2.19Feb

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February 2019

3

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4
February 2019

Golden Age of Show Business
By: Earl Wilson, Jr. / Golden Age of Show Business
When I think back to my youth, it seems
like it happened last night: I remember
falling in love with Ginger Rogers, Liz Taylor and
Kim Novak. I mirrored the smile of Cary Grant; I
ached to sing like ‘Ol Blue Eyes himself. And when
my parents sent me to dance school, it was the polished elegance of
Fred Astaire that I practiced on the dance floor.
The person I am today was formulated early in life – especially at the
movies during the Golden Age of Show Business. It was Spencer Tracy
and Gregory Peck who seemed to have what I wanted to wear as my
own mantle.
While we have drifted away from those vibrant bygone days, the
wonderful innocence of my youth (1940s - 1980s) are still the memories
by which I live.
During my dad’s celebrated writing career, he penned more than
11,424 newspaper columns that were syndicated from coast-to-coast
– a much-talked-about entertainment column: “It Happened Last
Night” that was carried by hundreds of newspapers across the country,
chronicling New York City nightlife to millions of readers. The column
was always signed: That’s Earl, Brother.
Readers of The New York Post (where Dad’s entertainment column
appeared for 40 years) and the millions of others around the nation
who read his six-day-a-week column in national syndication will
remember my dad, Earl Wilson. He worked an 18-hour day (much of it
in the after-dark hours) accompanied by his wife, my mom Rosemary
Lyons – better known to his readers as ‘’B.W.’’ (Dad’s abbreviation
for “Beautiful Wife”). Together they covered the New York showbusiness
scene every night, hobnobbing with all those larger-than-life
personalities I was trying to emulate.
Not only was Dad a hard-working newspaper journalist, he authored
books, hosted
a late-night
NBC television show,
and his radio show,
wrote for TV Guide,
and appeared in many
Hollywood movies. Some
say Dad was famous for
interviewing the famous:
apparently, he was the
first to interview Marilyn
Monroe and he broke the
story of MM’s connection to JFK and his brother Bobby.
The author and his dad
It seemed like my dad knew everyone, from Groucho Marx to Lucille
Ball. (In a 1956 TV episode of “I Love Lucy” called “The Fox Hunt,”
Lucy and Ricky are visiting in London when she attempts to impress
royalty after being introduced to a baron. She casually mentions she
knows “the Earl of Wilson,” serving as a nod from Lucille Ball and Desi
Arnaz to their newspaper friend.)
Starting with the next issue, take a trip with me down memory lane
to a magical and enchanting era - universally treasured memories that
were archived by my dad, Earl Wilson, and me.
Earl “Slugger” Wilson, Jr., son of Earl Wilson — archivist, author,
playwright, raconteur, song stylist and Grammy-nominated
composer/lyricist singing his truth. Truth needs to be sung.
5

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February 2019
Valentine’s Day
By: Bill Caserta / Bill’s Blurbs
Two very active seniors ( Jacob, age 85,
Mariam, age 80), living in Sun City are all
excited about their decision to get married. They
go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the
way, they pass a drugstore and go in.
Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: “Are you the owner?”
The pharmacist answers, “Yes.”
Jacob: “We’re about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?”
Pharmacist: “Of course we do.”
Jacob: “How about medicine for circulation?” Pharmacist: “All
kinds.”
Jacob: “Medicine for rheumatism?” Pharmacist: “Definitely.”
Jacob: “How about suppositories and medicine for impotence?”
Pharmacist: “You bet!”
Jacob: “Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer’s?”
Pharmacist: “Yes, a large variety. The works.”
Jacob: “What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for
Parkinson’s disease?” Pharmacist: “Absolutely.”
Jacob: “Anything for heartburn and indigestion?” Pharmacist: “We
sure do.”
Jacob: “Adult diapers?” Pharmacist: “Sure, how can I help you?
Jacob: “We’d like to use this store as our Bridal Registry.”
And Finally: The church held a “Marriage Seminar” and the priest
asked Luigi, as his 50th wedding anniversary approached, to share
some insight into how he managed to stay married to the same woman
all these years.
Luigi replied to his audience: “Well, I tried to treat her well and spend
money on her. But the best thing I did was take her to Italy for our 20th
anniversary.”
The priest said: “Luigi, you are an inspiration to all husbands here
today. Please tell the audience what you plan for your wife for your 50th
anniversary.”
Luigi proudly replied: “I’m gonna go and get her.”
Bill Caserta is the Project Director for The Vegas Voice and
has a very “unique” sense of humor. He welcomes all funny
submissions at: bill@thevegasvoice.net.

My Funny Valentine
By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments
My Funny Valentine, sweet comic
valentine, you make me smile
with my heart. Your looks are laughable,
unphotographable; yet you’re my favorite work of art.
Is your figure less than Greek; is your mouth a little weak when
you open it to speak? Are you smart? But don’t change a hair for
me, not if you care for me; stay little valentine, stay! Each day is
Valentine’s Day.
This contradictory song is from the 1937 musical comedy, Babes in
Arms - music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart. The musical,
a puzzle in itself, had many versions.
The most popular being about a group of small-town teenagers who
put on a show to avoid being sent to a work farm by the town sheriff.
The original version had political overtones about a Communist
character and two African-American youths, who are victims of racism.
My Funny Valentine was sung by a teenage girl played by Mitzi
Green, to a teenage boy, (played by Ray Heatherton) named Val, on
whom she had a crush. She seemed to have a difficult time expressing
herself as to what she meant, which Lorenz Hart demonstrated by
“sacrificing warmth, in the first words, for wit,” but then changing the
words to ones of loving tenderness at the end.
She poked fun at Val’s looks and personality quirks, but then
realized that those imperfections were what she found most endearing
- revealing that she
was smitten with him.
Ironically, in 1939,
when the musical
was made into a
movie (starring Judy
Garland and Mickey
Rooney) My Funny
Valentine was omitted without any explanation.
Actually, My Funny Valentine did not become popular when it was
in Babes in Arms on Broadway. It became popular only after being
sung by jazz singers, most notably, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella
Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Barbra Streisand.
Mitzy Green’s original rendition of the song never became a hit,
however several other movies used My Funny Valentine in their sound
tracks - including Pal Joey with Kim Novak, although her singing was
dubbed.
My Funny Valentine is one of the most enduring love songs,
performed by more than 600 artists and appearing in over 1,300
albums.
Yvonne Cloutier, a former teacher/principal, with a music
background, specializes in ragtime piano. She researches and
reports about music on SCA-TV.com/Anthem Alive! You can
contact her at www.mytimeisragtime.com.
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7

Composers Showcase
Delights Fans
By: Dianne Davis / That’s Entertainment
It’s a show, it’s a party, it’s a get together. The
monthly Composers Showcase is a Vegas
treasure, one of those special happenings that is not widely known but
is well attended by those who recognize the opportunity to enjoy great
talent at a more than reasonable ticket price.
The late night event hosted by its producer Broadway veteran Keith
Thompson, is held on a Wednesday night in the 240 seat Myron’s
Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center. But you might want to nap! It doesn’t
begin until 10:30 pm and goes on past midnight.
The answer to why so late is obvious. Many of the talented performers
are in shows around the area and can’t arrive until they finish work.
What sets this event apart from others is originality.
According to Thompson, “the most important criteria are that the
music is original and the writer is there to present the song(s) and the
music is live!” No tracks. This is live musicians happening in real time.
The 13-16 performances varies. It might be musical theater,
comedy, novelty, jazz, country, pop, R & B, classical, even hip-hop/rap.
Thompson, whose background includes a stint as musical Director
of Jersey Boys and a similar position with Cocktail Cabaret (Caesar’s
Palace) carefully selects the participants.
Last month, following Thompson’s delightful intro and opening
number, we enjoyed original compositions done by more than a dozen
performers. And each had a little story to tell about the material. Some
were poignant, some serious, others comical.
Jeffrey Neiman, an international award-winning composer and
keyboard artist, spoke of child abuse. Comedian/musician Dennis Blair
entertained with a country western number. Michael Shapiro, creator
of Reckless in Vegas, wondered, “Are the answers in the stars above?”
The beautiful Italian senorita Giada Valenti sang that she is sweet
and spicy and ready for whatever comes in life. Jordan Sanders, a 16
year old from the Las Vegas Academy sang as did Star Search winner
Angela Teek. The list goes on.
And the talent comes on stage monthly. I’m looking forward to
returning to the Composers Showcase on February 13. Hope to see you
there.
Dianne Davis is also a reporter for Sun City Anthem TV (SCA-
TV) specializing in entertainment, and LV Associate Editor of
lasvegassplash.com. She hikes, travels with her husband Burt, and
works on her stand-up comedy.
8
February 2019
Davidsen’s Lounge
Grabs Gold
By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places
Singers, dancers and other entertainers
dreaming of their names in lights on The
Strip flood Las Vegas every day. But it didn’t take long for New Yorker
Kenny Davidsen to recognize, “Off Strip is the way to go. That’s the best
part of the city.”
It was a leap of faith for the likeable Davidsen who had performed
at the Big Apple’s Metropolitan Room, Radio City Music Hall and
Carnegie Hall. He rolled the dice the summer of 2011 for a part-time
gig pounding the keyboard at the popular Fremont Street watering
hole, Don’t Tell Mama.
Davidsen volunteered to work fund raisers to get seen and known. It
worked!
He accumulated show business friends, leading to an offer to sit in on
keyboard at Tuscany Casino’s Piazza Lounge. The casino’s owner, Brett
Heers, quickly offered Davidsen his own Friday night show.
Davidsen has captured the old Las Vegas lounge spirit with the easy
going nature of his Friday nights; never knowing who will show up and
join a regular community of stand-out performers that has included
boxing-analyst-turned-crooner Al Bernstein, comedian/musician
Dennis Blair, one or both of the Righteous Brothers, Jassen Allen and
headliners from The Strip.
This month, he celebrates the show’s sixth anniversary with two Best
of Las Vegas Gold awards. “I needed to create an environment that’s
not only a show but is social. Tuscany is a place for performers to let
their hair down and
be themselves.”
Davidsen promises
a March anniversary
celebration with
mom Rita’s
famous homemade
brownies.
Rounding out
his busy calendar,
Davidsen is musical
director for Mark Shunock’s Mondays Dark, the twice monthly show
that’s raised over a half million dollars for local charities since 2013.
The Mondays Dark variety shows allow the town’s top talents to let
loose with performances that have raised $10,000 or more for each of
more than 30 non-profits. Davidsen was honored as Mondays Dark’s
2018 Person of the Year.
Davidsen is excited that Don’t Tell Mama is moving to a new, nonsmoking
home at Neonopolis in March. The bow-tied musician credits
his success with “making singers as comfortable as possible. I learned
that from my mother.”
Sam Wagmeister is The Vegas Voice Nightlife Editor. He loves to
hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact him via email:
LasVegasHomeTeam@Gmail.com.

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9

The Power of the Female Meltdown
By: Vicki Wentz / Vicki’s Voice
Hello, and welcome to the seventh installment
of “Morons: Why So Many?” I promised you
more moron stories, and thanks partly to the fact
that I’m wide awake since I have not received my
prescription sleep aid, due to the imbecilic-bordering-on-insane demands
of my health insurance company – I’m making good on that promise
right now at exactly 1:17 AM.
First prize this week goes to the great guys who are building my new
house. The cutest bunch of testosterone-laden workmen y’all ever did see,
with their adorable tool belts, and their paint-smudged overalls and their
endearing cluelessness.
First, the whirlpool bathtub. Due to very slight aging, I have lost a
very slight bit of height, and I still couldn’t stretch out my legs! This is
supposed to be one of those big, luxurious tubs you can lounge in all
day surrounded by bubbles, reading, calling people, sleeping, eating a
hamburger (not that I ever do that but, if I ever WANTED to do that in this
tub) I’d be doing it with my knees in my neck.
I explained this to the work crew, who all gave me a perplexed look and
shrugged. They are REALLY good at shrugging.
Then, they installed the door at the top of the steps from the garage into
the kitchen, opening OUT! Are you kidding me? I’m at the top of the stairs
carrying six bags of groceries, but I have to unlock the door, back myself
down the steps to get it open, and then hurl the bags - and myself inside,
in order to pull the door closed before mice, snakes, deer, and further
wildlife get in?
So not happening.
And why am I moving
to where they have
wildlife?
Then my delightful
workmen constructed
two bedroom closets
that open instead into
the workout room.
(Please. The only
thing that makes it a
“workout” room is the
3-legged weight bench,
a deflated stability ball
(I thought perhaps
they meant emotional
stability), a pair of my
son’s old weights that
I’ve never been able
to pick up since he bought them in 1992 (tried to roll them across the
floor with my foot once…broke a toe) and a brand new reclining bike
(because it is sheer genius to combine exercise with lying down).
So, it’s not like I need closets in there unless I want to hide a bag of
potato chips…not that I ever do that, either.
But, bedrooms without closets? Even the two workmen who don’t speak
English totally understood that something was wrong - probably from
my tone of voice, my facial expression, and the fact that I was repeatedly
banging my head against the bedroom wall.
I would have curled up defeated in the closet – BUT THERE WASN’T
ONE!
Then, they installed the tiles around the fireplace with the flowers
upside down. I mean, who does that? Don’t most flowers grow UP? I’m
just asking!
The tile guy shrugged: “I don’t design ’em, ma’am, I just build ’em.”
(What he meant: “Why are you here all the time?”).
Yesterday, my bathroom cabinet was installed…it had no drawers. A
2-door bathroom cabinet with no drawers.
Now, ladies, back me up here. Do we not need drawers in our bathrooms?
Otherwise, where do you put the combs, the toothpaste, the hair
products, the hand mirror, the shower cap, the make-up, the nail clippers,
the nail polish, the cough drops, the extra Q-tips, the band-aids, the
aspirin, the hand cream, the face cream, the tweezers - and the antianxiety
pills?
I called the man. When he realized that that sound, he was hearing was
me, he became frightened. He said I’d have drawers immediately!
The power of the female meltdown. It drains me, but once released, it
is awesome to behold.
10
February 2019
Vicki Wentz is a writer, teacher and speaker living in North
Carolina. Readers may contact her - and order her new children’s
book! - by visiting her website at www.vickiwentz.com.

Looking Back
By: Evan Davis / Entertainment Editor
I thought it would be interesting to see and
compare what was going on at the local scene
two years ago and imagine what you could have
done in the last two years. To my surprise, out of 25
venues talked about below, there are still about 17 that are continuing to
bring us entertainment.
*It’s time to watch 2017 fly by just like 2016 had, so go out and
experience life and what Vegas has to offer. That’s probably why you’re
reading my article now, to see what you could do to stay active.
I stopped by the newest Hotel Casino called the Lucky Dragon. An
Asian inspired Hotel and Casino with a half a dozen delightful restaurants.
Starting to perform there is the charming and gracious singer Rita Lim.
She is performing at places like Osaka Japanese Bistro in Henderson
every 1 st and 2nd Tuesdays of the month, The Bootlegger Bistro located
on the south side of the Strip on Wednesdays, and the El Cortez Hotel
every Friday night along with Joey Ugarte and the Jazz Vibrations.
But for those night owls out there, Las Vegas is definitely a 24/7 city.
Catch late night Jazz at The Dispensary, at Ferraro’s Italian
restaurant, in the Golden Tiki, at Fuso Nightclub, Legend’s Bar
& Grill plus numerous other restaurants, clubs and bars. All have no
cover or a 1 drink minimum.
You can also see wonderful entertainers at places like the Suncoast
Hotel, the Rampart Casino, Rocks Lounge in the Red Rock
With Frankie Scinta
Hotel and Casino, Salute which is also in Red Rock Hotel, Siena
Italian Restaurant on Sahara and now Blue Fire on Durango. You
can hear Jazz, Pop, the Great American Songbook and just about every
other genre.
Other places to check out would be The Barrymore, E-String,
Piero’s, Cabo Lounge in Fiesta Rancho, Texas Station, Piazza
Lounge in the Tuscany, Eastside Cannery, The Italian American
Club, the Lounge at the Palms and the list can go on.
Next month, I will be exploring some of the restaurants, bars and clubs
on Downtown Freemont Street. I know a place, do you?
You can read Evan’s entertainment blog and sign up to receive
his free email weekly Calendar of Events at www.EvanDavisJazz.
com. Email him at: evan@thevegasvoice.net.
11

By: Earl Wilson, Jr. / Earl’s Pearls
1
. An economist is an expert who will know
tomorrow why the things he predicted
yesterday didn’t happen.
2. Today’s accent may be on youth, but the
stress is still on the parents.
3. Poise: The ability to be ill at ease inconspicuously.
4. Science may never come up with a better office communication
system than the coffee break.
5. Experience is what enables you to recognize a mistake when you
make it again.
6. Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.
7. Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared
to death.
8. A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what
you’ve been taking.
9. Benjamin Franklin may have discovered electricity, but it was the
man who invented the meter who made the money.
10. Many a standing ovation has been caused by someone jumping
to his feet in an effort to beat the rest of the audience to the parking lot.
12
What I Know
Earl “Slugger” Wilson, Jr., son of Earl Wilson — archivist, author,
playwright, raconteur, song stylist and Grammy-nominated
composer/lyricist singing his truth. Truth needs to be sung.
February 2019
TV’s Lassie
By: Beverly Washburn / Hollywood Memories
thought I’d write this month about one of
I my favorite people, and most probably one of
yours!
His name is Jon Provost and all of you Lassie fans will certainly
remember him as the adorable little boy “Timmy” in one of America’s
favorite TV shows of the late 50s into the early 60s.
Jon actually started acting at the ripe “old age” of 2! You might also
remember him from the feature film “The Country Girl” starring Bing
Crosby and Grace
Kelly. Not a bad
way to start out
your life!
Being that I am
a few years older
than Jon, we never
really ran around
in the same circles,
but as adults we
did many various
appearances at
autograph shows,
conventions etc. It
was at one of those
shows that I got to meet Jon and his lovely wife Laurie. And so the
friendship began.
Jon and his wife Laurie live in Northern California. Although mostly
retired, Jon still loves traveling around the country doing various
autograph shows and often times appears with one of the many
“Lassies.” Because of his kindness and his “approachability”, Jon has
always been a fan favorite.
The photo was taken a few months ago at the Superman luncheon
in Los Angeles.
Jon is an avid animal lover (could it be from working with Lassie you
think?) and is involved with many animal organizations. Just another
of the many reasons I am so fond of him.
He has received two Lifetime achievement awards along with a Star
on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and yet he remains humble,
sweet and kind. He is a true gentleman.
If you want to read a great book, please check out “Timmy’s in
the Well: The Jon Provost Story.” Speaking of fun reads, you might
also want to check out his wife, Laurie Jacobson’s terrific book called
“Dishing Hollywood” in which Laurie writes about some of Hollywood’s
biggest scandals.
I am blessed to call Jon and Laurie two of my dearest friends.
Until next time, remember: Friendship isn’t about whom you’ve
known the longest. It’s about who came and never left your side.
Beverly Washburn graced the silver screen as a child actress and
is the author of Reel Tears. You can contact Beverly at: bjradell@
hotmail.com. Check out her awesome, new website: www.
beverlywashburn.com.

Presents
Beverly Washburn
MOVIE, RADIO & TV STAR!
Magic Moments
Hollywood
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our very own Vegas Voice columnist.
Hosted by Kenny Chandler
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13

Sound Healing
By: Ali Guggenheim / Psychic Phenomenon
Although considered to be a relatively new
concept in the Western world, sound therapy
has been around since the beginning of recorded
history. Ancient Indian Rishis claimed 7.83 Hz
to be the freuency of OM, which also happens to be Mother Earth’s
heartbeat rhythm confirmed by “Schoman Resonance.”
According to ancient Hindu Vedic philosophy, OM is the primordial
sound, which the entire universe emanates. In Tibetan culture, it’s
believed that the sound of singing bowls carries the sound of Dharma,
Buddha’s teachings on bridging ego and emptiness.
“Sound is focused and organized energy (vibration) that travels
through a medium such as air. Sound alters anything it comes in
contact with, whether it’s material or non-material. All things are
simply energy.” says Gabrielle Roth, Urban Shaman.
14
February 2019
“Energy moves in waves, waves move in patterns, patterns move in
rhythms. A human body is just that - energy, waves, patterns, rhythms.”
The energetic body is where we are able to shift our perspective and
ultimately change our relationship with our issues. The physical body
is where we experience localized pain and discomfort.
Our subtle body is our energetic body. This body is where our life force
energy exists, commonly referred to as Prana, Chi (Qi).
Sound has the ability to positively affect our whole being. Though
breath work and stillness are also used in sound therapy, it is the
musical vibration that penetrates blockages; swiftly facilitating shifts
in the brainwave state.
While literally entertaining the brain, the penetrating vibrations
synchronize the fluctuating brainwaves by providing a stable and
consistent frequency that the brainwave can attune to. These vibrations
actually shift the normal waking consciousness (beta) state to a relaxed
consciousness (alpha) state and can access the meditative (theta) state
and even the sleep (delta) state, allowing internal healings to occur.
Whether utilizing tuning forks, Hindi mantras, American Indian
chants and drumming, Indigenous melodies from Central to South
America, or Pythagoras’ use of intervals and frequencies, etc., the
results are all the same. Sound Vibrations have proven effective in
tuning our bodies by altering imbalances to a more healthful and
balanced existence.
To learn more about Ali, spiritual consultations, coaching, classes,
workshops, and readings, call, give her a call: 702/373-9081.

Insect Spray in the Bread Aisle
By: Adrea Nairne-Barrera / 60s to 60
There are times when you look at something
and you know it’s just not right. So when I
went grocery shopping the other day, they were
completely re-arranging all the aisles, putting shelves up front and
generally making a mess.
Some corporate marketing genius is at it again; deciding how I want
to shop. If they wanted me to notice some new items, wouldn’t it make
sense to put it in an area I already frequent so it would stand out? Nope.
These scholars completely upset the order of things that I just figured
out from the last time they did it.
This is right up there with driving 10 miles to save 10 cents a gallon
on gas, or collecting hundreds of Monopoly pieces, sticking them on a
piece of paper and hoping for $5.00.
And then I saw it. In the new bread aisle was a display for insect spray.
Seriously? I’m not too sure about the mind trigger on that.
Who thinks about insect spray when they’re buying bread and bagels?
If you do, you must need an exterminator anyway, not to mention that
stuff getting close to your food.
And speaking of the bread aisle, why did they take it away from the
bakery section? For the past year, I’ve been running back and forth
from one end of the store to the other to find what kind of breakfast
pastry we want. There was a time when they were all together, but alas,
the fun is over.
The brilliance behind all these marketing plans has nothing to do
with actual people. There must be an algorithm somewhere using
artificial intelligence to send us into a state of confusion when doing
something we have to do to survive.
All of these changes are called “convenient” by the marketers. Is it
convenient to chase around like a lunatic when you’re finishing a work
day and need to grab three things? Is it convenient to go through a web
based app to get grocery discounts so they can monitor your habits and
sell them to others?
Is it OK to be made to feel guilty when you put in your debit card and
they ask for donations? How rude!
Adrea Nairne-Barrera writes of celebrations, observations &
complaints of life in the 60s to being in your 60s.
15

Face Products
By: Linda Bateman-Gomez / Timeless Beauty
Unfortunately our Vegas winters do not leave
us looking as sun-kissed as in warmer
months. I am always scouting for something to
keep up that summer glow.
When it comes to any face product, I’m very picky and want
lightweight and non-greasy. I dislike anything that gets cakey and sits
within wrinkles or laugh lines, making it very apparent on your face
when the goal is to blend in.
I have two that I really like, including one that I’ve added to my own
line, each with its pros and cons.
First is the Perricone MD High Potency Classics: Face Finishing &
Firming Moisturizer Tint, SPF 30. I absolutely love this product! It’s
light, gives my skin a glowing effect and smells nice.
The added SPF 30 is also great for an all-in-one type application. It’s
a bit pricier ($69 for a 2 ounce jar), but a little goes a long way. It also
goes on easily, providing nice coverage and moisture without looking
thick.
That said, my skin is a medium olive tone and the tinted color beads
work well with that. However, if you are quite fair, it may not blend as
well for you, so you may want to check out the color in person at the
store.
The second is my own oil-free BB Cream. It is paraben free and has a
natural sunscreen. It has a more sheer color to it but adds just enough
tint for my “natural” days. The price is less expensive than the others
($11.99 for a 1 ounce jar) and does come in three different shades –
light, medium and dark.
The biggest drawback for me is that this time of year, I’m between two
colors, the light and medium. In the summer I’m a medium, but not in
the winter, so I end up mixing the two for the perfect shade. It provides
the perfect coverage for me without being oily or making my skin feel
like it has anything on.
Whichever product may suit you, I’ve found adding a little summer
glow to your winter routine can make all the difference!
Linda Bateman-Gomez has an international beauty company
based in Las Vegas that specializes in cosmetics and other beauty
products. Contact Linda at TimelessBeauty2020@gmail.com or
through her website www.fullips.com.
Endorsed by Firefighters and Police
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS FOR DAN K. SHAW
16
February 2019

17

February 3, 1943
By: John Beilun / Time Traveler
On February 1, 1943, a six-ship convoy
slipped out of the sanctuary of St. John’s,
Newfoundland. It was bound for war.
Conditions were typical for that time of the year. The North Atlantic
was treacherous and choppy.
The convoy included a former luxury liner: The U.S.A.T. Dorchester.
It had since been converted into a transport carrier. The ship carried
902 souls - including 751 soldiers, seven officers and four chaplains.
The men of the cloth were of varied faiths: A Catholic priest, a rabbi,
a Methodist minister and a pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church. They
got along well. After all, they all prayed to the same God.
On February 3 rd , 150 miles short of safe harbor, a German submarine
surfaced in their midst. Escort ships rushed to intervene but, alas, too
late. With day light yet to break, the U-boat fired five torpedoes. Four
missed.
The one that didn’t miss hit the Dorchester on the starboard
side - stark dead midship deep below the water line. Scores of men
instantaneously died, as well as the power to drive the engines and the
wireless. The Dorchester tilted over and began to sink.
Unable to send off a radio signal, a warning blast or even a flare,
the captain ordered, “Abandon ship!” No mean feat in the pre-dawn
darkness in the wintry North Atlantic.
Pandemonium broke out throughout the ship. The captain, now in
the midst of trying to launch the few serviceable lifeboats, was preoccupied.
Not so the chaplains.
Father Washington, Rabbi Goode, Reverend Fox and Pastor Poling
organized the men as best they could. They said prayers and consoled
their interchangeable flocks as they opened a storage locker and
distributed life vests.
When they had given out the last, the four chaplains in unison
removed their own life belts and handed them out to whoever was next.
They watched as their shipmates scrambled overboard. They did so
knowing that they had chosen to save other people’s lives at the expense
of their own.
As the Dorchester sank beneath the waves, its survivors remember
watching the four chaplains standing on a tilted deck, embraced arm
in arm, as they sang praises to the Lord.
Endorsed by Firefighters & Police
Paid for by Committee
to elect Dan Stewart
18
February 2019

19

Ask A Desert Gardener
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening
Although February is the shortest month,
there is a great deal to do to ensure that
your garden will flourish in the months ahead. To
accomplish this, divide February’s chores into four weekly categories:
Cleanup, preparation, purchase, and planting.
Week 1: Cleanup and repair your existing garden. This is
accomplished by removing dead and damaged plants and pruning
back branches.
Make sure that non-functioning irrigation equipment is repaired or
replaced. To do this, a visual inspection should come first, followed by a
test run of drips and emitters as well as valves, clocks and tubing.
While running your irrigation system, make sure that there are no
wet or damp spots. This can signal breaks or leaks in the underground
tubing. A timely repair now can save you time and money in the future
if these tubes burst!
An inspection of the actual drip emitters will show you which ones
are not functioning. If the emitters look clogged and covered with
“white powder”, remove and soak overnight in a solution of vinegar
and water and they will be as good as new.
Week 2: Prepare your soil by adding sulfur to lower the pH levels
caused by alkaline salt buildup during the winter months. A high pH
level can prevent plants from absorbing nutrients.
Once combined with the soil, you can add the nutrients needed for a
thriving garden.
To enrich the soil, use an “all-purpose” fertilizer having a 24-8-
16 ratio of nitrogen-phosphorous-and potassium. If you are growing
fruit and vegetables, or cactus and flowers; add bone meal which will
provide needed phosphorous and calcium.
This is also the time to add “systemic” insect control to the soil
around your agave and yucca to control root-eating weevils and grubs.
Week 3: The plant nurseries will be receiving their shipments of
flowers, shrubs, and vegetables. Begin the purchasing process of
replacing plants and choosing your garden “palette” for the growing
season.
Week 4: Now is the time to plant your new acquisitions. Remember
to modify your drips and irrigation systems to accommodate these
additions.
Have a question? Contact me: Theplantwhisperer28@gmail.com.
Howard Galin, a/k/a: “The Plant Whisperer” is a retired NYC
school administrator, transplanted in Las Vegas who devotes his
time to communicating with and lecturing about our native
plants.
20
February 2019

21

53
Winter Golf
By: Mike Landry / Golf Fore Ever
Winter is upon us! Just as I thought we
would miss out on the cold weather and
enjoy a mild winter, here comes the freezing
temperatures beginning Christmas week. I just checked the forecast
and hopefully it looks like we will soon be enjoying weather in the 60’s
once again. It’s truly awesome to play golf in the desert.
Remember when you use to live back east (or up north) how you had
to give up golf for several months each year? I bet you agree with me
that our winter weather is much more enjoyable.
My daily routine now involves going to the golf course nearly every
day to practice my short game. It makes a big difference in scoring. Not
everything is about the long drive, although I must admit that this time
of year the ball rolls much further than in summer.
As many of you know, I belong to two great golf organizations - the
Nevada State Senior Golf Club (minimum age 50) and the Winterwood
Men’s Golf Association (any age may join). I’ve been a member of both
clubs for many, many years and enjoy the comradery that both offer.
If you’d like to expand your friend base and enjoy organized and
competitive golf, feel free to contact me (my email address is below)
and I’ll be able to tell you about these great organizations. Neither club
will break the bank to join – so what are you waiting for?
See you on the links!
Mike Landry resides in Sun City MacDonald Ranch and is a member
of both the Nevada State Seniors Golf Club and Winterwood Men’s
Group. He can be reached at: airmikel1@cox.net
22
February 2019

Impoverished by Medicaid
By: Jerry Creed / Trust Jerry
brother and sister came to my office. Their
A mom had passed years earlier and dad,
dying from Parkinson’s disease, was entering
hospice. He had been in a skilled nursing facility for the last ten years.
The two kids had worked extra jobs to keep dad’s house, hoping for
him to return home one day. Worst case the kids figured, when dad died
they could recover their funds by selling the house.
Unfortunately Medicaid has changed and went from being a benefit
to a loan. Every dollar spent by Medicaid on you is tracked and when
you die, Medicaid expects to be paid back from your Estate.
In addition, the rules to qualify for Medicaid changed so that instead
of 200,000 people on Medicaid in Nevada, we now have over 600,000.
In effect, while reducing the Estate Tax, they created a huge hidden tax,
without politicians calling it a tax, simply a “recovery” so more people
can benefit from the program.
I had to explain to the brother and sister that Medicaid was no longer
a benefit, but a loan. In their case, dad was in a skilled nursing facility
- $8,000 a month (average cost in Nevada), 12 months a year, $96,000
for 10 years or $960,000.
End result, dad’s home was sold to pay Medicaid back. The kids got
no inheritance and had lost years of work.
It should surprise no one that when the Federal Government raised
the Federal Estate Tax threshold to 11.2 million dollars appearing to
reduce their supply of our money, Congress had already found a new
source of funds by stealing the life savings of our seniors. The method
for capturing these funds - changing Medicaid.
While most people can afford the cost of assisted living for a spouse,
few people can afford the $8,000 monthly cost of a skilled nursing
facility. In order to qualify for Medicaid assistance, a single person is
allowed to keep $2,000 in assets, and if both spouses need assistance the
amount increases to $3,000.
If you can’t pay the $8,000 a month, you’ll be forced to reduce your
life savings to impoverishment levels and have no safety net in order to
receive Medicaid’s help. There is a better way.
Contacting an Elder law attorney and planning for Medicaid as part
of your estate plan now can save financial and emotional heartache for
you and your family. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
I urge you to not let this happen to you and your family. Protect
yourself and find an elder law attorney to speak with today.
23

GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
Our Guardianship Journey
By: Dan Roberts / Publisher
“
Guardian: A defender, protector, keeper or trustee.”
So began the first sentence of political editor Rana Goodman’s September
2014 “On My Soapbox” column. Little did I know that her headline: The Pitfalls
of Guardianship, would turn into a 24/7/365 journey and obsession for The Vegas
Voice.
In February 2015, our “Special Report – GUARDIANSHIP?
BE VERY AFRAID” headline began our in-depth investigation
and coverage of exposing the guardianship cesspool.
With the sentencing (16 to 40 years) of private guardian April
Parks and the thumbs-down decision by the Nevada Commission
of Judicial Selection to select guardianship Judge Charles Hoskin
as one of the candidates to the Nevada Court of Appeals, this
publisher thought it was time to declare “victory” in our 4+
years-long effort to expose, advocate and reform the guardianship
system in Nevada.
We decided to do a special feature chronicling what The Vegas
Voice has accomplished; including the new Nevada reforms laws implemented and the prosecution and
destruction of the then unknown but totally evil and corrupt “private-for-profit” guardianship industry
- beginning with “poster child” April Parks.
For those readers who supported our efforts, attended our numerous guardianship seminars and
signed our petitions and calls for help, a most grateful and heart-felt “thank you.”
Our collective efforts killed, changed and reformed a corrupt system. And proves once again, that
“hell has no fury and there is nothing more frightening than dedicated seniors on a mission.”
“The Guardians”
By: Dan Roberts / Publisher
Many of you who attended our
Vegas Voice guardianship
seminars may recall a film crew
following Rana and I as we discussed
this scandal. From our initial viewing,
we believed that the documentary was
exceptional and captured everything
you needed to know about the
terrible and criminal abuses of the
“guardianship system.”
Apparently, the film critics and
those who saw the movie agreed. “The
Guardians,” a film by Billie Mintz was
awarded the “Grand Prize as the
Best Documentary Feature” at the
2018 Nevada Silver State Film Festival.
The documentary (which included interviews with Rana and me)
has now been shown at 17 film festivals, from Alabama (Sidewalk
Film Festival) to Albuquerque (Mindfield Film Festival); including its
international premiere at the “Visioni Dal Mondo” in Milan, Italy.
Our now good friend Billie Mintz has already received 8 awards -
including Best Documentary and Best Director.
24
February 2019
The Vegas Voice will be screening the movie for anyone who wants
to see it (see next page for schedule). Unfortunately we will not
be presenting the film to Sun City Summerlin residents.
The Vegas Voice was advised that the SCS Residents’ Forum is “not
interested in showing the film at this time.”
For everyone else in the valley, just make sure you RSVP - and feel
free to bring popcorn.

GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
25

26
GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
The Downfall of Guardian April Parks & Judge Charles Hoskins
By: Rana Goodman / On My Soapbox
February 2019
It’s taken 4 years but
finally justice. Private
guardian April Parks was sentenced to 16 to 40 years in state prison for her
exploitation and destruction of seniors last month.
As I sat in the crowded courtroom and listened while April Parks made her
remarks to Judge Tierra Jones, I was astonished when Parks claimed, “I did the best I could, I never
meant to hurt anyone.”
My mind immediately drifted back a few years to the time publisher Dan and I were attempting to
get Sun City resident Phyllis Moskowitz out of Park’s clutches.
Phyllis had told me many times about the lack of proper food at the group home where she was
involuntarily placed. She also told me that she had asked Parks to get her some of her clothes from
her house since the weather had turned cold and she had no warm clothing. All that was ever delivered
were a pair of boots that Phyllis said did not belong to her.
When Phyllis asked for a pack of cigarettes, she was charged $75. She was also charged a $50 per
hour fee for deposits made to her bank account under Park’s control.
The irony was that since Parks chose the bank to house the guardianship accounts, only one
delivery run was made, yet all of her wards who had a deposit going that day was charged the same fee.
A similar scheme was done with court appearances. Many days I sat in family court and noted that
the guardian was not there more than 15 to 20 minutes per case. Yet, with as many as eight cases per
day, each ward was charged the same fee of several hundred dollars for Parks to appear - thus earning
the same fee eight times over.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture. April Parks never said the words “I’m sorry”, nor did
she look at her numerous victims seated in the gallery as they poured their hearts out in their impact
statements during the court hearing.
Her attorney stated that “Everything she did was approved by the Guardianship Court,” and those
responsible, Charles Hoskin and Jon Norheim eventually was removed from hearing guardianships
matters. Of course, that took many of our advocates speaking at the Clark County Commission to get
that done.
During victim Rudy North’s victim impact statement, he related how, he asked April Parks how she
could live with what she had done? North and his wife had been forcibly removed from their home and taken by Parks without a court hearing
and without their family being notified. Her reply was, “Everyone has an expiration date!”
Perhaps you can now understand why The Vegas Voice was so adamant that Family Court Judge Charles Hoskin should NOT be selected to
the Court of Appeals. He “rubber stamped” all the private guardian’s requests. Interestingly, in his application for the Appellate Court he never
mentioned that he oversaw the guardianship issues.
At his hearing before the Nevada Judiciary Selection Commission (who were tasked with recommending three of the candidates to Governor
Sisolak) he made some astounding statements; for example, “I did not have the authority to investigate.” And even: “I was not removed from
guardianship cases.”
The most amazing quote from Judge Hoskin, in my opinion, was “I have spent my career doing good.” Tell that to the hundreds of senior
victims left with only the shirt on their backs!
Bottom line: Judge Charles Hoskin was NOT among the three people chosen and we must thank all of you who took the time to send in letters
of opposition - all 658 of you. We could not have accomplished that feat alone.
With the guardianship changes and reforms now implemented there are now only three private guardians (and the public guardian, Karen
Kelly) dealing with guardianship.
However, don’t get lulled into complacency thinking that there is nothing to worry about. This industry is extremely profitable and as such,
more will come.
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is fill out the guardianship nomination form (available on our web site: www.
thevegasvoice.net) and then file that form with the Nevada Secretary
of State.
We all did it!
You can contact Rana by email: Rana@thevegasvoice.net. Also
check out her blog about life in Sun City Anthem at:
Anthemtoday.com

GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
Guardianship Accomplishments & Reforms
1
. Removal of Guardian Hearing Master Jon Norheim from hearing
any future Guardianship matters in Clark County Family Court.
2. Removal of Guardian Judge Charles Hoskin from hearing/ruling in
any future Guardianship matters in Clark County Family Court.
3. “Retirement” of Sally Ramm elder rights attorney (and “official
government go-to” person who never saw anything wrong) from the Nevada
Aging & Disability Services.
Mark Simmons
4. “Retirement” of Kathleen Buchanan as Clark County Public
Guardian.
5. Creation of Nevada Guardianship Commission to investigate and enact
reforms on guardianship matters. (Rana Goodman selected as member).
6. Formation of Joint Task Force by Nevada Attorney General, Clark County
District Attorney and Metro Police to investigate Guardianship abuses and
criminal conduct.
7. Senior Law Project “voluntarily” ceases to serve as Family Court
guardian ad litem (after always choosing private guardian April Parks over
family members) to proposed wards/guardian victims.
8. Private for profit guardian April Parks’ attorney Bruce Woodbury
(the same person that the 215 Parkway is named for) sends “cease & desist”
letter threatening legal action if Rana and The Vegas Voice continues its
investigation of his client. Fifteen months later, Woodbury meets with The
Vegas Voice and praises Rana for seeking to improve the guardian laws.
9. The 2015 Nevada Legislative Session - After collecting 3,622 petitions:
(a) SB 262: Eliminating the Nevada residency requirement to serve
as guardian. Creation of a “Guardian Nomination” form.
(b) AB 325: State registration and licensing of “For profit private
guardians.”
(c) Creation of The Vegas Voice Lockbox for placement of Guardianship Nomination forms.
10. Clark County Grand Jury formed to investigate criminal activities of private guardians.
11. Victim/Ward Phyllis Moskowitz
April Parks
Gary Taylor
Hell hath no fury and there is nothing more frightening
than seniors on a mission
(a) declared competent by Guardianship court and no longer under control of private guardian April Parks.
(b) Parks’ attorney Lee Drizen returns Phyllis’ car and her monies held by Parks.
(c) Phyllis receives her pension and Social Security payments held by Parks.
12. The 2017 Nevada Legislative Session
(a) SB 229: Creation of “official” Guardianship Nomination form and filing provisions with the Nevada Secretary of State. (Rana
Goodman is the first to file).
(b) SB 360: Establishing a “Ward’s Bill of Rights” including right to have an attorney or senior advocate; including assistance from a
“person of natural affection.”
(c) Establishing a Nevada Chief Advocacy Officer to investigate/review elder abuse and guardianship issues.
13. Aided and assisted in the documentary, “The Guardians,” a film by Billie Mintz that exposed the financial exploitation of seniors by private
guardians. The movie was awarded the “Grand Prize as the Best Documentary Feature” at the 2018 Nevada Silver State Film Festival.
14. Arrest, conviction and disbarment of private guardian attorney Noel Simpson.
15. Arrest, conviction and sentencing (7-18 years) of private guardian Mark Simmons.
16. Arrest, conviction and sentencing (2-5 years) of private guardian Gary Taylor (husband of April Parks).
17. Arrest, extradition, conviction and sentencing (16-40 years) of private guardian April Parks.
18. Nevada Commission of Judicial Selection rejects the application of Guardianship Judge Charles Hoskin as a candidate to the Court of
Appeals.
19. The Vegas Voice conducts 64 guardianship seminars across the Las Vegas Valley during the four year period.
20. Formation of non-profit sister company: Vegas Voice Elder Hub to protect, serve and advocate for seniors.
27

GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
28 February 2019
28

GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
29

By: Steve Miller / Guest Column
His name sends chills up and down the
spines of hundreds of exploited senior
citizens, disabled people and their families. I’m
often asked why private professional guardian Jared E. Shafer and
his Clark County Family Court Judges William Voy, Charles Hoskin
and Jon Norheim are still at large after their alleged criminal
activities were exposed on local and national media and Shafer being
the subject of over four years of purported criminal investigation by the
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Abuse and Neglect Detail.
I’ve since learned that Shafer is the go-to guy each election
season when it comes to political advertising billboards for Family
Court Judges and Nevada State lawmakers. In addition to his private
guardian service, PFSN Inc, Shafer owns Signs of Nevada, a company
that places thousands of 8 x 12 portable A-Frame political billboards
on vacant lots each election for select politicians, many who make or
enforce our guardianship laws.
To further exasperate the questions about the obvious “Teflon”
surrounding Shafer is that it’s rumored he is the Godfather to Nevada’s
United States Senator, Catherine Cortez Masto.
Clark County DA Steve Wolfson several times has proclaimed that
his office is ready and willing to “enthusiastically” prosecute alleged
crimes perpetuated by local private guardians - including Shafer. He
prosecuted Shafer’s assistant Patience Bristol who only served two
years, and prosecuted Shafer’s protégé’ April Parks who was recently
sentenced to 16-40 years.
However, the Abuse and Neglect Detail have so far failed to file even
a single required “Request for Prosecution” of Shafer with the DA.
By: Becky Olivera-Schultz
(Editor’s Note: Rana’s first article on
guardianship
I
concerned Becky and her father’s plight)
n 2009 my life changed. My mother’s passing left my physically
disabled grieving 89-year-old father exposed to a woman at the
community center who prevented him from contacting me.
Guardianship Commissioner Jon Norheim’s office referred me to
private guardian Jared Shafer, assuring me he could help. If I only
knew then what I know now.
A horrible tragedy followed. At my first meeting with Shafer he
stated, “I don’t have to go to court; the judges give me what I want.”
Attorney Elyse Tyrell assisted Shafer in securing a guardianship of
my father; she restricted family contacts. Private Guardian Patience
Bristol (since convicted and still in prison) ordered us not to talk about
the guardianship with dad; we did anyway.
The guardianship made my father a prisoner in his home. Dad, a
World War II vet, was treated despicably by the family court, violating
his rights. Our family lost $450,000. The funds went to legal fees on
both sides; most going to Shafer’s side.
30
GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
The Ones Who Got Away
My Guardianship Story
February 2019
They continue at a snail’s pace with their
purported investigation.
Meanwhile, based on protocol, federal
law enforcement is held at bay while
local authorities “investigate” without
requesting federal intervention or
assistance. Is this by design?
According to Shafer victim Charles
Jared Shafer
Pascal, “Many families went to the
authorities. They wouldn’t take a report. All cases resulted in the
statutes of limitations running out. So as a result, the issue dies not
because the guardians were in the right, but because the authorities
played deaf and dumb and stalled the case to death.”
Based on the above, I have reluctantly stopped recommending that
victims of Jared Shafer file complaints with this LVMPD detail, and
those victims wait for a federal investigation to begin before providing
additional information to authorities. I also believe information given
LVMPD Abuse and Neglect detectives in complaints against Shafer
has been shared with him or his lawyers, thereby further damaging
exploited wards and their loved ones.
I am sad to say that it’s far from over until the real culprits - the
politically protected ones who lurk in Family Court - are brought to
justice.
Steve Miller is a former Las Vegas City Councilman, former
Clark County Regional Transportation Commissioner and writes
internationally syndicated columns on organized crime and
political corruption for AmericanMafia.com. Visit his website at:
SteveMiller4LasVegas.com
Angry at having his life
savings bled by attorneys and
the guardian, dad ordered us to take
him to California. We were the first to
defy Shafer. This act led to termination
of the unneeded Nevada guardianship.
We had the courage to act, which
saved a small portion of his trust, his
home, car and personal possessions.
Most importantly, we saved dad from
a horrible fate. Despite the trauma dad
experienced, he had five happy years
living with us in California.
Steve Miller is a former Las Vegas City Councilman, former
Clark County Regional Transportation Commissioner and writes
internationally syndicated columns on organized crime and
political corruption for AmericanMafia.com. Visit his website at:
SteveMiller4LasVegas.com

31

By: Rick Black / Guardianship Concerns
Editor’s note: One of the first people The
Vegas Voice met when starting our guardianship
investigation was Rick Black and his wife Terri.
They are without any doubt one of the “good guys” victimized by
the guardianship system.
Rick’s research and tireless actions to highlight this scandal in
Nevada (and across the country) far surpasses anything that we
have Mdone. Every senior owes Rick a “thank you” for his efforts.
y family was first introduced to adult guardianship in 2013.
That experience has taken my life on a journey I never dreamt
could happen, chose or wanted.
Since that summer, I have investigated over 500 adult guardianship
case files and counselled over 1,200
victims and survivors of fraudulent adult
guardianships nationwide. The results the
victims’ coalition achieved in Nevada with
the help of Darcy Spears of KTNV, Colton
Lochhead of the LVRJ, Dan Roberts and
Rana Goodman of the The Vegas Voice is
nothing short of a miracle.
Judicial and elected leadership ignored
the complaints. Local law enforcement
refused to challenge the judicial leadership
in Clark County Family Court. They all
denied the claims of hundreds of victims
for over 25 years.
The efforts of the victims’ coalition
motivated Nevada Attorney General Adam
Laxalt to conduct the most extensive investigation of any state attorney
Getting permission to film while uncovering such a conspiracy
that was operating through Family Court was extremely difficult.
Without the help of Rana Goodman and Dan Roberts at The Vegas
Voice there would be no film as I would not have had the access that I
did through their assistance.
We even had to have a hearing in Family Court to whether or not
they would allow us to film with which The Vegas Voice represented me
and championed for my constitutional rights.
Because of their
patience and persistence
they helped me navigate
through this convoluted
mess and for that I
am eternally grateful.
BILLIE MINTZ
Director
“The Guardians.”
32
GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
But Too Many Got Away
Thank You Vegas Voice
February 2019
general into these matters ever in the U.S. A study of press releases going
back to 2000, found no state with the number of criminal convictions
of administrative court sponsored parties as that achieved by Laxalt’s
Elder Exploitation Unit.
His team’s focus has led to 11 indictments and 10 convictions
statewide for persons abusing their powers via probate and adult
guardianship court dysfunction. The trial of LVMPD Lt. James Melton, is
set for February 25, 2019. The court that claimed to protect vulnerable
adults via their orders and oversight in fact was routinely complicit in
their abuse and exploitation.
The convictions of five of the six Parks Gang conspirators has “taken
the most significant guardianship exploitation case to resolution” per
Attorney General Laxalt. Unfortunately, the lone attorney indicted in
In happier days. Guardian victim Del Mencarelli, grandson Daniel,
daughter Terri and son-in-law Rick Black
his guardianship exploitation sweeps was Noel Palmer Simpson.
Simpson was convicted in November but will not be sentenced until
March after she testifies at the trial of James Melton. Simpson will lose
her Nevada law license and is projected to only get probation for her
felony conviction and conspiracy with Parks.
Family victims presented evidence on over 25 attorneys, guardians
and caregivers for suspect criminal actions to the Nevada Attorney
General beginning in 2015. April Parks alone routinely used ten
different attorneys to defend and protect her criminal actions as a
guardian.
Noel Palmer Simpson, Lee Drizin, Aileen Cohen, Ethan Kottler,
Bryan Lowe, Robert Winn, Trude McMahan, Chris Philips, Julie Arnold,
Carol Kingman, and others all represented or legitimized her. All her
attorneys, except Simpson, escaped any prosecution and she received
a slap on the wrist given her crimes and obligations as an “officer of
the court.”
Even though Nevada is to be commended for their efforts, dysfunction
continues to dominate these proceedings and known legal community
predators continue to operate freely within it. NEVER agree to being
placed, or have a loved one placed, into adult guardianship. The risks
are far too great.

GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL FEATURE
One Last Word
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules
first heard about Rana Goodman in 2012
I when our Vegas Voice columnist, Mary
Schramski, suggested that after one year of being
a widower, it was time for me to get a new life. Mary told me that besides
Rana being charming and beautiful, she was just as smart and that we
would make a perfect couple.
I questioned that if she was that smart, why would she go out with
me?
Anyway not having asked anyone for a date in over 40 years, you can
only imagine my hesitation. But after much prodding and demanding
from Mary, I finally got the nerve to call Rana. Despite my bumbling,
fumbling, mumbling and stumbling, she said yes and The Vegas Voice
soon thereafter had its first political editor.
After writing her first column about guardianship issues confronting
seniors (September 2014) Rana thought it was so urgent, she wanted
The Vegas Voice to start an investigation of the entire guardian system –
reporting about the criminal private guardians, the rigged courtroom
decisions and how to help seniors caught up in the system.
“What are WE going to do about it?” She demanded to know.
My response was to tell her that I was watching the football game,
my New York Giants were down by 4 and could she just move away
from the TV?
Rana then asked: “What was more important – the Giants or
Guardianship?”
Fortunately I realized it was a “trick question.” I told her that if
she did the work (and stopped blocking the television) The Vegas Voice
would continue reporting on it.
I called her Don(na) Quixote for chasing those windmills and
believing that she could change and clean-up a disgraceful system.
Four years later and as set forth on page 27 her “Guardian Gladiator”
accomplishments can be summed up in a simple sentence: Exposing
and reforming the entire guardianship system in Nevada.
With these monumental accomplishments, I need to be very clear
on a few things.
Unlike some who claim that it was “their reporting” that exposed the
guardianship reform system (but to its credit, the Las Vegas Review
Journal in its January 9, 2019 editorial recognized that its investigation
was “spurred by reporting in The Vegas Voice, a local monthly for
seniors”) it was not Rana alone who caused these reforms.
Many, many others were involved, but I will go to my grave convinced
that if NOT for The Vegas Voice, there is no guardianship reform and
private guardian April Parks is still hunting for victims.
As we have stated numerous times, enormous credit goes to former
Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller whose blog INSIDE VEGAS
(americanmafia.com) regularly wrote about this guardianship
cesspool. And to Steve’s ever-lasting legacy, he willingly and freely
offered Rana all information; regardless of receiving “credit” for first
exposing this scandal.
Additionally, Rana and The Vegas Voice sought the input and
information from Rick Black - a victim of the guardianship scandal.
He and wife Terri were a wealth of knowledge and information and was
with us every step of the way - beginning with our first trek to Carson
City and the Nevada Attorney General’s office.
A number of our elected officials stepped up to make sure the reform
bills passed. Credit goes to former Senator Bucky Harris for being the
(wo)man in sponsoring and guiding the major guardian legislation
through the senate.
And when the license/bond guardianship bill sponsored by
Assemblyman Michael Spinkle was in trouble of dying, former
Assemblywoman Victoria Seaman made it very clear to Rana and
myself that she would not let that happen. She was right.
I strongly doubt if the guardianship reform bills would have been
implemented without these two public servants. Thankfully they were
there at the right time and place.
Last, but definitely not least, without the assistance and unconditional
support of Vegas Voice president Ray Sarbacker, project manager Bill
Caserta and senior advocate extraordinaire Sandy Lewis, there is no
way that Rana and The Vegas Voice would have succeeded.
To all these wonderful, fantastic people: There are no words to
adequately express our tremendous appreciation except to sincerely
say: “thank you.” Their assistance, determination and a “never-giveup”
dedication, does indeed show that the “good guys” can win.
As for my Rana: It goes without saying that everyone at The Vegas
Voice is enormously proud of you… and most of all, this publisher is
forever grateful that you not only did not hang up on me 6 years ago
but made me your partner in love and life.
33

Vision Correction Surgery: It’s not all
about LASIK anymore
By: Peter W. DeBry, M.D.
Our modern culture is
all about choices. It’s
great to live in America because you have the opportunity to choose
your hair color, the car you drive, and the restaurant where you are
going to eat your dinner.
Fortunately more and options are now available for vision correction
procedures designed to help you live a more active lifestyle without
glasses or contact lenses. I would like to take a few minutes to introduce
you to some of the latest technologies in surgical vision correction.
LASIK is the most famous and still the most common method for
vision correction. It has become a household word with most people
who wear glasses or contacts not thinking about IF they are going to
have eye surgery but WHEN they are going to have it.
The reason LASIK has become so well known is that it is amazing
technology. Lasers are used to reshape the cornea (front window of the
eye) in a 15-minute procedure with great results and a quick recovery.
ICL, or implantable contact lens technology, is a newer procedure
that isn’t as familiar to people as LASIK but can actually offer better
visual results and less potential side effects than a LASIK treatment for
some people. The ICL is similar to a miniature version of a contact lens
that is implanted into the eye through a small incision. The benefits of
ICL include reversibility, quality of vision, and less chance of causing
worsening dry eye symptoms.
Refractive Lens Exchange is the third option for surgical vision
correction. This procedure uses the same technology as cataract surgery
where the lens of the eye is removed through a small incision and a new
plastic lens is inserted.
Over 3.6 million procedures are done each year with outstanding
results of improved vision and less need for glasses and contact lenses.
Even if you don’t have a cataract, a lens exchange procedure can be a
quick, safe, and effective treatment to help you to see better.
With so many choices for vision correction it can be difficult to decide
which is the right one for you. If you are interested in seeing better
without glasses or contact lenses, please come in for a free consultation.
Dr. DeBry is a local expert in vision correction surgery and can help you
come up with the best choice for your procedure.
34
Dr. Peter Debry
February 2019
The Good Health of
Forgiveness
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet
Let’s talk about enemies. There is a guarantee
that you will develop an enemy when you
serve in the military.
We are trained and indoctrinated to identify and confirmed possible
adversaries, and then prepare to meet them on the battlefield - whatever
that battlefield looks like. In today’s world with cyber warfare and other
modern modes of defending our nation, few of us would recognize the
type of war that we must wage in order to do that.
One thing will never change though: the topic of enemies. I’m
finding in my later years that there’s some positive and unexpected
therapy in embracing a few holistic ideas about standing against our
country’s enemies.
Why do we enter the military in the first place? The simple answer
is in the oath we took. “I do solemnly swear to support and defend
the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and
domestic…”
That was the agreement we made to serve our nation in uniform.
However, just putting another spin on that, perhaps there should be
some sort of oath we take when we become civilians again.
Maybe something like, “I will do my utmost to lay down any animosity
I still harbor towards all enemies, foreign and domestic…” In other
words, we really don’t have to carry grudges back into our civilian life;
it’s just an added burden, and only works against us in the transition. If
we can honestly lay down any resentment developed in the military, just
maybe we can find some special healing in the adjustment.
There’s an old saying: “your only enemy is someone whose story
you haven’t heard.” Meaning that only a person with zero compassion
(perhaps frozen by trauma) can hear about the trials and hardships of
someone who has ticked them off, and still not be able to cut them some
slack.
I recommend
a healthy dose of
practicing the art
of making peace
with all enemies
both foreign and
domestic. How do
you do that?
A good start is to
forgive those you
hold animosity against including your own government that may have
betrayed you while in uniform. Forgiving doesn’t men forgetting, but it
does give you an option to lay it down and walk away with a fresh sense
of relief.
Chuck Dean served as an Army paratrooper in Vietnam and
through that experience was led to address the many transitional
issues veterans struggle with. He is the author of several important
books for veterans. All can be found on Amazon at: http://www.
amazon.com/author/chuckdeanbooks

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35

Why Do I Have Insurance if Nothing is Covered? - Part II
By: Jim Valkenburg / Insurance Insight
Years ago I had a client who called because
her son’s ATV was stolen from the garage.
She assumed it would be covered under her
homeowner’s policy. It was not!
Typically, the only motorized vehicles covered under your home
policy are lawnmowers and motorized wheelchairs. Any other riding
vehicles have separate insurance policies specifically for those vehicles.
In this case, a motorcycle policy covers ATV’s and are very inexpensive
to purchase. Watercraft falls into this same category with a few
exceptions like a canoe or small fishing boat.
This also goes for golf carts. However, many insurance companies
will allow you to add your golf cart to your home policy for a minimal
charge.
Say you discover your water bill is extraordinarily high, but you’re
not using any more water than normal. This recently happened to me.
After dealing with the water company, pool company and yard company
- none of this is covered with insurance.
If, however, you have major leakage (say under your yard where they
have to dig down, fix the leak and recover) this is still not covered under
insurance. The reason? Because it has not damaged your home!
What about your trees, shrubs and other landscaping? Or your
sprinkler system? If a tree falls on your house during a wind storm, your
home policy will cover the damage to the house but will not remove or
replace the tree.
Trees, shrubs and other plants are covered for fire/lightning,
explosion, riot, aircraft, vehicles not owned by you, vandalism, and
theft but the most they will pay for any one item is $500. Years ago
we had a freeze which wiped out many beautiful trees in the valley.
Unfortunately freeze is not covered, which is why you wrap your trees/
plants when a freeze is predicted.
Had enough? If it appears that there are so many things not covered,
you need to think about the hundreds of things that could go wrong
and coverage is provided. Fire, theft, vandalism, wind, hail, lightning,
smoke damage, water damage and many more of the typical losses are
covered - which is why you have insurance.
Jim Valkenburg is a retired military officer and insurance executive.
He and his wife owned and operated their own insurance agency for
over 16 years. His primary purpose is to give out real information
that can be used to make intelligent insurance decisions.
36
February 2019

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37

38
Attention to Trees
By: Heather Latimer /
Heather’s Self-Help Tips
Maybe you planted saplings when they
were just slender stems with leaves
attached. Now they have grown huge trunks and
lush foliage. You probably haven’t given a thought to their requiring
attention beyond an occasional clipping.
Hear Ye! Those handsome full-grown trees can cause you trouble.
Lots of trouble! And big expenditures!
Check to see if they overhang the street or a neighbor’s garden, or if
your neighbors’ trees encroach on your property. Don’t overlook those
that are just where they should be, but are rotted, diseased, or infected
with insects that weaken them.
A fierce wind could blow them over. Smash your own roof. Or crash
into the roadway when a car or dogwalker is passing.
While you’re at it, examine the floors of your house and garage too. If
the floorboards or slabs have risen, tree roots are growing underneath.
Should you observe these hazards it’s wise to call professionals. The
International Society of Arboriculture (Telephone 888/472-8733) has a
state-by-state listing of members who have acquired certification after
undergoing rigorous training.
When Woody’s Tree Service (702/401-8285) removed my Douglas Fir
tree I was stunned at the speed and efficiency of the tree surgeons. Also
impressed with their high-tech vacuum-truck that shredded big tree
stubs and branches they threw into it.
I was quite pleased by their removal of that massive tree without
disturbing my decorative rock designs and plants. And just as important,
they cleaned up the garden and street without leaving a trace of ever
being there.
Heather Latimer is a nationally recognized specialist in making
difficult subjects easy and author of 17 books. Her biography,
and latest book “How to Overcome Once-Easy Tasks That Are Now
Pains in The You-Know-What,” are accessible on www.amazon.
com/heatherlatimer/howtoovercomeonceeasy.
Thank You Vegas Voice
February 2019
Seniors in Nevada can rest
easier knowing Rana Goodman
is advocating on their behalf. After
working with legislators for two
legislative sessions and helping to
usher in guardianship reform in
Nevada, Rana continues to work
tirelessly on finding solutions to
the challenges that arise as we age.
Rana deserves our gratitude.
Thank you for taking on these
tremendous and sometimes
overlooked issues, the results speak
for themselves! - Former State
Senator Becky Harris
The Checkmates
Sonny Charles
By: Joey Kantor / Vegas Retrospective
My father, Sol Kantor, was a waiter in the
showroom at the Riviera Hotel from 1959
until 1980.
In the 1960s and 70s I saw a lot of legendary acts. Through that
child’s eyes it was pure magic; the darkened showroom, the full
orchestra, a glittering world.
Needless to say, I was excited when I got the opportunity to meet a Las
Vegas musical legend, the voice of Checkmates Ltd. - Sonny Charles.
Checkmates Ltd. started out as a group of sixteen-year-olds in 1956:
Sonny Charles, Bobby Stevens, Sweet Louie (Marvin Smith), Bill Van
Buskirk and Harvey Trees. In 1963 they rolled into Vegas to audition at
the Thunderbird.
They were told they were good but didn’t have an “act.” They were
told to go get one then come back. They didn’t give up on Vegas.
In 1964 they began playing at the Pussycat a’ Go-Go, a classic go-go
club where the Wynn is now. Jazz great Nancy Wilson connected them
to Capitol Records and CMA, a major booking agency. Sinatra loved
them and had them play at his private New Year’s Eve party which got
them a contract at the Sands.
In 1969 Checkmates Ltd. played seventy-two variety shows on
television, including the Ed Sullivan show. They scored a number six
hit on the top 100 with Black Pearl in 1969, produced by Phil Spector.
The band broke up in 1970. The record company wanted to cut out
some of the players. Charles wasn’t having any of it and walked. “That
whole thing that made it work was that chemistry we had on stage and
that chemistry was five friends,” he explained.
Charles continued to make records as a solo artist. You can still catch
him live at Piero’s with Pia Zadora most weekends. Sonny will also
be making a very special guest appearance at our Vegas Voice Vintage
Variety Show (see page 17) at Sun City MacDonald Ranch on Saturday,
February 16 th at 7 pm.
Joey Kantor is a journalist and novelist. He writes fiction
under the name Fargo Kantrowitz. His Las Vegas based novel,
Babybirds, is available at Lulu.com.

39

Now What?
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action
Now that this election cycle is over, what’s
next? If you think for one minute that
the newly elected crop of politicians are ready to
govern, you’d better think again!
What’s coming next is (wait for it) ANOTHER ELECTION! Already,
a slew of power hungry politicians are on the prowl for the next office
they seek.
Republicans are planning their strategy on re-taking the House of
Representatives they just lost to the Democrats and the election is two
years away! A politician will never publicly admit it but governing is
a necessary side-bar of what it is they spend most of their time doing.
I’ve spent over 40 years actively engaged in running and participating
in campaigns and can categorically state - politicians are ALWAYS
running for office again and spend an average (some a great deal
more) of 30 hours per week soliciting campaign contributions for the
next election!
How do I know that? Because, without exception, that’s what they
tell me! One of the worst addiction society is forced to deal with is an
elected official’s craving for POWER - getting it and most importantly
KEEPING it!
To do that, they need money and a lot of it! They are forced to
continuously solicit donors - that’s you and
me, and the big corporate honchos.
Money is the lifeblood of any successful
politician’s life! They need to have enough
of it to insure that any potential future
opponent will be intimidated enough not
to challenge a well-funded continuously
recycled politician.
And to do that, they need to raise always
funds and that interferes with what we hired
them to do - GOVERN!
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
Emotional Boundaries
By: Morris Heldt / A Senior’s P.O.V.
If we saw an adult brutally kicking a little
puppy, I would like to think the majority of
us would have an emotional reaction to stop it!
In most of the wars this great country of ours fought, was it the intellect
of the common American soldier or the emotional understanding
between right and wrong that help win those wars - or help withdraw
from them? I suggest it was our innate ability to understand right
and wrong, good and evil. It was a time when most Americans had
emotional boundaries and when they were crossed, we reacted.
If we study “mankind” and look at all its flaws we will find that
most of “man’s” cruelty toward itself is related to the losing of their
emotional boundaries and instead rely on their intellectualizing of
their wrong doings. This is compounded when our elected officials,
our celebrated entertainers and sports stars begin to violate their own
emotional boundaries to achieve more social recognition, which creates
a surrounding exploding chaos.
Then when these outspoken individuals begin to intellectualize their
shortcoming of common sense to legitimize their run amuck emotions,
they contribute to the decline of a civilized society.
I fear that in this relatively new millennium, emotions will continue
out of control via newer social media technology preventing personal
contact, along with the dispensing of more anti-depressants to
anyone that might be upset with a “gut feeling.” The pseudo intellect
explanation of one’s bad behavior will be accepted without cause and
effect.
Simply put, we are rapidly getting to a point of no consequences
for bad behavior. This could cause one’s individual scale of justice,
common sense, to become unbalanced.
I sense if we as a nation continue in the direction of placing negative
connotations on emotions, we are destined to lose sight of right and
wrong. Perhaps if we just use our emotional response, within a healthy
boundary, to what is happening to our country instead of listening to
all the intellectualizing by both the Democrats and Republicans we can
come together again with one voice.
Perhaps listen to our God given common sense gut feeling.
40
February 2019
Morris Heldt is a retired award winning film and television
producer and published author. He and his wife moved to the Las
Vegas valley from the beach in 2004.

Words Have Meaning
By: Judy Polumbaum / Our View
Every locality has its special words, freighted
with historical and emotional significance.
To me, a word distinctively associated with Las
Vegas is “strip” – as noun, as verb, as adjective, as in the Las Vegas
Strip, strip clubs, strip malls.
The idea arose on a lunch excursion with my two adult sons, recently
visiting from far-flung places. As we motored past shopping centers, my
elder read the offerings aloud and mused: “Hmmm... acupuncture and
frozen yogurt!”
At our favorite Mexican restaurant, the one plastered with tributes to
Frida Kahlo, he surveyed the surroundings and continued the patter:
“You could live in this place! All you need is a car and some money.
Grab a haircut and then go get a root canal.
“Alternate Mexican with Hawaiian barbeque and Vietnamese pho.
Grocery store and pharmacy for routine boring purchases. Naps at the
mattress store, overnight it at the 24-hour tanning place, maybe they
have a shower.”
That’s the Vegas strip mall for you – everything and the kitchen sink.
I grew up in New England, where stretches of highway between towns
were lined with clusters of shops and restaurants.
The Las Vegas version puts those memories to shame. Strip malls of
my childhood had greasy steak houses and lousy chop suey dives. The
Vegas places have veterinarians and genuine acupressure massage and
really good dim sum.
Ignorantly, my
kids and I wondered
if strip malls
outnumber strip
clubs around here.
An online directory
of “gentlemen’s
clubs” lists a couple
dozen active, along
with quite a few
defunct. Their popularity peaked in the 2000s, before the recession cut
into discretionary spending and the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that
an establishment could be a bar with full nudity service or a fully nude
lap-dance club without alcohol, but not both.
Surely there’s a strip club underground – perhaps total nudity with
alcohol in those very strip malls. Still, Las Vegas obviously has waaayyyy
more strip malls than strip clubs.
The late great architect Robert Venturi would approve. In his 1972
book “Learning from Las Vegas,” he praised the city’s immersive
environment, with its neon lights and roadside signs and commercial
clutter.
He saw strip malls as an honest expression of Americana. That rings
truer all the time.
Judy is a professor emerita of journalism and a recent transplant
to Las Vegas from the Midwest.
41

The Inevitable Decline of
the Body: Part III
By: Kyo Mitchell / A Healthier You
In the past two months we discussed how
chronic medical problems usually have
multiple factors which contribute to their development. We also
discussed how a single drug cannot effectively treat these types of
problems since the drug only targets one of the factors, not all of them.
To help you understand a workable solution to chronic medical
problems, let’s start with a question: “Who is smarter, you or a
teenager?”
Obviously, it’s you. Time and experience provides not only a greater
breadth of knowledge but a depth of knowledge as well. This is what
we call wisdom.
The teenager, however, cannot see this because they do not know
what they do not know. Their limitations are greater because they
do not have the experiences to see and understand their current
limitations.
Medicine is the same way. Conventional medicine can do some
amazing things (like certain teenagers) and it has helped many,
many people. However, conventional medicine has only been around
100 – 200 years. It still follows the “one cause (a specific medical
problem), one drug philosophy.
Chinese Medicine has been in existence at least 2,500 years. This
type of medicine has more experience in understanding and dealing
with difficult medical issues - especially those that are due to many
factors contributing to a medical problem.
An example is “herbal medicine” where, over thousands of years,
doctors learned how to combine a number of herbs (anywhere from
4 – 20 herbs) to treat all the factors contributing to the problem while
keeping any side effects to a minimum.
To effectively treat such problems however, one must be realistic.
If the problem does not have an overt cause, it has probably been
developing in the body for months to years and will take a month to
several months to treat.
Depending on the severity and duration of the problem, it may
not be also be able to get back 100% of function, but a significantly
increased level of function is possible in most cases. The alternative
is simply to live with the problem “as is” for the rest of your life. The
choice is yours.
Dr. Kyo Mitchell served as faculty at Bastyr University in Seattle
and Wongu University in Las Vegas for over a decade. Dr.
Mitchell practices in Summerlin and can be reached at 702-481-
6216 or rkyomitchell@gmail.com.
42
February 2019
Organize Your Life -
New Year, New You!
By: Mary Richard / Health Fitness
OK – here it is February, the second month
of the New Year! How many have already
broken their New Year’s Resolutions? I don’t make resolutions, I make
changes!
One “change” that I’m making this year is to be more organized
with eating habits. It’s planning the grocery shopping and preparing
lunches, dinners, etc. in advance due to my very busy working and class
teaching schedules.
I try to NEVER go grocery shopping on an empty stomach! How many
times have you ventured into a grocery store and gobbled up every
“sample” food tidbit that is offered (especially Costco!) or “somehow”
found some strange item that wandered into your grocery cart?
I admit that I’ve purchased several items at Costco by sampling their
tidbits! Some I would have never purchased, had it not been for the
sample!
Before going grocery shopping, I make a list so I don’t buy those
tempting items that are on the “end caps” of the grocery aisles – those
tempting little goodies that end up in my grocery carts unnoticed!
Try to “pre-plan” some meals ahead of time, so that when cooking
you can make two or three meals at a time. This saves not only precious
time, but also when you get home you are not famished and gobble the
first thing in sight! Sunday nights, I cook up a few dinners labeling
them in individual containers to freeze.
After buying a stalk of celery, I wash it well, then cut them into
smaller pieces and place into a zip-lock bag. When I come home and
while preparing my dinner, I can munch on a few celery stalk. I do
the same with carrot sticks – or better yet, buy a bag of baby carrots to
munch on!
In the morning before leaving for work, I take out from the freezer
what I plan to have for dinner that night. Letting it defrost in the
refrigerator allows me some time for other things when I get home.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND HAPPY HEALTH TO ALL!
Mary Richard is a long term supporter of senior fitness. She
teaches Zumba, toning and dance classes throughout the Las
Vegas Valley. She can be reached at zumbaqueen@cox.net.

The Straight Dope on Dope
By: BJ Killeen / Down the Road
Love it or hate it, marijuana use is now legal
in Nevada, and there are dispensaries all
over town. While many of us grew up in the ’60s
and more than likely have smoked weed in the past, there are hundreds
of variations, and how they will affect you depends on your mind and
body.
If you choose however, to smoke and decide to get in your car and
drive, be aware that the same rules apply as if it were alcohol. Nevada
DUI laws are relatively strict when it comes to impaired driving ability.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana knows no age
limit. If your 19 or 90, you will face the same penalties for breaking
the law.
Here’s what you can expect for a first-offense conviction:
1. Two days to six months in jail, or 24 to 96 hours of community
service.
2. Nevada DUI school at your expense.
3. Fines of $400 to $1,000 plus court costs.
4. Nevada Victim Impact Panel.
5. A 90-day driver’s license suspension.
6. A stay-out-of-trouble order when the case is open (no further
arrests).
Some of you might wonder about CBD, and how it applies here. If
you don’t know already, CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is one of the
natural chemical compounds of cannabis and hemp.
CBD oil has been in the news lately because there are claims that
it helps everything from anxiety to insomnia, to epilepsy to cancer,
and pain relief; including big benefits to the elderly. Since CBD is nonpsychoactive,
it won’t negatively impact your mental processes, so
you don’t get high, which means it may not impair driving abilities.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t be fined or arrested.
If you are stopped and given a blood test, if CBD shows up, you might
be subject to the same DUI laws. If you plan to use or are using CBD or
marijuana for medical or recreational purposes, the best way to use it
is to stay home. Or speak to your lawyer before you decide what to do.
BJ Killeen has been an automotive journalist for over 30 years.
She welcomes all questions and inquiries, and can be reached at
bjkdtr@gmail.com
ONE NIGHT ONLY Saturday, Feb. 23, 6-10 pm
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43

Does copper stop colds? The Verdict
By: Doug Cornell / To Your Health
After six years and thousands of users,
the verdict is clear – copper stops colds and flu before
they start.
People are boasting they haven’t had a cold for years
since they started using a CopperZap.
“I just don’t get colds anymore the last 5 years,” said
Chris in Vermont.
“I always use my CopperZap at the first sign of a
cold. The copper works
every time,” said Allison,
a nurse who first tried it 5
years ago.
“No colds for 2 years,”
says Susan in AZ, a more
recent buyer.
These are just a few of
thousands who don’t get
colds any more. Many say
they have also stopped
flu.
“I felt the flu starting,
feeling achy and all,” said Diane, a Kansas nurse. “I
used it 2 or 3 times that night and woke up feeling
great.”
Scientists recently discovered that copper kills cold
and flu viruses on contact.
“Viruses and bacteria are rapidly killed by copper,”
reports the American Society for Microbiology.
Copper is anti-microbial, meaning it kills microbes,
including viruses and bacteria, just by touch, says the
National Institutes of Health.
Tests by the Environmental Protection Agency and
university scientists all show the same thing.
“Science confirms copper kills germs,” concluded
Doug Cornell, Ph.D., after studying the research.
“The science is so strong it gave me an idea,” he
says. “Copper should be able to stop colds.”
So he made the first CopperZap in 2012. It is all pure
copper and shaped to reach the bottom of the inner
nostril and touch gently all around for 60 seconds at
the first sign of cold or flu.
He tested it on himself. “I used to get 2 or 3 bad
Experience and research agree, copper stops colds.
(paid advertisement)
colds every year,” he says, “but with a CopperZap I
haven’t had a single cold in 6 years. I have stopped the
flu too.”
His company, CopperZap LLC, has made and sold
over 22,000 so far. Over 99% of people who follow
directions and report say the copper completely stops
their colds.
Many also say it stops sinus trouble, flu, congestion,
cold sores, and prevents colds after air travel.
Mary Pickrell in CO
said, “It opened my sinus
right up. It clears my congestion.
No colds since I
got it.”
Elaine in MD said, “I’ve
had sinus problems most
of my life. I felt better
right away.”
“Best sleep I have had
in years,” said another
gentleman.
Many people are giving
CopperZaps as presents.
“My husband and I love it, so we are giving them as
gifts to our family,” said Lisa in New York.
Judy Kirk in Oklahoma bought 12 for herself and a
bunch of friends. “Some were skeptical, but no one has
had a cold or flu since.”
Word of mouth is also increasing.
“My sister told me she bought one and it really
works,” said Connie in Texas. “So I tried it, and she’s
right.”
“A friend insisted I try it,” said Kari in CT. “I was a
true skeptic. To my surprise it really does work. It’s far
more powerful than I expected.”
It has a 90-day guarantee, yet less than half a percent
come back from people saying it didn’t work. Some of
those people did not read the Directions or use it right.
It costs $69.95 but you get $10 off each one with
code LVV12.
Go to www.CopperZap.com or call toll-free 1-888-
411-6114.
It lasts forever. Made in the USA.

“Listening to The Vegas Voice”
Tuesdays 10-11AM 11AM - 12 NOON
And anytime on:
Thevegasvoice.net
Hollywood Legend
Emmy award winning
actress /producer
Actor/Comedian
Your Hosts:
Rich Natole
and
Jon Lindquist
“The Announcer”
From TV’s WALKER TEXAS RANGER
The Brady Bunch
Actor
Author, Former Pro
Wrestler
Kira Reed Lorsch
James Darren
Clarence Gilvard
Robert Wuhl
Sheree Wilson
Barry Williams
Ted DiBiase
John O’Hurley
“Listening to The Vegas Voice”
Tuesdays 10-11AM
And anytime on:
Thevegasvoice.net
Your Hosts:
Rich Natole
and
Jon Lindquist
“The Announcer”
45

This is one of my favorite classic movies. And why
not? The film is full of Italian style and grace. The
scenery is breathtaking. The villages are lovely. The
people are charming..., And the pasta, and wine...
Delicioso!
Early Bird
Special!
$ 3499.
Air included
pp dbl. occ
Join Us
“Under The
Tuscan Sun”!
Don’t be left out...
only 10 seats
remaining!
Smart Senior Travelers
By: Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker /
Out & About
The late president, George H. W. Bush, liked
to celebrate his birthday by parachuting
out of an airplane. He made nine celebratory drops, seemingly without
injury. And if you’re heavily covered by an ironclad insurance policy,
you can do that, too.
For most of us, though, we’d rather do our flying inside a plane, even
if it’s crowded and uncomfortable.
But there’s good news! Major air carriers, in their quests to be more
profitable, are actually coming up with affordable individual upgrades,
which you can cherry pick to enhance your flights.
Delta is leading the pack by offering extra comfy seating, more
individual floor space with adjustable foot rests, and generous snacks
in their coach sections on many long haul flights. Also if you want
a comfortable break between flights, you can purchase an affordable
day pass to Delta’s air club where you’ll find the hidden delights of
a complementary buffet, luxury seating and resting areas, computer
hook ups, hot showers, news and weather updates, and delightful hosts
who will even keep you apprised of the status of your next flight.
46
So when my husband Ray and I decided
to host a European tour, Collette’s Spotlight on Tuscany
tour with Florence, Lucca, Siena, and more was a
natural choice. Plus, we’ll actually be under the Tuscan
Sun, and there’ll be no pesky packing and unpacking.
We’ll be staying in the delightful spa resort town
of Montecatini in a four star hotel just a short walk
from the charming city center. In fact, one of my best
friends, Iris Newman, who already had the good sense
to take this trip, has told me that exploring Montecatini,
meeting its locals, and enjoying spontaneous casual
gatherings at the end of the day were unexpected trip
highlights. This is the perfect place to relax and enjoy
the Tuscan lifestyle. Call us at:
702/463-0966.
Wow! Local professional airport transfers
provided by Vegas Vacationers for every
Collette Vacation with air!
February 2019
And with a little advance planning, you can phone your nearest
airport and inquire about their complementary wheelchair service.
Offered at most major airports, this assistance for seniors is usually
available whether you’re disabled or not. So don’t be shy.
Getting you safely to your destination is their goal, and you just need
to ask to enjoy this little known service. Plus there’s more good news. If
you provide your complete air schedule to the wheelchair service, they
will make arrangements to transfer you to your connecting flights, as
well.
With all the convenience and time you’ve saved, just before you get
on your flight, don’t forget to purchase a bottle of Gatorade or your
favorite ionized water to drink on board. Getting dehydrated, especially
on airplanes, is a major concern for seniors, but it’s easily remedied. so
drink up, stay healthy and enjoy your flight.
Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker is the Vacation Editor and
the President at Vegas Vacationers. She can be reached at
Merryman2@aol.com

47

Problems With the Publisher
By: Stu Cooper / Happy Adventures
Publisher Dan always yells at me. “Stu, no
more than 350 words. That’s how long your
article can be. One word more…….and I’m
cutting the article.”
So that’s what I’ve tried to do over all these years. Keep the VEGAS
VOYAGERS “happenings” and my travel experiences over all these
years to that amount of words. It’s not easy.
I’m an attorney by education, and I like to talk and for that matter
write. 350 words takes me about one minute to complete.
Notwithstanding my editorial marching orders, I think I’ve done
a pretty good job. I have always kept our VOYAGERS informed of all
things
ROYAL
related to
CARIBBEAN
travel. I’ve told you all
CRUISE
about our trips
LINE
and offered
travel tips and advice.
I actually saved all my articles on my computer. And I
recently combed through my stored articles. I’m glad I saved
them because it is really nice to look back upon all that was
going on with the VEGAS VOYAGERS and even when this
publication was a “newspaper” then known as the LAS VEGAS
SENIOR LIFE in the early 2000s.
Moving forward, we’re still going strong. By the time you
read this, we will have returned from our second PHAT PACK
cruise on the RUBY PRINCESS. With close to 100 participants, I’m sure
we’ll have some great memories.
And later this year we have a number of “BUS TO THE BOAT”
options on Princess and Carnival Cruise Lines. Be on the lookout for
our January 25, 2020 cruise on the brand new CARNIVAL PANORAMA.
Carnival’s newest ship will be sailing beginning December 2019 from
Long Beach.
Finally, consider travel to the Holy Land/Israel on our “Daily Love
& Grace” tour hosted by BRUCE EWING. Departing September 2nd it
will truly be a lifetime experience. The full air/land cost with a nonstop
flight to Las Vegas on EL AL is $4,749 per person based on double
occupancy.
2019 is proving to be a special year for the VEGAS VOYAGERS. I hope
to see you on one of our trips. As always Happy Adventures. Oh, by the
way 349 words.
48
BUS TO THE BOAT
CARNIVAL MIRACLE
14 NIGHT HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
OCT. 19 - NOV. 2, 2019 • BALCONY $2,499 pp
CARNIVAL PANORAMA
INAUGURAL SAILINGS
7 NIGHT MEXICAN RIVIERA
JAN. 25 - FEB. 1, 2020
INSIDE $999 • BALCONY $1,299 pp
Call Stu
www.Vegasvoyagers.Com
Email: Fairtravel@Aol.Com
February 2019
800 698-1101
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE
Sept. 6 - 16,
2019
ADVENTURE
OF THE SEAS
10 NIGHT
FALL FOLIAGE
NORTHBOUND CRUISE
Departs Cape Liberty, NJ, visiting Bar Harbor, Portland,
St John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, disembark
Quebec City
www.Vegasvoyagers.Com
Email: Fairtravel@Aol.Com
800 698-1101
Inside Cabin
Ocean View
Balcony Cabin
$1,739 pp
$2,029 pp
$2,289 pp
Prices are per person based on double occupancy, subject to availability and
includes your cruise, all port charges, taxes, fees and roundtrip air fare from Las
Vegas to New York and back from Quebec City and airport transfers in New
York and Quebec City. A deposit of $450 per person is due at the time of booking
and is fully refundable until June 1, 2019 when the final payment is due.

49

50
February 2019

51

52
RUBY PRINCESS 12 NIGHT
ALASKA - BUS TO BOAT
APRIL 23 -- MAY 5, 2019
FROM $ 2,119
CORAL PRINCESS 19 NIGHT
PANAMA CANAL CRUISE R/T from
Los Angeles - BUS TO BOAT
Sept. 29 -- Oct 18, 2019
FROM $ 2,859
ROYAL PRINCESS 7 NIGHT
PACIFIC COAST - BUS TO BOAT
R/T FROM LA - NOV. 9 -16, 2019
FROM $ 1,099
STAR PRINCESS 15 NIGHT
HAWAIIAN ISLAND CRUISE
BUS TO BOAT
Dec. 4 --15, 2019
FROM $ 1,979
CALL STU
1/800-698-1101
BUS TO THE BOAT
February 2019
Venice Casts Its Spell
By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World
We arrived in Venice as the sun fell low,
casting long arms of shadow across the
water. There is a mystical light about Venice,
especially when heavy mists descend. At the waterline, boats bob among
tall poles, many weathered wood, others painted in bright stripes
marking the various docking stations.
One of the most spectacular and unique cities in the world, Venice
spans 117-small islands in the Venice Lagoon, where the gondola is
the most famous mode of transportation and the best way to see Venice.
People have been traveling in them since the 10 th century. Boats and
gondoliers are controlled by a guild requiring gondoliers to have a
thorough knowledge of Venetian history, landmarks and navigation.
Due to corruption, gambling and prostitution, Venice was once
Europe’s Sin City. For centuries the head of state was known as the
Doge, the Doge Place colonnaded walkway combines ornate archways,
intricate cutouts and geometric brick patterns. The often seen winged
lion has prevailed centuries as the city’s symbol.
Once the governing commercial center of Europe, the population’s
wealth and culture were once unparalleled. Venice was an enormously
important commercial capital during the Middle-ages, drawing
merchants from around the world to trade. Banking and check writing
began here.
Gray stones overlay St. Mark’s Square, where balanced on either side
are narrow white marble bands set in a classical design. The design
directs our eyes and feet toward the Basilica, one of Europe’s finest
examples of Byzantine architecture.
The interior veneer consists of millions of ancient gold tiles. It is
often liken to a meringue-topped wedding cake. At the top central
peak we spot a slender statue of St. Mark gazing down into the square
bearing his name.
The fabled Italian water canal city with its salty air smell, distinctive
sounds and spectacular sights certainly casts its spell on all fortunate
to come.
Kathy Manney enjoys visiting interesting places and being an
Adventure Diva. Her “Must See” travel journeys continue - always
with enthusiasm.

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February 2019

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Speaking to and for Las Vegas
Valley Seniors since 2003