Prime
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
April 2013
FREE
Beauty in the
Ruins Jasmine Hill Gardens • Top 10 Attractions • Storm Preparation • Watch Your Wallet • Deadly Hydrangea • Hopscotch, Anyone? • Cooking Conversions
Will O. (Trip) Walton, III
Walton Law Firm, PC
2011-2012 Alabama Super Lawyer
Ph: 334-321-3000 www.waltonlaw.net
The
Fighter “Walton Law Firm Top Five”
$17,500,000.00 Insurance Fraud Verdict $8,000,000.00 Brain Injury Settlement $7,500,000.00 Spine Injury Settlement $6,750,000.00 Brain Injury Settlement $4,000,000.00 Wrongful Death Settlement As an Alabama Golden Gloves Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, Trip’s motto has always been “We Don’t Start The Fight – We Finish It!”
Traumatic Brain Injury • Wrongful Death • Serious Personal Injury
2
“The recoveries, verdicts, favorable outcomes, and testimonials described in this ad are not an indication of future results. Every case is different, and regardless of what friends, family, or other individuals may say about what a case is worth, each case must be evaluated on its own facts and circumstances as they apply to the law. The evaluation of a case depends on the facts, the injuries, the jurisdiction, the venue, the witnesses, the parties, and the testimony, among other factors. Furthermore, no representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Charles Anthony’s at the
Pub h
• Hand-cut Steaks • Fresh Seafood • Daily Specials
Wine Tasting 1st Wednesday of the month 5:30-7:00 pm
Monday-Thursday 4:30-9:30 pm Friday and Saturday 4:30-10:00 pm
10044 Chantilly Parkway www.charlesanthonysatthepub.com 334-281-3911
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
3
CONTENTS 5
EDITOR’S NOTE
6
QUICK READ
8
GRACIOUS PLENTY
9
APRIL 2013
Eat, sleep, dream?
18
Kitchen ‘conversions’
YARD ‘N GARDEN
Don’t eat the hydrangea!
14 FINANCIAL SELF-DEFENSE
Too good to be true? You bet it is!
15 OFF THE BEATEN PATH One lucky fish
16 TO YOUR HEALTH
Medicare and Hospice
17 MONEYWI$E
Be wary with every transaction
25 CRAFTER’S CORNER A ‘note’ about Spring
27 SOCIAL SECURITY
Notification of changes
28 CROSSWORD/BOGGLE 29 IN EVERY LIFE
Storm prep: Prepare to move
31 MEDICARE Q&A
32 MOVING FREE Stay flexible
33 DVD REVIEWS
Hyde Park, Django, Promised Land
34 CALENDAR 4
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
FEATURES
10 GAMES WE PLAYED 12 PREPARING FOR THE STORM 22 TEN FREE ATTRACTIONS
on the cover
Prime
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
April 2013
FREE
Jasmine Hill Gardens near Wetumpka has long been a favorite of area residents. The story of its creation is as fascinating as the ancient culture it seeks to preserve and perpetuate.
Beauty in the
Ruins Jasmine Hill Gardens • Top 10 Attractions • Storm Preparation • Watch Your Wallet • Deadly Hydrangea • Hopscotch, Anyone? • Cooking Conversions
Prime
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
Montgomery
April 2013 Vol. 4, Issue 1 PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Callie Corley, Tom Ensey, Teri Greene CONTRIBUTORS Joe Borg, Tina Calligas, Callie Corley, Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Kylle’ McKinney, Bob Moos, Arlene Morris, Alan Wallace PHOTOGRAPHER Bob Corley SALES Bob Corley, 334-202-0114, primemontgomery@gmail.com Prime 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 My mom and dad never took us to the “old country” when we were children, despite the fact that dad came from Greece and mom’s parents were both born there. Instead, we frequently visited the ruins of ancient Greek culture just miles up the road from Montgomery, in the beautiful and vast gardens on Jasmine Hill. On lazy Sunday afternoons in the late 1950s and early 60s we’d often pack up the car and travel up Highway 231 to stroll among the gardens. Dad would give his “everyman” lectures on Greek history, culture, art, and philosophy (this was the scene they left out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding) as he snapped photo, after photo, after photo and mom unloaded a picnic lunch from the car. It never seemed to matter that the statuary in Jasmine Hill Gardens was a reproduction. As my pop told his stories about the creativity and valor of his forebears, the gardens came to life amidst the ancient artistry of the chiseled Greek statues and temples, and the tales of mythological gods and courageous Olympic heroes. When I finally made my first trip to Greece in 1976, as an adult, the scope of what I saw was much grander but, thanks to Jasmine Hill it was not unfamiliar to me. Walking around the Parthenon on a Sunday afternoon I remembered the countless trips to Jasmine Hill and the lectures that have stayed with me all of my life. Since the 1970s, Jim and Elmore Inscoe have lovingly cared for Jasmine Hill Gardens, and enlarged the scope of the site, even bringing the Olympic Flame to burn there before the Atlanta Games in 1996. Don’t miss this month’s story about the gardens, A Vision of Greece (page 18), by local writer Teri Greene, as she brings us up to date on this unexpected cultural and botanical gem that is right in our own back yard. Montgomery writer Tom Ensey is back again this month with another of his humorous looks at what we Boomers did “way back then.” Tom’s uncanny take on the simplicity of our pastimes in Games We Played (page 10)
makes me wonder how they could possibly have been fun, but they really were. (And Tom, I was a pretty mean marbles player, girl or not.) The month of April puts us in the midst of one of Alabama’s two active tornado seasons (the other occuring in Oct./Nov.). In Preparing for the Storm (page 12) writer Callie Corley runs down the precautions we should all take to make sure we’re ready if one of those giant storms wreaks havoc and disaster anywhere near us. Callie’s readiness list actually goes way beyond tornado season, providing a good preparedness outline for any kind of sudden disaster. And speaking of April, it’s not too early to start thinking of summer travel plans, including fun things to do with out-of-town guests or your energy-abundant grandchildren. Keeping the pocketbook in mind, we’ve included Alabama’s Top 10 Free Attractions, as compiled by the Alabama Tourism Bureau (page 22). Just a car-ride away, some of these sights are the perfect answer to a lazy summer afternoon or weekend. Enjoy the warming spring days of April, and the beginning of our fourth year of publishing this “midlife and beyond” lifestyle magazine. (How have three years passed so quickly?) Happy Fourth Birthday to Prime!
Sandra Polizos Editor
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
5
QUICK READS... Eat to Dream “You are what you eat,” the saying goes, but is what you eat playing a role in how much you sleep? Sleep, like nutrition and physical activity, is a critical determinant of health and well-being. With the increasing prevalence of obesity and its consequences, sleep researchers have begun to explore the factors that predispose individuals to weight gain and ultimately obesity. Now, a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows for the first time that certain nutrients may play an underlying role in short and long sleep duration and that people who report eating a large variety of foods – an indicator of an overall healthy diet – had the healthiest sleep patterns. The new research is published in the journal Appetite. Researchers found overall, people who sleep seven to eight hours each night differ in terms of their diet, compared to people who sleep less or more. They also found that short and long sleep are associated with lower food variety. Short sleep duration is associated with weight gain and obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. People who sleep too long also experience negative health consequences.
Good Mood Helps Boost Brain Power Older adults can improve their decision-making and working memory simply by putting on a happy face, a new study published in the journal Cognition and Emotion suggests. Researchers found that easy mood-boosters - like giving people a small bag of candy - helped seniors do significantly better on tests of decision-making and working memory.
Hold the Diet Soda, Drink Coffee Instead New research suggests that drinking sweetened beverages, especially diet drinks, is associated with an increased risk of depression in adults while drinking coffee was tied to a slightly lower risk. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting. The 10-year study involved 263,925 people between the ages of 50 and 71 at enrollment. People who drank more than four cans or cups per day of soda were 30 percent more likely to develop depression than those who drank no soda. Those who drank four cans of fruit punch per day were about 38 percent more likely to develop depression than those who did not drink sweetened drinks. People who drank four cups of coffee per day were about 10 percent less likely to develop depression than those who drank no coffee. The risk appeared to be greater for people who drank diet than regular soda, diet than regular fruit punches and for diet than regular iced tea. The research suggests that cutting out or down on sweetened diet drinks or replacing them with unsweetened coffee may naturally help lower depression risk.
“People who drank four cups of coffee per day were about 10 percent less likely to develop depression...”
6
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
QUICK READS... Nerve Stimulation May Help Prevent Chronic Migraines Wearing a nerve stimulator for 20 minutes a day may be a new option for migraine sufferers, according to research published in the online issue of Neurology速. The stimulator is placed on the forehead, and delivers electrical stimulation to the supraorbital nerve. Participants who received the stimulation had fewer days with migraine in the third month of treatment compared to the first month with no treatment. The number of days with migraine did not change for those who received a sham treatment. Thirty-eight percent of those who had the stimulation had 50% or higher reduction in the number of days with a migraine in a month. There were no side effects from the stimulation.
From Fried Foods to Doughnuts Regular consumption of deep-fried foods such as French fries, fried chicken and doughnuts is associated with a 30 to 37 percent increased risk of prostate cancer, and the effect appears to be slightly stronger with regard to more aggressive forms of the disease, according to a study by investigators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and published in The Prostate. Researchers noted that deep frying may trigger formation of carcinogens in food.
The More You Sit, the Higher Your Risk of Chronic Diseases Kansas State University researchers examined the associations of sitting time and chronic diseases in middle-aged males in a study that was recently published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Compared with those who reported sitting four hours or less per day, those who sat for more than four hours per day were significantly more likely to report having a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. The reporting of chronic diseases rose as participants indicated they sat more. Those sitting for at least six hours were significantly more likely to report having diabetes.
Music Therapy Benefits Surgery Patients A new study review published by the University of Kentucky in the Southern Medical Journal found that music therapy can be beneficial to patients before, during and after a surgical procedure and may reduce pain and recovery time. Patients were less anxious before the procedure and recovered more quickly and satisfactorily after by being exposed to music intra- and postoperation. They also required less sedative medication and reported better satisfaction with their medical experience. Calm, slow, gentle music was shown to produce the most positive results and facilitate relaxation and pain reduction in patients. Data proposes that music could be beneficial in reducing cost and length of stay in intensive care units.
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
7
T
A Gracious Plenty
ips for ranslating Raw Ingredients into Proportions
E
xperienced and fledging chefs agree that translating raw cooking ingredients into the proportions listed in recipes is no easy task. How much bulk cheese equals a cup of shredded? How many soda crackers does it take to approximate a cup of crumbs? Thanks to the good folks at the Alabama Coopera-
Food n n n n n
n n n n n n n n n n n
n n n n n n n n n
n n
n n
8
Apples Bananas Beans, dry Bread crumbs Butter, margarine, or shortening Cabbage Carrots Cheese Coffee Cornmeal Eggs, medium Egg whites, large Flour, all-purpose Flour, whole wheat Graham crackers Ground meat (beef, pork, turkey) Lemons Macaroni/spaghetti Milk, evaporated Oatmeal Onions Oranges Potatoes Raisins Rice (regular, white, or brown) Soda crackers Sugar (white, granulated) Sugar, brown Yeast, active dry
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Quantity
tive Extension Service, this Food Yield chart, while not precise, is a good way of approximating your ingredients to yield the required amount. Clip it out and keep it handy, ready for the next time you wonder how many lemons you’ll need to make a tablespoon of juice, or how many cups you can get from a pound of coffee.
Amount
1 pound 1 pound 1 pound 4 slices bread 1 pound
3 medium = 3 cups slices 3 to 4 medium = 1 ½ cups mashed = 2 cups sliced 2 to 2 ½ cups dry = 6 cups cooked 2 cups fresh crumbs = 1 1/3 cups dry crumbs 2 cups
1 pound 1 pound 4 ounces 1 pound 1 pound 1 dozen 8 eggs 1 pound 1 pound 12 squares 1 pound
6 cups shredded = 2 to 3 cups cooked 3 cups sliced = 2 ½ cups shredded 1 to 1 1/3 cups shredded 40 to 50 cups brewed 3 cups dry = 12 cups cooked 2 cups 1 cup 4 cups sifted 3 1/3 to 3 ¾ cups 1 cup crumbs 2 cups ground
1 lemon 1 pound 6-ounce can ½ cup dry 1 pound 1 orange 1 pound 1 pound 1 pound
2 to 4 tablespoons juice 5 cups dry = 8 to 10 cups cooked 1 ½ cups reconstituted 1 cup cooked 2 large 6 tablespoons juice 3 medium = 3 ½ cups sliced = 2 cups mashed 2 ¾ to 3 cups 2 ½ cups dry = 7 ½ cups cooked
22 crackers 1 pound
1 cup crumbs 2 cups
1 pound 1 packet
2 ¼ cup, firmly packed 1 tablespoon
Garden
yard ‘n garden
Dangers by Leah Rogers Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
R
ecently I had the pleasure of enjoying a lunch with several other gardening enthusiasts. The fascinating topic of poisonous plants came up in the conversation which spurred further research. The prevailing public opinion is that "natural" or "plant-based" equates "neutral" or "safe." Let me be the one to tell you this is not true. PLANTS CAN BE DANGEROUS. Many times, plants and plant-based products are lethal to humans, pets, and other living things. Alabama is home to over 350 poisonous plant species. Do not consume what you do not know. As a professor told me during a trip to England, "America is a rough and wild county… you have to be careful there." This is very true. Despite our rough, wild, and sometimes poisonous aspects, there is also much beauty. One of our most prized plants, our native hydrangea, is lovely — but deadly. The Hydrangea family is extremely poisonous to both animals and humans. They contain a chemical called Hydrangin, a cyanogenic glycoside. Translation: it operates in the same fashion as cyanide — that infamous and deadly poison. The key factor, which is probably the reason that very few cases have been reported, is that the chemical must be ingested for the poison to take effect. Hydrangin is hydrolyzed in the digestive system before symptoms are noticed. This means that it may be quite a long time before you feel
the shortness of breath, dizziness, high blood pressure, convulsions, vomiting, lethargy or succumb to a coma. If the leaf, bark, or especially flower buds are ingested, within a few hours you will need to contact Poison Control. There is an antidote that can counteract the effects of Hydrangin. The good news: don't eat a hydrangea and you can live to enjoy their beauty for many years to come. Dermatitis, or skin irritation from contact, is extremely rare. Typically this comes from extended exposure when working consistently with hydrangeas. Just beware the next time you see hydrangeas on wedding cake and be sure to avoid those bites. Some Other Poisonous Plants in Alabama: n Buttercup n Milkweed n Oleander n Red Buckeye n Dog Hobble n Black Cherry n Lily of the Valley n Mountain Laurel n Chinaberry n Larkspur For more information on poisonous plants, check out Poisonous Plants and Venomous Animals of Alabama and Adjoining States by Whitt Gibbons, Robert R. Haynes, and Joab L. Thomas; Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants by Lewis S. Nelson, Richard D. Shih, and Michael J. Balick. This article provided courtesy of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, www.aces.edu.
“The Hydrangea family is extremely poisonous to both animals and humans.”
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
9
feature
The
Games We Played By Tom Ensey
B
ack in olden times, we, the grownups of today, were applecheeked children, full of wonder. There was no internet, no computer, three channels on TV and Walter Cronkite bringing us the news in even, dispassionate tones, unlike some of today’s screamers. There was no frivolity allowed indoors, so our stern but loving parents drove us out into the yard, which was a wholesome environment with little or no gunfire, unless Uncle Billy was having another flashback. We got lots of fresh air and learned life's most valuable lessons playing in the dirt with chips of wood, chalk, rocks and rope. It was a simpler world.You could do the math in your head and goats were tied to parking meters downtown. Let's take a moment and look back at the character-building games that forged a generation's indomitable spirit and made this nation great before everything went to the dogs. Jump Rope Little girls got a rope about six feet long. Two people twirled it while a third jumped it as it went around and around and around and around and around and.... They chanted things like: “A my name is Alice. My husband's name is Adam. We live in Ala-
10
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
bama. And we raise apples.” “B my name is Barbara. My husband's name is Bob. We live in Boston. And we raise beans.” You went through the whole alphabet like that and the rope spun relentlessly until you missed a jump or fainted from exhaustion and had to be rushed to the hospital. The kindly old doctor would look at you and say, “tut tut.” Eventually, you recovered and were right back out there the next day, sadder but wiser. Jump rope created endurance in the jumper and sadistic impulses in the spinners. All the girls had darling ponytails, precious pattern dresses and black Mary Janes with white ankle socks. They learned to bake pies and when they grew up, they went to college, listened to Joan Baez and wrote bad poetry. Marbles Boys played marbles, because the government ordered it that way and girls were too busy jumping rope and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the fallen. First, you drew a circle in the dirt. You had your marbles and the other kid had his. You had a big, round marble called the shooter. The little ones were called... marbles. You lined up the marbles in the shape of a plus sign in the circle. Then you took the shooter in your hand, put your knuckles on the ground, or “knuckled down” and tried to knock the marbles out of the circle. Every time you knocked one out, you put it in your pocket and shot again until you missed. If you kept the marbles you knocked outside the ring, you were “playing for keeps” (also called “keepsies”). If the other kid knocked your shooter out of the ring, you had to shoot with the little marbles and you were going to “lose your marbles.” The boys all had beagles named Buddy, went to shop class and made birdhouses. When they grew up, they knuckled down, played for keeps and lost their marbles. Hopscotch This popular playground game was originally called hop-scratch, because you scratched the course in the dirt and you hopped so much that your brain went haywire and you said “scotch” instead of “scratch.” It's really pretty simple.You get a piece of chalk
and draw a course on the ground.You do squares and rectangles and things and you put numbers one through nine in them in a special way. And you also write “home” and “rest” in there somewhere, but what that means is a big secret known only to the Masons and certain graduates of Yale University. You throw the chalk and it lands on one of the squares, then you hop down there and pick it up without falling over, landing on a line or levitating. Levitating is strictly forbidden.You do this 11 times and then the bell rings and play period is over and you go to geography class. OK, I'll admit it. I never once played hopscotch in my life. I saw kids doing it and buddy, I went the other way. It stirred primal fears, and who's got time for that? Dominoes These are rectangles of wood with dots on them. You stand them up in a row, aligning them carefully, then knock the first one over so they will all fall down in a “domino effect.” Then you pick them up and do it all over again, creating a metaphor with both military and civilian applications. There's also this game you can play with them that has far too many rules to go into here. It requires concentration, strategy, mathematics knowledge, a table and lots of sweet tea. Old men play it under trees in parks and in Andalusia once a year in a giant tournament. They play for like, a week, and the winner get 50 bucks or something. About 40 years ago, my dog Buddy chewed up my dominoes and we had to take him to the vet. He recovered, but there was always an ineffable sadness about him from that day forward. It was as if he had lost something indefinable, and being a dog, he couldn't tell us what. I guess that’s also part of the “domino effect.” www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
11
feature
Preparing for the
Storm By Callie Corley
W
e don’t know when or where a tornado will touch down, but we can take steps to make sure our family knows what to do if it happens. March kicked off tornado season in Alabama, and with it a push from state and local officials to be prepared should disaster strike. Tornadoes are often spawned from powerful thunderstorms, and can devastate neighborhoods in the blink of an eye. Every second counts, so it’s important to prepare BEFORE the weather turns bad. Before the storm… There’s an old adage that says “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” Taking a few precautionary steps can mean the difference between success and failure — life and death — with a tornado bearing down on you. Know where to go in your home when a warning sounds. Stock your “safe room” with emergency supplies. Collect important documents and keep them within arm’s reach or in your safe room in a water-proof container. A sturdy Zip-lock bag will work. Emergency supplies: n Flashlight n Portable, battery-operated radio n Extra batteries n First aid kit n Emergency food and water (at least 72 hours worth) n Non-electric can opener n Essential medicines n Cash and credit cards n Sturdy shoes Important documents: n Birth certificates n Ownership certificates (autos, boats, etc.) n Social security cards n Insurance policies n Will Household inventory: n List of contents of household; include serial
12
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
numbers, if applicable Photographs or videotape of contents of every room n Photographs of items of high value (jewelry, paintings, collection items) DURING the storm… Tornadoes generally form near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel isn’t Know the difference visible. A tornado watch means weather condiThousands tions favor the formation of tornadoes. of lives have During a tornado watch, stay tuned to been saved local television or radio programming and over the years as tornado have a weather radio handy. Watch the prediction weather and be prepared to take shelter and warning immediately if conditions worsen. systems have A tornado warning is issued when a evolved, but tornado funnel is sighted or indicated by technologiweather radar. cal advances You should take shelter immediately. can’t help if you ignore the warnings. Go to your safe room. n In a home or office building: A safe room should be an interior room on the lowest level of the building, away from windows, corners, doors and exterior walls. Use your arms to protect your head and neck. n In a mobile home: Be ready to get out BEFORE a warning sounds. Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. n On the road: If you’re in the car when a warning sounds, do not try to outrun a tornado in your n
car. If you see a funnel cloud, get out of your car. Find a gully or ditch lower than the road and lie down, protecting your head. AFTER the storm… Continue to monitor your weather radio or television for emergency information. Check for injuries n Don’t move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Get medical assistance immediately. The Red Cross has developed a new app for your smartphone that will help you attract attention if you are trapped by debris. Damage n Stay out of damaged buildings in possible. If not, be careful when entering. Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves and gloves when near debris. n Use battery powered lanterns instead of candles to inspect damage if you’re without electricity.
Dealing with Utilities n Don’t touch or move downed power lines or objects in contact with the lines. Report them immediately to police and your utility company. n If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve of your home. Open all windows and leave immediately. Notify the gas company and fire department. Don’t turn on the lights and don’t return to your house until you are told it is safe to do so. n Look and listen for electrical system damage. If you suspect damage, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Take pictures of the damage – both to the house and its contents – for insurance purposes. Sources: FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Mobile homes destroyed in a recent tornado that ripped through Troy. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
13
lifestyle
“If you don’t understand an investment product, don’t buy it!”
A
Joseph Borg
Financial Self-Defense
s our country’s over-50 population swells, the Alabama Securities Commission (ASC), and other state securities regulators see tragic cases involving senior investors who have been cheated out of their “nest eggs” by deceitful salespeople who use seniors’ uncertainty about their financial futures to promote unsuitable and fraudulent investment opportunities. These “opportunities” often promise to make up for perceived shortfalls in seniors’ retirement plans and frequently promise or guarantee unrealistically high returns over a relatively short time. The admonition, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” is more true today that ever before and an investment opportunity with high returns and low risk is very unlikely. If you decide to explore investments as a way to bolster your nest egg, the first line of defense against possible fraud is to act as your own financial watchdog. A good rule-of-thumb is, if you don’t understand an investment product, don’t buy it! That’s why senior investors should always investigate before they invest. To avoid having your nest egg turned into a goose egg, the ASC recommends these financial self-defense tips: n Stay in charge of your money. Be skeptical of anyone who urges you to leave everything in his or her hands. n Don’t become a courtesy victim. Con artists will attempt to exploit your good manners. Be prepared to tell a stranger offering a too-good-to-be-true investment opportunity, “No, I’m not interested.” n Don’t let a stranger prey on your fears. Con artists will probe to find what’s important
By Joseph P. Borg, Director, Alabama Securities Commission to you and will attempt to manipulate your anxieties through high-pressure or persuasive sales pitches. n Avoid pushy salespeople. No reputable investment professional should pressure you to “act now,” before you do due diligence. If it’s such a good deal today, it will be a good deal later — after you’ve had a chance to check and verify. n Beware of anyone touting exotic deals. Say “no” to anyone promoting highly-complex investment techniques to achieve unusual success, especially if they can’t fully explain the risks. n Monitor your investments and ask tough questions. Keep close tabs on how your money is invested. Always ask for regular written performance updates. Never be afraid to ask, “How will this opportunity you’re offering be suitable for my long-term financial needs?” n Before you part with your hard-earned money, contact the ASC at 1-800-222-1253 to determine if the investment is registered and if the person or firm making the offer is registered, as required by the Alabama Securities Act. If you have questions, concerns or complaints about financial products, contact the Alabama Securities Commission, www.asc.alabama.gov, or call or e-mail Dan Lord, Education and Public Affairs Manager, 334-353-4858, dan. lord@asc.alabama.gov. Joe Borg is Executive Director of the Alabama Securities Commission.This article is made possible by a generous grant from the Investor Protection Trust, www.investorprotection.org.
Social Security Disability Law
Brenda L. Vann Attorney at Law, P. C.
“Practicing Social Security Disability Law for seventeen years.”
Call toto schedule schedule Call FREE aa FREE Consultation. Consultation.
The Strickland Building • 4252 Carmichael Rd. Suite 113 • Montgomery, AL 36106 334-272-6425 • 888-272-6465 (Toll Free) • E-mail brenda@brendavann.com No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
14
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
off the beaten path
Sometimes, You Just Get Lucky
I
Yellow catfish ‘jugs’ trail behind the boat on a recent fishing trip.
t was one of those days. No matter what lures we threw crank-baits, buzz-baits, worms - and no matter how fast or slow we fished them, the fish refused to bite. The water was around 50 degrees, up several feet and muddy - not ideal conditions for filling a cooler with bass, but it was a breezy Bluebird Saturday and deer, duck and squirrel season were all over. Three days earlier a massive low pressure system dumped eight inches of rain on the River Region. The landing at the bottom of the stairway leading down to the boat house was under water, and I'd had to wade in nearly over the top of my deck boots to loosen the tie ropes for the jon boat. The chocolatecolored water covering the pier made the two-by-four decking beneath my feet invisible; navigation was strictly from memory. I'd started the afternoon tossing a white, Colorado-bladed spinnerbait against the tupelo and gum trunks towering overhead, slow rolling it back to the boat. It was my go-to lure for bass fishing these waters but it was for naught. When my opening play failed to score, I tied a dark blue jig and trailer to rod number two, alternating between it and my go-to every few casts. My father-in-law, Donnie, was seeing the same success, or lack of it. We passed the time laughing and lobbing lures, but several strike-less hours later, the fish's lock-jawed attitude confirmed we probably should have chosen another activity for the afternoon. Whenever we fish this body of water, we always toss out a dozen or so catfish jugs to increase our odds of filling out the stringer on a slack day. On many occasion, we've rounded a bend of the lake to see our pink and yellow pool noodles dancing across the water, dipping and diving more erratically as we draw closer, sometimes disappearing only to resurface 20 feet away. More than once, our time spent baiting and setting jugs before pitching artificials for bass or crappie has made the difference between a pretty good mess and a really good mess of fish. Such was my desire for a couple of plump river chickens as we rounded the bend headed back to the boat house, fish-less
and with sore shoulders from casting in vain. The jugs, however, remained floating and perfectly still, just where we had set them. As the hook and line of the last jug was wound around and the noodle and the jug stowed away, I thought -- "That's why they call it fishing instead of catching.” The setting sun filtered through branches that lacked leaves but were full of moss, and what little light made it through the trees cast long shadows over the water as we made our way back. Across the channel, a small yellowish object at the base of a tree caught my eye. The fading light made it more difficult to see at any distance, and I held hope but doubted the yellow object I was steering toward was actually one of the few jugs we had lost over the years of fishing here. We always made every effort to find each jug we tossed out, but in a body of water this size, with so many lay-downs and underwater snags, losing lures and jugs is inevitable. Sure enough, the object was one of our jugs, moss-covered and wrapped around the roots of the tree. We loosed the jug from its entanglement and as I reached to pull it in the line went tight. Surprised as I was at this, I was even more shocked to find a fat channel cat wriggling on the hook. We hadn't fished here in weeks, so this fish had been on the hook awhile yet seemed no worse for the wear. As I removed the hook and held the fish up for a picture, I smiled at our good fortune on an otherwise fish-less day, and thought of the fish dinner in our near future. But the longer I held the fish, admiring its potbelly and good color after so long tethered to a jug, I thought better of it. I eased the fish into the water and smiled as it disappeared into the muddy depths. Sometimes you just get lucky. Niko Corley spends his free time hunting, fishing, boating, and generally enjoying outdoor activities. He can be contacted at cootfootoutfitters@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@cootfootoutfitters. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013 15
health
Medicare Hospice Benefits
C
By Bob Moos, Southwest Regional Public Affairs Officer Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
hoosing hospice care isn’t about giving up. It’s about making every day count. Terminally ill people who make the choice receive care for their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. They’re no longer seeking a cure, but they do want to live out their last weeks and months as comfortably as possible and with dignity. Medicare’s hospice benefit is 30 years old this year and has helped millions of Americans and their families cope with the final stages of terminal illnesses. To qualify, you must be eligible for Medicare’s Part A hospital insurance, and your physician and your hospice medical director must certify that you have six months or less to live, assuming your illness runs its normal course. You also must sign a statement choosing the Medicare hospice benefit and another statement that you understand you’re forgoing curative treatment for your terminal condition. Hospice programs follow a team approach. The specially trained team typically includes doctors, nurses, counselors and social workers, among others. A doctor and nurse are on call 24-7 to care for you and support your family when you need it. The hospice benefit allows you and your family to stay together in the comfort of your home, unless you require hospital care. If your hospice team determines you need inpatient care at some point, it will make the arrangements for your stay. Hospice’s main goal is to relieve your pain and manage your symptoms. As long as the care comes from a Medicare-approved hospice, Medicare covers the physician services, nursing care, drugs, medical equipment and supplies, and physical and occupational therapy. Though the hospice benefit is part of original Medicare, it’s also available to anyone with a Medicare Advantage plan. And both original Medicare and Medicare Advantage will continue to pay for the treatment of other conditions 16 April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
unrelated to your terminal illness. Medicare understands that your family occasionally needs a rest from caregiving. So you can request to stay up to five days at a time at a hospice facility, hospital or nursing home. For that, you pay five percent of the Medicareapproved amount for respite care. Overall, you pay almost nothing for your hospice care. There is no deductible. Besides your five percent share for the inpatient respite care, your only expense is the five dollars or less you pay for each prescription drug you take to relieve pain or manage your symptoms. You can receive hospice care as long as you’re re-certified. After 90 days of care, you’re re-evaluated by the hospice’s medical director or other hospice doctor to determine if the care is still appropriate. Another re-evaluation is done after another 90 days and then every 60 days. If your health improves or your illness goes into remission, you may not need to remain in a hospice program. In those cases, you’ll return to your previous Medicare coverage. And if someday your condition worsens, you can go back to hospice care.
Beneficiaries wanting to learn more about hospice programs in their area should talk to their doctor or call their state’s hospice organization or health department. Their physician will also help determine whether a particular program has been approved by Medicare. When considering and choosing a hospice program, ask these questions: n What kind of training does the hospice provide its caregivers? n How does the hospice staff respond to after-hour emergencies? n What measures are in place to ensure quality care? n How does the hospice involve the family in planning the care? Even if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage managed care plan, you can still choose hospice care from any available Medicare-approved hospice. For more about Medicare’s hospice benefit, visit Medicare’s website site at medicare.gov or call Medicare’s 24-7 customer service line at 1-800-6334227. A Medicare publication, titled “Medicare Hospice Benefits,” can also be downloaded from the website or requested by phone.
moneywise
Are You Being
Taken? M
ost Americans believe in free enterprise. We recognize that the opportunity to make a profit usually motivates people to provide consumers with desirable products and services. Unfortunately, not everyone plays by the rules of ethical or even legal behavior. Therefore, the Latin phrase “caveat emptor” (“Let the Alan Wallace buyer beware!”) is the watchword of every astute consumer. Here are a few examples of when and where to exercise self-protective circumspection. In Stores When I was a boy, a price tag was attached to virtually every item in the stores. With the advent of bar coding and optical scanners in the mid1970s, stores began posting prices on the display shelf. A store’s computerized inventory management system is supposed to reflect the price on the shelf so that you are charged correctly when you check out. Sometimes, however, discrepancies arise because the item may be in the wrong shelf location, or employees may not have updated the posted price when an increase is keyed into the system. Most stores honor the posted price, but only if you catch a discrepancy at checkout. Some stores take time to verify the inaccurate pricing and then charge you the posted figure, a process that takes time, irritating you, the clerk, and those behind you in line. At some stores you must go to the customer service counter to get your charges corrected, taking even more time. My worst experience locally was at a big box retail store in East Chase when I bought three items, each of which was priced incorrectly. It took me 10 extra minutes to credit the inaccurate amount and charge me properly and I saw no evidence of action to correct the mispricing on the shelf. My best experience was at one of the large supermarket chains in Montgomery, where they have a policy of giving you any item that you find is mispriced when you check out.
“Unfortunately, not everyone plays by the rules of ethical or even legal behavior.”
In Hotels & Motels My wife and I spent a vacation week in Florida recently. The first night we stayed in St. Augustine. After I got home, I found that the motel had charged me a couple dollars for the room safe which we did not use. Many establishments charge similar amounts unless you ask for the charge to be taken off your bill. Do not assume that charges on a room bill are correct or mandatory. Clerks will often take them off if you object. From St. Augustine we went to a big-name hotel in Orlando for five nights. After my cell phone was stolen (a subject for a future column), I almost used the hotel phone to call law enforcement. Fortunately, I checked the hotel’s policy and discovered that they charge 50 cents per local call. Instead I borrowed my wife’s cell phone. Get the facts before you act or you may face an unpleasant surprise. Monthly Statements Do you verify your credit card and checking account statements (and similar documents) against the original documents (receipts for services received, deposits and payments made, checks written etc.) each month? If not, you are probably being taken advantage of by someone. Over the years I have found unauthorized charges, including increased tips at restaurants where I evidently had a dishonest waiter, and incorrect deposit amounts (a missing zero at the end of a number). Some institutions limit the time during which you can get an error corrected. The prudent person does not assume that financial records are correct; instead he verifies that they are. There are other times and places that you need to be wary, but these are enough to make the point. And by the way, just because someone seems helpful and pleasant does not always mean that they really are. As President Reagan said years ago, “Trust, but verify.” 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 334-2705960, or by e-mail at alan.wallace@ronblue.com.
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
17
Vision
A
of
Greece
By Teri Greene Photos by Bob Corley
18
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
feature
V
isions of ancient Greece sit amid an expanse of stonework and wrought iron, flanked during the warmer months with azaleas, magnolias, camellias, dogwood, Japanese cherry blossom, tulips, oaks, crape myrtles and pines. “We get calls -- ‘Is anything blooming?’ Well, there’s always something blooming,” said Elmore Inscoe. Since the early 1970s, Jim and Elmore Inscoe have been caretakers of the 20-acre wonderland known as Jasmine Hill Gardens. But the abundant flora is only part of the attraction of this unique locale. The gardens were started by Ben and Mary Fitzpatrick, after they restored and moved into a 1830‘s-era cottage in 1928. The 20-acres of land on which the house sat was awash in yellow Carolina Jasmine, prompting a name change from Sugarberry Hill to Jasmine Hill. The Fitzpatricks made more than 20 trips to Greece, always by boat, visiting archaeological digs, studying at the American Classical School in Athens, and forging strong bonds with their Greek friends. Their love of Greece knew few bounds, and they commissioned copies of famed Greek and Roman statues for their work-inprogress garden. But the gardens and the statuary paled in comparison to their biggest dream -- building the world’s only full-size replica of the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece. “They happened to be in Olympia when the German archaeologists were digging the Temple of Hera,” Jim Inscoe said. “They ran into an American architectural student, and they hired him and a German archaeologist to draw the plans of the ruins of the Temple of Hera in exact scale.” The material used to construct the temple ruins, and bring Greece to Alabama, was Indiana limestone, as close a material as they could get to that used at the original site. They also ventured to New Orleans for statuary and wrought iron, installing it at Jasmine Hill, in many cases having it colorfully hand painted. In the early 1970s, with Elmore on extended bed rest expecting their second child, Jim would take their firstborn to Jasmine Hill Gardens. “Miss Mary” Fitzpatrick, by now a widow, welcomed them, eventually inviting them to tea. Over the years she became part of their family, and Jim began tackling sections of the long untended garden. When Mary Fitzpatrick died in 1982 at age 96 (there was ample yellow Carolina Jasmine in bloom to adorn her coffin, notes Elmore), the Inscoes bought the gardens. Since then, they have not only brought the gardens back to life, but added additional statuary, opened a museum, and created a well-stocked library containing volumes on ancient and modern Greece. In keeping with the original ruins constructed at Jasmine Hill, the museum/library facade was recreated as an exact, full-scale replica of the original Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece. This one, however, was recreated to appear as it did
Opposite: Flowers and statuary greet you at every turn. Above: Garden founders Ben and Mary Fitzpatrick on one of their many trips to Greece.
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
19
when constructed circa 600 BC. It, too, is a one-of-a-kind edifice, and a fitting
companion to the Temple of Hera ruins. With the spirit of Greece permeating the gardens they now owned, the Inscoes embarked on their own odysseys to Greece, becoming, as the Fitzpatricks had, close to the people they met in their adopted second home. “We go to Olympia every time we can,” said Elmore. As a child, Elmore often traveled to Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile (her great uncle was Walter Bellingrath). Unlike that showcase garden, with beds of differing flowers changed regularly, Jasmine Hill Gardens is a place where tradition reigns, a more formal setting where heirloom annuals and perennials bloom – in Elmore’s words, “a grandmother’s garden.” Since the Inscoes became the gardens’ caretakers, the community has given back.
A tornado in the early ‘80s downed large trees, nearly demolishing the gardens. Luckily, no statuary was destroyed, but with so much damage, the Inscoes feared they would have to close down. But a General at Maxwell Air Force Base provided 100 volunteers to aid in the massive clean-up. The price? Feeding them. “We went to every neighbor for food to feed these people,” says Elmore. When the first bus load arrived with hoes and rakes, “both of us burst into tears.” On a recent Saturday morning, Jim Inscoe pauses during a walk through the gardens to point out another, more subtle link connecting Jasmine Hill Gardens and ancient Greece. "Do you hear that?” he says. “The wind through the pines? In Olympia, before the horrible forest fires killed all the pines, when you would walk into the sacred precinct, those low Mediterranean pines, with just the slightest breeze, sounded just like this.” Mediterranean pines won’t grow in Alabama, however, so the Fitzpatricks planted southern long-leaf pines. “On a breezy day, you can hear that sound you used to be able to hear in Olympia. We've got it here," he says,
laughing, "right down to the sounds." The Inscoes continue their expansion of the gardens started by the Fitzpatricks, kindred spirits brought together through time and fate to keep this “little corner of Greece” alive in Alabama.
An educational journey The garden is now a nonprofit educational foundation, with school tours booked throughout the year. The combination of natural history and an up-close look at an ancient culture offers a unique experience for students, many of whom bring a knowledge of ancient Greece that surprises the Inscoes. “It’s amazing how many of them know something about the Iliad and the Odyssey,” Jim Inscoe says. “One little girl last year knocked my socks off. She knew so much more than I did, it was unbelievable.” Jasmine Hill Gardens and Outdoor Museum 334-567-6463 admin@jasminehill.org Friday, Saturday, Sunday through June Saturday only, July - October Handicap Accessible
Carolina Jasmine (above) blooms in profusion at the Gardens, site of the only full-size replica of the Templa of Hera (below).The original temple is in Olympia, Greece, home to the first Olympic Games.
20
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
The Olympics come to Jasmine hill
W
hen Montgomery’s Greek community learned the 1996 Summer Olympics would be held in Atlanta, they began a widespread and continuous letterwriting campaign to the Olympic Organizing Committee, requesting the flame relay come through Montgomery, specifically Jasmine Hill Gardens. There, the torch could be lit at the replica of the ruins of the Temple of Hera, where the original torch-lighting ceremony was held. The campaign paid off. With less than a year’s notice, the Inscoes and supporters set to work. New statuary was acquired, cast from originals in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, and the facade of the Welcome Center was completed. “We were young and energetic, and we didn’t sleep for about a year,” Elmore Inscoe said of the preparations. The city, tri-county area and state provided support. Actresses and dancers from the University of Alabama portrayed the priestesses who performed the original ceremony and musicians came from Greece to participate. The Inscoe’s son, Turner, ran up the hill with the torch to the temple, where it was lit from a concave mirror facing the sun. On June 30, 1996, 10,000 people showed up to celebrate.
Jim and Elmore Inscoe (left) relax on a marble bench bearing designs the Fitzpatricks (right, on the same bench) selected from museum pieces they admired on their international travels. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
21
Top 10 FREE labama ttractions
feature
A
S
pring is here with summer not far behind. Now’s the time to start searching for fun things to do with family and friends. Kick start your plans with this list of Alabama’s Top 10 Free Attractions, based on attendance, compiled by the Alabama Tourism Bureau. (Photos courtesy Alabama Tourism Bureau)
Birmingham Botanical Gardens — More than 12,000 different plants, 67.5 acres, 25+ unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths.
205-414-3950 www.bbgardens.org
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts — An extensive and expanding permanent collection, traveling exhibitions, and a captivating hand-on children’s section.
334-240-4333 www.mmfa.org/ 22
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
Alabama State Capitol — Montgomery On the National Register of Historic Places as the First Confederate Capitol. Houses Governor’s office and other state officials.
334-242-3935 www.alabama.gov
Birmingham Museum of Art — More than 25,000 paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, decorative arts from ancient to modern times. 205-254-2565 www.artsbma.org/ US Army Aviation Museum — Fort Rucker An extensive collection of helicopters and airplanes traces the development and use of aviation by the Army. 334-598-2508 www.armyaviationmuseum.org/
Aldridge Botanical Gardens — Hoover 30-acre woodland garden, six-acre lake and walking trail. 205-682-8019 www.aldridgegardens.com/
Sloss Furnaces — Birmingham National Historic Landmark’s web of pipes and tall smokestacks offers a glimpse into our great industrial past. 205-324-1911 www.slossfurnaces.com/ www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
Fort Conde — Mobile Reconstructed 4/5ths scale replica of the original 1720s French Fort Condé at this same site. 251-208-2018 www.museumofmobile.com/
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament — Hanceville The church and monastery are modeled on the great Italian churches of the 13th century. 205-795-5717 www.olamshrine.com/
AL Dept of Archives & History — Montgomery The first state archives in the US contains 500,000 artifacts documenting life in Alabama from prehistoric times to the present. 334-242-4435 www.archives.alabama.gov/
Mr. Gus’ Ristorante
Now Open Sunday! 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Same great food more time to enjoy it! M o n t g o m e r y ’s F i n e s t Italian & Greek Cuisine
6268 Atlanta Hwy • Montgomery, AL • 334-356-4662 Saturday breakfast 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. 24
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
crafters crafters corner corner
A NOteworthy Spring
F
or many, including myself, Spring signals a time of renewal; a time to dust out the cobwebs and start with a clean slate. Especially after some deep Spring cleaning, it Callie Corley seems order and organization are the name of the game. That’s why this craft is great for Spring. It’s a simple dry erase board made from a picture frame and colorful paper. You can put it on the counter in the kitchen or laundry room, or mount it on the refrigerator — it’s great for keeping lists and little reminders, or to reminder others of things. Materials needed: Picture frame, a piece of colored paper, dry erase marker. (Optional heavy duty magnets & hot glue gun.) When you’re shopping for frames, try to pick one that’s relatively light, with lots of glass. Ones with mattes aren’t the best option here. If you’re going to put magnets on it, the back needs to be
covered in paper or cardboard, not felt. The best place to get sturdy magnets is a home improvement store.You’ll need something that can hold 5-10 pounds securely to the ‘fridge. Once your supplies are in order, measure your piece of paper to fit the glass frame. If you’re going to put the note board on the counter, you’re done. If you plan on mounting the frame on the fridge, the best option is to take the stand off the back of the frame so it sits flush with the ‘fridge door, then hot glue your magnets (in all 4 corners) paying close attention not to glue over the opening that allows you to change out the paper. Once the glue dries, you’re all set. Leave notes for your family and friends, or welcome your next weekend visitors! Mounting it on the ‘fridge is a great place to keep your grocery list easy to read and access. Callie Corley began crafting when she was old enough to hold a pencil, squeeze a glue bottle, and use a pair of scissors. If you have craft ideas to share, send instructions and photos to primemagdesign@gmail.com.
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
25
The Conductor’s Season Montgomery Symphony Orchestra
Classical Season continues Concert V • Monday April 29 • 7:30pm Fellowship Season continues Cello, Tuesday, April 23 • 7:30pm Violin, Tuesday, May 7 • 7:30pm
montgomerysymphony.org / 240-4004
t n e c fi i agn m a r o O! f V of e A c R n B a m perfor g Beauty! pin e e l S e Th
The Montgomery Ballet 2013 Season
Tickets:etix.com or 1-800-514-3849 Information:334-409-0522 montgomeryballet.org
Darren McIntyre, Artistic Director
Don Quixote, July 26, 27 The Phantom of the Opera, Oct. 11-13 Christmas Spectacular, Dec. 7, 8 The Nutcracker, Dec. 13-15 Except where noted, all performances held at the Davis Theatre. 26
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
social security
If Your Status Changes...
I
f you are receiving Social Security disability benefit payments, it is important to notify us promptly — in person, by phone, or by mail — whenever a change occurs that could affect your benefits. This is especially true when reporting other income. Errors occur when you fail to report certain types of income in a timely manner. If you do not report these amounts, you may have to repay a large part of your Kylle’ McKinney benefits. If you work while receiving disability payments You should tell us if you take a job or become selfemployed, no matter how little you earn. There are some work incentives that may allow you to keep your disability payments for a while. If your benefits stop because of your work, we can quickly start them again if your income drops or if you stop working. Special rules make it possible for people receiving Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments. If you cannot continue working because of your medical condition, your benefits can start again — you may not have to file a new application. Work incentives include: n Continued monthly benefits for a time while you work; n Continued Medicare or Medicaid while you work; and n Help with education, training, and rehabilitation to start a new line of work. The rules are different under Social Security and SSI. Whether you are receiving Social Security or SSI, it is important to let us know promptly when you start or stop working, or if any other change occurs that could affect your benefits. Also, tell us if you have any special work expenses because of your disability (such as specialized equipment, a wheelchair or even some prescription drugs) or if there is any change in expenses. If you receive other types of disability benefits Social Security benefits for you and your family may be reduced if you also are eligible for workers’ compensation (including payments through the black lung program) or for disability benefits from certain federal, state, or local government programs.You must tell us if: n You apply for another type of disability benefit; n You receive another disability benefit or a lump-sum settlement; or n Your benefits change or stop. If you get a pension from work not covered by Social Security If you start receiving a pension from a job for which you did not pay Social Security taxes — for example, from the federal civil service system, some state or local pension systems, nonprofit organizations, or a foreign government — your Social
Security benefit may be reduced. Also, tell us if the amount of your pension changes. Keep in mind that you must always keep Social Security informed of your changing situation. Many factors can affect your benefits. Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached in MontgomMCA_Ad_01.13_Prime_Layout 2:00 Page 1 ery at 866-593-0914, ext. 26265,1or1/2/13 by e-mail at PM kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov
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 Flexible Hours: Mon thru Friday – 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
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
l Offer Specia IRT
-SH hip FREhEmT embers ery
om wit e Montg ! s r for Prim e d a Re
Call 280-1409 for more information A Montgomery Cardiovascular Associates Facility
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
27
games Across 1 Aleutian island 5 Upheaval 8 "Superbad" co-screenwriter Seth 13 In a bind? 15 Prison break? 16 Common closer 17 "Yea, verily" 18 Rash 19 Calms 20 Nuttiness 23 Folkie DiFranco 24 Training gear? 26 Art able to 28 Troopers' gps. 31 Goalpost component 34 Its state fish is the chinook salmon 36 Superficial, uncaring effort 38 City known for wool 39 "Go ahead" 40 Tiny part of a hard drive 41 Pulitzer-winning poet Conrad __ 43 Aged 44 Wee hrs. 46 Name meaning "gift of Isis" 49 Verdict readers 52 Brewery equipment 55 Give holy orders to 56 Carnival game in which a suit is worn 59 Tease 60 Informal essay 61 Gifted one?
28
62 Spot checker? 63 Forming strands Down 1 Spiel, e.g. 2 Helps to water-ski 3 "See you next fall!" elicitor 4 WWII battlecruiser in the Pacific 5 Where unison countdowns usually begin 6 Agnus __ 7 Lofty lines 8 With "The," 1960s series set in the North African desert during WWII 9 Hunter killed by Artemis, in some accounts 10 TV drama narrated by a teen blogger 11 If not 12 Revivalists 14 Words indicating betrayal 15 Trivial Pursuit symbol 19 Rembrandt van __ 21 Phillips, e.g.: Abbr. 22 Wine orders 24 Tuna preserver 25 Common Zen temple feature 27 Nursing a grudge 29 Gave two tablets to, say
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
30 "The Mikado" weapon, briefly 31 Smackeroo 32 Hall & Oates's first Top 10 hit 33 __ B'rith 35 "Howards End" author 37 Transportation secretary under Clinton 42 Cousin, for one 45 Gettysburg general 47 Sweet ring 48 Cork sources 49 Attracted to, with "of" 50 Food associated with the starts of 16-, 36- and 56-Across 51 Hydrocarbon suffix
53 South Seas staple 54 Tonsorial sound 56 V x XI x XI 57 Country that incl. Sharjah 58 Map feature Š 2013 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
Answers for Crossword & Sudoku on page 30.
in every life
Plan & Prep for Relocation M
ost people dread hearing community warning sirens, followed by “just a test” or instructions to move to a safer location. For those with diminished hearing, disaster preparedness must include identifying resources to receive the warnings. A network of neighbors, relatives, or community support people may be needed to Arlene Morris provide an email, a call to a phone which lights, a cell phone that vibrates, or other special arrangement. Now is the time to prepare a personalized disaster plan for yourself or a family member who has special needs not considered in other lists for emergency preparation. Think through a usual day. What activities or supplies would be required should you need to relocate suddenly? Are mobility aids needed, affecting your ability to access exits? Are extra batteries needed for wheelchairs? If you live or work in a multi-level building, are escape chairs available for stairs if the electricity is off? Do you have an extra oxygen source if supplemental oxygen is needed? Keep a list of the type and model number of any healthcare equipment you require. Do you have personal care items and emergency supplies readily accessible? Can you carry the supplies AND mange any assistive device? Consider keeping a bag of extra clothing and toiletries in the trunk of your car, or in the car of a person who would be designated to provide rapid transportation to a safe shelter. How would visual changes impact your relocation? During a disaster, you (and your assistive animal if applicable) may need help navigating a safe path. Designate someone to guide you to a safe location. Prepare for an emergency by packing a week or month’s supply of special non-perishable dietary needs in an easily transportable bag, with a list of additional items to add when an advanced warning is announced. Food and water for assistive animals will also be needed. One to two weeks’ supply of medications should be readily available, with a list of the names of the medications, dosages, time of dose, purpose of each, and name of the prescribing healthcare professional. All food and medicines should be dated, used before expiration, and replaced when the original supply is exhausted. A medical alert tag or bracelet, and a list of medications, supplies and equipment kept in your wallet, can help others identify your needs. Include contact information for all healthcare providers and pharmacists, and before any emergency, identify alternate locations for treatments such as dialysis. Check with assisted living or long-term care facilities to determine ways to communicate with loved ones if electricity
is shut off. Personalized and carefully coordinated plans for emergencies can help reduce anxiety and facilitate relocation to a safe environment. Arlene H. Morris is Professor of Nursing at Auburn Montgomery’s School of Nursing. She can be reached at amorris@aum.edu. Resources (Use the Search Bar at each website.) Alabama Dept. of Public Health www.adph.org (Search ‘Family Readiness Guide’) American Red Cross www.redcross.org (Search ‘Prepare Home and Family’) CDC Guide www.cdc.gov (Search ‘Emergency’) FEMA www.ready.gov (Search ‘Ready’) USDA Food Safety www.usda.gov (Search ‘Emergency’) www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
29
Calling All Beer Collectors!! Bama Cannas’ Beer Collectible Show, April 20, 8 am-2 pm, Railyard Brewing Co., 12 W. Jefferson St. Free. For info.
call Ray at 334-272-1823, or Perry at 334285-7569. Brewery Collectibles Clubs of America.
www.troyfest.com
The premier fine arT & crafT fesTival for The cenTral alabama region. a wonderful
selecTion of arT, food, enTerTainmenT and acTiviTies will be offered for people of all ages. Join us aT This year’s fesTiviTies in
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com 30 Prime Montgomery .indd 1
Downtown troy, AL.
2/14/13 9:08 PM
health
Marci’s Medicare Answer April 2013 Dear Marci, I need to get eyeglasses to correct my vision. Does Original Medicare cover eyeglasses? Dear Cindy, Original Medicare, the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program offered directly through the federal government, only covers eyeglasses after you have had cataract surgery. Original Medicare generally does not cover routine eye care, such as examinations for prescribing or fitting eyeglasses. However, Original Medicare will cover a standard pair of untinted prescription glasses or contacts, if you need them after cataract surgery. If considered medically necessary, Medicare may cover customized eyeglasses or contact lenses following the procedure. Keep in mind that Medicare may not pay for the entire cost of your eyeglasses. Although it may pay for a portion of the cost of your eyeglasses, you may have to pay a deductible or coinsurance. Remember, a deductible is the amount you must pay out of your own pocket for a health care service or item, before your health insurance begins to pay. A coinsurance is the percentage you must pay for a health care service or item you receive. While Original Medicare generally does not cover routine eye care, Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare private health plans, may offer limited coverage of vision services. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, contact your plan directly, to find out if your plan will cover your eyeglasses. Dear Marci, I received an Explanation of Benefits from my Medicare Advantage plan. What is an Explanation of Benefits? Dear Kris, An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is the notice you receive from your Medicare Advantage plan, after you have received health care services from a doctor or other health care provider. An EOB tells you what your doctor or health care provider billed the plan for the services you received. The EOB also lists what the plan paid to your provider for the services you received, as well as the amount you owe to your provider. Keep in mind that the EOB is not a bill; rather, it is a summary of the services you received and how much you may owe for them.Your provider will send you a bill for any fees you owe. If you already paid your provider for the health care services you received, make sure you check your EOB to confirm that you paid the right amount. If you have questions about the amount you owe,
you can call your plan or health care provider. If you have Original Medicare, you will receive a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), as opposed to an EOB. The Medicare Summary Notice is similar to the EOB, except that it is typically sent every three months to those with Original Medicare. Like the EOB, the MSN is not a bill and simply lists the services you received and the amount you must pay for those services. If Original Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan is not paying for a service you think should be covered, you should appeal. There are usually instructions on the MSN or EOB on how to appeal. If you have Original Medicare and you need help understanding your MSN, call 800-MEDICARE. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and you need help understanding your EOB, you can contact your plan.You may also contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for help with the appeals process. Dear Marci, I need to see a dentist for a routine checkup. Does Medicare cover routine dental care? Dear Clara, No, Medicare typically does not cover routine dental care. Medicare may cover some dental services if they are required to protect your general health. For example, Medicare may cover dental care if you need it for a Medicare-covered health service to be successful. However, Medicare will not cover dental care that you need primarily for the health of your teeth (i.e. routine dental care). Under Medicare law, Original Medicare strictly does not cover routine dental services. While some Medicare Advantage plans may cover dental services, this coverage may be limited and can change from year to year. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, contact your plan to learn more about their rules on dental coverage. Although Medicare does not cover dental care, Medicaid may cover your dental services. Remember, Medicare is the health insurance program for people 65 or older and people with disabilities, whereas Medicaid is the health insurance program for individuals with low income. Medicaid programs vary by state, so check with your state Medicaid program to learn more about how Medicaid covers dental care. Marci's Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
31
w o r l d - c l A s s t h e At r e
in the Heart of the southeAst
moving free
Stay
TICKeTS oN SaLe Flexible Become a Member and
Save 15% or more! Macbeth By William Shakespeare May 10 & 18 To Kill a Mockingbird By Christopher Sergel Adapted from the novel by Harper Lee
March 8–24; May 12–18 Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare
March 28–30; April 23 & 30; May 9 Around the World in 80 Days By Mark Brown Based on the novel by Jules Verne
April 19–May 19 God of Carnage By Yazmina Reza
April 18–May 19
@ AlAbAmA ShAkeSpeAre FeStivAl
32
1-800-841-4273
www.ASF.net
/alabamashakes
/alabamashakes
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
W
e’re staying more active as we age. That’s a good thing. We’re stronger, we have more energy and we’re less prone to disease than our parents and grandparents were. We’re living longer and enjoying better quality of life. But one problem that remains largely un-addressed is maintaining flexibility as we age. It’s great to be strong, but if you can’t reach up and get a jar out of a cabinet, or bend down to pull on your socks, you’re still kind of helpless. Most of us have gotten stiffer with age and we haven’t done anything about it. The good news is a few simple stretching exercises, regularly performed, can help you keep the flexibility you have and restore a lot of the youthful suppleness you’ve lost. The neck and back are particularly problematic. Here are three easy exercises you can do daily for upper body flexibility maintenance. Neck Stretch — Side of Neck
Place right hand on top of head. Gently pull head sideways, stretching neck towards the right shoulder. Repeat on other side. Hold for 10-20 seconds. Diamond Stretch — Shoulders, chest, upper back Raise arms overhead linking hands together. Slightly bend elbows. Gently move elbows back. Hold for 10-20 counts Cobra — Whole back and neck Lie on your stomach, hands palms down on the floor, shoulder width apart, about even with your neck. Keeping your hips on the floor, hands in position, shoulders relaxed, slowly raise your upper body up. Look up and hold for1020 seconds. Slowly lower you body back down and repeat. Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is a leading authority in the Health & Fitness industry. Her Moving Free® approach is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work (www.mirabaiholland.com).
prime diversions
Recent dvd releases
Django Unchained, Hyde Park on the Hudson and Promised Land Hyde Park on Hudson (R) Here’s another biopic no one really needed, delivering a mediocre portrayal of a fascinating figure. Anthony Hopkins did no favors to our memories of Alfred Hitchcock in his vehicle; nor does Bill Murray add anything of value to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s legacy with this look at the events surrounding his 1939 visit from England’s king and queen as a prelude to our thencontroversial potential involvement in WWII. We learn about their weekend meeting from the perspective of a cousin (Laura Linney), whose involvement with the Prez was closer than our traditional view of familial engagement. Despite the historic significance of the first appearance by any English monarch in this former colony, and the desperation that compelled it, the script subjugates the macrocosm to the relatively tepid tale of this observer, mostly crafted from her posthumously-discovered diaries. The script offers bits of levity and some tabloid glimpses into both families. While nothing occurs that would satisfy Jerry Springer’s audiences, enough is suggested about everyone’s private lives to titillate viewers. Seeing great public figures with deep private flaws does raise one valid question about our current media climate. Do we really need to know the sexual, medical or other intimate details about our leaders? FDR worked wonders for us through the Depression and WWII, while few knew he governed from a wheelchair. And if affairs of the heart help governmental and military officials deal effectively with affairs of state, maybe the public’s right to know should be limited to how they manage our business, rather than their own.
Django Unchained (R) Quentin Tarantino delivers yet another fine mix of mayhem and mirth in this tongue-in-cheek homage to Spaghetti Westerns and Blaxploitation flicks with this romp through our Old West and South of the late 1850s. Christoph Waltz plays an elegant bounty hunter who buys a slave (Jamie Foxx) to help him identify some plantation bosses with prices on their heads, while using assumed names. Villains hiding in plain sight. Foxx turns out to be smarter, tougher, and cooler than anyone expected, leading to more of a partnership and dual-purpose quest. Foxx helps Waltz bag the felons; Waltz helps him find his wife (Kerry Washihngton), who had been sold separately as punishment.
As usual for Tarantino fare, the premise mainly provides a springboard for all kinds of fun: an in-your-face score, legitimized for the genre by a contribution from Ennio Mark Glass Morricone; ultra-hip supporting contributions from Leo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson; one sequence with a gang of masked riders that may be the most hilarious scene of the year. Those who loved Inglorious Basterds will be thoroughly delighted by this bloody, decidedly non-PC comic adventure. Movie buffs should also watch for a slew of familiar faces in minor roles. Beards and scruffy clothes will add to the challenge. It’ll be like playing Where’s Waldo between the splatters.
Promised Land (R) Matt Damon is a movie star. John Krasinski is a TV star with a rising movie career. Fracking to tap into our vast reserves of natural gas is a controversial subject, with economic and security pluses balanced against risks to the environment. Both sides of the coin have potential long-term, significant effects on our country - especially for the communities that allow those resources to be developed. Damon and Frances McDormand work as an advance team for a major gas company. Their job is to roll into small towns to buy up the drilling rights. Their pitch is that the region’s small farms are failing - as is true throughout most of the country - and this is the locals’ only path to not just prosperity, but perhaps even hanging onto their family’s land for another generation. Matt is a true believer; he grew up in rural Iowa, and saw his town wither when the local Caterpillar Plant closed. Krasinski arrives as the front man for an environmental group, warning the townsfolk that Damon may be selling snake oil. Hal Holbrook plays a retired science teacher who also encourages resistance for the long-term good of the community. Ultimately the story is focused on the selling and the sellers, rather than the product. Like the landowners, we’re exposed more to tactics and strategies than data. The authors put a couple of twists into the proceedings aimed more at generating cinematic interest than political points. The net effect is closer to a low-key Glengarry Glen Ross than An Inconvenient Truth.
Mark Glass is an officer and director of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
33
calendar Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 96 meets on the last Monday of the month, Golden Coral, Eastern By-Pass. For information contact Malcolm Brassell, 334-272-3292. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Blount Cultural Park. Exhibition Opening, April 5, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Cash bar, hors d’oeuvres. Exhibition features the 40th Montgomery Art Guild Museum Exhibition. A lecture by the juror of the exhibition will be presented April 6, 10 a.m. Exhibition features 100 works by approximately 80 River Region artists. For more information, call 334-240-4333, or visit www.mmfa.org. Montgomery Area Council on Aging. Meals, transportation, outreach services, exercise class, Bible study, bingo.Various days, times, locales. 115 E. Jefferson St. For info. 334-263-0532. Hearing Loss Support Group. 2nd Thurs., 4 pm, First United Methodist Church. Speakers, hearing screenings, refreshments. For info. call 334-262-3650.
Hospice of Montgomery, Monte Carlo Night, April 18, Wynlakes CC, 6:30-10 p.m. Funds help provide hospice care to patients and their families in the River Region. Silent auction includes original art by local artists, baskets filled with gift certificates and items from local businesses, garden and landscape items, home furnishings and antiques, jewelry, sports items and memorabilia, trips, fine wines. buffet of hors d’oeuvres and desserts for the palate.View auction items at www.hospiceofmontgomery.org. $50 per person. Buy on secure website by credit card or by mail: Hospice of Montgomery, 1111 Holloway Park, Montgomery, AL 36117.
SATURDAY APRIL 20th
Enjoy author readings & book signings by a variety of regional authors including James Cherry, Michael Morris, Sena Jeter Naslund, and Alice Randall. Plus our Readers’ Theatre, exhibitors, and a children’s activity area!
Arabian Nights, April 27, 6:30 p.m. Join in efforts to revitalize Garett Coliseum. Dining, dancing, entertainment. $40/person, $74/couple. For information call Jeannine Carleton, jcarleton@montgomeryal.gov or call 334-240-4904.
Robert E. Lee Hall of Fame Disabled AmeriInduction Cerecan Veterans. Last www.alabamabookfestival.org mony and Banquet, Thurs., 5:30 pm. 906 April 26, 6 p.m., Maxwell Blvd.Vets of Lee High School all conflicts. For info. Cafeteria. Tickets $15/person. Call 334-272-2558, or write call 334-294-1551. RELee HS Hall of Fame, Box 3244, Montgomery, 36109. Vietnam Veterans of America. 1st. Mon., 6:30 pm. Annual Plant Sale - Capital City Master Gardeners AsCrazy Buffet, Atlanta Hwy. sociation. April 27, 8 am-3 pm, Frazer UMC, 6700 Atlanta Hwy. Plus, free demonstrations: Songwriters-in-the-Round. Cloverdale Playhouse, Joe Thomas, Jr. Guitar Pull. 3rd Tuesday, 7-9 pm. $10. For info. 334- 9 am -- How to Plant Tomatoes 11 am - Using Herbs 262-1530. 1 pm - Container Gardening Plants include: heirloom plants,vegetables, herbs, annuals, Gluten Intolerance Support Group. 2nd Thurs., 6-7 perennials, trees and shrubs. Also available, an assortment of pm, Taylor Rd. Baptist Church. For info., Ruth Givens, ruthgivgarden items for sale. Soil testing kits, key gardening indicaens5@gmail.com, or http://gfmontgomery.blogspot.com. tors for a successful start,will also be on hand. Come early because the plants go quickly! For info call 270-4133 or visits Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group. 1st Thurs., capcitymga.org. 11 am, Frazer Church. For info 334-272-8622. 34
April 2013 | www.primemontgomery.com
www.primemontgomery.com | April 2013
35
Imagine life without the annoying
hissing, whistling, ringing & buzzing of
Tinnitus.
(a condition where sounds are perceived that are not present in the environment)
In many cases Tinnitus can be reduced or eliminated. A simple, in-office evaluation, covered by many insurance carriers, can help determine your treatment options.
Schedule your Tinnitus Evaluation today. Call 334-281-8400
6912 Winton Blount Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36117 334-281-8400 • www.allearscenters.com