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My eyes have never provided me with crystal clear sight, and even as a child, darkness and shadows presented problems. I had difficulty distinguishing objects in the dark, and I tended to crash into whatever happened to be in my path rather than have the ability to successfully maneuver around these obstacles. Judging distances after sunset also could not be called one of my strong points. Now that I am a woman of a certain age, the situation has gotten completely out of hand. In spite of...
One of the most time-honored ways to make a charitable gift is a charitable gift annuity. Perhaps the first charity to employ the gift annuity with its constituents issued the first U.S. gift annuity in 1843. While gift annuities have been available for over 100 years, there are now many creative options for structuring gift annuities based on your individual needs and desires. Thousands of people have a passionate concern for their favorite charities, yet recognize that they need future...
As we age, we realize the importance of our roots: where we came from, and what forces and events shaped us into who we are today. The sense of heritage and the desire to honor those who came before us can express itself in everyday life, as Carmen Roberts, Sidney, discovered. Roberts wanted to resume her hair styling career and she decided to build a shop on her property to accommodate the business. However, in the process she also wanted to honor her ancestry and to remind people of the early...
During the next few months I will be including information on cholesterol and health developed by the Montana Cardiovascular Health Program. If you have high blood cholesterol levels, it is important to lower them to reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and having a heart attack or stroke. They represent the first and fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is good to know your cholesterol numbers since high blood cholesterol does not usually cause any symptoms....
I first heard of Masada many years ago when I attended high school. The story of a Jewish stronghold, deep in the Judean mountains that held out against the forces of Rome for months, totally intrigued me. Of course the fortress eventually fell, and we all know the tragic end of these Jewish zealots who chose to commit mass suicide rather than submit to Rome. When I saw the book The Dovekeepers, a book about the fortress and the people who defended it written by Alice Hoffman, it renewed my...
Land. Since the earliest days of our country, land has been recognized as one of the assets central to the American Dream. From a quest for wide-open spaces, to the highest levels of sophistication in development, leveraging land for the best possible value is a practice with which Americans are very familiar. With the right plan, mountains are moved, and dreams are realized. However, it is not at all unusual for a family’s portfolio to contain appreciated land acquired a number of years ago d...
We move through our entire lives facing change: interests may change, relationships come and go, health problems may crop up, abilities and needs shift, relocation may become necessary, careers change, social status alters; and the list goes on. Despite all the major changes a person experiences as he or she moves through life, some things remain constant. The love a person feels for particular family members, the affections we have for the dogs that spend their short lives with us, the beauty...
Holiday seasons nowadays tend to blend together for one continuous shopping spree, starting in September when merchants feel obligated to start pushing Halloween, and lasting right through Easter the following spring. When I was a kid, admittedly quite some time ago, this behavior on the part of shopkeepers didn’t exist and we as consumers didn’t demand it. Stores began stocking shelves with Halloween treats and costumes the first or second week of October. We didn’t even begin thinking about...
Retirement can lead to a whole new life, one that allows a person to embrace dreams and develop interests. Dale Dombrosky, Sidney, discovered that fact when he retired from a long career as a plumber and turned his attention to his hobby of creating everything and anything from wood. He produces marvelous scrollwork, builds birdhouses and furniture, manufactures wind spinners, jar lid openers, key chains, plaques and signs, and creates a whole host of other specialty items. “I make a little b...
You don’t necessarily need physical strength, agility, speed or expensive security devices. You just need to be aware, not afraid. HEAR ARE SOME PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS FOR OLDER ADULTS Criminals look for the easy target. Don’t allow yourself to become a target…make it clear you are not their next victim. TRUST YOUR GUT FEELINGS…if something doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t…don’t take chances! Remember your life is worth more than your purse, vehicle or any item you are carring or possess. Mak...
Because of a new federal mandate, outreach services through the Williston Council for the Aging, Inc. (service which had been provided by Karen Froysland and Coreen Nehring, Williams County; Judy Jacobson, McKenzie County; and Lisa Fredrickson, Divide County) ended Dec. 31, 2011. The Council and other entities were not interested in contracting for the new service Aging & Disability Resource Link (ADRL) Options Counseling. NW Human Service Center’s Aging Services Unit is offering ADRL Options Counseling as of Feb. 1, 2012. Eligible consumers a...
Are you a Montanan who is 62 or older as of Dec. 31? If so, then check to see whether you qualify for Montana’s elderly homeowner/renter tax credit for 2011. If you can answer “yes” to all of the following questions, then you may be eligible for the credit: 1. Were you 62 or older as of Dec. 31, 2011? 2. Did you occupy a Montana residence(s) as an owner or renter for 6 months or more during 2011? 3. Did you reside in Montana for nine months or more during 2011? 4. Was your total gross household income less than $45,000 in 2011? Instr...
Super Bowl is just around the corner and even if you are not a football fan, you may like to tune in to watch the commercials and halftime entertainment. Interestingly enough Super Bowl Sunday is the second- largest day for food consumption in the U.S., after Thanksgiving, according to Wikipedia. Following is an article from Alice Henneman, MS, RD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator. Henneman has an excellent website on all aspects of healthy eating. Go to www.food.unl.edu for...
With the return of January, every publication in creation tackles the subject of New Year’s resolutions. When the new year dawns bright and fresh, writers, figuring this is a good way to fill blank pages, devote a lot of space discussing how and why to make resolutions, how to keep them, tricks and hints on how to follow through on those well-meaning resolves, and a host of other spin-offs on the subject of resolutions of all sorts. Personally, I shake my head at all this hoopla, and I g...
January generally ushers in the coldest month of the year. Daytime highs plummet to subzero temperatures for weeks at a time, winds howl, people only venture outdoors for short periods and only when bundled up in heavy coats, mittens, and warm boots, and those with wood stoves keep the fires stoked and blazing hot all day long to chase the gloom and cold. Animals hunker down as well, as domestic animals stay in their coops or shelters and the wild animals burrow deep into their dens or dense...
Remember when we had strength in our fingers and wrists? Peanut butter jar lids opened easily, bottle caps twisted off with a flick of the wrist, and we figured we could conquer any lid or bottle cap that passed our way. Not so, my friends. I spend more time now trying to open some jar lids than I do vacuuming the floor. Lids can present formidable problems, refusing to budge a millimeter regardless of how many little tricks I try or handy gadgets that I use on them. Sometimes this unmoving lid...
The tavern has always been an important social aspect of American life. Knowing that my great great grandfather operated a tavern/rest stop for travelers over a century ago, the history and information concerning these watering holes has always interested me. Therefore, when I saw the book, America Walks into a Bar: A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies, and Grog Shops, written by Christine Sismondo, I couldn’t resist reading it. The book did not disappoint me. Sismondo p...
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.” The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment.” He was right — our generation didn’t have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant...
Especially important for seniors -Immune systems and other organs become a bit sluggish with age. Stomach and intestinal tracts may hold food longer, the sense of taste and smell may be altered and the liver and kidneys may not easily get rid of toxins. -Today’s food comes from all over the world and nearly 50% of our food dollar buys food that others prepare. Leftovers: Cooling, Storing and Reheating -Always refrigerate perishable foods within two hours. Do not cover hot food tightly. Leave lid...
Who of my generation doesn’t remember Corporal Rusty and Private Rin Tin Tin, and the exciting adventures they shared together each week on the Adventures of Rin Tin Tin television series? My sister and I delighted in these adventures and watched avidly each week to share in the thrills experienced by a boy and his dog. So, when I saw the book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean, a flood of memories rushed back and I knew I had to read this book. As Orlean herself remarks in t...
Once upon a time in the early ‘80s, a young couple with three small children looked forward to Christmas with great trepidation. Father was out of work, Mother washed dishes at the Triangle, so the couple could barely make ends meet, never mind anticipating anything extra for Christmastime. Prospects for a bright, merry holiday looked extremely grim. Sure, they had a tree - a beat up mess salvaged from the dumpster that resembled a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Yep, they had decorations – hom...
Decorating a tree or trees at Christmastime has become a much-loved tradition for most of us. For many people of my generation, Christmas memories center around the tree and decorating its branches with cherished ornaments used year after year. Those ornaments came in all shapes and sizes, as the array of potential decorations for a tree were nearly limitless. Ornaments consisted of handcrafted items along with store bought ornaments of all colors and shapes. Decorations are limited only to...
By definition, the philanthropic spirit always finds an appropriate form of expression. We see this philanthropic spirit clearly each time we witness the desire of a child determined to give a gift to a parent or teacher. That determination will always find the perfect way to express itself. And whether it is another tie for dad to add to his collection or an apple for a favorite teacher, the value of the gift is beyond measure. Many often lament the fact that as we age many of our child-like characteristics seems to fade. Thankfully, however,...
The Richland County Health Department is saying that it is never too late to get vaccinated against influenza and that getting it now is especially important because the holiday season is here. All of our staff is encouraging Richland County residents to get their vaccine. “As families gather for the holidays, it is very important to immunize yourself and your family members.” “Everyone who has not yet received the seasonal influenza vaccine should do so before the holidays. The flu vaccine is the most effective and safest way to remain immun...
You don’t have to have the same foods over and over. Try these simple re-dos with holiday foods. Mashed Potatoes -Combine with a little chopped onion and beaten egg; form into patties and pan fry for delicious potato cakes. -Sauté green onions and puree with chicken stock and leftover mashed potatoes for a delicious winter soup. Add leftover or frozen vegetables if you like. Baked Sweet Potatoes -Mix a cup of mashed sweet potatoes into your favorite muffin or quick bread recipe. -Mix chilled, mashed sweet potatoes with beaten egg. Roll into cy...
