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Sponsored by Vivian O'Nay
Exciting Fall Fashion Trends All of the stylists at Vivian O’Nay are so excited for the upcoming season! Our buyers are back from Atlanta and Las Vegas market which means Fall transitional items are starting to arrive. We love seeing what the new incoming trends will be and hand picking the perfect items for our customers!
We also had a fun photoshoot in the Las Vegas desert while we were there. As you can see felt hats and white boots (pictured) can easily make any outfit look fabulous. We also love to pair them with our best-selling leather leggings to complete the look. If you don’t own a pair It may still be yet don’t be White boots paired with felt hats for Fall warm here intimidatedin Alabama but that doesn’t mean ours have a brushed look to the we can’t start wearing some of the fabric and hold everything in for a hot pieces for Fall. You can still rock slimming effect! lightweight short sleeve styles in Plaid shirts and shackets over some of our favorite beautiful jewel graphic tees and bleached band toned colors for fall like emerald tees make the perfect effortless but green, sapphire blue, and citrine put together effect. Pair them with yellow. Our top color pick for this a pair of platform tennis shoes to season is a sunset orange color which be perfectly on trend! Our current pairs perfectly with trendy patterns favorites (pictured) are from TOMS like cheetah, cow print, and Aztec. which we just began carrying at our store. We have the traditional shoes Our biggest takeaway is that western they are known for, but they also wear is having a huge moment make great wedges, booties, tennis in fashion. We give credit to the shoes, and more! TOMS also has popularity of shows like Yellowstone a great cause which makes them for this. Turquoise, fringe, and even more enticing to purchase. cowgirl-esque boots are becoming They commit 1/3 of our profits for more common. We have seen many grassroots good, supporting people of our customers starting to sport building equity at the local level, and these looks when they come in to driving progress from the ground up shop with us! in communities.
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We also have recently begun carrying a few new jewelry lines which all of the ladies at the store are loving! In the past few months, we have picked up the lines Kendra Scott, Bracha, and Boho Babes. These are gorgeous glamorous pieces which shine and add lots of class to even the most casual outfits. The last recent addition to our store is our men’s section. Men have been pouring in to come shop our new t-shirt line and other gift items including Duke Cannon, Dr. Squatch, and hand forged knives from Black Hat Forge. As the holiday season approaches keep us in mind for gifts for the men in your life! We love to see ladies stepping out of their comfort zones and trying out new things! If any of these outfit ideas inspire you, we would love to hear from you or for you to come by and let us help you find your new favorite outfit! We would love to hear back from you on Facebook (www.facebook.com/shopVivianONay/) or email (vivianonay@gmail.com). Visit Vivian O'Nay and find your fashion sense, they're located at 3500 Wetumpka Highway, Montgomery, AL. You can call 334.290.5268 or visit www.vivianonay.com
TOMS platform sneakers in leopard print
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Dr. Blake Raggio, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Facelift FAQs: What You Need to Know of volume (or lack thereof) associated with the aging process. Therefore, many surgeons, I included, often recommend facial volumization with fat grafting to “fill” the hollowed areas and augment the effects of the facelift.
In last week’s article we discussed the ins and outs of the “Liquid Facelift” using dermal fillers, a non-surgical cosmetic procedure which has recently gained attention as a viable alternative to a traditional surgical Facelift. That said, as effective as a “liquid facelift” can be at rejuvenating the face, there should be no mistake about it that for many people looking to reverse the signs of aging, the surgical Facelift remains the gold standard for delivering predictable, natural, and durable (long-lasting) results. Before you decide if a Facelift is right for you, however, several questions need to be asked to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure, which we will address below. Without further ado, let’s discuss the Facelift. What is a “Facelift”? In short, the term “Facelift,” traditionally known as a Rhytidectomy, describes the surgical procedure wherein the soft tissues of the face, cheek, and/or neck are repositioned in a manner that restores a more youthful appearance those structures affected by the aging process. Once these underlying tissues are tightened and resuspended (aka, “lifted”), the excess face and neck skin is excised, the combination of which creates a more rejuvenated appearance to the face. The procedure is typically performed in an operating room setting, takes 4-6 hours, with social downtime lasting anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on several factors including your underlying health and soft tissue quality. Costs vary considerably ($6000 and up) and will be based upon your surgeon’s experience and preferred technique, the operative setting and required anesthesia, the need for other combined procedures, amongst other variables. What are the different types of “Facelift”? The facelift has undergone many iterations since its initial description wherein a large skin excision was performed without any repositioning of the underlying structures, creating the unsightly “pulled” or “windswept” associated with such antiquated procedures. Thankfully, we now better understand the anatomy of aging and the role various structures have on the facial aging process, including the importance of the suspensory ligaments of the face and the distribution of the facial fat compartments. To this effect several types of Facelifts exist The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
You should also know that other procedures routinely combined with the facelift include the following: browlift, blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), surgical lip lift, chin augmentation, and a chemical peel. The point is that you should work closely with your surgeon to create a customized facial rejuvenation plan.
today, but most fall under the category of “mini-lifts” versus “SMAS-lifts.” For simplicity, you should understand that a “mini-lift” tends to rely on suture suspension of deeper tissues, whereas the “SMAS-lift” typically involve some type of dissection and/or release of the deeper structures which in theory allows for a more comprehensive repositioning of the underlying tissues. Whether one option is superior remains controversial, however, most Facelift surgeons would agree that the more durable (longer-lasting), powerful, and natural results would be associated with the “SMAS-lift.” The “mini-lift” has its advantages, however, as the procedure tends to be more affordable, can be performed under local anesthesia, has less associated downtime given the minimal dissection.
Who is a good candidate for a surgical Facelift? The average age for a Facelift surgery patient hovers around 50 years of age. That said, anybody of any age who suffers from increased skin laxity, facial volume loss, poorly defined facial contours, and deepened hollows/folds (e.g., jowls, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, platysmal bands), would benefit from a facelift and/or Necklift. Ultimately, a detailed assessment of your underlying anatomy is required to determine if a facelift surgery matches up with your aesthetic goals and expectations. How can I learn more about a Facelift? If you are interested in learning more about a Facelift, I suggest consulting with a surgeon experienced in facial rejuvenation surgery. This will ensure that you receive a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan. As a fellowship-trained Facial Plastic Surgeon with core training in Head and Neck Surgery, I always encourage patients to understand the nuances of their proposed treatments before deciding on their plan of action, as often-times, multiple treatment options exist.
As always, choose a surgeon whom you trust. There is nothing more important than the relationship you have with your doctor.
Ultimately, every patient is different, and every surgeon is different; so, find someone whom you are confident will deliver results consistent with your expectations.
In Good Health,
What is the “Lift and Fill” Facelift? The term, “lift and fill,” refers to a Facelift combined with a facial volumizing procedure (i.e., facial fat grafting). As alluded to above, we now appreciate the importance
Dr. Blake Raggio Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Alabama Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 334.373.3611 (office) www.ALplasticsurgery.com
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BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
September 2021
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Volume 12 Issue 3
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
C.S. Lewis
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard
4 Exciting Fall Fashion Trends Vivian O'Nay 9 Facelift FAQs: What You Need to Know, Dr. Blake Raggio 11 Montgomery Chamber Music Season 14 Publisher's Column
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19 Jefferson Davis High School Class of 1971
Features 22 The Therapeutic Power of Making Art
30 Helping Our Grandchildren Cultivate A Grateful Heart
32 How VR Will Reinvent Aging
36 Jeff Barganier's The Path Less Traveled: Discovering Ancient Alabama
Happy Grandparents Day! September 12th
Departments 38 This and That A variety of TIDBITS
16 Ways to Stay Safe During a Severe Storm or Wind event
50 Greg Budell REQUIEM for 9/11
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20 Baked Mac & Cheese 21 PBS will be airing Lives Well Lived 24 How To Keep Your Retirement On Track with Susan Moore 28 AUM OLLI Return to InPerson Classes in September 34 Lasagna Gardening by Claire Hubbard 38 ASF Announces 2021-22 Season, 50th Anniversary
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39 Tavern Fest is Back in 2021 page 22
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40 Capital City’s largest Labor Day Barbecue 42 ‘Opelika Songwriters Festival 44 BOOM! Cover Profile 49 OCCG Bids & Blooms!
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Free Subscriptions @ w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m
52 Oregano with Tracy Bhalla 54 Reader Discounts
BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, P.O. Box 6203, Montgomery, AL 36106. The phone number is 334.324.3472. Copyright 2021 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage 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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Publisher’s Letter
In the last week of August, I experienced two funerals of men I would call friend. One was a dear friend for thirty years. The other I’d only known for the last three years. I attended each of their funerals, one in person and the other through Facebook Live. The differences were stark.
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.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Jeff Barganier Lisa Beers Tracy Bhalla Greg Budell
Willie Durham Claire Hubbard Larry McCall Nancy Monson Susan Moore Dr. Blake Raggio Janet Siroto
Cover Photography Photography by DiAnna Paulk photographybydiannapaulk.com
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
Funerals
Jim Watson, Publisher jim@riverregionboom.com
God was worshiped in the funeral of my newest friend. God’s plan of salvation was lifted up as the great hope for eternal life in heaven with the saints, for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and repent from their sins. God wasn’t invited to my dearest friend’s funeral, but everyone was encouraged to wear their Roll Tide Gear in honor of his favorite football team. And they did.
As a believer and follower of Jesus, my heart aches for my dearest friend because I don’t know where and how he will spend eternity. Only God does. But for me I’m even more convinced of God’s plan of redemption and the sweet homecoming that awaits, until then I’ll continue to enjoy the blessing of watching SEC Football. Roll Tide! Speaking of Football, I guess everyone in the state of Alabama knows what happens in a few days, Gametime! This month also brings much joy to our cover profile because she is officially retired after a forty-year career with WSFA-12. Her name is Lisa Beers, and she is ready to enjoy her newfound lifestyle but first she is going to be a wedding planner for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. When it’s all said and done, Lisa will be as busy as she wants to, but she’s looking forward to her retirement. We enjoyed spending time with Lisa and getting reacquainted, I think you’ll enjoy getting to know her as well. Please share with family and friends. We have a number of features for your reading pleasure. One is on the therapy associated with making art. I think it has something to do with getting in touch with your creative juices, I think it helps! We have a feature on how grandparents can teach their grandkids about gratitude. This is a feature from Christian Grandparenting you may find helpful in your own family. Another feature is focused on technology and the use of VR (Virtual Reality) to help some in the aging community. Very interesting and probably a future reality for most of us. Finally, Jeff Barganier took the path less traveled and found interesting things along the way. I want to be like Jeff and just explore for discovery’ sake, he’s very good at that. You’ll enjoy this month’s feature too. Finally, our dear friend, Greg Budell shares his take on the world around us and the absolute insanity twenty years after the tragic day of 9/11. Greg speaks for me, and I know many others who are fed up with incompetent and dishonest leaders, lets hope elections still matter in the America.
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I have started using a few QR Codes in this month’s issue and I gave a simple explanation below on how to scan them. It’s probably not necessary but just in case, it’s a simple way for readers of the print version to engage digitally with content, such as going to a website or ordering tickets for ASF or Tavern Fest. I hope you find them useful; I do. Thanks for reading BOOM! We create it each month for your reading pleasure.
HOW TO SCAN QR CODES Simply open your camera app, point it at the QR code like you're going to take a close pic (but don't) and wait for a message to pop up. Then click it.
Jim
334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com www.RiverRegionBoom.com Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!
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BOOM! starts conversations and shares stories. Share your business with BOOM! readers. For more information call/text 334.324.3472 or visit www.riverregionboom.com September 2021 RiverRegionBoom.com
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Did You Know?
According to new research from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and the American Academy of Nursing, older adults are more vulnerable and experience more casualties after a natural disaster compared to other age groups. That’s why this National Preparedness Month, we want to encourage everyone, especially older adults, to get ready for emergencies. How to be safer during a storm During severe weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes, winds can reach speeds greater than 100 miles per hour. High winds of any speed, however, can damage homes and property, and cause flying debris and broken glass which could cause potential injury. Proper planning may help save your family from injury and inconvenience when severe weather strikes. Prepare your family by creating a disaster preparedness plan, including a disaster survival kit and an emergency evacuation plan. Stay informed • Listen and watch for weather updates and advisories. Getting up-to-the-minute information is an important part of staying safe in any weather emergency. Tune in to a NOAA Weather Radio or battery-powered radio for updates or use and watch for mobile alerts. • Wind advisory. A high wind advisory means that sustained winds of over 25 miles per hour are predicted. • Take warnings seriously. Thunderstorm, tornado and hurricane warnings should be taken very seriously, as they mean that severe weather has been spotted and is on its way. Find shelter during severe weather • Take shelter in a safe location. Move to the middle of your home or basement, away from windows and glass doors. Try to take cover under a staircase or a heavy piece of furniture. • Evacuate manufactured homes. Do not stay in a manufactured home during
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severe winds. They are easily overturned by high winds, and flying debris can puncture their light frames and exteriors. • Consider building a safe room. If you live in an area prone to severe winds, you may want to build a safe room in your home. A safe room is an area of your home that has been reinforced to provide protection from broken glass and flying debris. An experienced contractor can build a safe room with a reinforced roof, walls and ceilings in a new or existing home. • Bring a disaster kit. Wherever you seek shelter, be sure to bring your family disaster kit with you. Tips to protect your property from severe weather and wind events • Vehicles. Garage or store vehicles you plan to leave behind. If you don't have a garage, move them to higher ground, in case of flooding. • Boats: Develop a plan and a checklist to protect your boat in case of storms or hurricanes. o Determine the safest place for your boat to ride out a storm ahead of time so it’s easy to take action. o Remove all externally-mounted electronics that might be damaged by a storm. o If your boat must remain in the water, avoid low dock pilings and narrow boat slips; both increase the potential for damage. o Check with your marina about any guidelines or contractual requirements to safeguard your boat in the event of heavy weather. • Surroundings. Place garbage cans, patio furniture, grills and other potentially wind-borne objects inside
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Photo by Wade Spees for Sea Grant
Ways to Stay Safe During a Severe Storm or Wind event
your home or garage. • Board your residence up. Board up windows and glass doors with shutters or plywood to minimize damage from broken glass, in case of high winds. • Secure and shut off your outdoor pool. Turn off the circuit breaker to your outdoor pool and remove the motor to prevent damage. • Remove risky tree branches. Prune branches that might break off during the storm and either hurt someone or cause damage to your home or vehicles. • Rent or purchase a generator. If you can rent or purchase a generator, it will help keep refrigerators, freezers and lights on. A powerful storm can knock out power to your home for days, even weeks. • Manufactured homes. Even when equipped with new straps and tie-downs, manufactured homes may expose occupants to a greater risk of injury than structures with permanent foundations. • Weather advisories. Monitor the radio for weather updates. If you are instructed to evacuate, go to a shelter as directed by local authorities and: o Lock doors and windows before you go. o Bring your survival kit and other supplies. For a helpful list of what your kit should include, visit American Red Cross. o Let friends and relatives know where you plan to be.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
If there is no time to get to a shelter, retreat to your safe room if you have one. Otherwise, stay in the middle of your home or basement, away from windows, and try to take cover under a staircase or a heavy piece of furniture. Tips for surviving severe storms Anyone who's ever survived a severe storm or hurricane knows that the damage to home and property can be overwhelming, emotionally and financially. The property damage attributed to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 hit $81 billion, and property damage attributed to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 hit $68 billion. The annual hurricane season traditionally runs from June 1 to November 30, but a severe storm can appear suddenly at any time of the year.
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What can you do to be safer during a storm • Organize important papers. Gather your important papers and store them off-site, in a bank safe-deposit box or some other secure location. Your mortgage, home and auto insurance policies, birth certificates, passports and other important papers should be in a safe, dry location that you can access even if your home is damaged. Store other papers and keepsakes in plastic, sealable bags on a high shelf to avoid flood damage. • Create a home inventory. Having an inventory or list of your possessions will expedite insurance claims after the storm. Keep it with your important papers off-site. It's much easier to file a claim with an existing inventory rather than trying to create one during the stressful post-storm period. • Put together an emergency kit. The type of emergency kit needed will depend on where you live and the type of emergencies you may encounter. These items can come in handy if you have to leave your home and temporarily move into a public shelter. • Create an easily accessible emergency fund. If you can do this, it will help make your post-storm recovery smoother Article submitted by Willie Durham, State Farm Agent
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Jefferson Davis High School Class of 1971
Celebrates Special Class, Special Memories, 50 Years
Jefferson Davis Class of 1971, 50th High School Reunion
Yes. 50 years is a very long time. And people had changed. Some 60-plus people had even passed away. That’s why 1971 graduates of Jefferson Davis High School thought it was so important to celebrate their 50th high school reunion, together, face-to-face, for those who could. For those who couldn’t, a virtual option was provided. About 100 class members and their guests gathered at the RSA Activity Center for fun, good food, and renewing valued friendships. “Our planning committee was so gratified to see classmates from as far away as Livermore, California and Austin, Texas, make the effort to come this far to reminisce with classmates they hadn’t seen for years—for some, 50 years!” said Shep Thornbury, first drum major at the new Jefferson Davis High School and reunion committee co-chair. One highlight of the evening was an exciting announcement that the Class of ’71 is establishing a Hall of Fame program to honor former Jeff Davis graduates who have achieved major milestones in their lives and careers, and to inspire current and future JD students to reach for their dreams. Leaders of this effort, Peggy Howland and Beth Stewart, proudly announced that the inaugural inductee into Jeff Davis’s first Hall of Fame class was JD Class of ’71 Graduate Dr. Roger Hudgins, a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon practicing in Atlanta, Georgia, and other sites across the country. He has saved the lives of countless children across the world. theatre credits continue to grow at an astounding rate. Dr. Hudgins was moved to be chosen for such an honor. “I will honor this award for the rest of my life and appreciate the confidence that you and the rest of the committee had in me,” he said. The Hall of Fame committee will work in coming months to establish an operational framework for this project to ensure it is sustained in years to come. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Baked Mac & Cheese This is your classic mac and cheese – there are no surprises here and there’s no fuss at all. It’s simple, it’s quick, and it’s completely made from scratch. It’s perfectly cheesy without being too gummy, and the crunchy tops are just to die for before you get into that creamy heaven underneath. You can of course choose to bake these in individual ramekins to avoid any kind of sharing or you can dump the entire mixture into a 2-qt baking dish. Either works. It’s just that sharing can be a bit difficult on this one. Ingredients:
1/2 pound elbow pasta 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 2 (12-ounce) cans evaporated milk* 12 ounces shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese, about 3 cups, divided 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well. 3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Whisk in flour, paprika and onion powder until lightly browned, about 1 minute. 4. Gradually whisk in evaporated milk until slightly thickened, about 4-5 minutes. 5. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 cups cheddar cheese and Parmesan. Stir in pasta; season with salt and pepper, to taste. 6. Divide pasta mixture into 5 (10-ounce) or 6 (8-ounce) ramekins or ovenproof bowls.* Place onto a baking sheet; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese. 7. Place into oven and bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. 8. Serve immediately, garnished with chives, if desired.
Source: www.damndelicious.net
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THE JAY AND SUSIE GOGUE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY
presents
BIG NEWS: We are excited to announce that PBS stations across the country will be airing Lives Well Lived, throughout September, in honor of National Grandparents Day. Viewers will enjoy the insights of dozens of fascinating individuals – 3,000 years of life experience – distilled into a delightful mosaic of essential life lessons. Celebrate the wit & wisdom of adults 75 years old+ who are living their lives to the fullest with a heartwarming PBS documentary, Lives Well Lived. We might say we honor our elders, but we are often separated from them and deprived of their experience and wisdom. And they all have a story to tell... Stream Lives Well Lived on the PBS website from September 1-28. www.pbs.org/show/lives-welllived/ For more information and to view local airing dates check out our new and improved website: www.lives-well-lived.com Please feel free to share this information widely and use the hashtag #LivesWellLived and tag us @LivesWellLived on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thank you for helping to spread the news about our PBS launch!
Melissa Etheridge • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical Patti LaBelle • Del McCoury Band • Ziggy Marley • Kenny G Dawes • Sierra Hull • Ingrid Andress The Beach Boys • Candi Staton • and many more
Scan to Visit Website
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By Nancy Monson
The Therapeutic Power of Making Art Like most Americans, I’ve been feeling empty, numb, shell-shocked and dumbfounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve been socially isolating as directed, except for daily walks. I am used to working from home as a freelance writer, but I’ve often had trouble concentrating on work and worry about spending even more time alone than I normally do.
In fact, a recent study from Drexel University found that making art for 45 minutes a day reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol — and you don’t even have to be good at it for art to be calming. Ready to try? Here’s how:
A few days after the first directive to stay at home, I pulled out some of my sewing and quilting supplies, sorting through the many half-started projects, class and technique samples I’ve compiled for use “someday.” And suddenly, I was inspired and instantly so much happier. I embarked on a “15 days of isolation” series of small art works. Part of my day is now spent designing little works, and then sewing or painting them. And while I’m creating, I forget about COVID-19 and the attendant health and financial crises it is wreaking on people around the world. My art is my little respite, distracting me from worries and giving me a sense of self-satisfaction. 'I Feel Peaceful and Removed from the Swirl' This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered the therapeutic benefits of pursing a creative activity. When I was going through a divorce, quilting helped me to release the chaos within. When I can’t sleep, I make little drawings. And when I feel anxious and lonely, collaging helps ground me in happy memories. “When I think about what is soothing to me about using my creativity to get through this time, it’s nature and art,” says Barbara Popolow of Arlington, Mass., who has been making little drawings of things she can view from her desk: plants,
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a candle, a neighbor’s window. “Putting these drawings together is like making a healing balm that soothes, repairs and strengthens. While I’m immersed in drawing, I feel peaceful and removed from the swirl.” Likewise, Cheri Rose Bergeron of Bridgewater Corners, Vt., says “I am finding it very hard to focus on most things right now, but sewing grounds me.” Bergeron has made upwards of 80 fabric masks to donate to hospitals, family and friends. “Making masks has made me feel like I am doing something on a small scale to help others and not just idly standing by. And in general, when I’m creating, my mind goes to a soothing place. Sewing drowns out the excessive noise surrounding me and cancels out a lot of my anxiety," says Bergeron. Many people don’t think they are creative, while others simply feel too keyed up and anxious to know how to begin using art as therapy. They may put too much stock in making something noteworthy rather than simply drawing, painting, journaling, sewing, knitting, baking or whatever for its own sake. But it’s the act that counts, not the end result.
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Find a space to make art. No need to have a studio or a separate room, or even a table or desk. “When I travel, I just take a little fourby-six pouch with a watercolor journal and some paints, pens and brushes,” reports Flora Bowley, an artist and yoga teacher in Portland, Ore., and author of Brave Intuitive Painting: Techniques for Uncovering Your Own Unique Style and Creative Revolution. “Don’t use a lack of space as an excuse for not starting to make art.” Advertisement Begin with a ritual. Bowley recommends doing some yoga poses, meditating or lighting a candle to signal to yourself that you are moving into a state of receptivity and out of your everyday life. In difficult times like these, many of us are prone to overthinking, worrying and living in our heads rather than in our bodies. “On a basic level, when you are disconnected from your physical body, it’s harder to access your creativity from that place,” Bowley says. A ritual can help you move your awareness from the mind to the rest of the body so you can create more freely. Play fast and loose. Do some finger painting or let some watercolors swirl on a page. “Put music on, close your eyes and draw or paint with your eyes closed for thirty seconds,” advises Bowley. “This will give you a starting point, and often the The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
shapes that come out of that exercise are more interesting and unpredictable than those you create with your eyes open. Focus on putting yourself in a feeling rather than a thinking state.” Alternatively, try Bowley’s “Visual Riffing Exercise:” I Using a marker, pen or pencil, divide a piece of paper into equal-size boxes. I Choose a universal shape —like a circle, square, rectangle, triangle or diamond — and draw it in each box. I Go from one box to the next, embellishing the shape you’ve chosen in different ways. For example, if you’ve chosen a circle as your shape, color it in completely in the first box, put tiny dots in it in the second box, put lines inside the circle in the third box, put a square in the circle in the fourth box and so on. Note: Instead of a shape, you can riff on a theme like “home” or “isolation.” “Each box gives you an opportunity to do something different and spontaneous, and loosens you up,” Bowley says. Buy a kit or subscription. Companies like Creative Art Box, Let’s Make Art, Sketchbox and SmartArt are offering monthly subscription art kits that can inspire and motivate you so you don’t have to start from scratch. Order online. You can order online supplies and kits from craft stores Joann and Michaels and either have your supplies delivered or pick them up in some areas. Watch a video. Sites like Blueprint, Skillshare and Udemy run online art and creativity classes. And in addition to her regular online painting courses, Bowley is offering free “Together Apart” gatherings at 4 p.m. PT on Wednesdays and 10 a.m. PT on Saturdays where you join her virtually in her Portland studio to paint. Nancy Monson is a writer, artist and coach who frequently writes about the connection between creativity and health. She is the author of Craft to Heal: Soothing Your Soul with Sewing, Painting, and Other Pastimes. Connect with her on Instagram Source: www.nextavenue.org
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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How To Keep Your Retirement On Track in a World of Low Returns
As a retiree, are you at risk for outliving your income? A serious question for serious times. Recently, several key assumptions traditionally used in retirement income planning are being challenged by leading financial industry experts. Are retirees who made those traditional assumptions still okay?
For example, lately several famous market observers, including John Bogle¹, the founder of the Vanguard Group, have warned that investors should reduce their expectations for their stock market investment returns to 4% a year. Ray Dalio², founder of one of the largest and most successful hedge funds in the world, also recently warned that “investment returns will be very low going forward.” In addition, several leading studies have challenged the validity of the traditional “4% rule.” Developed back in the 1990’s when interest rates were higher for CDs and bonds, the rule stated that if a retiree kept their withdrawals limited to 4% of their initial retirement portfolio balance, that it should provide a sustained income for thirty years of retirement. However, Wade Pfau³, a professor of retirement income at the American College of Financial Services and Michael Finke of Texas Tech University, found that given the sustained current level of low interest rates that the level of acceptable initial withdrawals needed to be limited to 2.85% to provide an income for thirty years of retirement.
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Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore
traditional assumptions, key risks (i.e., sequence rate of return and inflation), and various approaches to mitigating the risks of outliving your income. If you would like to be included in the webinar, please call 334.270.1672 or sarah@moorewealthmanagement. com.
By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D.
Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.
The Stanford Center on Longevity recently published a study that recommended that retirees should focus on sources that were not exposed to stock market risk to cover essential expenses, i.e., Social Security or an annuity of one type or another. It found that if income to cover essential expenses was exposed to stock market risk that the emotional cost of worrying about meeting expenses during a stock market downturn would prompt many investors to make ill-advised investment decisions. On Wednesday, September 22nd, Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. will be conducting a complimentary webinar on methods of how to not outlive your retirement income. The workshop covers a number of issues including factoring in the above-mentioned changes to
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Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices in Auburn, Montgomery, and Alexander City, AL. Susan has under advisement over $170 million (as of 3.31.2021) in brokerage and advisory assets through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner over 38 years. Contact Susan at 334.270.1672. Email contact is susan@ moorewealthmanagement.com. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation. ¹https://www.financial-planning.com/opinion/jack-bogle-forecasts-lowerstock-and-bond-returns ²https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-10-11/investment-returns-willbe-very-low-going-forward-ray-dalio-says-gold-could-prove-pr ³https://www.onefpa.org/journal/Pages/The%204%20Percent%20 Rule%20Is%20Not%20Safe%20in%20a%20Low-Yield%20World.aspx
September Webinar
How To Keep Your Retirement On Track to register, call our Montgomery office at
334.270.1672
sarah@moorewealthmanagement.com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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A BOOM! FEATURE
Getting To Know You
Country Club Estates
A Senior Living Community, Now Leasing in Midtown Montgomery
Photos by Becca Frederick
Rob Rogers, VOASE Senior ExecutiveVice President. “Residents will also be offered additional services through VOASE and our partners, including on-site wellness checks, financial literacy training and computer classes.”
Country Club Estates, a new affordable rental housing community is now leasing to Montgomery area seniors 55 years of age or older. The new construction development is located at 2075 N. Country Club Drive and features 62 one- and two-bedroom apartments with units set-aside for veterans and individuals with disabilities. Real estate developer Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP) and co-developer Volunteers of America Southeast (VOASE) worked together to construct the $12.6 million development which will contribute to the continued revitalization of Montgomery’s Mid-Town Community. “Strong partnerships are the foundation of GCHP’s approach to real estate development and community revitalization,” said Kathy Laborde, GCHP President and CEO. “We are grateful for the support of VOASE and our financial partners who helped make this project possible.”
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Residents of Country Club Estates will enjoy apartment and onsite amenities that include in-unit washers and dryers, a fitness center, hair salon, outdoor pavilion, and on-site storage rental. VOASE currently operates a center adjacent to the development and will provide and coordinate supportive services for residents. “Working in union with Gulf Coast Housing Partnership we are excited to provide a new affordable housing option for seniors that is conveniently located near grocery stores, restaurants and health centers,” said
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The development is financed with an Alabama Housing Finance Agency tax credit allocation, lending through NeighborWorks Capital, a capital contribution from Volunteers of America Southeast, equity investments through Stratford Capital, construction financing from BBVA and $500,000 in Affordable Housing funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlantathrough its member institution, BBVA.
Residents interested in leasing an apartment at Country Club Estates can call 334-293-0515 or visit the leasing office located at 2075 N. Country Club Dr. open Monday-Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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September 2021
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AUM OLLI Members Return to In-Person Classes in September After more than a year of ZOOMing for their classes, AUM OLLI members are excited to return to the classrooms when classes begin in September. Covid safety protocols will be observed in the small classes: social distancing and wearing masks.
hands-on classes. Discussion classes include World War II (two different approaches), the art class at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the brain bowl, and the history of Route #66.
AUM OLLI generally offers three categories of classes: discussion, active, and hands-on (do-it-yourself). Obviously, the latter two suffered during the pandemic, with only one active class continuing (Pain Management with Tai Chi) and no hands-on classes. In-person classes allow the full return of do-ityourself classes: jewelry making, pine needle basket weaving, creating art from torn paper, and decorating inexpensively for all seasons.
Efforts to continue classes during the pandemic resulted in the creation of OLLI Shares: The University of Alabama, the University of Alabama – Huntsville, and Auburn University made some of their courses available via ZOOM. The initiative was successful enough that some offerings via ZOOM will continue through the fall term. To register for these shared courses, individuals need to become members of AUM OLLI, and register for the shared classes just like they register for the AUM in-person classes, without paying an additional fee.
The discussion classes include some repeated classes and some new ones. The opportunity to write and print family stories and a photography course on the art of seeing bridge the discussion and
AUM OLLI will continue to offer lunch presentations and bonus opportunities, programs included in the basic membership fee. The lunch presentations will be from 11:35 a.m. to
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12:35 p.m., also in the Center for Lifelong Learning. Other bonus opportunities include two book groups and a two-hour guided walk through the woods behind the AUM campus. Two field trips are also on the schedule, with full details to be offered a little later: wine and food tasting sessions at Peppertree Steaks and Wine (October 05, 07, 19, or 21) and a trip to Camden (December 10) for lunch at GainesRidge and holiday shopping at Black Belt Treasures. Become an AUM OLLI member for the $50.00 annual fee and take advantage of all of these opportunities.
For details about these options, go to www.aum.edu/OLLI.
JOIN TODAY! Tell your friends!
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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September 2021
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By Larry McCall
Helping Our Grandchildren Cultivate A Grateful Heart “What do you say?” As grandparents, we may find ourselves often prompting our young grandchildren to say those two little words: “Thank you.” Perhaps you’ve taken them out to lunch and encouraged them to express appreciation to the server. Maybe you’re keeping them for the afternoon and a younger sibling decides to be generous and share the toys without argument. Whenever someone expresses a kindness, we want to help our grandchildren develop the habit of acknowledging their appreciation. Let’s be candid. While those two words aren’t hard to pronounce, most people—whether age four or sixtyfour—struggle to regularly express gratitude. They just don’t tend to flow naturally from our lips. Why is that? Well, it has something to do with our hearts. THE MOUTH/HEART CONNECTION Did you know that Jesus said that our mouths are connected to our hearts? In Luke 6:45, He teaches: “…out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” In other words, what does (or doesn’t) come out of us reveals what’s inside of us. That’s the great mouth-heart connection. Humbling to think about, isn’t it?
children and grandchildren? Just like us, they need God’s grace to transform their hearts from a bent toward selfishness to a bent toward gratitude. By God’s grace, their grateful hearts will overflow with grateful words. How might God use us grandparents to cultivate a heart of gratitude in the lives of our grandchildren? How can we be tools God can use in the process of transforming the hearts and words of our precious grandchildren?
It’s uncomfortable to think about some of the things that have come out of our mouths in moments of frustration, anger, or plain selfishness. What does that say about what’s going on inside? Ugly and selfish words come from ugly, selfish hearts. And, what’s true for us grandparents is true for our grandchildren as well. Anyone feel like joining me right now in singing “Oh, to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be”?
GRATITUDE IS CAUGHT Let’s remember Jesus’s maxim in Luke 6:40: “…everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Jesus wasn’t painting a picture of a classroom. He was talking about a trainee being shaped by the life of his or her mentor. For grandparents that means as our grandchildren are around us, over time, we rub off on them. In some measure, our attitudes and our demeanors will be reflected in their attitudes and demeanors.
A CALL TO GIVE THANKS God wants us to be grateful. He tells us to be grateful. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 clearly says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” How are we going to obey that directive? How are we going to model a lifestyle of genuine gratitude for our
If we are going to take Jesus’s words seriously, we need to do an attitude check. Here’s the question we grandparents need to ask ourselves: “Is my daily life marked by a negative, complaining demeanor, or do my grandkids know me as a joyfully grateful example in their lives?”
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If we want our grandchildren to grow into joyful, grateful adults we need to give some serious thought to cultivating gratitude in our own hearts. How does that happen? I Remember what we actually deserve. The weeds of selfish entitlement in our hearts must be uprooted by the truths of God’s Word: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked . . . and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:1–3). I Reflect on God’s extravagant grace to us ill-deserving sinners: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4–5). A heart that regularly reflects on God’s grace will be overflowing with gratitude. I Recognize daily reminders of God’s grace: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). By God’s grace, our grandchildren will see in our lives and hear from our lips hearts of gratitude. May that “gospel sweetness” be attractive to their young hearts as they desire also to live daily life with astonished gratitude. If we want to help our grandchildren cultivate hearts of gratitude, then we must
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be intentional in modeling thankfulness in our own lives. Gratitude flourishes most in hearts boggled by God’s amazing grace, his lavish love. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1 (NIV) GRATITUDE IS TAUGHT As the older generation, we have the joyful responsibility to intentionally teach our grandchildren the “why” and “how” of being grateful and the necessity of expressing gratitude out loud. After all, unexpressed gratitude is like a wrapped gift that is never given. I When with our grandchildren (whether in person or virtually), let’s be intentional in talking about God’s greatness. “They [the members of the older generation] speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty” (Psalm 145:5, NIV). What attributes of God’s greatness have you seen in your Bible reading? In creation? In God’s daily providences? Point those out to your grandchildren.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
I When speaking to our grandchildren, let’s be intentional in talking about God’s grace. “They [the older generation] celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness” (Psalm 145:7 NIV). May the Spirit move us to regularly point out to our grandchildren God’s amazing grace, followed by our expressions of thankfulness. I Use holidays as opportunities to teach your grandkids to be grateful. Holidays such as Good Friday, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas provide wonderful opportunities to ask our grandchildren, “How does this holiday move us to give God thanks?” I Life’s milestones can provide a natural platform to explore reasons to give God thanks: birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, the end of a school year, New Year’s Day and even the safe arrival home after a journey together. Gratitude should flow from our hearts and mouths. I Meal times and bedtimes are regular reminders of God’s kindness in providing food and rest. Let’s not miss the opportunity James 1:17 expresses for us to teach our grandchildren to be grateful and to express gratitude to the Giver of all good gifts.
I We grandparents can help our grandchildren in expressing gratitude to their parents. Why not block out some of the time we have our grandchildren to help them write thank you notes to their mom and dad? What a blessing it is for parents to receive a verbal or written “thank you” from their own children. I Even times of loss (of a pet or even of a family member) can be opportunities to teach gratitude to our grandchildren. Instead of focusing only on what we won’t have in the future, guide your grandchildren to also reflect on what they have had over their time with that loved one, expressing gratitude to God for that blessing. I And most of all, let us guide your grandchildren to express gratitude for the greatest gift they could ever receive, Jesus. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV).
Source: www.Christiangrandparenting.com Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references used in this post are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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How VR Will Reinvent Aging By Janet Siroto
When you hear the two letters VR (for virtual reality), you probably conjure up images of obsessed video gamers, lurching around their basements in futuristic headsets.
Rather than being a solitary pursuit, VR group "outings" await. Instead of putting on a headset and wandering through a vivid landscape solo, you can stroll around Paris' Left Bank and chat with your amis (friends) about what you are seeing.
Seriously now, what allure could this sci-fi technology possibly hold for a boomer at midlife and beyond? Frankly, quite a lot. VR allows for intensely "real" simulated experiences. Businesses like MyndVR and Viva Vita are producing virtual "bucket-list" travel experiences, whether that means swimming with dolphins in Mexico or hot-air ballooning across the Southwest – a huge boon for people who can't travel due to mobility, health or financial issues. The Issue of Isolation But there's something more significant on the horizon: immersive experiences going deeper and helping tackle isolation and cognitive decline, two of the biggest issues as we age. One report found that nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, which significantly
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increases a person's risk of premature death from all causes and is also linked to a 50% higher risk of dementia. How can VR help? Rendever, a Massachusetts-based company, offers one path. Kyle Rand, co-founder and CEO, was a college student when he began to observe how isolation diminished his beloved grandmother's quality of life, and he vowed to do something about it. He's been working ever since to use VR "to power new social connections via shared experiences – nothing is more important for this demographic," he says.
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Julie Bauman, executive director of Ohio Living Breckenridge Village, a community in Ohio, has partnered with Rendever for almost a year, and has seen firsthand the impact group VR can make. "We wanted to offer residents a new avenue for experiencing things and reminiscing in a positive way. We schedule a dozen or so group sessions a week, and the immersive experience is very powerful," Bauman says, adding that participants reach out with their hands as they, say, travel through Machu Picchu ("They are really there, right in it!") and afterward stay and discuss the experience.
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"It transports people to a different place in a way that is otherwise unavailable," she says, "and it creates conversations and connections, more than a slide show or screening ever could." Studies support this observation: MIT research showed that assisted-living residents who engaged in VR versus showed fewer indicators of depression and social isolation and enjoyed better moods than ones who watched television. Oh, The Places We Will Go! Another way VR can uplift aging is by connecting people who can't be together IRL (in real life). Families today are often far-flung, with one in four older adults living alone. Some VR companies are piloting programs in which an elder and a family member in different places each get a headset and go virtual adventuring together, distance be damned. This may reinvent the family reunion, with clans gathering on tech-created virtual mountaintops and beaches – wherever our imaginations lead.
That kind of flashback can be more than just comforting. Bauman recalls one example of a resident with speech issues who had only been able to communicate with one or two words at a time. When this individual joined a VR experience trekking along the iconic Pacific Crest Trail, which weaves down America's West Coast – boom! Memories were unlocked. The person had hiked part of this path decades earlier and was able to share those experiences, communicating with five- or six-word sentences. "VR can clearly have positive benefits for patients with dementia, their families and caregivers. It provides a richer and more satisfying quality of life than is otherwise available," Jim Ang, one of the 2020 study's researchers, has said. The experience may be virtual, but the results are real and positive, showcasing just how well this technology will improve our ever-longer lives. Source: www.nextavenue.org
Is it a replacement for sitting across the table from another human? No, but VR may be the next best thing. Unlocking Meaningful Memories Beyond creating new, shared memories, VR can also channel those we already have stashed in our memory banks. Virtual reality is playing a more prominent role in reminiscence therapy, which involves revisiting one's past (sharing photos, songs, memories and more) to improve self-esteem and contentment. It can be especially valuable for those experiencing cognitive decline. "Technology has vast potential, not as a substitute for face-to-face but as a complement and conduit for that." "Individuals with dementia may lose a lot of recent past, but many memories and emotions from farther back are still there," says Bauman. "An immersive experience can provide a space to remember and discuss something important from past." A VR session can take you back to the street you grew up on, for example, or the arena where you saw the Stones play in '78. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Master Gardener's Perspective
by Claire Hubbard
Lasagna Gardening
My father, Papa John, as he was fondly called by his family, took great pride in his vegetable garden toward the later years of his life. My grandmother was an avid gardener working mostly with flowers. Now, I am not sure which of the family lines my gardening-genes came from, but I began to really enjoy my yard and flower garden ten years or so ago. If anything is blooming, it finds its way into my house to a vase for just me and my husband to enjoy, or for friends and family who might come over for a visit to enjoy. The truth is, I love color and fresh flowers in my home all year around if possible. I have been known on occasion to buy a bouquet at the grocery store if I can’t come up with anything out of my garden. We moved to a small patio home with a very small garden area four years ago. My husband joked that I brought as many plants as we had pieces of furniture from our home in South Carolina to Alabama. First, we added truckloads of good soil to the garden and planted it with things I had rooted or dug up from our previous home, as well as adding some new plants. Since we moved to Montgomery and
bark, or leaves. The “green” can be lawn clippings, vegetable and fruit scrapes, cuttings, coffee grounds, and eggshells (crushed). Then we topped it off with three to four inches of peat moss, moo-nure (manure), and garden soil. We watered heavily between each layer.
established our beds in the front of the house and in the patio garden on the side of the house, I began to look at “lasagna gardening”. It interested me for several reasons. For starters we did not have to till up the ground. We just chose an area for the garden, laid cinder blocks and began building layers - I am sure that is how it got its’ name! We chose an area across the alley behind our house in a spot that receives plenty of sunlight. We enclosed the garden area with cinder blocks. The first layer we put down was cardboard (you can use layers of newspaper). This is to keep the weeds out. Then we put layers of “brown” (carbon) alternately with “green” (nitrogen). The “brown” could be black and white shredded newspaper, shredded brown paper bags, peat moss, pine needles or pine
I planted zinnias, daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, tulips, and gladiolas in my cut-flower bed. I also planted marigolds in the holes of the cinder blocks. The flower garden did so well last year that we have made another raised bed this year (for vegetables) with the same lasagna layering technique to build up the soil. The bed is situated east - west and the taller vegies will be planted on the north side, so they don’t cast a shadow on the shorter vegies. This season I will try my hand at growing vegetables. Claire Hubbard, an intern in the 2016 Master Gardener Class, lives in Montgomery, AL. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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September 2021
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Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
The Path Less Traveled Discovering Ancient Alabama
The path less traveled always seems to lead to greater discovery. My GPS suggests three roads to my destination, Moundville Archeological Park in West Alabama. I choose the scenic—and, as it turns out, most interesting drive through picturesque countryside, taking me through Selma, Uniontown, Newbern, and Greensboro. Sadly, the once pretty business districts of Selma and Uniontown are deteriorating. But I still prefer this route. Interstate 65 North to Birmingham then west to Tuscaloosa is boring. And Highway 82 straight-up-themiddle is busy and hazardous.
Studio; and, like, this was a late eighteen hundred’s bank building that they rebuilt and turned into the library. And then everybody donated books—way more books than we could even use.” I smile, and donate one more, a copy of my novel, Lawson’s Bluff. Then, as recommended, I ease down the street to Newbern Mercantile, established 1926, for a burger, fries and tea. On the way out, I grab a great looking Newbern Mercantile T-shirt.
About half way to Greensboro, I pass boys standing along the road in 90-degree heat, holding signs that invite My first serendipitous surprise in the me to stop for prayer. How refreshing. middle of nowhere is discovering What the heck. I turn around, go back Wayside and get in line. Two ladies and a nice Bakery. It’s a gentleman cover quarter mile me—and my Archeological Site off Alabama car—with prayer; Exhibit 61 just south and send me of Newbern. off with a gift of But I’m too hand sanitizer, the “Auburn late. They Lysol wipes, and Rural Studio” close at noon a small metal to create— on Saturdays. box containing from whatever Maybe next a pencil and materials they trip. Farther pad. The box is can salvage— along, my inscribed with structures like creative juices the words, “Give the fire station are stimulated it to God.” What across the street by the quaint a blessing! For from Newbern community of certain, I’m on Mercantile. Ancient Pottery Display Newbern with the path less Moundville Archeological Site I stop at the its charming traveled. But it’s public library and historic structures. In Newbern, I the right path! where I encounter a bevy of nice ladies explore “Baby Street” and photograph and introduce myself as a writer of beautiful old homes, then snap a photo I enter and peruse the town of books. They inform me about what to of what appear to be large snakes poking Greensboro, County Seat of Hale County. do and see in Newbern, and what they their heads up from the tall grass of a I’m drawn to the green water tower that like about the community. One pretty farmer’s field. But I discover they’re only features a menacing catfish leaping off its lady tells me, “I’ve been here about silly geese impersonating snakes. side with the message CATFISH CAPITOL fifteen years and the thing I love about OF ALABAMA. Greensboro looks like the little town is just the people who Newbern is famous for its connection a town I might like to explore further live here. They’ve kept it so well. And to the Auburn University School of someday. But I need to keep moving. all these old buildings have been kept Architecture. Students come here to up by the Auburn Architectural Rural
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Jeff's Prayer Warriors
I’m eager to check out ancient history at Moundville. I arrive at Moundville early-afternoon. University of Alabama archeology student Declan Smith (from Rhode Island) greets me at the Admissions Center. Senior travel writers pay seven bucks. I watch a super interesting 15-minute film, get a brief orientation about the park, purchase some cold water, and head out to climb the park’s highest mound. Atop the mound, I’m eye to eye with the highest branches of tall oaks. From up here, the park resembles a golf course. Below me, I see a picnic table, hiking trails heading off into the woods, the Admissions Center in the distance, and lower mounds. I’ll bet this place is stunning in the fall during peak leaf season. The park’s road is excellent. I should have brought my bike to get some riding in. But it’d be hot cycling in this weather. I survey the grounds below,
I stand. Where did the Mississippians go? Did they take a new, less traveled path away from here, or did they merely disperse into numerous lesser tribes? Several modern Southeastern tribes like the Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw believe their ancestors were mound builders, too. So, perhaps the Mississippians are still with us. Maybe they operate casinos and make mounds of money. Fascinating, isn’t it? I Newbern Library Black Warrior River guess we can only speculate. trying to visualize thousands of natives In any event … a Moundville going about their lives. How are they Archeological Park visit would make a dressed? What are they doing? Are they wonderful and educational day trip for at work or play? And why was this site you and your grandchildren! The Park mostly abandoned by 1350 A.D.? has a great little coffee shop, an eatery and gift shop. A thousand years ago, a people that archeologists have dubbed Remember, take the path less traveled. “Mississippians” inhabited these three And don’t forget to stop for prayer. hundred acres. Then one of the largest www.moundville.ua.edu cities north of Mexico, the Moundville archeological site was populated by about ten thousand people. But all that remains of this mysterious city are twenty-eight earthen mounds located on a bend in the Black Warrior River. In those days, rivers were superhighways used for transporting goods like marine shell from the Gulf of Mexico and copper all the way from the Great Lakes. These materials and others left behind by the Mississippians may be viewed at Moundville’s Jones Museum, Newbern Merchantile Rest Room Plaque a few hundred yards away from where
Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact: Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Instagram: @jeffbarganier. Visit: www.jeffbarganier.com.
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Alabama Shakespeare Festival Announces 2021-22 Season, The 50th Anniversary! ASF returns to its stages for its 50th season, filled with musicals, exciting new works, and one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Artistic Director Rick Dildine and Executive Director Todd Schmidt have announced the 2021-2022 Festival Season at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which features nine productions exploring stories of contemporary culture, heroic activists, everyday people in extraordinary times, and lots of music. In its 50th season, ASF continues its mission of building community with captivating stories for that speak to and represent all people in the South. “It's time to come back together. The long intermission is finally coming to a close,” said ASF Artistic Director Rick Dildine. “Plus, it’s a milestone year we are coming into: our 50th anniversary season! On July 12, 1972, in Anniston, AL, ASF had its inaugural season. I knew the 50th anniversary would be a year marked with celebration, but I didn’t realize it may very well be our most defining. What we do best is what people need most right now: we need to be together. This season spans real life to fairy tale. It celebrates families and heritage. It spans from Medieval Scotland to modern day Ferguson, MO. World premieres and some classics that never get old. There’s serious art and some pure campy moments. Almost all of the shows have never been performed at ASF.” “I am thrilled with the new season and the diversity of the shows we are creating. And for the opportunity to bring the community together for live performances of professional theater in Montgomery,” said ASF Executive Director Todd Schmidt. “We look forward to seeing our wonderful audience again at ASF and will be taking every precaution to ensure their safety.” The season opens with the world premiere of Deneen ReynoldsKnott’s Shoebox Picnic Road Side: Route 1, a uniquely immersive outdoor experience for audiences. For the holidays, ASF returns to its Festival and Octagon stages with Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Greta Lambert’s one-woman adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In the new year, Shakespeare’s most famous power couple comes to life in Macbeth, followed by yet more blind ambition with the mega-hit musical Little Shop Of Horrors. The season continues with compelling stories based on actual events: Until the Flood and Freedom Rider (another world premiere). ASF wraps up its season with two summer musicals The Marvelous Wonderettes and American Mariachi. Subscriptions are on sale now at ASF.net or by calling the ASF Box Office at 334-271-5353. Single tickets will go on sale September 15. Scan to Order ASF Tickets
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Tavern Fest is Back in 2021, Featuring Wet Willie with 2021 Grammy Winner, Jimmy Hall The Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery presents Tavern Fest 2021. This year's event features Southern Rock greats, Wet Willie with 2021 Grammy winner, lead singer, and co founder, Jimmy Hall. Come and enjoy this outdoor event that benefits the community preservation and education efforts of the Landmarks Foundation and Old Alabama Town. The concert takes place, Saturday, September 25th with the gates opening at 5:00pm and Wet Willie going on around 6:30. The stage will be set on N. Hull Street, in the heart of Old Alabama Town. We'll have food trucks, local craft beer, and other vendors available throughout the event. For Scan to Order more information visit www.landmarksfoundation.com TF Tickets
Capital City Master Gardeners Association Lunch & Learn @ The Armory, “Destructive Insects” Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2021 the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They will meet at Armory Learning Arts Building, 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery 36104. Mark your calendars, October 6, “Destructive Insects”, Anthony Yarbrough, Master Gardener, will be presenting the program, “Destructive Insects”. Join us to learn about insects causing problems in your home yard, garden, and elsewhere. Find out helpful remedies to control these nuisance pests! Plan to wear your mask and socially distance, as mandated by the City of Montgomery. BRING A SACK LUNCH, FREE PROGRAM, WATER PROVIDED, For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org.
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Montgomery’s Greek Community is Cooking Again! Labor Day Barbecue For the 73rd straight year, Montgomery’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is sponsoring the Capital City’s largest Labor Day Barbecue, offering pit-smoked Boston butts, longsimmered camp stew, and, of course, their signature, mouth-watering Greek pastries. Hungry River Region residents can pre-order these long-time favorites to ensure they won’t miss out on any of these traditional Greek Labor Day specialities. Due to Covid 19, the event will once again be drive-thru only. “The big news for this year is that we’re bringing back the beloved camp stew and those delicious Greek pastries. And that makes all of us happy,” says Gus Katechis, co-chair of this year’s event. “We’re also cooking and selling Boston butts again, instead of making the traditional BBQ plates or additional meats. We did this for the first time last year, because of Covid 19, and it worked well. We’re taking every precaution to keep the general public, and our workers safe.” The cooked and wrapped Boston butts will be available for $35 each, through ticketed preorders. Camp stew is sold in quarts, for $14. Pastries are available in a Sampler box or a Baklava box. Any items not sold during the preorder period will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis during pickup hours, from 8:00-12:00 noon on Labor Day, September 6. Preordering isn’t required but it is definitely encouraged. To order tickets online visit: https:// annunciation-greek-orthodox-church-109609.square.site. Tickets may also be purchased at Chris’ Hotdogs in downtown Montgomery, and through Greek Orthodox Church community members. “The Greek Community has been sponsoring this barbecue in Montgomery since 1948. It’s an event our grandfathers started, and the community is extremely proud of it. We still use the same rub on the meat and we cook the meat just the same Scan to Order BBQ Tickets way as they did back then,” Katechis added with a grin. “We’re so incredibly thankful for all the support the River Region has provided our community through the past seven decades. We love to feed people and this big event is our way of saying thank-you to everyone.”
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Grab the Grandkids, Jurassic Quest, Nation's Biggest Dinosaur Experience The largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibit in North America is BACK, BIGGER and BETTER than EVER! More than 100 photorealistic dinosaurs are ready to delight families when Jurassic Quest® heads to the Montgomery Convention Center October 1-3. 100 life-like dinosaurs, dinosaur themed rides, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities, a “Triceratots” soft play area for our littlest explorers, face painting, bounce houses and inflatable attractions (socks required), photo opportunities, and more. Walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods to see the dinos that ruled on land, and “deep dive” into the “Ancient Oceans” exhibit to come face to face with the largest apex predator that ever existed – a moving, life-size, 50-foot-long megalodon! Meet the babies, hatched only at Jurassic Quest: Cammie the Camarasaurus, Tyson the T-Rex and Trixie the Triceratops – and, you may even catch one of our star dino trainers: Safari Sarah, Dino Dustin, Captain Caleb, Prehistoric Nick or Park Ranger Marty! More Scan to Order Information on Website: www.jurassicquest.com Jurassic Tickets
A 'Pop-Up' Walking Trail Coming to Cloverdale Pedestrians will get their own lane along the streets of Cloverdale this fall as part of a temporary walking trail, and those behind the project hope it's just the beginning of something much bigger. River Region Trails is working with the city of Montgomery to connect a sidewalk walking path along Felder and Fairview avenues to a "buffered" pedestrian street lane along College Street and Cloverdale Road with cones and wayfaring signage. It will connect into a two-mile loop as part of a "pop-up" trail that lasts for 16 days starting October 8. While the trail is temporary, organizers say the point is to show people the appeal of walking trails, particularly in areas with wide streets and traffic mitigation needs. They're hoping that will help build momentum for a permanent, citywide project. "We’re telling people, look we need better pedestrian infrastructure. Here’s what that would look like," said Andrew Szymanski of the nonprofit River Region Trails. The pop-up project is being funded by an AARP Community Challenge grant, money that is meant to back a push for more livable communities. In the long term, River Region Trails is putting together a plan for a permanent, 85-mile web of walking and biking trails that would connect neighborhoods, colleges, retail areas, businesses and historic sites from the Montgomery Regional Airport to the Tallapoosa River. The Mission: River Region Trails, Inc. is committed to developing a network of pedestrian greenways, parks, and outdoor resources in the River Region. The organization will coordinate the efforts of citizens, corporate partners, and local governments to plan, fund, and develop natural space for public use, which will invariably have a positive impact on community health, quality of life, economic development, transportation, Scan to and neighborhood connectivity. You can see more about those plans at www.riverregiontrails.org. Visit Website
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Opelika Songwriters Festival, October 15-17
Opelika Songwriters Festival consist of multiple venues in Historic Downtown Opelika that are transformed into listening rooms and host over 40 songwriters from our local artist to grammy award winning songwriters. Last year, festival goers came from all over Alabama, Georgia and Florida to listen! Your festival pass gets you access to every venue giving you the opportunity to experience many different locations and songwriters over the weekend. Rob & Jen Slocumb, aka Martha’s Trouble and owners of The Sound Wall founded the Opelika Songwriters Festival that debuted Memorial Day Weekend 2019 in Downtown Opelika. Opelika Songwriters Festival is Produced by The Sound Wall and Russell Carter Artist Management (RCAM). RCAM has coproduced the prestigious 30a Songwriters Festival for the past 11 years on the Northwest Florida Coast. To see the lineup of artists and venues, visit www.opelikasongwritersfestival.com
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How to Not Outlive Your Retirement Income On Wednesday, September 22nd, Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. will be conducting a complimentary webinar on methods of how to not outlive your retirement income. The workshop covers a number of issues including factoring in the above-mentioned changes to traditional assumptions, key risks (i.e., sequence rate of return and inflation), and various approaches to mitigating the risks of outliving your income. If you would like to be included in the webinar, please call 334.270.1672 or sarah@moorewealthmanagement.com.
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Camping Time at Cheaha State Park Whether you enjoy Improved Campgrounds, Primitive Campgrounds or Group Camping, Cheaha has something for you! The park has 77 improved campsites including ADA campsites in the Upper and Lower Improved Campgrounds. All improved campsites have 20,30, and 50 amp electrical hook-ups with water and sewer hook-ups, picnic table, grill or fire-ring, and access to a bathhouse. Visit www.alapark.com/parks/ cheaha-state-park/campgrounds
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Caregiver of the Month Spotlight:
Martha Perry
Martha is a very reliable and dependable caregiver. She is compassionate, kind, caring and goes over and beyond to care for her clients. She treats them with the uttermost dignity and provides them with the same love and respect that she would give her own family. Not only is she dedicated to making sure her clients are happy, she also shows that same level of concern and respect to the staff in the office. To top it off, Martha is a great cook and her clients rave at the variety and selection of meals that she prepares.
“Martha you are a PHENOMENAL woman and we truly appreciate you!” For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Lisa Beers, Retired & Ready
Life is a gift and I believe gratitude is always the best attitude. This month’s cover profile is a woman who has reached that long-awaited milestone of retirement. Lisa Beers has been working for WSFA-12 since 1981, forty years! Yes, to work with a company that long says she knows a good thing when she sees it. The WSFA Team was like family, and she owes them many thanks for the memorable moments she experienced during her rewarding career with WSFA. She now begins her journey as a newly minted retiree and Lisa is ready to take it all in and enjoy the many opportunities to explore life through service, travel and of course being a wedding planner for her daughter Nicole. She has experienced much during the last few years, losing her husband Gary to Parkinson’s Disease, and suffering a heart attack in 2018. Challenges for any life to be sure. But, as she put it, Lisa is filled with joie de vivre, a joy of living, an attitude that will serve her well on life’s next journey on the road of retirement. We hope you enjoy getting to know Lisa as much as we did, and we also hope you’ll share her story with friends and family. BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, marriage, family, etc.?
a B.A. in Communication Arts and a concentration in Broadcast Journalism.
Lisa: I was born in Montgomery at Jackson Hospital on September 16, 1954. Yes, I’ll be 67 this year. Birth Certificate reads: Lisa Marian Palmer. My father began his Orthopedic Surgery practice at the hospital after he and my mother moved to Montgomery in 1950. She was from the “Crescent City”, New Orleans, where they met, and my father was raised in the beautiful mountains of “Wild, Wonderful” West Virginia. So, I’m the result of two transplants.
Soon after, I met Gary, who loved life and convinced me right away that I would never have a dull moment as long as we were together. We brought a blue eyed, blond (I have brown hair and brown eyes) into the world who was Gary’s twin. We named her Nicole. One cannot tell which baby is which from their pictures.
Lisa Dressed as Audrey Hepburn for a WSFA 50’s Employee Appreciation party at the Capitol City Club
I’m the patient, doesn’t like to rock- the-boat, social, loyal, peoplepleasing, independent, peace-loving middle child among an older brother and sister, Daria and Chris, and a younger brother and sister, Anita, and Matt. Whew. Raised Catholic, I attended Our Lady Queen of Mercy grammar
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BOOM!: Up until a few days ago you were a Senior Account Executive at WSFA 12 News. Please share with us how you got involved with broadcasting and WSFA? What did you do as a Senior Account Executive for WSFA?
school, (no longer in existence), Late Husband Gary and me at and graduated high school from Jesse’s in Magnolia Springs Montgomery Catholic High School, now Montgomery Catholic Preparatory Lisa: Within a week after graduating School. Then, I headed straight to Spring college, I worked at WHHY/Y102 Radio Hill College in Mobile where I received as the Copywriter which was a great a Jesuit education and graduated with starting point in broadcast. On my first
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day, the Osmonds on-air personalities like family. You came to the worked at WSFA for 40 years, describe station to visit. your experience with the people you I had a feeling worked with at the station, both on and I had landed in off the air? the right job. In 1981, I made Lisa: This point may seem obvious the move to and trite, but, when you hear a WSFA WSFA as the employee say that everyone who works Creative Services there is like family, it’s the honest truth. Copywriter and You can’t work as many hours with 6 months later, I others as so many do from dusk til dawn was promoted to and into the night, without learning to Creative Services live with those outside of your family … Director, writing, and growing to love them. and producing commercials, My friends are in the news department, a special show the sales department, the engineering here and there department, the business department, and video and the marketing department. On-air presentations. I personalities come into our living rooms also served as each and every talent which day, and the was a welcome people behind outlet for me. I the cameras can be a ham on who support occasion. All of everything we this would not be do make the possible without magic happen. Guide Helps Lisa and Nicole Go Snorkeling in Jamaica the heaps of help from a I have been and being that partner very talented immensely on whom they could Videographer, as well as Directors, our proud to have Production Manager and Program been in the Manager … all who had been at the presence of station a good many years and taught individuals me mountains. It was in 1999 that who take I decided to finally move into the their positions Sales Department, and I never looked very seriously back. I loved because they production as realize that I am a right Lisa and Gary Celebrating Christmas many viewers, in New Orleans at Cafe Du Monde brain kind of advertisers, person, and businesses, organizations, and lean, trust, it will always communities are depending on WSFA to and depend be my first be a good partner, a great communicator on for solid love at the and a committed community leader. Lisa and Nicole advice on station, but, in Montreal, Canada how to grow because you My station family made all the difference their business with broadcast and digital really must in appreciating the journey. The options. be creative in memories are immeasurable. sales, I adored Lisa, Gary and Nicole BOOM!: Many of our readers have been meeting with BOOM!: Like many of us as we age, we Celebrating Thanksgiving watching WSFA for many years, they our advertisers at the Grove Park Inn experience the loss of a beloved spouse. probably consider many of the station’s The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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You lost your husband, Gary, two years ago. Would you please share your experience with our readers? How would you describe being a widow? What thoughts would you share with others dealing with losing their spouse?
I will be honest; it’s been a rough few years. In 2018, I had a heart attack. Ten months later, I lost Gary. Seven months later, WSFA sent us home to work and to keep their employees safe
happy, funny, talented man but I know that I have much to be thankful for and when it comes to moving forward, I can hear Gary whisper in my ear and say: “Hit it and get it!” This was a favorite expression of his indicating that it was time to get going in a big way. BOOM!: As we mentioned, you have been part of WSFA for the last 40 years and just a few days ago you officially retired! So, what next? Short term? Long term? What do you think of getting older? Could you share some ideas on how to age well?
Lisa: Gary was 11 years older than me and was Lisa: Yes, officially, August 20th the epitome of was my last day. My daughter is being young at getting married in December to heart. I learned Lisa Enjoying Time with Friends her fiancé and I am thrilled. They so much from Eileen Jones and Kim Hendrix had their first date only a month him and nothing or so before Gary passed away, so, could keep us apart. He was the glaze from the I believe Gary sent Matti to Nicole. on my doughnut. He was diagnosed pandemic. I will give my undivided attention with Parkinson’s Disease at age 59. Isolation to all the details of their wedding. This change in his health would prove is hard College Days, Lisa, 3rd from Left Top Row I love a good party, you know. devastating because Gary was very enough but athletic growing up playing hockey and isolation Long term, I will continue to be involved more as well as playing on the golf team without your husband is even worse. But in our River Region community and will at Western Michigan. He was an avid I made it through because after every continue to serve on the River Region golfer, scratch, in fact. He lived with storm the birds come out to sing. United Way Board and the American the many challenges of PD for 17 years. Not once did I hear him complain of his The first condition. He had the best of attitudes. time I had to That was his nature. He pushed himself acknowledge as much as he could. I made it a point that I was a to be there for him, to care for him, to widow was have his back as I had done all of our 42 when I was years together. After all, he always had filling out my back. The vows we made, to “have forms in and to hold in sickness and in health” a doctor’s in 1977, resonated these years later office. I had and grew stronger every day. I read been so used everything I could about Parkinson’s, to marking kept notebooks full of medical records, my identity while watching the changes in Gary, as “married” year after year. Don’t think that wasn’t but this was difficult because it was, but I couldn’t different, now let him see my concerns and worry. He “widowed” had a way of keeping my spirits high as got the he told me that he was my biggest fan. checkmark. Lisa with the WSFA Sales Team...A Day Away from the Office, Axe Throwing! Now, it was my turn to return the favor. It gave me Cancer Society Counsel. When I am I never felt that taking care of Gary was a sinking feeling. I’m not sure I will comfortable traveling some distance, anything but a true honor. He deserved ever get used to being called a widow I plan on seeing parts of our beautiful that. or get over being married to a smart,
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Lisa Goes to Europe as a Sixteen Year Old
country I have never seen before and to other countries. I have college friends planning a trip to Ireland next year and would like to be part of the adventure. I always wanted to kiss the Blarney Stone. I want to start playing my piano again, take cooking classes and try my skills at art, just to name a few. Getting older is a state of mind. The number you are in years has nothing to do with your desire to live life to its fullest. I was blessed to grow up in a family who enjoyed living and had that “Joie de vivre”. After all, life is a gift and I believe gratitude is always the best attitude. I’m not sure I am an expert on knowing how to age well but I would have to say that a good start is eating healthy. We all know what a chocolate brownie tastes like. I was taught to stay away from anything that will put you in harm’s way. Be positive, learn like you’re going to live forever. Curiosity is a good thing. I enjoy beginning each day with meditation. KEEP MOVING! BOOM!: Do you have time to be involved in community, civic or other activities? Faith based organizations? Why do you think it’s important to serve in the community? Lisa: I remember reading a quote years ago. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” Mahatma Gandhi. I think this is a great summation of how I feel about helping others. I like waking up each day and
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feeling as though I have a purpose in this world. Since the pandemic, it’s been more difficult for many churches and non-profits to operate in the usual way. They need our help. I am a member of St. Peter Catholic Church since I was 6 weeks old and have served on the Parish Council and as a Communion Minister. The church was the first Catholic church built in Montgomery and reflects Spanish style architecture which I love. The interior is breathtaking. It’s seen many baptisms, marriages, Red Masses, graduations, and funerals. BOOM!: With a busy life, how do you like to spend time with family and friends? Describe your experience as a mom?
Lisa Visits Cuba
Lisa: I’m a big eater so I love lunches and dinners with family and friends. A relaxed meal is a wonderful time for relevant conversation and plenty of laughter. Becoming a mother was the most important day in my life. I had no idea until my role changed. I’m very lucky that Gary and I raised a loving, funny, loyal, independent and kind woman. But the credit is all hers. I’m so proud of Nicole who is a Regional Manager for Schumacher in Atlanta. Most importantly, I enjoy spending time with her. She never takes anything for granted and is anything but a spoiled only child. Gary and I always wanted her to be self-reliant and she is just that.
Lisa Visits The Tower of London
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I don’t see her as only my daughter. I see her as my best friend. We have an unbreakable bond. BOOM!: What are some of your favorite travel experiences? Favorite vacation spot? Any travel dreams planned? Lisa: I traveled abroad with a friend when I was 16. It was a whirlwind tour of Europe, and it was an amazing eyeopener for me. For many years, Gary and Nicole and I planned some wonderful Thanksgivings in Natchez, Charleston, Savannah and more. We cherished our beach trips. There are so many beautiful places in the Caribbean we’ve visited but I think going to Cuba was incredibly interesting. Nicole and I have many more places we plan to visit in Europe. One of our favorite spots close to home is Point Clear/Fairhope. I think it goes back to attending college in Mobile. BOOM!: What are you most passionate about? Lisa: My family, my faith, the arts, travel, and a positive environment. Living in peace and harmony. BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind down from a hard day’s work? Lisa: Actually, I’ve not been a master at relaxing after a hard day’s work because I often continued to work at night, whether it was writing copy or creating a proposal. I kept a Dolly Parton quote on my desk for many years, “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” You’ll appreciate making a living a lot more when you heed that advice. I do enjoy cooking and eating so even a quick, well-prepared meal at the end of the day is important with, of course, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Good music. (I’ve had a crush on Jimmy Buffet for decades.) BOOM!: What is it about living in the Montgomery/River Region area that you like? What do we need more of? Lisa: I relish being in a big city because
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of the entertainment value but there is much to be said about growing up and living in a smaller town like Montgomery where you’ve known a group of people your whole life. At the same time, meeting new people who can see the value and the good in Montgomery/River Region is a plus. I would love to see our area continue to thrive. We could use more locally owned restaurants with diverse menus. We’ve become a town of fast food and franchises. Southern food is in a category all of its own. I do miss the old haunts like the Elite, the Sahara, the Blue Moon, Corsino’s, Joe’s Delicatessen and the Pont Rouge. I’m grateful to the few restaurateurs we have now. We need more entertainment to keep our young people here and more opportunity for careers which is no easy feat. BOOM!: Give us three words that describe you? Lisa: Diligent. Empathetic. Aesthetic. BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention? Lisa: As I mentioned before, I love traveling to new places. Since I’m retired now, I think I need to hurry up and develop more hobbies. BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed? Lisa: I think it was when I had a close call in October 2018, that it came to light, stronger than before, how precious each day truly is in our lives. Spending more time with family is a priority. No more “Cats in the Cradle” days as my brother, Chris, and I call them. Giving more time to myself is also important. I feel I have more serenity too. I accept those things I cannot change. I find that I don’t lose my temper anymore. Keep calm and carry on, right?
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My diet is much healthier. I’m crazy about my fruit and vegetables. I’m now focused on making my health a prime concern. BOOM!: Many people over 50 are experiencing a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, etc. How would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal? Lisa: I’m a firm believer in not looking in the rear-view mirror. Take what you have experienced in life and make teaching moments of those times. Then move ahead. Don’t think about the past in a negative sense which can cause you to be sad and depressed. Don’t think about the future in a negative sense because dwelling on the future only causes anxiety. Live in the present moment. You’ll feel more content and happier. Because I’m a TV girl, I’ll tell you that life is like a camera recording video. If it didn’t work out on the first take, you always have the chance to take another shot. That’s renewal. For me, I’m going to just tell myself that I’m 27 again. This is where my next story begins. We want to thank Lisa for sharing some of her story with us this month, especially some of the challenges of caring for her husband as he dealt with Parkinson’s Disease. We want to thank Lisa for all her service to our community and hope she will continue investing her time to make The River Region a better place to live. Thanks also to DiAnna Paulk for her quality cover photo of Lisa taken in the new Montgomery Botanical Gardens in Oak Park. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please send them to Jim Watson at jim@riverregionboom.com.
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R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
September 2021
BOOM!
49
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
REQUIEM for 9/11
By Greg Budell
"A true story from the Greg files"
The older I get the less I know.
as one nation to bury the dead, comfort and care for their survivors and cheer the military hunt for Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist behind the 9/11 tragedy.
I’ve written thousands of words about 9/11. I’ve shared the experience of being a newsman that morning. The struggle I faced trying to calmly report what we knew, while feeling every emotion a human can feel at the same time- and hide it.
WE promised- WE swore we’d never forget. The hunt for Bin Laden began in Afghanistan.
We watched as businesspeople looked up from their desks to see a jumbo jet barreling straight towards their office windows. For them, it was over in an instant. We watched those who survived the impact, ultimately face a choice of death. A routine, beautiful Tuesday morning became one of cremation or sudden impact. With absolute incredulity, we watched human beings choose to leap from above the 93rd floor of Word Trade Center One. Knowing the 20th anniversary was this month, I sat down, prepared to execute a proper commemorative two decades hence. I soon realized the error of presumptive thinking. I thought I knew by sunset on September 11, 2001 that if nothing else, we were the UNITED States of America.
Twenty years later, we finally exited that Godforsaken country (or were we kicked out?). On the cusp of 20 years post-9/11, WE are united at the horrifying incompetence of that departure. It was led by a President who, in the words of Nancy Pelosi, was “installed” on January 20th of this year.
WE were attacked. WE watched dumbstruck, as two seemingly invincible American icons collapsed like crackers in the middle of our most important city. WE, in our collective astonishment watched as one of 4 hijacked jets flew into the Pentagon- the freaking Pentagon! How could this be happening? If this were a movie script nobody with a brain would buy it! Too incredible! In the ensuing hours, days and months, WE dug deep, volunteered, and rallied
Washing machines are installed. We might, given the inflation and insane spending (plus the Afghanistan debacle) be better off with a President Maytag. I don’t know from one day to the next if I need a face diaper to leave the house. I thought I knew they worked until I was told they don’t. I’m told the American flag that flew from every window 20 years ago is now a symbol of hate and oppression (by millionaire athletes and performers who would know).
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I thought I knew the American flag flew for everyone, a symbol of liberation to people WE freed from tyranny around the world. All I know today that tyranny is sneaking in behind the guise of a tenacious virus that has disrupted our lives for nearly 2 years. There is no other country out there who will save us if we fail to stop it here and now. I thought I knew I could never hate anything as much as what happened to America 20 years ago. I was wrong. What America is doing to itself these days is far more despicable. Hell, in New York City they can’t even decide who should attend 20th anniversary memorials. I watched in horror as America was given an August eviction notice by medieval terrorists who, thanks to our “leadership”, now have a huge cache of 21st century military hardware to enforce their 8th century mandates. We gave it to them. So, I began thinking of about September 10th, 2001. You know what that date was for BOOMers and everyone else old enough to remember it? It was the last truly normal day of our lives. We were enjoying a blind naivete. We traveled freely.
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From that date forward flying became an experience where we were presumed evil when purchasing an airline ticket. Only after our shoes were removed, our shampoos weighed, and our luggage x-rayed were we deemed worthy of flying on an airplane. We had to begin proving our innocence because employing tactical security solutions might hurt somebody’s feelings.
When did we authorize the destruction of our individual liberties so we could live our lives subservient to government “experts”? Have we really used the lessons of 9/11/01 to advance as a society while protecting our freedom?
I’ve been told there’s no such thing as a terrorist who looks like a terrorist. The American Airlines gate agent who cleared Mohammed Atta the morning of 9/11 thought “if anyone looked like a terrorist, he did”. By law, he had no legitimate reason to detain him. He’s had to live with that memory for 20 years. If he said something like that today, he'd be fired or sent to “sensitivity training”. That’s what we’ve accomplished in 20 years.
We’d be blaming each other. Thank you, media!
Today’s news tells me the greatest threat to freedom is a new terrorist called “The Unvaccinated”. They’re going to kill us all! Do we have permission to go outside without a mask? Can we go to the store? Attend a ball game? Have a party? I got vaccinated after doing my due diligence. My body, my choice. That does not give me the right to demand someone who doesn’t want the vaccine to get it against their will. This is still America.
WE are not “we” anymore. If a 9/11 event occurred today (God forbid) we wouldn’t blame the terrorists.
God bless those whose lives were ended 20 years ago, and their loved ones who grieve the unfairness of their loss to this day. Bless the rescue and recovery workers who have died because of their efforts. God bless US moving forward. WE have a long way to go. (If you have a comment on this column, email me at gregbudell@aol.com. It's still fun to hear from new people!) Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, Stepson, Sho, and dogs Hershey and Briscoe. He’s been in radio since 1970, and has marked 16 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas, Jay Scott & Jessie Lynn, 6-9 AM Monday-Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com.
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September 2021
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Smart Health - Nature's Way - Tracy Bhalla
Oregano Oregano – more than just a pizza topping Such a small leafed little herb, oregano packs a real powerhouse punch! You will recognize its aroma from most pizzas or Greek salads, but it is so much more than just a beautifully aromatic herb. There are many kinds – Marjoram, Syrian Oregano, Golden Oregano, Greek Oregano, Italian Oregano, Cuban Oregano, Mexican Oregano, Mexican Bush Oregano, Ornamental Oregano, to name a few. The Italian or Greek are the most common and what you would typically see on your pizza or Greek salad, but many of the others can also be consumed in a similar manner. Some though, are purely ornamental and should not be consumed – these include: • Pilgrim Oregano: an upright plant with bright rosy flowers. • Amethyst Falls Oregano: has a cascading shape with bright pink flowers and purple bracts. • Hop-Flower Oregano: great for landscaping purposes because of its lavender bracts that resemble Hop-Flowers. • Kent Beauty Oregano: Has large, beautiful bracts that overlap one another, it also has small tiny flowers. • Compactum Oregano: Has dark green leaves that are ideal for groundcovers. • Aureum Oregano: Has yellow leaves that act as a groundcover and can even be cooked with, but not consumed raw. If using an essential oil, make sure its Latin name is listed as Oreganum vulgare and always remember that an essential oil is an extremely concentrated version of the actual herb and although it has many similar therapeutic properties, there will also be some differences. It is always best to consult with an aromatherapist before using, especially with such a potent one as oregano. Having said that, however, oregano is one of my favorite oils, particularly for the coming winter season. It is wonderful for immune support and respiratory health. It has a camphor-like aroma which can help you breathe more easily when feeling congested. It is purifying and excellent at killing germs. Often used in natural cleaning products for this very reason. A lovely natural hand cleanser would be a simple combination of aloe vera gel and a drop or two of oregano oil. This is an essential oil that you should NEVER use neat; always very well diluted in a carrier. Indeed, most oils you should never use neat, but some are much more potent than others and should be used not only diluted, but in very small quantities, and this is one of those oils. If you make your own wipes for cleaning tables etc. in public places, this is a good oil to use. Soak a cotton cloth in an aloe vera gel mixed with just a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, add a few drops of oregano (3-4) and use to clean the tabletop. You can either let it air dry or wipe off with a dry paper towel. I take these in Ziplocs on airplanes, trains, etc. to cleanse my area particularly before eating. If you use a cotton cloth you can wash and reuse, but if you want to toss it, then just use a paper towel. As oregano oil is antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and has expectorant properties, it is brilliant for cough and cold season. You can diffuse it in the air to help you breathe more easily or you can try a simple chest rub – add 2 or 3 drops to a tablespoon of coconut or olive oil and rub onto your chest at bedtime. Repeat daily until the cough/cold subsides. If you don’t like using essential oils and would prefer to get the benefits from using the whole herb instead, you can get some of the same benefits by adding oregano to your daily meals, either as a topping or cooking with it. You can also make herbal teas to help with those tickly coughs – adding honey would make this extra beneficial. Simple oregano tea: • bring 1 cup of water to a boil. • pouring the boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried oregano in a tea strainer. • let the mixture steep for 2 to 4 minutes. • Add honey to taste. • remove the strainer and sip. NB: it has been scientifically proven that a teaspoon of raw honey is as beneficial for a cough or sore throat as any over-the-counter drugs or cough drops. We never use anything else! I hope you all take advantage of this wonderful aid to a healthy immune system for winter. email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I web: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/tracybhalla I www. LogHouseAromatics.com Tracy Bhalla, independent consultant with NYR Organics and founder of LogHouseAromatics.com; after 25 years of using homeopathic remedies, it was time to take charge and complete my Aromatherapy Certification, which I achieved April 2020 and since founded LogHouseAromatics.com as a source for useful essential oil and RiverRegionBoom.com September 2021and BOOM! The River Magazine 52 general natural health information a place to purchase certain products. email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com I am here to answer anyRegion’s questions50+ youLifestage may have.
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