As the first rebate checks go out to help those affected by the Medicare prescription drug coverage “doughnut hole,” recipients are being told to be on guard against scammers.

Several state attorneys generals have warned about a series of scams related to the tax-free, $250 rebate checks; the first wave which have recently been mailed.

Medicare beneficiaries affected by the gap in prescription coverage and not participating in the Medicare “Extra Help” program will receive the checks automatically within about 45 days of becoming eligible. They do not have to sign up or give any additional information to get the checks. 

Seems everyone has a smartphone these days.      The iPhone is without a doubt the most popular. Possibly the most exciting things about these new devices are the ‘Apps’ – short for ‘applications’ – that run on them. These are essentially small programs that work on a smartphone just as they might on a normal computer. If you have an iPhone, iPod or iPad, you simply log into the iTunes store and download them to your device. It might seem like something for a new generation, but here are some Apps with the older users in mind:

Kathy White is a good hostess; she’ll offer you a cup    of coffee and a homemade baked good. This time it’s a chocolate chip cookie bar. You take a bite. “Is that cake batter I taste?” She gives you a sly smile and answers, “Not exactly.” She is not usually stingy with her recipes - unless they are waiting to be tasted, judged, and hopefully awarded a ribbon at this year’s Spokane County Fair.

Visit the crown jewel of Spokane treasures, beautiful Manito Park, for a celebration of the gardens and to honor 20 years of The Friends of Manito’s support and dedication to the improvement and overall enhancement of Manito Park.

Saturday, August 14th from 10 am to 2 pm, each of the lovely gardens will be hosting special activities for a fun-filled, family-friendly day. Garden clubs and local experts will be available to provide history and information.

Nothing signals the coming on of fall more than a trip to Pullman. Driving along Highway 195, the rolling wheat fields are especially striking when a wind whips through the land, creating a sea of amber waves. For Cougar fans, it means the start of football – and renewed hope for a winning season. Although Pullman is the epitome of a college town, there is lots to see and do off-campus, or at least outside the confines of Martin Stadium. For golfers, Palouse Ridge Golf Club is a picturesque,

University of Phoenix doesn’t have a football team.

But that doesn’t mean that the students are any less excited about going to school there. In fact, attending a non-traditional school where learning is the primary goal, and where classes are conducted not on campus, but through a virtual network, is an increasingly popular option for people with busy lives who are looking for a flexible way to further their education.

Are you sandwiched? Or are you feeling like a sandwich?

Sandwiched between the generations-our children need you; your parents’ lives have changed and they are starting to need you more. On one side, you have your family, children, school, sports, maybe even preschool and diapers. You have work you must keep up on so you maintain your position. On the other side, you have aging parents (two sets if you’re married) who may have developed

Cancer Care Northwest  is planning its Second Annual Cancer Resource Health Fair. This free event will feature cancer and general health screenings, educational lectures featuring CCNW’s physicians, booth exhibits from 25+local community partners, information and resources for cancer patients, massages, artwork created by cancer patients and more. Body mass index assessments (BMI), head/neck cancer screenings  and mole/skin cancer screenings will also be provided. Cancer nurses, counselors and cancer support staff will be on site to answer your questions.

The event will be held on Saturday, September 25th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Spokane Community College. For more information call Allison Benjamin at 509.228.1335 or visit our website www.cancercarenorthwest.com.

Community Cooking and Nutrition Classes

One World Spokane, 1804 E. Sprague Ave.

Aug. 4, The Fascination of Fruit, Fruit Salad; Aug. 11, Whole Grains vs. Refined Grains and Cabbage Rolls; Aug. 18, Think What You Drink, Truth Behind Fast Food and Healthy Crispy Chicken; Aug. 25, Good Oil Plus Food Safety and How to Freeze Food. All classes held from 6-8 PM., (509) 768-9479.

You might know actor Craig T. Nelson from the sitcom Coach where he played Hayden Fox, the head coach of the Minnesota State Screaming Eagle football team. You might know him for his roles in big screen movies:  Stir Crazy; Ghosts of Mississippi; Poltergeist; The Killing Fields; Silkwood; Devil’s Advocate; Blades of Glory; and The Incredibles, just to name a few. You might also know him as Zeek Braverman, the exuberant and outspoken patriarch of the Braverman family on the hit drama series Parenthood airing Tuesday nights at 10/9c on NBC.