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1 1 “Let’s Connect” November 2021 Hello Alpine County Family! In November, the smell of food is different. It is an orange smell. A squash and pumpkin smell. It tastes like cinnamon and can fill up a house in the morning, can pull everyone from bed in a fog. Food is better in November than any other time of the year. Rylant November is full of meaningful celebrations and awareness. We honor our Veterans and the heritage of our Native Americans this month. It is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month ,Diabetes Awareness Month , National Gratitude Month, and Fun with Fondue Month. You’ll find something about each in this month’s “Let’s Connect”. Also check out our Create the Good topics and menus. We have moved Senior Soak to Carson Valley Swim Center for the winter. See the details inside. 50+Club will have their annual Thanksgiving Potluck luncheon at the BHS building this Thursday at noon and they have a December 18th outing planned to see Toccata Tahoe Orchestra with lunch! See the Save the Date page for details . Read about their last outing to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Cen- ter in the article written by local Amy Skewes-Cox. Sign up for the outing to the Nevada State Museum on December 8th. See the Save the Date page. Visit our Behavioral Health Services lobby area, pour yourself a cup of coffee , tea or water and browse our Veteran’s Photo and Biography Gallery this month. We are open 8am-5pm and we’d love to see you! Come in and honor our local Veterans! Look inside for the 30-day Gratitude Challenge page. If you are an Alpine County resident artist, please consider displaying your art pieces in our lobby in December. You might find a buyer! Find out how on page 9. Come on down and “Let’s Connect!”. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 2 “Create the Good” Lunch, Presentations and Conversations Every Friday Noon– 2pm All Alpine County residents and staff welcome! Friday, November 5th Native American Heritage Month Beef Stew Pan bread Mixed Green Salad BHS Building 40 Diamond Valley Road Noon-2pm Friday, November 12th “Chicken Soup for the Soul” Day Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Olive Garden copy-cat Salad Breadsticks BHS Building 40 Diamond Valley Road Noon-2pm Come eat and read stories from “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books we’ll have on the tables. Share your own chicken soup stories, too! Friday, November 19th Native American Heritage Month INDIAN TACOS Tentative: Pine nut Soup BHS Building 40 Diamond Valley Road Noon-2pm Slide Show Presentation and Conversation Honoring the history, culture & contributions of the Washiw people No Create the Good on Friday, November 26th County Holiday ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 3 Alpine Senior Soak Program will temporarily move to Carson Valley Swim Center! BHS is providing Alpine County residents 50 years and older a 15 swim session membership pass to Carson Valley Swim Center so our Senior Exer- cise and Socialization Program will remain active during the closure of Grover’s Hot Springs for repairs of damage from the Tamarack Fire. Who: Alpine County residents 50 years and older What: A 15-session swim pass for your choice of free use of open pools & hot pool OR Senior Water Aerobics Class When: Tuesdays & Thursdays Time: 9:45-10:45am beginning 11/16/21 Where: Carson Valley Swim Center Transportation is available on Thursdays only by calling Dial-A-Ride on Monday of the week you would like transportation. Call [PHONE REDACTED]. Dial- A-Ride operates on a “first come, first served” basis. You must call at least 24 hours in advance. Transportation is not available on Thursday holidays. Register for your swim pass at the Behavioral Health Services Office at 40 Diamond Valley Road Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Bring proof of Alpine County residency and your ID. Registration ends on November 30, 2021. For more information email [EMAIL REDACTED] or call 694-1816 ext. 259 ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 4 50+Club In-person November Gathering Thanksgiving Luncheon POTLUCK Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 Time: Noon-2:00pm Location: BHS building, 40 Diamond Valley Road Please join us for a traditional Thanksgiving POTLUCK luncheon at the Alpine County Behavioral Health Services building . Roasted turkey and green salad will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. We will be celebrating our local Alpine County Veterans and honoring their service to our county and our country! Come browse our Veterans Month display in the lobby and express your gratitude to our Vets! ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 5 Save the Dates!!! December 8th: Nevada State Museum Outing. Transportation on Dial-A-Ride. To reserve your seat call the BHS Office [PHONE REDACTED] December 18th: 50+Club Outing to see Toccata Tahoe Orchestra at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. Lunch at LA Bakery before the show. To reserve your ticket call the BHS Office [PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 6 YOGA Classes Behavioral Health Services is offering 1 hour yoga classes Monday & Wednesday evenings from 5-6pm with Alex Mannos In person classes at the Perry Walther Building in Bear Valley We are working on options to bring Alex’s yoga classes back on Zoom in combination with in person. We will keep everyone posted on our progress and if /when this will be- come available. We appreciate your patience and under- standing as we navigate the internet challenges in Bear Valley. Tuesday & Thursday 5:30-6:30pm with Brent Greuter In person classes at Alpine County Behavioral Health Services 40 Diamond Valley Road in Woodfords These classes will be available to attend on Zoom as well. Join Zoom Meeting (control+click) Online HOLISTIC HEALTH Classes Tuesday & Thursday 11am-Noon with Cheryl Morris All exercises can be performed using a chair or standing. For required forms please call or text Dawn at 694-1314 or email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Join Zoom meeting: ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 7 November 5th-30th Alpine County Veteran’s Biography and Photo Gallery Gallery will be staged in Behavioral Health Services Building Lobby. Come in and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while honoring our Alpine County Veterans. Browse biographies, photos, history and read through the long list of our county veteran past and present. If you haven’t brought in your photos or stories yet, it’s not too late! We’d love to add yours to the ones we have. Call [PHONE REDACTED] or email [EMAIL REDACTED] for more information Thank You Alpine County Veterans! ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 8 November is National Gratitude Month ---PAGE BREAK--- 9 9 Alpine County Resident Artist’s Gallery December 1st-17th 8am-5pm Monday-Friday Art pieces will be displayed in the BHS lobby. Artist’s contact info will be available in order to purchase the art work direct from the artist. Call [PHONE REDACTED] or email [EMAIL REDACTED] for more information Calling all local Alpine County Artists!!! We are looking for Alpine County artists who would like to display their artwork (any kind: paintings, sketches, beadwork, textile art, woodwork, pottery, basketry, welded art, poetry, stories, photography, silk art, tile art, engravings, glass etchings, song or instru- mental music and anything we may have left out) ---PAGE BREAK--- 10 10 50’s Club Visits Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Center – October 14, 2021 Article by Amy Skewes –Cox First there was Porky the porcupine; then there was Em the golden eagle; and then there was Den- ise, the most amazing and entertaining tour guide for the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Center you could imagine. On their Facebook Page, the center states: “We keep wildlife WILD by helping Rescue, Re- hab, & Release orphaned & injured wildlife in the Sierra Mountains.” Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. (LTWC) is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. And they always appre- ciate donations. We were lucky to see some of the animals who are permanent residents and used for educational purposes. As many in Alpine County know, the LTWC was the place where Tamarack the bear went for rehabili- tation after his paws were burned severely in the Tamarack Fire. Due to some fluke events, Tama- rack escaped. Luckily by the time of his escape, his paws had largely healed, with the LTWC using skin of the fish Tilapia as treatment for his paws. The center is now enforcing the enclosure fencing so that animals cannot dig under. When our small group of 6 arrived, we were escorted to Porky’s building and entertained by Porky wandering near our feet while being fed peanuts by Denise. She explained that he’d been brought to the LTWC within the first day or so of his birth and had now grown to full size. Because he was so accustomed to humans, he could not be released in the wild. Denise is definitely his “pal” and often picks him up, using strong gloves for protection against his quills. Next, we visited Em, the golden eagle who had broken a wing that got infected, resulting in amputa- tion of his wing. He sat regally on his stand and we were within 5 feet of him. His room included a baby pool filled with water, a box that had heated floors for winter months, and perches. The room was large enough to hold all 7 of us. Denise explained that he can often be taken out of his room just to walk around the grounds since there’s no fear of him trying to fly. Keep in mind, this LTWC is an amazing facility – about 27 acres purchased 6 years ago for about $2 million from a generous landowner. It’s flat and located on Al Tahoe Boulevard, with about 7 ex- isting small buildings, a huge fenced apiary for large birds, fencing and locked entry gates, forested, and large enough to house planned new buildings for which fundraising is underway. In addition to Porky and Em, we visited the great horned owl who wasn’t too thrilled with our pres- ence, and the kestrel (falcon family) whose favorite handler is Dave. Denise thinks the kestrel was used for falconry purposes but escaped and then crashed into Cave Rock. Denise helped to rescue him from the waters of Lake Tahoe. Now, Dave comes to visit and the kestrel cries when Dave ---PAGE BREAK--- 11 11 Talking Circle is BACK IN-PERSON at the HUNG-A-LEL-TI FIREHOUSE Weekly on Tuesdays Time: 4:00-5:00 PM 96B Washoe Blvd. Join us on The Natural Path to Growth: Listening, Learning , sharing, teaching...connecting. look within and use your experiences to help others. We practice possibility thinking, self- image, self-talk, balanced living, motivation, affirmations, non-judgement and connection. Dave to his place in San Francisco. There are over 100 such care facilities in California, and only about 4 in the State of Nevada. We strongly encourage you to take a tour if you get a chance. They LTWC has a new amphitheater where kids and groups can sit and see some of the wildlife and where a big screen can show videos. If you want to donate to support their work, you can visit their website at As we were leaving, Denise got a call and asked one of the volunteers to help out. A goose had been hit by a ball on the golf course! ---PAGE BREAK--- 12 12 And Honoring the History, Culture, and Contributions of the Washoe People HERE FROM THE BEGINNING • An indigenous Native American people, the Washoe originally lived around Lake Tahoe and adjacent areas of the Great Basin. Their tribe name derives from the Washoe word, waashiw (wa·šiw), meaning “people from here.” • Archaeological studies trace evidence of the Washoe people from approximately two to five thousand years ago, but native history states that the Washoe people have been here since the beginning, when Old Woman harvested cattail seeds to make people. • Washoe life depended on a pattern of seasonal rounds in which people moved purposefully to microenvironments within their territory to harvest and/or hunt species that were at their peak. For thousands of years, they have had a physical and spiritual connection with this land and its seasons. SOURCES: O.N.E. ONLINE OF NEVADA AT HTTP://WWW.ONLINENEVADA.ORG/ARTICLES/WASHOE- TRIBE-CALIFORNIA-AND-NEVADA LEGANDS OF AMERICA AT • The origin story of the Washoe states that though they were created few in number, they were great in strength and courage. • History has witnessed this strength as the Washoe people survived and adapted to the presence of the Euro-American ranchers and miners, managing to stay in Washoe home territory rather than being sent to reservations far from home. • It wasn’t until 1970 that a special act of Congress granted 80 acres in Alpine County to the Washoe people who had lived there for many years. This is now the Woodfords Community of Hung A Lel Ti. • Strong tribal and family efforts work to keep Washoe culture alive through language programs, economic development, documentation of traditional knowledge, celebration of identity through art, and efforts to reclaim access to traditional lands. ---PAGE BREAK--- 13 13 WASHOE… THE PEOPLE FROM HERE AUGUST 29, 2020, OLYMPIC VALLEY: TODAY WE HONOR WÁˑŠIW WOMEN. TO THE MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, SISTERS, AND AUNTIES THAT GIVE US LIFE, RAISE US, TEACH US, LEAD US, AND PRAY FOR US, WE OFFER OUR GRATITUDE. (WASHOE TRIBE OFF RESERVATION) *Group photos taken for Tahoe Quarterly by Ryan Salm ---PAGE BREAK--- 14 14 National Diabetes Awareness Month ---PAGE BREAK--- 15 15 ---PAGE BREAK--- 16 16 Understanding Alzheimer's and dementia Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60- 80% of dementia cases. Learn more: What is the Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer's?, What is Demen- tia, Research and Progress Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be younger-onset Alzheimer’s if it affects a person under 65. Younger-onset can also be referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s. People with younger-onset Alzheimer’s can be in the early, middle or late stage of the disease. Learn more: Younger/Early-Onset Alzheimer's, Risk Factors Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late- stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their en- vironment. Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. On average, a person with Alzheimer's lives 4 to 8 years after diagnosis but can live as long as 20 years, de- pending on other factors. Learn more: 10 Warning Signs, Stages of Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's has no cure, but one treatment — aducanumab (Aduhelm™) — is the first therapy to demonstrate that removing amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, from the brain is reasonably likely to reduce cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer’s. Other treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. Today, there is a world- wide effort underway to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset and prevent it from developing. ---PAGE BREAK--- 17 17 of Alzheimer's The most common early of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly learned infor- mation. Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. Most of us eventually notice some slowed thinking and occasional problems with remembering certain things. However, se- rious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work may be a sign that brain cells are failing. Alzheimer's changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. As Alzheimer's advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe including disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking. People with memory loss or other possible signs of Alzheimer’s may find it hard to recognize they have a problem. Signs of dementia may be more obvious to family members or friends. Anyone experiencing dementia-like should see a doctor as soon as possible. If you need assistance finding a doctor with experience evaluating memory problems, your local Alzheimer's Association can help. Earlier diagnosis and intervention methods are im- proving dramatically, and treatment options and sources of support can improve quality of life. Two helpful support resources you can tap into are ALZConnected, our message boards and online social networking community, and Alzheimer's Navigator, a web tool that creates cus- tomized action plans, based on answers you provide through short, online surveys. Take our free, online education courses: Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia and Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters Alzheimer's and the brain Microscopic changes in the brain begin long before the first signs of memory loss. The brain has 100 billion nerve cells (neurons). Each nerve cell connects with many others to form communication networks. Groups of nerve cells have special jobs. Some are involved in thinking, learning and remembering. Others help us see, hear and smell. To do their work, brain cells operate like tiny factories. They receive supplies, generate energy, construct equipment and get rid of waste. Cells also process and store information and com- municate with other cells. Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen. Scientists believe Alzheimer's disease prevents parts of a cell's factory from running well. They are not sure where the trouble starts. But just like a real factory, backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas. As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs and, eventually die, causing irreversible changes in the brain. ---PAGE BREAK--- 18 18 The role of plaques and tangles Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells. 1. Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd) that build up in the spaces between nerve cells. Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau (rhymes with “wow”) that build up inside cells. Though autopsy studies show that most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more and in a pre- dictable pattern, beginning in the areas important for memory before spreading to other regions. Scientists do not know exactly what role plaques and tangles play in Alzheimer's dis- ease. Most experts believe they somehow play a critical role in blocking communica- tion among nerve cells and disrupting processes that cells need to survive. It's the destruction and death of nerve cells that causes memory failure, personality changes, problems carrying out daily activities and other of Alzheimer's dis- ease. Help is available: If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another demen- tia, you are not alone. The Alzheimer's Association is the trusted resource for reliable information, educa- tion, referral and support to millions of people affected by the disease. • Call our 24/7 Helpline: [PHONE REDACTED] • Locate your local Alzheimer's Association • Use our Virtual Library ---PAGE BREAK--- 19 19 SWISS & CHEDDAR CHEESE FONDUE Servings: 4 servings Author: butterwithasideofbread.com Ingredients Instructions Mix the salt in well and then add the milk. Stir continually over medium-low heat until boiling. Continue to stir and boil the mixture for one minute. Turn the heat down and then add the cheese. Mix just until the cheese is melted and then serve with all of your favorite dippers! Melt the butter over low heat and then add the cornstarch, stirring until well com- bined. (You can use a fondue pot or a saucepan on the stove - either method works great! If you have an electric fondue pot, turn the temperature above warm as the temperature gets very hot if you go higher than this!) • 1 1/2 Tbsp. butter • 1 Tbsp. cornstarch • 1/2 tsp. salt • 1 cup milk • 1 cup shredded Mild Cheddar cheese • 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese • Dippers for fondue ham, french bread, apples, potatoes, veggies, etc November is National Fondue Month ---PAGE BREAK--- 20 20 ---PAGE BREAK--- 21 21 ---PAGE BREAK--- 22 22 Commonym Puzzles What's a commonym you ask? A commonyms is group of words that have a common trait in the three words/items listed. For example: the words; A car - A tree - An elephant.. they all have trunks. These will make you think! 1. Furniture - Mustaches - Skis 2. Golf Course - A Coffee Shop - A Quart 3. He - She - They 4. Jupiter - Alaska - The Blue Whale 5. Wood Tick - Leech - Mosquito 6. Yawning - Laughter - Influenza 7. Improper - Unit - Mixed 8. Marigold - Mustard - Canary 9. Snake - Cavity - Bottomless 10. Kidney - String - Black ---PAGE BREAK--- 23 23 No- vembe r 2021 Alpine County Behavioral Health Services 40 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, CA 96120 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 2 Holistic Health with Cheryl 11a-Noon Talking Circle 4-5p Yoga with Brent BHS Bldg. 5:30p 3 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 4 Holistic Health With Cheryl 11a-Noon Yoga with Brent BHS Bldg. 5:30p 5 Create the Good Noon—2pm BHS Bldg. 6 7 8 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 9 Holistic Health with Cheryl 11a-Noon Talking Circle 4-5p Yoga with Brent BHS Bldg. 5:30p 10 Play Group 10a-Noon Hung-A-Lel-Ti firehouse 50+Club Lunch 12-2pm BHS Community Rm Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 11 Veterans Day Holiday No classes 12 Create the Good Noon—2pm BHS Bldg. 13 14 15 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 16 Holistic Health with Cheryl 11a-Noon Talking Circle 4-5p Yoga with Brent BHS Bldg. 5:30p 17 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 18 Holistic Health with Cheryl 11a-Noon Yoga with Brent BHS Bldg. 5:30p 19 Create the Good Noon—2pm BHS Bldg. 20 21 22 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 23 Holistic Health with Cheryl 11a-Noon Talking Circle 4-5p Yoga with Brent BHS Bldg. 5:30p 24 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 25 Thanksgiving Holiday No Classes 26 County Offices Closed 27 28 29 Yoga with Alex Perry Walther Bldg 5-6pm 30 Holistic Health with Cheryl 11a-Noon Talking Circle 4-5p Yoga with Brent BHS Bldg. 5:30p November 2021 ---PAGE BREAK--- 24 24 40 Diamond Valley Road Markleeville, Ca 96120 PO Boxholder Kirkwood, CA 95646 National Diabetes Month 2021