January/February 2013
Argentine tango heats up cold nights 5 ESILL offers lifelong learning
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LA Boomers on the go again Volume 3, Number 1
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Gulf Coast Newspapers GulfCoastNewsToday.com
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You could be out living your life instead of living with a chronic wound. A wound that hasn’t healed after 30 days is one you shouldn’t ignore. It can keep you from enjoying life the way you used to. So don’t wait any
Enjoy.
longer to get the help you need. The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center offers convenient, outpatient treatment with a specially trained staff and advanced techniques to help heal chronic wounds of any type.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 251-949-3920 today.
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1613 North McKenzie Street • Foley, AL 36535 Located on the southwest corner of South Baldwin Regional Medical Center’s main campus
1/4/13 11:42 AM
January/February 2013
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INSIDE: Argentine Tango by the bay
page 5
7u Former MLB pitcher 9u POEM: “Sweet Woman” 9u ESILL offers lifelong learning 10u calendar of events 12u Food for Thought 14u In memory of Linda Standish 14u Alabama Humane Society 16u Making the most of each day 18u Flashback 50 20u When wounds won’t heal 21u Rocky Mountain Express 21u Spain trip 22u POEM: “New Light” 24u Your Tongue 26u Presidential Inauguration 27u Tax Talk 28u South ALA Senior Travelers 29u Spinal-cord injuries
You Get What You Need...
uRolling Stones, flipping pages Boomers magazine conveys information, activities and features for and about the baby boomers generation. While revisiting memories from the 1960s era and delving into critical examinations and comparisons thereof, Boomers also strives to pinpoint leisure activities; medical, political and environmental information; and technological options of specific interest to this group. The magazine offers possibilities of the past, present and future for a generation that never stops booming. features@gulfcoastnewspapers.com
An Introduction to Boomers magazine by Editor Jessica Jones
***Boomers magazine will continue to publish on the third Friday of every month, as always, but we will begin naming the issue for the upcoming month instead of the mostly past one. This month’s issue will be called January-February, then next month’s will be labeled March, as it publishes Feb. 15; then April, as it publishes March 15, and so on. Thank you for understanding and please continue reading.
Sincerely, Editor Jessica Jones
Want to advertise in Boomers magazine? Full page advertisers get one full page for submitted content, per month Half-page advertisers get a half page for submitted content, per month.
Contact the editor to find your local ad representative.
Jessica Jones, Editor Editorial and Photography Paige Renka Graphic Design & Cover Design Louise Childs, Deirdre Davison, Steve Ellison, Deborah Ferguson, William K. Garretson, Ruth Geraci, Lindsay Mott, Lorraine Standish, John L. Stump Contributing writers Dr. Linda Mitchell Food for Thought series writer Joe Berry and R. Kees Poems Fred Marchman Cartoonist Gulf Coast Newspapers 217 N. McKenzie St. Foley, AL 36535 251-943-2151 features@gulfcoastnewspapers.com
January/February 2013
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Argentine Tango by the Bay: Building calf muscles and camaraderie By Jessica Jones Let’s milonga at the milonga to the milonga! Whether referring to a style of tango, a place where tango dances are held, or a musical genre, Argentine Tango by the Bay members milonga it up every second Tuesday of the month at Mobile’s Holiday Inn Skyview Lounge from 7 to 10 p.m. While the group usually meets at Southern Edge Dance Center in Fairhope Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for instruction and dancing, they keep with tango traditions and find their way to the dance club, where low lights, sheer black drapes and a 17th-story view add to the experience. Dancers slip into sleek lines, wrap into each other and lunge into place during the Argentine Tango, but most importantly, according to member Mark Swalley, they have fun. Percell St. Thomas, one of the group’s tango teachers, said that the group’s nature keeps right in line with the traditional milonga—as it is meant for enjoyment. “It’s very different from American and European style of tango; it’s authentic,” he revealed. “It’s a lot more of a social dance than others that are ‘balroomy.’ In Argentina, it’s just like the foxtrot or the quickstep— it’s just the thing to do.” He said that beginners need not be intimidated because the steps easier than they might look. “This dance is the closest related to natural walking,” he divulged. “Every movement is based on just walking down the street.” Americans find that the style is very Argentine or European, in the most basic aspect of the stance. “You’re having to do it in a real close proximity to someone else,” he began. “Americans have to get over their stigma of personal space; in Europe and in Argentina we don’t have that.” He has tangoed and taught Southerners for many years, he said, so he’s found ways to ease initially uncomfortable situations, he laughed. “I usually tell people, ‘You’re not getting married,
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Photos by Jessica Jones
Kathy Estadt and Brent Hearn enjoy a dance together. Argentine Tango by the Bay members dance the milonga every second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at downtown Mobile’s Holiday Inn Skyview Lounge.
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Continued from previous page you’re just dancing,’” he joked, “although, it has led to many marriages.” He said another reason Americans find the Argentine Tango so pleasurable is that it differs greatly from other styles of ballroom dance. “Unlike many American dances, it’s not led by the hands and arms, it’s led by the feet and legs,” he explained. “It’s that much more intriguing and enjoyable because it’s that much different than what you normally do.” Members said they hope new people will join them and instructor Brent Hearn for lessons at Southern Edge Dance Center. First lessons are free, and subsequent lessons are $5-10 per person, and at milongas on the second Tuesday of the month. “It’s exotic, it’s really fun and it’s not hard to learn,” according to Kathy Estadt. “It’s a license to flirt,” Swalley added with a laugh. For more on Argentine Tango by the Bay, visit facebook.com/argentinetangobythebay or attend a lesson at Southern Edge, located at 251 Greeno Rd. South in Fairhope.
Denise Weiss and Michael Cerps
Karen Kohl and Giovanni Fontecchio
Mark Swalley and Jeannie Shiver
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Former MLB pitcher hits happy ending after consecutive curve balls
By Lindsay Mott Contributing writer
S
ometimes fighting for what’s right works out for the good. It can be a hard-fought battle with no end in sight, and sometimes we go a while without knowing if the fight did any good. Such is the story of former MLB pitcher Bill Edgerton, but he’s recently found that all his efforts have his bases loaded for success. “In my case, I was kind of shocked because I had some real go-arounds with them,” he said. Edgerton has been in a fight with Major League Baseball over a pension awarded to players who played from 1947 to 1979. Originally, these players needed four years to qualify for annuity and medical benefits. In 1980, MLB changed the rules so fewer days were required to qualify, and it extended the rule change to individuals who played before 1979. A short time frame was opened for these players to submit paperwork requesting benefits. Edgerton submitted, but was told later that they hadn’t received it and he was denied benefits. But the decision was recently reversed, and he received two checks and a letter explaining that he’ll be receiving his pension annually until 2016. Edgerton said he talked with someone and they admitted that a mistake was made with his paperwork and they had actually had it all along. Edgerton has been fighting this battle for some time now, includ-
Continued on next page
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Continued from previous page ing a lawsuit approximately 10 years ago, but the issue has been brought to light more recently by Doug Gladstone in his book, “A Bitter Cup of Coffee.” Edgerton credits Gladstone with helping him find out about the change MLB made to compensate older players and for getting enough publicity on the issue to make a change. Gladstone, who works for the New York retirement system and is a freelance journalist, said he set out to correct what he believes is a “flagrant injustice to retirees.” He said, in an earlier article on the issue, that these retirees don’t really have any legal standing but that it’s a “matter of equity and fairness.” Edgerton said Gladstone’s research and writing ability and knowledge of retirement has helped him and others. “That was my final go was trying to get enough publicity about it to get somebody else compensated too,”
Edgerton said. However, both men still want to see benefits awarded to the families of those who are sick, those who may have already passed away or those who may not even be aware of the issue. Edgerton is frustrated that a time limit was imposed on paperwork submission. Because players were not notified of the MLB’s rule change back in 1980, Edgerton and Gladstone believe there are about 800 players who have not been compensated. Edgerton hopes the MLB will do something about it in the future. But, for now, he’s happy about what he received and finally has some closure on the issue. He’s glad he can look back on the experience without being bitter. “I enjoyed every second that I played big leagues or minors,” Edgerton said. “I met some really great people from across the country and I was fortunate.” He plans to use the money for a trip to San Francisco in February.
Boomers Wants Your Submissions Attention, readers:
Boomers magazine would like submissions for our Bragging Rights section. Please let us know if you have any of the following of your grandchildren, spouse, family or friends: 1. Unusual nicknames 2. Funny or memorable quotes 3. Candid photos To submit, email editor Jessica Jones at features@gulfcoastnewspapers.com. All photos must be at least 300 dpi or 1 MB for quality reproduction. Please include your first and last name and city of residence in the email.
ESILL makes continuing education available and affordable By Ruth Geraci “School for the fun of it” best describes the Eastern Shore Institute for Lifelong Learning (ESILL). Scheduling a wide variety of courses in Fairhope and surrounding communities from fall through spring each year, ESILL offers adult education in the arts, sciences, history and current events, mind and body and life skills. Registration for Winter/Spring 2013 courses has begun, with classes starting the week of Feb. 4 and later. Area visitors as well as residents are urged to sign up promptly, as class sizes are limited. Interested in the Romantic Poets? Speaking Spanish or Italian? Sailing Fundamentals? Flower Arranging? Gourmet Cooking? Interior Design? ESILL will include these topics and much more this winter. Regularly offered courses include photography, painting, computer skills, yoga, history, music appreciation, creative writing, literature interpretation and a variety of instrument instruction such as ukulele and guitar. Visit ESILL’s website, ESILL.org to learn more about courses and instructors as well as information on registration. Courses vary in length and may be as brief as a two-hour session, or may meet as long as 12 weeks depending on the topic and the instructor’s availability. Tuition is $4.50 per classroom hour, with proceeds used to provide a small honorarium for each instructor. ESILL conducts courses in classrooms made available by churches, libraries and senior centers in Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort and Foley. Founded in 1977 by local residents interested in furthering adult-education opportunities, ESILL is a non-profit organization operated by a volunteer Board of Directors, recruiting instructors with personal and professional experience and a passion to share what they know. ESILL courses engage the learner without tests, grades or educational requirements, and classes are generally small, providing students the best opportunity to participate in their learning. Anyone interested in teaching for ESILL is encouraged to call Laurie Wiggins, 990-5555. A family membership for two adults and their children age 12 and under costs $35 a year. This optional annual membership provides a $5 discount on every course for each family member, ESILL catalogues mailed to your home, a quarterly newsletter about ESILL and invitations to faculty receptions, special lectures and tours. Contact Dot Bremer, 251-990-9651, for more information.
January/February 2013
‘sweet woman’ i followed you into the setting sun house of red birds saw you dreaming like lazarus in drifting land of weeping sunflowers watched you slip through the back door glowing dark blue a stumbling child— at play with secret name Poem by R. Kees
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calendar of events
uArts and Entertainment
Gold Coast Coin and Currency Show
Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Jan. 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free Admission Foley Civic Center, 407 East Laurel Ave. For more information call 251-597-7796 or visit southbaldwinnumismaticsociety@gmail.com.
Bay Rivers Art Guild
Winter classes will begin Jan. 22, 2013 and run 6 weeks. Monday thru Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fees for Members and Future Members. Some classes are pay as you attend. Each day of the week offers different learning painting techniques. For more information call BRAG at 251-621-0659.
Fairhope’s Famous Cabaret Dances 2013
Jan. 24, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Members $5. Non-members $9. Open to anyone 21 years of age and older. James P. Nix Center, One Bayou Drive, Fairhope Exit 105 band will play. Drawing for Dance Tickets & Spilt the Pot. BYOB & Snacks Acceptable. Smoke Free. Future events include: Feb. 14, Valentine Dance; Feb. 28, March 14, March 28, April 11, April 25. For more information call 251-928-2835.
SBCC Annual Gala
Jan. 25, 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person if purchased before Jan. 22. This year marks the 69th Annual Gala for the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Call the office for reservations. For more, email infodesk@southbaldwinchamber. com, visit memberservices.membee.com/alfolcoc/ irmevents.aspx?id=266&event=Y or call 251-9433291.
Frank Calma Memorial and Welcome Back Snowbirds Dance
Jan. 25, 7-10 p.m. Admission $15 per person Our Lady of the Gulf Parish Hall, 308 E 22nd Ave. Gulf Shores, Knights of Columbus 10903 of Gulf Shores hosts the event, and proceeds benefit local charities. BYOB –
Setups Furnished, Casual Dress. Music by John, Jim and Jerry. For more information or tickets, call 251-752-7422.
Pensacola Opera presents The Barber of Seville
Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 27, 2 p.m. Admission $30 Pensacola Saenger Theatre Follow the comical journey, the lovable barber and jack-of-all-trades, as he works tirelessly to help the love-struck Count steal the heart of the beautiful Rosina. This plot is packed with entertaining antics, captivating characters and a parade of familiar tunes, making it an ideal experience for all ages. For more information, call 850-433-6737 or visit pensacolaopera.com.
The Swing Dolls “A Tribute To The USO”
Jan. 28 and 29, 7 p.m. Admission $36. Tickets can be purchased online. Erie Meyer Civic Center, 1930 W. 2nd St., Gulf Shores The Swing Dolls will present “A tribute to the USO.” This dynamic female vocal trio has been thrilling audiences for more than 10 years with their stunning close harmonies, dazzling costumes and stylish choreography. They have garnered appearances on television’s Gilmore Girls and Your Big Break and also performing for Bob Hope’s 100th Birthday celebration. For more information call 251-968-1174 or visit gulfshoresal.gov.
Discover the Pinta and the Nina
Feb 5-11, 9 a.m-5 p.m. Admission: Adults $8. Students $6. Teachers or organizations can schedule a 30 minute guided tour with a crewmember; admission will be $5 per person. Replicas of Columbus’ ships will open in Gulf Shores. Both ships will be touring together as an enhanced “sailing museum” for the purpose of educating the public and school children. Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many explores. The ships will be docked at Lulu’s Homeport Marina, 200 E 25th Ave, Gulf Shores. Call 1-787-672-2152 or email columfnd@surbvi.com.
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calendar of events
uArts and Entertainment
Gulf Shores Garden Club “Garden Fun with Felder Rushing”
Feb. 6, 10 a.m., doors open at 9:15 Admission $15, (includes light lunch and door prizes). Erie Meyer Civic Center, Gulf Shores Proceeds benefit Gulf Shores Garden Club Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact Diane Nowicki, 251974-6606 or dianded@gulftel.com and or contact Mindy Jones, 251-968-9777 or islandenclosures@gulftel.com.
Mardi Gras Dance with John and Jim
Feb. 6, 6-9 p.m. Admission $12 per person, tickets available at the door. Orange Beach Adult Activity Center at the Wharf. For more information, call 251-981-3440.
Alabama Lifestyles Expo
Feb. 7, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The Caribe Resort Exhibition Halls, Orange Beach Free Admission, Door Prizes & Cash Prizes. Exhibitor Giveaways and Treats. Covered Parking. For more, visit alabamaadvantage.com, email alabamaadvantage@alabamaadvantage.com or call 800-235-4757.
Quilt Show
Daphne Public Library history series on WWII
Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 5, 19 at 10 a.m. Free Daphne Civic Center meeting room Dr. Morris will present all of the speaking events. For more, call Tonja Young, library director, at 251621-2818.
Ghost Tours Mobile
Mon.-Fri., year-round, tours depart at 7 p.m. $20 per person. Hop aboard the trolley at the Fort Conde parking lot each night for a tour through dark, ghostly historic districts of Mobile. A guide will share tales of the past and stories of famous local spirits that roam the streets after dark. Reservations are required: 1.800.338.5597, www.baycityconventions.com.
Moonlight Chasse’ Ballroom Dance Society
1st and 3rd Monday of every month Fitzpen Place, 11247 Hwy. 31, Spanish Fort $10 per person, $7 with membership, $5 Students with college ID. No partner necessary, cash bar, live music. For more information, contact Cassie Fishbein 251377-4069 or email cassief13@aol.com.
Feb. 7, 8 and 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission $5. Includes Quilt Show, musical entertainment and $7 lunch available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Robertsdale United Methodist Church More than 300 quilts will be creatively displayed with antiques and collectables. There will be old, new, simple and elaborate quilts. Some quilts will have been made by beginners and other experienced quilters. Bring your scissors, as we will have Scissors Sharpening available. For more information, call Betty Gwaltney 251-947-5354, or Mary Barnhill 251-964-5169, email rdaleumc@gulftel.com, or visit robertsdaleumc.com. Harbinger Toons 1 by Fred Marchman
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Food for Thought: Name That Recipe By Dr. Linda Mitchell I love reading through cookbooks, especially the ones with that great photography. You know, the ones where the pictures look so good your stomach growls in response. Dean surprised me with some new ones recently. “Honey, these are great. Thanks so much — why are there sticky notes on so many pages?” “Oh, just thought those looked Dr. Linda Mitchell good and you might like to try them first.” He was right, they do look scrumptious. There’s something else about cookbooks I enjoy…the crazy names that go along with the recipes. Where do they come up with this stuff?!
Top Ten CRAZY Recipe Names: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Cowabunga Root Beer Cupcakes Girdle Buster Pie Baked Alaska Ding Bats Kitchen Sink Cookies Tasty Trash Grasshopper Pie Boogie Woogie Chicken Chubby Hubby Fudge Fat Lady Sings
Serve up some laughter with your meal. Lose a pound for every belly laugh. It’s like internal jogging.
Porcupine Appetizers 1/2 cup rice 1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon onions, minced 2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, celery salt, and oregano 1 clove garlic, minced 2 cups tomato juice 4 cloves (optional) 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce Combine rice, ground beef, onion, pepper, salt, celery salt and garlic; form into balls about the size of golf balls. Heat tomato juice, cloves, oregano and Worcestershire sauce in skillet. Add meatballs. Cover tightly and simmer for about an hour. Remove cloves before serving.
Double Dippin’ Wing Dings 2 pounds chicken wings, tips removed 1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pineapple juice 1/4 cup cooking oil 1 teaspoon ginger Combine all ingredients except wings. Dunk wings into the mixture and marinate overnight. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
Chicken Old Ladies on a Bus
(my favorite…originally printed in ATLANTA COOKNOTES, a Jr. League of Atlanta cookbook.) 1/3 cup orange marmalade 1/3 cup spicy barbeque sauce 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 pounds chicken legs and thighs (may substitute boneless chicken breasts) salt and pepper to taste Combine marmalade, barbeque sauce, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Place chicken in a 9x13 pan lined with aluminum foil. (easy clean up) Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and bake for 1 hour or until juices run clear. Finish the last 15 minutes with higher heat at 400 degrees.
Buffalo Chicken Sliders 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (saves time) slider buns 3 tablespoons butter for toasting buns 1/2 cup hot sauce 5 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons white vinegar salt and pepper to taste
January/February 2013
Blue Cheese Spread 1/2 cup each sour cream and crumbled blue cheese 1 tablespoon vinegar 3 chopped green onions salt and pepper to taste Mix hot sauce, honey, vinegar and salt and pepper. Bring to a bubble (that’s just below a boil). Add chicken. In a separate bowl, mix together the ingredients for the Blue Cheese Spread. Assemble by spreading toasted buns with spread and topping with chicken mixture.
Shoo Fly Pie
(sounds like lots of work but it isn’t and so worth it)
Crust: (purchase ready-made pie crusts to save time) 3 cups flour (plus extra for rolling) 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup vegetable shortening 1 large egg 1/2 cup cold water 1 tablespoon white vinegar Mix together flour and salt. Cut in the shortening. Add the egg to water and vinegar. Mix it together using your hands. Split dough in half. Using a rolling pin and flour, roll out each half so it’s 10 inches in diameter. Try to work it as little as possible as it will toughen. Refrigerate until ready to use. Keeps in the refrigerator up to two weeks. Lift dough into the pan and pat it down, crimping the edges so it won’t shrink in the pan. Pour in the filling. Scatter reserved flour/sugar/shortening mixture evenly
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atop pie.
Filling 1 cup flour 2/3 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening or butter 1 cup molasses 1 egg 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 cup boiling water Mix flour, sugar, and shortening. Reserve 1/2 cup of mixture. Add molasses, egg, baking soda and mix. Then add water and mix well. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lift dough into the pan and pat it down, crimping the edges so it won’t shrink. Pour in the filling. Scatter reserved flour/sugar/shortening mixture evenly atop pie. Bake for 15 minutes, then lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake another 18-20 minutes until the crust is golden and center of pie is only a bit wobbly. Cool in pie pan on a rack before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
Dump Cake 2 (15 oz) cans peaches, chopped and undrained (or substitute your favorite fruit-most anything will work) 1 box cake mix, white or yellow (18.25 oz) 1 stick of butter In a 9x13 ungreased pan, place chopped peaches and its juice. Pour dry cake mix evenly over top of the fruit. Do not stir. Place butter pieces all over the top of cake mix. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown on top.
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In memory of Linda Standish: A Miracle in ‘Southern Living’ magazine By Lorraine Standish If our daughter was alive, she would turn 51 on March 22, but she died in 2005. You always think of a departed loved one a lot during the month of his or her birth, especially if it’s a close family member. We will be thinking about our other daughter in June, when she would turn 53 if she were still alive, but she died in 2006. Lord, you gave us a mountain to climb, but you gave us some help along the way, too. With the oldest daughter, we have three grandsons and a wonderful son-in-law. With the youngest, we have many wonderful memories of a beautiful person who helped us build our home here in Lillian and also helped build our church. But then, in December 2011, I received a message from her and from God. There is no other explanation for it. On Dec. 7, my husband was in Sacred Heart hospital in Pensacola for his third heart procedure of the year. I knew that he would be under anesthesia for a few hours, so I brought plenty of reading material. After three hours, I had read everything and began looking at magazines in the waiting room. There wasn’t much there, but way over in the corner, I spotted a magazine and went over to see what it was. It was a “Southern Living” magazine from February 2006 and I wondered, “what is such an old magazine doing in here?” But as I started to set it down, I noticed that a feature article was about Gulf Shores and
Foley, so I glanced through it. And there, on page 32, was a picture of my beautiful daughter! Her name was not mentioned, but a mother knows her child. The magazine was in perfect condition, and of course, I brought it home and had copies made of the cover and the page about Foley with my daughter’s picture. I sent the copies to “Southern Living” magazine with an inquiry, and soon had a telephone call from them. They had found the article from the 2006 magazine and found out that a reporter had taken my daughter’s photo at Lambert’s restaurant in Foley just because she was such a pretty girl. The reporter had not gotten her name and she did not tell anyone that her picture had been taken by someone at “Southern Living” magazine. Maybe she didn’t know that the photo was taken, but it did look as if she had posed for it in the gift shop. That was all of the information they were able to give me, but they sent me a priceless and immortal gift. They sent me a beautifully-framed 8x10 copy of our daughter’s picture, along with a sympathy card. This could not have been just coincidence. This had to be a gift from God and our Angel.
Alabama State Director for Humane Society of U.S. to speak on 2013 legislative session Submitted by The Haven Mindy Gilbert, the Alabama State Director for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), will speak at a public meeting on Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Thomas Hospital Wellness Center in Fairhope. Gilbert will be informing animal advocates about bills to be introduced in the 2013 legislative session which begins in February. She said these bills will most likely include
spay/neuter and animal cruelty. “This meeting will be an opportunity to understand the legislative process, including bill tracking,” says Gilbert, “and to teach the public the process so that they can be more empowered in helping create the laws that effect animals.” She encourages all to bring a friend, family or co-worker who wants to make Alabama better for people and animals. Contact The Haven at 929-3980 for any questions.
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Making the most of each day: Memory By Deirdre Davison Most of us have fond memories that walk with us throughout our lives. It may be a smell, a taste, a photograph, or even a phrase that opens the memory floodgate. For example, I recently walked past a gentleman who smelled of lime cologne. I was immediately transported back to the early 1960s when my father and I still spent every Saturday together. He would shave and then splash on St John's West Indian Lime after shave or cologne and off we would go for our weekly outing to Bocock Stroud department store which was invariably followed by a grilled cheese sandwich with potato chips and a milkshake at the Eckerd's Drug store lunch counter. My father died nearly 10 years ago but the crisp smell of that passerby's cologne had me smiling and skipping down memory lane as if I was still spinning like a Dervish on the counter stool at Eckerd's. One of Miriam Webster's definitions of “memory” is “a particular act of recall or recollection” and that will be the focus of this column. Each month, we shall explore a local, regional, national, or global historical event from the 1960s. The goal is to “recall” a particular point in history and then to reflect upon it's psychological, social, political, or economic impact. This first column is an introduction to not only the process of recall, but also the participants in this monthly exercise. During our short time together, you will get to know me a little better and will hopefully explore some of your own history, too. As I thought about what I should write, I explored a number of potential timeline points. The first point on the timeline was an excerpt from George Wallace's January 1963 inaugural address, “Today I have stood, where once Jefferson Davis stood, and took an oath to my people. It is very appropriate then that from this Cradle of the Confederacy, this very Heart of the Great Anglo-Saxon Southland, that...I say, segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!” I wanted to make an impact on each reader; I wanted to make you think and feel at a visceral level. At the same time I wanted you to feel, I wanted you to feel joy and not the angst or pathos that proceeded and followed that historical speech. As a result, I pressed on. The second point on the timeline was the “race for space.” By 1963, the race had been in full swing for six years. Satellites had been put into orbit as had the first Cosmonaut, Yuri Gargarin. The race, which could be classified as both a sprint and a relay saw the Sputnik 25 (Luna E-6) launched. It was slated to make a soft landing on the moon but never made it out of Earth's orbit and deteriorated after just one day. While the “race for space” has had an incredible global impact in terms of technological advances, it still wasn't crossing my finish line for the purposes of this article. Pressing on, I came across a factoid that made my heart sing. In January 1963, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins began airing on NBC.
I closed my eyes and saw the wood paneled den of my youth - replete with bright orange butterfly chairs for the kids, two recliners for my parents, a low sofa for guests, and the BIG console television against the wall. Every Sunday in my house was a treat. It started with a big country breakfast of fatback, eggs, biscuits, gravy, butter and Karo syrup and it improved with each passing hour. By the time evening rolled around, we kids were played out and hungry enough to eat shoe leather. Of course, my mother had a different menu in mind. On Sunday nights if we didn't have leftovers from the night before, we were treated to Swanson TV Dinners. I can still taste the instant mashed potatoes and the gravy that covered the Salisbury steak. The hot aluminum trays rested on wobbly TV tables as we sat down for our Sunday night ritual. At 6 p.m., “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” came on. We visited distant places and were introduced to fantastic creatures that I wouldn't encounter again until The World Book Encyclopedia became part of our library in 1971. Even better than “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” was what immediately followed. As soon as Marlin left us with his words of wisdom and conservation, we were transported to another world, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. I can't even remember if our TV was color when we started watching the two shows. It didn't matter; my imagination joyfully remembers it as a weekly Technicolor marvel. While at first blush, it may seem that those two shows have no real and lasting impact on or value to society, I would beg to differ. “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” introduced a generation to conservationism, ecology and environmentalism. While Marlin Perkins and his sidekick, Jim Fowler, wrestled alligators, jumped out of helicopters onto elk navigating waist deep snow, and untangled from bone crushing pythons, they showed us wildlife in its natural habitat and through those exploits expanded the study of zoology beyond bugs to millions of young boys and girls. Ultimately, “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” forged a path for the development of cable television's “Animal Planet” and created an entertaining and suspenseful format of nature programming that is still being followed today. Scoff if you will, but the original “Wild Kingdom” left an indelible mark in the timeline of American television and as the first generation that was suckled on TV, impacted us whether directly or indirectly. Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color exploded onto America's television screens in vivid hues of pink, purple and blue. The impact of that hour-long splash of color is still being felt today. Walt Disney, a television and cinematic pioneer, did something few others did; he filmed in color. There was tremendous expense in filming in color, yet he forged ahead even though most of his work still aired in black and white. When Walt Disney took
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Continued from previous page his show to NBC (remember the color peacock?), he said, “... I feel that color adds an all-important dimension to entertainment...We hope to weave a magic carpet of color to include people, places, nature, music, dancing, cartoons, the human and the fantastic drama of the universe.” That is exactly what he did. His “Wonderful World of Color” introduced America to the entertainment value that color added to a television broadcast. Without Walt Disney, color televisions and color programming would have taken much longer to become popular. His show was single-handedly credited with increasing the sales of RCA color consoles by 150 percent during the first year of “Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color” and by 166 percent during the second season. Without a doubt “Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color” had a huge economic impact. At the same time, it also had a huge social impact. It brought together two generations for at least an hour every Sunday night. As for me the impact was more emotional. When I think of “Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color,” I think of two orange butterfly chairs, two recliners, a low sofa and a BIG console television against the wall. I think of Swanson's TV dinners. I think of being home before dark. I think of playing in the street without fear of being hit by a car. I think of the laughter, the childlike wonderment, and the innocence of youth. I think of family and I smile. Thank you, Walt Disney.
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Flashback 50: January/February uThis month in 1962 Jan. 1- Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 17-0 in the 1963 Orange Bowl football competition at the Miami Orange Bowl. 2- The Battle of Ap Bac in South Vietnam began, and was the first time that Viet Cong forces stood and fought against a major South Vietnamese attack. 3- Contact with the American Mariner 2 space probe was lost after 128 days of data transmitted from the planet Venus and from the Sun. Attempts from Earth, on Jan. 8, to restart transmission, failed, and the craft was not found during searches made on May 28, and Aug. 16. 4-The Soviet Union successfully launched Luna E-6 No.2, but a malfunction kept the craft from going beyond low Earth orbit. Seven days later, the decay of the orbit caused the satellite to re-enter and burn in the atmosphere. 5- Died: Rogers Hornsby, 62, American baseball player and Hall of Famer; Stanisław Jaros, 28, Polish electrician and would-be political assassin (executed by hanging); Erik Strandmark, 43, Swedish film actor (plane crash); and Stark Young, 81, American novelist. 6-The British musical “Oliver!,” based on the Charles Dickens novel “Oliver Twist,” made its debut on Broadway, at the Imperial Theatre, and ran for 774 performances. 7- The price of a mailing a letter in the United States rose from four cents to five cents, with a 25 percent increase in the price of a first class stamp. 8- Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was exhibited in the United States for the first time, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in an event attended by President Kennedy and 2,000 other guests of honor. 9-A penumbral lunar eclipse took place. It was a relatively rare total penumbral lunar eclipse with the moon passing entirely within the penumbral shadow without entering the darker umbral shadow. 11- “Please Please Me” was released in the United Kingdom by The Beatles, with “Ask Me Why” as the B-side. The group would perform
the song on TV two days later on the ITV program Thank Your Lucky Stars. “Please Please Me” would become the first Beatles’ single to reach #1 in the UK. 14- George C. Wallace was sworn in as Governor of Alabama. In his inaugural speech, he defiantly proclaimed, “In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say, ‘segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.’ Let us send this message back to Washington, that from this day we are standing up and the heel of tyranny does not fit the neck of an upright man.” -A month before she would commit suicide, Sylvia Plath was able to realize the publication of her first and only novel, “The Bell Jar,” by the Heinemann Company. -Charlie Watts joined The Rolling Stones as its drummer, replacing Tony Chapman and performing with the group for the first time at the Flamingo Club in London. 15- In his State of the Union address at a joint session of the U.S. Congress, President Kennedy called on Congress to pass legislation to lower income taxes as a means of stimulating the economy. Kennedy called for individual tax rates, ranging from 20 percent to as much as 91 percent for the highest brackets, to be cut to a range of 14 to 65 percent, and for the corporate rate to be cut from 52 to 47 percent. The bill would not become law until after Kennedy’s death, signed by his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson on Feb. 26, 1964. 16- Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev made a visit to the Berlin Wall from the East Berlin side, then delivered an address to the Communist leadership of East Germany at the SED Party Congress. Khrushchev stated bluntly that the Wall had accomplished its purpose of stemming the exodus of citizens from the nation and stabilized the East German economy, and added that further Soviet economic assistance would not be forthcoming. “Neither God nor the devil will give you bread or butter if you do not manage it with your own hands,” Khrushchev said,
January/February 2013
adding that East Germany “must not expect alms from some rich uncle.” -Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom resumed diplomatic relations, more than six years after the two nations had closed their embassies during the 1956 Suez Crisis. 17- U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy made “his first, and last, appearance as a lawyer in a courtroom,” participating in the oral argument before the United States Supreme Court in Gray v. Sanders, regarding whether the county-unit system of voting that had been used in the U.S. State of Georgia was unconstitutional. 18- The French automobile manufacturer Simca was taken over by the American automaker Chrysler, which purchased a controlling interest of the 18,000-employee company in order to increase its presence in Europe. 19- Hermine Braunsteiner Ryan, formerly a supervising warden at the Ravensbrück concentration camp, and known as “The Stomping Mare” because of her use of steel-studded jackboots to kick inmates, became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Acting on a tip from Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal, the New York Times would expose her past in 1964. Her citizenship would be revoked in 1971, and in 1973 she would be extradited to West Germany for trial as a war criminal. In 1981, she would be sentenced to life imprisonment. Released after 15 years for health reasons (including, ironically, the amputation of her leg), she would die in 1999. 22- In Paris, President Charles de Gaulle of France and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany signed the Elysée Treaty, the first bilateral pact between the French and German nations. 23- The deactivation and removal of its arsenal of American supplied Jupiter missiles from Turkey was announced by the Turkish government, six days after Italy had announced that their phase-out of the Jupiters. The missiles in Turkey, armed with nuclear warheads and within striking distance of cities in the Soviet Union, had been one of the reasons for the Soviet placement of missiles in Cuba. –“The Pascagoula (MS) Chronicle,” whose publisher, Ira B. Harkey Jr., alone among white newspaper owners in Mississippi in taking a stand against racial segregation, was saved from financial ruin when a newsman for the New York City radio station WNEW urged his listeners to subscribe to the paper. Dee Finch called attention to Harkey’s courageous stand and loss of revenue, said that he was going to buy a subscription to the Chronicle and invited others to do likewise. In the first day, 750 New Yorkers pledged to
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subscribe, and advertising agencies announced plans to encourage their clients to buy ad space in the newspaper. 26-The Shah of Iran’s “White Revolution” of six reforms, including the right of women to vote, was overwhelmingly approved in a nationwide referendum by the 6 million male voters; the election was believed by observers to have been fraudulent. -Died: Ole Olsen, 70, American vaudeville comedian, and half of the Olsen and Johnson comedy team. In 1938, Olsen and Chic Johnson had created the musical, and later the 1941 film, “Hellzapoppin’.” 27- Lee Harvey Oswald used the alias “A. J. Hidell” for the first time, ordering a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver through the mail from Seaport Traders, Inc., of Los Angeles. He would use the Hidell name in ordering other weapons, including the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle that would be used in November to kill U.S. President Kennedy. 28- African-American student Harvey Gantt entered Clemson University in South Carolina, the last U.S. state to hold out against racial integration. 29- Died: Robert Frost, 88, American poet Feb. 2- The Beatles went on tour at the bottom of an eight-act bill headed by 16-year old singer Helen Shapiro. 4- The “SS Marine Sulphur Queen,” a tanker with a crew of 39 and a cargo of molten sulphur, was heard from for the last time, two days after its departure from Beaumont, Texas en route to Norfolk, Virginia. 5- Travel, as well as financial and commercial transactions, by United States citizens to Cuba were made illegal by the John F. Kennedy Administration. 9- The Boeing 727 made its first flight. 11- The CIA’s Domestic Operations Division was created. 15- The Tandy Center Subway, the only privately-owned subway in the United States, opened in Fort Worth, Texas. It would cease operations in 2002. 17- African-American activist W. E. B. Du Bois renounced his American citizenship and became a citizen of Ghana, six months before his death. -Born: Michael Jordan, American NBA basketball player and five time MVP, in Brooklyn, New York. 19- The publication of Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” launched the reawakening of the Women’s Movement in the United States as women’s organizations and consciousnessraising groups spread.
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When Wounds Won’t Heal By William K. Garretson, DO, The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center From mending those scraped knees of childhood to adulthood illnesses and injuries, our bodies have complex and remarkable healing capabilities. Sometimes, however, we may suffer an injury that is difficult for the body to handle and those natural healing processes need a helping hand. Difficulty in healing may happen because of the severity of a wound, or a health condition that compromises the body’s ability to heal. Wounds that won’t heal – also known as chronic or slow-healing wounds – are a significant health concern. When you’ve been injured, are ill, or have undergone surgery, an important part of your successful recovery is not only taking care of the original illness or injury, but also addressing the proper healing of any wounds associated with your condition. Nearly 7 million people across the United States suffer from chronic or slow-healing wounds. Wounds fall into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute wounds are related to an accident, injury or surgery. Chronic wounds can also be related to an injury or surgery – but are most often related to a health condition that impedes normal healing. If a wound does not heal within a month and requires medical intervention, it is considered a chronic or slow-healing wound. Certain chronic conditions can complicate the healing process. These conditions include diabetes, peripheral neuropathy (nerve disorders affecting the hands or feet), circulatory system disorders and a variety of other health issues, including: • Autoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus) • Inadequate or poor nutrition • Cancer treatment/effects of radiation or chemotherapy • Veinous disease • Congestive heart failure • Peripheral arterial disease • Traumatic injury These diseases affect blood flow and nerve sensation, which slow healing. Certain medications can also suppress the normal healing response. The good news is that a variety of medical treatments are available to help wounds that won’t heal. Many hospitals offer specialized care for chronic wounds and their underlying causes, such as inflammation, infection, or chronic disease. A leading treatment for wound care is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which can speed the healing process and rebuild skin integrity. With this treatment, the patient lies inside a sealed, high-pressure chamber, breathing pure oxygen. The pressurized chamber – similar to one
used for an MRI exam – surrounds the body’s tissues with concentrated oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the concentration of oxygen in the bloodstream, which improves transport of oxygen to damaged tissue and William K. Garretson ultimately promotes faster healing. Hyperbaric therapy was originally used to treat disorders related to diving, so, a treatment is sometimes referred to as a “dive.” The process is painless; some patients will experience pressure in the ears at the beginning of treatment, similar to flying in an airplane. Each treatment is typically two hours long, and patients often read, sleep or listen to music during a therapy session. Chronic wounds that are often treated in this way include diabetic skin sores, pressure sores, persistent skin irritations, vessel disease wounds, surgery wound breakdown, traumatic wounds, burns, venous insufficiency, radiation injuries, spinal injury wounds and other non-healing wounds. The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center provides convenient, specialized, outpatient treatment with a specially trained staff and advanced techniques to help heal chronic wounds of any type. Your doctor will generally refer you to a wound-care treatment team for therapy. Treatment usually begins with tests to learn about your medical history, including any circulation issues, infection, and other conditions that may affect wound healing. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 251-949-3920. The center welcomes new patients and works closely with primary care physicians, home health agencies and nursing homes to create a team approach to care. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. We offer new patient appointments within 24 to 48 hours of your call. About the Author: Dr. William K. Garretson is Board Certified in General Surgery and General Vascular Surgery with Added Qualification in Critical Care Surgery by the American Board of Osteopathic Surgery and is the Medical Director of The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health. Sources: National Institutes of Health, nih.com, American Academy of Family Physicians, familydoctor. org, WebMD, webmd.com.
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‘Rocky Mountain Express’ thunders into the National Naval Aviation Museum’s IMAX theater By the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation All aboard for an incredible railway journey! The National Naval Aviation Museum began showing “Rocky Mountain Express” on the IMAX Giant Screen Jan. 4. “Rocky Mountain Express” propels audiences on a steam train trip through the breathtaking vistas of the Canadian Rockies and highlights the adventure of building the nation’s first transcontinental railway. Ride the rails along deep-river canyons and over high mountain passes; discover some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes on earth and join in the human drama and epic engineering that shaped a continent. The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Rockies in 1885 ranks among the greatest engineering feats in history. Retracing the original route aboard the majestic steam engine 2816, the audience is transported back to the age of steam to re-live this alpine
nation-building odyssey. The film weaves together spectacular IMAX aerial cinematography, breathtaking vistas of the west, archival images and maps and the potent energy and rhythms of a live steam locomotive to immerse audiences in a an era of remarkable ingenuity and struggle and a region of stunning natural beauty. “Rocky Mountain Express” will show daily at 10 a.m., Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the Museum’s IMAX Giant Screen. Have an IMAX experience like no other with the largest movie screen in the state of Florida soaring nearly seven stories high and 85 feet wide with nearly 15,000 watts of digital sound and power. The National Naval Aviation Museum features free admission and a full slate of events throughout the year. For a complete list of events, exhibits and attractions at the Museum, visit NavalAviationMuseum.org or call the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation at 850453-2389 or 800-327-5002.
Daphne Senior Travelers traveled to Barcelona, Spain on Oct. 31, 2012 for an 18 day land trip and cruise. There were 51 in the group. The group spent two days in Barcelona and after a 4-hour city tour, everyone was on their own to explore other sights in and around Barcelona. Nov. 3, everyone boarded the Royal Carribbean Ship “Navigator of the Seas” where the group stopped in several ports in Spain, The Canary Islands, and Nassau, Bahamas before returning back to New Orleans. The ship was beautiful, had great entertainment and good food. The weather was cooperative, and we did not have any bad seas to upset the crossing.
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“New Light” Heaven is brighter now, became so yesterday when grim death came our way. Death rode a galloping horse, sowing its madness among little ones, reaping forbidden sadness. Across the land a universal cry, “Tell me God why the young should die? “Why not me, old and worn, to confront the galloping steed?
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Understanding, dear God, we desperately need.� Death on a galloping horse rode to school that day, trampling any child who stood in its way. Mysteries of life often bring sorrow. Help us lord with a bitter cup, give us hope for tomorrow. Dark our night, but not as before. Twenty of the young needlessly die to brighten the heavens, with twenty new stars in the sky.
By Joe Berry, December 2012 (In memory of the children of Newtown.)
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Your Tongue…It’s not Just for Tasting Sweets and French Kissing John L. Stump, DC, PhD, EdD Getting to know your tongue is important, not only to the 10,000 tastes buds on the average tongue, but in helping you eat, sense and talk; it speaks volumes about the health of your body. First, just what is it? Physiologically it’s the glossopharyengal muscles, a covered mucous membrane (a smooth surface lubricated by glands and cells within) and small bumps called papillae, between which sit taste buds linked by the nervous system to the brain.
A Thick Coating: A thin coat on the tongue can be normal. A thick one? Not so. A yellowbrown coating indicates acute infection. Tongue’s Topographical surface
Second, what function does it have? It senses flavors, aids swallowing, forms words and brings kissing to a whole new level. Last, why is it important? Well, aside from what was just stated, it is the most readily available portion of the inside of the body; the tongue can provide a glimpse of what’s going on deeper below the surface. Practitioners of both eastern and western medicine recognize the tongue’s diagnostic power and have used it with acupuncture diagnostics for at least 3,000 years. Let me illustrate: look at the tongue illustrated below.
Smoothness: A glossy, bumpfree tongue often points to an autoimmune disorder, in which the body’s defense system attacks healthy tissue (like the oral salivary glands) reports Ayesha Khalid, MD — Harvard Medical School.
Back — Kidney/Adrenal Sides — Liver/Gall Bladder Center — Stomach/ Spleen Tip — Heart/Lungs
Altered Color: According to traditional Chinese medicine, which posits that the tongue mirrors disharmony in the boy, a healthy tongue should be pink. Purple may point to a blockage of energy or blood, suggesting liver or gall bladder problems, reports Mao Shing Ni, PhD UCLA Medical School
January/February 2013
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January/February 2013
A Capital idea: Snook Youth Club will travel to inauguration By Deborah Ferguson The Youth for Civic Engagement Project, which is a program of the Snook Youth Club Parent Committee, is planning a historic trip to Washington, D.C. for the 2013 Presidential Inauguration for 15 students aged 8 to 14. Members of the group will participate as volunteers in The 57th Presidential Inauguration Weekend Activities. The SYC Parent Committee is making an appeal to individuals and community organizations for assistance in making this opportunity to witness history in the making and the actualization of the democratic process a reality for these deserving youth, who are all Honor Roll students at their respective schools and are training at Snook Youth Club to become the future leaders of Foley and America. Your assistance can be done in several ways: • by sponsoring transportation for one child in the amount of $345.00; • or by giving a donation to this project of any denomination according to your means. There are a limited number of travel packages that include round trip travel with additional shared dormitory lodging for $415, and there are travel only seats available for the price of $345. This price includes round-trip passage from Foley to Washington, D.C., bus
snacks and beverages and round trip shuttle service from Trinity Washington University in Northeast D.C. to Metro lines and cab services. This available local transportation will take individuals to hotels and to the areas surrounding the Capitol and White House. A listing for hotels and lodging in the Northeast Washington, D.C. area can be found online: yellowpages.com/ northeast-washington-washington-dc/hotels. Please be sure to indicate your preference when making reservations. To make donations, sponsor a student or reserve your seat/lodging please stop by our offices or call 943-1483. SYC accepts cash, check or credit card. Reservations, payments and donations can also be made online at snookyouthcluboffoley.org: click donate and contact buttons and specify 2013 DC trip. All donations and sponsorships are tax-deductible. The public inauguration will be held on Monday, Jan. 21 at 12 p.m. The bus will depart from the Snook Youth Club parking lot located at 1391 S. Cedar on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. and arrive at Trinity Washington University at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20. The return bus will depart Trinity Washington University on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 a.m. and arrive back in Foley at the Snook Youth Club parking lot at 11 p.m. For more information, contact Brenda Mc Gaster at 251-233-4175 or Snook Youth Club at 251-943-1483.
SOUTH BALDWIN
PODIATRY Foley • Lillian
Dr. Debra M. Gibson $###"! $### $### # $### # $### ! ! $### ! #
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Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery
FOLEY LOCATION 1 770 North Alston Street, Foley, AL 36535 251 -943-3668
LILLIAN LOCATION 1 2831 6th Street, Lillian, AL 36549 251 -943-3668
No representation is made about the quality of the podiatric services to be performed or the expertise of the podiatrist performing such services.
January/February 2013
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Avoid becoming a ‘Groundhog Day’ investor Groundhog Day is almost here. For most of its history — which, according to some reports, dates back to the first celebration in 1886 or 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pa. — Groundhog Day held little significance for most Americans. But that changed in 1993 with the release of the movie Groundhog Day, in which a semi-embittered meteorologist, played by Bill Murray, is forced to re-live the same day over and over again. He repeatedly makes poor choices, until he finally learns from his mistakes and is granted the ability to move on with his life. Since the movie came out, the term “Groundhog Day” is often used to refer to a situation in which someone repeats the same mistakes. It’s a phenomenon that happens in many walks of life — including investing. So, how can you avoid becoming a “Groundhog Day” investor? Here are some suggestions: Don’t chase after “hot investments.” Many investors make this same mistake over and over — they hear about a “hot” investment from a friend, relative or television commentator, and they buy it. Too often, though, by the time they purchase this investment, it’s already cooling down. Even more importantly, it just might not be suitable for them. So instead of pursuing “hot” choices, pick those investments that are appropriate for your needs, goals and risk tolerance. Don’t over-analyze short-term price fluctuations. Some investors check their portfolios' performance every day, or even several times a day. But if you’re constantly evaluating how your investments are doing over short intervals, you may be tempted to make unwise decisions in response to sudden drops or jumps. You can get a good sense of the progress you’re making toward your goals by checking your portfolio once a month. Don’t let fear and greed drive your choices. “Buy low and sell high” is the classic piece of investment advice. But too many investors only buy investments when they’re on the rise and sell them when they’re falling. In other words, they’re doing the opposite of “buy low and sell high” — and they’re being driven by fear and greed.
Keep these emotions out of your investment strategy, and you’ll help yourself greatly. Don’t maintain unrealistic expectations. Some people consistently put off investing until “later,” figuring they can always catch up by putting away more money during their peak earning years. Don’t make that mistake. To achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need to invest early and keep investing, rather than wait for a time in your life when you may suddenly have more money “freed up” for investment purposes. Also, don’t anticipate that you’ll steadily earn a good rate of return on your investments. Although the financial markets have trended up in the long term, we’ve seen many down markets that have lasted for a year or longer. Factor in these fluctuations when estimating the rate of return you’ll need to achieve your goals. For these types of calculations, you may want to work with an experienced financial professional. These and other “Groundhog Day”-type investment mistakes can be costly. But you can avoid them if you maintain a solid investment strategy, if you’ve got patience and perseverance — and if you stay focused on the long-term horizon. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Steve Ellison, Financial Advisor 1745 Main St. Suite A Daphne, AL 36526 251-626-7701 www.edwardjones.com/taxtalk
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South Alabama Senior Travelers keep the roads hot By Louise Childs LA Boomers are the go – this time to North Georgia for Christmas. Departing on Nov. 30 and returning on Dec. 5, 31 members of the South Alabama Senior Travelers of Foley enjoyed a fabulous trip to North Georgia for Christmas, escorted by Louise Childs. First on the list of attractions was the Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier Islands, Ga.; Christmas Lights and a dinner buffet were both wonderful for the first night on the road. A Christmas Train ride with Santa and his elfves departed from Blue Ridge, Ga. with a stop in Copperhill, Ga./McCaysville, Tenn. This one small town has two names; it is split by the Ga./ Tenn. state line. What a unique experience that was. After enjoying the sights of Alpine Helen, Ga., the group stopped at BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland, Ga. where they witnessed a cabbage patch kid being born and one kid was adopted by one of these senior travelers. Later that afternoon, they all enjoyed a perfect evening at Stone Mountain, Ga. They enjoyed dinner, dazzling Christmas shows and numerous attractions, and all of this was highlighted with the beautiful Snow Angel, who brought real snow as she glided through the air. She was suspended in the air for all to enjoy; shortly thereafter, she brought fireworks for the grand finale. A CNN Tour in downtown Atlanta, a visit to the World of Coke and the Georgia Aquarium were enjoyed before dressing for a semi-formal dinner at the Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View of the magnificent Atlanta Skyline. Glass elevators took us up 73 floors to The Sun Dial’s revolving restaurant. This was the ultimate dining experience. Tours of the Atlanta High Museum of Art and the Atlanta History Center were last but not necessarily least on the tour agenda. Many enjoyable moments will be remembered for a very long time. The South Alabama Senior Travelers (SAST) meet twice monthly, second and forth Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the Senior Center in Foley. Many trips are being planned and some trips are already filling up for 2013; if you are interested in visiting or joining this group, contact our president, Diane Hutton at 251-967-4190.
Tom Hutton, Diane Hutton and Don Borck visit the Troll Tavern in Helen, Ga.
Linda Crawford doing a news cast during a CNN tour.
Lake Lanier, Ga. Magical Night of Lights
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Christmas train ride includes (group list in no particular order): Louise Childs, escort, Don Borck, Katie Bales, Carolyn Cassady, Jan Chema, Ron Chema, Carol Cowan, Ken Crawford, Linda Crawford, Liz Frye, Steve Frye, Evelyn Holloway, Lora Horn, Diane Hutton, Tom Hutton, Mary Johnson, Ed Kane, Carol Klein, Eugene Klein, Margaret Klein, Barbara Michaels, Reuben Michaels, Elsie Mogan, Marie Noggle, Joan Olsen, Elaine Roberson, Barbara Stewart, Ethel Taylor, Marie Thompson, Mildred Whitaker and Sylvia Womack.
Louise Childs and Don Borck at World of Coke
Elsie Morgan and Ethel Taylor on streets of Helen, Ga.
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Spinal-cord injury responds to stem cell therapy Submitted by Precision Imaging An ATV accident in 2007, and the resulting spinal-cord injury left Birmingham military veteran Scott Williams paralyzed from the chest down. So, for the past five years, Williams has been unable to move his lower extremities. Then Williams heard of a procedure performed on an ALS patient, former NFL football player and college coach Frank Orgel. Orgel had been diagnosed with ALS eight years before and his motor control had declined to the point that he could no longer move his left arm or leg, nor walk or stand on his own. Orgel sought treatment at the Precision Stem Cell facility in Gulf Shores and since his treatment, has been able to stand without assistance. He continues to work with a physical therapist to regain the ability to walk. Dr. Jason R. Williams, founder of Precision Stem Cell and a board certified radiologist with extensive training in imageguided procedures, performed the procedure. The technology, a form of stem-cell therapy, involves transplanting some of the patient’s own cells into the spine. Via a minimally invasive process of liposuction, cells are harvested from the patient. Stem cells are separated from the fat and, under image guidance, are delivered into the spine. For three to five days thereafter, the patient receives Selegiline, a medication that laboratory research has shown to cause stem cells to convert into neural stem cells. In the summer of 2012, Scott Williams travelled to Gulf Shores to seek the help of Precision Stem Cell. “I believe that Mr. Williams is the first patient to be treated for spinal cord injury with this specific technique. It is a good initial step,” Dr. Williams said. Shortly after treatment, the patient began noticing increased sensation in his left leg and the ability to slightly move both feet. “Within one month I was able to move my feet some and I haven’t done that in over five years,” Scott Williams said. “I feel that this is amazing progress.” “We had believed that our therapy techniques could help not only ALS patients but also patients with other neuralrelated conditions such as spinal cord injuries,” said Dr. Williams. “Our work with Scott Williams proved this to be true and we are eager to see if we will be able to help patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease. Although it is relatively new, this technique has shown great promise thus far, and we are always looking forward.” Precision Stem Cell conducts these stem-cell procedures using advanced imaging techniques, which include an Open 3T MRI, a low-dose 64-slice CT scanner, Ultrasound and real time X-ray (fluoroscopy). In addition to their current work on advanced stem cell harvesting and processing with image-guided injections, Precision is planning to begin animal research. The research will entail evaluating the potential of even more advanced techniques with the addition of genetically modified stem cells. Learn more about stem cell therapy, Precision Stem Cell and Dr. Jason R. Williams at precisionstemcell.com.
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