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“ASK LAURA ABOUT REAL ESTATE”
Good things to know about Trust & Estate Administration
Laura Harbison
Broker/Owner
B.0026537.LLC/ PM.0164922.BKR
Seniors Real Estate Specialist ® (SRES)
Accredited Buyer Representative ® (ABR)
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Laura@HarbisonRealEstate.com
www.LauraHarbisonRealEstate.com
Call Laura Today!
7022-777-1234
There was a time when many people associated words like “trust” or “estate” with wealthy people,
with the belief that only the rich should be concerned about who should receive their assets when
they pass on. These days, however, people are becoming aware of how important estate planning
can be. Whether or not you have a huge house, plenty of cash in the bank or a massive enterprise is
immaterial. With estate planning, you get to choose who gets what, regardless of what you have. At
its very heart, drafting a will or setting up a trust is all about protecting your loved ones.
Trusts and estates need to be administered when the time comes. The directions in a will or trust
can be routinely implemented, all loose ends pertaining to debts and taxes tied up and the affairs of
the whole estate managed.
Can Executor and Trustee Can Be The Same Person?
It is possible to name the same person as both the executor of your estate as well as the successor
trustee of your trust. An executor will work with the court in guiding your estate through the
probate process (if applicable), while a trustee is usually tasked with taking over the management of
your trust in the event of your death or incapacity. Some would recommend that two different
people fill those two roles as a way of putting checks and balances in place when settling your estate
and trust. However, naming the same person as executor and trustee provides advantages as
well. For one, it will minimize expenses, since the lawyer providing assistance in settling the trust
and estate only has to talk to one person, which means less work—and payment—for the lawyer and
more money for the beneficiaries. For another, having one person play both roles will eliminate any
confusion or complications that come with any miscommunication that could happen between two
people handling the whole process.
Trustees Can Be Held Personally Liable!
The fact that a person has been named as a trustee implies great trust placed on him or her by the
grantor. However, trustees have an obligation to abide strictly by the terms of the trust. If they use
trust assets for their own benefit or any sort of wrongdoing related to the trust, they will be held
accountable for their actions, and may even be sued in court.
You Can Decline an Appointment as a Trustee or Executor.
Both offices have a mountain of responsibilities, and if you don’t want to be involved in something
that has the potential to become messy, especially when there are disputes involved, you can
decline any appointment to either position. If you decline an appointment as executor and the will
names no one else, the court will appoint an executor in your place. If you were named a trustee
and you don’t want the job, the grantor of the living trust can simply replace you with someone else.
These are just some of the things you need to know about trust and estate administration. Since
things can get complicated, it’s always best to have an estate planning attorney to guide you through
the entire process.
Sharing your goals,
Laura Harbison, ABR, AHWD, BPOR, BS, CDPE, CRS, DRB, GRI, RSPS, SRES
Realty Executives Southern Nevada Properties
Broker/Owner
License # B.0026537.LLC / PM.0164922.BKR
770 Coronado Center Drive, Ste. 100
Henderson, NV 89052
Office: 702-777-1234
2
June 2020
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4
June 2020
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
PRESIDENT
VP ADVERTISING
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Pat Alexander
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Volume 17, Issue 5
OUR FANTASTIC COLUMNISTS
PROUD
MEMBERS OF:
Linda Gomez
Ali Guggenheim
Morris Heldt
Dan Hyde
Mike Landry
Heather Latimer
BJ Killeen
Kathy Manney
Kyo Mitchell
Liz Palmer
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
Success City Online
Bill Caserta
bill@thevegasvoice.net
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.
Can You Smell the Stink?
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules
Like all of you, my PILL (partner in love &
life) political editor Rana Goodman and
I have been quarantined the past few weeks.
Unfortunately, as we slowly emerge from our homes under the “new
normal” the smell from the Court/Judiciary system is overwhelming.
Let’s start with “Our View” Judy Polumbaum’s extraordinary
investigative article. Due to her
exhaustive research, we are
enormously proud to place Part I
(pages 26 – 33) in its entirety.
Judy exposes how a stranger
can appear out of nowhere
and become your probate
administrator. She details how
the judicial system allows this
- including selling your home
way-below market value to the
stranger’s “friends” and then
flipping it for an enormous profit.
As you read it, no doubt you’ll
wonder as to “how” this can go
occur, but more importantly
ask yourself: Can this happen to
me…or my family?
Be prepared to shake your head in disgust and get out the air
deodorant. But wait – the smell gets even worse.
There’s another judicial activity that makes you want to hold
your nose. In the judicial contest for District Court, Family Division,
Department A, incumbent William Voy (one of the “bad” judges due to
his guardianship actions) faces a challenge for his job.
Now like 98% of the population, you have no knowledge and even
less interest in the judicial races. And with the coronavirus pandemic
sucking all the air out of life who wants to spend their time on this?
Judge Voy has run unopposed in previous judicial elections and no
doubt he fully expected the same results. And then along came former
Family Court Judge Gayle Nathan who filed around noon on deadline
day.
Now with just 2 candidates, the law requires no primary and the
election would be decided in November. This is similar to the REAL
contest in my Rana’s eyes to dump the Judge that we really want to
throw out due to his involvement with the guardianship scandal -
Charles Hoskin, Family Division, Department E.
Hoskin’s name is NOT on the primary ballot you received since he
drew only 1 opponent (Thomas
Kurtz). Have no concern however,
since as the November election
nears, my Ladylove will be writing
“quite a bit” about this race.
But back to Judge Voy’s
predicament. To add to his lastminute
opponent, out of the
blue, literally within minutes of
the deadline ANOTHER person
filed for his job – Chery Ann
Wingate.
This challenger has done
nothing since filing her
candidacy – no policy statements,
no reason as to “why” she is
running, no website, not even a headshot. She even refused to attend
the Las Vegas Review Journal’s judicial debate as well as reply to my
telephone calls and email requests for information.
Oh, she just so happens to be the sister-in-law of Judge Voy. And
now with a 3 rd candidate, the primary will go on.
Under the law if a candidate receives 50% + 1 vote, no general
election will be held. You think Wingate filed solely to split the women’s
vote so that her brother-in-law receives the majority vote?
Now, Voy has insisted that he has not spoken to his sister-in-law
about why she did what she did. Could be true, but want to bet that
Voy’s wife discussed it with her sister? Plausible deniability, perhaps –
but anybody else thinks it passes the smell test?
Worse yet – judicial and attorney insiders know all about this “stink”
and once again, done nothing. Judicial business as usual.
Just another example of our “stinking” judiciary system. Remember
the system is not broken - it’s fixed.
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.
5
I
’ve written many times about my father but
this time, I see him and hope he knows how
honored I am to have had him in my life. Yes,
something changed me. And I am not ashamed to express my own
satisfaction of keeping a promise to him that he never knew I made.
Daddy (I still think of him that way) was a gentleman, scholar,
author, and had a dedication to his work that remained unfinished
when he died in 1985.
After I lost my Mom in 1993, I found a typed version of his work
in their apartment. My mother typed it from his notes on a small
portable Emerson typewriter with a worn ribbon on onionskin paper.
The chapters were paper clipped and there were assorted handwritten
papers under it.
My father wrote in teeny letters and one 5x7 piece of paper could
hold what would be 2 to 3 typed pages. It was always a challenge to
read them.
Both my parents centered their lives on music. My mother was a
pianist who taught at Julliard. My father, a Professor of Sociology, was
also the son of an opera singer and an opera director brought to New
York by Oscar Hammerstein in the early 1900s.
So, it was no surprise that with my father’s great knowledge of music
and family connection, he did extensive research (over a span of 40
years) on the history of musical theater and this very colorful character,
Oscar Hammerstein.
His book brings to life the amazing creativity, masterful stage
engineering, humor, unlikely associations and the turbulence of the
period combining forces to create entertainment and celebrations of
talent. All this was led by Hammerstein and his brilliant imagination.
Everything was an event and the world applauded his triumphs and
witnessed his antics.
Sadly, my dad was never able to bring the book to completion. When
I found the manuscript, I also discovered that my mother had donated
all his research material.
6
A Promise to My Father
By: Adrea Nairne-Barrera / 60s to 60
June 2020
All I had was 500 pages but as I read it, I realized how important
this was.
The imagery in the words and the stories of how musical theater first
came to be gave me amazing insight into my father. I got to know him
in a whole new way and to appreciate the man he was. To me the book
is a masterpiece.
In 1995 I copyrighted it and began to explore possible ways to make
sure it had a place in the world. I worked with agents and entertainment
reps, gave up for a few years and then decided to gather the research
material and copy it. That never happened.
But I made a promise to my father that no matter how long it took,
I would bring this over the finish line. Ultimately, I plunged into a
fund-raising website to draw attention and perhaps even self-publish
or hire someone to collaborate with me and track down the original
research notes.
In 2014, within 2 weeks of posting it was noticed by a senior editor
at McFarland & Company, Inc. She recognized the importance of the
subject and asked if we could discuss it further.
After I picked myself up from the floor, I sent my favorite chapter and
in return was offered a contract.
There were so many things to do and the editor assigned to me was
patient, smart and loved the subject. It took 6 years to get every little
detail right and in 2020 it was published!
This Father’s Day I finally came up with the right gift. I love you
Daddy.
Adrea Nairne-Barrera writes of celebrations, observations &
complaints of life in the 60s to being in your 60s.
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7
By: Pat Alexander / Art of Entertaining
Our world is so strange in these days of
COVID-19. I realize I’m jittery, can’t seem
to stay still, and wander from place to place in my
house.
I read a bit, watch TV a bit, rearrange a drawer or play a game at
the computer. My refrigerator door has been opened more times in a
day than it usually is in a week. I’m worried about COVID 15 (the 15
pounds gained from boredom) but I’m not about to step on a scale.
I’m usually planning, doing, arranging, or thinking about three
things at once. But now, I’m bored, and I am definitely not good at
bored.
I feel the way I felt after I lived on Martha’s Vineyard for several
months. I knew I had to leave because the Island closed in on me. The
only way on or off was by boat or plane since I definitely wasn’t up to
the swim!
It was such a beautiful place but so confining. I was told I had island
fever. Now I think I have house fever.
Yes, I leave the house, but I can’t touch the ones I love and can’t
interact the way one normally does in day-to-day life. The lack of input
leads to an ennui that finds me napping a lot. Maybe the napping will
help me get rid of the circles under my eyes that come from my usual
lack of sleep.
All in all, I think I need a dog!
Pat Alexander writes about all things home. She is well known for
her cooking, parties and interior design, and consults on kitchen
and bath remodels.
8
The New Normal
June 2020
Happy Father’s Day
By: Bill Caserta / Bill’s Blurbs
1
. I gave my father $100 and said, “Buy
yourself something that will make your life
easier.” So he went out and bought a present for
my mother. - Rita Rudner
2. I enjoy Father’s Day. It’s a time when I
pause to reflect on the joy that has come into my life thanks to my two
wonderful children, whose names escape me. - Dave Barry
3. The message of Mother’s Day is “Mothers are amazingly good
at mothering! They deserve a special day!” Whereas the message of
Father’s Day is: “We’re only doing this because we have Mother’s Day.”
- Dave Barry
4. To be a successful father there’s one absolute rule: when you have
a kid, don’t look at it for the first two years. - Ernest Hemingway
5. I got my Dad a GPS for Father’s Day. Now someone other than my
mom can tell him where to go. - Melanie White
6. On Father’s Day, I’m doing something for my Dad that he’s wanted
for years. I’m getting a job. - Melanie White
7. When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant, I could hardly
stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was
astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. -
Mark Twain
* Q. How do fathers exercise on the beach? A. By sucking in their
stomachs every time they see a bikini.
**And finally: I always get worried about Father’s Day. I’m afraid I’ll
be given a gift I can’t afford.
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.
SENDS A HUGE
To Our
REAL
SUPER HEROES!
9
Stiff Upper Lip
By: Susan Goldfein / Susan’s Unfiltered Wit
My husband has figured out a unique
and effective way to guarantee social
distancing.
He has grown a mustache. Hey, I’m as
affectionate as the next guy, but it’s hard to pucker up when I feel I’m
about to kiss my hairbrush.
I admit it. I’m having a hard time getting used to the new him.
Although he’s been cultivating it for several weeks, I’m often startle
when he walks into a room.
Fortunately, I recover in time to refrain from dialing 9-1-1 to report a
break-in. Other times, I’m convinced that I’ve inadvertently channeled
Groucho Marx.
Now for those men who sport facial hair, please don’t take offense. For
some, mustaches work very well. Like, if you happen to be a Mexican
revolutionary or a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who
operates a meth lab in an old RV.
I guess it’s all about what you’re accustomed to, and I’m definitely
not acclimating well. I’ve been with this man for a long time, and he’s
never had more than a two-day growth.
Because of the mustache, I’ve begun worrying about things I’ve
never before considered. Potential hazards like what happens when
men with mustaches eat soup? Or worse, what if said man gets a really
bad cold? And sneezes.
How do you blow your nose
with a mustache? And what if
there’s a nose bleed? These
gross thoughts have begun
to keep me awake at night
while he and his mustache
are peacefully asleep.
But if this fixture upon his face becomes permanent, or even semipermanent,
I suppose I’ll have to change my attitude and my outlook.
My associations with mustaches will have to become more positive. Less
about Stalin, Hitler, and porn stars, and more about Teddy Roosevelt,
Albert Einstein, my nice next-door neighbor, or The Village People.
In fact, there may just be something in this for me. If he’s going to
walk about resembling Sonny Bono, perhaps I should start dressing
like Cher!
And so, we begin a new chapter in our forty-year marriage. And
I hope it’s a short one. One that closes before he starts to resemble
Yosemite Sam, or I develop a rash from kissing a Brillo pad!
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.
By: Morris Heldt / A Senior’s P.O.V.
As in Me and Bobby McGee I wasn’t busted
flat in Baton Rouge waitin’ for a train, nor
did I have
to wear a pair of faded jeans, but
from a Kentucky coal mine to the
California sun, freedom wasn’t
just another word with nothin’
left to lose.
I recall through my freedom of
choices, I have experienced two
serious earthquakes, tornados,
mandatory curfews, the Vietnam
debacle, and as a young actor
and writer in Hollywood, a few
days without food and a place to
live.
However, this pandemic called
the Coronavirus was something I
had not experienced. It took away
something very precious to me: The loss of my freedom.
I have never been in prison, and I seriously doubt if being sequestered
for the Coronavirus is comparable, but it did cause me to reflect. One
positive thing I learned during my sequestration was how many nice
10
Freedom Not Just Another World
June 2020
people there are.
I took walks every day on the path behind my house, and there wasn’t
a day that people didn’t say hello to me (at the appropriate distance)
and encouraged me to keep
walking…and they always asked
how I was doing and telling me
to stay safe. I also received many
phone calls asking if we had
enough food and if we needed
something.
As a senior it caused me to
think about how I have taken for
granted basic necessities. I have
always loved my country and
the freedom it has given me, but
I cannot express in words how
much more it means to me now.
As I write this article I continue
to wait for my release from
sequestration. However, I do so
with the understanding that
freedom isn’t just another word.
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.
1
9
7
2
5
0
ELECT
JIM
CAVANAUGH
District Court Judge
DEPARTMENT 28
HARD WORKING,
FAIR AND JUST,
VETERAN U.S.
MARINE CORPS
“
I am a Sun City Summerlin
resident since 2010, and
practicing complex litigation
in Nevada since 2000.
“
Jim.Cavanaugh@outlook.com
Paid for by
Committee
to elect
Jim Cavanaugh
Jim-Cavanaugh
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 3:47:59 PM
11
46
How it Began
By: Temma Hammond
Being part of the
entertainment
community all my
life from Hollywood to Las Vegas, I thought
it would be fun to share with readers a
little of my history.
My father was fifty-years old when I was born. He started in silent
movies and was the original stand in for Charlie Chaplin. When Charlie
couldn’t get to a personal appearance event, he would send my dad
because he looked exactly like Charlie.
As a result, I got to share in all the old stories of how Hollywood
became so famous.
Growing up, I watched my dad produce and direct motion pictures
in his own studio. He built his studio in Hollywood across from the
Chaplin Studios, which is still there.
Seeing how movies were made and how the actors changed with the
times was very educational and entertaining. My mother was a drama
coach and writer, and being an only child, it was like a three-person
team making our lives a 24/7 exciting family in show business.
Coming to Las Vegas in the early 1990s, I designed and built two
film studios with such wonderful clients as George Clooney, Jackie
Chan, Martin Scorsese, Whoopie Goldberg and many more. Now as
President and CEO of GoldenNetwork.TV, I’m focused on the fifty plus
community.
And working with The Vegas Voice to share stories is fantastic.
Entertainment is so important now and sharing experiences can be
extremely rewarding.
Hopefully, you who might want to share your stories with us. Contact
me at: info@goldennetwork.tv.
Temma Hammond is the CEO & Founder of The Golden Network.
You can watch all their great programs on ROKU.
How to Watch Golden Network TV
I. Via ROKU
1. Purchase your Roku from most any store that sells TVs.
2. Install per instructions.
3. Once Roku installed and showing on TV screen, look for
image with plus sign to add a channel
4. Search for Goldennetworktv
5. Once selected, click on image and start watching (starting
with classic movies, and shows)
II. Via Website - www.Goldennetwork.tv
1. Enter www.goldennetwork.tv into your browser to bring up
the website
2. Click on “Watch” at the top of the screen
3. Start watching (starting with classic movies and shows)
12
June 2020
13
Getting Together
By: Beverly Washburn / Hollywood Memories
decided this month to write about an obscure
I show that I did in 1971 called “Getting
Together.” It starred then teen heart throb, Bobby
Sherman.
I say “obscure” because I doubt if many of you watched it. It was
on ABC but was cancelled after only 14 episodes. The reason - it was
opposite “All in the Family. “
For those women who grew up in that era, I’m sure you will remember
him. He was in just about every teen magazine that existed. In 2005,
TV Guide listed him as number 8 in the list of TV’s greatest Teen Idols.
It’s been said that he had so many screaming fans that he actually
experienced some hearing loss! Case in point: The day I was to begin
filming, I drove onto the lot in Burbank and there were at least a
thousand screaming girls everywhere.
I had no idea what was going on. As I however slowly made my way
up to the guard gate to get my pass to go to the set, I asked the guard
what was going on.
He told me that this went on every day. The girls knew that
Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy (who was filming The Partridge
Family) would be driving on to the lot every day as well as after lunch.
The guard informed me that the only difference was that Bobby
would get out of his car and sign everyone’s autograph book (even if it
made him late) whereas David would just as soon run them over!
Bobby was discovered by an agent while he was singing at a
Hollywood party and his career soon took off. He became a “Teen Idol”
and remained so from the late 1960s to the early 70s.
And at the risk of once again, sounding redundant, I must say that
he was really one terrific guy - as nice as he could be. I was thrilled to
have worked with him.
Until next time, remember: Be with those who bring out the best in
you, not the stress in you.
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.
14
June 2020
Smell of Napalm in the
Morning
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet
was doing okay when the pandemic hit,
I and then my wife was furloughed at the
casino and came home full-time; not smelling of cigarette smoke.
(Hallelujah!) At first, we jumped on the “in this together” bandwagon
with all the other conscientious folk trying to survive whatever is going
on. Easy enough, right?
With the lock-down maturing, the hours, days, weeks and then
months ground our patience to a pulp and a summit meeting was
called. We needed to discuss what our lives had become while in the
recesses of our cave.
My wife concluded that working at home was much better than
working somewhere else. To my surprise, she also admitted liking my
company better than insolent gamblers. She has attained a certain
degree of personal gain by staying at home.
My recap was not so glowing. The first thing I did was clean my
guns and then strapped one on as I sat watching the news incessantly.
My night dreams of dark shadowy figures penetrating a perimeter in
‘Nam, turned into daydreams of a creepy “unseen enemy” spreading
its pathogen across our country.
And then all the conspiracy theories rushed in by communicating
with friends through social media. None of which helped with some
veteran-related anxiety. (God! Is all this “staying at home” a belated
1984?).
I momentarily regretted not stocking up on concertina wire, but
then got a hold of myself and realized that no amount of hard-wired
perimeters was going to do any good against a seemingly “bulletproof”
virus.
I’ve had to do some re-grouping, and I could go on forever about
how my war-stress has been triggered by something so stealthy as a
contagion! I’ll bet many of you are in the same boat, having some
similar reactions to what’s going on.
In light of that, I need to end with a reminder: First of all, do your
best to stay in the present time…be in the moment.
Don’t let existing conditions betray you. They are bad enough without
adding fuel to the fire with old experiences dictating your thoughts.
Secondly, stay safe by following orders that are issued to keep you
that way.
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
15
Coyote Springs Golf Course
By: Mike Landry / Golf Fore Ever
It’s a bit of a drive to get out to the Coyote
Springs Golf Course, but well worth the drive.
The drive from Las Vegas is about one hour.
Jack Nicklaus designed the course back in 2007. Coyote Springs was
to be a planned community before the 2009 debacle took our economy
down - and the plans for this community with it.
All that’s left is a gorgeous golf course in the middle of nowhere. But
it’s not just an ordinary GC.
It’s a Jack Nicklaus design, so you know it’s going to be a great layout
with large greens, plenty of sand bunkers and water features. The cost to
play doesn’t break the bank either which is always welcome for seniors.
I encourage all to give this course a try. If you have played it, you
know what I’m talking about.
I have personally played the course 7 or 8 times and have always
enjoyed it. I am a 22 handicap golfer and generally manage to shoot
around 90 on this course from the white tees.
The last time I played from the gold tees and to the surprise of my
group, they announced after 9 that I was 3 shots above par. I was
extremely proud of my play. I won’t tell you what I shot on the back 9,
but I did end up around 90 for the game.
There is plenty of room on the fairways so if you swing the ball left
or right you should be ok. And did I mention that the greens are huge?
The course is a joy to play and as I said earlier the drive is not bad at
all. No worse than driving out to Pahrump or Primm.
Please let me know how you liked it when you play. Until then, hit
“em” straight!
Mike Landry resides in Sun City MacDonald Ranch and is a
member of Winterwood Men’s Golf Association.. He can be reached
at: airmikel1@cox.net
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16
June 2020
Fitness for the Fun of It!
By: Liz Palmer
The
Nevada
S e n i o r
Games sponsors an
annual fall sports
festival of over 20 different individual and team
sports for athletes ages 50 and up. NSG is an official state member of
the National Senior Games Association and it is celebrating its 40 th
year of promoting health and fitness for seniors in our community.
Four decades is a great milestone and worthy of celebration, which
is exactly what the Nevada Senior Games intends to do in 2020. NSG
strives to incorporate their motto “Fitness for the Fun of It!” into all
their activities.
NSG Kim Nielson
In 1980 Pat Dillingham, a former U.S. Olympic figure skater, and
founding members Gene Hardlicka, Roger Hall and Mary Liveratti
formed the Nevada Senior Games. The NSC was incorporated in 1985.
The first national competitions were held in 1987 in St. Louis.
The most recent National Senior Games competition was held in
Albuquerque, New Mexico in June 2019 with over 10,000 competitors
who enjoyed competition, fitness, socializing, and friendship.
From this start in 1980 the Nevada Senior Games have now grown
to include about 20 events held at various venues throughout the Las
Vegas area. Participation ranges from 700 to 1,000 senior athletes.
The Fall Games now span a seven-week period from early September
through the latter part of October. There is also a year-round walking
program, plus volleyball and softball competition in the spring.
2020 is a qualifying year for the National Senior Games competition
to be held in 2021 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and we anticipate great
participation and enthusiasm from their senior athletes.
Come be a part of the fun and excitement this fall! Check our website:
www.nevadaseniorgames.com for updates regarding schedules and
venues, and “like” our Facebook page “Nevada Senior Games.”
Join us and you too can celebrate with this outstanding senior sports
festival.
Liz Palmer is the Executive Director of the Nevada Senior Games.
For more information on how you can participate, contact Liz at:
702/242-1590 or by email: Nevadaseniorgames@outlook.com.
17
Looking Back, Planning
Ahead
By: Evan Davis / Entertainment Editor
As we ponder how we’re going to get back
to reality, I’ve spent the last two months
planning how to bring shows back to our
communities. I’ve also spent time reminiscing on the past shows and
where are they now.
One of the first shows I produced for The Vegas Voice was the Spirit
of 45 at the Silverton and about 1,200 people attended. From there I
introduced “soon to be stars.”
Our host, Bob Anderson, was so much fun to work with. We had
performers such as, Clint Holmes, Frankie Scinta, Chadwick
Johnson, Ronnie Rose, Genevieve Dew, Mark Giovi, Michelle
Johnson, Bill Fayne, Rich Natole and a dozen other local
performers along with musical director Ned Mills.
I was going to pat myself on the back and tell you some of the
entertainers that I helped get off the ground here in Vegas, but instead,
I’m going to tell you about the on-line shows you can watch from the
comfort of your living room or kitchen table. All are just about free,
but don’t be afraid to donate a few bucks if they have a donation link.
Most of the performers are doing this because they love to perform.
Let me run down some of the performances going on daily.
Brooks Crafts Emerald
Island’s Relaunch
By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places
The best casino in Henderson, as voted by the
readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal,
locked their doors at midnight March 17 to comply with the governor’s
order. “I had a premonition this was coming,” said Tim Brooks who,
with twin brother Mike, opened Emerald Island Casino in 2003 after
three others failed in the abandoned and converted Post Office.
Next, he was forced to let his staff know, “many who had been with us
for 10-15 years,” that they were being furloughed. “It was the hardest
thing I ever did, emotionally. It still stings today.”
For those 135 employees, the brothers distributed approximately
$50,000 worth of food and dug deep into their pockets to keep them on
the payroll and cover health insurance costs through the end of March.
Brooks is encouraged, looking forward to welcoming back Emerald
Island’s team and the loyal customer base they’ve built over 17 years.
Most of them are from Vegas but some are from out of town, such as
Billy Stritch and Linda Lavin from their apartment in Manhattan.
Chadwick Johnson, Craig Canter, Rita Lim & Dave Siegel,
Joey Melotti, Jimmy Hopper, Frankie Scinta, Sally Olson
& Ned Mills, Chris Jason & Drew Anthony, Chase Brown,
Jonathan Karrant, Randy Anderson, Gary Anthony, Bill
Fayne, Jamie Hosmer, Donato Cabrera (music director of the Las
Vegas Philharmonic) along with others are there for special shows and
fundraisers including Earl Turner on Mondays Dark.
All the days and times will be listed in my Wednesday emails. If you’re
not receiving my emails and would like to, send me your email address
and I will include you in my weekly email blast.
* As the pandemic (hopefully) winds down and Las Vegas opens up,
just a reminder that our Vegas Voice “Celebrity Corner” program hosted
by yours truly will resume. Catch us on our YouTube channel and on
Golden Network TV.
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.
18
June 2020
The shutdown demanded aggressive and detailed planning for the
brothers. “Every time we formulate a plan, it changes.” In 2017 for
example, they increased floor space and the number of machines from
400 to 454. Only half of those machines are permitted to operate when
Emerald Island reopens.
The staff has been issued protective equipment; the casino will be
misted regularly with NSF and EPA-approved Vital Oxide, a sanitizer
used in hospitals; glass partitions have been installed where face-toface
communication occurs. Brooks is anticipating that Emerald
Island will be the first casino to sanitize using UV technology.
The award-winning café will operate at 50% capacity. “Because
gaming is our economic driver, I think casinos are going to be one of
the cleanest places.”
Brooks expects the smaller, local casinos to recover more quickly
than the Strip properties. “We’re more nimble. We can make quick
decisions. We use our size to our advantage.”
At press time, the brothers, who purchased the neighboring Rainbow
Casino, expected to receive the keys June 1 and reopen September 1
after extensive remodeling. “We anticipate hiring the employees back.”
The family-friendly casino is known for regularly surprising guests
with complimentary hotdogs, donuts, cookies, and more. They promise
its customers “you’re going to be treated well.”
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.
19
Buying a Used Car Now?
By: BJ Killeen / Down the Road
For those who invest in the stock market,
you know the general rule is to buy low and
sell high. If you like looking for great bargains,
specifically in vehicle purchases, you might be eyeing the used (or
preowned) car market right now.
But before you start your search, let’s see if this really makes sense.
We know that the automotive industry has been hit hard by the
coronavirus, with factories going on hiatus and car dealerships closing
their showroom to customers. Car sales for 2020 were expected to be
close to 17 million units, if not a little more.
Because of the state of affairs right now, that number has been
downgraded to between 14.5 and 16.4 million - based on when we can
get life moving again.
It may appear from those numbers that the manufacturers will be
desperate to sell and will take any price. Unfortunately, the opposite
may be true.
There are a lot of vehicles coming off lease. This means there will be
a glut of fairly new, low-mileage offerings, however some dealers know
that they need to make money to compensate for the sales lost during
the shutdown period.
They may not be as willing to negotiate right now on those cars. They
would probably prefer if you took advantage of the offerings toward new
cars instead.
Many manufacturers are advertising longer loan periods, no down
payments, zero-percent financing, and no payments for up to four
months to kickstart new car sales again.
If you are looking to purchase an off-lease or used vehicle that has
already depreciated and you can wait until late fall or early winter, that
would be a better time to try for the best deal possible. It’s okay to do a
little shopping now; broaden your search and keep an eye on preferred
vehicles.
If they don’t sell by fall, you should be able to negotiate a great price.
If they do sell, keep looking. You have time on your side.
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
By: Jim Valkenburg / Insurance Insight
Last month I discussed a TV insurance
commercial that
might be both truthful
and misleading at the
same time. I will continue with that thought
and would like you to consider virtually all the
commercials you see and hear.
Advertising (i.e., commercials) is but a
subset of a larger field called marketing.
In a broad sense marketing is the process of
interesting potential customers and clients to
their products and/or services.
My purpose is simply to get you to think objectively about what
you see and hear from the very people that are paid to capture your
thoughts and convince you to buy into their product or service.
Consider this: “Only Pay for What You Need” Sound familiar?
If you watch TV, listen to the radio or read magazines and newspapers,
you have heard that statement. Is it truth? Well, of course it is! No one
wants to spend their money on stuff they don’t need.
The statement is a tag line for an insurance commercial that wants
you, the consumer, to believe that their company is “on your side” in
the continued effort of spending your money wisely. The simple phrase
20
Insurance Commercials Part 2
June 2020
also implies that other companies may get you to pay for things you
don’t need.
It is a marketing technique as old as marketing has been around…
and that’s a long time. And, by the way “on
your side” is yet another catch phrase used by
insurance advertisers.
I would bet you could name both companies
that use these. There are many more catch
phrases used in advertising that are truthful
on one hand and imply something else on the
other.
I am, in no way, trying to discredit any
insurance company. All of them use advertising
strategies to persuade potential consumers.
Now you tell me what a gecko with an English accent would know
about insurance? Or a duck? For Pete’s sake - these are simply adverting
gimmicks that work. Or they wouldn’t be used.
It’s up to you to be a discerning consumer. Here’s my insurance
“catch phrase”: Find an agent you trust and trust him/her.
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.
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21
Fashionable Face Masks
By: Linda Bateman-Gomez / Timeless Beauty
The 21st of June officially marks the first
day of summer and my 65th birthday! I’m
excited about turning 65, especially after what
we’ve all been through the last few months.
While things are far from over and much will need to happen before
we get back to “normal”, hopefully you and your family are healthy.
And that’s something we can all be thankful for.
With warm weather upon us, our summer wardrobe may include one
accessory I never imagined. I’ll be adding a face mask.
Luckily, there are many choices, so let’s have some fun with it! Fancy,
bejeweled, satin, paper, washable, and disposable, available in many
colors, styles, and designs. While it’s unknown how long we’ll need to
wear them, they might as well be fashionable and functional.
If you buy online, check reviews. Many companies say in-stock, but
people wait weeks for delivery. Also double check where they’re made
and ship from - if it’s from the states, you’re likely to get it faster.
22
June 2020
While the fabric masks are nice, their proper use is more important.
Using a filter inside a cloth mask is helpful, some even have pockets
built-in.
It’s also important to wash wearable masks after each use. The mask
is collecting germs, so reusing it, tossing it in your purse or on a table
run the chance of spreading whatever you gathered while wearing it.
Disposable masks may be easier and more practical. If you buy
those, make sure they’re from a reliable source. These are designed to
be tossed after each use, not reused. A mask used improperly obviously
defeats the purpose.
When choosing your mask, although one size may fit all, it doesn’t
mean it’s a good fit. For myself, the rectangular masks are not a snug
fit, but the v-shaped ones are.
I prefer the ear loops versus the ties. They fit me better, don’t come
loose or get tangled in my hair.
Lastly, one bonus to wearing a mask, it hides a lot and getting ready
takes half the time!
So, wash up, mask up, and enjoy the things you’re comfortable doing.
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.
Growing Plants from “Back Home”
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening
In speaking to many “transplanted” residents
of Southern Nevada, one gardening
complaint they have is that they cannot grow
many of the plants that they had prior to moving to the “Silver State.”
It’s been a trade-off: Not worrying about snow, ice and cold weather, but
having to give up on lush and flowering landscape from “back home.”
You can, however, successfully grow a number of the plants that you
once had if you are willing to address the two inherent problems facing
desert gardeners: Poor Soil and High Temperatures. This month I will
discuss the issues involving our soils. Next month’s I’ll discuss our high
temperatures.
Poor Soil: Southern Nevada soils lack needed nutrients and have
excessively high alkaline levels (pH levels 7+) which are further
increased by the addition of rock mulch in landscaping. Just think of
your desert soil as a “blank canvas” that you can work on to create
your garden masterpiece.
Just as an artist adds and blends paints to create a finished work,
the desert gardener can add organic materials and nutrients to help to
create his/her ideal landscape. All plants need three primary nutrients
in order to flourish (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).
Getting these nutrients into the roots require that the soil has the
proper pH level of around 7. While native plants, bushes and trees can
thrive in an alkaline soil, many non-natives cannot.
High pH soil levels
prevent the roots
from absorbing
nutrients and
moisture. Think
of going to a huge
casino buffet with
your mouth sealed
shut. That is what is
happening to nonnative
plants in high pH soil.
How do you get the soil into the proper condition? To lower pH levels
and add nutrients you can use compost.
Compost will lower the pH levels as well as providing organic matter.
You can purchase it from most gardening stores.
Remember that rain in Nevada is highly alkaline so the pH levels will
increase after a heavy rainfall. When adding these items to your soil,
you should break up and loosen the soil so that oxygen can circulate
as well.
Have a gardening question? 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.
23
24
June 2020
25
What
happens
here only
happens
here...
But
should
it?
A Vegas Voice
Investigative Report
by Judy Polumbaum
PART ONE
FROM THE LAND OF
PREPOSTEROUS STORIES
1. The precipitating incident
It was mid-July, 2019. The hottest period of the hottest month in
Las Vegas. Swarms of grasshoppers, migrations triggered by wet
weather earlier in the summer, were starting to descend on the
Vegas valley.
That’s when a deputy constable showed up at a house inhabited
by three generations of an Armenian-American family to usher
Arkadi Zakaryan, his three teenaged children, and his elderly
mother and uncle out of their own home.
Judy is a professor emerita of journalism and a transplant
to Las Vegas from New England via China, the West Coast
and the Midwest.
At the behest of a stranger named Thomas Moore, the baffled family
was being “removed” under court order. The two seniors were
not allowed back inside to fetch needed medications. The locks
were changed and a no-trespass notice posted on the door.
The family had bought the house six years earlier. Just a month
after that, Zakaryan’s
vibrant young wife had died
suddenly of an aneurysm,
mere weeks before her 31st
birthday. More shock and
grief were exactly what they
didn’t need.
They spent the next ten
days sleeping on the floor at their family business, a Mediterranean
restaurant and bakery in a strip mall.
Meanwhile, Compass Realty listed their house as being for sale.
Only after a friend put Zakaryan in touch with a lawyer, who
made some outraged phone calls, was the family able to move back
into their house, get the real estate listing removed, and begin to
sort out what the heck was going on.
2. How could such a thing happen?
The lawyer, Michael R. McNerny, UNLV law school class of 2012,
was determined to get to the bottom of this. Especially when Wells
Fargo moved to foreclose on the house, even after the family was
back in.
Zakaryan had experienced some financial challenges and was
discussing those with the bank before all this transpired. Perhaps,
McNerny surmised, the family had fallen behind on homeowner
association payments and the HOA had initiated foreclosure.
Nope, that wasn’t it.
probate noun
Definition of probate
1 a : the action or process of proving before a competent judicial authority that a
document offered for official recognition and registration as the last will and
testament of a deceased person is genuine
b : the judicial determination of the validity of a will
2 : the officially authenticated copy of a probated will
3 a : a court with jurisdiction over determination of the validity of wills and
administration of estates and sometimes matters involving minors or adults
judged incompetent: PROBATE COURT
The explanation was much stranger.
For years, this person named Thomas Moore had been petitioning
Clark County Probate Court to be named “independent
administrator” of dead people’s estates. From his first few filings
in 2014 and 2015, the venture escalated to scores in 2016 and 2017
and hundreds more in 2018 and 2019. More often than not, his
26
June 2020
petitions to open and
oversee probate –– the
legal process by which
a person’s assets pass to
heirs and/or creditors
after death – went uncontested,
and the court
appointed him the estate
administrator.
Among more than one
hundred petitions Moore
filed in 2019 alone was his
request, soon granted, to
administer the estate of
Zakaryan’s late wife. The
title to the house where
the family continued to
Arkadi’s late wife Tsoghik
lawfully live was in her name.
Alleging the house was vacant, Moore then obtained an order
from the Las Vegas Justice Court, which handles evictions, to
remove what he claimed in an affidavit were “unlawful/unauthorized”
occupants.
Court records show that the $71 payment to file and serve the
removal order came from the “Estate of Tsoghik Khachatryan,”
the woman still mourned by her bereaved family.
3. An accumulation of conundrums
McNerny was not the only one in the legal community perturbed
by Thomas Moore’s activities. Robert Telles, recently elected
Clark County public administrator, already was looking into
probate cases that Moore had initiated and sought to manage.
Telles, a 2014 graduate of UNLV law school (where he overlapped
with McNerny) defeated two other contenders for the post in the
2018 general election, with 53 percent of the vote. He took office
in January 2019. Within a few months, he was noticing Moore’s
activities.
The public administrator handles matters surrounding deaths
referred from the county coroner. Duties include making sure that
any residence and belongings of the deceased are secured, and
getting property released to family members. The office also is
charged with managing deceased persons’ estates through the probate
system when an individual dies without a will and no suitable
relative or other overseer is available.
This may entail locating and assisting heirs, ensuring that real
estate is sold at fair market value and that lenders and creditors
are paid off, enlisting additional legal expertise, and submitting
required reports to the court.
Why, Telles wondered, was an independent administrator with no
public mandate and no prior relationship with all these deceased
VEGAS VOICE SPECIAL REPORT
aftermath when individuals died without wills or immediately
people and their families handling so many estates?
Especially when Telles’ office was empowered with relevant
oversight and capabilities, and specifically designed to manage
the apparent heirs.
In numerous cases, family members seeking to open probate
or sell a home after a loved one died were finding that Thomas
Moore, someone they’d never heard of, had “beat them to the
courthouse door,” as one observer puts it. Their legal counsel
or a realtor then would help the families reclaim their rights.
In such instances, Moore, through his attorneys, would
quickly relinquish his interest.
But many more of his cases proceeded uninterrupted.
How did Moore find out about the demise of people who
might have left property behind and whose relatives or attorneys
had not yet filed for probate? And on what basis did he
claim that potential heirs had gone missing and that estates
were mired in insolvency?
Telles explored the mystery, and discovered a chain of events
that seemed to lead from Moore’s voluminous probate court
filings into nebulous recesses of the real estate market. Toward
the end of last year, Telles began to file challenges to some of
Moore’s petitions.
Moore himself offers a very different picture of his probate
activities.
Reached by email, Moore said his goal is to rid neighborhoods
of abandoned homes that attract drug dealers and violent
criminals. He said he has settled estates when heirs are distant
or disinterested, assisted aged and disabled heirs relocate, and
rescued neglected pets;
and has achieved “extremely
positive results” in
a wide variety of situations
that leave neighbors, the
city, and mortgage servicers
happy and relieved.
In Moore’s view, the
public administrator and
other “3rd parties,” which
he did not name, are engaged
in a vendetta against
him, creating “an uproar”
over rare instances when
something
has gone awry.
Robert Telles,
Clark County public administrator
continues on next page
27
4. Fraud allegations
About ten days after the displaced Zakaryan family returned
home, Moore ostensibly washed his hands of the matter, notifying
the probate court of his resignation from the administrator
role. A month later, the court appointed Arkadi Zakaryan
administrator of his wife’s estate. By then, Zakaryan had worked
things out with the bank.
But attorney McNerny wasn’t done. His office dug into court
files and property records and discovered an ongoing pattern:
Moore somehow was cross-referencing obituaries or other death
records with notices of default or other documents indicating
troubles with house payments. Moore would petition for, and
usually gain, authority over the properties, then get them sold at
prices that seemed suspiciously low – often to the same people or
dummy corporations, typically investors in distressed housing.
McNerny is not in the habit of suing people; he mainly handles
“Moore would petition for, and
usually gain, authority over the
properties, then get them sold at prices
that seemed suspiciously low ... ”
straightforward administrative matters related to business or real
estate. He made an exception here, filing a lawsuit on behalf of
the Zakaryan family against the parties involved in throwing those
six individuals out on the street – namely, Thomas Moore; attorney
Taylor L. Waite and his law firm, Clear Counsel Law Group;
and Vegas Valley Evictions LLC, hired to take care of inconvenient
human beings in a house. Evidently, nobody had bothered to
simply knock on the door and find out who lived there.
The civil suit, filed in Clark County District Court in early
January 2020, alleges fraud against the family members and the
courts, wrongful assertion of control over property, misrepresentation
in legal documents, wrongful eviction, abuse of the
legal process, infliction of emotional distress, and elder abuse.
The suit requests a jury trial and unspecified damages “in excess
of $50,000.”
Waite and Clear Counsel countered with a motion to dismiss
the lawsuit. Moore and the eviction company soon joined the
motion. Arguments were aired before a District Court judge
via teleconference in mid-March. As of mid-May, court records
showed these filings were “under advisement,” with the court
yet to rule on the dismissal efforts.
Again, Moore’s account differs from that of his critics. His
email described “One situation [in which] an occupant would
not identify himself after a minimum of 10+ attempts by multiple
parties,” an evident reference to Zakaryan. “The day after an
eviction,” Moore continued, “he identified himself, and was able
to re-enter the house. There was a trustee sale scheduled on the
house and my real estate team was able to postpone the trustee
sale. The mortgage servicer said they postponed the trustee sale
due to my efforts. I look at that as helping save a property from
trustee sale for the heirs.”
Moore also alluded to complexities surrounding the estate of a
man named Eddie Lamont Washington, saying, “Recently, some
heirs came forward on a case and stated that the heir I was working
with lied. My heir said she was the only heir. My counsel believed
her and she lied big time. We are working to get this resolved
for the other heirs.” Attorneys representing those other heirs allege
that Moore easily could have found them, and chose not to look.
(See sidebar “A tale of five siblings.”)
5. But how can a stranger take over estates?
Investigation into the world of probate reveals that the
Zakaryan family’s ordeal is just one outcropping of a larger drama.
The story emerges in part from insufficient institutional support for
public services like the overburdened courts. It’s a partial legacy of
the subprime mortgage crisis and housing collapse of 2008-09, when
for a time Nevada led the country in foreclosure rates and the sort of
financial adversity that energized speculation in distressed housing.
Most obviously, it reflects unique peculiarities of Nevada law.
Remarkably, the process enabling Moore to assume control
of other people’s property is made possible by provisions in Nevada’s
probate law – specifically, a lengthy section, known as the
Independent Administration of Estates Act (NRS: Chapter 143),
which was added to the state code by the 2011 session of the state
legislature.
Legal scholars and practitioners across the country interviewed
for this report expressed astonishment at what the Nevada law allows,
and even facilitates. Some experts said they have never come
across anything comparable in half a century or more of legal
study or practice. While other states (including California, Illinois,
Missouri and Texas) have independent administration add-ons
to probate law, none insulate administrators from conventional
expectations of openness and proof the ways Nevada’s law and
practices seem to.
“The part that’s wrong is the
independent administrator – they get to
do it all in secret.”
Some Las Vegas-based probate attorneys say they avoid independent
administration entirely, or use the measure rarely, because
the process lacks transparency.
Nevada’s probate law works well except for one part, remarked
one lawyer: “The part that’s wrong is the independent administrator
28
June 2020
Clark County’s Regional Justice Center (in downtown Las Vegas)
– they get to do it all in secret.”
This lawyer admitted to “breaking my own rule slightly” during
the Covid-19 slowdown in the courts, since independentadministration
can speed the closing of a home sale and get proceeds to
heirs quickly. “But I must have the whole family on board” in such
cases, the lawyer said.
Under the Nevada law, if an estate is valued under $300,000,
VEGAS VOICE SPECIAL REPORT
courts may authorize an independent administrator
to arrange for real estate sales
with no court supervision. This departs
from the more usual probate process in
which real estate con- tracts are shared in
open court, giving others the opportunity
to offer higher bids.
The independent administrator need not
have any relationship to the decedent:
Anyone at least 18 years old without a
felony record can seek the appointment.
This contrasts with usual expectations
that personal representatives for an estate,
if not heirs or relatives themselves, have
a preexisting advocacy role or trusted
contractual relationship with the deceased
or the family.
In Nevada, at least in Clark County,
standards of evidence required for anyone
seeking appointment as an independent
administrator seem minimal.
The applicant provides a death certificate
– available from the Vital Records
department of the Southern Nevada Health
District even to non-relatives if it serves to
“facilitate legal process.”
The applicant can simply assert the
estimated value of an estate, perhaps
with a Zillow printout for the address in
question. The applicant can speak to the
deceased owner’s equity in a home, or lack
thereof, without supplying evidence such as
mortgage documents. A formal appraisal of
the property need not be produced in court
either before or after a sale.
The applicant can say no heirs have appeared,
or that likely heirs failed to reply
to notification, without proof that essential
information has been appropriately delivered,
published, received or understood.
The applicant affirms eligibility to administer the estate
because he or she is of age and not a felon, and sometimes
because someone identified as an heir has signed over that
authority.
The claims are followed by a “verification” document,
swearing to all the above under penalty of perjury. According to
“knowledge” and “belief,” the applicant vows with a signature,
everything herein is the truth.
continues on next page
29
6. The making of an independent administrator
“Thomas Moore states the following under penalty
of perjury under the law of the State of Nevada,”
declare his petitions to probate court: “That he is
the Petitioner herein; that he has read the foregoing
Petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the
contents are true of his own knowledge, except for
those matters stated on information and belief, and as
to those matters, he believes them to be true.” Above
his signature is the statement: “I declare under penalty
of perjury under the law of the State of Nevada that the
foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.”
So who is Thomas Moore?
Although his is a common name, Thomas Garland
Moore Jr. seldom uses his middle initial. He is in his
late 30s. His Las Vegas residence is a house owned by
a couple in San Diego. In September 2018, he registered
the company Estate Administration Services LLC
with the Nevada Secretary of State, listing himself as
registered agent and managing member. Other than
dated blog posts about an online real estate technology
platform he developed in 2009, eBrokerHouse.
com, he seems to have no social media presence.
In response to emailed questions, Moore said his
background “consists of working with distressed/foreclosure
properties” as well as software programming.
During the 2008 mortgage crisis, he trained listing
agents for so-called REO (real estate owned) properties
that remain in the hands of banks or other lenders
after failing to sell at foreclosure auctions.
“I began working on probates when a real estate
broker was telling me he was unable to sell a listing
because the neighboring house was boarded up and
a gang hang out,” Moore wrote. A daughter of the
deceased homeowner wanted nothing to do with the
matter. “She was very thankful that someone was
going to help solve the situation. The mortgage servicer
ended up doing a short sale on this property and
was very eager to do so as the foreclosure process
on this particular loan was quite lengthy. In addition,
the neighbors, who had two adorable little daughters,
kept me in the loop on gang activity/
police presence. They were very excited when the
house sold and was finally going to be stabilized.”
Las Vegas Justice Court records show that Moore, in
the role of administrator of various estates, instigated
actions against “unauthorized occupant” on at least 13
occasions in 2019, including the episode that left the
Zakaryan family temporarily homeless. These records
also show that earlier, during 2018 and 2019, he
brought actions for “unauthorized occupant” or “summary
eviction” at least 14 times in the role of “owner”
or “landlord,” indicating that he may have been a
property owner or manager before focusing attention
on estate administration.
Moore seldom needs to go to court in person;
lawyers submit filings online and appear on his behalf.
Until recently, Taylor L. Waite of Clear Counsel Law
Group of Henderson handled most of Moore’s dealings
in probate court. Since late last year, Taylor L. Randolph
of Randolph Law Firm is his main representative
on probate matters. To counter the Zakaryan civil suit,
Moore has enlisted defense attorney Patrick N. Chapin,
an adjunct professor of law at UNLV.
In response to an email inquiry, Chapin said Moore
was referred to him based on his experience “litigating
cases in the commercial, employment and complex areas
for the past 27 years,” but that he cannot comment
further due to “attorney-client privilege and canons of
professional ethics.”
Waite’s law firm similarly declined to discuss a specific
client. A letter emailed by Clear Counsel managing
partner Jonathan W. Barlow on behalf of the firm said:
“We scrupulously refrain from any outside discussions
that could potentially violate any attorney-client
or work-product privileges.” Speaking generally, the
letter added, “we strive to fully advise our clients about
all aspects of probate law,” and that the firm “has been
responsive to the courts in adhering to every aspect of
the law for our probate clients.”
By email, Randolph’s office said he was “unable” to
field questions because, “We have very limited resources
and attorney time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
30
June 2020
7. The Las Vegas playbook
Moore said he has worked on more than 300 probate cases, and
“every situation is different.” Yet commonalities are apparent.
The estates he seeks to administer invariably are worth, according
to his court filings, under $300,000 – in fact, he usually
asserts a belief that the estate is worth zero dollars. He requests,
and usually is granted, “summary administration,” which has a
shorter timeline, lower filing fees, fewer court appearances and
reduced reporting obligations than “general administration.”
Moore’s petitions almost always say the deceased individual left
behind a house or condominium that is underwater – “encumbered
for more than its value,” i.e., with more owed on a mortgage
than the property is worth.
Frequently, his petitions say efforts to locate heirs have been unsuccessful.
Some say no heirs have surfaced even if the appended
death certificate lists an “informant” with the same surname and
BACKGROUND
A tale of five siblings
Eddie Lamont Washington taught math
at the Las Vegas Arts Institute. He hailed
from Chicago and had a PhD from the
University of Illinois. His students called
him Dr. Washington.
On February 20, 2015, Washington
passed away in Sunrise Hospital, just Dr. Eddie Washington,
two miles east of the Vegas Strip. He 1951-2015
was 63. His death certificate lists cardio-respiratory failure and
pneumonia as the causes.
Three years on, represented by Taylor Waite of Clear Counsel
Law Group, Thomas Moore opened probate for Washington’s
estate using his customary template. No will was found. One
heir was identified, a sister in Chicago named Vivian Best. The
decedent had left behind a house, valued by Zillow at $211,000.
Moore calculated that only $8,555 would remain after paying off
debts.
Curiously, the house was not at the address listed on Washington’s
death certificate as his residence. Rather, it corresponded
with the mailing address for the “informant” supplying information
about the death – Vivian Best.
In April 2018, the court granted Moore authority over the
estate. In July, Moore arranged for the sale of the house to one
of his frequent buyers, GMW LLC (corporate label for one Gary
M. Wilson), for $167,300. In August, Moore filed a final report
to the court. After subtracting the mortgage payoff, closing costs
and other expenses, exactly $5,000 remained – to be paid to the
law firm. The result: “there are no assets left in the estate.” The
case was closed.
Eight months later, in April 2019, GMW resold the house for
$236,500 to an individual buyer.
Another month passed. In May 2019, Moore’s attorney was
back, asking the court to reopen the estate of Eddie Lamont
VEGAS VOICE SPECIAL REPORT
address as the deceased. Sometimes he provides names and
addresses of heirs in Nevada and/or in other states said to be
unreachable or unresponsive to notices about the estate.
Usually, the deceased person has died “intestate,” meaning
without a will. Sometimes, someone identified as a relative has
signed a release to let Moore administer the estate. Once in a
while, the document includes a will naming heirs, and one has
signed over authority to Moore. If multiple heirs are identified
and only one signs off, that evidently is sufficient.
In the case of the Zakaryan family, Moore followed his usual
path: According to him, the estate was worthless, and efforts to
contact heirs were fruitless.
If indeed Moore sent required notifications, they didn’t
reach or register with the family: neither the notice of probate
actions, nor the complaint about their supposedly unlawful
occupancy, nor the removal notice. continues on next page
Washington. The sister, Vivian Best, had alerted Moore to the
existence of a second house. She’d signed a waiver granting
Moore authority to take care of that property, too. In sworn
statements, she and Moore both declared that Best was “the
sole heir,” entitled to any remaining assets in the estate.
This second house did bear the address identified as Washington’s
residence on his death certificate. According to Zillow, it
was worth some $244,600.
The title was transferred from the estate to Vivian Best.
The case was reopened and then, for the second time, closed.
In November, Best sold the property for $235,000 to an individual
buyer.
Then Thomas Moore’s disposition of the estate of Eddie Lamont
Washington hit an unfamiliar hitch:
Four other siblings materialized!
Three days before Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak issued the
first of a series of shutdown decrees to cope with the coronavirus,
Washington’s estate found new life in probate court. On
March 13, 2020, on behalf of three additional sisters (two of
them living in or near Chicago, one in California) and a brother
(also in Chicago), Las Vegas attorneys Kennedy E. Lee and Daniel
P. Keifer petitioned the court to reopen the estate yet again.
The petition alleges that Vivian Best was fully aware of her
four living siblings and their rights; that she and Moore fraudulently
represented Best as Washington’s only heir; and that
Moore “breached his fiduciary duty by failing to perform any
due diligence” to identify the other siblings. It calls on the court
to correct the situation by recovering and redistributing the
proceeds from Washington’s estate. Further, it asks the court to
impose punitive damages on Best, and to assess damages for
breach of fiduciary duty by Moore.
As a first step, the attorneys asked the court to freeze Best’s
personal bank accounts. The court granted the request with a
restraining order, effective into early August, “which shall freeze
all accounts of Vivian Best held at any financial institution.”
31
8. Peeling away layers
Robert Telles, Clark County’s public administrator, finds more
questions than answers in Moore’s record of estate administration.
Telles reviewed scores of closed cases for which Moore was
appointed estate administrator, arranged for the sale of property,
and reported back to the court with a final accounting that
supposedly wrapped everything up.
Most of the final reports conclude that the deceased had no
equity in the property and no other assets; the house or condo
has been sold, the lender repaid, and nothing is left. Rarely,
the estate is said to include a life insurance payoff or a bank
account. Sometimes, some money remains, from which lawyers’
fees, creditors’ claims and other expenses are deducted to leave
a balance (from a few hundred dollars to amounts in the thousands)
for the court to distribute to any heirs who are known or
might be located.
32
“Strangely, Moore never
asks for administrative fees
for himself...”
June 2020
Strangely, Moore never asks for administrative fees for himself,
which an estate administrator would be entitled to request. Nor,
when a case comes up empty, is there any indication of how the
lawyers who handled all this paperwork will get paid the $5,000 to
$10,000 or so typically charged for such estate work.
So why is Moore so eager to manage these estates? What is he
getting out of it all?
In his email, Moore emphasized the emotional rewards of
his work, but did not address specific questions about financial
rewards for either himself or his attorneys.
Lawyers who might help clarify these questions say attorneyclient
confidentiality prevents them from doing so. “Regarding
compensation for any individual probate case, that would often
be a matter of public record and reviewed by the courts,” the
letter from Clear Counsel says. That does not appear to be the
case here.
After reviewing the closed files, Telles went further, using
property records to identify who had bought property, and for
how much, from estates supervised by Moore, then tracing subsequent
transactions for these properties. It became clear that
the same buyers were acquiring many of the houses and condos
sold under Moore’s administration, evidently for investment
purposes and/or resale; and that post-probate resales looked
profitable.
The most frequent buyers were Precision Assets and GMW LLC,
companies registered with the state of Nevada.
Precision Assets, whose principals are Avi Segal and Eyal Karban,
buys, rehabs, and sells property. The company is known to
other investors from open-bid probate sales.
Gary M. Wilson, a former realtor, signed a settlement with
Nevada’s State Real Estate Commission in May 2017 agreeing
to surrender his license to sell real estate and not reapply for
at least three years. In the agreement, he acknowledged having
“knowingly” submitted “fabricated and/or altered” bank statements
regarding five properties in dealings with Wells Fargo.
Meanwhile, he has bought and resold homes from Moore-administered
estates through his GMW LLC.
In his objections to Moore’s activities, Telles expresses “serious
concerns” about what he regards as large discrepancies
between prices for real estate sales that Moore brought to completion
during the probate process and subsequent – sometimes
significantly higher – resale prices for those same properties.
“That’s a cumulative increase in
value of nearly $6 million, or more
than 40 percent appreciation”
Specifically, in his review of 62 short-sales concluded under
Moore’s auspices between July 2016 and May 2018 (with more
than 40 of these properties sold to Precision Assets or GMW),
Telles found that sales as reported to the Clark County Recorder
totaled approximately $8.5 million, whereas resales of those properties
to subsequent buyers added up to nearly $14.5 million.
That’s a cumulative increase in value of nearly $6 million, or
more than 40 percent appreciation. Telles supplies the details in
a spreadsheet appended to his objections.
Telles questions Moore’s near-universal assertion that homes
in estates are encumbered for more than their value.
9. Why it matters
Some might deem probate court doings immaterial in the
coronavirus era, and independent administration insignificant
amidst threats to public health and safety. Actually,
these matters are more relevant than ever.
Clark County’s probate court continues to process a large
caseload even under pandemic restrictions, relying on
virtual methods over in-person interactions. And the ambiguities
of independent administration revolve around some
of the very problems accentuated by the pandemic: issues of
financial insecurity, housing instability, and the aftermath of
death.
Analysts remind us that, when the worst of the medical
VEGAS VOICE SPECIAL REPORT
He suggests that properties may be getting sold for less than
fair market value, thus boosting prospects for lucrative resale.
And while he concedes that buyers incur expenses leading up
to resale, he does not believe that accounts for the gap between
estate sale and resale prices.
Telles also is concerned about the interests of Nevada’s Medicaid
recovery program, run by the state Department of Health and
Human Services.
If an elderly person of modest means dies without a surviving
spouse, minor children or other dependents, the state may seek
repayment of some of the Medicaid benefits expended for the
person’s late-life care. In addition to notifying heirs, therefore,
Moore must notify Health and Human Services when he takes on
an estate.
But Medicaid cannot hope to recover anything if the deceased
has no assets or home equity and proceeds of property sales go
to pay off lenders, which is most of the time with Moore’s cases.
In response to some of Telles’ challenges, Moore has simply
withdrawn. But he has endeavored to retain cases in which he
claims authority signed over from an heir, citing probate law
standards for “priority” of estate administration that rank heirs
above the public administrator, and the right of heirs to designate
others to represent them.
Moore also asserts that Telles’ spreadsheet evidence is incomplete,
misleading and erroneous. Filings by attorney Taylor
Randolph say Telles’ calculations fail to incorporate costs of
readying property for resale, which may be substantial in the
case of damaged and dilapidated homes; and also fail to reflect a
healthy increase in home prices during the period under consideration.
So far, Telles has contested at least 36 cases Moore sought to
add to his portfolio. The court granted the public administrator
authority over about half, and allowed Moore to keep more
than a dozen cases with a family member’s nomination – even
instances in which more than one potential heir was identified
but only one individual signed off.
crisis has passed, the economic repercussions will continue.
Unemployment and other programs will run out; rent
and mortgage deferments will expire; moratoriums on evictions
and foreclosures will end. Down the road, people who
die of coronavirus without a will or other preparations, and
without relatives at hand or advocates to attend to their homes
and belongings, could well enter the system as posthumous
subjects of independent administration.
Stay tuned for PART TWO:
FURTHER TRAVELS IN A
LOONY LEGAL LANDSCAPE
33
SHARE THE LIGHT
SPREAD THE LOV
Vegas is back, baby. And we want to celebrate by
sharing some of that LOV with the locals who help
our great city shine. Right now, catch both the Neon
Boneyard and Brilliant! for just $20. Through it all,
we are #VegasStronger and our LOV shines on.
Visit the Neon Museum
We know that upon reopening, our museum will be different than
anything we have experienced before. We have been working
diligently to put into place all Covid-19 protocol so that we can ensure
a safe experience for our visitors as well as our Neon team members.
In these somewhat uncertain times, we have one main advantage -
an outdoor museum where social distancing is easy.
Nevada locals will receive “Love Our Vegas” $10 museum admission
for a limited time beginning May 22.
When the museum opens its doors, it will have new public health
protocols:
No-touch digital forehead thermometers will be used to screen staff
and guests.
• The number of people admitted into the museum will be limited to
account for social distancing.
• New protective equipment will be installed at the museum’s front
desk.
• All staff will be provided with face masks and gloves.
• All frequently touched surfaces will be wiped down at least once
an hour.
34
NEON
BONEYARD
Featuring many restored
and unrestored signs and
the history they hold.
$10 for locals
BOOK A VISIT
NeonMuseum.org
June 2020
For a limited time.
30 minutes of neon magic that
brings signs back to life to the
tune of some of the greatest
performers in Vegas history.
$10 for locals
The locals’ admission rate of $10 applies to general admission and
“Brilliant!”, which must be purchased as two separate experiences. For
more information about The Neon Museum, visit www.neonmuseum.
org.
However, if you aren’t comfortable visiting in person, you can still
pay us a virtual visit via our web-based app, YouTube channel, social
media platform and blog.
The Neon Museum’s free web-based app allows users to learn about
select signs housed in the Boneyard outdoor exhibition space. Anyone
with a computer or smartphone data plan can access the app via the
website at www.neonmuseum.app and use the password NEON to
access it.
Using photos, text and audio narration, the museum’s app spotlights
25 of the collection’s most popular artifacts.
To watch videos of The Neon Museum’s signs and exhibits, including
features on Lost Vegas: Tim Burton @ The Neon Museum and
“Strings Of Neon,” the Hard Rock Café Guitar restoration documentary,
visit the museum’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3a8SUlK.
You can also learn more about the collection by visiting The Neon
Museum blog: https://bit.ly/2UpUadt. The blog includes articles
dedicated to a variety of topics.
We look forward to welcoming you!
When I Sing, I Believe, I’m Honest
By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments
Frank Sinatra, “Old Blue Eyes,” (1915-
1998), was one of our most popular awardwinning
singers and actors of the 20th century.
His baritone voice, style and delivery were very appealing to his crowds.
He attributed his 68-year entertainment career to honestly believing
what he sang.
His full name was Francis Albert Sinatra. He was to be named
Martin after his father, but the priest accidentally named him after his
godfather.
Sinatra started singing in night clubs at 15. He first major break was
winning radio’s popular Major Bowes and his Amateur Hour; then
getting a job with the Harry James Orchestra.
In his first concerts, ardent girls were placed at different places in the
audience, and paid $5 to scream, “whipping up excitement.” He was
the first singer to attract the “bobby soxers.”
He had numerous hits and movie awards. Some were: It Was a Very
Good Year, Strangers in the Night, Something Stupid (a duet with
daughter Nancy,) and My Way.
He loved New York. New York, New York, brought him back into
the limelight, becoming the city’s and baseball’s Yankee’s unofficial
anthem.
He made many movies, winning an academy award for From Here
to Eternity (1954).
His favorite drink was 4 ice clubs, two fingers of Jack Daniels with a
splash of water. He never touched glass rims, cupping his hand with a
cocktail napkin.
Sinatra often suffered from depression. When his popularity waned
in the 50s, he reportedly deliberately turned on the gas in his home. His
manager found him lying on the floor, sobbing.
Later on, during his difficult relationship with Ava Gardner, he
attempted suicide 3 times, including one time walking into their
bedroom with a gun to his head. They scuffled with the gun, it went off,
but it missed them both.
Sinatra joined a gregarious group of friends called The Rat Pack,
(Sinatra hated the name). It was so named by Lauren Bacall, wife of
deceased Pack originator, Humphrey Bogart. Sinatra then became their
leader. It included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and
Joey Bishop. Sinatra died of a heart attack. His tombstone is engraved,
The Best is Yet to Come, coincidentally the last song he sang in public.
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.
35
A World Without Non-Profits
By: Carol Chapman
As business after business closed its doors
the past couple months, it occurred to
me yet again just how important the work of
organizations like The Foundation Assisting Seniors is to a healthy
society. Even if a storefront supplying canes, walkers, and wheelchairs
were deemed essential, how easy would it have been for a senior or
veteran in need to access the equipment?
Fortunately, due to the generous support of donors, corporate
sponsors, and our volunteers, The Foundation didn’t miss a beat. We
continued to deliver our durable medical equipment to those in need.
Our HowRU program still made calls to check on the welfare of clients
all over the country.
Partners like Friends of Parkinson’s, Inc. launched new services such
as delivering non-perishable food to benefit those who do not have
access during the pandemic. Working together, this organization and
The Foundation Assisting Seniors are making sure the needs are met.
Either organization can be your point of contact should you need
food assistance. You can reach Friends of Parkinson at 702/381-4141
and the FAS at 725/244-4200.
As a reminder, the FAS Gala has been postponed to October 3.
The Memorial Day Golf tournament, sadly, has been canceled for
2020. To keep up to date on our events, visit our website at www.
foundationassistingseniors.org.
Adaptive Clothing
By: Heather Latimer / Heather’s Self-Help Tips
Is it a harrowing experience whenever you try
to dress yourself? Do you trigger excruciating
shoulder pain as you try to insert your arms into
a shirt or top? Or have trouble fumbling with buttons?
Relief is available – and it’s not in a pain pill or bottle of desensitizing
lotion. It’s in adaptive clothing produced by two companies that
specialize in Dress-Yourself-Designs (DYD) and Caregiver Designs
(CD).
A DYD blouse will have buttons down the front but hidden behind
each is a magnet combination that’s simple to use and maintains
perfect closure. A CD has long wide sleeves and snappers all the way
down the back.
If arthritic fingers make it difficult to handle a belt buckle, there’s
a design with a hidden hook and loop that makes it easier to fasten. If
it’s almost impossible to reach both feet, or if they tend to swell, there
are shoes with Velcro-backed flaps all the way around making it easy
to adjust measurements.
A free 112-page catalogue is obtainable from Buck & Buck. Call
800/458-0600 to request it.
Silvert’s Adaptive Clothing is accessible on the internet. They
have similar items to Buck & Buck as well as garments for use with
wheelchair users. One design even has a cut-out back so it can be
removed without unseating the patient.
Heather Latimer is a nationally recognized specialist in making
difficult subjects easy and author of 17 books.
36
June 2020
Baseball
By: Renee Riendeau / Movie Revelations
Batter up! It’s time to go to bat with a few of
the best baseball movies ever - even though
I know nothing about America’s Pastime. Let’s
start with the #1 sentimental favorite, Field of Dreams.
If you build it …surely you know the rest. Kevin Costner portrays
an Iowa farmer who plows up his cornfield to build a baseball diamond
after hearing a mysterious voice.
Ghosts of baseball greats soon emerge to play. And I defy you not to
cry at the end of the movie.
Definitely buy the candlesticks and watch Bull Durham. This
baseball romance follows the travails of veteran minor league catcher
Crash Davis. He’s tasked with mentoring the team’s immature young
pitcher, Eddie Laloosh, played by Tim Robbins.
The two not only battle over baseball, but also a seductive groupie
played by Susan Sarandon. Another great, great flick.
Lou Gehrig was the Pride of the Yankees with his talent. His
courage in the face of a debilitating disease made him a legend.
Who could have been better to play him than Gary Cooper? The
film is best remembered for Cooper’s delivery of Gehrig’s immortal
farewell line, “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face
of the earth.”
In the adaptation of the Broadway musical Damn Yankees, Joe
Boyd would do anything to help his favorite team win the pennant.
He sells his soul to the devil in return for becoming a home run hitter
that will guide the Washington Senators to win against those “damn
Yankees.”
Joe becomes the Senators’ star player, but at the price of his immortal
soul. He built an escape plan into his contract but was foiled by the
seduction of Lola!
Remember: “Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets!” Based on the novel,
“The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant” the film is a rock-solid piece
of entertainment.
In my research I also learned that the first baseball movie “Right
off the Bat” was produced in 1915, and the last baseball film in 2019,
The Spy Behind Home Plate - 104 years of baseball movies.
Have I piqued your interest a bit? If so: Play ball!
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.
37
Henderson Pavilion Fiasco
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action
What nonsense! The Mayor and Council of
the City of Henderson have gone off the
rails!
Their proposal to build a minor league Golden Knights hockey
arena where the Pavilion currently resides on Green Valley Parkway at
the 215, is one of the most idiotic and stupid ideas they have ever come
up with! To justify this action, they said they conducted a “credible
survey” that purported to say that 71% of the 400 households surveyed
supported their plan.
That is an act of deception! What they don’t tell you is that 18% or 72
of those contacted were renters. Renters, as opposed to homeowners,
have little or no long-term investment in the community.
Crystal Skulls: Real or
Hoax
By: Ali Guggenheim / Psychic Phenomenon
Just like the Sphynx, Stonehenge, etc., crystal
skulls are one of the mysteries that have
archeologists and scientists baffled. Experts admit that some crystal
skulls were found near excavation sites.
They believe their origin is Aztec and the Peruvian civilizations.
Yet, none were found during an excavation. All 13 of the known
authenticated skulls are in private and public collections.
The survey completely disenfranchised over 6,500 homeowners that
would be directly and negatively impacted by this very questionable
and misguided action! Additionally, by floating a $40 million bond to
pay half of the cost of the arena’s construction at a time when every
governing body in the state are slashing budgets due to the COVID-19
pandemic, is totally irresponsible and deplorable by any common
sense standard!
It certainly begs the question as to their reasoning abilities. There
is general agreement that the Pavilion is a relic and should be
demolished. What they should do is convert that area to a park.
There is a viable alternative that, surprisingly, no one has
mentioned. If they must proceed, build the arena on the 100 plus acres
of vacant land located at Russell/Stephanie and Galleria off the 215.
Ingress and egress road improvements have already been done thus
reducing road improvement costs that must be done at the Pavilion
location. The area is perfect to handle the anticipated influx of rowdy
fans, that, since it would be in a less dense area where homeowners
reside, would have less negative impact on the community.
That land has been undeveloped for decades. Remember, we elect
every single one of these politicians. If they persist in ignoring the “will
of the people” (that’s you and me) then throw them out of office!
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
38
May 2020
Crystal quartz has been around since the beginning of time, though
it’s believed that mankind didn’t begin utilizing it until approximately
15,000 years ago. It’s a known fact that crystal quartz is used in all kinds
of modern machinery and that just one crystal chip in a computer can
store an enormous amount of information.
Researchers suggest that these crystal skulls were probably used like
giant computer chips as a “lasting receptacle that would be able to
record, store, and transmit data for eternity and even alien messages.”
However, to date they haven’t yet been able to figure out how to access
that information.
Although many indigenous people speak of their remarkable
magical and healing properties, the scientific community is stumped
and claims no evidence has been found. It also insists that no further
investigation is warranted.
Researcher, Marianne Zezelic concurs, “Handlers primarily used
these skulls to stimulate and amplify psychic abilities. By gazing at the
crystal, the eyes set up a harmonic relation stimulating the magnetism
collected in the cerebellum, a part of the brain that becomes a reservoir
of magnetism.”
“It therefore influences the quality of the magnetic outflow through
the eyes and ultimately sets up a continuous flow of magnetism between
gazer and crystal which contributes to psychic phenomena.”
Psychotronic studies expert, Tom Bearden, believes that “a skilled
mediator and mental focalize handler can utilize the crystal skull, not
only as a vehicle to transform life field energy into electromagnetic
energy and other physical effects, but also aided in healing, by the
altering of its crystalline resonance to match that of a patient’s mind
and body frequencies that affect healing.”
Author Garvin summarized, “It is virtually impossible today, in the
time when men have climbed mountains on the moon, to duplicate
this achievement.”
To contact Ali or for spiritual consultations, coaching, workshops
and readings, email: alivegasvoice@yahoo.com.
What’s Your Sign?
By: Kate Wind / Kate’s Insight
When you tell someone your astrological
sign, you are simply letting the other
person know where the Sun was sitting when you
were born. For example, if someone tells me they
are an Aquarius, all I know is that at the time of their birth, the Sun was
sitting within the Aquarius constellation.
Although the Sun Sign can give a lot of
insight, there are so many other factors
that go into a natal chart. Since there are
so many other factors, this explains why all
Leos, or all Libras are not the exact same.
Let’s start with the elements. Each zodiac
sign is represented by an element, Water, Air,
Earth, or Fire.
Some charts have a nice balance, while
others are dominated by one of the four
elements. When looking at a natal chart,
understanding the elements of the Sun,
Moon and Ascendant is a great starting
point.
For example, a client may have a Libra
Sun, Aquarius Moon and Gemini Rising, making them a triple air sign
such as Burt Reynolds! On the other hand, Celine Dion is a triple fire!
Having an ample amount of one element can drive a person to be over
the top! This is then followed by looking at the elements of the major
planets including Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, and
Uranus. With all of these options, you can see the range of possibilities.
Water Element: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio. This element is
considered deep, intuitive, emotional, and often mysterious.
Air Element: Aquarius, Gemini, Libra. This element is
considered intellectual, idea-driven,
adventurous, curious and is constantly
thinking.
Earth Element: Capricorn, Taurus,
Virgo. This element is considered
grounded, practical, stable, loyal and often
material driven.
Fire Element: Aries, Leo,
Sagittarius. This element is considered
passionate, energetic, enthusiastic, and
sometimes temperamental.
Understanding your Natal Chart can give
you deeper insight into personality traits,
ways of coping and reacting, and lifelong
themes.
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
39
Vaccines
By: Kyo Mitchell / A Healthier You
We’re told that life will get back to normal
once a coronavirus vaccine has been
developed and distributed. When that will occur
however is complicated.
Let’s discuss how a vaccine works by starting with your immune
response. Your immune system recognizes foreign pathogens by
structural markers on their exterior. These are called antigens.
When your body recognizes a foreign organism, it makes an
immune response - antibodies. These antibodies going against
that microorganism is keyed to that specific microorganism and its
antigens.
In other words, you have specific immune cells and antibodies to
each potential microorganism. The body however does not make a few
immune cells and antibodies. It makes an entire army of them that
constantly circulate through your body ready to recognize and kill any
invader who presents that specific antigen/surface marker.
When you are given a vaccination, the pathogen is introduced
to your body in a dead or inert form. Even though the organism is
not viable, the immune system still recognizes that antigens of that
microorganism as foreign and develops a response to it.
This is what will happen with the Covid-19 virus. It would be
introduced into your body so your body can develop immune cells and
antibodies to it. This allows you to handle the virus more easily if it
ever invades.
While this sounds effective and simple, it really is not. Viruses mutate.
The Covid-19 virus has at least 30+ mutations to date.
If the antigens/surface markers change and are different than the
ones introduced through the vaccine, then the immune cells and
antibodies may not recognize the new mutation. As an analogy, this is
why people still get the flu after having a flu shot. It is a different strain
of the flu.
Another possible flaw in the vaccine is if your immune system is
compromised, you may not make an appropriate immune response to
the vaccine. The healthiest thing you can still do to keep yourself safe
from Covid-19 is to follow social guidelines and keep your immune
system healthy.
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.
Time to Reflect - Again This Month
By: Mary Richard / Health Fitness
So how did you survive the Coronavirus
time? It was a shocker for me to be totally
unemployed since March 13th from my Zumba
teaching and on March 15th at the Smith Center. But I made the most
of the time.
Having lived here for 18 years, I never thought I would see the day
that the strip and other businesses would be shut down and so many
people unemployed (including me).
I made the most of the time off. I cleaned and purged clothes from
my closet and had them all donated to charities. I cleaned that “junk”
drawer that I’ve been meaning to do for some time.
I read some books that were waiting to be pursued. I took online
Zumba and aerobic classes. And it felt so great after getting some
exercise! Strange having to do this, as I love the peer group exercise,
but it worked.
I certainly was NOT one of those hoarders, as I only had enough
stash for myself and my two fur babies.
I saw many of my neighbors out for walks around the neighborhood
- adhering to the “social distancing” of keeping at least 6 feet away
from others. I got to know my neighbors better.
We even established a routine of waving across the street as we took
turns going to the mailbox. My neighbors are fabulous, and it was
great to watch after each other.
My two fur babies (Pierre and Andre) were lap kitties and remained
happy to have me home. They are really spoiled now! Wait until I go
back to work - they will surely miss my daily lap.
Overall, it was a time to reflect, reassess, and revalue what we have
to be thankful for. And I have a greater appreciation of the little things
in life.
Take care all - stay safe and healthy.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND HAPPY HEALTH TO ALL!
40
June 2020
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.
41
Travel Update
By: Stu Cooper / Happy Adventures
As promised, here is where we stand in the
coronavirus pandemic as it relates to travel.
When will we see hotels open? When will we see
tropical resorts open? How about theme parks?
For you cruisers, where do we stand with the cruise lines? And what
about unrestricted airline travel? Here is my best educated guess to a
complicated situation.
One thing I can say with confidence is, that when there is a universal
vaccine that protects everyone, every conceivable form of travel will
open. That’s the easy answer.
But most say we won’t see this for as long as two years. What about
the near future?
With the decrease of virus cases, air travel will increase. But this will
be a slow process. Air travel however has increased slightly as of this
writing.
Hotels will be the same. New York is nowhere near ready to open
and New York City is closed through June 11. On the other hand, I am
starting to see resort opening dates in the Caribbean.
The Bahamas are closed through May 31 and if things continue to
improve in that country, resorts will start to open. Hopefully, flights
from the U.S. will be reinstated.
And we might even see a (greatly reduced capacity) reopening in
theme parks like Disney starting mid to end of June.
As for the cruise lines, Carnival Cruise Lines hopes to have eight ships
cruising out of Florida and Texas back running by July 1 st . Princess
Cruise Lines has suspended all operations through August 31 st with the
entire Alaska season suspended through September.
Princess Cruises, however, has not cancelled the fall season for their
ship the Royal Princess which is scheduled to sail out of Los Angeles to
the Mexican Riviera and the coast of California.
However, as Dr. Anthony Faucci says, this is a moving target. If there
are spikes in the virus all bets are off as to the reopening of travel. As
always, stay safe.
By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World
As the Coronavirus pandemic unfolded, my
husband and I celebrated birthdays. Like
most Vegas Voice readers, we are at a high risk
age and our two children live miles away.
We had to weather this, for the most part, unassisted in an expanse
of solitude.
We began self-distancing before the governor announced it. It
was like having the rug pulled out. An exercise class canceled. A trip
canceled with prompt refund.
Other gatherings canceled. A meeting group changed from getting
together to conference call. Granddaughter’s college graduation
canceled.
An Honor Flight my husband was accepted to go on in April canceled.
(For those that don’t know about ‘Honor Flight,” it’s a program where
American military veterans are flown to Washington D.C. and brought
together to visit the nation’s war memorials).
We keep a supply pantry - including toilet paper, never expecting
a far-reaching shut-down of all but essential businesses. Then a note
appeared on our door, “Hi John & Kathy, This is Dave … next door. If
you’d like to limit your exposure & need anything please let me know.
I’d be glad to make a grocery run for you.”
At the take-out window of a nearby restaurant, I placed an order and
proceeded to the drive-up window where I was handed our food and
waved on. I stared back at the casher with a what’s up? expression. I
42
Solitude & Acts of Kindness
June 2020
was told the person ahead of us had paid for the food for the three cars
behind her. Everyone in the drive-up line had their orders paid in full.
Fortunately, while I was processing this act of kindness, another car
queued into line and placed an order. I paid for that last car’s order
before leaving.
It’s wonderful when we come together, desiring to ease other
disappointments and anxiety. Contagions can initiate thoughtfulness
and good neighbors in everyone - and consequently we will thrive.
Kathy Manney enjoys visiting interesting places and being an
Adventure Diva. Her “Must See” travel journeys continue - always
with enthusiasm.
43
44
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The last time I saw Ashley was in October. My husband Ray and I
had made a quick trip to Washington DC to spend a few days with
my daughter.
She had just finished several months working at the Pentagon as an
advisor to Admiral Richardson, Secretary of the Navy and a member of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We wanted to spend some quality time with her
before she got totally consumed with a new book she is writing, and we
were not disappointed.
The District was in the midst of autumn’s golden days with classic
falling leaves, warm breezes, and dazzling sunshine. Plus, Washington’s
Nationals baseball team was racing towards winning their first World
Series. Everyone seemed caught up in the excitement of the games and
there was a feeling of goodwill that had no political limits.
Our visit was
so perfect we
teased Ashley we
were going to
move in with her.
Her new highrise
apartment
in the center of
Arlington VA had
a lovely view of
the city.
It was next
door to a Nieman
Washington DC & My
Daughter
By: Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker /
Out & About
Marcus mall
and Costco’s
was right across the street. To me this was the best of all worlds. For a
few precious days, the three of us laughed and got caught up on each
other’s activities.
Everything was perfect, except for one thing. We quickly ran out of
time.
As I am sure you know, this has been an exceedingly difficult year
for all of us. But if there is one thing we should have learned, it’s how
special our family and friends are.
These are the times we need each other more than ever. It’s not too
late to create memories and get reacquainted with those that are the
most dear to you.
Over the years, I’ve heard many of you say you were saving seeing the
sights in the US. This might just be the perfect time to make that trip
and bring your loved ones together.
So, what are you waiting for? Discover the United States.
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
My Dad
By: Rana Goodman / On My Soapbox
read that the first love a girl has is her dad.
I For me, I do not think I realized how much I
loved mine until I lost him.
My parents immigrated from England to Las Vegas when I was twelve
years old. What a culture shock! My first day of school was at 5 th Street
Elementary and to say I felt like a girl from out of space would not be
an exaggeration.
A lesson in humility came early as I sat in class. Each student was
asked to read a paragraph from a book.
When my turn came, I stood and read aloud, saying the word
“fertilizer” which drew roaring laughter from the room. Gosh! What
did I do wrong? I said, “fur-til-izer”? How do the “Yanks” say it?
Sitting down, I promised myself not to say another word until I could
sound like everyone else. The torment didn’t end there. My clothing
was not the poodle skirts and ballerina flats that you all remember
from the 50s.
I walked home in tears and when my dad saw me, he made me sit
down and tell him what happened. He wiped my tears and told my
mother we would be back in time for dinner.
Ushering me into the car, he drove me to Fremont Street, and we
went shopping. It amazed me how the ladies flocked around to hear
this handsome man speak in the same accent I had, but no one was
laughing.
We arrived home with a wonderful selection of “American Graffiti”
style clothes, poodle skirts and all. Now, all I had to work on was
dumping my accent.
Later that year, my dad said he and I were going to lunch. On the ride
home, we plotted a quick trip to Los Angeles for a few days of dinner at
my favorite restaurant with all the trimmings. And a day or two at the
beach.
My mother, gypsy spirit that she had, was always game to “go
anywhere, anytime.” All dad had to do was say “do you want to go?”
and she’d start packing. Life was sweet.
I had been working on my dad for months before I turned 16 to get
me a car. So, waking up on my birthday I ran to the front window and
looked out expecting a new vehicle.
What I saw in the driveway was a canary yellow 1948 Pontiac
convertible. I guess the question of “what is that” must have been
written all over my face as I turned around.
“You promised me a new car” I stuttered. “Well, it is new to you” he
replied.
The truth hit me months later when I shuttled my friends around
in that beast. While they had their shiny new cars, they lived in fear of
scratches, accidents etc. My dad, however, didn’t care what happened to
the car - so long as no one was hurt.
On the downside of our “love/hate” issues, was dad’s strictness with
endlessly long rules. When I’d question “why” his reply was to tell me
how, at my age, he was always on the prowl for girls and didn’t want
me going out with anyone that was anything like him as a teenage boy.
Everything eventually turned into a great relationship once I was an
adult. I treasure the memories I have of that incredible man.
The sweetest, nicest thing he ever said to me was shortly before he
passed. He whispered, “I have only loved two women in my life, your
mother and you.” R.I.P. Pops.
You can contact Rana by email: Rana@thevegasvoice.net. Also
check out her blog about life in Sun City Anthem at:
Anthemtoday.com
45
Fiction Stories Involving the Brain: At-Home Beach Reads
By: Jan Fair / A No-Brainer Minute
I
nstead of suggesting scientific non-fiction books as I usually do, this month I'm
recommending fiction books in which we can all learn a lot about issues
involving the brain. involving For example, we can learn about dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer's
in Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro's book, The Bear Came Over the Mountain (and later the
movie Away From Her.) And we can learn about memory loss in Anne Tyler's book (below-left).
Books for Adults
• Brain by Robin Cook
• Forget About Murder
by Elizabeth Squire
• Intent to Kill
by James Grippando
• Noah's Compass
by Anne Tyler
• Oblivion: A Novel
by Peter Abrahams
• Turn of Mind
by Alice LaPlante
• What Alice Forgot
by Liane Moriarty
Books for Kids
•The Great Brain
(and ... Adventures of the Great Brain,
The Great Brain is Back, The Great
Brain Reforms, Me & My Little Brain,
Return of Brain)
by John Dennis Fitzgerald
•Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
by Dr. Seuss
•Stinky Thoughts by Mary Ross
Jan Fair is a writer, consultant & public speaker who has published over 40 books including
the No-Brainer Brain Games series. Please check out her website at www.JanFair.com
Mental Minutes
“Brain Fiction”
1. In one minute, name
fiction books that
involve the brain.
2. Make an alphabetical
list.
Art of Forgetting
(by Camille Noe Pagán),
Brain Storm (by Elaine Viets),
Curse Workers (YA books
by Holly Black), ...
A No-Brainer Pick
Your local library's
"online" book service.
June 2020
46
June 2020
47
Speaking to and for Las Vegas
Valley Seniors since 2003
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