The Oshkosh Northwestern from Oshkosh, Wisconsin • Page 13

Oshkosh Northwestern B5 Wednesday, May 12, 1999 Seniors THEY'RE TMf Radio tunes world in to progress ZATAKA WON "THE GROUP ANO( CROOKS, AMYPhOTtC SPCU. OVCft THE THUGS Right i I It 9 1 UOY ERA WON Ml YM RE WOP )) Norma DeBoer MM Briefs Class to teach art of poetry, story, essay writing There will be an organizational writing class at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Oshkosh Seniors Center. Learn the techniques of publishing a poem, story, essay, epigram or family reflections. Dan Paulick, who has published poetry and short stories, will be the monitor of the group.

Public blood pressure clinic set for Thursday The Oshkosh Seniors Center will sponsor a public blood pressure clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 1 a.m. Thursday at Peace Lutheran Church. Parkinson's Support Group to meet May 18 The Parkinson's Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Oshkosh Seniors Center.

The guest speaker will be Madona Hill, a massage therapist from Hill Therapeutic Massage. By Mike Antonucci San Jose Mercury News hen Superman inventors Ft If Jerome Siegel and Joe Sinis ter knocked on the door of i ii DC Comics in the late lishing). He is best remembered for overseeing the first appearances of Superman and Batman, but he also had a long association with Guardineer. As Guardineer's work gets more attention, his partnerships and career influences are taking on more significance. He left the comics business in the mid-1950s and, while never forgotten, has become something of a rediscovered legend since only last summer.

"He had this wonderful ability to draw in a hyper-realistic, dramatic style," says Mike Benton, who has written a number of books on comics history. "He drew beautiful women, very heroic men, and I think he's going to be remembered as one of the most significant artists to work in both the adventure and crime genres of the 1930s and 1940s." Without doubt, Guardineer's characters and stories were popular. In addition to Zatara, who was dedicated to "wiping out the forces of outlawry," Guardineer's most notable credits at DC included crime sleuth Speed Saunders. A Saunders story appeared in Detective Comics No. 27, which" introduced Batman in 1939.

When Guardineer reaches into his memories about those days, his eyes seem to lock on some distant vision. After a contemplative pause, he speaks slowly, thoroughly and with a self-effacing twinkle. Yes, he remembers his characters being popular but perhaps for a special reason. "They would run contests for kids to try drawing the characters from the different comic books, and my stuff was easy to copy because I used a heavy outline," says Guardineer with a smile. 1 930s, Fred Guardineer answered.

It's an anecdote that's part history, part poetry. Guardineer, who's 85 and living in San Ramon, is revered by collectors as the last surviving contributor of note to the comic book that introduced Superman: Action Comics No. 1, dated June 1938. Guardineer, an artist, had no involvement with the Superman story or the dramatic cover illustration of the Man of Steel lifting a car. His connection is two backup stories, one featuring Zatara the Magician.

But it could be that Guardineer also opened the door literally, not figuratively for the most important meeting in comics history. "Sometimes I was the only one around to let people in," says Guardineer. "Another time it was a guy with his mother, and that was Bob Kane, who did Batman." There apparently is no one left to argue with Guardineer, and not much reason to, anyway. Most of his memories jibe neatly with documented comics history, and he's a modest, amiable, first-hand source for insider tidbits that otherwise would go untold. Assuming he's feeling up to it and he was at last check Guardineer can describe in intimate detail the era that spawned super-powered heroes.

He knows how special it turned out to be, yet how stunningly mundane it often seemed. Consider his creation of Zatara: We stumbled along the narrow dirt road, moonlight reflecting from the scattered patches of snow helped guide our steps. Roadside trees towered with black shadows and my imagination conjured up many evil demons lurking there. I kept close to my father and two older brothers for comfort and safety A big event was about to take place. We were going to hear a radio.

Never had we seen or heard one. This marvelous new invention had just been purchased by a neighbor and we were invited to their home to see and listen to it. They lived back in the hills, one and a half miles from our farm, and so after chores were finished, we were on our way. After tramping breathlessly up the last hill, we finally arrived. The mother, who spoke only German, the father, four sons and a daughter, greeted us warmly.

We gathered around the dining room table to listen to this marvel of the age, a radio. From this rather large box amid cracking static, a man's voice discoursed about some news in the world. I don't remember what it was; I was too impressed just hearing a human voice. Our host explained, "This voice comes all the way from Chicago and sometimes it comes from New York." How very wonderful! A special container held an assortment of batteries which provided the power; no electricity as yet in this rural area in the early 1920s. Months later my father purchased an Atwater Kent radio.

It, too, was placed on a table in the living room, batteries in a box nearby. Our family gathered around the radio each evening to listen to WLS Chicago. On Saturday nights we listened to the Barn Dance. I fell in love with Bradley Kincaid, a ballad singer. Later years brought Fibber McGee and Molly, Amos and Andy, and numerous big band concerts.

They played in the Aarogon Ballroom in Chicago. Wayne King was always my favorite orchestra and I danced to his music in my imagination. We always had to be careful not to listen too much as we would wear down the batteries. Periodically my father would take the batteries to a nearby town, Oakdale, to have them recharged. My father died before the computer world descended upon us but he lived to enjoy the multiple of radio and later, television programs.

The road to progress from our first trek in the dark to hear the radio has exceeded anything he or any of us could have imagined at that time. The road of progress continues on. Seniors are encouraged to submit columns for publication on the Seniors page. Articles may be sent to the Oshkosh Seniors Center, 200 N. Campbell Road, Oshkosh, Wl 54901.

KRT FRED GUARDINEER is one of the original comic artists on the first Superman comic book, but he didn't draw any Superman panels. He drew Zatara, Master Magician. Oshkosh Senior Center Daily activities Monday 8:30 a.m., oil painting 10 a.m., pinochle or German 12:30 p.m., needlepoint 1 to 4 p.m., wood shop open 1 p.m., canasta 1:30 p.m., chorus 2 p.m., counted cross stitch 5:30 p.m. Senior Savvy, channel 10 Tuesday 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., Rex and Stretch 8:30 a.m., ceramics 9 a.m., creative writing 9 a.m. to noon, open wood shop 9 a.m., cribbage open 1 p.m., decor painting 1 to 3 p.m., partnercare (second week) 2 p.m., computer talk 6 p.m., cribbage and sheepshead or ceramics 6:30 p.m., line dancing 6 to 8:30 p.m., wood shop Wednesday 10:30 a.m., music in motion 12:30 p.m., sheepshead and cribbage 1 to 3 p.m., wood shop 1 p.m., watercolor 1:15 p.m., Scrabble 6:30 p.m., watercolor Thursday 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Flex and Sretch 8:30 a.m., oil painting 9 to 11:30 a.m., knit and crochet 10 a.m., book club (third Thursday) 11:45 a.m., lunch bunch 1 p.m., quilting or acoustic players 1 to 3 p.m., pool 3:30 p.m., French 5:30 p.m.

Senior Sawy, channel 10 6:30 p.m. square dancing. Friday 8:30 a.m., Sugar and Spice advanced 9 a.m. to noon, wood shop open 9:30 a.m., Spicettes 10 a.m., history or Sugar and Spice beginners 1 p.m., open bridge or massage 1 to 3 p.m., wood shop 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., line dancing newcomers 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. line dancing "My friend and editor Vin Sullivan said, 'Make it as much like Mandrake as you can without getting recalls Guardineer.

Vincent Sullivan, who died in February, was the first editor at DC Comics (originally called National Allied Pub Safety key to preventing injuries due to slipping, tripping Eliminate slipping obstacles: Make sure that bathtubs and showers have slip-proof strips or mats and have grab bars to prevent falls. Floors should be unglazed tile; glazed tile becomes dangerously slippery when wet. Bathmats should be rubber-backed and non-slip. Promote safe habits: Instruct the elderly to use more care, by watching where they are going, not obstructing their view with packages when walking or climbing stairs and taking their time to answer the door and phone. Maintain adequate light: Make sure that a facility is brightly lit, especially at the top and bottom of stairways.

The extra light accommodates declining vision. Keep stairways safe: Install sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairs to provide maximum support. Non-skid treads on stairs provide additional traction and visual assistance for the elderly. Minimize the risk of tripping: Electrical and telephone cords should run along the walls to keep walkways clear. Loose carpet or throw rugs and loose carpet tacks should be removed.

severe injuries that cause reduced mobility and independence. The Loyola University Medical Center reports that each year more than 9,300 elderly die as a result of falls, representing 40 percent of all deaths from traumatic causes in the senior population. Bringing back the balance, vision, and muscle strength of youth is impossible to do, but addressing potential dangers within housing for the elderly can help present a safer, better quality of life for residents. Inexpensive safety measures include the following: APPLETON Because falls can lead to life-threatening complications, safety measures are a serious matter for owners and administrators of housing facilities for the elderly. In a recent survey, OMNNI Associates found that 68 percent of respondents from such facilities reported that tripping or slipping while walking was the biggest risk elderly housing residents.

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control reports that one in three people older than 65 falls each year, with 20 percent to 30 percent suffering moderate to Menasha "'Senior Center Social Security Question and Answer Social Security is not just a program for the elderly and disabled. Survivors of deceased workers and the families of retired or disabled workers also qualify for benefits. In fact, about 3.8 million children currently are receiving such benefits and nine out of 10 would be eligible to receive benefits if a parent retires, becomes disabled or dies. They need a Social Security number before they can receive benefits. Also, any child you claim as a dependent on your tax return must have a Social Security number regardless of age.

I'm a 66-year-old woman. My only income is my $342 Social Security retirement check. I've been able to supplement my check with my savings account so I can pay bills. But I've exhausted my savings account and I can't make ends meet. What can I do? Contact Social Security at (800) 772-1213.

You may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits as well as your Social Security benefit. SSI pays benefits to people who are age 65 or older, or blind, or have a disability and who don't own much or have a lot of income. If you qualify for SSI, you also may get Medicaid which can help supplement your Medicare coverage. Do I have to be absolutely broke to be eligible for Supplemental Security Income? No, you don't have to be absolutely broke. SSI was set up so you can own your own house and car and have a small amount of money in the bank while you receive benefits.

To find out more, call Social Security at (800) 772-1213. are older than 65 and not enrolled in Medicare Part you can sign up during the open enrollment period at the beginning of each year, from January through March. When do I need to contact Social Security? There are five times when you should contact Social Security: To change your name, when you get married. To get an application for a Social Security number. To get a Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement.

To report an error you notice on your earnings record. To apply for or inquire about benefits because someone in your family dies, becomes disabled, reaches age 62, develops permanent kidney failure, or reaches 65 (to apply for Medicare even if he or she is not retiring). If Social Security is a program for the elderly or disabled, why would my new baby need a Social Security number? QUESTION: I've been receiving disability benefits for two years. I understand I will automatically be enrolled in Medicare. Do I have to pay anything for Medicare? ANSWER: Medicare has two parts hospital insurance and medical insurance.

Hospital insurance helps pay hospital bills and some follow-up The taxes you paid while you were working financed this coverage. The other part of Medicare, medical insurance, helps pay doctors' bills and other services. You will have to pay a monthly premium for this coverage if you want it. Most people have both parts of Medicare. On my next birthday, I will be 65.

Do I have to sign up for medical insurance at Social Security? You are not required to sign up for medical insurance, Part of Medicare. However, if you do not enroll when first eligible, your Medicare Part premium will be 10 percent higher than the basic monthly premium for each year you are eligible but not enrolled. If you Today 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 9 a.m., int. line dancing 9:30 a.m., reg.

line dancing lto 2 p.m., sing-a-long Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals lp.m., bingo lto 3:30 p.m., bridge Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 12:30 p.m., canasta 12:30 to 3 p.m., quilting Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 9 a.m., int. line dancing 9:30 a.m., reg.

line dancing 1 p.m., card party Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 1 p.m., bingo and pinochle 1:15 to 3:15 p.m., blood pressure; computer Wednesday, May 19 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 9 a.m., int. line dancing 9:30 a.m., reg. line dancing 9:30 to 11 a.m., brown bag lto 2 p.m., sing-a-long Thursday, May 20 9 a.m.

to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 1 to 4 p.m., VNA footcare 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., spring banquet Friday, May 21 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 12:30 p.m., canasta 12:30 to 3 p.m., quilting Monday, May 24 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 9 a.m., int. line dancing 9:30 a.m., reg. line dancing 10:30 a.m., book club 1 p.m., card party Tuesday, May 25 9 a.m.

to 1 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 1 p.m., bingo and pinochle 10 a.m. to noon, blood pressure; computer Wednesday, May 26 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 9 a.m., int. line dancing 9:30 a.m., reg. line dancing 1 to 2 p.m., sing-a-long 2:15 p.m., birthday treat Thursday, May 27 9 a.m.

to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 1 p.m., bingo 1 to 3:30 p.m., bridge Friday, May 28 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., play pool 11:30 a.m., meals 12:30 p.m., canasta' to 3 p.m., quilting 1:30 p.m., video THINK 1 OPEN HOUSE: Every M-F: 1:00 P.M.. Now Available: 1 2 Bedroom Apartments Many Special Amenities: Optional Noon Meals ma-y 'itvJEEa A I Of 11 1 A at III Compare our Prices Quality You'll be Amazed Fast Convenient Over 29 Years Experience Grocery Store Hair Salon Activities Homes Also Available: 24-Hour CBRF Care Private Rooms, Dementia Care (920)236-6540 (920)231-4733 www.rcdd-afflHatas.com 8c A FRESH START AT HERITAGE COURT Senior Residence Complex 600 W. Packer, Oshkosh 1500 N. Catatonia Dr.

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