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PLAN NOW Check health insurance options often. Save money, reduce family’s stress. Page 4
MORE INSIDE
TECHNOLOGY
Cellphone contract freebies you aren’t using. Page 10
HEALTHY LIVING
Learn how to make natural cleaning products. Page 21
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Call Pam at 765-962-6546 • www.ffcinc.org
A Community for Carefree Living
2 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
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LIVING INSIDE THIS ISSUE Check out insurance options early .......................................4 Get help now to make your wishes known ........................6 Grandma’s heart knows what to do....................................8 4 apps help kids combat bullying, drugs .............................9 Cellphone contract freebies you aren’t using................... 10 Technology questions answered........................................ 11 Local events calendar .........................................................12 Chalkboard paint has many uses....................................... 15 Roast apples and pears for flavors of fall ........................... 16 A fast, fresh take on creamy chicken corn chowder .......... 17 Sudoku puzzle .................................................................... 17 10 things to do in your garden now ...................................18 Make garden decorations with mosaic stones.................20 Make natural cleaning products ........................................21 Replacing your Social Security card? ............................... 22
Palladium-Item Media Group EDITORIAL Greg Fallon, News Director (765) 213-5876, gfallon@muncie.gannett.com Millicent Martin Emery, Special Content Editor (765) 973-4468, mmartin@pal-item.com Joshua Smith, Photographer (765) 973-4487, jossmith@pal-item.com
ADVERTISING Sharon Brandley, Advertising Manager (765) 973-4442, sbrandle@richmond.gannett.com
CONTACT US EDITORIAL: For comments about editorial content or suggestions for the next issue, contact Millicent Martin Emery at (765) 973-4468. ADVERTISING: To advertise, contact Sharon Brandley at (765) 973-4442. SUBSCRIPTION: To request additional copies of the magazine, contact Heidi Lipscomb at Heidi.Lipscomb@indystar.com or (765) 962-1575 © 2014 Maximum Living This lifestyles magazine is a product of the Palladium-Item Media Group. These materials are the sole and exclusive property of the Palladium-Item Media Group and are not to be used without written permission.
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 3
CHECK OUT INSURANCE OPTIONS
EARLY AND OFTEN MILLICENT MARTIN EMERY mmartin@pal-item.com
B
aby boomers and retirees have a lot of options when it comes to health, short- and long-term care and life insurance. But even after the insurance has been selected, you’re encouraged to check in with your agent every year or two to make sure your health and prescription coverage is still the best plan for you.
Medicare
those who’ve been in a community for years, Zajdel said. Some area seniors don’t know they qualify for a Medicare savings benefit that could pay for their Medicare Part B coverage, said Sharrie Harlin, community outreach coordinator for Reid Health. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program can help pay for premiums as well as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. The monthly income limit is $1,472 for individuals and $1,992 for married couples. The resource limit is $7,280 for individuals or $10,930 for married couples. A simple signature or a little paperwork can help Hoosiers save a lot of money and reduce adult children’s stress about their parents’ large medical bills, Harlin said. Reid staff can help low-income residents sign up for various insurance benefits if they qualify. AARP says seniors should consider the “four C’s” as they enroll in Medicare: » Cost: Compare monthly premiums, annual deductibles, copays and coinsurance. » Coverage: Review the doctors and pharmacies included in the plan, as well as prescription drugs and other services you need. » Convenience: Look at the accessibility of doctors, pharmacies and services in the plans. » Customer service: Assess the quality of service a plan provides. Quality ratings are available for most Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans at medicare.gov/find-a-plan.
Kyle Zajdel, life and health insurance specialist at VanVleet Insurance in Richmond, suggests seniors contact their health insurance agent or Area 9 Agency at least every two years to make sure they still have the best plan for their needs. Adding or switching prescriptions can impact insurance pricing, so if your medicines have changed in the past year, a quick consult could save money. If you’re already on Medicare or Medicare Advantage, your once-a-year opportunity to make changes is coming up from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Customers can also enter information at medicare.gov to compare plans, but Zajdel said it’s also good to consult agents because they might recognize a pitfall with a plan that wouldn’t be readily apparent to a consumer. During open enrollment, you can go from one Health insurance Medicare prescription drug plan to another Medicare drug plan, join a Medicare drug plan, Insurance coverage is more widely available switch from Original Medicare (Part A and Part now for local residents through the Affordable B) to a Medicare Advantage Plan or vice versa, Care Act and Healthy Indiana Plan, but shopor go from one Medicare Advantage Plan to pers need to be careful. another. Harlin said it’s patients’ responsibility to GETTY IMAGES/ “I very seldom would recommend a Medicare know if their insurance is accepted at their docISTOCKPHOTO Advantage Plan,” Zajdel said. That’s because most tor’s office or hospital or for medicines they need. Advantage plans don’t cover care at Reid Health or from “We get so many people who’ve paid on their insurReid physicians. However, they do work for seniors in ance and it didn’t cover anything,” Harlin said. “It’s other cities such as Indianapolis, he said. heartbreaking.” Through Advantage plans, customers are trading in Harlin said in 2015, Indiana approved 12 providers of their Medicare coverage for private insurance and usuinsurance under ACA. However, only four of those chose ally have to stay within a network of providers. to cover East Central Indiana and Reid Health accepted No networks are part of Medicare, so customers don’t two of those, so consumers need to be careful when have to worry about their doctor or hospital being part of choosing a plan if they want local medical care. a network. However, they do need to make sure their This region has high obesity and smoking rates and an doctor will accept Medicare patients. That’s more of an older population, so some insurers choose not to cover issue for seniors moving to a new community than for this area, Harlin said.
4 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
LOUISE RONALD/PALLADIUM-ITEM
Sharrie Harlin, outreach coordinator for Reid Patient Financial Services, chats with Rodger Spicer at the New Beginnings street carnival, one of several events where Reid provides information about the Healthy Indiana Plan and other insurance programs.
“Unfortunately, when people choose to smoke, it affects a lot more people than just you,” Harlin said. “It affects the entire community.” Harlin and other Reid Health employees are getting out to community events to enroll more residents ages 19 to 64 who qualify for the Healthy Indiana Plan or HIP Plus, which includes vision and dental services. Low-income Hoosiers can receive health insurance for $1 to $28 per month through the program. Individuals can make up to $16,443, couples $22,251 and a family of four can earn $33,868 or less to qualify, Harlin said. To sign up for insurance, bring a photo ID, birth certificate and proof of the last 30 days’ income, Harlin said. Those who have enrollment questions are asked to call or visit Robin Ritchie at Reid Urgent Care on Chester Boulevard at (765) 983-7976 or Jade Beckman at Reid’s financial office at 600 E. Main St., (765) 935-8591.
Long-term care insurance Zajdel said he highly recommends talking with a local agent about long-term care options. Long-term care insurance pays for personal care received at home, assisted living facilities, adult day care or nursing homes. Factors include how many assets you want to protect, your health and where you plan to live. Customers who can afford a policy would have the choice to buy a partnership between private insurance and Medicaid or a non-partnership. A partnership helps protect a customer’s assets but not their income. Partnerships are offered for dollar-for-dollar or total asset protection. Farmers often have lower incomes but are asset-rich with land, Zajdel said. Those interested in a policy also need to figure out
where they want to reside in their golden years before purchasing a long-term care policy. Medicaid differs by state, so if you plan to move to another state to be near family, be aware of that state’s policies before making a purchase. For most people, the best age to apply for long-term care insurance is in your mid-50s, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. Prices See INSURANCE, Page 6
SOME RESOURCES » Area 9 Agency: 520 S. Ninth St., Richmond. It helps older persons and disabled individuals of all ages live independently as long as possible in Wayne, Union, Fayette, Franklin and Rush counties.(765) 966-1795 or (800) 458-9345 or http://www.iue.edu/area9/ » LifeStream Services in Yorktown serves Randolph County. (765) 759-1121 or (800) 589-1121 » Make changes to your Medicare insurance plans during open enrollment at medicare.gov/find-a-plan or call Medicare at (800) 633-4227 » State Health Insurance Assistance Program: (800) 677-1116 for free personalized health insurance counseling. » Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: https:// www.cms.gov/ » AARP Medicare information: http://member.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/ » Express Scripts’ Roadmap For Medicare: http://www.roadmapformedicare.com/ » American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance: http://www.aaltci.org/ » National Advisory Center for Short- Term Care: http://www.shorttermcareinsurance.org/ or (818) 597-3205
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 5
Insurance Continued from Page 5
are lower when clients are younger and usually healthier. Long-term care benefits typically kick in when a person needs help performing at least two of the basic activities of daily living, which include bathing, dressing, eating, transferring to and from a bed or chair, and using the toilet. Long-term care insurance is considered essential for those who can afford it but don’t have the resources to pay for years of future care. Health insurance and Medicare do not cover long-term care needs. Zajdel said the industry average is about $175 per day for skilled care in Indiana, and that amount is often higher in other states, so planning ahead is important. The average long-term care stay was recently at about a year and a half, Zajdel said, which has gone down from more than two years because of an increase of in-home nursing care options. Long-term policies promote home care, Zajdel said, and many seniors want to stay at home as long as possible. If you don’t have long-term care insurance, and your savings can’t cover your expenses, you might have to take your chances with Medicaid, which covers nursing home care for older people with low incomes and limited assets. In most states, Medicaid also pays for some longterm care services at home and in the community. But choices for care through Medicaid will be limited. And qualifying for Medicaid might mean spending down your assets first. For married couples, an increasingly popular option called “shared care” might make long-term care insurance more feasible by providing expanded coverage for less money than would otherwise be the case. Under these joint policies, couples purchase a combined pool of benefits that can be used by either or both spouses. So, buying a three-year shared care policy each gives a couple up to six years of benefits; each buying a five-year policy gives them 10. If one spouse develops a need for extended long-term care, such as from Alzheimer’s or a stroke, he or she could access most or all of the benefits. And if one dies without having used any coverage, the full benefits generally transfer to the surviving spouse. However, shared care is even more expensive than other long-term care policies, so the price is an obstacle for many local families. “The biggest hurdle in this area is not the need,” Zajdel said. “Like any voluntary insurance, cost is a major factor.” He said having some long-term care insurance is better than nothing. “Buy what you can afford and hope it’s sufficient,” Zajdel said. “It’s not cheap when you compare it with home or auto insurance, but it’s a great deal if you have a claim.”
6 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
ADVANCE DIRECTIVES “Advance Directive” is a general term that describes two types of legal documents — a living will and health care power of attorney. These documents allow you to instruct others about your future health care wishes and appoint a person to make care decisions if you are not able to speak for yourself. According to a national survey by The Conversation Project, less than 30 percent of people have discussed what they or their family wants when it comes to end-of-life care. Reid Health offers a free toolkit, checklist, frequently asked questions, living will declaration, appointment of health care representative and physician orders for scope of treatment forms online at www.reidhealth.org/health-services/decide/
Short term care insurance If you can’t afford long-term care insurance, or if you have health conditions that prevent you from qualifying for it, short-term care insurance policies might be an option. Short-term policies will only pay benefits for up to one year. However, almost half of all long-term care insurance claims last one year or less, according to the National Advisory Center for Short Term Care. Short-term care insurance, often called “Recovery Care” because of insurance regulations, helps cover care for illness or injury at a nursing home, an assisted living facility or hospice. Short-term care policies can also cover home health care and adult day care.
Life insurance and family communication For those approaching retirement, life insurance policies are mostly for final expense coverage such as funerals and burials, as well as leaving an inheritance to families, churches or other non-profit organizations. Zajdel said universal life or whole life policies would be most appropriate for retirees. Term life insurance is sold to people of working age to provide the income that would be lost for their families if they died early. The cost of life insurance often depends on the person’s age, health, tobacco use, occupation and hobbies. Zajdel says end-of-life plans are important, and in addition to a will, adults should communicate information about their insurance and other assets to their families. Zajdel said VanVleet asks customers to share basic information with agents about their life insurance even if just their home or auto are covered through their agency. Family members looking for life insurance information after a death usually call where their family member had their auto or home coverage, so that would help facilitate communication, Zajdel said. The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Cambridge City Family Health Partners
NOW OPEN
Convenient C onveniient H Hours our 415 East Main
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Same Day Appointments. Walk-Ins Welcome. Our experienced nurse practitioners, Juli Taylor, FNP-BC, CDME, and Toni Wilcher, FNP-BC, CDME, care for infants, children, teens and adults. We care for acute problems such as the flu or minor illnesses as well as chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. If further specialized care is needed, we provide convenient referrals to specialists at Henry County Hospital or other facilities as needed. They are assisted in the office by Julie Blaase, LPN, and Brandi Jessee, MA. Occupational Medicine services available for local businesses include DOT physicals. The office also will provide sports, school and camp physicals.
Convenient Hours Available With extended evening and Saturday hours we want to make coming to see us more convenient for you.
Most Insurance Accepted We accept Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurance. We participate in HIP 2.0 and Obamacare Marketplace including Anthem, MDWise Marketplace, CareSource, United Healthcare, Ambetter from MHS and Assurant Health.
Henry County Hospital Top 5% in US For Outstanding Patient Experience One of only 204 hospitals to receive this distinction.
MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY 11am - 7pm WEDNESDAY 8am - 5pm | SATURDAY 8am - noon Same Day Appointments. Walk-Ins Welcome. In most cases we can see you the same day you call for an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome; however patients with appointments are given preference.
765.478.4541 • 415 East Main Street, Cambridge City, IN MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 490, New Castle, IN 47362 yourfamilyhealthpartners.org
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 7
NO INSTRUCTIONS NEEDED —
THE HEART KNOWS WHAT
O
TO DO
ur youngest daughter dropped off a suitcase with clothes, jammies and diapers for her 1-year-old who will stay with us when her mommy and daddy go to the hospital to deliver their second baby. Along with the suitcase came a favorite blanket, a stuffed animal—and two pages of typed instructions. This will be our eighth grandchild. It’s not like we haven’t worked this gig before. As they say, “This ain’t our first rodeo.” The instructions begin: “Warning!!!!!” (Five exclamation points.) “She’s FAST!!!!!!!!!!”(Ten exclamation points.) “She loves cords, outlets, confined corners, climbing on top of things, eating anything she can pick up with her fingers, running and pulling up on things. She’s strong!” That one only had one exclamation mark. Clearly, the baby momma was losing steam. At nine months, who doesn’t? When we visited our son and daughterin-law after they had their second baby, we saw that our daughter-in-law had four LORI pages of handwritten instructions stuck to BORGMAN the refrigerator for her mother who had come to care for their first. I might have laughed too hard then. Now I am getting my just desserts. My instructions included details on filling the sippy cup with Vitamin D milk and bringing the milk to room temperature. Little does she know the tot drank it cold from our ‘fridge just a week ago. But fine, I’ll bring it to room temperature. There is a list of foods she can have: strawberries, blueberries, pieces of string cheese, bits of bread and peaches. And foods that are off limits: grapes, raw veggies, popcorn, soda and juice. I added bourbon and Chex Mix to her list to see if she catches it later. I read my instructions thoroughly, especially the ones about “Send LOTS of pictures!!!!!” and the one that said, “Please go in after 10-15 min. if she’s crying and try rocking her or holding her upright (like a hug position) to help her fall asleep.” I realized she didn’t write these because
8 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
she thinks we’re inept. She wrote them because she’s apprehensive. She’s worried about leaving a 13-month-old who might not understand why. She’s worried her little one might think Mommy and Daddy are not coming back. (Believe me, Grandma will make sure that they do.) But there’s something else between the lines. She’s fielding a question every mother asks with her second. If you love your first one so very much, where does more love come from for yet another? Oh, sweet Baby Momma, the human heart was made pliable. It was made to bend and stretch and grow with the seasons, like a tree that sprouts a million new buds every spring. You have a deep reservoir of love. It’s bubbling in your heart even now. A mother’s promise: Your babies will be fine and so will you!!!!!!!!!! Lori Borgman is an Indiana columnist, author and speaker. Contact her at lori@loriborgman.com.
4 APPS HELP KIDS COMBAT
BULLYING, DRUGS
Parents and grandparents should also consider equipping kids with the right apps for a new school year. Nearly three-quarters of teens own smartphones, and 25 percent of those reported being “online constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center. This makes clear that back to school for adolescents today involves more than backpacks and notebooks—it’s about tech. Of course, with new technology come risks. Parents are all too aware of possibilities for online bullying and the ability to send graphic images. But rather than avoid smartphones altogether, there are applications available that can actually help teens navigate the challenges and tough conversations they face—both digitally and in the real world. Below are four examples of free apps that can help your child with obstacles AMANDA they may come up against such as bullyPARDUE ing, drug and alcohol abuse and sexting. All are available for iPhones and Androids.
Bully Alert Made for students by students, Bully Alert informs school leadership of bullying as it happens. Today, only 20-30 percent of students who are bullied tell a teacher or family member. With the app, teens can choose their school and electronically alert teachers and counselors when they or someone they know is getting bullied. The app also helps adolescents identify bullying warning signs, features tips about bullying, shares online resources by trusted experts, and offers conversation starters about bullying and the ability to share their stories on social media platforms.
It’s better than Mom used to make. Not that she’ll ever admit it.
Southern Dill Potato Salad Recipe Ingredients: 10 unpeeled red potatoes 5 hard boiled eggs ¾ cup sour cream ¾ cup mayo 1 tbsp cider vinegar 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
½ white onion, finely chopped 1 stalk celery, finely chopped 1 tsp celery salt Salt and pepper to taste 1 tbsp Dried Dill Weed
Directions: 1. Place potatoes in large stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until potatoes are cooked through, but still firm. About 20 minutes. Remove from water and cool, then cut into chunks. 2. In a bowl combine sour cream, mayo, vinegar, mustard, onion, celery, celery salt and salt and pepper. Mix well. 3. Stir in potatoes and eggs and then sprinkle dill over. Combine remaining ingredients and chill for 4+ hours.
To get a small taste of just how good living here can be, call today to schedule your personal tour.
Send This Instead Send This Instead uses humor as a strategy to change the subject of a serious epidemic facing adolescents— sexting. It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of teenagers have posted or sent sexually suggestive messages. Instead of being pressed in an already tense situation to come up with an excuse not to send an explicit image, teens can send one of the many hilarious screenshots found on this app to defuse the situation.
765-966-5705 Richmond, IN
765-529-5796 New Castle, IN
Smokerface Need a good resource to prove smoking is a bad idea? Smokerface shows the short-term and long-term effects of cigarette use on your face. The app was developed for 10-15 year olds but can be used by anyone. Just download the app, add your photo and see what a nicotine habit can do. Once kids visualize the dark side of smoking, they’re less likely to light up. See APPS, Page 10
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 9
CELLPHONE CONTRACT FREEBIES
YOU AREN’T USING KIM KOMANDO USA Today
Y
ou probably pay a pretty penny for your cellphone plan. And when you’re spending dozens or hundreds of dollars a month, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. If you look deep into the cellphone contract you signed or read your company’s data plan extras, you’ll start finding free stuff you might not be taking advantage of. Keep reading to find out some of the goodies I’m talking about.
AT&T Every AT&T subscriber gets free stuff, but the juiciest freebies come with AT&T’s Mobile Share Value Plans. That’s a pretty broad mix-and-match plan starting about $40 a month for a bare-bones 3 GB deal with one phone and up to $260 a month for a 10 GB
family package with four smartphones. If you’re a Mobile Share customer, you get free stuff like a monthly rollover deal where the data you don’t use rolls over for one more month. You also get free international texting. But the biggest freebie, if having extra storage is something you find enticing, is 50 GB of storage on AT&T’s cloud. What that means is simple: You can securely save loads and loads of photos, videos, music and files online. There’s more. For all AT&T cellphone customers, there’s an especially cool feature if you find it annoying to ask your barista for the coffee shop Wi-Fi password. At Starbucks and retailers including Home Depot, AT&T customers just walk in and are automatically connected to the Wi-Fi. No password, no hassle. » Bonus: AT&T and DirecTV recently merged. This new mega-company is offering a pretty great deal to save you cash. For a limited time, $200 a month gets AT&T customers DirecTV and a 10 GB data package with unlimited talk and text on four phones. Many customers will save $120 a year or more over separate phone and TV bills. Plus, for existing TV customers who switch to AT&T for cellular, the company is offering a $500 credit toward the purchase of new phones.
Sprint Sprint offers freebies to subscribers of its All-In package, which starts at $80 a month and gives you unlimited data and one smartSee FREEBIES, Page 12
Apps Continued from Page 9
Know the Truth Know the Truth provides a resource for kids and adults to learn more about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol. It uses social media platforms to
allow kids to connect to each other while remaining anonymous. This provides them with the freedom to ask difficult questions they wouldn’t normally ask parents or teachers. By providing new ways to educate and start conversations in a format familiar and comfortable with today’s adolescents, parents can better prepare their child for the school year ahead. That’s the app-solute truth!
10 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
Amanda Pardue is regional director of child and family services at Centerstone, a not-forprofit organization providing a wide range of mental health, substance abuse, education, and integrated health services to Indiana residents for 60 years. For more information, please visit www.centerstone.org or call (800) 344-8802.
MAKE TEXT BIGGER, STOP AUTO-CORRECT and there are ways hackers can easily cause fires in above-ground gas storage tanks. With computers in everything, and most industries not thinking as hard as they should about security, nothing is safe.
Q: I love my Android phone, but I keep running into text that’s too small to read. How can I make it bigger? A: Turn on Touch zoom under Settings > System > Accessibility. That lets you triple tap on the screen to zoom in on text or anything else you want to make larger. You can drag the “zoom box� around the screen or use pinch and zoom to make it larger or smaller. When you’re done, simply triple tap the screen to get things back to normal. Q: I recently retired with a comfortable amount in KIM savings and investments, but I’d KOMANDO really like to keep a close eye on it. Any suggestions? A: There are plenty of sites that can help. Personal Capital, for example, combines every scrap of your financials in one place. You can see how much money you’ve spent the past month, and how much money you have in your bank accounts, stocks, IRAs, 401(k)s and other investments. On one page, you can link them and the bills you need to pay to see your net worth, and even get payment reminders.
Q: I have a bunch of old Nintendo video games I want to get rid of. Is it worth it to try and sell them, or should I just toss them? A: Sell them. There’s fast-growing market for vintage video games, and you might have a rare one someone wants. Games like Earthbound, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and other early Nintendo, Sony and Sega titles are going from $25 to $1,800 depending on their rarity and condition. For daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit Komando.com. Email at techcomments@usatoday.com.
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Q: I upgraded to iOS 8 on my iPhone and now when I’m typing it keep filling in words for me, and they’re rarely the ones I want. How do I stop it? A: It’s called Predictive text and it’s supposed to learn what words you want and which ones you don’t over time. Unfortunately, that does mean suffering with it for a while. If you want to turn it off, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and set Predictive to off. Also, if you’re running into problems with your iPhone changing words you mis-type to a completely different words, you can turn off Auto-Correction in the same place.
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Q: What’s the biggest hacking threat you can see for the future? A: Most of the scariest “future� hacking threats are possible right now, from hacked cars and firearms to cloned NFC payment systems and SIM cards. Image your car going into a ditch, a sniper rifle shooting at the wrong target, having your money stolen remotely or someone having complete access to your cellphone information. Then there are warnings that chemical plants are at risk,
ngual drops available eedles
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September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 11
Freebies Continued from Page 10
phone, like Apple’s iPhone 6 (16 GB). The big freebie is free streaming TV using the Sprint TV app. You can stream TV networks like Fox News and TV shows such as “American Dad” and “Access Hollywood.” NASCAR Mobile is also free with any Sprint data plan, which gives you up-close NASCAR action. So up close, in fact, that you’ll hear live radio coverage of races, and you’ll hear and see drivers inside their cars during races. For sports fans, Sprint’s unlimited data plans like All-In offer more free stuff. Namely, NBA Game Time packages that give you free radio coverage of every NBA game. You’ll see stats from the game, and you can watch highlights from games while the players are still on the court. » Bonus: Sprint will pay off your current cellphone contract if you switch to it. Contact Sprint for specific details.
T-Mobile If you do any traveling to Canada or Mexico or have friends and family there, TMobile has an enticing offer: Free calls, texts and 4G data throughout North America. And there’s no roaming charge to use your data. Continent-wide plans are rare, and it’s even available with T-Mobile’s cheapest $50-amonth 1 GB plan. But it’s not T-Mobile’s only free stuff. Other freebies include inflight texting on Gogo-enabled phones and a few non-Gogo phones. That way you can keep tabs on what’s going on at home 35,000 feet below. T-Mobile’s Data Stash feature rolls over unused data to
the next month. However, it’s only available on the 3 GB and 5 GB data plans, and it can’t be used in Canada or Mexico. Also, with any 4G LTE data plan, you get an MLB At Bat subscription free. That includes watching MLB.TV’s game of the day and highlights from other games. Still, free music might be T-Mobile’s most enticing perk. Without eating any of your data plan, T-Mobile lets you stream as much free music as you want from Apple Music, iHeartRadio, Rhapsody and other music services. Plus, if you have TMobile’s Unlimited LTE Plan, which starts at $80 a month for the first phone, T-Mobile throws in a great freebie: Rhapsody’s commercial-free online radio app UnRadio.
Verizon Verizon offers more free stuff than NFL football games, but if you’re an NFL fan, Verizon’s free stuff starts and ends there. It includes live highlights from NFL games on Thursday nights, Saturday nights and Sunday nights. Plus, it includes 24/7 access to watch NFL Network shows and games. Beyond NFL, Verizon also includes the IndyCar app, which airs live radio broadcasts of IndyCar races. Plus, you can hear and see what’s going on in the car, and you can listen to the pit crews. If you’re traveling, Verizon does offer free international texting. However, voice calls and data are still extra. To really enjoy these perks, Verizon plans starting at $60 a month work best. But they come with lower-cost plans as well. » Bonus: Verizon recently ditched its two-year contracts. For daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit Komando .com.
12 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Arts and crafts » Cork and Canvas, 6-9 p.m. Sept. 25 and Oct. 30, Room 912, 912 E. Main St., Richmond. Create a painting with instruction. Offered by Richmond Art Museum. $35. Reservations: (765) 966-0256 » Photography workshop, 9 a.m.noon Oct. 3 and 10, Richmond Art Museum, 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. A two-Saturday program taught by Earlham professor Walt Bistline. Registration: (765) 966-0256 » Basics of Painting workshop for beginners, Oct. 7-9, Richmond Art Museum, 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. A three-day workshop with Indianapolis painter Douglas David. Registration: (765) 966-0256 » Olive Hill Farm Craft Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 2-3, 3331 N. Centerville Road, Centerville, Ind. Large birdhouses, wood pumpkins and grapevine. No admission charge. Rain or shine. (765) 8865216 » Reception and awards for 117th Annual Exhibition of Richmond and Area Artists, 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Richmond Art Museum, 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Exhibit closes Jan. 16. » YWCA Christmas Village, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Nov. 13 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 14, Kuhlman Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds, 861 Salisbury Road N,. Richmond. Admission: Adults, $2; children 12 and younger admitted free. Food available. (765) 966-0538 » Holiday Bazaar, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 14, Preble County Senior Center, 800 E. St. Clair St., Eaton, Ohio. Vendors welcome. (937) 456-4947 » Olive Hill Farm Christmas Craft Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 20-21, 3331 N. Centerville Road, Centerville, Ind. Free admission. Indoors. (765) 886-5216
Food, fundraisers and festivals » Applefest, Sept. 25-27, Jefferson School grounds, New Paris, Ohio. www.newparisoh.com » Birthright walk, 8 a.m. Sept. 26, Community Christian School, 500 Elks See CALENDAR, Page 13
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Continued from Page 12
Road, Richmond. Pledge packets available at 303 S. Sixth St. (765) 962-7439 » Oktoberfest, Sept. 26, Historic Depot District, Richmond. Street fair with arts, crafts, antiques, food, beer garden, music and more. » Fall festival, Sept. 26, Warm Glow Candle Outlet, 2131 N. Centerville Road, Centerville, Ind. Includes arts and crafts vendors. (765) 855-5483 » YWCA Annual Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Oct. 1, Forest Hills Country Club, 2169 S. 23rd St., Richmond. Keynote speaker is LaDonna Gatlin, sister to the Gatlin Brothers musicians, performer, professional speaker and author. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is at 6:30 p.m. with silent auction. Tickets are $50 in advance. Reserved tables for eight are $500. Benefits Genesis domestic violence shelter. Reservations: (765) 966-0538 or visit 15 S. 11th St., Richmond. » Fourth Street Fair, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 3-4, 100 to 500 blocks of South Fourth Street, Richmond. Arts, crafts, antiques, food and more. Free admission. Vendors sought. Booth rental is a fundraiser for Senior Opportunities Services. (765) 962-1010 » Annual Salad Smorgasbord, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 8, First United Methodist Church, 318 National Road W., Richmond. $6 including drink. Four serving lines. (765) 962-4357 » Taste of Wayne County, 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 8, Richmond Square Mall, 3801 National Road E., Richmond. Organized by Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $10 each and will be available beforehand and at the event again this year. (765) 962-1511 or WCareaChamber.org. » Ninth annual Basket Bingo, 6 p.m. Oct. 8, Elks Country Club, 2100 U.S. 27 S., Richmond. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Tickets available at HandIn-Hand Adult Day Care. Food, drinks and snacks available for purchase. For ages 18 and older. (765) 966-0852 » Out of the Darkness Walk, Oct. 10, former Glen Miller Park golf course, 2500 block East Main Street, Richmond. Registration at 9 a.m. with walk at 10 a.m. Raise money and awareness for suicide prevention efforts. (765) 983-8067 or Sarah.mccashland@centerstone.org » Octoberfest, Oct. 10-11, Peace Park, West Alexandria, Ohio. Arts and crafts, food and more. » Haunted Museum, 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 16-17 and 23-24, Wayne County Historical Museum, 1150 N. A St., Richmond. Bring kids dressed in costume for not-too-frightening fun for the family. Admission charged. » Books, Movies, Music and More Sale, 3-7 p.m. Oct. 15, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 16 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 17, Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 N. Sixth St., Richmond. Open to the public. Most items are $1 or less. Stock up on your supply of winter reading. Donated material includes a wide range of CDs, DVDs, videos, puzzles, games, records and fiction and non-fiction books (romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, biography, cooking, education, history, home and garden, self-help, social sciences and more).
Cash and checks accepted. » Black Walnut Festival, Oct. 17-18, Camden, Ohio. » Pork chop dinner, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 17, Centerville-Abington Senior Center, 111 S. Second St., Centerville. $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Includes cheesy potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, dessert and drink. (765) 855-5651. » BRAvo! Signature Event , Oct. 17, Reid Health, 1100 Reid Parkway, Richmond. A fundraiser to help provide free mammograms for area women. » Catholic Women United Salad Smorgasbord, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 23, Seton Intermediate Cafeteria (Holy Family), 801 W. Main St., Richmond. $7 adults, $3 for children age 6-11. Express line and carry-out available. Tickets will be sold at the door. » Make a Difference Day, Oct. 24. It is the largest national day of community service. Register a project at http://makeadifferenceday.com/ and apply for a $10,000 grant. » Smart Futures Dinner, Oct. 29, Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, 1717 S. L St., Richmond. Annual fundraiser for the clubs. Reservations: (765) 962-6922
History » Tales from the Departed, 1-5 p.m. Oct. 3, Earlham Cemetery, 1101 National Road W., Richmond. A walking tour. Several departed residents will be re-enacted at their gravesites. Admission charged as a fundraiser for Wayne County Historical Museum. (765) 962-5756 See CALENDAR, Page 14
SUDOKU PUZZLE
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 13
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Continued from Page 13
Music and theater » Concert featuring Sharron Kay King, 4 p.m. Oct. 3, First Assembly of God, 315 National Road W., Richmond. (765) 960-0756 or (765) 914-6151 » Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Featuring actual stars of shows such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “CATS,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Jekyll & Hyde” performing songs from those musicals and new hit shows. $28 adults, $20 students. (765) 973-3350 or civichall.com » Richmond Symphony Orchestra - Through the Looking Glass, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 17, Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Featuring soloist Andres Cardenes on Philip Glass’ “Violin Concerto,” along with “Leonore Overture No. 3” by Beethoven and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Free youth admission for grades K-12. A single adult ticket is $15. (765) 966-5181 or http://richmondsymphony.org » Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” Oct. 23-24, 30-31 and Nov. 1, Richmond Civic Theatre, 1003 E. Main St., Richmond. Shows at 7:30 p.m. FridaysSaturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Adults, $18; seniors 65 and older and students, $15. (765) 962-1816 or gorct.org » “Curious George: The Golden Meatball,” 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Oct. 29, Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Performed by nationally touring Theatreworks USA. Cost: $2 for students; free admission for instructors. For school groups and homeschool families. Reservations: (765) 973-3350 » Concert featuring Another Round and RHS Choir, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 6, Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. An all-men’s a cappella group from Indiana University Bloomington will perform. Show of Shows is a fundraiser for Senior Opportunities Services. Tickets are $10 in advance at Civic Hall, Augustin Printing and SOS craft shop on South Fourth Street. They are $12 at the door. (765) 962-1010 » “The Exonerated,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6-7 and 2 p.m. Nov. 8, Earlham College, 801 National Road W., Richmond. A Studio 10 production of Richmond Civic Theatre. Based on actual stories of six Death Row inmates. For adults. In collaboration with the Earlham College Theatre Arts Department. $15 for public; included in RCT membership. (765) 962-1816 or gorct.org » Comedy show, Nov. 11, 4th Floor Blues Club, 923 N. E St., Richmond. All of the ticket price goes to local charities. (765) 966-5654 or inconcertrichmond.com. » Concert featuring The Woodsman, 4 p.m. Nov. 14, First Assembly of God, 315 National Road W. Richmond. (765) 960-0756 or (765) 914-6151 » Dallas Brass with vocalist Bryan Anthony,7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380 Hub
14 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Its repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music. RHS band members will perform. $28 adults, $20 students. (765) 973-3350 or civichall.com » Schoolhouse Rock, LIVE!, Jr., Nov. 14-15, Richmond Civic Theatre, 1003 E. Main St., Richmond. Offered by Stage One Youth Theatre. (765) 962-1816 or gorct.org
Hiking, biking and nature » BikeTOURberfest, 8:30 a.m. Sept. 26, Cardinal Greenway, Richmond. Your choice of small, family-friendly course, a 41-mile trek or a 58-mile route with challenging elevations. $30 for adults, $15 for students of any age. Register and park at Wayne County HealthDepartment (North Third and Main streets). http://biketourberfest.com/ or (765) 977-2886 » Full Moon Night Hike, 8:30 p.m., Sept. 26, Hayes Arboretum, 801 Elks Road, Richmond. Gates open at 8 p.m., hike begins at 8:30 p.m. » ArbLeaf trail, open through Oct. 24, Hayes Arboretum, 801 Elks Road, Richmond. Free access to a self-guided walking leaf collecting trail. Leaves from 55 trees may be collected, starting from the Nature Center complex where maps are available. Bring pencil, paper and plan for organizing leaves as they are collected. Selected trees are numbered, marked with orange ribbons and have white signage with orange lettering Gate open until 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and until 5 p.m. Saturdays for this activity. (765) 962-3745 or hayesarboretum.org » American Discovery Trail Hiking Club, meets at various trails located in or near the Richmond area. Hikes are scheduled at 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Locations vary. Schedule: Call (765) 966-2523 or visit hikingrichmondindiana@webstarts.com.
Connections » Love and Respect Conference, 6:30-10 p.m. Oct. 2 and 8:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 3, EUM Church, 1451 Sater St., Greenville, Ohio. Designed to help couples and singles achieve the relationship of their dreams. Video featuring Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs. $20 per person Information/ registration: www.loveandrespect.com. (937) 548-3211 » Women’s Leadership Conference, Oct. 23. Offered by Wayne County Foundation. (765) 962-1638 or www.waynecountyfoundation.org » “One Book, Many Voices” discussion with author Paige Rawl, 7 p.m. Oct. 27, IU East’s Vivian Auditorium in Whitewater Hall, 2325 Chester Blvd., Richmond. Rawl writes about growing up HIV positive and overcoming bullying. Free tickets at iueonebook2015.eventbrite.com.
Trains and automobiles » Car Show, Oct. 2, Historic Depot District, Fort Wayne Avenue and North E Street, Richmond. Free for spectators. » Various train rides, Whitewater Valley Railroad, 455 Market St., Connersville, Ind. Reservations: (765) 825-2054
TRY CHALKBOARD PAINT SARAH COLBURN For Gannett
Chalkboard paint can be used to transform just about anything to a fun, writable surface but Crafts Direct has suggestions for taking the look a step or two further. “It’s so versatile, it’s a simple application and you can reuse it,” said Sarah Maidl, lead of the paint and basics department at Crafts Direct. From furniture applications to painting entire walls or kids’ SUBMITTED playrooms, Maidl has seen it all. PHOTO She said the paint is popular for Chalkboard dressers, which can then be lapaint has a beled, and cabinetry, where the wide range user can write a grocery list or of creative the week’s calendar. uses, Outside of the traditional paint, including Maidl has some ideas for labels. adding to the look: » Use chalk labels (removable and reusable stickers) to label jars and boxes in the pantry or on the counter. Use the labels on Mason jars, sugar and flour canisters, vinegar bottles and homemade wines. » Use the labels on buffet dishes to identify various foods while entertaining. » Paint a large wooden cutting board or a big metal tray with chalkboard paint to create a writable surface for cheeses. » Paint the base and bottom half of a wineglass so guests can write their name on the glass or simply attach a removable chalk label to the glass. Hint: Use a chalk marker to write the names on drink glasses as chalk may wash off with condensation. » Grab a small framed chalkboard and affix it to storage containers and boxes in your office or desk area using hot glue, or attach a piece of jute to the top and use it like a ribbon to hang the chalkboard. » Use chalk fabric — a black, bendable fabric with a writable surface — to create place mats for home or for kids to use on the go.
» Use chalk fabric to create write-on pillows with fun messages. » Use chalk fabric to make lunch bags, then write a special message on the outside of the bag. » Find a wide picture frame and coat it in chalkboard paint to create a space for a special saying or photo caption. Sarah Colburn is a freelance writer and stay-athome mom who enjoys crafting and decorating. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Email her at Another use for chalkboard paint: On fineartsstcloud@ the base of wine glasses, it provides gmail.com . an option for labeling.
Civic Hall Performing Arts Center Richmond Community Schools and Civic Hall Associates Proudly Presenting Series
2015-2016
Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway… Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 7:30pm Adults $28 / Students $20
Dallas Brass…
Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 7:30pm Adults $28 / Students $20
Swing’n The Holidays featuring The Jive Aces… with special guests The Satin Dolls Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 7:30pm Adults $28 / Students $20
Under The Streetlamp…
Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 7:30pm Adults $32 / Students $24
Jo Dee Messina…
Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 7:30pm
Adults $32 / Students $24
Flamenco Louisville...
Thursday, September 24, 2015 / 9:30am
Curious George: The Golden Meatball…
Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 9:30am & 12:30pm K to 4th Grade
All events, dates and times are subject to change. Order your tickets today! 765-973-3350 www.civichall.com
Civic Hall Performing Arts Center 380 Hub Etchison Parkway Richmond, Indiana 47374
3,
Just think about the possibilities with labels, fabrics, furniture – even wineglasses
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 15
THE
THINKSTOCK
ARIZONA REPUBLIC
FRUITS
OF FALL Season brings apples, pears to height of color, crispness
Apples and pears are never fresher or crisper than right now. Eat chilled as snacks, paired with cheese, and baked in pies and tarts. Or simply pop the fruit into the oven. Roasted fruit comes out slightly puffed, steaming profusely and with juices sweetened by the heat. Roasting naturally deepens the flavor of the fruit and creates a soft, chewy texture. Serve roasted pears and apples topped with cinnamon, maple syrup, honey, ice cream, liquors, caramel or chocolate for dessert. For a savory side dish, drizzle with sherry vinegar or season with thyme or fennel. Pears and apples out of a hot oven also pair well with cheeses, from crumbled goat cheese and blue to ricotta. Stuff with sausage, cranberries or nuts, and serve as a main course. Breakfast? Stuff with oatmeal or granola. Pears and apples can be cut into quarters and roasted, but for a dramatic presentation, roast them whole. Roasting pears or apples whole is relatively simple. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and core the apples to about 1⁄4 inch of the bottom. Peel the skin down from the top about an inch. Arrange in a baking dish. Bake about 40-50 minutes. Whether served sweet or savory, roasting is a practical way to caramelize the natural sugars and bring out the concentrated flavors of the fruits. With its firm, white flesh and sweet flavor, Golden Delicious is considered the all-purpose cooking apple because it retains its shape and mellow flavor. Its skin is tender and thin, so it doesn’t require peeling for most recipes. Red Delicious is suited for snacks only, not roasting. Follow these tips for apples and pears: » Select fruits that are firm and free of bruises and breaks in the skin. » Apples ripen 10 times faster at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator and expect them to last about
16 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
HEALTHY BAKED APPLES WITH MUESLI CRISP 1 apple 1 teaspoon unsalted butter 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1/3 cup muesli 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/3 cup honey or vanilla Greek yogurt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Begin by halving apple lengthwise and scooping out the core (plus a little extra) with a melon baller. Smear butter evenly on apple and sprinkle with brown sugar. Top with muesli and bake for 30 minutes or until apple is just tender but not mushy and the topping is golden. Remove from oven and transfer to serving plates. Dollop with the Greek yogurt and eat immediately. Makes 1 serving.
BAKED PEAR CRISPS 4 whole Bartlett pears 2/3 cup flour 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 6 tablespoons butter, cubed and chilled
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice pears in half lengthwise. To ensure pears lie flat while baking, slice a small piece from the outside of each pear half. The middle of the pear should be facing up. With a melon baller or spoon, scoop out the pear seeds. Place pears onto a baking sheet or into pie dishes. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. With a pastry cutter, cut in butter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Top pear halves with the crumb mixture. Bake for 20 minutes or until the crumb mixture turns golden brown on top. Serve while warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired. Makes 8 servings. Per serving (without ice cream): 206 calories, 9 g fat, 23 mg cholesterol, 2 g protein, 30 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 91 mg sodium, 40 percent calories from fat.
90 days. » Apples are high in fiber, disease-fighting antioxidants and vitamin C. A medium apple has only 80 calories. » Pears, unlike other fruits, improve in texture and flavor after they are picked. » Green and firm pears take four to six days to ripen. Once they turn yellow, they are ready to eat in two to three days. » Ripen on a counter away from sunlight. Once ripe, store in the refrigerator. Pears are high in fiber and vitamin and low in fat. An average-size pair contains 100 calories. Their skins are loaded with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. — Karen Fernau, The Arizona Republic
A FAST, FRESH TAKE ON
CREAMY CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER SARA MOULTON Associated Press
During summer, dinner could be as casual and carefree as a backyard picnic or barbecue. But the start of the school year means a return to at least a slightly more formal sit-down dinner most weeknights. If this shifting of gears is catching you by surprise, consider reaching for some “cheating ingredients” to help you get dinner on the table without a hitch. This delicious chowder recipe makes liberal use of two of my favorite cheating ingredients: store-bought rotisserie chicken and salsa. I’ve never met a rotisserie chicken I didn’t like. They are paragons of versatility. You can heat one up and pretend you roasted it, or shred it and add it to all kinds of recipes, from chilies and sandwiches to salads and soups. During the hectic fall dinner season, I almost always have a rotisserie chicken in the fridge. And when the meal is over, I hold on to all the bones and scraps, stockpiling them in the freezer for that rainy day when I have a little extra time to make a stock. Those bones make a killer stock. Salsa is another ingredient I like to keep handy at all times. An all-purpose condiment that’s replaced ketchup in many households, there’s a salsa these days for every taste: fresh or jarred, mild, medium or hot. And almost all of them are mercifully low in sweeteners. Use the salsa of your choice to set the spiciness of this soup. Fresh corn is not a cheating
AP
Southwestern corn and chicken chowder with tortilla crisps makes an easy evening meal.
ingredient, especially not in August and September. On the contrary, it’s one of late summer’s great stars, built into this recipe not only because it’s absurdly good — try eating freshly picked corn raw right off the cob! — but also because the starch in the corn helps to thicken the broth. Indeed, after you’ve cut all of the kernels off of the cob, you should scrape the cob itself with the dull side of a knife. The milky liquid that results is another soup thickener (as are the potatoes in the recipe). Finally, at the end of the cooking process, I pureed some of the vegetables — the onions, as well as corn and the potatoes — to make the soup creamy without adding any cream. I recommend garnishing this soup with homemade tortilla strips. They’re delicious, a snap to cook up, and both fresher and lower in fat than store-bought tortilla chips. Then again, if you’ve run out of time, use the store-bought baked chips.
SOUTHWESTERN CORN AND CHICKEN CHOWDER WITH TORTILLA CRISPS Start to finish: 1 hour (30 minutes active) Servings: 4 Three 6-inch corn tortillas 2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided 1 ⁄2 teaspoon chili powder Kosher salt 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion 1 ⁄2 pound red bliss or Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 cups fresh corn kernels (or thawed frozen) 4 cups chicken broth 3 cups chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken 1 cup purchased salsa 1 to 2 tablespoons lime juice Chopped fresh cilantro or basil, to garnish (optional)
Heat the oven to 400 F. Arrange the corn tortillas on a baking sheet, then mist them with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine 1⁄2 teaspoon of the cumin, the chili powder and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the tortillas. Using a pizza cutter, cut the tortillas into thin strips. Bake them on the middle shelf of the oven until they are golden and crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside to cool. In a large saucepan over medium, heat the vegetable oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 11⁄2 teaspoons cumin and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add the potatoes, corn and chicken broth, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potato is tender. Transfer 1 1/2 cups of the mixture (mostly solids) to a blender and carefully blend until smooth. Return the mixture to the saucepan, add the chicken and salsa and cook until just heated through. Add salt and lime juice, to taste, and water, if necessary, to achieve the desired consistency. Divide between 4 serving bowls and garnish each portion with some of the tortilla strips and cilantro, if desired. Nutrition information per serving: 400 calories; 110 calories from fat (28 percent of total calories); 12 g fat (2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 85 mg cholesterol; 39 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 34 g protein; 1,140 mg sodium.
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 17
Think it’s too early to start putting the garden to bed? While we have some good growing time left, gradually tackling garden chores starting now means you won’t have to do it all in a rush later. And if we get that heavy snowfall JANE rumored to be MILLIMAN just around the corner, you’ll be doubly happy you have a good handle on things. So what do you need to do? Here’s some advice.
1. Mow, mow, mow
10
4. Tend perennials
THINGS TO DO
IN YOUR
You can continue to cut your grass as long as it keeps growing. But your lawn mower serves another equally important function at this time of the year, and that is for leaf management. Save yourself from all of that pesky raking and just run right over those leaves, chopping them into bits. If there isn’t that much resulting detritus, leave it to decompose on the lawn — this will nourish the soil and make for healthier turf next year. If you still have big piles, use the chopped-up leaves as garden mulch, put them in the compost or use them when constructing a new bed.
GARDEN NOW
Cut back perennials. Do your research on which need it. For example, butterfly bushes and mums fare better if left intact over the winter. Structural plants like ornamental grasses, purple coneflower and sedum will provide more winter interest and food for wildlife if kept intact. So whether to cut those back is an aesthetic choice. But take foxglove. If it has already released its seed and you cut it to its basal rosette, the plant, if not cut back, might not get the message that it’s supposed to be a biennial and give you another season full of flowers next year.
5. Collect seed
You can gather the seeds of scads of annuals and perennials. Save them, share them, broadcast-sow them or donate them to a seed swap or community garden. If you have obnoxious self-sowers like perilla in the garden, try to cut them back before they drop their seed all over the place.
6. Plant bulbs
This project is drop-dead easy. Mark your shape with line-marking paint like the sports turf managers use, cut in deep edges and lay thick sheets of newspaper or cardboard over the grass. Top with chopped leaves, straw (not hay, which contains seeds) or whatever organic materials you have around. In the spring the grass will be gone and — presto — you have a brand new plot, complete with rich, loose soil that you can plant in right away.
It is definitely time to think forward to the spring. A bit of advice from colorblends.com: The correct time to plant spring flowering bulbs is when the ground temperature is about 55 degrees. Don’t feel like poking a thermometer in the soil every few days to check? Watch the family dog. When she starts sleeping in the sun instead of the shade, you’re good to go. This year, try some new bulbs, like species tulips, which tend to naturalize or at least be reliably perennial, or winter aconite, which will reward you with its cheerful golden flowers long before anything else is showing signs of life.
3. Keep planting
7. Protect plants
Fall is for planting. There are a couple of reasons why this is true. The first is that planting in the fall will give you the equivalent of an entire growing season of root establishment. The second is that everything is on sale. You can get some incredible deals on trees, shrubs and perennials at this time of the year. Transplanting is a good idea now, too. But don’t forget: Water, water, water, all the way up until the ground freezes.
Grafted roses should have soil mounded up around their bases (just don’t forget to remove it in the spring). You don’t want to wrap evergreens tightly in burlap — that can cause damage — but you can make temporary burlap fences or box them in loosely. If you’re serious about a tidy appearance, check out the locally owned, made-in-the-USA Shrub Coat (shrubcoat.com), a much handsomer alternative. Also, now’s the time to stock up on a winter protector
2. Make new beds
18 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
spray like Wilt Pruf, which helps keep broad-leafed evergreens from becoming dessicated. (Also, I recently read that it staves off powdery mildew during the growing season — worth a try.)
SUDOKU SOLUITON
8. Bring in houseplants This is sort of obvious, but what may be less so is the timing. You can leave many of them outside until there is a threat of frost. This will ensure that Christmas cactuses, for instance, bloom when they are supposed to. The plants will get the message that it’s almost showtime by being exposed to the naturally occurring shorter days and cooler weather.
9. Take cuttings Some plants are legally protected against propagation, but lots aren’t. Geraniums, coleus and begonias are commonly home-propagated plants. You can buy special foam propagating cubes that make it easy, or try simply putting a piece, inches long, complete with a few nodes (the point on the stem where leaves are attached), in moist sand or just plain old water.
10. Uproot the bulbs Many plants — tuberous begonia, canna, sweet potato vine, dahlia, elephant ear, gladiolas — will sail through winter with proper lifting and storage. Instructions vary, but generally packing the cured rhizomes in very lightly moistened wood shavings or peat moss and stashing in a cool, dark place does the trick. Make sure to check them now and again and discard anything rotten. Not every individual will survive, but it’s better than buying them all new in the spring.
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September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 19
AP
Mosaic stones handcrafted by Chris Emmert, of Eugene, Ore. Emmert has been creating mosaic rocks since 2006.
MAKE SPLASHY GARDEN AND OTHER KEEPSAKES WITH
MOSAIC STONES JENNIFER FORKER Associated Press
A
nn Marie Price taught herself mosaic art, creating intricate designs and portraits with cut pieces of stained glass. Recently, she began balancing her usual large projects with smaller ones: She turns her mosaic touch to smooth stones that she picks up on beachcombing and mountain hikes near her Huntington Beach, Calif., home. Price combines tesserae — mosaic-speak for the glass and ceramic pieces — with other materials, including pebbles, shells and glass beads. On the stones, she keeps the design simple with a single, vivid flower shape, spiral or leaf. The works can be displayed indoors or out. Chris Emmert of Eugene, Ore., creates mosaics on a variety of surfaces, including mirrors and pendants, but primarily enjoys crafting mosaic rocks. Emmert mostly uses Pennsylvania bluestone; it’s dense, flat and can endure both hot and cold weather. That makes it perfect for making garden art and her custommade pet memorial stones. Garden designer Kathryn Boylston also makes mosaic stones. The process may be simple — adhere glass and other
20 | Maximum Living | September/OCTOBER 2015
pieces to the stone with a waterproof, silicone adhesive and then fill in the spaces with grout — but there’s still a learning curve. “Don’t stress on the design. The first one is not going to be your masterpiece,” Emmert advises. Additional tips from these experts: » You can take a class, but the process is also learnable from YouTube videos, each says. » Assemble your supplies and clear several hours for the project. There are few tools: tile or glass nippers and protective eyewear. » Ask for scraps at a stained-glass shop. The glass and variety are great, and it’s less daunting than buying an entire sheet of colored glass Keep an eye on Craigslist for supplies as artists retire. » Accent your work with found objects, jewelry pieces, pebbles, glass beads and more. » Outline simple shapes with a string of small ball chain for a striking effect. » When finished adhering colorful materials, outline the design with painter’s tape, leaving 1⁄8-inch around the piece. After grouting, and before the grout thoroughly dries, remove the tape. This will create a clean grout line. » Use an epoxy grout and you won’t need a sealer to protect stones left outdoors.
MAKE NATURAL CLEANING PRODUCTS Avoid harsh chemicals in your home by using everyday ingredients MISSY KEENAN | Gannett
Mirror, countertop, and shower stall Sustainable living consultant and author Linda Mason Hunter’s book “Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home” offers recipes that are easy to make and feature simple ingredients — baking soda, distilled white vinegar, Castile soap, essential oil and tea tree oil. I added ½ cup distilled white vinegar to two cups water in a spray bottle and cleaned as I would with
LEARN MORE For more information, check out the following resources from Linda Mason Hunter:
any spray cleaner. Hunter said this will keep for months. Toilet: First I sprinkled baking soda in the toilet right from the box, cleaned with the toilet brush, and flushed. Then I poured vinegar in a spray bottle, sprayed that in the bowl, again cleaned with the brush, then flushed. This two-part process takes a little longer, but it’s necessary to prevent a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar — unless you’re hoping to turn your toilet into a volcano for the science fair.
Sink and tub For my sinks and tub, I used a homemade version of Soft Scrub from Hunter’s book. I mixed ½ cup baking soda with enough liquid Castile soap (I used Dr. Bronner’s unscented) to blend into a paste, scrubbed using a sponge, and rinsed well. This is Hunter’s favorite recipe; she said commercial Soft Soap will redden your hands, but her version is very mild.
Mildew remover
» “Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home” (from which the recipes in this article are taken)
I made a spray using a drop of tea tree oil in a cup of water and used it to clean problem areas in my shower. I’ve only used this a couple of times, so I don’t know yet whether it will control mold and mildew long term. But because commercial mold and mildew removers are especially noxious, I plan to continue using this one and am crossing my fingers it does the trick.
» “Three Green Rats — An Eco Tale”
Essential oil air freshener
HER BLOG
Although I don’t like chemical or artificial fragrances, I love a small dose of natural essential oil. I usually buy peppermint-scented spray from Aura Cacia, but it’s pretty expensive at about $7 for a fourounce bottle. I filled my empty Aura Cacia bottle with water, and then added a few drops of peppermint essential oil. It works great — there was no difference from the commercial product.
HER BOOKS » “The Healthy Home”
» The Green Zone, featuring green info and home ecology tips at hunterink.com/blog.
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP WEBSITE » If you want to know what ingredients are in your commercial cleaning products, or any other consumer products, Hunter recommends the Environmental Working Group website at ewg.org.
September/OCTOBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 21
REPLACING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD? KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Keeping your Social Security number card in a safe place is vital to protecting you against identity theft. Never keep it in your purse or wallet — this is the most common way people lose their card. No matter how hard you try to keep track of your important documents, TERESA sometimes they get lost or even stolen. BRACK Getting a replacement Social Security number card is free, but you will have to provide the proper documents to get a new one. Being prepared will save you time at the Social Security office or card center. If you are replacing your card, you will need original or certified copies of the required documents, which include: 1. Proof of citizenship: If you have not already established your U.S. citizenship with us, we need to see proof of U.S. citizenship. We can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship, like your U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport. 2. Identity: We can accept only certain documents as proof of identity. An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying informa-
tion (date of birth or age), and preferably, a recent photo. For example, as proof of identity, we must see your:  U.S. driver’s license;  State-issued non-driver identification card; or  U.S. passport. If you do not have one of these specific documents, or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within ten days, we will ask to see other documents, including a(n):  Employee identification card;  School identification card;  Health insurance card (not Medicare card); or  U.S. military identification card. Remember, you are limited to three replacement cards in a year or 10 in your lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship. What’s more important than having your card is knowing your Social Security number. This is how we identify you, tally your wages correctly, and how we eventually issue you accurate retirement benefits. You might not even need your card for identification purposes if you know and consistently use your correct number. For more information about replacing a lost or stolen card, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. Teresa Brack is Social Security manager in Richmond.
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