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Members of the W. E. Ruth Realty softball team have gray hair and many are well into their 60s and 70s, but you would never know that to sit through one of their games.

A batting practice before a recent game at Celebration Park in Federal Way had batter after batter stepping up to the plate and hitting the ball right over the 300-foot fence line. And they made it look easy.

Sixty-five-year old Joe Franco was a Bellevue firefighter for 41 years. Now he is a softball player.

Franco has been playing ball for the last 10 years. The W. E. Ruth Realty team is the best 50-and-over team in the league, he said, and it has the championships to prove it.

It is difficult, however, to get these players to talk about themselves. They spend a lot of time complimenting each other with shouts like “Way to go, buddy” and “Good hit.”

Seventy-seven year old Jim Douglas started playing 10 years ago, as well. Team members affectionately call him the “Crusher,” and it appeared that he has earned that name.

Douglas, who plays third base, said, “Some of us played together in our 20s and 30s, and we still play together.”

Franco said that Rick Littlejohn is the best 60-and-over player in the state. “He runs, throws and hits like a 30-year-old guy,” Franco said.

During the warmup period, Littlejohn cracked two balls over the fence.

“He played semi-pro,” said Franco.

“Oh, we have a lot of good players,” Littlejohn said. “I play over 100 games a year, and it keeps me busy.”

This is John Harris’ 17th year with W. E. Ruth.

“It goes beyond being good,” he said about the team. “Our image off the field is as important as on the field. We try to live a good life and be good sportsmen and good citizens.”

Art Eversole said W. E. Ruth Realty has won the league title for six consecutive years.

Bill Ruth, owner and operator of the real estate firm, “is our sponsor, and he builds the finest teams. We all straighten up when he shows up,” Eversole said.

Sixty-eight year old Eversole said he has played senior ball since 2002.

“I play the outfield. I played some fastpitch as a young man, and this was an opportunity to play in the retirement years. I enjoy the camaraderie and travel and the recognition of winning tournaments,” he said, adding that W. E. Ruth was one of the finest teams in the nation. 

All the players acknowledge that playing softball keeps them engaged and in good physical shape.

Imogene Lawson came to the field to watch her son, Randy “Nate” Lawson, pitch. She lives in Tacoma and said her son has played softball “forever. I’ve seen a lot of games,” she said, adding that Nate was in the Washington State Hall of Fame.

“Older fellas can still play ball,” she said.

These boys of summer show up at every game and come to play. Their win record is impressive, but Littlejohn said they recently lost for the first time in two or three years.

It didn’t seem to bother Littlejohn as he swung the bat and waited for his turn at the plate.

Seventy-seven-year-old Jim Douglas, who teammates call "Crusher," warms up before a recent softball game at Celebration Park in Federal Way. (Joan Cronk/Senior Scene)
Seventy-seven-year-old Jim Douglas, who teammates call “Crusher,” warms up before a recent softball game at Celebration Park in Federal Way. (Joan Cronk/Senior Scene)

“It’s just time to start a new streak” he said.

 

 

Joan Cronk by — September 17, 2013 in Spotlight

The Washington State Fair in Puyallup has some deals for seniors and military retirees to enjoy one of the largest fairs in the world and the biggest one in the Pacific Northwest.

For starters, anyone can be admitted free on opening day Sept. 6 between 9 a.m. and noon by bringing to the gate a suggested donation of non-perishable food for the Puyallup Food Bank.

Also, admission is free with a valid military ID Sept. 9 and Sept. 16 for active, retired and reserve military and National Guard personnel and their dependents, as well as disabled veterans. 

And seniors can get a $7.50 discount price on fair admission tickets bought in advance at Safeway and Walgreens stores. The advance price goes down to $7 apiece if bought in amounts of 25 or more for groups.

The fair, which started in 1900, welcomes more than 1 million visitors annually, making it the single large-attended event in Washington. Entertainment, a rodeo, midway rides, exhibits, food, flowers and animals are mainstays of the 17-day event, which runs through Sept. 22.

Scones are a perennial favorite of fairgoers. (Patrick Hagerty/Courtesy photo)
Scones are a perennial favorite of fairgoers. (Patrick Hagerty/Courtesy photo)
srmedia by — August 28, 2013 in Spotlight

South Sound can unite in an effort to help millions by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association’sWalk to End Alzheimer’s Sept.14 in Tacoma.

Hundreds of participants are expected for the fund-raising walk at Thea’s Park, starting at 8 a.m.

The event is more than a walk. Organizers describe it as a way to learn about Alzheimer’s disease and how to get involved with advocacy opportunities, the latest in Alzheimer’s research and clinical trial enrollment to support programs and services.  Each walker will also join in a ceremony to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

   In 2012, the Tacoma walk raised $90,491. That contributed to more than $51.8 million generated nationwide for care, support and research efforts for those impacted by Alzheimer’s.

The disease is a growing epidemic and has become the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, it’s expected that the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond today’s 5 million-plus Americans who have the disease.

“There has never been a greater need to join in the fight against Alzheimer’s,” said Trisha Averill, coordinator of the Tacoma walk. She noted the money that’s raised this year will provide care and support for 150,000 Washington residents, “while also contributing to advancing critically-needed research.”

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association has mobilized millions of participants nationally.

TALKIN’ ABOUT THE WALK

When:  Saturday, Sept. 14; 8:30 a.m. registration, 9:45 opening ceremony, walk at 10

Where:Thea’s Park,535 Thea’s Dock St., Tacoma

How:   Start or join a team by contacting Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/walk or (206) 529-3898

Participants in last year's Walk to End Alzheimer's in Tacoma raised more than $90,000. (Senior Scene)
Participants in last year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Tacoma raised more than $90,000. (Senior Scene)
srmedia by — August 21, 2013 in Spotlight

The 2013 state legislative session took a long time and we faced the threat of a state government shut down, but there were a number of positive outcomes that Washington seniors and their families can be proud of.

This past fall, thousands of AARP members from across the state spoke with then-governor-eElect Jay Inslee on a special telephone town hall, where Inslee promised to increase funding for education but not at the expense of senior services. The budget he just signed does just that.

Here’s a short list of some highlights and a few disappointments.

Highlights

·         Medicaid was fully expanded, giving 40,000 Washingtonians age 50 to 64 access to the healthcare coverage they need.  Another 90,000 people is this age group will be eligible for subsidies and tax credits to help them purchase coverage they can afford through the Washington HealthplanFinder, the newly established healthcare marketplace

·         More than 100,000 people age 50-plus will have their Medicaid dental benefits restored.

·         There were no cuts to the number of homecare hours available to vulnerable adults who wish to remain in their own homes.

·         The Kinship Caregiver Program was retained.

·         There were no reductions to pensions or health benefits for retired state workers.

Disappointments

·         The Office of Public Guardianship was reduced by half.

·         There were no new investments in Adult Protective Services/Residential Care Services investigators

·         There is no new funding for Complete Streets measures which allow for better navigation of our streets by all users (pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists).

The new budget signed into law also includes the establishment of a two-year Committee on Aging and Disability. This committee will be composed of four legislators from each party and four members of the administration and will convene by Sept. 1. They are charged with identifying key strategic actions to prepare for the aging of the population in Washington. We’d like to thank legislative sponsors, Sen. Barbara Bailey (R-10th District) and Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-24th District), for their leadership in creating this committee.

Here’s a short list of successful bills that AARP supported because they will protect our members and their families. Visit our state website at www.aarp.org/wa for more detail on each of these measures.

·         Long Term Care Insurance Consumer Protections, SB 5216

·         Adult Family Home Resident Protections, SB 5630

·         Neighborhood Safe Speeds, HB 1045

·         Medication Access for the Uninsured, SSB 5148

·         Protections for Vulnerable Adults, SB 5510

Legislators failed to engage in meaningful discussion about structural tax reform and did not agree to close any of a long list of tax loopholes proposed by the governor and House Democrats.

They did however, take action on two tax measures, including an estate tax fix (Bracken Decision) HB 1920 and a telecommunications tax parity bill ESSHB 1971. Together, these two actions raised $269 million and, along with the better-than-expected revenue forecast, helped lawmakers close the gap and end their budget stalemate.

The final budget also included ESSB 5882 which included a number of new tax breaks benefiting interests such as honey bee keepers, dance clubs and more, but notably also included new tax exemption transparency and accountability measures, including clear definitions of the intent, measureable outcomes and expiration dates for all new or extended tax preferences.

The other key measure of progress on this front was the defeat of SB 5895, which called for an arbitrary spending limit on all non-education spending. AARP strongly opposed this bill which, if passed, would have triggered deep cuts in vital public services critical to all generations.

Thank you for your support and involvement this legislative session. The phone calls, e-mails and personal contacts you make with your elected lawmakers makes all the difference.

(Ingrid McDonald, who wrote this article, is an AARP advocacy director)

A rally on the capitol steps on May 16 by local supporters of AARP was part of efforts to focus on seniors' issues durng the 2013 session of the Legislature. (Courtesy photo)
A rally on the capitol steps on May 16 by local supporters of AARP was part of efforts to focus on seniors’ issues durng the 2013 session of the Legislature. (Courtesy photo)
srmedia by — August 6, 2013 in Spotlight