Beginning December 1, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will be beautifully transformed for the holiday season with festive decorations that will remain on public view during the entire month of December. Visitors can view the decorations for free during normal hours of operation.
One great opportunity to experience the holidays at Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum comes on Saturday, December 14, with the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association meeting and the Holiday Open House. The Pawnee Bill Ranch Association will hold its annual meeting in the Big Barn beginning at 11:30 a.m., with a noon meal for members following the short business meeting. For more information or to join the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association, please call 918-762-2513.
Immediately following the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association meeting on December 14, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual Holiday Open House for the public from 1 to 4 p.m. Holiday Open House activities will include surrey rides and camel rides outside (weather permitting), a children’s craft area inside the museum, a silent auction fundraiser and hot cocoa and cookies. Money raised from the silent auction will help to fund exhibits at the museum.
As a special treat later that Saturday, the ranch will host a Santas of the World Tour from 5 to 7 p.m. in the mansion. The tour is free and open to the public. Come to the ranch for a visit and photographs with these historic Santas. They are dressed authentically from their particular time period and country of origin. Some of the gift-bringers that may be featured are:
Black Peter (Holland, 1550); Grandfather Frost (Russia, 1900) and his granddaughter Babushka (Russia, 1800); Le Befana (Italy, 1800); Ophelia Noel (France, 1800); Civil War Santa (United States, 1861); Sinter Claus (The Netherlands, 1808) and his wife; Weihnachtsmann (Germany, 1800); Tundra Santa (United States, 1840); Tartan Santa (Nova Scotia, 1850s); and St. Nicholas (Turkey, 1100).
Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Road in Pawnee. Hours of operation for the months of November through March are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. For more information about these events, please call 918-762-2513 or email [email protected].
Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

www.mcmmedicare.com

story and photo by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

The spirit of Christmas is alive and well.
At least it is when Jerry Chrisope steps into a room.
Chrisope is a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas.
He’s one of thousands of individuals across the country dedicated to bringing the magic of Santa Claus to young and old.
“Even adults light up,” Chrisope said. “I used to travel a lot before I retired. I could walk through an airport and turn around the corner and see people’s faces light up. It takes them back.”
“It’s not just children.”
Chrisope went to his first Santa School in 2009.
“You cover costuming, makeup, voice, entrances, exits, all kinds of things,” he said.
SANTA ALL YEAR
Noshave November lasts for Chrisope through December before he takes off about half his beard and then starts growing it out in July.
Chrisope has mastered the look so much he’s routinely identified as St. Nick while he’s out and about – especially at the Oklahoma CIty Zoo where he works.
When kids question him he always points to “Jerry” on his nametag and brings a finger to his lips.
“I tell them it’s a great place to see who’s being naughty or nice,” he said with a chuckle. “I have a card I give them that says ‘I met Santa’ on one side with my picture.”
His card also has instructions for kids to follow about how to stay on the “nice” list including always looking for the best in people and always keeping Christmas in your heart.
CRUNCH TIME
Chrisope’s Santa season starts in the middle of November. The recent Santa Market at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds was his first event this year.
Chrisope says he’s the atypical Santa when it comes to working – typically doing between 30 and 40 events per year.
He will be at the airport the week before Christmas this year so Santa can greet travelers coming and going.
Do you have much home time in December?
“Mrs. Claus is shaking her head ‘No,’” Chrisope said with a laugh and his wife of 56 years, Sharon, looking on behind him. “She likes it. She has her own persona.”
The two team up for home events for larger families. Songs are song, stories are told and photos posed for along with the traditional giving of gifts.
The job can be grueling.
“Take your typical mall Santa,” Chrisope began. “Let’s say on a conservative effort he only sees 400 children in a day – but he can see three times that. Let’s say each child weighs 10 pounds so that’s 4,000 pounds he’s lifted onto his lap and off again.”
“Many of the santas can’t do that so they use workarounds – chairs, have the parents do it – because nobody can do that day in and day out for an entire season.”
He maintains three formal suits – one used for events that includes pets so he can prevent a reaction from children with allergies.
There’s travel, setup, and being constantly aware that all eyes are on him whether he’s in the suit or not. That means no drinking, no smoking, no foul language and always looking for the best in others especially when he puts on the crushed, red velvet suit
“There’s a lot more to it than putting on a red suit, sitting down and saying ‘What do you want?’” he said.
MARCH 15, 270 AD
Chrisope’s Oklahoma Driver’s license shows he’s passed his 78th birthday. But his St. Nicholas of Myra driver’s license dates him a bit more.
Christian Bishop St. Nicholas, who used his inheritance from his deceased parents to help the sick and poor, is widely believed to be the foundation for the modern day Santa Claus.
Maintaining the energy level is the hardest part of Chrisope’s role. Nobody wants a “flat” Santa.
“Learning how to keep children happy without destroying the magic,” he says as the hardest part of Santa to master.
Chrisope’s business card includes ways to reach Santa when he’s on his sleigh and when he’s home at the North Pole.
This time of year you’ll find members of his organization busy on their Facebook pages trying to cover all the requests for Santa to appear at an event in person.
And just like good ole’ St. Nick that’s how Santa makes it everywhere seemingly all at once.

http://www.crawfordcares.com

Dear Savvy Senior, How do I go about appealing Medicare when they won’t pay for something that they covered in the past? Rejected Rhonda

Dear Rhonda,
If you disagree with a coverage or payment decision made by Medicare, you can appeal, and you’ll be happy to know that around half of all appeals are successful, so it’s definitely worth your time.
But before going that route, talk with the doctor, hospital and Medicare to see if you can spot the problem and resubmit the claim. Some denials are caused by simple billing code errors by the doctor’s office or hospital. If, however, that doesn’t fix the problem, here’s how you appeal.
Original Medicare Appeals
If you have original Medicare, start with your quarterly Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). This statement will list all the services, supplies and equipment billed to Medicare for your medical treatment and will tell you why a claim was denied. You can also check your Medicare claims early online at MyMedicare.gov, or by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227.
There are five levels of appeals for original Medicare, although you can initiate a fast-track consideration for ongoing care, such as rehabilitation. Most people have to go through several levels to get a denial overturned.
You have 120 days after receiving the MSN to request a “redetermination” by a Medicare contractor, who reviews the claim. Circle the items you’re disputing on the MSN, provide an explanation of why you believe the denial should be reversed, and include any supporting documents like a letter from the doctor or hospital explaining why the charge should be covered. Then send it to the address on the form.
You can also use the Medicare Redetermination Form. See CMS.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/downloads/CMS20027.pdf to download it or call 800-633-4227 to request a copy by mail.
The contractor will usually decide within 60 days after receiving your request. If your request is denied, you can request for “reconsideration” from a different claims reviewer and submit additional evidence.
A denial at this level ends the matter, unless the charges in dispute are at least $160 in 2019. In that case, you can request a hearing with an administrative law judge. The hearing is usually held by videoconference or teleconference.
If you have to go to the next level, you can appeal to the Medicare Appeals Council. Then, for claims of at least $1,630 in 2019, the final level of appeals is judicial review in U.S. District Court.
Advantage and Part D Appeals
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage health plan or Part D prescription drug plan the appeals process is slightly different. With these plans you have only 60 days to initiate an appeal. And in both cases, you must start by appealing directly to the private insurance plan, rather than to Medicare.
If you think that your plan’s refusal is jeopardizing your health, you can ask for a “fast decision,” where a Part D insurer must respond within 24 hours, and Medicare Advantage health plan must provide an answer within 72 hours.
If you disagree with your plan’s decision, you can file an appeal, which like original Medicare, has five levels. If you disagree with a decision made at any level, you can appeal to the next level.
For more information, along with step-by-step procedures on how to make an appeal, visit Medicare.gov and click on the “Claims & Appeals” tab at the top of the page.
Get Help
If you need some help contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which has counselors that can help you understand the billing process and even file your appeal for you for free. To locate your local SHIP, visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675. The Medicare Rights Center also offers free phone counseling at 800-333-4114.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

www.acs-okc.com

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn [email protected]

The Holidays are times for comfort and joy. One such tradition is coming back again to experience Oklahoma City Universities Christmas Dance show, “Home for the Holidays.” I have seen it several times and am always overwhelm by the talent, hard work and inventive nature of this performance art. Besides the fact that you are witnessing the dance stars of tomorrow, it’s just plain fun and life affirming.
The Broadway-style dance spectacular, Home for the Holidays – is a Gift of American Dance, as Oklahoma City University’s American Spirit Dance Company presents a “few of its favorite things” and a whole lot more, wrapped in a fast-paced show of beautiful kicklines, spirited tap, and fun-filled and playful musical theatre dance.
Directed by Jo Rowan, dance chair at Oklahoma City University’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment, Home for the Holidays runs from Dec. 5 through 8 in Oklahoma City University’s Kirkpatrick Auditorium, at 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave. Jo Rowan is an American treasure. Not to be overlooked is Dean John Bedford for his behind the scene direction and oversight for the quality of production.
“Home for the Holidays is Christmas magic, a joyful season’s greeting to share with the entire family,” Rowan said. “There’s no need to buy a plane ticket to New York City — our performers are Broadway bound. Enjoy these future Broadway dancers while they are still performing in OKC! The show is a slick and fast-paced as anything you would see on the professional stage.” And this author whole heatedly agrees.
Home for the Holidays has become a yearly tradition for families across the state, and beyond, as the vision of the American Spirit Dance Company’s nationally respected faculty/choreographers combines with the premier talent of the nation’s best-trained dancers to create an experience fit for the lights of Broadway.
Dynamic rhythms and explosive choreography bring Toy Soldiers to life, while fast tapping feet and a very special guest, Tony the Pony, take you for an unforgettable sleigh ride. Little Chip, a darling singing and dancing chipmunk, is making his debut caroling with the triple-threat McNutt Squirrel Family Singers to share their holiday cheer. There will be breathtaking contemporary ballet featuring intricate partnering, and the American Spirit Starettes will treat you to a brand new kickline.
There’s Santa and his workshop filled with fun-loving elves. There are beautiful ladies and handsome men sharing the joy of the holiday season. A call for Peace on Earth followed by a beautiful choral performance of “Silent Night” and a stunning, and imaginative nativity with Mary, Joseph, angels, and a pageant of the three kings and their retinue provide an uplifting and inspirational reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
Dancers in the American Spirit Dance Company hail from Oklahoma City University’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment, the nation’s premiere musical theatre dance program that has been ranked the No. 1 BFA dance program in the nation by OnStage. This destination collegiate program has alumni credits in nearly 90 Broadway productions and has produced 50 Radio City Rockettes and counting. No wonder Playbill ranked Oklahoma City University among this year’s “Top 10 Most Represented Colleges on Broadway.”
Next year, you might see senior Bond Bourquien at Radio City, but this year she will be dancing in Home for the Holidays as a Starette. Bond said, “The Starettes are kicking off this holiday season with a precise, high energy number that includes iconic moves inspired by the Radio City Rockettes™. It is such a treat to be able to work with Professor Vincent Sandoval who was a performer and also an assistant director and choreographer for the Rockettes™. Expect to see great style, poise and many eye-high kicks.”
Senior Thomas Olson appeared as Tony the Pony in his first Home for the Holidays. This year, he is leading man for “Swingle Bells”, where Tony features his four-legged hoofing. “Working with choreographer Professor Tiffany Warford has been a full-circle experience as her dances are high energy and exude excitement,” Olson said. As an aspiring choreographer, Olson watched Tony’s character develop in rehearsals, and is prepared “to see the joy on families’ faces as Tony will steal their hearts.”
Matthew Schouten, senior, describes Professor Tye Love’s original contemporary ballet, “Somewhere in My Memory” as a whimsical dance displaying exquisite technique and intricate partnering, all while reminiscing in fond memories of holidays past.”
Anthony Giandiletti Jr., shares; “ Home for the Holidays is my favorite production each year, because there is something for everyone. It’s a family friendly show that celebrates time spent with loved ones and spreading holiday joy to our community. This year, we are bringing back some of my favorite dances as well as adding a whole new lineup that will get audience members dancing in their seats.” Anthony feels a dynamic and beautiful a cappella version of “Silent Night” with over 25 vocally talented dancers and a breathtaking nativity scene to “Star of Wonder” will touch the spiritual side of the audience. “The beautiful music, hazy lighting and intricate costumes make you feel encompassed in a whole different world.”
There is no reservation in me saying that this celebration of the season is a tribute to the joyous talent, touching sincerity and exuberance of youth through dance. If you have never seen, or if this is your annual tradition, Home for the Holidays is a must. No worry if this reading is near the performance dates, as the Kirkpatrick Auditorium is a very large facility, and there usually is always one or two seats available at curtain time, for procrastinators. Of course prime seating is available on a reserved seat basis.
Home for the Holidays is set for 8 p.m. Dec. 5, 6, and 7, and 2 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8 in the Kirkpatrick Auditorium on the Oklahoma City University campus. Tickets are $29 and can be purchased by calling 405-208-5227 or visiting www.okcu.edu/tickets . $18 tickets are available for groups of 8 or more.

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
3110 N.W. 15 Street – Oklahoma City, OK 73107
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www.dispatchhealth.com/flucrew.com

You’ve enjoyed reading, and laughing at, Greg Schwem’s weekly humor columns in Senior Living News.  But did you know Greg is also a nationally touring stand-up comedian? And he loves to make audiences laugh about the joys, and frustrations, of growing older. Watch the clip and, if you’d like Greg to perform at your senior center or senior event, contact him through his website at www.gregschwem.com

by Greg Schwem

I’m normally a big fan of people who challenge large corporations or establishments over what they see as violations of their personal rights. Many of those people have appeared in this column and I have delighted in their stories that end with them, to use an impolite term, “sticking it to the man.”
Which brings us to the case of Nick and Claudia Simonis.
As widely reported by various news organizations, the San Antonio couple recently received a warning from their homeowner’s association after placing Christmas decorations in their front yard on Nov. 1. The association insisted that was too early and the couple should Santa-ize their home, according to the letter, “closer to the holiday season” without specifically defining what that day was.
To which I reply, I wholeheartedly agree with the homeowner’s association.
I’m sorry Simonis family, but I can’t help you on this one. Had you just installed flickering lights on your bushes and your home’s exterior, you and the association probably could have peacefully co-existed. But it was the large, inflatable snowman in your front yard that drew the association’s ire. That’s kind of hard to miss if you’re a rules enforcer. You may as well just speed past a stopped school bus driven by an off-duty police officer.
The Simonises had a plausible explanation for their decorative hastiness; Claudia is expecting a baby on Christmas Day. Should that due date come early, tasks like home decoration would certainly take a back seat to other priorities. Sleep, for example.
Every year my wife and I rehash the “when should we decorate?” discussion. I insist that no decorating should occur pre-Thanksgiving. My wife insists I should watch not the calendar, but the weather forecast, taking advantage of whatever warm day Mother Nature throws Chicago’s way. Considering my hometown has already been the victim of snowfall, an ice storm and single digit wind chills, I may have missed that opportunity.
But temperatures are forecast for the mid-50s on Thursday, a week before Thanksgiving. Do I break my rule for the privilege of decorating my house wearing just a light jacket? I recently returned from a business trip to find some of my neighbors were better weather prognosticators than I, as they had stealthily decorated prior to the cold snap. I hate them all equally.
What the Simonises failed to realize is that there is a difference between putting up decorations and actually turning them on. An inflatable snowman could easily be deflated, correct? Why not just leave Frosty in a melted state on your front lawn and then, whenever your association deems to be the appropriate time, flip a switch and watch it roar to life?
Heck, I have a neighbor who does this on a daily basis with an inflatable Santa and his reindeer. True, during the day, it looks like Blitzen and company had a horrific encounter with an 18-wheeler, but the savings in electricity far outweighs any trauma suffered by neighborhood children.
My wife and I once discussed installing lights on a giant spruce in our back yard and leaving the strands on the branches year-round. Every Thanksgiving night we would plug in an extension cord and, Merry Christmas! How easy would that be?
Plenty easy, and also plenty fatal to our tree, according to our landscaper, once we ran the idea past him.
Each year I vow to tone down the decorating at my house, as my fear of ladders, along with my aching back, intensifies. And yet, with every strand of lights I string on the outdoor trees, I find myself saying, “As long as I’m out here, I can do one more.”
So Simonises, I agree that a festively decorated house is a great way to embrace the holiday spirit. But for now, channel your energies towards that new baby. You’re responsible for teaching it everything.
Including the art of compromise with a Scrooge-like homeowner’s association.
Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of two books: “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and the recently released “The Road To Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: A Pile of BS From a Corporate Comedian,” available at Amazon.com. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.)

www.comfortkeepers.com

If you could give the world a present this Christmas what would it be? Tealridge Retirement Community

Peace on Earth. Linda Lee

That’s hard. I guess to just love one another. Karen O’Neill

Compassion for all. Lola Coons

For everyone to just get along. Diann Estrada

integris.com/seniorlifewellness.com

by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

Far too many people are living with a pulse but not a purpose.
It’s something that drives Marilyn Olson and the idea behind VillagesOKC.org.
“What we do is connect people who want to be active and live with a purpose,” the executive director of VillagesOKC.org said.
Olson’s background is extensive, helping open 10 retirement communities in multiple states.
“Each of use in VillagesOKC.org has learned a few things in the decades of our life and together we share what we’ve learned,” she said. “One day I said to my husband ‘it would be a real shame to wake up dead one morning and not having shared some of these things.”
A PLAN, NOT A PLACE
“What we’re learning is 100 is the new reality. More and more people are living until 100,” Olson explained. “And most people are only planning til 80 so what are you going to do with those other 20 years that God gives you?”
“Our plan is to live long and die short, not live and then slowly die. And you can have some control over that.”
Mounting research is showing that you can improve your risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 60 percent by simply making lifestyle changes.
“The problem is doing that is very difficult,” Olson said. “Villages gather people together and says ‘Let’s do this together.’”
“It’s peer pressure with love.”
That’s where Villages come in.
First of all, this Village is not an actual village. It is not a real estate development or a retirement community. It is a group of like-minded people in a geographic area who come together and develop the resources they will need to age comfortably in their own homes.
Villages bring services to people rather than moving people to services – neighbors helping neighbors create networks of support and reduced-cost professional services.
WHAT IS THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT?
Across the nation the village movement is an innovative grassroots organization which has emerged in the last decade providing support services for community-dwelling older adults.
The village movement is one of the most viable options to let our society cope with the upcoming “Revolution Aging.”
The revolution is due to the unprecedented number of seniors in America over 55. This number is growing by 10,000 per day. This number is many times greater than the number of available retirement communities or assisted living communities available or even planned. Thus has developed another option – aging in place in one’s own home.
Beacon Hill, the first village, came to birth in Boston, Massachusetts. Others have cropped up all over the nation.
Now it’s Oklahoma City’s turn.
“There are villages all over the nation,” Olson said. “It just depends on what the people want. This is not my idea. I just agreed to initiate it because that’s what I’m supposed to do. This is my calling right now.
“The end result is really up the people and what God orchestrates.”
Locally, the group celebrated its one year “Village-versary” and launch of VillagesOKC.org Pickleball as a new way for Village members to stay active and participate in one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S.
Being active and productive is a way of life.
That’s why Olson helped with the recent Christian Women of Oklahoma City Bazaar. Her involvement began last year.
“Powerful testimonies of God’s goodness, encouragement and new friends,” Olson said of her first experience.
Seventy-seven years ago, a group of Oklahoma City Christian women gathered in a home for a few hours of fellowship.
Little did they know that first coffee klatch would spark lifelong friendships for several generations of Christian women in Oklahoma City and change the lives of countless others.
Those meetings are still going on, although the increased numbers have moved the meetings outside of members’ homes and into the Quail Creek Country Club.
And the centerpiece has become a bazaar that raises thousands of dollars for needy Oklahoma charities.
This October event was one of the group’s best ever.

www.arborhouseliving.com

For many of us, lack of sleep, elevated stress and increased travel are as much a part of the holidays as turkey and stuffing or hanging stockings over the fireplace. So how can you set yourself—and your loved ones—up for a healthy holiday season?
1. Get your flu shot
Flu season has arrived, but it’s not too late to get your vaccination.
“The U.S. flu season doesn’t fully hit its stride until December,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “But the sooner you vaccinate, the more time your body has to build immunity so you are primed and ready.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that last year’s flu outbreak affected up to 43 million Americans and resulted in, or contributed to, between 36,000 and 61,200 deaths. “Even though the flu shot isn’t perfect, it’s still your best chance to avoid this potentially deadly virus,” said OMRF immunologist Eliza Chakravarty, M.D.
2. Count sheep
Studies show that people who get eight hours of sleep are three times less likely to catch colds than those who average fewer than seven hours.
Sleep deprivation also causes stress hormones like cortisol to rise, signaling the body to go into fat-storage mode by slowing your metabolism. And when you’re sleepy, you eat more, which can put you on a slippery slope with all the extra treats around this time of year.
3. Hand-y advice
Think of all the hands will you shake at holiday parties and how many surfaces you will touch at the airport. Touch your mouth, nose, food or face, and you’re susceptible to the bacteria and viruses you just picked up.
“The more germs you come in contact with, the greater the risk of catching a cold, the flu or other illnesses,” said Prescott. “But there’s a simple defense: Wash your hands often.”
Good old soap and water work best, but hand sanitizer helps in a pinch.
4. Fit in fitness
A great way to neutralize the some negative holiday effects is to stay active.
“Too often, taking a little time off is the start of falling away from your exercise program entirely,” said Prescott.
Exercise does more than help avoid weight gain. “Even light exercise can lower blood pressure, strengthen bones and improve your mood,” he said. “It also decreases the risk of catching a cold or the flu. And who wants to be sick during the holidays?”

www.legendseniorliving.com