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Denali National Park creates an awe-inspiring backdrop for beautiful landscape and wildlife photographs. The park is located in the central area of the state of Alaska north of Anchorage and is approximately the size of the state of Massachusetts. Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America, is located within the park.

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, is known as one of the best places in the world to observe polar bears. Churchill is a small community located on the southwest shores of Hudson Bay. It is at this point on the bay that the pack ice first forms in the fall. Thus, polar bears migrate to this area to begin their journey on the pack ice to feed on seals during the long, cold winters of the Arctic.

Over the course of three separate expeditions, 78-year-old Harry Rutstein retraced the 13,000-mile Silk Route that Marco Polo took from Venice to Beijing more than 700 years ago. The journey took him across 14 mountain ranges and six deserts. He traveled by horse, jeep, donkey cart, farm tractor, goatskin raft, camel, and foot, and he came back with countless stories. Read his interview in Harry Rutstein: Retracing the Silk Route.

Irena Sendler was an elderly, relatively unknown Polish social worker until four teenagers from Kansas in search of a National History Day project discovered what she had done. Sendler had helped to rescue 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, before being captured and sentenced to die. But she escaped and lived quietly until the students found her and wrote a play about her. Sendler died on May 12, 2008, aged 98 years. Photos here are courtesy of the Web site http://www.irenasendler.org, where more than 250 images can be viewed. See Quiet Heroine Irena Sendler, 1910–2008 for Silver Planet's tribute to this remarkable woman.

What comes to mind when you think of Panama? The Canal? Manuel Noriega? After that, many people draw a blank. Check out these photos to see just a little of what Panama has to offer. From its bustling modern capital to the eternal spring of the mountain highlands to white sand beaches, Panama has it all—including clean water, ubiquitous Internet access, and friendly people.

Weightlifting didn’t become part of 90-year-old Andora Quinby’s life until she turned 78. In just over 10 years, she became a world record holder in deadlifting. At a competition in November 2007, she took home three trophies, which joined the roomful she already has. Andora’s life is one of achievement: At the age of 75, she earned a master’s degree in human services management from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Before that, she bore eight children. And before that, she earned a degree in physics and worked as a physicist for the Navy during World War II. Read all about her extraordinary life in the article Silver Star Andora Quinby.

Eugene Curnow, 83, was a Navy corpsman serving with a contingent of Marines that landed on Iwo Jima. He was one of only six who left the island alive 10 days later. He stayed silent about his war experience and went on to have a happy, active life, including 51 years as a veterinarian in Oregon, where he pioneered the use of mobile veterinary clinics. But late in life, unresolved posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) forced him to confront the war again. Now he’s written a riveting, story-filled memoir titled Life, the Hard Way: Up from Poverty Flat, which recounts not only that time but also growing up poor during the Depression. Read more about his extraordinary life in the article Silver Star Eugene Curnow.

Silver Star Marion Downs has had an acclaimed career in audiology. A hearing center in Colorado was named in her honor and opened in 2005, and she was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Last year, she received the Department of Health and Human Services’ highest award for her groundbreaking work and lifetime dedication promoting the early identification of hearing problems in children, only the latest of her many awards and honors. Now she’s written a book about living out your passions and getting the most out of a long life: Shut Up and Live! (You Know How): A 93-Year-Old’s Guide to Living to a Ripe Old Age. Read all about her extraordinary life in the article Silver Star Marion Downs.

Silver Sage Gael Stuart shares gorgeous photos taken during her recent vacation along the back roads of New Hampshire and Massachusetts and the mountain trails of Colorado. Gold and rust and shades of red . . . enjoy!

“I’ve had so many tragedies and so many miracles in my life,” says Itka Zygmuntowicz. “I’m the luckiest unlucky woman.” She is a survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, emerging without her family, completely alone at 19. To comprehend where she’s been is impossible; that she can talk about it, remarkable. The 35 poems in her book You Only Have What You Give Away range from cries of disbelief and sorrow to finding her way to understanding and gratitude. It took the memories of love, the grounding from the wise sayings of her mother and grandmother, and sheer determination to get her through it all. Read more about her remarkable life in the article Silver Star Itka Zygmuntowicz.

Many come to explore the wonders of Humboldt County, then stay a lifetime. These photos, taken in February 2008 and January 2009, are but a glimpse of what you could see in a
day’s leisurely drive, from the Avenue of the Giants in the southern part of the county, north to the Redwood Trails at Stone Lagoon. For a great overall guide to Humboldt County, check out 101 Things to Do – Humboldt.

Many come to explore the wonders of Humboldt County, then stay a lifetime. These photos, taken in February 2008 and January 2009, are but a glimpse of what you could see in a
day’s leisurely drive, from the Avenue of the Giants in the southern part of the county, north to the Redwood Trails at Stone Lagoon. For a great overall guide to Humboldt County, check out 101 Things to Do – Humboldt.

Bill Tapia, 101, is quite simply astonishing. A lifelong professional musician, on ukulele, guitar, and banjo, who has played with countless famous people, he’s still hard at work in his career. Once upon a time, he was one of the many layers of sound in big bands. Now, he’s the lead guy. The "Duke of Uke" released his first two CDs four years ago, and a new one is coming out in a few months. In April 2009, he’ll go on tour. In the meantime, he gives private lessons to 20 students. Click Silver Star Bill Tapia to read Silver Planet's article about this amazing man.

Legendary culinary expert Carol Brock, founder of Les Dames d’Escoffier, has spent more than 60 years as a food reporter, hostess editor, restaurant critic, writer, and educator, pausing only to give birth to three sons, working “until the first contraction each time.” She has hosted famous chef and food writer James Beard at her home, received compliments from renowned chef Julia Child, and prepared lunches for Helen Hayes, Paul Whiteman, Margaret Truman, Fred Waring, and various heads of state from around the world. Is she about to slow down? Hardly! In fact, she is contemplating writing her memoirs. Click Silver Star Carol Brock to read all about her remarkable life.