OutreachNC November 2018

COMPLIMENTARY

NOVEMBER 2018 | VOL. 9, ISSUE 11

The Second Act Issue

Serving the Sandhills & Southern Piedmont

NOVEMBER 2018 |

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| OUTREACHNC.COM

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ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE • RESPITE/SHORT-TERM STAYS OutreachNC.com | NOVEMBER 2018 ©2018 Five Star Senior Living

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November’s program is dedicated to Veterans and their family members with Alzheimer’s, dementia and PTSD

November 28

th

Jim Pederson

Veteran Services Director Moore County VSO

2:30 - 4 P.M.

155 Hall Ave. Southern Pines

Wh

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A welcoming place for individuals o W E Do T

with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain disorders and mild cognitive impairment and their family member or friend.

Meets Every 4th Wednesday

Questions?

910.585.6757 info@aosfcare.org

OutreachNC.com AOSFCare.org NOVEMBER 2018 |

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features NOVEMBER 2018

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Second Acts: Rollie Sampson, From Platoon Leader to Moore County Schools Military Family Liaison

by Eric Christenson

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Five Tips for Starting Your Second Career

by Rachel Stewart

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Birding in NC: Birding Among Historic Buildings & Champion Trees in Old Waynesborough Park-Goldsboro

by Ray Linville

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Living the Dream: Carolina Conversations with Jim Avett

by Barbara Hengstenberg

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A Warm Gesture: The Quilts of Valor Foundation shows veterans they are appreciated – one stitch at a time

by Meagan Burgad

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Beyond the Barre: The Mind-Body Connection of Ballet and Why It Might Be the Best Exercise for Midlife

by Amy Phariss

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The Second Act Issue

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departments November 2018

“Every day, you reinvent yourself. You’re always in motion.

But you decide every day: forward or backward.”

advice & health

life

10 Ask the Expert

13 Aging Thoughtfully

12 Brain Health

17 The Reader’s Nook

16 Triumphant Elder

20 Regional Culture

18 Medicare Update

27 Cooking Simple

by Amy Natt, MS, CMC, CSA

by Maryanne Edmundson, PhD

by Tim Keim, EYT500, Yoga Therapist

Open Enrollment Through Dec. 7

19 Home staging

by Kasia McDaniel

22 Eat Right

by Laura Buxenbaum, MPH, RD, LDN

24 Planning Ahead

by Tim Hicks, RICP, APMA

28 Eye Health

by Dr. Mardy Grothe

—JAMES ALTUCHER

66 Generations

by Corbie Hill & Michelle Goetzl

by Michelle Goetzl

by Ray Linville

by Leslie Philip

59 Resource Marketplace

Find the resources you need.

62 Grey Matter Games

Sudoku, Word Search & Crossword Puzzles

64 Over My Shoulder

by Ann Robson

COVER IMAGE BY CAITLIN PENNA

by Arghavan Almony, MD

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or mail a check to: PO BOX 2478 Southern Pines, NC 28388

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from the editor

There’s something really disorienting about seeing your hometown in the news – especially when you grew up in the middle of nowhere.

And yet that’s what happened in the middle of September. I, like so many of us in North Carolina, had been keeping a close eye on Hurricane Florence. It was a beast of a storm; It was a powerful, slow-moving juggernaut, and it was aimed squarely at us. Even as Florence neared land, its cataclysmic winds subsiding and its path arcing toward the South Carolina line, I had my eye on the center of the North Carolina coast. Tucked between the Pamlico River to the north and the Neuse River to the south and east was Pamlico County, where I grew up. Because of the mechanics of the storm, that was where dangerous winds and an especially high storm surge had been forecast.

The County (as Pamlico is known back east) is low, flat and geographically isolated. Only a handful of roads, most of them two-lanes, lead out. My mom had evacuated, but her husband had not. And I knew that many, many people I grew up with would be riding out the storm.

The people of Eastern North Carolina either fled or hunkered down as Florence crawled across the state.

Wind, storm surges and rain brought the first punch, and New Bern – the town of 29,000 that Pamlico County folk consider the closest “city,” and where many people I know live – ended up underwater.

Cresting rivers days after the storm brought the second punch. The Lumber River rose, as did the Cape Fear, flooding houses and washing out roads. Recovery in these places, many of which still have not bounced back from Hurricane Matthew in 2016, is expected to take years.

And then, just before this issue's deadline, Hurricane Michael struck the Florida panhandle with uncommon viciousness before blazing across North Carolina. One storm was more than enough, thanks.

With all of that considered, I had no interest in running the editor’s letter I had originally written for this issue, which was about me being a college dropout who initiated his own “second act” by going back to school at NC State and becoming a professional writer. I think a more critical second act is Eastern North Carolina’s. The region has a lot to bounce back from, and it can’t do so without help.

If you have it in your power to help New Bern, Pamlico County, Wilmington, Lumberton or any area Florence or Michael hit, please do so. The Red Cross is one option, while the North Carolina Disaster Relief fund at governor.nc.gov/donate-florence-recovery is another. If you would rather donate directly to a particular impacted area, contact local governments or faith communities to find out how to help.

Thanks for picking up OutreachNC, and I’ll see you in December.

-Corbie Hill

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Editor-in-Chief Corbie Hill | Editor@OutreachNC.com Creative Director Kim Gilley | The Village Printers

Monthly Musings from the Meowing Maestro

Creative & Graphic Designer Sarah McElroy | The Village Printers Ad Designers Stephanie Budd, Cyndi Fifield, Sarah McElroy Proofreader Kate Pomplun Photography Brady Beck, Diana Matthews, Leland A. Outz, Caitlin Penna, Contributors Meagan Burgad, Laura Buxenbaum, Eric Christenson, Maryanne Edmundson, Michelle Goetzl, Mardy Grothe, Barbara Hengstenberg, Tim Hicks, Corbie Hill, Tim Keim, Ray Linville, Kasia McDaniel, Amy Natt, Amy Phariss, Leslie Philip, Ann Robson, Barbara Stoughton, Rachel Stewart

“Does it look like I'm ready for my magazine photo shoot?”

Spiritual Advisor Jeeves

Y Publisher Amy Natt | AmyN@AgingOutreachServices.com Marketing & Public Relations Director Susan McKenzie | SusanM@AgingOutreachServices.com Advertising Courtney Bunker | CourtneyB@OutreachNC.com 910-692-0683 ext. 141

“Maybe yoga just isn't my thing.”

Circulation 910-692-0683 | info@OutreachNC.com OutreachNC PO Box 2478 | 676 NW Broad Street Southern Pines, NC 28388 910-692-9609 Office | 910-695-0766 Fax info@OutreachNC.com

www.OutreachNC.com

OutreachNC is a publication of The entire contents of OutreachNC are copyrighted by Aging Outreach Services. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial, photographic or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

OutreachNC is published monthly on the first of each month.

“Yes mum, can I help you?”

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advice

Our Aging Life Care ProfessionalsTM will answer any aging questions you may have.

Email us your questions! info@OutreachNC.com

ASK THE EXPERT

Making Sense of Long-term Care Policies

by Amy Natt, MS, CMC, CSA

&

My husband and I purchased a long-term care policy about 15 years ago. He has recently been in and out of the hospital related to falls, and I think it might be time for us to get some additional help in the home. I pulled out the policy, but it is overwhelming.

Where should we start?

Long-term care (LTC) policies have gained popularity in recent years. Many people have purchased these plans in hopes of being able to age in place and bring the care they need into the home. There are some great policies and then there are policies that have so many hoops to jump through and criteria to meet that they never get fully utilized. Many people are in the midst of a health care crisis when they need the policy and get easily overwhelmed (and often give up) when trying to apply for benefits.

If you own an LTC policy, you should pull it out now and make sure you understand exactly how it works.

Each policy is very different and the company you purchased it from originally may or may not be the current owner of the policy. Each year it is advised that you contact them and request an updated schedule of benefits. Make sure they have your current address and request any updates or changes in writing.

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When the time comes to utilize your policy, there is a process that most insurance companies follow.

They typically have a claims specialist you can call to inquire about initiating the claim. Here are some basic steps you can start with: Step 1: Initiating a Claim Call your long-term care company claims department. Each provider has a process for initiating a claim. It typically involves forms that you will fill out to determine if you are eligible for benefits, as outlined in your policy. Keep a notebook of dates and providers (hospital, therapy services, hospice, home care, etc.) you have used because it is likely they will want this information. If you have an elimination period (be sure to ask this question) those days of service may be counted. It is likely you will have some out-of-pocket expense as you go through this process, so be prepared for that.

Step 2: Establishing Eligibility The LTC company will want to establish that the insured is eligible to receive benefits.

There is language in your policy that states what criteria must be met to become eligible for benefits. For example, you may have to have documentation from your medical provider that you require assistance with ADL care (activities of daily living) such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers and ambulation. It is likely the policy will require that you need help with two to three of these tasks.

Your policy may also have an option for coverage based on severe cognitive impairment. Documentation to substantiate this will be required.

The LTC company will likely either arrange for a nurse to visit you and make an assessment, or the LTC will obtain clinical documentation from your doctor or provider. Once eligibility has been decided, then you can determine what types of services and providers your policy provides coverage for.

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the holidays at Quail Haven Village

Step 3: Approving a Provider The schedule of benefits will outline what services are covered and at what dollar amount. Examples might be home care, adult day care, assisted living or skilled nursing. There are also benefits for equipment and training in some policies, so read those parts carefully. The LTC company will provide the insured with definitions of each type of provider and instructions on what information should be submitted for each provider. They will then verify the provider and let you know if they will reimburse you for the care and the dollar amount. For example, if you are wanting home care and you have a benefit for home care, the policy will state what type of provider is acceptable. It may require that care come from a licensed home care agency, or it may allow for you to use independent providers or caregivers that you choose. There may be other requirements regarding homemaker or companion services.

The fine print is important. Until you go through the process of submitting everything required, you will not know 100 percent that you are going to be reimbursed, so have some money set aside that you can use during the elimination period (days needed before coverage begins). The terminology may be new to you, so ask for a definition sheet. If it is an older policy, some of the terminology may be outdated and you can request an alternate plan of care be created to cover benefits or providers not necessarily included in the original policy language.

Finally, you are dealing with a lot, so if it gets overwhelming, reach out to a professional for help. The LTC company may have a care manager or you can hire a private care manager (visit AgingLifeCare.org). Your attorney or someone with the provider you choose might also be able to help you navigate the claim.

Hang in there! You have paid good money toward this policy and you want to ensure you take full advantage of the benefits it can offer.

Readers may send questions to Amy Natt, an Aging Life Care ProfessionalTM, certified senior advisor and CEO of Aging Outreach Services. She can be reached at amyn@ agingoutreachservices.com .

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NOVEMBER 2018 |

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health

B R A I N H E A LT H

The Mental Benefits of Physical Fitness

By Maryanne Edmundson, Ph.D., L.P.

Regular exercise not only bulks up your muscles, strengthens your bones and keeps your joints flexible – it also beefs up your brain. Research shows that engaging in exercise reduces neural inflammation, increases the release of chemicals that keep brain cells healthy and facilitates neuroplasticity, meaning it fosters new and stronger connections between brain cells. Exercise especially strengthens the connections within areas that deal with memory, emotional control, multitasking, controlling impulses, problem solving and body movement, sensation and coordination, and expands the links between brain regions. This boost in the brain’s neuroplasticity can help us to better cope with novel situations and reduce stress.

Exercise is especially important as we age. Studies reveal that aerobic exercise and resistance training reduce the chances of cognitive decline and loss of brain cells that are a normal part of aging. Regular physical activity also protects our brains from the potential cognitive effects of medical conditions. For example, a research study of people with heart failure showed those who walked daily had better cognitive performance and increased tissue volumes in areas connecting brain regions. Exercise reduces the incidence and impact of diseases that affect the health of our blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension and diabetes – thus, regular physical activity can lessen the chance that these vascular health conditions will cause cognitive decline and dementia. Regular exercise can also lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, delay its onset, slow its progression and, especially in the early stages of the condition, can improve memory, judgment and thinking clarity. Consistent physical activity also has many indirect benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, including keeping a person physically capable of participating in daily activities for longer, improving 12

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sleep, adding activity to their daily routine, increasing selfconfidence and reducing depression, anxiety and stress.

Overall, exercise is a great investment that can boost your health and protect your brain.

The best exercise programs increase your heart rate and typically involve 30 to 60-minute sessions at least several days per week. Before you begin your exercise program, consult with your primary doctor – each individual may require unique recommendations for how frequently they should work out, how intense their exercises should be and what types of programs are best given their medical history. If needed, your doctor can also suggest local programs specifically designed for people with certain conditions (like Parkinson’s disease). When starting a new exercise routine, ease into it by first working out for shorter increments than your ultimate goal (for example, begin with 10 minute sessions and slowly work up to 30 to 60 minutes) – it will not help to overdo it. Always begin an exercise session with a warmup and end with cool down time. Choose exercises that you enjoy and are likely to keep up over time. Not everyone goes to the gym to lift weights – some prefer yoga or Tai Chi classes, water aerobics, walking around their neighborhood with a friend, dancing or gardening. Talk to your doctor if you experience pain or feel ill with physical exertion.

If you have cognitive changes and want to learn more about how to improve your functioning, contact your primary doctor about getting an evaluation with a professional.

Dr. Maryanne Edmundson, a clinical neuropsychologist at Pinehurst Neuropsychology, can be reached at 910-420-8041, or by visiting www.pinehurstneuropsychology.com .

life

A G I N G T H O U G H T F U L LY

Life as a Work of Art

by Dr. Mardy Grothe

In Walden (1854), Henry David Thoreau wrote “How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.” For Thoreau, the book was Emerson’s Nature (1836). For me, it was Walden. More than 50 years ago, I was in the middle of a serious “identity crisis” when Thoreau’s classic book was pivotal in helping me work through it. If you haven’t read Walden—or haven’t read it in a while—check it out (and don’t forget to look for the famous “different drummer” passage in the concluding chapter).

Walden also planted the seeds of ideas that, years later, would blossom in my own thinking, including: Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own.

We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones.

Thoreau was advancing an important idea here—that life is an art, and human beings may be properly viewed as artists.

As the years progressed, I began to see the idea show up, and get expanded, in the writings of some favorite authors. In Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist (1957), D.T. Suzuki wrote: Every minute of human life as long as it is an expression of its inner self is original, divine, creative, and cannot be retrieved.

Each individual life is thus a great work of art. Whether or not one makes it a fine inimitable masterpiece depends upon one’s consciousness.

The American anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson echoed the theme in Willing to Learn (2004): An artist takes ingredients that may seem incompatible, and organizes them into a whole that is not only workable, but finally pleasing and true, even beautiful.

As you get up in the morning, as you make decisions, as you spend money, make friends, make commitments, you are creating a piece of art called your life.

How about you? In your personal journey, have you been able to take the diverse and incompatible elements of your life and organize them into something that is not only workable, but pleasing and true, and possibly even beautiful? Think about it as you peruse these additional observations on the theme: Like any work of art, life needs to be thought about. — Albert Camus Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum. — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art. — Garson Kanin Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. — Danny Kaye Life is the greatest art of all, and the master-artist is the man who is living the beautiful life. — John Edgar Park Life is like a play: it’s not the length, But the excellence of the acting that matters. — Seneca the Younger Dr. Mardy Grothe (DrMGrothe@aol.com) is a retired psychologist who lives in Southern Pines. The author of seven quotation anthologies (all available at The Country Bookshop), he is also the creator of “Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations (DMDMQ), the world’s largest online database of metaphorical quotations: http://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/ NOVEMBER 2018 |

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health

TRIUMPHANT ELDER

Ancient dental solutions for modern teeth

by Tim Keim, EYT500, Yoga Therapist

As we age we may experience systemic mucous membrane dryness, very often noticeable in the mouth.

Saliva contains antimicrobial components that work synergistically to fight oral infection, while normal saliva volume flushes microbes into the gut to be destroyed by stomach acids. When age-related dryness asserts itself, bacteria populations grow rapidly, form plaque and harden into tartar. Coupled with less than fastidious oral care, this dryness results in gingivitis, bacterial inflammation of the gums and periodontitis.

Red, inflamed, swollen gums and bleeding are common symptoms. Periodontitis is advanced gingivitis that can progress to tooth loss if not treated. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than half of Americans above age 30 have periodontitis. This number increases with age.

Regular professional dental cleaning is the primary care modality to keep your gums healthy. If conditions have gotten out of control, deep cleaning and root planing may be in order.

After treatment, proper dental hygiene must be practiced to prevent a repeat of tartar accumulation and recurrent gum disease. This is where the medical science of yoga, called Ayurveda, has powerful tools to safeguard your dental health.

The foundation of good dental home care can start with the famous biblical gifts, myrrh and frankincense. These tree resins are renowned for their antimicrobial qualities and for nourishing mucous membranes.

Several essential oils (EOs) will provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial action to manage gum disease between dental visits. Neem, clove, cinnamon, peppermint and tea tree oils all demonstrate effectiveness against oral bacteria.

Cinnamon is nearly as effective as the chemical compound

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chlorhexidine, and turmeric gel is its equal according to clinical studies. Take care to dilute cinnamon oil with coconut oil as it is very hot and will burn tender mucous membranes if used full-strength. One drop of cinnamon oil in 15 drops of coconut oil should work. Test the other EOs on your tongue to make sure they are not too strong for you.

Mixed with mildly abrasive baking soda, these ingredients will surpass any toothpaste in gum and tooth maintenance. A good general recipe would be a quarter teaspoon each of dried myrrh and frankincense, five tablespoons baking powder and 20-25 drops of the combined equal parts of the essential oils. You needn’t use every one of the EOs, one or two will do nicely. Mix and match and experiment to find which work best for you. Add enough coconut oil to make a paste and you’re ready to go.

Adding neem or tea tree oil to your floss will also get these medicines under the gums to kill multiplying bacteria.

Yet another way to use these oils is to dispense a few drops into a tablespoon of coconut or sesame oil as a mouth wash. Swish around the mouth 10 minutes for a moisturizing, mouthcleansing and gum-supporting way to kill bacteria in the aging, dry mouth.

I’m getting good reports from my dentist since I’ve begun using these powerful, ancient, DIY tools for oral health. Cheers!

Tim Keim is an IAYT certified yoga therapist, and has been teaching yoga for 15 years.

Keim can be heard Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 91.5-FM, WUNC. He can be reached at timkeim811@ yahoo.com.

life

THE READER’S NOOK

Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic: A Nurse Practitioner Remembers,

by Marianna Crane Book Reviews by Michelle Goetzl Today we take for granted that there are gerontological specialists who take special care of aging patients, but that wasn’t always the case. These specialists, who run the gamut of professions, provide vital services to patients with age-related health issues.

In the early 1980s, Marianna Crane was one of the first gerontological nurse practitioners and she has put together some of her experiences in her new book, Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic: A Nurse Practitioner Remembers.

Crane writes her book as part memoir and part explanation of what early gerontological nurse practitioners had to deal with. The chapters vacillate between being about Crane herself and about her experiences with different patients.

Early in the book, Crane starts working at a senior clinic in a Chicago subsidized housing building. At that point in her career, there were few formal classes that specialized in geriatric practices and many things needed to be learned on the job. One major area that Crane seemed to be unprepared for was the fact that working with the geriatric population meant more than simply providing medical care. Sometimes it meant juggling traditional health care with unconventional actions.

This is where Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic excels, putting real stories to the situations that she had to deal with. During her tenure, Crane did everything from chasing out scam artists and abusive adult children to planning a funeral to even one time signing her own name to Social Security checks. She deals with staffers who work with the seniors’ best interests at heart, but without a lick of professionalism, and a building manager that wants her to look in on people rather than have them come to her. But Crane learns from all of these experiences and realizes that in many ways she has to be both their medical

help and their case worker, finding solutions to their problems, health-related or not.

A prime example is “The Pigeon Lady” who appears throughout the book. Angelika is a woman who enjoys feeding the pigeons, but when other residents complain she takes it upon herself to open her windows and feed the pigeons in her apartment. Her health is taking a downward spiral, but she refuses to be admitted to the hospital. In this era before hospice care, it becomes Crane’s job to try and keep her comfortable in her last days.

While all of this is taking place, Crane’s home life was filled with her own struggles with an aging mother. As many do, she invited her mother to move from New Jersey to live with her in Chicago. However, this led to power struggles and frustration. Crane’s mother was moody and didn’t like that her grandchildren’s friends often joined them for dinner. After enough issues, her mother decides to move out.

While many of these struggles might feel relatable, they didn’t seem to fit into the purpose of the book and left me feeling that Crane lacked emotions. The book itself would have been stronger if she had left her home life out of the story.

For anyone willing to open their hearts to the people nurse practitioners take care of every day, this is a compelling book about the struggles of daily health challenges older adults might face.

Michelle Goetzl writes an online blog—“Books My Kids Read.” She loves books and sharing that love of reading with children. She can be reached at booksmykidsread@gmail.com .

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advice

M E D I C A R E U P D AT E

Medicare Open Enrollment Period Now Through Dec. 7

Each year during the Open Enrollment Period, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to compare and evaluate their current plans and make changes as necessary. By comparing plans during the Open Enrollment Period, Medicare beneficiaries can save money and make certain that their 2019 plan will be the best for their needs.

The Open Enrollment Period began on Oct.15 and runs for eight weeks to give you enough time to review and make changes to your Medicare coverage. All changes must be made by Dec. 7 to ensure that your coverage can begin without interruption on Jan.1.

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Here are some of the ways to review and compare plans available for 2019:

“Comparing Part D plans annually is imperative to ensuring that the Medicare beneficiary has the best coverage for their prescription needs,” says North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. “The staff from SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, are available to help over the phone or in-person in all 100 counties in North Carolina.”

• Get one-on-one help from your local SHIIP office by calling 1-855-408-1212 or visiting www.ncshiip.com .

SHIIP is a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance and offers free, unbiased information about Medicare, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage, long-term care insurance and other health insurance issues. In addition to helping Medicare beneficiaries compare and enroll in plans during the Open Enrollment Period, SHIIP counselors can help people find out if they are eligible for Medicare cost savings programs.

• Review the “Medicare & You” handbook, which was mailed to people with Medicare in September.

OutreachNC.com | NOVEMBER 2018

• Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options that are available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

H O M E S TA G I N G

advice

How to host a proper Thanksgiving feast... without your house’s marketability suffering

by Kasia McDaniel Your house is on the market and it’s the Thanksgiving holidays.

If you’ve done some cleanup and packed up some things already, you may be wondering where you put the things you need.

Chances are your platters and good dishes may be packed, but you can still have a proper Thanksgiving feast while your house is on the market. If hosting dinner at your house is a must, here are some tips to keep you sane when guests and buyers are swirling around.

1. Contact your real estate agent: We all know Thanksgiving Thursday is off limits, but perhaps allow some showings for Friday or Saturday. Buyers may be staying in the area visiting their friends, and this is a great time for them to see your home.

2. Let houseguests stay in a nearby hotel: You don’t need to stress your guests about being clean and tidy just because you have a showing. Explain to guests there might be some showings during this weekend. Take the opportunity to show them around town if you do happen to have a showing.

3. Limit the menu to perhaps six or seven items and have lots of these dishes: Sometimes, having lots of turkey and gravy is better than having 12 or 13 items that will only be half-eaten. And while we all enjoy fresh-baked pies in our own oven, turn to your local bakery and select readymade pies that were baked in their oven. This avoids any potential burned smells that tend to linger in a home longer than we want.

4. Have guests bring a dish to share: If guests are local, they can bring a prepared dish to share. This way, you don’t have to go digging for that deep bowl to hold

Powering Your Home Despite Old Man Winter

all the cranberry sauce. Then ask them to bring empty Tupperware to the dinner so they can take leftovers back to their house.

5. Cater your meal: Some local stores and restaurants have prepared meals for Thanksgiving so you don’t have to do the cooking. All you have to do is heat up the food and serve it. Cleanup will be even faster with this option!

6. Plastic fancy dinnerware: As mentioned before, your fancy dishes and silverware may already be packed away.

If that is the case, consider using plastic fancy plates and utensils. Some even look like real silver. They can then be thrown out instead of running the dishwasher over and over again to wash everything.

7. Set a buffet table: If you have a kitchen island, you can set out each dish on it and have everyone walk through like a buffet line. Your guests can then sit at the dining table without having to pass every dish around the table. A buffet table can prevent spills and allows everyone to get up and get seconds (or thirds!) as needed.

By simplifying a Thanksgiving meal with these tips, you will be less stressed while your house is on the market. You have enough to worry about when selling your home. Don’t let something like a Thanksgiving meal limit your enjoyment of time with family and friends.

Kasia McDaniel, a Home Stager and Certified Interior Decorator at Blue Diamond Staging can be reached at 910-745-0608 or by visiting www.bluediamondstaging.com

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910-725-1141

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life

R E G I O N A L C U LT U R E

Hurricane Season Is Not Over Yet

by Ray Linville

Because I remember devastating Hurricane Hazel and the damage it caused in 1954, hurricanes have always scared me. When warnings begin, I stock up with water, batteries, medicine and canned goods. And then I find the nearest Waffle House.

hot food, even after its backup power had failed. I ordered the most expensive item on the limited menu: an egg, sausage, hashbrown bowl for $7.60, more than a meal in itself and well worth the price, considering the conditions outside.

When the power in my house had been off for hours after Hurricane Florence arrived, I was ready for hot food and off to a Waffle House I went. Fortunately, the first one I found was open.

Everyone waiting on food sat quietly, not speaking to anyone next to them or nearby, as if almost afraid to start a conversation, much like worshippers who come in late and sit on the back pew of a church.

As Kobey, my server, handed me the special “power off menu,” I asked, “When did you open?”

My food arrived 17 minutes after I had placed the order – prompt service for any restaurant, particularly one with no electrical power. In a few minutes, Kobey returned to ask, “Everything tasting good?” Hey, it was hot. It was also the best food that I’d eaten all day.

“Oh, we never close,” he said.

I expected this answer because even state-of-the-art FEMA uses a Waffle House index. The more Waffle Houses that close, the greater a storm’s severity. This Southern restaurant chain has a well-deserved reputation of being the last to close (if they do) and first to open during natural disasters since first opening in 1955. In fact, Waffle House sent executives, including the board chairman and CEO, from corporate offices in Atlanta and 200 others to the Carolinas to help keep restaurants in the path of Hurricane Florence open around the clock.

Although Florence was devastating, it had not closed my nearest Waffle House that was serving

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I wanted to ask Kobey about FEMA’s Waffle House index but decided to keep my questions focused on food. When asked what he was out of, “Grits” was the immediate answer. “Plus we can’t serve chili now because the emergency power went out. That puts it in the danger zone,” he said.

“No problem,” said a customer overhearing the conversation.

“You’re all working hard and we appreciate it.”

Surprisingly, waffles can’t be served – no electricity for the waffle griddle. “I’m sorry that we can’t make them,” Kobey said.

Hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin starts on the first of June and doesn’t finish until the end of this month. We must still stay vigilant and be prepared.

As singer-songwriter Taylor Swift chants, “Just because there’s a hurricane going on around you doesn’t mean you have to open the window and look at it.”

I agree. For me, I go to a Waffle House and look out its windows at the downpouring rain. It’s the best way to endure the effects of a storm until the power comes back on – plus the food is hot too.

Ray Linville writes about local connections to Southern food, history and culture. He can be reached at linville910@gmail.com .

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health

E AT R I G H T

Try These Tips to Lower your Risk of Diabetes

by Laura Buxenbaum, MPH, RD, LDN

November marks American Diabetes Awareness Month and is a chance to raise awareness about the disease, its risk factors and steps individuals can take to make healthy lifestyle changes. Diabetes impacts how the body utilizes sugar in the bloodstream and is a disease that affects more than 29 million people in the United States.

While there are several types of diabetes, including type 1 (more commonly found in children), type 2 (more common in adults) and gestational diabetes (developed during pregnancy), type 2 diabetes accounts for 97 percent of all diagnosed diabetes cases.

One’s chance of developing type 2 diabetes depends on a combination of risk factors, including genetics and lifestyle choices. Some risk factors cannot be altered, like age (those over 45 are at a higher risk), family history and ethnicity: African Americans, Asian Americans and people of Hispanic or Latino descent are several of the ethnicities at highest risk. Fortunately, other risk factors can be controlled. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), increasing physical activity and adopting a healthier diet are two lifestyle changes that can decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

This month, try incorporating these healthy eating strategies into your daily routine. When it comes to your health, small changes can make a big difference! · Rethink Your Drink: Americans are drinking more sugar-sweetened beverages than ever before. Drinks such as soda, fruit juice and sweet tea are concentrated sources of sugar that add extra calories to your diet without much, if any, nutritional benefit. Additionally, evidence indicates that the more of these beverages that you drink, the higher your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Tip: Invest in a reusable water bottle and stay well hydrated throughout the day. Jazz up your water glass by adding slices of fresh fruit such as limes, lemons or oranges. Enjoy seltzer water in place of sodas. Enjoy a 22

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glass of low-fat milk with meals, and limit 100 percent juice to four ounces daily. · Make Half your Grains Whole: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that half of the grain servings consumed in a day be whole grains.

Whole grains, such as brown rice and whole wheat bread, are high in fiber, which help blood sugar rise more steadily than the simple carbohydrates found in white rice and sweets, which cause a sudden spike and drop in blood sugar. Whole grains also help keep you fuller longer and contain essential vitamins and minerals that can help reduce the risk of diabetes.

Tip: Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov to learn how many servings of grains a day you should be eating. Replace white rice and pasta with whole grain varieties. Choose whole grain breads, cereals and oatmeal with at least five grams of fiber per serving. · Don’t Ditch Dairy: The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that healthy eating patterns are associated with lower risk of several chronic diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Dairy foods, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, are recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and contribute essential nutrients that most Americans are not getting enough of in their diet, including vitamin D, calcium and potassium. Additionally, research shows that dairy food consumption is associated with lower risk for type 2 diabetes.

Tip: Enjoy three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt daily.

Try plain yogurt with fresh fruit for a healthy dessert. If you are lactose intolerant, try lactose-free milk, which is real milk without the lactose.

Implementing healthy habits daily can help manage and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. For more information on the prevention and treatment of diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website at diabetes.org.

GREEK CHICKEN WRAPS WITH TZATZIKI HERB YOGURT SAUCE INGREDIENTS: SAUCE · 2 cups fat-free plain yogurt · 1 cup peeled, seeded and diced cucumber · 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill · 1 tablespoon lemon juice · 1 tablespoon white vinegar · 2 teaspoons minced garlic · 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

WRAP · 1 (6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast · 1 tablespoon light Italian dressing · 4 (6-inch) whole-wheat pitas · 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce · 1 medium tomato chopped · 1/2 cup sliced red onion · 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese · 4 kalamata or black olives, pitted and sliced

DIRECTIONS: To prepare sauce, combine yogurt and next five ingredients, stirring to blend. Add salt if desired (sauce may be made up to two hours in advance). Cover and refrigerate until serving.

To prepare wraps, place chicken breast in a heavyduty plastic bag and add Italian dressing. Marinate 15 minutes. Pound chicken (using a meat pounder, mallet or the bottom of a skillet) and flatten to about half-inch thickness. Remove chicken from bag.

Cook chicken breast in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat five minutes per side or until lightly browned and cooked through. Place chicken on a cutting board and slice thinly against the grain; set aside.

Heat pitas in microwave oven 30 seconds. Place one pita on a plate and top with one half cup lettuce and one-fourth of the chicken slices. Sprinkle one-fourth of tomato, onion, feta cheese and olives on top of chicken.

Spoon some of the sauce over top and fold in edges of pita. Wrap sandwich in parchment or waxed paper for plating and serving. Repeat with remaining pitas. Serve immediately with additional sauce on the side.

Laura Buxenbaum, MPH, RD, LDN is the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach for The Dairy Alliance. She received her Master of Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill and has been working in dietetics for over 15 years. She can be reached at lbuxenbaum@thedairyalliance.com.

Serving residents of Scotland, Robeson, Richmond and Hoke counties in North Carolina, as well as Marlboro, Dillon and Chesterfield counties in South Carolina.

www.ScotlandHospice.org NOVEMBER 2018 |

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advice

PLANNING AHEAD

Investing for Retirement Income: Straw, Sticks or Bricks?

Part II: High-Yield Bonds – Sticks and Stones Can Break You

by Tim Hicks, CFP®

In part one of our three-part series on investing for retirement income in low-rate environments, we explained why we don’t advise bulking up on dividend-yielding stocks as a reliable way to generate retirement cash flow.

Like the Three Little Pigs’ straw house, dividend-yielding stocks can disappoint you by exhibiting inherent risks just when you most need dependability instead.

Another popular tactic is to move your retirement reserves into high-yield, low-quality bonds. Let’s explain why we don’t typically recommend this approach either.

Part II: High-Yield Bonds – Sticks and Stones Can Break You We can see why it would be appealing to try to have your bonds pull double-duty when interest rates are low: protecting what you’ve invested and delivering higher yields. The problem is, the more you try to position your fixed income to fulfill two essentially incompatible roles at once, the more likely you will underperform at both.

Risk and Return: The Same Old Story (Sort of) In investing and many other walks of life, there’s nothing to be gained when nothing has been ventured. This relationship between risk and expected return is one of the strongest forces driving capital markets. But decades of academic inquiry help us understand that the risks involved when investing in a bond – any bond – are inherently different from those associated with investing in stocks. These subtle differences make a big difference when it comes to combining stocks and bonds into an effective total portfolio.

Because a company’s stock represents an ownership stake, your greatest rewards come when a company’s expected worth continues to improve, so you can eventually sell your stake for more than you paid for it, and/or receive 24

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“profit-sharing” dividends along the way. Your biggest risk is that the opposite may occur instead.

A bond is not an ownership stake; it’s a loan with interest, which defines its two biggest risks:

1. Bond defaults: If all goes well, you get your principal back when the loan comes due. But if the borrower defaults on the loan, you can lose your nest egg entirely.

2. Market movement: You would like your bond’s interest rate to remain better than, or at least comparable to those available from other, similarly structured bonds. Otherwise, if rates increase, you’re left locked into relatively lower payments until your bond comes due.

As such, two factors contribute to your bond portfolio’s risks and expected returns:

1. Credit premium: Bonds with low credit ratings (“junk” or “high-yield” bonds) are more likely to go into default. To attract your investment dollars despite the higher risk, they typically offer higher yields.

2. Term premium: The longer your money is out on loan, the more time there is for the market to shift out from under you, leaving you locked into a lower rate. That’s why bonds with longer terms typically offer higher yields than bonds that come due quickly.

Bond Market Risks and Returns If you’re connecting the dots we’ve drawn, you may be one step ahead of us in realizing that, just like any other investment, bonds don’t offer higher expected returns without also exposing you to higher risks. So, just as we do with your stock holdings, we must identify the best balance between seeking higher bond yields while keeping a lid on the credit and term risks involved.

With stocks: Taking on added stock market risk has rewarded stalwart investors over time. The evidence is

compelling that it will continue to do so moving forward (assuming you adopt a well-planned, “buy, hold and rebalance” approach as a patient, long-term investor).

With bonds: Taking on extra bond market risk is not expected to add more value than could be had by building an appropriately allocated stock portfolio. Moreover, it is expected to detract from your bond holding’s primary role as a stabilizing force in your total portfolio … and it often does so just when you most want to depend on that cushioning stability.

For example, in “Five Myths of Bond Investing,” Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig dispels the myth that “investors who need income must own ‘bond alternatives’” (such as highyield bonds). He cites BAM ALLIANCE Director of Research Larry Swedroe, who observes that “popular bond alternatives … provide extra income in good times – but won’t act like bonds during bad times.”

Your Essential Take-Home Given these insights, logic dictates: If you must accept higher risks in search of higher returns, take those risks on the equity (stock) side of your portfolio; use high-quality fixed income (bonds) to offset the risks.

As we’ve been hinting at throughout this series, there is one more critical component to investing for retirement income.

Beyond optimizing your bond portfolio with the right kind of bonds (high-quality, short- to mid-term), and avoiding chasing dividend stocks for their pay-offs, among the most important steps you can take with your retirement income is to adopt a portfolio-wide approach to money management, instead of viewing your income and principal as two isolated islands of assets. We’ll explore this subject next.

Investment advisor representative of and investment advisory services offered through Garrett Investment Advisors, LLC, a fee-only SEC registered investment advisor. Tel: (910) FEE-ONLY. Hicks Financial Partners may offer investment advisory services in the State of North Carolina and in other jurisdictions where exempted.

This communication has been provided by a third-party, is being passed to you for informational purposes only, and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of a security. Although information in this presentation has been obtained from and is based upon sources that Garrett Investment Advisors, LLC believes to be reliable, Garrett Investment Advisors, LLC does not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. This information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation.

Investing involves substantial risk and has the potential for partial or complete loss of funds invested. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Before investing in any investment product, potential investors should consult their financial or tax advisor, accountant, or attorney with regard to their specific situation.

About Tim Hicks, CFP®. Investment advisor representative of and investment advisory services offered through Garrett Investment Advisors, LLC, a fee-only SEC registered investment advisor. Tel: (910) FEE-ONLY. Hicks Financial Partners may offer investment advisory services in the State of North Carolina and in other jurisdictions where exempted. Investing involves substantial risk and has the potential for partial or complete loss of funds invested. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Before investing in any investment product, potential investors should consult their financial or tax advisor, accountant, or attorney with regard to their specific situation.

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COOKING SIMPLE

Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese, Cranberries & Chives

by Leslie Philip Photography by Diana Matthews

Ingredients

• 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes • 3-4 ounces of goat cheese • 1 tsp sour cream • Chopped chives • Dried cranberries for sprinkling

Directions

Wash sweet potatoes, bake in 350°F oven for 35-45 minutes, until a knife can be easily inserted into the potato. Let cool.

Bring goat cheese to room temperature. Blend in the sour cream to help with spreading onto the potatoes, adding more sour cream if needed to make the mixture spreadable.

Cut the potatoes into roughly quarter of an inch slices; the ends will be smaller.

Spread the slices with the cheese mixture, using a knife or dolloping with a spoon.

Top with cranberries and chives. Serve at room temperature. Enjoy.

Leslie Philip, chief egg breaker and owner of Thyme & Place Cafe in Southern Pines, can be reached at leslie@thymeandplacecafe.com or 910-684-8758.

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health

E Y E H E A LT H

What is diabetic retinopathy?

by Arghavan Almony, M.D., Retina and Vitreous Specialist, Carolina Eye Associates Diabetic retinopathy or diabetic eye disease is an eye problem caused by diabetes mellitus. It affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.

Retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. This damage can lead to problems with vision, including blindness. It is possible to prevent severe vision problems by:

the eye surgeon may do surgery to remove the gel in a procedure which is called a vitrectomy.

• keeping diabetes & blood pressure under control; • scheduling regular eye exams; • receiving early treatment for retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels damage small blood vessels. The weakened blood vessels may break and leak fluid and blood. New abnormal blood vessels may also grow. These new blood vessels can bleed, cause cloudy vision and destroy the retina. The longer someone has had diabetes, especially if their blood sugar has been poorly controlled, the more likely they are to have retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy begins before any symptoms are present. As the problem gets worse, blurred vision, floaters (black spots or cobweb-like shapes) and temporary or permanent blindness may occur.

To diagnose diabetic retinopathy your eye doctor will examine your eyes using an ophthalmoscope (an instrument for seeing inside the eye). Several pictures may also be taken at the time of the examination to determine the severity of the diabetic retinopathy.

Early treatment before the retina has been badly damaged is the most successful way to reduce vision loss from this disease. Your eye surgeon may use a laser or injection of medicine into the eye to seal leaking blood vessels. The surgeon may also use a laser to destroy abnormal blood vessels. If you have had bleeding into the clear gel (vitreous) that fills the inside of the eye,

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To help prevent diabetic retinopathy, work closely with your medical doctor to control your blood sugar and blood pressure. Stop smoking, as smoking may speed up the development of retinopathy. Finally, follow a diet and health care plan for your diabetes so you have fewer complications. Call your doctor right away if you start seeing dark spots, floaters or light flashes or if your vision is blocked, blurred or distorted.

Arghavan Almony, M.D., is a retina, macula and vitreous specialist at Carolina Eye Associates.

Call (800) 733-5357 or visit www.carolinaeye.com

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Second Acts Rollie Sampson: From Platoon Leader to Moore County Schools Military Family Liaison

by Eric Christenson For military children who typically attend six different schools in 12 years, beginning a new year in a new school presents major challenges. Their parents also face challenges. Online enrollment helps, but transitioning into new schools is stressful and widespread among military families—though not unique. State requirements for graduation vary.

Prerequisites in math in different states and other countries, for example, confuse parents and guidance counselors. Finding medical services for military kids can stress parents. Rollie Sampson’s challenge is to reduce the stress.

As the liaison for military families and their children moving into Moore County Schools, Sampson employs skills learned 20 years ago at Fort Carson – “The best thing I ever did,” Sampson says of her military experience. As platoon leader in a construction battalion, she was the project manager of horizontal projects—roadways and heavy equipment operations.

“I learned more about the professional world than I did in college,” she says. “I learned how to develop long-term goals, to get along with a wide variety of people, to solve problems and to value teamwork and the success of the group.”

After taking time to raise her family, she is now finishing her master’s degree in clinical mental health

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counseling at Wake Forest University. With knowledge gained at Wake Forest and skills learned in the military, she has developed solutions to the many problems military families face as they move to Moore County with their school-age children.

She assists schools and works in collaboration with them to help military families entering county schools. “School staff can assume that children get used to deployments and loss, but in reality, frequent deployments can take an emotional toll on the whole family,” Sampson says. A seventh deployment does not inure a child to fear. Military families do not want special treatment, she says, only a level playing field eased by thoughtful, hands-on orientations mentored by a peer when appropriate. Transitioning students need to know how to use the Chromebooks, the library and the lockers. They need to feel comfortable knowing how to dress. And they need to be in the right classes and not repeat what they learned the year before, nor struggle unnecessarily in advanced classes.

“I receive calls from frustrated parents trying to navigate a new system and I get to help make their transition a bit easier. What could be better?” says Sampson. “I get to do something positive every day. I love my job.”

Five Tips for

Getting Back to Work

by Rachel Stewart While retirement marks the end of long and successful career for many older adults, it could also be the start of something fresh for others – namely going back to work. So what lies ahead? And where should you start?

1. Understand your “why.” Some people work past retirement for the additional or supplemental income, but some might see it as a way to stay connected and keep going. Understanding why you want to continue to work is vital to your success. Unlike jobs you’ve had before, you can set the tone of what’s to come. Do you want to challenge yourself? Do you want to pursue a hobby you’ve had on a back burner that people have always complimented you on? Once you land on a couple of reasons, you can move to the next step.

2. Revisit your resume. As you pack away your office things, there’s one item you should keep handy, and that’s your resume. Do a deep dive and pull out skills you think you’ll be using in the future. Now is also a good time to streamline your overall resume to make it easier for potential employers to look over – or load into online job portals. Be sure to update your LinkedIn profile to match your resume, since you can also import it when applying for jobs online. LinkedIn is also a great way to keep up with former colleagues or network with new people as you decide what’s next.

3. Set your hours. It’s also important to establish what sort of hours you’re wanting to work. Are you still wanting a five-days-a-week gig? Or maybe you’re wanting to work in the morning with the rest of the day free for errands or relaxing, or vice versa. There’s no right or wrong answer here – it’s up to you. If you’re applying for temp or contractor jobs, you’ll have more freedom when setting your office hours than traditional salaried jobs. Employment agencies may also be able to help connect you with the best fitting jobs based on your skill set and wants.

4. Can you incentivize a passion? Everyone has a hobby: some people are good at crafting, while others might enjoy cooking. Whether it’s jewelry making, woodworking, quilting, baking or writing, you can make money off of these skills. For crafty items, Etsy. com, local boutiques or craft fairs could be good ways to share your talents with the world. For more concrete

skills, sites like Fivver.com or Remote.com can connect people to writing, design and blogging jobs. If you prefer to keep busy by helping others, you can set your hourly wage for housesitting or dog walking or decluttering a friend’s house.

5. Consider another degree or certification. More older adults are going back to school after they retire to amplify their current skill set or learn something completely new. And college is no longer limited to brick-and-mortar institutions, as degrees are easy to earn via online courses. If you’re considering either option, also look into older adult-focused scholarships, grants or tuition waivers that could be available to you.

Top Job Ideas for Older Adults Not sure what your second career should be?

Here are some of the most popular job options for people aged 50-plus.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Artist Bartender Blogger Clergyperson Childcare specialist Driver for Uber or Lyft Dog walker House or pet sitter Freelance writer or designer Real estate agent Salesman Store greeter or clerk Teacher or tutor Temp worker or contractor Tour guide

Wondering what’s out there for you? Visit www.aarp.com and enter “job board” into the search box at the right hand side of the page to view second career-related resources.

NOVEMBER 2018 |

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Moore County Farmers Market O PEN YEAR ROUND! Armory Sports Complex | 604 W. Morganton | Southern Pines 9 am - 1 pm Tomatoes, Fruits, Veggies, Jams, Meats, Flowers & Plants, Crafts, Chicken, Eggs, Beef, Pork, Ostrich Meat, Baked Goods, Prepared Foods, Goat Cheese, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Winter Squash, Peaches, Egg Plant and Micro Greens

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Birding Among Historic Buildings & Champion Trees

Birding in N.C.

Old Waynesborough Park Goldsboro

by Ray Linville

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Looking for a park where you can combine your interest in birds with other activities, such as exploring historic buildings more than 150 years old, seeing huge supersized trees and walking through a diverse habitat? Consider an excursion to Old Waynesborough Park in Goldsboro, only a short drive away, where the sights and sounds of nature abound.

Because the park offers year-round birding opportunities, it was added in 2013 to the North Carolina Birding Trail that links educational and historical attractions with communities and businesses across the state. At Old Waynesborough, several bird species are prominent; among them are the gray catbird, Carolina chickadee and redshouldered hawk.

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Gray Catbird The gray catbird, a common, medium-sized songbird, is a year-round resident of the park. It makes an odd variety of musical and harsh sounds, including a catlike mewing that is responsible for its name. If you are convinced that you cannot learn a bird’s call, start with this catbird. After you’ve heard its catty mew, you never forget it.

Unlike songbirds that sing from prominent perches, the catbird likes to sing from inside a tree or bush where it is obscured from view by foliage. Its song may last up to 10 minutes. When perched, it appears humpbacked by the way that it holds down its tail. At first impression, the catbird seems entirely slate gray. A closer examination reveals that it has a small black cap, blackish tail and a reddish-brown patch under the tail.

The catbird feeds mostly on the ground and flips leaves with its bill as it seeks insects. Favorites are beetles, ants, crickets, grasshoppers and spiders, but more than half of an adult’s annual diet is vegetable matter. Above ground, it snacks on berries and fruits of shrubs and trees.

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Carolina Chickadee Photo Credit: Brady Beck

Another popular year-round resident of the park is the Carolina chickadee, named by famous naturalist John James Audubon himself. This tiny songbird has a black cap and throat that contrast sharply with its white cheeks. Its short neck and large head give it a distinguishing spherical body shape. The back, tail and wings are a soft gray. To find the chickadee in forested areas, it’s important to learn its call note, which is a rapid chickadee-dee-dee. Its song is a four-note whistle, which can consist of 35 different patterns.

Because its favorite habitat is forested areas and parks with large trees, it feels at home at Old Waynesborough, where its diet usually consists of insects and spiders as it sometimes hangs upside down to forage for them in foliage and tree bark. Sometimes it catches insects in mid-air as it is flying. During colder months, its diet shifts to about half animal, half plant.

Pairs form in the fall and remain together as part of a winter flock. The bond between male and female can last for several years, and some have even mated for life. Each flock member has a rank, and lower ranking birds usually have to travel farther away to claim a territory.

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Red-shouldered Hawk Photo Credit: Brady Beck

A sign of tall woods and water, the red-shouldered hawk, named for its reddish-peachy underparts, has very distinctive markings. Its tail and flight feathers are banded black and white, and adults have reddish-brown chests. Weighing only a pound, this medium-sized hawk has a slim shape and small head.

Also a year-round resident of the park, this hawk prefers to be near water and feeds primarily on small rodents, amphibians and reptiles that it hunts either from perches or while flying. On the park’s orange and yellow trails that traverse near the Neuse and Little Rivers, you may see this hawk soaring in wide circles above the ground as it searches for prey. Pairs also often soar together in circles high over their nesting territory.

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The hawk also flies very low in open areas and can take its prey by surprise as it uses its hearing as well as sight to locate targets. However, because it is often heard before seen, the best way to find this hawk is to learn its shrill whistle, a kee-rah with a downward inflection that is a distinctive sound of the forest.

Old Waynesborough Park Located at the site of the original seat of Wayne County, the park includes a village of nine historic buildings that date from the 1860s to 1920s. It not only is on the N.C. Birding Trail, it is also certified under the Forest Legacy Bird Program.

The diverse assortment of habitat – coniferous woodlands, oak forest, wetlands and riverine aquatic communities – means that the avian community is extensive. More than 100 birds have been identified in the park, which also has abundant wildlife such as raccoon, beaver, opossum, bear, fox, deer and turtles.

The park’s staff has prepared a bird scavenger hunt to entertain families and children, and a guide includes common species found at the park with descriptions and photos. In addition, a bird guide for smartphones that includes photos, descriptions and call samples is also available. Plan ahead for a visit by reviewing this guide online (oldwaynesborough.org/bird-guide/).

Brochures for self-guided walks and signage along trails identify another of the park’s popular features: its trees.

Among the hardwoods are two black willows that are state champions, meaning they are supersized stars of their species and registered with 750 other champions in the National Big Tree Program.

The park’s four miles of walking trails meander through open spaces, forest and cypress swamp and also connect to the N.C. Mountains-to-Sea Trail that stretches from the Smoky Mountains to the coast. Walkers should be alert for exposed roots on the trails, which may also have fallen branches and other impediments, and should plan to share their walks with bikers and dogs on leashes. Motorized equipment is not permitted. All four trails leave from the visitors center on U.S. 117 Bypass and include rest benches at selected locations.

Because the park covers 155 acres that border the Neuse and Little Rivers, which were flooded in September by Hurricane Florence, call 919-731-1653 before visiting to check on trail and other access information. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset daily, and the visitors center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day except Sunday when the hours are 1 to 5 p.m.

OutreachNC has embarked on a yearlong series that highlights regional sites of the N.C. Birding Trail. Enjoy the series as contributor Ray Linville explores beautiful landscapes and birds of our home state. He can be reached at linville910@gmail.com.

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CAROLINA CONVERSATIONS with Jim Avett

by Barbara Hengstenberg | Photography by Caitlin Penna

Jim Avett is the epitome of a man embracing his second act. A generous, grateful, fair, strong-willed, dry-witted man, Avett moved from a life of welding and bridgebuilding to that of a recording singer/songwriter whose true passion resonates in his live performances. At the heart of all he’s accomplished is the father, husband, grandfather, farmer and protector of all he holds dear.

I met with Jim and Susie, his wife of almost 50 years, at their homestead in Concord, North Carolina. As I pulled into their driveway on a sultry August morning, the crunch of gravel competed with cicada shrills, a crowing rooster and the woofs of two friendly dogs who greeted me as soon as my car door opened. I found Jim lolling on the porch in his rocker as Susie burst through the front door with a kind embrace, telling me the coffee’s on. There is something about this family that welcomes the outsider with ease. I immediately felt at home.

The Avetts are farmers, raising cows and chickens on a 60-acre farm, most of which has been given by Jim and Susie to their children. As we strolled over to the century-old weathered gray hay barn, Jim and Susie explained that early on, they owned 22 acres down the road when a neighbor gave them a small house, which Jim rebuilt into their current home. This is a house of avid readers, with more than 3,000 books nestled throughout. This is where the music of widelypopular Americana/rock band, The Avett Brothers, was born and developed. This is where, venturing into the second-floor music room, approximately 65 guitars hold court among piles of lyric sheets and notebooks spilling over with songs. Music penetrates the soul as soon as one steps foot into the house. Sons Scott and Seth live nearby with their families. When not touring as the The Avett Brothers, they are at home, creating more music and helping their dad on the farm. Daughter Bonnie also tours with the band and lives with her family in South Carolina.

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FIRST ACT Raised by a country Methodist preacher, Jim joined the Navy after high school. “I knew there were eight years taken out of my life: four in the service and four for college.” Jim went to welding school at night while working on his psychology degree at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, where Susie also earned a degree, hers in clothing and textiles. Upon graduation, Jim worked for the Department of Social Services for almost two years before he and Susie left for Alaska in order to work the pipeline. “We’d sold everything we had to make that trip. When we left North Carolina, I had $1,700 in my pocket ... a 15-year-old truck, a Doberman dog, a 10-month-old baby [Bonnie] and a wife.” He tells of lost opportunities in Alaska. “A lot of dreams were made, and a lot of dreams were not.” All along, he lived by the maxim: “Just stand up and slap it. It may hit you back.

It may knock you down. It may knock your teeth out.

But at least you got your best lick in first. I wasn’t scared.

I was just too dumb to be scared. We were looking for adventure.”

Eventually, the Avetts left Alaska for Wyoming, where Jim worked as welder. “It’s really not fair for me to work for somebody else ... I learned in the Navy I don’t take orders all that well. If I’m going to fail, then I’m going to fail on my own.” The family grew with the birth of Scott in 1976. Soon after, Jim and Susie rented a house just down the road from their current home in Concord. Son Seth came along in 1980. In Concord, too, Jim started his own bridge-building business. “We took the good ones, the bad ones, the hard ones, the cheap ones, the expensive ones. We took them all. I could survive because we absolutely guaranteed what we did. We absolutely did it on time. We absolutely lived and died on our reputation.” After 45 years, Jim turned the business over to a dedicated employee. “Why not? It was the right thing to do. That old man that gave us the house ... he was right.

If you have more of anything than you need, you need to give it to somebody who doesn’t have enough.”

SECOND ACT Music has always been ubiquitous in the Avett household.

Jim began picking guitar at 13 and says he has never had a lesson. “I wanted to be as good a guitar player as I could be, and I think I’ve pretty well reached that. I’m not a great guitar player, but I know a lot of songs. It never was my goal to get on the stage.” While they were in Wyoming, Jim joined a small group of guitar pickers.

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To this day he plays with local pickers every Tuesday and Thursday night at a nearby service station.

Through the years, Jim’s music took shape. “When the boys were on the rise, in this room here ... we’ve always had a stand-up model [piano]. The boys and the girl walked through and played it a little.” In 2010, Scott and Seth suggested that the family do a gospel album together. “I like old-time Southern gospel. Somebody asked [singer/songwriter] Arthur Smith what made [it] Southern gospel, and he said, two things: one, it has the highest highs and the lowest lows. The other is that it’s theologically correct.” The family recorded their first gospel album, Jim Avett and Family, in the very room in which we were talking.

Jim currently tours the country performing between 40 to 50 shows a year, believing that “the only way a musician now can make a living is live performance.” According to Jim, “Digital signals have made it extremely easy to work in the studio. A person who can’t sing a lick can be a hero in the studio. The problem comes in live performance.

If you can’t sing on key, then you’ve got a problem … [digital signals] have taken control of the product out of the creator’s hands.” Six years ago, Jim convinced Susie to retire from her job as a reading teacher and join him on the road. “I take care of the merchandise, help him unload the van and stuff like that,” added Susie. Each fall, the couple makes “a lap around the country,” starting in Pennsylvania, over to Michigan, North Dakota and Oregon, and then down through California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Arkansas before making their way back to North Carolina.

“I’ll play 14 to 15 towns in 30 days ... I wouldn’t have it any other way ... We’re living proof that you don’t have to have a million dollars to retire,” reflects Jim. “As far as scared for the future, what the hell am I scared of? I can pick a guitar and get enough money for us to eat. I can cut firewood or I’ve got two sons who can cut me firewood. So we’ll get along.”

Occasionally, Jim performs with his sons. He is aware that many of his fans discovered him through his famous children. “A lot of Avett Brothers fans are enthralled with the idea of family. Everybody wants to identify with their ideals, with something bigger than they are. It’s the idea of being part of the music. Certain musical progressions do things for people that bring out the absolute best of them.”

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“My job, in whatever gig I’m doing, is to entertain those people. I’ll put some of my stuff in. I’ll do some Tom T. Hall, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams or Glen Campbell.

Scott said during one of his interviews, ‘Dad gave up a career in music so we could have one.’ That’s not really true ... I’d never had the dream that I was a failure if I wasn’t on the stage.” Jim and Susie have always wanted their children to be the best at whatever they wanted to be. “I see people affected by the boys’ music, and that’s what it’s all about.

The whole reason of being a singer/songwriter is to affect people’s lives.

I asked Jim’s children how they feel about their father’s music career. According to daughter Bonnie, “Dad often tells folks that the main reason he’s enjoying this ‘second act’ is because his last name is Avett. It’s that selfdeprecating humor that we all know and love! While the boys’ success has certainly helped clear a path for him to travel, play, sing and tell stories, Dad’s talent stands on its own and his endearing manner warms so many hearts, including mine!”

Seth adds, “Dad stepped far, far away from a dream of music performance when he faced the practical and economic realities of raising a family ... some 45 years ago.

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I’m forever grateful that he went all in on welding, as it proved a driving force in providing me and Bonnie and Scott with a childhood devoid of real financial hardship; now I’m glad he’s returned to music in this chapter of his life, as he is able to bring to the stage a gravity only present in people who have worked hard their whole lives. Plus, he seems to be having quite a lot of fun with it.”

Son Scott responded, “It’s a joy to see my dad on stage, telling his stories and singing his songs. I know how risky it is. As a young songwriter I failed to recognize this but can see it now. To witness my father taking that risk at this stage in life is inspiring and exciting. Go Dad!” At home, a typical day sees Jim waking at 4:30 in the morning, and grabbing breakfast and conversation with a group that meets daily at a local diner. Following breakfast, his focus is on the business of music, then lunch with Susie and a nap, after which Jim is often found working the farm.

“Somebody once told me, ‘You’re living the dream.’ I guess I am. I didn’t dream this up. It wasn’t what I wanted to get to, but it’s a pretty good place ... I’m proud of where I’m at.”

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The Quilts of Valor Foundation

shows veterans they are appreciated – one stitch at a time

by Meagan Burgad | Photography by Leland A. Outz

Karen Marshall’s sewing machine furiously speeds along as she deftly sews the red, white and blue fabric into intricate squares. She finishes her block before bringing it to the back table where another volunteer pins the squares together before they are to be sewn again to create the quilt top. On the other side of the room, someone cuts more fabric for a second quilt, while in the corner yet another helper irons seams. At the center of the controlled chaos is Amy Makson – buzzing around the room checking off each task as it is finished, assigning new projects as needed. Everywhere you look crafty quilters are cutting, sewing, ironing and smiling. It’s a gathering that looks like any other quilting circle you would find across the country except for one difference – every quilt lovingly created by these volunteers will go to a veteran touched by war.

Since 2007, the Sandhills Quilters Guild has belonged to the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

The foundation, less than 20 years old, was created by Catherine Roberts of Delaware, whose son Nat was in the Army. One night while Nat was deployed in Iraq, Catherine had a startling dream of a young soldier struggling with the demons of war. In her dream, a quilt appeared out of nowhere and wrapped the young man in its warm embrace. Catherine woke up with an idea she couldn’t shake – a handmade quilt made with love could be a powerful tool towards healing young military members. The program started slowly, first only awarding quilts to active duty military members who were wounded physically or mentally in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. However, it soon became apparent the Quilts of Valor Foundation could help veterans of previous conflicts as well.

To be awarded a Quilt of Valor a military member must be nominated. The nomination can come from anyone including a friend, fellow military member, wife, husband or even a neighbor. The only two requirements are they must have served in a time of conflict and they cannot have previously been awarded a quilt. The nomination process can be completed on the Quilts of Valor website. If you live in Moore County you can simply contact the Sandhills Quilters Guild.

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Makson and Marshall, both proud members of the Sandhills Quilters Guild, are co-chairs of the Quilts of Valor Foundation in the Moore County area. Together with the tireless effort of quilting volunteers (including many men and woman who are not part of the Sandhills Quilters Guild), they have awarded approximately 120 quilts to area veterans. Recipients range from the youngest, a mere 20 years old, to the oldest, a WWII veteran who was awarded a quilt on his 99th birthday. As the Quilts of Valor Foundation has grown in popularity Makson and Marshall have even partnered with the Sandhills MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) to present quilts to six veterans during their 2017 Veterans Day celebration in Pinehurst. They plan to continue the tradition this year by presenting another six quilts during the MOAA Veterans Day ceremony.

While each person awarded a quilt is different, one thing remains the same, no matter how many times Makson and Marshall present a quilt, it is an emotional experience.

While the quilts awarded during the MOAA celebration have a more formal presentation, each recipient can decide how they would like to receive their quilt. Many times, it is the smaller ceremonies that are the most touching, such

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as in 2015 when a man contacted Makson and Marshall to nominate his wife for a Quilt of Valor. While both he and his wife were veterans, the man refused a quilt of his own.

Instead, he nominated his wife, who after a long fight with cancer had only been given a few months to live. “He was so in love with her,” says Makson. “He was so eager to have her have this quilt. He was so wanting her to have it. And now that she’s gone he treasures it. It reminds him of his wife.”

Sometimes Makson and Marshall don’t even need to be there when the quilt is presented to feel an emotional connection. One of the first quilts Marshall completed was sent to a military hospital overseas. She had almost forgotten about it when a few months later she received a message that still brings tears to her eyes. “I had an email from a woman, a long time ago,” Marshall says while wiping her eyes. “She said she was being wheeled down the hall and the chaplain came and put the quilt over her.

She said how much it helped her going into surgery. Then afterward she wouldn’t let the quilt out of her sight. It just meant so much to her.”

While the local Quilts of Valor Foundation awards quilts to all ages, most of the nominees in the past few years

have been Vietnam veterans. It’s this specific group of people Makson may be most excited about connecting with. “Those of us who lived through Vietnam remember,” says Makson, an undercurrent of steely resolve behind her carefully chosen words. “When they came home through the airport people spit at them. It was an awful time. I think that’s why when this conflict started people were going out of their way to make sure our veterans and active military were appreciated because we remember a time when they weren’t.”

When Makson and Marshall were contacted by Evelyn White they knew her husband Stephen would be a perfect nominee for Quilts of Valor. A Navy Vietnam veteran, Stephen was a prime example of how the men and women returning from the Vietnam War were treated. “When he came home many years ago it was like nobody cared they were in Vietnam. He literally went to college and wore his jacket and he was spit at. That’s how they treated the Vietnam vets,” says Evelyn. After gathering all the information they needed to make nomination final, the group sets a date for Stephen to be awarded his quilt.

It’s a humid Saturday afternoon, but inside the White house the air is cool and the conversation is flowing.

Stephen E. White sits stoically off to the side, uncertain with what he knows is coming, and maybe even a little bit nervous. Stephen’s wife Evelyn asks his friends and family to gather around as Makson and Marshall step to the front of the room. Makson gives a short but touching speech explaining the Quilts of Valor Foundation and thanking White for his service. Marshall presents the quilt and asks if he will stand so they can drape it around his shoulders, a tradition of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Evelyn takes a breath, ready to receive the quilt for her husband, knowing he hates to be the center of attention. But the room quiets as Stephen slowly stands up and turns to Marshall so she can drape the beautiful red, white and blue quilt over his shoulders. Standing proud Stephen holds the quilt around him as his eyes begin to water.

After pictures have been taken and Makson has presented Stephen with his certificate he sits down again and holds the quilt in his lap. When asked what is going through his head, Stephen thinks for a moment then says, “I tend to think about the guys I served with and my heart goes out to them. So I feel grateful and thankful.” Looking down at the quilt again Stephen continues, “I think it [Quilts of Valor] particularly helps Vietnam vets who are given

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this because we really got nothing. I think it’s good for everybody, but I think for some of the Vietnam vets who are still around it’s very gratifying.”

In the kitchen, Evelyn can’t quit smiling. “At first, [Stephen] wasn’t sure,” she says. “Then when I told him they had contacted me he kind of had this big grin on his face and I kind of knew this was something that would be very appreciated by him. I felt extremely proud. I felt good because I knew he felt good. And I’m really proud of his service. It’s just a nice way to honor him. He’s been through a lot and I just want him to feel good about himself.”

If you would like to nominate someone for a Quilt of Valor you can visit https://www.qovf.org or contact Amy Makson and Karen Marshall through the Sandhills Quilters Guild email admin@ sandhillsquilters.org.

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BEYOND THE BARRE The Mind-Body Connection of Ballet and Why It Might Be the Best Exercise for Midlife

by Amy Phariss | Photography by Diana Matthews

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A year ago, I dropped my 12-year-old daughter off for her evening ballet class and watched her climb the stairs to her studio, her calf muscles flexed with each step, outlined in pale pink tights. As I watched her climb, I thought about how often I’d wanted to take ballet classes as a kid, how many times I’d envisioned myself gliding smoothly across a freshly polished wood floor. Back in the ‘70s, though, money was tight and extracurricular activities were, well, extra. So I dropped any dreams of a proper plié and figured ballet was an opportunity I’d missed in life,

assuming ballet was an art learned while very young, when one’s body was nimble enough to stretch a lean leg across a ballet barre without fear of injury or regret. As I watched my daughter prepare for her class, I wondered: are there any adult ballet classes in town? Then, I smirked and blessed my own heart for even considering the idea. Who would teach an adult ballet class? Did that even exist? I told myself I couldn’t possibly learn ballet, in my 40s, without the flexibility of either body or mind, alone any NOVEMBER 2018 let | OutreachNC.com 53 foundation in the classic art of dance.

A week later, after hearing of a mythical adult ballet class in town, I arrived at Carolina Dance Works. Alongside the rapid beating of my heart and shaking hands, I showed up in a pair of yoga pants and asked, “Can I join the class?” The adult ballet instructor, Rosalind Wirsing, replied in a British lilt, “Of course you may.” With those four words, I embarked on what has become a weekly journey, and what was initially a pursuit of a childhood dream became much more. I’ve been humbled by legs that don’t actually want to be flung through the air and toes that resist stretching just an inch further. Each Tuesday morning, alongside a handful of women, many of us women of a certain age (and occasionally alongside men), the wood floor dappled in sunlight, I stand at a barre and bend at my knees, keep my arms held fifth en bas and repeat the patterns Ms. Wirsing has thoughtfully prepared and recites in French, to engage not only our bodies but our minds as well.

Through Ms. Wirsing, who is trained in using ballet for Parkinson’s Disease and who is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, I’ve learned the beauty of ballet for our brains, our bodies and, dare I say, our souls. I’ve come to appreciate balletic movement not only for what it might do for my muscles but for the fact that it keeps me thinking, focused and, oddly enough, social.

“Dance isn't exercise; dance includes exercise.”

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It turns out, my experience with ballet isn’t unique at all. Adult ballet classes are not only becoming all-the-rage across the world, but science is backing up (with data) that ballet can be beneficial not just for those of us who want leaner legs and graceful swan arms, but for all sorts of physical and mental issues like strengthening balance and posture, warding off dementia, helping soothe the effects of Parkinson’s Disease and strengthening the one area of life that sometimes seems the most difficult to maintain as we move into our second act: connecting with each other.

The physical benefits of ballet extend far beyond lean legs. Ballet engages the entire body throughout all of its movement, from the tip of one’s head to, literally, one’s toes – and beyond.

In order to maintain proper alignment and position, ballet requires students to engage our core, stretch our necks, lengthen our limbs and hold tiny little muscles we forgot (or likely never knew) we had. There isn’t one position in which the entire body is not present, working and held.

Ballet, therefore, is an efficient and balanced form of exercise, engaging the body’s enormous range of muscles rather than using the same few muscles over and over again, a complaint many find with exercises like running or cycling. Ballet not only strengthens muscles, but it stretches them as well.

Many of the exercises and positions practiced in ballet are a form of stretching and preparing muscles for still more exercise. A plié prepares a dancer for jumping. A tendu stretches the arch of the foot. Throughout the entire workout, ballet is a reciprocal motion of stretching and strengthening, of achieving a balance of fluidity and strength in all parts of the body. In Ms. Wirsing’s words, “Dance isn't exercise; dance includes exercise.”

Our physical muscles are not, however, the only parts of the body ballet engages. Perhaps the most overlooked and surprising aspect of studying ballet is the mental challenge it presents with each hour of practice. The mental affects of dancing are so pronounced: recent scientific research suggests it can help reduce the signs of both dementia and Alzheimer’s. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine examined the effects of 11 physical activities on the development of dementia including tennis or golf, swimming, bicycling, walking, group exercise classes, babysitting, climbing stairs, housework, team sports such as bowling and dancing. According to researchers, “Dancing was the only physical activity associated with a lower risk of dementia.”

Researchers conclude the combination of physical movement, mental stimulation and socialization is key in reducing the risk of developing dementia.

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For people with Parkinson’s Disease, the effects of ballet are similar. Ballet and other forms of dance therapy are now used to address many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s including tremors, rigidity and social isolation. At a southwest London studio, a weekly Parkinson’s Can Dance class is held for men living with the disease, and the results have been inspiring. Haroon Siddique, in his 2016 article in The Guardian titled “They Come In To Dance and Leave Their Parkinson’s Behind,” quotes one of the class participants in saying, “It’s fantastic what they can get people to achieve. They can literally get people out of wheelchairs.” Beyond the physical benefits, the ballet classes enable people living with Parkinson’s to socialize, to forget for a short time about their disease and spend time moving their bodies, listening to music and being with others. As ballet instructor Annie Breckell notes, “They come in and leave their Parkinson’s behind.”

From focusing on the actual form of balletic movement to remembering specific combinations and instruction, ballet is much more mentally stimulating than any other form of exercise I’ve engaged in. As I move through the barre work, I must remember not only what the exact exercise is but also how to complete the exercise with proper form, where to shift my balance, how to use my arms, how many repetitions to complete and, perhaps most difficult of all, how to time my movements with the music. While it can sometimes be overwhelming, it is the exact mental challenge I need to keep my brain learning, sharp and flexed, which doesn’t always happen in my day-to-day life as I get older and life has become, to some extent, a series of habits requiring little learning or forethought. I drive to the same places, buy and prepare the same foods and often have variations of the same conversations. While this is sometimes comforting and likely normal, it does feel nice to spend time studying a new way to move, to think and to behave, my body and brain working in unison.

Each week, as I approach the barre in now-worn ballet slippers, my hands no longer shake. I close my eyes and remember what Rosalind told me the first day: “It doesn’t matter how much or how little you can do; you can always do something.

You do a movement to music just like everyone else.” An hour later, I am stretched, in every sense of the word. I am still a neophyte in the world of ballet, which is fine with me. I spend an hour each week forgetting about my to-do list as I listen to beautiful music, gently move my entire body and share the experience with a group of friends, all of us well beyond our teenage years.

Many of the myths I had about ballet have been dispelled. It is not just for women; I’ve stretched with men at my barre. It’s not only for people in peak physical shape. Several of us have physical limitations, and Ms. Wirsing helps each of us modify appropriately, keeping us safe but challenged. Perhaps most of all, I’ve learned that ballet is not an external art form. It’s not about mile-long legs or perfect pirouettes. Ballet is a connection between movement, form, music and the soul. With each movement there is meaning and intention, two of the things I value most as I move into the second half of my life.

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Southeastern Cardiology and Cardiovascular Clinic is an affiliate of Southeastern Health and is backed by the expertise of Duke Health. Our Heart Team consists of Southeastern Health and Duke physicians who are supported by advanced practice providers. In addition to the clinic, this team also treats patients at Southeastern Health Heart and Vascular, which is located on the campus of Southeastern Regional Medical Center.

2936 North Elm Street, Suite 102 Lumberton, NC 28358

(910) 671-6619 www.southeasternhealth.org NOVEMBER 2018 |

OutreachNC.com 57

Community Dementia Workshop Our Savior Lutheran Church **1517 Luther Way Southern Pines, NC 28352

Tuesday, December 11, 2018 10 am - 12 pm

What Happens Next?

This event is free and registration is requested.

To register & for more information please contact Lisa Levine, (919) 832 - 3732 or

Understanding the progression of dementia can help us learn what to expect and how to better interact with those we care about.

Follow the story of one family as they move through the stages of dementia.

Learn along with them what works, what doesn’t work and how to keep the peace along the way.

Featuring:

llevine@DementiaNC.org

Melanie Bunn, RN, MS, GNP Dementia Training Specialist, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina

 

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** Please note: Roads have changed. Neither Google Maps nor Map Quest reflect changes.

Church fronts west side of Hwy 1 in Southern Pines From north; Hwy 1 south. First exit on right (not marked), past Morganton in Southern Pines. Take exit, turn left on Luther Way. Church is on the right.

From south: Hwy 1 North exit Morganton. Turn left, go over Hwy 1 and re-enter Hwy 1 south. First exit on right (not marked), past Morganton in Southern Pines. Take exit, turn left on Luther Way. Church is on the right.

RESOURCE MARKETPLACE CARE MANAGEMENT

ADULT DAY CARE

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Open Monday - Friday Schedule A Visit!

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ASSISTED LIVING

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Introductory Special for New Students

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721 SW Broad Street | Southern Pines, NC 28387 910.725.1846 | carolinadanceworks@gmail.com

HOSPITALS

HVAC

The right dentist can make all the difference.

Your Full-Service Residential Heating and Air Conditioning Specialists

305 Page Road | Pinehurst, NC

Serving the Sandhills since 1953

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Coordination of the Move | Packing & Unpacking | Minor Home Repairs Sorting, Organizing & Downsizing | Setting Up Your New Home Estate Liquidations/Auctions | Disposition of Unwanted Items

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RELOCATION SERVICES

Strong Starts Within Philip Mosley

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WELLNESS

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• Downsizing • Relocation • Estate Liquidation

Don’t let the daunting task of

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downsizing overwhelm you and keep you from making the move to an independent living, assisted living or continuing care retirement community.

FREE In-Home Assessment

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NOVEMBER 2018 |

OutreachNC.com 59

IN VERSE

Normandy Now a beach hushed, with fallen helmets strewn about only hermit crabs move.

-Barbara Stoughton Barbara Stoughton is a resident of Penick Village in Southern Pines who processes the experiences of aging and of living in a retirement home through verse.

Howell Drug

Serving Raeford & Hoke County

SINCE 1947

Personalized Treatment Recommendations that Emphasize Brain Health, Independence and Quality of Life Schedule an appointment

910-420-8041

45 Aviemore Drive | Pinehurst PinehurstNeuropsychology.com 60

OutreachNC.com | NOVEMBER 2018

Your Prescription for Savings!

910-875-3365

311 Teal Drive

RAEFORD

Order Refills Online!

HowellDrug.com

Checks & Balances

Providing Peace of Mind and the Gift of Time Take back your life...

When you let us organize the paperwork and set up an easy system for you to monitor, you get more time to enjoy your life and family.

We will become your trusted Daily Money Manager relieving the stress of your day-to-day finances from your already hectic life.

Daily Money Management Solutions Personal Financial Management | Bill Paying Services EDCNB - Makes Your Life...Easier!

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Apply now for the 2019 Youth Tour to D.C.

Making Your Home Picture Perfect for the Holidays

Each year, Central Electric sponsors two rising high school juniors or seniors on the trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C. in connection with the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.

While in D.C., they’ll join

1,800 other students from across the country to meet members of Congress and learn more about American history and the electric cooperative business model.

The 2019 Youth Tour trip will be June 15-21. The application period for next year’s trip has begun and will run through Jan. 25.

Visit www.CEMCPower.com to download the application or to find out more information on the incredible opportunity.

NOVEMBER 2018 |

OutreachNC.com 61

GREY MATTER See Grey Matter Puzzle Answers on Page 65 Puzzle 11 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.54)

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24. Adaptable truck, for short 25. Overthrow, e.g.

29. Divine retributions 31. Product quality assurance 35. Deception 36. Bypass

Communications Daisy Data Deaf Dirty Dived

Earn Eggs Empire Eyed Fact Fate

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22. Car accessory 37. Balloon filler 23. Female sheep 38. Doctor Who 25. Having I-strain? villainess, with “the” 39. Alliance that includes 26. Deeply thoughtful 27. Bring up Ukr. 28. Crumb 40. Inflammation of the 30. Winged small intestines 32. Masefield play “The 42. Family subdivisions Tragedy of ___” 44. Bond, for one 33. Little bird 45. Biochemistry abbr.

34. “... ___ he drove out 46. Check of sight” 50. ___ of roses 38. Fix, in a way 52. “A jealous mistress”: 40. Ring bearer, maybe Emerson 41. Backstabber 53. Analyze, in a way 42. Pie charts, e.g.

58. Choice 43. Least cooked 59. Buildings’ covered 47. Fleet entrances 48. Chip away at 61. Busy places 49. ___ throat 62. Visionary persons 51. Call from the flock 63. Lilac, e.g.

53. Bundle 64. Plunder 54. Battery contents DOWN 55. Santa ___, Calif.

56. Rectangular paving 1. Boris Godunov, for one stone 2. Dash 57. “___ quam videri” 3. Parentheses, e.g.

(North Carolina’s motto) 4. Broad valley 60. Toni Morrison’s “___ 5. Condo, e.g.

Baby” 6. Valley (Welsh) 7. A Muse 8. 4:1, e.g.

9. All in 10. Inferior 11. Sundae topper, perhaps 12. Antibody that causes cells to clump together 13. Believer in one god 14. The Rolling ___, band

NOVEMBER 2018 |

OutreachNC.com 63

life

OVER MY SHOULDER

Life is a cabaret

by Ann Robson

Plays, like life, are divided into acts and scenes. The first act introduces the characters and lays the groundwork for what is to come. Depending on the number of characters and the complexity of the storyline there may be several scenes. The second act enhances the first and moves the plot along, again possibly with several scenes. The third act ties everything together. Characters complete what they are supposed to do.

Actions enhance and complete the story. Then, depending on what has gone before, there may be a happy ending, a satisfying conclusion or a tragedy of some sort.

As I see my life, I have completed Act 1, am still working on Act 2 and am hoping for that happy ending in Act 3.

Act 1 goes from birth to adult to teacher to wife to moving away from home and starting a new life 100 miles away.

My Act 2 is long and interesting. I was active in my church women’s group serving as public relations chair for our diocese’s group. This required that I send information about our group to The Canadian Register, a national Catholic newspaper with bureaus in several dioceses across the country.

One evening at a charity dinner, I happened to be seated next to one of our local editors and mentioned in passing that I thought the paper did justice neither to the women’s groups nor to women in general. He asked if I thought I could do better so, of course, I said I thought I could. This began a journalism career that has been part of my life ever since.

The front side of journalism was taught through osmosis by two very gifted priests. One had a great knack for writing columns to appeal to or anger almost everyone. The other was more intellectual and made us strive to be literate. From them I learned the value of humor and intelligence in dealing with the reading public.

I loved every minute of it.

Then we really moved away from home when my husband’s job took him to Fairmont, West Virginia for a year. Next we went back north to Oswego, New York for 14 winters. Those were special years as our daughter was born in Oswego.

Running concurrently with motherhood, I re-entered the newspaper world and wrote for a weekly, a morning daily, a twice-weekly and a daily – in succession. Somewhere in there I edited the SUNY alumni magazine for a few years and did 64

OutreachNC.com | NOVEMBER 2018

some freelance public relations work.

Next came a two-year stint in the Cleveland, Ohio area and I was able to do local government reporting for the Sun Newspapers.

We next moved to Kentucky where a brand spanking new aluminum plant had been built and needed my husband.

Serious journalism was limited to reviewing books for the Bowling Green News.

After Kentucky we went back to Canada for two years and thus were able to give attention and care to some of our senior family members.

The last scene finds us in Detroit where I edited the newsletter for the Tournament Players Club of Dearborn when not doing various community tasks.

Our Act 2 continues when we took early retirement and moved to North Carolina in June 1997. I assumed my husband would golf his heart out and I would play a lot of bridge and we’d live happily ever after. We have been happy but golf and bridge were supplemented with volunteer activities. I started submitting golf information from our club to The Pilot. One thing led to another and I was part of the freelance staff for a few years writing about caregivers and seniors.

When a delightful young editor asked me if I’d like to write for a new magazine, OutreachNC, I jumped at the opportunity.

I never imagined that I’d get another chance at professional journalism. A few years later I compiled a selection of various columns from 50 years in journalism and produced a book.

I’m still writing (at least as of this issue) and still loving it.

Lessons learned: you never know what opportunity is just around the corner waiting for you and you’re never too old to try something new or to revive an old dream.

I’m still in Act 2 waiting for Act 3 and all that it might offer.

Ann Robson is the author of “Over My Shoulder: Tales of Life and Death and Everything In Between.” She may be reached at overmyshoulder@charter.net .

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WORD SEARCH

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3 let 8 poor 6 eyesight 9 2 4keep 5 7 Don’t you from enjoying them.

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OutreachNC.com 65

Generations

by Corbie Hill & Michelle Goetzl

OutreachNC asked adults and children our November question. Share your answer on our Facebook page.

Who is the oldest veteran in your family and what was their service?

My husband. — Miriam, 84

The oldest veteran in my family I know of is my great, great, great, great, great grandfather who was in the Marines and his name is William Sawyere. — Duncan, 9 My dad, Charles, was in the Navy. — Michelle, 56 The oldest veteran in my family is my great-grandpa Charles.

He was in the Marine Corps. — Tanner, 9 Me. — Peter, 59 Charlie McHarney, Air Force. — Callie, 9 My uncle, John Genge, was in the Army. — Chloe, 9 My brother, who’s a few years younger than me. — Caroline, 68 My grandpa, Jim Bond, was in the Army. — Olivia, 9 My dad, Mike, was in the Army. — Molly, 9 Surviving, I have a few uncles and uncles-through-marriage.

My grandfather was a bombardier on a B-17 during World War II, but he’s not around anymore. — Corbie, 36 My great grandpa Hugo was in the Army during WWII. — William, 9 My dad. He was a Marine and in the Vietnam War. — Jordan, 9 My grandpa. He was in the Army in WWII. — Lilah, 9 My father served for 25 years in the Army. — Thomas, 9

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Age the way you choose.

Let our resources & experience help you maintain your independence

We offer:

• Coordination of legal, financial and health care professionals • Caregiver referrals • Placement and transition assistance • Crisis Intervention • Ongoing dementia care services • Assistance with meals, bill pay and transportation

Call for your FREE consultation today!

910-692-0683 The Experts in Aging Well

OutreachNC.com www.AgingOutreachServices.com NOVEMBER 2018 |

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