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9 Awards!
2O19
April
For your Health, Wealth,
and Good Times!
FOR TODAY’S ACTIVE SENIORS
It’s SPRING...
and we’re on our way!
Relax hon,
the kids will be fine...
“ASK LAURA ABOUT REAL ESTATE”
How to get rid of weird household smells...
Laura Harbison
Broker/Owner
Seniors Real Estate Specialist ® (SRES)
Accredited Buyer Representative ® (ABR)
Graduate, REALTOR ® Institute (GRI)
Equator Platform Platinum Certification
Equator Short Sale Agent Certification
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
Advanced Evaluations Certification
At Home With Diversity (AHWD)
Broker Price Opinion Resource (BPOR)
NVS Institute BPO Certification
Five Star BPO Designation
Certified Distressed Property Expert ® (CDPE)
Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist
(RSPS)
NAWRB Certified Delegate Spokeswoman
Distinguished Real Estate Broker ® (DRB)
Laura@HarbisonRealEstate.com
www.LauraHarbisonRealEstate.com
Call Laura Today!
702-777-1234
First impressions last when selling a home, but one aspect that may make the strongest
impression is one that has little to do with how the house looks. A foul smell can hit a potential
buyer before they even walk through the door, which can make it impossible to focus on the
home's redeeming features. So, addressing how a property "smells" is just as important as how
it "looks."
1. Pets! If you have pets, you are likely somewhat immune to their odors, However, future buyers
certainly are not. Pet odors can reduce the number of buyers that will be interested in a
home. Carpets harbor pet odors, and the smell of urine can linger long after an accident. The first
step to removing these odors is to vacuum the carpet, and then treat the urine stains with an
enzyme cleaner. If the smell remains after treatment, replacing seriously stained carpets may be
the most effective solution, and can also enhance the home's value.
2. Food! You may consider yourself a master chef, but potential buyers don't want to breathe in
the residue of your tasty culinary creations. If you are living in the property while it's on the
market, cooking outside on the BBQ whenever possible and holding off on cooking strong-smelling
foods (such as fish, eggs, sauerkraut, or curry dishes), at least until your home is sold. Cooking
smells can remain in fabrics, so have curtains and carpets cleaned and consider removing any
offensive-smelling furniture.
3. Sewage! A waft of sewer gas is enough to send anyone running, but it's not always a sign of a
plumbing issue. Often, the smell enters the home through infrequently used drains like the floor
waste drain in a laundry room. The pipes in these drains feature an s-bend, or trap, which is
designed to retain water to create a barrier that prevents the sewer smells from coming in. If a
drain isn't used often, the water barrier can dry out allowing the smell to sneak in. Regularly
running water down all of your drains can help prevent such mishaps.
4. Stinky Refrigerator! To clean your refrigerator, turn it off and remove everything. Throw out
any old &/or expired items. Remove the shelves and drawers and wash them in soapy water, and
wipe the internal walls and surfaces down. Using a vanilla-scented kitchen cleaner is a good
idea. Once the refrigerator is clean and restocked, use baking soda to absorb any remaining
odors. Your refrigerator also has a drip pan which can collect moisture and develop a musty
mildew smell, so you should clean that regularly as well.
Whether it's just for yourself, or because you wish to sell your house, a clean good-smelling home
is always a pleasure to visit (and will always be the first home to sell). Candles and other scented
"covers" can help, but they are temporary measures (that may backfire) and you will be better off
addressing the source of the unpleasant smell. This aspect is just as important, and sometimes
more important, than the upgrades the property possesses. Ask for an honest opinion from
trusted friends or neighbors (and your Real Estate Agent) and do not take offense at what they
tell you.
Sharing your goals,
Laura Harbison
ABR, AHWD, BPOR, BS, CDPE, CRS, DRB, GRI, RSPS, SRES
Broker/Owner
Realty Executives Southern Nevada Properties
770 Coronado Center Drive, Ste. 100
Henderson, NV 89052
Office: 702-777-1234
2
April 2019
Sold Is Our Favorite Word...Let Us Make It Yours!
Laura Harbison
ABR, AHWD, BPOR, BS, CDPE, CRS, DRB, GRI, RSPS, SRES
Broker/Owner
770 Coronado Center Dr., Suite 100
Henderson, NV 89052
Office (702) 777-1234
Laura@HarbisonRealEstate.com
www.LauraHarbisonRealEstate.com
Realty Executives Southern Nevada Properties
Is Independently Owned and Operated
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3
Volume 16, Issue 2
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4
April 2019
PROUD
MEMBERS OF:
About The Vegas Voice
In 2018, The Vegas Voice received 9 national awards from the
North American Mature Publishers Association for our publication
- including our guardianship special efforts, editorial and column
reviews, front page
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It’s Because They Lied
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules
“
Now I know why.” I was sitting with my
Rana at the Sun City Anthem Board of
Directors meeting last month when I heard the
Board attorney address the packed audience.
Let me first say that despite “playing house” in Anthem with my
Ladylove for over six years, I continuously made it very clear to her
that I have no interest in the Board or its management of our senior
community. I mean zero.
I was only there since Rana promised me that if I did not understand
her decision to run for a seat on the Board after the conclusion of the
meeting, she would drop out of the race. I couldn’t wait to announce
that she was no longer a candidate.
I admit however that I was curious as to how the Board would
defend its recent “take no prisoners” new policy of citing residents for
violating the Association’s rules and regulations. The previous longstanding
policy of enforcing egregious violations or upon a neighbor’s
(even anonymous) complaint was one that was never questioned or
challenged.
Anyway, I sat there astonished as the Board advised that there were
over 1,800 violations – nearly 1 in 3 homes! And they weren’t done yet.
Nearly 2,000 more residences needed to be reviewed by the Association’s
newly created “spy car.”
Now please do not misunderstand me. I’m all in favor of enforcement
but it sure did seem to be an asinine solution to a non-existent problem.
If my neighbors don’t object (or care) if there are artificial flowers or
flowers pots in the front yard, why should the Association?
To yours truly, the Board’s policy of enforcement, strict enforcement
or even no enforcement is a policy consideration, and as I said, I
couldn’t care less as to what they determine. But don’t lie to me.
As the attorney pontificated as to “why”, he claimed with a straight
face that the enforcement actions taken were due solely to obey “federal
and state laws.” Therefore the Board had no choice, no option, no
alternative but to “comply with the law.”
Simply stated, the lawyer either lied or was grossly incompetent. And
I still don’t know what’s worse.
Does anybody really believe that federal laws mandates a “no-flowerpots-on-the-front-lawn?”
You think the FBI will swoop in with guns
blazing screaming on their bullhorns to “put your hands up and step
away from those artificial flowers”?
Oh, and by the way, Nevada laws clearly and unequivocally allow the
Board the discretion and statutory authority not to issue violations if
“it is not so material as to be objectionable to a reasonable person.”
How could that lawyer not be aware over state HOA law?
Shame on him – and shame on the current Board if they were aware
of his totally false statements and did not object.
As for the approximately 1,800 homeowners (with more to come) all
I can suggest is “don’t get mad, get even.” Perhaps for the first time
since residing at SCA, express your anger by voting.
As for my Rana and the rest of her New Tradition Team, the only
absolute guarantee that I can make – they won’t lie. And that in itself
will be a dramatic improvement for Sun City Anthem.
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6
Stop Bending
By: Heather Latimer / Heather’s Self-Help Tips
“
The older you get, the further it falls”
quipped a cashier at Valley Hospital Cafeteria
upon stooping to rescue a dime she had dropped.
So true!
When a thin stick 9” long fell out of a device in my garage, not only
was it painfully difficult to bend low, but every time I touched the pesky
thing with my fingernails, it jumped out of reach.
Later, whilst enjoying coffee with my friend Sandra Owens, I joked
about my hop, hop, hopping along in pursuit of that constantly shifting
stick. She laughed and said, “If you attach a piece of scotch tape to the
bottom of your walking stick, adhesive side out, you can easily pick it
up.”
I did! And it worked!
That was certainly useful advice and here are a couple more
suggestions that may save your back.
If you drop an earring, use an old pantyhose. Drape it over the hose
of your vacuum cleaner and pull it taut. Switch on to commence the
hunt under beds, cushions in armchairs and more.
When you’re engaged in a hobby that uses needles, pins, or nails,
it’s a good idea to keep a magnet handy to rescue those that find their
way to the floor. A Sammons Preston Rolyan Reacher, 27” long with
magnetized tip is a great rescuer.
It can grasp almost everything from a medium-size package to a tiny
paper clip. Medicare will sometimes provide one, or telephone 899/323-
5547 to purchase it.
Heather Latimer is a nationally recognized specialist in making
difficult subjects easy and author of 17 books.
April 2019
Men & Women
By: Bill Caserta / Bill’s Blurbs
Nicknames: If Laura, Kate, and Sarah go out
for lunch, they will call each other Laura,
Kate, and Sarah. If Mike, Dave, and John go out,
they will refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and
Wildman.
Eating Out: When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave, and John will each
throw in $20, even though it’s only for $32.50. When the women get
their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
Money: A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. A woman will pay
$1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need, but it’s on sale.
Bathrooms: A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and
toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap and a towel. The average
number of items in the woman’s bathroom is 337 and a man would not
be able to identify more than 20 of them.
Arguments: A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a
man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
Future: A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A
man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
Marriage: A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he
doesn’t. A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but
she does.
And finally: A married man should forget his mistakes. There’s no use
in two people remembering the same thing!
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.
Working with Jane Wyman
By: Beverly Washburn / Hollywood Memories
The year was 1951 and I was cast as the
little French war orphan who was adopted
by Bing Crosby who is trying to win over his old
girlfriend (Wyman) now engaged to Franchot Tone.
By that time, Jane Wyman had already won an Academy Award for
her performance in Johnny Belinda. In fact, she was nominated for
three other films: The Yearling, Blue Veil and Magnificent Obsession.
Being only seven years old, I didn’t have a clue as to what an Oscar
was. All I knew was that I loved working with this beautiful and kind
woman.
She was so sweet to me and even gave me a beautiful dress for
Christmas which I still have. I remember my parents getting excited
that it came from Saks Fifth Avenue, a place where we never shopped.
It was such a thrill to receive this large beautiful box with the biggest
bow on it that I had ever seen.
Jane Wyman was born Sarah Jane Mayfield and later changed her
name to Jane Durrell. Then even later, she changed her name once
again to Jane Wyman.
Ms. Wyman was married a few times, but claimed that she was never
much good at being married. She was the first wife of Ronald Reagan,
although they divorced.
She was nominated or won just about every acting award - Oscar,
Golden Globe and Emmy. Many people will remember her for her TV
series Falcon Crest.
In 1941 she was cast in a
movie called You’re in the
Army Now and holds the record
for the longest screen kiss in
cinema history...three minutes
and 5 seconds! The lucky guy
who shares this record is Regis
Toomey.
She was also a dear friend of
Loretta Young and consequently
converted to Roman Catholicism.
She died peacefully at her home
and was buried wearing a Habit.
I worked with her for three
months at Paramount and we
all truly felt like family. I am
certainly blessed to have had
that opportunity.
Until next time, remember: Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we’re here, we might as well dance.
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.
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7
The imagination of Jules Verne took readers
to worlds few ever dreamt of.
He took them 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
He took them on a Journey to the Center of the Earth. Verne took his
readers first From the Earth to the Moon and then, once back home,
he took them Around the World in 80 Days.
For his readers, Verne and fellow authors, including H.G. Wells
helped spark the Steampunk movement that embraces a Victorian,
steam-powered fantasy world.
Las Vegan Kenneth Kastle, known to viewers of television’s Pawn
Stars as archeology and history expert Doc Phineas, embraces the
gentlemanly lifestyle in his public and private life. An archeologist by
trade, Doc Phineas seems a real life Indiana Jones, having excavated
ruins throughout in the world.
While in India in 1972, he was deeply impacted by the caste system
that deprived families of upward movement when he saw children
eating from garbage cans. The Doc built a still-standing school that
has elevated children from poverty.
As a six-year old, Kastle began a show business career dancing on
The Pinky Lee Show, Mickey Mouse Club and other television shows.
In his teens, he was playing piano in Gunsmoke’s Long Branch Saloon
for Miss Kitty.
The handlebar mustachioed gentleman strikes an impressive
Terry Fator has proven his staying power. He
recently celebrated ten years at the Mirage
and hopes to remain there for the rest of his
career. His show entitled “An Evening with The
Stars” includes old favorites and new ones.
One of his first references is to Winston. Terry announced that at his
show it’s okay to take photos and brief videos. If there is any problem,
he tells us, referring to Winston, just say, “the turtle said its okay.”
The songs by the puppets (or often by Terry himself) covers a wide
range. You’ll hear great country and western from Walter T. Airdale.
Of course “Willie Nelson” sings some clever lyrics including “On the
Run Again” (from the Internal Revenue Service and some ex-wives).
There’s even a bit of gender confusion when we hear, “all my ex’s are
both sexes.”
The Rat Pack joins Terry with new characters Dean Martin and
Sammy Davis Jr. This is in keeping with Terry’s promise of new
characters yearly.
Emma Taylor, the Queen of Social Media, drops by tapping away
on her cell phone. And who does a show without some reference to
President Trump? Fernando V. Francisco entertains with a refrain about
Viagra that will fly right over the heads of any children.
What’s impressive about this show; what keeps Terry Fator on stage
8
Pawn Star’s Doc Phineas
By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places
Terry Fator Celebrates 10 Years
By: Dianne Davis / That’s Entertainment
April 2019
appearance around
town, often dressed
“to the nines” in top
hats, fur trimmed top
coats, tuxedoes and
an array of shoes and
boots, many of which
were procured from
auctions and sci-fi
costumes from the
Paramount Studio
auctions.
A true Renaissance
man, the Doc lists a roster of show business icons whose homes he says
have felt his decorator touch: Tony Curtis, Barbra Streisand, Barbara
Stanwyck and more. His resume includes a national college debate
championship, Ph.D. in Archaeology, fashion model and most recently,
he was a model of senior health for a Medicare insurance provider in
print and on television.
After seven decades, Phineas credits yoga: “I’m at the best I ever was.”
Doc Phineas can often be seen joining Jeannie Brei the first Thursday of
each month at the Italian American Club’s Speakeasy Swingers show.
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.
in a town where performers come and go is that Terry does so much.
Yes, you think of him as a ventriloquist, but within minutes, you forget
that while he is backed by some great musicians, he is alone on stage
singing in various voices.
This is a show for audiences of all ages. And with the new dummies
and jokes and songs, it is one you can return to and continue to enjoy.
I know I do.
Justin Bieber, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Ozzy Osborne. You never
know who will share the stage with Terry. Go find out at The Mirage.
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.
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9
Marilyn & Gina
By: Earl Wilson, Jr. / Golden Age of Show Business humid air and found a refreshing breeze flowing up from
the subway through the vents.
consider myself so incredibly fortunate
Her skirt was blown up by the blast, beyond her thighs, exposing her
I to have lived through some of the most
white undies. While it was a posed picture, it was a brilliant idea.
extraordinary events in entertainment. Ditto for
On that particular evening, my dad and mom (Rosemary Wilson),
my dad (the nationally syndicated newspaper
were dining with actress Gina Lollobrigida, the European equivalent of
columnist Earl Wilson) who enjoyed a front-row
Marilyn Monroe. My mother came up with the brilliant idea of taking
seat for four decades documenting those wonderful, treasured, golden
Gina over to meet Marilyn before she shot the skirt-blowing scene.
years.
Marilyn Monroe had become a close friend of our family; she always
allowed Dad to bring his own camera to her professional “shoots.”
Those photojournalists certainly didn’t love the idea of my father
hanging around trying to get some exclusive “candid” pics.
But always the opportunist, Dad would grab a chair to stand on to
shoot directly into Marilyn’s bodice. (Marilyn, of course, didn’t mind
- but the photographers thought they were being upstaged by my dad
who angled in for exclusive photo prints.)
During those years, capturing “the defining moment” - the one
historic photo of Marilyn Monroe - was the pipe dream of every
photographer.
And then it happened: the titillating photograph of all time —
Marilyn Monroe standing over the subway grating advertising the
movie The Seven Year Itch. The skirt-blowing picture was from a movie
scene that would be shot on September 14, 1954.
It was a hot New York summer night. Marilyn was filmed in a white
dress. The premise was that Marilyn had stopped to cool off from the
My dad with Marilyn Monroe & Gina Lollobrigida on the
set of “The Seven Year Itch”
Upon being introduced, Marilyn and Gina eyed each other up and
down. Marilyn took the freeze off the moment by coyly commenting,
“You know I have been called the Gina Lollobrigida of American films.”
Gina smiled and a photo was snapped of the two of them together
— with Dad in the middle. Gina didn’t hang around for the actual
shooting of the historic skirt-blowing scene, as no one thought to invite
her.
Dad was front-center in the crowd standing with at least 100
photographers as Marilyn started posing with her skirt lofting in the
air. Joe DiMaggio was off with gossip columnist Walter Winchell who
was trying to calm him down. Joe was absolutely infuriated with the
whole idea of Marilyn’s sexy photoshoot.
During the set-up, Marilyn commented as she glanced at the subway
grating: “I wonder who’s down there doing that?”
Someone with a great story to tell.
10
April 2019
Earl “Slugger” Wilson, Jr., son of Earl Wilson - archivist, author, playwright,
raconteur, song stylist, and Grammy-nominated composer/lyricist of “Let My
People Come.”
April Showers
By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments
Though April showers may come your way.
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it’s raining, have no regrets, Because it
isn’t raining rain, you know, it’s raining violets.
And where you see clouds upon the hills, You soon will see crowds
of daffodils. So keep on looking for a bluebird and listening for his
song. Whenever, April showers come along.
Singer Al Jolson’s famous hit, April Showers had a composer, and
a lyricist, but neither one of them was Al Jolson. However, unless the
credits are observed, people may assume Jolson wrote this song and
many others he made famous.
Al Jolson introduced April Showers in the 1921 musical Bombo. The
song became such a hit that Jolson recorded it many times over the
years.
He sang it on the soundtrack of his two biographical films, The Jolson
Story and Jolson Sings Again. April Showers is one of the first popular
songs that uses “Bluebird of Happiness” lyrics as a symbol of cheer.
Jolson having never written anything in his life, shared authorship of
some of Tin Pan Alley’s greatest songs because he could make it become
a hit due to his good looks, fantastic singing ability, great song delivery,
and charming charisma. Song pluggers beat a path to his door, giving
Jolson bargaining conditions.
Louis Silver, an immigrant from Mexico, composed the music for
April Showers, and 250+ songs for movies.
He wrote Mother, I Still Have You from
The Jazz Singer; was a music director for
Lux Radio Theatre; received an award for
the music scoring of Swanee River and
received an Academy Award for best original
score of One Night of Love.
George “Buddy” De Sylva, of Portuguese
descent, a prolific lyricist, in addition to April
Showers lyrics, also worked with composers
Jerome Kern and George Gershwin. Together he and Gershwin created a
one-act jazz opera called Blue Monday, set in Harlem, widely regarded
as a forerunner to Porgy and Bess.
He wrote Sonny Boy for Jolson, with Ray Henderson and Lew Brown.
He was executive producer at Paramount Studios, producing films
such as The Little Colonel, and Poor Little Rich Girl. Some of his other
famous hits were: The Best Things In Life Are Free and You’re the
Cream In My Coffee.
Over 20 artists have also recorded April Showers, including Bing
Crosby.
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.
Tell Your Kids the
Guest Room is Taken
Foster care is a lifeline for animals who may be having
difficulty adjusting to shelter life, need a little extra care
to recuperate from an injury, or who are young and simply
need more time to grow before being ready for adoption.
No special skills are needed.
You provide the love and care, we provide everything else.
Apply now at
animalfoundation.com
(702) 384-3333 | animalfoundation.com |
655 North Mojave Road,Las Vegas, NV 89101
©2019 The Animal Foundation
11
We’re Not Bragging, But...
By: Evan Davis / Entertainment Editor
Last month The Vegas Voice had a blow out,
sell out, extraordinary show at the Italian
American Club with Michael Shapiro and
“Reckless in Vegas.” I know you want to hear
about what’s going on around town, but The Vegas Voice is presenting
so many blockbuster shows in the months to come that I need to tell
you about them.
I will be hosting another Vegas Voice Variety Show featuring fantastic
artists. Scheduled to appear are: Sonny Charles, Amanda King,
Sandy Kastel, Brenda Mandabach, Michael Shapiro (Reckless
in Vegas), Irina Nero and comic/impersonator John DiDominico.
Of course, Bob Sachs our musical director, has assembled a killer
band that will light up the stage at Sun City Summerlin’s Starbright
Theatre on Wednesday, April 24 th at 7:00 pm.
About three weeks later Michelle Johnson, who is a contemporary
jazz-influenced singer-songwriter based in Las Vegas, (rightfully
known as “The First Lady of Jazz”) will be teamed up with Jeff
Nieman in “It Takes Two.” Nieman is an international awardwinning
composer and keyboard artist.
His orchestral compositions can be heard in motion pictures, TV shows
and theater. We are so fortunate to announce that they will be performing
for Sun City MacDonald Ranch residents (and open to the public) on
Saturday, May 18 th at 7:00 pm for less than the price of a cocktail on the
Strip.
Let’s fast
forward another
three weeks and
head back over
to the Italian
American Club.
On Friday, June
7 th at 8:00 pm, The Vegas Voice will present the music of “Robert
Goulet: Broadway & Beyond” starring the rich and beautiful voice of
Broadway singer Randal Keith. He will be accompanied by the genius
of musical director Philip Fortenberry.
Tickets for all these shows are available through The Vegas Voice
Ticket Hotline at 702/755-3799.
And when the Summer takes a grip on Las Vegas with the 100 plus
degree temperatures, The Vegas Voice will continue to steam things up
with a 50 th Anniversary Woodstock celebration.
You remember Woodstock? Or do you? Back in the late 60s. If you
don’t remember it, then you probably were there.
Santana was performing at Woodstock in 1969. Maybe he’ll perform
for our Woodstock?
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.
By: Ali Guggenheim / Psychic Phenomenon
Until now, portals only appeared in sci-fi
movies. However, it turns out that hidden
portals actually exist in the earth’s magnetic fields
and in other unknown locations.
Not only that, “NASA funded researchers at the University of Iowa
figured out what was going on,” claims Jack Scrudder, Plasma Physicist
at the University.
Scrudder explained: “We call them X-points or electron diffusion
regions. They’re places where the magnetic field of Earth connects to
the magnetic field of the Sun, creating an uninterrupted path leading
from our own planet to the sun’s atmosphere 93 million miles away.
And with the new “signposts” we now know how to find them.”
In fact, a few years ago, Hawaiian elders claimed that there were
portals connecting Hawaii with Las Vegas. They came here to perform
rituals at the portal sites located in the sub-basements of the Bellagio,
Caesars and others. After getting special permission from the hotels
they charged $200 for anyone wanting to attend these rituals.
Many times people use portals, vortexes and wormholes
interchangeably, but they are not the same. Portal is a shortcut to the
unknown (Bermuda Triangle, Skywalker Ranch, Utah).
A Vortex (Sedona, Stonehenge) is an energy convergence of leylines
(earth energy lines) that emanate a powerful spiritual energy that
12
Portals, Wormholes & Vortexes
April 2019
inspires and uplifts.
The real difference
between the two is
that we are drawn
to vortexes, whereas,
portals are a gateway
for weird unexplained
events and creatures.
Wormholes are
a theoretical passage
through space and time that could create shortcuts for long journeys
across the universe. Although consistent with the general theory of
relativity, scientists are split in their opinions on this matter and
therefore it’s still questionable as to their actual existence.
David Sibeck, Space Physicist at the Goddard Space Flight Center
claims, “Ten years ago I was pretty sure they didn’t exist, but, now the
evidence in incontrovertible.”
There are a lot of interesting theories about these regions of
weirdness The one commonality they share is that they all involve a
philosophy that the earth is somehow creating the right conditions for
these phenomenas.
To contact Ali or for spiritual consultations, coaching, workshops
and readings, email: alivegasvoice@yahoo.com, or call:
702/233-5626.
13
36
The Joy of Granddaughters
By: Linda Bateman-Gomez / Timeless Beauty
had a recent overnight with my 6-year-old
I granddaughter, Ella. She came loaded with
a bag of beauty goodies she talked her mom into
buying for the ultimate girls make-over party! Of course no sleepover
is complete without one!
As she opened her bag, I was excited to see she had the latest rubber
face mask I had been eyeing on the internet! The Scinic Dual Rubber
Lifting Wrapping Mask in Barbie pink. It’s her favorite color.
I had been wanting to try the mask but had only seen a few
packaging photos. I assumed it would be a liquid that you put on and
when it dried would turn into a rubber mold to peel off.
But it turned out to basically be a formed 2-piece rubbery feeling
mask, more like the sheet versions you can purchase. The texture
was cool and a little slimy feeling, so much so that the grandchildren
shuddered touching it.
14
April 2019
There is a very nice moisturizing cream that you put on first then lay
the mask over your face. It does not cover the neck area, just forehead
to chin.
You have to lay down for the 20 minutes because unlike a sheet
mask, this really doesn’t stick to your face. After removing it, my
face was very moisturized and my skin felt soft, but I did not see any
firming or changes different than I would get with a much cheaper
moisturizing mask.
Perhaps with continued use there would be more long-term benefits.
This sells for between $7 to $10 depending on where you purchase.
My 6-year-old makeup artist did report that she thought the makeup
she applied afterwards went on very smoothly and she attributed
that to the mask. I was transformed into a fairy princess that night.
Complete with red glitter lipstick, purple eyeshadow, and sparkly
highlighter.
We topped the look off with my circa 1971 Homecoming Queen
gown, which for unknown reasons still hangs in my closet almost 50
years later. I still have my mother’s wedding dress from 1954 in there
too, so next time perhaps she can make me up like a 1950s bride!
Grandkids are the best!
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.
She’s Broad Where a Broad Should Be Broad
By: Adrea Nairne-Barrera / 60s to 60
find myself listening to a 50s or 60s station
I on the car radio and, of course I know almost
all the words to almost all the songs. I can’t
remember what’s on my grocery list but I can strut through the store
singing “tan shoes and pink shoelaces.”
And I can also remember what I may have been feeling when they
were first played. Strange as it may seem, those impressions never fade.
Now we live in a world that criticizes everything, and even goes so far
as to criticize old standards like “Baby It’s Cold Outside” as being sexist.
Some have banned it from elevator playlists.
Has anyone seen “South Pacific” lately? It was just on TCM and I
watched on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Mitzi Gaynor sings that “she’s
broad where a broad should be broad.”
In the storyline, she runs from the man she loves because he had
been married to a Polynesian woman and his children were mixed. We
have discrimination and sexism all in a sure fire hit!
One of my all-time favorites is the Jack Jones hit song “Wives and
Lovers.” It was a running joke between me and my late husband. He
would tease me about no make-up, jeans and a ponytail instead of
make-up, fancy hair and dresses.
If that song were released today, women would be marching in
protest. You don’t hear it on the radio much anymore.
When the Duprees sang “You Belong To Me” I was young and
dreamed of the day
when I would be the
subject of a song
like that. Now we’re
offended if we belong
to anyone.
Moving on, 2019
and rap has hit an
all-time high along
with the resurgence
of loud banging and
no melody. If you can
even understand the
rap, your body can’t
dance to it anymore.
Over and over I
keep saying I grew up
in a time where a little whistle or a role model like June Cleaver was not
a bad thing. It was reflected in our music and TV even though couples
couldn’t sleep in the same bed.
I continue to sing along with my oldies but just make sure no
millennials are around.
Adrea Nairne-Barrera writes of celebrations, observations &
complaints of life in the 60s to being in your 60s.
Endorsed by Firefighters & Police
Paid for by Committee
to elect Dan Stewart
15
Golf With a Purpose
By: Carol Chapman
The Foundation Assisting Seniors is excited
to announce their 16 th annual charity golf
tournament is taking place on Monday, May 27,
at 7:30 a.m. at Revere Golf Club in Henderson.
This year’s Memorial Day event promises a day of fun for all
participants. The cost is $100 per player, and includes green fees, cart
and range balls, lunch, refreshments on the course, contests and holein-one
and raffle prizes. There are flights for men, women and couples
and play will be a scramble format.
Revisiting the New Golf
Rules
By: Mike Landry / Golf Fore Ever
want to revisit some of the newly implemented
I golf rules for 2019. Do you agree with me
that they seem to have improved pace of play?
If you play golf around the valley as I do, I’m pretty sure you have
observed how players perform with the new rules. From my experience,
the new rules have helped speed up play.
Players now have 3 minutes to find their lost ball and not 5, as they
use to. In my opinion, another rule that helped speed up play is leaving
the pin in for putting.
Sponsorship packages are available. All event proceeds further the
mission of The Foundation Assisting Seniors, which is to assist seniors
in times of illness, recovery, confinement at home, coping with loss
of a loved one and other challenges. Since 2002, The Foundation’s
volunteers have responded to more than 200,000 requests for assistance
services in the Las Vegas Valley.
For more information, or to register to play, please call 725-244-4200
or visit us at www.foundationassistingseniors.org.
16
April 2019
Most of the players I play with choose to leave the flag stick in -
especially on longer putts and that saves time. I like this new rule a lot.
One rule that I have yet to see anyone take advantage of is when a
player hits a ball out of bounds or loses a ball to the side of a playing
area. Under the new rules “local rule” when adopted players now have
the option to drop a ball in the fairway.
Both a lost ball and an out of bound ball can be dropped in the
fairway (yes, the edge of the fairway using a two club length to drop the
ball) nearest point where the ball crossed out of bounds or where it is
suspected to be lost.
This new rule allows the player to take a two stroke penalty (you get
to keep the distance) and play on. This rule, when adopted by local rule
will help speed play.
All the guys I play with still re-tee the ball as we’ve done in the past
and count three off the tee. The problem I’ve seen however, is that when
doing this, sometimes, the same player can put a second ball out a
bounds (I’ve done that before).
This new rule can speed up play, but you first need to know if your
club will allow this local rule to be in effect before you can use it.
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
A Word From the Funny Bunny
By: Eric Farbman, M.D. / Friends of Parkinson’s
Once I was just a cuddly little thing hopping
and flopping all over the place. Then
someone came out of nowhere, picked me up,
said I was cute and might be good as a Friend.
Well, that was four years ago. And today I am so proud of my Friends.
Friends gave me the name the Funny Bunny because I would make
them laugh till they cried. Every year I would hop along the trails as
people gathered to see what I was doing.
They all were dressed wearing ears and some even had bunny tails,
just like mine. I learned they were copying me so they could help me
help my Friends.
You see, my Friends
have Parkinson’s disease.
They chose me to be a
part of what they need
-love and understanding.
They need Friends like
you.
That’s why I’m
inviting all to come out
to Wayne Bunker Park
on Saturday, April 13th at
8:00 am to walk, hop or
run to help raise money
for my Friends with Parkinson’s
disease. We are inviting everyone
on two legs or four legs. We can
all help.
It doesn’t take a whole lot of
work because if you do a little
and I do a little, we will
together do a whole bunch
(and I don’t mean a
bunch of carrots). I mean
a bunch of green.
I can see it now - all that green
stuffed in bushels. The thought makes
me want to just smile and my ears flap.
Enough daydreaming; just call the Friends of Parkinson’s and
get the details. My Friends have been working for the Parkinson’s
community for a long time and they are good at helping too.
If you can’t get there on Saturday, April 13th, make sure you
remember my Friends by giving them some of your greens in a basket.
So hop on over to www.friendsofparkinsons.org and let my Friends
know you’re willing to help.
Eric Farbman, M.D., is the Associate Professor of Neurology, Chief
of Movement Disorders at Roseman University.
Endorsed by Firefighters and Police
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS FOR DAN K. SHAW
17
Paid Insurance Premiums - What a Waste of Money
By: Jim Valkenburg / Insurance Insight
Most of us think about insurance in
the wrong way. We act according to
“guidance” given to us by non-professionals and
rely on certain myths about insurance. And those
myths can cost us – big time.
We get blindsided by huge increases in premiums, or we get dropped
by longtime carriers. We get mad about insurance instead of getting
smart.
Many people feel cheated if they aren’t “using” their insurance – in
other words, if they pay premiums for years and never make a claim.
That however, is exactly what you want to happen with most types of
insurance.
Sound insane? It’s really not. Most of the time, insurance should be
thought of as your protection against true financial catastrophe, not
as a buffer against the normal ups and downs of daily living.
When little things happen, we often think we should put in a claim
just to get some of our money back. Those little things are the ones that
you should pay for yourself.
Why, you ask? Well, every single claim you give to an insurance
company goes on your claim report for every company to see. This
claim report is called C.L.U.E. which I wrote about last month.
I once had a lady call me who was being canceled by a company
because of 4 home claims in the previous 3 years – none of which
exceeded $500. She had to go from a preferred policy to a non-standard
policy with only fire coverage.
Insurance companies consider frequency of claims as important
(or even more important) than severity of claims. She was being
canceled due to frequency, but if her house had been destroyed due to
an electrical short or lightning strike, for example, she would not have
been canceled.
I personally had a water claim many years ago. The damage was over
$7,000 after my $1,000 deductible. Even though my home insurance
increased about $300/year for the next few years, that was a “worthy”
claim and that is the reason we have homeowner’s insurance – for the
things you can’t afford to handle yourself.
Next month, I’ll continue this theme for auto insurance. Since
there are considerably more auto claims than home claims, this will
be something everyone should think about before calling in small
incidences such as backing into a pole or garage door.
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.
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening
April is the month when all of your plants
require a significant amount of nutrients to
insure a robust growth in the spring and summer.
This is especially true in Las Vegas where your landscaping will be
exposed to stressfully high temperatures, low humidity, and limited
rainfall.
The proper application of nutrients is paramount to having a
successful and attractive landscape. Choosing which type of fertilizer
to be used in a specific area is the first step in this process. The type
of plant and what you want it to do will be the determining factors in
choosing the correct products.
All retail fertilizers list three numbers on the package representing
three important nutrients. The first number represents “Nitrogen”
content which promotes green growth and leaf production basic to
plant health.
The second number represents “Phosphorous” content which
promotes flowering and fruiting. The third number represents
“Potassium” content which promotes a strong root system.
Most “All-Purpose” fertilizers contain an adequate amount of these
nutrients and will have the “Tri-Nutrient package listing” of around
24-8-16. I recommend a “water-soluble” type of this type of fertilizer as
a basic first step to uniformly feed all of your landscaping.
Once this is done, you can then focus on your specific goals for your
18
Time to Fertilize
April 2019
plants. If you want a non-flowering
plant to have healthy leaf growth, you
should apply a fertilizer with a high
1 st number.
If your goal is to have abundant
flowering, then use a product having
a high 2 nd number. In fact, there are
products on the market that specialize
in promoting flower growth that have
a phosphorous number of 55 or
higher.
Remember that flowering is the first stage of producing fruits. If you
are growing fruits or vegetables, you must have these plant and trees
first produce flowers. This, therefore, requires the application of high
levels of phosphorous!
Finally, if you are transplanting or adding new plants to your garden,
use a product with a high potassium level to ensure a strong root system.
Remember! Adding needed nutrients now will lead to a beautiful
landscape in the months ahead.
Have questions? Contact me at: 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.
19
Being in Vegas
By: Joey Kantor / Vegas Retrospective
Any Las Vegan knows that there is more to
this dried out watering hole then glitzy
casinos. We really lived our lives according to
streets, the grid.
In the olden days (for me that would be
the seventies) my Las Vegas life didn’t revolve around the Strip but
rather Sahara Avenue, Charleston, Decatur, Tropicana. We were a
small town.
Vegas Village, Wonder World, The Venetian (Italian restaurant),
Macayo Vegas, The Boulevard Mall, The Parkway Theatres, The
Boulevard Theatres, The Huntridge. These were some of the places
that we visited on a daily basis. Simple pleasures.
Sure, we’d go to the hotels too. How many times had my father
fought over the check with his visiting siblings at The Flamingo
coffee shop? How many times did my brothers and I get to lay out
at these pools, living in the lap of luxury?
All of us kids listened to one radio station: KENO. All the pop hits.
The 70s were alive and vibrant and colorful. I couldn’t imagine a
more modern era as I lived in a time when The Carpenters proudly
proclaimed the power of love, sometimes even at the Riviera Hotel.
It peeves me to this day when documentarians show the 70s in black
and white. The 70s were not a black and white era. We had definitely
transmogrified into a technicolor world by then.
True, I had the gift of childish vision to help me love this desert world
I was born into and perhaps this allows me now to merely imagine that
the world was a simple and pure place. The Vietnam War and Watergate
had thrown a monkey wrench into the whole simple and good idea
for the country at large, but here in Vegas we were getting along just
splendidly.
In the center of our town famous people headlined for monstrous
sums of money and everybody in the world wanted to be a part. We
lay our heads on our pillows at night knowing that something
internationally important seemed to be brewing amongst the twinkling
lights just a few miles away.
The world of yesterday is always in a bit of a fog for us. I know now that
my era of seeming Utopia may have been your era of incomprehensible
woe.
But we Vegans really seemed to have it all back then. We lived together
in this unique desert and breathed in deeply of the goodness of others
doing the same and in a very safe place no less.
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.
20
April 2019
21
Academy Awards: Has Diversity Replaced Integrity?
By: Morris Heldt / A Senior’s P.O.V.
In Hollywood’s “Golden Era” my wife’s father
worked at Paramount Studios. As a young
girl she spent many days on the sets of classic
movies, and meeting many of their stars.
Watching the Academy Awards was an annual event in her house
because the more awards Paramount won, the better her father would
have. I, too, enjoyed watching the Oscars as a child growing up in
southern Indiana.
Both my wife and I enjoyed seeing the diversity in this year’s selection
for the awards. However, I am a “baby boomer” and humbly claim to
understand the definition of the word integrity.
I grew up with integrity being a way of life. You looked for it in your
friends, teachers, college professors, coaches, religious leaders and
politicians. Through integrity, we replaced a president, ended an illconceived
war, and led the world in manufacturing and development.
Is it possible what was once the most vocal, smartest, enthusiastic
generation since the beginning of this great nation has become
prematurely passive on our way to retirement? Have we allowed
ourselves to accept diversity instead of character and not demand both?
Do we ignore our instincts to simply be manipulated and guided by
glossed over promises made to us by camera friendly politicians?
It appears to me that this country, and our civilization as a whole,
has allowed ourselves to be programmed with the subliminal seduction
of changing the definitions of right and wrong - and what is acceptable
and what is not.
I am not against diversity. I would however like to see it with integrity
and not in place of it.
To paraphrase Paddy Chayefsky, one of America’s greatest screen
writers; I am sick and tired of people exploiting the occasion of the
Academy Awards for the propagation of their own personal political
propaganda. That winning an Oscar is not a pivotal moment in
history, does not require a proclamation and a simple “thank you”
would have sufficed.
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.
22
April 2019
Assembly Bill 141
By: Melissa Hardy / Op-Ed Column
When I was running for the Nevada
Assembly, I knocked on thousands of
doors and there were two issues that I heard from
voters about more than any other – education,
and the cost of prescription drugs for seniors.
Assembly District 22 has a large senior
population and includes Sun City MacDonald
Ranch, and part of Sun City Anthem.
Despite bipartisan efforts in past legislative
sessions, little progress had been made to
address the high costs, and I promised, in
each conversation I had on this topic, that my
first bill would be something to help address
that issue.
Out of those conversations and my own
experiences with helping to care for aging
parents, was born Assembly Bill 141. I strongly
believe that AB 141 is a profound step toward
addressing the financial stress all too often
associated with the costs of medication. For
too long, our senior community, whether
insured or not, has been taken advantage of,
and are denied access to information that
would allow them financial relief.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (often known
as PBM’s) are the third-party administrators of most prescription health
plans. According to the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association,
PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 266 million
Americans who have health insurance.
Often, in addition to having a contractual arrangement with a health
plan, PBMs will also have commercial contracts with a pharmacy. The
terms of these contracts vary, but sometimes these contracts include
provisions that prohibits a pharmacy or pharmacist from sharing
certain information or options with a patient. These prohibitions are
frequently referred to as “gag clauses.”
During the 2017 legislation session, Nevada legislators passed a
law that banned PBM’s from prohibiting a pharmacist or pharmacy
from providing certain information to a customer who is a member
of a pharmacy benefits plan. This was a great first step, and my bill
continues to build upon that work and keep moving us in the direction
of fairness for seniors.
My bill does two things – it makes sure that pharmacists have the
ability to inform customers of less expensive alternative or generic
medications. Of equal, if not more importance than that, this bill
prohibits a PBM from penalizing a pharmacist or pharmacy for doing
any of the above.
This bill goes a long way to providing additional information about
abilities to get less expensive medications and allows seniors more
opportunities that would relieve them of some financial stress. This
bill will mean a lot to a lot of people – our senior community as well
as their caretakers. This bill was borne of the promises I made when
running for Assembly, and I intend to keep each and every one of them.
Editor’s Note: Melissa Hardy (R) is the Nevada Assemblywoman
for District 22.
23
Never Back Down
By: Rana Goodman / On My Soapbox
Like many teenagers, a lot of the teachings I
received from my father rolled off my back
and I never thought about them again. However,
there was one lesson he taught me that I have never forgotten. “Never
back down to a bully. Stand your ground and fight back.”
When we first arrived in the USA and settled in Las Vegas, I was in
seventh grade. I never heard certain “words.” I knew little of bigotry
and hate.
Walking with some new friends to class one day, a group of girls
passed us. As they did, one shouted at me calling me a term I didn’t
know.
One of my friends asked if I heard her and my response was, “Yes, but
what does that mean?” She then explained that it was a very derogatory
name for Jewish people.
Remembering what my father had taught me, I caught up to the girl
and without thinking began to fight. Suddenly we were grabbed and
taken by the teachers to the principal’s office.
We waited for our parents, who had been called. Upon arriving, my
dad, with the sternest look he could muster asked me what happened.
After I told him, he smiled and told the principal he didn’t approve
of my fighting, however he was proud that I stood up for myself. There
would be no punishment.
I never forgotten that episode and still carry that feeling of defiance
against bullies to this day. I have also found that most bullies “get
off” taunting their victims - hoping for tears, fights, or arguments. I
however prefer to make these people irrelevant in my life.
Every election season, be it city, state, or national, the negativity and
personal attacks seem to be at the forefront. It is also election time
in Sun City Anthem and sadly, the resident bully is at it again - first
attacking candidates in opposition to those he is supporting, and now
me.
Much of what has been written is more like a “flight of fancy.” Rather
than try to defend myself against such trash, I will do as my dad taught
me - “never back down, stand my ground” and fight back as the
lady he raised me to be.
I am able to look myself in the mirror each day and know that the
woman looking back has never done anything to harm anyone - except
for one other person who called me a liar. That person was private
guardian April Parks - and look where she is now.
You can contact Rana by email: Rana@thevegasvoice.net. Also
check out her blog about life in Sun City Anthem at:
Anthemtoday.com
24
Previous and Current Chief Judge of Henderson Municipal Court
Founded Henderson Veterans Treatment Court in 2011
Past President of Nevada Judges of Limited Jurisdiction
Marine JAG/Defense Attorney & Company Commander
VFW, American Legion, Military’s Officer Association
April 2019
Vegas Voice political editor Rana Goodman takes to the stage
and answers questions after the showing of the award winning
documentary “The Guardians” at Sun City Summerlin last
month. Nearly 300 residents attended the event.
Thank you Sun City Summerlin for hosting us!
Uncovering the Truth About Reverse Mortgages
By: Niuck Flores / Loan Educator
“
The bank will own my home when I
get a reverse mortgage.” Or: “I will not
qualify on a reverse mortgage because my
home has an existing mortgage on title.” Or: “The reverse
mortgage is too expensive.” Or: “There is nothing left at the
end for my heirs when they inherit the property.”
Usually, these myths are told by your family, friends and co-workers.
These myths are valid concerns, and in fact I held them as truth until I
did my diligence and got my facts.
Here are the facts:
“The bank will own my home when I get a reverse
mortgage.” No. The Reverse Mortgage is a mortgage, and like
any other mortgage you retain title to your property with rights and
responsibilities of homeownership. With a Reverse Mortgage, your
rights allow you to sell and refinance your home if you choose.
Responsibilities as a homeowner are to maintain the property, pay
property taxes, homeowners’ insurance if you have a mortgage and
if any, HOA dues. The main point is that with a Reverse Mortgage
you retain title to your property with rights and responsibilities of
homeownership.
“I will not qualify on a reverse mortgage because my home
has an existing mortgage on title.” No. Your home can have an
existing loan and does not need to be paid off. To qualify for a Reverse
Mortgage, one of you must be 62+ years of age, your spouse can be as
young as 18, and the property must be your
primary residence. You can also refinance
your existing Reverse Mortgage to take
advantage of the increase in value of your
home’s equity. Most seniors are unaware of
that, but when they find out, they gladly refinance their existing Reverse
Mortgage to take advantage of the increased value of their home.
“The reverse mortgage is too expensive.” No. Many believe
that the FHA Reverse Mortgage is more expensive than any other
loan. The Reverse Mortgage has the exact same cost as any other FHA
Mortgage except for one fee, $120 which the program requires the
homeowner to complete a counseling session with Housing Urban
Development (HUD).
“There is nothing left at the end for my heirs when they
inherit the property.” No. When you do a Reverse Mortgage HUD
limits you on what you can take out from your equity. Overtime your
house continues to grow in value. A Reverse Mortgage is the same as
any other loan when it comes to your heirs inheriting the property. You
will receive all the benefits without having to make a payment until
you are done using the loan. Allowing you to age in place.
The best way to really look at the Reverse Mortgage
is through your personal lens. We offer no cost, no obligation
consultations to get the specifics of what the reverse mortgage would
look like for your situation. We will also answer any questions you may
have.
25
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action
There is a plague spreading rapidly through
our political landscape. Most would say it
has been festering for generations.
What am I talking about? Political corruption and moral decay. This
“disease” does not discriminate. Both political parties are culpable.
Last month, we had:
1. A state senator resign in disgrace for violating the state’s campaign
finance law. The funds raised for his campaign were used to pay his
personal living expenses, including setting up a business;
2. A state assemblyman resigned because of allegations of sexual
harassment;
3. A mayor alleged to have used funds for travel expenses overseas
etc. under the guise of assisting political allies (which those allies have
publicly denied);
4. A local councilwoman being accused of using campaign funds to
support “political outreach” activities and her own business;
5. A county commissioner being called on the carpet for using
Convention Authority funds to pay for trips to an out of state college with
his son under the pretense of lobbying those local politicos to patronize
26
Remorseful Only When Caught
The Great Unknown
By: Judy Polumbaum / Our View
A few months shy of his 77th birthday,
my father was diagnosed with “limbic
encephalitis.”
Unfortunately, he was already dead. An autopsy delivered the verdict.
His affliction had defied understanding and resisted all treatment.
Over the final year of his life, he declined precipitously; an intellectually
alert and physically vigorous man transformed into an exhausted,
confused and fragile shell. He got passed around among neurologists
in his HMO plan, who grew bored and indifferent when ideas like mad
cow disease didn’t pan out.
My mother finally extricated him into a more flexible plan so he
could visit specialists who actually cared. Still, the best the medical
experts could come up with was idiopathic encephalitis – brain
inflammation of unknown origin.
Nobody wanted heroic measures. We had to let him go. My father’s
last night alive, as sepsis spread through his system, my mother and I
sat on either side of his hospital bed until his breathing ceased.
Limbic encephalitis was a great unknown back then, its causes
elusive, its consequences baffling. Like the words cancer or autism,
encephalitis is a vague catch-all term. Limbic simply refers to areas
of the brain concerned with emotion, memory and motivation. The
autopsy offered a description, not an explanation.
The sort of syndrome that killed my father is still a vast and perplexing
unknown but starting to capitulate to accumulating knowledge. He
probably had an autoimmune disease, in which antibodies attacked
his brain. Researchers now attribute a range of such conditions to
April 2019
and support Las
Vegas businesses.
This all begs
the question:
Who is watching
the hen house?
It appears no
one except
(maybe) federal
authorities. The
feds uncovered
and prosecuted
the most egregious violation of the public trust – the state senator.
Isn’t it interesting that most of those caught in their deceit of the
public trust beg forgiveness including publicly showing remorse only
after the fact?
Which also raises the question: Who else is raiding the public trust
that we are not currently aware of? Something tells me this is just the
tip of the iceberg!
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
biochemical reactions gone awry.
More importantly, they now can target and disable some of the
misbehaving molecules. Such discoveries have given rise to the whole
new subspecialty of immunological neurology.
The literature in this field has burgeoned over the last decade. My
father was stricken too early, passing away in January 2001.
He joined untold numbers of people through history whose ailments
were never correctly assessed or treated – children misdiagnosed as
autistic, young adults as schizophrenic, old people as demented, before
autoimmune encephalitis was recognized for what it was and solutions
began to be sought and found.
So what’s the lesson? Never stop looking. Even if they cannot figure
out your problems, perhaps they’re on the path to saving others.
Judy is a professor emerita of journalism and a transplant to
Las Vegas from New England via China, the West Coast and the
Midwest.
Presents
IT TAKES TWO
Featuring the music of Burt Bacharach & Hal David;
George & Ira Gershwin; Rogers & Hart; Alan & Marilyn Bergman;
Carole King & Gerry Goffin,
Paul McCartney & John Lennon …and more!
Starring...
Michelle Johnson
Tickets:
TICKET HOTLINE
Comic Impressionist
702 755-3799
www.thevegasvoice.net/tickets
Sun City
MacDonald Ranch
Sat., May. Feb. 16, 18, 2019
Doors at 6:30 pm. Show begins at 7pm.
$
2O.
Special Guest Appearance
Rich Natole
TICKET HOTLINE
702 755-3799
www.thevegasvoice.net/tickets
Jeff Neiman
27
April Showers - Walk it
Off When You can!
By: Mary Richard / Health Fitness
As I’m now in my 70 th PLUS year of birth,
I realize some changes in my life, as well
as others in my age bracket are in order. As we age, physical changes
can cause declines in our ability to maintain balance, walk smoothly
and in muscle strength. Any one of these declines can increase the
risk for falling.
A recent research review highlighted muscle weaknesses in the
legs as one of the most common risk factor for falling among older
adults. The good news is that many of these declines can be negated
with a targeted exercise program. I incorporate balance exercises in
my “cool down time” for my Zumba classes, as well as teach several
balance classes.
A decline in muscle strength, caused in part by loss of muscle mass,
typically begins in our 30s and becomes more pronounced after age
60. Although these losses have been attributed to the ageing process
itself, reduced physical activity is also a likely contributor. As we age,
we tend to do fewer activities that require muscle strength (such as
lifting objects or climbing stairs) and this causes strength-producing
muscle fibers to shrink.
I’m fortunate to live in a community that has exercise classes for
all levels for strength building. To appreciate how much leg strength
contributes to balance, stand straight, then arms out to the side,
standing on one leg for 10-15 seconds and realize how much you use
your leg muscles to keep yourself stable.
If it is difficult for you to keep your balance, try using a chair in
the beginning, then gradually release the chair and you should be
able to balance on your own. My students have improved with their
balancing just doing this simple exercise!
Falls are a significant risk factor for fractures. Try to do more
strength building exercises, even if it is just lifting some light weights,
(or even using a gallon milk carton), balancing on one leg and
walking stairs.
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.
28
April 2019
Like Walking on Broken
Glass
By: Kyo Mitchell / A Healthier You
You step out of bed in the morning. Your
first steps are agony. It feels like walking on
broken glass.
Eventually the pain eases but you may still have pain on the bottom
of your feet throughout the day. This has happened every morning for
a period of time and it is just getting unbearable.
This is what life is like for someone suffering from plantar fasciitis.
“Plantar” means the bottom of the foot. “Fasci-” is short for fascia
which is a tough type of connective tissue that surrounds muscles,
nerves and blood vessels in your feet.
The fascia on the bottom of your feet run from your heel to your toes.
The “-itis” means inflammation. So plantar fascitis simple means
inflammation of the fascia in the bottom of your feet.
Plantar fascitis does not usually come from an overt injury or
trauma. It is most likely due to excessive wear and tear on the tissues at
the bottom of the feet.
Calf muscles that are too tight, an arch in the foot that is too high
or too low and improper foot wear are just a few of the contributing
factors that may lead to plantar faciitis. Being overweight or using the
feet excessively such as in long distance running may also contribute
to plantar fasciitis.
The two most common places for plantar facitis pain are the arch
of the foot and the heel, although it may be felt in other places on the
bottom of the foot.
Although plantar fasciitis may resolve on its own, many times it
does not. If the factors which contributed to its development are not
removed, the tissues in the feet continue to undergo wear and tear
producing a chronic inflammatory state.
Even short periods of walking can exacerbate the condition. Where
massage of the calf muscles, losing weight, arch supports and rest may
contribute to decreasing damage to the fascia, many times the patient
must undergo medical therapy to reduce the inflammation in the
fascia.
From my perspective, a few sessions of a frequency specific
microcurrent program for plantar fascitis is the most effective and
most painless way of resolving plantar fasciitis.
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.
29
30
These Are a Few of my Favorite Things
By: Vicki Wentz / Vicki’s Voice
Don’t you just love it when you’re traveling,
and it’s 6:00 pm and you’re starving, and
it’s eighteen degrees outside, and suddenly you
come to a complete stop, cars stopped for miles
in front of you and there’s nothing around except an occasional cow,
and the folks going the other way are zipping by looking at you with
gleeful smirks?
And, then I love it when not one, not two, but THREE dashboard
lights suddenly go on, one of them the “Brake!” light - the other two
indecipherable - but you’re somewhere in the mountains of West
Virginia and navigating an icy mountain road with no brakes is more
excitement than you need, so while sitting there you page through
your owner’s manual and you read: “If ‘Brake!’ light is on, stop
IMMEDIATELY and find the nearest Toyota dealer.”
And, “If ‘ABS’ light is on, see Toyota dealer; if ‘Brake!’ light is on
at the same time, stop IMMEDIATELY and find nearest Toyota dealer.”
And, finally, “If ‘DSC’ light is on, as well as ‘ABS’ light, and God forbid
‘Brake!’ light, too, stop IMMEDIATELY, leap from car and run into
traffic, or face annihilation!!”
Stopping is no problem. You’re already stopped, and folks are getting
out of their cars, peering down the road, talking to each other, walking
the dog, texting and selfie-ing. It’s the finding of a nearby Toyota dealer
that’s the challenge, because you, personally, aren’t completely sure
where you are, and people give you that pitying look when you ask
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April 2019
them, “Where am I, exactly?” (not that I ever do that) but, after ten
minutes of sitting, you do it anyway - not leaving the car, of course,
because as previously mentioned, IT’S EIGHTEEN FRICKIN’ DEGREES
OUT THERE and the nearest tweeting motorist says there’s one about
25 miles - behind you.
So, you sit there with your heater running, in an attempt to remain
unfrozen as long as possible, wondering how long your gas will last,
berating yourself for eating that last Subway cookie, because everyone
knows in cases like this pretty soon people run out of food and start
looking at one another as if they are giant pork roasts, and all you have
for protection are a spare bottle of perfume in the glove compartment
that could temporarily blind someone, and a suitcase that’s so heavy it
would certainly take out anyone at which it is hurled.
And, don’t you love that moment when everyone jumps back into
their cars because you’re starting to roll, and you say a prayer to St.
Christopher, patron saint of travel (no matter what the “progressives”
at the Vatican say!) put the car in gear and move exactly thirteen
feet before stopping again, and the folks coming the other way aren’t
smirking any more, but are downright guffawing as they pass, and
you’re really getting steamed and vowing to contact the head of the
highway department if you ever get out of this, and raise holy hell
because surely they could handle whatever is going on up the road by
simply allowing our side of the freeway to go up the oncoming lanes
for a while, and it shouldn’t take a @#$%^* Harvard degree to figure
that out, am I right?
And, my favorite is when you finally do get to stop-n-roll status, and
it takes you 38 minutes to go three-and-a-half miles, but finally there’s
a mini-mart, and you go inside for directions back to the Toyota place,
and you starvingly buy two bags of M&M’s trail mix, several bottles of
water, and a can of Beanie Weenie...um...please, like I ever eat Beanie
Weenie...and head back the way you’ve come, and after 15 miles you
just happen to notice that all the dashboard lights have gone off, and
the car is just fine.
Yeah…good times.
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.
31
A Doctor’s Confession Confession to the City of to Las the Vegas City of Las Vegas
And why, why, despite all, despite I still do what all, I do… I still do what I do...
Dear friend,
Confessions are tough. Real tough.
But sometimes a confession can set the record
straight, and I want to give credit where credit is
due. Before I talk about my confession, though, let
me say a few other things first.
Years ago something happened to me that changed
my life forever. Let me tell you my story.
Back then I was driving home from class I was
rammed by a truck into a ditch. I was disabled, unable
to sit up from bed without help. The numbness down
my arm stopped me from buttoning my shirt. I was
scared. After being rushed to the hospital in an
ambulance (who’s ‘solution’ was a hand-full of pills) I
decided against the medication. But, there’s
more…
“Not your typical Chiropractor.” - (Stacy B-Summerlin)
“I was at the end of my rope…Dr. Devin’s treatments are
gentle, affordable and I no longer take pain medications.” -
Several times a day patients thank me for helping
them with their health problems. But I can’t really
take the credit. My confession is that I’ve never
healed anyone of anything. What I do is perform a
specific spinal adjustment to remove nerve
pressure, and the body responds by healing itself.
We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that!
A professor tells me about a unique procedure. This
new doctor does an exam, takes his own type of
films, and then ‘adjusts’ my spine. The adjustment
doesn’t hurt, it actually feels good. It was gentle and
focused at the top of my neck…even though I had a
pinched nerve in my hands! I get relief, my neck
could turn again without my body going with it. My
hands work again.
Did I find the fountain of youth? Oh, did I mention
that this doctor is a NUCCA chiropractor? It was
gentle, no cracking. It works so well for me, and I’m
so impressed with the other ‘miracles’ I see in his
office, that I go on to practice NUCCA Chiropractic
myself.
Now for the cute kids in the photo. I have training in
to help adults and kids with sleeping, behavior and
attitude, and immune system function.
Families now come to me with their headaches,
migraines, chronic pain, shoulder/arm pain,
whiplash from car accidents, backaches, disc
problems, arthritis, allergies, and numbness, just to
name a few.
Here’s what some of my patients had to say:
“Before coming to Dr. Devin I was in extreme pain.”
(Shirleen Stanley-Las Vegas)
(Lynell-Las Vegas)
You Benefit from an Amazing Offer - When you
bring in this article, you will receive nearly an hour
of our time to find out your needs. I realize many
doctors charge hundreds for this, but I provide it
complimentary. But, please call right away as I
reserve the right to change this offer by May 31 st ,
2019. By the way, further care is very affordable.
My assistants are Heather, Bianca and Fina and
they are really great people. Our office is both
friendly and warm and we try our best to make you
feel at home. We have a wonderful service, at an
exceptional fee. I see patients at our Summerlin
office located at 1930 Village Center Cir, Suite 11.
Our phone number is 702.566.HOPE (4673). Our
Henderson clinic with Dr. Hecker can be reached at
702-565-HOPE (4673). Call Char, Fina or me
today for an appointment. We can help you. Thank
you.
Devin Luzod, D.C.
P.S. We respect your time and always schedule our
patients so there is plenty of time to talk with me.
32
April 2019
Automotive Recalls are Good Business
By: BJ Killeen / Down the Road
Often, I hear people complain about vehicle
recalls. Why are there so many? Why can’t
they just build it right the first time?
Truth is, recalls are good, although you may think the opposite. How
can I say this? Because decades ago, if a manufacturer built an inferior
vehicle, it didn’t really care what happened to you.
It was your problem to fix and pay for it. It was easier to ignore the
problem because it took a lot of effort for owners to get together to
complain or file a lawsuit.
Today, because of a variety of factors - competition, social media,
litigation costs, social responsibility and reputation, manufacturers are
taking a proactive rather than a reactive approach, which is great.
When you wonder why there are so many recalls, think about what it
takes to build a vehicle. A single car can have about 30,000 parts, and
most of those come from a variety of suppliers. The manufacturer has
to trust that the suppliers are giving them, not only the correct parts to
fit their vehicle, but that those parts have been quality checked.
Now think about mixing and matching these parts so they make the
vehicle go, stop, turn and provide protection for its occupants. Sure, a
house has many more parts, but you don’t drive it on the highway at
80 mph!
Some recalls are vital and some are minor, but any recall should not
be ignored. There also may be some concerns that aren’t quite at recall
status yet, called Technical Service Bulletins, which are good to know if
you are experiencing a problem with your vehicle.
Often, you’ll receive a recall notice in the mail. To see if your vehicle
has a recall, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN, or vehicle
identification number (the website tells you where to find it). It will
give you a list of any and all recalls for your specific vehicle no matter
the year.
Recalls are fixed free at the dealership, so take care of them as soon
as possible.
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
33
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet
Warriors train to be resilient and not to cave
in the face of hardships. The downside of
that training however is NOT asking for help, and
this becomes a tragic by-product.
Because of this “rugged individualism”, some age-old tendencies
(especially for the male gender) to repress feelings and communication
are multiplied.
Being the quiet and deadly type may be a good platform for the
battlefield, but it proves not to be so good on the turnaround. The
conditioning for emotional toughness can also work against a veteran
once they return to the home front.
One very heartbreaking example of not asking for help is the
shocking number of veterans that commit suicide in America. On the
average, 22 veterans each day take their own lives - and the numbers
aren’t getting any better.
After the Vietnam War, the issue of rampant veteran suicides charged
full steam into public awareness. Within ten years of the war ending,
more veterans had committed suicide than were actually killed in the
war - prompting the VA to finally take action.
Before that, war-related emotional difficulties were not given much
attention. By the end of WWII men coming home with what we now
know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), were thought to be of
weak mind and character.
On a personal level, my uncle came home from Europe a complete
emotional casualty. His days were spent strolling around our small
34
22 a Day
April 3, 1948
By: John Beilun / Time Traveler
The end of World War II was a joyous period.
However, such elation was soon replaced
by an overwhelming sense of peril - especially in
Europe.
Most of the continent was devastated. Many cities, such as Warsaw
and Berlin were nothing but ashes. Food production and distribution
collapsed, leaving millions to die of hunger.
Governments overwhelmed by the cost of war had nothing left to
provide. Making matters worse, the Soviets were on the prowl intent on
world domination.
By war’s end, parts of Finland, Poland and Romania had been
annexed and Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia completely overrun.
Poland and Romania soon became puppet nations - as well as Albania,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Hungary.
The rest of Europe was next. President Truman was well aware of the
situation. However, he had little recourse.
War weary America had no taste for more. And, even if she had, the
remnants of the American forces still on the continent were insufficient
to thwart a Soviet invasion.
Ever-growing Communist parties in France and Italy, as well as a
April 2019
town muttering to himself.
One sad day my aunt found
him lying dead under a tree
with a pistol in his hand.
Today, the VA Health
Administration has
hotlines and awareness
programs for suicide
prevention, but I hope there’s more they can do because the number of
suicides is not declining.
Is it possible that the expensive media campaigns the VA has launched
are doing no good?
The facts: In 2018 the VA had a total budget of $17.7 million for
mental health media outreach, of which $6.2 million was obligated for
paid media campaigns on suicide prevention. (Let’s throw up another
billboard!) After almost a decade using this same media strategy, the
rate remains at 22 suicides per day. Anyone with a brain would conclude
that the advertising was not solving any part of the problem.
Here’s an idea: Perhaps the VA should switch tactics, and go from
spending huge amounts on suicide propaganda, and hire more
specialists, psychiatrists, and psychologists with a specialty in addressing
PTSD and suicide for our veterans.
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
recalcitrant Congress, made things even more
difficult.
Nonetheless Truman refused to concede. He
held many brainstorming sessions with the
brightest minds of his age. George Marshall, the
current Secretary of State and architect of the
Great Victory, among them.
Acknowledging the impracticality of using the
Bomb, the President decided that the only viable alternative was to pry
up the remaining free European countries with billions of dollars. The
money to be used to rebuild the continent - and provide for its citizens.
Sadly, Congress refused to go along. The isolationists within had
washed their hands of further foreign entanglements. Others simply
didn’t want to spend the money.
But “Give ‘em hell Harry” had an ace up his sleeve and he deployed
it. Rather than naming the European Program after himself, he decided
to call it “The Marshall Plan.”
Fearful of alienating the electorate by crossing swords with the most
respected hero of the war, Congress reversed its position. And the Plan
finally went into effect on April 3, 1948.
Western Europe and eventually all of Europe - if not all the world
was saved.
35
Knit 2 + Purl 2 = 4 Ur Brain; Celebrate Local Yarn Stores
By: Jan Fair / A No-Brainer Minute
W
ant to ward off dementia? Reduce stress? Relieve arthritis? Learn to crochet or knit!!
Yes. Even men should consider it. For help learning see "No-Brainer Picks" (below).
I know that in November, the Saturday after Black Friday is called Small Business Saturday
which encourages us to shop locally. However, I just learned April 27 is National Local Yarn Store
Day. Check out these stores for their FREE meetings where you can get help learning to crochet/knit.
April 27, 2019
Crochet/Knit for Brain Health
A study, published in the Journal of
Clinical Neurosciences, found that those
who engaged in crafts like crochet and
knitting had less of a chance of developing
cognitive impairment & memory loss.
These crafts also reduce stress & keep
hands & fingers feeling good as we age.
Mental Minutes
“Yarn”
1. In one minute, name things
you make with yarn.
2. Make list alphabetical.
Apple cozies
(www.craftfoxes.com/
blog/odd-things-to-dowith-yarn),
Booties, Caps, ...
Photos taken at "Open Yarn" meetings every Fri., 5p &
Sat.,10am, at Mad Knitter's Yarn in Henderson, NV
Jan Fair is a writer, consultant & public speaker who has published over 40 books PLUS the
No-Brainer Brain Games series. Sign up for her FREE newsletter at www.JanFair.com
No-Brainer Picks
Learn & get FREE help at an
"Open Yarn" (see left), also
www.YOUTube.com
www.WikiHOW.com
April 2019
36
April 2019
Hey
Vacationers...,
Vacationers..., Let’s do Cuba
*
$ 3198.
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AIR INCLUDED!
DEPOSIT $ 600.
SPECIAL
OFFER!
Book by Apr. 25, 2019
and save $ 100. on
your deposit!
the easy way!
ITINERARY
Fri. Feb. 14 Miami Departure
Sat. Feb. 15 Scenic Cruising
Sun. Feb. 16 Cienfuegos, Cuba
Mon Feb. 17 Havana, Cuba
Tue. Feb. 18 Bay of Pigs, Cuba
Wed. Feb. 19 Santiago, Cuba
Thu. Feb. 20 At Sea
Fri. Feb. 21 Disembark Miami
Or call my new associate:
Betty Brewer at: 702/228-6014
Email Betty at: Brewerhere@cox.net
For more information
or to book your spot
today call Crystal
702/419-0550
8 day cruise, Feb. 14, 2020
INCLUDES AT NO CHARGE
• Balcony Stateroom (dbl occ)
• Air Fare & Ship Transfers in Miami Fl.
• Port Taxes & Fees
• FREE Shore Excursion in each port
• Access to Specialty Restaurants on board
• All on board Meals incl. Wine, Beer, & Soft Drinks
• Wi-Fi
• Port Entry & Visa N/C (a savings of over $300 pp)
• 24 Hr. room service
CABINS ARE LIMITED – BOOK EARLY!
*All prices subject to change and are based on per person,
double occupancy. Single room upgrades available at extra
cost. MasterCard, VISA, Amex accepted or private checks.
Note: Viking insurance available but not included here.
No Corkage Fees!
37
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! 6
Don’t Miss Your Vacation
Due to Special Needs
By: Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker /
Out & About
n today’s world, unless there’s possible exposure to contagious
Idisease, people using wheelchairs are commonly welcomed on
land tours and cruises. This is great news for senior travelers who
require special needs devices, like portable oxygen tanks and mini
scooters.
However, don’t expect your fellow travelers or trip or cruise staffers to
help you carry or operate your devices. This is entirely your responsibility.
If you think you’re going to require assistance, bring along a friend or
family member who understands they will be your helper.
Many health items are now widely available for rent and can be
ordered for temporary installation in hotel rooms and cruise staterooms.
But, don’t start placing your orders yet.
First, contact your desired hotel, resort, or cruise line, and ask for
their special needs manager. Don’t be shy. Briefly describe your health
requirements and see what they can offer and at what cost.
Then, if there is something they don’t provide, ask for a referral. It’s
important your hotel or cruise line accept your rental company and
allow them on their premises for installation and removal. Some of the
most popular support companies are Special Needs at Sea, Scootaround.
com, and Accessiblevous.com.
38
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!
April 2019
Many vacationers are finding cruise lines are really taking the lead
in special needs services and have developed unique facilities of their
own. One example: “dippers” for lowering handicapped swimmers into
swimming pools.
Bigger ships like Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas and
Holland America’s Koningsdam generally provide more space for
people using walkers, wheelchairs and scooters. And some have added
special activities for people with specific health needs.
In fact, Royal Caribbean has already conducted specific cruises for
people needing dialysis at sea. It’s been so successful, they are planning
more special needs cruises in the future.
Next month, we’ll feature traveling with Fido.
Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker is the Vacation Editor and
the President at Vegas Vacationers. She can be reached at
Merryman2@aol.com
39
The Carnival Panorama & Quick Meeting
By: Stu Cooper / Happy Adventures
As you know, throughout the year we have
many “Bus to the Boat” departures. We offer
cruises on various ships; mostly on the “Carnival
Family of Brands” - Princess Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines.
Between now and early 2020 we will offer cruises going to the Panama
Canal, Alaska, the California coast and the Mexican Riviera. All of these
will be round trip from Los Angeles and the price will include round
trip bus transportation from Las Vegas to the Los Angeles pier.
I want to mention our cruise scheduled for January 25, 2020. We will
be sailing on the brand-new CARNIVAL PANORAMA.
The “powers that be” at Carnival could have picked anywhere in the
world
ROYAL
to homeport
CARIBBEAN
their new ship, but they
CRUISE
picked their
LINE
exclusive port
in Long Beach, California. We want our Vegas Voyagers to be among
the first to cruise on this magnificent vessel. We want all to take
advantage of everything the ship has to offer.
As for dining, there are numerous restaurants to choose from,
like Cucina Del Capitano, Bonsai Teppanyaki or Fahrenheit
555 Steakhouse. And I’ve only mentioned a few of the options.
Consider joining the Vegas Voyagers on our Mexican Riviera
cruise - January 25 to February 1, 2020 on the CARNIVAL
PANAORAMA. Prices start at just $999 per person and that
includes the round trip transportation from Las Vegas to Long Beach
pier.
*Israel Trip Revision Schedule: We have revised the schedule
for the Israel tour. We will be departing Saturday, August 31 on a
nonstop flight from Las Vegas. And the best news: even with an
additional two night hotel stay in Tel Aviv, the price is still the same -
$4,739 per person. You get two extra days in Israel and nonstop flights
directly from Las Vegas at no additional cost.
For those who have signed up, or for those thinking about joining
us, we will be holding a meeting at Buckman’s Restaurant at
the Revere Country Club (Sun City Anthem) on Wednesday,
April 24th 9:30 am. Come join us for this informative discussion on
this once in a lifetime trip.
Please RSVP by email at fairtravel@aol.com or at 800/698-1101.
Happy Adventures to all.
40
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
April 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.
INTRODUCING
THE
TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
Holy Land Tour
Aug. 31,-Sept. 13, 2019
Includes the following:
• 9 nights, incl. breakfast, dinner daily, Except last night breakfast only
• 10 days sightseeing in luxury touring coach
• English speaking licensed tour guide from arrival to departure
• One group arrival and departure transfer from/to airport in Israel
• All entrance fees per itinerary
• Porterage at hotels and Ben Gurion airport upon arrival only
• Meet /assist and escort to meet tour guide upon airport arrival in Israel
• Farewell dinner in local restaurant
Rates do NOT include
• Tips to guide, driver, waiters, etc.
• Meals & beverages not mentioned
in tour description
• Travel insurance etc.
• Expenses of a personal nature
Nonstop flight from
Las Vegas to Tel Aviv!
$ 4,739.
pp land/air based on
Dbl occupancy
For more trip details call direct:
800/698-1101
800/698-1101
Price is subject to availability and based on double occupancy.
Single supplement is available upon request.
Hosted by
Bruce Ewing
Here are just
some of the highlights:
Sea of Galilee/ Mount of Beatitudes, traditional
site of the Sermon on the Mount/ the traditional
site of the multiplication of the Loaves and the
fishes./Tour Capernaum, the base of Jesus’
ministry in the Galilee and site of a beautiful
Byzantine-period synagogue /Qumran where Dead
Sea scrolls were discovered / Masada and the
Dead Sea/ Jerusalem/Mount of Olives /Garden of
Gethsemane/ Enter Old City via Lion’s Gate/ Visit
St. Anne’s church/ The Pools of Bethesda/Christian
Quarter of Old City/Church of the Holy Sepulcher/
Bethlehem and Yad Vashem/the Church of the Nativity/Holocaust
Memorial & Museum/Jerusalem’s
open air market
41
6
42
April 2019
43
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
By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World
It’s a sunny morning in Solvang, America’s
leading Danish community. It’s a friendly
postcard pretty California hamlet with downtown streets lined in the
company of quaint delicious Danish bakeries and appealing boutiques.
It is the
sort of place
where time
seems to have
stopped. The
name Solvang
is Danish for
“sunny field.”
Solvang
is clean and
well-kept with
plenty of sky
overhead.
Indeed, it is
Solvang - Town with a
Danish Flair
much like
visiting a lifesize
miniature
village.
The streets are lined with old-world Danish architecture. Even the
United States post office façade mirrors the traditional Danish style. In
a public park near the town’s center sits a statue featuring the bust of
famed Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.
Located in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara County, Solvang’s
natural surroundings of canyons and mountains are heart-stopping
superb; especially in springtime when green signs of spring can be
glimpsed on the surrounding fields and hillsides.
The town was founded in 1911 by a group of Danes who arrived to
establish a Danish community far from harsh mid-western America
winters and wanting to establish a religious and education community
for fellow Danes. It was their “Eureka!” which means “I have found
it!” a word from Gold Rush days that became the official motto of
California in 1963.
The early 20 th century was a period when thousands of Danes were
leaving everything they knew to immigrate elsewhere. Between 1850
and 1930, Denmark experienced an impoverished economy.
Danes, in search of a better life, decided to leave. Some estimates put
the number departing as high as one in ten Danes, many choosing
America to start their new life. Today, Solvang’s population hovers
between 5,000 and 6,000.
An overheard wise guy’s question, “How do you drive to Denmark?”
Well, head for California’s little Denmark in Solvang - a town most
certainly with a Danish flair and worth a visit.
Kathy Manney enjoys visiting interesting places and being an
Adventure Diva. Her “Must See” travel journeys continue - always
with enthusiasm.
“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
STEVE SOLOMON’S GUIDE
TO PUTTING ON A ONE-MAN SHOW
Steve Solomon has a trusted secret to keeping his voice during
repeat performances of a one-man show.
“Lots of throat lozenges, and lots of water,” he says.
The actor/comedian has built his career around writing and
performing one-man shows, beginning with the three-time award
winning “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, and I’m in
Therapy,” which he’s followed with two sequels.
There’s much more to a comedic one-man show than simply telling
jokes on stage, he says. “Some critics say it’s just stand-up. No, it’s
a theatrical piece,” he says. “There’s a process, there’s a set, there
are characters.”
STRETCHING AN IDEA INTO A SHOW
Creating a one-man show must start with an interesting topic —
something Solomon has no shortage of.
With each of his shows based on his unpredictable family, he plays
up to 30 characters on stage, including his doting Italian mother
and elderly Jewish father.
His family provides endless material, he explains. “Growing up in
an Italian/Jewish environment was hysterical,” he says. “I’m also
blessed with my memory. I can repeat dialogue from years ago.”
Taking stories and transforming them into a full show takes work,
however.
Solomon starts developing a show by penning several pages of
memories and jokes, then works with his long-time director Andy
Rogow to find a common thread and craft a script.
“I come up with the content, and (Andy) creates storylines,”
Solomon says. “He’s quit 100 times and I’ve fired him 10,000
times, and we love each other.”
NEVER FINISHED
A one-man show must be constantly refined to remain fresh,
Solomon says. He changes something for every performance, and
constantly drafts new material.
“Every single night I’m up there, I’m tweaking. I’m adjusting what
I say, adjusting the emphasis of what I’m trying to put out there.
Every word is critical.”
“Steve Solomon’s From Brooklyn to Broadway in Only 50 Years!”
runs from April 5th – 7th at The Smith Center. For tickets and more
information, visit TheSmithCenter.com.
From the three-time award winning star
and creator of “My Mother’s Italian,
My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy”
STEVE SOLOMON’S
FROM BROOKLYN
TO BROADWAY
IN ONLY 50 YEARS!
APRIL 5 - 7
Troesh Studio Theater
groups get perks
Call 702.749.2348 or email groups@thesmithcenter.com
VISIT THESMITHCENTER.COM TO SEE THE FULL LINEUP
702.749.2000 | TTY: 800.326.6868 or dial 711 | 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106
46
April 2019
THIS IS AN ADVERTORIAL PAID FOR BY THE SMITH CENTER
47
Speaking to and for Las Vegas
Valley Seniors since 2003
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