Sometimes we have to work hard and long to change our lives, and then sometimes it just happens — for better or for worse. When 9/11 happened, many lives were changed forever in an incendiary flash … and in unthinkable ways.

In the days following 9/11, most of us struggled to process the turn of events.

For comedian and media personality Frank B. Shaner it meant picking up a paint brush and embarking on a journey he could never have imagined.

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Editor’s Choice: Interplanetary Travel, by Frank B. Shaner

In this issue’s cover story, we catch up with this self-taught painter and learn how art has brought Shaner solace in his sixties. Turn to page 14 to read Off Air: Who is Frank B. Shaner? and to view some of his most recent pieces.

In this issue we launched a new section called Seniors of Service, with two stories of people who are making a difference in their communities. The first recognizes Dr. Anthony Lenzer who is a volunteer board member for five organizations that advocate for aging, caregiving and disability policies at the Legislature, page 23. The second shines a light on a husband and wife team — Richard and Pat Endsley — who have run a volunteer-based tutoring program in West Maui for 13 years. Turn to page 22 to meet the Endsleys — perhaps the busiest “retired” couple on Maui.

If you know a senior who deserves recognition for his/her volunteerism or contributions to the community, please feel free to contact me at aimee@generations808.com.

I’d like to thank our readers for the positive feedback we received on our previous issue (Dec./Jan.), which included a report on Maui — Maui Mindset: Why the Valley Isle has some of the happiest seniors. It was the magazine’s first off-island venture. Since it was so well received, we’ve decided to visit a Neighbor Island at least once a year to hear more about programs and services that work in their communities.

Also, to help you stay connected to healthy aging issues, we are supplementing the magazine with two, back-to-back radio talk shows every Saturday on AM 690. For details, see page 12.

And, don’t forget to attend the 20th Annual PrimeTime Wellness Fair. With nearly 100 vendors, the fair offers cooking demos, craft workshops, travel gift prizes, free health screenings and more.

Enjoy the read, aloha!

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Associate Editor

20th Annual
PrimeTime Wellness Fair
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
8:15 a.m. Opening Ceremonies to 12:30 p.m.


 

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Correction (Dec./Jan issue, Maui Mindset): Kaunoa Senior Center is in partnership with Loiloa (org.) rather than the Hawai‘i Nature Center (HNC). Loiloa (org) operates in Lo’iloa (place) by permission of HNC and Wailuku Water Co. Kawewehi Pundyke is the project director of Loiloa (org.).