Prime Magazine Mar 2014

Prime

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond

March 2014

FREE

What’s in YOUR Attic?

INside • Retirees & Taxes:Which State is Lowest • Irish Soda Bread • • Georgia’s “Gone With The Wind” Trail • My Winter Birds • • What BP Numbers Mean • From ‘Lassie’ to ‘Lost In Space’ •

Discover the AFFORDABLE solution for your stairs.

Over 300,000 already have!

LIMITED TIME OFFER! “Our Acorn Stairlift has made such an amazing difference in our lives. I wish we had called sooner!”

$250 OFF*

PURCHASE OF A NEW STAIRLIFT! EXPIRES May 31, 2014

- Cheryl W.

The WORLD LEADER in stairlifts The MOST TRUSTED name in the industry BUY DIRECT from the manufacturer Works on ALL TYPES of staircases CALL TOLL-FREE NOW We are THE localSTAIRLIFT and in yourEXPERTS neighborhood!

Call today!

FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION KIT AND DVD!

1-800-404-2176 Helping people stay safe in their homes for over 20 years *Not valid on previous purchases. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not valid on refurbished models. Only valid towards purchase of a NEW Acorn Stairlift directly from the manufacturer. $250 discount will be applied to new orders placed before May 31, 2014. Please mention this ad when calling.

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

March 2014

Table of Contents Editor’s Notes

5

Quick Reads

6

Yard ‘n Garden

8

My Winter Birds

A Gracious Plenty

10

In Every Life

12

Money Wi$e

13

Medicare

14

Social Security

15

Tinseltown Talks

16

What’s that antique worth?

18

Crossword & Sudoku

23

Gone With The Wind ‘Trail’

24

Prime Vintage

28

Moving Free

30

Prime Diversion

31

Calendar of Events

32

Off the Beaten Path

34

Soda Bread or Spotted Dog? Deciphering Your BP Numbers Which states tax retirees the least No-cost screenings Umbrella in the storm June Lockhart: Lassie’s ‘mom’ Another caffeine study (page 7, Irish Soda Bread explained (page 10), why NASA honored Lassie’s TV mom (page 16), what those confusing blood pressure numbers mean (page 12), where to get your antiques appraised (page 18), and why you should care about the ingredients in the wine you drink (page 28).

on the cover

You’re sure the drop-leaf table inherited from Aunt Martha is worth a fortune.

If all you want to do is brag about it, that’s as far as you need to go. But to truly learn its age, provenance and value, you’ll need an appraisal. We offer some on-line and in-person resources for antique sleuths, and a few locations to help you snag the ‘big one.’ (Page 18)

There are ways to find out.

Scarlett, Rhett, and Margaret Mitchell

What’s in your cheap wine?

Exercise for back pain DVD Releases for March

Dogs, Hawks and Chickens

Appraiser Linda Ruston Pugh searches a chest-of-drawers for clues to its age and value. (Photo

by Bob Corley, Prime magazine.) www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

3

River Region Senior Living Just Got Better!

Comfort and Luxury in a Gated Community

CaraVita Village Independent Senior Living

• Restaurant-style dining (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks) • 1 & 2 Bedroom & Studio Apartments (Regular & Deluxe) • Housekeeping, Laundry Service, Fitness & Activity Centers • Pool, Beauty/Barber Salon, Transportation to Area Events/Activities • Pets Welcome (some restrictions)

OPEN HOUSE coming in MAY!

4000 Fieldcrest Drive • Montgomery , AL 36111 For information/schedule a tour call Tonya or Jodi • 334-284-0370 e-mail jhatley@caravitavillage.com www.alcco.com/location/caravita-village 4

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Prime W

Editor’s Note

Montgomery

March 2014 Vol. 4, Issue 11

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

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

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

ith no relatives in this country until the early 1900s, I always felt my family history hatched on the shores of Ellis Island. My grandparents came here with the barest of items: a suit of clothes, a scarf, a hat.

No picture scrapbooks or fancy handcarved chairs, no antique dressers. There wasn’t room – physically or emotionally – for the sentimentality.

By the time I realized some of my friends’ families owned and valued antique furnishings, I was away at school.

My college roommates dreamily spoke of Grandma Jean’s Civil War-era rocker and great-great Uncle Ed’s 18th century writing desk as we decorated our first apartment with Coca-Cola crates. They thrilled at the thought of one day owning those old pieces. What was special about old furniture? I thought our Coke bookshelves were tres’ chic. My grandparents’ mahogany table seemed dark, drab, and rickety, while mom and dad’s mid-century modern furnishings were definitely cool.

It wasn’t till I married that I realized how older pieces in a house enrich a home. More than simple furnishings, old end tables and dusty trunks tell the story of my husband’s family through weddings, wars, and mainly, just everyday life. Old metal pitchers and wood-framed levels, turn-of-the-century christening gowns and cut glass bowls suddenly fascinated me. I’d always loved historical items, but had relegated their existence to picture books and museum tours.

More than a century now separates me from the time my ancestors first came to the U.S., and our little nuclear family has acquired collectibles of its own.

Whether it’s Mookie’s oak dining table, or my grandmother’s French hand-sewn batiste pillow shams, I love the look of these timeless items and, even more, the sense of “belonging” they inspire. It’s unlikely any of the items we own are valuable antiques, but the unspoken stories these pieces tell warm our house and emotionally enrich our home.

When PBS’ Antiques Roadshow came to Birmingham in 2000 I was lucky enough to help the show’s production team set-up shop and manage the crowds. It was a long day (with even longer lines) but the items brought through the doors of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center were fascinating.

From an ex-governor’s dueling pistols to the simplistic beauty of a handmade quilt, people dragged their heirlooms into the showroom, hoping to learn they owned collectibles of untold value. Few did.

Bob and I also took pieces for appraisal: an “antique” copper plate purchased in Turkey, and a sword my father-in-law had acquired in the Philippines. The plate was worth less than its purchase price, and the sword had an interesting history but was not very valuable. Regardless, the real fun was in discovering something new about our “treasures.” If you have something you’d love to have appraised, don’t miss the show’s return trip to Birmingham June 21. Go with a couple of friends and make a day of it.You may find you really do own something valuable.

Better yet, you’ll create a memory that will retain its own value for years to come.

Sandra Polizos Editor

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

5

quick reads

Driving After A Stroke Though a stroke can cause deficits that impair driving, stroke survivors often resume driving without being formally evaluated. Research conducted with stroke victims a year after their stroke found the following: n more than 51% returned to driving, many within a month following a stroke; n only 5.6% received a formal driving evaluation; n 11% who returned to driving said the stroke impacted their ability to perform life activities; n 45% who returned to driving and reported no diminished ability, self-limited their driving.

The information was presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2014, including a suggestion that stroke survivors may benefit from formal evaluation before resuming driving.

(Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com, provided by the American Heart Association.)

Diet Beverages No Weight-loss Solution Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, examining national patterns in adult diet beverage consumption and calorie intake, found overweight and obese adults who drink diet beverages consume more calories from food than obese or overweight adults who drink regular soda or other sugary beverages. The reason may be the artificial sweeteners used in diet sodas.

Artificial sweeteners, present in high doses in diet soda, are associated with a greater activation of reward centers in the brain, thus altering the reward a person experiences from sweet tastes. In other words, with diet soda drinkers, the brain’s sweet sensors may no longer provide a reliable gauge of energy consumption because the artificial sweetener disrupts appetite control. As a result, consumption of diet drinks may result in increased food intake overall.

Consumption of diet soda has increased from 3% in 1965 to 20% today. The results are featured in the American Journal of Public Health.

6

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

DIET SODA

Smoking After Cancer Increases Risk of Death Men who continued to smoke after a cancer diagnosis had an increased risk of death compared with those who quit smoking after diagnosis, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Compared with men who did not smoke after a cancer diagnosis, those who smoked after diagnosis had a 59% increase in risk of death from all causes, after adjusting for factors including age, cancer site, and treatment type.

When limited to men who were smokers at diagnosis, those who continued smoking after diagnosis had a 76% increase in risk of death from all causes compared with those who quit smoking after a diagnosis.

Sedentary Lifestyle Increases Mortality Risks Older women who spend a majority of their day sitting or lying down are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, cancer and death, finds a new study.

Women who were sedentary more than 11 hours a day were most at risk.

Women who spent the most time sedentary were more likely to be

white, have a college degree and have higher body mass indexes (BMIs).

Sedentary women were more likely to report fair-to-poor health, be smokers, and to have more falls in the past 12 months. Even when factoring in physical limitations due to chronic diseases, which are more likely to affect older women, being sedentary increased the risk of mortality.

(Source: Health Behavior News Service)

Caffeine Memories For some, it’s the tradition of steeping tea leaves to brew the perfect cup of tea. For others, it’s the morning shuffle to a coffee maker for a hot jolt of java.

Then there are those who like their wake up with the kind of snap and a fizz usually found in a carbonated beverage.

Regardless of the routine, the consumption of caffeine is the energy boost of choice for millions to wake up or stay up. Now, however, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have found another use for the stimulant: memory enhancer.

The researchers found that caffeine has a positive effect on long-term memory in humans. Their research, published by the journal Nature Neuroscience, shows that caffeine enhances certain memories at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 90 percent of people worldwide consume caffeine in one form or another. In the United States, 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every day. The average adult has an intake of about 200 milligrams - the same amount used in the study - or roughly one strong cup of coffee or two small cups of coffee per day.

Exercise Helps Type 2 Diabetes Aerobic exercise can help improve blood glucose levels for those with Type 2 diabetes. A recent study also found improvement in blood glucose levels with resistance (strength) training.

The study found improvements in A1c (a test used to assess blood glucose control over the previous two or three months) and insulin sensitivity, as well as reductions in abdominal fat.

The aerobic group showed more improvements in oxygen consumption, and the resistance group showed more improvements in muscle strength.

Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommend both types of exercises, the combination of which has also been shown to lower heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

(Johns Hopkins Health Alert, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com.) www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

7

YARD ‘N GARDEN

I

Birds of a Feather

t was so cold recently there were five cardinals in my backyard. Normally, the married cardinal couple that own my property would not tolerate other adult birds near the feeders. But the cold snap had the birds eating shoulder-to-shoulder. I spent every minute I could watching from my “hide,” two glass doors with reflective film between them making me invisible to the wildlife outside. In the intense cold I spread a lot of seed on the ground, then hurried inside to watch what happened.

A flock of red-winged blackbirds arrived and dispatched quite a bit of the food, but finches, yellow tails, Juncos, wrens and chickadees helped. Since the blackbirds were a flock, the other birds gave them priority. Blackbirds often tyrannize other birds, yet each type of bird had their own way of sneaking seeds away.

Chickadees dart away immediately after they grab a seed. Wrens wait for that time when no one else is there. But finches can be foiled by flocks of other birds, and they look as if they are a little aggrieved by it. The Juncos, being ground feeders, don’t cause any problems, taking whatever falls down.

The best spectacle was seeing the blackbirds disagree with each other. They didn’t hurt each other, but just threatened, sometimes by flapping their wings. No blackbird should trespass on another’s feeder, but if they do, the two birds fly in circles facing each other, making a great flap and displaying their beautiful, flamboyant red underwings.

These were desperate times for the birds, so when the afternoons brought a little respite, I went out to replenish the feeders. I looked for the blackbirds and there they were, in the huge hackberry trees, fluffed out, silent and well fed, a flock of little dark sentinels keeping watch.

Fortunately for the pine siskins I am not a neatnik. I had intended, but failed, to pull up some of the annual native plants that had run their course. These tiny finches emerged and cleaned the dried seeds right off the plants, pulling the stems down to their level so they could gobble them up. In winter it’s usually better to leave the seeds on plants for as long as you can so birds can have the food. I was glad to help out in this way.

The robins looked for water, but every drop was frozen solid.

They managed, I’m sure, until we thawed. They’ll be laying their eggs any time now.

What a contrast to summer scenes, with lizards and geckos and frogs. It’s important to have loose soil as well as brush piles so these animals can escape the cold. Further underground, the creatures that make our soil fertile are comparatively unaffected by the freezing temperatures, so there will be a miraculous blossoming when spring arrives. Soil that is chemical-free will help the ecosystem as well as the critters, and the soil will be improved with compost.

When spring does roll around there may be a few sunflowers coming up in the backyard. They’ll be a welcome addition, but there will not be many, because wild creatures don’t waste much, not in this cold.

Here in Alabama spring may be right around the corner. Step back, gardeners! The pace of growth will be fast and furious.

Lynette Morse is a member of the Capital City Master Gardener Association. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the website, www. capcitymga.org or e-mail capcitymga@gmail.com.

8

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

One look into your heart and we can ease your mind.

Ever worry about what shape your heart is really in?

3D IMAGE

With an Advanced Heart Check from Baptist Health you’ll never have to worry again. An advanced heart scan using 3-D imaging will show you all the inner workings of your heart. And if we do find something, the healing can begin before a heart attack ever happens. A happy heart will set your mind at ease.

HEART CHECK

Call (334) 273.4450 to schedule yours today.

NOTHING BEATS A

ADVANCED

199

$

Happy HEART BaptistHeartHealth.com www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

9

GRACIOUS PLENTY

A Short History of an Ugly Bread

N

o one claims the Irish invented Soda Bread - a cake-like bread made with baking soda rather than yeast - but the cultural identification took hold more than a hundred years ago and continues to this day in the form of Irish Soda Bread. The use and popularity of Soda Bread in Ireland was in fact born out of necessity.

In the 1800s Ireland’s wheat crop was of the ‘soft’ variety, not the ‘hard’ wheat necessary for baking good yeast breads. Since baking soda worked well with the soft Irish flour, a tradition was born.

Flour, buttermilk, baking soda and salt are the basic building block of Soda Bread, with a multitude of recipes (including this one) calling for additional ingredients, including an assortment of fruit. According to some, once you add fruit of any kind, the results cannot be properly termed “Soda Bread,” but should instead be labeled “Spotted Dog.” Whether “Soda Bread” or “Spotted

10

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Dog,” these breads are dense, moist, and often - how can I put this tactfully - visually unappealing. Some say downright ugly. The appearance, however, has no affect on the taste.

Most recipes call for an “X” to be cut into the top of the bread prior to baking. Irish folklore offers sev-

eral explanations, including making it easier to divide into four pieces, to let the Devil out while it’s baking in the hot oven, and to celebrate Christian holidays with a symbol of the cross.

So crank up the oven, mix up the recipe, bake, cool, slather with good butter and enjoy.

Irish Soda Bread Ingredients: 3 cups flour n uncooked oatmeal 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon n soda 1 3/4 teaspoons baking n powder 2 1/4 teaspoons baking n 3/4 teaspoon salt n 3/4 cup currants n buttermilk 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon n g 1 large, lightly beaten eg n 2 tablespoons honey n tter 1 tablespoon melted bu n 1/4 cup brandy n

as needed. will be sticky. Add flours o a ball. h ug Do t Le . wl bo ape int andy in a Knead 5-6 times, then sh and form into an 8" Combine currants and br mperature. t ee te sh Place on the baking stand 30 minutes at room .

5F 37 to en ov hemisphere.

Preheat rmilk t. ee sh g kin with the remaining butte ba p a to se e th h us Br Lightly grea wmaining oats.

1 cup oats, baking po and sprinkle with the re h with an “X” (about In a bowl, mix the flour, Slash the top of the doug der, baking soda, salt. ilk, rm tte bu p cu 1 isk wh , 1/2" deep).

In a separate bowl p’ yields a . ed nd ble l ‘til r golden brown and a ‘thum tte til bu un g, ke eg Ba honey, til un dients, stirring nutes). hollow sound (30-40 mi s on a rack (but not Add this to the dry ingre Cool about 10-15 minute lt). just combined. me dy. so long the butter won’t Stir in currants and bran ured work surface. flo lyht lig a Place dough on

Assisted Living Get the Best in

From the wreath on the front door to the comfortable chairs on the patio, every detail about the Cottage says we appreciate the little things in life, especially as you and your family face the new challenges of maintaining the quality of life your loved one deserves.

Call Kendra Newton today!

334-694-6297

cottageassistedliving.com www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

11

IN EVERY LIFE

Blood Pressure Dynamics

K

nowing what your blood pressure (BP) numbers mean, and how your results trend, can help you be more involved in your health promotion and disease prevention efforts. The two numbers of a BP reading evaluate multiple aspects of circulation. n Ability of arteries to stretch: Narrowed or calcified arteries decrease elasArlene Morris ticity, the stretch and recoil that accommodates the changing volume of the circulating blood. n Volume of circulating blood: the amount of fluid going through the space within the blood vessels. n Amount of resistance the heart must overcome to pump blood throughout the body, which involves the thickness (viscosity) of blood An instrument is used to briefly obstruct arterial blood flow, usually above one elbow. As the obstruction is released, changes in vibrations from blood flow in the artery are measured to assess pressure. The higher number (systolic) measures pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.

The lower number (diastolic) measures pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. The difference obtained when subtracting the smaller from the larger number is the pulse pressure (usually about 30 to 50).

The risk if these numbers are not accurately identified is that hypertension will not be recognized, which has contributed to its name “the silent killer”. Inaccurate pressure levels may be documented if the first vibrations are missed when the cuff pressure is not tight enough initially. Or, the first vibrations may be missed if they disappear briefly (called an ausculatory gap). Auscultary gap is more frequent in those with high blood pressure or peripheral arterial disease.

Blood pressure is influenced by several factors: n Artery elasticity decreases due to rigidity or narrowing from atherosclerosis (fat deposits in the lining of blood vessels) that can accompany aging. n Pressure is usually lower during nighttime, peaking during late morning or early afternoon. However, effects of circadian rhythms can be altered by medication times and their peak effect. n Activity or exercise can increase pressure due to more blood being pumped, but regular exercise helps strengthen the heart to overcome this. n Emotional or painful experiences can increase pressure by nervous system stimulation. n Lack of hydration or effects of diuretics can decrease the volume of circulating blood and lower blood pressure. n Salt can cause fluid retention, thus increasing blood volume and pressure. n Chemicals such as nicotine, caffeine, or cocaine constrict arteries and thereby raise BP. 12

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Another important factor is change in position. Postural (orthostatic) hypotension is a sudden temporary drop in BP when rising from a reclining position.

Sudden BP drops can result in dizziness or fainting, increasing risk for falls. This is evaluated by measuring BP while lying on your back, then while seated, then while standing.

Orthostatic hypotension may only occur after a meal, when much of the blood volume is diverted to the stomach and intestines to digest food, or after taking a hot shower or bath when blood volume is near the skin.

Resting during these times can decrease fall risk. The American Heart Association reports that people with orthostatic hypotension may have a higher risk of developing heart failure.

New guidelines for BP treatment options were developed in 2013 by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association (AHA). Going forward, the AHA and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have joint management responsibility for developing guidelines.

Discuss these changes with your healthcare provider.

Resources: http://newsroom.heart.org (enter ‘sudden blood pressure drop’ in search bar) Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing. Reach her at amorris@aum.edu.

MONEYWI$E

A Less Taxing Retirement I

s your primary career over, or nearly so? How would you feel about living somewhere besides the River Region?

(No, I am not trying to run you off.) If so, financial considerations will probably play a role in your decision about where to settle for the rest of your life. Since taxes are a meaningful expense, Alan Wallace taking them into account makes a lot of sense.

While federal income taxes are consistent across the country, every state raises revenue somewhat differently. Funds to operate a state typically come from a combination of income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes. Evaluating the differences among states offers a reasonable starting point for narrowing the field.

Best Income Tax States: Seven states levy no income tax on residents—Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Two more—New Hampshire and Tennessee—only tax interest and dividend income.

Many states that collect an income tax exempt certain types of income for retirees. For instance, nine states exempt all income from federal, military and most if not all in-state pensions (not IRA or 401(k) withdrawals). These include Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania. Most states exempt

Bou Cou Gear-up for the competition.

dancewear & costumes!

• stage make-up • hair accessories • tights

In The Courtyard 2101 Eastern Blvd. (behind Starbucks)

(334) 239-0655 www.boucou.net

Social Security benefits.

Best Sales Tax States: Five states have no statewide sales tax, although counties and municipalities within some of them may collect a sales tax. The states without a sales tax are—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.

Best Property Tax States: While all states use residential property taxes as a revenue source, the following have the lowest rates—Louisiana, Hawaii, Alabama, Delaware, West Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico and Wyoming (listed lowest to highest). The average annual property tax in Wyoming works out to slightly more than 0.5% of the property value.

Some states allow retirees to exclude a percentage of their residence value for property tax purposes. Often the amount of the exclusion is tied to household income, with the size of the tax break declining as income rises.

Worst States: To pick the worst tax states for retirees I compared five different lists of the worst ten. Two states appeared on all five lists, four made four lists, and three more were listed by three raters. The two on all five lists were Minnesota and Vermont; the four that made all but one list were Connecticut, Nebraska, New Jersey and Rhode Island; California, Maine and New York made three lists. Iowa, Montana, Oregon and Wisconsin achieved dishonorable mention status by appearing on two lists each.You may want to eliminate all thirteen of these from consideration if you dislike paying taxes.

Best Retiree Tax States Overall: Comparing multiple lists to find the best tax states for retirees suggests the following nine. The most consistent choices were: Alaska and Wyoming; listed almost as often—Delaware and Nevada; frequently cited—Louisiana and Mississippi; also popular— Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Next month we will look at some other considerations when deciding where to spend the rest of your life.

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

13

MEDICARE

M

No-Cost Screenings

By Bob Moos

edicare has put a new emphasis on preventive health care. A few years ago, it was mostly concerned with paying for treatment after you got sick. Now, it’s also focused on helping you stay healthy and avoid diseases and illnesses in the first place. People with Medicare are entitled to a broad range of exams, lab tests and screenings to detect health problems early, when they’re most treatable or curable. Many now come at no out-of-pocket cost. Plus, many immunizations are also free.

To make sure you get started on the right foot, Medicare covers a “Welcome to Medicare” visit with your physician during the first 12 months you’re enrolled in the Part B medical insurance program.Your doctor will evaluate your health, discuss any preventive services you may need, like shots or screenings, and make referrals for more care if required.

There’s no out-of-pocket cost.

You can make the most of your visit by coming prepared.

That means bringing a complete list of your prescriptions, your family health history and your medical records, including immunizations.

Medicare also pays for an annual wellness visit with your primary care doctor. This isn’t the same as an annual physical exam, but it does provide the same opportunity to discuss your health.

Your doctor will develop a personalized prevention plan to keep you healthy. The visit also includes a review of your medications and routine measurements, like your height, weight, blood pressure and body mass index.

More than 25 million older Americans with traditional Medicare – including 000,000 Alabama residents -- received at least one preventive service at no cost to them last year. Here’s a rundown of some of these services: n Cardiovascular screenings check cholesterol, other blood fat levels. Medicare pays for the test once every five years. n Blood sugar screenings can determine whether you have diabetes. Based on your health, you may be eligible for up to two screenings each year. n Mammograms check for breast cancer. Medicare covers a screening every 12 months for women 40 and older and one baseline mammogram for women 35 to 39. n Immunizations typically paid for by Medicare include a flu shot (once every flu season), a pneumonia vaccination (once in a lifetime) and, if you’re at medium to high risk, a hepatitis B shot. n Colonoscopies can find precancerous growths early.

Medicare covers the screenings once every 10 years or, if you’re at high risk, once every two years.You pay nothing for the test itself. If your physician removes a polyp, you may need to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor’s services and a copayment for 14

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

the outpatient setting.

Prostate cancer screenings include a yearly PSA test and digital rectal exam for men 50 and older. The PSA test is free.You pay 20 percent of the cost for the rectal exam, after meeting your deductible. n Counseling sessions. If you’re a smoker who hasn’t shown symptoms of a tobacco-related illness, you may qualify for eight free session each year to help you quit. If you’re obese with a body mass index of 30 or higher, you may be eligible for up to 22 free sessions during the year to help you lose weight.

Keeping up-to-date with screenings and immunizations is important, so Medicare encourages you to visit mymedicare.gov and register. There, you can see a description of your covered preventive services, the last date you had a particular test, and the next date you qualify for it again.

By eliminating out-of-pocket costs for many screenings and tests, Medicare’s new emphasis on prevention not only can save you money, it can help you take control of your health. It may even help save your life. n

MCA Ad_Prime Qtr_12.13_Layout 1 12/10/13 8:59 Page 1for Bob Moos is Southwest public affairs officer for thePM Centers Medicare & Medicaid Services.

We Specialize in Adult and Senior Fitness!

• Customized exercise programs for ALL levels of fitness • Full line of cardiovascular and strength training equipment • Indoor walking track • Blood pressure checks before and after exercise • Friendly atmosphere • Convenient parking

Just wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes

Men ad andtiogn this first moent your FREE! th

MCA Fitness Center 2119 East South Boulevard

We’re located right next to Baptist South Hospital on the ground floor of the Montgomery Cardiovascular Institute

Flexible Hours: Monday thru Friday – 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sunday – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Call 280-1409

for more information or come in for a personal tour!

A Montgomery Cardiovascular Associates Facility

social security

Umbrella in a Storm

T

he unusually cold and stormy weather we’ve been experiencing this year makes it all the more appropriate to recognize National Umbrella Month in March.

National Umbrella Month is a time to celebrate Kylle’ McKinney a useful invention used by most everyone. It’s no coincidence the month comes at the beginning of the rainy season.

April showers may bring May flowers, but the rain starts pouring in March. When the rain pours, an umbrella has you covered. If you work and pay Social Security taxes, we have you covered too.

Whether the storm that hits you unexpectedly is a disability, the loss of a loved one, or an unexpected early retirement (such things can sneak up on you like a sudden storm), Social Security’s umbrella of coverage will keep you protected from the harsh weather.

You qualify for Social Security benefits by earning credits when you work in a job or are self-employed and pay Social Security payroll taxes. In 2014, you receive one credit for each $1,200 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year. Most people need 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits.

The number of credits you need for disability ben-

all

EARS

Hearing Centers 6912 Winton Blount Blvd.

Montgomery, AL 36117 334-281-8400 www.allearscenters.com

efits depends on how old you are when you become disabled. For example, if your disability occurs before age 24, you generally need 1 1/2 years of work (six credits) in the three years before you became disabled. At age 31 or older, you generally need at least 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

In most cases, you need to have worked about 10 years for surviving family members to qualify for survivors benefits. Survivors of very young workers may be eligible if the deceased worker was employed for 1 1/2 years during the three years before his or her death.

Umbrellas have been around for thousands of years. Social Security has only been around since 1935.Yet the Social Security umbrella covers an expanded range of services for you and your family. When you need to learn more about disability, survivors or retirement, the place to go is www. socialsecurity.gov. And you don’t even have to grab your umbrella on your way to apply—just do it online from the dry comfort of your own home or office computer.

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

Daily Health News Updates on Facebook Hearing, Heart Health, Nutrition & More Be the 100th “Like” on Facebook in March and win a $25 Gift Certificate to Mr. Gus’ Ristorante!

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

15

tinseltown talks

Here’s to You, Mrs. Robinson

By Nick Thomas

W

hen NASA honored June Lockhart last October, it would have been fitting to borrow the headline lyrics from a popular Simon and Garfunkel song to salute the 88-year-old actress. Best remembered by sci-fi fans for her role of TV space mom Maureen Robinson in the 60s series “Lost in Space,” June’s recent recognition by NASA was a highlight of her long career, a career that includes a Tony Award, an Emmy nomination, and a couple of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“I was presented with the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for my work with the space agency,” she explained. “I’ve been to two space shuttle launches and worked with NASA since the 1970s, addressing their employees and traveling on NASA’s behalf to promote the agency. So I’m absolutely thrilled by this recognition. No other actress has received this honor.”

One of her memorable experiences occurred during a Space Shuttle mission in 1992.

“I called NASA one day and spoke with astronaut Ken Reightler and told him I had a good wake-up song for them to use,” recalled Lockhart, referring to “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise,” a catchy 50s hit by Les Paul and Mary Ford. The song held special significance because the lyrics were written by her father, beloved character actor Gene Lockhart.

“So I went to Mission Control in Houston and at around 2 a.m. they played the song for the crew of the Columbia mission,” she explained. “Then a voice from space came over the speaker: ‘Some of us up here want to know what Lassie’s mother is doing in Mission Control at 2 o’clock in the morning!’”

“Lassie,” one of TV’s longest-running shows (19541973), was Lockhart’s other big hit. For six seasons she dispensed maternal wisdom as a farm mom, later morphing from matriarch to medic as Dr. Janet Craig for three seasons on “Petticoat Junction.”

“Petticoat Junction was a delight to do with wonderful scripts,” said June. “It was great playing comedy after ‘Lost in Space,’ which was more dramatic, and ‘Lassie,’ which didn’t have many laughs.”

On the big screen, 12-year-old Lockhart made her debut in the 1938 holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol,” alongside both her parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, who played the Cratchits.

While she went on to costar with greats such as Gary Cooper in “Sergeant York” and Judy Garland in “Meet me in St. Louis,” “A Christmas Carol” is special since it was the only time she appeared in a motion picture with her parents. But it was memorable for other reasons, too.

“My daughter, Junie, and granddaughter, Chris16

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

June Lockhart starred in memorable roles during her long TV career, the most recognizable being “Lassie” (above) and “Lost in Space” (below). In 2013, her support of the space program earned an award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (right).

tianna, have never let me forget that the first words I ever spoke in movies were: ‘I know, I know – sausages!’” said Lockhart, referring to her on-screen guess for the contents of a food package Mr. Cratchit brings home.

“We all shriek with laugher when we watch it now.”

In addition to being an advocate for NASA and other causes, she continues to work and costarred in the comedy spoof “Zombie Hamlet,” which had its world premiere at the 2012 Palm Beach International Film Festival and was just released on DVD in December. In 2013, she appeared in the interactive movie series “Tex Murphy,” a gaming platform that combines animation with full-motion video of real actors.

“That was a new experience and I really enjoyed it.

And in December, I also celebrated my 80th year as a paid performer in the business! I made my debut at the age of eight in ‘Peter Ibbetson’ at the Metropolitan Opera House.”

While actors are used to receiving accolades for career milestones, Lockhart admits to being overwhelmed by the NASA recognition and is, she says, “over the moon about it!” Congratulations, Mrs. Robinson!

Nick Thomas has written features and columns for more than 350 magazines and newspapers. He can be reached at his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com.

“If I suffer from...

• Parkinson’s or MS • Arthritis/Fibromyalgia • Poor balance/weak muscles • Diabetes/neuropathy • Heart problems or stroke • Stress/Depression

...can Tai Chi help me feel better? Yes!” Taoist Tai Chi Society ® 3666-A Debby Drive

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

17

18

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

feature

For What It’s Worth I

By Janet Adams Photos by Bob Corley

f you’re a fan of Antiques Roadshow, you’ve likely gone online to nab one of the free tickets for the upcoming show date June 21 in Birmingham (ticket deadline April 7th). If your weekend “best thing to do” involves scouring garage sales and flea markets for the old, the unusual and the (possibly) genuinely valuable antique, then you’re no doubt interested in the elusive answer to the question, “What is this thing worth?”

It’s also time to realize that in the antiques assessment business—as in most areas of life— there’s no free lunch, even online.

You may have good reason to think your treasure is indeed valuable. Maybe you’ve seen a similar item described on Pickwick Antiques highly informative education segment of their website. Or you have a letter stating the item was given to your great Aunt Charlotte

by Queen Somebody or Duke So and So. If so, you should engage a reputable appraiser.

(Note: Pickwick Antiques is not a buyer nor an appraiser, but a purveyor of British and Continental antiques.)

Locally, there are several highly-experienced appraisers you can contact.

Linda Rushton Pugh, certified by both the International Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America in New York, has conducted estate division, estate tax, insurance, IRS donations, and liquidation appraisals throughout the Southeastern United States.

According to Frank Powell, who has a stall at Eastbrook Flea Market on Colonial Drive in Mont-

gomery, “...anything that bears an old Coco-Cola label”—particularly old Coca-Cola coolers—is in high demand at the moment. Also, painted furniture from the 1980s-90s is popular. Even the ugliest pieces from that era, he says, attract buyers when “...lavished with paint and new hardware.”

“Persons furnishing a home for the first time,” says Powell, “are looking for bargains, and the wide variety of furniture and decorative items offered by vendors at Eastbrook offers buyers the opportunity to give their living space individuality at a budget-friendly price.”

Montgomery Antiques and Interiors on the Eastern Boulevard houses 30 to 40 vendors offering a range of what treasureseekers might term “up-market” antiques. These include jewelry, porcelain, coins, objets d’art, silverware and furniture with many items bearing signatures or proof of provenance.

If you’re not looking for treasures to buy, but have to handle the sale of a family member or dear friend’s estate, there are local specialists in that area.

Michael Respess has been holding estate sales and appraising valuables for Montgomerians and clients in neighboring states for twenty-six years. His guiding principle on assessing valuables is to assign “... the best fair market value possible,” which applies to every item in an estate sale whether it’s a garden/ lawn tool or a cherished piece of heirloom silver. His www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

19

Frank Powell in one of his stalls at Eastbrook Flea Market.

20

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

commission is an industry standard 25%. If he should find personal letters or other documents, or items that are obviously part of a family’s history, he returns the items. One would not want Great Uncle Charles’ letters to his betrothed discarded or read by non-family members.

“Due to the vagaries of the current economy”, Respess added, “buyers are looking for gold and silver items—including jewelry—as well as diamonds and other precious stones.”

Another local organizer of Estate Sales, Linda Shogren, is a former owner of Old Cloverdale Antiques (open in a new location with new owners but with the same store name). Linda “...grew up surrounded by antiques and always appreciated the fine workmanship and beautiful woods they embodied.” Linda works with families as well as attorneys, banks and the courts in the disposal of estates in the area as well as surrounding states.

To check current estate sales by these and other organizers, visit www.estatesales.net. Most listings carry photos and prices of items being sold.

Here are some stores you may not have on your list as possible “antiques discovery” places. In addition to Salvation Army stores and Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity on the Southern Boulevard and Willie’s World on Atlanta Highway don’t advertise as havens of antiques, but you never know what you might find.

Pawnshops? Maybe… but by all means visit Lulu’s Attic to Antiques at 946 Plantation Way. Proprietor Leigh Lusser offers a really unique range of merchandise from junk to the sublime.

If a vintage car or antique metal or wood sign is on your want list, you might find it at Lulu’s. New items mingle with vintage

Linda Shogren in one of her display areas at Mtgy Antiques & Interiors.

Michael Respess works on the details of an estate sale.

clothing.

Your interest in antique items may have led you to invest in a book or two, and you’ve likely studied any of the informative websites on the Internet. If you enjoy visiting local antique shops, here’s a further sampling of such businesses in the Montgomery area.

Cottage Collection Antique Shop Old Cloverdale 334-269-4999 Continental and American antique furniture and decorative accessories.

Co-owners Elisabeth Byram, Kaye Collet.

Beckett Antiques 514 C Cloverdale Road 334-546-3602 Unusual and traditional iron and gilt wood lighting fixtures.

“Lots of chandeliers,” says owner Rebecca Cumbie, who developed a love of antiques from watching her grandfather, whose sideline was restoring antiques for clients in Mobile, AL. Nicole Maleine Antiques, Inc. nicolemaleineantiques@gmail.com Direct importer of French antiques and accessories.

The above information doesn’t cover every store or person engaged in appraisals and sales of antiques in the Montgomery area, but does serve as an introduction to the many venues in this historically-rich city.

Linda Rushton Pugh uses a ‘loop’ to inspect a piece of silver. www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

21

Season

Montgomery Symphony Orchestra

2013-14

Classical Season Concert I • Monday, October 14 • 7:30pm Concert II • Monday, November 25 • 7:30pm Concert III • Monday, December 16• 7:30pm Concert IV • Monday, February 17 • 7:30pm Concert V • Monday, April 28 • 7:30pm

Fellowship Series Violin, October 29 • 7:30pm Cello, December 3 • 7:30pm Violin, January 19 • 2:30pm Cello, February 25 • 7:30pm Violin, March 25 • 7:30pm Cello, May 6 • 7:30pm montgomerysymphony.org / 240-4004

MONTGOMERY

The River Region’s Professional Ballet Company

The Ballet School Register throughout the year.

Darren McIntyre,Artistic Director

The Montgomery Ballet School.

Unparalleled training and performance opportunities, toddlers through adults.

For information/registration • 334-409-0522 • www.montgomeryballet.org 22

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

GAMES Across 1 Faux-antique decor 11 Nurses 15 Words next to many 22Down 16 Malaysian Chinese shoe designer Jimmy 17 It's hard to write with one 19 Cub games setting: Abbr.

20 Hidden Valley competitor 21 "Hah!" 22 Small-screen princess 23 Sing ballads, say 24 Word in a Le Pew address 26 Tab alternative 29 Foe of the fictional spy agency CONTROL 30 Pump parts 32 Authorizing 33 First-aid practitioner, briefly 34 In reality 36 Cutting remark 37 Don't bother 39 Jard'n occupant 40 They're built on benches 41 Pretends 43 Yupik craft 45 Thomas who co-created "Free to Be ...You and Me" 46 Spanish autonomy Castile

and __ 47 Astronomy Muse 49 Stick with a spring 50 Brief black-and-white flash?

53 Hunter's companion 56 Singer of the children's album "Camp Lisa" 57 Prevented from getting unruly 58 Minute 59 Biological cooler Down 1 What collaborators should be in 2 Garment feature that's sometimes detachable 3 Family title 4 Like some news 5 Stock character?

6 Dweller on the Red Sea 7 Hutch contents 8 European trio in a Christmas song 9 Soc. Sec. supplement 10 Rogers __: Toronto stadium 11 Cheesy stuff 12 "Color me surprised!"

13 Shot glass

14 Bar supply available at the touch of a button 18 Pretentious 22 Check alternatives 23 "Welcome to the human network" tech giant 24 Desert mount 25 "GET FIRED UP!" candy 26 Passes out 27 Phil Jackson, for most of the '70s 28 Early birds?

29 It may wash up onshore 31 Leaving for 34 Toots 35 2010 Western remake that garnered 10 Oscar nominations 38 Presently 40 Success on a mat 42 Haunted house sounds 44 Farm sound 46 Ton o' 47 Jamaican hybrid fruit 48 Act like a pig, in a way 49 Star of Looney Tunes' "for Scent-imental Reasons" 50 Fitness brand 51 Ivy League member 52 Cultivated 54 FF's opposite 55 Bent piece Š 2014 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.

Crossword and Sudoku answers on page 27. www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

23

on the GWTW Trail

FEATURE

Story by Andrea Gross allow three days to explore the Gone with the Wind (GWTW)Trail in and near Atlanta, but it takes me only one to become a Windie. A Windie is a die-hard GWTW fan, a person immersed in the history, legends and legacy surrounding the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and enormously popular film. Some dream of Rhett; others dream of Scarlett’s fancy clothes or 17” waist. As for me, I dream of publishing a novel that wins one of the world’s most prestigious awards and is turned into a film that earns me millions.

On the surface, GWTW is the wildly romantic tale of Scarlett O’Hara, a headstrong Southern belle (played by Vivian Leigh in the movie) and her love-hate relationship with Rhett Butler, a dashing, successful opportunist (depicted by Clark Gable). But on a deeper level, GWTW is the story of the American South during and immediately after the Civil War, a time when an entire society was challenged and ultimately transformed.

The book, written by first-time novelist Margaret Mitchell, was released to the public in 1936 and became an overnight sensation.

David Selznick produced the movie, which is the highest grossing film in box-office history, earning an estimated $3.3 billion in today’s dollars. To capitalize on the public’s interest, the State of George created a GWTW Trail that leads people to five sites that are in some way connected to the book, the film or the author.

Our first trail stop is in Clayton County, where Mitchell’s relatives had a rural home. As a child, Mitchell visited often and listened intently as her family elders told stories about their experiences during the Civil War. Many of these tales were transformed into scenes in her novel, leading her heirs to dub Clayton County the “Official Home of Gone with the Wind.”

(To Mitchell’s dismay, Selznick upgraded the comfortable farmhouse of Mitchell’s memory into Tara, a much grander mansion that he thought would better appeal to movie audiences.)

The Road to Tara Museum has a painting of the old farmhouse, in addition to authentic Civil War items and reproductions of many of the costumes worn in the film, including the green Drapery Dress that Leigh wears in one of the movie’s most memorable scenes. But it’s not until I see the display of foreign edition books that I

I

24

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Photos by Irv Green

(Left) Mitchell’s typewriter in the apartment where she began her novel.

(Above) Gone with the Wind, the book, has been published in more than forty languages, including Amharic (Ethiopia) and Kamnada (India).

begin to morph from casual tourist to possible Windie.

GWTW has been translated into more than forty languages and sold in more than fifty countries, from Albania and Burma to North Korea and Serbia. Why are people all over the world so intrigued by a story about a war that took place in America so long ago?

We learn the answer the next day when we visit the Margaret Mitchell House, where the author lived when she began her novel. It takes only a few minutes to see the small apartment, but much longer to peruse the exhibits in the nearby hallway.

There, on a large signboard, is a quote by Margaret Mitchell: “If the novel has a theme, it is that of survival.”

Why, of course. GWTW addresses a basic concern: If their old world is “gone with the wind,” how do people create a new

Margaret Mitchell’s heirs dubbed Clayton County, GA, “The Official Home of Gone with the Wind.” www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

25

one that will work in their new circumstances? This is a question asked by everyone who has ever suffered a hardship, be whatever the cause.

When seen in this light, it’s easy to understand the story’s universal and enduring appeal.

Our next stop is Atlanta’s Public Library, where there are more than 1,500 of Mitchell’s personal items, including her old Remington typewriter and 1937 Pulitzer Prize certificate.

We’re even more fascinated by the items on display at the Marietta GWTW Museum, Scarlett on the Square, which holds a treasure-trove of photos and ephemera. I examine the film contracts. Gable got $160,000 plus a bonus that enabled him to divorce his wife and marry Carole Lombard, the love of his real life. On the other hand, his co-star Vivian Leigh got a mere $30,000.Yes, Gable was a mega-star, but still, I can’t help but wonder what Mitchell, who was quite the feminist for her time, thought of that.

Finally, we double back to Atlanta to visit Oakland Cemetery, where Mitchell is buried next to her husband. Her tombstone is small compared to many and gives no hint of her fame. It’s simply inscribed with her married name, Margaret Mitchell Marsh. Someone, a Windie no doubt, has decorated the grave with pink flowers, reputedly Mitchell’s favorite color.

I want to extend my stay in Georgia, to delve more deeply into the GWTW phenomena and to learn more about the era in which the novel is set. But we have a plane to catch, so I console myself by remembering Scarlett’s words, “Tomorrow is another day.” I’ll be back.

For more information, visit www.gwtwtrail.com.

26

By the time Mitchell and her husband lived here, this Tudor Revival mansion had been subdivided into small apartments.

Stately Oaks, an 1839 home in Clayton County, GA, bears some resemblance to Tara, the plantation home depicted in the movie, but is much more elegant than the home Mitchell described in her book.

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Laughter is brightest where food is best.

Old Irish proverb March 17th is celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day to honor the patron saint of Ireland.

First publicly celebrated in Boston in 1737, it was 200 years before the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Ireland. Other countries celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with parades or other festivities include Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and Canada. www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

27

PRIME VINTAGE

The Whole Foods Gap

By David White

“A

lthough modern consumers are far more concerned about the origins of their food than they once were, keenly eyeing the source of that organic spinach, their concern goes out the window when it comes to wine."

These words appear in The New California Wine, the just-released book from San Francisco Chronicle wine editor Jon Bonné. It's what he calls the “...Whole Foods gap.”

He claims consumers who shop at that particular upscale grocery store, obsessing about the origins of their food, could care less about where their wine comes from or how it was farmed. Consider the soaring sales of organic food.

In 2012, according to government data, sales of organic food increased 7.4 percent over the previous year – about double the growth rate for food overall. Since 1990, the amount of U.S. farmland dedicated to organic crops and livestock has increased fourfold.

Organic meat and produce often cost twice as much as their conventional counterparts.

Americans, beginning to take an interest in where their food comes from, are moving away from industrialized calories and toward production that eschews pesticides and values sustainability, even if it means paying more.

With wine, however, Americans still drink cheap, with little thought to its origin or production. The average bottle of wine in the U.S. sells for just $6.22. Nine in ten bottles sold cost less than $12. Consider Whole Foods.

28

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

While shopping for free-range chicken, cage-free eggs, and artisanal cheese, consumers are presented with stacks of wine from Three Wishes. Retailing for $3, it's produced for Whole Foods by the Wine Group, the nation's secondlargest wine company.

Or consider Trader Joe's. Just feet from where consumers pick up local fruit sits a wall of wine from Charles Shaw.

Better known as "Two Buck Chuck," the wine is produced

by Bronco, the nation's fifth-largest wine company. Wines like these benefit from economies of scale, but also rely on a host of winemaking tricks.

That oaky aroma? It typically isn't from barrels, but rather from oak chips and sawdust dumped into the wine. The juiciness is often the result of acid additions. The weight and texture of inexpensive wine could be from concentrates engineered to fill gaps. It's better wine through chemistry.

The grapes for these wines are generally grown in California's vast Central Valley, where farmers rely on constant irrigation and regular use of chemicals to keep output high.

With California experiencing one of its worst droughts in history, the sustainability of these methods is worth scrutiny.

This isn't to say that inexpensive wines are inevitably bad.

There are certainly satisfactory options available for less than $10. But spending so little almost guarantees you'll be drinking industrial wine.

Author Bonné and I recently chatted about this dilemma.

"I don't think that we should be confronted with the option of either beautifully farmed but very expensive grapes on relatively expensive land, or somewhat chemically farmed grapes in industrial vineyards, as our only two options," he contended. "I think there has to be some middle ground in which you can farm grapes virtuously for a table wine."

He's right.

And even in California, it's possible to find honest wine.

One label Bonné recommends is Broadside, a valuepriced side project from two admired up-and-coming vintners. Another is Foxglove, a value-priced offering from the brothers behind Varner and Neely, two highly acclaimed labels. He also suggests Lioco Wines. Lioco's "Indica," a red blend based on old-vine Carignane, is a delightful wine that's reminiscent of both Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhone.

Bonné expects more value-priced offerings in the years ahead.

"There is absolutely a mandate,” he insisted, “for newer winemakers in California to take their talent and apply it to less expensive wine." And he's optimistic about the future.

"People who are willing to pay a premium for whatever it is – say tomato sauce made by a small company rather than Ragu – are going to need to extend those values into wine."

In time, they will.

I always knew I was going to Montgomery Eye Physicians.

Their reputation is second to none. After getting LASIK, I play golf, I go hunting, and I can see and shoot a lot better now. And just for normal, everyday things — everything’s clear.

— DREW WOODS

getLASIK.me 334.272.2020

David White is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com, which was named "Best Overall Wine Blog" at the 2013 Wine Blog Awards. His columns are housed at Grape Collective. www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

29

MOVING FREE with mirabai ®

Exercise Relieves Back Pain

A

lthough specialists once thought resting was the best prescription for a bad back, it is now shown that carefully designed exercises may be more effective in reducing back pain. A sedentary lifestyle and unnatural alignment of the spine have a lot to do with back pain, a condition that affects 31 million Americans at any given time, according to the American ChiropracMirabai Holland tic Association. One study found half of all working Americans report back pain symptoms whether they are seated or standing on the job.

If you spend most of your time sitting at a desk, it’s easy to hunch your shoulders and neck forward to look at a computer screen without even noticing. And if you hold that position for hours at a time, especially with your legs crossed at the knees, your spine can really suffer. For women, wearing high-heeled shoes can add to spine stress.

By the time we reach our fifties, many Baby Boomers have created bad habits and bad backs. Luckily, it’s possible to change your posture for the better, standing or sitting, and relieve that chronic pain – as well as the restricted breathing, digestion and circulation that holding an unhealthy posture may cause.

The most effective way to improve your posture is by stretching your spine and strengthening your back and abdominal muscles so your whole core area gets stronger. Exercise also works to remedy sudden injury to back tissue and muscles.

One of the most effective ways to relieve back pain is back extension. Back extension helps to reset your vertebrae into proper alignment and to relieve nerve pressure.You can do it standing, sitting or lying face down (‘cobra pose’ for those with yoga experience). Here’s the standing version: n stand with feet comfortably apart; n place hands behind you at the lumbar area; n gently arch your back and look upward without stretching the neck too far back; n hold for 10-20 seconds; n repeat 3 times.

Try this anytime your back feels fatigued.You’ll be surprised at how much relief it gives you. But don’t do it if you are in severe back pain. In that case it’s time to call your doctor.

Mirabai Holland, M.F.A. is an authority in the Health & Fitness industry specializing in preventive/rehabilitative exercise. You can reach her at askmirabai@movingfree.com, or www.mirabaiholland.com.

Over the past few months customers were asked to name a favorite food they r e g u l a r l y e a t a t M r. G u s ’ . H e r e ’ s a p a r t i a l l i s t .

(Sorry if it’s hard to read.)

Pizza, Gyro, Chicken Souvlaki, Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Supreme, Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, Meatball Sub, Baked Penne Pasta, Baked Ravioli, Fettuccine Alfredo, Pastichio, Moussaka, Baked Cheese Manicotti, Baked Cannelloni, Chicken Marsala, Grilled Chicken, Baked Beef Ravioli, Garlic Bread, Dolmathes, Tiropita, Spanakopita, Bruschetta, Avgolemono Soup, Minestrone, Veal Marsala, Tuscan Grilled Chicken, Grilled Tilapia, Omelets, Grilled Grouper, Rib Eye Steak, Cheese Calzone, Shrimp and Grits, Grilled Grouper and Grits, Chicken Salad, Greek Salad.

Mr. Gus’ Ristorante

Tuesday-Friday 11 am - 2:30 pm 4:30 - 9 pm

Montgomery’s Finest Italian & Greek Cuisine 6268 Atlanta Highway Montgomery AL 334-356-4662

Saturday * 6 am - 2 pm 4:30 - 9 pm

*Where Montgomery meets for Saturday breakfast.

30

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

prime diversions

Recent dvd releases The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Philomena and Frozen

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13) Now we have two films based on the popular young-adult novels about the saga of heroic lass, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who is forced into televised combat in a dystopian future, as a distraction from the wretched lives the era’s One-Percenters are brutally inflicting on the masses. This series of death matches appears to be the natural descent from today’s “reality” programming, which serves the populace an endless parade of people they can be glad they’re not, in straits worse than their own. In the first, Katniss and her friend Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) survived and became cultural icons. We now learn that the glory was transitory, and fraught with more dangers from those on high, who fear their popularity could inspire rebellion.

In this round, they’re forced back to the arena against 22 others, from which only one will be allowed to survive. The dangers and f/x are ramped up from the first, though a considerable, if not excessive, amount of exposition is required to get them there.

Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci return in their campy roles. She plays the sort of overly florid ditz usually associated with Helena Bonham-Carter; he epitomizes every smarmy game-show host and carny barker we’ve seen. Donald Sutherland extends his oppressive presidency, with help from Philip Seymour Hoffman who arrives as the new puppet master for the games. Woody Harrelson stays on the franchise gravy train for another ride.

The first film was a huge success, and satisfied viewers on its own, even knowing further adventures were lurking on the bookshelves for sequelizing. Partial spoiler alert - after nearly 2 ½ hours, this one finishes with a cliff-hanger that screams for the next feature, akin to the end of the middle segment of the original Star Wars trilogy. Two more films are in the works. If you lack the patience or life expectancy to wait for them, either read the novels or hold off on seeing this one until the next installment is ready for release.

Philomena (R) Dame Judi Dench takes on a new type of challenge in this fact-based drama that manages to deliver warm sentimentality and rage at virtually the same time. Stephen Frears directs from a screenplay partly credited to co-star Steve Coogan. At 15, Dench’s Philomena became an unwed mother in 1950s Ireland.

Her father dumped her with an order of nuns who ran essentially a sweat shop and orphanage. The girls became forced laborers, with little access to their children, and no rights to oppose or influence their adoptions.

The film opens as the elderly Philomena redoubles her efforts to find out what happened to her son that the nuns handed to a couple when he was a tod-

dler. She’s still around the time he’d be turning 50. She’s led a simple life, raising a family after working off her debt to the nuns, but Mark Glass been stonewalled by the orphanage as to his fate. She turns to an out-of-work journalist (Coogan), who needs to rehab his image and career. Their quest is our tale, taking them to the U.S. and some surprising developments.

The script includes moments of levity, but it’s mostly an artfully understated study of the characters, with a scathing indictment of the system that allowed such places to exist not only into the 1950s, but shockingly until the late ‘90s. This presentation is less intense than 2002's The Magdalene Sisters, which featured several of these young women during their period of servitude, but no less appalling. Dench plays a simple soul who still feels guilty about her sin of promiscuity, and clings to a reverence for the Church’s authority that seems baffling to others, considering the way she’d been treated from pregnancy to her old age. Tally one more finely nuanced performance in her lengthy, distinguished list.

Frozen (PG) Disney’s animated musical adventures can be spectacular, but nothing lasts forever, which may include the allegedly cryogenically-preserved founder of the empire. Walt’s legacy dwindles with disappointing features like this. The musical numbers are pleasant, if overly derivative of others. The artwork is splendid, whether viewed in 3-D or not. But the screenplay is a tedious mess, leading to ill-defined characters in more of a patchwork quilt than a heartfelt tale. That’s the missing touch of yesteryear.

A princess is cursed with a Midas-like touch that turns everything, living and otherwise, into ice. Her parents decide to lock her in a tower, without any explanation to her loving younger sister.

When the older one comes of age after the parents have passed on to their own celluloid heaven, it’s time to open the castle for her coronation. Disaster follows. Not only for the kingdom and its subjects, but the audience. As the young ladies and their cartoon cohorts plod through an insipid script, stopping occasionally for a burst into song, or attempt at comic relief, one wonders what happened to the writers who once delivered charming tales and colorful characters to Disney’s legions of gifted animators and tunesmiths, resulting in movies worthy of multiple viewings.

Better to rent DVDs of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast than to endure this one. Unless it’s bedtime, when such snoozefests might prove useful to beleaguered parents.

Mark Glass is an officer and director of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

31

Things To Do In March 20th Annual Culinary Caper hosted by the Montgomery Area Council On Aging (MACOA). March 2, 12:302:30 pm, Alabama Activity Center. Funds go to Meals on Wheels program. Local chefs donating delicious fare. $75/ person. Reservations only. Raffle of a $1,000 VISA gift card.

For info. call MACOA, 334-263-0532, or e-mail Karen Allen Green, kallengreen@macoa.org.

Contra Dancing 1st and 3rd Friday, 7-9 pm, MASDA Square Dance Center, 2201 Chestnut St., Montgomery. $5/ person, $15/family. No special skills required, just an ability to walk to the beat and a willingness to smile. Please dress comfortably for vigorous physical activity and bring comfortable shoes suitable for hardwood floors. For info e-mail Info@Contralines.com.

Concert by U.S. Air Force Band, Mar. 7, MPAC. Free. Culmination of the American Bandmasters Conference being held in Montgomery Mar. 5-7.

Capitol Sounds Concert Band & Montgomery Recreators concert. Thurs.

Mar. 20, 7 pm. Taylor Rd. Baptist Church. For info call 334-625-4661, or 334-224-4424 Joe Thomas, Jr. Guitar Pull, Cloverdale Playhouse, Mar. 18, 7-9 pm. Live acoustic singer/songwriters sharing their music and stories.

Featuring Bubba Hall, Jonathan Tew, Wesley Shearer. $10. For info call 334-262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org/.

Montgomery Chorale 40th Anniversary Gala Concert & Reception, Apr. 5, 7 pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 113 Madison Ave., Montgomery. Performing Bach’s “B Minor Mass” with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra. Tickets $50 (premium reserved seating, pre-concert reception), $25 (general admission), and $15 (students and seniors). For tickets visit www.montgomerychorale.org. $10,000 Draw Down Fundraiser for Dixie Sailing Club, Lake Martin.

Mar. 28, 6-10 pm, The Stables at Russell 32

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Crossroads, two miles north of Kowaliga Bridge on Hwy 63. Supports infrastructure and future sailing programs.

Music, entertainment, silent auction, door prizes, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. Tickets $100/each, includes Draw Down Ticket; $25/each does not include Draw Down Ticket. Only 400 Draw Down Tickets will be sold. Contact Beth Biggs (Montgomery area), 334-220-8650, or Merry Hardy (Lake Martin area), 256-794-8075, or buy tickets online at www.dixiesailingclub.com/tickets.

Annual Minority Business Development Community Forum. Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Apr. 3, 7:30-8:30 am, Small Business Resource Center, 600 S. Court St., Montgomery. Space is limited, registration required. For info. visit Chamber events calendar, www.montgomerychamber. com. Guest Presenters are co-founders LaVon Lewis and Sherrod Shackelford, Pencilworx Design Group.

4th Annual Tennis Tournament hosted by Hospice of Montgomery. Mar. 13, 8:30-11 am, 12-2:30 pm.

Wynlakes CC. Funds provide counseling and bereavement services to families, community education seminars, and care for terminally ill patients, regardless of their ability to pay. $100/team of 2, $50/person. Includes warm up, breakfast, lunch, player gift and prizes. Reservations required. To register call Wynlakes, 334-273-8425.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop The Central Alabama Aging Consortium is sponsoring a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) consisting of a six-week course designed to teach people with illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, COPD, fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic pain and other chronic illnesses to manage their diseases, feel better, and lead more productive lives, living life to the fullest.

The program is free and open to those with chronic health conditions as well as their families, friends, and caregivers. Classes are taught by two trained leaders for 2 ½ hours once a week. The workshop is interactive and participants learn skills and strategies for managing their symptoms such as pain and fatigue; they learn about healthy eating, relaxation techniques, overcoming depression, managing daily tasks, exercising safely, and attain skills in other areas.

The workshop will be held at the Crump Senior Center, 1750 Congressman Dickinson Drive in Montgomery, beginning Thursday, March 27, 2014 and end on May 1st. The hours are from 12:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Registration is required and enrollment is limited. There may be funding available for respite care.

To register or for more information regarding future classes, contact Myrtle Scott or Jane Mitchel at Central Alabama Aging Consortium at (334) 240-4666.

No retirement plan?

It’s not too late.

Your CPA can help plot a path to retirement and manage your assets, no matter what they are.

Alabama Society of CPAs Free on-line referral service www.ascpa.org/public

“America Counts on CPAs™” www.primemontgomery.com | March 2014

33

off the beaten path

Guarding the Hen House Chicken is tasty, on this the dog, the hawk and I agree. Where we diverge, however, is on the subject of entitlement. By design, my flock of biddies keeps me in eggs most of the year. But an unexpected consequence of their offerings of fresh, calcium-encased protein, is the struggle against creatures that mistakenly believe what’s mine is theirs for the taking.

Coco drew first blood. Never one to be constrained by vertical borders, under cover of darkness she scaled the fence of the enclosure the flock

called home and carefully chose her target. I heard the commotion and made for the door, too late to rescue, but in time to see Coco climb back over the fence, limp chicken in her mouth. Had the pullet been a quail, duck or dove, she would have received an encouraging word and a rub of the ears. Instead, witness accounts indicate she received far worse.

In such instances anger is the logical response. But could she really be blamed? Most dogs are only a natural disaster-away from reverting to dingoes, and the natural instincts she exercised I’d spent considerable time and money fostering. The fact she drew no distinction between sporting and domestic fowl was a testament to her breeding, training and dedication.

Not believing my verbal admonishment of her would prove sufficient, I installed an invisible fence that ran the perimeter of the garden enclosure.

Coco’s midnight marauding ended, and the flock and I breathed a collective sigh of relief. Though minus a bird, eggs were laid and eaten and normality returned.

34

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com

Until the incident with the hawk.

Coming in late one night from the office, I’d forgotten to close the coop door before turning in. The “Poor Richards’” of the animal world, chickens would, if left to their own devices, be out of the coop pecking and scratching through the landscape at first light.

Such was the case the next morning when we were visited by what I can only describe as a small dragon.

Hen screeches in the pre-dawn hour, clearly utterances of distress, disturbed my slumber. The closer I got to the garden, the larger became the hulking, obsidianeyed menace, perched atop one of my prize but lifeless hens. I was unarmed and he was unafraid, I knowing that even the inverse of the former would do little against this protected class. I wondered if he too, knew this. Eventually, preferring to dine alone, he spread his massive wings, breathed a little fire and flew off.

Two birds in two months was too much.

The hawk is where I drew the line.

Ritualistically, I began closing the coop door each night, shooing-in any birds late to turn in. On the dawn side, I waited until the last minute to let them out before leaving for work. Though I’ve kept the flock from shrinking further, I’m not resting on my laurels regarding the wildlife interested in my chickens. With an eye toward the sky, I’ve built a covered enclosure where I can only hope my birds will be safe from attacks from above.

As for Coco, she’s adjusted to the invisible fence, though I don’t trust her not to push it. With spring here she’ll likely become pre-occupied with pulling pears from the tree and forget about the birds. Between her and the squirrels, I’ll be lucky to get a pie’s worth of pears from that tree.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

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

Niko Corley

“Surprisingly affordable!”

TM

Wesley Gardens Retirement Community 1555 Taylor Road

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

• Montgomery, AL

334-272-7917 www.methodisthomes.org

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

35

Thomas Edison held more than 1,500 patents, including ones for the light bulb, phonograph and motion picture camera.

He also suffered from Tinnitus.

Tinnitus* is nothing new.

The treatment for it is.

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

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

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