Seasoned

seasoned

M a r c h 2017

Over 50 & living the good life!

Vitamins and minerals

Why are so many people malnourished?

Mental wellness

Navigating the seasons of life

Memory matters

How to determine your brain health

Budding careers

Getting started with a farming/ranching business

seasoned

A monthly publication of The Eagle, 1729 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan, TX 77802

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Contents

Lack of vitamins, minerals causes malnourishment How to navigate seasons of life Getting started with a farming/ranching business How to determine brain health Woman’s Club House and Garden Tour Emotional and financial advantages of collaborative divorce How much money should you have saved?

Calendar

Christian Heritage Tour to Spain and Portugal September 18-28, 2017 Only $3,349 per Person Visiting Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Granada, Lisbon, and Salamanca.

Price includes: Roundtrip Air from Houston, First Class/Select Hotels, Most Meals, Professional Tour Director, and Comprehensive Sightseeing.

Contributed photos

Cover photo: Andrea Merritt, farm manager at Millican Reserve in College Station, shows off one of the hens at the reserve.

Below: Vegetables grow in a Millican Reserve garden.

See story on page 6.

Hosted by David & Kathy Strawn For More Information MinofEd@verizon.net | 979-255-8455 Trip information meeting – 7:00, March 21 First Baptist Church, 2300 Welsh, College Station 2 | March 7, 2017

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March 7, 2017 | 3

Lack of vitamins, minerals causing many to be malnourished

Many people walking around today are actually malnourished. Why? Six reasons: 1. Lack of nutrients in conventional soils – particularly regarding minerals. 2. Produce picked too early, stored too long, or processed.

3. Common medications (all ages, prescribed and over the counter) block the absorptions of many vitamins and nutrients. 4.

Preservatives in food and packaging, as well as herbicides and pesticide residues influence whether vitamins/ minerals are absorbed and used properly. 5. Not Leon Bradway getting a variety of Physical Therapy vitamins/minerals; some vitamins or minerals are needed for absorption of others. 6. Dietary supplements are not a regulated industry and more often than not, you are not getting what you pay for. Either the vitamins/minerals are not absorbed by your body or there is little vitamin but a lot of fillers, some which are harmful.

Magnesium Magnesium’s central role is facilitating the role of over 300 critical enzymes (i.e., vitamin D can’t be metabolized without adequate magnesium). Every organ in the body needs magnesium to work properly (i.e., regulating the function of muscles/nerves, maintaining proper blood pressure/blood sugar, generating protein, bone and DNA, regulating calcium levels and aiding sleep and relaxation (www.wikihow.com/BestAbsorb-Magnesium-Supplements).

Some reports suggest that 75 percent of the population has deficiencies. This is partially due to poor quality soils (non-organic kale, spinach and other veggies), absorption blocked by medications (e.g., antacids, oral contraceptives, acid blockers, blood pressure prescriptions, corticosteroids, ADHD meds and antibiotics). In addition, our magnesium levels drop naturally as we age.

Shortages in this vital mineral can result in many symptoms, including anxiety, mental fog, vertigo, fatigue, lack of energy and muscle weakness/ cramping, and contribute to many chronic illnesses (i.e. heart related,

diabetes, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, PMS and migraines. Instead of reaching for medications and supplements to deal with deficiencies, don’t forget natural solutions such as nuts, seeds, dark green veggies, fish, chocolate, coriander, sage, cumin – all organic/wild caught. Supplementation should be looked at carefully, the source is important. Chelated magnesium supplements include magnesium aspartate, magnesium arginate and magnesium lactate.

Magnesium supplements are even available now in a form that’s chelated to whole food (pea protein).

Magnesium chloride bath (epsom salts) is a good idea, as well. Use plain salts and add your own essential oils (1 cup of salt) and use hot water. Stay in the water for 30 minutes. Dry brush beforehand and rinse off after the bath.

If you are a vegan, you need to be particularly careful to get your vitamin D and B12, which help with the absorption of magnesium. Omega 3, derived from marine algae, is also a great approach. www.drperlmutter.com/ magnesium-deficiency-symptomscauses-treatments www.advancedhealing.com/ magnesium-bath-pain-skin-cancerautoimmune http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/ minerals/manganese

synthesis of DNA and red blood cells.

It is also vital for the production of a protective shield around nerves and nerve impulses. Deficiencies present as fatigue, lethargy, weakness, memory loss, neurological and psychiatric problems. Other diseases with similar symptoms include Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, MS, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer and infertility. What is odd is that medical textbooks are very clear on what B12 deficiency looks like; the problems are well documented in the scientific literature. But in the U.S., we don’t routinely check for this despite evidence that may suggest we should, and our scale of what is “low” is significantly higher than the warning scale in Japan and Europe. So in these countries, they would be treating people we in the U.S. believe have normal levels of B12.

Who is at greatest risk for B12 deficiency: 1) vegetarians/vegans, 2) people over 60 years old, 3) people taking PPIs or acid-suppressing drugs, 4) people taking metformin, 5) people with Crohns, colitis, celiac or IBS, 6)

women with a history of infertility or miscarriage. It is not possible to get the B12 you need from seaweed, brewer’s yeast, fermented soy or spirulina – these actually contain B12 analogs called cobamides that block intake of and increase the need for true B12 (found only in animal products and quality sublingual supplements or fortified foods).

If you fall into a high risk group, take medications, or have any of these symptoms, ask your doctor to check your B12 levels. It can’t hurt and could make a world of difference in your quality of life. www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ guide/vitamin-b12-deficiencysymptoms-causes#1 www.prevention.com/health/signsof-b12-deficiency www.medicalnewstoday.com/ articles/219822.php

Leon Bradway is a doctor of physical therapy and director of the Sports, Back and Pain Management Clinic. See www. bvphysicaltherapy.com.

Vitamin B12 I’ve witnessed firsthand the problem a deficiency in B12 can do to a family.

My father, who was a heart patient and type 2 diabetic, started feeling more and more fatigued and weak.

He was sleeping much of the day and only getting up for meals. He was also withdrawn and sometimes confused.

His physician initially thought it was his heart, and things were beginning to go downhill for him. His physician checked his vitamin levels. The results showed his vitamin B12 was practically nonexistent. As a side note: if you are taking four or more medications, your vitamin levels should be checked every six to nine months. For example, cardiac and diabetic medications can block the absorption of several vitamins (metformin, blood pressure, acid-suppressing drugs). Once his B12 was corrected, he was back to normal. He had more energy, strength, cognitive improvement and so forth.

Vitamin B12 is vital for the

4 | March 7, 2017

T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

How to navigate seasons of life

Back in the last century, I lived in Hawaii for almost three years. It was wonderful. The climate was terrific.

The pace of life was amazing. And the colors were so vivid you could hardly believe they were real.

In many ways, island life was paradise, except for one thing. I missed the seasons.

Winter, spring, summer and fall.

I missed the usual transitions and changes.

Spring is upon us.

We can sense it in the air. We’re on the verge Gary Roe of something new and Hospice yet something familiar.

We’ve experienced spring before, but no two are exactly alike. This spring will be unique. All seasons are.

Life has seasons, too. Things change. We grow, learn and age.

Economies fluctuate. Governments shift.

Things emerge, morph, disappear and sometimes re-emerge. Everything is in motion. The world marches on, one way or another.

We’re constantly moving out of one season of life into another. Not all seasons are equal, and not all are pleasant.

Some are coming out of a delightful season into what seems like a foreboding one. Others are having the reverse experience. Some lives are so steady that one season seems much like the next.

No matter how much or how little, however, all our lives are in flux. Each day brings new things, and the change builds up over time.

Seasonal changes require adjustments. Wearing a wool coat in 100-degree weather not only doesn’t make sense, but might be a health hazard. Walking around in shorts with no shirt when the wind chill is in the teens isn’t advisable, either.

In the same way, we naturally need to tune our lifestyle to best fit our current situation.

Here are three broad suggestions for navigating life’s seasons: T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

them. When we love, our hearts get positive exercise. This bolsters our sense of contentment and increases our ability to live “in the now.” In that moment, we are truly living in the present.

1. Let the previous season go Some seasons are hard to let go of.

We’re having fun. Life is smooth. We feel in sync with ourselves and the world around us. We would love for this to continue, forever.

Then, sure enough, things change.

We resist the new unpleasantness.

We often gripe, complain, and even choose to live in denial. “This is not happening. I don’t like this,” we say.

Or perhaps we’re having the opposite experience. We’ve been in a difficult, draining or painful season.

We can’t wait for it to be over. We’re ready to move on.

Painful events can jade us. Instead of leaning into what’s coming, we dread what other disasters might be lurking around the corner. If we’ve been hit hard and often enough, our hearts can begin to shut down. Life becomes about going through the motions.

No matter what kind of season we’re coming out of, it is behind us.

We don’t live there anymore. Today is new.

We need to intentionally release what’s back there. Perhaps we need to forgive someone or ourselves. Other times, we need to stop longing for what was and live more in the present.

Whatever the case, we can learn from what we’ve experienced and become better people because of what we’ve been through.

3. Prepare for the season ahead Preparing for the future is prudent and wise. None of us, however, knows what’s around the next bend. Almost anything can happen to anyone, any time. But we can still plan in a way that makes sense and fits who we are.

As you look down the road, what do you see? Is there a process you need to set in motion? Is there something you need to alter (or stop)?

What decisions or practices would contribute toward your overall health and well-being (physical, mentalemotional, spiritual, relational and financial)?

In our planning, we need to be careful of letting fear drive us.

Instead, we can allow things like faith, hope and love be our guide. It’s hard to

go wrong if we focus on these things, no matter what happens in the future.

Putting it all together Life moves, and we must move with it. Remember the past while being careful not to live there. Reminisce, learn, forgive and release.

Learn to live more in the present by observing, listening and serving.

Plan for what you can with as much wisdom as you can muster.

Let faith, hope and love rule more of your heart than ever before.

Your next season may not be the most pleasant one, but it can still be good. It might be your best ever.

Gary Roe is an award-winning, bestselling author, chaplain and grief specialist with Hospice Brazos Valley.

Visit him at www.garyroe.com or contact him at 979-821-2266 or groe@ hospicebrazosvalley.org.

The Most Important Thing in any Relationship 2016

2. Enjoy the current season “Live in the now.” I hear this statement frequently, and I’ve used it a lot (mainly when talking to myself).

Yes, we exist in the now, but our hearts and minds are often either focused on the past or the future.

Living consciously in the present is challenging.

For me, experiencing the present begins with observation. My mind can be so full of the previous thing or how to deal with something down the road that I cease to even notice what’s around me now.

Things change radically when I put myself in observation mode. I deliberately focus on “seeing” what’s around me – nature, animals and especially people.

We all long to be “seen.” Loving someone often begins with “seeing”

Robert Herring, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

3091 University Drive East, #410 Bryan, TX 77802 www.listenhearaudiology.com

March 7, 2017 | 5

Growing a career

Program helps area people with f

By STACY CANTU Special to The Eagle For some seniors, farming is a way to earn added income after retirement, and for others it is a way to make a living.

According to Erin Pilosi-Kimbrough, Agriculture Workshops for Military Veterans program coordinator with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, there are several different ways to make a living with farming.

“Most models I see, especially for our new and beginning farmers/ranchers, have at least one other source of income, at least while they are getting started,” Pilosi-Kimbrough said. “For example, many full-time farmers/ranchers have a spouse that works somewhere else. The most common reason for this that I have heard is not necessarily for the additional income, but more for benefits like health insurance, retirement funds, etc. Another common model I see is farmers/ranchers that are second career farmers/ ranchers. These folks typically have retirement income or disability income, which offsets some of the challenges of setting up a new agriculture business, i.e. farming/ranching.”

Pilosi-Kimbrough said the program, Agriculture Workshops for Military Veterans, typically discourages those new to farming from getting into commodity markets such as corn, cotton, and traditional cow-calf operations.

A hen free ranges at Millican Reserve.

“The reason for this is that it usually takes a lot of start-up capital to get into an operation big enough where the commodities will make a person enough to cover expenses, much less make a profit,” she said. “In commodity markets, the market sets the price that you will get for your product. More or less, you are a price taker instead of a price setter. We really encourage niche marketing and selling direct to consumers through farmers markets, CSAs, etc. There is a much larger profit margin for producers this way, and it benefits the consumer by knowing where their food comes from and who produced it.”

Pilosi-Kimbrough said the best way to get started farming is to research and try things that sound interesting.

“If you are not interested in it, you likely won’t put as much effort into it,” she said. “Attend one of our introductory workshops that are held across the state, to get ideas on how to create, run and finance an agriculture business. You could also look for and apply for internships across the state. Your Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office is always a good resource.

There are offices in every county, and they have different programs based on the needs of that county.

They have many great resources and should be an integral part or your planning process.”

Andrea Merritt, a College Station farmer, said that her decision to farm grew from a childhood love and curiosity of nature.

“Growing food quickly became a long-term way of life for my family, and so it was less an active decision and more about a lifestyle that we would never live without,” Merritt said.

Merritt said she began gardening with her mother and grandfather in northern Michigan, where she played around her grandfather’s garden and ate fresh strawberries and tomatoes during the summer.

“I grew up in an area known for its agriculture, and even though we were not a farming family, fresh locally grown food was always available,” she said. “As a young adult, I started tending other friends’ gardens, then I moved to the Washington, D.C., area and shifted from rural gardens Contributed photo to urban farms. I met my husband, Lavell, who was also growing food

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Andrea Merritt collects vegetables from a garden at Millican Reserve i in the Washington, D.C. area, and together we built community relationships around a local food system.”

When Merritt moved to Texas, she said her family started growing produce before they had unpacked boxes.

“We’ve been growing food here as a hobby and for our family for over 10 years. The folks at Millican Reserve approached me about their new farm, and I loved the concept of a community development growing up around a farm, with a focus on healthy, active living and sustainability.”

Millican Reserve, nearly 3,000 acres of private land dedicated to conservation and a healthy community, is located on the south side of College Station. In 2016 Merritt, who is the farm manager at Millican Reserve, and her farm team broke ground on the Farm T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

r with agriculture

farming and ranching businesses

Contributed photo in College Station, where she works as farm manager. at Millican Reserve, a nearly 3-acre farm. According to the website, The farm at Millican Reserve brings the community together. Working with residents and others, the farmers implement sustainable practices that provide families with access to the best and freshest ingredients from their own backyard. For more information on Millican Reserve, visit http:// millicanreserve.org.

Merritt said there is a lot to enjoy about farming.

“There are so many details that I enjoy about farming: working outdoors, watching things grow, observing the color and texture in a farm field; my list is long,” she said. “What I love about this work has grown over time and with my family. Currently what I enjoy most is raising my children to actively participate and learn how their food is grown. What I’ve T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

always enjoyed about farming is the process of taking something simple and small, like a seed, and watching it change into something functionally different and edible. I’ve learned there is no greater joy than feeding your family and community with food that has been patiently tended. And then there is the taste. Locally sourced vegetables taste fresh and full of flavor.”

For those interested in starting a farm, The BattleGround to Breaking Ground program, developed under the Texas AgrAbility project, is designed to help beginning farmers.

“The BattleGround to Breaking Ground Entrepreneurial Training project is a holistic model developed to meet the needs of beginning farmer/ ranchers across the state,” Pilosi-Kimbrough said. “The project was designed with veteran emphasis and has many veteran-specific resources. Our goal is to increase the number of veteran and other beginner farmers/ ranchers in Texas.”

According to Pilosi-Kimbrough, the project has three main steps. First, anyone interested in this program must attend an introductory workshop to receive education in business planning, agriculture business ideas, resources for farming/ranching with a disability, and financial funding sources. Second, they must apply to the BattleGround to Breaking Ground Entrepreneurial Training Project.

There are two application periods a year, in the spring and in the fall. The next round of applications is due March 10.

“Once accepted, participants will access online courses that will help them to develop their formal business plan,” Pilosi-Kimbrough said. “They will also receive education and support regarding financial assistance programs, transition support services and disability support services.”

Lastly, they must submit a business plan.

“In this phase, participants will receive online education in the production area of their choice, they will be connected to a mentor, and they will complete 100 hours of hands-on training, which will lead them to a certificate of completion,” she said. “The certificate of completion will give them access to land and equipment for lease to start their operation at either Millican Reserve here in College Station or Farmer’s Assisting Returning Military in Desoto, Texas. Participants with their certificate will also have access to established markets to sell their products.”

In addition to the three main steps of BattleGround to Breaking Ground, a mentorship program will also be

Contributed photo Eggplants are one of many vegetables grown at Millican Reserve. offered.

“The mentorship portion of the program is an important component,” Pilosi-Kimbrough said.

“Mentorship is a proven model, especially in the military. We will connect new farmers/ranchers to mentors who are successful farmers/ranchers.

Mentorship will provide ongoing support to the mentee, which we hope will be also mutually beneficial for the mentor. So many seasoned farmers/ranchers wish to hand down their years of knowledge to someone who shares their passion, but unfortunately many of our farmers/ranchers don’t have anyone to pass that along to. We hope to connect these two groups in order to develop relationships that will provide ongoing support for years to come.”

BattleGround to Breaking Ground is the Millican Alliance’s community partner.

“We have hosted seminars out at Millican Reserve, and will be hosting field training days at the Farm at Millican Reserve starting spring 2017,” said Merritt, who is also the executive director of the Millican Alliance. “The Millican Alliance is excited about their vision and the important work BattleGround to Breaking Ground is doing, and we are honored to play a role in teaching future farmers and ranchers to participate in their local food system.”

For more information on BattleGround to Breaking Ground, visit http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu.

March 7, 2017 | 7

How to determine your brain health

All of us witness our aging as we look in the mirror. Bodily signs of aging are all too obvious. But how do we know how much our brain has aged?

For the fortunate few, brain aging lags bodily aging. But brain and body are interdependent, and the aging of the body has a good chance of being accompanied by parallel aging in the brain. I claim that memory ability is a robust Dr. Bill Klemm indicator of brain The Memory Medic health and the extent of brain aging, and I present the evidence below.

We all know that dreaded diseases like Alzheimer’s disease have the symptom of poor memory. But do we think about memory in terms of its being an index of the degree of brain health in apparently healthy people?

Memory ability is a function of brain health. A healthy brain is able to do the things that promote good memory ability. These functions include: • Attentiveness and distractibility. Research has shown that as people become older, they become more distractible and thus less able to focus. That decline makes it more difficult to encode and remember new information. In a study of visual attentiveness, a research team at the University of Toronto demonstrated that perceptual attentiveness is

impaired in older individuals (average age of 77) compared to subjects averaging 22 years of age. Brain scans revealed that young people learn to distinguish relevant from irrelevant components of images, and they do that with fewer areas of the brain required. In other words, as you get older, it is harder to avoid being distracted by tangential or irrelevant information, and it takes a lot of brain resources to process complex information.

• Mental associations. Have you thought about the fact that the more you know, the more you can know?

This is axiomatic on several levels.

For one, the more you know, the more likely it is you will have the knowledge background to understand any new material you wish to memorize. A healthy brain not only remembers a lot of what it has learned, but also has the capability to learn much more.

Have you noticed how we older people can get stuck in the past, telling the same stories and jokes, and clinging to old habits? These are signs of inflexibility, which is caused in large part by an inability to make new connections of ideas and information.

In some sense this occurs because the longer you live, the more ingrained your habits become. Thus, old habits are hard to break and new habits harder to form.

• Imagination. The young brain of children is remarkably imaginative.

As we age, this ability usually declines.

I think this decline is an index of declining mental health. Older people not only get hardening of the arteries, they get hardening of the categories.

Some of this is no doubt due to accumulated learning, which tends to box in our thinking. The ability to remain mentally flexible and agile requires a healthy brain.

In addition to the real problem of diminished attentiveness, mental flexibility and imagination, there is the social problem that aging can create prejudice and lead to age discrimination in the workplace, even in those oldsters who are still mentally healthy. We should remember two things: 1. Valuable experience and cumulative knowledge develop with aging.

2. Not all brains age at the same rate. Some seniors seem not to have aged mentally at all, and in fact their accumulated knowledge and experience may make them more competent than they were in their youth. Some seniors even remain very creative.

Edison was still generating bundles of patents in his 80s. Colonel Sanders created Kentucky Fried Chicken after he was 65. I have many other examples in my e-book, “Improve Your Memory for a Healthy Brain.” Even in the more typical senior, creativity can be revitalized. One major study showed that art-training programs had a beneficial effect on mental outlook

Woman’s Club House and Garden Tour April 12

The Bryan-College Station Woman’s Club’s 49th annual House and Garden Tour and Luncheon on April 12 will feature the chance to view three Bryan homes.

The tour, showcasing three homes in the Traditions neighborhood in Bryan, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The luncheon is open to everyone, and will be held continuously from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Woman’s Club, 1200 Carter Creek Parkway in Bryan. The event is an important fundraiser for the club and its many community outreach activities.

The theme, “Now and Then” is reflected in the three homes.

While the homes are all new, each has been decorated to reflect the different lifestyles, interests and tastes of the homeowners, according to The Woman’s Club.

Visitors will see: a home designed to showcase the owners’ passion for history and family treasures; a home that embodies the owners’ love of all things modern; and a home that displays the owners’ eclectic style, with a melding of the past and present.

The homes are: • The Terrence and Erica Murphy Home, 3320 Sycamore Trail.

• The Steve and Linda Pringle

Home, 3216 Elm Creek Court.

• The Jody and Marie Rodriguez Home, 3328 Sycamore Trail.

Tickets to tour all three homes are $15, and luncheon tickets are also $15. Tour tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at any of the homes. Tickets may also be purchased in advance from any club member, by calling the club director at 979-822-5019, or by e-mailing thewomansclubbcs@ verizon.net.

Luncheon tickets may be purchased by contacting Sandra Petty at 979-229-9945 or e-mailing her at spetty@suddenlink.net.

8 | March 7, 2017

and feeling of control and well-being in a group of seniors over 80. Another study reports that a flexible mental attitude was one of the most important ingredients to staving off intellectual decline among people well into their 70s and 80s.

Sources: (2006). The creativity and aging study. April. George Washington University. https://cahh.gwu.edu/ sites/cahh.gwu.edu/files/downloads/ NEA_Study_Final_Report_0.pdf Schmitz, T. W., Cheng, F. H. T., and DeRosa, Eve (2010). Failing to ignore: paradoxical neural effects of perceptual load on early attentional selection in normal aging. J. Neuroscience. 30(44), 14750-14758.

Whitbourne, Susan K. (2010).

Creativity and successful brain aging: going with the flow. Psychology Today. www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ fulfillment-any-age/201003/creativityand-successful-brain-aging-going-theflow Readers of this column will be interested in “Memory Medic’s” e-book, “Improve Your Memory for a Healthy Brain. Memory is the Canary in Your Brain’s Coal Mine” (available in all formats from Smashwords.com). The book, devoted exclusively to memory issues in seniors, includes review of many of the ideas in these columns over the last five years.

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Emotional and financial advantages of collaborative divorce

“Divorce is one of the most financially traumatic things you can go through. Money spent on getting mad or getting even is money wasted.” Richard Wagner Richard Wagner has it right – a court fight to end a marriage rarely rights the wrongs, to say nothing of its impact on your wallet. The good news is that if your relationship is not working, staying married or enduring a protracted courtroom battle is no longer your only set of options. If you are looking for a divorce process TracY Stewart that will respect Financial Literacy your privacy and offer room for dignity and grace, collaborative divorce may be the right choice for you.

Three key advantages of a collaborative divorce process Collaborative law is fairly new, and many of our clients have never heard of it before being introduced to a collaboratively-trained attorney, financial planner or mental health professional. That is unfortunate because there are clear advantages to the collaborative path.

It can be more flexible In collaborative divorce, meetings and conference times are scheduled around your busy calendar – not arbitrarily assigned by the court.

Solutions are not limited by statutory formulas. The reality of divorce is that

The potential for greater privacy does not end with money. All conversations and negotiations are strictly between spouses and their professional team -- that is to say, not for the ears of the curious public in the courtroom.

you can either work with your spouse to devise a way to cover children’s expenses, or plug income and expense numbers into a formula, cross your fingers and hope for a good outcome.

In my experience, many clients overlook the collaborative path because they think their financial situation is “simple enough”. In reality, the process of dividing property is infinitely complex. Whether you think your circumstances are straightforward, or you have multiple real estate properties, unusual investments or complex compensation, a collaborative approach is more likely to bring you to a resolution that will work for the entire family in the long run.

One of the biggest sources of flexibility and creative solutions is the rigorous training that collaborative professionals go through. Everyone on your team is experienced in guiding the conversation to mutual common ground and benefit, which can result in solutions tailored to the family’s needs.

It can be less expensive Predicting the exact cost of a divorce is difficult because every case is unique and affected by multiple variables. However, there are ways Divorce can be done differently in which a collaborative process can save you money. First of all, there In closing, collaborative divorce are no “dueling CPAs” – one neutral isn’t for everyone. If you (or your financial professional supports the spouse) are driven to use the divorce to couple throughout the process. That inflict financial and emotional pain, a means you pay for one CPA, not two collaborative team won’t be able to help (or even three if the first two are in you. I find even the most argumentative a disagreement over financials and a clients usually learn that a courtroom third specialist must be hired to break is not the place to right all wrongs the tie). and validate one’s moral superiority.

However, that lesson often comes Second, the communication on the heels of high legal fees and a approach encourages collaboration protracted series of hearings. and constructive solutions instead of fostering animosity and drama. If If you want to explore the both spouses are determined to come alternative to courtroom divorce, visit to a mutual agreement quickly, the your local resource: Brazos Valley process can be considerably shorter.

Collaborative Divorce Alliance at www.

Much of the divorce cost is a function bvcda.org. of the time it takes – after all, most professionals bill hourly. Less time Contact Tracy B. Stewart, CPA, from divorce initiation to agreement PFS, CFF, CDFA, CFP® at www. signing can mean lower professional TexasDivorceCPA.com. billings and fees.

The fact that the collaborative process Lawn & Gardening Services encourages a focus on resolving disagreements We are a mom & pop lawn service team that offers professional services for all your lawn and garden needs. Our in a civil manner has work is done with pride to your specifications. We are always another side effect, personally on every job site and available for consultation.

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It can be more private Many of my clients have a legitimate concern about the public nature of the courtroom process. Their intuition is correct -- dirty laundry and nasty language isn’t just the stuff of daytime TV. I have seen it happen to real people, and it has not been pretty.

There is no escaping the need to file documents with the court. However, collaborative divorce filings are limited to “plain vanilla” language. You won’t find personal details, ugly skeletons or financial specifics in there. That means your family budget stays as private as you would want it to be.

How much money should you have saved up for emergencies?

Metro Creative Connection Financial experts advise that individuals and families save enough money to cover at least six months’ worth of expenses in the case of an emergency or unforeseen layoff. Others say that savings should be closer to a year’s worth of expenses.

In spite of the obvious benefits of having a financial safety net, many people continue to live paycheck to paycheck, either voluntarily or out of necessity. According to Pitney Bowes, a document management services company, and Bankrate.

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better working relationship. This is especially important in cases where children are involved.

Mom and Dad will have to function in each other’s company during holidays, graduations and weddings in the years to come. Collaborative teams can help parents resist burning bridges. As a result, couples do not cause irreparable damage to the already fragile and sensitive relationship.

com, many people fall well below the benchmarks suggested for savings accounts, checking accounts, 401(k) plans and other means of building nest eggs.

Data suggests the average American has anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 in savings and between $2,000 and $4,500 in checking accounts.

In 2011, the Digerati Life, a resource to help people make smart financial choices, found that 50 percent of American households didn’t even have a retirement account, while a little more than 7 percent did not have a bank account.

Spring Bed Preparation • Spring Bed Planting Mowing • Edging • Trimming • Mulching

Julian & Jan McMurrey 979.777.1714

Free Estimates!! Give us a call!!

March 7, 2017 | 9

CALENDAR

Ongoing Sit and Fit Chair Exercises - Adults 55 and up meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m.

Gentle workout while sitting in a chair. Features fat-burning aerobics and weight lifting. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx. gov.

Line dance workshop for beginners – Adults 55 and older are invited to a free line dance workshop for beginners, held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first, second and third Monday of each month, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Learn the steps and terminology. No registration necessary.

Contact 764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information.

Line Dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Low impact workout, to the hottest tunes. For more information, contact 979-764-6351, 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Classic Country and Bluegrass Jam Session – Bluegrass Jam Session is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All levels welcome. Bring string instruments and a friend. Open to all who like to listen to or play this kind of music. For more details, contact 979-7646351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers bridge for seniors on Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

For more, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Learn how to play 42 dominoes - Learn the game of 42 every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information.

42 dominoes - Adults 55 and up meet every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. New players welcome. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Bible study – Bible study is held for seniors 9:15-10:30 a.m. every Thursday at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station. Contact 979-764-3779 or awilliams@cstx.gov for more information.

Maj Jongg - Adults 55 and older interested in learning the game will meet at Southwood

Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station on Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact 764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Game Night - Seniors are invited to Game Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Table games and dominoes provided or bring your own favorite game. Meet friends and enjoy a fun game night. For more information contact 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Forevercise - Forevercise is a free exercise class for ages 55 and up, offered on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 1:30–3 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Class offers individuals healthy lifestyle practices with helpful tips on nutrition and exercise. Exercises may be done while standing or sitting in a chair. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dominoes - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays dominoes all day on Tuesdays and Fridays and from noon to closing Wednesdays. Sack lunch for those playing dominoes from 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873/ www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Bridge – Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bridge from 12:30 p.m. until closing on Tuesdays; noon to closing on Thursdays; and 12:20 p.m. to closing Fridays. Partner needed Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Games - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays board games, Scrabble and other card games on Tuesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873/www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Bible study - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds Bible study 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Exercise class - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds exercise class 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays.

For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Bingo - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bingo 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens. weebly.com.

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Canasta - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Canasta from 11:30 a.m. to closing on Thursdays.

For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Potluck luncheon - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, has a potluck luncheon 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Fridays. For more, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

One-on-one computer help - 6 to 8 p.m.

Mondays and Saturdays at Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. S. in College Station. Contact the Reference Desk to schedule a 30-minute session, at 979-764-3416. For more information, visit www.bcslibrary.org.

March 7 AARP Smart Driver Course – Class held 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (with one-hour lunch break) at the Carter Creek Training Room, located at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, 2200 N. Forest Parkway in College Station. Participants will refresh their driving skills. They will learn defensive driving techniques, proven safety strategies and new traffic laws and rules of the road. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Pay at the door. Call to register at 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/seniors.

March 8 “Strictly Business: Brazos County Crime Stoppers with Sheriff Chris Kirk” - Monthly presentations are offered at Southwood Community

See Calendar page 11

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Calendar

from page 10 Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station from 11 a.m.-noon.

No pre-registration required. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/seniors.

Digital Photography Class – Class held from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesdays from March 8-29 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Class will teach participants how to take better photos and use more of their digital cameras’ functions. Cost of the class is $25. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-7643486. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/senior.

March 11 Craft fair – A Craft fair will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Senior Center, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan.

March 15 Exploring History Luncheon: “Engineering Agriculture” - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department present monthly lectures on the history of the community. Luncheons are held at Aldersgate Church, at 2201 Earl Rudder Fwy. S. in College Station. A reservation is necessary for lunch -- the cost is $7. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. Speaker will begin at noon. Make reservations

by March 10 by contacting 979-7646371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/seniors.

Family History Computer Group: “What’s New at Family Tree Maker” - Open to adults 55 and up. The group shares an interest in researching family history and storing it on their computer. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at Carter’s Creek Training Room at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, 2200 N. Forest Parkway in College Station from 9:30-11 a.m.

No registration is required. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

March 23 Portrait Drawing Class – Class held 1 – 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays from March 23-April 27 at Southwood Community Center, at 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Explore the art of portrait drawing.

Basic drawing supplies are required.

Cost is $55. To register visit rectrac. cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486.

Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/ seniors.

March 21 Nutritional Education by AgriLife - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers monthly cooking demos with new recipes and food choices for healthy living. Join other seniors 60 and up at Lincoln Center, at 1000 Eleanor in College Station, from 10:30 –11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Annie Williams at 979-764-3779.

Beginning Computer 101 Class - Class meets 9-1-:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 21-30, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Learn basic computer skills and how to use the internet and email. Cost of the class is $45. To register visit rectrac.cstx. gov or call 979-764-3486. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/ seniors.

Computer 102 Class – Class meets 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 21-30, at Southwood Community Center, at 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Basic computer skills are required. The class offers instruction on tool bar functions, formatting documents, use of picture tools, printers and more. Cost is $45. To register, visit rectrac.cstx. gov or call 979-764-3486. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/ seniors.

March 27 Senior Advisory Committee meeting - The Senior Advisory Committee meets on the last Monday of the month to discuss programs and activities for adults 55 and up.

Meetings are held at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station at 10 a.m. Visitors welcome. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov or visit cstx.gov/ seniors.

March 31 Bingo & Birthday Celebration Join on the last Friday of each month from 1:30 – 3 p.m. at Southwood

March 22 Drawing II Class - Class meets 9-11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays from March 22-April 26, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Designed to give students a solid foundation in the basics of drawing, including theory, perspective and principles for compositions. Cost of the class is $55. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-7643486. Students are required to bring their own basic drawing supplies.

Community Center, at 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, for bingo and cake to celebrate September birthdays.

Prizes awarded. No registration necessary.

Call 979-764-6351 for more information.

April 12 Woman’s Club House and Garden Tour - The tour, showcasing three homes in the Traditions neighborhood in Bryan, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Luncheon will be held continuously from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Woman’s Club, 1200 Carter Creek Parkway in Bryan.

The homes are at: 3320 Sycamore Trail; 3216 Elm Creek Court; and 3328 Sycamore Trail. Tour tickets can be purchased for $15 on the day of the event at any of the homes.

Tickets may also be purchased in advance by calling the club director at 979-822-5019, or by e-mailing thewomansclubbcs@verizon.net.

Luncheon tickets are also $15, and may be purchased by contacting Sandra Petty at 979-229-9945 or e-mailing her at spetty@suddenlink. net.

Home Care Keeping You Independent “ou si u s iv h ­ b f u f i . th , v , d ­upp ­h iv ­ b h i­ ­u h b ­­i . th k u f ­ di h u­.”

Donna, Bryan, TX

FAMILY & AGGIE OWNED 1716 Br arcrest Dr, #300 • Bryan 979.691.7309 • www.s gselect.com

March 7, 2017 | 11

Get to a Healthier

Pl a ce

Introducing the MatureWell Lifestyle Center, a one-of-a-kind new health complex for adults 55 and older.

“ I want to be th e best ver si o n of me that I c a n be.”

Herbe r t , age 78

“Healthy” isn’t just a state of being…it’s a state of mind. And when you reach your 70s, there’s real value in having a place that brings all your health and wellness resources together under one roof. That’s why the MatureWell Lifestyle Center provides you with a board-certified Internal Medicine Physician who specializes in the treatment of adults 55 and older – a physician who will spend time with you, build a relationship, and assist with management of your medications, find wellness coaching, and more. Plus, you’ll find education resources, a state-of-the-art gym and pool, and a community of other people who share your health goals. And to top it all off, we have patient advocates who will be there to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

Grand Opening is March 6! Sign up for updates now, and learn more about our complimentary services and those covered by insurance or fees at MatureWell.CHIStJosephHealth.org.

Located on the campus of Traditions Club at 3989 N Shore Drive, Bryan, TX 77807.

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