September 2015 | Coachella Valley

By Bill MarcheseBy age 2, Diane Schuur’s future as a singer

and musician seemed to be her destiny. Born blind with perfect pitch, she could

carry a tune as a toddler. She taught herselfto play the piano by ear at age three, sittingon her father’s lap. By age 9, she wassinging in public and earning her first pro-fessional gigs in hometown Tacoma, Wash.A brilliant jazz vocalist, the Cathedral

City resident grew up to win two GrammyAwards (with five nominations) and hasearned rave reviews around the globe. Had things been different, she said, “I

would like to have been a commercial air-line pilot.” Her brother, David, a retiredcommercial pilot who owned a stunt plane,flew acrobatic loops and dives for the fun ofit. “Exciting. I still like to fly,” she said. And fly she does, with concert perform-

ances in Quebec, Canada, then to Riga,Latvia near Russia, followed by the KennedyCenter in Washington, D.C. — all within a10-day period in July. On average, she does150 concert hall, club and college dateseach year around the country and aroundthe world, racking up millions of air miles.Like a wish coming true, Schuur is in the airalmost as much as a commercial pilot. She will travel only a few miles, though,

in October as the headliner at the third an-nual Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival.Schuur will perform at the opening nightconcert at the Annenberg Theater at thePalm Springs Art Museum.

Early yearsNicknamed “Deedles” as a child, her fa-

ther was an amateur pianist and hermother, known for a large collection ofrecords, was a fan of Duke Ellington andDinah Washington, one of Schuur’s majorvocal influences. Still a toddler, Dianelearned to sing “What a Difference a DayMakes,” one of Washington’s hits. “I learned a lot about music in 1964,” she

recalled, “when we bought a new stereorecord player at home. It was the yearDinah Washington died.” She studied piano at the Washington State

School for the Blind, which she attended upto age 11 and later took voice lessons at theUniversity of Puget Sound in Tacoma. The long road from childhood perform-

ances at a Tacoma Holiday Inn to the more

recent concert at the Kennedy Center of thePerforming Arts spans several decades anda lucky break summed up by two words: Sax-ophonist Stan Getz. Getz first heard Dianesing “Amazing Grace” at the legendary Mon-terey Jazz Festival in 1979 and a friendshipsoon developed. She performed in Montereyagain in 1988 and 1992. In 1982, Getz askedher to join him at the White House. Getz later played on three of Schuur’s

three, “Deedless” in 1984, “Schuur Thing”in 1985 and with Jose Feliciano in “Time-less’ in 1988.

Career highlights Her musical collaborations include the

Count Basie Orchestra, Barry Manilow,B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Jose Feliciano,among countless others, and have resultedin numerous #1 Billboard Chart record-ings, including “Pure Schuur” and “Heartto Heart” with B.B. King. Schuur has appeared on PBS and many

other television specials, including “SesameStreet.” She has performed at the WhiteHouse on multiple occasions, including aninvitation by Nancy Reagan in 1987 as a vo-calist with the Count Basie Orchestra. Shewas also a musical guest along with StevieWonder at the Kennedy Center Honors

More than 40,000 readers throughout the Coachella Valley

COMPLIMENTARY

VOL.4, NO.9

I N F O C U S F O R P E O P L E O V E R 5 0SEPTEMBER 2015

The valley’s first lady of jazz

See DIANE SCHUUR, page 22

I N S I D E …

The Coachella Valley

Jazz singer Diane Schuur tops the bill at the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival,Oct. 9 to 11.

FITNESS & HEALTH 4k Poor sleep linked to dementia riskk Cardiac care super-specialists

LAW & MONEY 12k Earn dividends every monthk Why sell your life insurance?

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY 22PLUS BEACON BITS & MORE

ARTS & STYLEAn artists’ retreat center blos-soms in Pinyon; plus, a newcookbook depicts Audrey Hep-burn as a woman of simpletastes page 20

LEISURE & TRAVELWhy the Balkans, now atpeace, are worth a visit; plus, avisit to sunny San Diego, anddiscounts on hotels, flights andmore for older travelers

page 16P

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The Coachella Valley Beacon will wel-come the New Year in January with ourthird annual “Beacon 50+Expo.” It is scheduled for 10a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday,Jan. 27 at the Agua CalienteCasino Resort Spa in RanchoMirage.We expect to host more

than 500 guests at this ex-panded location with activi-ties, speakers and 80 to 90exhibitors and vendors thatwill reflect the broad spec-trum of life for people in the50-plus age group. We are still in the planning stages, but

here are some things we know for sure. Fit-

ness and dance demos are on the program,as well as live music, giveaways, door prizes

and a raffle. A number of freehealth exams will be available— drop by if you need a bloodpressure check or ear exam.Free flu shots are scheduled.Recalling last year’s success-

ful programming, among thedozens of exhibitors, guests willfind information about banksand investment services, health,home improvement, travel, en-tertainment, local nonprofit or-ganizations and governmentagencies.

We’ll have the exhibitors arranged foreasy access to Expo guests. Seating, and

plenty of it, will be auditorium style forspeakers and entertainers. Plus, as always, the Expo is free, includ-

ing light refreshments. Parking is easy inthe nearby multi-story garage with shadedwalking access to the casino meetingrooms. Valet parking will be available. Afterenjoying the Expo, you’ll leave with a goodybag packed with information and treats.Valley radio personality, actress and play-

wright VJ Hume will handle the event’semcee duties. Our main speaker will beMichael Cohen from the Riverside CountyOffice of Aging.You’d be hard pressed to find someone

more qualified, talented and interestingthan Valerie-June Hume, singer, musician,writer, model, actress, voice-over talentand interview radio show hostess. A Cana-dian, she acted in musical comedy revues,movies, national radio theatre, and a world-wide TV serial, “Paul Bernard, Psychia-trist”. She recorded audio books, acted inchildren’s theatre, and became a puppeteer.Her interests expanded to modeling andjournalism in radio and newspapers. Hume has mastered the autoharp, sings

in 10 languages, has travelled the world andworked on nine cruise ships. Hume movedto Palm Springs in 1987 and launched “VJ’sCorner,” a radio program where she inter-viewed about 5,000 guests, including a rich

slate of celebrities such as Tony Curtis,Ginger Rogers, Patty Duke, Howard Keel,Hal Linden, Ivana Trump, Don Drysdale,Hubert de Givenchy, Col. Buzz Aldrin,Frankie Avalon, Jill St. John and RobertWagner, Willie Nelson, Dr. Joyce Brothers,Jack Jones, James Darrin, Barbara Sinatra,Ralph Waite, Tom Dreeson, Eartha Kitt,Ray Bradshaw, Dave Brubeck, Ruta Lee,Mort Sahl and, twice, British Prime Minis-ter Margaret Thatcher.Cohen helped develop the free Senior

Employment Program at the RiversideCounty Workforce Development Center inIndio. He works with the increasing num-bers of 50+ residents who still need or wantto work part-time or full-time. In an earlier discussion I had with

Cohen, he noted that “a job can be two pay-checks ….one for the bank and one foryour mental well-being that you’ll get frombeing back in the community.” Since AARP says 63 percent of Ameri-

cans plan to work in retirement, his talk willmost likely hit home with many guests atour Expo.We are excited to bring our Expo to the im-

portant 50-plus demographic in the CoachellaValley. Look in future issues of the CoachellaValley Beacon or at ontargetmedia.net formore news about the 2016 Beacon 50+ Expo.We hope to see you there.

BeaconThe Coachella Valley

I N F O C U S F O R P E O P L E O V E R 5 0

Submissions: The Coachella Valley Beaconwelcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the20th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month precedingthe month of publication. Please mail or email all submissions.

© Copyright 2015 On-Target Media, Inc.

The Coachella Valley Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedi cated to informing, serving and en ter taining the citi zens of the Coachella Valley area,and is independently owned and operated by On-Target Media, Inc. under authority of the Beacon Newspapers, Inc. Other Beacon editions serve Howard County, Md. and Baltimore, Md., as well as Greater Washington, D.C.

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Signed col umns represent the opinions of the writers, and notnecessarily the opinion of the publisher.

• Publisher ........................................................................Michael Brachman• Local Valley Contributing Writers........Jamie Lee Pricer, Lydia Kremer,............................................................................................................Bill Marchese

Coachella Valley Beacon1001 South Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 217

Palm Springs, CA 92264Phone: 760-668-2226 • Email: [email protected]

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www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com

FROM THEPUBLISHERBy Michael Brachman

Save the date for our annual Expo

Letters to the editorReaders are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressedin the Coachella Valley Beacon as well as on political and social issues ofthe day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Coachella Valley Beacon,

1001 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Ste 217, Palm Springs, CA 92264 or e-mail to [email protected]. Please include your name,

address and telephone number for verification.

FREE MOVIE WEDNESDAYMovies are shown at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on most Wednesdaysat the Tolerance Education Center, 35-147 Landy Lane, Rancho

Mirage. There is no charge. Upcoming movies include: Sept. 16, Spare Parts;Sept. 30, Like Water for Chocolate; Oct. 7 and McFarland USA. toleranceeduca-tioncenter.org, (760) 328-8252

BEACON BITS

Sept. 16+

MASTER THOSE CARDSMizell Senior Center offers bridge games three days every week.

Party Bridge is played from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday and Thursday.

Cost is $3 members, $5 nonmembers. On Saturday, Bridge instruction and super-

vised play are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $7. The center is at

480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. Mizellseniorcenter.org, (760) 323-5689

SINGLES DINNERSMembers of the Joslyn Center Singles Dinner Club eat early dinner

at a local restaurant every Thursday, starting with a short gather-

ing at the senior center at 3:30 p.m. Then, participants drive to a restaurant and

pay for their meals. The center is at 73-750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert. Joslyncen-

ter.org, (760) 341-3008

GET OUT AND ABOUT WITH OTHERSA widows and widowers group meets at 10 a.m. Mondays at

Mizell Senior Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. This ac-

tive social club plans events, lunches, potlucks, outings and Happy Hour mixers

on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at various locations. Mizellse-

niorcenter.org, (760) 323-5689

BEACON BITS

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COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — S E P T EMBE R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon 3

4 More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

HealthFitness &NEW BRAIN FINDINGRecently discovered lymphatic systemin the brain inspires new thinking

TAILORED CARDIAC CAREFind a doctor who specializes in thespecific kind of heart care you need

SICK AND TIREDChronic fatigue patients have distinctimmune changes that make them ill

DO FOODS HAVE HEALTH HALOS?Foods labeled “natural” or “low fat”sound good for you, but may not be

By Gina Roberts-GreyLenore Beetar of Woodbridge, Va., 89,

wasn’t ready to slow down. The formerRockette high-kicked her way to an ex-tremely active life raising her children, in-teracting with friends, and rarely resting inthe same place for very long.

But in December 2014, a tumble downthe stairs she described as “a beautiful som-ersault” resulted in a fracture in her neck.The subsequent pain threatened the other-wise vibrant and vital woman’s mobility andindependent lifestyle.

A high threshold for pain, and the prideof not wanting others to worry about her,caused Beetar to try to hide her discom-fort. But family members noticed a changein her activity levels and pressed her for in-formation. When they learned of her acci-dent, they took action, seeking medicalattention from an orthopedic surgeon.

The recommended therapy was surgery;however, her age made that a difficult op-tion for repairing the fracture. So instead ofbecoming one of the 100 million Americansliving with chronic pain, she opted forkyphoplasty — an innovative treatment thatessentially “glued” her fractured spine backtogether.

Dr. Dan Kendall., a pain managementspecialist at National Spine & Pain Centersin McLean, Va., made a small incision inBeetar’s back to realign her vertebrae andinject a medical-grade cement-like materialthat fuses the bones back together.

Within 36 hours, Beetar resumed hernormal hobbies and activities.

Multiple pain treatment optionsPain management specialists are trained

to evaluate, diagnose and treat a wide spec-trum of pain, including acute, chronic, de-generative, even arthritic, musculoskeletaland joint pain.

In addition to being on the leading edgeof managing complex pain medicationregimes, they partner with patients, theirprimary care providers and orthopedic sur-geons to explore non-surgical or minimallyinvasive techniques for lasting pain relief.

That partnership was the difference be-tween Barbara Johnson, 66, being isolated inher house due to pain and living an active life.

“I have four herniated discs; three bulgingand lying on a nerve in a pocket below thespine,” she said. Pain that started in her backand radiated down her legs left Johnson un-able to walk without a cane or by holdingonto furniture around the house.

“I was trapped in my house. I was a pris-oner to my pain, and that was horrible,” shesaid.

Unable to perform basic tasks — likeshopping for groceries, let alone enjoyinga lunch out with friends or travel as sheonce did — Johnson grew desperate forrelief. “I slept in a recliner for six monthsbecause I couldn’t lie down in my bed,”she said.

Intense bouts of blinding pain had John-

son taking several trips to the emergencydepartment in search of relief. Her ortho-pedic surgeon also prescribed several com-binations of pain killers and tried to dull thepain with steroid injections. “I didn’t likethe drugged feeling pain pills caused,”Johnson said.

She also wasn’t ready to have the backsurgery her doctor recommended. “I havesome health issues that could complicatesurgery, and I was also concerned aboutspending a week in the hospital and severalmore in rehab.”

A friend suggested Johnson consult Dr.Beverly Whittenberg, a Washington, D.C.pain management specialist. After a detailedconsultation and history, Johnson received ra-diofrequency neurotomy — an outpatient pro-cedure that delivers special radiofrequencyneedles along inflamed nerves responsible forchronic pain, with thermal energy applied tothe nerve until it is deadened.

“The good news is, treatment of pain can beprecise and specialized,” said Whittenberg.“As a pain management specialist, I routinelyuse an array of innovative treatments to suc-cessfully treat pain and return people to theirlives. And, these procedures are often coveredby insurance and Medicare.”

“I’m back to traveling and going to lunch.I’m a functioning human being again,”Johnson said.

Innovative treatmentsHaving access to and knowledge about a

diverse number of treatment options setspain management specialists apart fromprimary care physicians.

“Those physicians do a great job, but be-cause pain is all we treat, we’re able to preventacute pain from an injury from becoming life-

long chronic pain. We can pinpoint a diagnosisbeyond ‘back pain’ to use options like radiofre-quency neurotomy or spinal cord stimula-tion to treat the problem, instead of onlymasking or dulling it with steroid injectionsand pain killers,” Whittenberg said.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) utilizes asmall implanted device that transmits mildelectrical impulses to the spinal cord to dis-rupt nerves’ ability to send pain signalsthrough your body. Based on their pain lev-els and tolerance, patients can easily con-trol the intensity and frequency of theimpulses with a remote control.

Among the most innovative advancementsin pain management is the use of regenera-tive medicine therapies that stimulate yourbody’s own natural healing mechanismsusing your own platelets and growth factors.

In spite of these procedures being con-sidered experimental and not covered byinsurance, many patients consider theseprocedures essential to their pain relief andhealing. Perhaps that is the reason thesetherapies are on the rise among profes-sional athletes, but also increasingly consid-ered by the average pain patient, too.

And these pain treatments aren’t just forinjuries. Whittenberg said pain caused by“getting older” or “tired joints” shouldn’t bebrushed aside.

“Along with various treatments, painmanagement can help people with arthritisdiscover new and different forms of joint-friendly activity that promotes fitness andenjoyment without pain.”Before beginning any new pain treatment,

consult your regular physician and get a sec-ond opinion to get a fuller picture of what op-tions might be best for you, and to considerany drawbacks to the procedure.

Many options for alleviating chronic pain

CENTERS OFFER ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Caregivers support groups hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association

are held on Tuesdays in two valley locations. Meet at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at La

Quinta Caleo Bay Memory Care Center, 47-805 Caleo Bay Drive, La Quinta. Call

(760) 771-6100 to attend. Meet at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday at

Indio Senior Center, 45-700 Aladdin St., Indio. Call (76) 391-4190 to attend.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LEARN ABOUT DIABETES

Free education classes are offered by Eisenhower Medical Cen-

ter’s Diabetes Education Program from 9 to 10 a.m. every second Wednesday of

the month at the Eisenhower George and Julia Argyros Health Center, 45-280 See-

ley Drive, La Quinta. Register at (760) 423-4855.

LEARN HOW TO STAY FLEXIBLE

Beginning Yoga for Active Adults is scheduled starting at 10 a.m.

on Mondays at Mizell Senior Center. Participants should bring their own mat and

towel and wear comfortable clothing. A four-week session costs $35 members,

$45 nonmembers. Drop-in fee is $12. Mizell is at 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm

Springs. mizell.org, (760) 323-5689

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

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By Lauran NeergaardTo sleep, perchance to... ward off Alz-

heimer’s? New research suggests poor sleepmay increase people’s risk of Alzheimer’s dis-ease by spurring a brain-clogging gunk that,in turn, further interrupts shut-eye.

Disrupted sleep may be one of the miss-ing pieces in explaining how a hallmark ofAlzheimer’s — a sticky protein called beta-amyloid — starts its damage long beforepeople have trouble with memory, re-searchers reported at the Alzheimer’s Asso-ciation International Conference recently.

“It’s very clear that sleep disruption is anunderappreciated factor,” said Dr. MatthewWalker of the University of California, Berke-ley, who presented data linking amyloid lev-els with people’s sleep and memoryperformance. “It’s a new player on the scenethat increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Sleep problems are treatable. A key nextquestion is whether improving sleep canmake a difference in protecting seniors’brains. “Sleep is a modifiable factor. It’s anew treatment target,” Walker said.

Enough sleep is important for goodhealth generally — seven to eight hours anight are recommended for adults. When itcomes to the brain, scientists have longknown that people who don’t get enoughsleep have trouble learning and focusing.

And anyone who’s cared for someonewith dementia knows the nightly wander-ing and other sleep disturbances that pa-tients often suffer, long thought to be aconsequence of the dying brain cells.

Preventing memoriesThe new research suggests that sleep

problems actually interact with some of thedisease processes involved in Alzheimer’s,and that those toxic proteins in turn affectthe deep sleep that’s so important for mem-

ory formation. “It may be a vicious cycle,” said Dr.

Miroslaw Mackiewicz of the National Insti-tute on Aging, who wasn’t part of the newwork.

Walker’s team gave PET scans to 26 cog-nitively healthy volunteers in their 70s tomeasure build-up of that gunky amyloid.They were given words to memorize, andtheir brain waves were measured as theyslept overnight.

The more amyloid people harbored in aparticular brain region, the less deep sleepthey got — and the more they forgotovernight, Walker said. Their memoriesweren’t transferred properly from thebrain’s short-term memory bank intolonger-term storage.

What’s the risk over time? Two sleep stud-ies tracked nearly 6,000 people over fiveyears, and found those who had poor sleepquality — they tossed and turned and had ahard time falling asleep — were more likelyto develop mild cognitive impairment: earlymemory problems that sometimes lead toAlzheimer’s, said Dr. Kristine Yaffe of theUniversity of California, San Francisco.

Sleep apnea doubles risk Sleep apnea — brief interruptions of

breathing that repeatedly awaken peoplewithout them realizing — caused a nearlytwo-fold increase in that risk, Yaffe said.She recommended that people at risk ofAlzheimer’s be screened for sleep disor-ders, especially apnea, for which there areeffective treatments.

“There’s a lot of evidence that we needto pay more attention” to sleep in seniors,she said.

Animal studies give clues to the biology be-hind these changes. Dr. David Holtzman ofWashington University in St. Louis reported a

series of mice experiments that found amyloidproduction is highest during waking hoursand lowest during deep sleep.

Depriving mice of sleep spurred toxicamyloid build-up and, intriguingly, oncethose deposits began, the mice stayed awakelonger on their own. Holtzman also checkedAlzheimer’s other bad actor — the proteintau that forms tangles in the brain — andfound the same effect on deep sleep.

Another hint came a few years ago, whenUniversity of Rochester scientists reportedthat the brain uses sleep to flush out toxic de-bris. They injected mice brains with amyloidand watched it clear faster while they slept.

The work comes as researchers hunt waysto prevent a coming wave of Alzheimer’s asthe population ages, driven by the babyboomer generation that begins turning 70next year. More than 5 million Americans al-ready have Alzheimer’s, a number expectedto more than double by 2050.

Changes that lead to Alzheimer’s canbegin 20 years before memory lapses, andscientists are studying drugs in people athigh risk in hopes of finding preventivetreatment.

But so far, lifestyle changes are the mainrecommendation, and starting early seemsimportant. Yaffe also reported that youngeradults who get little physical activity haveworse cognitive functioning by middle age.

In Sweden, Karolinska Institute re-searchers tracked down seniors’ long-agoreport cards to find that school perform-ance at age 9 or 10 predicted who was al-ready building a better “cognitive reserve”to guard against later-in-life decline.

“There are lots of risk factors we mightbe able to change. Sleep is one,” saidAlzheimer’s Association chief science offi-cer Maria Carrillo. Together, she said, thenew research emphasizes how “sleep iscritical as we age.” — AP

Better sleep may lower Alzheimer’s riskC O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 5

WATCHING YOUR WEIGHT

Weekly meetings of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) are sched-

uled for Fridays at the Indio Senior Center, 45-700 Aladdin St., Indio. Private

weigh-ins are held from 8:15 to 9:25 a.m., followed by a meeting from 9:45 to 11

a.m. indio.org, (760) 391-4170

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

California Mentor is seeking adult foster families with a spare bedroom to support an individual with special needs. Receive a generous monthly stipend and ongoing support.

As a Mentor you become a teacher, an advocate and a friend.Information sessions are held weekly.

ADULT FOSTER FAMILY

Maria | (760) 565-5584www.MentorsWanted.com

Lymphatic systemfound in the brainFinnish researchers report a surprising

finding that challenges current anatomy text-book knowledge: Linings of the brain have alymphatic vessel network that has direct con-nections to the systemic lymphatic networkelsewhere in the body.

Lymphatic circulation forms a network thatcovers almost the whole body and is espe-cially important to the clearance of fluids fromtissues as well as for immune defense mecha-nisms. Until now, the central nervous systemwas considered not to be part of the lymphaticsystem.

“We were stunned to find such an extensivenetwork in connection to the brain. This in-credible finding completely changes our un-derstanding of how to brain is cleared ofexcess fluid, and gives a chance to look atbrain diseases from a completely new angle,”said Aleksanteri Aspelund, a researcher at theWihuri Research Institute and the Universityof Helsinki.

The findings were published in The Journalof Experimental Medicine.

Researchers say that lymphatic clearanceof the brain is important in many neurologicaldiseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

How did the lymphatic vessels manage toescape notice until now?

“Lymphatic vessels are collapsed struc-tures, and if one does not know how to lookfor them, they cannot be found. Although wehad already found the vessels, it took sometime to develop good imaging methods to vi-sualize these vessels, said medical studentSalli Antila, who has also been working withthe project.

— University of Helsinki

Stomach-filling balloon for weight loss

Federal health regulators have approved aninflatable medical balloon that aids weight lossby filling up space in the stomach.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)cleared Reshape Medical’s balloon as anotheroption for millions of obese Americans whohave been unable to lose weight via more tra-ditional methods.

The balloon is inserted into the stomachusing an endoscope and then filled with salinesolution. Patients are sedated during the pro-cedure, which takes less than 30 minutes, ac-cording to an FDA release.

The FDA previously approved another bal-loon device for weight loss, but it was with-drawn in 1992 due to a safety issue. “The newdevice aims to address the design failings of

the earlier device,” said FDA spokeswomanDeborah Kotz, in an emailed statement.

The balloon is approved for obese adultswith a BMI between 30 and 40 who have atleast one complicating condition and havebeen unable to lose weight through diet andexercise alone.

In company trials, patients treated withthe balloon lost about 7 percent of theirtotal body weight over six months, com-pared with 3.3 percent weight loss in pa-tients who didn’t get the balloon. But sixmonths after the devices’ removal, patientsin the balloon group regained about one-third of the weight they had lost.

The effect seen with the balloon is smallerthan that associated with gastric banding —a stomach-shrinking technique that limitsfood intake, but can cause esophagus irrita-tion, infection and vomiting, in some cases.Patients can lose as much as 17 percent oftheir total body weight with banding devices,such as the LAP-Band, although about 20percent of patients regain nearly all theweight within three years.

More effective is gastric bypass surgery, apermanent procedure in which a small pouchis stapled off from the rest of the stomach andconnected to the small intestine. Studies ofthat technique show patients typically loseabout 30 percent of their weight. [For more on this topic, see “Counseling for

weight-loss surgery can help” on page 9.]— AP

Stronger warningsfor pain relieversFederal health regulators are bolstering

warning labels for popular pain relievers,adding information about the risk of heart at-

tack and stroke in the short term. The changes apply to prescription non-

steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, orNSAIDs, including arthritis treatments likeCelebrex. The agency said it plans similarchanges to over-the-counter drugs in thesame class, such as Advil and Motrin.

Language on the pills currently warns thatthey can increase the risk of heart-relatedproblems if used long term.

However, the FDA’s new warning statesthat heart attacks and strokes can occur in thefirst few weeks of taking the drugs. Theagency also warns that the risks increase withhigher doses of the drugs. The updates arebased on an FDA review of recent studies andrecommendations by outside advisers.

“In general, patients with heart disease orrisk factors for it have a greater likelihood ofheart attack or stroke,” the agency noted inthe announcement.

The labeling change is the latest step in theFDA’s ongoing safety review of the drugs,which stretches back to 2004. That’s whenMerck & Co Inc. pulled its blockbuster painreliever Vioxx off the market because of linksto heart attack and stroke.

In 2005, the agency added boxed warningsto all prescription NSAIDS, including Pfizer’sCelebrex and high-dose versions of ibuprofenand naproxen. Celebrex is the only drug fromthe same class as Vioxx that remains on themarket. Prescription NSAIDs are generallyused for long-term chronic pain conditionslike arthritis.

The agency also added similar warnings tolower-dose, over-the-counter NSAIDs likeAleve and Advil. Those drugs currently warnpatients to take the lowest dose possible for asshort a period as possible. They are not in-tended to be used for pain longer than 10days, according to their labels. — AP

Health Shorts

6 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

TAI CHI IMPROVES BALANCE, STRENGTH

Students in Tai Chi classes, at 10 a.m. every Wednesday, can

learn how to reduce stress and increase strength and balance through calm

movements, breathing and relaxation. Sessions are held at the Comprehensive

Cancer Center at Desert Regional Medical Center, 1180 N. Indian Canyon Drive,

Palm Springs. Cost is $5 per class. (800) 491-4990

BEACON BITS

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When you or a loved one is in need ofheart care, the prospect may feel over-whelming. You know you need to see aheart specialist, but which one?

Having heart disease can lead you in anumber of directions. Many people go to acardiologist because they want a specialist,but even in the world of cardiology thereare “super-specialists” — doctors highlyspecialized in a specific area of cardiology.

“These ‘super-specialists’ are involvedwith research, education and practice usingthe most up-to-date information, guidelines,diagnostic testing and modes of treatment,”said Dr. Benico Barzilai, section head ofclinical cardiology at Cleveland Clinic. “Inmany cases, the super specialists work to-gether to solve complex patient problems.”

For example, Barzilai said, a patient mayvisit an electrophysiologist due to atrial fib-rillation and find out that they also haveheart valve disease. Or a patient with heartfailure may find that they require a specialpacemaker to make sure that both sides ofthe heart pump in synchrony.

In these cases, a team approach may pro-vide the best care available.

A who’s who of specialists• Electrophysiologists are the “electri-

cians” of the heart and most often care forpatients with heart rhythm — or pacing —problems such as arrhythmias like atrialfibrillation, tachycardia or bradycardia.They also care for heart blocks, or disrup-tions in the electrical pathway of the heart.

When we talk about heart disease, wealso need to keep in mind the vascular sys-tem. It is the vascular physicians who spe-cialize in the blood vessels, which circulateblood throughout the body.

They often treat peripheral arterial dis-ease (PAD) in the legs, coronary artery dis-ease (CAD), fibromuscular dysplasia(FMD) (poor formation of arteries thatleads to their narrowing and chance ofstroke), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).• Heart failure physicians provide

specialized care for patients with progres-sive heart failure. They ensure that patientsare on the right medications and are mak-ing the correct lifestyle changes. And theycan advise on the need for surgery or a de-vice to improve heart function.• Interventional physicians use

catheters to do less invasive procedures totreat the heart and arteries and close con-genital heart problems.• Imaging physicians focus on struc-

tural problems of the heart. They look at

the heart’s structures and function usingMRI, Echo or CT technology, and they han-dle problems of the heart valves (valve spe-cialists), the septum, the heart chambersand the pericardium, the sac in which theheart sits.• Preventive cardiologists are the ones

to see when you want to stay ahead of heartdisease, or don’t want your heart disease toget worse. Patients who see preventive car-diologists include those who have heart riskfactors, people who’ve had a heart attack,and others who want more aggressive man-agement of their heart health or risk factors.• Cardiovascular surgeons can per-

form all heart surgeries, but will often havea special interest in certain malfunctions ofthe heart. A thoracic (or cardiothoracic sur-geon) is a medical doctor who performs op-

erations in the organs of the chest, includ-ing the heart, lungs and esophagus.• Vascular surgeons specialize in dis-

eases of the vascular system, or arteriesand veins, and they provide medical ther-apy, minimally-invasive catheter proce-dures and surgical reconstruction.• Other heart super specialists in-

clude cardio-oncologists (for patients withheart issues as a result of cancer treat-ments), adult congenital doctors, and spe-cialists in certain heart diseases such asMarfan syndrome.

When facing surgery, finding a surgeonwith a lot of experience performing the pro-cedure you need helps assure a better out-come.© 2015 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distrib-

uted by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 7

Specialists offer tailored cardiac care

FARMERS MARKETS TO RETURN IN OCTOBER

The weekly certified farmers’ markets produced by the Palm

Springs Cultural Center will reopen in October at these times and locations: Palm

Springs, 8 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2300 E. Baristo Road; La Quinta, 8 a.m.

to 12:30 p.m., Sundays, 78-100 Main St.; Palm Desert, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednes-

days, Chamber of Commerce, 72-559 Highway 111. Certifiedfarmersmarket.org

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE FLU SHOT

Mizell Senior Center’s 27th annual Senior Lifestyle Expo from 10

a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 will include free flu shots. The event will also in-

clude dozens of exhibitors, a barbecue lunch, a farmers market and health and

legal seminars. Make You appointments at the Mizell ticket window. Mizell is at

480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. www.mizell.org, (760) 323-5689

BEACON BITS

Oct. 23

By Karen Grothe Dear Mayo Clinic: I decided to have bariatric surgery,

but was told that I first need to gothrough counseling. What will thosesessions involve, and would counselingreally improve my chances of the sur-gery being successful?Answer: Before you have weight-loss

surgery, it’s important to understand whatto expect and to prepare yourself, physi-cally and mentally, for what’s ahead. Work-ing with a counselor for several monthsprior to the procedure can help set you upfor long-term success following surgery.

“Bariatric surgery” is a broad term usedto describe all types of weight-loss surgery— including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve,placement of an adjustable gastric band,and a procedure known as a duodenalswitch, among others.

Although the techniques used in eachvary, all are considered major procedures

that carry serious risks and have side ef-fects. Going through counseling before-hand can help determine if having suchsurgery is the best choice for you.

Weight-loss surgery changes the body’sanatomy and biology in a way that helpspeople lose weight. In many ways, however,the long-term outcome of any bariatric sur-gery depends less on those changes than itdoes on changes in a person’s behaviorsand lifestyle.

Counseling before surgeryIn preparation for surgery, you’ll work

with a counselor who specializes in helpingpeople prepare for weight-loss surgery. Heor she can identify and assess risk factorsthat could make it hard for you to make thelifestyle changes you need to in order tolose weight and keep it off long-term.

In most cases, the sessions before surgeryinclude a weight-loss component. In fact,many insurance companies now require a

medical weight-loss program before they’llapprove payment for bariatric surgery.

For many people, difficulty managingtheir weight is the result of problematic eat-ing or activity habits — like skipping mealsor evening snacking. Working with a coun-selor can help you change such habits, de-crease emotional eating, self-monitor youreating and activity patterns, and find ways tostay motivated for healthy lifestyle changes.

Counseling sessions before surgery alsocan help improve mood, manage substanceuse, and teach stress management tech-niques so you’re better equipped to handlethe surgery and maintain a healthy lifestyleafterward.

Counseling sessions before bariatric sur-gery may be conducted one-on-one, or youmay be part of a group preparing for sur-gery together. Many people find group ses-sions quite useful, giving them anopportunity to connect with others facingsimilar circumstances and share ideas.

Follow-up supportSome healthcare organizations, includ-

ing Mayo Clinic, offer follow-up counselingsessions to help keep people on track afterbariatric surgery, as well as to catch anyproblems or complications that arise.These sessions would also provide an op-portunity for you to learn more about sup-

port services and healthy living resourcesin your community.

Research shows that about 70 to 80 per-cent of people who have bariatric surgery aresuccessful at losing weight and keeping it offfor five years after gastric bypass surgery.

However, the stress and busyness of lifecan sometimes make long-term weight lossdifficult. Over time, you may notice thatyou’re slipping back into eating and lifestylehabits that are not healthy.

Staying in touch with your healthcareproviders after surgery, or seeking help ifyou start to notice that you’re reverting toold habits, can help refocus your effortsand keep you healthy.

For many people, working with a coun-selor before and after bariatric surgery is ex-tremely helpful. Talk to your healthcareprovider about counseling options. Goingthrough this process can be an excellentway to set the stage for weight-loss success. — Karen Grothe, Ph.D., Psychiatry & Psy-

chology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational re-

source and doesn’t replace regular medicalcare. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&[email protected]. For more information, visitwww.mayoclinic.org.© 2015 Mayo Foundation for Medical Ed-

ucation and Research. All Rights Reserved.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Counseling for weight-loss surgery can help8 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

WONDER ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE?

Representatives from Bilhartz Desert Insurance Agency will an-

swer your questions about Medicare from 9:30 to 11 am. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the

Indio Senior Center, 45-700 Aladdin St., Indio. Indio.org, (760) 391-4170

ENJOY A FREE MOVIE AT SUNNYLANDS

Oceans 11, starring Frank Sinatra, will be screened from 7 to 9

p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 on the Great Lawn at Sunnylands Center & Gardens. There is

no charge. Sunnylands is at 37-977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. Sunny-

lands.org, (760) 202-2283

BEACON BITS

Oct. 13

Sept. 25

Researchers at the Center for Infectionand Immunity at Columbia University’sMailman School of Public Health have iden-tified distinct immune changes in patientsdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome— known medically as myalgic en-cephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) or systemic ex-ertion intolerance disease.

The findings could help improve diagnosisand identify treatment options for the dis-abling disorder, in which symptoms rangefrom extreme fatigue and difficulty concen-trating to headaches and muscle pain.

These immune signatures represent thefirst robust physical evidence that ME/CFSis a biological illness as opposed to a psycho-logical disorder, as well as the first evidencethat the disease has distinct stages. Resultsappear online in the new journal from theAmerican Association for the Advancementof Science, Science Advances.

With funding to support studies of immuneand infectious mechanisms of disease fromthe Chronic Fatigue Initiative of the HutchinsFamily Foundation, the researchers used im-munoassay testing methods to determine thelevels of 51 immune biomarkers in bloodplasma samples collected through two multi-center studies. They represented a total of 298ME/CFS patients and 348 healthy controls.

They found specific patterns in patientswho’d had the disease for three years orless that were not present in controls or inpatients who’d had CFS for more than threeyears. Short-duration patients had in-creased amounts of many different types ofimmune molecules called cytokines.

Associated with viral illnessesThe association was unusually strong

with a cytokine called interferon gammathat’s been linked to the fatigue that followsinfection with many viruses, including the

Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of infectiousmononucleosis). Cytokine levels were notexplained by symptom severity.

“We now have evidence confirming whatmillions of people with this disease alreadyknow — that ME/CFS isn’t psychological,”said lead author Mady Hornig, M.D., direc-tor of translational research at the Centerfor Infection and Immunity and associateprofessor of epidemiology at Columbia’sMailman School.

“Our results should accelerate the processof establishing the diagnosis after individualsfirst fall ill, as well as discovery of new treat-ment strategies focusing on these early bloodmarkers.”

There are already human monoclonal an-tibodies on the market that can dampen lev-els of a cytokine called interleukin-17A,which is among those the study showswere elevated in early-stage patients.

Before any drugs can be tested in a clin-ical trial, Dr. Hornig and colleagues hope toreplicate the current, cross-sectional re-sults in a longitudinal study that follows pa-tients for a year to see how cytokine levels,including interleukin-17A, differ within in-dividual patients over time, depending onhow long they have had the disease.

Immune response won’t stopThe study supports the idea that ME/CFS

may reflect an infectious “hit-and-run” event.Patients often report getting sick, some-

times from something as common as infec-tious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus), andnever fully recovering. The current researchsuggests that these infections throw a wrenchin the immune system’s ability to quiet itselfafter the acute infection. People don’t returnto a homeostatic balance; their immune re-sponse becomes like a car stuck in high gear.

“It appears that ME/CFS patients are flush

with cytokines until around the three-yearmark, at which point the immune systemshows evidence of exhaustion and cytokinelevels drop,” said Dr. Hornig. “Early diagnosismay provide unique opportunities for treat-ment that likely differ from those that wouldbe appropriate in later phases of the illness.”

The investigators went to great lengths tocarefully screen participants to make surethey had the disease. The researchers also re-cruited greater numbers of patients whose di-agnosis was of relatively recent onset.

Patients’ stress levels were standardizedas well. Before each blood draw, patientswere asked to complete standardized paper-work, in part to engender fatigue.

The scientists also controlled for factorsknown to affect the immune system, includ-

ing the time of day, season and geographiclocation where the samples were taken, aswell as age, gender and ethnicity/race.

“This study delivers what has eluded us forso long: unequivocal evidence of immunolog-ical dysfunction in ME/CFS and diagnosticbiomarkers for the disease,” said Dr. Lipkin,senior author of the current study and theJohn Snow Professor of Epidemiology at Co-lumbia’s Mailman School. “The question weare trying to address in a parallel microbiomeproject is what triggers this dysfunction.”WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to

up-to-the minute information on health issuesfrom physicians, major hospitals and clinics.On-line at www.whatdoctorsknow.com.© 2015 Whatdoctorsknow.com Distrib-

uted by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Chronic fatigue isn’t only in your headC O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 9

Q: I’ve heard some that some foodshave “health halos.” What does thatmean?A: A food said to have a “health halo” is

a food that sounds healthful, or has one nu-tritious quality, so it seems healthful in all

ways — including being low in calories,when many times it is not. Sometimes afood gets a “health halo” just by being as-sociated with a restaurant, brand orcelebrity that we think of as a source ofhealthful food.

Some foods with “health halos” may havea healthy-sounding claim on the package —such as “natural,” “low fat” or“fat-free.” But those terms don’tnecessarily mean the food islow in sugar or calories or thatit has any health benefits.

Even if foods contain somehealthful ingredients, it can beeasy to overlook those foods’high calorie contents. Cookiesmade with whole-grain flour,muffins that contain grated car-rots or fruit, and snack bars thatinclude dried fruit and nuts allcontain ingredients with healthvalue, but they also typically con-tain large amounts of fat, sugarsor both that increase calories.

Create eating habits that support ahealthy weight and overall good health by

making foods rich in nutrients and relativelylow in calories — vegetables, fruits, whole

grains and beans — the center-piece of each meal and snack.

Don’t let label claims dis-tract you from checking nutri-ent and calorie content onfoods’ Nutrition Facts panel,including the portion size thatthose figures represent.

Complete your “eat smart”strategy with a mindset inwhich you base the amountyou eat on physical hunger,rather than misleading cueslike how “healthful” the food isor seems to be.Q: Do strength-training ex-

ercises provide the samekind of protection against chronic dis-ease as aerobic exercises like walking?A: Each of these types of exercise provide

benefits, but we get the most health benefitsby making sure to get both strength-training(resistance exercise) and aerobic exercise(such as walking, swimming and gardening).

Both seem to help your body use insulinbetter, which helps control blood sugar andreduces risk of type 2 diabetes. This affectsother aspects of health, too, because thebody doesn’t need to produce the high lev-els of insulin that seem to promote growthof some cancers and raise blood levels oftriglycerides linked to risk of heart disease.

A lot of exercise research focuses on peo-ple with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, be-cause they are likely to have inflammation inaddition to insulin resistance. Some researchshows no difference between aerobic andstrength-training exercise to reduce all ofthese health risks, and some research showsaerobic exercise slightly more effective.

However, an analysis of 14 studies showsthat the combination of both aerobic andstrength-training exercise is the most effec-tive.

Even when exercise does not lead toweight loss, it can promote health directlythrough all these beneficial effects, so don’t letthe scale be your judge of how physical activ-ity is “working” for you. Find ways to includeaerobic physical activity every day andstrength-training two to three days each week.The American Institute for Cancer Re-

search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday throughFriday. This free service allows you to askquestions about diet, nutrition and cancer. Aregistered dietitian will return your call, usu-ally within three business days.Courtesy of the American Institute for

Cancer Research. Questions for this columnmay be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St.,NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannotrespond to questions personally.

10 Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

Don’t be fooled by foods with ‘halos’

NUTRITIONWISEBy Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDM

Please patronize our advertisers.

C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health 11

Dear Solutions: I am in a second marriage, and so is

my husband. I am di-vorced. He’s a widower. Ihave tried to be warm andfriendly to my husband’sformer family since hewants to remain in touchwith them, but I don’t feelit returned. Each time there’s an oc-

casion to send a greeting ofany kind to us, his formerin-laws send me a com-puter card. It’s all very cuteand even pretty, but thereis no personal message. Allit says is that if I want to reply I shouldpush a button, and the company be-hind all this will send one from me. Idon’t even have to sign it. Well, I don’t want to send one of these,

and I feel a little insulted by the imper-sonal feeling from this. My husband says

I’m out of touch with this modern world,and he wants me to push the right but-

tons and respond to them. Is he right? Am I wrong

to feel this way?— Lila

Dear Lila: Feelings are neither right

nor wrong. But they are hon-est — and this sure is pushingthe wrong buttons in you.

If you want to answer thesemessages in a way that is com-fortable for you, write a per-sonal answer in your ownhandwriting and mail it.

Yes, as your husband pointsout, this is the world of the computer now,but it’s up to you how far you want to stepinto it.

It’s also up to you to think about why youfind this insulting, and to deal with thosefeelings. Lots of things were “nicer” in theold days, but that’s another story.

So, get ready, Lila, the robots are com-ing! Oh, are they already here?Dear Solutions: My friend was living with a man for

the last three years. She was always ar-guing with him, complaining abouthim, and trying to get him to move out. Now he suddenly died, and she

keeps talking about how charming andcaring he was and so on. Should I say something to her? Peo-

ple who know her scoff at this. It’s re-ally amazing.

— NanDear Nan:

What’s really amazing is how much peo-ple improve after death!

Say nothing. She’s helping herself dealwith her guilt, and protecting her new sta-tus as grieving “widow.”

Besides, for her, it’s probably true thathe was never really charming till he died!Dear Solutions: This involves my mother-in-law, and

I’m hoping for your advice. I’m a fairlynew bride, and we just finished fur-nishing our home. I invited my mother-in-law over to see everything and tofinally visit “officially.” She came in and slowly walked

through each room without saying aword. Then finally she turned to meand said, “Oh, you like modern.” Thatwas all she said about anything. I’m so angry and hurt, but I didn’t say

anything, and I don’t know if I should.— Puzzled

Dear Puzzled: I don’t like mother-in-law jokes, but this

sounds like one. So try to just laugh at thewhole thing — with your husband, if possi-ble.© Helen Oxenberg, 2015. Questions to be

considered for this column may be sent to:The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring,MD 20915. You may also email the authorat [email protected]. To inquire aboutreprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.

Insulted by computerized greeting cards

SOLUTIONSBy Helen Oxenberg,MSW, ACSW

Many people have aches and pains thatrequire ibuprofen, and no one would be-grudge you for taking this pillfor an acute migraine or severepre-menstrual cramps.

I’ve been asked if I believe inibuprofen and I do, but only foroccasional use. I’ve even rec-ommended a 200 mg. tablet ofibuprofen be taken along witha cup of coffee (to enhance ef-fect). But that’s only for a selecttype of headache pain, or formild post-operative pain.

Sounds crazy but combiningcaffeine with ibuprofen can pro-vide pain relief better than theibuprofen alone. A recent article discussingthis was just published in The CochraneDatabase of Systematic Reviews (July 2015).

But I definitely don’t recommendchronic, daily intake of ibuprofen becausea) it masks the pain, and b) it can be harm-ful long term. It’s better to find the under-lying cause of pain, and even if you can’t, Istill recommend natural inflammation fight-ers over NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflam-matory drugs) like ibuprofen.

According to Medline Plus, “NSAIDs suchas ibuprofen may cause ulcers, bleeding orholes in the stomach or intestine. Theseproblems may develop at any time duringtreatment, may happen without warningsymptoms, and may cause death.

“The risk may be higher for people whotake NSAIDs for a long time, are older in age,have poor health, or who drink three or morealcoholic drinks per day while taking ibupro-fen.

“If you experience any of the followingsymptoms, stop taking ibuprofen and callyour doctor: stomach pain, heartburn, vomitthat is bloody or looks like coffee grounds,

blood in the stool, or black and tarry stools.”

Safer alternatives existNSAIDs reduce inflamma-

tion by suppressing an en-zyme in your body calledcyclooxygenase-2 or COX-2.But they also inadvertentlyblock COX-1 enzyme, which isneeded for a healthy stomachlining. This is why NSAIDslike ibuprofen, naproxen andothers can cause gastritis, andeven a bleeding ulcer.

Here are two safer choicesfor you: Boswella: It’s also known as

frankincense, and it’s a 5-LOX (5-lipoxyge-nase) inhibitor. This reduces leukotrieneswhich are involved in inflammation, asthmaand allergies.

Another compound in boswellia, called in-censole acetate, blocks NF-Kappa B, whichwould otherwise pour out tons of pain-caus-ing cytokines. This compound acts like ananti-anxiety and antidepressant pill.

Boswellia also reduces interferon gamma(IFN-g), another pro-inflammatory cy-tokine. Honestly, boswellia is kind of awe-some!Ginger:We know this helps with nausea

and vomiting, but it’s also a strong anti-in-flammatory herb, capable of reducing pain-causing compounds such as TNF�, COX 2(just like Celebrex), and 5-LOX.

As an added benefit, compounds in gin-ger target and kill H. pylori, the bug mostfamous for stomach ulcers, but also in-volved in rheumatoid arthritis.Hyaluronic acid: I am not referring to

injectable Restylane or Juvederm for wrin-kles! I’m referring to natural supplementsof this, which can “lube” your joints.

Arthritic joints are often extremely defi-cient in hyaluronic acid, which makes thecartilage less squishy. Supplements mayhelp. This information is opinion only. It is not

intended to treat, cure or diagnose your con-

dition. Consult with your doctor before usingany new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and

the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist andReal Solutions from Head to Toe. To contacther, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

DEAR PHARMACISTBy Suzy Cohen

Natural joint pain relief, without ibuprofen

By Martha Lynn CraverRetirees, adjust your budget: Double-

digit price hikes for Medicare Part B pre-miums are likely coming next year.

The actual rates for Part B (which coversthe costs of doctor visits and outpatientcare) will be announced in October andtake effect Jan. 1. The boost may be 15 per-cent for all participants, or a whopping 52percent for some, depending on whetherSocial Security recipients see a cost-of-liv-ing raise for 2016.

The trustees of Social Security recently

projected there will be no cost-of-living ad-justment (COLA) at the end of this year. Itwould mark only the third year without anincrease since automatic adjustments wereadopted in 1975.

Things could change before the end ofthe year. Program economists are con-stantly crunching numbers to track fluctu-ating prices.

But if there’s no adjustment for 2016,some people will face dramatically higherMedicare Part B premiums.

Why is that? For about 70 percent of ben-

eficiaries, premium increases cannot ex-ceed the dollar amount of their Social Secu-rity cost-of-living adjustment. Because noCOLA is currently expected for 2016, in-creased costs of outpatient coverage wouldhave to be spread among the remaining 30percent of beneficiaries, who include:

• those who enroll in Part B in 2016,• people who don’t have their premiums

deducted from Social Security payments,• individuals with annual incomes above

$85,000,• and people eligible for both Medicare

and Medicaid.For the last group, known as “dual eligi-

bles,” Part B premiums are paid by thestate where they live.

Medicare beneficiaries in all thesegroups would see their premium bills jumpto $159.30 a month — an increase of about52 percent — unless the Obama adminis-tration takes steps to lessen the pain. That’spossible, but not certain.

© 2015 the Kiplinger Washington Editors,Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency,LLC. With additional reporting from AP.

By Jeffrey R. KosnettA regular paycheck isn’t the only way to

ensure a steady flow of income. Whetheryou are already retired or simply planningahead for retirement, by carefully selectingstocks that pay dividends on the rightschedule, you can build a portfolio thatguarantees you cash every month. Hereare a dozen great stocks that do just that.

January: Occidental PetroleumYield: 4.1 percent52-week high: $104.48, 52-week low:

$67.30; 5-year dividend growth rate: 16.9percent

Last dividend increases: 12.5 percent inFebruary 2014 and 4.2 percent in October2014

Also pays in: April, July, OctoberOccidental Petroleum (OXY) is primarily

a domestic oil and gas producer, with muchof its exploration in California and in shaleformations in Texas and North Dakota. Itdiffers from some other large oil compa-nies in that it doesn’t have a low-profit re-fining and marketing business. It also said,emphatically, in its investor presentationsthat increasing its dividend is a higher pri-ority than making acquisitions, buying backstock or piling up reserves.

February: Realty IncomeYield: 4.7 percent52-week high: $55.54, 52-week low: $40.56;

5-year dividend growth rate: 5.7 percentLast dividend increase: 0.3 percent in

March 2015Also pays in: Every monthThis real estate investment trust pio-

neered the strategy of buying or building

free-standing drugstores, restaurants, cin-emas, fitness centers and similar buildingsand leasing them to familiar chains, whichpay the rent, maintenance and taxes. RealtyIncome (O) pays dividends every monthand raises the rate several times a year,though slowly and usually by smallamounts. The REIT is safe and consistent,with more than 500 consecutive monthlydividends to its credit.

March: IntelYield 2.9 percent52-week high: $37.90; 52-week low:

$25.74; 5-year dividend growth rate: 8.8 per-cent

Last dividend increase: 6.7 percent inJanuary 2015

Also pays in: June, September, DecemberIntel (INTC), which makes semiconduc-

tors and processors, is one of tech’s mostcommitted dividend-payers. Intel is fightingslowing growth in sales of desktop and lap-top computers — its largest sources ofsales and profits — and as it makes inroadsinto smartphones and tablets, its cash flowwill grow and higher dividends should fol-low.

April: McCormickYield 2.1 percent52-week high: $78.70; 52-week low:


Last dividend increase: 8.1 percent in No-vember 2014

Also pays in: January, October, DecemberThe world’s leading maker of spices and fla-

vorings, McCormick (MKC) grows steadilyin part by taking over competitors’ brands and

introducing American favorites to the rest ofthe world. Its profit margin is more than twicethat of the meatpackers whose steaks andchops star in McCormick’s recipes. Plus, thecompany has little debt.

May: Procter & GambleYield 3.2 percent52-week high: $93.89; 52-week low: $77.29;


April 2015Also pays in: August, November, FebruaryProcter & Gamble (PG) is the archetypal

solid, predictable, low-stress growth stock.It is so huge that a single-digit dividendgrowth rate may be all you can expect —but that’s good enough considering that itusually yields more than 3 percent.

June: WisdomTree MidCap ETFYield 2.3 percent52-week high: $87.34; 52-week low:

$73.63; 5-year dividend growth rate: 26.6percent

Last dividend increase: 17.3 percent inMarch 2015

Also pays in: Every monthSmaller and mid-sized companies have

joined the rush to pay higher dividends,and WisdomTree MidCap ETF (DON) is aconvenient way to sample 400 of them —spanning the economy from utilities toREITs to energy to retail. The fund paysdividends each month, joining Realty In-come as 12-time payers in this model port-folio.

July: Kimberly-ClarkYield 3.2 percent52-week high: $119.01; 52-week low:


Last dividend increase: 4.8 percent inFebruary 2015

Also pays in: October, January, April The maker of Kleenex, Huggies and

Scott paper products resembles Procter &Gamble in that it makes familiar householdproducts and sells them in more than 100countries. Kimberly-Clark (KMB) hasraised dividends every year since the early1970s, and aims to maintain a higher divi-dend yield than most other industrial andconsumer-product companies.

August: Potash Corp. of SaskatchewanYield 4.7 percent 52-week high: $38.58; 52-week low: $31.395-year dividend growth rate: 30.6 per-

cent; Last dividend increase: 8.6 percent inJanuary 2015

Also pays in: November, February, MayPotash is fertilizer, and this Canadian

firm could be spreading it on its dividendsto produce bigger and higher checks for in-vestors’ pockets. Five years ago Potash(POT) paid 1 cent a quarter. Now the divi-dend is 38 cents, four times a year. Theworld doesn’t have many sources of this es-sential resource, and while the price canswing like any mineral, the dividend is se-cure.

September: Johnson & JohnsonYield 3.0 percent52-week high: $109.49; 52-week low:



Money Consider other options than a will to by-pass probate for brokerage accounts. Seestory on page 15.

Law &

See DIVIDENDS, page 14

Medicare premiums may spike for some

Earn dividends every month of the year

By Eleanor LaiseA growing number of seniors are looking

to sell their life insurance policies to in-vestors. But there is significant risk forolder people getting involved in these “lifesettlement” transactions — whether theyare selling their policy or investing in thoseof others.

In a life settlement, a policyholder sellshis policy in exchange for a lump-sum cashpayment. The buyer makes all the futurepremium payments and gets the death ben-efit when the insured person dies.

For seniors who find their policy is nolonger needed or affordable, a life settle-ment can be a better option than letting thepolicy lapse.

But a life settlement will bring the sellerjust a small fraction of his policy’s facevalue. All too often, insurance experts say,seniors agree to life settlements without ex-ploring alternatives that could bring fargreater value to themselves or their benefi-ciaries.

Life settlements are also a gamble for in-vestors. If the insured lives much longerthan expected, the investor’s return willplunge.

Lawsuits filed in recent months by theSecurities and Exchange Commission ac-cuse some investment firms of misleadinginvestors about life settlements’ risks. Inone case, a firm allegedly told customersthat life settlements were “guaranteed” andas safe as certificates of deposit, while infact life settlements offer no guarantees.

Although life settlements can makesense in certain situations, for both sellersand investors, “there are so many ways ofbeing taken advantage of,” said GlennDaily, a fee-only insurance adviser in NewYork City.

The life-settlement industry said it’s pro-viding a better alternative to seniors whooften let policies lapse or continue payingpremiums they can’t afford. [It also allowsa policy holder to obtain cash from an assetthey otherwise cannot access while alive,except by borrowing against it.]

Costs of sale add upIf you are over 65 and have a life insur-

ance policy with a death benefit of morethan $100,000, you may be a candidate fora life settlement. You can go to a life-settle-ment broker, who will solicit bids from mul-tiple buyers.

Or you can go to a life-settlement“provider” — a company that buys policieseither for its own investment purposes or tosell to third-party investors. The providerwill review your medical records and getlife-expectancy estimates before making abid. You can find licensed brokers andproviders at www.lisa.org.

But before selling a policy, you shouldunderstand the costs and complexities oflife settlements. The amount of cash youcan receive depends on your remaining lifeexpectancy, your policy’s annual premiumsand death benefit, the rate of return thebuyer demands, and other factors.

Sellers typically receive more than thepolicy’s cash surrender value but far lessthan the death benefit. The gross purchaseprice — before deducting taxes, commis-sions and other transaction costs — is often10 percent to 25 percent of the death bene-fit.

And transaction costs can consume a bigchunk of the gross purchase price — often10 percent to 20 percent, Daily said. Thebroker’s commission can be as much as 4to 6 percent of the policy’s face value. Theprovider also collects a fee, which is gener-ally not disclosed to the seller.

What’s more, with a life settlement,“there’s a tremendous loss of tax advan-tage,” said Scott Witt, a fee-only insuranceadviser in New Berlin, Wis.

If you hold on to the policy, your benefi-ciaries get the death benefit tax-free. In alife settlement, the seller must pay tax on atleast a portion of the amount he receives,and the buyer also owes tax on the deathbenefit — another factor that pushes theoffer price lower.

Still, life settlements can make sense forsome seniors. One of Daily’s clients, a 74-year-old woman, has a policy with a facevalue of about $500,000. Because of her rel-atively short life expectancy of about fiveyears, Daily estimates that the gross priceshe can receive in a life settlement is unusu-

ally high — about $250,000. After deduct-ing transaction costs and taxes, she mightpocket roughly $180,000. Since the clientneeds money now, a life settlement makessense for her, Daily said.

To determine whether a life settlementis a good option for you, ask a fee-only in-surance adviser to help value your policy(find links to nine advisers at www.glen-ndaily.com).

Other options to considerIf your policy has become unaffordable,

ask your beneficiaries to take over the pre-mium payments, said John Skar, an actuarywho works with Daily. A whole life insur-ance policy is “a valuable family estate assetthat you’re getting rid of [through a life set-tlement] for pennies on the dollar.”

Ask if you can borrow against your pol-icy, or if the policy can be revised so that nofuture premiums are owed and the deathbenefit is reduced. People with short re-maining life expectancies may be eligiblefor accelerated death benefits.

If you no longer need the policy, somecommunity foundations and large charita-ble organizations may be willing to acceptdonations of life insurance.

Also, keep an eye on a new charitable al-ternative that aims to smooth the processof donating an insurance policy. Insuring a

Better World Fund (www.iabwf.org),launched last year, pools all donated poli-cies and pays the premiums. As death ben-efits roll in, it makes pro rata distributionsto the charities named by the donors. Thedonor receives a tax deduction for the fairmarket value of the policy.

Investing can be riskyFor older investors who are pitched life

settlements as investments, the best policyis to stay away. In some cases, a person in-vests in a single policy. More often policiesare pooled into life-settlement funds.

Investors’ returns depend on the accu-racy of life-expectancy estimates, and “itdoesn’t take very many [people] who dra-matically outlive life expectancy to reallyput a crimp in your returns,” Witt said.

In addition, insurers may refuse to paydeath benefits if they suspect that a policywas initiated by an investor, rather than theinsured person. In these “stranger-origi-nated life insurance” arrangements, in-vestors pay seniors to buy life insurance andthen turn the policies over to investors.

Without examining every policy in afund, it can be hard for investors to be surethey’re avoiding such situations.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Wash-ington Editors, Inc. Distributed by TribuneContent Agency, LLC.

Should you sell your life insurance policy?C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money 13

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14 Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 — C O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N

Last dividend increase: 7.1 percent inApril 2015

Also pays in: December, March, JuneA blue-chip cash machine with a great

group of global health businesses, Johnson& Johnson (JNJ) grows just enough to raisedividends between 5 and 10 percent a year,while the shares almost never misbehave.This is the way the stock market is sup-posed to work for patient, loyal investors.

October: Automatic Data ProcessingYield 2.3 percent52-week high: $90.23; 52-week low: $67.12;


April 2014Also pays in: January, April, JulyAutomatic Data Processing (ADP) is a

giant payroll processor and also adminis-ters employee-benefits programs. It alsoprofits by investing money it holds for em-ployers before paychecks are cashed anddeposited, so even a small rise in interestrates would make it richer. ADP is a finan-cial fortress with $2 billion of its own cashand little debt.

November: General DynamicsYield 2.0 percent

52-week high: $146.13; 52-week low:$111.08; 5-year dividend growth rate: 10.4percent

Last dividend increase: 11.2 percent inMarch 2015

Also pays in: February, May, AugustA defense industry powerhouse, General

Dynamics (GD) also makes private jet planesand offers information-technology manage-ment services. Cuts in the military budget(whether rumored or actual) haven’t stoppedit from raising dividends briskly every year.

December: American Electric PowerYield 3.7 percent52-week high: $65.38 ; 52-week low: $49.06;

5-year dividend growth rate: 4.8 percentLast dividend increase: 6.0 percent in Oc-

tober 2014Also pays in: March, June, SeptemberAmerican Electric Power (AEP) is one of

the safest traditional regulated utility stocksbecause the chain operates in 11 states,which spreads the risk from storms andother controversies. AEP also pays a rea-sonable 59 percent of its earnings as divi-dends, which gives it scope to raise thepayment even in slow years and makes thechance of cuts extremely low.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Wash-ington Editors, Inc. Distributed by TribuneContent Agency, LLC

KEEPING TRACK OF BUSINESS

More than 120 exhibitors will showcase services, products and

facilities at the annual Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce Expo from 4 to 7

p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Included will be live

music, lounge area, more than a dozen food exhibitors with samples, cars, auc-

tions and raffles. Admission is $5. The casino is at 84-245 Indio Springs Drive,

Indio. Pdacc.org, (760) 346-6111

BEACON BITS

Oct. 1

THOSE DARN CELL PHONESRomantic comedy Dead Man’s Cell Phone will go on stage at theArthur Newman Theatre at the Joslyn Center on Fridays and Satur-

days, Sept. 18, 19, 25 and 26. Performance times are 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $24, $26. The Joslyn Center is at 73-750 CatalinaWay, Palm Desert. (760) 980-1455

GO TEAM!You can wear your favorite team jersey or colors at the Indio SeniorCenter Sports Lunch Party from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.

Cost is $5. The center is at 45-700 Aladdin St., Indio. Indio.org, (760) 391-4170

BEACON BITS

Sept. 18+

DividendsFrom page 12

Sept. 17

By Kimberly LankfordQ: I need to designate a beneficiary

for my brokerage account. Is a transfer-on-death account a better option thanadding a joint owner to my account orincluding the account in my will?

A: Life insurance, IRAs, 401(k) plans andother retirement accounts pass directly tothe beneficiaries you designate outside ofyour will.

Brokerage accounts, on the other hand,generally pass to your beneficiariesthrough your will and must go through pro-bate first, which can be time-consuming,public and expensive in some states.

A transfer on death (TOD) registrationis a way to designate beneficiaries for yourbrokerage account so the money will passdirectly to them and avoid probate.

If you add a joint owner, that person willinherit the account outside of probate butcan also change the investments and accessthe money while you’re alive. Joint ac-counts are also subject to the claims of bothowners’ creditors.

With a TOD, you maintain total controlover the account and can change the bene-ficiary designation at any time.

TODs trump willsA TOD makes it very clear who inherits

the account, rather than the account becom-ing one of many assets passed through your

will. “It can avoid disputes,” said GerriWalsh, senior vice president of investor ed-ucation for Finra (Financial Industry Regu-latory Authority), an independent regulatorfor securities firms. “If you have the accountset up with a designated beneficiary, thattrumps whatever is in the will.”

However, if you want to split your estateamong several beneficiaries, you may want totransfer the account through your will instead.

Say you have three children and want toleave them equal shares of your estate. Youcould make one the TOD beneficiary ofyour brokerage account and leave compa-rable amounts of money to the other chil-dren. But if the brokerage accountincreases or decreases in value before youdie, that child could end up inheriting avery different amount than the siblings.

With a will, on the other hand, you cansplit up the total assets equally.

When to use trustsIf you have more complicated wishes —

such as if you want your heirs to use themoney for a particular purpose or not to re-ceive the funds until a certain time — youmay want to set up a trust instead, saidEleanor Blayney, a certified financial plannerand consumer advocate for the CFP Board.

Contact your brokerage firm if you’d liketo set up a TOD designation for your ac-count. Most states have similar TOD rules

(Louisiana and Texas do not offer this op-tion). If you move to another state, ask yourbrokerage firm if you need to make anychanges.

For more information about TOD desig-nations and other ways to transfer your bro-kerage account to your beneficiaries, seeFinra’s investor alert Plan for “Transition:What You Should Know About the Transfer

of Brokerage Account Assets on Death” athttp://bit.ly/brokerage_transfer.

For more information about estate planning options, see “8 Smart EstatePlanning Steps to Die the Right Way”at http://bit.ly/estate_planning_steps.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Wash-ington Editors, Inc. Distributed by TribuneContent Agency, LLC.

Bypass probate for brokerage accountsC O A C H E L L A VA L L E Y B E A C O N — S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money 15

LEARN ABOUT VALLEY’S PASTThe Coachella Valley History Museum will host a free receptionfrom 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 to launch its 2015-2016 season

and welcome its exhibit, “50 Years of Preserving the Past for the Present” that willrun through May 31.The museum is at 32-616 Miles Ave., Indio. www.cvhm.org,(760) 342-6651

BEACON BITS

Oct. 4


TravelLeisure &

By Victor BlockAs I strolled along ancient ramparts that en-

circled the small medieval city, the viewchanged with each twist and turn. On one sidewas a labyrinth of narrow streets lined by tile-roofed stone buildings. In the other directionwere stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.Not very far away, the setting was very

different. In an area about the size of Con-necticut, I traveled through a varied terrainof rugged mountains, deep canyons andinviting beaches.And mountain villages, rolling meadows,

and a city that ranks high on many a trav-eler’s favorites list greet visitors to an adja-cent country that shares a history with itsneighbors.Few trips I have enjoyed anywhere in-

cluded as much diversity and diversion asmy “Crossroads of the Adriatic” tour withOverseas Adventure Travel. Crisscrossing four miniscule countries that

once were part of Yugoslavia, I delved into in-triguing chapters of history, cultures and re-ligions, oohed and aahed at a kaleidoscope ofmagnificent scenery, and checked out locallife in both tiny towns and magnificent cities.

Tiny but diverse landsBorder checkpoints through which my

trip group passed reminded us that we weretraveling between independent nations.They also served as reminders that, not longago, bitter warfare raged in the region. But the only shooting we did was with our

cameras, and taking pictures of scenery asdramatic as that which surrounded us, theresults had to be outstanding.Forest-clad countryside lies in the shadow

of craggy mountain peaks. Ancient walledcities and tiny hillside towns are rich with lifeand allure. Mother Nature displays her hand-iwork in scenic gems that include invitingbeaches, stunning coastal scenery, and cas-cading waterfalls that compete in beauty ifnot size with Niagara.The pre-departure Information I received

referred to the trip as “Crossroads of theAdriatic,” and to the four compact countrieson the itinerary — Croatia, Montenegro,Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Slovenia – as“multicultural lands of forgotten beauty.”We did not visit Serbia and Macedonia,which were also once part of Yugoslavia. The tiny sizes of our destinations — the

four together have a total area about equalto New York State – made traveling be-tween them convenient. At the same timethat similarities became evident, so did dif-ferences based in part upon divergent eth-nicities and cultures.

Dubrovnik and ZagrebMajor cities, as well as charming towns

and villages, are among the attractions.Dubrovnik, which clings to a narrowstretch of land at the southern tip of Croa-tia, is one of the most prominent tourist re-sorts of the Mediterranean. It doesn’t takelong to understand why.

Its Old Town neighborhood exudes aMiddle Ages atmosphere from when it ri-valed Venice in wealth and power. A numberof palaces and other prominent landmarksdate back to that golden era. The main feature is ancient fortified walls

that encircle the city, set off by a series of tur-rets and towers. Walking along the top of thefortification provides dramatic views of the ar-chitectural treasures in the Old Town, and anunderstanding why Dubrovnik is included onthe UNESCO World Heritage List.Zagreb, the capital of independent Croa-

tia since 1991, has been a cultural centersince the Middle Ages and boasts an invit-ing array of museums. A number of themare perched in the hilly, historical UpperTown, which visitors may reach on foot orby a 55-second ride in what’s said to be theshortest funicular in the world. The pedestrian-friendly Lower Town has

inviting squares and parks. The center of ac-tion is Ban Jelacic Square, where localsgather to stroll, socialize and sip refresh-ments at outdoor cafes.Despite the appeals of Croatia’s major

cities, it was the capital of tiny Slovenia thatbecame the new favorite European metrop-olis of many in my tour group. Ljubljana(pronounced Loo-blee-AH-na) is a bustlingurban center with broad promenades andinviting pedestrian walkways.

A section of stone wall, statues and mo-saics are among reminders that this wasthe site of a Roman town dating to the year14 C.E. Overlooking the setting from a hill-top is Ljubljana Castle, which dates back tothe early 12th century and was recon-structed following an earthquake in 1511.

Visiting villages Small in size but no less interesting are

towns and villages scattered about theBalkans. While many have attractions worthexploring, several stand out in my mind.Karanac, a village of about 1,000 people

in Croatia, exemplifies rural charm. It’s lo-cated in what’s known as the Bread Basketof Croatia. Grapes have been grown on thesurrounding hills since Roman times. An-other claim to fame is its multi-ethnic pop-ulation of Croats, Serbs, Hungarians andGermans who live together in harmony.Tiny Hum is little more than a dot on

maps. A 2001 census counted 17 residents,but I was told that a mini-population explo-sion has increased the number to 25. Doc-uments date the settlement to the early12th century, and some houses are builtinto defensive walls that were constructedto protect the town. Mostar follows a stretch of the Neretva

The San Diego Zoo is one of only fourzoos in the country to feature pandas.See story on facing page.

Ban Jelacic Square in Croatia’s capital of Zagreb is a gathering spot for locals. Za-greb’s history dates to Roman times, and today the city has a population of about800,000.

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The Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina was originally built in the mid-16thcentury. After it was destroyed in the Bosnian War 20 years ago, this exact replicaof the historic bridge was built.

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Balkans, now at peace, are worth a visit

See BALKANS, page 18

By Julie Watson With an average of 250 days of sunshine

a year, any time is good to visit San Diego.Here’s the latest. A nine-story public library and its signa-

ture dome opened in downtown San Diegoin 2013. It is an architectural gem with theglass-and-steel building flowing seamlesslybetween indoor and outdoor spaces. Athree-story reading room with giant win-dows gives a sweeping view of CoronadoBridge spanning across the bay. The library and nearby Petco Park base-

ball stadium have revived the downtownneighborhood, bringing in shops and cafes.Among them, Comun Kitchen & Tavernfeatures Mexican food with a modern twist,like smoked ahi tuna and chicharron — orpork skin — with apples, pea and minttostadas. Another new attraction on the nearby wa-

terfront is an open-air fish market held ona pier in Seaport Village every Saturdayfrom 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get there early to buythe catch of the day — like yellowfin tunaand sea urchins — straight from the fisher-men. Even if you don’t buy, it’s worthchecking out to see the industry that onceearned San Diego the title “Tuna Capital ofthe World.” And it’s a bit of a drive, albeit a gorgeous

one, up the coast along Highway 101 toEncinitas, where the home town of profes-sional skateboarder Tony Hawk inaugu-rated the mother lode of skate parks thisyear. The Encinitas Skate Plaza shows howfar the sport has come from its rebel begin-nings in the hulls of drained, backyardswimming pools. The Tony Hawk Founda-tion helped with the design of the 13,000-square-feet (1,200-square-meter) skatepark, where world-class skateboardersfrom ages 8 to 48 do their flips and turns.

Classic attractionsIf Andy Griffith’s Mayberry had a beach

twin, it would be Coronado. The bike-friendly peninsula that feels like a postcardfrom the 1950s is anchored by the iconicHotel Del Coronado, which was featured inMarilyn Monroe’s 1958 film Some Like It

Hot. Built in 1888, the red-roofed hotel isthe last of California’s Victorian seaside re-sorts. It looks out onto 1.5 miles of pristinecoast with a beach that sparkles with themineral mica. Another bucket-list attraction is Balboa

Park. The 1,200-acre city park rivals NewYork’s Central Park and is home to yet an-other bucket-list item — the San DiegoZoo. The park is celebrating its 100th an-niversary, marking when its cluster ofSpanish Renaissance-style buildings wereerected in 1915 for a world fair to commem-orate the opening of the Panama Canal. Museums have hosted concerts and spe-

cial events throughout 2015, including a carsymphony played by professional musi-cians on automobile parts. Check www.cel-ebratebalboapark.org. San Diego’s coast boasts world-class

surfing but also decent waves for thenovice. There are a slew of surf schools.Best bet is to look online or head to neigh-borhoods like Mission Beach or PacificBeach. Or grab a local craft beer and na-chos at the WaveHouse on Mission Beachthat hosts competitions of surfers flippingin the air off its machine-churned poolwaves, with a view of the real thing in thePacific.

Travel tipsUnless you’ve got a lot of time and pa-

tience, you’ll definitely need a car to navi-gate the sprawling city, the eighth-largestin the nation. Parking downtown meanspaying at either a meter or parking garage,but in most other parts of the city, streetparking is free. Al fresco dining is a must-do in this city.

For a cheap breakfast or lunch visit afarmer’s market. There are several daily.Check out http://sdfarmbureau.org/Buy-Local/Farmers-Markets.php(hash)mar-kets. Locals grab a bundle of wood at the gro-

cery stores and roast hot dogs at one of thepermanent fire pits set up along SanDiego’s bays. The pits and their locationsactually get reviews on Yelp. Another pop-ular, evening picnic spot from spring

through fall is at the Velodrome in BalboaPark, where you can watch cyclists spinaround the track while DJs often spin theirown tracks. Check the schedule athttp://sdvelodrome.com/racing/.

Hanging out in Little ItalySan Diego’s Little Italy section is a prime

spot for enjoying a good espresso and peo-ple watching. The hilly, picturesque downtown neigh-

borhood was where Italian fishermen andboat builders lived in the 19th centurythrough the 1970s when San Diego was the

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — S E P T EMBE R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel 17

Surrounded by gardens, Balboa Park’s Casa de Balboa Building in San Diego housesthe Museum of Photographic Arts, Museum of San Diego History and the San DiegoModel Railroad Museum. It was originally built as the Commerce and IndustriesBuilding for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

Go beyond the beaches in sunny San Diego

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See SAN DIEGO, page 19

River in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and has a his-tory as one of the most ethnically diversetowns in the region. Its attractions rangefrom graceful 16th and 17th centurymosques to crowded shop-lined streets. The Old Bridge over the river is one of

the country’s most recognizable land-marks. Originally built by the Ottomans inthe mid-16th century, the graceful stonespan stood for more than 400 years beforebeing destroyed during the Bosnian War.Visitors today see an exact replica. If any city may be said to share both a

happy and tragic past, it is Sarajevo, the cap-ital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. For several hun-dred years, it was a cultural and religioushaven where Serbs, Croats, Turks, Muslims,Jews and others lived in harmony. That

peaceful picture came to an end during thefierce ethnic fighting that followed the deathof Marshal Tito and only ended in the 1990s.Visitors to Sarajevo receive stark re-

minders of the bitter warfare that tookplace when the city was surrounded and itsmostly Bosnian population came under con-stant attack by Serbian forces. The most dramatic introduction is in the

Tunnel of Life, a mile-long undergroundpassage that residents began building in1992. By the end of the siege, nearly fouryears later, men, women and even childrenhad made more than five million tripsthrough the low tunnel carrying food, med-ical supplies and small weapons.

Beautiful beaches and lakesVery different and much happier settings

are encountered at water-related attractionsin the Balkan countries. For those seeking

a sun-and-sand respite, Croatia has beautifulbeaches along its southern DalmatianCoast. More than 120 beaches line the shortshoreline of Montenegro. More dramatic scenery awaits visitors to

Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. Waterthat fills a line of 16 lakes separated by naturaldams spills down hillsides in a series of cas-cades toward a river at the bottom. Adding tothe portrait-like setting are the colors of thewater — sky blue, emerald green, rock gray— that reflect the surroundings. Equally magnificent in a different way is

Lake Bled in Slovenia. Overlooking the lakefrom a steep cliff is Bled Castle, whichdates back to the early 12th century. On a small island in the lake, which may

be reached in a pletna boat (the local versionof a gondola), is a small but graceful 17th-century church. The little house of worshipis a popular wedding venue, and a good lucktradition calls for the groom to carry hisbride-to-be up the 98 stone steps to the build-ing, and for the couple to make a wish andring the bell so it will come true. By the time I pulled the bell rope, my

wish had already come true. I was experi-encing four intriguing countries that aresmall in size but large in terms of attrac-tions and appeal.

If you goOverseas Adventure Travel lives up to its

motto of “Learning and Discovery.” In ad-dition to the must-see attractions of a desti-

nation, its itineraries include lesser-visitedbut equally inviting places. In addition,guides have flexibility to alter plans in orderto take advantage of unexpected opportuni-ties that crop up. On my trip, these included stopping at a

tiny 18th-century church whose parish priestserved blueberry strudel he had made, andaccompanying a truffle hunter and his dog ona search for that prized fungus. For information about OAT trips through-

out the world, call (800) 955-1925 or log ontooattravel.com.With learning and discovery, both ac-

commodations and food become part of anOAT trip. We spent one night in a tradi-tional century-old farm house in Karanac,meeting the resident livestock and enjoyinga hearty homemade breakfast. We also stayed in a city hotel built adja-

cent to the remains of a 16th-century innthat once provided overnight shelter to car-avan drivers.Our food discoveries focused on the spe-

cialties of wherever we happened to be. Webecame used to hearing our guide, Ivana,insist, “You can’t leave (name of town orarea) without sampling the (gastronomicspecialty).” Among treats for our taste buds were

truffles that aficionados rate among thebest in the world, Slovenian sausage, diet-busting Croatian custard cake and heart-shaped gingerbread cookies, and locallymade brandies just about everywhere.

18 Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com S E P T EMBE R 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

BalkansFrom page 16

If you’re at least 60 years old, dependingon where you are, you may qualify for asenior discount on manytravel services. And AARPmembers age 50 or over canalso get in on some of thedeals.

Air and train travelOver the last two decades,

seniors have lost out almostcompletely in scoring goodairline deals. Only two seriousdeals are still offered:Although Southwest’s fares

for those 65 and older arehigher than its lowest “Wanna Get Away” ad-vance-purchase fares, they’re about half theprice of the “Anytime” fares that are the onlyones left after the cheapest disappear.British Airways offers discounted tickets

to AARP members of $65 in economy, $130in premium economy, and $400 in businessclass.Seniors can do pretty well on some train

tickets:Amtrak offers 15 percent discounts on

coach tickets, system wide, to those age 62or over, excluding most tickets on the high-speed Acela trains.VIA Rail Canada routinely offers 10 per-

cent system-wide discounts to people age60 or over, in both coach and sleeper ac-

commodations. But VIA Railoffers much bigger discountsevery week on “DiscountTuesday” to travelers of anyage.Eurostar “Chunnel” trains

offer varying discounts ifyou’re 60 or over.BritRail, France, and several

other railpasses also offer sen-ior options.Those 60 or over enjoy dis-

counts on individual train tick-ets in Denmark, Finland,

Norway and Sweden. Some other Euro-pean countries offer discounts up to 50 per-cent to holders of rail-issued senior cards. Other countries limit senior discounts to

local pensioners. And Japan does not offer

senior discounts on either tickets or passes.

Public transitMany U.S. transit agencies offer senior

discounts, typically around 50 percent, toriders age 65 or over. Some accept aMedicare card as ID to buy senior tickets;others require that you first obtain an IDfrom the transit agency. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia offer the

best deals: Local transit and suburban railare free at all times, and regional rail inEastern Pennsylvania costs only $1 perride. Just show your Medicare card.Seniors don’t do as well outside the U.S.

The big Canadian systems don’t seem tooffer senior deals, nor do most of the bigEuropean and Asian transit systems.

Hotels and rental carsMany U.S. hotels offer discounts to cus-

tomers, usually 5 to 15 percent off regularrates, starting at age 50 for AARP members,and at varying ages for non-members. Any-age members of AAA and other organiza-tions get similar discounts. But short-termpromotional deals and “opaque” rates fortravelers of any age often beat these modestsenior discounts.Senior hotel discounts are rare in Asia

and Europe, other than some from the bigworldwide chains.One other problem: As far as I can tell,

the big metasearch engines and OTAs donot find senior deals, so you have to bookdirectly with the hotel chain’s website.The Avis/Budget/Payless group offers

AARP members reductions of 5 to 25 per-cent on car rentals, plus reduced prices onsome ancillary services and some insur-ance benefits.

© 2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Your age can save you money on travel

TRAVEL TIPSBy Ed Perkins

COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — S E P T EMBE R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel 19

SNEAK PEAK AT

MODERNISM WEEK

Three days of receptions, tours, par-

ties, shows and sales from Friday, Oct.

9 through Sunday, Oct. 11 will give a

taste of February’s annual Modernism

Week. Locations include the Palm

Springs Air Museum. Various ticket

prices. modernismweek.com

BEACON BITS

Oct. 9+

hub of the tuna industry. Today the area is a hip, bustling mecca

of shops, art galleries and cafes. You’ll hearplenty of Italian spoken by young Italianswho have opened up businesses or come towork here in recent years. On Saturdays, the neighborhood has one

of the city’s best farmer’s markets, known byits Italian name “mercato.” And on any givenweekend, there seems to be some kind offestival, most Italian-themed, from chalk artcontests to bocce ball tournaments. — AP

San DiegoFrom page 17

By Lydia KremerOne of the results of the massive do-it-

yourself trend that began in the early 1970swas the phenomenal success of DIY televi-sion of the 1990s. That spawned a frenzy bythe general public in DIY home improve-ment projects. And the trend shows no signof slowing down.Similarly, artists, craftsmen, hobbyists

and artisans of every stripe embraced agrowing emphasis on making things byyour own hand and eschewing mass-pro-duced items, which has now grown into acultural force called “the maker move-ment.” The premise was simple: using yourown creativity and ingenuity to createsomething, anything — whether it is art-work, furniture, shoes, clothing, cheese,soap or a new gadget.This movement has taken root in our

midst. A group of Palm Springs area artistsand creative thinkers have consolidatedtheir creative visions into an exciting and

unique concept called Makerville. It’s thebrainchild of a group of six friends and cul-tural creatives, relative newcomers to thedesert, who were drawn to Palm Springs’creative Renaissance.

Sharing inspirationMakerville is a creative retreat center in

the mountains above the desert floor, min-utes up Highway 74 in Pinyon Pines. Mak-erville was founded by this group of artistsand creative professionals as a collaborativeworkshop, gathering space and a place togain and share creative inspiration. The “Makers” are: Debra Hovel, an arti-

san shoe designer/maker; Richard Hovel;a sculptor/designer; Kurt Cyr, a designerof textile, furniture and interiors; Jim Abele,a ceramic artist/actor; Jay Zaltzman, a mar-ket researcher/chef; and Trevor O’Don-nell, a tourism professional/producer. “Makerville is part of a burgeoning

worldwide maker movement that focuseson handcraft, artistry, nature, creativity,community and measured escape from anincreasingly commercial world,” saysHovel, who will present a lecture in earlyNovember about her shoemaking in con-junction with the Palm Springs Art Mu-seum’s new exhibition, Killer Heels. The group of Makers purchased a for-

mer Elks Lodge on 10 acres surrounded bySan Bernardino National Forest. The

grounds consist of natural pinyon pine-stud-ded desert wilderness and are surroundedon all sides by protected federal land with360 degree mountain views. Nearby aremany popular hiking trails, including thePinyon and Live Oak Canyon trails that con-nect to the Pacific Crest National ScenicTrail. While the grounds are ideal for creative

inspiration, the structural facilities hadbeen abandoned for many years and re-

quired months of rehabilitation and hardwork by the group. The improved Mak-erville facilities now include a well-ap-pointed kitchen/dining room attached to arustic 2,600-square-foot open-plan work-shop/event space. Also on the property aresmall cabins and campsites of varying de-grees of rusticity for use by founders andinvited visitors.

Event venue as well Makerville is intended primarily as a

workplace and retreat for Makervillefounders, but it will also be used occasion-ally as an event venue, which will be madeavailable for rental for photo shoots, wed-dings, art workshops, yoga retreats, meet-ings and a variety of events produced byothers. It will also be home to “Makerville Pres-

ents,” a producer of live events includingpopular “Modernism with a Twist” andother events that have previously takenplace in other Palm Springs locations.To learn more about visiting Makerville

or attending Makerville events: www.mak-ervillestudio.com and facebook.com/mak-erville. To rent Makerville for events orlocation shoots: www.makervillestudio [email protected].

Lydia Kremer is a Palm Springs-basedfreelance writer and publicist. She can bereached at [email protected] or [email protected]

Arts &Style Discover some of Audrey Hepburn’s fa-vorite recipes. See story on facing page.


Artists’ retreat center blossoms in Pinyon

Staying on trackTo keep the focus on the

founding principles of Makerville, the creative team

produced a Makerville Manifesto:

The Makerville Manifesto

Make SomethingA Friend – A Meal – A Work of Art –

A Better Mousetrap

Every DayInspiration is a Gift

Pay AttentionTrust You’re Gut

FOCUSEmbrace the Process

You AreWhat You Make

Makers, from the left, Trevor O'Donnell, Jim Abele, Richard Hovel and Kurt Cyr applyfinishing touches on Makerville facilities.

SINGERS TAKE THE STAGE

Sundays in the Summer Cabaret Series continues through October

at the Arthur Newman Theatre at Joslyn Center, 73-750 Catalina Way, Palm

Desert. Show time is 2 p.m. Tickets are $11 at the door. Upcoming performers in-

clude Gary Floyd, Sept. 20; Pat Whitman, Sept. 27; Janice Gerard, Oct. 4 and

Lindsey Larson, Oct. 11. Lesmicheals.com, (760) 341-3008

ALL ABOUT DESERT GARDENING

Learn from experts how to create and maintain a desert friendly

garden and reduce your water needs at the 10th annual free Desert Garden Com-

munity Day sponsored by Desert Horticultural Society of the Coachella Valley from

8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Living Desert, 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert. In-

cludes workshops, exhibits, garden tours. deserthorticulturalsociety.org

BEACON BITS

Sept. 20+

Oct. 17

By Jocelyn NoveckThink of Audrey Hepburn, and your

mind will likely conjure up an extraordinar-ily elegant woman in a boat-necked blackdress, huge sunglasses, gloves to theelbow, and a chic updo. It’s doubtful you’ll picture a woman in

jeans and T-shirt settling down in front ofthe TV with a plate of penne and — gasp!— ketchup. But that’s the image that her son, Luca

Dotti, wants you to get to know. In Audreyat Home, an inviting cookbook filled with in-timate family photos and memories, hepaints a picture of a woman who was hap-pier at home than on a movie set or, really,anywhere else — even though the press, hesaid, had a hard time believing that. “Yes, she was an international star, but

she was Mrs. Dotti to me,” said Dotti, aRome-based graphic designer who is theson of Hepburn and her second husband,Andrea Dotti. “And she loved her home lifethe most. I wanted to bring these twoworlds together, the public perception ofher, and the woman that I knew.” The inspiration for the book came, Dotti

said, from a binder he found in his mother’skitchen, filled with recipes and little notes.“It was from the ‘50s when she had just got-ten married (to her first husband) and wasstarting out as a wife,” Dotti said. “They

were mostly elaborate and fancy recipes. “But in the end, she eventually came to

what worked for her and what reflected herstyle and her life.” Those simpler recipes,he said, form the core of the book.

A nod to a WWII childhood And so, for example, Dotti begins with

hutspot, a nod to Holland, where Hepburn —born in Belgium to a Dutch mother andBritish father — spent her difficult youth,nearly starving during World War II. (Her finallife partner, Robert Wolders, also was Dutch.) “The Nazis had deprived Holland of all

forms of sustainability. My mother had toeat turnips and boiled grass,” Dotti said.Hutspot is a puree of carrots, potatoes andonions, in this case with beef added. Then there’s the recipe for chocolate

cake. Upon liberation, a Dutch soldier gaveher seven candy bars, Dotti recounts, andshe became sick after devouring them, un-used to having a full stomach. But choco-late made her happy for years, and sheloved making her cakes for her children. “I always thought cakes were too dry, but

this one was moist,” Dotti said. The point of the cookbook, and of Hep-

burn’s own cooking, was not to display chef-quality talents. “This wasn’t about excellingin cooking,” Dotti said. “My mother wasn’treally interested in that. She simply liked

food as a way to get her fam-ily together.”And Hepburn’s friends —

among them the famous de-signer Hubert de Givenchy— knew that if they wantedto see Audrey, they had tovisit her at home, Dotti said. Hepburn, who died in

1993, lived mostly in Romeand Switzerland, where sheloved the countryside. Shealso spent much of her lateryears traveling for humani-tarian work.But Hepburn sometimes

had trouble making it to herown stove. That’s because,her son relates, she had acook named Giovanna whowas very proud, perhaps tooproud. When Hepburn herselfwanted to cook, it became atricky task to get Giovanna tocede the way. “My mother did not want to hurt her

pride,” Dotti said. “But there were a lot ofstruggles with Giovanna, just so my momcould cook!”

Simple pasta dishesIf Dotti had to pick only one recipe to

symbolize his mother’s life, he said it wouldbe her beloved — and simple — spaghettial pomodoro (with tomato sauce). “It was her holy grail for happiness,”

Dotti said. “It was what she thought ofwhen she was homesick.”

C O ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — S E P T EMBE R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 21

Audrey Hepburn: woman of simple tastes

See HEPBURN, page 22

Audrey Hepburn’s elegant fashion sense contrasts withthe homey comfort food she liked to cook. In the newbook, Audrey at Home: Memories of My Mother’sKitchen, son Luca Dotti gathers 50 of the star’s fa-vorite recipes.

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Let your grass go dormant this fall and winter. Bermuda grass can be kept alive in a dormant condition throughout the winter with only occasional watering.

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Begin overseeding

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Mow grass low, but

do not scalp.

Keep seed moist,

not soaked.

Use CVWD’s watering guide

at www.cvwd.org.

When grass begins to

grow, reduce the number

of watering times.

Follow the seed instructions

for mowing your new lawn.

1

23

45

6Download detailed overseeding guidelines at www.cvwd.org.

Stay connected!

Skip overseedingto save water & money

22 Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com S E P T EMBE R 2 0 1 5 — CO ACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON

when he received his prestigious award. She continues to tour and perform exten-

sively at major concert halls and venuesaround the world. Schuur proved her stay-ing power through the 1990s and into the2000s, first with a series of hits, including“Talkin’ ’Bout You, Pure Schuur” and thennearly an album a year from then on. Withthe late B.B. King, she made “Heart toHeart” in 1994, which topped the Billboardcharts at number one. Late in 2003, Schuur released “Midnight,”

featuring original songs written for her byPalm Springs resident Barry Manilow, whoalso performed with her on the album. Hersecond live album, “Diane Schuur: Live InLondon,” was released in June 2006.

Her latest album, called “I Remember You(with love to Stan and Frank), was releasedin 2014, the year she capped a 30-yearrecording career. The album includes songsrecorded by Frank Sinatra and Stan Getz, in-cluding classics “s’Wonderful,” “Nice andEasy” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Athome in Cathedral City The walls of her home are filled with

memories from the past. A large abstractpainting signed by Frank Sinatra dominatesone wall. You can see photos of Schuur withPresidents Ford and Clinton, GovernorsSchwarzenegger and Reagan, and A-listperformers Sinatra, Jose Feliciano and RayCharles and many others. Not once did she name-drop any of them

during the interview. The only name that cameup repeatedly was “Puss-Puss,” her big, fluffygray cat, rescued from the shelter and now a

purring companion who roams the house andthe furniture like a Queen with a capital “Q.” Schuur has integrated both jazz and blues

in her extensive repertoire. The future ofboth is a bit uncertain “because it’s not taught

to young people in most schools, and it’s notpopular on TV shows like “The Voice.” Schuur sings and records music written

by other people. She does not write her ownmusic, she said, “Unless I fall in love.”

Diane SchuurFrom page 1 Palm Springs

Women’s Jazz FestivalWhen: Oct 9 to 11Where: Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum, other venuesSchuur’s performance: 7:30 to 10 p.m., with Sweet Baby J’ai and members of

Maiden Voyage, $75Other events: Friday, Oct. 9, meet and greet, opening reception; Saturday, Oct.

10, Latin jazz party, wine tasting, Jazz + Blues; Sunday, Oct. 11, A Tribute to theDivas

Information: PSWomensJazzFestival.com, (760) 416-3545

One of the book’s family photos showsHepburn, in a bright yellow ‘70s-style shiftand those oversized sunglasses, spooningout huge portions of the dish for guests inher garden. An even simpler dish — and certainly

less elegant — was what Italians call pastaal forno, but Americans know as lowly macand cheese. Dotti and his childhood friendsate it all the time at birthday parties, andthe son was surprised to learn as an adult— in a museum cafeteria, no less — thatthe American version is better, because it’smade with cheddar. But what of that penne with ketchup?

Dotti suspects it’s the British part of Hep-burn that created a fondness for this dish,the ketchup resembling a sauce of bakedbeans. His mother loved organic vegetablesand treasured her own garden, yet still likedto indulge in this “junk food,” as her son callsit. “It sounds terrible, but actually it’s pretty

good!” Dotti said. “We ate it when it was justthe two of us, in front of the TV.” His recipecalls for penne, extra virgin olive oil, emmen-taler cheese — and some Heinz ketchup. Had Hepburn herself written a memoir,

she might have described scenes like this.

But she never wrote one. Dotti said that’sbecause in order to be sincere, “she’d haveto write about the nasty parts of life, too” —and that didn’t appeal to her. But Dotti, who’s donating proceeds of

this book to the Audrey Hepburn Chil-dren’s Fund, said he’s by no means hismother’s biographer — just a chronicler ofwhat it was like to live in her home, and herkitchen. “This is a son writing about someone who

was more of a wife and a mother than acelebrity,” he said.

— AP

HepburnFrom page 21

Accountants

Bean Counter Bookkeeping . . . . . . .17

Auto

Palm Springs Subaru Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Silva Radiator & Air Conditioning . . . . .6

Swiss Motor . . . . . . . . . .4

Barbers/Salons

Tom the Barber . . . . . . . .8

Entertainment

Money Talk Radio . . . .19

Fitness/Weight Loss

Fitness 1440 . . . . . . . . . .9Power of Fitness . . . . . .15

Home Repair / Improvement /

Services

Affordable Storage Cabinets & Closets . . .21

All Valley Deck Works .18Gee-ar-Gee Construction . . . . . . . . .8

Reliable Roofing . . . . .14Sav On Carpets . . . . . . .13

Housing

Desert Cove Boutique Assisted Living . . . . . . .6

Home Healthcare

A & A Home Care . . . . .9API Home Care . . . . . . .7

Legal Services

Nordstrom, Steele, Nicolette & Blythe . . .10

Medical/Health/Dental

Lemington . . . . . . . . . .24McDonald Chiropractic .5Sunlife Dental . . . . . . .18Tom Anderson . . . . . . .15

Personal Services

Dan the Computer Man .13Great Personal

Services . . . . . . . . . . .17

Retail

Creighton – Davis Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Sen Fit Online Sports Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Unique Coins . . . . . . . .14U Watch Your Back . . . .7

Tour & Travel

Cardiff Limousine & Transportation . . . . . .17

Collette Travel . . . . . . .23

Utilities

Coachella Valley Water District . . . . . . . . . . . .21

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COACHE L L A VA L L E Y B E A CON — S E P T EMBE R 2 0 1 5 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 23

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