Similarities outweigh the differences for young Ella

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 07 October 2008 14:20

JostBruceKimberlee.jpg Bruce and Kimberlee enjoy the fall day with their daughters Talia, 11 months, and Ella, 5. “Ella enjoys and loves everything that everyone else does and hates everything that everybody else does,” said Kimberlee Jost, Ella’s mother. “There are more similarities than differences. It just so happens that she wears her differences readily.”

Like most 5-year-olds, Ella Jost is an active child. She loves to run, watch “Sesame Street,” “Veggie Tales” and “Finding Nemo,” play with her younger sister Talia, and read books, her favorite being “Brown Bear, Brown Bear.”

Unlike the typical 5-year-old, Ella has Down syndrome.

“Ella enjoys and loves everything that everyone else does and...

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Palin has raised Down syndrome profile

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 07 October 2008 14:17

Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska recently gave birth to a son with Down syndrome.

“A lot of people have said, when I heard about (Sarah Palin), I thought about you,” said Kimberlee Jost, Hillsboro mother of a child with Down syndrome.

Palin’s recent national exposure has put a spotlight on Down syndrome.

“I think a lot of people want to know how we feel about Palin perhaps, but maybe haven’t asked about it,” said Bruce Jost, father of a child with Down syndrome.

The Josts said that if they vote a McCain/Palin ticket in November, their decision won’t be based solely on Palin’s experience with Down syndrome.

“Bruce and I are like everybody else,” Kimberlee said. “We only know what...

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Healthy Geezer- What should we do when we see potential abuse of elders?

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 09 September 2008 14:31

Q I have a neighbor, a woman in her 80s. I think someone is hurting her. It might be her daughter. I don’t know what I should do about this.



A Recently, the U.S. Admini­stra­tion on Aging found that more than a half-million people over the age of 60 are abused or neglected each year. About 90 percent of the abusers are related to the victims.

All 50 states have elder-abuse prevention laws and have set up reporting systems. Adult Pro­tective Services agencies investigate reports of suspected elder abuse. To report elder abuse, contact APS through your state’s hotline.

The following are available hotline numbers: Alabama 800-458-7214, Alaska 800-478-9996, Arizona 877-767-2385, Arkansas 800-332-4443, Califor­nia 888-436-3600...

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Boomers driving American volunteerism makeover

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 09 September 2008 14:29

Senior7585_B7_rgb.jpg As the first wave of retiring boomers leaves the work force and the next wave reaches 55, they are redefining another American institution—volunteerism.

Baby boomers have been rewriting American culture for decades. Now, as the first wave of retiring boomers leaves the work force and the next wave is reaching the 55-plus mark, they are redefining yet another great American institution—volunteerism.

In 2002, Dom Gieras retired from his job with the state of New York after 30 years. Where once his volunteering revolved around his family’s needs including stints managing his son’s baseball teams, today he is a volunteer technology consultant with the Executive Service Corps of the Tri-Cities. Gieras...

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