Karen Schaffner

One author is taking the scary out of traveling solo. In her new book, “Traveling Solo? 75 Winning Tips for Solo Traveling,” Claudia Kielich offers the nervous wanderer peace of

Nursing homes are a thing of the past. Seniors are looking for new ways to spend their golden years. Whether it’s independent living, assisted living, or something in between, Rob and Sheri Lewin of Assisted Living Locators of North Tucson will help. : The focus of the franchise is to find a place for seniors to live that is compatible with their needs and budget. They do this by working closely with the seniors and their families to become well acquainted with what those needs are. : “We become partners with the family,” Rob said. “We stay very engaged with them… Even after placement, we stay in touch with the families to make sure that it’s a good fit for them and that it’s something that’s going to be lasting.” : In their quest to provide good service, Sheri visited 30 local independent and assisted living facilities. She looked at empty rooms, occupied rooms, and model rooms. Her inspections were thorough. : As she walked through the facilities, one thing she always wanted to know was about meal times. : “It’s really important to me that if someone is in assisted living, if they’re hungry that they’re allowed to eat something,” she said. “I don’t want to hear, ‘Well, the kitchen closes at 7.’ It’s important to me that if my grandfather were there and he wanted something at 9 o’clock at night, he’s got an option.” : Sheri also looked at cleanliness, whether the hallways are clear of debris or equipment, how accessible the grounds, rooms and common rooms are, and lighting and tripping hazards. She asked about pharmacy delivery and if transportation was available. She asked about activities. : While looking at those items, she was also observing the general ambiance of the place. : “Really, I want to see cleanliness,” Sheri said, “I want to see the residents happy. I want to see if the caregivers are happy. I want to see a community where everyone feels like they’re at home.” : “We’re very particular about making sure that our referrals and our placements are going to locations where they’re going to be well cared for,” Rob said. : The Lewins’ desire to open the business comes from unfortunate experiences. They saw their own grandparents needing placement and were not satisfied with the outcomes. : “We both had experiences in our families that our grandparents didn’t get the best level of care that was possible,” Rob said. “We saw some of the bad side of what can happen.” : The Lewins don’t just work with those who need to be in assisted living. : “We also work with seniors who want to do independent living,” Rob said. “Maybe the house has become too much … and you want to move to an active community where you can participate in activities all day long and have recreation available and transportation to many locations. We can place you in an independent living facility where you’re still on your own but you’ve got meals provided for you in some cases. You’ve got other folks who are interested in the same things you are and a list of activities you can do… Our goal is to work with all seniors in need… What we try and focus on is what is the right fit for that person.” : Assisted Living Locators of North Tucson aren’t just about nursing homes. : “There seems to be a stigma that all we are are bed fillers,” Rob said. “We want to shift that mindset. We want to change how people perceive this process because we know from personal experience how difficult this becomes, how it can impact an entire family.” : To that end, the Lewins look at the entire picture, including the financials. They have a list of preferred professionals they work with, “such as elder care attorneys and moving companies and estate sales (professionals) and trust lawyers,” Rob said. “We also work with recommended financial advisors that can set up a financial plan for how this is going to be taken care of.” : In addition, the Lewins work with families who might need emergency placement. They also work with all levels of financial situations. : “Because we are passionate about what we do, we’re going to help anybody who comes to us,” Rob said. : Families don’t have to wait until their seniors need care. At Assisted Living Locators the Lewins will work with a family for many months before the placement is needed. Best of all, they do not charge for their work on behalf of their clients. : “Our services are at no cost to the families at all,” Rob said. “We work on the basis of each of the locations that we recommend.” : Because this is a franchise, the Lewins can place someone out of the city and even out of the state. : “Maybe the parents decided to retire down here but the family lives in Illinois,” Rob said. “We are nationwide as far as franchisees and we can call somebody that’s in Illinois… We want to work together to find the right placement for them.” : Besides owning the Assisted Living Locators of North Tucson and the training that comes with ownership, the Lewins are working on becoming certified senior advisors. : “It’s something that we think is very important to us,” Rob said. : Assisted Living Locators of North Tucson : 520-882-3772 : facebook/ALLNorthTucson : assistedlivinglocators/care-advisor/arizona/north-tucson

One author is taking the scary out of traveling solo. In her new book, “Traveling Solo? 75 Winning Tips for Solo Traveling,” Claudia Kielich offers the nervous wanderer peace of mind. The 74-year-old Venice Beach resident wants other women to experience the excitement and pleasure that comes with opening their doors and stepping out. : When women of any age travel alone, they have to be careful. They have to listen to their gut. They always have to have a Plan B. That could be doubly true for senior women, who to an observer could seem vulnerable. That’s where Kielich’s tips come in. : She, alongside 65-year-old veteran solo traveler Maria Llyod of Smithton, Tasmania, offer their best advice. : First, is for travelers to be comfortable with, and like, their own company. : “I think that is so important,” Kielich said. “You need to entertain yourself and be curious. If you’re curious, you can go anywhere in life.” : Travel with confidence, or at least an air of confidence, Lloyd added. : “I’ve met some women on my travels who are really scared,” she said. “They worry about this, they worry about that and they don’t want to be alone and I just think they’re headed for trouble. When you travel, especially in the States and the Northern Territory (Australia), if you show any sign of insecurity or looking around with wide eyes, bad people are looking for that.” : Here are a couple of other rules Lloyd follows as she travels: : • Don’t drive at night. : • Have a good idea of where the destination is, even if it isn’t exact. : • Have the keys to any vehicle close by and easily accessible. : • Have a plan B and always, always listen to the little voice that gives off warning signs. : Kielich’s traveling mantra is, “Be prepared.” It’s part of having peace of mind. : “My new book is peace of mind travel tips so it’s not a scary thing,” she said. “It’s a wonderful thing to be confident on a trip.” : She calls her book a toolbox because it’s filled with the “tools” a woman alone needs to travel safely and with confidence. : “Safety begins with peace of mind,” she said. : Kielich begins her travels by putting an identifying marker on her suitcase so it can be easily identified. She actually uses a dog collar. : “This prevents your suitcase from being picked up by mistake,” Kielich said. “You have to have that in mind because every case looks alike now that we’re carrying them on (board).” : She suggests making this simple but important step a part of preparation. : “When you’re departing the house this gives you a lot of confidence and it’s very easy,” Kielich said. “You count everything. I count my raincoat, my water bottle, my purse, my carry-on, up to five things. When I get out of the taxi or car at the airport, I count things again because if you leave something you have to come back to get something. That’s my favorite tip.” : Kielich understands how easy it is for a person to get lost, flustered or afraid. : “It’s overwhelming to travel right now,” she said. : For example, one situation she addresses in her book is when a traveler checks into a hotel, especially in a foreign country. : “First of all, get your bearings,” she said. “Take a business card from the hotel and in the daytime, walk around the neighborhood. Look for landmarks real closely, like an awning on a restaurant, a dry cleaners, something that’s in that neighborhood. Once you have your bearings, then you’re not so nervous about leaving the hotel and coming back to the hotel.” : Instead of roaming, she suggests signing up for tours the hotel or reputable travel companies might offer. If a traveler does find they’ve wandered into a sketchy area, her book also lists several actions one can take to put themselves in a safer situation. : However, some of Kielich’s advice comes from funny, sometimes embarrassing situations. : “Don’t push unknown buttons in your hotel room,” she wrote. “I was taking a bath in the Shangri La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, and pushed a button on the wall next to the tub. In came three men in white tuxedos, wearing pink turbans, with shampoo, champagne and fresh towels.” : Not everyone grew up traveling nor has everyone had the opportunity to travel alone. For first-time solo travelers, both Lloyd and Kielich say to break the ice with a weekend trip somewhere close by. : “Only plan a weekend or week trip for your first solo trip,” Kielich wrote. “A place where you never have been but close enough to get home if you change your mind.” : Find or order “Traveling Solo, 75 winning tips for solo travelers,” by Claudia Kielich wherever books are sold. : COST: $7.99

(The Good Life Abroad/Submitted) When in Florence, travelers with The Good Life Abroad have the opportunity to shop in local markets.

For Sarah Duke of Duke Nutrition Experts, having a professional meeting space was a must. However, for the one-woman show, an office of her own wasn’t in the budget at

Emily Flynn’s compelling eyes are striking. Even if she isn’t wearing makeup, her eyes advertise her place of work, Amazing Lash Studio-Oro Valley.

Email Print Copy article linkSave In the summer it may seem like the town has shut down, but in reality, there is still plenty to do. Laugh it up at Button Brew House’s Stand-up Comedy Night or learn what’s out there creeping and flying around at night. There’s music, movies and food trucks for when it’s too hot to cook. What follows is an abbreviated list of what’s planned. For all offerings, visit discovermarana.org/events.

Zio Peppe is inviting foodies to take a trip to China with its Marco Polo Dinner, which blends Italian/Chinese dishes. : The meal starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at the restaurant, 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road. : The special dinner is a five-course meal that has roots in Italy and China, but more importantly it represents an interesting challenge to chefs and owners Mat Cable and Devon Sanner both of whom love Chinese and Italian cuisine. : “The Chinese element has always been something that’s appealing to me,” Sanner said. “The meal comes from a mutual love of ours for Chinese cuisine. We’re able cross pollinate and it makes sense in terms of the introduction of noodles and other elements of Chinese cuisine that became staples of Italian cuisine.” : “You know the people who love to entertain?” Cable said. “That’s just us times a hundred.” : The meal begins with a sampling of three dim sum: porchetta gua bao bun, fennel sausage and shrimp siu mai and roe and lo mai gai arancini. : Next up is linguine and langoustine, Italian XO cream sauce and chives. : The third course is red braised beef braciole, Mandarin and garlic gai lan and Carolina gold rice polenta. : Then there’s dessert: Pandan cake, coconut buttercream, watermelon and lime ice cream. : Reservations are recommended. Tickets are $80 plus tax and gratuity. : The dishes were a team effort. Sanner said the idea was raised during a brainstorming session with himself, Cable, sous-chef Dan Heady and second sous-chef Brian Hagan. They asked themselves, “What would a dim sum assortment look like? … Say if we wanted to do a Taiwanese pork bun, a gua bao? Or what if we started with a template of a porchetta sandwich? We make our own pork belly porchetta and a rosemary and fennel rub and a little bit of salsa verde in there but in the guise of a Taiwanese pork bun on a white, fluffy steam bun.” : The evening is a tribute to Venetian merchant Marco Polo, whose travels along the Silk Road in Asia in the late 13th century created opportunities for the confluence of European and Asian cooking. : Cable comes from a restaurant family. His dad and mom owned a gelato and Italian ice place next to a pizzeria. He owns Fresco Pizzeria at 3011 E. Speedway Boulevard and has been creating Italian American cuisine since he was a youngster. : “I always knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he said. “I just thought that being the pizza guy would be the coolest thing in the world. It evolved from there to where we are now. : Sanner worked for many years in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he learned to love Asian food. When he came to Tucson he worked with chef Janos Wilder at the Downtown’s Carriage House. : No one can deny that cooking for a living is very hard work. Cable has a theory about why chefs do it. : “Most chefs are sensualists at heart and really crave that sensory experience,” he said. “The sights, the smells, the feel… the crackling in the pan of oil, that is life blood to us. If we have the opportunity as well to engage with guests and see their delight in something that we prepared with our own hands, something we’ve directed and see the team, the kitchen brigade, coming together and that choreography when it runs well, and you’re tested on a hard night and you come through and guests are happy, that’s intensely gratifying.” : Sanner is about relationships. : “Also, for us, this restaurant in particular, is building community through food,” he said. “What we do with our partnerships, with other food makers and suppliers, food artisans and sourcing from local purveyors, … we’re really forming bonds within the community through what we do here. That’s essential to us.” : Marco Polo Dinner : WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 : WHERE: Zio Peppe, 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson : COST: $80 plus tax and gratuity : INFO: 520-888-4242, ziopeppeaz

A local librarian is debuting her first novel. Sarah T. Dubb, who works part time at Pima County Library, is the author of “Birding with Benefits.”

Nursing homes are a thing of the past. Seniors are looking for new ways to spend their golden years. Whether it’s independent living, assisted living or something in between, Rob