At the Silver StateHealth InsuranceExchange in Carson City,workers have been count-ing down the days untilOct. 1 on an office cork-board, the deadline foropening the online mar-ketplaces that are a linch-pin of the federal healthlaw known as Obamacare.

"We certainly will needevery one of the days thatwe have left," said JonHager, executive directorof the Nevada exchange."But I am confident we willbe ready to go."

Nevada is one of 15states racing to launchtheir own marketplaceswhere consumers cancompare plans’ prices andbenefits, and find out ifthey are eligible for a fed-eral subsidy or Medicaid.The other states are relyingon the federal government.Those marketplaces, alsocalled exchanges, are keyto expanding insurancecoverage to an estimated25 million Americans overthe next decade.

'The next days are thesprint to the biggest open-enrollment season we’veever seen in this country,"said Ceci Connolly, man-aging director ofPricewaterhouseCoopers'Health Research Institute."We know that this will bea real crunch period."

Opening the market-places on time representsthe Obama administra-

tion’s biggest opportunityto fulfill the law’s promiseto extend coverage touninsured Americans,including those who havebeen denied coverage inthe past because of healthconditions. Since theSupreme Court upheld thelaw last June, though, offi-cials have had to overcomemany hurdles, from states’reluctance to participate,to critics’ predictions ofunaffordable coverage, tounexpectedly tight money.A quirk in the law gavegenerous funding for con-sumer outreach in stateswith their own market-places, but little for stateswith a federal exchange.That could be a problemsince polls show that mostAmericans know littleabout how the law affectsthem.

There are also technicalchallenges: Obamacaresupporters like to compareshopping on the exchangesto buying an airplane tick-et on Travelocity orExpedia, but building theback-end system is farmore complicated, requir-ing computers at state andfederal agencies to be ableto talk to one another inreal time to verify an indi-vidual’s income and citi-zenship status, and deter-mine eligibility for federalsubsidies or Medicaid, thestate-federal insuranceprogram for the poor. That

(Health Care page 4)

r

July • 2013 • 3

Senior Spectrum NewspaperP.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510

(775) 348-0717e-mai l : S eniorspectrumnv@aol . com

S eniorspectrumnewspaper. comPublishers: Chris & Connie McMullen

Senior Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain.Publication of advertising contained does not constitute endorsement. Signed columns

are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. Copyrighted publication. All rights reserved.

This Issuepage 3 - Open Enrollment Seasonpage 4 - Medicare Urges Seniors toJoin the Fight Against Fraudpage 5 - Opinion: U.S. Sen. Reid: Honoring Janice’s Legacypage 16 - $2.3 Million to ExpandHealth Care Accesspage 20 - Washoe County Visiting Nurse Program to Closepage 20 - Welfare and SupportiveServices Relocates Officespage 22 - Change in RTC TransitFares in Julypage 22 - Nevada Backlog in VetsDisability Claims Reduced

Every Issuepage 18 - Calendar page 23 - Eclectic Observer

page 24 - Biggest Little Citypage 26 - this ‘n thatpage 27 - Crosswordpage 29 - Community Resourcespage 31 - Eydie Scher - Excerptspage 32 - Seniors 4 Travel

Healthpage 10 - Dr. Marion: Caregiving page 11 - CMS: Inpatient or Outpatient? It Makes a Differencepage 12 - Men and Healthy AgingDr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. Center for Healthy Agingpage 16 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D.

Financial page 7 - Fair Not Always Equal

- Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, Rader

July 2013

Nevada Prepares For 'Biggest Open-EnrollmentSeason We've Ever Seen'By Phil Galewitz and Jay HancockKHN Staff Writers

Capsules: Kaiser Health News

In mailboxes across thecountry, people withMedicare will soon see aredesigned MedicareSummary Notice, a state-ment of their claims for serv-ices and benefits that willhelp them better spot poten-tial fraud, waste and abuse.

Since the federal govern-ment has identified fraud asa top priority, the number ofsuspect providers and suppli-ers thrown out of theMedicare program has morethan doubled in 35 states.

“The new MedicareSummary Notice gives sen-iors and people with disabili-ties accurate information onthe services they receive in asimpler, clearer way,” said

CMS Administrator MarilynTavenner. “It’s an importanttool for staying informed onbenefits, and for spottingpotential Medicare fraud bymaking the claims historyeasier to review.”

Beneficiaries in Nevadawill begin receiving the newMedicare Summary Noticethis month. The redesignednotice will make it easier forpeople with Medicare tounderstand their benefits, filean appeal if a claim is denied,and spot claims for servicesthey never received. CMSwill send the notices toMedicare beneficiaries on aquarterly basis.

“A beneficiary’s bestdefense against fraud is to

check theirMedicareSummaryNotices foraccuracy and todiligently pro-tect their healthinformation forprivacy,” saidPeter Budetti,CMS deputyadministratorfor programintegrity. “Most Medicareproviders are honest andwork hard to provide servic-es to beneficiaries.Unfortunately, there aresome people trying to exploitthe Medicare system.”

Medicare beneficiariesand caregivers are critical

partners in the fight againstfraud. In April of this year,CMS announced a proposedrule that would increaserewards — up to $9.9 million– paid to Medicare benefici-aries and others whose tipsabout suspected fraud lead tothe successful recovery offunds.

CMS has revoked 14,663providers and suppliers’ abilityto bill in the Medicare program

since March 2011. Theseproviders were removed fromthe program because they hadfelony convictions, were not

operational at the address CMShad on file, or were not in com-

pliance with CMS rules.

4 • 2013 • July

Medicare urges seniors to join the fight against fraudNew health care summaries help seniors identify improper payments

July • 2013 • 5

JaniceAyers woremany hats,includingUSCAlumnus,Carson City

Supervisor,Director of numerous non-profits, and so many more.Her work in fighting forNevada’s senior communitywill be evident for years tocome. Janice passed awaylast month after a battle withcancer; I was so sad to hearof her passing. She was suchan inspiration to us all. Shetold it like she saw it, sherespected others, and wasdeserving of respect. Shequestioned wrong, andpushed what she thought

was right. Janice was no stranger to

putting up a fight. She hasbeen fighting for others for what seems to be herwhole life -- at least as longas I have known this won-derful woman. I recall herbeing known as “the back-bone and driving forcebehind efforts to improve thelives of Nevada’s senior citi-zens,” in a Reno Gazette-Journal article a few yearsback. This is certainly thetruth as she has worked toimprove the lives of those intheir golden years fordecades. Janice was an advo-cate and a champion for sen-iors and all needy citizens inthe State of Nevada. Herexemplary work, providing

RSVP programs of assistancein rural Nevada for morethan 35 years, has made apositive impact on the livesof thousands of individuals,and continues to do so today.She was one of the founders,as well as, the first president,of the Nevada Senior Corps Association -- one of hermany efforts to benefit sen-iors in Nevada.

In 2008 I was delighted toaward Janice with a com-mendation certificate for her outstanding 30 years of serv-ice to Nevada seniors, and in2010 she received the prestigious ‘Living the legacy’award from the SanfordCenter for Aging – University of Nevada Reno.The award has only been

presented 5 times in the 17 years of its existence. In2011 she received a procla-mation from the 76th Session of the Nevada StateLegislature for her manyyears of service to the seniors of Nevada to improvetheir quality of life. She willbe missed by so many andthrough keeping her in ourhearts and promoting hervisions, her legacy will con-tinue.

Janice Ayres raised oneson. She is survived by agrandson, his wife, twograndson’s and a neice.

Write to Sen. Harry Reidat the Bruce R. ThompsonFederal Bldg., 400 S. VirginiaStreet, Suite 902, Reno, NV89501.

Sen. Harry Reid

OpinionU.S. Senator Harry Reid

Honoring Janice ’s Legac y

6 • 2013 • July

system also needs to connectwith the computers run byinsurance companies.

The biggest questions,though, revolve around whowill show up and whether theywill be able to afford coveragethat takes effect Jan. 1 -- espe-cially the young and healthy,who will need to buy insurancein significant numbers to bal-ance the costs of insuring thesick, who can no longer beturned away. The law requiresmost Americans to carry insur-

ance in 2014, but some fearthat the first-year penalties of$95, or 1 percent of income,won't be a strong enoughinducement. If mostly older,sicker people show up, insurerswill pass on their health carecosts in higher premiums thatwill make coverage for all indi-viduals less affordable overtime.

Political BackdropAll of these challenges are

occurring in a politicallycharged environment in

which both parties arealready spinning develop-ments to buttress their posi-tions on the law. While thelaw's effectiveness won't trulybe known for several years,underwhelming enrollmentand high premiums couldturn public opinion againstDemocrats before next year'selections.

When government audi-tors released a report lastweek, for instance, saying theObama administration facedchallenges to open the feder-

ally run exchanges in time,Republicans pounced.

President Barack Obamainsists the exchanges willopen on time and coveragewill be affordable, althoughhe acknowledges there willbe bumps along the way, asthere would be for any newprogram. The administra-tion also relaunched health-care.gov, the web portal forthe federally run exchanges,and opened a 24-hour-a-daycall center to help consumersprepare for open enrollment

by calling a toll-free num-ber at 1-800-318-2596.

Short on money andworried about starting out-reach during the summervacation period, the admin-istration won't launch itsmajor public campaignuntil at least mid-September.

Several states runningtheir own exchanges haverecently begun airing tele-vision commercials aboutthe new options that willbe available Oct. 1, for cov-erage that begins inJanuary. Open enrollmentruns through March.

Nevada's To Do ListNevada's Hager said the

state will not start its pub-licity push until Oct. 7 sothe exchange has time towork out any problemsbefore too many con-sumers rush in.

In the next threemonths, it must certifyhealth plans, test computersystems and begin an out-reach effort that willinclude television and radioads and knocking on doors.The exchange, which willuse Nevadahealthlink.comin its marketing, hopes toenroll 118,000 people infirst year, Hager said.

Health Care / page 3

July • 2013 • 7

“It’s not fair!” Parents hear this protest all the time,

and it often comes from children whoconfuse being treated fairly with beingtreated equally.

One of the challenges of parenting isfiguring out how to be fair to your chil-dren when, often, that doesn’t meantreating them exactly the same. Here’san example:

Andy is ten-years-old and Emma issixteen. Emma has her driver’s licenseand a part-time job. If you wanted totreat the two equally, you could insistthat Emma ride the bus home fromschool, eat dinner with the family everynight, and be in bed by 9 p.m. just likeher brother. This arrangement would beequal, but it would hardly be fair to

Emma. She’s older, she has moreresponsibilities, and she’s ready for moreprivileges.

The fair vs. equal dilemma doesn’tend when your children leave the nest.In fact, it often extends into your estateplan. It’s easy to feel that you mustdivide your assets equally among yourchildren. In reality, though, this isn’talways the best plan for your family. Thereal question is how to accommodateyour children’s unique needs so thatyour estate plan strikes a fair balance.

Imagine you have three children,Tom, Adam, and Amy. Each of yourchildren has a thriving career. Tom is anIT specialist, Amy is a doctor, and Adamhas helped you build the family businessinto the success it is today. In fact, your

family business is so successful that itmakes up much of your net worth.

This leads to a dilemma: how do youdivide your estate? It makes sense toleave your family business to Adam. Hehas a passion for it, and he’s poured hislife into it for years. The problem is,doing so would mean that Adam wouldinherit most of your estate – a result thatis neither fair nor equal.

Another option would be to leaveeach of your children an equal interest inyour business. However, this solutionwould likely be neither fair nor practical.Tom and Amy have their own careers,with little interest in the day-to-day run-ning of the family business. Entanglingthem in its operations would not only be

(Estate Plan page 8)

Brought to you byBradley B. AndersonAnderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneyswww.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com

Fair Does Not Always Mean Equal

8 • 2013 • July

a cause of pressure for them,it might turn into a source ofconflict, ultimately harmingyour children and the busi-ness.

The solution might be toleave the business to Adam,and buy a life insurance poli-cy on yourself to benefit Tomand Amy. The life insurancepolicy would increase yournet worth in an amount suffi-cient to fund Tom’s andAmy’s inheritances andensure your children are treat-ed fairly, meeting their indi-vidual needs.

This is only one of arange of possible solutions.An experienced estate plan-ning attorney can help yousort through all your estateplanning options and settle onthe plan that best meets yourfamily’s needs so you’llnever again have to hear, “It’s

not fair!”

The Law Firm ofAnderson, Dorn & Rader,Ltd. is devoted exclusively toestate planning. We are mem-bers of the AmericanAcademy of Estate PlanningAttorneys and offer guidanceand advice to our clients inevery area of estate planning.We offer comprehensive andpersonalized estate planningconsultations. For more infor-mation or to attend anupcoming seminar, pleasecontact us at (775) 823-9455or visit us online atwww.wealth-counselors.com.

This article is written bythe American Academy ofEstate Planning Attorneys.The articles are intended asan overview of basic estateplanning topics and issues,and not legal advice.

Estate Plan / page 7

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775.323.7189www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com/sympathy_store

Visit our website for a variety of gifts & memorials to honor your loved ones.

Ask Dr. Marion Dr. Marion Somers. Ph.D.

My 78-year-old father has been in a rut for years. He doesn’t have any serious health problems, but he just seems upset about getting old. What can I do to help him? Keith, 49, in Alabama.

I oftenuseremotiva-tion ther-apy whenan elderly

person seems to have lost hiszest for life. This can becaused by depressionbrought on by illness or likeyour father, just by enduringthe aging process.

Life is certainly not like itused to be for him. I try tomake my clients focus on allthat they have, who theyused to be, and all that theyaccomplished in life. I try tobring my client’s former self

to the forefront so he candraw on some formerstrengths and move forward.

If someone was a seam-stress, I might bring insewing shears and a woodendarning sock so she can feelcomfortable again. If sheloved to cook a specific dish,we’ll cook it together. Ialways like to bake cookies inthe oven. The smells oftenbring back great memories.

Remotivation therapy isall about bringing a signifi-cant positive part of the pastto the present. Positiveevents that are ingrained in aperson’s long-term memory

can cause a “glow” effect ifbrought to the here and now.

It’s also helpful to consid-er your dad’s reality from hispoint of view. Sitting downand discussing past timescan trigger positive memo-ries that might put him in abetter frame of mind. Thisapproach causes most of myclients to become more con-tent, engaged, and motivatedto make the best of thingsmoving forward.

If you help your fatherreach a happier place, he willincrease his overall quality oflife, and you’ll gain great sat-isfaction knowing you were a

part of his transformation.

Dr. Marion (MarionSomers, Ph.D.) is the authorof "Elder Care Made Easier"and has over 40 years ofexperience as a geriatric caremanager, caregiver, speaker,and expert in all things eldercare. She offers practicaltools, solutions, and adviceto help caregivers every-where through her book,website, iPhone apps (Elder411/911), cross-countryspeaking tours, and more.Visit www.DrMarion.com formore information.

Dr. Marion Somers

Remotivation Therapy

When yougo to a hospi-tal, does itmake any dif-ference ifyou’re consid-

ered an “inpa-tient” or an “outpatient”?

Yes, it does.Your hospital status

(whether the hospital classifiesyou as an inpatient or outpa-tient) affects how much youpay for hospital services like X-rays, drugs, and lab tests.

It also may affect whetherMedicare will cover care youget in a skilled nursing facility.

You’re an inpatient startingthe day you’re formally admit-ted to the hospital with a doc-tor’s order. The day beforeyou’re discharged is your lastinpatient day.

You’re an outpatient ifyou’re getting emergencydepartment services, observa-tion services, outpatient sur-gery, lab tests, or X-rays, andthe doctor hasn’t written anorder to admit you to the hos-pital as an inpatient.

In these cases, you’re anoutpatient even if you spendthe night at the hospital.

(Observation services aretests and other outpatient serv-ices that help the doctor decideif you need to be admitted asan inpatient or can be dis-charged. Observation servicesmay be given in the emergencydepartment or another area ofthe hospital.)

If you’re in the hospitalmore than a few hours, alwaysask your doctor or the hospitalstaff if you’re an inpatient or anoutpatient.

What do you pay as aninpatient?

Medicare Part A (HospitalInsurance) covers inpatientservices including semi-pri-vate room, nursing care,drugs, and meals. Generally,you pay a one-time deductiblefor all hospital services for thefirst 60 days you’re in the hos-pital. The Part A deductiblethis year is $1,184.

Medicare Part B (MedicalInsurance) covers most doctorservices when you’re an inpa-tient. You pay 20 percent ofthe Medicare-approvedamount for doctor servicesafter paying the Part Bdeductible ($147 in 2013).

What do you pay as anoutpatient?

Part B also covers outpa-tient hospital services.Generally, this means you paya copayment for each individ-ual outpatient service. Theamount may vary by service.

The copayment for a singleoutpatient hospital servicecan’t be more than the inpa-tient hospital deductible.However, your total copay-ment for all outpatient servic-es may be more than the inpa-tient hospital deductible.

Part B covers most of yourdoctor services when you’re ahospital outpatient. You pay20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount after youpay the Part B deductible.

Generally, the prescriptionand over-the-counter drugsyou get in an outpatient set-ting (like an emergencydepartment), sometimescalled “self-administered

(Medicare page 14) July • 2013 • 11

David Sayen

Inpatient or Outpatient? It Makes a Difference with Medicare

David Sayen, Regional Administrator, Medicare Region 9

Building onmy May Senior

Spectrum article, Unleash thePower of Age, I want to focuson “men’s” healthy aging. Mostof what you read about, andhear and see in the media isabout women. I think it is timeto focus on men.

Men have fears about agingwhich are different thanwomen. Men fear impotence,weakness and loss of function,retirement and irrelevance, los-ing the ability to drive/indepen-dence, and loss of one’s mind.Fear and anxiety can be foughtwith knowledge, planning, andbetter health habits.

Men need to pay more

attention to their health. In fact,compared to women, men aremore likely to smoke and drinkmore, make unhealthy or riskychoices, and to not have regularcheckups, medical care andtreatment.

Let me give you a simplepersonal example of how menbehave. Several years ago I wasskiing and accidentally hit atree trying to avoid anotherskier. They sled me off the hilland to urgent care. After 4 !hours (that is another story)they wanted to take X-rays butmy insurance did not cover it atthat facility. So instead of goingto another facility for the X-rays, I went home thinking I

had a bad sprain in my leg – I’djust ice it, kept it up, and takecare of it. It took me two weeksto get into the orthopedic docto find out I had fractured mytibia. Not an uncommon storyfor men, and I am a man!

Addressing healthy or pre-ventive measures is very diffi-cult for men, but it is never toolate and it is not rocket science.Two simple actions you cantake to be healthy as you ageare to eat healthy and be active. If you have a healthy diet andhave regular exercise, you canlower your blood pressure,blood sugar, cholesterol, andyour weight. When you eathealthy and have regular physi-

cal activity you will lower yourrisk of serious health illnesses,such as diabetes and heart dis-ease.

Do you know what it takesto stay healthy? Let me sharewith you 10 questions on men’shealth: (Healthy Men.December 2012. Agency forHealthcare Research andQuality, Rockville, MD.)1. At what age should youbegin having your cholesterolchecked regularly? 2. How often should you haveyour blood pressure checked? 3. At what age should you startbeing screened for colorectalcancer?

(Men’s Health page 13)

12 • 2013 • July

Adding Life to Years

Larry Weiss

Men and Healthy AgingDr. Larry Weiss

Center for Healthy Aging

4. If you have high blood pres-sure or cholesterol, what otherdisease should you be screenedfor?5. The most important thingsyou can do to stay healthy are? 6. Signs of depression include? 7. Body mass index, which is ameasure of body fat based onheight and weight, is used toscreen for which condition? 8. If you are a man between theages of 65 and 75 and have eversmoked more than 100 ciga-rettes, which condition shouldyou be screened for? 9. Which vaccine should youhave after turning 65?10. How many minutes ofmoderate physical activity—at aminimum—should you aim formost days of the week?

For detailed answers go tohttp://healthfinder.gov/ buthere are the quick answers: (1)35; (2) Every 2 yrs.; (3) 50; (4)Diabetes; (5) Exercise, eat ahealthy diet, drink alcohol onlyin moderation, and stay at ahealthy weight, avoid tobacco,get recommended screeningtests and take preventive medi-

cines if you need them; (6)Feeling "down," sad, or hopelessfor 2 weeks and having littleinterest in or taking no pleasurefrom doing things you normallylike to do; (7) Obesity; (8)Abdominal aortic aneurysm;(9) Pneumonia; (10) 30.

Hopefully you take action tochange your lifestyle after real-izing that there are simple stepsto take charge of your health. Itis never too late. In addition toknowing what to do to createhealth and to have a plan ofattack, we all need to talk aboutit. Talk to your family membersto find out which diseases runin your family and share thisinformation with your doctor.Start by making small changesevery day. Small changes canadd up to big results, like lower-ing your risk of diabetes orheart disease.

Some small changes that youmake in your diet is to ordergreen salad instead of fries,drink water instead of soda,and do not use table salt or justlimit the amount of salt. Withrespect to exercise, start walk-ing with a friend, play and beactive in something you like to

do such as asport. The key isto be active andhave fun.

In addition toa healthy diet,play and activity,we need to havethe proper med-ical screeningsthat check fordiseases early,when the dis-eases may beeasier to treat.For example, aswas presented inthe quiz above,men need tohave their bloodpressure and cholesterolchecked. If you are over 50,you need to test for colorectalcancer and for prostate cancer.If you have smoked, you needto talk to your doctor about anabdominal aortic aneurysmexam. In addition, if you arefeeling stressed, anxious, ordepressed for more than twoweeks, have your doctor screenfor depression…it is treatable.Drink in moderation and quitsmoking, it is a killer.

Men, acknowledge you areaging, accept and embrace yourage, and know that you cantake small steps that reallyempower you and “add life to years”.

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. isCEO of the Center for HealthyAging. Dr. Weiss welcomesyour comments on this col-umn. Write to him atlarry@addinglifetoyears.com orc/o Center for Healthy Aging,11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV89519.

July • 2013 • 13

Years to Life / page 12

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drugs,” aren’t covered by PartB.

For safety reasons, manyhospitals don’t allow patientsto bring drugs from home. Ifyou have Medicare prescrip-tion drug coverage (Part D),these drugs may be coveredunder certain circumstances.You likely will need to payout-of-pocket for these drugsand submit a claim to yourdrug plan for a refund. Callyour plan for more informa-tion.

Also, keep in mind that

Medicare will only cover careyou get in a skilled nursingfacility if you’ve been a hos-pital inpatient for at least 3days in a row (counting theday you were admitted as aninpatient but not countingthe day you were dis-charged).

If you weren’t an inpatientfor 3 days but you still needcare after your discharge, askif you can get home healthcare or if other programs likeMedicaid or veterans bene-fits will cover skilled nursing

for you.If you have a Medicare

Advantage Plan (like anHMO or PPO), costs andcoverage may be different.Check with your plan.

For more detailed infor-mation on how Medicarecovers inpatient and outpa-tient hospital services, readMedicare’s brochure, “AreYou a Hospital Inpatient orOutpatient?” You can find itonline atwww.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/11435.pdf.

David Sayen is Medicare’sregional administrator forArizona, California, Hawaii,Nevada, and the PacificTerritories. You can alwaysget answers to yourMedicare questions by call-ing 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

14 • 2013 • July

Medicare / page 11

July • 2013 • 15

Detect your risk of heart disease and stroke by scheduling a $99 comprehensive vascular screening.

Call 982-8100 for an appointment or visit renown.org/screenings.

Early Detection Saves Lives

16 • 2013 • July

While aneyelid lift(blepharo-plasty) is aplastic sur-gery proce-

dure well known for its abili-ty to rejuvenate the upperface by reducing sagging eye-brows, it may also lead to alesser-known complication.

According to an examina-tion of the medical recordsof nearly 900 eyelid-liftpatients over a ten-year peri-od, more than one-quarter ofthe patients reported dry eyesymptoms. Although thisisn’t a complication thatshould alarm plastic surgerypatients (dry eye is verymanageable with eye dropsor ointments), patientsshould be made aware of thispossible side effect, which is

more common among thosehaving both their upper andlower lids done. Pre-surgerytear analysis can help identi-fy those who might have themost trouble with dry eye.

It should be notedwomen going throughmenopause or starting birthcontrol pills, and people whohave had difficulty with con-tact lenses in the past, aremost at risk for post-surgicaldry eye.

If you would like furtherinformation on today’s topicor an appointment, pleasecall my office at (775)882-2988. We are convenientlylocated at 3839 N. CarsonStreet. Hours are 8-5 p.m.,Monday through Friday byappointment. M/C, Visa, andMedicare Assignment areaccepted.

Ophthalmology

Eyelid Lift May Lead to Dry Eye

Michael J. Fischer, M.D.Eye Physician & Surgeon

Michael Fischer

$2.3 Million To Expand Health Access

Washington, D.C.- NevadaSenator Harry Reid hasannounced a $2.3 milliongrant for Health AccessWashoe County to increasehealth care for underservedNevadans. The grant, fromthe U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services,is part of the Health CenterCluster-Service AreaCompetition.

“I am pleased that HealthAccess Washoe County will

have new resources toexpand services for NorthernNevadans seeking high quali-ty health care,” said Reid.“This will help ensure thatNevadans access affordablecare, regardless of their geo-graphic location or socio-economic status.”

The funding will providefederal financial assistance tosupport comprehensive pri-mary care for an under-served area or population.

July • 2013 • 17

July 7 - Carson City Symphony,Movies & More, ArtownConcert, Sunday, 5 p.m., TrinityEpiscopal Church. Featuresorgan soloist Michael Langham,bassoon soloist Eric Fassbenderand soloist Jakki Ford. $10, oronline at CCSymphony.com.

July 8 - 12 - iCan Bike Camp toReno! Program teaches children,

teens and adults with disabilitiesto ride two-wheeled bikes. Over 5 days, in 75 minute ses-sions each day, riders are physi-cally assisted and encouraged bytwo volunteers as they progressfrom adapted bikes to a stan-dard bike. Visit: www.dsnnn.org/Pages/iCanBikeCamp.aspx.

July 10 - Lazy 5 Concerts, Lazy

5 Regional Park, 7100Pyramid Highway in SpanishSprings, daily Admission$3.00, and free for thoseunder 3 or over 61, 10-5 p.m.,open weekends. Call (775)823-6500 for more informa-tion. Line-up: July 10: Classic Rock withPaisley Braincells; July 17:Western Ragtime by CW &Mr. Spoons; July 24: Blues and R&B with Guitar Woody &The Boilers; July 31: Bluegrass,Folk, & Cowboy & MountainGirls; August 7: AlternativeCountry by The Refiners,August 14: Americana, Blues &Boogie, Colin Ross Band.

July 11 - Open House and ArtSale, 4:30-7 p.m. In honor ofArtown, American LungAssociation, featuring artistAnnie Hall and Guitarist PatRagains. For more informationcall (775) 829-5864.

July 12 - Art Afternoon:

Workshop & Social for Seniors,Nevada Museum of Art, 1-3p.m., docent-guided tour andstudio art class. Refreshments,$7/$6 museum members.

July 13 - University of NevadaSchool of Medicine, freeStudent Outreach Clinic, gener-al clinic, 8-3 p.m., Reno campusnorth of Mackay Stadium.

July 16 - 21 - American CenturyCelebrity Golf Championship,80 sports and entertainmentcelebrities including MichaelPhelps, and Charles Barkley,Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, 7a.m., Tues.-Thu., player list andinformation atwww.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com.

July 20 - FORAGE: A Multi-stopArt/Bike Tour of Reno, Saturday,4:30–10 p.m., multi-stop inter-active bike tour of Reno hotspots hosted with the HollandProject and the Reno BikeProject. FREE.

July 20 - Dave Koz, JohnAscuaga’s Nugget, world renownsaxophonist. Tickets start at $69and can be purchased online atJANugget.com or at the boxoffice at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.

July 20 - Caregiver Workshop,Caring for the Caregiver, 9-11a.m., Tamarack Junction, con-tact (702) 938-3237.

July 21 - Sunday Music Brunchwith No Comprende, Nevada

18 • 2013 • July

Calendar

Cami Thompson - Jazz & Beyond, Aug 2

Museum of Art, 11–1 p.m., a lacarte menu from $3. Presentedin partnership with KUNRRadio.

July 24 - Ageless Repertory, theTrip to Bountiful by HortonFoote Tuesday, July 23 andFriday July 26 at 1 p.m.,also Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m.

July 25 - Health EducationWorkshop: Are You WearingSomeone Else’s Shoes?Orthopedic surgeon Rowlin L.Lichter, M.D., 1 p.m., Neil Rd.Recreation Center, call (775)689-8484.

July 25 - Renowned Latin per-cussionist Pete Escovedo, 7:30-

9:30 p.m., Bartley Ranch along-side his Emmy-nominateddaughter Sheila E., Latinrhythms under the stars, $25-$35, Hawkins Amphitheater.

July 26 - The Architecture ofWilliam L. Pereira, Friday, 6–8p.m., Nevada Museum of Art.Live music by The World’s MostDangerous PARTY Band. Cashbar.

July 31 - Famed guitarist andmulti-instrumentalist ShuggieOtis closes 18th annual ArtownFestival, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., admis-sion free, Wingfield Park, callfor information at (775) 322-1538.

August 2 - 18 - Jazz & Beyond,"Garden Party at the Mansion,"ticketed event, Governor'sMansion, 5:30 p.m. Admissionfeatures music by vocalist Cami

Thompson. Tickets are $35 inadvance, $40 at the door.Tickets for Jazz & Beyond con-certs are available online atJazzCarsonCity.com, Play YourOwn Music and the PurpleAvocado. Over 50 bands. Fordetails and a schedule of events,see JazzCarsonCity.com or callMile High Jazz Band at (775)883-4154.

August - 3 - Hot August Nights,MontBleu Casino Resort & Spa,South Lake Tahoe.

August 6 - 11 - Hot AugustNights, kick off in South Tahoe ,Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday,Aug. 3; then take overReno/Sparks Tuesday, Aug. 6

thru Sunday, Aug. 11.Visit www.hotaugust-nights.net for the sched-ule of events.

August 17 - MayArboretum SocietyFundraiser, MayArboretum EndowmentFund. Party in theGarden, music: CeCeGable. Food: Hi PointCafe & Franz's Backstube,beer & wine Silver Peakand Whispering Vines,

5:30-8 p.m. Tickets: Societymembers $45; $50 non-mem-bers; $60 night of the party,

mayabroretumsociety@gmail.com, (775) 785-4153, orwww.mayabroeretumsociety.org.

July • 2013 • 19

20 • 2013 • July

Washoe County SeniorServices Visiting NurseProgram is being closed dueto state and federal budgetcuts. Notices have been sentto all clients and their phar-macists, physicians, casemanagers and home healthagencies.

Washoe County SeniorServices staff have plans inplace to contact every home-bound or high risk client inperson by June 30 to explainthe cutbacks and assist themwith options. A departmentcase manager will stay intouch after the program’sclosing because some clientswill need long-termMedicaid services. Shouldthey decline assistance, theywill be referred to Elder

Protective Services. “This is a critical pro-

gram, and it needs to berestored,” said Director ofSenior Services GradyTarbutton.

Tarbutton added long-term care averages over$80,000 per year, per personin Nevada, but the VisitingNurse Program costs are halfof that at approximately$40,000 per year. SeniorServices is seeking partner-ships and other grant fundsto find a way to continue theprogram.

There are 9 clients thatwill need long-term care(Medicaid) services withoutvisiting nurse assistance.

Washoe County’s Visiting Nurse Program to Close

The Division of Welfareand Supportive Services willopen two new centrallylocated offices to better meetthe needs of Washoe Countyresidents. There will be nointerruption of public assis-tance services as a result ofthe move on Monday, July 1.

Both office locations havethe capability to provide fullservice for TemporaryAssistance for NeedyFamilies (TANF), theSupplemental NutritionAssistance Program (SNAP -formerly known as FoodStamps), and Medicaid. Casemanagers at either site areable to work on existing andnew client cases.

The new offices will pro-vide a better-quality experi-

ence for our clients. In addi-tion, the new locations areon major bus routes makingthem much easier to accessby public transportation.Clients and applicants areencouraged to choose theoffice which is most conven-ient for them.

The new Reno DistrictOffice is located behind theReno Town Mall on S.Virginia. The address is:4095 S. Virginia StReno, Nevada, 89502.

The new Sparks DistrictOffice is located in theGreenbrae Center, in thespace previously occupied bythe Sparks Justice Court.The address is:630 Greenbrae DriveSparks, Nevada, 89431.

Welfare and Supportive ServicesRelocates to New Offices

July • 2013 • 21

The RegionalTransportation Commission,Board of Commissionershave approved new transitfares for transit services

effective July 1st. The RTC has reduced the

fare for prepaid bus passes byabout 7 percent. Many peo-ple rely on transit and use it

every day.Buying buspasses is themost econom-ical way fortransit ridersto save moneyand takeadvantage ofdiscounts bypurchasing amulti-ride passversus a sin-gle-ride fare.

Other newfares that gointo effect onJuly 1st

include a reduced price forthe paratransit RTC ACCESSon RTC RIDE 10-Ride Passfrom $5 to $4.

RTC SIERRA SPIRIT willhave a regular fare of 25-cents and a reduced fare of10-cents for seniors (bornbefore January 1, 1950),youth 6-18 years of age anddisabled riders. Reducedfares require ID when board-ing.

New fare pricing for RTCINTERCITY, the commuterbus service betweenReno/Sparks and CarsonCity, will begin August 11,2013. For example, the newsingle-ride fare will increasefrom $4 to $5. Informationfor other RTC INTERCITYfare adjustments is available

at rtcwashoe.com.Bus passes can be pur-

chased online atrtcwashoe.com, PassVending Machines located atRTC transit centers locatedin downtown Reno andVictorian Square or at vari-ous pass outlet retailersthroughout the community.Passes can also be purchasedby mail.

For complete detailsabout RTC transit fares, eli-gibility for reduced fares,selection of pre-purchasedbus passes and pass outletlocations visitwww.rtcwashoe.com or callRTC Passenger Services at348-RIDE.

22 • 2013 • July

A Change in RTC Transit Fares in July

Nevada Backlog in Veterans Disability Claims Reduced

A backlog in Nevada’sclaims for veterans disabilitybenefits in the Department ofVeterans Affairs has beenreduced following a two-yearinitiative.

Nevada Senator HarryReid said 785 veterans underthe Reno RO’s jurisdictionwere provided decisions ontheir claims. As of June, 49of the two-year-old claimsremain pending.

The VA has completed arecord-breaking 1 millionclaims per year the last threefiscal years. But too manyveterans have had to wait toolong to get the benefitsthey’ve earned and deserve.

“That being said, there isstill more work to do. Iremain committed to ensur-ing the VA is properly fund-ed.”

The dog days of summercan be the perfect time toimmerse oneself in anabsorbing book. Many of myfavorite authors are from theUnited Kingdom, primarilyEngland and Scotland,though I won’t deny anyfrom Wales or NorthernIreland.

Fans of BBC’s DowntonAbbey should love the latestbook from Fay Weldon.Weldon was the writer forthe first episode of the UpStairs-Down Stairs televisionseries, and Britain’s class-conscious society is reflectedin Habits of the House, thetale of a titled family with atownhouse on London’sBelgrave Square. The time is1899, there’s financial ruin

on the way and an Americanheiress may be the answer tothis weighty problem. Notthat things are any morecomfortable in the servants’quarters; dissension andworry rein there as well.This book is intended as thefirst in a trilogy; it’s a fast,entertaining read. (Weldon’sprimary focus for her novelsin past years has been con-temporary feminist fiction,often qualifying as wickedsatire.)

Standing in AnotherMan’s Grave by prolific Scotscrime writer, Ian Ranking,brings back a favorite charac-ter of 25-years standing,Detective Inspector Rebus.Retired from the police forcein Edinburgh, Rebus returns

as a civilian to a cold caseunit. His prickly charactercontinues to rankle those inauthority, but his results areimpressive. If you’ve neverread Rankin and aren’t famil-iar with Rebus, do try anearly book from the series.(Warning - Rankin is habitforming and Rebus is one ofthose characters you want tobe around forever.)

Barry Maitland has aseries of Kathy and Brockmysteries. His intrepiddetectives are Brits based inLondon. Chalon Headsrevolves around the kidnap-ing of the wife of a wealthyphilatelist, thus the referenceto Chalon Heads (QueenVictoria on early stamps).This is an enjoyable andinformative read, especiallyfor those curious about theworld of stamp collecting.

Capital by John

Lanchester, is set in today’sLondon and involves thewealthy residents of PepysRoad, who find threateningmessages upsetting their nor-mal routines. The financialcrisis of 2008 and investmentbankers play a prominentrole in this convoluted, com-pelling story.

Kate Atkinson is one ofmy favorite authors. She,too, has a series with contin-uing characters, but her lat-est book Life After Life is afascinating departure frompast novels. Urusula Todd isborn in 1910 and dies ... andsurvives. The mesmerizingtale follows Urusula’s life as itmight have, or might nothave been. (Atkinson’s seriesbegins with Case Historiesand features a cast of unusualcharacters living unusuallives. The series also became

(Eclectic page 28)

July • 2013 • 23

ECLECTIC OBSERVERby Janet Ross

Last monthwe mentionedthe harrowingtrip to

Sacramento with Bill Stead atthe controls of the airplane.The next time I saw Stead heappeared in my office andseemed to be agitated becausehe could only muster up sevenplanes to compete in the pro-posed Air Races. He men-tioned that it would be good ifwe could get some sort of aflying exhibition team to showup. I asked him what teamswere performing at that timeand he said the Air NationalGuard’s team was probably thebest. When I inquired whowould be in charge of such agroup, he said that we wouldprobably have to get some per-son in Washington D.C. Inoted that Nevada’s Senator

Howard Cannon had been aclient of mine in 1958 and thathe was up for re-election in‘64. I also remembered thatCannon was an active AirCorps Reservist who used tofly up from Las Vegas to do hisReno TV commercials whenhe ran the first time. I toldStead I would give him a calland see if he could do us afavor by getting the demoteam to appear at the races.Stead’s mood improved imme-diately when I placed the callto the Senator. ReachingCannon and apprising him ofthe situation, he said he wouldsee would he could do andwould return my call.

Less than two hours later Ireceived a call back from theSenator, and he said he hadmanaged to get a commitmentfor the team to appear at the

Air Races. When I calledStead to inform him that wehad secured a demo team, hewas ecstatic. He alsoinformed me that when hehad talked to Roy Powers atHarold’s Club, Powers said hehad managed to convince theSmith family ownership tosponsor a transcontinentalrace from Florida to Reno tofurther publicize the upcom-ing Reno event.

Several days later I got acall from Stead. He said thathe had finagled an appearanceby several hot air ballooniststo flesh out what he thoughtwould be a full program. Thismay very well have been theseed that has blossomed intothe Great Reno Balloon Racethat we now enjoy annually.

My next mission was tosecure rooms at the Mapes

Hotel for the demoteam. To my surprisewhen they showed upat the hotel severaldays prior to theraces, they were ledby one Ed MackMiller. Miller hadbeen my contempo-rary when I was edi-tor of the NevadaRegister which wasprinted in Denverwhich was Ed’s baili-wick. The way weused to produce theRegister was to accu-mulate the news sto-ries and photos alongwith the front pagelayout and then mailit to Denver onMonday of eachweek. The Registerpress used to grindout some 30 newspa-pers at their hugeDenver facility andthen add a national-

international section to all ofthe publications. FortunatelyMiller was in charge of theNevada edition so we used tocommunicate on a regularbasis.

Adding to my surprise atMiller’s appearance was learn-ing that he was in charge ofthe demo team and acted astheir announcer and alternatepilot if one of the regular teamwas incapacitated. I said that Ididn’t realize that he had amoonlight aviation career. Hereplied that his real moonlightjob was to train pilots forUnited Airlines at the Denverairport.

The only other sponsor forthe initial Air Races in addi-tion to the Mapes and Harold’sClub was the Sparks Nugget.

When race day rolledaround I was surprised to seethat several of the competingpilots, including Stead, hadbeen hydroplane drivers in theraces that Mapes had staged inLake Tahoe and at PyramidLake. Winner of the first RenoAir Races was a pilot namedMira Slovak who had escapedfrom behind the Iron Curtain.

The initial Air Races creat-ed a tremendous amount ofpublicity for The Biggest LittleCity, with much of the nation-al attention being driven byHarold’s transcontinental racewhich was handled by RoyPowers. The task of generat-ing local and regional publicityfell to me, and we collectedreams of newspaper clippingsabout the event.

The continuation andexpansion of the Reno AirRaces would probably neverhave been possible withoutthe relocation to the Stead AirBase since the original site wasa dusty small airstrip on thePyramid Highway.

24 • 2013 • July

BIGGESTlittleCity

More Reno Air Races —Part Twoby Harry Spencer

July • 2013 • 25

26 • 2013 • July

My calen-dar is fullbut I’m notlunchingwith theladies ordancing ‘tildawn. My

datebook is packed withengagements with all thenew men in my life, mostof whom have M.D. aftertheir name.

I’m still not sure how ithappened but I woke upone day and discovered Iwas old. Maybe the num-ber of candles on thebirthday cake should havebeen a clue, or the offersof assistance in public

places, (“would you carefor some help carrying thatquart of milk?”) or theescalating use of the wordma’am but I didn’t feelold. And I rather likedhaving someone help meget the luggage into theoverhead compartment onthe plane.

My wonderful magic mirror(“mirror, mirror on thewall…”) always assured memy hair was really a stun-ning silver instead of grey,thoughtfully directed myeyesight so that no wrin-kles were ever visible andallowed me to see myselfas I felt myself to be,youthful and energetic,

ready to climb a moun-tain—if I were so inclined.

I wasn’t inclined to do that(ever) so I didn’t climb anymountains but I did climbsome stone steps while wewere in Europe recently.It seemed entirely pleasantat the time, wanderingaround the palace groundsin Monaco, wonderingwhether any royalty mightpop out to say hello, butthe next morning therewas intense pain in myknee. My “good” knee,

not the one already filledwith metal.

I quickly realized that anyfurther walking was out ofthe question so I justspent the next few weeksluxuriating in shipboardlife, lounging around andeating sumptuous food.Frequently.

When I got home my magic mirror was no longer magic. And it cer-tainly wasn’t

friendly. Instead of thereflection of youthful,energetic “me”, I saw adistressingly chubby

(this ‘n that page 30)

this ‘n thatby Anne Vargasannevargas3@gmail.com Busy, busy …

Anne Vargas

July • 2013 • 27

Answers page 28

a television movie.)A husband and wife

team write under the nameof Nicci French and theirlatest book, Tuesday’s Gone,is a heart-pounding thrillerset in London. Their pro-tagonists, a female psychi-atric therapist and maledetective inspector, makethis murder mystery set inLondon a fascinating read.

John LeCarre has longbeen the ultimate espionagenovelist. Though many ofhis early novels were setduring the Cold War,LeCarre has kept up withthe changing political scenewithout missing a step. ADelicate Truth deals withstate sanctioned duplicity,demonizing both the Britsand their “cousins,” our CIA.Full of shady events, includ-ing a botched rendition onGibraltar, Le Carre’s charac-ters are equally shady. Thisis a thought-provoking bookfrom a master of the genre.

I’ve not listed any nonfic-tion by Brits, but they’remany of my favorites aswell, especially those intrep-id travel writers like EricNewby, Jonathan Raban andTahir Shah who wander theglobe to escape the confinesof their island home. And,then there are the humorists... Guy Browning has adelightful collection ofessays in Never Hit aJellyfish with a Spade - Howto Survive Life’s SmallerChallenges. One of myfavorite quotes: “Socks leadlives strangely similar to ourown. They know theyshould be in pairs but theycan’t help detaching them-selves.” And, finally,“Retirement is like beinggiven all your spare time inone big chunk.”

All the books mentioned,with the exception ofBrowning’s, are availablefrom Washoe CountyLibrary.

28 • 2013 • July

Crossword p.27

Eclectic / page 23

July • 2013 • 29

NEVADA INFORMATION .........................211AARP INFO. CENTER .........................328-2506ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION1301 Cordone Ave, Suite 180, Reno-786-8061CARE CHEST7910 N. Virginia Street, Reno..............829-2273COMMUNITY EDUCATION SILVERCOLLEGE, 5270 Neil Rd., Reno……829-9010COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY 1090 East 8th, Reno .................................786-6023ELDER PROTECTIVE SERVICESADSD.….........................................................688-2964FOOD BANK (TRUCK).......................331-3663FOSTER GRANDPARENT.................358-2768HAWC CLINIC, 1055 S. Wells,Reno.................................................................329-6300MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, UNR,Sanford Center for Aging......................784-1612NEVADA STATE WELFARE...........684-7200CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING999 Pyramid Way, Sparks......................353-3599RTC ACCESS TRANSPORTATIONInformation..................................................348-0477RENOWN MED. LOW INCOME CLINIC21 Locust, Reno..........................................982-5270RSVP, Reno...................................................784-1807RSVP, Rural CountiesCarson City...................................................687-4680SANFORD CENTER FOR AGING,UNR.................................................................784-4774SENIOR COMPANION.......................358-2322SENIOR Community Services Employment,AARP, 1135 Terminal Way, Reno......323-2243Job Connect, Reno....................................284-9600Sparks..............................................................284-9520SENIOR LAW PROJECT.....................328-2592SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES...784-7506SENIOR SAMPLER (Assistance League)1701 Vassar St., Reno...............................324-2003SHIP (STATE HEALTH INSURANCEADVISORY PROGRAM)...........800-307-4444SOCIAL SECURITY1170 Harvard Way, Reno..............888-808-5481VETERAN’S ADMINISTRATION Medical Center, 1000 Locust Street, Reno ............................................................................328-1293VETERAN’S BENEFITS5460 Corporate Drive, Reno.......688-1653, X1(Source: Washoe County Senior Services)

RESOURCES

woman all bent overbecause her knee hurt.She had a face full of wrin-kles resembling crevicesand badly needed to haveher grey hair cut.

The next day I met thefirst of the new men in mylife, followed without delay

by all the others.Apparently my little strollup those steps resulted ina torn meniscus in myknee which resulted in ablood clot in my leg whichresulted in a hematoma inmy foot which subsequent-ly turned black, adding fur-ther anguish in the vanitydepartment. The clot pre-

cludes the necessary kneesurgery, necessitated thepostponement of previous-ly scheduled foot surgeryand disallows use of themedication that eased thearthritis that I hadn’t evenadmitted having. (I’m oldenough for bunions andarthritis?)

How can this be? This can’t be me! I’m sup-

posed to be out climbingmountains--if I were soinclined. Instead I amworking my way throughendless appointments,having my blood levelschecked relentlessly,testing my mental agilityby attempting to remem-ber when to take whichpill, and wondering

where I went. A friendprovided a needed laugh:“When I was a child and Iwanted to be older, thisexpletive is not what Iexpected”.

I do realize that my issuesare vastly insignificantcompared to others. I alsorealize it’s a case of mindover matter and that Ineed to get a grip andmaintain a sense of humor.So I concentrate on mynew daily mantras: “thistoo, shall pass” along with“Do not regret growingolder. It’s a privilegedenied to many”.

30 • 2013 • July

this ‘n that / page 26

Thisstory willbe in 2parts. Thefirst will be

about our personal experienceon our recent trip to theCanadian Rockies, Banff, andLake Louise. The second willbe mostly about the history ofthe incredible hotel we stayedat and help you experienceinteresting information aboutour good neighbor to theNorth. It’s fascinating.

Stop! Don’t exit the eleva-tor at any of the other 8 floors.It must be the 7th. Just waituntil I reveal the intricacies ofthe 7th floor. I’ll keep you insuspense just a bit and get backon the elevator a little later.

The journey begins. Theclock screams 4 a.m. Eyesreveal total darkness. Luggageis packed and exits to the car.Dogs are placed outside withquizzical looks. A lone coyoteflashes in the headlights anddisappears. Once in a while,another vehicle flirts with ours.

Where is everyone going atthis hour? Airport lights andtravelers scurrying for flightssurround us. If you have notbeen to the Reno/Tahoe air-port lately, you’re in for a pleas-ant surprise. Everyone isscreened in the same area andthere is no pat down.Restaurants crop up and lookinviting even at this hour.

This is my kind of flight. It’sonly an hour or less to SFO.Next stop will be Calgary,Alberta, Canada.

Windshield wipers get aworkout during the entiredrive. Dreary cold cools myenthusiasm. Banff and LakeLouise are located within theBanff National Park. No, theywon’t accept David’s lifetimepark card from the States.Fifty-dollars for seniors to staywithin the park surprises us but

hey, we’re here. Welcome toCanada! Another error bypass-es Banff. A U-turn proves for-tuitous. The family of Elksinterrupts us. Wow, what ashot. This one is lookingdirectly at me. Got it! Am Ipositive it’s an elk and not amoose? What’s it look like toyou? My watch suggests Imove it forward one hour inkeeping with local time. Arental car is procured and weare off. Naturally, there is con-struction everywhere just likehere. The map confuses us anda turn around is necessary. Thesigns finally include Banff butthe distance is in kilometers.Our heads convert to approxi-mate miles.

Even in this weather, thesnow capped Canadian Rockiessmile on us. The jagged peaksare far higher than anythingwe’ve encountered before.

Banff proves charming andbeautiful as we stroll in the nowlight rain beneath the eyes ofthe Rockies. With all thequaint shops and restaurants,we meander to the mall andgrab a bite at a food court.

Another 45-minutes takes usto Lake Louise. The road twirlsaround and is heading one-way,up. Breathtaking awe smacksus hard as we glimpse the hotelwe are staying at, The FairmontChateau Lake Louise. A castleis the only word to compare itto. The lobby reeks of old styleelegance. Amid the gorgeousdecorations and people is adog. I assume he is a guide dogbut the staff says this is a petfriendly hotel. Gee, could wehave bought our dogs? Dogsare everywhere on the pathssurrounding the Lake. It makesus miss ours.

Now, we return to the eleva-tor. Since we are new membersof the Fairmont’s President’sClub, we are among the privi-leged to be staying on the 7th

or Gold Floor. Gold wallpaperlines the hallway. Our cornerroom has the view to die for.Both windows display the lakein its finest attire.

Just down the hall is theprestigious lounge. Servers areat our beck and call. Wines sit

waiting to be poured.Canopies with shrimp, salads,fruits and chocolates entice usto a light dinner. Chilled bot-tled water and drinks are therefor the taking. In the morning,full breakfast awaits. Not a

(7th floor page 34)

July • 2013 • 31

by Eydie Scher

Eydie’s Excerpts The 7th Floor

32 • 2013 • July

What city is home tothe nation’s firstorganic winery, first

carbon-neutral winery in thevicinity of the greenest wineregion in the country, and iscentrally located to over 30tasting rooms? Feel like guess-ing?

The answer might surpriseyou. It did us. With a popula-tion of only about 16,000,Ukiah, California, has a lot tooffer – including fine wine.The community is surroundedby more than 20 organic winer-ies and acres of biodynamicvineyards.

As we mentioned last

month, we’re planning oursummer road trip; destination:Ukiah in Mendocino County.Here are some of the winerieswe plan to visit.

Parducci Wine Cellars:Country’s First Carbon NeutralWinery 501 Parducci RdUkiah, CA 95482(707) 463-5357

Established in 1932,Parducci Wine Cellars is theoldest winery in MendocinoCounty, the first carbon neutralwinery in the U.S. and a certi-fied organic wine producer.Parducci recycles 100 percentof its waste water via an onsitewetland, utilizes 100 percent

renewable green power, anduses earth-friendly packaging.The winery was awardedCalifornia's highest environ-mental award, the Governor'sEnvironmental and EconomicLeadership Award in 2007 andagain in 2009. Tasting room hours: 10–5 p.m. Cost: $5

Frey Vineyards Ltd. 14000 Tomki RdRedwood Valley, CA 95470

Founded in 1980, FreyVineyards is nestled on theslopes of the Redwood ValleyAmerican Viticultural Area atthe headwaters of the RussianRiver. The winery producesMendocino County organicwine with no sulfites added,and it is the first maker of certi-fied Biodynamic® Wines in theU.S.

The Frey Organic WineTasting Bar is at the SolarLiving Center/Real Goods, inHopland (13mi. from Ukiah). Open 11-5 p.m. (707) 744-1026.

To visit call ahead for anappointment: (800) 760-3739

Rivino Winery4101 Cox-Schrader Rd.Ukiah, CA 95482(707) 293-4262

Located along the RussianRiver, Rivino is a boutique fami-ly winery handcrafting all of itswines from select grapes grownon the family’s Schrader RanchVineyard.

Tasting room open daily, 10–5 p.m. Live music onFridays till 7 pm.

Seebass Vineyards & Family Wines3300 Old River RdUkiah, CA 95482(707) 467-9463

With a long family farming

tradition and a love of wine,Brigitte Seebass emigrated fromGermany to California in the1960s. In the late 1980s, sheand her family establishedSeebass Vineyards. They wel-come you to come explore thearea, and taste their wines atthe vineyard. info@see-bassvineyards.com

Chiarito Vineyard2651 Mill Creek Rd.Ukiah, CA 95482(707) 462-7146

Chiarito Vineyard sub-scribes to sustainable farmingtechniques and minimalistwinemaking to create limitedproduction wines from the bestand most interesting SouthernItalian varietals. Chiarito is thefirst official U.S. producer of theold world varietal known asNegroamaro, widely grown inthe southern Italian region ofPuglia. Winery visits are byappointment only.

Nelson Family Vineyards 550 Nelson Ranch Rd.Ukiah, California 95482(707) 462-3755

The Nelson Family's tast-ing room is located betweenHopland and Ukiah, open dailyfrom 10-5 p.m.

Enoteca Wine Bar106 W Church St. Ukiah, CA 95482(707) 972-5541

The Enoteca Wine Bar fea-tures wines from small localboutique wineries in the Ukiaharea that pair well with any ofthe charcuterie offerings ontheir menu, which includeNorthern California cheesesand local Olio de Mendo oliveoil. Wine is offered by the glass,flight, bottle on and off sale.Hours: Mon - Sat., 1-9 p.m.

Seniors4Travel Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa

Ukiah, California

July • 2013 • 33

34 • 2013 • July

single item is an extra charge.The 7th floor lounge is a meet-ing place for visitors fromaround the world such as Asia,Germany, the Netherlands,Israel, Canada, of course, andAustralia. A large group of 40Aussies’ stay on the 7th floor.David even meets someonefrom the Bronx!

Room amenities, includingslippers to take home, abound.David asked if he could steal apair. The answer is NO.Guests are encouraged to take

them but not the robes. Wi-Fi is normally $15 per

day. You guessed it. On the7th floor, it’s free. My Ipadworks! I retrieve birthday e-mails and dispense photoshome.

A 4! mile hike around mostof the Lake is the only one wedo although there are manyavailable. The highest teahousein the country tempts us buthikers coming down tell usthere’s snow up there and weneed real hiking boots. At Lakelevel, the weather is perfect,

just cool enough for a sweat-shirt and sunny enough toobserve the mirror effect of theBlue/turquoise Lake.

My birthday dawns brightand sunny. It will be perfect forour All Terrain Vehicle outingthat our kids present us with.The ATV excursion takes placein Golden, Canada, an hour’sdrive from our hotel. We get ashort lesson in maneuveringthe ATV. David drives the firsthour and a half through thegorgeous scenery. My ride isdownhill to the starting point.I’m trying to get the hang of itbut the ATV jerks back andforth. David hangs on for dearlife.

The 2 hour ride back toCalgary and the airport is fine.The first airplane trip of the dayis boarded. Why are we head-ing north to Edmonton whenwe need to go south to SanFrancisco. A prop plane doesthe job along with the friend-liest flight attendant we’ve evermet. The 3 hour flight fromEdmonton releases us at SFO.Our 3rd flight of the long dayand three hours later, we boardfor home.

Dusk creeps over the hori-zon. It’s nice to be home.More to come……

Comments always appreci-ated: eydies@aol.com

Excerpts / page 31

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise