Boomers (March, 2013)

March 2013

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Gulf Coast Newspapers GulfCoastNewsToday.com

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March 2013

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

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March 2013

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INSIDE: Brent Burns sings songs for Baby Boomers page 5 6u POEM: “He Snores” 6u POEM: “Yesterday Valentine” 8u Making the most of each day 10u calendar of events 12u Food for Thought 14u RV living 16u Eat it and read 17u POEM: “MoonPies, Madness” 18u Flashback 50 20u Heart Disease prevention 22u Alabama Hiking conference 23u POEM: “Mardi Gras Marriage” 24u Taming the paper dragon 26u Bragging Rights 27u Tax Talk 28u Letter to the Governor 29u BBQ bash 29u POEM: “Remembering Mardi Gras” 30u Heart scan imagery

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 Wants Your Input

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

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 Layout & Cover Design Fred Bassett, Corey Biggs, Eric Cheung, Deirdre Davison, Steve Ellison, Stephanie Emrich, Wendy Gosnell Contributing writers Dr. Linda Mitchell Food for Thought series writer Susan Martinello, P.T. Paul, Betty Spence, Mary P. VanAntwerp Sue Walker Poems Fred Marchman Cartoonist Gulf Coast Newspapers 217 N. McKenzie St. Foley, AL 36535 251-943-2151 features@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

B y o b o a m e B rs r of March 2013

New songs

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Submitted

Mention “Baby Boomer Songs” and most minds flash back to the doo-wop of the ‘50s or the Fab Four of the ‘60s, but Gulf Shores’ award winning singer/songwriter, Brent Burns, has a different idea.

“I wanted to write songs about the things I am experiencing now, not just rehash the things I remember,” he said.

So Burns gathered his songwriter friends and started writing “Baby Boomers.” This group includes some heavy hitters – Bobby Weinstein, Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee (“Goin’ Out Of My Head,” “Hurts So Bad”), Steve Dean (six No. 1 hits including “Watching You” recorded by Rodney Atkins), Jim Allison, Roger Sovine (BMI vice president) and Bill Whyte (Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame). This group has come up with some titles to which every Baby Boomer can relate – “Please Don’t Let That Kid Move Back Home,” “Retired,” “AARP” and “Low Tech Guy In A High Tech World,” to name a few.

“This is the first time I’ve done a concept album; all the songs relate to the Baby Boomers,” he said.

The new CD includes one of Burns’ most wellknown songs, “If It’s Snowbird Season Why Can’t We Shoot ‘Em?” The song plays on radio stations across the entire Gulf Coast when winter visitors flock to warmer climates. Burns has a lot of experience with snowbirds.

“Most of the snowbirds see the humor. They see themselves in the song and get a laugh out of it,” Burns said.

In fact, most of the songs on “Baby Boomers” have a humorous bent.

Brent Burns is an award “Like that winning singer/songwriter from joke says, Gulf Shores.

‘Growin’ old isn’t

Burns latest CD is called ‘Baby Boomers’ which takes a humorous approach to his everyday experiences as a member of the Baby Boomer generation.

It is available to buy at Lulu’s and The Happy Shak in Gulf Shores as well as St. Charles Place in Orange Beach. for sissies!’ but there’s no need to be glum about it,” he said.

Burns hopes Boomers will listen to the songs and understand that he is one of them going through the same things they are going through.

“I don’t foresee a time that I won’t be making music,” he divulged. “Maybe the phone will stop ringing and I won’t travel as much, but I’ll still be writing songs that Baby Boomers can enjoy.”

Burns is an award winning Trop Rock Music Association artist. In 2012, his “Don’t Come Knockin’ If The Tiki Hut’s Rockin’” was named song and CD/album of the year. In 2011, he was honored as entertainer and songwriter of the year. He won awards for songwriter of the year and CD and song of the year for his “I’ve Got A Beach In My Backyard” at the 2010 Trop Rock Music Awards. Burns added these to his 2008 Trop Rock Music Awards for entertainer of the year, CD of the year (“Ragtops and Flip Flops”) and the Wave Humanitarian award for his charitable work.

Burns’ CD, “Baby Boomers” is available at Lulu’s and The Happy Shak in Gulf Shores and St. Charles Place in Orange Beach. It can be ordered online at Burns’ website, brentburns.com and downloaded through CD Baby and iTunes. To learn more about Burns visit his website.

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March 2013

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Hummingbird changes on the Gulf Coast

By Fred Bassett

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ebruary and March bring big changes to our local hummingbird population. Most of the western hummingbirds that winter in south Alabama have migrated back to western states by the middle of February, but a few may linger until well into March. Western species of hummingbirds identified and banded this winter around Mobile Bay include Black-chinned, Rufous, Allen’s, Broad-tailed, Calliope and Buff-bellied.

About the first of March, our wonderful Ruby-throated hummingbirds will begin spring migration back into the local area.

If you don’t have a feeder up already, early March is the time to put one out. Only male Ruby-throated hummingbirds are normally seen the first two weeks in March, and then they will be joined by females. Most of the early birds will visit your feeders briefly and continue migrating north. Later in April and May some of them will settle in the local area to nest and we will get to enjoy them all summer.

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January/February March 2013 2013

Making the most of each day: The Beatles

By Deirdre Davison There is no way to talk about the 1960s without mentioning Rock and Roll and even more specifically, the Beatles. By February 1963, they were already becoming a musical reckoning force and were only one year away from a full frontal assault, an Invasion which set in motion a war that still continues today between the youth that love popular music and the parents that loathe it.

I was a late bloomer; I mean boomer. My parents were part of the “Silent Generation” which included those born between 1925 and 1942. While they often discussed social and political issues over evening cocktails, the world outside of our front door would never know that either even had an opinion.

To the public world my father was a technical illustrator for Western Electric. In his private world he became the quintessential bohemian artist. In public, he smoked a pipe and never challenged authority. Away from the city he was a classical music listening, beatnik poem writing, chianti drinking, downhill road racing, Ansel Adamsesque photographing, abstract painting, dove hunting, fly-fishing Renaissance man on whose arm my mother sparkled like an asscher cut diamond.

My mother, on the other hand, successfully merged her public and private personas. She was Superwoman. Always a wife and mother, a photographer, a fisherwoman, a seamstress, a model for Montaldo’s Department Store and the hostess extraordinaire to anyone in her social circle.

She flowed effortlessly among the roles like gossamer on a gentle breeze.

The wonderful hippie fashions that were becoming increasingly popular never graced mine or my parents’ closet. No, my mother had a gazillion socially acceptable Vogue patterns and could whip up a brocade cocktail dress in just a few hours. When she lacked a ready-made pattern, she made one by using the day’s newspaper. I was raised by a mother who not only dressed like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but a mother who was also just as pretty. She wore her hair in what was a cross between a beehive and a French twist, often adorning it with little florist bees as if to emphasize to the world that it was a beehive.

My parents’ house was decorated with modern art and Danish modern teak furniture. Our family looked like every other middle class family in our community. At this point, you are probably wondering what any of this has to do with music, culture, and society at large. Nothing and everything.

To the outside world and in reality, we were living the American Dream. We all looked the part, perfectly poised and staged, polite and well spoken. We followed the mores and norms set before us. It wasn’t until I was a moody teenager that I found my parents’ counter culture music stash of the Beatles, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Simon and

Continued on next page

March 2013

Continued from previous page Garfunkel and the hippie freak lot of them. What had I stumbled across? I had to know.

My father and I sat down together, and I learned about parts of my parents’ lives that had been secreted away and carefully managed. I learned that my father’s job required a great bit of discretion so he was never publically vocal about his political views. Instead, he spoke with his wallet and gave money to causes that fought social injustice. He spoke with his art when he painted abstract paintings as a way to emote the longing inside of him.

He listened to popular music and banged on his bongos when no one was looking. He hoped that the answer was as Bob Dylan sang, “blowing in the wind” and that one day all would “overcome.”

I realized my parents had a need to express themselves, but also had a lifetime of enculturation that forbade them to do so. Realizing and empathizing can be diametrically opposed in the world of an egocentric teenager, and I was no exception. I rebelled and railed against the “establishment,” whatever that was! I was moody and misunderstood and turned up the music in response.

While it was music that probably sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard to my parents, it was music that was born out of the Beatles musical influence. I was David Bowie’s Young American. I wore off the grooves of

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every Elton John album. I played Pink Floyd with the speakers strategically placed on either side of my head and I bobbed my head wildly to the guitar solo in Bohemian Rhapsody (truth be known, I still do). All of these artists have credited the Beatles as one of their most important musical influences.

Again, you may be asking what any of these musings have to do with the impact of the Beatles music on our world. The Beatles took components of soul and played it through the lenses of their world and made it readily available to the masses at a time when soul and rhythm and blues were not acceptable in most circles. They came about in a time when new audio technology was a perfect compliment. They merged old style music with new at just the right time in history. Because of the Beatles’ popularity, they influenced fashion and even hairstyles.

The Beatles ushered in a legacy that is still being felt today and it’s thanks to my parents and their contemporaries who bought the albums. Even though my parents listened mostly after the kids were in bed, they still listened. They found solace and release in the music. While they may have towed the socially acceptable mainline, it’s also possible that the Beatles music helped them encourage me to color outside of the lines. It’s possible that the Fab Four’s music let my parents and untold numbers of other young parents know that they weren’t alone and that they did have a voice. It’s possible.

By Fred Marchman

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March 2013

calendar of events

uArts and Entertainment

Pensacola Little Theatre’s Short Attention Span Theatre

Feb. 15-17 and 21-23 Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Enjoy six quirky one-act plays that find the humor in romance and relationships. A production of PLT’s Studio 400 series may contain adult language and situations. PLT is located inside the Pensacola Cultural Center at 400 South Jefferson St., Downtown Pensacola. For more information, visit PensacolaLittleTheatre.com or call 850-432-2042.

National Naval Aviation Museum “Breakfast & A Movie”

Every Tuesday in Feb. at 9 a.m., on the IMAX giant screen.

Watch a classic film and enjoy a light breakfast and coffee served in a take-home souvenir,(stainless steel travel mug). Admission $8 per person. For more information, visit navalaviationmuseum.org/ news-and-events/130-breakfast-and-a-movie.

Loxley Civic Center hosts the City Rhythm Big Band Sweetheart Dance Feb. 16, 7-10 p.m.

Hosted by Pat Crumby.

Future events include: March 16, St. Patrick’s Day Dance; April 12, Spring Dance; May 11, May Day Dance; and June 8, Summer Dance. For more information call Joey at 251-964-7733 or visit cityrhythmbb.com.

The Baldwin Pops Band present “A Night at the Opera”

Feb. 18, 7 p.m. at the Fairhope Civic Center.

All concerts are free!

Dr. Roger Jones will conduct a concert featuring music almost exclusively from or about operas and operettas. For more information call 251-987-5757 or visit baldwinpopsband.com.

Theatre 98’s presents “Bus Stop.”

Feb. 21- March 3 The 2013 season opens with this William Inge classic. Tickets can be bought for each performance or purchased for the season. The play “Bus Stop” was simplified and adapted into a movie with characters that the movie dropped….and happy endings

can occur. For more information call 251-928-4366, leave a message or visit theatre98.org.

EMI’s Chili for Charity

Feb. 23 Motorcycle ride at 10:30 a.m., Cook-off 11:30-2 p.m.

Admission is $10 and $5 at Oak Hollow Farm, 14120 Greeno Road, Fairhope.

A cook-off competition, a musical event, a fun-filled family festival, music, food (more than just chili), things to do and see. For more information, contact Ecumenical Ministries 251-928-3430 or 251-9433445.

Old Fashion Barbecue Bash

Feb. 23, 11a.m.-4 p.m.

Tickets $10, while supplies last at Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile.

The National Barbecue Association will host its 22nd Anniversary National Conference and Trade Show. Sample and vote for your favorite chicken and sauce. Sandwiches and platters will be for sale for those who want more than a sample. The conference is ideal for restaurateurs, caters, competition cooks, manufacturers and backyard enthusiasts. For more, call 888-909-2121 or visit nbbqa.org.

Mercedes of Mobile presents “Carnival of the Animals”

Feb. 23 7:30 p.m. at Saenger Theater in Mobile The production benefits Thomas Hospital’s Birth Center. Allow yourself to be taken away to a whimsical make-believe world of zoological wonder. Special performances by Mobile Opera.

Mobile Symphony Archduke Trio

Feb. 24, 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15, $12 for groups of 10 or more, $5 for students at the Eastern Shore Art Center, 401 Oak St., Fairhope. For more, call 251-928-2228, ext. 107 or visit esartcenter.com.

The University of Mobile Upper Room Theater presents “Godspell”

March 1-2, 7 p.m. and March 3, 2 p.m.

Admission $22 and $10, tickets can be purchased at the door at Saraland Center for Performing Arts at Saraland High School.

“Godspell” is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and is

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calendar of events

uArts and Entertainment

based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew and will include song hits “Day by Day,” “By My Side” and much more. For more information, visit umpbile. edu or call 251-442-2222.

Professional Bull Riders

March 1 and 2, 7:30 p.m. at the Mobile Civic Center.

Admission $12-$35 and VIP $60.

The event will showcase some of the most promising rising stars of the PBR and all the competitors will face-off against the most famous animal athletes. For more information call, 334-559-0479.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.

“Romeo & Juliet” at Playhouse in the Park

March 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are adults $15, students and seniors $12.

PITP is located at 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile (across form the Mobile Museum of Art in Langan Park). School show dates are March 5, 6, 7 and 8 at 9 and 11 a.m.; tickets are $8for students and teachers are free. For more information, call 602-0630 or visit playhouseinthepark.org.

Alabama Hiking Trail 2013 Conference 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, March 8-10.

The keynote speaker will be Marty Dominy with the Great Eastern Trail Association, along with Juli Day, Kim Waites, Mary Humphries, Joe Nicholson, Cliff Hardin and photographer, Jeff Haller.

The conferences will many other activities such as Delta boat tours, Kayaking, and a potluck supper around a campfire. For more information, contact Charter president Joe Cuhaj 251-533-1812, hikealaba.m.a.org.

The Friends of Fairhope Library presents the 5th Annual Chocolate & Champagne Fantasy March 9, 7 to 9 p.m. at the library.

This year’s “fantasy cruise” theme will feature Theatre 98 actors and staff who will serve as our cruise ship crew. Admission $25 and $30. So mark your calendars for this big event. It will be a night filled with merrymaking, gaiety, and good times, scrumptious and appetizing food and delectable wines and champagne.

Luke Bryan with special guests Thompson Square and Georgia Line

March 14, 7 p.m.

Admission is $35.25-$45.25 plus fees and service charges, held at The Amphitheater at The Wharf, Orange Beach. For more information, call 800-7453000.

The 5th Annual BBQ & Blues Cook-Off

March 16, at Heritage Park, downtown Foley.

The fundraising event is to build awareness and support The South Baldwin Chamber Foundation and its many programs. Companies and individuals will compete in the cook-off. Attendees will enjoy live music, free children’s activities, silent auction and a BBQ Tasting. Tickets are available at the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce office at 112 West Laurel Ave., Foley or visit southbaldwincha.m.ber. com/majorevents for more information.

Foley Woman’s Club Mad Hatters’ present “Reach for The Stars”

March 20. Tickets $25.

The event will include the famous hat contest, fashion show, entertainment, raffles, silent auction and a catered lunch. All funds raised are donated to Baldwin County charities and organizations that provide assistance for women and children.

For more information, contact Sylvia Womack at 251-955-5294 or sylviad419@gulftel.com.

The Perdido Key Wine, Art Festival and Music

This outdoor gathering will be held March 23, 2-6 p.m. at 13160 Gulf Beach Hwy, near Sacred Heart property.

Toast the arrival of spring with casual wine drinkers and seasoned connoisseurs alike. Wine distributors will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the origins of your favorite wines. The event is sponsored by the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. For more details, contact 850434-9095 or visitperdido.com.

Kenny Chesney with special guests Eli Young Band & Kacey Musgraves

April 4, 8 p.m. at The Amphitheater at The Wharf, Orange Beach.

Reserved seating $55-$125 plus fees and service charges. For more information, call 800-745-3000.

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March 2013

Food for Thought: Tailgate contest

By Dr. Linda Mitchell I was blessed to be a judge at Pontotoc’s first Bulldog/Rebel Tailgate challenge. I say blessed because it was pure pleasure to visit with family and friends and taste some of the best barbeque ribs and chicken and steak this side of the Mason-Dixon Line.

I knew it was going to be good when I arrived and parked my car, right away that seductive Dr. Linda Mitchell smoky scent grabbed me by the nose and led me to the town square.

Grills and smokers, tents and banners, folks sporting their favorite team colors — all a backdrop for the main event: the food. Best of all, it was my job to sample everything (tough job, I know, but somebody’s got to do it). The scorecard said points went for presentation, but those with fork in hand went for the gut reaction — how we felt when that first bite hit our taste buds and traveled down the well worn path to our stomachs. We weren’t disappointed.

Signs of Good Barbeque

• No one wears perfume because it would be outclassed by the aroma from the grills.

• There will be smoke…maybe even a touch of bacon… better than the most expensive pipe tobacco.

• The “S” sisters, seasoning and sauce, are the life of the party.

• Heat and Sweet hang out and get to know each other.

• And most important….no one goes home hungry.

Tips and Techniques

• No boiling…you’re not making a stew. Water is a solvent, it pulls the flavor out of the meat and can make it mushy…an absolute no-no.

• Set up the grill so one side is hot and the other is not.

• Add moisture with water in a disposable aluminum pan set on the hot side.

Rebel Dust

Rubs (go on before cooking and they are good for most any meat).

3/4 cup brown sugar (the sugar helps form the “bark”) crust of the barbeque 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup paprika 1/4 cup kosher salt 1/4 cup garlic powder 2 tablespoons ground black pepper 2 tablespoons onion powder 1 sprig of fresh rosemary (my favorite herb but it’s strong and a little goes a long way)

Ribs Mix everything together except the rosemary. Massage the rub into the meat an hour or two before cooking…OR, rub them up, wrap them up with the rosemary (plastic wrap) and refrigerate overnight or until ready to cook.

Bulldog Sauce 1 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup ketchup 1/2 cup water (more or less to reach the consistency you desire) 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 3 tablespoons minced garlic 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons molasses 2 tablespoons mustard 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon paprika 1 tablespoon chili powder more or less (depends on how hot you want it) 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you want more heat) Saute onion and garlic in butter. Add other ingredients with vinegar being the last one added. Simmer for 15 minutes. For a smoother sauce, puree it in a blender or substitute onion and garlic powder for the real thing.

March 2013

Glazed corn on the cob

Glazed Corn on the Cob 8 ears sweet corn with husks stripped back and tied to form a handle 1 can cream of coconut 1 stick butter Hang husks off the grill so they don’t burn. Place corn on hot grill and as corn cooks baste with melted butter and then with cream of coconut. Remove from grill and enjoy.

Sweet Apple Barbeque Sauce

(delicious with pork or chicken or brushed on veggies, makes a great dip as well) 1 cup ketchup 1/2 cup apple, peeled and grated 1/4 cup apple juice 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup onion, grated fine 3 teaspoons bell pepper, grated fine 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon pepper Mix it all together and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Easy Barbecue Pork Shoulder 4-5 pound boneless pork shoulder, also known as

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Beans and Barbeque Boston Butt 1/4 cup apple cider, your favorite barbecue sauce Place the meat in the slow cooker with juice. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Turn to low and cook 7 to 9 hours longer, until very tender. Remove roast and discard fat and juices. Chop or shred the pork; return to slow cooker. Mix your favorite barbecue sauce in. Heat until hot. Serve on warm buns with extra sauce.

Tin Roof Sundae Pie

(It is said that the name came from the sound of peanuts hitting the canisters when they were scooped, which sounded like rain hitting a tin roof) 4 cups honey and nut flavor cornflakes cereal 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup corn syrup 1 quart vanilla bean or coffee ice cream, softened 1/2 cup chopped, salted peanuts 1/2 cup chocolate syrup or hot fudge 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping 8 cherries Spray a 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray. Mix together cereal, peanut butter and corn syrup to make the crust. Pour mixture into the sprayed pie pan. Spread softened ice cream evenly into crust. Top with peanuts and freeze until firm, about 4-5 hours. When ready to serve, remove from freezer and slice. Top each slice with chocolate syrup and a strawberry or cherry.

Note: May use a chocolate cookie crust instead of cereal.

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March 2013

RV living along the Gulf Coast:

The freedom of travel with all the luxury of home

By Corey Biggs Recreational vehicles offer the amenities of home in a cozy, yet compact space. Loaded with accessories, RVs make camping in the rough — well, tough to do.

Today’s RVs are loaded with luxurious features such as full service kitchens, washers-dryer combos and entertainment systems. Many RVs feature ceiling fans, dishwashers and gas-log fireplaces among custom options.

It’s no wonder that many people travel the open roads to live full-time in recreational vehicles.

Gayle and Joyce Gatlin have been RVing since 1989 and enjoy the freedom it affords them to explore the country.

“When visiting friends, relatives, we don’t feel as if we are intruding when we are in our RV,” Gayle said.

“We are also able to stay longer, as we are not disrupting their home or daily routines,” Joyce added. “The notion of living inside such small living quarters may seem confining; but I was told I needed to think “outside the box.”

Many of today’s brick-and-mortar homes — as referred to by RVers — have roomy floor plans with sparse land area. The opposite is true with RVs, which have con-

densed internal living spaces, but offer outdoor scenery and outside entertainment like Yellowstone National Park, the Smoky Mountains and, of course, the pristine beaches along the Gulf of Mexico in Baldwin County.

For five years, Jim and Bobby Watson have enjoyed their RV lifestyle. As self-proclaimed snowbirds, they escape the harsh northeast winters in exchange for the South’s milder climates and slow-paced way of life.

Determining how many people actually live full-time in RVs is difficult. Full-time RVing is generally considered six months of a year or greater. Some RV style trailers are set up to be long-term shelters such as the notorious FEMA trailers. This makes defining recreational vehicles versus mobile shelters difficult.

Choosing the right location for an RV experience is just as important as choosing the right RV. Many park accommodations include recreational areas for sports, fishing and swimming. Amenities such as indoor recreational areas, Internet access and security are becoming more important factors among those who live in RVs. At Wilderness RV park in Loxley, RVers enjoy on-site fishing, weekly social activities and swimming. The park offers a serene environment with tall Southern pines, which attract a wide variety of snowbirds as they migrate south for the winter.

All of the RVers I spoke with enjoy the freedom and flexibility of their experience. Upon hearing people reminisce about their lives and decisions to live the RV lifestyle, I detected a sense of rejuvenation radiating from them.

George Kalaris, owner of Wilderness RV park, says his residents consist mainly of retirees and snowbirds – who are fun-loving and laid back...until the mention of hurricanes.

March 2013

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March 2013

Page & Palette to host Read It & Eat with Alabama native: See Margaret Wrinkle and her debut novel ‘Wash’ "In this deeply researched, deeply felt debut novel, documentarian Wrinkle aims a sure pen at a crucial moment following America’s War of Independence. . . . The novel well evokes the tragedy not only of [its] lovers’ untenable positions, but also that of their master and his fragile country."

— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

By Stephanie Emrich Page & Palette bookstore in Fairhope announces a Read It & Eat luncheon with Alabama native Margaret Wrinkle to sign and discuss her debut novel “Wash” on Monday, Feb. 18, 12-1:00 p.m. at Tamara’s Downtown.

Tickets are $15 and include lunch and $5 off the purchase of “Wash.”

Margaret Wrinkle is a writer, filmmaker and visual artist born and raised in Birmingham. A seventh-generation Southerner, she always knew she had slaveholding ancestors. But she was shocked when she heard a family rumor that one of them may have engaged in the breeding of enslaved people. Determined to know more, she set out to discover the truth about this long-buried historical practice. Her journey led to the writing of her

debut novel, “Wash,” a haunting and intimate story of owner and owned.

Despite extensive research, Wrinkle was never able to find any proof of the veracity of the family rumor.

And slave breeding is such a controversial topic that finding sources willing to even mention the possibility proved difficult. Facing a dearth of historical evidence, her imagination took over, and she found herself coming again and again to the question: what if it had actually happened? What would that mean for all involved?

In “Wash,” Wrinkle begins with Richardson, a conflicted slaveholding patriarch and Revolutionary War veteran struggling to stay afloat in a world he no longer understands. Then she found an interview with one survivor of slavery who described a man forced to work as what was then called “a traveling negro.” As she pictures this tall, isolated and difficult man being taken to a distant plantation where, nine months later, many babies will be born, the character of Wash emerges as Richardson’s breeding sire.

The first member of his family born into slavery, Wash gets drawn into a power struggle with Richardson and must fight to hold onto the West African spiritual traditions inherited from his shamanic mother. Despair and disease lead him to a potent enslaved healer named Pallas and their delicate love story unfolds against this tumultuous backdrop.

By turns harrowing and redemptive, this boundarycrossing novel of American slavery carries the reader from the heart of whiteness into the center of ancestral African spirituality and back again until these two contrasting cultures shimmer together. Questioning all differences of blood and tradition, erasing even the line between the living and the dead, “Wash” offers new insights into our continuing racial dilemmas.

For more information or to reserve a ticket contact Page & Palette at (251) 928-5295 or pageandpalette. com.

"A moving and heart-rending novel." — Kirkus Reviews

March 2013

“MoonPies and Madness and Saltwater Taffy” Quicksilver Folly, chasing Death in dark circles, marshals mayhem down sleeps’ phantom streets.

Doubloons glitter downward, cracking darkened shop windows— they litter the ground at my feet.

MoonPies and madness and saltwater taffy surge over my head rhythmically.

Broken beads sting my palms.

Someone steps on my coat.

I grind a po-boy under my knee.

They wink from the curb in the yellow torch light, on the dark lips of memorys’ maw and I grovel, still grasping for the currency of childhood: cheap silver coins of Mardi Gras.

Poem by P.T. Paul

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Flashback 50: March uThis month in 1962

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Died: Felice Casorati, 79, Italian painter, sculptor, and printmaker The first attempt at liver transplantation in a human being was made by a team in Denver, led by Dr. Thomas Starzl. The patient, an unidentified 3-year-old child, died shortly after the surgery. On July 23, 1967, Dr. Starzl would perform the first liver transplant where a patient survived for longer than one year The Beatles were at the bottom of the bill in the last show of their tour supporting Helen Shapiro. Other acts ahead of them included The Kestrels, The Honeys, Dave Allen, Kenny Lynch and Danny Williams.

For the first time, the election for the office of Chairman of the Tribal Council of the Navajo Nation was contested among multiple candidates. Paul Jones, who had been the chief executive for the semi-sovereign Navajos since 1955, was defeated by Raymond Nakai, a radio announcer employed in Flagstaff, Arizona. -A break in the nearly three month long New York City newspaper strike saw the “New York Post” become the first of nine daily papers to settle with striking printers and to resume publication.

-Born: Jason Newsted, American bass guitar player for Metallica, in Battle Creek, Michigan -Died: William Carlos Williams, 79, American poet, of a stroke; and Édouard Belin, 86, French inventor of the wirephoto process that allowed photographs to be transmitted to newspapers for reprinting.

In Camden, Tenn., country music superstar Patsy Cline (Virginia Patterson Hensley) was killed in a plane crash along with fellow performers Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas and Cline’s manager and pilot Randy Hughes, after returning from a benefit performance in Kansas City, Kan. for country radio disc jockey “Cactus” Jack Call.”

Winter of 1962–1963 in the United Kingdom: Great Britain’s longest, coldest winter in the 20th century finally came to an end after snow had been on the ground since a Dec. 29 blizzard. For the first time since the start of the year, there was no frost anywhere in the United Kingdom, and temperatures rose above freezing

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and into the low 60s. -Construction began of the Unisphere, a 120 foot diameter Earth globe and the symbol of the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

The 58-story tall Pan Am Building (now the MetLife Building) opened at 200 Park Avenue in New York City. With more than three million square feet of floor space, it was the largest commercial office building in the world at the time of its completion. -Born: Kim Ung-yong, South Korean engineer and former child prodigy listed by Guinness for “Highest IQ” (210), in Seoul For the first time in British history, the 25 members of the Scots Guards, personal protectors for Queen Elizabeth II, walked off of their jobs. The grievance, reportedly, was that there was “too much spit and polish.” -International direct dialing of telephones was introduced for the first time, with a link between London and Paris.

-Died: Jack Anglin, 46, American country music singer, was killed near Madison, Tenn., while driving to Nashville to attend memorial services for Patsy Cline.

Mohammed Daoud Khan resigned after nine and a half years as Prime Minister of Afghanistan, at the request of his cousin, King Mohammed Zahir Shah, who instituted a constitutional monarchy. Daoud would overthrow the king on July 17, 1973, and become the first President of Afghanistan, and would be assassinated on April 28, 1978.

Two Los Angeles policemen were kidnapped after pulling over a car driven by Gregory Powell.

After their car was stopped at Gower Street and Carlos Avenue in Hollywood, Powell and his accomplice, Jimmy Lee Smith, disarmed the two policemen, Ian Campbell and Karl Hettinger, forced them into their car, then drove them to an onion field in Kern County, Calif. Powell shot Campbell five times, but Hettinger escaped. Author Joseph Wambaugh would write a bestselling book about the kidnap and murder in 1973.

The first air show for the “Confederate Air Force,” a group dedicated to preserving WWII aircraft, took place, in Texas. The organization was renamed the Commemorative Air Force in later years

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An unidentified flying object, described as a “hazy white light” was seen by hundreds of residents of the “Big Island” of Hawaii, where it hovered for more than five minutes.

Lee Harvey Oswald, using the name of “A. Hidell,” mailed a money order in the amount of $21.45 to Klein’s Sporting Goods of Chicago, along with a coupon clipped from the February 1963 issue of “American Rifleman” magazine, to purchase a rifle that would be used eight months later to kill President John F. Kennedy. -Born: Randall Kenan, American author, in Brooklyn Ernesto Miranda, a 22 year old warehouse employee, was arrested in Phoenix, Ariz., on suspicion of rape, and subsequently convicted based on statements that he made to the police without being advised of his constitutional right not to incriminate himself. He would fight the conviction to the United States Supreme Court, leading to the landmark 1966 decision in Miranda v. Arizona. His name lives on in the name of the instructions that all police are required to give to persons arrested, beginning with, “You have the right to remain silent,” referred to as the Miranda warning, and in the phrase “Miranda rights.” -Up and coming heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay almost had his career derailed in a bout at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, against Doug Jones. Although the future Muhammad Ali, had predicted he would defeat Jones in four rounds, Clay appeared to be losing the bout as it went into round 7. Scheduled for only 10 rounds, the fight ended in a decision in favor of Clay, with many in the crowd protesting that it had been fixed. Clay would win the right to face Sonny Liston the following year, and win the title. -Lake Powell began to form inside Arizona’s Glen Canyon, as construction of a dam of the Colorado River neared completion. Powell is now the second largest man-made lake in the United States.

The first confirmed penetration of United States airspace by Soviet military aircraft took place with two violations on the same day over the state of Alaska. One Soviet reconnaissance plane flew over Nelson Island, while the other made a pass over Nunivak Island. -The “Saturday Evening Post” magazine issued a statement that athletic director Wally Butts of Georgia, and college football coach Bear Bryant of Alabama, had “fixed” the September 22, 1962, game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide. According to the “Post,” its upcoming issue on March 19 would give details of Butts supplying Georgia’s plays to Bryant in advance of Alabama’s 35-0 win in a game where the point spread was a 14 to 17 point win. Both Bryant and

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Butts denied the allegations.

The British scientific journal, “Nature,” published an article by Maarten Schmidt entitled “3C 273 : A Star-Like Object with Large Red-Shift,” marking the first announcement of the discovery of a quasar (quasi-stellar radio source). -Died: Sir William Beveridge, 61, British economist, social reformer, and architect of the post-war welfare state in the United Kingdom Mount Agung erupted on Bali, killing 1,150 people. On Feb. 19, the volcano had killed 17 people after being dormant for more than a century, and then had a more violent eruption a month later. -Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) was beatified in the Roman Catholic Church in a ceremony led by Pope John XXIII at Vatican City. On Sept. 14, 1975, she would become the first American native to be canonized as a saint.

Gideon v. Wainwright: The United States Supreme Court made a ruling that established the principle that any criminal defendant, unable to afford to pay for a lawyer, had an absolute right to have a public defender appointed for him or her, at government expense. -Gray v. Sanders: On the same day, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling striking down the county-unit system of voting in an 8-1 decision. Justice William O. Douglas wrote “The conception of political equality... can mean only one thing— one person, one vote.” At the time of the ruling, only Georgia, Mississippi and Maryland retained the system.

-Born: Vanessa L. Williams, American pop singer, and first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America; in Tarrytown, New York The United States and the Soviet Union signed an agreement in Rome to work jointly on a weather satellite program.

The Alcatraz Island federal penitentiary in San Francisco Bay closed because it cost twice as much to operate as other units in the federal system. -The United States Food and Drug Administration gave approval for the first vaccine against measles, produced by Merck Sharp & Dohme.

The Beatles released their first album, “Please Please Me.” Microbiologist Maurice Hilleman, who would develop nearly 40 vaccines, including eight of the 14 on the worldwide vaccination schedule, began the development of the Mumpsvax vaccine against the mumps virus, by harvesting the live virus from his five year old daughter.

Born: Quentin Tarantino, American director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor, in Knoxville, Tenn.

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March 2013

Start early to prevent heart disease: Family history increases risk factors

By Eric Cheung, M.D. It’s February and that means it’s American Heart Month. Before you skip this article, ask yourself – no matter what your age – is there a history of heart disease, high cholesterol or high blood pressure in your family? Have any relatives died from a stroke or a heart attack?

Your family’s history of heart disease is a major indicator of your own risk, but history doesn’t have to repeat itself. The good news is, armed with this knowledge; you can take control of your own health, maintain a healthy heart, and prevent heart disease.

Your family history

If you have a brother or father who was diagnosed with heart disease before age 55 or a sister or mother diagnosed with heart disease prior to the age of 65, you’re considered to have an increased risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Having a relative die of heart complications before age 60 doubles your own risk of premature heart disease, according to a study in the “Journal of American College of Cardiology.” And if it’s a parent or sibling, your risk increases 72 percent. If there are two or more premature cardiovascular deaths, your risk increases two-fold compared to just one.

If a family member has or had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or atherosclerosis (a build-up of fat in the arteries), you may also be at increased risk of heart disease.

Know your numbers

For people with a family history of cardiovascular disease, it’s important to see your doctor before symptoms arise. It’s criti-

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cal for you to be aware of your own risk. The numbers to be aware of are: your cholesterol level, blood pressure and waist size. High cholesterol and high blood pressure put you at risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. If you have a family history of heart disease, cholesterol testing and blood pressure checks should begin as early as your 20s, to help determine if your levels are in the normal range. Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, especially if you carry your weight in your belly. Your doctor will be able to measure and evaluate all of these health indicators for you.

Knowing your heart-health numbers is the first step to preventing heart disease; having them checked regularly is equally important. If you have elevated numbers or other signs of heart disease, follow your doctor’s prevention and treatment recommendations to help lower your risk. This may include medications and lifestyle changes, including a more heart-healthy diet and increased aerobic exercise. According to the AHA, if test results show your cholesterol and blood pressure levels are normal, getting a check-up about every three to five years is sufficient, up to age 40. After age 40, the frequency with which your doctor recommends you be screened for disease will depend on your other risk factors.

Breaking the family pattern

Your heart disease risk is mostly in your hands – regardless of family history – and several lifestyle changes should be maintained for a healthy heart:

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• Don’t smoke, and limit alcohol to a moderate amount (no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink for women).

• Eat lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and limit trans and saturated fats, salt, and

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March 2013

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Continued from previous page sugar. • Incorporate aerobic exercise and strength training into your daily routine. • Know and track your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers. • Lose any excess weight. • Control any health conditions that increase heart disease risk, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

You don’t have to inherit heart disease if you take steps to ensure a healthy heart. Learn more by participating in our Heart Disease Risk Factors Assessment by visiting SouthBaldwinRMC.com/heart.

About the Author: Eric Cheung, M.D. is board certified in family medicine with the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of the medical staff at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, call 251-424-1130.

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 to facilitate conversations with their physician. Š Copyright 2012 - Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation.

These articles are for use by CHS-affiliated hospitals only.

SOUTH BALDWIN

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March 2013

Hiking Trail Group Announces Speaker Lineup for 2013 Conference Submitted by AHTS The Alabama Hiking Trail Society (AHTS) announced their lineup of guest speakers for the upcoming 2013 Hiking and Backpacking Conference to be held at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort March 8-10.

AHTS is proud to announce that Marty Dominy with the Great Eastern Trail Association will be the key note speaker. The Great Eastern Trail (GET) is an alternative long distance hiking trail to the Appalachian Trail that runs from Flagg Mountain in Weogufka, to upstate New York. Dominy will discuss the trail, its importance to eco-tourism in the state and region, the status of the trail and show attendees the beautiful landscapes the trail will lead to. AHTS is one of 20 hiking groups along the eastern seaboard that are working to complete the trail.

Other speakers will include Juli Day discussing lightweight backpacking and trail cooking, Kim Waites on handling outdoor emergencies, Mary Humphries and Joe Nicholson with the US Forest Service who will talk about the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Cheaha Wilderness in the Talladega National Forest, Cliff Hardin on long distance hiking adventures and photographer Jeff Haller who will give a presentation on the

basics of outdoor photography. Plus many more will be announced soon and will be announced on the conference website hikealabama.org\2013conference\.

In addition to wall-to-wall speakers, the conference will have many activities including special discounts on Delta boat tours and guided kayaking trips courtesy of 5 Rivers Delta Safaris, a pot luck supper around a campfire along the banks of Mobile Bay at Meaher State Park and hikes including the opening of a brand new wilderness trail on the Perdido River that borders Florida and Alabama. And of course, there will be just plain fun.

The Alabama Hiking Trail Society is a statewide non-profit hiking and trail organization. Its mission is to promote, protect, develop, and maintain safe, nonmotorized, non-paved footpaths so that all can enjoy Alabama's beautiful landscapes. AHTS is planning, building, and maintaining more than 800 miles of hiking trail in the state.

AHTS also provides educational and outreach programs to the public on a wide variety of topics and enjoys taking the public on hiking, backpacking and camping adventures around the state. For more information, contact AHTS Gulf Coast Chapter President Joe Cuhaj at 251-533-1812, or by email at ahts@hikealabama.org.

Learn more about AHTS at hikealabama.org.

March 2013

Mardi Gras Wedding (For Suzanne Hundson and Joe Formichella's wedding last year on Mardi Gras Day) Down a sandy lane on Mardi Gras Day just a moon pie’s throw from Mobile, Alabama, a friend marries on the bayou, the jazzy groom dressed in red britches with a Schlitz logo and a tux-top and his bride decked out in green gabardine with purple lace and a voile overlay, and mostly barefoot, except when she stepped into slippers of glittery gold before saying “I do,” before the preacher stood up from his folding chair under the live oak and pronounced them man and wife, and before everyone picnicked on pulled pork and pizza and stuffed eggs and sang “Laissez Bon Ton Roulet” to celebrate a perfect wedding on a perfect February Mardi Gras Day.

Prose poem by Sue Walker

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March 2013

Taming the paper dragon: Organizing your paperwork and simplifying your life

By Wendy Gosnell, CPS How many times have you looked at that stack of papers on the desk or dining room table and thought to yourself, “I can't face that right now…”? With patience and a simple few tools, there is a way to tame that Paper Dragon.

The first step is to open all the envelopes, and sort everything into stacks – insurance (life, homeowners, auto), investment statements, paycheck stubs, banking records, safety deposit box information, household bills, medical bills, wills, powers of attorney, and so on.

Shred anything that you do not wish to keep, to prevent identity theft.

The second is to organize the paperwork in reverse date order (newest on top), either in file folders or a three-ring binder behind tabs. This allows you to see what items need immediate attention. As a new month's bill comes in, you may want to remove the previous year's bill for that month (remove January 2012 when the January 2013 statement comes in).

Your legal business and life insurance should be handled differently from the regular bills. In general, you should have a will if you own any assets so they may be distributed as you wish at the time of your death. If you become incapacitated, a Power of Attorney will allow someone to transact business on your behalf. A Medical Power of Attorney will allow someone to make medical decisions when you are not able to do so for yourself.

You should have an original life insurance policy. If you do not have an original policy, your life insurance agent will be glad to get you a certified copy. Place all legal documents, including life insurance policies, in a safe place where they can be accessed when needed.

Always consult your attorney or life insurance agent regarding your particular situation.

The third item that will assist you in taming the Paper Dragon is to prepare a contact page for the various services you use. A rolodex is helpful for organizing this information, or you can make a list and file it in the front of your binder. The information should include billing address, phone number, account number, and type of service.

Now that you have reviewed all your bills, filed your information and created your contact list, you are ready

for the most challenging part – creating a budget. This will help you by giving you a more complete financial picture. Track your spending over the past three months to get an idea of where your hard-earned money goes.

Break down your expenses into fixed (mortgage, car note) and variable (groceries, gas). Tracking expenses helps you find ways to use your resources more wisely.

A great tool is the Adams Home Office Budget Booklet Number AFR31, available at any office supply store.

This has twelve months in it, which will allow you to track expenses on a daily basis for just about everything upon which you would spend money.

There are also pages in the back of the book to help you summarize the year's expenses for tax purposes.

Your budget will give you the power to organize your finances. If you would like to use a budget template, there are many available on the web, including the following from Microsoft: office.microsoft.com/enus/templates/personal-budget.

The end result of organizing your paperwork and setting up a budget, is the peace of mind you’ll get from taming that Paper Dragon!

March 2013

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March 2013

Bragging rights

Lena Kirk when we left—always hoping for a letter or phone call.

This photo is of my beloved mother-in-law, My husband and I bought a grand, old Lena Kirk. This is the first year she was marfarmhouse to redo and raise our children in. I ried (1915) to my wonderful father-in-law Paul built a full, one bedroom apartment onto the McKinley Kirk. house so my in-laws would have a place withThrough the years, I have been so blessed. out stairs to visit and stay comfortably. They Not many women can rave about their mothenjoyed it so much and we loved having them ers-in-law. My mother-in-law was an elegant, when they came to stay. well educated, beautiful woman. She went to Lena’s memorable quote: graduate school in the late 1800s.

When my dear mother-in-law would hear I was fortunate enough to marry her son, Dr. something off color or annoying, she would say, Robert Kirk, a 38-year-old bachelor and only “why the very idea of it all!” son. What a wonderful, adventurous life we Our children thought it was funny and to had. My in-laws were so excited for us. When this day they still quote our Dear Nana. we would visit them, they would be so sad Submitted by Carolyn (Sue) Kirk, of Fairhope

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Financial Gifts for Long-time Valentines Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day rolls around again. During the course of your life, you’ve probably sent your share of flowers and candy. But if your valentine is also your spouse — and, in particular, your long-time spouse — you may want to go beyond roses and chocolates this year to give a gift that can help lead to financial security.

You can choose to make financial gifts in a number of ways, of course, and some of them could provide an immediate financial impact. But you may want to look even further down the road and consider what you can do for your spouse in the areas of insurance planning and estate considerations.

For starters, do you have sufficient life insurance to help provide for your spouse and any children who may not yet be adults? Many people rely solely on their employers’ group insurance, which is often insufficient to adequately cover all the costs associated with maintaining their families’ lifestyles — not to mention future costs, such as paying for college. How much life insurance do you need? There’s no one right answer for everyone, so you may wish to consult with your financial advisor.

Life insurance isn’t the only type of protection you need to consider — because you don’t have to die to lose your income. In fact, statistically speaking, you are more likely to become disabled during your working years than you are to die — which is why you need adequate disability income insurance. Your employer may provide disability coverage, but, as was the case with life insurance, it may not be sufficient. So you may also need to consider adding a private policy.

While it’s important to maintain adequate life and disability insurance, it’s still not enough to ensure your spouse will be taken care of if he or she outlives you.

You also need to ensure that your estate plans are in order.

Toward that goal, you will need to work with your legal advisor to create the necessary legal documents,

such as a will, a living trust, a durable power of attorney or whatever other arrangements may be appropriate for your situation. In generating your estate plan, you must consider many factors: the amount of assets you have, how you want them divided, when you would like them distributed, and so on. In any case, estate planning can be complex, so you will need to work with your legal and tax advisors before putting any strategy into place.

Life insurance, disability-income insurance and an estate plan don’t sound like particularly romantic gifts.

And you can’t really just “give” them on Valentine’s Day because it will take some time to assemble the insurance coverage and estate planning arrangements you need. But if you haven’t fully worked on these key parts of your financial strategy yet, perhaps Valentine’s Day will be a good time to start — because once you’ve got all your protection needs and estate planning taken care of, you’re really giving your valentine some gifts that are designed to last a lifetime.

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your estate-planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Steve Ellison, Financial Advisor 1745 Main St. Suite A Daphne, AL 36526 251-626-7701 www.edwardjones.com/taxtalk

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To the editor

LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR Immigration Driver’s Licenses: *This letter to Governor Bentley was submitted to the editor for publication, and remains unsigned as it was submitted.

January 29, 2013 Dear Governor Bentley, Immigration is an important issue in our nation these days, but it’s always been vital to our state of Alabama because of our location as a border state and because agriculture is so crucial an industry to us.

I would like to urge you to consider some other items with regard to immigration.

On January 28, 2013, a national committee staffed by four members of the Democratic Party, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and four members of the Republican Party, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Jeff Flake (RAriz.), joined forces to promote a plan to fix the immigration problem in our country and make a path for citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. These men hope to come up with a viable option to save the immigrants who are already in our country who are working, raising a family, paying taxes and staying out of trouble. The men on this committee want the process to be a smooth-running machine that will be usable for future generations of immigrants who want to come to this country and live legally.

In our state, specifically in Baldwin County, one particular problem got out of hand after you differed with President Barack Obama’s ruling in 2011: the issuance of driver’s licenses.

From the Alabama Department of Public Safety Driver Manual: To obtain an Alabama driver’s license, applicants must: • Present two forms of identification, at least one of which contains a photograph; (one form must be from the primary listing).

• Present three forms of non-photo identification; (one form must be from the primary listing).

• Applicants transferring an Out of State driver’s license must present their out of state driver’s license, Social Security card (or one of the other acceptable documents for Social Security number ) AND one other form from the primary listing.

Upon the President’s ruling, recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, armed with all the proper paperwork, made their way to the Alabama Department of Public Safety to take the driver’s license tests and were turned away as per your orders. They were plainly told they could not take the test in our state.

Immigration Specialist Stella Knight at Catholic Social Services in Baldwin County wrote Congressman Jo Bonner a letter in August 2012, asking him to define how the state would deal with DACA driver’s license applicants regarding the new policy set forth by the Obama Administration. A letter was sent back from someone on Bonner’s staff stating that the matter was being looked into and that someone would get back with her. To this date, nothing has been done to assist the DACA applicants and no driver’s licenses have been issued in these cases.

Sen. McCain’s bi-partisan committee in Washington, D.C., will likely act on this issue very soon; the public is demanding that something get done about the legal status of immigrants.

Governor Bentley, you could do a great service to our state if you would reverse your ruling and see your way clear to allow the recipients of DACA to obtain their driver’s licenses as they are allowed to do in other states. That’s all I’m asking you to do.

You would be doing our state a great favor by permitting them to obtain their licenses in the proper way. They have shown by their preparation that they want to follow the law. They have shown by their enthusiasm that they want to be lawabiding citizens of our state and not some other state. They don’t want to have to go live in Florida or Texas for six months just so they can obtain a driver’s license there. They live and work or go to school here and they want to stay in Alabama and continue to work and raise a family here. They want to make Alabama their home.

If you allow the clerks in the DMV offices to permit these applicants to continue through the process of driver’s license testing, it would be a show of faith to the generations to come that the State of Alabama is the warm, welcoming, friendly state you want it to be.

I send this letter with all due respect to your high office and hope you will reconsider your prior ruling in this case.

Sincerely,

March 2013

boomers

Barbeque Bash to celebrate old traditions and new directions in the world of barbecue Submitted The National Barbecue Association (NBBQA) will host its 22nd Anniversary National Conference and Trade Show at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile., Feb. 19-23.

The conference features an Old-Fashioned Barbecue Bash open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Highlights include: A “backyard” competition by the Alabama Barbecue Association , People’s Choice Awards – sample and vote for your favorite chicken and sauce, BBQ sandwiches and platters for sale for those who want more than samples, “How to Q” presentations from well-known pit masters, BBQ Trade Show and music and kids’ activities.

Tickets are available to purchase for $10 while supplies last.

“The Old-Fashioned Barbecue Bash is our way of getting the community involved,” said NBBQA Executive Director Jeff Allen. “We’re looking forward to opening our event to the public for this special celebration focused on the art and enjoyment of barbecue.” The NBBQA conference is ideal for restaurateurs, caterers, competition cooks, manufacturers and “backyard” enthusiasts who support the barbecue industry and are interested in learning and networking with others who love barbecue.

The conference will include: keynote luncheon with TheRestaurantExpert.com founder David Peters; educational seminars covering multiple topics including Food Presentation for Competition, Food Presentation for Catering, Choosing and Getting the Most from a POS System, Using Internet Marketing to Boost Your BBQ, Capitalizing on Seasonal Sales Opportunities, BBQ Food Trucks and more; latest innovations in equipment and its use; best practices for starting or running a barbecue business; bus tours to many different barbecue restaurants for ideas and inspiration; and BBQ Awards of Excellence.

For more information or to reserve your Old-Fashioned Barbecue Bash tickets, visit nbbqa.org or call (888) 909-2121.

Founded in 1991, the National Barbecue Association (NBBQA) is dedicated to bringing barbecue enthusiasts together and supporting the barbecue industry.

NBBQA'S goals are to promote the recognition and image of the industry, facilitate effective networking of industry resources, foster new business opportunities for its members, and educate and inform the public about the art and enjoyment of barbecue. For more information, visit www.nbbqa.org.

“Remembering Mardi Gras 1930” Impatient, we lean over the railing on the upstairs gallery of our home on Government Street.

We look eastward as we hear the crowd’s roar.

It’s coming!

The Excelsior band drums the familiar boom-a-laddie boom-a-laddie as we rush toward the sound.

Flambeaux gild giant oaks whose long arms embrace across the street.

The misty glow of the torches silhouettes the branches and floats westward.

Hand-in-hand we dance down the street to the beat of that famous band just in time to see Folly chasing Death ‘round the broken column of the Confederacy, beating death with a pig’s bladder.

Many mules and floats later we drag our way slowly home; confetti hair and halos of serpentine for remembrance.

By Mary P. VanAntwerp

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Heart scan imagery: Heart disease in America

Submitted by Precision Imaging Every year, about 935,000 Americans experience a heart attack and about 600,000 people in the United States die of a heart attack – that’s 1 in every 4.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, and coronary heart disease is the most common.

Geographically, the South leads the country in the number of deaths due to heart disease.

Protecting your heart

We all know the rules of a healthy lifestyle…eat healthy foods, exercise regularly and stop smoking.

And, it is important to know the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack • Chest pain or discomfort • Upper body pain or discomfort in arms, back, neck, jaw or upper stomach • Shortness of breath • Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats But early warning signs are frequently ignored or not recognized as significant by the victim; sometimes there are no warning signs.

Heart scan imaging

If you are over the age of 40 for men or 50 for women

and/or have a risk factor of heart disease, such as high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, or family history of heart attack or stroke, you might want to take a more aggressive step toward discovering your heart attack risk. Have a heart scan. Heart scans may show that you have a higher risk of having a heart attack or other heart problems before you have any actual symptoms.

A heart scan, also known as a coronary calcium scan, provides pictures of your heart’s arteries (coronary arteries). Doctors use heart scans to look for calcium deposits in the coronary arteries that can narrow your arteries and increase your heart attack risk. The result of this test is called a coronary calcium score.

The heart scan is a non-invasive procedure utilizing a special type of CT (computerized tomography) to check for the build-up of arterial plaque. The higher the build-up, the greater the risk of a future heart attack or stroke.

Heart Scans are available at Precision Imaging in Gulf Shores. Dr. Jason R. Williams performs the scan using state-of-the-art technology, a 64-slice CT scanner providing the greatest resolution picture available with the lowest radiation possible. Dr. Williams is a board certified radiologist and founder of Precision Imaging, a diagnostic and interventional radiology practice. Appointments can be made by calling 251-948-3420.

March 2013

boomers

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