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2O23<br />
December<br />
For your Health, Wealth,<br />
and Good Times!<br />
NEVADA’S MOST POWERFUL SENIOR MEDIA RESOURCE<br />
You’re Never<br />
Too Old<br />
To Believe<br />
In Santa<br />
CURIOUS ABOUT<br />
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET?<br />
SEE PAGES 2 AND 3 FOR<br />
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO<br />
KNOW<br />
LAURA HARBISON<br />
702-777-<strong>12</strong>34<br />
WWW.LAURAHARBISONREALESTATE.COM<br />
NEVADA LICENSE 8.0026537.LLC
2<br />
December 2023
3
2880 BICENTENNIAL PARKWAY<br />
SUITE 100-244<br />
HENDERSON, NEVADA 89044<br />
702/251-4441<br />
www.thevegasvoice.net<br />
www.vegasvoicetv.net<br />
OUR 20th YEAR<br />
PUBLISHER/EDITOR<br />
PRESIDENT<br />
VICE PRESIDENT<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR<br />
NIGHT LIFE EDITOR<br />
TRAVEL EDITOR<br />
RADIO HOST<br />
VIDEO HOST<br />
GRAPHICS EDITOR<br />
VIDEO PRODUCTION<br />
PRESIDENT EMERITUS<br />
Dan Roberts<br />
dan@thevegasvoice.net<br />
Rana Goodman<br />
ranathevegasvoice@aol.com<br />
Dianne David<br />
dianne@thevegasvoice.net<br />
Bill Caserta<br />
bcaserta76@gmail.com<br />
Jonny Bird<br />
Sam Wagmeister<br />
Stu Cooper<br />
Rich Natole / Jon Lindquist<br />
Tony Arias<br />
Michael Roberts<br />
Jason Roberts<br />
Ray Sarbacker<br />
OUR FANTASTIC COLUMNISTS<br />
Pat Alexander<br />
Adrea Barrera<br />
John Bielun<br />
Liz Breier<br />
Dianne/Burt Davis<br />
Chuck Dean<br />
Jane Dow<br />
Jan Fair<br />
Howard Galin<br />
Susan Goldfein<br />
Linda Gomez<br />
Ali Guggenheim<br />
Dianne Hahn<br />
Dan Hyde<br />
Lisa Kemmerling<br />
Pat Landaker<br />
Heather Latimer<br />
Gayla Kalp<br />
BJ Killeen<br />
Kathy Manney<br />
Kyo Mitchell<br />
Mike Murphy<br />
Mary Richard<br />
Mark Richards<br />
Renee Riendeau<br />
Lauren Tallman<br />
Beverly Washburn<br />
Vicki Wentz<br />
What Do<br />
You Think?<br />
Do you agree with our columnists?<br />
Did anyone get you angry, make you<br />
think or simply put a smile on your<br />
face? Please tell us by forwarding your<br />
comments, thoughts or suggestions<br />
to Publisher Dan at: dan@<br />
thevegasvoice.net.<br />
4<br />
December 2023
Let Me Help You<br />
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules<br />
No good deed goes unpunished.<br />
As discussed in last month’s issue, my<br />
Vegas Voice partner of 14 years, Ray Sarbacker<br />
retired. I’ve previously announced on more occasions than I can count<br />
that Ray was the finest graphic artist in Nevada. His numerous national<br />
awards speak for themselves.<br />
With Ray gone, who does The Vegas Voice look to for future graphics?<br />
One volunteer immediately and eagerly<br />
raised her hand – my PILL (partner in<br />
love & life) and the new President of<br />
our “media empire” Rana Goodman.<br />
She reminded me that she had<br />
“Photoshop” installed on her computer<br />
and although it was an older version,<br />
she would purchase the newest version<br />
and PRESTO, we’re as good as new.<br />
And that’s when the fun began.<br />
After receiving it, she discovered that<br />
her computer did not have enough<br />
RAM memory (whatever that is) to<br />
accommodate the new Photoshop<br />
program.<br />
Upon consulting with her grandson, she was told that it was not a<br />
problem. She just needed to order a larger RAM Memory Card.<br />
“Open the computer, take out the old one and snap in the new one”<br />
the grandson confidently advised. “Any idiot can do that”<br />
Immediately “this idiot” proclaimed, “don’t even think of me<br />
helping.” I readily admit that I do not have a clue about this (or any)<br />
technology. With my level of “smarts” I’m just ecstatic when I can turn<br />
on the computer and get my email.<br />
“I don’t need you” my Ladylove exclaimed. “I’ll do it myself.”<br />
Thanks to Amazon, the new RAM Memory Card was delivered the<br />
next day. And (of course) it was the wrong size. Undeterred, my Rana<br />
re-ordered another set, and once again, it did not fit.<br />
After struggling a few hours, like a dog with a bone, Rana growled<br />
in frustration and began using some of her native British expressions.<br />
“Bloody hell, Oh, Crykie damn it!”<br />
While those words are nowhere near as colorful as my Bronx<br />
expressions I’ve used watching my NY Giants football games, I<br />
understood the concept. Although our family feline, Eli didn’t flinch,<br />
you better believe Yours Truly scampered out of her office like a terrified<br />
cat.<br />
After a drink (or two), she decided to call Best Buy and to her delight,<br />
was told it was not a real issue. Simply bring in the computer and their<br />
Geek Squad will handle it.<br />
And so began our weekly trips to this store.<br />
Once there, as I hid behind their new HDTVs, Rana was informed<br />
that her six-year-old computer was sooooo outdated perhaps she<br />
should purchase a new one.<br />
With me dropping to my knees and begging her to “forget about<br />
it” my (not stubborn, mind you but determined) Rana purchased,<br />
not another computer, but a super-charged (and naturally expensive)<br />
laptop.<br />
You can guess the rest. After countless attempts trying to figure out<br />
“where all her files went” she now signed up for classes to learn how to<br />
use all this “great and wonderful” technology.<br />
“This is the last straw!” my Rana finally admitted after weekly<br />
trips to the store and countless telephone calls to the “help centers”.<br />
“If this doesn’t work, I’ll get rid of the<br />
(expletive deleted here) RAM memory<br />
card, Photoshop upgrade and keep<br />
what I have.” Problem solved!<br />
As for our required graphics…<br />
Anybody know a graphic artist?<br />
*With everything going on in this<br />
world; two wars, a super ugly national<br />
election on the horizon and an economy<br />
that, notwithstanding what the experts<br />
claim is recovering (those guys must<br />
be the ones that can afford the price of<br />
gas) I cannot think of anything more<br />
important than “family.”<br />
Now my concept of “family” is not strictly blood relations. It includes<br />
those that always have your back and is there for you when times get<br />
tough.<br />
For my Rana and me, it’s our “Vegas Voice family.” This family<br />
consists of our ever increasing number of columnists, advertisers and<br />
you – our readers.<br />
Now we may not always agree and recognize that every family has<br />
its dysfunctional members (and god knows we have ours, but that’s for<br />
another column) however my PILL and I have come to recognize these<br />
once strangers as members of our family.<br />
And for that, we are most fortunate and blessed.<br />
From the bottom of our collective hearts, our family<br />
wishes you the happiest of holidays and that the New Year<br />
brings you and yours all the smiles, joy, happiness (and<br />
health) that life has to offer.<br />
Outstanding in Every Way<br />
The Folk Legacy Trio performs before a packed and jubilant<br />
audience last month at Sun City MacDonald Ranch. Once again, they<br />
delighted and thrilled the capacity audience with their spectacular and<br />
outstanding performance.<br />
5
To aid folks who plan to go Christmas caroling<br />
this holiday season, I have done a careful<br />
analysis of some popular songs and found that many of these songs’<br />
lyrics appear to come close to crossing the line in today’s politically<br />
correct climate and run counter to the true spirit of the season.<br />
For example, who is the song “Do you hear what I hear?” mocking?<br />
Well, me, of course, and others my age.<br />
Sure, I do have some trouble hearing these days, like when my wife<br />
hints that a fungus is forming in my toilet bowl that rivals “The Blob”<br />
and that I should consider cleaning it. And yes, in reference to another<br />
of the song’s lyrics, I do “see what you see,” it’s just a little bit blurry<br />
to me.<br />
What about the carol “Here We Come A-Wassailing”? Sounds<br />
innocent enough, doesn’t it?<br />
But I would argue that singing about a pre-Christian fertility rite<br />
encouraging folks “fortified by copious quantities of alcohol” to<br />
head off into<br />
an orchard and<br />
6<br />
Dreaming of a Neutral-<br />
Color Christmas<br />
By: Mike Murphy / Social Insecurity<br />
December 2023<br />
threaten the<br />
apple trees to<br />
produce fruit “or<br />
else” is clearly<br />
inappropriate for<br />
joyous holiday<br />
background<br />
music at the<br />
grocery store.<br />
The song<br />
“Little Drummer<br />
Boy” obviously contains a hidden black-magic incantation involving<br />
the repeated mesmerizing chant of “Pa rum pum pum pum,” with the<br />
worrisome result of more than one spellbound listener’s face plopping<br />
into a bowl of plum pudding.<br />
Along with being sexist, “Frosty the Snowman” is politically incorrect<br />
in that it also promotes smoking (“With a corncob pipe”) and violates<br />
all international climate-control agreements (“And two eyes made out<br />
of coal”).<br />
I’m sure that, like me, most dads today turn off the radio whenever<br />
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” plays. Any responsible father<br />
would not let his children hear this lurid tale of Mommy smooching<br />
and tickling a stranger who sneaks into the house.<br />
Finally, my Boomer generation receives enough ridicule without the<br />
addition of an entire Christmas carol with that sole purpose in mind.<br />
How else can one possibly interpret the intent of such cruel sarcasm as<br />
in the pitiful plea “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”?<br />
Mike Murphy is a retired teacher/coach. His book of humorous<br />
articles titled “Tortoise Crossing - Expect Long Delays” is available<br />
on amazon.com.<br />
Bill Blurb’s Christmas Spirit<br />
By: Bill Caserta / Bill’s Blurbs<br />
The Salvation Army realized that it had<br />
never received a donation from Las Vegas’<br />
most successful lawyer. So, a volunteer paid the<br />
attorney a visit.<br />
The volunteer said, “Our research shows that<br />
even though your annual income is over ten million dollars, you don’t<br />
give a penny to charity. Wouldn’t you like to give something back to<br />
your community?”<br />
The lawyer replies: “First, did your research show that my mother is<br />
dying after a long, painful illness and she has huge medical bills that<br />
are beyond her ability to pay?”<br />
Embarrassed, the volunteer mumbles, “Uh . . . no, I didn’t know<br />
that.”<br />
“Secondly,” declared the lawyer, “did it show that my brother, a<br />
disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair and is unable<br />
to support his wife and children?” The stricken volunteer begins to<br />
stammer an apology but is cut off.<br />
“And finally, did your research also show that my sister’s husband<br />
died in a dreadful car accident, leaving her penniless with a mortgage<br />
and three children? The humiliated volunteer replied, “I’m so sorry, I<br />
had no idea.”<br />
The lawyer added, “And if I didn’t give any money to them, what<br />
makes you think I’d give any to you?”<br />
*A couple (Greg & Nancy) were Christmas shopping at the mall on<br />
Christmas Eve and the mall was packed. Walking through the mall,<br />
Nancy noticed Greg was nowhere around. She used her cell phone to<br />
call him.<br />
Greg, in a calm voice said: “Honey, remember the jewelry store<br />
we went into five years ago where you fell in love with that diamond<br />
necklace that we could not afford, and I told you that I would get it for<br />
you one day?”<br />
With tears in her eyes, Nancy answered: “Yes, I remember that jewelry<br />
store.”<br />
He said: “Well I’m in the bar right next to it.”<br />
**And my annual wish to Santa: This year, please give me a<br />
big, fat bank account and a slim body. Once again, you mixed them up.
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7
Keep Your Sympathies<br />
By: Liz Breier / This & That<br />
Approximately one week after the Hamas<br />
invasion into Israel, I wrote my article for<br />
the November issue. I was then and still am in<br />
mourning and shock over the devastating attack<br />
on civilians on October 7.<br />
Now a month later, I am broken-hearted and in disbelief.<br />
Jews in America have made every effort to<br />
assimilate. Many of us have turned our backs on<br />
religious observance to be part of the American<br />
culture.<br />
The common sentiment is, “I am an American<br />
Jew” not a “Jewish American.” Jews feel the pain<br />
of their brothers more intensely because of the<br />
persecution they themselves have suffered as a<br />
people.<br />
It was Jews who were the largest and loudest supporters of equal<br />
rights in the 1960s; marching shoulder to shoulder with their Black<br />
brothers for equality. It was Jewish young men killed in the deep south<br />
working for the civil rights.<br />
Yet, just a few generations later, it’s the Jews that are the target of<br />
hatred and disgust from their fellow Americans. Ironically, many of the<br />
Jews slaughtered on October 7 were self-described ”peaceniks.”<br />
They lived on the border with Gaza because they believed that they<br />
could live in peace together. Many did not have firearms to protect<br />
themselves, however those who loved their Palestinian neighbors the<br />
most were the first ones slaughtered.<br />
I have received many kind messages in response to my article<br />
last month. Many of those are from non-Jews and while I especially<br />
appreciate those I’m struck by their common theme.<br />
From friends of our family who are not Jewish,<br />
I hear comments like “I hope you are okay” or<br />
“I pray for your family.” People WAKE UP.<br />
Because I am Jewish, you’re feeling sorry for<br />
me because I might be in danger? And yes, surely<br />
all Jews are today.<br />
But what you must realize is that we are all<br />
in danger. The terrorists hate Jews and Christians<br />
and Americans. If they could slaughter every Jew,<br />
do you think they will stop?<br />
Don’t you remember 9/11? There is no difference between Hamas<br />
and Hezbollah and ISIS. Because Osama Bin Laden is dead do you<br />
think it’s over?<br />
It is true that Israel is at the forefront now and we must all pray that<br />
they succeed because this will only be the beginning. Does anyone know<br />
how many enemies are in the U.S. right now?<br />
Can you be so sure that they won’t bomb the Cont’d Page <strong>12</strong><br />
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December 2023<br />
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Living to 100<br />
By: Gayla Kalp / Life is Laughter<br />
Now that the Holiday Season is upon us, I am<br />
preparing for all the festivities. Especially the<br />
food!<br />
I look forward to the Thanksgiving and<br />
Christmas Day dinner feasts. I am so happy I wear those pants with the<br />
elastic waist!<br />
The best part are the leftovers. You can eat yourself into a coma for<br />
another three days.<br />
I don’t even need to mention all the parties with fabulous appetizers<br />
and booze. You can’t turn around in an office without your hand<br />
touching Holiday candy or delicious baked items. Yea, Holiday Season!<br />
Then I read an article, “World’s Blue Zones Present Lessons in<br />
Longevity.”<br />
It discussed the<br />
seven areas in<br />
the world where<br />
the population<br />
lives to over 100<br />
years old. I always<br />
thought that I<br />
would live into my<br />
90s because my<br />
relatives lived that<br />
long.<br />
The article<br />
said that genetics<br />
plays only 20%<br />
into the reason<br />
for a long life. The<br />
remaining 80% is from diet, exercise, having the right outlook and<br />
connecting.<br />
I’m screwed! Per the article, I should have died 20 years ago. I have<br />
no diet. My version of exercise is a “brisk sit.”<br />
My outlook on life is that when I wake up every day (if I am on the<br />
daylight side of the dirt) it’s a great day! I connect by playing card<br />
games with friends but it mainly causes me stress because they cheat!<br />
The Centenarians live on a diet of plant based proteins. They only<br />
have a small amount of meat. They also eat a diet rich in fruits,<br />
vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds and tofu.<br />
I live on a diet of In & Out Burgers, Hostess cupcakes, Jersey Mikes,<br />
Martinis, Ice Cream Sandwiches, Pizza and Pop Tarts.<br />
Obviously my diet and exercise regimen are terrible! I want to live<br />
to be 100+.<br />
So, this Holiday Season, I am going to hit the salad bar, go to the gym<br />
and surround myself with fun people who don’t cheat! I’m still going to<br />
include an In & Out burger.<br />
After all, a burger has lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and very little meat.<br />
Yea, to the new me!<br />
Gayla is a speaker, author, psychologist and humorist. She also<br />
happens to be Ms. Sr. California, Nevada and Universe England.<br />
Jonathan Henderson - From Henderson!<br />
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9
Santa & the Snowman<br />
By: Beverly Washburn / Hollywood Memories<br />
For this holiday month, I thought I’d write<br />
about the time I worked with actor Edmund<br />
Gwenn. He is best remembered<br />
as Santa Claus in “Miracle on 34 th Street.” When I<br />
worked with Mr. Gwenn, he played a snowman that<br />
comes to life.<br />
It was 1952 and I was cast as the daughter of<br />
George Reeves. My mother was played by Anita<br />
Louise and my brother by Tommy Rettig, who<br />
later became well known as Jeff on the Lassie<br />
TV series. The TV show was Ford Theatre and the<br />
episode was called “Heart of Gold.”<br />
That’s George Reeves in the photo who is putting<br />
the locket around my neck. Of course, most people<br />
won’t recognize him, as he was usually in his<br />
Superman outfit.<br />
I had worked with him previously in Superman<br />
and The Moleman. Since I was so young, I actually<br />
believed that he was Superman. As that’s the only way I had ever seen<br />
him, I didn’t recognize him.<br />
During the shooting, I heard a few crew members teasingly calling<br />
him “Superman.” That was quite confusing for me. How could he be<br />
Superman and then be playing my father on this show?<br />
When I asked my mother about that, she told me that he really was<br />
A Kiss on the Red Carpet<br />
Superman but was just “play-acting” as my father for this production.<br />
That was good enough for me and it answered all my questions.<br />
The make-up and wardrobe departments made a snowman suit<br />
out of cotton which Gwenn wore with only a portion of his face being<br />
seen. For its day, it was actually pretty elaborate and<br />
impressive.<br />
In this episode, Tommy and I play in the snow<br />
and build a snowman. I then place the necklace on<br />
the snowman and he comes to life! When we tell our<br />
parents that the snowman is alive, they of course,<br />
don’t believe it until they see it with their own eyes.<br />
It was a very sweet story and so much different<br />
from the television shows that are on now. It was<br />
innocent, lighthearted and entertaining.<br />
The program aired on December 25, 1952 and was<br />
very well received. The other thing I remember about<br />
working on that show is that Tommy Rettig was the<br />
first person to ever tell me that there was no Santa<br />
Claus. I don’t think I ever forgave him for that!<br />
Ironically, Robert Stevenson was the director<br />
of that show and little did I know that a few years later he would be<br />
directing me in the Walt Disney movie “Old Yeller.”<br />
May you all have a Blessed Holiday Season and be grateful that we<br />
are still here.<br />
Until next time, remember: Those who give love, gather love.<br />
Beverly Washburn graced the silver screen as a child actress and<br />
is the author of Reel Tears. You can contact Beverly at: bjradell@<br />
hotmail.com.<br />
Christmas Hollywood Memories<br />
That’s our Hollywood Memories Beverly Washburn puckering<br />
up on the Red Carpet at the premiere of the movie remake,<br />
Spider Baby directed by Dustin Ferguson.<br />
That’s Ron Chaney planting the kiss on Beverly. Ron and<br />
Beverly had cameos roles in the movie. Beverly starred in the<br />
original Spider Baby classic along with Ron’s grandfather, Lou<br />
Chaney Jr.<br />
What was it like making both the original movie and remake?<br />
Watch Beverly’s interviews on our Vegas Voice YouTube channel<br />
(YouTube.com/c/vegasvoice) or on our website, vegasvoicetv.<br />
net<br />
10<br />
December 2023<br />
Beverly Washburn with Publisher Dan on the set of our Hollywood Memories<br />
Videos. Beverly reminisced about her Christmas TV episodes when she an<br />
adorable, beautiful child.<br />
You can watch the episodes on our YouTube channel (YouTube/c/vegasvoice)<br />
or on our website.
11
Estate Sales Concerns<br />
By: Rana Goodman / On My Soapbox<br />
As we navigate through our senior years, I’m<br />
sure the question of what happens to our<br />
“must have possessions” when we are gone<br />
becomes a concern.<br />
Such possessions that make our<br />
house a home might be of huge<br />
sentimental value that no doubt<br />
many of us will designate favorites<br />
to family members (or even special<br />
friends), but what about the rest of<br />
the possessions?<br />
More and more often I receive<br />
emails from Estate Sale companies<br />
announcing items to be sold,<br />
including photos of furniture, décor<br />
and clothing that will be available.<br />
But who or what Estate Sales company<br />
can you trust?<br />
I recently received an email from a<br />
former neighbor who had moved east. Due to his wife’s health, “Jim”<br />
(he requested that I do not disclose his name) wanted to be closer to<br />
family as they entered their twilight years.<br />
They hired an estate sale company but since their move date was<br />
rapidly approaching, they were not able to supervise or attend their<br />
sale. Thus, trust was placed on George Sielski of Las Vegas Antique<br />
Shops/Estate Sales.<br />
The agreement was a 40/60% split with the Estate Sales company<br />
getting 40%. On the 2nd day of the sale Sielski told Jim that things<br />
were going quite well and there was more than $2,800.00 in sales so far.<br />
The plan was for the sale to continue until May 30. Upon conclusion,<br />
Sielski and his company would start packing what was left to be sold<br />
on consignment at some location that a friend of Sielski has. Lastly,<br />
the remaining items not sold on consignment would then be given to<br />
Goodwill.<br />
Although many months and texts have been sent by Jim, to date, not<br />
a dime has been paid, nor has any accounting of the sale been made.<br />
The only correspondence since<br />
then was an email to Jim advising<br />
him that Sielski had been in the<br />
hospital, and when he is discharged,<br />
he would be happy to pay a token<br />
amount monthly to settle the debt.<br />
I found it “interesting” that when<br />
I tried to find contact information<br />
about Sielski and/or Las Vegas<br />
Antique Shops/Estate Sales all<br />
references were to an attorney. The<br />
attorney subsequently forwarded my<br />
email to Sielski asking him to reply<br />
to my message.<br />
He eventually replied, a month or<br />
so later with a flimsy excuse. Bottom<br />
Line: During all this time, no accounting, and not a dollar of the debt<br />
has been paid.<br />
Jim told me he now understands what “ghosting” is, but certainly<br />
could use the money due him!<br />
*For those that still have not done so, make a New Year’s resolution to<br />
protect yourself with a completed and filled guardianship nomination<br />
form. Check out (next page) where and when we will be having our<br />
free presentations.<br />
We bring the guardian forms, the witnesses, a free notary and will<br />
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is fill out the form (and we can even help you with that) and then sign<br />
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movie theatre, mall, casino, or<br />
cont’d from page 8 church you might be in next week?<br />
What kind of world have we<br />
deteriorated into where students of one ethnicity are tormented and<br />
threatened by others at their university? So many of those screaming<br />
for Free Palestine have no idea of what they are supporting.<br />
Do the women screeching know that in the world of radical Muslims<br />
they must be obedient to their men, can’t go anywhere without a male<br />
chaperone, can be stoned for suspicion of adultery, can’t drive a car?<br />
These same students are often self-described feminists.<br />
There is no alignment with any feminist edicts in the radical<br />
Muslim world. How about LGBTQ for Palestine? Do they realize they<br />
could be thrown off the roof of the nearest building for their sexual<br />
preference?<br />
I would request that my non-Jewish friends rethink the need to<br />
impart their sympathies and concerns for their Jewish brethren.<br />
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus’ body was entombed,<br />
is located in Jerusalem. If Hamas gains control of Israel “from the<br />
River ( Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean)” that will all be destroyed.<br />
The ability for religious folks to go to the River Jordan to be baptized<br />
will cease to occur.<br />
No, don’t feel sorry for me or my fellow Jews. Feel sorry that we live<br />
in an America where photos of kidnapped babies and children are<br />
considered such a threat that radical, ill-informed, sheep need to rip<br />
them down.<br />
Finally, even if you strongly believe that the Palestinians in Gaza<br />
(many of whom work in Israel) were in some way wronged, how can<br />
anyone possibly justify the burning, beheading, rape, torture and<br />
mutilation that occurred on October 7th?<br />
Liz Breier is an ex-New Yorker who retired to Florida for 24<br />
years before deciding that Nevada means home to her. You can<br />
contact Liz at: bluesky090372@gmail.com.<br />
<strong>12</strong><br />
December 2023
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13
Writing Skills & Requirements<br />
By: Jonny Bird / Here’s Jonny<br />
always wanted to be a writer. I loved books as<br />
I a little kid, and was a voracious reader, a word<br />
I learned with my Webster’s dictionary always by<br />
my side.<br />
I had my Superhero comics, my Great Grandfather Jones’ Charles<br />
Dickens full set of hardcovers, and all of the Hardy Boys books in blue.<br />
Every writer had a style and every book had a mini lesson on telling<br />
a story, painting a picture, or setting a scene. I had a pop-up digital<br />
Cosmo lamp (pretty cool at the time) that I would put at the head of<br />
my bed, crawl under the covers on my belly, and pull the covers over my<br />
head and lamp to read through the night.<br />
In hindsight, I’m lucky I didn’t start my bed on fire!<br />
14<br />
December 2023<br />
I distinctly remember the first paper I wrote entitled “I Want To Be A<br />
Lawer.” No, that’s not a typo, I spelled “lawyer” wrong, and I still have<br />
that paper.<br />
It didn’t deter me though, because from that point on, I knew I was<br />
headed for law school. Of course, I didn’t anticipate that I’d later drop<br />
my law classes for a microphone and start an entertainment company<br />
in Minnesota, but that’s what happened, nonetheless.<br />
Back in college, I did a lot of writing and had “minimum word<br />
counts” to contend with. I’d phrase and re-phrase to add bulk until<br />
I finally learned to stop counting and start actually writing what I<br />
wanted to say. After that, I always had more than enough to stop<br />
counting altogether.<br />
I laugh now as I proofread my kids’ papers with those same<br />
minimums, with plenty of “really’s,” “very’s,” and other fluff words to<br />
hit their targeted word count. I am usually pretty gentle as I cross out<br />
the fluff and guide them to better ways of writing.<br />
Here at The Vegas Voice, I get a maximum of 350 words, so I must<br />
be careful not to go over, or Publisher Dan will bring out the ruler for<br />
my knuckles, or so I’ve been warned.<br />
So now I count. Every word. Really!<br />
Jonny Bird is the entertainment host of all Vegas Voice shows. Have<br />
an idea or suggestion? Contact Jonny via email:birdlandmusic@<br />
hotmail.com
My To Do List Got Done<br />
By: Adrea Nairne-Barrera / Senior Moments<br />
At the end of every year, we check off all the<br />
things we promised to do in January. It either<br />
is, or it isn’t realistic when we first start out, but<br />
as we get older, we don’t set the bar quite as<br />
high anymore.<br />
Most of us set weight or exercise goals<br />
and/or ways to budget more efficiently. I<br />
passed on all three.<br />
My focus went to the closet, the overloaded<br />
cabinets, expired drugs, cleaning the junk<br />
out of my computer, calling the shredder<br />
guy and general miscellaneous chores I<br />
never found time to do.<br />
When I hit the closet, I found some<br />
beautiful clothes that cost a fortune 20 to 30<br />
years ago. Some were fat clothes and some<br />
were skinny clothes.<br />
How about a wedding dress? And the<br />
shoes, and the handmade sheer jacket that<br />
went over it? More designer things with padded shoulders too. What’s<br />
a girl to do?<br />
Then there’s the garage. It now has lovely leaves blowing in and<br />
hiding behind the boxes I have to save just in case the world comes to<br />
an end. Every time I think it’s OK to give away or trash things, I know<br />
in one month (or less) I will need it again.<br />
Anyway, it’s either too windy, too hot, too cold or too close to dinner<br />
time.<br />
I’ve written about this many times in one<br />
form or another so to anyone sharing my<br />
experience, or lack thereof, I understand<br />
your pain. LOL.<br />
But the most important accomplishment<br />
was training our golden retriever for her<br />
Canine Good Citizen certification and then<br />
her Therapy Dog certification so she can<br />
go to events. She is also a service dog, so<br />
all around, she reached her goals even if I<br />
didn’t do all of mine.<br />
So, Ginger the wonder dog and my Louie<br />
dog will celebrate the end of the year still<br />
together and not worry about the list for<br />
2024. We’ll just recycle the one from 2023.<br />
Have a very happy and safe holiday to all.<br />
We’re still here!<br />
Adrea likes to opine and find the lighter side of life as a senior.<br />
See a doctor who<br />
really sees you.<br />
Same-day appointments for members.<br />
LEARN MORE AT ArchWellHealth.com/LiveWell or call (725) 269-3368<br />
15
By: Susan Goldfein / Susan’s Unfiltered Wit<br />
If I hear one more boast about brisket, I’m going<br />
to spray paint someone’s Dutch oven. When did<br />
brisket emerge as the national dish of December?<br />
Last year, I realized I was living on the fringe of a cult when I inquired<br />
of friends “How was your holiday? Did your family<br />
join you?”<br />
And to a person, they replied, “Yes they did, and<br />
I made a brisket!” The pride factor was palpable.<br />
Each woman who rhapsodized about this fatty<br />
chunk of beef claimed to have the best brisket<br />
recipe ever, a family treasure handed down from<br />
Great-Aunt Selma, whose secret ingredient was<br />
whispered in confidence – grape jelly! Or was it<br />
Coca-Cola?<br />
Men were no better. Discussions of golf games<br />
were replaced by passionate praise of their wives’ briskets. While it’s<br />
flattering to be extolled by one’s husband, I would prefer praise for my<br />
looks, and/or intelligence - and the fact that I am adept at fixing paper<br />
jams.<br />
Perhaps I couldn’t share the culinary enthusiasm of my friends<br />
because my personal relationship with brisket didn’t have a good<br />
beginning. Let’s just say that brisket and I got off on the wrong hoof.<br />
My mother had excellent qualities, but cooking wasn’t one of<br />
them. Frequently, on Friday nights, or other celebratory occasions, she<br />
16<br />
Season’s Greetings<br />
from<br />
James I. Gibson Library<br />
100 W. Lake Mead Parkway, 89015<br />
Brisket Reconsidered<br />
Heritage Park Library<br />
Inside the Heritage Park Senior Facility<br />
300 S. Racetrack Road, 89015<br />
Green Valley Library<br />
2797 N. Green Valley Parkway, 89014<br />
December 2023<br />
There‛s<br />
SNOW<br />
many<br />
great<br />
books<br />
at the<br />
LIBRARY<br />
CHECK US<br />
OUT!<br />
For more information, please call<br />
(702) 707-BOOK. A complete listing<br />
of free programs and services<br />
(including digital services) is<br />
available on our website:<br />
Paseo Verde Library<br />
280 S. Green Valley Parkway, 890<strong>12</strong><br />
West Henderson Library<br />
3243 Bicentennial Parkway, 89044<br />
would serve a platter containing some gray-brown meat that reminded<br />
me of a cooked loafer. With ketchup.<br />
But that was long ago, and childhood trauma notwithstanding, it<br />
was time to discover what all the fuss was about.<br />
Since I banished brisket from my life, I never considered its source. I<br />
lumped it together with the rest of those fatty,<br />
ethnic cuts of beef that had to be cooked to death<br />
before it was edible. I decided to investigate.<br />
Brisket (lower chest) isn’t flanken (short ribs)<br />
and flanken isn’t brisket. And neither of them is pot<br />
roast (chuck, upper chest). Roast beef is another<br />
matter, coming from the end of the cow we’d prefer<br />
not to think about.<br />
Brisket is talented. In brine it becomes corned<br />
beef; corned beef cured morphs into pastrami. And<br />
I’ve never regarded corned beef or pastrami as<br />
unappealing.<br />
Brisket is multi-cultural. It’s an inexpensive cut of beef which lends<br />
itself to the culinary preferences of different nationalities. The French<br />
cook it with bacon and cognac; Texans like it barbecued with Tex-Mex<br />
spices.<br />
Each Eastern European country has its own version. Thais and<br />
Koreans love it. The Chinese like it with ginger.<br />
I’m now converted. I’ll cook a brisket. Of course, mine will be the<br />
best recipe ever, giving my husband bragging rights.<br />
And since it has such an international appeal, perhaps the next time<br />
world leaders meet, someone should serve brisket. This formerly ugly<br />
meat could very well be our best hope for world peace!<br />
Susan Goldfein’s newest book, Laughing My Way Through the<br />
Third Stage, is available at Amazon.com, BN.com, Read her blog<br />
at: www.SusansUnfilteredWit.com. Email Susan: SusanGoldfein@<br />
aol.com.<br />
Laughing My<br />
Way Through<br />
the Third Stage<br />
Our Vegas Voice<br />
columnist Susan Goldfein’s<br />
recently released her new<br />
book of humorous essays.<br />
It’s a laugh-out-loud take<br />
on getting older. Join her<br />
on her personal, but highly<br />
relatable, journey through<br />
the decades. Available now<br />
on Amazon in both softcover<br />
and eBook versions, it<br />
will definitely lighten up the<br />
“golden years.”
17
18<br />
Inspiring Respite for<br />
Quilt Lovers<br />
By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World<br />
As an activity enjoyed by both young and old,<br />
quilt lovers are found in all 50 states. There<br />
are block quilts for beginners and complicated patterns for advanced<br />
quilters<br />
Only a few places, however, bring quilt enthusiasts together like<br />
Tillamook’s Latimer Quilt & Textile Center, a working museum<br />
considered among the world’s largest.<br />
Many consider the Oregon coast the world’s most beautiful and<br />
Tillamook is a coastal community where the temperature seldom<br />
ranges beyond mild, regardless of season. A short distance inland from<br />
the Pacific Ocean lies a wall of dense coastal forest, evergreens, maples,<br />
and ferns.<br />
With the sound of seagulls<br />
calling, we approach the<br />
textile center/museum.<br />
Before 1959, the building<br />
housed the Maple Leaf<br />
School and then became<br />
abandoned. It gradually<br />
and sadly deteriorated as<br />
the elements took over with<br />
wild blackberries growing<br />
through the floorboards and<br />
birds nesting in the eaves.<br />
The owners, the Latimer family, suggested the building to the<br />
Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Foundation. The former school<br />
reopened in 1991 as the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center.<br />
In succeeding years, the structure has been fully restored and<br />
improved. The interior walls are adorned with gorgeous quilts and<br />
textile arts.<br />
As you wander from room-to-room, you realize this is a working<br />
museum. Quilters and other fiber artists are often observed while<br />
operating the center’s quilting equipment and looms.<br />
For many family members and friends, sleeping under the quilt a<br />
loved one made becomes the quilter’s beloved legacy. My grandmother<br />
left a legacy of many beautiful handmade quilts.<br />
The museum’s exterior welcomes with a mural depicting quilting<br />
history through generations. And the gift shop is filled with a variety of<br />
handmade quilts, wall-hangings and fiber art.<br />
For anyone desiring to research quilting and fiber arts, there is a<br />
library with books on quilting, textile creation, spinning, embroidery<br />
and rug hooking. It’s a sizeable quilt pattern library.<br />
So, whether you are a quilter or simply enjoy fiber flair, the museum<br />
is a noteworthy destination. Without any doubt, it’s an inspiring respite<br />
for quilt lovers wanting to meet and learn.<br />
Kathy draws her articles from a diverse personal background. She<br />
hopes readers enjoy her column as much as she enjoys the writing and<br />
sharing.<br />
December 2023<br />
Families Are Made of This<br />
By: Pat Alexander / Art of Entertaining<br />
Holidays always mean family to me. Whether<br />
it’s the one you’re born into or one that you<br />
make.<br />
Part of moving into a senior community means that for the most<br />
part you leave behind family and friends. You come into this new place<br />
with hopes of new friendships and opportunities.<br />
To me, Holidays also mean food. In my youth, food was a major<br />
factor in all our gatherings. We laughed at the table, shed tears, shared<br />
stories and, as we ate, we bonded.<br />
Ties form that remain your entire life. Food comes into play in<br />
everything.<br />
We meet friends for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner. No longer family,<br />
but friends we make<br />
family. We take food<br />
to a friend who’s<br />
ill. We laugh over<br />
hors d’oeuvre at a<br />
party. In every part<br />
of our lives, the<br />
connecting part is<br />
still food.<br />
Nowadays, my<br />
family is scattered<br />
throughout the<br />
country. We meet<br />
when we can, call<br />
to stay in touch, not<br />
as much as we’d like<br />
but enough to keep<br />
tabs on one another.<br />
We still talk about<br />
our Holiday celebrations and the closeness we shared. We remember<br />
our “then” and it colors our “now” and it completes us.<br />
But it’s also the case that my new friends are now my family as<br />
well. We share food, fun, laughter, and games. And we share tears and<br />
heartbreak. We weren’t born to each other, but we share our lives. In<br />
every way, we are family!<br />
Speaking of food and family, try sharing this with them.<br />
Too Easy Tiramisu<br />
Beat 1-1/4 cups heavy cream with ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar in<br />
large bowl until soft peaks form. In another bowl beat until smooth, ¼<br />
cup confectioners’ sugar, 8 oz. mascarpone, 1 Tbs. espresso powder and<br />
pinch of kosher salt. Add ½ of whipped cream mixture to mascarpone<br />
with 1 Tbs. coffee liqueur. Mix until just combined.<br />
Crumble 2 Tbs. ladyfingers into pretty glass dishes. Add 1 Tbs. coffee<br />
liqueur. Top with whipped mixture. Using pastry bag, make decorative<br />
pattern on top. Sprinkle with cocoa powder..<br />
Pat Alexander writes about all things home. She is well known for<br />
her cooking, parties and interior design, and consults on kitchen<br />
and bath remodels.
19
Accomplished Bruce Ewing Steps Down<br />
By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places<br />
In the history book that should be written<br />
about Las Vegas “movers and shakers”, Bruce<br />
Ewing’s name deserves<br />
bold face headlines. Ewing’s efforts have touched<br />
thousands, both on and off the theatrical and<br />
spiritual stages of the town.<br />
For ten years Ewing played Lady of Spain<br />
on an accordion, spun plates on 4’ stick, sang<br />
Wagnerian opera and kissed Topo Gigo good<br />
night while parodying the three minute, eleven<br />
seconds Ed Sullivan Show when he headlined<br />
the long running musical Forever Plaid.<br />
The originally anticipated three month run<br />
stretched to seven years at the Flamingo and three more at Gold Coast.<br />
But for Ewing, his greatest satisfaction came at the white brick church<br />
on East Tropicana.<br />
For the past 15 years, Ewing served dual roles as Community Lutheran<br />
Church’s Choir Director and Worship Leader before stepping down last<br />
month. Ewing defines the churches commitment, “We’re only meant to<br />
be here to give love and grace to others.”<br />
The church attracts an ecumenical following that includes many of<br />
Pastor Ben Bergen (left) & Ewing<br />
the city’s local entertainment icons. “This is a place that respects art<br />
and creativity,” Ewing reflects.<br />
His efforts have provided lifelong memories for many congregants.<br />
In 2017, Ewing led the choir on a tour of Germany. That tour was a<br />
precursor to a 2019 honor when his 90-member<br />
ensemble accepted an invitation to perform at<br />
New York City’s Carnegie Hall.<br />
Throughout his tenure at the church,<br />
Ewing has enjoyed casino theater residencies<br />
and headlining cruises with the Phat Pack,<br />
volunteered in Panama, co-starred in Phantom<br />
– The Las Vegas Spectacular, opened a<br />
neighborhood coffee bistro and regularly<br />
answered the bell when volunteer opportunities<br />
presented themselves.<br />
A trifecta of the church’s congregants has stepped forward to assume<br />
Ewing’s responsibilities: award winning composer and musical director<br />
Keith Thompson takes the reins as Choir Director; former principal<br />
singer of Bally’s Jubilee Dana Martin will share worship service<br />
leadership with the larger than life singer-funny man Tony Arias.<br />
Ben Bergen, the church’s Senior Pastor, praised Ewing’s contributions,<br />
“He’s a giver who has given all of himself to the church for the past 25<br />
years.”<br />
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21
The Composers Room<br />
By: Dianne Davis / That’s Entertainment<br />
The Composers Room opened in November<br />
and our senior population – as well as the<br />
general community will be delighted with its<br />
offerings.<br />
Entertainment industry veteran Damian Costa of Pompey<br />
Entertainment has fashioned a<br />
spot where, “vintage Vegas meets<br />
modern charm in the heart of<br />
the Historic Commercial Center<br />
District.” The mission, “he says,<br />
is to present a menu of enjoyable<br />
food, upscale cocktails and<br />
memorable musical performances<br />
from today’s artists.”<br />
The charming venue pays<br />
homage to members of the<br />
entertainment industry and gives<br />
a feeling of old Vegas with the<br />
memorabilia and photos on the walls. I became a believer when we saw<br />
the charming exterior as we pulled into the parking lot on East Sahara.<br />
The parking is free and close to the entrance. That’s a draw for sure.<br />
Food is not mandatory, but the menu selections may certainly entice<br />
you.<br />
For me, the entertainment is a selling point. A star-studded lineup<br />
at a pre-opening event included local favorites who likely will<br />
be entertaining audiences in the 150 seat show stage area theatre<br />
– equipped with a state of the art sound system. The roster included<br />
Travis Cloer, Brent Barrett, Rose Kingsley and Marco Antorio Varela, Vita<br />
Drew (December 10th), and Jimmy Hopper, all on the schedule.<br />
One of my local favorites Keith Thompson is bringing his Piano<br />
Party (Dec 5 & 19) and will have<br />
another fan fav - the hilarious<br />
Tony Arias - as his sidekick.<br />
Clint Holmes, Earl Turner, Kelly<br />
Clinton-Holmes, Vincent John,<br />
Sarah Jessica Ross, Ms. Monet<br />
and the always entertaining Wes<br />
Winters delighted the audience.<br />
Upcoming shows include<br />
Jimmy Mulidore’s Jazz Party and<br />
The Swing It! Girls, Broadway<br />
themed productions, impressionist<br />
Jammin’ Jay Lamont and<br />
Limoncello (Wednesday 7 pm.)<br />
The Tavern Stage includes a well-stocked bar and ample seating as<br />
patrons enjoy piano music and song. Menu options range from small<br />
bites like bacon-wrapped dates to deli offerings like “the Italian” and<br />
seasonal fish, steak, chicken or the ever popular meatloaf.<br />
Las Vegas’ wonderful entertainers and musicians have a new venue<br />
where they can share their talents with our community. If opening<br />
night is any indication, then Composers Room is a spot you’ll want to<br />
visit often.<br />
Dianne Davis specializes in “senior entertainment” and is the<br />
Las Vegas Associate Editor of lasvegassplash.com. She hikes, works on<br />
her stand-up comedy, and looks forward to more travels with her<br />
husband Burt.<br />
22<br />
December 2023<br />
Entering the Rhinestone Room<br />
Guest Pietra Sardelli shares a laugh with host Tony Arias on our<br />
Vegas Voice Rhinestone Room TV set. What’s so funny? Find out and<br />
see all of Tony’s great interviews on our YouTube channel (YouTube/c/<br />
vegasvoice) or on our website.
WHY DOES IT HURT TO PINCH? IS THERE A FIX?<br />
By:Ryan Grabow, MD / Help My Hands!<br />
“Help My Hands!” - our column on common<br />
hand conditions has returned.<br />
WHAT CAUSES THUMB PAIN WHEN I PINCH?<br />
Pain at the base of the thumb or thumb pad when you try<br />
to pinch is a very common complaint, and is typically<br />
due to thumb joint arthritis, also called, Basal Joint<br />
Arthritis.<br />
Symptoms are variable<br />
Although the pain may be worst at<br />
those areas, it may also feel like<br />
your whole hand aches or the<br />
pain may radiate up your forearm.<br />
Some patients may only experience a mildly<br />
annoying crunchy, grinding, or shifting sensation with thumb use.<br />
Others have so much pain with thumb use they have limited ability to<br />
use their hand! Swelling and stiffness of the thumb and weakness of<br />
pinching and grip is also common with this condition.<br />
WHAT CAUSES THUMB ARTHRITIS?<br />
While a trauma to the joint can lead to arthritis,<br />
the most common cause of thumb arthritis is simply<br />
normal hand use, gender, and genetics (yes - it<br />
does run in families). Forceful hand use, typing,<br />
or writing don’t put you at higher risk. You did not<br />
cause it - you inherited it!<br />
While many men do get thumb arthritis, it is much more common in<br />
women, with a majority of women developing this arthritis by the time<br />
they are in their 60s. Thankfully, not everyone who develops arthritis<br />
experiences pain. To confirm this diagnosis, a physical exam and<br />
xrays are typically all that is needed.<br />
HOW DO WE TREAT THUMB ARTHRITIS?<br />
If oral anti-inflammatories and occasional brace<br />
use do not help, a steroid injection to the joint is<br />
typically very effective.<br />
Ultrasound Guided Steroid Injection<br />
At Concierge Carpal Tunnel we are the only hand clinic utilizing<br />
ultrasound guidance technology to ensure your steroid injection is<br />
accurately placed into you joint - this not only provides an effective<br />
injection but decreases injection pain as well. Typically results in three<br />
to five months of pain free thumb use. If injections are effective, you<br />
can keep getting injections to the joint as long<br />
as they are at least 3 months apart. There is<br />
no negative effect to your joint from a steroid<br />
injection and there is no life-time limit to<br />
number of injections to a joint. If an injection<br />
doesn’t help or you want a more lasting solution, you do have surgical<br />
options. There are many variations of thumb arthritis surgery and most<br />
involve removing one of the arthritic bones and stabilizing the thumb<br />
joint. Thankfully, most never need surgery for pain relief!<br />
Visit NoSedationHandSurgery.com<br />
to learn more.<br />
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24<br />
December 2023
25
It’s The Most Wonderful Time<br />
By: Mary Richard / Health Fitness<br />
Here it is December 2023 and I’m starting the<br />
celebration of my birthday month! Yes, this is<br />
my most favorite time of the year.<br />
It’s festive. And most people are jolly and happy with festivities<br />
throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Food and drink are plentiful and are<br />
everywhere.<br />
I’m thrilled to be celebrating my 79th year on this earth! WOW -<br />
how did that happen? I<br />
still enjoy teaching my<br />
Zumba and balance<br />
classes, as well as<br />
choreographing dance<br />
groups.<br />
My part-time ushering<br />
job at The Smith Center<br />
is still going strong and<br />
I intend to continue<br />
working there as long as<br />
I’m physically able. In<br />
between my busy schedule I will spend time enjoying the holidays with<br />
my friends as much as possible,<br />
Thinking back of my years on the East Coast, I really enjoy our<br />
beautiful winter weather without that snow! I can look at Mt. Charleston<br />
if I want to see that white stuff.<br />
The holidays are notorious for putting on some extra pounds, so do<br />
yourself a favor. You can enjoy the holiday goodies but continue with<br />
your exercises or take up some new ones. I’m determined not to put<br />
back the extra pounds I gained these last few years from the pandemic.<br />
So, as we wind down this year, be good to yourself and reflect upon<br />
what you want to check off your “bucket list” and go for it.<br />
BE GRATEFUL - for what you have, not what you don’t have.<br />
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND HAPPY HEALTH TO ALL!<br />
Mary Richard is a long term supporter of senior fitness. She<br />
teaches Zumba, toning and dance classes throughout the Las<br />
Vegas Valley.<br />
26<br />
December 2023<br />
Vegas Voice<br />
Podcast<br />
Tom Harmon, from<br />
Lean Dog Fitness gets ready<br />
for our Vegas Voice People &<br />
Places podcast last month.<br />
He’s joined by our new Vice<br />
President Dianne David.<br />
You can hear this interview<br />
on all podcast platforms as<br />
well as our sister website:<br />
vegasvoicetv.net.
Reversing Type 2 Diabetes<br />
By: Tom Harmon / Lean Dog<br />
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition<br />
affecting millions nationwide. While medical<br />
advancements have greatly improved<br />
management, adopting natural wellness habits can play<br />
a pivotal role in reversing this condition.<br />
Addressing the root causes, such as poor diet and<br />
sedentary lifestyle, these habits empower individuals to<br />
take control of their health. Take a look at the following:<br />
1. Embrace a Nutrient-Dense Diet: Dietary changes are<br />
essential when it comes to reversing type 2 diabetes naturally. Focus<br />
on whole, unprocessed foods, abundant in nutrients and low in added<br />
sugars.<br />
Emphasize high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains,<br />
and legumes. Incorporate lean proteins and healthy fats like those<br />
found in nuts, seeds, meat, and fatty fish. Avoid processed foods, sugary<br />
drinks, and seed oils in your cooking.<br />
2. Regular Physical Activity: Engaging in regular physical<br />
activity holds numerous benefits for reversing type 2 diabetes. Exercise<br />
helps lower blood sugar levels, enhances insulin sensitivity, and<br />
promotes weight loss.<br />
Walk, walk, walk! Combine this with strength training exercises<br />
which will improve muscle strength and glucose control.<br />
3. Stress Reduction Techniques: Increased stress levels have a<br />
direct impact on blood sugar regulation. Incorporating stress reduction<br />
techniques into your routine can support the reversal of type 2 diabetes.<br />
Explore practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, or<br />
mindfulness.<br />
4. Quality Sleep Patterns: Sleep deprivation and<br />
fluctuating sleep patterns can disrupt insulin sensitivity<br />
and impair glucose metabolism. Prioritize obtaining<br />
adequate and quality sleep consistently.<br />
Aim for seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep each<br />
night.<br />
Harnessing natural wellness habits presents an empowering<br />
approach to reversing type 2 diabetes. Through adopting a nutrientdense<br />
diet, proper supplements, engaging in regular physical activity,<br />
reducing stress, and prioritizing quality sleep, individuals can take<br />
charge of their health and work towards reversing this condition.<br />
And of course, last but not least, always consult a healthcare<br />
professional before making any significant changes or discontinuing<br />
any prescribed medications.<br />
Tom Harmon is a Certified Fitness Trainer & Nutritionist and<br />
owns Lean Dog Fitness in Henderson. Call 702/297-6440 to book<br />
your free intro/assessment to begin your journey to reclaim your<br />
health. www.leandogfitness.com<br />
27
Resistance Exercise Bands<br />
By: Linda Bateman-Gomez / Timeless Beauty<br />
As I shared previously, I broke my leg last<br />
Christmas Eve. I elected to pass on surgery<br />
and although I’m not sure if that was my wisest<br />
decision, I’m too<br />
far to turn back now.<br />
I’m still in a leg brace and still going<br />
to physical therapy but I’m now able to<br />
travel and have found my best new travel<br />
companion! The resistance exercise<br />
bands I use in PT are great to carry for<br />
exercising on the go. They are small,<br />
easy to pack, easy to use, inexpensive and<br />
very effective.<br />
I’ve never really worked out much,<br />
although I should have. I’m now<br />
learning lots of new things about<br />
exercise.<br />
For example: How using resistance bands strengthening exercises<br />
helps to build muscle. I can really tell the difference when using them.<br />
Both at home and while traveling, doing things like leg lifts or arm<br />
exercises (for flabby arms) using the bands really allows you to work<br />
the muscles much more. There are articles that state these little bands<br />
are like using weights, and in some instances are even more effective.<br />
Other studies say using the bands while exercising will also help melt<br />
fat. Sadly, I have not seen any personal evidence of that.<br />
The bands are color coded based on strength of resistance. There are<br />
different types, some with handles which are bigger overall.<br />
I bought the 5-color coded flat bands. They were $10.00 on Amazon<br />
although there are many available<br />
online.<br />
Should you opt for the ones with<br />
handles be extra careful! Used incorrectly<br />
or without enough strength, they can<br />
snap and potentially hit you. Use those<br />
with caution.<br />
As with all things, if you have physical<br />
health issues, always check with your<br />
doctor before trying something new. As<br />
we age, lots of conditions should guide<br />
the kinds of exercises we do.<br />
My favorite thing to do if I do nothing<br />
else to do, is to stretch every day. Being physically fit is good for our<br />
health and makes us look younger too!<br />
Linda Bateman-Gomez has an international beauty company<br />
based in Las Vegas that specializes in cosmetics and other beauty<br />
products. Contact Linda at TimelessBeauty2020@gmail.com or<br />
through her website www.fullips.com.<br />
By: Lisa Kemmerling / Fashion Couture<br />
The U.S. population age 65 and older has grown<br />
38.6% in the past 10 years alone. There is now<br />
a large population of women who even though<br />
the number says one<br />
thing, they don’t look or feel their age.<br />
Not only do individuals age gracefully,<br />
but they also have many outside interests<br />
like travel, social clubs, the arts, and sports<br />
to keep them busy on a daily basis. With<br />
that being said, fashion has become ever<br />
more important.<br />
Thinking back to when I was a child and<br />
watching my mother put on a beautiful<br />
two piece skirt combo that was paired with<br />
lovely faux pearl earrings and necklace,<br />
she looked simply stunning. What an indelible impression that left on<br />
my young mind.<br />
Granted that was the 60s and nowadays, the styles are not all that<br />
impressive for aging women. It’s apparent that designers stop creating<br />
more fashionable looks once you pass through your 50s. Why is that??<br />
Recently, my sister was visiting from Alaska and wanted to shop, as<br />
we often do. I helped show her how to bring updated fashions into play<br />
28<br />
How to be Fashionable Regardless of Age<br />
December 2023<br />
by creating a modern look.<br />
Black pleated pants, paired with a long black sleeve shirt, with a<br />
keyhole neckline. Next we added multicolored drop style earrings and<br />
matching bracelet, and a lovely black/white swirl jacket with an artistic<br />
flair and topped off the ensemble with two<br />
inch black suede pumps.<br />
The result was a chic look and provided<br />
her with an abundance of confidence that<br />
garnered several compliments. This one<br />
outfit changed her mind that women can<br />
and do look great after 50.<br />
Maybe as a new project, I’ll take on the<br />
idea of creating fashions for women past<br />
a certain age? Not likely, as I’m aging<br />
gracefully and enjoying my free time with<br />
family and friends.<br />
As Robert Browning quotes, “Grow old<br />
with me! The best is yet to be.” Happiest of Holidays to you and your<br />
family, whether they’re near or far!<br />
Lisa Kemmerling is the owner of Clean Lines Fashion Consulting,<br />
helping individuals with their packing needs for travel, as<br />
well as finding current styles for both men & women. You can<br />
contact her at: lisa@cleanlinesfashion.com or 925/518-4950.
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30<br />
Another Bad Guy<br />
By: Dan Roberts / Publisher<br />
As regular readers know, my Rana and I were oh so close to<br />
becoming victimized. Luckily we eventually realized what was<br />
occurring and after some immediate emergency actions on our part,<br />
we escaped any financial misfortune.<br />
But in the course of our actions, we found another “bad guy.” Now<br />
they don’t steal from you, but they do provide you with false hope.<br />
That’s our federal and state government and especially those<br />
“don’t we make you feel good” bureaucrats. They pat themselves<br />
on the back as they go on and on about all the wonderful programs<br />
they have, but ever try to use one?<br />
Sadly, my Pill (partner in love & life)<br />
and I now have first-hand knowledge<br />
what’s its like to report a scam. Two<br />
words – You’re screwed.<br />
I want to start with the Federal Trade<br />
Commission. You know, the guys that<br />
brought you that “do not call” telephone<br />
number to stop those telemarketers.<br />
How’s that working out?<br />
And while the FTC goes all out to tell<br />
the public to report fraud, what’s the<br />
final result? You think they will make<br />
you whole again or even get back to you?<br />
But I’m not done yet.<br />
We also contacted the Henderson Police, The Nevada Attorney<br />
General, the United States Postal Service and even the FBI.<br />
They won’t even talk to you. You have to file your incident on line<br />
and at best you get a Complaint or File number. After that…not a<br />
damn thing.<br />
Let me therefore reiterate that it is up to you to protect yourself and<br />
your family against all those SOBs that want to steal your money.<br />
So, what do you do when you get that unsolicited telephone call or<br />
email? There is only one fool-proof way to protect yourself.<br />
DELETE THAT EMAIL AND HANG UP THE PHONE, HANG<br />
UP THE PHONE AND… HANG UP THE PHONE.<br />
December 2023<br />
Homeless Have Hope<br />
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action<br />
have written numerous articles admonishing<br />
I our elected officials’ inability (or lack of<br />
interest) in implementing policies to humanely<br />
address homelessness. Politicians are masters of<br />
advocating positions but are rarely held to account.<br />
I called them lip service specialists and until and unless action(s)<br />
are taken, the problem will worsen. And yes, the problem has worsened.<br />
Finally, the homeless have hope - at least in Henderson. I recently had<br />
the opportunity to discuss this issue with Henderson City Councilman<br />
Dan Shaw. He outlined a detailed program that Henderson has<br />
implemented which is showing some positive results, albeit with some<br />
difficulty.<br />
The program involves a “small army” of counselors who traverse<br />
the community seeking the homeless and offering them a fully city<br />
funded step-by-step program to gain (or regain) their self-reliance.<br />
The city will provide 30 days rent free at an assigned hotel. During<br />
that period, they will be counseled as to how and where they can acquire<br />
necessary physical and mental health care and job opportunities.<br />
At the conclusion of their stay, they follow up to ensure they are on<br />
track. Sounds good? Well, the problem is that 50% of the homeless<br />
refuse to take the help.<br />
Why? The reason is twofold.<br />
First, their plight is engrained. Their lifestyle may not be great, but it<br />
is familiar and they have formed a community bond with those equally<br />
homeless.<br />
Second, by “giving that up” even for a short month, it will rattle<br />
their foundation. What if they fail? Then they would have to start all<br />
over again. .<br />
What makes the Henderson program so innovative and worthy is<br />
that the counselors do not give up on those who initially refuse. They<br />
repeatedly return to those who said no until they hopefully relent and<br />
say YES!<br />
The success of that effort is still a work in progress. Future articles<br />
will follow up with what they are doing. Finally, real leadership in<br />
addressing those most in need!<br />
Kudos and a heartfelt thank you to the City of Henderson and<br />
Councilman Dan Shaw!<br />
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior<br />
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
‘Tis the Season…Three Life-Saving Digits<br />
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet<br />
Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs<br />
made a smart move - it eliminated telephone<br />
numbers for veterans to call<br />
in when seeking help when<br />
embroiled in a suicide crisis.<br />
Shortened for obvious reasons,<br />
it’s now a quick 988.<br />
It could be a horrible<br />
outcome if a standard<br />
telephone number stayed in<br />
place to deal with these types of<br />
situations. It would be awful to<br />
hear … “an agent will be with<br />
you shortly, your wait time is”<br />
… or “leave a message, an<br />
agent will return your call.”<br />
The results could be disastrous.<br />
There is a myth that suicide rates climb during the year-end holiday<br />
season. This notion has been debunked somewhat over the years but<br />
we’re talking about veteran suicides, not civilian.<br />
The psychological stress many veterans suffer are different dynamics<br />
all around, making any time of the year “that season.” For example,<br />
older veterans can sometimes become isolated from their family due to<br />
the inability to get around effectively.<br />
They might be unable to leave the VA hospital, nursing home, or<br />
be house bound. All these things, coupled with PTSD and other warrelated<br />
stressors, can lead to severe depression.<br />
The 988 number has made the rescue much easier.<br />
The latest information indicates that 22 veterans commit suicide<br />
every day in America. With this tragic statistic, there are many<br />
concerned individuals and organizations that have stepped up to work<br />
on reducing these numbers,<br />
Mission 22 is a good one.<br />
Recently Chuck N. Baker,<br />
a combat veteran of the<br />
Vietnam War, has taken on a<br />
new mission with a song he<br />
has written, performed, and<br />
recorded. The title?<br />
“Nine-Eight-Eight.” (Visit<br />
YouTube. Type in Nine-Eight-<br />
Eight/Chuck N. Baker and<br />
check it out.) It is Chuck’s<br />
hope that the song will become<br />
an ongoing soundboard to get<br />
the word out on the Suicide<br />
Hotline. Thanks Chuck.<br />
And to all my friends and Vegas Voice readers: Have a safe holiday<br />
season.<br />
Chuck Dean served as an Army paratrooper in Vietnam and<br />
through that experience was led to address the many transitional<br />
issues veterans struggle with. He is the author of several important<br />
books for veterans.<br />
Thank You for Your Service<br />
Sun City MacDonald Ranch Mary Fellows and Loizel Jimenez<br />
welcome residents to its Veterans Day event last month. With its color<br />
guard to start the tribute, it was an outstanding and moving “thank<br />
you” to our vets for their service.<br />
31
32<br />
Glimmers Are Gifts of Aging<br />
By: Pat Landaker / Positive Aging<br />
There are moments that happen in your life<br />
you may not take time to notice. They are<br />
glimmers of<br />
awareness<br />
that bring you happiness<br />
and joy, and they need to be<br />
acknowledged, regarded and<br />
remembered.<br />
These are gifts. See them.<br />
Receive them.<br />
Glimmers have been described<br />
as experiences that make you<br />
feel safe and connected. They’re<br />
small unexpected moments that<br />
make you feel calm, peaceful,<br />
present, joyful and spark positive<br />
feelings.<br />
A glimmer can appear differently to each individual. It can be a<br />
letter from a friend, the warmth of a loving pet, a scene in your favorite<br />
movie, a drop of rain on your face, seeing something that brings up<br />
a fond memory, the comfort of time spent with a good book or cup of<br />
Thoughts to Ponder<br />
By: Dianne Hahn / Back in the Days<br />
*<br />
Don’t let go of your dreams. Life hardly ever<br />
turns out the way you think it will, but if you<br />
give up, your<br />
dreams will disappear. A part of you<br />
will, too. Some dreams take longer<br />
to materialize. If you pay your dues,<br />
chances are you can bring the house<br />
down with yours!<br />
*Stand up for yourself and those you<br />
love. Cherish your country and guard<br />
the freedom it brings.<br />
*Be proud of who you are and take<br />
advantage of what you have been<br />
given. Those who came before you<br />
weren’t perfect, but they led you here.<br />
Most worked hard and sacrificed. Don’t<br />
waste their efforts. Use the positives they<br />
passed on and build on them. You are<br />
the future!<br />
*Walk with a steady foot and look<br />
ahead, but don’t forget to glance up at the moon and stars. Love will<br />
change the course of your world. Sip a little wine occasionally, grab<br />
your dancing shoes, and celebrate life!<br />
*Cherish the ones who have loved and cared for you. They are called<br />
family, the most important people in your life. Care for them when it’s<br />
December 2023<br />
coffee, even a special embrace.<br />
You’ll notice them when you slow down and look at the glimmers<br />
of light all around you. They represent smile-generating emotions.<br />
They’re what we get to experience more fully and mindfully as we age.<br />
Take a moment to discover,<br />
open, and acknowledge your<br />
gifts of glimmers and experience<br />
the joys of Positive Aging. Happy<br />
Holidays everyone!<br />
FYI: I’ll be holding Positive<br />
Aging workshops for Optum<br />
Nevada at both their East<br />
and West locations on<br />
January 8 th and 11 th , 2024.<br />
Workshops are FREE and<br />
you must be an Optum<br />
member to register. Please<br />
visit Optum Nevada.<br />
Pat Landaker is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and owner of<br />
Living La Vida Senior, Ageless Aging, and Senior Solutions. She<br />
also teaches Positive Aging at UNLV/OLLI. Visit www.patlandaker-<br />
AGEncy.com or email her at: info@patlandakeragency.com.<br />
your turn. That’s the chain of life.<br />
*When and if your link produces another, know that parenting will<br />
be the hardest, but most important job you’ll ever have. It will give your<br />
life meaning and instill a love in you stronger and more powerful than<br />
you can ever imagine.<br />
*Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t<br />
beat yourself up. Learn from yours.<br />
Don’t repeat.<br />
*Pay attention to your body and what<br />
it tells you. Care for it. It’s your one and<br />
only!<br />
*Handle your fragile self with care.<br />
Resentment and grudges hurt only<br />
you. Shake them off and free yourself<br />
of their bonds.<br />
*You have control. Think, plan,<br />
and walk in your own shoes or you’ll<br />
be working someone else’s plan and<br />
walking in their shoes. Secondhand<br />
shoes are uncomfortable. Shape your<br />
own style! Write your own book.<br />
*Always remember: You’re never<br />
alone. Those who came before are a<br />
part of you. Their love will forever be<br />
wrapped around you to give you warmth, hope and strength.<br />
A former schoolteacher, Dianne Sebis Hahn writes for children too.<br />
Presently, Dianne has eight books available on Amazon.com.
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33
Understanding Heart Murmurs<br />
By: Kyo Mitchell / A Healthier You<br />
Your heart is an amazing organic machine.<br />
A muscular pump which pushes blood<br />
throughout your body, the heart beats 100,000<br />
times per day and 35 million times each year with no break.<br />
The functioning of the heart is both simple and complex. It is made<br />
up of four chambers, two atria and two ventricles.<br />
The right atria is designed to pump as much blood as possible and<br />
fill up the second chamber, the right ventricle. The right ventricle then<br />
pumps blood to the lungs so that oxygen can be absorbed by red blood<br />
cells within the blood stream.<br />
The “Friendship Case”<br />
By: Ali Guggenheim / Psychic Phenomenon<br />
The Friendship Case’s story of mass alien<br />
contact has been kept secret for over half<br />
a century. For at least 20 of those years, W56, a<br />
group of Extraterrestrials, contacted hundreds of politicians and highranking<br />
world influencers to participate. Since then, many more people<br />
from all walks of life worldwide have participated.<br />
President Dwight Eisenhower, Alberto Perego, an Italian diplomat,<br />
and a handful of others assisted in coordinating the more than a<br />
hundred high-profile professionals flown on multiple UFOs and shown<br />
secret alien earth bases.<br />
The largest cluster of these bases is in Italy. Since 2007, witnesses of<br />
this incredible alien contact have finally been willing to speak, and<br />
there’s plenty of evidence to back them up.<br />
This oxygen is pertinent for the body’s cells to make energy and<br />
survive. The left atria, similar to the right atria, is designed to fill up<br />
the left ventricle as much as possible before the left ventricle contracts<br />
and sends blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the body’s approximately 37<br />
trillion cells.<br />
Where this may sound like a simple process, it is anything but. One<br />
example would be that the heart has valves. The purpose of the valves<br />
is that for the heart to work effectively and efficiently, the blood has to<br />
flow in only one direction.<br />
If the aortic valve (the valve between the left ventricle of the heart<br />
and the blood vessels which go out to the body) is defective, blood may<br />
backflow into the heart. This poses a problem because the body gets less<br />
blood and cannot fuel the functions of all tissues of the body.<br />
As tissues get less blood, their function decreases and medical<br />
problems can result.<br />
If there is a problem with one of the valves of the heart, it’s called<br />
a heart murmur. This is the sound of the blood backflowing through<br />
a defective valve. The murmur can also be felt on the wrist for those<br />
trained in the medicine of China.<br />
Murmurs can happen in reference to any of the four chambers of<br />
the heart and their respective valves. These murmurs can be relatively<br />
benign or serious depending on the extent of the backflow. Fortunately,<br />
there are surgical techniques which can effectively treat defective heart<br />
valves if serious.<br />
Dr. Kyo Mitchell served as faculty at Bastyr University in Seattle<br />
and Wongu University in Las Vegas for over a decade. Dr. Mitchell<br />
practices in Summerlin and can be reached at 702-481-6216 or<br />
rkyomitchell@gmail.com.<br />
34<br />
December 2023<br />
In the film, footage, and photos of spacecraft in flight, UFO spheres<br />
from World War II continue to amaze researchers worldwide, and even<br />
shocking footage of spheres (technology has proven they are not from<br />
the planet Earth) create complex crop circle formations. Witnesses<br />
claim that homemade videos of the influx of UFOs saturating the skies<br />
during World War II left them wondering if aliens would attack them.<br />
For the first few months after contact, Perego tells of long walks<br />
on the beach with Diempietro, the W56 Captain, and others. The<br />
Extraterrestrials, who’ve been here for centuries, spoke perfect Italian,<br />
knew Earth’s history, philosophy, and religions, and gave the humans<br />
much information during their acquaintanceship.<br />
They explained, “Earth was created for a positive purpose, but<br />
humans turned it evil.” They came in peace out of concern for our<br />
planet without intending to conquer Earth. However, they preferred not<br />
to expose themselves to humans because they were not ready for their<br />
contact.<br />
Diempietro explained that; “human morality is much lower than<br />
their own, and how critical a time this is in human history.” Atomic<br />
weapons, he went on, can destroy the world in a matter of minutes, and<br />
that is such a huge risk that it could not come to pass merely because<br />
of our low moral sense.<br />
Their task was to ensure the situation wouldn’t get out of hand.<br />
Everything should stem from love and respect. And most of all, they<br />
hoped their truth would be more potent than human doubts.<br />
To contact Ali or for spiritual consultations, coaching, workshops<br />
and readings, email: alivegasvoice@yahoo.com.
35
Is December 31 Really<br />
the Best Day to Buy a<br />
Car?<br />
By: BJ Killeen / Down the Road<br />
I<br />
’m sure you’ve all heard someone say, if you’re going to buy a new<br />
car, wait until December 31. Is this true?<br />
The answer is, yes, and no. The best time to buy a car depends on<br />
many factors.<br />
First is your immediate need for a new car. Is your vehicle looking at<br />
repairs that cost more than it’s worth? Is it still drivable?<br />
If the answer is no, then you need a car asap. Waiting till the end of<br />
the year makes no sense. If the car is still drivable and isn’t going to put<br />
you at risk, sure, you can wait.<br />
Second, is the car you’re looking to purchase a desirable model, one<br />
that is near the end of its lifecycle, or a completely new version? If so,<br />
you may get a better deal on the outgoing version, but you won’t on a<br />
new model - no matter what time of year it is.<br />
A Holiday Genealogy<br />
Journey<br />
By: Craig Smith / Exploring Your Roots<br />
Continuing with the holiday theme, let’s look<br />
at the significance of genealogy during the<br />
holiday season. The holidays are a perfect time to<br />
delve into your family’s history.<br />
As family members come together to celebrate, it’s an opportunity to<br />
share stories about your ancestors. Understanding where your family<br />
came from can help you appreciate the unique traditions and customs<br />
that have been passed down through the years.<br />
Sharing holiday recipes is always a great way to pass down traditions.<br />
In my family, our somewhat non-traditional Christmas Eve dinner<br />
has been passed down since I was a little tyke. To this day, my son,<br />
grandchildren, and great grandchildren have the same dinner every<br />
Christmas Eve.<br />
It’s true that every dealership (as well as every manufacturer) wants<br />
to sell as many vehicles before reporting year-end sale figures. But they<br />
aren’t giving anything away at sub-bargain prices.<br />
It comes back to doing your homework before you buy, just as you<br />
would any time of year.<br />
Yes, there are some decent deals, especially for vehicles already on<br />
the lot, but keep in mind that car buying takes more than a few hours.<br />
If you are doing a trade, they will want to inspect it to make sure the<br />
value is there.<br />
Are your finances in order? Any credit glitch can hang up the deal,<br />
and instead of walking away with a vehicle on the 31 st , you’re out of<br />
luck on January 2.<br />
Plus, expect them to be busy, so patience will be a virtue. It’s smarter<br />
to go to the dealership any time in December when the sales have<br />
already started. They won’t be as rushed, you’ll have time to remedy<br />
any glitches, and you’ll still get a decent bargain.<br />
Good luck and happy shopping!<br />
BJ Killeen has been an automotive journalist for over 30 years.<br />
She welcomes all questions and inquiries, and can be reached at<br />
bjkdtr@gmail.com<br />
36<br />
December 2023<br />
Even when we can’t be together, we use FaceTime to share our dinner<br />
every year. I always take the opportunity to explain to the youngsters the<br />
family tradition and how long we have been eating the non-traditional<br />
family meal.<br />
While the holidays are a great time for sharing traditions and family<br />
stories, it is also a great time to start your genealogical adventure. This<br />
is the best time of year to subscribe to online resources such as Ancestry<br />
and MyHeritage.<br />
Many of these commercial genealogy websites offer great discounts<br />
for monthly or annual subscriptions. Subscription discounts range<br />
from 20% - 40% off regular subscriptions.<br />
It is also a good time to sign up for DNA tests. DNA testing will help<br />
discover your genetic roots and connect with distant relatives. Websites<br />
like Ancestry, FamilyTree DNA and MyHeritage offer insights into<br />
your ethnic origins and can help you build a more comprehensive<br />
family tree.<br />
This holiday season, explore your family’s history, traditions, and<br />
recipes, and make new connections with your roots. I should also<br />
mention that researching your family tree can be fun and exciting.<br />
Happy holidays and happy hunting!<br />
Craig Smith is the President of the Clark County Nevada<br />
Genealogical Society. The Society meets on the third Saturday of<br />
each month at the Paseo Verde Library in Henderson. Craig can<br />
be contacted at president@ccngs.org
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Our Coldest Month<br />
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening<br />
December is the coldest month in Las Vegas.<br />
Although daytime temperatures can be quite<br />
moderate, evening temperatures can dip down to<br />
the low 30’s or below!<br />
There are preventative measures to protect your landscapes from<br />
cold damage as well as preparing your gardens for the<br />
Spring. Inspect your irrigation systems making certain that<br />
the narrow tubing is buried at least 2” below the ground to<br />
prevent freezing, splitting and leaks.<br />
Check the underground irrigation boxes for frozen<br />
valves and make sure you have placed insulated covers<br />
over exposed spigots and pipes. Close down fountains and<br />
other “water features” that may freeze.<br />
December is a good time to replenish both rock and<br />
organic mulch in order to protect soil and roots from freezing.<br />
Once leaves have fallen off deciduous trees and bushes, remove any<br />
remaining rubbish from you landscape to prevent unwanted rodents<br />
and insects from building nests.<br />
Any remaining pruning should be completed. Wait until Mid-<br />
December for “late” blooming plants to go dormant before heavily<br />
pruning.<br />
At that time, 1/3 of the tops and side branches of roses should be<br />
removed and lantana and lavender plants should be pruned down to<br />
soil level. Heavy pruning of Texas Rangers, Jasmines and Hawthornes<br />
will stimulate fresh growth and flowering once the growing season<br />
begins.<br />
Follow the Water Authority Winter Schedule for “once a week”<br />
irrigation. Remember, however, NOT to water after the sun goes down<br />
or when ground temperatures approach freezing.<br />
Succulents should NOT be watered at all during December through<br />
January.<br />
Cold sensitive plants can be wrapped with burlap while<br />
young plants can be protected by placing Styrofoam<br />
cups over their tops to insulate them from cold and wind<br />
damage.<br />
Plants can also be protected by wrapping them with<br />
outdoor (non-LED) Christmas lights that can be turned on<br />
during cold winter nights. An old blanket can be thrown<br />
over delicate bushes when temperatures go below freezing.<br />
Potted plants should be moved close to the outer walls of your home<br />
to take advantage of the sun’s reflected heat. During prolonged cold<br />
spells, move these pots into your garage.<br />
Have a gardening question? Contact me at: Theplantwhisperer28@<br />
gmail.com.<br />
Howard Galin is a University of Nevada certified Master<br />
Gardener who lectures on, and writes about native plants and<br />
desert landscaping<br />
38 December 2023
Next Year Plans<br />
By: Stu Cooper / Happy Adventures<br />
2024 is upon us. Sharon and I want to thank all<br />
of you who participated in our trips this past<br />
year. And I want to tell you about the trips we have<br />
coming up in the next year.<br />
Yes, we will have are usual array of “Bus to the Boat” trips. However,<br />
the trip that seems to be garnering the most interest is our Vegas Voyagers<br />
River Boat cruise with Viking River Cruises<br />
October 24 - 31, 2024.<br />
We will be sailing<br />
through Switzerland,<br />
Germany, France and<br />
the Netherlands as we<br />
cruise the Rhine River. Space is<br />
limited as the vessel holds only 180<br />
passengers and it will fill quickly.<br />
As for Buses to the Boat, we still have limited availability if you want to<br />
cruise the Mexican Riviera on January 6 – 13 on Princess Cruise Line’s<br />
Discovery Princess. We have 130 “Voyagers” cruising on this cruise.<br />
Our FOLK LEGACY TRIO CRUISE along the coast of California, March<br />
9 – 16, 2024 is also extremely popular. We have close to 100 “Voyagers”<br />
joining us for that cruise.<br />
If long (and I mean long cruises) are of interest to you, consider<br />
our 32 night south Pacific cruise April 5 th on the Sapphire Princess. It’s<br />
round trip from Los Angeles, cruising to Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa and Tahiti.<br />
Our Bus to the Boat program includes a 10 night Baja Mexico cruise<br />
on the Grand Princess January 4 – 14, 2025.<br />
Last, but not least,, we will be cruising to Hawaii for a special 16 night<br />
Tony Arias & Friends cruise February 25, 2025. It is over one year away<br />
but this is going to be a great cruise as we sail to Hawaii and include<br />
several great concerts with Tony and his friends.<br />
There you have it, an overview of our Vegas Voyager trips for the next<br />
year, with more to be added. A happy and healthy 2024 to all.<br />
Cruising in 2024<br />
Sharon Cooper gets ready<br />
to greet Vegas Voyagers at its<br />
recent Travel Club meetings<br />
in Henderson and Summerlin<br />
last month. We have some<br />
great cruises coming up next<br />
year!<br />
39
40<br />
Enduring Mottos For the<br />
New Year<br />
By: Heather Latimer / Heather’s Self-Help Tips<br />
*<br />
Actions speak louder than words.<br />
*Don’t close the gate after the donkey is out.<br />
*The early bird catches the worm.<br />
*Never make a mountain out of a molehill.<br />
*When the cat is away the mice will play.<br />
*Always saddle your own horse.<br />
*You can’t un-ring a bell.<br />
*Look before you leap.<br />
*Don’t cover one<br />
mistake with another<br />
mistake.<br />
*Never let the sun go<br />
down on your anger.<br />
*Birds of a feather flock<br />
together.<br />
*There are two sides to<br />
every pancake.<br />
*You can take a horse to<br />
water but you can’t make<br />
him drink.<br />
*Be sure to always make<br />
a Plan B.<br />
*Every cloud has a silver<br />
lining.<br />
*Nothing ventured,<br />
nothing gained.<br />
*Don’t burn you bridges<br />
before you reach them.<br />
*You reap what you sow.<br />
*The squeaky wheel gets the oil.<br />
*You can’t get blood from a stone.<br />
*Forewarned is forearmed.<br />
*Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked in his shoes.<br />
*You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.<br />
*All that glitters is not gold.<br />
*If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.<br />
*Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.<br />
*Err on the side of caution.<br />
*A picture is worth a thousand words.<br />
*You can’t eat your cake and eat it too.<br />
*If you can’t beat them, join them.<br />
*Be careful what you wish for. You might get it.<br />
*He who hesitates is lost.<br />
*Better to be safe than sorry.<br />
*Truth is stranger than fiction.<br />
Heather Latimer is a nationally recognized specialist in making<br />
difficult subjects easy and author of 17 books. See amazon.com/<br />
heather latimer/how to overcome.<br />
December 2023<br />
Killers of the Flower Moon<br />
By: Renee Riendeau / Movie Revelations<br />
Based on David Grann’s 2017 bestselling book,<br />
it tells the story of a string of murders on the<br />
Osage Nation’s land in Oklahoma during the<br />
1920s.<br />
The movie delves into racial and family dynamics that rocked<br />
Oklahoma when oil was discovered on Osage lands. Martin Scorsese<br />
was fascinated by the book and decided to co-write the film with Eric<br />
Roth. He also produced<br />
and directed the movie<br />
The cast includes<br />
Leonardo DiCaprio,<br />
Robert De Niro,<br />
Lily Gladstone,<br />
John Lithgow, and<br />
Brendan Fraser, to<br />
name a few.<br />
At least 60 Osage<br />
people were murdered<br />
or disappeared between<br />
1921 and 1925. From the<br />
early 1800s through the<br />
1930s, official US policy<br />
displaced thousands<br />
of Native Americans<br />
from their ancestral<br />
homes through the<br />
policy known as Indian<br />
Removal, or Reign of<br />
Terror.<br />
This forced removal touched every tribe east of the Mississippi. In<br />
total, about 100,000 American Indians were removed from their<br />
Eastern homelands to Western reservations.<br />
As a director, “I know the story should be profound and I should feel<br />
the hearts of characters in my heart and gut” says Scorsese.” Critics<br />
consensus states “It would take a century to tell the true crime story of<br />
the Osage Nation..”<br />
This film is very long (3 hours 26 minutes) and is a sobering<br />
appraisal of America’s relationship with Indigenous peoples. Every<br />
moment of silence is powerful, purposeful, and more than worth the<br />
runtime.<br />
It’s another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators.<br />
The acting was strong, the cinematography was gorgeous, and it’s a<br />
powerful story that kept the audience engrossed in spite of its slower<br />
pace and extreme length.<br />
It kept me “locked in.” I love true stories and really enjoyed this<br />
movie as did the rest of the theater’s crowd. I give this outstanding film<br />
a big “5!”<br />
Renee Riendeau is the movie reviewer for The Vegas Voice. Renee<br />
can be reached at rriendeau@aol.com and is anxious to hear<br />
from you.
41
God Rest Me, Merry Gentlemen!<br />
By: Vicki Wentz / Vicki’s Voice<br />
The days between Halloween and New Years<br />
are my favorite time of year, especially this<br />
little stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas.<br />
However, speaking as a grandparent, I am betting<br />
that if your home contains any grandchildren under the age of twenty,<br />
life around now is just a big bowl of<br />
chaos.<br />
And, as the 25th approaches, the<br />
havoc will rise until you are spending<br />
Christmas Day hiding under your<br />
computer desk, chugging Jack<br />
Daniels-spiked eggnog, behind a big<br />
frozen turkey you forgot to defrost...<br />
not that I ever did that.<br />
But, really, this time of year is all<br />
about the children - the thrill on their<br />
faces, the awe and wonder in their<br />
eyes, the adorable way they hurl your<br />
newly decorated Christmas cookies<br />
at each other during that dandy candy-cane sugar high… yes, that’s<br />
what’s important.<br />
It’s about hiding a scooter, a trampoline, a life-size dollhouse, and<br />
a turtle, from kids who suddenly have the uncanny ability to morph<br />
into a liquid and slither through locked, chained, and barred doors.<br />
So, eventually, you will tell them that Santa wears a “peeking” beeper,<br />
and that if any children see their presents before the big day, he will get<br />
beeped and go into cardiac arrest and there will be no Christmas.<br />
It scares the fruitcake out of them, which is a good tool during the<br />
holiday season.<br />
(One year, my children were so savagely persistent, I finally climbed<br />
up and threw their unwrapped gifts down from the attic. Then, I pulled<br />
the steps up behind me and sat in the<br />
rafters all day, remembering when<br />
they were tiny and had that new-baby<br />
smell and would never have thought<br />
of peeking at their presents because<br />
all they really wanted was a good box<br />
lid to chew on.)<br />
It’s about taking the whole family<br />
merrily off to buy the tree at the<br />
Methodist church (where you don’t<br />
belong, but hey, they’re cheaper!)<br />
but everybody wants a different tree,<br />
and grandma rules, so they sulk all<br />
the way home and nobody wants to<br />
decorate “such a stinky, cruddy tree.” But you haul it inside and jam it<br />
into the tree stand to find that it’s six inches too tall and you’ll have to<br />
climb up on a kitchen chair and hack at it with your only good steak<br />
knife.<br />
Finally, when you double-check last year’s lights to find that not even<br />
ONE strand is working, you blow. You warn the sulkers that after you get<br />
the non-working lights on the hacked-up, stinky tree, everyone better<br />
get their behinds to trimming or there will be NO PEACE ON EARTH!<br />
Christmas is also about visiting Santa at the mall. Why?<br />
Everyone knows that kids only love Santa Claus until they are plunked<br />
into his lap. You could be doing a complete Olympic gymnastics routine<br />
in order to make little Junior smile for the camera, but trust me, he’ll<br />
take one look at that massive beard and scream like you’ve handed<br />
him to Fidel Castro. Yeah, good times.<br />
Finally, it’s about Christmas Eve, when the children are at last asleep,<br />
and you spend the next nine hours assembling a tricycle, a pinball<br />
game, and a snow cone machine, following directions on a box that<br />
read “Assembly should take no longer than 30 minutes.”<br />
(Everyone knows you never believe boxes. Boxes lie. Boxes watch us<br />
happily settle down to assemble stuff and laugh hysterically; eager to<br />
tell the other boxes at the landfill about the doofus who bought the<br />
tricycle and believed the stuff on the box.)<br />
Meanwhile, you scoff at “It’s a Wonderful Life”, eat Santa’s cookies<br />
and drink Santa’s milk, and at 4:00 am you drift off to sleep, slumped<br />
on the floor against the couch, bits of tinsel clinging to your hair, a<br />
piece of scotch tape stuck to your lower lip, your hands curled in frozen<br />
wrapping spasms…and God bless us everyone.<br />
42<br />
December 2023<br />
Vicki Wentz is a writer, teacher and speaker living in North<br />
Carolina. Readers may contact her - and order her new children’s<br />
book! - by visiting her website at www.vickiwentz.com.
The Vegas Voice<br />
Wins 16<br />
Awards!<br />
Our Winning Categories Were:<br />
Column Review<br />
Senior Profile<br />
Senior Issues<br />
Editorial Opinion<br />
Website Excellence<br />
Best Banner<br />
Best Use of Color<br />
Best Single Color Ad<br />
Front Cover Illustration<br />
NAMPA Self Promotion<br />
(last but not least)<br />
Best in Show<br />
Ringo would<br />
be proud – we<br />
certainly are!<br />
43
What’s the Word?<br />
By: Mark Richards / Games & Shows<br />
From the “clue,” we reveal 3 letters in each<br />
word and you need to fill in the blanks. How<br />
many can you get? Answers below.<br />
1. People usually toast them<br />
___ E ___ ___Y ___E ___ ___<br />
2. They do a lot of name calling<br />
T ___ ___ ___ H ___ ___S<br />
3. They often run around in circles<br />
___ A ___ S ___E ___ ___<br />
4. It’s not for real<br />
___ ___ C ___ I ___ N<br />
5. They’re not getting any younger<br />
___ ___T ___ ___ U ___ S<br />
6. It can start a long sentence<br />
___ E ___ ___I ___ T<br />
7. He loved playing his horn<br />
___ A ___ ___ H ___ 0<br />
8. They make you feel older<br />
___ I ___ ___ H ___ A ___ ___<br />
9. They make a lot of men smile<br />
___ T ___ I ___ ___ E ___ ___<br />
10. There’s no future in it<br />
___ E ___ ___ E ___ D ___ ___<br />
ANSWERS<br />
(1) Newlyweds, (2) Teachers, (3) Hamsters, (4) Fiction, (5)<br />
Antiques, (6) Verdict,<br />
(7) Satchmo, (8) Birthdays, (9) Strippers, (10) Yesterday<br />
Why Nookie Is Good For You<br />
By: Lauren Tallman / Erotic Las Vegas<br />
Put down the crossword puzzles and stop taking<br />
memory supplements by the fistful. Seniors<br />
who want to stay in sharper mental shape should<br />
start having more sex.<br />
“Sex can be hugely beneficial for people as they get older, not only<br />
for the reported medical health benefits but for our psychological and<br />
emotional health,” said Kate Thomas, director of clinical services at<br />
The Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic, in an interview with AARP.<br />
“It can strengthen our relationships, promote self-esteem, and improve<br />
our sense of identity.”<br />
According to the Journal of Sex Research, adults aged 75-90 who have<br />
more frequent sex have better cerebral functioning, and for adults aged<br />
62-74, better sexual quality, feelings of physical pleasure, emotional<br />
satisfaction and better cognitive functioning.<br />
Let’s face it, seniors have fewer distractions, don’t have to worry about<br />
pregnancy concerns, and have more time to get busy in between the<br />
sheets. They have a lot more experience than younger people, and they<br />
usually are willing to enjoy sexual contact and intimacy with roleplaying,<br />
sex toys, and even by pursuing the thrill of an affair.<br />
And “sex” doesn’t mean only intercourse and achieving the “Big O.”<br />
Sexual activity that stimulates brain matter has been proven to happen<br />
when you touch or hold hands, embrace or hug, or kiss. Marriage.<br />
com reports kissing is an ageless emotional act that releases feel-good<br />
chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin in your brain.<br />
A Senior Sex guide published by the Centers For Disease Control and<br />
Prevention (CDC) and the Mayo Clinic finds intimacy in older adults<br />
contributes to less stress, better healing, and a lower risk of depression.<br />
So, next time you’re spending a boring night in front of the TV, turn<br />
to your partner instead and start turning up the heat. Studies have<br />
shown that seniors who are generally healthier are probably more<br />
sexually active.<br />
“Continuing [sexual] activity provides protection against a sense<br />
of aging and loss,” John DeLamater , a sociology professor at the<br />
University of Wisconsin - Madison, told Reuters. “The sexuality of older<br />
people should be considered and encouraged.”<br />
44<br />
December 2023<br />
Lauren Tallman is founder of the Erotic Writers Group of Las Vegas<br />
and author of “Harem of the Dragon,” “Come Again?,” and “How<br />
to Have an Affair and Not Get Caught.” Visit her website: laurentallman.com.
The Vegas Voice invites you to enjoy DINNER ON US!<br />
You could be one of many winners of a $50 dinner certificate to your choice of one OR<br />
more of the following restaurants. Simply visit our website: thevegasvoice.net and<br />
choose the restaurant(s) you would like to visit should you win. On December 20, we<br />
will randomly choose names and notify winners by email. Thank you for participating!<br />
Enjoy a Teppanyaki Premier Dining Experience when you visit the allnew<br />
Izumi Japanese Steakhouse with 14 Hibachi Grills and Sushi<br />
area. During our Grand Opening, you will receive $10 off your Guest<br />
Check over $60, $20 off your Guest Check over $100, and $30 off your<br />
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9310 S Eastern and Serene/ south of I-215 behind Denny’s<br />
702-331-3592 izumisteakhouselasvegas.com<br />
Anna Marie’s Italian Cuisine is family owned and operated. Because<br />
our entire staff is a very close-knit group, we are the perfect dining<br />
establishment for neighbors, friends, family and extended family to<br />
enjoy your favorite Italian dishes prepared by our amazing chefs. And<br />
our open concept and warm decor adds to the family atmosphere.<br />
10170 W Tropicana * 725-605-3800 annamariesitaliancuisine.com<br />
The menu at the all-new Casbah Mediterranean Restaurant<br />
takes you on a tantalizing tour through Turkey, Morocco, the<br />
Middle East and Lebanon, presenting a rich array of flavors and<br />
aromas that celebrate the region’s culinary heritage. We serve<br />
amazing food at reasonable prices and FREE Baklava with this<br />
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The next time you have that special occasion, business meeting or family<br />
gathering, stop in and see us. Our friendly staff is waiting to serve you the finest<br />
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45
A Delicious Vegan Holiday Dessert For Fun & For Brains!<br />
By: Jan Fair / A No-Brainer Minute<br />
W<br />
e've had several recipes for vegan dishes this year (see my April, October & November<br />
columns at JanFair.com). So let's end the year with one of my *Good-4-U vegan desserts.<br />
Also, you might check out (from your local library, that is!) Katie Culpin's book, Vegan Holiday<br />
Cookbook: Festive Plant-Based Meals & Desserts for the Thanksgiving & Christmas Table.<br />
*Good-4-U No-Sugar Apple Tarts<br />
• 1 pre-made pastry crust<br />
• 4 HoneyCrisp apples<br />
• 1/2 lemon, juiced<br />
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce<br />
Spices: cinnamon & nutmeg<br />
1. Cut the pastry sheet into 4" x 4" squares.<br />
2. Press each square into a muffin pan &<br />
fold the sides to form a ruffled crust.<br />
3. Thinly slice the apples into a bowl. Mix<br />
in lemon juice, applesauce & spices.<br />
4. Spoon apple mixture into each crust.<br />
5. Bake at 375°F until edges are golden<br />
brown (30-40 minutes)<br />
6. Serve with "Fabulous Faux IceCream"<br />
(see Jan's February 2013 column at JanFair.com)<br />
Jan Fair is a writer, consultant & public speaker who has published over 40 books PLUS the<br />
No-Brainer Brain Games series. Sign up for her FREE newsletter at www.JanFair.com<br />
Mental Minutes<br />
“Fruit Tarts”<br />
1. In one minute, name fruits<br />
used to make tarts.<br />
2. Make an alphabetical list.<br />
Apricots, Boysenberries,<br />
Clementines, …<br />
A No-Brainer Pick<br />
www.ThisHealthyKitchen.com<br />
*Good-4-U recipes have<br />
just 4 ingredients (plus<br />
spices) so they are quick<br />
& easy no-brainer recipes.<br />
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