Mall Walking Page 2
Staying the course Pages 6&7 P
H Heart Healthy Habits for Seniors Page 4
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Longview News-Journal, Friday, January 8, 2021
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Mall Walking offers great indoor workout J
By Christina Cavazos
oe Randolph starts each morning off on the right foot by going for a 45-minute walk at the Longview Mall. Randolph, who retired years ago from Eastman Chemical Co., has been walking each morning at the mall for more than 25 years. There are more than 100 people, mostly retirees, who regularly walk at Longview Mall each morning, but Randolph and the other men who make up his group are among the longest continuous mall walkers in Longview.
“This is a great place to walk,” Randolph said. “The weather’s perfect in here,” his friend, Jack Park, quickly chimed in. Randolph, Park and Dennis Atkinson comprise one of dozens of groups that walk at Longview Mall each morning. The mall opens its doors before stores open for business so those interested have an opportunity to get some exercise indoors before crowds arrive to shop. Those who walk at the mall agreed the benefits include that it’s climatecontrolled, indoors, safe and a good place to meet new friends. As they walked on a recent day in December, Randolph, Park and Atkinson greeted fellow mall walkers Susan Gardner and Karen Ward as they passed each other. The two small groups of friends have gotten to know each other in the past few months. Ward and Gardner, both retired teachers, started walking outside in March when the COVID-19 pandemic began. They walked the perimeter of the mall, which was closed at the time. When the mall reopened and began to allow walkers again in the mornings, Ward and Gardner took their morning exercise indoors. They walk for about an hour each morning, netting roughly 3 miles. “There are not a lot of other people here at a time, so we feel safe — and
we always walk with our masks on,” Gardner said. “We’ve also gotten to know a lot of other people.” For many who walk at the mall, the exercise is also essential for their health. Ward is diabetic and said the exercise helps her manage her diabetes. “I’ve walked for years,” she said. “I walked at Longview High School when I taught there. We would walk the hallways.” Now, she walks the mall. Ken and Darla Martin began walking at the mall to help with heart problems that Ken Martin was having. “It’s therapy for his heart, and we just retired and decided to start coming and walking here,” Darla Martin said. “We’ve met lots of other people walking.” Park said his doctor is “pleased” each time that he hears his patient walks about 45 minutes each morning. While the health benefit seemed to be what first brought most walkers to the mall, the social benefits are what keep them coming back each day. As they exercise each morning, not only do mall walkers get to know each other, they become acquainted with the mall staff, too. Gardner and Ward even brought gift cards to a couple of staff members at the holidays. “The management of this mall, no matter who it’s been over the years, are
very accommodating and really like for us to be here,” Randolph said. And so, the mall walkers “spread the good word about the mall to other people in the community,” Park added. After they finish exercising in the mornings, several groups of walkers sit down in the mall’s food court area to enjoy a cup of coffee together and continue to talk. “After we walk, we sit down and talk,” Park said. “And we solve the world’s problems,” Atkinson chimed. “We’ve solved a bunch of them over the years,” Park added as the trio of men began to laugh. “But really,” Atkinson said, “this is a great place to walk. It’s a great place to be.”
On the cover — Karen Ward, left, Susan Gardner and Darla Martin walk at the Longview Mall. Middle left — Susan Gardner Mall Walker. Upper right — Ken and Darla Martin walk at the Longview Mall. Lower right — Joe Randolph, left, Jack Park and Dennis Atkinson walk. Photos by Les Hassell/News-Journal
Those who walk at the mall agreed the benefits include that it’s climatecontrolled, indoors, safe and a good place to meet new friends.
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Longview News-Journal, Friday, January 8, 2021
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Longview News-Journal, Friday, January 8, 2021
Heart Healthy habits for seniors By Christina Cavazos
Keeping your heart healthy is a must in your golden years. Heart issues can affect anyone, but as you age the risk of developing heart diseases increases. According to the American Heart Association, 69.1% of men and 67.9% of women between the ages of 60 and 79 years old experience heart disease. In Tyler and Longview, area hospitals including UT Health East Texas, Longview Regional Medical Center, Christus Trinity Mother Frances and Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center each offer robust, modern cardiac services for East Texas. But local cardiologists say you don’t have to wait for symptoms of heart disease to develop to take action. There are plenty of heart healthy measures that can be taken now to help prevent cardiovascular disease. “Though heart disease risks increase with age, it doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of getting older. The right lifestyle habits and a heart healthy diet can help protect you,” said Dr. Samir Germanwala, a cardiologist with Longview Regional Medical Center. According to Dr. Saima Zafar, a cardiologist with UT Health East Texas, seniors should opt for lean sources of protein, such as beans, seafood and skinless cuts of poultry. Fish such as salmon, tuna and trout, which are rich in omega-3 fatty
acids, should be eaten twice a week. Zafar also encouraged reducing sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams per day to reduce blood pressure and to keep portion size in check to help control weight. “Choose fats wisely,” she added. “Saturated fats are found in animal sources including fatty cuts of meat and whole-milk dairy products. Trans fats are also unhealthy and found in processed foods, such as baked goods and fried foods. Replace these unhealthy fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which are present in many nuts and seeds as well as canola oil and olive oil as well as avocado.” Germanwala also encouraged eating a heart healthy diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, while limiting saturated fats and cholesterol. He also encouraged maintaining a healthy body weight. The cardiologists both encouraged seniors to quit smoking or chewing tobacco and to be sure to get enough exercise. Between 20 and 30 minutes of light activity, such as walking or moderate aerobic exercise, can help reduce the risk of heart disease, they said. Germanwala also encouraged seniors to reduce alcohol intake as excess alcohol consumption can worsen
health conditions that contribute to heart disease, such as blood pressure, arrhythmias and high cholesterol levels. Seniors should also aim to minimize stress, which can compound many heart disease risks that seniors already face, he said. Instead, find healthy outlets to relieve stress and lower your heart disease risk. Additionally, consider getting regular check-ups to monitor health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, that may affect the heart. Cardiologists said it’s never too late to start living a healthier lifestyle and get heart disease risks in check.
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Longview News-Journal, Friday, January 8, 2021
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Longview News-Journal, Friday, January 8, 2021
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Texas Bank & Trust:
Welcome 2021! I BY SHERRY GIBBON COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER TEXAS BANK AND TRUST
Happy New Year, and Welcome 2021! I have never been so relieved to ring in a new year, and 2021 brings us a year of hope as we look forward to returning to our daily routines and activities. We have no idea when this will be, and we may experience being anxious and have concerns about returning to our natural activities. These emotions we may feel are due to the changes we were faced with last year. Realize you are not in this alone. How do we respond to these anxious feelings and feelings of uncertainty about the future? There are steps we can use to help us adjust to returning to a life of “normalcy.” “Control what you can.” According to Linda Copel, psychotherapist and professor at Villanova University’s nursing school, we can do this by continuing to wear masks in public, washing our hands, wiping down surfaces frequently, and refraining from touching our faces. We also have control of getting plenty of sleep and following all recommendations from health authorities. If you are not feeling well, remember to stay home and avoid socializing with others. Of course, all circumstances are different and you may find, in some instances, all you can control is your attitude and emotional response. Copel states, “We should continue our social distancing utilizing online banking and curbside pickups.” “Maintain your self-care regimen.” This is a suggestion by Thea Gallagher, an assistant professor at the Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety at Penn Medicine. Enjoy the outdoors by taking a walk in your neighborhood, or sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, making sure you are not socially isolating yourself. If you have participated in an exercise routine, with doctor’s approval, find one that is available via Zoom, or look online for exercise videos, and continue to eat healthy meals. You may also try reading a good book, watch a comedy,
or try a new recipe or craft. Reach out to a family member or friend, by telephone, and have uplifting conversations. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it takes you out of your worries. “Stay informed, but not obsessively checking the news.” It is vital to stay informed in order to receive current safety precautions in your community, and also when safety limits are decreased. Rely on trusted sources, limit how often you check for updates, and step away from media if you start feeling overwhelmed. “Remember that things will take a while to adjust.” It may take a little longer before things return to normal. As restrictions gradually begin to lift, remember that it may take some time for life to get back to normal. It is okay if you take longer than others. You may feel uncomfortable returning to church gatherings, shopping, and being around a group. Take it slow and make changes to rejoin these gatherings at your own pace. There are many ways for us to start 2021 on a positive note, but we want to feel safe and have a sense of control over our lives and wellbeing. To learn more about recovering from isolation and our general mental health for 2021, join OMNIClub for a lunch meeting via “Zoom” on Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm with Dr. Jonathan Lockhart. If you have questions that you would like answered during this presentation, please contact me at 903-237-5568, or email me at sgibbon@ texasbankandtrust.com, by Friday, February 12, 2021. ____________
n the past year, the stock market has wildly changed, experiencing many ups and downs. That’s left many retirees or those considering retirement uncertain about what to do with their investments. Kimberly Spinks, senior vice president and chief investment officer for Texas Bank and Trust, said her top piece of financial advice is to “stay the course.” By Christina Cavazos
In the past year, the stock market has wildly changed, experiencing many ups and downs. That’s left many retirees or those considering retirement uncertain about what to do with their investments. Kimberly Spinks, senior vice president and chief investment officer for Texas Bank and Trust, said her top piece of financial advice is to “stay the course.” “Let’s use the analogy of a long car trip,” she said. “You’ve spent time and effort on a travel planning website, optimizing your trip for the most efficient route. Changing the way you’re invested because of fears over transitory headlines and events is like ditching that wellplanned travel route for no compelling reason.” Right now, cash is earning zero and the Federal Reserve is going to keep short-term rates at zero until more progress is made, Spinks said. In the mean-
time, she said, U.S. large cap stocks as measured by the S&P 500 are up 16.7% and taxable bonds are up 7.25%. “So, if investors had gotten scared at the beginning of this and gone to all cash, they would have missed out on that,” said Spinks, who has more than 30 years of experience in investment and portfolio management. The safest, low-risk investment option for seniors right now in stocks is to have “a well-diversified blue chip dividend paying portfolio,” Spinks said, noting that is always the case – not just during a pandemic. Owning high-risk stocks also isn’t necessarily risky right now, she said, as long as they do not represent a large portion of a person’s overall net worth. In terms of bonds, Spinks said finance advisors are finding value in taxable municipal bonds (sometimes referred to as “muni” bonds). These bonds are a fixed-income security issued by a local
OMNIClub is a great opportunity to make new friends, meet your TBT trusted advisors, and stay informed of changes in the financial industry. Membership is easy! Simply maintain a minimum $5,000 balance in any account with Texas Bank and Trust. For more|information about membership or OMNI activities, contact Community Relations Manager Sherry Gibbon at (903)237-5568 today!
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Renovation
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that figure to be popular in the year ahead
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ome renovation trends are everchanging. Renovations that might have been de rigueur 20 years ago may seem dated now. Recognizing the potentially popular trends of tomorrow is a great way for homeowners to give their homes a fresh new look and put themselves in position to capitalize on popular trends when they put their homes on the market. That’s especially so after 2020, a year when millions of people spent more time at home than ever before. All that time working from home and relaxing at home gave millions of homeowners ideas about what they like about their homes and what they hope to change. The following are some renovation trends that various experts suspect could emerge in 2021. Eco-friendly living: Climate change, and how to combat it, was a hot button issue during the 2020 presidential election in the United States. Eco-friendly appliances, furniture and designs can help to conserve energy and reduce waste, which environmentalists and government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency note are two critical components in the fight against climate change. Large windows: Large windows can provide stunning views of the outdoors and allow ample natural light into a home. It may not be a coincidence if
large windows prove to be a hot trend in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic that dominated much of 2020 forced many people to spend considerably more time at home. Darker homes without much natural light can adversely affect mood, especially when people are spending more time at home. Large windows naturally brighten homes while making rooms appear bigger, helping people feel less cramped. Minimalism: The anticipated popularity of minimalism in 2021 may also be connected to the pandemic. As professionals were forced to work from home and many families spent more time together inside their homes then ever before, they may have recognized a need to cut back on clutter. A minimalist approach is both simple and clean, which can make homes feel less claustrophobic. Multi-functional spaces: Homeowners asked a lot of their homes in 2020, as rooms were transformed into multifunctional spaces seemingly overnight. Spending more time at home showed homeowners that it may not make sense to dedicate entire rooms of a home to a single purpose. Renovations that can help homeowners transform rooms into multi-functional spaces figure to be hot commodities in the years ahead. Source: Metro Creative Connection
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Longview News-Journal, Friday, January 8, 2021
Top investment advice for seniors
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Staying the course government, such as a city, to finance projects that the federal government will not subsidize. The bonds are not tax exempt, but generally pay a higher interest rate to make up for that. “The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changed the way municipal bond issuers recapitalize their debt,” Spinks said. “They can no longer replace existing debt with tax-free issues. As a result, issuance (and supply) of taxable muni bonds has increased. Because of that dynamic, we are currently finding some reasonable relative value in those types of fixed-income vehicles.” Though Spinks said she would encourage people to “stay the course” in their investments, she noted that life changes can be a reason to consider making a change. Life changes include such events as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a spouse or retirement. “Those big things in somebody’s life may be a reason to change their overall allocation, either for more risk or more security,” she said. If a person needs to generate additional income, Spinks said dividend-paying stocks may be the way to go. For those who do not need to generate income, a growth portfolio without
dividends might be a better choice, she said. For those who may be considering retirement in the near future, Spinks offered four pieces of advice to consider when making their decision. First, she encourages maintaining a cash reserve of three to six months of expenses in case there is a downtown in the market. Second, she encourages investing in a well-diversified portfolio with a combination of stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets. “That’s the best risk mitigation tool we know of,” she said. Her third piece of advice is to maintain a “ladder” of maturities. For example, those who might be worried about a five-year downturn in the market, might want to hold five years of withdrawals in the form of bonds that mature at different times. Some bonds might mature in the first year, others in year two, more in the third year and so on until the fifth year. “But my fourth and best advice,” Spinks said, “is to remind people that now is the critical time to be working with your financial professional because it’s his or her job to keep you on track with whatever plan you’ve chosen.”
Kimberly Spinks
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
Disclosure from Texas Bank and Trust: Investment products are not a deposit or obligation of Texas Bank and Trust, are not guaranteed by Texas Bank and Trust, are not FDIC-Insured, and may go down in value.
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ou’re invited to a special event with Financial Advisor Bo Chinn of Wells Fargo and senior living expert Blake Lambert of Buckner Westminster Place for an informative program.
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Longview News-Journal, Friday, January 8, 2021
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