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Healthy Ages members enjoy annual luncheon and dance

Don’t miss it

Jan. 5-6Eastern WA Ag

ExpotRAC, Pasco

easternwaagexpo.com

tri-Cities gains national Park

Audiologist helps around the world

By Loretto J. HulseBefore Glenda Higgins discovered the

benefits of physical therapy, her world often spun out of control.

The 64-year-old Kennewick resident suf-fered from bouts of vertigo for nearly five years before seeking help from Therapeutic Associates.

“It was horrible. I couldn’t lay down, the room just spun and spun around and around,” she said.

The worst feeling for her was when everything looked like it was spinning up and over like a Ferris wheel, Higgins added.

“That just makes you nauseous,” she said. “You can’t walk, you can’t do any-thing.”

Once at a beauty salon, her stylist was washing her hair. Higgins, whose head was tipped back over the salon sink, experi-enced such an acute attack of vertigo she had to be taken to the emergency room.

“It was crimping her neck that caused it,” said Ken Call, a physical therapist and doc-tor of physical therapy. Call is the clinic director for Therapeutic Associate’s two Kennewick offices: Southridge Physical Therapy at 4303 W. 27th Ave., Ste. C and West Kennewick Physical Therapy, 1408 W. Louisiana St., Ste. 104-A.

“Vertigo is all about nerves. It’s caused by a number of vestibular disorders which affect the inner ear,” Call said.

After Higgins’ trip to the emergency room, her doctor prescribed drugs to help ease her symptoms.

“I took them for three months, but one was Valium, which can be addictive. I didn’t want to be on Valium the rest of my life,” Higgins said.

Higgins has been a longtime patient of Therapeutic Associates for various health issues, so was aware of the help they could offer. In addition to finding help to control her vertigo, Higgins wanted to rebuild her physical strength and lose weight.

Few could resist the lure of dancing the tango, Lindy hop and jitterbug to music from the 1930s to the 1960s at Kadlec Regional Medical Center’s annual Healthy Ages Christmas party held Dec. 10 at TRAC.

Volume 4 • Issue 1January 2016

tri-Cities Community Health receives

renovations

Physical therapy can restore quality of life— physically and mentally

Lourdes Medical Center invests in 3D technology for earlier cancer detectionBy Jessica Hoefer for Senior Times

Lourdes Medical Center is now offering 3D mammograms to help doctors detect breast cancer earlier. The machine, which came with a $395,000 price tag, arrived in late summer and patients are already seeing the benefits.

“The technology has been out for about three years, but it’s really taken off this year,” said Dan Ellsworth, ancillary service director at Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco. “The 3D image gives more information we can use. It’s saving lives.”

According to the American Cancer

Society, more than 230,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.

Ellsworth said 3D mammograms, also known as tomosynthesis, increases breast cancer detection by 41 percent. A 2D mammogram takes images from the front and side of the breast, which may create images with overlapping breast tissue. Ellsworth said the 3D image goes 15 degrees from one side of the breast to the other, giving the doctor a better picture of the breast from different angles to find abnormalities.

By Loretto J. HulseDressed in their holiday glitz, cou-

ples glided and twirled across the dance floor during the annual Healthy Ages Christmas party in December at TRAC in Pasco.

Watching their footwork, few would guess that most of the dancers sashay-ing by were well past retirement age.

Kadlec Regional Medical Center has sponsored the event for the past 25 years for members of its Healthy Ages program and their guests.

“For some, this party is their only holiday event,” said Jim Hall, Kadlec’s director of government and community relations

“We had about 500 people sign up this year, nearly 100 more than attend-

ed last year,” said Janet Artzer. Artzer and Corey Wakeley co-man-

age the Healthy Ages program that offers monthly classes on topics of interest to retirees, like managing dia-betes, recovering from heart attacks and strokes and weight management. They also oversee the Mall Walkers program, keeping track of walkers’ miles and handing out rewards.

This year’s party was the first Sandie and Dean Boyce of Kennewick have attended, even though she’s been a Mall Walker for quite a while.

However, after winning a $100 VISA gift card at the party, Dean Boyce said they will likely make the holiday dance an annual event.

uHEALTHY AGES, Page 9

uTHERAPY, Page 6

uLOURDES, Page 2

2 Senior Times • January 2016

(509) 737-8778(509) 737-8448 fax

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Senior Times accepts original columns from local professionals, educators and business leaders.

The goal of these pieces is to share use-ful tips and knowledge helpful to seniors. It is best to contact the Senior Times office for a copy of contributor guidelines before submitting anything. Although we cannot publish every submission we receive, we will keep columns that best fit the mission and focus of Senior Times for possible future use.

Senior Times also accepts original letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submissions must include the writer’s full name and daytime contact information for verification.

All submissions will be edited for spell-ing, grammar, punctuation and questions of good taste or libel.

If there is news you’d like Senior Times staff to report on, or there are any topics you’d like to read about, please contact the news staff via email at [email protected] or (509) 737-8778.

Senior Times, a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly. Subscriptions are $20 per year, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole prop-erty of TriComp Inc. and January not be repro-duced in any form without expressed written consent. Opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Senior Times staff, other contribu-tors or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by Senior Times staff, other con-tributors or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is cor-rect; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

Loretto J. HulseReporter(509) 737-8778 ext. [email protected]

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Edward Jones................................Jessica Hoefer..................................Cathy MacCaul...............................Elsie Puig........................................

CONtRIBUtORS

LOURDES, From page 1“We’ve seen amazing results,”

said Ellsworth. “In the first two months we started providing this service, we found four invasive breast cancers.”

Ellsworth said Lourdes has the only certified breast surgeon in the Tri-Cities — Dr. Laurie Evans — and it also has a board-certified breast reconstruction surgeon, Dr. Karen Vaniver, on staff. With a strong focus on women’s health, he said the hospital wanted to make sure it had the best breast cancer detection technology available.

Mammograms have evolved tremendously in the 14 years Ellsworth has been with Lourdes. He remembers using what was called film-screen mammography. The pictures would have to be processed and then analyzed by radiologist.

“If there was any motion at all, you had to retake the exam. It would be a week to two weeks before we got a report out of the patient,” said Ellsworth. “It was very labor intensive.”

Because 3D mammograms are relatively new, not all insurance companies will cover the costs. The patient either has to pay out of pocket or can choose not to have the 3D equipment used during their mammogram. The costs are covered for Medicare patients, said Ellsworth,

adding that commercial insurance companies are slowly coming on board.

“It costs a little more, but you have to stay on top of your health,” he noted.

Roughly 40 million mammograms are performed each year in the U.S. Ellsworth said the Tri-Cities is lucky to have the 3D technology, and if a patient wants the 3D mammogram and their insurance does not cover the service, Lourdes offers a 20 percent cash discount.

Ellsworth said women over the age of 40 should be get mammograms

annually, regardless of the type of mammogram. Those with a history of breast cancer should start even earlier.

“In fact, the worst cancers are for women in their 30s,” he said. “The cancer is more aggressive due to hormones and metabolism. There’s a lot of biological factors that make it more aggressive.”

Ellsworth had a high school friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer and died at the age of 16. His mother also had the disease and receives 3D mammograms from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

“I was a big advocate for [my mom] to go. She said, ‘I have this lump’, and I said, ‘Go get it checked out and treated,’” said Ellsworth. “One of eight women will have it. We’ve had ladies come in and say, ‘I’ve had this lump for six months’, and literally it’s the size of a golf ball. By then, it’s metastasized.”

Late stage breast cancer kills about 40,000 women a year. To rein in those numbers and take insurance bills out of the equation, Lourdes Medical Center offers free mammograms four or five times a year during special events. The free mammogram days are usually announced on the hospital’s website. The last one was in October and Ellsworth said they saw more than 300 people.

With a second 3D mammogram machine arriving in February 2016, Lourdes expects to see even more patients in the coming months.

The first machine is at the hospital, at 520 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco. The second machine will be at the company’s west Pasco office at 7425 Wrigley Dr.

“I’ve seen what cancer can do, and it motivated me to go into medicine,” said Ellsworth. “Get yourself checked and your loved ones—and don’t wait.”

Neena Cockrum, Lead Mammography Tech for Lourdes Medical Center, examines the 3D machine used to improve breast cancer detection.

3Senior Times • January 2016

By Loretto J. [email protected]

A new flag is now flying over Hanford’s B Reactor. It’s the flag of the National Forest Service, signify-ing Hanford’s inclusion as one of the three sites creating the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The other two sites that are part of the National Park are Los Alamos, N.M., and Oak Ridge, Tenn., which during World War II, also contribut-ed to research into the new science of atomic energy.

Nearly 300 public officials, former Hanford workers and others gathered at the front face of the deactivated B Reactor National Historic Landmark in November for the dedication cer-emony marking Hanford’s inclusion as part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Among the crowd were fourth graders from White Bluffs Elementary School in Richland.

The students were the first youths under the age of 12 allowed to visit B Reactor. Before coming under the umbrella of the National Park Service, only those 12 and older were allowed to tour the facility.

Also attending the ceremony were several founding members of the B Reactor Museum Association.

The group worked tirelessly for more than a decade to obtain public access to the historic site and save the B Reactor, the world’s first full sized nuclear reactor, said Colleen French. French is the program man-ager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Site and a

Department of Energy employee.The Manhattan Project National

Historical Park became the 409th park in the National Park Service’s system on Nov. 10. That’s the day Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz signed the agreement making the National Park Service and the Department of Energy partners over-seeing the new park.

“I don’t have to tell any of you what an amazing opportunity this is,” French said during the dedica-tion. “(The National Park Service) is the gold standard. They are the best in the business and we’re thrilled to have them here. Because, as you all know, the DOE is not in the business

of parks and museums.” The park will be managed as a

partnership between the National Park Service and the Department of Energy. The DOE owns the land and buildings while the park service will provide the interpretative center, vis-itor information and help preserve the buildings and other artifacts. At Hanford, the former town site of

White Bluffs will be included in the National Park.

They’re part of the story, said French. The town’s residents were forced to give up their farms, busi-nesses and homes when the govern-ment seized their property to create the Hanford site.

More than 51,000 workers at Hanford constructed and operated a massive industrial complex to fabri-cate, test and irradiate uranium fuel and chemically separate out plutoni-um.

“Only a handful of workers knew what they were creating,” said French.

B Reactor was built in 11 months and used to produce plutonium used in the world’s first atomic explosion, a test in the New Mexico desert, and in the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, that helped end World War II.

Hanford’s B Reactor site dedicated as part of new national park

Chip Jenkins, acting director of the National Park Service Pacific West Region, hoists the NPS flag for the first time at B Reactor on the Hanford site in November.

Day Trips

uHANFORD, Page 12

89.7fm NPR NEWS & 89.1fm CLASSICAL


Tuesday, Jan. 59 a.m. – 5 p.m.Eastern Washington Ag ExpoPasco Chamber of CommerceTRAC Center, Pascowww.easternwaagexpo.com

Wednesday, Jan. 69 a.m. – 4 p.m.Eastern Washington Ag ExpoPasco Chamber of CommerceTRAC Center, Pascowww.easternwaagexpo.com

Thursday, Jan. 711:30 a.m. Living to 100-Wellness SeminarAffinity Theatre, Affinity at SouthridgeRSVP 509-222-1212

Wednesday, Jan. 137 – 9 p.m. Monthly meetingTri-City Genealogical Society8264 W. Grandridge Blvd.509-554-1050

Thursday Jan. 147 p.m.

Home Computer Security: Protecting Yourself OnlineMid-Columbia Library, Union [email protected]

Saturday, Jan. 16NoonPolar Plunge Tri-Cities5111 Columbia Park Trail, Kennewick

Tuesday, Jan. 1911:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.Trios’ Mental Acuity ClassDilly Dally Pub, Affinity at SouthridgeRSVP 509-222-1212

Thursday, Jan. 215:30 p.m. 2016 Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of FamePasco Chamber of CommerceRed Lion Hotel, Pasco509-547-9755

Friday, Jan. 221 p.m. – 7 p.m.22nd Annual Tri-Cities Sportsman Show

Shuyler Productionswww.shuylerproductions.com

7:30 p.m. The Best of Bette: A Tributeto the Divine Miss MACT 213 Wellsian Way, Richland509-943-6027

Saturday, Jan. 2310 a.m. – 6 p.m.22nd Annual Tri-Cities Sportsman ShowShuyler Productionswww.shuylerproductions.com 7:30 p.m. The Best of Bette: A Tributeto the Divine Miss MACT 213 Wellsian Way, Richland509-943-6027

8 p.m. Camerata Musica ConcertCosi QuartetBattelle Auditorium902 Battelle Blvd., Richland509-375-0898

Sunday, Jan. 2410 a.m. – 5 p.m.22nd Annual Tri-Cities Sportsman ShowShuyler Productionswww.shuylerproductions.com

2 p.m. The Best of Bette: A Tributeto the Divine Miss MACT 213 Wellsian Way, Richland509-943-6027

Thursday, Feb. 111:30 – 3:30 p.m. Valentine’s BingoKennewick Senior CenterRSVP 509-585-4303

Friday, Feb. 1910 a.m. – 7 p.m. 2016 Regional Home & Garden ShowHome Builders Association of Tri-CitiesTRAC Center, Pasco509-735-2745

Calendar of events

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Cascade increases ratesCascade Natural Gas filed a natural

gas rate increase request with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in early December. If approved, it would increase residential customers’ monthly bill by an average of $4.87 a month.

Scott Madison, executive vice presi-dent and general manager of Cascade, said the main reason for the rate increase request is to recover the cost of the increased investment in natural gas facilities and increased operating expenses. As of June 30, Cascade’s total gross investment for Washington natural gas operations is $619 million, which is $156 million more than the total gross investment in 2006 when the last general rate case was filed.

The proposed increase is for $10.5 million annually over current rates, or a 4.17 percent overall increase. Cascade serves 204,000 customers in 65 Washington communities. The 2006 rate case resulted in a 2.7 percent increase.

Based on rate class studies, the increase is proposed to be allocated only to the residential rate class in order to bring rates more in line with the cost of service. The allocation results in a proposed 8.93 percent increase for resi-dential customers, or $4.87 per month, on average.

Conservation tips, information on energy assistance and information on

the company’s budget payment plan can be found on Cascade’s website at www.cngc.com.

More seniors, disabled qualify for property tax relief

Recently enacted legislation lifts the income limit to qualify for a property tax exemption from $35,000 to $40,000 for property owners ages 61 and older, or those retired due to a service or job-related disability. The exemption applies to a person’s principal resi-dence and depends on the combined disposable income of the applicant, spouse, partner and/or co-tenants occu-pying the same home.

The legislation also raised the income limit to $45,000 for the deferral program, which delays property taxes for seniors and the disabled until a later date. Under the deferral program, the Washington State Department of Revenue pays the property taxes and any special assessments on the proper-ty owner’s behalf. The deferred amount, plus interest, becomes a lien on the home until the total amount is repaid.

To be eligible, the homeowner must be either at least 60 years old, unable to

work because of a disability, or be at least 57 years old and the surviving spouse or partner of someone who was receiving a deferral at the time of death.

The counties administer property taxes on behalf of the state. Interested homeowners should contact the county assessor’s office to apply.

State unveils new aging website

The Department of Social and Health Services has partnered with Area Agencies on Aging to create a new website for Washington residents that features information about long-term care services and support.

The website, which can be found atWashingtoncommunitylivingconnec tions.org, offers a one-stop, online location to find options for in-house assistance and community services for older adults and individuals with dis-abilities. It features a directory of local, state and national resources to help people remain in their own homes, as well as information about alternative living options. Individuals can explore and connect to services and plan for future needs. The website is HIPAA

compliant and meets state and federal regulations for privacy and accessibili-ty. From the website, individuals can create and manage their own health-care information, request help and share information with others.

Sportsmen Show at TRACThe 22nd Annual Tri-Cities

Sportsmen show will be Jan. 22-24 at TRAC in Pasco.

The event will include the latest in outdoor equipment, a trophy antler col-lection, kid’s fishing pond, free air rifle range, free hourly hunting and fishing seminars, retriever demonstrations and more. There will also be an indoor 3-D archery shoot and an outdoor cooking camp hosted by Cee Dub Welch.

Exhibitors include retail merchants, factory representatives, outdoor clubs and organizations, taxidermists, wild-life art, fishing boats and fishing and hunting guides.

Door prizes are given away hourly. The cost is $9 for adults, $4.50 for

children ages 6-12 and children under 6 are free. Friday is seniors day and those ages 60 and older receive admission for $4.50. The one-time admission gets you into the show for all three days. Those who show military I.D. receive $1 off admission.

The event hours are 1 – 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday.


In Brief

uBRIEFS, Page 6

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THERAPY, From page 1“My doctor wanted me to have my

knees replaced, but I didn’t want to go that route,” she said.

Instead, the staff at Therapeutic Associates tailored a series of exer-cises to Higgins’ needs. She’s been doing them twice a week for nearly two years, enabling her to build up strength and lose 25 pounds.

“My diabetes is under control and the weight lose has helped my sore knee. I was never happier than the day I was able to carry the groceries into the house myself,” Higgins said.

Call explained that for each pound of weight lost, you reduce the force on your knees by four pounds.

Higgins doesn’t need to attend physical therapy sessions at the clinic anymore; she could do them at a gym. But she says she prefers the privacy and the one-on-one time with her trainer, Jessica Albertson, an exercise physiologist.

“The difference between going to a gym and coming here is you’re doing prescribed medical exercises with supervision,” Call said.

Many people seek out physical therapists to improve their muscle strength and balance, oftentimes after having been in the hospital for days or weeks.

“It doesn’t take long to lose mus-cle strength when you’re in ICU flat on your back,” Call said. “Forty per-

cent of people never return to their former condition, putting them at risk for falls.”

People visit physical therapists for a variety of reasons. One woman told Call she just wanted to pick up her grandbabies safely. Others want to be able to get in and out of bed, rise from a chair, get in and out of a car and on and off the toilet safely, so they’re able to continue living in their homes.

“They don’t want to run mara-thons,” Call said. “It’s our job to return them to as an active lifestyle as

they want or need to live.”Exercising does more than build

up physical strength, it also helps with mental acuity.

Exercising for physical strength also helps you mentally.

“After all, the brain is a muscle too,” Call said. “As you’re walking count backwards from 84 by threes. Do crossword puzzles, sukudo or go to a website called Lumosity, www.lunosity.com, where you’ll find all kinds of games designed to challenge your core cognitive abilities.”

Therapeutic Associates was found-

ed in the 1950s in California and since then the company has spread throughout the West coast, with offices in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

“The company was founded by three friends who liked to take care of people. Their idea was to bring in like-minded, hard working people and enable them to set up indepen-dent offices under the Therapeutic Associates brand,” Call said.

Once an office is established the owner becomes a shareholder in Therapeutic Associates. Shareholders number about 42 now and some-where around 12 have retired out of the company, Call said.

In the Pacific Northwest, there are more than 60 independently-owned Therapeutic Associates offices.

Call owns the two in Kennewick and has 10 employees between the offices. The West Kennewick office has been open since 1997 and the Southridge office opened in 2013.

Washington is a “no-referral” required state. So you can simply pick up the phone and make an appointment for an evaluation. “However, there are some insurance companies that require a referral before they’ll pay any claims. Tell us which insurance company you’re with and we can tell you up front if you’ll need a referral,” Call said.

One of the exercise machines Glenda Higgins of Kennewick works out on is called a TRX. It uses a person’s body weight to build muscle strength.

BRIEFS, From page 5BBB warns of scheme

The Better Business Bureau has received complaints about a timeshare purchasing business called All Business Consulting Services, which claims to be based in Dalton Gardens, Idaho. A consumer was contacted by phone by a representative of the company who offered to purchase the consumer’s timeshare in Mexico. The caller claimed to have a buyer who was interested in purchasing the timeshare and willing to pay more than face valued. The caller said they already had cash in an escrow account for the purchase. It sounded good to the consumer, until they received a call from the supposed escrow agent, who explained that the contract included a $4,100 fee to pay the new owner up front due to Mexican government taxes.

Another consumer reported that ABCS transferred the sale to an escrow agent with Epic National Title and Settlement Services in Lakewood, Colo. She paid $4,000 in taxes and fees and has heard nothing since then. Epic National title has an F rating with the Colorado BBB.

BBB’s investigation revealed the address listed as ABCS’s physical local is a postal store. The Mexican govern-ment does not require any kind of tariff, title or change fee up front from a time-share seller.


By Loretto J. [email protected]

Some consider the world full of annoying sounds — buzzing cell phones, honking cars, kids playing and people chattering.

For others the world is silent. Imagine if you’d never heard the

first cries of a newborn or children’s laughter — any noise would be wel-come.

“I consider hearing the most impor-tant social sense. Without hearing, you’re disconnected from the world,” said Dr. Neil Aiello, owner of Columbia Basin Hearing Center, which has offices in Kennewick, Richland and Walla Walla. He and his wife, Shannon, are both doctors of audiology at Columbia Basin Hearing.

For decades, Dr. Neil Aiello has devoted his life to helping the deaf and hearing impaired here in the Mid-Columbia.

In 2013, he started volunteering for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which goes to third-world countries where people do not have access to modern health care to give them the gift of sound.

Starkey Hearing Technologies, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., is the only American-owned major hearing aid manufacturer in the world. Its phil-anthropic arm is the Starkey Hearing Foundation that travels the globe to fit more than 100,000 free hearing aids annually on people in need.

To do it, Starkey relies on volun-teers like Aiello. In the past three years. Aiello has traveled to Mexico, Africa and most recently Peru, travel-ing each time with groups of other Starkey volunteers from across the

U.S.“Even though I’m volunteering my

time, the trips are not free,” said Aiello.

The two-week trip to Peru cost Aiello about $10,000.

Aiello and his group flew into Lima and visited five small towns, fitting children and adults with hearing aids. As an audiologist, Aiello’s days are normally spent evaluating people’s hearing and fitting those who need them with hearing aids.

“The unusual thing about this Starkey program is the volunteers don’t have to be a doctor of audiology to fit these hearing aids in third-world countries. They’re trained, but aren’t necessarily medical personal,” Aiello said.

Aiello said there are about 10 to 12 volunteers fitting hearing aids at any one time. They begin about 9 a.m. and finish around 4 p.m.

“In one day, we can fit anywhere from 300 to 600 people,” he said.

Conditions where they work are usually primitive. Often Starkey vol-unteers set up in a tent in a sports arena.

Before the volunteers are sent to fit the hearing aids, Starkey sends teams to the various countries to contact the government agencies.

“Usually they’re puzzled and the first question the government officials ask is, ‘What do you want?’ The Starkey representatives have to explain that all we want to do is help. It’s what we do,” Aiello said.

The initial teams scout out the deaf and hearing-impaired in each region of each country. They do the silicon impressions of their ears, which are

sent back to Starkey headquarters, where hearing aids are custom built for each individual.

The hearing aids that Starkey pro-vides are basic analog-type hearing aids, much different that what is avail-able in the U.S., Aiello said, but still very useful.

“I still get that heart-warming feel-

ing of having helped someone hear for the first time or to hear better,” he said. “I consider this mission work 101. It’s my passion and what I enjoy doing.”

The Starkey Hearing Foundation has programs in approximately 100 countries.

Dr. Neil Aiello, a volunteer for the Starkey Hearing Foundation and owner of Columbia Basin Hearing Center, fits a young Peruvian youth with his first hearing aids. Aiello spent two weeks in Peru with a group of Starkey volunteers who traveled to five cities fitting hearing aids to chil-dren and adults. The group fitted anywhere from 300 to 600 people in any single day.

uAIELLO, Page 15

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By Cathy MacCaul for Senior TimesThe Washington State Legislature’s

first day of the 2016 session is Jan. 11 and, since it is a short session ending on March 10, the clock is ticking.

Last year’s 176-day session focused primarily on the development of the state’s biennial budget and meeting the mandated requirements under the McCleary ruling to fund education. It was a long and difficult session. And this session will present its own set of challenges.

First the legislature needs to wrestle with the impact of Initiative 1366, which was passed by a very small

number of voters during the November election. A little more than 19 percent of registered voters in the state cast ballots to require legislators to have a two-thirds majority vote on all tax issues, and if not, the sales tax would drop by 1 percent. That equates to $1.5 billion less money in the budget each year for programs and services for our communities across Washington.

Second, many of the legislators are up for reelection. With such weighty issues as funding education, finding new sources of revenue and preparing for their election campaigns, it will be difficult to introduce extensive amounts

of new and complex legislation while still ending the session on time.

AARP’s work for this legislative session began months ago by building and strengthening relationships with our partner organizations and coali-tions and focusing advocacy on three main areas: The CARE Act, financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and restoring hearing aid coverage to Medicaid.

• The CARE Act AARP is working in states across

the nation to enact the “Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act,” which would help family caregivers as

their loved ones go into the hospital and transition h o m e . Recognizing the critical role family c a r e g i v e r s play in help-ing keep their loved ones at home and out of costly institutions, the CARE Act features three important provisions. First, the name of the family caregiver is recorded when a loved one is admit-ted to the hospital. Second, the family caregiver is notified if the loved one is to be discharged to another facility or back home. And finally, the facility must provide an explanation and live instruction of the medical tasks – such as medication management, injections, wound care and transfers – that the family caregiver must perform at home.

• Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults

The incidence of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults is on the rise. AARP is working with the State Long Term Care Ombudsman’s Program, the Attorney General’s Office and the King County Prosecutor’s office to amend the criminal statutes giving stiffer penalties to those who financially exploit vulnerable adults.

• Restore Hearing Aid Coverage in Medicaid

Hearing loss is a public health issue, as untreated hearing impairment increases the risk of costly health out-comes from falls, disability, cognitive impairment and dementia.

Nearly 25 percent of those 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss.

AARP will push to restore the Medicaid adult hearing hardware and services benefit discontinued in 2010.

AARP’s advocacy and outreach efforts are not possible without you. Last year, your support helped us pass and create the Washington Small Business Retirement Marketplace, which will give more than 1.1 million Washingtonians a chance for a more secure and independent retirement.

Your voice is important so I urge you to get involved. Visit www.aarp.org/wa for the latest on what’s happen-ing at the state capitol. If you are interested in attending hearings in Olympia, volunteering your time or contacting your legislator, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-866-227-7457.

Cathy MacCaul is AARP’s Washington Advocacy Director.

The clock is ticking on important issues this legislative session

Cathy MacCaul,

AARP


Get out and play in the snow with Pasco Parks & RecreationBy Mary [email protected]

The Pasco Parks and Recreation Department is offering a snowshoeing trip in the Umatilla National Forest on Feb. 27.

Those who would like to go on the trip are required to attend a special snow show lesson from 7-8 p.m. Feb. 23. The lesson will include information about the equipment needed, proper clothing, physical fitness requirements and other snowshoeing tips.

The bus will leave Pasco at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 and travel to Woodland Sno-Park, near Spout Springs ski area south of Milton- Freewater, Ore.

Participants will snowshoe across a three-mile route that climbs about 600 feet.

The cost of the trip is $18 for Pasco residents and $23 for non-residents, which does not include snowshoe rent-al. The snow shoe rental is $12, plus deposit, which is due at the lesson prior to the trip.

Keep moving and exercising through the winter months with the Pasco Senior Center’s Enhance Fitness pro-

gram which is designed specifically for those over the age of 40. It focuses on stretching, flexibility, balance, low-impact aerobics and strength training.

The program starts monthly and is from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The cost for January is $28 for Pasco residents and $35 for all oth-ers.

If you are a water lover, try the Wavemakers Aqua Fit class, which is held in a warm water pool at Oasis Physical Therapy in Pasco.

The classes are led by Oasis staff and are especially helpful for those who suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, muscle weakness and more.

The class includes use of an under-water treadmill, upper body strength-ening exercises, leg strengthening exercises and more.

Classes take place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are available either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday.

The cost for January is $80 for resi-dents or $100 for nonresidents.

The December AARP Smart Driver Course will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan.

5 and Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Pasco Senior Center. The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for all others and those who complete the course may receive a discount on their auto insur-ance.

Keeping your feet healthy is essen-tial as you age. Those 60 and older can participate in the Pasco Senior Center’s Foot Care Program, Happy Feet. The program is designed to provide preven-tative maintenance and education to Franklin County and Burbank resi-dents.

Through the program, a registered nurse will inspect your feet for early detection of corns, calluses, ingrown toenails and other minor foot problems. The nurse will also trim your toenails, apply lotion to your feet and give you instruction on properly caring for your

feet at home. The service is free, but there is a sug-

gested donation of $12 - $15 per per-son.

The Happy Feet foot care program is available by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Call 509-543-3459 for an appointment.

The Pasco Senior Center has plenty of great activities to help you meet new friends, learn new skills and stay active.

The Senior Center has Dial-A-Ride tickets, passes and applications avail-able, as well as photocopy services, a computer lab, library and puzzle room, multi-purpose room, television room, pool tables and a craft room.

For more information about activi-ties at the Pasco Senior Center, call 509-545-3456.

Pasco Senior Center(509) 545-3459

1315 N. Seventh Ave. • Pasco

509-783-54335505 W. Skagit Ct.

Kennewick, WA

Through season of change you have kept your promise of love, honor and respect.

Dementia has brought change, but your commitment remains strong. Let us help

you to continue to love, honor and respect during this challenging season.

HEALTHY AGES, From page 1June Ella Ottenberg, 79, of Pasco

has been a member of Healthy Ages for more than 10 years.

“I joined when I was diagnosed with diabetes and have found their monthly classes to be very helpful,” she said.

Ottenberg often attends the annual holiday party, sometimes with friends, sometimes she goes alone.

“They’re always a fun time and I enjoy meeting new people,” she said.

The dancing is what draws JoDella Sargent, 84, to the holiday party. Her late husband, Elden Sargent, played in one of the first live bands booked for the Healthy Ages parties in the 1990s.

She too is a long-time member of Healthy Ages and agreed this year’s party was one of the best.

“The DJ played a lot of the songs we

grew up dancing to,” Sargent said, add-ing that dancing is the healthiest form of exercise for seniors.

“It keeps you active, it keeps you young,” Sargent said.

In addition to the monthly classes, Artzer and Wakley also offer free “Welcome to Medicare” workshops once a month. During the two-hour workshop they cover Medicare bene-fits and how Medi-gap plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D Prescription Plans and Retiree plans work.

The free classes are held at Central United Protestant Church in Richland, said Artzer.

There’s no charge to join Healthy Ages. To sign up, call 509-942-2700. Or go to www.kadlec.org/community/community-outreach/healthy-ages.

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By Mary [email protected]

It’s a new year and that’s a great time to start learning a new language. The Richland Parks & Recreation Department is offering a Spanish for Beginners class from Jan. 5 through Feb. 4.

The class, which takes place from 7 – 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will introduce participants to vocabu-lary, grammatical structures and cul-tural considerations. The goal is to provide a dynamic, structured and fun learning environment with a focus on developing speaking and listening

comprehension skills. By the end of the class, participants should be able to tell others about themselves using words and phrases in Spanish.

The cost is $50 for Richland resi-dents and $62.50 for all others.

Yoga is a great way to build strength, gain better balance and flexibility, while reducing stress. The Richland Parks & Recreation’s Yoga Joy class is a great way to learn the proper yoga postures.

The classes take place from 5:45 – 7 p.m. each Thursday in the activity room at the Richland Community Center. The cost for January is $30.75

for residents and $38.50 for all others. The January AARP Smart Driver

defensive driving course will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Thursday, Jan. 21.

The course focuses on age-related changes and teaches you how to com-pensate for those changes. Participants must attend both days. The cost is $15 for AARP members, who must show their AARP card, and $20 for all others. Participants may receive a discount on their insurance for completing the course.

Geocaching is a great hobby for those who like to explore, regardless of age — and it’s a great way to use that Smartphone for something other than phone calls and Facebook.

Learn the basics of Geocaching dur-ing a free introductory session from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5. The instruc-tors will show you how to use the geo-caching website and a GPS unit, and then you’ll get to practice what you learn by taking a short geocaching adventure in Howard Amon Park.

Space is limited, so register online or by calling the Richland Community Center.

Tax time is right around the corner, but there’s no need to panic — and plenty of time to prepare.

AARP Tax Aide volunteers can help. They will be available at the Richland

Community Center to provide free, confidential advice to help seniors and low-income taxpayers prepare their tax returns properly and to answer ques-tions.

The volunteers will be available from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday from Feb. 2 through April 14. Appointments are not neces-sary.

You will need to bring a copy of your prior year’s tax return, as well as documents supporting information to prepare this year’s return, including real estate tax statements.

The Richland Community Center is an electronic filing site and will not prepare returns for paper filing. For quicker and safer tax refunds, it is rec-ommended that taxpayers have refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts, so you will need to have your bank account information.

Don’t forget, the Richland Community Center has plenty of daily activities and social opportunities. Play Mahjong, cribbage, pool, bridge, domi-noes or pinochle.

For a full list, view the Richland Parks and Recreation’s Fall Activity Guide at richlandparksandrec.com.

For more information about upcom-ing events or to register for any of these events, call 509-942-7529 or go to richlandparksandrec.com.

Richland Community Center(509) 942-7529

500 Amon Drive • Richland

Start the New Year with something new at the Richland Community Center

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By Elsie Puig for Senior TimesTri-Cities Community Health is

expanding services and renovating its facility, with the help of a $1 mil-lion grant awarded by the Human Re-sources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Although the reno-vations and building improvements started with savings from TCCH, the grant will allow the health center to finish upgrades sooner.

“We were fortunate to receive this grant,” said Martin Valadez, TCCH’s director of business development and public affairs. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the grant, or it would have taken us longer.”

Valadez said TCCH’s goal with the project was to provide a quality setting for the patients and the com-munity.

“We hadn’t done updates in some time,” Valadez said. “It not only looks better, but it provides better access and increases comfort for the patient so they know they are getting quality healthcare — as good as any-body else.”

Most of the renovations are being made at the Pasco clinic to central-ize services and improve the patient experience. Other changes include extended hours for urgent care and integrating the behavioral health pro-gram with the rest of their medical staff. TCCH’s behavioral health pro-gram is currently in a separate build-ing across the street from the Pasco location.

“When you have behavioral spe-cialists collocated with medical staff, they can better serve the patient and (patients) get better treatment,” said Valadez.

Earlier this year, TCCH also opened an optometry clinic.

“It’s a beautiful setup on the sec-ond floor,” said Richard Ballard, TCCH director of operations.

The reception area has also under-gone a major facelift, he added, and

it now features seven reception lanes, new millwork, LED signage and new flooring.

“That was our biggest undertak-ing,” said Ballard.

TCCH is relocating all adminis-trative and support functions to a 21,000-sq.-ft. facility at 800 W. Court St. This will allow the health center to centralize clinical functions at 515 W. Court St. and expand urgent care services, lab and pharmacy.

In addition, TCCH’s dental ser-vices are being expanded. In October, the health center expanded its dental office by adding three new dental chairs. Previously it had four.

In Kennewick, TCCH is expand-ing its behavioral health services and adding more suites to the space. The pediatrics unit is also being renovated and expanded to improve flow of ser-vices and reduce wait times.

“We expanded to more suites,” said Valadez. “We’re trying to meet the needs of community and increase access, so they have shorter wait times.”

TCCH, originally named La Clini-ca, was founded in Pasco in 1981 by a small group of women in the Pas-co community who saw the need to serve low-income community mem-bers who could not afford to pay for health care services.

In 1990, the nonprofit clinic met the requirements to become a designated Federally Qualified Health Center, which made it eligible to obtain fi-nancial support from the federal and state governments to expand services. As a FQHC, TCCH can receive fund-ing to partially cover the cost of pro-viding primary medical care, mental health, vision, and dental services to persons and families with no health insurance, limited health insurance or Medicaid recipients.

Since then, TCCH has evolved into a network of community health centers. Through the past few years, TCCH has received federal grant

funding to build a 40,000-sq.-ft. med-ical office in Pasco, relocate its small Kennewick clinic into a 7,000-sq.-ft. facility and set up a new 6,000-sq.-ft. health center in the city of Richland. TCCH also operates two school-based clinics.

“Our mission is to serve the un-derserved and underinsured,” said Valadez. “In order to better do that, we had to invest in modernizing and expanding our facility.”

Ballard said he credits the improve-

ments TCCH has made over the past three years to Al Cordova, TCCH’s CEO and Jennifer Henry Robinson, TCCH chief operations officer.

“TCCH has experienced outstand-ing growth and we have undertaken new services, that has a lot of to do with Al and Jennifer and the vision that they have for healthcare in the Tri-Cities,” said Ballard.

For more information about TCCH, go to www.mytcch.org.


The reception area underwent a major facelift earlier this year, which included renovations and expansion to a seven-lane reception area, new millwork, flooring and LED sign. Funding from a HRSA grant will allow TCCH to continue with renovation and expansion of services.

HRSA grant allows TCCH to continue with renovations and expansions

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By Mary [email protected]

The Kennewick Senior Center is planning a day trip to Northern Quest Casino in Spokane on Mar. 15.

The bus will leave the Senior Center at 8 a.m. and travel to Northern Quest Casino and Resort, where those ages 55 and older can take advantage of the casino’s special Senior Day deals.

You’ll have five hours of free time at the casino, which features 1,800 slot machines, live poker and gaming tables, as well as 14 restaurants and lounges.

The cost of the trip is $58 for Kennewick residents who register prior to Mar. 1 and $78 for all others. The trip fee covers the cost of the

motor coach only. All meals, snacks and beverages are out-of-pocket.

If you would like to learn to cro-chet, knit or tat, there is an ongoing class from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday. Newbies receive instruction by vol-unteer teacher Donna Gier. The cost is $2 per day.

Work on your winter craft projects at the Kennewick Senior Center. There’s lots of space and all crafters and ages are welcome. Bring your supplies and work on your projects in the company of other crafters.

Drop-in Winter Crafters Create takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday at the Kennewick Senior. The cost is $1 for Kennewick residents and $2 for all others.

If you don’t have a hobby, winter is

the perfect time to take up woodcarv-ing and the Kennewick Senior Center is the perfect place.

There are Drop-in Woodcarving sessions from 1 p.m. 3 p.m. each Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to noon each Friday. The cost is 75 cents on Wednesdays and $1 on Fridays.

Students provide their own wood, tools and supplies, but if you don’t have any, there are some to borrow. Other woodcarvers will help you get

started and get you in the groove. Don’t let the nip in the air dissuade

you from your daily walk. You can always get your exercise in at the new Southridge Sports Complex, which is heated and available to walkers and runners from 9 a.m. to noon on week-days. The fee is $1 per day.

For more information about activi-ties at the Senior Center or for ques-tions, call 509-585-4303 or go to go2kennewick.com/seniorcenter.

Kennewick Senior Center plans trip to Northern Quest in March

Kennewick Senior Center(509) 585-4303

500 S. Auburn St. • Kennewick

HANFORD, From page 3“This is where the nuclear age

began. It’s important to preserve it for the future,” said Doc Hastings during the dedication. For years, Hastings, a former U.S. representative and Sen. Maria Cantwell worked to get B Reactor named as a historic site and included in the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

Hanford is an important part of the trio of sites that make up the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The new park, even as spread across the country as it is, tells the story of how the Manhattan Project ushered in a new era of scientific discovery, said Chip Jenkins, acting director of the National Park Service Pacific West Region. He’s responsible for all the national parks in Washington, Oregon

and Idaho. “Of the three sites, Hanford is the

can-do site. Hanford is the place where a massive amount of scientific research and technological innovation was brought together and implemented. It’s where theory met practical reality,” said Jenkins, during the dedication.

However, all three sites are incredi-bly important. Each tells a unique story of its own, and together, the sites tell the story of an incredible period of American history and about the devel-opment and utilization of the atomic bomb, said Jenkins.

“There are deep stories here — deep lessons to be learned. The park service is committed to telling the complete and complex story of the Manhattan Project including the impact of the use of nuclear weapons and the remaining

ethical questions,” Jenkins said.The park service has already reached

out to the Japanese government to include the stories of those who suf-fered the devastation created when the two atomic bombs were dropped on their country.

Jenkins said that moving forward, the park service will work with the three communities in the new park to develop a plan for access and opera-tions at all three sites. The agency will also seek input from the public.

“There will be a park service super-intendent, but that person will be based in Denver, Colo.,” Jenkins said. “There will be a site manager at all three loca-tions and, if budget permits, we will be setting up additional staff with addi-tional expertise. One of the primary services of the site manager will be to continue to nurture and grow the part-nerships that are already in place.”

The National Park Service estimates it will take about two years to complete plans for the park and another three to five before the sites are prepared for public visits. However the DOE already offers tours of the B Reactor and the former White Bluffs’ town site

on a seasonal basis.“If we can establish some type of

climate control in B Reactor we’ll be able to offer tours year round, which will be good for the schools,” Jenkins said.

Currently B Reactor has neither air conditioning nor heat.

Free B Reactor National Historic Landmark Tours are offered April through September.

Registrations are accepted by inter-net or phone. The four-hour tours will be on a Department of Energy spon-sored bus.

The DOE also offer tours of the pre-Manhattan Project landmarks at the same time. They include the Hanford High School in the town of Hanford and the Hanford Construction Camp Historic District, Bruggermann’s Agricultural Warehouse Complex, the White Bluffs Bank and the Hanford Irrigation District Pump House.

More tour information is available at manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov.

For more information about the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, go to www.nps.gov.

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SUDOKU

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudokuand www.str8ts.com for Str8ts.

If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

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SUDOKU

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudokuand www.str8ts.com for Str8ts.

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Easy

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How to beat Str8ts - No single number, 1 to 9, can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a straight - a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg: 7, 6, 8, 9. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Rules of Sudoku - To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains ever number uniquely. For more strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org and www.str8ts.com.

Str8ts example

Solutions on page 15

Turn Back the Clock...January 1: All cigarette packs must be branded with caution warning.

January 12: Batman starring Adam West debuts on ABC.

January 22: The U.S. comletes Operation Blue Light, the largest airlift of troops and equipment into a combat zone in history. 19

66

Useful Phone Numbers and AddressesSenior CentersKennewick Senior Center...................................................Pasco Senior Center............................................................Prosser Senior Center.........................................................Richland Community Center............................................West Richland Senior Center.............................................

Additional ResourcesSenior Life Resources/Meals on Wheels..........................Veterans Administration Medical Clinic.........................RSVP-Retired Seniors Volunteer Program......................Senior Companion Program.............................................Social Security Administration.........................................

Useful Phone NumbersMedicare...............................................................................Medicare TTY......................................................................Veterans Affairs Administration.......................................Alzheimer’s Association 24 Hour......................................Fair Housing Enforcement.................................................Washington Information Network....................................

500 S. Auburn St., Kennewick...........................................................1315 N. Seventh Ave., Pasco..............................................................1231 Dudley Ave., Prosser.................................................................500 Amon Dr., Richland....................................................................616 N. 60th, West Richland...............................................................

8656 W. Gage Blvd., Suite 301, Kennewick.....................................825 Jadwin Ave., Suite 250, Richland...............................................2139 Van Giesen St., Richland..........................................................516 W. Margaret, Suite 4, Pasco........................................................8131 W. Klamath Ct., Suite A, Kennewick......................................

800-633-4227877-486-2048800-827-1000800-272-3900800-669-9777211

509-585-4303509-545-3459509-786-2915509-942-7529509-967-2847

509-735-1911509-946-1020509-943-2590 x2112509-545-6145866-269-6671

Tip:

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By Edward Jones for Senior TimesLike many people, you may enjoy

investing. After all, it can be invigorating to put away money for your future, follow the performance of your investments and track the progress you’re making toward your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement. However, you might be less excited about doing estate planning, dreading the perceived time, effort and cost. Yet, you can make the entire process more manageable by breaking it up into specific tasks.

What are these tasks? Everyone’s needs are different, but here are a few suggestions that may be applicable to your situation:

Purchase life insurance. If something were to happen to you, would your family be able to stay in the house? Would your children be able to go to college? You should have sufficient life insurance to take care of these and other essential needs. You might hear about various “formulas” for how much insurance you should purchase,

but you may be better off by working with a financial professional — someone who can evaluate your assets, goals and family situation, and then recommend an appropriate level of coverage.

Draw up your will. For most people, a will is probably the most essential estate-planning document. Regardless of the size of your estate, you need a will to ensure that your assets and personal belongings will be distributed according to your wishes. If you die intestate (without a will), your belongings will be distributed to your “heirs” as defined by state laws — and these distributions may not be at all what you had in mind.

Consider a living trust. Depending on your situation, you may need to go beyond a will when drawing up your estate plans. For example, you might want to create a living trust, which can allow your assets to go directly to your heirs, avoiding the public, time-consuming and expensive process of probate. A living trust offers other

benefits, too, so you may want to consult with a legal professional to learn more about this e s t a t e -planning tool.

C h e c k b e n e f i c i a r y designations. T h e beneficiary designations on your insurance policies and retirement accounts, such as your IRA and 401(k), are powerful and can even supersede the instructions left in your will. So it’s in your best interests to make sure you’ve got the right people listed as your beneficiaries. Over time, you may need to update these designations to reflect changes in your family situation.

Make final arrangements. Whenever you pass away, it will be a stressful time for your loved ones. To ease their burden, consider establishing a

“payable-on-death” account at your bank, and then funding this account to pay for your funeral and related expenses.

Share your plans. The most comprehensive estate plan in the world may not be of much value if nobody knows of its existence. Share your plans with your loved ones and heirs. It’s important that everyone knows their roles in carrying out your wishes.

When dealing with any estate-planning issues, you’ll want to consult with your legal and tax professionals. And by taking a step-by-step approach, you can keep the process moving forward — without feeling that you’re being overwhelmed.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Tom Steinert, a local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice.

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Str8ts Solution Sudoku Solution

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Str8ts Solution Sudoku Solution

Str8ts Solution

Sudoku Solution

Puzzle answers from page 13

For more strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org and www.str8ts.com.

Step-by-step approach can ease estate-planning process

Tom Steinert,Edward Jones

AIELLO, From page 7“The really cool thing about the

Starkey foundation is once they’re in a country, they don’t leave. They go back once a year and do after-care,” Aiello said.

Also, as the foun-dation has grown, Starkey has been able to hire local staff in each region to work for the foundation full-time providing after-care and resolving any hear-ing aid problems.

Bringing the gift of sound to people is truly a labor of love for everyone associated with Columbia Basin Hearing Centers.

In addition to Aiello’s volunteer work, his practice also works with the

Starkey Hearing Foundation’s Hear Now program in the United States. Hear Now provides state-of-the-art Starkey hearing aids to people in financial need.

The staff at Columbia Basin Hearing Centers volunteers its time and equipment for fitting and follow-up care for the first year to fine-tune the hear-ing aids.

The hearing aids provided under Starkey’s Hear Now program aren’t free. There’s a $125 pro-cessing fee for each one. Sometimes the

patient can pay the fee, other times the money is donated by Columbia Basin Hearing Center’s local Hearing Angels program.

Under the Hearing Angels program people can donate money towards paying the fees for Starkey’s Hear Now hearing aids.

Between the Walla Walla and Tri-City offices Columbia Basin Hearing Center fits 75 to 100 people a year with the Hear Now hearing aids from Starkey.

“And we always have a waiting list of two to three people,” Aiello said.

Columbia Basin Hearing Center also accepts used hearing aids. “I guarantee we’ll find a way to use them,” he said.

For more information on the Starkey Hearing Foundation pro-grams, go to www.starkeyhearing-foundation.org. For more information about the Hearing Angels program, or to schedule a hearing test, go to www.ColumbiaBasinHearing.com or call 509-736-4005.

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“The really cool thing about the Starkey foundation is once

they’re in a country, they don’t leave. They go back once a year and do after-care.”

- Neil Aiello,Columbia Basin Hearing Center
