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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Friday Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book Orthodox Church raising funds to build new home 10 things to know for Thursday What does Uncle Foods weekly dinner mean to you? Education Ashland Middle School students put their Spanish-speaking skills to the test Grizzlies claim speech championship Levy backers eye final push Neal Simon: This is a test Grade-school philanthropist Environment Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Stopping fire in its tracks Some trails, roads remain closed due to controlled burn Earth Day: Hope for our 'pale blue dot' Business Ashland Safeway closes Thursday, to reopen as Haggen on Sunday Cars We Remember: Car enthusiast wishes new model designs were ‘more different’ Ride & Drive: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Silvio Calabi: Taxis and traffic in the olde worlde Airport Day returns May 16 Politics and elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Gray's death Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election State News Lack of snow nixes ski portion of popular Central Oregon race Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries R. Charles "Charlie" Snyder Death Notices Harry D. Detwiler Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland boys sweep doubles, beat GP Living on the edge SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team See you in August Wry & Ginger: A pitch to make national pastime better High school Ashland boys sweep doubles, beat GP Living on the edge SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team Ashland softball team rolls past Springfield Penn, Norvell, Baldrica pace Ashland track team at Crater Southern Oregon University SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team See you in August Same old Raiders Ashland softball team rolls past Springfield Who's got next? Voices Latest Stories Landgren cartoon: Deflategate intensifies Matthew T. Mangino: Aging prisoners: An American crisis Our View: Forest work is a bargain Letters to the Editor, May 8 Jeffrey Gillespie: Is there a right to offend? Editorial Our View: Forest work is a bargain Our View: What price history? Our View: Waging peace after war Our View: Rail car roulette Our View: Reading the tea leaves Letters Letters to the Editor, May 8 Letters to the Editor, May 6 Letters to the Editor, May 5 Letters to the Editor, May1 Letters to the Editor, April 30 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Restoring the Plaza's sense of place Guest Opinion: Making conservation a game Guest Opinion: A good day to act Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Columns Matthew T. Mangino: Aging prisoners: An American crisis Jeffrey Gillespie: Is there a right to offend? Editor's Notes: This, that and the other Mochas, Midrash and Mysteries: Balancing the gift and the task Chris Honoré: A wider context rarely discussed Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Movie listings: May 8-14 Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' 5 picks for live entertainment Prepare for lots of dialogue in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability 'Arsenic and Old Lace' has killer charm Some OSF crew members seek to unionize Music The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour The Farr Side: Slow disappearance of physical music Visual Art Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Movie listings: May 8-14 Prepare for lots of dialogue in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' Food and Drink Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Looking Up: Once in a while a star blows up Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day Orthodox Church raising funds to build new home Antionette Kerr: Mother’s Day founder challenged commercialism Breathe easier with whole-house air purification Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Mocha Musings Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Forest work is a bargain ... Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, May 8 ... Our View: Forest work is a bargain ... Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, May 8 ... AGING POPULATION Ashland nonagenarians stay fit, eat right, enjoy life By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 6, 2015 @ 8:10 pm Updated May 7, 2015 at 12:38 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 6, 2015 @ 8:10 pm Updated May 7, 2015 at 12:38 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Being a nonagenarian is not for sissies. This rapidly growing segment of the population — people 90 or older — uniformly report it requires staying on top of nutrition, lots of aerobic and strength exercises and, above all, lots of attitude. And humor.  After a round of stretches, pushes and pulls with an exercise band, almost a dozen nonegenarians at Mountain Meadows remarked on the importance of such workouts, and the sense of community that comes with it, as they surge way beyond the average life expectancy in the U.S. “I do everything in moderation and exercise 30 minutes a day, either in class like this or the pool,” says Virgil Butler, 94, who cracks the class up playing harmonica and telling jokes as they work out. “You have to have something to look forward to every day. That’s key. What’s on the schedule today? At this age, you can be isolarted or active. It’s up to you. Make someone else happy, even with just a hug and they’ll make someone else happy.” Ninety-five-year-old Mamie Kreisman notes, “If you want to keep alert with what’s going on around you, I feel diet and exercise are key — and enjoying to be with all the wonderful people around you. Have that routine of exercise every day. It gives you something to get up for. It’s very important to be alert and keep active and focus on the positive, not negative things.” Leading the class, veteran Ashland trainer and Mountain Meadows fitness director Carol Lee Rogers notes that advances in health care, fitness and mindset keep enlarging the 90-plus set, so that a whopping 90 of 300 residents are nonagenarians. “They are so mobile and active,” says Rogers. “It has to do with attitude. At least twice a week, you should do strength exercises for 12 to 15 reps. They used to say do one or two sets but now the research says do three or four sets, five to six days a week.” Do a mixed cardio and strength workout 30 minutes a day, five days a week, she adds. Walking is always great cardio and the rowing machine is wonderful, as it works out all muscle groups, and represents no challenge to the balance of older folks. Seated elliptical machines are also good. “My advice,” says Maxine Scott, 93, “is keep on breathing, keep informed and don’t fall down. That’s what Sophie Tucker said and she was right.” Ninety-two-year old Ellie Marzocco says, “Just keep moving. Get up even if you feel like going back to bed. Having a cat helps too.” Ninety-year-old Marge Rusnak observes, “Do lots of crafts. I do painting and watercolors, sewing, knitting and, of course, exercise.” Ninety-one-year old Elizabeth Hallett volunteers a joke to the group about being positive: even if it doesn’t work, it’ll drive everyone crazy, and that’s worth it. “Take real good care of your body, exercise and eat right. That’s my mantra,” says Hallett, “that and positive attitude.” Not everyone buys into the standard health mantra. To much giggling of her peers, Ann Andavall, 93, says she owes her longevity to 40 years of vodka with ginger ale — and smoking. She dropped those about three decades ago and now just has a weekly glass of wine and lots of walking and other exercise. Centenarian Molly Gruber loved working out at the Y and wearing her signature string of pearls, but gave it up after she passed 100. She just celebrated her 104th birthday with songs from an Elvis impersonator and loves to go out dining in Medford restaurants with her 83-year old daughter. Gruber, a former bookkeeper and resident of Brookdale Ashland thinks she might be the oldest person in Ashland and would like to meet someone her age. The key to longevity? “I never drank or smoked. Had two husbands but never divorced. I’m looking for another one but he must be older than me, have a good head of hair and a flat stomach.” Any candidates in sight? “Nope,” she says. Gruber knows everyone and is a repository of history at the retirement community, fielding any question on what happened to whom and when, says Alex Edmonds, activities director of Brookdale Ashland. “She’s definitely our grande dam, a pivotal person here. When she doesn’t come to the dining room, everyone knows it. When she comes, well, it’s another day of hope for us all.” As proof of the nonegenarian boom, the U.S. Census says that of Americans over 65 years of age, 4.7 percent of them are in their 90s. In 1980, it was only 2.8 percent. In 2050, they estimate it will pass 10 percent. On average, it notes, if you live past 65 you can now expect another 19 years, thus the focus on nutrition and fitness if you want to join the nonagenarian elite. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 6, 2015 @ 8:10 pm Updated May 7, 2015 at 12:38 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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