Free Tickets Were Available for Powers Museum Chautauqua.

The Helen S. Boylan Foundation has given a grant to the Powers Museum which allowed the September Civil War Chautauqua to be presented for free (no ticket fee) to those attending.

Ticket reservations were still needed for each performance due to limited seating and it was recommended to reserve prior to performance.

Limited Seats Available for September 17 -- General Robert E. Lee’s New Hat (Lee presented by Norman Joy) at Stone’s Throw Theatre (796 S. Stone Lane -- just west of Powers Museum/Municipal Park on old Route 66) at 7:30 p.m. Advance reservations for tickets were needed as seating is limited compared to previous Chautauqua venues.

Performance Seating was FULL for September 18 -- General Ulysses S. Grant presented by Dave Dickerson at Stone’s Throw Theatre.

Limited Seats were available for September 19 -- Mary Boykin Chesnut presented by Dianne Moran at Stone’s Throw Theatre. .

I don’t think of it as shoppin,’ ya shop for underwear. This is more of an adventure.

I’m in the market, as they say. Not in any big hurry. The tool I’m lookin’ for isn’t even a necessity. I’ve got time. Nothin’ worse than finally buyin’ somethin’ and findin’ out it won’t do what ya want it to do.

I spent a good portion of a day last weekend just findin’ out exactly what it is that I’m wantin’. Fact is, I spent most of the time just lookin’ for someone who knew anything about what it was I was lookin’ for.

Found one guy that seemed ta know quite a bit, but he said he wasn’t much of an expert on the topic. Couple others had the new merchandise, but not much knowledge. I did run across another item I already had for ‘bout a hunderd bucks less than what I paid. Hate it when that happens.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Weekly Columns

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Osteoarthritis: Bad to the Bone

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you provide information on osteoarthritis of the knee? Please include steps to take if you have it. Does it hurt a lot after surgery? Do vitamins or calcium help? -- W.J.

ANSWER: Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis. One-third of the population age 65 and older has it. It’s a cracking and crumbling of the cartilage inside the joint, which makes for bone rubbing against bone. The result is pain and stiffness. Age isn’t the sole factor causing it. Being overweight, heredity, misalignment of the joint bones and previous injury all contribute to its appearance. Climbing stairs, getting out of a chair and walking become challenges.

A cure has yet to be found, but there are steps to take to manage it. Weight loss, if that applies to you, makes a huge difference. Loss of only 5 percent of current weight increases joint mobility and lessens pain. Exercise helps. Walk to the point of pain, rest and then continue on your way. Strengthening the thigh and hamstring muscles protects the knees. A warm shower or bath on rising decreases stiffness.

Tylenol is a safe and effective pain reliever. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- Aleve, Advil, Motrin and many others -- work well, but their downside is stomach irritation and the possible promotion of an ulcer. Simultaneously taking medicines that blunt stomach-acid production affords protection against these side effects. Prilosec and Zantac are two examples of protective drugs. Voltaren gel, an NSAID medicine that’s applied directly to the skin over the knees, reduces the threat of stomach irritation yet eases joint pain. Your doctor can inject the knee with cortisone, which often affords three or more months of relief.

Calcium and vitamins don’t work. People often ask about chondroitin and glucosamine. In spite of testimonials praising them, little evidence exists for their efficacy. If you want to try them, they won’t hurt.

The ultimate treatment for severe knee osteoarthritis is replacement of the joint. I know few people so happy with their treatment than are the ones who have had this surgery. Pain after surgery is not great and is not long-lasting.