BOOM! March 2024

Sponsored by Vivian O'Nay

Fashion Aficionados Eagerly Await the Freshest Trends

As the blossoming colors of spring emerge, fashion aficionados eagerly await the freshest trends to revitalize their closets. Here at Vivian O'Nay, we've scoured the Atlanta apparel scene to present you with an exclusive preview of the season's hottest styles. From whimsical pastels to timeless essentials, let's dive into the trends that will take your spring wardrobe to new heights.

This season, dresses take center stage, spanning from knee-length to midi styles. Embrace the gentle spirit of spring with pastel shades that radiate femininity. Whether adorned with crochet details or boasting the timeless allure of toile, these prints are staging a sophisticated comeback. Dresses offer effortless elegance, easily paired with wedges for a classic look or a more casual flair; opt for the trendy pairing of tennis shoes with a dress. The popularity of dresses has soared recently due to their budgetfriendly nature and the ease of achieving a chic look with minimal effort.

For those desiring a contemporary twist on traditional denim, look no further than crop wide-leg pants (pictured). Ideal for staying cool during warmer days while flaunting your favorite footwear, these versatile bottoms come in an array of charming pastels and denim washes. Pair them with a fitted blouse or a breezy tank top for an effortlessly chic ensemble that transcends age boundaries.

Matching sets continue to reign supreme, with your beloved quilted sets from cooler days now available in delightful pastels, alongside playful options like a lighter fabric tweed. Bows and pearls also perform a remarkable comeback, adding a feminine touch to any ensemble.

One of the standout trends across all age groups this season is the resurgence of trucker hats, infusing outfits with an edgy yet playful vibe. No longer

confined to casual days, these hats are being paired with everything from flowy dresses to laid-back attire. With designs ranging from band logos to delicate embellishments, trucker hats inject a fun and unexpected element into any look. Stay tuned for our upcoming "Make Your Own Trucker Hat" bar, where you can personalize your own stylish headwear.

Jewelry takes on a minimalist approach this spring, with understated necklaces and earrings stealing the spotlight. However, this doesn't mean you have to forgo sparkle altogether. Opt for bold and dazzling bracelets to infuse glamour into your ensemble. If you're seeking jewelry that's both stylish and practical, our permanent jewelry is the perfect solution. Experience our simple microwelding process (pictured) to secure clasp-less bracelets, ensuring worry-free wear that remains untarnished and elegant every day.

At Vivian O'Nay, we're more than just a boutique—we're your premier destination for curated style and personalized service. Whether you're yearning for a wardrobe update or searching for the ultimate statement piece, our team of expert stylists is dedicated to helping you discover your perfect look. Don't forget to inquire about our pop-up events and parties, where you can immerse yourself in the latest trends in hats and jewelry firsthand. Visit us today and uncover why Vivian O'Nay stands as one of the best boutiques in our area!

Our experienced stylists at Vivian O'Nay, located at 3500 Wetumpka Highway in Montgomery, AL, are eager to guide and assist you in creating your perfect spring look.

Trucker Hats

Crop Wide-Leg Pants Our

Fashion

Southern

Adult

21

Beyond

Prince’s

Cover Profile Patty VanderWal

DON’T

Sage, by Tracy Bhalla

40

44 Jeff Barganier: Savoy Automobile Museum

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38

Publisher/Editor

Jim Watson

334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com

Contributing Writers

Jeff Barganier

Tracy Bhalla

Rashelle Brown

Greg Budell

Barbra Williams Cosentino

Susan Moore

Stanley Popovich

Alan Reid

Bonnie Miller Rubin

Nick Thomas

Beverly Thomas

Patty VanderWal

Cover Photography

Photography by DiAnna Paulk photographybydiannapaulk.com

Advertising

Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com

Happy Easter!

Many of you will be celebrating Easter this month, the day Christians recognize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of God. In His resurrection, Jesus defeated death once and for all for those who believe in Him. As we age, death seems to be an ever-present reminder of our mortality. That we, too, have an expiration date. But when Jesus defeated death, He did so as Lord and Savior for all of us who trust in Him. His promise of Eternal Life is a daily and peaceful reminder to me as I age because, as scripture tells us, “Death has been swallowed up in victory”; thanks be to God.

This month’s cover profile is Patty VanderWal; Patty is the President of the Prattville Chamber of Commerce. Her background is in finance, and she has worked as a CPA and other financial roles during her career. She grew up in Prattville after moving there when her dad took a job at Continental Gin many years ago. Patty has much experience with her career and lived in many other parts of the country, including California, but when it was time to shift gears and start a family, she wanted to get back to Prattville! Patty and her husband, Tom, raised their 2 daughters there and saw them graduate from Auburn University. She now leads the Prattville/Autuaga business community and makes sure to give back through community service and her faith. Patty is a great example of aging well, giving back, and staying in the game of life with new challenges. We enjoyed getting to know Patty and think you will, too. Please share her story with your friends.

We have much more to check out in this month’s issue. One of my favorites is the article about how a VR headset dramatically changed the way a couple exercised, they described it as a revolution! I love it when old folks merge with the latest technology, OK Boomer!

Greg Budell shares some of his new words this month; what else would you expect from a “wordsmith” with his vast experiences? Well worth the read, as usual. Jeff Barganier has discovered a small town outside Atlanta with many museums, and one of them is all about automobiles, an American love story for sure; check it out. I also want to recommend an article about Assemblage. It’s art for people who collect everything or will pick up anything on the side of the road. My wife has these tendencies, and apparently, it has something to do with their creativity, It's pretty cool!

There’s plenty more to dip into this month, including a new Word Search worth $50 BOOM! Bucks if you can complete it and text me with your name for our monthly drawing. Congratulations to Herman Harris for being our February Word Search Winner!

Thanks for taking a few moments of your valuable time to read the March issue and maybe share it with friends and family; I appreciate each of you. Happy Easter, He is Risen!

Age Well, my friends.

The Jackson Wellness Center

The Jackson Wellness Center is a 17,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art medical fitness facility, offering a variety of weight training equipment, multipurpose activity rooms for classes, and a raised walking track, all within a pleasant and comfortable environment. Our wellness center also offers massage appointments to better support members in every aspect of their fitness journey.

We provide adults of varying fitness levels a method of achieving optimal health through individualized fitness programs, personal training, and tailored fitness plans designed to the fitness goal prescribed by their Jackson Hospital & Clinic provider. And with one medical record, your provider can monitor your fitness progress.

Through cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and specialty classes, members can increase productivity, manage chronic conditions, and improve general health.

The Jackson Wellness Center also staffs degreed health and fitness instructors, certified and degreed personal trainers, licensed massage therapists, clinical exercise physiologists, administrative staff, member service representatives, and dedicated volunteers.

Our facility features a wide variety of amenities, including:

• Cardiovascular exercise area • Strength training area • Sauna & steam room • Locker rooms with showers

• 3D body scans with biometrics • Massage therapy • Indoor walking track • Fitness classrooms • Personal training

Jackson Wellness Center: 7150 Halcyon Park Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117, Phone: 334-440-3330, www.jacksonwellnessmgm.com

Hours: Monday-Friday 5:00am-9:00pm, Saturday 7:00am-3:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-6:00pm. Closed Holidays

Jimmy Buffett Recognized at Business Alabama Awards

The Business Alabama Awards gave a special recognition of Jimmy Buffett, the singer-songwriter whose business success went beyond the music business. “Jimmy Buffett was not only a beloved singer and songwriter, but he was an astute businessman with a number of successful ventures in different areas,” said Alec Harvey, executive editor of Business Alabama magazine. “That’s what the Business Alabama Awards are all about – honoring people with Alabama ties who have been successful in the business world.” Buffett was born in Mobile and gained a worldwide following with songs such as “Come Monday,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Volcano” and “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.” His song “Margaritaville” spawned licensing for resorts, restaurants, clothing and much more. Jimmy Buffett was an American singer-songwriter, author, actor and businessmen who had a net worth of $1 billion at the time of his death. Unfortunately, Jimmy died on Sept 2, 2023 at the age of 76. In addition to recognizing Buffett, the awards will honor five previously announced Lifetime Achievement recipients: Lonnie Johnson, who invented the SuperSoaker water gun; Don Logan, who led Southern Progress and Time Warner’s Media and Communications Group before buying the Birmingham Barons and B.A.S.S. organization; James W. Rane, founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving; and restaurateurs Frank Stitt and Pardis Stitt, owners of Highlands Bar & Grill, Bottega and Chez Fonfon.

Prayer Days for our Adult Children and Grandchildren

Most Christian parents begin to pray for their children even before they’re born. The frequency of prayer for our children only intensifies as they grow.

We pray for their health and safety, good and moral friends, success in school, the development of godly character and love for God’s Word, and emotional maturity. Some people have the blessing of seeing their children blossom into the kind of young adult they prayed they would become. But, statistically, more and more young adults are walking away from the spiritual practices of their parents, and they are embracing an increasingly dark secular ideology. Not only are they abandoning the church, but many are also pursuing contrary lifestyles that have taken them into patterns of addiction, abuse in relationships, unhealthy marriages, health issues whether mental or physical, or employment and financial issues.

These problems have one thing in common: Our best response is a spiritual response.

Satan has used pride, embarrassment, hopelessness, and wishful thinking to keep Christian parents from praying together. Just as Christians should be engaging in spiritual warfare for the nation, we must also be watchful and engaged on behalf of our adult children and grandchildren. We must continue to fight spiritual battles for their spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Beginning at 2:00PM on Sunday, April 21 River Region parents are meeting quarterly to pray for their adult children and grandchildren at Christchurch Anglican, 8800 Vaughn Road. Each gathering will open with worship before meeting in small groups to pray. At each day of prayer, there will be five groups praying simultaneously for:

• Salvation/Return to Christ

• Relationships/Marriage/Other Life Issues

• Addictions

• Mental/Emotional/Physical Health Issues

• Financial/Jobs/Direction

In addition to the meeting in April, days of prayer will also be held on July 21, October 20, and January 26, 2025. For additional information about Days of Prayer for our Adult Children and Grandchildren, contact Dcn. Dolly McLemore @ 334-301-3490 or email her at dmclemore@christchurchanglican.net

The Rev. Alan Reid, Pastoral Associate, Christchurch Anglican

Take Care Dating Health Professionals

Single seniors embarking on the dating scene may be tempted to begin a relationship with a partner from the health industry. For instance, ophthalmologists may seem fun because of their old-fashioned cornea jokes. But proceed with caution. While clearly essential and respected members of any community, relationships with specific health professionals could create issues:

They have age-old issues.

Beware of dating radiologists. They can see right through you.

Beware of dating cardiologists. They may discover your heart isn’t in the right place.

Beware of dating chiropractors. They have too many back issues.

Beware of dating retired gynecologists. They just can’t deliver anymore.

Beware of dating allergists. Their affection might be seasonal.

Beware of dating brain surgeons. They know how to change your mind.

Beware of dating pediatricians. They have little patience.

Beware of dating plastic surgeons. They’re always making faces.

Beware of dating geriatricians.

Beware of dating audiologists. They’ll claim only they can make sound decisions.

Beware of dating podiatrists. You’ll soon tire of being introduced as their sole mate.

Beware of dating hematologists. They may not be your type.

Beware of dating hypnotherapists. You may be mesmerized, but only subconsciously.

Beware of dating pharmacists. They may have the wrong prescription for romance.

Beware of dating acupuncturists. They may try needling you to get a reaction.

Beware of dating proctologists. Sure, they can work things out, but it won’t be fun.

Beware of dating respiratory therapists, even if they are breathtaking.

Beware of dating dentists. Over supper, they’ll only ask about your day when your mouth is full.

Beware of dating anesthesiologists. But if you must, knock yourself out.

Beware of dating surgeons. Especially if you frequently use the term “now cut that out.”

Beware of dating paramedics. If you’re not truthful, they may deploy their defibrillator.

Beware of dating dietitians. They may get impatient if you have a lot on your plate.

Beware of dating psychiatrists. They’ll search your pantry and may discover your nuts.

Beware of dating tall optometrists. You may not see eye-to-eye.

Beware of dating dermatologists. Obviously, that would be a rash decision. Beware of dating nurses. They may start seeing other people TID with meals.

I dated a nurse. And married her. She calls it long-term care.

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama, and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. See www.getnickt.org

Cheesy Pizza Casserole

Bowtie pasta, pizza sauce, ground beef, Italian sausage, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings make this recipe a super cheesy family favorite!

Ingredients:

1 (12-ounce) package bowtie pasta

1 pound ground beef

1 pound ground Italian sausage

1 small onion chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

1 (14-ounce) jar pizza sauce

1 (3.5-ounce) package pepperoni

1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup

1 (8-ounce) package shredded Italian cheese blend (2 cups)

1/2 teaspoon salt (or more)

1 (8-ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese (2 cups)

Instructions:

1-Cook pasta in large pot of salted water according to the package directions. Drain and return to the pot.

2-Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

3-Meanwhile, brown ground beef, sausage, and onions in a large skillet until no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Drain grease and return to pan.

4-Stir in pizza sauce, pepperoni, cheese soup, and Italian cheese blend into meat mixture.

5-Add meat mixture to pot with cooked pasta and combine. Add salt to taste.

6-Pour into prepared casserole dish.

7-Top with mozzarella cheese.

8-Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Source: https://southernbite.com/weeknight-bites-pizzacasserole/

Hike 24 in 24 Alabama

#Hike24in24AL is an Alabama State Parks environmental education initiative encouraging people to get outside and enjoy outdoor recreation experiences from Alabama’s deepest caverns to the highest mountains all the way to the white sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast.

Our interpretive hike schedule for the year includes hikes led by knowledgeable state park staff and volunteers. Each hike varies in distance and rigor, and all hikes are fun, engaging experiences for participants. Whether you are an individual, group, or family, we invite you to savor the beauty of Alabama's natural resources with our experienced guides leading the way.

Hiking improves mental, emotional, and physical health with movement and connection. With two hiking opportunities per month, participants can easily meet the #Hike24in24AL challenge while seeing our great state. Learn more details at www.alapark.com/hike-24-24-alabama

Alcohol and High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a common health condition. According to the American Heart Association, more than 100 million people in the U.S. have it. You can have high blood pressure without knowing it because it usually has no symptoms. For this reason, it’s called the silent killer.

It's important to prevent high blood pressure if you can—and manage high blood pressure if you have it. Over time, high blood pressure harms your heart and arteries, and increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. It is preventable with a healthy lifestyle, even if it runs in your family.

12 ounces of beer.

8 ounces of malt liquor.

5 ounces of wine.

1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

And here's something else to keep in mind: Recent research suggests that drinking even a little alcohol regularly can cause your blood pressure numbers to go up as you get older.

Alcohol and your heart

In the U.S., a standard alcoholic drink is:

Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.

Excessive drinking means at least eight drinks per week for women and at least 15 drinks per week for men. It also includes binge drinking, which means four or more drinks for a woman and five or more drinks for a man during a single event.

Excessive alcohol use over a long period of time is linked to high blood pressure, as well as heart disease, stroke and a host of other serious medical problems, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, evidence suggests that drinking smaller amounts of alcohol also can have a negative effect on your cardiovascular health. A recent analysis of several studies of more than 19,000 adults in the U.S., Korea and Japan found a pattern over four to 12 years. People who had even one drink on a regular basis saw a continuous rise in their blood pressure. As their alcohol consumption increased, so did their blood pressure numbers.

Lower your risk

To help keep your blood pressure within a healthy range, don't drink to excess. Consider not drinking at all. If you're concerned about the amount of alcohol you drink, talk to your doctor.

Source: www.jackson.org/health-library

Adult Acting: Performing Shakespeare with Greta Lambert

ASF Summer Camps 2024 registration is open

Not only will campers have lots of fun in a theatre environment, they’ll also come home and return to work, community, and school with the beneficial FIVE Cs: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and CONFIDENCE!

Adult Acting: Performing Shakespeare — with Greta Lambert Adults (ages 18+)

June 29 – July 20, 2024

Saturday mornings, time TBA

Fee: $125

Embark on an enchanting voyage into the world of Shakespeare with esteemed ASF legend Greta Lambert! This summer’s revelry promises to be an unparalleled experience for adult thespians of all levels. From seasoned pros to curious novices, all are welcome to immerse themselves in the magic of the Bard. This session will mark the first of its kind for ASF Education programming!

Register Here

https://asf.net/education/camps/

www.RiverRegionBoom.com

Music Could be the Secret to Fighting Off Dementia

People who played instruments or sang could have stronger memory and cognitive function, researchers found.

There’s nothing like a nostalgic song to transport you back to a special time and place — and now a new study has shown that music could help protect those memories for a lifetime.

Researchers at the University of Exeter discovered that people who "engage in music" over the course of their lives tend to have improved memory and better overall brain health as they age, according to a press release.

"The main message here is that different ways of engaging with music throughout life could be linked to different benefits," lead researcher Anne Corbett, professor of dementia research at the University of Exeter, told Fox News Digital.

"This has implications for public health, on the importance of including music in general education, and of keeping it up throughout life, or revisiting in mid to late life," she went on.

The scientists analyzed data for more than 1,107 people 40 and older who had not been diagnosed with dementia. They were all participants in the PROTECT study, a long-running U.K. research initiative focused on brain health and dementia that has been running since 2015.

The data for this particular study was collected between March 2019 and March 2022. Participants completed questionnaires in which they reported

their experiences with playing a musical instrument, singing, reading music and listening to music.

They also rated the level of their abilities. The participants, who were 83% female and had an average age of 67, also took an online cognitive test to gauge their memory and executive function.

The participants who played a musical instrument were found to have higher cognitive skills and enhanced memory compared to those who did not.

The piano was shown to have the biggest cognitive benefit. The longer the person played, the greater the benefits.

Those who regularly sang were also shown to have better brain health, the study found, but researchers noted that could also be a result of social factors.

"Our findings indicate that learning and engaging with music can enhance the brain’s resilience in a similar way to learning a new language."

"Because of the scale of our study, and the information we have available, we were able to break down the results to look at the association from different types of musicality," said Corbett. "Singing was associated with better executive function, which could be because of the social aspect of being in a choir."

People who learn more through written music seemed to have better numerical memory abilities, she noted, whereas playing a keyboard was linked to benefits across the board.

"We found no effect from listening to music alone – formal learning was key," Corbett added.

Based on these findings, the researchers recommend promoting musical education and engagement — from childhood onward — as a means of protecting brain health.

"We think this could be incorporated into general lifestyle advice such as eating healthy and being active, which is geared toward keeping our brains sharp in later life," said Corbett.

"Our findings indicate that learning and engaging with music can enhance the brain’s resilience in a similar way to learning a new language."

The study did have some limitations, the researcher shared.

"The number of people in our study who played certain instruments was quite small, so this may have accounted for part of the effect we found," Corbett said.

"We also didn’t look at whether taking up an instrument for the first time in later life would have benefit, though it certainly doesn’t do any harm and people would benefit from enjoyment and social interaction. Looking at any impact on the brain could be an interesting avenue for future research."

Dr. Brandon Crawford, a functional neurologist at the NeuroSolution Center of Austin, who was not involved in the study, confirmed the "profound impact"

that musical activities, including playing instruments and singing, have on the brain.

"Playing musical instruments and singing engage and strengthen various cognitive processes, including memory, attention and executive functions," he told Fox News Digital.

"The key is consistent engagement and enjoyment, which are crucial for sustaining the activity and reaping the neurological benefit."

"They enhance neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new neural connections, fostering an environment conducive to learning and growth," Crawford went on. "Music also stimulates emotional processing and can improve mood, offering a therapeutic benefit."

The benefits of musical activities are both preventative and rehabilitative, the doctor said.

"For individuals without cognitive impairments, these activities can help

maintain and even improve cognitive functions, serving as a protective measure against cognitive decline," he said.

"Meanwhile, [for] those already experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline, musical activities can slow the progression of such symptoms and, in some cases, restore cognitive functions thanks to the brain's remarkable ability to adapt and change."

Some of Crawford’s own patients have experienced noticeable improvements in memory, mood and cognitive functions as a result of musical activity, he said.

"For example, patients with early signs of dementia who started playing the piano or singing regularly have shown improvements in recall abilities and a reduction in the progression of their symptoms," he shared.

While all musical activities offer benefits, Crawford noted that some instruments might provide more significant cognitive stimulation due to the complexity of the skills they require.

"Instruments like the piano or violin demand coordination between both hands, reading music and emotional expression, engaging a wide range of brain areas," he said.

The most important thing is that the person enjoys the activity, according to Crawford.

"The key is consistent engagement and enjoyment, which are crucial for sustaining the activity and reaping the neurological benefits," he said.

Corbett added, "We know that lifestyle factors are important for keeping our brains as sharp as possible in later life." "Engaging with music throughout life could form part of this lifestyle advice, alongside factors including exercise, eating a healthy diet, giving up smoking and not drinking too much alcohol."

By: Stanley Popovich

21 Mental Health Facts That Can Help Someone You Know

I dealt with fear and anxiety for over twenty years and there are 21 facts that I discovered during my mental health struggles that can help anyone who struggles with fear and anxiety.

Knowing these important mental health facts can save someone you know a lot of time and money in the long run.

1. Getting help for your mental health is the best thing you can do.

2. Ignoring your mental health issues will only prolong the problem.

3. Running away from your mental health issues does not work.

4. There is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to your mental health.

5. There is nothing wrong in asking for assistance for your anxieties and stresses.

6. Your situation is not hopeless regardless of what you may think.

7. Focus on your recovery rather than trying to please others.

8. Go to the nearest hospital if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.

9. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

10. You have to make an effort in finding the answers to your mental

health issues.

11. Focus on the facts of your situation rather than your fearful thoughts.

12. Joining a support group is a great way of finding people who can relate to you.

13. Follow the advice from the professionals, rather than your friends.

14. Do not try to manage your mental health problems all by yourself.

15. Determine the source of your anxieties and then find ways to overcome them.

16. Do not make assumptions

regarding your current mental health situation.

17. Do not underestimate the power of God when it comes to your mental health.

18. Learning from your past mental health experiences will help you in the present.

19. Drugs and alcohol are not the answers. They just make things worse.

20. It takes practice in managing your mental health. Be patient but persistent.

21. Do not be afraid to ask questions when dealing with your mental health.

If you happen to struggle with fear, anxiety, or any other mental health related issues, it is important to admit that you have a problem and get some help.

Your doctor or other medical professionals in your area will know

of some qualified mental health professionals who can give you some assistance.

The key to overcoming your mental health issues is to “learn” effective techniques to manage your anxieties and stresses and “applying” these skills to your life. The best way to learn these techniques is by talking to a mental health professional. Everyone deals with stress and anxiety sometime in their life. You are not alone and there is nothing wrong with asking someone for advice on how to deal with these mental health related issues.

BIOGRAPHY

Stan is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear" which covers a variety of techniques that can drastically improve your mental health. For more information, please visit Stan's website at http://www.managingfear.com

By Barbra Williams Cosentino

The Art of Assemblage

Assemblage, a threedimensional art form which is like both collage and sculpture, puts together incongruent, non-art materials in a variety of ways

My friend Evelyn and I have been walking for twenty minutes, and here is what I've picked up along the way: one curly pink and purple ribbon, a small piece of cracked ceramic tile, an oddly shaped piece of wood and one wine cork. Oh, and a small envelope with lovely cursive writing adorning the front. Evelyn's findings are less exciting: an oversized paper clip, two buttons and three twigs, one with lichen clinging to it.

recycling the energy of the objects or interpreting what they are saying to each other to make my own statement."

Evelyn and I are not hoarders. We are assemblage artists -— well, we hope to be — and we are collecting interesting found items in preparation for an upcoming class we've signed up for in a local community center.

For those folks who are downsizing or decluttering, this art form is a terrific way to use those rusty tools, keys to nowhere and flotsam and jetsam proliferating in our junk drawers. The problem, though, is that you now have not only a great reason to bring home new goodies, but, if you really don't want to get rid of anything, not even that half-torn threepronged rubber plug, you've got the perfect excuse: "I'm saving it for an art piece I'm making."

Junk Art, Found Art or Even Trash Art

Well-known 97-year-old African American assemblage artist Betye Saar says, "I've always considered myself a hunter and gatherer. I'm like a recycler,

Like many of us, Saar inherited a beloved relative's collection of accumulated objects, which included gloves, fans, lace and brooches. Instead of stuffing them into a cardboard box to be stored in the garage, never to be seen again, Saar integrated them into what she called "The Nostalgia Series," artwork which highlighted personal family history and memories.

Assemblage, a three-dimensional art form which is a close cousin to both collage and sculpture, puts together incongruent, non-art materials in a variety of ways, using string, wire or glue to hold the elements together. There are varying assertions as to who first popularized this genre of art, with artists such as Marcel DuChamp and Pablo Picasso frequently being credited for its' development. Although Joseph Cornell is considered to be "the pioneer of assemblage art," many artists had started incorporating discarded or disassembled

objects into their work in the early 1900s.

This was well before French artist Jean Dubuffet coined the term "assemblage art" in the 1950s. Interestingly, "curiosity cabinets," also known as "accumulations and combines," were a trend among the crème de la crème way back in the 1500s. Much more recently, assemblage art began to be referred to as "junk art", "found art" and even "trash art."

Creating Your Creation

Julia Norton, a New York City- based visual artist and educator, says "In my art practice I always start with the materials. Since I use predominantly things from nature, they all have distinct meanings and their own life forces, which often dictates how they are incorporated into my work. Sometimes I have an idea in my head as to the formation of shapes, but usually the meaning evolves concurrent with the act of making."

Norton enjoys working with earth pigments, also known as ochre, and different kinds of paper that integrate natural materials into the pulp. She loves foraging and collecting colorants, such as dyes for fabric and ink making. "I find objects all the time, and sometimes they find me," she says.

Sara Krieger, a New York City assemblage artist and voice-over and vocal talent, says "I've always been a collector of things, the weirder, the better!" With more than a modicum of pride, she adds, "I have a collection of bleached chicken bones, dice, game pieces, vintage toys, doll heads, bottle caps, anything somewhat quirky and strange in

Writer Barbra Cosentino making assemblage art | Credit: Barbra Cosentino

nature. My eyes just naturally gravitate towards the unusual and the eclectic." Her eclectic creations often blend a contrasting combination of something sweet with something bold, disparate or semi-disturbing.

Every assemblage artist will tell you that the hunt is part of the fun. This includes scavenging not only beaches and back yards but also dried up creeks, rock overhangs and forests, where Native American arrowheads or other ancient artifacts may be found. Of course, flea markets, second-hand and antique stores and garage sales are great fun to explore.

Looking at, touching, cutting, bending and otherwise manipulating found objects that you're saving in your home or studio (if you're lucky enough to have one) until you've discovered the perfect use for them is another great pleasure.

Storing or categorizing items in some kind of order so you know what you have (or can find what you want to use in your ever-growing stash) is a challenge for every artist. (Saar called her method "organized chaos.") Some artists separate things by color, others by size, and others by theme, such as a collection of tiny plastic animals or miniature furniture.

piece on which objects are placed), while others like the natural grain of wood or the ridges in corrugated cardboard. Some alter the appearance of the objects themselves using techniques such as gilding, patination and rusting. Noted assemblage artist Louise Nevelson spraypainted her assemblages a single color to make them monochromatic, frequently using black or gold paint.

pressed flowers, acorns, and small sea shells. An antiquated lock or clasp can be used to complete the look.

• Whimsical found object sculptures can be created by sanding, painting or staining different sized pieces of wood or scrap lumber or cardboard, stacking them, fastening them together in a vertical tower and adding objects such as toy parts, small metal pieces, wooden blocks, or broken jewelry.

You have to decide what you'll use to house the ephemera, defined as things, usually paper, enjoyed or useful for only a short time. Examples are ticket stubs, postcards and letters. The threedimensional aspect of assemblage means you'll use things other than or along with paper.

What to Make

Some assemblage artists use paint, alcohol inks or other colorants to alter the substrate (the foundation of the

Other possibilities for bases are wooden or cigar boxes, printer's boxes, cell phone boxes, shadowboxes or metal. Cigar boxes, miniature candy tins and heart-shaped candy boxes are other possibilities.

With these, you can make:

• Vintage-inspired shadow boxes using objects such as old keys, pocket watches, and small old photographs. Tiny figures or props can be added to the box to tell a story.

• Beautiful nature-inspired wooden or ceramic treasure boxes adorned with

If you're just starting out and don't want to spend a lot of money, glue sticks, white glue or school paste are good for adhering lightweight items. To fasten things together or attach heavier objects, hardware such as screws, bolts and wire, a hot glue gun as well as different types of glue (PVA, gel medium, Gorilla Glue, E-6000 or two part-epoxy adhesives) can be used. Norton likes YES paste, a white, water-based, permanently flexible adhesive which doesn't curl paper and is acid-free.

There are many wonderful websites that discuss the history of assemblage as well as giving ideas for materials and techniques. I like The Art Story (https://www.theartstory.org/ definition/assemblage/) and, great for beginners, Beechhouse Media (https://www. beechhousemedia.co.uk/).

You don't need talent or training to become an assemblage artist. You just need open eyes, open hands and a heart that welcomes the beautiful, the whimsical and the strange. The possibilities are endless!

Barbra Williams Cosentino RN, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in Queens, N.Y., and a freelance writer whose essays and articles on health, parenting and mental health have appeared in the New York Times, Medscape, BabyCenter and many other national and online publications. Source www.nextavenue.org

Trinkets and objects accumulated for an assemblage art project | Credit: Barbra Cosentino

By Bonnie Miller Rubin

The Complicated Business of Getting Rid of My Late Husband's Clothes

It's a daunting task. The ordinary has become sacred and all those clothes are still an invisible thread that binds us together.

After my husband's long battle with colon cancer came to an end, I tackled all the items on my "to-do" list with brisk efficiency.

Hospital bed, wheelchair and oxygen tanks returned. Funeral bills paid. Thank you notes written. Check, check and check.

But now, a year after his passing, one daunting task remains: What to do with all his clothes? David was hardly Mr. GQ, but he took meticulous care of his things, so I felt some responsibility to disburse them with the same kind of pride.

On one hand, his untouched, orderly closet looked like he was just away on a trip and would walk through the door at any moment – too painful to see on a daily basis. But I also didn't want to totally erase his presence, either. Would it be possible to find some middle ground? To keep not a shrine, but perhaps a discreet, well-edited apparel memorial?

My Momentum Fizzled

So, I pressed on, assembling three Hefty bags — one for giving items away to friends or family, another for donating to charity and a third for the trash. I

would make quick work of this chore – an afternoon, maybe a day, at most. Besides, gaining all that extra closet space gave me a powerful incentive to roll up my sleeves and get started.

Almost immediately, though, my momentum fizzled.

I see this plaid flannel shirt he bought at Orvis, a testosterone-fueled outdoors shop around the corner from where he received chemo. With its fly fishing rods and Swiss Army knives, we would often stop there after treatment to peruse the sales racks – an antidote, he said, on those days that he didn't feel particularly rugged or manly.

Moving on, I pull out another shirt –this one a crisp, light blue button-down Oxford dating back to our college years. (He would brag about the longevity of his wardrobe the way others boast about the mileage on their odometer.) Surely, a garment this old would be a slam-dunk for the "give-away" pile.

But after a few minutes, I retrieve it from the bag, imagining him in the shirt and khaki slacks, the classic uniform of the guys he grew up with, the same ones who would be at his funeral more than a half century later. If he kept a shirt this long, who am I to throw it away?

How about those cargo pants? All those pockets were a brilliant way to stretch carry-on luggage restrictions, he quipped. Also travel-related: The souvenir T-shirts collected over 48 years of vacations. I inhale each one, hoping to catch a whiff of his existence, but it's gone. I keep them anyway.

Grief Is Everywhere

There are many opinions on the proper time to give away a spouse's clothes and possessions. Some suggest purging as quickly as possible – to "move on." Others recommend not even touching anything until a year has gone by.

"The world leaves us so little permission, so little space to just remember," writes Steve Leder, author of "More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us." "To remember our loved ones before the disease, the dementia, the accident...in their favorite sweater at their favorite restaurant."

That's what I wanted; a chance to turn back the clock to a time before medical equipment turned our apartment into a

Bonnie Miller Rubin and her husband David in Paris. | Credit: Courtesy of Bonnie Miller Rubin

nursing home. Before the contents of our refrigerator changed from eggs and milk to morphine, Ativan and Haldol. Before he asked me, as I was emptying his catheter, "Are you sorry you met me?" One friend, noting my procrastination, suggested that his untouched closet was "depressing...and an escape from reality." But that is impossible when grief seeps into every crevice of my life, whether that's spotting his favorite brand of iced tea at the supermarket to realizing that no one is around to unzip my dress. All those clothes can't "make" me sad because I'm already sad.

In talking with other spouses, I discovered that I am not alone in my desire to opt out. It has been six years since Debby Seguin's husband, Kerry, died of esophageal cancer and she still has hung on to some of his clothes. "We weren't just married, but we worked together 24/7 for most of our 46 years," noting that one of the items she's hung on to is his shirt with the name of their restaurant embroidered over the pocket. "I wore it yesterday," she said.

A Loss That Changes Everything

For Scott Graham, whose wife died of breast cancer 18 months ago, it's still too soon, adding that some of her clothing remains in laundry baskets. "My house is a museum to Elizabeth," he said. "I'm not going to give myself a timetable. It will happen when it will happen."

Kelley Lynn, author of "My Husband is Not a Rainbow," said the task is particularly difficult because the death of a spouse or partner is different than other losses.

"It changes every single thing in your world...your friend circle changes -or disappears entirely. Your financial status changes...so does your cognitive function. (Ever hear the term 'widow brain'?) You are handed a new life that you never asked for and don't particularly want."

With the fresh start of the new year, I decide to give it another try. Maybe I'll have better luck starting with something small – like accessories. I grab a soft wool beret, purchased at a Paris kiosk in 2018. As soon as David donned the chapeau he started channeling Maurice Chevalier crooning "Thank Heaven for Little Girls."

I remember the lightness of that April afternoon and what a blessing it is to not know what storm is barreling down on us.

I will make another attempt later. But for now, the ordinary has become sacred and all those clothes are still an invisible thread that binds us together. I'm not trying to escape reality – just take a break from it.

Bonnie Miller Rubin was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune for 25 years, specializing in health and family issues. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and other publications.

Source: www.nextavenue.org

By Rashelle Brown

A VR Gaming Headset

Revolutionized Our Workouts

How my wife’s Christmas wish turned this skeptic into a VR exercising addict

Apart from watching instructional YouTube videos, playing New York Times word games on our phones and streaming a show over spotty WiFi in the evening, my wife and I are not big techies. That's why I was surprised when she hinted that she'd like a virtual reality (VR) headset for Christmas.

"I've heard it's really good exercise," she said. "Mmmm hmmm," I replied skeptically, but the message had been received, and I surprised her with one under the tree.

Prior to that, I thought that video games — especially the VR sort — were something an adult leaves behind in their twenties, or, surely, their thirties. The moment I strapped on that headset, though, it was clear to me that this thing was made for everyone.

A Whole Other World

The makers of VR headsets have smartly included free games and apps that help new users familiarize themselves with handset controls, body movements, and the immersive experience as a whole. One of these games was my first introduction to VR, and I was blown away.

If you're new to VR technology, then getting to know your device inside an incredibly detailed make-believe world you could never have imagined is a first step I highly recommend.

Depending on which brand and model of headset you buy, you may find yourself walking among dinosaurs, meditating in a psychedelic 3D field of color and sound, or shooting space puffins that have landed in your living room through a hole in your ceiling. Rather than making you feel as though any of this actually taking place in the real world, today's VR headsets do a very convincing job of bringing you into their world.

A Sweaty, Heart-Pumping, Bebopping World

As my wife correctly guessed, the prospect of exercising in VR was what really piqued my interest. Once I'd gotten familiar with the headset and hand controls, I created the 6.5' x 6.5' virtual "safe space" required by most games in

one of our rooms and then I was ready to work out.

Depending on the brand and model of device, there are dozens to hundreds of active VR games, apps and experiences that can be downloaded or streamed via WiFi. On the recommendation of family members, we started with a lowcost boxing game.

The first time I played it, I found myself breathless and sweaty inside of ten minutes. I took a break, but an hour later, was back in the ring, swinging wildly and gasping for air.

I had previously been exercising regularly, but this was the hardest I had worked out since training for a series of obstacle course races in my mid-forties. Not only was it an incredible workout, I found it addictive. That first week, I played the boxing game two or three times a day, until one day I overextended on a punch (something the game's cautionary statement warned me not to do) and injured my elbow.

I sulked for the next couple of days as I rested my elbow but eventually found a free streaming dancing game that didn't aggravate it. Again, I was smitten, and although my heart rate didn't get into the red zone with this one, that just meant I could play longer. I soon found myself logging marathon workout sessions 60, 70, even 90 minutes long.

"The first time I played it, I found myself breathless and sweaty inside of ten minutes. I took a break, but an hour later, was back in the ring, swinging wildly and gasping for air." | Credit: Getty

My wife was the same way. "You know I hate cardio," she panted one day that first week, "but this is awesome!" A month in, we're both still jockeying for time with the headset every day.

Looking at my fitness tracker stats over the first 30 days of using the VR headset, my average workout time per week increased nearly 50%, and the average intensity of those workouts was much higher. I feel fitter than before, and am noticing some muscle definition I haven't seen in years.

Research Backs the Benefits

My wife and I aren't the only ones reaping the benefits of VR exercise. A 2020 systematic review found that VR exercise was as effective, if not more so, than traditional exercise across a number of physiological, rehabilitative and even psychological outcomes.

VR games and apps are also well-suited to more specialized training. A 2023 meta-analysis published in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics found it to be more effective than conventional exercise at improving balance and preventing falls in older adults.

For me, the "fun factor" is the biggest advantage of VR exercise. It's well-established in exercise science that if an activity is enjoyable, you're more likely to stick with it, and the same is true for perceived exertion: if something doesn't seem as hard, you'll probably do it for longer and/ or more often.

Player Beware: The Risks and Cons of VR Gaming

Working out harder and longer can have great physical and mental benefits, but it also comes with risks. As a former fitness professional and lifelong exerciser, I know my body's limits. I feel okay pushing my heart rate to near-maximum during some of my workouts, but this would be really dangerous for a large segment of the population. As with any exercise program, you should talk with

sedentary time. I discovered this pitfall one evening when I "just wanted to check out" an online escape room type of game, and emerged goggle-eyed and woozy two hours later.

Finally, none of this stuff is cheap. Compared to a monthly gym membership or home-gym set-up, VR exercise might still be a little more cost-effective, but only if you're choosey about which games you purchase. Some have fairly hefty one-time price tags, and others require a monthly subscription.

your health care provider before you begin a VR workout regimen, and then start slowly and progress incrementally.

In a 2022 study, researchers at San Francisco State University, San Francisco, found that subjects' actual exertion during exercise with a VR headset was much higher than their perceived exertion. The researchers also asked participants to rank the enjoyability of each exercise session, and were surprised to find that the most intense games were rated as the most enjoyable.

All of my exercise experience didn't protect me from tweaking my elbow (and later pulling a rib muscle playing the same boxing game). So, if like me, you tend to get caught up in the competitive heat of the moment, the risk for injury is real.

If you're not a workout nut, then a VR headset could actually increase your

I splurged on the latest iteration of headset available at the time, and my wife's Christmas morning reaction convinced me that was a good thing. So far, we've only spent around $30 total on games, and between that and the free streaming ones, we feel enormously entertained.

As spring brings warmer temperatures and dry ground, I know I'll get most of my exercise working and walking outside, but with months of winter still ahead, I can't imagine going back to my boring old basement workouts.

No matter your age, and whatever your thoughts on VR gaming have been up to now, I encourage you to give it a try. Test out a friend's device before you buy one if you're not sure. I bet you'll be glad you did.

Rashelle Brown is a long-time fitness professional and freelance writer with hundreds of bylines in print and online. She is a regular contributor for NextAvenue and the Active Network, and is the author of Reboot Your Body: Unlocking the Genetic Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss (Turner Publishing). Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram @RashelleBrownMN.

Source www.nextavenue.org

By Beverly Thomas Master Gardener's Perspective

A Garden of Memories

I was born and raised in Montgomery in the early 1950s to my parents, a stay-at-home mother and civil engineer father. We lived in a little neighborhood in east Montgomery with good, loamy, well-drained soil. Mom added organic matter to the soil to make a rich medium for growing flowers and vegetables.

My parents grew a variety of vegetables in their backyard garden including tomatoes, pole beans, cucumbers, squash, onions, and peppers. They also had peach, pear, and fig trees. We had a relatively small house and yard, but lots of vegetables, fruits, and flowers growing there due mainly to Mom’s gardening skills.

Mom was raised in Walker County. When we would visit her family, she would bring home various plants that grew in the woods around her childhood home. Some of the plants I remember being transplanted in our yard and flower beds were oakleaf hydrangeas, crape myrtles, as well as cow cumber trees, also called bigleaf magnolia. Their scientific name is Magnolia macrophylla. Cow cumbers have large, fragrant flowers up to twelve inches across and large leaves thirty inches long. These flowers and leaves are the largest of all North American species except for tropical palms. Mom would tell stories of playing in the woods near her home and using those leaves to make long skirts by attaching the stem end of the leaves together at her waist with sharp thorns.

After marrying my father and moving to Montgomery, she would often visit

Walker County and dig up these cow cumbers and transplant them in our yard. She would also take cuttings of the established trees and “root” new ones. By doing this she always had lots of small versions of this unusual tree to give to neighbors and friends.

Mom also loved growing flowers and two favorites were bearded iris (Iris germanica) and daylilies (genus Hemerocallis which means “beauty for a day”. There are various species of daylilies.) She enjoyed purchasing iris and daylilies from mail-order catalogs. She also would swap iris and daylily tubers with friends and soon had established quite a colorful flower garden that she enjoyed. My dad didn’t have much to do with tending the flower garden, but delighted in counting the blooms daily.

As I grew up, married, and also settled in Montgomery, Mom shared her iris and daylilies with me. She gave me tips on growing them and showed me how to divide and replant the rhizomes. I now have many samples from her garden in my flower beds.

Both iris and daylilies should be divided when flowering declines or the clump becomes crowded. Regular division between two and five years will allow them to flower profusely. Iris and daylilies can both be divided four to

six weeks after flowering stops so the replanted rhizomes have time to become established before there is a threat of freezing temperatures. The entire clump can be lifted out of the ground carefully with a shovel or pitchfork. Shake off the loose soil and separate the rhizomes and inspect them for any insect damage or soft spots. Remove and discard damaged rhizomes and leaves. For iris, cut back the remaining leaves to one-third the original height. Daylily rhizomes should have at least three short stems above the rhizome and several healthy roots.

When ready to plant iris and daylilies, dig a shallow hole with a small mound of soil in the middle and arrange the rhizome on top with the roots spread horizontally in the trench. Fill the hole leaving the top of the iris rhizome barely exposed. When covering the daylily rhizome, the point where the leaves join the roots (the crown) should be the same depth as the surrounding soil. Water thoroughly and keep both moist, but not wet until growth occurs. Transplanted iris may bloom sparsely the first spring after replanting, but daylilies often flower well the first spring after they are replanted.

My mother has been gone now over twelve years, but I still have many reminders of her in my flower beds. I know I don’t have her gardening talents, but seeing her blooms in my garden will always make me smile.

Beverly Thomas, an intern in the 2003 Master Gardener Class, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymag.org or email capcitymag@gmail.com

White Iris with Purple Heart Ruffled Blue Bearded Iris Ruffled White Bearded Iris

Looking Ahead to AUM OLLI Spring and Summer Terms!

As winter is coming to an end and signs of spring are appearing, we can look ahead to the AUM OLLI spring and summer terms. Spring term begins April 01 and ends May 17. The summer miniterm is for the four weeks of June. Both terms offer the variety of courses that OLLI members have come to expect.

Spring term includes courses in all categories – study/discussion, active, and DYI (craft courses). There are also a number of “game” courses – bridge, mah jongg, and brain bowl. Active courses include two different tai chi courses, line dancing, and pickleball. For people wanting to learn a new skill, there are several options: Zentangle, jewelry making, pop-up greeting cards, dot painting, a writing workshop, and a computer course, for those who need help enhancing their computer skills. Study courses cover a wide range of subjects: history, empire building,

biography, art, and Italy, a useful course if you are planning an Italian excursion. There are also some options for ZOOM courses through AU OLLI Shares.

Spring term also includes bonus opportunities, lunch presentations, and one field trip. The two book groups continue reading and discussing selected books: the AUM OLLI Book Group meets the first and third Tuesdays of a month from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at the Center for Lifelong Learning; the Selma-Dallas County Book Group meets the second Tuesday of the month from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Selma – Dallas County Public Library. For lunch presentations – at 11:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. on scheduled days – experts will discuss brain health or the rise of Vladimir Putin. Participation in these bonus opportunities and lunch presentations is included in the annual membership fee. There is one field trip on the spring schedule: a Saturday at the

Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

The summer mini-term offers a splendid opportunity for individuals to try AUM OLLI for a limited period of time. There is a limited schedule of classes, but they represent the categories offered in regular terms – study/discussion, active, and DYI. People can study more about Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird or learn more about Beethoven’s piano sonatas. They learn painting with watercolors or get some exercise while learning to line dance.

These options are covered in detail in the AUM OLLI Catalog, forthcoming in March.

Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier Photography Courtesy of Savoy Automobile Museum

Savoy Automobile Museum

At fourteen, I began driving a 1955 white on red Chevy to help with family chores. On my way to wash a week’s worth of dirty laundry at a local washateria, I feared encountering a police officer. As I crossed a bridge just shy of my destination, a patrol car approached me from the other side. My heart pounded but the officer passed right by. I don’t think he ever even looked my way. In those days, small town police vigilance was optional. Consequently, that classic Chevy established my love of cars, travel, and adventure.

The City of Cartersville, Georgia (Pop. 23,436) has three world class museums: Booth Western Art Museum; Tellus Science Museum; and, maybe the best place to find your first car, Savoy Automobile Museum. I recently spent a few hours at the Savoy Museum and learned much about the illustrious history of the “horseless carriage” and its impact on Western Civilization.

The Savoy is a beautiful, must-see museum for history buffs and auto enthusiasts alike. Once there, the Savoy’s wheeled-ceiling café is the perfect place for lunch before touring exhibits.

After my lunch in the dining room, I meet Marketing Associate Joe Salette for a tour. We start in the grand entrance hall. “There was a Thunderbird in here at one time,” Joe begins. “And we had a big exhibit with different factory drag cars in here. But usually this stays relatively the same.” Stepping into the massive “Great Hall,” he

continues, “The Great Hall to me is the coolest part of the museum. It’s just so open and you see all the architecture of everything. The building was designed by Frank Bergman. He actually designed the other museums in town too. When he designed this building, a lot of his inspiration included long sweeping curves like these wooden supports, the roof; and, outside, you probably noticed the big theatre that has the logo on it—all emulating the symmetry of cars and wheels, you know, the sleek curves you see in the design of cars. Of course, the big red panels are a feature as well. If you think back to the ’69 Shelby Mustang which is one of our cars in the Savoy Collection, [Bergman] kind of played off that time period when lots of classic cars were painted red.”

Lisa Romans of Guest Services joins us. I ask her who the benefactor is behind this amazing museum. She laughs, and says, “Well, we have a founder. But he prefers to remain anonymous. He has helped to start all of these museums. We’re very fortunate. We’re getting a reputation for Museum City. What makes us a little bit unique as far as car museums go is that we don’t have a static collection. We’re constantly changing what’s on the floor. That, and the way we position the vehicles so you can walk all the way around them. They’re not all lined up. You can really get up close and personal.”

As Lisa talks, I’m eyeing a monster pickup with tires as tall as me.

“This is our Bigfoot Exhibit,” Joe

explains.

“So, we have five galleries total. One is permanent.” He points at a distant gallery of automobiles.

“That’s our Savoy Collection. It stays relatively the same. Every other gallery we have is temporary. We usually try to do themes as well. So, you have monster trucks here. As you’ll see later, we have a Tatra exhibit—Czechoslovakian cars. We have a European art deco exhibit, which is our newest, based on the art deco movement back in the twenties, thirties—very elegant, futuristic looking cars. Very nice cars. Then there’s our Wayne Kady exhibit and his art. (Wayne Kady is a famous Cadillac designer and artist.) We try and do fun stuff,” he says.

We pause to study a French car with three windshields. “Well, they didn’t have the technology at the time to make it all one piece of glass—that came much

Lisa adds, “You can find a list on the website of what’s here and what’s coming … we bring cars in from all over the country.” According to the website, one of the coming exhibits is called: Movie Cars & Cars of the Stars. I wonder if that exhibit will include the James Bond car. That I want to see!

Savoy’s Mary Agrusa steps in to assist with my tour. Mary possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of automobiles and auto-history.

later like in the 50’s. But they could do all kinds of smaller [panes],” she says. Mary grew up working on cars in a garage with her brothers. She’s evocative of the fiancée/ autoexpert witness “Mona Lisa Vito” in the profane but hilarious movie My Cousin Vinny. Except, Mary’s the real

deal. With ease, she names automotive company CEO’s who lived decades ago, like Tatra’s Czechoslovakian CEO Hans Ledwinka. “He came up with a lot of the technological things in terms of putting in rear-mounted, air-cooled engines before Ford and Porsche,” she says.

We stroll into the Wayne Kady exhibit. “Wayne Kady is still alive,” Mary says. “One of the things about him: Wayne Kady draws. And he still illustrates and paints today at eighty-four. And so, everything you see hanging around here, this is all his hand-done art. He is a watercolor master. He was head designer for Cadillac and also for Buick. He came aboard at a time when there were a lot of government regulations that [prior designers] didn’t have to mess with. All of a sudden there were safety regulations. You had to be careful about gas milage. Materials were changing. He didn’t quite have the real freedom that earlier designers had because so many things were changing.” Kady also dealt with tremendous industry changes that found different manufacturers sharing parts— which, Mary explained, is why different models today look so much alike. Stunning design elements and the beauty imbued in automobiles by early industry designers has faded into history—as have fourteen-year-olds driving ’55 Chevys in rural Alabama.

For more information: www.Savoymuseum.org

Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact: Jeffbarganier@knology.net Instagram: @jeffbarganier . You may print out Jeff’s features at www.jeffbarganier.com

This & tHAT i

American Village Festival of Tulips, Now Blooming!

The 8th annual American Village Festival of Tulips is now open! Enjoy beautiful pinks, rosy reds, soft oranges and fiery red/yellow blends. We are not at peak bloom, that will come a week to ten days after opening. Follow our website, Facebook and lnstagram pages for updates. Always check field conditions before your visit. OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY

10:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY 12:00-4:00 P.M. AS LONG AS THE FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING (weather permitting)

• Admission to the tulip field will be $5 per person • Tulips (bulb included) will be $2.00 each • Payment (both tulip admission and purchases) will be at the tulip field • Visitors will be able to park by the field • Handicapped parking will be clearly marked • Food trucks will be onsite each Saturday during the Festival • Monday-Friday during the Festival of Tulips, regular admission to the American Village will remain $11 adults, $9 seniors, and free to children 4 and under, veterans and active military. Regular admission includes the daily public program or school program (if there is room to join), and the entire 188-acre campus. It is payable at the Visitor Center. Admission to the Festival of Tulips may be purchased as a $5 add-on or a standalone purchase of $5. Current status listed here https://www.americanvillage.org/2024-festival-of-tulips/

Beyond The Horizon Air & Space Show 2024

FREE Entry! Make plans for the entire family to see one of the great spectacles of the year on April 6 and 7 at Maxwell AFB! We are thrilled to bring back this exciting showcase of military and civilian aviation performances, static displays and more. Please mark your calendars for now, and we will be providing more details on the event! Sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact (334) 953-3366 or visit https://www.lifeatthemax.us/maxwell-air-space-show

U.S. Navy Blue Angels

U.S. Army Golden Knights

F-16 + P-51 Tuskegee

F-16 Viper Demo Team

Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ – Montgomery Performing Arts Centre

Prince's 'Purple Rain' The Black Jacket

Symphony, Date Saturday, May 18, 2024

Start Time 8:00 pm Ticket Prices $35 - $40. Remember putting on an album and listening from start to finish? Relive that moment with a live concert experience unlike any other as The Black Jacket Symphony recreates a select classic album live in its entirety—note for note, sound for sound—plus a full set of greatest hits from the evening’s artist. Over the past thirteen years, the Black Jacket Symphony has performed over 40 classic rock albums, bringing an incredible night of entertainment to over a million music lovers across the US. The group of hand-picked musicians changes based upon the album being performed—and no sonic detail is overlooked, with the musicians doing whatever it takes to reproduce the album. It’s a full night of rock and roll magic—plus a visual experience unlike any other. Fans across the country flock to their shows—and once you see one, you won’t miss another! www.mpaconline.org

This & tHAT i

Nominate an Outstanding Volunteer Today! Self-Nominations are Accepted!

HandsOn River Region is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Awards! For 50 years, the awards ceremony has become the region's largest volunteer recognition event, honoring individuals and groups who give of their time and talent to improve the community and overall quality of life. HandsOn River Region and the Junior League of Montgomery host the awards celebration each year during National Volunteer Week in April. Awards are presented to outstanding individuals and groups whose efforts have made a positive impact on the River Region. The categories include: • Adult Volunteer • Best of Board • Youth Group • Youth Volunteer • Nonprofit & Faith-Based Volunteer Program • Corporate. The nominees will be recongized on Thursday, April 25th at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, located at 1728 S. Hull Street in Montgomery. Contact 334-264-3335 should you have any questions. Nominate online at https://www.handsonriverregion.org/voy-nomination-form DEADLINE: 5PM, MARCH 20, 2024.

The Capri Presents, Painting the Modern Garden

Claude Monet was an avid horticulturist and arguably the most important painter of gardens in the history of art, but he was not alone. Great artists like Van Gogh, Bonnard, Sorolla, Sargent, Pissarro and Matisse all saw the garden as a powerful subject for their art. These great artists, along with many other famous names, feature in an innovative and extensive exhibition from the Royal Academy of Art, London. From the exhibition walls to the wonder and beauty of artists' gardens like Giverny and Seebüll, the film takes a magical and widely travelled journey to discover how different contemporaries of Monet built and cultivated modern gardens to explore expressive motifs, abstract color, decorative design and utopian ideas. Guided by passionate curators, artists and garden enthusiasts, this remarkable collection of Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and avant-garde artists of the early twentieth century will reveal the rise of the modern garden in popular culture and the public's enduring facination with gardens today. Long considered spaces for expressing colour, light and atmosphere, the garden has occupied the creative minds of some of the worlds greatest artists. As Monet said, 'Apart from painting and gardening, I'm no good at anything'. For lovers of art or lovers of gardens, this is an ideal film. https://www.capritheatre.org/

Biblical History Center Tour March 21st

Women: Join Frazer's Women’s Ministry for a day trip to the Biblical History Center in LaGrange, Georgia, and experience a Biblical Meal and Archaeological Replica Guided Tour of the Garden and Gallery, which includes Old Testament and New Testament exhibits with over 250 different artifacts from Israel. The meal/tour is approximately 3 hours. Buses depart at 10 AM on Thursday, March 21 and we will return around 5 PM. Cost is $65. Space is limited to 35. Deadline to register is Wednesday, March 13. Register below. Questions? Email women@frazer.church.

This & tHAT i

Zoo Weekend at the Montgomery Zoo, Saturday - Sunday, March 16-17

This fun-filled weekend at the Montgomery Zoo, enjoyed by generations and loved by all ages, will be filled with great music, two stages of live entertainment, games and prizes for the kids, inflatables and slides, petting zoo, rides, animal presentations and encounters, tons of yummy concessions, and fun, fun, fun! March 16, 2024 9:00 AMMarch 17, 2024 5:00 PM, Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Museum, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery, Alabama 36110. More details at www.montgomeryzoo.com

Back by Popular Demand: Pysanky Egg Dyeing Workshops!

This spring, join us for another round of the Pysanky Egg Dyeing Workshops on March 22 & 23 at the Pike Road Arts Center (944 Wallahatchie Rd). These were so popular last year, there was no way we could go without! The Pysanky technique features beeswax designs applied to the surface of eggs, which are then dipped in special dyes to create intricate and vibrant keepsakes. This three-hour class is suitable for ages 12+, and participants will take home as many pysanky as they can create! Tuition is $40 per person and includes ALL materials. There will be two Pysanky workshops at the Pike Road Arts Center, March 22, 1 - 4 pm and March 23, 9 am - 12 pm. Registration is required, and space is limited. Please email Arts Council Coordinator Patty Payne at patty@pikeroad.us to register today!

Caregiver of the Month Spotlight: Nini Bouey-Battle

Home Care Assistance is honored to name Ms. Nini as the caregiver of the month for February. Nini has over 25 years of experience in caregiving, and has been with HCA since August 2023. Nini has displayed grace, determination, kindness and a true love for our seniors and the work she does.

“Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters.”

Amy Leigh Mercree

We appreciate your hard work and dedication, thank you for a job Well Done!!

For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com

Capital City Master Gardeners Association Lunch & Learn @ Montgomery Cultural Arts Center

Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn, the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They will meet at Montgomery Cultural Arts Center (Armory Learning Arts Building), 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery 36104. Mark your calendars, March 6, 2024 “Daylilies of All Shapes and Colors” Terese Goodson, Master Gardener and President of Montgomery Area Daylily Society, will present “Daylilies of All Shapes and Colors”. Do you know there are more than 90,000 registered daylilies? How do you plant them? Where can you purchase them? Do they come back every year? Are they easy to grow? April 3, 2024 “Spring Veggie Gardens” Mike Forster, Master Gardener, will present “Spring Veggie Gardens”. Are you ready to plant a Spring vegetable garden? Should you plant in a raised bed? Which plants should you choose? When do you start planting a garden? Mike can answer all of these questions for you! BRING A SACK LUNCH, FREE PROGRAM, WATER PROVIDED, For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org

Montgomery Botanical Gardens Offers Trees and Shrubbery Class in March

The Montgomery Botanical Gardens will present Trees and Shrubbery: Backyard Wildlife Habitat at 10:00 am, on Saturday, March 9 in the Wisdom Wood outdoor classroom at Oak Park. The class, which will be taught by the City of Montgomery Urban Forester Russell Stringer, will offer tips on the types of trees and shrubs that thrive in our southern climate. Participants will learn how to plant, the types of soil amendments needed, and how to care for trees and shrubs. Seating is furnished in the Outdoor Classroom, but participants are encouraged to bring folding chairs for comfort. Montgomery Botanical Gardens classes scheduled for upcoming months include Physical Therapy for Gardeners on Saturday, April 13; Capturing Beauty in Garden Photography, on Saturday, May 11; and Attracting Pollinators, on Saturday, June 8. Classes will be held at 10:00 am in the outdoor classroom. Montgomery Botanical Gardens, Oak Park, 1010 Forest Ave, Montgomery, AL 36106. https://www.montgomerybotanicalgardens.com/montgomery-botanical-gardens-offers-trees-and-shrubbery-class-in-march/

Patty VanderWal Leading the Prattville/Autauga Business Community

My role model is my father, who taught me that hard work, character, and attitude never go unnoticed. He always told me to reach for the stars and never give up. My father used that quote often in his many “lectures” to me, especially when I was making life’s decisions.

This month’s cover profile is Patty VanderWal; Patty is the President of the Prattville Chamber of Commerce. Her background is in finance, and she has worked as a CPA and other financial roles during her career. She grew up in Prattville after moving there when her dad took a job at Continental Gin many years ago. Patty has much experience with her career and lived in many other parts of the country, including California, but when it was time to shift gears and start a family, she wanted to get back to Prattville! Patty and her husband Tom raised their 2 daughters there and saw them graduate from Auburn University. She now leads the Prattville/Autuaga business community and makes sure to give back through community service and her faith. Patty is a great example of aging well, giving back, and staying in the game of life with new challenges. We enjoyed getting to know Patty and think you will too. Please share her story with your friends.

BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e., where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, family, etc.?

Patty: I was born in Detroit, Michigan, but moved to Prattville when I was extremely young ( I don’t remember any other home other than Prattville). We came here because my Dad took a job at the Continental Gin Company, which is now called The Mill at Prattville. The gin was revitalized into loft apartments. I moved away for a while and lived in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, St. Louis, Missouri, and Glendale, California. My jobs were in the tax and finance area at big corporations in those cities. I married my first husband, Ron, in Oklahoma and moved with him during his career changes. We were married for 9 years and did

not have children since we concentrated on our careers. When we did decide to have children, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 43 and passed away 6 months after being diagnosed. While in California, I married my husband, Tom. We had our daughters, Kristen and Kimberly, in California but decided we wanted to have them grow up in Prattville. Tom retired from the Los Angeles Police Department after 25 years, and we moved back to Prattville. We have been married for almost 30 years. Both girls graduated from Prattville schools and Auburn University and are now working on their careers.

BOOM!: Patty, you are the President of the Prattville Chamber of Commerce. Would you share with our readers how you became involved with the Chamber of Commerce in Prattville? What is the mission of the

Patty with husband Tom, daughters Kristen and Kimberly

Chamber? What are the unique benefits for businesses that belong to the Prattville Chamber?

Patty: When I came back to Prattville from California, I decided to start a small business to have some flexible time with my girls, who were very young at that time. I went into business with my sister, and we started a gift basket business called Two Sisters Creations. I joined the Chamber and became involved in the Chamber and the community. I also served on their Board of Directors. A finance position opened at the Chamber in 2008, and I was hired as the Finance Director and office manager. I spent 5 years in that position, and in March of 2014, I was named President of the Chamber. The mission of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen the business environment and our community. First and foremost, the unique benefits of belonging to the Chamber are that we are the voice of business in the community. We help businesses grow and prosper through various programs that we offer at the Chamber. Still, more importantly, membership in the Chamber gives a business a voice and allows them to be a bigger part of their community.

BOOM!: Successful organizations have a team of dedicated employees and volunteers who know how to share the organization’s mission and purpose. Please describe the team you put together to lead Prattville’s Chamber. How would you describe your leadership style?

Patty: Every role at a Chamber is an important role simply because Chamber work is all-encompassing. You may have a specific job description for your position, but everyone must have all hands on deck when we have a project or an event. There are key roles in a Chamber, of course: the President and CEO, who manages the day-to-day operations and reports to a volunteer Board of Directors; the Membership Director, who recruits and retains members; the Marketing Director, who helps tell the Chamber story and most importantly is the support staff who greet people when they come in, keep the office running, help plan events and make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be. I don’t know if I have a specific leadership style, but I think I am competent, skilled, and considerate. I like to be available to my team, be genuine, and communicate effectively. My team matters to me, and that is what is most important. I lead the

Daughters, Kimberly and Kristen

Patty with Daughters, Kristen and Kimberly

Tom with Daughters, Kristen and Kimberly

Patty with sister, Christine

Daughters Kristen and Kimberly

organization from behind.

BOOM!: Prattville is a leading city in the River Region; your motto is “The Preferred Community”. As a longtime resident and leader of its business community, would you please share the quality of life and progress that is taking place in Prattville and Autauga County? How would you describe your downtown revitalization efforts?

Patty: The quality of life in a community is what makes the City and the County. Quality of life includes many things such as your employment, the environment, physical and mental health, education, recreation and leisure time, the feeling of belonging, religion, safety, and security. We have all of these things in Prattville and Autauga County. We have quality education, churches, recreational sports, parks, and of course our YMCA. The first job that I ever had was at the YMCA when I was in high school. That job shaped my future. The City and the County have invested in improving our parks, adding new ballfields in the County, new walking and hiking trails and a new stadium in the City. Downtown has been completely revitalized from the new lofts at The Mill, adding new residents, downtown shopping, and entertainment. There will be some areas of downtown that will be revitalized into an outdoor event venue for families.

Program. You were one of only 35 selected across the country. Could you share how you were selected and what it means for your future leadership role?

Patty: The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and trade associations with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity

Being selected to be part of the Business Leads Fellowship Program cohort and represent the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is an honor and a privilege. I look forward to gaining the knowledge and connections that will enable me to implement strategies and programs to address education and workforce challenges in Prattville and Autauga County. This opportunity to work with other Chambers and Associations across the United States is invaluable. It will serve to help me to implement change in the education and workforce pipeline and to be an education and workforce champion in my community.

BOOM!: We read that a quote from legendary baseball player Babe Ruth was often used to encourage your daughters when they were growing up. The quote was, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” Could you share more about using this quote?

BOOM!: You were recently selected for the U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program, called Business Leads Fellowship

to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges. It is a very competitive application and selection process. I was the only one selected from the State of Alabama. I was selected, along with thirty-four other state and local chamber executives, economic development professionals, and association leaders, to participate in this program. The eightmonth program, consisting of inperson and virtual meetings, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, postsecondary education, and workforce development.

Patty: I have always told my daughters that first and foremost, always be yourself, stay true to who you are, be passionate about what you do, and never give up. Growing up, I was very shy, and I was definitely an introvert. It was so hard for me to fit into a group or be social, but with perseverance and faith in God, I have overcome all of those obstacles. I am proof that doing something totally

outside your comfort zone is possible. You can do anything with hard work, passion, and perseverance. Our fears of failing will, at times, direct our lives and

Patty's 39 year old Parrot, Holly

Patty's "first child" was her dog Brandy who passed away suddenly in 1996

Patty with her favorite mascot, Aubie

keep us from doing what we want to do, whether personal or professional. My role model is my father, who taught me that hard work, character, and attitude never go unnoticed. He always told me to reach for the stars and never give up. My father used that quote often in his many “lectures” to me, especially when I was making life’s decisions. The quote made an impact on me, and I have used the same quote in many everyday situations. Many of my experiences in life, good and bad, have given me direction, and this quote is always at the forefront.

BOOM!: Do you have time to be involved in the community, church, or civic organizations? What are some of the organizations/projects you serve? Why is community service important?

Patty: Volunteering and giving back to the community that gave me so much growing up is important. It is very rewarding to live in the community that you grew up in and serve that community. The Rotary Club has a motto, Service Above Self, which is exactly what volunteering in the community means to me. It gives me a sense of pride to be a part of these organizations, helping others in the community and showing others, particularly the younger generation, that giving back is the most selfless thing a person can do. Some of the organizations I’m involved with are the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (Alabama Chambers) Board of Directors, the Leadership Autauga Board of Directors, the Board of Management for the Prattville YMCA, Blues Ribbon Ambassador with Butterfly Bridge and is also a member of the

Noon Prattville Rotary Club.

BOOM!: What is it about living in the Prattville/River Region area that you like? What do we need more of?

Patty: Let me start by saying I love

Prattville and the life it has brought me and my family…a full but simple life. Growing up in Prattville and having my daughters grow up here has been one so rewarding for me and for them. Sometimes it is not about what a town has to offer in terms of amenities, but more about quality of life. Prattville has restaurants, shopping, and sports.

BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind down from a full day of activity?

Patty: I love to exercise, to read and most of all spend time with my daughters. Exercise helps me not only stay healthy but helps to refresh my mind. Reading is a great escape and lets me live in another world besides my own. I also love reading my bible. I have read the bible cover to cover 3 times and every time I have read it, there is a whole new impact on my life. I had my girls later in life and I have loved experiencing life with them. I also love everything related to Auburn sports, particularly football and basketball.

WAR EAGLE!!

BOOM!: With a busy life, how do you like to spend time with family and friends?

Patty: Most of the time that I have when I am not working is spent with my husband and my daughters. My daughters are my world, and I am very involved in everything that they do. I have learned that life is short, and nothing should be taken for granted. God first and then family.

BOOM!: What are some of your favorite travel experiences? Favorite getaway spot? Are any travel dreams planned?

Patty: Going to the beach is my favorite

Patty's Dad Patty's Mom Patty's Grandparents

Graduation from US Chamber Institute of Management

Celebration Dinner in the Prattville District

place to be. I haven’t traveled much, but I have loved visiting Maui and seeing the islands' beauty and volcanoes. I would like to travel more in the United States and see what is in my own backyard.

BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed? How would you describe what it means to “age well”? What are your thoughts on retirement?

Patty: As I have aged, I have experienced a lot of loss that has been very impactful and shown me how short life can be, but I also know that we cannot live in fear of aging because that is the beauty of the circle of life. I have always worked hard to give my family, especially my girls, an excellent life, but I have also taught them to appreciate everything they have. As we age our priorities do change because we begin to see how life does move quickly and we must take the time to slow down and be present in the moment. I always tell my girls to live in the moment and not look back at the past or try to plan the future and enjoy the moment. I am not sure what retirement looks like for me, but for now, I am going to live in the moment and let God take my future.

BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention?

Patty: I have never been a hobby person, but I love being with my family or just reading a good book.

BOOM!: Many people, as they age, experience a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, etc. How would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking

renewal?

Patty: God has a purpose for all of our lives, but we all have to determine what that drive is in our lives. What is the one thing that makes a person get up every day and make a difference? That

BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you.

Patty: Loyal, Passionate, Persistent

difference can be very small, like getting your kids to school or having lunch with a friend who is in need. A renewed sense of purpose is in our hands to fulfill our dreams and goals and make an impact.

BOOM!: What are some of the future challenges you’re contemplating for the Prattville Chamber? Special projects? Yourself?

Patty: I try to look at everything as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Every year at the Chamber, we focus on something new for the membership and the community. We just celebrated our 50-year anniversary and that gave the Chamber renewed life to create new programs and new opportunities for our members. For me, it is a time to have the opportunity to continue to make an impact in the community that I grew up in every..single..day.

We want to thank Patty for sharing some of her life's story with us this month. Patty loves her community and thrives to create a quality of life everyone can enjoy. We hope you’ll share Patty's story with friends and family, they’ll enjoy the reading experience. If you want to reach out to Patty, call Prattville Chamber of Commerce at 334.365.7392 or drop her an email at pvanderwal@prattvillechamber. com Thanks to DiAnna Paulk and her creative photography skills. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please text them to Jim Watson at 334.324.3472 or email jim@riverregionboom.com .

Patty with her Chairman (L),Lisa Miller and Past Chairman (R), Catherine Porter

Patty promoting Prattville at a Snowbirds Convention

The $100,000 “Statusphere”

"A true story from the Greg files"

Introducing a new (and copyrighted) term this month- the Statusphere!

It must be a new word. In writing this essay, Microsoft Word keeps trying to correct it to “stratosphere”, so it is not yet recognized.

Entry to this winner’s circle requires an annual income of 100,000 dollars.

100G was our (BOOMers) “magic number” growing up. In the 60s, very few people were earning the magic six-figure income. $99,500? Meh. Chump change. The extra digit changes everything.

Climbing into that special bracket, then and now, requires an individual to excel at something. Unless inherited, the six-figure income has survived incessant inflation to remain a worthy career objective.

Historical perspective please, oh great wordsmith!

Since the MLB season starts this month, let’s talk baseball.

100K was a benchmark figure in sports during the 60s. In baseball, the very best could get there, and were deemed “rich”. Quaint! Legends like Sandy Koufax and Hank Aaron used their great numbers during the baseball season,

to season their paychecks into to the Statusphere.

Some fans were outraged. Imagine making that kind of money for playing a game! For perspective, and I checked- to make the 1965 equivalent in 2024 dollars, 100,000 equates to 995,000 dollars. In MLB today, there are dozens of players making 100K just for showing up- for ONE game. Some make twice that amount, and several others more, all of it guaranteed regardless of performance. Last year, the World Champion Texas Rangers pirated a New York Mets starting pitcher named Jacob deGrom. A top performer when healthy, the Rangers lured him away with 165 million dollars (203K per game!) guaranteed over 5 years. Mr. deGrom rewarded the Ranger investment by appearing in 6 games before requiring elbow surgery, missing the remainder of last season and most of the upcoming one. I’m glad it was not my money!

Or am I?

For years, all pro athletes were grossly underpaid. Most worked off-season jobs to make ends meet. The MLB Minimum Wage in 1965 was SIX THOUSAND dollars, so for most players 100K was a pipedream.

In 2024, the minimum wage in MLB is $740,000. But it is my (our) money underwriting these big dollar deals as ticket prices have skyrocketed. In 1965, one dollar got you a bleacher ticket for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. A bleacher seat is still a buck today, times 185!

Bookies.com reports that a family of 4, buying the cheapest seats, 4 hot dogs, 2 beers, 2 sodas and parking will spend $149 on average to attend an MLB game. That is five times more expensive than 25 years ago.

I don’t mind anyone earning what they can (legitimately) in any field. Still, I remember Pete Rose announcing $100,000 was his salary goal in baseball. Pete got lambasted for it because while a great hitter, he wasn’t much of a home run hitter. “Home run hitters drive Corvettes”, Rose said.

In a way, relative to sports, it is my (our) money.

Through sheer hustle, Pete hit the Statusphere. He bet on himself and won (insert rimshot here).

I went to school in an era where teachers

www.riverregionboom.com

Greg, circa 1988, at bat playing his favorite pastime, baseball.

actually encouraged us to find something we loved doing and GO FOR IT! Work hard! Make money! Be a millionaire! I’m not sure what teachers are telling kids today but I’m hearing a lot of “eat the rich” garbage from a frightening number of yutes (hat tip to Cousin Vinny) while eschewing work altogether.

I entered the mythereal (another new word!) Statusphere in 1986.

On May 25 that year, my radio station manager woke me from a nap at home with a phone call. My stomach dropped when he said, “Hey Greg, Doug Donoho here”. Doug usually only called when I was in trouble for something I did/said on the air. Shaking the cobwebs loose, I choked out a “yes sir?”. He then said, “I was wondering if you’d mind if I raised your salary to $100,000?”.

It was a very emotional moment. 100K is still an excellent income, especially in Alabama where our cost of living is lower than neighboring states.

The median individual income in the US is 44,000, so 100,000 remains a worthy benchmark. When Pete Rose hit the Statusphere in 1967 he could have purchased TWENTY brand new Corvettes with that money. Today, A hundred thousand “big ones” would make a decent down payment on ONE Corvette.

There Is one institution where $100,000 is mere toilet paper. Government.

I held the phone away from my face and looked at it dumbstruck. Carefully gathering my words, I replied “No sir, you have my permission! I don’t mind at all! Thank you!!!”.

I’ve often wondered, had caller ID been available then, would I have answered the phone? Seeing Doug’s name might have given me pause. Still, it was an incredibly special moment at age 33. In six years, my Florida radio career (starting at $180 a week) made landfall in the Statusphere

When it was learned baseball immortal Babe Ruth signed with the New York Yankees in 1928 for a staggering $80,000, the media (as useful then as now) pointed out it was more money than then President Hoover was earning. The quickwitted Ruth replied, “I had a better year than he did!”.

The current occupant of the White House is grossly overpaid at $400,000. As the Spender in Chief, his special number is 1 TRILLION in new debt every six months, an amount equal to that earned by 10 million people making the Mythereal $100,000. Wow.

That, my friends, is (final new word) “Debtestable”.

Share your thoughts on my experiences or other comments via email at gregbudell@aol.com. It's always fun to hear from BOOM! readers.

Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, and dog, Brisco. He's been in radio since 1970, and has marked 17 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas and Jay Scott, 6-9 AM Monday - Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick, Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com

Alabama Ranks in the Top 10 states for Identity Theft: DON’T BECOME A VICTIM!

Montgomery and Tuscaloosa ranked in the 25 worst cities for identity theft per capita in the first half of 2023 and Alabama ranked as the eighth worst state in the country. The year 2023 was the worst year on record thus far for identity theft, with more than 500,000 complaints filed in the first half of the year for the country. Identity theft takes different forms including tax returns, government benefits like Social Security, medical insurance, credit cards, bank accounts, and other types of financial accounts.

Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. (MWM) in Montgomery, AL conducts a free workshop/webinar every year in March on techniques to prevent identity theft. The workshop is updated every year to include new types of identity theft that are occurring and new measures to counteract them. This year’s workshop will be conducted by webinar on Wednesday, March 27th from noon to 1:30 p.m., is complimentary and without obligation. There will be both a live and recorded version. Please call the Moore Wealth Management office for further information or reservations at 334.270.1672 or email Sarah@ moorewealthmanagement.com. If you miss the webinar, we also offer free consultations that are without obligation.

Webinar participants receive an action plan containing things to do to minimize the chances that they become victims of identity theft. Topics include methods to protect your credit rating, credit, and debit cards, as well as banking

Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore

By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D. Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.

and brokerage accounts. We review how criminals use scanners to collect information on cards used at ATMs, gas pumps and convenience stores. We cover how to protect your electronic exposure on the internet, your computer and cell phone, including passwords and logins, encryption, secure emails, computer hacking and viruses, spyware, and malware.

One of the areas of identity theft that is growing the fastest is in medical insurance fraud, fraudulent tax returns and Social Security benefits. We discuss how to monitor and protect these areas where retirees are especially vulnerable.

Finally, we go over common-sense techniques to thwart some of the most common ways thieves get access to your identity. For example, you should never mail payments on your bills from your mailbox at home. You should shred your boarding passes from airline

flights because they contain sensitive information hidden in the bar codes on the passes.

We conduct a variety of workshops and seminars at MWM. The mission statement of MWM is very simple: “and then some.” We attempt to do what is expected, what is required “and then some.” The Identity Theft workshop is part of our monthly “and then some” workshops. In addition, MWM conducts monthly current events market updates that attempt to explain what is going on in the financial world. If you would like to be on the mailing list or receive email notifications of upcoming seminars, please call 334.270.1672.

Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices in Auburn, Montgomery, and Alexander City, AL. Susan has under advisement over $170 million (as of 1.21.2022) in brokerage and advisory assets through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner for over 40 years. Contact Susan at 334.270.1672. Email contact is susan@moorewealthmanagement.com

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation.

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

Sage is an herb with many health benefits and some mystical history, which seems to have taken a resurgence in recent years.

By that I mean the burning of “sage sticks” to disperse negative energy. Sage sticks are simply bundles of dried sage, and sometimes other herbs too, tightly bundled together and tied with string. You light the end, much like a cigar, and once lit it will smolder producing an aromatic smoke which you wave in a sweeping motion slowly around the space you are trying to clear of negative energy.

There are different reasons for Smudging – the term given to this practice of burning herbs for the aromatic smoke and spreading the smoke around a space. Native American smudging ceremonies might be performed before or after a significant event, before meditation, or to ward off illness. In general, those who smudge for spiritual purposes, whether as an ancient practice, a New Age ritual, or for other reasons, do so to drive out negativity or evil spirits, cleanse the area, and increase healing and positive energy. This seems to be the popular belief today, however there are also healing reasons to smudge.

Though studies are inconclusive on the effectiveness of burning sage, the herb itself, and the essential oil, is known to have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It is also known to repel insects, which for me is always good to know – mosquitoes eat me alive.

Another potential medical benefit is that burning sage can release negative ions, neutralizing positive ions in allergens like pet dander, dust, and mold. Thus, some claim that burning sage is helpful for those with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues. Of course, the smoke must be cleared from the room before the affected person returns otherwise you are just compounding the issue. There is

ample anecdotal evidence that this works, however no official studies have been done yet to my knowledge. If you suffer from any of these issues, I suggest you proceed with caution, but if it does work for you then that’s great! Let me know!

Smudging may also have mental health benefits as well. A 2016 scientific study found that white sage (that grows wild here in the US) has receptor-activating compounds that work with receptors in the brain to elevate mood levels, reduce stress, and even alleviate pain. Some research has shown that sage may be effective against insomnia and anxiety. There is also evidence that it may boost cognition and help with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Of course, besides burning sage you can also eat it! Not on its own of course, but as an herb in your casserole or pasta

sauce for example. It has a variety of good health benefits used in this form:

• High in antioxidants

• Aids brain function and memory

• Eases menopausal symptoms

• Fights inflammation

• Lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels

For all you menopausal and premenopausal women out there, this has to be worth a try! All the hormonal imbalances pre and during menopause are due to declining estrogen levels. The good news is that the chemical compounds in sage (and sage essential oil,) have estrogen-like properties and so can help immensely with the symptoms such as hot flashes, excessive sweating and irritability. It can also help with menstrual issues such as heavy or painful menstruation.

Studies show that regular consumption (twice a day for at least three weeks) of sage can increase good cholesterol levels and prevent bad cholesterol from forming. The leaves are hyperlipidemic and it has anti-hyperglycemic and a healing effect on total cholesterol in type 2 diabetes patients.

Its high concentration of antioxidants makes it a viable candidate in the fight to prevent cancer. Studies have shown that drinking sage tea daily does reduce your risk of the following types of cancer – oral, liver, kidney, breast, cervical, skin. It has also been shown to help resist Alzheimer’s disease.

To conclude, whatever you wish to do with sage, burn it, drink it, diffuse it, eat it, it seems it can only be of benefit to your overall health, and if you have a family history of any of the diseases or conditions discussed in this article it may indeed behoove you to start considering adding sage to your weekly routine right now.

email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I web: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/tracybhalla I www. LogHouseAromatics.com