By John de Graaf

If there’s one thing Americans need more of, it’s vacation time. Sure, we’ve got the Grossest Domestic Product on the planet. But American society is no longer as healthy as it should be because of vacation deprivation. In 1980, people in only ten other countries lived longer than we do. Now, people in more than 40 countries live longer than people in the US. If you lived in Europe, for example, you’d be half as likely than Americans to suffer from such chronic illnesses as heart disease, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes after the age of 50.

There is a conclusive body of research that points to hectic, work-life balance issues in the United States as a leading contributor to why Americans don’t take the time or often overlook the importance of vacations. Read the rest of the story.

Visitors to the Tallac Historic Site for the Valhalla Summer Arts and Music Festival will be able to view the fine arts exhibits of Lois Loveless through Sunday, and Dolores Manning’s works from Aug. 10-16.

Loveless primarily works in watercolor, but she also has been using pastels for about three years. Manning also paints with watercolors, but started practicing printmaking using etched metal plates.

The exhibits are at the Artist in Residence Gallery, and are open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery visitors can meet the artists and ask questions about their work.

For information on the Tahoe Tallac Association, or sponsors of the Valhalla Arts and Music Festival, call (530) 541-4975.

This story was published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune August 8, 2009