MONTANA

October 2015

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

First
skydive

Sports-loving pastor
Elderly financial exploitation
Rewards of being a Senior Companion

INSIDE

Bookshelf..................................................Page 3
Opinion.....................................................Page 4
Savvy Senior.............................................Page 5
Calendar....................................................Page 13

Big Sky Birding........................................Page 14

Volunteering..............................................Page 19
On the Menu.............................................Page 21
Strange But True.......................................Page 22

News Lite
Mistaken text message leads to love

ST. LOUIS (AP) A married St. Louis couple is sharing their

unlikely love story about three years after the mistaken text message that forged their relationship.
Kasey Bergh accidentally sent a text to Henry Glendening, a
stranger, in June 2012. The pair continued communicating after
realizing they had a lot in common, sharing recommendations on
books, movies and music, before meeting in person for the first
time a week later, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Upon their second meeting two days later, they each arrived at
a Kirkwood coffee shop at different times and realized they had
ordered the same drink.
From the very, very beginning it felt like we were on the same
wavelength, Glendening said.
Despite a 30-year age difference, Bergh and Glendenings connection flourished, and they moved in together within two months.

It really didnt make any difference, Glendening said. We

were so connected at that point through deeper stuff.
He credits Bergh with helping him get out of an awful place
in his life, which included an unhappy relationship and a deadend job.
Kasey is a huge inspirer. She wasnt recommending or advocating any particular direction I go, but she encouraged exploring,
finding out what I want to do, Glendening said.
Bergh believes Glendening caused her to again believe in love
and change her mind about remaining single after her divorce six
years prior.
I had totally embraced I was single and that I never needed a
guy, Bergh said. Then I met Henry.
Exactly two years after the errant text message, Glendening
proposed to Bergh at the rooftop restaurant where they ended
their first meeting, with her favorite song, Thank You by Led
Zeppelin, playing in the background.
The couple married June 27 in front of a graffiti wall near the
St. Louis riverfront.

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Bookshelf
The Old Farmers Almanac - Western Edition
Yankee Publishing, Inc. 2016
Softcover 272 pages $6.99 5 1/4 x 8

Mild and dry for much

of West, latest edition of
Farmers Almanac says
By Montana Best Times Staff

Its here, folks the 2016 Old Farmers Almanac Western

Edition.
So lets just cut to the chase. We know what youre thinking:
You want to know what its winter forecast is, right?
The winter of 2015-16 will be another snowy one in much of
the northeast quarter of the country, with areas in the Pacific
Northwest also relatively snowy, the Almanac says. But its
weather map also shows it will be mild and dry for much of the
West, including the western half of Montana. The book, of
course, contains a much more detailed forecast for the whole
country.
Heres a look at some other things youll enjoy in the 2016 Old
Farmers Almanac, according to a news release on the new publication:
The biggest Supermoon in decades, coming up on Nov. 14,
2016.
Why Neil Armstrong left $30,000 on the moon.
Angling advice for anyone, especially Mildred in Georgia.
Proof that the Almanacs 1-plus million Facebook fans are
really smart, especially when it comes to credit cards, pillowcases and dryer lint.
How to tell when a moose likes you. (Hint: probably never.)
The perfect garden: It grows really fast and youll love drinking it.
Creatures from HELL! (that barely move, live under rocks
and are less than 6 inches long)
Panting chickens, happy clams, a ginormous cow and jingling bear poop.
The myth of the 5-Second Rule and other ways your kitchen is trying to kill you.
Why Lassie was a love story that could have turned into
Fatal Attraction.
Finally, supervillains dont get any dastardlier than
Typhoid Mary Mallon, who unleashed an epidemic of epic
proportions ... without even trying. What hero finally brought
her to justice?
And then, according the Almanac news release, here are some
fun numbers and statistics you will find in the 2016 edition:
$3.2 million: value of an original Superman comic book.

90 percent: number who misinterpret the sell by dates and

throw out good food.
500: number of miles a dandelion seed can travel.
18: number of feet a moose can dive.
$3.40: average payout, per tooth, by the Tooth Fairy.
17.3 million: number of Christmas trees harvested annually.
And, the Top 10 Weird & Wacky Facts:
1. 76 beavers were once forced to skydive ... for their survival.
2. The kitchen sponge is likely the most bacteria-laden thing in
your house.
3. Doctors are analyzing patients sweat patterns using red
powder and a hot room.
4. A new way to make some cash: Rent out your toilet.
5. Dryer sheets can be used to freshen up a funky-smelling car.
6. Robo-bees and drones are the latest tools of the trade on the
farm.
7. A moose and cow had a not-so-secret love affair!
8. There was once a year without a summer. At all.
9. Latest intersection of gardening and tech: apps that alert gardeners when produce is ripe.
10. Family therapists are now treating pet-owner relationship
issues.
There you have it, folks: The 2016 Old Farmers Almanac.
The Almanac may be purchased anywhere books and magazines are sold as well as at Almanac.com/Shop or by calling
800-Almanac.
October 2015

Opinion

Sometimes its OK to say, Im gonna pass

October 2015

I admire Wolf for what he did. The guys got guts. Its a
pretty cool thing, and its with good reason we put him on the
cover of this publication.
But for some people, its OK to defy all those self-help
books that insist every day you should do something that
makes you really, really uncomfortable; to realize that if it
doesnt bring you joy, whats the point? Life is short. Says
who I have to play hard all the time?
Still, you gotta admire Bill Wolf ...

Dwight Harriman
Montana Best Times Editor
MONTANA

A story on Page 6 in this issue of Montana Best Times tells

about a very enterprising senior, Bill Wolf, 77, of Miles City,
who earlier this year decided to do something wild and crazy
go skydiving.
This is an amazing thing to me. Not just because he went
skydiving at 77, but that a person would skydive at all.
I wouldnt jump out of a plane at 13,000 feet if my life
depended on it. Not even with a jump instructor strapped
securely to my back, as Wolf had. I wish I had his courage.
Back in college, I went through a phase where I thought I
had to conquer every single fear that presented itself. A
friend of mine, who was an airplane nut, almost persuaded
me to go skydiving. Almost. I thought I would be a coward
if I didnt do it. But the thought of the jump fingered primeval fears deep inside my psyche that I was unable to
overcome. Still, I was torn. Shouldnt I face my fear and do
it?
I didnt, and with the passage of time, have come to see it
was a perfectly fine thing not to jump. I wasnt a coward. Says
who I have to fling myself from an airplane and hope my parachute opens?

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

P.O. Box 2000, 401 S. Main St., Livingston MT 59047

Tel. (406) 222-2000 or toll-free (800) 345-8412 Fax: (406) 222-8580
E-mail: montanabesttimes@livent.net Subscription rate: $25/yr.
Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana
Dwight Harriman, Editor Cheyenne Crooker, Designer

Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated Savvy

Senior information column, is a longtime
advocate of senior issues. He has been featured in
Time magazine; is author of The Savvy Senior:
The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and
Finances for Senior Citizens; and is a regular
contributor to the NBC Today show.

Understanding reverse mortgages:

Beware of misleading ads

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you give us a rundown of how reverse mortgages work?
Ive see actors Fred Thompson and Henry Winkler pitching them
on TV, and they sound like a good deal. What can you tell me?

- Need the Money

Dear Need the Money,

When it comes to celebrity spokespeople pitching reverse
mortgages on TV, dont believe everything you hear. Many of
these ads are misleading and dont always give you the whole
story. In fact, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently
issued a warning to seniors to watch out for these deceptive
advertisements. With that said, heres the lowdown on reverse
mortgages.

The

basics

A reverse mortgage is a unique type of loan that allows older

homeowners to borrow money against the equity in their house
that doesnt have to be repaid until the homeowner dies, sells the
house or moves out for at least 12 months. At that point, you or
your heirs will have to pay back the loan plus accrued interest
and fees, but you will never owe more than the value of the
house.

Its also important to understand that with a reverse mortgage,

you, not the bank, own the house, so youre still required to pay
your property taxes and homeowners insurance. Not paying them
can result in foreclosure.

To be eligible, you must be at least 62 years old, own your own

home (or owe only a small balance) and currently be living there.

You will also need to undergo a financial assessment to determine whether you can afford to continue paying your property
taxes and insurance. Depending on your financial situation, you
may be required to put part of your loan into an escrow account
to pay future bills. If the financial assessment finds that you cannot pay your insurance and taxes and have enough cash left to
live on, youll be denied.

Loan

details

Around 95 percent of all reverse mortgages offered today are

Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM), which are FHA

insured and offered through private mortgage lenders and banks.

HECMs also have home value limits that vary by county, but
cannot exceed $625,500.

How much you can actually get through a reverse mortgage

depends on your age, your homes value and the prevailing interest rates. Generally, the older you are, the more your house is
worth, and the lower the interest rates are, the more you can borrow. A 70-year-old, for example, with a home worth $250,000
could borrow around $136,000 with a fixed-rate HECM. To estimate how much you can borrow, use the reverse mortgage calculator atreversemortgage.org.

You also need to know that reverse mortgages are expensive

with a number of fees, including: a 2 percent lender origination
fee for the first $200,000 of the homes value and 1 percent of the
remaining value, with a cap of $6,000; a 0.5 percent upfront
mortgage insurance premium (MIP) fee, plus an annual MIP fee
thats equal to 1.25 percent of the outstanding loan balance; along
with an appraisal fee, closing costs and other miscellaneous
expenses. Most fees can be deducted for the loan amount to
reduce your out-of-pocket cost at closing.

To receive your money, you can opt for a lump sum, a line of
credit, regular monthly checks or a combination of these. But in
most cases, you cannot withdraw more than 60 percent of the
loan during the first year. If you do, your upfront MIP fee will be
bumped up to 2.5 percent.

Get
educated

To learn more, read the National Council on Agings online

booklet Use Your Home to Stay at Home, which you can download athomeequityadvisor.org.

Also note that because reverse mortgages are complex loans, all
borrowers are required to get face-to-face or telephone counseling through a HUD approved independent counseling agency
before taking one out. Most agencies charge around $125 to
$250. To locate one near you, visitgo.usa.gov/v2H, or call 1
(800) 569-4287.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443,
Norman, OK 73070, or visitSavvySenior.org.
October 2015

I just wanted to do it
77-year-old Mile
City resident goes
skydiving

Photos courtesy of Bill Wolf

Above and on the cover: Bill Wolf and his tandem jump instructor, Rob Pelon, of Skydive Arizona, give a thumbsup during Bills first skydive in Arizona earlier this year. Below left: Pelon helps Wolf into his parachute before the
big jump.

By Denise Hartse

Montana Best Times

MILES CITY When Bill Wolf wants to do something, he

does it from owning a motel to serving on the Miles City
Council for three terms under two mayors. So when he decided he
wanted to go sky diving, he did just that.
Ive always wanted to skydive, said Bill, a 50-year resident of
Miles City. My uncle was a paratrooper, and he filled my head
with all kinds of things about jumping out of a plane.

The decision

Bill, who was born in Center, North Dakota, on June 13, 1938,
decided to finally parachute out of an airplane on Saturday, Feb.

When you first jump out, you

have to catch your breath.
The air is pretty thin that high.
Bill Wolfe
October 2015

after their
Wolf floats to earth with his jump instructor
parachute deploys.

21, 2015, in Eloy, Arizona.

The Miles City resident and his wife, Glennda, were visiting
their daughter, Sue Sapian, who lives in Glendale, Arizona, when
the 77-year-old made his decision.
I just wanted to do it and I did, he said. They make it pretty
safe anymore. Im going to give (former President George H.W.)
Bush a run for his money. People think Im crazy, but you can
still have your dreams.
Sue planned to make the jump with him.
Bill looked up a company on the Internet that offered skydiving and found Skydive Arizona in Eloy, about an hour and a half
drive from Glendale.
The jump was on.

The jump

When Bill and his daughter arrived at Skydive Arizona, they

got a lesson in tandem skydiving, in which an instructor and student make the jump together.
You go through a training process first, Bill explained. It
takes about two hours.
The total time from the instruction to landing on the ground
was about five hours.
At the time he jumped, there were 12 skydivers, including a
cameraman who went along, Bill said.
According to Bill, if requests are made to have photos taken
during the jump, the company sends along a cameraman and
his group wanted photos.
He and his instructor leaped from the aircraft at 13,000 feet.
The exhilaration of jumping out of a plane and traveling 100
and some miles per hour that first minute of free-fall is something, Bill said. When you first jump out, you have to catch
your breath. The air is pretty thin that high.
He added, I was going so fast (the air) sucked my cheeks up.
Of the float back to the ground, Bill said, Its so clear up
there. You can see over the mountains for miles and miles.
Unfortunately Glennda couldnt be there for the jump.
My wife was upset she didnt get to see me jump. She was
ill, Bill said.

Smiles all around

after a great jum

p.

Asked if he would like to skydive again, he said with a twinkle

in his eye, I would definitely love to do it again. I intend to do it
again. During my next attempt, Id like to do some hang gliding,
too.

Many other accomplishments

After the jump, Bill received a certificate, photos of the

momentous event and plenty of memories.
He added those to his many other accomplishments, which
include an airplane connection he served on the Miles City
Airport Commission as well as having served as vice president
of the Eastern Montana Realtors Association; director of the
Miles City Area Chamber of Commerce; and in several positions
at his church and affiliated school, Trinity Lutheran Church and
Trinity Lutheran Classical School.
Bill, along with a partner, also built the Interstate Campground
in Miles City, started the B&C Oil Company in Miles City, served
as director of Intermountain Oil Marketeers Association and was
appointed to the Dealer/Jobber Advisory Council by Standard Oil.
He and several other investors built the first dorm on the Miles
Community College campus.
Now semiretired due to a bout with cancer, Bill said, Here in
Miles City, Ive got great friends, great family, a wonderful wife.
Life is good.
In addition to following ones dreams, Bill offered this life
advice: Keep a low profile and stay humble.
Reach Denise Hartse at (406) 234-0450 or localife@midrivers.
com.
October 2015

Pastor

has a
passion
for local
sports
By Marlo Pronovost
Montana Best Times

COLUMBUS Jay Forseth may

very well be living proof that God is a
sports fan.
When hes not behind the pulpit at the
Columbus Evangelical Church, Pastor
Forseth is seemingly everywhere sports
are being played.
An assistant basketball coach.

Above: Pastor Jay Forseth is pictured in front of his church in Columbus, recently.

MT Best Times photo by Richard Hanners

Left: Forseth drives to the basket while playing for Denver Christian High School in
the 1980s. Photo courtesy of Jay Forseth
A soccer referee.
A volleyball line judge.
A baseball umpire.
Overseeing the wildly popular
Upward basketball and cheerleading
program.
Sports are big here, Forseth said. I
think thats why God called me here.

Athletic background
October 2015

A twin and the youngest of seven

children born to a mother with ALS

also known as Lou Gerhigs Disease
and an athletic father, sports has been a
lifelong constant in Forseths life, as has
his faith.
His athletic record is impressive by
any standard.
Named the 1984 Outstanding Athlete
at Denver Christian High School, Forseths prowess on the field and court took
him to Northwest Nazarene University

Sports are big here. I think that is why

God called me here.
Jay Forseth
in Idaho, where he became a 10-time letterman in soccer, basketball and baseball,
as well as an NAIA soccer honorable mention All-American.
With a bachelors in teacher education/
physical education from Northwest Nazarene University and masters in physical
education/athletic administration from Idaho State University, Forseth went to work
as a K-2 physical education and 7-12 general science teacher.
True to form, Forseth also served as
coach and the athletic director for the
Meridian School District in Idaho until
1997.
Thats when his old college coach told
him about an opening for an athletic director/vice president for advancement at
Rocky Mountain College in Billings.
It was at Rocky, 12 years ago, where

Forseth said he began to feel God calling

him to the pulpit, a call that ultimately
brought him to Columbus.
When he is not carrying out his pastoral
duties or involved in sports, Forseth also
teaches Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
hunter education classes and is a Columbus Kiwanis member.

Life of a pastor

Columbus Evangelical is one of 21

churches in Stillwater County, with eight
of those in Columbus alone. On any given
Sunday, about 20 percent of the countys
population attends church, which is better
than most places, Forseth said.
At his church, four different teams take
turns leading music each Sunday, including a childrens team, a youth team, a
mens team and a group.

The work of a pastor is rewarding yet

often difficult. Dysfunctional families.
Broken marriages. Tragedies. They can all
take a toll.
It fills us up nonstop but we love
it, Forseth said.
The pastor designates every Thursday as
a Sabbath rest, when he and his wife of 25
years, Lisa, completely disconnect from
the rush of life. The couple have two children Sarah, who graduated from high
school last year, and Josiah, who is now a
sophomore in high school.
Keeping the right attitude also helps,
and intentionally focusing on what he can
do is key, Forseth said.
Reach Marlo Pronovost at editor@
stillwatercountynews.com or (406) 3225212.

Forseth referees a youth soccer game at Columbus Granite Peak Park this past summer.

Photo by Sensory Photography

October 2015

Montana elderly financial

exploitation on the rise
state, it nevertheless paints a picture of how the senior population
is becoming a prime target.

Usually not by strangers

While the perpetrators of financial exploitation are often strangers to the victims, this is usually not the case. Most commonly
they are family members or someone close to the senior victim.
The belief that exploitation happens by strangers through the
scams and those kinds of things, although they are true, theyre
not the majority of the cases, Hagenlock explained.
Roughly two-thirds of financial exploiters are from within the
family dynamics who are close to the victim, he said.
Theyre people who are trusted to them. Theyre people that
they know, that they confide in, Hagenlock said.
Clyde Park Bank of the Rockies Personal Banker Jennell Huff
presents Elderly Financial Abuse programs around Park County
and agrees that offenders are often someone close to senior victims. Huff said her research shows around 75 percent of elderly
abuse and fraud is perpetrated by family members a number
she believes to be low.
They dont want to admit that that happened and they dont
report it, Huff said, adding only one in five cases are reported.

Why seniors are targeted

MT Best Times photos by Hunter DAntuono

Personal banker Jennell Huff, with Bank of the

Rockies in Clyde Park, poses with a piggy bank at
the bank, Sept. 2. As part of her job, Huff gives presentations on elderly financial abuse.

By Jasmine Hall

Montana Best Times

Finances are an important part of anyones life. Managing our

budgets, incomes, bills and commodities are essential to surviving in the modern world. But people 60 and above are increasingly becoming the target of financial exploitation.
Financial exploitation is the unreasonable use of a persons
money or property by another who has gained the trust of that person for personal gain. According to Michael Hagenlock, bureau
chief for Montanas Senior and Long Term Care Adult Protective
Services, financial exploitation has been on the rise in the state.
Approximately 25 percent of Adult Protective Services 2015
referrals were financial exploitation cases an increase from 21
percent in 2014 and 19 percent in 2013. In 2015, the organization
has responded to over 1,100 financial exploitation investigations.
Although the statistics include not only those over 60 but also the
intellectually disabled and those who are deemed disabled by the
October 2015

10

Hagenlock said family members often target seniors of the

family because of their kindheartedness, financial stability, pride
and dependency on others, such as for caregiving needs.
We want to take care of our children, we want to make sure
that our grandchildren are taken care of, Hagenlock said. And
yet when they come through and start taking our money, and our
property, its very embarrassing.
There are a variety of reasons seniors may make easier targets
than younger individuals.
For one, theyre lonely and tend to be home most of the day,
as opposed to their younger counterparts who are working, Huff
said. Theyre also more trusting.
Financial exploiters often use fear or coercion to gain money or
personal items such as a deed to a house.
They will come up with reasons why they should transfer their
bank accounts and their property into their name, Hagenlock

The biggest thing is to be

aware that it can and
does happen. You have to
ask questions ...
Jennell Huff,
on avoiding scams

said. Some would even go as far as to say, If you dont do

these things, then I could be evicted and the grandchildren wont
have a place to live.

Common scams

Aside from family member exploitation, Huff said there are

financial exploitation scams by those outside the family that
seniors and their families should be aware of.
Common scams include the grandparent scheme, where a
scammer claims to be a family member in need of money; the
fake lottery, prize or sweepstakes scam, where a letter or phone
call says the senior has won money and must send money or
make a purchase to claim the winnings; and the investment-related scam, where a company or individual guarantees returns on
investments or business opportunities that are too good to be true.
Huff added some scams, such as the IRS scam, claims the
senior owes back taxes and needs payment to be sent immediately, using the fear of being arrested to scare the victim into sending
money. Huff advises seniors to never offer personal information
or money to unknown callers, especially unusual cases where
those asking for money claim to be family.
The biggest thing is to be aware that it can and does happen,
Huff said. You have to ask questions and be aware of your surroundings.

Resources

For resources about elderly financial abuse, Huff recommends

contacting Adult Protection Services, the Montana State University Extension Office, Montana Aging Services, the National Fraud

Most commonly the perpetrators of financial exploitation are

family members or someone close to the senior victim.
Information Center or the Montana Legal Services Association.
Elderly financial exploitation is a crime. To report elderly
financial exploitation, Huff advises contacting Adult Protective
Services. The agency covers all 56 counties in Montana and has
35 state investigators who will respond to reports. Quick reporting can be done through the APS website at www.aps.mt.gov.
What we tell people is dont worry about trying to prove it,
Hagenlock said. If you believe it (is exploitation), report it.
Contact Jasmine Hall at communitynews@livent.net or (406)
222-2000.

How your Social Security benefit is calculated

By Mark Miller/50+ Digital LLC

age for every year that has passed since age

22, and you need a total of 40 quarters of
coverage to qualify (or 10 years of work).

If youve checked your annual Social

Security statement lately, you probably
know the size of the benefit youre projected to receive in retirement. If not, download a copy at the Social Security website
(http://1.usa.gov/1apwlGY). These days,
the government only sends statements in
the mail once every five years.
With the statement in hand, lets look at
a few key questions dealing with how your
benefit number is calculated.
Q: How does the Social Security benefit formula actually work?
A: Its mainly determined by a formula
called the Primary Insurance Amount
(PIA), a weighted formula that gives a
higher benefit relative to career earnings
for a lower earner than for a high earner.
You must work long enough to become
insured, either for retirement benefits
when you are 62 or older, or if you
become disabled at an earlier age, or
should you die, leaving a benefit for your
survivors.

Q: How is the PIA determined?

A: The Social Security Administration
(SSA) starts by calculating your average
indexed monthly earnings (AIME). That
involves taking any years of earnings that
you had before you reached age 60 and
indexing them to compare with the earnings level in the overall economy as of the
year you turn 60. Its a sort of inflation
adjustment, but one that uses wages, not
consumer prices.
Taking a little time to understand
your Social Security benefits goes
a long way toward peace of mind.
Q: How much time is required to
qualify for benefits?

A: For a retirement benefit at 62, you

need to have earned one quarter of cover-

Q: How many years are used to compute the PIA?

A: For a retirement at 62 or older, the
highest 35 years of earnings are included
in the calculation. If you only had 30 years
of earnings, the SSA still takes the highest
35, and will include five zeros.
That is averaged and expressed as a
monthly amount; your average indexed
Continued on page 15
October 2015

11

MT Best Times photos by Daniel Nolker

Senior Companion Frances Paslay, right, enjoys morning coffee with her client Lucylle Colbrese, left, at the dining room of the
Makoshika Estates senior housing community.

Senior Companions
Program benefits both the clients and their companions
By Daniel Nolker
Montana Best Times

GLENDIVE As early morning light danced through the

steam rising from their coffee mugs, Lucylle Colbrese and her
Senior Companion, Frances Paslay, planned their weekly day out
in Glendive.
Paslay, 80, visits Colbrese, 85, each Wednesday morning at the
Makoshika Estates senior affordable housing community and
takes her out to run errands, do their hair or get something to eat.
A volunteer with the Senior Companion Program for four
years, Paslay joins approximately 250 other Senior Companions
in Montana who dedicate their time to help other at-risk seniors.
Karen ODell, director of the Senior Companion Program for
Action for Eastern Montana, said Senior Companions must be 55
years of age or older and willing to serve 15 to 40 hours per
week.
They might take their client to the grocery store or a doctors
appointment, but 90 percent of what they do is visitation, she
said.

Companion programs in Montana

There are three Senior Companion Program sponsors in

Montana Action for Eastern Montana, Rocky Mountain
Development Council and Missoula Aging Services, said Anna
Yeagle, the program officer at the Senior Companion umbrella
organization, Corporation for National and Community Service.
October 2015

12

The programs combined serve 29 counties and the Fort Peck

Reservation, Yeagle said.
In 2014-2015 these Senior Companions helped more than
1,000 Montana homebound seniors and other adults maintain
independence in their own homes, Yeagle said. We have a
pretty balanced portfolio of services that serve both the eastern
and western parts of the state.
In Eastern Montana, ODell said Action for Eastern Montana
was awarded a federal grant to support Senior Companions for
rural areas.
She said the grant has to be rewritten each year and does not
come close to paying for the program. The program must raise an
additional $65,000 each year to properly fund it. Ninety percent
of the combined funds goes to the senior companions themselves
to provide for their stipends, gas and other expenses.

Help with Companion costs

Although Senior Companions are considered volunteers, they

do receive a nominal stipend of $2.65 per hour, and their gas cost
is covered, ODell said.
A lot of the Senior Companions have a limited income, so
they could not volunteer if they did not have assistance, ODell
said. It is a win-win situation.
Paslay said she joined the program because she was already
volunteering with the elderly but could not continue without the
gas assistance.

I try to be helpful and kind to those who need it and those who dont need it.
Ill continue the program until they take my drivers license away from me.
Frances Paslay
It is a relief to be able to continue to volunteer in Glendive, she
said.
In Dawson County, there have been four Senior Companions
working with 27 clients. Last week, ODell said a new Senior
Companion was trained in the small town of Richey to bring the
total up to five.
There are always a lot more people asking for service than
companions who are available to fill the positions, ODell said.
We cant take on 100 clients and have five people doing the
work.

Intangible benefits

The program might be popular because the benefits transcend

the services that are provided.
Paslay said her relationship with Colbrese is more than a
Senior Companion and a client.
We have a good friendship. We enjoy each others company,
Paslay said.
She said she and Colbrese found they have a lot in common.
Since both were originally from North Dakota, come from large
families of 14 and have faced similar tragedies, they had plenty
of ways to connect.
Colbrese said her friendship with Paslay has helped her handle
her reduced mobility.
I dont drive anymore, so her biggest help for me is getting me
out, Colbrese said. Ive always been independent and stubborn,
so that was hard to adjust to. Its nice to get to go do things. I
dont walk very good, so shes my arm to lean on. Her biggest
challenge is getting me out of the chair.

Frances Paslay, 80, has spent the last four years serving in
Glendive as a Senior Companion to assist at-risk seniors.
Since she has been serving in different capacities her whole
life, she enjoys the work of a Senior Companion, Paslay said.
I take after my mother, she said. She was always doing for
others. I try to be helpful and kind to those who need it and those
who dont need it. Ill continue the program until they take my
drivers license away from me.
Reach Daniel Nolker at news@rangerreview.com or (406) 3773303.

October 2015 Calendar

 Friday, Oct. 2
Bozeman Maze, through Oct. 31, Mandeville Lane, Bozeman

 Saturday, Oct. 3
Charlie Russell Chew Choo Dinner
Train, 4 p.m., Hanover Boarding Station,
Lewistown
Annual St. Marys Bash School Fundraiser, Livingston

 Saturday, Oct. 10
10th Annual Raw Deal Run, 10 a.m.,
Raw Deal Ranch, McLeod

Moose Chase Kids Race, noon, Sacajawea

Park, Livingston
67th annual Harvest Sale, free lunch followed by auction, 1 p.m., Pine Creek Methodist Church East River Road, Livingston
Mule Deer Foundation Banquet, 5:30
p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. auction, Park Place,
Miles City

 Saturday, Oct. 17
16th Annual Cow Patty Links Haunted
Hollow, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., Belle Prairie
Road, Glendive

Hay Day, bale judging and vendor sales,

Miles City

 Sunday, Oct. 18
Junkapalooza, Fairgrounds, Glendive

 Saturday, Oct. 24
Craft Fair, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., National Guard
Armory, Dillon
Boys & Girls Club Haunted House,
Glendive
Girl Scouts Carnival, Miles City
October 2015

13

y
k
S
g
Bi
Birding
Terry McEneaney is ornithologist emeritus for Yellowstone National Park, and is the author of three books: Birding Montana, Birds of
Yellowstone, and The Uncommon Loon. He has been watching birds for 50 years and is one of Montanas most experienced birders.

Ravens attacking a Golden Eagle

settling a long-standing score
EDITORS NOTE:
Montana Best Times
has been featuring
some of the fascinating adventures Terry
McEneaney had
when he was Yellowstone National
Parks ornithologist.
Following is another
excerpt from a new book he is writing,
Lucky Feathers: Adventures and Experiences of a Yellowstone Ornithologist.
The year 1988 marked one of the greatest wildfire seasons in modern day times
in Yellowstone, in which an excess of 30
percent of the park burned to some
degree in a single year. During that historical event, many wildlife interactions
were recorded. But one wildlife encounter that stood out in my mind was an incident of Common Ravens (Corvus corax)
attacking a Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), thus settling up on a long-standing
score.
Golden Eagles, because of their prowess in the avian world, are without question one of the most feared of the avian
predators in North America. The reason
for this monadnock prowess is that Golden Eagles are very efficient at what they
do best, and that is killing all sorts of
prey with very limited effort. Just the
simple presence of a Golden Eagle flying
in the sky or perched in a tree will cause
all types of birds to go ballistic. For
example, the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus
tyrannus) and the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) will chase a Golden Eagle
long distances just to get it out of their
area. But for ravens, the Golden Eagle is
considered arch enemy number one and
October 2015

14

Left: A Golden Eagle in flight. Photo by Donna Dewhurst/courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Right: A Common Raven perches on a rock. Harry Engels/courtesy Yellowstone National Park
the most feared predator of them all,
based on their overpowering size and surprising speed in which it pursues prey
during the day.
After studying Golden Eagles and
Common Ravens for several decades in
the field, it can be safely proclaimed they
do not get along. In fact, after much careful personal study, it has been determined
that ravens have a predator-specific alarm
call in which the tonal character of the
raven call identifies the specific intruder
as a Golden Eagle.
Where I lived in Gardiner, Montana, on
a mountainside overlooking Yellowstone
National Park, I was fortunate to encounter both species nearly every day. Each

time I witnessed these raven/Golden

Eagle interactions, I made a mental note
of the detailed clucking sound made by
ravens when Golden Eagles were present.
And with training, when the ravens
would make the clucking alarm call
sound a certain way, I would look in the
sky and find a Golden Eagle being
harassed by ravens.
But getting back to the Yellowstone
wildfires: In August 1988 a most unusual
event took place in that a Golden Eagle
was discovered dead along a hiking trail
near Republic Pass (10,440 feet) in the
northeast corner of Yellowstone National
Park. What was unusual about this eagle
death was that the bird died of smoke

Photo courtesy of National Park Service

Shown is the carcass of the Golden Eagle killed

in the 1988 Yellowstone National Park wildfires
from which ravens plucked all but the underfeathers.

asphyxiation. And based on the evidence at hand, it was even much

more than this. There were dozens of
raven tracks in the ashes near the
eagle carcass. During necropsy, and
when the skin was peeled back on the
eagle, there was no subcutaneous
hemorrhaging indicating the eagle
was dead well before the ravens got
to it.
But the most noticeable observation was how the ravens pecked the
Golden Eagle carcass so heavily that
they plucked or pulled out all the
dark chocolate brown feathers (contour feathers and flight feathers
primaries and secondaries) in addition to removing the eyes. The eagle
carcass turned out to be white in color all that remained for feathers

were the exposed under-feathers,

such as semiplumes, down and filoplumes. I have seen ravens pecking a
feather off an eagle in flight many a
time, but I had never seen a Golden
Eagle that was pecked so hard it
turned out to be white in overall color.
What this find demonstrated to me
was how ingrained or instinctively
programed Common Ravens are to
just the presence of a feared predator
such as the Golden Eagle. Simply
put, there is no love lost between
these two species of birds. And it
reinstated my belief that this was not
a typical observation of ravens it
was of ravens attacking a Golden
Eagle and settling, for a moment, a
long-standing score.

More short stories from Lucky Feathers: Adventures and Experiences of a Yellowstone Ornithologist, will be featured in forthcoming issues
of Montana Best Times. In the meantime, enjoy Montana birds! And the Best of Big Sky Birding to you!
Bird watching questions may be sent to Terry McEneaney by writing to 1215 Lolo St., Missoula, MT 59802; emailing terry@ravenidiot.com; or visiting
www.yellowstonewildlifeguides.com or www.ravenidiot.com. If questions are mailed, include a phone number at which you can be reached.

Continued from Social Security, Page 11

monthly earnings (AIME). Then, the AIME is applied to the PIA
formula.
Its a bit like the income tax structure, says Stephen C. Goss,
chief actuary of the SSA. Where for AGI in the first segment
bracket of your earnings, you might pay a low tax rate, and for
AGI in higher brackets, you pay higher tax rates. With the PIA
formula, you get 90 percent of AIME for the first segment, which
we call bend points. For the next segment, you get 32 percent of
AIME. After that, its 15 percent of AIME.

they start immediately after youre first eligible for benefits.

Q: How does the timing of a claim figure into my benefit

amount?
A: The age at which you decide to start receiving benefits matters. If you wait until the full or normal retirement age, which currently is 66, your monthly benefit level will be exactly that PIA.
If you want to start retirement benefits at the earliest possible
age, 62, you receive a reduced benefit for the rest of your life.
The PIA would be reduced by 25 percent.
If you wait until after normal retirement age to start benefits,
you get delayed retirement credits, equal to 8 percent for each
12-month period you delay.

Q: Are those withheld benefit dollars lost permanently?

A: No. People sometimes mistakenly refer to the earnings test
as though it is a tax or penalty. Its really not. It is calculated back
into your benefit when you reach full retirement age.

Q: Social Security applies an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to benefits using an automatic formula tied to
the Consumer Price Index. How does that adjustment figure
into the decision to file early or not?
A: The most important thing to know is that the COLAs are
applied to your benefits starting in the year you turn 62, no matter
if you have filed for benefits or not. Lets say you wait to file
until age 66, and there has been 10 percent inflation between the
time you are 62 and 66; then that $1,000 PIA will, just by virtue
of COLAs, have risen to $1,100 at your full retirement age. If you
take your $750 benefit at age 62, youll get the same COLAs, and
the $750 will increase by 10 percent, which is $825. So, either
way, you get the COLAs applied from one year to the next, and

Q: What happens if you claim benefits at age 62 but continue to work?

A: That can affect your benefit if youre earning over a threshold (roughly $15,000) and you are under the normal retirement
age. Social Security has an earnings test for people prior to attaining age 66. Your benefit is reduced by about $1 for every $2 of
earnings above that until you reach the full or normal retirement
age, at which point there is no earnings test.

EDITORS NOTE: Mark Miller is a journalist and author who

focuses on retirement and aging. He is the author of The Hard
Times Guide to Retirement Security: Practical Strategies for Money,
Work and Living and edits and publishes RetirementRevised.com.

Great News for Seniors 62 yrs of Age & Older!

COMFORTABLE & AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS
Accepting Applications for Independent Seniors

Call (406) 248-9117 1439 Main Street Billings, MT

Rent Based on Income, HUD 202 PRAC
Live On-Site Community Administrator
Free Laundry On-Site Parking
Mailboxes on Premises
Electric, Gas, Water, Sewer, & Trash
Included in Rent
Community Room Available for Social
Gatherings & Meetings

October 2015

15

Travel

(Un)cruise
for a personalized cruise experience
Photo courtesy Un-Cruise/TNS

A swimmer has fun snorkeling in Hawaii on an Un-Cruise. Un-Cruise vessels are designed for just a couple to several dozen
people on a quest for a very personalized cruise experience.

By Kathy Witt

KathyWitt.com/TNS

Lots of cruise lines tell you what theyre all about: Carnival,
the Fun Ships; American Cruise Line, Small Ship Cruising Done
Perfectly; Holland America Line, A Signature of Excellence.
Un-Cruise tells you what they arent: They arent noisy, rushed,
crowded or pretension, and they dont compromise in the dedication department, seriously subscribing to Leave No Trace practices. Un-Cruise tells you what they arent, and what they arent
is like the other guys.
Frankie and Bert Daniel of Spring Hope, N.C., boarded the S.S.
Legacy in the fall of 2013 for Un-Cruises Legends of Discovery
voyage on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
We had never been on a small ship cruise before, said
Frankie Daniel. We were blown away by the attention that was
given to each passenger; the attention to detail was unbelievable.
We had been on several cruises before but nothing compares to
Un-Cruise.
Un-Cruise vessels arent built to carry thousands of pleasure
seekers, but just a couple to several dozen on a quest for a very
personalized cruise experience, whether thats whale watching in
Alaskas Icy Strait, navigating the arroyos of Mexicos Sea of
Cortez by burro or exploring two UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
the Galapagos Islands and Quitos Colonial city center, without
getting lost in a throng of jostling elbows.
October 2015

16

The itineraries are more flexible, the paths much less beaten. If,
for example, there are more dolphins and whales to be seen further up the coast of Maui on the Hawaiian Seascapes adventure,
that is where the captain goes. Such detours for the sake of spotting superb marine life are very Un-Cruise. On the Uncharted
Isthmus excursion, passengers on the 64-guest Safari Voyager go
in search of sloths and howler monkeys as they transit the nearly
50-mile-long Panama Canal.
Un-Cruise ships are the boutique vessels of the cruise world.
They arent built with casinos, arcades and massive showrooms,
and the salon and spa are noticeably absent. Their stock in trade
is understated elegance. A salon or lounge with comfy seating
sets the mood for both pre-dinner cocktail parties and onboard
programming. A cabin transformed into a massage room is a
calming retreat and the place where the knots in your shoulders,
earned from a days canoeing or kayaking or swimming off the
back of the ship, can be worked out.
The Un-Cruise fleet includes expedition vessels, yachts and
one replica coastal steamer, the S.S. Legacy, which features period decor and Old World charm. Reflecting the personalized attention to detail, vessels have a variety of amenities: an EZ Dock
launch platform or full-beam swim step; bow-mounted underwater camera; on-deck hot tub, sauna and fitness equipment or a fitness room; one or two massage rooms; library; fully stocked bar
as well as wine taps.
Most of the vessels carry adventure equipment onboard,

including inflatable skiffs, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, as

well as gear youll need for appreciating the marine life, such as
snorkel gear and wetsuits. Yoga mats are also available, as are
sunrise yoga, and stretch classes.
The activities and the history are awesome, said Daniel. And
I was pleasantly surprised at the demographics onboard; all
ages.
You wont need to stake out a deck chair before sunrise. With
such a small group, seating on the Sun Deck or in the Sun
Lounge is plentiful, with cushioned couches and chaises offering
shade and a place to lounge while watching the unfolding scenery. You wont amass a drink tab that equals a weeks pay, either.
Fine spirits, wines and microbrews are included in the fare with
Un-Cruise on all but three vessels.
You wont find poolside hairy chest contests, pirate-themed
dress-up deck parties or buffets with queues snaking into the hall.
Rather, youll find an incredibly unassuming and relaxing ambience, with a generous bar, open seating at meal times to get
acquainted with all your cruise mates and a Wine Library (or other intimate lounge) for reading, playing games even playing
the piano.

Adventure guide to dont-miss moments

In Hawaii, talk story with Anakala Pilipo Solatorio, the kapuna (eldest) of the native Hawaiians still living in Halawa Valley,
and make poi with his son, Greg Solatorio; take a skiff out for
sunrise whale watching; and enjoy a traditional hula dance and
live Hawaiian music at the Molokai Museum during a paina
(feast).
On the Columbia and Snake Rivers, ride a jet boat right into
Hells Canyon; climb the switchbacks at the Columbia Gorge
National Scenic Area for an up-close view of Multnomah Falls;
and be completely enchanted by the Theatre de la Mode exhibition of post-World War II French fashion mannequins at the
Maryhill Museum.
In Mexico, on Sea of Cortez sailings, snorkel with sea lion
pups; see the red rock cliffs of Ensenada Grande, whose beach is
among the worlds top beaches; and take a burro ride with local

rancheros to
explore the
arroyos.

Plan your
adventure

Un-Cruise
Adventures has a
fleet of boutique
yachts and small
ships offering
adventure excursions for 22 to 88
in Alaska, the
Hawaiian Islands,
Mexicos Sea of
Cortez, Columbia
and Snake Rivers,
the Pacific Northwest, Galapagos
Photo by Kathy Witt/ TNS Islands and Costa
Greg Solatorio demonstrates how to make Rica and Panama.
poi the traditional way during an UnIncluded in the
Cruise visit to Hawaiis Halawa Valley.
cruise fare are
gourmet meals featuring local flavors; guided tours geared toward small groups;
from-yacht activities and equipment; and transfers. On select vessels, premium spirits, fine wines and microbrews, port charges
and taxes, and a massage are also included.
Reservations and information: www.Un-Cruise.com, 888-8628881.
EDITORS NOTE: Author, travel and lifestyle writer, and travel
goods expert Kathy Witt feels you should never get to the end of
your bucket list; theres just too much to see and do in the world.
She can be reached at KathyWitt24@gmail.com or KathyWitt.
com.

Photo courtesy of Un-Cruise/TNS

Going on an Un-Cruise lets you get an up-close view of marine life, like this kayaker exploring the Sea of Cortez.
October 2015

17

Health & Wellness

Time to change, or start, your workout

By Wina Sturgeon

Adventure Sports Weekly

This time of year is the shoulder season not quite yet fall,
but no longer full-on summer. Its the perfect time to plan what
youre going to do for your body when the cooler weather sets in.
Athletes already have their plan dialed in. But there are two types
of people who may not have thought much about planning for the
cooler weather, much less a youthful older age. Which type are
you?
The first group: Those who are fairly active and want to stay in
shape. These people may enjoy golf or bowling or a more strenuous activity now and then. They try to eat a healthy and non-fattening diet, and they may or may not workout on a regular basis.
The second group: Those who never work their body at all.
They spend a lot of time sitting and may go days without doing
anything that involves engaging the body in physical activity.
They spend most of their time sitting while watching TV or eating. Many heartily wish to lose a few pounds, but they rarely
undertake a plan to lose weight.
Lets address the more sedentary group first. If you are among
them, pay attention.
The newest studies on preventing dementia a concern for
everyone 50 or older are finding that exercising the body is an
important part of preventing Alzheimers disease.
According to the website Medicalnewstoday.com, Experts
from the University of California, San Francisco, said that over
50 percent of all Alzheimers cases may be prevented through
lifestyle changes. The site also points out that, researchers say
there are certain lifestyle measures we can make to reduce our
risk of developing Alzheimers disease and dementia, including
being physically active...
The latest research seems to indicate that not only Alzheimers,

The newest studies on preventing dementia a concern for

everyone 50 or older are finding that exercising the body is
an important part of preventing Alzheimers disease.

October 2015

18

but other kinds of dementia can be delayed, or have much milder

symptoms in those who actively move around.
Respected sources such as the Mayo Clinic, US National
Library of Medicine and more tout the ongoing studies showing
that physical activity may help prevent mental deterioration as
people age.
The medical journal Neuroscience published a study led by
Judy L. Cameron, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry at the Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The study used monkeys to prove the
benefits of exercise on the brain. According to Dr. Cameron, We
found that monkeys who exercised regularly at an intensity that
would improve fitness in middle-aged people learned to do tests
of cognitive function faster and had greater blood volume in the
brains motor cortex than their sedentary counterparts, Dr. Cameron said, adding, This suggests people who exercise are getting
similar benefits.
Basic human physiology helps explain why both physical and
mental exercise can stave off dementia. This is information worth
researching on your own: the way the body makes vessels to carry blood. When a body part is working, whether its muscle or
brain, it needs more oxygen, which is supplied by the arteries.
When the body is actively working it also creates waste products
that must be taken away. The veins take deoxygenated used
blood back to the heart to be enriched again.
As exercise progresses (which it should), more tissues such
as muscle fibers also need oxygen and waste removal. Tiny
extension blood vessels called capillaries begin establishing
themselves throughout the body. Here is an important fact: Just as
fat cant be removed in only one place, but is lost all over the
body in a weight loss program, capillaries spread throughout all
the tissues, not just the ones needing extra oxygen and garbage
removal.
But if physical activity stops or slows, and theres no longer a
need for extra oxygen and waste removal, those new capillaries
will wither away. The body is economical; it doesnt create energy if theres no call for it.
For those of you in the second group, who are active and want
to stay that way, change your workouts to obtain skills that
would make your activities more enjoyable. For example, if
youre a bowler, you may wish to throw with more oomph, so
the ball rolls forcefully to the pins. If youre a climber, are certain routes or problems more difficult for you? Would more finger strength or an ability to make a plyometric arm stretch
help? Learn exercises to build the necessary strength, and make
those exercises part of a regular routine to keep the blood flowing.
Change your workout by starting to build the mind and body
you will want in the years to come. Your older self will be very
thankful you did.
EDITORS NOTE: Wina Sturgeon is an active 55-plusser based
in Salt Lake City who offers news on the science of anti-aging
and staying youthful at: adventuresportsweekly.com. She skates,
bikes and lifts weights to stay in shape.

RSVP

Below is a list of volunteer openings available through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in
communities across southern Montana. To learn more about RSVP, call (800) 424-8867 or TTY (800) 833-3722;
or log on to www. seniorcorps.org.

Custer & Rosebud counties

- AARP Tax Assistance program: Volunteers needed.

- Clinic Ambassador: Need volunteer to
greet patients and visitors, providing directions and more, 2 locations
- Custer County Food Bank: Volunteer
assistants needed for 8-1:30, Mon., Tues.,
& Wed., to process donations, stock
shelves & more.
- DAV van: Drivers provide transportation to veterans.
- Historic Miles City Academy: Urgently
need volunteers at the thrift store.
- Miles City Soup Kitchen: Needs servers Monday-Friday; pick a day of the
week you would like to serve.
- Popcorn popper: Needed one day/
week, 2 hours in the morning, started in
Sept.
- St. Vincent DePaul: Volunteers to assist
in several different capacities.
- VA Activities: Urgent need for someone to help with activities.
- WaterWorks Art Museum: Volunteer
receptionists needed, 2-hour shifts Tues.Sun.; a volunteer also needed in cataloging
the art collection, one to assist with historic research of the permanent art collection,
and a volunteer to assist in summer kids
classes.
If you are interested in these or other
volunteer opportunities please contact:
Betty Vail, RSVP Director; 210 Winchester
Ave. #225, Miles City, MT 59301; phone
234-0505; email: rsvp05@midrivers.com.

Fergus & Judith Basin counties

- American Reads: Recruiting volunteers

to read with elementary students.
- Art Center: In need of volunteers on
Saturdays.
- Central Montana Museum: Seeking
additional volunteer docents.
- Community Cupboard (Food Bank):
Volunteers needed to help any week mornings as well as with deliveries.
- Council on Aging: Volunteers needed
to assist at the daily Grubstakes meal and
with clerical help during the busy lunch
hour.
- Library: Volunteer help always appreciated.
- ROWL (Recycle Our Waste Lewis-

town): Looking for volunteers to join

teams baling recyclables.
- Treasure Depot: Thrift store needs volunteers to sort, hang clothes and put other
items on display for sale.
- RSVP always has various needs for
your skills and volunteer services in our
community.
- Current RSVP volunteers are encouraged to turn in your hours each month;
your contribution to the community is
greatly appreciated!
Contact: RSVP Volunteer Coordinator
Sara Wald, 404 W. Broadway, Wells Fargo
Bank building, (upstairs), Lewistown, MT
59457; phone 535-0077; email: rsvplew@
midrivers.com.

Gallatin County

- American Cancer Society-Road to

Recovery: Drivers needed for patients
receiving treatments, from their home to
the hospital.
- American Red Cross Blood Drive: Two
volunteer opportunities available: an
ambassador needed to welcome, greet,
thank and provide overview for blood
donors; and phone team volunteers needed
to remind, recruit or thank blood donors.
Excellent customer service skills needed,
training will be provided, flexible schedule.
- Befrienders: Befriend a senior; visit on
a regular basis.
- Belgrade Senior Center: Meals on
Wheels needs regular and substitute drivers Monday-Friday, to deliver meals to
seniors before noon.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Be a positive
role model for only a few hours each
week.
- Bozeman and Belgrade Sacks Thrift
Stores: Need volunteers 2-3-hour shifts on
any day,Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-6
p.m.
- Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: Volunteers needed for the information desks in
the Atrium and the Perk,8 a.m.
-noon,noon- 4 p.m.
- Bozeman Senior Center Foot Clinic:
Retired or nearly retired nurses are urgently needed, 2 days a month, either 4- or
8-hour shifts.
- Cancer Support Community: Volunteer
receptionist need for the last 2 Tues. of the

month from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The position

would be shared with another volunteer so
there could be flexibility in how the Tues.
are divided.
- Galavan: Volunteer drivers neededMonday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. CDL
required. Galavan will assist you in
obtaining one. Volunteers also need to
make reminder calls and confirm rides for
the following day. Volunteers also needed
for morning dispatch.These responsibilities include receiving phone calls/messages and getting information from clients
and facilitating the transfer of information
to staff as required.
- Gallatin Rest Home: Volunteers wanted for visiting the residents, sharing your
knowledge of a craft, playing cards or
reading to a resident.
- Gallatin Valley Food Bank: Volunteers
needed to deliver commodities to seniors
in their homes once a month. Deliveries in
Belgrade are especially needed.
- HRDC: Receptionist needed to help
during the lunch hour, during staff meetings and training. Main duties include use
of a multi-line phone and help with walkins.
- HRDC Housing Department Ready to
Rent: Curriculum for families and individuals who have rental barriers such as lack
of poor rental history, property upkeep,
renter responsibilities, landlord/tenant
communication and financial priorities.
- Habitat for Humanity Restore: Belgrade store needs volunteers for general
help, sorting donations and assisting customers.
- Heart of The Valley: Compassionate
volunteers especially needed to love, play
with and cuddle cats.
- Help Center: Computer literate volunteer interested in entering data into a social
services database. Also volunteers needed
to make phone calls to different agencies/
programs to make sure database is up to
date and make safety calls to home bound
seniors.
- Jessie Wilber Gallery at The Emerson:
Volunteers needed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to greet people at the main
desk, answer questions and keep track of
the number of visitors.
- Museum of the Rockies: Variety of
opportunities available such as helping in
the gift shop and more.
October 2015

19

 -Three Forks Food Bank:Volunteer needed on Monday and/

orThursdayto help with administrative duties, will train.
- Your unique skills and interests are needed, without making a
long-term commitment, in a variety of ongoing, special, one-time
events.
Contact: Debi Casagranda, RSVP Program Coordinator, 807
N. Tracy, Bozeman, MT 59715; phone 587-5444; fax 582 8499;
email: dcasagranda@thehrdc.org

Musselshell, Golden Valley & Petroleum counties

- Central Grade School: Assist young students with lunch and

clear tables. Meal included.
- Food Bank: Distribute food commodities to seniors and others
in the community; help unload the truck as needed.
- Nursing Home: Pianoplayers and singers neededon Friday to
entertain residents, alsoassistant needed in activities for residents
to enrich supported lifestyle.
- Senior Bus: Volunteers to pickup folks who are unable to
drive themselves.
- Senior Center: Volunteers are needed to provide meals, clean
up in the dining room and/or keep records; meal provided.
- RSVP offers maximum flexibility and choice to its volunteers
as it matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans
with opportunities to serve their communities. You choose how
and where to serve. Volunteering is an opportunity to learn new
skills, make friends and connect with your community.
Contact: Shelley Halvorson, South Central MT RSVP, 315 1/2
Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup, MT 59072; phone 323-1403; fax
323-4403; email: rdprsvp2@midrivers.com ; Facebook: S. Central MT RSVP.

Park County

- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Mentor and positive role models to a

boy or girl needed, one hour a week.
- Fix-It-Brigade: Needs volunteers of all ages and skill levels
for 2-hour tasks on your schedule to help seniors or veterans with
small home repairs and chores, such as changing a light bulb,
mending a fence, cleaning up a yard.
- Loaves and Fishes:Volunteers needed to prepare dinner meal
on Wednesday nights.

News Lite
New Jersey woman told
to quiet down her parrots

AVALON, N.J. (AP) A New Jersey woman must get her two
parrots to quiet down after the birds gave someone something to
squawk about.
Elaine Scattergood was ticketed in May after someone complained that her birds, Edmund and Arthur, were too loud.
Scattergood tells The Press of Atlantic City she would place the
parrots on the porch of her Avalon home because people like
them. She says people would say hello to the birds and the parrots would reply with a greeting.
A judge told Scattergood the noise complaint will be dismissed
if there are no violations reported in the next 90 days.
October 2015

20

- Main Streeter Thrift Store: Someone who enjoys working

with the public, greet customers, ring up purchases, label and
hang clothes and accept donations.
- Meals on Wheels: Always need substitute drivers to deliver
meals to seniors in their home.
- RSVP: Need caring companions to give caregivers a break in
their home on a regular basis.
- RSVP: Has many one-time events, including mailings and
fundraising events that require volunteers.
- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to knit and crochet caps and
scarves for each child at Head Start this winter, also as gifts for
children of prenatal classes, and baby hats and afghans for the
hospital newborns; Sewers needed to make simple pillowcases
for our soldiers overseas, Thursdays, 1-2 p.m. at the Senior Center.
- Senior Center: Need volunteers, Tuesdays, 1 p.m., to cut
unsold clothing into rags to be sold for proceeds to the center.
- Seniors: You may qualify for $192-600 a year for grocery and
food assistance. Call Mary at 333-2537 or 333-2883.
- Stafford Animal Shelter: Kindhearted volunteers needed to
socialize cats and kittens, and to walk the dogs.
- Transportation: Drivers needed to help patients keep their
doctor appointment in Livingston and Bozeman. Some gas reimbursement may be provided.
Current RSVP Volunteers are encouraged to turn in your hours
each month. Your contributions to the community are greatly
appreciated!
Contact: Deb Downs, Program Coordinator, 111 So. 2nd St.,
Livingston, MT 59047; phone 222-2281; email: debdowns@rsvpmt.org

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On The Menu

Young children often have tyrannosaurus rex-type

appetites for foods that might not win the approval of
the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
A certain fast food franchise offers its customers a
deep-fried chicken nugget-type entree with deep-fried
French fries on the side. That type of meal is probably
OK once in a while, in most cases. But that high-fat,
high-salt food can lead to a lifetime of bad eating habits.
Two friends of ours adopted sisters who were brought
up on fast food. They were both under 5 years of age.
These children lacked energy and they were behind
their peers scholastically due to their poor diet. After

With Jim Durfey

they were eating foods that were healthy and ones that
offered their palates a variety of flavors, the girls have
blossomed and theyre doing very well today.
To make sure your grandkids have a healthy alternative to the fast food chains fare, use the recipes below.
But whatever you do, dont tell them these dishes are
healthy. That might turn them off before their taste buds
will let them know these dishes are very tasty. In fact,
chances are good that theyll ask for more.
Grilled fruit makes a great dessert and its easy to
prepare. If you havent tried it before, youre in for a
real treat.

Healthier than fast food

Chicken nuggets, fries and a healthy dessert

Low-fat French Fries

Chicken Nuggets

6 medium Russet potatoes, thoroughly washed, skin on

2 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

4 Tbsp. olive Oil, divided

1 egg
1 c. water
1 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2/ tsp. garlic powder
4 chicken breast fillets, cut into bite size pieces
Gallon-size recloseable bag

Trim ends of potatoes. Cut thin slice off top, bottom and two
sides. Cut potatoes into quarters by making cuts lengthwise. Put
olive oil in cast iron skillet. Place potato pieces in oil and saute over
medium high heat for five minutes on each side. Sprinkle two
sides with salt and pepper as they saute. Place on baking sheet.
Put in 350 oven for 12 minutes. Serve with ketchup. Serves four.

Grilled Fruit Dessert

Fresh pineapple, sliced
Apricots, sliced
Peaches, sliced
Strawberries
Mangos, sliced thick
Place fruit on grill that has been sprayed with vegetable oil.
Cook on grill four minutes on each side. Serve with yogurt flavored with cinnamon or sprinkle granola over the top.

Beat egg and combine with water in bowl. Stir. Combine

flour, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder in gallon
size recloseable bag. Pound each breast fillet until about 1/4
inch thick. Cut into bite sized pieces. Coat each piece with
flour mixture by shaking in bag. Remove and coat in egg mixture. Coat in flour mixture again. Shake to coat. Put two tablespoons olive oil in cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Saute half of nuggets at a time, three minutes on each side until
browned and crispy. Coat baking sheet with remaining oil.
Place nuggets on baking sheet. Put in 350 oven for 10 minutes. Serves four.

October 2015

21

By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@cs.com

The story of the man

who sees with sound
Q: Generally we see with light and hear
with sound, but there are people who mix
the two. Take Brian Borowski, for example, whos been termed the man who
sees with sound. Whats the story?
A: The 59-year-old Canadian was born
blind but by age 3 had begun teaching himself to echolocate, says Clare Wilson in
New Scientist magazine. Bats do it, so
why not people? Borowski makes clicking
sounds with his tongue or snaps his fingers
and listens for the telltale echoes to decode
them into information for getting around in
the unseen world about him a sort of
supersense.
Once, when my parents were putting
metal stakes into the ground, my brother
who is also blind and I noticed that when
they were banged with a hammer, the
echoes bouncing off the house were really
strong, Borowski says. We realized we
could use that.
Playing games like hide-and-seek with
their sighted brother honed their skills, until
they finally learned to find him hiding
behind trees. Later, they taught themselves
how to ride bikes, using not just echolocation but things like the slope of the road or
the looseness of the gravel. But always
theyd be clicking, clicking and listening.
When I was younger I could get a lot of
detail from echolocation, Borowski concludes. These days I can tell whether
objects are large or small but I cant necessarily tell what they are.
Q: Let there be light, and in 1935, there
was light, and the world of sports was
forever changed. How?
A: That was the year of the first night
game in major league baseball, on May
24, at Cincinnatis Crosley Field, says
October 2015

22

Karen Newman in Photonics Spectra

magazine. The Cincinnati Reds beat the
Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 before 20,422
fans. Length of game 1:35. From Washington, D.C., President Franklin Roosevelt
activated a button that turned on the Crosley Field lights.
Erected on eight metal stanchions set
around the field, the more than 600 individual laps cost about $50,000. According to
the manufacturer, these first bulbs yielded a
light intensity of 75 foot-candles on the
field, a foot-candle being a unit of illuminance equal to that of one candle seen from
a foot away. Today, they are now more likely to be in the 200-300 foot-candle range for
color television coverage.
At the end of the day, Newman says,
what I like best about baseball is sitting
behind the plate, anticipating the magical
sound of the bat cracking a hit, and enjoying
the brilliance of the scene in front of my
eyes, under the lights at night.
Q: These spuds are far from duds.
Whats stylish in potatoes these days?
A: With per capita potato consumption
having dropped to an all-time low, the challenge is to boost consumer interest, says
Leah Shaffer in Discover magazine.
American potato breeders have taken up the
challenge by producing smaller, more colorful varieties. The flashier hues mean more
phytonutrients, compounds linked to many
health benefits, and their compact size
means shorter cooking times.
As Texas A&M program director J.
Creighton Miller Jr. explain: Though breeding those traits takes a dozen or more years,
consumers will soon see a new variety called
peppermint, sporting white skin speckled
with red. But dont worry; the name only

reflects the potatos color, not its flavor.

Q: Dont touch that dial. Carbon
copy. You sound like a broken record.
Bigger than a bread box but smaller
than the ice box. What do these expressions have in common?
A: They have been hung out to dry, so
to speak, phrases that once were but now
arent so much any more, says linguist
Richard Lederer in Words and Phrases
Remind Us of the Way We Word on his
verbivore.com web site. We were living
the life of Riley, cutting a rug in some
juke joint, then going necking and petting
and smooching and spooning and billing
and cooing and pitching woo in hot rods
and jalopies in some passion pit or lovers
lane.
Are you old enough to remember: Dont
forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a
grasshopper. Turn-of-the-century. Iron
curtain. Fail safe. Domino theory.
Civil defense. Banned in Boston. Fiddlesticks. Ill see you in the funny
papers. Dont take any wooden nickels.
Sound as a dollar.
Also gone from the landscape and wordscape of our perception are the milkman,
Mickey Mouse wristwatches, hula hoops,
skate keys, candy cigarettes, little wax bottles of colored sugar water, beehives, pageboys and the D.A., spats, knickers, poodle
skirts, and saddle shoes.
As Lederer sees it, We at the other end
of the chronological arc have the advantage
of remembering there are words that once
did not exist and there were words that once
strutted their hour upon the earthly stage
and now are heard no more, except in our
collective memory. Its one of the greatest
advantages of aging.

Q: We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us, cautioned 19th-century naturalist Henry David Thoreau in
Walden. How much more ubiquitous are the effects of technology today and the language they generate?
A: Start with the wearable, a computer worn either as a piece of
clothing or as an accessory, says Paul McFedries in IEEE Spectrum magazine. Now add smart glasses, or memory glasses;
smart watches; smart bracelets; and smart trackers for fitness,
activity and GPS. Attach these to bicycles for rideables.
Next, bring on the hearable, an in-ear computer also known as

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Crossword

Across
1 Go gaga over
8 Put into motion
15 Bride of Dionysus
16 "This can't wait!"
17 "Gilligan's Island"
ingnue
18 How some things
are written
19 Telltale facial mark
21 The clink
22 Field
23 Scolding
27 Japanese food item
sold in sheets
29 Dept. head, e.g.
31 Selene's Roman
counterpart
32 El __
34 Barely make
waves?
36 Some RPI grads
37 Medium-dry sherry
39 Political initials
since 1884
40 Wonder Girl or
Kid Flash
42 Quiet spots
44 Twin seen in a thesaurus?
45 Abs, pecs, delts,

etc.
46 Place for a shoe
47 Grit
49 First bk. of the
Latter Prophets
51 1988 N.L. Rookie
of the Year Chris
54 Picnic piece
57 Situation after the
first out, in baseball lingo
60 John or Paul
61 Astronomical measures
62 Knee-slapping
63 Original McDonald's mascot
64 Stand behind
Down
1 "Dynasty" actress
Emma
2 Character-building
unit?
3 It's often chosen
from a map
4 '70s-'80s San Diego
Padres owner
5 Red-coated wheel
6 Trees' age indicators
7 Strained

an earable, or smart ear device. Not intimate enough? Theres

always the embeddable, a device inserted under the skin; or the
ingestible, such as a smart pill that records on how the body is
reacting to its medication. Dont confuse these with nearables,
which get smart only when a mobile computer gets into range.
When McFedries asked a wearables researcher to predict some
future applications, she mentioned jackets that tell what the temperature, barometric pressure, or smog level is and a baseball hat
that gives the score of the game.
Concludes McFedries: If we are on our way to becoming citizen terminals, bristling with body-mounted gadgetry, if we are
becoming THAT close to the machine, then lets hope its for better
reasons than these.
Q: Polar bears and dolphins are two of the worlds most loved
animals. How do they feel about each other?
A: Evidence is that its a bear-eat-dolphin world when the opportunity presents itself, as the bears have been spotted eating dolphins
probably trapped below the sea ice and caught when they surfaced
for air, reports New Scientist magazine. It was April 2014 that Jon
Aars of the Norwegian Polar Institute and his team stumbled
across a bear with two dead white-beaked dolphins, a species no
one had ever seen the bears preying upon before. Probably the
predator used a similar technique as for killing seals. Though most
of one dolphin had already been eaten, the second one was largely
intact, so the bear utilized the natural freezer of snow, storing the
rest of its catch. Yet hiding leftovers is rare in polar bears, Aars
says.
Later in the same area, the team observed five other polar bears
feeding on dead dolphins, probably from the same pod, which
became trapped among the ice by strong northerly winds.

8 Sarah McLachlan hit

9 Companies
10 "My Wife & Kids"
co-star __ CampbellMartin
11 Completely
12 Year abroad
13 Lot
14 Common rebus
pronoun
20 You won't hear any
hits on it

24 Arbitrary experimentation variable

25 Dues collector
26 People now known
as Sami
28 Square __
30 "Falling Into You"
Grammy winner
32 "Chase those
guys!"
33 Piece maker?
34 __ speak

35 Canceled
38 Ring-wearing pianist
41 Colorful helmet
brand
43 Is blitzed by
46 Millinery accessory
48 Called from a field
50 Drum kit item
52 Big pill
53 Like one contemplating bariatric surgery
55 Where KO means
Coca-Cola
56 Place for an ornament
57 Short missions?
58 Power __
59 "Take heed, __
summer comes ... ":
Shak

October 2015

23