Prime Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
June 2010 FREE
Marking Time
Montgomery
See
Music City, USA
Inside... n
Rethinking Retirement n Camp Stew and Buttermilk Pie n Exercises, DVD reviews and more!
Hitting
theDigital Wall
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Features 11 Music city, usa Nashville boasts hot notes, cool riverboats and a Greek temple. By Andrea Gross
18 Marking Time A 72-year-old Montgomery icon gets a fresh face. By Bob Corley 28 hitting the digital wall Overwhelmed by new software and electronic devices? You’re not alone. By Tim Lennox
Prime
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond!
Montgomery
JUNE Prime
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Health/Nutrition 15 a question of health
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
June 2010 FREE
Marking Time
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Music City, USA
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Rethinking Retirement n Camp stew and Buttermilk Pie n exercises, dVd reviews and more!
Hitting
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On the Cover — Mark Fair, painting time. Photo by Bob Corley Story on page 18.
Financial
Medical
More flaxseed, please, and hold the cholesterol. By Karen Collins
26 MOving free Push, raise, squat, sit and squeeze your way into summer shape. By Mirabai Holland
14 medical edge/mayo clinic The expert talks about using multiple meds to treat asthma and COPD. 22 Marci Medicare Answers Q & A’s focus on Medicare’s role in home improvements, your road trips, and respite care.
26 MOneywise
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To rethink retirement, start with a financial inventory. By Alan Wallace
Lifestyles
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10 In every life Avoid sun damage to eyes and skin by being prepared. By Arlene Morris 16 gracious plenty Mmm, mmm good! Granddaddy’s camp stew and Mama’s buttermilk pie with blackberry sauce put a smile on your hungry face. By Patsy Smith 23 elder law
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Entertainment 09 Around Montgomery He fought with Andrew Jackson and an Alamo hero. Can you find this Montgomery major? 4
June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
31 prime diversions Need a movie? Invictus and Alice in Wonderland are just out on video. Read the reviews. By Mark Glass
A new state task force looks at Alzheimer’s impact on Alabama citizens. By Bill Fuller 25 dr. marion A Geriatric Care Manager can help with long distance elder care. 32 discover your past Aren’t you glad your relatives filled out their census forms? By Nancy Dupree
Editor’s Note As a little girl I remember frequent visits to Klein & Son Jewelers downtown. Whether my mother was the recipient of an endless stream of wedding invitations or whether she just enjoyed being surrounded by elegant silver coffee services, flashy diamonds and glittering crystal (who wouldn’t?), I don’t know. What I do know is that I was mightily impressed by the only jewelry store I’d ever visited. The merchandise was certainly dazzling, but my fondest recollections are of the pneumatic chutes carrying sales receipts between store levels, the opulent glass and wood wall cases containing precious ornaments and gems, and…that remarkable clock. A downtown fixture, the Klein’s clock stood stalwart, confidently letting me and everyone else know that all was right with the world. It was big, practically reaching the second floor level, and presented busy shoppers with the time of day, regardless which end of Dexter they faced. It wasn’t the only clock downtown — a couple of the financial buildings also had them — but none were so impressive as the clock that graced the corner of Dexter and South Court. The Klein’s clock made you feel Montgomery was an important place, and that as a shopper in downtown Montgomery, you were important too. Maybe that’s why many of us were so pleased when the owners returned the clock to its original site last year, because we long for that sense of importance about our downtown area again. Our cover story on the Klein’s clock answers many questions about this city landmark, and provides insight into the clock’s own struggles to keep up with the times. In a 180-degree shift, local contributor Tim Lennox ponders age and hi-tech gizmos in Hitting the Digital Wall, wondering about that point in life when we begin to shutdown, refusing to entertain even the slightest familiarity with modern technological advancements. It’s an essay that’s sure to engage even the most resolute tech resisters. But there’s more, with useful news and entertainment info on every page, such as: what’s to do in Nashville (even after the flood!); caring for your elder relative who lives far away; Patsy Smith’s down-home recipes for camp stew and Mama’s Buttermilk Pie with Blackberry Sauce; strategies for enjoying the outdoors despite the sizzling sun; taking flaxseed to help your heart; rethinking retirement; the new Alabama Alzheimer’s Task Force; reviews of just-released movies on DVD, and much, much more! It’s our third issue, packed with fascinating stories and news for those of us at midlife and beyond. Enjoy your Prime!
Prime
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
Montgomery
June 2010 Volume I, Issue 3 PUBLISHER Bob Corley primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Bob Corley Tim Lennox Andrea Gross CONTRIBUTORS Arlene Morris, Karen Collins, Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland, Marion Somers, Patsy Smith, Nancy Dupree, Bill Fuller, Alan Wallace, Jake Roberts PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Corley, Irv Green, Sandra Polizos Prime Montgomery 7956 Vaughn Road, #144 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-202-0114 www.primemontgomery.com ISSN 2152-9035 Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/ Corley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2010 by The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC., all rights reserved, with replication of any portion prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed are those of contributing writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC. Prime Montgomery is published monthly except for the combined issue of December/January. Information in articles, departments, columns, and other content areas, as well as advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Prime Montgomery magazine. Items relating to health, finances, and legal issues are not offered as substitutes for the advice and consultation of health, financial, and legal professionals. Consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with financial, medical, emotional, or legal matters. We accept no liability for errors or omissions, and are not responsible for advertiser claims.
Sandra Polizos Editor
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news you can use Walk To Lower Blood Pressure It doesn’t take years of exercise to lower blood pressure — it may happen as soon as three to four weeks after increasing your level of physical activity. Exercise generally decreases systolic and diastolic values by about 10 points. For most people, a 10-point drop in blood pressure isn’t enough to make their blood pressure normal, but increased levels of physical activity have benefits beyond the reduction in blood pressure. Exercise also helps with weight control and improves blood cholesterol and glucose levels, lowering heart attack and stroke risks, even if your blood pressure is not reduced to normal levels. Mild exercises, such as walking, may reduce blood pressure as much or more than strenuous activities like jogging. A simple rule to follow: Physical activity should elevate your heart rate and
breathing somewhat, but you should still be able to carry on a conversation while doing these activities. Consult your physician before engaging in a vigorous exercise program like jogging, but milder exercise, such as walking, is good for almost everyone’s heart health. — American College of Sports Medicine Warnings Signs Heart Attack Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly with mild pain or discomfort with one or more of these symptoms: • Chest discomfort • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort • Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness Stroke • Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially if it’s on one
side • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination • Sudden, severe headache with unknown cause Learn to recognize a stroke. Time lost is brain lost. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately if you experience signs of a heart attack or stroke. — American Heart Association Five Ways to Shake Things Up It happens.You wake up one morning to find your everyday routine has become a rut. In today's world marked by financial collapse and increasing instability, more and more people are finding the grooves of their daily lives have become seemingly endless ruts. But with a few helpful tips and a new outlook, you can break out of these dreaded traps. • Find What You Love and Do It: Discover your calling and pursue it passionately.
Transitional Care A short-term stay providing patient and family a smooth transition from hospital to home. Transitional Care is a Crowne Health Care specialty. It encompasses a variety of treatments including, but not limited to, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, wound care and pain management. Call for more information. Crowne Health Care and Rehab 1837 Upper Wetumpka Road Montgomery, AL 36107 334-264-8416 Contact Tracy Pattillo or Ann Adams www.crownemanagement.com
• Get Lost: Let your subconscious mind wander. Getting lost is often the best way of finding ourselves. • Master the Art of Giving: Giving creates positive energy that ultimately makes us feel better about ourselves. • Go Back to School: An emerging trend in the midst of the global recession, it’s "one of the most important qualities of rutbusting." • Surround Yourself with Teachers: Associate with people whose areas of expertise are different from yours. Whatever your personal rut, you can make it a thing of the past by making some easy changes in your life. — Statepoint (“Secrets of a Rutbuster”) Brain Function Boost in FirstTime Internet Users You CAN teach an old dog new tricks, say UCLA scientists. They found that middleaged and older adults
Sensible Precautions for Gulf Visitors and Residents As the Alabama Department of Public Health works to obtain up-to-date information on the Gulf oil spill, it has issued these preliminary health precautions for all visitors and Gulf area residents: (Cont’d on page 8)
with little internet experience were able to trigger key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning after just one week of surfing the web. The findings suggest that internet training can stimulate neural activation patterns and could potentially enhance brain function and cognition in older adults.
Capitol Grill
Treating Cluster Headaches With High-Flow Oxygen Cluster headache are characterized by bouts of excruciating pain usually near the eye or temple. Attacks often occur in clusters lasting weeks or months, separated by remissions lasting months or years. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 78% of patients who received high-flow oxygen reported being pain-free or to have adequate relief within 15 minutes of treatment, compared to 20% of patients who received a placebo treatment. There were no serious adverse events related to the treatments.
Great Home Cooking for more than 60 years Mon.-Sat. 5:30 a.m.2:00 p.m. ______ 1863 Mt. Meigs Rd. Montgomery, AL 36107 334-264-5515
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June in Alabama History (courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History) June 2, 1943 James J. Aliceville's WW II POW camp gets its first three weeks later. Braddock to June 11, 1963 group of German soldiers. Five thousand become the Gov. George Wallace makes his would eventually be imprisoned there, the first black infamous “stand in the schoolhouse largest of four camps in Alabama. heavyweight door” at the University of Alabama. June 9, 1943 boxing chamJune 12, 1933 The “Tuskegee Airmen”, from the 99th Actor/singer Jim Nabors, perhaps pion in almost Fighter Squadron trained at Tuskegee, engage 30 years. best known for his Gomer Pyle in their first aerial combat with German fightJune 24, character in “The Andy Griffith ers in the skies over North Africa. 1896 Show", is born in Sylacauga. June 11, 1949 Booker T. Washington, president of June 18, 1954 Alabama native and country music legend Tuskegee Institute, becomes the first Albert Patterson, Democratic Hank Williams debuts on the Grand Ole African American to be awarded an Opry performing "Lovesick Blues" and "Mind Party nominee for state attorhonorary degree by Harvard University. ney general, is assassinated in his Your Own Business." June 27, 1880 hometown of Phenix City. His son, June 11, 1963 Helen Keller is born in Tuscumbia. John, was elected attorney general Shelby County native Dr. James Hardy perHaving lost sight and hearing by illness and later governor. forms the world's first human lung transplant as a small child, Keller’s life story and at the University of Mississippi Medical Cen- June 19, 1864 activism inspired new attitudes toward The CSS Alabama, commanded ter. The patient died of chronic kidney disease those with handicaps. by Mobile’s Raphael Semmes, sinks July 1, 1915 off the coast of Cherbourg, France, news Alabama enacts Prohibition five years following a fierce naval battle with (Cont’d from page 7) before the country as a whole. Gov. the USS Kearsarge, captained by a Odor: If you are close to the Gulf Coast former shipmate of Semmes’ during Charles Henderson vetoed the 1915 you may detect an odor as a result of the oil ban on alcohol, but the legislature overthe Mexican War. spill. Some people also may be sensitive to rode his veto. That year, 386 illegal stills June 22, 1937 any change in air quality, which could cause Lafayette native Joe Louis defeats were seized in the state. symptoms such as lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting or headaches. Want more information about the latest If you have these symptoms, authorities recommend you consider staying indoors, Prime Montgomery happenings? ventilating your home with air conditioning, Let’s get connected! and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity. If these symptoms do not improve, consider n Follow us on Twitter @PrimeMontgomery contacting your primary care physician n Become a Fan of Prime Montgomery on Facebook or other health care provider for medical n Check out our website: www.primemontgomery.com advice. If you have pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma or other respiratory illness, consider communicating with your physician if you feel symptomatic. Food Advisories: If a fish smells or tastes like oil, do not eat it. Wash hands before eating. Protective Measures:The following protective measures should be taken if you are in the area of the Gulf oil spill: • Avoid direct contact with the oil. • If you get oil or tar balls on your skin, wash with soap and water. • Launder articles of clothing as usual if you get oil on them. There is no need to use harsh detergents, solvents or other chemicals to wash oil from skin or clothing, and it is discouraged. 8 June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
around montgomery
Forever On Guard By Jake Roberts is right arm reaches across his body, hand grasping the horse-head hilt of the curved sword strapped to his hip, fingers curling around the weapon’s handle. The wings of the eagle gracing his belt buckle are spread in defiance. Arm, hand, fingers, sword, and belt buckle are frozen in time, sealed in bronze, forever on guard. He is, in a word, a statue. In history, however, he was much more. This man portrayed in bronze has the unenviable and unsought honor of being the first U.S. military death in a battle that occurred not far from here, a battle waged under the command of Andrew Jackson. Just months prior to his death, following a successful campaign, Jackson himself had presented this young army major a pair of flintlock pistols which are now on display in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Reports indicate this officer died in the arms of a fellow soldier under his command, a man who later earned his own place in history far to the west, at a place called the Alamo. Sam Houston is said to have cradled the dying major’s head as the battle raged around them. According to Dr. I. N. Ternet, this soldier’s tombstone is the only marked grave on the battlefield where he died almost 200 years ago. Find the statue of the man after whom our county is named, take a photograph of yourself there, and send it to Prime Montgomery. That way you, too, can be immortalized -- at least for a little while.
H
Below: Prime reader Kiki Mitchell discovered the resting place of last month’s lions, where they keep 24-hour watch over the Madison Avenue/ North Madison Terrace entrance to the Capitol Heights neighborhood in midtown Montgomery.
www.primemontgomery.com | June 2010
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in every life
Summer Strategies for
Fun in the Sun
Arlene H. Morris
A
s summer arrives in its full power, some strategic planning for promoting and maintaining your health are in order. Ultraviolet rays from the sun contribute to both cataract formation and macular degeneration. Wear sunglasses and have an annual eye exam to track any progression and to assess for the insidious onset of glaucoma. Avoid being in the sun during the middle of the day if at all possible, due to the sun’s impact on skin as well as eye tissues. Cumulative effects of the sun’s rays may lead to skin cancer, so be sure to have all areas of your skin inspected annually, and check your back with a mirror using a predetermined schedule. Sunscreen is available in many forms and strengths. Although “age spots” (changes in the melanin) may develop, any area (including moles) with irregular shape, change in color or texture, a sore that does not heal, or a persistent area of itching or inflammation should be checked by a health care provider. Many changes are not cancerous, but detection of skin cancer at its earliest stages correlates with the best treatment results. Some vitamin deficiencies (such the B vitamins) also manifest as changes in the skin. Sunshine has benefits such as mood enhancement and stimulation for our bodies to produce vitamin D. Research has revealed benefits of vitamin D for bone and breast health, and its impact on mood. If you have not had a vitamin D level
assessed, you may request this at your next health care provider visit. Also ask about potential impact of sun exposure on side effects from any of your prescribed or over-the-counter medications. Although paleness may indicate a lack of sun exposure, it may also be a sign of anemia. Skin changes may be related to chronic conditions or to substances that are eaten, applied or touched. There are various strategies to prevent common summer skin irritations such as ringworm (or “tinnea,” caused by a fungus), ticks (risk for Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever), and mosquito bites (risk for West Nile). Repellants are available which include DEET or alternate ingredients, and may be worn on the body in a small cartridge as well as sprayed or applied to the skin. If you experience altered sensation from neurologic diseases, you may be unaware of irritations or injuries to your lower extremities, and should wear protective shoes and clothing. These thoughtful approaches may enable more enjoyment of the outdoors now that summer has arrived. Next month: Hyperthermia. Arlene H. Morris, RN, EdD is a Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor in the Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing, where she enjoys teaching content regarding gerontology and professional nursing issues.
“... ask about potential impact of sun exposure on side effects from any of your prescribed or over-the-counter medications.” 10
June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
Summer in the (Music)City
Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in the country.
Story by Andrea Gross Photographs by Irv Green; Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau
R
emember the song “Crying in the Chapel?” It was one of Elvis’ biggest hits, and I played it so often on my little 45rpm player that it nearly drove my mother crazy. Now I’m in Nashville’s RCA Studio B, the very place where it was recorded, and I’m absolutely
thrilled. “Elvis liked to come in somewhere around 11 p.m., munch a few hamburgers, sing some gospel to warm up, and then, as dawn broke, settle down to record his hits,” says the guide. “He recorded ‘Crying in the Chapel’ around 5 a.m.
Elvis’ Cadillac is one of the most popular items in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Gruhn Guitars is a world-wide source of vintage instruments.
Each night the Bluebird Cafe’ plays hosts to professional and aspiring songwriters.
This type of gossip tickles me; it makes me feel like an insider. There’s music aplenty in this self-proclaimed “Music City, USA,” but this year the loudest music of all will be the city’s song to the institution which started it all: the Grand Ole Opry. This year the Opry is celebrating its 85th birthday with a multitude of special events. Here are some musical must-dos while you’re at the party: n Watch the Grand Ole Opry. The show got its name when radio station WSM featured an hour of down-home music immediately following a broadcast of the New York Opera. “Folks,” said the announcer, “you’ve been listening to music taken largely from the grand opera....
Now you’re gonna hear the Grand Ole Opry!” The name stuck, and the program became a national sensation. Today the show is performed live in the high tech Grand Ole Opry House and can be heard across the United States via radio, internet and even an iPhone app. (NOTE — Due to recent flooding, performances have been moved to other venues, including the original home of the Opry, the Ryman auditorium. Check the website below for the latest information.) n Tour the historic Ryman, a grand auditorium, with acoustics second only to the Mormon Tabernacle. It was built in 1892 so that a charismatic preacher could spread the word of the Lord.
But from 1943 to 1974 it housed the Grand Ole Opry and instead spread the sounds of country. n Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, a 130,000-square foot state-ofthe-art museum that is the place to learn the finer points of country music. Listen to snippets of songs by musical icons and gaze awestruck at Elvis’ Cadillac, which is encrusted with forty coats of crushed diamonds and fish scales and crowned with headlights rimmed with 24-karat gold plate. An exhibit honoring the Williams family (particularly Hank and Hank Jr.) is on display through 2011; one focusing on Tammy Wynette opens August 20 and runs through June 2011. (The museum
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June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
Above:The Grand Ole Opry has been going strong for 85 years. Left: Huge columns dwarf a visitor to the full-scale replica of Greece’s Parthenon.
The Country Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to identifying and preserving the history and traditions of country music.
also runs tours of the aforementioned RCA Studio B.) n Stop by Hatch Show Print, one of the oldest letterpress print shops in the country. It gained national fame by using hand-carved blocks and wood type to create posters that were slapped on buildings across rural America. Now it’s listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and counts folks like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen among its clients. n Party in the Honky-tonk District, located on Broadway between Third and Fifth Avenues near the Ryman.This is where performers whiled away their time — singing, strumming and drinking — before and after their shows.Today the honky-tonks provide music nearly round the clock. n Look into Gruhn Guitars, a shop where serious guitar players can find the instrument of their dreams (some costing upwards of $100,000) and where vintage guitars find a lasting home. n Enjoy an evening at the The Ryman Auditorium boasts great acoustics. Bluebird Café, the hottest “listening room” in town. Here’s where up-and-coming songwriters test their songs on small groups of avid music fans. It has helped launch the careers of Garth Brooks,Trisha Yearwood and Faith Hill. n Relax at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, a striking new concert hall that opened in 2006 and is home to Nashville’s GRAMMY® Award-winning symphony.The design was inspired by Europe’s 19th century halls and manages to be grand and intimate at the same time. (NOTE — The Schermerhorn is closed due to flood damage. Performances have been re-scheduled and moved to other venues. Check the website below for the latest information.) n Explore a full-scale replica of Greece’s Parthenon in Centennial Park. Built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition, the Parthenon houses the city’s art museum, a 42-foot replica of the Goddess Athena, and a fascinating series of photographs documenting its construction. For information go to www.visitmusiccity.com, or call 800-657-6910.Visit www. opry.com/85 for information on the Opry’s birthday bash. Downtown shops have a down-home flavor.
www.primemontgomery.com | June 2010
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Medical Edge/mayo clinic
Asthma and COPD May Require Multiple Treatments Q
: I'm an active 84-year-old man and was diagnosed with asthma and COPD a few years ago. My pulmonologist prescribed two medications - Advair and Spiriva - that seem to do the same thing. Why would I need both medications and are there other options? : The medications you mention include three drugs because Advair contains two different medications. Spiriva is approved for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Advair is approved for both asthma and COPD. For people with moderate to severe COPD, research has shown a number of benefits with triple therapy like yours. COPD is a lung disease that blocks airflow and makes breathing difficult. In most cases, the lung damage that leads to COPD is caused by cigarette smoking. But other irritants can cause COPD, too, including cigar or pipe smoke, air pollution and certain occupational exposures. In some cases, COPD results from a genetic disorder that causes low levels of a protective protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin. Asthma occurs when the airways in the lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and constricted. This may be triggered by allergies or viral infections. During an asthma attack, the airways thicken due to inflammation, the muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and the airways produce extra mucus that increases obstruction. It may seem odd to take two drugs that do almost the same thing. But, there are two classes of bronchodilators: beta-agonists and anti-muscarinics. They work using different mechanisms to open up airways. Examples of short-acting bronchodilators are albuterol and ipratropium. Long-acting bronchodilators include tiotropium (Spiriva, an anti-muscarinic) and salmeterol and formoterol (Serevent and Foradil, both beta-agonists). Salmeterol is the long-acting
A
bronchodilator in Advair. Several studies have found that using the two types of bronchodilators that you're taking, along with an inhaled corticosteroid, results in better control of COPD symptoms, better exercise tolerance and better pulmonary function. Inhaled corticosteroid medications (such as the fluticasone in Advair) are essential to the treatment of asthma in all but the mildest cases. They are also used to treat people with COPD who have frequent "exacerbations" - temporary worsening of symptoms, often brought on by infections or exposure to irritants. These drugs work by reducing airway inflammation, which helps you breathe more easily. If you develop side effects that seem to be caused by a medication, talk to your doctor. Alternative drugs may be effective. One alternative for treating asthma is a leukotriene blocker, such as montelukast (Singulair). Theophylline is an alternative for both asthma and COPD. Recent studies have shown substantial benefit using theophylline in doses lower than employed in the past. You did not say if you are a smoker, but for those who smoke and have COPD, the most essential step in any treatment plan is to stop all smoking. It's the only thing proven to slow the progression of COPD and to improve survival with COPD. Smokers who need help quitting should talk to their doctor about strategies for quitting, including medications that might help. Paul D. Scanlon is an M.D. in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn't replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to medicaledge@mayo.edu , or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. (c) 2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
nutrition/health
A Question of Health: The benefits of flaxseed
by Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN Q: Is flaxseed an effective way to reduce blood cholesterol? A: Clinical studies show widely varying results of flaxseed on total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. Overall, summary analyses suggest that three to seven tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily may reduce LDL cholesterol about 4 to 10 percent in people with elevated cholesterol levels, or an average of about 6 milligrams/ dl according to one analysis. Scientists have not yet identified what accounts for the wide variation in results; sometimes those with higher blood cholesterol seem to benefit more, but not always. And the reduction in cholesterol reached after a month of use is not always maintained long-term. However, animal studies and limited human studies suggest that flaxseed could act in other ways to reduce heart disease risk. Natural compounds called lignans in flaxseed are powerful antioxidants, which could decrease the tendency for plaque to form in blood vessels (“hardening of the arteries”). Flaxseed also contains omega-3 fat, which can decrease inflammation and decrease the growth of blood vessel blockage. Flaxseed oil is also a popular supplement, however, studies don’t support cholesterol-lowering or heart health protection from this oil. Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning daily flaxseed if you take fish oil or EPA + DHA supplements or anticoagulant medicine. If you do take flaxseed do so one hour before or two hours after any prescription or non-prescription medicine to avoid a decrease in your absorption of the medicine. Finally, if you’re considering daily flaxseed, remember that four tablespoons of ground flaxseed contain about 150 calories. So substitute it for some other food, or the 15 or so pounds you’d probably gain after six months to a year would likely increase health risks rather than promote good health. Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN, writes this column for The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), the cancer charity that fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk. www.primemontgomery.com | June 2010
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A Gracious Plenty
Blackberries, Buttermilk & Granddaddy’s Camp Stew
T
Photos by Margaret Ann McGregor
hough he normally attended my mother in the kitchen, washing pots and pans as she put together the family meal, my daddy could actually cook. It was not often that he was given free reign in Mama’s domain, but when he had the kitchen to himself really good things happened. One of his specialties was a great camp stew. It was with some reservation that he gave me his recipe for Patsy Smith my first cookbook (written years ago for my daughter), as it had been his closely guarded secret. But he wanted me to have it, and it is with that sweet memory of a generous, giving father that I share his recipe with you this month. Let’s fire up the grill and barbecue before it gets “Alabama hot” outside! Standard fare? A “ya’ll come” meal of grilled ribs, camp stew, coleslaw, barbecue bread, and sweet tea. The
stew recipe should yield enough for a small crowd, or for us to enjoy some now and freeze some for the Fourth. And for dessert I’m thinking about a favorite pie. Did you gather wild blackberries as a child? I certainly did, and I’ve been remembering that as I’ve witnessed spectacular blooms this year. On a recent drive to a wedding in Mississippi, a friend pointed out that this should be a splendid season for them! I did find some plump, juicy berries at the grocer’s this week, so let’s make Mama’s Buttermilk Pie with Blackberry Sauce to celebrate the bumper crop. Patsy Smith, a Montgomery native, lived here for 47 years before moving to Birmingham. She is the author of two cookbooks: A Cookbook For My Southern Daughter and A Southern Daughter Entertains. These books may be purchased at Capitol Book and News, Rosemont Gardens, Southern Homes and Gardens, Jo’s Hallmark, Richardson’s Pharmacy, and other fine book and gift stores, or through her website at southerndaughtercookbooks.com.
Buttermilk Pie with Blackberry Sauce Pie: 3 large eggs 1 cup sugar 2 T. plain flour 1 stick melted butter or margarine, slightly cooled 1 cup buttermilk 2 t. pure vanilla extract 1 unbaked pie shell Preheat oven to 325°. In bowl of mixer, beat eggs slightly. Mix sugar and flour well and add to eggs. Mix until creamy. Add melted butter, mixing well. Add buttermilk and vanilla and mix well. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake 45 minutes to one hour, until the custard is set and top turns slightly golden. Sauce: 1 cup blackberry preserves 1 T. Chamborde liqueur (Optional; Use this only if you have it on hand. It is a blackberry liqueur.) Put preserves in saucepan and warm over medium heat, stirring constantly with wire whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and add Chamborde, if desired. Stir in fresh blackberries, if desired. Let cool to lukewarm and serve spooned over warm pie. Garnish with fresh blackberries. Note: Frequently I just heat preserves in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, stir, and drizzle warm over the pie.
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June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
Granddaddy’s Camp Stew 1 hen (I use 1 1/2 lb. skinless chicken breasts.) 1 1/2 lb. sirloin or sirloin tip 1 1/2 lb. pork tenderloin 2 large cans crushed tomatoes (I use 6 cups chopped fresh tomatoes.) 1 medium onion cut into small wedges 24-28 oz. bottle ketchup Salt and pepper to taste (I use Mrs. Dash and pepper.) Juice of one lemon; place hulls into stew 2 cans butterbeans (I use 3 c. fresh.) 3 cans creamed white corn (I use the frozen tube or creamed fresh corn.) 1 can whole kernel white corn (I use a couple of ears of fresh cut corn.)
Optional: 5 medium potatoes, diced, and added 2 hours before stew is done. Sear meat on the grill and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Transfer meat to a large (12 qt.) soup kettle and cover with water. Boil until meat is cooked through and can be deboned and pulled into strings. Place the chopped meat back into the broth and add all the other ingredients. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, for 5 1/2 hours , until stew is thick. Remove lemon hulls. Adjust seasonings to taste. Note: By using fresh vegetables, skinless chicken, lean cuts of meats, and Mrs. Dash instead of salt you reduce the fat and sodium content of the original recipe. I do not add potatoes, which reduces carbs.
Find more pictures of Patsy cooking at www.primemontgomery.com. www.primemontgomery.com | June 2010
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Time Story and Photos by Bob Corley
A
Above: Repainting the numbers and letters involved steadily shifting the mahl and brush to avoid the clock’s slow-moving hands. Right:The heavy glass faces were removed, and scaffolding erected, to facilitate restoration of the clock. 18
June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
t 6 a.m. May 10, 2010, sign-painter Mark Fair, owner of Mark Fair Signs, mounted a bright yellow scaffold secured to one side of the Klein & Son clock, recently re-installed in its original location at 1 Dexter Avenue. With brushes, paint, rags, 43 years of experience, and his favorite mahl - a long stick use to stabilize hand and brush - Fair began the labor-intensive task of turning back time to restore the four faces of the clock to their original, sharp-edged splendor. “I was glad it didn’t have a minute hand,” Fair said grinning, explaining how he painted around, and over, the still-running clock hands. “It was a challenge, but I loved doing this job. I’d be sitting there and look down and realize I was in the midst of history.” For almost three-quarters of a century this local landmark endured the paint-fading, rust-producing effects of the Deep South’s Four Horsemen of the Weather Apocalypse -- rain, heat, humidity, and on occasion, hail. Under the hostile attack of Southern summers and winters, the numbers and letters had faded from their original deep black, to a light shade of gray, in some places more shadow than image. These presented a different challenge from that of dodging the slow-moving clock hands. “The numbers and letters were etched into the face of the clock,” Fair said. “It was a lot more tedious and time consuming than just painting a flat surface.” The job took a week. When completed, the clock looked as fresh as the day it was installed, a date which still remains illusive. Newspaper records at the Alabama Department of Archives and History offer an imprecise date - late October or early November, 1938. Even so, by all accounts, the new clock was a welcome sight for Montgomerians.
Above: 1948 street scene, downtown. (Courtesy of Robert Fouts) Left: The Klein’s clock has witnessed seven decades of physical and social change in Montgomery. Below: Weathered images are brought back to life with the strong, steady strokes of a skilled and practiced hand.
“It has been four years since the square boasted a clock,” read a newspaper account at the time, and “...it has been missed.” The new Court Square clock is better than a previous one, the account stated categorically, because “...having four faces, it could be observed from any angle. And being illuminated, it could be seen day or night.” 1 The etched faces of the clock - which made restoration more difficult - are made of white glass, and the entire instrument weighs almost two tons. Long before the clock came to Montgomery, the store that brought the clock to town had established itself as part of the city’s downtown business district. In 1893 Klein & Son Jewelers began operations. That was the same year women were admitted to the University of Alabama, and the first AlabamaAuburn football game was played. In the eyes of many, the Klein’s clock, as it was called, came to symbolize the city itself. “People have gotten engaged under the clock,” said Mary Ann Neely, former Executive Director of Landmarks Foundation. “I even heard of one couple who were married under the clock.” Klein & Son owner Bill Heilpern has his own memories. “When I was a boy,” Heilpern said, “my cousin and I were on a ladder next to the clock. I pressed on one of the heads 20
June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
and it moved, folding back at the top.” Peering inside the structure, Heilpern saw burned out light bulbs, evidence of the interior lighting system that allowed the clock to glow at night. The electric clockworks housed in the massive structure were manufactured by Seth Thomas Clock Company. Started in the mid-1800s, the company produced mantel, grandfather, and perpetual calendar clocks. After1872 they added street clocks to their line, including the one that provides the inverted 1
Montgomery Advertiser, Nov. 23, 1938
exclamation point at the downhill terminus of Dexter Avenue. At the opposite, uphill end of the avenue is the State Capitol, and for decades the Klein’s clock and the Capitol helped define the east and west boundaries of this wide thoroughfare. For years the clock kept time at this location, its state-of-the-art (for the period) mechanism quietly rotating its hour and minute hands in a circular dance about the etched, opaque surface. In the far distant past clocks were not so visually elegant, and their timekeeping abilities, while novel for the era, left much to be desired. The study and measure of time horology - is an ancient practice once considered equal parts science, art, and magic. According to the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), the earliest mechanical clock was likely made by a blacksmith, probably somewhere in Italy, and used as an alarm to wake monks in the morning to begin the day’s worship. Tower clocks soon followed, but these early contraptions were so inaccurate within two hours a day - they only had one hand. In 1986 the Klein’s clock followed the store’s second relocation, this one to Zelda Road. It remained there for 23 years, but not without incident. In October 1995, Hurricane Opal, after destroying stretches of the Gulf coast, barreled inland, unleashing its fury across central Alabama. Montgomery was not spared, nor was the clock. “The clock suffered a lot of damage during Opal,” says Heilpern. “The top was broken off and the clock mechanism had extensive water damage.” The clock case went off to Alex City for repair, and the clockworks went to Illinois. When Heilpern relocated Klein & Son from Zelda Road to East Chase, he considered taking the clock along, but something his grandfather told him as a teenager changed his mind. “Klein & Son,” he recalled his grandfather saying, “wouldn’t be Klein & Son without our employees, without our customers, the people of Montgomery.” Heilpern, realizing the clock’s true home was downtown, donated it to the city. “It was something I could do to help
With clock faces restored, Mark Fair puts the finishing touches on the name, matching the original color and style as closely as possible.
the resurgence of downtown,” he said, “and perhaps draw that resurgence up Dexter Avenue.” When Neely learned of Heilpern’s decision, she was delighted. “I was tickled to death that Bill decided to give it to the city,” she said. “I never felt the clock was quite at home over there on Zelda Road.” In 2009, the clock’s relocation from Zelda Road back to 1 Dexter Avenue was like the final move in a massive chess game, with the clock representing a 3,800 pound, Titan-sized king. The clock is now back where it started, and once again visitors to Court Square can see time from every angle, courtesy of a much-beloved timepiece that has witnessed so much of our city’s history. Sources and resources: Mark Fair Signs www.markfair.com Fouts Photography www.historicmontgomery.com www.primemontgomery.com | June 2010
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medical
Marci’s Medicare Answers Dear Marci, It’s hard for me to move around the house in my wheelchair, and I want to widen some of my doors. Will Medicare pay for this? —John Dear John, No. Medicare will not pay for modifications to your home, such as those improving wheelchair access, like installing ramps or widening doors. Also, Medicare will not cover items such as stairway elevators, grab bars, and bathtub and toilet seats. These items improve your ability to function in the home, but Medicare does not view them as meeting a medical need. Medicare will, however, cover durable medical equipment (DME)—equipment that primarily serves a medical purpose, is able to withstand repeated use, and is appropriate for use in the home. DME includes items such as wheelchairs, oxygen equipment and hospital beds. —Marci Dear Marci, I’m taking a road trip across the United States this summer. Will Medicare cover me while I’m traveling? —Rose Dear Rose, If you have Original Medicare, you can travel anywhere in the U.S. and its territories (this includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands) and get the medical care you need from almost any doctor or hospital. If you have a Medicare private plan (such as a Medicare HMO or PPO), you will generally only be covered for care within your plan’s service area unless you need emergency or urgent care while out of that service area. Medicare does not cover medical care you get outside the country, except in specific instances. However, some supplemental coverage policies (known as Medigap plans) and Medicare private plans offer coverage for emergency services in a foreign country. Call your plan to find out if you are covered while traveling outside of the United States. —Marci Dear Marci, I am the primary caregiver for my mother, but I will be out of town for a few days next month. Will Medicare pay for my mother’s care while I 22
June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
am away?
—Bernard
Dear Bernard, Medicare will pay for respite care (a rest for caregivers) only if your loved one has a terminal illness and qualifies for the hospice benefit. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, your loved one can get respite care in a Medicare-approved hospital or skilled nursing facility for up to five days at a time. Medicare will pay 95 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for respite care. —Marci Dear Marci, I am over 65 and have a family history of diabetes. Am I eligible for a diabetes screening? —Paloma Dear Paloma, Yes. Medicare covers blood tests to screen people at risk for diabetes.You are considered at risk and eligible for one Medicare-covered diabetes screening every 12 months if you have hypertension, dyslipidemia, high cholesterol, a prior blood test showing low glucose tolerance or are obese (body mass index of 30 or more), or meet at least two of the following: n you are overweight (body mass index between 25 and 30); n you have a family history of diabetes; n you have a history of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) or have had a baby over nine pounds; n you are 65 years of age or older. The Medicare-covered diabetes screening test includes a fasting blood glucose test and/or a post-glucose challenge test. Medicare will pay for 100 percent of its approved amount for the test even before you have met the Part B deductible. If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, Medicare will cover two diabetes screening tests per calendar year. Having pre-diabetes means you have blood glucose (sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be classified as diabetes. —Marci Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@ medicarerights.org. To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at www.medicareinteractive.org.
Elder justice
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State Alzheimer’s Task Force Formed
he 2010 Legislature's recent enactment of the "Alzheimer's Disease Task Force" offers fresh hope for dementia victims and their families and a unified statewide Bill Fuller effort by key agencies, support groups and professions. The 26-member Task Force, to be convened by the Governor, will be anchored in the Alabama Department of Mental Health, with a deadline of March 1, 2011 to report to the new Governor and new Legislature. According to Dr. Rich Powers, Medical Director for the Department of Mental Health and a recognized world expert on the disease, "85,000 Alabamians suffer Alzheimer's and the number grows steadily, impacting huge numbers of families and caregivers."
The new Task Force, which includes at least one Alzheimer's victim, has a three-fold mission: n assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias on Alabama citizens n examine the full range of current services and healthcare manpower n draft a full-state strategy to meet the needs of persons with Alzheimer's, their families and caregivers The new law defines Alzheimer's disease as a "crisis." In addition to its stronger coordination of health services and quality of care standards, the Task Force has the unique assignment of measuring the "...capacity of public safety and law enforcement to respond to persons with dementia." The new Act's sponsor, Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville, says, "Alzheimer's disease and the related dementias will be a true, tough test of Alabama's dedication to enhanced healthcare and, most
importantly, of our compassion for all those lives touched by this challenging disease.” Appointments to the Alzheimer's Disease Task Force are expected to be available soon. The Alabama Elder Justice Project (AEJP) will assist in the work with a special focus on the potential victimization of dementia sufferers by perpetrators of physical, financial and sexual abuse. Continuous research, insights and materials are available at www.alzbrain. org or via the Alabama Dementia and Training Program in Tuscaloosa, 1-800457-5679. Bill Fuller is an attorney, former member of the Alabama House of Representatives, past Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources, and Founding Director of the Alabama Elder Justice Project. He can be reached at 334-414-1941, or via e-mail at billfuller@freshsprings.org.
“Surprisingly affordable.”
Wesley Gardens retirement Community 1555 Taylor Road
Montgomery, AL
334-272-7917 “...where life is celebrated... and the touch of God’s love is ever-present and ageless.”
www.methodisthomes.org
AffordAble Assisted living & dementiA CAre
Moneywise
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Rethinking Retirement
he traditional view of covered by: retirement involves a n income and principal complete end to workwithdrawals from your other ing for a paycheck, accompanied accumulated assets by lots of leisure activities. But n income from re-emthe economic realities of the ployment, probably part-time last few years have prompted a n the benevolence of reconsideration of this notion. your family and friends If your retirement account has Since most of us prefer taken a beating and you are not to rely on the third Alan Wallace not sure that you can retire in source more than absolutely the classic sense, there is still hope for necessary, the first two items in the list are critical. In estimating what you can security, meaning and flexibility in your draw from your accumulated assets, be golden years. realistic and conservative. In considering what “retirement� One tip that may help you hit your will look like for you, start by taking a retirement target even if you foresee a personal financial inventory. Naturally, shortfall after taking the above steps, is this will include: to begin an aggressive debt repayment n your retirement plan accounts n cash and liquid investments n annuities n life insurance cash value n Social Security benefits n home equity and any other income source or financial asset available to you. Be sure to take note of which retirement benefits provide a cost of living adjustment (COLA).You also need to make a list of everything that you owe as well as what your expenses are likely to be when you stop working at your current job. Once you have a reasonable estimate of your annual expenses, see how much of it will be covered by Social Security and other steady income sources. The difference between these two amounts must be
plan while you are still working. A little discipline now will pay off many years into the future. One aspect of realism that you should include is your remaining life expectancy. Since life expectancy tables represent averages, a fair number of people live longer than the number in the table. Take your genetic profile, personal health and lifestyle into account in estimating how long you are likely to be around. If your calculations suggest that you will have an income shortfall, start to think about your skills and interests with respect to possible new or continuing employment to bridge the gap. Your current employer might be interested in keeping you around part-time without benefits, either long-term or on a transitional basis. Many long-time employees have expertise that companies would like to retain if the price is right. Or, you may be an attractive hire for a firm that needs a reliable person with your experience, skills and knowledge. Many people have found that continued employment not only provides economic benefits, but keeps them plugged into the community and connected to people in ways that provide them a great deal of personal satisfaction. And you can only read, fish, sew, golf, travel and garden so much before they begin to grow monotonous. Alan Wallace,CFA, ChFC, CLU is a Senior Financial Advisor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery office, 334-270-5960, alan.wallace@ronblue.com.
lifestyles
Dr.
Marion
by Marion Somers, Ph.D.
When Distance Creates a Problem, Geriatric Care Managers Offer a Solution My 82 year old father’s health has declined dramatically in the last six months and he now requires care. However, I live in Los Angeles and he lives in Brooklyn, and there’s nobody back home in Brooklyn to care for him.What should I do? — Craig, 48 This issue comes up constantly in my practice. I’ll bet you are scared, overwhelmed, frustrated, and upset all at once. Realize you are not alone.You do have options. If possible, the first thing to do is travel to see your father. Determine his exact medical condition by meeting with his primary physician.Then speak directly with your elder. Ask him how he is feeling and what kind of treatment he believes he needs. At no time should your elder be treated like a child. Be sure you keep the communication on an adult-to-adult basis. Determine exactly what his needs are and then go about meeting them before you get back on that plane to return to your “normal life.” If your father does require care that you, a sibling, or other friend or relative cannot provide, I suggest you hire a professional Geriatric Care Manager. Why? In today’s hectic world, very few of us have the time, energy, or expertise to care for an elder loved one in ill health.You want to do all you can, but you can’t stop living your own life, right?
You need help. Geriatric Care Managers are trained professionals who visit your elder, make an assessment, then write a comprehensive report that prioritizes what needs to be done. They can be your eyes and ears as you return to your life. If you cannot accompany your elder to his doctor’s visits, a Geriatric Care Manager will go in your place.They often provide doctors with key information; when some elderly are asked, “How are you feeling?” they stoically reply, “Fine,” and it may not be true. You may be unable to fly back to visit your father and assess the situation first-hand. In my 30 years as a Geriatric Care Manager, I often arrive at the home of an elderly person, then walk back outside to check the address. Many children have no idea how bad things are, since their elder hasn’t been entirely honest with them. Geriatric Care Managers can provide you with a more exact picture of what is going on with your elder in their time of need.The decision to hire a Geriatric Care Manager could make a huge difference in your elder’s quality of life - and yours as well. Marion Somers, Ph.D., has worked with thousands of seniors and their caregivers as a Geriatric Care Manager and elder care expert. For more information, visit www.DrMarion.org
Have You Heard Us Lately? Outdoor Pops Concert Broadway Under the Stars September 16 • 7:30pm/ Blount Cultural Park
MSO
www.montgomerysymphony.org
David Campbell/ASU
MONTGOMERY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
•
334/240-4004
Moving free ® with mirabai 1
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Easy Summer Shape Ups It’s time to jumpstart your exercise program.You can enjoy the weather Mirabai Holland while you get into shape. Here are five easy exercises to tone you up; no equipment necessary. Try doing them every other day. For the first three start with eight reps and build up to 16. For the last two (isometric exercises) hold for 10 seconds and build up to 30 seconds. With all these exercises, remember to exhale on the exertion. In a matter of a few weeks you should feel your body getting stronger and see it get shapelier. Warm-up by taking a 10-minute walk. By the tenth minute, it should be brisk enough for you to just barely carry on a conversation. Stop at a wall, a tree or a fence, and do these five exercises: two for your upper body and three for your lower. 1) Standing Push-ups: Stand facing a surface, with legs hip width apart and place hands shoulder width apart. Keeping your body straight, lower yourself down to the surface and then push back upright again. Muscles Worked: Chest, triceps and shoulders 2) Calf Raises: Face surface and hold on for balance. With feet together pointing straight ahead, slowly lift your body up on to your toes, while tightening calf, abs and buttocks muscles. Then slowly lower yourself back down again. Muscles worked: Calves, abs and buttocks 3) Squats: Face surface, legs hip width apart. Hold on for balance. Shift weight back into heels. Keeping back straight, abs pulled in, gently bend at the knees and squat to about a 90-degree angle. Hold for a moment, then, using just your leg muscles, return to an upright position. Muscles worked: Front/back of thigh (quads and hamstrings), buttocks and abs 4) Wall Sit: Stand against surface for back support. Holding on as needed for balance, slide down to a sitting position against wall, knees at about a 90-degree angle. Pull your abs in and hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Muscles worked: Thighs and abs 5) Upper Back Squeeze: Stand with your back to the surface, feet shoulder width apart. Place hands behind you on surface. Straighten your arms behind you and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Muscles worked: Back, shoulders and back of arms (triceps) Mirabai Holland M.F.A., a leading authority in the Health & Fitness industry, is a public health activist specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn’t feel like work. Visit her website at www.movingfree. com. ©2010
1) Standing Push-ups 2) Calf Raises 3) Squats 4) Wall Sit 5) Upper Back Squeeze Don’t Forget: Before any exercise, it’s best to warm up your muscles. This helps prevent strain and injury.
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A Brief History of the Crossword Puzzle A Brief History of Sudoku On December 21, 1913, New York resident Arthur Wynne, an Englishman ‘Su’ means number in Japanese, and ‘doku’ is a and editor of a puzzle page for the New York World, creates what he terms a reference to the single place on the puzzle where a ‘Word-cross.’ By the early 1920s crossword puzzles are appearing in almost number can fit. But this popular game was invented every American newspaper. in Europe and developed in the U.S. Eighteenth century Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler developed the concept of “Latin Squares,” numbers in a grid appearing only once, across and up and down. Dell Magazines in the U.S. began publishing what is now termed Sudoku in the late 1970s using this concept with a 9 by 9 square grid.
by Betsy Howe with Music & Lyrics by Mary Murfitt
starts June 11th! Three classical musicians find their country roots in this very funny musical, featuring such original songs as “Don’t Call Me Trailer Trash,” “Honky Tonk Girl” and “Saddle Tramp Blues.” Recommended for ages 10+.
TickeTs On sale nOw! WWW.ASF.NET | 800.841.4273 | MONTGOMERY, AL 36117
GreaT fOr GrOups twitter.com/alabamashakes
facebook.com/alabamashakes
feature
Hit ting the
“Do I really want my microwave to send e-mail to my refrigerator?”
I
By Tim Lennox
'm willing to bet that everyone reading this article either has already hit their tech wall or is headed toward it with accelerating speed. The “wall” I'm referring to is the first “new” technology that you refuse to adopt. My parents insisted that we kids not buy them a computer. That was in the 90's. The mysterious machines represented their particular wall. They died happily without a PC or laptop. “Twitter” or even “Facebook” may be your wall. (If you can't explain either of those, or don't know even what they are, they were your wall for sure.) “Texting” was a great wall for some seniors, whose grandchildren drive them crazy by spending their time staring at their cell phones while Grandma is trying to communicate by, well, by talking! Personally, I text, but not often, preferring Grandma's method. In fact, there isn't much new media technology I haven't adopted to some extent. I “tweet” on Twitter, though not nearly as much as some folks I know. I have a Facebook account, but visit it only once or twice a day. I managed to more-or-less learn digital audio editing for radio work (though I'm from an era when editing meant a razor blade physically cutting a piece of magnetic tape, removing what you wanted to eliminate, and attaching the two ends with a kind of scotch tape!).
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June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
One friend says I am on the back edge of the crowd headed for The Wall, meaning I'm relatively safe...for the moment. Many seniors have adopted new technologies for years from vinyl albums to cassettes to CD's - but now find the increasing pace of change disconcerting. Just when they've adapted to CD's, they are on their way out, replaced by audio files that play on everything from iPods to your cell phone! Retired Birmingham News sports reporter and columnist Clyde Bolton still uses a manual typewriter to write his books, the most recent being “Hadacol Days, A Southern Youth.” And if you know what Hadacol was, you are a true senior! Bolton told me he has no interest in computers either. “I don't want to learn anything else,” he said. “I've learned all I need!” I know the feeling. Especially frustrating is the amount of technology companies pack into every device. The truth is that most folks, senior or otherwise, use only a fraction of the features in any given piece of equipment. I say, “So what!” Do I really want my microwave to send e-mail to my refrigerator? Nonetheless, if you can master it, the new technologies can improve your life. How much safer are seniors who carry a cell phone? And services like TiVo are much easier to use than the old complicated VHS recorders for saving TV shows you want to watch. Heck, even I can handle TiVo. And a text may be the only way to get in touch with a grandson or granddaughter. Some companies have designed products specifically for
seniors, like “The Jitterbug” cell phone, with a larger than usual screen and larger buttons, too. They're not free, but of all the new tech products out there, a cell phone may be the one most likely to make life easier for seniors. As new technology adapts more and more to humans, it becomes more senior-friendly, so don't give up. Just wait a while and what seemed insurmountable may have evolved into a tool you can use easily. If you want to put off hitting that wall as long as possible, consider some adult education...free. According to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE), there is a free tuition program for those 60 and older at the state's public two-year colleges. You'll have to meet the admission requirements, of course, but maybe an introductory class in one technology or the other would be beneficial. When you call, ask about the Senior Adult Scholarship Program. More info Senior Adult Scholarship Program http://www.ache.state.al.us/StudentAsst/Programs.htm Jitterbug cell phone: www.Jitterbug.com Clyde Bolton's book: http://www.amazon.ca/Hadacol-DaysSouthern-Clyde-Bolton/dp/1588382001
Tim Lennox is a morning anchor at WAKA-TV, CBS-8 in Montgomery, and creator and host of On The Record, a weekly public affairs series that airs Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
De•fin'•ing Re•tire'•ment 1. Care•free (adj.) - untroubled, relaxed 2. In•de•pen•dent (adj.) - self-determining 3. Com•for•ta•ble (adj.) - a state of physical ease
Eastdale Estates
5801 Eastdale Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 Contact Larry or Judy, 334-260-8911 • Studio, 1 & 2 bedroom apts. w/kitchenettes • Exercise equipment • Prepared meals, restaurant-style dining or • Paid utilities and cable in-room delivery • Daily shuttle bus • Guest dining and lodging • Enjoy a complimentary lunch prepared • Pets welcome by our award-winning chef, then take • Library/TV media room a guided tour of our community •VA Benefits for those who qualify• For more information visit www.holidaytouch.com and click on Our Communities.
Row1: Bonnie and Danny Vinson, Dianne Berney; Row 2: Carol and Milton Strickland, Neal Berney
40 Years and Counting!
The Robert E. Lee High School Class of 1970 gathered at the Lakeside Sports Grill on the Tallapoosa Lakes Golf Course in May to reminisce about what’s transpired in the 40 years since they graduated. For more photos, visit Prime online at www. primemontgomery.com. Got a high school reunion coming up? Send us your reunion pictures for possible inclusion in an upcoming Prime!
Nona Bowles Walker, Tim Thaggard and Eddie Phillips
David Justice and Diane Foshee Lindsay
Janet Clardy Massa and Nina Vickery Kynard
Sandra Carmack Justice and Wallace Justice
Row 1: Ann Young Newdone, Susan Huett Moore, Bobbie WelRow 1: Kitty Browder, Linda Turner; Row 2: Gary Faulkner, Wallace don; Row 2: Chris Williams, Patsy Porter Smith, Billy Smith and Sears, Carolyn Robinson King and Robert King Sandra Polizos Corley
prime diversions
Recent DVD Releases Invictus and Alice in Wonderland
INVICTUS (PG-13) Basic movie math 101: Clint Eastwood + Morgan Freeman = film with Oscar nominations. With Clint directing and Morgan acting, Hollywood already lauded Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby. This account of Nelson Mandela's early days as South Africa's president, healing Apartheid's scars by recognizing the unifying potential of national pride from having their rugby team flourish against all odds in the first World Cup they'd be allowed to enter. Matt Damon co-stars as the squad's captain, who leads by heart and instinct, even without the greatest athletic tools. Though rugby action occupies a fair portion of the running time and thematic importance, this is hardly a sports flick. Those of us who know little about the game on the way in will not understand it much more when the credits roll. We mostly see the sport as exemplifying Mandela's big-picture vision and insight into human nature, allowing him to set aside the bitterness and desire for payback that his 26 years in prison and decades of oppression for all by the ruling whites had understandably fostered. He knew that the path to coexistence would be shortened and pacified by surprising the deposed minority who expected the worst of his new government. The screenplay artfully delivers the big-picture and one-onone levels of pressures, tensions and options Mandela and his nation faced in the early 1990s. No preaching or hyperbole needed. In many scenes, looks and gestures suffice, where less confident filmmakers would rely on dialog. Freeman's Mandela honors the man, while humanizing him. That's as good as it gets. (5/18/10)
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (G) Mark Glass Tim Burton's version of Lewis Carroll's famous fantasy breaks some new ground — for better or worse. First of all, despite the rating, this film is no whimsical trip through a magical realm. It's scarier and eerier than one might expect. Though the moments of menace and fighting might not exceed the specific MPAA criteria, the movie's overall look and tone seems geared towards older viewers, and should have been released as PG-13. On the darkness scale, place this one between Pan's Labyrinth and Narnia — more dementia than Disney. Consider that when deciding on which kids you bring, or drop, at the box office. True to form, Burton creates a marvelous visual experience in the blend of live action with animation. Helena Bonham Carter's head co-stars as the evil Queen of Hearts, as Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter leads the opposition fueled by Alice's prophesied arrival. The adult Alice is played by Australian Mia Wasikowska, who may have actually been cloned from Claire Danes' DNA...which is a compliment. Anne Hathaway and Crispin Glover fill other corporeal roles, as the good White Queen and Helena's henchman, respectively. Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman and Stephen Fry contribute the most among a splendid set of voices for animated characters. A few observations. In some respects, the film seems more like a somber, nonmusical variation on The Wizard of Oz than the fanciful fable producers have usually spun from Carroll's cloth. The script scatters bits of verbal and physical comic relief, but far less than the premise could have supported. Depp may have an extreme makeup addiction, with Burton as his prime enabler, based on their prior collaborations. In this role, he looks more like Ms. Bonham Carter than she does. Hathaway has never looked creepier, and likely not by design. Burton might have delivered a more entertaining product by picking up the pace, and letting the eccentric minor players spice up the proceedings with all their amusing quirks. The coolest character is the Fry-voiced Cheshire Cat. The climactic battle serves up some splendid CG action, unless you've become too jaded. (6/1/10)
www.primemontgomery.com | June 2010
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discovering your past
Piecing together
F
the Family Puzzle
amily history research is akin to putting together a puzzle, gathering pieces of seemingly unrelated information that, once put together, form a portrait of your family tree. The branches of that tree are formed from information found on census records. These records, which many fear are tedious and difficult to search, are rich with information that is often overlooked. Nancy Dupree Thanks to the advent of numerous on-line genealogy web sites, such as Ancestry.com, searching census records is much easier today. This is a critical step in genealogy research and should not be skipped. The U.S. census is taken every ten years, the first having been taken in 1790. With the exception of the 1890 census, most of which was destroyed by fire, all are available to the public up to the 1930 census. Privacy restrictions limit public access for 72 years. Begin your census research in the 1930 census and work backwards. Don’t be tempted to skip a census year.You never know what great prize you might miss if you do. Questions asked on each census vary from year to year. Depending on the year, the information can include: n names and ages of the members of the household and their relationships to the head of the household n birthplaces
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June 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com
occupations land ownership n immigration and naturalization facts n military service information The census can also include the marital status of a person, the number of times he or she has been married, the number of children born to a woman and the number still living. Each bit of information is a piece of your family tree puzzle. Next month we’ll explore putting some leaves on your family tree using the information gathered from census records and local government records from the Archives or the county courthouse. n n
Nancy Dupree is Senior Archivist at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
DOWN 1 Secure 2 Soon 3 Framing upright 4 Knight's title 5 Part of FDR 6 Tooth cover 7 Negative votes 8 Ice-skater Midori 9 Fellows 10 Without delay! 11 Reindeer bunch 12 500-mi. auto race 13 Forfeiture 18 Cost 19 Reheats 23 Star burst 24 God of Memphis 25 Sniggler's prey 26 Ike's opponent 27 Creep
(Crossword answers on page 27)
ACROSS 1 Lip 5 Sturdy fabric 10 Comic Silvers 14 Inimical 15 Maternally related 16 Nevada destination 17 This puzzle's theme 20 Extremity 21 Male sheep 22 Williams and Devine 23 Three squared 24 Impudently bold 26 Easter treat for Bullwinkle? 33 Took the wheel 34 Ripken and Coolidge 35 Crone 36 Kilauea flow 37 Substructure for plaster 39 Raisin rum cake 40 Veneration 41 Enterprise crew member 42 Indian lute played with a bow 43 Unlawful oracles? 47 Plane front 48 Funeral info 49 South Korean city 52 Tablet 53 Make lace 56 Collier's breaches? 60 Writer O'Brien 61 Small bay 62 Albacore or bluefin 63 Close 64 Battery terminal 65 Marquee name
(c)2010 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
28 Run-down dwelling 29 Get out of line 30 Chicago hub 31 Wooden shoe 32 Good grief! 37 San __ Obispo, CA 38 Der __ (Adenauer) 39 Thai cash 41 Scrub 42 Milk not to cry over? 44 Interlocking 45 Stirred up 46 Layperson dedicated to religious life 49 Fed. agents 50 Coadjutant 51 Sicilian resort 52 Equestrian sport 53 Track tipster 54 "__ Karenina" 55 Russian ruler 57 By way of 58 Country hotel 59 __ not my job!
(Sudoku answers on page 27) www.primemontgomery.com | June 2010
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June Community Doings Mon. June 7, 7 p.m. Seminar on VA Benefits for wartime veterans and surviving spouses to live in assisted-living communities. Eastdale Estates, 5801 Eastdale Dr. Call 334-260-8911 to reserve seating. Wed. June 9, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Montgomery Zoo Military Day hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Free admission and lunch for military personnel and families with valid military ID. Call 334-240-4900 for more information. Sat. June 12 & 19, 9 a.m. Noon Music Jam, Old Alabama Town Musicians bring your acoustic instruments and join in a jam session! No admission cost for jam session. Call 334-240-4500 for more information. Thurs. June 17, 12:05 p.m. Alabama Dept. of Archives and History. ArchiTreats: Food
We Specialize in Adult and Senior Fitness! MCA member Betty Perdue has her blood pressure checked by Fitness Center Director Wilson Scott.
• Customized exercise programs for ALL levels of fitness • Full line of cardiovascular and strength training equipment • Indoor walking track • Blood pressure checks before and after exercise • Friendly atmosphere • Convenient parking
for Thought. Bring a lunch and hear Mary Spanos discuss Southeastern Indian Textiles from the Prehistoric Period to Removal. Call 334353-4712 for more information. Sat. June 19, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 2nd Annual MarketFest Artisans and crafters with hand-made items of all media, live music, food, Heart of Dixie Mustang Club Car Show. Evangel Temple, 3975 Vaughn Road, corner of Perry Hill and Vaughn. Call 334-850-9999 or 269-5622 for more information. Fri. - Sun. June 25-27 Southern Regional Water Ski Show Team Tournament, Gateway Park Team competition including human pyramids, barefoot acts, swivel acts, jump and ballet skiing. Friday practice, competition held Saturday and Sunday.
$enior Discount$ in the
River Region
Up to $2 off each ticket,on all showings, age 55+ 10% discount, age 60+
Just wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Seniors age 50+ may order off children’s menu
Flexible Hours: Mon thru Friday – 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
IN COME A FOR AL N E P RSO U O T R!
MCA Fitness Center 2119 East South Boulevard
We’re located right next to Baptist South Hospital on the ground floor of the Montgomery Cardiovascular Institute
Call 280-1409 for more information A Montgomery Cardiovascular Associates Facility
Most locations: Discounted drink, age 55+
It’s June 2010 and Alabama’s Beaches Are Open for Business The sugar white sand is calling and the fish are biting.
Whether it’s a lazy afternoon on the white sand beaches, enjoying delicious seafood or fishing from
the largest pier on the Gulf Coast, Alabama’s coast is clear and welcoming visitors. Make plans today to visit the beaches you love with the ones you love, visit www.alabama.travel or call 1.800.ALABAMA (252-2262) for a free vacation guide and more information. For those on the go, visit our new mobile cell phone Web site: m.Alabama.travel
FREE HEARING AIDS IN MONTGOMERY, AL
_________________________________________________________________________________
All Federal Workers and Retirees
Due to a recent surge in insurance activity, many people were told there are no Preferred Providers in the Montgomery area when hearing inquiries were made. This is not true, and many people failed to take advantage of their hearing benefits because they thought they weren’t covered.
You’re Covered! That’s right, you’re covered!
Government Insurance Federal Employee Program http://www.fedblue.org
Government-Wide Service Benefit Plan Joe Worker
contract holder name
R00000000
identification number
104 or 105
00/00/0000
effective date of coverage
enrollment code
(see reverse side)
Best of all, at DeRamus Hearing Clinic you’ll have no out of pocket expense. You’ll pay nothing for once in your life. Before the program ends come in and get the help you need and be able to enjoy the sounds of life again. Imagine no longer asking, “What did you say?” or having someone repeat themselves.
RX BIN #000 RX Group #0000
Government Employees. Government Insurance. Pays total cost of two Starkey Series S Aids. (No coverage on basic plan.) Factory special cash price. $2,560 for two aids for people without Federal BC/BS
DeRamus Hearing Centers
2218 Executive Park Dr. 2809 Chestnut St. Montgomery, AL Opelika, AL 1-800-239-3140 1-800-239-3140 334-262-7553
813 Highland Ave. Selma, AL 1-800-239-3140
701 Lay Dam Rd. Clanton, AL 1-800-239-3140
Some hearing my require stronger receivers not covered by insurance. This offer valid through 12/31/10 and cannot be used with any other discount.