senior spectrum newspaper - june 2015 issue

SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / June / 3

June 2015CONTENTS

THIS ISSUE - Bills Signed into Law

Page 13 - Volunteers

Recognized at Seniors in

Service Annual Luncheon

Page 19 - Living Well With

Osteoarthritis

EVERY ISSUEPage 4 - Opinion: Sen. Reid

Page 6 - Opinion: Sen. Heller

Page 21 - Calendar

Page 22 - Eclectic Observer

Page 24 - Biggest Little City

Page 26 - this ‘n that

Page 29 - Tinseltown Talks

Page 30 - Resources

Page 31 - CrosswordPage 33 - Seniors4Travel

HEALTHPage 10 - AARP - Caregiversand Loved Ones WinPage 14 - Get in the Act, PartII, Adding Life to YearsPage 17 - Get Free HelpUnderstanding Your Medicare

Page 20 - Ophthalmology

FINANCIALPage 8 - Bradly Anderson, Picking Up the Pieces AfterDivorce - Anderson & Dorn &Rader, Ltd.

Senior Spectrum NewspaperP.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510

775-348-0717SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

[email protected]: Chris & Connie McMullen

Column opinions are writers, not publishers. Copyrighted publication.

22Editorʼs Desk

Several bills that protectthe frail and vulnerable werepassed during the 78thNevada Legislative Sessionand have been signed byGovernor Brian Sandovalinto law.

Assembly Bill 222,brought by the Personal CareAssociation of Nevada(PCAN), was signed May 18,requiring that Personal CareAgencies be licensed andfined a monetary penalty ifthey fall out of compliancewith state licensure regula-tions. Personal CareAgencies provide care in thehome for the elderly and dis-abled who would otherwisebe institutionalized. AB 222applies to all Facilities for theDependent that includeResidential Facilities forGroups, Homes forIndividual Residential Care,Facilities for the Care ofAdults during the day, and anagency to provide Personal

Care Services in the Home,among other categories. AB 222 takes effect May 18,2015.

Other legislation signedby Gov. Sandoval is AB 223,which revises provisions gov-erning crimes against olderpersons and vulnerable per-sons. The bill, sponsored byAssemblyman P.K. O’Neill,becomes effective October 1,2015. AB 223 defines theterm “abandonment” as itrelates to the care of olderpersons and vulnerable per-sons; revising the definitionsof the terms “abuse,”“exploitation” and “isolation”as they relate to offensescommitted; revising provi-sions concerning the report-ing of abuse, neglect,exploitation, isolation orabandonment of an olderperson; prohibiting the aban-donment of an older person

(Bills Signed page 7)

Governor Signs Legislation ThatProtects Vulnerable Elders

Governor Sandoval signs AB 222 into law to protect the vulnerable receivingcare in the home. Watching is the bills sponsor Assemblyman Randy Kirner(left), Personal Care Association of Nevada lobbyist Connie McMullen, TammySisson (right), Lend-A-Hand Senior Services, and Peter Morris, Brightstar ofReno.

As many Nevadansknow, the collapse ofthe nation’s housingmarket hit our greatstate hardest. It hasbeen seven years sincethe collapse and com-munities all aroundNevada are still recov-

ering. The month of June is designated asNational Homeownership Month. As wetake this time to acknowledge the progressNevada has made in restoring our dam-aged housing market, we must rememberthat there is much work yet to be done.

When the nation’s housing market col-lapsed, thousands of Nevadans lost theirhomes. I immediately took action to stopforeclosures and do all within my power tokeep Nevadans in their homes and stabilizecommunities. Through cooperation withfederal, state, and local government, swiftsolutions were provided for Nevada’s fami-lies, including tax credits for underwaterhomeowners and first time buyers, the

elimination of tax penalties for mortgagemodifications, and expansions to mortgagedebt relief. I utilized my influence as theSenate Democratic Leader to direct bil-lions of dollars in funding for programsthat placed Nevada’s housing recovery anddevelopment first.

I understand that many of Nevada’sseniors live on fixed incomes and are inneed of affordable housing, especially sincethe housing downturn. To assist seniors, Ihave helped direct millions of dollars ingrant funding to build housing units specif-ically for low-income seniors in Nevada. Ialso advocated for affordable assisted livingprojects for seniors throughout our state.These facilities allow fixed-income seniorswho can no longer live independently tomaintain their dignity at home, and avoidcostly and premature nursing home place-ment.

These grants and programs have helpedNevada’s seniors to weather the storm ofthe housing market crash in 2008, but Ibelieve my work on behalf of our state’s

elderly is far from over. No senior whorelies on Social Security benefits shouldhave to worry about being forced to leavehis or her home. And yet, my colleagues onthe other side of the aisle regularly proposecuts to Social Security benefits. I havespent my career defending this programbecause I recognize that seniors across thecountry depend on these benefits to maketheir house payments and be secure intheir retirement.

Homeownership and security in retire-ment are essential parts of the AmericanDream that I am determined to protect. Iwill continue to support Nevada’s seniorsin my capacity as the Senate DemocraticLeader. Remember, all Nevadans are wel-come to reach out to either of my officesshould they require assistance from gov-ernment agencies, including homeownerassistance. Please visit the “services” page ofmy website, reid.senate.gov, or call either ofmy offices at (702) 388-5020 in Las Vegasor (775) 686-5750 in Reno and the rest ofNorthern Nevada.

4 / June / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

OpinionSenator Harry Reid

Sen. Reid

Helping Seniors Live Independently

One of my toppriorities whileserving Nevadansin the U.S. Senateis ensuring thebrave men andwomen who serveour country areproperly takencare of when they

return home after service.Every day when I drive to work in

Washington, I pass by the Iwo JimaMemorial and Arlington NationalCemetery. These monuments and gravesites serve as a testament to the sacri-fices of our Armed Services and con-stantly remind me of our responsibilityto care for these men and women.

One of the greatest privileges ofserving Nevada is the opportunity to siton the Senate Veterans Affairs’Committee, where I fight to hold the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)accountable for its promises to our vet-erans. With Nevada being home to over300,000 veterans, and with approxi-mately 27,000 of those being womenveterans, I remain committed to advo-cating on behalf of the issues facing ourveterans locally and nationwide.

Chief among them is the VA disabili-ty claims backlog. I took the lead on theVeterans Affairs’ Committee to reducethe average wait time for Nevada veter-ans’ benefit claims by spearheading theSenate VA Backlog Working Group.While the wait time has improved from478 days to 257 days, it is still far fromthe 125 days that the VA has promised,and it remains one of the longest waittimes in the nation. This is unaccept-able, and until the backlog is eliminated,I won’t back down.

I also believe the VA must look tothe future and better prepare for the

rise in number of women veterans.Today, nearly 2.3 million women areveterans of military service. As I men-tioned, here in Nevada we have 27,000of them. That’s why I teamed withSenator Patty Murray of Washington, aDemocrat, on legislation to make sureprivacy and security in VA medicalfacilities are up to par and that eachfacility offers a full range of services toensure female veterans are receivingproper care.

While I work hard to make thesegoals a reality, I want to be of help toany Nevada veteran facing difficulties inworking with their local VA services.Either my staff or I would be happy toassist you. To reach my Reno office,please call (775) 686-5770.

I will continue to fight for our veter-ans until they receive the care theydeserve.


OpinionSenator Dean Heller

Sen. Dean Heller

Caring for Our Veterans

or a vulnerable person, and provides apenalty among other things.

Another bill signed into law relatingto crimes is AB 47, requiring the estab-lishment within the Central Repositoryfor Nevada Records of Criminal Historya service to conduct a name-basedsearch of records of criminal history ofan employee, prospective employee,volunteer or prospective volunteer. AB47 is effective May 25, 2015.

AB 28 revised the duties of the StateLong-Term Care Ombudsman, requir-ing the Long-Term Care Ombudsmanto develop certain training to be madeavailable to officers, directors andemployees of a facility for long-termcare. AB 28 additionally requires theOmbudsman to provide certain trainingto advocates who assist in proving serv-ices to the residents of a facility. AB 28,sponsored by the Nevada Silver HairedLegislative Forum, takes effect July 1,2015.

AB 164, sponsored by AssemblymanOhrenschall, gives patients with a lifethreatening illness access to certaininvestigational drugs, biological prod-ucts and devices. AB 164 enacts the"Nevada Right to Try Law" to allow ter-minally-ill patients access to certaintherapies and medications currentlyconsidered experimental. Effective May27, 2015.

AB 292 revises provisions relating toproviders of health care who provideservices through telehealth and variousother provisions relating to insurancecoverage for such services. Sponsoredby Assemblyman James Oscarson, AB292 enacts the Nevada TeleHealthAccess Equity Act, which would providehealth care services to hard to reachrural communities. AB 292 is effectiveJuly 1, 2015.

SB 177, allows a person to designatea caregiver when admitted to a hospital.Sponsored by Senator Joe Hardy, SB177 is a significant bill that takes effect

October 1, 2015. SB 177 was widelysupported while moving through thelegislature. Read about the bill on page10 of this edition.

SB 419 revises provisions relating toservices for persons with disabilities.SB 419 creates the Nevada ABLESavings Program under the federalAchieving a Better Life Experience Actof 2014. SB 419 authorizes the creationof a program to provide independentliving services and assistive technologyfor persons with disabilities in theNevada Aging and Disability ServicesDivision who need independent livingservices.

SCR 2 encourages education of med-ical care providers and first respondersregarding caring for persons withAlzheimer’s disease. Sponsored bySenator Joe Hardy, SCR 2 encouragescertain entities to approve, require andprovide educational programs relatingto caring for persons with Alzheimer’sdisease and other forms of dementia.


Bills Signed / page 3

Consider all theplanning a couple

may do during the course of their lives:purchasing a home, building a business,starting a family – the list is endless.However, no one plans for a break-up.So what happens when there’s no longera “happily ever after?” What will ourfinances, our emotions and even ourfuture look like on the other side ofdivorce?

Not only must we rethink our imme-diate future, but there are also long-term plans that must be addressed.Specifically, our estate plans will needto be revised. The fact is, it’s difficult tolook past the pain that’s felt in the

moment, and looking towards thefuture may suddenly feel foreign. Buttaking a proactive step in reducing therisks and going through the process ofmaking important changes can help usfeel more in control. Not to mention,there are many benefits that come fromknowing those legalities are addressed.Here are a few ways to move towardthose goals during a divorce from anestate planning perspective.

One of the most important changesyou’ll make moving forward is changingthe beneficiary designation on yourretirement plan. Don’t forget that you’llneed to change the beneficiary on youractual retirement account, as many

assume the only place these changesshould be reflected is on their estateplanning documents. Typically, theretirement accounts are outside thetrust and not controlled by the Will.

Your powers of attorney–financialand medical–should be revised as well.Even if the divorce was mutual, oddsare, you’ll want to name someone elseto make medical and financial decisionson your behalf, should you becomeincapacitated. Your life insurance policyshould also be reviewed.

Just as you changed your other jointaccounts, such as credit cards and bankaccounts, any Trusts you established as

(Divorce page 9)


Picking Up the Pieces After Divorce

Brad Anderson

Brought to you byBradley B. AndersonAnderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneyswww.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com


Divorce/ page 8a married couple will need tobe amended or even revoked.

You likely have a HIPAAauthorization form in place,as well. These important doc-uments are designed to pro-tect your medical confiden-tiality while also preventingaccess to your information byothers with no authorization,such as a former spouse.You’ll want to be sure theseforms are also updated. From a technological per-spective, you should alsochange your PIN numbersassociated with any of yourfinancial accounts andchange passwords to youronline accounts. This is reallysound advice regardless ofthe situation, but certainly ifyou’re going through adivorce.

Finally, remember that abit of time spent with yourestate planning attorney after

a divorce can go a long wayin shoring up the pathtowards retirement, whetheryou remarry or opt to remainsingle.

Divorce is overwhelming,frightening and sometimesexhausting. While thoseemotions will subside overtime, it is both important andempowering to take controlover aspects of the future youcan make better in the mean-time. A qualified estate plan-ning attorney can help youreach those goals.

The Law Firm ofAnderson, Dorn & Rader isdevoted exclusively to estateplanning. We offer compre-hensive and personalizedestate planning consultations.For more information or toattend an upcoming seminar,contact us at (775) 823-9455or visit us online atwww.wealth-counselors.com.


More than 500,000 unpaid fami-ly caregivers and their lovedones will get some much

needed help, as the bill known as theCARE Act (SB177) was signed into lawby Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval inearly May. The new law strengthenscommunication between hospitals andfamily caregivers, ensuring a designatedcaregiver is notified when a loved one isdischarged or transferred, and receivesinstruction on any after-care required athome – such as managing prescriptionsor dressing wounds.

The bill, which passed both housesof the legislature by unanimous vote, isdesigned to help family caregivers bebetter prepared to take care of lovedones at home – strengthening the abili-

ty of parents, spouses and otherloved ones to continue to liveindependently, and dramaticallyreducing the likelihood of costlyhospital readmissions.

A recent AARP survey of800 Nevada registered votersage 45 and older shows thatmost have either had experi-ence as family caregivers (53percent), or believe they arelikely to be caregivers in thefuture (51 percent), and theyare strongly in favor of meas-ures to help improve supportsfor family caregivers. In addi-tion to assisting with daily liv-ing tasks like transportation,

(CARE Act page 12)

Family caregivers and their loved ones win Governor Sandoval signs the CARE Act into law

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signs the CARE Act intolaw at his Carson City office, with (l to r) Nevada Senator JoeHardy, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and HumanServices; AARP Nevada Government Relations DirectorBarry Gold, Art Gafke of Nevadans for the Common Good;and Rachel Blinn, social worker and CARE act supporter whoshared her story with the Nevada Legislature.


errands and bills, more than 70 percentof Nevada caregivers also perform com-plex medical tasks – often with little orno training. Nevada’s unpaid familycaregivers provide more than 348 mil-lion hours of care, valued at about $4billion annually.

Current or past caregivers respond-ing to the survey report feeling stressedemotionally (66 percent). Nine in 10current and past Nevada caregivers sayit is important for them to continue toprovide care for their loved one so thatthey can keep living independently intheir own home. Seventy-six percentsay it is extremely or very important forthere to be more resources and trainingfor family caregivers.

That’s why AARP Nevada and morethan 50 organizations statewide - frombusiness and civic groups and faith-based organizations, to health profes-sionals and disease-specific advocacygroups - buoyed the CARE Act to itsultimate passage in the legislature.

The new law provides for commonsense steps when a loved one is hospi-talized: Requiring hospitals to note apatient’s designated family caregiver inthe medical record, notify the caregiverof discharge or transfer plans, anddemonstrate or instruct the caregiver in

any after-care required at home. Thesesimple measures can make the differ-ence between a successful transitionhome and a return trip to the hospital,or worse.

“The widespread, bi-partisan supportfor the CARE Act underscores the uni-versal impact family caregivers have onthe health and wellbeing of allNevadans,” said Hilarie Grey, interimstate director of AARP Nevada. “Wethank Governor Sandoval, SenateHealth and Human Services CommitteeChair Joe Hardy, the Nevada HospitalAssociation and all the members of theNevada Legislature for recognizing andsupporting family caregivers and theirloved ones.”

The law will take effect on January 1,2016.

For more information about theCARE Act, and to connect with work-shops and resources for family care-givers, visit www.aarp.org/nv

CARE Act / page 10

Governor Brian Sandoval (pictured with AARPNevada Government Relations Director BarryGold) shows his support for family caregivers after signing the CARE Act (SB177) into law.


Seniors in Service hostedits 48th AnnualVolunteer Recognition

luncheon on May 14, at theBest Western Airport Plaza,in Reno.

Mary Muller, volunteercoordinator for the SeniorCompanion Program, pre-sented the Senior CompanionVolunteer of the Year Awardto Diana Hancock for herendless dedication to herclients.

Sheri Brown, volunteercoordinator for the FosterGrandparent Program, pre-sented the FosterGrandparent ProgramVolunteer of the Year Award

to Judy Wallis, who has beenmentoring and tutoring chil-dren in Washoe County formore than twenty years!

“Volunteers are 55 yearsand older and have a tremen-dous impact on our commu-nities not to mention nation-wide,” said Seniors in ServiceExecutive Director MaryBrock.

In 2014, nationally therewere 270,000 Senior Corpsvolunteers who served “nearly74 million hours, making adifference in the lives of morethan 840,000 elderly whoreceived assistance to remainindependent,” she said.

Volunteers Recognized at Seniors in ServiceAnnual Luncheon

(Left to right) SIS Executive Director Mary Brock and Mary Muller, volun-teer coordinator, of the Senior Companion Program present volunteer DianaHancock with award.

Lastmonthwas dedi-cated toolderAmericanswith the

theme of “getting into theact”. I wrote about how ourlifestyles are more importantthan our genes when itcomes to aging well andbeing healthy. This month Iam continuing the discus-sion of how important it isto personally assumeresponsibility for our ownaging rather than blame ourgenes or our parents. Theareas that I discussed lastmonth were primarily nutri-tion and exercise, amongothers. This article will focuson some other behaviors andconditions that can influenceour health and wellness aswe age, such as tobacco use,excessive alcohol use, obesi-ty, oral health, and depres-sion.

To start, tobacco useremains the single largestpreventable cause of disease,disability, and death in theUnited States. For every per-son who dies from a smok-ing-related disease, 20 moresuffer with at least one seri-ous illness from smoking:lung and other cancers,coronary heart disease,stroke, chronic obstructivepulmonary disease, andother respiratory illnesses.

Seventy percent of currentadult smokers report thatthey want to quit completely.So, given the facts, if youwant to live longer andhealthier then quit smoking!

Excessive alcohol con-sumption (defined as drink-ing 5 or more drinks on thesame occasion on each of 5or more days in the past 30days) accounts for more than21,000 deaths among adults65 years or older each yearin the United States.Excessive drinking alsoincreases the risk of hyper-tension, liver disease, certaincancers, heart disease,stroke, and many otherchronic health problems aswell as car crashes, falls, andviolence. Excessive alcoholconsumption can also inter-act with prescription andover-the-counter medica-tions and affect compliancewith treatment protocols forchronic conditions, thusundermining the effectivemanagement of chronic dis-eases.

Obesity is defined as hav-ing a body mass index (BMI)of 30 or more. BMI is calcu-lated by dividing a person'sweight in kilograms by his orher height in meters squared(kg/m2). Behavioral RiskFactor Surveillance Systemuses self-reported data aboutheight and weight, whichmay lead to underestimating


Larry Weiss

“Adding Life to Years”

Dr. Larry WeissCenter for Healthy Aging

Get Into the Act: Healthy Aging is More

Lifestyle than Genes Act II

actual obesity. The NationalHealth and NutritionExamination Survey, whichtakes actual body measure-ments, estimates that theprevalence of obesity amongolder adults at 34.6 percent.Older adults can benefitfrom maintaining a healthybody weight. Obesity is a riskfactor for many chronic con-ditions, including stroke,heart disease, cancer andarthritis. Assume personalresponsibility in what youput into your body and whatyou do with your body.

As discussed in my lastmonth’s article, we all shouldeat moderately and eat therainbow. Exercise your bodyregularly and try not to suc-cumb to being a couch pota-to. Dance like there’s notomorrow. Older adults get-ting regular physical exerciseare 60 percent less likely toget dementia. Exerciseincreases oxygen to the brainand releases a protein thatstrengthens cells and neu-rons. Dance involves all ofthe above plus the cerebralactivity present in learningand memory.

The environment plays arole in helping to fight obesi-ty as well. People may makedecisions based on theirenvironment or community.For example, a person maychoose not to walk to thestore or to work because of alack of sidewalks.Communities, homes, andworkplaces can all influencepeople's health decisions.Because of this influence, itis important to create envi-ronments that welcomehuman pedestrian activityand friendly communities.

Oral health is importantin our wellness. The percent-age of older adults who haveretained their natural teeth(i.e., lost 5 or fewer teeth)has increased steadily overthe past few decades. This issignificant as the mouthreflects a person's health andwell-being throughout life.

Poor oral health may limitfood choices and diminishthe pleasure of eating, impairchewing efficiency, limitsocial contacts and intimacy,affect speech, cause pain, anddetract from physical appear-ance–all which may haveconsequences for health andwell being. Additionally, oral

diseases can have an impacton many aspects of generalhealth, and some health con-ditions can in turn have animpact on oral health.

Older adults may havemore difficulty accessingeffective interventions to

(Adding Life page 16)


Adding Life / page 14

prevent and control oral disease thanyounger adults due to barriers such aslack of insurance, physical limitationsthat make brushing teeth difficult, andlack of perceived need for oral healthcare. Therefore we need to pay atten-tion and practice prevention. Whentooth disease exists, we need to treat it.

If you cannot afford it explore all theoptions including foreign countrieswhere the prices are a fraction of whatU.S. dentists charge. I have discussed“medical tourism” in past articles andwill do more in the future.

Mental health is essential to ouroverall health and well-being. Mental

health illness must be recognized,assessed, and treated in all people,including older adults, with thesame urgency as physical health. It isestimated that 20 percent of peopleage 55 years or older experiencesome type of mental health concern.The most common conditionsinclude anxiety, severe cognitiveimpairment, and mood disorders,including depression or bipolar dis-order. Mental health issues are oftenimplicated as a factor in cases of sui-cide. Older men have the highestsuicide rate of any age group, espe-cially in Nevada with those that areaged 75+ having the highest rates ofall at 66 per 100,000 as compared toan overall rate of 11 per 100,000 forall ages.

Depression among older adults

needs special attention. Since it is a typeof mood disorder and is the mostprevalent mental health problem amongolder adults, much distress and suffer-ing occur. It also can lead to impair-ments in physical, mental, and socialfunctioning. Elders with depression visitthe doctor and emergency room moreoften, use more medication, incur high-er outpatient charges, and stay longer inthe hospital. In spite of these statistics,depression is not a normal part ofgrowing older. It is a treatable condi-tion. Unfortunately, depressive disor-ders are a widely under-recognized con-dition and often are untreated or under-treated among older adults.

Risk factors for late-onset depressioninclude widowhood, physical illness,

low educational attainment(less than high school),impaired functional status, andheavy alcohol consumption.Depression is one illness thatcan be treated very successfully.

In short, let’s get into the actby assuming responsibility forconditions that can influenceour own health and wellness aswe age, such as tobacco use,excessive alcohol use, obesity,oral health, and depression.There is no better way to “addlife to years!”

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. isCEO of the Center for HealthyAging. Dr. Weiss welcomesyour comments on this col-umn. Write to him [email protected] orc/o Center for Healthy Aging,11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV89519.16 / June / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

Adding Life / page 15


Do you ever havequestions aboutyour Medicare?Have you everwondered whereyou can get fast,reliable answers tothose questions –

free of charge?

There’s a terrific program in your com-munity that can help. It’s called theState Health Insurance AssistanceProgram, or SHIP. If you’re eligible forMedicare, you’re eligible for personal-ized counseling from your local SHIPoffice.

SHIPs are state programs that getmoney from the federal government to

help people with Medicare, their fami-lies, and their caregivers understandMedicare benefits. SHIPs aren’t con-nected to any insurance company orhealth plan, so they’re not trying to sellyou any kind of product.

SHIP counselors are volunteers whohave been well-trained to answer yourquestions, whether you have OriginalMedicare (where the government paysyour providers directly) or MedicareAdvantage (in which private insurersoffer health care services through a spe-cific network of doctors, hospitals, andother providers).

SHIP volunteers are often Medicarebeneficiaries themselves, so they reallyknow the ins and outs of the program

and can help you navigate it.

And did I mention that SHIP counsel-ing is absolutely free? Here are some ofthe issues that a SHIP counselor canhelp you with:

• Billing problems;• Complaints about your medical

care or treatment;• How to look for a Medicare

Advantage health plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan;

• How Medicare works with other insurance;

• How to appeal if you disagree with coverage or payment decisions by Medicare or your Medicare plan.

You can speak with SHIP counselors (Free Help page 18)

Get Free Help Understanding Your Medicare

David Sayen

David Sayen, Regional AdministratorMedicare Region 9


either over the phone or inperson at your local office.How do you get in touchwith them? Below is thephone number for contactingthe SHIP office closest toyou:

Nevada: 800-307-4444Arizona: 800-432-404California: 800-434-0222Hawaii: 808-586-7299

Of course, there are otherways besides SHIP to getinformation about Medicare.One excellent resource is the“Medicare & You” handbook,which is mailed to Medicarebeneficiaries every fall.

“Medicare & You” is a goldmine of easy-to-understandinformation about howMedicare works, how toenroll, what services are cov-ered, and many other topics.

You can find the 2015 editionof “Medicare & You” onlineat: http://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050.pdf

Help is also available throughthe Medicare customer serv-ice center, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY users call 1-877-486-2048). The call center isopen 24 hours a day, includ-ing weekends.

Another helpful resource isthe official Medicare website,at www.Medicare.gov. The website has a wide vari-ety of information aboutMedicare health and pre-scription drug plans in yourarea, including what theycost and what services theyprovide.

You can look for doctors orother health care providersand suppliers who participatein Medicare, and see whatMedicare covers, includingpreventive care services.At www.Medicare.gov, you

also can: • Get Medicare appealsinformation and forms.

• Get information about thequality of care provided byplans, nursing homes, hospi-tals, home health agencies,and dialysis facilities.

• Look up helpful websitesand phone numbers.

David Sayen is Medicare’sregional administrator forArizona, California, Hawaii,Nevada, and the PacificTerritories. You can alwaysget answers to your Medicarequestions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Free Help / page 17

If your joints feel achy afterphysical work or exercise, orif you feel joint stiffness

when you first wake up or havebeen in the same position for along time, you may haveosteoarthritis. An estimated 27million Americans are livingwith osteoarthritis, the mostcommon form of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is morecommon in older adults, andcan affect the fingers, knees,hips, shoulders and spine. Thebest way to prevent OA is toavoid high-impact activitiessuch as running on hard sur-faces and maintain ideal bodyweight to decrease the load onyour aging joints.

If you are diagnosed withOA, there are many ways toreduce your symptoms. Theseinclude taking medication,exercising, managing yourweight and getting enough rest.In some cases, surgery may berecommended.

To manage your arthritispain and improve functioning,your doctor may recommendover-the-counter pain relieverssuch as acetaminophen, aspirin,ibuprofen or naproxen. Theyare very effective in providingrelief for mild to moderate painas the result of osteoarthritis.More potent prescription med-ication such as a nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) or topical anti-inflam-matory creams maybe recom-mended by your doctor.

Weight loss is key to pre-venting further damage tojoints already damaged byosteoarthritis. Moderate, lowimpact exercise can be benefi-cial as well.

Exercises that can help youmanage your arthritis symp-toms often include strengthen-ing exercises to help maintain

or increase your musclestrength (strong muscles cansupport and protect the jointsaffected by arthritis). Theseexercises can be done withweights or exercise bands.Aerobic exercises such as walk-ing, biking or elliptical trainerscan help you improve youroverall fitness and control yourweight. Range-of-motion exer-cises help reduce stiffness andimprove the flexibility in yourjoints. Balance and agility exer-cises help maintain your dailyliving skills.

If you still hurt after takingmedicine and exercising, youcan try:– Taking a warm shower, orwrapping the affected area inwarm towels– Using an ice pack on the sore area– Resting the sore joint– Massage

(Osteoarthritis page 20)

Living Well With Osteoarthritis


The inflam-mation of

the eyelidsknown as “ble-pharitis” isoften con-fused withconjunctivitis

(pink eye) because their symp-toms appear to be so similar.However, unlike conjunctivitis,blepharitis, which is character-ized by inflamed, itchy, red eye-lids, is not contagious. Theinflammation is caused byexcessive oil being produced bythe glands near the eyelids,which results in an overgrowthof bacteria that normally resideon the skin. Allergies may alsocause the crust that forms along

the eyelash line. Once the con-dition is properly diagnosed,treatment involves careful dailycleansing of the edges of theeyelids, which removes the skinoils that cause the bacteria toovergrow. Continued attentionto eyelid cleanliness helps pre-vent further episodes of ble-pharitis. It should be noted, asty, which is a bacterial infec-tion on the eyelid that resem-bles a pimple, can be a compli-cation of blepharitis.

If you would like furtherinformation on today’s topic,please call my office at (775)882-1726. We are convenientlylocated at 3839 N. CarsonStreet, in Carson City, 89706. Hours open are 8-5 p.m.

If conservative methodsof treatment don't relieve thepain and other symptoms ofarthritis, your doctor mayrecommend joint injectionwith steroids, lubricant med-ication or surgery to providepain relief and restore lostfunction.

Surgery for osteoarthritisshould be reserved for peo-ple who have failed all rea-sonable non-operative meas-ures. The severity of yoursymptoms and your resultinglevel of disability should beconsidered. The potentialbenefits of surgery must beweighed against the risks ofsurgery before making adecision to proceed. Theanswer is different for eachperson and requires consul-tation with your trustedorthopedic surgeon.

Surgical procedures for

osteoarthritis include:– Arthroscopy to clean outthe joint or remove the jointlining.– Realignment of the jointsto relieve pressure on thedamaged part of the joint.– Fusing the ends of thebones in the joint together toprevent joint motion andrelieve joint pain.– Partial or Total jointreplacement surgery.

Although there is notreatment that can reversethe damage of OA in thejoints, you can work withyour doctor to put together aplan for treatment andlifestyle changes that canhelp you live well and reducethe symptoms of osteoarthri-tis.

To learn more about OAvisit www.nyackhospital.org.SOURCE: Nyack Hospital


Osteoarthritis / page 19

Michael J. Fischer

Ophthalmology

Inflamed EyelidsDr. Michael J. Fischer, M.D.

June 5 - Blarney Band Feat, JoeBly, Bowers Mansion RegionalPark, $5 adults/$3.50 seniorsand children, (775) 823-6500.

June 6 - September 30 -Psychedelic Exhibition NevadaHistorical Society, Reno.

June 8 Earthquake - GetPrepared Now! Women ofWashoe, 6:15 p.m. social, pres-entation 6:30 p.m., 1301Cordone Ave., Dr. Annie Kell,UNR Seismology Lab. Dinnerat Baldini’s, 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.RSVP at [email protected],(775) 971-9682.

June 8 - Wills/Estate PlanningEducation, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.,Reno Senior Center, pre-regis-ter by calling (775) 334-3050.

June 9 - Mile High Jazz Band,“Now Cut That Out,” anevening of Big-Band Jazz and

Poetry, vocalist Cindee LeValand June Joplin, CommaCoffee, Carson City, (775) 883-4154, or milehighjazz.com.

June 10 - Northern NevadaVeterans Resource CenterOutreach, Reno Senior Center,10:15 - 1:30 p.m.; June 11, ColdSprings Senior Center, 10 - 1p.m.; June 17, Reno SeniorCenter, 10:15 - 1:30 p.m.; June18, Sun Valley Senior Center,10:15 - 1:30 p.m., (775) 328-2575.

June 12 - Highway 40 BluegrassBand, Bowers MansionRegional Park, $5 adults/$3.50seniors and children, (775) 823-6500.

June 16 - Reno Rodeo Kick-offParty, NoVi, Eldorado, 9 p.m.,DJ Roni Romance and FrankGarrett & LOC, (775) 378-4569, for table service. For info.call (775) 786-5700.

June 18 - A World of FineCuisine, Island Luau, 4 p.m.cocktails/ 5 p.m. dinner, everythird Thursday throughDecember, MorningStar SeniorLiving of Sparks, (775) 626-5665.

June 18 - Refuse to be a Victim,Safety Seminar, 12:30 - 4:30p.m., Reno Senior Center, $15,(775) 404-2850.

June 19 - 20 Great EldoradoBBQ, Brews and Blues Festival,dinner and show packages toTap Factory, downtown Reno.

June 22 - Living Wills/Power ofAttorney, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., pre-register, call (775) 334-3050,Reno Senior Center, (775) 328-2575.

June 23 - Open House, ArborsMemory Care Community, 5 -7 p.m., (775) 331-2229, Sparks.


CALENDAR J UNE

June Joplin will sing with Mile High Jazz Bandon June 9, in Carson City.

Too late fortulips? It isnow, but

it's not too latefor an addition toyour 2016 bucketlist. Just West,over the Sierra, isthe well preservedGold Rush town

of Nevada City. A few miles outside thecity proper is a complex known asAnanda Village. Founded in 1969 bySwami Kriyananda, the Village is com-prised of 700 lush acres and supports250 permanent residents. Years ago Iattended a Yoga retreat weekend at theVillage (it was a lovely experience). Ihad no idea, though, that the Village isrenowned for its April display of tulips.Discovering this was pure serendipity asit was an ad for locally-based Patty's

Tours (placed belowmy column in theMarch issue of SeniorSpectrum) that alert-ed me to “Springtimeat Ananda in theCrystal HeritageGardens”. On offer asa one-day trip fromReno, by brand newcoach, was a visit tothe Tulip Gardens,lunch in a Gold Rushtown, plus time forshopping, too. Theprice for the outingwas more than rea-sonable, and I would-n't have to drive.

Let's return to Ananda Village briefly.It's a cooperative, spiritual community

of like-minded individuals and featuresnot only the gardens (with a Chapel,Shrine of the Masters, small museum to

(Eclectic Observer page 23)


THE ECLECTIC OBSERVERby Janet Ross

Janet Ross

Crystal Heritage Gardens at Ananda Village.


Swami Kriyanda, and a gift shop), but there's a Center for Radiant Health,overnight accommodations for guestsand retreat participants, and theMaster's Market featuring natural foods,a delicatessen, bakery and coffee bar.The Village is open to the public andyou can find more information at eitherof two websites: www.crystalher-mitage.org or www.anandavillage.org.

Back on tour with Patty, we left Reno intwo coaches from the Grand Sierraparking lot promptly at 8 a.m. It was I-80 (with a rest stop near DonnerLake) to Hwy 20, passing the outskirtsof Nevada City, to arrive at the Villageabout two hours later. We had a short,downhill hike to the Crystal HermitageGardens and a surprise for me. I hadexpected fields of tulips, but here theywere in terraced groupings down asteep hillside.

We'd arrived at peak bloom time, cam-eras were out, and there was ampletime to enjoy and record the incrediblybeautiful displays – all in brilliant sun-shine. Our next stop was a hosted lunchin another Gold Rush town, GrassValley. Like Nevada City, that shares asimilar history, Grass Valley washome to the Empire and North StarGold Mines and many of her miners werenatives from Cornwall in England.The miners left behind a culinaryheritage of Cornish Pasties (meatpies) that you can still enjoy today.Our lunch, though, was at the elegantTrattoria Milano where we enjoyed adelicious Italian menu with Caesarsalad, Lasagne and Tiramisu. We hadtime to walk off a few calories fromlunch by exploring old town GrassValley and its Gold Rush architec-ture, wine bars, and boutiques.

My favorite venue was the ArtWorks Gallery that features a wideselection of locally produced ceram-ics, paintings, photographs, furniture,wood, mosaics, glass and jewelry. Theride back to Reno was uneventful –and relaxing. We returned to town intime for dinner, but who could con-

template another meal after ourTrattoria Milano lunch?

This was my first tour with Patty, andI'd gladly take another of her well-planned day trips. There's more fromPatty, though. In June there's a four-dayexcursion to California's coast, andcome September she'll be taking agroup to Ashland, Oregon, for theShakespeare Festival. Details are avail-able on-line at www.pattystours.com –or, give her office a call at (775) 453-1794.

If your prefer daytrips on your own, acombination ofNevada City andGrass Valley makean easy, interestingdestination andhave something tooffer for everyone.Both towns arebusy with touristson weekends, butaway from thestreets filled withshops and restau-rants, you'll find a

wealth of history to discover. In GrassValley there's the Empire Mine StatePark that features living-history tours,and the North Star Mining Museum.Nevada City has the Malakoff DiggingsState Historic Park, once the world'slargest hydraulic gold mine. There is aMuseum and tours are available.Nevada City is also home to the MinersFoundry Cultural Center. (Explore theInternet for additional information.)

Add a little sparkle to your days - inCalifornia's Gold Country – and don'tforget those tulips.

One of their major fund-rais-ers for the hospital was theannual selection of the“Queen of the Mardi Gras”.It consisted of some dozenprominent Reno women whoran for the title.

Each of the ladies wasassigned a two-man teamwhich was known as HerMystic Krewe, which wasresponsible for raising chari-table donations.

Since votes were tabulated byone vote per dollar, the con-

testant who raised themost money wasdeclared the winner.

I became intimatelyinvolved one yearwhen my wife, Annwas nominated andeventually won thecrown. The late DickRowley and I served asher Krewe. That eventwas held in the show-room of JohnAscuaga’s Nugget.

Shortly after, my pal DickTrachok’s wife Fran was oneof the nominees and Dick hitupon the novel idea of a localcelebrity basketball game inorder to raise money. It washeld at the second Manoguegym, which is now a part ofthe University. The names ofthe people involved in thecontest were a lexicon of for-mer athletes and civic lead-ers.

The Blue team coach was Dr.

Wesley W. Hall and theWhite team coach was “Doc”Martie. Since each team hada total of 21 players, we sawlimited time on the court.The referees were JakeLawlor, Pat Franz, PioMastrianni and John Galletti.

Doctors on hand includedJim Herz, Chuck Lanning,John Brophy and MarioGildone. The equipmentmanager was John Legarza


Biggest little CITY

By Harry Spencer

Memorable Basketball Game

Mardi Gras Queen Event: Pictured above is one of the St. Mary’s Guild Mardi GrasQueen Soirees. From left to right are Paul Laxalt, Fran Trachok, Eddie LeBaron andthe reigning Queen (seated), Ann Spencer.

Back in the mid-60’s there was avery active group of ladies thatcomprised the St. Mary’s

Hospital Guild.


and water boys were Lou Spitz andJohn Robb.

Ticket sales were handled by FrankMarfisi and programs were theresponsibility of Bert Caton. Theannouncer was TV personalityAlan Abner. The scorer was HugoQuilici. Technical advisor was JackSpencer (no relation) and the post-game celebration was held at theConey Island Tamale Factory.

Players on the Blue team were: PatBrady, Bud Beasley, Lee Delauer,Will Elder, Link Piazzo, Jim Olivas,Jim Archer, Marv Byars, ScottBeasley, Ed LeBaron, DukeLindeman, Bear Quilici, MikeMirabelli, Don Manoukian, FrankPeterson, Al Solari, Gordon Surber,Charlie Springer, Dick Trachok,Myneer Walker and Rick Ricciardi.

Players on the White team were:Roy Bankofier, Roger Bissett, GrantDavis, Elmo DeRicco, Orsie Graves,Bud Garfinkle, Les Gray, PaulLaxalt, Bob Larson, Joe Libke, JimMelarkey, Jack Matthews, LouisMendive, Archie Pozzi, BruceRoberts, Barry Spencer, GordonThompson, George Vucanovich,Ken York, Max Dodge and DeanCroft.

Many of the players were excellentbasketball stars and many were ver-tically challenged when it came toleaping for rebounds. Probably themost outstanding of all the round-ballers was ex-University of Nevadastar Grant Davis. An intimidatingforce was the muscular MaxDodge. I was most familiar withteam mate George Vucanovichwith whom I had played at Nevadaand overseas in Korea.

Eddie LeBaron, Pat Brady and DonManoukian had stellar NFL careers.

The most rewarding experienceturned out to be the post-game cel-ebration.

Biggest Little / page 24

It’s time to have the interior ofour house panted. It wasreally time to have it painted

long ago but we excel at procras-

tination and the longer we waitedthe more overwhelming the proj-ect seemed so we just put it offfor another year. Often.

Something happened thisyear (not sure what) butwe moved from discus-sion to the direction ofaction. (It remains to beseen whether we will fol-low through). I solicitednames of painters fromfriends and started get-ting bids, intending tointerview every one ofthe eleven names of mylist.

The first candidate was

so daunted by our high ceilingsand open spaces he declined toeven consider the job so whenthe next one said he could do it, Iresisted the urge to hug him ingratitude and scheduled a date.It was his suggestion that weconsult a “consultant” about thecolor so two days later Bethany,from Reno Paint Mart, arrivedarmed with a several thousandcolor samples and some goodideas. (Who knew there were somany different shades of white?)

While I was waiting for her, Istarted looking around the housethrough someone else’s eyes. Ialready knew we had way toomuch “stuff ” stuffed into thegarage and the closets and thecupboards but suddenly what Ihad thought of as artful décorlooked like clutter. Whichever itis, it will have to be movedbefore the painting begins--maybe some of it should just beRE-moved? A few months ago Ishared with readers of this col-umn my distress that no onewanted our stuff and we didn’teither...now that issue is evenmore overwhelming.

But solutions are in sight! Afriend recently gave me anintriguing book, The LifeChanging Magic of Tidying Up”subtitled “The Japanese Art ofDecluttering and Organizing” byMarie Kondo. Maybe the timewas right but I found it to bemore helpful than any of thehundreds of other articles I haveread on the subject. The authorreally inspired me to re-considerthe way I think about posses-sions; to keep or not to keep andhow to figure that out.


this ‘n that By Anne Vargas [email protected]

Anne Vargas

To the Rescue--“stuff” solutions

Former treasures that may have evolvedto trash to you (or me) may still be atreasure to someone who might beinterested enough to buy it.Consignment shops have become verypopular and they abound inReno. If you “Google” RenoConsignment Stores, animpressive listing will appear.

It’s suddenly summer so it’sGarage Sale season. CaughlinRanch has thoughtfully sched-uled one for the last weekendof June in all of their neighbor-hoods for residents who careto participate. The advertisingis already done; if we choose todo so, all we have to do is setup a table in the driveway.We’ll think about it.

Or you can donate. There arenumerous organizations thatgratefully accept items for re-sale. Again, search for themon the web and you can readabout their programs.

A friend who is heavilyinvolved as a volunteerreminded me that the RenoAssistance League is alwaysin need of donations. Locatedat 701 Vassar St., (775) 329-1584, it is a tax-exempt, all-volunteer charitable corpora-tion. The shop sells gentlyused items and all proceedsbenefit their many philan-thropic programs to enrich thecommunity. There are itemsthey do not accept and theseare listed on their website,www.renosparks.assistance-league.org.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters ofNorthern Nevada’s mission is to pro-vide children fac-ing adversity withstrong and endur-ing, professionallysupported, one-to-one relationshipsthat change theirlives for the better,forever. You can Donate Your Clothingor Gently used small household itemsand books at one of their convenientlylocated donation bins placed through-

out the Reno/Sparks area or call theDonation Assistant at (775) 826-2122 toschedule a pick up at your residence orplace of busi-ness. Proceedswill help fundmentoring serv-ices for childrenin need.

SaintVincent’s has been our (Clutter pg. 28)


charity of choice since we arrived inReno. They recently opened a brandnew Thrift Shop at the old J.C. Penneyoutlet store, 190 Glendale Avenue (775)322-7033.

Their publicity campaign reads: “When

we sell your donated items, 100% of theprofit is used to purchase food that isgiven free to those in need through St.Vincent’s Food Pantry and St. Vincent’sDining Room.”

Last year, donations made up about 15percent of the total operating budget.

To put it in perspective, one bag ofclothing donated amounts to about 32meals served to those in need. For easeand convenience, drop-off centers areopen at 500 East Fourth Street, Reno (atValley Road), 4670 Sparks Boulevard,Sparks (at Disc Drive) and 3590 WestPlumb Lane, Reno (at McCarran Blvd.)

St. Vincent's also offers topick up larger items thatare harder to transport.To schedule a pick up, youcan call (775) 322-7073.

“The best way to find out what we really

need is to get rid ofwhat we don't.”

Marie Kondo

I’m on my way.

Don't just declutter, de-own.” ― Joshua Becker,

Clutterfree with Kids

“Clutter is not just physi-cal stuff. It’s old ideas,toxic relationships andbad habits. Clutter is anything that does not

support your better self.” ― Eleanor Brownn

“Don't own so much clutter that you will be

relieved to see your house catch fire.”

― Wendell Berry,Farming: a hand book

“Out of clutter, find simplicity.” ― Albert Einstein


Clutter / page 27


Only ahandful ofactresses

danced in feature films with both Gene

Kelly and Fred Astaire. One was LeslieCaron.

Although her last feature film was adecade ago, she hasn’t been exactly idle

since.“I won an Emmy in

2007 for a guest role on‘Law & Order: SpecialVictims Unit’ which was agrand moment for me,”said Ms. Caron fromLondon, where shemoved in 2013 from hernative France to be nearfamily.

Her autobiography,“Thank Heaven,” waspublished in 2010, and in2013 she appeared in an

(Caron page 32)

Tinseltown TalksNick Thomas

Leslie Caron Danced Her Way to Hollywood

Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in An American in Paris.Leslie Caron at the 2007 Emmys.

Photo provided by Leslie Caron

episode of the French TVcrime series “Jo.”

“So I’m not retired andwould love to do more televi-sion or a movie,” she empha-sized.

Shortly before her birth-

day last year, at the age of 82,Caron even tackled a

demanding stage role.“I traveled to California

for a play – ‘Six DanceLessons in Six Weeks’ at theLaguna Playhouse – whichwas one of the best parts I’veever had. It was a two char-acter play with six dance

numbers and seven costumechanges. A person of 50

would have found it a bit dif-ficult. I would love to havecontinued with it toBroadway, but that wouldhave been too strenuous.”

Trained as a dancer,Caron’s film career took offafter Gene Kelly discoveredthe teenager performing inthe Ballets des ChampElysees in Paris in the late1940s.

“The husband of a dancerI shared my dressing roomwith somehow knew Gene,who had seen me and want-ed me to do a screen test fora movie,” she recalled.

The film turned out to be“An American in Paris” andrehearsals were tough.

“I wasn’t used to dancingin ballet shoes for 6-8 hoursa day,” she said. “And when Iarrived in America I hadmononucleosis and wasundernourished having lived

through World War II andfood shortages. So I was veryanemic.”

Throughout the ‘50s,Caron appeared in othermusicals, including “DaddyLong Legs” with FredAstaire.

“Fred and Gene camefrom different eras,” she

noted. “Fred danced on histoes and barely touched theground – an elegant, fluiddancer. Gene’s dancing wasvery athletic.”

Astaire’s wife – ill fromlung cancer – died duringproduction.

“He would bury his headin a towel and cry,” Caronremembered. “Fred loved thefilm which had a lot of youthand joy, so I think it helpedhim through a very badtime.”

Caron continued to workin film and TV into the ‘90sbut says “I was hitting 60 andbeginning to think my careerwas over, so embarked on anew venture.”

Proving you are never toold to start a new chapter inlife, she purchased and reno-vated an old building, by theriver just outside Paris, turn-ing it into a successful Bed

and Breakfast. “I managed itfor about 15 years until theeconomy crashed."

Today, Caron hopes formore roles, but remains real-istic. “I’m not aiming for anyAcademy Awards. It justgives me a great deal ofpleasure to keep working.”


Solution from page 31

Caron / page 29

Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in American in Paris.

Maurice Chevalier and Leslie Caron from Gigi.


Of particular inter-est to some sen-ior travelers is

the opportunity to jour-ney to places noted forunspoiled scenic beauty.Others prefer spendingtime in areas steeped inhistory. We feel likewe’ve hit the jackpot,having just returnedfrom northwestArkansas, a locale thathas an abundance ofboth.

Pea Ridge NationalMilitary Park, Arkansas

After a divided Arkansasseceded from the Union in1861, it became a strategictarget for both North andSouth because of its locationon the Mississippi River andits role as a gateway to theSouthwest.

The war's largest battle westof the Mississippi was foughtat Pea Ridge in March 1862.Participating were some26,000 soldiers. The denselywooded terrain of Pea Ridgeis one of the country’s moresignificant National CivilWar Protected Sites. Withinthe park is the historicElkhorn Tavern which servedas field headquarters andhospital for both the Unionand Confederate forces atone time or another.

Pertinent Backgroundregarding the battle of

Pea RidgeKeeping Missouri in theUnion was a prime objectiveof the Federal governmentduring the first year of theCivil War. It was the reasonthat the Battle of Wilson’sCreek was fought nearSpringfield, Missouri inAugust 1861 and one of the

(Pea Ridge page 34)

Seniors4TravelRobert Boyd and Carolyn Prusa

Pea RidgeNational

Military Park

reasons for the battle at Pea Ridge.

The battle of Pea Ridge took placeMarch 7-8, 1862 when Union troopscommanded by Brig. General Samuel R.Curtis were attacked near ElkhornTavern by Confederate forces led byMajor General Earl Van Dorn. A bit ofgood luck for the Union troopsoccurred when the Confederate troopswere forced to withdraw due to lack ofsupplies. It is believed that Van Dornforgot to order his commanders tobring forward significant ammunitionto control the battle. In any event, the

battle of Pea Ridge was over.

While Missouri remained in the Union,it stayed politically neutral throughoutthe war, providing men and supplies toboth sides.

It’s worth noting that the Pea Ridge bat-tle was the only major Civil War battlein which Indian troops participated.Two regiments of Cherokee, almost1,000 men fighting with theConfederates routed two companies ofUnion cavalry. However, heavy Unioncannon fire forced the Cherokees toretreat and take cover in the nearby

woods.Trail of Tears

Remnants of the original TelegraphRoad, within the park, were traveled bythousands of Cherokees and otherAmerican Indians in the winter of 1838-1839 during their forced removal fromtheir homelands. It was then calledWire Road because of the telegraphlines that lined the road and linked thenation. It was also the route of theButterfield Overland Stage line from1857-1861. Both the Union andConfederate forces used the road duringthe Pea Ridge Campaign.

Elkhorn Tavern is named for the elkhorns now anchored atop the restoredtavern roof. It and the Pea Ridge battlesite are now maintained by the Federalgovernment as a National Military Park.

Pea Ridge National Military Park Visitor Center

Stop first at the visitor center, whichcontains a theater, gift shop and smallmuseum. The center is located tenmiles northeast of Rogers, Arkansas,and open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. except onThanksgiving, Christmas and NewYears Day. Do plan to watch theinformative half-hour movie beforeembarking on the self-guided auto tripthrough the park.

From the parking area at the visitorcenter, follow the arrows to TelegraphRoad. This road was built in 1838, link-ing Springfield, Missouri to Fort Smith,Arkansas. The paved road is well main-tained and adequate signage and off-road parking draw attention to elevensignificant sites within the park.

More Information:Pea Ridge National Military Park15930 Highway 62Garfield, AR 72732479-451-8122www.nps.gov/peri

If you are feeling ‘footloose and fancyfree’ and looking for a place of scenicbeauty that is steeped in American his-tory, northwest Arkansas is a greatplace to visit.


Pea Ridge / page 33

senior spectrum newspaper - june 2015 issue

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