From Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com
text and photo provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society

You could say that Baltimore is a city designed for Senior leisure. The hop on and off water taxi around the bay is an ideal way to see a lot of the area’s attractions with a minimum of exertion, as it stops at many attractions. The minimal fee is good for the entire day. The small boat captains are eager to answer area questions as to where to eat and museum times. Note, many museums and attractions are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Of course it stops at historic Ft Mc Henry – famous for the inspiration of the Star Spangle Banner composition. (www.nps.gov/fomc) You have to change boats to go the extra distance, but worth the convenience, when you think of the inconvenience of getting a taxi or uber to take you to the far out bay point. The preserved and reconstructed brick fort is informative if you have never visited a fort of this generation. It’s humbling to stand in the area that inspired America’s Anthem.
Once there it’s always good to schedule your visit with a tour by a park ranger for details of the fort. If not, the film is always inspiring, if not a bit nostalgic ,when at the end of the movie, a curtain opens to let you view through a large picture window the Fort in the background as the National Anthem plays.
Back in the downtown area is the Flag House where the American garrison size flag was created. Besides the history of the flag you can take a self-guided tour of a small period house, complete with furniture and staging of the time.
For pure entertainment, although you can’t help but learn something, is the national aquarium centrally located at the base of the Inner Harbor. (www.aqua.org) All levels of this multilevel aquarium is easily accessible with riding the multiple escalators, or if needed there is an elevator. Hosting over 20,000 aquatic animals with a Backtip Reef and Living Seashore, and a couple of large screen animal related movies, and a live dolphin show, make the aquarium one of the Inner Harbors best attraction. Of course they host a extensive gift shop with snack bar.
When you’ve got to eat, Baltimore with its vast seafood menus offers many venues. The off the beaten track funky Little Havana Bar and Grill offers many seafood based foods along with an extensive bar and their famous large Mojito.
Phillips Seafood (www.phillipsseafood.com) is a Baltimore tradition. They offer an upscale indoor or outdoor dining experience with reservations recommended. Their 8 ounce Crab Cake Extreme with Mac and Cheese, made with pure Jumbo Lump Crab with no fillers, is served in a skillet, and guaranteed to fill your Crab Cake desires. ($50.00)
If you plan to visit the Baltimore Museum of Art, be sure you check its times, as it is closed on Monday and Tuesdays. While it was closed the days I was in Baltimore I made sure I dined at Gertrude’s, where the Museum of Art displays culinary arts, under the expert guidance of owner, John Shields, is a must. Shields is a veteran TV host, and author and is called the “Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake Bay” with the restaurants opening in 1998. Gertrude’s is Shield’s tribute to his grandmother, Gertie. Shields is a personable entrepreneur and you may want to pickup one of his cookbooks including the 25th anniversary, “Chesapeake Bay Cooking.” Many menu options looked appealing but I chose the Irish Salmon, flown in to Gertrude’s several times a week. This is an example of the attention paid to the high standards that has made John Shield’s reputation.
An evening dining cruise aboard the Spirit of Baltimore, is a relaxing way to see more of the bay’s landscape while enjoying a buffet and beverages served by congenial staff. The cruise departs from the west wall of the harbor and cruises the Inner harbor along the Patapsco river, and includes glimpses of Fort Mc Henry. Come prepared for a casual and enjoyable evening, mixing with other tourist and those celebrating special occasions (www.spiritcruises.com/Baltimore).
While visiting the Fells Point area of the harbor you may want to stop in to the upscale Sagamore Hotel for a respite and beverage, or if your budget allows overnight accommodations. For a budget minded traveler the Days Inn Inner Harbor (www.daysinninnerharbor.com), about 3 blocks away from the harbor, and near the Horseshow Casino Baltimore, Ravens Stadium, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, can fulfill your travel needs.
As you can guess there is much more to discover in Baltimore than I could cover in just two days, so historic and friendly Baltimore may require repeat visits (http://baltimore.org/).

Mercy family medicine physician Dr. Erica Dearman has shifted the focus of her practice to meet the unique needs of Medicare patients in the Oklahoma City metro area.
Dearman, a Mercy primary care physician since 2019, is passionate about caring for seniors and older adults and helping them navigate the natural life changes that come with aging.
“Many seniors are suddenly facing complex medical diagnoses, decreased physical abilities and fewer social interactions than they used to have,” Dr. Dearman said. “The focus of my practice and this new model of care is to work closely with these patients to help them optimize their quality of life in all areas.”
Dr. Dearman’s Medicare patients will have extended visit times and be seen more frequently to keep chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease under control.
“The heart and soul of my practice is to help seniors stay out of the hospital and lead long, healthy lives,” Dr. Dearman said.
Patients will also have access to the full suite of services available to all Mercy patients, including Mercy on Call, the after-hours help line staffed by a full Mercy care team, and access to MyMercy, a free app and website that make it easy to manage doctor visits, medications, tests and billing in one convenient place.
Dr. Dearman will see patients at Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Edmond Memorial. Call (405) 341-7009 to schedule an appointment or book online here.

Story by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

Earnest “Red” Callaway, a visionary volunteer organizer in the world of bicycling and successful paddleboat racing team captain while at Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, died on December 29 at 96. Callaway dedicated himself to promoting the sport of cycling and making it accessible to all, leaving a lasting positive impact on the cycling community in Oklahoma.
Born in Loveland, Colorado, he started flying airplanes when he was 15. He joined the Navy one day after his 18th birthday in 1944. Flying transport planes, the WWII veteran retired from his 20-year career as a lieutenant commander.
Moving to Oklahoma City in 1963, he worked at the US Federal Aviation Administration Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, rising through the ranks to be the Chief of Flight Standards there. By the last 15 years of his federal service, he traveled the world from Oklahoma, leading teams coordinating takeoff and landing standards for new large civilian airports.
In 1973, at 46, Callaway founded the Oklahoma Bicycle Society (OBS) to promote bicycle safety and provide a unified voice for those interested in bicycling. He also sought to protect the rights of cyclists and make the sport more accessible to all. Through his leadership, the OBS quickly became the largest cycling organization in the state.
Callaway was a dedicated cyclist known for his ability to ride 8,000 miles a year, which helped him to become a 55-plus age group racing state champion and second nationally in the 60-plus age group. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

However, his real claim to fame was as a stellar bike event creator, volunteer recruiter, and negotiator in a 40-year career devoted to cycling, wherein he became known as the father of Oklahoma bicycling. He envisioned and brought to life more cycling events than all others combined across the state, enabling the building of a vibrant cycling culture.
To start the OBS, Callaway published 5,000 copies of “The Pathfinder” bicycle newsletter in 1973 and distributed it to 25 bicycle shops from Norman to Stillwater in his first master recruiter mode in cycling.
The newsletter invited Oklahoma’s cyclists to ride in planned events and join the OBS. Callaway financed the printing of the newsletter out of his own pocket for the first couple of years of the club.
Callaway’s planning and staging of the Greater Oklahoma City Century Run in 1973 and kicking off the Grand Tour in 1974 sparked a club dominance of central Oklahoma cycling importance that has never waned. He lent his expertise to any event including cycling, even triathlons, as they began in the 1980s.
“I met Red in 1983 riding my bicycle around lake Overholser. He was such an encouraging person,” said Johnny Carroll, retired daily cyclist. “We often had excellent chats in between the hard riding. The most important thing about him was he made me feel like a friend instantly. He had the precious gift of conversation.”
He perfected the administrative diplomacy needed to coordinate with Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust officials for cycling events at Lakes Overholser, Hefner, and Draper over the years. This literally paved the way to having Oklahoma City paved trails at the three largest lakes, some of the safest places to ride.
He did this by organizing events, by showing, not just telling city officials how important bicycling is to its citizens. By staging special events where thousands of people came out to ride their bicycles together, Callaway presented the civic leaders with proof of concept. A good example was in 1990 when 1,600 riders gathered to participate in the Lake Hefner Streak. This fostered an ever-present idea in civic decision-makers’ minds to address the need for safe places for these riders to participate in their sport.
Callaway’s legacy of determined advocacy for bicycling means so much to today’s local bicyclists, who now seldom have to think about where they can ride safely. He sparked the expectation that Oklahoma communities can have safe riding areas available. He added immeasurably to Oklahomans’ access to safe cycling to promote good health, their most valuable asset.
Callaway’s talents also extended to creating challenging and prestigious ultramarathon cycling events locally in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Here his expertise in safety, event planning, leadership, communications, and marketing helped spark another form of interest in bicycling. He led the OBS to stage Ironbutt, a 24-hour unpaced event doing 14-mile laps around Draper. This endurance event tested the limits of even the most experienced cyclists as riders needed to ride non-stop, with only short breaks for food if they were going to win. Ridden as a shorter version of the Race Across America (RAAM), Ironbutt became a qualifier for the grueling RAAM televised by ABC’s Wide World of Sport in its first five years.
Ironbutt’s race against the clock proved popular as a physical and mental test, with riders pushing through fatigue, pain, and sleep deprivation. Its entry list grew so large, drawing ultramarathon cyclists from around the country, Callaway helped the OBS create Tinbutt, a 12-hour event at Draper every other year to qualify for Ironbutt.
He also envisioned OBS’s popular Downwind to Wichita ride, a 172-mile journey from Oklahoma City to Wichita once each summer for several years when a strong south wind was available.
In addition to these larger events, the OBS also hosts a variety of shorter recreational rides throughout the year, including weekend and weekday evening rides while staging educational and charity events. These rides are open to all riders, regardless of skill level, allowing cyclists to get out and enjoy the sport while socializing with other riders.
In his last 10 years, Callaway excelled at paddleboat racing with his fellow residents at Spanish Cove. As captain of the Spanish Cove Dragon Boat Paddling Team for five years, he helped inspire teammates to many medals by beating teams 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years younger.
When redesigned team t-shirts were delivered, they featured the team motto, “Paddle Strong, Live Long,” in bold letters on the back of the hot-pink shirts. Callaway was not only an excellent leader on the water, but also had a vision for the team’s image and message, suggesting the team t-shirt should include the phrase “Paddle Strong, Live Long, and Die Healthy.”
“His proposal highlights the importance of physical activity and exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Debbie Miller, Spanish Cove wellness coordinator. “He believed the sport of dragon boat paddling provides a fun and exciting way to stay active with health benefits such as improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening muscles, and reducing stress. He felt the team’s philosophy of living a balanced life where physical fitness, mental well-being and healthy habits are all important should be reflected on the team t-shirt.”
Callaway is survived by his wife, Dorothy Wilson, who paddled at his side at Spanish Cove, his children Rusty, Jan and Rick, their spouses and his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Betty, and his son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Leslie Callaway.
He lived an active and healthy life right until the end. His participation in dragon boat paddling symbolizes the importance of community in our lives. It shows even in our later years, we can still be valuable group members, contributing to its goals and enjoying the team’s camaraderie. His paddling was a testament to his fitness and vitality, and his team leadership reflected his mental acuity and energy. His paddling reminded people they can stay healthy and seek an active lifestyle in their golden years.
The cycling community in Oklahoma will forever be grateful for his contributions, and his passing is deeply felt at Spanish Cove. Callaway’s dedication to promoting fitness in many safe forms has left a lasting positive impact on Oklahoma and will be remembered for years to come.

By Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

You’ve just purchased a beautiful, expensive piece of jewelry that you want to protect if lost, damaged or stolen. So, you ask your insurance agent to add a condition to your home insurance policy. As a small business owner, you make an addition to your insurance policy that would exclude or eliminate coverage for your company’s particular type of risk. These examples require changing your current, existing insurance policy; you can do that with an endorsement. An endorsement, also known as a rider, adds, deletes, excludes or changes insurance coverage to increase coverage by way of an endorsement/rider. The endorsement/rider takes precedence over the standard limits of coverage over the original agreement or policy.
TOP CONSIDERATIONS
How an insurance endorsement/rider works. An insurance endorsement/rider is an amendment to an existing insurance contract that changes the original policy’s terms. An endorsement/rider can be issued at the time of purchase, mid-term or at renewal time. An endorsement may affect insurance premiums, and premiums may change as a result.
You can have an endorsement/rider on your homeowners and renter’s policy, life insurance, and auto insurance policies. Endorsements/riders may include adding or deleting people and locations to your current insurance policy. Endorsements/riders are important because they address issues or items not included in the original contract or policy.
* Additional Coverage – An endorsement that adds or includes coverage that would otherwise be excluded.
* Exclusions – Some endorsements exclude coverage for certain types of claims.
* Modification of Coverage – An endorsement can expand the scope of existing coverage.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW – Be informed of any insurance policy changes. An endorsement can vary depending on the insurance company and the type of insurance to which the endorsement applies. If you receive a document stating there is an endorsement to your policy, be sure to compare it to your original policy, and talk with your insurance agent or representative about the changes to make sure you understand them.
Educate yourself on how an endorsement can protect your belongings. If you have expensive jewelry, like a diamond engagement ring or vintage necklace, you might want to consider an endorsement/rider. It will take over and protect these items, where a traditional home insurance policy might end. Other things worthy of an endorsement/rider may include antiques, fine art, and priceless stamp or coin collections, to name a few.
For instance, many home insurance policies exclude coverage for mold or sump pump overflow. An endorsement to your insurance policy could give you that added protection. Many home insurance policies exclude coverage for mold or sump pump overflow. An endorsement to your insurance policy could give you that added protection.
An optional endorsement that protects the rebuild cost of your home is an inflation guard endorsement. These endorsements are common and automatically increase the amount of insurance on your home by a certain percentage each year to account for the disparity caused by inflation.
THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER – An endorsement/rider alters the policy and becomes part of your legal insurance contract.
Always keep a copy of the endorsement and the change notice that accompanies the endorsement along with your copy of the original policy since it remains in force until the contract expires.
Endorsements can reduce or increase your policy premium.
For more information, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at: https://www.oid.ok.gov/.

The start of a new year often brings thoughts of renewal, new goals, a fresh start. While planning for this year, if you want to make a difference think about volunteering as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO). Many people volunteer during the holiday season, but volunteers are needed every day of the year and LTCO volunteers are in high demand. A LTCO volunteer can assist residents in Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Residential Care Facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Volunteers make weekly visits to field resident complaints and help residents advocate for resolution for those complaints. If you are passionate about giving a voice to members of our most vulnerable population this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
If a weekly commitment doesn’t fit in your schedule, consider contacting a facility near you and ask how you can support residents. Facilities can be located by searching online at https://www.medicare.gov/. There are many opportunities to help make a difference in Long-Term Care communities. If you are motivated by helping others, make the call today.
If you have a loved one in a Long-Term Care facility and have any questions regarding care or concerns you may have, you can contact an Ombudsman to assist you.
Areawide Aging Agency’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for the needs of residents in LTC facilities serving Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, and Oklahoma Counties. You may contact us at (405)942-8500 and ask to speak with an Ombudsman, visit our website at https://www.areawideaging.org/ or find us on Facebook.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation $3.4 million to study age-related muscle atrophy and weakness.
The five-year grant follows a discovery by OMRF scientists Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., and Jacob Brown, Ph.D., connecting age-related muscle loss called sarcopenia to a missing nerve signal.
Most people begin to experience progressive loss of muscle mass and strength in their 30s or 40s. The condition becomes more pronounced after age 65, leaving older people susceptible to falls and difficulty performing daily tasks.
“It’s just a natural process of aging, and some people lose more muscle mass and strength than others,” said Brown, a scientist in Van Remmen’s lab.
While inactivity is the most common contributor to sarcopenia, Van Remmen’s team has shown another cause: denervation, which is an interruption in communication with the nerves that connect muscles to the spinal cord. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

In recent work published in the journal Redox Biology, Van Remmen and Brown found that muscle makes a metabolite during denervation that leads to muscle atrophy. Metabolites are the products of chemical changes within a cell.
With the new grant, the researchers will study whether blocking the production of this metabolite protects against age-related muscle atrophy in research models.
“This is a novel area of research that we hope will lead to new possibilities to design much-needed pharmaceutical interventions,” said Van Remmen, who holds the G.T. Blankenship Chair in Aging Research. “Ultimately, we hope this path of research will extend the time that older adults can remain healthy and active.”
Without current drug options to treat sarcopenia, Van Remmen added that it’s important for older adults to ward off its progression by staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet.
“Simple strength and resistance training paired with a diet that includes adequate amounts of healthy proteins can make a world of difference in maintaining muscle mass,” she said.

Two venues with two different topics will include more education partners

Beginning its eighth year of free educational seminars, the Senior Living Truth Series has announced expansion of its offering with two different workshops each month in two separate locations.
The new locations are in the Atrium at Crossings Community Church, 14600 North Portland Ave, and the Patience S. Latting Northwest Library, 5600 NW 122nd St. Programs at Crossings will be on Thursdays, and programs at the Northwest Library will be on Tuesdays.
“Both new venues offer more education-friendly environments,” said co-moderator Dr. Nikki Buckelew, PhD. “We are hoping to attract a more diverse audience.
“The success of the Senior Living Truth Series is due largely to the support of our education partners.
It is because of them we are able to continue offering the programming at no cost to attendees. In addition to their financial contributions, education partners are selected due to their commitment to providing information and resources to attendees without obligation. That’s right – no sales and no sales pitch – ever. We want people to make informed decisions with no strings attached.” (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

Attendance has ranged from 150-200 monthly at the past location, Quail Creek Golf & Country Club, but the Crossings location will accommodate even more in an education-friendly environment. While the Northwest Library location is smaller, Buckelew said she was excited to be able to add this educational opportunity to the library’s calendar.
She will remain the primary moderator for the Crossings seminars, but education partners will rotate responsibility at the Northwest Library location. Topics will be more broad-based, and this venue will include more panelists.
One education partner expressing excitement at the expansion was Marilyn Olson, VillagesOKC executive director.
“Professionals and organizations who provide information without a sales pitch give added meaning to the phrase ‘knowledge is power,’ ” Olson said. “Mature adults are seeking trusted information – more than from the internet. This is a free monthly series providing that opportunity. Here attendees learn from a wide variety of professionals and organizations who present, and sessions also allow time for attendees to talk personally with education partners.”
Here are the January series topics:
January 12 in the Atrium at Crossings Community Church
The Truth about Choosing Your ‘Forever’ Home: Staying Put or moving on
Maybe you’ve decided to stay in your current home and “make it work” or is it possible you’ve decided to sell your current home and buy another one in preparation for getting older. Some people call this next home their “Forever Home.” Either way, you’ve made a choice to avoid moving into a retirement community.
January 24 at the Northwest Library
Smart and “Not so Smart” Accessibility Ideas for Your Home
Planning to stay in your current home for the long haul? If so, you’ll want to know the most up to date accessibility features designed to make your life easier. Our panel of experts and education partners will share gadgets, tools, and strategies for helping you live safely and comfortably.
Seminars are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Seating is limited, and pre-registration is required at 405.563.7501 or:
https://seniorlivingtruthseries.com/.
A complete list of monthly topics is located at:
https://seniorlivingtruthseries.com/.
Senior Living Truth Series provides candid conversations concerning today’s senior living issues and options with panelists who specialize in the topic areas. SLTS provides education and resources designed to help people live empowered lives and make informed decisions. Its motto is “Educate. Equip. Empower.”

For physicians Mitch and Kristin Earley, every day is take your spouse to work day. In clinic, they often go by Dr. Mitch and Dr. Kristin to avoid any confusion among patients. He is enthusiastic about men’s health, and she loves women’s health. Together, they provide the whole range of expertise to their patients after recently joining Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Northwest Family in Oklahoma City.
The Earleys met in medical school at Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine when Dr. Mitch was going into his third year and Dr. Kristin was entering her first year.
“Our family has taken care of a lot of other families over the years, which has been very rewarding,” said Dr. Mitch.
Combined, Dr. Mitch and Dr. Kristin have over 42 years of experience in medicine. Sometimes patients overlap, which provides a unique experience for those receiving care and their families. As patients grow, Dr. Mitch tends to treat more of the men and Dr. Kristin sees more of the women and children. (STORY CONTINUES BELOS)

“Family medicine is a great field because we have the privilege of caring for multiple generations of families,” said Dr. Kristin. “When you treat the whole family, you have a better understanding of your patients’ health, living and family situation. It completes the picture and allows us to provide personalized and informed support.”
Treating multiple generations of families has also led to some memorable moments. Dr. Mitch said, “I remember one of my patients gave me a hand-drawn picture, and as I tried to figure out what it was, I learned it was multiple generations of family members that either I or my wife had helped take care of in this little girl’s family, which was a fun thing to see.”
Both physicians appreciate providing general family medicine to any patient, regardless of age or gender. Preventive care is also an essential part of their treatment philosophies.
“I’ve wanted to be a physician for as long as I can remember. I was fascinated by how the body worked as a child, and as I pursued my education and career, it developed into an interest about how the whole person works,” said Dr. Kristin. “I want to create a partnership with my patients so we can better their quality of life together.”
In addition to general and men’s health, Dr. Mitch also provides sports medicine expertise to his patients.
“One aspect of family medicine that challenges me is figuring out a diagnosis and then determining the best course of action for a patient,” said Dr. Mitch. “I also really enjoy the diversity of patients that family practice provides. I can practice a variety of skills that helps improve a patient’s life.”
When they are not caring for patients, the Earleys enjoy sports, travel, music, cooking and trying new foods.
Schedule online with Dr. Mitch at https://www.mercy.net/doctor/mitchell-l-earley-do/ and with Dr. Kristin at https://www.mercy.net/doctor/kristin-frady-earley-do/.