Charles Anthony’s at the
Pub h
• Hand-cut Steaks • Fresh Seafood • Daily Specials Monday-Thursday 4:30-9:30 pm Friday and Saturday 4:30-10:00 pm
10044 Chantilly Parkway www.charlesanthonysatthepub.com 334-281-3911
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October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Wine Tasting 1st Wednesday of the month 5:30-7:00 pm Drawing for FREE APPETIZER at each Wine Tasting
Visit our website and register to win Dinner for 2* (Entree, side and salad. Excludes appetizer, drink, market-priced entrees. Dine-in only.) *
Prime/October 2013
Protect your home (and wallet) with preventive maintenance on this important investment (page 21). For a seasonal treat, whip up a batch of pumpkin pie donuts (page 8). Computer work stressing out your hands? Simple exercises can help ward off carpal tunnel syndrome (page 7). Looking for a light red wine for Fall dinners? Try the under-appreciated and under-valued Cru Beaujolais (page 27).
on the cover Diet and exercise. All our lives we’ve been told they’re the keys to good health. But as we age, what amount of exercise is needed? New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham has surprising findings regarding now much exercise senior women need to maintain, and improve, their overall conditioning (page 12).
EDITOR’S NOTES
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QUICK READS
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A GRACIOUS PLENTY Seasonal Donuts
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YARD ‘N GARDEN October in Your Yard
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SWAMP THING(s) Okefanokee & The Everglades
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EXERCISE NEWS FOR WOMEN Once a week?
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IN EVERY LIFE Breast Cancer
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MEDICARE FORUM Health Insurance Marketplace
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TINSLETOWN TALKS Stuart Whitman: Class Actor
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MONTGOMERY ‘HAUNTS’ Searching for Ghosts
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MONEY WI$E Protect Your Home
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HARD LESSONS Listen To Your Wife
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SOCIAL SECURITY Help a Senior
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PRIME VINTAGE A New “Red” for the Fall
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MOVING FREE Avoiding Orthopedic Injuries
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PUZZLES
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PRIME DIVERSIONS October’s DVD Releases
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OFF THE BEATEN PATH Fishing with my Fathers
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www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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River Region Senior Living Just Got Better!
Comfort and Luxury in a Gated Community
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• 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)
4000 Fieldcrest Drive • Montgomery , AL 36111 For information/schedule a tour call Tonya or Jodi • 334-284-0370 e-mail caravitavillagemail@alcco.com www.alcco.com/location/caravita-village 4
October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Prime
Montgomery
October 2013 Vol. 4, Issue 7
PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Andrea Gross, Willie Moseley CONTRIBUTORS Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland, Blake Jeffcoat, Kylle’ McKinney, Bob Moos, Arlene Morris, Nick Thomas, Alan Wallace, Eileen Webb, David White. PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Corley, Irv Green, Eileen Webb 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 2013 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 never ate a slice of homemade jellyroll, or a serving of chicken or tomato pie until I married. The same could be said about spoon bread, oyster dressing, or caramel cake. An entirely new palette of foods opened up to me in my late 20s, and my mother-in-law drove those discoveries. My own Mom was a wonderful cook, but traditional southern recipes weren’t staples in her catalog. And my mother rarely used recipes -- while my mother-in-law (“Mama”) poured over a collection of recipe books that took up an entire kitchen shelf, and then some. Each style of cooking has its benefits and I’ve been the lucky beneficiary of both. By the time I married into my husband’s family, Mama had just retired from a 20-year stint with the Public Health Department, first as an RN, then serving as the state’s first female Public Health Administrator -- no small feat in Alabama in the 1960s. Though she was probably always organized, her years of work just intensified that predisposition. “To do” lists (which she seemed to always accomplish) were rampant and could be found all over her house -- tucked in books, on the table by her den chair, or on the chalkboard upstairs. And those were just the obvious places. Nowhere were her lists more evident, however, than in her kitchen. Lists of ingredients. Lists of recipes. List of timelines for preparing and serving the food she’d cooked. Mama passed away six weeks ago, just 21 days shy of her 95th birthday. As family gathered to remember her in the days that followed, to a person we all recalled the great support and love she provided to each of us. And, in just as true a testament, we also talked about her food. She, herself, would have denied any notion of culinary skill but, secretly I think, she would have been pleased. It wasn’t just the taste of what Mama prepared, it was also the event. As a guest at her table -- regardless of what was served -- you knew it was the result of intentional thought and thorough preparation. That alone created a delightful expectation.You knew you were going to have something good. As my sisters-in-law and I talked about preserving Mama’s recipes during that long weekend in August, we also talked about the old recipes that no one seems to prepare anymore. When was the last time you had Charlotte or hoecakes or ambrosia? Do you have a family heirloom recipe you’d like to share? We’d love to include it in an upcoming feature where we showcase classic family recipes. Mixed in with yours I’ll contribute some of my own treasured favorites, handed down through generations on both sides of our family. And when I do -- though I’ll never know it -- I’m sure both my Mamas will be looking down and smiling with pride.
Sandra Polizos, Editor
If you’re 50+ and on Facebook, become a fan of PRIME Montgomery! www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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quick reads
Americans Living Longer, Healthier, But Troubling Trends Emerge Due to medical advances, better treatments and new drugs unavailable a generation ago, the average American born today can expect to live 3.8 years longer than a person born two decades ago. But are these extra years active and healthy? Data from researchers at the U. of Massachusetts Medical School show Americans are living longer, reporting fewer symptoms of disease, have more energy, and show fewer impairment in everyday tasks such as walking than a generation ago. According to the study, a 25-year-old person today can expect to live 6 percent or 2.4 quality years longer than their 1987 counterpart. Meanwhile, a 65-year-old person will gain 1.7 quality years, a 14 percent increase from a generation ago. Thanks to improvements in health care, many conditions are far more treatable today than 25 years ago. Heart disease, for instance, was potentially much more debilitating a generation ago and patients often suffered a decline in quality of life as a result. It’s far less likely today that a patient recovering from a heart attack will become institutionalized or need around-the-clock care as they once did. The study also found health gains made as a result of smoking cessation programs were being offset, in part, by increases in obesity. Americans today are also more likely to see quality of life declines related to chronic, degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, while younger Americans appear to be experiencing problems related to a sedentary lifestyle. Other troubling trends were identified, including an increase in anxiety among young and middle-aged people beginning in 2001, and problems with walking increasing significantly among non-elderly over the last decade.
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Experts and Public Disagree On Medicare Cuts Many experts see Medicare as a major contributor to the federal budget deficit, but only 31% of the public agrees. One reason is that many Americans believe most Medicare recipients pay, or have prepaid, the cost of their health care. However, on average, Medicare beneficiaries pay about $1 for every $3 in benefits they receive. Twothirds of the public believe Medicare recipients get benefits worth the same or less than what they paid in payroll taxes during their working lives, and in premiums for their current coverage. –New England Journal of Medicine from material provided by Harvard School of Public Health
Carpel Tunnel Exercises The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway formed by bones and ligaments, though which the median nerve enters the hand. If tendons in the carpal tunnel become inflamed and swell, compressing the median nerve, pain, tingling and numbness in the hand and wrist may result. Here are two easy exercises to keep wrists flexible and ease strain on tired wrists. Do not do these exercises if you already have pain or numbness. In this case, consult your health professional. n Grasp the fingers of one hand with the other hand and gently bend back your wrist. Hold for five seconds. Gently pull your thumb down and back until you feel the stretch. Hold for five seconds. Clench your fist tightly, then release, fanning out your fingers. Repeat five times. Then do the same exercises with the other hand. n Stand or sit with your elbows close to your waist, your forearms extended in front of you parallel to the floor, with palms down. Make fists with both hands and make circles with your fists in one direction. Repeat 10 times, and then reverse the direction. Next, open your hands, extend your fingers and repeat the entire sequence. – Johns Hopkins Health Alert, Sept. 2013 Revised Diabetes Guidelines The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is easing blood pressure guidelines for diabetics. Previous recommendations were a blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 mm Hg. Citing new evidence, they now say it’s OK to aim for less than 140/80 mm Hg, as recent studies haven’t shown the lower readings offer benefit over the higher numbers. The new target may allow some diabetics to stop taking blood pressure medications to avoid side effects, as long as their systolic pressure remains below 140 mm Hg. – From Diabetes Care
Breakthrough Discerns Normal Memory Loss from Disease Cornell University researchers have developed a reliable method to distinguish memory declines associated with healthy aging, from the more-serious memory disorders years before obvious symptoms emerge. The method also allows research to accurately predict who is more likely to develop cognitive impairment without expensive tests or invasive procedures. “With 10- or 15-minute recall tests already in common use worldwide,” said study co-author Charles Brainerd, “we can distinguish individuals who have, or are at risk for, developing cognitive impairment from healthy adults, and we can do so with better accuracy than any existing tools.” Study co-director Valerie Reyna said the notion that memory declines continuously throughout adulthood appears to be incorrect. – ScienceDaily, http://www.sciencedaily.com, courtesy Cornell U. www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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a gracious plenty
Pumpkin Pie Spice Donuts
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ill your home with the smell and flavor of the season with Mini Pumpkin Pie Spiced Donuts, a sweet morning treat baked with the quintessential flavor of fall. “You won’t believe how easy it is to make these donuts at home,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick
Kitchens. “They’re perfect to mix together with your kids - no trip to the bakery required.” For the final touch, dip the donuts in a fall-inspired glaze. Flavors such as vanilla, mocha or maple complement the pumpkin spice in the donut, becoming the ultimate autumn indulgence.
Mini Baked Pumpkin Pie Spiced Donuts with Vanilla Glaze Serves: 15 Donuts: Vanilla Glaze: Maple Glaze: 2 cups all-purpose flour 4 cups confectioners' sugar 4 cups confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup milk 2/3 cup milk 11/2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla 1 teaspoon Imitation Maple 1 egg, lightly beaten Extract Flavor 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
Mocha Glaze: 8 oz. semi-sweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon Pure Coffee Extract
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. For donuts, spray mini donut pan with no-stick cooking spray. (If you do not have mini donut pan, use mini cupcake pan to make donut holes.You may also use an electric donut maker. Prepare as directed.) Set aside. Mix all ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared pan, using 1 tablespoon batter for each donut. Bake 10-12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Meanwhile, for glaze, mix all ingredients in large bowl until smooth. Remove donuts from pan. Immediately coat in glaze. Place donuts on wire rack set over baking sheet or waxed paper to cool. For more recipe ideas to try this fall, visit www.McCormick.com, www.Facebook.com/McCormickSpice, or www.Pinterest.com/mccormickspices. 8
October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Yard ‘n garden
Fall Gardening Tips O By Eileen Webb
nce summer has passed many people think it's time to relax and wait for spring to resume work in the yard. However, October is an important month for gardening. The change to cooler weather offers opportunities for you to influence your home landscape now, and in the future. Take these steps to make your landscape more productive, healthy and attractive. Refurbish flower beds; plant fall flowers. Pull up bedraggled annual flowers (collect seeds for next year) and trim perennials. If needed, amend the flower beds with compost, garden soil and new mulch. Then the fun begins. I go hunting and shopping for one of my favorite flowers, the pansy, a member of the viola family, always debating what color combinations I’m going to plant. Don't plant until the weather has cooled down, usually mid to late October. Pansies and violas are very cold-tolerant plants.You can also add the smaller varieties of violas like Johnny Jump Ups.Violas come in many beautiful and vibrant colors and color combinations, are easy to care for, last through the fall, winter and spring in our climate, and add a pop of color to an otherwise drab winter landscape. For lots of blooms (as with most flowering plants), dead head old blooms by pinching them off with your fingers. Fertilize about once a month, as they like rich, organic soil. Pansies require heavier than normal fertilizing, but don't overdo it. Fall is also the perfect time for planting flowering kale or cabbage, snap dragons, dianthus, dutch iris, and spring bulbs including daffodils, amaryllis, hyacinths, anemones and crocus. Most bulbs need 45-60 days of cool weather before bloom time.You can ensure this by putting them in your refrigerator for the same period of time before planting, but this isn't always necessary. With tulips, this is an absolute requirement in our climate. You'll usually do better with bulbs specifically suited for our zone, which is zone eight.
Divide your perennials; pass them along. Divide and plant spring-blooming perennials like day lilies, phlox, Louisiana and bearded irises, dianthus, coreopsis, coneflowers and daisies. If you have leftovers, share them with friends and neighbors. Many of my most treasured plants come from someone sharing from their gardens locally and long distances. On my last cross country trip, my car looked like a mobile greenhouse. Every time I see one of those plants in my yard it brings sweet memories, reminding me of the friends and family who gave them to me. The givers are also great resources to educate you on how to grow them successfully. Put in a winter vegetable garden. Vegetables that do well in a winter garden include beets, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, carrots, Swiss chard, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, radish, spinach and turnips. Check your soil pH for best results. October is also good for strawberry plants. Strawberries established in the fall have a much higher yield the following season. Replace/add shrubs/trees. With summer heat largely over, and freezing temperatures yet to arrive, now’s the time to replace unsightly, diseased or dead shrubs and trees and/or put in new ones. This provides a stress-free time to establish roots and acclimate to their new environment before the colder winter temperatures hit. Be sure to water-in the first few weeks until established. Add mulch to all beds to ensure plants are protected against the cold. For color, choose trees with beautiful fall leaves such as the sugar, red and Japanese maples, dogwood and ginko. Colorful shrubs include viburnum, smokebush and nandinas. Happy Fall Gardening! Eileen Webb 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. 9 www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
feature
Alligators, Birds and Plants, Oh, my! By Andrea Gross Photos by Irv Green
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t’s 9:30 in the morning, but the air is still cool. Nevertheless, I’m slathered in sunscreen and dripping with insect repellant, ready to meet some alligators. It’s a trip that will take my husband and me from Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp, the largest black-water swamp in North America, to Florida’s Everglades National Park, a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve as well as a World Heritage Site. Okefenokee Swamp Along with a dozen other passengers, we climb into a 24-foot flat-bottomed boat and set out through water that’s the color of strong tea — a result of tannic acid caused by decaying vegetation. At 10:08, we spot our first alligator. At 10:12, there’s another one, and then another. At 10:32, one leaps out of the water, arcing in front of us. “Sometimes they leap six feet into the
air,” says our guide, Chip Campbell, owner of Okefenokee Adventures. It’s a fact I find most disconcerting. By this time the gators are appearing every two, three minutes. There’s one over there, curled in the grass, gazing at us with steely eyes. And that log over there… It moved! I stop counting when I realize I may be tracking fallen trees as well as prehistoric reptiles. In short order we become mini-experts on alligators. We learn how to tell an alligator from a crocodile (It's all in the teeth; a croc’s lower teeth overlap his upper); to judge the reptile's length (estimate the distance between the eye bumps and snout bump; that distance in inches pretty much equals the gator’s length in feet); and to escape one that’s chasing you. “Climb a tree, run in zigzags, or…” Chip
(Above) Rental boats are available for folks who want to explore Okefenokee on their own. A boardwalk (right) along the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park makes wildlife viewing accessible to all. 10
October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
The guide pushes the boat through the shallow swamp waters of the Okefenokee.The American alligator (right) sometimes grows to more than 14 feet in length.
laughs heartily… “outrun your friend!” It’s obviously a good day for alligators, but even on gatorless days, there’d be plenty to see. The swamp is home to a large variety of other reptiles, as well as amphibians, fish, mammals, butterflies and more than 230 species of birds, including egrets, herons, ibis, sand hill cranes and redshouldered hawks. Chip puts the boat in reverse so we can better see a soft shell turtle, which instantly submerges to avoid us. No problem. Chip heads toward a flooded forest, where, he says, we’re likely to see a snake. “Most, but not all, poisonous snakes have cat-shaped eyes,” he tells us. Since I have no intention of getting close enough to a snake to see the shape of its eyes, I dismiss this piece of information as superfluous. I’m more interested in learning about the medicinal properties of various plants — spotting those that will repel insects, relieve depression, grow hair and clean hands. "But there's no remedy for folks who get their hands eaten while plucking plants," says Chip, and I decide to stick with the pharmacy for my medications. By 11:00, as another gator glides by, we’ve seen so many that we’ve become blasé. We turn our heads but don’t rush for our cameras. Our memory cards are full, but even without more photos, we know we’ve had a trip we’ll never forget. http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee; www.okefenokeeadventures.com Everglades National Park It’s a seven-hour, 385-mile drive from Okefenokee to the Everglades, and I didn’t want to go. When I read the best way to see the alligators is to walk along a 0.8-mile boardwalk, I turned up my nose. After all, I rode in a low-lying boat
through a swamp in Georgia, so why would I want to peer down at gators from a raised walkway? So tame. So tacky. I was wrong. Everglades National Park is nature at its most convenient and abundant. A one-hour walk along the Anhinga Trail puts you up close and personal with more alligators and birds than we'd seen from further away and during much longer expeditions. We get about ten feet down the path when a giant black bird with a yellow bill hops on the rail in front of us. He's waving a small fish in his mouth. We stand mesmerized for several minutes while the cormorant shakes the fish into submission, positions him in line with his throat and swallows him whole. A few feet further, a large osprey spreads his wings, his white upper feathers looking like a fringed cape against the black background. We turn left along a nice plank pathway. With the water undisturbed by a moving boat, dozens of alligators sun in peace, some half-submerged, others happily snoozing in the roots of swamp trees, others completely visible. The boardwalk makes a stable resting place for tripods, and there seem to be more photographers than gators or birds. Yet the mood is serene. Despite the manmade conveniences, we feel at one with nature. www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/everglades-national-park www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013 11
feature
Age & Exercise UAB study finds exercising one day a week may be enough for older women
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study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) reveals women 60 and older may need to exercise just one day a week to significantly improve strength and endurance. The study, appearing in the July issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, monitored 63 women performing combined aerobic exercise training (AET) and resistance exercise training (RET) for 16 weeks. One group performed both exercises once a week, a second group twice a week, and a third group three times a week. The study found significant increases in muscular strength, cardiovascular fitness and functional tasks in each group, but no significant differences in outcomes between groups. “One of the biggest barriers to exercise training for the older female population is adherence, and one of the key findings in this study is that doing a little bit of exercise can go a long way,” said Gordon Fisher, Ph.D., primary investigator of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Human Studies in the School of Education. “Telling people that they need to do at least three to five days of exercise to improve their overall health can be a major obstacle,” Fisher said. “Lack of time is the most often-cited barrier to exercise adherence. This study demonstrates that doing as little as one AET and one RET workout each week can provide a lot of benefit for older women’s overall quality of life and health.” The findings contradict a long-held concept that more exercise is better.Younger adults do benefit from greater frequency, intensity and duration of exercise training, but there have been few studies focusing on older women. The study suggests the progressive overload that benefits a younger demographic may not apply to all aspects of health and fitness in women over the age of 60. “Before I saw the data, if anyone told me that the group that only exercised once a week would improve their leg press more than 45 pounds during a 16-week period, I would have been quite surprised,” said Fisher. “We were also surprised that
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all three groups increased their lean muscle mass but did not have any significant decreases in body weight.” There is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass throughout the aging process, making preservation of lean muscle extremely important in aging adults. Fisher said weight loss was not the goal of the study, and they did not ask the women participating to change their diet. His team was looking for ways to improve the women’s overall quality of life. The team assessed the efficiency and ability of the women to partake in tasks of daily living such as sitting and standing, walking and climbing stairs. At the beginning of the study, each participant completed a 3-mile-per-hour walk test to determine heart rate and oxygen consumption. The average heart rate was 110 beats-per-minute. After 16 weeks of aerobic and resistance training, the women’s heart rates averaged 92 beats-per-minute during the walk, indicating the women required much less effort to do the same daily task following the exercise program. Fisher suggested that a low-frequency, combined aerobic/resistance program may be an ideal method of training to optimize strength and endurance, as well as improving quality of life in older adults. Health practitioners should consider incorporating this form of training when an individual is unable to perform vigorous exercise or higher training frequencies. Information extracted from the paper “Combined aerobic/ strength training and energy expenditure in older women,” co-authored by Gary Hunter, Ph.D, and Gordon Fisher, Ph.D., published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center.
EK E R G IC S U M
24th ANNUAL Authentic Greek Food & Pastries
Fri. & Sat. Nov. 1 & 2
Lunch 11am - 2pm; Dinner 5-8pm Eat-in, Take-out, Drive-thru (Fri. lunch only) Plates: $12 and $14 Greek Orthodox Church •1721 Mt. Meigs Rd. 334-263-1366 (Gift shop with Greek food items and gifts.) www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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in every life
Breast Cancer: The More You Know...
D
uring October, we’re Quality reports higher levels of reminded that breast satisfaction with early identificacancer is the second most tion of breast changes at all ages common cancer among American combined with shared decisionwomen, following non-melanoma making regarding treatment. Ask skin cancer. Risks for breast cancer healthcare providers to discuss increase with age. The U. S. Centers potential benefits, risks, and cost for Disease Control and Prevenof each option and compare to tion (CDC) estimates that 3 or 4 of your personal needs and wants. every 100 sixty-year-old women will Assuming personal responsibility Arlene Morris develop breast cancer in the next 10 for health is the starting point. The years, while 6 to 7 of these sixty-year-olds will develop CDC supports breast cancer surveilbreast cancer in the next 20 years, and recommends lance and research, and provides a website for mammography personal risk screening every factor evaluResources: one to two years ation (ReStatistics: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/age.htm (see Resources sources - Risk). Eligibility: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/ Statistics). Some risk Risks: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/infographic.htm Additionally, in factors cannot General Information E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov/ April of this year, be changed the CDC’s Advi(such as sory Committee genetics, age, on Breast Canpast history). cer in Young Women recommended U.S. Health and Others, however, can be changed such as weight, exerHuman Services target information to young women cise, smoking, alcohol consumption, breast-feeding, and at elevated risk. Factors in the elevated risk category some decisions regarding medication or treatments. include: hereditary susceptibility, biopsy-proven breast A pro-active health approach involves talking to your tissue changes, history of chest wall radiation during family, collaborating with your healthcare provider, adolescence or early adulthood. Factors in the higherbreastfeeding your baby, regular exercise, avoiding than-average risk category include Ashkenazi descent smoking, or dense breast tissue as identified by a breast radiand miniologist using mammography. mal alcohol While self-examinations may be helpful in identifying consumpchanges in breast tissue, mammography as a screening tion. tool for breast cancer reveals smaller changes in tissue, enabling earlier treatment. Mammography screen- Arlene H. ing rates in the U.S. have remained stable over the past Morris, EdD, decade, although screening rates are lower for some RN, CNE is population groups. However, since 1991, the CDC’s Professor National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection of NursProgram has provided assistance to uninsured and un- ing, Auburn derinsured women between the ages of 40 to 64 years Montgomery who met federally established eligibility guidelines, School of with a priority for breast cancer screening for older Nursing. VINTAGE women. Discuss this option with your healthcare proReach her vider if you believe you may meet the eligibility criteria at amor(Resources - Eligibility). ris@aum. Collaboration with healthcare providers enables edu. combining medical information with personal values to Eastbrook Flea Market & Antique Mall 425 Coliseum Blvd. make decisions about tests, medications, surgeries and Montgomery • 334-277-4027 treatments. The Agency for Healthcare Research and KynardKornerVintageBoutique
“My dress and gloves? Kynard Korner, of course.”
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Medicare
Health Insurance Marketplace Question & Answer By Bob Moos
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eginning Oct. 1, Alabama residents will be able to buy health care coverage from private insurance companies through an online marketplace set up by the federal government. The Health Insurance Marketplace has prompted questions. Here are answers to the most-often asked, in hopes of clearing up confusion about the program. Whom does the marketplace help? The uninsured. If you have health insurance through your employer or a government program like Medicare or Medicaid, you needn’t concern yourself. The marketplace is mainly for individuals who want to buy health care coverage on their own for themselves or their families. The marketplace simplifies your shopping for coverage by letting you make side-by-side comparisons of health plans. You’ll get a clear picture of what benefits you’d get and what premiums and deductibles you’d pay. Then you can enroll in the plan that best fits your needs and budget. It all can be done online, at www.healthcare.gov. Why would a healthy person need insurance? Though no one plans to become sick or hurt, most people eventually need medical care. On average, three days in the hospital runs $30,000, and fixing a broken leg $7,500. Having health care coverage protects you from those unexpected medical expenses. Can someone with a medical condition buy insurance? Yes. Insurers can’t deny coverage because you have a medical issue, such as cancer or diabetes. Nor can they charge more than they would someone who’s in good health. And once you have insurance, the company can’t delay your treatment. Your medical care begins immediately. What does the marketplace’s health insurance cover? All the health plans provide a package of 10 essential benefits, including emergency services, hospital care, lab services, prescription drugs, doctor visits, preventive care, rehab services and maternity care. Some plans offer additional coverage, such as dental or vision care. The benefits are similar to what’s typically covered in an employer-provided plan. That’s a significant point. Until now, individual insurance policies haven’t always offered such an array of services.
How do the health plans vary in cost? Some marketplace plans have lower monthly premiums but charge more out-of-pocket when you need care. Other plans charge higher premiums but cover more of your medical expenses. You’ll decide how you want to balance your premium costs with your out-of-pocket costs. For example, if you see your doctor often and take a number of prescription drugs, a “platinum” or “gold” plan may work better for you. If you don’t, a “silver” or “bronze” plan may be more practical. You’ll see the differences in premiums and out-of-pocket costs when you shop for a plan. How does someone shop for insurance in the marketplace? You’ll fill out an application and find out how much you can save on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Most people who apply will qualify for lower costs of some kind. Specific information about the health plans available in your area will be posted at www.healthcare.gov by Oct. 1. Where can someone go for help in applying for coverage and enrolling? You can get help online (www.healthcare.gov), by phone (1-800-318-2596) or in person. There will be people trained and certified to help you understand your health coverage options. The website and tollfree call center can direct you to the benefit counselors in your area. Insurance agents and brokers can also help you with your application and health plan choices. When can someone shop and enroll, and when does coverage start? Open enrollment is from Oct. 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014. Health plans and prices will be available by Oct. 1. Coverage starts as soon as Jan. 1, 2014. What if someone doesn’t have coverage in 2014? The new health care law requires people who can afford it to take responsibility for their health insurance by getting coverage or paying a fee. With insurance, you have peace of mind. Without it, you bear the full brunt of any medical bills, which could land you and your family deep in debt. Bob Moos is Southwest public affairs officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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tinseltown talks
Stuart AWhitman Class Actor Y
ou won’t see Stuart Whitman’s name listed in the closing credits for the 1951 sci-fi classic, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” But he’s there, if only for a few seconds, in an uncredited role as one of the sentries guarding the alien space-
ship. Such was the humble beginning of many young actors in the 50s, appearing anonymously in bit parts hoping to be “discovered.” It took a decade, but critics and audiences eventually noticed the handsome, dark-haired Whitman. While waiting for his big break, Whitman bought and hired out a bulldozer to help pay the bills. But it wasn’t as odd an employment choice at it might appear. “My dad was a real estate developer, and I helped him out before I was put under contract with Universal Studios,” he told me during a June interview. Patience and perseverance paid off, with a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in the 1961 film, “The Mark.” Shot in Ireland with co-star Rod Steiger, it was a controversial film for the time, with Whitman playing a recovering sex offender. “I didn’t see the script until I got to my hotel room in London,” he said. “My first thoughts were ‘I can’t do this’ and tried to think of an excuse to get out of it. Later, I got a call from Steiger who wanted to meet and rehearse at his place. We worked our way through and it turned out fine.” After the film’s release, coworkers felt sure he’d get an Oscar, or at least a nomination. They were right. “I was living in North Hollywood and heard the nomination on the radio while driving. I was shocked and almost crashed the car!” But he didn’t win. The film’s sensitive theme likely turned off some Academy voters. He was also up against stiff competition including Spencer Tracy, Paul Newman and Charles Boyer. The award went to Maximilian Schell in “Judgment at Nuremberg.” Ironically, Whitman’s co-star in “The Mark” was Schell’s sister, Maria. “Maria told me she didn’t know who to vote for that year!” he recalled. Whitman’s charm and charisma made him a natural for western roles, including the short-lived but popular TV series, “The Cimarron Strip” in 1967, and such films as “The Comancheros” co-starring with John Wayne in 1961. “Director Michael Curtiz wanted me for the part of Paul Regret in the film, but said it had already
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October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
been cast. He suggested I go talk to Wayne,” said Whitman. “I found him on the Paramount lot coming out of his trailer. I’d never met him before, but walked right up to him and spent 20 minutes pitching for the part. Finally he said ‘Okay kid, you’ve got it.’ That’s the kind of power John Wayne had. Duke loved to play chess between scenes and we had many games. His strategy was strange because he would give up major pieces just to save his pawns!” Whitman’s most well-known film is probably “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines” in 1965. “That was the first big money I made in a movie – $300,000,” he said. Money, however, was never an issue for much of his later career. From his humble bulldozing beginnings, Whitman went on to make millions from real estate investments. “I didn’t need to act to make a living, but had a real passion for it – I just loved to act.” After some 200 film and TV roles, Whitman, now 85, retired to his 30acre ranch in Santa Barbara. “I’ve lived there for 45 years, in between the mountains and the ocean. It’s a beautiful spot.” In 2006, he married his third wife, Julia, a Russian. The two met when Whitman traveled to St. Petersburg to be best man at a friends’ wedding. “After returning to the US, I got a phone call from her saying she was in Pasadena and could we meet. I’m sure glad I said ‘absolutely!’” Nick Thomas teaches at AUM. His features and columns have appeared in more than 320 magazines and newspapers. Reach Nick at his blog at http://getnickt. blogspot.com
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EARS
Hearing Centers 6912 Winton Blount Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36117 334-281-8400 www.allearscenters.com
Daily Health News Updates on Facebook Hearing, Heart Health, Nutrition & More Be the 100th “Like” on Facebook in October and win a $25 Gift Certificate to Mr. Gus’ Ristorante! Find us on Facebook at All-EARS-Hearing-Centers. www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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feature
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October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Ghosts Tracks By Willie G. Moseley Photos by Bob Corley
H
aunted Montgomery is the latest in a series of books on unusual occurrences in specific locales, this work profiling locations and buildings in the Capital City, and the ghosts and spirits that reportedly inhabit them. Author Faith Serafin is director of the Alabama Paranormal Research Team (APRT) and author of similar books about Auburn and Opelika, AL, and Columbus, GA. Serafin’s interest in the paranormal began in childhood, when she recalled seeing and communicating with the spirit of her deceased great-grandfather at a family home in Georgia. “I spent roughly 15 years, mostly as a solo investigator, before I formed my group,” she said. “If I had to guess at how many investigations I had done prior to my team being organized, I would say roughly 50 to 60—mostly residential locations, homes, businesses, and historical locations.” APRT is headquartered in the Auburn/Opelika area, and its investigations have included historical military sites including Gettysburg, PA, and Alabama’s Fort Morgan in Baldwin County. Serafin acknowledges the Deep South has a disproportionate share of mysterious legends. “There is no shortage of ghost stories here in the South,” she reflected. “Storytelling and history are definitely part of Southern heritage, and seem to be tied together with legends and stories of heroes and epic battles. Traditionally, it’s part of our culture. I also study the cultural history of the ‘Old South’, and have found that many slave stories and Native American folklore were part of the verbal communication and means of passing down generational stories from family to family. Over the years, they kind of evolve into a supernatural story.” Haunted Montgomery is based on individual interviews about specific sites, and not all of the interviewees wished to be identified. The book opens with a discussion of Hank Williams, and addresses such local legends as Huntingdon College’s “Lady in Red,” and a ghost at Lucas Tavern in Old Alabama Town. Serafin’s research revealed some surprises. “I was very surprised to find out about the murder in the Capitol building,” she said. “That particular story is one of my favorites in the book. Also, I spoke with two different locals about the First White House of the Confederacy, and got a really spooky coincidence. Both ladies had similar experiences at the museum on different days, and these women don’t know each other. All the hair on my neck stood up after interviewing them and hearing how similar their experiences were.” (Right) Serafin in front of an Oakwood Cemetery site discussed in the book. (Below, L-R) Lucas Tavern, Confederate graves, the Capitol building.
www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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There was one disappointing facet to Serafin’s research in Montgomery. “I actually had enough material for this book to write a second (book),” she said. “That’s always a future possibility. There wasn’t much that was ‘disqualified’. To me, all haunted history is good, but a few stories weren’t consistent enough or didn’t have enough of a back story to establish them as a ‘historical haunt’ for Haunted Montgomery.” A few of the sites and stories that were researched but not included in the book were Kilby Prison, the Creek Casino location, the Montgomery Theatre, and the slave trade in the city. “There were stories about all of those subjects,” Serafin said, “but nothing with enough of a spooky significance to include them.” The next step after researching paranormal activity is a fullbore, on-site (often overnight) investigation, involving sophisticated electronic equipment, including thermal sensors and audio-video gear. “My team and I have investigated several residential homes in Montgomery, and we have been very successful with that,” she said. “Families in need of answers due to paranormal problems are always our first priority when dealing with the supernatural. Typically, we find that questions are easily answered with some thorough investigating, and it’s those cases that are, above all, most rewarding to us.” Serafin is eager to do similar investigations at historical locations. Perhaps surprisingly, cemeteries don’t often figure into such opportunities. Hank Williams’ grave in Oakwood 20
October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Cemetery, as well as the legendary “glowing grave” at another cemetery, would be low on Serafin’s priority list. “Believe it or not, we typically don’t get a lot of paranormal evidence from cemeteries,” she said. “It’s mostly folklore that ties a substantial person to an unusual grave or burial location that makes it ‘haunted’, in my opinion.” However, Hank Williams does figure into her quest for an investigation, but not at the cemetery. “I would love to investigate the Hank Williams Museum,” she enthused. “It wasn’t listed in the book, but I feel like there is some very good potential for paranormal activity there. Working in a museum, I have personally felt, seen, and witnessed so many unusual and strange things. It seems likely that certain items belonging to a deceased person, would have a sort of connection to them.” The first story in Haunted Montgomery was inspired by a series of recurring dreams Serafin had about Hank Williams over a one-year period. She documented her dreams and the series of events that led her to Nashville in search of his spirit. “I felt it was an important part of my personal experiences to tell readers how Haunted Montgomery came to be,” she says, “and how the ghost of Hank Williams contributed to the book.” Serafin is gratified by the reception to Haunted Montgomery. “I love meeting history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts,” she said. “They have the best stories to tell, based on their own experiences. History tells us what is important, but occasionally, a ghost story can tell us what is forgotten.”
moneywise
A Stitch in Time Part 2
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he biggest single investment people normally make is in their house, so it’s prudent to take good care of that investment. Last month we looked at moneysaving preventive maintenance ideas related to your car or truck; this month we’ll talk about ideas for that big-ticket item, the house. What parts of a house require, and will benefit from, regular maintenance and attention? Most of the exterior may Alan Wallace be impervious to weather and hold up well over many years. Aside from cosmetic issues, brick, stone, glass, galvanized metal, concrete, vinyl siding and some other materials may be fine on their own for a long time. Wood, however, needs to be examined for rot and other damage periodically and may require paint or stain to be reapplied. In addition, seams and joints often need caulking or sealing every year or two because of weather damage, shrinkage, etc. Failure to deal with these issues in a timely manner can create an avenue for additional damage. Checking the condition of exterior wood and caulked joints annually is a good practice. Postponing needed maintenance typically raises the cost. The cost of energy to heat and cool your home is not going down. Adding, replacing or improving weather stripping, insulation and passive energy-saving measures can pay off quickly and result in worthwhile savings over the long-run. If you have the skill, doing part of this yourself can save money and make the economics even better, but be sure you know what you’re doing. Hiring a professional, especially for more complex
needs, such as blowing insulation into your attic or replacing windows, may be a better bet. Dealing with pest issues before they become a problem is better than making repairs afterward. Among damaging pests are termites and mice. I have friends near Montgomery who have been at war with squirrels for years. A number of these rodents, which many consider cute, had taken up residence in their attic, chewed through wires, and done other damage. Even after evicting the first batch, others have persisted in trying to occupy their home. Discouraging these crafty pests from overpopulating your yard and invading your house is a worthwhile priority. Among the other pests creating problems and doing damage outside or in, are bees, wasps, bats, raccoons, possums, armadillos, rats and deer. Roofs are a long-lived aspect of a house, but they’re not permanent. Keep an eye on the ceiling inside your house for signs of water damage which will result if your roof develops a leak. It’s a good idea to walk through your entire house a few times a year and look at the ceiling in every room, including closets. If you have rooms not routinely used or occupied, something could be going on that you are unaware of. Do not wait until the ceiling falls to become aware of a persistent roof leak. This summer has been unusually wet. Have you noticed any drainage issues in your yard? I discovered a significant ponding issue shortly after buying my first house in Montgomery in 1987, learning in the process that brick is porous—standing water will gradually pass through brick into a house. The solution was to dig a trench and install a drain pipe to route the standing water to the front yard. If you have heavy water runoff from your roof, installing gutters may prevent damage from erosion. Gutters may also need to be cleaned of leaf clutter annually or have a protective screen installed to avoid accumulation. In any event, identifying and resolving drainage issues, including erosion and ponding, is less expensive if handled sooner than later. Next month we’ll look at issues associated more with interior maintenance of your home. Until then, take a look around the outside and see what you need to take care of during the pleasant fall season before the gray winter weather settles in. 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 | October 2013
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Leave The Last Limb Alone L
By Blake Jeffcoat
ife is a series of lessons. Some, especially those that stick with us, are associated with hard work and, often as not, pain. The older we get, the more lessons we learn. So it stands to reason I should be getting smarter every day. But I wonder if that’s so. My story of lessons learned begins as a child when I watched my dad do things on his own. Hiring someone to do work at the house or the farm was out of the question. It was the “I’ll do it myself attitude.” I have continued to do as my dad, not from a money saved standpoint, but just from the “I’ll do it myself” standpoint. Until now. Several weeks ago I noticed a limb hanging by a sliver of bark in a large pine tree between our house and the neighbor’s. It needed to go. After a few weeks of discussions with my wife I decided it was time to get that limb down. I borrowed my neighbor’s ladder, grabbed my bow saw and headed to the tree. Being in the engineering/construction business where our safety slogan is Target Zero, I have participated in numerous training modules on ladder safety. I knew what to do. I secured the ladder and asked my wife to hold it steady. I first cut a small limb to get it out of the way. Everything went great. Because the target limb was quite large, I used a rope to tie it off so when I cut it loose, it wouldn’t knock me off the ladder. All went as planned. As I started to put up the ladder, I noticed two other limbs also needed to go. However, my wife objected, suggesting it wait for another time. I returned the ladder to my neighbor, cut up the limbs, and moved them to the street for trash pickup. As I walked back to the house and looked at my finished job, those two remaining limbs stood out – they needed to go just to even out the canopy. The tree would look so much better. I was already dirty and sweaty, so why not finish the task already started? Back up went the ladder. My wife, objecting to this last effort, nonetheless held the ladder steady. One limb was rather big. I sawed it halfway through and let gravity ease it down so it wouldn’t damage the fence or knock me off the ladder. Worked like a dream. I got off the ladder and pulled the limb down. Before my wife could return to steady the ladder, I went back up for the last limb. This one was partially behind the trunk, and as I shifted by weight to the right just a bit I lost my balance and fell about 6 to 8 feet, landing on my back with a thud. Luckily, I landed in a flower bed with four inches of pine bark. Still, it really hurt. An emergency room visit showed the extent of my injuries -- broken bone on the top of my left foot, sprained right ankle, sprained right knee, sprained left elbow, compressed L-4 vertebrae in my lower back, bruised Blake Jeffcoat with a reminder of his limb-trimming accident. muscles, broken spirit, and damaged pride. Surgery on my foot required three screws in the bone, sure to deal me fits during my frequent trips through airport security. But it could have been much worse. I’ve had time to reflect on these new life lessons, and want to share them with others my age who may confuse, as I did, what we CAN do with what we SHOULD do. My hope is you can learn these lessons without the pain and inconvenience I experienced. The lessons are: 1. Listen to your wife. Don’t let the “T-factor” (testosterone) muddle your thinking. We ain’t as young as we once were; 2. Use specialized services. These people know what they’re doing and do it every day. Don’t fall into the “I can do it myself” trap; and lastly, 3. Leave that last limb alone. 22
October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
social security
“There are around six hundred million people aged 60 and older living in the world today... In the United States, 10,000 people reach retirement age every single day.”
Help Your Elders W
hile the Baby Boom era is behind us, the effects will live on. The number of people reaching the autumn season of life is higher than ever. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that there are around six hundred million people aged 60 and older living in the world today. That number is expected to double by 2025 – a short 12 years from now – and is expected to reach about two billion by 2050. In the United States, 10,000 Kylle’ McKinney people reach retirement age every single day. The elders of a community are often known as wise sages that younger people go to for advice; older people have the life experience and reflection that younger people lack. But given the fast-paced changes the world now experiences, with new technologies becoming outdated in a matter of years or even months, there may be some helpful insights you can share with your elders. For example, if you know someone who is nearing retirement age, tell them about www. socialsecurity.gov. They may not be aware of the helpful and easy-to-use tools available to them. It’s no exaggeration to say that even someone who does not use the Internet on a regular basis can easily plan their retirement or even complete their retirement application online in a matter of minutes – much less time than it would take to drive to a local Social Security office. The best starting place for anyone thinking about retirement is Social Security’s Retirement Estimator. Use it to get an instant, personalized estimate of future retirement
benefits in a matter of minutes. Spend a few more minutes plugging in different information, such as different projected future wages and different retirement dates, to help make a wise decision on the best retirement date. The Retirement Estimator is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. Then there’s the online retirement benefit application. In as little as 15 minutes, a person can apply for Social Security benefits and submit their application online. In most cases, once one submits the application, there is nothing more to do but wait for the first payment. It’s really that simple. And, if one decides they’d like to double-check some information before submitting the application, that’s fine too. The application can be paused and then restarted at any time during the process. It’s all available at www. socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. It makes sense to go to our elders for advice and guidance. But in this technologydriven world, we may be able to offer a little advice to the sages as well. A good bet is to tell the older adults in your life about www. socialsecurity.gov. Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached in Montgomery at 866-593-0914, ext. 26265, or by e-mail at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov. www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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Protect Yourself from Breast Cancer Risk Factors can increase your chance of developing breast cancer. Some you can change, others you can’t. Risk Factors include: - Starting your period before age 12. - Starting menopause after age 55. - Having children after age 35 or never having children. - Not breast feeding your babies. - If you’re taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), ask your doctor if you need it. - Some types of HRT increase your risk for breast cancer and can cause “dense breasts” (more breast tissue than fat tissue). Dense breasts can make it harder for a mammogram to find cancer. - Relatives with breast cancer or ovarian cancer at a young age. - Changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes related to breast cancer. - Getting older. - Radiation treatment to the chest area. - Breast cancer or certain other breast problems in the past. Lifestyle also plays a part. Recommendations include getting at least four hours of exercise each week, keeping a healthy weight, especially after menopause, and limiting alcoholic drinks to one per day. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll get breast cancer; women have breast cancer even without these risks. Talk to your doctor about ways to lower your risk, and the right screening for you. Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Div. of Cancer Prevention and Control. For more information call 800-232-4636, or visit http://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/.
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The Phantom of the Opera World Premiere Choreography by Darren McIntyre
Oc tob er 10-13 T he Dav is T heatre MONTGOMERY
The River Region’s Professional Ballet Company
For tickets: etix.com or 334-409-0522 www.montgomeryballet.org
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 26
October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Wine for Early Fall
prime vintage
By David White
A
ll wines are appropriate for all seasons. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a simple white or crisp rosé in the winter, and big reds work all year long. But our diets change with the weather. Just as we look forward to watermelon and fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes in the summer, we crave soups, stews, and roasts in winter. So our go-to wines change, as well. As the fall begins, I find I'm craving a light red with virtually every dinner. Cru Beaujolais almost always does the trick, as its vibrant acidity and freshness offer a refreshing pairing for September dishes. If you're scratching your head, you're probably thinking about Beaujolais Nouveau, the easy drinking, fruity wine that floods ashore every November. Both styles hail from Beaujolais, a region in France sandwiched between Burgundy and the northern Rhone, home to some of the world's most prestigious vineyards. And both are produced with Gamay, a thin-skinned grape marked by bright red fruits that traces its lineage to Pinot Noir and an obscure white called Gouais Blanc. But unlike Beaujolais Nouveau, Cru Beaujolais is serious; the wines can offer wonderful depth and complexity and age for decades. And right now, they're extremely well priced. As Maggie Hoffman, the drinks editor at Serious Eats, explained last year, "[Cru Beaujolais] offers some of the best value in red wine that you can find… it's seriously wellmade, balanced, food-friendly, delicious, and evocative of place, and it's way underpriced." Consumer confusion helps explain why Cru Beaujolais is undervalued. Ever since Georges Duboeuf introduced his Nouveau to the U.S. marketplace three decades ago, Americans have associated Beaujolais with the mass-produced, gimmicky plonk that sells by the truckload every November.
Beaujolais Nouveau has certainly improved in recent years, but the whole concept still seems silly; it's bizarre to celebrate Beaujolais' new harvest with cheap wine that has been flown across the world. Consumer preference also explains why Cru Beaujolais is under appreciated. When consumers think of light wines, they tend to think of whites and rosés. For Americans, especially, a light red is an oxymoron – reds are supposed to be dark, powerful, and served alongside steak. Cru Beaujolais hails from one of ten small villages in the northern part of this French wine region. Just as Napa Valley's sub-appellations – think Stags Leap, Oakville, Howell Mountain, and the like – boast of special growing conditions, so do these ten villages. Good wine shops should stock wines from Fleurie, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, and other Beaujolais crus. Most Nouveau is produced in southern Beaujolais. That said, many artisanal producers are working to change the reputation of the south by keeping yields low, rigorously sorting their grapes, avoiding manipulation in the cellar, and making real wines. Their bottlings are worth seeking out, especially if you have a trusted wine merchant to help guide you. Once upon a time, oenophiles everywhere knew that Beaujolais could produce some of the world's most complex, aromatic, and lively wines. The region still produces gorgeous wines, but they're mostly ignored. So before word gets out, be sure to stock your cellar. 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 Palate Press: The Online Wine Magazine. www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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moving free © with Mirabai
Avoiding Orthopedic Injuries
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his picture is real. My husband took it a few years ago. That's me unable to lower my arm without passing out. I'm on the phone with my orthopedist. Such injuries are a real drag. This one took me three months to recover. Nobody wants to grow old, least of all boomers, but we're turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day and will be for the next 17 years. We’re running scared, desiring longevMirabai Holland ity but frightened of losing our mobility and independence, so we try to stay active, or get active, to avoid decrepitude. With so many older bodies on the move, orthopedic injuries are on the rise. Orthopedic injuries are common. We overuse our bodies, or use them wrong, and in doing so break hips and legs and get strains and sprains, whether at home, work or playing sports. No matter how active we've been, our bodies are not the same as they were when we were younger. They've got miles on them, and like vintage cars it's not wise to drive them flat out. Those of us who've used our bodies for a living know we've had to make adjustments for our aging muscles and joints. Many of us are favoring old injuries that have left those body parts weakened and vulnerable. We may be nursing overuse injuries from repetitive actions, including back problems from years of standing all day, shoulder issues from years of manual labor, or carpal tunnel syndrome from constant mouse pushing. But it doesn't have to take years. Raking leaves, shoveling snow or playing tennis all weekend when you're out of shape can be an express ticket to Overuse-Ville. And being overweight puts extra stress on your musculoskeletal system. Every day we run for the bus or the phone, load groceries in the car, pick up children or pets. Each carries a risk factor, but luckily for most of us these injuries are usually limited to a pull or sprain. But falls, broken bones and dislocated limbs do occur, as do heart attacks and worse because we're not fit enough for the activity we’re engaged in. Being inactive and overweight adds to the risk factors. A simple fitness and weight management program may be what you need to help prevent orthopedic injuries during everyday activities. Such a program often includes strength training, cardio conditioning and core training, as well as some proprioceptive exercises to help avoid falls. Falls are the number one cause of injury death in people over 65. One in three people 65+ experience a fall each year. And poor proprioception - not knowing where your body is in space - is a leading cause of falls. Proprioception degrades with age, but proprioceptive exercise can slow that down and help prevent falls. Add exercises like Tai Chi and balancing exercises to your fitness routine. They feel great to do and can 28 October 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
help keep you vertical into old age. Mirabai Holland M.F.A., a leading authority in the Health & Fitness industry and a public health activist, specializes in preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work (www.mirabaiholland.com).
games Across 1 Soccer officials 5 "You __ dead!": "I'm telling mom!" 10 Location 14 Berry in healthy smoothies 15 "No way!" 16 Jazz classic "Take __ Train" 17 Lost color in one's cheeks 19 Greasy spoon grub 20 Hit hard 21 Like blue hair 22 "Faust" dramatist 24 Fred's dancing sister 26 Bartender's twist 28 Beer to drink on Cinco de Mayo 30 Four quarters 31 Tax agcy. 32 Archaic "once" 33 Talk show pioneer Jack 36 Residential bldg. units 38 Stack of unsolicited manuscripts 41 Bush secretary of labor Elaine 43 Madeline of "Blazing Saddles" 44 Emails the wrong person, say 48 U.S./Canada's __ Canals
49 Sunrise direction, in KĂśln 51 Buyer's "beware" 53 Tribal carving 57 Go 58 City on the Rio Grande 59 Feed the kitty 61 "Cool" monetary amt. 62 Even-handed 63 It may be filled with a garden hose 66 Helsinki resident 67 Actress Burstyn 68 Hip-swiveling dance 69 Vexes 70 Extremely poor 71 Ruin Bond's martini Down 1 Daily grind 2 Besides Chile, the only South American country that doesn't border Brazil 3 __ market 4 Break a Commandment 5 "Toy Story" boy 6 Fend off 7 Dance around 8 Somme salt 9 Where Nike headquarters is 10 Considerable, as discounts 11 Terse critical appraisal
12 Ties to a post, as a horse 13 Art gallery props 18 Delightful spot 23 "Paper Moon" Oscar winner Tatum 25 Many, informally 27 Change from vampire to bat, say 29 Kwik-E-Mart owner on "The Simpsons" 34 Extend an invitation for 35 "I knew it!" 37 Thorn in one's side 39 Appears strikingly on the horizon 40 Co. letterhead abbr. 41 Welcome summer forecast 42 Noticeable lipstick color 45 Come down hard on 46 Filled pasta 47 Top-notch 48 Golden Slam winner Graf 50 Said 52 Away from the wind 54 Takes home 55 Punch bowl spoon 56 Over and done 60 Hard to see 64 French landmass 65 Acidity nos. Š
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Sudoku and Crossword puzzle answers on page 30. www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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American Flag Disposal Ceremony If you have an American flag that needs to be disposed of, the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of American will hold a flag-disposal ceremony Veterans Day, November 11. Contact Chuck Manikas, 334-221-9511, or msgt28vv@yahoo. com, for where to take your flag.
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prime diversions
Recent dvd releases The Internship, After Earth nd The Way Way Back
The Internship (PG-13) Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson star as the same sort of glib, likable hustlers they played in Wedding Crashers...and throughout much of their careers. This time they’re salesmen who learn their company has gone belly up in the middle of a pitch to one of their soon-to-be-former customers. He knows they’re out of work before they do! Vaughn decides they should look to the future, applying for highly-competitive internships at Google, even though they are already in their 40s, and know virtually nothing about the tech realm. They lie their way into the horde of applicants assembled at the home office, finding a summer camp atmosphere, complete with forming teams who vie for the few jobs that will be offered. The rest is essentially a version of Meatballs for adults, as our guys and their handful of nerds compete as underdogs against the bullies and cooler kids. It’s also a wet sloppy puppy kiss of corporate PR for Google, or product placement run amok, depending on how you feel about the company. The silly premise actually works pretty well, primarily because Vaughn is such a masterful BS artist, who can ply that comic persona in virtually any waters. The stars also get solid support from a young cast of “types” and help from established funnymen like Aasif Mandvi, Josh Gad, Rob Riggle, John Goodman and, briefly, Will Farrell. The less you think about the plot details, the more you will laugh along with this piece of nonallergenic fluff. After Earth (PG-13) Sometimes sci-fi flicks fail because the premise falls apart. Time travel sagas are particularly prone to that sort of flaw. Others may take themselves too seriously, giving us a slow, ponderous product, instead of the adrenaline rush we crave. In this case, the problem seems to be an excess of familial pride, as Will Smith and his son Jaden play astronauts from 1,000 years in the future, descended from those who colonized another planet after rendering Earth uninhabitable. Will became a superstar soldier, helping to fight the huge, fear-sensing creatures who resented humanity’s arrival on their turf. Jaden is a wannabe Ranger, not only trying to live up to dad’s legacy, but to purge a few devils from his own past. A training flight with one of those monsters on board crashes onto a forbidden planet that just happens to be Earth. Only those two survive. Jaden has to trek 100 km of hostile air and life forms to find the device that will send an S.O.S. Will is badly injured, and can only follow
the boy electronically. Stuff happens that seems to take much longer than its actual running time. The producers (including both Will and Jada Pinkett Smith) crafted a Mark Glass few splendid f/x elements, including some that would have played well in 3-D. But the plot plods, and the characters just aren’t interesting enough to sustain the project, making it like the Smiths’ home movie from a sci-fi fantasy camp, rather than a commercially-viable action flick.Yes, this really is as big a turkey as you’ve heard. The Way Way Back (PG-13) When sitcom actors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash last collaborated on a movie, they bagged an Oscar for their adapted screenplay of The Descendants. Now they’re tackling a bigger challenge, sharing both writing and directing credits for this coming-of-age dramedy, with plenty of heart to hold hands with its humor. Duncan (Liam James) is a shy, angry 14-year-old, reluctantly joining his mom (Toni Collette) her jerky new boyfriend (Steve Carell) and his stuck-up daughter for a summer at Carell’s seaside cabin. Duncan hates Carell and the setting, wishing he could be with his dad, who has moved to San Diego with his new gal. Everyone around them in that community has friends and shared histories, leaving him even more isolated. Even the interest of the attractive girl literally next door (AnnaSophia Robb) fails to dent his dour. But there’s a water park nearby, and Duncan finds himself drawn to it, especially because its manager (Sam Rockwell) seems like a better big brother/father figure than anyone else in range. Rockwell nails the role of glib, funny slacker with more of a heart than he lets on in a persona that carried Bill Murray and Vince Vaughn to stardom, in a slew of comedies like Stripes for the former, and Dodgeball for his successor. Despite the presence of Carell and other reliable comedic actors like Allison Janney, Amanda Peet, Rob Corddry, Maya Rudolph and the directing duo, the script is the star. Faxon and Rash deliver a package that resonates with the pressures and adjustments faced by both parents and their progeny, without veering into the extremes of farce or sentiment. The Kings of Summer might be a better overall successor to last year’s Moonrise Kingdom for seriocomic teen angst, but this one’s in the running. The plot and characters are refreshingly realistic, free of the hyperbole that typically flows from Hollywood. Rockwell’s performance is a big plus, as well, perhaps worthy of consideration for some year-end nominations.
Mark Glass ----------------------------------------------------------www.primemontgomery.com | October 2013
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Nominate,Dance,Grow,Shop,Walk&More Honor a Local Business Nominate a locally-owned, for-profit Chamber of Commerce member-business (less than 100 employees) as the outstanding Minority or Women-owned business for 2013. Forms at www.montgomerychamber.com. Must be received by Oct. 25. Award ceremony Nov. 7 at Union Station. For info. contact Heidi Powers, 334-240-6863, hpowers@montgomerychamber.com.
Theatre, 300 S. Main Street, Wetumpka. Auditions, Wetumpka Depot Players, for The Christmas Bus and The Miracle Worker. Both shows need large, culturally diverse casts with roles for all ages. Oct. 5, 6, 7. 21st Annual Alabama Cotton Festival. Oct. 12, 8 am, Eclectic. FREE. Grammy-award winners and more. Cotton Queen Pageant, 5K Run, Anglers for Kids, Art Contest, Arts & Crafts, Kids Zone, Motorcycle Run, Antique Car Show,Vendors. from all around the south and so much more. For info call 33-578Music/Drama/Dance/Art 1620 or visit www.townofeclectic.com. Contra Dancing. 1st & 3rd Fri. Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Meet the Artist: Winfred Rembert. Oct. 17, 5 pm, Mtgy 5260 Vaughn Road, Mtgy. Lessons at 7 pm, Museum of Fine Arts. The artist discusses dance ‘til 9:30. $5 per person, $15 per family. his deeply personal work and inspirations, For info. visit www.riverregioncontradance. rooted in the African-American experience. com. Free special showing at the Capri Theatre Chestnut Street Opry. 2nd Fri. Ridgecrest of a film about the artist’s life, followed by a Baptist Church. Open to all who want to play, reception and discussion with the artist and sing, dance or listen to acoustic instruments. filmmaker. Donations accepted to support local chari ties. Featured artist each month. For info. visit Growing Things www.chestnutstreet.opry.com. Alabama National Fair 60th Anniversary Square Dance. 4th Sat. Montgomery Area Flower Show. Oct. 3-14. Hosted by Mtgy Square Dance Assn Center (MASDA), 2201 Federation of Garden Clubs. Container Chestnut Street, Mtgy. 7–9:30 pm. Instruction plants, terrariums, combination planters provided; no experience necessary. $5/person. accepted Oct 3rd, 2-4 pm. Cuttings from For info visit www.callerwaynenicholson.com. flowering, foliage, arboreal specimens Wetumpka Depot Players present Blithe Spiraccepted Oct 4th 7:30-9:30 am. Deliver it, Sept. 26-28, Oct. 3-5, 10-12. Performances entries to the Cultural Arts Center behind at 7:30 pm. Oct. 6 at 2 pm. $10 advance, $12 the coliseum. All entries require plant idendoor and online. For tickets call 334-868-1440 From the 2012 Alabama National Fair tification with their botanical name. Entry or visit www.wetumpkadepot.com. Depot times are strict as judging starts within the Flower Show. next hour. Competition rules available at www.alnationalfair.org, under the competition link. American Hemerocallis Society Region 14 Fall Meeting, hosted by the Montgomery Area Daylily Society. Sat. Oct. 5, 8:30 am, Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2130 Bell Road, Mtgy. Door Prizes, BBQ lunch, plant auction and more! Registration deadline Oct. 1. $25/person, $15/youth. To “Vision loss is a normal part of aging. There’s nothing I can do about it.” register visit http://www.ahsregion14.org/ Upcoming_Meetings.html. Vision loss can be prevented if you take steps to protect your eyes. Garlic: Grow, harvest, dry your own. • Visit your ophthalmologist regularly to help catch eye diseases early. Oct. 9 “Lunch & Learn,” AL Co-op Exten• Stay active and engage in a regular exercise routine. sion Services, Queen Ann Rd. (just off • Eat right and practice other healthy habits. Rte 14), Wetumpka. Noon-1 pm. Free. Presented by the Central AL Master Roy T. Hager, M.D., F.A.C.S. | James D. Izer, M.D. Gardeners’Assn. For info. call 334-567Jeffrey M. Healey, M.D. | Richard M. Murphy, O.D. 6301, or visit the Extension Office.
EYE
M Y T H S
S a v e
C l i p S a v e
C l i p
‘ n
‘ n
4255 Carmichael Court N. Montgomery • 334-277-9111
8007 U. S. Highway 231 Wetumpka • 334-567-9111
*For a free copy of ITEC’s Viewpoint newsletter call 334-277-9111.
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Jr. League Holiday Market Oct. 16-19, Mtgy Multiplex, Cramton Bowl. $5
advance, $10 door. Tickets on sale Sept. 3-Oct. 11. This event generates more than $120,000, which is donated to community groups in the River Region. Elder Issues Oct. 19, the Alabama Silver-Haired Legislature’s (ASHL) River Region caucus will meet at Eastdale Estates. The ASHL was instrumental in bringing about the passage of Alabama’s elder abuse law. The ASHL’s regular annual session will take place at the State House Oct. 21-23. Pike Road Oct. 24, Founders Day Celebration. Music, chili cook-off, pumpkin painting and more. 4:30-7 pm. Oct. 25, 26 Plein Air artists paint outdoor scenes of natural beauty and historical significance in the area. Oct. 28, Hay bale decorating contest. For info on all events call 334-272-9883 Cancer “Scare Away Breast Cancer” breakfast, Oct. 19, 8 am, CaraVita Village supporting Joy to Life Foundation. $5/person. For information or to RSVP (by Oct. 16), call 334-284-0370. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, Nov. 2, downtown, celebrating American Cancer Society’s 100th birthday. Sign-up or learn more: http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/, call 334-288-3432, e-mail makingstridesmontgomery@cancer.org. Alabama National Fair Oct. 4-13. Garret Coliseum, Montgomery. Seniors (55 and older) half-price ($5 instead of $10), Thur. Oct. 10, between 9 am - 2 pm.
Calling all Volunteers! HandsOn RIVER REGION
More than 350 volunteer opportunities are listed on the website, www.handsonriverregion.org.Visit and register to become part of a growing cadre of volunteers dedicated to assisting our community and the people who live here. Upcoming opportunities include Helpful Hosts, Christmas Clearinghouse and MLK Day of Service.
October Volunteer Spotlight Helpful Hosts
Call H a River ndsOn Re TODA gion Y!
Helpful Hosts is designed for those with no time to volunteer, but who still want to make a difference. Hosts “adopt” one of our area’s temporary residents including AmeriCorps VISTAs and Teach for America teachers. These individuals serve a one to two year term in the River Region and need someone to introduce them to the wonderful events and sites in the area.You can accompany your “adoptee” or simply provide them with tickets to such things as: - Alabama Shakespeare Festival Productions - Montgomery Biscuits Games - Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Receptions - Harriott II Cruises - Montgomery Ballet Performances - Montgomery Zoo Events - and MORE!! For information visit the website, call 334264-3335, or e-mail volunteer@handsonriverregion. org. HandsOn River Region 2101 Eastern Blvd., The Courtyard, Suite 322 Montgomery, AL 36117
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off the beaten path
Watching my Fathers Fish
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he trip was planned for weeks; with three schedules to coordinate you book as far in advance as possible to improve the odds of it going through. We’d organized the outing around the last spawn of the year, just as the full moon was about to peak. Each of us – my father, my father-in-law and I – hoped for full stringers of big slab bream. The bass were carefully watching the moon schedule as well and planned calculated shallow-water ambushes, and so the chance of laying into a few green trout was better than average. Our weapons of choice were as simple as the fish we pursued; fly rods and telescoping cane poles with more of each than we had hands to hold them. I’d bought the feed store out of crickets, and the extra rods would prove invaluable if the bite really turned on. As we rode down the highway, Donnie, my father-in-law, regaled us with tales of thousand-bream days fishing the black backwaters of the St. Johns in Florida, stories which sped our imaginations and my truck a bit faster down the road. Easing the boat off the trailer, I positioned Dad on the stern platform for more latitude to execute his preferred bream bed tactic, swinging the long rod. As we piled into the aluminum jon, Donnie on the center seat and me on the bow, Dad hooked into a fish before we’d gotten settled. Donnie and I quickly unwound the line, cork and hook from our bream busters and each lobbed a fat cricket under the hickory limbs that sheltered sandy beds in the water beneath. It wasn’t long before we all had a bream on a hook, but these “bait bream” were not the behemoths we’d daydreamed of all week. Hunting the honey hole, I eased the boat down the bank, trolling motor on low, pausing every 10 yards to pitch a cricket to a stump or laydown. Dad was laying into them consistently, the elegance with which he propelled the white stone fly at the end of his tippet more worthy of a Colorado trout stream or Bahamian bonefish flat than a pond in Pike County. Despite our luck with smaller bream and bass, the honey hole eluded us. The fall air was cooler, yet the
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water was still warm, so we backed off the beds to fish cover in deep water near the dam and started catching a few more. The bull bream of our dreams, however, were nowhere to be seen. With the sun dropping low over the trees and the moon slowly rising in the east, we hunkered down near the large overflow pipe in the dam, having had success there earlier in the afternoon on smaller bream and green trout. With precision, Donnie pitched a cricket alongside the pipe, allowing it to drop just inside the shadow. In a second, his orange bobber disappeared beneath the green water and he reared back, the rod bowing under the weight of a hefty coppernose bream. Within minutes, we had boated half a dozen pan-sized panfish and our cricket numbers had dwindled. Between fish, I paused and watched Donnie chuck cricket after cricket right next to the pipe and pull bull bream after bull bream into the boat. In my mind, I could see him, my age, sitting in an old jon boat like the one we were in, filling a cooler with big, blackwater bream from the St. John’s. Whether or not he or Dad realized it, they both had ear-to-ear smiles as they hooked into big green trout or thick-shouldered bull bream. For a few minutes, the three of us - silhouetted against the rising moon and the setting sun - were children again, deriving sheer joy from sitting atop a bream bed on the full moon, like many generations before had done, and hopefully many generations forward will enjoy. Niko Corley spends his free time hunting, fishing, boating and enjoying the outdoors. He can be contacted at cootfootoutfitters@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@cootfootoutfitters.
Niko Corley
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Are you missing half the action due to a correctable HEARING LOSS?
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