Senior Focus Newspaper

BookNook....................................... 22Elder.Info......................................... 15GetAways.(Sr..Travel)..................... 12Mr..Modem...................................... 24Meal.Times.(Nutrition.News)....... 20Perspective.on.the.Past................ 14Pet.Tails............................................ 23Senior.Spotlight............................... 6Volunteer.Connections................. 21Where.Are.They.Now?................... 22

Columns…

Tax filing guidelines &free tax preparationoptions

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Joanne Davis …

She went fromdowntroddento confident

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Hoarding…

There‘s danger incollecting too much ‘stuff ’ Page 5

Closing the MedicarePart D doughnut hole

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Feature Articles…

Senior Services has movedSenior Information and Assistance. Family Caregiver program, Mental Health services, Multicultural services, Victims of Crime Assistance, SHIBA, Senior Nutrition, Minor Home Repair, Senior Focus News-paper and SSSC administrative offices are located at:

(One block west of Highway 99 on Airport Rd)

Phone numbers did not change.See page 11 for listing.

11627 Airport Rd., Suite B, Everett 98204

Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART), Transportation Assistance Pro-gram (TAP) and SnoTrac are located at:

11323 Commando Rd. W., Suite 215, Everett 98204

By.Jim.Steinruck,.CEOSenior.Services.of.Snohomish.County

. With the beginning of the new Congress in the other Washing-ton and our legislative sessions here in Olympia the work of the people is in full swing this month. And while the daily headlines, TV commentators, and online blogs may suggest it is all about the two parties besting each other; in fact that is the side show. The true “work of the people” involves thoughtful analysis of many competing needs and the passage of wise legislation to meet those needs. Never has this been truer than now with budget defi-cits at both the state and federal level. This is not a theoretical prob-lem and the decisions made in Washington D.C. and Olympia during the coming months will directly impact the lives of Sno-homish County residents.

Community based non-profit organizations rely on federal and state funds to ensure the frail and vulnerable in our community are able to access essential services. This is certainly true at Senior Services of Snohomish County; whether it is a ride to a medical appointment for a person with dis-abilities or home delivered meals for a homebound senior; govern-ment dollars form the greatest portion of our financial support. If government support is cut from programs that support those most in need – those most in need will be harmed. For ex-ample, the automatic spending cuts that would occur with se-

questration will eliminate 9,800 meals from Meals on Wheels and 85 older adults who currently re-ceive meals would be cut from our Meals on Wheels program. That is the very real and stark reality we face in Snohomish County. Unfortunately, with many in-terests competing for time on the legislative docket, those without power or influence can be shut out of the conversation and their voice never heard. To avoid this outcome, Senior Services is working in collabora-tion with the Snohomish County Council on Aging and United Way of Snohomish County to make

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

By.Teresa.Ambord

This tough economy has been hard on all of us, in many cases, even harder for older workers or job seekers. After decades of loyal work, when we get laid off and be-gin the job search for new employ-ment, the results are less than en-couraging. Age discrimination is illegal, but we all know illegal things hap-pen every day. Beyond that, the facts just don’t support the com-mon notions that older workers are most costly and less produc-tive. In spite of popular notions, employers who want more for their money would often be wise to hire grandma and grandpa. Here are some of the false ste-reotypes that are associated with older workers. Older workers cost more in health care. Yes, age often brings

more health prob-lems, and yes, older workers may take longer to recover from an illness or injury. However, re-search shows that, in general, older workers take fewer sick days. Many younger employees view paid sick days as extra vacation time to be taken at will. Older employees are far less likely to need dependent coverage. And once they become Medicare eligible at age 65, they may not need coverage at all. Older workers are less pro-ductive. One study revealed that older workers have greater in-terpersonal skills, making them more able to deal face-to-face with

customers as well as facilitating relationships with coworkers and superiors. As more and more con-versations move online, younger generations are certainly adept at virtual communication and often less skilled at actual interaction. Older workers also get a job, learn it, and stick with it, whereas

Research shows older workers are a bargainToo old to hire, too young to retire? Nonsense!

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Page 19

Caregiving

Seven tips forbetter life balance

Visit.Senior.Services.atwww.sssc.org

Like.us.on

February/March 2013Vol. 39 No. 3Published bySenior Services ofSnohomish County

The work of the people

It’s.time.to.let.your.voice.be.heard

Sign up today …The Senior Focus is published bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October and December) as a community service by Senior Services of Snohomish County. We are committed to educating and entertaining readers with information that reflects the diverse interests and needs of the senior community.

To receive the Senior Focus in the mail, phone 425.290.1277 or send an e-mail to [email protected] (please include “subscription” in the subject line). Donations to cover the costs associated with publishing and mail-ing the Senior Focus are welcome and appreciated.

February/March,.2013..Senior.Focus2

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With the start of the 2013 state legislative session, United Way of Snohomish County announced its legislative priorities with a focus on early learning, hunger, home-lessness and seniors. “Our legislature is facing a dif-ficult session, and we continue to be concerned about how potential budget cuts will affect Snohomish County,” said Dennis G. Smith, president and CEO of United Way of Snohomish County. “Now is the time to maintain the critical investments that our state has al-ready made in these key areas.” Locally, United Way “focuses on the building blocks of a good life: successful kids, financially stable families and healthy com-munities,” said Katrina Ondra-cek, vice president of Public Policy & Community Initiatives. “It’s no surprise that our volunteers chose to focus on early learning, hunger, homelessness and seniors for this legislative session.” Ondracek will be in Olympia

two days a week during the leg-islative session meeting with leg-islators, attending hearings and working with a broad range of ad-vocates to raise awareness around these and other key issues. For more information and up-dates on these and other issues related to United Way’s advocacy efforts, visit uwsc.org/advocate.php. United Way’s priorities and ar-eas of concern for the 2013 legisla-tive session are as follows:Support for SeniorsMaintain funding to support se-nior information & assistance, transportation and caregiver support. By 2030, almost 200,000 Sno-homish County residents will be over age 65. This represents 20% of our population. Adequate sup-port systems need to be in place to address the wellness, care and independence of seniors. Many people desire to “age in place,” and need services to maintain

their health and their home. Pro-grams that empower, connect and provide advocacy for seniors are important to individuals and fam-ilies.Food InsecurityPreserve food programs that keep children and adults from going hungry and being mal-nourished.Food is a basic need that should be accessible to all. Hunger and poor nutrition leads to low productivity and lifetime health consequences. Over the past three years, 75,000 new households joined the ranks of the hungry, and the rate of hunger in the state is the highest it has ever been. Currently Wash-ington state ranks 14th in hunger.Housing & HomelessnessMaintain funding to support af-fordable housing and options that move people out of home-lessness. Housing is a basic foundation for self-sufficiency, but on an av-erage night, over 2,300 people are homeless in Snohomish County. There are many barriers faced by homeless individuals. The de-mand for safe, suitable and afford-able housing has far outpaced the supply. The complex set of needs faced by many homeless people leaves far too many residents with inadequate housing options or access to some of life’s most ba-sic household and sanitary needs.

Quality Early LearningProvide funding to support op-portunities that ensure children are ready to succeed in school and life. From infancy through high school, children’s educational out-comes are dependent on the qual-ity of their learning experiences. Quality early learning, in particu-lar, has been shown to have a sig-nificant positive effect on future life and academic success. Howev-er, for many families, the demand for early care not only exceeds the available supply, but also costs more than they can afford.

United Way is a community impact organization serving Snohomish County for over 70 years. The agen-cy currently funds 102 programs through 39 agencies with a special focus on health and human servic-es. Senior Services of Snohomish County receives funding for Nutri-tion Services (home delivered and congregate meals), Transportation Assistance Program, Family Care-giver Resource Program, Informa-tion and Assistance, and the Multi-cultural Senior Center.

United Way announces legislative priorities

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Published bi-monthly with a readership of 38,000+, the Senior Focus educates and entertains readers (seniors, family care-givers, service providers and other interested persons) with news and

information that reflects the diverse inter-ests and needs of the senior community.

Signed articles are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of Senior Services or the Senior Focus.

Distribution: 20,000 papers are mailed to households and senior-friendly businesses in Snohomish, North King and Island and counties; 3,500 papers are distributed at drop-off locations including senior cen-ters, retirement communities, hospitals, medical clinics, etc.

Advertising: The existence of advertising in this publication is not meant as an en-dorsement of the product, service or indi-vidual by anyone except the advertiser.

Associate member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association

Published bySenior Services of Snohomish County

11627 Airport Rd., Suite BEverett WA 98204-8714

EditorSharon Ostant 425.290.1277

Advertising Account ManagerDale Bohm 425.263.1868

Senior.Focus..February/March,.2013 3

sure the needs of seniors and people with disabilities are un-derstood. To ensure our legisla-tors understand the impact their votes will have on the health and well-being of our community, Se-nior Services will participate in Senior Lobby Day on Thursday, February 21, in Olympia. United Ways from across the state, will hold their Lobby Day on Thurs-day, February 7. On the state level, Senior Ser-vices is asking for full funding of the Senior Citizen’s Services Act (SCSA), full support for unpaid family caregivers, and full sup-port for geriatric mental health services. On the federal level, Senior Services is advocating for the re-authorization of the Older Ameri-cans Act. This legislation is the major vehicle for social and nutri-tional services for older adults. The agency is also advocating for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), com-

VOICECONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

1st Legislative District Sen Rosemary McAuliffe (D), 360-786-7600; PO Box 40401, Olympia 98504Rep Derek Stanford (D), 360-786-7928; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504Rep Luis Moscoso (D), 360-786-7900; PO Box 40600, Olympia 9850410th Legislative District Sen Barbara Bailey (R), 360-786-7618; PO Box 40410, Olympia 98504Rep Norma Smith (R), 360-786-7884; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504Rep Dave Hayes (R), 360-786-7914; PO Box 40600, Olympia 9850421st Legislative DistrictSen Paull Shin (D), 360-786-7640; PO Box 40421, Olympia 98504Rep Mary Helen Roberts (D), 360-786-7950; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504Rep Marko Liias (D), 360-786-7972; PO Box 40600, Olympia 9850432nd Legislative DistrictSen Maralyn Chase (D), 360-786-7662; PO Box 40432, Olympia 98504Rep Cindy Ryu (D), 360-786-7880; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504Rep Ruth Kagi (D), 360-786-7910; PO Box 40600, Olympia 9850438th Legislative DistrictSen Nick Harper (D), 360-786-7674; PO Box 40438, Olympia 98504Rep John McCoy (D), 360-786-7864; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504Rep Mike Sells (D), 360-786-7840; PO Box 40600, Olympia 9850439th Legislative DistrictSen Kirk Pearson (R), 360-786-7676; PO Box 40439, Olympia 98504Rep Dan Kristiansen (R), 360-786-7967; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504Rep Elizabeth Scott (R), 360-786-7816; PO Box 40600, Olympia 9850444th Legislative District Sen Steve Hobbs (D), 360-786-7686; PO Box 40444, Olympia 98504Rep Hans Dunshee (D), 360-786-7804; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504Rep Mike Hope (R), 360-786-7892; PO Box 40600, Olympia 98504

State Legislature contact informationFollowing are the phone numbers and mailing addresses for Snohomish County’s State Legislators. The e-mail address for state legislators is first name.last [email protected] (i.e. [email protected]). If you are unsure of your Legislative District, contact the Snohomish County Auditor’s office at 425-388-3444 or visit leg.wa.gov.

Elected officials need to know what their constituents think and now it’s even more important then ever. This session, which runs through April 28, the State Legis-lature will grapple with a signifi-can budget shortfall as they pre-pare for a two-year spending plan that begins July 1. As our legis-lators looks at ways to address the shortfall, including cutting or eliminating programs and servic-es, it is important that all citizens keep track of what’s happening. Two easy ways to voice your opinion are to call or write. See State Legislature list on this page. You can also send a message to your senator or representative by calling the legislative hotline: 800-562-6000. During the legisla-tive session, the hotline is staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Callers to the hotline can leave a brief message on issues of con-cern and it will be forwarded to the appropriate legislator(s). Call-

ers can also obtain information on pending legislation. When calling the hotline, be prepared to give your name and address. Regardless of how you choose to share your thoughts, be calm, rea-sonable, respectful and politely firm. Following are other tips to con-sider. These tips can be applied when contacting any elected offi-cial, whether it be federal, local, county or city.Phone calls Legislators are often away from their office so expect to leave a brief message with a legislative aide or assistant. When leaving a message, make sure he/she knows who you are (i.e. give your name, address and phone number). Identify the bill you wish to talk about by name and, if pos-sible, number. Ask for his/her stance on the bill or issue you are calling about. Briefly state your position and know that it is acceptable to ask for a commitment to vote for your position.Letters and e-mails Timing is everything. E-mail

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monly referred to as food stamps. SNAP benefits are critically im-portant for low income older adults. In recent years SNAP has achieved impressive results in meeting the needs of low-income Americans while maintaining strong program integrity and pay-ment accuracy. The services provided by the non-profit organizations in our community are impressive. In 2012, Senior Services operated 743 apartments for low income seniors; provided 222,782 nutri-tious meals; and 423,052 rides for seniors and people with disabili-ties. You and your government make this work possible. Thank you for your support and voice as we continue to promote independence and improve the quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities in Sno-homish County. To learn more and be a cham-pion for change, visit the following websites: United Way, uwsc.org/advocate.php; the Senior Lobby, WaSeniorLobby.org, and Senior Services, sssc.org.

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is an efficient ways to reach your legislator. If you prefer to mail a letter, allow enough time for it to reach your legislator before com-mitments on issues have been made. Be brief and to the point. Write on one subject and refer to the bill by name and number. Limit your letter to a single page; the shorter your message, the more likely he/she will read it personally.

Personalize your communica-tion by telling, in your own words, how the legislation will affect you and/or others you know and re-spectfully ask for a specific action or support. Sign your letter with your name and address so that he/she knows if you are a constituent. Also include your phone number. No matter how you contact your legislator, express appreciation to him/her for considering your view.

It’s important to voice your opinion


By.Teri.Baker

Even in the beginning stages, hoarders require professional as-sistance to move toward a less stressful and safer living environ-ment. If they could do it on their own, they would. “Some people do accept help and make healthier changes,” says professional organizer Denise Al-lan. “I think it’s difficult for them, and I commend them for that.” Allan, owner and founder of Bothell-based Simplify with De-nise, LLC, is a Certified Profes-sional Organizer whose extensive training makes her the only CPO in the Pacific Northwest with board certification in chronic dis-organization. She has seen the worst of the worst in her own business and in her participation in the first three seasons of A&E television’s “Hoarders.” Uncomfortable with the word hoarding, Allan prefers the more gentle term excessive acquisition. “I offer non-judgmental support,

confidentiality and accountabil-ity,” she says. “I avoid negative emotions such as loss, guilt and shame and instead try to engen-der hope and confidence that peo-ple can change.” Empathy and understanding what clients are comfortable with are crucial. “It’s hard to let a stranger into your home when you have all these things people tell you that you shouldn’t have,” she says. “I understand that they see their possessions as if they are children, family or friends – which you would never throw away.” She knows that to hoarders, los-ing memorabilia equates to losing memories so they treat everything as part of themselves; that per-fectionists can’t make decisions about how to get rid of clutter; and that depression often accom-panies hoarding. While her training provides a deeper understanding of the men-tal issues involved, Allan says she does not wear the hat of a thera-pist. She does get referrals from

Adult Protective Services, thera-pists and psychiatrists and refers clients open to therapy to mental health professionals. “I bring a different energy,” Al-lan says.“Social organizing is more pleasant. I develop a relationship with the people. I try to get to know their family and friends and help them be more tolerant and compassionate.” Once allowed into the home, Allan does a 60-75 minute assess-ment. “We strategize how best to get them to the point of organiza-tion they are comfortable with,” she says. “I don’t judge, even if I have to crawl into spaces that are cluttered and crawling with ver-min.” Allan observes whether hall-ways are cluttered, closets are full to the brim or items remain in the house or spill into the yard. She checks for infestations and signs of water damage and looks to see if there are intact file cabinets and drawers that could be used to tame chaos. She asks questions

to determine if clients are able to make decisions and can articulate why they collect so much stuff. Because hoarders have low in-sight into the severity of the situ-ation, she takes photos from sev-eral different angles so the client has more than a single view. Before she begins to actually work, Allan makes a contract with the client. For example, “Kitchen counters don’t have to be clean because that’s who they are,” she says. “But you have to set bound-aries regarding safety. The stove has to always be clear and there can be no papers on counters near the stove.” With the contract in place, Al-lan works on boundaries “to allow for life to happen.” To set limits on how much space stuff will oc-cupy, she might ask, “How many items will benefit you? There are two shelves here where you can put things you might need again.” How long the process takes de-pends on the level of hoarding. Severe cases can take months. Of lower level hoarders, Allan, who works in three-hour increments, says, “They may need help with a closet and a bedroom. A session or two can be a springboard for the rest of the house. ” Allan is proud of those who rec-ognize they need emotional sup-port. She mentions a client who once lived in clutter and without heat. “I got a card from her,” Allan says. “Her whole house had been redone. The photos of the living room were just stunning.” Whether you contact Allan’s company or another resource for help for hoarders, Allan says it’s well worth it. “The hardest is that first call,” she says, “but it can make such a huge change for you. Your home should rekindle, not zap, your energy.”

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Hoarding… help starts with a phone call


By.Teri.Baker

Alice doesn’t allow anyone, even her own children and grandchil-dren, into her home. She doesn’t want her daughter moving news-papers off the stove or her son try-ing to fix the rotting floor under her broken toilet. Bill can hardly get into his house because it’s stuffed floor to rafters with hubcaps, clothes, car-pet scraps, jars of pickles and doz-ens of shopping bags loaded with broken pens. His family can’t talk him into getting rid of as much as a paper clip. Like an estimated six million Americans with hoarding issues, neither Bill nor Alice believe they have a problem. “Hoarders acquire an exces-sive amount of items others would not deem valuable,” says Kamilia Dunsky, mental health program manager for Senior Services. “It’s challenging because you may know that dealing with the issue will give them a better quality of life, but they don’t have any in-sight and don’t think they have a problem.” What people hoard doesn’t make sense to others, but some-how it does to them. Hoarding is not clutter, poor housekeeping or collecting lots of stuff. Hoarding is acquiring more items than there is space for and an inability to get rid of things. Most commonly hoarded are newspapers, magazines, mail, notes, lists, old clothing and plas-tic bags and containers. Rooms overflow with yarn, toys, broken electronics, rocks, rusty nails or other items. Legal documents, tax information, license and in-surance renewals, health records, etc. become buried in floor to ceil-ing stacks of paper.How bad can it get?

Levels of hoarding go from hav-ing minor plumbing or electrical problems with some congestion in entrances and hallways to the worst stage where key living spac-es are unusable; entrances, hall-ways and stairs are blocked; toi-

lets, sinks and tubs don’t function; appliances don’t work or are too covered to use; urine and excre-ment are present; there is perva-sive mold or mildew, moisture or standing water; medications are left where anyone can get them. This level requires full hazmat gear to clean up. “They never intended to live that way, but self-help attempts have failed,” says board-certified professional organizer Denise Al-lan. “It’s heart wrenching.” It’s also dangerous. Crowded hallways can lead to injuries from tripping and falling, especially in seniors whose balance may al-ready be compromised. Emergen-cy personnel can’t get through the house. Flammable materials in front of heaters and/or a stockpile of combustibles can create fast spreading fires. There are also grave health risks. The bathroom becomes a storage unit so hoarders give up hygiene. Broken plumbing and standing water can lead to toxic mold. Rotting food brings in mice, rats, raccoons and bats. Decom-posed animal urine and feces give off ammonia harmful to human tissue. Hoarders are not the only ones affected. Danger is car-ried through air vents in condos and apartment houses. Fire can spread from house to house. One of the most egregious forms of obsessive acquisition is animal hoarding. With the mindset that they are the only ones who can love and care for animals, hoard-ers collect large numbers of pets, yet do not or cannot provide nutri-tion or take them to the vet. They don’t see the feces or even the car-casses. Because the pets are un-altered, numerous litters are born into this cruelty.Why do people hoard?

“Hoarding is not a tough love issue,” Dunsky says. According to the National Institute of Health, “certain brain regions under-activate in people with hoarding disorder when dealing with pos-sessions, but over-activate when

deciding to keep or discard their own things.” While clinical depression does not cause hoarding, research indi-cates that 50 percent of hoarders are depressed. Attention Deficit Disorder can keep hoarders dis-tracted. Abandonment and abuse issues can make people emotion-ally attached to things rather than people. Other factors can compound the problem. “Something is broken in people with compulsive acquisition,” Al-lan says, adding that, “sometimes no one ever spoke the rules to them or someone always cleaned their rooms for them and they don’t know how to do it. They may have poor learning skills or they may be ill and feel as if they’re los-ing control.” People whose parents lived through the Great Depression may have been taught to never throw anything away because they might need it someday. Fear of discarding the “wrong” thing leaves them paralyzed with inde-cision.What’s being done?

The Hoarding Taskforce of Sno-homish County was formed five years ago to coordinate the re-sources of community agencies to respond to residential hoarding when it threatens life, safety and

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property. Amanda Morey of Senior Ser-vices’ Older Adult Mental Health Access Program serves as coordi-nator of the task force, which in-cludes: code enforcement officers, who often get the first complaints; social service providers; Adult Protective Services (APS); cities; housing authorities and the Sno-homish Health District. Morey says one reason for the taskforce is that APS has less power than most people think. Friends and relatives desperate to get help for loved ones assume APS can just take over the situa-tion. However, while APS can as-sess whether people are cognitive-ly impaired, it must prove that the individual is unable to make decisions before it can take action. Currently, there is no mental health definition for hoarding, but one is expected this year from the American Psychiatric Association. “It’s good that hoarding will be included in the diagnostic manual so we can have an actual diagno-sis,” Dunsky says. “Not only does it increase public awareness, it stimulates research and impacts what kinds of treatments are funded.” For information about hoarding and/or the task force, contact Mo-rey, 425-290-1260.

Hoarding… there’s danger in collecting too much ‘stuff’


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Senior SpotlightSomeone We’d Like You to Meet …

By.Teri.Baker

Joanne Davis absolutely insists on leading an interesting life. In the past 20 years, the Lynn-wood woman, 73, has deliberately crammed a lot of hard work and just plain fun into her once mis-erable existence, taking every opportunity she can to learn and grow. She has gone through the Citi-zens Academy training at both the Lynnwood and Mukilteo police departments, soared 4,700 feet above the earth in a hot air bal-loon and entertained thousands. She is perhaps best known for her music. During the summers, she sings, plays guitar and tells stories at Open Mike Night at the Red Cup Café in Mukilteo. In De-cember she was invited to perform at the Mukilteo Tree Lighting. When the days get a little lon-ger, she’ll resume her weekly gig at the Cabin Tavern in Richmond Beach. Meanwhile, she performs every Sunday at various venues in Snohomish and north King Counties. And, she recently made a CD of songs and lyrics she has written. Performance isn’t Joanne’s only

art. She pursues writing with the Mukilteo Arts Guild and often re-gales friends with her poetry. She is also involved in charitable en-deavors, including working with the Mukilteo Lions Club and par-ticipating in numerous walks, runs and dashes, and performing at various fundraising events. Life was not always so inter-esting for Joanne, who has mixed memories of her childhood. Born in Seattle to alcoholic parents, she and her younger brother saw little of their father, a tugboat skipper. Her mother never stood up for herself, and Joanne, following her example, was bullied in school. On the brighter side, the family lived directly across the street from the Playland amusement park. “We could see the roller coast-er from our front porch,” Joanne says. “I worked three summers there.” Other happy memories involve music. When Joanne was nine, she inherited a piano from her grandmother. She says, “I took lessons for five years and learned in spite of myself.” When her mother brought home a 40-button accordion, Joanne learned to play that, too. Music was Joanne’s salvation at Edmonds High School, where she sang in the choir. The high-light of her teen years was seeing Elvis Presley in person. “The first time he swiveled himself on TV

on the Ed Sullivan Show, I was totally captivated,” says Joanne, whose apartment is filled with El-vis memorabilia. “I loved his voice and his generosity and I even per-form some of his songs.” Joanne married right after graduation. “I learned to cook and keep house and did fine,” she says. “We had two daugh-ters, and I worked part time off and on because I didn’t want to leave my girls with a babysitter. I also canned fruit, sewed all their clothes and did all the yard work.” When her husband brought home a $13 guitar, Joanne bought lesson books and taught herself to play. Music would again provide solace. After 19 years of marriage, her husband announced he had found another woman and walked out. He never paid a dime of child support for the girls, who were 11 and 12 when he left. Joanne got a job at Sears and was able to take over the payments on an old house in downtown Everett. Money was tight, and she had to give up the house after a couple of years. To survive, she worked in a machine shop checking tools in and out and keeping track of time cards. A few years later, her children grown, she met her second hus-band. “I had low esteem, was ter-ribly naïve and hated the person I was,” she muses. “He was much

older, and I thought he would pro-vide stability.” She couldn’t have been more wrong. He moved her to a farm in Oak Harbor, where for several years she took care of his embit-tered aunt, an amputee, until her death. “My husband was extremely abusive,” Joanne says. “I was only allowed to leave to go grocery shopping for two hours on Friday morning. I lived like a prisoner. When he threatened my life, I felt not only afraid, but as if I had no value.” Joanne managed to have one friend, a woman who guessed what was happening and told her that if she needed to get out, she could come to her. Joanne’s self esteem was so low, she dared not believe she could escape. That changed July 24, 1992, the day her husband nearly killed her. “All that fear for all those years turned to rage,” she says. “I went against everything I had learned or lived with, and I fought back. It was like someone took over and a new person came out of me.” Stunned, her drunken husband screamed curses, ordered her to leave and stumbled into the bed-room. Joanne piled her records, books, musical instruments and what few clothes she had into a van, withdrew the pittance she had in the bank and fled to her friend’s house, where she stayed for four fearful months. “I was hungry, but too nervous to eat,” she recalls. “I couldn’t sleep. I was afraid he would come after me.” Desperate, Joanne, who knew nothing about shelters then, caught a ferry, came to Everett and checked into a motel, where she worked as a maid. She rented

She went from downtrodden to confident

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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an apartment in Lynnwood and got a job in retail and another as a magazine and book distributor. After 18 months of this ex-hausting schedule, she found tem-porary work building displays for a fitness equipment company in Bothell. She then talked her way into a fulltime job there with ben-efits, including medical insurance, retirement and profit sharing. She had a two-hour commute and stood 10 hours a day working on a fast moving assembly line, but she persevered. “It required extreme discipline,” she says, “but I was there eight and a half years with perfect attendance.” During the years since escaping her husband’s tyranny, Joanne determined to improve herself and keep her life interesting. “I knew I had to get involved in something positive,” she says. “I went to a Toastmasters meeting and saw people give speeches. I thought, ‘I can’t do that.’” Still, the discipline of learning to start and end speeches on time appealed to her so she joined the club. Her first speech was supposed to be about herself. Unready to lay open her life to others, she spoke about three famous speak-ers instead. Among her many sub-sequent speeches was one on the history of country music, which she enhanced by singing and play-ing guitar. During her five years in Toastmasters, she held every club office and gained the confi-dence to perform on stage. She found a home in the Old Time & Country Music Associa-tion, where she says she always feels welcome and has a great time. “I learned so much I start-ed playing backup,” she says. “I started doing jams around town and now I have a music gig every

Sunday. She also did some traveling. Entranced by the movie Crocodile Dundee, Joanne bought a book about Australia, dipped into her savings, took advantage of a fa-vorable exchange rate and went on her own to that country. Twice. She overcame her fear of water and toured the Great Barrier Reef in a semi-submersible boat. She still wears a leather hat from Tasmania purchased with an El-vis Presley Visa card. Her other favorite trip? Elvis’ home, Grace-land. Joanne retired from the as-sembly line in 2005 at age 65 and immediately went to work as a fitness technician at Curves in Mukilteo. A few months later she was diagnosed with Non-Hodg-kin’s lymphoma. “I have to credit my primary care doctor for saving my life,” she says. “I went in for a cough, and he ordered an x-ray. They found a four-inch tumor behind my breastbone and a chest full of cancer. I was terrified.” Determined to face her fear, Joanne continued to work at Curves, perform at the Red Cup and contribute to her writers group. She also kept a journal of her own treatment procedures, from the port in her chest to de-liver the drugs to losing her hair by the handful. “The experience was very inter-esting,” she reports. “To my sur-prise I was never really sick, and one day I walked out of a treat-ment knowing I’d be okay. Her experience with chemo-therapy and radiation at Stevens Hospital led her to volunteer there. For the past six years she has worked three days a week at the information desk in the third floor lobby. She also escorts pa-tients, delivers flowers and the mail and runs errands. “I like all that,” she says. “It gives me a chance to see new people, and I

feel appreciated.” Joanne makes others feel ap-preciated by treating them well and doing what she can for them. Her curly hair grew back, long and luxurious. In December she donated the lion’s share of it to Locks of Love for use in wigs for cancer patients. While she often says, “I have nobody to please but

JOANNECONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

myself,” part of her pleasure is making others’ lives better. She admits that she wouldn’t mind being spoiled a little and that she would “love to be adored by a man.” Even if that never hap-pens, Joanne will do what she al-ways does. She’ll keep her life in-teresting.

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The meaning of the 2012 elec-tion results will probably be de-bated for months, if not years. But a few things are clear. Nearly everyone agrees that President Obama’s reelection means that the Affordable Care Act – the 2010 health care law sometimes called ObamaCare –will stay in place. And for people with Medicare Part D prescrip-tion drug coverage, especially those who use a lot of prescription drugs, that’s good news. When the Medicare prescrip-tion drug program (Part D) was created in 2003, it included a large gap in coverage that’s known as the “doughnut hole.” After benefi-ciaries reached an “initial limit” of total drug expenses ($2,930 in 2012), they had no prescription drug coverage until they got to the other side of the doughnut hole –by spending $3,700 more out of their own pockets – and reached the “catastrophic limit” for the year. The doughnut hole meant that nearly four million beneficiaries with significant prescription drug costs – the people who need help the most – had to pay the full cost for their medications for months at a time. Many had to choose be-

tween buying their medications and buying groceries. Others re-sorted to skipping doses or split-ting pills. What’s more, the prob-lem was going to get worse: The gap was going to grow to more than $6,000 by the year 2020. The doughnut hole never made any sense as a matter of health in-surance. Why would coverage stop when you needed it the most? But until the health care law was passed, nobody had done any-thing about it. Now, the doughnut hole is being gradually filled in. In 2012, people who entered the gap received a 50 percent discount on name-brand drugs and a 14 percent discount on generics. In 2013, those discounts increase to 52.5 percent on name-brand drugs and 21 percent on generics. The discounts will increase each year until 2020, when the gap will be completely filled. This change is making a posi-tive difference in people’s lives. According to the agency that runs Medicare, since the law took ef-fect, about 5.8 million people with Medicare have gotten help with their drug costs. The total value of the help is now $5.1 billion. That’s money that stayed in seniors’ pockets rather than being spent at the

pharmacy. As of the end of Octo-ber 2012, the average savings was $677 a person. That’s a lot of gro-ceries – or presents for the grand-kids. There’s also some encouraging research confirming what a lot of us intuitively sense: that mak-ing prescription drugs more af-fordable saves money down the road by keeping people healthier. When people with diabetes get their insulin regularly, for exam-ple, they’re more likely to stay out of the hospital. Of course this is great for them; no one likes going to the hospital. But it’s good for all of us, because hospital care is expensive, and keeping people healthy and out of the hospital is one of the most ob-vious ways of bringing health care costs under control. Recently, the Congressional Budget Office – the green eye-shade folks who keep track of the cost of everything the government does – concluded that making pre-scription drugs in Medicare more affordable does, in fact, save some money later on by reducing things like hospital admissions. As a re-sult, filling in the doughnut hole is going to cost about 40 percent less than was previously forecast. At a time of tight budgets, that’s great

news for all of us. Of course, there are things you can do to help keep your own pre-scription drug costs down. You should make sure you’re getting the most from your prescription drug coverage. Many plans have preferred pharmacies and mail order services that can get you better prices. Ask your doctor and pharmacist about whether generics are avail-able for any of your name-brand medications, and take the gener-ics whenever possible. Also, if you have limited in-come and financial resources, you might qualify for the Extra Help program that’s run through So-cial Security. For information, visit Social Security at socialse-curity.gov/prescriptionhelp or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Some states also have their own programs to help people with high drug costs. As 2013 starts, between the fis-cal mess in Washington and ev-erything going on in our own lives, we’ve all got a list of things to be concerned about. But it’s good to know that the Part D prescription drug doughnut hole is soon going to fall off that list of concerns.

Ron Pollack is the Executive Director of Families USA.

Closing the Medicare Part D doughnut holeThe end is in sight…

Note: If you have questions about Medicare and/or health care cov-erage, including prescription drug coverage, call the SHIBA (State-wide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) HelpLine, 425-290-1276.


Senior Services of Snohomish County 11627 Airport Rd., Suite B., Everett 425.355.1112 www.sssc.org

Each. year. Mukilteo. Quilters. donate. dozens. of. handmade. quilts. that. bring.warmth.and.cheer.into.the.lives.of.so.many.seniors.. .“It.warms.our.hearts.to.know.how.much. joy.our.quilts.bring.to.the.seniors. in.our.community,".says.Carol.Peters,.Chairman.of.the.Comfort.Quilt.Committee..Pictured.above.(L.to.R).is.Peters.and.Senior.Services.Nutrition.staff.Patty.Sterling,.Martha.Peppones,.and.Maureen.Britt..

Boeing.employees.open.their.hearts.and.their.wallets.each.year.through.the.Spirit.of.the.Holidays.gift.program..This.year,.200.seniors.received.a.$50.gift.card.. One. recipient’s. thank. you. note. expressed. what. these. cards. mean. to.seniors.on.limited.incomes..“I.was.feeling.so.bad.because.I.couldn’t.provide.a.holiday.dinner.for.my.children.and.grandchildren.like.I.used.to..This.gift.card.help.me.fee.like.I.was.doing.my.part.again.”..Thank.you.Boeing.Employees.

We. thank.Total. Outdoor. for. its. generous. donation. of. three. billboards.. Next.time.you.drive.by.Harvey.Field.in.Snohomish,.Beverly.Park.Road.in.South.Ever-ett,.and.the.corner.of.164th.St..S.W..and.Ash.Way.in.Lynnwood,.take.a.moment.to. look. at. Senior. Services. billboards..Total. Outdoor. has. made. it. possible. to.reach.out.to.those.who.need.our.services.with.We Can Help.and.those.who.can.help.support.services.with.You Can Help..The.billboards.highlight.our.website.(sssc.org).so.you.can.access.services.or.make.a.donation.

Senior Services would like to recognize and celebrate the kindness and generosity of individuals, organizations and businesses in the community who continue to make a difference in the lives of people they may never know. Through-out the year, this new Applause Section in the Senior Focus will highlight many of our community partners.

Each.year,.Senior.Services.staff.and.volunteers.pre-pare.and.deliver.a.hot.Thanksgiving.dinner.to.more.than.150.seniors.in.our.commu-nity..It’s.a.great.way.to.brighten.the.holidays.for.seniors.who.are.alone.or.cannot.prepare.a.meal.with.all.the.trim-mings..A.special.thank.you.goes.to.the.85.volunteers.who.gave.their.time.on.Thanks-giving.morning.to.deliver.meals.and.friendship..Phyllis.Berglund.(left);.Pam.Olah.and.Carolyn.Weikel.(upper.right).and.Jim.Britt.(lower.right).are.a.few.of.the.volunteers.who.helped.

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There are many forms of abuse but one of the most prevalent and hardest to stop, especially in these days of intrusive technology, is fi-nancial abuse. Most older adults have limited resources, with the majority liv-ing on $22,000 a year or less in Social Security income. But there are always those who prey even on people who are not well off. Financial abuse involving older adults has been called the “crime of the 21st century.” According to a MetLife Mature Market In-stitute study, older women were twice as likely as older men to suffer financial abuse, especially those over 80 years of age. The annual financial loss, as of 2009, was estimated to be close to $3 billion. A survey conducted by the In-vestor Protection Trust found that “one out of every five citizens over the age of 65” has been a victim of a financial scam and the problem is only getting worse. Paul R. Greenwood, Deputy District Attorney in San Diego and head of the Elder Abuse Pros-

ecution Unit, noted that “at least 65 percent of my prosecutions in-volve some form of financial ex-ploitation.” And he told the Sen-ate Aging Committee about some of the most brazen cases. In one instance, a convicted felon, Victoria Gilbert, found a job as a caregiver to a widower with physical and mental disabilities. She convinced this gentleman to let her and her boyfriend, who she described as a Deputy U.S. Mar-shall, move in with him. In due course, they withdrew all the money out of his bank ac-count, maxed out his credit cards, and stole his medications. It was not until a bank teller noticed the unusual activity on his account and notified the gentleman’s adult children, that the couple were ar-rested and ultimately convicted. In another case, a 79-year-old widow hired William Pitre, who left a flyer under her car wind-shield, to do some work around home. Pitre called himself “a li-censed Christian contractor.” When he finished the work, some of which was left undone, he demanded an excessive amount of

money. Afraid to deal with him, the widow let him write out the check. Leaving behind some work-men to intimidate her, Pitre took it to the bank and demanded the money in cash. The bank teller was suspicious and called the woman who was so fearful that she confirmed the pay-ment by phone. Still uncertain, a bank official then contacted Adult Protective Services who called law enforcement. Pitre was captured and convicted. The litany of tales and the in-ventiveness of the criminals goes on and on. Slowly, law enforce-ment is catching up with the prob-lem. A recently issued Government Accountability Office (GAO) re-port noted, however, that there are still many obstacles facing agencies which are trying to cur-tail financial exploitation. These can include creating more safeguards to protect individuals from unscrupulous legal agents, financial services providers, and in-home caregivers; better train-ing and coordination with banks who may not recognize a problem or do not know where to report it; and closer cooperation among all agencies which work with older adult.

FEDERAL INITIATIVE One of the latest federal initia-tives is the development of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Older Ameri-cans. This “is the only federal of-fice specifically dedicated to the financial health of Americans age 62 and older,” said Hubert H. Humphrey, the assistant director. This bureau operates under a congressional mandate to work with federal and state agencies to develop and implement ways to protect older adults from exploi-tation and to work with commu-nity and non-profit organizations to educate older adults on how to protect themselves. Among its activities are draw-ing up state and generic guides on such things as: what a fiduciary does, how to keep records, limita-tions on commingling funds, and other areas where financial abuse may arise. Plans call for these guides to be published in 2013. A similar national guide also to be published in 2013 is de-signed to protect those living in senior housing, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities and a new program, Money Smart for

Older Adults, being set up in co-operation with the FDIC (the fed-eral agency which insures bank deposits) will include an educa-tional program to prevent, recog-nize, and report financial crimes. The private sector is also be-coming involved in this issue. The Financial Services Roundtable, which represents 100 of the major financial services companies, is working on programs to aid older adults who may suffer financial exploitation. However, said Paul Smocer on behalf of the Roundtable, “the most frequent perpetrators of financial abuse are family members,who by some estimates commit nearly 75 percent of crimes, and profession-al criminals.” The Roundtable has set up an Elder Working Group which is concentrating on two key projects: training financial institution staff in dealing with suspected abuse and becoming familiar with Adult Protective Services and, secondly, initiating a public awareness pro-gram for all financial institutions. Key to the work of the Roundta-ble is establishing how far a finan-cial institution can go to identify and prevent fraud of older adults without violating age discrimina-tion laws. Also to be determined is who authorizes a hold on an ac-count if there is suspicion of fraud and how this reflects on the insti-tution’s obligation to comply with a customer’s instructions. Also of concern is the misuse of a Power of Attorney, when a member of the bank staff suspects fraudulent activity but is limited in dealing with it under the terms of the legal document. Frank Abagnale, who commit-ted fraud as a teenager now oper-ates a business to prevent fraud, identity theft, and similar crimes. Although he maintains that he does not see government as the answer, he does believe it should prepare public service announce-ments. He maintains that it is up to each individual to be alert and if they are unable to do so, then their family and friends should assist. And he notes that “punish-ment for fraud and identity theft and recovery of stolen funds are so rare, prevention is the only vi-able course of action.”

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younger workers often view a job as a short-term commitment until something else catches their at-tention. Peter Cappelli of the Wharton Center for Human Resources said, “The evidence is unbelievably huge. Basically older workers perform better on just about everything.” Some believe older workers should be let go in favor of young-er employees that can be paid less. Big mistake. More experience, lon-ger time on the job, general over-all knowledge, all of these add up to greater productivity. According to Cappelli, these attributes more than justify a higher salary. Another study done at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work (Boston College) indicated that, in gener-al, older workers do not lose inter-est in their work. Those who work past retirement age are shown to become more engaged and satis-fied with their jobs over time. Older people resist learning new things. Certainly technology doesn’t come as easily to most old-er people, and younger individu-als almost seem born with a knack for computers. But surveys show that for many employed seniors they put high priority on finding challenges in their work and they value learning new things. Some say older workers need to retire so that younger work-ers can have their jobs. Reality is, many older workers cannot afford to retire after the ravages of the stock market on their retirement funds and the lost value in their real estate holdings, not to men-tion the constant barrage of at-tacks on Social Security. More and more, as generations of families are forced to move in together, younger family mem-

bers rely on Mom and Dad to put a roof over their heads. This puts more financial strain on the re-sources of the older generations. Not only do many older people need to work to keep body and soul together, but forced retire-ment is bad for a nation’s health. Professor Olivia S. Mitchell (Wharton School of Business) reports that in countries where retirement at a certain age is en-couraged, the system falls apart.Retired individuals rely on the tax paid by younger workers. More retired people means more taxes required to pay the pension liabilities. Higher taxes translates to businesses keeping wages low and less hiring. Em-ployees with lower wages spend less and save less, and economic growth is suffocated. There will always be voices that say younger is better. Don’t buy the lie. Baby boomers and those who preceded them are still the hardest working generations.

Teresa Ambord is a former accoun-tant and Enrolled Agent with the IRS.

OLDER WORKERSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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By.Teresa.Ambord

Before you send it off, pull out your resume and dust it off. Here are a few points to consider. When listing your experi-ence, don’t go back more than 15 years, or leave off dates complete-ly. Some applicants list every job they ever had, making the resume bulky and annoying. The last thing you want to do is annoy the person with hiring power. If you do have experience that you want to highlight but it is de-cades old, list it under “More ex-perience,” and skip the dates. For education, if you went to college, don’t bother to list high school. If you didn’t go to college, be sure to mention that you are a high school graduate, but again, no dates. There’s no need to call attention to the fact that you graduated from high school before the hiring agent was born, which could well be the case. Target your resume to the job description. If your resume is on the computer, this should be a simple matter. Read the job de-scription carefully, then highlight the experience you have that is pertinent. That can make your

Be prepared to e-mail your resume. This is the way most hir-ing agents do business these days, and in the long run, it is easier and cheaper for you and them.

Buff up your resume

–.Senior.Wire©

qualifications pop, and again, it could help you avoid annoying the hiring agent who otherwise would have to search for meaningful in-formation. Show you are connected to the world of technology. Do you have a LinkedIn profile? If not, it’s a sim-ple matter to set one up. It shows hiring agents you are engaged in technology. Just go to LinkedIn.com and follow the instructions. If you list your e-mail address as a means of contacting you, use a businesslike address, rather than one that sounds frivolous. If you generally use an address that is personal, like [email protected], your grandkids may love it but a hiring agent is unlikely to take you seriously as a job candidate.

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Get AwaysAdventures in Travel

By.Sam.Lowe

Laurelville, Ohio – Many years ago, an overworked but dedicated teacher in a one-room schoolhouse outside of Kensal, North Dakota, introduced her assortment of stu-dents to Henry Wadsworth Long-fellow’s magnificent poem “Evan-geline.” As a second-grader, I don’t re-member much of it, but the first few lines have stayed with me over the years: “This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, bearded with moss, and in garments green... .” It’s a sad and, unfortunately, typical story. Evangeline was among the Acadians forcibly re-moved from their Canadian home-land. She and her boyfriend get separated. She spends the rest of the poem searching for him, then finds him. The words came rushing back as I wandered through the mag-nificence of the Hocking Hills State Park and surrounding re-gion, a sort of tamed wilderness a few miles southeast of Columbus, the state’s capital city. This is America at its best. This is the forest primeval, saved from bulldozer and chain saw so visitors can see what the

Comforts.in.the.forest.primevalcountry must have looked like when Evangeline crossed it in search of her true love. The region offers almost ev-erything a nature lover could de-sire, from streams to waterfalls, from caves to hiking trails, from bird-watching to canoe trips. For those seeking more adventure than watching water cascade over a rock terrace, the area also features zip-lining, guided photo shoots, light-aircraft tours, hot-air-balloon rides, and a wide vari-ety of festivals. But Nature itself is still the main attraction. A prime example is Ash Cave, the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi River. It’s not a cave that goes hundreds of feet underground, however. Instead, it’s a horseshoe-shaped, 700-foot indentation into a rock wall, large enough to hold symphonies, circuses, ballroom dances, rock bands, and volleyball competi-tions, should any of them choose to locate there. Even better, a 90-foot waterfall plummets over the upper edge of the cave and, as the sun’s rays filter their way through the tall trees, they bounce off the falling water to create abstract patterns on both rock and visitor. Hocking Hills is also a photo-graphic experience of the high-est order. While some of the wa-terfalls are hard to capture, even with today’s fancy cameras, oth-

ers are well-illuminated and eas-ily recorded. The streams are the primo tar-gets. The little rills are so tanta-lizing that photo bugs will utter repeated thanks to modern tech-nology for the invention of digi-tal cameras because the urge to shoot and shoot and shoot would amount to staggering processing fees if they were still using film.

and mixed habitat. Although the numbers of species spotted here are hard to pin down, locals claim they have spotted hundreds of them. That figure can rise into the thousands after a few rounds in one of the quaint little taverns sequestered in several of the re-gion’s small communities. For those who seek the unusu-al, Hocking Hills affords visits to a pencil-sharpener museum with its collection of more than 3,400 different plastic and metal point-makers on display in a small building at the Hocking Hills Re-

Ash.Cave.in.Hocking.Hill.State.Park.(Ohio),.is.the.largest.recess.cave.east.of.the.Mississippi. River..This. 700-foot. horseshoe-shaped. indentation. in. the. rock. wall.is.large.enough.to.hold.circuses.and.symphonies...........................–.Sam.Lowe.photo

Bird-watchers should find this place akin to Eden because the park includes aquatic habi-tats, heavily-forested lands, open grasslands and meadows,

gional Welcome Center in Logan. It’s free. Also in Logan, the only remain-ing washboard manufacturer in the nation continues the tradition of cranking out washboards just like they did back in Grandpa’s time. The small factory conducts daily tours for a fee, and provides information about the annual Washboard Music Festival that’s held every June. It’s the only one of its kind, not just in the US of A, but the entire world. For something a bit more far out, the residents of New Straits-ville sponsor and compete in the Moonshine Festival to honor their forebears who brewed up a few batches in Robinson’s Cave – an-other big one – during Prohibi-tion. It’s held on Memorial Day weekend. For those whose days as reck-less adventurers seem to have faded away due to aching knees and sore backs, zip-lining is a

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good way to reclaim some of that old spirit. Hocking Hills Canopy Tours gives us beyond-middle-agers a chance to get harnessed up and sail through the treetops on a steel cable. Canopy Tours was one of Discovery Channel’s picks for its 2011 list of “Ten Amazing Zipline Tours all Around the World.” The above-ground trip takes more than two hours and contains 10 different strapped-in plunges. Finding a place to stay in and around Hocking Hills is no prob-lem. Besides the usual hotels, mo-tels and bed-and-breakfasts, the area is stocked with more than 200 rental units of varying types. They range from simple two-room dwellings to some pretty ritzy lodges, including one that looks like a castle. For more information, visit 1800Hocking.com or phone 800-462-5464.

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HOCKING HILLSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

There is a good possibility that new Medicare cards will be creat-ed – although this will not be im-mediate. Legislation has passed the House of Representatives which directs the Department of Health and Human Services, the agency which houses Medicare, to develop a new Medicare ID num-ber. The impetus for this is the grow-ing incidence of identity theft, as the Medicare number, at present, is the same as an individual’s So-cial Security number. The legislation, H.R. 1509, the Medicare Identity Theft Protec-

New Medicare card tion Act of 2012, also requires that Medicare find a cost-effective way to do this, a challenging problem as there are more than 50 million Medicare beneficiaries on the rolls. In passing this bill, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee of the Way and Means Committee, noted that “this commonsense bill is a vital step in protecting our na-tion’s seniors from identify theft.” For this legislation to become effective, it must past the U.S. Senate. At present it is being con-sidered by that body’s Finance Committee. For further information, check the website for the House Ways and Means Committee at ways andmeans.house.gov.

–.Cheryl.M.Keyser

Do you have sewing skills? The Snohomish CTAs (Clothing and Textile Advisors) is calling for volunteers to sew flannel pa-jamas for young children who are brought to Safe Place prior to be-ing placed in Foster Care. The sewing party will be held Friday, February 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at McCollum Park, 600 128th St. S.E., Everett in the Evergreen classroom behind the WSU Exten-sion Office. The pajamas are cut out and ready to sew. Just bring your sew-ing machine and basic sewing tools. Volunteers should bring a brown bag lunch and beverage. For information contact Carla Peery at 206-595-9717.

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In several months the public will be excluded from the Monte Cristo area of eastern Snohom-ish County. If all goes according to current plan, that will con-tinue for two more years. Dur-ing this time, contractors for the U.S. Forest Service will work on public and private land to clean up hazardous waste materials left from mining, which occurred there from 1891 through 1897 and again from 1900 to 1907. Arsenic, lead, cadmium, mer-cury, and other elements contami-nated its water, air and soil. Al-though a century has elapsed to leach and dilute the strength of these naturally occurring pollut-ants, courts have ruled that re-moving and burying the remain-der is required. Construction of a new access road from the Darrington side of the Mountain Loop Highway below Barlow Pass began before snow fall in October and will re-sume with the spring melt. Once that is complete, heavy machinery will move in and the process be-

gins. For its first three miles, por-tions of the new route will affect the original 1890s wagon road, built up the Sauk River from the Skagit and on past Darrington to the mines. For its final two miles (from the top of Hap’s Hill), it will utilize the existing county road. As the town lies at the tip of a peninsula, one or more temporary large culverts will be placed for crossing Glacier Creek into the major work sites. Taken up before the fall rainy seasons, these will be removed permanently when the project is completed. Directly affected will be all the major mines which produced ore and several which did not but whose wastes from drilling (tail-ings) also either touch creek wa-ters or drain into them. Entranc-es will be permanently barred to keep out people and large ani-mals, but not bats. There is great concern that the rapidly spreading and lethal “white nose” fungus which is killing off much of the bat popu-lation in the East will continue its spread westward across the Mississippi River and eventually reach us. With few natural caves, man-made openings make for in-creased bat habitat. More obvious to the thousands

of summer visitors returning to the old town will be the destruc-tion of structures and other physi-cal remains associated with the processing, assaying and shipping of the ores. Roads and the surface tramway also will be dug up. A three-acre 25-foot-deep repos-itory hole will be filled with waste, capped and replanted. Its location next to the start of private prop-erty below the townsite will oblit-erate the only switchback on the railway grade.

COSTLY PROJECT The cost? Approximately $5.7 million. This includes monitor-ing by the Forest Service and the Washington State Department of Ecology for the next 30 years to ensure that the work was success-ful enough to meet federal and state standards. Fortunately for taxpayers, this bill will be paid by the last corpo-ration to operate the mines and the Everett smelter where the ores were processed. This was the American Smelting and Refining Company, better known by its ini-tials ASARCO. Unlike earlier owners, their goal was not to make money here but rather to shut everything down and eliminate that competition as they strove to establish a mo-

nopoly over North American gold, silver and copper processing. In turn, ASARCO now is owned by Grupo Mexico, the world’s third largest copper producer. The removal plans for Monte Cristo call for land restoration, an archaeological inventory, and the presence of an archaeologist as the work proceeds. However, there is serious con-cern among the heritage com-munity as to what will happen to artifacts. Nor is there money allo-cated for an interpretive plan, re-pair of Forest Service cabins left unattended for at least three win-ters and two summers, or actual interpretive signage. Suggestions are made, but they are conditioned by what Teddy Roosevelt called “weasel words.” “Consideration will be given – to the extent possible – where feasi-ble – may implement” rather than will implement, for example, are phrases which raise red flags in a legal document. Another unknown is the future status of the five-mile-long access road once the cleanup is over and both public and private landown-ers can return. The current gated county route is four miles. Plans to repair its flood damage were put on the back burner when the

A.major.change.is.coming.to.Monte.Cristo



possibility for constructing a new road away from the river were an-nounced. Will limited motor vehicle ac-cess be retained for land owners, volunteer workers, county search and rescue, fire responders and members of the public who cur-rently are able to rent a county key? Will handicapped access be possible if instead the new road is turned into a trail limited to hik-ers and bicyclists? The road issues will be decided by the Darrington District Ranger some time in the future. A closely related issue yet to be addressed is the probable need for a second clean up project a few miles downstream. Monte Cristo Lake lies some seven miles down the South Fork Sauk River. It is not a separate body of water, just a flat, swampy section where the current slows down and drops its sediments before resuming its swift course down to its junction with the North Fork at Bedal. For 120 years those heavy particles of hazardous materi-als washed and leached from the mines and concentrator have been settling out along the muddy banks next to the highway where hundreds of people camp and fish every season. Arsenic levels in the sediments tested four times high-er than at the townsite, 19 times higher in the surface water. For-tunately people normally do not drink out of rivers! How to tackle

this part of the problem will be in-teresting. In its brief life as a vibrant min-ing town, Monte Cristo attracted a variety of individuals. These ranged from millionaires to im-migrant workers, school teaching girls on their first job to experi-enced miners from Cornwall. Horace C. Henry of Seattle built the railroad and went on to found the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington and Firlands Tuberculosis Hospital. His son had died of that disease. Judge Edward Blewett bought and developed a Seattle neighbor-hood he named for his home town in Nebraska: “Fremont.” Another man, an immigrant German restaurant owner from Pioneer Square named Frederick Trump, gave up serving meals and other delights to his male cus-tomers and went into the real es-tate business selling Monte Cristo lots and mining claims. In 1896 he returned to his home village and came back with a bride. From here he went to the Klondike gold rush, again with a restaurant in mind. This time he moved back east to New York City, again into selling real estate. His grandson resembles his grandmother save for that strange hairdo. Donald Trump needs a better stylist. Will the cleanup leave us a place where we all can go to ab-sorb the spectacular Cascade Mountain scenery and help us tell the stories of the people past and present who lived there and con-tinue to cherish it? That remains to be seen.

Photo.courtesy.of.Forrest.Johanson

A.focal.point.of.the.hazardous.materials.cleanup.is.the.site.of.this.1890s.concen-trator.where.ores.initially.were.processed.

MONTE CRISTOCONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

By.Cynthia.NowowiejskiSenior.Services.of.Snohomish.County

This column has, over the years, featured typical questions from callers to the Senior Information and Assistance Program about a variety of topics. For example, we have answered questions about: Adult day care and respite programs Alzheimer’s disease and de-mentia Caregiver concerns (obtaining help or support) Employment programs Health organizations (cancer, diabetes, arthritis, parkinson’s, etc.) Health services and clinics Hospice and palliative care Housing In-home assistance (home care) Legal issues (finding an attor-ney, power of attorney, guardian-ship, elder law attorneys) Lifeline and personal emer-

Elder InfoHave a Question?We Have an Answer!

gency response systems Long term care facilities (re-tirement/assisted living commu-nities, adult family homes, skilled nursing facilities) Nutrition (meal programs, food assistance) Medical concerns (finding a physician, talking to your doctor) Multicultural services Mental health (depression screening, counseling) Senior centers (activities, ser-vices) Support groups (locating a support group) Transportation Veterans program Volunteer programs If you have a question or con-cern, we want to hear from you! Call our office at 425-513-1900 or 800-422-2024; send an e-mail to [email protected].; or send a let-ter to Senior I&A, 11627 Airport Rd., Suite B, Everett 98204-8714.

Have.a.question?.We.can.help!

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Senior Information and Assistance is the gateway to access services for older adults in Snohomish County. To speak with an I&A Specialist who will listen to your concerns, answer questions and explore options, phone 425-513-1900 or 800-422-2024.

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United Way of Snohomish County has opened six free tax preparation sites throughout Sno-homish County – Everett, Lynn-wood, Marysville and Monroe – to help working families and seniors prepare their tax returns. Last year, 2,511 families had their taxes prepared at a United Way tax preparation site, sav-ing an estimated $414,315 in tax preparation fees. The average re-fund was $1,700 which amounted to nearly $4.28 million in refunds (including $1.25 million in Earned Income Tax Credits). The sites will be open through April 15 and will be staffed by vol-unteer tax preparers. An appoint-ment is not required The service is available for households earn-

Q My income dropped way off when I retired early last

year and I’m wondering if I fall into the so called “47 percent” of Americans who won’t have to pay any income taxes for 2012. What can you tell me?

Curious SeniorDear Curious, The percentage of seniors, age 65 and older, who won’t have to pay income taxes this year is ac-tually around 56 percent accord-ing the Tax Policy Center. Here’s a breakdown of the 2012 filing re-quirements along with a few other tax tips to help you determine if you need to file.IRS requirements Whether or not you’ll need to file a federal income tax return this year will depend on your fil-ing status, your age, and your gross income. If your gross income falls below the IRS filing limits, you probably won’t have to file. Gross income includes all the income you receive that is not ex-empt from tax, not including So-cial Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately. You probably don’t have to file this year if:

2012 tax filing requirements You are single and your 2012 gross income was less than $9,750 ($11,200 if you’re 65 or older). You are married filing jointly and your gross income was under $19,500. If you or your spouse is 65 or older, the limit increases to $20,650. And if you’re both over 65, your in-come must be under $21,800 to not file. You are head of household and your gross income was below $12,500 ($13,950 if age 65 or old-er). You are married filing sepa-rately and your income was less than $3,800. You are a qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child and your gross income was less than $15,700 ($16,850 if age 65 or old-er).Special situations Be aware that there are some special financial situations that require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirement. For example, if you had net earn-

Dear Savvy Senior …

By.Jim.Miller

ings from self-employment in 2012 of $400 or more, or if you owe any special taxes to the IRS such as alternative minimum tax or IRA tax penalties, you’ll probably need to file. To figure this out, the IRS of-fers a resource on their website called Do I Need to File a Tax Re-turn? that asks a series of ques-tions which will help you deter-mine if you’re required to file or if you should file because you’re due a refund. You can access this page at irs.gov; search for Do I need to file a tax return, or you can get

21701 76th Ave. W., Suite 300Edmonds, WA 98026425.640.5500 www.chcsno.org

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help over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040.Tax aide If you do need to file a tax re-turn this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TCE pro-vides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low in-come taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 to locate a ser-vice near you. If you live in Snohomish Coun-ty, you can also contact Senior Services Information and Assis-tance at 425-513-1900 or 800-422-2024 for help locating a tax prepa-ration service. In addition, United Way of Snohomish County offers free tax preparation sites. See article on page 17. Also check with AARP, a par-ticipant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at nearly 6,000 sites nationwide. To locate a site call 888-227-7669 or visit aarp.org/findtaxhelp.

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 NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

United Way offers freetax preparation sites

ing $51,000 or less. Over the past six years, United Way volunteers have prepared 9,181 tax returns worth more than $15 million in refunds for Snohomish County working fami-lies. Locations include:Lynnwood

Cedar Valley Community School, 19200 56th Ave. W. Tues-days, Wednesdays* and Thurs-days, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Everett

Goodwill’s Job Training and Education Center, 228 S.W. Ev-erett Mall Way. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Sat-urdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. North Middle School, 2514 Rainier Ave. Tuesdays, Wednes-days* and Thursdays, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.South Everett Foursquare



Filing.taxes…

What you should bring No matter where you have your taxes completed, plan to bring the following documentation. Photo identification. Social security card or tax identification number and birth date for everyone on the return. All-tax related forms received such as W2s or other income state-ments, Social Security SSA-1099 form, Railroad Retirement form RB-1099, and other 1099 forms (dividends, interest, MSA or HSA distributions, broker or barter ex-changes, etc.). Documentation relating to any tax adjustments or credits you may be entitled to such as tuition statements, child and dependent care expenses, real estate taxes, car excise tax, mortgage inter-est, expenses for energy-efficient home improvements, and year-end statement from investment accounts. Last year’s tax return. Bank account number to re-ceive your refund via direct de-posit. If filing jointly, both spouses must be present to file electroni-cally.

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By.James.Gaffney

Dealing with cancer is difficult for everyone involved: the patient as well as his or her family and friends. As people live longer and face greater chances of developing the disease, it pays to understand the risks and benefits of treat-ment. “People are making life-and-death decisions that may affect their survival and they need to

know what they’re getting them-selves into,” said Dr. Angela Fagerlin, a University of Michi-gan Medical School internal-med-icine associate professor and U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center re-searcher. “Cancer treatments and tests can be serious. Patients need to know what kind of side effects they might experience as a result of the treatment they undergo.” She outlined 10 things health-care professionals can do to im-prove the way they communicate information about treatment risks. Patients can tap into these same practices to become fluent in the language of cancer care and better understand their options. Insist on plain language. If you don’t understand something your doctor says, ask him or her to explain it better. “Doctors don’t know when patients don’t under-stand them. They want patients to stop them and ask questions,” said Fagerlin. Focus on the absolute risk. The most important statistic to consider is the chance that some-thing will happen to you. “It’s im-portant that patients and doctors know how to communicate these numbers, and patients need to have the courage to ask their doc-tor to present it so they can under-stand,” she said. Visualize your risk. Instead of just thinking about numbers, try drawing 100 boxes and color-

ing in one box for each percent-age point of risk. So, if your risk of a side effect is 10 percent, you would color in 10 boxes. This kind of visual representa-tion, called a pictograph, can help you understand the meaning be-hind the numbers. Consider risk as a frequen-cy rather than as a percent-age. What does it mean to say 60 percent of men who have a radical prostatectomy will experience im-potence? Imagine a roomful of 100 people: 60 of them will have this side effect and 40 will not. Think-ing of risk in terms of groups of people can help make statistics easier to understand. Focus on the additional risk. You may be told the risk of a certain side effect occurring is seven percent. But if you didn’t take the drug, is there a chance you’d still experience that? Ask what the additional or in-cremental risk of a treatment is. “You want to make sure the risk number you’re being presented is the risk due to the treatment and not a risk you would face no mat-ter what,” Fagerlin said. The order of information matters. Studies have shown that the last thing you hear is most likely to stick. When making a treatment decision, don’t forget to consider all of the information and statistics you’ve learned.

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Write it down. You may be presented with a lot of informa-tion. At the end of the discussion, ask your doctor if a written sum-mary of the risks and benefits is available. Or ask your doctor to help you summarize all the infor-mation in writing. Don’t get hung up on aver-ages. Some studies have revealed that learning the average risk of a disease does not help patients make good decisions about what’s best for them. Your risk is what matters, not anyone else’s. Focus on the information that applies specifically to you. Less may be more. Don’t get overwhelmed by too much infor-mation. In some cases, there may be many different treatment op-tions but only a few may be rel-evant to you. Ask your doctor to narrow it down and discuss with you only the options and facts most relevant for you. Consider your risk over time. Your risk may change with time. “What seems like a small risk over the next year or two may look a lot larger when considered over your lifetime,” said study author Dr. Brian Zikmund-Fish-er, U-M School of Public Health health behavior and health edu-cation assistant professor. If you’re told the five-year risk of your cancer returning after a certain treatment, ask what the 10-year or 20-year risk is. In some cases, this data might not be available, but always be aware of the time frame involved.

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By.Saralee.Perel

After my spinal cord injury, I nearly gave up kayaking even though I could still use my arms. My husband, Bob, and I used to go so frequently that we planned our work schedules around the tides. We even bought wet suits so we could go all year long. (Though I have to add that in my wet suit, I look like the Michelin Tire Man with breasts.) Although I tried several years ago, I’ve been afraid to try again. But recently I forced myself. We took our two-person kayak to a launch near our home on Cape Cod. On the shore, with the kayak in the water, Bob held it steady while I tried to get in. I have no balance and my legs don’t work well. I was using my cane, but each time I put one foot in the boat, I started to fall. Finally I said, “I can’t do this.” Although I’ve never been a be-liever in angels, at that very mo-ment I met my first two: Carol and Barbara. As if she knew all about me, from my physical disabilities to my self-imposed emotional ones, Carol came right over and put her arms around my waist while Bar-bara said, “Don’t give up. You can do it.”

Helping hands aid my voyage “Put your foot here,” Carol said, guiding my left foot into the boat. Although my arms were shaking fiercely from grasping the sides of the kayak, that did not dis-courage these wondrous women. Literally come hell or high water, they were determined to get me into that boat. When I finally made it, I raised my paddle with both arms and shouted my victory cry: “YAY!” When Bob and I headed onward to the beautiful sea, I turned around to thank my angels. But they were gone, never to be seen by me again. I am writing this story in honor of Bob’s birthday. He’s of an age when it’s time for me to empha-size what matters the most. But I shouldn’t wait for a specific day to express myself, not only to my husband but to all my lifelines, most of whom don’t even know they hold that place in my heart. And many of whom are hopefully reading this story. We’ve always listened to record-ings of our favorite songs while we kayaked. On that glorious day on Cape Cod Bay, my gratitude was expressed in a song from “Dirty Dancing.”Now I’ve had the time of my life.And I’ve searched through every open door.

Saralee.Perel.relaxes.after.returning.from.a.kay-aking.trip

Till I found the truth.And I owe it all to you. To Bob, Barbara and Carol, and to all the helping hands in my life: I couldn’t have made so many life-affirming changes without you. And so, kayaking was fright-ening but vital for me to do. For your moments of deepest fears, I bet Barbara and Carol will be there in spirit behind you. I hope you’ll hear the echo of their words: “Don’t give up. You can do it.” I did. Happy Birthday, Bob.

Saralee Perel’s new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Sto-ries From a Life Out of Balance. She welcomes e-mails at [email protected] and friends on Facebook. Visit her at saraleeperel.com.

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Keeping stress levels in check is an important tool for overall health and wellness. Several stud-ies have shown that people who are constantly stressed are also more vulnerable to everything from colds to heart disease. Bernadette Latson, a registered dietitian and clinical nutritionist at the University of Texas South-western Medical Center, said the best way to address stress is to take a brief walk or stretch-break. Incorporating stress-fighting foods into your daily diet can also help, she said.

“A bowl of warm oatmeal will boost a calming brain chemical known as serotonin, while foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids will help keep the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in check.” Other stress-fighting foods she suggests are a glass of skim or low-fat milk before bed to help reduce tension and anxiety, and oranges, rich in vitamin C, to strengthen the immune system and reduce stress-hormone levels.

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By.Cassandra.Oshinnaiye

According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 20 million Americans (one out of eight baby boomers) are juggling taking care of an older parent while raising or supporting a child. In Washington State some 854,000 family care-givers make tremendous sacrific-es at home and in their careers to care for a loved one. Although the role of caregiver has many rewards, it can often be stressful. In a 2009 study, the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found that the average family member caring for an older relative spent almost 20 hours a week helping with such things as meal preparation, transportation and recordkeeping. Despite the challenges, most family caregivers want to support their older loved ones and find a balance with work and family life that is both fulfilling and produc-tive. If you’re struggling to balance it all, here are seven tips to help: Ease up on your expectations. This isn’t easy. Recognize you are human and you are doing the best you can. Take time to breathe. Make a plan. Most families don’t think about how they will manage caring for older parents until a crisis occurs. Start the con-versation early. Be sure you know how they want their medical care and finances managed if they are unable to manage them on their own. Review their important doc-uments with them. Include your children. From keeping grandparents company to mowing the lawn, kids of all ages can provide emotional or practical support if the situation is right. They will also learn important lessons in patience and what it means to be a family. Seek help. Don’t wait for peo-ple to offer help and don’t assume they know what type of help to of-fer. Reach out to your network of family members and friends and let them know you could use a hand with some specific tasks.

Know your options. There are professionals and community ser-vices that provide caregivers with information, resources and respite (a break from caring). Check out workplace support. Find out if your workplace offers assistance to working caregivers. Ask about company policies on flexible work schedules and fam-ily medical leave. Prioritize your own health and wellbeing. Tend to your own needs for exercise, sleep and healthy eating. Find ways to reduce the stress – whether it’s taking in a movie, walking with a friend or taking a long bath. Consider join-ing a support group or finding someone that you can talk with about your experiences. Life is a balancing act. Having the right information and support from others will help you find a little more equilibrium. You can gain valuable infor-mation to help both you and your loved one at aarp.org/caregiving.

Cassandra Oshinnaiye is manager of AARP’s Decide.Create.Share Cam-paign. She leads AARP’s educational and outreach efforts related to in-creasing awareness among women about long term care planning.

Seven tips for better life balance

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Cell phone recycling Domestic Violence Services is recycling cell phones which, even without service, can call 911 when charged. Some phones may be giv-en to victims of domestic violence to keep them safe. Older phones or those that are broken, missing chargers, etc. can be sent to recyclers that will pay

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from 50 cents to $20 per phone. Money received from recycling is used to fund programs offered free of charge to victims of domes-tic violence and their children. Phones may be dropped off at the New and Again Thrift Shoppe, 3116 Rucker Ave., Everett. Other locations can be found by visiting dvs-snoco.org or calling Stephanie Civey at 425-259-2827 ext. 13.


Meal Times All the Nutrition NewsYou Can Use

Barb Thomas is a Nutrition Assessor with Senior Services Nutrition Pro-gram. For information about Senior Nutrition, call 425-347-1229 or 800-824-2183.

By.Barb.ThomasSenior.Services.of.Snohomish.County

Senior Services will offer Liv-ing Well with Chronic Conditions Workshops throughout Snohom-ish County! These workshops, de-veloped by Stanford University’s Patient Education Department, are designed to help individuals who have chronic health condi-tions (such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, pain, arthritis, and hypertension) improve the quality of their lives. Participants learn how to de-velop healthy eating habits, ex-ercise safely, reduce stress and frustration, manage symptoms, set weekly goals, problem-solve effectively, improve communica-tion, relax, and handle difficult emotions. Stanford’s Living Well with Chronic Conditions workshop is a 2-1/2 hour class offered once a week for six weeks. Participants include people with various chron-ic health problems. The workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders who are living with chronic conditions themselves. Classes are highly interactive, where peer support and goal setting help participants

Take control of your health!build confidence in their ability to manage their health and main-tain active and fulfilling lives. The weekly sessions cover top-ics such as: Differences between acute and chronic conditions and strate-gies for managing symptoms. Dealing with difficult emo-tions, positive thinking, communi-cation and problem-solving skills. Pain and fatigue manage-ment, breathing exercises, guided imagery and muscle relaxation techniques. Healthy eating and physical and endurance activities. Managing medications, mak-ing informed treatment decisions and depression management. The program will not conflict with other programs or medi-cal treatment. It is designed to enhance regular treatment and disease-specific education such as cardiac rehabilitation or diabetes instruction. In addition, many people have more than one chronic condition. The program is especially helpful for these people, as it gives them the skills to coordinate all the things needed to manage their health, as well as to help them keep active in their lives.What are the benefits?

Studies show that individuals who participated in this program, when compared to those who did not, demonstrated significant im-provements in exercise, cognitive symptom management, commu-nication with physicians, self-reported general health, fatigue, disability, and social/role activity limitations. They also spent few-

Fri: Tossed salad, chicken ala king on baked potato, beets, fresh fruit.

MARCH MENU

MARCH 18 – 22MARCH 1

MARCH 11 – 15

MARCH 4 – 8

MARCH 25 – 29

Mon: Potato salad, hamburger on wheat bun w/lettuce & tomato, baked beans, tropical fruit.Tues: Pea salad, chicken primavera on penne, vegetable, applesauce.Weds: Cucumber salad, baked fish, winter squash, spinach, mixed fruit.Thurs: Asian slaw, sweet & sour chicken w/stir fry vegetables, brown rice, fresh seasonal fruit.Fri: Pork roast w/sweet & sour red cabbage, stuffing, green peas, fruited gelatin.

Mon: Tossed salad, swedish meat-balls on noodles, peas & carrots, fruit cocktail.Tues: Dilled cucumber salad, lemon pepper pollock, baked potato, stewed tomatoes, pineapple.Weds: Spinach salad, grilled turkey w/cheese sandwich, chips, fresh fruit.Thurs: Tossed salad, baked chicken thigh w/gravy, roasted sweet potato, succotash, pears.Fri: Tossed salad, salisbury steak, mashed potato w/gravy, dilled carrots, fresh fruit.

Mon: Tossed salad, chicken chili w/green onion & shredded cheese, torti-lla chips, pineapple, pudding.Tues: Carrot salad, french dip, sweet potato fries, fresh seasonal fruit.Weds: Tossed salad, macaroni & cheese, green beans, fresh fruit.Thurs: Beet salad, dijon chicken, orzo w/peas, fruit crisp.Fri: St. Patrick’s Day. Corned beef & cabbage, red potatoes, carrots, rye bread, apple duff.

Mon: Coleslaw vinaigrette, chicken skewer w/peanut sauce, barley rice, vegetable, mandarin oranges.Tues: Cranberry juice, french toast casserole, sweet potato, turkey sau-sage, fruit cup.Weds: Tossed salad, hearty lentil soup w/rustic bread, apricots, brownie.Thurs: Broccoli salad, turkey pot roast, mashed potato w/gravy, carrots, peaches.Fri: Tossed salad, baked ham w/raisin sauce, sweet potato casserole, fresh roasted zucchini, Easter dessert.

Fri: Beet salad, dijon chicken, orzo w/peas, peach crisp.

FEBRUARY MENU

FEBRUARY 18 – 22

FEBRUARY 1

FEBRUARY 11 – 15

FEBRUARY 4 – 8

FEBRUARY 25 – 28

Mon: Coleslaw, salmon burger on wheat bun w/lettuce & tomato, fiesta salad, apricots.Tues: Tossed salad, lasagna, vegeta-ble, applesauce.Weds: Chef’s ChoiceThurs: Taco salad w/beef, cheese & rancho beans on chips w/salsa & sour cream, mandarin oranges, flan.

Mon: Tossed salad, salisbury steak, mashed potato w/gravy, dilled carrots, fresh fruit..Tues: Cranberry juice, french toast casserole, sweet potato, turkey sau-sage, fruit cup.Weds: Tossed salad, hearty lentil soup w/rustic bread, apricots, brownie.

Mon: Tossed salad, swedish meat-balls on noodles, peas & carrots, fruit cocktail.Tues: Dilled cucumber salad, lemon pepper pollock, baked potato, stewed tomatoes, pineapple.Weds: Spinach salad, grilled turkey w/cheese sandwich, chips, fresh fruit.Thurs: Tossed salad, baked chicken thigh w/gravy, roasted sweet potato, succotash, pears.Fri: Chinese New Year. Asian slaw, mandarin chicken w/stir fry vegeta-bles, barley rice, fresh orange, fortune cookie.

Mon: Closed for Presidents’ Day.Tues: Fruit salad, chicken parmesan on spaghetti w/sauce, broccoli, garlic bread stick, sherbet.Weds: Tossed salad, beef stew w/veg-etables, fresh fruit.Thurs: Vegetable soup, hot seafood sandwich, fresh vegetables w/dip, pears.Fri: Tossed salad, meatloaf, mashed potato w/gravy, green beans, fresh fruit.

Thurs: Valentine’s Day. Spinach sal-ad w/walnuts & raspberry vinaigrette, cranberry chicken, rice pilaf, fresh roasted vegetables, dessert.Fri: Tossed salad, cheese pizza w/vegetables, fresh fruit, pudding.

The following workshops are scheduled for early 2013. Each class meets once a week for six weeks. The workshops are FREE and participants will be provided with the book Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions at no cost. Family members, friends and caregivers can also partici-pate. Space is limited and regis-tration is required. Snohomish Senior Center, Mondays, February 25 through April 1, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon. YMCA (Mill Creek), Mondays, March 4 through April 8, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. You do not have to be a member of the YMCA to attend this workshop. East County Senior Center (Monroe), Tuesdays, April 16 through May 21, 12:30-3 p.m. YMCA (Mill Creek), Thurs-days, July 11 through August 15, 6-8:30 p.m. You do not have to be a member of the YMCA to attend this workshop. If interested in attending a workshop, hosting a workshop, or

er days in the hospital, and had fewer outpatient visits. Many of these results continue for as long as three years. To learn more about the Wash-ington State Living Well with Chronic Conditions program visitlivingwell.doh.wa.gov. Also see article on page 21.

This salad has great flavor and texture, and is an excellent source of protein, fiber, iron and potas-sium. This salad is substantial enough to enjoy as a meal (497 calories), or choose a smaller por-tion and eat as a side salad.

Broccoli and Chickpeas Salad

4 cups broccoli florets1 15 oz. canned chickpeas5 scallions, sliced1/2 cup fresh parsley1/3 cup pine nuts, toastedDressing1 garlic clove, minced2 teaspoons Dijon mustard1 teaspoon honey1 tablespoon grated lemon zest1/4 cup lemon juice6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oilSalt and pepper to tasteSteam broccoli until just tender, 5-7 minutes. Once cool, chop broc-coli and combine with drained and rinsed chickpeas, scallions, pars-ley and toasted pine nuts. In a bowl, combine minced garlic clove, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon zest and lemon juice. Slowly add ex-tra-virgin olive oil while whisk-ing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle broccoli mixture with dressing. Refrigerate salad in airtight container for up to two days. Makes four servings.Nutrition Information: 497 calories; 31 grams of fat; 46 grams of carbohy-drates; 14 grams of protein, 13 grams of fiber.Courtesy of Whole Living Jan/Feb 2013

Workshopschedule

for more information, call Barb Thomas at 425-265-2283. Visit sssc.org to watch for fu-ture workshops.

Healthy eating


VolunteerConnections

If you have questions about RSVP, volunteering or any of the agencies you see listed, contact John McAlpine at 425-374-6374 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. RSVP, a program of Catholic Community Services, is located 1918 Everett Ave., Everett.

Senior Services was fortunate to receive a grant from the Pre-vention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). The PPHF, a key part of the Affordable Care Act (also referred to as ObamaCare), will allow Senior Services to continue providing the Living Well with Chronic Conditions program and expand it throughout Snohomish County. Nationally, the PPHF will be used to address factors that influ-ence the health of people living with chronic health conditions such as housing, education, trans-portation, and access to quality and affordable food. By concen-trating on these areas, the Afford-able Care Act helps move the na-tion from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention. The Affordable Care Act will provide the resources states and communities need to promote healthy living by addressing early disease detection, prevention and management. Some initiatives include a focus on preventative health services, reducing healthcare costs, behav-ioral health screening, chronic disease prevention, tobacco pre-vention, obesity prevention and fitness.

John.McAlpineRSVP.Program.Recruiter

RSVP exists to help volunteers 55+ find fulfillment in their vol-unteer work. We will match your lifetime of skills and experience to the organization of your choice. If the jobs listed are not close to where you live, call me. Maybe I can find the perfect opportunity for you. There is something to do in every city in the county. Sponsored by Catholic Commu-nity Services, RSVP is America’s largest volunteer network for per-sons over 55 and the only agency where the collective contribution of the senior volunteer is recorded. Each month, I focus on one of our volunteers or community part-ners to bring you a bit more news and information about them. This month, the RSVP spot-light shines on food banks. There are many in the county that can use your help. Here are just a few opportunities. They need people

who can pick up canned goods from grocery stores; lift, carry and move large bulk foods; sepa-rate and sort cans; assist with produce (when available); regis-ter and check in clients; and so much more. Call me today and get involved in helping people get enough to eat. This column lists only a few of the hundreds of opportunities available through RSVP in Sno-homish County.VOA Food Bank – Located in Everett on Broad-way and 13th, the VOA food bank serves as the hub for the Food Bank Coalition in Snohomish County. They need help with de-livery to homebound clients and can use people to sort and bag bulk foods.Snohomish Food Bank – Located on Ferguson Park Rd., the Snohomish Community Food Bank operates using more than 100 volunteers. They’d like you to join them especially with the pick up of food from local supporters

Start the new year with volunteering!such as grocery stores.Concern for Neighbors Food Bank – This Mountlake Terrace food bank serves the community and can use help with pick up and drop off of food from local grocery stores. You should be able to lift and carry at least 30 pounds.Red Barn Community Farm – The RBCF, a coalition effort of several community groups and agencies, seeks volunteers who

want some fresh air, exercise and the satisfaction of being part of the solution to the problem of hunger through their efforts. The RBCF supports the VOA and oth-er food banks by providing fresh, organic produce. There is always something that needs doing.

Grant allows for expansionof Living Well program

(LAST MODIFIED)December 14, 2012 12:09 PM

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Where areThey Now?

Jayne MeadowsBy.Marshall.J.Kaplan

The other half of one of televi-sion’s pioneers and sister to one of television’s most memorable housewives is in her 90s, still as glamorous as ever and still loves the spotlight. Jayne Meadows was born on September 27, 1920 in Wu-chang, Heilongjiang, China. Her parents were missionaries – her father be-ing a reverend. Meadows was one of four children. In the early 1930s, her fam-ily returned to the United States. Meadows had to learn English as she only spoke Chinese and other foreign languages. Being so fluent in languages, Meadows was not shy and developed the acting bug. By her early teens, Meadows began getting small roles on the New York stage. By the time she was 18, she appeared in seven Broadway shows, establishing herself as a fine comedienne. Hol-lywood came calling. In 1941, Meadows was under contract. The studio, however, did

not see her as a comedienne. They saw her as a dramatic actress and, in turn, she was cast in such films as Undercurrent (1946 with Katharine Hepburn, Robert Tay-lor and Robert Mitchum), Song of the Thin Man (1947 with William Powell and Myrna Loy), David and Bathsheba (1951 with Grego-ry Peck and Susan Hayward), and The Lady in the Lake (1947 with Robert Montgomery). As Meadows’ film career be-gan to fizzle in the late 1940s and early 1950s, she began appearing on television, where she met, fell in love with, and married televi-sion pioneer and legend, Steve Allen. The two were TV royalty, performing together on numerous shows. What was their partnership like? Says Meadows, “Steve was very quiet, even shy. I was the gre-garious one. We were not equally talented. Steve was the one who was enormously talented!”


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guest on TV shows and movies-of-the-week up to the mid-1990s – gaining a total of five Emmy nominations. She is also an author – writing books and newspaper columns. Her joy of life has been infectious. She resides in Encino, California in the same home that she and Al-len shared. Meadows is still glamorous and can be seen attending festivals and galas. Speaking of I’ve Got A Secret, is there any secret to life? “There is only one secret. Love what you are doing,” she says.

The couple remained married until Allen’s death in 2000. Coincidentally, her younger sister, Audrey Meadows, was also television royalty – as Alice Kram-den, opposite Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Kramden on the legendary sitcom, The Honeymooners. Besides her small screen part-nership with Allen, Meadows made a name for herself as a regu-lar panelist on top game shows of the day including I’ve Got A Secret and What’s My Line?. Although her husband is a TV legend, Meadows’ career is just as strong – appearing regularly as a

By.Bonnie.Gerken

Imagination is a wonderful thing. All fiction writers use their imagination to create a world with their stories and science fic-tion writers go a step further to create a future world. Fantasy fic-tion is not possible, but science fic-tion could become reality if we’re not careful. I must admit that sci-ence fiction is not my first choice in reading, but sometimes I like to try something new to stretch my mind. If you would like to join me, we can start with the pioneers of the genre – Mary Shelley (1797-1851), Jules Verne (1828-1905), and H.G. Wells (1866-1946). Or, give some of the masters from the ’50s and ’60s – Ben Bova, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ursula LeGuin, and An-dre Norton – a try. If you prefer some humor in your reading, Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series and Connie Willis’ books have a dry wit that can be laugh-out-loud funny.Left.Hand.of.Darknessby.Ursula.LeGuin

Genly Ai arrives alone on Geth-en, a planet of ice and snow, to in-vite the inhabitants to join the 83 habitable planets in the Ekumen trading union. For the Envoy, learning the culture of this alien and unique world has its difficul-

ties and dangers. There is dan-ger also for anyone who befriends him.Stranger.from.a.Strange.Landby.Robert.A..Heinlein

Valentine Michael Smith, a hu-man raised by Martians, is brought to Earth and becomes the center of a new religious movement. The book is an award winner, best seller, and a classic must-read. If you’ve ever wondered where the hippie philosophy came from, look no further. Reader alert: lan-guage, sexAcross.the.Universeby.Beth.Revis

Along with 100 others, Amy and her parents are cryogenically frozen for the 300-year journey to the planet that they will colonize. When Amy is thawed early, she must adapt to life aboard the gi-ant spaceship Godspeed and to a crew that has created a new soci-ety after being isolated in space for many generations.The.Coming.of.the.Terraphilesby.Michael.Moorcock

For all you anglophiles and BBC fans, Dr. Who has a new ad-venture. Being the last of the Time Lords, the Doctor travels through time and space to save the multi-verse from gravity gone awry, pi-rates, and antimatter by joining a team vying for the Silver Arrow of Artemis at the Terraphile Re-Enactment Tournament. For lots more suggestions, ex-plore the Novelist Plus database on your public library’s webpage by doing a subject search for “sci-ence fiction.”

The BookNookSettle In and Enjoy

What.the.future.may.bringScience fiction …

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Pet Tails…The ‘Paws-itive’ Approach

By.Laura.J..Boro,.CHES

If you can sew, take walks or just scratch a dog behind the ear, you can become an angel in the lives of shelter animals. Whew… the holidays are over! As we turn the corner into a bright new year, here’s a suggestion that will warm your heart and make a difference in the world. This year, why not resolve to reach out and bring a little joy to the lives of our furry friends at the animal shel-ter? Consider this. Every year, mil-lions of wonderful family pets end up, through no fault of their own, at a local shelter or rescue facil-ity. Typically the pet’s owner has died, or become ill, gone through a divorce, or lost his/her job. What-ever the reason, a bewildered dog or cat suddenly finds itself alone in a cage at the shelter. In my work as a dog trainer, I am often asked to calm panic-stricken rescue or shelter dogs and to help them get settled again in loving homes. I have seen the sense of fear, confusion and loss that shelter animals experience when they first find themselves locked up in a place so terribly foreign to them – and not under-standing the reasons why. But I have also seen what hap-

Calling All Heroes …

pens when a caring senior volun-teer shows up with a little bag of dog treats or a comfy new hand-sewn cat bed. Yes, shelter dogs and cats really DO recognize the smil-ing faces of lov-ing volunteers at their cages. They not only recognize you, they show their love and ap-preciation in the most touching and heart-warming ways. While we can’t always open our own homes to a shelter dog or cat, we can all do some-thing to ease the time they spend in shelters and rescues. Here are some simple ways you can make a huge difference this year:For cats, think cat beds or toys Cats love a soft, cozy place to lie, especially in a shelter. Com-fy cat beds are fast and easy to make. Simply lay out a piece of soft fleece material, add a layer or two of batting, secure the edges with several rows of stitching and a couple rows across the center, and you’re done! You can get together with friends and have a fun “cat bed sewing party” complete with snacks and beverages. Invite your grandkids to join you and deliver the finished cat beds to the shelter. P.S. Do you crochet? If so, you can crochet balls, squares, little mice or whatever, stuff them with

a bit of cotton, if needed, and take to the kitties at the shelter to help break up the monotony of their days.

A little something means ‘everything‘ to shelter animals

cal shelter or rescue to see if they have special needs or preferences. But we all know the most pre-cious gift you can give to a lonely animal is your time and your love. Make a resolution to give week-ly comfort and attention to an ani-mal in a shelter or rescue. Volun-teer as a dog walker at the shelter (great exercise and doesn’t cost a thing!), or just sit with a cat and play, pet or cuddle. Remember, when an animal has nothing, a little something means EVERYTHING. Written in loving memory of Cocoa.

Laura Boro, CHES, is owner/trainer of Good Dog Walkin’.

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For dogs, think toys, treats or walks

Most shelters discourage dog beds because dogs in “custody” will often shred the beds out of boredom. But there are other things you can do! The next time you celebrate a birthday or other occasion, for example, ask your guests to each bring a dog toy or yummy treat for the shelter. All sizes, shapes and flavors are usually welcome, but you can check first with your lo- Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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Ask Mr. ModemHelpful Advice for Computer Users

Mr. M’s DMESites of the Month

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By.Richard.Sherman

Q I’m using IE 9, though I don’t care for it that much.

When I open tabs for various websites, all the open tabs are squished together next to the address bar. Is there some way I can make room for the tabs to expand? Right-click in the area where your tabs normally open and place a check next to “Show tabs on a separate row.” Once you do this, all your tabs will open in the expansive space available under the address bar. If IE 9 is wearing a bit thin on you, you might want to consid-er Google Chrome (google.com/chrome) or Firefox (mozilla.com/firefox). Both are excellent brows-ers and worthy of consideration.

Q I would like to download Microsoft Security Essen-

tials, but I already use Norton, provided free by Comcast. Will this be a problem? Not for me and not for Comcast, but it could be a problem for your computer. I would not use both. If you’re happy with Norton, stick

with it. If at some point it no lon-ger brings joy to your life, that would be a good time to make the change. If you try to use both, there is a good chance each program will detect the various bits of embed-ded virus code in the other, so each program will think the other program is a virus. That can lead to false positive and false negative reports, which is not good. Very few anti-virus programs work well with other anti-virus programs so it’s best to let one protection rule the roost. Anti-spyware programs are better at socializing, so you can have multiple anti-spyware pro-grams installed on the same sys-tem without any problem.

Q Is there some way I can show more items on my

start menu than currently ap-pear? It seems like the icons for each program are taking up most of the room. Can I make the icons smaller? To shrink start menu icons in Vista and Windows 7, right-click a blank area of your taskbar and select Properties. Select the Start Menu tab from the window that appears and click the Customize button. Scroll down to the bottom and remove the check mark be-side “Use Large Icons,” then click OK > OK.

Q Using Windows Live Mail, how do I permanently

make my font larger? Click Tools > Options. (You may have to hold down the ALT key to display the Menu bar.) Go to the Compose tab and under Compose Font, click the Font Settings but-ton next to Mail. Choose the desired font size, style and color. Click OK to save your selections. If you change your default to a larger font, but you can still bare-ly see what you are typing, your

Unsquish Interner Explorer tabs reading font settings may be the culprit. Check the main Windows Live Mail screen under View > Text Size and adjust them accord-ingly.

Q I have been on Facebook for three years and I’m a

little embarrassed to ask this question, but how do I invite someone to become my friend? Log into your Facebook account, then choose “Invite Friends” from the Friends menu at the top of the page. You will have to provide some information at that point, but just follow what appears on screen and you shouldn’t have any problem.

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Ask Philosophers This site bridges the gap be-tween intellectuals and knuckle-dragging, monosyllabic, mouth-breathers like myself. Profound, headache-inducing topics are dis-cussed among visitors and a panel of esteemed philosophers. You are invited to submit your own philo-sophical query or browse the list of categories that includes every-thing from Art to Consciousness, to Truth, Justice and The Ameri-can Way. The site’s “Question of the Day” as I write this is, “What is nominalism?” I would have en-joyed participating in the discus-sion, but I was afraid my head was going to explode. Perhaps an-other time.askphilosophers.orgCameratown If you like to take pictures, Cameratown will teach you every-thing you want and need to know about digital photography, plus provide news, forums, tutorials, articles, access to camera manu-als and even software updates.cameratown.comRock, Paper, Scissors The New York Times created this application that demon-strates the concept of artificial intelligence by inviting you to play rock, paper, scissors against a computer. In the novice ver-sion, you will teach the computer

how to mimic human reactions by building up a database of moves that it will analyze statistically to plan its strategy to beat you. It requires a minimum of five games for the computer to start predict-ing what you will do. If you choose to play the veteran version, the computer will draw from a data-base of 200,000 moves in its ef-forts to defeat you. Trust me: It will defeat you.http://nyti.ms/bn8zB6

For more information about Mr. Mo-dem’s technology-tips eBooks and award-winning weekly computer-help newsletter, featuring his per-sonal answers to your questions by e-mail, visit MrModem.com.

–Senior.Wire©

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