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Martha woke up early, feeling the familiar ache in her hip as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She rubbed the sore spot, a reminder of her 75 years on this earth. Despite the discomfort, she was determined to get her laundry done today. As she entered the laundry room, she was greeted by a technician tinkering with the washing machines. Martha's eyes widened as she saw the coin boxes being removed, replaced by sleek credit card readers. "What am I supposed to do?" Martha asked the technician, concerned. The technician, a young man...
By now most people are aware that we have a lottery in Alaska. However, I don't think that people are aware of how it functions and of the benefits it provides to local nonprofit agencies of Alaska. The income from Lotto Alaska goes to support nonprofit agencies and we at Nenana Senior Center count ourselves as blessed to have received help from the lotto at the beginning of September. We are a rural nonprofit, 501.c3 senior center and have been incorporated since 1978. We have seen years when the budget went a long way in meeting the needs of...
Gift cards have become a staple in the world of modern shopping. But before you grab one from that colorful kiosk, you should be aware of the potential pitfalls. While gift card sales skyrocketed from $130 billion in 2015 to $173 billion in 2021, they have also become a popular target for criminals as they can buy them anonymously and redeem them remotely. Researchers estimate that $40 to $50 billion is stolen through gift card scams each year. There are two typical scams involving gift cards: cards purchased that have a zero balance and gift...
Q: People talk about improving their lives each year, but where do I begin? A: With a new year upon us, many individuals want to hit the reset button or find a new direction in their lives. But starting that journey can be tough, especially in a world that ties well-being to happiness and success. Many adults end up stuck in languishing—caught in a space where they aren't completely satisfied, but aren’t really unhappy either. The great news is that this feeling of stagnation can be tra...
Medicare coverage is good, but it is not all-inclusive. There are many things that Medicare does not cover. For example, Medicare does not cover most dental, vision and hearing care, including hearing aids. Nor does it cover most non-emergency transportation or care outside of our country. Even when Medicare covers your care, there may be costs left to you, like copays and coinsurances—these costs can add up. An example, for an outpatient visit to a physician who accepts the assigned billing r...
The power can go out any time, leaving us in the dark and potentially vulnerable. While outages are usually just an inconvenience, being prepared can help keep you safe and comfortable until the electricity returns. Get ready for power outages by keeping important items where you can easily find them. Your emergency kit should have three main things: flashlights with fresh batteries, a radio that works on batteries, and enough bottled water. Keep everything in a drawer or cabinet near where you...
Editor's note: Al Clayton, who died in 2008, recounted his Alaskan truck driving experiences to his daughter, Maraley McMichael, in 2005. She has written and submitted the story in two parts. In November 1946, I was working at the Seward power plant when I received a phone call. My mother was dying in Dillon, Montana. After packing some clothes in a suitcase, I took a taxicab to the airport and flew from Seward to Anchorage on Christensen Airways. Once in Anchorage, I booked a flight to...
Known as the "Hostess of Fairbanks," Eva McGown dedicated her life to helping newcomers find shelter when housing shortages were the order of the day – particularly during World War II. Her empathy may have been due to her firsthand knowledge about the hardships and loneliness travelers faced on their quest to reach Alaska. Born Eva Montgomery in Northern Ireland in 1883, she had been communicating via letters with New York born Arthur Louis McGown, part-owner of the Model Café in the Golden He...
As one of the last prolific character actors who launched their film and television careers in the 1950s-and subsequently spanning eight decades with hundreds of roles – it's no surprise that H.M. Wynant didn't have instant recall when interviewed by author Steven Peros for his new book, "H.M. Wynant – You Must Believe!" "I was kind of amazed -he wanted to do a book about me?" said Wynant from his home in Los Angeles. "But Steven did his research and dropped clues about my previous roles and...
Let us imagine I am a local TV weatherman, and in the promos leading up to tonight’s newscast, I say “A massive storm is about to hit Alaska!” But then, when it comes to the actual newscast, I admit that the storm, while massive, will only be reaching the most westerly of the Aleutian Islands, not coming anywhere near most of the state. You would probably be more than a bit annoyed with me for wasting your time. But on the other hand, let us say that word had gotten out that there was a massi...
Q. I would like to find someone to tutor me on how to get the most out of my new Mac laptop. I’m looking for classes, coaching or any other suggestions you can offer. A. This is a great question, and the answer depends somewhat on your location so I will start there. But there is also a wealth of online options as well. There once was a thriving network of Apple User Groups spread across the world where volunteers would gather regularly to share information. These can be great places to find tutors or information about your local Mac c...
This year the spirit of Christmas in Alaska may be overwhelmed by the politics of the times and a tsunami of electronic gifts and doodads. But looking through Alaska newspaper clippings from 100 years ago, Christmas had more to do with turkey shoots and a kindly police chief ... Turkey Shoot at Kennecott A very successful turkey shoot was held at Kennecott on Christmas day starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 3:30 p.m. It was a decided financial success as well as being thoroughly enjoyed by bo...
The first snow has fallen across Alaska, transforming our landscape into a quiet wonderland. But December brings more than just crystalline beauty – it carries the profound warmth of human connection, wrapped in the age-old tradition of giving. Think back to the most meaningful gift you've ever received. Chances are, its value wasn't measured in dollars, but in the thought behind it. This season, we're reimagining gift-giving through a lens of wellness and intention. In a world increasingly dominated by screens, gifting items that encourage a...
Last year for the first time ever, the nation's top panel of preventive health experts, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF, recommended that doctors routinely screen all adult patients under 65 for anxiety disorder. Evidence shows that anxiety screening can help those patients find peace of mind, as the USPSTF said in recommendations that were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in June of 2023. The Task Force found for patients age 19 to 64 evidence is robust that screening leads to a reduction of...
Preventive care helps avoid illness, detect medical conditions, and keep you healthy. A preventive medical service is conducted when you have no prior symptoms of disease. In contrast, diagnostic services address symptoms or conditions that you already have. In this month’s article I will describe how Medicare covers preventive care. Medicare covers preventive services Medicare’s Part B outpatient care covers many preventive services, such as screenings, vaccines, and counseling. To find out...
Medication may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease Researchers at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have found that when compared to seven other anti-diabetic drugs, semaglutide, a popular diabetes and weight-loss drug, may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1R) molecule that decreases hunger and helps regulate blood sugar, is also the active component in the diabetes and weight loss drugs Wegovy a...
Q: I have heard that as you get older there are more risks when undergoing anesthesia. What are they? A: As the new year approaches, many individuals are considering elective surgeries. This is an opportune time to reflect on your own health status. With aging, individuals often encounter medical issues related to cardiovascular, pulmonary or neurological conditions. It is important to discuss these issues with your healthcare provider before undergoing anesthesia for surgical procedures. A...
As winter approaches and we spend more time indoors with our heaters running, I want to talk about a danger that claims hundreds of lives every year. Carbon monoxide gives no warning, even as it poisons you. This invisible, odorless gas is often called "the silent killer," and seniors are disproportionately vulnerable to its effects. Carbon monoxide is also called CO. It is not called CO2, which is a normal and necessary part of breathing. Every year in the United States, at least 430 people...
Last December, I read a humorous story about amaryllis bulbs in the weekly email I receive from my favorite gardening magazine, "Green Prints". In the story, confusion about beautiful naked ladies dancing in a back yard resulted in much trouble. However, the naked ladies turned out to be amaryllis plants and the magazine went on to say that the story never happened – it was fiction, but that laughter is good for all of us. I'd never before heard of amaryllis as "naked ladies" and I've been a g...
When termination dust sprinkles Alaska's mountain peaks, the summer tourists depart in campers, cruise ships, and V formations soaring over the yellow birches. An estimated 5 billion birds from 250 species visit Alaska to breed each year, following established migration routes called flyways. But even bountiful Arctic ecosystems can't feed this many birds all year round. At the end of nesting season, these nomads embark on incredible-and increasingly difficult-journeys to their winter homes....
Tis the season when television channels bombard us with round-the-clock Christmas movies while radio stations across the country add festive tunes to their daily playlists. In the latter case, one divisive ditty has been traditionally considered naughty or nice. Elmo Shropshire didn't write "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," but he's been singing the jolly jingle with the not-so-jolly lyrics since first hearing it in Lake Tahoe in the late 70s. The song was released in 1979 and credited to...
You take a chance getting up in the morning, crossing the street, or sticking your face in a fan. – Frank Drebin in “The Naked Gun” Three years ago our beloved Congress slipped a new law through, hidden inside another law which wasn’t even related to the same topic, called the Corporate Transparency Act. When people see the name, they generally assume it has some relationship to big corporations with billions of dollars and offices on Wall Street, so they don’t have to worry about it. Actually...
Q. The Apple Photos app is really different after this last update. Is there a way to change it back? A. Apple revamped the Photos app this year. All the same functions are there, but the initial screen presents them differently. Although it might seem like change for change’s sake at first, let’s take a deeper look. In many ways, the old app wasn’t that great. The new design makes it easier to find the major part of the app more quickly. Rather than simply showing the photos, it presents the major parts of the app in a single scrolling windo...
I was talking with someone at a social gathering. A wonderful supplement was mentioned that would boost my energy. I didn’t write it down but it sounded like Sporkblot, or maybe Batspawn? Well, no matter. I’ll just wander over to the local drug store and find it. But I get there and I am faced with 30 feet of shelving overflowing with hundreds of supplements aggressively strutting their stuff. Yikes! What do I do? Ahhh. I am enveloped in a moment of focused calm. (Ok, I am not calm. It’s an apocryphal story.) I visualize the Office of Dieta...
As the holiday season kicks off, so does a wave of scams targeting those of us enjoying holiday activities. Here are some of the most prevalent scams to watch out for during this festive period. Online shopping scams As legitimate retailers launch their seasonal promotions, scammers are also intensifying their efforts to deceive bargain-hunting shoppers. These criminals create bogus websites and social media campaigns with amazing deals. If it is too good to be true, it is a scam. They impersonate major brands, using fake posts and...
