Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/745335
ThesearetwoofBlynneFroke'sdrawings. Joining Open Studio Te- hama County for the first time is Blynne Froke. Froke is a retired English teacher who always wanted to draw and thought she couldn't. Then, for com- pletely unrelated reasons about seven years ago, she began doing a sketch a day. At first they were what you would expect, awk- ward, then little by little she found that she could record what she saw. As she was an avid hiker and half mara- thon runner, she and her golden retriever would head out every weekend into the hills for miles on end and she would come back and draw. What she saw were birds, birds and more birds. In 2012, Blynne was se- lected Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, so that win- ter as she made her way across the Alaskan interior to Nome by bush plane, she blogged to students all over the world regarding dogs and progress in the race and shared her love of drawing with scenes of sled dogs and the villages of the interior of Alaska. As with most of Blynne's passions she loves to share her joys with teens. So six years later she is teaching again, though part-time and art instead of English, to students at Los Molinos High School. It is an exhausting joy ev- ery day and one she doesn't intend to give up anytime soon. Blynne makes note cards from her many bird draw- ings that she sells online and at local craft fairs, and is looking forward to par- ticipating in Open Studio. Open Studio is a free, self-guided tour of artists' studios scheduled for Dec. 3-4 and 10-11. More information can be found at https://www.face- book.comOpenStudioTe- hamaCounty. Blynne Froke to take part in arts tour OPENSTUDIO By Cate Kortzeborn When someone with Medicare finds his or her way to my office phone, it's often because of a compli- cated and snarly issue that's going to take time to fix. However, it's sometimes a Medicare beneficiary who found my number somewhere and called for some basic help in under- standing their coverage. I LOVE those calls because I have a quick and easy an- swer for folks like that. I refer them to the State Health Insurance Assis- tance Program, or SHIP. There's a SHIP in every state in the country. I have phone numbers for the ones in my Medicare region written on a card right next to my phone, and I refer to it often. SHIPs are nonprofit or- ganizations that help peo- ple with Medicare under- stand their benefits better. The counseling is person- alized and it's absolutely free. SHIPs aren't connected to any insurance company or health plan, so they're not trying to sell you any kind of product. If you're el- igible for Medicare, you're eligible for assistance from your local SHIP. You can talk to a SHIP counselor over the phone, or go to your local SHIP office for face-to-face assistance. The quality of the coun- seling is terrific. Many SHIP counselors have Medicare themselves and they're well-trained to an- swer your questions. They know all the ins and outs of the program, whether you have Original Medi- care (where you choose the doctor or hospital you want and the government pays your providers di- rectly) or Medicare Ad- vantage (in which private insurers offer health care services through a specific network of doctors, hospi- tals, and other providers). SHIPs also can help with Part D prescription drug insurance. And did I mention that SHIP counseling is free? Here are some of the is- sues that a SHIP counselor can help you with bill- ing problems; complaints about your medical care or treatment; how to shop for a Medicare Advantage health plan or Part D pre- scription drug plan that meets your needs; how to appeal if you disagree with coverage or payment deci- sions by Medicare or your Medicare plan and how Medicare works with other insurance. How do you get in touch with SHIP? In California call 800-434-0222. Of course, there are other ways besides SHIP to get information about Medicare. One excellent resource is the "Medicare & You" handbook, which is mailed to Medicare benefi- ciaries every fall. "Medicare & You" is a gold mine of easy-to- understand informa- tion about how Medicare works, how to enroll, what services are covered, and many other topics. The handbook also lists all Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available in your area, their costs, and contact information for each one. You can find the lat- est edition of "Medicare & You" online at: http:// www.medicare.gov/Pubs/ pdf/10050.pdf Help is also available through the Medicare cus- tomer service center, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 633-4227; TTY users call 1-877-486-2048). The call center is open 24 hours a day, including weekends. Another helpful re- source is the official Medi- care website, at www. Medicare.gov. The website has a wide variety of information about Medicare health and prescription drug plans in your area, including what they cost and what ser- vices they provide. Medi- care also rates the plans based on its Five-Star Rat- ing System. You can look for doctors or other health care provid- ers and suppliers who par- ticipate in Medicare, and see what Medicare covers, including preventive care services like cancer screen- ings and vaccinations. Youcanalwaysget answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 633-4227). SENIORS Get free help with your Medicare Froke Two new interactive chil- dren's exhibits encourage Lassen Volcanic National Park's youngest visitors to explore natural history and sustainability. "Providing hands-on ac- tivities is a great way to en- gage our next generation of park stewards," said Park Superintendent Steve Gib- bons. "The new energy chal- lenge activity helps kids understand how much en- ergy they use as a result of choices they make every day. Other activities in the exhibit connect that energy use to visible changes in the park." Located in the year- round Kohm Yah-mah- nee Visitor Center, the two learning stations are aimed at youth ages 4-11. Each sta- tion offers a variety of activ- ities that provide young vis- itors with opportunities to create a deeper connection to the park through learn- ing. One station introduces young visitors to the park's natural history. Kids can learn about the nearby red fir forest by using their senses, discover the impor- tant role of insects by draw- ing their own, and learn about adaptation by exam- ining animal skulls. The second learning station challenges young visitors to see how their choices impact their en- ergy use, explore the dif- ferences between renew- able and non-renewable energy sources, and inves- tigate the cause of Lassen's changing climate. The sustainability station also features artwork from volunteer local youth artist Audrienne Osborne. Her il- lustrations provide a col- orful representation of the park and are also included in the Junior Ranger Activ- ities Booklet. Visitors are encouraged to check out the new chil- dren's exhibits along with all-ages interactive wa- tershed sandbox, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednes- day through Sunday at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center Visitors should be pre- pared for a range of weather conditions. Check the most recent weather forecast, dress in layers, carry food and water. Stow a shovel, ex- tra blankets and tire chains in your vehicle in case un- expected winter road con- ditions delay travel. For more information, call the park at 595-4480 or write to lavo_informa- tion@nps.gov. LASSEN PARK New children's exhibits at visitor center Something is different this year. First, it seems like the holiday season is start- ing earlier than usual, which is just fine with me. I love Thanks- giving and Christmas so much, I like stretching the season a bit. But an avalanche of mail order catalogs? Most of them arriving in late Septem- ber? Not so much. I'm kind of surprised that this year, more than recent years past, far more catalogs are arriv- ing in the mail. Here's what I find puz- zling. Given the popu- larity of online shop- ping, why are companies spending so much money on paper catalogs? These things in full color are not cheap to produce. But I'm sure marketing geniuses have been paid plenty to figure out that we respond well to hard copy catalogs. And that scares me a little. My best intentions to not or- der my brains out can easily fall by the wayside once I flip open to see what's inside. Take these particu- larly adorable Drinking Glasses I saw. These are only $3.99 and what cute little grandson would not love to watch his apple juice or milk flow up one side, around his eyes and down into his mouth? Did I say only $3.99? Well, plus tax and ship- ping. And that's not the only item that's easy to love in this Container Store Wish Book. Here's what I need to do: Not open these things. Stop browsing, already. And I really should throw them in the shredder. But I have an obligation to you, my dear readers. I need to research and report. I know that you count on me to keep you on the straight and nar- row. Carefully navigating the waters of Christmas Shopping can be down- right treacherous. Besides, I'm a bit curi- ous to find out just how many catalogs I get this year. So how about this? I'll not open them, just stack them. And watch how high the stack will grow. With that, I am of- ficially kicking off the Great Everyday Cheap- skate Christmas Holiday Challenge. This is open to everyone with the courage to draw a line in the sand by taking a pledge. If you're in, please raise your right hand and repeat after me: "I accept the EC chal- lenge and pledge to do whatever it takes to get through the entire Holi- day Season 2016 without dragging any new debt into the New Year!" Congratulations. I be- lieve we have just started a movement. You can email Mary at mary@ everydaycheapskate.com. EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE Whattodowiththecatalogs? Mary Hunt The Shasta College Pre- Symphony will present its fall concert "Across Amer- ica," at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 in the Shasta Col- lege Theatre. This concert will cele- brate the sounds of the na- tion and the dramatic land- scape across America. Some familiar folk tunes and clas- sic American songs, in ad- dition to rousing patriotic works will be performed. Beginning its 12th sea- son, the Pre-Symphony, for- merly known as the Youth Symphony, welcomes Dr. Matthew Brooks, who joined the Shasta College Music Department this fall as conductor and instructor of music. This preparatory college orchestra features adult and student musicians of varying levels from Shasta College, local middle and high schools and the sur- rounding communities. Tickets may be pur- chased at the theater box office for $3 or online at www.shastacollege.edu/ fine_arts. 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Wilcox Oaks Golf Club Social & Pool Family Membership $ 312 00 annually 527-6680 or 527-1020 LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, November 1, 2016 » MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5