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February 2020
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February 2020
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 12
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
Aaron Phillips
Judy Polumbaum
Mary Richard
Renee Riendeau
Crystal Sarbacker
Jim Valkenburg
Beverly Washburn
Vicki Wentz
Kate Wind
About The Vegas Voice
In 2019, The Vegas Voice received 11 national awards from the
North American Mature Publishers Association. The awards were for our
guardianship special efforts, editorial and columns, front page graphics,
overall design and “General Excellence.”
The judges found (and we humbly
agree) that The Vegas Voice puts
a premium on well-informed
columnists who cover a lot of bases.
Serious issues are thoughtfully
discussed, but there’s enough fun
to lighten the mix.
F.T.O. (Family Time Over)
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules
“
That’s a terrible, horrible statement! Stop
that immediately” my Rana demanded.
I concede that my pronouncement might
be considered coarse, crude or even (god forbid!) offensive. But it is
standard practice in the
Roberts household. And I’m
proud to say, very effective.
That one sentence that
drives my Ladylove crazy?
“Family time over” and after
all these years, I can simply
blurt out the initials, “F.T.O.”
for the same effect.
While raising four very
active boys, I realize there
were times when yours truly
lacked Dr. Phil’s parenting
skills. But despite some blunt
language by their old man,
there was no question that the
boys were, and remained loved
by their dad.
And one of my proudest
accomplishment is that
through my ups and downs; including the move from New York to Las
Vegas, the passing of their mother, and all other aspects of life, we’re
still together. A family.
Yes, it might be dysfunctional, but a family nevertheless - which now
includes Rana. And to her everlasting credit, my grown up sons know
that they are always welcome to come over.
Whether to watch the games (by the way, they love that 88 inch
HDTV Rana gave me for my birthday as much as I do) to weekly family
dinners (with their dogs) I assure you that we spend quite a bit of
“family time” together.
It’s the leaving part that at times causes such conflict. I don’t know
about you, but I’ve reached a point that when “times up” – there’s
no need in hesitating that’s it’s time to go. Hence the proclamation:
“Thank you for being here, but family time is over.”
Now I don’t want you to think I sit there watching the clock or with
a stopwatch counting down the minutes (although when I think about
it, it’s not a bad idea) however, when it’s time, it’s time. End of story – at
least for me.
My PILL (partner in love & life) was beyond shocked the first time
I uttered those words, but my boys were so used to it, (take a look
at that Christmas shirt they gave me) they even made up their own
“inside game” between themselves as to when their pop will make the
determination.
Despite my announcement
(and even their shirt) Rana
always follows-up with a stern
admonishment to me to knock
it off and, “of course they can
stay as long as they want.”
I no doubt know that I
won’t win this “point, counterpoint”
with her, and deepdown,
I admit my sons are
more than allowed to stick
around. No need to call the
police.
I just wonder if they’ll get
the hint (or even notice) when
I start to get undressed and
head into the bedroom for the
night.
What Do You Think?
Do you agree with our columnists?
Did anyone get you angry, make you
think or simply put a smile on your
face? Please tell us by forwarding
your comments, thoughts or
suggestions to Publisher Dan at:
dan@thevegasvoice.net.
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February 2020
In Celebration of Valentine’s Day
By: Bill Caserta / Bill’s Blurbs
Only a Dream: After she woke up,
a woman told her husband, “I just
dreamed you gave me a diamond necklace
for Valentine’s Day. What do you think it
means?” “You’ll know tonight,” he said.
That evening the husband came home with a
small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it….to
find a book entitled “The Meaning of Dreams.”
Thoughtful Husband No. 1: I asked my friend if he’d bought his
wife a gift for Valentine’s Day. He surprised me when he replied, “Yeah,
I’ve got her a belt and a bag.”
I said, “That’s very thoughtful of you. I hope she appreciates it.”
He said, “So do I. And hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work much
better now.”
Thoughtful Husband No. 2: My wife just called me lazy and said
I’d better have something planned for Valentine’s Day.
I said, “Yes, I was thinking of taking the Christmas decorations
down.”
Thoughtful Husband No. 3: This year I’ve got my wife a
Valentine’s Day present that will really take her breath away. A treadmill.
Thoughtful boyfriend: Last Valentine’s Day, my fiancé of four
years bought me a lottery ticket and I won $5 million. I wonder what’s
she doing nowadays?
Valentine’s Advice for Men: If your woman says, “Do what you
want” - DO NOT do what you want. Stand still, do not blink and don’t
even breathe. Just play dead.
And Finally: What’s the difference between a $20 steak and a $55
steak? February 14th.
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
As Long As You’re Up
By: Susan Goldfein / Susan’s Unfiltered Wit
As Valentine’s Day approaches, it seems
natural that one’s thoughts turn to
relationships. I know mine do. And I’m struck by
the changes that can occur after four decades of
marriage.
Early on, my darling was eager to do my bidding before I even bid.
Now, I’ve registered a tectonic shift.
The shift is back to the 60s and I’m trapped in that old ad for Grant’s
Scotch. I’m not sure how many bottles of whiskey they sold, but the
slogan As long as you’re up, get me a Grant’s had a major impact on
popular culture. It went viral before there was such a thing.
The Grant ads oozed upper-class sophistication, featuring either an
elegant man or woman, dressed for a gala, seated in a chair no doubt
purchased at a Sotheby’s auction. Each body was turned slightly as if
addressing an invisible off-stage partner.
Although the ad has been defunct for years, I’m happy to say that
its spirit is alive and well and living in my house. With some revisions.
The man (my husband) is not wearing a tuxedo but is dressed in golf
shorts and the chair in which he sits was purchased for comfort rather
than its antique value. The woman (me) does not wear a gown, but is
attired in jeans and a T shirt, and is not now, and never has been, as
thin as the woman in the ad.
However, the operative words remain unchanged: As long as you’re
up…
Perhaps it’s my inability to remain seated for extended time periods.
I’m frequently moving about during the course of an hour-long TV
show.
So it doesn’t seem unreasonable that a voice from the other room
calls out “As long as you’re up, get me a club soda.” He swears he has
no recollection of ever seeing that ad, but the words flow from him as
easily as scotch over ice.
It’s not always club soda. Sometimes it’s a piece of chocolate. Or ice
cream. Or a sweater because he’s chilly.
Really, it’s all okay. I’m happy to do it. As long as I’m up.
Occasionally, however, I hear a slightly different request, one preceded
by if you’re getting up…, or, when you go upstairs…, assuming a
fact not in evidence.
Have my hyperactive tendencies created a monster, or at the very
least, a spoiled spouse? Not really, because at the end of the day, I know
there’s a balance.
I bring him a pillow, and he brings me a… Remind me, what is it
he brings me?
In fairness, the favors do go both ways. He graciously plays golf with
me on Sundays, which can’t be much fun for him, and he doesn’t
make me watch football, which is never any fun for me.
But most important, he is someone I rely on, someone who’s always
there for me, someone who loves me unconditionally. So I will happily
continue to bestow him favors. As long as I’m up!
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.
8
February 2020
Sold-Out & Fantastic!
Sold-Out & Fantastic!
Vegas Voice Nightlife Editor Sam Wagmeister, Entertainment Editor
Evan Davis with the Folk Legacy Trio and Bob Sachs backstage before
our show last month. Not only was the show “sold-out” but it was the
largest crowd EVER at Sun City MacDonald Ranch. If you missed it, you
really missed an extraordinary performance.
Like a Bridge Over
Troubled Water
By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments
“
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will
ease your mind.”
When Clive Davis, head of Columbia Records, known for his genius
in recognizing talent and hit songs, heard Simon and Garfunkel first
perform their 1969 song, Bridge Over Troubled Water (no plural in
Water,) he told them it would be a monster hit. He was right.
In 1969, there were war and civil rights tensions. Paul, inspired by
a single line from a gospel song said this song seemed to just come to
him.
This song, composed by Folk Rock Duo composer, Paul Simon was
performed by partner, Art Garfunkel. Garfunkel sang solo (at Simon’s
request, thinking Garfunkel’s voice more appropriate) while Simon
listened, except for the ending harmony. Interestingly, Simon later
regretted his decision due to Garfunkel getting all the applause while
Garfunkel didn’t even want to be the singer.
Amongst that song’s successes were it being on the Hot Hit song list
for 6 weeks, receiving many awards, and selling over 6 million records.
It was a hit in 8 countries, was one of the most performed songs in the
20th century and was their biggest hit single.
Bridge Over Troubled Water is a song about being a good
Samaritan; consoling a troubled mind in need of comfort, thus leaving
the discomfort compared to waves of unruly water. It is a bridge to peace
of mind and solace through assurance that there will be brighter days.
The song was done with the newly used type of sound technic called
Wall of Sound, created by Phil Spector, in which many combined
instruments (such as acoustic piano, electric piano, harpsichord, and/
or other instruments) blended in beautiful, fuller, richer orchestral
accompaniment.
By the way, the 3rd verse about a silver girl, was added at the studio
for a bigger sound at the end. It was not about drugs and needles as
some thought, but about jokingly consoling Simon’s first wife’s concern
about her having a sudden appearance of gray hairs.
This duo had many hit songs including Sound of Silence, Mrs.
Robinson, and The Boxer, all written by Simon.
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.
EXHIBITION
OPEN NOW
E X T E N D E D
T O A P R I L 1 2
NeonMuseum.org
9
Oh Happy Days
By: Beverly Washburn / Hollywood Memories
thought I’d write this month about a
I wonderful lady whom I know you are all
familiar with.
She’s the adorable lady in the photo with me.
Yes, that’s Marion Ross, the wonderful lady from the popular TV show
“Happy Days.”
I’ve always been a fan of hers but had never met her. Recently, I was
invited to the Gene Autry Museum in Glendale, California.
Johnny Crawford, (the boy from “The Rifleman”), Darby Hinton
(the boy from “The Daniel Boone” television show) Marion Ross and
I were all invited there for a celebration. I’ve known Johnny for many
years but hadn’t met Marion or Darby.
By the way, Darby was as dear as he could be. I was thrilled to meet
him.
As it so happened, I was seated next to Marion, and there are no
words to tell you how cute and funny she was. Believe it or not, she’s 91!
I couldn’t believe my eyes, as she is so adorable, so friendly, so sharp
and as sweet as she could be! She is truly an inspiration.
I know for most of our readers (and I include myself), that as seniors,
life can be a bit frustrating as we age. Meeting her, however, was such
a treat and shows us that our attitude has a lot to do with the way we
look, act and feel.
She had this “sunny” disposition, and a sense of humor that won’t
quit. She told me that the correct spelling of her name was Marian,
but at thirteen she decided
to change the spelling
to Marion because she
thought it would look
better on a marquee! She
knew from the time she
was a child that (in her
words), she “wanted to be
somebody”’
Well, I can attest that
she certainly IS somebody...
and one of the most special
ladies I have ever met. I am
truly grateful for having met her.
The next time you watch Happy Days in re-runs, you can believe
that she is one special lady who lives her life in joy - which I’m sure is
her secret to longevity..
Until next time remember: Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s
troubles. It takes away today’s joy.
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.
Presents...
Beverly
Washburn's
HOLLYWOOD,
"That was You?!"
March 25th - 7pm
Proceeds to benefit
BUY TICKETS
www.thespacelv.com
10
February 2020
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11
Some Assembly Required
By: Adrea Nairne-Barrera / 60s to 60
Just when you think the days of putting
together toys and household items has gone
by, the internet orders have taken over and the
words “Some Assembly Required” appear on everything.
You can call someone to come
to your home and put things
together, or you can go to a store
and pay extra for the same guy to
do it there, or just try it yourself.
All the savings of the sale just
get eaten up by assembly fees so
we decided we were smart enough
to do it.
Let’s take the new dog stroller to
start. The sales price was reduced
and seemed like a great deal with
over $150 savings. Quell surprise!
The size looked about the same
but when the box came, the thing was huge and it had giant wheels,
axle and some other miscellaneous parts to connect. I could fit our old
one into this one but we decided the dogs would love having more room
to look around so we’ll keep it.
First lesson learned is that most things are not American made even
if you didn’t notice that when you ordered. So be prepared to read the
loose translation of instructions with thumbnail sized pictures you
can’t see.
My husband figured it out and I just stood there confused. Say what
you will about women doing anything and everything, I am not one
of them.
Then there was a headboard
in exactly the color and style I
wanted. Got a great price on that
too. When all the rails, screws,
washers, bolts and hardware
came however, I was on a
mission and after 2 days, I got
it. As for the little storage shed in
the yard, the weather had to be
just right or the plastic wouldn’t
fit together.
Personally I would be willing
to pay for a bigger box to get it all
put together but sadly, no one offers that. Now when I order something,
I block out a chunk of time for translations, enlarging the diagrams
and hoping I don’t injure myself along the way.
Adrea Nairne-Barrera writes of celebrations, observations &
complaints of life in the 60s to being in your 60s.
12
February 2020
Foundations
By: Linda Bateman-Gomez / Timeless Beauty
Foundations as we age can be a bit of a hit
and miss. The thicker, full coverage of a
typical foundation may look good for photos, but
in person and in different lights can show caking within creases and
emphasize wrinkles.
I sell a BB cream in my line that I like, but recently I complimented
a friend on her skin and she shared that she was using the Oil of Olay
Total Effects CC Cream. The ads for this particular cream claim that
it can help with wrinkles, fine lines, dry skin, discolored skin and
contains a broad-spectrum sunblock of SPF 15. I had to try it!
I found it at CVS and was a bit surprised that it was $27 for a drug
store product but figured if the claims were true, it would be worth it.
I’m a medium skin tone so I bought the light to medium shade.
Within this color range, I’m not sure it did much color correcting for
discoloration, but it is light and goes on nicely.
It did not settle in any lines being so light, but I am not sure it hid
them much either. I’ve only been using it a couple of weeks so time
will tell if it may help diminish any fine wrinkles.
I am also not as good as I should be at using my sun block, so it is
nice having it in one easy application.
While the coverage is not as heavy compared to my usual BB cream,
for daytime use I actually think this will be my new go-to face cream.
It’s a nice moisturizer as well and my skin has been super dry this
winter so I need all the help I can get.
If you are looking for a new one step moisturizer, light foundation and
sunblock, this just might be worth trying. As always, I also recommend
buying your cosmetics from a reputable store or a company website as
there are many dangerous chemicals in counterfeit online cosmetics.
It is virtually impossible to know when buying online, if it’s real or
counterfeit. So, if your price shopping and it seems too good to be true,
there may be a reason. Luckily in this case, a quick trip the drugstore
is all you need!
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.
13
February Events
By: Evan Davis / Entertainment Editor
What do I have in store for you this year?
How about top-rated entertainers
performing monthly at Sun City MacDonald
Ranch, and any other venues that are interested
in providing entertainment from The Vegas Voice.
Perhaps our return of an “Evening Affair” hosted by me and
starring Genevieve Dew, with stars of the future, present and past. How
about watching my monthly podcast presented by The Vegas Voice, or
our radio broadcasts?
These are just a few of 2020’s new and exciting programs along with
my searching out what’s hot and what’s not for the month. I’ll also be
reprinting my monthly Vegas Voice article on my web site, and other
entertainment information I feel will be of interest to all my readers.
But what do we have coming up in February? How about “From
Sinatra to Tom Jones…and Everything in Between” starring Craig
Canter.
Craig is a fantastic singer impressionist - from Engelbert
Humperdinck, Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra and more. His
special guest vocalists include Jennifer Lier who was the principal
singer in shows, such as Folies Bergère, Legends in Concert and various
venues all over the world. As well as a former Miss Nevada.
And Janien Valentine who is honored to have been voted “Best
Female Singer by the Las Vegas Review Journal” and continues to costar
with The Scintas. Janien is a diverse and engaging singer who
can belt a Whitney balled, jam a Motown tune, or command standing
ovations with her opera.
This all tales place at Sun City MacDonald Ranch on Saturday
February 22 nd . Or check out The Vegas Voice web site and watch past
podcasts of celebrities that I had fun interviewing, like George Grove
with the Folk Legacy Trio, Vinny Adinolfi of The Bronx Wanderers and
others.
Celebrity Corner Podcast
Craig Cantor joined our Entertainment editor Evan Davis last
month in our Vegas Voice Celebrity Corner podcast. Craig spoke about his
Philadelphia roots, his fabulous show business career and his upcoming
show this month at Sun City MacDonald Ranch “From Sinatra to Tom
Jones…and Everything in Between.”
14
February 2020
Deciphering Life’s Languages
By: Ali Guggenheim / Psychic Phenomenon
“
Silence is the language of God, all else is
poor translation.” - Rumi
Many moons ago, someone taught me that
life is like a foreign language - all we have to do
is decipher the signs as they appear. This could mean symbolically,
energetically, randomly, etc.
Perhaps a whisper, feeling or a thunderous noise demanding
immediate attention. Ever since, I began watching and questioning. I
can attest to the fact that these little “miracles” appear regularly, and
even profoundly.
Two days before I travelled to Israel last month, I locked my keys
in the car. This has never happened before. Instinctively I knew I was
dealing with key issues.
Fortunately, I had a spare key in my purse, but I couldn’t figure out
what the message was conveying. I tested my guesses trying to figure
it out.
Should I stop driving? Yes! It said, but, why?
The following day, my car locked itself with my purse that contained
my spare key and iPhone in it. At 110 degrees, I knew I had a minimal
amount of time before my phone would fry. I couldn’t leave the
country without a phone.
Frantically, I ran to my neighbor’s house and then went door-todoor
trying to get help. I finally flagged a car down and, miraculously
30 minutes later, a locksmith was at my door.
I knew I was not supposed to drive, but I had to run errands before
I left the next morning As I turned the corner into Trader Joes parking
lot, my tire hit the curb and got a huge gash in it. Luckily the tire did
not go flat.
I also knew I had to fix the tire immediately. Since the freeway was
the shortest distance to get there, I drove ever so slowly in the margin.
When I parked, the tire went completely flat.
Later, the mechanic told me that there were two lug nuts loose on
that tire and another tire with all the lug nuts loose. He said, “It’s a
miracle you’re alive!”
Whether you know it or not… the Universe is communicating with
us all the time! All we have to do is listen.
To contact Ali or for spiritual consultations, coaching, workshops
and readings, email: alivegasvoice@yahoo.com.
Presents
“From Sinatra to Tom Jones...
and Everything in Between”
.
STARRING
Craig
Canter
Jennifer Lier
WITH
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Janien Valentine
Sun City
MacDonald Ranch
2020 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy., Henderson, 89012
Sat., Feb. 22, 2020
Doors at 6:30 pm.
Show begins at 7pm.
Or call direct:
TICKET HOTLINE
702 755-3799
Tickets:
$
2O.
At At the the Clubhouse
Front Desk
15
Butler Shares His Life in Music
By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places
The name may not be familiar, but it’s hard
to imagine a world without the songs
of Artie Butler, a self-taught, do-it-yourself
musical arranger. His roots extend to New York’s
iconic Brill Building and the offices of Burt Bacharach and partner
Hal David, Bobby Darin, Ellie Greenwich, Johnny Mercer, Neil Sedaka,
Lieber and Stoller and many more.
As an arranger, it was Butler’s job to take a composer’s work and craft
and customize it for the musicians and individual singers; much like a
master chef’s customize recipes. Butler agrees with the analogy, “Music
is like food…a mixture of textures and spices, colors and smells.”
One late nine hour evening in 1977, Butler and Barry Manilow made
magic. The pair fashioned, constructed and nurtured three blockbusters:
Can’t Smile Without You, Even Now and Copacabana. “I
made sixty-five hundred dollars for that. Barry made 54 million,”
Butler exaggerates with a timid smile.
The 77-year old Butler was just months from his Brooklyn high
school graduation when his counselor urged Butler’s father to take him
out of school and begin a career in music. “Let him chase his dream,”
the counselor urged. “I got my working papers and my musicians’
union card the same day,” said Butler who recalls summers spent in
the Catskills playing drums and piano at 14.
At 17, he landed an apprentice-type job in the Brill Building’s
recording studio. The song writing team of Jerry Leiber and Mike
Stoller were scheduled to
record. When their piano
player failed to show, Butler
volunteered.
After the session, the
Hall of Fame songwriters
(whose careers have been
memorialized in the Tony
and Grammy Award winning
Broadway show Smokey Joe’s
Café) urged Butler to “quit Butler and Louis Armstrong
your job and come to work
with us.”
Butler shares his music and
stories of tuna fish sandwich
lunches composing music
with Sammy Cahn; breakfast
with Louis Armstrong at the
Strip’s Peppermill Restaurant
the morning after they
recorded What a Wonderful
With George Burns & Milton Berle
World and his home-cooked
dinner parties for his friends:
Milton Berle, Red Buttons, Harvey Korman, Lannie Kazan and Buddy
Hackett, all gathered around one table. And the time Sid Caesar recited
the four Passover questions in a crazy mix of Japanese and French,
March 1st in two performances at the Smith Center.
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.
ARTIE BUTLER CREDITS – PARTIAL LIST
I Know I’ll Never Love This Way Again - Dionne Warwick
Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye –
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Feelin’ Alright – Joe Cocker
The Boy From New York City – The Ad-Libs
Indian Reservation – Paul Revere And The Raiders featuring
Mark Lindsay
Laughter In The Rain – Neil Sedaka
Cherry Cherry – Neil Diamond
The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia – Vicki Lawrence
Up On The Roof – The Drifters
Solitary Man – Neil Diamond
Arizona – Mark Lindsay
On Broadway – The Drifters
Society’s Child – Janis Ian
Chapel Of Love – The Dixie Cups
You And Me Against The World – Helen Reddy
Hang On Sloopy - The McCoys
16
February 2020
Uncovering the Truth About Reverse Mortgage
By: Nick 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 I held them as truth until I did my
diligence and got my facts.
Here are the facts:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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, $175 which the program requires the
homeowner to complete a counseling session with Housing Urban
Development (HUD).
4. 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.
17
A L L T O R S V P
C
7 0 2 ) 8 0 6 - 7 7 7 7
(
Wake Up!
By: Jerry Creed / Trust Jerry
Have your estate plan reviewed before it’s too
late. Many people think they are on safe
ground when in fact they have climbed way out
on a limb or are walking on a high wire.
Most people discover their estate planning is poorly done or
inadequate to their needs only after it’s too late to correct the errors. A
few examples from the last few months.
First, a couple that has been together more than 40 years has done
only a Will. One spouse loses capacity due to disease and the other
spouse needs to sell their family home but finds in order to do the sale,
they need a court order (guardianship) or a Durable Power of Attorney
for their spouse, which they can no longer get.
Second, a spouse is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s; the healthy spouse
has COPD but wants to do some advanced planning for his spouse. They
have a trust and a durable power of attorney for financial matters, but
when you look at the details within the power of attorney, the spouse is
not allowed to create or fund irrevocable living trusts.
This means no advanced planning is allowed. No advanced planning
means the spouse was going to have to live out their golden years
impoverished, without financial options.
Third, a family’s three adult children were all special needs and
on disability and government assistance. Their trusts did not have
adequate Special Needs provisions.
When the parents passed, all three children had their assistance
disrupted. Had the parents done proper planning the children could
have gained benefit from their inheritance without interrupting their
disability assistance.
Proper skilled nursing planning or memory care planning can
result in saving people hundreds of thousands of dollars. If your estate
planning did not include a discussion of paying for a skilled nursing
or memory care facility, you are way out on a limb, or unknowingly
walking on a high wire.
The simple way to avoid these tragic outcomes is to have your Trust or
Estate plan reviewed by an attorney who specializes in Estate Planning
or Elder Law.
FREE LIVING TRUST SEMINAR
L A W O F F I C E O F J E R R Y C R E E D
Join us as we discuss how a properly designed Living Trust Estate
Plan can protect you and your loved ones
Elder Law vs. Traditional Planning ~ How to avoid Probate and Guardianship
The tragedies of not using an attorney to do your estate plan
The new changes in Medicaid ~ Revocable Living Trusts ~ Irrevocable Trusts
Asset Protection options ~ Buckets and Pigs
ATTEND A SEMINAR AND RECEIVE A FREE 30 MINUTE CONSULTATION ($195 VALUE)
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Community Center - Zion Room
February 12th at 11am
2020 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy
Henderson, NV 89012
Sun City Summerlin
Desert Vista Community Center
February 18th at 1pm
10360 Sun City Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Speaker: Attorney Jerry Creed
One of seven licensed Elder Law Specialists in NV
Over a decade of experience in Estate Planning
www.trustjerry.com
NOTICE: THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT! BY THE LAW OFFICE OF JERRY CREED
18
February 2020
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19
World Handicap System
By: Mike Landry / Golf Fore Ever
January 2019 brought us huge changes in the
USGA rules of golf. And January of 2020 is
no different as the USGA and R&A got together to
bring us a new golf handicapping system.
What does all that mean? The old GHIN Handicap system that we’ve
been accustomed to and used for years is being replaced with a new
World Handicap System (WHS).
Once again the USGA and R&A came together to create a new
handicap system. They named it “World Handicap System.” The idea
of the handicap is to enable golfers of different abilities to play and
compete on a fair and equitable basis in any format, and on any course,
anywhere in the world.
I didn’t know this, but apparently handicap systems around the world
were not compiled the same way, so different results were achieved.
When golfers of various regions competed using the results of different
handicap computations, handicaps were different for each region
and this did not provide a fair playing field. The new WHS system is
supposed to fix all that.
Our current GHIN handicap system used the golfer’s best 10 out of
20 scores with a .96 multiplier to arrive at a handicap, and one revision
was available each 15 day period. This delay may not have been the best
reflection of the golfer’s abilities but the new WHS system (which will
update golfer’s scores daily) will be more reflective of a true handicap.
The golfer should benefit from this new system. For example, when
playing tough course conditions and battling weather conditions,
scores are generally higher than under normal conditions.
With the new system, the golfer doesn’t have to wait 15 days for his
handicap to change as the scores will be adjusted the next day. There
are other benefits and I plan to bring those to you in my next article. If
you need additional information now, visit www.USGA.org.
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
20
February 2020
21
Where’s My Package?
By: Rana Goodman / On My Soapbox
It seems delusional to ask, when hearing
about a scam, how could anyone fall for it?
Yet you must admit some of the approaches used
by scammers are very convincing.
What would you do if you were expecting purchases to arrive via
UPS, US Postal Service, FEDX, Amazon or any of the other legitimate
carriers? And while waiting, you receive an email stating; “We’ve got
a message for you since our company’s courier couldn’t make the
delivery” Click here to get started!
Would you call the carrier, vendor or ignore the message? First and
foremost, glance at the “From” part of the email. For example; a
reader forwarded one of these emails from “US Postal Service” however,
the return email was a personal one, not USPS.
Since so many people use PayPal, have you seen this one? This
came From a “no-reply” along with a long list of numbers, followed
by the PayPal logo.
We’ve noticed some unidentified information on your account
ID: PP-009-536-987. Please log in to your PPL account and
complete the steps to confirm your identity and your recent account
activity. As a security measure you won’t be able to send or receive
money until you complete the necessary steps.”
If you don’t use PayPal, just delete it, but if you do, for goodness
sakes don’t log in or click any links on that email. Pick up the phone
and call PayPal Customer Service if you believe the email is a scam
and they most likely are.
How about this one that I received last week? It was an email from
NV Energy stating that my power would be shut off in 24 hours if
my bill was not brought current in that time frame.
Coincidentally just a few days prior, I had been on the phone with NV
Energy because I was not receiving the hard copy billing. Rather than
click the link to pay online, I phoned customer service and asked why
the heck they couldn’t get my account straight after we had just spoken
a few days before.
I felt my face flush when the clerk confirmed my account was up to
date and the email must have been a scam. Another lesson learned: You
can’t be too careful in cyberspace.
If you receive such an email and you would like to help The Vegas
Voice on our campaign to expose and stop these scammers, please
forward the email to scams@thevegasvoice.net. We want to drop them
all on the Attorney General’s desk.
*Right at our deadline all those wishing to run for office as
Judges had to file with the County. To our horror no one stepped up to
challenge Charles Hoskin. Hoskin was THE guardianship judge that
allowed this scandal to occur in Nevada.
Finally at just about the last minute and with numerous off-therecord
conversations, Thomas Kurtz placed his name in nomination.
We are so grateful that Tom had the “courage” to take on that wellfunded,
guardianship lawyers’ favorite judge.
And to top it off, Kurtz is experienced, knowledgeable and impartial
– everything that those who are passionate in guardianship reform was
hoping for in a judge.
Are we supporting Mr. Kurtz? You better believe it. We MUST toss
Hoskin from the bench.
We will have more (a lot more) information in the upcoming
months.
You can contact Rana by email: Rana@thevegasvoice.net. Also
check out her blog about life in Sun City Anthem at:
Anthemtoday.com
By: Rana Goodman & Dan Roberts to interview the FBI for our March video podcast.
W
We also want to thank Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen for her
e figured The Vegas Voice would
insightful article (page 24) concerning the explosion of robocalls and
get a response to our request for
more importantly, what the federal government is doing about it.
scam emails and listing of robocalls.
Unfortunately, we have not received any word from our state officials
We did not, however, expect such an
and agencies charged with combating this financial epidemic. We are
overwhelming response.
prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt (for now) and hopefully,
Let’s begin with our most sincere “thank you” for the 150+ readers
they’ll get back to us this month.
who forwarded their scam emails. Be assured we are collecting them as
Please feel free to send over those scam emails to us at: scams@
well as trying to determine a pattern of robocalls.
thevegasvoice.net as well as your listing of any robocalls. A sample is
It’s been quite a month. We have tentatively formed an anti-scam
on page 24.
task force with the Better Business Bureau and made arrangements
22
February 2020
It’s Overwhelming
Vegas Voice Editorial
Get the
“Chuck”
out of
there!
Toss
Guardian
Judge
Charles
“Chuck”
Hoskin off
the Bench!
Vote for
Thomas G. Kurtz
District Court,
Family Div. Dept. E
Paid for solely and
unconditionally by
The Vegas Voice
23
Putting a Stop to Phone Spam and Fradulent Robocalls
By: Jacky Rosen / U.S. Senator
Last year, Americans across the country
received nearly 60 billion robocalls. These
fraudulent schemes have left consumers angry
and present a serious risk for those who answer.
Like millions of Americans, I have experienced this firsthand. This
past summer, after stepping off the Senate floor to answer a call from
a number I did not know, the robot voice on the other line claimed
my Social Security number had been deactivated and asked me for my
personal information.
These fraudulent calls present a real risk of compromising the
sensitive and personal information of those who answer, and they can
affect everyone in our communities, even U.S. Senators.
Unfortunately, Nevada ranks as the state that’s been hit second
hardest in the country by this epidemic of spam calls. During this past
holiday season alone, one area code in Nevada was spammed with
nearly 50 million robocalls.
Calls like these target unsuspecting seniors who may believe the
caller on the other line is legitimate. These calls have led to countless
Americans divulging sensitive data to scammers looking to take
advantage of them.
Nevada residents, including our seniors, have been spammed with
unwanted identity theft schemes and scam payments that threaten their
hard-earned savings. Senior citizens often have to budget carefully and
falling victim to a fraudulent robocall could put their financial health
in jeopardy. This incessant spamming must stop.
Nevadans from across the state have contacted my office to voice
their concerns about robocalls and I want you to know that I’m
supporting bipartisan legislation in Congress to bring an end to this
growing problem.
Last year, I co-sponsored legislation to prevent phone “spoofing,” the
act of using an existing phone number to conceal a caller’s identity
while committing robocall scams. This bipartisan bill would double
the penalties faced by fraudsters who commit robocall crimes.
I also co-sponsored the TRACED Act, a bipartisan bill that was
recently signed into law. The new law, which takes effect this year, will
require telecom carriers to improve caller-ID accuracy.
The law will also allow regulators to track down and prosecute
scammers, as well as prohibit telephone carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile,
and Verizon from charging consumers for these new systems.
We must protect our seniors, and all communities, from these kinds
of predatory practices by enacting and implementing innovative
solutions, like passing anti-spoofing legislation and signing the
TRACED Act into law.
I’m proud to cross the aisle and work with my colleagues to find
common ground that will improve the lives of all Nevadans. I will
always be an independent voice for Nevada, and I remain committed
to protecting all Americans, especially our seniors, from attacks that
compromises them, their personal information, and impacts their
financial security.
24
February 2020
25
Contact Information Forms
By: Heather Latimer / Heather’s Self-Help Tips
Josef died in August, just one week before
our 17 th anniversary. I didn’t feel so chipper
myself so, suddenly, it became imperative that
I remove and replace his name on Contact
Information Forms.
I had completed those at various locations and basked in the
security that he’d come running if something serious happened to me.
No more!
With grave determination I hurried to Neptune Cremation Services.
Big shock! On the CIF form and on the first line - the name of an
attorney appeared as the primary person to be notified of my death.
Goodness gracious! I hadn’t spoken to that gentleman since 1999,
three years before I met Josef. Over 20 years ago!
Whilst rushing around trying to unearth more oversights I
encountered four ladies who admitted they had never thought about
CIF’s they’d signed - let alone updating them. Another said “My late
husband fastened a Vial of Life packet on the side of the refrigerator
in 2013. Now you’re reminding me I’ve never changed the names or
medical information. “
Then there was Frank, who spoke with all the confidence of a
dedicated organizer. “I’ve made a notebook titled: Upcoming Dates
that I check once a month,” he said. “I’ve arranged separate sections
for entering Contact Information Forms; End-dates of warranties;
Bank CD expirations; Due dates for quarterly and annual fees; IRS
estimate dates and Renewal/canceling dates for regular services.”
In addition,” he laughed, “to keep myself out of the doghouse, I’ve
included birthdays and anniversaries too.”
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.
Our Vegas Voice Family
Our Movie Revelations columnist Renee Riendeau with Publisher
Dan at last month’s Vegas Voice video podcast. Renee explained how she
became a movie critic and more importantly, how she was able to do
what everyone dreams of – singing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
26
February 2020
Midway
By: Renee Riendeau / Movie Revelations
Director Roland Emmerich is somewhat
of a patchwork storyteller as this remake
film cuts back and forth between Japanese
commanders and the American military leaders.
It’s more of an authentic combat movie than a historical one between
the American and Japanese forces from June 4-7 in 1942.
It takes place near the Midway atoll in the Pacific theater of World War
II. The film is basically a follow up to Pearl Harbor that was planned by
the Japanese but later fell into a trap laid out by the Americans who had
figured out the attack was going to happened. The element of surprise
was key.
We see this film from a pilot’s viewpoint where it looks like a roller
coaster drop from hell while showers of enemy gunfire shoot up from
the carrier. To say the pilots were “brave” is an understatement.
The bombers dove at a vertical angle, hurling to the ocean to destroy
the ships with pinpoint accuracy. This director gives you a sense of how
the battle unfolds and how it turned the tide of our fight against the
Japanese.
In 1976 the first “Midway” was a hit filmed with three top actors;
Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, and Robert Mitchum. This “Midway”
may not be good enough for any movie awards but it is large scale
entertainment and the cast make it captivating.
Woody Harrelson as Admiral Nimitz, Commander of the Pacific Fleet;
Dennis Quaid as Vice Admiral “Bull” Halsey; and Aaron Eckhart as Lt.
Colonel Jimmy Doolittle who led the response raid on Tokyo.
When it comes to storytelling, this was a “B” movie but the stages of
battle were convincing as genuine combat spectacles. The destructive
metal-on-metal inferno of what war is, makes this film definitely worth
seeing.
I give this film a cinema score of “B+”. 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.
LES BALLETS TROCKADERO
DE MONTE CARLO
“The funniest night you will ever have at the ballet.” –Sunday Times
FRI, MAR 20 • 7:30PM
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Solomon Dumas, Jamar Roberts and Jacqueline Green.
Photo by Andrew Eccles
DRUM TAO 2020
TOUR BOOKED AND PRODUCED BY COLUMBIA ARTISTS
“Extraordinarily talented percussion artists.” –Chicago Tribune
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27
28
Room for Everyone
By: Carol Chapman
According
to the U.S.
Census Bureau,
the population of people aged 65 and older
worldwide is projected to nearly double to 1 billion people by 2030. The
senior population is growing worldwide thanks to modern medicine
and improved lifestyle changes from generation to generation.
Even better, it means our loved ones get to stay around longer than
ever before. Our mission is to aid this growing population across the
Las Vegas Valley. In Nevada by 2025, seniors over 65 are projected to be
17% of the population.
As the senior population rises, so does the need for the services
that we are able to provide. In addition to providing free equipment,
transportation, and medication reminder programs to seniors, we also
have the HowRU program for seniors nationwide to get a daily call,
offering support and peace of mind to subscribers and their family
members.
Since 2002, through all of these wonderful programs, The Foundation
has been able to respond to over 260,000 requests for assistance - and
the number only continues to grow.
We want everyone to know that help is available to any senior that
needs it. There is always room at the table and it is our mission to assist
anyone that may be in need of our services.
We welcome new faces willing to provide any time or resources
with open arms. If you are interested in joining The Foundation as a
volunteer, or know of a senior who would benefit from one or more of
our services, call The Foundation Assisting Seniors at 725/244-4200
or visit us at www.foundationassistingseniors.com
February 2020
Urgent Care or VA Emergency?
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet
When should you use Urgent Care Centers
or VA Emergency Departments? Do you
know the difference? Well the new Mission Act is
causing some confusion.
The last time I went to the VA emergency on Pecos Road I was queried
a bit more intensely than usual about my reason for being there. When
I told them I was having chest pains, the standard procedures were
followed.
I then did some querying and found out that in many cases veterans
should no longer go to the VA, but to a local Urgent Care facility.
Hopefully this will provide you with enough information to save a trip
in the wrong direction - especially if you have something like a cold,
rash, or earache.
Urgent care providers partnering with the VA provide easy access to
health care when a Veteran does not have time to wait to see a regular
primary care provider at the VA, or the office is closed. Choosing to visit
an urgent care center in the community will be best if the illness or
injury is non-life-threatening.
Here’s the first rule of thumb: For life-threatening emergencies,
such as cardiac/stroke symptoms, head trauma, breathing and
bleeding issues that require a speedy visit to your closest emergency
department – either the VA Medical Center, or an Emergency Center in
the community.
Minor injuries or illnesses that do not appear to be life threatening
should be treated at an urgent care center. Eligibility for urgent care,
Veterans must:
1. Be enrolled in the VA health care system AND
2. Have received care through VA from either a VA or community
provider within the past 24 months
(If you are uncertain of eligibility, you can contact your local VA
medical facility by phone or in person. Veterans do not need to get
prior authorization from VA to visit an urgent care provider in the VA’s
contracted network.)
I’ve located the one nearest to my home. I also keep handy the
handout (a locator that can be obtained from the VA) that lists the
various urgent care centers in town.
This webpage will give you further direction:
www.va.gov/communitycare/programs/veterans/Urgent_
Care.asp
So, be safe, and here’s to your health.
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
The Second New Year of 2020
By: Kate Wind / Kate’s Insight
January 25, 2020 marked the beginning of
the Chinese New Year. Below are 5 tips to get
ready for the second New Year of 2020!
1. Intentionally clean the home. Using a
vacuum or broom, sweep from the four corners
of the home and push this energy out the front or back door. Set the
intention of creating a fresh foundation for the new year.
2. Since we are celebrating the Year of the Rat, watercolors symbolize
wealth. New purses and wallets in blues and whites should be carried
with the intention of prosperity.
3. Red envelopes set the intention of cash flow and abundance. Red
envelopes should be filled with new, crisp dollars.
In Chinese, the number 8 brings great luck and harmony. Stuffing
your red envelope with any denominations of 8 (such as $0.88, $8.00,
$88.00) will serve you well! Avoid the number 4 as it represents bad
luck and death.
4. In Chinese mythology, The Grand Duke is the most highly
respected and feared deity. Each year, he is said to appear in an area
of the house based on the directional location of the animal that rules
the year.
Honoring the Rat, the Grand Duke will show up in the North area of
the home. Just like you would tidy the house for expected company, I
encourage you to make beautifications to this area of the home. Small
changes to tidy the area will make a big impression on the Grand Duke.
5. Mystic knots are red knots made out of one piece of rope. The
idea is that there is no beginning and no end - which is symbolic for
harmonious flow and good fortune.
I like the infinity knots with a chime or lucky coins. Hang one of
these on the inside of the front door and set the intention of always
hearing opportunity knocking.
Kate Wind is second-generation Astrologer and Feng Shui
Consultant. She speaks on an array of topics, from astrological
influences, Chinese New Year, Feng Shui and Tarot. You can contact
her at: the katewind@gmail.com
29
With the senior industry growing
exponentially during the next decade,
more seniors will navigate towards communities
that provide a variety of modern amenities and opportunities to fuse
comfort, lifestyle and quality of care. In my experience, those who
transition from home to Senior Living are in search of a connection
that makes sense.
Let’s be honest. It’s not a “one size fits all” and finding the right fit
takes patience, a little optimism and a brisk of clarity in order to make
this transition.
But transitioning is just the start; first, it’s building a connection.
Choosing a Senior Living will allow the opportunity to engage with
a diverse group of friends, experience new things, gain support and be
encouraged to maintain your independence.
The bonus is having more freedom to do what you enjoy, with less
upkeep and adding the safety components of having onsite caregivers
to assist when needed. That is what exemplifies the Senior Living
Structure.
It’s a monumental phrase - “Senior Living” and it is not to be taken
lightly. It blends into the next chapter of a person’s life, and what it
means to each individual can determine the willingness for change.
Silver Living is inspiring because even though I’ve had prospects
hesitate over this decision, I’ve witnessed their victory when they
became residents. They became more involved in their life again,
had a sense of purpose and engaged themselves in the process while
attending daily activities.
Coronado Heights Senior Living offers this interpersonal
connection, with a focus on quality programs, tailored care and
abundant amenities. Our team invests in the Silver Living that can
make your new home a healthy one.
We offer modern comfort, nestled in the center of Henderson’s
very best district of entertainment and healthcare. Our state-of-theart
services ensure your journey will be guided with professionalism,
compassion and a motivated staff that works hard to ensure the very
best client satisfaction.
Unwrapping a present for the first time is always a mystery, but once
you uncover the gift, what you hold is a little piece of joy. And that’s
what makes Senior Living a beautiful option.
Samantha Rivero is the Community Lifestyle Director at Coronado
Heights Senior Living. You can contact Samantha at 725/200-3300
30
Silver Lining
By: Samantha Noelle Riviero / New Heights
February 2020
Blindly Navigating Like a Pro
By: BJ Killeen / Down the Road
The Consumer Electronics Show is an
exciting glimpse into the future. Not just
for televisions and home appliances, but for
technology that’s designed to help us navigate life a lot easier.
While we saw many exciting products (which we’ll cover in upcoming
issues), one of the most interesting was from a company called Sensible
Innovations.
Its technology focuses on ways to explore the world for those who are
visually impaired. More than 21 million adults in the U.S. are visually
impaired, with a full one quarter of those over the age of 65. While we’ve
talked about self-driving cars that can move those who can’t drive, the
Sensible Innovations app, called AWARE, will be used to navigate streets
and locations while walking.
The AWARE is added to a phone and works in conjunction with
landmark beacons located at specific locations - for example, at
a health care facility or a hotel. These beacons, called iBeacon, can
either be permanent or temporary. The iBeacon can also be given to the
customer to help them find their hotel room easily.
When in range of the SmartLandmark, the user will hear a preprogrammed
message, such as “exit,” or a customized message such as
“you’ve arrived at your room, 312.” Messages can be changed as often
as desired by the business and can be extremely detailed, such as, “keep
walking straight toward the south end of the building. Make a quarter
turn left at the hallway intersection.”
You also can ask the app to take you somewhere, get a directory,
find places nearby, highlight venues that support the software, and even
read you audible menus from nearby restaurants.
The app is no charge to customers, but the system is just getting up
and running. The beacons will be for sale shortly, so you’ll want to tell
the local businesses you visit to check online at sensible-innovations.
com and purchase iBeacons to install at their shops.
This is a great idea that will help many visually impaired people
become even more independent.
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
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31
Affordable Housing
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action
Last month, I suggested a solution to getting
the homeless off the streets by converting
railroad box cars into livable and affordable
transitional housing units. This was not my idea but one championed
by a true visionary, Arnold Stalk.
This “Veteran’s Village” concept has proven to be very effective and
yet, has not been broadly applied to remediate our growing homeless
population. Part of the problem has to do with the word “transitional”
i.e. NOT permanent!
No one really wants to have temporary housing. Everyone wants to
varying degrees a place to call HOME.
Since “affordable housing” has become the oxymoron of today, the
question becomes: “Is anything affordable ever going to occur?” I say
YES and here’s how!
Developers are not in the business to lose money no matter how
altruistic their intent may be. Since land costs are at the heart of the
accelerating cost of housing, why not build on land that is donated free
and clear?
Since 80-90% of the vacant land in this state is owned by the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), why not allocate 10-40 acres of
land adjacent to the local entities and earmark that land for housing
development for the homeless?
Give the developers tax benefits for building rental and condominium
units for purchase by the homeless and you have affordable housing.
Free Money
By: Don C. Whitaker / Guest Column
Sounds too good to most of us who have either
been swindled or scammed about some long
lost relative. But the truth is there are millions of
dollars out there waiting for citizens to claim.
Most of the funds are from closed bank accounts, refunds from
various vendors and wrong addresses. All 50 states have an unclaimed
property website. Nevada’s https://claims.nevadaunclaimedproperty.
gov/Property/SearchIndex.
I became interested because I wanted to make certain the charities I
support are good stewards of the money that is intended for them. You
will find that most charities are good at fund raising but not at getting
funds from these sites.
The units would be separated to house single women, single men and
families.
Since virtually all homeless have some income and to insure that they
have “buy-in”, earmark 20% of their monthly income into an “Escrow
lock-box” that can’t be touched except for housing. If they abandon
their commitment, the funds revert back to the entities managing the
programs to be re-allocated to others in need.
As the money increases in their designated accounts, charitable
organizations and/or the local governing bodies themselves can match
their “investment” up to an established limit. I think it is worthy of
public debate!
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
It becomes ludicrous when the various states can’t get funds to their
own cities. Case in point: if you put in City of Las Vegas in the Nevada
website, there are 20 entries for this city. Wouldn’t you think someone at
the state level could find the City to return the funds to them?
Lived in California? Have some fun with that site https://ucpi.sco.
ca.gov/UCP/Default.aspx
What I find amazing in the California site is there are entries that
make one cringe with the thought of big government. There are 3,479
listings where the State of California can’t find itself and 149 for the
Franchise Tax Board, their taxing body.
When I get calls from my alma mater (USC) asking for money, I
ask the fund raiser: “Could you explain the 2,136 entries for money for
USC at this site along with 253 for University of Southern California?”
There are 700 entries for UCLA, 391 for American Red Cross and 47 for
Red Cross.
The list goes on and on. I have contacted many charities that I like to
support and told them about their money sitting there and asked them
to call me back in six months to see if they have done anything about
this before I contemplate another gift.
If you lived in other states, it is easy to find such a site from your
previous domicile. It’s like a treasure hunt for you (and your family)
with no cost - but possibly a pot of gold in return. Happy hunting.
32
February 2020
33
In reading the wonderful article by Vegas
Voice writer John Beilun on Thomas Paine,
in last month’s edition, it caused me to reflect
back to one of Paine’s more thought provoking quotes:
It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful
to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving,
it consists in professing to believe what one does not believe.
I do not presume to
be arrogant enough to
think my opinion on
any candidates in the
upcoming election is
any more important
than yours. However,
I sincerely hope that
you listen to Thomas Paine and don’t accept the hatred that is being
spewed out by most candidates because they loathe another candidate’s
personality. I suggest you ask yourself do they really believe what they
are saying, or are they just trying to generate support for themselves.
If you travel to Europe, parts of Asia, the Middle East, South America
and even Africa and find some locals in the streets and speak with
them, you quickly learn what happened to the masses that lived under
socialism, communism or just plain dictatorship. Their ancestors grew
up having their possessions taken from them and in many cases, were
hungry most of their lives. These people look at America as the greatest
country in the world.
We seniors have seen many elections in our lifetime, but perhaps
nothing more important as this upcoming one. Please take a moment
before voting and seriously think about all our candidates.
Which ones really want our country, our world, to be what you want
for your great-grandchildren? Please don’t convince yourself to believe
something you deep down don’t believe. Infidelity is a hard thing to
live with.
34
Do Americans Accept Infidelity?
By: Morris Heldt / A Senior’s P.O.V.
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.
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Why Caucus?
By: Judy Polumbaum / Our View
Jimmy Carter, again. This unknown peanut
grower from Georgia rocketed to recognition
by winning the Iowa caucuses, got the Democratic
nomination for president, and won the White House in 1976. After that,
caucuses became a thing.
Caucuses actually go back to the early 1800s. These party-managed
gatherings to advocate for candidates in real time were more common
than primaries until 1972. Primaries, managed by local government
under state law, then became the dominant system of the presidential
prelude.
You might think you’re choosing candidates at a caucus or
primary. Actually, you’re choosing delegates, usually to county party
conventions. They may or may not support your favorites; sometimes
it’s proportional, sometimes winner-take-all. County delegates choose
state delegates, who choose delegates to the national conventions, who
choose the nominees.
Then we determine the makeup of that shadowy body called the
Electoral College. Once we vote nationally, the electors either confirm
or deform the popular vote. The system funnels upward, stripping away
some of the nuisances of grassroots democracy.
Why even bother?
After fiddling around with various configurations of caucuses and
primaries and nothing at all, Nevada reinstituted caucuses in 2008,
reportedly because Harry Reid wanted us to be first in the West. That
in itself is reason to attend the Democratic caucuses on February 22nd
(the Republicans are passing this time).
We can pretend
to throw our weight
around, while
bragging about
how much more
representative
Nevada (majorityminority)
is than
Iowa (91% white,
caucuses Feb. 3) or New Hampshire (94% white, primary Feb. 11).
Some think caucuses are profoundly undemocratic. They are more
time-consuming than primaries and attract fewer participants. The
face-to-face discussion, precisely the appeal for some, is a deterrent for
others.
Nevadans with limited time, or aversion to debate, can cast early
caucus votes (Feb. 15-18).
To anyone else who’d like a teensy role in the Democratic nominating
process: Caucus because it’s interesting and fun! I moved here from
Iowa, so I can say that.
Creating a caucus culture as convivial as Iowa’s may take a few more
cycles, but we need the practice - and the more the merrier.
Judy is a professor emerita of journalism and a transplant to
Las Vegas from New England via China, the West Coast and the
Midwest.
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35
My New Vision
By: Mary Richard / Health Fitness
OK – here it is February, the 2 nd month of
the New Year! How many have already
broken their New Year’s Resolutions? I don’t make
resolutions, I make changes!
2020 has been mentioned as “new vision or clarity.” Yes, I will look
at all through new vision. Resolutions? Nah. Changes? Yes. I’m looking
at 2020 as the new year and decade to make some changes.
I’m trying my best to eliminate negativity out of my life. I just
celebrated my 75th birthday in December, so I look at this next chapter
as a new beginning.
Did you gain a few pounds during 2019? Don’t stress about it. Just try
to cut back on calories, sugars, etc. and exercise more. Better to lose a
few pounds at a time then to crash diet.
One “change” that I’m making this year is to be more organized.
This will pertain not only to my house, but also to my eating habits.
By that I mean, by grocery shopping and also preparing 2 or 3 meals
ahead of time – due to my very busy working schedules. Sunday nights
I cook up a few dinners, labeling in individual containers to freeze.
I try to NEVER go grocery shopping on an empty stomach! How
many times have you ventured into a grocery store with hunger pains
lurking and gobbled up
every “sample” taste
tidbit that is offered
(especially at COSTCO!)
or found some strange
item that wandered into
your grocery cart? Make
a grocery list before
heading to the store.
For example, after
buying a stalk of celery,
wash it well, then cut them into smaller pieces and place into a zip-lock
bag. That way, when I come home and while preparing my dinner, I
can munch on a celery stalk or two. I do the same with carrot sticks –
or better yet – buy a bag of baby carrots to munch on!
Keeping fresh fruit in a bowl on the kitchen counter also allows me
to have something “quick” to munch on when I get the hunger urge.
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.
By: Kyo Mitchell / A Healthier You
Far, far too many people suffer from chronic
pain. Beyond the physical unpleasantness,
chronic pain has many other negative effects.
It can be exhausting and make sleeping difficult. It can keep you
from spending time with family and friends and doing the things you
love. It may even affect your ability to make a living or do what needs
to be done on a daily basis.
Pain is caused by tissue damage. To have a hope of resolving pain,
you have to correct the underlying problem - the tissue damage.
Just blocking the pain will never resolve the problem. This requires
the tissue to go through a series of steps to stop the inflammation and
then create new healthy tissue if possible.
For those suffering from chronic pain, you need to understand
36
Drug Free Ways To Effectively Resolve Pain
February 2020
the limits of the conventional strategies currently employed. Antiinflammatories,
opioids and gabapentin, the most commonly
prescribed drugs for pain, are designed to block the pain signal.
They do not address what caused the underlying damage, much
less help to resolve it. These drugs do not always work well and the
person may continue to suffer. There are also potential side effects to
each of these approaches; addiction to opioids being the most prevalent
example.
Surgery sometimes corrects the problem. Other times it does not
resolve the problem and can actually cause additional problems
So, is there any hope for those suffering from chronic pain? Research
is beginning to show that electrical signals carried in the body can stop
the inflammation and give the tissues the necessary signals to begin
to heal.
If the body cannot do this on its own, specific medical devices can
send these signals through the affected tissue. It should be noted that
we are not talking here about a TENS unit which many patients own
but rather medical equipment that is much more advanced.
I have spent decades treating both acute and chronic pain using such
methods. With as few as six treatments, I have seen many individuals
with chronic pain achieve resolution.
If you want your life back, this may be an option for you. For further
information, please feel free to contact me.
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.
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37
Cruise Ship Mania
By: Stu Cooper / Happy Adventures
As all of you know who have read my travel
articles over the years, I am an avid cruiser.
I have been on too many cruises to count and
have visited even more ships while doing ship inspections when they
first come out.
As part of my cruise ship craziness I’ve watched all the festivities
leading up to that exciting moment when the “Big” bottle of
champagne hits the side of the vessel as the words: “I christen you (put
name of ship in here).” And I have enjoyed every one of these.
Most of these inaugural cruises have been with the Carnival Cruise
Line. And to name just a few I was present for inaugurations of the
Fantasy, Fascination, Destiny, Triumph, Conquest and Glory.
At the festivities for the Carnival Triumph several years ago I got to
meet my childhood football hero Frank Gifford as he accompanied his
wife Kathy Lee to the ceremonies. My wife Sharon and I got to chat with
them for a few minutes and they were just the most wonderful people.
Turns out we all had something in common. We were all born on
August 16. And that Cathy Lee and I were born in the same year. Twins
from a different mother.
Frank had 20 years on us but was also born August 16. It did give us
a six degrees of separation moment and was a cool coincidence.
It is these kinds of interactions that I find so enjoyable associated
with travel. I also enjoy meeting new people, chatting with them and
learning about the experiences of other people from around the world.
Hearing what they have to say is always enjoyable.
We have a lot going on with the VEGAS VOYAGERS. We added a
number of “Bus to the Boat” cruises, as well as a Canadian Rockies
trip and a number of European river cruises with Emerald and Scenic
River Cruises.
As always please feel free to call us at 800/698-1101 with any question
you might have. Happy Adventures to all.
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February 2020
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39
40
Stay up to date on all the subjects
of interest to seniors...
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Email address
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Fill this out and mail to our address below, or go to our
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www.thevegasvoice.net
November 2019
Before arriving you must travel a serpentine
mountain road, light with traffic while
rising and falling along the plunging contours of the hills.
Set in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Kern County is the California
town of Kernville. Kernville is a day’s drive from Las Vegas and within
50 miles of Bakersfield.
The beautiful Kern River runs through Kernville, which is named for
the artist Edward Kern. Kern accompanied John C. Fremont on his 1845
expedition.
Today, Kernville
remains a picturesque,
purist relic of early
California. The 1858
gold rush led to the
town’s formation,
back when gold often
washed down from
the mountains. Many
Kernville - Quaint Relic of
Gold Rush California
By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World
local families trace
their ancestry to the
original 19th century
homesteaders.
The town was briefly called Rogersville, then Williamsburg, before
becoming Whiskey Flat after a town bar opened. In 1864, the township
was named Kernville and has remained Kernville, even following the
Isabella Dam project which begun in 1948.
Kernville was relocated, along with many of its historic buildings, to
the present location at the northeast corner of the dam created manmade
Lake. Kernville’s Main Street is a craggy row of relocated western
facades from the 1800s.
They charm visitors who come to catch a glimpse of the town’s gold
rush and Old West roots as well as the many scenic sites and outdoor
activities available. The original Kernville townsite is a registered
California Historical Landmark.
Each February, President’s Day weekend attracts countless visitors
who come for the annual Whiskey Flat Days, a celebration of the
community’s Wild West past. Through historic demonstrations, pioneerstyle
camps and a rodeo, the festival showcases the unique charms of
Kernville.
Any time of year, Kernville has tourist activity centered on the white
water rapids of the Kern River. Fly fishing is popular, especially for
golden trout which is catch and release fishing.
Downtown Kernville presents an authentic Old West appearance
with quaint restaurants and plenty of antique shops. Year-round you
are invited to visit and become part of Kernville’s storied history which
makes this small town a bona fide relic of gold rush California.
Kathy Manney enjoys visiting interesting places and being an
Adventure Diva. Her “Must See” travel journeys continue - always
with enthusiasm.
41
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River Cruises
By: Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker /
Out & About
Which is the Perfect Valentine Day’s Gift?
Assorted chocolates or a River Cruise?
The answer is quite obvious. But for a special surprise, why not tuck
one of our river cruise brochures into that candy box? This is one gift
which is sure to delight your special someone.
Whether you prefer your vacation experiences to be high energy or
at a slower pace, river cruising could quickly become your favorite
getaway. Just imagine bicycling on a river’s edge or relaxing on a
balcony as you watch the castles go by.
Everything is so easy; you’ll wonder why you ever wanted to fight the
crowds on today’s oceangoing megaships.
These gigantic oceangoing vessels often require hours to get
clearance to anchor and offload their passengers. So, it’s not unusual
to see a parade of buses waiting for frustrated vacationers, who’ve
discovered they are not even close to the city center or the historical
areas they came to see.
Even the simplest complication, like a forgotten sweater or headset,
quickly becomes a crisis. You have to negotiate through crowds and
hallways to get back to your stateroom and then try to find your friends
before your tour bus departs.
A riverboat, however, offers a completely different experience.
Typically there are only 150 to 300 passengers, and everything is
designed for their comfort and convenience.
Actually most European riverboats are built to similar specifications
because they must be able to navigate narrow rivers through locks,
canals and bridges. This is a small sacrifice, though, because their
size promotes a feeling of intimacy, while their uniformity allows these
crafts to easily pull into centrally located piers.
Sightseeing, shopping, and personal exploring are often just a few
steps away. And even through the size of most riverboats is similar, each
major cruise line, like Viking and AMA Waterways, has established its
own unique style.
Plus, they dazzle their passengers with personalized service and lots
of guided sightseeing. One of the most exciting things about European
river cruising is its accessibility to medieval city centers and sites.
So, today’s riverboats approach historic towns and buildings as they
were meant to be seen - from the water!
42
Call Ray or Crystal at:
702/463-0966
February 2020
Travel professional, Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker, has visited all
50 U.S. states and over 40 countries. She was awarded 1st Place for
her 2019 Travel Writing by the North American Mature Publishers
Association. She can be reached at Merryman2@aol.com
43
An Open Letter To All “Our” Children
By: Vicki Wentz / Vicki’s Voice
Dear sweet niece twinnies. Happy birthday!
I called you out there in Colorado to
sing to you - although I forgot about the time
difference…sorry! But, I miss you!
And, sometimes I feel like you and your cousins - including my own
children! - being scattered …well, it feels like we’re sort of losing each
other.
That’s all wrong, girls! I still want to be part of all of your lives, firmly
and forever, even though you’re far away.
And, so, in honor of your 27th birthday: Top 27 Reasons To Stay
Close to Your Aunts and Uncles.
27. You were born into a big, Italian/German Catholic family filled
with love, dysfunction, laughter, tears and lunacy. YOU ARE SO LUCKY!
26. Your aunts and uncles need constant fashion, technology and
behavioral advice, or one day we will embarrass you...like irreparably.
25. We can be hilarious. Admit it.
24. We (mostly) smell nice.
23. We can cook.
22. We (mostly) believe in the same things.
21. Your cousins’ lives may differ in the particulars, but their
frustrations, anxiety and angst is the same as yours, and united, you
may all one day put your parents in “homes.”
20. We love you - heart-twistingly.
19. We miss you - heart-wrenchingly.
18. We changed your diapers, fed you
strained carrots (which still stain our
favorite blouses...maybe that’s just me),
came to every birthday party and hunted
backyard bugs with you.
17. Some of us have incredible seats
for football games!
16. If you ever need $50 fast (as long
as it’s not illegal, immoral, or stupid) we
will ALWAYS help.
15. You may still resent the “completely
ignorant” parental rules and restrictions to which you were abusively
exposed while growing up (mostly supported by your aunts and uncles)
but I’d wager you’ll raise your children almost exactly the same way!
(Most of you realize that already, although you’ll never admit it.)
14. We babysat for you and told you better bedtime stories than the
ones your parents told you.
13. If you don’t look like either of your parents, chances are you’ll
find your face on one of us.
12. We kept almost everything our children wore and swapped the
best with our siblings so that you could all have cute clothes; even if we
were struggling.
11. We love our brothers - and your mothers. We love our sisters - and
your fathers.
10. Being so close while growing up (in mileage and in age) all of
you cousins have been like siblings to each other. You must NEVER lose
that! (Where do you think that $50 will come from when we’re gone?)
9. If our own children bail, we may end up living with you. You’ll
want to nurture our relationship - think Last Will and Testament.
8. When your parents’ insanity becomes overwhelming (and it will)
who else can you call to vent (and to hear about what underachievers
they’ve always been, since birth...not that I would do that)?
7. We fixed your boo-boos, called your pediatricians, and captured
the teeth that came out (even when bloody and drooly!). And, if you
were spending the night, we personally contacted the tooth fairy.
6. If anyone ever hurts you (EVER) just call. Your parents, aunts,
uncles and cousins will ALL be there, and we will ALL kick some ass
(sorry, Aunt Vicki didn’t mean to cuss).
5. We’ve sent you care packages from the time you left home, and
prayed, like your parents, that you’d “settle in”, find friends, and be
happy...mostly the happy part.
4. We’re SO proud of you.
3. When you laugh, we laugh. When you cry, we cry.
2. The blood in your veins is also in ours. That means something.
1. In the end...and AT the end...there is no one whose hand we want
to hold more than yours. So, please - don’t let go.
Love you, Katherine and Kristen...and Louise, Robby, Becky, Caroline,
Jack, Will, Kate, Luke, Maggie, Michael, Joey and Mac.
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February 2020
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.
Keeping Busy This Month
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening
Even though February is the shortest month
of the year, there are numerous activities
that we should do to prepare for the growing
season. Here is my suggestion:
Week 1: Now is the time to go to your garden and do a final
“cleanup.” Complete any “last-minute” pruning and begin the task of
treating your deciduous trees with dormant oil spray to kill insect eggs
that may develop into boring or sucking insects that will attack your
flowering and fruit trees in the coming months.
I recommend neem oil which can be used as both a dormant spray
now as well as a foliar spray during the growing seasons.
This week is a good time to treat your soil against root-eating grubs.
If you have not already done so, treat your agave, yucca, as well as
flowering bushes with systemic insecticide.
This works through the root system protecting them from a variety of
damaging insects. Just keep in mind not to treat plants that you intend
to eat in the near future.
During the winter, your soil may have experienced a rise in pH levels
(alkali buildup). To balance off these levels, apply sulfur to the soil.
Week 2: Now is the time to aerate the soil, check drip systems and to
add mulch where needed. It is also the time to fertilize succulents, fruit
trees and blossoming bushes.
And treat your roses with a solution of Epsom Salt to stimulate
flowering. Remember that palm trees should not be fertilized until late
Spring. Visit the garden nurseries since new fruit trees and roses will be
arriving shortly.
Week 3: By now, plants should be starting to bud. Do some additional
pruning to stimulate growth.
Nurseries should be receiving their new stock and will be having
sales! Spend quality time picking out the best stock and start planting!
Week 4: If you are planning on growing vegetables, this is the time
that nurseries will be receiving palettes of vegetables and tomatoes. If
you are unsure of which varieties do best, call the Master Gardeners’
Hotline (702/257-555) for free advice and printed information.
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.
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46
February 2020
47
Speaking to and for Las Vegas
Valley Seniors since 2003
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