Senior Times - December 2010

8/8/2019 Senior Times - December 2010

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MICHAEL SULLIVAN/The News-Review

DECEMBER 2010

of Douglas County

SeniorTIMESof Douglas County

SeniorTIMES

Tidings ofCHRISTMAS

Maria Schwindcreates 3-D

handmade cards


2/16

ByBILLDUNCANThe Senior Times

Ten years ago on Christmas, MariaRia Schwind of Winchesterreceived an unusual, handmadeChristmas card from her older sis-

ter, Riek, who was living in Holland. Hersister, a Catholic nun with the Franciscanorder, had created a one-of-a-kind reli-gious Christmas card.

It was the most beautiful card I hadever seen, said Maria, who prefers hernames shortened version, Ria. Sheinquired of her sister how the card wasmade.

By return mail, she received a kit withinstructions on how to make the card. Thekit was just that, a kit with instructions. Itwas far from the creation her sister hadsent. In fact, it was merely a sheet of paperwith colorful images. It was the artist inher sister and in Ria that would create thefinished product, a unique three-dimen-

sional card in which the image literallycomes alive.It brought forth the artistic imagination

of Ria, who for the past 10 years has creat-ed hundreds of these unique cards. Typi-cally, her Christmas cards have a religioustheme that reflects Rias Catholic faith. Forexample, a Nativity scene will have in thebackground a stable, with Mary andJoseph standing over a manger with thebaby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes.Depending on the depth of the card, theremay be animals around the manger as wellas the shepherds and the three wise men

the whole Magi in three dimensions.Or one of her cards may be as simple as

a delicately embroidered Madonna stand-ing over a manger. However, not all thecards Ria makes have religious themes,and some are made as everyday greetingcards that may have colorful floral designs,all in three-dimensions.

She still gets her kits directly from Hol-land, where her extended families still live.

Ria is one of 10children and isnumber seven inthe birth order andis the only siblingliving outside ofHolland.

She was bornand grew to adult-hood in Wassenaar,which is near the

Hague in theNetherlands.

The handmadecards are a popularcraft in Holland,she said.

However, whenshe receives a kit,it is only a sheet ofprinted paper. It isthe artistic handsof Ria, who usescuticle scissors to

deftly trim thoseprinted images intothe shape she willneed to create thecard masterpiece.She uses tools liketweezers, a longthin stick and atube of silicone tometiculously posi-tion the 3-Dimages.

You have to use imagination in build-ing the card, she said. The more you do

it, the better you become.Ria admits the hobby is so intense that,

I am totally out of this world when I amat work doing a card. I have burned quite afew dinners while lost in the reverie ofcard making, she said.

She said she cuts out the backgroundand glues it first to a blank card, thenpatiently builds the raised images step-by-step until the eye sees the image in three

dimension. It looks so lifelike it seems asif your eyes are playing a t rick on you.

It involves close, detail work, but it isfun, not a chore, despite its intensity, shesaid. It is a hobby with me, and I want toalways have fun doing it.

She sells her cards at craft fairs and thelike, but does not consider the art she putsinto the creation of the cards anythingmore than a hobby.

Ria came to America as a young womanin 1965. Back in Wassenaar, Holland, herfamily owned a beauty shop, where she

was trained as a beautician. Shehad that trade when she immi-grated to America and settled inCalifornia in a Dutch communi-ty. A picture of her was featuredin a Dutch/American publica-tion. Miles from where she lived,a young Dutchman saw her pic-ture and wrote a letter inDutch, of course to the girl inthe picture.

The young, single man wasRalph Schwind, who had immi-grated in 1959 to a Dutch settle-

ment in Bellflower, Calif. Thecorrespondence between the twoended in a full-blown romanceand marriage at St. BernardsCatholic Church in Bellflower.The couple lived in Californiauntil 1976, when they moved toRoseburg, where Ralph opened aFarmers Insurance agency.

The Schwinds have two chil-dren a son, Brian, who is withthe U.S. Forest Service in Salt

Lake City, and a daughter, Jennifer, wholives in Roseburg and is the mother of the

Schwinds two grandsons.Each time Ria builds a card, she says she

is vicariously transported in her mind backto her native Holland. To the recipient ofthe card, it is like being transported insidethe scene Ria has created.

Bill Duncan is the editor of The SeniorTimes.

Page 2The News-Review, Senior Times Roseburg Oregon, Monday, December 6, 2010


Maria Schwind of Winchester works on a 3-D card at her home recently.


Schwind designs and assembles by hand a variety of Christmas cards.

Tidings ofCHRISTMAS

Maria Schwind

creates 3-D

handmade cards


3/16

Monday, December 6, 2010The News-Review, Senior Times Roseburg, Oregon, Page 3

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Published byThe News-Review

345 N.E. Winchester St.

Roseburg, Oregon 97470Phone: 541-672-3321

Senior Times Editor:Bill Duncan

Design Editor:Julie K. Byrd-JenkinsNews-Review Editor:

Vicki MenardAdvertising Director:

Pat Bridges

All contents copyrightedand may not be reproduced

without consent of The News-Review. The Senior Times

appears the first Monday of eachmonth.

E-mail correspondenceregarding this publication may

be sent [email protected].

Senior Times

Dear Reader,

The nice thing about getting olderis that because Ive been paying

attention, I understand my body and how itreacts whensomethingtraumatichappens inmy life. Overthe yearsIve spent alot of timereplaying sit-uations in my

mind, tryingmy best tounderstandthe hows andwhys. How could I have prevented thisthing? What could I have done differently?Sometimes, nothing. Sometimes life justhappens and the because is forever amystery.

But one thing I have learned is thatwhen Im in the midst of a crisis, I cankeep my wits about me pretty darn good. Idont fall apart. I may not be quite as stur-dy as I used to be, but since Ive always

been way above average in a crisis, no one

notices except me.But after the crisis, when everyone else

is feeling better and returning to the thingsthey used to do in their lives, Im justbeginning to pick up the pieces ofSuzanne.

The damage from the house fire myfamily experienced has been repaired.Theyre settled back into their home andare welcoming a familiar daily routine, andit fills my heart with joy. My goal was toget them back home as quickly as possibleand that when they returned, even thoughthe surroundings might be different, they

would feel the love my husband and I putinto fixing up their home.

The crisis is over and from past experi-ence, I realize that now its time for me tolet down. To put myself first, to be kind tomyself. To let myself fall apart in my ownway. If after my work is done I want to liein bed and watch Frasier reruns, or eatdinner in bed, or pretty much spend all ofmy free time in bed, or sit on the lanai inmy pajamas, Ive earned it.

Its funny, how most of the time, inorder to carve out whatever time for

myself, I feel the need to qualify that I ve

earned the right to give myself whatever I

need especially if it makes me appearlazy to other people. I recognize this kindof crazy thinking because Ive been payingattention. Ive been here before. This kindof thinking is part of the recovery after acrisis in my life.

In the midst of the fire I was strong.Now, after the fire, it may take me longerto recover than it used to, but maybe thatsa good thing. Sit with what happened,think about it, feel how its changed mylife, learn from it, grieve. Theres some-thing to be learned from every experiencegood and bad, and if I miss the opportunityto sit a spell with the experience, it will allhave been in vain.

Thanks for reading with me. Its so goodto read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher provides the onlinebook club for the Douglas Country Librarysystem. To learn more about the differentgenres offered through the book club, con-tact [email protected] or

your nearest library. The book club issponsored by The Senior Times in cooper-ation with The Friends of the Library.

Quiet time essential inrecovery from lifes challenges

Suzanne

Beecher

Commentary


5/16


6/16


7/16

By BETTE DICKOVERFor The Senior Times

When I was in the fourth grade,Wednesday was Banking Day.The students were encouraged to

save their pennies, the occasional nickeland the scarce dime.

Clifford, a neatly dressed boy who woreglasses and had a ruddy complexion, was

chosen to be the banker. Clifford knew theessentials of making deposits as his fatherwas the president of the small local bank.He was glad to see the children take aninterest in saving money so his bank sup-plied the bankbooks, receipts and otheritems needed for the weekly banking day.

The students who had brought coins todeposit went to Cliffords desk. Cliffordcounted the coins and wrote the amount inthe students bankbook and also wrote outtwo receipts, one for the student and one togo in the canvas bag with the coins.

When bank day was over, Clifford hadput the coins deposited with him in the

canvas bag. He took the bag home withhim and gave it to his father for the bankdeposit.

When school ended in June we wereallowed to take the money we had savedout of the account. The bank had addedtwo cents interest.

I had saved $3.25. With that amount, Ipurchased my summer bathing suit.

Learning to save this way stayed with

me all my life, so I have always had a littlestash to buy something I needed.When my grandson, Reid, graduated

from college and got his first job with acomputer company, I told him about sav-ing, suggesting that he save some fromeach paycheck, even if it was only $5. Hetook this to heart and when he married, hehad saved enough money to make a downpayment on a home.

Reid told me that my talk about savingtaught him a great lesson and that now heencourages his daughters to save.

Bette Dickover lives in Canyonville.

Monday, December 6, 2010The News-Review, Senior Times Roseburg Oregon, Page 15

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Did you know that Elvis was dia-betic? How about Mae West,Menachem Begin, or Howard

Hughes?

Indeed theyall were,according toThe NewYork Histor-ical Society,which cur-rently isfeaturingan exhibiton the dis-covery of insulin.

Then theres Larry King, Justice SoniaSotomayor, and Andrew Lloyd Webber,James Cagney, Thomas Edison, AnwarSadat, Elizabeth Taylor and Arthur Ashe.The exhibits photo walls do well to illus-trate the point that fame and celebrity donot buy a pass from diabetes.

Diabetes affects how our bodies changethe food we eat into the fuel our cellsneed for growth and energy. To do this,we need insulin, a hormone manufactured

in specialized cells in the pancreas. Indiabetes, either the pancreas produces noinsulin, not enough insulin, or our cellsdo not respond properly to it. This results

in glucose (blood sugar) buildup in thebloodstream, where it goes on to createboth short-term and long-term dire conse-quences.

The Societys presentation calls insulinthe first miracle drug because its dis-covery in 1921 (a few years before peni-cillin) and subsequent successful manu-facturing and distribution turned a sure-fire and rapidly fatal childhood illnessinto a chronic manageable malady thatafforded a more or less normal life span.

The exhibit emphasizes another firstof insulin therapy: the transfer of respon-sibility of disease management from doc-tor to patient. Back in the 1920s, the con-cept of patients checking their own glu-cose levels, calculating the amount ofinsulin needed, and then administeringthe correct treatment, represented a star-tling shift of power in the doctor/patientrelationship.

But for all good news about diabetes

treatment post-1921 and the amazing dis-play of the latest technological advancesin both glucose level testing and insulinadministration, the exhibit made clear

that this is a battle we have not won. Infact, it is one we are definitely losing.

Today, approximately one in 10 Ameri-cans has diabetes. By 2050, that numberis expected to be one in three.

Consider this. People who have diabet-ics are:

Twice as likely to have heart diseaseor suffer a stroke and are at increased riskfor kidney failure

More likely to develop nerve damagethat can affect every organ system,including the reproductive one

At increased risk for blindness. Dia-betic retinopathy causes most of the casesof adult blindness in the United States

15 to 40 times more likely to requirelower-limb amputation compared to thegeneral population

More likely to suffer an impairedability to heal from even the most minorwound or infection.

In addition to those 20 million already

diagnosed diabetics in the United States,there are 50 million or so pre-diabetics,meaning their blood sugar is higher thannormal but not high enough to be classi-

fied as diabetic. Studies have shown thatpre-diabetics have a 40 percent chance ofdeveloping true diabetes within 10 years.

But the good news is that smallchanges can greatly reduce the odds ofthis happening. Walking 30 to 40 min-utes a day and losing as little as 5 to 7percent of your weight can lower the riskof developing diabetes by greater thanhalf.

If your doctor hasnt already talked toyou about your particular risk factors fordeveloping diabetes (age, race, and fami-

ly history are part of the picture as well),and what steps you can take to avoid thisravaging disease, take the lead and ask.

Gloria May is a registered nurse with amasters degree in health education and aCertified Health Education Specialistdesignation.

Exhibit explores history of diabetes, raises concern for prevention

Gloria MayNurse News

Teach the concept of savingto your grandchildren

Even if its a little thing, do something for those whohave need of help, something for which you get no pay

but the privilege of doing it. ALBERT SCHWEITZER

HOLIDAY EVENTSWINCHESTER

GrammyAward-winningduo to perform Dec. 18

Grammy Award-winnig musicians EricTingstad and Nancy Rumbel return toRoseburg for a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m.Dec. 18 at Jacoby Auditorium, UmpquaCommunity College, 1140 Umpqua Col-lege Road.

The two blend Americana fingerstyleguitar with double reeds and ocarina to cel-

ebrate the holiday season. they will bejoined by the Umpqua Chamber Orchestraand the Umpqua Singers under the direc-tion of Jason Healdr, UCCs director ofmusic.

Tickets are available atwww.tickets.umpqua.edu, by calling 541-

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All things alpacafeatured at boutique

Alpaca-related items will be featured atFlying W Alpacas Christmas boutique

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8/16


I cant imagine my cataract surgerybeing any better.

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After I get my other eye done,

my vision should be better

than 20/20.

I was a little nervous about

my surgery, but Dr. Westons

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and knowledgeable, thatthey just set my mind

completely at ease.

Veterans like me, and our

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as skilled as Dr. Weston.

Walter Lencki, Roseburg


9/16

Monday, December 6, 2010The News-Review, Senior Times Roseburg, Oregon, Page 5

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Thiswas anexcit-

ing book forEmily Led-betterskindergartenclass at Look-ingglass Ele-mentarySchool. Thechildren satin a circle at my feet so they could see all

the pictures clearly. The beautiful pagesheld the childrens attention with theirbright colors as I read the story of TheChanging Colors of Amos.

Amos is an amazing little leprechaunwho changes colors every new day of theweek, not one of them green. But his Sun-day colors are a mystery. Sundays colorsare always found first in his dreams. InAmos world, dreams often do come true.

As Amos explores the colorful delightsof each day. I had the children take turns tofind him along his way. I asked them whythey liked the book and everyone wanted

to answer at the same time. They were sointerested that I read the story once more.

Mrs. Ledbetter found the book to be oneshe wanted to add to her book collection.

It was a great hour in theclass, and when I left Mrs.Ledbetter had the studentswriting in their journal allabout the book.

The author, John Kiny-on, resides in Arkansaswith his wife, Cheryl. Johnshares his love of reading,writing and storytellingwith the children he teach-es.

Kay Selvig Flanders, the

illustrator, lives in south-eastern Iowa with her hus-band, Mark. Kay is a pro-fessional artist.

This would make anexcellent gift book for achild this Christmas.

Della Neavoll of Look-ingglass is a childrens

book author whose column is on new chil-drens books. She test reads each book at a

Douglas County school.

Colorful story has childrensimaginations going wild

Della NeavollReading Grandma

The Changing Colors of AmosBy John Kinyon

Cherished PublicationsHardbound $14.95

RealAge Health Features

Here we go. Its that time of yearagain, when our pants mysteriously startgetting tighter. But theres a winter veg-etable that can help halt an expandingwaistline. Were talking winter squash.Research shows that getting more veg-etable fiber into the diet could help pre-vent an expanding waist. It may evenhelp people drop a few pounds. So goahead eat up.

Be it butternut, acorn, or delicata,winter squash has a lot going for itnutritionally, writes Jonny Bowden inhis book The 150 Healthiest Foods onEarth. Squash is high not only in fiber about 6 grams of f iber per cup ofmash but also in water. That meansyou can eat lots and feel full withoutgoing overboard on calories. Just holdthe butter and brown sugar, of course.

Whole grains are another good sourceof weight-controlling fiber. So why notmake it a two-for-one by combiningroasted squash with a toasty high-fiber

grain like bulgur or quinoa.

Winter squashcan help

control winter

weight gain


10/16


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There are defining moments in every-ones life. The terrible twos, sweet16, becoming old enough to vote or

drink. It usedto be all down-hill after age30, headinginto a midlifecrisis by 40and receivingsenior dis-counts at 55.But I mustsay, the mostdefiningmoment of my life came when I was askedto change my Wii characters hair to gray.

Surrounded by friends, I was told Icould no longer play with my current char-acter. It didnt reflect the true me theone with gray hair. They, of course, haddonned the elder look a long time ago. Andas usual, I was bringing up the rear.

Wii (pronounced we, not why) is avideo game console created by Nintendoin 2006. This seventh-generation Nintendohas a more diverse demographic than, say,the Play Station by Sony. It appeals to dif-ferent age groups and the games aredesigned to reflect that interest. The mostdistinguishing feature is the wireless con-

troller, called the Wii remote. Used as ahand-held pointing device, it can detectmovement in three dimensions. A greatfeature for playing my personal favorite,Frisbee golf.

Unlike traditional hand-held type gamecontrollers, where the most exercise youget is literally twiddling your thumbs, theWii has sensors that allow players to feeland react as they would if they were actu-ally playing the game. The physical exer-tion is the same and many players com-plain of aching backs, sore shoulders andthe Wii elbow as they discover theirlevel of physical unfitness.

Although the research speaks volumeson the benefits of exercise for the elder

generation, it is often tough to make thosecreaky bones excited about working up asweat. Many seniors once active in sportshave found that they are slowing downfrom arthritis hip and joint pain and forcedinto a more sedentary lifestyle. Physicaltherapists are finding new ways to bringfun back into physical therapy and getmore seniors out of their chairs and backinto the game.

Getting people back on their feet, theWii offers a range of motion exercisesserved with a spoonful of sugar. Its fun!Moving arms and legs, depending on the

game being played, has brought new life toseniors through exercise. No more boring,tedious workouts that often become moti-vation killers. Going nowhere in a hurryon an exercise bike or treadmill may getthe heart pumping but it leaves the sensesless than stimulated. The Nintendo Wii hasgrabbed the attention of an unexpectedaudience.

The motion-sensitive controller and theinteractive graphics are creating new waysfor seniors to become more physicallyactive, increase their range of motion,improve balance and even offer socialinteraction. With a variety of games suchas golf, baseball, boxing, yoga, bowlingand tennis, seniors can find challenging,

fun ways to stay fit. Frisbee golf plays on avirtual golf green. The player must adjustto each hole to contend with weather andgeographic conditions. Holding the remoteand learning to toss with the wrist insteadof the whole body can be a bit unsettling atfirst. Practice sessions are set up as part ofthe game, which help players to learn bet-ter control of their movements. A strapattached to the remote keeps it securelyfastened to the wrist, thereby avoidingflinging the remote into the televisionscreen, once a very common accidentamong over exuberant players.

Wii games are rapidly becoming part ofphysical fitness programs in senior com-munity centers around the nation. Medicalexperts are taking note of these programs.University of Maryland geriatric physicianBill Thomas posted a fun Wii bowlingvideo on his blog, Changingaging. Thegame console sits alongside weight bench-es and treadmills in senior rehabilitationfacilities. Wiihabilitation refers to rehabtherapy for patients to recovering fromstrokes, broken bones and combat injuries.Because it helps stroke patients to regaineye-hand coordination and the ability towalk, the Wii has found a new home in thesenior community. In other words, Ninten-do is not just a kids video game anymore.

Hopefully as Santa checks his list to seeif youve been naughty or nice, he maydecide that you and your grandchildrenneed to stay fit together. The family thatplays together stays together. Just remem-ber to assign your character the correcthair color. Or better yet, why not play asyoung as you feel. Thats what a wisegrandma would do.

Eularee Smith is the grandmother of sixand is executive director of UpStart Crowtheater, a youth theater in Eugene. She can

be reached at [email protected].

Wii puts the whee! back in exercise with fun games

Eularee SmithWise Grandma


11/16

GLORIAJOHNSON

For The Senior Times

Whether traveling or staying close

to home I am well-known for myattraction to trying out newthings, even if they are out of my comfortzone.

I figure life is getting shorter all thetime. I consider myself a well-rounded,interesting person always looking forwardto an opportunity for a new experience.

Nathaniel, my son-in-law is enchantedwith guns. The whole idea of guns is for-eign to me. I have lived these many yearshaving never held a gun, let alone shootingone. But I also like having companionablerelationships with my sons-in-law.

When visiting Phoenix, Ariz., my son-in-law Danny, being an internet marketingguru, has taught me way more than mymind can comprehend on the subject ofsocial networking. In Salt Lake City, son-in-law Marc has shown me the fine tech-nique of washing a 100-pound yellowLabrador retriever and the secrets of manya sumptuous delight prepared in hiskitchen.

So on a recent visit toVirginia, I eagerlyagreed to go to a shooting range withNathaniel. Prior to departure, Nathanielpresented me with a brand new khaki-col-

ored tactical vest with pockets sized to fitmagazines for the M4 assault rifle. Arriv-ing at the Blue Ridge Arsenal Range andGun Shop, the macho-looking guys at theservice desk looked at Nathaniel question-ingly, as if to say, What are you doinghere with this funny little old lady? asthey outfitted us in safety glasses and earcovers.

Slung across my chest on a three-pointharness was a heavy beast of a weapon Nathaniels Remington 870 Express Tacti-cal shotgun with extended magazine, ghostring sights, Picatinny rail, Knoxx stock

with pistol grip, and a door-breachingchoke. This is a weapon designed to lead aSWAT teams charge, clearing rooms ofkidnappers or terrorists. It would do a fine

job of eliminating todays paper targets.This is probably not the gun that a

beginner should use for her first experi-

ence shooting, but it was Nathaniels pride

and joy and I am always up for a chal-lenge. Thirty seconds after entering theshooting range, a thunderous report echoedfrom the stall next to ours. I lurched at theshock, I was sure I had been hit. I had noidea a real gunshot was so loud. Were myear covers defective, I wondered?

I invited Nathaniel to take his weaponand give me a demonstration. All the whileI am trying to think of a good excuse whyI wouldnt be shooting. Nathaniel is acrack shot, never missing the bulls eye onthe paper target.

All too soon he insisted it was my turn.

Quaking in my boots, I shouldered the gunand pumped the forend as instructed.Nathaniel corrected my posture slightlyand stepped back. I clicked off the safetyand stared down the sights at the torso out-line on the target seven yards away.

The blast reverberated through the air,

sending a shockwave so powerful I could

feel it compressing my chest. Nine lead

balls flew from the shotguns muzzleand tore a ragged hole in the target, highand to the left, hitting the open spacebetween head and shoulder.

Nathaniel and I took turns shootin. Iurged him to shoot more often than me,since my form was rapidly deteriorating.Just holding the gun eight pounds ofmilled steel was becoming difficultas my arms shook in exhaustion, or per-haps, it was sheer terror.

When I finally confessed to Nathanielthat just before I squeezed the trigger Iwould close my eyes, he politelyrelieved me of my shooting responsibili-ties. I am sure he was thinking that ourshooting range expense account wasbetter spent with him doing the honors.

That was fine with me.Nathaniel hasnt given up on me,

though. Before we left the arsenal shophe showed me the pistol he planned topurchase next and told me he would behappy to bring me back to the range onmy next visit to Virginia. I am thinking Iwould probably prefer going out for icecream, but I would never confess that tohim.

Gloria Johnson is director of UmpquaBank Club Carefree, a club that travels

worldwide. She can be reached at gloria-

[email protected].

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We are in the middle of the holidayseason and we all know what thatmeans: large holiday meals, more

sweets, and for some people, more alcoholconsumption.All of these fac-tors can add upto more poundson a personswaistline.

Even forfolks who fallinto the nor-mal weightcategory, thismeans an aver-age weightgain of 1 1/2pounds. For the overweight or obese per-son (and six out of 10 adults fall into thiscategory) the holidays create an averagefive-pound weight gain. That doesntsound like much, but the problem is that ayear later that weight is still with us.

So, rather than focusing on losingweight during this holiday season, besmart and focus on maintaining your cur-rent weight. Holidays are for celebrations,not punishment. Not eating is a punish-ment. So try eating in moderation, enjoy-ing each and every bite.

Here are some suggestions to get youthrough the next few weeks:

Eat breakfast. Having breakfast sets

you up for great energy all day, and keepsyou from overeating later in the day.

After having breakfast, be sure to feedyourself every three to five hours through-out the day. You can always have light

meals in anticipation of a holiday feast.Just be sure that you dont skip meals.Skipping meals is a sure-fire way to setyourself up for overeating later.

Dont show up at a holiday event starv-ing. Being over-hungry leads to overeat-ing. So, have a small snack before youhead out for the party. A small bowl ofcereal with milk, a piece of fruit (notcandy) or a small half sandwich is all youneed to stave off hunger and keep you incontrol of your food choices.

Think small. Choose a small plate atthe buffet table, ask for a small glass of

holiday cheer, and always order small.

When you fill your plate,make sure half your plate isfull of veggies and fruit,one quarter of the plate hasprotein, and the other quar-ter with starch. So, a holi-

day plate would have half aplate of green beans, salad,and fruit salad; one quarterwith sliced turkey, and onequarter with stuffing ormashed potatoes. Andremember to keep yourselfto one plate to saveroom for dessert.

Heres a great side dishfor the holidays. This dishtakes an hour to roast, butthe results are well work it.The roasted apples and

onions go great with anytype of pork (pork tender-loin or pork loin are theleanest choices) or roastturkey. Enjoy!

Nancy Goodale Graham isa registered dietitian at Car-diovascular Wellness and

Rehabilitation at Sacred HeartRiverBend in Springfield. Shewas formerly the coordinatorand dietitian at Mercy MedicalCenters Cardiac Rehab and

Club Mercy.

Focus on maintaining weight during the holiday seasonRoasted Apples and Onions

Glaze:4 cups apple cider or juice5 tablespoons butter (plus coarse salt if using unsalted butter)6 (7 to 8 ounces each) onions, peeled,halved through root end,

and each half cut into 6 wedges6 Braeburn apples (about 2-1/4 pounds),unpeeled, cored andcut into 8 wedges

6 teaspoons coarsely chopped fresh thyme, dividedCoarse salt and pepper (to taste)Earlier in the day:Boil cider in large saucepan until reduced to 2/3 cup; this takes

about 45 minutes.Whisk in butter. Season glaze with salt (option-al)

Set aside.To roast the apples and onions:Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven;

preheat to 425 degrees.Spray 2 large rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray; set

aside.In a large bowl toss onions with 2 teaspoons thyme and 3 table-

spoons glaze.Arrange in single layer on 1 sheet.Then,in the same bowl,toss apples with 2 teaspoons thyme and

3 tablespoons glaze. Arrange in single layer on the second bakingsheet.Sprinkle onion and apples with coarse salt and pepper.

Roast onions on upper oven rack 10 minutes.After the onionshave roasted for 10 minutes,then place apples on bottom rack.Roast onions and apples another 20 minutes. Remove both sheetsfrom oven.Drizzle remaining glaze evenly over onions and apples.Reverse position of sheets put the apples on the top rack andthe onions on the bottom rack.Roast 20 minutes longer.

Increase oven temperature to 475 degrees. Roast onions andapples until tender and slightly caramelized, watching closely toprevent burning,about 10 minutes.Transfer onions and apples tolarge bowl.Sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons thyme.

Makes enough to serve 10 as a side dish

Stock photo

Braeburn apples are delicious for thisrecipe to accompany pork or turkey.

NancyGoodale-Graham

Nutrition


13/16


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December is the month we tradition-

ally think of giving and receivinggifts.Two price-less presentsare those oftime and car-ing. Bothcame to meearly thisyear with thefollowing e-mail mes-sage:

Hi Grand-

ma, I was just thinking about family histo-ry, and over the past month I have realizedhow little I know or remember about thelives of even my parents and grandparents.When would be a good time to have ashort interview with you to ask a few ques-tions about your life? Family history isawesome and I am trying to squeeze it intomy schedule when I can. I love you Grand-ma, Paul.

A follow-up Sunday afternoon phonecall yielded an interesting time of sharing,reminiscing and revealing the past. Paul

was organized in presenting his questions.

What were you like as a little girl? was a

good opening.Paul, married last summer, is a senior incollege. After many years of my genealog-ical pursuits, the search is now beingturned toward me as an ancestor. Hmm,that causes me to pause and reflect. I ampleased but a bit amazed. Pleased becausehe wants to know about his parents andgrandparents, amazed that he no doubtrealizes at a young age that the best oppor-tunities to learn about our ancestors iswhile they are still alive.

This reminds me that I need to completewriting my life story. I would rather write

an autobiography than have a biographywritten by those who may not know myhistory as I do, even if it is my posterity.

I am so grateful for my fathers lifestory. It is a gift that gives each time I readit. One Christmas I gave my mother ablank life story book to fill for me. WhenMom died I found that her book was stillblank. I realized too late that I should havetaken the time to ask her questions andwrite them down as my grandson is doingwith me.

About two years ago one of my great-

granddaughters was given a project in

school regarding her ancestry. We had a

number of good talks and she had goodquestions. It was interesting to see the per-spective she gained through our exchange.Rachel received a good grade on her proj-ect, but the bonding between us was thebest reward for her efforts.

I recently mentioned to my husband thatsome of my grandchildren do not remem-ber me without gray hair. That young, busymother of four is not part of their frame ofreference. How wise for them to want toknow more.

As grandparents we also need to take aninterest in them. What do we really know

about our grandchildren? The photo booksI have completed for several of my grand-children have made us closer. There are somany ways to show our love. A strongerposterity is a gift to us just as our exampleis a gift to them.

Time and caring are two wonderful giftsfor any season of the year but for Christ-mastime especially. That is when ourhearts go home to our family past andpresent.

Beverly Wellington is director of the

Family History Center in Roseburg.

Exploring family history is a great giftfor giver as well as receiver

BeverlyWellintgonFamily Tree

Diabetes educator toprovide instruction

A certified diabetes educator and a regis-tered dietitian will provide personalinstruction for patients and their familiesthrough Mercy Community EducationCenter. The instruction is by appointmentonly. Call 541-677 2102 for more informa-tion. The Mercy Community EducationCenter is located at 2459 Stewart Parkway,Roseburg.

On Dec. 7 there will be a program calledLiving Well with Diabetes at 1 p.m. atMercy Community Education Center(Room No. 1), 2459 Stewart Parkway,Roseburg. This program continues eachmonth on the fi rst Tuesday.

Information: 541-677-2102.

Blood pressurescreenings provided

The Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary

provides free blood pressure screenings on

the following days, times and locations:. Tuesdays 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,

Roseburg Valley Mall. Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.,

YMCA. Thursdays 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,

Wal-Mart. Information: 541-677 4464.

SENIORSHORTS


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Ihave been singularly lucky in the in-laws God has granted me. I speakespecially of my mother-in-law and

father-in-

law. It isntlimited tothem,though.My feelingtoward therest of theMahoneyfamily isthe same.

JoeMahoneywas one of the best men to ever walk thisearth. He never won any civic awards that

I know of and he wasnt a captain ofindustry or a man of great monetarywealth. But he was rich in the love of and

for his family and fellow man.If people like Joe Mahoney populated

the whole world, this would be the happi-est planet in the universe. He was fair,

honorable and honest in all things, a hardworker giving value for value received.His pixie-like sense of humor was whole-some and original. Most of all, he had aheart big enough for all the world. He wasa generous man. Did he have faults?

Yes, but truthfully I cant name one.Because he was the kind of man he was,you wrote them on the side, where theysoon disappeared.

How about Rose? When I first knewher, there was something about her thatintimidated me. She had a no-nonsenseattitude. Akind of assertive way about her

that left me with my guard up. Youalways knew where she stood on familymatters. No shilly-shallying around for

her. Black was black and white waswhite. She coupled this with a perceptiveway that went to the very heart of any sit-uation.

That was often accompanied by a drywit that left the hearer both smiling andspeechless. With the passage of time, Icame to know Rose as a person whorespected your beliefs and standards aslong as they were honest and forthright. Ifyou needed help, you got it.

I also learned that she wasnt bossy,just outspoken. She loved her family andfriends. But aside from Joe, her display ofaffection seemed to me to be quietlyreserved.

I cant say I ever came to love Rose,but I learned to respect her and regard her

with great goodwill. My feeling towardher reached the point that when I heard

those put-down jokes about mothers-in-law, they raised my hackles and I refusedto laugh at them, even when they con-tained a thread of humor.

Both of these good people are nowgone. They set an example for all of us tofollow. Not once in my marriage to theirdaughter, Colleen, did they interfere withus. I dont remember them ever volun-teering advice on anything. They mighthave voiced an opinion when asked, but itwas never a papa- or mama-knows-bestsort of thing.

If had to sum up the Mahoney family inone word, it would be love. The real,heartfelt kind that we all want to be partof our daily walk.

Ronald K. Culbertson is the retiredCEO of Umpqua Bank.

In-laws set examples for the rest of the family to follow

Ronald Culbertson

Musings

Family Caregiversmeetings planned

There will be three meetings of the Fam-ily Caregivers Support Group during

December. For more information about thesupport groups, call Nancy at 541-440-3677

On Dec. 9 the Sutherlin Family Care-givers Support Group will meet at 10 a.m.at the Sutherlin Senior Center, 202 E Cen-tral Ave., Sutherlin. The group meets eachmonth on the second Thursday.

The South County Family Caregiver

Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. Dec. 16at Forest Glen Senior Residence, 200 S.W.Frontage Road, Canyonville. The groupmeets on the third Thursday of eachmonth.

The Winston Family Caregivers SupportGroup will meet at 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at theWinston Community Center, 440 GrapeSt., Winston. The group meets the fourth

Wednesday of each month.

No December AARPdriving classes

The monthly safe driving classes spon-sored by AARP have been suspended forDecember and will resume a regularschedule in January.

SENIOR SHORTS


15/16


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MARTINE EHRENDOU

For The Senior Times

Arecent investigation revealed thedetection of staph bacteria onsome theater head- and armrests

in Jackson, Miss. University of Missis-sippi Medical Center scientists found theflesh killing, anti-biotic methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteriaor MRSA on samples from various metroarea theaters.

Could that mean that MRSA might beon our local theatershead and arm reststoo? Maybe or maybe not. Since wedont know, best to be aware just in case.

MRSA is a bacterium that causesinfections in different parts of the body.Its tougher to treat than most strains ofstaphylococcus aureus or staph because its resistant to some commonlyused antibiotics.

The symptoms of MRSAdepend onwhere youre infected. Most often, itcauses mild infections on the skin, caus-ing sores or boils. But it can also causemore serious skin infections or infect sur-gical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs,or the urinary tract.

Though most MRSA infections arent

serious, some can be life-threatening.Many public health experts are alarmed

by the spread of tough strains of MRSA.Because its hard to treat, MRSA issometimes called a super bug.

MRSA can be transferred from thenose to other surfaces and individuals viathe hands. Its found in hospitals, otherhealth care facilities, gyms, child carefacilities, correctional facilities, militarybarracks, dormitories and now, accordingto the article, on furniture in theaters.MRSA can be found in many crowdedliving conditions.

If people have weakened immune sys-tems and undergo procedures or have

catheters inserted, they can be vulnerableto MRSA. Ask your health care profes-sionals to guide you further if any ofthese situations apply to you.

If you visit someone in the hospital orother health care facility that has MRSA,avoid casual contact such as kissing andhugging.

Follow prevention strategies listedbelow:

Wash your hands regularly withwarm, soapy water for 20 seconds.

Cover any open skin breaks or abra-

sions with antiseptic cream and bandag-es.

Avoid contact with other peopleswounds or bandages. Use an antiseptic solution, such as

Hibiclens Soap, to clean your hands andwipe surfaces that might be contaminatedwith MRSA. Hibiclens Soap is used byhealth care professionals as a surgicalhand scrub, a pre-operative cleaner andas a routine hand cleanser. It is a power-ful antiseptic antimicrobial soap. Sensi-tive people should avoid this cleanser,and be sure to keep it away from eyes,mouth, nose and other bodily openings.Keep out of reach of children.

Avoid sharing personal items such astowels, washcloths, razors, clothing oruniforms.

Create cleaning procedures for com-monly used surfaces and surfaces thatcome into contact with your skin.

Martine Ehrenclou is the author ofCritical Conditions: The Essential Hos-

pital Guide to Get Your Loved One OutAlive. She can be reached [email protected] or bywriting to 1223 Wilshire Blvd., Suite1759, Santa Monica, CA, 90403.

Take simple precautions to avoidencounter with super bug Alzheimers Support Group

The Alzheimers Support Group will meetat 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21, at Callahan Court Mem-

ory Care Community, 1770 N.W. Valley ViewDrive, Roseburg. For more information and toregister call 541-673-3900.

The group meets the third Tuesday of eachmonth.

Bereavement supportgroup meetings set

A Bereavement Support Group luncheonwill be held at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 8 at KarensCoffee Cup, 2445 N.E. Diamond Lake Blvd.,Roseburg. The group meets the secondWednesday of each month. Information: 541-677-2384.

There will be two meetings in December ofthe Bereavement Support Group that meets atLinus Oakes. The first meeting will be at 5p.m. Dec. 14 in the main building chapel at2665 N.W. Van Pelt, Roseburg. A secondmeeting will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 28 at thechapel. The group meets the second and fourthTuesdays of each month. Information: 541-677-2384.

There will be a Grief Support Group meet-ing at 10 a.m. Dec. 20 in Conference RoomC, Mercy Medical Center, 2700 Stewart Park-

way, Roseburg. Information: 541-677 4810.

SENIORSHORTS


16/16

The National Institute of Health

A drug used decades ago to treat highblood pressure has been shown to improvelearning and memory in mouse models ofAlzheimers disease, according to a newstudy by researchers at the National Insti-

tute on Aging, part of the National Insti-tutes of Health. The study found that thedrug, diazoxide, acted on nerve cells in themouse brain in ways that slowed the devel-opment of the neurodegenerative disorder.

Mark P. Mattson, chief of NIAs Labora-tory of Neurosciences in Baltimore, direct-

ed the research, in collaboration with col-leagues at Konkuk University College ofVeterinary Medicine, in Seoul, SouthKorea, and the Indiana University Schoolof Medicine in Indianapolis.

Mattsons team found that diazoxide sta-bilized nerve cells in the brain and pre-vented a biological cascade in the micethat can result in the destruction of thesecells. The drug also improved blood flowin the brain and prevented the harmfulaccumulation of two proteins, beta-amy-loid and tau, which are hallmarks ofAlzheimers. Widely used in the 1970s and80s to treat patients with severe hyperten-sion, diazoxide is currently used to treathypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.

These intriguing findings open newavenues of basic research that mayincrease our understanding of how modu-

lating the electrical activity of nerve cellsmay slow the damage wrought byAlzheimers disease pathology, said NIADirector Dr. Richard J. Hodes. Moreresearch will be needed before we candetermine whether this may be a potentialtherapy for Alzheimers.

NIA scientists studied two groups ofAlzheimers mice, one given diazoxide in

drinking water and one given a placebo.After eight months, the diazoxide groupoutperformed the placebo group on a stan-dard test of learning and memory. Thebrain tissue of the treated group showedfewer deposits of amyloid and tau proteins,

less damage due to oxidative stress, andbetter blood flow all indications thatdiazoxide may have suppressed some ofthe harmful cellular changes associatedwith Alzheimers disease.

To better understand the complex bio-logical mechanisms by which diazoxidemay exert a positive effect on nerve cells,we then studied the effects of diazoxide oncultured nerve cells, Mattson said.

The scientists found the drug activatesand opens channels in the cell that enhancethe movement of potassium, which thencalms the electrical activity of nerve cellsin parts of the brain involved in learningand memory. Diazoxide also lowered theexcessive calcium often found in nervecells in brains affected by Alzheimers.These beneficial effects were seen with adose of diazoxide low enough to avoid amajor decrease in blood pressure, Mattsonnoted.


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Those new to Medicare and those whoare considering changes to theirMedicare Part D Prescription Drug

plan might think of December as the timefor thinkingabout

Medicare.Thatsbecause theMedicarePart D Pre-scriptionDrug Pro-gram OpenSeason thisyear runsfrom Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

Joining a Medicare prescription drugplan is voluntary, and participants pay an

additional monthly premium for the cover-

age. Some people with limited resourcesand income are eligible for extra help topay for monthly premiums, annualdeductibles, and prescription co-payments.

To qualify for extra help: You must reside in one of the 50 states

or the District of Columbia. Your resources must be limited to

$12,510 for an individual or $25,010 for amarried couple living together. Resourcesinclude such things as bank accounts,stocks, and bonds. Social Security does notcount your house and car as resources.

Your annual income must be limited to$16,245 for an individual or $21,855 for amarried couple living together. Even ifyour annual income is higher, you stillmay be able to get some help.

Social Security no longer counts as aresource any life insurance policy. We also

no longer count as income the help youmay receive when someone else providesyou with food and shelter, or someone elsepays your household bills for food, mort-

gage, rent, heating fuel or gas, electricity,water, and property taxes.

To apply for extra help, complete theApplication for Help with Medicare Pre-scription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020)online at www.socialsecurity.gov/extra-

help. You also can call 1-800-772-1213(TTY 1-800-325-0778). Social Securityrepresentatives can help you apply overthe phone or mail an application to yourhome. You may also visit your local SocialSecurity office.

To learn more about the Medicare pre-scription drug plan, visitwww.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

Alan Edwards is a Social Security publicaffairs specialist.

Its open season for Medicare, prescription drug plans

Social Security donuthole explained

The donut hole occurs when sen-iors exceed $2,700 in total drugexpenses in a plan year, which thenrequires them to pay 100 percent oftheir prescription costs until $4,300is spent out of pocket. The hole,which 3.4 million Americans fall intoannually, can appear in a hurrywhen extremely expensive medica-tions are involved.

Alan EdwardsSocial Security

Could old drug improve memory in Alzheimers patients?

Life is easier than youd think; all thatis necessary is to accept the impossible,

do without the indispensable, andbear the intolerable.

KATHLEEN NORRIS

Documents

Senior Times - December 2010