Prime Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
February 2012 FREE
MontgoMery
40 40 Years Years Married Married & &
Still Valentines
INSIDE Bare Plants n Identity Theft n German Chocolate (Dog) n Stuffed Chicken Breast n A Healthy Heart n Know Your SSI n
4Tuskegee’s Aviation History 4 Seeing Stars (at Sea!) Sea!) Centuries of News 4Six
The Fighter
Will O. (Trip) Walton, III Walton Law Firm, P.C. 334.321.3000 www.waltonlaw.net waltonlaw@waltonlaw.net
The values of a fighter are honor, dignity, pride and sportsmanship. Trip embodies all of these, and more. As a Golden Gloves Heavyweight Boxing Champion,Trip learned that hard work, persistence and diligence pay off - in the ring and the courtroom. Our team always fights for the rights of victims who have been harmed by others. Walton Law Firm’s motto has always been
“We don’t start the fight we finish it!”.
2011 Alabama Super Lawyer Traumatic Brain Injury • Wrongful Death • Serious Personal Injury No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. This is for general information only. For legal advice, contact a lawyer. 2
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
Table of Contents
Features
9 stars at sea
Sail the Caribbean with a boatload of film fans and a stellar cast of actors and directors, with Turner Classic Movie personality Robert Osborne as your host. By Nick Thomas
18 history takes flight The unassuming aircraft hanger at Moton Field holds historic details of the birth of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, who broke the color barrier in aerial combat during WWII. By Jake Roberts
22 frozen roses & broken earrings These two Montgomery couples have each celebrated more than 40 years of marriage, a testimony to love that has seen its share of challenges. By Brenda Robertson Dennis
28 headlines of history From movable printing type to websites, communication innovations affect how news is gathered and reported. See the long history of news at the Newseum. By Andrea Gross
Columns/Mini-Features 7 A Gracious Plenty Stuffed chicken breast in a pastry shell. By Carron Morrow
8 In Every Life Consider 7 factors to improve cardio and
overall health. By Arlene Morris
17 Off the Beaten Path Can a retriever point and a pointer retrieve? Here’s proof. By Niko Corley
20 Biannual Art Auction @ MMFA Paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glass - something for everyone.
11 Social Security Start the New Year by looking at your
Social Security status. By Kylle’ McKinney
21 Money Wise Protect yourself from ID theft online. (ID Theft, Part 2 of 3) By Alan Wallace
12 Heart Health for Heart Month Signs and symp-
27 Medicare Anwers Your Questions
14 Moving Free Fitness should directly relate to your
26 Around Montgomery Find this eagle. He’s not flying, but he’s majestic nonetheless. By Jake Roberts
toms of hearth attack and how to lower the risk. everyday life and activities. By Mirabai Holland
15 Yard n’ Garden Let your new plants go “bare” this winter. By Ethel Boykin
16 Nursing Home Costs: Who Pays? Medicare?
No. Medicaid? More strings than a puppet.
32 February Calendar of Activities 34 Prime Diversions DVDs this month include two four-star films: 50/50 & Moneyball. By Mark Glass
February 2012
www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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Editor’s Note What are the secrets to a long and fulfilling marriage? It’s a reasonable question, one few of us stop to ponder. In my twenties, the idea of being married 40, 30, or even 20 years was unfathomable. As I look back, after more than three decades with a loving and supportive husband, and two grown children who make both our hearts sing, it amazes me how quickly those years have passed. This month, with Valentine’s Day center stage, Brenda Robertson Dennis talks with two Montgomery couples who have each celebrated more than 40 wedding anniversaries. Frozen Roses, Broken Earrings (page 22) is their story of finding love, and how their relationships helped them overcome significant challenges. This issue is also filled with stories related to both the big and small screen. Nick Thomas, in his first story for Prime, offers a first-hand account of cruising with celebrities in Stars at Sea (page 9). During a December trip to Cozumel hosted by Turner Classic Movies, Thomas rubbed elbows with Ernest Borgnine and other stars from years-gone-by, on a unique trip best described as a film-lovers’ fantasy. You may have seen the movie Red Tails, the story of African-American WWII pilots, trained in Tuskegee, who became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. In History Takes Flight (page 18), we visit the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, part of the National Park Service. Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, take the short drive to Tuskegee’s Moton Field and visit the facility where these pilots received their training.You’ll find a dual aircraft display, flight-duty offices furnished as they were in the 1940s, historic photos, and recordings of actual participants in this groundbreaking endeavor. Writer Andrea Gross takes readers to the nation’s capital this month to celebrate the history of news, from early newspapers to TV to today’s multiple news platforms. In Headlines of History (page 28), Andrea takes us through the Newseum, a high-tech, interactive facility tracing the history of news reporting from the 16th century to the present day. From hearts to headlines to Hollywood, we hope you find our first issue of 2012 enjoyable and engaging. Happy reading!
Sandra Polizos Editor
P.S. We’re still receiving comments about our Nov. Big BAM Show feature, most recently from a Beatles’ researcher in Colorado: “I read with interest the story of the Brennans’ and their association with the Beatles. I am in possession of a newly unearthed document that shows the Beatles were booked to play on a Friday night at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville and then on Saturday at the Crampton [sic] Bowl in Montgomery, and then to Baltimore on Sunday. Brian Epstein wrote an ‘O.K’ checkmark next to the Alabama performance. ...Tickets were to be $3 to $6 with an approximate $70,000 gross potential. Crampton’s seating capacity was 26,000. Perhaps the issue of segregation prevented them from playing their [sic] as it was expressly written into the rider that the Beatles would not perform to a segregated audience.” We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments to primeeditor@gmail. If you’re 50+ and on Facebook, com. (More comments on page 25.) become a fan of PRIME Montgomery! 4
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
Prime
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
Montgomery
February 2012,Volume 2, Issue 10 PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Brenda Robertson Dennis, Andrea Gross, Jake Roberts, Nick Thomas CONTRIBUTORS Ethel Boykin, Tina Calligas, Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland, Kylle’ McKinney, Arlene Morris, Carron Morrow, Jake Roberts, Alan Wallace PHOTOGRAPHERS Jake Roberts, Heath Stone, Debby Thomas SALES Bob Corley, 334-202-0114, primemontgomery@gmail.com Stephanie Crompton 334-462-1240 stephaniecrompton7@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 2012 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.
news you can use Am I Having a Stroke? A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack." If blood flow is stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot get blood and oxygen. Brain cells can die, causing permanent damage. The symptoms of stroke depend on what part of the brain is damaged. In some cases, a person may not know that he or she has had a stroke. Warning Signs Of Stroke: 1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. 2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding. 3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. 4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. 5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause. Known Risk Factors For Stroke: 1. Uncontrollable risk factors include age, gender, race/ethnic groups, family history, and prior stroke or heart attacks. 2. Stroke risk increases if a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, has had a stroke. 3. Prior stroke or heart attack increases the risk of having another. 4. Risk factors that can be treated, modified, and controlled are high blood pressure, tobacco use, diabetes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, transient ischemic attack, certain blood disorders, and high blood cholesterol. (American Heart Association) Prevent colds and respiratory infections by: n Washing your hands many times a day with soap and water
n Staying away from crowded areas during the cold and flu season n Maintaining good oral hygiene; avoid germs by brushing your teeth twice a day and seeing your dentist regularly n Getting a flu vaccine every year If you get sick, stay home! Protect people around you from getting sick until you feel better. (from the American Lung Association)
Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia? A small but important study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) suggests that Tai Chi may help relieve symptoms (musculoskeletal pain, poor sleep, depression) of fibromyalgia. After 12 weeks, the Tai Chi group had a greater reduction in pain and more improvement in mood, quality of life, sleep, confidence in their abilities and ability to exercise than the control group. People in the Tai Chi group were encouraged to continue their Tai Chi practice after the classes ended using an instructional DVD, and they were still feeling better 24 weeks after the study
began. What’s more, no adverse effects were reported. Bottom-line advice: Keep in mind that this is just one small study. Still, if you’re seeking a form of exercise that may help improve your fibromyalgia symptoms, Tai Chi appears to be safe, and along with standard treatments such as medication, psychotherapy and education, it just may help you feel better. Take Your Blood Pressure Medication Before Bed It’s better to take blood pressurelowering medications before bed rather than first thing in the morning, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The study followed patients an average of 5.4 years. Patients who took at least one blood pressure-lowering medication at bedtime had better control of their blood pressure and were about one-third as likely to experience a heart-related event such as a heart attack, a stroke, or heart failure compared to patients who took their medications upon awakening. contiuned on next page
A family approach to Hospice Care. Our Interdisciplinary Hospice Team unites physicians, nurses, CNAs, social workers and the clergy to provide the highest quality care for our patients, and their families. George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager 4150 Carmichael Court • Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-2274 www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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news you can use
Weight Loss Best Medicine for People with Knee Osteoarthritis According to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, weight loss combined with exercise can improve mobility and reduce pain by as much as 50 percent with knee osteoarthritis.Knee osteoarthritis is a common form of osteoarthritis, and is caused by cartilage breakdown in the knee joint. Factors that increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis include being overweight, age, injury or stress to the joints, and family history.
Dine Out & Lose Weight? A study in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior demonstrates that individuals can eat out and still lose weight. Investigators from The U. of Texas at Austin enrolled 35 healthy, perimenopausal women aged 40 to 59 who eat out frequently. They took part in a 6-week program called Mindful Restaurant Eating, a weight-gain prevention plan that helps develop skills needed to reduce caloric and fat intake when eating out. The focus was on preventing weight gain, not weight loss. It’s important to prevent weight gain in this population as increasing abdominal waist circumference from weight gain is greater during the perimenopausal years, which in turn increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Though the focus was on weight maintenance, researchers found participants lost significantly more weight, had lower average daily caloric and fat intake and fewer barriers to weight management when eating out.
According to the principal investigator of this study, after completing the program participants reduced their daily caloric intake by about 297 calories, which would explain the weight loss. However, only about 124 of those lost calories were attributed to eating out, indicating that fewer calories were also consumed at home. Our Fatty Taste Buds Blame your taste buds for liking fatty foods. Our tongues apparently recognize and have an affinity for fat, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, published in The Journal of Lipid Research. Researchers found that variations in a gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat. As people consume more fat, they become less sensitive to it, requiring more intake for the same satisfaction. The goal of the research is to understand how the perception of fat in food influences what foods we eat and the quantities of fat we consume, which would have an impact on obesity.
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February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
a gracious plenty
Stuffed (Valentine) Chicken
I
f you haven’t started your workout to lose those holiday pounds, you’re not alone. After deciding what this month’s Valentine’s Day Special would be, I decided to begin AFTER this special day and hope my cardiologist skips the food article this month! This meal can be a romantic dinner for two or a time to share tradition and love Carron Morrow with the whole family. Red velvet cake at the end makes this the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift for your family or significant other. If you’re feeling
Chicken Breast Lightly pound skinless chicken breast with a mallet until thinned half the size, salt and pepper to taste. Oil a sauté pan over medium heat. Cook both sides of chicken, 10-12 minutes. Save the drippings, cover the chicken, and place it off the stove until you prepare your puff pastry. Rice Pilaf Boil rice pilaf according to package instructions. Steam small broccoli florets and mix with the rice. Add chicken drippings and mix well. Stuff the chicken breast with this mixture by folding the thinned breast over to create a pocket, or if the
particularly creative, bake the cake in a heart-shaped pan, ice it with cream cheese icing, and write that special someone’s name on top. The menu is fresh berried fruit (optional poppy seed dressing), stuffed chicken breast in pastry dough (recipe exclusive for Prime readers), fresh green bean bundles with red pimento bow, fresh sweet potato medallions, and red velvet cake. Happy Valentine’s Day! Carron Morrow owns Personal Touch Events, a 35-year-old Montgomery-based company specializing in corporate and personal catering and event planning. Contact Carron at 334-279-6279, carronmorrow@bellsouth.net, or visit www.onlinepersonaltouch.com.
breast is too thick to fold, slice it in half and fill with pilaf. Puff Pastry On a floured board, roll out a sheet of pastry dough large enough to wrap the chicken. Place the stuffed chicken breast in the center, brush pastry edges with water, and fold over the chicken. Cut out a pastry heart, brush with water to make it stick, and place it on top of the wrapped chicken. Bake pastry until brown. Lela’s Seafood Sauce n 1/2 stick butter n 8 oz. of any of these: crabmeat, lobster meat, shrimp, chopped salmon
2 ½ T. flour Pinch paprika – pinch of nutmeg ½ cup heavy cream 3 beaten eggs ½ cup cooking sherry 1 2/3 cup of half & half Melt butter over medium heat and add flour to make a roux. Stir until very smooth. Add remaining ingredients except the seafood. Stir until the desired thickness is achieved, about 6-7 minutes. Add chopped seafood and cook an additional 3 minutes. (Left over sauce can be frozen.When re-using it, thaw and add ¼ cup of half & half.) n n n n n n
Instructions for French Green Beans and Sweet Potato Medallions are online at www.PrimeMontgomery.com. www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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in every life
7 Heart Health Factors
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n February our thoughts turn to healthy hearts. In their 2012 Update, the American Heart Association (AHA) reports that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States. The AHA has established the goal for 2020: “to improve cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20%, while reducing deaths from Arlene Morris cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20%”. This can be achieved by promoting seven health factors: n Lean body mass as determined by Body Mass Index (BMI) n Avoidance of or stopping smoking n Participation in physical activity with a goal of more than 150 minutes per week of moderate or more than 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity. This can be in increments of 10 minutes three times a day (30 min/day) for 5 of 7 days. n Healthy diet such as the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which includes: - more than 4-5 cups/day of fruits and vegetables - more than two 3.5 oz servings/ week of fish - more than 3 small servings of whole grains/day - less than 1500 mg/day of sodium (salt) - less than 3 sugar sweetened beverages/week n Maintaining total cholesterol less than References: American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2012 Update. Circulation. January 3, 2012.
200mg/dL Blood pressure less than 120/80 n Fasting blood glucose less than100 mg/ dL Cardiovascular health can be rated as ideal when all seven factors are at the ideal levels. Intermediate or poor levels of cardiovascular health are determined by the number and rating of each of the factors along a scale. Individual choices to actively manage these factors have been shown to reduce development or progression of cardiovascular disease. Clear communication with your health care provider can help to assess your risks. Research has shown that people are more likely to adhere to either lifestyle changes or medications if they are involved in setting goals for personal improvements, know the reasons that these improvements will be beneficial, and have regular planned times for evaluating their progress toward the goals. An increase in personal involvement in decisions that affect health is a component of personalized healthcare. To keep a healthy heart, consider discussing your rating for each of these factors with your healthcare provider and challenge yourself to move toward the ideal rating. n
Arlene H. Morris, RN, Ed.D. is a Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor in the Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing, where she enjoys teaching content regarding gerontology and professional nursing issues. Email her at amorris@ aum.edu.
Retrieved from http://circ. ahajournals.org Sheridan, S. L., Anthony, J. V., Krantz, M. J., Ice, C. L, Steinman, L. E., Peters, K. E., Kopin, L. A., &
Lungelow, D. The effect of giving global coronary risk information to adults. Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 70 (3). Feb. 8, 2010.
“... people are more likely to adhere to... lifestyle changes or medications if they are involved in setting goals for personal improvements...” 8
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
feature
Turner Classic Movie host Robert Osborne (left) at a presentation, and actor Ernest Borgnine (right) surrounded by fans.
Stars at Sea:
T
A Classic Movie Cruise
By Nick Thomas Photos by Debby Thomas
here were many reasons why some 2,000 people from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe made their way to Miami last December for a four-day round-trip cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. But it wasn’t the golden beaches or sparkling blue waters that united this dedicated band of travelers; it was the onboard events and list of eminent guests. Celebrity cruises are nothing new, but this one truly was a classic: the inaugural Classic Cruise hosted by the cable channel, Turner Classic Movies, which brought together thousands of film fans with their favorite Hollywood legends. Not surprisingly, this theme cruise appealed to many passengers with fond memories of movies from the 30s, 40s and 50s. Celebrity shipmates included Ernest Borgnine, Eva Marie Saint, Tippi Hedren, director Norman Jewison, as well as TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz. With the average age of the four special
guests around 87, it was clear the crowd appreciated their efforts to join the cruise. Each looked relaxed, healthy, and genuinely pleased to be part of this special event. After boarding, there was the compulsory lifeboat drill. However, the crew demonstrating safety procedures was forced to compete for the crowd’s attention when Borgnine appeared and was mobbed by well-wishers trying to shake his hand. Had the signal to abandon ship come at that point, I suspect many passengers would have preferred to wrap their arms fondly around the film star, rather than a lifejacket, for a floatation device! And by the way, should you ever run into him, he does indeed prefer fans to call him Ernie rather than Mr. Borgnine. “Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have been treated better by the TCM folks or fans,” said a humble 94-yearold Borgnine. “I don’t know why, because I certainly www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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Tippi Hedren (The Birds, Marnie) was doing TV commercials when discovered by director Alfred Hitchcock.
don’t deserve it. It’s one thing to like an actor, but the kind of love people have shown me is amazing. I just want to be one of the gang on the ship!” Borgnine was typical of all the celebrities. Far from retiring to their cabins and emerging only to fulfill their obligations, they regularly roamed the decks, mingling with the passengers, eating at the buffet, chatting, and posing for photographs. The first scheduled event was the Sail Away Party, and crowds gathered around the small stage area and burst into applause when Robert Osborne appeared. “We’re delighted that you are all here,” said a relaxed-looking Osborne, white hair blowing in the brisk Gulf breeze, “and hope you have a great time.” Aside from snagging a much sought after celebrity snapshot, film enthusiasts could participate in a selection of scheduled events -- movie screenings (often preceded by introductions with the stars from the films), Q & A sessions with the stars, and panel discussions with Osborne and Mankiewicz. Surprise guests included veteran game show host Wink Martindale, who hosted movie trivia contests, and Chelsie Hightower and Louis Van Amstel from Dancing with the Stars, who put on a dazzling dance display. When Borgnine and Eva Marie Saint came on stage for a whirl around the dance floor with the youngsters, the crowd went wild! The ship docked at Key West and Cozumel for passengers to go ashore to visit the standard tourist attractions, but these were merely an added bonus. Probably the most anticipated events were the celebrity presentations prior to film screenings. Saint talked about the making of North by Northwest, Borgnine discussed The Poseidon Adventure (the irony of the latter being shown on a cruise ship caused no end of chuckles among the passengers), Hedren spoke about The Birds, and Norman Jewison featured his film The Thomas Crown Affair. While some of their stories had been told before in autobiographies or previous interviews, it hardly mattered to the 10 February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
devoted throngs of admirers who hung on every word and were thrilled to be seated a few feet from some of their favorite film personalities. A much anticipated event was the appearance of Saint and Hedren as “The Hitchcock Blondes” in a discussion with Osborne. Saint was in good form, evident by her playful sense of humor. “If you look at the Hitchcock catalog,” Osborne began, “Ingrid Bergman was not a blonde, Teresa Wright (Shadow of a Doubt) was not a blonde, Tallulah Bankhead (Lifeboat) was not a blond…….” “So why are we here?” quipped Saint, to the laughter of the audience. Appreciating the humor, Osborne wondered if the general belief that Hitchcock favored blondes was a myth. Saint wasn’t sure, but Hedren suggested blondes have both an innocence and a sense of mystery, which she thought might have appealed to Hitchcock. Saint’s sense of humor was also apparent when talking about Osborne, whom she has admired for years, although they met for the first time at a recent TCM Film Festival in Los Angeles. “I call him the Rock Star of the classic movie world!” said Saint. “I love my husband of 60 years, then Robert Osborne. Fans always ask me ‘What was Marlon Brando really like?’ or “What was it like to kiss Gary Grant?’ But now, they also ask ‘What’s it like to be hugged by Robert Osborne?’” TCM host Osborne, as charming and knowledgeable as he appears on TV, was clearly delighted by the passengers’ response to the cruise. “I’ve only been on one other cruise in my life,” said Osborne, “and that was years ago to Acapulco, so I’m really enjoying this trip and being around so many film fans. Fans have been coming up to me throughout the cruise, talking about their favorite movies,” he added. “I love that, because it really means they love the channel and love the work that I do. I’m the one the viewers see and they think I do it all, but TCM is obviously a team effort by many people.” This first Classic Cruise was sold-out, and plans are in the works for a second cruise in 2012. Nick Thomas, a freelance writer and teacher at AUM, was a passenger on the TCM Classic Cruise. He recently authored “Raised by the Stars: Interviews with 29 Children of Hollywood Actors”.
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financial
Social Security Resolutions
W
ith the New Year off to a fast start, many of us are hard at work on our list of goals and resolutions. Allow me to share some New Year’s resolutions you’ll definitely find worth keeping. Think about retirement. Whether you’re 26 and beginning a career or 62 and thinking about the best time to stop working, give some Kylle’ McKinney thought to what your retirement plan will be. Social Security is the largest source of income for elderly Americans today, but it was never intended to be your only source of income when you retire.You also will need savings, investments, pensions or retirement accounts to make sure you have enough money to live comfortably when you retire. The earlier you begin your financial planning, the better off you will be. For tips to help you save, visit www.mymoney.gov. Plan ahead. The best way to begin planning for retirement is by using the free resources provided by Social Security. Start by using our Retirement Estimator, where you can get a personalized, instant estimate of your future retirement benefits using different retirement ages and scenarios.Visit the Retirement Estimator at www. socialsecurity.gov/estimator. Make sure you have all your numbers. While tax season may seem far away, now is the time many taxpayers start gathering records and
documentation for filing tax returns. One of the most important things you need is a Social Security number for everyone whom you will claim as a dependent. If you don’t have a number for one of your dependents, you need to apply now to have the Social Security number in time to file your tax return. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. Do a little light reading. The best way to learn more about Social Security, the benefit programs, and what they mean to you and your family, is to browse through our online library of publications.You can find overviews as well as more detailed booklets. Our library at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs is always open. Help a loved one. Sometimes we get the most satisfaction out of helping someone else. If you have a grandparent, parent, relative, or friend who could benefit from Social Security, share our website and online services with them.You can even help a loved one apply for retirement or Medicare benefits — or for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs -- in as little as 10 minutes. Whether you forward a publication or sit down to help someone apply for Social Security, the place to go is www.socialsecurity.gov. I hope you’ll consider adding these resolutions to your list for 2012. 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.
www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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feature
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bout every 25 seconds an American will have a coronary event. February is American Heart Month, but with such startling statistics, we need to be aware of the risks of heart disease throughout the year, and the ways in which we can reduce that risk. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the U.S. is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 a recurrent attack. About once a minute an American dies from a coronary event. Conditions that affect your heart or increase your risk of death or disability include arrhythmia, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease (PAD). High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and secondhand smoke are also risk factors.
Be Heart Healthy this Valentines! Signs and Symptoms Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. However, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening: Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort. Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
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Diet, Nutrition, Exercise and Fitness A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. Many people make it harder than it is. It is important to remember that it is the overall pattern of the choices you make that counts. As you make daily food choices, read nutrition labels and base your eating pattern on these recommendations: n Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat. n Select fat-free, 1% fat, and low-fat dairy products. n Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet. n Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day. n Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars. n Select and purchase foods lower in salt/sodium. n If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means no more than one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man. n Keep an eye on your portion sizes.
Men versus Women Men n The average age for a man’s first heart attack is 66 years. n Almost half of men who have a heart attack under age 65 die within 8 years. n Between 70% and 89% of sudden cardiac events occur in men. Women n Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women 65+. n Heart disease is the second leading cause of death among women 45–64. n Heart disease is the third leading cause of death among women 25–44. n U.S. women account for almost 50% of heart disease deaths. Taken from material provide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/index.htm
Do you & your sweetheart have a Valentine’s Day tradition or something special planned? Take a picture and send it to us at primemontgomery@gmail.com. We’ll pick a few for a future issue of Prime Montgomery! Make sure to include names of everyone in the photo, where they’re from, and some info about what you’re doing.
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Moving Free with mirabai ©
What is fitness, really?
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t this time of year, when we’re struggling with our New Year’s resolutions, I feel a need to ask and answer this question. Why is it that so many people who truly want and desperately need to get fit, find it so unattainable? Why do so many start fitness programs only to quit after a few days or a few weeks? Mirabai Holland Why is it that many highly trained fitness professionals can’t help us and can be actually detrimental to our success? There’s this mentality that you have to whip yourself into shape in order to get in shape. No pain, no gain. And if your body is not hard and ripped and buffed then you’re not fit. NONSENSE!! What is fitness really? What if getting fit meant that your could get out of a chair comfortably, that you could pick up a coin off the floor, reach for something without pulling something, run for a bus without feeling like you’re going to pass out? Maybe live longer, happier, and reap those health benefits the fit enjoy? All these things are attainable without knocking yourself out and without having a ripped body.You can have real gain, without the pain.You can be fit and active and take it as far as you want at your own pace in your own comfort zone. All you have to do is stand up (and if you can’t stand up, sit in a chair) and move. Start slowly, gently, naturally. Just move. That’s the place to start.You don’t need gimmicks, you don’t need machines. Move a little every day. Start with just a few minutes, but do it every day. After a couple of weeks you’ll start to feel better. As you keep it up you’ll want to do a little more. So do a little more and on the days you don’t feel like doing it, just do a little something.You will accumulate fitness a little at a time. Eventually you’ll want to introduce yourself to the
Bou Cou
dancewear & a whole lot more!
Jewelry Accessories Gifts Invitations Monogramming
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In The Courtyard 2101 Eastern Blvd. (behind Starbucks)
(334) 239-0655 www.boucou.net
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
three major components of fitness: Cardio, Strength and Flexibility training. But then you’ll be ready because your body got used to moving again. It’s not rocket science, but it is science and it does work. Studies show that moderate daily exercise gets you fit enough to reap about 80% of the health benefits fitness has to offer. Not bad. Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is a leading authority in the Health & Fitness industry and a public health activist specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work. www.easyexercisevideos.com
yard ‘n garden
Going Bare in the Winter I
t’s barely into winter. We sit with garden catalogs (am I dating myself?) or in front of the computer, looking at things to order for the garden. If the plants you want are listed Ethel Dozier Boykin as being shipped “bare root”, don’t worry. When it’s cold outside bare is the last thing we want to be, but bare root plants are merely plants without soil. Settlers successfully carried bare root plants across the country, and nurseries have shipped plants this way forever. As a child I remember the local hardware store had bare root pansies wrapped in newspaper to keep them moist. You bought them by the bundle, went home, unrolled the newspaper and discovered little white roots with a sprig of green at the top. Into the ground
they went, and in weeks the blooms appeared. When buying plants, look first at local garden shops before opening your catalog or surfing the Internet. Some of the most common plants shipped bare root are hostas, day-lilies and other perennails. Inspect plants when you receive them. You should see white, fresh roots with no foul odor. Broken roots can be trimmed off, but if you see mold or rotten roots, return the plants to the store or call the shipper and arrange for their return. Never plant a moldy or soft bulb plant. Plants should feel firm like a carrot, not soft. Don’t worry if green sprouts are emerging at the top, as you can A bare root plant, ready for the ground. plant them directly in the ground. Once plants emerge in the spring, Otherwise, plant in a fertilize with a half-strength solution of pot with good potting soil liquid balanced fertilizer. Fish fertilizer then plant in the ground is also a good choice. when tops are up. Prior The cost of bare root plants can to planting, soak plants be less than others, unless you pick a in water for a couple of unique plant which can be costly. Rehours. If you can’t plant gardless of the price, always apply the right away, you can keep “$5 Hole/50 Cent Plant Rule” -- using them in the crisper secthe best soil brings the best results, tion of a ‘fridge for about even with inexpensive plants. a week. I had my first bloom today, and foliWhen planting, make age is popping up everywhere with the hole wider than it is blooms soon to follow. Once the deep, and add soil in the bottom to make a mound. blooming ends don’t cut the foliage Spread the roots over the or tie it up in a rubber band. Just let it fade away, as the foliage feeds the bulb mound and gently place for next year. soil around them. Water I hope 2012 will be your best garlightly, adding more soil to dening year, and that in someway, I’ve ground level with the top helped with your success. barely showing. Sprinkle it with water, and if it Ethel Dozier Boykin, a Montgomery doesn’t rain in a week, native, owns Art in the Garden, a landwater again. If there is scape design and consulting company in sawdust packed with the the Capital City. Contact her at 334-395plants, discard it. Do not 5949, or by email at etheldozierboykin@ use it in the hole. yahoo.com. www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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feature
Nursing Home Expenses: Wh o Pay $?
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ursing home care can be one of the biggest ex- after they have impoverished penses of retirement, yet few people plan for it. themselves. If you’re 65, you have just about a 50-50 Medicaid’s eligibility rules chance of entering a nursing home at some point. The vary from state to state. average cost of a private room now exceeds $75,000 per Broadly speaking, you can year, and the average length of stay is almost 2 ½ years. keep no more than a home, That adds up to more than $185,000. your personal belongings, a One reason people don’t give much thought to the high car and a small amount of cost of long-term care is that they figure they won’t have savings (often no more than to pay for it. If and when the time comes, they tell them$2,000). Also, you can have selves, Medicare will pick up most of the tab, the same as only meager income (usually it does for hospital stays and doctor visits. just hundreds of dollars per But that’s not the case. It can be a real eye-opener to month). discover that Medicare typically doesn’t pay for long-term When one member of “custodial care” – the kind of personal care that helps you a couple requires nursing with such day-to-day tasks as getting in and out of bed, home care, the other spouse can hold bathing, dressing and eating. onto some assets and income over and above the limits Medicare for a single person. “Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care. does cover A word of caution:You can’t give away some skilled Medicaid does, but with strings attached.” assets or sell them for less than market nursing or value to qualify for Medicaid. The state rehabilitative care if a physician orders it after a hospital will look at your financial records for the past five years stay of at least three days.You pay nothing during the first to check for any improper transfers. If it finds one, your 20 days of your care and then part of the cost for the eligibility will be delayed. next 80 days. After 100 days, you’re responsible for all bills. Nursing home residents who have been approved for Fewer than 10 percent of nursing home residents Medicaid coverage must contribute most of their income pay their bills through private long-term care insurance. toward the cost of their care, after deducting a small alBuying it requires planning ahead. Generally, people who lowance for personal needs, the cost of health care insuralready have disabilities can’t qualify for the coverage, even ance premiums and, for couples, an allowance for at-home if they can afford the spouses. premiums. After you die, MedElder Abuse Information/Prevention About a third of nursicaid also has the right The Alabama Dept. of Sr. Services (ADSS) operates an ing home residents cover to seek reimbursement elder abuse prevention program in conjunction with the their expenses out of from your estate for Long Term Care Ombudsman program. The AL. Dept. their own pockets. The what it has spent on of Human Resources (ADHS) and the Bureau of Health high cost of such care, your long-term care. Provider Standards (BHPS) are responsible for investigathowever, can quickly To find out more ing allegations of elder abuse. Reports of abuse/suspected exhaust your life savings. about how to pay for abuse received by the ADSS are turned over to the ADHS Many people go through nursing home care, visit and BHPS. Contact the Local Area Agency On Aging -their nest eggs after just with a counselor from 1-800-AGELINE (1-800-243-5463). six months. They then your state’s Health Inturn to Medicaid for surance Assistance ProFinancial abuse of the elderly should be reported to the support. gram (see box). Learning AL. Securities Commission -Medicaid is usually now about your options 1-800-222-1253 (334-353-4858). seen as the state and will pay off when the day federal safety net that arrives that you need provides health care covcare. erage to the poor. But it also pays for the long-term care Bob Moos is Southwest Public Affairs Officer for the Centers of millions of older and disabled nursing home residents for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
Off the beaten path
German Chocolate Quail
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o, it’s not a new wild game recipe, but it could be the beginning of the next big thing in bird hunting. The story begins more than a year ago with a friend’s German shorthair pointer that was known to wander the neighborBella, Coco & Niko hood, and wander he did, right into our backyard when our Chocolate Lab, Bella, was in heat. Puppy love led to an accidental litter of a dozen healthy German Chocolates, one of which stayed with us. My wife Sally had named Coco, the firstborn of the litter, before she even entered this world. If Bella – who would rather hunt than eat – was “my dog,” early indications were Coco would certainly be Sally’s canine companion, laid back with a tail that even wagged in her sleep. We both laughed at her puppy playfulness, nicknaming her “Coocoo” for her antics. I worked with Coco on obedience, retrieving and finding dead birds, but I had never trained a pointer and wasn’t sure where to begin. While several of her litter mates had begun pointing by six months, she had yet to point a single bird, either in the backyard or on the dove hunts on which she tagged along. I blamed her lack of pointing on the fact that she lived with a flushing, not pointing, dog. Seems that since pointing is bred into dogs and is instinctual, a dog
either points or doesn’t. It can be taught, but it’s easier to build upon instinct than teach a new trait. Coco made her first point on a walk in the neighborhood. We turned a corner past a hedgerow and she froze, solid as stone, right foot cocked and tail up. A few seconds later, a fat orange house cat flushed from the bushes. At the time Sally and I had a good laugh about our “Alabama cougar hound” and I joked that if the world went to pot, we would at least be able to hunt up a fresh supply of protein. Inside, however, it wasn’t as funny – and a little embarrassing. On Coco’s first quail hunt, I did not know what to expect. I turned her loose with Bella and the pair tore through the field ahead of us, along a fencerow and down into a shallow ditch, heads down and then up again, noses full of country smells. When they topped the other side of the ditch, a funny thing happened. Coco froze, as she had on our walk when she pointed the cat, and Bella suddenly turned, circling Coco and a patch of brush in front of her. I stiffened, as this was uncharted territory. As I approached Coco, still solid on point, Bella caught the right
scent trail and dove into the brush as a covey of quail erupted from the grass. I was startled but managed a shot, dropping a single bird as my brother-in-law downed another, which Bella had seen fall and which she was after. Coco had seen my bird drop and bounded through the brush, pausing to pick up the bird and deliver it back to me. I was more surprised than when she pointed that first cat. We hunted several more coveys that day which Coco pointed solidly, never breaking, and have hunted up many more since. She has the style and gait of a pointer working a field, but will readily retrieve dead birds to hand like a Lab. Unlike some pointers I’ve hunted over, Coco knows her job is not over once she points the birds and the guns go off. As her arrival was unplanned, I wasn’t sure what Coco would bring into our lives. As it turns out, she has found her niche just fine, as both Sally’s and my dog. Niko Corley spends his free time hunting, fishing and enjoying other outdoor activities. He can be contacted at cootfootoutfitters@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @cootfootoutfitters.
www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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HISTORY TAKES
feature
t h g Fli
I
n 1941, the Army Air Corps began military flight training of African-American pilots at Moton Field in Tuskegee. Before training ended in 1946, almost 1,000 pilots and 15,000 support personnel were part of the program, among them, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Herbert Carter (next page, at book signing), a member of the 332nd Fighter Group, the famed “Red Tails� featured in the new film produced by George Lucas.
Interactive displays at the Tuskegee Airmen Museum feature recordings of many who participated in the program. In their own words they relate personal stories of their time at Moton Field, and their experiences during WWII. (Photos on this page courtesy Tuskegee Airmen Museum.) 18 February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
Story & Photos By Jake Roberts
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
Features of the Tuskegee Airmen Museum include a short introductory film, historic photos, and rooms outfitted with period furniture, clothing, equipment, training materials, and even magazines from the 1940s. You can try your hand at folding a parachute, as did Joseph Smith of Enterprise, with the assistance of Carla Graves of the National Park staff. One of the aircraft on display is the PT-17 biplane, the primary trainer used by the U.S. during World War II and flown at Moton Field. Museum hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. There is no entrance fee and the museum is wheelchair accessible. There is a scenic overlook for parking and picnicking with a view of the original buildings. www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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feature
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“Psssssst... Wanna Buy a Picasso?”
well as the seasoned conhe Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) noisseur. biennial fundraiser will be held February 23 and 25. The exhibition opens for More than 500 works of art will be auctioned to bidding February 4. There is benefit the museum’s acquisition, exhibition, and education no charge for a bid number, programs. Works include oil paintings, watercolors, prints, sculpture, and early and reserve bids are accepted until the jewelry, glass, and fine art crafts. ticketed events. Among the artists are Bill Berra, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Frank The Silent Auction Flemming and Milt Kobayashi. begins at 6:30 p.m. “The Museum has acquired February 23. The gala these artworks at substanbegins at 6 p.m. Februtial discounts,” said Lara ary 25, followed by Lewis, MMFA Director of dinner and the Live Public Relations. Pablo Picasso Lithograph, 1957 Auction.You can also With works coming 42 X 21 Retail: $2,850 view the artwork at from galleries as well as Starting bid: $2,275 www.mmfa.org. individual artists, “...the Frank Fleming Bronze If you would like to place a bid, but are unable to bidder has an excellent 9 X 9.25 X 9.5 attend the events, reserve bids can be placed durchance to acquire a Retail: $1,650 Starting bid: $1,450 ing the two-week exhibition period at no cost. superior artwork at a For information, or to make a reservation, call very reasonable price,” 334-240-4333.Tickets are $50/person for the Silent Auction said Lewis. Jamie Chase, acrylic on canvas Works will be offered at varyand $150/person or $250/person (preferred seating) for 2011, 20 X 16 Retail: $880 ing price points, providing bidding the Live Auction, which includes admission to the silent Opening Bid: $780 auction. options for the novice collector as
35th
Anniversary Season
Montgomery Symphony Orchestra
Concert IV • Monday, February 13 • 7:30pm Concert V • Monday, April 30 • 7:30pm Davis Theatre 240-4004 • montgomery symphony.org 20
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
C
moneywise
C Cy by eb rerSecurity Cybe r: CS ye bc ue r i St ye Cc uy rbietry S e c u r i t y I.D. THEFT Security C y b e r S e cCuyrbi et yr S e c u r i t y
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deal with are legitimate. hile the internet n Look for the padlock symbol on the vendor’s has opened amazing screen and https: in the URL before you enter and access to useful opsubmit confidential data, particularly credit card inforportunities, it has also become mation. a portal for untold multitudes n Promptly of Tips to avoid ID theft: verify that your unscruwww.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ transactions post pulous correctly to your people Antivirus/firewall software reviews plus credit card acto take other useful technology information: count. advanAlan Wallace www.cnet.com n Use PayPal tage of unsuspecting users. If you use e-mail, buy things online, or another secure method of paying for goods online. Passwords or download files from the web, you should exercise n Passwords should be at least eight characters caution. While following the advice in this column will long; consist of letters, numbers and symbols; include not protect you completely, it is a good start. both upper and lower case. E-mail n Do not open e-mail or attachments from senders n Passwords should not be words found in dictionyou do not know or from addresses you do not recog- aries or follow routine sequences, either forward or nize. Doing so could introduce a virus, Trojan horse, or backward. Password-breaking applications can quickly spyware program to your computer. (One advantage of run through hundreds of tests to break your password. n Do not use the same password for everything. If Apple products is that they are less susceptible to such you do, a hacker gains complete access if you slip up problems.) n Even if you recognize (or think you recognize) one time. n You can create a strong password by repeating the sender, be careful. Hackers can gain access to a shorter sequence of keys two or three times. The someone else’s e-mail service and send e-mail that appears to come from them.Verify e-mail requests before longer the password, the harder it is to break. For example, “*up2U” is a weak password. If you type the disclosing confidential information, responding, or forsame thing three times in a row, it is strong. warding. There are some very good fakers out there. n Beware of phishing attempts. Phishing is the n Do not write your passwords down or store term for phony requests for information or assistance. them where they can be readily found by the wrong They can take the form of coming from a friend (see person. n Use a strong power-on login password with your # 3 above) or from a business (particularly financial computer to keep a burglar or other person from acinstitutions) or governmental organization. It is doubtful that the USPS, State Dept. or Fedex will e-mail you. cessing your data. Wireless Connection Where would they even get your address? Don’t be n If you have wireless internet at home, set up the tricked by logos and other gimmicks used to make network so it is secure from unauthorized use. fakes appear legitimate. n Do not send confidential information in the body n If you connect wirelessly in public through of an e-mail (or in an attachment) unless the e-mail unsecured networks, do not engage in e-commerce (or attachment) is encrypted using a strong encryption or other activities that expose you to hackers in the program. E-mail can be hacked as it passes through cyimmediate vicinity. berspace. And if you password protect an attachment, Defensive Software n Install good quality defensive software on your you certainly should not provide the password in the computer, including a firewall and anti-virus program. body of the e-mail. n Set the anti-virus software to update automatiSocial Networking Sites n Do not post confidential information on Facecally at least a couple of times weekly. n Set the anti-virus software to scan your combook or other social network websites unless you puter at least a couple of times weekly. want it to be available to everyone in the world. n Do not post information about travel plans, being Next month we will take our final look at protecting away from home, or other activities that would make yourself from identity theft. Until then, surf safely! you (or your loved ones) a target for criminals. Alan Wallace, CFA, ChFC, CLU is a Senior Financial AdviE-Commerce sor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery office, 334-270n If you shop online, make sure the vendors you 5960. Reach him by e-mail at alan.wallace@ronblue.com.
www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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feature
Frozen Roses, Broken Earrings, & 88 Years of Marriage
By Brenda Robertson Dennis Photos by Stone Images Photography
V
alentine’s Day is upon us, with stores They eloped three months later with both famiswathed in pink and red, aisles brimming lies’ blessings. with heart shaped boxes and cards designed After 43 years of marriage they remain the best to help us express our deepest feelings for that of friends. An energetic couple who seem much special someone. To young couples this day might be younger than their years, they a hallmark moment in their lives together (no pun work hard and play intended). But for two local couples whose relahard, tionships have stood the test of time, every day is Valentine’s Day. The Edwards “I fell in love with a saxophone player!” Susan laughs, as her husband Chuck recounts the tale of how they met. They were introduced when Chuck’s rock and roll band, the Apaches, played her senior prom in 1965. He was attending the University of Alabama and was friends with her future brother-in-law. But it was Susan’s prom date, in charge of hiring the band, who introduced them. “It didn’t last long,” laughs Chuck. “We broke up after the summer.” “He was too old for me,” Susan adds, referring to his being three years her senior. By the time she moved to Tuscaloosa, Chuck’s father had passed away, and her future husband had left school to return to Montgomery and help with the family business, Edwards Plumbing and Heating. “I had run into her from time to time over the next two years” he recalls, “but I hadn’t stopped thinking about her. I called her at midnight one night after I’d come in from another date, I woke her up and said ‘why don’t you come down to Montgomery this weekend?’” She did. Chuck and Su san Ed wards. Marrie d 43 y ears. 22 February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
with grandkids and a frisky adopted kitten named Little Sister. “Our family is very close,” says Susan. “We travel together and enjoy each others company. We’ve been to Australia, Europe… Chuck and I have always liked to travel just the two of us as well. We always knew it was important to have that time to be ‘us,’ not just mom and dad.” Close family bonds are important in the best of times, but never more so than when a heartbreaking tragedy occurs that places a severe strain on those bonds. The Edwards discovered how strong their family was when their four-month-old son, their fourth child, died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. “We had seen and heard of couples who had gone through situations like ours and blamed each other. But it just pulled us closer together. Our family knitted like a very tight woven sweater” says Susan. “We still go to the cemetery on special days,” adds Chuck. “It’s hard to close that chapter in your life, but you have to move on.” With three children and seven grandchildren, Chuck and Susan have always tried to lead by example, and spend as much quality time together with the children as possible. “Our children could see if we got mad at each other that we’d talk about it,” says Susan. “We didn’t fight. There were no yelling and screaming matches. We traveled with them, spending time with them and letting them see how we interacted with each other.” What advice do the Edwards have for young couples just starting their life together? “Don’t ever go to bed mad,” says Chuck. “You can’t say that,” Susan interjects playfully, “because I think we have actually gone to bed mad. But just talk about it. Don’t hold grudges.You might not like what you’re hearing, but you’ve got to accept it and not try to change that person. Don’t go into a marriage thinking ‘he’ll do it my way later on.’” The ability to laugh doesn’t hurt either. On their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple Chuck gave Susan a giant bouquet of red roses. “But it was the day before Valentines and he left them in the truck,” Susan remembers. “It went down to like 17 degrees that night!” “I walked in thinking I was doing something really great,” recalls Chuck, “and the minute the heat hit them
they turned immediately black and the tops fell off.” They burst out laughing like it was yesterday. “I just got toothpicks and scotch taped them back together,” Susan says with the sweetest smile. The Calhouns Roosevelt and Dorothy Calhoun met on Christmas night, 1966. Both were divorced. “My girlfriend came by and got me up out of the bed that day,” recalls Dorothy. “She said ‘we’re going out tonight!’” They went to a club, where she and Roosevelt met. Dorothy was wearing her sisters’ earrings, and while dancing, one of them fell off and was stepped on and broken. “I was upset because I had borrowed them,”
arried 45
Dorothy
un. M velt Calho and Roose
years.
www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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says Dorothy. “Then he (Roosevelt) said ‘well, I can fix it and bring it to you tomorrow.’” “I didn’t even know how to fix an earring,” Roosevelt says laughing, remembering it was his way of getting to see her again. “I had to look at the other one to figure it out.” But his makeshift jewelry skills paid off. A few days later, Dorothy arranged for a friend to invite Roosevelt to an event they were attending. That was 45 years, four children, and 10 grandchildren ago. Both are now retired, and as they look back on their life together, you see a loving couple who still have a sparkle in their eyes for one another. Like many couples, they have faced challenges in their marriage — two heart attacks and triple bypass surgeries for Roosevelt. The heart attacks resulted in the loss of all of his toes, and grueling recoveries tested them to their limits. But when asked about their greatest challenge, the story they relate ends up being more like a blessing. “The thing that really made us stronger...well, the thing that made me stronger, was in 1984 I got saved.” says Dorothy. “It made me know that I wasn’t all that and a piece of cake,” she The Calhouns on their wedding day. says laughing. “After I established a relationship with the Lord, I knew that forgiveness was the main part of it. The key in our marriage, as far as I’m concerned, is forgive24
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
ness and respect, [and] the only person you can change is yourself.” ”But when I got saved it was almost like having the Devil in the bed with [me],” recalls Dorothy. “But I also knew that the Bible says ‘a sanctified wife will sanctify your husband.’” Roosevelt resisted, reluctant to accept his wife’s transformation. “But I saw the change in her,” he says. “So she invited me to the church and I got filled with the Holy Spirit right there.” Today, the Calhoun’s are charter members of New Life Church of God In Christ, where Roosevelt is the chairman of the Deacon Board, and Dorothy is the Mother of the Church, an advisory position to the younger people. Their faith, love, and life experience put them in a unique position to offer advice to young couples embarking on a life together. But their advice is valuable whether the marriage is one year old, or 50. “There are just three of you in your marriage: you, your spouse, and God. Keep your personal business between you and don’t involve family or friends.” “Try not to go to bed mad. Somebody’s got to say ‘I’m sorry’.” “Don’t keep secrets from each other.” “Be careful what you say because it might just happen. Instead, speak unity into your marriage.”
Prime Montgomery
Readers Are Talking... Rock and Roll Will Stand (June 2011) “I accidently stumbled on this article. Have always wondered what happened to Mr. Grier. He taught me world history in 9th grade. He was such an influence I majored in history at U. of A. I can also remember when my dad took me in the lounge at the Riviera to see him perform with the Sonny Grier Trio. Play on Mr. Grier!” Bill Loving
Beth Nielsen Chapman (October 2011) “I use to tell my family about you, and I too, smoked with you in the Cloverdale bathroom, and I knew YOU would be somewhere.You have not changed a bit! God bless you.” Sheree Penn Joyce
Prime
“What a treasure, and what luck for Montgomerians for us to claim you as one of our own!” Angie Ludell
wife, mother, hit songwriter, breast cancer survivor
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
October 2011
MontgoMery
FREE
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Birds: What a Tweet! La$ Vega$: Gambling on a Good Time
INSIDE
nSoup’s
On! Now? Ground Cover Cancer Basics Enrollment nCrossword & Sudoku nDVDs & more! nRefinance
nGrow
nBreast
nMedicare
Big BAM Shows (November 2011) “My buddy Jimmy Adams and I were trapped in that Holiday Inn bar with Peter Noone and Hermans Hermits. The cops locked us in to keep the screaming girls from crashing the doors. It got foggy as the night went on. I think I still have autographs.” Ted Arnold
Prime Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
November 2011 F R E E MontgoMery Music of a Generation: Kenny Rogers & the First Edition
The Big BAM Shows
Roy Orbison
Jerry Lee Lewis
ristie Lou Ch
Paul Revere & the Raiders
INSIDE
9 Treasures
from Alabama’s past
nFall
Flowers Pies Home & Hearing Loss nCrossword, Sudoku nHospice Explained nDiabetes nFried Apple
nRefinancing Your
“I’m from N.C. but spent the America’s First Thanksgiving summer of ’68 in Wetumpka. Went to the Big Bam concert. Paul Revere & Raiders, Lou Christie, Billy Joe Royal & others. Fantastic and I’ll never forget. It seems there was a show the previous week that I missed. But I remember that the fans mobbed the Hermits and a guitar was lost.” David Thornton (It’s not where you think it was.)
nHunting
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25
around Montgomery
February Mystery
T
his majestic American bald eagle is a fitting Valentine’s month symbol, since eagles, once paired, remain together until one dies. Our eagle is slightly tattered, with frayed wing tips exposing a bit of rebar, and cracks etched across its wings. Its curved neck ends in the characteristic hooked beak (made of keratin) and piercing gaze (they have very good eyesight). Find our concrete-feathered friend, snap your photo with it in the background (doubtful you can get very close), and send it by February 15 to be entered in a drawing for a gift certificate to Mr. Gus Ristorante. The winner will have their photo printed in the next issue of Prime Montgomery. E-mail photo and contact information to jakebroberts1@gmail.com.
The December/January Mystery location is the obelisk at the Alabama War Memorial. Mack Nixon of Montgomery recognized it and sent this photo.Thanks, Mack! We’ll send along your Mr. Gus Ristorante gift certificate.
Jan. 27–Feb. 7
February 3–7
Tickets starti February 14: SOLD OUT!
ng at
$45
Second Show Added! February 13
Featuring Scot Bruce as Elvis Presley and John Mueller as Buddy Holly
Coming this Spring! Henry VIII & The Merry Wives of Windsor 26
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
AlAbAmA ShAkeSpeAre FeStivAl
montgomery, Alabama 1.800.841.4273 www.ASF.net
health
Marci’s Medicare Answer February 2012 Dear Marci, I receive outpatient mental health treatment for substance abuse. How much will Medicare pay for my treatment? — Giles Dear Giles, Medicare will help pay for treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse in outpatient settings if: n You receive services from a provider or facility that accepts Medicare; n Your doctor states that the services are medically necessary; and n Your doctor sets up your plan of treatment. Medicare Part B helps pay for outpatient substance abuse treatment services from a clinic or hospital outpatient department. In 2012, Medicare will pay 60 percent of its approved amount for mental health services, and you or your supplemental insurance will be responsible for the remaining 40 percent.You or your supplemental insurance will also be responsible for a coinsurance to the clinic or hospital, which can be no more than the inpatient hospital deductible for that year ($1,156 in 2012). Covered services include, but are not limited to: n Psychotherapy n Patient education regarding diagnosis and treatment n Post-hospitalization follow-up n Prescription drugs administered during a hospital stay or injected at a doctor’s office. Dear Marci, I enrolled in a new drug plan during Fall Open Enrollment. When I went to the pharmacy in January to pick up my prescription, there was no problem. But when I went to pick up that same prescription this month, I was denied and told that my plan doesn’t cover the drug. Why was the drug approved in January but denied in February? — Daphne Dear Daphne, Your drug was covered in January because you were eligible for a transition refill. A transition refill, also known as a transition fill, is typically a one-time, 30-day supply of a drug that Medicare drug plans must cover when you are in a new plan or when your existing plan changes its coverage. A transi-
tion fill lets you get temporary coverage for drugs that aren’t on your plan’s formulary or that have restrictions on them (such as prior authorization or step therapy). Transition fills aren’t for new prescriptions.You can only get a transition fill for a drug you were already taking before switching plans or before your existing plan changed its coverage. All Medicare Part D drug plans must cover transition fills. The rules apply to both Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage and Medicare stand-alone drug plans. When you use your transition fill, your plan must send you a written notice within three business days. The notice will tell you that the supply was temporary and that you should either change to a covered drug or file a request with the Part D plan (called an exception request) to ask for coverage. Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org.
• Physical Therapy • • Wellness/Personal Training •
3442 Eastdale Circle • Montgomery, AL 36117 (334) 279-5757 www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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feature
The Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery is filled with pictures that have burned themselves into the national consciousness. (Photo by Sam Kittner)
Headlines of History Washington DC’s Newseum
O
By Andrea Gross Photos as noted
ne minute I'm standing in front of eight 4’ wide, 12’ tall sections of the Berlin Wall. A few minutes later, I'm watching videos of the moon landing, Princess Diana's wedding, JFK's assassination, 9/11.... As I walk through the Newseum, Washington DC’s 250,000-square-foot paean to journalism, I'm reminded of the old adage: Yesterday's news is today's history. The museum, located on Pennsylvania Avenue just blocks from the National Mall, contains more than 35,000 newspapers, including one from 1718 that heralds the death of Blackbeard, the notorious British pirate, and one started by the brother of Benjamin Franklin. It’s filled with journalisticallyrelevant artifacts, like the microphone used by Edward R. Murrow for his radio broadcasts during the Blitz and the notebook used by the Newsweek reporter who broke the Monica Lewinsky story. 28
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
In addition, the Newseum houses hundreds of videos. A person could spend hours just watching videos—from an eight-minute overview of major events narrated by Charles Osgood to a 25-minute look at the history of sports reporting. I hesitate before walking into the Comcast 9/11 Gallery. Do I really want to relive that horrible day? But of course I go in and sit spellbound as journalists who were there tell what they did to bring the story to the rest of us. The audience is transfixed; the room is completely silent. I feel as if I’m in a church. All told, the Newseum houses 15 theaters and 14 main exhibits. My personal favorite is The Pulitzer Prize Gallery, a collection of photographs that deliver a gut-punch to the soul. There's the horrified girl who saw her fellow student shot at Kent State, the napalm-burned child running down
a street in Vietnam, the flag being one, reporter-wannabes try readraised on Iwo Jima.Video intering a news report from a Televiews with the photographers give prompter and writing a story on the story behind the story. deadline. In another, they confront In addition, there are a number ethical problems. When is it okay of temporary exhibits that will to quote anonymous sources? Is only run until the end of this year. it more important to photograph One of the most popular and a dying child who’s about to be poignant, “Inside Tim Russert's eaten by a vulture, and thus alert Office,” shows the famous newsthe world to the plight of the Suman's desk arranged exactly as it danese, or is it better to drop the was on the day of his death. camera and try to save the child?* Another, titled “First Dogs,” feaI wander out on the terrace, tures nearly two dozen pets that where a guide tells me that the have provided our presidents with Newseum was built on the site of apolitical companionship. These the old National Hotel. include Coolidge’s white Collie, “That’s the hotel where John which was photographed wearing The Unibomber’s cabin is part of the new “G-men and Wilkes Booth stayed when he Journalists” exhibit. (Photo by James P. Blair/Newseum) an Easter bonnet; George H. W. plotted the murder of AbraBush’s English Springer ham Lincoln,” he Spaniel, which was says. Inside I see the credited with writnewspaper announcing ing a bestselling book; the assassination of and Warren Harding’s the president as well Airedale, which atas ones telling of the tended Cabinet meethunt for Booth. ings with his master. For contemporary (One can only wonder events, there's the what scandals would broadcast studio have been adverted if where ABC News the dog had barked a films its Sunday mornfew words of caution ing program, “This into the President’s Week.” Behind the ear.) desk where George On a more serious Stephanopoulos note, the “G-Men and interviews the week's Journalists” exhibit newsmakers is the The Newseum complex, just blocks from the National Mall, is deserving of a banner provides insight into famous view of the headline. (Photo by James P. Blair/Newseum) the tension between capitol. law enforcement and the press, But even more interesting is showing how the press prevents the daily display of the front pages abuses of power but also makes of 80 newspapers from across the work of the special agents the United States and around the more difficult. More than 200 artiworld, posted every morning at 6 facts complement the photos and a.m. Washington time. They are a newspapers, including the cabin stark reminder that while we in used by the Unibomber and the the United States may be absorbed electric chair that ended the life of with the presidential primaries, Bruno Hauptmann, who steadfastly the people in New Zealand are denied that he was the person focused on something else entirely. who kidnapped the Lindbergh www.newseum.org baby. *Note: Faced with this dilemma, Later, after a quick lunch in the Kevin Carter opted to snap the awardWolfgang Puck cafe on the lower winning photo. Afterwards he chased level, I explore some of the interthe vulture away, but haunted by the active galleries, which are among scene and by his own priorities, he A replica of Tim Russert’s office on the day of his death, on the museum's most popular. In committed suicide a few months later. display through 2012. (Photo by Maria Bryk/Newseum) www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012 29
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February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
Support the Businesses that Support Prime Montgomery When you visit any of these businesses, let the owner or manager know you’re a Prime Montgomery reader, and you appreciate their support of the River Region’s premiere monthly magazine focusing on those of us 50+ (Ad page numbers are listed after each advertiser’s name.)
Active Health and Rehab - 27 Alabama Artificial Limb & Orthopedic Service - 15 Alabama Shakespeare Festival - 26 All Ears Hearing Centers - 36 Bou Cou Boutique - 14 Carter PhotoDesign - 30 Corner on Dentistry - 6 Elmcroft of Halcyon - 11 Hospice Care of Montgomery - 5
ITEC - 12 Kynard Korner’s Boutique - 10 Life Alert - 36 MCA Fitness Center - 14 Montgomery Ballet - 30 Montgomery Symphony - 20 Mr. Gus’ Ristorante - 13 Stone Images Photography - 25 Taoist Tai Chi Society - 32 Walton Law Firm (Auburn) - 2
American Heart Month: Your Heart, Your Hearing Studies show a healthy cardiovascular system has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, trauma to your heart, arteries and veins, in particular blood vessels of the cochlea, can cause hearing damage. Research over the past six decades has found that an impaired cardiovascular system adversely affects both the peripheral and central auditory system. Studies also indicate that improving your cardiovascular system can have a positive impact on your hearing. All Ears Hearing Centers encourages everyone with heart disease to include a hearing check as part of their routine medical exams. A damaged heart can not only affect your hearing, but interfere with your 6912 Winton Blount Blvd. ability to do simple things such as Montgomery, AL 36117 household chores, shopping, hunting, 334-281-8400 www.allearscenters.com and even taking a casual stroll. www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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FEBRUARY CALENDAR
G EVENTS
RECURRIN
Exercise Class, Bible Study, Bingo.Various days, times, locations. Mtgy. Area Council on Aging, www.macoa.org, 334-2630532. Zumba. Tues. 5-6 pm, Jackson Hospital, www.jackson.org, 334-293-8978. Jam Sessions. 2nd, 4th Sat. 9 am-noon, Old Alabama Town, www.oldalabamatown.com. 334-240-4500 Art Class. Tues., Wed. 10 am, Perry Hill United Methodist Church, www.perryhillumc.org, 334-272- 3174 Montgomery Bridge Club. Lessons, games, tournaments. Mulberry St. www.montgomerybridgeclub.org, 334-265-2143. Docent lead tours. Sundays. Mtgy Museum of Fine Arts. 1-2 pm. SUPPORT GROUPS Hearing Loss. 2nd Thurs., 4 pm, First United Methodist Church, 334-262-3650. Gluten Intolerance. 4th Thurs. 6-7 pm, Taylor Rd. Baptist Church. Speaker, research, symptoms, etc. Sample gluten-free food. For info 334-328-5942, http://gfmontgomery.blogspot. com. Cancer. Tues. 10-11 am, Mtgy Cancer Center. For info 334279-6677. Visually impaired. 2nd Tues. 1-2:30 pm, Aldersgate United Methodist Church. For info 334-272-6152. Fibromyalgia. 3rd Tues., 6-8 pm, Frazer Church. For info, 334-272-8622. Parkinson. 4th Sun., 2 pm, Cloverdale School, Fairview Ave. For info 334-328-8702 or 334-322-6301. Alzheimer’s/Dementia. 1st Thurs., 11 am, Frazer Church. For info 334-272-8622.
THEATRE /
MUSIC / DA
NCE
Feb. 2-12, “The Gin Game.” Cloverdale Playhouse inaugural season. Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info 334-262-1530, www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org. 960 Cloverdale Road. $. Feb. 9-12, “Tuna Does Vegas.” Millbrook Community Players, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info 334-782-7317, www. millbrooktheatre.com. $ Feb. 9-25. “Lend Me A Tenor!” Wetumpka Depot Players. Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info, 334-868-1440, www. wetumpkadepot.com. $ Feb. 9-26, “Big River”, Faulkner Dinner Theatre, Faulkner U. 6 pm. For info 334-386-7190, boxoffice@faulkner.edu. $ Feb. 16-26, “Proof”, Theatre AUM. Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info 334-244-3632. $ Feb. 10, 11, 7:30 pm. Capri Theatre. Clefworks presents postclassical string quartet ETHEL. For info. http://clefworks. org/index.php, www.ethelcentral.com/index.html. $ 32
February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
Feb. 17 (7:30 pm), 18 (2:30, 7:30 pm). “Swan Lake.” Montgomery Ballet & Alabama Ballet. Mtgy Performing Arts Centre. For info/tickets 334-481-5100, www.montgomeryballet.org. $ EDITOR’S NOTE: The Montgomery Ballet has a new Artistic Director, Darren McIntyre. Originally from Australia, McIntyre is a graduate of the Australian Ballet School and has toured extensively in the U.S., Australia, Asia, Canada, Europe and South America, performing both classical and contemporary works. Feb. 25, 6 pm, Capri Theatre, Sound of Music Sing-Along Fundraiser. $ OTHER Feb. 10, 11. 4th Annual Southern Studies Conf. AUM. Music, art show, lectures (geography, art, history, literature, theater, more) For info./register, visit www.aum.edu/aumlac. Feb. 11, 6 pm. Auction for Missions. St. James United Methodist Church. Items include gift certificates, antiques, furniture, oriental rugs, original artwork, more. For info, 334-277-3037. Feb. 17-18. AUM Homecoming. Alumni reception (17th 6-9 pm), parade with bands, floats, throws (18th 11 am). For info, visit www.aum.edu. Feb. 21, 1-3 pm, Muscadine pruning workshop hosted by the AL Cooperative Extension System. Barber Berry Farm, 2362 Alabama River Parkway (Millbrook side of the toll bridge). Millbrook. Register by Feb. 17. For info, Elmore Co. ACES, 334567-6301. $ Feb. 22, 11 am-1 pm. Retired Officers Wives Club luncheon. Arrowhead CC. Open to wives and widows of retired officers and active duty career officers. New attendees only call Janet Lewis, 334-567-9872 or Linda Davis, 334-224-9929 by Feb. 17.
Can I Do Tai Chi If I Have: •Parkinson’s or MS? •Arthritis/Fibromyalgia? •Knee, hip, or back problems? •Diabetes/neuropathy? •Cardiovascular problems? •Poor balance, weak muscles?
YES! YO U C A N ! 832-1907
www.taoist.org Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA, Alabama Branch
prime diversions Across 1 Detective Pinkerton 6 Bug-eyed with excitement 10 Formally give up 14 Let, as a flat 15 Place for doves, not hawks 16 x or y line 17 Type of government spending typified by the Bridge to Nowhere 19 Tach measures: Abbr. 20 Very old: Abbr. 21 More furtive 22 Disco __ 23 Unlike Wabash College 25 "Two Tickets to Paradise" singer 29 "Gunsmoke" star James 31 "We're outta here!" 32 Doctor's request 33 Studio warning 36 Long, long time 37 (At) maximum capacity 40 "Because I said so!" elicitor 43 Bad time for a procrastinator 44 Planet's path 48 Big honey brand 50 Fishing line tangles
51 Classic candy bean 55 Michelle of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" 56 57-Across brand 57 Casual pants 59 Bird: Prefix 60 Flat-topped rise 62 Brew after a shot (and, in a way, what the end of 17-, 25-, 37-, or 51-Across can be) 64 Poet Khayyรกm 65 Beige shade 66 Absorb a loss, slangily 67 Responsibility 68 Eyelid affliction 69 Spars on board Down 1 Llama relatives 2 "Il Trovatore" soprano 3 Grand or petit crime 4 Look for answers 5 Birds' bills 6 Pungent 7 Injured in the bullring 8 "SNL" alum Cheri 9 Hair-holding goo 10 Metaphorical incentive 11 Broad area 12 Lower, as lights
13 Twisting shape 18 Quaffs in tankards 22 Rock music's __, Lake & Palmer 24 Unwilling to listen 26 "Splendor in the Grass" director Kazan 27 Self-esteem 28 Over there, to Milton 30 Sleep, informally 33 Like the hills? 34 Miami Heat gp. 35 Prince __ Khan 38 Leopold's co-defendant 39 Butler's carrying aid 40 N.Y. financial paper 41 Color 42 Bawls out 45 Chicken choices 46 "That's perfect as is!" 47 Casual tops 49 Clouded, as vision 50 Harmony 52 Unique button in 007's Aston Martin 53 Suspicious 54 Oater star Lash 58 Noah's irstborn 60 Stylish, in the '60s 61 Outback runner 62 Teachers' degs. 63 Little battery (c)2012 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
Sudoku answers -- page 11 Crossword answers -- page 12
www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012
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prime diversions
Recent dvd releases Real Steel, 50/50 and Moneyball
Real Steel (PG-13) This near-future sci-fi drama may look in the trailers like a dystopian high-tech noisefest. The premise is pro boxing, in which human pugilists have been replaced by gigantic humanoid robots, making some sort of convergence between gladiators and monster trucks the rage of the day. Hugh Jackman stars as an ex-boxer who never quite made the Big Time, scrambling to eke out a living by operating whatever level of fighting ‘bot he can patch together from a shoestring budget and the scrap heap. His role is not only underdog, but undermined by extensions of the internal demons that short-circuited his promising ring career. After setting up the fighting and financial plot points, the story adds the existence of an eleven-year-old son he’s ignored while traveling to low-level arenas. His ex and her hubby have vacation plans, leading to a summer visitation deal with plenty of misgivings all around. That shifts the essence of the story from the hustlers and mayhem to a father-son learning and bonding experience. The script derives more from Shane, Rocky and The Champ than from Mad Max. If you can suspend enough disbelief for all the required logical and temporal stretches, the result is a surprisingly effective couple of hours, engaging on both the f/x and sentimental levels. There are few surprises in the story arcs, but the inevitable climactic battle delivers all the literal and figurative punch that genre fans could wish for.
50/50 (R) Unless you’re producing a tearjerker for the Lifetime Cable Network, disease movies are tricky business. Sugar-coating the course and effects of the subject illness can render the product anywhere from insipid to offensive - especially to those who’ve lived with that particular reality. As true as that may be for dramas, the juggling act is even harder for comedies. That makes this loosely fact-based account of a seemingly-healthy young man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) shocked by the diagnosis of a rare, life-threatening spinal tumor such a uniquely satisfying film. The humorous elements come largely, though hardly exclusively, from his best friend (Seth Rogen), as Gordon-Levitt copes with every aspect of adjusting to his condition, debilitating course of treatment, and their effects on everything he does, and all who know him. How to manage his parents’ reactions; how will his girlfriend handle such a drastic change in their still-emerging romance; how will he deal with chemotherapy and its side-effects; who can he count on; what can 34 February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com
he expect of himself; most importantly, will he beat it or die before 30? As bleak as that all sounds (not even counting the Mark Glass overcast skies of its Pacific Northwest setting), there’s plenty of heart and humor in Will Reiser’s screenplay that feels completely natural to the premise, with no forced antics or gimmicks to artificially lighten the tone. That adds up to one of the year’s more impressive writing performances, worthy of consideration during Awards Season.
Moneyball (PG-13) Somebody up there must really like Billy Beane, as firmly proven in this fact-based drama. After washing out as a highly-touted baseball prospect, he found a job most fans and ex-jocks would kill for - general manager of the Oakland A’s. Despite their existence as a small-market team, forcing them to compete on a budget that’s dwarfed by the Yankees, Red Sox and others, the A’s made the playoffs in 2001 as the film opens. But they lost three of their top stars to higher bidders. Charged with rebuilding for the next year, Beane defied all conventions of scouting by turning to a nerdy stats freak (Jonah Hill), who, as a disciple of Bill James and his Sabremetric analyses of teams and players, steered Beane into a number of counterintuitive roster moves. Early failures reinforced all the resistance to this new approach to winning, before the team started clicking, and living up to the actuarial predictions, and providing vindication for managing by math. Besides his dream job, Beane is played here by Brad Pitt. Clean living clearly pays off. At least that’s the way it seems to one who’d be lucky if his own biopic role were filled by John Turturro, rather than Saul Rubinek. Envy aside, the script artfully mixes the off-field and historical backdrop for Beane’s gutsy moves in the 2002 season with the main theme and action sequences. Then-manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is not likely to enjoy his depiction, but most viewers - A’s fans and otherwise - will find a thoughtful insider’s view of The Show. Highlights include the presentation of the team’s dramatic late-season winning streak, and a surprisingly effective understated performance by Hill, showing serious acting chops beyond the lowbrow comedy gigs that made him a minor star. Now he’s showing big-league potential, perhaps with more upside than Beane’s career as a player.
For baseball fans
For everyone else
Mark Glass is an officer and director of the St. Louis Film Critics Association.
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x Love means never having to say... ” ? t a h W “
One crucial ingredient in any healthy relationship is the ability to listen.
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A hearing problem negatively impacts relationships with family, friends and co-workers. If you or a loved one have difficulty hearing,
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6912 Winton Blount Blvd. • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-281-8400 • www.allearscenters.com
“The doctor to see is an ENT.”