GoodLife September-October 2011

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YOUR LIFE UP NORTH SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 Y O U R L I F E U P N O R T H

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GOODlife is a lifestyles take-off of our successful homes magazine, HomeLife and is the latest addition to our family of niche publications. GoodLife features how the 50+ population lives in Northern Michigan. It includes informative articles on health, financial and estate planning matters, as well as lighter fare such as entertaining and food ideas, nods to nostalgia, volunteer opportunities and a lighthearted local column written by area contributors. At the core of the publication is a focus on the bright side of being among the mature population -- you’ll find many features in our pages about the neighbors, friends, colleagues and grandparents you know who are working hard, leaving their mark, caring for their families and inspiring others.

Transcript of GoodLife September-October 2011

Page 1: GoodLife September-October 2011

CoverA01

YOUR L IFE UP NORTH

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

YOUR L IFE UP NORTH

Page 2: GoodLife September-October 2011

2 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

Feel Good. Live Well.Feel Good. Live Well.

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Page 3: GoodLife September-October 2011

features 6 Good Stuff Good to Go:Treating plantar fasciitis

Grandparenting:Bonding with codes

9 Nod to Nostalgia Year: 1974

10 Good TasteRoasted Bean Salad

12 Good EscapeThe Gingerbread House

14 Good Word Rick Fowler

16 Good Buys GPS

19 Good Health Keeping your brain busy

20 Good Idea Sculpting retirement

22 Cover StoryStriving for better

26 Good CentsPaying off student loans

28 Good Samaritan Taking the challenge

GOODlife 3

On the cover: Laurie McMurray takes her road bike out for a ride.

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4 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

Your Source forYour Source forGreat HealthGreat Health

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Page 5: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 5

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 - Volume 3, Issue 1

PUBLISHERDOUG CALDWELL

EDITORMAGGIE PETERSON

PHOTOGRAPHYG. RANDALL GOSS

LAYOUT AND DESIGNWENDY WOLFSEN

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

CHRISTY LYONS(231) 439-9329

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© GoodLife, all rights reserved, 2011. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in

part, without express written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein,

whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise, are those of the authors

and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine.

The publication of any advertisement does not reflect any endorsement for any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is

specifically stated in such advertisement that there is approval for such endorsement.

GoodLife is published bi-monthly by Northern Michigan Review, Inc.

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Page 6: GoodLife September-October 2011

6 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH6 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

GOOD STUFFGOOD STUFFGOOD TO GO GOOD HUMOR

Dean Tahtihen demonstrates how

to work the planter facia

— Katie MacInnis

A problem that can often plague people, says Dean Tahtin-en, physical therapist with First Choice Physical Th erapy in Petoskey, is plantar fasciitis. Th e plantar fascia is comprised of bands of tissue that connect your heel to the underside of the bones of the forefoot and to the ball of the foot.

When those tissues become infl amed, it is called plantar fasciitis. Th e infl ammation results from overuse or a trauma, and can be especially painful in the morning.

“Th roughout the night, all that tissue is slack,” said Tahtin-en. “As soon as it starts to heal, it starts to heal in that slack position.”

To combat the pain and to reshape the plantar fascia, Tahtinen recommends three treatments, which can be done individually or together.

ow

ia

Treating plantar fasciitis

— By Morgan Sherburne

1. Ice the tissue. Empty a 20-ounce Coke bottle (the shape is benefi cial for massaging the underside of the foot) and fi ll with water. Freeze. Wearing a sock, ice the area by rolling your foot back and forth over the bottle for fi ve to 10 minutes, or until the foot is numb. Your foot will go through several stages: cold, burning, achy and then numb. Make sure, said Tahtinen, that the foot makes it all the way to numb.

2. Work the tissue and increase blood fl ow. Place a towel on a linoleum or wood fl oor. Keeping your heel on the ground, use your toes to pull the towel toward you. Twice a day, perform three sets of 20 repetitions — one pull of the towel with your toes counts as one repetition — unless you feel pain fi rst. If you feel pain, stop the exercise.

3. Stretch the tissue. Place a 1/2- to 1-inch thick book on the fl oor. Stand with the book under the big toe of the affl icted foot. Step forward with the un-involved foot, leaning your hips toward the wall and placing your hands on the wall straight in front of you. Keep the rear leg straight with the heel planted on the fl oor.

I sort of like being a graying panther, keeping up on to-day, with respect for all that has gone before.

Staying relevant, making a diff erence, blah, blah, blah … Most days, I call it good if I can fi nd my keys, there are no runs in my support hose, and I can remember why I went into a room. Th e one thing that saves me from despair is a sense of humor. Never mind panther — I am happy to be Garfi eld.

But things keep changing. Recently, the Coast Guard announced that they would no longer be using Morse code. As my husband astutely pointed out, what are people going to use when trapped in a North Korean prison? Presum-ably, a place that doesn’t get very good cell phone reception. If you can’t dot dot, dash dash, anymore, how will you be able to conspire with your equally unlucky neighbor?

About the only outcome I can remember from the early space program is the invention of Tang. (And after a couple mornings of Tang, you begin to wonder about the money that’s been spent.)

When my teenage son asked if it was true Jimi Hendrix put drugs under his eyelids, I wondered why I might be his resource for this valuable information. It was probably payback for the colorful stories I had told my family as a nurse. Like the time I admitted a very large unconscious man and found a tuna sandwich tucked beneath his lap apron. CSI at its best!

Recently, someone I know was pontifi cating on how lost society is: Women shop QVC to talk to someone and have a delivery to the door, while guys gamble online losing sums of money. Children grow fat in front of computers. Wouldn’t it be great to return to the good old days? Jackie Gleason wasn’t svelte, and he could have used court-or-dered anger-management classes. (We called that “knuck-le sandwich” entertainment!) And the clap-o-meter from the show Queen for a Day was clearly rigged. Th e clapping was the same for all, and the really tearful queens always won, even if their story wasn’t so terrible. So there we were, laughing at physical abuse in marriage and watching wom-en crying for a cash prize.

I don’t know. I think a lot of things are better now. But because we instantly know all the bad that happens, in minute detail, we upset the balance. Th at is, on balance, we are a lot better off . But a lot of days, I’m just hanging on like the suction cup Garfi eld in the car window.

Katie MacInnis is a retired nurse living in Harbor Springs with her husband, Charlie, and their dog and cat. She was an English major (no kidding) before becoming a nurse, and loves to write. Th ere are LOTS of reasons to grumble as we age but there are still things to laugh about. Th e alternative to growing old is a little depressing, and as she likes to say: “I’m doing everything I can to stay off of page 6 of the News-Review.”

The best is yet to come

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GOOD STUFF

GRANDPARENTING

— Morgan Sherburne

Being a good grandparent doesn’t necessarily mean pack-ing up the grandkids for an ex-

pensive day at the zoo.All you might need is paper, cray-

ons and some household ingredients — or even nothing but the spoken word.

To create a special bond with your grandchild, try trading stories in a secret code.

“Secret code makes it really fun and cool for kids,” said Tamila Walker, co-director of Watch Me Grow!, a child development cen-ter in Petoskey. “It instills a sense that they’re buddies, that they have something special.”

An easy secret code is writing in invisible ink. Sure, you can buy invisible ink sets from stationary stores, but making your own adds an extra step to your spy-day with the grandchildren.

To make invisible ink, mix equal parts baking soda and water. Use a paintbrush, cotton swab, toothpick

— anything vaguely resembling a writing utensil — and write a mes-sage. Talk about your day, or tell a cute story from when your grand-child was a toddler.

Hold the paper up to a heat source, such as a light bulb. Th e heat causes the baking soda to turn brown ... and your story to appear. Or paint the page with purple grape juice, which causes perhaps a pret-tier secret message.

Another route is to go crayon and watercolor: write a top secret mes-sage on white paper with a white

crayon. Swap papers with your con-fi dant and paint over the message with watercolor paints. Watch the message emerge.

For a secret code that requires no extra tools at all — just a sharp mind and the patience to teach a little one

— try talking in one of the oldest codes in the book: pig Latin.

In pig Latin, you remove the fi rst letter of a word, add it to the end of the word, and tack the syllable “ay” onto that letter. “Pig” becomes “ig-pay.” “Secret” becomes “ecret-say.”

For a giggle, try talking as quickly as you can.

Finally, for a head-scratcher, sub-stitute a number for each letter in a short message. “A” corresponds with

“1,” “B” corresponds with “2” and so on. If you master that too quickly, reverse the numbering system: “A” is 26, “B” is 25 and on down.

“What’s really nice, too, for that kind of activity is that even grandpar-ents far away can do it,” said Walker.

“It creates a bond even if they’re not together all of the time.” GL

Bonding in code

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8 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

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Page 9: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 9

serv-o the r):

NOD TO NOSTALGIA - 19XX

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If you have a favorite nostalgic item you’d like to share with GOODLife readers, let us know!

E-mail Beth Anne at [email protected].

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Music

In the news

Movie

Th e way it was

NOD TO NOSTALGIA - 1974

Patti Smith

Young Frankenstein

Rubik’s Cubes

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” gets a facelift in the 1974 terror-comedy “Young Frankenstein.”

Gene Wilder stars as the protagonist, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, the great-grandson of Dr. Victor Fran-kenstein. Th e young Dr. Frankenstein is a lecturer at an American medical school, engaged to Elizabeth (Mad-eline Kahn), when he is called to Transylvania, where he has inherited his family’s estate.

Annoyed by being associated with the story of his grandfather’s work, Frankenstein is surprised when he becomes intrigued by the elder Frankenstein’s journals. But as he tries the same experiments himself, Franken-stein runs into trouble when his assistant botches the brain acquisition.

For 37 years now, Rubik’s Cubes have been spun, turned and fl ipped into monochrome-sided boxes.

And even today, tween celebrities such as Justin Bieber are trying their hand at the 1974 invention.

Ernö Rubik was born in 1944 in Budapest, Hungary, and grew up to be an architect, designer and universi-ty professor. But more famously, he grew up to invent the cube puzzle. An early prototype was constructed of wood, and Rubik called it the “Magic Cube.”

Th e fi rst cubes were sold in a toy shop in Budapest in 1977. Th e puzzle’s name was changed to Rubik’s Cube in 1980, and, a year later, 12-year-old English schoolboy Patrick Bossert published a book called “You Can Do Th e Cube.” Th e book eventually sold 1.5 million copies.

Th e fi rst International Rubik’s Championships took place in Budapest in 1982. Twenty-fi ve years later, Rubik attended the world championships in Budapest — and awarded the prizes in person.

Th ough currently Rubik is retired, he continues to de-sign games.

In the news

Music

Movie

Th e way it was

— On Aug. 9, 1974, President Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal.

— A nationwide 55 miles-per-hour speed limit is imposed to preserve gas.

— Chicago’s Sears Tower becomes the world’s tall-est building. Now, Dubai’s Burj Dubai, at the height of 2,600 feet, is the world’s tallest building.

— Th e fossil of Lucy, a member of a hominid species who were the fi rst to descend from trees, is discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia. Th ough the researchers found only fragments, hers was long the most complete skeleton of the species discovered until “Little Lucy” was found, the 3.3 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis fossil of a 3-year-old girl.

During the summer of 1974, Patti Smith recorded and released her debut single, “Hey Joe” — arguably, the single to crack open the punk rock scene.

In 1971, Smith, who had moved to New York City to work on her poetry, gave her fi rst public reading, ac-companied by guitarist Lenny Kaye. Th e two combined their talents to release “Hey Joe,” which also featured singer, songwriter and guitarist Tom Verlaine.

Record producer Clive Davis signed the group, now joined by guitarist Ivan Kral and drummer Jay Lee Daugherty. Smith and her band recorded her debut album, “Horses,” while playing the New York circuits alongside such bands as Blondie and Th e Ramones. Smith retired to Detroit with Fred “Sonic” Smith in 1979. Th ey married in 1980.

In 1988, Patti and Fred Smith recorded the album “Dream of Life,” which would mark their last recording together. Fred Smith passed away in 1994.

Over the course of her career, Smith has released 10 records, was nominated for a Grammy, exhibited art-work at galleries such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and has become celebrated for her poetry.

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GOOD TASTE

When it comes to green beans, the oven tends to get overlooked.

Maybe it’s because steaming and sauteing are so quick, and bringing out the best

in green beans calls for just a bit of heat. But a short, yet intense, high-heat roast can have the same delicious eff ect, with the added benefi t of giving the beans a sat-isfying char. It’s also almost eff ort-less.

To prove the point, I came up with this simple, yet boldly fl a-vored salad of roasted green beans with pancetta and garlic. Th e beans then are tossed with cool, raw cherry tomatoes for a pleasant and juicy contrast. For the dress-ing, it’s just a splash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

ROASTED GREEN BEAN AND PANCETTA SALADStart to fi nish: 25 minutes

Servings: 4— 1 1/2 pounds green beans, ends

trimmed— 3 cloves garlic, chopped— 4 ounces pancetta, diced— Juice of 1 lemon— 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved— Kosher (or other coarse) salt and

ground black pepper— 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the oven to 500 F.On a rimmed baking sheet, toss

the green beans, garlic and pan-

cetta to mix, then spread in an even layer. Roast for 10 minutes, or until the beans are browned.

Transfer the beans and pancetta mixture, as well as any juices in the pan, to a large bowl. Drizzle the lemon juice over the beans, then add the cherry tomatoes and toss well. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide the salad between serv-ing plates, then sprinkle generous-ly with Parmesan.

Nutrition information per serv-ing (values are rounded to the

nearest whole number): 210 calories; 120 calories from fat (54 percent of total calories);

13 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 20 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrate; 10 g pro-

tein; 7 g fi ber; 680 mg sodium.

GOT LEFTOVERS?Turn leftovers of this roasted

green bean and pancetta salad into an intense cool pasta salad. Boil up some spiral pasta. During the fi nal 5 minutes of cooking, add 1 to 2 cups (depending on volume of leftovers) frozen corn kernels and continue cooking. If you have fresh kernels cut from the cob, skip the boiling step and simply add them to the bowl in the next step.

When the pasta is cooked, drain it and the corn, then run under cool water, then drain again. In a large bowl, toss the pasta and corn with the leftover green bean salad.

Add a bit more lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper. Stir in a bit more grated Parmesan cheese. For a spicy hit, mix in 1 teaspoon fi nely minced jalapeno pepper.

Roast green beans Roast green beans for a bold warm saladBy J.M. Hirsch

AP Food Editor

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Th is photo shows roasted green bean and pancetta salad.

For the dressing on this dish, use a splash of lemon juice and

a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Page 11: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 11

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Page 12: GoodLife September-October 2011

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GOOD ESCAPE

For those seeking a weekend es-cape, the Gingerbread House in Bay View has been lodging wea-

ry travelers under the care of Mary Gruler since 1988.

Th e little pink bed and breakfast opens every Memorial Day weekend and continues business through the third week in October. Gruler ex-plained that it is more than a place to stay.

“People are looking for something more personal than a hotel when they’re on vacation or celebrating an anniversary,” she noted.

Gruler does all of the cooking for the breakfast, which is served fresh every morning. Some of her spe-cialties include gingerbread muffi ns,

gingerbread pancakes and peach pancakes served with local maple syrup and toasted pecans. She does accommodate allergies. Th ere is homemade granola and fruit avail-able every morning along with the fresh-baked breakfast.

“Th e conversations at breakfast are wonderful,” said Gruler. Every-one staying at the house eats at the same table. “It’s a mix of people from all walks of life,” but everyone is able to fi nd something in common and similar interests, she said.

“Th ere’s a couple celebrating their fi rst anniversary sitting next to a couple celebrating their 50th,” she said, noting she has visitors from all over the world, including Switzer-

land, England, Japan, Wales, Austria and Canada.

“A bed and breakfast is an expe-rience, not just a place to stay,” said Gruler.

Th is is the Gingerbread House’s 24th season and she said there are those who come back every year.

Fifteen years ago, three couples who had never met one another stayed at Gruler’s on the same week-end. Th ey all enjoyed themselves and made reservations for the same weekend the following year, unaware the other couples had done the same. Th ey were surprised and delighted to see the their fellow guests the follow-ing year and have become friends, all travelling to the Gingerbread House

Sweet retreatBay View’s Gingerbread House welcomes the weary

By Aebra Coe · Photos by G. Randall Goss

Mary Gruler welcomes guests to the dining area of the Gingerbread House Bed & Breakfast in Bay View.

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GOODlife 13

together for the last 15 years.One of the men in the story above

is a writer, Clair Verway, of Muske-gon, and has written a book of po-etry called Th e View from Here. Th e book features several poems about the Gingerbread House.

Th e bed and breakfast has been featured in Midwest Living and Country Home and Hearth, and has four rooms available for rent.

All of the rooms have windows with views of the bay. One room has a veranda. All have air conditioning and heat. Children are accommodat-ed in one of the rooms.

Gruler explained that every room is diff erent and they all have a homey feel. Each has its own entrance and key, so visitors don’t have to worry about a curfew.

“Th ere is a draw of the water; peo-ple love it and seek it out,” said Gruler. She suggested visitors can walk down to the bay from the B&B to search for Petoskey stones. Th e Bay View music programs are a fi ve-minute walk and Staff ord’s Bay View Inn, which serves lunch and dinner, is also a short walk away.

Th ere is no television, “deliberately.” Gruler said it’s a way for her visitors to get away from the world and feel like they’re going back in time. She does have Wi-Fi available for those

who need to stay in contact with work or family while on vacation.

Gruler was a nurse for many years in Petoskey and taught nursing at North Central Michigan College. She helped start the hospice program in Petoskey. She said the bed and break-fast is a sort of second career.

Th e building was built in 1881 as a rooming house and remained as such for most of its history. Early on it was called Woodland Villa and there are photos in the lounge area of the fi rst headmistress in front of the house.

Mary acquired the name “Ginger-bread House” from previous owners. It refers to the intricate trim on the home.

Guests often make reservations a year ahead of time and the Ginger-bread House is usually full all sum-mer long. Gruler suggests calling, even if on short notice, because can-cellations provide openings through-out the season. She also suggests planning a spring visit as that is her slowest period.

Rates are $185 per night for the three upstairs rooms and $135 per night for the downstairs room.

For more information, call (231) 347-3538, email [email protected] or visit gingerbreadbb.com. GL

Front porch

Th e Gingerbread House Bed & Breakfast

A guest kitchen in ‘50s style

Guest bedroom

Page 14: GoodLife September-October 2011

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GOOD WORD

Santiago, the main charac-ter in Ernest Hemingway’s

“The Old Man and the Sea,” relished the sea and what it

gave back to him.His grit, determination and

struggles endeared him to the readers of this Pulitzer Prize-winning tale. Yet, could this poor fisherman have been a reflection of the storyteller himself?

Hemingway lived for many summers in the tiny hamlet of Horton Bay on the shores of Lake Charlevoix. Tales of his ad-ventures angling in the Horton Creek abound from those who knew him and in the many short stories he authored. However, it seems to me the true nature of Hemingway’s passion for fishing comes out in the “Nick Adams” stories, set often in the Seney area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. From the moment Nick steps off the train and checks into the ho-tel, avid readers are spellbound by the clarity of the woods, the water and the ultimate outcomes he de-vises.

I want to cross the intersection of M-28 and M-77 at the Seney crossroads, head down the Fox River Trail a few miles and meet with Ernest Hemingway by the tag alder banks of the Fox River. I want to ask him, “When you de-scribed the river in many of your short stories you referred to it as the Big Two-Hearted. However,

were you really leading us away from this area, because of the beauty of the Fox and the bounty of brook trout it housed?”

Then I want to wade the twists and turns of the Fox letting “Papa” make the first casts into the shady banks. I want to ask more ques-tions about his favorite fly, his secret for luring and landing 18-inch brookies, his adventures far-ther up the river by the big burn of the early 1900s and what camp-ing stories he told by the light of a cedar cooking fire.

“I have laid aside business and gone fishing.” (From “The Com-pleat Angler”)

Though Izaak Walton’s words were penned more than 360 years ago the significance and depth of his quest to reach trout streams seemed to satiate a desire for, perhaps, immortality. I want to meet Walton and enter the Eng-

lish waters of the rivers Lea, Wye and Dove, or perhaps meet him on the Maple, Bear or AuSable. A blueprint for taking trout in any of these Blue Ribbon rivers would be simple. LISTEN, FOLLOW and SHARE!

I want to cast into the shallows during a mayfly hatch and ask questions of “the father of angling.” I want to know what makes a man feel so complete, so innocent, so full of life while stepping lightly in sometimes turbulent waters. I want to partake in a dialogue sim-ilar to the main characters Wal-ton develops in “The Compleat Angler.”

Piscator (the fisherman) and Vinator (the hunter) meet inno-cently enough while walking along a road that leads to a trout stream. I want to be the third member of the party tagging along and listen-ing to the conversation. It would be talk of simple things: simple tackle, simple approach to the river and a simple reminder of the power of fish and fishing. I would follow into the river making men-tal notes of the way Walton nears the curves and eddies, his false casts and his fly choices. After a time I would hope to share with him my fever and fervent resolve to be philosophical on the water too.

When I was 8, my dad offered me the use of his Shakespeare rod

Th ree guys I want to meet on the water

By

Rick Fowler

Page 15: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 15

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and reel.It was the first time I ever went fishing by myself

and I would head to the river as often as I could. I still have the reel, a Shakespeare 1700 push button. After most of my fishing adventures my dad would ask a simple question: “Did you get anything today?” That was it! There wasn’t a lot of encouragement or dis-couragement, just “Did you get anything today?”

I want to head to Nunns Creek with my dad to dip smelt and talk about the days when he was growing up. I want to know why he never really liked to go fishing during the years he was working. Was it be-cause the weekends were never long enough, or be-cause he never could afford the time it took?

I want to take my dad to Caribou Lake in Ontario and fish for walleye in a 14-foot boat that sometimes leaks from loose grommets in heavy seas. I want him to see the painted Canadian skies this area brings out at night and the excitement that comes with every ‘eye that is hooked and brought in. We were going to go before he got sick and the opportunity passed.

I want to take my dad on one more boat ride from Crooked River to Burt Lake through the Indian River to Mullett Lake through the Cheboygan River and out into Lake Huron, ride under the Big Mac, skim across Lake Michigan until we reach Wagoshaunce Point. We can then anchor and fish till dark for bass, which he loved to do but hated to clean.

I want to let my dad sit at the end of our dock on South Manistique Lake while I run to get more bait.

When I return, I’ll ask him if he missed me, and if he “got anything while I was gone.” GL

Rick Fowler has been teaching high school English in Boyne City for the past 32 years. He has also been a freelance writer for 20 years. Rick and his wife, Sue, live in Harbor Springs, and have two children, Alexan-dra and Eric.

Page 16: GoodLife September-October 2011

16 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH16 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

GOOD BUYS

As advanced technology be-comes more and more a part of daily life, more peo-

ple have begun to rely on diff erent global positioning system products (GPS), both for personal and for commercial use.

Close to 20 companies have products on the market, all of them vying for ranking as the top GPS manufacturers. Th e most recogniz-able of these companies for most people are TomTom, Garmin and Magellan.

“Many of the current GPS manu-facturers off er very similar units these days,” said Mary Edger, owner of the Petoskey Radio Shack. “Tech-nology has really changed in the past several years, and GPS units have gotten much better and easier to use.”

GPS is a technology that was originally reserved for military uses

and not available to the public. In the 1990s the government released the technology and made it possible for companies to develop private applications. While early versions were not very easy to use for most people, the technology has ad-vanced and become quite simplistic.

TomTom began in Amsterdam in 1991 as Palmtop, to develop business applications for handheld computers. With the advent of GPS technology in the late 1990s, Palm-top changed its focus to mobile in-car navigation. In 2001, the compa-ny became TomTom and launched the TomTom Navigator.

Garmin began its life in 1989 to develop navigation and com-munication devices. Th e company quickly grew, expanding from a few employees in 1989 to more than 1,000. Garmin currently sells prod-ucts for a wide range of applications

including marine devices, aviation technology, fi tness devices, wireless GPS for smart phones and outdoor receivers.

Magellan, headquartered in San-ta Clara, Calif., off ers GPS products for handheld outdoor devices and in-car navigation. Magellan began life as Th ales Navigation, an inter-national company engaged in aero-space, defense and security prod-ucts. In 2006, Shah Capital Partners, a private equity fi rm, purchased Th ales Navigation and changed the name to Magellan.

Whether the primary need for a GPS is step-by-step directions on how to get to a local store or direc-tions for a trek across the U.S., a GPS unit can do the job.

“Th ere are features available on diff erent GPS brands that will suit almost any needs,” Edger said.

Almost all GPS units have re-

Leading the wayCustomizing navigation with GPS By Mark Lindsay · Photos by Maggie Peterson

GPS units help guide the way to desired destinations.

Page 17: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 17

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sponsive touch screens that are easy to use for all people, as well as audio directions that allow hands-free op-eration.

“Th e fi rst and one of the most important things to look for when purchasing a GPS system is if the provider will produce accurate road maps and continue to update them,” Edger noted.

When a road is added or removed it should be updated on your GPS so it won’t route you to an undesir-able road that is supposed to be the quickest route to your destination. Edger recommended looking for a GPS brand that off ers a lifetime up-date plan at no charge.

For those planning on taking long trips, being able to plan out the route and even include some histor-ical stops along the way is possible. Some units will allow you to save up to 10 routes, specify diff erent points and even preview each turn to take along the way.

“Some GPS manufacturers in-clude several million points of inter-est in their units,” Edger said.

Points of interest can include everything from a small, local, in-teresting place to a national monu-ment. Some GPS may even off er a picture.

Even for those that have lived in the same state or even the same town their entire life, having a GPS system can still be valuable.

“One of the exciting features in to-day’s systems is the ability to detect and guide you around traffi c jams

and delays,” Edger noted. “A GPS can make a commute much easier, so you won’t ever be late for work or an appointment.”

Many GPS units have a feature which will guide you to the correct lanes for exits or an upcoming turn as well.

“Th e hands-free audio instruc-tion GPS units off er can make it very easy to follow a route,” Edger said. “Not having to stop and look at a map saves time and prevents you from missing turns or stops.”

One thing to look for in a GPS is text-to-audio, which allows the unit to audibly announce turns including the road name.

Another great advantage a GPS can off er is a “Where Am I?” feature. Units with this feature off er a dis-play of information such as the clos-est hospital, gas station, police sta-tion or other emergency locations, along with the location of your car in case you forgot. Th is is perfect for those unfamiliar locations, sport-ing events, amusement parks or any other place that has hundreds of places to park.

Navigation is merely one of the many things that today’s GPS units are capable of. Many products can go beyond just the simple pick and point and routing with all the ex-tras they provide. You can listen to music on some with a built-in MP3 player, listen to audio books and when traveling in a diff erent country you can even check the current cur-rency and the conversion rate. GL

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Page 18: GoodLife September-October 2011

18 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH18 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

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Page 19: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 19

GOOD HEALTH

A s we age, life clutters behind us. Decades’ worth of meet-ing new people, new jobs and

new experiences skid up like a rug piled up behind a door.

It’s easy to blame age for memory slip-up: misplaced keys, a forgotten pot of boiling water. But those forgot-ten things don’t automatically mean a larger health problem.

“We are so individual and age so diff erently. ... You need to worry when memory impacts daily func-tioning — if you get into your car to visit your daughter and can’t remem-ber where your daughter lives,” said Donnell Houx, a speech and lan-guage pathologist and clinical super-visor at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. “People should only be concerned if important daily function is impacted. If they can’t re-member a person’s name, it’s not a big deal.”

Houx mainly works with patients with neurological conditions, such as those with Alzheimer’s disease, Par-kinson’s disease and stroke patients as well as anyone who has issues with speech and language, voice, cogni-tion and even swallowing, which can be aff ected by neurological condi-tions.

Mainly, what can happen as peo-ple age is that their recent memory

— the kind of memory that allows us to recall what we had for breakfast, or where the car keys are — can get usurped by things such as anxiety, depression and stress.

Stress and anxiety impacts the ability to concentrate on everyday tasks, and lowered concentration im-

pacts the ability to learn.“Th e key is to pay attention. If we

don’t pay attention, we don’t learn. If we don’t learn, we don’t remember,” said Houx.

Th ere are many ways people can keep their brains healthy and active as they age. Much of these ways cen-ter around keeping active, healthy and stress-free.

“Being active helps maintain mem-ory. Th e more active you are and the more alive you are, the better your memory is,” said Houx.

Being active does not have a lim-ited defi nition: one’s activity can be physical, mental and, importantly, social.

Houx recommended taking advantage of free classes off ered through senior centers and commu-nity associations.

“We’re social animals who need interaction and feedback. When you

isolate yourself, you don’t have that neural stimulation,” said Houx. “It’s important not to get in a rut, and not to become complacent.”

Houx also uses a few kinds of visual exercises with patients. One such exercise asks patients to visu-alize going to a grocery store and to picture picking each desired item: an apple, a can of soup, a loaf of bread.

In another exercise, Houx reads aloud a very visual poem to her pa-tients. Th en, she asks her patients to draw images that come to mind from the poem. Finally, each person pres-ents an interpretation of the poem.

Continue brain stimulation at home with puzzles such as word searches, crossword puzzles and Su-doku puzzles. One of Houx’s patients formed her own game: for each state she had lived in, she tried to come up with a city for each letter of the al-phabet. For Texas, she remembered Abilene, Beaumont and so on.

Often, patients worried about memory loss have no reason for con-cern.

“I’ve joked, I’ve reached my maxi-mum ability to multi-task,” said Houx. “If you forget where you put stuff , it becomes problematic be-cause you get stressed out.”

So most of all, Houx recommend-ed people who are concerned with perceived memory loss to not worry.

“Th e neural plasticity of the brain is amazing,” she said. “We have all of these things taking our attention away from what we’re supposed to pay attention to. As we get older, we worry. Quit worrying. Go play. Dance.” GL

An active mind can preserve memory By Morgan Sherburne

Donnell Houx is a speech and language pathologist and clinical supervisor at Northern Michigan Region-al Hospital in Petoskey.

Page 20: GoodLife September-October 2011

20 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH20 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

GOOD IDEA

Larry Kazyak is a man who has enjoyed his retirement.

He has immersed himself in blacksmithing, learned the art of riding a high-bike, taken tintype photographs, restored antique cars and boats, and throughout his Boyne City home he shares with his wife of 52 years, Judy Kazyak, there are few pieces of furniture, fl oor-ing, cabinetry and art objects that weren’t touched by Kazyak — in-cluding the coff ee table.

“We were driving alongside I-75 and saw a crew cleaning out trees from under the power lines. I said, ‘Judy, we’re going home to get the chain saw!’” said Kazyak.

When he returned with the chain saw and began slicing at a large felled maple, a man came along, angry that Kazyak was stealing his fi rewood. When Kazyak assured the man he only wanted a slice for the table, Kazyak drove away with his prize.

But recently, Kazyak has re-turned to one of his earliest loves: sculpture.

“It was my fi rst love that I was successful in,” he said. “I enjoyed spending a lot of time doing it, and have been getting more into wood-en stuff .”

Primarily, Kazyak works in all diff erent types of metals, mak-ing such sculptures as oversized sunfl owers and pelicans, impres-sionistic dandelions (actually, he clarifi ed, though people call them dandelions, they are a type of weed called “goat’s beard”), and abstract kinetic sculptures spinning in the breeze that shoots up the Kazyaks’ hill from Lake Charlevoix.

Th ese sculptures grow in unex-

pected corners of the Kazyaks’ yard. Th ey inject shots of saturated color into the Northern Michigan land-scape — particularly the sunfl owers during the white of winter.

“It just makes you happy, to see it in the winter,” said Kazyak of the 8-foot-tall sunfl ower growing against red pines in the backyard.

Th e sunfl ower is welded of metal; its petals are cast-off shovel blades.

Kazyak started taking sculpture classes at the Birmingham Bloom-fi eld Art Center in Birmingham while living in Livonia. At the time, he worked in jet engines at Wil-liams Research, now called Wil-liams International, before making the move to Ford Motor Company, where he drafted jet and turbine engines.

Th ough Kazyak took advan-tage of a number of classes off ered

Sculpting retirementPhotos and story by Morgan Sherburne

Larry Kazyak worked as an engineer in the metro-Detroit area for more than 30 years before retiring to Boyne City.

Th e Kazyaks’ Boyne City home is threaded with personal touches crafted by Larry Kazyak. Th is buff alo was carved from a walnut tree felled near his house.

Page 21: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 21

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through University of Michigan-Dearborn, he is a primarily self-taught engineer, holding only a high school diploma.

After a decades-long hiatus from sculpting, Kazyak returned to the pastime approximately four or fi ve years ago.

One of the sculptures — actually a fountain — that he left unfi nished was a pelican, the pouch of his bill fi lled with a fi sh. From the fi sh’s mouth, water streams into a pond. Kazyak started the project in the 1970s, and is only now fi nishing.

“I came to an impasse. Something with the pelican was constructed incorrectly,” said Kazyak.

He took 40 years to think about it.

“I cannot count the hours (that go into the projects). If I did, I would shoot myself,” he said. “I said to my-self, when it gets done, it gets done. Like my pelican. Th at’s 40 years in the making. Hundreds, hundreds, maybe thousands of hours went into that thing.”

It’s easy to see why. Th e body of the pelican is constructed of bronze by a type of welding that creates asymmetrical loops of bronze. Th e hundreds — thousands — of links that make up the bird’s body look like overlapping feathers. A feath-ered wing, each feather constructed individually, is tucked alongside the bird’s body, while amber gems as eyes gleam from the pelican’s face.

Initially, Kazyak was dissatisfi ed with the bird’s wings and eyes, so

he tore the metal apart and con-structed new wings and new eyes.

“I don’t really sketch anything,” he said. “I just start and go. If it works out, it works out.”

When Kazyak began sculpting again, his hobby came back with a vengeance. He drove to the Art Institute of Chicago for an exhibit of Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacom-etti. He collects ephemera — tree stumps, cedar trunks, a choke-cherry tree out of which he made a handrail for their cabin’s porch and those shovel blades for his sun-fl ower — that often ends as a piece of art.

Even a walnut tree being felled only a few hundred feet from his house did not escape his eye. In exchange for a few six packs of soda, the group of men felling the tree brought the pieces to Kazyak’s house.

One of those chunks of walnut turned into a modernistic penguin, a sculpture that won the best of show award at the Charlevoix Cir-cle of Arts’ show “Outside the Box” in February of 2010.

Aside from that show, he doesn’t display his work and he prefers not to sell it. Still, he rarely stops pro-ducing and usually has a few proj-ects under way at any one time.

“I’ve got so many ideas I would like to do, but I would have to live to be 150 to do it all,” he said. “I re-tired after 30 years, when I was only 58. See, I like to play too much, so I’ve been playing ever since.” GL

Tall sculptures such as this sunfl ower, whose petals are cast-off shovel blades, brighten the Kazyaks’ yard during the winter.

Th is pelican, actually a fountain, was 40 years in the sculpting process for Boyne City resident Larry Kazyak.

Page 22: GoodLife September-October 2011

22 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

COVER STORY

Approaching the start line at the 2011 Bayshore Mara-thon in Traverse City would

have surprised a 10-year-younger Laurie McMurray.

But at 55, the Petoskey resi-dent’s entry was a step toward a larger goal.

It was training for an Ironman.McMurray’s road to the mara-

thon began around 2000, as her kids were older and she dusted off her mountain bike, looking to pick up a hobby to fill growing

free time. She gathered friends and acquaintances to form a women’s group that headed out once a week for rides.

A friend and fellow rider, Jamie, had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the following summer it was too strenuous to mountain bike. She and McMurray turned to road biking as a way to stay ac-tive.

McMurray had been interest-ed in participating in a triathlon, but it wasn’t until March 2006,

when a flyer caught her eye af-ter swimming laps at Charlevoix Area Community Pool, that she signed up for her first one. The flyer advertised Tri 4 Fun, a wom-en’s noncompetitive triathlon in Charlevoix. The proceeds would go to two local cancer support groups, Circle of Strength and Northern Michigan Cancer Cru-saders.

At this point, Jamie was not do-ing well, and McMurray wanted to do the triathlon in her honor.

Triathlete Laurie McMurray practices changing shoes as she would during the transition between the bike riding and running aspects of the competition.

Striving forStriving for

better betterBy Maggie Peterson · Photos by G. Randall Goss

Page 23: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 23

McMurray talked to her daugh-ters, Rebecca and Mara, about be-ing a relay team, as she knew she didn’t have enough time to train for the run. She would swim and bike, Mara would bike with her and Rebecca would run.

They made T-shirts and raised funds, encouraging those who do-nated to send along a card or note for Jamie, to show support in her struggle.

“I wanted her to know how many lives she touched through her battle with cancer,” McMur-ray noted.

Earlier in the month of the event, Jamie passed away. The McMurrays continued with the tri, swimming, biking and run-ning in her memory.

McMurray has been competing ever since.

That same summer, before do-ing Tri 4 Fun, McMurray had called her son, Ben, about partici-pating in triathlons with her.

“Doing it together just meant we did some training together, trav-eled together, encouraged each other together,” McMurray said. Their first of many triathlons was just after Tri 4 Fun, in East Jordan in June 2006.

Triathlons were enough for 2006 and ‘07, but in 2008, she an-swered the phone and it was Ben.

“He called me from school, and said ‘Mom, I’m signing you up to do a half Ironman,” McMurray re-called.

A full Ironman clocks in at 2.4 miles of swimming and 112 miles biking, followed by a 26.2-mile marathon. The half Ironman, also called Ironman 70.3, is exactly half — swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles.

The better part of that summer was spent training. For triathlons, swimming and running days ro-tate with biking ones, ideal for al-ternating muscle groups worked.

McMurray now has three half Ironmans under her belt, each

one the Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead in Benton Harbor. The first year she knew she would have to walk some of the running por-tion, and chose to walk the hills, aid stations and mile 7 to 8. The second year, she met her goal to run the entire half marathon. And the third year, in 2010, her aimed to go faster — and beat her previ-ous time by 37 minutes.

“When I got done, I felt terrible,”

McMurray said with a laugh.But it was the first time that

she really thought she could pull off a full Ironman. The idea en-tered her head in 2008, when she and Ben went to Madison, Wis., to observe and volunteer at an Ironman competition there. Ben signed up for the 2009 compe-tition, which led to a trip to the 2010 Ironman World Champion-ship in Kona, Hawaii.

Laurie McMurray practices her bicycle riding.

Page 24: GoodLife September-October 2011

24 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

McMurray knew if an Ironman was in her future, she would have to get more serious about her running.

“Before I could even think of do-ing a full Ironman, I would have to do a full marathon,” McMurray said, later adding, “I can remem-ber saying I would never run a marathon, because I didn’t really run. That has been the part that I’ve had to work on more than swimming and biking, and it’s not that much fun.”

She started training in the win-ter months, following a sched-ule that gradually ramped up the miles run in a week and tapered off before the race. The training called for one 20-mile run, but a marathon-experienced friend suggested two 20-mile runs. It was this advice McMurray fol-lowed.

She was dropped off in Charlevoix as her husband went to work and followed the bike path back toward Petoskey. It was rough going.

“After the first 20 miles, I said I could never do 26,” she recalled after her first run.

But not too long after, she was headed down the path again for the second 20-miler. This time, greeted by wind and rain, she felt differently after the run.

“My mind was like, ‘OK, I can do this (marathon) because it has to be better than this,’” she said.

Her family was there to sup-port her that day, sporting signs along the way. To one, “Just tell your legs to shut up,” she recalls saying, “I can’t. They’re not lis-tening.” Her daughter Rebecca started running alongside her at mile 21.

She kept her goal of a 9 minute, 30 second mile until mile 22.

“It was at mile 22 that I wanted

to sit down on the pavement and not go farther,” McMurray said. “ ... After mile 22, it’s really a mental thing.”

But she crossed the finish line at 4 hours, 22 minutes, fourth in her age group. She vowed to nev-er do another marathon again.

“But then I get this in the mail,” she said, waving a medal engraved with her name and time, “and think, ‘I can do better than fourth place. ... I’m 55, and I can do bet-ter. That’s pretty motivating.”

Since the marathon, McMur-ray’s training has turned to biking. She hasn’t made a commitment to a full Ironman yet, but if she does, that means a 112-mile bike ride is in her future. Her goal is to ride 100 miles nonstop at some point in September.

“I just need to know what that feels like on my bike. If I can do 100 miles, 12 more miles is no big deal,” she said with a laugh. GL

Laurie McMurray works on her swim-

ming skills in Walloon Lake.

Laurie McMurray sprints from the water while pull-ing off her wet suit en route to her bicycle for the next portion of a triathlon.

STRIVING FOR BETTER

Continued from page 23

Page 25: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 25

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Page 26: GoodLife September-October 2011

26 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH26 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

GOOD CENTSENTS

In recent years, not only has col-lege become more expensive than ever, but because of the unique economy it’s also probably the hardest time in recent history to aff ord tuition.

One of the primary issues for students entering or completing college is their ability to repay stu-dent loans. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Edu-cation statistics, two out of every three students who graduate from college fi nance their education at least partly with student loans.

“Th e number one way to elimi-nate student loan debt, in my opin-ion, is to not borrow in the fi rst place,” said Mark Kantrowitz, a nationally recognized fi nancial aid expert with FinAid.org and the au-thor of three books on fi nancial aid.

“If you prepare in advance and have

a plan to avoid accruing the debt, the pressure won’t be there when you graduate.”

“Th ese days some young people are making bad decisions regard-ing going to college or what college to attend based on fi nancial needs,” Kantrowitz noted. Weighing the ability of a college graduate to fi nd decent employment against the money they need to pay off their loans can make the decision diffi -cult.

With today’s economy, the aver-age age of a graduating student has increased and more people over the age of 50 are repaying loans. According to Virginia Panoff , direc-tor of fi nancial aid at North Cen-tral Michigan College in Petoskey, more loan requests come from new high school graduates, but there is no age limit for students request-

ing loans.“Probably the second best plan to

avoid student loan debt is to save the money in advance,” Kantrowitz noted.

Family contributions and per-sonal savings during the teenage years can quickly add up to a large tuition nest egg.

Th ere are many plans out there that work with young or new par-ents to start saving for their chil-dren’s college tuition early. Families may choose to take advantage of a 529 plan, or invest with an insur-ance plan to save in advance for their children’s future.

A 529 plan is an education sav-ings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. It is named af-ter Section 529 of the Internal Rev-

Banking on the futureBy Mark Lindsay

Page 27: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 27

enue Code, which created these types of savings plans in 1996.

Saving for college through an insurance plan, such as the Gerber College Plan, is essentially purchas-ing an insurance policy which al-lows you to invest until your child reaches maturity. When a plan such as this matures it may typi-cally be used for college or most anything the benefi ciary chooses.

“Be organized; do the work be-fore you or your child begins their college career,” Kantrowitz said.

“Choosing the school you can af-ford, or one that off ers zero debt programs, can be equally as impor-tant as choosing a school you like.”

Researching schools with the best scholarship assistance and fi -nancial aid assistance in the area can save thousands.

“It’s also important to re-evaluate your fi nancial situation during the school year as well as when you re-apply for aid,” Kantrowitz noted.

Schools will review your loans based on new information you provide them involving fi nancial hardship such as unemployment or family emergencies.

“One of the number one ques-tions we get from graduating stu-dents is when their repayment will start,” Panoff said.

She pointed out that most lend-ers will notify them when they graduate or are no longer taking six or more credit hours regularly.

“Th ey are giv-en a six-month grace period before their fi rst payment is due. Th is gives the student time to get fi nancially prepared to be-gin making pay-ments,” she noted.

Whether your student loans are government or private also aff ects the repayment options. Determine which kind

you have if you’re not sure; if you have a government loan there are a number of different repayment options. Private loans typically do not offer options; with them you’re basically stuck with the re-payment terms that you agreed to when you took the loan out.

Government loans are eligible for two standard repayment plans. The 10-year plan is the default op-tion which offers fixed payments for 10 years. The 20-year plan in-creases the repayment period and lowers monthly payments, but it also will increase the amount of interest paid over the life of the loan.

“Paying off debt sooner rather then later is always the best plan,” Kantrowitz said.

“Any time you find yourself with extra financial resources you should apply some or all of the money to your highest interest outstanding loans,” Kantrowitz added.

Tax returns, inheritance or sale of personal property are good examples of opportunities to pay down loans quicker.

“When filing your yearly federal tax returns, don’t overlook the income-tax deduction on student loan interest,” Kantrowitz noted.

This deduction is calculated as an adjustment to income, so un-like the home mortgage interest deduction, you do not need to itemize your deductions in order to qualify for it.

Private student loans don’t typ-ically offer many options for re-payment. Consolidation of loans may be a good option for those with private loans. Consolida-tion may decrease monthly pay-ments and can offer some chance for savings on interest payments. There are also some consolidation options for federal loans, but the two may not be consolidated to-gether.

“There are some hardship op-tions people should be aware of

that are available to them during repayment of government student loans,” Kantrowitz noted. “It’s im-portant to first communicate with your lender when you find your-self struggling with repayment. Don’t just stop making payments, and pay the interest at the very least if at all possible.”

Avoiding defaulting on your loans can be essential to keeping repayment options open to you.

Options such as loan forgive-ness programs, deferment and forbearance are open to people with federal student loans. Most private student lenders also offer forbearance and deferment op-tions, but there are no uniform policies governing private student loans and you are completely at the lender’s mercy. Check with your lender to find out your op-tions.

If you qualify for a loan for-giveness program, whatever bal-ance remains on your loan will be wiped out without penalty.

“One of the best-known forgive-ness programs is for federal em-ployees,” Kantrowitz noted.

With this plan, if you work for the federal government for 10 years while making monthly pay-ments, any remaining balances on your loan can be forgiven.

“A deferment offers a tempo-rary suspension of loan payments for specific situations such as re-enrollment in school, unemploy-ment or economic hardship,” Kan-trowitz said. “If you don’t qualify for deferment but are experienc-ing financial difficulty, you can also apply for forbearance, which will temporarily postpone or re-duce your payments.”

“The fastest way to get rid of student loans is to live beneath your means and pay them off as quickly as you can,” Kantrowitz noted. “If you’ve got private loans, it is imperative that paying them is on the top of your list of finan-cial priorities.” GL

Virginia Panoff

Page 28: GoodLife September-October 2011

28 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH28 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

GOOD SAMARITAN

Challenge Mountain is a non-profi t organization dedicated to enriching and improving

lives for the mentally and physically challenged through outdoor recre-ation.

Services are free of charge to cli-ents and their families and include ski lessons with equipment which adapts to a variety of needs. All of the programs at Challenge Moun-tain, located in the Walloon Lake area, are run entirely by volunteers.

“Our resale stores continue to be our main funding source. Due to generous donations of items and time of our volunteers, we are able to purchase the adaptive equip-ment that makes it possible,” said Mike Hurchick, program director.

Hurchick said the biggest area of

need for volunteers is in Challenge Mountain’s resale store locations in Boyne City and Petoskey.

Volunteers can work as many hours per day and as many days per week as they would like. Th e work involves store inventory, sorting items, meeting and greeting cus-tomers, and working the cash reg-ister.

“It’s for a great cause. You can’t beat Challenge Mountain when it comes to fi nding a valuable place to spend your time,” said Hurchick.

Th e nonprofi t will also need volunteers for their winter ski programs, which begin as soon as the snow falls and continue un-til March. In order to make those programs available for clients, they need people to help in the kitchen,

put boots on clients, clean up, for registration and to teach clients to ski with adaptive equipment.

“We’re grateful for any time people can give us,” Hurchick said, describing the interaction between volunteers as “a friendly atmo-sphere; it’s like family.”

Some of the volunteers have been there for more than 20 years.

“Once people see the good that is being done here, they tend stay for a very long time,” Hurchick noted.

Dick Katz has been a Challenge Mountain volunteer for more than 10 years. He is from Boyne City and is a ski instructor in the winter, teaching mono- and bi-skiing. Th is year he is taking charge of the day and overnight camps.

Katz said he got hooked on vol-

Taking the challengeBy Aebra Coe · Photos by G. Randall Goss

Summer vol-

unteer Maggie

Taylor, of Boyne

City and Florida,

shows thumbs

up to a student

at Challenge

Mountain.

Page 29: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 29

HEALTHHealth & Wellness

Senior Residential Housing

Education

Financial/Legal

In-Home Service Providers

Durable Medical Equipment

FITNESSHealth Clubs

Fitness Classes

Running

Nutrition

Dance Classes

Yoga & Meditation

Presented by

For the Health of It!H E A LT H & F I T N E S S E X P O

Saturday, November 19, 201110am-2pm

North Central Michigan College Gym1515 Howard Street, Petoskey

able health and fi

The Petoskey News-Review is excited to announce the upcoming Health and Fitness Expo. The Expo is designed to promote avail-

tness resources in our communities.

YOU ARE INVITED

Door Prizes

unteering after volunteering on one occasion and meet-ing a young blind girl who participated in one of the pro-grams and said to him, “I’m so thankful this isn’t a dream.”

He said he was inspired to tears at that moment.“It’s a wonderful organization; you really can change

people’s lives by volunteering,” he said. “Be prepared to get hooked on it, but it’s worth it.”

Challenge Mountain’s clients’ needs vary greatly. Ac-cording to Hurchick, the organization has learned to adapt to each special situation in the least restrictive manner possible and provide a foundation for years of growth and recreation, allowing enjoyment of valued Northern Michigan natural resources.

“And none of this would be possible without our vol-unteers,” he said.

For more information on volunteering with Challenge Mountain, contact Mike Hurchick at (231) 582-1186 or [email protected]. GL

Volunteer Dick Katz (right), of Boyne City, helps student Tyler Olsen line up the target with a bow and arrow on the archery range, at Challenge Mountain, near Boyne Falls.

Volunteers Joanne Tracey (left), of Gaylord, and Pat Gombos, of Boyne City, watch activities and share their support at Challenge Mountain.

Page 30: GoodLife September-October 2011

30 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE AND VA BENEFITS ACCEPTED

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY | INDEPENDENT AND ASSISTED L IVING

©2011. Independence Villages are managed and lovingly cared for by Senior Village Management. *Certain conditions apply.

FallJOIN US FOR

A FESTIVE

With the fall season upon us, why not take the opportunity to start life anew? Our caring staff is here to help every step of the way, providing you with the tools and resources you need to make the transition into retirement living a smooth one.

Attend one of our events to see what living in an Independence Village community is all about.

You’ll see (and feel) the difference.

Wines For Humanity Tasting EventFriday, September 92:00 p.m.

Wines for Humanity raises funds for charities across the country in order to prevent homelessness in families with children. We believe that funds raised locally should be applied locally.

RSVP by September 8.

Village Farm and Flea MarketThursday, September 1510:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Spend an afternoon bargain hunting for that perfect find. Indoors or outdoors, weather permitting.

BBQ Lunch and Music with Randy & PaulFriday, September 30. Lunch at 12:00 p.m. Music at 1:00 p.m.

Come in for our last BBQ of

the season and enjoy a chef-prepared meal and music that will put a smile on your face.

9/11 Community Hymn SingSunday, September 11 2:00 p.m.

Ten years after the tragedy, join us in remembrance as we lift up our hearts in our ability to stand united.

1

3 4

2

888-777-0327www.SeniorVillages.com

Independence Village of Petoskey965 Hager Drive Petoskey, MI 49770 Off US 131 South and Lears Road

TURN A NEW LEAF AT INDEPENDENCE VILLAGE OF PETOSKEY AS YOU EMBARK UPON THE NEXT CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE.

RSVP FOR ANY OF OUR EVENTS

888-777-0327

CALL

TODAY

Page 31: GoodLife September-October 2011

GOODlife 31

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Page 32: GoodLife September-October 2011

32 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH

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