect Gerry Jones. In 2006, the home was remodeled and sided with chemically rusted steel. The new look gives the home a more contemporary, industrial

feel that is continued throughout the interior.

The Spurgin residence, a sprawling 4,424-square-foot home that was designed to house the owners extensive fine art collection. Built in 2005, the home has numerous patios that provide incredible views of Four Peaks, Weavers Needle and even the Fountain Hills Fountain. The guest house patio overlooks the Hohokam archaeological site. The museum will conduct a kitchen and garden boutique at this tour stop, where guests can purchase homemade baked goods, small cooking and gardening accessories, plants and crafts. All proceeds from the bouti ue benefit Cave Creek Museum.

Dickens Home: Reminiscent of an Italian villa, this recently renovated residence belongs to award-winning artist Lucy Dickens and her husband, Richard. The ceilings add a unique charm to this home, with a beamed ceiling in the massive

great room and a brick ceiling in the kitchen that add to the European ambience throughout. Dickens’ studio will also be open during the tour for those interested in seeing her paintings and workspace.

Tickets for the self-guided tour include pamphlets with the history and detailed descrption of each home. On-site docents will point out additional aspects of each home.

Tickets may be purchased at cavecreekmuseum.org, at the museum, 6140 Skyline Dr., or with credit card by calling 480-488-2764. The museum also will open at 8 a.m. Sunday, March 12 to sell tickets. Tickets will not be available at the homes. They are $35 until 5 p.m. Monday, March 6, and $40 afterward. No pets, food, beverages or photography will be allowed within the homes and no children under the age of 12 will be admitted. Note that some of the homes are on uneven terrain and may not be handicap accessible.

Tom Gatz

They are, from left, Co-Secretary Doris Sutherland, President Elaine Reed, Vice President Bill Brehm, Treasurer Roger Meier and Co-Secretary Margaret Crowley.

The Binkovitz residence is located atop a hill above Rancho Mañana. Photo by Peter Philpott.

Aging Mastery Classes

Taking Small Step for Lifelong Rewards

With 76 million baby boomers in the US today, the need for good programs that help older adults make the most of their longer lives is increasingly important. The Area Agency on Aging is piloting something new—the Aging Mastery Program®. Created by the National Council on Aging, the Aging Mastery series of classes is a peer-supported classroom style course o ered once per week for 90 minutes over ten weeks.

The classes focus on key topics, taught by local experts with a goal to develop sustainable behaviors that can lead to improved health, stronger economic security, enhanced well-being, and increased societal participation. The program is designed to cover comprehensive topics that relate to aging well. The program has demonstrated good results with participants showing increased physical activity levels, healthier eating habits, use of advanced planning, increased social connectedness and improved self-management. The Area Agency views the addition of the Aging Mastery Program® classes as a perfect complement to its other 60 programs and services.

With an overall mission of keeping people safe and healthy in their own homes, the Agency provides opportunities for older adults to learn and grow, connect with one another, and have e ective strategies to maintain or improve their quality of life. The Agency o ers a variety of classes including Chronic Disease SelfManagement and Matter of Balance that focus on behavior change with a goal of improved health and well-being.

Classes will begin in late February and will be o ered in three locations throughout Maricopa County. For more information and to register, call the Agency’s 24-Hour Senior HELP LINE at 602-264-4357.

The Area Agency on Aging plans and delivers essential services to adults 60 and older, caregivers, adults with physical disabilities and adults 18+ with long term care needs. If you would like to learn more about all the programs of the Area Agency on Aging, please visit our website at aaaphx.org.

The Area Agency on Aging has partnered with the National Council on Aging to offer the Aging Mastery Program®. This 10-week course features a series of 90-minute classes that will inform and support older adults, help them improve their lives and stay engaged in their communities.

Class Topics:

• Navigating Longer Lives: The Basics of Aging Mastery

• Exercise/Fitness

• Sleep

• Healthy Eating/Hydration

• Financial Fitness

•

• Community Engagement

The “Why” of Travel

From ecotourism to voluntourism, “traveling with purpose” is becoming the mindful way to roam.

By Jimmy Magahern

WhenArt Huseonica travels – which he does at least three or four times per year – he does so with three purposes in mind.

“I like to challenge my body, my mind and my soul,” says the Sun City resident, 66, who recently returned from a 4,200 mile group expedition along the Amazon River and its tributaries from Ecuador to the east coast of ra il. f it s not difficult, there’s no challenge or motivation in it. I like to explore new areas, experience different cultures and learn new things.”

Huseonica, a retired Navy man who has taken trips to Japan, South America, Greenland, the Caribbean and Iceland in addition to all 50 United States, is perhaps an extreme example of the new wave of travelers age 55 or better who are venturing beyond simple sightseeing to “traveling with purpose.” Whether to challenge ourselves physically, expand our appreciation of global cultures or trace our own ancestry, mature travelers are embracing forms of travel previously associated with younger globetrotters - things like ecotourism (low-impact educational visits to fragile and natural

areas where the mantra is to leave it as you found it , immersion trips to learn language and culture, culinary cruises to learn about the cooking authentic to faraway lands and even mission trips or “voluntourism,” one of the fastest growing trends in travel, according to travel professionals.

“The market for what we call ‘servicebased travel’ – which includes everything from learning a skill for personal development to helping a community, getting involved – is over $2 billion a year,” says Paula Stege, owner of A Time To Go Travel in Chandler. “And it’s growing.”

On his Amazon trip, led by U.K.-based explorer Jacki Hill-Murphy, Huseonica says that in addition to studying the changes that have taken place on the river since its discovery by the early 18thcentury explorers – along with retracing the tragic journey of Isabela Godin, the first known woman to attempt to travel the length of the river – he also got to learn about shamanism from a practicing indigenous healer who accompanied the team for a leg of the journey.

“I learned about how they use the plants

Roaming Boomers Dave and Carol Porter

Art Huseonica’s adventures (L to R): Amazon River Expedition dugout canoe; Cadoshi Village in Peru; Atlantic Ocean after Amazon Expedition; Death Valley.

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A LEADER IN NEUROREHABILITATION for East Valley

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in the jungle to make their own medicines, which they administer along with a ritual,” he says. Huseonica admits he had his doubts about shamans, which the Western world often dismisses as “witch doctors,” but he says this particular medicine man did cure a nasty rash he had contracted along the treacherous trip with the juice of what he called a dragon’s blood tree. “I’m sure there’s some psychosomatic explanation for it,” Huseonica says. “But by the end of the day, it was better!”

Betsy Donley, travel adviser at Camelback Odyssey Travel in Phoenix, acknowledges that much of the trend toward purpose-based travel owes to a growing desire among health-conscious travelers for tours that spend less time

on the cruise ships and more time on the ground.

“We particularly do a lot of ‘active trips’ – hiking, biking, walking – basically all over the world,” she says. “Travelers now that are over 50 are wanting to combine activity and wellness. But they also want to get an educational view of wherever they’re going.” Donley says tours that substitute bikes and good walking shoes for tour buses and cruise ships give travelers a more direct relationship with the lands they’re visiting.

“You’re immersing yourself more in a culture,” Donley says. “If you’re on a bike or walking through a village, you’re much more a part of the party than you are if you’re in a car with a driver. If you go out of your inn or lodge in Tuscany in the morning and get on a bike, and bike to lunch in a village, you’re really part of the culture, immersed in the local community. Which is what everybody wants. Everybody wants authentic, they want unique experiences, they want to feel that they’re getting in touch with the location in which they’re traveling. I think the older you are, the more you want to be immersed in the culture of the place you’re visiting. You don’t want to be going back to the ship at 5 o’clock. You want to be out on the boardwalk or the sidewalk café, where the color and pageantry of the evening is starting.”

Stege says even the major cruise lines are taking notice of the changing preferences of older travelers.

“In my own business, I have many people that want to trek to Machu Picchu

...continued on page 17

5652 E. Baseline Road • Mesa, AZ 85206

Betsy Donley is a travel adviser at Camelback Odyssey Travel in Phoenix.

in Peru, they want to go to the Galápagos Islands, they want to visit a lot of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, cientific and Cultural rgani ation world heritage sites,” Stege says. “And when a tour or cruise provider can include those types of activities, we’re seeing a higher growth in markets where people can really get up close and personal with the land they’re visiting. Princess and Carnival and Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, they all are focused on this now. The key thing they’re marketing in response to demand are intimate, upclose, personal adventures for their clients. It used to be all about the ship. But now they’re doing more and more on the land portion.”

Altruism or false

David and Carol Porter run a travel agency out of their Scottsdale home that caters to mature travelers, and the couple does a lot of traveling themselves. David Porter counters the perception that vacationers over are flocking to book trips centered on a higher purpose than mere recreation.

e re finding that oomers and

seniors are not looking for altruistic travel as much as the media likes to think,” he says. “Sure, a certain segment of the Boomer travel world does these types of trips, but we find that these trips are generally booked through a specific group. For example, we attend a large church with 12,000 members. Hundreds and hundreds are taking missionary trips, but they are booked through the church by travel agencies that focus solely on that type of travel. So, this travel does exist, but we don’t see it.

e find travelers very interested in culinary, wine, and certainly learning and visiting other cultures,” he adds. “But we see very little that might be considered eco, endangered, global warming or any of those other popular topics in the press. If you asked the bulk of our clients why they travel, they would answer, ‘To broaden our understanding of the world, see sights that we’ve always dreamed of, and as a reward for our decades of hard work.’ We’ve never had one person call and say that they want to plan a trip for primarily altruistic reasons. The closest we see to that is, ‘I want to go to Cuba before McDonald’s gets there.’”

Betsy Donley in Peru.

“I would say older clients will tend to stick more to the educational, selfenrichment type of tours,” echoes Stege. “They’re trending toward smaller, more intimate learning experiences, as opposed to being on a ship with 5,000 people.”

Bonnie Bouma of Phoenix is a prime example of someone who travels for education and enrichment, not only for herself but for her si able family.

“We have 21 in our family; our oldest grandchild is now 25,” says Bouma, 80. “And we’ve done Prague, Austria, Germany, Holland, Venice, Amsterdam, aris, ome, wit erland and a few other places together. But the best trip we’ve had together was the one we took last June to Israel.”

ouma, who categori es her throng as a “very religious Christian family,” says she wanted them all to have the “ultimate experience, to walk the Bible.” The trip, which the 21 family members took on one bus, brought them through Jerusalem and ethlehem up the a a strip to neighboring Syria.

“We kayaked the Jordan River, and the whole family was bapti ed there, she says. “Then we were on a ship on the Sea of Galilee that was built to replicate the one

esus and his disciples used for fishing. The grandkids went swimming in the Dead ea, which was fun. And when we finished the trip, one of my granddaughters told me, ‘Grandma, everything I read in the Bible is now alive to me.’”

Bouma admits the itinerary was met with some resistance from some extended family members, who were less enthralled about their kin retracing the paths of ancient Bible texts than concerned about them navigating present-day Israeli–Palestinian tensions.

“My daughter-in-law’s mother was saying, ‘You’re gonna get my grandchildren killed traveling through Israel now!’” she says. “So I was pretty happy when we got them all home safely. To me, it was proof that you can travel to other countries regardless of what the newspapers and television tell us about how dangerous it is to venture outside of our borders.”

Stretching boundaries

Susan Pace of Green Valley, a small senior community located about 20 miles south of Tucson, runs an informal travel club comprised of about 265 members called Wander Lust Travelers that enjoys

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frequent trips to Mexico. Pace often books tours through S&S Tours in Sierra Vista, which speciali es in travel down to Copper Canyon in Sierra Madre where its clients, mostly retirees, often volunteer to help at the Tarahumara boarding school for girls.

“For me, I travel to learn about other cultures and other people,” Pace says. “And I’ve also always wanted to learn Spanish. So recently I took an immersion trip to La Antigua Guatemala, and I stayed for two weeks in the home of a family there.”

While taking language classes at a local church, Pace got involved helping in the church’s mission, which involves riding around Guatemala in an old aschool bus that members have converted to a bookmobile.

“A lot of places in Guatemala are very small and don’t have schools for the kids, so they drive up in the mountains and lend the kids books and read them stories,” she says. “And I got to go along and help with that, which was wonderful. The bus is painted very colorfully, and they carry chickens in crates on the top. And La Antigua is surrounded by three volcanoes, and while I was there I was lucky enough to see the orange lava being released from one of them. The area itself is beautiful, just dense with vegetation – all kinds of mangos and bananas. It’s like a paradise.”

What impressed Pace more, however, were the people.

“It was marvelous to see the children in these little villages who were so excited about us bringing them books,” she says. “The people are so warm and wonderful there. Most of them don’t have washing machines or dryers, they don’t have dishwashers, or air conditioning –

which really makes you appreciate the conveniences that we have. But they still find ways to be happy.

Meeting other world travelers can also be enlightening.

“I stayed at the home of this Mexican family – grandmother, mother, a daughter and son – who rent their home out to travelers who come to La Antigua for Spanish classes,” Pace says, noting the popularity of Guatemala’s Spanish language schools, favored by many American businesses for their low cost and quality programs. “When I arrived, there was a Canadian woman also staying in the house, who was taking salsa lessons. A little later a woman from South Korea came, and my second week, a man from Paris came. So in this one house we had all these different nationalities.”

Pace found in the rich mix of cultures her greatest learning experience.

“If I could say anything that’s important about traveling, it s that you reali e that people are fundamentally the same everywhere,” she says. “There are good and bad, nice and not nice everywhere. But we can’t isolate ourselves, and think that we’re the only ones in the world that are smart and caring people. You have to look at the world positively and try to make friends everywhere you go, so they don’t think we’re all ‘Ugly Americans.’ We can’t be separatists and isolationists and expect to live in a world that’s going to have peace. We have to take care of our own people, but we also have to recogni e that people in the rest of the world are working toward good, too.

“Travel lets you see that,” she adds, “if you’re open enough to see it.”

Sue Arko enjoys the sand and surf at Pensacola Beach in Florida.

Palm Valley & Ridgecrest invite you to experience our team of professionals that are dedicated to quality of life and care of each guest. We believe our commitment to uncompromised care on a daily basis is what each of our guest deserve. Palm Valley & Ridgecrest provide an elegance wrapped in love and care.

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A tale of two Canadian winter festivals

By Ed Boitano

Anuncle in Seattle likes to chide me that Phoenix has only two seasons: Hot and hotter. Sure, it’s worth a laugh. And indeed, our summers do fit into the hotter category, but those of us who live here know that there are seasons – they’re just very subtle. Nevertheless, life in Phoenix generally means we don’t have to leave the area to escape the snow, ice and cold. nstead, we must find it elsewhere. Last winter I did just that. I explored two unique cultures that embrace the hardships of ice and snow with celebrations that warm the heart and soul.

Winterlude: Ottawa, Ontario

Each February, Ottawa hosts Winterlude, three weekends of excitement and activity that celebrate Canada’s winter climate and culture in the heart of Ottawa, between Parliament Hill and the Fairmont Château Laurier. The festival includes spectacular ice sculptures, ingenious ice slides, the children s nowflake ingdom, ice ma es, food and music. The fro en . -milelong Rideau Canal is transformed into the world’s longest skating rink. Business people skating to work with backpacks and briefcases in hand is a sight that I will never forget. And I know that children on skates will never forget seeing a clumsy, terrified journalist trying to negotiate the ice.

Signature Winterlude snack

BeaverTails are named after the shape of one of Canada’s national symbols – the beaver. Made with fried whole wheat pastry, then tossed in a bowl of cinnamon and sugar, it is a popular treat. They can also be made with toppings of garlic, cheese, jam or chocolate sauce.

Most Winterlude activities are free, but registration and admission fees may apply to certain events. Winterlude 2017 runs from Feb. 3 to Feb. 20.

About Ottawa

Canada is celebrating its 150th birthday in 2017 and Ottawa, as the capital city, will be the epicenter of the cel-

ebrations. A series of seemingly endless blockbuster events are scheduled throughout the year. Visits should begin with a trip to the observation deck of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, which offers sweeping views of this world-class city. Other attractions can include watching the proceedings of the Senate or House of Commons from the public galleries, the Canadian useum of Civili ation, the ational Gallery of Canada and the Canadian War Museum, which shows Canada’s history of war from the perspective of an average person.

Carnaval de Québec –Québec City, Québec

Nestled on the banks of Old Québec City, Carnaval de Québec is the biggest winter carnival in the world. Sixty-four years of history are reflected in this two-week festival that includes snow sculptures, an Ice Tower, night parades, concerts, giant football game, ice fishing, skating and other activities based on Québecois folkloric traditions. Located just a short drive out of the city ( minutes is the tel de lace, the only ice hotel in the Americas. Entirely made from snow and ice, this magnificent manmade palace features rooms and suites, exterior spa and sauna, bar, café, an exhibition room, a chapel for weddings and an ice slide. Guided day tours are also available.

Signature Carnaval snack: Maple taffy (“tire d’erable”)

Maple taffy is made by pouring hot, thick maple syrup onto a board of fresh snow. When it begins to harden, you grab a popsicle stick and pick up the taffy in a rolling motion, wrapping it around the stack. Maple syrup is a staple of u becois cuisine, reflecting the natural taste of the countryside, where “sugar shacks” in maple groves are used to boil maple.

Most Carnaval activities are free, but admission fees apply to some events. Carnaval de Québec 2017 started Jan. 27 and runs through Feb. 12.

About Québec City

Québec City was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is the only walled city in North America. The best way to explore this historical city is to stroll along its narrow, cobblestone streets lined with stone houses, cathedrals and cafes. The city itself is nothing less than a living museum. Québec City has embraced its history, which is reflected with more than museums, exhibition halls and interpretation centers. Pedestrian streets are populated

with local artisans and musicians. In this city, 95 percent of the residents speak French. A quick journey down the funicular leads you to Lower Québec, the birthplace of the city. A ferry ride on the St. Lawrence River is mandatory for stunning photo opportunities.

For further information about Ottawa’s Winterlude, visit www.canada.pch.gc.ca/ eng/1416239267950

For information about Carnaval de Québec, visit https://carnaval.qc.ca/home

Ottawa’s 4.8-mile-long Rideau Canal is transformed into the world’s longest skating rink.

Québec City at night.

THE 2017 TRAVEL PLANNER

OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST IN TRAVEL FOR 2017

Compiled by Ed Boitano

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 all western coast destinations, the St. Lawrence River, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera. Programs range from family reunions at sea and honeymoon cruises to river cruising and land vacations. Each independently owned and operated business combines the latest technology

with old-fashioned customer service. Contact Joni Notagiacomo in Los Angeles at

is the world’s ﬁrst adventure travel company designed exclusively for people 50 and over. Established in 1987, ElderTreks offers active, off-the-beaten-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

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

throughout Cuba, Asia, and South America. Join ElderTreks on one of our small group adventures for travelers 50 plus. (800) 741-7956 or www.ElderTreks.com

ST. LAWRENCE CRUISE LINES — Cruise the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers on a classically designed riverboat. The Canadian Empress carries 66 berthed passengers in comfort along routes selected for their rich gifts of history and natural beauty. There are several cruise choices of 4, 5, 6 and 7 night duration. You will ﬁnd excellence and value aboard our ship where elegance, adventure and genuine warmth are sincerely offered and happily experienced. These cruises are particularly popular with the 50+ market. (800) 267-7868 or www.StLawrenceCruiseLines.com

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

WARWICK PARADISE ISLAND BAis a stunning all-inclusive ‘Adults Only” resort nestled on The Bahama’s Nassau Harbour. With picture perfect views of Nassau and Paradise Island, the resort is within walking distance of The

Bahama’s best beaches, shopping and entertainment. Delight in our all-inclusive experience, enhanced with luxurious touches, stylish accommodations, delectable dining, and personalized service. All guests must be a least 18 years old, except March, April & June where the minimum age requirement is 21 years old. 1 - (888) 645-5550 or WarwickHotels.com/paradise-island-bahamas.

ALASKA

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

CORDOVA — Intentionally off the beaten path. Cordova, Alaska is an authentic commercial ﬁshing town nestled in the heart of a spectacular wilderness, shaped by its dramatic natural setting, rich cultural heritage and colorful residents. In 2017, let Cordova become your base of operations for an unforgettable Alaskan adventure. Go hiking, ﬁshing, birding, boating, kayaking, or travel to other parts of the state. (907) 424-7260 or www.cordovachamber.com

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 Internet, 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) 784-7919; www. togiaklodge.com or llchinook@aol.com

CALIFORNIA

BIG SUR LODGE is located in ancient groves of redwood and oak trees in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur, California. Guests are invited to step back in time to an earlier, more peaceful era. Our 61 cottage-style guest rooms, each with its own deck or porch, are located on a hillside, within walking distance of our restaurant, gift shop, and grocery store. Your stay at the Big Sur Lodge includes free access to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Andrew Molera State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. (800) 4244787 or www.BigSurLodge.com

CAMBRIA CALIFORNIA — Nestled among towering pines and the shimmering sea on California’s Central Coast, Cambria is a picturesque village that unfolds along scenic Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Free of chain stores and brimming with charm, Cambria invites you to exit the beaten

shops, gourmet food and events like the Annual Art & Wine Festival in January 2017. 805-927-3624 or www.cambriachamber.org

THE CEDAR HOUSE SPORT HOTEL, located just outside the Historic Downtown District of Truckee, California, fuses innovative green architecture with the best of contemporary design. Described as a stunning combination of hip and organic, savvy and relaxing, The Cedar House incorporates a number of eco-friendly elements, bringing a fresh and environmentally conscience style to the Sierras. Featuring 42 rooms and suites, enjoy modern conveniences, from ﬂat screen TVs to plush linens. (866) 582-5655 or www.CedarHouseSportHotel.com

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

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

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

PAJARO DUNES RESORT — Hidden away in a coastal setting, this private gated community curves along the Monterey Bay. Our beach community is located between Santa Cruz and Monterey, California off the infamous Paciﬁc Coast Highway. Relax in one of our beautiful beach front homes, townhouses, condominiums with stunning views of rolling sand dunes and the calming Monterey Bay - available for vacation rentals and real estate sales. (800) 564-1771 or www.pajarodunes.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

WAIKIKI RESORT HOTEL puts you in the heart of Waikiki Hawaii, footsteps away from of silky, white sands, renowned shopping and incredible attractions and activities. The three-star Honolulu beach resort features 275 hotel rooms and suites, outﬁtted in tropics-inspired furnishings and deluxe amenities, including mini refrigerators, high-speed Internet access and 32” HD LCD TVs. Enjoy two onsite restaurants, bar and lounge, outdoor pool, spa, hotel shops and more. Consider Waikiki Resort Hotel when seeking hotels that offer comfort, convenience and value. Mention Booking code: 55 Plus (800-3675116) or http://www.waikikiresort. com/specials/senior-special

MONTANA

BIGHORN ANGLER — Hiring a guide is the best way to maximize your time fly fishing the Bighorn River in Fort Smith, Montana. Consisting of some of the most courteous and hardworking guides in Montana, the Bighorn Angler guide staff is second to none. Each guide is a highly accomplished angler and fly fishing instructor whose only goal is to ensure you have the fly fishing trip of a lifetime! Our all-inclusive packages include guided fly fishing, lodging and all meals. (406) 666-2233 or www.BIGHORNANGLER.COM

UTAH

LOGAN, UTAH — Plan your wintertime getaway to this beautiful high mountain valley. Rent snowmobiles or go snowshoeing, downhill skiing at two resorts, ice fishing and birdwatching. Or just cuddle up to a warm fire at a bed and breakfast, check out a live performance, or shop and dine at an array of restaurants. You can have all sorts of outdoor adventures, experience hands-on living history, and performing and fine arts. It’s a charming and affordable escape where we do winter right. Just 90 minutes north of Salt Lake City. (800) 882-4433 or www.explorelogan.com

RUBY’S INN is located at the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park and offers the closest lodging with everything from luxury hotel rooms to RV parks and campgrounds. Ruby’s Inn is open year-round with a General Store that provides fuel, groceries, camping gear, clothing and gifts. To plan your vacation, visit www.RubysInn.com or call 1-866-866-6616.

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

HOUSING & RELOCATION

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eo sugung alace is one of ﬁ e royal palaces in Seoul.

South Korea: From hanboks to headsets

Story by Andrea Gross; photographs by Irv Green

Flashback 60 years. Korea had barely recovered from a half-century of domination by the Japanese when it became ground ero for a contest between China and Russia to the north and United Nations forces to the south. The streets of eoul were filled with oxcarts, the buildings were pockmarked with shrapnel, and starving people, dressed in tattered hanboks, foraged in the country for food.

Today, the streets are filled with yundais, the buildings have been replaced with skyscrapers, and the country has morphed from one of the poorest in the world to one of the richest. Korea’s growth has been so extraordinary that it is commonly referred to as “The Miracle on the Han,” the an being a river that flows through the center of Seoul.

To accomplish such a miracle, a country needs folks who are driven. It also needs folks who are caffeinated. Fortunately, South Korea has both. And now it plans to use that energy to brag a bit, to invite others to learn about its prewar past and its remarkable present. It seems to be succeeding. National Geographic lists Seoul as one of the top go-to places for 2017.

Thus, here we are – tourists in the Land of the Morning Calm, which isn’t very calm at all. The only thing that’s calm is the traffic, which is calm because it s gridlocked to a standstill.

It takes us a while to acclimate. Few signs are written in English, few people speak English, and most are too rushed to try even if they can. But on the other

hand, its worth the trouble. Where else can you see a miracle still in the making?

We begin our exploration at Deoksugung alace, one of five royal homes in Seoul that served as the seat of government during the Joseon Dynasty (1392. t s here that we re able to glimpse the city’s transition from past to present. Seen from certain vantage points, the changing of the royal guard takes place in front of the stately gate of the ancient palace. From others, the drum rolls are backed by streets of distinctly modern buildings.

A short subway ride takes us to Bukchon Hanok Village, an authentic enclave of centuries-old homes (hanoks . any of the homes have been turned into guesthouses and cultural centers, and women stroll the streets dressed in colorful hanboks – short-jacketed, long-skirted dresses that date back thousands of years. No matter that the women are tourists who spent to rent a hanbok for four selfiefilled hours. They give the village a certain panache, and I’m delighted to revel in a picturesque version of Korea’s past. What’s more, off in the distance, framed by wing-roofed homes, I can see the highrises of downtown Seoul. This serves as yet another reminder of the miracle that has transformed the city.

We leave the past behind when we go to Hapjeong, a former riverfront neighborhood that is now dominated by Mecenatpolis Mall, a group of three towers that punch more than stories into the

in Korea.

gold staircase in Lotte orld all seems a ﬁtting metaphor for the chic district popularized by a South Korean rapper whose video “Gangnam Style” went viral.

air. On the streets people scurry about, a smart phone in one hand, a latte in the other. This is the home of the driven, folks who are harried as well as hurried.

But as we wander a few blocks downhill from the mall, we come upon a neighborhood that has yet to be renovated. It’s filled with homes that date back to the ’70s; some still have echoes of traditional architecture. The owner of a small cafe tells us that these buildings are slated to be torn down and replaced with modern skyscrapers filled with offices for tech-savvy geeks. “But,” he says, “others are betting it’ll become part of the area’s creative renaissance, a place for filmmakers, musicians and other artists. After all, Hapjeong is part of the new Seoul.”

Located across the Han River, Gangnam is the new Seoul on steroids. The people may be determined, but they’re also energi ed not only by the omnipresent coffee shops but also by a palpable enthusiasm that permeates the rarefied air.

A while back angnam was rice fields, but then came the 1988 Olympics and the rice fields became expensive real estate.

In 2012, a South Korean rapper named Psy released a song about the upscale neighborhood in which he grew up. After “Gangnam Style” was featured on a YouTube video that received a reputed billion hits, his old neighborhood became Seoul’s hippest hangout.

e ga e at tall skyscrapers, visit the largest underground shopping mall in Asia and wander through a ma e of upscale shops, galleries and restaurants that seems to go on forever.

It’s a far cry from the war-torn and depressed city of the ’50s. Korea has indeed leapfrogged from hanboks to headsets with unprecedented speed. It’s a miracle to be sure.

For more about Korea travel, go to our website, www.traveltizers.com

Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market

For

Entertainment

Crystal Clear

Billy Crystal on new tour and championing Muhammad Ali

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

world-renowned entertainer

Billy Crystal, the 2001 World Series was win-win. His money was behind the Arizona Diamondbacks as a minority owner, and his heart beat for his beloved New York Yankees.

“It was hard because, when we bought our way in, I had no thought in my mind that someday they’d be in the World Series together,” Crystal says. “That was a really hard World Series for me. It was an amazing World Series. It ended really well for my ownership part, but not my Yankee part. At one point, my wife said, ‘Look, we’re beating us.’”

The Tony and Emmy Award-winning comedian, actor, producer, writer and director will share stories like that one from his life during his “Spend the Night with Billy Crystal” tour, which comes to Symphony Hall on Sunday, Feb. 19.

“It’s a comedy concert in the guise of a talk show,” Crystal says. “I had a great relationship with David Letterman. When I’d go on Dave’s show, it would go off and it was wonderful form for me. It was very freeing.

“Well, I’ve expanded it to a full evening. I’m really on my feet more than I’m sitting down. It’s loose and I don’t know where it’s going to go a lot of the times.”

Crystal has a lot to say to his fans via “Spend the Night.”

“There’s so much going on in the world and my world,” he said. “Now, at the age of 68 — I almost choked when I said that, by the way — there are things I want to talk about. There are my four grandchildren and the world that we’re going to hand over to them that I’m concerned about. There are so many funny ways of looking at life now. I have so much fun doing the show and audiences seem to really love this

“My experiences with Ali have always been wonderful,” Crystal says.

intimate, informal approach to doing a comedy show.”

“Even in my early days of standup, when I was being formed, as they say, I naturally became more of a storyteller than a joke guy. I’m very comfortable with that. That’s why I think 700 Sundays, my Broadway show, was such a great, satisfying experience for me and my audiences.

t was really stories filled with humor and jokes, but you didn’t see them coming. They just sort of happen. I grew up in a house with relatives who were great storytellers. They would even find humor in how they came to this country. There’s nothing funny about running for the border, but my relatives would find something funny about it. I think I’m just sort of carrying on their tradition.”

These days he finds himself also entertaining grandchildren, ages 13, 10, 7 and 4, and two daughters.

“Watching my grandchildren grow is the greatest joy of all,” he says.

“I was very close with my grandparents. It was a different time. They didn’t come to my baseball

games. We, on the other hand, don’t miss anything. We love watching them develop and helping them make the right choices. I get such a great satisfaction watching my kids raise their children, then we — me and Janice, my wife of almost 47 years — feel like we did a good job. That’s the most wonderful thing of all.”

Crystal will return to the Valley on March 18 for Celebrity Fight Night, an event and cause that he has long championed. This year’s event will be bittersweet as it is the first without its founder, Muhammad Ali. Throughout Celebrity Fight Night’s 23-year history, $127 million has been raised, with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute as a significant beneficiary.

“My experiences with Ali and Fight Night have always been so wonderful,” he says. “He was always there, though. I was honored to be one of his eulogists at his memorial at his request. I did my first television show ever with him and we became really great friends.

“We have to keep his legacy going, which is what I know he wanted. It’ll be hard. The world is harder without him. Even in his silence of the last, at least, 10 years, where he didn’t speak, his presence was this magical silent Buddha for us. He was still there. He wouldn’t want us to be sad right now. So we’ll have our laughs. We’ll remember him always and we’ll celebrate him. It can’t be a downer. It has to be what it started out as — a celebration in his honor.”

“Spend the Night with Billy Crystal” is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at Phoenix Symphony Hall, 100 N. Third St., Phoenix. Tickets are $60-$150. For more information, call 877-840-0457 or phoenix.ticketforce. com. For information about Celebrity Fight ight isit celebrityﬁghtnight.org.

Calendar of events

February 2017

February 1 Wednesday

East Valley Friends and Neighbors, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 2024 E. University Dr., Mesa, call for charge, 480-828-5146, evfanaz.org, evfanaz@gmail.com. A nonreligious and nonpartisan group, East Valley Friends and Neighbors welcomes residents who wish to get acquainted with others and to participate in social, educational, and charitable activities.

Find Relief from Anxiety, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Stretch Your Grocery Dollar, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

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

The National Organization for Women (NOW) SC/WV Chapter Meeting, 1 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 17540 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, free, 623-972-6273, aznow-scwv.org. The movie “My Left Foot” will be shown and discussed.

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

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

American Songbook Concert with Stan Foster, 7 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $10, 480-832-9003.

February 2 Thursday

Is Exercise a Real Pain in the Knee? 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., HonorHealth Orthopedic Institute, 20401 N. 73rd St., Suite 130, Scottsdale, reservations required, 623-5805800, honorhealth.com/events.

February 2 Thursday

Meditation for healing, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., repeats Feb. 16, Deer Valley Medical Center, Medical Building 1, 19841 N. 27th Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, 623-780-4673, honorhealth.com/ events.

Merrymakers Ballroom Dance with Route 66 Trio, 7 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 members, $8, nonmembers, 480-654-1994.

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

February 3 Friday

Chubby Checker, 8 p.m., Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, $29-$70, 800-WIN-GILA, wingilariver.com.

Euchre and Mahjongg, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays, Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480325-4707.

February 4 Saturday

George Lopez and DL Hughley, 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, $46-$96, 602267-1600, ext. 1, celebritytheatre.com.

February 4 Saturday

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

Casino Night, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Red Mountain Active Adult Center inside the Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, 7550 E. Adobe St., Mesa, free, 21 and older, evadultresources.org.

February 5 Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday!

February 6 Monday

Dancing with SV Stars Show, 7 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $15, 480-832-9003. Features the Utah Ballroom Dance Company.

Caps for the Cure Knitting/Crocheting Group, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707. The group makes red baby caps for Heart Health Month.

February 7 Tuesday

What is a Carbohydrate? 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Deer Valley Medical Center, Medical Ofﬁce Building One, 19841 N. 27th Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623-5805800, honorhealth.com/events.

February 7 Tuesday

Heart of a Woman Educational Support Group, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

February 8 Wednesday

Get to the Heart of the Matter, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Kidney Smart with DaVita, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, reservations required, 480-325-4707.

February 9 Thursday

Peripheral Vascular Disease, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Civic Center Library Auditorium, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., lower level, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Are You Living with Shoulder Pain? 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., HonorHealth Orthopedic Institute, 20401 N. 73rd St., Suite 130, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

February 9 Thursday

Merrymakers Ballroom Dance with Swing Memories Big Band, 7 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 members, $8 non-members, 480-654-1994. Movie and Popcorn with “Love Finds You in Valentine,” 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

February 10 Friday

Euchre and Mahjongg, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays, Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480325-4707.

Sun City Christian Women’s Brunch, 9 a.m., Sun City Country Club, 9433 N. 107th Ave., Sun City, $15, Miriam, 623414-1451, Judy, 623-444-4293 or Winnie at mwholick@gmail. com. Afﬁliated with Stonecroft Ministries, the event features guest speaker and football player Derik Hines, soloist Wayne Kimdall and Ed Allen of the Sun City Historical Society.

February 11 Saturday

Sun City Fine Art Show and Sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., repeats Feb. 12, Bell Recreation Center, 16820 N. 99th Ave., Sun City, free admission, 623-551-0402. More than 3,500 people are expected to peruse the more than 240 paintings by residents.

...continues on page 30

February 11 Saturday

North Valley Symphony Orchestra Fundraising Gala, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Moon Valley Country Club, 151 W. Moon Valley Dr., Phoenix, $75, northvalleysymphony.org. The event will feature celebrity emcee Caribe Devine, 12 News anchor and meteorologist. The program will also include music director Kevin Kozacek giving NVSO history and plans. Attendees will have a variety of silent auction items to consider, including two roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines, a violin hand-made especially for the event by Jody Summerford, a variety of restaurant gift cards, an entertainment package by Agave String Quartet, and themed baskets.

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?, 10 a.m. to noon, repeats Feb. 25, Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

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

February 12 Sunday

The Scottsdale Philharmonic Concert, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, $15 for preferred seating, scottsdalephilharmonic.com. Performing: Wagner: Overture to Tannhauser; Mozart: Symphony #40 in G minor; Respighi: Pines of Rome.

February

13 Monday

Freedom from Smoking, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through March 27, Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center Campus, 7301 E. Fourth St., Suite 4, Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Sun Lakes Democratic Club, 7 p.m., Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 E. Sun Lakes Blvd., North, Navajo Room, Sun Lakes, nonperishable food or cash donation, 480-200-3322.

Anne L. Schneider, a retired ASU political science professor, will outline a 50-week plan of activism for those who want to stand up and speak out on the issues of the day.

Quilting Group, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

February 14 Tuesday

Esteban, 7 p.m., Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, $30-$45, 480-350-2822, tempe.gov.

“Valentine’s Day Love with Esteban” features guitarist Esteban, violinist Teresa Joy and a full band.

Myron Sommerfeld and His Orchestra, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $8, 480357-1148.

February 15 Wednesday

National Active and Retired Federal Employee Association (NARFE) Chapter 1395 Meeting, 11 a.m., Brothers Family Restaurant, 8466 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria, charge for lunch, reservations required, 623-935-4681, deb.at.narfe@ gmail.com. The scheduled speaker will be Cathy Gaudio from Experience Matters.

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

Healthy Nutrition for Pets with Mary DeRoche, 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Dessert Show with Mark Cordes, The Spouse Whisperer, 6 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $16, 480-832-9003.

February 16 Thursday

Veterans Job Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., University of Phoenix Stadium, 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, free, recruitmilitary.com. RecruitMilitary helps military veterans and military spouses connect with employers that seek to attract, hire and retain America’s best talent. This is a free hiring event for veterans, transitioning military personnel, National Guard members, reserve members and spouses.

February 16 Thursday

Merrymakers Ballroom Dance with Tuxedo Junction, 7 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 members, $8, nonmembers, 480-654-1994.

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

February 17 Friday

Friday Night Dance with The Breeze, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $7 in advance, $8 at the door, 480-832-9003.

Birthday Celebration/Ice Cream Social, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Euchre and Mahjongg, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays, Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480325-4707.

East Valley Pops Orchestra, 7 p.m., Red Mountain Active Adult Center inside Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, 7550 E. Adobe St., Mesa, $6 in advance, $8 at the door, evadultresources.org. The East Valley Pops Orchestra is a 60-plus member orchestra founded in 1982. ...continues on page 31

February 18 Saturday

Cheech Marin and Paul Rodriguez, 7:30 p.m., ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe, $20-$120, 800745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

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

February 19 Sunday

Billy Crystal, 8 p.m., Phoenix Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix, $60-$150, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com, dannyzeliskopresents.com.

February 20 Monday

Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group, 10 a.m. to noon, Cowden Center, 9202 N. Second St., Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623-870-6300, honorhealth.com/events.

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

February 21 Tuesday

Varicose Veins, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale, reservations required, 623-580-5800, honorhealth.com/events.

Banner Brain Health Program, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, reservations required, 480-325-4707.

February 22 Wednesday

Listen up! Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Cowden Center (John C. Lincoln Medical Center campus), 9202 N. Second St., Phoenix, free, reservations required, 623-870-6300, honorhealth.com/events.

Eating Out the Healthy Way, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Health Cooking Demo with Chef Christine Elzy, MS, Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

February 23 Thursday

Catholic Daughters Court #2278’s Rummage Sale, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., through Feb. 25, Our Lady of Lourdes’ Madonna Hall, 19002 N. 128th Ave., Sun City West, free admission, 623-322-4139. There will be a huge selection of furniture, clothing, shoes, purses, housewares, bedding, electronics, craft items, tools and books. Baked goods will be sold. Lunch will be served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Special bargains on Saturday.

Merrymakers Ballroom Dance with DK Orchestra, 7 p.m., Las Palmas Grand, 2550 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, $7 members, $8 non-members, 480-654-1994.

February 23 Thursday

Battling the Aging Brain, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

Introducing Go365 by Humana, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, reservations required, 480-325-4707. Open to Humana Medicare Advantage members only.

Movie and Popcorn with “The Magniﬁcent Seven,” 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

February 24 Friday

Wellness Screening, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center, 7400 E. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, free, reservations required, 623-5805800, honorhealth.com/events.

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

NHRA Arizona Nationals, 9:30 a.m., Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Rd., Chandler, $20$61, racewildhorse.ticketforce.com.

February 25 Saturday

Jeff Dunham, 5 p.m., Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson, Phoenix, $33.50-$46.50, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

NHRA Arizona Nationals, 9:30 a.m., Wild Horse Pass

Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Rd., Chandler, $20$86, racewildhorse.ticketforce.com.

February 26 Sunday

NHRA Arizona Nationals, 9 a.m., Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Rd., Chandler, $49$91, racewildhorse.ticketforce.com.

February 27 Monday

Quilting Group, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Humana Mesa Center, 5943 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, free, 480-325-4707.

February 28 Tuesday

Super ’60s Show and Dance with Six Feet Up Band, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunland Village Auditorium, 4601 E. Dolphin Ave., Mesa, $10, 480-832-9003.

Moonlight Serenade Dinner Dance, 5 p.m., Leisure World, Rec. 2 Hopi Pima Room, 908 S. Power Rd., Mesa, $70 per couple by Feb. 18, 515-313-3929, moonlightserenade@cox.net, moonlightserenade. yolasite.com. The Howard Schneider Orchestra will provide the music, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is set for 6:30 p.m. Dress is formal.

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In My Life Beatles show pays tribute to the phenomenon of Beatlemania

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Andy Nagle has been fascinated with the story behind Beatlemania.

“I’ve been in music for a while and have never seen anything like the fascination and love for The Beatles,” Nagle says. “They are the most popular tribute in the world — more popular than Elvis, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.”

He is one of the folks in the music business whose tribute show has flourished. e is the cowriter/producer behind “In My Life,” a musical retelling of The Beatles’ story through the eyes of manager Brian Epstein. The Long Beach, California-based show features the live music of renowned tribute band Abbey Road, featuring Chris Paul Overall (Paul), Nathaniel Bott (John), Zak Schaffer (George) and Axel Clarke (Ringo). Murphy Martin plays Epstein. The production includes multimedia, period costumes and vintage instruments.

“I always wondered about what it is like to witness Beatlemania from The Beatles’ perspective,” says Nagle, who wrote the show with longtime friend Tom Maher. “I wanted

to look inside of the whole tidal wave that went on for nine or 10 years. We researched it and I read every book from sources who were there — everybody from studio engineers to the Beatles themselves.

“When we saw events described two to three times by different sources, we would go with that.”

Nagle hired Martin to play Epstein and to narrate the show. He meets The Beatles at the Cavern Club at the beginning of the show, while the musicians were still donning black leather jackets and smoking on stage.

“Brian went into the Cavern Club and was impressed with them,” Nagle says. “He told them he wanted to be their manager. He was only 26 years old and didn’t have experience in the business. But he understood they had a real ability to connect with the audience.

“He also cleaned them up — wearing the matching suits and adding the synchronized bows at the end of songs.”

The phenomenon was “crunched” into a two-hour script, he says.

“The show has 33 songs in it,” he says. “So as the story goes, people not only get to hear The Beatles’ music, people get an understanding as to why the songs came and went on that particular point of their career.”

An important part of the Sunday, March 12 show at the Herberger Theater Center is the string quartet of teens from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. Seniors Alex Garza and Cameron Whyte and sophomores Davis Whyte and Austin Thurman will join the band for the songs “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yesterday,” “A Day in the Life,” “Hello Goodbye” and “Hey Jude.”

“Yesterday” is played as a scene in which the Paul McCartney character plays the song for the first time for eatles producer eorge Martin, with the songwriter explaining he envisioned a string-quartet accompaniment.

“We hired a local high school string quartet to bring in string accompaniment for some of the songs,” he says. “It’s nice musically because Beatles fans don’t get the chance to experience Beatles songs performed that require strings.

‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Yesterday’ are the songs that really come alive in the theater because of the kids. It’s a nice thing for the audience and for the kids. For a lot of the kids, this is their first hired gig. They get to see how a touring show operates from the inside.”

The permanent cast members are all in their s and s, to accurately reflect the time in which “In My Life” is set.

“We tried to cast people who can act and perform the music and sound like The Beatles,” he says. “We’ve learned so much about the Beatles and how they’re still loved.

“My four musician/actors who play The Beatles, none of them were born when the Beatles broke up. People respect that, and they come to the meet and greet to tell us they still love the Beatles, even though they broke up 45 years ago.”

“In My Life — A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles” comes to the Herberger Theater Center at 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix, at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 12. Tickets are $46-$75. For more information, call 602-254-7399 or visit herbergertheater.org.

Villas by Mary T.~ Casa Grande

Independent senior living at its best!

Our pet friendly, 55+ Community offers spacious 1-level rental townhomes with private entrance and patio, attached garage, large heated pool and spa, and a variety of social, recreational, and educational activities.

Our Casa Grande community is centrally located between Phoenix and Tucson.

Fort McDowell Casino

Bingo Happenings - February 2017

Mesa Adult Center

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

WHEN: Seven days a week, various times

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

COST: Charge for cards

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

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino

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

WHEN: Seven days a week, various times

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

COST: $2 to $32

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

Lone Butte Casino

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

WHEN: Seven days a week, various times

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

COST: $2 to $32

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

Sunland Village East

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

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

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

Beuf Senior Center

Moneyball, 10 regular games plus double action.

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

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

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

INFO: 602-534-9743

Chandler Senior Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

Entertainment

Peoria Community Center

Prize money will vary based on attendance.

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

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

Community Bingo

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

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

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

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

INFO: 623-512-8878

Sun Lakes VFW Post 8053

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

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

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

Sunland Village

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

WHEN: Thursdays

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

Palmas del Sol

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

WHEN: Thursdays at 6:30 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

Las Palmas Grand Bingo

WHEN: Monday Night

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

INFO: 480-357-1148

Snack Bar: Opens 5:00 PM Early Bird Session: 6:30 PM

Games: Double action, Betty Boop, $1,000 progressive jackpot with additional number added each week, with a $300 Consolation Prize.

Pay out $70, Early Bird; $100 Regular Game

Brownies, caramel a yummy pairing

By Jan D’Atri

Thismonth, with Valentine’s Day, is made for chocolate lovers. By all means, give chocolate as a Valentine’s Day gift, but if you do happen to have any chocolates left over after this sweet holiday, I have the perfect idea: Turn them into “Ellie Cakes.”

That’s what Elyse Judd’s mom did. She would add them to pieces of brownies that didn’t quite come out of the pan perfectly. She called them “Ellie Cakes” and made them an heirloom treasure.

Phoenix resident Elyse Judd shares the story:

“Mom would take the broken pieces of brownies that didn’t come out of the pan in perfect squares and any leftover chocolates we had on hand and she would freeze them for a few hours. Then she would cut them up into little squares and pile them on top of the brownies that did come out in perfect squares, using caramel sauce as the glue! It was my favorite treat ever, so Mom named them Ellie Cakes!”

‘Ellie Cakes’: Chocolate Brownies with Caramel Sauce Drizzle

Brownie Ingredients:

1 box devil’s food cake mix

1 box brownie mix

3 eggs

1 ½ cups water

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons strong coffee or 2 teaspoons instant espresso

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2 tablespoons Hershey’s chocolate syrup (optional)

1 bag (8 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 ½ cups chopped walnuts, divided caramel sauce to drizzle

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 shallow baking dish. (Elyse’s mom used a jelly-roll baking sheet or quartersheet pan).

Mix together package of dry devil’s food cake mix, brownie mix, eggs, water, oil, coffee, cocoa, chocolate syrup,

Jan’s Notes:

As if homemade brownies aren’t delicious enough, Ellie Cakes take them to a yummy new level. Thanks, Elyse, for a sweetheart of an idea!

chocolate chips and 1 cup of the walnuts until well blended. Reserve ½ cup walnuts for topping. Bake according to brownie mix package instructions. Do not overbake brownies. When cool, cut in squares. Place 3-4 squares in freezer. When hardened, cut into ½-inch cubes. Drizzle a small amount of caramel sauce over brownies. Place frozen brownie cubes and walnuts over top.

Caramel Sauce Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup boiling water

1 tablespoons butter ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

In a skillet or small pot, combine sugar, boiling water, butter, vanilla and salt. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar, and cool until thickened. Do not burn bottom of pan.

I love these Ellie Cakes and wanted to share some tips for making perfect brownies. If you have a pure convection element in your oven, use it. It will give you the best even cooking. Also, it’s hard to tell when brownies are done. When the aroma of chocolate coming from the oven hits me, I know the brownies are just about done. Halfway through the baking process, I open the oven and gently pat the top of the brownies. That deflates the air bubble on top and can tell if the brownies are done.

Who said chivalry is dead? How to make a living as a knight-in-armor

By Kenneth LaFave

Herises on a workday morning and dons his armor — all 100 pounds of it. Then it’s off to ride, pounding the turf from the back of a half-draft steed 16 hands high. Warmed up, he proceeds to the core of his job: unseating mounted opponents in a joust.

Face it: You may be cool, but you’ll never be as cool as a 50-year-old man who makes his living as a jousting knight.

“It’s the best job in the world,” says Matthew Mansour, also known as Sir Maxximilian, the Jousting Earl of Braden.

Hard to argue.

Mansour and other jousters will provide the entertainment three times daily at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. The festival, a celebration of all things 15th and 16th century, will take place Saturdays and Sundays Feb. 11 to April 2, plus Presidents Day, Feb. 20, at its usual site, a sprawling desert space located on U.S. Highway 60, east of Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon.

The jousts take place throughout the day, while elsewhere in the festival jugglers are juggling, acrobats are acrobating, and throngs of people are paying to shoot arrows, throw axes, gawk at a gallery of ancient torture devices and find their way through a maze.

Welcome to life circa 1500, as reimagined circa 1963. That was the year the first public enaissance faire of record was held in Laurel Canyon, California. Since then, the production of festivals commemorating the arts and lifestyles of Renaissance-era Europe has proliferated into a high-profile business, with virtually every state in the union sponsoring one.

Mansour got into the business via his love for horses, though he hails from just about the last place you’d imagine would be home to a future knightin-armor anhattan, specifically midtown between Ninth and 10th avenues, or what used to be called “Hell’s Kitchen.” Horses and New York City?

Matthew

Mansour, 50, calls his job as Sir Maxximilian, the Jousting Earl of Braden, the “best job in the world.”

“There are actually about 500 horses in Manhattan,” Mansour says, “including police horses and Central Park carriages.”

One day when he was 12, young Matthew was walking down Ninth Avenue when he encountered a lifechanging sight.

“A horse was pulling a stagecoach, and I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen,” Mansour recalls.

The stagecoach was a promotion for a Western-style restaurant. Matthew walked right up to the driver and asked if he could work for him. e got his first job:

“I would wash the horses while the drivers sat in the bar waiting for the next ride.”

It turned out Mansour was a natural rider and he grew into a horseman. When a driver mentioned he was starting a jousting show at the New York Renaissance Faire, Mansour tagged along and signed up for the gig. But it wasn’t so easy. It took about a year to learn to joust, training first with the lance on the ground, without armor, then adding the armor and finally practicing from on horseback. Add to that the skills of an actor maintaining the character and behavior of a knight.

established. And the jousters really do try to hit as hard as they can to knock their opponent off his horse. That’s why they need real armor, which can cost between $4,000 and $10,000.

As “Sir Maxximilian” (the two Xs are there, he says, because his character is “a little bit dirty”), Mansour dresses in black and owns the persona of a “bad guy.” But sometimes the “bad guy” will win. For those among us with daydreams of an era gone by, anyone on horseback in armor is always a winner.

Arizona Renaissance Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Feb. 11 to April 16, and Presidents’ Day on Feb. 20. The grounds are located at 12601 E. U.S. Highway 60, Gold Canyon. Ticket prices vary; for more information, visit renfestinfo.com or call 520-463-2600.

Where is home?

“This is what I do. I am a professional jouster,” he says. He’s also a professional businessman who owns the company providing jousting entertainment for the Arizona festival and three other fairs.

“I live where the fair is,” he says, expressing a true wanderlust. That means Mansour will live east of Phoenix through early April, then go to Los Angeles, followed by fairs in the Chicago/Milwaukee area and finally, Charlotte, North Carolina. Each commitment lasts about two and a half months.

“This is what I do. I am a 14,

“I am totally mobile,” he says, happily.

Mansour is also training his two sons, age 14, to grow up to be jousters.

Over the years, Mansour has experienced a broken arm and “a few concussions” from his time on horseback with a lance. The sport — if that’s what it is — is for real, not staged. The winner is not pre-

Managing diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar due to a problem with insulin. Insulin is a hormone which your body produces to lower blood sugar. Diabetes is characterized as either a decrease in the amount of insulin your body produces and/or by an inadequate response from your body to insulin. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes there are many ways that you can stay healthy. Listed below are steps that can help you reduce your blood sugar.

Understand carbohydrates

An important aspect to managing blood sugar is understanding carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are a component of food that causes your blood sugar to increase. There are three types of carbohydrates: starches, sugars and fiber. n general, fiber is the best of the three as it helps you feel full for a longer amount of time. Starches and sugar do not have this effect. Ideally you want to consume starches along with high fiber and try to minimize your sugar intake.

Carbohydrates are found in bread, rice, grains, sugar sweetened beverages and sugar sweetened foods. The easiest way to track carbohydrates in your diet is to read the nutrition label. A nutrition label must include the total carbohydrates in the food product. The total carbohydrates will include fiber, sugar and starch so you don’t have to add up the three different numbers.

Choose your foods

Listed below are four steps you can take to improve your diet.

1. Switch from eating white bread and white rice to whole grain products. Whole grain products will contain less sugar and more fiber.

2. One of the easiest ways to reduce blood sugar is to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you drink. If you were to cut a can of soda from your diet, you would reduce your carbohydrate intake by 39 grams. As a reference, in general, diabetic adults you should be having approximately 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal. You can also switch to diet soda products which offer similar tastes without the sugar.

3. Just because you need to be careful about what you eat doesn’t mean you can’t eat what you want. Reducing your portion size allows you to eat the

foods you want while still controlling blood sugars.

4. The balance meal plate is a great method to help choose your foods wisely. This method recommends filling half of a -inch diameter plate with fruits and vegetables, a quarter of the plate with lean meat and the other quarter with carbohydrates that contain to grams of fiber.

Exercise

Physical activity is an important part of managing diabetes. By exercising

your muscles you will use up the sugar in your blood for energy. By performing physical activity on a consistent basis your body will begin to use blood sugars more efficiently. The more intense the activity, the better the effects, but even simple activities such as walking, gardening or cleaning the house can have a positive benefit.

As exercising can immediately impact blood sugar speak with your doctor or pharmacist with recommendations on how to manage your blood sugar when starting an exercise regimen.

Manage your medications

Your medications all work differently to help reduce your blood sugar. Knowing how and when to take your medications will maximize the benefits you obtain from them. ome medications have to be taken with food. Your Walgreens pharmacist can help you sort through your medication and can even give you a printed list of all the medications you are currently taking! For more information on how to manage diabetes, talk to your Walgreens pharmacist today.

Entertainment

And Still Looking the Best Ever.

EverybodyTrivia Contest by Kenneth LaFave

knows these two things about February: It is the shortest month of the year, and it brings us Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). But did you know it’s the only month that can pass without a full moon? That its mispronunciation (Feb-YOU-ary instead of Feb-ROO-ary) comes from an effect called “dissimilation”? A-ha! Didn’t think so.

The possibility of no full moon stems from February’s brevity of only 28 days. A full moon arrives every 29.53 days, so it is possible to have a full moon on Jan. 31, and not to experience another until March 1. (This will happen in 2018.) “Dissimilation” is a linguistic phenomenon that occurs when two “r” sounds are so close together — as in the two middle syllables of “February” — that the tongue slips and pronounces only one of them.

The name “February” comes from a Latin word meaning purification, as someone purifies after a long period of activity, in preparation for what’s ahead. So, what’s it doing in second place, after January? You see, the Romans started their year in March, or springtime. So February was the last month.

If you know a third thing about this month, it’s that alone among the others, it is longer by one day every four years. The years in which February has 29 days are called “leap years.” These are also the years in which U.S. presidential elections are held, so if 2016 seemed longer than most years, that was no illusion — it really was.

February Questions:

1In what year did the Super Bowl move from the last Sunday of January to the ﬁrst Sunday of February?

2The third weekend of February commemorates a certain drink. What is it?

3What country dissolved in February of 1990?

4Who declared the ﬁrst Leap Day?

5Valentine’s Day substitutes for what mid-February Roman holiday, which also celebrated romantic love?

To enter:

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

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

Or email your entry to: trivia@lovinlife.com

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

For February, one reader in Tucson and another in Phoenix will win a certiﬁcate for a one-night stay at InnSuites. Contest Prizes

The winners received one family four-pack of tickets each — two adults and two child admissions to the Arizona Renaissance Festival.

Maria Gallardo of Tucson

Mary Lou Johnston of Mesa

Answers

January 2017 Winners Last Month’s

1Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth I, was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn.

2A chamfron is the armor for a horse’s head.

3A greyhound is most depicted in coats of arms.

4Shakespeare worked with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

5Edward VI succeeded Henry VIII to the throne.

Don’t get stuck with Medicare late fees

By Greg Dill

This past holiday season, I found myself in line at the airport counter, waiting to check a bag prior to a flight to visit family and friends. The gentleman in front of me got frustrated when the customer agent said he had to pay more to check a bag because he hadn’t paid for it online beforehand.

I could relate to his irritation because I’d had a similar experience years ago. But I was late for my plane and hoped the situation would be remedied soon. After talking to a manager and reviewing the terms of the ticket purchase, the man paid the extra fee. The rest of us in line sighed quiet relief as the clock ticked down to our departure times. The gentleman’s reaction made me think of a edicare beneficiary encountered a while back. He’d decided not to enroll in Medicare Part B, which helps pay for doctor fees, outpatient treatment, and preventivecare services, when he was first eligible.

At the time, he declined his art benefits, he was in good health. He rarely saw a doctor, didn’t take prescription drugs, and never had been admitted to a hospital. Part B carries a monthly premium (about $109 for most people in 2017), and the man didn’t think he should pay for something he didn’t need. Several years later his health declined and he wanted Part B. He signed up in March but learned that his coverage wouldn’t start until uly. And since he waited five years to enroll after he was initially eligible (and didn’t have job-based insurance during that time), he discovered that he’d have to pay a late penalty equal to 50 percent of his monthly premium.

He was very surprised, to say the least. He reached out to Medicare to reduce the penalty, but unfortunately, we couldn’t do anything to help. hen the beneficiary turned down art five years earlier, he signed a document explaining the penalty and the potential for higher costs. He now must pay this surcharge on his Part B premium for as long as he has Part B. Why does Medicare have such penalties? Like private insurance, Medicare spreads its costs across a “pool” of insured people that includes both those who are healthy and those with medical problems. Lateenrollment penalties are meant to ensure that people join the risk pool when they’re

healthy, not just when they get sick. Thus, premiums paid by healthy people help offset the costs of those with illnesses, keeping the program’s overall expenses as low as possible for everyone.

Late-enrollment penalties can add

up. Your Part B premium may go up 10 percent for each full 12-month period that you could’ve had Part B but didn’t sign up for it. (You don’t usually pay a late penalty if you defer Part B while you’re covered by employer insurance.)

So please remember: If you don’t sign up for art when you re first eligible, you may have to pay the late penalty for as long as you have Part B.

Late penalties also apply to Medicare Part A, which covers hospitalization. Although the majority of people with Medicare don’t pay for Part A, those who do must sign up when they re first eligible or face a potential penalty.

You can also be penalized for late enrollment in Medicare Part D, which helps pay for prescription drugs. The way it’s calculated is more complicated than Part B, but this penalty can add up. For details, see the 2017 Medicare & You handbook, mailed to every person with Medicare in the fall. It’s also online at https://www.medicare.gov/ pubs/pdf/10050-Medicare-and-You.pdf. Or call us, toll free, any time of day or night, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and the aciﬁc erritories.

columns Aging Today

A Valentine vow: Protect our elderly loved ones

By Bob Roth, Managing Partner Cypress HomeCare Solutions

it me or do you also feel like Valentine’s Day is officially on steroids ack in the day, flowers or candy for your sweetheart and done! The good news is that this day is not exclusively for lovers anymore. m uite pleased with the evolution, another allmark holiday to pause and appreciate our loved ones. Awash in pink and red and covered with hearts, eb. is bigger, but it could get better. ow d like to ask cupid to readjust his aim. Let s T T (turn back time alentine s Day to celebrate our elderly loved ones.

The most common expression of love for our aging loved ones is our concern for their safety and well-being. There is no greater way to honor and protect the previous generations than by embracing this role reversal with fervor. umor helps

and m about to get absolutely giddy this alentine s Day, drawing on my inspiration the classic candy conversation heart.

magine if we could open the little cardboard box with the cellophane window and pour out reminders that will help protect our aging loved ones. iss me and Call me are nice sentiments, but how many grown adults in the caregiving role need reminders to kiss or call their parents o without further ado, present conversation candy hearts to protect our aging adult population

Grab me: rab bars are a must safety addition to bathrooms.

Check fridge: ery telling for signs of dementia or anorexia.

H2O: Dehydration is a very real concern. Don’t slip: revent falls by reviewing

common household ha ards.

Med check: s there is a system in place for medication reminders

Med cabinet: Cross reference all prescription and nonprescription medication for potential drug interactions.

Keys, please: nspect the car for signs that it may be time to consider alternate transportation.

Eye adore you: ye exams and checking that old glasses are out of reach.

Hear for you: s time for a hearing aid

Buddy system: Caregivers can be effective advocates for medical visits.

Bite me: ow is your aging loved one s oral health and hygiene

Hello, beautiful: ow is their overall grooming and hygiene

That hurts: Check for signs of elder abuse.

Write on: mportant health care documents

. ealth care proxy (health care power-ofattorney agent makes health care decisions on your behalf when you can no longer

. Authori ation to release health care information

. Living will (health care directive

. ersonal medical history

. nsurance card ( edicare, edicaid, independent

. Long-term care insurance policy

. ritten list of prescription medications

Where’s the $$: ital financial documents include

. List of all bank accounts

. ension documents, (k information and annuity contracts

. Tax returns

. avings bonds, stock certificates or brokerage accounts

. artnership and corporate operating agreements

. Deeds to all property

. ehicle title

. Documentation of loans and debts, including all credit accounts

. Durable financial power-of-attorney (financial proxy

My mystery: List of safety deposit boxes with location and keys and usernames and passwords.

LOL ncourage laughter, often the best medicine.

Trust me: rotect your loved ones from being the victim of exploitation.

d like to recirculate the vintage hug

me Think about the fact that nearly one third of the -and-older population lives alone and may not experience the healing properties of human touch on a regular basis. o in the spirit of t. alentine, the day in which we make no apologies for wearing our hearts on our sleeves, find an aging adult to hug and vow to lovingly protect them.

Bear Market Report

Are your investments beginning to spring a leak?

By Teresa Bear

It had served for over 40 years, but it had a crack. It was leaking. It was time for a replacement. I had no idea how to choose a new one. Fortunately, I had the Internet. Turning to YouTube, I typed in the search terms “How to Choose a Toilet.” After watching a couple of videos, I was positive that I was now an expert on the subject. Little did I know, the journey was just beginning.

One thing I learned from the videos was that my old model was a “standard height.” However, because I’m not getting any younger, and it will only get harder – not easier – to get up as I get older, I wanted the ADA-compliant “chair height” model with an elongated bowl.

Armed with this information and the specs for my home, I went to Home Depot’s website to search for my new throne. Putting in my search parameters yielded 164 items. Yikes! Online shopping wasn’t going to work. Our next step was a family outing. Fortunately, there were not 164 models displayed in the store, but walking down the aisle was still confusing. They all looked the same. If they were all the same, should we buy the cheapest model? Would the most expensive be the highest quality? I wanted the best value for my money. It was time for competent human help.

We found “Tom” to assist us. He listened to our needs. I was concerned about comfort, but my husband was all about performance. Because new models are required to use about two thirds less water than our 1972 design, he wanted a good strong “whoosh” when we flushed. Tom told us about the great toilet that he had for his home (while whispering a confession that he bought it at Lowe’s). He also stated that unlike Home Depot, Lowe’s had nice comparison charts to help consumers choose the right model. We

were almost ready to head for Lowe’s when Tom went above and beyond the call of duty. At the risk of reprimand from his manager, he began opening boxes. Finally, he found the model that he used in his home.

What does this toilet tale have to do with financial planning Lots! As people near retirement, the investments that served them while they were working begin to spring leaks. They search for portfolios that are easier to get up from when the market falls. They also find that it s much more challenging to find high performance investments when interest rates are significantly lower than in the past.

In this search, I learned that it is vital to have a “Tom” in your corner. In the financial planning world, a fiduciary is legally obligated to put your needs and best interests ahead of their own. This person navigates the overwhelming sea of sameness among investment options to find the right one to meet your unique needs.

In case you’re wondering, the toilet that we choose was the American Standard Champion 4.

Teresa Bear, CFP, CPA (TeresaBear.com 480-503-0050) specializes in retirement planning and asset preservation for retirees and those about to retire. Investment advisory services provided by Brookstone Capital Management LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. Neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in providing accounting, legal, investment or other professional services through the publication of this article. This is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation or recommendation of any investment strategy. Investments and/or investment strategies involve risk including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives.

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A new frontier

The moon landing and the rise of stem cells for COPD treatment

By Cameron Kennerly

OnJuly 20, 1969, America did the impossible: It landed two men on the moon. To say this was an unfathomable concept for its time would be an understatement. In a time where basic computers filled entire buildings, the technology and know-how to launch a manned flight seemed decades beyond our grasp.

In one of the seminal triumphs of mankind, America pushed the bounds of innovation as the world watched in awe. Today we face a new frontier treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (C D , and thanks to clinics such as the Lung nstitute (lunginstitute.com the solution may have just landed.

Across the globe, million people suffer from COPD, and that number is rising. As a degenerative lung disease that develops from prolonged smoking or extended exposure to other air pollutants,

a declining uality of life is an unfortunate reality. ith no known cure, treatment options are often disappointingly limited, and traditional medications fail to address more than the relief of symptoms.

Today in the field of medicine, something exciting is happening. sing stem cells extracted from a patient’s own blood or bone marrow, clinics like the Lung nstitute are using these specialized cells to promote the body’s natural healing process, helping to relieve inflammation within the lungs and slow disease progression. Addressing C D, interstitial lung disease ( LD and pulmonary fibrosis, stem cell therapy is poised to challenge the status uo of traditional treatment options and bring a higher uality of life for those with chronic lung disease.

As the field of regenerative medicine has continued to advance, the Lung

he triumph of the 19 9 moon landing was an achie ement not only for merica but for humanity. oday stem cell therapy may be on its way to ma ing a similar impact.

nstitute has worked to increase the uality of life of more than , patients. roud to exhibit an percent success rate, they live by the tenet of pushing the status uo to bring hope to people who may otherwise have given up.

hen combining the bold and pioneering spirit synonymous with American ingenuity, history is made. In this sense the next frontier is neither Mars nor the outer limits of the universe;

it’s our health. As we continue to push innovation for the benefit of mankind, we are guided by the immortal words of ohn . ennedy e choose to go to the moon in this decade… not because they are easy, but because they are hard. And that is the American way. 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 ualify for these new treatments.

so many ways to use your HECM Reverse Mortgage, here are 15 you may not know:

1. Pay off your forward mortgage to reduce your monthly expenses.

2. Re-model your home to accommodate aging limitations.

3. Cover monthly expenses and hold on to other assets while their value continues to grow.

4. Pay for health insurance during early retirement years until Medicare eligible at 65.

5. Pay for your children’s or grandchildren’s college or professional education.

6. Maintain a “standby” cash reserve to get you through the ups and downs of investment markets and give you more ﬂexibility.

7. Combine proceeds with sale of one home to buy a new home without a forward mortgage and monthly mortgage payments.

8. Pay for long-term care needs

9. Fill the gap in a retirement plan caused by lower than expected returns on your assets.

10. Pay for short-term in-home care or physical therapy following an accident or medical episode.

Sun American’s mortgage experts, licensed CPS, 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 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

Loved ones who are hard of hearing

By Ken Arcia, Arizona Relay Service

hen the conversation around the dinner table is fre uently interrupted with hat and Can you say that again , it can get increasingly harder for family members to remain patient with a loved one who is hard of hearing. Although it can be difficult at times, steering the conversation away from them or gently avoiding them could cause lasting problems not only within the family dynamic but in regard to that person s health as well.

rowing older is not always an easy process. t can be just as hard to watch a loved one experience the setbacks that come with aging, hearing loss being one of the most common. According to Forbes, one in three people older than the age of and two-thirds of people over experience hearing loss and among aby oomers, percent are already affected.

or the majority, hearing loss is not something that is easy to swallow and is usually accompanied with a number of personal reasons to refuse treatment pride, discomfort, expense, the list goes on. owever, no matter the issue, just because a person may not be able to keep up with the conversation as he or she once had does not mean that they should be kept out of it entirely. n a human level, we all want and, to a degree, need social contact. t benefits our overall health and mental stability.

ith this in mind, loneliness and social isolation are fast becoming a health threat among those who suffer from hearing loss. tudies have shown that isolation increases the risk of mental and physical illnesses a health risk that is e uivalent to smoking cigarettes a day.

o if you are struggling with how to cope with a loved one who is hard of hearing, here is some advice as to how to better communicate with them.

1. Look at the person directly and speak clearly: This will save you the effort of shouting across the room and further aggravating yourself as well as whoever else is there. You need to signal that you re speaking to that person by locking eyes. This will help them to concentrate on what you re saying.

2. Don’t cover your mouth and speak clearly: This may seem like a

no-brainer but in everyday conversation, we sometimes tend to rush our speech or partially cover our mouths. e mindful of this and try to keep your mouth free of any other distraction.

3. Speak clearly but do not exaggerate lip movements: Clearly enunciate your words but don t go so far as to drag them out unnaturally, which is tempting to do. eople who are hard of hearing may use lip reading to help fill in the bits of the conversation they may have missed. owever, those who are accustomed to lip-reading are used to the lips of people speaking naturally.

4. Use facial expressions: specially when showing emotion. Those who are hard of hearing may not recogni e the intonation of your voice, making it difficult for them to gauge your emotion. This, too, does not need to be overexaggerated but enough to convey your feelings.

5. Get to the point: Tailor your conversation so that it contains simple sentences that get to the meaning uickly. This doesn t mean you have to be short but merely focused on the point you are trying to make.

6. Don’t speak all at once: Although this may be considered as another obvious tip, it is common for family gatherings to get loud. This can be overwhelming for those who are hard of hearing because they tend to rely on visual aspects of communication. t also makes it difficult for them to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.

7. Be mindful of the environment: hen trying to engage someone who is hard of hearing in conversation, try to position yourselves in a location within the room that is uieter. This helps eliminate excess noise and lighting that may otherwise distract them from hearing what you re saying.

amily represents many things to each of us but its foundation is built upon love and inclusion. veryone should feel a part of it. Apply these guidelines to your next family gathering to make it more enjoyable for everyone involved.

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

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

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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!

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Place a Friendship Ad!

Send us the following information to LLAF 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219, Tempe AZ 85282 or email to Tracey@times publications.com or call 480-898-5611

Your Name, Address, Phone, Email and payment. Payments can be Check/Money Order, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. Account # of your credit card, CVV code and expiration.

Include your 30 word ad ($15). $.25 per word thereafter

2017 Sponsors

T HE F INIS H L INE

Arizona’s Leader in Senior Fitness

There’s A Champion In You!

Feb. 18 – March 26,

We re making fitness and good health fun by giving you a reason to train and get ready for one of the most satisfying experiences of your life the enior lympics!

You don t have to be a great athlete you ll have a wonderful time just participating with people like yourself who want to remain active and able throughout their lives.

e offer sports and one of them is just right for you!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW. For detailed information go to our beautiful web site at www.seniorgames.org. Check us out on Facebook by searching Arizona Senior lympics. fﬁce hours onday – hursday 9 a.m. p.m. hone

The Finish Line Newsletter is produced by Arizona Senior Olympics, founded by: in partnership with the cities of Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, Tempe and the communities of Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand

Arizona Senior Olympics P.O. Box 33278 Phoenix, AZ 85067-3278

602-274-7742 web site: www.seniorgames.org

hile it may be true that age is just a number, in the age of the Ari ona enior lympic ames, it is much more than a number. t s an accomplishment to be honored. t s a symptom of strength, perseverance, wisdom and courage.

nlike most senior games, the A divides its competition into five-year age groups. e do this to level the playing

LIST OF EVENTS: Alpine kiing Archery adminton asketball illiards occe owling Cycling un alk

olf andball ower Lifting acewalk ac uetball oad aces hooting - igh ower ifle hooting - istol hooting - keet hooting - porting Clays

field so that you always compete against people who are within five years of your own age. t s probably the only program in the world where people look forward to their next birthday, if it means they can change age groups and become the youngest in the new age group. There are challenges to managing the age groups. t means there must be enough people in each age group to provide real competition. ome of our age groups have plenty of people and provide vigorous competition. ut as the age groups get higher, there are fewer competitors, making it difficult to provide a competitive experience that will have real meaning to the athletes. To meet this challenge, we devised a system that allows the sole person in an age group to play down in the next younger age group. That way, they have the competition

hooting - Trap huffleboard oftball wimming

Table Tennis

Tai Chi

Tennis

Track ield

Triathlon olleyball

experience, even though we always award the medals by age.

n recent years, athletes have started to call our office and ask ow many people are in my age group They want to know if there will be enough people in their age group for a fun competition. f they don t think there s enough, they don t register. This really is a spoiler for the other athletes because it isn t known how many people there are in an age group before the final deadline for registration is over. Age may only be a number, but it s a very important number in A . f you want to be sure there are lots of people in your age group, invite your sameage friends! Tell other seniors you know about the A program and encourage them to participate. e an ambassador for the program where age is not only number it s a privilege!

Nominate your favorite athlete for the Athlete of the Year Award

We are looking for a enior lympian who embodies the following characteristics utstanding athleticism, skill in his her sport, high standard of sportsmanship, enthusiastic support of the enior lympics, helpful to other athletes. f you would like to nominate an

Walking is necessary for good health

According to the arvard edical chool s free online newsletter, Healthbeat, sitting may be more harmful to your health than smoking.

t goes on to say that walking has been shown to prevent myriad problems, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and memory problems. ith all the evidence piling up about the benefits of walking, you would think that seniors nationwide would be hitting the streets. nfortunately, that isn t the case. Although the reasons may be many and complex, the fact remains that walking is free, convenient, easy and beneficial.

Let s take a look at some of the constraints that keep us from doing what we know will be good for us.

1. I don’t have the time.

esearchers at ennington iomedical esearch Center in aton ouge, Louisiana reported findings from a study involving women who did not exercise. After six months, a group who walked an average of minutes a week at to mph that s about minutes of mall-pace striding a day had significantly improved heart strength and general fitness, nearly matching the efforts of women exercising almost twice as long. Your body responds very positively, very uickly to even small amounts of exercise, said lead study author Dr. Tim Church. f you re sedentary, you ll see a lot of your greatest gains going from to minutes a day.

athlete for Athlete of the Year, please send a letter including the name of the athlete, the sport(s in which they participate, and how he she exhibits the ualities listed above. end to Ari ona enior lympics, Athlete of the Year, . . ox , hoenix, A -

2. I’m afraid it might hurt me. ere are two ideas to prevent problems associated with walking tand tall leaning forward makes it harder to breathe and stresses the back. tand up straight as if you were being pulled up by your head. ood posture will make your walking more enjoyable and avoid fatigue.

3. I might fall. t s true that our world is full of trip ha ards. e alert when you are walking. tand straight, with your head up, but glance down at the ground ahead of where you are walking so that you can avoid cracks, bulges and other imperfections in the road. e aware that you are lifting your toes. Don t shuffle!

4. I can’t walk fast enough for it to do me any good. Don t worry about your speed. alk at a comfortable pace with your arms swinging gently. ventually you will be able to increase your speed, but don t be in a hurry to do so.

o more excuses! appy walking!

2017 Alaska Senior Games

ark your calendars for the Alaska nternational enior ames to be held in airbanks and orth ole from Aug. to Aug. . egistration is

expected to be available in mid-April and will close on uly . or up-to-date information, visit alaskaisg.org.

ASO cycling venue in question

Although Ari ona enior lympics has been holding its races in the same location for many years, time and social progress has a way of changing things. or the last several years, the venue has been in uestion because of the construction of the final segment of the Loop freeway. The project has been controversial and many in the Ahwatukee area have struggled to stop the project. ach year, the A has planned the cycling event for ecos oad knowing that this could be the last year. Cyclists who ride in the alley of the un are aware there are not many places where to races can be held. afety, of course, is a primary consideration and closing the roads to cars is a major challenge.

ince the freeway plans were revealed, A staff members have been looking for a cycling venue that is safe and conducive to racing. The search has been a challenge. e have a couple of sites that are appropriate and we are currently working on gaining approval from those who have authority over the streets, said rene tillwell, A executive director. veryone who registers for cycling will be notified as soon as permission to use a new site is granted. Cycling is one of our signature events and we are working hard to make this year s event better than ever. or more information, call the A office at - - between a.m. and p.m. onday through riday.

Safety is a primary consideration and closing the roads to cars is a major challenge.

You get what you pay for

By Irene L. Stillwell, Executive Director Arizona Lifelong Fitness Foundation, Producers of Arizona Senior Olympics

Weare all the victims of pricing. There was a recent story on TV news explaining how some companies alter their prices according to what they know about you.

Data is gathered whenever you make a purchase and from that information your “price” preferences can be ascertained.

It’s the old saying of “whatever the market will bear,” except in this case you are the market. Those companies that use this practice “know” from your buying habits what prices you accepted and charge a price they think you are likely to accept.

We here at the Arizona Senior Olympics don’t do our pricing quite

that individually; however, we are often asked about the pricing of our events in the Arizona Senior Olympic Games. To be fair and transparent, we recently did a study of senior games pricing from across the country. What we found was that Arizona Senior Olympics is a little below average in the pricing of events. We have based our prices not upon “what the market will bear,” but on the amount needed to run the games. Anyone who has grown up in America knows there are direct and indirect costs to everything. As for us, we consider everything that is spent directly on a particular sport a direct expense. These are things like venue costs, bib numbers, athlete insurance,

events , barricades, police,

costs vary from event to

officials (paid , food and or water (where none is available for purchase by the athlete , volunteer shirts, sports equipment, medals, ribbons, signs, paramedics (for high-risk events , barricades, police, portable toilets, etc. These costs vary from event to event.

The indirect costs,

The indirect costs, however, are shared among all the sports and include things like office rental, utilities, telephone, office equipment like a copier, printer,