THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 5, 1994 TAG: 9408030104
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 1B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Pam Starr
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
Open the oak cabinet in Katharine Cover Sabin's kitchen and you'll find five fully stocked shelves of vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and European pharmaceuticals.
The 84-year-old author and nonacademic parapsychologist believes that these pills and bottles have helped to slow her aging process. She religiously takes 42 pills or capsules twice a day. Even though Sabin is heavyset and walks with a cumbersome gait, she could easily pass as a woman in her 60s. The whites of her brown eyes are as translucent as glass and her milky-white face is nearly devoid of wrinkles.
``I had a remarkable rejuvenation when I was 68,'' said Sabin from her Chesopeian Colony home. ``I had had a stroke and my blood pressure was very high. I was diabetic. The doctor put me on medication, but I went with alternative therapies and was completely recovered in six months.''
Now Sabin is looking to form an age retardation research group for seniors, confident that the unorthodox methods she practices will work for other older adults. She wants to record her experiences and others with the hope of accumulating enough material for a book. In addition to the vitamin supplements and a daily consumption of grapes, Sabin uses metaphysics, mechanical devices based on the Edgar Cayce readings, visualization techniques and isometric exercises ``with a spiritual whammy'' to keep her healthy.
``Despite my weight I'm in such wonderful physical shape,'' said Sabin, author of ``The Cybernetic ESP Breakthrough'' and ``ESP and Dream Analysis.'' ``The last time I saw my doctor he told me I would have sugar in my blood. I told him I wouldn't and I didn't.'' The doctor eventually told her she could go off the medicine he had prescribed.
Sabin credits part of her youthfulness to staying busy and active. California had been her home for more than 50 years, but she moved to Virginia Beach about 18 months ago because this is ``Edgar Cayce land.'' A professional card reader for decades, Sabin devised a system for reading cards that ``anyone'' can use to predict events, and she teaches classes on them. She also founded a publishing company called Mindreach, which prints her books. Her next book, ``Easy, Easy ESP With Synchronicity,'' is due out in September and she's finishing up ``Parapsychology of Prayer.''
``I rely on the universal energy to a great extent,'' said Sabin, fingering a jade amulet that hangs from her neck. ``I don't use a `not.' I'm a positive thinker. And I think we owe it to the people around us to have an open mind. You have more fun that way.''
If you would like to join Sabin's research group, call her at 463-3011 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
A FORMER MODEL AND ACTRESS will be vying for the title of Ms. Virginia Senior Citizen this month with more than 20 other women.
Julia Manherz, 72, has been polishing her pipes for the last few months in preparation for the beauty pageant, which will be held in Roanoke Aug. 29 and 30 at Patrick Henry High School. Manherz will sing ``Around the World in 80 Days'' for the talent competition.
``It's very flattering - the pageant got in touch with me and asked if I would compete,'' said Manherz, who describes herself as a 5-foot, 2-inch, 108-pound redhead. ``I think I can fill the slots. I feel confident that I won't have a problem.''
Competing in a beauty pageant is natural for Manherz, a veteran of many a contest in her younger years. While modeling in California in the 1940s, Manherz was discovered by a 20th Century Fox agent and signed a seven-year movie contract. When she moved to Virginia Beach with husband Jack she started her own modeling agency, the Tidewater Models Guild.
Seventeen years ago Jack built a house for them in Wintergreen, and that's where she spends most of her time. Once a month, however, they return to their Thoroughgood home for a few days. Manherz doesn't know whether she'll be representing Wintergreen or Virginia Beach in the pageant but that really doesn't matter.
``I've had a very exciting, interesting and fabulous life,'' she said. ``This pageant sounds like a fun, fun thing to do. I'm just going to do the best I can and have fun.''
Another Virginia Beach resident, Virginia Ann Freeman, is a contestant in the pageant.
THE OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY Institute for Learning in Retirement will be starting its fall term on Sept. 21 and campus coordinator Toby Netherton hopes to sign up more members.
The year-old program offers non-credit, college level courses and field trips designed to meet the needs and interests of adults 55 and over. Annual dues are $10 per person or $15 per couple and course fees are ``nominal,'' said Netherton.
``What makes this program different is that the members decide what classes they want rather than the sponsoring university,'' Netherton said. ``They select their own committees. The program is run by the members, not me or the university.''
Netherton won't have a schedule of the fall classes until next week, but previous classes have been held in history, science, theater, music and art. Members have taken field trips to NASA, the Emergency Services Center on Virginia Beach Boulevard, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and the Air and Space Museum in Hampton. The institute has about 150 members.
``We're always looking for more members,'' she said. ``The idea is to provide low cost, interesting, stimulating educational programs and the more members we have, the more courses we can offer.''
The program is part of a national movement of the Elderhostel Institute Network, which puts the ODU Institute in touch with other programs across the country. Members are then eligible to participate in other programs and conferences, said Netherton.
If you would like more information on the fall courses, or on the institute, call 683-3737. Or write ODU Institute for Learning in Retirement, Room 116, Education Building, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va. 23529. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Julia Manherz vies for senior title.
Author and publisher Katharine Cover Sabin has about 100 bottles of
various vitamins she uses in a daily regimen that she says helps to
keep her looking more youthful than her 84 years.
by CNB