best times january 2014

Informing and supporting Johnson County’s older adults Volume 32, No. 1 January 2014

IN THIS ISSUE . . .More CHAMPSS ............................. Page 4Curbing gun violence ...................... Page 6 A year-round hobby ......................... Page 7Medicare changes ........................ 0Setting new goals ...........................Page 13Tips on shoveling snow ..................Page 14Walking into a New Year ............... Page 17Racewalkers make strides ............Page 18Classified ads .................................Page 21Events.......................................Pages 22-23

Johnson County Manager’s Office111 South Cherry Street, Suite 3300Olathe, KS 66061-3441

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDColumbia MOPermit No.353

Page 11

Harley calendar featuresgrandfolks cruzin’ for fun

— The Best Times — January 2014

The Best Times, a monthly publication of Johnson County Government, is mailed without charge to Johnson County residents who are 60 years of age and older. Subscriptions are available for $15 annually for those who do not qualify to receive it. If you are interested in receiving The Best Times, call 913-715-0430.

Mission: The Best Times is a monthly news-paper provided for all Johnson County residents age 60 and older, publishing articles that inform, challenge, support, entertain, and persuade.

Contributions to support the mission of The Best Times should be made payable to The Best Times and mailed to the address below, or online at www.TheBestTimes.org.

Publishing of letters from readers, opinion columns, or advertising does not constitute agreement or endorsement by this newspaper or Johnson County Government.

g Editor: Nancy Mays, 913-715-0730 email: [email protected]

g Managing Editor: Gerald Hay, 913-715-0736; email: [email protected]

g Circulation: Isabel Ervin, 913-715-0430

email: [email protected]

g Advertising Sales: Che’rell Bilquist 913-715-8920 email: [email protected]; [email protected]

111 S. Cherry St., Suite 3300Olathe, KS 66061

913-715-8920

Cover story photos by John DePrisco Photography ©2013

DEADLINE FOR EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING COPY IS THE 8TH OF THE

MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION

CLASSIFIED ConnectionClassified ads must be submitted in writing and with payment by the eighth day of the month for the following month’s issue. The rate is $30 for up to 20 words and $.55 per additional word. (Minimum, $30)

To place an ad email [email protected],visit www.TheBestTimes.org, or call 913-715-8930.

www.TheBestTimes.org

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The Editor’s View By Gerald Hay

COVER PHOTOSFerne Eisele, 89, is “Miss April” in the 2014 calendar featuring residents of Silvercrest at Deer Park in Overland Park. Inset picture: Don and Midge White (Mr. and Mrs. October) have been married for 66 years.

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It’s a Wonderful WorldFor seniors, setting New Year’s resolutions should be old

hat by now. After all, we’ve had enough opportunities to get it right.

Many members of the baby boomer generation still think it’s fun to set new goals and make plans regarding annual New Year’s resolutions. There’s some hesitation to do so because many, perhaps most, resolutions are short-lived, ending soon after the start of a new year. That trend is summed up in one popular saying: “just go into one year and out the other.”

Even Oscar Wilde wasn’t a big fan about this annual tradi-tion, noting in jest:

“Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson, however, offered a better New Year’s thought to share.

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”

That’s good advice. Each New Year is a new beginning that provides opportunities to start over and hopefully to achieve betterment. It’s a time of putting the mistakes and bad memories in the past and moving on with new plans, hopes, dreams, and desires.

Old age doesn’t mean you are already dead. No, you still have plenty of life left in you at any age. Every one of us, no matter how old we are, can still make plans, set goals, and resolve to either keep doing what works or decide to change what isn’t going so well.

Perhaps, that means…• Resolving to lose weight,exercising more, and becoming

more healthy in mind, spirit, and body; • Renewing old acquaintances or shoring up those that have

started to drift away; • Reading that book we never seem to get to, or watching a

funny movie once a week to keep our humor level up where it belongs;

• Spoiling our grandchildren more often, and always loving and cherishing our families and friends more;

• Renewing our annual resolve to respect and be kind to others, and;

• Remembering the wisdom from an anonymous quote, urging us …. “And may we live in a world at peace and with the aware-

ness of God’s love in every sunset, every flower’s unfolding petals, every baby’s smile, every lover’s kiss, and every won-derful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.” Letting go of the past and embracing the future is one of

the most positive steps a person can take no matter how old they are.

The truth remains that life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. So it’s best to get rid of any-thing that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful. As we prepare to grow another year older in the coming New Year, a shared resolution is the belief that the best is yet to come. It’s best to remember though life isn’t tied with a colorful bow, it’s still a precious gift for each of us to live, year in and year out, as long as we can.

New Year’s resolutions, in writing or just in inner personal thoughts and hopes, can become a way to move into 2014 with an upbeat and positive attitude, or as Oprah Winfrey reminds us: “Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.”

We should always remember that despite all the challenges of life, we do live in a wonderful world. Perhaps, we can make a resolution to try and make it even better if we so choose, but we don’t have to – all we have to do is open our eyes and see what is already there from each passing old year to each arriving new year.

Louis Armstrong told us that by singing “What a Won-derful World” this would be, an all-time evergreen song of the same name in 1967. Apart from being a truly great musician, Satchmo truly had the right lyrics, as provided by Bob Thiele as “George Douglas” and George David Weiss, to share 47 years later.

If we all took time to look around us at all the marvels and wonders of the world and in our community, each New Year would be something of magic and wonder without a need for resolutions ....

I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom, for me and for you And I think to myself: what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue, and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself: what a wonderful world. The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people going by I see friends shaking hands, saying ‘how do you do?’ They’re really saying ‘I love you!’ I hear babies cry, I watch them grow They’ll learn much more than I’ll never know And I think to myself: what a wonderful world Yes I think to myself: what a wonderful world. Finally, with another chance to get it right in 2014 in our

Wonderful World in Johnson County, The Best Times team says: Happy New Year to all.

January 2014 — The Best Times —


JOHNSON COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING

New CHAMPSS sites open in Prairie Village, LenexaTwo exciting new locations for the CHAMPSS

program were recently inaugurated at Hy-Vee store locations at 7620 State Line Road in Prairie Village and 13400 W. 87th Street in Lenexa.

The Prairie Village store is located north of the intersection of Interstate 435 and State Line Road, at 76th and State Line.

The Lenexa location is 1½ miles west of Inter-state 35 on 87th Street or two miles east of Interstate 435 on 87th Street.

CHAMPSS (Choosing Healthy, Appetizing Meal Plan Solutions for Seniors) is offered through the federal Older Americans Act and the Nutrition Program of the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging, in partnership with Hy-Vees in Olathe, Mission, Overland Park, and now the new Prairie Village and Lenexa locales.

Through the program, senior adults may receive a nutritious meal seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the dining area of designated Hy-Vee

grocery stores. The Hy-Vee dietitian-approved menu allows participants to select an entrée, fruit, vegetable, bread, and low-fat milk.

The suggested donation is $3.50 per meal, but participants are invited to be as generous as they can. Donations are submitted in advance with an order for a certain number of meals; at Hy-Vee just swipe your CHAMPSS card.

To learn more and register, attend an enrollment session. Call 913-715-8894 for locations and times.

Medicare keeps getting betterby offering additional options

Medicare keeps getting better –offering more benefits, better choices, and lower costs. And, millions of people with Medicare have:

●Taken advantage of expanded health benefits like preventive ser-vices, cancer screenings, and yearly “Wellness” visits–without paying a dollar out-of-pocket.

●Saved money in the prescription drug coverage gap with big discounts on covered brand-name drugs.

●Used new tools like Medicare’s “Blue Button” on MyMedicare.gov.

Your Medicare benefits aren’t changing. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll still have the same benefits and security you have now, and you won’t have to make any changes.

If you have specific questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov to find the answers you need. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

You may also feel free to contact Senior Health Insurance Coun-seling for Kansas (SHICK) through the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging at 913-715-8856.

A January reminder……from MedicareJanuary is National Glaucoma

Awareness Month!

With the start of a new year, it’s the perfect time to schedule a regular eye exam to check for glaucoma. Talk to your doctor for more infor-mation, or visit Medicare.gov.

Extra Help is also availableMore than 2 million people qualify to get Extra Help paying their

prescription drug costs, but they don’t know it. Don’t miss out on a chance to save. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visit www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020 to apply. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.

Best of wishes for 2014 …… from the staff of the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging, hosts for your local Kansas & Disability

Resource Center

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and

your joy and you shall form an invin-cible host against difficulties.”

Helen Keller

Eating is more fun with friends!Join old friends and make new ones by lunching at one of the seven SENIOR DINING SITES available in Johnson County. The Nutrition Program of the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging, 913-715-8888, serves nutritious meals Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. for those 60 and older, and offers fellowship, recreation, and educational programs. The meals are provided through the Older Americans Act. A donation of $3.00 is requested. To reserve a meal, just call the center of your choice by 10 a.m. one day in advance. Menus for meals provided through the Nutrition Program are available at http://hsa.jocogov.org/aging/nutrition.shtml. We hope to see you there soon!

De Soto Neighborhood CenterDe Soto Community Center

32905 W. 84th St. • 913-585-1762

Gardner Neighborhood CenterGardner Community Center

128 E. Park • 913-856-3471

Lenexa Neighborhood CenterLenexa Senior Center

13425 Walnut • 913-888-6141

Merriam/Shawnee Neighborhood CenterMerriam Community Center

5701 Merriam Drive • 913-677-2048

Overland Park Neighborhood CenterMatt Ross Community Center

8101 Marty St. • 913-648-2949

Roeland Park Neighbors’ PlaceRoeland Park Community Center

4850 Rosewood Drive • 913-826-3139

Spring Hill Neighbors’ PlaceSpring Hill Civic Center

401 N. Madison • 913-592-3180

CHAMPSS ProgramSenior dining at select Hy-Vees

913-715-8894

Prairie Village Hy-Vee at 7620 State Line Road.The Lenexa Hy-Vee at 13400 W. 87th Street.


The Commission on Aging is a group of volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to provide information, guidance, advice, and support to the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging. Members serve as liaisons to the BOCC concerning the needs of older county residents, and services to meet those needs. Pictured, from left: Patricia Burton, Patti Rule (vice chair), Peg Deaton, Chuck Nigro, Sheryl Spalding, Sevy Madrigal, Gene Lipscome, Katy Hoffman, Scott Hannon (chair), Commissioner Steven Klika (BOCC liaison), and Karen Webber. Not pictured are Charlotte Esau, Pam Conaghan, Stephanie Clayton, and Ellen Ireland.

Meet your Commission on Aging

Contacting your elected officialsThe Kansas House and Senate convene at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13,

2014.To call your state senator or representative toll free while the Kansas

Legislature is in session, call the Johnson County Courthouse, 913-715-5000, and ask to be connected to your legislator. There is no charge for the call.

You may also contact legislators via the web at www.kslegislature.org.

To learn the names of the federal, state, or local elected officials representing your area, call the Johnson County Election Office, 913-782-3441, or visit www.jocoelection.org and click on “Elected Officials Directory.”

To track the status of legislation, call the Kansas Legislative Hotline at 800-432-3924.

1-800-MEDICARE Get Medicare information and

important phone numbers. Need help in a language other than English or Spanish? Say “Agent” to talk to a cus-tomer service representative.

1-800-633-4227 TTY 1-877-486-2048. Medicare.govCoordination of Benefits Contractor

Find out if Medicare or your other insurance pays first and report changes in your insurance information.

1-800-999-1118 TTY 1-800-318-8782

Department of DefenseGet information about TRICARE

for Life and the TRICARE Pharmacy Program.

1-866-773-0404 (TFL) TTY 1-866-773-0405

1-877-363-1303 (Pharmacy) TTY 1-877-540-6261

tricare.mil/mybenefitDepartment of Health and Human

Services Call the Office for Civil Rights if

you think you were discriminated against or if your health information privacy rights were violated.

1-800-368-1019 TTY 1-800-537-7697. hhs.gov/ocr

Department of Veteran Affairs

Call about benefits if you’re a veteran or have served in the U.S. mili-tary.

1-800-827-1000 TTY 1-800-829-4833 va.gov

Office of Personnel ManagementGet information about the Federal

Employee Health Benefits Program for current and retired Federal employees.

1-888-767-6738 TTY 1-800-878-5707

opm.gov/insureRailroad Retirement Board (RRB)

Have RRB benefits? Change your address or name, check eligibility, enroll in Medicare, replace your Medi-care card, and report a death.

Local RHB office or 1-877-772-

5772 rrb.govQuality Improvement Organization

(QIO)Ask questions or report complaints

about the quality of care for a Medicare covered service or if you think your service is ending too soon. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to be connected to your QIO, or visit Medicare.gov/con-tacts.

Social SecurityGet a replacement Medicare card;

change your address or name; get infor-mation about Part A and/or Part B eligi-bility, entitlement, and enrollment; apply for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs; ask questions about premiums; and report a death.

1-800-772-1213 TTY 1-800-325-0778 socialsecurity.gov

SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas)

Get free personalized Medicare counseling on decisions about cov-erage; help with claims, billing, or appeals; and information on programs for people with limited income and resources. In Johnson County, call the SHICK program of the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging at 913-715-8856.

Here are some helpful contacts in 2014

Kansas Legal Services

Information & Referral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 913-715-8861

Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 913-715-8856

Volunteer Services line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 913-715-8859

Commission on Aging meetings will be held from 9-10 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month in the Debbie Sullivan Room of the Health Services Building, 11875 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe. The first meeting of 2014 will be held Jan. 8. The meetings are always open to the public. For more information, call 913-715-8860.

AAA programs are funded by the Older Americans Act and state funds through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, Johnson County government, agency matching funds, and individual participant donations.

Johnson County government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services.

Helping older adults to live in the community with independence and dignity..

To schedule an appointment with Kansas Legal Services, contact the center you wish to visit. Be sure to provide the name of the client, not the name of the person making the appointment.

Funding for Kansas Legal Services for older adults (60+) is provided through the Older Americans Act and private contributions. Clients are not billed for services, but contributions are gratefully accepted.

To apply for Kansas Legal Services, call 913-621-0200 or a central intake line at 800-723-6953.

For up-to-date schedules, including future dates and notices of sessions that are full, visit www.TheBestTimes.org/pdf/KansasLegalServicesSchedule.pdf.

Sunset Drive Office Building Matt Ross Community CenterThursday, Jan. 9 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1511811 Sunset Dr., Olathe 9 a.m.-noon and 12:30-4 p.m.913-715-8860 8101 Marty Street, Overland Park 913-642-6410


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By Joe Henderson

Two grandmothers, Susan Blaney and Judy Sherry, who’d never met but were drawn together by their concern about gun violence have co-founded the Missouri-Kansas chapter of Grandmothers Against Gun Violence.

Their interest in the cause was initiated by Kansas City Star Columnist Mary Sanchez’s story about Kathleen Glueck, a Cape Cod grandmother, who vowed to do what she could to halt gun violence following the Sandy Hook Elementary School mas-sacre. Glueck’s grandson, a fourth grader, survived Adam Lanza’s murderous rampage that killed 20 stu-dents and six adults by hiding in a closet.

“I can’t take away the grief and lifelong challenge for my family. But I just have to do something,” Sanchez quoted her in the July column.In January 2013, Glueck and another grandmother of like-determination, Linda Alhart, founded Grand-mothers Against Gun Violence. Glueck told Sanchez she was especially concerned with the correlations between mass killings and mental health.After reading the Sanchez column, Blaney, Prairie Village, and Sherry, Kansas City, in separate email inquiries, sought more information about the Cape Cod organization. The columnist put the women in contact witheach other and Glueck.“Mary was the common denominator. After she put us in touch, we began emailing and met for the first time over coffee in August. We immediately began talking about the possibility of a similar chapter in our area,” Blaney explained. “Kathleen (Glueck) encouraged us and said her dream is to go nationwide. Our chapter is the first outside Cape Cod. Others are planned in Chicago, Dayton, Ohio, and Tucson.”

“Our families have never been touched by vio-lence, but we each have four grandchildren and what happened in Sandy Hook could happen to us. We want to do what we can to prevent it,” Sherry added.

“We set up an email account and a website so people could learn about us. We didn’t actively recruit. We try to get public attention through friends and word of mouth,” she said. “We meet monthly.”

The chapter has had three meetings since Sep-tember. Its next meeting is scheduled at 4 p.m. Jan. 13 in the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Library, 4801 Main Street. The organization’s first three meetings were at Johnson County locations.

“We now have over 100 members, approximately half from each state. We’re surprised—and pleased—by how fast our membership has grown. It shows a lot of people believe there’s a need for organized action,” Blaney said.

“We didn’t have a December meeting because of the holidays. We will elect officers at our January meeting: president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Our dues are $20 annually.”

The group adopted the mission statement of the Cape Cod chapter which states: “We will influence public policy to create an America free from gun vio-lence, where our children and grandchildren are safe

at home, at school and in our communities.” Goals include:

• Bring about a ban on assault weapons;• Create a universal background check system

which includes mental health history; and,• Deem gun trafficking a federal crime.

The co-founders emphasize that Grandmothers Against Gun Violence is not against guns per se, but against gun violence. The group focuses on back-ground checks and illegal gun purchases.

“We are not taking on the NRA,” Blaney said. “We had an NRA member speak at one of our meet-ings. We’ve also had legislators speak to us. We don’t want to take away people’s guns. We just want to make sure they aren’t in the hands of the wrong people. That’s why background checks are so impor-tant.”

Grandmothers Against Gun Violence does not support a particular party.

“We support legislation and candidates, national, state, and local who will work to reduce gun violence. We hope to build a coalition of organizations that also oppose gun violence, faith-based organizations, groups from churches and synagogues” Sherry said.

Although the name says `”grandmothers” mem-bership is open to grandfathers (they already have some) and citizens who aren’t yet grandparents but are concerned about “a gun-toting society,” Blaney said.

“We’re eager to increase our membership. The more members we have the more influence we can wield,” she added.

For more information about Missouri-Kansas Grandmothers Against Gun Violence go to [email protected] or www.moksgag.org.

Joe Henderson was a federal court reporter with The Kansas City Star for 40 years and is now a freelance writer. He lives in Overland Park.

Grandmothers chapter hopes to curb gun violence

Judy Sherry, left, and Susan Blaney have founded a metro chapter of Grandmothers Against Gun Violence.

Indoor Walking Club keeps moving in winter

Enjoy twice-weekly walks without worrying about the weather during a program being offered by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

The Indoor Walking Club program will take place rain, shine, or snow in the air-sup-ported Roeland Park Sports Dome, 4850 Rosewood Dr. Participants can keep meet friends and

maintain their health regardless of the weather. The program occurs at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and

Thursday, beginning Jan. 2. After the walk, participants can stay for coffee

and conversation inside the nearby Roeland Park Community Center.

The cost for nine 50-minute sessions is $19 per person for Johnson County residents or $21 for non-residents. If you can’t make it to all the sessions, join club walkers when you can for a drop-in fee of $2 per person per day.

For more information or to register, call 913-831-3359 or visit the district’s website at www.jcprd.com.


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Gardening: A year-round hobbyBy Dennis Patton

The coming of a New Year brings with it renewed promises. It also brings overcast days and cold nights. This cold weather has many heading south for the winter, or some waiting with anticipation for Punxsutawney Phil’s prognostication and hope for an early spring. In the meantime, now is a good time to ponder our passion and renew our spirits of why we enjoy time spent in the garden.

Gardening is not just a summertime hobby. Once bitten by the gardening bug, one soon learns that this obsession is year-round, not just April through September. Granted, the obsession culminates during peak season — spring and summer. But gardeners quickly learn that there are many fun tasks to do in the so-called “off-season” to quell our gardening desires.

The garden year, like the calendar, can start in January. The dead of winter is a time for anticipation, reflection, research, and study. True gardeners find themselves in a cozy chair or curled up in bed with the latest reference book, often glassy-eyed from pouring over each page.

If it is not a reference book, it may be a stack of mail order catalogs. Or it could be the laptop tucked onto our laps surfing the web. My wife can spend hours perusing the latest L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, or Lands’ End catalog, while I opt for a mail order garden catalog chock full of colorful pictures and juicy write ups about the latest plants. Of course technology has changed this winter pastime, as gar-deners can now surf the web year-round for information on the new, as well as the tried and true.

Chirping birds and blooming crocus in March signal the end of winter and the beginning of spring. March is a difficult time for gardeners. Early warm weather is usually followed by cold spells or a snowstorm. These first signs of spring inevi-tably get the gardener’s blood flowing. But often we are left with an empty feeling as we are forced to wait for clement conditions to take hold. There is nothing better than turning that first spade of soil, planting a seed, or seeing growth begin.

Finally spring arrives, and there is so much to do and so little time. The garden year hits all at once. Garden centers are bursting with eye-popping color and we abandon our carefully crafted wintertime design schemes, spontaneously purchasing luscious new things to be planted in April and May. Dividing, weeding, watering, mulching, and all the other chores that sound like work to many are really as much the joy of gardening as harvesting the first vegetable of the season or picking a bouquet of flowers for the table.

Summer’s arrival and the heat of July and August can kill the enthusiasm of gardening for some. This is the time of year when the truly passionate are sepa-

rated from the tender “green thumbers.” Many gardeners retreat indoors during this time, only to be lured back into the garden after a gentle rain or a cool front moves through.

Fall is a wonderful gardening season and often overlooked. Cooler temperatures signal renewal. For the gardener, it’s an exciting time. The season-ending chores and garden clean up in late September and October is often a time of quiet reflection.

This reflective period is what gets the gardener through November and December. Mother Nature goes dormant, but this is the time for rest and renewal. Gardeners review what happened in the garden. Some of us make notes in our garden journals; keeping records of things past and joys to come. Others day-dream and contemplate what could be, creating in our minds a dose of heaven.

Which brings us full circle. The coming of a New Year offers many opportunities for starting a new path. A gardener that has found the true love of gardening does not need to make resolutions to keep this hobby growing. For those that have not discovered the joy of smelling freshly tilled soil, the giddy feeling when plants start to grow, or the adrenaline-fueled delight of picking that first ripe tomato, now is the time to get hooked on the nation’s number one hobby — gardening.

Gardening is one of the most rewarding and pleasurable experiences. If only for a few minutes each day, it provides an escape to simpler times and healthy self-indulgence.

Dennis Patton, horticulture agent at Johnson County’s K-State Research and Extension Office, can be reached at 913-715-7000 or [email protected].


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By Crystal Futrell

With wintry winds, frigid temps and dark skies creeping in earlier and earlier, it’s no wonder most folks choose to stay inside and do little more than watch TV and munch on snack foods during this season. But there are healthier — and warmer — ways to cope with the cold. One way is to exercise!

For some, exercise is a word that often inspires both internal and audible groans, but that’s often because many exaggerate the meaning of the word.

Consider this: physical activity is anything that gets your body mov-ing. It doesn’t have to be expensive or added on to your “to-do” list. Just move enough to get your heart rate up for at least 10 minutes at a time. That’s the type of activity that counts toward meeting the physical activity guide-lines.

Many household chores can count as physical activity, and it’s great to feel better about increasing your activ-ity and checking off those tasks like walking the dog, climbing the stairs, or simply parking farther from the door while shopping.

Do you think you’re too “old” to exercise? Everyone can gain the health benefits of physical activity — age, eth-nicity, shape, or size does not matter. If you are physically active in middle age or as an older adult, you have a lower risk of losing the ability to do every-day activities such as climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or playing with your grandchildren, than people who are inactive.

As an older adult, regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can prevent many of the health problems

that seem to come with age. Aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities can improve your ability to do every day tasks, even those you may already struggle with.

Not doing any physical activity can be bad for you, no matter your age or health condition. You don’t have to be in super physical shape or to be active for long periods of time to reap the benefits of physical activity, because some is better than none at all! Those health benefits will also increase with the more physical activity you do.

Do you feel lonely exercising by yourself? Consider signing up for John-son County K-State Research and Ex-tension’s Strong People classes. These classes meet from 12:10 to 12:55 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Extension Office in Olathe.

This program is a national, evi-dence-based community exercise and nutrition program targeted to midlife and older adults to help them maintain muscle mass, strength, and function as they age. This class fits all physical lev-els and equipment is provided on site. Many of the Strong People participants

have reported positive results from their participation in these classes. One woman, who has difficulty walking, recently fell but did not injure herself. She credits the Strong People classes for strengthening her arms, which al-lowed her to catch and support her body during the fall.

Eating hearty comfort foods is another way to stay warm during these colder months. Foods, like soups, pastas and stews, are often hotter and heavier, which naturally warm people on the inside. But they’re also often loaded with simple carbohydrates, excess sodium, and fatty ingredients that can make you feel over-full and sluggish, and can also wreak havoc on your health and waistline.

A one-cup serving of a popular brand of lobster bisque has 380 calo-ries, 27 grams of total fat, 16 grams of saturated fat, and 1,240 milligrams of sodium. New England clam chow-der can contain up to 940 calories, 65 grams of total fat, and 34 grams of saturated fat per one-cup serving. It is better to choose tomato-based or broth-based soups, like vegetable or minestrone. Enjoy soup as an appe-tizer or with a salad or a whole-wheat roll. Choose low-sodium canned soup, because regular soup usually contains a lot of salt and preservatives.

The biggest worry of consuming too much salt and sodium is high blood

pressure. Did you know that high blood pressure is the leading cause of early death in women? Or that it’s a leading cause of early death for men, second only to smoking? Healthy blood pres-sure numbers are less than 120 for the top number, and less than 80 on the bottom.

One of the best ways to lower high blood pressure is to reduce the amount of salt (or sodium) that you eat. That means doing more than not using the salt shaker at the table or when cook-ing, although that can help. About three-fourths of the sodium in the U.S. diet is from processed and restaurant foods.

Making your own soups is a great way to decrease sodium. It’s quite easy, using simple ingredients you probably already have stocked in your pantry or freezer. Want to learn more about mak-ing healthy soups from scratch/near scratch? Come to our Healthy Soups class from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Extension Office. Class fee includes samples and a cookbook with 35 healthy soup recipes.

For more information or to enroll, in the Strong People or Healthy Soups classes, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu/classes or call 913-715-7000.Crystal Futrell, Johnson County Extension Agent in Family and Consumer Sciences, can be reached at 913-715-7000 or [email protected].

Keep warm and healthy with soups and exercises

By Shari Tedford Happy New Year! The Johnson County Department of Health and Environ-

ment (JCDHE) is offering the Kansans Optimizing Health Program (KOHP) which focuses on chronic disease self-management from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

KOHP is a six-week, 2.5-hours weekly program that helps people learn how to manage their chronic conditions better. Participants learn about action planning, healthy eating, exercise, how to communicate better with health care providers, and many other topics. KOHP is an evidence-based program that originated at Stanford University.

Two JCDHE staff members have been trained as master trainers for the KOHP program. This allows for the expansion of the number of trained co-leaders in the state of Kansas and Johnson County area. A KOHP Leaders Training is scheduled for March 3-4 and 10-11. Call 913-477-8337 or 913-477-8437 if you are interested in taking the training or if your organization is interested in offering KOHP.

The department recently received a grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City to research how seniors learn in order to improve their health literacy. Three hundred people will be recruited to participate; recruitment has already begun. For more information, call 913-477-8337 or the Landon Center on Aging at 913-945-6702.

JCDHE’s Access to Care task group on oral health in the senior community is also working hard to improve the oral health, and ultimately, the quality of life for seniors in Johnson County. Watch for educational events at community centers, nutrition sites, and library locations to learn more about how your oral health affects your ability to stay healthy overall.

2014 is going to be an exciting year!Shari Tedford is senior wellness coordinator at the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.

Health program focuses on chronic disease

Spud Soup

(Makes two servings, each 1 1/3 cups)

For variation, substitute some of the potato with carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower in this low sodium, fat-free soup.

Ingredients

2 cups peeled diced potatoes (white or sweet)1/4 cup each chopped onion and celery1 teaspoon dried parsley leaves1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper3/4 cup water (add more, if needed)1 cup fat-free (skim) milk1 teaspoon cornstarch

Directions

1. In a covered non-stick saucepan, gently boil vegetables and spices in water for 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Remove from heat.

2. In a blender or with an electric mixer, blend milk and cornstarch. Add half of the soup mixture. Blend until almost smooth. Return blended mixture to saucepan.

3. Boil gently for two to three minutes until mixture thickens, stirring con-stantly. Serve hot.

4. Cover and refrigerate leftovers within two hours.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 190 calories, 0 g fat, 41 g carbohydrate, 8 g protein, 0 mg cholesterol, 90 mg sodium and 3 g dietary fiber. Daily Values: 6 percent vitamin A, 25 percent vitamin C, 15 percent calcium, 4 percent iron.


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If you have original Medicare and use certain equipment or supplies, you may be affected by upcoming changes. In 2011, Medicare began a competitive bidding program for certain medical equipment and supplies in your area. The program means big savings for people with Medicare – an average of 37 percent – while ensuring access to quality equipment.

Under the competitive bidding program, you generally need to use a contract supplier for Medicare to help pay for your item. The supplier con-tracts that started on Jan. 1, 2011 expire at the end of 2013.

Jan. 1, 2014 marks the start of a new contract period for the competitive bidding program in the Johnson County area, and that means some of the con-tract suppliers and prices are changing. Contract suppliers have been carefully vetted, so you’ll have access to quality items from suppliers you can trust. You will continue to see substantial savings on equipment like oxygen, wheelchairs, and hospital beds as compared to the outdated, excessive fee schedule. Some new product categories have been added since 2011, which means more people can benefit from the savings.

If you’re already renting certain medical equipment or receiving oxygen or oxygen equipment from a supplier that won’t be a contract supplier, you may be able to stay with that supplier after Jan. 1. Suppliers that don’t have a new Medicare contract can choose to become “grandfathered” suppliers and continue to rent your equipment to you.

Here are the items included in the program:• Respiratory equipment and related

supplies and accessorieso includes oxygen, oxygen

equipment, and supplies; con-tinuous positive airway pres-sure (CPAP) devices and respi-ratory assist devices (RADs) and related supplies and acces-sories; and standard nebulizers

• Standard mobility equipment and related accessorieso includes walkers, standard

power and manual wheel-chairs, scooters, and related accessories

• General home equipment and related supplies and accessorieso includes hospital beds and

related accessories, group 1 and 2 support surfaces, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices, commode chairs, patient lifts, and seat lifts

• Enteral nutrients, equipment, and supplies

• Negative pressure wound therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories

• External infusion pumps and sup-plies

Your existing supplier may still be a contract supplier, but it’s best to make sure. Here are some simple steps you should take if you use any of the equip-ment listed above:1. Visit Medicare.gov/supplier or call

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) and check the list of local suppliers that have contracts starting on Jan. 1, 2014 to see if your current supplier is on the list. If so, you don’t need to do anything else.

2. If you rent certain medical equip-ment or are receiving oxygen or oxygen equipment, check with your supplier to find out if they plan to become a grandfathered supplier. If your supplier chooses to become a grandfathered sup-plier, they will let you know in writing at least 30 business days prior to Jan. 1. You may choose to keep using them or switch to a contract supplier. If they choose not to become a grandfathered supplier, see Step 3 below.

3. Check the list of local contract suppliers (see Step 1 above) and contact them as soon as possible to ensure continued access to your medical items and Medicare payment for the items.

Make sure to let your friends and loved ones know about these changes as well!

If you have questions or want more information, Medicare has resources to help you, including Medicare.gov/sup-plier and 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. You can also call your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free health insur-ance counseling and personalized help. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), your plan will notify you if your supplier is changing. Contact your plan for more informa-tion.

Information provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Medicare changes for certain medical supplies begin in 2014


By Gerald Hay

Sixteen residents of Silvercrest at Deer Creek, an active retirement community in Overland Park, have a new wrinkle in raising funds for a good cause.

Sitting on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, they posed for monthly pictures featured in a special 2014 calendar to benefit the Senior Dreams Foundation. They range in age from 86 to 94.

Most of the calendar pictures feature women, who had never been on a motorcycle in their lifetime.

“It’s kind of weird; it was a fun thing to do. It was with fun people,” Ferne Eisele, “Miss April,” who will celebrate her 90th birthday that month in 2014, said. “This is my first time on one. I can’t say I rode on one. I can say I was on one.”

She’s not alone.“I thought it was stupid at first,” Betty

Chasm, 86, who saddles a red motorcycle for the month of May, said. “It was great for a bunch of old timers like us. It was fun.”

One of the few calendar stars with a motorcycle past was Bob Rothering, 91, who is shown on a yellow Harley-Davidson in Feb-ruary.

He used motorcycles to deliver messages and was a pilot during pre-World War II (1940) when he was with the Flying Tiger unit in China before joining the Army in WWII, serving as a tank commander and then later in the artillery.

“There’s nothing softer than riding a Harley across a corn field at night without headlights as fast as you can,” he said with a smile. “I was downed once in an airplane, blown out of a tank, but never crashed a motor-cycle.”

Some, especially the few veterans in the group, recall the war years in WWII and Korean when calendar pinups, like Rita Hayworth, Bettie Page, Betty Davis, and the grand dame of all Betty Grable, were popular at home and abroad.

None of the honest-to-goodness grandfolks, with an accumulation totaling more than two scores of grandchildren and a few great-grandchildren, have ever

posed for calendar pictures.All of them enjoyed the opportunity to do so.The special calendar, the brainchild of Rick

Turner, director of maintenance at Silvercrest, featured motorcycles from Rawhide Harley-Davidson in Olathe. The residents were allowed to choose the motorcycles for their pictures, including:• June: Edwin and Jean Newberg;• July: Marinell Webber and her daughter Belinda Ewy;• September: Yo Lenninger; and,• November: Helen Parnell.

A few, like Bob Kersey, 88, and Priscilla Marston, who turns 89 in January, are the January couple, and 88-year-old Dorothy Kirkendoll as “Miss May,” wore leather attire to pose on the Harleys.

“We were all kids at heart,” Marston said.Kirkendoll echoed that feeling: “That was a

really fun day,” she added. The pictures also include married couples

Don and Midge White, both 87, in October and Bob and Bea Harker in December. The Whites were wed 66 years ago; the Harkers, also both 87, have been together for 57 years. Both couples are together on separate three-wheeled motorcycles.

“We were told that we looked like real bikers,” Midge White said.

Bea Harker agreed. “A friend calls me his motorcycle momma,” she said with a smile.

Proceeds from sales of the calendars will benefit the Senior Dreams Foundation which pro-vides financial assistance, goods, equipment, and services to current or future residents of Dial Senior Living communities, which includes Sil-vercrest at Deer Creek. The facility was named the recipient of the 2013 Best of Overland Park Award in the Assisted Living Facilities category

by the Overland Park Award Program.Sitting on a red Harley-Davidson and waving to all, Esther Prinds was the

oldest calendar gal at 94 at the top of 31 days in August. Like most of the others in the 2014 calendar, she hopes to pose for future calendars as well.

“We had a lot of fun,” Prinds said. “I’d like to do it again if you don’t wait too long. I keep getting birthdays all the time.”

Harley calendar features grandfolks cruzin’ for funAbove: Calendar participants (from left to right, front row) include: Esther Prinds, Midge White, Bea Harker, Ferne Eisele, Marinell Webber, and Helen Parnell. (Left to right back row) Yo Lenninger, Don White, Bob Harker, Priscilla Marston, Bob Kersey, Bob Rothering, and Betty Chasm. Not pictured: Dorothy Kirkendoll, and Edwin and Jean Newberg. Right: Bob “Mr. February” Rothering is shown with his pet pal Sam.

Top: Bob and Bea Harker (Mr. and Mrs. December) have been married for 57 years. Bottom right: Esther Prinds, left, is Miss August; Helen Parnell is Miss November. Bottom left: Marinell Webber is the July calendar picture.


Library offers resources for tax preparation

shadow.indd 1 5/1/12 3:22 PM



All faiths or beliefs are welcome.

C onvenience is more than having

the snow shoveled. Along with maintenance-free living, you

can have housekeeping, transportation and meals provided, which makes it easier to enjoy life as part of a caring community.

To learn more about our community, call (913) 780-9916.

By Marty Johannes

Tax season is here and Johnson County Library has a variety of tax-related resources to assist local taxpayers in filing their tax return.

The Library will once again host the AARP Tax-Aide service. Trained volun-teers will answer questions and prepare personal tax returns for low and middle income Kansans only at the Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park.

AARP Tax-Aide services will not be avail-able at the Antioch, Corinth, Lackman, Leawood Pioneer, or Oak Park Neighborhood Libraries. This free service begins Monday, Feb.. 3, and runs through Tuesday, April 15. For more infor-mation about the AARP Tax-Aide program in Kansas, including a list of documents that you should bring to your appointment, go to www.kstaxaide.com.

Johnson County Library taxes webpage at www.jocolibrary.org/taxes provides a list of tax-related resources with links to other websites, including.

• Tax forms. Most are available online and can be printed off the internet at public computers for 15 cents per page.

For federal forms, go to www.irs.gov. Type the form number in the search box in the upper right corner of the home page or click on the link to Forms and Publications. You can order forms by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

The Central Resource Library will be the only location that will have some of the federal forms in paper. These will be available beginning in late January / early February. You must come to the library in person to check the availability of spe-cific tax forms. Library staff will not be able to check availability over the phone. Please note the IRS will no longer automatically mail paper tax packages to people who filed a paper return last year.

For Kansas forms, go to www.ksrevenue.org. Forms may also be requested by calling the Kansas Taxline at 785-368-8222. A form is not needed when filing

online at Kansas Web File www.kansas.gov/webfile. Please note it will take longer (16 weeks or more) to get a refund if a paper return is filed.

Missouri forms are available online at www.dor.mo.gov. You can request forms by phone by calling 800-877-6881 or 816-889-2944. You can also request forms via e-mail by submitting a message to [email protected]. Kansas City (MO) tax forms are available at www.kcmo.org/tax or by telephoning 816-513-

1120. • Business taxes. Go to www.irs.gov/Businesses to get to a wealth of information. Kansas business tax information is at: www.ksrevenue.org/business. NetWork Kansas pairs people with business-related questions or concerns with the professionals who can help.

NetWork Kansas can assist at any stage of the business lifecycle. This free service can be accessed by calling 877-521-8600 or online at www.network-kansas.com. Missouri www.dor.mo.gov/businessand Kansas City Missouri www.kcmo.org/CKCMO/Depts/Finance/RevenueDivision have sections on their websites especially for businesses.• Library resources. Books are available at the

Library concerning deductions and non-cash donations. The Salvation Army Valuation Guide is also a resource. To access it, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org and do a search under Valuation Guide. The IRS has a section on its site (www.irs.gov). Type in “donated property” in the search box.

The Library has a collection of books, audiobooks on CD, downloadable audiobooks, and DVDs on a range of tax topics to help individuals and business owners. Check out the Library’s tax page for links to the catalog on pertinent topics.

For a complete list of holdings, check out the Library’s online catalog on the Library’s website, www.jocolibrary.org.

Marty Johannes is a reference librarian at the Johnson County Library.


New Year brings opportunity to set new goals

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By Carol Roeder-Esser

Now that 2013 has drawn to a close, it’s time to think about making New Year’s resolutions. Of course you can set goals any time of year but somehow Jan. 1 signals a new beginning, a fresh start and a time of opportunity.

Whether you call it goal setting, setting the inten-tion, or making a resolution it can be a powerful process to help you figure out what you want in the future and how you’re going to get there.

The most common New Year’s resolution for 2013 was to eat healthy and exercise regularly (which usually also means to lose weight). According to Time magazine, “60 percent of gym memberships go unused and attendance is usually back to normal by mid-February.”

The next resolutions in order were:• No. 2, drink less;• No. 3, learn something new;• No. 4, quit smoking; and,• No. 5, have a better work/life balance.

Those are all admirable goals; however, most of them involve something someone has told us we prob-ably should do. That doesn’t always translate into what we will actually do.

Would you believe 75 percent of people are successful with their resolutions for one week? After that it drops off quite a bit. However, at the six-month mark, 40 to 46 percent of people are still successful. So what sets these people apart and helps them succeed?

The first criteria for success is that the goal you set has to be something you really want to accom-plish. It helps to pick a goal that you truly believe will improve your quality of life. If it’s a very big goal it also helps to break it down into smaller, more man-ageable parts.

Write your goal down and state it in as positive a way as possible. For example, if you want to exercise more you might say “I feel so much better, have a better quality of sleep and have more energy when I walk regularly and I really like that feeling.”

Make your goal specific. If you said, I want to feel better what does that really mean? If something is too general you won’t know if you’ve accomplished it or not. But if you say, I want to walk 30 minutes three times a week you know what you need to do. It can

even help to pick the three days out ahead of time and put them on your calendar like you would any other commitment. And there is a definite feeling of accom-plishment as you are able to cross them off your “to do” list.

Make the goal reasonable and achievable. Maybe you decide you want to lose 20 pounds. Even though it may have seemed like you gained the weight over-night you will not be able to lose it in a week. This is where those smaller goals can really make a differ-ence. For example, maybe you decide that you want to lose five pounds the first month. For most people losing five pounds seems much more doable, even if you will be trying to lose five pounds for four months in a row to get to your goal of 20.

Set up a buddy system, if at all possible. We tend to be more accountable when someone else is involved. On the days you don’t feel like walking or want to start the day with a cinnamon roll instead of oatmeal, it can help to have someone remind us of what we are aiming for.

Work on improving your self-confidence. There are days the cinnamon roll will win but hopefully there will be more days when you start out with a healthy breakfast and continue with healthy eating throughout the day. There will be days you back slide. Don’t use a slip up as an excuse to just give up.

Celebrate your accomplishments. Think about all the things you have accomplished over the years whether it was mastering riding a bike, building a shelf, or making a pie. It’s great to say “I did that, I accomplished what I set out to do.”

Carol Roeder-Esser is a mental health program spe-cialist at Johnson County Mental Health.

By Roy White

Eighty seniors, representing the breadth of Kansas and participating in the recent 2013 annual session of the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature, have approved seven resolutions and bills for consideration by the Kansas Legislature. The 2014 legislative session begins on Jan. 13.

The resolutions include:

• The reauthorization and preservation of the Older Americans Act of 1965. The original law gave states authority over grants for community planning, social services, and research and development projects for the elderly and personnel training on age-related issues. Much has been accomplished since the initial enactment of the act. A reduction in future funding would create serious problems.

• Legalization of the use of medical marijuana. State law should make a distinction between the medical and non-medical uses of marijuana.

• Funding support of the Kansas Drug Card program. Any Kansan, regardless of income, can use the free, statewide prescription assistance program.

• Support of the National Alzheimer’s Plan. It recommends that the department of Health and Human Services convene representatives from all levels of government, academic, and medical research institutions along with the private sector to create an action plan for making advancements in understanding,

predicting, treating, and curing the disease through clinical trials.

• Increased funding for home and community based nutrition programs throughout Kansas. Home programs promote independent living, self-direction, individual choice, and privacy by providing services as an alternative to nursing facility care. Nutrition programs provide information to help individuals make appropriate choices in purchasing food and preparing meals in order to prevent chronic diseases and maintain healthy active living.

Bills supported by the Silver Haired legislators include an act concerning telecommunications and an act regarding the joint committee on home and com-munity-based services and KanCare oversight.

The telecommunications act repeals sections of recent legislation which allowed certain service pro-viders to avoid their obligation as the carrier of last

resort. The goal is to have telecommunication ser-vices available to all Kansans, particularly senior citi-zens.

The home and community based services and KanCare oversight legislation mandates the joint committee to monitor and study the implementation and operations of the home and community based service programs, including the children’s health insurance program, the program for the all-inclusive care of the elderly, and the state Medicaid programs. The oversight should include monitoring access to quality services and any financial and budgetary issues.

The Johnson County Silver Haired Legislators will give periodic updates and welcome any com-ments, questions, or suggestions about the issues facing seniors in Kansas.

Roy White is chairman of the Johnson County Silver Haired legislators.

Silver Haired legislators support seven issues


Here’s the scoop on shoveling snowIt happens every winter in Johnson County: Snow falls, usually leaving

piles of the white stuff to clear from your sidewalks and driveway. Then, the snowplows come, adding additional work at the end of the driveway or trying to uncover your parked car at the curb.

Not everyone who shovels snow is going to have a heart attack. Snow shoveling can be good exercise when performed correctly and with safety in mind.

Keep in mind that the average shovel loaded with 16 pounds of snow ends up moving 192 pounds of snow if you load your shovel about 12 times a minute. That’s almost a ton of snow being lifted in just over 10 minutes!

The good news is that 15 minutes of snow shoveling counts as moderate physical activity, according to the Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health. We all should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity of some kind on most days of the week. A 170-pound person shoveling for 30 minutes will burn about 250 calories.

The bad news is that researchers have reported an increase in the number of fatal heart attacks among snow shovelers after heavy snowfalls. This rise may be due to the sudden demand that shov-eling places on an individual’s heart. Snow shoveling may cause a quick increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

Back strain and muscle sore-ness are also by-products of the physical activity involved in snow shoveling. Even if you exercise regularly and are not at risk for heart disease, shoveling improp-erly could lead to a strained back and sore muscles.

The weather can make shov-eling more difficult. Cold air makes working and breathing hard, which adds some extra strain on the body. Shovelers also are at risk for hypothermia, a decrease in body temperature, if they are not dressed correctly for the weather condi-tions.

So, please use common sense and remember that walking on ice is extremely dangerous at home and elsewhere. Many cold-weather injuries result from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches.

Residents should keep their steps and walkways as free of ice as pos-sible by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand may also be used on walkways to reduce the risk of slipping.

By Gerald Hay

Oh, the weather outside is frightful ….That means the arrival of Old Man Winter. Kids are cheering “Let it snow!

Let it snow! Let it snow!” while looking for their sleds and hoping for a snow day from school. And, adults are wishing for a quick trip to Florida, which would be delightful, while looking for their snow shovels and hoping for an early spring.

Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few hours to a blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. Many storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures and sometimes by strong winds, icing, sleet and freezing rain.

One of the primary concerns is the winter weath-er’s ability to knock out heat, power, and communica-tions services to your home or office, sometimes for days at a time. Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region and can quickly disrupt our daily lives.

The National Weather Service refers to winter storms as the “Deceptive Killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Instead, people die in traffic accidents on icy roads and of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold.

It is important to be prepared for winter weather before it strikes and can help minimize daily interruptions in our lives both at home and when we’re out and about. Being more aware and better prepared can help Johnson County residents of

all ages stay safe, warm, and healthy throughout the winter months.During and after a winter storm, public works departments in Johnson

County, local cities, and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) are busy plowing snow and treating thousands of miles of streets and roads with a mixture of salt and sand to improve traction of vehicles to make driving as safe and roadways as passable as possible.

The responsibilities, however, differ.County Public Works crews clear rural roadways

The Johnson County Department of Public Works and Infrastructure handles paved and chip sealed roadways only in the unincorporated areas.

The department’s initial snow-plowing, road-treating activities generally focus on the county’s arterial or main roadways and hilly sections of rural neigh-borhoods to provide safer driving conditions for motorists. Once the main roads have been plowed, county crews then begin clearing the paved secondary road-ways.

The gravel roads in Johnson County are usually only plowed if the snow accu-mulation is more than four inches or blocked by drifting snow.

Requests to clear a roadway in the unincorporated areas of Johnson County or additional information about the county’s snow-plowing policy should be directed to the Public Works Department at 913-715-8353.

Information about state highways and metro regionKDOT crews clear snow and treat road surfaces on state highways.

Road conditions and travel information in Kansas is available at www.ksdot.org/offTransInfo/511Info/511traffictravel.

The Kansas City Scout system at www.kcscout.net provides road conditions in the metropolitan region.

Here’s a pile of snow-shoveling tipsWhen the shovel is in your hands, always remember to be heart healthy and

back friendly while shoveling this winter. According to the National Safety Council:• Avoid caffeine or nicotine before beginning. These are stimulants, which may

increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to constrict. This places extra stress on the heart.

• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is just as big an issue in cold winter months as it is in the summer.

• Dress in several layers so you can remove a layer as needed. Synthetic fibers help wick away perspiration better than natural fibers.

• Warm your muscles before shoveling by walking for a few minutes or marching in place. Stretch the muscles in your arms and legs because warm muscles will work more efficiently and be less likely to be injured.

• Pick the right shovel for you. A smaller blade will require you to lift less snow, putting less strain on your body.

• Begin shoveling slowly to avoid placing a sudden demand on your heart. Pace yourself and take breaks as needed.

• Protect your back from injury by lifting correctly. Stand with your feet about hip width for balance and keep the shovel close to your body. Bend from the knees (not the back) and tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the snow. Avoid twisting movements. If you need to move the snow to one side, reposition your feet to face the direction the snow will be going.

• Create some distance between the hands. This will give you more leverage and make it easier to lift snow.

• Pick-up smaller loads of snow. It’s best to shovel by sections. If you are experi-encing snowfall levels of 12 inches or higher, take it easy and shovel two inches off at a time.

• Do push. Don’t lift. Save your back and your energy by simply pushing the snow to the side instead of lifting the snow and throwing it off to the side.

• Most importantly, listen to your body. Stop if you feel pain or observe heart attack warning signs. These may include chest pain as well as shoulder, neck or arm pain; dizziness, fainting, sweating, or nausea; or shortness of breath. If you think you’re having a heart attack, seek medical help immediately.

Who should think twice about shoveling snow?If you are inactive and have a history of heart trouble, talk to your doctor

before you take on the task of shoveling snow.

Potential shovelers in the high-risk category include:

• Anyone who already has had a heart attack;• Individuals with a history of heart disease;• Those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels;• Smokers; and,• Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Winter weather puts drivers on skids on roadways


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PLEASE REQUEST THE INFORMATION TODAY.

Did you know that you may NOW BE ELIGIBLE and able to protect your assets under a Federal law* and receive Medicaid benefits for long-term care health needs, without having to “spend down” your personal assets to qualify?

Kansas residents now may be able to receive Medicaid payments for long-term care services without having to first spend down their assets. This program is known as the LTC Partnership Program**. FREE INFORMATION is available to you.

The book, “Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home!” will provide you with critical informationto help you answer:• Where will I get the money to pay for my costs for long term care or serious illness?• How can I get the care I need without using all my assets?• What are my options for financial decisions about my future?• How qualifying veterans may receive up to $24,652 tax-free annually to help pay for health care.• What state and federal programs are available to help me with long term care costs.

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*http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-109s1932enr/pdf/BILLS-109s1932enr.pdf. If you are unable to access this URL, please call (913) 674-5347 to request a copy. **State LTC Partnership Plans are not available in all states.

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, in coopera-tion with the Johnson County Library, encourages citizens who need a place to warm up during below freezing tem-peratures to visit one of the 13 Johnson County library branches. All of these facilities will be available during normal business hours.

Libraries offer many services in addition to a warm place to rest and restore. You can read books, magazines and newspapers, or access the Internet. Library hours vary by location. Call 913-826-4600 to check hours of opera-tion for your nearest library branch, or visit the library web site at www.jocoli-brary.org.

Serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. The most common cold-related prob-lems are hypothermia and frostbite.

When exposed to cold tempera-tures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Pro-longed exposure to cold will eventually use up the body’s stored energy and result in hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature.

Warnings signs of hypothermia are shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fum-bling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. Seek medical attention quickly if you have these symptoms.

Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. Frostbite can per-manently damage the body, and severe

cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin —frostbite may be beginning. A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues

are numb. If you detect symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care.

Libraries serve as warming centers in winterWhat to do

If there is frostbite, but no sign of hypothermia and immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows:

• Get into a warm room as soon as possible.

• Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes—this increases the damage.

• Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the tempera-ture should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).

• Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.

• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.

• Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

Come explore the impact of World War II on Johnson County's people and landscape through this new exhibit and join us for these free programs!

Saturday, January 18 • 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.Citizen Soliders on the Prairie: Women on the Homefront

Presenter: Mickey Ebert, Education Specialist at the National Archives and Records Administration

Saturday, February 8 • 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.World War II in the Heartland

Presenter: Dr. Ted Wilson, University of Kansas

6305 Lackman RoadShawnee, KS 66217

(913) 715–2575 JoComuseum.org

50 Plus Art Show scheduled Jan. 15

Local artists age 50 and over can show off their artwork while enjoying refreshments and discovering other local artists during a first-ever 50 Plus Art Show being presented on Wednesday, Jan. 15, by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

The free event begins at 2 p.m. at the Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty Street, Overland Park. A prize drawing for a free 50 Plus art class will take place during the two-hour event.

Drop off you artwork, along with table easels, from 8 to 11 a.m. on the morning of the event and pick up your artwork immediately after the show.

For more information, call 913-831-3359 or visit the district’s website at www.jcprd.com.

Central Resource Library is located at 9875 West 87th Street, Overland Park.


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A ship’s bell has been presented to the Veterans Administration (VA) Radiation Oncology Outpatient Center in Overland Park by the Jewish War Veterans MO-KAN Post 605.

The bell will be used by VA patients undergoing radiation and other treatments at the facility. They can ring the bell to summon VA staff when they have completed a treatment and are ready to be escorted.

A “ship’s bell” traditionally hangs from a wall, gimbaled (so it can swing), and has a 12-inch lanyard for a person to ring the bell. It’s typically brass or bronze, shaped like the Liberty Bell, and pro-duces a loud sound. Ships and boats use the bell mainly as an alarm for the crew, or to alert other boats in dense fog conditions to avoid a collision.

Post 605 responded through the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) which helps coordinate volunteer support for local VA programs and is the largest volunteer program in the federal government.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or VITA, under the direction of Next Step KC http://nextstepkc.org (formerly known as KC Cash) is looking for volunteers for the upcoming tax season at the Johnson County Sunset Drive Office Building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, in Olathe.

The 2014 VITA site operates every Thursday afternoon and every Saturday morning, beginning Saturday, Feb. 1, in partnership with El Centro. VITA volunteers fulfill a variety of roles including income tax return preparer, greeter, and document reviewer. Sign language interpreters are particularly needed.

VITA volunteers come from all walks of life and include professionals, retirees, college and high school students, IRS employees and others who simply want to help taxpayers in their communities with income tax return preparation and increase their financial literacy. Becoming a volunteer is easy and training is provided.

To learn more about the volunteer opportunities available, please visit http://nextstepkc.org/volunteer, or contact Maggie Doedtman at 816-559-4676 or email [email protected].

VA staff and JWV representatives include (from left, standing): Stephanie Graham; Dr. Debabrata Bhaduri; Pam Doherty; Marvin Denton , JWV past commander; Dr. Eashwar Reddy; Mike Katzman, JWV past department commander and VAVS member; Sheldon Turetsky, JWV post commander; and (kneeling): Elizabeth Moutafis, VA nursing manager.

Veterans group donates ship’s bell for use by VA patients

VITA volunteers needed to help local taxpayers


By Lisa Taranto Butler

As the end of one year approaches, the potential for a successful next 365 days looks promising.

We loudly proclaim (or just whisper to ourselves) that this year, yes this year, is when we abandon bad habits and conquer new challenges. This year we will start our taxes early, organize the garage and adhere to our newly begun exercise program – for longer than the first signs of spring.

But when it comes to exercise, benefits are achieved when our workouts become a daily habit. If you aren’t already exercising regularly, walking in one of the easiest ways to get healthy and continue it for many New Years to come. Regular walking lowers blood pressure, increases lung capacity, strengthens core muscles, and lowers the risk of heart disease. And, when combined with a healthy diet, vigorous walking helps keeps weight under control, increases energy and keeps depression at bay.

Proper FormWalking is natural for most of us, but if it has

been awhile since your last substantial stroll, you could risk more than a blister if you don’t stride right.

First, think about striking the foot heel to toe. Striking the heel first allows your ankle to move through its full range of motion. Step forward, landing about midway on the heel. Roll the foot forward to the ball of the foot, and as you exit, think about raising the heel and pushing off the big toe.

Secondly, walk as proud as a peacock! Lift your chest high and relax your shoulders down away from your ears. Hold your belly muscles back toward your spine and let your arms fall in a comfortable position next to your body. Bend your elbows, drive your arms back slightly and keep your head in a neutral position. Cup the hands softly and don’t make a tight fist, as this only adds stress to your shoulders and arms.

SpeedHow many times have you witnessed “walkers”

talking on a cell phone? If you are conversing while you are walking, you should either be perusing the mall or your own backyard.

It isn’t safe to walk and talk on the phone. You can’t pay attention to your surroundings, and you cer-tainly aren’t walking at a pace that will make a differ-ence in your results. Keep the phone handy for an emergency, but stay off the horn when you are en route.

ExertionAlong with speed, exertion plays a major role in

the results you see from walking. If you are new to walking for exercise, graduate slowly by adding hills and longer walks into your program. Try intervals for even faster results. Walk for one minute as fast as you can and then walk another minute-slow and recov-ering. Repeat 10 times for a 20 minute interval.

Shoes and SuchGood footwear is key to a winning walk. Choose

shoes with proper arch support, a firm heel, and thick flexible soles to cushion your feet and absorb shock. Test out your possible pair by walking around the store before you buy.

As far as your walking wardrobe, aim for com-fortable clothing and dress in layers according to the weather. If you are on foot in the evening, wear reflective tape or bright colors so drivers can see you. Stick to walking on paths or sidewalks after dusk.

Smart GoalsTo stay on track and motivated, set S.M.A.R.T

goals for yourself. • Specific - Make sure your goal is not too

general.

• Measureable - How many miles? How much speed?

• Attainable - A smart goal should be achievable.

• Realistic - Too lofty goals cannot be attained, but challenge your mind and body.

• Timely - A smart goal should have a time period in which it will be accomplished.

Track Your ProgressTry keeping a record of how many

steps you take, how many miles you walk and how many calories you burn. Walking phone apps are great for tracking your progress or use a pedometer to set daily step goals. Reviewing your progress will help keep you motivated and provide inspi-ration to stay on track.

Stay MotivatedAbove all, don’t quit. Even with side-

tracks – wintry weather, vacation, sickness – commit to getting back into walking even if you have lapsed. As with any workout program, changing the routine periodically keeps boredom at bay and helps overcome plateaus. Add a new walking route, or drive to a destination to take a totally different trek. Invite a friend to walk with you on a certain day of the week, or try the treadmill on a rainy day and just imagine you are walking in a favorite vacation place.

New Year’s resolutions come and go, but our wellbeing is here to stay. Get on the right track by lacing up those shoes and

stepping out toward a healthier 2014.

Lisa Taranto Butler is triple-certified by the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer, lifestyle, and weight management coach, and group fitness instructor. She is the owner of FitChix KC.

Walk Your Way Into the New Year


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By Joe Henderson

Alan Poisner is a 1960 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, a Professor Emeritis of Pharmacology at the KU Medical Center, and still per-forms biomedial research at UMKC but to the public he’s better known as “The Racewalker.”

He’s a tireless advocate of racewalking for fun, exercise, and good health. But what drives him—as with all athletes—is the test of competition where he’s won more than 200 medals, mostly gold, in local, national, and international meets.

Over the years, Poisner, 79, has won gold at the World Masters Athletic Championships, National Senior Olympics, Huntsman World Masters Games, and Nike World Games among others. His achievements earned him the title of National Racewalker of the Year in 2011 in the 75-79 year-old division.

Poisner is one of the founders of the Heartland Racewalkers Club in Overland Park. With 55 members, ranging in age from 14 to 97, it is one of the largest and most active clubs in the country. He’s been president since 1996.

“I got into racewalking in the 1980s when Debbi Lawrence, an Olympic champion, and her husband, Don, started the Kansas City Walkers Club. I didn’t participate in track when I was young, tennis was my sport in high school and college,” Poisner explained. “I did join a track club in the 1970s when I turned 45 and started running 5Ks and 10Ks.”

“But after three years I developed sciatica which I thought might necessitate surgery so I stopped running. That’s when I became acquainted with the Law-rences and they set me up with a racewalking program. It turned out to be a fateful day for me. Before long I was doing distances of 1,500 meters to marathons,” he said.

“Debbi and Don moved to Wisconsin in 1988 where Debbi was training for the Olympics. The next year several of us, including Martie Lykens, Delon and Phil Jacobs, who are still active in our club, and I founded the Heartland Race-walkers,” Poisner said. “We chose a logo and T-shirts, red with white lettering, and had an advanced racewalk course available. About 40 persons attended our first meeting,” he said.

The club meets every Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Jewish Commu-nity Center in Overland Park.

“We discuss racewalking techniques and offer training for new members. Our meetings are social as well as instructional,” Poisner said.

He cautions beginners “don’t go out too fast and hurt yourself.” He urges them to concentrate on proper technique.

“Speed will come with the right technique,” he said.“We bring in nationally prominent coaches and athletes to present intensive

weekend clinics for members,” Poisner said. “Not all our members are competi-tors. Many racewalk for benefits such as weight control and increased flexibility with a strong emphasis on mental and physical health. We have two 95-year-old members who still race which attests to the viability of this as a lifelong sport,” Poisner said. “Our motto is ‘don’t hurt yourself and have fun.’”

Poisner doesn’t take kindly to remarks about the “funny look” of racewalking. “It’s been an Olympic event for 100 years. It’s truly an endurance event

requiring incredible aerobic conditioning. Olympic runners respect racewalkers.

The longest racewalking events are five miles longer than a marathon,” he said.

Racewalking is neither slow running nor fast walking and has its own rules and physical demands, Poisner emphasized. There are two rules that must be followed that distinguish racewalking from running: (1) one foot must be on the ground at all times and (2) the advancing leg must be straight at the knee when the foot touches the ground until the body passes over it. In com-petition if judges detect an infraction the walker receives a red card. Three red cards and the contestant is disqual-ified.

The senior racewalker in the club is Jean Brunnen-kant, 97, who has won gold medals on the national level in the 5K event in five age divisions, 75, 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old. She didn’t start racewalking until she was 75 years old, a testament to the adage it’s never too late to start a meaningful and fun exercise routine.

“One day I happened to see a group doing what I later learned was racewalking,” Brunnenkant said. “I thought ‘I can do that’ and I did. Exercise is my medi-cine.”

Other seniors in the club who have been consistent award winners include B.J. Thornburg, vice president and board member, 5K and 1500 meters, 65-69 division; Fred

Adams, 5K, 80-84 division; Eileen McManus, 5K, 55-59 division; Julie Haller, 5K, 75-79; and Sunday Cavallaro, 5K, 55-59 division.

Unless he’s training for a specific event, Poisner usually walks four miles a day, six days a week for enjoyment.

“We have adopted the motto of the Kansas Senior Olympics: ‘You don’t stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing,’” he said.

For more information about racewalking, go to www.heartlandracewalkers.com.

Joe Henderson was a federal court reporter with The Kansas City Star for 40 years and is now a freelance writer. He lives in Overland Park.

Alan Poisner, right, and B.J. Thornburg are shown with Jean Brunnenkant, sitting.

Racewalking goes in stride with fun and good health


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By Bobbie Palagi Smith

When I was little, my grandfather was my hero. I called him “Papa” and my grandmother “Nanny.”

Papa’s name was Ole Mandius Helgeson, but everyone called him “Mike.” He emigrated from Haugesund, Norway, when he was l6. He learned English quickly, and his speech was impeccable. He said, “The day I became an American citizen was one of the proudest days in my life.”

Papa went to work for Anaconda Copper Mining in Great Falls, Montana. The town was named for five Missouri River waterfalls the Lewis and Clark Expedition noted in its 1805-06 exploration of the Louisiana Purchase. The highest structure was Anaconda’s smokestack, “The Big Stack,” on Smelter Hill near the town of Black Eagle.

Papa was a tall, quiet man with dark hair, straight black eyebrows, and ramrod posture. He met my grandmother, Olga Caroline Matland, in Great Falls. She was pretty and vivacious, but she told her sister, “Mandius is too old (he was five years older), too old-fashioned, and too serious.”

Once when Papa came to call for Nanny, her sister told him, “Olga has a headache.” When she boarded the streetcar with another fella a short time later, Papa was waiting. He approached the other man and said, “Damn you.”

He finally convinced Nanny to marry him. They had two children: my mother, Violet, and my uncle, Harold. Anaconda promoted Papa to grounds manager, and the family moved to Smelter Hill. “The Hill” had a watchman at the entrance, a clubhouse, a swimming pool, a playground, a pond filled with goldfish, and a tennis court where the residents held dances in the summer. A small church perched on a bluff hill, a waterfall cascading down the side. On the Fourth of July, Papa and the other men set up a fireworks display. Red, white, and blue explosions ripped through the sky while people gasped.

During World War II, when Dad was in the Army and Uncle Harold in the Navy, Mom and I lived with Nanny and Papa. On Dec. 20, l943, my grandparents received a telegram stating that a submarine had torpedoed my uncle’s ship on its way home for Christmas and all on board were lost.

A gold star then decorated the window in our front room. Nanny kept Harold’s room the way he had left it.

My grandparents bought me a white rabbit-fur coat with a white muff and a bonnet trimmed in red velvet. When Nanny and I took the bus to town, white wisps wafted through the air and settled on other passengers.

Papa always wore a hat with a brim and drove a l940s Dodge he washed and waxed constantly.

He took me to see every Disney movie. When I was frightened by the wolf in “Little Red Riding Hood,” he fumed, “Are they trying to scare children?” He took me to puppet shows where the puppeteers threw silver balls to children in the audience. We went to the state fair and walked through barns ripe with the musk of hay and animals, and threw coins into orange-colored dishes (later called carnival glass.) He took me on every ride that was “safe.” I think of him when I see a merry-go-round.

Papa loved growing things. The bird bath in the back yard was surrounded by purple petunias. He planted red geraniums, purple and pink pansies, yellow sweet peas, orange and yellow gladiolas, tomatoes, and vegetables. I remember the scent of baking bread and simmering tomatoes.

At Christmas, Papa and his crew hung hundreds of lights on the evergreens on The Hill. As Mother was returning from visiting Dad at an Army training camp, her train was on the tracks across the river. The passengers looked out the window and saw the lights shimmering over the water. They said, “It looks like a fairy land.”

When my father returned after the war, we moved to a small town but I spent summers with my grandparents. Papa said, “Someday, Bobbie Jean will write about Smelter Hill.”

In the l970s, Anaconda sold the mines. The residents moved from The Hill, the houses were torn down, and Papa’s trees died of neglect. The area was declared contaminated.

Despite an attempt to save it as a landmark, the “Big Stack” was slated for demolition in 1983. People lined the riverbanks, many crying. It took two separate attempts with dynamite to bring the old gal down. Today, The Hill stands naked and uninhabited, except by memories.

The last time I saw my grandfather, I was pregnant with my eldest son. When my grandfather met Mom and me at the airport, he was thin and slumped, and his eyebrows were gray with twisty, curly hairs. He still wore his hat and drove his black Dodge, but slowly. A year later, he died while covering his plants to protect them from the cold. His beloved Olga joined him three years later.

Now I am almost as old as my grandparents were when they died. I love to garden. Recently, I noticed that my eyebrows had gray, twisty, curly hairs—another reminder of my first hero.

Bobbie Palagi Smith is a retired paralegal and a freelance author who lives in Lenexa.

Papa: Remembering my grandfatherMEMORIES

Entries sought for Bookmark Design Contest

Entry forms for the 2014 Bookmark Design Contest, co-sponsored annually by the Johnson County Library and the Friends of the Library, will be available beginning Jan. 2 at all Johnson County library locations and in a downloadable format from the Library’s website www.jocolibrary.org/bookmarks.

Forms will also be available at the Friends Used Book Stores, located in the lobbies of the Antioch Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Merriam, and at the Blue Valley Library, 9000 W. 151st Street, Overland Park.

The popular annual contest is part of the Johnson County Library’s cele-bration of the 2014 National Library Week and draws several hundred entries each year. In the space provided on the entry form, contest entrants may use colored pencils, crayons, pens, paints, or markers to design an original hand- drawn bookmark with illustrations and/or words.

No computer generated entries will be accepted.

Entrants should show what experi-ences their family has at the library or tell a story about what they like about the library. The contest has categories for preschool through adult. All ages are encouraged to participate.

Entries must be returned to any Johnson County Library location by Feb. 28.

Ten winners will be announced on April 10. Each will be recognized in a special ceremony and awarded a cash prize from the Friends of the Johnson County Library.

The winning designs will be printed on bookmarks that will be dis-tributed at all Johnson County Library locations. All designs become the prop-erty of the Johnson County Library and cannot be returned. The Bookmark Design Contest is free and open to the public.

For more information call 913-826-4600.


Herman RossiterShawnee

Korea, Navy, boiler tender 3rd class, USS Los Angeles, USS Swenson, in Inchon invasion, Pusan, Japan, all over Pacific, served with brother on same ship, five years military service.

Bill SchottMission

Vietnam, Army, Americal Division, 23rd Infantry Regiment, captain, logistics in Division HQ, Chu Lai, and other areas, served 1968-1972 (in Vietnam 70-71), Bronze Star.

Herb TaylorShawnee

Vietnam, Army, 4th Infantry Division, 12th Regiment, staff sergeant, platoon sergeant, in Vietnam 68-69, 300 days combat, Pleiku, Central Highlands.

Don PinkstonOverland Park

Korea, Navy, 2.5 years on USS Whitefish-SS307-submarine, electronics technician 3rd class, two patrols in Korean waters, operated out of Yokosuka, Japan.

Harry LevittOverland Park

Korea, Marines, lst Marine Division, 7th Marines, PFC, machine gunner, 1951-1953, Panmunjom area on 38th parallel, wounded twice, two Purple Hearts, first generation American.

Evan Ash Jr.Olathe

Vietnam, Navy, USS Vulcan-AR 5, ship’s accountant, storekeeper 2nd class, two years sea duty, active duty 66-68 with eight years total service, Repair ship operated in Pacific and Atlantic.

Jim PlunkettKansas City

(Family in Johnson County)WW II, Korea, Army, in Quartermaster Corps stateside during WWII, machine records officer working with IBM punch cards during Korean War in Okinawa, 1950-1952.

Milli HoginsLenexa

Cold War era, Women’s Army Corps, corporal, lab technician at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., served 1958-1960, eight of 11 siblings served in U.S. military.

A SALUTE TO JOHNSON COUNTY’S VETERANS

In cooperation with Americans Remembered

The Best Times features veterans each month. Some vets outside Johnson County are featured when their family members are Johnson

County seniors. To suggest a vet’s name, including yours, contact Gary Swanson: call 913-744-8282 or email [email protected].

By Michael Ashcraft, District 5As I see it

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Rehabilitation & Health Care

WITH NO ENTRANCE FEE

“Mom loves to stay active, but needs a little help with her

medications.”www.CovenantPlaceLenexa.org

A Grand New YearA little over two years ago, my wife and I were

blessed with a beautiful grandson. He is our only grandchild at this time. He and his mother live with us and every morning, when he wakes up, the world is wondrous. His joy for life is infectious. Both my wife and I thrive on it.

My grandson has done a lot for us. I can’t say either one of us has been overly healthful as adults, but his joy spurs us to look at ourselves in a new light and to take care of what we have. We want to live every day now to see him embrace each morning, if you know what I mean.

Unfortunately, as I get older, it’s easier to be a little less active. At times, it is almost a fight just to get out of bed. I hate to say it seems natural to slow down because I don’t want to slow down.

One thing I do to stay active is belong to a local health center here in Olathe. I try to go every day although some mornings are, well, less energizing than others. Over the years, I’ve noticed that at about this time of year, the number of attendees tends to spike. The “joke” among longtime frequent users (gym rats) is that the “resolute” crowd is in town. By mid-February, these folks have pretty well subsided as their New Year resolutions wear off. The interesting thing is though, out of this swarm, there are always two or three people who continue to come week in and week out until they become part of the gym rat pack.

For some, setting New Year’s resolutions is old hat. After all, as we age, we have had enough oppor-tunities to get it right. For others, especially the late boomers and Millennial’s, they seem to think it is fun to set new goals and make plans in their annual New Year’s resolutions.

As Mark Twain reportedly once said:“New Year’s is a harmless annual institution, of

no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.”

But there is more to it. Resolutions with the right motivation can be life changing. Every morning when I get up, I pause and creak and ache and think about going back to bed. But then I remember that in a couple of hours when I come back from the gym my grandson will be getting up and the world will be fresh and wondrous once again. I want to enjoy those days for as long as I can. I hope you find your muse this New Year, whether it be a grandchild, a loving spouse or a commitment to your community. Edith Lovejoy Pierce said it well when she penned:

“Today, the first day of the year, we have opened the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to write the words on them ourselves. The book is called ‘opportunity’ and its first chapter begins on New Year’s Day.”

I’ll close with one last observation. For those of you who know me, you may have caught that I have an interest in analytics (numbers and analysis). In the U.S. today, the average American will live to be about 80. Woman will on average outlive men. For the sake of understanding, let’s stay with 80 though. As we all know, there are 365 days in a year. So if we subtract our age from the average life expectancy and multiple by 365 days, we have a pretty good estimate of how many days we have left on this mortal coil. For me it’s 80 - 59 = 21 X 365 = 7,665 days. When you put a number to it, it doesn’t seem that long does it?

Regardless of how long it is, I hope I get to send all of them with my grandson. I hope you get to spend your time with your muse. Have a good 2014. Make every day count!


Johnson County Home Service Plumbing Co. Free service call for any plumbing in your home with this ad! Servicing Johnson County for over 50 years. JCHS is a division of Reddi Root’r Systems. Trust earned the old-fashioned way! Angie’s List Super Award winner. Member Better Business Bureau. www.jocoplumbing.com or 913-439-1700. Computer Training For Seniors SenCom (Senior Com-puter Users Group of KC) is offering three-hour computer workshops sponsored by Shawnee Parks and Recreation. Workshops are hands-on, senior paced, with plenty of help. They are held at 6535 Quivira. January’s offerings include: Computer Maintenance. Windows 7 Operating System. Google’s Other Features. Files and Folders Beginnings Com-puter Introduction to Excel. The Beginners Workshop for Mac is being held At the Shawnee Civic Center. For more informa-tion or to register, call 913-631-5200. SenCom, a user’s group for seniors also offers monthly meetings including Q & A ses-sions and presentations on a topic related to computer use. For more information call Teresa at 913-206-7017, or visit us on the Web at www.kcsenior.net.

COMPUTER SERVICES, SENIOR DISCOUNT, 18 YEARS installing, repairing, problem solvlng all issues relating to PCs, software, the Internet, wireless connectivity, security, printers and more. We come to you and we are insured. Call AM/PM Technology at 913-385-2676 and ask for Doug, Joe, or Patrick (we speak English).

Complete Residential Services. Electrical, plumbing repairs, interior and exterior painting, driveway sealing and repair, expert textured ceiling or wall repair. Free estimates and references available. Call Rich at 913-522-8325.

PROVIDING: Bookeeping, Accounting, Payroll, Quarterly Returns, Tax Preparation, Experience. 913-579-6345.

RICHARD A. EISBERG, CPA. Income Tax Preparation – Personal and Business – Other Accounting Services. Please Call 913-381-8863.

CPR Computing. For all your computer needs. Virus and spyware removal, Windows repair and installation, upgrades, software and hardware training, new PC consultation, and networking. Call Rich Armstrong at 913-522-8325. Fast, friendly, and very affordable.

Helping Seniors Live Independently – We provide assistance to those seniors who need help in personal and home needs such as: Companion/Support, Administrative Assistant, Errand and Courier Service, Organization, Cleaning Home Services and Appropriate Transportation. References provided. Call Sharon at Sherry’s Concierge Service 913-649-6199 or 816-531-3633. “You Have a Friend in Us.”

Swalms Organizing Service. Reduce clutter and enjoy an organized home! Basement, attic, garage, shop, storage rooms—any room organized. Belongings sorted, boxed, and labeled. Items hauled for recycling, items donated, trash bagged. For before-and-after photos, please see www.swalmsorganizing.com. Over 20 years of organizing experience, insured. Call Tillar: 913-375-9115.

DEAN’S PRO PAINTING: 25 + years experience; insured, fast, clean, reliable, quality work; interior/exterior; residential/commercial power-washing, wallpaper removal; drywall & plaster repair, faux work; texture matching; crown & trim work; custom colors. References available. Call Dean at 913-322-9089 or 913-944-3769.

HANDYMAN PRO, LLC - Repair, Remodel, Renew. Bathrooms, painting, decks, yard work, sheetrock repair, grab bars, ramp building. Call Tom for free estimate. 913-488-7320. Handymanprokc.com.

QUALITY HOME REMODELING & REPAIRS: All large & small jobs, 25 + years experience, reasonable prices, dependable, senior discounts, One call does it all.... Charlie @ 913-208-9615

Help From A Friend. Lawn Care, Mowing, Seeding, Fertilizing, Weed Control, Aerating, Verticutting, Lawn Patching, Yard Work, Planting, Weeding, Pruning, Trimming, Shrub Removal, Tree Removal, Yard Waste Removal, Gutter Cleaning, Leaf Cleanup, Mulch, Edging, Topsoil, Sod, Organizing, House Cleaning, Moving Help, Window Cleaning, Junk Removal, Odd Jobs, Snow Removal, Handiwork, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, For Sale Prep. BBB Accredited Business, “A” Rating. Gift Cards Available. 913-980-8686. HelpFromAFriend.org (See us in the “At Your Service” section in this issue.)

Condo for Sale: Jim Dewitt - Realtor-913-406-1301 $150,000 3 bedrooms - 2 full bathrooms with shower-ceramic tiles raised ranch with #14 steps to the attached #2 car garage, large living room and dinning room, large kitchen with refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave oven, large concrete rec. room downstairs with a bar washer & dryer, shake roof, carpet & tile, ceiling fan - bedroom. Home assessment a month $130.00 - trash pick up - snow removal house paint, tree trimming, club house & swimming pool.

Two cemetery plots located at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens, 13901 Black Bob Road in Olathe, KS. $2,300 for both plots (this investment is below the market price). 913-488-1244.

OLD BOOKS WANTED, I buy old and rare books. Those I don’t buy can be donated to St. Marks Annual Book sale if you wish; I help with that. We also buy OLD TOYS, MILITARY stuff, art, Maps, any COLLECTIBLE that can be mailed. Call us at 913-526-9519.

Publishing of classified advertising does not constitute agreement or endorsement by this newspaper or Johnson County Government.

SERVICES PROVIDED

CLIP AND SAVE!

FOR SALE

WANTED

at your service

To have your business card included in this advertising section, just visit www.TheBestTimes.org and click on the link to “Business Card Ad,” or call 913-715-8930.

Lawn Care Mowing Seeding

Fertilizing Weed Control

Aerating Verticutting

Lawn Patching

Yard Work Planting Weeding Pruning

Trimming Shrub Removal Tree Removal

Waste Removal

Junk Removal Odd Jobs

Snow Removal Handiwork Electrical Plumbing Painting

For Sale Prep

Help From A Friend

Helping Older Adults with the Most Common Improvement Maintenance & Repair Services

25% - 50% Less Than Typical Service Providers

Gutter Clean Leaf Cleanup

Mulch / Edging Topsoil / Sod Organizing

House Clean Moving Help

Window Clean Gift Cards Available 913.980.8686 HelpFromAFriend.org

CLASSIFIED ConnectionClassified ads must be submitted in writing and with payment by the eighth day of the month for the following month’s issue. The rate is $30 for up to 20 words and $.55 per additional word. (Minimum, $30)

To place an ad email [email protected],visit www.TheBestTimes.org

Make all checks payable to JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT or pay online at https://www.paylocalgov.com/johnson-ks/. Convenience fee will apply. There will be a $30 service charge for each returned check.

Registrations are taking place in January for two upcoming day trips by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recre-ation District.

The first registration deadline is Jan. 15 regarding a Jan. 29 “Harvey” day trip to the New Theatre Restaurant, Over-land Park. Participants can dine and watch a terrifically funny matinee show of “Harvey.” The Pulitzer Prize winning comedy stars Judge Reinhold as Elwood P. Dowd, a man whose constant companion is a 6-foot-tall invisible rabbit. Prior to the show, participants will enjoy a buffet meal.

The Harvey at New Theatre Day Trip will leave from Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Road, Merriam, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, and return about 4 p.m. that day. The cost, including transportation, show admission, and lunch, is $49 per person.

January 24 is the registration deadline for a Feb. 27 “Wizard of Oz” sym-phony day trip in celebration of the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz film at the Kauffman Center’s Helzberg Hall in Kansas City, Mo.

Participants will see stunningly re-mastered movie clips on the big screen backed by the Kansas City Symphony, directed by Associate Conductor Aram

Demirjian, and hear a special performance, featuring Judy Garland’s 1939 studio recordings and new transcriptions of Harold Arlen’s masterful lost scores.

The trip is the first of a three-part Oz-related series which will also include a trip to Starlight Theatre’s live performance of The Wizard of Oz in June and Oztoberfest in Wamego, Kansas, in October. Those who register by Jan. 24 will receive a discount coupon for the Starlight outing.

The Wizard of Oz Day Trip will leave from Antioch Park at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, and return about 9:30 p.m. that evening. The cost, including transportation and show admission, is $79 per person.

While the JCPRD’s 50 Plus programs are primarily for people who are age 50 or older, interested parties who have not yet

reached that magic age may still be able to attend. Persons 18 and older who are interested in a 50 Plus class are invited to call the District’s Registration Depart-ment at 913-831-3359, and if space is available without forfeiting the place of a person over 50, their registration can be taken.

For more information or to register, call the Registration Department. To reg-ister online, visit the district’s website at www.jcprd.com.

Registration deadlines occur in January for two day trips


January 2• Senior Cinema – “All is Lost” – Robert Redford. 12:30 p.m. Lenexa Senior

Center. Free. Enjoy free popcorn, beverage, and a movie. Advanced reservations requested.

• Reading: Book Club. 2 p.m. Southridge Presbyterian Church, 5015 Buena Vista Street, Roeland Park. $5/$6 nonresidents. Discussion on “Brooklyn: A Novel” by Colm Toibin. Club meets the first Thursday of each month. New participants are welcome at any time. 913-826-3160.

January 3• Multi-Media Art. 9:30 a.m. Tomahawk Ridge. $80/$88. Eight/90-minute classes. • China Painting. 9 a.m. Roeland Park. $46/$51. Three/three-hour classes. No

painting skills necessary. January 6

• Strong People. 12-1 p.m. $20/12-week session. Nine strength-training exercises through March 28 to improve balance. Register through Extension.

• Writer’s Workshop. 1:30 p.m. Matt Ross. $59/$65. Eight/90-minute classes.

• Beginning Ballroom Dancing. 8 p.m. Matt Ross. $56/$62. Eight/50-minute classes. Partner required, price is per person.

• Intermediate Ballroom Dancing. 7 p.m. Matt Ross. $56/$62. Eight/50-minute classes. Partner required, price is per person.

• Masterpiece Acrylic Art Painting Class. 1:30 p.m. Lenexa Senior Center. $45 (includes supplies).

• D.I.Y… Yes You Can! 6:30-8:30 p.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $20. Create your own re-purposed chalkboard tray.

• Health: RPCC Slim Down Contest. 8 a.m. Roeland Park. $15/$16 nonresidents. Contest from January 6 to April 6 will have contestants weighing in once a week Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Entry fees will support prizes for those participants with the largest percentage of weight loss. Prizes will be awarded.

January 7• New Beginnings Bingo. 1:30 p.m. New Century

Fieldhouse. $5. Twelve games of bingo with refreshments and prizes.

• Zumba Gold. 5:30 p.m. New Century Fieldhouse. $42.

• Basic Beginning Watercolor. 1:30 p.m. Matt Ross. $59/$65. Six/2.5-hour classes.

• 50 & Beyond Potluck. Noon-2 p.m. Sylvester Powell. Free. Bring favorite food dish to share with the rest of the group. Ages 50 & older. Pre-registration requested.

January 8• Microsoft Word. 6:30 p.m. Indian Creek. Free.• Zumba Gold. 6:30 p.m. Mill Creek Activity Center.

$42.• Beginning Bridge. 9:30 a.m. Matt Ross. $79/$87.• Intro to Pinterest. 1:30 p.m. Matt Ross. $31/$34. One/90-minute session.• Birthdays for January. 11:30 a.m. Lenexa Senior Center. Lunch ($3 donation)

followed by entertainment featuring “Marlin Cooper & his Sax’s” at 12:30 p.m. Make lunch reservations 24 hours ahead between 9-11 a.m. by calling 913-888-6141.

• Pop ‘n Play @ the JoCo Museum. 6305 Lackman Road, Shawnee. 9-11 a.m. $1 per child, members free. Activities designed especially for 9-month to 3-year-olds. Drop-in program, registration not required. 913-715-2550.

• Etsy 201: Pricing for a Profit. 7-8:30 p.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $25.January 9

• Self-Paced Facebook. 10 a.m. Olathe Public Library. Free.• Learn to Play Guitar. 10 a.m. Sunset Building, 11811 Sunset Dr., Olathe. $50.• Bakery Bingo. 1-3 p.m. Irene B. French. $3/three cards. • Lunch Bunch – “Tavern at Mission Farms.” 11:15 a.m. Cost of meal, plus $8

per person, if transportation is needed. Transportation departs from the Lenexa Senior Center at 10:30 a.m. Advance reservations required.

• Computer Maintenance. 9 a.m.-noon. Shawnee Safety Center. $30 ($15 for SenCom members).

January 10• Tap Dancing Lessons. 4 p.m. Mill Creek Activity Center. $31.

January 11• Zumba Gold. 8:30 a.m. Roeland Park. $28/$31 nonresidents. Four/50-minute

sessions.

January 13• Hot Chocolate Bingo. 1:30 p.m. Tomahawk Ridge. $5 per person. Twelve

games of Bingo with prizes. • Gluten Free Living. 2 p.m. Matt Ross. $31/$34.

January 14-15• AARP Driver Safety Program. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Silvercrest at Deer Creek,

13060 Metcalf Avenue.January 14

• 50 & Beyond Matinee: “Gravity.” 12:30 p.m. Sylvester Powell. $1/free for SPJCC members. Free popcorn, coffee, and water are provided during the movie.

• Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? 1:30 p.m. Indian Creek. Free.• Healthy Satisfying Soups 2.0. 6:30 p.m. Extension. $15. Learn how to

prepare soups that are low in fat and sodium yet satisfying and delicious. Samplings and a 35-recipe booklet included.

• Pickleball Lessons. 9 a.m. Matt Ross. $7/$8. One/two-hour session.• Fish Tales. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Uncle Buck’s at Bass Pro, 12051 Bass Pro Drive,

Olathe. Free. Reservation requested by calling Alzheimer’s Association. 913-831-3888. Group for individuals with earlier stage dementia who enjoy the outdoors and various nature related hobbies and experiences.• Windows 8. 9 a.m.-noon. Shawnee Safety Center. $30 ($15 for SenCom members).

January 15• 50 Plus Art Show. 2 p.m. Matt Ross. Free. • Olathe Public Library Book Munch for Lunch Bunch. 11:30 a.m. Sunflower Café, Johnson County Administration Building basement, 111 S. Cherry, Olathe. Free. Discuss books and eat lunch. No registration. • Cut the Clutter and Get Organized. 6:30 p.m. Indian Creek. Free.• Girls Night Out: BUNCO! 7-9:30 p.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $10. • Pre-registration is recommended.• Story Teller Jo Ho @ the JoCo Museum. 10 a.m. Program features “The Adventures of Little Polar Bear.” Free. Sponsored by Target. Each family receives one free book to take home. Drop-in program for families. Groups of ten or more must pre-register at 913-715-2552.

January 16• Estate Planning. 6:30-8 p.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $12.• Google’s Other Features. 9 a.m.-noon. Shawnee Safety Center. $30 ($15 for SenCom members).• Seminar: Dealing with Your Own Obstacles. 7 p.m. Roeland Park. $15/$17 nonresidents.• Mah Jongg: Mah Jongg for Beginners. 10 a.m. Roeland Park. $48/$53 nonresidents. Five/two-hour sessions.

January 17• Kansas Master Naturalist. Application deadline for volunteer training to

develop knowledgeable and dedicated citizens who are active in promoting awareness, understanding and stewardship of the natural heritage of Kansas. Register through Extension.

• Country Dance Party. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $5.January 18

• Chocolate Yoga. 10-11:30 a.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $15.• Citizen Soldiers on the Prairie: Women on the Home Front. 1-2 p.m.

Museum. Free. In conjunction with the Citizen Soldiers on the Prairie exhibit, Mickey Ebert, education specialist at the National Archives will speak about the role of women on the home front during World War II.

January 20• Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Olathe Public

Library. Free. Drop in and complete service projects for local non-profit agencies.

January 21• Microsoft Excel 2007. 10 a.m. Olathe Public Library. Free.• Performing Group Music: New Horizons Band-Beginner Lessons. 6 p.m.

Roeland Park. $33/$36 nonresidents. Eight/two-hour sessions. Standard band instruments are taught with the needs of non-traditional students in mind. Participants must provide their own instrument.

• Performing Group Music: New Horizons Band-Meyer Music. 6 p.m. Roeland Park. $70/$77 nonresidents. Seventeen/two-hour sessions. Band offers an opportunity for participants to make music in a relaxed and

Page 22 — The Best Times — January 2014

ALL CLASSES AND EVENTS REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.

-

Breakfast with Birds set Jan. 23The serene atmosphere of the Ernie Miller Nature

Center is the setting for a Breakfast with the Birds opportunity being offered by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

The event takes place at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the nature center, 909 N. Kansas 7 Highway, Olathe.

After a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee, participants will experience an excellent birds of prey presentation by a park natural-ist. There will also be a guided tour on a nature trail as participants try to spot wildlife in the park.

The cost for one two-hour session, including breakfast, is $14 per person.

For more information or to register, call the Reg-istration Department at 913-831-3359. To register online, see the district’s website at www.jcprd.com.


EVENTS KEY

Antioch Park: Johnson County 50 Plus Travel, 6501 Antioch Road, Merriam, KS 66202.

Blue Valley Rec.: Blue Valley Recreation Activity Center: 6545 W. 151st St., Overland Park, KS 66223; 913-685-6000; www.bluevalleyrec.org.

Central Resource Library: 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, KS 66212; 913-826-4600.

Extension: Johnson County K-State Research and Extension,11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, KS 66061; 913-715-7000; www.johnson.ksu.edu/classes.

Indian Creek: Indian Creek Branch Library, 12990 Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS 66062; 913-971-6835.

Irene B. French: Irene B. French Community Center, 5701 Merriam Drive, Merriam, KS 66203; 913-322-5550.

Lenexa Senior Center: 13425 Walnut St., Lenexa, KS 66215; 913-477-7100.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm: 1200 Kansas City Road, Olathe, KS 66061; 913-971-5111.

Matt Ross: Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St., Overland Park, KS 66212; 913-642-6410.

Mill Creek Activity Center: Mill Creek Activity Center, 6518 Vista Drive, Shawnee, KS 66218.

New Century: New Century Fieldhouse, 551 New Century Parkway, New Century, KS 66031; 913-826-2860.

Olathe Public Library: 201 E. Park St., Olathe, KS 66061; 971-6850; to register, 913-971-6888.

Prairie Village: Prairie Village Community Center, 7720 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208.

Roeland Park: Roeland Park Commu-nity Center, 4850 Rosewood Drive, Roeland Park, KS 66205; 913-826-3160.

Shawnee Civic Centre: Shawnee Civic Centre, 13817 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66216; 913-631-5200.

Shawnee Safety Center: SenCom computer lab, lower level, 6535 Quivira Road, Shawnee, KS 66203; 913-631-5200.

Sylvester Powell: Sylvester Powell Community Center, 6200 Martway St., Mission, KS 66202; 913-722-8200.

Tomahawk Ridge: Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell Ave., Overland Park, KS 66213; 913-327-6645.

January 2014 — The Best Times — Page 23

learning atmosphere under the Lindsey Williams, director.

• Organizing Files & Folders. 9 a.m.-noon. Shawnee Safety Center. $30 ($15 for SenCom members).

January 22• Creative Writing Group. 6:30 p.m. Indian Creek. Free.

No registration.• iPad® Tips and Tricks. 1:30 p.m. Matt Ross. $21/$23.

One/90-minute class.• Crazy Couponing. 7-9 p.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $12.• Pop ‘n Play @ the JoCo Museum. 9-11 a.m. $1 per

child, members free.• Computers: Excel I. 5:30 p.m. Roeland Park.

$24/$26 nonresidents. One/90-minute session.January 23

• Family Series. 4-5:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Association Education Center, 3856 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village. Free. Reservation is requested. 913-831-3888. Six-session course through Feb. 27 focusing on some of the most common topics around caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

• Breakfast with the Birds. 9-11 a.m. Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 North K-7 Highway, Olathe. $14/person. Event features pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee, an excellent Birds of Prey presentation, and a wander around the nature trail.

• What is this Google Thing? 10 a.m. Olathe Public Library. Free.

• “Sister Act” - Broadway Musical. Sylvester Powell. $65/person. See “Sister Act” at the Kansas City Music Hall. Depart SPJCC at 6 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m., return at 10:15 p.m.

• Jam Session. 1-2 p.m. Alzheimer’s Association Education Center. Free. No charge. Reservation is requested. Informal setting for musicians with early stage memory loss and musicians who are caregivers.

• Bingo: Warm & Cozy. 1:30 p.m. Roeland Park. $5/$6 nonresidents, Twelve Bingo games along with food, prizes, and fun. RSVP at any of 50 Plus centers: 913-826-3160, 913-642-6410, or 913-826-2859. Payment can be taken at the door.

• Book Party. 2 p.m. Antioch Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Merriam. Free. Refreshments served and each participant will have time to talk about their favorite book. Registration is not necessary. 913-826-3160.

• Beginners Workshop for MAC. 9 a.m.-noon. Shawnee Civic Centre. $30 ($15 for SenCom members).

January 24• China Painting. 9 a.m. Roeland• Park. $46/$51. Three/three-hour classes. No

painting skills necessary. January 25

• Winter on the Farm. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, 1200 Kansas City Road, Olathe. $6/adults, $4/children ages 5-11. Olathe residents receive $1 off admission. Activities include sawing

wood, a maple syrup demonstration, and sausage making. The Santa Fe Trail HAM Radio Club will be broadcasting from the Heritage Center.

• After Hours Genealogy. 5-9 p.m. Olathe Public Library. Free.

• Intro to Tea 101. 10-11:30 a.m. Shawnee Civic Centre. $12.

• Beginning Bridge. 10 a.m. Roeland Park. $79/$87 nonresidents. Eight/two-hour sessions.

• AARP Smart Driver Course. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sylvester Powell. $15 AARP member; $20 non-member.

• House Research. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Shawnee Town 1929, 11501 West 57th Street. $10.

January 27• Windows 8 Desktop & Features. 6:30 p.m. Indian

Creek. Free.• Just What is A Healthy Food? 1:30 p.m. Matt Ross.

$31/$34. One/one-hour class.• Coffee Roasting. 3:30 p.m. MAPS Coffee 13440 Santa

Fe Drive Trail Drive, Lenexa. $20/$23. One/90-minute session.

• Beginning Computer Workshop (first session). 9-11 a.m. Sunset Building. $25/session or $80 for the four-part series. First session, “What’s a Browser?;” second session, “Email, the new Pony Express;” third session, “How to Pay Online;” fourth session, “Internet Safety.”

January 28• Internet for the Technically Terrified. 9 a.m. Matt

Ross. $21/$23. One/90-minute session.• Soup’s On. 6-8:30 p.m. Shawnee Town 1929. $15.• Pickleball Mexican Fiesta. 9 a.m. Matt Ross. $2 for

play additional $2 for lunch. Enjoy regular pickleball play then stay to enjoy a Mexican Fiesta lunch. Taco meat and tortilla chips provided. Please sign up to bring additional toppings or dessert to share.

• 50 & Beyond Matinee: “Blue Jasmine.” 12:30 p.m. Sylvester Powell. $1/free for SPJCC members. Free popcorn, coffee, and water are provided during the movie.

• Beginners Workshop. 9 a.m.-noon. Shawnee Safety Center. $30 ($15 for SenCom members).

January 29• Intro to Facebook®. 1:30 p.m. Matt Ross. $33/$36.

One/three-hour session.• Pop ‘n Play @ the JoCo Museum. 9-11 a.m. $1 per

child, members free.• Intro to Excel. 9 a.m.-noon. Shawnee Safety Center.

$30 ($15 for SenCom members).January 30

• Solve Sodoku. 1:30 p.m. Matt Ross. $7/$8. One/90-minute lesson. Solve simple puzzles in a grid that contain digits 1-9. No knowledge of mathematics is necessary.

January 30-31• AARP Driver Safety Program. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Village

Shalom, 5500 West 123rd Street, Overland Park.

“Shrek: The Musical,” based on the Oscar Winning Dreamworks film, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life.

The show will be presented by Barn Junior students at the Barn Players Theatre, 6219 Martway, Mission, Jan. 17-26; Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

The show is filed with music, dancing and loveable char-acters and features Barn Junior middle school and high school students. The musical is part romance, part fairy tale, and is simply fun entertainment. The show is rated “PG.”

The story: Shrek leaves his home to rescue the Princess Fiona, who has been put under a curse. The show takes audiences on a musical experience with a hilarious take on fairy tales and magic; throw in a bad guy with a short temper, a gingerbread cookie, a dozen fairytale misfits, and a big loveable character for family entertainment for all ages.

The Barn Junior production is directed by Jason Coats, musical direction by Preston Fry, with music by Jeanine Tesori.

Featured are: Adam Segura (Shrek), Veronica Wood (Princess Fiona), T. J. Wyatt, Alex Leondedis, Lakin Allen, Amy Meiring, Max Pinson, Eric Morgan, Aryn Christian, Kate Danciger, Nataline Dixon, Mia Smith, Caroline Blubaugh, Renna Burt, Alyssa Hoedl, Zoe Krowas, Teyson Gates-Smith, Maggie Mulligan, Abigail Cottingham, Kelsey Hassig, Paige Padgett, Gavin Hoedl, Margaret Veglahn, Margo Roberts, and Claire Segura.

Playing the fairytale characters are: Aurelia Power, Eddie Leopold, Eli Hoedl, Julia Percy, Mazey Helm, Prairie Cottrell, Seneca Sims, Shantha Burt, and Talie Scholz.

Tickets are $10 each and may be ordered by calling 800-838-3066, by going to the theatre’s website: www.thebarn-players.org, or at the box office the date of the performance.

Junior Barn Players to present ‘Shrek: The Musical’


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