Vegas Voice 8-19

Winner of 

9 Awards! 

2O19 

August 

For your Health, Wealth, 

and Good Times! 

NEVADA’S MOST POWERFUL SENIOR PUBLICATION 

50 th 

Year 

Celebration! 

See Pages 20-21

“ASK LAURA ABOUT REAL ESTATE” 

Nevada is a GREAT place to live! 

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 

Here are a few Fun Facts about Clark County - see how many you already knew! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth in Southern Nevada is 3 times the national average 

There are approximately 4500 new residents moving here on average per 

month. That's measured by electric meter readings (which are up 1.9% more in 

multi-family dwellings than single-family) and by where taxes are paid. 

The rate of people moving here from California is increasing. One reason may be 

that they can no longer deduct State Income Tax against Federal Income Tax 

The number of people ages 65+ moving to Nevada is increasing. This demographic 

brings with them consumption, large amounts of equity and they don't take jobs. Yay 

retirees! 

Interesting Fact: A U-Haul from San Jose to Las Vegas costs approximately $2,000. and 

about $139 to travel from Las Vegas to San Jose. That says a lot about the flow of 

migration! 

Another Interesting Fact - Clark County has failed to meet population projections for 

school enrollment. What happened? Kindergarten and 1st grade enrollment is down 

by about half. People are having fewer children. 

The #1 motivation for people moving to Nevada is to find a job 

The #2 motivation for people moving to Nevada is retirement 

There are more open jobs in Southern Nevada today than there are people to fill them 

There are approximately 53,000 business in southern Nevada. That is the most ever! 

The core industry in Nevada is still leisure and hospitality, which accounts for about 

30% of the workforce (We have seen visitor volume plateau though). 

Major casino operations are restructuring and laying people off. This is caused by an 

increase in activist investors. That has lead to shifts in how the casino management 

teams think about the visitor. 

We are seeing a refocus on the consumer from the hospitality sector. International 

visitors are being looked to as a source of growth for the industry. 

There is more convention space under construction in Las Vegas than all but 5 markets 

have total convention space 

In the last legislative session, the minimum wage increased from $8.25 to $12.00/ hour (a 

gradual increase to occur over 5 years, starting July 1, 2020 with the first 75 cent increase, 

reaching $12 by 2024) 

Overall our local economy is performing extraordinarily well. We continue to benefit from 

changes happening in California, and our outlook is positive. This is great news for all 

homeowners! We have location, we have demand, and we have increased ability to afford 

a mortgage... combined with interest rates that are approaching historical lows at the 

moment. 

If you would like to know what the market value of your home is today, please call or email 

me now! I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

Sharing your goals, 


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 

August 2019

Sold Is Our Favorite Word...Let Us Make It Yours! 


ABR, AHWD, BPOR, BS, CDPE, CRS, DRB, GRI, RSPS, SRES 

Broker/Owner 

770 Coronado Center Dr., Suite 100 


Office (702) 777-1234 

Laura@HarbisonRealEstate.com 

www.LauraHarbisonRealEstate.com 

Realty Executives Southern Nevada Properties 

Is Independently Owned and Operated 

1600 Benchley Court 

Sun City Anthem Highly Upgraded Colonial w/ Casita 

on .26 Acre Premium Lot! 3BD Plus Den, 3BA, 2 Car Garage 

in Approx. 2093 SF. Kitchen w/ Granite Counters & 

Backsplash, Custom Cabinets, Pantry w/ Pull-Out Shelves. 

Spacious Master w/ Bay Window, Ceiling Fan and Walk-in 

Closet. Casita w/ Wet Bar and Fridge. $439,900 

2432 Eagle Harbor Dr. 

SUN CITY ANTHEM Upgraded Delaware Floorplan w/ 2 BR 

Plus Den, 2 BA, 1496 SF Home with Finished 2 car garage 

w/ Cabinets, Shelves and Swamp Cooler. Kitchen Boasts 

Corian Counters, Breakfast Bar, Upgraded Cabinets and 

Recessed Lighting. Master Suite w/ Walk-In Closet and 

Door to Rear Patio. Age Restricted $328,800 

5654 Thunder Spirit St. 

Russell Grand Canyon Split Level Home w/ 4BD, 2.5 

BA, 2 Car Garage in Approximately 2310 SF. Mountain 

Views! Kitchen w/ Corian Counters, Breakfast Bar, New 

SS Appliances and New Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring. 

Spacious Upstairs Family Room. Huge Downstairs 

Living Room. Much More! $369,900 

2629 Evening Sky Dr. 

SUN CITY ANTHEM Highly Upgraded Arlington Floorplan 

on Gorgeous Golf Course Lot with Sweeping Golf and 

Mountain Views! 3 BR, 2.5 BA, 2321 SF Home with 

Finished 3 Car Garage. Expanded Nevada Room w/ Tile 

Flooring and Built-in Bookcases. Spacious Master Suite 

with Bay Window. Age Restricted. $620,000 

2472 Jade Sky St. 

SOLERA at ANTHEM Upgraded Whitney Floorplan. 2 BR 

plus Den, 2 BA, 1596 SF Home with 2 Car Garage. Island 

Kitchen Features Corian Counters, Breakfast Bar, 

Upgraded Cabinets w/ Pull-Out Shelves and Recessed 

Lighting. Master Suite w/ Ceiling Fan and Walk-in Closet. 

Covered Patio with Extension. Age Restricted. $354,500 

1043 Via San Gallo Court 

Tuscany One Story Home on Cul-De-Sac Lot with 

3BD, 3 BA, 2 Car Garage in approximately 2027 SF. 

Open Floorplan. Island Kitchen w/ Granite Counters, 

Breakfast Bar, Pantry & Veggie Sink. Spacious Great 

Room with Ceiling Fan and 2-Way Fireplace. Master 

Suite with Ceiling Fan and Slider to Rear. $389,900 

7736 White Ginger Ave. 

MOUNTAINS EDGE Gorgeous Semi-Custom Toll 

Brothers Home in Gated Community! 4BD, 3 BA, 3 

Car Garage in 3145 SF. Upgraded Kitchen w/ Granite 

Countertops and Tile Backsplash. Formal Living 

Room. Family Room w/ Gas Fireplace. Master Suite 

w/ Sitting Room. Much more! $519,900 

2493 Serene Moon Dr. 

SOLERA at ANTHEM Unsurpassed Panoramic 

Mountain & City Views! 2 BR plus Den, 2 BA, 1596 SF 

Home w/ 2 Car Garage. Highly Upgraded Throughout. 

Island Kitchen with Upgraded Counters & Cabinets 

with Pull-Out Shelves. Custom Window Coverings. 

Covered Patio. Age Restricted. $380,000 

2731 Woodbine Ave. 

SANDALWOOD / GREEN VALLEY Adorable One Story 

Home w/ 3BD, 2BA, 2 Car Garage in approximately 

1236 SF. Split Floorplan. Above Ground Pool w/ New 

Liner. Open Kitchen with Tile Flooring, Pot Shelves, 

Menu Desk and Nook. Master Suite w/ Walk-In Closet. 

Spacious Great Room w/ Gas Fireplace. $275,000 

3

4 

August 2019 

PUBLISHER/EDITOR 

PRESIDENT 

VP ADVERTISING 

POLITICAL EDITOR 

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR 

NIGHT LIFE EDITOR 

TRAVEL EDITOR 

RADIO HOST 

GRAPHICS EDITOR 

DIGITAL MEDIA 

VIDEO EDITOR 

PROJECT DIRECTOR 

Adrea Barrera 

John Bielun 

Yvonne Cloutier 

Dianne Davis 

Chuck Dean 

Jan Fair 

Howard Galin 

Susan Goldfein 

Linda Gomez 

Volume 16, Issue 6 

OUR FANTASTIC COLUMNISTS 

PROUD 

MEMBERS OF: 

Ali Guggenheim 

Morris Heldt 

Dan Hyde 

Mike Landry 

Heather Latimer 

Joey Kantor 

BJ Killeen 

Kathy Manney 

Kyo Mitchell 

Dan Roberts 

dan@thevegasvoice.net 

Ray Sarbacker 

ray@thevegasvoice.net 

Debbie Landry 

debbie@thevegasvoice.net 

Rana Goodman 

rana@thevegasvoice.net 

Evan Davis 

evan@thevegasvoice.net 

Sam Wagmeister 

Stu Cooper 

Rich Natole / Jon Lindquist 

Michael Roberts 

Ross Roberts 

Matthew Moore 

Bill Caserta 

bill@thevegasvoice.net 

Judy Polumbaum 

Mary Richard 

Renee Riendeau 

Crystal Sarbacker 

Jim Valkenburg 

Beverly Washburn 

Vicki Wentz 

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 

graphics, overall design 

and “General Excellence.” 

We proudly agree with 

the Judge’s decision 

that The Vegas Voice 

is “a brisk, bold, 

upbeat and effective 

publication.”

My Buddy, Stu 

By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules 

“ 

Let me guess. You’re going to use this as an 

excuse for not submitting your column?” 

There will be a “first” in this month’s Vegas 

Voice. After nearly 16 years and over 150 issues, our travel editor, Stu 

Cooper will not be placing his article. 

His “lame” excuse? He decided instead to have heart surgery to repair 

a mitral valve and correct his atrial fibrillation. How Stu discovered 

that he urgently needed this surgery is a great story so at least, The 

Vegas Voice can “salvage” something from his absence. 

Stu received an Apple Series 4 watch from his kids Jonathan and 

Jessica for Father’s Day (Lucky him. I only got a T-shirt). You know 

those watches – it gives you your heart rate, pulse, temperature, how 

to clean a garage (not sure about that one) and yes, even tells you the 

correct time. 

When he put it on, the initial reading was “Heart in Afib – Contact 

Doctor Immediately.” Thinking it was a glitch, he passed the gadget 

to his children and wife, Sharon. The watch displayed their respective 

health vitals. 

Once again, Stu tried it and once again, the same warning appeared. 

Rather than mess around, they immediately went to Urgent Care that 

confirmed the diagnosis and before he knew it, he was on the operating 

table. 

The surgeon corrected the problems and we expect (no, demand!) a 

full recovery. Long story short – the watch saved his life. 

For those unaware, besides serving as travel editor since our initial 

issue, Stu and I have been the best of friends since 1975 when we first 

met in law school. Some 44 years later, with our ever increasing balding 

heads serving as a perfect example, we have shared everything. 

Our friendship has gone through the gamut – from weddings 

(we were ushers at each other’s nuptials), to the joyous births of our 

children, to incredible sadness (including the passing of my wife of 35 

years Amy and our dads) - and everything imaginable in between. 

How we remained best friends over the years is based on our simple 

understanding: I don’t listen to him and he ignores me. 

For over four decades, Stu and Sharon and yours truly with Amy and 

now my PILL (partner in love & life) Rana have travelled and vacationed 

together. From 

Alaska to Tahiti, 

to the Caribbean 

through Europe, 

my vacations have 

always been with 

Stu. And as the photo 

clearly confirms, we 

continue and will 

always be “Vintage 

Schmucks.” 

We have screamed 

and threatened each 

other over the years 

and yet the smiles 

and laughter never 

stopped. Along 

with our adopted 

3 rd Musketeer, 

project director Bill 

Caserta, we flew 

to New York to be 

with Stu during his 

recovery. 

For reasons that 

still baffle me, Stu 

adamantly refused 

my request to take a 

photo of his scarred 

chest (“You really 

are an idiot” he 

“incorrectly” remarked) but I figured that such statement was due to 

the medications and will let that (along with his August article) slide. 

Thankfully (most thankfully) he is going to be fine and Stu will 

definitely be back next month. 

And while I will continue to yell, holler and demand that he submits 

future columns on-time, let me assure all that I’ll say my prayers of 

thanks and even look forward to him aggravating me for many more 

years to come. 

5

By: Bill Caserta / Bill’s Blurbs 

Editor’s Note: With the Las Vegas 

summer heat in full force, we’ve been 

asked by numerous readers to replay the 

following for your amusement. Complain 

all you want about the unbearable heat; 

but it is still better than shoveling snow in 

sub-zero temperatures and arctic wind chills. 

June 1 st : We just moved to Las Vegas. Now this is a City that knows 

how to live! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. Mountains 

and deserts blend together. 

What a place! Watched the sunset from the park. It was beautiful. I’ve 

finally found my home. I love it here. 

June 14 th : Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live 

in an air conditioned home and drive an air conditioned car. 

What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this. I’m turning into a 

real sun worshipper. 

June 30 th : Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. 

Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing 

for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here. 

July 10th: The temperature hasn’t been below 100 all week. How do 

people get used to this kind of heat? At least it’s nice and windy though. 

But getting used to it is taking longer than I expected. 

July 15th: Fell asleep by the pool. Got 3 rd degree burns over 60% of 

my body. Missed 2 days of work – what a dumb thing to do. I learned 

my lesson. I really have to respect the sun in a climate like this. 

July 25 th : This wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blow dryer. 

6 

Diary of a Las Vegas Summer 


And it’s hot as hell! 

The home air conditioner is on the fritz and the AC repairman 

charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts. 

July 30th: Been sleeping outside by the pool for 3 nights. $1,200 

in damn house payments and we can’t even go inside. Why did I ever 

come here? 

August 4 th : It’s 115 freaking degrees. Finally got the air conditioner 

fixed. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to about 90. I hate 

this stupid place. 

August 8 th : If another wise guy cracks: “Hot enough for you 

today” I’m going to tear his throat out. Damn heat. Will it ever get 

below 115 again? 

August 9 th : Tried to run some quick errands. Wore shorts and sat 

on the car’s leather seat. I thought I was on fire. Lost 2 layers of flesh. 

August 10 th : The weather report might as well be a damn recording: 

“Hot and sunny.” It’s been too hot to do anything for over 2 months 

and the weatherman says it will really warm up next week. 

By the way, does it ever rain in this damn desert? With the water 

rationing, $2,500 worth of cactus just might dry up. Even a cactus can’t 

live in this heat. 

August 19th: WELCOME TO HELL. Temperature got to 121 today. If 

I had wanted to live in Death Valley, I would have moved there. 

Forgot to crack the window and blew the damned windshield out 

of the car. The installer came to fix it and said: “Hot enough for you 

today?” My wife had to spend the $1,200 house payment to bail me out. 

If I don’t end up in prison, I’m putting the house up for sale and 

moving back to Buffalo! 

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.

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7

By: Evan Davis / Entertainment Editor 

Can you imagine? It’s the 50-year anniversary 

of WOODSTOCK. 

You remember WOODSTOCK, don’t you? I 

lived in New York at the time but was working, 

married and had a kid, so traveling upstate to party was out of the 

question. 

However, the music of WOODSTOCK stayed with me (and all baby 

boomers) for years. And we’re still rockin’ to the sounds of greats such 

as: Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills 

& Nash, Santana, Joan Baez, The Who, Creedence Clearwater 

Revival and more… 

Now you can bring back those memories by joining The Vegas Voice 

at the Performing Arts Center at the Clark County Library on East 

Flamingo Road on Sunday, August 18 th at 2:30 pm (See pages 

20-21). We will all grove to the sounds of WOODSTOCK with tribute 

stars that will bring you back in time. 

The band, under the musical direction of Bob Sachs, knows just 

what it will take to keep you out of your seats and rocking to the sounds 

of the 60s’ - just as our star-studded line up will do. And the performers 

that will rock the theater know exactly what WOODSTOCK was all 

about. 

Dennis Blair will do two or three of the original WOODSTOCK 

songs as will Kent Foote. As a Janis Joplin tribute singer, 

8 

Our Great Woodstock Celebration 

The First Ladies of Las Vegas Entertainment 

By: Dianne Davis / That’s Entertainment 

Simply stated, Kelly Clinton-Holmes and 

Elisa Fiorillo deliver a delightful show filled 

with music, songs, laughter, energy, Vegas pizzazz 

and of course, the mandatory wardrobe changes. 

The two sparkle in their Vegas-style garb with songs including “Thank 

You for Being a Friend” and “I’m a Woman.” These women present a 

polish, high energy show in the intimate setting of the Pegasus Room 

at the Alexis Park All-Suites Hotel. 

I’ve always been a fan of Kelly’s. You know that she loves what she 

does. Here, she gives us all of it. Her singing, her comedy, her schtick. 

Elisa is another Vegas talent and a perfect partner for their twosomes. 

They each bring personality and poise to their individual performances. 

These lovely ladies are backed by the talents of Michael Clark on 

keyboard, David Ramirez on drums and the versatile Dennis Blair on 

the guitar. But wait, there’s more! 

Blair, one of my favorite performers, moves from playing guitar to 

showcasing his singing and comedic talent in “I’m Thinking of Being 

a Catholic Again.” You can’t beat the three of them together when 

Dennis is pressed into service to be the third Andrews sister in their 

rendition of “Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy of Company B.” 

Elisa’s rendition of “Arms of An Angel” is a showstopper and Kelly’s 

“Boots are Make for Walking” is a delight. You want humor? Check 


Michelle Rohl will take 

you back 50 years and Mark 

Giovi will once again be a 

rocker. 

Elisa Fiorillo (who was 

with Prince for many years) 

knows what Rock n Roll was 

all about, so don’t wear any 

socks because they WILL BE 

knocked off. Of course, Keith 

Neal who plays with the 

Dennis Blair 

Bronx Wanderers, Kent 

Foote, the Crosby Stills and Nash tribute group (and many more) 

will also join the band as their lead guitar player. And a great one he is. 

Dress for the occasion if it pleases you. I’ll be wearing ripped jeans 

and a tie died shirt in honor of the event. Any “Joints” will be confiscated 

at the door by me. 

With limited seating and even fewer VIP seats, call for tickets today 

at The Vegas Voice ticket hotline 702/755-3799. The Performing Arts 

Center has a wonderful stage, great sound and terrific theater seating, 

so call today! 

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. 

out Elisa’s “Bun 

in the Oven” 

and Kelly’s take 

on Elvis. Then, 

they amuse us 

with their special 

comedic take on 

Neil Diamond 

and Barbra 

Streisand. 

The show, a 

perfect blend of 

pop, jazz, comedy, 

standards and 

delightful 

comedy runs 

Friday nights at 

7:00 pm. in the 

Pegasus Room at 

the Alexis Park. 

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.

Goodnight Mrs. Calabash 

By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments 

Jimmy Durante was a beloved comedian, 

composer, actor, singer and songwriter. He 

was born in 1893 in New York City; the youngest 

of 5 children. He was a kind, considerate, honest man. 

He quit school in the 8th grade to help out with finances. His parents 

insisted Jimmy study classical piano music, which he did for years. 

He considered being a barber, like his father, but decided to stick with 

“pianner playin,” shifting to the ragtime rage. He became known as 

“Ragtime Jimmy.” 

At 23, he organized a 5-piece band, Chicago New Orleans Jazz 

Band. At 30, he and vaudevillian partner, Lou Clayton, opened Club 

Durant (the e was mistakenly left out.) They sealed the deal with a 

handshake and did their business that way till Durante died. 

For his theme song, he used a short version of a nonsense song he 

and Ben Ryan wrote in 1933, called Inka Dinka Doo. Ben Ryan was 

a vaudevillian performer, skit and song writer. He also wrote Heart of 

My Heart. 

Durante’s Brooklyn-accented gravel voice massacred the English 

language. People loved it! He’d interrupt the act with, “Stop Da music 

everybody!” 

Jimmy Durante would end his shows with, “Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, 

wherever you are.” It was thought to be for his first wife, who died in her 

40s from heart failure. 

Another trademark of Jimmy’s was his large nose called Schnoz or 

Schnozzle. He used these names to his advantage in his acts, but as a 

child, he was very sensitive about it. 

He’d go home, crying because of his funny looks. Durante decided 

never to make jokes about anybody’s looks or speech defects. 

Some years after his 

wife’s death, he married 

long-time friend, a 

former hatcheck girl, 

Marjorie Little. He was 

67, she was 39. 

He appeared in many 

Broadway musicals, 

had his own radio and 

TV shows, and was 

the voice for several 

cartoon characters. 

His numerous awards 

included Hollywood 

Walk of Fame 

recognition and even 

a street in Las Vegas 

named after him. 

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. 

9

10 

Old signs. New technology. 

This revolutionary art uses 

sight and sound to transport 

you through time and bring 

long dormant signs back to 

life. You literally have to see 

it to believe it. 

BOOK A VISIT 

NeonMuseum.org 


Rocketman 

By: Renee Riendeau / Movie Revelations 

“ 

I’ve had an incredible life, but life is about 

change.” Last year after a 300-date tour John 

announced he’s retiring from the road to spend 

more time with his family. “My priorities are my 

children, my husband, and my family.” 

Elton John became the world’s biggest rock star, then nearly 

lost everything to addiction. Those closest to him look back on his 

remarkable rise and rebirth as Rocketman hits the big screen. 

This movie was directed by veteran Dexter Fletcher and produced 

by David Furnish, John’s husband. David reports that John was an 

unhappy, lonely, only child fearful of his cold, distant father, a Royal Air 

Force flight lieutenant. Elton was a product of a stormy marriage that 

ended in divorce in 1962. 

Painfully shy as 

Reggie Dwight, he 

came out of his 

shell as Elton John 

and embraced his 

sexuality. In 1984 John 

shocked his friends by 

marrying German, 

sound engineer Renate 

Blauel. 

They divorced after four years. John then announced he was, 

“comfortable being gay.” 

Past the peak of his career, because of substance abuse, John 

was in rehab, sorting through the highs and lows of memory as he 

triumphantly pulls himself back from the brink. But the music served 

up in production numbers, that at times soar into exhilarating fantasy, 

never fails to catch us emotionally. 

To play John in Rocketman, Taron Egerton, 29, ate meals at John’s 

home and read his diaries. Egerton did his own singing and became 

Elton on a “molecular level” quotes John’s devoted husband Furnish. 

Taron “kills the show” as many critics proclaim. 

The musical Rocketman, is up there with Mamma Mia, and Bohemian 

Rhapsody, and is a fitting “pop monument” to superstar Elton John. The 

director does an excellent job of conveying how a young gay performer 

expresses his sexuality in both 

the bedroom and at the piano. 

I am giving this true life 

film “Rocketman” five boxes 

5 

of buttered popcorn. Taron 

Egerton blasts off as the 

legendary Elton John! 

And I hope to see YOU at the 

movies. 

Renee Riendeau is the movie critic for “Renee’s Revelations” 

on Anthem Alive SCA-TV. As a dog sitter she operates “ Renee’s 

Roommates” out of her home and can be reached at 

rriendeau@aol.com.

I Donate Now Leave Me Alone! 

By: Adrea Nairne-Barrera / 60s to 60 

We have reached the end of our patience 

with donation robo-calls, checkout 

counters asking for donations, TV ads, and even 

ATM machines! 

It seems the world is getting in on an old play well documented in my 

family history. GUILT! If I say no in front of the supermarket cashier, I 

look like a mean old lady. 

Get away to a casino and put a cash ticket into the ATM and it asks 

if you want to donate a percentage of that ticket. At least you have a 

choice of a few charities and after all, these may be gambling winnings 

and you’ll go to a fiery place if you don’t share your good luck. More 

guilt! 

The calls can be very interesting too. There’s this man from a police 

fund who sounds completely irritated when you say no and I am afraid 

that if I call 911 from the same number, no one will come. What to do? 

Guilt now mixed with fear. 

Another call tells me about children, another about veterans and the 

list goes on. And the calls never stop so we started blocking numbers. 

That did absolutely nothing because they never call from the same 

number more than once. 

My husband is a veteran, I love kids and I am passionate about 

animals. We go through all the mailers every few months and take 

everything into consideration and support multiple causes to the best 

of our ability. 

We even donated for a cow or goat to enable a 3 rd world country 

family to have milk. They didn’t assault me in the grocery store to get 

my attention. I read about it and liked what I read. 

If I get too many mailers with “gifts,” that tells me they’re possibly 

spending an awful lot of my donation money on marketing and not 

helping. I suppose I should thank them for the thousands of address 

labels we’ve received. 

In the end, we do our part and are very grateful for the privileged life 

we lead. But for heaven’s sake, leave me alone! 

Adrea Nairne-Barrera writes of celebrations, observations & 

complaints of life in the 60s to being in your 60s. 

11

Doggie Deposits 

By: Rana Goodman / On My Soapbox 

“ 

I always pick up after my dog” she said 

with indignation. No, you (apparently but 

unfortunately) don’t! 

There have been many days when I walked my dogs near my home 

that I couldn’t help but notice other “pet parents” with their “best 

friend” minus the little “poop bag” we all should be carrying. 

Thus, when I received a telephone call from a friend and neighbor 

asking if we have community rules mandating that we clean up after 

pets, I thought this reminder might be appropriate. 

Although there are dozens of Pet Stations all around our Sun City 

community, I often see residents walking their dogs who neglect to pick 

up “that package” their dog deposited in someone’s yard or along the 

landscape areas on the streets. 

Not only is this habit totally inconsiderate of a neighbor’s or 

community property, it also spreads germs, attracts flies, roaches, foul 

odors and heaven knows what else in our beautiful neighborhood. 

It was suggested a few years ago that some Homeowners Association 

were considering getting DNA tests 

done on some “doggie deposits” to 

match up with test results taken at 

move in-time of those residents who 

owned canines. Of course, the idea 

went nowhere fast; especially since 

owners in that community resented 

such an expense coming from their 

assessments. 

Here is, perhaps a better idea: 

drop off a small roll of “doggie poop 

bags” at the homes of the offenders, 

preferably empty. Let us send a 

message to our neighbors to be 

friendly and considerate when it comes our “best friend” - not to foster 

a hostile community. 

You can contact Rana by email: Rana@thevegasvoice.net. Also 

check out her blog about life in Sun City Anthem at: 

Anthemtoday.com 

For those of you who have followed our four plus years odyssey 

through the guardianship scandal, you might recall us writing 

and speaking about Rudy & Rennie North. Her daughter Julie Belshe 

had originally reached out to Dan and I asking that we meet with her 

to help. 

She stated that her parents had been “kidnapped” from their home 

in Summerlin by private guardian April Parks. It was that meeting that 

showed us how scandalous the guardianship industry was. 

It took Julie and lots of volunteers over two years to free them. 

It greatly saddens me to tell our readers that, although Rudy and 

Rennie were able to watch Parks handcuffed and sent to her new 

residence (called prison) the joy of being free didn’t last that long. 

Rennie North, the feisty tiny lady who fought back; who yelled at 

Parks to “get out of my house” in the award winning documentary, 

“The Guardians”, passed away last month. Our Vegas Voice family 

extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to Rudy, Julie, and 

the entire family. 

12 

Rest in Peace Rennie 


“The Guardians” in Siena 

Former Senator Becky Harris joined our political editor Rana Goodman 

for the presentation of the documentary “The Guardians” at Siena last 

month. It was our 12 th guardianship seminar this year. 

Joining Rana and Becky are Vegas Voice president Ray with his “better 

half” Vacation Editor Crystal Sarbacker.

13

14 

Practice With Purpose 

By: Mike Landry / Golf Fore Ever 

When you practice, do it with a purpose. 

What do I mean? 

Since I play golf once or twice each week and 

practice 3-5 times per week, I have the opportunity to watch golfers 

on the range. I see them with huge buckets of balls hitting one golf 

ball after another without taking the time to line up or make any 

adjustments. 

In my opinion, this is a waste of time. If a golfer is hitting 20 balls 

before the start of his round, that’s not a problem as they are simply 

loosening up. 

Driving Range - I think golfers should have a plan and know what 

they are going to work on before getting to the range. Maybe it’s a drill 

from a coach during a recent lesson or a YouTube video but whatever it 

is, make sure you practice with a purpose. 

If its alignment, step back and make sure you are lined up properly 

with your target using alignment tools. Check your position after each 

ball. 

If it’s your follow through or balance that’s causing issues, study your 

finish. Take time between each golf ball to analyze how you did and 

make corrections along the way. 

Chipping – Same thing applies. Don’t just pitch 100 balls from 30 

yards and call it good. If you have a weakness in your short game, work 

on that and improve by trying different things. 

Practice pitching to a tight pin over a bunker or practice pitching 

out of divots. Work on different angles and different grass thicknesses. 

Practicing these shots will boost your confidence next time you’re on 

the golf course. 

Putting – Practice with a purpose by figuring out how to read each 

putt. Practice putting to the high side of the hole, so you don’t miss 

your putts to the low side. Practice your speed, alignment, short and 

long putts. 

While practice may not guaranty perfect shots every time, it will 

improve your confidence on the golf course and that’s so important to 

playing better golf, and a major factor in lowering your scores. 

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 


Various Psychic Abilities 

By: Ali Guggenheim / Psychic Phenomenon 

Most people have a tendency to lump all 

psychics into the same category. The word 

Psychic tends to trigger visions of a woman gazing 

into a crystal ball, palm reading, or card reading. 

However, the majority would be surprised to learn that there’s quite 

a variety of different types of psychic powers and different applicable 

purposes for each. 

Different psychics receive intuitive guidance in different ways - much 

like an invitation that can be delivered by mail, via the internet, by 

phone, etc. Though, some psychics may only receive information by 

one form of delivery, others may receive transmissions by multiple 

means. 

The following are some minimized descriptions of different types of 

psychic transmissions, some more common than others, described by 

“The Guide to Psychic Abilities.” 

Astral Projection: Can will out of body consciousness. 

Automatic Writing: Channels spirits to write messages from the 

beyond. 

Clairaudience: Hears beyond normal human perception. 

Clair Cognizance: Clearly knowing without any previous knowledge. 

Clairgustance: Can taste a substance without contact. 

Clairsentience: Psychic ability to sense or feel something 

supernatural. Can instantly know people’s name, birthday, emotional 

state, life details. 

Clairvoyants: Can see and communicate with spirits or ghosts. Can 

also see the future. 

Divination: Gathers evidence from the spiritual world to interpret 

the physical world. Most common headings includes; Bibliomancy, 

Clairvoyants, Coffee Grinds, Crystal Balls, Dowsing, ESP, Ouija Boards, 

Pendulums, Precognition, Scrying, Tarot Cards, Tea Leaves. Also uses 

many other tools to translate messages from the ethereal world. 

Mediums: Communicate with dead relatives. 

Post Cognition: Sees the past. 

Psychic Channeling: Relays messages to and from the spiritual 

world. 

Psychic Empathy: Senses another person’s emotions. 

Remote Viewing: Receives visions or impressions related to distant 

objects. 

Telekinesis: Is the ability to move objects in the physical world with 

their mind. 

Telepathy: Human (or animal) mind-to-mind communication. 

To contact Ali or for spiritual consultations, coaching, workshops 

and readings, email: alivegasvoice@yahoo.com.

Reverse Mortgage Seminars 

By: Nick Flores / Loan Educator 

Have you been to any reverse mortgage 

seminars? If your answer is “no”, what 

are you waiting for? It’s free education! 

A Reverse Mortgage Seminar will provide you the knowledge, 

facts and tools to fact check the information you’ve been given. The 

seminar should take only forty-five minutes to an hour. The goal of this 

seminar is to provide facts to the common myths that surround reverse 

mortgage loans. 

Of course, each individual senior’s situation is different from the rest. 

That is why we provide a one-on-one approach to explore whether a 

reverse mortgage is a right fit for you. 

The key is to think about your “want” and your “need.” What is it 

that has you considering some alternative to the course of action you 

are in now? 

Your “want” and “need” will play a critical role in determining if 

the reverse mortgage is right for you. That is what a Reverse Mortgage 

Seminar is about. 

Finding out more about you and how a reverse mortgage can benefit 

you today - while you’re alive. The Reverse Mortgage Seminar will 

educate you on ways you can tap into your equity to plan a dream 

vacation, or simply to supplement your income. 

And a reverse mortgage allows you all the benefits without having to 

pay a monthly payment until you are done using the loan. Only when 

you pass away or move to another primary residence will the reverse 

mortgage be due. 

The Reverse Mortgage Seminar will also advise that one can 

refinance an existing reverse mortgage loan. You are able to use the 

reverse mortgage loan for a purchase on a new home. 

Remember - the benefit of coming to the Reverse Mortgage Seminar 

is to learn and to be educated with your options. 

A reverse mortgage is for seniors sixty-two and up. Come join us and 

empower your knowledge, explore your options, and get the tools to fact 

check for yourself. 

15

38 

Stopping the Aging Process 

By: Linda Bateman-Gomez / Timeless Beauty 

turned 64 in June and there are days when 

I I look in the mirror and think, yikes! How 

could I feel 35, but look 65? 

While we try to take care of ourselves, the aging process continues 

and genetics plays a huge part in the process. Fancy creams and healthy 

food may help, but very few people escape some sign of aging. 

Every magazine and beauty site have all the latest options - invasive 

and non-invasive. I was curious as to how many men and women 

would consider a procedure to help fight the signs of aging, so I did a 

quick Facebook poll and the results surprised me. 

Two to one people said no to a facelift, fillers and Botox. It was however 

the reverse as to whether people would consider laser treatments. 

16 


CoolSculpting was one treatment some wanted to try on their body, 

as it’s considered a non-invasive way to eliminate fat around common 

problem areas. I know people that have done this and liked it. There 

is minimal discomfort and down time, but it is costly and needs a few 

treatments. 

Laser and treatments like micro-needling (with PRP) have come 

a long way, but reviews seemed mixed. While laser doesn’t replace a 

facelift, more people seem open to trying it. 

It is expensive and has some downtime (depending on which laser 

treatment you get and can be painful) but the consensus was it is still 

less invasive than a traditional facelift. The reviews about the results 

vary also; some finding it beneficial, others saying the final result was 

not worth the money. 

With any of these treatments, there’s always the risk of side effects. 

Check sites like RealSelf for honest reviews. Many people are wonderful 

about sharing every detail and it’s important to understand everything. 

Additionally, before/after photos on a doctor’s web page may not be a 

patient he/she has worked on but rather photos shared by the company 

that owns the machine. You should see examples of work your doctor 

has done. If you decide to try any treatment, go to a certified expert and 

ask questions! 

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.

Goodbye, Old Friend 

By: BJ Killeen / Down the Road 

It was 1949, and the baby boom was in full 

swing. It was also the year Volkswagen 

introduced the Beetle to America. Few cars have 

reached the same status icon as the affectionately known “Bug.” 

I’ll bet many of you have either, at one point in your life, owned a 

Beetle or had a friend who owned one. They could float, the air-cooled 

engine could be fixed with a rubber band and a stick of chewing gum, 

and one even beat Ferraris in a fictional movie (we love ya, Herbie!). 

The VW Beetle comes close to the cockroach as the only bug who 

would survive Armageddon. 

But the time has come, once again, to bid farewell to one of the most 

popular cars ever created. While the Beetle’s history is more infamous - 

commissioned in the 1930s by Hitler as the people’s car (volks wagen) 

the Beetle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche of 911 sports car fame. 

After the war, the British took over the factory and continued to 

produce the popular hardtop coupe. By 1972, the Beetle had sold over 

15 million units, and replaced the Ford Model T as the best-selling car 

in the world. 

The Beetle ceased production for a while, then reappeared as the 

“New” Beetle in 1998. The third-generation Beetle ran from 2012 until 

this year, when the car will be retired yet again. Total sales of the Beetle 

are upward of 22 million. 

The 2019 Beetle will be the last in a long lineage. Over the decades, 

the styling has remained, but, thankfully, safety, interior features, 

performance, and technology have not. 

Today’s Beetle is better in every way yet retains all of the reasons why 

people fell in love with it in the first place: affordable, adorable and fun 

to drive. A testament to the love for the Beetle can be seen in myriad 

car clubs around the world, as well as never-ending adulation from 

Hollywood filmmakers. 

Will there ever be another Beetle produced from Volkswagen? 

According to Hinrich Woebcken, former President and CEO of VW, 

“Never say never.” 

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 

17

By: Susan Goldfein / Susan’s Unfiltered Wit 

Are you reluctant to share your age? Are 

you reluctant to share your email address? 

If you answered “yes” to the first question, and 

“no” to the second, and are an AOL user, you’re 

screwed! 

According to popular wisdom proffered by millennials, if AOL appears 

after the @, you’re fat, over 80, a technology dinosaur and live in the 

suburbs. Furthermore, AOL users are clinging to an antique and should 

never be taken seriously. 

About anything. Because we’re blithering idiots. 

Back in the day, if you wanted an email account and internet access, 

AOL was it. Their disks were everywhere, free for the taking. 

So we took. It was simple to establish an account, and soon the little 

yellow man was running across the computer screen, assuring you that 

your dial-up was working. 

That’s when I began using AOL. I did have a free “Hotmail” account 

for a while, but true to its name, it flooded my inbox with enticing ads 

for penile implants, pills to enhance my sexual prowess, and numbers 

to call if I was interested in a three-way. Eventually, Hotmail left me 

cold. 

Despite the fact that AOL email shaming is rampant, I won’t be 

intimidated. So to people who say, “Why do you still use AOL?” I say, 

“Why not?” 

If something’s been working for 20 years, why change? Why go 

through the trouble of contacting every person and entity you know or 

have been doing business with for two decades? 

AOL has good security, adequate storage, spam protection, friendly 

interface, and access to mail on my other devices. Do I really need 

By: Heather Latimer / Heather’s Self-Help Tips 

An aged lady complained to me that she was 

forced to ask a neighbor to get her mail 

from a cluster box at the end of the dead-end road 

on which she lives. I promised to look into the 

matter and thereafter inquired at the post office on her behalf. 

The postmaster informed me that there is a Hardship Mail Delivery 

Program. This may be made available to someone who is disabled, 

lives alone and has difficulty collecting mail due to a steep driveway or 

faraway location of the box. 

There is no preprinted application form so you must follow the below 

procedures instead: 

1. Ask your doctor to write a statement confirming your mobility 

problem and why it makes access to your mailbox unsafe. 

2. Write your own note giving the location of the offending mailbox 

plus your name, address, phone number, and email (if you have one) 

and attach it to the doctor’s letter 

3. Place both in an envelope with a stamp on it and send to the: 

Postmaster, United States Postal Service, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

18 

Is Your Email Address Telling on You? 

Mailbox Out of Reach 


more? If someone invents an email account that vacuums and washes 

windows, I might consider switching. 

I am aware that cooler alternatives to AOL do exist, like the popular 

“gmail.” But I find Google so pushy. They always want to know where I 

am and are constantly offering to store my passwords. 

Frankly, I think they’re up to something. And what makes Google so 

cool anyway? Big deal that everyone shows up for work wearing T-shirts. 

And there’s “Yahoo.” But do I really want an email address that has 

the resonance of a drunken cowboy slapping his horse? 

Therefore, I will stand up to the derision, keep my AOL and continue 

to take comfort from the familiar voice informing me that I’ve got mail. 

But I can foresee a time in the future, perhaps when I meet my 

maker, that I might have to switch. Because in heaven, the only choice 

may very well be the “Cloud.” 

Susan Goldfein’s newest book, How to Complain When There’s 

Nothing to Complain About, is available at Amazon.com, BN.com, 

Read her blog at: www.SusansUnfilteredWit.com. Email Susan: 

SusanGoldfein@aol.com. 

A postal official will visit to determine if your condition warrants 

Hardship Service. Also s/he will check the exterior of your residence to 

determine a suitable site for a personal mailbox to become a fixture. 

Those details will be relayed to the USPS regional office and, if approved, 

installers will mount a mailbox close to your door. 

Heather Latimer is a nationally recognized specialist in making 

difficult subjects easy and author of 17 books. Her biography, and 

latest non-fiction “How To Overcome Once-Easy Tasks That Are Now 

Pains In The You-Know-What,” can be found at: amazon.com/ 

heatherlatimer/howtoovercomeonceeasy.

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21

Big Vinny & Friends Rock Chicago 

By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places 

Dreams of his young life surely came true for 

23-year old Keith Bondi when he took the 

stage, guitar slung over his shoulder, backing the 

Bronx Wanderers’ Vinny Adinolfi at Chicago’s Oakley Street Festival. 

Stretching back more than a decade, the Wanderers performed as many 

as ten shows annually for promoter Ron Onesti, a schedule that was 

whittled to 3-4 when the group landed their Las Vegas residency. Actor 

and mutual friend Chazz Palminteri introduced the pair. 

Father’s Day weekend saw a jammed schedule for the Bronx 

Wanderers (six shows in four days) including the round trip to 

Chicago. With his two sons down for the count (musical director, son 

Vin A, on medically required vocal rest and youngest son, drummer 

Nick on maternity leave) Adinolfi made the executive decision: he’d 

rest the band and head to Chicago on his own. A call went out to the 

young Bondi. 

Ten years earlier, Bondi’s father Tony approached Adinolfi at a Windy 

City appearance “and asked me if his 12-year old son can join us on 

stage for Johnny B Goode. He said his son was really good. Turned out, 

he was right. For the last ten years he has come up to join us on stage.” 

Not only did the young Bondi jump at Adinolfi’s newest offer, he 

suggested his bass player and drummer as band members. “It’s a really 

full circle kind of twist, how this little kid from ten years ago saved me.” 

Proud Papa Tony Bondi posted that Adinolfi “provided a great role 

model for him,” adding “this man, his family and this band (are) first 

class all the way.” 

Adinolfi boarded an early flight with Vegas subs piano-man Jeffrey 

Neiman and sax-man Keith Brennaman. Together with the newly 

acquired Chicago talent they blew the imaginary roof off the outdoor 

arena to the delight of an estimated 3,000 exuberant dancing-in-thestreet-and-rain 

fans. 

Keith Bondi (L) & Vinny Adinolfi Photo courtesy 

Amara Riccio 

Without the usual Vegas contingent, “It was a different show,” 

producer Onesti noted, adding that it returned more to its original 

“oldies” roots. “Vinny brought that warmth he’s known for. The crowd 

was very enthusiastic.” 

Recapping the evening, Adinolfi commented, “I couldn’t have done 

it without him (Bondi).” 

Longtime fan Mary Lee, a member of the Chicago fan club Front 

Row Ladies, has travelled to Milwaukee, Florida, New Jersey, New 

York, Las Vegas and Kansas City to see the group. “It goes back to 

the beginning…when the boys (Vin and Nicky) were young. It was 

exciting to see everybody dancing to the finale, Copacabana,” she said. 

The Bronx Wanderers are in residency at the The Linq’s Mat 

Franco Theater. Showtimes and tickets are available at www. 

TheBronxWanderers.com. A local’s discount is available by entering 

the code BWLOCAL. 

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. 

22 

HOWRU Program 

By: Carol Chapman 

If you have ever had the thought “I’m a senior 

living alone and need someone to check on 

me every day,” the Foundation Assisting Seniors 

has a free resource available to meet this need. The HOWRU TM program 

is available nationwide to anyone over the age of 50 and provides 

invaluable peace of mind to seniors and their families. 

Upon set-up of the program, individuals designate emergency 

contacts and make arrangements for a house key to be safely stored in 

case it’s needed. The service works through a daily call sequence that 

starts with the participating senior. 

If the subscriber does not answer, a second call is made 15 minutes 

later. If that call is not answered, previously designated emergency 

contacts are called for follow up. In the event that those contacts are 

not reached, the Foundation Assisting Seniors coordinator will contact 

local police services for a 311 well check on the senior. 


The Foundation Assisting Seniors is able to offer this service free of 

charge due to donations, sponsorships and grants. Currently there are 

55 members of the local community taking advantage of HOWRU TM . 

Since its inception, the program has saved the lives of seven seniors. 

The Foundation Assisting Seniors supports 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 260,000 requests for assistance services in the 

Las Vegas Valley. 

For more information on the HOWRU TM program, please call 

725/244-4200 or visit: www.foundationassistingseniors.org

Summer Fitness 

By: Mary Richard / Health Fitness 

So Summer is here and almost over. The heat 

is still on and dang - if you haven’t lost an 

ounce! Don’t fret. You’ve enjoyed your summer, 

right? 

It is never too late to work on that tummy bulge. One helpful hint to 

shave off a pound a week is by cutting just 500 calories a day. But do be 

careful to eat enough – otherwise your body will start to store energy as 

fat. 

You can also do the following: 

1. Log Your Meals, Snacks & Drinks. You can use a notebook, 

calendar, or anything that will assist you in keeping track of what you 

eat and drink. You’ll be surprised when you start tracking how many 

calories you are consuming! 

2. Have a Little Protein with every meal and snack. This helps stabilize 

your blood sugar level, helping to stave off your hunger pangs. Nuts, eggs, 

lean meats, chicken, fish, tofu, and low-fat yogurt are all good sources. 

3. Avoid Tummy Fatteners like foods high in sodium and sugar and 

carbonated beverages. They can make you gassy and “pooch” up your 

tummy. 

4. Eat Your Veggies. They are fiber-rich and can help you feel fuller 

faster. Eating lots of fiber-rich foods will assist in digestion. 

5. Drink Lots of Water. This makes you feel a little fuller and helps 

with digestion. Rule of thumb: Take half your body weight, divide it in 

half and that is your “normal” amount of ounces per day. If you exercise 

or are outside for any amount of time, additional ounces of water are 

needed. 

An exercise for tummy-flattening: Using a 2 pound weight, stand 

with feet shoulder-width apart, hold the weight above your head with 

both hands. Pulls abs in tight, then lift arms straight overhead, actively 

reaching as high as you can for 10 counts. Lower arms; repeat five times. 

Positive attitude and good 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. 

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23

24 

Topics Incl: 

Fascinating 

Brain Facts 

By: Jamillah Ali-Rahman 

/ Friends of Parkinson’s 

Did you know? According to Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Brain 

Website: 

1. Your brain processes about 70,000 thoughts each and every day. 

2. Your brain works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

3. The human brain continues to grow and change throughout life. 

4. The human brain, while so powerful and efficient, is very gelatin 

like with a tofu-like consistency, and it’s very fragile. 

5. You can power a small light bulb with the electricity created in 

the brain. 

6. The human brain requires 20% of the entire body’s blood flow and 

the brain holds over 400 miles of blood vessels. 

7. The human brain is the most powerful learning tool in the world. 

It is an intricate and complex network comprised of 100 billion neurons 

that meet at over 500 trillion synapses that travel 300 miles per hour. 

8. Like the human body, the brain ages by shrinking in size, slowing 

in speed and becoming less adaptable to change. 

9. When something new is learned the structure of the brain changes 

and new brain connections are created with each new memory. 

10. Music triggers dopamine and pleasure centers in the brain, just 

like sex and drugs. 

Jamillah Ali-Rahman is the Founder/CEO of the Friends 

of Parkinson’s Inc, a Nevada 501(c)3 nonprofit. www. 

friendsofparkinsons.org. 

The Inter-professional Health Symposium 

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Treatment Options for 

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Freezing and Gait Issues 

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Speakers Incl: 

Dr. Zoltan Mari 

Dr. Gayla Raz 

Dr. Eric Farbman 

Dr. Merrill Landers 

And More 

Saturday, August 17, 2019 

9AM to 3PM 

Roseman University of Health Sciences 

Henderson Campus 

11 Sunset Way 


Registration: www.friendsofparkinsons.org 

Information: 702-381-4141 

Sponsored by Parkinson’s Education Series 

Strategies for Treating 

Atrial Fibrillation 

By: Kyo Mitchell / A Healthier You 

Last month, we discussed what happens to the 

body when a person has atrial fibrillation. To 

recap, the electrical impulses do not reach all of the muscle cells in a 

section of the heart (the atrium) in a coordinated manner. 

As such, the atrium does not contract as a single coordinated unit, 

but rather different parts contract at different times. This makes the 

heart’s ability to pump blood far less efficient. 

Because blood is being pumped out the body less efficiently, the body 

works less efficiently showing a number of different symptoms. The 

cardinal symptom is fatigue, especially with exertion. 

Atrial fibrillation is not an easy medical problem to treat but there 

are a number of medical interventions that may help the heart work 

more efficiently and ease symptoms. To start off with, your cardiologist 

may prescribe an antiarrhythmic drug such as Norpace, Rhythmol, 

or Betapace. 

These drugs work by blocking the dysregulated electrical impulses 

that can give rise to atrial fibrillation. While these work on most people, 

the effect is lost over time and different antiarrhythmic drugs work 

better for different people. Therefore, your doctor may have to prescribe 

and test various drugs over time to see which work best for you. 

In China, complex herbal formulas such as Wen xin ke li made up 

of eleven different substances are used to treat atrial fibrillation. This 

formula works on the cells which send the electrical impulses in the 

heart and helps the atrium pump in a more coordinated fashion. 

Because the heart is not pumping in a coordinated fashion, there 

is an increased probability of developing blood clots. Because blood 

clots can lead to serious medical condition (including stroke) many 

patients with atrial fibrillation will be prescribed an anticoagulant 

drug such as coumadin or warfarin. 

There are also surgical options. A cardiac ablation is the intentional 

scarring of specific tissues in the heart as a means of stopping aberrant 

electrical signals from travelling through the heart and creating a discoordinated 

contraction. 

The bottom line is that atrial fibrillation can be managed so the 

person can lead a productive, healthy life. 

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.

Inadvertent Hilarity 

By: Judy Polumbaum / Our View 

The brilliant software engineers who invent 

cell phone apps and the crafty corporations 

that monetize them cannot possibly anticipate 

what those deceptively innocuous little tools will become. 

I consult the app Nextdoor almost daily. You, too, may have that 

greenhouse icon on your phone, symbol of a network enabling 

households in a defined area to share everything from garage sale 

listings and carpentry endorsements to restaurant recommendations, 

physician referrals and crime alerts. 

The app reunites people with lost pets, keys and iPhones. It explains 

when a road gets blocked off – usually some horrible accident. 

The app illuminates what most concerns people. Traffic topics prompt 

lengthy exchanges. Dog defenders and detractors go on endlessly. A 

complaint about an HOA invites a string of additional grievances. 

The app opens windows on the natural world: Coyote sightings or 

hawks capable of carrying off small dogs. Tales of centipedes coming 

up the drain or scorpions haunting the yard elicit extermination advice. 

The educational functions are manifold: I’ve learned about the 

calming properties of traffic circles. And that dive-bombing magpies 

are merely defending their nests. 

The entertainment functions aren’t bad either. One recent 

conversation read like a rogue offshoot of Comedy Central. 

It started with an inquiry, accompanied by a picture of a little furball 

clinging to a stucco wall. Was this a bat, taking up residency by a front 

door? And what to do? 

Respondents confirmed that, yes, this was a bat, just a baby. Most 

advised doing nothing. “It will help keep bugs away and won’t hurt 

you,” wrote one. It probably wouldn’t stay long. 

The original writer came back with, “I don’t like it there.” 

“We love our bats,” someone replied. “Bats are cool and fun to watch 

swooping around at dusk, catching flying insects,” another offered; 

“just think of them as nocturnal sparrows and enjoy.” 

The initiator was trying, unsuccessfully, to appreciate the live-andlet-live 

approach. “I DON’T WANT TO. I WANT IT GONE.” 

Others persisted: “It is adorable!” and “How lucky you are.” 

“It’s not a bat,” wrote another. “It’s a blood sucking vampire! YOU 

NEED A STAKE… GARLIC CLOVES, SILVER, AND HOLY WATER!” 

And so on. Who needs cable when you have this? 

Judy is a professor emerita of journalism and a transplant to 

Las Vegas from New England via China, the West Coast and the 

Midwest. 

My tax man works magic! 

Does yours? 

NV FINANCIAL SERVICES 

Tax • Insurance • Retirement 

702/250-5999 

08/30/19 

25

Our Champion is Gone 

By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet 

The man in our corner is gone. H. Ross Perot 

has passed in review and marched on. He 

died last month after a five-month battle with 

leukemia. 

Most people knew Mr. Perot as the man who ran for president in 1992 

and 1996, but some of us also knew him for his unwavering love and 

support for the cause of veterans. He was a tireless advocate for Vietnam 

veterans. 

Although admired for his entrepreneurial skills (he founded 

Electronic Data Systems Corporation and became a self-made 

billionaire), some of us got to witness his legacy as a deeply patriotic 

American. 

Mr. Perot was not the typical politician, only mouthing promises to 

get votes; he preferred action over time-wasting BS. When he financed 

a private commando raid in 1979 to free two of his EDS employees 

being held prisoners in Iran, the whole world knew he was a person to 

get things done. 

My meeting Mr. Perot in 2005 was nothing short of supernatural. 

In 2004 the U.S. Army asked my friend Dr. Bridget Cantrell and me to 

conduct re-integration training with the 173rd Airborne in Italy after 

their tour in Iraq. 

After returning home, we wrote the book “Down Range: To Iraq and 

Back” and a couple of months after publishing it I sent Mr. Perot a 

short note with a copy of the book. A week later he called and asked 

how he could help. 

I explained that I would like to send every warrior in the war zones of 

Iraq and Afghanistan a copy; that perhaps it would help with PTSD and 

their transitional challenges after the war. Without hesitation he came 

on board and financed the printing of 250,000 copies. Within weeks all 

were shipped to troops around the world. 

It was as though each day I was living in the middle of ongoing 

miracles. Our paths crossed at a special moment in time, and I will 

cherish the memories always. 

Thank you, Mr. Perot, you good and faithful servant. 

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 

Veterans Court Graduation 

“Leave no man behind” is one of the most important phrases our troops learned in the 

military. Judge Mark Stevens, a former United States Marine is living by this creed. 

In 2009, Judge Stevens began Veterans Court in Henderson. The court is designed to help 

veterans, that are first-time offenders of misdemeanor crimes get back on track. 

Last month, on behalf of The Vegas Voice, I attended the Veteran’s Court Graduation Ceremony. 

As a former Marine, (I served in Iraq twice) I was pleased to hear about this program. 

I watched veterans from 

different ages, military 

branches, and nationalities get 

a second chance. Judge Stevens 

understands that helping 

rehabilitate our veterans who 

are struggling with different 

issues due to their time in 

service, is more effective than 

punishing them. Semper Fi. 

For more information: 

https://www.cityofhenderson. 

com/municipal-court/ 

specialty-courts/veteran’scourt. 

26 


By: Jessica Vargas

A Country of Hypocrites? 

By: Morris Heldt / A Senior’s P.O.V. 

Hypocrites have been with us all our lives. 

We all knew them in school as we grew up. 

Being an adolescent, with human frailties, I’m 

confident some of us have been one at some point in our life. Ideally it 

happened only a few times, and inherently most grew to know they were 

going against their moral compass. 

However, now I find myself questioning if our society has grown 

to accept hypocrisy as a national character trait. After all, more than 

a majority of the media has designated itself a political party and 

therefore one of the biggest hypocrisy of our times as they pretend to 

deliver their audience with unbiased views of the political landscape. 

Is it possible that it is no longer expected that we distinguish between 

truths or lies, and are expected to rationalize emotional outbursts as 

fact, so we can continue with “group think,” bringing to life the end 

justifies the means. 

At one time our political leaders campaigned for our trust and 

expressed their deep concerns about our nation’s policies. They loved 

this country and had strong convictions; with solid ideas and promised 

to make life better. 

Now they campaign only for our vote - telling their audience what 

they want to hear. Is this not hypocrisy? 

From Washington D. C., to the smallest town in this country, I sense 

the media is attempting to homogenize this nation by telling us all men 

are equal in this country, but also telling us not to listen to a man that 

is too candid, perhaps even offensive in his behavior. 

They don’t want us to listen to what he is saying, but how he is saying 

it. Is that not hypocrisy? 

That is why I suggest to you that the hypocrisy in this country better 

be dealt with. If we do not, I suspect that the time is getting closer when 

a naked Emperor, on horseback, will ride into our lives and tell us to 

succumb and to simply walk in lockstep. 

And, at that point perhaps we deserve no more. 

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. 

What Can $5 Buy? 

By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action 

It may shock you to discover that 43.1 million 

Americans go to bed hungry every single day! 

That’s 13% of our population. 

In this land of so-called “plenty” this is an absolute, despicable 

abomination! What’s more, the solution to the problem is surprisingly 

simple. For less than 17 cents per day or $5 per month, YOU can play a 

decisive role in eradicating hunger in our community. 

Here’s how: The estimated population of Clark County is 2.3 million. 

If 4% of us (92,000 people) donate $5 per month on a continuing basis, 

that translates to $5,520,000 per year. 

That money, earmarked to one or more of the four non-profits would, 

in fact, feed virtually anyone who has heretofore gone to bed hungry. 

Every single child, adult and senior would be able to live a life free from 

the agony of lack of proper nourishment. 

Isn’t that a worthy 

enough cause to 

commit to? I believe it 

is and for that reason 

I have continuously 

contributed money 

and my time to these 

charities whose focus 

is to feed the hungry 

and they do a damn good job of that. 

My life has been richer for watching the faces of the needy light up 

when they are handed the most basic of human needs, FOOD! And for a 

pittance of money that all of us fritter away every day can literally save 

a life! Isn’t that a worthy enough cause to motivate you? 

If so, please consider supporting the following charities: Meals On 

Wheels, Catholic Charities, Three Square and Goodness Gracious 

Ministries. 

I hope you share my vision of a hunger-free community and do your 

part in solving the problem. 

Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior 

community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net. 

27

She Painted the Town Red - The Story of Katherine Gianaclis 

By: Joey Kantor / Vegas Retrospective 

am an artist’s child. When Dr. James Mann, 

I former curator of the now defunct Las 

Vegas Art Museum, was asked where my mother, 

Katherine Gianaclis, stood in the hierarchy of the 

most important artists in Las Vegas history he 

simply said, “one or two.” 

Gianaclis moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles in 1959 and began 

her family. Her art was surely driven by a love of story - a perfect fit for 

a burgeoning young Las Vegas. 

When she was “discovered” by Dr. Mann in 2000, one year after her 

death, he proclaimed that her works from the 1960s were confirmation 

that, “this zoo animal called Las Vegas had the potential to generate 

great art and it did so, and nobody knew it. It’s like vindication, almost.” 

He proclaimed her an “artist of the highest order” and twenty years 

ahead of her time; her 1960s style pre-dating its popular emergence 

during the 1980s. He also said that the discovery of her was the 

highlight of his career. 

But these 1960s masterworks weren’t all that she had in her arsenal. 

She had a town to paint red as she had told the Los Angeles Times when 

interviewed as a mere fifteen-year old. 

She hadn’t been discovered but re-discovered by the Las Vegas Art 

Museum. The Las Vegas of the 1960s already knew her art well. She was 

everywhere. 

By the late 1960s, she had become the foremost muralist in Las Vegas. 

She was our hottest working 

artist, painting murals in The 

MGM, Caesars Palace, The 

Desert Inn, The International, 

The Sahara, The Dunes, The 

Showboat, The Aladdin, Circus 

Circus and others. 

She lay down her brushes in 

1973 after the death of her father 

spurred a religious renaissance 

for her. She operated a Bible, 

book and art store, Alpha Omega, 

for twenty-three years, donating much of her profits to a local church. 

In 1995 she discovered that a disease she had battled thirty years 

earlier had returned. Once again, she was facing breast cancer. Painting 

called out to her. She began the third phase of her career. 

At 70 she no longer delved into dark subject matter as she did in 

her often surrealist paintings of the 1960s. The new works were 

stupendously bright and beautiful, the closest academic description 

favoring Fauvism and Orphism which highlight color and form. She 

loved painting beautiful women, often in the form of angels. 

Beauty kept her spirit alive. The bright colors kept her cheerful. The 

contemplation of beauty while facing a possibly dimming light brought 

home to her what she had professed all those years in the Bible store - 

that there is another world after this one and it is truly wonderful. 

Gianaclis left the world 150 of these beautiful paintings dated 

between 1996 and 1998. Her desire was that others would appreciate 

them also. To gain from them the spiritual uplift that they had provided 

her during their creation. 

At the very end, she had relegated herself to painting in bed with 

a homemade easel over her lap. She passed away on March 7, 1999 

surrounded by her family. 

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. 

28 


FOR SALE: 2 month old GE electric washer & dryer. Under 

warranty with all manuals. If any newer would still be in 

original boxes. Steal it for only $1350. Call 702/433-6618.

RV Insurance 

By: Jim Valkenburg / Insurance Insight 

There are many types of RV’s and in this 

article I will address both the motorhome 

(self-contained motorized vehicle) and the 

various trailers, including conventional travel 

trailer, fifth-wheel, pop-up and mounted, all of which I will refer to as 

“trailer.” 

RV insurance is, in my opinion, the best method to insure your 

trailer or motorhome versus adding it to your auto policy. If added to 

your auto policy, you will get the same liability, uninsured motorist and 

medical coverage if you have a motorhome. 

RV’s can cause considerable damage to other vehicles or property so 

I would recommend high limits. It provides all the normal coverages 

of a typical auto policy such as uninsured motorist, medical payments, 

comprehensive and collision coverage. 

RV insurance is 

designed to provide 

more comprehensive 

coverage that is 

tailored toward the 

specialty needs of 

the RVer! If you own 

a motorhome, it is 

registered just like a 

personal vehicle and 

must have liability coverage. 

However, an RV policy can give you so much more. Some of the 

extras carriers offer are: 

1. Replacement coverage – If you purchase a new RV and it 

is totaled in the first 4-5 years, you would be able to purchase a new 

model year of comparable quality. 

2. Personal Effects coverage – This is for all the personal items 

not attached to the RV which could include furniture, linens, kitchen 

items, clothing etc. Policies typically come with $1,000 deductible but 

you can raise the limit much higher. 

3. Emergency vacation expense - If needed, this would 

normally pay up to $750 for transportation or living expenses if your 

RV is damaged. 

4. Roadside assistance – An RV policy can provide more coverage 

than a limit such as $50-$75 on an auto policy. Motorhomes and 

trailers are expensive to tow to the nearest facility - especially if you are 

camping away from civilization. 

5. Vacation liability – This is like personal liability found in your 

home policy. If a guest or visitor is hurt while you are camping, your 

RV policy can respond. The typical limit is $10,000 but can be increased 

with most companies. 

Happy trails! 

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. 

The Vegas Voice on the Air! 

The Vegas Voice proudly kicked-off its monthly video podcasts. 

Entertainment editor Evan Davis will host our “Celebrity 

Corner” and publisher Dan Roberts has the same duties for “Our 

Vegas Voice Family” and “Senior Business” segments. 

To now “see” The Vegas Voice and to catch the latest podcasts, visit 

our website: thevegasvoice.net. 

Pictured: Evan interviews the beautiful, talented Sandy Kastel 

while Dan does likewise with the equally beautiful nightlife editor Sam 

Wagmeister. 

29

The sounds of summer fill downtown. I have 

somehow escaped my house, the dogs, and 

the ever-present nagging of the ironing board, 

and have come to sit in the shade on the bench 

outside Ben and Jerry’s, sip a cold lemonade, and just listen. 

A young couple walks up, hand in hand: He says, “You want a cone?” 

She replies, “Sure, if you do?” 

He says, “Well, I will if you will.” She says, “Well, it is awfully hot. A 

cone might be good.” 

He asks, “Or, maybe a cold drink?” She answers, “That sounds good, 

too.” 

He states, “Which one do you want?” She says, “Well, which one do 

YOU want?” 

An older man sitting beside me on the bench lowers his newspaper 

and blurts, “Oh, for Pete’s sake, get the girl a cone!” 

I snort into my lemonade and manage to make it sound like a 

cough. The two young people stare at him, shocked and affronted, 

before walking – still hand in hand – into Ben and Jerry’s. The man 

and I roll our eyes and go back to reading and sipping. 

An SUV filled with arms and legs, swerves around the corner, and 

abruptly brakes in front of me. The back door crashes open, and out fly 

five young children, all screaming their flavors as they lunge for Ben 

and Jerry’s. 

Mom’s exit is slower, even though we can hear Dad yelling, “Hurry! 

30 

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Just Another Summer Day 

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The light’s gonna turn!” But, she’s carrying another little one, and 

she’s hot, and wilting, and NOT IN THE MOOD. (Whoa, six children 

and he hasn’t processed “the look” yet?) 

She steps onto the curb as Dad pulls away yelling, “Get me mocha 

chip! I’ll go around and pick you up!” 

Our eyes meet, and she shakes her head, giving me that woman-towoman 

grimace – the one that says if he weren’t so darn cute and willing 

to kill spiders, I’d drop him off a bridge. I smile my understanding and 

then glance almost wistfully at the baby, who’s drooling down the front 

of Mommy’s sundress. 

She kisses his downy head and follows her mob into the store. (We 

watch the SUV come around at least 8 times before the whole crew 

erupts from the ice cream parlor and piles back into the car.) 

A group of teens saunters by; too cool to be hot, too cool to do 

anything other than snort their superiority over the lame adults who 

pass them. When they stop to talk, I turn and recognize two former 

students and I grin, 

“Dan, honey, I know you’re bigger now, but if you light that cigarette, 

I’m gonna call your Mama!” and “Natalie, I love your purple hair, 

but I haven’t seen that much make-up since the circus came to town!” 

They are frozen in stunned humiliation for an instant, but then 

they recognize me and break into smiles. Dan drops the cigarette and 

Natalie rubs her sleeve over her face, and both of them bend to hug me, 

and I remember again that there’s good stuff about teaching. 

After a while, my lemonade is gone and I’m about to leave, when a 

lovely older lady walks up, shopping bag in one hand. She stops beside 

the man still sitting on the bench beside me, and he reaches up to take 

the bag from her as he stands. They smile at one another. 

He says, “You want a cone?” She replies, “Sure, if you do.” 

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.

Do You Have the 

Grandkids This Summer? 

By: Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker / 

Out & About 

When my daughter was barely four her dad and I took her on her 

first cruise. The stewards in the Island Princess dining room 

fussed over her like she was Shirley Temple, and brought her dainty 

plates heaped with all her favorite foods. 

Between mealtimes, there were costume parties, movies, and games 

with prizes, and she loved everything. But this ship was nothing 

compared to the seagoing wonderlands that are offered by cruise ships 

today. 

Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and many other cruise 

lines offer activities for all ages. And this can be a terrific way to bring 

families together in fun and shared environments. 

Modern amusement parks also offer lots of experiences and 

excitement to share with your children and grandchildren alike. “E” 

tickets disappeared long ago, but they’ve been replaced with countless 

rides and events featuring lifelike characters which are sure to delight 

adults and kids of all ages. 

New for 2019 at Disneyland and California Adventure is a celebration 

of Mickey and Minnie Mouse who are turning 90 years old this year. And 

for a more modern twist, you’ll soon be able to enjoy the “Guardians 

of the Galaxy” in an all new story based on Marvel Comics characters. 

This ride will offer everything from free fall sensations to a variety of 

ride experiences presented in time to the motion picture’s soundtrack. 

Wow! 

And if you have friends or family on the East Coast, you can enjoy 

Florida’s Disney World, where a 14 acre “Star Wars” attraction has been 

under construction since early 2016. And speaking of Florida, this is a 

great place for real life experiences where you and your grand kids may 

swim with dolphins and sea turtles. 

For more information go to seaworldparks.com. If you want true 

excitement, plan to spend a day in Orlando at the Kennedy Space 

Center Visitor Complex, modestly called the “Greatest Space Adventure 

on Earth.” 

Plan to spend a full day, because the Complex does not disappoint. 

This is where our US space program really takes flight, and if you’re 

lucky you might even see a real rocket launch. My husband, Ray, and I 

did, and we’ll never forget it. 

2019-20 Collette 

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Tuscany, 9 days from $1549 

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5 days from 

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5 days from $2499 

Washington, D.C. $1899 

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Call Ray or Crystal at: 

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31

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Visits to Russia & Alaska 

are Enlightening 

By: Burt & Dianne Davis / Our Vacation 

Editor’s Note: Burt Davis and his wife, Vegas Voice 

columnist Dianne, love to travel. The below was their 

recent adventure. What’s yours? Feel free to send me your 

vacation story. 

Spectacular mountainous scenery surrounds Petropavlovsk- 

Kamchatsky, Russia’s far eastern outpost, reportedly the home of its 

Pacific submarine fleet. 

In addition to many major tourist attractions, our cruise from 

Hong Kong to Vancouver included visits to less traveled locations in 

Far East Russia and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The cruise also included 

destinations in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Alaska. 

Kamchatka Peninsula: The ship docked at the southern tip of the 

Kamchatka Peninsula in Far Eastern Russia. In May 2019, we visited 

the recently completed Trinity Chapel, a classic Russian Orthodox 

Church with white walls and gold domes on a hill overlooking the city. 

Locals told us that it is the go-to-place during frequent earthquakes 

as it was designed to withstand the tremors. 

The surrounding volcanoes which give the peninsula a stark and 

dramatic beauty are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town square 

contains huge statues; one of Lenin, another of three bears. By the way, 

the bears outnumber people in this region. 

Dutch Harbor Alaska: After sailing across the Bearing Sea, we 

docked at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. It’s a small (population 4,761) fishing 

village on tiny Unalaska Island in the Aleutians. The town does not 

offer the spectacular Alaskan scenery we would see a few days later, but 

it gave a great sense of life in this remote barren region. 

The general store we visited sold everything from fishing tackle to 

washers. Bald eagles perched on the store’s roof and most everywhere 

else in town. 

The Museum of the Aleutians was fascinating, showcasing the area’s 

history and the Aleut or native people. The indigenous population was 

virtually enslaved by the Russians who arrived in the 1750s. 

The people became American citizens when Alaska became part of 

the USA, but during WWII they were forcefully evacuated and sent to 

camps in Southeastern Alaska. 

At the war museum, we learned that Dutch Harbor became a major 

military base which was bombed by the Japanese during World War 

II. These visits and others to less visited areas provided enlightening 

insights into life in other parts of the world. 

32 


33

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36 


Mission Santa Ines a 

Hidden Gem 

By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World 

The rolling central California mountains 

and valleys outside Mission Santa Ines are 

a picture of tranquility, partly as it is situated on some of the most 

splendid inland acreage in Santa Barbara County. 

The superb panorama is of the Santa Ynez River Valley, the Santa 

Ynez and San Rafael mountain ranges. The mission land once produced 

abundant harvests and possessed livestock in the thousands. 

Founded in 1804 to serve the Chumash Indians, Mission Santa Ines 

is the nineteenth 

of twenty-one 

California missions 

established by 

Franciscan priests 

between 1769 and 

1863. The missions 

run near the Pacific 

coastline from San 

Diego north to San 

Francisco. 

Mission Santa 

Ines is named for 

fourth century 

Christian martyr Saint Agnes. Ines being Spanish for Agnes, thus the 

mission name. Besides named for Spanish saints, California Spanish 

missions are recognized for their smooth stucco surfaces and red tile 

roofs. 

During the early 19 th century, California missions were at the height 

of their agriculture productivity. Mission Ines registered its largest 

Indian population with 920 Native Americans belonging. 

In 1843, a land grant was used to establish California’s first seminary 

college. Originally located within the Mission Ines compound, the 

college relocated to Santa Ynez to educate both priests and the general 

public before closing in 1881. 

Mission Santa Ines has survived financial hardship, intensified 

fractious political mayhem and natural disasters - such as earthquakes 

and weather adversity, to emerge a successful active mission many 

consider California’s most attractive. It is also the holder of an 

irreplaceable collection of paintings, statuary, vestments, manuscripts 

and other artifacts. 

A gem of early California history, there is an air of serenity and peace 

about Mission Santa Ines. Upon entering you feel at once that you have 

stepped into a page from times past. 

Open daily, the mission is both an active parish and a visitor stopover. 

Visitors are always welcome to stroll through the Mission Santa Ines 

and its gardens. 

Kathy Manney enjoys visiting interesting places and being an 

Adventure Diva. Her “Must See” travel journeys continue - always 

with enthusiasm.

Killing Those Multi-Legged Creatures 

By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening 

Our gardens can provide us with a great 

deal of beauty and enjoyment. Keep in 

mind however, that our landscape can also be 

a welcoming host for unwanted multi-legged creatures such as ants, 

spiders, palmetto bugs (American cockroaches), scorpions and many 

other bugs of varying shapes and sizes. 

Many come both hungry and thirsty! Cockroaches and scorpions can 

go without food for months and water for weeks at a time and see your 

garden as a Las Vegas Buffet. 

The first step in keeping these visitors away is to be proactive in 

making your garden less inviting. Cleanup your trash after spending 

time outside. Decomposing organic materials such as lawn cuttings, 

dead leaves and flowers, and wood also provide a smorgasbord for these 

creatures as well. 

Make sure that you keep your landscape clean by frequently raking 

debris from your garden. In addition, make sure that your night-time 

watering schedule is not too late in the evening so that you are not 

leaving wet spots in the soil where insects will congregate. 

There are many “natural” ways to keep insects out of your garden. 

Planting marigolds, chrysanthemums, mint or lavender will keep these 

intruders out of your landscaping. 

Sprinkling cinnamon around your plants and near doorways and 

windowsills will repel scorpions and roaches. Eucalyptus oils sprayed in 

these areas or placing a 

fabric softener sheet will 

also act as deterrents. 

Boric acid is deadly 

to cockroaches. It is 

important that you mix 

it with something that 

they like such as flour, 

cocoa, oatmeal, corn meal or citrus pulp as bait. This is necessary 

because cockroaches first “taste” their food before eating it. 

Boric acid is the “gift that keeps on giving.” The roach eats the bait 

mixture, ingests it and dies. Other roaches eat the dead one; they die 

and they get eaten as well! 

Diatomaceous earth, which can be purchased in any garden store 

is made from finely ground seashells and it is totally harmless to 

humans, pets and the environment. It can be sprinkled anywhere in the 

garden or near doorways and windows. Any insect will get covered when 

walking over this powdery substance, causing cuts in its exoskeleton 

leading to dehydration and death. 

Happy Hunting! Have any gardening questions? Contact me: 

Theplantwhisperer28@gmail.com. 

Howard Galin, a/k/a: “The Plant Whisperer” is a retired NYC 

school administrator, transplanted in Las Vegas who devotes his 

time to communicating with and lecturing about our native 

plants. 

37

Multitasking Myth -- Inefficient & Dangerous! (Part 2) 

By: Jan Fair / A No-Brainer Minute 

Last month we talked about how multitasking makes us demonstrably less efficient. And, 

as you'll see below, multitasking while driving makes it absolutely more dangerous! 

The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World by University of California professors/ 

researchers Adam Gazzaley & Larry D. Rosen, point out that we've not evolved for media multitasking and 

"... a multitude of new daily challenges face us from a high tech world.” They suggest how we can learn to 

live the mall. with Muiuiuiu technology in a more balanced way. (Yes. I get it. It's hard. However, I now realize I 

could’ve xxxx xxx read their book a lot faster AND remembered a lot more if only I'd turned off the TV news 

AND my cell AND my iPod music ... and had focused solely on reading. Just sayin'!) 

Dangerous Distractions While Driving 

• talking on cellphone 

("handsfree" talking is 

still DANGEROUS) 

• talking to passengers 

• texting 

• reading (including maps) 

• grooming 

• eating & drinking 

• using navigation systems 

• pets 

• listening to radio/podcasts 

• daydreaming 

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 

Mental Minutes 

“Driving Distractions” 

1. In one minute, name things 

and actions that distract 

us while driving. 

2. Make an alphabetical list. 

Adjusting air & audio in auto, 

Background music, 

Cellphones, … 

A No-Brainer Pick 

https://neuroscape.ucsf.edu 


38 


39

Speaking to and for Las Vegas 

Valley Seniors since 2003 

#####ECRWSS EDDM##### 

POSTAL CUSTOMER 

PRSRT STD 

U.S. POSTAGE PAID 

LAS VEGAS, NV 

PERMIT #3235

Vegas Voice 8-19

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