AARP Spring 2013 Life@50+ National Event and Expo in Las Vegas
April 12th, 2013 | 
Author: 
AARP’s Annual Event and Expo returns to Las Vegas and what an event it will be! Come and join us along with thousands of other members at this exciting event for three fun-filled days and discover what’s next.
Marie Osmond is just one of the amazing speakers appearing at Life@50+ in Las Vegas. Click HERE to see the full list of speakers.
Register and book your hotel for Life@50+ in Las Vegas using any of these options:
AARP Members – $25
Non-members – $35
Digital Experience – $299
Register Online
Mail/Fax
or by Phone
1-800-650-6839
If you would like to register for both 2013 Life@50+ events, select the Online or Mail/Fax link above and you will have the opportunity to add Atlanta for just $5 more.
To find out more about AARP and the Life@50+ Event, please visit AARP.org
From Memphis to Vegas: the ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is here in town. Review by Nick Lewin.
‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is a thoroughly enjoyable theatrical take on a historic night in Rock and Roll history when a twist of fate landed Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins in the Sun recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee. The rough recordings made that evening by legendary music producer Sam Phillips have long been a ‘philosophers stone’ for music lovers. Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux have created a show that creates a theatrical snapshot of this unique December evening in 1956.
The show at Harrah’s is just short of 90 minutes long and blends facts and imagination into a storyline that inserts a theatrical backbone into some great music. The various motives for these stars to be present in the studio that fateful night form the fabric of the plotline. The format is a careful blend that combines ‘Forever Plaid’ ‘Legends in Concert’ and ‘Jersey Boys’ into a surefire audience pleaser. The audience was wildly enthusiastic when I attended the show and I also enjoyed every minute of the show.
The Las Vegas production of ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is directed by Eric Schaeffer, Schaeffer does so in a deceptively casual manner, with a sure hand he combines storyline and music into a seamless blend of entertainment. The target, and key, market for this show is the 60 plus age range and it will certainly resonate and be greeted warmly by anyone who remembers back towards those classic years when Rock ‘n Roll was born.
To watch a brief preview of the show follow this link www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7wLtoJzVI&feature=youtu.be
The showroom at Harrah’s has recently been updated and has a new sound system that really does a great job delivering every nuance of the show. The production 
features a very cool set and some extremely effective staging that brings the classic songs to life. Generally speaking I am no fan of the ‘Vegasizing’ of theatrical productions when they are imported from Broadway. Sadly, here in Sin City, we must adapt to the 90-minute and no interval model. In this particular instance I really think that 90 minutes hits the mark and didn’t find myself wondering what I was missing from the New York production.
The strength of this show automatically adjusts according to the quality of the four performers appearing in the central roles. Tyler Hunter plays the part of Elvis Presley, Benjamin Hale plays Johnny Cash and Robert Britton Lyons is Carl Perkins. Rounding out the lead roles is Martin Kaye who effortlessly steals the evening as the brash and irrepressible newcomer Jerry Lee Lewis. Felice Garcia adds a great female presence and show stopping vocals to the all male ensemble. Mark D. Donovan, in the only non-musical role, nicely fills out the bill as the legendary Sam Phillips.
With ticket prices beginning at $55, ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is a mighty fine evening at a very reasonable price. Any serious Rock ‘n Roll buff would give his eyeteeth to have been a fly on the wall on December 4th 1956 during the real life recording concert that the show is based on. If you have fond memories of those early dizzy days when country, blues, gospel and pop were being blended into a new art form that would change the world forever, then catch this show. Don’t be surprised when the finale of the show finds you on your feet and possibly even dancing in the aisles.
For full details about ticketing, and to order those tickets, contact the Harrah’s online box office at
www.harrahslasvegas.com/shows/million-dollar-quartet.html#.UYv0E5X3C2w
Posted in Entertainment | 
Tags: Elvis Presley, Harrah's, Jerry Lee Lewis, Las Vegas, Million Dollar Quartet | 
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Medicare Lags In Project to Expand Hospice
Despite a three-year-old order from Congress, Medicare has yet to begin an experiment to expand hospice services to allow beneficiaries to continue potentially lifesaving treatments to see if it would save money while improving the patients’ quality of life.
The demonstration project would eliminate one major reason that people are reluctant to take up Medicare’s hospice benefit: they have to first agree to forgo curative treatments such as chemotherapy.
Nurse Rachel Haenel embraces terminally ill patient Jackie Beattie, 83, at the Hospice of Saint John in 2009 in Lakewood, Colorado. A demonstration project would allow those getting hospice care under Medicare to also receive curative care at the same time (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images).
Many rapidly declining patients delay entry into hospice until their final days as they exhaust their treatment options, according to studies.
Others end up dying in hospital intensive care units, which are expensive and generally not geared to making the terminally ill as comfortable as possible.
The 2010 health law required Medicaid to pay for joint hospice and curative treatments, called concurrent care, for children. More than half the states have taken steps to implement that in the joint federal-state program for low-income residents. It also instructed the secretary of Health and Human Services to select up to 15 sites to test concurrent care for patients in Medicare, which provides health coverage to seniors and disabled people. That test is to last for three years, but Medicare has yet to take any concrete steps toward beginning it.
Read more at Kaiser Health News: Medicare Lags In Project to Expand Hospice
Good Estate Planning Advice from Attorney Jeffrey Burr (Part 3)
SDLV’s Michael Clark sits down with elder law attorney Jeffrey Burr for a detailed conversation about estate planning, guardianship, rights of attorney, and more. This is an ongoing video series aimed at informing the public about the importance of estate planning.
Jeffrey Burr & Associates is offering a FREE 30 minute consultation with a mention of “SDLV.” Please ask for Sandy Simpson.
For more information about Jeffrey Burr & Associates, please visit:
For more discounts, senior news, and more, please visit:
Take in a ballgame and enjoy the buffet at Cashman Field
Club level view Cashman Field
It is with a certain degree of reluctance that I write this article. My reluctance stems from wanting to share something my wife Donna Rose and I really enjoy, but if too many people find out, it might change. Hopefully not. What I am talking about is the Club Level Restaurant at the Las Vegas 51s baseball games at Cashman Field.
We love to go to the baseball games and have gone for over 20 years. We would definitely describe ourselves as fans. When we were younger I loved to scarf down a couple of hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, fries. You know, baseball snacks. As the years went by, I slowly lost my enthusiasm for eating all this junk. It’s all hard to digest, and it doesn’t taste the same.
So, the dilemma: love baseball, can’t eat the junk food. It was time to do some stadium exploring. Donna and I wondered around until we came to a sign that said Club Level Restaurant, under which was an ordinary door. We wondered if you had to have reservations. “Maybe it’s just for season tickets holders,” I suggested. “We’ll never find out standing out here,” Donna replied. Well, I thought…I’ve been tossed out of nice places than this. Any journalist worth their salt has been thrown out of nice places. Besides, what if we didn’t get tossed? We might have a decent meal.
We opened the door to a very cozy room of fans. Off to the right is a bar where you can order beer or mixed drinks. To the left is a small but quite nice buffet. There is a soup and salad bar along with a carving station, hot entrees and side dishes. For instance, Donna and I attended a game during the last 51s home stand. That night the buffet had oven roasted turkey breast, pork loin with apple chutney, salmon steak with lemon butter sauce, wild rice and mixed vegetables. The food for the buffet is prepared in the small central kitchen.
The buffet is only $9.95 plus you get an air-conditioned, glass-enclosed seat. Now, my reluctance to let you know about this. This area is part of the original Cashman Field which is now over 30 years old. It is one of those extraordinary places really, truly is Old Las Vegas, even down to the people who work there. Jim LaRocca is now in his 20th season with the 51s. He is the restaurant greeter. Elena Travanti, the cashier, was asked back to work her 12th season. The buffet typically draws 250 people a night. The average stadium attendance is 5,000. You can see it’s a small group.
Friendly Springtime Faces: Jim LaRocca and Elena Travanti will serve you at Cashman Field’s Club Level Restaurant
So next time you take in a ball game, don’t settle for hot dogs and nachos. Go up to the Club Level Restaurant and enjoy a good meal while you watch the game. Just keep it a secret.
Las Vegas Philharmonic presents a new Independence Day celebration
Thursday, July 4th, 2013
Pops concert featuring the Las Vegas Philharmonic orchestra conducted by MATT CATINGUB with guest vocalists CLINT HOLMES and KRISTEN HERTZENBERG to be held in Reynolds Hall at 7:30PM with audio simulcast into Symphony Park
Family fun day held in Symphony Park featuring live entertainment and food & beverage stalls from 4PM
Fireworks display over Symphony Park at 9PM
DISCOVERY Children’s Museum to offer free after-hours entry to all
4th with the Phil ticketholders from 5:30PM-7:30PM
TICKETS ON SALE MAY 13th
Pre-sale tickets for Symphony Park entry & the Reynolds Hall concert, including a limited number of VIP packages, go on sale Monday, May 13th from The Smith Center Box Office, Phone (702) 749-2000, or visit www.lvphil.org
May 3rd, 2013 (Las Vegas, NV) The Las Vegas Philharmonic will bring back and expand upon a beloved tradition in July when it presents a new Independence Day celebration called 4thwith the Phil at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. The celebration on Thursday, July 4thwill include a family fun day held in Symphony Park from 4PM, a Pops concert held in Reynolds Hall at 7:30PM and a fireworks display at 9PM over the park, located in downtown Las Vegas. It will be the first Fourth of July concert in three years for the orchestra and marks its 15th birthday. Tickets go on sale on Monday, May 13th.
As an added attraction, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum that opened in Symphony Park’s Donald W. Reynolds Discovery Center adjacent to The Smith Center in March will generously offer free entry to 4th with the Phil ticketholders from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. All of the museum’s exhibits will be open including the three-story interactive feature The Summit, Fantasy Festival, Toddler Town, Water World, Solve It! Mystery Town and Young At Art. Special Independence Day activities will also be available.
4th with the Phil Pops Concert in Reynolds Hall, 7:30PM
Las Vegas-based conductor Matt Catingub, the acclaimed Artistic Director and founder of the Glendale Pops Orchestra and the newly-launched Hawaii Pops Ensemble in addition to the Pops Conductor for the New Hampshire Music Festival, will lead the orchestra in a celebratory symphonic Pops concert. The concert will conclude with excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture performed during the fireworks display and the concert will feature two of Las Vegas’s most-beloved singers, Clint Holmes and Kristen Hertzenberg as special guest vocalists who will perform with Mr. Catingub who also sings and plays the saxophone.
Immediately prior to the performance of the 1812 Overture, concertgoers will have the opportunity to leave the hall to watch the fireworks display from the Reynolds Hall lobby or outside in Symphony Park. The fireworks display will be telecast onto the big screen in Reynolds Hall for those who choose to remain inside.
CONCERT TICKETS
Concert tickets are priced at $25, $50 and $75 and a limited number of VIP packages including box tier seats and entry to a pre-concert BBQ in the courtyard are available for $125 per person. Doors will open to Reynolds Hall at 6PM. All concert ticketholders will be permitted into Symphony Park from 4PM. All Reynolds Hall concessions will also be available to concertgoers.
Tickets on sale Monday, May 13th from The Smith Center Box Office, phone (702) 749-2000 or online at www.lvphil.org.
4th with the Phil in Symphony Park, 4PM-9:30PM
The day’s festivities will begin in Symphony Park at 4PM. People are encouraged to bring a blanket and enjoy live musical entertainment on the outdoor stage during the day. A variety of food and drink vendors will be onsite to provide July 4th favorites such as hot dogs, hamburgers, shaved ice, beverages and beer. More details about the outdoor stage performers and concessions will be released in June. (Note: No outside food or beverage, except bottled water, will be permitted into the park.) The Smith Center’s Boman Pavilion will be open throughout the day as a cooling station.
When the Las Vegas Philharmonic Pops concert begins in Reynolds Hall at 7:30PM, the music will be audio simulcast live out into the park. The day concludes at 9:00PM with a fireworks display over the park by Zambelli Fireworks.
SYMPHONY PARK TICKETS
Entry to Symphony Park will be $10 for adults and $5 for children aged 12 and under. Advance tickets on sale Monday, May 13th from The Smith Center Box Office, phone (702) 749-2000 or online at www.lvphil.org. Gate sales will be available on the day.
Born on the Fourth of July
The Las Vegas Philharmonic performed its inaugural concert on July 4th, 1998. It has previously held Fourth of July concerts at The Hills Park and at Springs Preserve. President & CEO Jeri Crawford says that following the orchestra’s first full season as a resident company in Reynolds Hall, it felt right for the Las Vegas Philharmonic to create a new community-focused, musical Fourth of July event that utilizes the (air-conditioned) hall but also expands into Symphony Park, reaching a wider audience.
“4th with the Phil not only adds another Pops concert to our already expanded concert season but provides the wider Las Vegas community with a family-focused event. As we celebrate our 15th birthday, we proudly proclaim to be “your” Las Vegas Philharmonic and so are willing to take on the financial challenges of presenting an event of this nature with the hope that it will become a new Las Vegas Independence Day tradition. And we are thrilled to bring back the fireworks! We are also delighted that our friends at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum are joining the party by opening their doors and helping us to foster our new cultural community in downtown Las Vegas.”
Individuals or companies interested in sponsoring 4th with the Phil are invited to contact Jeri Crawford at (702) 258-5438, ext. 221.
*Business Spotlight* Burton Weinerman, LCC – Freedom Alert
A Customizable System with No Monthly Fees! Program up to 4 Custom Contacts.
FreedomAlert is the world’s first programmable two-way voice pendant communicator with no monthly fees. Personal security has never been so small or affordable. The FreedomAlert can be programmed to call family, friends, or neighbors, at anytime from anywhere in the home and into the surrounding yard. If the programmed contacts are unreachable – the system can default to call an emergency 911 operator.
The FreedomAlert has the ability to be programmed with up to four (4) contacts to call anytime. The system can be customized with the three position switch on the back of the base unit to select one of three modes. A power outlet and an active telephone line are all that is needed for the unit to operate. The medical pendant is powered by a lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 6 months on a single charge.
Contact Burt Weinerman for more information:
Burton Weinerman LLC
Medical Alert Pendants and Systems
Phone (702) 492-1646
Cell (702) 292-5266
Celebrate Historic Preservation And Archaeology Month!
The city of Las Vegas celebrates Historic Preservation and Archaeology Month this May with the theme “See it! Save it! Celebrate it!” Everyone can participate in the preservation of significant monuments, landscapes and neighborhoods by visiting a museum, touring historic sites, or enjoying the Helldorado Days Parade. By joining in this month-long celebration of historic preservation and archaeology, you will learn about our collective heritage and participate in some great outdoor and indoor activities. For more information, call (702) 229-5260.
Las Vegas activities include:
- Free Tickets to Local Museums
Local museums, such as the Mob Museum, Springs Preserve and Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, the Clark County Museum and the Lost City Museum are offering limited free passes. To reserve passes and see a complete list of participating museums, go online to www.lasvegasnevada.gov/hp. The deadline to register is May 8.
- Pathways to Progress Bus Tour and Lunch Lecture
Saturday, May 11, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission and Nevada Humanities are hosting the “Pathways to Progress” bus tour and lecture that will be led by Clark County Museum Director Mark Hall-Patton, renowned local historian and regular contributor on the nationally syndicated Pawn Stars television show. Hall-Patton will draw from his extensive knowledge of Las Vegas history to talk about the role of trails, rails, roads and runways in the development of Las Vegas. He will be joined by native Las Vegan and historian Brian Paco Alvarez. The tour will move from downtown Las Vegas to McCarran International Airport and back to downtown via Boulder Highway to the Historic El Cortez hotel-casino for lunch and a lecture about the casino’s history. Peter Moruzzi, southern California historian and author, will showcase the El Cortez history, followed by a “Then and Now” slide presentation of Las Vegas’ mid-century hotels and motels from roadside historian Jerry Stefani. Tickets are $20 each and include the tour and a light lunch. For more details, visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov/hp. The deadline to register is May 8.
- Helldorado Days Parade
Saturday, May 18, 5 p.m.
Join the city of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Elks Lodge #1468 for the Helldorado Days Parade in downtown Las Vegas on the Fourth Street parade route. The parade starts at Gass Avenue and heads north on Fourth Street to Ogden Avenue. Helldorado Days began in 1935 as a means to encourage tourism to the city after the completion of Boulder Dam. Helldorado Days events include a four-day rodeo, parade, carnival, treasure hunt for gold, whiskerino contest, golf tournament, poker tournament, art show and auction, trail ride, exhibits and food. For more information, go online to www.elkshelldorado.com/.
- “See it! Celebrate it! Early Las Vegas through the Eyes of Early Las Vegans”
Saturday, May 4, 10 to 11 a.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, 500 E. Washington Ave., (702) 486-3511.
Author and historical interpreter of Helen J. Stewart, Dr. Linda Miller showcases the sites of early Las Vegas and contributions of early Las Vegans in developing the town through her new book, “Early Las Vegas.” She also will discuss how the book was researched. A book signing will follow. Free admission.
- Historic El Cortez Hotel and Casino National Register of Historic Places Plaque Unveiling
Thursday, May 9, 4 p.m.
El Cortez Hotel and Casino, 600 E. Fremont St., (702) 385-5200.
Join Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Ward 3 Councilman Bob Coffin, Historic Preservation Commission Chair Dorothy Wright and others for the unveiling of the bronze plaque commemorating the designation of the historic El Cortez on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Free Day at the Clark County Museum!
Saturday, May 11, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Clark County Museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway, (702) 455-7955.
The Clark County Museum boasts a 30-acre site that features a modern exhibit hall with a timeline exhibit about Southern Nevada from pre-historic to modern times and is home to the famous Heritage Street, a collection of restored historic buildings that depict daily life from different decades in Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson and Goldfield. Come see their current exhibit, “Cowboys and Indians: Myth and Reality,” which investigates popular romantic notions and widely held misconceptions of the western frontier, and examines some of the historic and contemporary realities. For more information, visit the website.
- African-American Collaborative Community Town Hall Meeting
Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., (702) 507-3989.
The African-American Collaborative wants to hear your stories about working, playing and raising a family in Las Vegas. Bring a few photos and/or items to the meeting and learn how photos and other memorabilia (news clippings, menus, organization flyers and much more) help preserve the stories of the past. Who can bring the oldest photo? Who has a rare photo of the Westside School? Does anyone have a snapshot or menu from a Jackson Street restaurant or other business? Bring along a friend or family member to enjoy light refreshments and prizes. For more information, contact Claytee White or Barbara Tabach at the UNLV Oral History Research Center, (702) 895-2222. - The Misunderstood Legend of the Las Vegas Moulin Rouge
Thursday, May 23, 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
Neon Museum, 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North, (702) 229-5366.
The Neon Museum will host a panel discussion to commemorate the 1955 opening of The Moulin Rouge. A panel of speakers, including former Moulin Rouge employees, will discuss the role this first racially integrated hotel-casino played in early desegregation efforts in the city. Las Vegas native Stan Armstrong also will screen portions of his new documentary “The Misunderstood Legend of the Las Vegas Moulin Rouge.” Admission is free and open to the public.
Nevada SMP empowers seniors to prevent Medicare Fraud
Lee Jordan, Outreach Coordinator, Nevada Senior Medicare Patrol, displays a Personal Health Care Journal. His office distributes these to Medicare recipients at no cost.
Every day consumers get ripped off by scam artists. Here is just one example: Mr. Jones has Medicare. One evening he received a phone call from a woman who identified herself as a Medicare representative. The woman told Mr. Jones that she could save him hundreds of dollars each month by signing him up for the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. Because Mr. Jones spends about $300 a month in drug charges, he was anxious to join.
The woman said she could sign Mr. Jones up over the phone. She asked him for his Medicare and checking account information, and he gave them to her.
By the next morning Mr. Jones realized that he should not have given out his personal information. He contacted his local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) who helped him contact his bank, the local police and Medicare. Mr. Jones was almost a victim of Medicare fraud, but thanks to SMP, he was not.
Protecting your personal information is the best line of defense in the fight against healthcare fraud and abuse. You can make a difference. Fraud occurs when a person or organization deliberately deceives others to gain unauthorized benefits.
In the case of Medicare and Medicaid, fraud generally involves deliberately billing for services that were never rendered or for over-billing, such as charging a higher rate than is actually justified. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid or CMS, estimated that in 2010, the two programs together paid more than $65 billion in improper federal payments. An April 2012 study by a RAND Corporation analyst and a former CMS administrator estimated that fraud and abuse cost Medicare and Medicaid as much as $98 billion in 2011.
In addition to the cost, Medicare fraud can jeopardize a patients’ health. Anecdotally, there was a recent case in which a woman reported that her doctor refused to see her because Medicare had flagged her for overuse. It turns out thieves had gotten hold of her Medicare number and had fraudulently billed Medicare for 40 visits in one day.
To prevent Medicare from losing valuable funds, it is incumbent on all of us to report any suspected instances of error, fraud or abuse. The Nevada SMP can provide you with a Personal Health Care Journal in which to keep your healthcare services and the dates on which they occurred. To obtain a personal use journal, call the telephone number below.
When you receive your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits, review it carefully. Did you receive the services and products reported? Did your doctor order the services/products listed? Were you billed more than one time for the services performed or products provided?
When you find and report abuse, you are protecting other seniors from being victims. If you are not comfortable calling your provider or if you are not comfortable with the response you get, call your local SMP at 702-486-3403 or 888-838-7305 (statewide).
Good Estate Planning Advice from Attorney Jeffrey Burr (Part 2)
SDLV’s Michael Clark sits down with elder law attorney Jeffrey Burr for a detailed conversation about estate planning, guardianship, rights of attorney, and more. This is an ongoing video series aimed at informing the public about the importance of estate planning.
Jeffrey Burr & Associates is offering a FREE 30 minute consultation with a mention of “SDLV.” Please ask for Sandy Simpson.
For more information about Jeffrey Burr & Associates, please visit:
For more discounts, senior news, and more, please visit:
Ride to Remember Poker Run
The Ride to Remember – Poker Run to benefit the Southern Nevada Alzheimer’s Association Saturday, May 18, 2013. Raffle Prizes, Live music and vendors at the End of Run Rally. $500 for Best Hand, $300 for 2nd Best Hand, $200 for Worst Hand. Live Entertainment 2pm to 5pm, John Huck from KVVU Channel Fox 5 from 2:30pm to 5pm. Poker hands in by 3pm. Winners will be announced at 4pm. Sponsored by Emeritus Senior Living and Marquis Companies.