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Have you ever said to yourself “I’d love to get a computer, if only I could figure out how to use it.” Well, you’re not alone. Computers were supposed to make our lives simpler, but they’ve gotten so complicated that they are not worth the trouble. With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we have great news for you. There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you in mind. This computer is easy-to-use, worry-free and literally puts
the world at your fingertips. From the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll see the screen – it’s now 22 inches. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now the very people who could benefit most from E-mail and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t
it time you took part? Call now, and a patient, knowledgeable product expert will tell you how you can try it in your home for 30 days. If you are not totally satisfied, simply return it within 30 days for a refund of the product purchase price. Call today. • Send & Receive Emails • Have video chats with family and friends • Surf the Internet: Get current weather and news • Play games on line: Hundreds to choose from! Call now toll free and find out how you can get the new WOW! Computer. Mention promotional code 59002 for special introductory pricing.
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“I love this computer! It is easy to read and to use! I get photo updates from my children and grandchildren all the time.” – Janet F.
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Where Do You Want to Go?
Indivdual or group tours, customized for you! Boom! Travel specializes in creating an experience unlike anything else available. Below are some of the trips planned, but let your imagination fly! Greg Petty is a certified International Tour Management Institute (ITMI) tour guide and he can help you turn your dream vacation into reality. An experience of a lifetime, designed for you or your group! What is your passion: history, culture, shopping, food, music? Let’s Go!
A Vacation of a Lifetime!
Blues, BBQ and The Big Easy
December 3, 2014
April, 2015
Christmas Markets of Germany and Austria TOUR HIGHLIGHTS • Eight days, six nights in Munich, one hotel! • Munich city tour • Munich Hofbrauhaus dinner and show • Neuschwanstein Castle and carriage ride • Hohenschwangau • Oberammegau • Innsbruck • Three Christmas markets • Optional trips: Salzburg, Nuremberg & Rothenburg
e Still Tiomk! to Bo
Blues Music Tour
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS • Motorcoach from Raleigh to New Orleans, flight back to RDU • Travel Along “Blues Highway” 61, rivaling Route 66 as the most famous road in American music lore • Learn the history of Blues Music in the US, stopping at renouned juke joints and fabulous restaurants • Visit blues recording studios • Stops include Morganton, NC, Nashville, Memphis, Clarksdale and New Orleans
INCLUSIONS • Roundtrip airfare (RDU) • Professional tour director • Eight meals (6 breakfasts, 2 dinners) • Sightseeing per itinerary and all admissions • Motorcoach transportation • Baggage handling
$2,595.00
Per person, double occupancy +$525 single supplement
Information sessions available. Email barbara@boomnc.com for info.
Trip specifics coming soon. Email greg@boomnc.com to be on the contact list.
Where Do You Want to Go? Call 919.302.3089or email greg@boomnc.com.
tRianGle and sandhills’ edition
Another Name for Fall ~ Sports Season!
spotlight 14. Cover: tom Petty and the heartbreakers 15. Fifty & Fabulous: adrienne Pender 18. volunteerism: Cary retiree Finds new Way to Serve others
live smart 10. 11. 11. 12.
Behavioral Finance 101: hindsight Lump Sum or Pension? Gift taxes now versus estate taxes Later? reports of Your Death May Be Premature, and they May terminate Your Social Security 12. Getting help With Your Medicare Costs When Money Is tight 13. help the Grandkids with College, rake in tax Benefits for Yourself
live well 6. Urogynecology: When Sneezing Becomes an Issue… 7. Millions abuse Prescription Drugs 8. taking the Pain out of Your Knees 9. vitamin D Found Surprisingly helpful in Lowering risk of Dementia and alzheimer’s
live large 16. the Pit and the Petunia: a visit to Butchart Gardens 17. tinseltown talks: nehemiah Persoff 18. the Wine Decanter: Seven Savvy tips for BYoB 19. Fifth annual Carolina Classics Car Show 20. arts Spotlight 23. the not So normal 5K + Weekend
boom! bits 5. 5. 17. 19. 27.
ask Mr. Modem autoMode: acura’s Flagship Luxury Sedan What’s Your Quotation Quotient (QQ)? September Calendar September Puzzle
Subscription Order Form (please print) name _________________________________________________ Street _________________________________________________ City, State Zip ___________________________________________ Phone _________________________________________________ e-mail _________________________________________________ total ($22 per year or $40 for 2 years) ________________________ Payment:
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LetteR fRom the EditoR by BaRbaRa Petty
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have always enjoyed football; I was raised on the Denver Broncos. (As my mom and dad were from North Dakota, the second favorite team in our household was The Minnesota Vikings. Although I don’t root for them, to this day I have a soft spot for the Vikings.) So how do we choose our favorite teams? Some people (women are more prone to this than men) will choose a team by the uniform colors or their logo. Team favorites may change as the quarterback changes, but not in this family! I was rooting for the Orange Crush back in the days of Craig Morton (QB) and Randy Gradishar (middle linebacker). In truth, my mother had a ceramic Gradishar doorstopper. When Greg and I married and living in Denver, John Elway was the QB, and reigned supreme from 1983 to 1998. Our son Aaron had no choice but to be a Bronco fan, and he is more fanatical than his parents! We watch the Sunday games and Aaron and I wear Eric Decker jerseys (how could they trade him?) and Greg wears the Wes Welker shirt. Needless to say, we were devastated by the Super Bowl loss last year. (I don’t think loss is the proper word; shellacking may be more appropriate…) In addition to supporting your team, you have to really hate the enemy! Some opposing teams are worse than others: we don’t hate Kansas City, San Diego or San Francisco (the 49ers are actually in the second tier of likes because we lived outside the Bay area for seven years), but we detest the Oak- Rooting for our favorite team: From left: land Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys. The Greg, me, Aaron and Aaron’s fiancé, Erin. Raiders and the Broncos have been rivals for forever and that’s kind of a tradition to hate the Raiders. But the Cowboy dislike is more personal. As Greg says, “They call themselves America’s Team, and that is so presumptuous!” Now we live in North Carolina, and we root for theSept. Panthers. it is not the Boom! 2014But Crossword same passion and dedication as we feel for our beloved Broncos… not sure why. They have just never grown on us. OK, OK, please don’t send me any hate mail. It is, after all, only football, and rooting for your team is America’s favorite pastime. I have to give a nod to college basketball. I never followed this sport until we moved to North Carolina. But I had to get up to speed—especially during March Madness—when the only talk at the water cooler was about the game the previous night. And the fact that both of our kids are Carolina graduates, we are Tar Heel fans through and through. When Greg was working in New York and commuting home, he would remark on how many Tar Heel fans were living in The Big Apple. I think I read somewhere that UNC CH sells more marketing merchandise than any other college in the country, or if they are not number one, right up there. We certainly support the effort with hats, shirts and decals. And some kind of Tar Heel memorabilia has become a favorite gift for family and friends outside the area. So, we have printed out the Bronco schedule for the year, mapped out calendar of events so nothing else is scheduled on game day, and made sure all appropriate clothing is laundered and ready to go. See you at the Super Bowl!
Barbara PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
Published by Prime Communications of the triangle, Inc. 106 huntsmoor Lane | Cary, nC 27513 919.302.3329 | office/Fax 919.462.0141 | BoomnC.com Publisher Barbara Petty | barbara@boomnc.com Managing Editor/Director of Operations Greg Petty | greg@boomnc.com Financial Editor Gerald townsend | gerald@assetmgr.com Calendar Editor Luan harmeson | calendar@boomnc.com Art Director Katie Severa Boom! Magazine, a monthly free publication, is a lifestyle resource for the active adult market in north Carolina. 35,000 copies (60,000 readers) are distributed throughout eight counties in the triangle/Sandhills areas. Distribution sites are listed on the website, BoomnC.com, under the about Boom! button. advertising inquiries should be directed to Greg or Barbara. editorial questions should be directed to Barbara. Distribution questions should be directed to Greg. Calendar items should be emailed to calendar@ boomnc.com by the 15th of the prior month. opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of Boom! Magazine. although care is taken to see that errors do not occur, Boom! Magazine disclaims all legal responsibility for errors and omissions or typographical errors. Use of articles, artwork, and photography is prohibited unless arrangements have been made with the publisher. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Copyright 2014, Prime Communications of the triangle, Inc. all rights reserved. tom Petty cover photo taken at the 2010 concert at Walnut Creek. Photo Greg Petty.
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adrienne Pender cover photo courtesy of theatre in the Park. B A B E
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puzzle answers from page 27
Is Windows XP Coming Back? Q. How do I delete all data from a flash drive so that I can put new information on it? A. Formatting a flash drive will wipe all data off the drive. If that’s what you would like to do, start by inserting the flash drive into a USB port on your computer. Click Computer (depending on your version of Windows), then right-click your flash drive icon and select Format. You will see the capacity of the drive and various bits of technical information nobody ever pays attention to. You might want to consider changing the Volume Label, which is the name that will appear next to the drive letter for your flash drive. I like to name my flash drives something short like “Morry” or “Edith,” but other people prefer something more descriptive, such as MP3Files or WorkDocs. You don’t have to change the Volume Label at all, if you prefer to leave things as they are. Remove the check mark beside the Quick Format box, then click Start to format your flash drive. The formatting process will probably take a few minutes and you may see a green progress bar. Once formatting is complete, your flash drive will be squeaky clean and devoid of all data that it previously contained. Use Promo Code MODEM when entering your six-month subscription to Mr. Modem’s award-winning weekly computer-help newsletter and receive one month for free! Visit www.MrModem.com.
Naughty Codes Though it sounds like an
adult-oriented website, it is not. This site provides access to a database of discount codes that are available to shoppers when placing an online order. Select an online store from the drop-down menu and you will see the code and the discount. Sure it’s naughty, but it’s also kind of nice. A similar site that I have used successfully a number of times is Retailmenot.com. www.naughtycodes.com
The Labyrinth If you are a student of Medieval Studies—and who among us isn’t?—you won’t want to miss this. Sponsored by Georgetown University, The Labyrinth provides free access to a plethora of resources, including connections to databases, services, texts, and images around the world. http://bit.ly/1j8k7Zz
Changing the Lineup Acura’s Flagship Luxury Sedan Challenges Competitors by John DickeRson and John Kehlenbeck
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ould you like the comforts and technology of a $90,000 luxury sedan— for $60,000? If so, be sure to schedule a drive in Acura’s new flagship luxury sedan, the RLX.
You’re likely aware of Acura—Honda’s luxury badge (just as Lexus is Toyota’s luxury badge). While Acura sells loads of its smaller luxury cars, its large flagship is an overlooked and unique treasure in a crowded field of look-alike sedans. One of the great complaints about European luxury sedans (Mercedes, BMW, Audi) is their high maintenance cost. Since the gorgeous new Acura RLX is engineered and built by Honda, you need not worry about maintenance or reliability with it. And it costs considerably less than many competitors. For this reason, we’d
like to highlight the RLX as worthy of your consideration. The new RLX is a refined and wellbalanced luxury sedan. It is still more “Honda” than any of its competitors—in ways both good and bad. It remains one of the only V-6 front drive platforms in this class. But different isn’t always bad. Industry-wide efforts to improve gas mileage have brought most competing cars closer to the Acura formula. In all, the Acura accelerates, handles and brakes on par for this segment. Equipped with the hybrid package, this high-performance, high-luxury sedan gets more than 30 miles for every gallon of fuel. As its Honda heritage suggests, the RLX is a great vehicle and a great value. The latter may not serve it so well in this segment. Luxury sedans are cars with serious egos. In this segment you either play big or go home. And that’s one reason why Acura’s last attempt in this segment, the RL, never took off. It just had too much Honda in its DNA. What Honda does best—big value in a little package—does not work in the luxury segment. To be either small or
a great value is to be ignored or ridiculed among luxury auto buyers. Most want their vehicle to communicate status, excitement and wealth—not value and economy. Acura designers took note of that, and have responded with a more sensual and stunning design. The RLX—unlike its predecessor—is an eye-catching shape. One that will steal glances at the valet park and in the neighborhood. A longer wheelbase and improved interior, also speak nonverbal luxury, wealth and comfort. Under the hood, Honda’s decades old formula (small but peppy engines) is finally in vogue for this segment. At 310 horsepower, the RLX remains slightly underpowered compared to some competitors, but it’s sufficient to propel the car to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. That’s fast for a car of this size. Acura’s all-new Sport Hybrid system adds all-wheel-drive and a triple electric motor system, while delivering 30 mpg combined. In this crowded segment, many luxury sedans are shouldering their way to be noticed. If you’re looking for true value, reliability, comfort, and gas mileage in your luxury sedan, you will do well to give
the Acura RLX a test drive. We highly recommend this new star athlete. © 2014 John Dickerson and John Kehlenbeck, Horsepower Auto Reviews
2015 Acura RLX Personality: Honors calculus student who runs track and wins best-dressed. Best Gizmo: P-AWS. Precision all wheel steering. Stability and maneuverability at its finest. Most Annoying Feature: The two-screen dashboard had me confused. MPG (as tested): 20 city / 31 highway. Performance: Spirited. Cars we smoked at stoplights: A Dodge Caravan and a new Lexus ES. 0-60: 5.8 seconds. How Fast Is That? Fast enough to be considered a worthy competitor. How Much? Base of $49,345. Well-loaded for about $60k. What option should I splurge on? Krell Audio Package. Serious Contenders? Cadillac XTS, Lincoln MKS, Audi A6, Hyundai Equus, Volvo S80. Infiniti M, BMW 5 series, Lexus GS.
boom nc.com 7.14
Q. I am debating about buying a new laptop with Windows 8. I know that some people don’t like Windows 8. Do you think Microsoft will keep this format in the future or will it go back to something like XP or the Windows 7 format? How do you feel about Windows 8? A. I think Windows 8 is fine. I like the touchscreen interface, which is what it was designed for, though it certainly can be used with a traditional mouse and keyboard. Historically, whenever a new operating system makes its debut, there are people who like it and people who don’t like it. I call it the Broccoli Syndrome. Microsoft is not going to return to an older format because a few people complain, however. Windows 9 is already in the works and will be the next step in the evolution of Windows, but it isn’t going to revert back to something akin to Windows 3.1, 98, XP or even Windows 7. Time and technology move ahead with us or without us. When Windows 98 was released eons ago, there were some people who hated it because it represented such a big change from the previous version. The same thing occurred when XP replaced Windows 98. Over time people settled down and became comfortable with the new operating system and that will happen with Windows 8, as well. Then, when Windows 9 is released, the Broccoli Syndrome will return. If you decide that you do not want Windows 8, you can still purchase Windows 7 on amazon.com or from other retailers.
Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Sites of the Month
5 boom! bits
Ask MR. Modem by RichaRd SheRman, SenioR WiRe
Urogynecology: When Sneezing Becomes an Issue… Physician Subspecialties—Part Nine, Submitted by Wake Med
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relatively new subspecialty, urogynecology plays a unique and growing role in women’s health. Urogynecologists help women manage urologic and pelvic problems such as overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and more. In order to provide care in this specialized field, urogynecologists either complete a four-year OB/GYN residency with a three-year fellowship or a five-year urology residency with a two-year fellowship after medical school. As one local urogynecologist explains, this field of medicine focuses on quality of life. “In treating patients with these conditions, you not only treat their discomfort, but you can dramatically change their quality of life which can have a huge impact on their self-esteem,” shares Dr. Andrea Crane, a urogynecologist with WakeMed Physician Practices—Women’s Center. “I have patients who get back to running, playing golf, jumping on the trampoline with their kids—activities that they have not been able to do due to their condition.”
“Pelvic problems are not a normal part of aging,” adds Dr. Crane. “There are safe, effective options available to help regain your quality of life. You don’t have to just live with these conditions.” Pelvic floor disorders—or PFDs—are relatively common as one in three women will suffer from at least one type of PFD in their lifetime. The pelvic floor can be damaged by childbirth, repeated heavy lifting, chronic disease or surgery. Although urogynecologic problems and PFDs can affect women of any age, postmenopausal women and women who have given birth are more likely to experience these issues as their muscle tone, pelvic support and hormone levels change with age. Advancements in treatment options have brought a range of choices for women, but a careful evaluation is the first step in successful treatment. A urogynecologist will explain the different options and work with you to decide which treatment plan is best for you, with the added benefit of providing individualized care and compassion.
DO YOU WAKE UP FREQUENTLY IN THE NIGHT TO URINATE? If you are 45 years of age or older have trouble with frequent nighttime urination, you may qualify for a sleep research study. Doctors at the Duke Sleep Disorders Center are studying the link between frequent nighttime urination and sleep disorders. People who wake up frequently in the night to urinate, but do not have Overactive Bladder Syndrome, are encouraged to learn more about the study.
Conservative therapies such as pelvic floor exercises, medications, non-surgical devices and even simple lifestyle changes are often very effective approaches to managing symptoms. Should surgery become necessary, a urogynecologist can also perform safe, effective and minimally invasive procedures—including laparoscopy and robotic surgery—to address and correct many urologic and pelvic conditions. Dr. Crane encourages women to not hesitate to see a specialist if they are experiencing bothersome symptoms. “The phrase I hear most often from my patients is, ‘I wish I had done this sooner.’” Dr. Andrea Crane’s training includes evaluation and treatment of childbirth trauma, advanced pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulae and mesh complications. She specializes in pelvic reconstruction and robotic surgery. Dr. Crane is accepting new patients, and a physician referral is not required. Schedule an appointment by calling 919.350.1380 or visit www.wakemedphysicians.com/urogynecology for more information.
Urogynecology: What are the Symptoms? Dr. Crane recommends Voices for PFD—patientfocused website created by the American Urogynecologic Society—as a great resource for women with urogynecology and pelvic floor disorders. www.voicesforpdf.org. What are the Symptoms? The symptoms of urologic and pelvic floor problems generally begin gradually, and the natural history is for the symptoms to progress with time. Symptoms may vary among women; however they can include: 1. Symptoms of Bladder Control Problems: • Urine leakage • Overactive bladder • Difficulty emptying the bladder 2. Symptoms of Bowel Control Problems: • Infrequent bowel movement • Constipation or diarrhea • Hard bowel movements • Abnormal stool consistency 3. Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse: • A bulging, pressure or heavy sensation in the vagina that worsens by the end of the day or during bowel movements • Difficulty starting to urinate or a weak or spraying stream of urine • Urine leakage with intercourse Reference: Content from Voices for PDF (www. voicesforpfd.org/p/cm/ld/fid=127)
Veins are for Leaves,
NOT Your Legs.
Don’t let tired, achy legs slow you down! Step up to a healthier and happier you with a consultation at Triangle Vein Clinic. We’re dedicated to diagnosing and treating venous disorders and have built a solid reputation as the Triangle’s leader in eliminating painful and unsightly veins and improving leg appearance.
If you qualify for the study, you will receive a sleep evaluation at no cost to you. In addition, you will be compensated if you qualify and participate in the study. For further information, call 919-684-0752 and ask about the overnight insomnia and nocturia study.
We understand each situation is unique, and we have several options for treatment including the Venefit™ Targeted Endovenous Therapy, a minimally invasive option. Don’t wait to discover just how good your legs can look & feel!
Buy One Spider Vein Session, Get One Spider Vein Session FREE! 115 Crescent Commons Drive, Ste. 200 Cary, North Carolina 27518
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eports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that 46 Americans die every day from prescription drug overdose, which adds up to about 17,000 deaths annually. The reports also state that poisonings by drug overdose have tripled over the past 30 years. Novus Medical Detox, serving high-dosage drug abuse patients, states that the reason behind the high number of fatalities lies in inadequate drug education. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carries this same belief, and has responded by implementing a new drug education program. The program seeks to educate doctors who prescribe these highlyaddictive painkillers, as well as the patients who are taking them. The program’s mission is “to teach doctors about proper opiate prescribing for pain patients to minimize the risks of diversion and addiction.” The United Nation’s World Drug Report 2014 stated that in 2012, 6.1 percent (19 million) of Americans abused prescription opioids, including morphine, codeine, OxyContin and Vicodin. This figure categorizes the United States as a country that abuses prescription drugs more than
any other country in the world. In an effort to lower the number of people harmed by these drugs, Novus warns Americans to exercise caution when receiving a new prescription from a physician, and to ask questions related to its side effects. “Intentionally or not, Americans may be underestimating the highly addictive nature of drugs such as opioids,” stated Novus Executive Director Kent Runyon. “It may start as nothing more than filling a prescription for legitimate pain, but overdose may result when a patient seeks to elicit a stronger high from these drugs.” Novus recommends that the following steps be taken when being prescribed a new medication: • Be sure that the prescription comes from a trusted physician; • Only use the medication as prescribed; • Ask the physician about the medicine and its effects; • Conduct your own research about the drug’s effects; and
TIME to END
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• Be prepared—ask your doctor what to do if one becomes addicted. All of these tips are important to heed before a patient starts to take a medication, because addiction may begin with the patient being unaware of a medication’s initial effects. This patient may begin to take pills more liberally than prescribed, and the dangers of addiction do not lie far behind. Runyon maintains that comprehensive drug education, starting in grade school and continuing throughout adult life to physician visits, can help to significantly reduce the number of Americans addicted to such drugs. While new preventative measures are being taken, Novus recommends looking out for the following symptoms or behaviors (but not limited to), if someone suspects that a loved one is abusing pain reliever prescription drugs: • Nausea, drowsiness; • Mood swings and anxiety; • Slowed reactions, movement and breathing; • Jittery or secretive; and/or
• Neglect of work/school responsibilities. Runyon advises those who are dependent upon any abusive substance(s) to seek out safe, medically-supervised detox programs, and to use those with integrated medicine that allows the detox process to be as comfortable as possible. Novus Medical Detox Center offers safe, effective alcohol and drug treatment programs in a home-like residential settingFor more information, visit www.novusdetox.com. RefeRences: 1. Hutchins, Sarah. “Drug Overdose: Prescription Painkillers Poison 46 Americans Every Day.” Liberty Voice, 20 July 2014. Web. 22 July 2014. guardianlv.com/2014/07/ drug-overdose-prescription-painkillers-poison46-americans-every-day/. 2. Blake, Matthew. “Extent of US Dependency on Prescription Drugs Revealed: UN Report Shows 6% of American Adults Hooked on Pills.” Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 07 July 2014. Web. 21 July 2014. dailymail. co.uk/news/article-2683318/Extent-US-dependencyprescription-drugs-revealed-UN-report-shows6-American-adults-hooked-pills.html. 3. Winkel, Bethany. “Avoiding Prescription Drug Abuse— Treatment Solutions.” Treatment Solutions. N.p., 11 Feb. 2010. Web. 23 July 2014. treatmentsolutions.com/ avoiding-prescription-drug-abuse/. 4. Sack, David. “FDA Prescription Drug Abuse Plan Hits— and Misses—the Mark—Addiction Recovery.” Addiction Recovery with David Sack, M.D. Psych Central. com, 7 July 2014. Web. 22 July 2014. blogs.psychcentral. com/addiction-recovery/2014/07/fda-prescriptiondrug-abuse-plan-hits-and-misses-the-mark/. 5. “Signs and Symptoms of Prescription Pain Reliever Abuse.” Narconon International, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. narconon. org/drug-abuse/signs-symptoms-pain-relievers.html.
Are you feeling depressed? Are your medications not working? Duke University Medical Center is conducting a research study investigating treatment outcomes in adults with late-life depression. Participants will receive an acute course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Those who respond to ECT will be randomly assigned to one of two groups for a six-month follow-up phase: a group that receives medication alone or a group that receives medication plus an investigational course of maintenance ECT.
To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements: • Be 60 years of age or older • Have current symptoms of depression such as sadness, trouble concentrating, and low energy
Please call 919-681-0603 for more information. Duke University Medical Center Sarah H. Lisanby, M.D. www.dukehealth.org
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Millions Abuse Prescription Drugs: Education is Needed
Taking the Pain Out of Your Knees by MaRk W. Galland, M.D.
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he first time patients present their knee problems to orthopedic surgeons two main topics are discussed up front to determine if an operation is necessary to address the condition.
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8 1. Regaining or reaching ideal body weight—Being overweight or obese adds wear and pressure to the joints. A surgical operation will be of limited help if one continues to have too much weight compressing on the knee. 2. Establishing a low-impact exercise program—Based on a person’s interests and stability to handle movements, this can involve both aerobic and anaerobic activities, including weightlifting, yoga, Pilates, swimming and biking.
Assuming those two factors are under control, the next step is to consider the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for temporary but not chronic knee pain. These over-the-counter drugs are fine if the knee pain lasts up to a week, but beyond that, or if the pain recurs, they should be avoided due to their long-term effects on the heart, kidneys and other organs. Despite a recent study in The Lancet medical journal questioning the benefits of acetaminophen for back pain, it is reasonably effective in treating knee pain along with other NSAIDs. The direct application of ice can be a very efficient way to handle a knee that is warm and inflamed. Similarly, a heat patch can provide relief if the joint is stiff. If the knee feels loose or unstable (this is often the result of cartilage loss, aka “pseudo laxity”), a knee brace can be helpful to eliminate pain and improve function. For medical treatment not available over the counter, there are several options to pursue. Occasional steroid injections may be the best answer. They can control existing pain as well as lessen any discomfort
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resulting among patients who are losing weight and beginning an exercise regimen. An additional option is Visco supplementation, known by some as “joint jelly” shots. These injections add to the body’s supply of a naturally occurring substance in the knees known as hyaluronic acid. They provide lubrication and cushioning for the knee. The shots can be given as often as needed to patients with no long-term complications. Apart from some feeling pain from the injection at the joint, this process has been very successful among patients. Another new trend that is especially in demand among athletes is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment. Using a patient’s own blood, it separates the platelets from the red and white blood cells and injects them in a concentrated form to generate growth factors to repair tissue in the knees. Although this appears to be the most effective medical option for knees prior to surgery, the costs of each injection range from $350-$700, which may make it prohibitive for some to use. Also promising but not yet
ready for patients are experiments occurring now with stem cells derived from embryonic material to treat knee pain. Long-term studies will be needed to determine their efficacy. For patients that have exhausted these proposed remedies with no alleviation of symptoms, the final option will be operative intervention. The first is a knee arthroscopy, which is usually only advantageous for those with arthritic joints that truly lock. This is the least invasive method of surgery, but recent studies question their efficacy for relief of pain. The next step that has gained popularity in recent years is a partial knee replacement, also known as a UNI. Partial knee replacements repair only the part of the knee joint that is worn, or bone on bone. The parts of the knee that are still in good shape and unaffected by arthritis remain, meaning that the process removes 75 percent less bone than a total knee replacement. Good candidates for this surgery include those with arthritic knees where only
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itamin D has a new booster. Researchers now find, in the largest study of its kind, that seniors who don’t get enough Vitamin D may double their risk of getting Alzheimer’s. The study was just published in the online issue of Neurology. The important study involved testing vitamin D levels of 1,658 people over the age of 65 who were dementia-free. After an average of six years, 171 participants developed dementia and 102 were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The study examined blood levels of vitamin D, which includes vitamin D from food, supplements and sun exposure. Dietary vitamin D is replete in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel as well abundant in milk, eggs, and cheese. “We expected to find an association between low Vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but the results were surprising—we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated,” said study
author David J. Llewellyn, PhD, of the University of Exeter Medical School in the United Kingdom. The study found that people with low levels of vitamin D had 53 percent more risk of developing dementia and those who were severely deficient had a 125 percent increased risk compared to those participating in the study with normal levels of vitamin D. People with lower levels of vitamin D were nearly 70 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and those who had severe deficiency were over 120 percent more likely to develop the killer disease. “Clinical trials are now needed to establish whether eating foods such as oily fish or taking vitamin D supplements can delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We need to be cautious at this early stage and our latest results do not demonstrate that low vitamin D levels cause dementia. That said, our findings are very
~ ~ ~ Healthy Males Needed for Research Study ~ ~ ~ We need healthy male volunteers who want to participate in a research study. This study is being performed to see whether it is possible to observe increases in muscle protein after giving the drug (testosterone) that is known to stimulate muscle growth.
ATTENTION PATIENTS WHO URINATE FREQUENTLY AT NIGHT AND ARE SLEEPY OR TIRED DURING THE DAY You may qualify for a clinical research study being conducted by the Duke Sleep Disorders Center if you:
We are looking for:
encouraging, and even if a small number of people could benefit, this would have enormous public health implications given the devastating and costly nature of dementia,” said Llewellyn. Dementia is broadly characterized by a decline in thinking and memory. Alzheimer’s disease, which affects about five million people in the U.S., is the most common type of dementia associated with aging. And with the aging baby boomer population, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s is expected to increase nearly three-fold by 2050. The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Mary Kinross Charitable Trust, the James Tudor Foundation, the Halpin Trust, the Age Related Diseases and Health Trust, the Norman Family Charitable Trust and the UK National Institute for Health Research.
• Males between the ages of 60 and 75 • Non-smokers • No history of heart disease or diabetes • Body mass index (BMI): 20-34kg/m2 (There are also additional inclusion criteria...)
• Get up to urinate two or more times per night • Feel sleepy during the day • Are between 18 and 90 years of age • Are in good general health
Andrew Krystal, MD, of the Duke Sleep Disorders Center is studying the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug and how it may improve daytime sleepiness for people who suffer from nocturia.
Qualified participants will receive:
Study-related medical exams, blood work, strength tests and four muscle biopsies. In addition, participants will be compensated for the completion of the study.
If you qualify for the study, all associated study medication, exams, and procedures will be provided at no cost to you, and you will be compensated for your time and travel.
For more information in regard to this study, please call 919-681-9000, Press 1 or send an email to LSSResearch@dm.duke.edu ~ ~ ~
For more information, call 919-684-0752 and ask about the nocturia sleep study.
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Vitamin D Found Surprisingly Helpful in Lowering Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s by Tait TRussell, Senior Wire
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a third of the joint is involved in causing pain, particularly those who are physiologically young (several middle age and older adults do fit in this category). With UNIs, patients have the advantages of smaller incisions, less physical therapy and shorter recovery periods than that of full knee replacements. In fact, some go home the same day of surgery, although most require an overnight stay. This is because the operation typically addresses only the inside or medial part of the knee as opposed to the front part or kneecap and outside or lateral part. The most extensively used UNI is called the Oxford , which has the ability to mimic the natural motion of the knee. The Oxford replaces the arthritic part with plastic and metal shells and liners that slide black and forth and toggles from side to side. It provides most patients with their legs feeling almost normal and a full range of extending the joint in all directions. Despite popular misconceptions, UNIs do not wear out the surrounding tissues or muscles or affect the operation of the other knee. In fact, 92 percent
Behavioral Finance 101: Hindsight by GeRald ToWnsend
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his year’s “101” series is on “Behav- investment or a person’s life—events that actually did ioral Finance.” Articles in our pre- occur seem more evident, in hindsight, that the myriad vious “101” series on Economics, Estate events that could have occurred, but did not. Because of Planning, Tax Planning, Financial Plan- hindsight bias, we beat ourselves up—or blame others— ning, and Investment Management, are for not having foreseen the “inevitable” outcome that we now so clearly see, in hindsight. available on the www.boomnc.com website. So far, we’ve talked about Loss Aversion, Endowment, Regret, Status Quo, Overconfidence, Herd Behavior, Anchoring and Mental Accounting and Recency. This month’s topic is the “Hindsight Bias.” In April of 2000, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts had a very successful Initial Public Offering. From the IPO price of $21 a share, it opened for trading at $32 a share and subsequently zoomed up to $37 a share. I spoke with someone later who said they “just knew” that would happen and regretted not buying the stock. Of course, no one actually “knew” what would happen to the stock when it began trading. There were a number of potential outcomes, but we all find past events to be more predictable than they were prior to the outcome. We have all heard the expression that “hindsight is As soon as the stock market closes each day, pundits 20/20,” meaning that we see perfectly when we know the begin explaining why it did what it did, and they sound so final outcome and look backwards. Unfortunately, life is smart and incisive. We think, “Of course, anyone could see lived forward, not backward, and things that seem so that would be the result today.” But, if the market had a clear when looking backward appear rather murky when different outcome, those same pundits would be explainlooking forward. ing the opposite result in the same perceptive tones. Whether it is a sporting event, a political election, What#3r will happen over4:51 the next with1 the economy Eagen adanMedicaid 4/24/10 PM year Page
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“Justice, Justice, You Shall Pursue” ~ Deuteronomy 16:20
Prior to opening her law firm in NC in 1992, Donna Cohen practiced law in NY and NJ, developing a unique set of litigation and transactional legal skills. Ms. Cohen’s extensive knowledge and experience, coupled with her passion for the law, makes her an excellent choice to advocate on your behalf and in your best interests. Estate Planning, Guardianships & Probate: Necessary and appropriate documentation and advise for asset protection and distribution: Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Guarianship, Probate proceedings; Will Litigation Real Estate: Residential and Commercial Transactions and Litigation Business Law: Formation of Entities, Buy/ Sell Agreements, Shareholder Agreements, Contracts, Litigation
and the markets as the Federal Reserve begins unwinding its easy-money policies? There are a number of possible outcomes and no one knows at this point how it will actually play out—and therefore portfolios must be constructed today with that uncertainty in mind. What are the dangers and consequences of our natural tendency to exhibit hindsight bias? • We don’t learn from past mistakes or critically examine our decision-making process after-the-fact. • We consider poor decisions that had positive outcomes to be smart strategies. • We consider brilliant and well-thought-out decisions that unfortunately had negative outcomes to be mistakes. • We overestimate the degree with which we could have predicted or anticipated an outcome. A significant aspect of managing investments is the management of risk, and risk is very complex and multifaceted. Often, when we discuss risk we are talking about managing a number of potential outcomes with known probabilities of occurrence. But, in the real world there is uncertainty, and the greatest risk may be the things that are left over after we think we have thought of everything. These are the “unknown unknowns.” Gerald A. Townsend, CPA/PFS/ABV, CFP , CFA , CMT is president of Townsend Asset Management Corp., a registered investment advisory firm. Email: Gerald@AssetMgr.com ®
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Lump Sum or Pension?
What Is the Rate of Return? Whenever I consult with a client on this question, I open my Excel spreadsheet and calculate what is known as an “Internal Rate of Return.” This simply looks at the lump sum amount as if it was an investment that is generating a cash flow equal to the monthly pension. The internal rate of return increases each year, since your ultimate return depends on how long you will live. Obviously, if you should choose a lifetime pension and then die shortly thereafter, you made the wrong decision and your internal rate of return is negative. However, after some years, this return becomes
positive, and the calculation provides me with a benchmark to measure investment decisions against. For example, what if the internal rate of return, after 30 years of receiving the pension, was around four percent? This tells me that if my client is relatively risk-averse and is comfortable with a low-risk return of four percent the pension is not a bad choice. But, if the client is a bit more growth-oriented, and doesn’t mind some normal market risk, taking the lump sum and investing it in a sensible portfolio would likely generate, over time, a higher rate of return and be the wiser choice. Avoid Taxes If a lump sum is chosen, it is usually advisable to transfer the pension into an IRA and not receive it directly. Otherwise, the entire lump sum amount would be subject to income tax immediately. Pension Options If the pension appears to be the best choice, there are still decisions to make. If a person is unmarried and has no dependents, a “life only” pension might be selected. This pension would end at death. But, if a person is married, some form of “survivorship” option may be the better choice. This choice reduces your pension amount, but also provides for the pension continuing—in some amount—after your death. In some cases, a married person might choose a “life only” pension but also obtain a life insurance policy. The pension ends when they die, but the life insurance policy can take its place. The “life only” pension provides for a higher monthly income, and the additional income can be used to pay the premiums on the insurance policy. Gerald A. Townsend, CPA/PFS/ABV, CFP , CFA , CMT is president of Townsend Asset Management Corp., a registered investment advisory firm. Email: Gerald@AssetMgr.com ®
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Gift Taxes Now Versus Estate Taxes Later? by Jonathan J. DaVid, Senior Wire
D
ear Jonathan: I am a widower. I am retired and financially set. In fact, I have been advised that it would be a good idea for me to reduce the size of my estate because it is larger than that amount which is exempt from estate taxes which I believe is $5,000,000. Consequently, I am considering passing along a good chunk of my estate to my children and grandchildren now. What are the current rules for gifting? Jonathan Says: In 2014, a person can gift up to $14,000 per person per year without incurring any federal gift tax and without having to report the gift to the IRS by filing a gift tax return. As an example, if you have four children, and each of your children are married and have four kids of their own, this year you can make gifts of $14,000 to each child and his or her spouse, as well as each grandchild without any gift tax consequences. By making these gifts
you will have removed $336,000 of value from your estate (24 people x $14,000). Further, if you give away assets that are likely to appreciate in value, you are also removing all of that future appreciation from your estate. Finally, if you are so inclined, you can make gifts to the same people (or different or additional people) in 2015 and the years following. In your question, you indicated that you wanted to pass along a “good chunk” of your estate. If your definition of “good chunk” is larger than $336,000, you can increase the number of annual $14,000 gifts you make and/or you can make taxable gifts over and above the $14,000 annual gift tax exclusion. In other words, you are not limited by the annual gift tax exclusion when making gifts, however, any gifts that you make in excess of the $14,000 annual gift tax exclusion will be deemed to be a
taxable gift. Further, if you make taxable gifts, you are required to file a gift tax return with the IRS reporting those gifts. Also, the total amount of taxable gifts you make over your lifetime will serve to reduce your lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion, which is $5,340,000 (not $5,000,000) in 2014. For example, let’s say that rather than making gifts of $14,000 to each of your children and their spouses and your grandchildren, you decide you want to make gifts of $50,000 to each of those individuals. In this example, the additional $36,000 per individual ($50,000 gift less $14,000 annual exclusion) will be deemed to be a taxable gift which will serve to reduce your lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion by $864,000 ($36,000 x 24). If you make gifts to the same people in the same amount for two consecutive years, you will have removed a total of
$2,400,000 of value from your estate (and all future appreciation tied to the gifted assets) but you will have also reduced your available lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion by the total amount of taxable gifts made over those two years, i.e., $1,728,000. Before making any gifts, I recommend that you meet with an estate planning attorney or tax consultant who can explain to you in more detail the pros and cons of gifting, as well as the tax implications and requirements you will need to be familiar with before entering into a gifting program. Once you have decided that you want to move forward with a gifting program, your adviser can help you put together a giftgiving strategy that makes sense for both you and your family. Good luck. Jonathan J. David is a shareholder in the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C., 1700 East Beltline, N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525.
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uppose you actually won the lottery. You are given a choice of $1,000 per month for the rest of your life or a lump sum amount of $200,000. Which do you choose? Many employees face a similar decision when they leave a company that has a pension plan. Some, but not all, companies offer employees a choice between taking a lump sum (one-time) distribution versus receiving a monthly pension. How do you decide which is better? How Long Will You Live? Well, of course you don’t know, but this is certainly critical to making the decision. The longer you expect to you, the more attractive a monthly pension appears versus a lump sum distribution. Do You Need the Income? What is your current and retirement budget? Do you need the monthly pension amount or would it simply be “extra” money, but not something you must have? If the pension is needed and part of your retirement budget, then the pension may be attractive. But, if Social Security, other pensions, continued employment, rental income, or other sources of income are sufficient, you may not require the pension. What Would You Do With the Lump Sum? If you did receive a lump sum, what would you do with the money? If your answer is to take a great vacation, open a restaurant, or loan it to your uncle—then for goodness sakes, choose the pension instead. Otherwise, you will most likely never see the money again and also be without a pension. The pension provides a predictable monthly cash flow and protects you from making a really dumb decision with a big pot of money. On the other hand, if you want control over your assets and believe you are smart enough to avoid restaurants and your uncle, then we can talk about the next point.
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by GeRald ToWnsend
Boom NC.com 7.14
Reports of Your Death May Be Premature, and They May Terminate Your Social Security
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by Teresa Ambord, Senior Wire
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ou’ve heard of people who were declared dead, much to their own surprise. Think this cannot happen to you? The odds that it can happen are increasing. In 2013, NBC News reported the disturbing fact that roughly 28,000 erroneous deaths are logged into the Social Security Administration (SSA) Death Master File, each year. Mark Pinney, interviewed by NBC News, found out he was declared dead when the grocery store rejected his bank card. Imagine his shock when he went to the bank to ask why, and they told him his account was closed because they’d learned he was dead. Then they said until he could prove he was alive, he could do nothing about it. Not only was his only source of income—his disability check halted—but he also could not access the money which remained in his account. At the local SSA office, he explained the problem to the employee. “He wasn’t surprised,” Pinney told NBC. “He was very professional about it, joked about it a little and said this happens occasionally.” All of this happened in 2010, and as it turned out, he’d been declared dead in 2007, but SSA got the news in 2010. Pinney’s family and friends made a lot of jokes about his walking dead status. But the fallout was less amusing. It would take six weeks with no income or access to his own money to clear it up. And even then, the SSA would not reimburse him for the missed payments. The Fix To solve a problem he didn’t create, he was forced to get a note from his doctor, and send a picture ID and a notarized statement that he was indeed alive, to the SSA. They eventually cleared it up—sort of—but never told him how the error happened, or confirmed he was taken off the Death Master File list. In fact, a year later, NBC News checked and said he was still on it. Currently a woman in my area is battling the same situation Pinney faced. When her SS check stopped she learned she too, had been reported dead. In her case, the error happened when a woman by the same name died in a local hospital. Somehow, the SS clerk entered only the name on the Death Master File, and did not check accompanying details. Boom! An innocent person is headed for financial disaster. As with Mark Pinney, the SSA is working to clear up their mess but they refuse to pay this woman for the missed payments, or to provide emergency funds. Fortunately this woman belongs to a church that is helping her. Not everyone has that resource to fall back on. It’s doubtful that a commercial business could cause such a disaster and get away with simply washing their hands of it. That’s Not All You may wonder how banks are informed of a death and use that to shut down bank accounts. The SSA sells the personal identification information of deceased individuals to the public, like banks and credit bureaus. Yes, that means they sell the SSN and birth date, and other information. Dead people don’t care (although thieves know there is a window of time when they can swoop in and open credit accounts in the name of a deceased person) but what about the person who was erroneously declared dead and his or her SSN was made public? NBC News told the story of Laura Todd who was declared dead when someone mistyped the SSN, and the typo happened to match Todd’s SSN. Her ordeal took eight years to clear up. She told NBC News her tax returns were rejected every year. That made her ineligible for refunds and tax rebates she was due. According to Kelly Erb (Forbes Magazine Tax Specialist) anyone who is declared dead may find it impossible to get loans or mortgages, get a driver’s license, or start SS or disability when they become eligible. Bank accounts slam shut along with your access to your funds. “It can be literally, a living nightmare.” There seems to be no easy answer, but it’s clear, if this happens to you, the fix is up to you, not the SSA. Schedule an appointment at your local SSA office and start collecting your ID: continued on page 27
Getting Help With Your Medicare Costs When Money Is Tight by Ron Pollack
M
edicare provides vital health insurance for 50 million seniors and people with disabilities. But even when you have Medicare, health care is not free. People with Medicare pay premiums and have other costs that they pay out of pocket, like deductibles and co-insurance. For lower-income people, these costs can be overwhelming. There are several programs that help low-income people with Medicare pay their health care costs—but many Medicare beneficiaries don’t know about these programs. Let’s see if we can shed some light on them. Why might I need help? Anyone with Medicare knows that the program has significant costs. Here are some common costs for 2014: • Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient care, has a $1,216 deductible that you’ll have to pay if you’re unfortunate enough to be hospitalized. • Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient care (like doctor visits), has a monthly premium of $104.90. • Doctor visits also come with a 20 percent copayment, and so do lab tests. • If you have Part D drug coverage, that’s an additional premium, which averages about $40 a month, plus copayments for your prescriptions. • Finally, there are a number of services that Medicare does not cover, like most long-term care. Half of people with Medicare live on incomes below $23,500 a year, so it’s no surprise that a lot of seniors spend a good share of their budget on health care. What help is available to beneficiaries with low incomes?
• The Part D “Extra Help” program can cover all or part of your Part D premiums and costs. • Each state runs three Medicare Savings Programs. Different states have different names for these programs. All of these programs will cover your Part B premium. Lower-income people can also get their Medicare co-insurance and deductibles covered. • Some beneficiaries with low incomes or high health care expenses may qualify for their state’s Medicaid program, which covers a number of services that Medicare does not. How can I qualify? Income limits vary
from state to state and are adjusted every year. But they are low. In general, the 2014 income limit for any type of assistance is about $17,500 a year for an individual and $23,600 a year for a couple. Most programs also look at how much you have in assets (bank accounts, retirement, etc.), although the value of your home and car usually don’t count toward asset limits. In 2014, the asset limit is about $7,000 for an individual and $11,000 for a couple. But some states have adopted higher asset limits or eliminated them altogether, so check to see what the rules are in your state. How can I get help? To learn more about the programs in your state and get help navigating the application process, contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) [NOTE: In North Carolina it is the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)]. Every state has one, and they provide free, unbiased advice to people with Medicare. Call 800.MEDICARE or go to www.Medicare.gov and click on “Find someone to talk to.” How do I apply? You can learn more about the Part D Extra Help program and apply through the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. To apply for your state’s Medicare Savings Programs or Medicaid, contact your state’s Medicaid agency. A counselor with your local SHIP can help you start the process and advise you if you run into problems. Are there other options for getting help with Medicare costs? Maybe. These options
are worth investigating. • It’s always a good idea to explore options in your area. Some states provide additional help with prescription drug costs. • If you are a veteran, you may qualify for additional help through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). • Make sure you’re taking full advantage of any help you may get from a former employer. • Finally, you may want to explore getting a Medicare supplement (Medigap) or Medicare Advantage plan. But be careful, because some of these plans can be costly, and others may limit which doctors you can see. A local SHIP counselor can help you assess your options. Ron Pollack is the Executive Director for Families USA , the national organization for health care consumers. They have advocated for universal, affordable, quality health care since 1982.
Help the Grandkids with College, Rake in Tax Benefits for Yourself by TeResa AmboRd, Senior Wire
© MonKeY BUSIneSS IMaGeS | DreaMStIMe
What happens if the money is not spent for higher education expenses? The amount spent inappropriately is added to your gross income and you will likely also pay a tax penalty of ten percent, so it’s in your best interest to stay involved. The Tax and Estate Benefits to You Generally an individual—like a grandparent—is subject to a limit on monetary gifts, of $14,000 per year to one individual, in this case, a grandchild. For a married couple, the limit is effectively doubled, to $28,000. That’s a great way to reduce your taxable estate. But if you have grandkids headed for college, a 529 plan is a much better idea. Under the 529 regulations, you can front-load your contributions by putting in up to five years’ worth of gifts at one time. That’s five times $14,000 for an individual ($70,000) or five times $28,000 for a married couple ($140,000), for each grandchild. You can see this cuts a large bite out of your taxable estate and gets the money into a fund where it has time to grow, tax-deferred, for the benefit of the grandkids. However, if you front-load, you can’t make more contributions for another four years. Another benefit, if you are at an age where you must take annual required minimum distributions from your IRAs, you can use those required distributions to fill up your 529 plan.
State Tax Deductions Depending on the state you live in, there may also be a state tax deduction for at least part of your 529 contribution. Most states and the District of Columbia allow a deduction. According to Money Magazine, New York, for example, allows a state tax deduction of $5,000 per year or $10,000 per married couple. Four states allow the full amount of the contribution as a deduction: Colorado, New Mexico, South Carolina, and West Virginia. To find out what your state allows, go to Edvisors.com, and arrow down till you see “jump to,” then click on federal and state income tax impact. You should know, while a plan is offered by one state, this doesn’t mean the child has to attend college in that state. Some states only allow residents, or offer better tax benefits to residents. It makes sense to look at several state programs with your financial planner, to find one that offers the investment choices you desire. Who Should Own the Account? Grandparents who list themselves as the owners of the account may do so because they fear the grandchild’s parents will withdraw the money and spend it for other purposes. But if there is a need for financial aid, this can work against the recipient. Money in a 529 plan that is owned by someone other than the child or the child’s parents is deemed to be “untaxed income” to the beneficiary of the account. That can reduce eligibility for needbased financial aid. So it’s important to think through the consequences before deciding whose name should go on the account. If you already have a 529 plan established and wish to change the account owner, you should be able to do that by filling out a form provided by the plan. You might set up your plan as custodial, where the student is the account owner and beneficiary. If the student is a minor, the grandparents can serve as the custodian until the student reaches the age of majority. Grandparents are then able to control distributions. Suppose you set up a 529 plan for your oldest grandson, and he later decides not to go to college. Or perhaps he wins a full-boat scholarship and does not need the funds. Generally, you can switch the beneficiary to another member of the family without tax consequences. What if None of Your Grandkids End Up Going to College? What happens to the money you’ve socked
away? If you wish, you can change the beneficiary to yourself, and enroll in some college courses. Or you can simply liquidate the account and take the money. As mentioned earlier, there will be tax consequences if the money is not spent for education. Let’s say you have put $25,000 into an account for your granddaughter, who later runs off to backpack across Europe instead of going to college. You can cash in the account and spend it as you wish, but you’ll need to include the $25,000 in your miscellaneous income on your tax return, and pay a ten percent penalty tax on the funds.
How the IRS Knows Your Business (Don’t They Always?) When a withdrawal is taken from a 529
account, the plan issues a Form 1099-Q , Payments from Qualified Education Programs, by February of the following year. The 1099-Q will be issued to the person who took the withdrawals—either the account owner or the account beneficiary—and that person’s Social Security number will appear on it. Some experts recommend that you, the account owner, should have withdrawal checks made out in the name of the beneficiary. Then have the beneficiary endorse the check back to you, so you can supervise the paying of the bills. This way you can control the spending and ensure it is done properly, which is especially important if your Social Security number is going to be associated with the withdrawals. Of course, the IRS also gets a copy of Form 1099Q , so the government knows withdrawals were taken and who the recipient was. Be sure to keep excellent records of all expenses paid with this money. Get Answers It’s best to sit down with your financial planner to get your college funding questions answered. But you may also find answers by going to www.irs.gov/uac/529-Plans:-Questions-and-Answers. And here’s a tip from financial guru Suze Orman: by logging onto savingforcollege.com you may be able to find a 529 plan with lower fees.
What Expenses Can Be Paid with 529 Funds? I’ve seen experts disagree on this. So here’s the scoop straight from the mouth of the IRS: Earnings are not subject to federal tax and generally not subject to state tax when used for the qualified education expenses of the designated beneficiary, such as tuition, fees, books, as well as room and board. Also, qualified purchases now include: computer technology, related equipment and/or related services such as Internet access. The technology, equipment or services qualify if they are used by the beneficiary of the plan and the beneficiary’s family during any of the years the beneficiary is enrolled at an eligible educational institution. “Computer technology” means any computer and related peripheral equipment. Related peripheral equipment is defined as any auxiliary machine (whether online or off-line) which is designed to be placed under the control of the central processing unit of a computer, such as a printer. This does not include equipment of a kind used primarily for amusement or entertainment. “Computer technology” also includes computer software used for educational purposes.
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early half of all grandparents plan to help their grandkids with college costs, according to a 2014 Fidelity Investments study. And more than one-third of those grandparents expect to give at least $50,000 towards those funds. If you’re in that group, you may as well contribute in a way that gives you some tax breaks and/or enhances your estate planning. You’ve probably heard of a 529 plan. It’s a state college saving plans with significant tax advantages. Money which you place in this account grows taxdeferred, and as long as the account withdrawals are spent for qualified higher education costs they end up being tax-free. (See the sidebar for the IRS’s list of what is a qualified expense.)
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Still Runnin’ Down the Dream
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om Petty and the Heartbreakers have produced a huge body of work that has been appreciated by our family for years. The first concert we took both of our children to was The Heartbreakers’ tour supporting Full Moon Fever. Aaron was seven and Erika was five years old—Erika fell asleep in Barbara’s lap but Aaron remembers the concert to this day. As a family we have probably seen six Tom Petty tour concerts over the years. Aaron and Erika are both adults now but remain huge fans. When we mentioned to Erika that we might have a chance to interview Tom Petty she said, “Oh, you have to tell him how important he is to our family, both Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers current lineup. From left: musically and for all the memories of us singing those Scott Thurston, Benmont Tench, Tom Petty, Steve great songs together.” Ferrone, Mike Campbell and Ron Blair. When Tom Petty met Elvis Presley on a movie set as a youngster he traded his slingshot for a guitar. He felt it was something he could do and really wanted to amazing. He is so good there is no interference between give it a whirl. Tom says, “… I went home a changed what he has in his head musically and his fingers on the person. I played Elvis records until my parents worried keyboard.” Of these chance meetings Tom relates, “Two there was something wrong with me… the hook was of the best musicians walked right into my life.” in really deep.” However, when he saw the Beatles on Their song Depot Street was mildly successful but the Ed Sullivan show, he knew right then and there that Mudcrutch was still only a local band at this time. Mudthis is what he was going to do. He was confident that he crutch broke up, as most rock bands do, only to have could achieve his dreams. Tom and Mike eventually ask Benmont back along with Tom was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida in new members Ron Blair on bass guitar and Stan Lynch October 1950. I was born four months later, so not only on drums. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers “family” do we have the same last name, we grew up influenced was complete and would remain together for years. As by the same music during the turmoil of the 60s: Chuck Mike Campbell has said, “It is very difficult to keep a Berry, The Beatles and The Byrds to name a few. rock band together when you don’t know what’s going While Tom’s mother was kind, supportive and loving, to happen next week.” But the Heartbreakers, and Tom’s his father was verbally and physically abusive to this commitment to the band, had become a family. gentle, sensitive and artistic kid. Tom’s way out was The band drove cross-country to L.A. to seek a record music, and he poured himself into it. deal, stopping on the way to meet Denny Cordell (ShelBy the time he was in high school he had formed his first ter Records agent/producer of Leon Russell) in Tulsa. band, The Epics. He was also writing his own songs for the He was trying to head them off from signing another deal group. When Tom went to a friend’s home to talk about in Hollywood. Signing a deal, and how it was negotiated the band, he heard someone playing guitar in another and structured was a crucial moment in Tom Petty and room and went to see who it was. It was Mike Campbell the band’s future—and Tom’s reputation for setting the and after asking him if he could play a specific song Mike music business on its ear to change predatory tactics. responded, “Yeh, I can play that.” At Their 1976 album Tom Petty and the Heartthe song’s completion, Tom told him, breakers included the hit song Breakdown. “Man, you have to be in my band.” It was only mildly successful in America He met keyboard maestro Benbut was well received in Britain. The band mont Tench in a record store and toured Europe and in 1978 toured Britain asked him, “Are you the Benmont with Nils Lofgren. Hit songs on their second Tench who plays piano?” Benmont’s album included I Need to Know and Listen to local reputation had preceded him, Her Heart. They were famous with rock fans and Tom asked him to come and on the continent. play a gig with the band that night. When they came home, it was back on Benmont played the keyboards beauthe road to promote their music, and lo and tifully and fit right into the band. behold, they were almost unknown. DrumThus the core of Mudcrutch—soon mer Stan Lynch asked, “Are we famous in to become The Hearbreakers—was Mike Campbell attacking his guitar Toledo?” The answer was, “Not so much— at the 2010 concert at Walnut Creek. formed. Tom relates, “Benmont is we’re back to taking out the trash.” Photo MarY eLLen MattheWS.
Photo GreG PettY.
That, and many other things, would change with the next record Damn the Torpedoes. MCA sold Shelter Records and the band’s contract said they had to agree to the sale. Tom then found out that the deal they had signed with Cordell robbed Tom of his songwriting publishing and royalty income. Tom went to war against MCA by declaring bankruptcy and defending a lawsuit from the biggest music company in the world. They were in the studio working on Damn the Torpedoes while the court case progressed. Tom told them, “I’ll sell f_ _ _ _ _ peanuts before I give in to you. You can break me but you cannot make records.” In order to never again lose control of his music, he had Crew Chief Alan “Bugs” Weidel hide the day’s recording tapes somewhere and not tell him their location. If he was asked in court where the music was, he could truthfully say he did not know. “Bugs” is still part of the family to this day as is Manager Tony Dimitriades. Someone at MCA finally got smart and granted Petty full copyrights to his songs and music and gave him his own label while dismissing the lawsuit. It has been full steam ahead ever since. Damn the Torpedoes was aptly named by Petty as the slogan for his all-out fight to control his music. The album also put Petty and the band in the forefront of American rockers. The album went platinum because of the still classic Petty tunes such as Don’t Do Me Like That, Refugee and Here Comes My Girl. Since that first 1976 album, Tom Petty, either solo or with the Heartbreakers, has released 15 albums. Per Wikipedia, altogether, they have sold over 80 million records “making him/them one of the best-selling artists of all time.” He and the Heartbreakers have played as the band for the legendary Bob Dylan’s worldwide tours and everyone agrees—it was a perfect match. They count it as one of their highest musical achievements because Bob Dylan really stretched their individual musical talents. Stan Lynch said, “We were playing for our life every night.” The band also served as Johnny Cash’s band for the Grammy winning American Recordings with Producer Rick Rubin. Theses 38 years have brought us several iconic albums from Petty, either solo or with the band, such as Hard Promises (1981), Southern Accents (1985), Full Moon Fever (1989), Into the Great Wide Open (1989), Wildflowers (1994) and Highway Companion (2006). A chance coincidence of meeting of Jeff Lynn at a Hollywood stoplight resulted in a visit to George Harrison’s house and that would morph into The Traveling Wilburys, comprised of music legends Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lyne and Tom—what a lineup. The greatest collection of songwriters in one band ever! Accolades over the years have included UCLA’s George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1996. He was the very first rocker to receive the award for his continued on page 15
Adrienne Pender ~ The Power of Words by Barbara Petty
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o you ever meet someone and you immediately like him or her? Like you know you will be friends? That is how I felt when I met Adrienne Pender at Theatre in the Park in August for our interview for this column. She had the most fetching smile and a warmth about her that was contagious. I ended up sharing my secrets with this woman, feeling that I could trust her with my honesty. Adrienne is the playwright for the upcoming production of Somewhere In Between at Theatre in the Park (TIP), a world premier with which TIP is closing their 2013-2014 season. She and husband Tony Pender are local talent. Adrienne previously wrote The Rocker, a play that TIP produced in 2004. Tony is an actor, director and instructor in and around the Triangle. Adrienne had been active in the theatre all through high school, college and with community theatre, so the theatre bug was planted. The segue for writing a play was a natural. Interestingly, Adrienne wrote The Rocker before she got her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. “When my daughter [Nicole] went off to college, I was heavy into the empty nest syndrome. And writing filled that void,” Adrienne explains. “When Nicole started graduate school, I decided it was time for me to go back to school as well. I found this online master’s degree program. I felt like I needed the tools to help with the technical side of writing, like overcoming writer’s block, plot development, and such. And Somewhere In Between was written for my master’s thesis. “I had a transformative experience in school, and although I wrote The Rocker before I went to college, I would not go back and change a word of it. When I wrote that play, I was hearing the dialogue in my head and I was just transcribing it; it didn’t feel like writing. When you get those moments, it feels like magic, and you just go with it!
“The last scene of this play, Somewhere In Between, I have rewritten the ending seven times! I won’t change it now because they are already in production but when this is over, I know what I want to change before the next production.” I asked Brent Simpson, director of marketing for TIP, how they chose this particular play and he remarked, “David [Ira David Wood, III] had asked me to take a look at several plays for consideration for the next season. And Adrienne had brought us this wonderful work. Well, I read it and I told David, ‘We have to do this!’
Adrienne Pender with Page Purgar and Maggie Rasnick as they discuss the upcoming production of Somewhere In Between. Photo Steve Larson.
“This play is all encompassing. You have race, sexuality, love, jealousy, grief… it’s just everything rolled into one. I think it is going to resonate with people on many, many levels.” The play focuses on McKenna— a young woman who, with the recent passing of her husband, finds herself on an emotional journey as friends and family pull her in different directions. As she tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, it is the arrival of a stranger with a secret who McKenna seems to be able to connect with the most. Twists are turned and shocking secrets are revealed as McKenna discovers the truth lies somewhere in between. Brent continues, “I think the word I would describe the overriding theme of this play is the duality of life—the ying/yang, male/female, black/white.”
“I think the ultimate reason why I wrote the play was to examine the nature of love,” says Adrienne. “Everyone provides love the way they know how, and if you love someone, shouldn’t you accept love as it is given to you? If you try to change that in someone, is that love?” In addition to Somewhere In Between being shown as a world premiere that features a local playwright, the leading production cast members are all female. “David asked me who I wanted to direct, and I think he was assuming I would choose my husband,” Adrienne explains. “But [I thought] wait a second. I think we have an opportunity to do a female production crew. David didn’t even hesitate; he jumped at the chance.” The female technical crew includes: Light Board Operator: Jada Hutchinson; Sound Design: Lormarev Jones; Props: Nora Kelly; Stage Manager: Christine Rapp; Director: Maggie Rasnick; Dresser: Pierce Reeve; Assistant Costumer: Susan Smith; Light Designer: Brett Stegall; Costume Design: Shawn Stewart Larson; Scenic Designer: Carol Winstead Wood; and Assistant Director: Rasool Jahan. Adrienne concludes, “I just hope people come away from watching the play thinking. It is not dominated by one theme, but it covers a lot of ground, and I want them to be thinking about those issues in their lives. It exposes prejudices in a different light. When someone says, ‘I have several black friends,’ it still is categorizing people, and we need to be aware of it when we do that. “The scene in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner explains it best. Where Sidney Poitier is speaking with his father and he says, “You see yourself as a black man. I see myself as a man.” Somewhere In Between runs September 12-28. Theatre in the Park is located in Pullen Park, adjacent to NC State in Raleigh. Tickets are available at 919.831.6058 or online at www.theatreinthepark.com.
extensive songwriting. Other accolades include three Grammy’s, ASCAP’s Golden Note award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, election to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2005 Petty was granted the Billboard Century Award for Lifetime Achievement. The band’s latest release is Hypnotic Eye. This devoted fan—and Rolling Stone magazine—thinks it is right at the top of all of the albums they have released. It is pure Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers straight ahead rock and roll. It immediately soared to number one on the Billboard charts. Mike Campbell’s guitar work delivers on American Dream Plan B, Full Grown Boy and the bluesy Burnt Out Town. Petty’s lyrics are, once again, top-shelf all the way through. Perhaps Jackson Browne stated it best when speaking of their music throughout the years, “It’s the essence of rock and roll. It’s about freedom and rebellion. It’s about the most important stuff—speaking the truth.” Triangle residents can see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Hypnotic Eye tour when it comes to the PNC Arena this month on September 18 . I suggest getting tickets now as this concert/party is sure to be sold out! ———— th
Knees continued from page 9
of the implants remained in proper working order 15 years after the operation. Patients with pain in the front, medial and inside parts of the knee, or who have rheumatoid arthritis or severely deformed knees, will have to resort to the final option of a full replacement. It is still more commonly performed than partials, but the latter is gaining in popularity for those who are appropriate candidates. A full knee replacement typically requires two to three nights in a hospital followed by some physical therapy afterwards. As with all things medically-related, prevention is always the best answer for the problem of knee pain. Maintain an ideal body weight, enjoy a healthy diet, refrain from smoking and follow an active lifestyle with a regular exercise regimen, and you should be able to use your knees without any medical intervention needed. Avoid having any knee surgery as long as you can, and wait until you have to go in screaming and kicking like a kid when you have to do so—assuming your knees will let you kick by then, of course. Dr. Mark Galland is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine, practicing in Wake Forest and North Raleigh. He serves as Adjunct Clinical Professor at Marietta College and team physician and orthopaedic consultant to the Carolina Mudcats. Galland can be reached at 919.562.9410 or by visiting www.orthonc.com or http://drmarkgalland.com.
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Tom Petty continued from page 14
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The Pit and the Petunia
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A Visit to Butchart Gardens by ERnie Witham, Senior Wire
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ecently, we journeyed to Victoria, British Columbia—a reasonably short plane ride from Santa Barbara, California, that the airlines managed to turn into an all-day affair. So, finally, we were having a much-deserved drink at the famous Empress Hotel. “This tequila tastes like tea!” I said to my wife. “It is. Hence the name ‘High Tea.’” “Guess that would explain why we got cookies instead of nachos.” “Those are biscuits—as in tea and biscuits. What are you reading?” she asked. “Horoscope. Today’s says we’ll be going on a wild adventure.” “Well, I don’t normally agree with those things, but it’s true. Tomorrow we are going to Butchart Gardens.” “Butchart Gardens! The amusement park with all the roller coasters? Cool!” “No, that’s Busch Gardens. Butchart Gardens is world-renowned for its thousands and thousands of flowers and unique shrubs on more than 50 acres. It has been in bloom for more than 100 years!”
The Japanese garden where serenity reigns.
My wife was so excited, I decided any further comment such as stabbing myself with a dessert fork would not be wise, so I gulped down the rest of my tea and daintily rubbed my sleeve across my mouth. “Can’t wait,” I said.
The sunken gardens were worth the price of admission.
The first thing I noticed upon arrival at Butchart Gardens was that the parking lot was enormous and the rows were all marked with signs of animals. We were in camel row. “You sure there are no rides? A Ferris wheel maybe? Tilt-a-whirl? Bungee jump?” “Nope. But it says in the brochure they get a million visitors a year,” my wife said. “Seriously?” I want to take a moment here to state that I do like flowers, shrubs and trees. I’m not some kind of anti-nature rube that doesn’t know a rose from another type of flower. “Look at the size of these geraniums,” I said loudly so that everyone would know there was a classy guy in the house, er, garden. “Those are hydrangeas,” my wife whispered. “Look at the size of these hydrangeas,” I said loudly. “They have an amazing sunken garden here,” my wife said. “Is that because of all the rainfall?” “Ah, no.” She seemed ready to explain it, then just said: “This way.” I have to admit that the sunken garden alone was worth the price of admission.
The most amazing part is the fact that the whole thing used to be a pit. “Did you know?” I asked my wife, while reading the large placard out loud, so everyone could once again know I was a class ass, er, act, “that Robert Butchart was a pioneer in the cement industry? And in 1904 he developed this quarry and built a cement plant on Vancouver Island, which even if it’s open for tours I don’t think we’ll have time to visit. Dang it.” I’m sure my wife could see the sadness in my eyes. “When the 1906 earthquake leveled San Francisco, he made a fortune supplying
The Italian garden was alive with color splashes.
cement to rebuild it. Kind of the fall and rise business plan.” “So you like the place?” my wife asked—one of those trick questions. A yes answer could mean visiting every garden in the Western and Eastern world. A no could mean the same thing of course, but without the after-culture-glow romance part. “Right,” I said. “Says here his wife Jennie, who was the company’s chemist and helped establish a family home nearby, decided when the limestone deposit became exhausted, she could make the gigantic pit into a garden. “Kind of like you did with our back patio on numerous occasions.” I started to develop calluses and a sore back just thinking about it. “I’m betting Robert missed many a Sunday afternoon football game.”
The Empress Hotel at Butchart Gardens.
“I’m glad you are so interested, really, but do you have to take photos of every square inch? We still have the Italian, Rose and Japanese sections to visit.” “There’s more?! I mean, great, only I’ll bet you’d like a beer break.” “Actually, that sounds great.” Wow. I just never know sometimes. Three hours and several hundred miles later we headed back for the car. “I guess we’ve done ‘everything’ in Canada now, huh?” I said. “All except the Royal British Columbia Museum,” she said. “We have to get there early tomorrow. I hear it takes all day to see everything.” “After-culture-glow,” I kept telling myself. “After-culture-glow.”
Nehemiah Persoff Retired from Screen to Canvas ince retiring from acting over a decade ago, versatile character actor Nehemiah Persoff has become a successful artist painting from his seaside home in Cambria, California, (see www.nehemiahpersoffpaintings.com). The Cambria Center for the Arts hosted a birthday celebration on August 4 for Persoff, who turned 95 a few days earlier. This included screening a selection of his films, and the artist even auctioned some of his works, donating the proceeds to the Center. In 1989 Persoff experienced a TIA—transient ischemic attack—which is similar to a small stroke and often considered to be a ‘warning stroke.’ “The doctors told me to slow down,” said Persoff from his home. He heeded the medical advice and believes that painting contributed to his recovery.
in the late 1940s, and he became one of Hollywood’s most wise guy a tongue lashing that was devastating—you prolific character actors. Raised in Jerusalem, his natu- didn’t get smart with Bogie!” ral talent for dialects was quickly exploited when Persoff With over 400 film and TV roles to his credit, Persoff moved to Hollywood after a decade of stage and early admits he has forgotten details about some. But he does TV work in New York. Often cast in the role of ethnic recall an episode of Gunsmoke with James Arness in which the villains, he crafted a career playing six and a half foot lawman refused to slick gangsters, ruthless outlaws, yield vertical ground to the 5' 7" Persoff. and menacing military leaders. “I “I was supposed to be a gunman did play many villains, but also who challenged Marshal Dillon,” he diplomats, doctors and scientists,” explained. “I suggested to the direcrecalled Persoff. “So I don’t think I tor that perhaps I might be more of was typecast. I enjoyed playing any a threat if I wore lifts in my shows to character that was well written.” make me taller. So the wardrobe people In his second film, On the Watergave me high heels to make me about front in 1954, Persoff appears on six feet. When I walked on the set and Persoff with one of his paintings. screen for just a few seconds as the showdown came, I looked over at the tense cab driver in the famous Arness and he was suddenly seven feet ‘I could have been a contender’ scene with Marlon tall. He had heard I was getting shoes to make myself taller, Brando and Rod Steiger. Director Elia Kazan offered so he got a pair too and was still a foot taller than me!” him $75 for the role. Today, Persoff enjoys retirement and paints several “There were Brando and Steiger in the back section hours a day while basking in the West Coast sunset, rather of a sawed off car,” said Persoff. “I sat on a milk box with than the Hollywood spotlight. But he gives credit to his Brando and Steiger behind me. When it was first career for helping his second. time for my close-up, Kazan whispered in “When I got a role, I set my sights on being my ear to imagine that ‘the guy behind you able to get under the skin of the character,” killed your mother.’ When I saw the film I he said. “At first it would seem like a formiwas surprised to see how effective the closedable task, but somehow I always got the job up turned out.” done. It’s the same with painting. When you Persoff in The Harder He went on to work with other greats sit in front of a blank canvas, there is a feelincluding Karloff, Cagney, and Bogart on his They Fall with Humphrey ing of ‘I can’t do it’ for many painters. But Bogart and Rod Steiger. final film in 1956, The Harder They Fall. because of my acting experience, I always “He was already very sick and his eyes felt that I could do it, and I did.” teared a great deal,” recalled Persoff of Bogart. “But he Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and had moments when he was very sharp. He wasn’t the sort has written features, columns, and interviews for over 400 magazines of guy you wanted to tangle with. I heard him give one and newspapers. Photo ProvIDeD BY PerSoFF.
Screenshot of Persoff as Little Bonaparte in Some Like it Hot.
“It certainly helped avoid another incident,” he said. “I would recommend to all seniors that they try painting. They will be surprised by their ability, and the peace and calm that concentrating on the painting provides.” Persoff’s screen career spanned six decades, beginning
Photo ProvIDeD BY PerSoFF.
What’s Your Quotation Quotient (QQ)? by ARlen GRossman, Senior Wire 1. “the whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” a. russell Brand B. Bertrand russell C. Bill russell 2. “Immature love says: ‘I love you because I need you.’ Mature love says: ‘I need you because I love you.’” a. Katy Perry B. erich Fromm C. Sigmund Freud 3. “he without benefit of scruples/ his fun and money soon quadruples.” a. ogden nash B. emily Dickinson C. thomas Jefferson 4. “Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are
incapable of forming such opinions.” a. Julius Caesar B. Justin timberlake C. albert einstein
month that I can be myself.” a. Sarah Palin B. eleanor roosevelt C. roseanne Barr
5. “It is part of prudence to thank an author for his book before reading it, so as to avoid the necessity of lying about it afterwards.” a. Charlie rose B. George Santayana C. Benjamin Franklin
8. “Common sense is instinct. enough of it is genius.” a. Wynton Marsalis B. Socrates C. George Bernard Shaw
6. “Sin is a dangerous toy in the hands of the virtuous. It should be left to the congenitally sinful, who know when to play with it and when to let it alone.” a. h.L. Mencken B. Pope Benedict XvI C. Serena Williams 7. “Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the
9. “Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other.” a. robert De niro B. robert Benchley C. robert F. Kennedy 10. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” a. ronald reagan
B. nik Wallenda C. Charles Darwin answers: 1-B, 2-B , 3-a , 4-C , 5-B , 6-a , 7-C , 8-C , 9-B , 10-a Scoring: 10–QQQQ = Quote-Master 8-9–QQQ = Scholar 6-7–QQ = Literate 4-5–Q = Semi-Literate 0-3–no Q = Quote-Dunce BonUS QUote: “to feel that one has a place in life solves half the problems of contentment.”—George e. Woodberry (Woodberry, 1855-1930, was an american literary critic and poet.)
Arlen Grossman lives in Monterey, Calif., and welcomes comments at agross408@aol.com. Enjoy more quizzes at quotationquotient.com.
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TinseltoWn Talks by Nick Thomas
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SEVEN SAVVY TIPS FOR BYOB
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The Wine DecanteR by Lisa EnGleRt
s an avid wine enthusiast and The Wine Decanter columnist for Boom!, I spend lots of time researching this topic. Part of that research involves sampling numerous wines—which I so gladly do in your best interest, my dear readers, but I also follow several wine blogs. A recent post I read by Joy Neighbors on Joy’s JOY of Wine blog (http://joysjoyofwine.blogspot.com/) particularly caught my eye as one that you might find informative, too. Coincidentally, Joy writes a regular wine column for a regional magazine called BOOMER and was kind enough to let me share this with you. Enjoy! BYOB stands for “bring your own: beer, bottle, beverage, booze…” you get the idea. For this post, we’ll keep it to “bottle” for wine. With the prices of a glass or bottle of wine at a restaurant, BYOB may be just the option you’ve been looking for, and numerous restaurants allow it, from the very swanky to moderately priced to your local mom and pop pizza joint. But before you grab that bottle of vino and head out for dinner, there are a few rules and regs you need to know. Check with the restaurant where you will be dining to see if management permits you to bring your own wine. Check the website, or call and ask for the manager or head bartender so that you get the latest restaurant policy information on BYOB. Find out how many bottles you can bring. Some
restaurants will have a limit but usually two will be allowed; that gives you the option of pairing a wine with the entrée and another with dessert. Ask what the corkage fee is. This is a fee the restaurant charges to uncork and serve your wines. (And, yes, this is legal.) The fee is usually around the cost of a glass or two of wine: $5 to $20, although some restaurants will waive the fee if you purchase a certain amount of food, or on designated days as a “special incentive” to visit. Be sure and ask the manager about this. (More expensive restaurants may charge a corkage fee of $50 -$85.) If you find that the corkage fee is too high, it may be because the restaurant is trying to discourage BYOB. Check the restaurant’s website and peruse the menu so that you can pair the wine you will be bringing with the
food available on the menu. And don’t be afraid to ask the wait staff/wine steward/sommelier for suggestions that might go with your bottle of wine. If they are unfamiliar with the wine allow them to taste in order to make a better recommendation. (Good manners: invite them to taste, regardless.) And while you’re checking the website for menu selections, make sure you’re not taking a wine the restaurant already offers. (Yes, I know it’s cheaper, but it’s just bad form.) It’s up to you to have your wine ready to serve when you arrive at the restaurant. If it’s a white wine that needs to be chilled, keep it cool in an insulated wine bag. When you’ve finished, leave the bottle on the table to be cleared with the rest of the meal’s remains. (And please, tip well!) Some of the most BYOB-friendly cities in the U.S. include Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and the state of New Jersey. Remember, the restaurant is allowing you to bring your own bottle: It is not a right; it’s a privilege. Treat it as such, tip well, and hopefully, BYOB will become more available, not just in the larger cities but throughout the country. Lisa Englert is a Boomer entrepreneur. As a Virtual Assistant, she provides administrative support services to consultants, entrepreneurs, business owners and nonprofits—particularly those associated with the wine, culinary, and hospitality industries. For more information, visit virtualme.biz.
Cary Retiree Finds New Way to Serve Others VolunteeRism Submitted by the Autism Society of NoRth CaRolina
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any years ago, Tim Raczniak spent a day taking care of an acquaintance’s son. The man was getting married, and his teen son with Autism Spectrum Disorder needed supervision during the wedding. That experience “left a mark” on him, Raczniak said. The Cary resident already had dedicated his career to serving others, working for pharmaceutical companies in nonclinical testing of drugs. He also mentored students working with him in his laboratory, helping them as they applied to medical schools. “I’ve always wanted to help people,” he said. “I think it’s part of my personality.” But Raczniak’s day with the young man planted a seed. “In the back of my mind, I said, someday I want to devote my energy to helping others in a different way.” So when he retired, Raczniak, 67, looked for a new opportunity. He found one with the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) and Camp Royall, the oldest and largest camp in the United States for individuals on the autism spectrum.
Camp Royall is located on 133 acres outSara Gage, Camp Royall’s director, side Pittsboro and offers programs year said Raczniak’s love for the children and round. Last fall and spring, Raczniak spent desire to serve others shone through as he two afternoons a week there, volunteering volunteered in the afterschool program with ASNC’s afterschool proand more recently during gram for children with autism. summer camp. “He is dediDuring the traditional school cated to our campers and year, trained staff members goes out of his way to make supervise children in small camp a better place. He will groups of one staff member per do whatever job we ask him three participants. The kids to, from preparing arts and take part in outdoor activities, crafts, to cleaning, to helping homework time, group games, with campers and activities.” and gym play. Raczniak also exhibited his Raczniak said working with generosity in tangible ways, the children was a wonderful Gage said. “He never shows up experience. He bonded with at camp empty-handed and is Volunteer extraordinaire one child in particular, a fourso attentive to our needs. If he Tim Raczniak. year-old boy who was mostly sees a supply is low around nonverbal. Raczniak said he could see a dif- camp, he shows up with a trunk full of those ference in the child as the year went on and supplies and more so that our campers do he became more outgoing. “It was amazing, not go without. We are so grateful.” just the interaction that I had with him,” For his part, Raczniak said he was proud Raczniak said. “He brought me a lot of joy. to be part of Camp Royall, where chilAnd I think I brought him joy, too.” dren with autism are able to come and be
themselves, no different from those around them. “I was amazed this summer—there’s basically one counselor for almost every one camper,” he said. “It’s that one-to-one interaction that really makes a difference for these kids.” In addition to his work at Camp Royall, Raczniak volunteered for the Triangle Run/Walk for Autism, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Autism Society of North Carolina. This year, the event is on October 11 in downtown Raleigh, and Raczniak plans to be there again, finding new ways to help others. “I think people as they get older and they change direction from their everyday job that they went to for the last 25 to 30 years, they need to experience different things, and by volunteering, that’s what you do.” The Autism Society of North Carolina welcomes volunteers in many roles. To learn more, please contact Heather Hargrave at hhargrave@autismsociety-nc. org. For more information about the Triangle Run/ Walk for Autism, please go to www.trianglerunwalkforautism.com.
September Calendar by Luan HaRmeson The American Red Cross, Central North Carolina Chapter continues its need for blood donations. take an hour of time to save a life. For triangle locations and schedules: 1.800.448.3543 or www.givelife.org. Duke Regional Hospital offers monthly events that include: Look Good Feel Better; Weight Loss Surgery Support Group; and Stroke Support Group. For meeting dates, times, and information: www.dukeregional. org/events. Lupus Foundation Support Group, 6:30-8pm, Waters edge office Park Conference room, 4917 Waters edge Drive, Suite 250, raleigh. this group meets the fourth thursday of each month. also available is a monthly teleconference series. Info: 877.849.8271 or www.lupusnc.org. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a non-profit weight loss support program that welcomes all. Meetings are weekly throughout nC. First session is free. For dates, times, and locations: 919.621.3613 or www.tops.org. Super Cooper’s Little Red Wagon Foundation is inspired by the courage of Cooper herman, who battled brain cancer for nearly four years before passing away earlier this year at the age of 6. Super Cooper’s Little red Wagon Foundation is dedicated to providing a home away from home for families during their fight against childhood cancer. the foundation operates 3 units, 2 apartments near Duke and one townhouse near UnC hospitals, but there is a great need for more housing. the 5th annual rockin’ run and Family Festival, Sept 20, is the primary fundraiser for the organization, so come and join the fun while supporting this great cause. Join the Master of Ceremonies, eric Montross,
Sept Do You Know Who I Am? Dementia Train-
ing, 7:30am-4pm, Guiding Lights Support Center, 3724 national Dr, raleigh. Info: www.guidinglightsnc.org.
Sept 16 Share To Care: An Event for Guiding Lights, 4pm, Woodland terrance, 300 Kildaire Woods Dr, Cary. Join in for a Chef reveal Party and theme announcement. Info: www.guidinglightsnc.org. Sept 2 CPR/AED First Aid Class, Guiding Lights Support Center, 3724 national Dr, raleigh. For registration and information: 919.371.2062 or www.guidinglightsnc.org. Sept 28 Tar Heel Youth Triathlon, UnC Wellness Center, Cary. three races with two age-specific distances. Info: www.tarheeltriathlon.com. Sept 2
Cornucopia Cancer Support Center’s 10 Annual Golf Tournament, Brier Creek Country Club. not a golfer? Be a sponsor. Info: 919.401.9333 or www. cancersupport4u.org. th
Through Oct 25 Growers Market of FuquayVarina, Saturdays & Wednesdays, 102 n. Main St, Fuquayvarina. an award winning market with fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables canned and baked goods, and more. enjoy live music, and cooking demonstrations. Info: www.growers-market.org. Nov 8-
Annual Forever Family Foundation’s 8 Annual Original Afterlife Conference, 9am-5:30pm, Marriott at rtP, 4700 Guardian Dr, Durham. the Science of Survival of Consciousness: Changing Worldview about the afterlife. Features top organizations presenting the evidence in support of life after death. Info: 631.425.7707 or www.foreverfamilyfoundation.org. th
Resources Artspace, a non-profit visual art center in downtown raleigh, offers educational opportunities for a range of skill levels and ages. offering fun classes for all ages and skill levels is one of artspace’s main goals. For details and the complete list of all classes, visit www.artspacenc.org/classes-education. to register, interested participants should contact artspace at 919.821.2787. Triangle Singles Dance Club has weekly dances, 8:30-11pm, northbrook Country Club, 4905 north hills Dr, raleigh. a singles, 40+ social club. Info: www.trianglesinglesclub.com. Fun Night Square Dance, 7-9:30pm, First Baptist Church, 99 north Salisbury Street, raleigh. anyone can come. It doesn’t matter whether they have ever square danced before or not. Come and bring some friends and/or family and join in the fun. hosted by triangle Square Dance alliance. For dates and info: www.trianglesquaredance.org. The Newcomers Club of Raleigh meets for coffee the first Friday of each month, 10am-12pm, JJ Crowder Masonic Lodge, 9920 Falls of neuse rd, raleigh. Learn more about the organization’s diverse interest groups and events. Info: www.newcomersclubraleigh.org. Arts Access, Inc., a non-profit organization whose mission is to make the arts accessible for people with disabilities, provides audio-described performances. For a listing of performances, dates, and information: www. artsaccessinc.org. Second Journey, an aging in Community organization, featuring events for the second half of life. Watch their website for upcoming events, film series, and seminars. For dates, times, and information: www.secondjourney.org.
Fifth Annual Carolina Classics Car Show a pretty Avanti), and Greg’s favorite, a McLaren supercar. In total there were more than four acres of muscle cars, collectables, street rods and show cars inside the Raleigh Convention Center. New for 2014 were classic motorcycles, race bikes and merchandise.
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reg and I had the pleasure of attending the 2014 Carolina Classics at the Capital, the fastest growing collector car show in the Southeast. We love classic cars—from the custom to the original stock, and this particular collection was impressive. We saw 40’s custom hot rods, 50’s classics, a 60’s Packard (that was my favorite) two Studebakers (including
Put this on your calendar for August 2015. Yes, I know that’s a long ways away, but just look for information next summer or visit www.classicsatthecapital.com.
The car show is kid friendly and offers other events: vendors, classic car movies, demonstrations from the Triangle Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, and giveaways. Visitors can vote for their favorite car in a variety of categories.
Wake County’s Libraries in the Community offers monthly events at selected Wake County Libraries. For a listing of events, dates, times, locations, and information: www.wakegov.com. Gather, 111 W. Chatham St, Downtown Cary, wants readers to know about their craft, gardening, food and business classes. Lead by local entrepreneurs, Gather strives to fill a void in the community by offering successful niche business classes for new and small business owners. also includes a boutique area and tea/coffee shop. For a complete listing of their classes and info: www.gathernc.com. Farm to Fork Cooking Classes, the first Wednesday of every month, Carrboro Farmer’s Market, Carrboro. each class focuses on whatever the farmers have harvested at that time, and are taught by professional culinary instructors. Sponsored by the artsCenter. Info: 919.929.2787 or www.artscenterlive.org.
Sept 4 Writer’s Night “Laughter, Tears and Braids,” 7pm, Wake Forest renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St, Wake Forest. Free and open to the public to anyone who enjoys reading and discussing a good book. Info: 919.435.9567 or www.wakeforestnc.gov.
Sept 7 Applying Technology in the Search of Colo-
nial Roads of the Carolina Backcountry Lecture, 2pm, Joel Lane Museum house, 160 South Saint Mary’s St, raleigh. advanced ticket purchase is required. Info: 919.833.3431 or www.joellane.org.
Sept 1 Unblock & Unleash, 9am-4pm, raleigh Marriott Crabtree valley, 4500 Marriott Dr, raleigh. Four dynamic speakers join forces for a full day of inspiration and transformation for those seeking career and personal fulfillment. Info: www.unblockandunleash.com. Sept 14
State of Conflict Documentary, 2pm, hillsborough Public Library, 137 W. Margaret Lane,
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Cornucopia Cancer Support Center sponsors events and resources to support those journeying with cancer. www.cancersupport4u.org, or call 919.401.9333 for details.
for tons of family fun including a chipped 5K, family bike ride, live music, giant slide, mechanical bull, mobile game unit, live auction, food truck alley, and so much more. For more information and to register, visit www. supercooperswagon.org/.
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Discover the World in Raleigh with Great Food, Great Music and Great Fun
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North Carolina is the 15th most culturally diverse state in America. In celebration of this, the 29th annual International Festival will take place September 19-21 at the Raleigh Convention Center. This must-see event has something for everyone and promises to be a fun learning experience for the whole family. “The foreign-born population in the area continues to grow,” says Melissa Beard, executive director of International Focus, the non-profit organization responsible for the International Festival. “More than 50 percent of the foreign-born population in Wake County have moved to the area since the year 2000.” With Natural Wonders being this year’s theme, representatives from more than 60 diverse cultures will exhibit their countries of origin. Children will also be able to enjoy face painting, storytelling, craft making and games in Sophia’s Courtyard.
The festival also provides opportunities for children living in communities of lesser privilege. “We strive to make the opportunity to Discover the World in Raleigh a reality for area children who may not have access to the resources necessary to attend the festival,” says Beard. To sponsor a child with a ticket, meal voucher and a day of supervised fun and cultural enrichment for only $10, visit www.gofundme.com/ifkids2014. This fun and educational event is only one of the programs offered by International Focus. The organization strives to facilitate cross-cultural exchange, support citizen diplomacy and promote international arts, business, and education. A member-supported nonprofit, International Focus provides North Carolinians the opportunity to participate directly in international affairs programming and meet visitors from around the world. Throughout the year, members are invited to develop connections with dignitaries and entrepreneurs through: • Home hospitality and homestays for international emerging leaders and diplomats • Complimentary access to events focusing on relevant global issues and highlighting visiting international delegations • Free and/or discounted entry into special events and receptions Programs include: The International Visitors Leadership Program a professional exchange program by the U.S. Department of State with more than 4,000 foreign visitors participating annually. Community Connections a program of the United States Agency for International Development designed to promote public diplomacy through the exchange of cultural ideas and values between participants from former Soviet Union countries, local families, and host organizations.
Twenty sidewalk cafes will offer food from around the world, with cooking demonstrations by area chefs. New this year are the tea and coffee houses. This is the place that many of the traditional ethnic musicians will perform. Rounding out the activities are a dance stage with costumed performers and an international bazaar filled with unique gift items and decorative crafts. “We are very excited about the changes being made and new activities being offered this year,” says Beard. “Some highlights include performances by Elikeh, an acclaimed Afro-pop band from DC, La Sonora Dinamita; a popular Colombian musical group; and the Chuck Davis African-American Dance Ensemble.” Tickets are $8 for adults with discounts for seniors, children and groups of ten or more. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit www.internationalfocusnc. The Open World Program adminorg. Keep up to date on performances and activities by liking the festival on Facebook istered by the Open World Leadership @RaleighInternationalFestival and fol- Center is the first and only international exchange agency in the U.S. Legislative lowing on Twitter @intlfestraleigh.
Branch. Current and future leaders from Central Asia and Eastern Europe are provided opportunities to interact with members of Congress, congressional staff, and thousands of other Americans. Single membership is $50 per year and families can join for as little as $75. There are also membership discounts for seniors and students. To become a member visit www.internationalfocusnc.org and complete the short membership form.
North Carolina Symphony Opening Weekend Features Branford Marsalis; Pops Series Opens with West Side Story, Featuring Accompaniment
Two exciting opening weekends are planned in September for the North Carolina Symphony—one for its classical series featuring legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis and conductor Grant Llewellyn September 18-20, and another for its Pops Series September 26-27 that will feature the iconic film West Side Story plus live performance of the soundtrack by the North Carolina Symphony.
West Side Story Tony and Maria.
The Symphony’s classical season opening weekend begins with a performance in Memorial Hall on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Thursday, Sept. 18, with performances again on Friday and Saturday, September 19-20, in Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh. The concerts will feature conductor Grant Llewellyn and guest artist Branford Marsalis in a program that includes Glazunov’s Saxophone Concert, Erwin Schulhoff’s Hot Sonata, Leonard Bernstein’s Divertimento, and Debussy’s La mer. Llewellyn is excited about opening the season with old friend Branford Marsalis; “To be able to build a relationship with a world-class musician over time is a rare and very special experience. In Branford Marsalis, North Carolina has a treasure in its midst, and I am thrilled to continue our collaborative journey in opening this season.”
The performance by the North Carolina Symphony of West Side Story celebrates one of the greatest films of all time. Leonard Bernstein’s electrifying score will be played live, while the newly re-mastered film is projected on the giant screen in high definition. Bursting with drama, excitement and timeless songs—including “Tonight,” “America,” “Somewhere” and many more—West Side Story remains one of the greatest movies ever made. Llewellyn remarked, “Never have I met a more charismatic and simply brilliant communicator than Leonard Bernstein. Those same qualities—charisma and brilliance— permeate the entire score of West Side Story, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.” Grant Llewellyn began his tenure as North Carolina Symphony Music Director in 2004. Llewellyn has led the North Carolina Symphony in innovative performances that include the Blue Skies concerts, two programs that showcased North Carolina traditional music; a staging of the play Amadeus with the PlayMakers Repertory Company; and the affecting memorial concert North Carolina Remembers 9/11, in collaboration with WRAL-TV and UNC-TV. He has conducted the North Carolina Symphony in two critically acclaimed recordings for the Swedish label BIS: American Spectrum with Branford Marsalis and a 2010 release with pianist Yevgeny Sudbin. His latest recording with the North Carolina Symphony is Britten’s Cello Symphony & Sonata with cellist Zuill Bailey on the Telarc label, described by CD Hotlist as “recommended to all classical collections.” NEA Jazz Master, renowned Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and Tony Award nominee Branford Marsalis is one of the most revered instrumentalists of his time. Leader of one of the the Branford Marsalis Quartet, one of the finest jazz groups today, and a frequent soloist with classical ensembles, Mr. Marsalis has become increasingly sought after as a featured soloist with orchestras around the world. For the
Grant Llewellyn and Branford Marsalis. Photo MarK SChUeLLer.
Carolina Ballet Opens Seventeenth Season with Stravinsky’s Firebird—Two Premieres Complete the Program
Carolina Ballet open its 17 season September 11-28, 2014 with a reprise of Robert Weiss’ Firebird, the classic Russian fairy tale ballet, to the music of Igor Stravinsky. Also on the program are two premieres by Weiss and Zalman Raffael. The schedule of performances is as follows: Thursday, September 11 at 8pm Friday, September 12, at 8pm Saturday, September 13, 20, & 27 at 2pm & 8pm Sunday, September 14, 21, & 28 at 2pm When Robert Weiss decided to create new choreography for Firebird in 2002 he explained that he wanted his ballet to be less about the pageantry of earlier versions and more about the dancing. The score for Firebird, composed by Stravinsky in 1910, was commissioned by the great choreographer Fokine for his ballet of the Russian fairy tale. The music became one of the most widely recognized ballet scores of the 20 century. David Heuvel designed costumes for Carolina Ballet’s Firebird that are rich in texture and detail. Heuvel, costume production director at Ballet West, coordinated the five costume shops in the United States and England that built the costumes for Carolina Ballet’s new Nutcracker in 2000; Firebird was his first commission for Carolina Ballet. Heuvel’s designs for Firebird combine with Jeff A.R. Jones’ scenery to create a truly spectacular background for the ballet. When Carolina Ballet performed Firebird in Winston-Salem in the spring of 2003, the Winston-Salem Journal wrote, “It has become a cliché to say that th
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29th Annual
international festival of Raleigh Sept. 19-21
Raleigh Convention Center
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Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony gives more than 200 performances annually to adults and school children in more than 50 North Carolina counties. Based in downtown Raleigh’s Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and an outdoor summer venue at Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C., the Symphony performs about 60 concerts annually in and around the Triangle. For more information visit ncsymphony.org.
a work takes our breath away, but in this case, the phrase aptly describes the dynamic combination of subtlety, athleticism and color that imbues this timeless classic.” Former Carolina Ballet dancer Zalman Raffael was appointed Choreographer in Residence upon his retirement from dance in May. Zalman is a two time recipient of the prestigious New York Choreographic Institute Fellowship grant and has already choreographed four ballets for Carolina Ballet dancers. For this opening program of the season, Zalman Raffael is creating a ballet to Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3. At the end of the 2014-2015 season, Carolina Ballet will present Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, which Raffael created a year ago for the New York Choreographic Institute and presented the ballet in a studio setting upon completion of the choreography. The May 2015 performance will be the ballet’s stage premiere. Raffael grew up in New York City and attended the School of American Ballet (founded by George Balanchine as the school of New York City Ballet). He came to Carolina Ballet in 2005 as a member of the corps de ballet. Robert Weiss is also creating a new ballet for the company and he has chosen another one of Stravinsky’s work, Symphony in C, which he composed in 1938-1940 in France and Switzerland, and in the United States. He wrote the music during a very turbulent period of his life, recovering from tuberculosis which took his wife and daughter in 1938 and 1939; and after moving to the United States to escape the Nazis at the beginning of World War II. He wrote the first two movements in Europe and the last two in the United States in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Hollywood. The symphony had its premiere with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1940 under Stravinsky’s direction. Tickets may be purchased through the Carolina Ballet box office at 919.719.0900 or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.982.2787 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Student tickets are available at the theatre half an hour before the show for a reduced rate. Carolina Ballet, Inc. has rapidly taken its place among America’s premier arts organizations. Under the innovative direction of artistic director Robert Weiss, with a talented company and fiscally responsible management and community support, Carolina Ballet exposes audiences to traditional ballet by legendary masters and new works of contemporary choreographers. This 17th season represents the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and ever-increasing quality of life experienced here in North Carolina.
Tickets Available Online at www.internationalfocusnc.org
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Great Food
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last ten years, Mr. Marsalis has been a resident of Durham, and has quickly become a key figure in North Carolina’s cultural life. In 2010, he organized a sold-out benefit for the North Carolina Symphony that featured Grant Llewellyn, and performers from North Carolina and around the country. He received the North Carolina Award in 2011 for his contributions to the state. For more information about these concerts, and for information about the 2014-15 season, please visit www.ncsymphony.org.
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Cultural Bazaars
Kids Activities Exquisite Dance
World Music DISCOVER THE WORLD
International
FOCUS facebook.com/RaleighInternationalFestival twitter.com/intlfestraleigh
Calendar continued from page 19 hillsborough. Sponsored by League of Women voters. Bill Moyer’s documentary in free and open to the public. Info: 919.245.2525 or www.lwvodc.org.
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PRIMETIME Business Expo & Business After Hours, 4:30-7:30pm, Sheraton Chapel hill hotel, one europa Dr, Chapel hill. Sponsored by Chapel hillCarrboro Chamber of Commerce. orange County’s largest business expo with vendors from numerous businesses. Free and open to the public. Info: 919.967.7075 or www.carolinachamber.org.
Sept 20
Travel
Sept 20-21 Carolina Tiger Rescue’s Wildlife Film-
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Fest, Full Frame theater, 318 Blackwell St, Durham. We invite all to come out and celebrate the talent and importance of wildlife filmmakers and their films that educate and inspire audiences. there will be lots of fun things for all members of the family including hands-on activities, educational activities and panel discussions. Be a sponsor or volunteer. Info: www.carolinatigerrescue.org.
Sept 2 Catalyzing Community: An Evening with
Diana Leafe Christian, 7pm, UnC Friday Center, Chapel hill. Part of aging in Community Forums, she will speak about five ground-breaking community experiments, and the pioneer ‘burning souls’ who asked, “Why not?” Info: 919.968.2087 or www.charleshouse.org.
Sept 0
ICON (Issues that Confront Our Nation) Lecture, 7pm, extraordinary ventures, 200 S. elliot rd, Chapel hill. Bill adair, founder of PolitiFact, will be discussing media events and fact checking the 2014 election. Info: www.inonlectureseries.com.
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16TH ANNUAL
TRIANGLE RUN/WALK
FOR AUTISM
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH • MOORE SQUARE • 9 AM
5K Competitive Race • 5K Run/Walk • 1 Mile Run/Walk • Kids’ Dash
trianglerunwalkforautism.org
Lane Museum house, 160 South Saint Mary’s St, raleigh. Dr. MacKethan will introduce participants to the words, speeches, poetry, and narratives of north Carolina slaves and “free people of color.” their stories dramatize their struggle to be free long before the Civil War finally made them american citizens. Info: 919.833.3431 or www.joellane.org.
Oct 4
Plant Walk & Talk & Fairy Garden Class, 10am & 11am, Garden hut, 1004 old honeycutt rd, Fuquay-varina. registration is requested. Info: 919.552.0590 or www.nelsasgardenhut.com.
SATURDAY,
Oct 2 Was I Born For This? NC Slave Voices, 7pm, Joel
Sept 1
If Your Life Were A Business, Would You Invest In It? 9am-5pm, 240 Leigh Farm road, Durham. Part of the Life Business Program. Info: www.lifebiz.biz.
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Figure Skating Championships Poster Competition. For eligibility, entry forms, and information: www.greenhillnc.org.
Deadline for Call for Artists in 2015 US
Handbell Techniques Workshop, 9am-4pm, raleigh ringers Central, raleigh. Info: 919.847.7574 or www.rr.org.
Dec -11 Christmas Markets of Germany & Austria. travel with Boom. Info: www.boomnc.com.
Volunteers Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Durham County has opportunities for people 55 years of age and over who are eager to use their skills to serve the area near them. rSvP staff interviews volunteers and match them to opportunities available through one of many local agencies registered with rSvP for recruitment assistance. Current volunteerism is needed in: Computer Instruction; history Guides; healthy Future for older adults; hospitality for International visitors; Consulting Services to nonprofits; tutoring elementary Students; receptionists for nonprofits; Crocheting Shawls for Patients; hospital auxiliary; and more. to learn more about these or other opportunities, contact the rSvP agency in your county or go online to find an upcoming volunteer Information Session. Durham Co rSvP 919.536.7247 or rsvpdurhamnc@durhamtech.edu. The Volunteer Center of Durham serves the triangle area and works toward connecting volunteers with area non-profits. they offer a new online volunteer
Durham Center for Senior Life Legacy Awards Breakfast, 8:30-10am, the Cotton room at Golden Belt, Durham. Info: www.dcslnc.org.
Activities for Children The Museum of Life & Science, 433 W. Murray ave, Durham, is pleased to announce its September special activities highlighted by Buy Ducks to benefit Farmyard; Pumpkin Patch express; tinker tech after School Club; Butterfly house tours; and Cardboard Challenge. For a complete schedule, dates, times and information: 919.220.5429 or www.ncmls.org. NC Museum of History, raleigh, offers special September programs, concerts and exhibits for children and families such as: aw nuts! time for tots; the Corner Cure-all; home remedies history hunters; Storytime in the Gallery; Photography Workshop; and more. For schedules and information: 919.807.7900 or www. ncdcr.gov/ncmoh. The NC Museum of Art, 2110 Blue ridge rd, raleigh, has continuous monthly activities and events for children and families such as Weekend Family-Friendly tours; What’s In the Box; and Family Fun Saturdays. For a complete listing of event details: www.ncartmuseum.org. Marbles Kids Museum & IMAX Theatre, 201 e. hargett St, raleigh, offers special September events and activities for children highlighted by Buckeroo Breakfast for Grandparents and Grandchildren; and cityBuild. their monthly calendar events includes weekly, continuing activities of: Move & Groove; MakeShop; artrageous; energy Innovators; Garden Sprouts; Science Solvers; and Story explorers. the IMaX 3D theater also has a calendar of movies. For a complete listing of activities, dates, and information: 919.834.4040 or www.marbleskidsmuseum.org.
Flix4Kidz, 10am, Second Monday of each month, Wake Forest renaissance Center, 405 S. Brooks St, Wake Forest. Free family-friendly movie showings. Will show only G or PG-rated children’s and family films. Concessions, including popcorn and soft drinks, will be available for purchase. Info: 919.435.9428 or www.wakeforestnc.gov. Wake County Public Library System continues their programs for children to incorporate every Child ready to Succeed. their goal is to educate parents and caregivers on the skills they can use at home to help prepare children for success in school. the library system offers nearly 150 weekly programs for children. For programs, dates, times, locations, and information: www. wakegov.com/libraries/events. Second Saturdays, locations at historic sites all over nC. Part of the nC Dept. of Cultural resources where all 37 historic sites, history museums and art museums schedule special “2nd Saturdays” events. For locations and more information: www.2ndSaturdaysnC.com. The JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl rd, raleigh, wants children to visit them for their September special events like afternoon adventure; Cub Scout Morning: Let’s Go outside; and take a Child outside Week. Start an adventure of learning. For dates, times, and information: www.jcra.ncsu.edu.
Sept 2 & 16 The Three Bears, 11am, holly Springs
Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St, holly Springs. Info: 919.567.4000 or www.hollyspringsnc.us.
Sept 26-Nov 1 Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train @ Halloween Festival, tweetsie railroad, Blowing rock. Guests will enjoy a frightfully spooky ride as the Ghost train howls its way through the Blue ridge Mountains, along with a Freaky Forest, the Boneyard, the
Wake Tech Continuing Education offers courses for career development or personal interest, especially for adults 50 and over.
Visit our Plus 50 EXPO and find out more about our courses, take part in our workshops, and meet our vendors.
October 7, 2014 Noon–6 p.m.
Northern Wake Campus 6600 Louisburg Road Raleigh, North Carolina
Speaker: Dr. Allen Mask, M.D. Host, WRAL Health Team
To REGISTER for the event go to:
plusfifty.waketech.edu
mystifying Warp tunnel, a haunted house; and more. Info: 877.893.3874 or www.tweetsie.com.
Activities for Adults NC Museum of History, raleigh, offers interesting September programs, concerts, exhibits and activities highlighted by national Grandparents Day at the Museum; nC’s Bluegrass tradition with Joe newberry; the Scottish referendum: a Peaceful Independence?; Bluegrass in the Garden; From talking to talkin’tar heel; and more. through May 2015 visit Free Bluegrass exhibit with performances, programs, and jam sessions. For schedules and information: 919.807.7900 or www.ncdcr.gov. The NC Museum of Art, 2110 Blue ridge rd, raleigh, has September exhibits and events highlighted by outdoor Concert and Movie Series; Sacred Motherhood: Mother and Child representations from the Permanent Collection; Paperhand Puppet Intervention; the head and the heart; and happy valley Pals Sights & Sounds presented by the raleigh Chamber Music Guild. the museum also offers lectures, classes, book clubs, and discussion groups. For dates, times and information: 919.839.6262 or www.ncartmuseum.org. The Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (DECPA), raleigh, has September performances that include: Firebird; nC Symphony Classical Series; West Side Story; and rhonda vincent & Gene Watson; and more. For a complete listing of events, dates, times, and information: 919.831.6060 or www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com. The Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), 123 vivian St, Durham, hosts performances in September of Dirty Dancing; the temptations & the Four tops; and nick Swardson taste It tour. For dates, times, tickets and information: 919.688.3722 or www.dpacnc.com. PNC Arena, raleigh, announces for September Demi Lovato, and tom Petty & the heartbreakers. Info: 919.861.2300 or www.thepncarena.com.
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+50 Free
EVENT
For more information or to register: Toinette Young 919-532-5851 tmyoung@waketech.edu
Katrina Moore 919-532-5818 klmoore5@waketech.edu
The Not So Normal 5K + Weekend: Carrboro and Chapel Hill Family-Friendly Festivities
T
he Not So Normal 5K+ Weekend, a three-day celebration of community and philanthropy, kicks off September 12 and introduces a lineup of activities in Carrboro and Chapel Hill, culminating with a 5K race and outdoor country music concert Sunday, September 14. From date nights with babysitting options to activities for kids, there will be something for everyone to enjoy all while raising money for deserving charities. The best part, 100 percent of proceeds from 5K registration fees go directly to nonprofits. Family-friendly events include: • Friday and Saturday Night (September 12 and 13): Kids’ parties each night, babysitting options, restaurant specials, comedy shows, outdoor movie and a Carrboro Art Walk, “Meet the Merchants.” • Sunday Morning (September 14): • The Not So Normal 5K race…well, almost. We shortened to 2.95 miles to make it flatter and easier. Why? It’s not so normal! Active families will run or walk this fun run. Registration is just $25 and children eight and under run for free! Participants are asked to bring one book for Book Harvest and/or two canned goods for TABLE and PORCH. • Kids’ races, obstacles, face painting and tons of family-fun activities. • Sunday Night (September 14): Frankie Ballard Live Presented by 94.7 QDR and The Not So Normal 5K + Weekend. Hosted at University Mall in Chapel Hill, the concert will feature country star Frankie Ballard, opening acts Casey Jamerson, Stereosparks and The BuzzTown Band, and DSI Comedy Theater warming up the crowd. The concert benefits The ArtsCenter, NC Children’s Promise and Kidzu Children’s Museum. Tickets are $9.47 and can be purchased online. A full weekend of fundraising for local nonprofits, enjoying time in your community and a great 5k… Learn more by visiting, www.notsonormal5k.com.
boom nc.com 7.14
Oct 2
The Town of Cary and Cary Arts Center sponsors performances and events for adults and families. also check the town of Cary’s website for class offerings and art exhibitions. For a complete listing of events, dates, locations, and information: 919.460.4965 or www. townofcary.org.
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matching system called handsontriangle. they represent over 700 non-profits and all their services are free. For a full list of their volunteer needs, and information: 919.613.5105 or www.handsontriangle.org.
Calendar continued from page 23
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The Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St, Durham, wants readers to attend September’s performances of John Hodgeman; Justin Townes Earle; Keb’ Mo’ and Maysa. For a complete list of performances, dates, times, tickets, and information: 919.560.3030 or www.carolinatheatre.org.
calendar
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The ArtsCenter, 300G E. Main St, Carrboro, has September performances and events highlighted by Steve Forbert with Bruce Piephoff; Jonathan Edwards; Sarah McQuaid; and The Chuckle & Chortle Comedy Show. For a complete calendar of events, dates, times, and information: 919.929.2787 or www.artscenterlive.org. The Temple Theatre, 120 Carthage St, Sanford, presents their September calendar with Oklahoma; Eat Your Heart Out; and James Ethan Clark & The Renegades. Info: 919.774.4415 or www.templeshows.com. Carolina Performing Arts, UNC-Chapel Hill, continues their season in September with An Evening of Yakshagana; Liz Magic Lazer; Dorrance Dance: The Blues Project; The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra;and more. For a complete listing of performances, dates, times, and information: 919.843.3333 or www.unc.edu/performingarts. Duke Performances, Duke University, Durham, has a season full of performances that for September continues with Campbell Brothers: John Coltrane; Vieux Farka Toure; Ciompi Concert No. 1; Now Now Oh Now; and more. For a complete schedule of dates, times, locations, tickets and information: 919.660.3356 or www.dukeperformances.org. The North Carolina Symphony will begin their Triangle 2014-2015 season in September with Branford Marsalis & Grant Llewellyn; and West Side Story with the film. For dates, times, locations, tickets and information: 919.733.2750 or www.ncsymphony.org. Burning Coal Theatre Company, Meymandi Theatre at Murphy School Auditorium, Raleigh, presents a September full of performances. The Shape of the Table; Pentecost; and The Prisoner’s Dilemma. For dates, times, and information: 919.834.4001 or www.burningcoal.org. Common Ground Theatre, 4815B Hillsborough Rd, Durham, hosts September performances of Transactors Improv; Third Date; and Fatmouth Improv. For dates, times, and information: 919.384.7817 or www.cgtheatre.com. The Town of Cary and Cary Arts Center performances continue. Also check the Town of Cary’s website for class offerings and art exhibitions. September brings the Raining Cats & Dogs; Kim Wempe; and Wait Until Dark. For a complete listing of events, dates, locations, and information: 919.460.4965 or www.townofcary.org. The Town of Apex and Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 N. Salem St, Apex, presents September events of 40 East; Family Dance; and The Raleigh Symphony Orchestra’s Close to Home. For dates and information: 919.249.1120 or www.thehalle.org or www.apexdowntown.com. Holly Spring Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St, Holly Springs, wants readers to attend their September events of The Three Bears; When the Livin’ Was Easy; and The Association. Info: 919.567.4000 or ww.hollyspringsnc.us.
The Arts Council of Moore County welcomes September with events of the Franklinville Deep River Festival; the 2 Annual Daily Vincent Festival; and the 9 Annual Pinehurst Oktoberfest. The Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines has performances of First Friday Free Outdoor Concert, and ACMC Classical Concert Series. For dates, times, locations, and information: 910.692.2787 or www. mooreart.org.
The Plaza at 140 West Franklin in Chapel Hill continues its calendar of events. This outdoor public space is designed to encourage recreation and leisure, bringing the performing arts alive, and engaging the downtown community by creating a place for everyone. Come experience music, art, and interactivities. For a complete listing of events, dates, times, and information: www.plaza140westfranklin.squarespace.com.
The NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, for September, hosts Benefit Concert; Unity in the Community Day; Greek Festival; and Mexican Independence Day. Info: 919.821.7400 or www.ncstatefair.org.
Senior Game Day, Durham County’s Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Rd, Durham. Join in every other week for a little friendly competition with old and new games. For dates, times and info: 919.560.8648 or www.meetup.com/senior-game-day.
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The M.A.I.N. (Music, Arts, Innovation and Noise) Event for September features events of the Hopscotch Design Festival; Forward Triangle; Raleigh Innovation Summit; and World of Bluegrass. The mission of the partners’ collaboration is to promote and build awareness of this vast array of fun. For dates, times, locations, and information: www.raleighmainevent.com. A Southern Summer Series, Southern Village, 400 Market St, Chapel Hill. Series includes Outdoor Movie on the Village Green@Dusk on the Village Green, farmer’s market, and live concerts. All running through Sept 18. More can be seen at www.southernvillage.com. New Midtown Bluegrass Series Sunday Ramble in the Park, 5pm, Midtown Park, North Hills, Raleigh. September features Front Country. Presented by PineCone. Info: www.northillsevents.com. Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Regency Park, Cary, hosts September events. They include Pickin’ in the Pines with Old Habits; Tommy Edwards & Carolina Lightning; Grass Cats; Acoustic Manner; and The Dragon Boat Festival. For dates, times, tickets, and info: 919.462.2025 or www.boothamphitheatre.com. Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. McDowell St, Raleigh, continues its summer season with Slightly Stoopid; David Gray; Sarah Brightman; Old Crow Medicine Show; Boston; and Fresh Beat Band. For dates, times, and info: 919.996.8800 or www.redhatamphitheater.com. Walnut Creek Music Pavilion, 3801 Rock Quarry Rd, Raleigh, still has summer performances of Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line & Tyler Farr; 95X Big Shindig: Fitz and The Tantrums & Fuel; and Kings of Leon, Young the Giant & Kongos. Walnut Creek finishes out their season with the Zac Brown Band on Oct 9. Info: 919.831.6400 or www.walnutcreekamphitheatre.com. Dance Seen: First Friday Gallery Walks take place the first Friday of each month at Arts Together, 114 St. Mary’s St, Raleigh. Event features The Even Exchange Dance Theatre. Free and open to the public. For time and information: 919.828.2377 or www.evenexchange.com. UnWined, 237 Center Grove Church Rd, Moncure, invites all to their special events highlighted by musical performances, tastings, and food accompanying First Fridays with Bella Donna’s Grilled Pizza; and 2 & 4 Saturdays with Chef Bill. September brings performances by BFree DJ Back to School Hop; Grit Lickers; Joshua Jones; and Brenda Linton & Tony Sullivan. Come relax, enjoy their uniqueness, and unwind. For dates, time, and info: 919.548.9384 or www.unwinednc.com. nd
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CONTEXT I CLAUDE HOWELL
Goats On Parade is coming to Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. Galloway Ridge Retirement Community is hosting the first ever Goat Parade, a public art installation and tour, to benefit the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center and the Chatham County Council on Aging. Extraordinary local artists will paint the life-size goat statues, which will be auctioned off during a gala on Nov 14. For information on the painting, unveiling, locations of goats, and gala: www.gallowayridge.com. The Cotton Company, 306 S. White St, Wake Forest, features September events like Dick Larsen’s Artist for Art After Hours, and Ladies Night Fall Fashion Show. For dates, times, and information: 919.570.0087 or www. thecottoncompany.net. Paula Snyder will add September performances to her calendar that feature the Downtown Cary Farmer’s Market, and 12 Annual Pottery Fest. For dates, times, locations, and information: www.pcsnydermusic.com. th
Sept 2-7 Rodney King, Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre, UNC-Chapel Hill. Part of PlayMakers PRC2 Season, a poetic, rhythm-charged look at the flawed everyman behind the myth. Info: www.playmakersrep.org.
Sept 5 The Hot Sardines, 8pm, Talley Student Center Ballroom, NCSU-Raleigh. Part of the NCSU Center Stage Season. Info: 919.515.1100 or www.ncsu.edu/arts. Sept 5-21 A Raisin In The Sun, St. Francis of Assisi Clare Hall, 11401 Leesville Rd, Raleigh. Presented by Justice Theater Project. Info: 919.264.7089 or www.thejusticetheaterproject.org. Sept 5-21 Zanadu, North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre, Greystone Village Shopping Center, Raleigh. This hilarious, roller skating, musical adventure about following your dreams despite limitations. Info: 919.866.0228 or www.nract.org.
Sept 6 2
Annual Garden Party, 1-4pm, Gardens in Fuquay-Varina. Adult guests will partake in a luncheon, entertainment, a hat contest and raffles within the beautiful gardens. Info: www.fuquayvarinagardenclub. weebly.com. nd
Sept 6 Christmas with the Karountzoses, 3:30pm & 6pm, Needham B. Broughton High School Auditorium, 723 St. Mary’s St, Raleigh. All the Greek relatives over for Christmas, what could possibly go wrong? Proceeds benefit Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Info: 919.781.4548 or www.holytrinityraleigh.org. Sept 6 Bluegrass at Moorefields, 7pm, 2201 Moore-
fields Rd, Hillsborough. Four bands, food trucks, beer & wine. Info: www.moorefields.org.
Sept 6 Music on Main Music Series with Swift Creek, 6pm, Streets of Southpoint, Durham. Info: www. swiftcreekmusic.com. Through Sept 7 Hairspray, Raleigh Little Theatre, 301 Pogue St, Raleigh. This romantic treat is full of surprises, energetic dance numbers, and bigger than life hair. Info: 919.821.3111 or www.raleighlittletheatre.org.
Through Sept 7 Cedar Creek Gallery National
Teapot Show IX, Cedar Creek Gallery, 1150 Fleming Rd, Creedmoor. Featuring over 200 teapots by more than 160 of America’s most accomplished craftspeople. Info: www.cedarcreekgallery.com.
Through Sept 7
Durham Arts Council’s Exhibitions, 120 Morris St, Durham. Featured exhibits are Domesticity, Coffee Talk, and Mapping the Intangible. Info: 919.560.2719 or durhamarts.org.
Sept 7
American Mavericks featuring Mallarme Chamber Players, 3pm, PSI Theatre, Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St, Durham. Info: 919.560.2788 or www.mallarmemusic.org.
Sept 8 Western Wake Farmers’ Market Night at Little Hen Restaurant, 5pm, 5160 Sunset Lake Rd, Apex. A portion of the proceeds will benefit WWFM. Little Hen offers fresh, local farm-to-table cuisine and supports local farms and farmers markets by putting onto plates what is fresh, seasonal, and as far as possible, devoid of all that mass production. Come support local food and farm-to-table restaurants. Info: www.littlehennc.com. Sept 10 David Mayfied, 9pm, The Pour House Music Hall, Raleigh. Bluegrass performer, writer and entertainer. www.thepourhousemusichall.com
Sept 5-25 We Are Mixed Media Exhibit, Blake Street
Through Sept 10
Sept 5-Nov 1 Render at Artspace, Artspace, 201 E.
Sept 11-14 The Tea Party Exhibit, Blake Street Shops, 300 Blake St, Raleigh. Come see the creative teapots, spoons, cups, saucers, and table coverings. Info: 919.529.4627 or www.purplebarnstudios.com.
Through Sept 6 Suddenly and With Joy Exhibit, Craven Allen Gallery, 1106 ½ Broad St, Durham. Paintings by Linwood Hart and pottery by Brad Tucker. Info: 919.286.4837 or www.cravenallengallery.com.
Sept 11-28
Shops, 300 Blake St, Raleigh. Presented by Purple Barn Studios with works by the Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild. Info: 919.529.4627 or www.purplebarnstudios.com. Davie St, Raleigh. New exhibition deals with the figure in ways both familiar and surprising. Info: 821.2787 or www.artspacenc.org.
Bloomin’ Hot Exhibit, Wake Forest Art & Frame Shop, 139 S. White St, Wake Forest. Featuring watercolors by Bonnie J. Becker. Info: 919.562.1688 or www.wakeforestframeshop.com.
Firebird, DECPA, Raleigh. Performed by the Carolina Ballet. Info: 919.719.0900 or www.carolinaballet.com.
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T H U R S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 5 , 6 : 3 0 P M a t G A L L E R Y C Context, a lecture series presented by Gallery C, focuses on one influential artist, or a particular school of art, and is designed to help art lovers understand the historical environment in which artists worked and created their art. Examples of related work is on exhibit in conjuction with the program’s theme. This installment of Context will feature a showing of the PBS documentary film, The Quality of Light: A Biography of Claude Howell (1915-1997). Howell, a Wilmington-born artist, is often thought of as the “Dean of North Carolina Art”, a title earned by virtue of his widespread influence on the arts in North Carolina through his painting, murals, and as an educator. Following the screening, Mark Spano, the film’s producer and director, will share his personal insight into the artist and also talk about his own current projects.
Mending Nets: Sunny Day Claude Howell, serigraph 1976, 21/300, 22x27 inches
L to R, Sandy Freeman (photographer), Mark Spano and Claude Howell
Seating is limited, RSVP required. 5 4 0 N . B L O U N T S T, R A L E I G H , N C , 919 . 8 2 8 . 316 5 • G A L L E R Y C . N E T
John Oates, October 9 Best known as half of the rock/ soul duo Hall & Oates, John Oates is a guitarist, singer and co-writer of many of the duo’s biggest hits including Sara Smile, She’s Gone and Out of Touch. The Classic Rock Experience, October 24 One of America’s all time great rock and roll shows performing a collection of classic 70s tunes. Pure Prairie League, November 1 American countryrock band whose 70’s hits included Amy and I Can’t Stop This Feelin’ still perform over 100 shows a year.
In Between by Adrienne Earle Pender A World Premiere
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2014-2015 Great Performance Series
The Clean Comedy Series
Jerry Carroll, October 10 Hilarious true stories from the farm, Jerry’s relatable topics about everyday life crack up the most hardto-please crowds.
September 12-28 theatreinthepark.com 919-831-6936
Fletcher Opera Theater September 11–28
OPENING WEEKEND!
Branford Marsalis & Grant Llewellyn THUR, SEPT 18, 2014 | 7:30PM
Fletcher Opera Theater October 9–26
MEMORIAL HALL, UNC-CHAPEL HILL
FRI/SAT, SEPT 19-20, 2014 | 8PM MEYMANDI CONCERT HALL, RALEIGH
West Side Story
with remastered film in HD CarolinaBallet.com | 919-719-0900 Ticketmaster.com | 800-982-2787
media sponsored by
sponsored by
boom nc.com 7.14
Somewhere
FRI/SAT, SEPT 26-27, 2014 | 8PM MEYMANDI CONCERT HALL, RALEIGH
Tickets on sale now!
ncsymphony.org | 919.733.2750 See participating sponsors at ncsymphony.org/contribute
Calendar continued from page 24
Sept 11-28 Oklahoma, temple theatre, 120 Carthage
St, Sanford. rodgers & hammerstein’s landmark musical is set in Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century. Info: 919.774.4415 or www.templeshows.com.
Sept 12 Steve Forbert with Bruce Piephoff, 8pm, the
artsCenter, 300G e. Main St, Carrboro. Info: 919.929.2787 or www.artscenterlive.org.
Sept 12-14 The Annual Creek Festival, Jim Graham Building, nC State Fairgrounds, raleigh. taste handmade, authentic Greek food, hear live music and see traditional dances. a portion of the proceeds will be donated to habitat for humanity of Wake County. Info: www.greekfestivalraleigh.com.
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Sept 12-28 Somewhere In Between, theatre in the Park, 107 Pullen rd, raleigh. twists are turned and shocking secrets are revealed in that the truth always lies somewhere in between. Info: 919.831.6936 or www. theatreinthepark.com.
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Sept 17-Oct 5 Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Paul Green theatre, Center for Dramatic art, 150 Country Club rd, Chapel hill. Comic acting raised to the level of high art. Info: 919.962.7529 or www.playmakersrep.org. Sept 18
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 7:30pm, PnC arena, raleigh. With special guest Steve Winwood. Info: 919.861.2300 or www.thepncarena.com.
Sept 18
EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE & EXTRAORDINARY THEATRE
WAIT UNTIL
DARK
An Electrifying Thriller by Frederick Knott
September 26-28; October 3-5
It’s A Wonderful Life performed As a live radio play
A Holiday Classic
THE BEST OF
Love Bits & Bites Scenes, Songs & Sweets... Celebrating the many aspects of love
February 13-14 & 20-22, 2015
Legally Blonde THE MUSICAL
OMG! Fun for the entire family!
December 4-8, 2014
April 24-26 & May 1-3, 2015
SEASON & INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! LOVE BITS & BITES AT THE PAGE WALKER ARTS & HISTORY CENTER ALL OTHER SHOWS AT THE CARY ARTS CENTER
for the Performing arts, Louisburg College, Louisburg. Part of the allen de hart Concert Series. Info: 919.497.3300 or www.louisburg.edu/concertseries.
Sept 26-Oct 5 Wait Until Dark, Cary arts Center, 101 Dry ave, Cary. Presented by Cary Players Community theatre Company. Info: 919.469.4061 or www.caryplayers.org.
Sept 27 Dragon Boat Festival, 9am-4pm, Koka Booth
Dirty Dancing, DPaC, Durham. Part of the Suntrust Broadway Series. Info: 919.680.2787 or www.dpacnc.com.
PROUDLY PRESENTS ITS 2014-2015 SEASON OF
Sept 26 The Band of Oz, 7:30pm, Seby Jones Center
Sept 16 Tennessee Williams’ Timeless Masterpiece Sept 16-21
www.caryplayers.org
theatre, nCSU-raleigh. hysterical and yet touching, the message is still wonderfully relevant 78 years after it premiered. Info: 919.515.1100 or www.ncsu.edu/theatre.
Sept 26-Oct 26 Discoveries Exhibit, hillsborough Gallery of arts, 121 n. Churton St, hillsborough. Paintings by Lolette Guthrie and Michele Yellin, and fused glass by Mark Kinsella. Info: 919.732.5001 or www.hillsboroughgallery.com.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” Screening in U.S, 7pm, theaters in Cary & raleigh. Info: www.fathomevents.com.
Community Theatre Company
Sept 25-Oct 5 You Can’t Take it With You, titmus
Sept 14 Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival of the Triangle, 3pm, St. Michael’s episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury rd, raleigh. Presented by raleigh Chamber Music Guild. Info: 919.821.2030 or www.rcmg.org.
Cary Players
an intimate audience of only thirty people through a two-part cabinet of wonders, rude Mechs combine serious scientific content with the nerdy pleasures of interactive gaming and the undeniable satisfaction of Murder Mystery theatre. Info: 919.660.3343 or www.theaterstudies.duke.edu.
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, 7:30pm, regal Cinemas in Cary and raleigh. an enlightening look at how to stay healthy in an unhealthy world as the highly anticipated follow up to the award-winning documentary “Fat, Sick & nearly Dead” makes its theatrical debut. In addition to the documentary feature, audiences at the Fathom events presentation will receive 20 minutes of theater-only content to help shape their thinking on eating habits and their health. For locations and information: www.fathomevents.com.
Sept 1 Take The ‘A’ Train: A Celebration of Billy Strayhorn featuring the NC Jazz Repertory Orchestra, 8pm, hill hall auditorium, UnC-Chapel hill. Info: www.ncjro.org. Through Sept 20 A Kid Like Jake, Deep Dish theater Company, University Mall, 201 S. estes, Chapel hill. a young couple hoping to get their toddler accepted into an exclusive kindergarten is advised to play up their son’s fondness for princesses and dress-up. Info: 919.968.1515 or www.deepdishtheatre.org. Sept 20 4
Annual Apex Jazz Festival, 3:30pm-1am, Downtown apex. Music, food, shopping and more music. Info: www.apexdowntown.com. th
Sept 21 Performance & Concert with Kelly Roudabush: Raleigh Area Flute Association, 2-5pm, Meredith College, raleigh. Info: 919.781.3225 or www.raleighflutes.org.
amphitheatre, regency Park, Cary. hosted by asian Focus and Pan am, an amazing opportunity to bring people together, watch dragon boat racing, enjoy food and performances. Info: 919.462.2025 or www.boothamphitheatre.com.
Sept 27-28
17 Annual Carrboro Music Festival, Downtown Carrboro. the free concert in the Cradle’s Back room on Sept 27 will be followed the next day by Carrboro’s day long, free festival featuring over 180 performing acts at 25 indoor and outdoor venues. In the space of a few hours within downtown Carrboro, a listener can hear Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, Country, rock & roll, Classical, and World Music. Info: 919.918.7385 or www. carrboromusicfestival.com. th
Sept 28
Carnival Latino, Garner Performing arts Center, 742 W. Garner rd, Garner. Presented by towne Players of Garner. Info: 919.661.4602 or www.towneplayers.org.
Sept 28 Sons of Bill, 9pm at the Southland Ballroom, 614 n. West Street, raleigh. “Sons of Bill proves that good alt-country isn’t dead.” ~ USa today. For more info visit http://alleyesmedia.com/clients/sons-of-bill or southlandballroom.com. Sept 2-Oct 10 4
Annual Clayton Piano Festival ‘The Magic of Classical Music,’ the Clayton Center’s historical auditorium, Clayton. this year’s festival will kick-off with collaboration with the ava Gardner Festival, featuring iconic classical music from movies starring local star, ava Gardner. Info: 919.553.1737 or www.theclaytoncenter.com. th
Oct First Friday Artwalk “Side Trip/Journey” to Benefit Pretty in Pink Foundation. 311 West Martin Street Gallery in raleigh will host a juried show reflecting the experiences of artists affected by breast cancer. Info: www.tippingpaintgallery.com. Oct 5 42 Annual Chapel Hill’s Festifall, 12-6pm, Downtown Chapel hill. over 80 artists, local music, and interactive activities for children and adults. Info: 919.968.2878 or www.townofchapelhill.org/festifall. nd
Oct 18 Hip Hop Legends Concert, 8pm, PnC arena,
raleigh. DMX will headline the show. Info: www. thepncarena.com.
Autumn Equinox House Concert to benefit Raleigh Chamber Music Guild. Featuring oak City String Quartet. For time, location and information: 919.821.2030 or www.rcmg.org.
Through Oct Apex Farmer’s Market, Saturdays, 9am-2pm, Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot, apex. Info: www.apexdowntown.com.
Sept 2
days, 8am-12pm, 4150 Main at north hills St, raleigh. the nC Museum of art will be selling rodin garden water lilies and lotus plants. Where the community can buy local, family-farmed foods. Info: www.midtownraleighfarmersmarket.com.
Sept 22
NCJRO@Sharp Gallery, 8-10pm, 4608L Industry Lane, Durham. enjoy the nC Jazz repertory orchestra in the intimate setting of a small jazz club. Info: www.durhamjazzworkshop.org.
Sept 24-27 Now Now Oh Now, Sheafer theater, Duke University, Durham. rude Mechanicals theater Company makes its Duke debut with Now Now Oh Now, an immersive theatrical experience that explores the nature of beauty, evolution, choice, and chance. Leading
Through Nov 1 Midtown Farmers Market, Satur-
Through June 2015 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Downtown Cary. Displays the work of 12 nationally recognized artists along academy Street. all works are available for purchase. Info: www.caryvisualart.org.
11/25/13
12:59 PM
BATHROOM SAFE?? Boom! Grab Bar Installation Custom Handrails and Banisters Wrought Iron Railings Wheelchair Ramps
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Report of Your Death continued from page 12
Sept. 2014 Crossword
September Puzzle answers on page 4
Down in the Dumps Across
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20 21 22 19 1 Headquarters 5 Town ___ 23 24 10 Stock page Tom Osborne heading (Abbr.) 25 26 27 919.967.7355 13 Soon, a bard1 Kathy Simmers so worth it 7/27/10 11:25 AM toPage www.tomograbbars.com 32 14 Seating request 31 15 Waikiki 35 36 34 wingding 16 Not having any 37 38 39 new interests 41 42 40 18 Roman road Work from home advertising for 19 Chow down an Inc. 500 company. 43 44 45 20 Air force heroes Find out more today! 21 Wrap 46 47 48 23 Gardner and www.so-worth-it.com/retire others 53 54 52 Kathy Simmers 24 Succinct 919-612-0009 57 56 25 Unwavering 27 Sense 60 59 28 Health resort 31 Having trouble Copyright ©2014 PuzzleJunction.com making up your 8 “The Lord of the 53 Grouchy and illmind? Rings” figure tempered Joe Lizana Oct 09 9/23/09 5:54 PM Page 1 33 Dinghy or dory 9 Ring participant 56 Like some cigars 34 Common 57 Parachute 10 Under the weather carriers material 11 Old Chinese money 35 Citrus drink 12 Bean ___ (tofu) 58 Poet Sexton 36 Brusque 15 Long sentence 59 Your (Fr.) 37 High degrees 17 Bowie and 60 Kind of trip 38 Bullied by the 61 Indian buzzard Duchovny boss 22 Zilch 40 Get the picture 23 Choir voices Down 41 Hints 24 Moisten 42 Roundup need 1 Paul Bunyan’s ox 25 Fry briefly 43 It’s for the birds 26 Ready to throw in 2 Dwarf buffalo 45 Play group 3 Work with mail the towel 46 Business owners 4 Compass pt. 27 Domestic dog hope names 5 Flow, like a 48 Bit of dust 29 Promenade waterfall 49 Hilo garland 30 Egyptian solar 6 Rituals 52 Back of the neck deity 7 Mother of Horus
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1. Get a copy of the death certificate at the PuzzleJunction.com county recorder or county clerk’s office. This certificate should show who reported you dead. Tell the clerk 11 12 you also need a form to apply for an amended death certificate. The person who reported you dead will be contacted and will have to sign the amended form. 2. Also get a certified copy of your birth certificate. 3. You may need a letter from your doctor stating you are alive. 29 30 Take all of this information to the SSA, and with luck, they will go to work fixing the error. However: • You’ll still need to convince others, like the bank that you’re alive. If you can, go in person, and if you can’t, write letters. • Check your credit report regularly to verify whether you’ve been the victim 50 51 of identity theft based on the SSA error.
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Just for Kicks, Find Out if You’re Dead
Forbes Magazine lists the website below as a place you can go to see if you’ve been reported dead. One caveat: The site asks for your name, birth date and death date, and your SSN. I would never give any site my SSN and obviously I don’t have a death date. Unless you have a very common name, this should be enough. If zero results come up, congratulations! You’re alive. I’m alive too, I discovered. Out of curiosity, I entered the name and birth date of a deceased relative. I wasn’t surprised when the accurate record of his death popped up. But it was a shock to see his SSN clearly displayed as well. Thank you, SSA! The moral of that story is, when you lose a loved one, pay attention to the person’s credit for the first year, at least, to make sure nobody is using his or her credit. www.insideprison.com/death_records_search.asp
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Tom Osborne B12 2013
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