Idaho Senior Independent

COMPLIMENTARY! TAKE ONE! FREE!Ladybug photoby Rhonda Lee

Claire Davis – Educator, Writer, Artist and Equestrian

By Jack McNeel The story of Claire Davis began as a child in Milwaukee, Wis., took a major change when she relocated to the West, and encountered the biggest changes and challenges when she turned 50. Claire lived the first 37 years of her life within 25 miles of her birth-place, but after traveling west to finish her schooling, she has remained in the West, a region that inspires her writing. Following undergraduate studies at Evergreen State College in Olym-pia, Wash., Claire received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Montana. After a couple of years in Missoula, she came to Lewis and Clark State College to teach. “I’ve now been teaching creative writing at LCSC for about 18 years, since 1994,” Claire explains. Claire began working on her first book, Winter Range, after her move to Lewiston. “Set in the Hi-line of Montana,” she says, “it might be called a literary thriller. It talks about man’s responsibility to the natural world and takes place in a ranching community.” (Continued on page 2)

Photo by John CampbellPhoto by Becky Paull

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

The book was scheduled to be published near Claire’s 50th birthday. While the publication of a first book can be emotionally traumatic, during this time Claire also experienced emotional turmoil and loss from her family relationships. “It was a lot of upheaval,” she remembers. “It seemed that 50 was a transitional time for a lot of people, so I started rethinking the things that were important to me. That sustained me.” “I was working on another novel at the same time plus some short sto-ries. I got back to painting, and I bought a horse and started riding again seriously. Painting, music, writing, horseback, it was all the things that made life valuable and full.” Since that time she has published a second book called Season of the Snake. This story is set in the Lewiston area. Claire explains she works on books through an idea, a central issue. “This story is about secrets and what if one of the partners in a marriage has a secret. I didn’t know what the secret was going to be until I started writing the book. It became the story of a man who is a sexual predator. His wife is unaware of it, and it’s her process of coming to that discovery, her understanding of whom she’s actually living with.” Both books are available through Amazon, among other outlets. This is Amazon’s comment about the two books. “Claire Davis’s debut novel, Winter Range, established her as a powerful voice in American writing. Season of

the Snake extends her scope with a dramatic story, a vividly evoked setting, and an unforgettable group of characters.” Claire has also published a collection of short stories called Labors of the Heart, plus an anthology of essays she edited with Kim Barnes of the University of Idaho, called Kiss Tomorrow Hello. Her new novel, Swimming with Horses, is in the works. Horses have long been important to her, and purchasing a horse during that emotional year was one source of support and comfort. “I ride. I used to jump, but don’t do that anymore. I stopped a few years ago at 60. I figured the horse was getting more athletic, and I wasn’t,” she says with a laugh. “It was more risk than I was willing to take anymore.” Previously she had been doing a formalized form of jumping and some cross country jumping. “Right now I’m working on dressage, and I also use the horse for trail riding. I broke my hip sometime back jumping, and while it was healing, I broke the horse to cart, so he also pulls a cart. Wintertime he pulls a sleigh. He’s an all-around little guy.” Riding for Claire is now largely a social activity. “There’s a large community of horse women here that I ride with quite a bit. I also go by myself at times,” she added. Teaching four sections a semester for about 120 students at LCSC is her full time job. (Continued on page 7)

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3

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The Idaho Senior Independent is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October, and December by Barrett-Whitman, 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Idaho.

The mail subscription rate is $10.00 per year (6 issues). The Idaho Senior Independent is written to serve Idaho’s mature population of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles, and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

All copy appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

Colleen Paduano Office ManagerDan Hubbard Advertising SalesLisa Gebo Production SupervisorRhonda Lee Graphic ArtistSherrie Smith Admin/Production AssistantNann Parrett Editing Assistant

Contributing WritersNatalie Bartley Connie Daugherty Holly Endersby Clare Hafferman Cate Huisman Gail Jokerst Bernice Karnop Craig LarcomLiz Larcom Jack McNeelMichael McGough Dianna Troyer

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor

A Barrett-Whitman Publication Idaho Senior Independent

P.O. Box 3341 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3341208-318-0310 • Toll Free: 1-866-360-5683

Fax: 406-761-8358www.idahoseniorindependent.com

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© 2012

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Were You A Rosie The Riveter? American Rosie the Riveter Association is try-ing to locate women in Idaho who worked on the home front during WWII. Thousands of women worked to support the war effort as riveters, weld-ers, electricians, and inspectors in plants. They worked sewing clothing and parachutes for the military, as ordinance workers, rolling bandages, and doing clerical and many other jobs, such as volunteer workers collecting scrap metals. Now in their late 80s and 90s, these Greatest

Generation women have stories of their WWII ex-periences that are of historical value and perhaps have never been told. American Rosie the Riveter Association is in the process of collecting those stories. American Rosie the Riveter Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to recognize and preserve the history and legacy of working women during WWII. This organization was founded in 1998 by Dr. Frances Carter of Birmingham, Alabama and now has over 4,000 members nationwide. If you are a woman or the descendant of a woman who worked during WWII or if you are just interested in more information, please call toll free 1-888-557-6743 or e-mail [email protected].

Mabel W. MyrickMembership V.P.P.O. Box 188Kimberly, AL 35091205-647-9233

Check Out This Book Mentioned recently in the Idaho Senior Inde-pendent was the newly published book Ripples of a Lie by Idaho author Esther Barnett Goffinet. The book tells the true-life story of Eugene Barnett and

the Armistice Day tragedy that occurred in Centra-lia, Washington on Nov. 11, 1919. Not only is this a fascinating part of history, it’s also exceptionally written, with the detailed and substantiated account of the raid on the union hall resulting in the death of several men. The brutality the union members endured for weeks afterwards and the miscarriage of justice during the trial is finally explained. Having no evidence of any involvement by Bar-nett, only that he had been a witness to the raid, made little difference to the prosecution. Intimida-tion and threats were all they needed to attain a jury verdict from scared jurors. Barnett’s integrity and unwavering belief in telling the truth at any cost is admirable. The Bar-nett family’s personal letters to one another are extremely moving. To read their words expressing the hardships they had to overcome makes this time in Barnett’s life even more poignant, giving this book extra heart. Not only does the reader learn about this tragic event in American history, but the union history as well. Whether or not you’re a supporter of union rights, a history buff, or a sucker for a love story, you’ll find it all in Ripples of a Lie. I highly recom-mend this book.

Maria Walters LasswellLapwai ISI


Ripples of a Lie by Esther Barnett Goffinet; 2012Reviewed by Connie Daugherty

Unions are the bane of the laborer; unions are the savior of the laborer. Unions benefit the economy; unions ruin economic growth. The pros and cons of unions are being debated at the local, state, and even as high as the Supreme Court in this election. In Ripples of a Lie, Esther Goffinet reminds us that this argument is a not new one. This self-published tribute to one man is as much a history of the growth of the labor move-ment as it is a biography. While the focus of the book is mostly about the IWW (Industrial Workers of America), it is also the story of the labor-vs.-management conflict. Esther Goffinet’s biography of her father, Ripples of a Lie, is a well-researched, extensively documented history of organized labor as seen through the life and times of one family. A factual account that reads like a novel, Ripples of a Lie tells a tough, but heart-wrenching story. Gene Barnett was born in 1891 into a poor, but proud farming family in the hill country of North Carolina. In 1898, looking for a better life, his father moved the family to West Virginia. “About forty families moved from the hills of North Carolina.” These farmers “knew nothing about unions or conditions in industry… hard-working men would make ideal strikebreakers and had no union ideas.” This was Gene Barnett’s unsuspecting introduction into the world of mining.

His family lived in a company owned town, and by the age of eight — in order to help pay the bills at the company store — young Gene was working in the mines beside his father. For the next five years, the Barnett family would move from one coal mining camp to another, seeking better pay or better conditions, but finding neither. By the time Gene was ten years old, he had suffered his first work-related injury, “a broken foot and ankle and a dislocated knee…and he would have problems with his knee and ankle for the rest of his life.” When he was twelve, he was almost trapped underground in a mine explosion. “Dazed, broken, and burned, but alive, Gene was carried home to his frantic parents.” The next day Gene and his family were evicted from their company-owned house because neither Gene nor his father was able to work the mine. For the next several years, the Barnett fam-ily tried a variety of ways to earn a living, vowing never to go down into the mines again. However, nothing else paid unskilled laborers as well as the dangerous mining, so Gene found himself back underground more often than not. However, he also discovered that “union mines” generally offered better pay and less dangerous working conditions. By the time he was fourteen, he joined the United Mine Workers. “He walked a little taller, proud to be a union man.” In the spring of 1910, Gene hopped a freight

train and headed west to Washington State saying, “He promised to say his prayers, go to church, and write when he could.” He worked his way across the country doing whatever he could. In Wash-ington he found himself back in the mines again, where conditions were as dismal as ever. It was in Centralia, Washington that Gene first heard of the IWW, “a revolutionary labor union… the organized workers planned to eventually control… by means of a general strike.” “By the winter of 1912 Gene was sick of run-ning from one job to another, always being broke and homeless. He decided to go on to Idaho to get away from the mines.” In Idaho he “filed on a one-hundred-fifty-acre homestead.” He was determined to create a place for himself that was not owned by a company. In Idaho he also met and married Effie Downer, a young woman who would become his lifeline. Gene also convinced his family to move to Idaho. For a while life was hard, but good. But Gene couldn’t prove-up on the homestead without working other jobs as well, and by 1919, he found himself once again back in the mines. When he asked for a raise, he was fired. “Hurt and angry, he hunted up a union delegate and joined the IWW. Gene was no longer the shy Southern boy…. The hard years on the home-stead… being fired several times, and treated unfairly, had given him a mind of his own…. He


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was proud to be a union man and didn’t hesitate to give his opinions when asked.” On November 11, 1919 — during the first Ar-mistice Day celebration in Centralia — an event happened that would change Gene’s life forever. He was standing in a hotel window watching a parade of recently discharged soldiers march by when unexpectedly, several men broke away from the parade and converged on the union hall. Suddenly there was chaos — shouting, shooting, people running in all directions. In the end some soldiers were killed. Local law enforcement started rounding up all known and vocal IWW members, including Gene.

The more he insisted on telling the truth of what he saw as an unprovoked attack on the union hall, the more local officials determined to shut him up. Eventually he was arrested along with eight other IWW members and charged with murder. Knowing that he would have to prove his in-nocence at trial, Gene suspected that he might be gone from home for about a month. “In fact Gene would not be coming home for twelve years.” Using court records and personal letters, Es-ther Goffinet details the ensuing trial and eventual conviction of all eight IWW members. Additional personal and official letters, news reports, and court records fill the pages of the next several chap-

ters as Goffinet tells the story of the twelve years of Gene’s imprisonment and struggle to prove his innocence. Throughout his imprisonment and the difficult years of continued struggles that followed his re-lease, Gene continued to preach his life’s motto, “Be proud of how you are. You are not any better than anybody else, but nobody else is better than you either, all men are equal.” Although Ripples of a Lie is Goffinet’s tribute to her much-admired father and his legacy, it is also a piece of history that we all share and is well worth reading. Esther Barnett Goffinet is a retired nurse and currently lives in Lewiston, Idaho. ISI

Dating is an art, and with this cute tidbit of advice, you are sure to be successful.

“There are three parts to a successful date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment (conversation), food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affec-tion is the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted.” –Anonymous

Try it – it might just work.To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message

and address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address to the person placing the ad. When you answer an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please be sure to submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive responses.

Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of true love!

Responses to personal ads appearing in this column can be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the October/November 2012 issue, the deadline is September 10, 2012.

SWF, 80, I still drive and have lots of get up and go. I am a Christian, and was raised in Lewiston Orchards, ID from 1930-1942. I would love to hear from anyone from that area. I stay busy going to yard sales, watching good movies, walking, dancing, traveling, and soaking in the hot springs. I enjoy my home and eating in, but going out is fun too. Please no drugs, drinking, prison, or games. I am not looking to be anyone’s nursemaid, and/or chief cook and bottle washer. I am willing to meet you halfway down the road of laughs

and life. I am looking for a companion, pen pal, maybe more. I will answer all reasonable replies. Reply ISI, Dept. 8301, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Fire, Wind, and Ice / Tiger, Eagle, Ram – SWM, N/S, N/D seeks SF Spirit

Mate 65-85. My interests include outdoors, animals, central Asian history, the arts, jazz, and world music. I will answer all responses. Reply ISI, Dept. 8302, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Dependable and clean, attractive, compact 1955 model with low miles. Auburn hair, green eyes, 5’2”, sense of humor, old fashioned, affectionate, considerate, honest, spontaneous, down to earth. Like quiet times at home, reading, and gardening. Enjoy camping, spontaneous road trips, antiques, and yard sales. Seeking a Grizzly Adams/biker with good personal hygiene/daily habits. Facial hair a plus. No boozers, smokers, druggies, or whiners. Seeking 52-64 years, financially secure, with some of the same interests and qualities. An honest one-to-one. Please send photo. Reply ISI, Dept. 8303, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Attractive, semi-retired gal wants to have fun with a man who is friendly, likes to laugh, and enjoys life. 59, non-smoker, light drinker; blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’5”, moderately built. I live in the Spokane-Inland Northwest area. I enjoy camping/traveling, gardening, and photography. I enjoy most music much more than TV. Honest and financially secure; you should be, too. Your looks aren’t as important as who you are. Please be between 58-67. Send photo and information about yourself, and I will do the same. Reply ISI, Dept. 8304, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403.

SWM, 50 coming 100 – Fallen mountain man, frustrated renaissance man, serious shepherd – seeks female counterpart, 60 to 80, to help write a few more chapters in the book of life. Not interested in smelling the roses or going south for winter. Reply ISI, Dept. 8305, c/o Idaho Senior Inde-pendent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI


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“We have a fabulous undergraduate writing program here, so I get to teach a lot of creative writing. Students come from all over the state to study here. It’s a great school and it has been a real joy to teach here,” she remarks. Claire also teaches two 10-day residencies a year at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. “I teach in the Master of Fine Arts Program there, and working with graduate students is great fun,” she exclaims. In between times, she also finds time for an-other artistic expression – painting. “Oil paintings mainly,” she says. “For a while I was doing large, really large, canvasses of horses where the horses almost became landscapes themselves. Now I’m doing canvases of birds. It’s great fun. A couple friends and I get together and paint in the studio at the college. One teaches art here and has been generous enough to open the studio on off hours for us to paint.” She also worked on wire sculptures of horses and has done clay and porcelain work, but says that’s in the past, and oil painting occupies her time now. “My career, my profession, is my writing. That’s where the focus tends to go. I really see the paint-ing as just a hobby or expression of a different way to express my art. It also keeps my eye trained on the world better, so I can write better about it.

“I can write in the West, and that’s important for me,” she continued. “Finding a landscape I can write in and live in and enjoy is important.” Perhaps the only negative part of living in Lew-iston is the distance between her son, now living in Wisconsin, and her grandson. “My grandson is my new pride and joy,” she says with grandmotherly love. “I’m excited about my grandson, but I only get to see him a couple times a year. But I love the West and living in the West, and we have a really lovely community here.” Claire obviously leads an active and productive life. “I have two dogs, so between walking them, riding the horse, I paint about a day a week, a little bit of sculpture, and writing my novel, my days are pretty much gone. It comes down to learning how to apportion my time so I get in writing every day

Claire Davis – continued from page 2

plus get other aspects of my life in there as well, so it all stays enjoyable.” “For me it’s a matter of finding ways to keep life lively and my intellect lively and to keep physi-cally active. Focus it down to just a few elements, so I can spend a good deal of time on each.” That is obviously good advice for people everywhere. ISI

What Love MeansTo A Young Child

Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley Touching words from the mouths of babes were the outcome when a group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, “What does love mean?” The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth. – Billy (age 4) Love is when a girl puts on perfume, a boy puts on shaving cologne, and they go out and smell each other. – Karl (age 5) Love is when you go out to eat and give some-body most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs. – Chrissy (age 6) Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay. – Danny (age 7) Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss – Emily (age 8) Love is what is in the room with you at Christ-mas if you stop opening presents and listen. – Bobby (age 7) If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate. – Nikka (age 6) Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it every day. – Noelle (age 7) Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well. – Tommy (age 6) During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore. – Cindy (age 8) Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken. – Elaine (age 5) Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone. – Mary Ann (age 4) The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” ISI


Yes, summer is almost over. Do you remem-ber the anticipation of school days… seeing your friends and showing off your new shoes? Well, this month look at these questions and remember the fun of learning something new (or relearning last year’s lessons) and sharing it with your pals. Take a minute to answer this quiz and think back to the days when a test was your biggest worry.

Congratulations to Bonita Roos of Rigby who submitted the winning answers to the State Moni-

kers: It’s All In A Name quiz that appeared in our June/July 2012 issue. Thank you, Bonita.

Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Idaho Se-nior Independent. One prize goes to the person who submits the entry that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for that issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles!

The second $25 prize goes to the person who

submits the correct answers to the featured quiz or puzzle from the previous issue. When there is a tie, the winner is determined by a drawing.

Please mail your entries to the Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to [email protected] by September 10, 2012 for our October/November 2012 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website idahoseniorindependent.com.

Created by the ISI staff Below are 15 assorted questions relating to several school subjects. On a numbered sheet of paper write the correct answer to each question and send it to us via mail or email. The winner will receive a $25 cash prize. Good luck!

1. Language: The sentence, “The pillow was as soft as a cloud as she rested her head upon it.” is an example of what type of figurative language?A. hyperbole B. onomatopoeia C. simile D. al-literation

2. Mathematics: If 2x + 10x – 4 = 2, what does x equal?

3. History: World War II started in which year?A. 1914 B. 1918 C. 1939 D. 1945

4. Science: Among the following, which is the smallest particle?A. atom B. electron C. neutron D. proton

5. Health: As you grow older and become less active, you need fewer nutrients in your diet. True or False

6. Language: Of the following Spanish words, which is not a color when translated into English.A. rojo B. blanco C. verde D. reloj

7. Mathematics: Which of the following is a prime number?A. 91 B. 59 C. 46 D. 27

8. History: Which of the following American Civil War battles was won by the Union?A. 1st Bull Run B. Battle of Chancellorsville C. 2nd Bull Run D. Battle of Lookout Mountain

9. Science: Magma under the earths crust becomes ______________ as it flows out of a volcano.

10. Music: Flutes, clarinets, and oboes are all part of the ______________ instrument family.

11. Mathematics: There are ____________ pints in a gallon.

12. Government: In 1872, who ran with Victoria Woodhull under the banner of the Equal Rights Party for the office of Vice-President of the United States?

13. Health: How many bones are there in the adult human body?

14. Language: A word ending in –ly is typically classified as a/an?A. adverb B. adjective C. modifier D. participle

15. Math: A stop sign is what geometric shape? ISI

Back to School!

Created by the ISI staff1. Alabama ~ (F) The Yellowhammer State2. Alaska ~ (C) The Last Frontier3. Arizona ~ (B) The Grand Canyon State4. California ~ (W) The Golden State5. Delaware ~ (O) The First State6. Florida ~ (J) The Sunshine State7. Idaho ~ (T) The Gem State8. Kansas ~ (Q) The Sunflower State9. Louisiana ~ (I) The Pelican State

10. Massachusetts ~ (X) The Bay State11. Michigan ~ (L) The Great Lakes State12. Mississippi ~ (D) The Magnolia State13. Montana ~ (Y) The Treasure State14. Nebraska ~ (G) The Cornhusker State15. New Jersey ~ (V) The Garden State16. New Mexico ~ (M) The Land of Enchantment17. North Carolina ~ (R) The Tar Heel State18. Ohio ~ (U) The Buckeye State19. Oregon ~ (H) The Beaver State

20. Rhode Island ~ (A) The Ocean State21. Tennessee ~ (S) The Volunteer State22. Utah ~ (N) The Beehive State23. Vermont ~ (P) The Green Mountain State24. Washington ~ (E) The Evergreen State25. Wisconsin ~ (K) The Badger State ISI

Answers To:State Monikers: It’s All In A Name

I paint forms as I think them, not as I see

them.- Pablo Picasso


Across1. ___box, container for keeping your camp kitchen organized4. A way to attach a tent to the poles8. This organization hired young men from 1933 to 1942 to revitalize America’s forests, for short10. “Leave ___ trace,” statement meaning that you should clean up your campsite before you leave12. Set up13. __verter, electrical device used when “boon docking”15. Lunch time16. Poorly lit18. ___ tai, tropical cocktail20. Round tent type21. ___ stove, a portable cooking surface22. National Park Service, for short23. ___ water, water that has been used in the sink, shower, or laundry24. ___ bag, tapered sleeping bag27. You, in Quebec28. Lexus __29. Fish eggs30. Sun beams31. Route finder32. Small, standby flame34. Animal coat35. Tent and sleeping bag closer38. Concerning

40. Campfire desserts42. In that location43. Transcendental number44. Promissory note, abbr.46. Horse motions49. Hooded water-repelling garment used for a raincoat52. At leisure54. You get one in class55. Colorful fish56. Exist57. Gator or lemon?59. ___ bag, a drawstring bag used to carry camping items60. Miss Piggy’s “moi”61. You can do this summer camp activity on a mountain or on the road

Down1. Charcoal ___, a tool used outdoors to start charcoal for the grill2. One, en Francais3. Tent bed5. Clothes ___, a suspended rope in a campsite used to hang wet clothes to dry6. ___pane, camp stove fuel

7. Vice9. Hike helper11. Metal eyelet used to secure the ends of tent poles14. Short snooze16. ___ camp, type of summertime camp for kids17. 21st century communication, abbr.19. Philosophy, suffix21. Baked beans holder23. ___-line, a rope used to secure tents and keep them from blowing away25. Website address26. Farm noise27. Waterproof tent covering28. ___ gas, this gas is used to fuel appliances in an RV31. “Ready, set, ___!”32. Water-well feature33. Metal34. Failing grades36. Ma’s mate37. Din___, booth-like dining area in an RV38. Decide39. Reelly fun camping activity?41. Something to do around the campfire45. Out of the sun place

to put your tent47. Poison ___, rash-causing plant that you might encounter on a hike48. ___watching, popular camping activity where you may use binoculars49. Campfire fly, for example50. Study strategy51. Lyrical poem53. Started a fire58. Approve ISI


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By Susan Frances Bonner RN, BSN I live on a mountain in Southwestern Montana and am thrilled that summer is upon us and that I get to cook in my outdoor kitchen and entertain family and friends at outdoor barbeques. But with wonderful warm summer weather and outdoor eating activities come those pesky food-spoiling bacteria. Surprisingly, bacteria have a lot in com-mon with humans. We both require food and

water to survive, and we both love warm tem-peratures. Unknown to most people, two types of bacteria can turn a wonderful weekend picnic into a gastric nightmare. Spoilage bacteria cause food to deteriorate and develop odors, tastes, and textures – fruits and vegetables get mushy or slimy, and meats develop a bad odor, but they do not cause illness. On the other hand, pathogenic bacteria cause illness, but usually don’t affect the taste, smell, or appearance of food, so food that is left too long at warmer temperatures can be danger-ous to eat but smell and look just fine. E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella are examples of pathogenic bacteria. Warm temperatures are the issue. My hus-band is what I lovingly call a “temperature Nazi.” We have thermometers in our fridge, both of our freezers, in our oven, one for our grill, one inside our living room, and one for outside. Now, as crazy as all of those thermometers around my house sound, my husband is correct in making sure our food stays at a certain temperature. Both spoilage and pathogenic bacteria start to grow at 40º F, a common temperature for refrig-erators in many households. Spoilage bacteria die at 140º F, and pathogenic bacteria die at 160º F. Food must be stored at a safe temperature at all times, even when you leave the supermar-ket. I take two types of coolers with me to the

supermarket because it takes me about an hour to drive back up my mountain. But even if you live in town, it is a good idea to keep your food cool on the drive home from the market during warm months. Cooking food at a safe temperature can be tricky also, but ev-ery packaged food has

cooking instructions with the optimal cooking temperature listed. Three easy steps can help stave off bacteria as you are getting ready to put meat on the grill or preparing that famous potato salad. • Make sure your hands, all your cooking utensils, work surfaces, and fruits and vegetables are clean. Soap and water are all you need. • Use separate cutting boards and plates for produce and for meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. • Finally, make sure that the food is cooked fully. For those who like meat medium rare, cook to 140º F. Now that everyone has eaten the first course during that wonderful BBQ picnic and is now talk-ing or playing a game of volleyball or croquet, what happens to the leftovers that everyone will want after the games? When considering storage, remember the drop in temperature can actually increase bacterial growth as food cools. But you can keep your food above the safe temperature of 140˚F by using a heat source like a chafing dish, warming tray, or slow cooker. Foods that need to be kept cold should be stored covered in the cooler they came in or in a dish surrounded by ice. My husband and I got a nasty visit from the food poisoning fairy after a BBQ when we lived in the woods and swamps of North Florida. We were completely incapacitated for three days with vomiting, diarrhea and a fever of 103º. We later learned that a raccoon that was hiding in a tree above the food table had decided to do its business on everyone’s food. Keeping food healthy while having fun in the sun takes vigilance. Hopefully, you now have some tools in your arsenal to ensure that your outdoor activities this summer remain safe and fun. It is important to fight bacteria and food-borne illnesses, but with a little vigilance and by using the above information, we can have enjoyable outdoor dining on these warm summer days. Susan Bonner is the author of Opening A Registered Nurses Eyes; A life Altering Journey Across North America. ISI

Fun In the Sun With Food Safety

By Jim Miller Smartphones garner most of the attention in the mobile phone world today, there are still a number of companies that offer simplified cellphones that are specifically designed for people who want one for the primary purpose of making and receiving calls. Here are some top options to consider. Easy-to-Use Phones – Created by GreatCall nearly six years ago, the Jitterbug (greatcall.com, 800-733-6632) continues to be the best basic cellphone on the market. This custom designed Samsung flip-phone offers a big numerical keypad that lights up, extra-large text on a brightly colored screen, and “YES” and “NO” buttons to access the phone’s options versus confusing icons. It also offers voice dialing, an ear cushion that cups around your ear to improve sound quality, a powerful speakerphone, a 24-hour Jitterbug operator who can place calls for you, and optional features like voicemail, texting, medication remind-ers, 5Star personal security service, a live nurse service to answer your health questions any time, night or day, and more. The Jitterbug J sells for $99 with a one-time $35 activation fee, no-contract, and calling plans that start at $15 per month. If you are looking for something a little less expensive, the Doro PhoneEasy 410 sold through Consumer Cellular (consumercellular.com, 888-345-5509) is also an excellent option. This flip phone offers a large separated keypad, with a bright easy-to-read color display screen and huge text. Other features include a vibrating ringer, easy

Top EasyTo Use Cell Phones


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text messaging, a two-way speakerphone, and a one-touch emergency SOS button on the back of the phone to contact help when needed. The Doro 410 sells for $25 with service plans starting at $10 per month, a one-time $35 activa-tion fee, and no long-term contract. They even give a 5 percent monthly service discount to AARP members. Two other phones to check out are the Just 5 (just5.com, 800-709-0509) that costs $90 and the new Clarity Pal (clarityproducts.com, 800-426-3738) for $100. Both of these cellphones have big buttons, amplified sound, a “talk back” feature that speaks the numbers as their dialed, an “SOS” button that can automatically call your emergency contacts if needed, and they are both sold as “un-locked” phones, which means they can be used

on any GSM network. Shared Plan Options – Another option you might want to consider is to get a simple cellphone through your provider. Most carriers – including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile – still offer basic cell phones for people who like things simple. This option is also very affordable. An extra line can be added to your family shared plan for around $10 per month, and the cost for these phones is very low. Here are some of the best basic cellphones that are recommended by the different carriers. If you are an AT&T customer, the Pantech Breeze III, which costs $30, is a good choice. It has a big spacious keypad, a bright display screen, large fonts, and offers voice command capabilities, and three “one-touch” easy access keys located

below the phone’s display screen. It also has both an easy and advanced mode to suit customers with different comfort levels. For Verizon users, consider the LG Revere. Retailing for $80, this basic flip-phone has a bright 2-inch display screen and offers one-touch access to three emergency numbers, voicemail, speaker-phone, and voice commands. If you are a Sprint customer, the M370 by Sam-sung is recommended, and it is currently free. And T-Mobile users should consider the $30 Samsung t259. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit Sav-vySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBCToday show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI

By Clare HaffermanOf all the insects that visit our gardens, to me bees have always been

the most needed and interesting species. Although they are a vital piece in the garden puzzle, for the past six years, the honeybees we depend on have fallen prey to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

Beekeepers discovered this when checking a hive and finding a low number of adult bees present, but with a live queen and no dead honeybees within the hive. Often, there was still honey and immature bees, but all the rest of the former workers had simply disappeared.

Honeybees are important first because of pollination – they are respon-sible for $15 billion of added crop value. They are also responsible for 80% of the world’s flowering plants that depend on them. They give us honey, beeswax, royal jelly (the food they feed their queens), and propolis, a sticky gum they collect and use with beeswax to construct their hives. Both propolis and royal jelly are used in cosmetics.

Bees are so important; let’s examine what beekeepers and researchers have discovered, so that we as citizens and perhaps as gardeners or farm-ers can help the world of the bees.

The number of honeybee colonies in this country has dropped from 5 million in the 1940s to only 2.5 million. However, the need for hives for pol-lination has increased, resulting in beekeepers trucking their bees further and moving them more frequently than ever before. One of the biggest demands comes from the almond orchards in California. Bees, hives, and drivers pour in from all over the country. Without the winged fliers, there would be no salted almonds for your snack.

It is estimated that one mouthful out of three in our diets, directly or in-directly comes to us because of honeybee pollination. There are other pol-linators, such as the familiar bumblebee, or the alkali bee, needed to insure a good alfalfa crop, and the wasps, hornets or certain bats that all do their part, but in the big scheme, the honeybee flies first.

Initial research revealed that killer bees, an African strain existing in some southern states, and organically raised bees, were unaffected. One Arizona newspaper reported that Dee Lusby had 900 hives of organically raised bees that she kept far from all chemicals. She thought feeding corn syrup to bees and subjecting them to long moves were not good management. Dee advocated maintaining a smaller comb size, which created natural-sized bees and resulted in fewer mites that invaded the cells. Other beekeep-ers agreed with her.

The mites that prey on bees have been around for a long time, so they could not be the sole reason for the bees’ disappearance. Researchers at the University of Montana and the Army’s Chemi-cal Center at the Aber-deen Proving Grounds in Maryland suggested CCD might also be caused by a virus and a fungus. The virus was similar to a virus re-ported in India 20 years ago. Fungi from the genus Nosema could infect bees, and that infection with both of these pathogens would be more lethal than either one alone.

The other factor is the burgeoning use of herbicides and pes-ticides in agricultural practices, home lawn

and garden use, and worldwide golf courses and other manicured greens. The researchers named seven neonicotinoids, nicotine-based insecticides known as IMD. It is similar to DDT, except that it was designed to affect in-sects and is supposedly safe for humans and animals. The Bayer Company is the major producer.

IMD is a systemic insecticide, which means it infiltrates the plant tissue, stems, leaves, and roots. It can’t be washed off by rains. Often, it does not need to be sprayed on. The seeds soaked in IMD can be grown and the mature plant will contain it. Any insect that collects pollen or bites into the plant would ingest the poison. Some countries in Europe condemned the usage of IMD although the Bayer Company disputed their claims.

As a citizen and a gardener, what can you do? First, reduce or eliminate your own use of herbicides and pesticides. Every year, homeowners in America apply at least 90 million pounds of pesticide to lawns in our country.

If you consider having your own beehive, there are books and blogs on the subject and organizations that give you information on keeping bees.

Should you still want to help, but don’t want a hive, consider planting any one of the 35 plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees that are listed as attracting bees and providing the pollen and nectar that they need. This list includes many herbs you might already have, fruit trees, perennials, and wild flowers that would also attract butterflies and other helpful insects.

Two excellent info-crammed books are Fruitless Fall by Rowan Jacobsen and A Spring Without Bees by Michael Schacker. Both of these editions will give you lots to think about while you contemplate just what kind of help you can give our friends. ISI

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By gardening expert,TV/radio host & author Melinda Myers

Add a little extra color and motion to your summer garden with containers designed to attract birds and butterflies. Many garden centers continue to sell annuals throughout the summer and many of these mid-season annuals are a bit bigger, providing instant impact. It’s easier than you think to attract birds and butterflies, and the good news is you don’t need a lot of space to do it. Container gardens give you the ability to attract wildlife to your backyard, patio, deck, or even balcony. Simply follow these four steps, and your garden will be filled with color, motion, and a season of wildlife. 1. Provide food for birds and butterflies. Include plants with flat daisy-like flowers like pentas, zinnias, and cosmos to attract butterflies. For hummingbirds, include some plants with tubular flowers including nicotiana, cuphea,

salvia, and fuchsia. And don’t forget about the hungry caterpillars that will soon turn into beautiful butterflies. Parsley, bronze fennel, and licorice vines are a few favorites that make great additions to container gardens. You can even create containers that will attract seed-eating birds. Purple majesty millet, coneflower, coreopsis, and rudbeckias will keep many of the birds returning to your landscape. 2. Include water for both the birds and butterflies. It’s a key ingredient and a decorative small shallow container filled with water can be included in a large container. Or include a freestanding birdbath within your container collection. I used a bronzed leaf birdbath in just this way. It created a great vertical accent, added interest to a blank wall and provided a water supply for the birds. 3. Give them a place to live and raise their young. Add a few evergreens, ornamental grasses, and perennials to your container garden. Use

weather resistant containers that can tolerate the extreme heat and cold in your garden. Then fill with plants that are at least one zone hardier. Or add a few birdhouses. These can be included in the container or mounted on a fence, post, or nearby tree. 4. Skip the pesticides, please. Nature, including the birds you invite into your landscape, will devour many garden pests. Plus, the chemicals designed to kill the bad guys can also kill the good bugs and wildlife you are trying to attract. And, if pests get out of hand, use more eco-friendly products like soaps, Neem, and horticulture oil as a control mechanism. And, as always, read and follow label directions carefully. And to conserve time and energy, try using one of the self-watering containers or hanging baskets that are on the market. This helps to make it both easy and convenient when time constraints and vacations get in the way of providing ideal care. I filled one with wildlife-friendly petunias along with papyrus and golden moneywort. After a five-day trip during hot dry weather I returned to find my container garden in great shape and hummingbirds visiting the flowers. So gather your family and get started planting your wildlife container garden today. Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments that air on over 115 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and writes the twice-monthly “Gardeners’ Questions” newspaper column. Melinda also has a column in Gardening How-to magazine. Melinda hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio program for over 20 years as well as seven seasons of Great Lakes Gardener on PBS. She has written articles for Better Homes and Gardens and Fine Gardening and was a columnist and contributing editor for Backyard Living magazine. Melinda has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure. Her web site is melindamyers.com. ISI

Attract Birds & Butterfl ies, No Matter What Size Your Landscape


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By Dawn Williams, CSN50andBetter.com

The changes come gradually, sneaking up on us while we are busy doing other things. Perhaps walking up a flight of stairs is more tiring than it used to be. Groceries feel like they have gotten heavier over the years. Muscle strain and injury occur more often, and a few hours of yard work or home repair requires days of recovery. Our waistlines grow thicker, flesh becomes doughy, posture slackens, and energy flags. We chalk up these symptoms to the pro-cess of aging, assuming they are inevitable and attempting to endure them with as much grace and good humor as possible.

It does not have to be this way.In fact, muscle atrophy, weight gain, declining

stamina, and the increased incidence of cardio-vascular conditions and other chronic diseases are not an inevitable effect of aging. More ac-curately, they are the result of disuse over time. While it is true that these effects are noticeable as we age, they occur far more slowly in people who are regularly active. Some research indicates that a physically fit 65-year-old will easily out perform a sedentary 20-something. Exercise is that power-ful, and that important.

As living organisms, we will undoubtedly age. But the process is slower and brings much less loss of ability in people who exercise. Those who choose to lead sedentary lives can expect a far different outcome.

• Metabolism decreases by 10 percent, in-creasing weight and dangerous, disease-friendly fat stores in the body.

• Increased weight gain decreases insulin sensitivity, resulting in a greater risk of developing type II diabetes.

• Increased LDL cholesterol forms plaque in the arteries, which narrows the passage and

Exercise Is The AntidoteFor Aging, Disease and Decline

causes the heart to work much harder.

• Hypertension is 35 percent more likely to develop in people who do not exercise.

• Mortality related to cardiovascular disease is 25 percent higher in people who are seden-tary.

The deleterious ef-fects of lack of exercise were dramatically illus-

trated through an experiment in the 1960s. Re-searchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School recruited healthy 20-year-old men to participate. The subjects simply spent three weeks resting in bed. Following the period of bed rest, the men’s resting heart rates had increased, blood pressure went up, body fat rose, heart-pumping capacity dropped, and muscle strength was lost. Physiologically, these young men had developed characteristics found in people twice their age.

An intensive eight-week exercise regimen following the experiment not only restored the subjects back to their original physical condition, but also improved them considerably.

The same group of men returned for a follow-up study 30 years later. They showed the expected physiological characteristics of middle-aged people who have not been diligent about fitness: weight gain, high fat ratio, high resting heart rate, and hypertension. The men began a six-month exercise program. When it concluded, the subjects’ physiology and performance capabil-ity had returned to baseline levels recorded when they were in their 20s. Six months of exercise had reversed 30 years of aging.

Loss of ability is not the only downside of taking it easy. Statistics gathered during the last 50 years consistently show that people who re-main sedentary suffer a higher incidence of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and even cancer.


Anybody who thinks money will make you happy, hasn’t got money.

- David Gedffen

Beyond the Obvious - We know exercise is good for us, but why, exactly, is it so? Harvard University summarized the most relevant re-search findings on the specific effects of exercise. Among them:

• Exercise improves the cardiovascular system by decreasing resting heart rate, heart stiffness, vascular stiffness, lowering blood pressure and increasing the heart’s maximum pumping capacity. It also decreases thickness of the blood, all of which make the heart stronger and more efficient, while making its job easier to accomplish. The effects of being sedentary are exactly the opposite.

• Metabolism slows with age, but exercise increases it, while reducing body fat, regulating blood sugar and insulin levels, and lowering dangerous LDL cholesterol while increasing beneficial HDL cholesterol.

• The skeletal and muscular systems benefit from exercise, too. Muscle mass and strength in-crease over time, which in turn build stamina and

reduce the risk of injury. Bones benefit from in-creased calcium content and strength, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and decreasing the like-lihood of fractures.

• Even our neuro-logical functions are improved through ex-ercise. Physical activity slows the loss of nerve conduction and reflex speed associated with aging, improves quality of sleep, reduces risk of depression, and reduc-es memory lapses and other cognitive decline.

• Heart health dras-tically improves with exercise, even for those

who have already developed cardiovascular disease. People who are regularly active are 45 percent less likely to experience cardiac-related incidents in their lifetime, and some research suggests that exercise may even improve cardiac event-free survival in coronary patients better than angioplasty.

Reaping the Benefits - Research at Harvard School of Public Health studied 13,000 subjects and found that those who exercise for five hours a week were 76 percent more likely to age free of chronic illnesses, including heart disease and cancer, than those who worked out only 20 minutes a week. Physical activity in this study was also cor-related with less mental and physical impairment.

Even if you have been inactive for a long period of time or have never exercised seriously, you can still reap the benefits of getting fit. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that decreased mortality is documented even among those who were sedentary until mid-life or later. It is never too late.

The National Institutes of Health recommend that we strive for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week. Medical conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease may all be improved through exercise, so the presence of these diseases should not be considered a reason not to exercise. However, be sure to see your doctor first to learn if there are specific precautions you should take.

Exercise is quite likely the surest buffer against disease and the only known antidote to age-related decline. An investment of a little time and sweat equity will buy you a healthier, longer life.

For information on how to get started, see the NIH National Institute on Aging website at www.nia.nih.gov.

Dawn Williams is associate publisher of Se-nior News 50 and Better and a health writer who is pursuing certification as a fitness trainer with a specialty in senior exercise. More of her health articles can be found at www.CSN50andBetter.com. ISI


Studies have shown that patients who help their doctors by providing important health information and preparing themselves for appointments tend to get better care than patients who don’t. Here are some simple things we can all do to help maximize our next visit to the doctor. Before Your Appointment – Gathering your health information and getting organized before your appointment are the key steps to ensuring a productive meeting with your doctor. This is especially important if you’re seeing multiple doctors or are meeting with a new physician for the first time. Specifically, you need to: Get your test results – Make sure the doctor you’re seeing has copies of your latest X-ray, MRI, or any other test or lab results, including reports from other doctors that you’ve seen. In most cases, you’ll need to do the leg work yourself which may only require a phone call to your previous doctor asking them to send it, or you may need to go pick it up and take it yourself. List your medications – Make a list of all the medications you’re taking (prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements) along with the dosages and take it with you to your ap-pointment. Or, just gather up all your pill bottles and put them in a bag and bring them with you. Gather your health history – Your doctor also needs to know about any previous hospitalizations, as well as any current or past medical problems, even if they are not the reason you are going to the doctor this time. Genetics matter too, so having your family’s health history can be helpful. The U.S. Surgeon General offers a free web-based tool called “My Family Health Portrait” (see familyhistory.hhs.gov) that can help you put one together. Prepare a list of questions – Make a written list of the top three or four issues you want to discuss with your doctor. Since most appointments last between 10 and 15 minutes, this can help you stay on track and ensure you address your most pressing concerns first. If you’re in for a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms. During Your Appointment – The best advice when you meet with your doc-tor is to speak up. Don’t wait to be asked. Be direct, honest, and as specific as possible when recounting your symptoms or expressing your concerns. Many patients are reluctant or embarrassed to talk about their symptoms, which makes the doctor’s job a lot harder to do. It’s also a good idea to bring along a family member or friend to your appointment. They can help you ask questions, listen to what the doctor is telling you, and give you support.

Also consider taking some notes or ask the doctor if you can record the session for later review. If you don’t understand what the doctor is telling you, ask him or her to explain it in simple terms so you can understand. And if you run out of time and don’t get your questions answered, ask if you can follow up by phone or email, make another appointment, or seek help from the doctor’s nurse. Savvy tip: The National Institute on Aging offers a booklet called “Talking With Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People” that provides great information including a variety of questions to ask that can help you be a more informed patient. To get a free copy mailed to you, call 800-222-2225 or visit www.nia.nih.gov. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBCToday show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ISI

How to Make the Most of Your Doctor’s Visit


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By Shaun Christensen, DMDMiddle Creek Dental, Nampa

Snoring does not just affect marriages – it harms the quality of a good night’s rest and may be a sign of a more serious problem. Medical experts estimate that more than 30 million American adults snore on a regular basis. When you sleep, muscle tone decreases throughout your body, and your throat muscles relax, causing the soft palate to vibrate as you breathe in and out. Partners of snorers can lose up to an hour of sleep a night because of the nuisance. A history of snoring may cause excessive daytime sleepiness, memory impairment, morning headache, poor work performance, and loss of sexual drive. Sleep Apnea is a serious, life-threatening sleep disorder. It affects ap-proximately 18 million Americans. It owes its name to the Greek word apnea, meaning “want of breath.” Unlike mild snoring, individuals with sleep apnea stop breathing completely for 10 seconds or more, typically between 10 and 60 times in a single night. A person with severe sleep apnea may have more than 100 waking episodes. With each episode, the sleeper’s brain briefly wakes up in order to resume breathing, resulting in extremely fragmented and poor-quality sleep. People with sleep apnea usually do not remember waking up during the night. Indications of the problem may include the following: • Morning headaches • Excessive daytime sleepiness • Irritability and impaired mental or emotional functioning • Excessive snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep • Insomnia • Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat People with this disorder are so fatigued during the day that when driving, their performance is similar to that of a drunk driver. If left untreated, sleep apnea can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, and possibly stroke. Because sleep apnea can be a silent condition, it can go undiagnosed for many years. If you already have a weakened heart, apnea can aggravate your condition by placing stress on your heart during sleep. While snoring and sleep apnea are related disorders, not all snorers will develop sleep apnea and not all sleep apnea patients snore. If your partner hears loud snoring punctuated by silences and then a snort or choking sound as you resume breathing, this pattern could signal sleep apnea. What are my treatment options? Treatment options for sleep apnea vary depending on the severity of the disorder. An individual with mild sleep apnea can try altering the sleeping position, such as sleeping on your side instead of on your back. This may prevent your tongue from falling backwards into your throat, which can narrow your airway and partially block airflow. Other potential solutions are avoid-ing alcohol use and sedatives, losing weight, quitting smoking, or wearing a dental appliance during sleep. If your dentist suspects you suffer from sleep apnea, he or she may refer you to a sleep medicine specialist. For a proper diagnosis, you may need to undergo an overnight sleep study, called a polysomnography, which measures heart rate and how many times breathing is interrupted. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a dentist can work closely with your physician to implement and manage the prescribed therapy. Some dentists have undergone special training for the treatment of sleep apnea and are very skilled in its management using dental appliances. A dental appliance for sleep apnea, which looks similar to an athletic mouth guard, repositions the jaw and tongue to improve airflow. The appliance helps breathing become less labored, giving a person more room to breathe quietly. Wearing a dental appliance requires some adjustment and a com-mitment on the part of the patient, but they are typically as easy to wear as most retainers or other removable dental appliances. If you have severe sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems resembling something a jet pilot might wear is a commonly prescribed therapy. CPAP delivers air through a small mask that covers the nose, and the constant pressure keeps the airway open, which prevents both snoring and episodes of apnea. If a patient has trouble tolerating CPAP, nasal surgery, throat surgery, or a dental appliance may help diminish sleep apnea symptoms. Sleep apnea cannot be treated effectively with medications. For additional information contact Dr. Christensen at 208-466-7424 or visit www.middlecreekdental.net. Dr. Christensen, DMD is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. ISI

If You Are Snoring,It May Be Time To Wake Up!

If I Need A Total Knee Replacement, What Are My Options?

By Chris Al-Aswad When a surgeon considers a patient for a total knee replacement, she

takes into account the patient’s age, lifestyle, and damage to the joint. In addition, a surgeon’s decision to use one procedure over another, or one type of implant over another, often depends on that surgeon’s training and clinical situation. Each implant design has advantages and disadvantages, but whichever implant your surgeon decides to go with, it’s good to know that total knee replacement surgeries offer among the greatest success rates of all orthopedic operations. Nevertheless, we advise you to research your options so that you can discuss with your surgeon what approach will be best for you.

What happens in knee replacement surgery? A total knee replacement


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(208) 331-1155 hdiabetescenter.orgLocations in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Mountain Home, Fruitland and Weiser.

Lola Burdick, St. Luke’s Humphreys Diabetes Center patient and 2009 winner of our “Living Well with Diabetes” award.

(http://bonesmart.org/knee_replacement.php) replaces the damaged bearing surfaces in your knee that are causing pain. At the lower end of the femur (thighbone), the bone is trimmed to accept a specially shaped metal compo-nent and the upper end of the tibia (shinbone) likewise is trimmed to accept a metal tray. Into this tray will be fitted a plastic bearing.

The metal components can be secured to the cut bone surfaces by the surgeon’s choice of bone cement or a non-cement method called “bone ingrowth.” The majority of knee replacements are generally cemented into place. You can ask your surgeon about this one option.

The outer surface of the femoral component is shaped to allow the knee-cap (patella) to slide up and down in its groove. The surgeon may choose to retain the natural kneecap or re-surface it. You can ask your surgeon about this.

The cruciate ligaments are major ligaments inside the knee. They provide support to and stabilize the movement of the knee. In total knee replacement surgery (http://bonesmart.org/knee_replacement.php), the CL can be kept or removed and this choice depends on their condition, the type of knee implant, or the type of surgery the surgeon likes to do. This is another option you can ask your surgeon about. “Will you be removing or retaining my cruciates?”

Sometimes the deterioration of the knee joint is such that total knee replacement can be avoided and your surgeon may suggest resurfacing or partially replacing components of your arthritic knee. Preserving healthy bone stock is especially important to younger and more active individuals. In the last section of this article, we will talk about when a total knee replacement may not be necessary.

What are the different types of implants? The plastic bearing in your new knee joint will be either fixed or mobile-bearing. This means that the polyethylene insert is either clicked onto a stationary platform (fixed) or able to move on a rotating metal base (mobile). Most people get a fixed-bearing prosthesis that reduces knee pain dramatically and may last for many years. If you are younger, more active, and/or overweight, sometimes a doctor may recommend a mobile-bearing or a rotating platform knee replacement designed for potentially longer performance with less wear.

In addition, there is the medial pivot implant that replicates the rotating, twisting, bending, flexion, and stability of your natural knee, so it feels more like your natural knee. This design “stays put” or is more stabile during normal knee motion as opposed to sliding forward slightly in flexion.

Custom or special needs implants are another option when choosing an implant. This will depend on whether your skeleton is smaller or bigger than average. Research shows that regular-sized implants may overhang on the bone and lead to soft tissue interference or mid-flexion instability in those people with narrow femurs.

Maybe a total knee replacement isn’t necessary. In some cases, a sur-geon will be able to preserve part of the knee through resurfacing or partially

replacing components of your arthritic knee.Partial Knee Resurfacing is an innovative procedure designed to provide

quicker recovery and improved surgical outcome. This is for patients with damage confined to only one part of the knee that can be resurfaced without compromising the healthy bone and tissue surrounding it. The implants are usually custom-made implants using CAD (computer-aided design) from a special digital imaging of the knee.

Another option is a partial knee replacement (also called a unicompart-mental arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty). This involves putting a smaller implant on just one side (or compartment) of the knee where the damage is limited to that part rather than replacing the entire surface. A partial knee re-placement is done if part of the knee joint is dam-aged by arthritis and the other compartments have healthy.

Whatever your situ-ation, carefully compare your options in consulta-tion with your physician in order to get the best outcome. ISI


By Elena LomabardiJust because you have macular degeneration

(or other vision-limiting conditions) doesn’t always mean you must give up driving or reading.

Ever look through a pair of field glasses or binoculars? Things look bigger and closer, and much easier to see. Dr. Jared L. Cooper of Southern Idaho/Utah and Dr. Cheryl Dumont of Coeur d’Alene are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration or other eye conditions.

“Some of my patients con-sider me the last stop for people who have vision loss”, says Dr. Cooper, a low vision optometrist who limits his practice to visually impaired patients in his offices throughout Southern Idaho.

“People don’t know that there are doctors who are very experienced in low vision care, many of my patients have been told that there was noth-ing left that they could do to improve their vision, fortunately this is usually not the case.”

“My job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person functioning.” said Dr. Cooper. “Even if it’s driving”.

A patient of Dr. Cooper, Ross Johnson, 73 a

retired rancher from Utah, approached the Low Vision Clinic last February.

“I could not read the street signs soon enough when driving, and I couldn’t read my morning paper.”

He was fit with bioptic tele-scope glasses. “Amazing,” says Ross, “to be able to see things far away again. Even the televi-sion is so much better now.” He was also provided with a Clear Image Microscope glasses for reading the newspaper.

“Telescopic glasses usually cost over $2000,” says Dr. Coo-per, “especially if we fabricate

them with an automatic sunglass.”Not all low vision devices are that expensive

- reading glasses start at $500 and hand magni-fiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires.

Call Dr. Cooper or Dr. Dumont for a free telephone interview at 800-451-2015 or visit Dr. Cooper on the Internet at www.drjaredcooper.com.

Dr. Jared L. Cooper Idaho License #ODP-100238.

Idaho eye doctors help legally blind to seeLocal low vision doctor helps those with vision impairment to keep reading and driving.

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800-859-0321 or 208-908-4990

Many people are unaware that eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma can run in families. Having a family his-tory of these diseases can significantly increase a person’s risk for developing them. In fact, people who have a family member with glaucoma are four to nine times more likely to be stricken by this leading cause of blindness.

Being armed with your family medical history is a key component in preventing vision loss from genetic eye disease. That is why the American Academy of Ophthalmology and EyeCare Amer-ica, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, en-courages all Americans to discuss their eye health history with family members. Family reunions and other summer gatherings offer a great opportunity to share this important information.

“Many people don’t know if eye diseases run in their family,” said Richard P. Mills, M.D., M.P.H., chair of EyeCare America. “Family gatherings are a great time to find out. Having this valuable in-formation can help you and your ophthalmologist – an eye medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery – to take the appropriate steps to minimize your risk and save your sight.”

The Academy and EyeCare America encour-age people to take the following steps during family visits:

• Ask family members if they have an eye disease.

• Tell family members of any eye disease you have yourself.

• Go to www.eyecareamerica.org to see if you or your family members qualify for a free eye exam,

and then share any family history of eye disease with your ophthalmologist.

Along with knowing family history of eye dis-ease, eye exams are a critical tool to catch eye diseases early and prevent vision loss. To ensure that high-risk communities, including people with a family history of eye disease, African-Americans, Hispanics and those ages 65 and older, have ac-cess to sight-saving eye exams and care, EyeCare America offers free or no-out-of-pocket cost eye exams to qualifying individuals. The organization matches eligible patients with an ophthalmologist in their area who will provide a comprehensive eye examination. In some cases, patients may also receive up to one year of care at no out-of-pocket cost. EyeCare America is made possible through the generous support of the Knights Templar Foun-dation, Genentech, and Alcon.

Those interested in finding out if they qualify for a free eye exam by a local ophthalmologist may visit the online referral center at www.eyec-areamerica.org.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons – Eye M.D.s – with more than 32,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s.” For more information, visit www.aao.org. The Academy’s EyeSmart® program edu-cates the public about the importance of eye health and empowers them to preserve their healthy vi-sion by providing the most trustworthy and medi-cally accurate information about eye diseases, conditions, and injuries. Visit www.geteyesmart.org to learn more. ISI

Provided by the PacificCataract and Laser Institute

Cataracts are a cloudiness that develops in the clear lens of the eye. Usually, this cloudiness worsens until it scatters or blocks light trying to enter the eye and causes vision to become dim, blurry, and distorted. A cataract is not a growth over the eye. It is the result of a chemical break-down inside the clear lens of the eye. This break-down is usually the result of the natural process of growing older. It can happen quickly, within a few months, or so slowly that the loss of crisp, clear vision may go unnoticed.

Family History of Eye DiseaseDramatically Increases Risk for Blindness

As cataracts mature, vision dims, fine detail is lost, and more and more light is required for reading. Driving at night with glare and bright lights can be bothersome and dangerous, and detail work can become increasingly difficult.

Symptoms - When cataracts begin to form, the following symptoms may be noticed:

• Blurry or distorted vision• Foggy or cloudy vision• Slowly but steadily degenerating vision• Need for more reading light• Increasing problems with glare from bright

lightsOnce the cloudy lens begins to affect a per-

son’s daily activities and impair their lifestyle, cataract surgery should be considered.

Risk Factors - Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, and if people live long enough, most will eventually develop them. However, formation can be accelerated by:

• Smoking• High exposure to ultraviolet light• A severe blow or trauma to the eye• Certain diseases, medications, toxic chemi-

cals, and radiationThe Solution - The only treatment for cata-

racts is to surgically remove the clouded lens. It is normally replaced with a tiny artificial lens implant. When performed by a skilled surgeon, cataract surgery is one of the most success-ful operations available. And it can be done as outpatient day-surgery with quick recovery. After surgery, most people are amazed by the bright-ness and clarity of their new vision.

How Vision Works - Many parts of the eye work together to catch and focus light rays, so we can see. Light passes through the cornea, the pupil, and then the transparent lens, where it is shaped and focused onto the retina at the back of the eye. Tiny receptors in the retina capture and send these light images to the brain.

How Cataract Surgery Works - Cataract sur-gery is performed under a powerful microscope and involves two stages. First, the eye’s cloudy lens is removed, and second, an artificial lens

Cataracts — What You Should Know


Charles C. George, M.D.Ophthalmology

is inserted to replace the eye’s focusing power.The surgeon makes a very small opening at

the edge of the eye to allow precision instruments to reach inside the lens. With delicate skill, the surgeon guides a tiny ultrasound probe to gently break up and suction out the cloudy lens material. Then, a specially selected lens implant is care-fully placed inside the eye to restore clear, bright vision. Several lens implant options are available

for those who want to reduce their need for cor-rective eyewear. The opening into the eye is so small, it heals without any stitches. Advice and Guidance – Your family eye doctor can discuss options and help you decide if cataract surgery is the best choice for you. Together, you c an decide when the time is right. ISI

By Jim Miller It’s unfortunate, but millions of Americans with hearing loss don’t get hearing aids because they simply can’t afford them. Hearing aids are expensive, typically costing between $1,000 and $3,500 per ear, and most insurance companies including traditional Medicare don’t cover them. While there’s no one simple solution to finding af-fordable hearing aids, there is a variety of options you can look into that can help. Check Insurance – Your first step is to check with your health insurance provider to see if it provides any hearing aid coverage. If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, you need to know that while original Medicare (Part A and B) and Medicare supplemental policies do not cover hearing aids, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do. If you have an Advantage plan, you’ll need to check with your plan administrator. Medicaid also covers hearing aids in some states to people with very limited means. Your county social service office can give you more information. Or, if you’re a federal employee or retiree, hearing aid coverage may be available through some insurance plans in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Or if you’re a veteran, the VA provides free hearing aids if you meet certain conditions such as being compensated for any service-connected disability or if your hearing loss is connected to military service. See va.gov or call 877-222-8387 to check your eligibility. Financial Assistance – Depending on your income level, there are various programs and foundations that provide financial assistance for hearing aids to people in need. Start by calling your state rehabilitation department (see www.parac.org/svrp.html for contact information), or the nearest chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (hearingloss.org) to find out if there are any city, county, or state programs, or local civic organizations that could help. There are also a number of nonprofits that offer hearing aids at deeply discounted prices or free. Some good ones to check out include: • HEAR Now: Sponsored by the Starkey Hear-ing Foundation (starkeyhearingfoundation.org, 800-328-8602), this program provides hearing

aids for people with net incomes below $19,058 for a single or $25,743 for couples. Your only costs are a hearing test and an application fee of $125 per hearing aid request. • Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project: Of-fered through some Lions clubs throughout the U.S., this program provides the opportunity to purchase new, digital hearing aids manufactured by Rexton for $200 per aid, plus shipping. To be eligible, most clubs will require your income to be somewhere below 200 percent of the federal poverty level which is $22,340 for singles, or $30,260 for couples. Contact your local Lions club (see lionsclubs.org for contact information) to see if they participate in this project. • Sertoma: A civic service organization that runs a hearing aid recycling program through its 500 clubs nationwide, refurbishes them, and distributes them to local people in need. Call 800-593-5646 or visit sertoma.org to locate a club in your area. • Audient: This program (audientalliance.org, 866-956-5400) helps people purchase new, digital hearing aids at reduced prices ranging from $495 to $975 for one hearing aid, or $990 to $1,575 for a pair. To be eligible, your income must be below $27,075 for a single or $36,425 for couples. For a list of more programs, visit the Better Hearing Institute website at betterhearing.org, and click on “Hearing Loss Resources,” then on “Financial Assistance.” Or, call the National In-stitute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at 800-241-1044 and ask them to mail you their list of financial resources for hearing aids. Send your senior questions to Savvy Se-nior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contribu-tor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI

How to Find HelpPaying for Your Hearing Aid


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There are many who talk onfrom ignorance rather than from

knowledge, and who fi nd theformer an inexhaustible

fund of conversation.- William Hazlitt

By Lisa M. PetscheMany people look forward to the mild temper-

atures and increased daylight of summer, which positively affect their mood and allow new oppor-tunities for enjoyment, especially outdoors. How-ever, those who may be socially isolated – due to illness, disability, or loss of a companion, for example – may find it difficult to reap the benefits of the season.

Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to help a relative, friend, or neighbor in this situation partake of summer’s pleasures.

Lighten the load – Prepare extra foods or beverages to share with the person – for example, homemade lemonade or iced tea, pasta salad, sliced watermelon, strawberry shortcake, or rhubarb pie.

Offer to help with gardening or lawn care.Take your relative out to the mall for shop-

ping – perhaps for a new summer wardrobe - and lunch. If they use a wheelchair, investigate accessible taxi options or register them with the local accessible transportation service. If they can get in and out of a car and walk short distances, arrange to borrow a wheelchair from the mall’s customer service kiosk.

Le t t hem know when you are heading out to the grocery store or on other errands, and ask what you can drop off or pick up to make things easier.

If they do not drive, offer transportation so they can get their hair done, do banking, or attend a special event.

Try some pamper-ing – Summer is a good time to indulge a little.

Share fresh fruit, vegetables, or flowers from your garden or the market. Include a vase with the latter, so they are ready to display.

Buy your relative some toiletries or home fragrance products in a summery scent, such as lily of the valley or peach.

Get them a box of favorite ice cream treats the next time you are at the grocery store. Or take them out to the local dairy for an ice cream cone or sundae.

Buy them a sea-

sonal outdoor gift to enjoy – for example, wind chimes, a hanging plant, decorative flower pots, a bird feeder, solar garden accents, or a patio chair and side table.

Ideas for activities – Invite your relative over for a barbecue or to watch a favorite summer-themed movie.

Have a picnic in their backyard or yours or at a nearby park.

Go for a stroll around the neighborhood, using a wheelchair if necessary.

Take them to the local farmers’ market for fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as favorite meat, cheeses and baked goods.

Go to a park or other outdoor public space and people-watch.

Invite them to some of your children’s or grandchildren’s baseball or soccer games and provide transportation. Just be sure they can safely navigate the distance and terrain from parking lot to sports field. And don’t forget a chair for them that offers good support.

Take them to an outdoor concert or summer arts festival.

Go for a drive in the country. Encourage them to reminisce about summers

from their youth, including family customs, special people and places, and touching or humorous moments.

Heat wave hints – Make daily checks during heat waves to ensure they are eating and espe-cially drinking sufficiently. Buy them pre-cooked foods that only require warming, and arrange for more groceries as necessary. Also, ensure they are not overdressed and are acting normally. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any concerns about their physical or mental state.

If they do not have central air conditioning, ensure they have fans or window air conditioners to improve airflow and evaporate sweat. Check that any such appliances are in good repair and being used. Encourage your relative to stay on the lowest possible floor of their home, preferably on the shaded side, and to open windows in the evening if there is a breeze.

Help them obtain an air conditioning unit if they do not have one, or arrange during a heat wave for them to stay with someone (you, an-other relative, or a friend) whose home is climate controlled.

Provide or arrange for transportation to ap-pointments, for errands, or to take them to a cool place. They should not be walking any distance or waiting at bus stops in extreme weather.

With a little help from a friend – you – the summer time for a loved one or friend can be enjoyable and full of entertainment and variety.

Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and se-nior issues. She has professional and personal experience with elder care. ISI

Help A Relative Enjoy The Summer


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By Jim MillerMost people think that vaccinations are just for kids, but adults need their

shots too. Here’s a breakdown of what vaccines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends for adults age 50 and older.

Influenza (flu): While you already know that seasonal flu shots are rec-ommended, you may not know that those over 65 now have the option of getting a new high-potency flu vaccine. This vaccine – known as the Fluzone High-Dose – creates a stronger immune response for better protection.

Pneumococcal: Pneumonia causes more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, many of which could be prevented by the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Everyone age 65 or older needs to get this one-time vaccination, as well as those under 65 who smoke or have chronic health conditions like asthma, lung, and heart disease, diabetes, etc.

Zoster (shingles): Recommended for everyone age 60 and older, shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that affects more than 1 million Americans each year. All Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover this one-time vaccination, but coverage amounts and reimbursement rules vary depending on where the shot is given. Be sure you check your plan.

Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis): A one-time dose of the Tdap vaccine which covers tetanus, diphtheria and per-tussis (whooping cough) is now recommended to all adults. If you’ve already had a Tdap shot, you should return to getting a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot every 10 years.

MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella): Any-one born during or after 1957 that is unsure about their immunization history should receive the MMR shot. A blood test can tell whether someone has had any of these diseases or has received the MMR vaccine, but a test costs approximately $100. Getting a booster shot is more cost-effective – around $50.

Hepatitis A: This is a two-dose series of shots recommended to adults age 50 and older that have chronic liver disease, a clotting-factor disorder, have same-sex male partners, illicit injectable drug use, or who have close contact with a hepatitis A-infected individual or who travel to areas with a high incidence of hepatitis A. These shots cost anywhere from $60 to $300, but are covered by most health and Medicare prescription drug plans.

Hepatitis B: This three-dose series is recom-mended to adults 50 and older who are on dialysis, have renal disease or liver disease, are sexually active with more than one partner, have a sexually transmitted disease or HIV. These vaccinations are covered under Medicare Part B.

Meningitis: Adults 55 and younger who have never been vaccinated, have had their spleen removed, have certain blood deficiencies or plan to travel to parts of the world where meningitis is common, should receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Adults 56 and older should receive the polysaccharide vaccine. Covered by most health and Medicare Part D plans, this shot will cost around $100 to $150 if you have to pay out-of-pocket.

To help you get a handle on which vaccines are appropriate for you, take the CDC “What Vac-cines Do You Need?” quiz at www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched. Also, talk to your doctor during your next visit about what vaccinations you should get. ISI

Recommended Vaccinations


Dig for Historic and Natural Treasures when Traveling the Gem State

By Bernice KarnopAs you travel through Idaho with all its lakes and forests, rivers and canyons, mountains and deserts, peek at what is behind the beautiful scenery waiting to surprise you. Learning about the natural and historic peculiarities, the scoundrels and heroes, and the secret treasures adds sparkles to your trail any place you go. For example, did you know that the Snake River, which makes that wiggly line disrupting the orderly straight west side of the state, creates the deepest gorge in the North American Continent? At 7,900 feet, Hell’s Canyon is deeper than Grand Canyon. The Shoshone Falls near the city of Twin Falls drops 52 feet further than Niagara Falls and one of the largest diamonds ever found in the U.S., more than 20 carats, was discovered near McCall. Idaho borders six states and one Canadian province – Washington, Oregon to the west, Nevada and Utah to the south, Montana and Wyoming to the east, and British Columbia to the north. In spite of this, landlocked Idaho has a seaport. A network of dams and locks on the Columbia River and Snake River make the city of Lewiston the farthest inland seaport on the Pacific coast of the contiguous United States. Generally speaking, Idaho’s rivers are not so friendly. The Salm-on earned its name as the River of No Return from explorers who thought they could handle it. Today the Frank Church River of No


Return Wilderness around it is the largest wilderness area in the 48 contiguous states. Five of the western trails were blazed through here, including the Oregon and California Trails. The scars left by wagon wheels can still be seen in the rugged country of Southern Idaho. The trails went through Idaho so people could get to more hospitable country. Idaho was largely ignored by white settlers for 50 years after Lewis and Clark stumbled through its convoluted terrain. Idaho was settled by reverse migration when gold was discovered on the Clearwater and the Salmon. Later, ingenious Idahoans put natural hot springs to work heat-ing the Statehouse in Boise and dozens of other buildings. A chilling place in Boise is the Old Idaho Prison. Visitors can walk through the courtyards, the cells, the gallows, and the “coolers” where unfortunate souls sought rehabilitation in solitary confinement. One person who should have cooled off in prison trotted north into Montana instead. Vigilantes hanged Bannack’s infamous Sheriff Henry Plummer in 1864 but he is rumored to have left a tidy cache back at Beaver Canyon near Spencer. It has not been found as far as anyone knows. Even if you do not uncover lost gold the Gem State, you will trea-sure the peculiarities you dig up as you poke through the various nooks and crannies as you go. ISI


Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth has been organized by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco | Support for the creation of this exhibition was provided by the National Endowment for the ArtsImage: Nick Cave, Soundsuit, 2008, appliquéd found knitted and crocheted fabric, metal armature, painted metal and wood toys, Private Collection, NY | Image by James Prinz | Courtesy of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

MAY 19 THROUGH NOVEMBER 4, 2012

BAM | 670 JULIA DAVIS DR | 208.345.8330 | WWW.BOISEARTMUSEUM.ORG

SPONSORED BY

OUTREACH SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

August 10-12, 2012 Wallace Idaho

Friday concert starring Michael Bridge; Portatos

Youth Band; Tango Volcado Accordion Parade Saturday Music in gazebo all day Accordion workshops FREE Street Party - music, food vendors, beer garden Farewell breakfast Sunday

Info: Call 208 753-7151 or visit www.wallaceidahochamber.com

Potatoes, Portatos, and a Parade. All that and more is in store at the 2nd annual Wallace Accordion Festival August 10-12 in the historic North Idaho mining town. An evening concert featuring international award-winning accordionist Michael Bridge will kick off the event on August 10. The opening act will be the Portatos, a youth accordion band from Spokane. Tango Volcado, an ensemble of accordion, bass, piano, and violin, will also perform. Tickets are $15 for adult general seating, $20 for premier seating, $10 for ages 7-16, with children 6 and under free. Saturday begins with a 9 a.m. Accordion Celebration Parade through the downtown, followed by workshops conducted by professional

musicians. The free street party will include music, food vendors, and a beer garden featuring local microbrews. Among the food offerings will be “Idaho

Accordion Potatoes,” served by the Historic Wallace Chamber of Commerce. Street party headliners will be Johnny Vukonich, a one-man all inclusive band, and Aaron Seeman, an “over-the-top” comedic accordionist known as Duckmandu. Amateur musicians and regional groups will also be performing. For more informat ion, v is i t www.wallaceaccordionfestival.com or www.wallaceidahochamber.com or call the Historic Wallace Chamber of Commerce at 208-753-7151. ISI

Music, Fun, Food, Beer On Tap for Wallace Accordion Festival

If you appreciate original works of art, hand-made crafts, and unique outdoor experiences, the Boise Art Museum’s Art in the Park is for you. This popular cultural event takes place this year, September 7-9. Widely recognized as one of the premiere cul-tural events in the Northwest, Art in the Park is a rare fundraiser that has stood the test of time – now entering its 58th year. During the three-day event, BAM presents a variety of contemporary arts and crafts created by 200 artists from throughout the region, with sales benefiting the Museum, a non-profit organization. Live entertainment, park perfor-mances, wonderful food, and hands-on activities for children appeal to all ages and interests.

Beautiful Julia Davis Park in the heart of down-town serves as the natural backdrop for Art in the Park. Special features this year include spontane-ous “sightings” of Nick Cave Soundsuits, with the assistance of Balance Dance Company, as well as a Soundsuit performance inside the Museum by Ballet Idaho dancers. Cave’s artwork is on display as part of BAM’s 75th anniversary exhibition lineup. The Boise Art Museum invites you to celebrate creativity, imagination, diversity, and community through the exhibition of internationally renowned artist Nick Cave and Art in the Park. For more information, visit boiseartmuseum.org or call 208-345-8330. ISI

The Northwest’s Premiere Cultural Event

By Mark Fee As a film critic, I’ve met some of Hollywood’s most iconic and notable actors and directors, in-cluding Sylvester Stallone and Sam Peckinpah. Peckinpah was the most depressing. Stallone was fascinating. I met the controversial Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch, 1969; Straw Dogs, 1971) at the screening of one of his most numbing and miser-able films, Cross of Iron (1977). The film’s star, James Coburn, was warm and affable. Peckinpah had his entourage with him and looked depressed. I thought some of his films were great, but told him most of his recent films were like film diarrhea. He glared at me. It was an ominous sign, and I moved out of the way. Peckinpah is an acquired taste. I’ve loved some of his films and hated others. His classic, The Wild Bunch (1969) was nominated for two Academy Awards. Years later, I met Sylvester Stallone when he was in Seattle promoting Assassins (1994). Meeting Stallone was more promising than my encounter with Peckinpah. I asked him if there was anything he was writing or producing that most people weren’t aware of. He said he was writing a screenplay about Edgar Allen Poe. His response threw me. I couldn’t imagine Stallone writ-ing about Poe. Stallone grew up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen and lived with foster families. He was kicked out of 14 schools. Stallone went on to score a knockout with Rocky (1976) and a number of sequels and was awarded an Acade-my Award for writing the screenplay for Rocky.

I also spent the day with Clint Eastwood’s best friend, Jack Catron, when Eastwood and his production company were filming the third Dirty Harry film, The Enforcer (1976) in San Francisco. Catron was very encouraging. We developed an easy repartee and talked for hours about the world of film. He gave me an improvised acting test. I learned recently, Eastwood and I may have been born, though years apart, in the same hospital. Eastwood is an accomplished Academy Award winning actor (Unforgiven, 1992) and director (Mil-lion Dollar Baby, 2004). Listed below are some of my favorite classic DVD’s with Eastwood and Stallone, as well as a poignant, hilarious sleeper directed by Peckinpah.

Classic DVD’s: Clint Eastwood,Sylvester Stallone, and Sam Peckinpah


In Where Eagles Dare (1969), Eastwood and Richard Burton play a British and OSS assassin who rescue an American general during WWII. The general is held at a German stronghold, high in the Bavarian Alps. The film was written by Alistair McLean (The Guns of Navarone, 1961) and has non-stop action and is extremely exciting. Rated PG; 3.5 stars In Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Eastwood

plays a conman/thief who robs a bank with Jeff Bridges. George Kennedy plays another thief who wants vengeance against Eastwood and chases Bridges and him all over Montana. The film has become something of a cult classic and was di-rected by Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter, 1978). Rated R; 3.5 stars Eastwood plays a failed cop in The Gauntlet (1977), who is sent to Las Vegas to extradite a

hooker. Eastwood is unaware the hooker is a star witness and that his boss in Phoe-nix has ties with the mob. Sandra Locke plays the hooker. Eastwood directed the film, which includes a brassy, bluesy soundtrack by Jerry Fielding. Rated R; 3 stars. In Escape from Alcatraz (1979), Clint plays an inmate who masterminds a bril-liant escape from the notorious prison. The escape requires months of preparation. Eastwood develops an uneasy relation-ship with the prison’s director, played by Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan is a control freak and unaware of the escape plan. The escape is chillingly staged. Directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, 1971). Rated R; 3.5 stars Sy lvester Stallone plays an undercover New York policeman who tracks an inter-

national terrorist in Nighthawks (1981). The film, dismissed by many film critics, is terrifying and re-lentlessly exciting. Some scenes are exceptionally well staged. Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, 1982) is ruthlessly compelling as the terrorist. Rated R; 3 stars. In Victory, Stallone teams up with Michael Caine and a group of POWs to play the Nazis in an unprecedented soccer game. The Nazis have an elite team and want to use the game as pro-paganda. Caine, Stallone, and other allied POWs (including noted soccer star, Pele) have other plans for the game, including escape. Rated PG; 3 stars. Sam Peckinpah’s Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), caught critics by surprise when it was released. The film was a complete reversal from his exceptionally violent The Wild Bunch (1969). Jason Robards plays Hogue, who is left to die in the desert by his friends. He finds water and starts a business and falls in love with a voluptuous, gorgeous hooker, played by Stella Stevens. The film is a gentle ode to the Old West and very, very funny. Stevens sings the haunting, lovely Butterfly Mornings. Rated R; 3.5 stars. With all this summer heat, take a trip to the video store, sit back in the air-conditioned comfort of home, and lose yourself in these excellent films. ISI

Submitted by Jim Meade When my doctor asked me about what I did yesterday, I told him about my day. “Well, in the afternoon, I waded across the edge of a lake, escaped

from a mountain lion in the heavy brush, marched up and down a mountain, stood in a patch of poison ivy, crawled out of quicksand, and jumped away from an aggressive rattlesnake.” Inspired by my story, the doctor said, “You must be an awesome outdoorsman!” “No,” I replied, “I’m just a very bad golfer.” ISI

Some days are better than others

We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the senior special was two eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast for $2.99. “Sounds good,” my wife said. “But I want to skip the eggs.” “Then, I’ll have to charge you $3.49 because you’re ordering a la carte,” the waitress warned her. “You mean I’d have to pay for not taking the eggs?” my wife asked in-credulously. “YES!” the waitress replied. “I’ll take the special then,” my wife said. “How do you want your eggs?” the waitress asked. “Raw and in the shell,” my wife replied. She took the two eggs home and baked a cake. ISI

Don’t Miss The Breakfast Special

Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley An older fellow (not in the best of shape) was working out in the gym, when he spotted a sweet young thing. He asked his male trainer, “What machine in here should I use to impress that sweet thing over there?” The trainer looked him up and down and replied, “I would try the ATM in the lobby.” ISI

Pumping Iron

The Idaho Falls Arts Council is thrilled to bring the magic of the big band era, with the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, to the historic Colonial Theater on Satur-day, October 6, 7:30 pm. Glenn Miller became a bandleader with the best of them during the 1930s and 40s, attracting large dance-happy crowds to live shows and garnering a radio show for CBS. Miller (and much of his band) eventually joined the Armed Forces during World War II, but Miller used his musical talents to rally the troops and build morale by founding the Glenn Miller Army Air

Force Band. While flying from the United Kingdom to Paris for a show in 1944, Miller’s plane went missing in action, but the Glenn Miller Orchestra reformed after the war. Featuring well-known hits like Moon-light Serenade, In the Mood, and Chattanooga Choo Choo, today’s Glenn Miller Orchestra is led by bandmaster, Nick Hilschler, a first-rate vocal artist who covered the music of Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole on his most recent album, Young and Foolish. Tickets are $32 and available by calling 208-522-0471 or visiting www.idahofallsarts.org. We’ll see you there! ISI

Don’t Miss The Glenn Miller Orchestra


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Long Term Care & Transitional Care

North Central Idaho’sPremier Retirement Community

Article & Photo By Jack McNeel Some people live lives like those in Hollywood movies, and pilot Mark Stanton falls into that cat-egory. His life began in Christchurch, New Zealand, but his early years were about evenly spent between there and Auckland. He attended a uni-versity in Christchurch, then went to a technical school to study engineering before returning to his university studies. “As a part time job I worked for a watch repair guy and ended up doing that full time for awhile. I turned it into a business, mainly restoring antique clocks and pocket watches,” Mark relates. Life was to make a dramatic change about then. “I met my wife in 1981 in New Zealand. She was hitchhiking and I picked her up,” he recalls with a laugh. Jeannie was from Lewiston, Idaho. “That’s how I came to this area,” he recalls.Soon after that meeting, Mark visited Idaho, then they moved back to New Zealand for a while and then on to Perth, Australia. “We wanted to travel around the world, so we just got jobs to make some money so we could.” After a year in Perth, they set off through Southeast Asia, all through Europe, and then back to Lewiston. “We rode buses, trains, boats – whatever was the cheapest – and lived on about $5 a day for both of us. We went all through Europe by rail and came back here in 1983.” He opened a clock repair business for several years, but he also took some fixed-wing flying les-sons. “Then I ran out of money. I always wanted to fly, and when I turned 30, I decided I’d better get with it, so I learned to fly and got all my ratings.” Jobs still were slow to come, so they returned to New Zealand and spent the next ten years back in Auckland. But in 2000 they returned to the Lew-iston/Clarkston area. “I learned to fly helicopters when I came back. I had a commercial license but transitioned into helicopters and have been flying helicopters ever since 2001.” Mark flew locally, and then from 2003 to 2008, he worked seasonally, flying helicopters in Alaska doing utility work – transporting external loads, or flying geologists and exploration people around. “I flew a ton of biological work,” he says, “for fish and animal surveys. I did that as a summer job, then extended it into the fall, and then started going up on projects during the winter. I got to the point I was never home. I was gone seven months a year. I decided I wanted to stay around home

more.” By 2008, Mark had his own helicopter, a Robin-son R44 Raven II, listed as the world’s top-selling helicopter. He decided to go into business for him-self flying tourists and locals into the magnificent canyons and along the rivers of this region, and he has been doing it ever since. Mark realizes his timing was bad with the 2008 recession and its impact on the tourism business. Although business was okay at that point, he had nothing to compare it to, other than jet boat com-panies operating in the area. They all reported business down significantly. Mark is also a mechanic and not only keeps his own plane in good repair, but does maintenance for others as well. That helps fill in some slack periods, but this type of tourism business is essentially a full-time job. “I work six days a week every week,” he says, “and haven’t had a vacation in – I don’t know when.” “We do flights in every direction,” he explains. “The Hells Canyon Natural Area starts 30-40 miles south of here and runs all the way to Hells Can-yon Dam, which is 100 miles. Hells Canyon itself is about 90 miles south, at least the deepest part that people talk about all the time. It’s the most spectacular part of the canyon, but there are some amazing sights between here and there. From a helicopter it’s a unique perspective because you can actually see how deep the canyon is; whereas in a jet boat sitting right in the bottom of the canyon, the way the hills and sight lines are, you can’t see

the highest peaks.” Customers have many other alternatives as well. A short, 15-20 minute flight lets them get a good overview of the valley and the communi-ties of Lewiston, Clarkston, and Asotin. Another 30-minute trip to the mouth of the Grand Ronde River flies along the river one direction and then returns along the rim of the canyon. Yet another, longer trip might take sight-seers to the Imnaha River, “a really narrow, rocky, rugged little canyon,” he says. Mark also flies along the Salmon, or up the Clearwater and over Dworshak Dam and Res-

Mark Stanton – From New Zealand to Hells Canyon

Mark Stanton, close-up at helicopterMark Stanton close p at helicopter


ervoir. Another flight down the main Snake River crosses two dams. He also flies up the Palouse River, right into the bowl where the falls are, circling around and returning across the farmland. It all depends on the customer’s time and wishes – and checkbook. Passengers will often see bighorn sheep and deer, along with elk, soaring birds, coyotes, occa-sionally bears, “and one cougar,” Mark says with a laugh. “We’ve never seen a wolf,” he adds. Mark confesses to loving animals. “The ones we have are all rescues – 11 cats at present, and we are feeding not sure how many more, and three dogs. We have a big property we live on, and we fenced it so the cats can’t get out,” Mark explains. In his 50s, Mark’s life has taken various turns and will undoubtedly see more turns in the future. “One day I will finish my sailboat,” he adds. “It’s down in New Zealand.” Perhaps that is a future chapter in a Hollywood story. ISI

Article & PhotoBy Jack McNeel

Roderick “Rich” Sprague taught at the University of Idaho for thirty years, but his background is much more than that of a classroom professor. He collaborated on a book about trade beads that pretty much covered all the beads brought from Europe and traded throughout North America north of Mexico. He not only studied burial customs of Native Americans but reinterred remains when they had to be moved. He collected Chinese baskets. Rich was born in Eugene, Oregon, lived his early years in Corvallis, and since the age of six, has lived almost entirely in Moscow. He earned two degrees at Washington State University and then went to the University of Arizona, where he completed a Ph.D. in anthropology. That was followed by two years of teaching at WSU, but since 1967, he has lived and worked in Moscow. Rich refers to his research as “archeology within anthropology” and calls himself a historical archeologist. His primary area of study has been the Plateau tribes that are found within this inland region, east of the Coastal tribes and west of the Plains tribes. Early in his studies, he became involved with burial practices, and this led to moving the remains of Native peoples when it became necessary. “If they were in the way of some type of major project and if they had to be moved, they (tribal leaders) asked me to move them. If it didn’t have to be moved they would say, ‘Don’t move it.’ The Native people often helped as members of the crew.” Rich researched trade beads and planned to write a book about them when he met a Canadian researcher with similar interests and plans. “So we put it out together. It’s book size, a small book. There are two editions.” After the first edition was published, the second was written and contains only additional material. After retiring from the University of Idaho, Rich continued working with artifacts. “I was identifying difficult historic artifacts for the bypass project at Sandpoint.” Along the way, he also became interested in Chinese baskets. Asked why something Chinese interested him, a subject that is quite removed from Native Americans, he quickly responded,

“Because it’s here. It’s an area of historical archeology that’s been emphasized in Idaho.” He described the baskets as “The kind that grandma had – Chinese baskets with beads, coins, and things on them. I had 260 of those.” About two years ago, Rich had to undergo gall bladder surgery and found out he was also suffering

from a very rare medical condition. As if that were not enough, he also became legally blind at about that same time. T h e d i s e a s e has barred him from cont inuing work in the field and resulted in his making some major donations. “I turned a liability into an asset for historical archeologists,” he said in reference to donating his library of books to the Fort Walla Walla Museum. He wanted the collection to remain intact, and this museum “was quite willing to do it.” He explained that Wal la Wal la ’s

Community College and Whitman College would be able to use this resource. He added that three truckloads of books had already been moved, and there was still one more to go. It is a major collection and fills three rooms. He had already donated the collection of Chinese baskets to the Historical Museum at St.Gertrude that is located adjacent to the Monastery of St. Gertrude’s in Cottonwood. It is a magnificent old building, constructed over a century ago. He explains this location is an excellent place to receive the baskets, “because they have a lot of stuff donated by a missionary who came from China and collected there.” Also featured here is Polly Bemis, the Chinese woman who was sold by her family in China and eventually came to the mining community of Warren, north of McCall. The story is told that she was “won in a poker game,” although she later denied it, but she went on to become a notable figure in early Idaho history. Roderick’s basket collection will be in good company. The donation of these two collections has been a significant factor in his life. “Other than my professional life where I got some awards from the Society for Historical Archeology, the thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve been able to donate my whole library to an organization that promises they’ll keep it together and not sell it off.” Rich was involved in another curiosity. “I was doing a directed study as a graduate

Roderick Sprague, HistoricalArcheologist and Anthropologist


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student on standard ethnographic descriptions, and I commented to my professor about this common theme of tall, hairy creatures that could look in the top of a teepee or other structure. It was a common element (among Indian tribes), and why didn’t we study it? He, of course, came totally unglued and suggested I study little green men from Mars.” A number of years later he was publisher of the Northwest Anthropological Research Notes. A man from British Columbia commented that no one in North American had published on the subject of

Sasquatch. “Okay, I’ll take your challenge,” Rich said. “I’ll publish it in the journal if it’s reasonably scientific.” And he did on several occasions. Does Sasquatch exist? “I hope,” he replied. “It would make so many people wrong.” And how does he tally his professional life? “I’ve enjoyed the work that I’ve done as a professor of anthropology and as a researcher and historical archeologist – and an administrator in the world of getting along with politics in pushing things ahead.” ISI

By Mike ClineWikipedia, the online encyclopedia project that

anyone can edit, has been around for 10 years. The Wikimedia Foundation, the project’s sponsor in San Francisco, celebrated Wikipedia’s 10th an-niversary in January of this year.

Most likely, everyone has heard of Wikipedia, and there is a high probability that if you use a computer, smartphone, or IPAD, you’ve visited Wikipedia and used the encyclopedia to look up some tidbit of knowledge. In fact, Wikipedia is the fifth most visited website in the world. But where does all that knowledge come from? Who wrote the 3.7 million articles in the English language Wikipedia?

The answer is simple — Volunteers.One hundred percent of Wikipedia’s content

comes from the collaborative editing of volunteers. These people research topics, add content, correct spelling, copyedit, discuss issues, add images, mentor new editors, and do everything else it takes to make Wikipedia into to the encyclopedia it is today. They do this on their own time, on their own schedule. There’s no application process, no training required, no hierarchy of editors.

Editors (no matter what their level of experi-ence) don’t need anyone’s approval to change the encyclopedia. The Wikipedia Community, as we like to call ourselves, is a self-organized, col-laborative team that has produced one of the most popular and useful websites in the world.

Wikipedia is not without its critics. In all prob-ability, your grandchildren have been told in el-ementary school, high school, and even college not to use Wikipedia. An encyclopedia that anyone can edit just can’t be any good. But once you un-derstand how Wikipedia works and understand its underlying principles — we call them the Five Pillars and Key Principles — Wikipedia becomes a powerful resource.

In a nutshell, Wikipedia is an online encyclope-dia, it is written in a neutral point of view, it provides free content, it encourages editors to interact with each other in a respectful and civil manner, and it does not have firm rules (The Five Pillars). Above all, content in Wikipedia is “Verifiable” with reliable sources and does not contain “Original Research”.

These foundations are the core of what makes Wikipedia work. A lot of underlying guidelines help editors get the job done, but all the “rules,” no mat-ter what their aim, derive from these principles.

Wikipedia is not without flaws, and one of those flaws is reflected by this amazing statistic: the great majority of active Wikipedia editors are male, under the age of 30, and from the Global North (North America, Europe, North Asia).

The Foundation’s vision for Wikipedia and other projects is simple: “Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. That’s our commitment.” Achieving that vision will be impossible without changing the demographic makeup of the Wiki-pedia editing community.

Young males under 30 can only bring a limited perspective. This is why Wikipedia excels in its coverage of popular culture and sports, while it is sorely deficient in coverage of history, geography, biography, business, literature, science, and many other topics. For seniors, this is an opportunity to volunteer and take advantage of their experiences by becoming Wikipedia contributors.

I’ve been a Wikipedia editor for nearly five

years. I am retired from a military career and still work as a consultant. At 63 years, I write about what I enjoy, and about what I know — history, Yellowstone, and fly fishing. I have recently be-come a volunteer Wikipedia Campus Ambas-sador, where my job is simple —encourage and mentor students, faculty, and staff on the ways of Wikipedia. This outreach has the sole purpose of improving the Wikipedia content while expanding the Wikipedia Community of editors. Colleges and Universities are one source of new editors, but seniors are another.

I like to think that the value of seniors contrib-uting to Wikipedia lies in their distinctly different life experiences and the fact that they grew up before the Internet, before Google, and before cable TV. Too many young editors today believe that if you can’t find something on Google, it never existed. We know that’s not the case. There are millions of books, journals and other references on our public and university library shelves. There are countless editions of newspapers pub-lished in Idaho over the last 150 years in local archives. We all have historical societies, museums, and other historical resources in our local communities. As seniors, we can take advantage of these resources and our experiences to help improve Wikipedia.

As a senior myself, I want to encour-age seniors across Idaho to think about becoming a Wikipedia contributor. Think about becoming part of a much larger global Wikipedia community, and think about subjects you are passionate about and want to write about in Wikipedia. It is a 24/7 opportunity to vol-unteer. There are no meetings. You don’t have to drive or be driven somewhere on Tuesday at 11 a.m. You just have to have a desire to share some of what you know with a global community. You just have to get in there and edit the encyclope-dia. Remember, when you visit Wikipedia to answer that burning question – Who wrote “Valley of the Dolls?” – the answer you’ll find was contributed by a volunteer. Visit Wiki-pedia today, and make your first edit.

Mike Cline is a re-tired USAF Lt Colonel who currently consults on Strategy Planning. He has been contribut-ing to Wikipedia since January 2007. His Wikipedia user name is: Mike Cline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Mike_Cline) ISI

Wikipedia – A New Way To Volunteer


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Article By Jack McNeel “I’ve spent as much time as I could in the mountains. I just can’t seem to stay out of them,” Jim Renshaw says. Jim is now 80, lives at Kooskia east of Lewis-ton on the Clearwater, and continues to pack into the mountains. His kind – those who choose to leave behind the conveniences of town, preferring instead a horse or two, a string of mules, and the beauty and solitude of a remote mountain lake or hunting camp – is becoming increasingly rare, He was born in Kooskia, but at just two months of age, his parents moved to what is now Selway Lodge, 40 miles above Selway Falls on the Selway River Jim explains. “The folks bought that in the spring of 1931, and the next spring they moved in there with me and my two sisters. Nowadays they’d call it a hunting and fishing resort, but the folks just called it a dude ranch. The main business was hunting and fishing. We lived there during the summer and actually spent some winters until 1948.” The family then moved onto the Middle Fork near Kooskia. Jim started packing in 1947. He tells of staying out of school and packing for his dad and packing during the summer on a forest fire for the U.S. Forest Service. “I was 15,” he says. “I’ve been around horses my entire life and haven’t got away from them yet.” Tragedy struck in 1949 when his dad was killed in a hunting accident. Jim had been working for another outfitter, but after the accident, he returned home. In 1952, he returned to work at the Selway Lodge, and it was here he met the lady who was to become his wife. Darlene had been raised in Hells Canyon.

“She was as good or better with horses than most men,” Jim relates. “Darlene and I spent two winters in at Moose Creek Ranch to keep the snow off the buildings at the Ranger Station. The first winter we were married, and I had a couple of cougar hounds. She was an exceptional woman. We had a good life.” “I lost my wife in 1982,” Jim says quietly. In 1953, he started his own outfitting busi-ness. That was to be his life until 1998 when he essentially retired. “It was strictly for hunt-ing and fishing. The first 20 years our main base camp was the Fish Lake airfield between the Lochsa and Selway Rivers.” “Then we bought some ground down on Moose Creek, built a couple of cabins, a barn and so on. We then sold that and bought another outfit over on Weitas Creek on the North Fork and outfitted there until 1998.” Even with kids, his time was often spent in the mountains. His wife was president of the local Saddle Club, and the kids went through gymkha-nas, which are horse events often designed for youngsters. “I used to have cattle here that my wife pretty well took care of because I was in the mountains all the time. She went along on summer trips and cooked on hunting trips some years. She was busy raising the kids and taking care of the place,” Jim recalls. Retirement from outfitting certainly has not meant an easy chair in front of a TV. Jim still has three horses and three mules and he keeps them and himself busy at every opportunity. “I do a bit of volunteer packing for the Forest Service. I just got back from Meadow Creek Guard Station this June. I and another guy went in and stayed a couple of days. We did a little general maintenance, dug a little bit of trail out, worked on

the corral, and things like that,” he explains. He was scheduled to pack supplies for a youth group, planning a long hike in from Montana, but snow levels had not been reduced enough yet to

make that feasible. Jim says one of his main projects for the past six or seven years has been to help pack a group of former smoke jumpers into the mountains where they do some projects for the Forest Service. “Four or five other guys go along and do the packing, and a couple of them do the cooking. We just en-joy being in the moun-tains,” he states. Jim occasionally gives a seminar on horse packing in the local area when some-one wants a lesson. “I’m willing to show them what I know,” he adds. He was also one

of the charter members of the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation and still serves on the advisory board. He has also done some volunteer packing for them. “Whatever I can find an excuse to do, I’m gen-erally available to do it,” he says with a laugh. Jim was also a member of the first five-man licensing board for the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and served on that board for 11 years. He remains a lifetime member of both the local chapter and the state association. Asked if he knows anyone else his age that is still doing the kind of work he does, his answer is quick, “No, they’re too damn old.” “I enjoy packing, always have. I also enjoy hunting elk. I’m getting a little too old for that. I still do my own shoeing. I can’t pack near as much as I used to, but I manage to get it on and get there. I’ve had a real good life. I managed to make a liv-ing doing exactly what I wanted to do. I just can’t seem to stay out of the mountains.” ISI

Jim Renshaw Was Born To Pack

Photo provided by Gail Renshaw, Jim’s daughterPh id d b G il R h Ji ’ d h

Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley

For those who never saw any of the Burma Shave signs, here is

quick lesson in our history of the 1930s through 1950s.

Before there were interstates, when everyone drove the old two-lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farm-ers’ fields.

They were small red signs with white letters, placed in sets of five, about 100 feet apart. Each sign contained one line of a four-line couplet, with the obligatory fifth sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream. Do these bring back any

old memories? If not, you’re merely a child.

He re a re some of the actual signs:

don’t stick your elbow out so farit may go homein another carBurma Shave

trains don’t wanderall over the map’cause nobody sitsin the engineer’s lapBurma Shave

she kissed the hairbrushby mistakeshe thought it washer husband JakeBurma Shave

don’t lose your headto gain a minuteyou need your headyour brains are in itBurma Shave

drove too longdriver snoozingwhat happened nextis not amusingBurma Shave

brother speederlet’s rehearseall togethergood morning, nurseBurma Shave

cautious riderto her reckless dearlet’s have less bulland a little more steerBurma Shave ISI

Burma Shave:A Little Road-Side Humor in Verse


By Natalie Bartley Mountains are memorable for Ma-donna Lengerich of Boise. She made her life’s work protecting wilderness from fires while employed with the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and improving recreational resources as a volunteer for community organizations. At 60, her life has followed a diverse trail, crossing various professional fields and the length and depth of the United States. Pursuit of a political science de-gree prompted her to leave her parents and siblings in Redlands, California and move to Caldwell, Idaho in 1969. She graduated from the College of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree. She says, “My political ambition was to work for a congressman or senator. I thought it would take until I was 50 years old, but in Idaho it didn’t.” An internship in Washington, D.C. led to a staff job in the D.C. office of Idaho Congressional Representative Steve Symms. As is often the case with political work, elections led to changes, and after three years she ended up in Boise working with the Idaho state legislature, Office of the Attor-ney General, Department of Health and Welfare, and Department of Fish and Game. Seeking a more permanent job than a political career could offer, Madonna landed a seasonal job with the Bureau of Land Management at the Fire Center in Boise in the late 1970s that led to her 32-year full-time career. At the NIFC in Boise, she spent 16 years as a communication technician, communication specialist, and duty officer with the Incident Radio Support Cache. Madonna switched to the Great Basin Training Center for the Bureau of Land Management as a training specialist. In 1997 she completed a Master’s of Science degree. Madonna finished the last three years of her career as the manager for the training center and taught mid- to upper-level fire management classes. In January 2012 she retired. Safeguarding the nation’s natural areas from wildfires was not the only task her fire teams worked on. They also provided security for digni-tary visits. In the Winter of 1983, Madonna was as-signed to assist with radio communications while the Queen of England visited Yosemite National Park. Madonna’s team knew the route planned for the Queen. The team sat on a hill where they had just changed a repeater battery and watched as the secret service and security guard vehicles snaked along the park roads. When the Queen’s vehicle unexpectedly turned in an unplanned direction, the radios crackled alive with conversations, and her team saw the whole scramble of vehicles reorganizing their route. She also shook hands with President Clinton, while on assignment in a raft providing security and communications support during the Clinton family whitewater-rafting trip on the Snake River near the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Even during full-time employment, Madonna gave generously of her time to volunteer projects and still is a member of every outdoor club imag-inable. On weekends she helped build trails with the Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association and cleared brush from Bogus Basin’s Nordic trail with Idaho Nordic ski racing club. She served a member of Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue for 20 years and put her communication skills to use as the newsletter editor for 11 years for the Idaho Whitewater Affiliation and Mountain West clubs. She regularly chopped wood for the Idaho

Mountain Memories

Photo Courtesy of Madonna Lengerich

Department of Park and Recreation for use at the department’s backcountry yurts near Idaho City. Playing in the mountains is a top priority for Madonna, and she developed numerous hobbies

along her ride through life. Backcountry skiing, skate ski-ing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, backpacking, road bicycling, and mountain biking rank as her favorites. During the 2011-2012 season, Madonna skied 70 days. Even with all her commu-nity involvement and solid out-door recreation skills, retire-ment loomed as an unknown and uncomfortable path. “I was apprehensive about it, but it was a good move and turned out to be the right time,” she says. Now that she is on the retirement trail, she simply states, “I’m busy.”

Extremely busy. “I still like to go on fires,” she says and is on-call as a National Incident Management Team member, with three trips to Colorado fires under


her backpack since March. In April, Madonna was a coach and mentor to a fire team in Utah during the FEMA Great Salt Lake Earthquake exercise. She contracts with the Forest Service, working on a software program that addresses managing the crews and operations at multi-day wildfire projects. Closer to home, she serves as a training consultant to the Eagle Fire Department. Her philosophy is, “Work when it fits in be-cause you can always use the extra money be-cause someday it might not be there, and start doing the things you want to do.” To further her goal of traveling, she bought Atlas maps of all the western states. “I am just going to open them up and say I am going to go there,” Madonna says. She is planning to volunteer on a multi-day trail

building project in a national forest sponsored by the Idaho Trails Association. An active vacation trip to South America is under consideration too. Madonna contemplated retirement for years. She advises, “Retire as soon as you feel like you can financially. There is a lot of stuff to do if you like doing. If you keep waiting, just as Warren Miller says, ‘you’ll be another year older when you do.’” She adds, “You just need to make a decision

and start now.” Natalie Bartley is a Boise-based author of the recently released mobile app travel guide Boise’s Best Outdoor Adventures available at sutromedia.com/boise and the trail guidebooks Best Easy Day Hikes Boise and Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest available at amazon.com and at your local outdoor retailer or bookstore. ISI

By Edward A. JosephNick was short, overweight, and not beautiful.

As caddy master Nick had a deal going that if a caddy wanted a loop – carrying a golfer’s bag for eighteen holes – he had to pay up. The going rate the summer of 1957, just before I started high school, was 15 cents for one bag and 25 cents for two bags. I once carried three bags, but Nick only charged me a quarter.

Small as it was, Nick had a dread of any club member seeing him take the bribe. During my first month as a caddy, I committed the egregious error of publicly trying to give Nick money. He looked at me as if he was St. Francis of Assisi and I had asked him to step on some birds. He saw me later and told me never to do that again,

and then he took my 15 cents. St. Francis ac-cepted donations.

I knew curse words before I started to caddy, but they were mundane compared to the lurid lexicon of the experienced caddies. Their language be-came particularly col-orful when they played cards. Poker was the game of choice.

Because it smelt of cigars and urine, no one went into the small caddy room except in bad weather or to play poker. I had been cad-dying for over three years when I became a “made man.” In caddy land, this meant play-ing poker with the men. Lucky me.

After playing a cou-ple of hands, I felt as if I was walking through a minefield. I was bet-ting more money than I ever had before, and

if I made a stupid play, I would be taunted as “a dumb kid.” Scariest of all was the fact that some of these guys were belligerent losers.

Things were all smiles and jokes if they were winning, but if they started to lose, especially to a kid, their banter turned to verbal assault. In a malevolent tone of voice they would snarl, “You’re a lucky #//!*#, but it ain’t going to last.”

Fortunately for my stomach – and perhaps the rest of my body – things worked out great. I lost all my money and did not say, or do, anything too stupid, according to the older caddies’ code of social graces.

One senior caddy was different from the rest. “Skeets” never cursed or gambled. He was tall, thin, and walked with his head and shoulders slanted forward. It looked as if he had to focus on every step to keep from falling down. Looking back, I think he must have been at least in his early 60s. He caddied every day – always car-rying two bags – and sometimes for 36 holes.

I caddied all through high school and got to know Skeets pretty well. In the spring of my senior year, Skeets told me he had married a younger woman and that he had recently be-come a father. I was incredulous and envious.

My last memory as a caddy involves Skeets. It was late afternoon and the sun was the back-ground as I watched Skeets walking down the fairway of the first hole, the heavy golf bags stretching the skin on his normally wrinkled face like a tight drum. As usual, he walked with a tilt.

He told me before he took the loop – he had already done 18 holes that morning – that he had to go out again because his baby needed shoes. I knew as I watched him go down the fairway I would never see him again. I would be going away to college and would not be returning.

In the more than 50 years that have passed since I first gave Nick that 15 cents bribe, I have often thought about my experiences as a caddy. My clearest memory is always of Skeets, with the afternoon sun illuminating and enveloping him, walking down the first fairway to pay for his baby’s shoes.

Contact the author at [email protected]. ISI

Caddy Memories


Article & Photos By Jack McNeel Vancouver Island. To most it brings thoughts of Victoria and Butchart Gardens. Victoria, with its wide ethnic diversity, many small shops specializing in such items as Irish linens, English china, Scotch plaids, First Nations crafts, plus fine restaurants, numerous museums, and the internationally famous Empress Hotel. Butchart Garden is widely acclaimed for its 55 acres of gorgeous flowers and gardens that change constantly throughout the year. The Victoria vacation guide proudly proclaims – “Named #1 destination to visit in Canada.”It’s a year around destination as winters and summers are both less extreme than we experience in our part of the county, and the rainfall is dramatically lower than Seattle’s. And, it’s only one long day’s or two short day’s travel. But Victoria only represents one aspect of a Vancouver Island vacation. Three quarters of the population resides in this southern portion of the island. For those visitors who want to experience a quieter vacation and view the beauty of snow-capped mountains, innumerable fresh water lakes, many seaside harbors, wildlife, First Nations activities, fishing and wildlife viewing expeditions – northern Vancouver Island might just be your thing. On the northern tip is Port Hardy where cruise ships from Alaska and Prince Rupert dock to unload passengers. Port Hardy is the region’s largest community yet only has about 4,000 residents. Local artists provide a variety of buying options, seafood is fresh, restaurants are abundant as are housing accommodations. It’s much as life was here in the 50s; quieter, a little slower, with recreation more directed at personal outdoor endeavors than sitting in front of a computer or television. Port Hardy is a good base from which to explore the very northern portion of the island. Next door is Fort Rupert where the Hudson Bay Company established a trading post in 1848. A small portion of that fort is still visible. It’s also where the Kwakiutl First Nations Band has its main offices. Across from those buildings is a cemetery where many graves are marked with totem poles. Many are topped with family crests, often of animals that hold particular importance to the family. Visitors are urged to treat these totem poles and burial sites with respect but they are very near the road and clearly visible. Totem poles will be seen throughout these communities, some very new and others very

Vancouver Island Vacationold. The best location to see a multitude of such poles, and to learn about First Nations life, is the community of Alert Bay on Cormorant Island. This is reached by ferry from Port McNeill, about a 30-minute drive from Port Hardy. The ferry takes

45 minutes and runs several times a day. No car is necessary at Alert Bay if one doesn’t mind some hiking around town, and a taxi can transport you if walking becomes too excessive. U’mista Cultural Centre is located here, a good place to start, particularly to learn about First Nations life. A wonderful collection of old masks, all collected before 1920 and returned to U’mista from other museums is now housed here. A brief movie helps visitors understand the meaning behind these treasures and the importance of the potlatch to Native people. The potlatch, where a family or a tribe gives away much wealth, helps determine the social ranking of tribes and individuals. The world’s tallest totem pole, 173 feet, is located above town near the Big House, essentially a large auditorium with tribal designs covering the outside. Its primary use is for holding potlatches. A burial site in the town proper contains many totem poles. Visitors must remain on the street out

of respect but the poles are very close and readily visible. Another community accessible by a 25-minute ferry ride from Port McNeill, is Sointula on Malcolm Island. Sointula has a Finnish history. These

Scandinavians settled on the island in the late 1800s and created a delightful community full of artists, musicians, shops, and galleries. It’s also possible to investigate without a car if one is fairly active. Overnight accommodations are also available. Port McNeill is the second largest town in northern Vancouver Island located right on the salt water of Broughton Strait. The seawall and harbor offer excellent photographic opportunities, and the area is noted for such marine animals as orca and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions – plus an abundance of bald eagles. Another overnight option is Cluxewe Resort, a Kwakiutl owned campground right on the ocean waters of Broughton

Ucluelet harbor, like many coastal towns, provides great photographic oppor-tunities of numerous boats.


Driving in Canada has changed in recent years. Changes have been implemented for border crossing procedures to increase and enhance security. You need to know about driving in Canada before you set off. Ignorance could get you sent right back home if you fail to gather all nec-

essary information first. If you are not familiar with the laws and border crossing regulations, many sites supply this information free. Be sure to look them up. You must bring your photo identification with you to Canada as well as your driver’s license and your passport. Recent changes require everyone to bring a passport when crossing the border from either side. This allows officials to verify that you are who you claim to be and that you are not a security risk. Make sure that your driver’s license and all other I.D. are up to date. Any expired information will need to be renewed before you can enter Canada. Check that it will not be expiring while you are there either. Everyone traveling with you inside the car will need to provide the same information. Border control has to verify every person who wishes to cross the border, not just the driver. Even children will be required to show a passport, so get this type of information gathered before your planned trip. It can take time to get a passport if you do not have one, so factor in the timing for that as well. The rules regarding what you can and cannot bring into Canada tend to change, so make sure you are up to date on the latest. This information will be listed online, so make sure you are compliant. It would be unfortu-nate to pack things you cannot take and then have to dispose of them at the border. You will always be asked for the legal information for your vehicle. Have everything on hand to show border patrol. They are always on alert, watching for stolen vehicles. Having your information up to date will help you get through that much faster. If you buy anything in Canada, make sure that you keep all of the re-ceipts. The border guards may ask to see them when you pass through

on your way home. It is just another way of mak-ing paperwork help you get through the line that much more quickly. You can also look up border wait times online to get an idea which crossing will be the quickest. Keep in mind when driving in Canada that some of the traffic rules may vary. The speed limit is posted in kilometers rather than in miles, so remember that too, or you may find yourself with a speeding ticket. Driving in Canada can be beautiful and exciting if you take care to plan ef-fectively. ISI

Are You Visiting Canada By Car?

Strait and backed by the Cluxewe River estuary. It’s a huge campground with extremely attractive campsites. There are also a dozen modern cabins available for rent, each situated on the shore with a view out over the salt water. Throughout northern Vancouver Island, outfitters provide tours to view wildlife or opportunities to fish for salmon, halibut, lingcod, and snapper. Perhaps surprising to many visitors is the number of freshwater lakes found throughout the interior of the island. Some are visible from Highway 19, that runs essentially from Victoria to Port Hardy, but you will discover many more if you explore adjacent communities on the western shores. Port Alice is one such small community with an outstanding park, restaurant, and overnight accommodations. It is noted for its fishing and wildlife viewing areas. The town feels like an inland community yet you can launch a boat here and reach the open Pacific Ocean. Black bears are very abundant on Vancouver Island and might be spotted at any time, but to be assured of seeing bears plan an early fall trip when salmon are moving into streams to spawn and bears are congregating along these streams to fatten up before winter hibernation. In Zeballos and Tahsis, viewing bears is as much a certainty as one might find anywhere. You will find overnight accommodations and restaurants in each town and when watching bears use caution as some of the natural timidity of these animals is gone when so much food is swimming up the streams and hibernation is soon to come. The southernmost towns are Port Alberni, Ucluelet, and Tofino. Port Alberni is midway across the island fully 20 miles from the Pacific

but on a saltwater channel that cuts across from the west. It’s a modern town yet provides harbor-like views of fishing boats. Ucluelet and Tofino are coastal towns separated by Long Beach, about a 20-mile expanse of beaches and campgrounds. Ucluelet is a fishing village with excellent photographic opportunities of the harbor and many boats. Another location has views of the open ocean beyond a lighthouse. The past few years have seen tremendous growth in overnight accommodations, especially small B&Bs, plus some small restaurants. Like all coastal towns there are many opportunities for chartering a fishing boat or going on a whale-watching cruise. Tofino has gone from a small First Nations fishing village to a modern town with a full range of accommodations, including some very upscale motels. However it still retains the character of a Native town with many locations to purchase Native crafts or to sign up for a cultural cruise with a First Nations guide. Hiking, camping, bear watching, and whale watching cruises, and other active outdoor pursuits are all available. Visitors to Vancouver Island will find expenses a bit higher than in the states. Food is somewhat higher. Lodging costs aren’t too much different with prices somewhat lower during the shoulder seasons. A ferry from the mainland to Vancouver Island costs about $83 for a car and two passengers. Entrance to Butchart Gardens is $27 per person. If you want to take “high tea” at The Empress Hotel, plan on about $70. Whatever your budget, start planning today because a vacation to Vancouver Island can be the vacation of a lifetime. ISI


If you don’t like it… fix it! That is Bill Witthuhn’s message, and that is just what he did.

When Bill heard the now famous (or infamous) “You are not special…” graduation speech given by Massachusetts’ Wellesley High School English teacher David McCullough, Jr. son of historian and author David McCullough, Bill thought it should have a different tone. So he decided to fix it and write a graduation speech that he believes is more positive in its direction.

This issue, our winning Remember When

contributor, Bill Witthuhn of Coeur d’Alene, has captured the importance of making the most of all the opportunities we have in order to fulfill our dreams in My Commencement Address. Thank you and congratulations to Bill, the winner of our $25 Remember When prize.

Remember When contains our readers’ per-sonal reflections or contributions describing fic-tional or non-fictional events from some time in the past. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poems, essays, etc. Photos may be included.

Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independentfeatures the contribution(s) deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize.

We look forward to receiving your contribu-tions for our October/November 2012 issue. Mail your correspondence to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403, email to [email protected], or call 1-866-360-5683 or 208-318-0310.

By Bill Witthuhn, Coeur d’Alene The question is, are you all special? I would choose a different characterization for each of you, and say that each of you is unique. While there may be a scarcity of movie stars or professional athletes among the assembled graduates, each of you is still unique. I call your attention to the building of a sky-scraper. Visualize the ironwork 40 stories above the ground and eventually rising to 90 stories. There are workers walking about on one-foot-wide iron beams. Are these people unique? I would say so. Most of them attended a graduation ceremony much like this one. Fortunately, our ironworker was not told that he was not special. Today there are many small businesses. People have an idea and they turn it into a busi-

My Commencement Addressness… of which significant percentages fail. Those that fail will learn form that experience and go on to another venture and eventual success. The average real estate agent has tried three other occupations before giving real estate an op-portunity. Some find it their perfect place, others move on still looking. The message is this, “You have many, many choices! If you think the world needs something new, go for it! Necessity is the mother of invention.”Who would have thought the world needed the hula-hoop? Henry Ford had an idea about building cars. Condoleezza Rice prepared herself for the opportunity to organize and direct. Kodak built a better camera. You are unique. Follow your dream. If it is to be a professional ball player and you are found

wanting, please do not give up on something you cherish. Continue playing locally among your fellow men or women enjoying the friendship of team-mates and friends and the activity itself. You are unique. Look for that which beckons. “I’d like to do this” or “Why hasn’t someone designed that?” A group of high school students designed a solar car that was a huge success. Don’t limit yourself. The world will beat a path to the person that builds a better mousetrap, so go for it. Evaluate your interests and abilities. You are unique. What do you have to lose? Life is fun. Life is interesting. Life will be challenging, so give it your best shot. Your life will be interesting… you are unique! ISI

By Bill HallI confess that when I see television news

reports of two men getting married to each other or two women, I do not understand the attraction.

I also confess that when I see men marrying women and women marrying men I do not under-stand what most of them see in each other either.

Half the time when I attend a wedding, I see some stunning woman in a spectacular dress with an intelligent look on her kisser willingly hitching herself to some scrawny kid with ratty face hair and a silly grin on his face. From my vantage in the audience, they just don’t match up right.

That is mostly because young women of the same age as their grooms tend to be about 10 years more mature than the lads they wed.

Mind you, I was that same sappy kid when I was that age. As young men, we just are not built to mature as rapidly as the women we love. I don’t know why it is when we propose that they don’t throw us back in the river and let us mature for a few more years.

But women that age are flawed as well. Women of 21 or 22 or so marry these goofy male kids and seem not to notice that anything is amiss. Or maybe it is just the maternal instinct asserting itself. Maybe young women think they can get a better result in a marriage if they start shaping their young men while those boys are still malleable and teachable.

Granted, part of how great our brides look by comparison with us is that the script for a classic wedding is slanted, designed to present women in a flashy fashion while upstaging the geeky man-child they are marrying. Women are expected to wear fabulous white gowns while practically cov-ered in flowers. The bride is surrounded by other attractively dressed women who stand up with her drawing even more attention to the star of the show.

Then they dress the groom and his bizarre supporting cast in deliberately dark suits called tuxedos.

The combination leaves the audience with a vi-sion of what looks like a bevy of Hollywood starlets

on one side of the preacher and a row of inebriated penguins on the other side.

But if that makes brides and their groveling grooms happy, then it is no skin off my ego. I do not know what she sees in him, but it is their lives.

I feel the same way about gay people getting hitched. They cannot do any worse than half the heterosexual couples can. But the gay couples we see getting married in television news clips are not at first glance exactly the picture of a perfect marriage themselves.

On the one hand, two women getting mar-ried look promising at first glance. Women are so attractive. They look better in flashy clothes. But weddings between two men seem mostly to involve both partners wearing tuxes – dull back-ground black traditionally used to obscure second-ary players in heterosexual wedding rituals that let female stars shine. But a marriage of two males creates a show made up entirely of drab penguins.

Of course, none of that is any more ridiculous than most hetero weddings. So who am I to scoff?

However, when I am invited one day to a gay wedding, I will sit there as usual grumbling under my breath at the odd pairings the same as I do at straight weddings. I will be sitting there saying, “No, no, not him. He’s not grown up yet.”

Or “No, no, not her. She’s chewing gum at her own wedding. She’s not ready for prime time.”

To my surprise, I am frequently proven wrong on such judgments. And I am glad to be wrong. After all, I have learned in my own marriage that outer appearances are misleading. From the outside, my wife and I do not even remotely fit

together. She’s a looker and I’m an old bearded guy who misplaced his hair.

But we have learned the happy fact that we look a lot alike on the inside. And I can’t begin to tell you how gratifying that is.

So do not listen to me, you straight and gay couples who look so odd at the beginning of your marriages. If you have it together on the inside and finally grow up, then you have found the fountains of joy and love and I wish you the gallons of their magic that everyone deserves.

Hall may be contacted at [email protected] or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. ISI

Any marriage can be odd

Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.

- Amy Lowell


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By Dianna Troyer Marty Rosa knows what her persona will be when she skates in a bout for the Portneuf Valley Bruisers, a women’s roller derby team in Pocatello. “QB. And that doesn’t stand for quarterback,” says the 61-year-old Pocatello native, who helped establish the team two years ago at the business she and her husband own, H&R Hockey, a remodeled warehouse for gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, inline hockey teams, and roller derby. “Sometimes around here, things have to get done a certain way, and I make sure they do,” she says, throwing up her arms and laughing. “I tell people, ‘Look, today I’m a Queen B, so look out.’” For decades, Marty has channeled her organizational skills and abundant energy into developing skating programs for Pocatello residents, including speed skating, figure and dance skating, inline hockey, and most recently roller derby. During the past few years, the number of roller derby teams has grown nationwide for several reasons, Marty says. Drew Barrymore’s recent movie “Whip It” has helped popularize the sport. Since starting in the 1930s, roller derby has grown to more than 1,200 amateur leagues and is played worldwide. “It’s a great workout and a way to release your frustrations. You can come here for a while and get out of your daily role and routine and be whoever you want to be. Here, everyday is Halloween with the wild, colorful outfits and skates, so you can express yourself anyway you want to,” Marty says, showing a few skintight shorts and fishnet hose. “Most tracks now are flat instead of banked, so there are more types of those tracks around, making the sport more accessible.”

Marty has skated since she was a kid. “I’ve always loved it, and it’s a great lifetime sport. As soon as I could walk, I strapped on a pair of skates, those ones with metal wheels. Back then, the only place to go was down the sidewalk.” Eventually, Deleta Skating opened, and Marty helped manage the rink. “I coached figure and speed skating, and my boys did speed skating.

When inline hockey started there, my boys did that, too.” The hockey program soon outgrew the local rink, so Marty and her husband, Al Habenicht, found a warehouse at Gateway West Industrial Park, leased it, and moved the program there. “My sons and husband are still active with inline hockey, either playing, coaching, or reffing. Jake played pro inline hockey for three years in Colorado, and about the time he moved back here,

I had some local women asking about starting a derby team.” By word-of-mouth, she soon had about two dozen women wanting to play the bruising sport, in which teams of five players jostle each other during a bout, which is two periods lasting 30 minutes. Each team picks a “jammer” who scores

points by lapping members of the opposing team. Players help their jammer, while attempting to block the opposition’s jammer. Marty, Jake, and her other son Frankie, a competitive speed skater, coached the women. She and her sons taught women how to skate and demonstrated different moves, such as how to check.

“At first everyone was a little too polite and gentle, so my sons and I showed them how to do it right. We’re competitive and don’t show mercy with each other. Roller derby has a reputation for being rough and tough, but safety is an issue, and there are rules, so no one gets seriously hurt.” Players come from all walks of life. “Some are professionals; others are young grandmas or young moms who bring their kids. They like roller derby because it’s a chance to release their frustrations and aggression. Most are in their 20s and mid-30s, but lately, people have asked me about forming a team for 40- and 50-year-olds or a non-competitive team. I always tell them you have to be at least 30 before life has thrown enough frustrations at you to make you aggressive.” For competitions, women pick nicknames and outfits that conveys a certain persona, such as Mistress Contusion, NiNi 9-Knives, and Mantha

Tank. Although Marty knows what her name will be, she has not skated on the team yet because she has been busy with organizational issues and has not passed her benchmark test. “To skate in competition, players have to qualify and pass a benchmark to make sure they can skate certain movements and have the endurance to skate for a certain number of laps in a designated time. I have to work on my endurance. I’d love to be out there.” The Bruisers compete year-round, traveling as far as Boise and Salt Lake City and have a monthly bout in Pocatello. “We get a crowd of about 200 to 300 people for the bouts here,” says Marty. With the Bruisers established, Marty is thinking of launching a few new projects: a roller derby team for men and maybe a co-ed team. “Who knows what’s next,” she says. “I’ll never retire. There are too many fun things to do around here and things I still want to accomplish.” More information about the Bruisers can be found at www.portneufvalleybruisers.org, or by calling Marty at 208-221-3155. ISI

Marty shows the bling of skating equipment such as multi-colored skates. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

Skating Aficionado Launches Roller Derby Team


By Dianna TroyerSharon Skenandore’s sense of fun helped her

overcome her fear of guns five years ago.“I read about the Cowboy Mounted Shooting

Association in Western Horseman magazine and thought it would be great to do,” she says of the popular equine sport.

Competitors dress in traditional western attire and are timed as they race around a course, shooting 10 balloon targets from horseback with a .45 single action pistol, rifle, or shotgun. Black powder blanks that shoot 20 feet are used. For each target missed, riders are penalized five seconds. The rider with the fastest time and least number of misses wins.

“I knew how to ride, but using guns terrified m e . I d i d n ’ t k n o w anything about them,” says Sharon, who lives north of Pocatello and was looking for a new activity for herself and her horses. “I had done a lot of equine sports: the posse, pole bending and barrel racing, and back country trail riding. But this sounded so different and fast-paced.”

She called a directory of cowboy shoot ing organizations listed in the article and found a club called the Idaho Regulators in Rupert about 75 miles away. Sharon is among 15 club members who practice every Sunday at Danny and Raylene Mecham’s arena. Besides competing in Idaho, they caravan together to contests in Oregon, Montana, Washington, South Dakota, Colorado, and Utah.

The sport is growing rapidly in popularity, Sharon says, because everyone in the family participates. Classes of competition are divided by age, gender, and number of points earned at contests.

“Grandma and grandpa don’t sit in the stands watching. They’re like me, out there riding. I’m well into my 60s,” says Sharon, who is single and has four children and 11 grandchildren. “This is a sport you never get tired of doing.”

The sport is appealing because competitors are friendly and supportive.

“We all cheer for each other. No matter what question or problem you have, someone is there

to answer it and help you.”Members taught Sharon to shoot, helping her

overcome her fear of guns. In 2010, she won first place in Class 3 at the

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association Hart World Championship in Amarillo, Texas, riding Sparky. She credits Sparky, an Appaloosa gelding, for helping her to win.

“Sparky took care of me all these years, so now I’m taking care of him in his retirement,” she says of the 22-year-old Sparky. “Having the right horse is 50 percent of the game. Some will not let you shoot from their back because they never get used to the sound of guns going off. We have special ear plugs that they wear.”

When Sparky retired from competition two years ago, she bought Benito.

“He’s a character, a 2 2 y e a r - o l d mustang gelding from Fish Lake, Nevada,” she says.

Sharon and Benito are a winning team at meets.

“We won second place in June at a meet in Ontario, Oregon. But winning isn’t what keeps me going,” says Sharon.

“I don’t care about my standings that much. I like to go and have fun with everyone. That’s what keeps us all coming back – the people and the camaraderie. We have such a good time together and laugh a lot. That’s what it’s all about.”

Sharon says she plans to keep competing for years and looks forward to when she retires and has more time for the sport.

“For now, though, I have to keep on working to be able to pay for my play,” says Sharon, a medical technician with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health Department at Fort Hall.

Sharon says she’ll be ready for her next big competition, the Scully Western U.S. Championship from August 1 to 4 in Las Vegas.

To learn more about cowboy mounted shooting, call the Idaho Regulators president Kent Spaulding at (208) 431-4553 or visit the website at www.cowboymounted shooting.com ISI

Sharon feeds Sparky after work. [Photo courtesy of Sharon Skenandore]

Sharon Skenandoredrills her targets from horseback

Man’s greatest blunder has been intrying to make peace with the skies

instead of making peace with his neighbors.- Elbert Hubbard


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Article By Dianna TroyerA stroll through Bobbie McKee’s doll museum in Moore in central

Idaho triggers a trip down Memory Lane.“People tell me all kinds of stories about how important dolls were

to them – sometimes men as well as women – when they were grow-ing up,” says Bobbie. “Dolls bring out people’s nurturing instincts. A lot of people say, ‘I used to have this one or that one,’ or ‘I remember when these dolls were popular.’”

Visitors tell her of the hugs, heartaches, and secrets they shared with their dolls. Or they remember the countless hours they spent rolling their toy vehicles around, letting their imaginations carry them away on adventures.

Bobbie has more than 500 dolls at Bobbie’s Doll House and Toy Museum across the street from King Mountain Supply. She opened the museum on Feb. 14 to share her collection that she has accumulated during the past decades. She also shows her husband Chuck’s die cast toy tractors, cars, and airplanes.

“The museum has been a dream of mine forever.”Using a feather duster, Bobbie keeps her hundreds of dolls im-

maculate as they sit in orderly rows on shelves or stand in display cases. Trolls with their fluorescent green or purple vertical hair sit beside Cabbage Patch dolls and Barbie dolls.

“I have three more boxes filled with dolls at home in the garage. I rotate the dolls in the museum with those at home to keep the dis-plays varied.”

Bobbie has taken classes in doll identification, restoration, and repair.

“People drop by to have a doll cleaned up and fixed, or to ask for my advice about whether a doll is valuable or collectible.”

She first looks under a doll’s hairline to see if the manufacturer’s stamp is there. With that information, she begins searching through her dozen reference books to learn more.

Manufacturers expressed their creative imaginations through dolls’ diverse functions.

“With the Tiny Tears dolls, you can feed them water through their bottle, and then they cry and wet their diapers,” she says showing a few from the early 1970s.

“Watch this,” she says, picking up Saucy, a Mattel doll made in

Antique Dolls, Toys TriggerA Trip Down Memory Lane


1972. Bobbie rotates the doll’s right arm forward, making Saucy’s eyes open, close, wink, and cross.

Manufacturers also used a variety of materials to give the dolls a lifelike appearance. Bobbie shows examples of how doll materials evolved.

“This is my oldest doll from the late 1800s,” she says of a 12-inch-high doll with a head of bisque, unglazed porcelain. “Its body was made from sawdust stuffed into tightly sewn linen.”

Her composition dolls from the 1930s are in a glass display case. “They were made from fine saw-dust that was mixed with glue and pressed into a mold. Then layers of paint were applied.”

In the following de-cades, rubber was used, and eventually plastic became the most com-monly used material for making dolls.

Bobbie began learn-ing about doll history when she began collect-ing decades ago after her kids were grown.

“I had more free time, so a friend, who had tak-en a doll repair class, suggested I start collecting dolls. We went to yard sales and second-hand stores, and my collection grew from there,” she recalls.

Americans are not the only people who cherish dolls. Cultures from around the world also do, judging from Bobbie’s dolls from Mexico, Australia, Guam, Japan, Germany, Spain, Pakistan, and Scotland.

The Scottish dolls remind Bobbie of her late friend, Christine, whom she met through unusual circumstances.

“My mother-in-law was vacationing in Scotland and happened to start a conversation with Christine outside a House of Registry, a kind of genealogi-cal center.”

Christine was trying to find her birth father in America and knew only that his last name was Davenport, and he lived in Texas. Christine’s father had been wounded during World War II and was shipped home due to his injuries before he could marry her mother.

“My mother-in-law told Christine how much I loved genealogy and that I could help her, so she gave her my address and phone number.”

Bobbie started her search in a painstaking way, long before national adoption registries were easily accessible on the internet.

“I just started calling Davenports living in Texas and writing letters.”Bobbie’s persistence paid off, and eventually she found Christine’s father.“She was able to come over several times to see him before she passed

away this last year from an aneurysm,” says Bobbie.The dolls surrounding Bobbie remind her of her countless friendships.“Some friends see a doll somewhere, buy it, and send it to me. Here’s

one that was found in a barn in Howe. It needed a lot of cleaning and repair.”Bobbie still adds to her collection, looking for dolls when she and Chuck

visit their children: Nancy in Merced, Calif.; Richard in McCall, Idaho; Matt in Newport, Ore.; Jeff in Green Mountain, N.C.; and Don in Frankfort, Ken.

“I never know what I’ll find to bring back here,” she says. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,

and Saturday. Admission is free and donations are accepted. For more in-formation, call 208-527-2646. ISI

Article & Photo by Bernice Karnop Larry Vanderplas, 77, from Idaho Falls, is a water lover who came to Ameri-ca from Holland in 1951. This photo was taken at the Montana Senior Olympics in June, in Great Falls, but he swims every day at the Idaho Falls Aquatic Cen-

ter when they are home. His wife, Sadie, swims along with him and coaches him, but she stays dry during the competition. “Swim-ming is good heal th wise and it makes a big difference in controlling his diabetes,”

she notes. Larry, a retired airplane inspector at Hill Air Force Base, and Sadie, a retired scan coordinator for Albertsons/Super Val, have been married for three years and enjoy traveling to Senior Games in and out of Idaho. ISI

Senior OlympicsA Great Way To Play

Bobbie McKee shows her oldest doll, dated to the late 1800s. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]


By Dianna TroyerDeb Lynch needed a reason to exercise after knee surgery five years

ago and found her motivation in a saucer-sized plastic disc.“My husband, Jerry, and I started playing disc golf after some friends in-

troduced us to the sport,” says Deb, 55, who teaches eighth-grade geography and math in Pocatello. “Now, we’re hooked on it because it’s challenging, fun, and good exercise. During summer, we play every morning at Ross Park and every evening at Sister City Park. We play nine holes, which takes us about 25 minutes.”

The Lynches play at 8:30 a.m. and p.m. because the courses are so busy at other times of the day.

“We don’t like to wait, so we play early and late,” says Jerry, 60, a retired shop teacher. “Disc golf has really become popular in the past few years, and the three courses in Pocatello fill up fast. It’s a great sport because it’s a challenge, something we enjoy doing together, and it gets us moving – at a leisurely pace that is. It’s pretty cheap entertainment for us, too, because an average disc costs about $15.”

The game began in the early 1960s and became more formalized with the construction of a permanent course, built in 1975 in Pasadena, Calif. Disc golf is similar to golf, except round plastic discs are used instead of balls. Players must throw the disc into a metal basket or pole hole. The player who gets the disc in with the least number of attempts wins.

“Whenever we go on vacation, we can usually find a course nearby,” says Deb about more than 2,500 disc golf courses built nationwide. “A lot have been installed at ski resorts to attract people during summer.”

Disc golf is popular because it’s free to play at most courses, is easy to learn, and can be done by people of all ages and skill levels, says local disc golf equipment dealer Brad Kisling, who owns Soccer Rockers in Pocatello.

“You don’t have to be good to enjoy it. I started playing in southern Cali-fornia back in the ’70s,” says Brad, who moved to Pocatello in 1994 to raise his kids. “It was something fun to do.”

He learned that Pocatello is a hub for disc golfers and has courses at Ross Park, Sister City Park, and Bengal Ridge.

“For a town our size to have three courses is amazing,” says Brad of the nine- and 18-hole cours-es. “Pocatello is a good hub for disc golf because there are more than a dozen courses in eastern Idaho with tournaments held year-round. There’s even a national profes-sional circuit you can qualify to compete in. The top money winner makes about $50,000 a year.”

In 2003, when Brad opened his sports equip-ment store, he started selling a few discs. De-mand has grown so much that he remodeled a room in his store just for disc golf supplies. He sells discs from 10 different compa-nies, with some made in Finland and Sweden. The regulation-sized 8 ½-inch diameter, 6-ounce plastic discs range in price from $7 to $22.

“There are drivers, irons and putters, just like in golf,” says Brad. “The technology is becoming so advanced. Some discs have bubbles put into them as they’re being formed, so they have more lift and can go farther.”

The current record for throwing a disc the farthest is 836 feet.“A 16-year-old set that record,” says Brad.The Lynches laugh about ever throwing a disc that distance.“We’re lucky to throw 200 feet,” says Jerry, “but we throw a lot farther than

when we started. Some days are better than others, and the wind blowing affects our throws, of course.”

The Lynches have improved since they started playing.“At first, I thought I’d never be able to do it, but I kept on playing,” says

Deb. “We started at Ross Park, and the challenge there is keeping it out of a tree. I used to throw six or seven times before I got the disc in the basket. Now, on some holes I can make it in about three or four throws.”

The Lynches have lost discs and had to retrieve others from trees. “We carry a rock or weighted ball, so we can throw it at a disc to dislodge it from a tree,” says Jerry. “We’ve lost a few, but it doesn’t discourage us from play-ing. Once you start playing disc golf, you won’t quit.”

More information about the sport may be found at www.pdga.com, www.gemstatediscgolf.org or ncdgc.com. ISI

Jerry and Deb Lynch play disc golf mornings and eve-nings during summer in Pocatello. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

The Lynches fl ing their golf discs at dawn and dusk

By Bill HallWho do you think you are?That’s the clever name of an NBC series that researches the family tree

of different celebrities each week, showing them where they came from even if it’s not who they thought they were.

The search for unknown family branches is something of a fever among millions of people. That can be exciting if you find a colorful criminal or some-body famous in your ancestry.

However, researchers in my family have achieved fairly dull results. You dig up my roots and, for generations, it is farmer, farmer, farmer, farmer, farmer.

But at least our line did not starve out. And there is nothing better you can say about farmers than that they kept the family fed.

However, today’s families, including mine, are almost all gone from the farm. They have had to find other work in recent generations just to keep the groceries coming. Going to college to learn a trade or a profession used to be quite feasible. But today in the United States of America, a higher academic or technical education is becoming a promise broken, a dying dream.

The gradual collapse of higher education for the masses in America sad-dened me again the other night while watching a recent episode of Who Do You Think You Are? The subject was the Broadway and Hollywood actor Rita Wilson, also known as the wife of uber-famous actor Tom Hanks.

Unlike most episodes of the ancestry program, Wilson’s quest was not for relatives across the generations but for information on the early life of her immigrant father. He had been unwilling to talk about it before he died a couple of years ago.

It turns out he did not want to share his pre-USA life because he went through hell in Bulgaria during and soon after World War II. The first time he tried to flee Bulgaria, he was declared an enemy of the state and placed in a Communist labor camp where prisoners were shot if they tried to escape. He courageously tried anyway and managed to succeed.

In the course of the television program, Rita Wilson found her father’s 91-year-old half-brother who had also been in the labor camp. He shared a letter her father had sent after reaching America. The father was astonished

We Had Better Water The Family Tree...


at how incredibly true it was that America was the land of opportunity.

“Never in my life before have I seen such high-paid work as in America,” he wrote.

He was especially boggled by how easy it was in America to get an education that might move you up life’s ladder.

“At night time I go to school and I’m learning English quickly. Once I finish this class, I will start a new one to learn about radio and television equipment. All schools are free here. You can even become a doctor if you have the brains.”

I remember well that former America of the free education, the door constantly left open to learn-ing for all, including me. I remember when state colleges were free, and I was given an absolutely free college education.

So were most of the rest of the members of my generation. All that was asked of us in return was that we use the greater earning power our free education had given us and pass the same gift of education on to the following generations.

But no. We were too cheap. Today as a con-sequence, our children and grandchildren are charged extortionate rates of tuition and forced to go tens of thousands of dollars into life-blighting debt to receive what we received as a golden gift from our parents’ generation.

Our parents, who survived a depression and helped win a war against darkness, are called “the greatest generation.”

We are also the greatest generation – the greatest generation of selfish skinflints, a spoiled

generation educated for free that now refuses to give the same ladder of success to following generations.

We are so tight about passing on the favor done for us by the greatest generation that we now cannibalize the future of our own children and grandchildren.

Let us hope none of the younger generation starts digging into genealogy to find out what we were like. They will find evidence that asks a ques-tion for spongers who think they are so special that they deserve to ignore a solemn debt.

Who do you think you are?Hall may be contacted at wilberth@cableone.

net or at 1012 Prospect Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501. ISI

By Susan Frances Bonner, RN BSN If the beginning of summer has gotten away from you, it is time to turn your thoughts to out-door summer activities that can continue into fall. These can include hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, four-wheeling, and 4x4 excursions. While these may seem like male-oriented activities, women’s changing roles make their participation in these activities perfectly normal and unremarkable. No matter what your outdoor skill level, there are always things to be considered when leaving the comforts of home. Such as, what are you will-ing to do without? Or, what type of outdoor activity will you be engaged in and for how long? Are you prepared for unexpected events? Whether it is a walk in the park or a two-week excursion, we as women need to be prepared. One way to do this is to look at the basic equipment we need to get through one day in the great outdoors. Then we can expand it to a weekend or longer. Making a list of what we need and then eliminating items that we want but do not necessarily “need” from that list is a good way to start. Think survival. What do we need to survive? Food, water, and shelter. Now expand each category. Under the food category, (besides food), make sure to include the medical emergency kit, any medicines, and hygiene products. And ladies, leave your perfume and makeup home. The rule of thumb is that if it smells good to you it smells good to insects and animals. I always carry unscented baby wipes around for when I want to “freshen up” and smell good. Under the shelter category list clothes and bedding you will need to fit the type of sleeping quarters you will be using. Whether a tent or an RV, you will still need to be protected from the ele-ments. Most women get colder faster than men get and get cold in different spots on their body than men do. In general, a woman’s “cold spots” include the head, chest, hands, hips, and feet. Therefore, pick clothes or sleeping bags that have extra layers or insulation in these spots. Outdoor clothes and equipment that are ex-clusively made for women are tricky to find. Most outdoor stores have sections for woman’s clothes but for the most part are limited in their selection. The following web sites have a large selection

of items for women: landsend.com; llbean.com; campmor.com; and rei.com. And do not be afraid to look in the men’s section of your local outdoor store or in men’s sports catalogs. Cabela’s shoot-ing catalog for example, has a woman’s issue that comes out every August. For those who are avid hikers, backpacks are an essential part of your outdoor clothing choice. As a women, choosing a backpack can be an adventure in its self. Just remember two things, when ordering from a catalog or web site look for a height and weight chart. Good quality backpacks are rated according to how tall a person is and how much weight it can handle. Most are also rated by cubic feet, which determines how much “stuff” they can hold. And if you can, always try it on. Just like clothes and shoes, if it’s not comfortable you’re not going to wear it no matter how nice it looked on the shelf. I use the same backpack for everything. It fits me well and I keep many of my supplies in it all the time. Now that we have our gear together, how do we package it? “Keep it simple” applies wonder-fully to this question. Ziploc bags make marvelous organizers. They come in many different sizes, are water proof, help keep odors from reaching the noses of furry critters, and make great garbage bags when empty. I use them for everything. Food in one, hygiene products in another, and I pack one up as my emergency kit. To carry gear on long trips in the RV or camper, I suggest Rubbermaid tubs or Action Packers. Both are relatively cheap, roomy, and have easy-carry handles. Once, on a three-day camping trip with my dog, I packed all my camping gear including tent and food into one Action Packer. Then I used my backpack for my clothes, loaded it into my mini-van and off we went. How do we protect ourselves? It may be against those four-legged creatures or worse, the two-legged kind. Whichever it is, you must be totally comfortable and competent with the type of protection you use. And do not think for one min-ute that some form of protection isn’t needed out there. It does not matter how many self-defense classes you have taken or how many targets you can hit accurately; women are still thought of as easy prey by all predators. My first line of defense and early warning device is my dog then I have

my hiking stick and my gun. Like all choices, this is personal. Only you know what type of protection you feel comfortable with and only you know what you will grab when the time comes and you feel threatened. But no matter what form that takes, make sure you are proficient in its use. There is no use in pulling out a tool and not knowing what to do with it. And self-defense weapons are tools. Remember when it comes to being outdoors only you can determine your unique needs and con-cerns. Take some time to consider what they are. Just because we are different from men does not make us weaker; it allows us to be more creative and innovative. So gear up ladies, get out there and go for it! ISI

Taking To The Great Outdoors:Meeting A Woman’s Unique Needs In The Outdoors


By Dianna TroyerWith a few swift and deft pen strokes, Bob

Beason describes a person, not in words but in a caricature.

“I’ve always loved to tell stories, and art has been a way for me to do that,” says the 58-year-old retired Pocatello art teacher, who has sketched his 15-minute caricatures at high school graduations, store grand openings, festivals and weddings. “The caricatures appeal to me because I like to work fast.”

Besides telling a story, drawing is solving a puzzle.

“You have to figure out the relationship between spaces and how you want to tell the story. How will you fit the pieces together from left to right, from top to bottom? What emotions will your characters convey? You can show an incredible range of emotions with only the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth – altering their size and shape. A line for eyes illustrates anger; a circle for mouth shows surprise.”

Skilled in a variety of media, Bob earned in 1976 a Bachelor of Arts degree from Idaho State University in art and a teaching certification to work as a teacher. He has found his calling in creating caricatures and cartooning.

“That’s probably what I’m known for, but you name it, and I’ve done it – landscape, portraits, wildlife, watercolors, oil, sculpture, wood carving …,” says Bob, a member of the International Society for Caricature Artists.

Although he retired, Bob has never quit teaching art in varied venues. Via Channel 12, Pocatello’s city-owned public access TV station, he and Laraine Hatch teach art classes that air at 11 a.m. Fridays and at 9 p.m. Sundays.

He also teaches adults at the Pocatello Ar t Center. Dur ing after-school lessons with children at the Art Supply of Pocatello, he shares the tips he has learned and honed over the decades.

“I tell my younger students that when I was a kid like them, I drew, but not a lot more than

anyone else. The difference is that when others quit drawing and started to do other things, I kept on drawing.”

One of his recent students, retiree Ken Hendrix, drops by Bob’s downtown studio to see what his latest projects are. “People like Bob’s art lessons because he’s patient, imaginative and

has a great sense of humor. He makes you laugh during lessons, and before you know it, you love art. It’s always fun to see what he’s working on.”

Bob’s studio is filled with sketches on his to-do list.

“I’m working on two album covers for local bands and illustrations for a kids’ book about what to do in Yellowstone. And there’s always the graphic novel I’ve been working on for a few years.”

He also has ongoing work. He created the cartoon characters, Drip and Drop, ambassadors of Pocatello’s water department. On posters, they

periodically remind residents of ways to care for their water resources and environment. He also creates a serial comic strip called “Mascot,” telling the adventures of a tiger-powered character named Captain Bengal for TBA, a free local newspaper.

“I’m busier now than when I worked full time,” says Bob, who retired in 2009 after teaching art for

33 years in Wells, Nev., and at Hawthorne Junior High School and Pocatello High School.

During his teaching career, Bob was also a businessman and owned a comic book store for a couple of years.

“I’ve always loved comics and comic book characters since I was a kid. Fred Flintstone, Bugs Bunny, and Spiderman were probably the first characters I drew. When I was young, I’d mow lawns for a dollar and spend 12 cents for a comic book. I’ve still got 25 boxes of them with many being valuable collectibles.”

His most recent cartooning project was painting a mural for Mary-Martha Outreach, a non-profit organization that provides food, clothing, and household items to low-income residents in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

“My daughter-in-law told me about them and that they needed a mural inside their building to perk up the area where children’s items are distributed. I spent about five days sketching and painting a hide-and-seek and train motif with child-age caricatures of the employees doing all sorts of things around that.”

The mural was not his first, and his life-sized illustrations are scattered throughout Pocatello.

“When I taught, my students and I did all kinds of murals. At a junior high, we painted ninja turtles, giraffes, cats, and other animals on the inside of the bathrooms. Another

time, we did whimsical musical instruments along the walls of a connector between a hospital and nursing home. On a lunchroom wall, we created fantasy forest characters and super heroes and patriotic-themed art.”

As soon as Bob finishes an art project on his to-do list, another assignment seems to replace it.

“It’s always exciting to see what will pop up next. I never know what’s coming along.” Some of Bob’s latest creations can be found at www.drstrangebob.deviantart.com. ISI

Bob recently painted a mural at Mary-Martha Outreach in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

Bob Beason Finds His Calling In Caricatures, Cartooning

Here are some questions regarding moms and some of the answers given by second graders.

Submitted by Julie Hollar-BrantleyWhy did God make moms? 1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out when we were getting born.How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt – just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic. Plus super powers and a lot of stir-ring. 3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.What ingredients are mothers made of? 1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly used string, I think.Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? 1. We’re related. 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.What kind of a little girl was your mom? 1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff. 2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 3. They say she used to be nice.What did your mom need to know about your dad before she married him? 1. His last name. 2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? 3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say “no” to drugs and “yes” to chores?Why did your mom marry your dad? 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him. 3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on. ISI

Just In CaseYou Have Been Wondering About Moms…


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(208) [email protected]

By Teresa Ambord October 15 through December 7 – people on Medicare will decide whether their current Medi-care plans are meeting their needs. If you are currently enrolled in Medicare Advan-tage (also known as Medicare Part C), or a Part D prescription drug plan, this is your chance to look around and see if you can do better. Take time to reconsider the plan you’ve chosen and you may be able to improve your benefits, or lower your premiums, or both. Or perhaps you just need to tweak your plan to suit your current medical needs. Also during this period, individuals who are already Medicare eligible but not enrolled in Medi-care Advantage can sign up in a new plan. And those who are participating in a Medicare Advan-tage or a Medicare Part D plan can cancel during this period. If you miss your annual opportunity to make changes, you will need to wait until next year. So, don’t miss this opportunity. Assuming you are happy with your current plan, why should you change or consider changing? Because other things change, including your health care needs, your prescriptions, the benefit options, your geographic location, and possibly the premiums charged by insurers. It is natural to be leery of change, especially if you have not been unhappy with your plan as it is. But this is an opportunity to gain control over high health costs, possibly improve what you are getting, and tweak your plan to meet your personal medical needs. Here is a list from Medicare.gov of actions you can take during Open Enrollment: • Join a Medicare Prescription drug plan. • You may wish to drop Medicare prescription drug coverage completely. • You may switch from one prescription drug plan to another, within the Medicare plans. • You may switch from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa, from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare. • You may switch from one Medicare Advan-tage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan. • If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan that does not have drug coverage, you may switch to one that does.Confused About How to Decide? First, do not assume nothing has changed. Competition in the health care field may have forced insurers to rethink what they offer. You can get advice from an insurance agent who is a li-censed insurance broker specializing in Medicare. Just be sure that the agent is not tied to a particular company, so that he or she has a more objective, broader spectrum of options for you. Friends and family may be able to help. But remember, what works for others’ health needs may not work for yours. You research on your own by logging onto Medicare.gov, or talking to someone at 1800-633-4227. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. However you make your decision, compare: • Monthly premiums • Out of pocket expenses • All deductibles • Copayments • Coinsurance Also consider how your health care needs may have changed since you last chose a plan. • How frequently do you see your doctors? • What new prescriptions do you take? • Has your current plan notified you of any upcoming changes that affect you adversely? Suppose you make a change on October 15, and later, during the open enrollment period dis-cover you have made a mistake – what then? As long as you are still within the Open Enrollment period, you may make as many changes as you wish. Only the last one will count, and those final changes will take effect on January 1, 2013, al-lowing you to use your Part D benefits. Your old

plan will automatically discontinue. Disenrollment Period If for some reason you want to leave Medicare Advantage to return to original Medicare, you may do so from January 1, 2013, to February 14, 2013, and select a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan. Your coverage under your new plan will begin the first day of the month following the time your en-rollment form is received. According to Medicare.gov, here are a few things you cannot do during the Disenrollment Period. You cannot: • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan • Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another • Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another • Or join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan. Special Enrollment Periods There are also Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) that are available when certain events occur to change your coverage or eligibility. Ex-amples would include events like changes in your living arrangements, such as if you moved to an area that is not served by your plan, if you return to the United States after living elsewhere, just left a nursing home, or were released from jail. SEPs may also be available if you lose your current coverage, have a chance to change your coverage (such as being offered coverage through an employer), and more. To see if your situation qualifies for special enrollment, call 1-800-633-4227. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Medi-care also offers more specifics at www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11219.pdf. You can also get more personalized information to suit your situation by logging onto Medicare.gov. Here are some tools provided to help you under-stand your options. • Medicare Eligibility Tool: Provides Medicare eligibility status information. Select “New to Medi-care?” and then “Find Out if You’re Eligible.” • Medicare Plan Finder: Provides personalized information about available Medicare Prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, other Medicare health plans, and Medicare supplement insurance (medigap) policies. Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. Newly Eligible? Those who turn 65 in 2013 can enroll in Medi-care Part D and have a seven-month window to enroll. The seven months begin three months be-fore the individual’s birth-day, the month that in-cludes the birthday, and three months after. So a person who turns 65 in September of 2013 can enroll in June through December 2013.

To be sure your benefits begin by your birthday, you must sign up in the three-month period prior, otherwise, benefits will be delayed. The best policy is to sign up at the earliest opportunity. ISI

Medicare Open Enrollment is Right Around the Corner: Change or Stay?


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Idaho Senior Independent

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