BOOM! April 2011

HealthNEWS

for Boomers and Beyond

Understanding Urgent and Primary Medical Care There are many options for medical care available to us today not including the vast information resources provided by sometimes questionable sources on the internet. But by and large most people seek care by making an appointment in a doctor’s office or in some sort of walk-in, or urgent care clinic setting.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

What is urgent care?

The type of care you receive from most urgent care facilities is similar to that of a regular doctor’s office. The providers there treat minor illnesses and injuries that are non lifethreatening. But most urgent care is designed to address your immediate medical problem, not for dealing with chronic illness or to manage ongoing health issues.

Urgent care is usually available after hours, and you don’t need an appointment. It’s a great option when your regular doctor isn’t available.

• Rash or other minor skin irritations.

• Mild asthma.

• Animal and insect bites.

• Minor bone fractures.

• Minor cuts that need stitches.

Can I benefit from a primary care provider?

Even though it’s great to have urgent care when you need help after hours, it’s important for most people, especially seniors, to establish a relationship with a primary care provider (PCP).

A primary care provider will focus on forging a long-term relationship with you. They will take the time to listen to and answer all of your medical questions because he or she knows that getting to know you is the key to helping you make the best healthcare decisions.

Seeking urgent rather than emergency care may also save you time and money, as it helps keep the emergency department free to handle more serious conditions, reports the National Association for Ambulatory Care (NAFAC).

As an adult, you can decide among different types of primary care providers: • An internist, who treats only adults.

• A family physician who treats both children and adults.

• A nurse practitioner or physician assistant, who works closely with physicians to manage your care.

According to NAFAC, conditions that can be treated by urgent care include: • Minor burns.

• Coughs or sore throats.

• Ear infections.

• Fever or flu-like symptoms.

No matter which type of PCP you choose, he or she will be the one to: • Advise you about screening tests and vaccines.

• Treat your minor illnesses, such as colds and the flu.

Three family medicine physicians at the Jackson Clinic, Drs. William Jones, Stewart Hill Tankersley and Dongjin Yoon, will be relocating their practices to a beautiful new technologically advanced office on the Jackson Hospital campus.

The first thing you’ll notice is the lack of paper charts. The new clinic will expand the existing electronic health records as all existing paper charts have now been converted and added to the system, allowing easy access to a patient’s entire history in one location. The benefits of the beautiful new surroundings are more than skin deep too, as materials were selected for their energy efficiency, sustainability and clean air properties.

Your doctor may offer additional wellness education and counseling as well.

If you do encounter more serious health problems, your primary care doctor can act as a case manager. He or she can recommend a specialist, and can help you keep track of the different doctors and treatments you may need.

This kind of comprehensive care can have positive results. Research shows that people who routinely see a primary care doctor have better overall health and lower healthcare costs than people who don’t get that kind of medical attention.

Finding the right physician for you and your family, then developing a good relationship with your doctor, will help you feel satisfied about your medical care.

For more information on the Jackson Clinic or to schedule an appointment, visit www.jackson.org/clinic or call 334-293-8888.

The new family medicine center will also offer extended hours, a first for the Jackson Clinic. The new clinic offers the best of both worlds.

Patients have the convenience of seeking urgent medical care if their physician isn’t available, and the by-appointment practice for ongoing health management.

AT A GLANCE

A NEW OPTION FOR MEDICAL CARE IN MONTGOMERY

• Help you manage any chronic diseases, like diabetes.

Opens Monday, April 11 1111 Olive Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36106 334-293-8888 Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm Family medical care for ages six years and up On-site x-ray & lab • Walk-ins welcome • Convenient parking

BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

Contents

April 2011

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”

Volume I Issue 9

Carl Bard

Thought Humor “You are never too old Relationships to set another goal Taste or to dream a new Health dream.”

C.S. Lewis Inspiration Advice

3

Jackson Hospital’s Health News

6

Publisher’s Letter

13 Nature’s Color Code 14 ASF Masterpieces Auction

page 20

16 Alabama Book Festival page 16

Features

20 BOOM TIME

BOOMERS Volunteer Most

26 It Takes COURAGE 30 Reunited Don’t let age close you off

After 70 years they found each other!

19 Spread the Joy Downtown 21 BOOM! Advertising Rates

Departments 8 This and That

18 Walk of Life Event

Something interesting, even for you!

28 12 Things

Plenty to do for Boomers and Beyond

25 John Ed Mathison How to Live Longer

22 Healthy Hearing

Advantages of Binaural Hearing

24 Living Well in Alabama Classes

BOOM!

COVER PROFILE page 10

24 ACA-Relay for Life

page 30

page 9

BOOM! magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, 8637 Harvest Ridge Dr., Montgomery, AL 36116. The phone number for voice and fax is 334.523.9510.

Copyright 2011 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

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publisher’s letter

Charity Begins At Home?

The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life and new beginnings.

Do you know someone who does community service? Most everyone knows someone in the River Region who lends a hand or goes out of their way to help a neighbor. I was married to a woman who had a selfless heart, who thought anyone in need, unlovable or not, was worthy of her time. The problem was she only had 168 hours in her week, but still, she managed to share many hours with her community.

Publisher/Editor

Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com

Associate Editor Kelly Watson

kelly@riverregionboom.com

Contributing Writers Dickie Blondheim Joy Blondheim Dr. Bettie Borton

John Ed Mathison Anne Meneghetti, M.D. Christine Show Wina Sturgeon Ana Veciana-Suarez

Cover Photography

Maria Wiggins, Reflections of Grace maria@reflectionsofgracestudios.com www.reflectionsofgracestudios.com

Advertising

Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com

Monette Mottenon, 334.523.9510

monette@riverregionboom.com

Jim Watson, Publisher

My late wife, Marty, taught me the importance of serving those in need and I’m sure I thought many times that as long as it was her doing the serving that was fine by me. You see I didn’t grow up in a household where charity and service mattered all that much. I think my dad said on a few occasions that “charity begins at home.” That saying may be true because our families do have needs that should be met, but our charity more reflects what’s in our hearts.

My heart has changed since my wife died. Her examples of charity and service have taken root in my heart, and now I want to serve those in need. I want to be part of a community like the River Region where thousands of people are helping others who have unmet needs every day of the year, and I’ve grown to appreciate the contributions of time, energy and leadership that go into community service.

We can appreciate it more when we imagine everyone saying, “Charity begins at home!” Who would deliver the Meals on Wheels or serve lunch to homeless families or sit with the lonely at the nursing home or just be a friend to someone? It doesn’t take long to realize how valuable our “community servers” truly are if they never existed.

This month’s BOOM! Profile is focused on two “community servers”, Joy and Dickie Blondheim, who saw a need to help unserved women receive mammograms for early detection of breast cancer. During the past 10 years, they recruited hundreds and thousands of people to help them be “community servers” to these unserved women through the Joy to Life Foundation, and they have saved lives!

I want my granddaughters to understand what it means to be a “community server” like that, so I’m going to share the Walk of Life Fundraiser experience with them each year so they’ll learn what their late “Gram” would have been teaching them by her example…that charity begins in the heart, not in the home. I want to challenge all Boomer grandparents to share this unique experience with your grandchildren as well. Hope to see you all there!

Finally, let me thank the hundreds of participants who entered our Fab Four Contest. It’s amazing how many people knew when the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Where would we be without Google?! Our winner was Patrick Smith, pictured below with a true Beatles fan, his mom, Alice.

Design & Layout Lake House Graphics

Distribution

Network Delivery

Printing

Publications Press, Montgomery, AL 334.244.0436

Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!

I also attended The Fab Four Tribute show and if anyone saw me dancing in the aisle, I apologize, but they were a very good replica of the original Fab Four. I saw many BOOM! readers in the sold out Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. It was a fantastic show! Thanks to Allen Sanders and the MPAC team for adding some entertainment value to the River Region.

Please share BOOM! with your friends and share any ideas or comments with us. We value your input. It’s an exciting time to be BOOMING…enjoy the warm weather and outdoor activities.

Jim

jim@riverregionboom.com 334.324.3472 cell/text 334.523.9510 office

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Reputation. Experience. Success.

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Voted #1

Doctors Hearing Clinic Helping People Hear!

View our educational video on hearing at www.doctorshearingclinic.com

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i

This & tHAT 3,550 ALABAMIANS IN NEED OF LIFESAVING TRANSPLANTS As 3,550 Alabamians continue to wait for a lifesaving organ transplant, the nation readies to observe “National Donate Life Month” in April.

Donate Life Month celebrates the 26,214 successful organ transplants in the U.S. last year, a miracle that was made possible by 13,251 individuals who gave the “Gift of Life”; 5,984 made living donations and 7,267 donated after death.

The top 5 donation FACTS are: 1. Registering to be a donor will NOT interfere with any life-saving medical care.

2. People of any age and with any medical condition can register to be a donor.

3. There is never a cost to the family or estate for organ or tissue donation.

4. An open casket funeral or cremation is possible after donation.

5. All major religions support donation as a generous life-saving act.

One donor can save the lives of eight people through organ donation, and up to fifty more can be helped through eye and tissue donation. As many as 18 patients die each day in the U.S. awaiting an organ transplant. To learn more about donation, visit www.alabamaorgancenter.org or call 1-800-252-3677.

Public invited to Freedom Riders lecture on April 3

The classic vocal trio The Letterman will bring their timeless romantic harmonies to Montgomery for one night only with a concert at Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts on Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $45 and can be purchased at the theatre of-

fice located at 251 Montgomery Street or by calling (334) 241-9567

Raymond Arsenault, the John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History at the University of South Florida, will present “Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice” as the 2011 Durr Lecture on April 3, 7:30 p.m., in AUM’s Moore Hall Auditorium.

Organized by Auburn Montgomery, the annual lecture series focuses on civil liberties and is presented to the public, free of charge, in memory of Montgomery civil rights champions Clifford and Virginia Durr. For more information visit www.aum.edu/durr.

Bluegrass Jam Session All who want to play, listen, sing, dance,and enjoy.

Beginners welcome! The 2nd Friday, every month 7 - 9 p.m. at 2201 Chestnut Street, Montgomery. Donations accepted, not required. Acoustic only Jam Sessions Bluegrass, Country Western, Gospel Most of the people who attend are over 50. Special guest performers are highlighted each month. The web site is www.chestnutstreetopry. com A fun time in an alcohol free/ smoke free environemnt. questions, call Mary Wolfe, 334531-0054

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Old Cloverdale Association 2011 Home Tour Each spring, those who appreciate older homes and historic neighborhoods, graced with mature trees and gardens, eagerly anticipate the annual Home Tour presented by the Old Cloverdale Association. The sixth incarnation of this tour will be held on Saturday, April 9th from Noon to 4:00 PM. For those who know and love Old Cloverdale, the diversity of housing is one of the most charming characteristics of the neighborhood. Large and small single-family houses, duplexes, condos, and apartments blend in harmoniously as they are united by large trees and mature shrubbery. The six homes on tour this year were selected as representatives of numerous architectural types. Their interiors, all of which reveal the tastes of the owners, are as varied as the exteriors.

Residences open for this year’s tour include: 845 Felder Avenue: The home of Guy and Helen Goulet.

547 Cloverdale Road: The home of John and Mallory Searcy.

1827 Ridge Avenue #3: The home of Steve Brickley and Jim Hodgson.

1827 Ridge Avenue #7: The home of Bob and Lynn Beshear.

723 Thorn Place: The home of Jon and Clay Hand.

2001 LeBron Avenue: The home of Michael Respess.

The tour will begin at Cloverdale Park, where a free walking tour will be conducted from 10:45 to Noon. Tickets for the tour are $18 in advance and $20 the day of the tour. Advance tickets may be purchased from Cloverdale retailers Apropos, Capitol Book & News, Derk’s Filet & Vine, M. Bagwell Gallery, and at Metro Fitness in East Montgomery. For additional information concerning this tour and our historic neighborhood, please visit the Old Cloverdale website at www.oldcloverdale.org.

Copperwing’s Nell Rankin Receives AAF Silver Medal Award Copperwing partner and Strategy Director Nell Rankin was the recipient of the Montgomery Advertising Federation’s most prestigious honor, the Silver Medal Award. The award was given at the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) 51st Annual ADDY® Awards. The Silver Medal Award Program, established by the AAF in 1959, recognizes men and women for outstanding contributions to advertising and for furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern.

As co-architect of Copperwing, Rankin helped build the firm from the ground up. She now manages a team of account service staff who, under her direction, has guided the marketing and branding initiatives of international, national and regional clients such as Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, The Shoppes at EastChase, Jackson Thornton, Montgomery Cancer Center, Neptune Technology Group, Schreiber Water, and Headworks USA on marketing initiatives and branding, as well as on long-range planning efforts.

“Working closely with Nell, I have seen her ability to inspire people, to effect positive change and to imagine new ways to build brands,” said the firm’s founding partner and creative director, Angela Stiff. “I am fortunate to have her as a business partner, and even more so to call her a friend.” Stiff added that Rankin was instrumental in creating a different approach to advertising in the River Region: that what clients needed was a larger, holistic approach that emphasized branding and identity management as key strategies for marketing communications.

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

Hey BOOMERS!

Planning a Spring or Summer Trip?

Check out the Daily Low Fares found on the Air Fare Watchdog Widget at www.iflymontgomery.com Fares From Montgomery, AL (MGM) As of Monday, March 21, 2011 2:44 PM EDT We post new fares throughout the day, so visit our Montgomery page for updates.

US Domestic Airfares Akron, OH (CAK) Unadvertised, $218 RT No min. stay, Travel between Apr. 4 and May 25, 2011 US Airways...See All Details Albany, NY (ALB) Unadvertised, $218 RT No min. stay, Travel between Apr. 4 and May 25, 2011 US Airways...See All Details Baltimore, MD (BWI) $208 RT No min. stay US Airways...See All Details Bloomington, IL (BMI) $288 RT No min. stay Delta...See All Details Boston, MA (BOS) $268 RT No min. stay American, US Airways...See All Details Chicago, IL (ORD) $238 RT No min. stay Delta, US Airways...See All Details Denver, CO (DEN) $328 RT No min. stay American, US Airways...See All Details Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL) $238 RT No min. stay US Airways...See All Details Indianapolis, IN (IND) $218 RT No min. stay US Airways...See All Details Kansas City, MO (MCI) $238 RT No min. stay American, US Airways...See All Details Minneapolis, MN (MSP) $258 RT No min. stay American, US Airways...See All Details Moline, IL (MLI) $328 RT No min. stay Delta...See All Details Norfolk, VA (ORF) Unadvertised, $218 RT No min. stay US Airways...See All Details Orlando, FL (MCO) $238 RT No min. stay US Airways...See All Details Roanoke, VA (ROA) $328 RT No min. stay US Airways...See All Details

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BOOM! COVER PROFILE

Joy and Dickie Blondheim some of the challenges you faced providing mammograms to underserved women in Central Alabama?

This month’s BOOM! profiles are Joy and Dickie Blondheim, who many of our readers will know through their involvement with the Joy to Life Foundation and the upcoming Walk of Life Fundraiser. Both Joy and Dickie have been serving our community for many years and as you read our interview we think you’ll discover their passion and determination to serve those in need, but more importantly, we think you’ll find inspiration to participate, to get involved in helping save lives from breast cancer. After all, just about everyone we know has been touched by this disease in some way.

BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. are you from the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, marriage, family, etc?

Joy: I was adopted in Chicago, Illinois at 3 weeks old by my Parents Hilly and Hazel Aronov in 1947 and immediately brought back to Montgomery to the most wonderful family a girl could ask for. I have lived here all my life growing up in the public school system. Graduated Sidney Lanier H.S. in 1965. Then on to the University of Georgia.

Dickie and I married in 1967 and in 1969 our first child was born in Atlanta Georgia. After Dickie’s service in the Military in Talequah, Oklahoma we moved back to Montgomery in 1972 and have been here ever since. Our second child was born 3 weeks after arriving back home in 1973. Our older son brad will be 42 in July and Hilly is 38 married to Michele Bronstein and they have 2 children Max 2 years eight months and Zac 3 months.

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Dickie: I was born in Columbus, Georgia on

March 7, 1946 to Henry and Louise Blondheim. Went to the University of Georgia from 1964 to 67. Married Joy in August 20, 1967. Then transferred to Mercer University Pharmacy School in Atlanta. I graduated from Pharmacy School in 1970. I spent 2 years in United States Public Health Service as a 1st Lieutenant in W.W. Hasting Indian Hospital in Talequah, Oklahoma. Brad went to the Montgomery Academy from K – 12. Then he went to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Hilly went to a boarding school in Pomfret, Connecticut, called the Rectory School, until the 11th Grade then he came back to Montgomery and Graduated from Jeff Davis. He went to college at University of Arizona, moved to Atlanta and graduated from the Atlanta School of Culinary Arts.

BOOM!: Many of our readers know you from your association with the Joy to Life Foundation. Please share with us the beginnings of this foundation and its purpose. What were

Joy: In 1997 I was diagnosed at age 49 with Stage 2 breast cancer with lymph node involvement. I went through a 13-hour surgery at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. The surgery included a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and that was followed by 8 months of chemotherapy. We flew every 3 weeks to Houston for treatment.

Needless to say, it was the most difficult time of our lives. As I began to recover, I thanked God everyday for good health, wonderful family and a magnificent group of friends that dedicated themselves totally to me as I went through treatment. When Dickie and I got back to some normalcy in our lives we began to think of ways we could give back because we were so grateful and blessed. We knew that there were thousands of women in our State that did not have the advantages that I had. Particularly those women without good medical insurance. We approached an organization with our idea of providing free mammography to women under 50. We knew that Medicaid paid for women over 50 but for those under 50 there was a void. The organization we approached did not think our idea would work. So, we decided to try ourselves. We never thought that we would be running an organization; we always thought that we would just be good volunteers.

Our passion drove us. We thought we could probably raise money for mammograms but then what would happen to a woman that was diagnosed with Breast Cancer? How would she get treatment? A good friend, Suzanne Churchill Reaves, who happened to work with the Alabama Department of Public Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, told us that we could make it work. We would provide the mammograms for women under 50 and the ADPHBCCED would provide treatment through funds from Medicaid. In September 2001 we were off and running (or should I say walking because it was a very slow process).

Well here we are 10 years later and Joy to Life has become very recognizable throughout the State. Because of the program women have been treated successfully and of course that says it all. We are forever grateful to all of those people throughout our State and beyond who have embraced our mission and supported us and given us their trust.

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

BOOM!: Many of us in the Boomer age look forward to the time when the kids are finally out of the house, on their own, or off to college; what kind of experience has the “empty nest” been for you?

Joy: When our children first left for college the empty nest was an odd feeling. But now because they are healthy, happy and on there own it is a great feeling.

Dickie: We have been empty nesters for so long I don’t remember what it was like, except I do miss the sports and the noise.

BOOM!: What are you most passionate about?

BOOM!: One of the favorite activities for Boomers is travel. Do you get to travel much?

Favorite vacation spot? Any travel dreams for the future?

Joy: Again I think it’s easier to connect with people and get to know them very well in a smaller community. I cannot explain why this Joy: When we travel we visit community has our son in Los Angeles and such a big heart our son, daughter in law and but I know they their two boys in Atlanta. do and I am We do have a dream of one thankful for it.

Dickie: Montday going to Africa and for gomery is a two people who really don’t large faith based like to fly that is quite a community and dream but maybe one day.

I am sure that Dickie: Joy and I are truly their faith gives blessed. We live in a home them a reason that allows us to feel as if we for wanting to are on a vacation everyday. help others.

It is surrounded by beautiful When I speak gardens and we see a magnifto organizations icent sunset every evening, Max supporting our Pink Cans in and around if we travel it usually is with Montgomery about Joy to Life, I usually start our family. my presentation with a question... “How many people in this room have been touched BOOM!: What is it by breast Cancer?” Usually more than 90% about living in the raise their hand. Breast Cancer in some way Montgomery/River seems to affect everyone, and because of Region area that that I think it makes people want to help, get you like? involved and pay back.

Joy: Family, friends, the Joy to Life Foundation and my faith.

Dickie: I am passionate about my work. I have been and investment broker with Wells Fargo Advisors for 21 years and love working one on one with my clients. Because of my involvement with Joy to Life for the past 10 years and my understanding of the needs of small to medium size foundations, I have begun talking and working with local foundations trying to help them with fundraising opportunities and advising them on how they can invest their endowment funds, helping them lower their cost and growing their endowment. Joy to Life has taught me a Hilly and Joy lot about the needs of a small foundation and I want to use that to a difference. help other organizations.

Dickie: Every time I see great progress BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind being made in our down from a busy schedule with the Foundacommunity ( i.e. tion?

Downtown Development) it makes me Joy: Traveling to Atlanta to see my two preproud of being a part cious grandchildren. Walking and Weight of this community.

Lifting.

Dickie: Joy to Life is my relaxation. It is my BOOM!: The true passion! I probably work on Joy to Life Montgomery/ River projects about 25 to 30 hours a week after Region area has a big I get home from work. I find it very fulfillheart when it comes ing and relaxing. Don’t get me wrong I love to serving those in gardening, fishing, horses and all types of anineed. How would you mals. But JTL is my true passion and hobby. explain why so many What better hobby could you want than to in our community work with volunteers who truly care about want to serve others? others and believe in what you are trying to do for others.

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

Joy: We both grew up in the South.

Dickie grew up in Columbus, Georgia and I here in Montgomery. We like the atmosphere of a smaller community. It is easier to connect with people and to make

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

Joy: We love the mountains with that atmosphere i.e. Skiing, Hiking Dickie: Photography, Gardening, Fishing, Skiing.

BOOM!: I discovered a unique website called www.breastcancertv.net when we prepared for this interview. Can you share with us the story behind this great resource?

Joy: I am sure Dickie will tell you more about BCTV. It is in its infancy stage but we’re dedicated to developing it more and more over the next months and years. We feel that the site has made a difference in Joy, Michele (mom), Max and Z the lives of many and only hope it will get better and better.

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BOOM! COVER PROFILE Dickie: Breast Cancer TV was actually my

son Brad’s idea. It is our newest project and it’s still in the development stages. The site is designed to be a resource for anyone who is dealing with Breast Cancer and their friends and family. Its gives information, inspiration and support. The videos on our site are divided into three categories: Medical, Support and Community. We hope your readers will go to Breast Cancer TV www.breastcancertv. net and discover it’s benefits. We would also like suggestions of how to improve it.

BOOM!: One of the biggest fundraisers for the Joy to Life Foundation is coming up this month on April 16th, in fact celebrating 10 years, and that’s the Walk of Life. How can BOOM! readers show their support in this effort to fight breast cancer?

Joy: Sign yourself up, your family and your friends. Come out and show the community that we stand together in very large numbers to take steps to fight breast cancer and one day maybe our steps will have helped to eradicate this dread disease.

Dickie: The two ways your readers can support Joy to Life is to register for the Walk of Life on April 16 and buy our State wide Car Tag. Its pink, you can not miss it.

It is more important than ever that people support our Walk of Life and Breast Cancer Pink Car Tag this year. Back in January Nancy Wright, the director of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, called us to her office to tell us that because of lack of funding this life saving program would have to be shut down Max and Sophie playing in sprinkler from February 1st through June 30. Yes, Joy to Life could pay for mammography, but for the other services vital to the ADPH program there was no more funding. The Joy to Life Foundation found that to be unacceptable!

Because we provide mammograms to women in 29 south central Alabama counties, the Joy to Life Foundation immediately committed to $200,000 to keep the program open statewide until additional federal funding begins again in July. The Susan G. Komen

Foundation made the same commitment for the northern counties in Alabama and we are happy to announce that women with symptoms will be provided with the health care they need and so richly deserve.

According to ADPH, we know that because Joy to Life and Susan G. Komen were able to provide these emergency funds, 60 women will be saved. If you register for the Walk of Life, buy our Pink Car Tag, buy our Pink Trash Cans or simply make a donation you will be saving lives.

If you have any questions about the Joy to Life Foundation or would like to make a contribution please go to www.joytolife.org. You can also reach out to both Joy and Dickie through the website.

Thanks to Nancy and Tommy at Big Dreamz Creative for helping coordinate this month’s profile.

We want to thank the Blondheims for participating with the BOOM! team on this month’s cover. We enjoyed the discovery! If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please send them to jim@ riverregionboom.com

Do you know someone who would make an interesting BOOM! Cover Profile?

Send an email with info to jim@riverregionboom.com

Se pages 18-19 for more ways to support the Joy to Life Foundation

Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group,

Tuesday, April 12th, 5:30 Frazer United Methodist Church, Room 8114, 6000 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery AL. Enjoy fun and fellowship with your breast cancer “sisters” and friends!

For information please call 334-220-4599 or email womenofhope@charter.net.

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Our goal is to make sure that all women AND men are educated about breast cancer and the effects it has on family and friends. Hope is the assurance that one day we will be able to live cancer free! Your support is greatly appreciated and helps so many deserving breast cancer patients and survivors including their families. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month (Jan-Nov). Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m.

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

Nature’s Color Code Are you in a food rut, relying on the same dishes week in and week out? Especially when I am short on time, I find myself gravitating to the same favorites. The body is very forgiving when it comes to most nutrients. If we are a little light on one vitamin or one type of protein on a given day, the body can often manufacture what we missed, or use nutrients stored from previous days and weeks. Scientists are still discovering the bounty of nutrients found in foods. That’s why when it comes to nutrition, it makes sense to embrace the phrase: variety is the spice of life.

One simple way to invite variety onto your plate is through color, especially if your meals tend toward the white, off-white, and neutral palette! Many nutrients found in colorful produce are thought to support eye and heart health, boost immunity, support urinary and prostate health, prevent cell damage, and promote healthy aging. Some may even reduce cancer risk. Here are a few of the known nutrients you will receive as a result of eating all the colors of the rainbow.

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Red.

Pink or red produce can contain antioxidants like anthocyanins and lycopene. Enjoy cherries, red grapes, pomegranate, pink grapefruit, strawberries, apples, red peppers, beets, red onions, and tomatoes.

Orange/ Yellow.

These sunny colors often indicate carotenoids, which turn into vitamin A. Citrus is a great source of vitamins B and C. Consider apricots, mango, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapples, pumpkin, carrot, squashes, corn, yellow pepper, and sweet potatoes.

Green.

From chartreuse to emerald, green signals richness of folate, calcium, zeaxanthins, lutein and other nutrients.

Cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cabbage may protect against some cancers.

Give these a try: green apples, kiwi, green grapes, honeydew, artichocke, avocado, asparagus, green beans, cucumber, peas, broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, green peppers, kale, and fresh herbs.

Blue/ Indigo/ Violet.

Anthocyanins are powerful anti-oxidants found in bluish and purplish foods. The truest blue food I have seen is the rudraksha fruit native to India and Hawaii. Choose blueberries, blackberries, plums, purple grapes, eggplant, or the purple varieties of potatoes, cabbage, peppers, and onions.

White. Colorless foods are often

criticized as nutritional wimps, yet there are a few exceptions. Onions contain allicin, which may have unique health benefits.

Jicama, cauliflower, turnips, white corn, and others can pack a nutritional punch. Some offer good sources of potassium as well.

You do not have to eat an entire rainbow of colors every day. Start small by adding parsley to mashed potatoes, topping pizza with broccoli florets, or decorating your entrée with salsa. I keep pre-washed leafy greens in the fridge, and toss a handful into soups and casseroles shortly before serving. For more advice to inspire the culinary color artist in you, check out the advice and recipes from the American Dietetic Association.

Anne Meneghetti, MD, Humana Health

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Masterpieces Center Stage Tour Coming to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts March 31-April 10

Auction to Celebrate the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s 25th Anniversary in Montgomery!

Masterpieces Center Stage, a 40-piece collection of artwork celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, will be on display at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts March 31-April 10.

Masterpieces Center Stage is comprised of brilliant and unique theatre-themed paintings and sculptures created by some of Alabama’s most elite artists. Featured pieces include David Braly’s The Alabama Shakespeare Festival Theatre, Evan Wilson’s Sleeping Titania, Mark Singer’s Lear’s Agony, Coleman Mills’ Out Damn’d Spot! and Paulette Riley’s All the World’s a Stage.

Other featured artists include Perry Austin, Barrett Bailey, Sloane Bibb, Cal Breed, Catherine Cabaniss, Gary Chapman, Clayton Colvin, Nan Cunningham, Dori DeCamillis, Susan DowlingWhite, Beverly B. Erdreich, Rebecca Tully-Fulmer, Randy Gachet, Lucy Hunnicutt, John Kelley, Zdenko Krtic, Bruce Larsen, Mary Lynne Levy, Dale Lewis, Charlie Lucas, Randy Moberg, Nall, Conrad Ross, Muir Stewart, Dustin Timbrook, Melissa B. Tubbs, Clark Walker, Hugh Williams and Maralyn Wilson. Masterpieces Center Stage is made possible through the generous support of Melissa and Frank Wilson.

The paintings and sculptures will be up for final auction at ASF on Monday, April 25. Interested parties can place their bids now by visiting www.masterpieces.asf.net. Tickets to the auction are $50.

For more information regarding the exhibition at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts or the April 25th auction and fundraiser contact Lindsey Jinright at (334) 271-5343 or ljinright@asf.net.

april 8 – May 29

april 14 – May 21

A l A b A m A S h A k e S p e A r e F e S t i vA l 800.841.4273

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april 16 – May 21 twitter.coM/alabaMashakes facebook.coM/alabaMashakes The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

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Your voicemail is full and the phone is still ringing. Your social calendar is packed. Schedule some time now for your health!

Do the little things today for a healthy life tomorrow.

It’s all about me. a healthy

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VOLUNTEER AT THE 2011 ALABAMA BOOK FESTIVAL The sixth annual Alabama Book Festival is gearing up for 2011 and needs volunteers to help make the April 16 event a success. More than 30 authors, storytellers, publishers, illustrators and musicians will gather at Old Alabama Town in downtown Montgomery to celebrate reading, writing, literature and Alabama’s Year of Music. The festival depends on volunteers to serve in a variety of roles, including escorting authors, assisting at book signings, helping with children’s activities and greeting visitors at the front gate. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and commit to a two-hour shift. In appreciation of their efforts, volunteers will receive a free festival t-shirt.

Register to volunteer online at www.alabamabookfestival.org. For questions, contact volunteer coordinator Sarah Eckermann at 334-207-3323 or alabamabookfestival@gmail.com.

The sixth annual Alabama Book Festival (ABF) will be held in historic downtown Montgomery at Old Alabama Town on April 16, 10 a.m. -4 p.m. The free public event is the state’s premier book festival—with more than thirty writers and 4,000 visitors from around the country to meet with and hear from their favorite authors and musicians.

Programs and activities include author appearances, book signings, musical performances, and an exhibit area featuring literary organizations and vendors selling books and other items of interest to booklovers. A children’s activity area organized by Alabama Public Television is sure to make this a day of fun for the entire family.

The 2011 festival will include internationally acclaimed poet, playwright, and Harper Lee Award recipient Sonia Sanchez. Additional Harper Lee Award winners Rick Bragg, William Cobb, and Wayne Greenhaw will also present at the festival. Best-selling authors Erica Spindler and Mark Childress are attending as well with their currents books, Blood Vines and Georgia Bottoms.

Poets Melissa Blackburn, E.E. Wade, Tony Crunk, Jake Adam York, and Randall Horton will read selections from their new work. And to celebrate The Year of Alabama Music, singer-songwriters Janet Simpson and Dan Farmer will perform.

Eric Litwin, also known as Pete the Cat, Alex Beard and Art Roche will entertain the youngest readers throughout the day.

Authors of young adult books include Chandra Sparks Taylor, Roger Reid, and Ted Dunagan.

For more information, including a full list of participating authors, volunteer information and directions visit www.alabamabookfestival.org or call 1-888-240-1850.

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Walk of Life Entertainment and Extras!

The Walk of Life is more than just a run/ walk through downtown Montgomery.

It’s a celebration!

This year’s race/walk will begin on Coosa Street - next to the Riverwalk Stadium. The POST-Race activities will take place at Riverfront Amphitheater and Park.

Here’s some of the fun you can expect:

RACE/WALK BEGINS at 8:30 am Huge Confetti Guns at the start!

T-shirts and Race Bags for everyone! while they last.

Children’s Games/Activities Gymboree Kids Area 8:30 - 11:30 McDonald’s Mighty Kids Dash Medals, t-shirts for all the kids! 9:45 PINK Your Boat Boats are welcome.

Pink yours up to win a nice prize!

Caricatures by Lindsey, Kourosh and Patrick 8:00 - 12:00 Airbrush Tatoo Artist 8:00 - 12:00 Music and more... DJ + MC from Miami!

Facepainting and Leg Painting!

8:45 - 12:00 Stilt Walker 8:00 - 12:00 Balloon Artist 8:00 - 12:00 Breakfast provided by Peppertree Steak and Wine.

Sno-Biz Shaved Ice Cash Awards: top 3 males and females on stage 10:00 Special gifts and t-shirts for the Survivors. Survivor picture 10:15 Drawing for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS! Lots of Giveaways for everyone!

Team Pictures taken throughout post-race activities.

True Divine Baptist Church Choir singing at Court Square!

New Hat Buttons!

One Really Big Surprise for Everyone to See! 10th Anniversary Medal for all participants!

Please Note: Free parking available in all city parking decks.

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Celebrating 10 Years

2011 Walk of Life!

Bring a Friend and a Team, Join Us! For 10 incredible years, we have gathered as a community to raise awareness for breast cancer in Alabama. We could have never helped so many women in need without your help! Now it’s time to gather your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and families and join us in downtown Montgomery on April 16, 2011 for the 10th Annual Walk of Life!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION: For INDIVIDUAL, TEAM and VOLUNTEER registration, click the READY TO REGISTER links to read all the details and register online. Online registration is quick, easy and very secure. If you prefer to register by mail, please download a copy of the paper registration to print, complete and mail to the Joy to Life Foundation. Our mailing address is: Joy to Life Foundation, P. O. Box 241172, Montgomery, Alabama 36124-1172.

THE EVENT: The 5K Run/Walk event will start at 8:30 am. The START Location has been CHANGED FROM Tallapoosa Street between the Renaissance Hotel and Embassy Suites Hotel TO Coosa Street next to Riverwalk Stadium. Complimentary Parking is available in all City parking decks. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome to the event.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: All breast cancer survivors are invited to the Montgomery Breast Center PINK TENT for Coffee and Conversation, compliments of McDonalds.

Survivors who register as a paid participant will receive a Survivor tshirt and bag. (No t-shirt exchanges permitted.) A group Survivor photo will be taken promptly at 10:15 am under the Pink Arch!

ONLINE DONATIONS: If you would like to SPONSOR A TEAM or INDIVIDUAL or simply MAKE A DONATION to the Joy to Life Foundation, please click on the MAKE A DONATION link. Then, enter the person or team’s name, or click “Search” to view a complete list. Once located, please select from the “Make a Contribution” section and then complete your donation process. If paying by check to sponsor an individual or team, please make your check payable to Joy to Life Foundation.

www.joytolife.org

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

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Boom Time: Boomers Volunteer the Most

By Ana Veciana-Suarez

Every Tuesday, Andrea Downs takes two buses and a train from her home to the public library in downtown Miami. There, the retired teacher with a master’s degree in education tutors a woman who never attended school in her native Haiti.

“I do it because I enjoy it,” Downs says.

“I feel I’m improving the life of another person and in the end I get back as much as I give.”

Downs, 63, is typical of the 78 millionstrong baby boomer generation that, for the most part, still wants to change the world. Forty years after marching on Washington and staging sit-ins on campuses, they’re turning their attention to homeless shelters, literacy programs, animal rescue organizations, arts cooperatives – anything that sparks a passion.

And they’re doing it more than anyone else.

About 33 percent of all boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – volunteer on a regular basis, the highest rate of any generational group and four percentage points above the national average of 28.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The volunteer rate for young boomers, ages 46 to 57, is 30.9 percent, significantly higher than the 25.3 percent recorded by the same age group in 1974 and the 23.2 percent recorded in 1989.

“This goes along with the idealistic, changethe-world feelings of their youth,” says Yolanda Rodriguez, who serves on the executive council of AARP in Florida. “For many, it’s about pursuing a lifelong passion.”

This is true for Downs.

As a teacher, she believes an education can be lifechanging. In retiring two years ago, she wanted to continue that commitment to her community but in a different setting. So when a librarian friend told her about Project L.E.A.D. (Literacy for Every Adult in Dade), she immediately called them.

“Perfect fit,” she calls the arrangement.

Like so many other facets of society they have influenced, boomers want to make the biggest splash possible wherever they donate their time. Instead of stuffing

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When Will You Serve?

envelopes, they prefer to offer professional, managerial and marketing talent. Experts call it “strategic volunteering.”

“Boomers,” says Robert Rosenthal, a spokesman for VolunteerMatch.org, an online service that helps connect volunteers and causes, “are like other generations in their desire to help people, but the ways they want to help are different.”

Baby boomers “look for organizations to partner with. It’s all about sharing the skills they’ve acquired over a lifetime,” he said.

Robert Holloman, of Miramar, Fla., retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2009. During his almost 30 years there, the former Marine and father of three managed to volunteer in the youth mentoring program at his church as well as at his sons’ youth sports leagues. Raised by an aunt who was a school principal and fierce advocate of giving back, Holloman, 63, believed “you have to walk the walk if you’re going to talk the talk.”

With children grown and hours to spare, he wanted to continue giving back. At the suggestion of a fraternity brother, he began working in the mail room of Camillus House, a full-service organization helping the homeless. Using his knowledge as a letter carrier and supervisor, he immediately organized the mail room, starting a system that guarantees safe storage and distribution of hundreds of letters, bills, checks and court orders that arrive for the homeless who use Camillus as a permanent postal address.

“I’m a Christian,” Holloman says, “and I’ve learned that if you want to be great, you must be a server.”

Though his main duties are in that small mail room, he likes to leave its air-conditioned confines and mingle with the men and women who line up around the downtown facility. He listens to their stories.

“It makes you appreciate exponentially what you have, all these amenities that we take for granted,” he adds.

Matching volunteer talent with the right kind of work is a win on both sides, says Thomas Endres, vice president for civic engagement at the National Council on Aging.

Boomers want volunteer projects with a mission, not a task. “They want autonomy,” Endres says. “They don’t want to reinvent the wheel, but they want assignments with responsibilities and authority to get it done.”

Boomers who volunteer in a professional or management capacity _ marketing or strategic planning, for example _ are the most likely to volunteer from year to year, with an almost 75 percent retention rate, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service, a federal agency that oversees a variety of civic engagement projects.

Luisa Murai, an architect, is a diligent volunteer. Recently, she redesigned and performed construction administration for two residential fourplexes across from Centro Mater, a nonprofit that provides child care, education, health services and after school programs.

The project involved months of work and site visits. But when asked how many hours she has put in, Murai replies, “I didn’t keep track of the hours. I spent as much time as was necessary to get the project done well.’’

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Murai, 62, has been involved with Centro Mater since she was a teenager. In 1968, her mother joined a group of Cuban women and Mother Margarita Miranda to raise funds for an affordable childcare center in the area.

“It’s a wonderful project, and what I can offer them is my skills,” Murai said. “There’s also the added dimension that Centro Mater was my mother’s favorite project, and I feel especially close to her when working to help the organization.”

Whether it’s to carry on a family tradition or to reconnect with youthful passions, boomers also seem to understand that volunteering is good for the heart – figuratively and literally. Studies have shown that even small amounts of volunteering contribute to healthy aging because of the social interaction and the physical activity involved.

Erwin Tan, a physician and geriatrician, is director of Senior Corps, a government group that connects people 55 and older with community organizations that need help. When patients complain they feel sluggish, disconnected and without purpose, he suggests they volunteer.

“It keeps you sharp,” he says. “It’s an excellent way of keeping mentally engaged. Having a purpose in life, having a reason to get up in the morning, is good for one’s health.”

Holloman, the retired post office worker, couldn’t agree more. He says he gets as much as he gives for volunteering at Camillus House.

“It’s like therapy for me,” Holloman says.

“At home, I’d be alone and not really doing anything. You can easily get depressed that way.”

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

BOOMER VOLUNTEERING FACTS

- About 33 percent of baby boomers volunteer -The most popular volunteer opportunities for boomers are religious groups, followed by educational or youth service organizations.

-A typical boomer volunteer serves 51 hours a year.

-The type of volunteer work influences whether boomers stay with it over time. Retention is highest when boomers are involved in professional or management activities.

-Informal volunteering is growing in popularity. In 2003, 34 percent of boomer volunteers reported volunteering on their own and not through an organization. In 2009, that spiked to 57 percent.

SOURCES: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Corporation for National & Community Service, AARP

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Healthy Hearing

by Dr. Bettie Borton Au.D. bchampion1@aol.com

Hearing Aid History: From Ear Trumpets to Digital Technology...

Today’s Hearing Devices are Not Your Grandmother’s Hearing Aid!

Hearing loss has been a problem for as long as humans have been around and because hearing loss affects people’s ability to connect and form Dr. Bettie Borton Au. D. relationships with others, hearing devices were quickly developed to help those who could not hear. Here’s a short history of hearing aids – a brief guide to how we got to where we are today.

Pre-electric (Acoustic) Hearing Aids These ear trumpets captured sound waves, sending them down a tube to the listener’s ear. They were big, bulky, unattractive and, frankly, they didn’t work very well.

Of course, these were state-of-the art “hearing aids” for centuries until electricity became available.

Carbon Hearing Aids (1900-1939) These were the first electric hearing aids. Carbon was used to amplify electric current to boost the volume of sound. However, they were bulky, buzzy and downright ugly, though for those with hearing loss, they were the only choice.

Vacuum Tube Hearing Aids (1921-1952) Vacuum tubes were used to control the flow of electricity and, as such, they did make hearing aids a little better.

However, these boxy devices were usually table-top models about the size of a clock radio, so the user had to carry around a heavy

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box and plug in to hear what was going on. There weren’t many controls or features, so these devices amplified all sound. That must have caused more than a few headaches back then. But hearing instruments continued to improve.

Transistors to the Rescue (1952-1970s) Transistors enabled hearing aids to fit into a smaller shell. The first transistor hearing aids appeared in 1952 - actually, two years prior to the first transistor radios which came along in 1954. Transistor hearing aids were still big and bulky with the electronics in a box carried on the body, with ear phones connected to a tangle of wires.

Not very convenient, to say the least.

Researchers shrunk transistor hearing aids over the years, making them small enough to fit behind the ear and even in the ear. However, they were anything but low-profile. They also didn’t come packed with features the way today’s hearing aids do.

Digital Hearing Devices Today, quality hearing aids use digital technology – circuitry that’s used in computers and cell phones - and what a difference a few decades and countless hours of research and development have made!

Today’s digital hearing devices are sleek, discreet, fashionable, high-tech

and low-maintenance. They can be programmed by an audiologist, to suit your specific hearing needs. Most adjust automatically for changes in volume levels and adapt to background noise. And now, with FM, Infrared, or Bluetooth technology, they can connect to multiple devices such televisions and telephones. Did you know that the new Bluetooth capability will allow you to answer you cell hands free, and route the call through both of your hearing devices?

Your hearing is very important and contributes greatly to a better quality of life, and you should do everything you can to make sure you find the right hearing center for your needs.

Finding the right audiologist can be as easy to answering a few simple questions. First,ss there a licensed, board certified and experienced audiologist on staff? Then consider…

1. Is this professional willing to make a referral for a medical evaluation to rule out the need for medical or surgical treatment, if necessary?

2. Will the audiologist communicate effectively with you about hearing aid choices and fitting options, if hearing aids are appropriate for your hearing loss?

3. In determining whether a hearing device is appropriate, will the audiologist speak to you clearly about your hearing loss, lifestyle, manual dexterity, and budget?

4. Does the hearing center offer a wide range of hearing aid makes and models from various manufacturers?

5. Will you receive assistance and training regarding how to wear and care for your hearing devices , as well as how to The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

adjust to wearing them?

6. Does the hearing center offer lenghty trial periods, warranties, and loss and damage protection?

7. Will they provide follow-up care following your hearing aid fitting, at least every six months?

8. Is the hearing center open at least five days a week, with an audiologist on staff to provide emergency care, or loaner hearing aids if needed?

Romeo and Juliet

BOOMERS, Add Some Romance To Your Life!

Friday, April 8 7:30PM and Saturday, April 9 2:30PM and 7:30PM. Featuring- guest artist Mrs. Greta Lambert, ASF, beloved actress, The Montgomery Ballet and the MPAC present Romeo and Juliet , a full length ballet in 3 acts. Shakespeare’s masterpiece about Love, Faith, and Pride set to Prokofiev’s haunting score with The Montgomery Ballet’s 26 professional artists and new choreography by its artistic director Elie Lazar.

Don’t miss Montgomery Ballet’s début at the MPAC with the perfect love story of all time.

Purchase tickets at the MPAC Box Office, 334-481-5100 or go to www.ticketmaster.com

9. Will you always see the same audiologist when you visit?

If you have answered “Yes” to all of these questions, you can rest assured that you have taken the right steps in finding a reputable dispensing practice.

Of course, answering some of these questions may require more research than just exploring online. Call the hearing centers in your area to see how they answer your questions. Once you find one you are comfortable with, schedule an appointment for an initial consultation and hearing test.

So remember, if you’re looking for the latest and the greatest in hearing loss solutions, visit Doctors Hearing Clinic for more information and counseling.

Forget everything Grandpa told you about his hearing aids. Those days and those hearing aids are long gone, thankfully. Today, you can enjoy the sounds of life without a lot of hassles.

Modern digital hearing aids deliver sound quality and ease-of-use in small, attractive devices. Seek a Board certified audiologist to explore the world of high tech hearing devices that are now available – and see for yourself that this is NOT your grandmother’s hearing aid!

To learn more, visit doctorshearingclinic.com or call for an evaluation at (334) 396-1635.

Dr. Bettie B. Borton is a licensed audiologist in Alabama, was the first board certified audiologist in Montgomery, and recently served as National Chair of the American Board of Audiology. She and her husband, Dr. Tom Borton, are the only audiologists with ABA certification in the Montgomery area.

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Living Well Alabama

Do you want the opportunity to put living back into your daily life? Living Well Alabama is offering sessions for those who are living with a chronic disease. During these sessions, you’ll get the support you need, find practical ways to deal with pain and fatigue, discover better nutrition and exercise choices, understand new treatment choices and learn better ways to talk with your doctor and family about your health.

These two-hour workshops are held each week for six weeks. The classes are taught by two trained leaders who want to help other people learn to gain control of their chronic conditions. The classes are free.

Classes are offered at locations spanning Montgomery, Elmore and Autauga counties.

A class is scheduled to begin at First Baptist Church in Prattville on Wednesday, April 6th through Wednesday, May 11th from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Another class is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28th through Tuesday, August 2nd from 1:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at The Archibald Senior Center in Montgomery. Future classes will be offered at various locations in the tri-county area.

Living Well Alabama is looking for participants for community classes as well as anyone who would like to become a class leader. Leaders teach community classes and must be trained.

Community classes are offered not only for individuals 60+ with an ongoing health condition but also individuals of any age who live with someone with a chronic disease or take care of someone with a chronic condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain, arthritis, anxiety, or depression. For caregivers who would like to attend these classes but need someone to care for their family member during the classes, respite care may be available through Central Alabama Aging Consortium. Contact Jane Mitchel at 334240-4666 for more information.

If you want to feel better, be in control and do the things you want to do, and live in the tri-county area contact Jane Mitchel or Myrtle Scott, Central Alabama Aging Consortium at 334-240-4666 to register for a class near you. If you live outside of Central Alabama Aging Consortium’s area, call 1-800 AGELINE for information on classes in your county. Funding for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is provided through a grant from the Alabama Department of Senior Services.

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The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event.

Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

Although every Relay For Life is different, there are certain traditions at all Relays, no matter where they are held. These traditions help participants celebrate, remember, and fight back.

Celebrate - The Survivors Lap Relay starts with a Survivors Lap an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer. The Survivors Lap is an emotional example of how Relay participants are creating a world with more birthdays like those of each individual on the track.

Remember - The Luminaria Ceremony After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.

Fight Back - The Fight Back Ceremony Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.

No matter where you are, there’s a place for you at Relay and you can make a difference today by signing up online to start your own team or by simply making a donation.

Thanks to Relay participants, we are creating a world with more birthdays a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.

For more information about Relay For Life, visit www.relayforlife.org/montgomery Event Details Friday, May 6, 2011 6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.

Faulkner University

American Cancer Society seeks Volunteers for Road to Recovery The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers for Road to Recovery, a program designed to ensure that cancer patients have transportation to and from medical facilities for treatment. Volunteer drivers provide patients with a ride in order to keep them on their regular treatment schedule. In the past several years, there has been a significant increase in demand for Road to Recovery transportation services, which is expected to grow even more through the next 20 years. The 60 and older population will increase by 32 percent, and the population over 85 will increase by nearly 90 percent. Road to Recovery volunteers can be individual drivers with time to help others or even local companies who allow employees to provide transportation on company time in company cars. While Road to Recovery volunteers currently come from all walks of life, the American Cancer Society knows that there are undiscovered possibilities in every community. Anyone who has a driver’s license, a safe driving record, personal automobile insurance, owns a car or has access to one, and can spare as little as one morning or afternoon a month is encouraged to volunteer.

For more information, or to volunteer, please call Luella Giles at (334) 612-8162 or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

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John Ed Mathison

How To Live Longer I have often said “we have little or no control over our circumstances, but we ought to be in control of our attitude towards those circumstances. An attitude is more important than the reality of the circumstances themselves.” I’m sure the quote is not original with me, but I learned the concept while studying psychology at Princeton Seminary.

I believe that. I have seen people in bad situations with a good attitude enjoy life far more than people who are in good circumstances with a bad attitude.

It was interesting to read this week that heart patients who have a positive attitude are much more likely to be healthier down the road and survive longer than those who have a poor attitude. The study, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, came out this week.

2,800 heart patients were studied. The ones with a good attitude had a 30% greater chance of survival after 15 years than patients who were pessimistic. John Barefoot, professor emeritus at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, reported that this was the longest, largest study to track survival.

a good attitude about recovery still translated with better health years later. Barefoot suggests that folks with a positive attitude will be better able to focus on their coping process and solve problems. They don’t give up easily. Rather than worry about their problems, they work at solving them.

Here comes the tough part – studies are showing that it is awfully difficult to help change adult behavior!

Paul the Apostle was writing to the church at Philippi. He already knew what this study showed. He encouraged the people to “have this attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) Attitude is really a choice. When I get up in the morning I can begin the day with a bad attitude or a positive attitude. What I decide early in the morning usually determines how my attitude is for the day. I can wake up and say “Good morning, Lord” or I can say “Good Lord its morning.”

You don’t have to be a heart patient to realize that this study is true for all people. Folks with a positive attitude always enjoy life more, cope better with stress, have better exercise and eating habits, and generally look forward to living every day.

The cardiac patients were given a series of questions. They were asked to agree or disagree with statements such as “I expect my lifestyle will suffer – I can still live a long healthy life – I doubt I will ever fully recover.”

How is your attitude? I believe that adult behavior can change! God is in the business of changing attitudes!

These people were followed for 15 years. The study showed that regardless of the age, gender, income, severity of the coronary disease –

John Ed Mathison www.johnedmathison.org

If you ask Him to help you with your attitude, prepare to live longer!

Still asking what you can do for your country?

There’s another place where you can share your wealth of experience.

800.424.8580 www.peacecorps.gov

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

Life is calling. How far will you go?

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April 2011

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It Takes

COURAGE To Get Out There

by Wina Sturgeon

It happens to a lot of people as they hit boomer age, often without them even realizing it. They don’t work at meeting new people, and their usual crowd dwindles as friends move away or lose touch.

Retirement means there’s no more daily contact with a group of co-workers.

Many boomers are reluctant to go out alone, and there’s really no place for the 50-and-over crowd to meet new friends; no club scene like younger people frequent, no social connection from schools or professional organizations.

It becomes all too easy to spend more and more time watching TV, reading or surfing the Internet. After a few years, with no one new coming into their lives, many of these boomers are beset by a feeling of emptiness _ and an emotion they may not even be able to identify _ extreme loneliness.

Yes, it can happen to those in their 30’s and 40’s as well, but there are many more social outlets for those who are younger than boomer age. There are just not as many social opportunities for, say, a woman in her 60’s. Sitting alone in the evening, she knows she can’t go to a bar and start talking with strangers; she doesn’t want to go to a senior center and participate in some craft project _ it’s just easier to stay home and remain lonely. A man in the same situation may

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be more able to meet and befriend women, especially if he’s wealthy; but even a middle aged man often has trouble making new friends.

It takes courage to get out and socialize _ but even with courage, where can the boomer go?

There are solutions to getting away from a life of isolation. Here are a few.

First, if you’re a boomer who hasn’t socialized in a while, you have to get rid of your rust. There’s a certain rhythm that comes with frequently interacting

with others. If you’ve lost that rhythm, learning to socialize again can be awkward and uncomfortable. You can be plagued by unnecessary self-consciousness and timidity, or the opposite, the rejectable act of trying too hard. The way around this is to start by going out alone to restaurants and movies, quietly moving among others without attempting to make contact at first. The plan is to get “synched,” to absorb that social rhythm by watching the subconscious cues of strangers interacting with each other.

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

Next, find out which local groups hold regular gatherings, and select those that interest you. It may be political organizations. It could be volunteer groups. There may be special social occasions, like a monthly “Irish Fiddle Night” at a local pub that caters to an older crowd. It doesn’t matter if you have no interest at all in the reason for the gathering _ any occasion where people go for socializing will work. Be friendly to everyone, regardless of gender. You might make a connection your first time out, or it might take several occasions before you meet someone with whom you exchange phone numbers or make plans to do something together.

Don’t let it stop once you meet a new friend. Find a way to meet THEIR friends and contacts. Socializing can spread in a viral way; once you start meeting people, each person becomes a link through which you can meet other people. It may take a while, but eventually, the isolation will be gone and you’ll have a life filled with new contacts and friends.

Win Hearing Aids For Mom Every year we look for the “PERFECT GIFT” for our mother. This year give the Gift of Hearing. Enter her in DeRamus Hearing Center essay contest to win a pair of FREE hearing aids for all the many hours she has loved and cared for you. The contest allows families to write an essay explaining why their mother deserves a set of free hearing aids this Mother’s Day. CONTEST RULES

• Essay may be written to explain reasons why their mother deserves a hearing aid.

• Winners are expected to be announced in May 4th and fitted for Mother’s Day. • Each essay should include the full name, mailing address and phone number of potential recipient as well as the full name, mailing address and phone number of the essay’s writer.

• Essays should be no longer than 600 words • All entries should be delivered or postmarked no later than April 29, 2011 and sent to: “Gift of Hearing”, c/o Sherri Elrod, DeRamus Hearing Center 2809 Chestnut Street, Montgomery, AL 36107 Or e-mail: sherrideramus@att.net

Two warnings, however: remember that spending time alone may have become a comfortable habit, one it’s easy to slip back into _ you may have to force yourself to go out and socialize until that too becomes a habit. Secondly; beware of anyone who wants to get too friendly too fast. Be wary of giving out your address before you know someone, and never, never lend a new friend money or give them access to your financial information, no matter how good a reason they give you to do so.

Wina Sturgeon is an active boomer who lives in Salt Lake City and writes about ways boomers can improve their lives. ___ (c) 2011, Adventure Sports Weekly (adventuresportsweekly.com) Distributed by McClatchyTribune Information Services.

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With Your Friends!

Thanks!

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m

April 2011

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27

April 2011

{12 Things} +3 for active boomers and beyond

MONTGOMERY Montgomery Zoo ZOO Weekend April 2-3

be provided by Corban Road (outside) and Davis

Nix (inside) from 12-2:30 and Hellikopta of Love (outside) and Jonathon Bloom (inside) from

Mark your calendar today to make plans to

visit the Montgomery Zoo April 2 – 3, 2011, for the 35th Annual Zoo Weekend. Watch as the

Montgomery Zoo is transformed into a festive

environment filled

with wildlife adventure and fun. Roam

3-5:30. www.autismmudbugball.org

MONTGOMERY

Dog U Tante Ball Thursday, April 7 6 pm

The Montgomery Humane Society hosts the

ity Center. Tickets include cocktails, dinner, dog

presentation, live music and

five continental

dancing. Tickets are $40

realms seeing exotic the globe. Enjoy games and rides while win-

ning prizes and treats. Enjoy a ride on a camel or pony. Enter a petting zoo area and feed the

animals. See live entertainment including music, dance teams, shows from Ronald McDonald, and

karate and MPD Canine unit demonstrations. For more information, please call (334) 240-4900 or check our out web site at www.montgomeryzoo. com.

CLOVERDALE

Seventh Annual Crawfish Boil Saturday, April 2 The Seventh Annual Autism Crawfish Boil to

benefit Easter Seals of Central Alabama (ESCA)

per person, $75 per couple, $400 per table of 10, and

$150 for dog registration. For tickets or more information, call 409-0622

www.montgomeryhumane.com

MONTGOMERY

The Montgomery Ballet presents Romeo and Juliet Friday, April 8, 2011 at 7:30pm and Sat., April 9, 2011 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm ent Romeo and Juliet, a full length ballet in 3 acts. Shakespeare’s masterpiece about Love, Faith, and Pride set to Prokofiev’s

haunting score with The Montgomery

Ballet’s 26 profes-

Saturday, April 2,

sional artists and

2011 at 1048 Jazz

new choreography

and Blues Club in

by its artistic director

Montgomery, Ala-

Blues Club is located at 1104 Fairview Avenue in the Old Cloverdale District. Entertainment will

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Beginning April 8 Through May 29 The 2011 Spring Repertory season at the

Alabama Shakespeare Festival will include Ron

Elie Lazar, Don’t miss Montgomery Ballet’s

début at the MPAC with the perfect love story of all time.

Hutchinson’s comedy

Moonlight and Magnolias and Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing and

Julius Caesar. Three “Extreme Weekends” are

available where all three shows can be seen in

the same weekend on April 30 – May 1, May 7-8, and May 21 – 22.Alabama Shakespeare Festival

box office, on line at www.asf.net or by phone at 1.800.841.4273.

MOULTON

Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival April 9-10 The Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival is a twoday outdoor festival with

food vendors, live entertainment, educational exhibits,

The Montgomery Ballet and the MPAC pres-

is scheduled for

bama from 1:00pm until 6:00pm. 1048 Jazz and

Moonlight and Magnolias Much Ado About Nothing Julius Caeser

13th annual Dog U Tante Ball at the RSA Activ-

through the Zoo’s

animals from around

MONTGOMERY

children’s activities, arts and crafts fair, and much more.

www.alabamachickenandeggfestival.com

MONTGOMERY

Grease Tuesday, April 12, at 8:00pm Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Broadway in Montgomery presents this

rock n’ roll celebration of growin’ up, cruisin’ with friends and

goin’ steady! MPAC Box Office

334-481-5100, www.ticketmaster.com, www. mpaconline.org

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

MONTGOMERY

Alabama Book Festival Old Alabama Town Saturday, April 16, 10-4 pm Old Alabama Town. Held the third Saturday of

April each year, this is the state’s premier literary

event featuring more than 50 authors of fiction, non-

fiction, poetry and children’s literature. A special children’s activity area makes this an event for

the entire family! www.alabamabookfestival.org

MONTGOMERY

Blue Man Group Monday, April 25 at 7:30 pm Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Broadway in Montgomery pres-

ents this widely popular theatrical show which

combines comedy, music

illnesses throughout the River Region. The event will feature a silent auction of original art by

local artists, specialty

baskets prepared by area businesses, garden and

landscape opportunities,

Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm. Join in

for a free, family-friendly

grand opening celebration for downtown Montgomery’s newest attraction

- the Hampstead Institute

Downtown Farm! Visitors of all ages will enjoy

tours of the new urban farm with Farmer Jetson, kids activities, farm-fresh refreshments, give-

aways and more. For more details email jetson@ hampsteadinstitute.org

MONTGOMERY

Annual Monte Carlo Fundraiser Thursday, April 28, 6:30 - 10 pm Wynlakes Golf and Country Club. This annual

event of Hospice of Montgomery provides funds

for care and services to patients with life-limiting The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

or www.hampsteadliving.com.

MONTGOMERY

Grimes, Barbara Simpson and Charlie Lucas.

The Waters, Pike Road. The Waters and RSVP

created during the event by local artists Barb

Other features include entertainment and casino games with “funny money.” Tickets are $50 per

Montgomery present Grape Expectations Wine

and Art Festival.

Come sample

person. For more information call 334.279.6677

over 50 wines,

or visit www.hospiceofmontgomery.org

enjoy live music

SANDESTIN

by Henry Pugh

Sandestin Wine Festival April 28 - May 1 Sandestin Wine Festival

and view art

displayed by several local artists. Donations

Times vary. Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin Florida.

The Sandestin Wine Festival brings an opportunity for

prices vary. MPAC Box Office 334-481-5100,

Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm Grand Opening Tuesday, April 26, 12-2 pm

For more information visit www.myecomax.com

Grape Expectations Wine and Art Festival Saturday, April 30, 12-4 pm

a totally unique form of entertainment. Ticket

MONTGOMERY

and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

New this year, a live auction of onsite artworks

home furnishings, jewelry, trips, wines and more.

and technology to produce

www.ticketmaster.com, www.mpaconline.org

Region, complete with workshops, live exhibits

discovery with four days of

accepted. $15 to participate in wine tasting and

receive commemorative wine glass. All proceeds and donations benefit the March of Dimes. Tick-

ets available at Peppertree Steaks N’ Wines, RSVP Montgomery, or The Waters Realty Office.

334-356-4598

TROY

unique events from private dinners, participat-

Troyfest April 30 - May 1

and taking part in wine tastings that showcase

Times vary. Downtown Troy. Held in honor

ing in auctions for rare and distinctive wines

an unprecedented 600 wines. Enjoy live music, interactive experiences at the Culinary Pavilion

of Jean Lake, TroyFest is the premier fine art

and craft festival for

the central Alabama

and shops and dining in the Village of Baytowne

region. The weekend

Wharf. Ticket prices vary. www.sandestinwinefestival.com

MONTGOMERY

EcoMAX Sustainable Living Event April 29-30 EcoMAX Sustainable Living Event at Hampstead

Farms. Times vary. Hampstead. This free, two-day

event will take place near

the Big Red Barn at Hampstead Farms Friday, April

29 and Saturday, April 30.

EcoMAX, the Hampstead Institute and the City

long show draws

upward of 10,000 people to downtown Troy to

celebrate the arts. Enjoy a wonderful selection of art, food, entertainment and activities for all ages. Free admission. www.troyfest.com

The Boomer Market is to Big to Ignore...How will you Seize the Opportunity?

Please submit any events/pictures to jim@riverregionboom.com

of Montgomery are joining forces again to bring an exciting sustainable living event to the River

r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m

April 2011

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29

Couple Reunited After Almost 70 Years flame a second chance. He searched for her for three years, trying to find anyone who knew of her whereabouts.

Rosella and Charles McAdoo celebrated their unique tale of love in an unusual way _ by marking their oneyear wedding anniversary on the “Live!

With Regis and Kelly” show.

By Christine Show

The Mount Dora, Fla., partners were among a select group of couples who appeared on the show’s love-themed week. The show featuring moving love stories in a weeklong series called “World’s Greatest Love Story.” The McAdoos were chosen out of thousands of other couples who submitted their love stories. “We’re just two little old people from a little old town,” said Charles McAdoo, 86. “It’s hard to believe.

I’m still not sure this is happening.”

On the show co-hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, the McAdoos recounted their roundabout romantic tale, which began more than 70 years ago but didn’t come full circle until they renewed acquaintances in 2009 after both their first spouses died.

It all started when Charles, then age 14, met Rosella Smiley, a 12-year-old girl in their small town of Fairchance, Pa. They walked home together the first day they caught eyes with each other. “She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen in my life,” he said. “During our first walk home, I said to myself ‘I’m going to marry her someday.’”

Their love quickly blossomed. Soon they’d spend time together at the local dairy farm _ a local hangout spot _ and held hands as they sat on a big swing outside of Rosella’s old Victorian-style home. Charles, described by Rosella as “a handsome young man” with dark, wavy hair who played the trumpet in the school band, wooed his high-school sweetheart on dates at the nearby roller-

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skating rink. “He was a very good roller skater,” said Rosella McAdoo, 84. “He had my initials on his skates.”

Never forgot one another But Charles, who excelled in school, graduated high school at 16 and enlisted in the Navy. The couple wrote each other letters while Charles served during World War II in the South Pacific.

“We corresponded, but for some reason it stopped,” Rosella said, sitting hand in hand with her high-school love at their Mount Dora home. “He never said to me that he thought we would marry each other.”

Charles smiled: “My charming personality should have let you know that.”

The two lost touch and married other people _ each having two sons and a daughter with their respective spouses.

After leaving the military, Charles lived in Indiana, Pa., where he owned a family motorcycle business and later joined the Indiana city police department. He rose through the ranks to police chief.

Meanwhile, Rosella cared for her family and moved to various states before finally settling in Mount Dora. As the years went on, both their spouses passed away.

Despite the long years since they last saw each other in the 1940s, they never forgot each other.

“I thought about him _ I wondered what he was doing,” she said.

‘Tickled to hear from him’ Finally, after locating Rosella’s aunt, he picked up the phone on Oct. 2, 2009, and called Rosella. “It was a nice surprise,” she said. “I was just tickled to hear from him.” The couple began talking up to four times a day until they decided to meet again.

“It was like I left home last night and came back the next day and she was just there,” he said.

They didn’t hesitate to act on their strong love this time around. They married on Valentine’s Day 2010 in a ceremony with family at the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Dora.

Now they fill their days taking milelong walks daily, going to concerts and volunteering at the church where they exchanged vows. They also reminisce about their high-school days.

“We had such nice memories when we were young people,” Rosella said. “It was just like we’ve never been apart.”

‘Need for bonding’ among boomers It isn’t unusual for older couples to remarry after losing their spouses because people have a desire to remain connected with others, said Andrew Daire, executive director of the University of Central Florida Marriage and Family Research Institute. Marriage research shows that as the baby-boomer generation _ those now entering retirement _ ages, they are marrying late in life in greater numbers.

“We still maintain that need for bonding, nurturing and attachment,” Daire said.

For the McAdoos, their companionship is an extra joy for a couple whose children live around the country.

“I think it was the best thing for both of us,” Rosella said.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Charles, who moved to St. Petersburg in the mid-2000s, wanted to give his promise to himself to marry his high-school

The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine

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