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Celebrating Life
May 2016
The Parthenon
Southern Style Being 50 — 6 Tips to make it The Best of Times (pg 18)
(pg 12)
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Prime J
EDITOR’S NOTE
MAGAZINE
May 2016 Vol. 7, Issue 2
PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Jessa Barron, Andrea Gross, Sally Sitch CONTRIBUTORS Niko Corley, Kylle’ McKinney, Bob Moos, Arlene Morris, Susan O’Conner, Nick Thomas, Alan Wallace PHOTOGRAPHERS Irv Green SALES Bob Corley • 334-202-0114, primemontgomery@gmail.com Wendy McFarland, • 334-652-9080 mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com Prime Montgomery 7956 Vaughn Road, #144 Montgomery, AL 36116 • 334-202-0114 www.primemontgomery.com ISSN 2152-9035
Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2016 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.
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May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
ust when I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore I got the call. Just when the garage looked like we’d taken on a family of squatters, when unkept flower beds made me long for a cemented yard, when dried beans were the most enticing item in our pantry, I was, thankfully, served notice. Out-of-town company was on the way. Does wholesale cleanup happen any other way? Not in our house. Though we’re resolute about “picking-up” and “straightening-up,” there’s nothing like the threat of visitors from “off ” to make the garbage can beg for relief. In this case it was a welcomed call from my California brother and sister-inlaw that set off our internal alarm. Thrilled to have them come to stay for a week, there was, nonetheless, lots to do. An overnight stay requires dusting, a jaunt to the grocery, and a thorough but quick bathroom once-over. A weeklong visit is another thing entirely. Family or no, these are guests who use your closets, innocently check out your bookshelves for reading material, peruse the contents of your refrigerator for a bite to eat. Far beyond vanity, it’s about being hospitable and honoring your visitors. On that subject I learned from the best. Though there were distinct differences in the family I was raised in and the family I married into, both sets of parents were expert hosts. Houseguests never felt uncomfortable, unhappy, or uncared for. With our work cut out for us, Bob started with the garage, while I got to work in the kitchen. He hauled away box after box of items we’d needlessly salvaged from our family homes or “stored” for our daughter through her many moves, both during and after college. As he worked outside, I rolled and shaped biscotti, made chicken pies, and baked layer cakes to freeze. Back inside and a day later, Bob took to cleaning out the toy box. Really? How could this much “stuff ” result from those two little innocent darlings? Unwilling to part with anything our grandkids might cherish, Bob sorted and shifted storage areas rather than toss the toys. Meanwhile, my kitchen chores continued. This time, Greek pastichio and spanakopita. After all, who wants to stay in the kitchen while company’s here? When it came to yard work we threw in the towel, calling lawn/landscape experts for backup support. These yard magicians (I’ll gladly refer them) manicured our lawn, trimmed hedges, weeded beds, and laid down straw. The work they did was nothing short of masterful though I’m confident an entire pine tree forest was sacrificed in service to our cause. A few chores still beg for our attention but they’re not the big ticket items. As we coast towards our guests’ arrival we’re anticipating the fun of reuniting with people we love, eating and laughing together, and introducing new generations to the unique personalities, traditions and stories that are the bedrock of our family tribe. My brother couldn’t care less whether we straightened the pantry or the toys were put away. And orderliness is certainly no mandate for the gathering we’re expecting. But it’s our way of being hospitable, of greeting a brother from whom we’re separated by far too many miles, and of saying, “Welcome, home.”
May 2016 Spring Vegetable & Chevre Tart
Table of Contents Editor’s Note 4 Quick Reads 6
Violent Video Games, Loud Music, MS Research
Yard ‘n Garden 9
A Fairy Home for Your Garden Nashville. Not Greece.
A Gracious Plenty 10
Spring Veggie Tart plus 2 Butters
Greece in Nashville 12 The World’s 2nd Parthenon
In Every Life 14
Senior Housing Options
Money Wi$e 15
Reverse Mortgages Part 1: The Basics
Tinseltown Talks 16
The Pharmacist-Turned-Actor
50 Years Old? Just the Beginning! 18 6 Ways To Make 50+ Great
Talking About Moms... 21
Quotes from Rudyard Kipling to Michael Jordan
Hearing Loss 22
Reasons,Treatments, Lifestyle Cautions
Social Security 25
“My Social Security” for your Mom
Crossword & Sudoku Puzzles 26 Answers on page 33
Hear better. Live better.
History Mystery 27
Who ARE these people?
Medicare 29
Diabetes Coverage
Your Family Tree 30
Spread Your Branches On-Line
Advertiser Appreciation 32 Off the Beaten Path 34 Cats, Brothers & Bears
La Bella Beauty Salon, Madison Ave., Montgomery, May 7, 1969
Prime’s May calendar appears on-line. www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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Quick Reads Hearing Loss = Higher Healthcare Costs The costs of healthcare for privately insured individuals with and without hearing loss was compared in a recent study by the Medical University of South Carolina. The results indicate those with hearing loss have much higher healthcare costs overall. Age-related hearing loss affects more than 60% of U.S. adults 70 and older, with a gradual onset that triples between age 50 and 60. The study looked at hearing loss in adults 55-64, concluding that “…age-related hearing loss, a condition that many consider simply an unavoidable result of aging, may manifest earlier than is generally recognized.” The study suggests “…hearing loss is costly, even in middle-aged individuals, and is present in large numbers of adults for whom early, successful intervention may prevent future hearing-related disabilities and decreased quality of life.” — JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Tequila & Osteoporosis? Apart from being the raw material for making tequila, the blue variety of the Agave tequilana has substances capable of improving the absorption of calcium and magnesium, essential minerals to maintain bone health. This has been demonstrated by a Mexican research study conducted at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies. The project leader stated “…the consumption of fructans contained in the agave, in collaboration with adequate intestinal microbiota, promotes the formation of new bone, even with the presence of osteoporosis.” The results provide the possibility of developing an alternative in the treatment of osteoporosis, a disease that, according to the latest statistics from the International Osteoporosis Foundation, affects 200 million people worldwide. In people 50 and older, one out of five fractures is related to the disease. — Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City Earplugs, Loud Music & Hearing Loss The prevalence of acquired hearing loss has risen in past years. A U.S. study found adolescents with hearing loss has risen 31% since 1988, much of it due to increased exposure to recreational noise such as concerts, festivals and nightclubs. Music at these events can reach 100-110 decibels (dB) for several hours, exposure known to cause temporary hearing loss. (NOTE: 110 dB is equivalent to a revved-up chainsaw or having your ear within three feet of a blaring auto horn.) A study from the Netherlands followed a group of music festival 6
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
attendees, half of whom wore earplugs and half who did not. Temporary hearing loss measurements following the festival found 8% of the group wearing earplugs with a measurable hearing loss compared to 42% of the group without earplugs. A lower percentage of the earplug group (12%) reported tinnitus following exposure vs. 40% of the unprotected group. The study concluded that the use of earplugs should be actively promoted and encouraged by festival organizers to avoid noiseinduced hearing loss. — University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
Multiple Sclerosis Research An international research team has demonstrated that a new plant-derived drug can block the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic incurable condition marked by attacks that bring gradual deterioration in the patient's health. About 2.5 million people worldwide have MS. University of Queensland researcher Dr. Christian Gruber said the breakthrough
could be a step forward in preventing and treating MS and other autoimmune diseases. The new drug is expected to be taken by mouth, in contrast to some current MS treatments where patients need frequent injections. The new drug -- named T20K -- was extracted from a traditional medicinal plant, the Oldenlandia affinis. Treatment has been successful in an animal model, and patent applications have been filed in several countries. Phase one of clinical trials is expected in early 2018. — University of Queensland School
Violent Video Games Reduce Guilt Rapidly advancing technology has created ever more realistic video games. Images are sharp, settings have depth and detail, and the audio is crisp and authentic. At a glance, it appears real So real, in fact, research has consistently found gamers feel guilty committing unjustified acts of violence within the game. A University at Buffalo-led study suggests the moral response produced by the initial exposure to video game violence decreases as experience with the game develops. The findings provide the first experimental evidence that repeatedly playing the same violent game reduces emotional responses -like guilt -- not only to the original game, but to other violent video games as well. The study author says the reasons for this desensitization are unclear. One possibility is that repetitive play reduces a gamer’s sensitivity to guilt-inducing stimuli. — Published in Media Psychology. University at Buffalo
www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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Greek Food Festival & Pastry Sale
__________________________________
Thursday, May 12 Friday, May 13 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Lunch & Dinner) _______________________
Chicken, Pastichio & Lamb Plates Greek Music & Church Tours [ [ [Gift Shop[ _________________
Greek Orthodox Church
Corner of Mt. Meigs & Capitol Parkway ____________ Call 334-263-1366 for tickets & information. Tickets available at the door. 8
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
YARD ‘N GARDEN
Creating a Fairy Garden S
by Susan O’Conner
he stooped down and looked inside the broken flowerpot covered in sticks and bark. “But where are the fairies?” she asked in a slightly upset but definitely disgusted voice. The expression on her face matched the tone of her voice. We had spent the morning collecting bark, rocks, pinecones, sticks, and moss from the yard for our fairy house. She patiently, in a very four-year-old way, let me apply the hot glue while she held the bark and sticks as they cooled. A pinecone was a nice finishing touch for the roof where it came to a point. I found a large saucer that once held a flower pot, long ago broken. Filling it with dirt was messy fun. She gently placed the just-completed house in the soil. The jagged hole in the flowerpot was the doorway for the fairies to use. We hot-glued small pebbles around the sharp edge so the fairies wouldn’t hurt themselves on it. Two tiny pinecones were placed on either side of the doorway to be “pretend” lights. Fairies are afraid of the dark. Moss dug from the cracks in the driveway made the lawn. She decided
“But where are the fairies?” she asked in a slightly upset but definitely disgusted voice.
fairies liked flowers and wanted some for the project. I remembered I’d planted a St. Patrick’s Day shamrock under some boxwoods last April. The shamrock’s leaves showed signs of spider mites, but the plant was covered in delicate, white, trumpet-shaped flowers. She was delighted, spider mites and all. Now it was time to put the completed project in an interior corner of a back patio bed filled with boxwood. Nap time, then milk, vanilla wafers, and apple slices. Time to jump up, go outside and check for fairies. Oh my, no fairy sightings and one very disappointed little blue-eyed babe. Maybe fairies are afraid of people, just like the birds, butterflies, and squirrels we’ve spent so many hours trying to catch. The idea seemed to make sense to a young brain. We spent the rest of the afternoon decorating the patio with sidewalk chalk, interspersed with moments of dancing, spinning, swinging and singing. We are convinced the fairies will think all of this is just too beautiful. Surely some small sprite will find our garden fairy home to be practically perfect in every way. To make a fairy garden you will need a broken flower pot of any size with a
larger saucer, and a hot glue gun. Collect sticks, bark and other interesting yard trash. A small child adds a magical perspective. Susan O’Conner, an Intern in the 2016 Master Gardener Class, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymga. org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
Garden Help Hotline
Have a question about home gardening? Call the Alabama Master Gardeners Free Help Line 1-877-252-GROW (4769) Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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A GRACIOUS PLENTY
Cook Up a Mother’s Day to Remember
M
other’s Day is a time for wining, dining and celebrating moms everywhere. Make this Mother’s Day one to remember by hosting a special brunch get-together for the special moms in your life. Although quality time together is the true purpose of the day, you can add some special touches to help create a one-of-a-kind brunch to share old
memories while you make new ones. Plan your tablescape. Colorful, fragrant flowers and luxurious linens make your everyday table shine. Use plates in complementing shades and sparkling glassware for an elegant touch. If you have room, add personal touches to the centerpiece, such as mementoes from shared trips or small picture frames with pictures of the two
of you through the years. Prepare a sophisticated menu. Give a nod to the importance of the day with dishes that are a step above standard brunch fare. A richly flavored entree such as this Spring Vegetable and Chevre Tart looks elegant but is surprisingly easy to make. For a cohesive spread, remember to give the basics a boost, too, such as a homemade flavored whipped butter.
bb Spring Vegetable and Chevre Tart 1 package (2 sheets) puff pastry 1 cup chevre, divided 1 large beefsteak tomato, thinly sliced 8 ounces thin green beans 2 beets, thinly sliced 4 mini zucchinis, thinly sliced 1 egg white, beaten until slightly foamy Heat oven to 350 F. On well-greased baking sheet, arrange one puff pastry sheet.
Recipe courtesy of Courtney O’Dell of Sweet C’s Designs
Crumble chevre across pastry. Lay tomato slices then green beans, zucchini and beets over chevre, leaving a 1-inch border around all edges. Crumble second half of chevre on top.
Brush pastry with egg white and bake until pastry is deep golden brown, about 35 minutes. Serve immediately.
b
b
10
Lightly wet edges of pastry. Slice four 1-inch strips of second sheet of pastry and lay over edges of bottom sheet. (Optional: create basketweave pattern with remaining pastry dough).
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
Pinot Noir Rosemary Butter 1 cup salted homemade whipped butter (recipe below) 3/4 cup Pinot Noir 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary Fill shallow saucepan with wine and simmer until consistency becomes syrupy (reducing to about 1/8 cup). Let syrup cool completely. Add syrup and rosemary to whipped butter and mix. Serve chilled. Recipe: Erin Kennedy, “My Thirty Spot Blog”
Homemade Whipped Butter 1/2 quart heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon salt (up to 3/4 teaspoon, to taste) In food processor, mix butter until cream turns to consistency of cottage cheese and starts to separate from buttermilk, about 3-5 minutes of constant mixing. Strain butter from buttermilk. Use wooden spoon to knead butter in water (just like dough) to remove all remaining buttermilk. Drain and repeat until water is clear. Remaining whipped butter is ready to serve or for adding flavoring ingredients. Courtesy: Family Features. Source: Jackson Family Wines
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The perfect end to another great Mr. Gus’ lunch or dinner — homemade Chocolate Cake, Key Lime Cake, or Strawberry Cake.* (*Sorry. No photo of Strawberry Cake. It was already eaten!)
www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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FEATURE
The Temple on the Hill
The Nashville Parthenon is a near-exact replica of the one built in Greece in the fifth century BC.
Story by Andrea Gross | Photos by Irv Green
I
t’s an eye-popping, head-scratching sight. There, right in the middle of middle America, stands one of the most recognizable buildings in Europe: the Greek Parthenon, generally considered one of the wonders of the Ancient World. What in the name of Zeus is this historic monument doing in Nashville, Tennessee? The Tennessee building is a replica, but looks much more like the temple where Socrates and Plato debated the merits of democracy than does the one in Athens. The original Parthenon, built in the fifth century B.C., shows its age. Some of the columns have crumbled; most of the roof is gone, and the marble sculptures that decorated its exterior are now in the British Museum of London, the center of a longstanding dispute between England and Greece. What’s more, the giant statue of Athena, which was created by Pheidias, the most famous sculptor of his time, disappeared 1,500 years ago. In contrast, the building in Nashville is in perfect condition. My husband and I are awed by the 50 graceful Doric columns, which, like the original, are ingeniously tapered so that to the eye they appear straight while they actually tilt slightly inward, an architectural trick to make them appear regally tall. Inside we’re mesmerized by a 42-foot tall statue of Athena, reproduced by Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire. The goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, whom the Parthenon was built to honor, is attired in a flowing gown and gilded with eight pounds of 23.75 carat gold. In her right hand she holds an 12
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adult-size statue of Nike, the goddess of victory. In short, Nashville’s Parthenon resembles the original as it was, not as it is. This, of course, gets us back to our original question: Why Nashville? Why wasn’t such a monument built in a city like Tarpon Springs, Florida, where more than ten percent of the population traces its ancestry back to Greece? Nashville doesn’t even rank in the top seventy largest Greek-American communities. The answer dates back to the mid-1800s, when the city was known as a center of wisdom, art and learning. It was the first city in the South to have a public school system, and it had more colleges and universities than other cities of its size. Proud Nashvillians said that in their reverence for knowledge and love of philosophical debate, they and the ancient Greeks were kindred spirits. In addition to thinking like the Greeks, the city had a Greek flair due to its abundance of Greek Revival architecture. Citizens were inordinately proud of its buildings, many of which were graced with stately colonnades and porticos. Nashville became known as “The Athens of the South.” Thus, in 1897 when it was asked to erect a pavilion for the state’s Centennial Exposition, it seemed natural to build a lifesized model of the Parthenon. The building was only intended to last for the six-month duration of the Exposition, but the citizens balked at tearing it down. Instead, they replaced the temporary structure with a permanent one, which was
Above: The statue of Athena, goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, is 42 feet tall. Top Right: Fragments of pillars lie near the Tennessee State Capitol, giving visitors the feel as if they are wandering among Greek ruins. Bottom Right: The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, is an example of classical Greek architecture.
completed in 1931. Today the Nashville Parthenon serves as the city’s art museum and houses a permanent collection of paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists. Other galleries are used for temporary exhibits. In addition, it hosts a series of free educational programs that range from panel discussions to formal lectures. As for Nashville’s Greek atmosphere, its streets are still filled with fine examples of classical Greek architecture. Not far from the Parthenon, the Tennessee State Capitol, modeled after a Greek temple, sits atop Nashville’s own acropolis. In 1955 the capitol, which was then nearly 100 years old, needed a fix-up. We drive to the north side of the building where we find some of the original pillars that weren’t used in the restoration. They’re scattered on a small patch of grass, where they bear an eerie resemblance to the ruins of ancient Greece. Later we explore the area near West End Avenue and Belle
Meade Boulevard, where many homes have the trademark Greek columns and porticos. The most famous of the Greek Revival homes belonged to Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. His home, The Hermitage, was originally built in the Federal style, but after being destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt with the classical elements that were more in vogue at the time. A smaller home, Tulip Grove, on the outskirts of Jackson’s estate, provides an even better example of the Greek style. Finally, we go to the Athens Family Restaurant. It’s housed in an architecturally bland building but is renowned for its authentically spiced Greek food, including gyros and souvlaki. Of course, in what is altogether fitting for the culture that practically invented democracy, the chefs also serve thoroughly American hamburgers! For more information on Tennessee and other exciting destinations, visit www.traveltizers.com. www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016 13
IN EVERY LIFE
More Options for Senior Living
T
he term “Silver Tsunami” refers to the anticipated increase in older adults as the Baby Boom generation ages (the first Baby Boomers reached 65 in 2010). It is predicted that nearly half of all U. S. households will be headed Arlene Morris by someone over the age of 55: empty-nesters, new retirees, grandparents, active seniors. Planning for relocation, downsizing, and eventual needs for supportive care environments options were presented in last month’s issue. More possibilities include: Retirement and independent living communities: Older adults who are able to care for themselves may prefer standalone homes or apartment-style communities. Benefits include opportunities to share social activities and possibly access to contractual home health or supportive services if/when needs arise. Dementia Villages are designed to allow people with some cognitive decline to shop, cook, and live together in a safe environment. Benefits are independence and normalcy with security from supervision by a trained staff. Collaborative housing: This housing model can be intergenerational or for seniors only, with the key factor that residents actively participate in design and operation of the community. Consider for a moment what you would like if you and your friends were to design a community for your future years. Multigenerational housing: Nearly a fifth of the U.S. currently has an adult, along with a parent, or a grandparent under one roof. The layout can be a traditional single family home, an “inlaw” plan, a duplex or triplex, or other creative arrangement of space to meet the individual needs of all generations. Using universal design involves handles that do not require grasping, variable countertop heights, wide hallways and doors, ramps rather than steps to allow for assistive devices, or other modifications. 14
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Modular construction or “med-cottages” are a version of “tiny houses” that can be placed adjacent to a caregiving family’s residence, or can be clustered together for one of the options listed above. Electronic or robotic “smart” features can provide for security with video phone systems to enable communication and telehealth, medication dispensing, telemetry, or to meet other individual needs. Additionally, the structure can be moved as circumstances change. Nearly 40% of American adults are family caregivers, and expectations are that this will increase over the next years.
Benefits are seen from inter-generational living, including potential for cost containment. Forward-thinking individual, family, community and public health planning can improve current approaches. “Aging friendly communities” can be responsive to needs of individuals and families across the lifespan. Reference: Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative
Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing. Reach her at amorris@ aum.edu.
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MONEYWI $ E
Reverse Mortgages Part #1: Basics N
o doubt you have heard of reverse mortgages, perhaps courtesy of celebrity advertising on TV. The reason these instruments get so much attention is that many older Americans have significant home equity but insufficient other resources to meet their needs in retirement. Reverse mortgages are a way to access home equity while still living in the house. This month we’ll examine the basic provisions of FHA-insured reverse mort- Alan Wallace gages, formally known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs). An HECM is a non-recourse loan—the only collateral available to the lender is the house that has been mortgaged. Many older individuals and couples who own a home may use an HECM. An HECM may be used when: 1.The homeowner has no existing mortgage; 2.The homeowner has an existing mortgage that will be replaced by the HECM; 3.The borrower buys a house for his primary residence. HECM Requirements 1.The collateral property must be: a. A single-family home, including a manufactured home meeting FHA requirements; b. A HUD-approved condominium; c. A multi-family structure consisting of no more than four units, with one unit occupied by the owner. 2. The collateral must be the primary residence of the borrower(s) at the time of the application and they must be living there. In the case of an HECM for Purchase, borrowers must take occupancy within 60 days of closing. 3. The HECM must be the only mortgage on the home. 4. All borrowers must be 62 or older at the time of loan approval. If a married couple owns the property and only one is 62 or older, that spouse may apply for an HECM singly. 5. The borrower must pay the property taxes, keep adequate insurance on the property, maintain the home, and pay ancillary costs such as condominium or homeowner association fees. 6. Borrowers must complete HUD-approved counseling and undergo a financial assessment before HECM approval. How an HECM Works An HECM borrower will incur the usual closing costs associated with a new mortgage. Most of these can be paid as a draw against the HECM. Not all lenders have the same charges, so it pays to shop around. HECM borrowers must pay for FHA Mortgage Insurance to protect the lender from losses if the value of the home is less
than the mortgage balance when the mortgage is finally paid off. The initial mortgage insurance premium (MIP) is part of the closing costs and is calculated as a percentage of the Maximum Claim Amount (MCA). The MCA is the lesser of the home value at closing or the FHA maximum of $625,500. If the borrower takes more than 60% of the maximum available loan in the first year, the initial MIP will be 2.5% of the MCA. Otherwise the initial MIP is 0.5% of the MCA. The interest rate on the loan will also include a 1.25% annual MIP charge on the loan balance. The maximum available loan, which depends on the MCA, the age of the youngest borrower, and the loan interest rate, is usually about half of the MCA. The amount actually disbursed during year one, however, is generally limited to the greater of 60% of the maximum available loan, or the sum of the “mandatory obligations” (e.g., closing costs, initial MIP, funds to pay off existing mortgage or make required repairs, etc.) plus 10% of the maximum available loan. With fixed rate HECMs, the loan is limited to the amount advanced at closing. With variable rate HECMs the borrower can usually withdraw in future years the portion of the maximum available loan not accessed in year one (similar to a line of credit). The maximum available loan will increase annually by the rate charged on the outstanding balance, including the MIP. No loan payments are required during the borrowers’ lives, so the loan balance will typically grow each month by the interest rate plus the MIP plus any additional funds distributed to the borrower. Next month we will look at some problems that have affected people who have used reverse mortgages or inherited homes encumbered by one. Alan Wallace, CFA, ChFC, CLU, is a Senior Private Wealth 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. The information provided is intended to be general and educational in nature. Individuals should seek professional counsel before making a decision regarding the use of an HECM. These analyses have been produced using data provided by third parties and public sources. While the information is believed to be reliable, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. 4413138-03-16 www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
15
TINSELTOWN TALKS
Peter Mark Richman The Pharmacist-Turned-Actor
R
By Nick Thomas
ecognized for hundreds of television roles dating back to the 1950s, Peter Mark Richman broke into film alongside Gary Cooper in the 1956 civil war western, “Friendly Persuasion.” “But I'm not only an actor, I’m also a playwright,” noted Richman, who turned 89 in April, from his home in Los Angeles. “’A Medal for Murray’ just finished a two-year run in Israel and it toured Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.” Richman was doing a scene from his play in Los Angeles several years ago with Sean Penn’s mother, Eileen Ryan. Afterwards, he was approached by noted Israeli actress Efrat Lavie during her visit to the U.S. “She loved the play but was heading back to Israel and wanted to take a copy of the script back home with her,” said Richman. “The next thing I
Peter Mark Richman early and current publicity photos 16
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
knew, it was translated into Hebrew and became a smash hit over there.” But years before he entered the world of arts and entertainment, a family member almost pressed young Mark down a different career path. “My father died when I was 16 and my brother was kind of a surrogate father,” recalled Richman. “He was a pharmacist and I worked in his store as a teenager. He thought I should get a real education so I ended up reluctantly going to pharmacy school. I expected to flunk out after six weeks but stuck it out, graduated, and became a licensed pharmacist in two states.” However, the attraction of the stage proved more enticing than dispensing penicillin. “I managed a drugstore for a year, but always wanted to act,” said Richman, who studied at the New York’s Actors Studio before finding his way
Left: Peter Mark Richman (L) meets GaryCooper in “Friendly Persuasion” (1956) along with Anthony Perkins, Dorothy McGuire and Phyllis Love.
Below: Peter Mark Richman (center) in one of his many TV roles - with the cast of “Three’s Company.”
onto east coast stages in the early 1950s. “I was touring in a play called ‘The Rainmaker’ with Eva Marie Saint in New England when my agent called to say producer/director William Wyler wanted me to do a screen test for ‘Friendly Persuasion.’ I caught a private plane out west and got the role.” Richman says working with Gary Cooper, a living legend in 1956, was a joy. “He was just terrific, a hell of a guy, and very learned – far from the ‘yup’ character he is often depicted as in some films. When exchanging dialogue, he really digested what you said before replying – there was a thinking process going on rather than just reciting lines.” In addition to acting and writing
plays, novels and short stories, Richman is also a prolific artist (see www.petermarkrichman.com) and enjoys painting figurative expressionist portraits, holding numerous one-man shows over the years. “I’m a real painter, not a celebrity artist,” he stresses. “I began painting in oils when I was 12 and have a good background in the mechanics of faces and figures.” Richman has a major writing project in the works, too. “I also finished my autobiography and have high hopes for its publication – it's called ‘I Saw a Molten
declares war on
Germany
• Chattanooga bakery creates the
•
MoonPie®
Chris’ sells their first hotdog
& counting
U.S.
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, and has written features, columns, and interviews for more than 600 magazines and newspapers.
99 years
In the year 1917... •
White Light.’” But he continues to be visible as a frequent character on cable TV through reruns of dozens of classic TV shows such as “Matlock,” “Murder She Wrote,” and “Three’s Company.” “I appeared in over 500 TV episodes,” he said, “I played a lot of doctors, but never did play a pharmacist!”
138 Dexter Ave. • Montgomery • 334-265-6850 www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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FEATURE
A Full Life at 50 and The Best is Yet to Come! By Sally Stich
Q
Question: Why is being over 50 the best time of life? Answer: Because unlike previous life stages—college, career, parenting—middle age and after is about you. “Middle age is a time when the kids are probably on their own, your career may be winding down, and you can finally focus on you,” says Barbara Hannah Grufferman, author of The Best of Everything After Fifty .”It’s a time to take stock, make changes and pursue your passions.” Just how do you seize the day exactly? Try these six tips.
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May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
1. Be Selfish—In a Good Way After years of taking care of everyone else’s needs, it’s time to make you a priority. “You need to take charge of your physical, financial, and emotional health,” says Grufferman, “or you won’t be operating at peak performance.” What to do: If exercise isn’t part of your routine, commit to it—even if it’s only in 10-minute sessions. (You’ll have more energy and feel healthier.) If you haven’t done serious financial planning, it’s not too late. Make an appointment with a financial adviser. And, lastly, dedicate time each day or week to doing something that brings you pleasure. Say "No!" to anything—other than an emergency—that threatens to interrupt that time. (Seriously!) 2. Hang Out With Younger People “The world is changing rapidly,” says Grufferman, “and the best way to understand change is to be around young people who ‘get’ it.” And who also get joy out of explaining it to someone genuinely interested. (Bonus: it’s not a one-way street. Younger people can learn a lot from you, too!) What to do: Spend time with your grandkids! If they’re not close by, consider hiring a neighbor kid to help you with a big task, like cleaning out the garage or organizing photos. Call the admissions office at a local college to see if they offer “senior audit,” the chance to sit in on an undergraduate class for free or a nominal fee. Or sign up to mentor a high school student who needs some extra attention. (Contact VolunteerMatch.org.) 3. Reignite the Flame You’ve been married or with a partner for years. You love each other. But intimacy got lost somewhere between the kids and the grandkids and the demanding job. Now is the time to rekindle the passion between the sheets, especially since time and privacy are on your side. What to do: Barring any physical problems (which you should handle together), the solution, according to Esther Perel, a family and marriage therapist and author of Mating in Captivity, seems initially counter-intuitive. Though you have more time to spend together, carve out time away from each other to develop your “otherness.” Her research suggests that separation creates erotic desire.
www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
19
and start a travel fund. Or take a part-time job to earn extra money. The key here is to dedicate time and resources to enjoying life now—not later!
Falling is the leading cause of injury for people 65 and older. Try yoga or tai chi for balance and flexibility and weight bearing exercises for strength.
4. Guard Against Falls If you can only commit to one health change, vow to prevent falling, the leading cause of injury among people 65 and older. Even a non-injury fall can having devastating psychological implications, causing you to be fearful of activity and thus…. prone to falling again. What to do: Exercise (think yoga and tai chi for balance and flexibility, weight bearing exercises for strength), and make sure you’re getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D (to protect against osteoporosis). You also might want to check with your doctor if you feel like any medications you are taking are making you dizzy or light-headed. And get a vision exam to see if you need a new prescription. (Of course, low-heeled shoes with rubber soles are best—and watch where you walk!) 5. Seize the Day! You’ve saved for retirement and are putting off travel while you’re in your prime until you feel totally secure—maybe in 10 years or so. Smart move? Not really. You have to seize the day, but do so wisely. What to do: First, gather the facts. Do you have enough disposable income to travel without seriously impacting your future? (To calculate, go to a website like T. Rowe Price or MoneyChimp.com.) Factor in any current or possible health issues (based on family history.) Then ask yourself: "How important is this to me/ us?" If money is a little tight, look for places to cut back on daily spending May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
6. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify Who of us at this age needs a 30-minute makeup routine? Or a house full of clutter? Or a list of meaningless obligations or non-nurturing friends, This time of life is about letting go of non-essentials. And letting go allows us to move forward. That’s where we should be headed. What to do: Ask yourself this question: "What is my vision for my best future?" Write down your answers. (Example: to see family and friends at least three times a week, to be in good enough health to play tennis and golf, to tend to and enjoy a beautiful garden, to take my grandkids to 10 national parks, to look my best.) Everything you do should line up with the realization of the vision. Anything that doesn’t support it? Bu-bye! Courtesy: grandparents.com. Grandparents.com is a lifestyle site that celebrates the grandparent community by providing trusted information about family & relationships, health & well-being, travel & retirement, and more. Follow the site on Twitter (@grandparentscom) and on Facebook (facebook.com/ grandparentscom).
Slip out of these, into these,
and avoid this.
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Celebrating Mothers
A
mericans have officially celebrated Mother’s Day for more than a hundred years, beginning in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson formally set aside the second Sunday in May to honor and appreciate the unique role mothers play in our lives. This year the date for Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 8.
My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind. — Michael Jordan
Love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark … to have been loved so deeply will give us some protection forever. — J.K. Rowling, from Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone
God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. — Rudyard Kipling
My mother was the one constant in my life. When I think about my mom raising me alone when she was 20, and working and paying the bills, and, you know, trying to pursue your own dreams, I think is a feat that is unmatched. — Barack Obama
If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? — Milton Berle My parents elected me president of the family when I was 4. We actually had an election every year and I always won. I’m an only child, and I could count on my mother’s vote. — Condoleezza Rice I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. — Abraham Lincoln There’s a lot more to being a woman than being a mother, but there’s a hell a lot more to being a mother than most people suspect. — Roseanne Barr A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. — Irish Proverb To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow. — Maya Angelou
There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. — Chinese Proverb I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know. — Mitch Albom, from for one more day Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children. — William Makepeace Thackeray The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother’s side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent. — Erich Fromm Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy. — Tina Fey
www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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Agej Hearing Loss
FEATURE
W
e often find it funny when we misunderstand what someone asks, and we answer a completely different question. But it’s no joke if that often happens to you because of hearing loss. If you are finding it hard to hear, you might struggle with some tough emotions. Hearing loss can make people feel old or embarrassed. That’s why it’s important to deal with the problem as soon as you suspect it’s happening. If left untreated, hearing loss can slowly isolate you from friends and family and keep you from participating in activities you enjoy. “Hearing loss is often a gradual process, and people don’t realize it’s happening,” says audiologist Craig Newman, PhD, Vice Chair and Section Head of Allied Hearing, Speech, and Balance Services at Cleveland Clinic. “You may think other people are mumbling or not talking loud enough,” he says. “Or you might believe you hear correctly and respond to misinformation. For example, someone might ask if you have the time, and you might reach into your pocket and hand them a dime.”
If left untreated, hearing loss can slowly isolate you from friends and family and keep you from participating in activities you enjoy. 22
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
What You Can Do Although hearing loss is a normal part of aging, you can play an active role in making sure you function at your best. “There are certain lifestyle factors that can contribute to hearing loss,” geriatric specialist Ronan Factora, MD, says. “Drinking large quantities of alcohol, exposure to loud noises and smoking can all be contributors.”
Hearing loss and your social life Losing your hearing can make you hesitant to participate in conversations, says Dr. Newman. “You may begin to withdraw from social situations and stop doing things you once enjoyed.” Geriatric specialist Ronan Factora, MD, says that people with hearing loss are often afraid of doing something wrong. “They might stop going to church or stop participating in social activities or volunteer work,” he says. “Your quality of life can really go down.” Don’t wait to get help The earlier you get help the better. Here are three important tips: 1) See a doctor as soon as you notice a difference in your hearing. “The longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to get used to the way the sounds and speech are amplified through hearing aids and to sort through all the background noise and focus on what you want to hear,” Dr. Newman says. “There’s also a higher risk of developing dementia as you get older, which could get in the way of learning how to use a hear-
ing aid properly,” Dr. Factora says. 2) Get a baseline hearing test once you turn 55. It’s important to do this even if you aren’t noticing problems. After that, you should have your hearing checked annually and your doctor can compare subsequent tests to the baseline, Dr. Newman says. If you are exposed to excessive occupational or recreational noise, you should have a baseline hearing test, regardless of your age. 3) Talk to your doctor about sudden hearing loss at any age. A sudden hearing loss is considered an “ear emergency,” Dr. Newman says. There are certain instances in which you will need to see your doctor immediately, according to Dr. Factora. When hearing loss signals other problems “Age-related hearing loss is slow and gradual,” Dr. Factora says. “If you experience sudden hearing loss, you need to seek help right away.” Problems not related to aging can cause hearing loss. Be on guard for these symptoms: 1) A viral infection. Infections can sometimes cause a sudden hearing loss that your doctor will want to investigate.
Dr. Factora recommends that men consume no more than two alcoholic drinks per day and that women drink no more than one per day. Avoid loud noises as much as possible. And if you’re a smoker, ask your doctor for help with quitting. There are also certain medications that can lead to hearing loss. “Excessive use of aspirin or ibuprofen, and also some antibiotics, can also contribute to hearing loss,” says Dr. Factora. “Make sure you talk to your doctor about any medications you’re taking, whether they’re prescription or over-the-counter.”
Experts stress that you should get out and enjoy life. “Normal sensory decline should not affect function,” Dr. Factora says. “Your doctor can help you find ways to adjust so you can still live a full and robust life.” Courtesy: Health Hub, Cleveland Clinic www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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2) Hearing loss in one ear only. Age-related hearing loss usually affects both sides equally, Dr. Factora says. If it affects only one ear, let your doctor know. 3) Ringing in the ears or dizziness. If your hearing loss involves tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears) or vertigo (dizziness or lightheadedness), you should also see a doctor right away. “Those symptoms may indicate Ménière’s disease (a disorder of the inner ear that affects both hearing and balance),” says Dr. Factora. Better hearing aids If you do find that your hearing is declining, it’s good to know that hearing aids are improving. In fact, over the last several years, hearing aid technology has improved significantly. “Hearing aids have become much more adaptable to the environment,” says Dr. Newman. “When you go from a quiet situation to a louder listening environment, they adapt. They’re also better at extracting the speech signal from background noise, which is important for improved communication function.” The size and appearance of hearing aids is also much more discreet these days. “We now have ‘open-fit’ hearing aids, which are just a small tube and dome that fits inside the ear attached to a miniature case behind the ear,” he says. Stay in the conversation Your hearing plays a key role in staying involved with those around you — especially as you age — so take steps to protect it. “When you spend time doing social activities, you tend to age well,” says Dr. Factora. “If you’re cut off, you’ll become more isolated, which can lead to loneliness, depression and even physical decline.” Dr. Newman adds, “Communication keeps you in touch with your environment. It creates a strong support system, which will make you happier. There’s also a relationship between cognitive function and hearing loss. It’s important to keep an active mind and body.” Courtesy: Health Hub, Cleveland Clinic
Hear better. Live better. The month of May is National Better Hearing Month. all EARS Hearing Centers is a patient-centered, ENT physician-directed service offering diagnosis of, and treatment for, hearing problems.(See back cover.) 24
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
SOCIAL SECURITY
Mother’s Day: Sign Her Up!
A
re you struggling to find that perfect gift for Mom this Mother’s Day? Like most Americans, her schedule is busy and she might not get to spend as much time with loved ones as she would like. So, in addition to giving her flowers or a gift certificate, give her a gift she’ll really appreciate — the chance to spend more time with the ones she loves! Mom can never start planning for retirement too early. If she isn’t already retired, Kylle’ McKinney she can view her Social Security Statement, verify her earnings records, and find out what benefits she can expect to receive at age 62, her full retirement age, or at age 70. Next time you spend time with your mom, help her quickly and easily sign up for a free, online my Social Security account. You can do it from home, which means less time waiting in line and more time doing the things you want to do together. Signing up for a my Social Security account will give Mom (and Dad) the tools she needs to stay on top of her future Social Security benefits. When she signs up at www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount, she can do a number of things. First and foremost, she can plan for her retirement. In some states, she can even request a replacement Social Security card online using my Social Security. Currently avail-
able in the District of Columbia, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Washington, and Wisconsin, it’s an easy, convenient, and secure way to request a replacement card online. We plan to add more states, so we encourage you to check back regularly at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. The time saved by using our convenient and secure online services is priceless. Helping Mom sign up for a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount is a great, personalized gift that shows you really care! Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by e-mail at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.
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HISTORY MYSTERY: DO YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE?
Above: 1958. Administrators of the first examination given by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, standing at the Speaker’s desk in the House chamber of the Capitol in Montgomery, AL. (Horace Perry, photographer)
P
rime magazine and the Alabama Department of Archives and History continue our quest to add names to photographs of previously unknown area residents. Just this year, your help has enabled us to identify several people in these History Mystery photos. If you know anyone in this new set of photos contact Meredith McDonough, 334-353-5442 or meredith.mcdonough@ archives.alabama.gov, or e-mail Prime magazine at primemontgomery@gmail.com.
Right: July, 1966. Young woman holding a baby inside a beauty salon in Montgomery, AL. (Jim Peppler, photographer) 26
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
May 7, 1969. Employees at La Bella Beauty Salon, 2200 Madison Ave. Montgomery, AL. ((John E. Scott, photographer)
Harbor Pointe Lake Martin’s BEST Marina!
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PRIME DIVERSIONS Across 1 Fall follower? 5 Ophidian menace 8 Brightness stats 11 Arts supporters 14 Frat letter 15 Akhenaten's son 16 On the level 17 Battle of Khafji conflict 19 "Battle it out" quintet 20 Plasma particle 21 Loafer's lack 22 Some audiobooks 23 Pro shop supplies 26 Opposite of bids 27 Kool-Aid alternative 28 "__ Eterno": 2004 sports documentary 29 Boorish 30 Detergent with Oxi Booster 31 Bone: Pref. 32 "Seasons in the Sun" songwriter 33 Dot on an MTA map 34 "Love in the Time of __": Garcia Marquez work 36 ICU staffer 39 "Can't argue with that!" 41 Former car-financing org. 42 It may come after you
43 Court attire 45 Rooting sound 46 Hardly bright 47 "Agreed!" 48 Title girl in a 1965 #1 hit 50 Sushi topper 51 Mall draw 52 Sci-fi suffix 53 Signs of dissatisfaction 55 Appears ... and the contents of this puzzle's circles? 57 "Missed your chance!" 59 Brief facilities? 60 Zing 61 Early Alaskans 62 Memphis-to-Nashville dir. 63 Year abroad 64 Payroll deduction, perhaps Down 1 The Police, most of the time 2 Bit of deception 3 A, in Argentina 4 ISP option 5 Shoptalk 6 Treats as persona non grata 7 D.C. figure
8 Realization often preceded by "Whew!" 9 Charlatans 10 Hardly gloss over 11 Still-life subject 12 Swallowed one's pride 13 Rodgers and Hart title lyric that precedes "I get no dizzy spells" 18 Roadside warning 20 James Brown memoir 24 Inclusive pronoun 25 Quartet member 29 One way to lighten the mood 32 Word before or after name 35 Key of Dvorak's "New World Symphony": Abbr. 37 Before 38 They can't be beaten 40 Get Wired again 43 Fight in the sticks 44 Fred Astaire, by birth 48 President Francois Hollande's birthplace 49 Whale relative 54 Bulldog fans 56 Facial spot 57 Brother of Jack and Bobby 58 College Football Playoff champion crowned Jan. 12, 2015 Š 2016 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.
Sudoku and Crossword Puzzle Answers on page 33. 28
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
a e d c M i re Targ ets
MEDICARE
D
By Bob Moos
iabetes affects as many as one in four older adults with Medicare. It costs hundreds of billions of dollars to treat, and results in the loss of tens of thousands of lives, every year. If we could better control diabetes, we’d be taking a huge leap toward creating a healthier America. Diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t respond to the insulin it does make. Insulin is what your body uses to process sugar and turn it into energy. When too much sugar stays in your blood, it can lead to serious complications and even life-threatening problems, including heart disease, strokes and kidney damage. Medicare: committed to fighting the diabetes epidemic If you’re on Medicare and at risk for diabetes, you’re covered for two blood sugar screenings each year at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Risk factors include high blood pressure, a history of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels, obesity or a history of high blood sugar. If your doctor diagnoses you with the disease, Medicare will continue to cover the two annual screenings, as well as the services and supplies you will need to treat and control it. Medicare: helps pay for insulin, other anti-diabetic drugs Because living with diabetes can pose day-to-day challenges, Medicare covers a program to teach you how to manage the disease. With a written order from your doctor, you can sign up for training that includes tips for monitoring blood sugar, taking medication and eating healthy. If you’d like to learn more about how to control diabetes, visit Medicare’s website at www. medicare.gov or call Medicare’s 24/7 help line at 1-800-633-4227 and visit with a counselor. In addition to the 30 million Americans with diabetes, another 86 million live with a condition known as pre-diabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.
“Only one in 10 people with (pre-diabetes) even know they have it.” Pre-diabetes is treatable. But only one in 10 people with the condition will even know they have it. Left untreated, one in three will develop the full-blown disease within several years. Confronted with those statistics, Medicare is ramping up its efforts to prevent diabetes among the millions of Medicare beneficiaries who are at high risk of developing it. Medicare partnered with YMCAs nationwide to launch an initiative for patients with pre-diabetes. The pilot project showed that older people could lose weight through lifestyle counseling and regular meetings that stressed healthy eating habits and exercise. The nearly 7,000 participants shed an average of 5 percent of their body weight, which health authorities say is enough to substantially reduce the risk of full-blown diabetes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the trial program’s encouraging results set the stage for Medicare to expand coverage for diabetes prevention to more beneficiaries. Government officials also hope the pilot’s success will give employers and private insurers enough evidence to persuade them to begin paying for their own diabetes prevention programs. Diabetes can be a terribly debilitating disease. It can mean a lifetime of tests, injections and health challenges. Every five minutes in this country, 14 more adults are diagnosed with it. And in the same five minutes, two more people will die from diabetes-related causes. If we can prevent more diabetes cases before they even start, we can help people live longer and fuller lives, as well as save money across our health care system. Bob Moos is the Southwest public affairs officer for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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FEATURE
Your Online Family Tree O
By Jessa Barron
nline genealogy services are more than just a means to build a digital family tree that you can share with your relatives. These services can also help you find new family members, connect with existing ones and discover things you may have not previously known about your family history. Because these services also search through databases that contain millions and sometimes billions of records, it’s important to understand how the search process works. To help you get the most out of your genealogy project, we’ve detailed how you can locate historical records using your family tree or the record archive.
Searching with your family tree Generally, when you sign up with a genealogy service online, it will prompt you to start your family tree before anything else. Although this may seem like a time-wasting activity, creating a family tree will actually help you connect your family members to public records and other documents. You start by filling in information about yourself first, such as your first, middle and last name as well as your gender, birth date and place of birth. Then you’ll be asked to expand your family tree by adding family members and noting whether these relatives are living or deceased — the genealogy service will then start to search through its records database using this information. For example, if it finds anything matching your mother’s name and date of birth, it may pull up birth records or marriage certificates. Similarly, if you add a deceased relative to your family tree, such as your great grandfather, it will pull up these records as well as death records and U.S. Census Records. When the genealogy service finds a record that is a potential match for a relative in your family tree, you have the option to review it before deciding whether you want to save it to the specific individual’s profile in your tree. While it may take time to fill out your family tree with names, birth dates and other information, adding this data, even if it’s only an estimate, will help improve your family history research. Searching with the record archive If your family tree isn’t yielding any record results or you aren’t quite ready to create one, there’s another way to search for your 30
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
family’s historical records. While our top-rated service, Ancestry, allows you to search for a name in its record archive, FamilySearch is the only genealogy service we review that allows you to filter through its database by Records, Genealogies, Catalog and other options. Records — uses a relative’s location and life event you input (e.g. a marriage) to find specific records. Genealogies — will search for your family members that have similar names, dates and locations that potentially match with other members’ family trees. Catalog — searches multiple resources, including partner libraries, to bring you results from things that fall outside of the regular birth, death and marriage records (e.g. Blackfoot Idaho Family History Center, military related libraries and newspaper articles). In addition, both Ancestry and FamilySearch also let you order physical copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates if you’d like to have a hard copy for your own records. It should be noted that FamilySearch only allows you to order some of its records and you can print the digitized ones online. As with your family tree entries, when searching through the record database, it’s important to enter as much information as you can. Even if you don’t know the exact city your grandmother was born in or her exact birth date, for example, entering the state and an estimated year will give you a much greater chance of finding possible record matches. If you’ve been looking to get started with a family history project using a genealogy service, but are hesitant to sign up for one, many of these services offer a free trial to let you test it out before making a financial commitment — and some of these services are completely free to the public. Courtesy: NextAdvisor. Visit www. nextadvisor.com to read online genealogy service reviews and see which one works best for you.
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Prime is brought to you by... Prime readers are the final arbiters of the value of the magazine to their lifestyle. But it’s the continuing support of advertisers that makes Prime an economic reality: without them, there would be no Prime. If you enjoy our magazine, and are in need of any of the services our advertisers offer, we encourage you to visit them and in the process, let them know you’re a Prime reader and appreciate their support of the magazine you enjoy.
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May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
Prime FREE FOR YOU
Celebrating Life
April 2016
Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal 8 Cheap Ideas (page 18)
Plus:
White Lies & On-line Dating Don’t Mix (page 22)
The 50+ demographic is a dominant force in the economy, making up 45% of the U.S. population and controlling 70% of disposable income. Reach them in the pages of Prime, the River Region’s premiere & preferred lifestyle publication for this valuable demographic. To advertise contact: Bob Corley • 334-202-0115 • primemontgomery@gmail.com, or Wendy McFarland • 334-652-9080 • mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com
Prime FREE FOR YOU
Celebrating Life
May 2016
The Parthenon
Southern Style
(pg 12)
Being 50 — 6 Tips to make it The Best of Times (pg 18)
Jubilee Pops Montgomery Symphony Orchestra
Dave Martin
FREE Jubilee Pops Concert Friday, May 27 • 7pm Archives & History Lawn • Downtown montgomerysymphony.org www.primemontgomery.com | May 2016
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OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Cats, Brothers & Bears
M
y three-year-old daughter was perplexed. “Why Jack not come inside?” she said, not understanding my insistence that the cat meowing his lungs out on the other side of the door remain there. “He has to live outside now,” I responded flatly, knowing what was coming next. “Whyyy?” she questioned, predictably. “Because he bit your brother and we don’t bite each other,” I said. For the moment at least, that seemed to be enough and she went back to her dolls. I glanced over at my son, who was happily beating a toy truck with a wooden hammer, having momentarily forgotten the incident earlier that morning that left two fresh wounds on his little cherub face. At the back door the cat continued to meow incessantly. I turned toward the door and narrowed my gaze. “You’re lucky to be alive, Jack,” I muttered under my breath, which drew an exasperated look from my wife, who had been through quite a bit herself with the whole ordeal. After the bite had taken place and with my wife busy examining the wounds and consoling my son, I did what any father would do; I tore through the house like a madman after the cat, launching a dozen various objects his way – flip flops, a box of crayons, a plastic teacup, whatever I could grab in hot pursuit – hoping to score a hit and slow his movements. While quicker than me, I had cunning and a pretty good arm. Launching projectiles and hollering profanities, I herded him into a bedroom and slammed the door behind. Suddenly aware his options had shrunken to nothing, he paced, head down and shoulders back, emitting that low and unmistakable feline growl, that last utterance of contempt that Hemingway and Ruark wrote of when the big cat knows the end is nigh. He tried laying low under the bed, hoping I’d give up, but a well-aimed Matchbox car persuaded him to abandon the safety of his post. Out in the open room now, he was vulnerable. We circled, each waiting for the other to make a move. He’d hiss occasionally and I’d respond in kind, for victory would require both mental and physical prowess. Despite the tight quarters he was surprisingly nimble, darting left when I’d go right and vice versa. Finally, I wedged him into a corner, and when he made the mistake of turning his head to ascertain the possibility of escape, I pounced. He thrashed and hissed and kicked and swatted but it was too late, he was in the iron grip. Had my aim and timing been anything but exact, he’d have made ribbons of my digits. Both hands firmly now around the cat with no way to relinquish my 34
May 2016 | www.primemontgomery.com
hold without affording him an opportunity to turn the tables, I managed to open the bedroom door with my foot and sprinted for the front door carrying a black ball of hiss and vinegar. “Open it, open it!” I shouted, and upon seeing daylight launched the feline – who was still cursing my name in his native tongue – through the air and front door out into the grass some 20 feet away where he landed unscathed, on his feet of course. My daughter looked on in amazement, unsure whether she’d witnessed a crime or an act of heroism. “Lock it,” I muttered, relieved and out of breath. While neither my wife nor I had actually seen the bite take place, we figured my 18-monthold son was harassing Jack and the cat finally had enough. While absolutely unacceptable, the reasons why were unfortunately beyond the comprehension of either party. It was just simpler to move Jack outside. In reality, cats will be cats, and boys will be boys. Young boys and old cats do not mix, the latter having limited patience for the prodding, poking and pulling of little hands. A few days after the incident, my son – who has since healed fine – picked up a stuffed animal with which my daughter had been playing but had discarded. When she realized he’d taken an interest in her temporarily cast-aside item, she would not have it. She ran to me with a request I intervene and return her property. “He take my bear,” she said, bottom lip out, “and I was playing with it.” “Baby, can’t you share your bear with brother?” I asked. “I don’t want to share,” she responded, arms now crossed. “I don’t want him to play with any of my toys.” After a few minutes I looked back up from my work. My son was still playing with the bear, and my daughter was full-on pouting, arms still crossed, lip out and glaring at her brother from the other side of the room. She looked over at me, back at her brother and then the front door. Her expression changed instantly and she ran over to me. “Daddy, daddy, daddy!” she squealed excitedly. “Yes?” I asked. “Brother bite me so he need to move outside,” she said bouncing up and down, then pausing, “but bear stay with me.” Niko Corley is a USCG-licensed charter boat captain and spends his free time on the water or in the woods. To contact him e-mail niko. corley@gmail.com. Niko Corley
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