boomtown magazine, madison, wi

Boomtown Magazine | 1

BoomtownFREE

For Boomers Living a HeaLtHier, smarter and more active LiFe in madtown!

April/May 2014

Inside ...◘ Bale Gardening 3

◘ Wisconsin Senior Games Page 16

◘ Palliative Care Page 22

◘ The Winter of Our Discontent Page 24

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TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014 MONONA TERRACE COMMUNITY AND CONVENTION CENTER MADISON

facebook.com/nelsoninstitute @nelsoninstitute and #earthdayconf

e a r t ht o be de t e rminedECOLOGY, ECONOMY AND JUSTICE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD

ROSARIO DAWSONActress and activist; co-founder, Voto Latino; spokesperson for One Billion Rising and Environmental Media Association

CHINA MIÉVILLEAward-winning science fiction author; associate professor of creative writing, Warwick University in England

nelson.wisc.edu/earthday

We’ve entered the Anthropocene -- the age of humans -- requiring new strategies for conservation and prosperity. Earth To Be Determined will explore challenges and opportunities presented by rapid, large-scale changes in the global environment.

EIGHTH ANNUAL NELSON INSTITUTE EARTH DAY CONFERENCE


ContentsWhy we do what we do.Our goal is to connect the Madison area mature market with resources and products that will help them lead healthier, happier lives. The idea of keeping it local and helping people discover how many incredible services our backyard may offer is a driving force in everything we do in the magazine.

Why read us?Boomtown magazine strives to bring Madison’s 45+, mature market education and information on any and all topics when it comes to aging and aging actively. In each issue you will find articles on senior exercise, local history, travel, nature, alternative wellness, healthy eating, being more eco-conscious, living greener and more eco-friendly, as well as aging issue articles such as legal, retirement, medical and assistance issues. Plus, we'll bring this all to you from local professionals and experts in such matters. We want to connect.

CONTACT US:Arwen Rasmussen715.831.0325 [email protected]

Tracy [email protected]

Physical Office:3315 Nimitz StreetEau Claire, Wisconsin 54701

All articles are the sole property of the writ-ers. Opinions expressed in Boomtown are those of the writers or advertisers themselves, not the publication or its editors. Boomtown is not liable for use of any artwork provided by advertisers. Please direct concerns to the advertisers.

BoomtownBoomers Living a HeaLtHier, smarter and more active LiFe in madtown!

8 Community Connections Kathie Rasmussen Women’s Theater Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference CATCH Healthy Habits Program 10 Keeping It Local, Keeping It Connected Sprouting Acres & Turnstone Farm

11 What A Winter!12 Gardening Commandments13 Bale Gardening14 Consider Chiropractics15 Bend, Stretch & Dig16 Wisconsin Senior Games18 Cranio-Sacral for Stroke19 Healing Through Reflexology20 Choosing a Retirement Home21 Ways to Help Wandering22 Palliative Care23 Senior Safety Devices24 The Winter of Our Discontent27 Go Chemical Free28 Get Off the Beaten Path30 Healing Birds

30 Healing Birds19 Healing Through Reflexology

11 What A Winter!


Tips and ideas for a healthy and balanced life

Some Straight StalkChoosingThe size of the asparagus doesn’t necessarily mean better quality or flavor; it just means the stalk has more growing time than others and is more mature. Look for bright green or violet stalks that are firm. When gently squeezed, it should squeak slightly. StorageTrim the bottoms of the stalks and wrap them in a wet paper towel. You can refrigerate them for up to 3 days. Or you can cut the ends off and put them in a glass of water with a plastic bag over them and store them in the fridge. Either way, when they begin to get slimy, it’s time to toss and visit the market again.RecipesThyme Roasted Asparagus and PotatoesChunk up asparagus and quarter potatoes. Toss with olive oil, about 1 Tbsp, and fresh thyme. Roast at 400 for 20-25 min until tender. Lemon Asparagus and EggsSteam asparagus for 10 minutes, run under cold water to cool. Drizzle with EVOO and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Top with chopped hard boiled egg, green onion or chives, and salt to taste.

New Uses for Egg ShellsSeed Starter - the perfect size for starting your plants. The carton provides a stable stand and the nutrients in the shell help provide the seed with extra nutrients. Make sure to poke a hole in the bottom of the shell for drainage. And you can transplant them directly into your garden, as the shell will compost right into the garden.

What'da Ya KnowFresh Vegetables Help Your CO2 FootprintHow? Eating meat and dairy, which has to be produced, creates carbon emissions add-ing to the already surmounting CO2 from cars and trucks on the road.

Eating LocallyInterest and purchasing of local food is on the rise, with several counties in the region seeing over a 100 percent increase between 2002 and 2007.* Many Wisconsin counties such as Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn, Jackson, Trempealeau, and fourteen others experienced an 86 percent increase in value of direct market agriculture products sold between 2002 and 2007 (50 percent statewide), with nine exceeding 100 percent. The eighteen WI counties totaled $9 million and the seven major Twin Cities counties $8 million in direct market sales in 2007.*Courtesy of the USDA 2007 Census of Agriculture.


• Green tea• Red wine• Dark chocolate• Walnuts• Pumpkin seeds• Whole grains• Fish• Grapefruit• Lemons• Oranges• Strawberries• Raspberries

• Blueberries• Onions• Chives• Leeks• Garlic• Shallots

• Broccoli• Brussels sprouts• Cauliflower• Kale• Soybeans• Tofu• Soy milk

25 Cancer-fighting Foods to Add to Your Grocery List:

To Boost Energy:Breakfast – Boiled egg and

bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon; breakfast burrito stuffed with pinto beans, salsa and cheese; smoothie with protein powder, milk, cinnamon and fruit

Lunch – Whole wheat bread with turkey and Swiss cheese and carrots on the side; tuna on whole wheat crackers with a spinach salad; smoked salmon on rye crackers with a tossed salad

Dinner – Roast chicken breasts, skin-on mashed red potatoes, and steamed broccoli; stir-fry shrimp with veggies over brown rice

Snack – Handful of almonds with a piece of fruit; cheese stick with a whole-grain bagel; whole apple slices spread with almond-butter

To Lift the Mood:Breakfast – Yogurt smoothie

with whey protein powder and fruit; a bowl of muesli with some flaxseed oil

Lunch – Grilled cheese sandwich on whole-grain bread with a banana on the side; tuna fish sandwich with walnuts and spinach salad

Dinner – Roast chicken or poultry, baked potato and tossed salad with dark leafy greens; grilled salmon with wild rice; grass-fed beef on sprouted wheat buns with broccoli on the side; pot roast with carrots and parsnips or sweet potatoes; buffalo steak kabobs with brown rice

Snack – Cottage cheese on rye crackers; cheese melted over blue tortilla chips and a dab of salsa; raw almond and raisins

To Relieve Stress:Breakfast – Bowl of

unsweetened muesli with a sliced banana and touch of maple syrup plus a a few breakfast sausages, a boiled egg, or scrambled tofu on the side

Lunch – Spinach salad with grilled chicken plus whole wheat crackers on the side; tomato soup with a whole grain roll; fresh fruit like an apple for dessert

Dinner – Bean and cheese enchiladas in whole-grain tortillas, topped with guacamole and salsa; shredded cabbage salad with cilantro and cumin vinaigrette and a slice of fresh melon

Snack – A peach and macadamia nuts; almond butter on rye bread; a cup of chamomile tea with a touch of cinnamon

Mood Mending Foods

Get Paid to RecycleSo you do your earthly duty each week and recycle your bottles, cans and plastics, right? Wanna get paid for it? Recyclebank will give you points that can be redeemed for deals at stores and online retailers.

Recyclebank partners with haulers to find out how much recyclable material was collected and converts the total into Recyclebank Points, which are distrib-uted amongst all recyclers in the community. So, the more you and your neighbors recycle, the more everyone gets paid!

You can also earn points for other green actions, including saving energy at home, getting your postal mail online and supporting environmental initiatives.


Coffee Car, Awesome!Did you know that coffee grounds do so much more than deliver a delicious brew and enrich our compost piles? They also help power electronics. In early 2011, an engineer in England found a way to convert old coffee grounds collected from local shops into fuel to power a car.

The coffee car sped up to 66.5 mph and broke a Guinness World Record for vehicles run on organic waste, beating out 2010’s record of 47.7 mph by a wood-burning car.

To modify the car to run on coffee grounds, the coffee car team equipped the vehicle with a gasifier that burns organic materials at high temperatures. When the coffee grounds are burned, they produce combustible gases, which, after cleaning and cooling, are used to fuel an adapted combustion engine. Super cool! Adapted from Earth911.com

Resolution TimeForget January resolutions, how

about summer resolutions? In the warm months, especially in the Madison area, fresh, local food is so prolific it’s easy to make a renewed vow to yourself and your family that being an eco-eater is best. So this summer, make a bigger impact and do your part for the environment. With so much sunlight, turn off house lights; when cooking, make plans to cook more at once to utilize the energy more effectively. And of course, there is the power we wield with shopping habits. With more than ____ farmers markets in the Madison area, it’s one of the most eco-friendly choices to make. You are not only supporting community agriculture, but also buying the freshest foods available. If we make them a regular stop in our weekly summer activity, they will only continue to thrive and grow.

“If 40 percent of American households bought only organic milk, it would change dairy production,” says Michel Nischan, co-owner of the Dressing Room restaurant in Westport, Connecticut, and author of Sustainably Delicious. “You really can be a hero one product at a time.”

So take these tips to heart this summer and be eco-minded.• Look for bunches of lettuces

or spinach at your farmers markets or grocery stores. You are not only

supporting your local farmer, but you are buying zero packaging. The landfills will thank you.• Buy the heirloom varieties for a

new change. The terms means that the crop has been grown from seeds passed down for generations. • Buy in bulk. Freezing and canning

is not only a great family activity, but you get to enjoy fresh and local foods all throughout the year. • Make it a challenge. Make the

weekly menu from only the foods found at your farmers market. Often times it isn’t too difficult, since meat, produce, and dairy are all right there at one market.• When you buy local eggs, get them

directly from your local farmer at the market. Just because the package says cage free at the grocery store, doesn’t mean the chickens were allowed outdoors. They may have been kept indoors, but not in cages.

Protection from the Ground UpYou should expect more from your bug repellent. Most people think to get effective protection you have to settle for chemical sprays, or worse, clip expensive units to your pocket and try not to inhale the fumes. And to find a good smelling repellent; well, there isn’t any. Nature Barrier® is for the outdoor lover who wants to sit and enjoy the sunset. We’re the original granular repellent for ground application using pure essential oils for 95 percent repellency and a gentle fragrance. So when you’re ready to relax and soak up the great outdoors, sprinkle Nature Barrier® first and expect more from your outdoor experience.▪ Amazingly sweet soothing scent▪ Long lasting – Up to 24 hours▪ EPA exempt – Surpasses EPA standards▪ No clean up required – 100 percent biodegradable▪ Safe around free range chickens▪ Safe around free range children▪ Use on any dry ground surface, including sand▪ Made and sold locally in Cornell, Wisconsin.www.naturebarrier.com

Smart TipsTired of sweeping out the soot in your fireplace? Add ½ cup of salt to natural wood every time you burn; the sodium chloride forms a weak acid that dissolves the creosote (black soot) that is left after a fire.


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Ants are pests, whether indoors or out. Fortunately,

they’re easy to control, once you’ve figured out who you’re dealing with. Different ants are drawn to and repelled by different foods.

Carpenter ants are the most destructive variety and destroy support beams much like termites.

Brown Argentine ants, which nest outdoors and are

drawn to sweets. Pharaoh ants, yellow and

red, nest inside of buildings and aren’t picky foodies.

Reddish thief ants, attracted to meats and grease

Pavement ants, which are black and brown, nest in foundations.

Prevent them from entering your home.

Easiest preventions is to

cut them off. Seal food, wipe crumbs, wash dishes right away, keep garbage controlled and sealed. Water is also an attractant, so make sure your faucets are in good shape.

When you do find them, follow them to the entry point and try to seal them out. If you can’t seal them out, light helps confuse their patterns, so a night light can throw them off after a while.

Finally vacuum. Add some cornstarch to the vacuum bag to suffocate them, and make sure you are using a HEPA filter. Dispose of the bag immediately to prevent living ants from finding their way out.

Make your own ant bait.

There are lots of ordinary foods that ants won’t come close to, so use these to create

your barrier naturally. Citrus oil (can be soaked

into a piece of string), lemon juice, coffee grounds, cucumber peels, mint tea bags or dried mint leaves, cloves, cinnamon or cayenne pepper.

To kill and drive away ants that you see, mix a teaspoon of dish soap with water in a spray bottle; this will also clean up the scent trails they leave for others to follow. Citrus oil and water or plain white vinegar is equally effective.

At home recipe:• Mix a half teaspoon

each of honey, borax and aspartame in small bottles. Place bottles on their sides, with lids off. Ants will carry the bait back to their colonies. Important: use indoors only; must be kept away from pets and children.

Control Ants Naturally


Community ConneCtions

Madison Women’s Theater Invites ParticipationThe Kathie Rasmussen Women’s Theater (Krass), founded in 2008, is the only Madison community com-pany aimed at producing works written and directed by women. Among all plays on stage in the United States, fewer than one-fifth are written or directed by women. Led by women of all ages, including several seniors, the company offers opportunities to those who main-stream theater overlooks.

Krass’s productions have included The Smart Women Project, directed by Deanna Reed, which showcased nine original short plays; The Butcher of Baraboo, by prize-winning Chicago playwright Marisa Wegryzn, directed by Kristin Forde; Helen, by the oft-awarded playwright Ellen McLaughlin; original short plays by women from all over the United States called Women and Their Callings; Wrong for the Part, a collection of monologues and scenes performed by men and women in roles no direc-tor would ever give them; a sci-fi original by Kathleen Allison Johnson and Gail Sterkel, Ten Thousand Moons From Here; and Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart, directed by Suzan Kurry. Future plans include Marsha Norman’s ‘Night Mother, directed by Dana Pellebon and Wendy McLeod’s House of Yes.

The company seeks women directors with propos-als for future productions by women who are willing to work on a shoestring budget. Both women and men are invited to the company’s informal meetings where plans are hatched and laughter can be heard. For more information contact Artistic Direct Jan Levine Thal [email protected] or see the website krass-theatre.com.

Actress Rosario Dawson to Keynote Nelson Institute Conference in AprilActress and activist Rosario Dawson, co-founder and chair of the voting rights organization Voto Latino and an international advocate for women’s rights and environmental quality, will keynote the eighth annual

Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dawson, whose film credits include Sin City, Trance, Rent, and Men in Black II, has been a leader in urging young Latinos to become involved in voting and politi-cal participation. She has also been active with One Billion Rising, an international organization seeking to end violence against women, and is a spokesperson for the Environmental Media Association. Dawson will speak about America’s changing demographics and the future of the environmental movement. The conference, titled “Earth: To Be Determined,” will explore ideas and issues related to the Anthropocene—the age of humans—a term many scientists are using to describe the profound impact people are having on the global environment by adding green-house gases to the atmosphere, converting land to human uses, and consuming natural resources.

From the rapid melting of Arctic ice to record de-forestation in the tropics, the world is riding an un-precedented trajectory of change. A recent review of scientific literature suggests that the rate of climate change over the next century will likely be at least ten times faster than any climate shift recorded in the past 65 million years. And by 2050, Earth’s human popula-tion is expected to reach 9.6 billion, with global food demand predicted to double.

“Today has to be about going forward in a profoundly changed environment,” says Nelson Institute Direc-tor Paul Robbins. “We’re looking forward to a day of conference discussions focused on new strategies and partnerships both for conservation and for envisioning new futures for citizens, businesses, and the environ-ment.”

The event will also feature remarks by award-winning British science fiction author China Miéville, whose novels include The City & the City, Embassy-town, and Railsea. Miéville will speak on “The Limits of Utopia,” exploring links between environmentalism and social justice in a rapidly changing world.

Ecologist Erle Ellis of the Breakthrough Institute


and Kevin Noone, director of the Swedish Secretariat for Environmental Earth System Sciences, will of-fer differing perspectives on ecological and natural resource challenges and opportunities posed by the Anthropocene.

In addition, nine concurrent panel sessions will focus on topics such as climate change in the Great Lakes region, future energy sources, sustainable food systems, global health, green business and other topics. The daylong event also includes exhibits, awards, and other activities.

The annual Earth Day conference is one way the Nel-son Institute carries forward the environmental legacy of its namesake, Gaylord Nelson. The former Wiscon-sin governor and U.S. senator helped make environ-mental protection and education top national priorities in the latter half of the twentieth century. In 1970, Nelson founded Earth Day as a nationwide “teach-in” about environmental issues.

The Nelson Institute Earth Day conference will take place at the Monona Terrace Community and Conven-tion Center in downtown Madison and is open to the public, though registration is required.

Early registration is strongly recommended. For more information or to register, visit www.nelson.wisc.

edu/earthday. Contact: Steve Pomplun, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison at (608) 263-3063 or [email protected].

CATCH Healthy Habits Program Combats Childhood Obesity in MadisonThe Madison Senior Center offers multiple intergen-erational programs within the community. One of the programs is CATCH Healthy Habits, a nationally recognized program, that pairs adults, ages 50+, with children in grades K-5 in weekly lessons teaching them about nutrition, healthy eating and physical activity.

The program aims to combat the growing issue of obesity, specifically childhood obesity. The obesity rates in America have tripled for children and doubled for adults in the last thirty years. Before the age of thirty, 18 percent of Wisconsin adults are obese and 45 percent or overweight or obese. Those in their fifties and sixties have the highest observed obesity and total

overweight rates.The CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health)

program was created by the OASIS Institute and was originally piloted in California between 2008 and 2010. Due to a generous grant by Anthem Blue Cross

Blue Shield Foundation, the program has now been expanded to 18 cities na-tionwide. Since the program began in Madison in 2011, it has reached 336 children in local after-school and summer programs with plans

to reach 225 children in 2014. The CATCH program has worked with numerous local elementary schools in partnership with the MSCR Safe Haven after-school programs, as well as, the Goodman Center and Kids Junction Summer Camp program. CATCH will be working with MSCR again this spring at Midvale and Mendota schools and partnering with the Boys & Girls Club this summer!

Volunteers needed! You too, can help local children to get healthy, be physically active and make positive changes for yourself! Volunteers (ages 50+ preferred but not required) will team up to lead activities, make healthy snacks and present nutrition lessons. All lesson plans, food and equipment provided. Volunteers are also needed for administrative roles to provide support in other areas of the program.

Join us this spring! We will be at Mendota Elemen-tary beginning Monday, March 31 and going through May 19 (no program April 14 & 21). Sessions are Mon-day afternoons from 3:00-4:00 pm. We will also be at Midvale Elementary beginning Monday, April 28 and going through June 2 (no program May 26). Sessions are Monday afternoons from 2:30-3:30 pm. A three hour training session is provided for all volunteers. Summer programs are currently being planned and in-formation will be available soon! For more information about the program or to volunteer, contact Laurie Bibo at 608-267-8673 or [email protected] or visit www.CATCHHealthyHabits.org.

“I have always enjoyed working with kids…guess I’m just a kid at heart!”

– Jane, CATCH volunteer

Community ConneCtions


Sprouting Acres is a small, certified organic vegetable farm located just southeast of Madison, Wisconsin, between the communities of Cambridge and Stoughton. The farm is owned by longtime farmer and area resi-dent Andy Watson who spent many years working as a chef before trading in the saucepan for a shovel and a

straw hat. Sprouting Acres

has been certi-fied organic since 2009 and focuses on growing fresh,

organic vegetables for area restaurants, a 150-member CSA and a couple of area farmers’ markets. With just under five acres of land in production, Sprouting Acres understands the need to work with the land to preserve its integrity and fertility for years to come. The result is a more nutritious product for our customers and a healthier environment for the future.

In 2014 Sprouting Acres is partnering with Turnstone Farm to provide locally raised chicken, turkey and pork for the Sprouting Acres CSA membership. Turnstone Farm is owned and operated by Jason Croft, the field manager of Sprouting Acres since 2012. This partner-ship will allow both farms to better serve the communi-ties of Southcentral Wisconsin as CSA members can

get locally raised meats and vegetables from farmers they know and trust. Partnerships between farms allows for growers to focus on their area of expertise while at the same time offering more products to their custom-ers. The local food economy becomes stronger too! Head to www.sproutingacres.com to learn more about the CSA and to ww.turnstonefarm.com to learn more about pastured chicken, pork, and turkey.

Keeping It Local Is Keeping It Connected!

Certified Organic vegetable CSA - Sprouting AcresOrganically fed & pasture raised eg gs, pork & poultr y - Turnstone Farm

www.sproutingacres.com www.turnstonefarm.com

LOCAL PARTNERS IN GROWING HEALTHY FAMILIES

Keep It Local section is a way to tell us in 200-350 words who you are and why you do what you do.

▪ Why should someone visit your farm?

▪ Why should someone eat your cheese?

▪ How many generations have been working the same piece of land?

▪ What is your specialty?Best planting or harvesting

story? Please tell us. Pick from any of these or just

tell us your background and why you love doing it. Our readers will love it too. This is roughly

a 1/2 pg space, valued at $650. Keep it Local section is

asking you to help support this section with a suggested dona-tion to help pay for our costs. A sliding scale of $150-$300 de-pending on your budget is what we ask to help tell your story and to keep locally grown and produced goods local. Include pictures and a company logo too, please.

List your farm for only $50/issue in our Keep It Local Farmer Directory. That’s only $25/month to connect with our readers and get them to know you and your food.


What a Winter! By Howard Lerner, Madison Horticultural Services

Long, snowy, and cold. What will we find in our yards and

gardens when spring arrives? How have our plants dealt with the on-slaught of winter’s offerings?

The first signs of trouble visible may be damage from snow plows or the snow itself. Torn up sod along streets or driveways should be put back in place as soon as possible to get rooting started. Even pieces that have yellowed from being upside down will often root if they have not dried out too much. Places that are bare and have no sod to replace should be seeded as soon as possible. Be sure to loosen soil before plac-ing seed, rake lightly to cover seed, and then press soil firmly to assure good contact with soil. Keep seeded areas moist well past germination as new seedlings have a very small root system. The best time for seeding is mid-April through mid-May.

If sand has accumulated on lawn to any depth, just rake out into a thin layer and the lawn should send up new shoots when the soil warms.

Next, look for broken shrubbery. Piled snow may have damaged

branches. Cut of any broken parts with a sharp pruning shears. You may be able to push bent branches back into place. Badly bent branches can either be tied into place or removed.

The severe cold this winter may have damaged or killed some plants. We have not had these very cold sub-zero temperatures for extended peri-ods in many years. A lot of borderline hardy plants have been planted in the intervening years. I expect to see troubles as spring unfolds. Many spring blooming shrubs and trees will have had their flower bud killed by the cold. They will not bloom but may produce leaves and recover for flowering next year. Some shrubs and trees will have had vegetative (leaf) buds killed. These plants will look dead, but don’t be too quick to remove them. Some have the ability to produce new buds on the branches, but it will take some time.

Some shrubs that have had the tops killed will start to produce new shoots coming from the base. When it becomes clear that your plant is alive and growing, cut away all dead wood as soon as you can. For plants that seem dead, give them a little extra time, and often you will be surprised that they have returned for another season. Give these winter-damaged trees and shrubs a little fertilizer to

help them along.Perennial flowers and grasses are

next. They need warm soil to begin growth again.

Sadly, some will never see the sun again. But others of hardy stock, well protected by deep layers of snow, will be up and blooming when their season arrives. Again wait a bit, before digging out those not showing early growth. Sometimes the top will have died, but the roots and crown are intact and will begin growth a little later than normal. Give them a little compost or fertilizer and wait for them to show their new greenery.

Spring always arrives, sometimes late, but always appreciated. Enjoy the warming sun and the scents of warm soil, blooming plants, and new grass. Soon we forget the feel of this past unrelenting winter.

Howard is owner and operator of Madison Horticultural Services, a landscape maintenance company in Madison. He received a BS degree in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin, majoring in ornamental horticulture. After some years in institutional, condominium, golf course, and park maintenance, Howard started Madison Horticultural Services in 1982. He lives in Cross Plains Township with his wife, dog, cat, and four happy chickens. More information at 608-274-9981.


Having taught gardening classes from beginners to seed-savers, I have a few “Gardening Musts” I’d like to share.

These are even more important for those of us who grow organically, since we do not rely on herbicides, pesticides, etc.

1. A good gardening book2. A notebook/folder/3 ring binder3. Walk through your garden daily4. Clean your garden(s) in the fall5. Use rotation and sanitation6. Plant flowers and herbs in your garden7. Let your gardening evolve8. Be Thankful as you walk, work, harvest and clean

your gardenFirst, start with a good gardening book (Rodale). It should

cover location, soil prep, planting, amendments, diseases, and insects. Colored pictures are helpful, for the weeds, diseases, bugs, and critters have faces you will want to identify. We do not want to kill or chase off the beneficial plants and insects.

Number two is a notebook, binder, or folder, and is very helpful. This will include yearly garden diagrams, notes on seed varieties, production, and any problems. The good and the bad are noted. This way you can choose seed varieties you prefer or that do better in your area. Any amendments, prod-ucts, personally concocted formulas, etc. are noted for future reference. My notebook also holds receipts and lists of ordered

things. This way you can find age, variety, name, etc. for any particular reason. I also find a list of companion plants helpful. Anything you may find helpful and want readily available is put in your notebook. Many people find a calendar helpful. Enter planting times or applications of amendments. I have used a card file some years. Listing each month’s projects to be done along with seeds to be planted under the month.

The third “Must” gives you some exercise. Walks in your garden help you find and act on problems as soon as possible. Be they viral, bacterial, insects, weeds, or four footed damage, you can deal with them promptly. Look at general appearance of plants. Do they need thinning, watering, or more height to the trellis?

Cleaning your garden after harvest is my fourth “Must.” This is going to depend on you, your garden, and existing problems. Debris and old plants can carry disease and insect problems. Your gardening method or other factors decide your choice. Lasagna gardens are not going to remove all the mulch, just the old plants. Others may need to remove and burn or compost plants and mulch. Those who till may choose to till most everything under.

“Must” number 5 is very important. Rotation and sanita-tion are needed to prevent disease and pest carry over. Your garden diagrams stored in your notebook come in here. Try not to plant the same thing in an area for three to four years. (We are talking annuals here). Never (if at all possible) work in your garden while plants are wet. You, your clothes, and tools can spread disease. This can be hard when picking pro-duce for sale or trying to escape working in the heat.

For your benefit and your garden’s, I include “Must” number 6. Plant all types of flowers and herbs with big and small heads. Beneficial insects will visit and stay. You want these friends for pollination and insect and disease control. Flowers have a special gift for the gardener also. They are God’s blessed spirit lifters.

Letting your garden evolve is the 7th “Must.” Don’t get stuck in a rut. Try new varieties, new methods, and especially time saving ideas. I personally have few conventional rows now. Raised beds, wide rows, terrising, and different types of trellis and fencing have become the norm. I use a hoe only to mark a couple of rows each year at planting. We mulch and use wide closer planted rows to prevent weeding. Be creative, break the rules, and do what works for you and your needs.

The last ‘Must’ is to be thankful. Believe me when you see multiple gardens washed many feet away after 4 inches of rain in 20 minutes, deep gullies where plants once flourished, or shredded plants after a hail storm, it is hard. There is strength to find and replant, to fill the gullies, and an instinct in plants to survive after being beaten. As the plants reset their roots and reach for the sunshine, we need to do the same and be thankful.

Gardening CommandmentsBy Sharon Coates


Bale Gardening A Great Alternative to Conventional GardeningBy Dick Zondag

Many are looking for a dif-ferent method of growing

vegetables than the traditional one. Some may have poor soil or very small yards that do not have room for a garden in the ground. The straw bale garden described in this article can be done in a small area, on asphalt or paved area, and better yet, if the bales can be placed near a chain-link fence, that gives you a way to grow vegetables that grow vertically.

This method uses straw that has been baled from growing grains such as oats, wheat, rye, or barley. Hay bales do not work because they tend to decompose too fast and will not last a year as the straw bales do. The bales should be tight and held together by two strands of twine that will decompose. Position the bales so that the individual straws are pointed up and tight against the fence, if one is available.

Start the process by placing a weed barrior down on the ground to stop weeds from growing through the bales or around them. The first thing you have to do with the bales is to start the decomposition of the straw. This is done over period of a couple weeks and must be done for the plants to have the right medium to grow in. After the bales are in position, you start the process by thoroughly water-ing them. This means that you have to have the bales placed correctly be-cause after you start the process, you can’t move the bales again. Days 1–3, water the bales to get them completely

wet. This will get the decomposition started. Days 4–6, sprinkle a cup of urea on the top of the bale and water the bale until the urea is completely dissolved. If you want to go organic, you have to have a source of nitrogen such as bone meal or fish meal. On days 7–9, cut the amount of nitrogen in half. On day 10, continue to monitor the bales. If the weather is hot, you may need to water the bales to keep the process going. On day 11, stick your fingers into the bale to see if the temperature is warm. If it is about body temperature, it is ready to plant.

Planting the bales can be done by creating “pockets” in the straw. Into the pockets you plant vegetable plants such as tomatoes, peppers, and others. Potato pieces also work planted in pockets. The other meth-od is creating a seed bed to plant small seeds. This is done by spread-ing compost or peat-based potting soil on top of the straws. By creat-ing this bed, the seeds will be at the same depth and will germinate at the same time. Seeds such as car-rots, beets, onions, and others can be done this way. For vine crops

like peas, squash, cucumbers, and melons, the seeds can be planted an inch or two deep in the bales, and they will germinate rapidly.

Watering is critical as the bales do not hold water well. We set up a system using a water meter that could be programed to give the bales water once or twice a day, giving them five or ten minutes each time. The water system was connected to soaker hoses that were on the top of the bales. This made the watering much easier, and hand watering only had to be done once in a while during hot periods.

Fertilization during the growing season should be done on a weekly basis as the straw has little fertility on its own. The fertilizer to use is a well-balanced granular fertilizer, a good soluble plant food, or compost tea.

For a more complete article go to www.jungseed.com and find the complete article in the “Gardeners Corner.” By Dick Zondag, The Garden Doctor, heard on WBEV 1430 radio on Wednesday mornings at 10:30. Questions on the article, call 920 325-3121 ext 0, and ask for Dick or call his cell phone 608 225-8186.


Consider Chiropractics

You Just Never KnowSo it's mid March, I have that chest cold that

has been going around. I have gone from scratchy throat, to no voice, to squeaky voice with hor-rible cough, to more mucus then anyone cares to deal with. So while reading to my four-year-old, I go to get up from the chair and my hip does something funny and suddenly it hurts, badly. So I stretch it out, am conscious of every step, and stairs are nearly impossible. Almost like rope climbing the banister up the stairs. So I finally call Dr. John, my trusted and miraculous chiro-practor. It’s Saturday afternoon and he agrees to meet me at his office in 10 minutes. So I hobble into the office, explain my cold, my coughing and hip pain and lie down on the table.

Ten minutes later, after adjusting, tapping, pushing, and squeezing most of my body into alignment, he tells me what happened.

When you cough so severely that it bends you over your body, you go into crouch position. Crouch position is natural for crawling babies, but when an adult does it and suddenly straightens back up to walking stance, things can go awry. Evidently because I had been coughing so much the last week, my body got used to being in the crouched position. So when I stood up suddenly from the chair, the nerves and neurons that tell my legs to straighten out and walk weren’t communi-cating. Thus the result is a hip pain that hurts like hell.

I tell you this not to complain about my cold but to emphasize that chiropractic is more than back cracking. Our bodies are linked and com-municating within themselves at all times, and something as simple as a cold can reek havoc on other parts of your body that you never thought.

So if you have a chiropractor and a funny pain happens, make an appointment. One theory is that life has pains and that our bodies eventually work them out, but that is really the last thing you want to do. Regular chiropractic visits can correct and realign your body so that all systems are a go and stay that way.


Bend, Stretch & Dig … “You Grow Girl!”By Kim AyresSpring has sprung and you’re already rolling up your sleeves and digging into that long list of garden and yard chores that you’ve been waiting to tackle, while watching the snow melt away. You may also be painfully aware that you don’t have enough core strength and flexibility to spend the whole day bending, lifting, and twisting, as many of those tasks require. Planting, weeding, raking, and digging can take a toll on your body, and leave you with an aching back, sore knees or worse! Just as you wouldn’t enter a marathon without training, you shouldn’t go from ‘hiberna-tion mode’ to ‘wheelbarrow racing’ in the great outdoors without conditioning your body for the tasks ahead!

Here’s a set of simple exercises to help you ‘break ground’; warming up the spine, elongating muscles, and gently engaging the core as you breathe and move… Spend a few minutes before and after you ‘train among the tulips’ and you’ll be feeling as spry as a garden gnome!

Cow/Cat Strengthens/Stretches: Front/back torso

and abdominals Get down on all fours, wrists under

shoulders and knees under hips, extend tailbone back and heart and neck forward as you inhale. As you exhale, gently tighten stomach muscles, pulling navel into spine and rounding the back from head to tailbone. Flow between the two with your breaths.

Downward Dog Strengthens/Stretches: Upper body,

shoulders, and hamstringsFrom a push-up position, shift hips

back and tailbone to the sky. Melt heels towards earth. Keep fingers spread, chest moving towards thighs, neck neutral, and abdominals pulled in. Distribute weight evenly between arms & legs.

Standing Lateral StretchStrengthens/Stretches: Waist and

major back musclesFeet hip distance apart and knees

slightly bent. Lift arms overhead in line with your ears and interlace hands. Bend from waist leaning to left. Hold stomach in to keep the body in line. Repeat on right side.

Deep Squat Strengthens/

Stretches: Major muscles of hips, gluteus and legs

Start with feet hip distance or wider. Squat down as far as you can and keep feet flat on ground. To modify, widen stance and lessen the depth of the

squat. Rest elbows against inner thighs.

Supine Spinal Twist Strengthens/Stretches: Lower back,

torso, hips and shouldersLie on back and bring right knee into

chest. Left leg extended on floor. Bring right knee across body to left side while keeping shoulders on floor. Turn your head in the opposite direction of your knees, looking out over the fingertips. Inhale. Return to center. Repeat on the opposite side, exhaling as you pull knee across the body.

Bridge Strengthens/Stretches: Hamstrings,

abdominals, and chestLie on your back with palms facing

down. Bring soles of feet to floor, knees up, hip-width apart. Lift hips to the sky and heels into the ground. Try articulating the spine one vertebrae at a time up and down and your inhale & exhale.

Kim Landry-Ayres is the owner of Mission Accomplished Personal Training & Nutrition Consulting Studio of Eau Claire, WI. She is a nationally certified personal fitness trainer, post rehab conditioning specialist, group fitness, yoga & pilates instructor, Thai yoga body worker and nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.


By Bill Brophy

MADISON, WI – If you have been caught up in the Olympic

spirit this year after the Winter Games in Sochi, there is an outlet for you. It is called the Wisconsin Senior Games.

“Games Worth Playing” is the slo-gan for the Dane County-based events which are held every June. For thirty years now, these games have been played and all involve athletes fifty years old and over. There is a sport for many types of athlete, some more competitive than others. Now there is no luge or bobsledding, like in Sochi. But you can compete in events like basketball and volleyball.

And don’t let age deter you or serve as an excuse for not getting involved. Last year’s Wisconsin Senior Games attracted nearly 500 competitors in 19 events. The oldest was 103-year-old Gottfried Schmit who bowled in the event at Ten Pin Alley in Fitchburg.

“Schmit will be 104 this year and still drives and bowls in the WSG bowling events,” said Bob Frambs, a vice president on the Senior Games Board who is active in overseeing the bowling compeititon. “He usually drives himself to the daytime events, but has some one bring him to the

night time events.“I think,” Frambs added, “that he

has always bowled a score of over 100 in every game for the past five years with a high game in the 170s. He has been fun to talk to and tells about some of his past bowling achievements. Suffice to say - still bowling and driving at the young age of 104 is really amazing.”

Now you don’t have to be a cen-tenarian to compete in the Senior Games, which will be held May 31-June 11 this year.

Do you regularly beat your neigh-bor in Wii bowling? Does your

spouse like to run? Do your buddies play pool. Then there is a local event for you. The Wisconsin Senior Games is a smorgasbord of activities for the recreational athlete – from bridge to bocce ball, softball to track and field.

Competition takes place at some of the finest athletic venues in Dane County. Dave Vandermeulen, the legendary University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s basketball coach, regularly competes in the Senior Games’ basketball event and his team has used the local competition in the past as a stepping stone to compete in the National Senior Games, which, incidentally, next will be held in Min-neapolis in July, 2015.

The Wisconsin Senior Games has a proud history.

Senior Olympics began in 1983 in the city of Middleton. A group of older adults decided to hold a two day event in June of 1984 for local residents. Activities included track, golf, softball, basketball free throw and even a balloon toss. As the program grew, the need to expand became clear. In 1988, the Middleton Senior Center Director attended the National Senior Olympics Confer-ence in St. Louis Missouri. With the knowledge and ideas brought back


from the conference, Middleton Se-nior Olympics became Dane County Senior Games.

Madison School and Community Recreation (MSCR), a department of the Madison School District, played an instrumental role in the expansion. Prior to 1989, an advisory commit-tee was responsible for setting up and conducting the Games. After the 1988 Games, it was decided to form a Board of Directors representing the areas of expertise needed to guide the additional workload. In 1988, the first Board of Directors chose Chad Thom/ MSCR as their President. Also in 1989, Jill Kranz, Director of the Middleton Senior Center, was presented the State of Wisconsin Assembly Citation for emotional and leadership support to the Senior Games since 1986, and for her role in expansion of the Games from Middleton to all of Dane County.

In 1990, the Senior Games expand-ed from one city to nine sites and participation increased 500 percent. Two days of games had become a week-long event. New sites included Belleville, De Forest, Madison, Mon-roe, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Oregon and Verona.

In 1992, Dane County Senior Olympic Games were held in con-

junction with the Adult Day Care Centers Senior Olympic Day, adding 200 to 300 new participants. McFar-land and Fitchburg communities were also added to the Dane County Senior Olympic Games list of participating sites.

In 1993, 26 separate events were offered. Over the years, events were added or deleted as interests changed. For instance, in 1997, the age limit for participation was lowered from 55+ to 50+.

In 1999, Dane County Senior Olympic Games went through another name change and became the Wiscon-sin Senior Games to encourage and increase participation from outside Dane County. There was no resi-dency requirement and out- of- state individuals and teams were eligible to compete as was the case in previous years. This still holds true today.

In 2008, the Senior Games cel-ebrated its 25th Anniversary and new events were added, including bocce ball, Wii Bowling, pickleball, and co-ed volleyball.

Online registration for the Wis-consin Senior Games became avail-able in 2009 and in 2013, President Reggie Hennessey oversaw the Senior Games' thirty-year anniversary celebration with competition in every-thing from swimming to table tennis and from euchre to track and field.

This year’s Wisconsin Senior Games in June figures to be the best yet. To join the fun, you can register on-line at the Games’ website (www.wiseniorgames.org) or sign up by getting a registration form from the Games’ registration book which are available at health clubs, bowling lanes and YMCAs. The deadline to sign up is mid-May.


For over 30 years, osteopathic physician and researcher John E. Upledger, DO, OMM, has been a proponent of using the rhythm of another body system – the craniosacral system – to enhance body functioning, and help alleviate pain and discomfort.

The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium, down to the sacrum, or tailbone area.

Since this vital system influences the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord, an imbalance or restriction in it could potentially cause any number of sensory, motor, or neu-rological disabilities. These problems could include chronic pain, eye difficulties, scoliosis, motor-coordination impairments, learning disabilities, and other health challenges.

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle method of detec-tion and correction that encourages your own natural healing mechanisms to dissipate these negative effects of stress on your central nervous system.

Craniosacral Therapy incorporates a whole-person approach to healing including the deeper connections of mind, body, and spirit. It is an effective form of treatment for a wide range of illnesses helping to create the optimal conditions for health, encouraging vitality, and facilitating a sense of well-being. It is suitable for people of all ages including babies, children, and the elderly, and can be effective in acute or chronic cases.

CranioSacral Therapy can support the healing and recov-

ery process in a way few other therapies can. It is extremely gentle and non-invasive. This therapy allows the patient to enter a deep relaxation in which the body does all its healing work, by releasing the tension and restrictions in the tissues.

The subject of CranioSacral Therapy and strokes is an in-depth topic. There are different varieties of strokes, ranging from hemorrhage to an embolism or thrombosis (hardening of the arteries). In any case, poor blood circulation anywhere in the body increases one’s vulnerability to strokes. The key is improving blood circulation throughout the body and to sup-port recovery from the stroke and to ward off another stroke in the future. Optimal results can be obtained if the patient begins treatment within one or two months after the stroke and when cleared by the physician. CranioSacral Therapy has been effective over a wide range of health problems associ-ated with pain and dysfunction. The result is a central nervous system free of restrictions and a body that’s able to return to its greatest level of performance.

Jean Kowalski LMT, ATP®, owner of Colors of Joy Healing Arts Center, has over 16+ years of experience in alternative and integrative healing. Jean brings to the community a wealth of wisdom and healing knowledge, by offering individual and group healing sessions, work-shops, and gatherings.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy for StrokesBy Jean Kowalski

Stroke Warning Signs:


Healing the Body through Foot Reflexology MassageBy Michael Ojer, MSOM L.Ac

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. In Chinese Medicine, the feet are like windows to

the body. Our feet are a map of the entire body, and re-flex points are the way to treat the entire body through reflexology. The feet are a complex structure of bones, muscles, and connective tissue full of blood and nerve supply. We are on our feet so much of our day, it only makes sense to give the feet a little extra attention.

Reflexology foot massage is an effective healing art. The therapeutic effect has its basis in Chinese Medicine by using qi or energy flowing through the body. Re-flexologists, acupuncturists, and massage therapists are concerned with the internal body energy as a healing

and balancing tool. By promoting the body’s own natural healing powers through Qi, reflexology is of vital importance to whole health. This is comprised of body, mind, and spirit. The object of holistic treatment is to induce a state of balance

and harmony throughout the entire organism.In Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, health is seen as

the harmonious movement of energy through the body. Indian yogis call it prana, the Japanese call it shinto, and the Chinese call it qi. In the West, we translate it as a vital life force. Qi is flowing through meridians, very similar to blood circulation or nerve pathways. When the practitioner applies pressure to specific reflex points on the feet, this sends a signal to its corresponding point in the body using qi as its guide.

The simplicity of reflexology treatment is the power to it efficacy. No high-tech equipment is needed. A practitioner with the proper training, intuitive sensitiv-ity, and a strong pair of hands can ease pain and suffer-ing, stress, and fatigue, and bring about whole health. Examining reflex points on the feet will establish which parts of the body are out of balance and therefore not working correctly. Treatment can be given to correct these imbalances and return the body to an optimum

state of health. Relaxation is the first step to healing the body. Anyone who has ever had his or her feet rubbed knows the power it has to relax, reinvigorate, and restore.

With foot reflex massage, health problems can be detected early and treatment with other Chinese medi-cine modalities can be given to prevent more serious symptoms from developing. Chinese medicine aims to treat the root of the problem, not just the symptom. Reflexology can treat circulation disorders, endocrine imbalances, pain, emotional diseases, and many other conditions. In essence, foot reflexology can be used to diagnose and treat many of the problems we face in our stressful and busy lives. It is important to take time for our feet, to treat our feet to the health benefits they deserve.

To start your healing journey, just place one foot in front of the other, and step into Madison’s Family Wellness. Our approach to medicine starts with a compassionate attitude toward health and deep knowledge of the connection of body, mind, and spirit. Madison’s Family Wellness is a non-profit acupuncture and massage clinic. We are located conveniently with downtown and Hilldale locations. Please call with any questions at 608-358-2068 or to schedule an appointment.

608-223-31004142 Monona Drive Madison, WI 53716

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A practitioner with the proper training, intuitive sensitivity, and a strong pair of hands can ease pain and suffering, stress, and fatigue, and bring about whole health.


By Maria Carlton, Marketing, Coventry Village Retirement Community

Making the move to a retirement community is no small decision. It can take years of planning and

careful deliberation to determine when the time is right. And once you give yourself the green light to proceed, it’s a milestone that signals the start of a time to relax, set worries aside, and think only of you. As the saying goes, “Now that you’ve arrived, you deserve the best!” The move to retirement living also signifies a lifestyle change that will carry you through many years and new stages of your life. While aging is inevitable, we usu-ally have no way of knowing how we’ll fare—physi-cally or mentally—as those golden years progress. For this reason, it’s important to consider the transparency of the levels of care at the retirement community you choose to call home.

Exactly what does that mean? Most retirement com-munities offer a continuing care environment where residents can easily transition from one level of care to the next, if and when the need arises. Typically, this lifestyle spectrum ranges from totally independent liv-ing to an assisted care setting, skilled nursing care, or memory care, ideally with each transition providing a seamless experience.

The progression may go something like this: An in-dividual may begin retirement with complete indepen-dence, living in a condominium where little or no spe-

cial attention is required. As needs change, the day may arrive when it becomes necessary to leave the condo and settle into an independent apartment where more services and amenities are readily available, such as dining, housekeeping, transportation, and some degree of medical attention. Eventually, declining physical and/or mental health may precipitate the need for the more highly enhanced services of assisted, skilled, or memory care and, yes, another move. In these settings, enhanced care provides assistance with all the activities associated with daily living, from personal hygiene to medication administration.

Transferring from one level of care to the next can often be difficult, even traumatic. It’s hard for many seniors to accept the fact that they need more assis-tance. That’s why the transparency, or seamlessness, of a move can make a world of difference to the well-being of the individual experi-encing it, as well as to the peace of mind of concerned family members. In other words, minimizing disrup-tions and making residents feel welcome, safe, and “at home” are vital to a success-ful transition at every stage of retirement living. Quality supportive services ensure that’s exactly what takes place, so make sure those ser-vices are second-to-none at the community you choose for yourself or your loved one.

Take a Fresh Look at New PrioritiesThe continuum of care at Coventry Village Retirement

Community features lifestyle options for every need and taste from independent condominiums and apartment homes to assisted living and memory care. Every Coventry residence is stylishly appointed and brimming with life-enriching services, amenities, activities, and care to ensure a seamless transition at every stage of retirement. Dedicated to working with mature adults, the staff at Coventry Village is happy to guide your selection of safe, comfortable, carefree, and dignified housing to ensure the perfect choice for you or your loved one. Talk with them any time you need assistance with retirement housing plans. Their expertise will help you take a fresh look at your new priorities. And visit the Coventry Village website to learn more, www.coventryvillagewi.com or call 608-829-0603.

Choosing a Retirement CommunityConsider Transparency of the Levels of Care

As needs change, the day may arrive when it becomes necessary to leave the condo and settle into an independent apartment where more services and amenities are readily available.


Ways to Help WanderingBy Emily D’ Angelo, Executive Director at Azura Memory Care

Wandering is one of the most common symptoms exhibited by those living with memory loss.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6 out of 10 people with memory loss will wander outside of the home and become lost. If not found within 24 hours, up to half of those who wander risk serious injury or death. In some, episodes of wandering can last for a few days, while in others it can go on for months or even years.

After this long, snowy, cold winter most people crave to be outside. Therefore, it is no wonder that the warmer Spring breezes bring on an increase in wandering for those with memory loss. Wander-ing can be brought on by a feeling of anxiety or

signal a change in the progression of the disease or an infection. It can be one of the most frustrating, scary and draining times for the caregiver, as they feel the need to always be on high alert. However, if you take a step back and look at wandering as simply the disease trying to speak for your loved one, it may help you un-derstand and provide the patience needed to enter into their wandering world.

For example, every afternoon your eighty-year-old mother begins pacing and trying to leave the house. She says that she needs to meet the kids at the bus. Our first reaction may be to explain to Mom that her kids are grown and that she doesn’t need to meet the bus anymore, but this may further confuse and upset her.

In reality what the disease is actually expressing for her is that she has the desire to be needed and valued. Our job is to meet that need. Our job is to use her personal history and try to relate to her feelings of anxiety. In addition, we need to enter her reality and possibly engage her in a conversation about her kids, then slowly refocus the conversation towards other topics. You could also consider going with her for a walk to help release her anxiety or find something else she enjoys like listening to her favorite song. You could also bring Mom a chair so that she can sit and wait for

the bus, again providing her with another activity to do while she waits and thereby changing her focus natu-rally to another activity.

However, if your loved one is exiting outdoors, please consider investing in alarms for all of the doors for your home, enrolling them in the Medic Alert + Safe Return program offered by the Alzheimer’s Asso-ciation and investigate secure homes in your area, like Azura Memory Care, that specialize in caring for those with memory loss.

In addition, we are asking for everyone’s support in advocating for the Silver Alert law recently passed by the State of Wisconsin House of Representatives that would build upon the success of Wisconsin’s Amber Alert system and allow for its use in finding missing at-risk el-derly adults. Currently this law is still waiting to be heard in the State Senate. Please take a minute to call to your State Senator and ask that they help push this important legislation to the floor and to our communities.

Together we can ensure that all in our community remain safe throughout this disease process!

Emily D’Angelo is the Executive Director for Azura Memory Care of Stoughton. Azura Memory Care offers a unique model of memory care services and programs for those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. Azura believes in the importance of transforming the culture of care through transformational programming and educational outreach. If you would like to learn more, please contact Emily at 680-873-8333 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Wandering can be brought on by a feeling of anxiety or signal a change in the progression of the disease or an infection.


Bob is a local eighty-year-old farmer who has been showing signs of dementia for about nine years.

He still lives on the family farm, next door to his son, Tim, and his teenage grandchildren. Recently, Bob’s family noticed that he was much weaker and could no longer walk on his own. He had developed a severe lean, and his doctor suspected he’d had a stroke. Bob’s supportive family had done their best to keep him com-fortable and really wanted to let him live out his life at home on his farm. But they needed to know more about caring for him.

Does Bob Sound Like Someone You Know?Bob’s doctor suggested hospice services, but while

his family realized Bob’s health was declining, they didn’t feel ready for hospice. They were open to other ideas, including discontinuing some of Bob’s many medications, which he often resisted taking. Bob was referred to Agrace for a palliative care consultation to explore other ways to help him and his caregivers.

What Is Palliative Care?Palliative (pal-lee-uh-tiv) care is supportive physi-

cal and emotional care that addresses your discomfort, symptoms, and stress to help you feel better and cope better. This specialized care can be provided at any

time during a serious or chronic illness. While your doctor works to manage the progression of your illness, adding palliative care to your medical treatment may help ease your troubling symptoms and address your worries.

While hospice programs have a common core of ser-vices, palliative care programs can vary more. Agrace offers two unique palliative care services: Agrace Care Navigation is a “coaching” service that can help people manage a serious illness more confidently at home with ongoing guidance and education from a registered nurse. The monthly cost of the service is often offset by the savings that can occur by reducing the need for emergency department visits or repeat hospitalizations. Agrace also provides in-home palliative care consulta-tions with a nurse practitioner to identify the medical, emotional, and social issues that are impacting the patient’s quality of life. This is what Bob received, and the service is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances.

How Is Palliative Care Different from Hospice?

While hospice is for people with a life-limiting ill-ness and a prognosis of six months or less, anyone with

Palliative Care: It’s about Living Better with Serious Illness


a serious illness can receive palliative care—even while they’re receiving aggressive curative treatment.

How Can Palliative Care Help?Here’s how Agrace helped Bob and his family: When

Pat Lohr, an Agrace nurse practitioner, visited the fam-ily, Bob did not seem to be in pain, but he had periods of agitation. Pat observed some issues that triggered Bob’s anxiety, such as background noise. She shared her observations with the family and suggested they watch for other triggers that could be upsetting Bob. She also noticed that Bob had some troubling physical symptoms that made him uncomfortable.

Pat explained dementia progression to help the family know what to expect. She also gave them information about community services that could be helpful. Bob’s son asked Pat to return in a couple of weeks, to make sure they were “on the right track.”

After the assessment visit, Pat contacted Bob’s doc-tor, who appreciated the update, because Bob had been unable to go to the clinic since his most recent decline.

The doctor agreed with Pat’s recommendations and called Tim to let him know about the changes they had discussed.

Helping the Patient and the FamilyDuring Pat’s follow-up visit, she found that Bob’s

troublesome symptoms had resolved as a result of her recommendations. The family understood that Bob had stabilized at a new, decreased level of functioning. Bob remains apparently pain free and is increasingly content now that his family has learned how to approach him in a way that keeps him feeling calm. He is taking fewer medi-cations and has stopped fighting his family about this.

While Bob is doing well now, Tim believes he’ll need to ask for help sometime in the next six months—and now he has the resources he needs to make that call.

*Patient’s name and some identifying details have been changed for privacy.

Please help us spread the word that living better with serious illness is possible. If you want to make a referral or ask questions, call Agrace Palliative Care at (800) 930-2770.

Safety Devices for Active SeniorsThe sun is shining, the snow is (hopefully) gone,

and the stir-craziness of winter is wearing off – it’s time to get outside and enjoy spring!

Gardening, walks in the park, and even trips to the grocery store can come with a little more peace of mind if you use a personal emergency response device. Mobile alert response systems are no longer just for at home (think of the “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials); units are now available to use over cellu-lar networks, making subscribers’ locations identifiable no matter where they are.

If you’re thinking, “Nah, I don’t need one of those. That’s just for ‘old people’.” Think again. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns one out of every three adults age sixty-five and older falls each year. Of those people, 20 to 30 percent suffer injuries, and many people who fall, whether they’re injured or not, develop a fear of falling, which may cause them to limit their activities.

So whether you’re catching up with friends or taking

an evening stroll, have more confidence when ventur-ing outside of your home. Fall detection, water resis-tance (think swimming), and conference calling are features to look for in an emergency response device to help keep you safe and secure.

Don’t let spring and summer pass you by. Because remember, winter is just around the corner!

Home Health United is a nonprofit organization providing a variety of comprehensive home care services, including personal emergency response system, home health, hospice, palliative care, home medical equipment, infusion pharmacy, immunizations, Meals On Wheels, and SAFE at Home safety assessments. For more information please visit HomeHealthUnited.org or call 800-924-2273.


The Winter of Our DiscontentBy James E. Boulter, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director, Watershed Institute for Collaborative Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

As I write, we’re in the depths of the

coldest winter some of us have ever experienced.1

There’s been talk about whether those arctic blasts, felt as far south as Florida, finally signified the end of the raging battle of public opinion over the validity of climate change. Some felt that the cold weather they experienced couldn’t possibly be consistent with global warming as they understood it, while others exploited it to reinforce their conclusion that human-induced climate change was a fraudulent hoax.2

Meanwhile, many accepted explanations of the shift-ing polar vortex as another example in a growing list

of extreme weather events, escalating their sense of a changing climate.

So which is it?It is important to recognize that weather is necessar-

ily personal—something we experience, and thus inher-ently local. For example, while we froze in the Upper Midwest, high temperatures set records along the west coast of North America all the way up to the northern slope of Alaska.3

Even as severe droughts threaten California,4 record-breaking rains flooded England5 and record-breaking high temperatures scorched Australia. In contrast, climate is continental or global in scale—we measure it by means of satellites or extensive networks of moni-toring stations; those data indicate that global aver-age temperature for January was the fourth highest on record, more than 2°F higher than the twentieth century

average over land.6 In order to quantify the increase in thermal energy of the

planet resulting from increased concentra-tions of greenhouse gases,

it is necessary include not only measurements made on land, but also those at sea, and below the ocean surface.7 And finally, it is crucial to focus on long-term changes because climate varies over

decades, never seasons. So the unsatisfying

answer is, “neither—not from a single winter in

any one part of the world.” But we can ask other questions

that result in a resounding, “Yes; human activities (primarily extraction

and burning of fossil fuels) have substantially warmed the lower atmosphere and the upper ocean.”8 This has been felt most acutely and most notably in the northern polar region, where we have observed the dra-matic loss of sea ice and land-based glaciers, as visual-ized in James Balog’s compelling 2012 documentary, Chasing Ice.9

But is there any link between climate change and this extraordinarily cold winter?

It turns out that there’s a plausible and worrying connection. The polar vortex, a well-established annual phenomenon in both hemispheres, forms around the arctic after the sun goes down at the winter solstice. As the air cools and sinks, it begins to rotate like a spin-ning top. The strength of the vortex is determined by the difference in temperature between the pole and the “mid-latitudes.” Decrease that difference by dispropor-tionately warming the poles, and the top begins to slow its rotation. For the toy as well as the vortex, that leads to reduced stability as it wobbles and eventually falls over. This time, it fell right on North America, a rare although not unheard-of weather pattern.10

But warming poles mean much more to us than a particularly harsh winter. Much clearer connections can be drawn to a range of effects that amplify the warming


directly caused by human emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. For instance, as the bright ice and snow of the far north become less extensive, the planet’s darkened surface absorbs still more light energy, leading to still-faster warming and melting.11 And as vast regions of permafrost thaw and “methane clathrates” beneath the Arctic Ocean begin to break down, both release additional greenhouse gases.12

Some of you may worry about this or other trends in the global climate record; however, I’m sorry to say that chances are, you’re probably less worried than the scientists who study climate change!13 Most of us who share concerns for the climate future of the planet suffer from a sense of futility leading to apathy or may feel overwhelmed to the point of paralysis. I’ve given many talks on the science and anticipated impacts of climate change over the past fifteen years or so, giv-ing what I felt to be impassioned presentations about dispassionate numbers and graphs. As a result, I believe that I’ve raised awareness, and maybe also concerns and fears, but probably not many hopes.

What are concerned citizens to believe and how are we to act in the face of an issue of such magnitude?

Recently I’ve discovered a vital, potent source of hope – a potential remedy to that apathy and paralysis. Like Dr. James Hansen,14 the preeminent climate scien-tist who first testified before Congress about the dangers of human-caused global warming twenty-five years ago; like former Republican representative from South Caro-lina, Bob Inglis;15 like George Schultz, former Secretary of State to President Reagan;16 and—yes—like former Vice President and climate activist Al Gore,17 I have become an advocate for a market-based, “fee-and-div-idend” solution to cut fossil fuel-related carbon emis-sions, and forestall the most serious climate outcomes.

What is fee-and-dividend and why should it work?

More than 97 percent of scientists who publish in related fields agree that climate change is happening and primarily caused by human activity;18 similarly, the consensus view of greater than 90 percent of econo-mists across the ideological spectrum is that the most effective way to reduce fossil fuel use and the associ-ated carbon dioxide emissions is by imposing a tax on carbon.19 This may also be described as a “fee and

dividend” policy. The advantages to this approach are too numerous to list in this article, but include three key characteristics:20

■ Implementation is rapid, simple and efficient, working by means of market forces rather than com-plex regulatory structures and needing to be imposed at fewer than 1000 points throughout the economy – wherever fossil fuels are extracted or imported.

■ The fee would be “revenue neutral,” preventing any substantial increase in the size of government while protecting he most vulnerable people from resulting increases to goods and services by refunding the entire amount collected as an annual dividend.

■ It is highly effective, imposing an initial cost of $15 per ton of carbon dioxide emissions and increas-ing by $10 per ton per year. This provides a steadily increasing price that discourages fossil fuel use while giving people and industries the time and resources to change. By extension, it incentivizes development and implementation of renewable and efficient energy technologies.

These characteristics are specifically intended to ap-peal to a wide range of legislators, both Democrat and Republican, so that such legislation has a better chance of passage, while retaining its effectiveness.

Is there any good news?Yes – science can refine our understanding of causes

and attributions and improve predictions of future cli-mate scenarios. Better still, it may also provide exciting new technologies for improved energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, which may provide many people hope.21 However, these potential solutions are often slow or entirely unable to enter the market where they can be effective. Why is this? Consider that the full cost fossil fuels is never paid by the industry, at the pump, or on our energy bill; rather, it is assessed in increased healthcare costs and poor health outcomes, experienced in environmental damage, global insecu-rity and conflict, and transferred to our children and grandchildren.22 If that weren’t enough, greener, cleaner energy alternatives simply cannot compete with estab-lished, mature technologies and energy sources whose dominance is reinforced by existing cultural expecta-tions, subsidies, business models, power structures, and infrastructural investments.23 In other words, the playing field is uneven now but this strategy is a way to right it. And by doing this, individuals, families, gov-


ernments, businesses and industries will be empowered to make changes in how they use and invest in energy that will help to avoid the worst impacts of a changing climate.

If this proposed solution also gives you hope, or if you’re interested to learn how a non-partisan organiza-tion, comprised almost exclusively of volunteers from across the continent and beyond, seeks to create the political will for a stable climate, visit our website at http://citizensclimatelobby.org/.

1 www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/coldest-arctic-out-break-1990s-midwest-south-east-201401032www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/01/06/left_creates_polar_vortex_to_make_you_think_winter_is_caused_by_global_warming3 www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/record-warmth-in-alaska-contrasts-cold-wave-in-eastern-us4 http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA5 www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/news/2014/uk-storms-and-floods6 www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2014/1/7 www.argo.ucsd.edu/About_Argo.html8 www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20140121/9 www.chasingice.com/10 www.climatecentral.org/news/polar-vortex-in-u.s.-may-be-valid-example-of-global-warming-1692711 http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/seaice/processes/thermody-namic_melt.html12 www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/methane-hydrates-and-contemporary-climate-change-24314790; http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/mar/05/permafrost-climate-carbon-emissions13 http://poll.visionprize.com/14 www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2013/20131022_David-VsGoliath.pdf15 www.energyandenterprise.com/16 www.economonitor.com/dolanecon/2013/07/01/why-con-servatives-should-love-a-carbon-tax-and-why-some-of-them-do/17 http://blog.algore.com/2013/03/time_has_come_for_a_car-bon_tax.html18 www.sciencemag.org/content/306/5702/1686.full#ref-9; http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/06/04/1003187107.abstract19 http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/09/rogoff-joins-pigou-club.html; http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/up-front/posts/2013/02/07-carbon-tax-morris20 http://citizensclimatelobby.org/about-us/faq/21 www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-path-to-sustainable-energy-by-2030/22 www.epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities/economics/scc.html23 www.eli.org/research-report/estimating-us-government-subsidies-energy-sources-2002-2008

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provides a light tingly feeling. NOTE: Product is now a larger size and boxed rather than wrapped in paper as shown in photo. 4 oz. bar $7.00naturalbeautysoaps.net

Four Elements ProductsSandalwood & Ginseng SoapMy most popular oil, a lover’s blend, is now combined in a soap with the same exotic aromatics; sandal-wood, cin-namon, and rose. Ground ginseng roots are added to provide a slight exfoliate quality. $5.00fourelementsherbals.com

Chickweed Anti-Itch SoapRelief at last. Finally, an anti-itch soap for poison ivy, oak sumac, and insect bites! $5.00fourelementsherbals.com

Kiss My Face Peace SoapKiss My Face continues its tradi-tion of social consciousness and support of organizations that aim to make the world a healthier, happier place. The new cas-tile soap is formulated with 100 percent natural ingre-dients including olive, coconut and jojoba oils. Castile soap is a safe and gentle alterna-tive to traditional soaps that often contain harsh ingredients. Available in the follow-

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Daddy-O ShampooMark Constantine is a master trichologist. He made Daddy-O to suit those with grey or blonde hair, who particularly want their hair to be brighter and healthier looking. An infusion of lemons and seaweed gives softness and shine, while the violet leaf, rose, and bergamot oils create a scent that stays on your hair through-out the day.Work a small amount into a lather and rinse thoroughly; follow up with a LUSH conditioner for soft tresses.3.3 fl. Oz. $9.95 lushusa.com

Go Chemical Free!When it comes to buying natural and chemical free products, it’s always great to look locally in addition to national brands. Here are a few of both choices to help you green your shower a bit more.

Vermont Soap Pet Shampoo USDA Certified Organic. A safe and nontoxic alternative to detergent and chemical cleaners for our furry friends. This wonderful product is perfect for sensitive pets. vermontsoap.com

Beauty Without Cruelty offers a full range of natural vegetarian cosmetics with No animal ingredients and no animal testing. $8.29amazon.com


Get Off the Beaten Path with a Group TourBy Jamie Pacton

My in-laws are both in their sixties and will retire later

this year. After decades of the nine-to-five grind, they are eager to see the world and have adventures they’ve always dreamed of.

“We’re going to paint, rent an RV, and head north to see the North-ern Lights, visit all the National Parks, take dancing lessons, visit the shooting range, and even start a blog about our travels,” my father-in-law told me during a recent visit. “This is our time to try out all the things we’ve always been meaning to do.”

One aspect of travel that’s espe-cially important to them is “getting off the beaten path.”

“I’ve spent many years in air-ports, corporate hotels, and meeting rooms. I’ve seen very little of the countries I’ve visited at the local level,” said my father-in-law. “We really want to see local culture, talk to people who live and work in the places we visit, and get off the beaten path.”

Curiously, though, when my in-laws hit the road, they plan on making all their own travel plans. I

suggested that joining a group tour might save them time and hassle. And yet, like many active Boomers, they just don’t consider themselves “group tour types.” But what does that mean today?

With so many boomers ready to travel, tour operators have to be sensitive to this resistance and adjust their approach, says Steve Uelner, President of Country Travel DISCOVERIES in Elm Grove.

“I’m fifty-two and consider myself an independent traveler,” Uelner notes, sympathizing. “But, when I took one of our tours as a regular passenger recently, I found the week to be relaxing, invigorat-ing, educational…and just plain fun!”

It’s not only the relief of “leaving the driving, and all other logis-tics, to someone else,” he says. “I experienced first-hand many unique aspects of our trips that I wouldn’t have been able to arrange on my own. Listening to knowledgeable speakers, enjoying scrumptious meals exclusively prepared for our group, stretching out in luxurious modern coaches, visiting private family homes, farms, and business-es in small communities, getting insight into local ways of life.”

In fact, the group tour industry offers a diverse array of opportuni-ties for my in-laws to get “off-the-beaten-path” and enjoy access to the kind of local-level experiences they seek but would be unlikely to find on their own.

Country Travel DISCOVER-IES’ travelers, for example, may eat a hearty, homemade, farm-fresh breakfast in the home of a welcom-ing Amish family in Iowa. They meet local farmers, brewers, and craftspeople in the Black Forest and

In fact, the group tour industry offers a diverse array of opportunities for my in-laws to get “off-the-beaten-path” and enjoy access to the kind of local-level experiences they seek but would be unlikely to find on their own.


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Nuremberg, Germany. They con-verse with Maine lobstermen while dining on the day’s catch at a tradi-tional New England bake. Or, take an early morning trail ride down to breakfast at an authentic, family dude ranch in Bandera, Texas.

Trafalgar Tours lets music fans talk to a Beatles expert in Liver-pool, England, or learn about Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and other Sixties icons from a local expert in San Francisco. ToursByLocals.com takes tourists behind the scenes in

Maui to talk to hula dancers, local farmers, surfers, slack key guitar-ists, and others.

A train buff himself, Uelner ob-serves that joining a tour can often free you up to explore by many dif-ferent modes. His company’s Alas-ka & the Yukon tour, for instance, lets you see the “Last Frontier” by plane, small catamaran, double-decker train, oceanliner, Explorer Coach, air tram, and helicopter. Another specialty company, Beau Wine Tours, offers a romantic (and

safe) way to explore wine country via its Napa Valley Wine Train.

These are just a few of the amaz-ing travel options that today’s tour companies offer folks like my in-laws. They’re working hard to plan local adventures that offer you unique insights, unforgettable expe-riences, and surprising adventures. So, before you write off group travel, remember that tour compa-nies know you want to head off the beaten path–and may be your best bet for getting you there.

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Healing BirdsBy Jim Knickelbine , Wisconsin Society for Ornithology and Woodland Dunes Nature Center

Most of us seldom get enough respite from our incredibly busy lives. There are so many activi-

ties that are worthy of our time that in managing them it is easy to neglect noticing the world around us, or the act of taking time to appreciate what we have. It seems selfish to enjoy the beauty of the day when work, chil-dren, and good causes demand our attention constantly.

The little joys become precious. For me, sitting at the kitchen table, mug of tea in hand, watching the activity of the bird feeders outside the big window is a significant guilty pleasure, although it shouldn’t be. Our cat, sunning himself on his carpeted spot on the windowsill, doesn’t appear to share that guilt, and per-haps he understands the world better than I. This cold January morning, there are more than 70 birds visiting the feeders by my count. None of them are particularly exotic or colorful save the usual cardinals and blue

jays, but their numbers, activity, and constant interac-tions are so interesting. There is no need for television this morning.

After a while I do look to the television, and find a program which considers nature as art, displaying scenes of forests, streams, and shorelines without narra-tion or music, but with natural sounds. My first reac-tion is “What a beautiful place, I wish I were there.” But with a warm house and all the conveniences that

Birds draw us outdoors. They are interesting, intelligent animals that are often brightly colored and easy to appreciate. They inhabit all the habitats around us, and take us to beautiful places to seek them out. Watching birds makes us aware of the real world around us, and birders can take their interest in many directions.


go with it, why would I wish to be outside? For many of us, there seems to be a need to do so, a need that must be realized frequently. Richard Louv, in his book “Last Child in the Woods”, makes the case that many of us, especially children, have a deficit of experience in nature. Not programmed activities, but the freedom to explore and discover. He cites interesting university studies that measure the effects of nature on people: how spending time in a natural setting helps children with ADHD problems relax and focus, how workers who are able to see trees from their workstation have higher satisfaction and more enthusiasm for their work, how people who are assigned to relax by spending time outdoors perform better than those who watched TV or read a book, and more. Time spent in nature seems to be restorative.

Birds draw us outdoors. They are interesting, intelli-gent animals that are often brightly colored and easy to appreciate. They inhabit all the habitats around us, and take us to beautiful places to seek them out. Watching birds makes us aware of the real world around us, and birders can take their interest in many directions. Some just enjoy seeing the birds out their windows. Others

passionately keep lists and try to amass great num-bers of species seen. Still others enjoy photographing birds, or gardening with the intent of creating habitat that benefits them. And others enjoy contributing the observations so that scientists can use the data to study bird populations and movements through many citizen-science projects.

Whatever the reason, we benefit from an apprecia-tion for birds. And if we appreciate them, we will want them to thrive, and will tend to take care of the land in a responsible way. About 400 species of birds live in or visit Wisconsin, and they can help us help ourselves.

Jim is a native of Manitowoc, where he grew up in a rural setting along the Manitowoc River spending many hours exploring and learning to appreciate nature. He attended the University of Wisconsin- Manitowoc and the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and was fortunate to have mentors who were passionate about nature and its conservation, one of whom was a student of Aldo Leopold. In his spare time he began volunteering at Woodland Dunes Nature Center and was later hired as a naturalist. He later became Executive Director.

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