Prime FREE FOR YOU
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
September 2014
8 Things Your
Doctor Wants to Tell You
(#4: Don’t use the Internet to diagnose yourself)
The Capri
Last of the Independents
2
September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
September 2014
Table of Contents Editor’s Notes 4 Quick Reads 6 Yard ‘n Garden 8
Color in your fall garden
A Gracious Plenty 10
Cheesy Gulf shrimp nachos
Light Man 11
Stan Mullins brings light
What Your Doc Wants To Tell You 12 8 Things
Money Wi$e 15
Do your heirs a favor
In Every Life 16
Improve your health literacy
Too Busy to Exercise? 17 These tips can help
Tinseltown Talks 18
Nehemiah Persoff: screen to canvas
Capri Community Film Society 20 Our big fat local theater
The Capri Theater in Old Cloverdale is a city treasure, an independent venue in a world of multiplex clones.
Gold History 25
From Georgia to California
Medicare 29
Your options as a retiree
Prime FREE FOR YOU
Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
September 2014
8 Things Your
Doctor Wants to Tell You
(#4: Don’t use the Internet to diagnose yourself)
The Capri
Our Only Independent Theater
Become an ace in the exam room, and get more from your visits, by reviewing these doctorapproved tips. (Page 12)
Social Security 30
Q&A: Retirement info and more
Puzzles 31 Moving Free 32
The importance of walking
Prime Diversions 35
September DVD releases
Medicare Q&A 36 Workshops 37 Off the Beaten Path 38
When good enough, is enough
www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
3
Prime
MONTGOMERY
September 2014 Vol. 5, Issue 6
PUBLISHER Bob Corley, primemontgomery@gmail.com EDITOR Sandra Polizos, primeeditor@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR Callie Corley, primemagdesign@gmail.com WRITERS Andrea Atkins, Tom Ensey, Andrea Gross, Jake Roberts CONTRIBUTORS Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland, Kylle’ McKinney, Bob Moos, Arlene Morris, Nick Thomas, Alan Wallace, Barbara Witt PHOTOGRAPHERS Irv Green, Bob Corley SALES Bob Corley • 334-202-0114, primemontgomery@gmail.com Wendy McFarland, • 334-652-9080 mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com Prime Montgomery 7956 Vaughn Road, #144 Montgomery, AL 36116 • 334-202-0114 www.primemontgomery.com ISSN 2152-9035
Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2014 by The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC., all rights reserved, with replication of any portion prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed are those of contributing writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Polizos/ Corley Group, LLC. Prime Montgomery is published monthly except for the combined issue of December/January. Information in articles, departments, columns, and other content areas, as well as advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Prime Montgomery magazine. Items relating to health, finances, and legal issues are not offered as substitutes for the advice and consultation of health, financial, and legal professionals. Consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with financial, medical, emotional, or legal matters. We accept no liability for errors or omissions, and are not responsible for advertiser claims.
EDITOR’S NOTE I blame it on The Capri. After all, who cooks 13 meals in five hours during one afternoon? Moreover, why? The second answer’s the easier one. As I write this in late August, we’re anticipating the birth of Grandchild #2. We don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl (yay for fun surprises!) and or even when the little tyke plans to show up. What we do know is Papou and Yiayia want plenty of time to properly introduce ourselves to Little C, to assist in caring for Big Sis, and, most of all, to support the new mom and dad as they make the sometimes rocky transition from a family of three to four. Hectic, but exciting days. Which brings me back to Question #1. Do grandmothers have a “nesting” instinct, like many new mothers? Is that the cause of my recent kitchen frenzy? My daughter-in-law first suggested the connection. One entire afternoon was spent creating savory chicken pies, homemade spaghetti sauces, tender pot roasts with richly stewed root vegetables, as well as a long simmering camp stew, all attesting to a fast and furious, albeit productive, behavior that’s not my usual style. Before the birth of our first child, I labored in the kitchen like there was no tomorrow, as if our son would come out of the womb asking for a steak dinner – though at 10 pounds, six ounces he almost did. Thirty years later and now an expectant grandmother for the second time, am I exhibiting similar behavior? Enter The Capri. Days before my manic culinary throw-down, Bob and I had gone there to see Chef, an independent comedy about a restaurant chef who loses his professional job but regains his inspiration and family after starting a food truck business. With options like Sin City, The Expendables, and Guardians of the Galaxy playing at the commercial theaters, it was a relatively predictable choice. Montgomery is lucky to have a movie house like The Capri, where unexpected film treasures routinely surprise and entertain its patrons. Cooking is an art form, and the movie inventively depicted the connection between creativity and culinary skill. After we left The Capri Bob and I enthusiastically talked about food, cooking and technique. Looking back I realize the movie fed my soul, inspiring me to feed others through several happily spent hours over the kitchen stove on one recent Saturday. Individually packaged, the resulting (now frozen) meals will support our own young nesters as they work to welcome baby #2 home. Be sure to read writer Tom Ensey’s engaging feature about the The Capri Community Film Society (page 20) for a detailed history of Montgomery’s art house treasure, The Capri, and the story of how it’s survived progress, porn and picketers. If you grew up here, it will rekindle memories of the theater’s past. If you’re a transplant, you’ll learn how a resolute group of local citizens had the foresight and determination to create a cinematic gem for our city. Hope your Labor Day is restful, and full of delicious barbecue. Have a great September!
Sandra Polizos Editor 4
September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
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QUICK READS Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate The health benefits of eating dark chocolate have been extolled for centuries, but the exact reason has remained a mystery – until now. Researchers reported at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) that certain bacteria in the stomach gobble the chocolate and ferment it into anti-inflammatory compounds that are good for the heart.
Movin’ to the Groovin’ Dancing eases hip or knee pain and helps older adults move better, according to a small Saint Louis University study published in Geriatric Nursing. According to researchers, participants who regularly went dancing over several months reported less pain and were able to walk faster after dancing. All of the participants said they had pain or stiffness in their knees or hips, in most cases caused by arthritis. The findings are significant because older adults who walk too slowly are more likely to fall, become hospitalized or require care from others. In fact gait speed is the sixth vital sign that can help physicians predict adverse outcomes for older adults. In addition study participants who danced reported that they reduced their consumption of pain medicine by 39 percent and those who didn’t dance said they took 21 percent more pain medicine. Researchers noted that dance-based therapy for older adults needs to be gentle, slow and include options so it can be performed standing or sitting. 6 September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
Being a Bookworm May Boost Brainpower New research suggests that reading books, writing and participating in brain-stimulating activities at any age may preserve memory, according to a study published in an online issue of Neurology®. The study suggests that exercising
your brain by taking part in activities such as these across a person’s lifetime, from childhood through old age, is important for brain health in old age. The study found that the rate of decline was reduced by 32 percent
Regular Aspirin May Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk Women who take aspirin daily may reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by 20 percent, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. It is estimated that over 20,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, and more than 14,000 will die from the disease. Early stage ovarian cancer may be successfully treated. However, symptoms can mimic more common conditions, such as digestive and bladder disorders, so it is often not diagnosed until it has reached advanced stages. Late stage ovarian cancer leaves women with limited treatment options and poor prognoses, making preventive strategies potentially important. Chronic or persistent inflammation has been shown to increase the risk of cancer. Previous studies have suggested that the anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may reduce cancer risk overall. This study adds to a growing list of malignancies that appear to be potentially preventable by aspirin usage. Daily aspirin regimen should only be undertaken with a doctor’s approval.
in people with frequent mental activity in late life, compared to people with average mental activity, while the rate of decline of those with infrequent activity was 48 percent faster than those with average activity.
Higher Protein Diet May Lower Stroke Risk People with diets higher in protein, especially from fish, may be less likely to have a stroke than those with diets lower in protein, according to a meta-analysis published in an online issue of Neurology®. The amount of protein that led to the reduced risk was moderate - equal to 20 grams per day. The analysis included seven studies with a total of 254,489 participants who were followed for an average of 14 years. The results accounted for other factors that could affect the risk of stroke, such as smoking and high cholesterol. For every additional 20 grams per day of protein that people ate, their risk of stroke decreased by 26 percent. Researchers noted that the analysis does not support increased consumption of red meat, which has been associated with increased stroke risk. The reduced risk of stroke was stronger for animal protein than vegetable protein. Protein has the effect of lowering blood pressure, which may play a role in reducing stroke risk. www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
7
YARD ‘N GARDEN
Fall Garden Color By Dr. Barbara Witt
W
hen September arrives, and the heat and humidity of summer begin to recede, southern gardeners think about enjoying being outside in their gardens. There are many possibilities for fall plants, some well known and others not so common. There are fall blooming bulbs, shrubs with leaves that turn beautiful colors in autumn, and plants that flower late in summer and into the fall. These plants can make your garden interesting and colorful well into November. Bulbs are usually associated with springtime displays of daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. However, there are several bulbs that can be planted in the fall, will bloom about three weeks later, and then return each fall to put on their display. Perhaps the best known of these fall flowering bulbs is the Colchicum, commonly call Autumn Crocus or Naked Lady. The Colchicums are not related to crocus at all, but are more closely related to lilies; however the flower does look a lot like the crocus flower. Colchicums produce large, goblet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, lavender, and white. True Autumn Crocus is another bulb that blooms from September through December in shades of lilac, purpleblue and white. Both of these bulbs require sun and somewhat fertile soil that has good drainage; they will rot in heavy soil. Another shared characteristic of these two bulbs is their leaves appear in the spring to nourish the bulbs and then die back to the earth. When the flowers appear in the 8 September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
autumn they seem to magically spring from the soil. Locating these bulbs in a retail store can be difficult, but they are readily available from mail-order nurseries. One wellknown shrub with wonderful fall color is our native Oak Leaf Hydrangea. Not only does it provide lovely fresh and dried flowers in the summer, it also distinguishes itself in the autumn by turning its leaves red and reddish purple. It does take up some space in the shrubbery border, but requires little care beyond a bit of pruning. Don’t forget the Paniculata Hydran-
geas such as the dependable and pretty “Limelight” known for its greenish tinged summer flowers that turn slightly pink in the fall. Other shrubs to consider for fall color include Barberry
“With just a little bit of planning, you will have a colorful garden through November into December.”
(deer resistant), Beautyberry for its purple berries, Bottlebrush Buckeye for its vibrant gold foliage, and Red Twig Dogwood for its beautiful red stems. When it comes to late blooming perennials, there are many excellent choices beyond the popular chrysanthemum. Blue Mist shrub (Caryopteris), although named a shrub because of its large size, is really an herbaceous perennial that dies to the ground after a frost. There are several varieties with flower colors ranging from yellow to blue to blue/violet to dark purple. Another large, back of
Your Ey es ar e
hi story
EYE
F A C T S
• Heredity can play a role in many common eye problems, including: strabismus (cross-eyes) / amblyopia (lazy eye) / myopia (nearsightedness) hyperopia (farsightedness) / astigmatism • Investigate your Eye History by asking questions of your relatives, including grandparents, aunts and uncles. • Knowing your Eye History will alert ITEC doctors to potential problems. Roy T. Hager, M.D., F.A.C.S. | James D. Izer, M.D. Charles N. Robbins, M.D. | Richard M. Murphy, O.D. 4255 Carmichael Court N. 8007 U. S. Highway 231 Montgomery • 334-277-9111 Wetumpka • 334-567-9111 For a free copy of ITEC’s Viewpoint newsletter call 334-277-9111. Visit ITEC’s website at www.eyes-itec.com
the border plant is Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium), known for its mauve flowers. Unchecked it can reach heights of five or six feet, but pinching it back early in the growing season will result in a smaller, thicker plant. There are many autumn sedums such as Autumn Joy or Matrona. Sedums are great plants because they are easy to grow, compact, heat and drought tolerant, and available in a variety of leaf colors including green, variegated, and mahogany with flowers in shades of pink and red. If you have a large garden area, consider growing Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia), a tropical that over-winters well in Alabama with a little protection. It has many spectacular footlong trumpet-shaped flowers beginning in late September in yellow, pink, white or purple. Each year it dies with the first frost only to return taller and with more stems every year. A 10 year old yellow one in my garden is now nine feet tall and covers itself with flowers each fall. With just a little bit of planning you will have a colorful garden through November into December. Dr. Barbara Witt is a Master Gardener with the Capital City Master Gardener Association. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the website, www.capcitymga.org or e-mail capcitymga@gmail.com. EDITOR’S NOTE: Many common garden plants are poisonous to people and pets, including Colchicums and Angel Trumpets mentioned here. Protect yourself and those you love by being aware of the plants that present a hazard to children and pets.
www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
9
A GRACIOUS PLENTY
Quick & Cheesy Gulf Shrimp Nachos T he easiest way to get the family together for a meal is with a delicious, homemade dish with tasty ingredients, such as protein-packed shrimp. There are many scrumptious reasons for including shrimp into your family's diet. In fact, the American Heart Association and other experts recommend eating seafood at least twice a week, and the FDA just announced this year that pregnant women should consume between 8-12 ounces of seafood a week. It's easy to work towards this dietary goal by introducing Gulf shrimp into your diet. This versatile protein is easy to prepare; has a wonderfully salty and fresh flavor from the nutrient-rich environment in which it is caught; and is also widely available fresh and frozen at your local grocery. Better-for-you benefits Flavorful Gulf shrimp contains high-quality protein and a variety of essential nutrients, such as vitamins B-6 and B-12. Plus, it's a natural source of vitamin D, low in saturated fat and offers healthy omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease.
GULF SHRIMP NACHOS Makes 2-4 servings 1/4 pound tortilla chips , rinsed and 1 cup low-sodium black beans, cooked drained 1 1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheese f shrimp (or 1/2 pounds small fresh or frozen Gul es), boiled large shrimp cut into bite-sized piec and peeled 1 large tomato, finely diced 1/4 cup scallions, diced al) Low-fat or fat-free sour cream (option Salsa (optional) Fresh guacamole (optional)
oof platter, Preheat oven to broil. In large, oven-pr nkle black place tortilla chips in single layer. Spri s, then beans and half of cheese on top of chip d tomato dice Add top. on evenly distribute shrimp ese. che ng aini rem as next layer, then cover with or utes min 2 Cook under broiler for roughly until cheese is melted. tly. Garnish Remove from oven and let cool sligh with sour nachos with sliced scallions, and top cream, salsa and guacamole.
Recipe provided to the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition, by Chef Justin Timineri of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 10 September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
FEATURE
Stan Mullins: Man of Light R By Jake Roberts, photos by Bob Corley
etired Methodist minister Stan Mullins spent decades spreading light from the pulpit. After he retired from the clergy, he continued spreading light, literally, refurbishing and repairing old lamps and chandeliers. For several years he owned Mullins Lamp Shop, downtown in an antique store. “When I was a boy,” said Mullins, “I would take old bottles and a nail punch and beat a little hole in the bottom of the bottle and make a lamp out of it.” What began as a boyhood hobby has remained with him, and lamps collected and repaired over the years decorate his apartment at Montgomery’s Wesley Gardens, including a ceiling chandelier, once gas-powered and covered in chrome. “I took the valves off, took it apart, and drilled it out so I could run my wires through it,” he said. “Once I got the chrome off and the brass polished and lacquered, it turned out to be a pretty piece.” His favorite is a ‘piano lamp,’ so named for its place in the household. Popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, Mullins acquired the
lamp shade while working with his father wiring rural homes in Washington County for electricity. His father bought the lampshade from a customer for 25 cents. “Later I found the lamp base - I think I paid $12 for it - and I put it together.” Formerly kerosene-powered, the piano lamp’s height-adjustable stand is a novelty even today. Mullins’ biggest job was repairing the massive chandelier that hung in the lobby of the Governor’s House Hotel in Montgomery. He also refurbished the chandelier at the First White House of the Confederacy. “I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands,” he said. “It’s creative, it’s relaxing, it’s challenging.” He thinks more people, young and old, would benefit from working with their hands. “The process is enriching,” he said, “and gives you a feeling of accomplishment.”
Jake Roberts is a long-time Montgomery resident with a fondness for history and an ear for a good story. Contact him with story ideas at jakebroberts1@gmail.com. Above: Stan Mullins.The piano lamp is in the background, with a small chandelier he repaired and wired for electricity hanging from the ceiling of his apartment.
Left: Piano lamp, originally kerosene powered. Above: Piano lamp details. Right: Small Civil War-era oil lamp, one of many in Mullins’ extensive collection. www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
11
FEATURE
8 Things Your
Doctor Wants to Tell You
12
September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
By Andrea Atkins, Grandparents.com 1. Don't Be Embarrassed — We've Seen It Before Whatever your symptoms, no matter how crazy, unusual, or embarrassing, your doctor has seen it before, and probably once or twice this week. “I want my patients to know that they can bring up any topic with me,” says Barry Egener, M.D., a Portland, Oregon, internist and medical director of the Foundation for Medical Excellence. “We see and hear everything,” he says, “and it’s helpful for us to know what’s worrying you. If you’re feeling not sure whether or not you should say something, you probably should say it. If you’re feeling on the fence, bring it up. We accept that people come in with every potential history and past behavior.” 2. Give Your Symptoms Context Tell the doctor the story of your symptoms, not just a list of them, urges Leana Wen, M.D., emergency room physician at George Washington University and co-author with Joshua Kosowsky, M.D. of When Doctors Don’t Listen: How To Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests. Instead of saying, "I have a headache," start from the beginning. “A good story has a beginning, middle, and an end, and usually an element of surprise," says Dr. Wen. "So if you say, ‘I’m someone who’s had migraines for 10 years, but for the last three days, I haven’t been able to get out of bed. I’m really worried that I have bleeding in my brain,’ you’re giving your doctor a lot of information in a context. It will help him or her diagnose you.” Tip: Rehearse your story before you get to the doctor’s office so you can include all the information in the most concise form possible. 3. We Know That Weight Is a Touchy Subject If you are overweight, losing a relatively small amount of weight can make a big difference in your health. It can lower blood pressure, reduce pain and stress on joints, and reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, even, some studies suggest, cancer. But doctors know losing weight isn't easy, that food can bring pleasure, draw families together, and be a highlight of any trip, celebration, or even any given day. “We also know that there are health consequences to being overweight,” Dr. Egener says. “We know that you cannot abstain from food the way you can abstain from drugs or alcohol.
You need it to survive.” So when the doctor asks you to lose weight, they’re not ignorant of the difficulty, but aware of the health benefits you'll gain if you can drop even a few pounds. 4. Don't Use the Internet to Diagnose Yourself If you search your symptoms on the Internet, you can come to some wild—and wrong—conclusions, says Dr. Wen. Have nausea and fatigue? Frequent headaches? That could be anything! However, the World Wide Web can be very helpful if you’ve already got a condition and you are having new or odd symptoms, Dr. Wen says. But users beware. “All web information is not created equal. You have to understand what’s a testimonial versus a research site,” Egener says. In general, stick with government sites such as cdc.govor medscape.com, where you can find the latest research and legitimate medical studies. 5. Not Everyone Should Take An Aspirin A Day There is much research to support an aspirin-a-day therapy to prevent heart attacks and strokes, but the prescription is not for everyone, Dr. Egener says. “It’s a decision that must be made on an individual basis,” he says. “For some people, the risk of GI bleeding can outweigh the benefits.” Some studies have shown that even very low doses of aspirin can cause bleeding in the intestinal tract. That's understandable since the way that aspirin prevents heart attacks is by thinning the blood and affecting its platelets (the materials that make it clot.) If the blood is thinner, it may be more likely to cause bleeding in the gut. DO NOT start an aspirin a day regimen without consulting your doctor. 6. We Like It When You Bring a Friend to an Appointment “It’s one of the most critical things that patients can do to help themselves,” says Dr. Wen. “I know that [adults] want to seem self-sufficient and feel that perhaps it’s embarrassing to need to bring someone along, but it can really help you understand what the doctor is telling you.” If you're at the doctor because you don’t feel well, it’s hard to advocate for yourself. A friend or relative can be a real ally in the office. Be sure to remind your companion that you do want www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014 13
morning or the first one after lunch. Also important: You should have a clear list of things you want to discuss, and be aware that you may not get to all of them. Lastly, the office staff will ask about insurance. If you don’t have any, say so, and then ask if there is a sliding fee scale. You may be able to negotiate a fee, Egener says.
to speak on your own behalf as much as possible (because, says Dr. Egener, it’s important for the doctor to connect with you as a patient and to assess by your questions and answers what your condition is.) 7. Use the Front Office to Your Advantage “We have appointments of different lengths for different purposes,” Dr. Egener says. “It takes longer to do a physical, but we have a shorter appointment if you come in for a rash.” Make sure to communicate effectively when calling for your appointment — say, “I have three things I want to talk to the doctor about.” If you hate waiting, ask for the first appointment of the
8. We Don't Always Know What Your Medication Costs If your insurance won't cover a particular medication— or it's expensive even with what insurance pays—let your physician know. "If you cannot afford a medication, usually there is another alternative," Dr. Wen says. Doctors are willing to discuss medicines they've prescribed to their patients. "I don't expect that patients are going to agree with me on everything," Egener says. "I'm the expert in medicine, but you're the expert on your body.” Doctors may prescribe a medicine you would rather not take. Discuss your decision carefully with your physician to determine the risks and benefits of not filling a prescription. Grandparents.com is a lifestyle site celebrating the grandparent community with trusted information about family, relationships, health, well-being, travel, retirement and more. Twitter: @grandparentscom; facebook.com/grandparentscom. Used by permission.
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Montgomery’s Finest Italian & Greek Cuisine
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
MONEYWI$E
Planning for the Inevitable W
hile finances are an important aspect of our lives, we are more than an accumulation of financial accounts and material resources. In preparing for our inevitable day of departure from this life, we can make it easier for our loved ones to manage the events following Alan Wallace our departure by providing them with certain non-financial information. This month we will talk about three categories of information to guide your family and friends when you are gone. 1. Funeral Services/Burial Arrangements Among the matters to be decided are: what funeral home to use, what clothing and jewelry you will wear; whether the casket will be open or closed; whether you wish to be buried or cremated; if you will be buried, what cemetery, plot or mausoleum, and what kind of marker do you wish to have. Since these decisions may have financial consequences, pre-arranging these services while your health is good and paying for them in advance makes good sense. You also need to make known to your family if you wish to be an organ donor, since prompt action is required to make this decision effective. With regard to your funeral or memorial service, your loved ones will benefit from your input on the following: where you want the service (church, funeral home chapel, graveside, combination); what minister and other speakers you wish to conduct your service; military participation; participation by a fraternal organization; do you want flowers or donations to a charity in lieu of flowers (if charity,
Part 3
what charity?); what music and musicians would you like to include; particular passages of Scripture, poetry or other readings you want in the ceremony; whom you want to serve as pallbearers. 2. Obituary There is no law against writing your own ahead of time. Helpful information includes: the names of your parents; your place and date of birth; the date of your marriage and name of your spouse (especially helpful if your spouse predeceased you or may be incapacitated); information about your education, military service, career, community service, church, club or other memberships; what photo to include, if you want one; the names of close family members who preceded you in death and those who survive you. Finally, indicate the newspapers in which you want your obituary to appear. 3. Personal Property Many wills contain language indicating that personal property will be divided in an equitable manner among a group of heirs. Often the will states that a separate written instrument may exist, assigning particular items to particular people. When such a list does not exist, disputes among the heirs about Aunt Susie’s sewing box or Granny Smith’s apple pie pan are more likely to arise. Please do your heirs a favor by spelling out your wishes ahead of time. If you do not, you risk creating a lasting legacy of strife among your heirs, unless they are unusually self-controlled and mild mannered. And speaking of writing things down, that is a very good practice with regard to the first and second categories of information above. Memory is fallible, even among people with the best of intentions. Unless your information and wishes are written down, someone will misremember something you said. To avoid a disagreement between John and Mary about whether you wanted Thomas Taylor or Taylor Thomas to sing at your memorial service, take a few minutes and write it down. They will remember you more fondly for making the effort to ease their burdens. 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.
“Please do your heirs a favor by spelling out your wishes ahead of time.” www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
15
IN EVERY LIFE
Increasing Health Literacy
T
he U. S. healthcare delivery system is rapidly changing, with increased specialization resulting in treatment Arlene Morris by multiple healthcare providers. Now more than ever it’s important to be actively involved in your own health promotion and management. With students back in school for a new year of learning, it’s a great time to improve your own “health literacy.” The U. S. Institute of Medicine defines “health literacy” as the degree to which a person can obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions, and to effectively use healthcare delivery system services to prevent or treat illness. The challenges we face include the ability to: n locate appropriate healthcare providers and services to meet your current needs; n provide accurate information when filling out complex health forms or communicating pertinent information about your health with providers; n understand links between diet and lifestyle behaviors, inherited risks and your current or future health; n comprehend directions, intended benefits and possible risks of prescription or over-thecounter medication, or when consenting for procedures; n understand test results and keep track of healthcare services to prevent future problems; n best manage chronic health
conditions; evaluate credibility and quality of health information, and if it’s applicable to your individual health situation; n understand which healthcare services will be covered by insurance at what intervals, and make informed decisions about procedures not covered by insurance. Accurate communication is critical between you and your various healthcare providers. Here are suggestions to improve that communication: n Write a personal health record of your family health history, your past health issues, and all healthcare providers. This information helps you remember pertinent information when completing forms and provides a baseline for you and your healthcare providers to identify health problems. n Keep this record updated by adding how you have felt since your last visit and any questions you have. Also record visits to all healthcare providers, any tests, the result, and any change in your treatment. Taking these written updates to each visit helps different healthcare providers know about changes in your condition that can affect other conditions or treatments. n Ask questions! Ask each healthn
care provider to explain and let you repeat back to verify your understanding about: r What are my current health concerns? r What do you suggest I do and how do you believe this help me? r What are the exact steps involved in the treatment you suggest, or the time and amount of medication you are prescribing? r How and when should I know if this is helping me or that I need to contact you? n Ask each healthcare provider to explain any words or terms you do not understand. n Take any information you have obtained from friends, the internet, or advertisements that you are considering adding to your healthcare. Ask your healthcare provider if the information applies to your personal health situation, if it is credible, and how it would likely affect you in light of other efforts to manage your health. Interactions can be dangerous! Improving your “health literacy” will help you better manage not only your own health care, but that of your family as well. Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing. Reach her at amorris@aum.edu.
Resources http://health.gov/communication/literacy/, http://nnlm.gov/outreach/consumer/hlthlit.html
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
FEATURE
11 Exercise Tips for Busy People
Y
ou know how critical regular physical activity is. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) recommends healthy older adults engage in at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity exercise a week to reap substantial health benefits. That translates to 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Even if you already engage in a regular exercise program that meets the HHS activity recommendations, you also need to break up periods of prolonged sitting. Sitting less and moving more — even just standing — can lower the risk of chronic disease like heart disease, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer, say Kansas State University researchers. Some experts suggest at least one reason why prolonged sitting independently contributes to cardiovascular disease despite regular exercise: the lack of muscular contraction that occurs when we're sitting. This can lead to a slowed metabolism and low energy expenditure. Little muscular contraction can also suppress a molecule called lipoprotein lipase, causing a rise in triglycerides and blood glucose and lowering production of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol). If you sit for hours at a time, here are ways to sneak extra movement into your day: n stand up and move about during TV commercials; march in place or tidy up the room; n iron or fold laundry while watching TV; n keep a pair of light weights next to your chair and lift them as you watch TV; n stand up or stroll while talking on the phone; n stand as you read your daily newspaper; n forgo the dishwasher and stand at the sink to wash and dry dishes by hand; n attack housework vigorously; stretch and lift as you scrub, mop or vacuum; n walk your dog an extra block; n spend time raking, hoeing, pruning and digging in your garden; n don't hire a contractor.; take on home-improvement projects yourself; n take your young grandchildren to the playground and engage in activities like pushing them on a swing.
— Johns Hopkins Heart Health, August 2014, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014 17
TINSELTOWN TALKS
Nehemiah Persoff From Screen to Canvas By Nick Thomas
S
ince retiring from acting over a decade ago, versatile character actor Nehemiah Persoff has become a successful artist painting from his seaside home in Cambria, Calif., (see www.nehemiahpersoffpaintings.com). But in 1989 he experienced a TIA, transient ischemic attack, similar to a small stroke and often considered to be a “warning stroke.” “The doctors told me to slow down,” said Persoff, who heeded their advice and believes that painting contributed to his recovery. “It certainly helped avoid another
incident,” he said. “I would recommend to all seniors that they try painting. They will be surprised by their ability and the peace and calm that concentrating on the painting provides.” Persoff’s screen career spanned six decades, beginning in the late 1940s, and he became one of Hollywood’s most prolific character actors. Raised in Jerusalem, his natural talent for dialects was quickly exploited when Persoff moved to Hollywood after a decade of stage and early TV work in New York. Often cast in the role of ethnic villains, he crafted a career playing slick
“I looked over at (James) Arness and he was suddenly seven feet tall.” — Nehemiah Persoff
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
gangsters, ruthless outlaws, and menacing military leaders. “I did play many villains, but also diplomats, doctors and scientists,” recalled Persoff, who turned 95 in August. “So I don’t think I was typecast. I enjoyed playing any character that was well written.” In his second film, “On the Water Front” in 1954, Persoff appears on screen for just a few seconds as the tense cab driver in the famous ‘I could have been a contender’ scene with Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger. Director Elia Kazan offered him $75 for the role. “There were Brando and Steiger in
the back section of a sawed off car,” said Persoff. “I sat on a milk box with Brando and Steiger behind me. When it was time for my close-up, Kazan whispered in my ear to imagine that ‘the guy behind you killed your mother.’ When I saw the film I was surprised to see how effective the close-up turned out.” He went on to work with other greats including Boris Karloff, Jimmy Cagney, and Humphrey Bogart on his final film in 1956, “The Harder They Fall.” “He was already very sick and his eyes teared a great deal,” recalled Persoff of Bogart. “But he had moments when he was very sharp. He wasn’t the sort of guy you wanted to tangle with. I heard him give one wise guy a tongue lashing that was devastating – you didn’t get smart with Bogie!” With over 400 film and TV roles to his credit, Persoff admits he has forgotten details about some. But he does recall an episode of “Gunsmoke” with James Arness in which the sixand-a-half foot lawman refused to yield vertical ground to the five-foot-seven-inch Persoff. “I was supposed to be a gunman who challenged Marshal Dillon,” he explained. “I suggested to the director that perhaps
I might be more of a threat if I wore lifts in my shows to make me taller. So the wardrobe people gave me high heels to make me about six feet. When I walked on the set and the showdown came, I looked over at Arness and he was suddenly seven feet tall. He had heard I was getting shoes to make myself taller, so he got a pair too and was still a foot taller than me!” Today, Persoff enjoys retirement and paints several hours a day while basking in the West Coast sunset, rather than the Hollywood spotlight. But he gives credit to his first career for helping his second. “When I got a role, I set my sights on being able to get under the skin of the character,” he said. “At first it would seem like a formidable task, but somehow I always got the job done and achieved my goal. It’s the same with painting. When you sit in front of a blank canvass, there is a feeling of ‘I can’t do it’ for many painters. But because of my acting experience, I always felt that I could do it, and I did.” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 400 magazines and newspapers.
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FEATURE
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
Martin McCaffery, Capri Theater Director
By Tom Ensey, Photos by Bob Corley
T
hrough pickets and protests, the rise of multiplexes, a caved-in ceiling and financial crises great and small, the Capri Theater in the heart of Old Cloverdale has endured. For more than 30 years, it has brought Central Alabama the arty, the offbeat and outrageous in cinema. Longtime director Martin McCaffery points out that keeping the doors open and the projector humming is a never-ending challenge of fundraising, corner-cutting and, as he says with a hint of pride, “being cheap.” The city’s only art house and one of only two in the state, the 70-year-old theatre is the economic engine that drives the cluster of funky-cool little restaurants, bars and shops flanking a block of East Fairview Avenue. The area buzzes with activity in a shady corner of town that is otherwise noteworthy for pretty, old oak trees, vintage homes and the Huntingdon College campus.
“Tomatino’s, El Rey, Sinclair’s, Louisa’s - I feel sure all those businesses profit because the Capri has anchored that sleepy district all these years,” said Randall Williams. Williams was among three dozen cinephiles who gathered in a meeting room in the basement of the old Normandale Shopping Center in 1983 to organize the Capri Community Film Society, the nonprofit that runs the business. They elected officers, appointed committees and went to work. Williams admits they didn’t know much about show biz, but they were willing to learn - and to paint, repair seats, run the projector, pop popcorn and serve soft drinks. By the time they rented the theatre and started showing stuff like “Gone With the Wind,” “The Sound of Music” and films checked out from the public library, the Capri already had an interesting past. The house became available after a crusading district attorney busted it for showing soft-core pornography - with the raunchiest stuff edited out on the fly in the projection booth. Long before that ignoble
www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
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Above:The Capri’s interior remains much as it was when first built. Opposite: Randal Williams, owner of New South Books, is a founding member of the Capri Community Film Society and holds Membership Card No.# 1.
moment, it was called the Clover when it opened in 1941, one of a handful of neighborhood theaters in Montgomery. Cloverdale was very much in the sticks then. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald a few years earlier lived in a house around the block that is now a museum. The theater was a second-run house whose main draws were cheap tickets - 20 cents for adults and a dime for kids - and cold air-conditioning, a Michael O’Neill rarity in those days. The first movie it showed was an obscure comedy called “Love Thy Neighbor,” featuring Jack Benny, Fred Allen and ingenue Mary Martin doing a strip tease in a fur coat singing “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” It survived a fire in the 1960s that required extensive repair. It was owned by Moffett Theatres, a regional chain based in Montgomery. It showed “Lawrence of Arabia,” “James Bond,” and inspired one young resident who went on to be a notable character actor. Michael O’Neill, who worked alongside Oscar winners Matthew McConnaughey and Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyer’s Club,” spoke to a full house at a screening last winter. “This theatre was instrumental in opening up the larger world to me,” O’Neill said. “I saw “The Graduate” here, I saw 22
September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
“Joe” here. I saw all the Bond films, which probably ruined our whole generation, because we thought that was how you were supposed to be with women.” The dawn of the video cassette recorder, new multiscreen theaters opening up around town and fewer people going to movies, took their toll on the theatre, which was falling into disrepair before the infamous porn bust. The Moffett estate’s representative Harry English was an unsung hero of the early days, Williams said. He did know the business, and wanted to help the well-intentioned members of the Society keep the theatre alive. “We didn’t know how much ice to put in a cup for a soft
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drink,” Williams said. “So I asked him. He said, ‘How much ice will the cup hold?” McCaffery was a 28-year-old graduate of the University of Maryland and a projectionist from the Washington, DC, area when he came on the scene in November 1985. “They were broke,” he said. “They didn’t know they were broke. They hired me and another guy. He quit before I got here. They had a big, raucous meeting about whether to close the theatre or not while I was on my way down here. “Fortunately, they decided to keep it open. I guess it was fortunate. The first call I took at the theatre was from a bill collector,” McCaffery said. Righting the financial ship was Job One. It was quite a while before he got paid, he said. He lived off credit cards and savings. “Montgomery is a cheap place to live,” he deadpanned. In addition to knowing how to stretch a dollar, McCaffery knew a lot about independent films, documentaries and foreign films that gave the Capri a cachet it had lacked. “He’s been so important to the Capri,” Williams said. “It wouldn’t still be here if Martin hadn’t come to manage it.” The Capri was the only theatre in the state to show Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ,” which drew the ire of organized protesters who made viewers cross a picket line. “That kind of put us on the map,” said Williams. “We had
people who kind of came by and threw money in the window to help, people who didn’t necessarily want to see the film, but who didn’t want to be told what they could and couldn’t watch. “That film is now shown on cable and there’s no outcry. Christianity survived,” he said. A 20-foot section of the ceiling collapsed in 1991. “If anybody had been in there, they would have been killed,” McCaffery said. “It happened at night. We thought that would close us down, but the landlord’s insurance covered it.” “My Big, Fat Greek Wedding,” a 2002 smashhit film that none of the big theaters in town picked up, was a tremendous boon, he said. “We did a year’s worth of business in six weeks,” he said. It provided the financial cushion that enabled the Society to purchase the theatre in 2010. They had about $200,000 in the bank, unheard of for a nonprofit, and were finally able to get a bank to loan them approximately that much more, which they paid off quickly. “It would have been nice if we could have bought the theatre sooner, “ he said. “It would have been easier to fundraise before the recession.” Owning the building has been a mixed blessing. “The saying that it’s cheaper to own than to rent it nonsense,” McCaffery said. “Our insurance payment is more than our rent used to be.” But the Capri and its supporters are nothing if not resilient, and plans are on the table to expand to two screens - adding a 50 to 100 seat theater in what is now the front lobby, and moving the concession stand and bathrooms to the area under the balcony. The upgrade to digital equipment has already taken place, but they kept the old 35mm projectors for films that require that. Last year, the Capri showed the Library of Congress print of “Casablanca.” It’s the only theatre in the state authorized to screen Library of Congress films. The expansion will enable more special showings, archival and historical showings, and lecture series. “And if we ever have another ‘Greek Wedding’ we can show it indefinitely,” McCaffery said. There’s no detailed construction plan and no money, but that’s never stopped them before. “Seeing films, reading films and appreciating films are all something people should do,” McCaffery said. “It’s the art form of the 20th century, and will continue to be significant, whatever form it takes.” He believes in changing for the future, even as technology changes the medium and the way people experience it. “If you see it on TV, it’s different from the way it was intended,” he said. “It will always be that way, that films should be watched sitting in the dark, quietly, with other people. And your cell phone turned off.” The Capri is going nowhere and will adapt with the changing times, but not too much. “Opera still exists, plays still exist, live music still exists,” said McCaffery. “And we plan to still be here 20 years from now.” www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
FEATURE
Follow the G old
Mining is still big business near Cripple Creek, Colorado.
By Andrea Gross Photos by Irv Green except as noted
I
enter my hotel room, open the drape, and there it is—Colorado's Pikes Peak, one of the world’s most famous mountains, outlined against the setting sun. It’s the same view that greeted Katharine Lee Bates when, after a day atop the 14,000-foot granite mound, she penned the words to “America the Beautiful.” As I look out the window of our hotel I’m similarly inspired but less talented. Fortunately, my husband captures the scene with his camera. Long before Bates wrote about the “spacious skies,” the mountain had energized other Americans. As the easternmost big peak of the Rocky Mountains, visible for 100 miles, it was a beacon
for gold prospectors as they set forth on the last, and longest-lasting, American gold rush. Where it all Began — Georgia, 1826 We begin our Gold Route Tour 1,500 miles from Pikes Peak in the small towns west and north of Atlanta. Both the Cherokee and the Spanish found nuggets of Georgia gold as early as the sixteenth century, but the real rush didn’t begin until the mid-1820s. A film at Villa Rica’s Pine Mountain Gold Museum, built on the site of an old gold mine, tells us the local history. Afterwards we walk a three-mile trail dotted with old mining equipwww.primemontgomery.com | August 2014
25
ment. Interpretative signs tell us the equipment was abandoned when a man who was out hunting deer 100 miles to the northeast quite literally tripped over a golden rock. Within a year, 15,000 men left Villa Rica to go to the new site, Dahlonega, which gets it’s name from the Cherokee word for “yellow.” Dahlonega has a charming main square, a museum located in an historic courthouse, two gold mines and, best of all, a place where we can — or so we fantasize — strike it rich. After touring the underground Consolidated Gold Mines, we head to Crisson Gold Mine where we find several locals panning for gold. “I come every weekend,” one confesses. “It's fun, but I'd be better off playing the stock market.” We leave without investing in a goldpanning experience. The Rush in the West — California, 1849 The Dahlonega rush paled in comparison to the one that took place in California in the late 1840s. On January 24, 1848, James Marshall was building a mill for Captain John Sutter when he spotted a gold rock. News traveled fast, and soon an estimated 300,000 people headed west to try their luck and test their skill. The old mill is long gone, but there's a replica in Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park near Coloma, along with other reminders of gold rush days: a store mill, 19th century school, and two stores that are reminders of the Chinese who helped settle the area. Later we drive south on Highway 49, which links old mining towns filled with quaint bed-and-breakfasts and awardwinning wineries housed in restored gold-era buildings. We reach Columbia State Park in about two hours, where costumed actors show us how folks lived during the golden days. We visit period-specific stores, see blacksmiths at work and take a ride in a stagecoach.
Riding a narrow-gauge train through Colorado’s mining country is an excellent way to learn the history of the area.
Above: Katharine Lee Bates wrote the words to “America the Beautiful” while looking at this view of Pikes Peak. Below: Dahlonega Square, rich with history, restaurants and boutiques.
Pikes Peak or Bust — Colorado, 1859 Not long after disheartened prospectors abandoned California, gold 26 September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
was found in a Colorado creek. More than 50,000 ever-hopeful men, urged on by the slogan “Pikes Peak or Bust,” raced to find their fortune in the Rockies. The nearby towns of Cripple Creek and Victor became go-to, get-rich places. We begin our tour at the Mollie Kathleen Mine, where we’re crammed into an elevator for a two-minute ride that takes us 1,000 feet underground. A guide lets us experience what it was like for the miners by turning off the lights and turning on the drills. The darkness is oppressive, the noise deafening. I believe him when he says conditions
are better now, but still I cross “miner” off my list of possible second careers. To learn more about the history of the area, we board a narrowgauge steam-engine railroad for a 45-minute ride through rocky hills covered with spindly pines and abandoned mine structures, some Above: A replica of Sutter’s Mill, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park near of which sit atop mines Coloma, California. (California Dept. of Parks and Recreation) as deep as the Empire Below, left: Consolidated Gold Mines, location of the first major gold rush in the U.S. State Building is tall. Below, right: Locals try to strike it rich at the Crisson Gold Mine, Dahlonega. Estimates are these hills still hold more than six billion dollars of gold. In the meantime, as trucks and drill rigs race around the stepped walls of the vast caldera where the mineral is hidden, Cripple Creek is almost as well known for its casinos as for its mining. It seems the search for gold takes many forms.
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MEDICARE
Retiree Medicare Choices
W
hen you retire and qualify for Medicare at 65, you’ll need to decide how you’d like to receive your health care benefits. Because you’ll be new to Medicare, you may not realize you have two options. One is to join the government’s fee-for-service program that’s existed for 49 years. The other is to buy a Medicare Advantage plan from a private insurer. The choice may seem bewildering at first, so let’s go over each option. With traditional fee-for-service coverage, you may go to any doctor, hospital or other provider that accepts Medicare. Medicare pays the provider a fee for the service you receive. Once you meet your annual deductible, Medicare typically covers 80 percent of the cost for your care.You have a few choices for covering the other 20 percent: n You may use your retiree health plan from your former employer, if you’re retired and have such a policy. Some retiree plans may cost less or provide more benefits than other supplemental coverage. n You may qualify for Medicaid, if you have limited income and savings. Besides helping with your out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance, Medicaid may pay for your monthly Medicare premiums. n If neither of those applies, you may buy a “Medigap” policy from a private insurer to cover what Medicare does not. There are 10 kinds of Medigap plans, with different benefits, so you’ll need to decide which is best for you. If you choose the traditional fee-for-service program, you’ll probably also want to buy a prescription drug plan to go with your other coverage. Traditional Medicare remains the favorite among people wanting the broadest possible access to doctors, hospitals and other providers. When coupled with a supplemental plan, it also makes your health care costs relatively predictable. Still, 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries – including 24 percent of Alabamians with Medicare – now prefer to get their health care benefits through a private insurer. The number of people buying private Medicare Advantage plans has tripled over the last 10 years. With Medicare Advantage, insurance companies contract with the government to provide care. Every private plan must cover all the benefits that traditional Medicare covers. In some cases, Medicare
“… 24 percent of Alabamians with Medicare now prefer to get their health care benefits through a private insurer.”
Advantage plans may offer extra benefits, like routine hearing or vision care. Many plans charge a premium on top of the $104.90 you’ll pay each month for Medicare’s medical insurance, but there’s no need to buy a supplemental Medigap policy. Likewise, most Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage with their other benefits. The premiums, deductibles and co-payments will vary from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. But all plans, by law, must have annual limits on their overall out-of-pocket costs. Unlike the traditional fee-for-service program, most Medicare Advantage plans require you to go to doctors and hospitals within their network of providers or pay more for getting care outside the network. Still, the private health plans have been especially popular among people with low to moderate incomes. They provide relatively affordable supplemental coverage, with lower premiums than those for Medigap policies. So, which is better — the traditional fee-forservice coverage or a private Medicare Advantage plan? That depends on your own circumstances and preferences. What’s best for one person may not work as well for someone else. To find out more about your options, you can visit www.medicare.gov and browse through the “Medicare and You” handbook. The website will also give you detailed information about the Medigap and Medicare Advantage policies available in your area. Becoming informed will help you select the health care option that best fits your needs. It will also help you avoid mistakes that may cost you money. One final note: If you’re turning 65 and continuing to work, you still need to consider Medicare as you approach your birthday and qualify for the health care coverage. The best way to begin is to contact your company’s human resources department to determine how your current employer-provided insurance will fit with Medicare’s coverage. Bob Moos is Southwest public affairs officer for the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
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SOCIAL SECURITY
Your Questions: Answered Q: I've decided I want to retire. How do I begin? A: The fastest and easiest way to apply for retirement benefits is to go to www.socialsecurity. gov/applyonline. To use our online application to apply for Social Security retirement or spouse’s benefits, you must: n be at least 61 years and 9 Kylle’ McKinney months old; n want to start your benefits in the next 4 months; and n live in the United States or one of its commonwealths or territories. If you are already age 62, your benefits could start as early as this month. If you are almost age 65, your application for benefits will include Medicare. Just visit www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. Q: I'm trying to decide when to retire. Can Social Security help? A: Deciding when to retire is a personal choice, and you should consider a number of factors, but we can certainly help. First, take a few minutes and open a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount With a my Social Security account, you can access your Social Security Statement and estimate your retirement benefits at age 62, your full retirement age, and age 70. Also, we have several online calculators that can help you decide when to retire. Our Retirement Estimator gives estimates based on your actual Social Security earnings record.You can use the Retirement Estimator if: n you currently have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits, and; n you are not: r currently receiving monthly benefits on your own Social Security record; r age 62 or older and receiving monthly benefits on another Social Security record; or r eligible for a pension based on work not covered by Social Security. You can find our Retirement Estimator at www. socialsecurity.gov/estimator. Also available at www. socialsecurity.gov/planners/benefitcalculators.htm are several other calculators that will show your retirement benefits as well as estimates of your disability and survivor benefit if you become disabled or die.You may want to read or listen to our publication, When To 30
September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
Start Receiving Retirement Benefits, available at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Q: What can I do at www.socialsecurity.gov? A: There is a myriad of things you can do at Social Security’s website. You can conduct most of your Social Security business with our suite of online services at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. There, you can get an estimate of future benefits, find out if you qualify for benefits now, and even apply for benefits.You can complete a number of other tasks online, too. You can estimate your retirement benefit using our Retirement Estimator. It allows you to get an instant, personalized estimate of your future benefit based on different retirement ages and scenarios.You can even open your own my Social Security account to plan for and manage your benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Just looking for some information about Social Security? Read, print, or listen to one of our many publications. Many of them are in Spanish, and some are in 16 other languages as well. Topics include Social Security cards, the Medicare prescription drug program, and retirement planning. There are so many things you can do at www.socialsecurity.gov. Q: Is it true that Congress does not have to pay Social Security taxes? A: No, that urban legend is false. Members of Congress pay Social Security taxes and are covered by Social Security just like almost everyone else. Prior to 1983, members of Congress did not pay Social Security taxes — but that was because they, like most federal employees, paid into a separate retirement system. In 1983, all newly hired government employees began paying Social Security taxes. Social Security is not an optional system. Unless exempted by law, everyone working in the United States must pay Social Security taxes on earnings under covered employment. And most people who have retired, become disabled, or lost a supporting loved one are thankful to have that safety net. For many, it can mean the difference between poverty and a better life. Learn more about the benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov. Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached in Montgomery at 866-593-0914, ext. 26265, or by e-mail at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov
GAMES Across 1 "Let's hear it!" 7 Beginning on 11 "Essence of Man" cologne 15 Bar game fodder 16 Old Roman coin 17 Light, to a moth 18 Cooks, in a way 19 Up the creek 21 *Small fruit first cultivated in Oregon 23 Ruler divs. 26 '80s-'90s German chancellor 27 Brief brawls 30 Kansas City footballer 32 L.A. commuter org. 33 16-Across replacer 34 Daniel Barenboim's opera house 36 "Agreed!" 40 Surg. sites 41 Humanitarian symbol, and a hint to what happens where the answers to starred clues intersect 43 BART stop 44 Jumble 46 Haiti's elder Duvalier 48 Somewhat, in music 49 Oaf
51 Facebook option 52 Facebook option 55 Tool with teeth 57 Part of Mac OSX: Abbr. 58 *Vin Scully will be its 2014 Grand Marshal 61 Chevy pickup 63 "My goose is cooked!" 68 Clothing patch site 69 72-Across speaker 70 Angry outburst 71 "It's for you," on an env. 72 69-Across's tongue 73 Patron of lost causes Down 1 Rehab symptoms 2 Crumb 3 Bind 4 Actress Longoria 5 Life partner? 6 Vision-correcting surgery 7 Come down to earth 8 "Arrowsmith" Pulitzer decliner Lewis 9 Sports MD's specialty 10 Orbitz info 11 Said suddenly 12 *Chain named for a Stones hit 13 Google revelation
14 Titleist holder 20 Valuable rock 22 Oasis seekers 23 Ben-Hur's vehicle 24 *"Clue" suspect 25 "Gimme a __" 28 Stump figures 29 Comfort 30 Treads heavily 31 Henhouse locale 35 Rural expanse 37 Brown v. Board of Education city 38 FICA-funded org. 39 Nile snakes 42 Game in which one player doesn't speak 45 Pizza-making need 47 Contented sighs 50 It can shorten a sentence 53 Put to work 54 Suit material 56 Trims text, perhaps 59 Allen's successor on "The Tonight Show" 60 Give off, as rays 61 Reggae kin 62 Bankbook abbr. 64 Sixers' #6 65 Vichy water 66 Put in 67 Start to dig? 2014 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.Š
Answers on page 34. www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
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MOVING FREE ® WITH MIRABAI
The Importance of Walking S
cientists are still debating exactly when, where, how, and why the species that became us stopped scampering around on all fours and began to walk erect. But with gradual anatomical changes over six or so million years, we’ve gotten used to it, and at this point it feels quite natural. We can walk erect all day now, and get from place to place, as people in many regions of the world do daily. Although our current anatomy has made Mirabai Holland it harder for us to climb trees, walking erect has spawned other things we’ve come to enjoy like baseball, basketball, tennis, stand-up paddle-boarding, track and field, soccer, ice hockey, roller derby, walks in the park, hiking mountain trails, carrying a colicky baby around the room for hours. OK, scratch that last one. How about dancing? For better and for worse, nowadays most of us only have to walk from the car to the elevator. Walking has been relegated to recreation or simply, exercise; which brings me to the fact that walking is good for you. We all know the health benefits of walking — stronger heart, better glucose tolerance, improved mood, weight control and a gazillion more. In fact some people think walking is so good for you they almost never sit. People work at standing desks and wear pedometers to count their steps. 10,000 steps is a common daily goal. Others can’t stand to just stand. They’ve built desks onto treadmills
and take meetings, type emails and do all their office work while walking. I’ve heard numbers like 10 miles a day on a treadmill while at work. I’m a walking advocate and a walking enthusiast. However, as you may know, I believe in the ease in, start with a little, stay in your comfort zone, set attainable short term goals, build up to your ultimate goal over time, method of exercise. I believe in the pleasure principal. If I like something I do it because I like it; if it’s good for my health, so much the better. It’s easy to like walking if it’s easy. If you build up at your own pace over time, it stays easy, even when it’s vigorous. Good posture is essential. Stand and walk with your head over your shoulders, shoulders over your hips and the whole body line-up centered over the feet. Don’t slouch forward or lean back. Try to keep your abs pulled in when you think of it. Music is the plane that flies you to your destination. So if you like music, plug in your ear buds and walk to your favorites. Make time in your day for walking. Whether it’s outside, in a mall, on a treadmill or in place. It’s in your nature. It beats scampering on all fours and you may even live longer. Mirabai Holland, M.F.A. is a public health activist and authority in the Health & Fitness industry, specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work, www.mirabaiholland.com.
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
THERAPY, SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE
How a Safe Step Walk-In Tub can change your life Remember when… Think about the things you loved to do that are difficult today — going for a walk or just sitting comfortably while reading a book. And remember the last time you got a great night’s sleep? As we get older, health issues or even everyday aches, pains and stress can prevent us from enjoying life. So what’s keeping you from having a better quality of life?
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Celebrating Midlife and Beyond
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
The Capri
Our Only Independent Theater
PRIME DIVERSIONS
Recent dvd releases
Captain America:The Winter Soldier, Draft Day & Words and Pictures Captain America: The Winter Soldier (PG-13) Chris Evans returns as one of Marvel Comics’ early heroes - a WW II soldier imbued with great powers via scientific tinkering - to fend off yet another threat to the world we live in, including the superhero and pals agency S.H.I.E.L.D., which one can also follow on primetime TV. But the movie gives us Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson and even Robert - freakin’ - Redford!!! Game, set and match to the big screen branch of the biz for that coup. The story is pretty cogent, and more intricate than most such vehicles. The characters and their dire straits are sufficiently engrossing for all tastes. The epic scope of the slam-bang action sequences should satisfy both the adrenalin junkies and CG techies in the house, even with a running time over two hours. It accomplishes the rare feat for sequels of turning out better than the first. As always, creator Stan Lee’s cameo is a fine perk. Keep watching through the closing credits for a couple of scenes that add to the fun, and presage the next inevitable chapter in the franchise that’s definitely on a fine roll. Draft Day (PG-13) Here’s a fictionalized pro football counterpart to 2011's terrific insider baseball drama, Moneyball. Though it’s not as good, gridiron fans who obsess over their fantasy leagues, and live or die with their favorite teams’ picks in the annual re-stocking pageant from the collegiate ranks should be pretty satisfied with this depiction of a Cleveland Browns general manager (Kevin Costner) struggling through one very long day, deciding what to do with the #1 overall pick he’s just acquired, in the face of an almost comical array of pressures and problems. Those begin with an owner (Frank Langella), new coach (Denis Leary) and fan base demanding he knock one out of the park - presumably by taking a quarterback who is the consensus choice for anchoring any franchise’s future. At the other end, he’s just learned that his girlfriend (Jennifer Garner), who is also the team’s money maven, is pregnant. The day’s events spin out of control, both professionally and personally, building to the evening’s nationally-televised spectacle of teams announcing their choices. The QB is supposedly golden, but Kevin has vague misgivings, and other scenarios rattling around in his noggin. Although some of the
distractions and hysterics around him border on the absurd, when crunch time comes, all the mayhem is justified by a terrific climactic sequence. Sports movMark Glass ies invariably build to the big game. This one does the same, even with all the “players” in suits, and no pigskins being tossed or carried. Most afficionados tend to compare the yearly draft field to a chessboard. This movie shows us the underlying high-stakes poker game, as well. Words and Pictures (PG-13) Just as a Superman needs a Lex Luthor to motivate his peak performance, this intelligent dramedy shows how dissipated English teacher Clive Owen needs the arrival of a dispirited art instructor (Juliette Binoche) to revive his former talents for writing and inspiring his teenaged charges at a private academy for privileged progeny. The yin and yang of their seemingly silly debate over the superior firepower of words vs. pictures similarly kindles renewed creative energy for Binoche’s character. The latter is mostly struggling to overcome debilitating rheumatoid arthritis that has stalled her promising career as a painter. Owen’s muse went silent years before, leaving him boozy, surly and barely able to show up for his classes. He’s on the verge of being canned when the wit and charm of Binoche’s banter start reminding him of the joy he used to feel from his work and subject. The sparks that fly are more intellectual than sexual, yet effective in bringing out each other’s best, and infecting their classes with the desire to excel in both art forms. Both stars seem constitutionally incapable of either landing in a bad movie, or allowing a potential dud to wind up as one. Their performances are, as ever, top of the line, individually and as sparring partners who help each other purge their respective devils. Eventually. The script features some witty and insightful dialog, but drags in one significant respect. Owen’s slide to the bottom is too long and irritating, costing a chunk of the empathy viewers need to keep rooting for his character’s redemption. Even so, there’s an undeniably refreshing quality about a tale based on a clash between attractive peers that doesn’t depend on their youth or the will-they/won’t-they part of the plot for its success. Grown-ups welcome. Mark Glass is an officer and director of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
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MEDICARE
Medicare Q&A: Advantage Plans; Income Limits Dear Marci, I have received mail lately about different Medicare Advantage plans. Do Medicare Advantage plans have to follow any rules when marketing their plans to me?—James Dear James, Yes, there are specific guidelines that companies selling Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans must follow when promoting their plans to you. These guidelines are meant to prevent marketing fraud, or deception about what a plan offers and how much it costs. Companies are allowed to market their plans through direct mailings and television, radio, and print advertisements. However, plans are not allowed to: — call if you did not ask them to do so; — send unsolicited e-mails.You must specifically requested information for a plan to e-mail you; — visit your home or nursing home without an invitation.You can ask the plan to send someone, but they cannot just knock on your door uninvited; — ask for financial/personal information if they call. Beware if asked for your SSN, Medicare number or your bank information; — provide gifts or prizes worth more than $15 to encourage you to enroll; — disregard the National Do-Not-Call Registry and do not call again requests; — market their plans at educational events, in health care settings or at locations and events where free meals are provided; — sell you life insurance/other non-health related products at the same appointment. This is “cross selling” and it is prohibited unless you request the non-health related product information; — compare their plan to another plan by name in advertising materials; — include the term Medicare Endorsed or suggest it is a preferred Medicare drug plan. Plans can use Medicare in their names as long as it follows the plan name (for example, the Acme Medicare Plan) and the usage does not suggest Medicare endorses that particular plan above any other Medicare plan; — imply they are calling on behalf of Medicare. Plans are not allowed to give you the impression Medicare asked them to call you. To report fraud you contact either 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) or the Inspector General’s fraud hotline, 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).When Medicare investigates potential fraud, your name is not used if you do not want it to. —Marci
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September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
Dear Marci, I think my monthly income is a little over the income limit for a Medicare Savings Program. Should I still apply anyway? — Alexander Dear Alexander, Yes, even if your income is above the guidelines for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP), you should still apply.You may still qualify for an MSP because certain income and assets may not count. Each state has its own formula for counting your income and assets to determine eligibility for an MSP. In all states, the following income is never counted: — first $20 of all income; — first $65 of monthly wages; — 1/2 your monthly wages (after the $65 is deducted); — food stamps. Some states may not count other income, and/or may exclude things from your income, such as the money you use to pay health insurance premiums (like Part B premiums). Also, if there are more than two people in your household, the monthly income limit may be higher in some states. In all states, the following assets are never counted: — your primary house; — your car; — household goods and wedding/engagement rings; — burial funds for you and your spouse valued up to $1,500 each; — life insurance with a cash value of less than $1,500. Many states do not count other types of assets, and some states have no asset test. To find out your state’s guidelines for determining eligibility for an MSP, contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). To find the contact information for your SHIP, you can go online and visit www.shiptalk.org.— Marci 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. “Dear Marci,” a free educational e-newsletter, is available from the website.
Workshop: Chronic Disease A free, Chronic Disease Self-Management workshop begins Thursday, September 18th, at the Crump Senior Center, 1750 Congressman Dickinson Dr. Montgomery. The Central Alabama Aging Consortium is sponsoring the Living Well Alabama workshop. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a six-week course designed to teach people with illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, COPD, fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic pain and other chronic illnesses, to manage their diseases, feel better, and lead more productive lives. The program is free and open to those with chronic health conditions as well as their families, friends, and caregivers. Classes are two-and-a-half hours once a week and taught by trained CDSMP leaders.
The interactive workshop teaches skills and strategies for managing chronic disease symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Participants also learn about healthy eating, relaxation techniques, overcoming depression, managing daily tasks, and exercising safely. The workshop starts September 18th and ends October 23rd. All classes are taught at the Crump Senior Center 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Registration is required and enrollment is limited. Funding may be available for respite care. To register call Jane Mitchel at the Central Alabama Aging Consortium, 334-240-4666.
Workshop: Emotional/Spiritual Wounds of War — 20,500 service men and women are scheduled to return to Alabama from deployment in Afghanistan between now and the end of 2015. Who will be there to support them? — The current rate of suicide among our nation’s veterans is at an all-time high of 22 suicides each day. When will we address this tragedy? — Countless numbers of veterans and their families are suffering from invisible wounds of war that affect the mind and soul. What can we do to help them? — Clergy are often the first points of contact for veterans as they struggle with these wounds. How can clergy be
Workshop: Holiday Decorating The holidays will be here before you know it. Learn how to make your home merry and bright by attending Deck the Halls, featuring former White House decorator Jane Karotkin, on Oct. 4, 11:30 a.m., at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Trinity Hall. Admission is $30 and includes a boxed lunch from Jennie Weller Catering for those who register in advance. Organized by the Friends of the Alabama Governor’s Mansion, proceeds will support restoration projects at themansion. Guest speaker Jane Karotkin is the administrator of the Friends of the Texas Governor’s Mansion, the most historic home in the Lone Star State, located in Austin near the state Capitol building. She has worked for the mansion since 1990 and during Georgia W. Bush’s eight-year presidential administration she was tapped to serve on the White House Christmas Decorating Committee. “Jane is a highly respected curator and archivist with alifelong interest in historic preservation,” said Tom McGehee, board member for the Friends of the Alabama Governor’s
provided the specialized training necessary to meet the needs of those who fought for us? Gateway To Hope: Breaking the Stigma of Moral Injury seeks to educate clergy, mental health and health care professionals about the emotional and spiritual wounds of war and resources that can be used to support their recovery. The two-day conference will help equip these “first responders” to provide needed pastoral and mental health care for veterans. Participants will also explore ways to create caring and accepting communities of support for veterans as they reintegrate into the civilian world, without leaving them to suffer invisibly and in silence. Tuesday & Wednesday, September 9-10, 2014 First United Methodist Church 2416 W Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, AL 36106
For more info call: Dr. Susan Diamond, 334-270-1320, or visit http://www.gatewaytohope2014.wordpress.com. Mansion and director of Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Mobile. “We are excited she has agreed to come to Montgomery and share her decorative arts expertise with us at this special event.” The Friends of the Alabama Governor’s Mansion is a non-profit organization that works to ensure the preservation of the historic Alabama Governor’s Mansion Complex located on South Perry Street in downtown Montgomery’s Garden District. The property has served as the official residence of the Alabama governor since 1951. Learn more at www.facebook.com/foagm. To register for Deck the Halls, mail a check payable to the Friends of the Alabama Governor’s Mansion to PO Box 124, Montgomery, 36106. While last-minute guests will be admitted at the door, lunch will only be provided to those who register in advance. For more information, call 334-263-7914. www.primemontgomery.com | September 2014
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OFF THE BEATEN PATH
A Good Enough Nest I
surveyed the yard, glanced up at the glaring sun and back down at my wristwatch. It was half-past noon, less than three hours before my daughter woke from her nap. In one hand was a list of tasks no mortal could complete in such a short time, in the other, a dusty chainsaw. Suppressing my self doubt, I took a deep breath, pumped the primer bulb, opened the choke and yanked the saw to life. For 18 months - my daughter’s age almost exactly - the unruly hedge of pittosporum had tauntingly crept closer to the house with each passing day. The impending arrival of our second child in mere weeks meant every put-off and pushed aside to-do on our suburban patch of dirt was suddenly an urgent matter. After sufficiently hacking back one leg of the hedge, I noticed the pile of limbs strewn about the lawn that needed to be run through the chipper. It was two o’clock, at best an hour before I was back on Daddy duty to give my very pregnant wife a break from toddler patrol. After the hedge trimmings had been chipped so the grass could be cut, I would tackle the rotten column by the back door. It anchored one end of the fence between our breezeway and backyard, and if it gave, I’d have two dogs roaming the neighborhood. Of greater concern regarding the dogs was the driveway gate. All that kept my hounds from running amok, treeing every cat in sight and worrying the little old ladies half to death, were a few bungee cords and some dry-rotted poly rope. The gate hinges were busted, as the hedge I’d been cutting had almost pushed the fence over due to neglect. The whole gate itself needed to come off so I could reset and weld the broken corners. In addition, the poor chickens had been without an enclosed coop for nearly a year. With egg production tied to sunlight, I’d taken the front off the coop last fall to run a light from
the roof in hopes of coaxing a few more working hours from the flock. It worked for awhile, but then I’d gotten sidetracked and never reinstalled the fourth wall. The elements had gotten in and now the light was out. Moving down the list, any shot at a fall garden required prep now. The summer’s delicious tomatoes, corn, peppers and squash had sucked the nutrients from the soil, and a large scale refurbishing of the dirt was in order. Lime and compost needed to be worked in ahead of sowing season, which for many of my favorite fall staples was closer than I’d care to admit. Had I a week to complete these tasks I probably could have managed, but I didn’t have a week, just 60 minutes, maybe less, with no knowledge when my next bit of “free time” would occur. Sweat-soaked and disheartened at the remaining-work-to-time-left ratio, I wiped my brow and stared at the pair of unruly Bradford pears next on the list. Standing there in the shade of those two trees, working out the fall-path for the limbs in my head, a breeze shook the uppermost branches, knocked loose an empty bird’s nest and dropped it at my feet. Looking at the hodgepodge of materials comprising the nest - bits of pine straw, grass, strands of dry-rotted poly rope - I realized there is no perfect nest. Maybe getting by with what you have at your disposal was plenty good enough. Perhaps the hedge could wait, I pondered, as could the chipping. The rotten column hadn’t given way yet and I could always scrounge up another bungee cord to hold the gate. The hens were clucking contentedly despite their housing situation, and the garden, well, even it could sit a spell. The time constraints which had weighed so heavily were entirely self-imposed. Reaching into my pocket, I wadded the list into a ball and tossed it in the trash, traded the chainsaw for a hammock, and spent the next hour beneath the pears gently rocking in the breeze. Niko Corley spends his free time on the water or in the woods, and earned his charter boat license in 2012. He can be contacted at cootfootoutfitters@gmail.
Niko Corley 38
September 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com
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