Living 50 Plus Magazine April/May 2023

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Publisher CLINT SHELTON

Operations Director

SCOTT BROWN

Executive Editor

BRUCE MCLELLAN

Living 50 Plus Editor

LORI FEW City Editor

ERIC FLEISCHAUER

Assistant City Editor

FRANKLIN HARRIS

Living 50 Plus Writers

CATHERINE GODBEY • BAYNE HUGHES

ERICA SMITH • AUDREY JOHNSON

DEBORAH STOREY

Living 50 Plus Photographer

JERONIMO NISA

Circulation Director

WALTER GOGGINS

Advertising Director

BARETTA TAYLOR

Advertising Graphic Artists

STEPHEN JOHNSON • RHONDA STENNETT

Retail Advertising

TERRI HASTON • BECKY SPIVEY • SHELIA SMITH

EDDIE JOHNS • ANNA BAKER • KIARA KOGER

Website DANIEL BUFORD 256-340-2408

GRANDPARENTS PLAY VITAL ROLE IN CHILDREN’S LIVES

Grandparents hold a special place in the hearts of people all over the world. In many cultures, elders are revered and celebrated, and many people know their grandparents as fun-loving folks who sneak their grandchildren candy and let them get away with things when their parents aren’t looking.

Visit us at living50plusdm.com

For story ideas or comments:

Bruce McLellan 256-340-2431

For distribution questions:

Walter Goggins 256-740-5784

For advertising questions: Baretta Taylor 256-340-2370

For website questions: Daniel Buford

256-340-2408

The American Grandparents Association says there are 70 million grandparents in the United States, and more than a million people become first-time grandparents every year. Many grandparents even serve as the primary caregivers for their grandchildren.

The roles grandparents play in the lives of their children and grandchildren are significant.

Whenever grandparents are able to provide a sense of family identity, mentor their grandchildren’s education, and establish a more stable home environment, their grandchildren are able to lead healthier, more successful, and meaningful lives.

Decatur-Morgan

AWAKEN YOUR SPIRIT WITH THE NORTH ALABAMA HALLELUJAH TRAIL

STEP BACK IN TIME AS YOU DISCOVER NORTH ALABAMA’S OLDEST PLACES OF WORSHIP.

First Presbyterian Church of Athens

The North Alabama Hallelujah Trail features 32 churches that are at least 100 years old, stand on their original sites, still hold services, and are accessible to the public.

These structures paint an immaculate portrait of North Alabama’s history and combine to tell the remarkable story of early Alabamians’ spiritual journey. The Hallelujah Trail winds through 16 counties and the churches were selected during an intensive two-year research process.

While some churches were designed by experienced architects, many are simple expressions showcasing the blood, sweat, and tears of early church members who

Celebrating50Years ofTrustingUs asYourJeweler.

From ALABAMA MOUNTAIN LAKES TOURIST ASSOCIATION

Cambridge United Methodist Church.

simply felt the calling. Many church interiors feature what seem to be inelegant designs, but the gentle grace and perfect balance of the construction is what really stands out.

Several white-painted timberframed churches are nestled in quiet surroundings, standing as testimonies to those who wished to create a place of silence, prayer, and spiritual joy. Others can be found in serene locations, open on three sides, married to the woodlands with only a single room. Like the forest, each church has its atmosphere, fragrance, light, and shadow. Sturdy benches and a simple wooden pulpit are the sole furnishings in some.

The stained-glass windows are perhaps the most breathtaking feature of many churches on the trail. The glimmering sunlight warms and fills the sanctuaries with colorful prisms of nature’s power. The beautiful gothic, cathedral-like structures are truly great wonders of art. In

St. John’s Decatur

addition, the tall, elegant steeples rise into the heavens, touching the sky and providing a direct connection for the church denizens down below.

Some churches can be described as grand gothic edifices while others are simple clapboard buildings. No matter, the passion of the churches’ parishioners pulsates through the walls. Whatever your beliefs, these houses of worship cause us to pause, reflect, and recount the most important events in our lives: birth, marriage, death, and the mysteries that await.

The Hallelujah Trail was made possible by grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, and the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

A few of the churches along the trail are listed below. For a full list and to download a pdf Hallelujah Trail guide, go to www.northalabama. org/places-to-visit/trails/hallelujah/.

Pine Torch Church

St. John’s Episcopal Church

202 Gordon Drive SE, Decatur

Woodville Methodist Chapel

106 Pear Street, Woodville

Temple B’nai Sholom

103 Lincoln Street SE, Huntsville

Episcopal Church of the Nativity

208 Eustis Avenue, Huntsville

Cambridge United Methodist Church

13980 Cambridge Lane, Athens

First Presbyterian Church of Athens

112 South Jefferson Street, Athens

Joseph Catholic Church

1111 East College Street, Florence

Trinity Episcopal Church

410 North Pine Street, Florence

First Presbyterian Church of Tuscumbia

103 N. Broad Street, Tuscumbia

Mount Pleasant Methodist Highway 724 & CR 87, Russellville

Corinth Church

2540 County Road 57, Double Springs

Church of the Forest

51 County Road 94, Houston

Courtland Presbyterian Church

Milton, Courtland

Pine Torch Church

1955 County Road, 70 Moulton

The Tabernacle

35 Tabernacle Road, Hartselle

St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church

512 2nd Avenue SE, Cullman

Shady Grove Methodist Church

895 County Road 846, Logan

First Methodist Church of Guntersville

539 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville

First Presbyterian Church of Guntersville

901 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville

Corinth Church

It’s grilling season again!

HOW TO MASTER GRILLING A THICK CUT OF MEAT

By METRO NEWS

We have had some up-and-down weather lately, but surely by now we are in for more stable spring-like temps. Of course, this means scratching an irresistible itch to break in the backyard grill for another season.

A thick cut of meat grilled over an open flame can make for a mouth-watering meal. While such an endeavor likely won’t lead to any complaints around the dinner table, many people still shy away from grilling especially thick cuts of meat.

A thick cut of uncooked meat can intimidate even the most devoted grilling enthusiast. Such cuts tend to take a long time to cook, and many a grilling devotee has put in that time only to end up with a dried-out piece of meat. So, what do? The following are some ways to master the art of grilling thick cuts of meat.

· Reverse sear the steak. According to Omaha Steaks, reverse searing involves bringing the steak up to temperature via indirect heat first, then searing the outside second. Reverse searing ensures the outside of the steak does not become charred while the inside takes its time cooking. This requires using both direct and indirect heat. When using a gas grill with multiple burners, it’s easy to create direct and indirect heating zones by only turning one set of burners on. When using a charcoal grill, move the hot coals to one side of the grill and leave the other side empty. Omaha Steaks recommends maintaining a grill temperature between 250 and 300 F and placing the meat over indirect heat first, keeping the steak there until a digital thermometer reads roughly 10 to 15 degrees below the desired temperature of the meat. The steak can then be moved over direct heat so all sides can be seared.

· Salt the meat overnight. People hesitant to salt their meat out of fear of overconsumption of sodium should know that it’s not necessary to use a lot of salt to create a flavorful piece of meat. A sprinkling of kosher salt over the surface of the meat is all that’s necessary. Once the meat has been salted, store it in the refrigerator, uncovered, overnight, which allows ample time for the cut to fully absorb the salt, ultimately contributing to a juicy cut of meat.

· Be patient. Once the meat has been taken off the grill, let it sit for a while before slicing into it. The goal is to allow the juice inside the meat to redistribute so each bite is as mouth-watering as possible. This is the same principle that leads Thanksgiving cooks to let turkeys sit for a while when they first come out of the oven. While turkeys may require roughly 30 minutes of sitting, meat typically only needs between 10 and 20 minutes, with thick cuts requiring more time than thin cuts.

Grilling afficionados need not be intimidated by thick cuts of meat. A few tricks of the trade can make it easy to serve up a thick piece of meat where each bite is juicy and full of flavor.

RIDING THE RIVER Decatur man’s passion for dragon boating

By CATHERINE GODBEY Living 50 Plus

Perched on the edge of the wooden seat, Mike Ward braced his feet on the floor of the boat, stretched his arms out over the water and shoved the paddle into Flint Creek.

That was his introduction to dragon boating.

“I didn’t have a clue what dragon boating was until the Decatur Morgan Hospital created the Dragon Boat Festival in 2012. I had no idea it even existed,” Ward said.

Now, 11 years later, the 70-yearold Ward is immersed in the sport.

He helmed the Lynn Layton team, a perennial favorite in the hospital’s event, for nine years, captained a team that represented the United States at a competition in China, and serves as a coach with a national dragon boat racing company.

“It’s kind of a hobby now,” Ward said. “It’s just been a whole lot of fun.”

That dragon boating appealed to Ward, a former high school coach and PE teacher who grew up in Tuscaloosa playing football, baseball and basketball, comes as no surprise.

“I love the competitiveness and there’s some skill in doing it the correct way. I enjoy coaching, so I enjoy teaching the skills. But, really,

the competitive nature of it made it more fun,” Ward said.

When the festival debuted in Decatur, Ward, who at the time served as the principal of Decatur High School, paddled with a group of Decatur City Schools administrators. After participating with the team Ward described as “non-athletic, but competitive,” he approached Lynn Layton, a sponsor of the event, about creating a team.

“I told him I think I could put a team together that was competitive,” Ward said.

While working out at the gym, Ward scouted out potential dragon board paddlers among individuals

doing push-ups on the wall or running on the treadmill.

During the 2013 Dragon Boat Festival, the inaugural event for the Lynn Layton Cruzers, the team created by Ward placed first.

“I think some of the team is mad at me for what I put them through. We practiced in the rain,” Ward said after the competition.

The Cruzers went on to win the festival in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. The festival was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.

In 2018, Ward, along with members of the team, traveled to China to represent the United States in the Shanghai International Suzhou Creek Invitational. The team

participated in the tournament’s international division, which featured teams from France, Germany, Switzerland, Macau and three groups from China, including one consisting of professional dragon boat athletes. Compared to the Dragon Boat Festival in Decatur, which features 22-member teams, the race in China featured 13-member teams and smaller boats. Ward’s team made the 500-meter finals and finished fourth.

“The China trip was huge, but, more than anything, what I love about dragon boat is the camaraderie you build with your teammates. You’ve got 22 people competing together for the same thing. You’re pulling for each other and working

together. It kind of reminds me of coaching football,” Ward said.

Eight years ago, Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing, which oversees the Decatur event, approached Ward about learning how to steer. Ward and Layton attended a steering class in Knoxville and Ward began working with the company.

“Having a coaching background, becoming a dragon boat coach and teaching others really intrigued me. Every summer, I go to races in Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and across Alabama,” Ward said.

Along with the camaraderie and the competitiveness, the reason behind the event motivates Ward.

Since debuting in 2012, the dragon boat festival has brought in more than $1 million for Decatur Morgan Hospital, said Noel Lovelace, president of the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation.

Proceeds have gone to oncology services, panda warmers and fetal monitors for the nursery department, EKGs and cardiac monitors for the emergency department, playground equipment at Decatur Morgan West, a mobile medical unit, defibrillators and a surgical robot. The funds from

The Lynn Layton Cruzers, captained by Mike Ward, won the 2022 Dragon Boat Festival. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

I love the competitiveness and there’s some skill in doing it the correct way. I enjoy coaching, so I enjoy teaching the skills. But, really, the competitive nature of it made it more fun,” Ward said.

Mike Ward, front row, second from right, and the Lynn Layton Cruzers represented the United States at the Shanghai International Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Invitational. [COURTESY PHOTO]

Mike Ward captained the Lynn Layton Cruzers, a perennial favorite at the Dragon Boat Festival. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

the 2023 Dragon Boat Festival will continue to finance the da Vinci surgical robot.

“The festival is doing so much good. We’re doing so much for the hospital. Everybody that competes and joins makes a really big difference for our community,” Ward said.

While the age minimum to participate in the dragon boat races is 14, no maximum exists. Most teams, excluding the high school groups, include members in their 50s and 60s.

For Ward, dragon boating represents his latest adventure. The fitness enthusiast, with his sons, hiked Yosemite National Forest, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and the Smokey Mountains, visited the Shenandoah Valley and walked from rim to rim at the Grand Canyon.

In 2012, at the age of 59, Mike joined sons Bryan and Drew Ward to climb the 14,410-high Mount Rainier, which slopes as much as 40 degrees.

On day one of the two-day climb, the Wards ascended to about 5,000 feet. They woke the next day at 1 a.m. and continue the climb. They reached the peak about 8 a.m. and returned down the mountain.

“They told us that to do this you needed to be in the best shape of your life. I was 60 years old. I wasn’t in the best shape of my life,” Ward said. “But those things, where you have to push yourself and work hard, that makes it fun for me. I love the feeling like I’m accomplishing something. No matter your age, you need to keep pushing yourself.”

For the 2023 Decatur Morgan Hospital Dragon Boat Festival,

expect to see Ward coaching and leading teams during the week of practices leading up to the event on May 13 at Point Mallard Park. For more information on forming a team, visit decaturmorganfoundation.org or call 256-973-2187.

Mike Ward, center, started coaching with Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing eight years ago. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

The festival is doing so much good. We’re doing so much for the hospital. Everybody that competes and joins makes a really big difference for our community,” Ward said.

How seniors can help themselves and others through

By METRO NEWS

The role of mentor is complex and sometimes vulnerable to misinterpretation. According to the employment resource Indeed, a mentor is an individual who acts as an adviser or coach for a less experienced person. Mentors often share their experiences and may even offer advice to their mentees. Anyone can serve as a mentor, though individuals who accept that responsibility are typically older and/ or more knowledgeable than their mentees. Mentors may be athletic coaches, teachers, business associates, or esteemed family members. Mentoring is something older adults can consider as they look to share their knowledge with others.

Mental and emotional benefits

Many successful individuals credit mentors with helping them achieve their goals. However, mentors also walk away from mentoring having gained something significant. According to the caregiving company Seasons, mentoring can keep an aging mind sharp. Being a mentor

may help at-risk seniors reduce their chances of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. According to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Gerontology, gains were shown for mentors in “executive function and in the activity of prefrontal cortical regions in older adults at elevated risk for cognitive impairment.”

Mentoring also may give seniors extra reasons to get up and go each day. A scheduled task like mentoring fosters social interactions and changes of scenery.”

FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN ALABAMA PROVIDE BILLIONS IN UNPAID CARE TO LOVED ONES

By JAMIE HARDING, AARP

THE LATEST AARP RESEARCH ATTACHES

$8.3 BILLION VALUE TO THE ESTIMATED

660 MILLION HOURS OF UNPAID CARE THAT FAMILY CAREGIVERS PROVIDED IN 2021

The unpaid care provided by the 700,000 family caregivers in Alabama is valued at $8.3 Billion, according to new state data available in AARP’s latest report in the Valuing the Invaluable series. This is an increase of $1.2 Billion in unpaid contributions since the last report was released in 2019. The report highlights the growing scope and complexity of family caregiving and highlights actions needed to address the many challenges of caring for parents, spouses, and other loved ones.

“Family caregivers play a vital role in Alabama’s health care system, whether they care for someone

at home, coordinate home health care, or help care for someone who lives in a nursing home,” said Candi Williams, AARP Alabama State Director. “We want to make sure all family caregivers have the financial, emotional, and social support they need because the care they provide is invaluable both to those receiving it and to their community.”

AARP Alabama is advocating for and will continue to advocate for family caregivers and the loved ones they care for. Right now, AARP is urging the state legislature to support family caregivers and expand home care options in the new 2023 legislative session. Specifically:

• Provide greater access to respite care, training, and support services for family caregivers.

• Expand home- and communitybased services and supports, increase equity in the long-term care system, and build a quality workforce.

• Improve the access to and affor-

dability of services and supports that allow people to live at home safely as they age.

Read the full report Valuing the Invaluable for national and state-by-

state data on the economic value of unpaid care by family and friends. Resources and information on family caregiving are available at aarp.org/ caregiving.

START YOUR GENEALOGY JOURNEY

By METRO NEWS

Genealogy fascinates much of the general public. The number of people learning more about their families and heritage through genealogy increases year to year. According to FamilyTree. com, genealogy is the second only to gardening as the most popular hobby in the United States.

People explore genealogy for many reasons, including learning about their ancestry. A rundown of the basics of genealogy can make such pursuits more enjoyable.

GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY ARE SUBTLY DIFFERENT

Genealogy is a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor, while family history is defined as the

history or narrative of a family. They are intertwined but not synonymous.

VITAL RECORDS ARE KEY

Genealogists explore vital records to obtain information about their ancestors. Vital records include documentation of ancestors’ life events, including births, deaths, marriages, and more. Civil registration began at different times around the world, and even across North America, so it’s often

A RUNDOWN OF THE BASICS OF GENEALOGY CAN MAKE IT MORE ENJOYABLE.

challenging, though entirely possible, to develop an accurate history.

SURNAMES MAY BE DIFFERENT

Surnames were not commonplace until around the eleventh century in Europe, according to S.C. Perkins, who is the author of a mystery series featuring a Texas genealogist as the protagonist. Surnames fall into four general categories:

➊Place or geographical features (i.e., “Hill”)

➋Nicknames or appearance (“Little”)

➌Occupation (“Baker”)

➍Father’s name (“Peterson”)

Some names may not have been recorded correctly, so a person’s last name actually may be a derivative of the real name or a misspelling. Often immigrants changed their own surnames to make them sound more American or more native to wherever they were emigrating to.

CITIES CHANGE

Discovering records of ancestors can be even more challenging because of shifting borders or municipalities, which change over time. The Family

Tree Factbook provides European maps from throughout history and a timeline of European border changes that can help with research.

PRESERVE FAMILY HISTORY

In addition to uncovering mysteries of one’s heritage, dabbling in genealogy helps to preserve family history by confirming tales and tracing ancestors’ journeys. It also may help shed light on the history of artifacts or jewelry that ancestors owned and passed down.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS

A motivator behind genealogy research is to uncover relatives. Cousins from all over the world can discover they are related and bridge the gap between them through shared genetics and history. This may be particularly important to those who were adopted and hope to understand more about where they came from for personal or health-related reasons.

Genealogy is a growing hobby that can be quite rewarding. Thanks to the internet and growing databases of civil records, it’s now easier than ever to trace family histories.

FLOATING IN THE WIND

By DEBORAH STOREY Living 50 Plus

Laura Stewart once landed her hot-air balloon in a field of cows that rambled over to investigate the stranger from the skies.

They “thought we might have food,” Stewart recalled.

That’s the thing about piloting a hot-air balloon — you never know exactly where you’ll end up.

As the wizard famously said in “The Wizard of Oz” when he abruptly went aloft without Dorothy:

“I can’t come back. I don’t know how it works!”

After 15 years of flying hot-air balloons and some 200 to 300 trips, Stewart knows exactly how they work and what she can control.

Stewart, 55, became interested in learning to fly in 2006 when she attended the annual Alabama Jubilee on Memorial Day weekend at Decatur’s Point Mallard Park and met some balloon pilots.

“In 2008 I took my check ride at Jubilee, and I’ve been flying since then,” said Stewart, a Decatur resident and labor and delivery nurse at Decatur Morgan Hospital.

“I’m what’s called a private pilot,” she said. “In ballooning, just like in airplanes, there are private pilots and commercial pilots.” Private pilots can’t charge for rides.

She flies “absolutely just for fun,” she said.

Stewart takes friends and coworkers for rides, and even once took her boss.

The ballooning season in north Alabama is typically late spring to early fall. Winters are too wet and windy.

“We start warming up in late March to early April. We start flying to get ready for the Jubilee,” she said. “We fly some during the summer. It just kind of depends on how hot it is. Fall is the most beautiful time to fly.”

Balloon flights take off in the early morning or late afternoon when the air is most stable, preferably moving at less than 5 mph at ground level.

“We usually meet at sunrise and go out for sunrise flights,” she said. “Once in a while we’ll do an afternoon flight, but you have to be down by sunset.”

When Stewart and her crew set out for a sunrise flight, they have to

Laura Stewart became balloon pilot to enjoy the ‘fun’

Pilot Laura Stewart of Decatur takes off aboard Dreamweaver during the 2022 Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic at Point Mallard Park. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

cancel only about 10% to 20% of the time because of unexpected weather conditions.

If so, she makes the best of it.

“If you’re up that early, you might as well go to breakfast with your friends,” she said.

Stewart said that when most people hear that the family is involved in ballooning, they assume her husband Marc is the pilot. Instead, he heads her chase crew.

“My oldest son is hoping to get to the point where he can become a balloon pilot as well.”

Chase crews used to rely on sight, CBs or ham radios to follow a balloon. Cellphone apps and iPads do the mapping these days. Cellphones do work on balloon flights, up to about 3,000 feet.

“I prefer to stay no more than23,000 two-, three-thousand feet” in elevation, Stewart said. “Once you get much higher than that there’s not much to see. I’ve been over a mile high, and I’ve got friends that have gotten much higher than that.”

Her longest flight was about 90 minutes and covered roughly 10 miles. At certain times of year, it can get chilly aloft.

“One nice thing about being in the balloon is that you move with the wind, so you don’t have wind chill,” she said.

It is possible to steer a balloon — a little. Air moves at different speeds at different levels of the atmosphere.

“We do try to use the different layers of wind to help direct the balloon in the direction we want to go, but we’re still at the mercy of mother nature,” said Stewart.

“Each flight is an adventure. We never know quite where we are going to land.”

Sometimes when the winds are coming up and there’s no great place to put down, “you just end up landing where you land without any real choice in the matter,” she said.

Athens is one of her favorite places to land her black balloon with peacock

feathers. When she descended by an elementary school there, two tiny reporters were waiting to do a story.

“They came out with their clipboards, not quite sure what to ask, but it was really cute,” she said.

If balloonists do happen to land on private property, chase crews will ask the landowner if they have permission to lay out the balloon and pack it up there.

“We do everything we can to keep from damaging any crops or scaring any livestock,” she said. “Most of the times people are just excited that you’re there and they’ll bring out the kids.”

Stewart can explain the physics of balloon flight in simple terms. The balloon itself is called the envelope. Baskets are made of flexible wicker.

“The envelope is full of air,” she said. “When you heat that air up — we use a propane burner — it heats the air inside the envelope. That makes the hotter air lighter than the air around it and that’s what causes us to rise.”

To go up or down, the pilot can shut off the burner or open a vent at the top of the balloon to release hot air.

A lot of people say they wouldn’t go up in a balloon because they’re afraid of heights, she said.

“It’s really edges that people are afraid of,” Stewart said. “There’s something about standing inside the basket that takes that fear away.

“One of the most fun things to do is share it with someone who’s never flown before,” she said. “It is the simplest and safest form of aviation.”

HOW TO LEARN

Balloon pilot Ken Garner of Decatur, who taught Stewart, said some people learn ballooning quickly, but others don’t.

“It depends on the person,” he said. “I’m teaching a 22-year-old kid right now. After three or four hours he’s almost ready to solo, but he’s

Pilot Laura Stewart gets Dreamweaver ready to take off during the 2022 Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic at Point Mallard Park. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA].

Each flight is an adventure. We never know quite where we are going to land.”

– Laura Stewart

been around it since he was 4 or 5 years old.”

Garner, 67, who estimates he has taught 15 people in the roughly 40 years he’s been flying, said the average time to learn is 20 hours. Written, oral and practical tests are required.

Garner said pilots obtain a “lighter than air license,” or specifically one that’s for a “free” balloon with airborne heaters. A “free” balloon unloads ballast to ascend and descends by releasing gas from the envelope.

“The difference between a hot-air balloon and a free balloon is that we’ve

got a hot-air system on board and we can actually heat the air” above the ambient temperature, he said.

The old balloons — the “Wizard of Oz” kind — didn’t have burners, which were developed in the 1950s or ’60s.

“They would weight those down so much and pump hot air or helium or whatever into the balloon as much as possible and cut the ropes and dump a little bit of the ballast” to lift off, Garner explained.

“We don’t carry sandbags and we don’t carry extra ballast or anything like that that we can get rid of to make the balloon fly.”

A used balloon costs $8,000 to $10,000. A new one can run as much as $50,000. Cost of a commercial balloon is sky-high — more than $100,000. Garner said most people start with a used one to see if they like flying.

Balloon sizes start at roughly 54,000 cubic feet, he said, which would carry one or two people.

ALABAMA JUBILEE HOT AIR BALLOON CLASSIC

Cost: Free

When: May 27-28

Where: Point Mallard Park

May 27: Hound & Hare balloon race 6:30 a.m.; evening flights and tether rides 5:15 p.m.; hotair balloon glow at 8:15 p.m.; entertainment at various times; car and motorcycle show most of the day; arts and crafts; tractor show May 28: Key grab 7 a.m.; evening flight and tether 5 p.m.; fireworks 9:30 p.m.; entertainment at various times; motorcycle show all day; arts and crafts

Website: alabamajubilee.net

“The one I fly most is 105,000 cubic feet, then I’ve got one that’s about 140,000.” He’s taken as many as eight aloft with the large one.

The longest flight took him about 45 miles from Decatur into southern Tennessee.

The highest he’s ever gone was 11,500 feet — approximately two miles.

“And there ain’t no reason to go up there,” Garner said with a laugh. “We just wanted to see how high we could get one day and did it.”

Garner advises anyone who wants to take a balloon flight to bring any medical needs, and wear jeans and close-toed shoes. From start to the end point, a balloon trip can take up to four hours.

“Hopefully it’s about two and a half hours, but you never know,” he said. “We could land behind a locked gate,” which he did once. “We may land in somebody’s pasture that hasn’t been cut in two years.

I’ve landed in places that you couldn’t get to. Every time is a unique place.” – Ken Garner

Balloons fill the sky above Point Mallard Park during the 2022 Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air B alloon Classic. This year’s event will be May 27-28.

[PHOTO

BY JERONIMO NISA]

“I have landed in places that people came out and offered us hot chocolate,” Garner said. “I’ve landed in places that you couldn’t get to. Every time is a unique place.”

With the right pilot, pretty much anyone can take a ride in a balloon.

“My mother was my first victim after I got my pilot’s license,” said Stewart. “She flew last year at Jubilee.

“The oldest person I ever took up was 90 years old. It was on her life list.”

FLYING ARMADILLO

Mike Wahl is the balloonmeister for this year’s Alabama Jubilee. He gives instructions for races and decides whether the balloons go up.

Roughly 50 balloons from as far as Texas and Missouri are expected to participate in this year’s Jubilee — including an armadillo and Tweety Bird. With 55 to 60 balloons most years, Jubilee is one of the biggest ballooning events in the country.

Festivities include music, a car show, craft show and the popular balloon glow on Saturday and Sunday nights.

“Last year we had about 80,000 people show up in two days to watch us,” Wahl said.

“If we get good weather, we’ll have a wonderful time,” he said. “If we don’t get good weather. we’ll still have a wonderful time.”

Pilot Mike Wahl, right, gets ready to take off with the Daikin America balloon during the 2022 Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic at Point Mallard Park. Wahl is balloonmeister for the Jubilee this year. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

Agood joke can liven up any social engagement, but the value of humor goes well beyond breaking the ice at parties and other get-togethers. According to the Cleveland Clinic, laughter can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to lower heart rate and help people breathe more easily. Given such benefits, it’s no surprise that laughter has been linked to a host of medical benefits, including stress relief and improved heart health.

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Extension Service offering “Get Outside with Alabama Smart Yards” webinar series

From ALABAMA EXTENSION SERVICE

Join the Alabama Extension home grounds team for the “Get Out-side with Alabama Smart Yards” webinar series. This online series provides 30-minute segments on common gardening and landscaping topics.

When: Wednesdays at 1 p.m. CT

Where: The webinars are presented through Zoom, an online video presentation format.

Registration

Registration is required to attend this webinar series. The Zoom meeting number and link will be provided upon completion of the online registration. Visit www.aces. edu/go/asywebinars to register.

New to Zoom? Visit the Zoom website to watch a video that will help you prepare to attend.

Dates and Topics

April 5 – Flower Power

Members of the Alabama Extension home grounds, gardens, and home pests team

April 12 – Safety in the Garden Sherry Blanton, Alabama Extension Master Gardener volunteer

April 19 – Fruit Bagging

Members of the Alabama Extension home grounds, gardens, and home pests team

For more information on the “Get Outside with Alabama Smart Yards” webinar series, go to www.aces.edu.

waves at 91

MAKING Daily swims keep Nagel healthy and mentally sharp

By DEBORAH STOREY Living 50 Plus

Jack Nagel of Decatur has a simple explanation for why he’s still swimming in his 90s.

“For my health,” he said. “That’s why I’m 91.”

Get ready to feel guilty, you workout slackers.

This inspiring senior citizen swims 30-minute pool sessions at least five days a week.

Nagel has been swimming as part of a regular routine for at least 30 years, he said. That, of course, means he was already in his 60s when he started.

Feeling guilty yet?

Nagel’s history with swimming really started much earlier.

“I was about 5 years old,” Nagel said. “I took lessons and all that in public

parks in Cincinnati. I always loved to swim. I swam a lot underwater.”

These days he is a fixture at Decatur’s Aquadome Recreation Center pool. Not only does he have a strict regular routine, but it’s in the early morning.

Nagel moved to north Alabama in 1983 and worked for then-Intergraph

as a software engineer. He began swimming at the Decatur city pool a year or two later.

“At first I was doing probably a mile,” he said. “As the body grew tired” — he paused for a laugh — “I went to a half mile. (Now) I swim 30 minutes. I don’t count laps.”

Jack Nagel starts swimming before sunrise at the Aquadome Recreation Center pool. He gets up at 5:30 a.m., does about 30 minutes of exercises and then heads to the pool to get in the water before 7 a.m. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

Jack Nagel takes a few seconds to rest between laps. He has been swimming regularly for the past 30 years.

[PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

If you’re not feeling guilty enough yet, understand that he gets up before dawn to start a workout before he goes to swim.

“I usually start (swimming) about a quarter to 7. Right now I get up at 5:30, then I do at least a half hour’s worth of exercises, limbering up, then I go to the pool and swim about 30 minutes.”

This senior isn’t just paddling around in the water. He’s doing actual laps.

“I do a breaststroke to start off with, and do the crawl coming back — or freestyle.”

Dawn McAfee coaches high school and youth recreation swim teams at the Aquadome and in the past has supervised lifeguards during the pool’s adult lap swim sessions. She said Nagel is an “inspiration.”

“Not many people, honestly, at his age are still active like he is,” McAfee said. “They’ll walk their dog maybe a block, but they won’t actually seek out exercise. They’ll do things that are more casual. Being at the pool at 6 in the morning is not casual.”

Nagel has a background in swimming as a member of the racing team in high school.

When he was growing up in Cincinnati, he lived close to his grandmother, and there was a public pool near her.

“I went about 10 o’clock when they opened and they had a tough time getting me back for dinner,” he said.

Nagel likes the Aquadome, but it can get crowded on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, he said.

“I hope we get the other pool built before I get too old to use it,” he said with a chuckle.

Decatur leaders are planning to construct a new city recreation facility with part of the roughly $100 million settlement with 3M over chemical contamination that includes the Aquadome property. The replacement for the Aquadome will include a pool and be built at Wilson Morgan Park, about a mile from the current location.

Accommodating age

Nagel does have a bad shoulder that gives him some trouble. His arms also get a little sore after workouts.

“I use fins on my feet,” he said. “I never used to, but operations slowed me down.”

The swimming fins help him go a little faster and take some of the pressure off his arms, he explained. Fins designed for swimming are smaller than the huge ones that scuba divers use.

Swimming — or something — is clearly keeping Nagel mentally agile. He’s sharp and funny in conversation.

Although legally named John, he’s called Jack by family and friends. He gives an educational answer to clear up why he, like former President John Kennedy, is often called Jack.

“There was no Saint Jack,” he said. “If you were Catholic, you had to be

named after a saint so John and Jack was synonymous.”

One of his doctors is impressed with Nagel, too, and told him “you’re going to live to be 100, maybe 102.”

“I said, ‘Wait a minute. Don’t stretch it too far, Doc,’” Nagel said with a laugh.

Like most people with a regular workout routine, Nagel can feel the soreness if he uses different muscle groups.

His wife likes to walk, and when he goes with her, “that sort of gets to me,” he said.

But he recommends swimming as an activity for seniors, whether they have a history with it or not.

“It’s a perfect exercise for older people because it doesn’t strain the body,” he said. “You just do the things that you can do.

“It takes a lot of stress off the bones. You’re not pounding your knees and your ankles.”

He has some advice for whippersnappers — say anyone in their 60s — who would like to start a swimming routine.

If you’re serious, don’t just ease into the pool and dog-paddle around.

“First of all, I’d get lessons on swimming,” he said. “That would be a good place to start if you’re not a good swimmer or a lap person. I’ve been a lap person for a long, long time.”

McAfee recommended seniors who have limited experience with swimming start out with water aerobics

Jack Nagel alternates freestyle and breaststroke during his morning workout.

[PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

Jack Nagel, 91, finishes a lap during his morning workout. The Southwest Decatur resident usually swims five days a week for 30 minutes each session.

[PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

to get assimilated to the water, and they should also seek out instruction.

“I would say find a pool you can work in that has good instructors that’ll take time to talk to you and get you started,” she said. “Sometimes older people, and I mean anyone over 20, are afraid to ask for lessons because they’re embarrassed.”

Joint friendly

The AARP calls swimming a “smart choice because it is joint friendly.

“It gives us all the benefits of exercise without putting additional pressure on the knees, hips and spine,” according to an article on the AARP website. “The buoyancy that the water provides supports the body and reduces the effects of gravity, which reduces strain on our joints.”

Swimming can decrease fall risk, too, by working the upper body, core and lower body. The support of the water makes people feel more secure in practicing their balancing skills. Aids like pool noodles can help anyone who feels uneasy at first in the water.

Give your body time to adapt to a swim routine, suggested Debbie Jacobson, senior public relations strategist with Tivity Health. Try some exercises with the Silver Sneakers program to focus on strength and range of motion to decrease the chance of overuse injuries.

Even water walking is estimated to burn 500 calories an hour.

After swimming for decades, Nagel has a Zen-like attitude to the sport’s ability to clear your mind.

“When you swim, you’re not doing too much talking,” he said. “You have time to think about what you’re going to do that day and all that kind of stuff. It’s relaxing to me. It helps relax my body.

“Any chance I get, I swim.”

The Aquadome has dedicated times for lap swimming and water aerobics on weekdays and has a discounted rate of $25 quarterly for senior lap swimmers through the Healthy Lifestyles program. Go to decaturparks.com for more information or call 256-341-4953.

Jack Nagel swims laps at the Aquadome pool. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

By ROBERT F. BRZUSZEK MSU Extension Service

It’s time once again to clean those hummingbird feeders and cook up the sugar water.

We can set our feeders out starting in March or April as hummingbirds are migrating north from southern climes. Providing food in backyards is important, as these birds need to consume half their body weight each day.

You can use commercial sugar mixes or make your own. Simply add one part granulated sugar to four parts water, boil to mix and prevent fermentation, and allow the mixture to cool. Place feeders high above cat level on porches in shaded locations.

In hot weather, it’s best to clean feeders twice a week; when temperatures are below 80, clean them about once a week.

Hummingbirds are attracted to bright hues, especially scarlet, orange,

A variety of flowers provide hummingbird food. It is wise to grow them in multiple locations, as hummingbirds are fiercely territorial. A hummingbird going after lantana is pictured above.

red and white, so it’s a good idea to plant a few of their favorite nectar plants near feeders.

If you use a feeder, place it near trees or shrubs for birds to perch on as they wait their turn.

You do not have to provide sugar water feeders when you add the correct combinations of flowering plants to the garden, especially plants with bright red or orange tubular flowers. Be sure to either have plants that flower throughout the growing season or combine different plants to provide nectar sources all year long.

Place flowering plants in multiple locations rather than in one spot. Hummingbirds are fiercely territorial, and the extra blooms give them food in various locations.

Annual nectar plants include begonias, geraniums, impatiens and zinnias. Perennial plants include monarda, liatris, asclepias, lobelia, iris, dianthus, spigelia, lantana, penstemon, phlox, salvia and verbena.

Hummingbird-friendly shrubs that grow well in the state include abelia, buddleia, jasminum, rhododendron, aesculus, weigela and yucca. Vines on fences are wonderful additions, and good options include lonicera, bignonia, ipomea and campsis.

Trees that provide flowers include vitex, malus, crataegus, robinia and liriodendron.

Backyard insects make up a large part of a hummer’s diet, so avoid using insecticides.

Water is important; while hummingbirds avoid deep water in a birdbath, you can add a few rocks or bricks to decrease depth. A garden mister is a great source of water for hummers in the summer. This small hose attachment shoots a fine mist into the air. Hummingbirds often bathe in the water that collects on leaves.

Add groups of trees or shrubs near fence lines to let birds perch and survey their territory. Males perch anywhere in the open, while the females prefer protected areas.

Hummingbirds favor horizontal tree limbs as nesting sites. They most often attach the nest to a branch and use plant fibers, fluffy seeds, lichens and spider webs to build the tiny nests. Birds usually won’t nest in high-traffic areas.

Gardening to attract hummingbirds is a great idea as it also creates a colorful, vibrant space to enjoy all year.

The Healthy Options allowance* can help you pay for the things you need to be your healthiest. These include rent or mortgage, utilities, bathroom safety devices, healthy food, over-the-counter health items and more. Each month, a Healthy Options allowance of $125 is loaded onto a prepaid card. Unspent money rolls over to the next month. To pay for purchases, just swipe it at the register at participating stores.

New for 2023—one card for plan allowances

The Healthy Options allowance will automatically be loaded to the new Humana Spending Account Card, so you only have one card to keep track of for allowances included in your plan.

Call a licensed Humana sales agent

Yvette Hewlett

256-640-9021 (TTY: 711)

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

BHewlett@Humana.com

* Allowance amounts cannot be combined with other benefit allowances, used to purchase Medicare-covered prescriptions or converted to cash. Limitations and restrictions may apply.

Humana is a Coordinated Care HMO SNP plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in this Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619093 (HMO D-SNP). At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, religion or language.English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文

1‑877‑320‑1235 （聽障專線：711）。

INTERESTING WAYS TO

enjoy travel

TRAVEL IS A WAY TO SEE THE WORLD, MEET NEW PEOPLE AND EXPERIENCE VARIOUS CULTURES. SENIORS INCREASINGLY EMBRACE TRAVEL BECAUSE THEY HAVE BOTH THE TIME AND THE MEANS TO TAKE VACATIONS.

By METRO NEWS

Research indicates that traveling is at the top of the list of interests motivating today’s men and women over the age of 50.

Seniors are perhaps the most likely demographic to indulge their love of traveling. Retirement leaves lots of time for recreation, and many choose to spend that time on the road. Travel also can be improve adult longevity, says geriatricians at the University of Arkansas.

Those in the travel industry understand that men and women over 50 comprise a large percentage of their customers and have catered many travel packages toward this influential demographic. The following is a look at some of the more popular travel opportunities for men and women over 50.

▸ Genealogical tourism: This is one of the fastest-growing markets in vacation travel. Genealogical tourism involves individuals traveling to areas

of historical significance for their families, such as churches where past relatives may have married and villages where grandparents or cousins once resided or were employed. This can create a tangible link to one’s past and open up more opportunities to learn the varied genealogical history that has shaped a family, and even one’s personal identity.

▸ Extended vacations: Seniors may have the capacity to devote more time to travel and not be caged in by strict time constraints. That makes them eligible for extended vacations. These can include long-term rentals in tropical locales, several-week sightseeing cruises or guided tours overseas that touch on several different countries or cities during the trip.

▸ Off the beaten path: Adventurous travelers may not be content to stick to the resort lifestyle or standard vacation options. Active men and women over 50 are charting their own vacation courses with bucket list-style vacations that may

be off the beaten path. Travelers who have always aspired to climb a mountain or see a rain forest may be inclined to realize these goals as they get older. Nontraditional tours can include living like indigenous peoples or following the footsteps of early explorers.

▸ All-inclusive tours: All-inclusive packages remain a popular option for travelers of all ages. These vacation packages charge one price for accommodations, entertainment, sightseeing, food, and many other amenities. All-inclusive vacations remove some of the headaches associated with organizing various components of travel so that a person can focus on relaxation and having fun.

· Singles meets: Single vacationers over 50 may want to meet other men or women in their age bracket in the hopes of finding romance. These vacations double as relationship mixers and give men and women the opportunity to mingle with others in similar situations without the pressure of traditional dating.

MANY BOOMERS HAVE YEARS AHEAD OF THEM TO DEVOTE TO NEW RELATIONSHIPS. HERE’S WHAT THEY MAY WANT TO KNOW BEFORE NAVIGATING TWENTYFIRST-CENTURY DATING WATERS.

By METRO NEWS

People are living longer, a reality that can be traced to a number of factors, including advancements in medicine and greater dissemination of information regarding preventive health care. According to data from the United Nations Population Division, the average life expectancy in the United States is 81.65 for women and 76.61 for men. Canada has even higher life expectancies, at 84.74 for women and 81.15 for men.

As people live longer, some may outlive their significant others and ultimately find themselves once again

interested in sharing experiences with a special someone. Seniors ready to re-enter the dating pool may find that things are quite different from what they experienced as naïve teenagers or young adults. Dating used to be about hanging out with friends and meeting people at shared events, such as school dances or work parties or even while enjoying a night out with friends. Nowadays, dating often begins in cyberspace. This can be confusing and anxiety-inducing for adults who didn’t grow up with technology guiding their every move.

According to a report in The Atlantic, more than one-third of baby boomers are not currently married,

and this generation has had higher rates of separation and divorce and lower rates of marriage than the generations that preceded them. Many boomers have years ahead of them to devote to new relationships. Here’s what they may want to know before navigating twenty-first century dating waters.

· You’re not in this alone. While online dating may be portrayed as a young person’s game, plenty of older adults are now finding connections online. In fact, many different dating apps are geared toward the senior set, including SeniorMatch, eHarmony, Singles50, OKCupid, and Silver Singles, among others.

▸ You have more time for fun. As a senior, you may have more time to devote to recreation and leisure. This can be a great opportunity to get out and meet someone who shares your passions and interests.

▸ Online dating has its advantages. Profiles typically spell out exactly what another person is seeking.

By METRO NEWS

Aging is associated with certain ailments, some of which concern seniors more than others. One of the conditions many older adults worry about is dementia, particularly in the form of Alzheimer’s disease. Though there’s no

THOUGH THERE’S NO CURE FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, RECENT RESEARCH SUGGESTS REDUCING BLOOD SUGAR MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER RISK.

cure for Alzheimer’s disease, recent research suggests reducing blood sugar may be associated with a lower risk.

Doctors and researchers have determined a link between high blood sugar levels and the formation of dementia, which includes a loss of memory and thinking skills that afflicts millions of older people. A 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, even when diabetes was not evident, there is a correlation between sugar and dementia. A blood sugar level above normal levels (depending on activity level and weight, among other factors) can contribute to an elevated risk of developing dementia. Furthermore, a longitudinal study published in 2018 in the journal Diabetologia, which followed 5,189 people over 10 years, found those with high blood sugar had a faster rate of cognitive decline than those with normal blood sugarwhether or not those blood sugar levels classified the people as being diabetic.

The link could be due to an enzyme that breaks down insulin. Insulindegrading enzyme, a product of insulin that breaks down both insulin and amyloid proteins in the brain, which are the same proteins that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease, is a factor in the connection to dementia. Melissa Schilling, a professor at New York University, reviewed studies and found that people who have type 1 diabetes and don’t produce enough insulin can’t break down the amyloid proteins naturally. Furthermore, those who take insulin to treat diabetes can end up with a surplus of insulin in the body. The insulin-degrading enzyme gets used up trying to break the surplus down. This doesn’t leave enough enzyme to tackle amyloid brain clumping proteins. These same scenarios can occur in people if their blood sugar levels are elevated, even if they don’t have diabetes yet.

Data published by Harvard Health Publishing indicates «any incremental

increase in blood sugar was associated with an increased risk of dementia.» Individuals who have elevated blood sugar levels, or roughly 100 mg/dL or higher after a fast, can tame sugar levels by exercising, losing weight and shifting away from highly refined grains. Individuals also may want to favor a Mediterranean style of eating, which focuses on fish, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and beans over a processed carbohydrate- and sugar-laden diet.

High blood sugar is another factor linked to the formation of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Making lifestyle changes can keep seniors healthy throughout their golden years.

ROOM TO WALK

Bill Cassidy, 88, covers the miles indoors and out

By BRUCE MCLELLAN Living 50 Plus

Bill Cassidy exited his kitchen, walked briskly past the dining room table and went into the living room. He then turned left into the foyer, moved into the hall and picked up his pace as he walked past a grandfather clock.

He arrived back at his starting point to complete a loop of 75 feet. Cassidy, 88, knew the distance he covered because he once measured it.

“I walked heel to toe all the way around,” he explained. “The shoes I had were exactly 12 inches long. I walked 75 steps. I did the same thing again to check it.”

When bad weather prevents him from walking outside, Cassidy uses his indoor course. He does his 75-foot loop 70½ times, which is 5,287 feet — seven feet more than a mile.

Once he walks a mile, Cassidy marks an X for that date on his calendar. He tries to have four X’s a day. He also has several 1-mile outdoor routes from his home in the Albany District. One route goes to Sixth Avenue Southeast and back and another makes a loop around the eastern end of Delano Park. If he walks an outdoor mile, he marks a circle inside the X as he adds it to his calendar.

In 2022, he recorded 1,192 miles in his calendar, and he had walked more than 250 miles this year through late March.

“He just feels better,” Samanthia Cassidy said of her husband’s walks. “It just helps push him to feel better and have something to do. He gets to talk to the neighbors and other people in the park.”

Bill noted another benefit.

“I haven’t gained a lot of weight,” he said, standing 6 feet tall and a slender 160 pounds.

Stephanie King, wellness coordinator with the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG), said exercising like Cassidy does is good for older adults.

“When I teach my classes, the main goal is to keep moving,” King said. “The more you move, the better you’ll feel. I think not only from a physical standpoint, exercise also helps you mentally.”

Another benefit of exercise is joint health, she said.

“If you’re walking like that, you’re really ... keeping your joints and muscles moving so you’re not stiff. (It) definitely helps you not have the arthritis that a lot of people have when they don’t move a lot.”

Cassidy’s exercise has helped him retain vitality despite previous surgeries and experiencing memory loss. He had two bypasses during open heart surgery in 2010. He had bladder cancer surgery five times from 1991-2016, including the removal of a kidney and his ureter.

When he can’t walk outside, Bill Cassidy walks a 75-foot loop inside his house. When he walks it 70.5 times, he has gone a mile. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

Bill Cassidy takes a walk by Delano Park. He has a 1-mile course from his home that loops around the park’s eastern end. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

Perseverance and hard work always have been part of his life. His mother died when he was 6 and he lived with his grandmother before eventually being able to rejoin his father and step-mother.

Cassidy spent his career working as a printing company photo engraver, with his last stop in Corinth, Mississippi, with W.F. Hall during the time National Geographic was printed there. He had

expertise that brought people from around the world to train under him. He also began walking at that time to help reduce stress.

Later as Samanthia pursued her career as a gospel songwriter/singer and author of the book “Dancing in the Wilderness,” he became bored with retirement and started driving delivery vans for Advance Auto Parts in the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, area. He did that for 11 years.

The couple, who have been married 46 years, moved from Pigeon Forge to Decatur six years ago. Samanthia, 74, had grown up in the Lawrence County community of Rocky Hill between Courtland and Town Creek, and she wanted to move back to this area. She called a real estate agent about Decatur.

“I said, I want to live in the Historic District.”

Once they moved to Decatur, Bill knew he needed to keep active.

Endorsedby:

“He just keeps going,” Samanthia said. “He doesn’t quit.”

Bill Cassidy, 88, of Decatur uses a calendar to keep track of the days he walks and the distance he covers each time. Each X represents a mile, and dots indicate the mile was outdoors.

[PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

Bill Cassidy’s 2022 calendar shows he accumulated 1,192 miles walking during the year. [PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA]

“When I got here, I called about getting a job,” Cassidy said. “They said, ‘How old are you?’ I said 82. He hung up on me.”

That led him to get more serious about walking as an alternative way to stay active. He can often be seen at Delano Park with his erect stride and wearing a brown hat with a feather in its band.

King said the walking may benefit him just as an exercise routine can help anyone dealing with memory loss.

“That’s probably a goal they have every day,” she said. “It’s something they remember they want to do.”

She said she can see the benefits of staying active in the senior adults she works with at NARCOG.

“I do what we call the Arthritis Foundation exercise program with seniors and I also do another program called ‘Bingocize,’ which is we play bingo but we also do some exercises. You can tell the difference in the ones who have been moving and keeping moving and active as opposed to the other ones. To me, the ones that are moving more and active, they just seem a lot more happy than the other ones.”

She said older adults can benefit from even easy exercises.

“The classes that I do, it’s catered to people 60 and older We usually do it twice a week for an hour, but I encourage them to like, ’Hey, while you’re sitting at home watching TV, you can always stretch and do the simple exercises we do.’

“So it’s good to do it every day, something, whether it’s a full-blown walk or even you just sitting in your chair stretching your arms, stretching your legs, doing simple things like arm circles or … wiggling your fingers, just bending your fingers, spreading them out.”

Staying lively can put you in position to enjoy new experiences, as Cassidy found out recently.

“My grandson called me about three months ago and said, ‘Grandpa, you ever thought of changing your name to greatgrandpa?’”

Ryan Stukenberg, a dentist in Breeze, Ill., and one of Cassidy’s two grandchildren, became the father of Kade — the first great-grandchild — on Feb. 22.

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Decatur-Morgan

TAX BREAKS AGING TAXPAYERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR HERE

ARE SOME POTENTIAL AGE-RELATED TAX PERKS.

taxable incomes. This, in turn, reduces the amount that needs to be spent on income taxes.

CHANGES IN FILING THRESHOLD

By METRO NEWS

Growing older comes with many perks for those who are open to exploring the benefits. In addition to senior discounts on movies, meals and more, moving into one’s golden years could offer some breaks when it comes to taxes and finances.

It is always best to go over taxand finance-related plans with an accountant or certified financial planner to figure out what is in your best interest. However, generally speaking, here are some potential age-related tax perks.

INCREASE RETIREMENT SAVINGS

Older individuals can contribute more to employer-sponsored retirement accounts and Roth or traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs), according to AARP. For 2023, the contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k) and 403(b) programs, most 457 retirement savings plans and Thrift

Savings Plan through the U.S. Federal Government can increase their contributions to $22,500 - a jump of $2,000 from last year. Those over age 50 can maximize contributions even more, up to a total of $30,000.

LARGER STANDARD DEDUCTION

The Balance Money says for tax year 2022, people age 65 or older can add an extra $1,750 to the standard deduction they’re eligible for if they are unmarried and not a surviving spouse. Those who are married and file joint returns can add $1,400. For tax year 2023, those amounts go up to $1,850 and $1,500. In addition, the standard eligible deductions increased. Most older taxpayers feel the bigger standard deduction plus the extra standard deduction is more than any itemized deductions they can claim and choose this option when filing their returns.

REDUCE TAXABLE INCOME

The ability to contribute more to tax-defered retirement accounts enables older adults to reduce their

According to The Arbor Company, which oversees senior living communities, the filing threshold is the income that must be made before being required to file a tax return. Typical taxpayers who are either employees or retired and drawing pensions or Social Security find the threshold increases over age 65. Single filers over age 65 do not need to file returns if their incomes are $14,050 or under. Married filers over age 65 have a threshold of $27,400. If primary or sole income comes from Social Security or a pension, those over age 65 may not have to file returns at all.

ELDERLY OR DISABLED TAX CREDIT

Differing from deductions, a credit for taxpayers is available to people age 65 or older or retired persons on permanent and total disability who receive taxable disability income for the tax year, according to the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, this credit is for those who have an adjusted gross income or the total of nontaxable Social Security, pensions, annuities, or disability income under specific limits. The eligibility levels change from year to year. Credits range from $3,750 to $7,500.

These are some of the tax breaks American seniors can expect when filing their income tax returns. Speak with an accountant and financial planner about other perks that come with aging. Individuals also can visit www.irs.gov for further information.