Prime Montgomery June 2011

Prime Celebrating Midlife and Beyond

June 2011

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Montgomery

A Winning Spirit Heirloom Sewing: Threads of Life INSIDE nSpace Adventure nShrimp Remoulade nHome

Safety Check List nFor the Outdoor Father nDVD Reviews and more!

Rock ‘n Roll Rolls On!

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond!

Prime

Montgomery

Montgomery

Features 13 MEETING THE CHALLENGE

Two Alabama seniors, scheduled to compete in this year’s Senior Games in Houston, face unique hurdles 18 SEW SPECTACULAR seldom encountered by their Montgomerian Sarah Howard Stone has younger counterparts. spent her life teaching the fine art of French

By Tom Ensey hand sewing. A local treasure, she’s a national leader in the heirloom garment industry.

By Patsy Porter Smith

23 ROCK ‘N ROLL WILL STAND

Local bands The Rockin’ Gibraltars and Harmony look back on their music, plus a trio of bands from the ‘60’s still going strong.

By Lenore Reese Vickrey

June 2011 June 2011

28 TRAVELING THROUGH TIME & SPACE Head into outer space without leaving the safety of earth at the Kennedy Space Center, east of Orlando.

By Andy Gross

Lace and ribbon are everywhere in Sarah Howard Stone’s French hand sewing workshop.

Medical 10 SAFE AT HOME Home can be a dangerous place. Tips, and a check-list, to improve your safety.

12 IN EVERY LIFE Aging in place safely may require changes to your home, and your lifestyle.

By Dr. Arlene Morris

23 8

26 MARCI’S MEDICARE ANSWERS Delaying enrollment in Part D (Drug Plan) may incur a monthly penalty.

Entertainment

OFF THE BEATEN PATH Father’s Day gifts for the outdoor dad, with a handmade suggestion.

By Niko Corley

33 PRIME DIVERSIONS Newly released DVDs fresh from the theater, now playing in your own home..

By Mark Glass

30 JUNE EVENTS CALENDAR

34 PUZZLES

Find music, drama, history and more, right here at home.

Sharpen your pencil as well as your mind, with our crossword and Sudoku.

33

Health/Nutrition

Lifestyles 9 A GRACIOUS PLENTY Need quick and tasty? Shrimp Remoulade fills the bill, and the diners.

By Patsy Porter Smith

Financial 9

21 MOVING FREE WITH MIRABAI Give you AND your lungs a breather.

By Mirabai Holland

16 INVESTMENT SECURITY Don’t risk your life savings by investing in one of these.

By Dr. Joe Borg

On the Cover

17 MONEYWISE One solution to dividing personal property after a death in the family.

By Alan Wallace 22 SOCIAL SECURITY 15 YARD ‘N GARDEN Yard full of sun? Here are great suggestions that love the rays.

By Ethel Boykin 31 WHAT TO CHUCK

If your SSI Benefit is less than you imagined, this may be why.

By Kylle’ McKinney

Guidelines to help you decide which documents to keep, and which to destroy.

Triathlete Pat Fossum, Photo by Bob Corley, Story page 13.

Prime

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond

MONTGOMERY

June 2011 Volume 2, Issue 3 PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Tom Ensey, Andrea Gross, Patsy Porter Smith, Lenore Reese Vickrey CONTRIBUTORS Joe Borg, Ethel Boykin, Mazie Bryant, Tina Calligas, Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland, Kylle’ McKinney, Arlene Morris, Patsy Smith, Alan Wallace PHOTOGRAPHERS Heath Stone, Bob Corley, Patsy Smith INTERN Mazie Bryant SALES Bob Corley, 334-202-0114, primemontgomery@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 2011

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 I was in the sixth grade when the Beatles came to America. Like many of my peers, their arrival changed my life. I’d listened to the radio before that, confiscating my brother’s twotransistor AM whenever possible to sing along with Lesley Gore, Chubby Checker, and Bobby Vinton. But the Beatles were entirely different. Watching them on The Ed Sullivan Show those three Sundays in Feb. 1964 was transfixing. And exhilirating. Even at age 11, the Beatles’ songs, creativity, and inventive personalities engaged me.

They opened the door to an exciting new world full of possibility, transforming ideas, and uncommon people. And their amazing music enthralled us all.

This month, Lenore Reese Vickrey demonstrates how that music of the ‘60s has continued to move us, whether as the catalyst for a lifetime of listening pleasure, or the impetus for a lifelong career or avocation. In “Rock and Roll Will Stand” (page 23) Lenore showcases two local bands who sang and played for us as youngsters, and a few who are still playing the music of that ‘60-70s generation.

Also this month, Prime resident cooking expert Patsy Porter Smith steps out of the kitchen to profile Montgomery native Sarah Howard Stone. In “Sew Spectacular” (page 18) Patsy shows how this icon of French hand sewing has revived that art for a legion of national and international devotees.Visitors from near and far still come to the octogenarian’s Boultier Street store to observe and learn from Mrs. Stone, as she guides them in the creation of heirloom garment masterpieces.

Our cover story, 'Meeting the Challenge,” by Tom Ensey, looks at two Senior Olympians who continue to test their physical strength and endurance, both in practice and in competition, though both are well into their prime. Tom explores the courage and stamina of these two athletes as each faces what may be their toughest competition to date (page 13).

As always, Prime Montgomery’s local columnists continue to pack a powerful punch with their wide-ranging and useful insights. From choosing a functional Father’s Day gift for the outdoorsman on your list (Niko Corley’s “Off the Beaten Path,” page 8), to selecting the best plants for your sun-filled garden spot (Ethel Dozier Boykin’s “Yard N’ Garden,” page 15), to making a home safe for senior living (Dr. Arlene Morris’ “In Every Life,” page 12), to the practical considerations of dividing up an estate (Alan Wallace’s “Moneywise,” page 17), this issue of Prime contains an abundance of handy tips on a variety of topics.

Summer’s here! Whether you’re by the pool, or the shore, or just outside in the back yard, celebrate the season and your Prime!

Sandra Polizos Editor

If you’re 50+ and on Facebook, become a fan of PRIME Montgomery! www.primemontgomery.com | June 2011

5

NEWS YOU CAN USE Aspirin May Help Lower the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer The use of aspirin at least once per month is associated with a significant decrease in pancreatic cancer risk, according to results of a large case-control study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 102nd Annual Meeting. Results showed that people who took aspirin at least one day during a month had a 26% decreased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those who did not take aspirin regularly. The effect was also found for those who took lowdose aspirin for heart disease prevention at 35% lower risk. The researchers did not see a benefit from non-aspirin NSAIDs or acetaminophen. The researchers noted that patients should consult doctors before taking aspirin as a preventive agent.

VVV Dimitri Polizos welcomes renowned chef Ted Nobles to Mr. G’s VVV

Join us for lunch, dinner, and Saturday breakfast. And remember, we cater!

Dimitri

Infrared System Looks for Deadly Melanoma Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a noninvasive infrared scanning system to help doctors determine whether pigmented skin growths are benign moles or melanoma, a lethal form of cancer. The prototype system works by looking for the tiny temperature difference between healthy tissue and a growing tumor.

health measures that are improved by the safflower oil is associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that can increase risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These new findings have led the chief researcher to suggest that a daily dose of safflower oil in the diet – about 1 2/3 teaspoons – is a safe way to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk. (Clinical Nutrition)

Keep Heart Disease at Bay with Safflower Oil A daily dose of safflower oil, a common cooking oil, for 16 weeks can improve such health measures as good cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in obese postmenopausal women who have Type 2 diabetes, according to new research from Ohio State University. This finding comes about 18 months after the same researchers discovered that safflower oil reduced abdominal fat and increased muscle tissue in this group of women after 16 weeks of daily supplementation. This combination of

New Heart Procedure Eliminates X-Ray Exposure A growing body of research continues to warn of potential long-term effects of radiation exposure for patients and medical providers during imaging procedures such as x-rays and CT scans, both traditionally used with certain heart procedures. Researchers at the U. of Virginia Health System have developed an x-ray free technique to treat a common heart disorder; atrial fibrillation (AF) – a breakthrough that could all but eliminate radiation exposure to patients and medical providers. To regulate the heart’s rhythm, doctors commonly perform a catheter ablation in which doctors use x-ray fluoroscopy to guide a catheter, or flexible tube, to the affected area of the heart.

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6268 Atlanta Highway • Montgomery, AL 36117

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The procedure typically lasts three to four hours, leaving patients and medical providers exposed to significant radiation.

But the research team has developed and successfully tested a new technique to perform catheter ablation of AF using an ultrasound catheter and electroanatomic mapping without the use of x-ray fluoroscopy.

High Bacteria Levels in Meat at U.S. Stores According to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers have found high levels of bacteria in meat commonly found on U.S. grocery store shelves, with more than half of the bacteria resistant to multiple types of antibiotics. While the meat is still safe to eat when properly cooked, consumers should take precautions in handling the raw meat. Washing hands and counters before and after handling meat and keeping other foods away from uncooked meat are ways to prevent disease from spreading.

Steer Clear of Acid Reflux Reflux (heartburn) happens when stomach contents come back upwards.

Sometimes painless, you may have trouble swallowing or get a dry cough or wheezing.

The National Institutes of Health offers these tips to help you avoid reflux: -- maintain a healthy weight -- eat smaller meals -- avoid triggering foods, including alcohol -- don’t lie down for three hours after a meal -- raise the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches by putting wood blocks under the bedposts -- for an infant, try burping frequently during feeding, and keep the infant upright for 30 minutes after feeding -- if you have reflux twice or more per week, see your health care provider Caregiver’s Guide To Alzheimer’s The National Institute on Aging has a downloadable guide to caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Written in clear language, the guide is designed

to help you understand and cope with the many challenges of caring for the person with AD. Here are a few caregiver comments taken from the guide: “I find that a hug makes my dad feel more secure, so I try to give him lots of hugs.”

—James A. “There is nothing as lonely as fixing three meals a day for someone who can no longer talk to you.” —A wife “My mom cusses at me every day, usually in public, and usually loudly. I suppose I am beyond the point of being mortified.There’s nothing to do but accept it with good humor.

That did not come easily or quickly. People in the support group tell me that this period probably will not last.”

—Lucille To learn more about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, download the National Institute on Aging guide: www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimer’s/Publications/ CaringAD/

Protect Yourself From Health Scams Find out about a product before you buy. Question what you see or hear in ads. Media don’t often verify the claims of advertisers. Don’t let a salesperson talk you into making a snap decision. Here’s a short list of red flags that may appear in ads or promotional material: -- quick or painless cure -- product made from special, secret, or ancient formula -- unproven case histories from so-called satisfied patients -- cures a wide range of ailments -- cures a disease (arthritis, Alzheimer’s, etc.) that hasn’t been cured by medical science -- no-risk, money-back guarantee -- advance payment/limited supply Quackwatch, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, makes information available to combat health-related fraud, myths, fads, and fallacies. www.quackwatch.org (National Institute on Aging Info Center P.O. Box 8057, Gaithersburg, MD 208988057, 800-222-2225).

When someone reads

Prime Montgomery,

we have their undivided attention.* ( As an adv e r ti s e r, y ou w ill , too.)

Pr i m e Celebrating Midlife

June 2011

and Beyond

FREE

MontgoM

ery

A Winning Spirit

Heirloo m Threads oSewing: f Life IN SI DE

nSpace Adventure nShrimp Remolaude nHome

Safety Che ck List nFor the Outdoor Father nDVD Reviews and more!

Rock ‘n Rolls ORn!oll

Prime Montgomer y adver tising is effective & affordable. Find out HOW effective and HOW affordable. Call or e-mail today.

Bob Corley • 334-202-0114 primemontgomery@gmail.com

*When consumers read magazines they are much less likely to engage with other media or to take part in non-media activities compared to the users of TV, radio or the Internet. (BIGresearch Simultaneous Media Usage Study)

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Budget Gifts for a Sportsman Father

F

ather’s Day is around the corner, a day when we recognize Dad for his love, patience and sacrifice. In the current economic state Father’s Day gift budgets are slimmer than year’s past.

Here are some items I consider good buys, available at major sporting goods retailers.

For the outdoorsman…

What guy doesn’t like flashlights? Dad Niko Corley & Bella played with one as a kid and today it’s no different. The standard 2D-cell Maglite is still a great option for price and durability, but they’re a little on the heavy side, which for defensive purposes is a good thing.

If your Dad needs a light to keep in his briefcase or small pack, the new generation of small but incredibly bright xenon bulb lights are a good option. At 4.4 inches, the inexpensive Streamlight Scorpion has a rubber-coated lightweight machined aluminum body, a tailcap “on/off” switch, unbreakable polycarbonate lens and a spare bulb. An almost 8,000 candlepower bulb will run a solid hour on two 3-volt lithium batteries.You can pick one up for less than $40.

For the fisherman…

If Dad likes to fish you’d be hard pressed to find a better balance of value and performance than the Shimano Sienna series of open face spinning reels coupled with Shakespeare’s legendary line of Ugly Stik Lite rods. Shimano, long known for excellence in fishing reels, offers the Sienna series as a low-priced reel with high dollar features like the Propulsion Line Management system to help with longer casts and fewer backlashes. Available in ultralight to medium-heavy freshwater/inshore sizes, the reels incorporate instant anti-reverse, are approved for mono, fluorocarbon or braided PowerPro lines, and come in either front or rear drag versions.

Shakespeare’s Ugly Stik series of tough, budget priced rods are nigh indestructible, and the Lite line offers all the great features of the heavier rods but in a lighter package, including high quality cork handles with rubber butt caps and black stainless steel guides with polished stainless steel inserts. I own several Ugly Stiks and like Dad, they are tough yet sensitive.

A good combo choice is the Sienna SN4000 in front or rear drag (around $30) and an Ugly Stik Lite six or seven-foot, one-piece medium-heavy rod (under $40). With that combo Dad can tackle bass and catfish at home and speckled trout and redfish on vacation.

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June 2011 | www.primemontgomery.com

For the hunter…

While you might not consider an item more than $500 a “budget buy,” considering the features on Stoeger’s new 12 gauge Model 3500 semiautomatic shotgun, for the money it’s a bargain. I’m a firm believer that simpler is better when it comes to the internal workings of a firearm, and the reliability from the Inertia Driven line of shotguns from Stoeger (a Benelli company) is a good example.

Recoil operated shotguns have fewer moving parts and are lighter than their gas-operated cousins, two reasons I prefer them in the field. Other 3.5” chambered 12 gauges can’t compete on price and many require adjustment when switching between light and heavy loads. Not so with the Stoeger 3500.

Capable of shooting almost every shotgun shell from 2.75” dove loads to 3.5” duck, goose or turkey loads, when coupled with the provided five interchangeable choke tubes, this is a gun Dad can shoot all hunting season long. It’s available in two camouflage patterns or black synthetic, with a 24-, 26- or 28-inch barrel. The 3500 also comes with a shim kit for drop and cast adjustments to give Dad’s new scattergun a custom fit.

Also included are a recoil reducer that fits into the stock and a Weaver-style scope base for mounting a red dot scope for turkey or deer, further expanding the shotgun’s versatility. Personally, I’d go with one of the camo patterns and a 26” barrel.

The Stoeger 3500’s list MSRP is $679 for the models I’ve suggested, but I’m sure one could be found for less.

Or… If you’re still scratching your head about what to get your Dad for Father’s Day, do what you did when you were a kid: make him something. My father is the kind of guy who needs little and wants less. We fly fish together and as any long rod fisherman will tell you, it’s tough to keep all your gear organized and at hand, especially in warm weather that prohibits a vest. I crafted my father a fly fishing lanyard for keeping tippet spools, hemostats, clippers, a line straightener, a knot tool, dry and wet fly solution and several flies around his neck. He might look like the Mr. T of fly fishing but all his gear is close at hand. Happy Father’s Day Pa. Niko Corley is an avid sportsman, spending his free time hunting, fishing and enjoying other outdoor activities. His column covers a range of outdoor recreation activities in central Alabama and beyond. For information on making your own fly fishing lanyard, e-mail Niko at cootfootoutfitters@gmail.com.

A GRACIOUS PLENTY

Simple, Scrumptious Shrimp Remoulade

M

Photos by Margaret Ann McGregor

y husband has been reminding me lately that there is just no more of me to go around.

Seems I’ve been taking on more and more responsibilities in recent months.

Besides cookbook signings and speaking engagements, I have added to the Daily Planner the management of an heirloom sewing company where I have taught classes in the past and the purchase of a children’s clothing pattern line.

Patsy Smith Fun things all, however there’s not always pep in my step at the end of the day, when I should be shifting gears and preparing an evening meal. I am my husband’s wife foremost, though, and my great joy is in taking care of him.

Therein lies the dilemma. As a result, I’ve been depending more on eureka moments on the drive home as I conjure up good meals with minimal kitchen time – much like the meal I present to you this month. Last week I really didn’t want to stand over a hot stove after a long, hot day, so I whipped the car into Publix and came home with steamed shrimp and a bag salad, along with a few vegetables for a Remoulade sauce. A minute at home with the food processor, and the result was a mid-week meal so special that Billy pulled out a good chardonnay. It just felt celebratory.

We first had Shrimp Remoulade at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans years ago. We love it, and I appreciate it more and more for the ease of preparation. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Patsy Smith, a Montgomery native, is the author of two cookbooks, A Cookbook for My Southern Daughter and A Southern Daughter Entertains.

They may be purchased at Capitol Book and News, Rosemont Gardens, Southern Homes and Gardens, Jo’s Hallmark, Richardson’s Pharmacy, and other fine book and gift stores, or through her website at southerndaughtercookbooks.com SHRIMP REMOULADE Per 6 tsp. serving: calories 86; fat 9g; prot ein1g; carbs 2g; fiber 0g; chol 18mg; sodium 93mg; sugars 1g

In a boiler, combine 2 quarts of water, 1 bay leaf, juice from half a lemon, a dash of cayenne, and a few drops of crab boil . Bring to a boil. Add the shrimp. Wh en the shrimp come to the top and have turn ed pink (a couple of minutes), remove shrimp to a colander and cover with ice unti l ready to eat.

Make the sauce. Plate the shrimp with sala

d greens and drizzle with sauce.

SAUCE (MAKES 1 1/2 CUPS) 1/2 c. finely chopped celery 1/4 c. Zatarain’s Creole Mustard, or 1/2 c. finely chopped parsley coarse-grained mustard 1/2 c. ketchup 2 T. paprika 1/2 c. prepared yellow mustard 1 t. cayenne pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 t. salt 3 eggs, room temperature 1/2 c. white vinegar juice of 1 lemon 1 c. finely chopped green onions 1 1/3 c. salad oil dash of Tabasco Place all ingredients except oil in a blen der or food processor. Process on high until smooth. Gradually add oil in a steady stream. Sauce will thicken to mayonn aise consistency. Chill until ready for use.

FEATURE

S

SAFE At Home

erious falls most often happen around the house. If falls occur later in life the result can range from inconvenient to catastrophic. Recognizing dangerous situations and protecting yourself from falls not only helps preserve your independence at home, but makes you more aware of falls and the need to protect yourself regardless of where you live.

Here’s a list of items to consider to make your immediate surroundings safer for you and others. We’ve also provided a Check List you can cut out and mark-off as you go through the inspection.

Stairways n Make sure handrails are not broken and are securely fastened. n Both sides of the steps should have handrails.

Floors and rugs n Make sure floor boards are even and rugs, including area rugs, are secured to the floor with tacks, non-skid pads or double-sided tape. (Or, do away with area and ‘throw’ rugs altogether.) n Use non-skid floor wax.

Bathroom n Be sure that you can move safely in bathroom area, and in and out of the tub or shower. n Remove soap build-up in tub or shower on a regular basis. n Place non-slip strips in bath/shower. n Install adjustable height shower heads. n Mount grab bars securely at the toilet, bath and shower,

n

reinforcing if necessary to prevent them coming loose.

Secure bath mats with non-slip, double-sided rug tape.

Kitchen n Place frequently used items, both dishes and food, within easy reach. n If you must use a step stool,be sure it has a bar at the top to grip.

Lighting n Place night lights in hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, and stairways. n Install light switches at the top and bottom of stairs. n Place a lamp (and telephone) near your bed. n Keep lighting uniform in each room and add lighting to dark spaces.

All Rooms n Check the entire floor plan for obstacles to safe movement. n Move newspapers, boxes, electrical and phone cords, plants, and furniture out of traffic areas. n Store clothing, bed coverings, and other household items where you can reach them comfortably.

Outside of your home n Repair holes, uneven joints on walkways. n Arrange to have leaves, snow, and ice removed from stairs and walkways.

Use salt or sand throughout the winter months. n Make sure outside lighting is working in entryways and other walk areas. n Check that handrails are not broken and are securely fastened. Both sides of steps should have handrails.

LEARN MORE! Several organizations can help you learn about fall prevention and assist you in determining the safety of your home. Some can even help with modifications needed to make your home safe.

Montgomery Area Council on Aging (MACOA) www.macoa.org 115 East Jefferson Street 334-263-0532

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging http://www.4na.org 202-872-0888

Alabama Department of Senior Services www.alabamaageline.gov/contact.cfm 770 Washington Avenue RSA Plaza Suite 570, Montgomery 334-242-5743; 877-425-2243

10 June 2011 | | www.primemontgomery.com

Eldercare Locator www.eldercare.gov 800-677-1116 Rebuilding Together Central Alabama www.rebuildingtogether.org 1125 WE. Fairview Ave., Suite 105 Montgomery; e-mail: info@rtbama.org (A national organization with local chapters that helps repair/modify homes of older, low-income homeowners.)

Check List for Hazards/Accessibility 1. EXTERIOR ENTRANCES AND EXITS __ Note condition of walk and drive surface; existence of curb cuts __ Note handrail condition, right and left sides __ Note light level for driveway, walk, porch __ Check door threshold height __ Note ability to use knob, lock, key, mailbox, peephole, and package shelf __ Do door and window locks work?

2. INTERIOR DOORS, STAIRS, HALLS __ Note height of door threshold, knob, hinge types; clear width door opening; direction door swings __ Note presence of floor level changes __ Note hall width, adequate for walker/wheelchair __ Determine stair flight run: straight or curved __ Note stair rails: condition, right and left side __ Examine light level, clutter hazards __ Note floor surface texture and contrast 3. BATHROOM __ Are basin and tub faucets, shower control and drain plugs manageable? __ Are hot water pipes covered? __ Is mirror height appropriate, sitting and standing? __ Note ability to reach shelf above, below basin __ Note ability to step in/out of the bath/shower __ Can resident use bath bench in tub/shower? __ Note toilet height; ability to reach paper; flush; come from sit to stand posture __ Is space available for caregiver to assist?

4. KITCHEN __ Note overall light level, task lighting for makeup, hair styling __ Note sink and counter heights __ Note wall and floor storage shelf heights __ Are under-sink hot water pipes covered? __ Is there under-counter knee space? __ Is there a nearby surface to rest hot foods on when removed from oven? __ Note stove control location (rear or front) 5. LIVING, DINING, BEDROOM __ Chair, sofa, bed heights allow sitting or standing?

E

__ Do rugs have non-slip pad or rug tape? __ Chair available with arm rests? __ Able to turn on light, radio, TV, place a phone call from bed, chair, and sofa?

6. LAUNDRY __ Able to hand-wash and hang clothes to dry? __ Able to access automatic washer/dryer?

7. TELEPHONE AND DOOR __ Phone jack location near bed, sofa, chair? __ Able to get phone, dial, hear caller? __ Able to identify visitors, hear doorbell? __ Able to reach and empty mailbox? __ Wears neck/wrist device to obtain emergency help?

8. STORAGE SPACE __ Able to reach closet rods and hooks, open bureau drawers? __ Is there a light inside the closet?

9. WINDOWS __ Opening mechanism at 42 inches from floor? __ Lock accessible, easy to operate? __ Sill height above floor level?

10. ELECTRIC OUTLETS AND CONTROLS __ Sufficient outlets? __ Outlet height, wall locations __ Low vision/sound warnings available? __ Extension cord hazard?

11. HEAT, LIGHT, VENTILATION, SECURITY, CARBON MONOXIDE, WATER TEMP CONTROL __ Are there smoke/CO2 detectors and a fire extinguisher? __ Thermometer displays easily readable? __ Accessible environmental controls? __ Pressure balance valve available? __ Note rooms where poor light level exists __ Able to open windows; slide patio doors? __ Able to open drapes or curtains?

Checklist provided by Rebuilding Together, 1536 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.1-800-4-REHAB-9 www.rebuildingtogether. org.

Get moving to avoid injuries

xercise can help prevent falls, particularly exercises that enhance balance and coordination.

After identifying fall hazards at home and taking the time to correct them, remaining physically active should be on your ‘to-do’ list.

Ask your physician or pharmacist about the effects of your prescription and non-prescription medications. Some can cause dizziness or light-headedness and lead to a fall. As people age, the effects of medications may change. n Have your eyes checked every year. n

Vision problems can cause falls. n Ask your physician about the physical activity and exercise appropriate for you. n Chose shoes carefully, as they can cause you to trip. Soles should be nonslip and not too thick.

IN EVERY LIFE

Senior Safety at Home

A

s individuals age, various changes can be anticipated in physical functioning. You can plan strategies to organize your environment to promote safety and security as you “age in place.”

Avoid temperature extremes. Changes in circulation and blood vessels can affect temperature regulation as well as a person’s awareness of temperature changes. Medications that affect circulation, dilate blood vessels, inhibit muscular tremors, or suppress awareness of pain can impact response to temperature changes.

Additionally, alcohol affects vascular response Arlene Morris to temperature changes. Strategies include planning activities during early morning or evening hours and remaining in cool settings during the hotter portions of the day, and knowing potential side effects of your medications.

Plan to decrease vulnerability in disasters. The recent tornados reminded us of the need to have a plan for getting to a safe area in our homes on short notice, along with a radio, flashlight and extra batteries. Have a plan to contact family and friends. Keep a list of all medications, doses, and times, and have a supply at least one week, along with food, water and other personal care needs. A cooler may be indicated for medications such as insulin that requires controlled temperature. Keep a copy of healthcare provider contact information if replacement dentures, glasses, hearing aids are needed.

Decrease risk for fires or burns by marking settings on the stove with bright paint if vision is impaired, checking smoke alarm batteries in April and October, having a portable hand fire extinguisher, and having an exit plan in case fires begin in various areas of the home. Remember to “stop, drop, and roll” if clothing catches fire, and to stay low when exiting, as gases and smoke collect near the ceiling. Never smoke in bed! Check electrical wiring for fraying and for grounded plugs. Avoid storing trash near the stove, water heater, or furnace. Have your house checked for gas leaks, chimneys and fireplaces for safety, and wiring for signs of wear or overloading. Keep the hot water setting below120 degrees.

Decrease risk for falls by controlling as many external and internal factors as possible. External factors include adequate lighting; placement of furniture, rugs, phones, and cords for accessibility yet avoidance of tripping; marking borders of steps or sidewalks and having handrails; placing grab bars and elevated seats in the shower/ bath/toilet. Have objects within easy reach to avoid stretching hands over head, which increases risk for falling backward. Caregivers need increased awareness of signs that the person being cared for needs rest when walking --chairs can be placed in hallway or between bed and bath if rest is needed before reaching the intended destination.

Plan placement of your bed to avoid obstacles if you need to arise in the night to use the toilet, or obtain a bedside commode chair.

Internal factors include maintain mobility, balance and muscle strength by keeping as active as possible. Minimize effects of blood pressure drops (orthostatic hypotension) by changing position slowly, especially from lying or sitting to standing. Be aware if any of your medications have dizziness as side effect. Maintain nutrition and hydration, and follow treatments if indicated for various causes of anemia.

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

FEATURE

g n i t Mee the

e g n e l l a h C

By Tom Ensey Photos by Bob Corley

T

he United States Senior Olympics rolls around every two years, but participants in the games prepare year-round, often training every day. This month in Houston, Texas, thousands of athletes from around the U.S. gather to compete in a variety of sports, from track and field to swimming, bowling, golf, badminton and shuffleboard.

The competition is spirited and emotional, with competitors no less dedicated or determined to win than their younger counterparts. But like any sport, the real competition is between the athlete and him or herself.

Every athlete faces challenges, but those encountered by seniors are different, often poignant, and can be more difficult to overcome than the shared challenges athletes of all ages face.

Earlier this year Senior Olympics competitor Robert Lloyd of Prattville lost his bowling doubles partner of more than 15 years, but he’ll still attend the games in Houston to compete in singles.

Pat Fossum of Montgomery, a triathlete and cyclist, is probably one of Alabama’s most highly-decorated athletes. In May she suffered a stroke on the fourth mile of her daily run. Now, she’s re-habbing and making great progress. Within three weeks of the stroke she was walking a third of a mile a day. If she’s able to make it to Houston, she says, she’ll compete.

Lloyd, 84, along with teammate L.V. Beasley, won the silver medal in doubles bowling

Robert Lloyd competes in golf and bowling, but this year faces the competition without his longtime teammate. Below, a small sample of the scores of medals he has won over the years. two years ago in San Francisco. They had traveled together for years to state-level competitions in Mississippi, Georgia and other surrounding states, and to Senior Olympic events around the country. In the process they amassed shelves of medals and trophies. When they collected their secondplace medal in San Francisco, they had a cordial but direct message for the winning team.

“We told them, ‘we’ll see you again in two years in Houston,’” Lloyd said.

Lloyd will be there for his 11th appearance in the Senior Games, but with Beasley having passed away earlier this year, he’ll compete in singles bowling and golf, the other

sport for which he qualified.

Qualifying isn’t easy. It’s based on raw scores acquired at state-sanctioned competitions based on age groups, which are divided into five-year brackets. Lloyd is a little stoked about that as this year he moves into the 84-and-above bracket.

“I’ll be the young guy,” he said, with some of the competitors in this bracket being 100 years old. One year, a blind man competed in bowling using a helper who lined up his shots.

Lloyd got into bowling early, as a pin setter at a bowling alley in Milwaukee, Wis. There were no automatic pin setters then, just small, nimble kids like Lloyd setting pins by hand.

He bowled at his church, and while in the Army bowled and played golf all over the

Triathlete Pat Fossum with a handful of her medals. Above, far right, her Duathalon Gold Medal, won last year in Edinburgh, Scotland. world. Now retired, Lloyd bowls and plays golf several days a week at Prattville bowling alleys and the Maxwell Air Force Base Golf Courses.

He’s been bearing down, he said, kicking it up a notch, focusing and getting ready for the trip to Houston. He’s driving there with his daughter.

Pat Fossum, 76, is a six-time world champion gold medalist. She has also won 13 silver and six bronze medals in world competitions. At 50 she began competing in the triathlon – running, swimming and cycling. Her kids got her into it. When they quit, she continued, competing and winning internationally. Last year she won a world championship in Scotland in a competition that drew representatives from 60 countries.

Triathletes have to be tough. They swim almost a quarter mile, bike more than 15 miles, then run more than six miles. But Fossum is tough and up to the challenge.

She has survived a 1988 battle with breast cancer and is very active in the local Joy to Life Foundation. She came back from that and is confident she can recover from her most recent setback, a minor stroke suffered in early May while training at Vaughn Park in Montgomery.

That Saturday Fossum was battling through a morning train14

June 2011 | www.primemontgomery.com

ing run that wasn’t going well when her husband, Jerry, drove up and insisted she get in the car and not finish the five miles. She ate lunch with friends, but still didn’t feel well. A doctor visit and ambulance ride later, she found out she’d suffered a stroke.

Time in a rehab hospital followed, where she made record progress. Within days she was back home, continuing rehab on her own with the help of Jerry, who describes himself as her biggest cheerleader.

“The doctors are not used to seeing somebody her age who is physically fit,” he said. “Most of their patients get their exercise by walking down the driveway.”

Fossum is weak on her left side and working to regain her balance. She has no problems speaking or with facial control, and trains on a stationary bike at home. She can push with her left side but it takes a conscious effort to maintain balance, so she’s working on that before she gets back on her road bike.

Her years of training have dramatically benefited her in rehab.

When she saw her primary care physician, he was amazed that she walked into his office. Other stroke victims usually don’t recover so quickly. And though she still plans to go to Houston, she’s taking it one day at a time.

“I’m still registered for three events in Houston,” Fossum said.

“I may cut down to one. But if I go, I will compete.”

Other plans are on hold for now, her husband said.

Fossum missed a recent national event in Phoenix where she was slated to run a duathlon -- running and cycling but no swimming. And she won’t compete in a World Championship in Beijing, China this fall, or a national triathlon in Burlington,Vt. “Right now, she’s got other fish to fry,” Jerry said.

Despite the stroke and missed competitions, Fossum has no plans to stop training. It’s therapy and the road back to her competitive lifestyle.

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FINANCIAL

Ponzi Schemes: Alive, Well — and

T

Dangerous

he “Ponzi scheme,” a disrepuEvery investor should realize that Ponzi schemes, even those as table strategy named for, and made extensive as Madoff’s, are not difficult to detect if they know the infamous by, the 1920’s swindler warning signs. Use these tips to help you steer clear of the potenCharles Ponzi, is generally characterized as a tially devastating effects of a classic Ponzi scheme: bogus financial ploy wherein earlier invesn Beware of promises of unrealistic returns. Any legitimate tors are paid with funds from later invesinvestment involves risk. Guarantees of unusually high and/or contors. Although the Ponzi scheme has been sistent returns, regardless of market conditions, should be a clear around for nearly a century, state securities warning sign. regulators continue to uncover new and n Diversify everything. Not putting all your eggs in one basket is more clever variations of this old, but still still good advice. Spread your money around to limit your exposure Joseph P. Borg effective and dangerous, financial scam. One to the financial pitfalls of any single investment. Never invest your fact about the Ponzi scheme has remained consistent over time— entire nest egg in only one financial product. well-intentioned investors still lose their hard-earned money on n Don’t rely on reputation or word-of-mouth alone—undertoo-good-to-be-true stand your investment. promises.

Con artists are experts at Bernard Madoff’s building networks of trust, name has become synmaking investors believe onymous with the modthey are getting an “inside ern-day Ponzi scheme. track” on a hot investment.

Madoff perpetrated Be skeptical of any “inside” a multi-billion dollar investment scam that defrauded information. investors worldwide for n Verify the details. decades until his arrest Always ask detailed quesin December 2008. His tions before you invest. investors, often wealthy Never accept that an individuals or organizainvestment strategy is tions, were lured by the proprietary and cannot promise of consistent, be disclosed. If you don’t steady annual returns understand the investment, through elaborate, don’t invest! fabricated account n Auditors. Legitimate The real Ponzi, Charles Ponzi to be precise, father of pyramid schemers. statements and other fictitious documentation. His schemes began investment companies managing multi-million dollars of assets will to unravel in 2008 as the global economy began to decline. Large use reputable, nationally-known auditing firms to certify financial numbers of his investors began asking to cash-in their investments, statements. If an investment auditor is hard to locate or identify, only to learn that Madoff did not have enough money to cover consider this a red flag! their requests and new money was difficult to obtain during the n Background check. Always check with the Alabama Securieconomic downturn. ties Commission (ASC) to determine if the individuals and firms offering and selling the investment are properly registered with the Commission, as required by law. If the individual claims to be exempt from registration, follow-up with the ASC to confirm the Affordable Housing for the Elderly and Mobility Impaired claim.The ASC can also provide you with the individual’s complaint • Spacious 1 Bedroom Apartments history.

• 24-hour Security n Report fraud. If you are suspicious of a scam or think you may • Planned Activities be a victim of a Ponzi scheme or other financial fraud, call the ASC, • Beauty Salon 1-800-222-1253, to report your concerns.Your call may help keep others from being victimized by the same scam.

If you have questions, concerns or complaints about financial products, contact the ASC, www.asc.alabama.gov, or call or e-mail Dan Lord, Education and Public Affairs Manager, 334-353-4858, dan.lord@asc.alabama.

3721 Wares Ferry Rd. | Montgomery, AL 36109 gov (or at the toll-free number above).The ASC is located at 401 Adams For information call: 334-272-4000 St., Montgomery.

Seton Haven

MONEYWISE

Bones of Contention

A

mong the thorniest issues that a will must address is the distribution of unique personal property to which more than one potential heir has an attachment. Sometimes an item may have genuine economic or historic worth—the pearl necklace bestowed on great grandma

by Queen Victoria—or it may simply have nostalgic value—the family Bible from the early 1800s. Since one-of-a-kind items are not divisible, how do you decide who gets Alan Wallace them when you are gone?

Because this is a challenging process and may lead to some tension or hurt feelings now, many people put off dealing with this set of decisions. That usually just makes matters worse; the need to decide will not go away on its own. If you want your heirs to get along well after you are gone instead of growing bitter, here are five steps to follow: n Find out from each of your heirs what they would like; n Make fair, well-reasoned decisions and document them; n Communicate your decisions to each of your heirs; n Be careful about changing your plans after you have communicated them; n Make provisions to see that your wishes are carried out correctly.

One of the main sources of relational tension and damage is the presence of an expectation gap. If you are not familiar with this term, it means the difference between what one expects to happen and what actually takes place. If you expect someone to meet you at noon and they do not arrive until 1:00, you may be upset because your expectations are disappointed, even if you otherwise would have been fine with a 1:00 appointment. If an heir expects to inherit a particular item that she will not actually get, there is an expectation gap. The longer that a potential heir incorrectly thinks that he will get something, the bigger the

“...resolving the distribution of unique items of personal property is important.”

expectation gap grows; the sooner you communicate your intentions, the smaller the expectation gap.

If you cannot decide who should get certain items, here is a personal story that might help. My wife’s dear Aunt Mary Sue never had children, but she had numerous nephews and nieces.

While Mary Sue was not financially well-to-do, she owned many heirlooms from her parents and was genuinely loved by her entire family. She was able to decide who should receive many items, some of which she handed down during her lifetime, making sure that they went where she thought they should. But for others, she simply could not make up her mind.

Being a woman of wisdom, Mary Sue appointed a trusted nephew with no interest in the personal property to be her executor. She further directed that those items on which she could not decide would be sold to the highest bidder in a sealed auction among the nephews and nieces, each of whom would receive an equal share of the cash generated by the auction. This arrangement allowed each potential heir to set a monetary value on items in which they had an interest, with the person who valued it most purchasing the property. This solution was eminently fair: Each heir had an equal opportunity to bid, and each received an equal share of the cash proceeds.

While I have no supporting documentation, I suspect that Solomon may have been a distant ancestor of Mary Sue Price Cook.

In conclusion, if you want your lasting legacy to be a harmonious family whose members cherish each other and honor your memory, anticipating and resolving the distribution of unique items of personal property is important. Otherwise, one or more of those items may become a bone of contention that destroys relationships among those you love the most.

Alan Wallace, CFA, ChFC, CLU is a Senior Financial Advisor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery office, 334-270-5960, alan.wallace@ ronblue.com.

FEATURE

Sew Spectacular Sarah Howard Stone

By Patsy Smith Photos by Bob Corley, Heath Stone, Patsy Smith

(Editor’s Note: French hand sewing is an art used to create heirloom garments and linens to keep or give as treasures for special occasions. It imitates fine French hand sewing of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. French hand sewing, often referred to as heirloom sewing, is characterized by fine, often sheer, usually white cotton or linen fabrics trimmed with an assortment of lace, insertions, tucks, narrow ribbon, and smocking. Typical projects for French or heirloom sewing include children’s garments, especially christening gowns, and women’s blouses, graduation dresses, wedding gowns, and lingerie.)

R

oyalty lives and walks among us.

Long considered the Queen of French hand sewing in the U.S. and a pioneer in that delicate art, 81-year-old Sarah Howard Stone’s influence on this timeless craft is not bound by distance or time. A Texas visitor drops by Stone’s shop, a planned visit and chat on a lengthy trip, while local grandmothers scour the store to match ribbons and lace for their soonto-be breathtaking creations that will reach across generations.

18

JUNE 2011 | www.primemontgomery.com

Sitting quietly in the heart of Old Cloverdale, the bright, airy store-workshop is an oasis of calm one minute and a whirlwind of activity the next. Using patterns and techniques learned from books written by Stone, along with her freely given critiques, practitioners of French hand sewing create beautiful apparel for their children and grandchildren. The garments she inspires are works of art, heirlooms to be passed down, cherished, and cared for.

A Montgomery native, Stone first learned to “roll and whip” from her mother and became so taken with the art she created new stitches along with innovative techniques.

“As women became interested in learning the techniques,” said Stone, “it became a blessing for me to teach classes, because the things I fashioned in my mind could come to life much more quickly than if I had to make them all myself.”

For five decades Stone has influenced French hand sewing, and sewn regularly with groups for many of those years. The fortunate recipients of her creations and instructions include the ordinary, and the extraordinary.

Several women in Montgomery Brewton, Selma, Mobile, Birmingham. who sewed with Stone (the self-titled They were soon traveling up to 2,600 “Sew and Sews”) created a christening miles a month, including trips to the gown and slip for Lady Bird Johnson’s Embroiderer’s Guild in such places grandchildren. Stone’s sewing group in as Colorado, Arkansas, Connecticut, Monroeville fashioned then-Governor Virginia, and the Carolinas.

Lurleen Wallace a penoir ensemble.

“Melissa once told me,” Stone said, And one of Stone’s books found its laughing, “there was not a place in way to Princess Diana following the America where we could break down birth of Prince William. In fact, rethat we couldn’t call someone for quests for her books come from as far help.” away as Italy and Africa.

Her influence is so great she was “Eventually,” she says, “even Montonce told by a lace distributor that gomery purchased copies for its her customers were the largest public library.” consumers of round thread lace in the Stone taught her first class in 1958 world. at the Montgomery YWCO using In 1980, weary of traveling and patterns drawn on brown paper bags teaching, she wrote her first book dein the middle of her living room floor. tailing and illustrating her techniques.

She soon began buying antique French It was followed by a second book and and Swiss laces along with Swiss several patterns. As testament to the loomed fabrics. As word of her talent timeless appeal of French hand sewspread and people started sewing ing and the quality of her instruction, groups for her to come and teach, Stone’s books and patterns continue these and other items accompanied to sell. Her work has even been feaher “trunk shows” from town to town. tured in Creative Needle, a nationally French hand-sewn garments are distributed needle arts magazine. meant to be appreciated and enjoyed, Stone’s most treasured creation is a and in 1965 Stone held the first of 12-foot detachable train she designed many fashion shows at the Jefferson for her daughters’ wedding gowns.

Davis Hotel ballroom. These were Bordered by 25 medallions fashheld for several years to endow the ioned by hand sewing techniques and Mary McLemore Scholarship Fund embroidery, the train took more than in honor of her dear friend from St. two years to complete. Some of the John’s Episcopal Church. medallions feature designs painted on In the 1970’s Sarah partnered in a the ceiling of St. Johns church during business on Mulberry Street called the 1800’s. Other medallions were de“Sew It Seams,” featuring all the fabsigned to record important events in rics, tools, and laces needed to fashion each daughter’s life – births, baptisms, her garments. After selling that store confirmations, weddings. she opened “The Other Place” on Old While she savors a lifetime of Selma Road. memories, one of her fondest is being “Surprisingly,” she locked up. On purpose. In gratefully acknowledges, the Metropolitan Museum. “even with the drive “I was allowed to be people did not stop “locked in” with the coscoming to see me for tumes stored there and to help with their projects study them,” she recalled. and to buy my materials “From that experience I and laces.” came home with the idea Stone’s daughter for my pattern, “Bijoux.”

Melissa pioneered Stone’s son Bill works French hand sewing by with the family business, machine, a technique Sarah Howard Stone, still widely used today, Inc., and since 1986, Ann and started traveling Schaum has taught classes with her. Together they there. This small but dedi(Top) Heather Clark and children Baylee, Aidan, Anne Elaine, J.E.B.; crisscrossed the state cated cadre continues to (center) Joyce Whittaker with grandchildren (l-r) Alexandra Thomas and teaching classes – Dothan, attract new devotees to Cori Jones, with friend Alivya Gipson; (bottom l-r) Frances Brooks, Anniston, Greenville, French hand sewing and to Bennett Earnest, Lola Campbell.

improve the skills of those who may have learned decades earlier.

In addition to materials for hand sewing, the shop sells a product created by her husband to restore discolored antique garments.

These days Stone seldom travels beyond the city to teach classes and sew, limiting those trips to Selma. The Cloverdale shop is where she spends most of her time, and young followers still come there to learn her techniques, including the daughters and granddaughters of those first trained by Stone. Many of the mothers and grandmothers still sew with her and remain steadfast friends and ardent supporters, well aware that their mentor’s devotion to the craft was not inspired by money.

“I’ve done it for the love of the art,” Stone says. “I consider each garment like a painting, and I approach it as such.”

Each Spring a garden party is given in Stone’s honor featuring the artistry of her students. During the gathering children romp across hostess Bonnie Moore’s lawn and scamper through the garden, outfitted in what will one day be a family heirloom they, too, can hand down to their children and grandchildren.

Some children stop and offer “Miss Sarah” a hug and a kiss. It’s a heartwarming sight, fulfilling for the Queen of French hand sewing, for it’s her knowledge and skill that brought these families here and clad their children in pre-heirloom finery. Yet the feeling of accomplishment you sense from Stone isn’t based on her own talents or the halfcentury of patient instruction she has handed out. Rather, it derives from the dedication and skill of those around her.

Surveying the families at the garden party, Stone turns to Ann Schaum.

“They’ve done a beautiful job this year, haven’t they, Ann?” High praise indeed from such respected royalty.

Garden Party attendees greeted Mrs. Stone with hugs and kisses. Here she shares a special moment with Ann Wilbur.

MOVING FREE ® WITH MIRABAI

The Art of Breathing

B

y the time we reach our 50s and 60s, we have often learned habitual postures and positions that block our ability to breathe fully. These postures might be learned from parents, they might be developed from past injuries or result unconsciously from daily environments like driving or hunching forward to look at a computer.

You can go without food and even water for quite a while but stop breathing for more Mirabai Holland than a couple of minutes and you know what happens.You take a breath about every 5 seconds. Breathing is something we take for granted. But its powers are nearly magical.

Everything we do depends on the quality of our breathing: better circulation, clearer thinking, More positive mood, reduced stress, and, some say, longevity and even peace of mind.

Breathing is normally “Breathing deeply automatic but it can be made can help you begin to voluntary. Controlled breathing slow down, even in the helps the body and mind relax. most stressful times Breathing deeply can help of your life.” you begin to slow down, even in the most stressful times of your life. If you are not inclined to practice meditation, doing a few minutes of breathing exercises can have a similar relaxing effect.

These tranquil, replenishing exercises can be done wherever you are. Let’s try it. Start with your breath.

Go to a place that is as quiet and private as possible, even if it’s a bathroom.

Sit in a comfortable position that keeps your body erect, and close your eyes. Let them relax back into their sockets.

Breathe in deeply while relaxing your abs. Hold about 3 seconds and breathe out while pulling your abs in.

Keep breathing.

Concentrate on the sound of your breathing. It will help you clear your mind. Relax your shoulders and keep breathing. Let the stress melt.

When you’re ready, open your eyes and rejoin your day, refreshed.

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 for women. Her Moving Free™ approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work. Send your Ask Mirabai questions to: askmirabai@movingfree.com.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Reduced Benefit? Here’s Why.

I

f you work for an employer who does not withhold Social Security taxes from your salary, such as a government agency, the pension you get based on that work may reduce your Social Security benefits under the Windfall Elimination Provision.This is due to a modified formula Social Security uses to calculate your benefits. But why modify the formula?

The law requires Social Security benefit amounts to be determined with a formula Kylle’ D. McKinney giving proportionately higher benefits to workers with low lifetime earnings. Before 1983, people who worked mainly in a job not covered by Social Security had their Social Security benefits calculated as if they were long-term, lowwage workers.They had the advantage of receiving a Social Security benefit representing a higher percentage of their earnings, plus a pension from a job where they did not pay Social Security taxes.

This advantage was removed when Congress passed the Windfall Elimination Provision. In addition to this provision, another reduction could make a difference in benefits a spouse, widow, or widower can receive.

If you pay into another pension plan and do not pay into Social Security, any spouse, widow, or widower benefits available through Social Security may be subject to a Government Pension Offset.

Generally, if government employment was not covered by Social Security, any Social Security benefits must be reduced by two-thirds

of the government pension amount.The reason is based on the changing nature of the workforce.

Established in the 1930s, benefits paid to wives, husbands, widows and widowers are “dependent’s” benefits to compensate spouses who stayed home to raise a family and were financially dependent on the working spouse.

Now it’s more common for both spouses in a married couple to work, each earning his or her own Social Security retirement benefit.The law has always required that a person’s benefit as a spouse, widow, or widower be offset dollar for dollar by the amount of his or her own retirement benefit.

Similarly, if this government employee’s work had instead been subject to Social Security taxes, any Social Security benefit payable as a spouse, widow, or widower would have been reduced by the person’s own Social Security retirement benefit.

Even if you do not receive monthly Social Security benefits based on your spouse’s work, and are not eligible for Medicare on your own record, you can still get Medicare at age 65 on your spouse’s record.

Resources: Windfall Elimination Provision: www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs/10045.html Government Pension Offset: www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10007. html.

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

De•fin'•ing Re•tire'•ment 1. Care•free (adj.) - untroubled, relaxed 2. In•de•pen•dent (adj.) - self-determining 3. Com•for•ta•ble (adj.) - a state of physical ease

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FEATURE

Rock and Roll Will Stand

By Lenore Reese Vickrey

I

f you were a teenager in south-central Alabama in the 1960s, chances are you danced the jerk, flirted with that cute boy, or made out in the corner of the high school gym to the music of a live band of local erstwhile musicians. Believing they could be the next stateside version of the Beatles, they went by a variety of catchy names: The Rockin’ Gibraltars, the Sweet Young Un’s, The Drones, The Fabulous Shades, the Gate Band.

They were a staple at dances for years, packing National Guard armories, gymnasiums, and teen clubs from Montgomery to Opp and Troy, and college campuses at This popular 1970’s Montgomery band (formerly Harvest) featured tight, lilting harmonies, and Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Ole Miss. launched national and international music careers for several members.

“Back then, that’s what music was about,” remembers Bobby Dupree, 63, drum“We got started because of the it big nationally: Tommy Shaw and Beth mer with The Rockin’ Gibraltars, a popular Beatles,” said Jimbo Jones, longtime singer Nielsen Chapman.

Montgomery-based group in the 60s. and guitarist with Harmony, one of the [Montgomery native and fellow Robert E. “It wasn’t concerts where you played and most popular bands to come out of Lee graduate Tommy Shaw came back from 500 people sat down and listened to you. It Montgomery that played in the mid to late Chicago to join the group, staying six months was a real happening thing.”

70s at Kegler’s Kove, the lounge at Bama until getting a call to join Styx, who needed a Local “garage bands” (they practiced in Lanes. Jones, now 59, also played school replacement for a guitarist who’d left as they their parents’ garages or living rooms) were dances and armories in a group called The were about to go on tour. Beth Nielsen joined found in almost every town in the United Drones. the group after Shaw left. Her harmonies with States in the mid-to late 60s, and the Mont“We played a lot of soul music, the Eddie and Jimbo were legendary, and thus gomery area was no exception.

Beatles, the Stones,” he said. “We’d go all the group found its new name. Both Shaw over, even the Old and Chapman have gone on to stardom as Dutch in Panama performers and songwriters.]

City.”

Many who danced the night away to By the sumthe Rockin’ Gibraltars or who nursed a mer of 1975 he’d beer and smoked a cigarette listening to joined singer and Harmony, recall those days with particular keyboardist Eddie fondness and with nostalgia for a time that Wohlford and won’t likely return. drummer Tommy “There are still a lot of local bands out Beavers to become there,” said Sonny Grier, lead singer with part of Harvest, the the Rockin’ Gibraltars. “But there’s not a precursor to the whole lot of money because there’s no group Harmony place for them to play. Most of the clubs at the Kove that have gone to a single performer, or a duo spawned two major or karaoke. We came along at just the Original Harmony band members Jimbo Jones (l) and Tommy Beavers talents who made right time.” are planning a reunion concert this month.

Add the extra costs associated with Steve Lander, who originally booked security guards and insurance, and hiring Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the bands is not a profitable option for many Blue Iguana free for the night. He rememclub owners. bers the Kove days with Harvest/Harmony That’s not to say Montgomery area favorfondly, not only for the band’s music but the ite bands can’t be seen any more. Several people who came to see them. members still play in other bands for private “People would come night after night,” parties, or solo at local restaurants, and on said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in MontJune 9, several members of Harmony plan a gomery and Prattville. “There were a lot of reunion show at fun people.” the Blue Iguana in Prattville. It will “I told Jimbo we be the first time should all come they’ve have been in with walkers,” together since a laughed Beavers. “I reunion benefit tried to get us all at a local club in to dress up as the 2007.

Fruit of the Loom “It was elbow guys but no one to elbow in there,” wanted to.” remembered For musicians Rockin’ Gibraltar drummer Bobby Dupree (l) and drummer Tommy who played togethlead singer Sonny Grier have been playing music Beavers. “I was er for years, there since high school. blown away.” Many won’t be a need to regulars from the practice much, if at Kove days brought their grown children and all. “It’s magic,” said Beavers. “It feels good. It’s will likely do so again. effortless.”

Beavers and Jones will be joined by former “Even after all these years,” agreed Jones. members Kelvin Holly, who works in the re“Gobs of people have asked us when we’re cording industry in Muscle Shoals and tours going to do another reunion. I don’t feel like with Neil Young, and Bill Hinds, who tours we’ll have any problem (remembering their with the Paul Thorn Band. Keyboardist Mark songs).” It’s a good bet they’ll play some Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is Steely Dan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, a favorite, unable to attend. Neither Tommy Shaw nor “Sweet Magnolia,” and Bill Hinds’ rendition Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due of Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way.” to their schedules.

Though they’ve had other jobs over the

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Still Playing (After All These Years) A trio of Montgomery-area bands GATE BAND Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. The band has undergone several incarnations.

Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh.

“We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison,” says Pappas.

“We try to introduce people to music maybe they weren’t aware of.” Signature song includes “Both Sides of the Road,” about Perdido Bay, written by Ham Wilson.

SWEET YOUNG UNS Formed: 1966, Tallassee. Renamed Rock Hull Band in ’77 before reclaiming original name in ’90.

Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young.

Signature songs include “Brown Eyed Girl” (Van Morrison), “Cryin’” (Roy Orbison).

“We played all the way through college,” says Long. “We’re a dance band.”

FABULOUS SHADES Formed: 1963, Troy. Disbanded in ’66, reunited ’76, returned to active performance 1991.

Members: Original members John Key, David Headley and Bob Corley plus David Langford, Mike Mobley, Larry Hughes, Bobby Johnson and Rick Roper.

“Our four-piece horn section sets us apart,” said Key. “Classics such as ‘Midnight Hour,’ (Otis Redding), ‘Knock on Wood’ (Eddie Floyd), and ‘Mr. Pitiful’ (Wilson Pickett) sound so much better with real horns.”

years, neither Jones the number one soul band in nor Beavers have the south. White guys playing stopped playing soul music!” music.

“Most of the stuff we played “I play music half was music you could easily the time, the other dance to,” said Dupree. “We half I’m a toilet salesdidn’t play where people sat man,” Jones said, around and drank. We mostly which means he’s in had a lot of fun.” wholesale plumbThey were especially known ing with Thompson for their James Brown-style Supply Co. He and revue, with Grier wearing a his wife live north of cape much like the Godfather of Prattville in a 1930s Soul used while singing “Please, “shack,” have three Please, Please.” grown children and The group got a break in are expecting their 1968 when a Hollywood profirst grandchild. ducer spotted them at the Big He plays locally at BAM show, and wanted to sign Ruddles, Coaches them to a recording contract.

Corner in WeThey moved to LA, minus Gritumpka,Young Barn er who’d gotten married and Oyster Pub, and has had a new baby and didn’t want recorded a CD. to move. He was replaced by Beavers has played Johnny Townsend from Tuscalodrums for various osa, who was living with Duane bands, including Doc and Gregg Allman and singing Severinson, Willie with a group called Hourglass.

Nelson and Lyle The group recorded a few Lovett, winning a songs at Muscle Shoals’ FAME Grammy Award for Studios, played around the Los Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton.Top (l-r), Best Performance by Duo Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier.

Angeles area with big name or Group in 1994 while bands like Vanilla Fudge and a member of Asleep at Three Dog Night, and once the Wheel. He’s been in a few movies, raced sports cars and been opened for Jimi Hendrix. They changed their name to Heart inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The father of six before eventually folding. Their most popular singles were “It Will and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays Stand” (also recorded by The Showmen) and “Bug of Soul.” The with the Bama Breeze Band. group’s members drifted back to Alabama, with the exception of “I’m content where I’m at,” said Beavers, “except I could lose Townsend and Sanford who formed the Sanford-Townsend Band about 80 pounds.” and recorded the hit “Smoke from a Distant Fire.”

Music you could dance to They have reformed several times with different members, Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member playing for Lee High School reunions. Most recently they perwho still plays music. He was lead singer of the Rockin’ Gibraltars, formed earlier this year for a benefit show for ailing former formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. bandmate Keith Brewer, who died in April of cancer.

“It was the summer after my senior year,” said Grier, who was Dupree served with the Army in Vietnam, worked as an engijoined by Keith Brewer on bass, Bobby Dupree on drums, Rusty neer in Muscle Shoals, and has been an electrical engineer for the Crumpton on guitar, Ronnie Monroe on trombone and Ed Sanford Alabama Legislature for 27 years. He doesn’t keep up with Rusty on keyboards.

Crumpton or Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Ed Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. admission was $1.

Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing “We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody at wedding receptions and private parties. He’s been a school could see how scared we were,” said Dupree. principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been “We made $100,” remembers Grier. “For an 18-year-old to take suffering due to the economy. home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.”

His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same Bill Moody at 100,000-watt WBAM saw to it their music was soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. played on the radio, helping the group built a following as an R&B “I can sing as good or better now than I did then,” said Grier. band. They played at YMCA’s, American Legion halls, private parties, During a recent show some ladies, obviously a few years older and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and than him, recognized Grier from the early Gibraltar days.

Greenville, Miss.

“It made me feel good in a way,” he said. “It’s better than not “We put on a heck of a show,” said Grier. “We were considered being remembered at all.”

HEALTH

Marci’s Medicare Answer

June 2011 Dear Marci, I am about to turn 65. I don’t take many medications and am considering waiting to enroll in a Part D plan. Will I be penalized for doing this?

— Ishmael Dear Ishmael, If you do not enroll in the Medicare drug benefit (Part D) when you first become eligible and you choose to enroll at a later date, you may have to pay a premium penalty.

The premium penalty will be 1 percent for every month you delay enrollment (1 percent of the national base beneficiary premium). For example, the national base beneficiary premium in 2011 is $32.34 a month. If you delayed enrollment for seven months, your monthly premium penalty would be $2.26 ($32.34 x 1% = $0.3234 x 7 = $2.26), which will be added to your plan’s monthly premium.

If you have to pay the premium penalty, and you do not qualify for Extra Help, you will have to do so for as long as you are enrolled in the Medicare drug benefit. This penalty will increase every year, as the national base beneficiary premium increases.

In some specific circumstances you will not have to pay the

premium penalty.You will not have to pay a premium penalty for late enrollment if: n you already have prescription drug coverage at least as good as Medicare's ("creditable"). In order to avoid a premium penalty, you cannot have been without creditable drug coverage for more than 63 days. Speak with your insurer or your company's human resources department to find out if your current drug coverage is as good as Medicare's or better. n you qualify for Extra Help and enroll in a Medicare private drug plan. n you show that you received inadequate information about whether your drug coverage was creditable.

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.

To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at www.medicareinteractive.org.

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OUT & ABOUT

Clockwise from above: --New South Books signing for recently released Tuskegee Airman, An Illustrated History: 1939-1949. (L-R) Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Herbert Carter (ret), authors Daniel Haulman, Jerome Ennels, and Joseph Caver.

-- Jayne Ward (l) and Pat Cherry enjoy a brunch for Saint James School grandparents at the Blount estate on Vaughn Rd. -- Alabama First Lady Dianne Bentley (2nd from right), Class of ‘61, visits her alma mater during Lanier High School’s 50th reunion.

-- Sidney Lanier Class of 1961 ends their reunion tour with a photo on the front steps.

Montgomery Bridge Club Summer OPEN HOUSE

Thursday July 7 4 p.m.

FREE Bridge Lesson!

Food, Fun, Friendly People, Bridge Games!

Montgomery Bridge Club 1711 Mulberry Street

American Contract Bridge League

For info: 334-244-5052 or www.montgomerybridgeclub.org

FEATURE

Traveling through Time and Space

By Andrea Gross Photos by Irv Green

The Rocket Garden displays the base of historic rockets that launched the first Americans into space.

M

y seat tilted back. There was a loud noise, followed by spinejarring vibrations. I felt a pressure on my chest, pushing me back against my seat. Then there was another boom — this one more deafening than the last — and the launch simulator at the Kennedy Space Center made me feel as if I were soaring into space.

28 JUNE 2011 | www.primemontgomery.com

Suddenly all was still, and I saw the earth floating before me, a round ball with vague outlines of recognizable continents.

A youngster, who was sitting a few rows ahead of me, broke the silence. “I’m going there someday,” he said, and all the adults nodded approvingly.

The Space Center, 50 miles east of Orlando and home of the United States’

manned space program, is that kind of place — as inspiring as it is informational, as entertaining as it is educational.

Here are some of the must-sees: n “Space Station” is an IMAX® film that serves as a primer to living in outer space by showing how astronauts eat, exercise, sleep and, yes, float in a weightless environment. When the STS-134 crew

roared into space in May, it was led by Commander Mark Kelly, the United States’ manned space program. “The shuttle program is husband of Arizona Representation Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords. ending, and Washington hasn’t decided what to do next. Everything The crew’s 14-day space odyssey is something my husband and is up in the air,” he explained, without a trace of irony.

I can relate to. After all, The next day we timewe’d been there, too, traveled back to the past albeit by way of a threeat the nearby Valiant Air dimensional film.

Command Warbird Museum, n Another IMAX® a combination restoration film, “Hubble 3D,” facility and exhibition hall tells the story of the that offers a unique view of telescope that has given aviation history. There are us unprecedented views 25-30 aircraft on display at of the universe. Watch any one time, and in short this film towards the order we saw a single-seat end of your visit when biplane from WWI, a military it provides a welcome transport from World War II, excuse to sit down and a fighter aircraft from Korea, rest your feet! a helicopter from Vietnam, n Early Space Exploand a fighter jet like those ration isn’t the Center’s used today. Also on display: a flashiest exhibit, but collection of related memoa quick visit helps put rabilia including flags, flight future advances into gear and a plethora of The Saturn V rocket was used to send astronauts into lunar orbit. context. For a more model planes. personal look at the Every year more than early missions, visit the Astronauts Hall of Fame, located several 30,000 veterans and aircraft aficionados gather for the museum’s miles from the main complex. The hall is filled with astronaut air show, which features everything from formation flying to resmemorabilia, including a Mercury spacecraft piloted by astronaut cue reenactments. (The next show will be March 9-11, 2012.)

Wally Schirra.

Finally, we decided it was time to enjoy the present. The Space n Fewer than 550 men and women have flown in space, but Center is surrounded by some of Florida’s best beaches, so instead each day one of them hosts an Astronaut Encounter at the Ken- of flying to the moon, we simply reveled in the sun. nedy Space Center. We heard a talk by Al Worden, who seemed like a nice, ordinary guy until I realized that as Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 15 moon mission, he’s one of only 24 people in the history of the world to travel beyond the orbit of the earth. Worden described walking in space 200,000 miles from earth, at which time he became the first human to see both the earth and the moon in their entirety. “It was kinda cool,” he said with a grin that indicated this was a grand understatement. n The Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour takes visitors to an observation stand that offers the best view most of us are going to get of the launch pad that sends astronauts into space. Then it continues to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where the 363-foot long Saturn V rocket hangs from the ceiling, dwarfing everything around it. This rocket was used for Apollo 11, the United States’ first manned landing on the moon, an event that is depicted in a film shown in the Saturn V theater. n We ended our Space Center visit at the Mission Status Center, where a NASA representative discussed the future of

For more information www.KennedySpaceCenter.com www.Vacwarbirds.org www.space-coast.com

June Community Events Theatre June 2-5. Wetumpka. Second Samuel- An Evening of Song and Story.

Depot Players. Admission. 334-8681440. www.wetumpkadepot.com.

June 9-26 (weekends, call for times).Prattville. Steel Magnolias. Way Off Broadway Theatre. Admission.

334-358-0297. www.w.prattvilleal.gov.

Music June, 2nd Saturdays. 9-noon. Mtgy.

Jam Sessions. Old Alabama Town. Bring your instrument. Free. 334-240-4500. www.oldalabamatown.com.

June 16, noon-1 p.m. Mtgy. Mobile Brass Band Traditions & Mardi Gras.

Dept. of Archives/History. Free. 334353-4726. www.archives.alabama.gov.

June 20, 7:30 p.m. Auburn Summer Jazz Concert. Goodwin Music Bldg.

334-844-4165, music@auburn.edu.

History June 3, 10 a.m.-noon. Mtgy. Jeff Davis Birthday Commemoration. State Capitol. Free. 334-365-4713.

June 4- July 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mtgy.

IndiVisible. Rosa Parks Museum. 334241-8701. www.montgomery.troy.edu/

rosaparks/museum.

Arts & Crafts June 4, 6-10 p.m. Mtgy. Rock concert benefitting Women of Hope (breast cancer). Bands include Wishbone, Dr. Feelgood. Admission.

Complimentary beer, wine. Children under 15 free with adult ticket. 334221-1216.

June 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Mtgy. Fiberpalooza. Old AL Town. Classes, speakers, vendors, movie at Capri Theatre, 3 p.m. www.safeguild.wikidot.com.

Fundraisers June 11, 5-9 p.m. Mtgy. Parkinson’s Association of AL. The Gate Band @ Tipping Point, Hampstead. Tickets at Adams Drugs, parkinsonalabama.org, 334-328-8702, 205-871-9941.

June 17, Auburn. Mulligan’s for Masters golf outing. Auburn U. & AUM master’s nursing programs. Moore’s Mill Club. 334-844-6753. gridesw@ auburn.edu.

Other June 3-5, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Wetumpka Coosa River Whitewater Festival.

334-269-4009, www.coosariverpaddlingclub.com.

June 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mtgy. Daylily Sale. Mtgy. Area Daylily Society.

Eastdale Mall. 334-288-6024. etbgoodson@aol.com.

June 6, noon-5 p.m. Mtgy. Hot Rod Magazine’s Signature Touring Event.

Montgomery Motorsports Park. Free.

334-261-1108.

June 9, 4 p.m. Mtgy. Area Hearing Loss Support Group. 1st United Methodist Church, Cloverdale Park.

Speaker. Refreshments. hearinginfo@ earthlink.net.

June 14, 5:30 p.m. Mtgy. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group.

Frazer Church. Snacks, presentation. 334-220-4599, womenofhope@ charter.net.

June 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mtgy.

Father’s Day at the zoo. AdmissionFathers free. 334-240-4930. www. montgomeryzoo.com.

June 21, 2 p.m. Mtgy. Public forum, senior issues, with Representatives of the AL Silver Haired Legislature.

Eastdale Estates, 5801 Eastdale Drive.

334-260-8911.

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FEATURE

Financial Records: What to Toss and When

B

ank statements, credit card bills, canceled checks and other documents can be useful for tax purposes, as proof of a transaction or payment, or for other reasons. But how long should you keep them?

Federal tax rules require you to have receipts and other records that support items on a return for as long as the IRS can assess your additional tax.

"In very general terms, because the IRS has about six years to assess additional tax if you underreported your income by more than 25 percent, many tax advisors recommend holding all tax records for about seven years, building in extra time for any unforeseen delays in processing your return," said Rick Cywinski, an FDIC tax policy manager.

He also noted that the tax period is unlimited if the IRS suspects fraud.

With tax considerations in mind, here are suggestions that may be reasonable for many people.

Credit card and bank account statements Save those with no tax significance for about a year, but those with tax significance should be saved for seven years.

Canceled checks Those unrelated to anything you claimed on your income tax form and not needed to show you've paid a bill or debt probably can be destroyed after you've verified that your bank statement is correct. But canceled checks that support your tax returns, such as charitable contributions or tax payments, probably should be held for seven years.

And, you may want to keep indefinitely any canceled checks and related receipts or documents for a home purchase or sale, renovations or other improvements to a property you own. But once a home has been sold and another seven years have passed, checks related to renovations or improvements can be destroyed.

Of course, many banks no longer send cancelled checks, although they may provide copies of the originals.

31 JUNE 2011 | www.primemontgomery.com

"You can keep the copies of your tax-related checks if you get them from your bank, but if you don't get copies with your statement, you have some options," said Evelyn Manley, a Senior Consumer Affairs Specialist at the FDIC. "The most conservative approach is to order copies of important checks soon after your statement arrives," she said. "Another is to keep the information on your bank statement to order copies if you're audited in the future because, in general, banks that do not return original checks to customers are required to keep copies of checks for seven years."

Also, she said, if you keep records electronically, be sure to back up your data. You can store it in various ways (on CDs, flash drives and so on), but as old technology is no longer supported, you will need to transfer your old data to new media. Another option is to research different companies that provide backup storage online, either free or for a small charge.

Deposit, ATM, credit card and debit card receipts Save them until the transaction appears on your statement and you've verified that the information is accurate. You may make an exception for receipts for expensive items. If they are under warranty or you have to file an insurance claim, the receipt may be helpful.

Finally, before tossing away any document that contains a Social Security number, bank account number or other personal information (especially financial information), shred it to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

For additional guidance on what records to toss and when, ask your accountant, attorney or another trusted advisor.

Provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Consumer News. The FDIC is an independent agency created by the U.S. Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation's financial system by insuring deposits, examining and supervising financial institutions for safety and soundness and consumer protection, and managing receiverships.

SPECIAL FEATURE

F

How you can STILL help...

ollowing April’s deadly tornadoes, relief efforts in Alabama and across the southeast began almost immediately. The recovery process will take many years, countless volunteers, and massive funds.Visit these websites to find ways you can continue providing support and assistance through the summer and beyond.

MONETARY DONATIONS Give Tuscaloosa www.givetuscaloosa.com Help Tuscaloosa Schools www.helptuscaloosaschools.com

Tuscaloosa City Council PTA / Tornado Disaster Relief Fund c/o Denise J. Hills 14 Sherwood Drive Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Make checks payable to Tuscaloosa City Council PTA / Tornado Disaster Relief Fund American Red Cross www.montgomeryarc.org United Way of West Alabama www.uwwa.org/donatenow United Way of West Alabama P.O. Box 2291 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 205-345-6640 Pennies for Alabama www.penniesforalabama.com ALABAMA PTA 470 South Union Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Make checks payable to ALABAMA PTA and note Pennies for Alabama

Alabama Baptist Convention’s State Board of Missions www.alsbom.org/tornadorelief P.O. Box 11870 Montgomery, AL 36111-0870 Make checks payable to State Board of Missions and note Alabama Tornado Relief Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church www.samaritanspurse.org 100 Interstate Park, Suite 106 Montgomery, AL 36109 Make checks payable to Alabama-West Florida Conference and note Tornado Disaster Response NON-MONETARY DONATIONS (NO CLOTHING) Help Tuscaloosa Schools www.helptuscaloosaschools.com Tuscaloosa City PTA Council / Tornado Disaster Relief Fund Tuscaloosa Magnet School - Elementary 315 McFarland Blvd East Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 First United Methodist Church in Montgomery www.fumcmontgomery.org Wesley Hall 204

2416 W. Cloverdale Park Montgomery, AL 36106 Montgomery Area Food Bank www.montgomeryareafoodbank.org 521 Trade Center St. Montgomery, Al 36108 334-263-3784 VOLUNTEER Give Tuscaloosa www.givetuscaloosa.com/volunteers American Red Cross www.montgomeryarc.org/volunteers.htm First United Methodist Church www.fumcmontgomery.org Early Response Team Training (ERT) Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Liberty United Methodist Church 5607 Tallapoosa St. Notasulga, AL 36866 Contact: Rev. Michael Lawler, Disaster Coordinator bumcoffice@troycable.net 334-735-3180 First Baptist Church, www.montgomeryfbc.org

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PRIME DIVERSIONS

Recent dvd releases No Strings Attached, Blue Valentine and True Grit

Mark Glass No Strings Attached (R) Romantic comedies inherently rely more on excesses than realism.

The screwball comedies of the 1930s and their successors place our leading lovers-to-be in outrageous situations.

Others trade on unlikely pairs finding more in common than they expected. All the good ones thrive on a chemistry between the stars that neither of their characters appreciates as early and fully as the audience. However contrived the premise must be for their happy ending to emerge, the appeal of the characters, wit of the script, energy of the direction, etc. must overcome the artifice of their course. Despite the attractiveness and talents of Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, this one ranks as a near-miss. She’s a brainiac doctor with intimacy issues. He’s the privileged son of a famous TV star (Kevin Kline), who seems like a typical frat rat, but turns into an unbelievably caring and patient adult while toiling in a low-level job on a schlocky TV series. As they meet, and periodically re-meet, we know what’s coming before they do.

To its credit, the script calls for an interesting gender reversal. He’s the booty call for her; she’s the one who sets the limits against emotional attachments. But the characters are too cartoonish for real empathy, while the story plays out too logically for farce. That makes this one a ‘tweener, of sorts, that falls short of either goal. There are a number of funny moments, and even a few satiric notes to keep things afloat for a likable cast. Just lower your expectations before entering. (5/10/11)

Blue Valentine (R) If your marriage or other relationship is going well enough that you’re interested in a depressing drama about an attractive, though mismatched, young couple

whose familial life is crumbling before your eyes, then here’s an option for you.

Ryan Gosling marries Michelle Williams based on chemistry and the folly of youth over all else. He’s got no education or ambition; she abandons college and aspirations of medical school to bear their child.

Several years later, they’re both miserable for reasons they little comprehend as to their own or each other’s. They have no business remaining together, and the audience gets to spend a couple of mostly unpleasant hours learning their backstories and likely future, gaining surprisingly little insight into what makes them tick. There’s one sex scene that initially earned an NC-17, but it’s apparently been edited into a much tamer version, since nothing in the final release comes close to that level of explicitness. (5/10/11)

True Grit (R) In a faithful remake by the Coen brothers, Jeff Bridges fares quite well as John Wayne’s stand-in for his iconic, late-life Rooster Cogburn role. Newcomer Haleigh Steinfeld outpaces Kim Darby’s Mattie Ross in the rapid-fire, overly florid dialog bursting from this determined teenager who hires an old drunken lawman to hunt the man what kilt her paw.

Matt Damon joins their uneasy alliance, as they chase the elusive criminal through some rough country. The language is unique among westerns on the poetic, if not erudite, scale. But it works. The pace and action run true to form for the Coens, who seem to have found a gem in Steinfeld, justifying their extensive search among fresh faces for Darby’s successor. (6/7/11)

Mark Glass is an officer and director of the St. Louis Film Critics Association.

www.primemontgomery.com | June 2011

33

GAMES Crossword Clues 46 __ Ameche ACROSS 47 Cooked in the oven 1 Kathmandu’s nation 49 Seldom 6 Mop the floor 51 Put in danger 10 Is required to 54 Weld together 14 Building made of clay bricks 55 __ coaster 15 Coffee shop 56 “...o’er the __ we 16 Actress Paquin watched...”

17 African snake 60 Shaped like a lima bean 18 Linkletter and Garfunkel 61 Messy person 19 Crusty wound covering 63 Boise’s state 20 Napoleon and Hirohito 64 Pleasant 22 Involve 65 Fuel, for some 24 Metal fastener 66 Adamant refusal 25 Church topper 67 Bit of canary food 26 Less relaxed 68 Sharpen 29 High-powered surgical 69 Say hi to beam 30 When doubled, a sailor’s DOWN affirmative 1 Moniker 31 Do the job of an extermina- 2 Dutch cheese tor 3 Splendor 33 Left-hand ledger entry 4 Mother superior 37 Rip 5 Well-educated 39 Evening coffee, perhaps 6 Line of cliffs 41 Nitwit 7 Armed conflicts 42 Fall flower 8 Rearward, on a ship 44 Baseball cap feature 9 Assails

10 Became skilled in 11 Remove the lid 12 Slow mover 13 Piece of dining room furniture 21 Rowed 23 Have to have 25 Heroic tales 26 Casual farewell 27 Peepers 28 Uncluttered 29 Clear 32 Cut decorative angled edges 34 Foreshadow 35 False deity 36 Theater award 38 Would not obey 40 Old Roman meeting place 43 Uncommon 45 Grating 48 Cherry brandy 50 First grader’s textbook, often 51 Actor Jeremy 52 Film 53 Location 54 Fictitious story 56 Reddish horse 57 Rant and __ 58 You, biblically 59 Variety 62 Brit’s restroom ©2011 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

Answers for the Crossword Puzzle and the Sudoku can be found on page 17. Good luck!

Did you know?

Excessive noise is the number one reason for hearing loss.

13%

Only of general practitioners screen for hearing loss.

65% of people with hearing loss are below retirement age.

Only 1 out of 5

people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one.

When someone in the family has a hearing loss, the entire family has a hearing problem. LET US HELP! A medical evaluation of your hearing can best discover the cause of your hearing loss and allow us to select the proper treatment.

Whether medicine, surgery or a hearing instrument is right for you, at all EARS we provide comprehensive, physician-directed hearing services.

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Call (334) 281-8400 or visit www.allearscenters.com “The doctor to see is an ENT.”