Prime Magazine April 2014

Prime April 2014 • Free

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond

Update Your Outdoor Space

Retirees & Taxes: Which States are Lowest? (Part 2) • 3-Cheese Torte • “Flapjacks” in the Garden

River Region Senior Living Just Got Better!

Comfort and Luxury in a Gated Community

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4000 Fieldcrest Drive • Montgomery , AL 36111 For information/schedule a tour call Tonya or Jodi • 334-284-0370 e-mail jhatley@caravitavillage.com www.alcco.com/location/caravita-village April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

April 2014

Table of Contents Editor’s Notes

5

Quick Reads

6

Yard ‘n Garden

8

“Flapjacks” in my garden?

A Gracious Plenty

10

In Every Life

12

Money Wi$e

13

Medicare

14

Social Security

15

Tinseltown Talks

16

Yards of Fun

18

Moving Free

23

Prime Vintage

24

August, GA & The ‘Masters’

26

Crossword & Sudoku

29

Prime Diversion

31

Sweet & savory 3-cheese torte

Occupational therapy Best states for retirees: Part 2

Dental coverage Spring cleaning for your financial plan Back to the ‘Black Lagoon’ From a slimy reptilian creature (from the ‘Black Lagoon’, page 16), to a Flapjack that grows in your yard (page 8), to a Cheesy Torte baked in a Bundt pan (page 10), to finding a low-tax environment in which to retire (page 13), to a phone ‘app’ that helps you lose weight (page 29), our April issue has it all. Or, if not all, at least much of it.

on the cover Whether you hire a landscape designer or do-it-yourself, improving the look, functionality and beauty of your outdoor living space is a pastime that can actually increase the value of your home.

April starts the home improvement seasons for most of us, so get out in the yard, dig, haul, plant, build and enjoy the results.

(Page 18)

Revamp your outdoor space A weight loss ‘App’

Americans take to wine

Couldn’t get in, but had a great time!

DVD Releases for April

Puzzle Answers (Plus Boggle)

32

Calendar of Events

33

Off the Beaten Path

34

Charles Harwell, Green Thumb Nursery, adjusts outdoor lighting fixtures at a Montgomery home.

(Photo by Bob Corley, Prime Magazine.) www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

3

April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Prime

Montgomery

April 2014 Vol. 5, Issue 1

PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Jennifer Bowen, Andrea Gross CONTRIBUTORS Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland, Kylle’ McKinney, Arlene Morris, Nick Thomas, Alan Wallace, David White, Georgia Young PHOTOGRAPHER Bob Corley, Irv Green SALES Bob Corley • 334-202-0114, primemontgomery@gmail.com Wendy McFarland, • 334-652-9080 mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com Prime Montgomery 7956 Vaughn Road, #144 Montgomery, AL 36116 • 334-202-0114 www.primemontgomery.com ISSN 2152-9035

Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2014 by The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC., all rights reserved, with replication of any portion prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed are those of contributing writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Polizos/ Corley Group, LLC. Prime Montgomery is published monthly except for the combined issue of December/January. Information in articles, departments, columns, and other content areas, as well as advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Prime Montgomery magazine. Items relating to health, finances, and legal issues are not offered as substitutes for the advice and consultation of health, financial, and legal professionals.

Consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with financial, medical, emotional, or legal matters. We accept no liability for errors or omissions, and are not responsible for advertiser claims.

Editor’s Note This month Prime begins its fifth year of publishing, a milestone in our eyes.

The way Prime disappears from the more than 270 area distribution points, we know our “birthday” is significant to you, our readers, as well.

When we embarked on this magazine journey in September 2009 (there were several months of planning before the April 2010 issue hit the streets), we had a few notions about the preferences of people making their way through “...midlife and beyond.” We had a pretty good handle on the type of information this demographic wanted/needed to know. It didn’t hurt that we were members of our own target market.

During this publishing journey we’ve learned important lessons. Two, in particular, stand-out: 1) there’s no such thing as an issue with no typos; 2) success breeds imitation.

As longtime print and TV journalists, we’re proud each issue of Prime has served to reinforce our belief that good stories, told without real or apparent bias toward, or influence from, advertisers, continues to guide the publication.

We’re heartened our readers - with their written and verbal comments - recognize and appreciate this difference inherent in Prime.

As we approach our fifth year of publishing, with 44 issues under our belts, five observations come to mind: 1) Readers care about solid information provided in an easy-to-read, visually appealing format and style. Prime’s content is 85% local. It’s about “us,” the people who live here, businesses that succeed here, history that was created here. From stories about Normandale and Eastbrook to the Big BAM music shows, from expert advice offered by our columnists (your neighbors) to 1960s-era Lee/Lanier football games, from articles about our home-grown personalities to the history we commonly share, Prime is quintessentially “us.”

2) The “45+” audience is an important, vibrant, socially and economically active segment of the population, with much to offer, and from which much can be learned.

3) There are more personalities, history, events and organizations worthy of writing about than we’ll ever find time to present to our readers.

4) Former residents still want to know about their hometown, from our subscribers in the neighboring states of Florida, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee, to Faye, living in Hawaii, who recently wrote -- “As a “displaced” Montgomerian, I enjoy getting Prime very much.”

5) Success breeds imitation. At least six additional free publications have sprung up in the River Region since Prime issued its first copy. We’re confident Prime serves its target demographic better than any other free publications in this area, and suggest you take a copy of each and review them as a group. We think you’ll agree Prime is far and away the most reader-centered, entertaining, informative publication in the River Region.

Each year of Prime’s existence we’ve had the honor of receiving national awards for writing, design, photography, and other aspects of magazine production. We did this by telling your stories, by listening to your suggestions for which stories we should tell, and by keeping your interests at the heart of what we do.

Thanks for taking a moment to pick up Prime, and for keeping it in your home and enjoying it each month. We hope to provide you another five - and more - years of journalism worthy of our readers.

Sandra Polizos Editor

If you’re 50+ and on Facebook, become a fan of PRIME Montgomery! www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

5

quick reads

Psoriasis and Inflammation Psoriasis is painful, sometimes disfiguring, and considered an autoimmune disorder caused by over activity in the immune system.

It’s also associated with system-wide inflammation connected to a variety of medical problems, including insulin resistance and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

A new analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Dermatology, based on psoriasis in more than 9,000 patients, ages 25 to 64, linked the severity of psoriasis with the presence and severity of coexisting illnesses (medical co-morbidities).

The analysis found that the more severe the psoriasis, the more likely will coexisting illnesses be present, in-

cluding rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

Past studies have also linked psoriasis to Crohn’s disease, obesity, lymphoma and multiple sclerosis. Source: Johns Hopkins Health Alert (www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/)

How Infants Learn New Words A 19-month-old child can’t tie their shoes or get gloves on the correct hands, but can use words they know, to learn words they don’t know. New research from Northwestern University demonstrates that before infants begin to talk in sentences, they are paying careful attention to the way a new word is used in conversations, and they learn new words from this information in sentences.

For example, if you take an infant to the zoo and say, “Look at the gorilla” while pointing at the cage, the infant may not know what’s being referred to. However, if you say, “Look! The gorilla is eating,” the infant can use the word they know -- “eating” -- to conclude “gorilla” must refer to the animal and not, for example, the swing it’s sitting on.

Many people believe word learning occurs only in clear teaching conditions, such as picking up an object, bringing it to the baby and saying the name of the object. This study showed infants usually hear a new word for the first time under much more natural and complex circumstances, such as the zoo example.

“What’s remarkable,” said senior study author Sandra Waxman of Northwestern, “is it shows how well infants build upon what they do know to build their vocabulary.”

One implication of the study is that infants who hear relatively little language in the first few years may miss critical word learning opportunities that occur in everyday conversations around them.

Source: Northwestern University; Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com) 6

April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Easing “Airplane Ear” The most common medical complaint of air travelers is ear discomfort, the muffled, plugged-up sensation you get during takeoffs and landings. Those with colds, allergies, sinus infections or anatomy that makes them more vulnerable to pressure changes, may suffer pain and even temporary hearing loss.

This is due to unequal pressure between your middle ear and the cabin of the airplane. The eustachian tube, connecting the middle ear to the back of your throat, normally equalizes the pressure. If tube is blocked because of congestion or some other reason, the unequal pressure creates a vacuum, stretching the eardrum.

Pressure changes are felt more intensely during landings.Yawning, rather than just swallowing, activates the muscle that opens the eustachian tube and helps to equalize pressure in the middle ear. Chewing gum may also help.

If you suffer from pain on a regular basis, spraying both nostrils with a decongestant spray or taking a decongestant pill an hour before takeoff and/ or before landing should help shrink mucous membranes and relieve some of the pressure on the eardrum. If pain persists more than a few hours after landing, or your ears still feel blocked, see a doctor to determine if you have an injury or infection that requires treatment.

Source: Johns Hopkins Health Alert (www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/)

Cholesterol Sense Cholesterol is a fatlike substance found in some foods. Our bodies needs some cholesterol, but research suggests eating a lot of foods high in saturated fat is associated with higher levels of cholesterol in the blood, which may increase the risk of heart disease. Try to limit cholesterol to less than 300 mg each day. If your doctor says you need to lower your cholesterol, consider limiting cholesterol in your food to less than 200 mg each day.

Source: National I nstitute on Aging

Self-acceptance One Key To Happy Life Happiness isn’t just a feeling, but something you can practice daily. Some people are better at some 'happy habits' than others. A new survey of 5,000 people by the University of Hertfordshire, UK, discovered that self-acceptance is the one habit corresponding most closely to overall satisfaction with our lives. Ironically, it’s the one habit we practice least. Here are some positive actions to take to increase your level of self-acceptance: n be as kind to yourself as you are to others; n see mistakes as opportunities to learn; n notice things you do well, however small; n ask a trusted friend or colleague to tell you what your strengths are or what they value about you; n spend quiet time by yourself, tuning in to how you feel inside and try to be at peace with who you are.

Source: U. of Hertfordshire, Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com)

www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

7

yard ‘n garden

Flapjack Plant O

by Georgia Young; Photos courtesy Georgia Young; Angus and Celeste (http://angusandceleste.com.au/)

n vacation three years ago in Florida, I discovered a plant at a garden center that would later become my favorite. I liked the shape and color and brought it home, with instructions not to leave it outside in the winter.

In September I brought it in the house and it continued to thrive. It went outside again in March, but it got cold one night and I had to remove the flaps. I just peeled them off and hoped for the best.

It seemed to help, because it grew better than ever that summer.

There was lots of new growth when I dug it up in October and friends started asking for a “piece” of it. I made several pots and brought them in the house, giving a few away while continuing to enjoy the plants over the winter.

Denise Nyland, contributor to the eHow website (www.ehow.com), identifies the plant as Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, also called “flapjack.”

“The name ‘flapjack’,” writes Nyland, “was whimsically bestowed because of the plant’s paddle-like, large leaves that are stacked on top of the another much like a stack of flapjacks. The tropical grows in clusters close to the stalk. The leaves grow upward to minimize sun damage and, if exposed to enough sunlight, form red and pinkish rings around the edges.”

She goes on to identify the plant as a succulent, “...prized for its round, broad foliage ad clusters of unusual tubular flowers.”

The plant is a native of the South African Desert, which, according to research, can grow to a height of two feet with yellow spike-like flowers. My plants are only six-to-eight inches tall, and I haven’t seen any 8

April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

flowers. Maybe this year.

I can’t wait for spring to put them all out and see how many there will be to dig up in the fall.

Georgia Young is an intern with the Capital City Master Gardener Association. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the website, www.capcitymga.org or e-mail capcitymga@gmail.com.

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9

gracious plenty

Impress Your Easter Guests with Savory Cheese Torte M

any people are familiar with tiropitas, the small, triangleshaped, Greek cheese pies made of phyllo dough and filled with delicious feta cheese.Variations of these pies exist in every part of Greece, with islanders, mountain dwellers and city folk all boasting theirs is best. Some are as large as apple turnovers, while others arrive at the table shaped like a large calzone (but much, much better!).

Like those cheese pie variations, this recipe alters the shape of the familiar tiropita but also reduces prep time by eliminating all the rolling and folding.

Best of all, the result remains the same: a unique and delicious treat. Served warm (after the proper time cooling from the oven), or a day later straight from the ‘fridge, this Savory Cheese Torte is both a conversation starter and a delightful and easy revamp of the traditional Greek cheese pie.

10

April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Savory Cheese Torte

1 lb. feta crumbled feta cheese 3 c. cottage cheese 3 large eggs 3 tsp. dried dill 2 T. grated Romano cheese 1/2 t. ground pepper 1 1 lb. box of phyllo, thawed overnight in refrigerator 3 sticks unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine feta cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, dill, Romano cheese, and pepper in a food processor and pulse just enough to combine the mixture well, but leaving the texture still chunky. (This can also be accomplished in a large bowl with a fork.)

Place a sheet of the phyllo over the top of a Bundt pan to cover it. Poke a hole in the phyllo where the center tube is and push the phyllo down into the pan to line it. Do this again with another phyllo sheet, placing it perpendicular to the first sheet. Repeat this process again and again, placing the sheets in a crisscross manner. Work rapidly with the phyllo dough as it dries out quickly, becoming less pliable. The edges of the phyllo dough should hang over the edges of the pan.

Pour the cheese filling into the pan and fold the edges of the phyllo over the filling. With a sharp knife poke lots of holes (at least 25) through the mix and dough to the bottom of the pan. Slowly pour the melted butter over the mixture and dough. Some of the butter will sink through the holes, while some remains on top of the dough and mixture.

Place the Bundt pan on a baking sheet and bake about 75 minutes, or till the torte is puffy and golden brown. Remove the torte and allow to cool in the pan for one to two hours before inverting onto a plate and slicing with a very sharp knife. Served warm or at room temperature.

Drizzle with a little honey if desired. Depending on the size of the slices, this savory dish easily serves 10-12 people.

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11

in every life

Engaging in life activities T

he Institute of Medicine within the National Institutes of Health recommends coordinated “person-centered” healthcare, provided by a variety of healthcare team members. Team members can include nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, pharmacists, respiratory, speech, physical or occupation therapists, alternative health practitioners, social workers, psychologists, nutritionists, or others based on specific needs of the indiArlene Morris vidual.

Although some services may overlap, each healthcare team member provides services within the particular scope of practice for their profession as allowed by state licensing and regulations.

Any of these licensed professionals may delegate portions of care to be completed by assistive non-licensed personnel, although the licensed professional retains the responsibility for assessing and evaluating outcomes of care provided. (Additional information available on Prime’s website.)

Changes that accompany aging may involve decline in physical functioning. Pain, altered mobility or decreased endurance from various chronic diseases can impact a person’s way of doing what is needed for life. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) defines occupational therapy as: “The therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. Occupational therapy services are provided for the purpose of promoting health and wellness to those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction. Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life” (AOTA, 2004).

Although occupational therapy (OT) is an evolving practice, OTs evaluate factors that affect a person’s performance of activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) that are needed for education, work, play, leisure, and social participation, including body functions. During assessment, the occupational therapist determines what is involved in the individual’s life and the ability of the person to carry out the activities required. Based on this information, priorities are determined for intervention.

The OT then plans for the most appropriate interventions to achieve adequate functioning. This may include modification of the environment, revising the manner a task is performed, strategies or exercises to improve function to accomplishment of activities. Like interventions of other healthcare team members, goals should be determined by discussion with the person/family and may involve physical, emotional, psychosocial, or cognitive functions.

Outcomes of the interventions are also evaluated in collaboration with the individual, and then form the basis for any future 12 April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

interactions.

Additionally, each member of the healthcare delivery team communicates with the other team members to promote care that is coordinated throughout all of the professions.

Occupational therapy can be provided in acute care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, community or home settings, in industry, schools or daycare, and in mental health or hospice settings. (Additional information available on Prime’s website. See link below.)

Coordinated, person-centered care by all members of the healthcare delivery team helps promote the highest potential level of functioning, with can increase quality of life.

Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing. Reach her at amorris@aum.edu.

moneywise

Retirement Living On the Cheap

L

ast month we looked at tax considerations that might impact your decision about where to live during retirement. From a tax standpoint the best nine states, in alphabetical order, appear to be: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Wyoming. Tax costs, however, are only part of the story when you compare the cost of residence across Alan Wallace states.

Four significant expense categories besides taxes that vary based on where you live are: housing, healthcare, food, and utilities/energy. In some cases the difference in these can be sizable. Using data from a website called Sperling’s Best Places (www.bestplaces.net), I averaged the results for the three largest cities in each of the states listed above to create an index for comparison. (The results would be somewhat different if other cities were used.)

The biggest difference in cost is often housing. Evidently it runs a lot more in places like Alaska, Wyoming and Delaware than it does in the Southeast. The second biggest cost variance was for healthcare costs.

By far the most expensive state on the list is Alaska. On average it projects 56% higher costs than Alabama. Even Nome, the least expensive of the three cities checked, costs 37% more than Montgomery. The state on the list with the next highest cost of living was Delaware, which was 26% higher than Alabama. Wyoming was the third highest state on the list.

The cost of living there is 15% more than ours. Unless you really like cold weather, these three might not have interested you anyway, but it’s nice to know that by avoiding their severe winters, you also enjoy generally lower costs.

Nevada, the other state on the list outside the Southeast, has the next highest increase vs. Alabama: 12%. While less objectionable from a cost standpoint than Alaska, Delaware or Wyoming, 12% is still a fairly hefty difference. For what it’s worth, I found little in Nevada to attract me during my two visits there. It is mostly desert—lots of beach with no ocean.

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Where does that leave us? Five of the best nine states for retirees from a tax standpoint also have a fairly low cost of living. The overall cost index numbers for these five states, with the percentage increase compared to Alabama, are:

Alabama Mississippi Florida Louisiana Georgia

85.7 88.3 89.7 92.0 93.3

3% 5% 7% 9%

If any of these states is attractive to you for non-financial reasons, like being close to family or living on the beach, taxes and other costs should not be a big deterrent to relocating.

However, you can often learn additional money-savings facts by doing further research yourself. For example, in a major city like Atlanta that covers multiple counties, the tax breaks given to seniors vary greatly by county. A senior in Atlanta may pay over 50% more in property taxes in one Atlanta county than he would if he owned a comparable property just a few hundred yards down the road.

While my method of averaging results for the three biggest cities in each state may provide a fair idea of general cost differences, you can examine the particulars more precisely by using the site mentioned above. Just plug in your current hometown and each alternate location that interests you. The site will give you an array of comparative cost information. In addition, you can use it to compare crime statistics, economic information, local demographics and weather. Although similar websites exist, Sperling seems to have data on more locations than the others.

Next month’s column will look at the next steps in evaluating alternate locations for retirement. Until then, happy planning.

Alan Wallace, CFA, ChFC, CLU is a Senior Financial Advisor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery office, www.ronblue.com/locational. He can be reached at 334-270-5960, or by e-mail at alan. wallace@ronblue.com. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

13

lifestyle

Marci’s Medicare Answers April 2014 Dear Marci, Does Medicare ever cover dental care?

— Betsey

Dear Betsey, For the most part, Medicare does not cover dental care by law. In general, Medicare does not cover routine dental care or dental care that you need primarily for the health of your teeth. For example, Medicare will generally not cover routine checkups or cleaning.

However, Medicare will pay for dental services in very limited circumstances if the services are required to protect your general health or if you need dental care in order for a Medicare-covered health service to be successful. For example, Medicare will pay for dental services if: n You have a disease like oral cancer that involves the jaw and you need dental services for radiation treatment; n You need dental splints and wiring as a result of jaw surgery; or n You need surgery to treat jaw or face fractures.

Note that while Medicare may pay for initial dental services for the reasons mentioned above, Medicare will not pay for any follow-up dental care after the underlying health condition has been treated. For example, if Medicare paid for a tooth extraction as part of a procedure to repair a facial injury you had, Medicare will not pay for any other dental care you need in the future due to the loss of your tooth.

Keep in mind that some Medicare Advantage plans may cover limited dental care, depending on the plan’s specific benefits. If you get your Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan, contact your plan to see what dental services may be covered

— Marci Dear Marci, I cannot afford to pay the $104.90 Medicare Part B premium each month. I was told by a social worker that while I do not qualify for Medicaid, I should apply for a Medicare Savings Program.

What is a Medicare Savings Program?

— Roman

Dear Roman, A Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is an assistance 14

April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

program that can help pay your Medicare costs if you have limited finances. MSPs can help pay your Medicare Part B premium, which is the amount you pay each month to have Medicare medical insurance. It may also pay other Medicare costs, depending on your income.

To qualify for an MSP, you must have Medicare Part A, the part of Medicare that covers most inpatient and hospital care, and meet your state’s income and asset eligibility guidelines. MSP eligibility limits vary by state, so you should contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or local Medicaid office to find out whether you qualify for an MSP.

— Marci

Marci's Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center, the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for Medicare recipients. Visit www.medicarerights.org to subscribe to “Dear Marci’s” free educational newsletter.

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social security

Dust Off Your Financial Plan S

pring is officially here. Before you get started with your spring cleaning, perhaps another matter deserves some dusting off—that long-term financial plan.

April is National Financial Literacy Month— the perfect time to Kylle’ McKinney spring into action when it comes to planning your financial future. If you already have a plan, this is a great opportunity to take another look at it and make sure you’re still “on track” to reach your financial goals.

According to a 2013 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the past few years have seen a sharp decline in Americans’ confidence about their retirement savings. Only 13 percent of workers feel very confident about having enough for a comfortable retirement, and 28 percent are not at all confident.

More than half of workers have less than $25,000 in total savings and investments. Twenty-eight percent of workers have saved less than $1,000.

If you haven’t begun saving for retirement, now is a good time to start—no matter what your age. If retirement is near, you’ll want to jump into the fast lane right away. If you’re younger and retirement seems a lifetime away, it’s still in your best interest to begin saving now. Here’s how much the magic of compound interest will work to your advantage.

A 25-year old who begins saving $100 a month and earns a modest 5 percent interest will have more than $150,000 at age 65. Save $200 a month and you’re looking at more than $300,000. Experts agree that saving when you’re young will make a world of difference

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when the time comes to draw on your retirement savings.

Don’t just take our word for it.You can check out the numbers yourself. A great way to start figuring out how much you will need for retirement is to use Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator, which offers an instant and personalized estimate of your future Social Security retirement benefits based on your earnings record. Try it at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

We encourage saving for retirement, but there are reasons to save for every stage of life. A great place to go for help is www.mymoney.gov (the official U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching Americans the basics of finances.) Whether you are looking for information about buying a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401(k) plan, the resources on www.mymoney.gov can help you.

The Ballpark Estimator at www.choosetosave.org/ ballpark is another excellent online tool. It makes complicated issues easy to understand, such as projected Social Security benefits and earnings assumptions on savings.

If you have to choose between scrubbing down the house or scrubbing your budget to get your financial house in order, we recommend putting off the cleaning one more day. Get started on planning your future right now at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached in Montgomery at 866-593-0914, ext. 26265, or by e-mail at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.

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Find us on Facebook at All-EARS-Hearing-Centers. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

15

tinseltown talks

Return to the Black Lagoon

By Nick Thomas

H

ow much mileage could a studio expect from a 1954 film starring a biologist with a fascination for a secluded fishpond? Six decades worth, when the scientist was beautiful Julie Adams wrapped in a skin-tight white latex bathing suit and the fish turned out to be an angry piscine amphibious humanoid – aka “Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

Premiering 60 years ago this year, the continued interest in the now cult film continues to astound Adams who, at age 87, remains a popular guest at fan conventions and film festivals across the country. In March, she appeared at the Williamsburg Film Festival,Va., (see http:// wff5.tripod.com).

“It’s amazing the life this movie has,” said Adams, from her Los Angeles home, who portrayed scientist Kay Law-

Julie Adams and the Black Lagoon’s “creature” shared the bulk of the screentime in this 1950s science fiction classicturned cult favorite. Fan events (right) find Adams and the “creature” still sharing the spotlight. Adams and Jimmy Stewart (bottom right) starred together in his shortlived TV series.

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

rence abducted by the infatuated Gill Man towards the end of the creature feature. “It’s a classic beauty and the beast story, with stunning underwater photography filmed at Wakulla Springs, Florida, because of its clear waters. The lagoon scenes were shot at the Universal Studios backlot where ‘Gilligan’s Island’ was filmed.”

Underwater, Adams was doubled by Ginger Stanley, while Ricou Browning donned the rubber creature suit for swimming scenes. On land, the creature was played by Ben Chapman.

“Ben began going to fan conventions in the 1990s and convinced me to attend my first one in 2003,” Adams said.

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“It’s wonderful to meet so many people who still enjoy your work.”

In 2011, the Arkansas-raised actress self-published her autobiography, “The Lucky Southern Star: Reflections from the Black Lagoon,” coauthored with her son, Mitch Danton. The book contains some 200 photographs, many unpublished from her personal collection, with a chapter devoted to the Black Lagoon. Of course, the Creature wasn’t the only biped Adams costarred with during her career.

Adams received top billing with less scaly characters including William Powell, Glenn Ford, Charlton Heston, Elvis Presley, Rock Hudson and many others (see www.julieadams.biz).

One of her favorite co-stars was Jimmy Stewart, with whom she appeared in “Bend of the River,” two years before the Black Lagoon. Two decades later, she reunited with Stewart in 1971 for the “Jimmy Stewart Show.”

However, critics and audiences were not so enamored with the series, which was cancelled after the first season.

“It was quite a charming show, but came out the same time as more edgy sitcoms like ‘All in the Family,’” said Adams, who still remembers it fondly. “My idea of heaven was going to work with Jimmy Stewart every day for six months!”

Unlike the little-remembered TV show, “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” continues to gain fans from new generations.

“Some projects just take on a life of their own,” says Adams.

“The Creature still walks among us.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, and has written features and columns for more than 400 magazines and newspapers. He can be reached at his blog: http://getnickt. blogspot.com.

832-1907 • www.taoist.org www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

17

feature

Jeff Sweeney, Home Depot (above), looks over some recent arrivals. Charles Harwell, Green Thumb Nursery (top right), adjusts the timing on an irrigation system. Sonny Hodges, Southern Homes & Gardens Landscaping (bottom right), studies plans for a landscape upgrade.

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Upgrades

by the Yard

By Jennifer Bowen Photos by Bob Corley

I

f the arrival of spring has you itching to spend more time outside, making landscaping improvements can give you a reason to indulge your spring fever while increasing your curb appeal. Landscaping is a project that typically appreciates in value.

If you’re considering a move, the front yard is the first impression buyers have of your home.

“Good landscaping can easily add 15 percent to a house. And in a lot of cases, more than that,” said Sonny Hodges with Southern Homes and Gardens Landscaping.

“When plants are installed, they then become part of the property value,” Hodges said. “That plays into the neighborhood. Few people realize when they’re doing something around their home, they’re making their neighborhood and community more valuable.”

Depending on your budget and how much time you want to spend, a landscaping project can be as easy or challenging, as dramatic or sedate, as you want it to be.

“We have people who say ‘I want no maintenance.’ Well, there’s no such thing,” said Hodges. “You’re going to have to fertilize it, water it, prune it.You may have to spray it. There’s criteria that has to be worked into every project.”

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer on a budget, popular spring projects such as pruning or replacing overgrown shrubs and planting flower beds are easy ways to enhance beauty without spending lots of money. Investing $100-$300 on common items like soil, mulch, bulbs and trees, can go a long way. It starts with simple soil preparation.

“Our soil is not good so [people] need to know that up front,” said Charles Harwell with Green Thumb Nursery.

To enrich that not-so-good soil, add www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

19

some quality potting soil to your existing soil, building a foundation for growth.

“Typically everything will be better if the bed is built up and planted higher. That’s the biggest tip, to not plant anything down in the heavy clay soils we have,” Harwell said. “If you can mix some (potting soil) in, the roots can go from good soil to semi-good soil to the not-so-good soil.”

Adding mulch around flowers reduces weed growth and retains moisture, lessening time spent weeding and watering. For a pop of color, consider a flowering tree that grows well in Alabama’s soil and climate.

“There seems to be a stronger trend going back to camellias for the larger plants to have some color as well as some green,” said Harwell. “Hydrangeas are really big for color for sun and shade, since we have some that will work in full sun and some that work in shade.“ Crepe myrtles, he says, are the easiest flower tree to grow. One that does not grow well in Central Alabama is the dogwood.

“Everybody wants them,” Harwell said, “but we try to discourage dogwoods.”

A popular feature for those looking to create a backyard gathering space is a fire pit, which can be as simple as a sand foundation with flagstone bricks stacked in a circle two to three feet high, overlapping the seams on each level. “[It costs] all told, probably about $130 and you can have it

Landscape & irrigation design & installation.

Residential, commercial, new or renovations.

for years to come,” said Jeff Sweeney with The Home Depot. “It’s very simple; not hard to do.”

Check local codes on fire pits and build them on concrete or dirt, never on a flammable surface. Build away from structures and trees and always have a garden hose nearby.

For those seeking a do-it-yourself challenge, consider a brick walkway.

Be warned -- this project is labor intensive. It starts with digging out just enough sod to create a flat foundation, then filling in the area with gravel and sand, tamping them down for a compacted surface. Lay your brick and add a border to ensure everything stays put. Sweeney estimates a four foot by 40 foot walkway would cost around $4.85 a square foot.

“Usually a contractor will be around three-and-a-half times that amount to do that,” Sweeney said.

“There’s considerable savings there. We’ll be able to show them how to get a correct measurement and keep their costs down based on what they’re trying to do.”

Starting at $500 and up, professional landscapers can turn your yard into a personal canvas, extending flower beds and reshaping them for a more appealing design. They can also save you from making costly mistakes by putting things in the wrong place without considering where sunlight falls during the day (and during different seasons), distance from the house, tree locations, etc., all of which come into play with any landscape project.

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

their shrub beds across the front of the house,” said Harwell.

“Removing the plants, installing new plants, it just depends on how elaborate they want to do. The more elaborate jobs, we may spend upwards of $10,000. Most of the time, when people see the difference, they want to do more.”

Results will vary depending on the plants you choose and the size of your yard. For many, landscaping becomes as much a project of passion as it is of value-increasing practicality.

“Well over half our customers are repeat customers who continually work on their yards,” Harwell said. “They spend a couple thousand this year, $1,000 next year, $5,000 the next year. As they have money, they call us and tell us to do some more.”

If the budget is no issue, go big with an outdoor entertaining space.

“The number one trend we see right now that people are asking for or have questions about is outdoor living,” Hodges said. “That would include seating, eating areas, basically outdoor rooms. That can be a paved surface, an eating area, a hot tub.”

Ethel Boykin, owner of Art In The Garden, agrees.

“I’m getting a lot of requests for fire pits, patios, seating areas, even outdoor kitchens,” she said. “What could be more fun than sitting around a fire with grandkids roasting marsh mellows and telling stories.”

Hodges estimates you can create an outdoor extension of your home with features like furniture and hammocks, even

the possibility of a pond, for $10,000-$20,000. While that may seem like a lot of money, Hodges says much like an indoor renovation, outdoor improvements are an investment not just in your personal happiness, but in your home.

“Usually they say a bathroom or kitchen is anywhere from $10,000-$20,000 on average to remodel,” he said.

“The difference with what we do is it appreciates in value.

With a kitchen or bathroom, you’ll get 50-75 percent of that cost back if you sold the home. With landscaping … you start off with a smaller investment and it gets more valuable as it ages.”

Boykin sees an added bonus with an outdoor living space that includes a patio area of brick, stone or stamped concrete -- less maintenance.

“Maintaining a patio can be as simple as sweeping off the leaves in the fall,” she said.

Boykin estimates an outdoor space with patio, fire pit and seating areas can cost from $4,000 to $12,000.

To save money on any landscaping project, consider less mature trees and flowers.You’ll pay more for fully developed plants.

“With plants, you buy time with money,” Hodges said. “A plant that’s bigger, you’re buying the time it took, the fertilizer and water to get it to that size.You’re buying time, essentially.”

No matter what your budget, Harwell has one simple tip just start somewhere.

“Every budget can make a difference.”

Ethel Dozier (top left) of Art in the Garden, measures a gate preparing for an upgrade. Landscape plans (bottom left) from Southern Homes & Garden Landscaping, detail plants and trees to be installed. Jeff Sweeney (below) shows off one of Home Depot’s fire pits.

www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

21

When to seek help with your outdoor project Alabama soil can take its toll on your back.

T

need to get the job done.

Consider getting help with projects that require a lot of digging.

Alabama soil can take its toll on your back.

Building patios and decks are labor and time intensive and require a certain amount of skill, not just with a hammer and saw, but with design.

You can end up spending more money learning from mistakes than you would have spent hiring a professional.

The key is knowing your limitations and being honest about them.

“Some people have the want and need to do something,” said Sonny Hodges, SH&G Landscaping, “but they don’t have the knowledge or time or physical capability, because it’s hard work. Digging a hole anywhere in this town is difficult.”

he hosts of HGTV make outdoor renovation projects look easy, but they require some skill and effort.

When considering if it’s time to call in a professional, ask yourself a few questions: 1) Do I have the knowledge and skills needed to accomplish this project?

2) Is it worth my time and effort?

3) Can this project potentially lead to injury?

4) Can I do damage Year of Alabama Parks to my house or yard by attempting this myself?

For projects bigger than planting a few perennials, it may benefit you to call in help. At the very least, it helps to run your plans by a Readings & book signings by a variety of regional and professional and seek national poets & authors including Mark Victor Hansen their advice, even if you (Chicken Soup for the Soul), Cassandra King, Sena intend to go it alone.

Jeter Naslund, Wendelin Van Draanen, and Stephanie A pro can tell you Perry Moore. Plus free writing workshops, exhibitors whether your budget (including Amos Kennedy) & children’s activities. realistically fits your project and give guidalabamabookfestival.org • 9am to 5pm • Old Alabama Town ance on the tools you’ll

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

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Whether 5 pounds or more than 50, losing weight is a constant struggle for most of us. We’re all looking for anything to keep us on track. One of the most effective, tried and true, weight loss aids is a diary.

You eat something, you write it down.

You do a half hour of cardio exercise, you write it down.You want to know how many Mirabai Holland calories in a handful of peanuts, dig out your calorie book, look up “handful of peanuts and write it down. It works, but it’s colossal pain in the neck! Well, now there’s an app for that.

Using an app puts the info you’d be struggling to write down at your fingertips. And the better apps make it really easy. They’re not scary at all!

You put in your email and your password, tell it whether you are male of female, and enter your height, your age, how much exercise you do, your current weight and your goal weight. Then, you set your weight loss plan.

You tell the app how much weight per week you want to lose. The app tells you how many calories you’re allowed to eat each day.You can log in and find out how many calories in that handful of peanuts, that piece of cake, that glass of wine.You list everything you eat during the day and any exercise you do.

The app keeps a running tally and tells you how many calories you have left that day. It really helps to know you can have either a chocolate moose or turkey sandwich. It helps you choose the turkey sandwich by giving you the nutrients in various foods.You can also pick portion size and store your favorite foods so you can log them in quickly.

There are dozens of apps available for your computer, tablet and smart phone. Some cost a few bucks, but many are free.

Here are a couple of apps I like. The basic apps are free.You can pay for premium versions but I’m using the free versions and they’re enough for me. The functions of both of these are similar but some people prefer one layout or the other. Check them out and take your weight loss high tech. www.loseit,com www.myfitnesspal.com Mirabai Holland M.F.A., an authority in the Health & Fitness industry and a public health activist, specializes in preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Her to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience that doesn't feel like work. She can be reached at askmirabai@ movingfree.com, or through her website, www.mirabaiholland.com. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

23

prime vintage

Thirsty for Wine Exploration

By David White "The wine world is a big, fabulously diverse place, and arguably the greatest pleasure that oenophilia offers is the pleasure of discovery -- of finding new grapes, regions, and wines."

These words appear in The Wine Savant, a new book from Michael Steinberger, the former wine writer for Slate and a current columnist for Men's Journal. And he's right. The pleasure of discovery is what drives wine enthusiasts. Those of us who obsess over wine aren't just looking for something tasty; we're looking for an experience. This concept is firmly taking root in America's wine culture, and it belies the notion that Americans are intimidated by wine.

Books with titles like "Wine For Dummies" and "Great Wine Made Simple" line bookstore shelves. The media perpetuates this assumption, eagerly reporting on every study that "proves" oenophiles are full of baloney. But the numbers tell a different story.

New data from the Wine Market Council, an independent, nonprofit trade group, show that Americans are increasingly comfortable with wine. And we're thirstier than ever before.

Last year, the nation consumed 297 million cases of wine, a 27 percent increase from just ten years ago.

From the upscale wine bar to their local 7-11, consumers can now purchase wine from more than 522,000 different outlets. Across consumer goods with more than $1 billion in annual sales, only wine, coffee, and snacks have

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

“Last year, the nation consumed 297 million cases of wine, a 27 percent increase from just ten years ago.�

experienced consistent growth over each of last five years, in both dollars and volume.

For more evidence of America's wine confidence, look no further than your closest grocery store. Thirty years ago, the local market sold little more than jug wine like Gallo's Hearty Burgundy -- if wine was even stocked. Today, the average upscale supermarket carries 1,500 wine selections or more. The number of breakfast cereals pales in comparison. Specialty wine shops also illustrate how the wine market is changing.

Across the country, boutique retailers are filling their shelves with interesting, small-production wines -- and helping consumers learn.

More and more wine bars are also sprouting up, providing opportunities for people to explore. High-end restaurants have responded to the nation's self-confident wine culture by changing their approach entirely. Whereas sommeliers were once glorified sales agents who intimidated guests by pushing expensive, predictable wines, today's sommeliers are wine educators, eager to share their passion and palates.

This list could go on. The nation has clearly embraced wine.

The United States is still a nation of beer drinkers, of course.

Of every dollar spent on alcohol, $0.49 goes toward beer.

But wine is catching up. In 2002, six in ten alcoholic beverages consumed were beers. Today, it's one in two. Unsurprisingly, a

recent Gallup survey found Americans are equally divided between beer and wine when asked which they drink most often.

Even though Baby Boomers spend the most money on wine, millennials are driving the market. This generation of consumers -- those between 20 and 37 -- already makes up 30 percent of drinkers. And its participation is having a profound impact, as millennials take great pleasure in discovery.

In fact, the Nielsen survey asked consumers to react to the following statement: "I love to keep ahead of what's happening. I love trying new things. I often tell others about them." And more than any other generation, millennials agreed. It's no wonder that millennials "frequently" purchase wine over $20 per bottle and are more willing than Boomers to purchase imported wine.

Today's wine drinkers are an adventurous bunch, confident in their own palates and willing to explore the unknown. As the purchasing power of millennials increases, more and more Americans will pursue the pleasure of discovery.

David White is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com, which was named "Best Overall Wine Blog" at the 2013 Wine Blog Awards. His columns are housed at Grape Collective.

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feature 26

April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

The Masters On and Off-Course Story By Andrea Gross Photos By Irv Green

M

y husband is being accosted by a burly man in a guard’s uniform. I’m standing across the street, and I see the man point his finger toward the corner. My husband starts to say something. The man steps closer. I hold my breath, but my husband tightens his hold on his camera, turns and walks away. Quickly.

And that is as close as either of us gets to the hallowed grounds of the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters® Tournament, one of the country’s most prestigious sporting events.

We know before we arrive that we won’t be able to get on the course. To do that, you have to be very important, very rich or very lucky. (Winners of a random drawing are allowed to purchase tickets.) But we did think we might be able to peek through the gates and glimpse the clubhouse, or at least some green grass. Evidently not.

The Masters, held each year during the first full week in April, is a highly secretive business. There are no tours of the course, not even when it’s empty. For that matter, the famed pimento sandwich — a cheesy concoction spread between two slices of white bread — can only be purchased at the tournament.You can’t even find an official recipe, although many have tried to duplicate it. They’ve come close but, say those who’ve tasted the authentic sandwich, they haven’t

“mastered” it completely.

But my husband isn’t one to give up easily. If he can’t walk the course where the Masters is played, he’ll walk in the footsteps of the one who co-created and designed that course, renowned golfer Bobby Jones. Thus we head to Forest Hills Golf Course where, in 1930, Jones began his historic Grand Slam, winning four major tournaments in a single calendar year.

Forest Hills, like many courses in the area, is open to the public, thus allowing amateur golfers to breathe the same rarefied Augusta air as that inhaled by the masters of the Masters.

Most of these golf greats have eaten at Luigi’s, reputedly the best place in town for a “golfer sighting” as well as a terrific place for Greek and Italian food. Jack Nicklaus and his family often order a take-out box for their plane ride home, and Ben Crenshaw makes it a point to stop by whenever he’s in town.

Our last golf-related stop is the Augusta Museum of History. We walk into the rotunda where we’re greeted by life-size statues of five legendary golfers. Upstairs we see a green jacket, representative of those given to the winners of the Masters, and learn more about golf’s importance to Augusta’s economy. For example, 80 percent of the golf cars in the world are made in Augusta.

While my husband continues to

www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

27

ogle golf memorabilia, I go to an adjacent room to learn about Mr. James Brown, who lived in Augusta as a child.

Excellent displays trace Brown’s life from his early days as a shoeshine boy to his later years when he became the “Godfather of Soul.” Now two of Augusta’s most frequented sites — the historic downtown district and the recently-built riverwalk park— are joined by a thoroughfare named James Brown Boulevard.

Woodrow Wilson also spent much of his childhood in Augusta, and the two-story brick home where he lived is just a few blocks away. During the Civil War the young Wilson could look out his bedroom window and see the hospital grounds where wounded soldiers awaited medical care. Many people think this experience explains his reluctance to involve the U.S. in WW I. By the time of the Civil War, Augusta was a thriving industrial center, largely due to the Augusta Canal, which provided power for plants and factories.

We stop at the small but immensely

informative Canal Interpretive Center before boarding an open-air boat for a narrated cruise down the waterway.

It’s a leisurely ride that winds past old homes, mills and warehouses, all reminiscent of Augusta’s glory days.

While the canal is still being used for its original purpose, other things have changed. The waterfront and downtown areas are being revitalized as many of the old buildings, which had been empty for years, are being converted into classy galleries and trendy eateries.

We end our stay in Augusta by devising our own Pimento Tasting in hopes of discovering a cheesy delight that’s as good as the one used on the sandwiches sold at the Masters. We immediately notice one difference: The downtown restaurants serve their pimento mixes with toasted pita points or crostini rather than atop squishy white bread. But there’s also a similarity: They’re all sinfully delicious.

As we’ve learned, there’s more to Augusta than the Masters. www.VisitAugusta.com

Downtown Augusta (above). Woodrow Wilson’s boyhood home (below).

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

games CROSSWORD CLUES ACROSS 1 Ski area helpers 6 Finish line?

10 Equal to the task 14 "Live Free __": New Hampshire motto 15 Some are easily bruised 16 Sound of laughter 17 RATS 20 "Friendly skies" co.

21 Garr of "Mr. Mom" 22 "My place or __?"

23 SHUCKS 27 Unspecified amount 28 One of the Seven Sisters schools 32 Joe's sister in TV's "Under the Dome" 35 Salinger girl 38 Soccer shout 39 DARN 43 Goat quote 44 Hurdle for a storied cow 45 Offers thanks, in a way 46 Decides one will 49 Itinerary word 50 SHOOT 57 Setting for "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

60 Cloudburst, e.g.

61 Seasonal drink 62 FUDGE 66 Item on a "honey-do" list 67 Time fraction: Abbr.

68 "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" singer 69 Computerized city people 70 Former "Entertainment Tonight" co-anchor 71 Ecclesiastical council DOWN 1 Replenish a pint of ale, say 2 Thorny shrub 3 Jane Eyre's charge 4 Free 5 When sch. often starts 6 Plains home 7 Golden __: seniors 8 Classical Greek style 9 Stubborn one 10 They have strings attached 11 Boyfriend 12 Animal shelter 13 Under-the-sink joints 18 Modest acknowledgment of praise 19 Banks in fashion 24 Bill stamp 25 From the top

26 Hot spot 29 Pop 30 Compatriot 31 Roger who played Lord Marbury on "The West Wing" 32 BBs, e.g.

33 Spring tide counterpart 34 Hard-to-see pest 35 WWII command 36 "Dexter" network, in listings 37 Word with best or common 40 "Don't worry about me" 41 Huge production 42 Logician's "E," perhaps 47 Has to sell 48 Bullish beginning?

49 Chianti, in Chianti 51 Wipe out 52 "Eight Is Enough" actor Willie 53 Sound quality 54 Workers' backer 55 "But wait! There's more!" company 56 Vandalized, Halloween-style 57 Comedy routines 58 Healthy berry 59 Cowpoke's polite assent 63 Tolkien's talking tree 64 IBM hardware 65 Ask too many questions Š 2014 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

prime diversions

Recent dvd releases The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Grudge Match, August: Osage County

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13) OK, franchise fans, strap yourselves in for over twoand-a-half hours of Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf leading an intrepid posse of dwarves on the next leg of their quest to reclaim their mountain home and slay the dragon...and the enormous pile of gold and jewels upon which he snoozes. It’s only the middle installment of another Peter Jackson-directed Tolkien-based film trio, so don’t be surprised when you’re left in mid-crisis when the picture fades to black.

If you haven’t gotten into these sagas yet, starting here is a bad idea; too much backstory to catch up on to relate to the players or understand the premise, including their considerable array of otherworldly obstacles. For those who saw The Hobbit, this one seemed to move along at a more effective pace, making its running time less of an endurance test. That’s always a good sign. New Zealand’s economy should be safe for a while, with this one certain to keep the Tolkien cash-cow’s milk a flowing, tiding them over until the finale arrives next year. That must be a welcome relief for the sheep.

Grudge Match (PG-13) Robert DeNiro and Sylvester Stallone have probably never been linked on anyone’s Thespian scale, but a shared lineage sets the table for this pairing as over-the-hill boxing rivals from Pittsburgh who wind up in the ring 30 years after they should have. In his prime, DeNiro won an Oscar for playing legendary Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull.

Sly got an Oscar nomination for Rocky, before continuing that franchise well past his physical heyday.

In this action comedy, Sly’s “Razor” Sharp won the light heavyweight title from DeNiro’s Billy “The Kid” McDonnen, after first losing it to him in the early 1980s. Before the promoters could book a decisive third bout, Razor retired without explanation. He toiled quietly in a factory for the next three decades, as The Kid enjoyed moderate success in used car and sports bar businesses, while resenting Razor for ducking out on what could have been the defining battle (and huge payday) for both.

For a couple of hours we follow the path to their overdue rematch which includes a considerable, if not excessive, amount of soap opera in learning why Razor walked away, what changed his mind, who needed to learn which Valuable Life Lessons, and

prove what to whom. Support comes primarily from Alan Arkin as Razor’s mentor Mark Glass counterpart to Rocky’s Burgess Meredith; Kim Basinger as a woman whose history bound her to both guys; and Kevin Hart as the hyperkinetic son of the promoter who cheated them in the ‘80s, trying to make his own mark via the revived nostalgia fumes from their old enmity.

The screenplay delivers enough laughs to qualify for its comedy designation, but there’s too much sentimental business to keep it on that track. We slog through an overdose of melodrama en route to the inevitable climactic fight scene. The stars fare surprisingly well in that ring sequence for a couple of dudes in their late 60s. Mercifully, nothing in the script proffers another re-match. What may be the film’s funniest moments come after the credits start to roll, so don’t turn the movie off too quickly.

August: Osage County (R) Any cast that begins with Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard and Chris Cooper, then adds Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, Ewan McGregor, Benedict Cumberbatch and the suddenly ubiquitous Margo Martindale creates expectations that may be hard to meet. Like here, for example. Director John Wells, whose body of work is admirable, though mostly on the small screen, herds his charges through a turgid, talky saga of sordid familial dysfunction. Jerry Springer would have had a hard time presiding over this parade of old and new secrets and grudges.

Meryl is left alone in her isolated rural home when her husband (Shepard) dies under questionable circumstances.

That brings the daughters (Julia, Juliette and Julianne Nicholson) home for the funeral and a considerable amount of psychodrama about their array of old issues and current dilemmas.

There’s a whole mess o’ histrionics to deliver before they’re done.

The upside of the proceedings is that the screenplay gives all its talented players at least one shining moment to validate their signing up for this ensemble product. The downside is that this family has so many unpleasant (or worse) backstories and resulting scars that there’s little to generate empathy among the audience. Though billed as a comedy/drama, the laughs are sparse, and some of the plot turns are surprisingly dark. Streep and the others turn in fine performances. The experience might seem more rewarding as an acting clinic than as an insightful slice of relatable lives.

www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Calendar

Submit events/activities one month prior to publication.

APRIL

02 03

Green Thumbs, Big Hearts!

Volunteer with Partners in Education (PIE) and EAT South. Help students experience and explore the downtown farm. Training provided by PIE. For info call 334-647-1700, or e-mail erin@montgomeryed.org.

Other dates are April 10, 22, 26, 30.

Empty Bowls Community fund-raising event to benefit Montgomery Area Food Bank. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 8570 Vaughn Rd. $25 includes soup, bread, choice of handmade bowl. For tickets call 334274-9177. 100% of ticket price goes to Food Bank.

Minority Business Community Development Forum 7:30-9 a.m. Small Business Resource Center, 600 S. Court St., Montgomery. Overview of Chamber’s economic strategy, professional development workshops on branding and social media strategies. Free, but registration required. To register visit montgomerychamber.com/mbdforum14 or call (334) 240-6863.

04

05

07

A Night Out: On Broadway with the Gershwins!

6:30 p.m. Alabama Activity Center. AUM School of Liberal Arts’ second annual gala. Music, silent and live auction, hors d’oeuvers, drinks. Tickets $100, benefiting students and programs in the School of Liberal Arts. For info. or to purchase tickets contact Dean Michael Burger, 334-244-3380, or e-mail mburger1@ aum.edu.

Montgomery Chorale 40th Anniversary Gala Concert & Reception 7 p.m. (5:30 gala reception for donors and premium ticket holders). St. John’s Episcopal Church, 113 Madison Ave., Montgomery. Chorale and members of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra present J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Tickets $50 (premium), $25 (general admission), $15 (students, seniors). For tickets visit www. montgomerychorale.org, or call 334-265-3737.

National Poetry Month Celebration.

Cloverdale Playhouse. 7:30 p.m. Local poets Jeanie Thompson, Tony Crunk, Jessica Cornelson and Kimberly Wright read from their works. Free.

10

Hearing Loss Support Group, First Methodist Church, Park Ave., Old Cloverdale. 4 p.m. Program, refreshments, hearing tests may be offered.

14

Clifford and Virginia Durr Lecture Series 6 p.m. AUM, Taylor Center 230. Pulitzer Prize winning historian Steve Hahn presents “How Long Was the Civil Rights Movement?” Reception follows. Free.

15

Become a Charter Member of the Montgomery Botanical Garden at Oak Park. $50 contribution places your name on the Charter member plaque at the Garden. Mail check to Montgomery Botanical Gardens, PO Box 344, Montgomery, AL, 36101 by April 15.

Joe Thomas, Jr. Guitar Pull, Cloverdale Playhouse. Live acoustic music. Singer/songwriters share songs and stories. Kelli Johnson, Steve Everett. $10.

For info 334-262-1530.

19

2nd Annual Craterfest. Gold Star Park, downtown Wetumpka. 2-9 p.m.. Free. Music, arts, crafts, concessions, family fun, Kidzone, educational activities, Easter Egg Hunt. For info. contact Jamie Young, 334567-4811, or visit www.wetumpkachamber.com.

26

Capital City Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale 8 a.m.-noon, Frazer UM Church, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Corner of Burbank/Atlanta Hwy. Heirloom plants, garden items, vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs. Children’s activities. Gardening questions answered. Soil test kits available. Free demonstrations: “When to Prune What?” (9 a.m.), “Brights Spots in the Shade Garden” (11 a.m.). For information visit www.capcitymga.org.

MAY 02

Robert E. Lee Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet. 6 p.m., Lee High School Cafeteria. Write for tickets ($15) by April 18, RELee HOF Fund for Excellence, Box 3244, Montgomery, 36109.

www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

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off the beaten path

A Midnight Call T

he phone rang on the nightstand, startling me. “Hello?” I said, clearing my throat.

“Hey boy, how you doin’?”

The words were energetic and crisp, the voice familiar even though my mind was foggy with sleep.

“Hello?” I yawned again, listening intently for the reply.

“Ha! You sleeping?”

I smiled, recognizing the voice, then rubbed my eyes squinting at the clock. It was midnight. I pictured him sitting in his den in front of the television, unable to sleep, deciding to ring me – his oldest grandchild and namesake – at midnight, out of boredom.

“No, Papou,” I chuckled. “Of course I’m not asleep.”

He said we hadn’t spoken in awhile and he just wanted to check on me. I couldn’t remember the last time we talked, but instinctively knew it had been awhile, and there was a long list of things for us to catch up on.

He asked about my daughter, whom I reported as healthy and growing each day. I recounted her daily antics, much to his enjoyment, and the small mountain of diapers we went through daily. Then there were her tiny shoes and even smaller hair bows, her curious relationship with our house cat to whom she dropped food from atop her high chair.

He asked about Sally. She was doing well, I told him, and in fact we were eagerly awaiting our second child. We didn’t know whether we were having a boy or a girl, which he said didn’t matter, since they were all wonderful.

He told me as much as I might enjoy fatherhood, I would enjoy being a grandfather even more.

I ran down the remainder of my list – work, the new house and the dogs, which were doing well even though we hadn’t been able to hunt lately. He asked about his rifle, the one he’d given me years before when I was a budding deer hunter. I laughed and told him it still kicks like a mule, but that I’d killed several deer with it last season.

“How’s my boat doing?” he asked, changing subjects.

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April 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

“You’d love what I’ve done to her,” I said, “Took her all the way down to the hull and rebuilt her. Fishes like a dream.”

“I always had trouble with that motor,” he replied.

“I’m glad it’s working for you.”

“The problem is you never fished it enough to keep it from laying up,” I said.

“Well, don’t make that mistake with my greatgranddaughter,” he said. “Make sure you take her out on my boat anytime she wants.”

“That won’t be a problem,” I replied. “So how’s everything with you?”

He said he was wonderful, never in all his life had he been any better. He said he’d just been thinking of me and wanted to check in.

“Your Yiayia [grandmother] says hello,” he said.

“Tell her... “ I stumbled.

“What?”

“She says hello,” he repeated, “and she loves you.”

“But how can she …”

“Talk to you soon,” he said, cutting me off. “I’m proud of you my boy.”

“Wait! Wait!” I pleaded.

The call ended as strangely as it had begun. I hoped his mind wasn’t drifting, since my grandmother had been gone since the summer of ’96.

As late as it was and as long as we’d been on the phone, perhaps he was just tired. Then a stranger realization took hold of me. He’d never known Sally, much less our daughter. And I hadn’t taken possession of his boat until after his death in ’05.

I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock. It was midnight.

Niko Corley spends his free time on the water or in the woods, and earned his charter boat license in 2012. He can be contacted at cootfootoutfitters@gmail.com.

Niko Corley

“Surprisingly affordable!”

TM

Wesley Gardens Retirement Community 1555 Taylor Road

“...where life is celebrated... and the touch of God’s love is ever-present and ageless.”

• Montgomery, AL

334-272-7917 www.methodisthomes.org

AFFORDABLE ASSISTED LIVING & DEMENTIA CARE www.primemontgomery.com | April 2014

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Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the greatest composers in Western culture.

Hearing problems, including Tinnitus, began when he was 27, and would eventually lead to deafness.

Tinnitus* is nothing new.

The treatment for it is.

Modern evaluation* techniques, combined with high-tech treatment options, offer hope for those suffering from Tinnitus. * Evaluation may be covered by your insurance carrier.

To schedule your Tinnitus Evaluation call 334-281-8400 6912 Winton Blount Blvd.

Montgomery, AL 36117 www.allearscenters.com Now fitting high-quality Phonak hearing devices. *A condition where sounds are perceived that are not present in the environment, often described as ringing, buzzing or crickets chirping.