Sunday, March 11, 2007

THINGS TO DO AND HISTORY

THINGS TO DO Southern Nevada

Awesome One Day Get Aways (With Potty stops noted.)
Cheap Tickets (Nationwide)
Culture & Performing Arts
Farmers Markets***
Finding Lost Money Nationwide
Fung Shui
Genealogy (digging up dirt, family style :)
History (just the good stuff)

The Farmer’s Markets tend to move around so check their website to be sure.
www.lasvegasfarmersmarkets.com See Interesting Web Sites for Nationwide Mkts.


AWESOME ONE DAY GETAWAY’S
Just a few hints before you jump into the car and take off.

TRAVELING
Take care, always! Go prepared!

It’s a MUST, YOU JUST HAVE TO DO IT, check your car fluids and tire pressure. Bad tires cause a lot of accidents, low air pressure wastes gas by the gallons. Get some of those little goodies that screw on to your tire valves and turn red when the air pressure is too low. They work, I have them. Something new that I like. Now you can have Nitrogen put in your tires, like the race car drivers have. It keeps the pressure even for as long as 6 months and that saves wear and tear, and money, on your tires. I found it at Costco Tire Center.

If you have automatically locking car doors, be sure to always leave a window down when “hopping out of the car” for a quick look at something. It is MUCH MUCH to easy to lock yourself out of your car even with the motor running.

ALWAYS carry extra water for your car and you. Take snacks and always always always carry a few extra pills that are vital to your well being. You know what they are. The huge traffic jam you get stuck in due to someone else Being
stupid could get you a ride in an ambulance too. Especially true for those with diabetes or low blood sugar. I carry nuts and beef jerky.

Put these in your car in a small carrying case to keep it neat.
1 or 2 small blankets, I LOVE micro fleece. Small but warm.
A first aide kit A flashlight with extra batteries, Check it often

TRAVELING
Take care, always! Go prepared!

An umbrella, bright yellow is best
A cheap air horn and a whistle
An insulated windshield sunscreen, or even 2
Sun screen, a cheap hat, gloves
Whatever else that would make it easier for you if you were stuck between a rut and a worse place.

Basics are fine, BUT add those things that meet your needs if you get stuck somewhere based on the weather.

AWESOME ONE DAY GETAWAY’S

Cell phone? Usually they don’t work if you are REALLY stuck in an out of the way area. I love out of the way areas, my motto is “any old road will do.” So I carry a walkie talkie and fresh batteries.

If you have to take a walk you’ll need tennis shoes and socks. When you buy a new pair put the old ones in your trunk or bag. Don’t forget comfy socks. Heels or open sandals just don’t cut it. Add what ever else that you know you would want if you got stuck somewhere. I carry a bottle of stuff to get the water out of my gas if I need it. It has happened, usually in the middle of the boonies, but not since I started carrying a little bottle of prevention. It’s cheap too!

You are in the desert. Really, in the desert. Anyway you go there will be more desert before there is anything to see or do. So………. A few suggestions.

If you like music while you drive, you will need to take it with you. CD’s or cassette tapes unless you like to sing or enjoy silence, a lot of it. As an example, I drove Death Valley and the only thing on the radio was drumming, Native American drumming. I enjoyed it BUT I always carry CD’s in my car now. I listened to the drums for a very long time. They are beautiful but almost hypnotic after a period of time.

Travel with drinks, water, a thermos of coffee and snacks like nuts, cookies, fruit, you know what you like. On long drives, take a lunch, pack a picnic lunch or heavy snacks. It can be a long way between places where you can buy food and sometimes you don’t want to buy what you see. That is a hint. There are usually lots of places to stop and fix your own goodies, if you brought them. I like to carry mustard and mayo in my cooler so I can pick up some fresh rolls and deli meat at a market just before leaving town. Don’t forget your drinks. AND take any medications you need with you.

A lot of places to see are in National Parks so just go ahead and buy a pass. If you are over 62, it’s only 10 bucks for a
life time pass. Otherwise it’s 40 big ones every year and it is still a good deal. In most cases you can get a discount pass if you are handicapped. It is worth asking.

Go forth, seek, find and ENJOY!

SOUTHWESTERN UTAH
Lots of terrific things to see and do year round

BASIC DIRECTIONS: Take the I 15 North to Utah. It’s about 120 miles or 1 ½ to 2 hours, depending on how heavy your foot is.
POTTY STOPS:
1) Take the Speedway Exit to the truck stop restaurant. If you park in back it’s must faster!
2) Moapa Smoke and Fireworks Shop

3) Mesquite, either exit. Try McD at the first one and Burger King at the second one.
4) Rest stop just inside Utah. Behind the truck inspection.

FOOD STOPS:
Shoney’s at the St. George exit (go right) is almost always good. I like their breakfast buffet. Taco Time (go left) is good for lunch or whatever. They are closed on Sunday’s. There are a lot of places to choose from on both sides of the I 15.

1st Trip
Get off on Bluff St, go left, follow signs to Santa Clara. Enjoy the history, roadside stands with fruits, nuts, jams, & honey. Take your time and fool around. You’ll want to come back many times.

2nd Trip
Get off on Bluff St, go left and follow the road past Santa Clara to Snow Canyon sign and make a left. You won’t need directions to find this interesting and beautiful. Just follow the signs.

3rd Trip
This time keep going past the Snow Canyon turn off to the Pine Valley turn off. Go right, keep following the signs. When you see a small white church on your right side and you have to go either right or left, go right. Park by the church and check it out. It has guided tours from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. It’s built like a wooden ship upside down. Take your time, then when you are finished turn around and go to your left. It’ll cost you a few bucks to get in the park but it is more than worth it. This is where you will want to have a picnic lunch or come back and camp or fish or walk or hike or anything that feels good. It is a beautiful place, I love the reservoir. Sometimes just silence and trees is about as good as it can get.

4th Trip
Head for St George, again, have lunch and then get back on the I 15, go right at the Zion turn off. Zion is incredible any time of the year. The shuttle runs from early spring to fall. Take it late at night around 10 or so and star gaze with someone
friendly. During the winter time you can drive all the way back to the River Walk.
You definitely want to take this walk, God’s handiwork is everywhere and the saying “leaving it right where HE threw it works for me!”

5th Trip
After the Riverwalk you can go back or, do this. Make a left at the road you turned on to go to the Riverwalk, going away from the way you came. You will go through an incredible tunnel. There is no way this tunnel would or could be built in this day and age. Keep going, following the signs to Bryce Canyon. The best viewing is in the afternoon. That is when
You can see the “Who Doos” best.

I have done, Zion, Kolob, Cedars Break and Bryce in one day, BUT I had seen each before. It’s a great trip but it’s a lot of driving for just one day unless you stay overnight somewhere.

6th Trip
Back on the I 15, go past the Zion turn off to Kolob, go right. This one is a short trip but very pretty. It should take about an hour at an easy pace. There is an out house at the end of the road for those who need to know or go.

7th Trip
Back to the I 15 Go to Cedar City, watch for the Brian Head turnoff, turn right and follow it. Great for skiing, but not very much to do in the summer. On the way back to the I 15, watch for a small sign that says “Vermillion Castle and Cliffs,” make a right and follow the road. Keep your eyes wide open and look every way possible because it is mind boggling in its beauty. The road is small and turns to dirt after 5 or 6 miles. There are some camping areas. The “castle” is on the left and I have no idea what those cylinder things are in front of the castle. They reminded me of something from the 1960’s movie “Time Machine.”

When you turn around and head back to Vegas, a good stop for dinner is one of the Mesquite Casinos, if for no reason other than just being cost effective. Provided you don’t “play” your way in and out of the door.

NEXT TIME
After leaving LV, again take the I 15 toward Utah, turn left on Highway 93 and go North. It’s a bit too hot to do in summer but the rest of the time, especially fall, it’s very nice.

Take food and drinks as there are very few places to buy anything. About 90 to 95 miles from LV there will be 2 rather large lakes on your left. Between the huge old cottonwoods and the lakes with many birds you just don’t normally see, it is a treat. There is fishing and picnicking. This is the Pahranagat Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and just on the other side of the road it is pure unadulterated desert. Just amazing! If you are in the mood to go further, follow the signs to Caliente (it means HOT, and it will be) and have a nice lunch at the beautiful train depot. If you are still game, go south through Rainbow Canyon back to the I 15. You will miss the lakes taking this route. It’s a beautiful ride once you get to one of the places. Going further, follow the signs, and it will lead you to Rachel, the home of the Lil’ Alien café. They have pretty good food there too. At least you can say you’ve been there.


MORE GET AWAY’S!!!

Overton, Logandale, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, The Saddle

Potty Stops. Just a couple, the first two I mentioned, there is always one “somewhere” near a park or museum.

This one is easy in one day unless you take a long hike. Take the I 15 to the Overton turn off, the one past the Valley of Fire exit sign at the Moapa Smoke Shop turnoff. The fair is out here also. Check out the Lost City Museum, then follow the road to the Valley of Fire. There are lots of things to check out and do here. It’s a real good idea to wear good walking shoes like tennis shoes or hiking boots if you like that kind of stuff.



Do them all or save some for the next time. You can go back to the I 15 and come out at the Moapa turnoff or go back to the road to Lake Mead. If you go back to the road by Lake Mead, you can get back to North Las Vegas by going through the Saddle. It looks like a saddle! As soon as you go through it pull off to the left and look for the Zone of Unconformity. Dirt on one side of this virtually invisible line is a few million years older than on the other side due to massive earthquakes. Frenchman’s Mountain USED to be 50 miles on THE OTHER SIDE of the valley. That is a mind boggling thought. It’s makes the song “A Whole Lot of Shaking Going On” sound like it is a major understatement when referring to Mother Nature.

Hoover Dam, Wilson Beach, West Rim of the Grand Canyon
Nelson, and Laughlin
Go South on 95 to the dam. You have probably already done the dam. If you know what a dam is and does, drive across it. PS it’s very pretty at night from the Arizona side. About 7 or 8 miles further make a right at the Wilson Beach sign. At the bottom of the hill is the Colorado River and a beautiful beach. You can fish, swim, boat, picnic or just watch the river roll by. There should be a color called Colorado River Blue. It is beautiful. They even have palm trees

Back to the 95, make a right and go South about 22 miles to the Dolan Springs sign, go left and keep on going to the end. It will take you to the lesser known West side of the Grand Canyon and a neat old town. Recently there has been a change, an expensive one, now it costs $35.00 or more, for a ride on a shuttle to the canyon’s edge and soon there will be skywalk. That is just plain scary! My feet will never touch it. That or you can take a flight for a bit more. They just out priced me. It is Indian territory and they can do what they like and they are, apparently.

When going back, or another day, take the South turn that goes to Laughlin. that goes to Nelson, an old mining town. They have an interesting tour and some neat stuff to look at. Take your time then go further down the road and park at the overlook of Lake Mojave.


Beatty, Goldfield, Tonopah
There isn’t much between here and Beatty, except for Indian Springs . It’s a good lunch and bathroom stop. Next stop is Beatty, a small mostly retirement

community. More places to eat and get relief. There are several small ghost towns nearby to check out, like Rhyolite and Belmont, just beyond Tonopah. Then on to Goldfield. It too is mostly a ghost town but more and more people are moving out there to join them and it’s looking better and “more lively.” Not much further to Tonopah, a little bigger city with a tremendous mining history to it. Drive to a high spot and look it over. Check out the museum and mining park. The mining equipment of yesteryear is something else, I can’t even imagine making it much less using it. If you stay the night, try the Jim Butler Motel. It has the yesteryear feel but with the cleanliness and friendliness that is seldom found in the newer hotels &
motels. USA Today listed Tonopah as the #1 viewing spot in the nation for stargazing because they have the least light pollution of the entire United States. Since it is not close to much of anything it makes for some awesome viewing. They like to say they are “centrally isolated.” Check out
www.tonopahstartrails.com

Pahrump & Scotty’s Castle

Don’t do Scotty’s Castle in the summer or when it is hot. If it’s hot here it’s more like Hades there. They don’t call this Death Valley for nothing. It is a neat trip when it is cool.

They have 2 tours, in the castle and under the castle. I really enjoyed the one in the castle and can’t wait to go back for the one underneath, called the “technology” tour.

Take the I 15 South to Blue Diamond Road, go right, West, over the “hump” to Pahrump. It’s about 55 miles to Pahrump once you are on Blue Diamond. This is an extremely dangerous road, drive very careful and stay alert. They call it “widow maker” for a reason. Most accidents are fatal and are caused by unsafe passing.

Pahrump is where a lot of people live that just want away from the city, LV. But their city is growing by leaps and bounds. “Pah” usually means “water” and “rump” has been said to mean “rock.” Or maybe something else, however, the locals have another name for it, at least the ones with a sense of humor. It has something to do with elephants and flatulence noises. You can figure that one out.

Leaving Pahrump, still going West, but sort of North, you’ll probably see a couple of “mobile” trailer ranches. They don’t “raise” anything that can be sold at a market. However it can be an expensive day for gentlemen callers. You get my drift.
Keep going until you see the sign for Scotty’s Castle, make a left. It is really a castle. Take the tours, both of them. It’s terrific.


REAL CLOSE THINGS TO DO

Red Rock National Park, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Floyd Lamb State Park (Tulle Springs) & Mount Charleston

Take Charleston Blvd. West. You’ll see the turn off. The views are incredible. Those big red rocks are petrified sand dunes, they are red due to iron oxide, rust, and the white parts are where the oxide leached out from water. The results are magnificent for us. Lots of hiking trails, even one for children, plus a 13 mile loop to drive so you can get a real good look. Picnic areas and potty’s are through out the drive. It is a favorite area for rock climbers, bring your binoculars!
Leaving the 13 mile loop drive, make a right and you’ll come to Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. The name, Spring Mountain, comes from the 50 or so natural springs that are in the mountain range. It doesn’t seem like something this beautiful could possibly be in the desert much less so close to LV. We are the lucky ones because it is. Enjoy it completely, many times. Better yet, volunteer to work there, I did and it was wonderful. Take the walking tours if it isn’t too hot for you. There is a lot of history here to be enjoyed. Soak it up. The park has plays in the evenings during the summer months. It is a local’s favorite. Lum of “Lum and Abner” radio fame (Way back!) built the ranch house to be used as a vacation home.
Get cheap tickets to big shows in town?


Call Las Vegas, Tickets2nite (702) 968.8800 or go on line to
www.tickets2nite.com

Here are a few more last minute ticket sites and numbers.
Boston, Bostix (617)262.8632
www.artsboston.org

Chicago, Hot Tix (312)554.9800
www.hottix.org

Los Angeles, La Stage Tix only
www.lastagetix.com

New York, Tkts (212) 221.0013
www.tdf.org/tkts

San Diego, Arts Tix
www.sandiegoperforms.com/artstix 9619) 497.5000

San Francisco, Tix Bay Area
www.tixbayarea.org
(415) 433.7827

Seattle, Ticket/Ticket (206)324.2744 no website L

Vancouver, B.C., Tickets Tonight
www.ticketstonight.ca
(604)684.2787
Washington, D.C., Ticketplace
www.ticketplace.org
(202) 842.5387

CULTURE AND …PERFORMING ARTS

DANCE
LV Civic Ballet 229.6211
821 LV Blvd. N.

Nevada Ballet Theatre 243.2623
1651 Inner Circle

Theatre Ballet of LV 458.7575
3265 E. Patrick Lane

MUSIC
Brown Bag Concerts 658.6741
6301 Malachite Bay Ave.

Charles Vanda Master Series 895.2787
UNLV Performing Arts Center

Community Concert Association 648.8962
1620 Stonehaven Drive

LV Flute Club 895.3377
UNLV Dept of Music
4545 Maryland Parkway

LV Jazz Society 313.5778
P.O. Box 60396

LV Music Teachers Association 877.1743

The Las Vegas Philharmonic 258.5438
1289 S. Torrey Pines Drive
www.lasvegasphilharmonic.com

ARTS CULTURE AND …PERFORMING

LV Youth Orchestras 385.2838

Myron Heaton Chorale LV, Inc. 433.6007

Nevada School of the Arts 366.2787
315 South 7th

Southern Nevada Bluegrass Music Society 594.6422
Or 564.5455

Southern Nevada Musical Arts Choral Society 451.6672

Sweet Adeline’s International 223.7893

THEATER

Actors Repertory Theatre 647.7469

Boulder City Art Guild Gallery 293.2138

Cashman Center 386.7100

Charleston Heights Arts Center 229.6383

Clark County Library Theater 507.3400

Community College of S. NV Theatre 651.5483

LV Little Theatre 362.7996

Nevada Theatre Company 873.0191

Rainbow Library Amphitheater 507.3710

Reed Whipple Cultural Center 229.6211

Rosel Seastrand Arts Foundation 649.7837

Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza 229.6328

Sign Design Theatre Company 391.3877

Summerlin Library & Performing Arts Center 256.2217

Super Summer Theatre 594.7529
Outdoor theater at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park FUN!

Theatre in the Valley 558.7275

UNLV Dept of Theatre Arts 895.3666

West Charleston Library Lecture Hall 507.3940

West LV Arts Center 229.4800

West LV Library Theater 507.3980

Whitney Library Concert Hall 507.4017
FARMERS MARKETS

BROADACRES
(This is a large outdoor swap meet with several fresh food areas)
2960 LV Blvd North North Central part of the Valley Appx 900 vendors of which 7 to 10 of them sell produce

3940 Schiff Drive 2 to 6 central
Thursdays Near Spring Mountain Rd & Valley View

1600 N Rampart Blvd/ Vegas Drive N/W
Wednesdays Trent Park 4 P to 8 P From Oct.26, 2 to 6P

10401 Garden Park Drive Gardens Park N/W
near Town Center Dr/215 Tuesdays 4 P to 8 P
Winter hours as of 10/26 will be 2 P to 6 P

1300 W Sunset Galleria at Sunset Mall S/E
Fridays 11 A till sunset Fruit & Honey

Boulder City Farmers’ Market at Sundial Park
Thursdays 9 A to 1 P Boulder City

9510 W Sahara Ave In the Village Square N/W
12 to dark Wednesdays

8878 S Eastern Ave in the Colonnade Square S/E
shopping center Saturdays 9 A to 4 P

Las Vegas Farmers Markets (they tend to move around check their website at
www.lasvegasfarmersmarkets.com


FARMERS MARKETS

These kinds of markets tend to move around and their hours may change, especially when we change to daylight savings time or go off of it. So you might have to ask where they moved to and then hunt for them. Check them out on their website listed in the index.

A real treat is Gilgrease Orchard. 645.1126 Call for directions. They grow it and you pick it. The tomatoes go real fast! So does the Okra. The peaches are awesome! They are in the North West part of the valley and now they are surrounded by homes. Call for directions or take a ride out by Tenaya and Centennial off the 95. Better go quick because it’s being sold off piece by piece and they are building houses REAL fast.



When LIFE gives you LEMONS. . . .
Ask for Tequila and Salt
If you don’t drink
Ask for Lemon Meringue Pie J

Don’t settle for lemonade unless you’re just thirsty!
FINDING LOST MONEY UNCLAIMED FUNDS)


Most of us have moved and left a small account somewhere or forgotten about a child’s small bank account or maybe have had money left to you and not realized it. Possibly even a tax refund that you were not aware you had coming. The problem, until the age of the Internet, has been finding it. Especially if you aren’t aware that anything is missing. This is how to find it. Do it yourself or ask a friend with internet experience, don’t pay someone to do this for you. Treat your friend to an awesome meal if you recover something.

It is a pretty close guess that at least 1 in every 8 people have something owed to them and it is just waiting for them to claim it. Now is the time.

Why would anyone hold money for you for a month much less years? Because it is the law. BUT the law is being changed so they can get and use your money if you don’t claim it within a certain period of time. DO IT NOW!

Every state has a web site with a database of missing funds available to anyone with web access. Where do you start?
The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators
www.unclaimed.org This is a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Association of State Treasurers. If some one owes you something, this is the place you will probably find it. Once you are on the site, go to your state, click on the link or button for unclaimed property and fill in the information. Use all forms and versions of your name, don’t forget maiden and all married names. Check every state that you have lived in or may have had relatives in.
If you feel you should have something in a certain state but can’t find anything. CALL THEM. Ask for the treasury department and the person in charge of the unclaimed-property division. You may have to send a formal letter with what ever information they want or need. AND proof of who you are, and why it should be yours. Are you the legal guardian, representative owner, heir, or what ever your status is?

Gift Certificates.
This is a sore spot to me. Most stores are allowed to put an expiration date on gift certificates. That is like saying the American Green stuff is no good after 90 days or such. That is not good and I will not buy gift certificates at any store that puts a time limit on theirs. I’ll just give the good old green stuff. It’s good anywhere. And if it doesn’t get spent at the store I would have picked for them, it is no big deal. If you have an expired gift certificate, check with the treasurer of your state or the state it was issued from, again ask for the unclaimed-property division. Some states have outlawed the expiration of certain types of gift certificates. At writing time those states are: California, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island. Now the rest of the states need to get it in gear and do the same thing!



FUNG-SHUI
(Shui Sounds like Schway) My knowledge is limited so I’ll share what I have done. Try the library, the web, or the book store.

I don’t know a lot about this mystical but apparently powerful tool of the Asian culture. I do know that when I put some of its principals into effect, they worked. At least things improved in the areas I was trying to improve. Could it have happened anyway. Maybe, but I am not one to fix what isn’t broke but I am ready to try a little bit more.


If you stand at your front door, looking inside, the farthest left corner is the area that represents your wealth and prosperity. Take care of your money in this area. That corner is a long way from my desk, so I bought a coin ball, very pretty, at a World Market store, and hung it in the corner of my family room. If nothing else, it is a conversation starter but I think it has worked.

Keep your toilet lid down and your bathroom door shut so the good fortune you have doesn’t go down the drain. I STILL forget to do this!

“Bad” areas can be fixed by adding mirrors and wind chimes and other things. A good entry mat for enhancing your life would be black. I did that too. It is sort of like a lucky charm or something that can attract good fortune your way or even repel bad luck.

This is just a tiny bit of information, just to get you curious if you are interested. Certainly check it out. It can’t hurt.
GENEOLOGY
“digging up the family” (history)

Genealogy searches are fun but can get very frustrating. Here are a few suggestions, and web site addresses that may help make your search easier and hopefully faster.

www.Familysearch.org
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
www.raogk.org This is a neat way to run an organization. If someone helps you then you offer to help them. It keeps the expenses down and builds friends.

Message Boards: People looking for other people leave messages here for others to read. This is good for looking for adoptive parents and children that were adopted.
www.Genealogy.com or www.Ancestry.com
Try www.rootsweb.com or www.cyndislist.com

Try www.usgenweb.com for information about starting your own family website for lost members to find you.

Check out www.familychronicle.com for stories about how others have solved their searches.

Other places to check out.
State and county court records for death certificates, and other records.
Probate Judge’s office for old wills, land records, etc.
Library: for old directories for addresses, death records

Also at the library, ask about microfilmed records of old newspapers.
ok for marriage, engagement, announcements, birth notices and major anniversary announcements. Don’t forget to look for obituary notices, they usually list relatives and the city they live in.

Check community histories, just incase your lost relative was a “somebody” in a small or large city.
Check the cemeteries for a known relative then look nearby for relatives.

Check the Masonic Lodge. They have immensely detailed records that would give a wealth of information. Check their website too. Go to www.Google.com and type in Masonic Lodge and hit search. And you are in and running. The Rotary, Lion’s Club and Kiwanis are worth checking out too.

Check out the antique stores in any city where relatives may have lived. Look for high school year books. If they attended church, ask for old church directories. But most of all, just ask if any one remembers the person you are looking for. Talk to the towns old timers. They usually love to talk and seldom get the chance or the company. Take a recorder, the kind with tapes you can save, not the new digital ones. While you are at it take pictures, just for the memories. If there is an “old folks” home, check them out.

Native American and other tribal communities all over the world have long had one person who knew the history and stories of their people. “Tribal knowledge” can be a wonderful thing and many people have that ability, (sometimes they were called the “town gossip”) to remember things and people. These are the people you want to find. They know the “stories.” Some stories “age” well.
History, Nevada Style!

Yes, we are a different kind of state and we like it.
If not “in the beginning,” at least a LONG time ago, salt water lapped at the edges of the mountains leaving the still visible stair stepping ridges and curls of ancient tidal pools through out the southern valley. The huge but shallow sea left so many fossils that our “land locked” state has a “State Fossil,” that could be appropriately called a sea monster. Technically it is an Ichthyosaurus. But some preferred to call it a sea dragon.
Details
Sea +/- one half billion years ago
Ichthyosaurus sort of a sea dragon that lived between 100 to 200 million years ago weighing about 1 ton per foot and being 50 to 60 feet in length. Believed to be the largest in the world.

The little piece of the earth, that would one day become the State of Nevada began to change. Violent upheavals of land caused the sea to drain away and stranded the enormous sea dragons. They would not be discovered, as fossils, until the late 1920's and not excavated until over 30 years later. The Sea giants ate other sea creatures that were either giant fish or maybe giant lizards, (Their fossils tend to make one believe that the whole bunch of them were incredibly ugly) and anything else that couldn’t get out of the water fast enough.
The drive to this State Park is a “bear” but if you like fossils, this is as good as it gets! It’s near Berlin, Nevada in the North West. Way up there! There is a lot of dirt road to drive. But you don’t need a 4 wheel drive in good weather.

Nevada is still an active area of the earth and an inland (Eastern edge) of the “Pacific Ring of Fire.” Our ranges are still in their youth. We have almost no foothills, which is a sign of old mountains, and most of our ranges are at odd angles to the earth, not at all like the Sierras that appear to stand straight up from the ground.

We live above a volatile part of the earth and there is evidence to prove it near Lake Mead Boulevard and Frenchman Mountain. Technically, it is called the Las Vegas

Zone of Unconformity. Looking at it, you will see two separate pieces of earth that should not be anywhere near each other. You have to look hard because it is difficult to see, especially the first time. Sort of a case of “old” earth and “young” earth in the same place. There is an excellent description of the area and what took place there millions of years ago, written by a UNLV professor. (That might be gone now due to vandalism.)

Nevada is a state divided by deserts, but no where equally. One, the Mojave, in the southern part and, two the Great Basin, which encompasses the lions share of the state. It is almost as if some one decided exactly where the two deserts would meet and it is easy to see driving north on 95 a few miles before you Tonopah. The world around you suddenly becomes “different.” Most will notice it whether or not they are looking for a change. The difference is in what grows. There will be trees, green ones and the little grey bushes will vanish. The change is in altitude and as you go higher, different kinds of plants grow. What grows in the Mojave doesn’t grow in the Great Basin and vice versa. A seed catalogue with growing zones is a great way to easily demonstrate what grows where and sometimes when.
How Big is Our State?
Nevada is the seventh largest state out of the 50.
Just over 100,000 square miles.
That is more than 70 million acres.
Over 80% of those acres is owned by the Federal Government and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. That is usually where the burros and wild horses roam. At least until it gets auctioned off to build a housing or business development. It is also where A LOT of inactive mines are located. Rattlesnakes LOVE abandoned mines. The gold & silver is gone. Stay out. Stay out. STAY OUT. Because the rattlesnakes have staked their claim.
We have 23 state parks.
We have the least rain of any state and obviously the lowest humidity which accounts for our “dry heat” that so many people say they don’t mind– from the inside of their air conditioned cars and homes!
Most of the land of Nevada is in the Great Basin. Most of the people live in the Mojave Desert. It is a version of the old 80/20 theory. (80% of the people live on 20% of the land area, that means 20% of the rest of the population live where there is a LOT of land)
The same goes for the government. It owns about 80% and 20% is in the private sector.



The Great Basin
It is a part of 6 states. Nevada has the largest section, Utah is next and then Oregon followed by California, Wyoming and Idaho. It is a major geographic feature of the United States. It is as wide as 500 miles from California to Wyoming and as long as 750 miles from Oregon to just below Tonopah in Nye County.

John C. Fremont is responsible for the name. It was in 1844 that he discovered a very unusual fact about this area. None of the rivers that flowed into this area flowed out. They either dried up, became a lake or just disappeared into the ground in a “sink.” That is where the basin part came from and the great was because it really and truly is a great area of land. From the air in a 747, it doesn’t look at all like a basin but Fremont didn’t have one available to him. It is really a huge area of land that just has ridges around it high enough to keep water from flowing out in a manner that gravity would dictate, so it found somewhere else to go.



Things that are in the earth of Nevada
Minerals, lots of them and nearly all of them have been mined at one time or another resulting in the large number of abandoned mines, the prefab home of preference for rattlesnakes that love their privacy. Don’t even knock. Miners left a dollar bill with a rock on it just outside of a cave or mine they were investigating, just to let passers by know someone was in there or where to look if they were missing.

Copper coins, jewelry, art, decorations
Lead coins, bullets, arts, pipes, pans
Salt to eat, make soft water
Silver jewelry, dental, art, to purify water



Gold jewelry, dental, art, money
Diatomaceous earth Used mainly for filters
Iron steel mills, rebar for construction
Brucite can be used as an antacid or a laxative
Gypsum wall board for home building



Things that grow in Nevada
More than you would think. There is a LOT of sagebrush. So much that it is the state flower. I think state bush would be a better call. Joshua trees grow through the Mojave. It is a desert marker. That is, if you see a Joshua tree, it means you are in the Mojave Desert. Service berry bushes, salt lick plants, yuccas, desert almond, creosote bush, Mormon tea plant and Mesquite trees and all sort of cacti are all in the Mojave. Cross the line of elevation and you find all manner of growth in the mountain ranges including: Pinon pine, juniper, mountain mahogany, aspen, fir, assorted varieties of fir and pine trees including the ancient bristlecone pine that was thought to be the oldest living organism in the world. The real and oldest is (was) also a tree. It was called the Prometheus and it was cut down to see how old it was. There do not seem to be any more. It was more than a thousand years older than the pyramids.
Pinion pine can be seen on the walking tour at Spring Mountain Ranch Park at an elevation change that is easily recognized. Mountain mahogany can be seen just past Hill Top camp on the road between Mt. Charleston and Lyle Canyon. It is a beautiful tree. There is a change of seasons which gives a short “colors display” of fall leaves that is well worth the drive up to Mt. Charleston to see. Take a look in early autumn. Evenings bring wildlife out. If you are lucky you might see deer, chipmunks, rabbits, pronghorns, and maybe even a bobcat.



Our Mountains and their ranges
How many mountain ranges are there in Nevada?
A lot and the people that count that sort of thing frequently use differing criteria in describing what a mountain range is. Probably over 200 would be a safe guess. They tend to be small but we have lots of them. From the air it looks like something is tunneling towards Lake Mead. Maybe it was the miners.

What is their most common feature?
Most of them are about 100 miles long and plus or minus 10 miles wide.
It may seem odd to have so many mountain ranges and for most of them to lean in the same direction but that is what young mountain ranges look like. They were pushed up not that many millions of years ago so they are young and still have a few sharp edges and won’t stand straight for what could be another few million years. They might not even be teenagers yet. But you can drive around them in just a few short hours. The closest range with a road around it is the Spring Mountain Range to the west of Las Vegas.


What makes a mountain?
Pressure inside the earth from the “plates” that keep redesigning where our continents are located. The Pacific Plate bumped up against the North American plate in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along a well known line called the San Andreas Fault. When push came to shove, Nevada’s mountains and ground work took a beating but was laid out pretty much like it is today. At least until another pushing match comes about. Nobody knows when that will happen.
Mountains are made out of a lot of things, plain old dirt, rocks, sand and lava from volcanoes. When a volcano erupts and spews lava, it was the beginning or the building of a mountain. If it was in the ocean, it was building an island. If the lava cooled quickly, it formed basalt and rhyolite, two less hard rocks formed from lava. If the lava cooled slowly, it formed granite. This is the really hard stuff that is beautiful and expensive when used as kitchen counters. Most of the Sierra Nevada mountains are built from lava that cooled slowly.


How high are our mountains?


The two highest are just over 13,000 feet. They are Boundary and Wheeler followed by several that reach the 12,000 feet mark. Those are Arc Dome, Pyramid Peak, South Schell Peak, Mt. Moriah, Mt. Jefferson, and our nearby Mt. Charleston.
What happened when the sea drained away?
We had a lot of sand dunes that evolved into a few spectacular places. Red Rock Canyon is one of these places. So also is the Valley of Fire. The sand dunes actually became petrified from the weather. Huge sand dunes turned into gently mounded sandstone rocks. Iron ore, in the area colored the sand making them a reddish orange, very much like the color of rust, with some white areas where there was no iron, or it had been leached away by water, and leaving us with some beautiful scenery. The technical term for rock that used to be sand is polychrome sand. Lots of years of wind and water finished up their design, quite beautifully.

It’s easy to make a mountain. Just take a molehill and add dirt.

Rivers, real, myths, vanishing and borders.
It is hard to believe that Nevada is the driest state when it has ten rivers. The river that was thought to run from the Rocky Mountains through Nevada and to the ocean in California was called the San Buenaventura and it neither started where they wished it would have nor ended at the Pacific Ocean. Never mind running through Nevada, especially through the Great Basin.
Rivers meant beavers and beavers meant trapping for pelts for the myriad of things they used beaver fur for. Mostly for warmth in winter and income the rest of the time.

The Colorado River forms a ragged edge for a border to Arizona that is almost 150 miles long. It’s a really big river and has a really big dam across it. Hoover Dam is responsible for forming the largest man made lake in the country. It also provides an incredible amount of power to the Western part of the United States. If it were commissioned to be built today, it probably wouldn’t happen due to so many ecological studies and requirements. The Truckee, Walter and the Carson are rivers that start in other states and flow into Nevada. The Owyhee, Salmon and Bruneau flow from Nevada to other states . Two, the Humbolt and the Reese start and leave within the Great Basin. At one point in time, the Humbolt was called the Unknown River, possibly because of its origin and demise and lack of usefulness due to its foul taste. Last but not least by any means is the Amargosa which flows only briefly in the Mojave before dropping beneath the ground where it goes all the way to Death Valley. Of the 10 rivers, all but three have had dams built on them.


The Colorado River wasn’t always the Nevada border. Prior to 1866, the river was considered to be in Arizona. A new survey relocated the border of our hot state to the river. It would prove to be a great boon to the Nevada economy in the not too far off future and for many years to come.


Lakes in the dry state.
Lake Mead is the largest, of course, and man made by the completion of the Hoover Dam.
Lake Mojave has an earth-filled dam. Others are lakes by means of being reservoirs with a bit of, hopefully clean, fun going on on top. They are Rye Patch, Wildhorse, the Lahontan, and South Fork Dam. Pyramid lake is popular and just one good look at it and you know why and how it got its name. The best for last, Lake Tahoe. Just go see it.


STATE FACTS
Animal desert bighorn
Bird mountain bluebird
Colors silver and blue
Flower sagebrush
Fish Lahonan cutthroat
Fossil Ichthyosaur
Gemstone Blackfire opal
Metal Silver
Motto “All For Our Country”
Nicknames Battle-born, Sagebrush State, or Silver State
Reptile desert tortoise
Rock sandstone
Song “Home Means Nevada”


HOOVER DAM FACTS
Started in April of 1931, a town for the workers had to be built before the dam could be started. Thus Boulder City. Four tunnels through canyon walls of rock had to be dug, bored and scraped out. Each tunnel was 56 feet long and would be used to re-route the river water while the dam was being built. It took 16 months to complete this phase before starting on the dam. The river had to be re-routed so as not to interfere with the work. This was most important because the Colorado River was not a force to be reckoned with at certain times of the year. It got big and nasty fast. For two years the workers poured concrete until the dam was 726 feet high and 45 feet wide at the top. Wide enough for a lane of traffic to move in each direction. They didn’t plan on the huge trucks we have passing over it today, or at least until 911.
The base of the dam was 660 feet thick. 3.2 million cubic yards of cement were used to build the dam. At that time, a concrete mixing truck held only 9 cubic yards of cement. (There is a math problem in there somewhere.) The top is 1,244 feet long, joining Nevada to Arizona and crossing a time change line from Pacific Time to Mountain Time. A tower clock on each side of the lake shows each states correct time. Changes are made to the Nevada side to account for day light savings time. Arizona does not participate in day light savings time. 17 monstrous turbines began generating electricity in March of 1935.
Cost to build the dam. $175 million.
A bargain at today’s rates.
Workers needed to build the dam. Over 5000
Working conditions Could not have been worse.
Month to completion 46
Number of workers that died. 94
Number of workers “buried” in the damn. 0 none

Lake Mead stores around 60 million acre feet of water depending on rain amounts. This is 2004, so probably less!
An acre foot of water is 326,000 gallons
The turbines supply 4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity yearly.
Odd but true, unless changed recently, Nevada gets the least amount of water from the Colorado River of the states that rely on it. Even Mexico gets more, but they should, they lost a lot of water when the dam was finished.

BEST BUSINESS NAME in the Valley?
“The Dam Helicopter Company”

STATE UNITS on AGING all 50 plus DC


STATE UNITS on AGING All 50 states plus DC

STATE UNITS on AGING
For all 50 states plus D.C.

Most all of us come from somewhere else and occasionally go back there. Just in case you do, here are some numbers to help you before and after you get there.

Check out the web site
www.benefitscheckup.org
It will provide you with a list of benefits available to you in the state in which you live, or maybe are planning to move to based on your answers to the questionnaire.

If you choose to go to their website please copy the site address and enter it in your browser for best results.

THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO ANOTHER STATE?
Check out these sites FIRST.

www.RetirementLiving.com Look before you leave!

www.relocationessentials.com Good hints.

www.bestplaces.net Some fun stuff to check out.

www.monstermoving.monster.com/Find_a_Place?Compare2Cities
This one can be a real help. It lets you compare cost of utilities, insurance, what kind of taxes they have, for example, no state tax but high sales tax. All sorts of stuff.

Moving to Florida? That’s where most people 60 or older move to, until the alphabet soup hurricanes start and they realize how high the humidity is. Then they move to Las Vegas.

Alabama Department of Senior Services PH: 334-242-5743
770 Washington Avenue; Suite 470 RSA Plaza
PO Box 301851
Montgomery AL 36130-1851
FAX: 334-242-5594 National Toll-Free: 1-877-425-2243 State Toll-Free: 800-243-5463 TDD: 334-242-0995
Homepage:
http://www.ageline.net

Alaska Commission on Aging PH: 907-465-3250
150 3rd Street, #103 PO Box 110693
Juneau AK 99811-069
FAX: 907-465-1398 TDD: 907-465-2205
Homepage:
www.alaskaaging.org

Arizona Aging and Adult Administration PH: 602-542-4446
1789 West Jefferson, #950A
Phoenix AZ 85007
FAX: 602-542-6575 State Toll-Free: 800-686-1431
Homepage:
www.de.state.az.us

Arkansas Division of Aging & Adult Services PH: 501-682-2441
7th and Main Street
PO Box 1437, Slot 1412
Little Rock AR72203-1437
FAX: 501-682-8155 TDD: 501-682-2443
Homepage:
www.state.ar.us/dhs/aging

California Department on Aging PH: 916-322-3887
1600 K Street
Sacramento CA 95814
FAX: 916-324-1903 State Toll-Free: 800-510-2020
Homepage:
www.cda/ca/gov

Colorado Division of Aging and Adult Services PH: 303-866-2800
1575 Sherman Street, 10th Floor
Denver CO 80203-1714
FAX: 303-866-2696
Homepage:
http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/adrs/aas/index1

Delaware Division of Services for Aging PH: 302-255-9390
& Adults w/Physical Disabilities
1901 North Dupont Highway
New Castle DE 19720
FAX: 302-255-4445 National Toll-Free: 800-223-9074
TDD: 302-453-3832
Homepage:
www.DSAAPD.com

Connecticut Dept. of Social Services PH: 860-424-5277
Elderly Services Division
25 Sigourney Street
Hartford CT 06106-5033
State Toll-Free: 800-443-9946
Homepage:
www.ctelderlyservices.state.ct.us

District of Columbia Office on Aging PH: 202-724-5622
4414th Street North West, Suite 900 South
Washington DC 20001
FAX: 202-724-4979 TDD: 202-724-8925
Homepage:
www.dcoa.dc.gov

Florida Department of Elder Affairs PH: 850-414-2000
4040 Esplanade Way, Suite 152
Tallahassee FL 32399-0700
FAX: 850-414-2004 TDD: 850-414-2001
Homepage:
elderaffairs.state.fl.us/


Georgia Division of Aging Services PH: 404-657-5258
2 Peachtree Street, 36-385
Atlanta GA 30303-3142
FAX: 404-657-5285 National Toll-Free: State Toll-Free: TDD: Homepage:
www2.state.ga.us/Departments/DHR/aging.html

Hawaii Executive Office on Aging PH: 808-586-0100
250 South Hotel Street, 4th Floor, Suite 406
Honolulu HI 96813-2831
FAX: 808-586-0185
Homepage:
www2.hawaii.gov/eoa

Idaho Commission on Aging PH: 208-334-3833
3380 Americana Terrace, Suite 120
PO Box 83720 zip(83706)
Boise ID 83720-0007
FAX: 208-334-3033 National Toll-Free: 1-877-471-2777
Homepage:
www.idahoaging.com

Illinois Department on Aging PH: 217-785-2870 or
217-524-6911
421 East Capitol Avenue, #100
Springfield IL 62701-1789
FAX: 217-785-4477 State Toll-Free: 800-252-8966
TDD: 800-252-8966
Homepage:
www.state.il.us/aging

Indiana Bureau of Aging and In-home Services PH: 317-232-7123
402 West Washington Street, #w454
PO Box 7083
Indianapolis IN 46207-7083
FAX: 317-232-7867 State Toll-Free: 800-545-7763
Homepage:
www.ai.org/fssa/HTML/PROGRAMS/2bAging.html

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs PH: 515-242-3333
200 - 10th Street, 3rd Floor
Des Moines IA 50309
FAX: 515-242-3300 TDD: 515-242-3302
Homepage:
www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs

Kansas Department on Aging PH: 785-296-5222
503 South Kansas Ave.
Topeka KS 66603-3404
FAX: 785-296-0256
State Toll-Free: 800-432-3535 TDD: 785-291-3167
Homepage:
www.k4s.org/kdoa

Kentucky Office of Aging Services PH: 502-564-6930
275 East Main Street, 5C-D
Frankfort KY 40621
FAX: 502-564-4595 TDD: 502-564-0126

Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs PH: 225-342-7100
412 North 4th Street, 3rd floor
PO Box 80374
Baton Rouge LA 70898-0374
FAX: 225-342-7133
Homepage:
www.louisiana.gov/gov-office.asp

Maine Bureau of Elder and Adult Service PH: 207-287-9200
442 Civic Ctr. Dr
11 State House Station
Augusta ME 04333-0011
FAX: 207-287-9229 National Toll-Free: 800-262-2232
TDD: 207-624-5442
Homepage:
www.state.me.us/dhs/beas

Maryland Department of Aging PH: 410-767-1100
301 West Preston Street, suite 1007
Baltimore MD 21201
FAX: 410-333-7943 State Toll-Free: 800-243-3425
TDD: 410-767-1083
Homepage:
www.mdoa.state.md.us

Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs PH: 617-727-7750
1 Ashburton Place, 5th floor
Boston MA 02108
FAX: 617-727-9368 National Toll-Free: 1-800-243-4636
State Toll-Free: 800-243-4636 TDD: 800-872-0166 Homepage:
www.mass.gov/elder
Other Links:
www.800ageinfo.com

Michigan Office of Services to the Aging PH: 517-373-7876
7109 W.Saginaw, 1st Floor
PO Box 30676(48909-8176)
Lansing MI 48917
FAX: 517-373-4092 State Toll-Free: TDD: 517-373-4096
Homepage:
www.miseniors.net

Minnesota Board on Aging PH: 651-296-2770
444 Lafayette Road
St. Paul MN 55155-3843
FAX: 651-297-7855 National Toll-Free: 800-882-6262
TDD: 800-627-3529
Homepage:
www.mnaging.org
Other Links:
www.MinnesotaHelp.info

Mississippi Department of Human Services/ PH: 601-359-4929
Division of Aging and Adult Services
750 North State Street
Jackson MS 39202
FAX: 601-359-9664 National Toll-Free: 800-948-3090 State Toll-Free: Homepage:
www.mdhs.state.ms.us/aas.html

Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services PH: 573-751-6400
912 Wildwood Drive
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City MO 65102-0570
FAX: 573-751-6010 National Toll-Free: 800-235-5503
State Toll-Free: 1-800-735-2466
Homepage:
www.dhss.mo.gov

Montana Office on Aging PH: 406-444-5622
111 North Sander
PO Box 4210
Helena MT 59604-4210
FAX: 406-444-7743 State Toll-Free: 800-332-2272
Homepage:
www.dphhs.state.mt.us/sltc

Nebraska Division on Aging PH: 402-471-2307
301 Centennial Mall South
PO Box 95044
Lincoln NE 68509-5044
FAX: 402-471-4619 State Toll-Free: 800-942-7830
Homepage:
www.hhs.state.ne.us/ags/agsindex.htm

Nevada Aging Services Division PH: 702-938-3232
5820 S. Eastern Ave, Suite 190
Las Vegas NV 89119
FAX: 702-938-3225
Homepage:
www.aarp.org


New Hampshire Div. of Elderly PH: 603-271-4680
& Adult Services
129 Pleasant Street
Concord NH 03301-3857
FAX: 603-271-4643 State Toll-Free: 800-351-1888
TDD: 800-735-2964
Homepage:
www.dhhs.state.nh.us
Other Links:
www.state.nh.us/servicelink/

New Jersey Department of Health PH: 609-943-3345
& Senior Services
240 West State Street or PO Box 807
Trenton NJ 08625
FAX: 609-943-3343 State Toll-Free: 800-792-8820
Homepage:
www.state.nj.us/health

New Mexico State Agency on Aging PH: 505-827-7640
228 East Palace Avenue
Santa Fe NM 87501
FAX: 505-827-7649 State Toll-Free: 800-432-2080
Homepage:
www.aoa.dhhs.gov/

New York State Office for the Aging PH: 518-474-4425
Two Empire State Plaza
Albany NY12223-1251
FAX: 518-474-0608
Homepage:
www.aging.state.ny.us
Other Links:
www.hiicap.state.ny.us

North Carolina Division of Aging PH: 919-733-3983
2101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-2101
FAX: 919-733-0443 State Toll-Free: 800-662-7030
Homepage:
www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/home.htm
North Dakota Aging Services Division PH: 701-328-8910
600 South Second Street, Suite 1C
Bismarck ND 58504-5729
FAX: 701-328-8989 National Toll-Free: 800-451-8693
State Toll-Free: 800-451-8693
Homepage:
www.state.nd.us/humanservices/services/adultsaging
Other Links: www.ndseniorinfoline.com

Ohio Department of Aging PH: 614-466-5500
50 West Broad Street, 9th floor
Columbus OH 43215-5298
FAX: 614-466-5741 TDD: 614-466-6191
Homepage:
www.state.oh.us/ag
Other Links:
www.GoldenBuckeye.com

Oklahoma Aging Services Division PH: 405-521-2327
312 NorthEast 28th Street
PO BOX 25352
Oklahoma City OK 73125
FAX: 405-521- State Toll-Free: 1-800-211-2116

Oregon Seniors & People with Disabilities PH: 503-945-5811
500 Summer Street NE, E-DZ
Salem OR 97301-1073
FAX: 503-373-7823 National Toll-Free: 800-282-8096
TDD: 503-945-5811
Homepage:
www.dhs.state.or.us

Pennsylvania Department of Aging PH: 717-783-1550
555 Walnut Street, 5th Floor
Harrisburg PA 17101-1919
FAX: 717-772-3382
Homepage:
www.aging.state.pa.us



Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs PH: 401-462-0500
35 Howard Ave., Benjamin Rush Bldg 55
Cranston RI 02920
FAX: 401-462-0503
Homepage:
www.DEA.state.ri.us

South Carolina DHHS - PH: 803-898-2501
Office of Senior & Long Term Care Services
1801 Main Street
PO Box 8206 - 11th Floor
Columbia SC 29202-8206
FAX: 803-898-4515 State Toll-Free: 800-878-9095
Homepage:
www.dhhs.state.sc.us

South Dakota Office of Adult Services and Aging PH: 605-773-3656
700 Governors Drive
Pierre SD 57501
FAX: 605-773-6834 National Toll-Free: State Toll-Free: TDD: Homepage:
www.state.sd.us/asa

Tennessee Commission on Aging PH: 615-741-2056
500 Deaderick Street, 9th Floor
Nashville TN 37243-0860
FAX: 615-741-3309 State Toll-Free: TDD: 800-848-0299
Homepage:
www.state.tn.us/comaging

Texas Department on Aging PH: 512-424-6840
4900 North Lamar, 4th Floor
[PO Box 12786 Capitol Station zip(78711)]
Austin TX 78751-2316
FAX: 512-424-6890 State Toll-Free: 800-252-9240
Homepage:
www.tdoa.state.tx.us/

Utah Aging Services PH: 801-538-3910
120 North 200 West, Room 325 PO Box 45500
Salt Lake City UT 84103
FAX: 801-538-4395
Homepage:
www.hsdaas.state.ut.us/

Vermont Department of Aging and Disabilities PH: 802-241-2400
103 South Main Street
Waterbury VT 05671-2301
FAX: 802-241-2325
State Toll-Free: 800-642-5119 TDD: 802-241-2400
Homepage:
www.dad.state.vt.us

Virginia Department for the Aging PH: 804-662-9333
1600 Forest Avenue, Suite 102
Richmond VA 23229
FAX: 804-662-9354 National Toll-Free: 800-552-3402
State Toll-Free: 800-552-3402 TDD: 804-662-9333
Homepage:
www.vda.virginia.gov

Washington Aging & Adult Services Administration PH: 360-725-2310
640 Woodland Square Loop S.E.
PO Box 45600
Olympia WA 98504-5600
FAX: 360-407-7582 State Toll-Free: 800-422-3263

West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services PH: 304-558-3317
Holly Grove-Building 10,
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
Charleston WV 25305-0160
FAX: 304-558-5609 National Toll-Free: 1-877-987-4463
Homepage:
www.state.wv.us/seniorservices/



Wisconsin Bureau on Aging PH: 608-266-2536
and Long Term Care Resources
1 W. Wilson St. # 450 PO Box 7851
Madison WI 53707-7851
FAX: 608-267-3203 TDD: 608-267-9880
Homepage:
www.dhfs.state.wi.us/aging

Wyoming Department of Health, Division of Aging PH: 307-777-7986
6101 Yellowstone Road, Room 259B
Cheyenne WY 82002
FAX: 307-777-5340 National Toll-Free: 800-442-2766 State Toll-Free: 800-442-2766
Homepage:
http://wdhfs.state.wy.us/aging/
(I know it looks weird, but I did double check it. If it doesn’t work put the www. before the wdhfs .)

REMEMBER!!!!

If you are 55 or better J
Check out the web site
www.benefitscheckup.org

It could save you a lot of money or just provide you with some much needed help that you didn’t know you qualified for.

SENIOR CENTERS

SENIOR CENTERS

Senior & Resource Centers

Senior Companion Sites

And Resource Centers (INET indicates a computer center)
Some are community centers that offer Senior activities. There are some really good things to do in here, including classes on dancing, any kind, from belly dancing to line dancing or even ball room, writing, exercise, games, and lots more. Check out several that are close to you. Sign up and get their newsletter so you know in advance what is coming to the center near you. There is a charge for some classes but it is extremely reasonable.

CARSON CITY INET 775.883.0703
911 Beverly Dr. 89706

CHURCHILL COUNTY 775.423.6075
Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe
Stillwater Indian Reservation
8955 Million Road
Fallon, 89406

Churchill Senior Center 775.423.7096
310 E. Court St.
Fallon 89406

Alice & Harry Goldberg 732.0556
Jewish Federation
2317 Renaissance Dr.
LV 89119

Boulder City Center INET 293.3320
1001 Arizona St.
Boulder City 89005
Transportation, Legal Service, Adult Day Care
Nutrition, Recreation


Cambeiro Center INET 382.6252 x 135
330 North 13th Street
LV 89101 Spanish and English spoken

Cambridge Center 455.8691
3930 Cambridge St.
LV 89120 Education, Recreational Services

Cappalappa Family Resource Center 397.6400
P.O. Box 1860
Overton 89040
Advocacy, Referral, Friendly Visitation, Counseling
Service, Food

Clark County Parks & Recreation 455.7340
3130 McLeod Drive
LV 89121 Education, Recreation Services

Clark Family Resource Center 365.9272
4291 Pennwood
LV 89102

Cora Coleman Center 455.7617
2100 Bonnie Lane.
LV 89110 Recreation, Education, Referral Services

Derfelt Senior Center 229.6601
3343 W. Washington Ave.
LV 89107

Desert Breeze Community Center 455.8334
8275 Spring Mountain Rd
LV 89117

Doolittle Senior Center 229.6125
1950 North J St. LV 89107

Dula Senior Gymnasium 229.6307
441 E. Bonanza Road
LV 89010

Eastside Family Resource Center 799.3670 x 4087
1870 N. Lamont St.
LV 89115 Referral, Food, Case Management

East LV Community & Senior Center 229.1515
250 N. Eastern Avenue
LV

Economic Opportunity Board Senior Center 647.2536
INET 2420 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
NLV 89032

Family Resource Center 799.3670
1870 North Lamont Street X 208 or 246
LV 89115
Emergency Food Assistance, Case Management, Referral Service

Family Resource Center 454.9020
3900 Perry Street
LV 89121
Food, Referral Service

Friendship Circle (Salvation Army) 565.8836
830 E. Lake Mead Drive,
Henderson 89015

Greater LV Family Resource Center 657.6762
1200 North Eastern Avenue
LV 89101 Food, Referral Service

HACA Family Center INET 486.6770
145 Panama St
Henderson 89015

Helen Meyer Community Center 455.7723
4525 New Forest Dr.
LV 89147

Henderson Senior Center INET 267.4150
27 E. Texas Ave.
Henderson 89105

Hollyhock Adult Day Care Center 382.0093
380 N. Maryland Parkway Call first for information

Howard Lieburn Senior Center 229.1600
6230 Garwood Avenue LV 89107

Indian Springs Senior Citizen Center 879.5250
715 Gretta Lane
Indian Springs 89018
Nutrition Program, Transportation, Recreation,
Telephone Reassurance

Jewish Community Center of SN 794.0090
Older Adult Program
8260 W. Charleston Blvd.
LV 89117

Jim Boyles Senior Center 397.8002
475 S. Moapa Valley Dr.
Overton, 89040


Las Vegas Senior Lifeline (60+) 933.1191
2309B Renaissance Dr
LV 89119
Nutrition, homemaking, home improvement, transportation, medical assistance, technology, programs/activities.

Las Vegas Senior Program 298.5445
P.O. Box 32055
1975 Arie Ave. Laughlin, 89029

LV Senior Citizens Center 229.6454
451 E. Bonanza Road (This is a big one.)

Laughlin Senior Center 298.5445
Laughlin

Lieburn Senior Center 229-1600
6230 Garwood Ave My personal favorite.

Lied Senior Care Center 648.3425
901 N. Jones

Mesquite Senior & Community Center 702.346.5290
102 W. Old Mill Road
Mesquite

Mesquite Family Resource Center 346.7277
51 West First North
Mesquite 89027 Food, Referral Service

Metropolitan Family Resource Center 657.0371
2200 East Cheyenne Avenue
North Las Vegas 89030
Food, Friendly Visitation, Counseling, Assisted
Care, Education

MLK Senior Center 647.2536
2420 N. Martin Luther Kind Blvd. (Lots of activities)

SENIOR CENTERS
Moapa Business Council 865.2787
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
P.O. Box 340 Moapa 89025

Mirabelli Community Center 229.6359
6200 Elton Ave.

Moapa Family Resource Center 865.2700

North Las Vegas Family Resource Center 649.2656
2530 East Carey Avenue
North Las Vegas 89030 Food Referral Service

North Las Vegas Recreation 633.1492
1638 Bruce St. Senior activities

Northwest Senior Center 229-4924
6841 W. Lone Mountain Road (classes: dance writing etc.)

Overton Senior Center INET 702.397.8002
475 S. Moapa Valley Blvd, Overton

Paradise Community Center 455.7513
4475 McLeod Drive 89121
4770 S Harrison Dr. 89121

Parkdale Community Center 455.7517
3200 Ferndale St. (Senior activities)

Resource Coalition 298.2592
1975 Arie Avenue
Laughlin 89029 Food, Friendly Visitation, Telephone Reassurance
Referral, Transportation

Searchlight Senior Center INET 297.1614
P.O. Box 915 575 S. Highway 95
Searchlight 89046
Nutrition, Transportation, Friendly Visitation

Senior Friends Mountain View Office 255.5404
8524 Del Webb Blvd. INET
LV 89134

Seniors in Action, Inc. 644.3881
2100 South Maryland Parkway #3
LV 89104
Recreation, Telephone Reassurance

Senior Tripsters 387.0007
LV 89101

Silver Mesa Recreation 633.2550
4025 Allen Lane, NLV (Senior activities)

Stupak Family Resource Center 229.2432
300 West Boston 229.2488
LV 89102 Food, Referral Service

Sunrise 455.7600
2240 Linn Lane


United Methodist Family Resource Center 733.1378
4412 South Maryland Parkway
LV 89119

Variety Family Resource Center 647.4907
990 D Street
LV 89106
Food, Referral Service
SENIOR CENTERS
Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center 229.1100
101 S. Pavillion Center Drive 89144

Virgin Valley Senior Center 455.8402
102 Old Mill Rd.
Mesquite 89027

Volunteer Center of So. NV 892.2321
3075 E. Flamingo Road # 1oo-A
LV 89121

Von Tobel 455.7699
3610 E Carey Road

Walnut Recreation Center 455.8402
3075 N. Walnut Road (open to those 50 and better J )

West Flamingo Active Adult Center 455.7742
6255 W. Flamingo Road (open to those 50 and better J )
LV Recreation, Education, Referral Service

Whitney Community and Senior Center 455.7576
5712 E. Missouri Ave. INET

Winchester Community Center 455.7340
3130 S. McLeod Drive LV

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Douglas County Senior Center 775.786.6455
2300 Meadow Lane
Gardnerville
P.O. Box 218 Minden NV 89423

Dresslerville Senior Center 775.265.6426
c/o Washoe Tribe of NV
919 Highway 395
Gardnerville 89410

Tahoe Douglas 775.588.5140
885 Highway 50
P.O. Box 1771
Zephyr Cove 89448

ELKO COUNTY
Carlin Senior Citizens Center 775.754.6465
718 Cedar St. P.O. Box 123
Carlin, NV 89822

Duck Valley Senior Center 775.757.3174
P.O. Box 145
Owyhee, NV 89832.0219

Elko Senior Center 775.757.3174
1795 Ruby View
Elko, NV 89801

Shoshone Welcome Center 775.738.0425
1530 Silver Eagle Dr.
Elko, NV 89801

South Fork Band Council 775.265.6426
21 Lee Unit D-13
Spring Creek, NV 89815


Wells Silver Sage Senior Center INET 775.752.3820
213 First St P.O. Box 136
Wells, NV 89835

EUREKA COUNTY

Eureka Senior Center INET 775.468.0466
20 West Gold P.O. Box 278
Eureka, NV 89316

Fannie Komp Senior Center INET 775.468.0466
P.O. Box 211072
Crescent Valley, NV 89821

HUMBOLT COUNTY

Pleasant Center 775.623.6211
1480 Lay St.
Winnemucca, NV 89445

LANDER COUNTRY

Austin Senior Center 775.964.2338
P.O. Box 211
Austin, NV 89310

Battle Mountain Band Council 775.635.2004
Indian Colony Elders
37 Mountain View Dr. #C
Battle Mountain, NV 89820



George E. Schwin Senior Center INET 775.635.5311
365 Est 4th St.
Battle Mountain, NV l89820

Yomba Tribal Council 775.964.2463
HC 61, Box 6275
Austin, NV 89310
LINCOLN COUNTY

Lincoln County Nutrition for Seniors 775.728.4477
P.O. Box 508 INET
Panaca, NV 89042

Olsen Senior Center 775.726.3740
240 Front St. P.O. Box 126
Caliente, NV 89008

Pioche Senior Center 775.962.5378
P.O. Box 432
Pioche, NV 89043

LYON COUNTY
Dayton Senior Center 775.246.6210
320 Old Dayton Valley Road
P.O. Box 612
Dayton, NV 89403

Fernley Senior Center 775.575.3370
Silver and Gold Nutrition Program
1170 West Newlands Dr.
P.O. Box 804
Fernley, NV 89408

Lyon County Human Services 775.557.5014
Silver Springs Senior Center INET
1050 Pyramid St
Silver Springs, NV 89429
SENIOR CENTERS 166
Taboose Senior Center 775.463.2472
Taboose Indian Colony
171 Campbell Lane
Yerington, NV 89447

Yerington Senior Center 775.463.6550
117 Tilson Way
Yerington, NV 89447

MINERAL COUNTRY

Agai-Dicutta Senior Center 775.773.2224
P.O. Box 220
Schurz, NV 89427

Mineral County Care and Share INET 775.945.5519
975 K St. P.O. Box 1058
Hawthorne, NV 89415

Mina Senior Center 775.573.2344
P.O. Box 195
Mina, NV 89422

NYE COUNTY
Amargosa Senior Center INET 775.372.5413
443 Desert Seniors Rd
P.O. Box 428
Lathrop Wells, NV 89020

Beatty Senior Center INET 775.553.2954
B 150 A Ave. Soutn P.O. Box 453 Beatty, NV 89003


Pahrump Senior Center INET 775.727.5008
1370 West Basin Rd.
Pahrump, NV 89060

Tonopah Senior Center INET 775.482.6450
#1 Senior Center Dr.
P.O. Box 1869
Tonopah, NV 89049
PERSHING COUNTY

Imlay Nutrition Site No # listed
P.O. Box 126
Imlay, NV 89418

Pershing County Senior Center 775.273.2291
630 Western
P.O. Box
Lovelock, NV 89419

STOREY COUNTY
Comstock Nutrition Program 775.847.0957
P.O. Box 786
Virginia City, NV 89440
WASHOE COUNTY
Gerlach Senior Center 775.557.2206
P.O. Box 69
Gerlach, NV 89412

Reno/Sparks Indian Colony 775.329.5162
34 Reservation Rd
Reno, NV 89502
Sparks Senior Citizens Center INET 775.353.3110
97 Richards Way Sparks NV 89431

Washoe County Senior Citizens 775.328.2575
Service Center
1155 East 9th St.
Reno, NV 89512
WHITE PINE COUNTY

Ely Nutrition Site INET 775.289.2742
1000 Campton
Ely, NV 89301

Ely Shoshone Tribe 775.289.3013
16 Shoshone Circle
Ely, NV 89301

Goshute Elders No # listed
Goshute Indian Reservation
P.O. Box 6104
Ibapah, UT 84034

McGill Senior Center 775.235.7110
#1 Ave. K
P.O. Box 1237
McGill, NV 89318

Requa Old Depot Senior Center 775.289.2742
1000 Campton St.
Ely, NV 89301
SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAMS

Southern Nevada
Catholic Charities 702.382.0721
531 North 30th St.
LV, NV 89101

Northern Nevada
Elvirita Lewis Foundation 775.385.2322
1552 C St.
Sparks, NV 89431

LIVING EASIER BETTER AND SAFER

LIVING EASIER BETTER & SAFER


Awesome Easy Recipes (Soups for Soup Lovers & More)
Best times to get things done
Discounts
Easy cleaning
Exercise (easy stuff)
ID Theft/ Living Safer
What you need to GET OFF THE MAILING LISTS.
Important stuff!
Safety at home & on the road
Scam Definitions
New use for cell phones. L

AWESOME EASY RECIPES
SWEET TREATS
Homemade, of course. This is easy stuff, even for the guys.

FRUIT BREAD

Oven 350 degrees Bake 1 hour

4 eggs

1 C Lt. Brown Sugar
2 C Fruit **
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp soda

2 T pumpkin pie spice
1-1 ½ C pecans chopped

Fruit: 2 Cups of any: Banana (leave out the spice) Fig cooked, apple shredded w/ part raisins, dates, or cranberries, carrots cooked, half apricot/pineapple crushed and drained, what ever you can think of, just be sure you drain as much liquid off as possible. Apples and cranberries is very good.

Beat together eggs, water, & oil. Add sugar & fruit. Mix in flour, salt, soda, Apple or pumpkin pie spice. Stir in nuts.

4 small loaf pans cook in 30 - 40 minutes
3 larger ones take about an hour.
Wrap in plastic after cooled. Devour starting the next day! I even like the raw batter! Yeah, I know. But I like it just the same.

OLD FASHION SUGAR COOKIES
Oven 350 degrees Bake 10-12 minutes

½ C butter ½ C shortening 1 C sugar
1 egg ½ tsp. Each Baking powder & soda
2 1.4 C flour 1 tsp. Vanilla, lemon or ? Flavoring

Cream butter, shortening & sugar. Add egg & vanilla, mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and soda, gradually add to the creamed mixture. Shape into 1" balls. Roll in sugar, place on greased cookie sheet, flatten with a glass.

For a slight change use peanut butter for the shortening and use only 2 cups of flour.


COFFEE FRUIT DROPS
Oven 375 degrees Bake 10-12 minutes
Read all the way through first. This one is VERY MOIST

Combine all of the below in a saucepan and cook until apples are tender then set aside to cool. You have to let it cool.
2 C chopped peeled apple 1 C strong coffee 1 C sugar
½ C shortening 1 cup raisins 1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice It takes about 30 minutes to cook.

When it has cooked and cooled, stir in the rest of the stuff.
2 C flour 1 tsp. soda 1 cup chopped pecans 1/4 tsp. Salt

Stir dry ingredients into cooled mixture. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough on an ungreased cookie sheet to bake.
This is a very moist soft cookie.



CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE
Almost the Original Recipe
350 degree oven Bake for 8-10 minutes
2/3 Cup of butter, part shortening
½ Cup light brown sugar ½ Cup regular sugar
1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ Cup flour ½ tsp. soda
½ tsp. salt ½ Cup chopped pecans
6-8 ounces of Milk Chocolate and peanut butter chips

Mix and beat together butter, sugars and egg. Add vanilla, soda, salt, and flour, stir well. Add nuts and chips, mix well. Drop spoonfuls on cookie sheet. These are best soft and chewy so don’t over bake. They should be light brown.




IMITATION FRUIT CAKE
Oven 350 degrees 1 hour

2/3 C sugar 1 cup of mincemeat mincemeat
½ C shortening Cream w/ sugar 1 C nuts chopped
2 eggs Add to creamed mix 1 C raisins
>>>Mix together well 1 C apples, peel & dice
1 C strong coffee w/ 1 tsp. soda, ½ tsp. salt & 1 tsp. vanilla dissolved in it.

Dump in rest of ingredients, mix well. Bake in a heavy cast iron skillet lined with brown paper or wax paper. This keeps very well and is the best fruit cake I have ever eaten. I won a cooking contest with this recipe in 7th grade. :) It is yummy with a cup of coffee.
This tastes more like bread than a cake. It’s awesome with hot coffee or tea. Yeah, milk too.





GERMAN CHOCOLATE FROSTING

½ Cup of butter (1 stick)
1 Cup of evaporated milk
1 Cup of sugar
3 egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla . .COOK OVER MEDIUM HEAT, STIRRING
UNTIL THICK. Be careful not to burn.
1 Cup chopped pecans
1 ½ C coconut ADD TO ABOVE MIXTURE
You can pour this over a boxed German Chocolate Cake Mix, I prefer Betty Crocker but use what you like. OR drop spoonfuls on waxed paper and eat it like candy.

Cool slightly and pour over cake and spread evenly.





NEVER FRY BACON IN THE NUDE!

Get ready for some good eating. These soups taste good any time of the day or night. My Favorite!

POTATO LOVER’S SOUP (This isn’t your ordinary potato soup.)
2 Medium Russet Potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
2 Leeks (They look like giant green onions but are much tastier.) Wash and cut into slices using the white part mostly.
2 regular size cans of *salt free chicken broth.
Boil potatoes and leeks in broth until very tender then blend or mash until it is sort of like runny mashed potatoes.
Add 1 cup of shredded cheese. Your favorite. I like mozzarella, jack or Colby. Mix in well. From here you can add left over shredded chicken or a can of clams or extra cheese and fresh chives. If you add clams you might add some half and half and a little butter. Any way you put it together it will taste good.
*Yes you can use the regular kind but it’s REALLY salty.


TOO EASY SOUP FOR THE SICK

1 Large can of chicken broth over 40 ounces
Mrs. Grasses Vegetable Soup, Dry Mix Just 1 tablespoonful
Pasta. I use Angel Hair and break it into about 1” pieces. ½ cup broken

Simmer broth with dry soup mix in it for 10 minutes, then add pasta and cook until as tender as you like. Mom likes it REAL tender, no she’s not Italian.


STEAK LOVER’S SOUP (OVER)

2 or 3 pieces of cube steak. Cut into bite size pieces. Sprinkle well with Adolph’s Meat Tenderizer, both sides, press in on both sides. Coat well with Bisquick and fry in medium hot oil until golden brown. About 15 minutes or so. Turn over once.
When the meat is brown, add 1 large tablespoon of Bisquick to the oil in the pan with the meat. Mix in well and then add 2 cups of water, stir and let simmer for at least a half an hour or until the gravy has thickened.
Serve over rice, noodles, or plain bread, mashed potatoes. A family favorite.
Cook a pot of cubed potatoes, carrots, & onions, drain and pour steak soup over and it’s stew. Put veges in a large shallow pan, cover with biscuits and bake till biscuits are brown, yummy! Or put a ready made pie crust in the bottom of a pan, add veges, steak soup and cover with another crust and bake till done, about 20 min. It’s a beef pie!


SAUSAGE LOVERs SOUP

4-6 Italian Sausages. I use Sweet/Mild but Hot/Spicy is OK.
Remove casing (skin) and fry with chopped onions until tender. While that cooks do the below.
In a large pot put the following
1/2 bag (8oz. or so) of baby spinach leaves
2 large cans of salt free chicken broth
1 large can of diced tomatoes

Let it simmer for a until the sausage and onions are done then add them to the pot. You can use chicken in this instead of sausage, and you can add some angel hair pasta if you like or even a little rice. Rice tends to soak up the broth so only add a little, like ¼ of a cup. Tastes best the next day.



SOUP YOU’LL LOVE WHEN YOU ARE SICK

2 Cans of unsalted chicken broth. 1 small piece of ginger root. (It’s VERY cheap and so good.)A piece about the size of a small cork will do fine. This just adds flavor, you don’t eat it. (Save extra in freezer.) Bring broth to a boil with ginger root in it for 5 minutes, then remove ginger.
1 bunch of green onions. Clean and chop white and green.
1 Small can of sliced water chestnuts, chop small
Add onions and chestnuts to broth and cook till tender, about 7 or 8 minutes over medium heat.
2 eggs Beat well in a cup. Turn off heat. Stir broth until it swirls and slowly pour in egg. Don’t stir. Let sit until egg cooks, 2 or 3 minutes. Serve hot. It’s great for a sore throat or chills.



SWEET ONION SOUP

It will make you fall in love!

2 OR 3 sweet onions, peeled and chopped
¼ cup of vegetable oil
Fry onions in oil over medium heat until clear and tender. Then add 1 teaspoon of sugar, sprinkle over thoroughly. Cook for another 5 minutes. Stir.
Add 2 cans of . . . . .chicken broth! Simmer for 5 or 10 minutes. Serve with shredded mozzarella cheese on top and toast or crackers.


BEST TIMES TO GET STUFF DONE

What is the best time of day to :

Shop for groceries?
Very early in the morning or during highly rated TV shows during prime time.

Shop for a home?
If you are looking in bad weather, rain, then a realtor knows you are serious. Also, during the holiday season, November to January. Be sure to get qualified FIRST!

Shop for a car?
At the end of the month, especially when the new models are about to come out. Get a buyer’s referral from a warehouse membership club or the AAA. It can save you a bunch of bucks. (It saved me $1800.00)

Get a restaurant reservation, on short notice?
Cancellations start coming in for the same day in the late morning. Get your bid in for the waiting line.
Best time to rent a movie?
Usually Tuesday’s are the slowest and bargain deals are available. Go in around noon time or a bit later. That is when the returns will have been either restocked or are sitting on the counter ready to be rented out again.

Make customer service calls?
Thursdays. Worst? Monday, naturally. Wednesdays are usually pretty good days for calling about service related problems with utilities and such, even the IRS.


Make a tech support call?
Saturday night! Unless you are busy. Any evening or night is better than any day during usual work hours.

Take a nap?
Anytime you feel like it and can get away with it!

Of course, the best time to do anything is when you darn good and well feel like it.


DISCOUNTS

There are LOTS of discounts out there, BUT you either have to ask or show some sort of membership card. The best cards to show, if you are a member, are AAA and AARP. They have a ton of discounts. Some huge.

Then you can check
www.seniordiscounts.com on line or call 800.372.7513

Call 800.677.1116 to get the Agency on Aging or look under State Agencies on Aging in this book. They can tell you what they have available.EASY CLEANING

Cleaning:
It is a necessary evil, but there is no reason to make it any harder than it needs to be. Some easy tips from my property management days.

FOLEX Under $10.00 for 32 oz.
For SPOTS, it doesn’t matter where they are, in your carpet or on a silk blouse or your couch. This stuff works. You can find it in most markets, and at Home Depot. Read the directions. It won’t take your breath away or dissolve your skin.

ELIMINATE Under $5.00 16 oz.
For hard water scale, scummy tubs and faucets. It will make the old fixtures look nearly new. Usually at Home Depot, now and then a small bottle at the 99 cent store. You’ll want a big one next time. You won’t need much of this if you use the magnets. It shines up the fixtures beautifully. Reread the section on water about the magnets.

ODOSHIELD About $20.00
(This is for a gallon of concentrate!)
For the nastiest of smells and germs. It kills them all. It’s gentle and has a very delicate scent that is nice. Good for carpet too. You’ll find it at a janitorial supply store.

To clean your garbage disposer: Make vinegar ice cubes and grind them up. Also pour a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide down your kitchen drain once a month. The cheap ones, 33 cents, usually, on sale somewhere. Or run a lemon or orange peel down it. Just remove the hard stem first.

You’d think it would be EXPENSIVE. If it were, I’d still buy it! About $5.00
HONDA aerosol window cleaner is absolutely the best thing I have ever used to clean glass, mirrors, (I spend more time in front of my mirror now because now I can really see!) or anything you want sparkling clean. Pictures look incredible just by using this to clean the glass. Just a little spritz goes a whole lot further than a whole lot of any other stuff.



Cleaning jewelry
You could buy an expensive sonic device and solution. It does work very well. BUT why? Cleaning jewelry is just as effective by soaking it in ammonia for a few moments and scrubbing it with a soft toothbrush. Then rinse it in alcohol and dry. BEAUTIFUL! You saved enough to go shopping!
NEVER SOAK OPALS, PEARLS, or SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES.

GETTING RID OF ANTS THE CHEAP AND EASY WAY
AND IT’S SAFE FOR PETS.

Buy a bottle of powdered marking chalk at HOME DEPOT or LOWE’S and sprinkle it around pet food, in or out of doors, or in your garden, around the back corners of your cabinets, anywhere. It is cheap, 8 oz. is less than $1.50. You can get creative and use blue or yellow or red as well as just plain white. This is so cheap and environmentally friendly that you will love frustrating those little pests by drawing a ring around them. They hate it J


Cleanliness is still close to Godliness,
but it also smells a WHOLE lot better
EXERCISE

A lot of people think breathing is exercise enough. It may be, to some extent, but you won’t get to do it for as long as you would if you did some of the “real stuff.” What’s best?
What ever it takes to get you to move anything, except the remote control.

WALK, SWIM, FLOAT!, or SHAKE, ANYTHING THAT WILL MOVE, UNTIL THERE IS LESS TO SHAKE

Then go buy some smaller pants.
I do what I call “200 of something.” It doesn’t really amount too much considering that I have 8 discs in my back that hate me. They are ruptured and herniated so it limits my “boogie” ability, a little. 50 small knees “dips” while cooking, 50 mini lunges, 50 arm circles, and 50 leg swings while watching Wheel of Fortune. That’s it. Sometimes I go way over and do 100 of something extra. It will help, just swing or fling anything that is connected to you! Feel free to make up your own moves. Do a little or a lot. By doing even just a little you will enable yourself to do more and more. You’ll find out that this stuff makes you feel good. Just don’t over do it. Of course, you should check with your doctor but he’ll probably say “go for it!” Remember, the more you are hurt the more often they send you to physical therapy. Physical therapy is just another word for exercise. So they know you are hurting more than you would if you were doing all of that stuff and paying a huge price for it.


OR Take a walk, just be sure to carry a smile with you! Someone interesting might meet and greet you with theirs.

It doesn’t sound like it would really be all that good,
BUT it is.
Get some weights to lift.
Guys, hoist your beer can 10 or 20 times with each arm, over your head, BEFORE you pop the top.
Ladies, just grab any ol’ can from the shelf, one for each hand and reach for the sky 10 or 20 times.
This way you’ll be doing it twice as fast as the guys. J


Once you do this for a few weeks you will probably want to see what weights can do for other parts of your body.

Bad Bumper Sticker!
If walking is so good for you, then why does
my mailman look like Jabba the Hut?

If you can read this, I’ve lost my trailer

Cleverly Disguised as an Adult!

Lights timed for 35 MPH are also timed for 70 MPH

He who hesitates is not only lost but miles from the next exit.


IDENTITY THEFT
It’s a FEDERAL Crime & It’s Soooooooo EASY…….

FTC Identity Theft Survey Report from 2003. Cost: $52.6 BILLION a year and going up. Fraud Victims: Around 10 MILLION despite major efforts to prevent it. Most ID Theft is self-detected. One in ten will or has been victimized. It takes about an hour to learn how to steal someone’s identity with just a little computer knowledge.

The average amount of money involved in an ID Theft is over $10,000. It takes about 6 months or around 175 hours and close to $1,500. to clean up the mess. It is capable of producing at least 10 migraines, 2 ulcers and an intense desire to put someone, whose name you may never know, on a “HIT” list, if there were such a thing. J

How does it happen? The easiest way, for the ID Thief, is to steal some of the mail you tossed. Their favorites are pre-approved credit applications and mortgage loans “checks.” They just change the address and they are in business. However, all three credit reporting bureaus in the nation sell your information and it can include not just your name and address but your birth date, Social Security Number, and unlisted phone #. That happens when they get duped and sell to a phony company. There are other ways, some very sophisticated. Need and greed, combined, can surpass the mother of invention.

Enclosed are a few things to make it a good deal harder for them to use you and your information for a shopping spree. SHRED YOUR MAIL! And send all 3 credit reporting bureaus the enclosed form which makes them remove your name and information from the for sale list. By mail it is free, on line some charge $5.00. Either way it takes about 3 months. Their lists are updated 4 times yearly.


Each bureau has different requirements to be removed from their marketing lists. Fill each out completely, make copies for your self, send by certified mail, return receipt to have proof they received it. When the receipt comes back put it in a safe place. Just in case. I’ve enclosed address labels to make it even easier. Just make sure the right letter goes with the same address label. You don’t have to retype them, just fill in the information. Do this first, then read through the rest and do those that pertain to you. They are important so please be sure to do everything you can to get off these lists.
A HINT, from personal experience:
When you have people working in your home, close off rooms they do not need to be in and keep an eye on what they are doing while using their cell phones. I had someone take pictures of my bedroom. Fortunately it was because he liked the decorating, but it could have been for other reasons. I didn’t know until some 6 months later when he told me he took the pictures to show his fiancée.
Copy these letters and send them ASAP to each Credit Bureau to GET OFF THEIR MAILING LISTS!
Options
Equifax, Inc.
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Date
To Whom it may concern:
Please remove my name from your marketing lists. I have enclosed the following information required by you to do this.
First, Middle, & Last Name & all variations i.e. Jr. Sr.,

Current Mailing Address

Social Security Number .
Thank you in advance for handling my request promptly.
Sincerely,
Signature
Each Bureau has different requirements so be sure to use the correct form for each agency.

Experian
Consumer Opt-Out
P.O. Box 919
Allen, TX 75013
Date
To Whom it may concern:
Please remove my name from your marketing lists. I have enclosed the following information required by you to do this.
First, Middle, & Last Name & all variations i.e. Jr. Sr.,

Current Mailing Address

Social Security Number .
Thank you in advance for handling my request promptly.
Sincerely,
Signature

Trans Union Corporation’s
Name Removal Option
P.O. BOX 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328
Date
To Whom it may concern:
Please remove my name from your marketing lists. I have enclosed the following information required by you to do this.
First, Middle, & Last Name & all variations i.e. Jr. Sr.,

Current Mailing Address

Previous Address also if above less than 6 months
Social Security # Date of Birth
Thank you in advance for handling my request promptly.
Sincerely,
Signature


More things you can do. The more you know the safer you will be.
IF you use the information you have.

WEB SITES on ID Theft:
www.privacyrights.org More info on how to protect yourself.
www.junkbusters.com Info on reducing unwanted solicitations.
www.ckfraud.org Info on check forgery and bank fraud.
www.fraud.org Info on how to avoid fraud plus more.

WEB SITES for info regarding doing business online.

www.truste.org Provides a “seal” to sites that meet strict privacy requirements, for your safety.
www.cpawebtrust Same thing
www.bbb.org Use to verify and identify reliable companies online and off.
www.bbbonline.org Another “seal” program for good businesses.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM
You only need to call one of the three bureaus.
They are required to share this information. Your choice.

EQUIFAX, INC 1-800-685-1111
EXPERIAN 1-800-831-5614 ask for consumer fraud
TRANS UNION CORPORATION 1-800-916-8800

CALL TO ORDER A CREDIT REPORT
You get 1 free from each bureau. Order 1 from a different bureau every 4 months.

EQUIFAX, INC 1-800-685-1111 or
www.equifax.com
EXPERIAN 1-888-397-3742 or
www.experian.com
TRANS UNION CORPORATION 1-800-888-4213 or
www.tuc.com

DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF ID THEFT YOU HAVE OR MAY HAVE, YOU MAY NEED ONE OR MORE OF THE SITES.

ID THEFT
Bank Fraud
www.ffiec.gov/enforcement.htm
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
www.fdic.gov
1.800.934.3342
Federal Reserve System
www.federalreserve.gov
1.202.452.3693
National Credit Union Admin.
www.ncua.gov
1.703.518.6360
Office of the Comptroller of
www.occ.treas.gov
Currency (OCC) 1.800.613.6743
Use if “National or N.A.” is in the name of the bank.

Office of Thrift Supervision
www.ots.treas.gov
1.202.906.6000
Use for thrift inst. Savings banks and savings & loan institutions.

Bankruptcy Fraud (Yes they can!)
www.usdoj.ust
You will have to write them but this will get you started as to what to do.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Com.
www.sec.gov
1.202.942.7040
Mail Theft U.S. Postal Inspection
www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
Service (USPIS) They are GOOD!

Passport Fraud
www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
United States Department of State

Phone Fraud Call your local provider or local public Utility Commission. Cell & Long Distance, contact the FCC
www.fcc.gov
1.888.CALL-FCC

Social Security Number Theft
www.ssa.gov
& Misuse 1.800.269.0271


Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov
Department of Justice www.usdoj.gov
Federal Bureau of Investigation www.fbi.gov
U.S. Secret Service www.treas.gov/usss
Financial Crimes Division
www.treas.gov/usss/financial_crimes.shtml
Department of Motor Vehicles
www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.htm#Motor

Direct Marketers (DMA) Mail Preference Service Good for 5 years.
www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html
or by mail: DMA, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512

Telemarketing
www.the-dma.org/consumers/offtelephonelist.html
by mail: DMA, Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 1559, Carmel, NY 10512 If you move you need to do this procedure again for both phone #’s and addresses.

E-Mail Good for 1 year only.
www.dmaconsumers.org/offmaillist.html
For ATM cards and Checks: Call your bank immediately!
To find out if an ID Thief has been passing bad checks in your name,
CALL: SCAN: 1.800.262.7771

Be sure you have photocopies of all of your important papers and cards. Photocopy BOTH sides of each card and keep copies of contracts, passports, bank accounts, etc. in a safe place and have more than one copy. These have the numbers you will need in a big fast hurry if someone gets a hold of them.

Getting a new computer? What happens to the info in the old one?

Delete Delete Delete. AND use a “wipe” program to write over the hard drive. For more information go to
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/harddrive.pdf
( The hq is HQ not HG. There are 2 hq’s in the above address.
The following 2 letters are for sending to 1) credit bureaus and 2) for an existing credit account in dispute. Sorry, but you will have to rewrite them to be effective.
Again send by certified mail, return receipt requested.

SAMPLE DISPUTE LETTER CREDIT BUREAU
Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip
Complaint Department
Name of Credit Bureau
Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I am disputing are also circled on the attached copy of the report I received. (Identify those items by name of source, such as creditor or tax court, and type of item, such as credit, judgment, etc.)
I am a victim of identity theft, and did not make the charges. I am requesting that the item be blocked and my credit report corrected.
Enclosed are copies of any documentation supporting my position. (If you have them.) I would appreciate your investigation of this and the removal of the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.
Sincerely, Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing. ( PHOTOCOPIES ONLY!)
You can file a complaint online at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
Or call the toll free hotline at 1.877.IDTHEFT (1.877.438.4338) TTY 1.866.653.4261
Or Write to:
Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580SAMPLE DISPUTE LETTER FOR EXISTING CREDIT ACCOUNTS
Date

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip
Name of Creditor
Billing Inquiries
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute a fraudulent (charge or debit) attributed to my account in the amount of $_____________. I am a victim of identity theft, and I did not make this (charge or debit). I am requesting that the (charge be removed or the debit reinstated), that any finance and other charges related to the fraudulent amount be credited as well, and that I receive an accurate statement.
Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence to describe information you are enclosing, such as a police report) supporting my position. I would appreciate your investigation of this and the correction of the fraudulent (charge or debit) as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing. ( PHOTOCOPIES ONLY!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DMA
Mail Preference Service
PO BOX 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Dear Sir or Madam,
Please remove my name and address from your marketing lists as soon as possible.
Name: .
Address____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Thank you,
Sincerely, Sign



DMA
Telephone Preference Service
PO BOX 1559
Carmel, NY 10512

Dear Sir or Madam,
Please remove my phone number from your marketing lists as soon as possible.

Name:___________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Phone #______________________Phone #____________________

Thank you,

Sincerely,

I know that is a lot of work but if it gets you off the “list” it is well worth it.
Watch for a notice from your credit card companies because they will send you a notice that they know which offers you most likely would like to receive and will continue to send them if you do not respond to the phone # they enclose. That means it will start all over again and you wasted you postage and are still set up for ID Theft. It pays to read the fine print.
SCAMS & IDENTITY THEFT

You’ll never know what hit you UNTIL it is too late, it can take as much as a year, or more JUST to find out you’ve been had. Then more hours, days and weeks than you want to think about just to clean it up. IF EVER. It will have a severe impact on your credit report. This is only some of the stuff that might come your way. Someone is always coming up with a new way to rip people off. Be very careful with your money and your personal identification so you can enjoy it and leave some to your kids or whomever. It beats someone else spending it for you. Report ID theft to the ID THEFT CLEARINGHOUSE (877.438.4338) or go on line to www.Consumer.Gov/IdTheft. SEE SAFETY section also.

First, why are Seniors such a target for scams and ID theft? Because people 50 (and better J) control over 70 % of the money in our economy. Thieves are NOT known for being stupid. Remember that kids have SS #’s now and they are the newest target for long term identity theft.

The first scam that anyone enrolled in Medicare should be watchful of is overcharging and charging for services not rendered. You’ve paid for this all of your working life, don’t let anyone cheat you or America this way. If you think you may have been over charged or not gotten what is being paid for CALL IMMEDIATELY 1.888.838.7305 to report them. So they don’t get a new BMW. Too &*(%$ bad! J

To make sure a charity is what it says it is
go to:
www.charitynavigator.com

IT IS PROBABLY A SCAM IF IT SOUNDS LIKE ANY OF THESE
SCAM DEFINITIONS
Ponzi or Pyramid Schemes.
New Ponzi investors “pay” the people that “invested” earlier and usually quite nicely, that way they “share” their “good fortune” with their friends and get them to invest with them. It’s a good way to loose friends down the road and be broke. If the return looks too good, grab your checkbook and RUN! fast. Don’t even look back.
Yeah Right. Can you spell Bankruptcy?
Pyramid schemes depend on each person getting several people to invest “beneath” them. But unless you are the “top dog” you aren’t going to see any “return.” The top dogs live on an island somewhere with a fat off shore bank account that the US can’t touch. They both “sound” so good, especially with interest rates being so low but even low interest on your money is better than no interest on no money. This is the one where someone you trust “invites” you to join them. DON’T DO IT!!! You’ll live to regret it a long time and so will they.

Unlicensed people selling securities
This one is easy to avoid. If they don’t have a valid license to be selling securities, don’t buy. Take the time to check. It is more than worth it. Just say “I’d like to make sure you are licensed. I’LL CALL YOU as soon as I’m sure.” They will either try to bluff you into signing, DON’T, or they will run like rabbits. Do yourself a financial favor, call anyway.


Promissory notes
Buying promissory notes is incredibly risky. They are SO easy to fake. Just don’t do it. If you can’t resist, at least call the Secretary of State’s Securities Division first 486.2440

Prime Bank Schemes
PBGN’s and PBN’s (Prime Bank Guaranteed Notes) When this is explained to you by a con you will think you are the luckiest person on this earth to have the opportunity to get in on it. The luckiest person will really be the one that got your money, cause it is GONE. Forever. The interest roll overs and short term, overnight, high interest rates they tell you about just mean more money will roll over into their off shore accounts. It’s a fast way to lose a lot of money and feel like such a fool that a great many people never even report it to the police. It is also a popular way to launder money, Internationally.
REMEMBER!!! If it sounds too good to be true and you feel like you are unbelievably lucky to “get in on this,” you will be unbelievably lucky to get out without losing your life savings.
I personally know people that have been taken this way. Some of them maxed out several credit cards in order to be able to “get in on this investment.” So they wouldn’t lose out.

Affinity fraud
This type of scam usually comes from someone that you would feel you could trust. “They are affiliated with your church” or some other lie that works for them. If you are going to donate to your church, do it in the collection plate on Sunday.

Charitable gift annuities
Some of these are actually good. Just make sure if you do this it is a REAL charity, not a scam artists way to line his/her pockets.

No matter HOW HARD you try, you can’t BAPTISE a cat.
Then again, it’s harder to baptize a cat than to get money out of someone who thought they were in on a “deal that is too good to be true.” The cat will run and so should you!

Oil & Gas schemes
It’s another “sounds to good to be true” thing. Interest rates are high. And who couldn’t use a little, lot, more money on what they have in the bank just sitting there. Don’t touch these without a professional that is well known to you and others. Even that has proved to fail occasionally.

Equipment leasing
Again! The promise of high rates of return for the use of your money. Just a tempting little offer for you to get in on the payphone industry, ATM machines, Internet bays, etc. Don’t do it or you’ll be looking for a job to supplement your Social Security.

Internet Fraud & Phishing
If you are 50 (or better) and a licensed stockbroker, day trading might be OK for you. Never buy stock based on a “tip” from any internet source. Never never

“VERIFY” your account numbers or personal ID on the internet. There is something called Spyware and it is designed to make you think an account, or something else,
is going to be cancelled, immediately, if you do not respond RIGHT NOW. Your bank account will be cancelled when it has
been drained. This is what is called Phishing. The thief is “phishing” for a sucker

ID THEFT
and if you respond you’ll live to regret it. If you receive e-mails that you suspect might be a scam forward the e-mail to www.
uce@ftc.gov or register a complaint with the Nevada attorney General’s office or through the FTC at www.ftc.gov . Don’t let them get away and rip another person off. Never respond or “check out” a link or e-mail when you don’t know the sender.

These kinds of scam artists are truly artists. They can make it look like you are dealing with a reputable company by faking their web site, getting your ID, money or whatever they are after and then they vanish. The reputable company gets your complaint but they don’t have a clue as to what happened to you. This has happened to people on AOL and e BAY and large department stores that also sell on line.

WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS
There is some REAL pond scum out there so beware or you may end up footing the bill and helping those who so generously help themselves to money that doesn’t belong to them.

PLEASE . . . .DON’T GIVE YOUR MEDICARE NUMBER OUT “TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY” FOR A “WHATEVER” TYPE OF GIZMO THEY ARE PROMOTING. NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!!. It is a license to steal. Your doctor knows if you need a wheel chair or scooter and if you do, he will let you know where to get it from. If you have a HMO, it most likely won’t cost you a thing. Or at best a small co-pay.

If someone tries to pressure you into buying anything, walk away, let them talk to air. Or just hang up your phone. Don’t worry about being rude. It is plenty rude to call a person just to try to rip them off. This is the time to be rude FIRST. It will save you time, money and headaches.
Good phone numbers and web sites to get familiar with.
State Senior Medicare Patrol
http://www.aoa.gov/smp/grantee/grantee_state,asp
Medicare Fraud Hotline 1.800.447.8477
Or email them at
www.HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov
IMPORTANT STUFF! _______________________

Organize your phone book
If you wait until you need it, you probably won’t be able to find it. Get your stuff together, now. What stuff?
YOUR NUMBERS!
Create a file for this and keep it all together. AND get a new address book. You’ll see why.
Make copies, 2 or 3 sets, of all of your important papers: birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce papers, pension, medical records, insurance papers, and WILL. You need to make several copies of your Medical Power of Attorney and Living Will. It will make life MUCH easier if it should be needed.

Make copies of your drivers’ license, your credit cards, any important ID. It is the best way to make sure you have all of your “numbers” and all of them are correct.

Get a Durable Power of Attorney or at the very least a Medical Power of Attorney so someone can make medical decisions for you if you can’t. Make sure they know what you want, like being a donor, OR NOT. If being a donor turns you off, think of it like this. If it was your child, spouse or parent, would you want someone to be so kind as to give the gift of life to them? Am I a donor? You bet I am.

Also, a living will. If you wait till you need it you might not be in the condition to make one. You can’t do this on pain medication or if you are confused due to any reason. But you can be left in that condition for a very long time if you don’t make your wishes known early. No one should have to
live just because a machine can keep your heart beating and lungs pushing air. There is no quality to that kind of life when there is no hope for recovery.

Get a new address book and fill it out using this as a guide.
The first page should have the names and phone numbers of close relatives and who they are to you. Also that Doctors are all on the “D” page & friends on page “F.”

“B” bills, All of them. Never write Credit Card Account numbers in your book. Or you SS number. “B” is also a good place to write birthdays of the people you like to contact on their special day.

______________________________________

On the “D” page you should list all of your Doctors by name and phone number as well as what kind of Doctor they are. Don’t forget the Vet!

On the “F” page, list Friends and Family under those headings.

If it is your mechanic, put his name under “C” for car or “A” for Auto. However you refer to vehicles.
Make up your own categories and list names under them.
“I” could be for Insurance, house, car, life, whatever.


“WE IS FRIENDS”

Me and you is friends.
You Smile, I smile.
You Hurt, I hurt.
You Cry, I cry.

You jump offa bridge,
I gonna miss you.
J

There are all kinds of safety that we need to provide for our selves today. These are in no particular order, just suggestions that have come across my path that sound like they are a real good idea to pay attention too.
These regard identity theft: (SEE IDENTITY THEFT section too.)
When you order your checks next time, put just your first initials and full last name on them. The bank will know your signature but a thief probably won’t. Also it won’t identify you as a woman or man.
When paying credit card bills, DO NOT put the complete account number on the check. Just use the last four numbers. Yes this is a good practice and no one will object but those who want the whole number for their uses Put your work phone # on your check or if you have a PO Box, use that. NEVER PUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON YOUR CHECK. If someone asks for it, just say NO.
Photocopy both sides of the contents of your wallet. Make more than one copy and keep them in a safe place, just in case. Hopefully you will never need them. Do the same with your passport, birth certificate and any other ID.
The key to canceling credit cards fast is to have the 800 numbers, carry a small paper in your car and wallet with those numbers for quick access. Also any other identifying information
you might need if you lose your passport overseas. Leave it with a good friend, that owns a fax machine if possible. While traveling have the toll free numbers where you can get to them fast, or at least within 24 hours. Your photocopies will have the rest of the information you need to replace those items.
Sad as it may seem and be, identity theft by a relative or even parent or adult child has become more common than it ought to be. You just have to be careful of everyone now day’s.

NEVER LET SOMEONE WORKING IN YOUR HOME USE THEIR CELL PHONE. THEY CAN TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR HOME TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO COME BACK LATER ` WHEN YOU AREN’T THERE!!
Call all 3 credit reporting organizations to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. It can stop the thief dead in his/her tracks. Credit reports usually give all three reports and the middle score is the one usually used. Credit reports used for buying a car or house are not counted against you like those used for getting a new credit card which can lower your FICO score.

What is FICO? It stands for Fair Isaac Company. BUT it hardly seems fair how it is used. It determines what interest rate you pay as well as how much your auto insurance costs and a few other things. You score is based on 5 factors: Payment history, Outstanding Credit Balances, Length of Credit History, Type of Credit and how many inquiries you have had requesting a check. Find out more about FICO at
www.myfico.com

NEVER PAY FOR ANYONE TO “CLEAN” UP YOUR CREDIT RECORD!!!



IF YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE HELP CALL THE U.S. DEPT. OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT or on the web go to

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm

The numbers are:
Equifax:1.800.525.6285 On-line
www.equifax.com

Experian (TRW) 1.888.397.3742
On-line
www.experian.com

Trans Union: 1.800.680.7289 On-line
www.tuc.com


Get all 3 reports for $38.95 at
www.myfico.com

Phone 1.800.CUFRAUD ( 1.800.283.7283)

On-line www.
fraud_hotline@countrywide.com

Additional Information contact the Federal Trade Comm.

1.877.IDTHEFT ( 1.877.438.4338
On-line
www.consumer.gov/idtheft

www.idtheftcenter.org
www.consumer.gov/idtheft

AND the Social Security fraud line 1.800.269.0271

SAFETY AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD

The strongest part of the body is the elbow. Use it when and where ever it is needed in the place it will hurt the most.
To avoid becoming a victim:
You must be AWARE of where you are and what’s going on around you. Pay attention at all times, JUST LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. PS It does!
Body Language can prevent an attack. Keep your head up, stand up straight, swing your arms.
You don’t have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it can happen. Don’t drive or walk alone in a bad area or ever in an alley at night.
LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS as soon as you get in and leave the area. If you need to check something, pull off at a convenience or drive thru or market under a big light. Pay close attention to what is around you.
Check your car BEFORE you get in it.
Do not park next to a big van. Most serial killers use vans and are “handicapped” and “need help with getting in their car or getting something out.” Just a little bit of help from you and they have you in their car.
If there is a man sitting closest to your car door when you go to your car, don’t get in. Go get security or someone to walk you to your car. If no one is around to walk you, find something to do until they leave.
Always take the elevator instead of the stairs, no matter what exercise gurus say. Crime happens in stairwells.
If someone has a gun and you are not under his control. RUN, ALWAYS RUN. They can usually only hit a running target 4 out of 100 times and then not in a vital area.

As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic and helpful. STOP IT! It could get you raped or killed. That was the way Ted Bundy, the serial killer worked. He didn’t look like a serial killer, he was handsome and knew how to speak to get women to help him. He was the last person a lot of women ever helped.
Travel and do business during daylight hours when ever possible.
BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AT REST STOPS.
Check the ID’s of couriers or delivery people. If you aren’t expecting anything, don’t open the door.

Use ATM’s only in daylight or when in well lit busy locations. Better yet, get some cash out at the grocery store. Park in well lit areas. Always lock your car. Hide
bags in the trunk. Don’t set yourself up to be a victim by wearing expensive jewelry just to go shopping or garage sale shopping.
Don’t carry large amounts of cash. Use debit or credit cards.

Bank of America recently started backing losses/theft on debit cards like they have for credit cards. IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!

Don’t carry your life history and pictures that are not replaceable in your purse. Carry your ID and cash or debit cards in a front pocket and leave your hands free.

If you are in a foreign country or just a bad area, do not carry an expensive purse or wear shoes that shout you are an American, like NIKE. Pick pockets/muggers go for those first.

Use automatic timers for house lights year round so no one will know if you are using them because you are gone or just because you like you lights to come on and go off at a certain time.

Have someone take care of your mail and newspaper. Stopping them is not always a good thing to do. Have a neighbor watch your home and park in your drive way.

Make sure your grandchildren are careful with their SS #’s. They can be missing for a long time before anyone knows and they are the popular new resource in Identity Theft. Most of this is common sense but a lot of people don’t take the time to use it.

INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT!

Carry a list of the medications you are taking at all times.
Just print the name of the medications, how often you take it, the strength, usually in “mgs”. Include aspirin, vitamins and any over the counter medications you usually take on a regular basis. Sound like a hassle? No where near as big a hassle as a sudden trip to the emergency hospital and no one knowing what you take. It will also help doctors know what
you already have going on in your body. The more you have to take the more important it is to have this small piece of paper with you. If you use a computer, it’s real easy to print one off and update it as needed. If not, it’s still worth the effort to write it out and keep it with you at all times.

Jot a couple of emergency phone numbers that can be called in case needed on the back of you medications. It could save your life. Just do it.
If you carry a cell phone, stick a label on the back of it with an emergency contact number as well as your name and if there is room, even severe medical problems you have. Firemen will soon be, if not already, trained to look for ICE which stands for In Case of Emergency. Give them something to work with and it may save your life.

The biggest cause of falls, in almost all age ranges, but especially in elderly, is throw rugs, area rugs or any kind of extra floor covering. If you or someone you are caring for has a tendency to fall, do them a favor and get rid of the things no matter how much they object. And they will. It doesn’t matter if they keep the carpet clean if they aren’t there to see it.

www.bsu.ed/welcomehome/index.html Hints on how to make a home safer to live in for an older person or one with disabilities.

MEDICINE
It doesn’t matter if it is over the counter or a prescription, if it is difficult to open it is dangerous to the person who needs to open it and take it. Be sure to get easy open caps from the pharmacist.

For those extremely hard to open aspirin and similar bottles that must line up with an invisible arrow, you can do either of 2 things. Paint that arrow on the bottle red with nail polish or get a pair of toe nail clippers and cut the little notch off in the lid. No one can take medicine they can’t get out of a bottle or find if it spills on the floor.

If you are helping someone take medicine, consider putting colored label circles on the lids of each bottle. Yellow for morning pills, Red for noon and Blue for evening. I strip of each color if it is 3 times a day. If you actually give the pills to the person, put them in a round votive candle holder that is easy for them to pick up and hold.
Again, use a different color for each time of the day so they know, and you will to, that they took their pills. They will drop fewer pills this way.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? CELL PHONES CAN BE DANGEROUS!

Make sure workmen or women that are in your home DO NOT USE THEIR CELL PHONES INSIDE. THEY CAN EASILY TAKE PICTURES WITH THEIR PHONES AND COME BACK LATER KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT AND WHERE TO LOOK.
SENIOR CENTERS
Senior & Resource Centers Senior Companion Sites

And Resource Centers (INET indicates a computer center)
Some are community centers that offer Senior activities. There are some really good things to do in here, including classes on dancing, any kind, from belly dancing to line dancing or even ball room, writing, exercise, games, and lots more. Check out several that are close to you. Sign up and get their newsletter so you know in advance what is coming to the center near you. There is a charge for some classes but it is extremely reasonable.

CARSON CITY INET 775.883.0703
911 Beverly Dr. 89706

CHURCHILL COUNTY 775.423.6075
Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe
Stillwater Indian Reservation
8955 Million Road
Fallon, 89406

Churchill Senior Center 775.423.7096
310 E. Court St.
Fallon 89406

Alice & Harry Goldberg 732.0556
Jewish Federation
2317 Renaissance Dr.
LV 89119

Boulder City Center INET 293.3320
1001 Arizona St.
Boulder City 89005
Transportation, Legal Service, Adult Day Care
Nutrition, Recreation
SENIOR CENTERS 166
Cambeiro Center INET 382.6252 x 135
330 North 13th Street
LV 89101 Spanish and English spoken

Cambridge Center 455.8691
3930 Cambridge St.
LV 89120 Education, Recreational Services

Cappalappa Family Resource Center 397.6400
P.O. Box 1860
Overton 89040
Advocacy, Referral, Friendly Visitation, Counseling
Service, Food

Clark County Parks & Recreation 455.7340
3130 McLeod Drive
LV 89121 Education, Recreation Services

Clark Family Resource Center 365.9272
4291 Pennwood
LV 89102

Cora Coleman Center 455.7617
2100 Bonnie Lane.
LV 89110 Recreation, Education, Referral Services

Derfelt Senior Center 229.6601
3343 W. Washington Ave.
LV 89107

Desert Breeze Community Center 455.8334
8275 Spring Mountain Rd
LV 89117

Doolittle Senior Center 229.612
1950 North J St. LV 89107

Dula Senior Gymnasium 229.6307
441 E. Bonanza Road
LV 89010

Eastside Family Resource Center 799.3670 x 4087
1870 N. Lamont St.
LV 89115 Referral, Food, Case Management

East LV Community & Senior Center 229.1515
250 N. Eastern Avenue
LV

Economic Opportunity Board Senior Center 647.2536
INET 2420 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
NLV 89032

Family Resource Center 799.3670
1870 North Lamont Street X 208 or 246
LV 89115
Emergency Food Assistance, Case Management, Referral Service

Family Resource Center 454.9020
3900 Perry Street
LV 89121
Food, Referral Service

Friendship Circle (Salvation Army) 565.8836
830 E. Lake Mead Drive,
Henderson 89015

Greater LV Family Resource Center 657.6762
1200 North Eastern Avenue
LV 89101 Food, Referral Service
SENIOR CENTERS 166
HACA Family Center INET 486.6770
145 Panama St
Henderson 89015

Helen Meyer Community Center 455.7723
4525 New Forest Dr.
LV 89147

Henderson Senior Center INET 267.4150
27 E. Texas Ave.
Henderson 89105

Hollyhock Adult Day Care Center 382.0093
380 N. Maryland Parkway Call first for information

Howard Lieburn Senior Center 229.1600
6230 Garwood Avenue LV 89107

Indian Springs Senior Citizen Center 879.5250
715 Gretta Lane
Indian Springs 89018
Nutrition Program, Transportation, Recreation,
Telephone Reassurance

Jewish Community Center of SN 794.0090
Older Adult Program
8260 W. Charleston Blvd.
LV 89117

Jim Boyles Senior Center 397.8002
475 S. Moapa Valley Dr.
Overton, 89040


Las Vegas Senior Lifeline (60+) 933.1191
2309B Renaissance Dr
LV 89119
Nutrition, homemaking, home improvement, transportation, medical assistance, technology, programs/activities.

Las Vegas Senior Program 298.5445
P.O. Box 32055
1975 Arie Ave. Laughlin, 89029

LV Senior Citizens Center 229.6454
451 E. Bonanza Road (This is a big one.)

Laughlin Senior Center 298.5445
Laughlin

Lied Senior Care Center 648.3425
901 N. Jones

Mesquite Senior & Community Center 702.346.5290
102 W. Old Mill Road
Mesquite

Mesquite Family Resource Center 346.7277
51 West First North
Mesquite 89027 Food, Referral Service

Metropolitan Family Resource Center 657.0371
2200 East Cheyenne Avenue
North Las Vegas 89030
Food, Friendly Visitation, Counseling, Assisted
Care, Education

MLK Senior Center 647.2536
2420 N. Martin Luther Kind Blvd. (Lots of activities)

SENIOR CENTERS 166
Moapa Business Council 865.2787
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
P.O. Box 340 Moapa 89025

Mirabelli Community Center 229.6359
6200 Elton Ave.

Moapa Family Resource Center 865.2700

North Las Vegas Family Resource Center 649.2656
2530 East Carey Avenue
North Las Vegas 89030 Food Referral Service

North Las Vegas Recreation 633.1492
1638 Bruce St. Senior activities

Northwest Senior Center 229-4924
6841 W. Lone Mountain Road (classes: dance writing etc.)

Overton Senior Center INET 702.397.8002
475 S. Moapa Valley Blvd, Overton

Paradise Community Center 455.7513
4475 McLeod Drive 89121
4770 S Harrison Dr. 89121

Parkdale Community Center 455.7517
3200 Ferndale St. (Senior activities)

Resource Coalition 298.2592
1975 Arie Avenue
Laughlin 89029 Food, Friendly Visitation, Telephone Reassurance
Referral, Transportation

Searchlight Senior Center INET 297.1614
P.O. Box 915 575 S. Highway 95
Searchlight 89046
Nutrition, Transportation, Friendly Visitation

Senior Friends Mountain View Office 255.5404
8524 Del Webb Blvd. INET
LV 89134

Seniors in Action, Inc. 644.3881
2100 South Maryland Parkway #3
LV 89104
Recreation, Telephone Reassurance

Senior Tripsters 387.0007
LV 89101

Silver Mesa Recreation 633.2550
4025 Allen Lane, NLV (Senior activities)

Stupak Family Resource Center 229.2432
300 West Boston 229.2488
LV 89102 Food, Referral Service

Sunrise 455.7600
2240 Linn Lane


United Methodist Family Resource Center 733.1378
4412 South Maryland Parkway
LV 89119

Variety Family Resource Center 647.4907
990 D Street
LV 89106
Food, Referral Service
SENIOR CENTERS 166
Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center 229.1100
101 S. Pavillion Center Drive 89144

Virgin Valley Senior Center 455.8402
102 Old Mill Rd.
Mesquite 89027

Volunteer Center of So. NV 892.2321
3075 E. Flamingo Road # 1oo-A
LV 89121

Von Tobel 455.7699
3610 E Carey Road

Walnut Recreation Center 455.8402
3075 N. Walnut Road (open to those 50 and better J )

West Flamingo Active Adult Center 455.7742
6255 W. Flamingo Road (open to those 50 and better J )
LV Recreation, Education, Referral Service

Whitney Community and Senior Center 455.7576
5712 E. Missouri Ave. INET

Winchester Community Center 455.7340
3130 S. McLeod Drive LV

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Douglas County Senior Center 775.786.6455
2300 Meadow Lane
Gardnerville
P.O. Box 218 Minden NV 89423

Dresslerville Senior Center 775.265.6426
c/o Washoe Tribe of NV
919 Highway 395
Gardnerville 89410

Tahoe Douglas 775.588.5140
885 Highway 50
P.O. Box 1771
Zephyr Cove 89448

ELKO COUNTY
Carlin Senior Citizens Center 775.754.6465
718 Cedar St. P.O. Box 123
Carlin, NV 89822

Duck Valley Senior Center 775.757.3174
P.O. Box 145
Owyhee, NV 89832.0219

Elko Senior Center 775.757.3174
1795 Ruby View
Elko, NV 89801

Shoshone Welcome Center 775.738.0425
1530 Silver Eagle Dr.
Elko, NV 89801

South Fork Band Council 775.265.6426
21 Lee Unit D-13
Spring Creek, NV 89815
SENIOR CENTERS 166
Wells Silver Sage Senior Center INET 775.752.3820
213 First St P.O. Box 136
Wells, NV 89835

EUREKA COUNTY

Eureka Senior Center INET 775.468.0466
20 West Gold P.O. Box 278
Eureka, NV 89316

Fannie Komp Senior Center INET 775.468.0466
P.O. Box 211072
Crescent Valley, NV 89821

HUMBOLT COUNTY

Pleasant Center 775.623.6211
1480 Lay St.
Winnemucca, NV 89445

LANDER COUNTRY

Austin Senior Center 775.964.2338
P.O. Box 211
Austin, NV 89310

Battle Mountain Band Council 775.635.2004
Indian Colony Elders
37 Mountain View Dr. #C
Battle Mountain, NV 89820



George E. Schwin Senior Center INET 775.635.5311
365 Est 4th St.
Battle Mountain, NV l89820

Yomba Tribal Council 775.964.2463
HC 61, Box 6275
Austin, NV 89310
LINCOLN COUNTY

Lincoln County Nutrition for Seniors 775.728.4477
P.O. Box 508 INET
Panaca, NV 89042

Olsen Senior Center 775.726.3740
240 Front St. P.O. Box 126
Caliente, NV 89008

Pioche Senior Center 775.962.5378
P.O. Box 432
Pioche, NV 89043

LYON COUNTY
Dayton Senior Center 775.246.6210
320 Old Dayton Valley Road
P.O. Box 612
Dayton, NV 89403

Fernley Senior Center 775.575.3370
Silver and Gold Nutrition Program
1170 West Newlands Dr.
P.O. Box 804
Fernley, NV 89408

Lyon County Human Services 775.557.5014
Silver Springs Senior Center INET
1050 Pyramid St
Silver Springs, NV 89429
SENIOR CENTERS 166
Taboose Senior Center 775.463.2472
Taboose Indian Colony
171 Campbell Lane
Yerington, NV 89447

Yerington Senior Center 775.463.6550
117 Tilson Way
Yerington, NV 89447

MINERAL COUNTRY

Agai-Dicutta Senior Center 775.773.2224
P.O. Box 220
Schurz, NV 89427

Mineral County Care and Share INET 775.945.5519
975 K St. P.O. Box 1058
Hawthorne, NV 89415

Mina Senior Center 775.573.2344
P.O. Box 195
Mina, NV 89422

NYE COUNTY
Amargosa Senior Center INET 775.372.5413
443 Desert Seniors Rd
P.O. Box 428
Lathrop Wells, NV 89020

Beatty Senior Center INET 775.553.2954
B 150 A Ave. Soutn P.O. Box 453 Beatty, NV 89003


Pahrump Senior Center INET 775.727.5008
1370 West Basin Rd.
Pahrump, NV 89060

Tonopah Senior Center INET 775.482.6450
#1 Senior Center Dr.
P.O. Box 1869
Tonopah, NV 89049
PERSHING COUNTY

Imlay Nutrition Site No # listed
P.O. Box 126
Imlay, NV 89418

Pershing County Senior Center 775.273.2291
630 Western
P.O. Box
Lovelock, NV 89419

SENIOR CENTERS 166
STOREY COUNTY
Comstock Nutrition Program 775.847.0957
P.O. Box 786
Virginia City, NV 89440
WASHOE COUNTY
Gerlach Senior Center 775.557.2206
P.O. Box 69
Gerlach, NV 89412

Reno/Sparks Indian Colony 775.329.5162
34 Reservation Rd
Reno, NV 89502
Sparks Senior Citizens Center INET 775.353.3110
97 Richards Way Sparks NV 89431

Washoe County Senior Citizens 775.328.2575
Service Center
1155 East 9th St.
Reno, NV 89512
WHITE PINE COUNTY

Ely Nutrition Site INET 775.289.2742
1000 Campton
Ely, NV 89301

Ely Shoshone Tribe 775.289.3013
16 Shoshone Circle
Ely, NV 89301

Goshute Elders No # listed
Goshute Indian Reservation
P.O. Box 6104
Ibapah, UT 84034

McGill Senior Center 775.235.7110
#1 Ave. K
P.O. Box 1237
McGill, NV 89318

Requa Old Depot Senior Center 775.289.2742
1000 Campton St.
Ely, NV 89301
SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAMS

Southern Nevada
Catholic Charities 702.382.0721
531 North 30th St.
LV, NV 89101

Northern Nevada
Elvirita Lewis Foundation 775.385.2322
1552 C St.
Sparks, NV 89431